Celtic Woman

Such beautiful women and such beautiful music, and to think I almost missed it being sold on football as we get close to the end of the season. And it was good to watch as the Mountaineers of West Virginia beat up on UConn. WVa will probably be listed at the top or second in the BCS poll this week. But then I turned to PBS to watch my Saturday Britsh shows, and there they were with a Christmas special. Of course PBS was in its fund raising mode, but the "commercial" segments weren't so bad when one waited for the music. As well as the singers there was the lovely blond violinist whose sound and technique were excellent. And now they closd with a novel presentation of "Let it Snow." And the concert ends with a well deserved standing O.

Thanksgiving 2007

The Taylor's of Montana had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner this year at brother John's. Rosanna (their daughter-in-law) was, I understand, a big help. Ken brought the sweet potatoes down from Helena; Annie brought pies over from Ashland, MT; I brought mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce; and Pete made gravy and took along his apple crisps. The turkey and other trimmings were provided by the host family. We've been doing this since 1961 with alternating years between John & Jean and Betty and me. Often the NoDaks are with us, but this year conflicts entered the picture and they couldn't make it. Of course Betty and Jimmy were with us in spirit only both having died. Betty in December 2005, and Jimmy in August 2006. The last time all of my children were together was at Jimmy's funeral. The above picture shows my current family who were with us this year - including my grand daughter, Stephanie with her husband (the tall one) John Huss. I'll likely see them again in February when I go down to Texas for David's marriage to Suzanne, who will become Steph's step mother. We missed the Oregon crew, but I did get to visit with them over Labor Day. Family is wonderful, and I give thanks regularly for them all.

Weather Report

Had a new experience today. I was sitting in my car waiting for the traffic light to change and was suddenly aware that my car was shaking. The wind was that strong. The large flags at Perkin's and at a used car dealer were straight out, and stuff was blowing all over the place, Our apple tree still has lots of apples on it, but many are now on the ground. The ones still up are essentially bird food now. I guess one should not be to surprised about a shaking sedan. The local news yesterday showed an 18 wheeler blown over on I 90 near Livingston. Cross winds in that area can be truly fierce.

While I was out shopping at Costco I found a new John Grisham -- Playing for Pizza. He labels it a Novel and not Mystery. It seems that Grisham is in this mode after A Painted House, and Skipping Christmas

O.K. Here's a Muse!

i was writing to family the other day and commented on our kids. Somehow or other i used the phrase “my kids”. This didn’t sound quite right. They are mine, but they are also their mother’s even though she is now dead. I have wrestled with this format before and have now decided that they are “our kids”,. when I really think about it she probably had more to do with their upbringing than I did,. She was a stay-at-home mom until Pete was in the sixth grade. I was on the road a lot for the college and then on the Board of the American Baptist Churches.

Another thought has insinuated itself recently. I have often commented on how much I miss my love. Recent thoughts about how the Bible talks about what people are doing in heaven around the heavenly throne have caused me to wonder: does she miss me? Some how that answer will have to wait. And I am sure she is not alone. She’s finally met her in-laws, shares with her own father and mother, and she now is with Jimmy and knows our twins who died at birth.

My God indeed bless us all wherever we might be.

follow up

Some how or other this did not get published couple of weeks ago when I first wrote it - 10/28/07. For what it's worth here it is now,


There isn't really much to say about last Friday's Post. I made four loaves of bread and took a couple over to brother John's to share with him and Jean and with Mark and Rosanna. The Saturday breakfast is always a good occasion. The breakfast on Thusday was also interesting. I first met Linaya Leaf in the Fall of 1990 when she came on staff at RMC. She is a graduate of Linfield College and was raised in the Swedish Baptist Church - a part of Northern Baptist when we still went by that name as a denomination. She has her PhD from U. Oregon and teaches English and Theatre at Rocky. She regularly tells the story of how I invited her to Church and told her that I would meet her "out front". We both had scrambled eggs and french toast. She found it hard to believe that I could drink my coffee black. "You're certainly not Swedish." Actually, as I told her, she is young enough to be a daughter - 63 last summer. She was raised pretty much in Beaverton, OR and graduated from high school there. Her father was a lawyer, and was very interested in seeing that his grandson, Aaron, became a lawyer. Some one would be needed to look after the real estate holdings in the Seattle area.

Shopping

I decided last night that I should someway use my two cup sourdough starter since it had been a long time sitting in the fridge. If I was to make bread I needed to check to see that I had yeast, etc. Nope! Had to go to the store. Couldn't find my warm jacket since the temp was in the mid-40's. Not downstairs. Maybe I left it at Rocky Wednesday since I was at a meeting there on Wednesday night. Nope, I had worn it to Choir practice Wednesday night. Maybe there? Then, again, did I wear it Thursday morning on the way to breakfast with Linaya. (More about that later.) We went to Stella's not having been to her "new" place since she moved. I checked at Church since it is always nice to have a chat with Robin, the Secretary. She was my gal Friday for the 20 months I was Interim there. No Jacket. I went on down to Stella's and there it was. It is a jacket Jimmie gave me when he was working on the oil fields. I'd hate to lose it.

Anyway, back to shopping. I stopped by the IGA and all I saw going into the store were middle aged and older ladies. When I got inside there were a few men who appeared to be husbands along with their wives. Those were the day! Now I have to do it all myself - in what seems to be "ladies land". Well, us guys have to eat also.

Confused Republicans

"Romney also said he made a slip of the tongue Tuesday when he accused Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, instead of Osama bin Laden, of urging terrorists to congregate in Iraq."

The next thing we know he will be confusing Joseph Smith with Jesus Christ.

You Can Win Some

The last major post on this site was a couple of weeks ago when I suggested that one can't win them all. It's still true. While Marshall is still losing (last nigh to Southern Mississippi), and Rocky Mountain College lost for the umpteenth time against the Butte Miners - The Red Sox came back from a 3-2 deficit to win the American League championship. The Patriots won and Denver won on a last second field goal - actually there were 2 seconds left on the clock. So!! You can win some.

The past week-end was also a winner when a host of RMC students of the 1970's returned to campus for reunion. I found that hose cute chicks of the 70's that I wouldn't dare have touched are now ready to give the old man a hug. And I have some suspicion that I've always been an old man to them. "Why, Professor Taylor, you haven't changed a bit." Oh? Did I always look like I was 83? It was great to be with them again, and I actually recognized some of them without checking the name tag.

That's not a CFL above

Pedro got me on this one. Not enough electricity to even light a nightlight.

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Surprise

I would never have guessed that I was almost a blogging addict.

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Winners?

Well, you can't win them all. My Alma Mater, Marshall University (then College) can't win any of them. I was waching them take on Memphis the other night (also a non-winner), and it was not difficult to understand why Marshall is 0-5 for the season. Their Center can't do his job, and various linemen have visions of glory. For example, on one play the guy had a fumble right under him and instead of falling on it he tried to pick it up. Memphis got the ball back. The game was so poorly played that I turned the TV off and finished Volume 7 of the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling IS a winner. And two out of three of my favorites won their first play-off game in baseball yesterday: The Rockies and Boston. Now if the Yanks can lose today it won't be a bad start to the Play-offs.

Great Week-end

What a good few days it has been. After my visit to Oregon the last week of August and first of September to visit my two sons, their wives and sons (5 of the latter), I was privileged to have my oldest son and my only daughter visiting this past week-end - the end of September. And yesterday I had to good fortune to have breakfast with my twin brother, his wife, two of their three children and spouses. This morning at Church it was good to sit between Annie and Pete and to join both in singing. And as well as that my good friend from Rocky's facuty was back after a two week absence due to an appendectomy. It was good to see her doing well. Last night (Saturday) I went to the annual Democrat Steak Fry and saw a number of friends, left early with some left over steak and came home to find that Annie had returned from her Librarian Conference and was able to satisfy her hunger at least in part. Tonight (Sunday) Pete brought home some rib-eye, he bar-b-q'd it and we had baked beans and salad and a good wine for supper with Ken providing the wine. It is heartening to have a large family all of whom love each other. PEACE TO ALL.

Real Age

I recently took the RealAge quiz. Turns out that I am 90.9 years old as I turn 83 next month. There are things I am doing right, and a long list of things I could be doing better. For example: they think my med use is wrong. So what are my docs doing? And with a tendancy to angina my exercise program ain’t going anywhere or I might not make it even to 85. Guess I could eat more fish.

Things about life style that make you younger

Good sleep levels
Limited or no secondhand smoke exposure
Parents relationship
Daily vitamin
Pneumonia vaccination
Healthy resting heart rate
No drinking and driving
Folic acid intake
Good oral hygiene
Education level
Safe driving speeds
Vehicle size
No lower body disability
Safety belt or airbag usage
Daily aspirin use
Ex-smoker
Daily breakfast
Ideal blood pressure
Diverse diet
Calcium intake
Vitamin E intake

Most of these make your RealAge older!

Lycopene levels
Low fruit servings
Low unsaturated fat
Lack of flexibility exercises
Heart attack
Flossing habits
Potassium levels
Low grain intake
Low vegetable intake
Low omega-3 intake
Strength training level
High BMI
Workout schedule
Vitamin C intake
Medication use
High red meat intake

Nerd Test

O.K. So I took the thing againN. Let's see what it says. Incidently the picture was drawn by the Rev. Dr. Roland Bainton, a well known thelogiann of the mid to late 1900's on a visit to Rocky Mountain College.

You Nerd

Having nothing more to do at the present I took the Nerd Test. I then outlined the code which would copy the results to my Blog, but forgot to hit "copy". I'm not about to do the thing over, but I tuned out to be a Literature Nerd. The test is Nerdish. It made no effort to believe that a widower would be taking it. Or a retiree.

Actually I guess I am a Lit Nerd. I read Volumes 3 and 4 and most of 5 of the Harry Potter series while in Oregon. Finished 5 at home and finished 6 last night before going to bed. I'm looking forward to 7 next week.

It is cool in Billings today. When I got up around 6:30 this morning the furnace was going. We had nearly an inch of rain yesterday afternoon and evening. Most welcome!

Trip West

The last week of August and the first week of September I was priviledged to visit my two sons in Oregon, their wives and 5 grandsons. It was a great visit and except for a couple of nights out for dinner and a Saturday morning soccer game I did little but read volumens 4 and 5 of the Harry Potter series. The first dinner was with Paul and Louise at the McGrath Fish House in Beaverton, and the second dinner was with Will, Karyn, Caleb, Luke, and Zack at the Spaghetti House in Portland. I had eaten there several years ago at Brandon's high school graduation. The Soccer match included the twins, Lukas and Zackary. Their team won 3-2.

On Saturday before Labor Day Paul and Louise took me into Washington to view Mt. St. Helens. Larry went with us, and it was good to have a chance to catch up with his doings. I encourage him to start a blog about his studies and plans. The picture, of course, is of St. Helens with some evidence of steam as it continues to be active. My first experience of this volcano was years ago when it was first threatening to erupt. I was visiting a niece in Salem at the time. She was in Law School then. The eruption occured shortly after I got home and it left its trail of dust all over Billings, some 600 miles away.

Someone at Church yesterday asked me if I had driven to Portland. I assured her that I had not. Horizon Airlines flies non-stop between Billings and Portland and it was an uneventful flight both ways. On the way home it appeared that there had been fairly heavy snow in the mountains in Idaho. Saturday night it got to the low 40's in Billings and the furnace was running Sunday a.m. when I got up. It is supposed to warm up some later this week. It is good to be home.

Computers**%^$#

I will probably never learn how to make the best use of a computer. Yesterday Larry asked if I had ever used Garage Band. No, that hasn't happened. He said that he would write a tune for me. I still don't know how to access it. The biggest frustration during this trip to Oregon has been the failure of my ISP to send e-mail. Received, but not sent. Paul tried some changes and tne senrt a not to Internet Montana, but no response from them. It suddenly dawned on me today that I have gmail on this machine. It worked!

It's a lovely day here inn Hillsbore, OR for Labor Day. We are spending most of the time watching Tiger and Phil close out a golf match. Now, it's time for lunch.

Peace all.

New Blogger

It was fun to turn Larry on to Blogging yesteday. He had hardly gotten home before he was at it. Family who would like to see what he's up to - here's the address: http://www.larzilation.blogspot.com/

Chris. You need to check this out,

Grandfather

Saturday

We have just gotten back to Paul's and Louise's after a trip up to St. Helen's Mountain. I was very impressed by the scenery with all of the trees the Weyerhause lumber company has had planted after the devestation of the May 1980n eruption. It is hard to believe that that was over 17 years ago. I was in Salem, OR at that time when the mountainn was still just threatening to erupt. I have some pictures so will add more about this part of my trip when I get back to Billings.

Failed e-mail

I attemped to send this e-mail today, but for some reason mail will not go out even though I am able to get mail, and to access Sarfari with Will's neighbors wireless.

Arrived in Portland yesterday to be met at PDX by Willie, Karyn, Caleb, Lukas and Zackary. The flight from Billings both here and back is non-stop, and yesterday was completely uneventful. The only landmark I really made out (since I was in an aisle seat) was Mount St. Helens. It stuck up high and was flat on top. No question as to what I was seeing. We either did not come near Mt. Hood or it was on the other side of the plane.

Last evening Paul and Louise came over and shared with us in a delicious dinner. I slept well in a familiar bed and this morning Will's family and I all went to the MOSAIC Church. Guitars, drums and old hymns with a modern beat. The speaker for the morning spent about 40 minutes dealing with good neighborliness. Actually it was quite a good service. Will tells me that this group is aligned with the Missionary and Alliance group.

Karyn provided me with a Jimmy Carter novel, The Hornet's Nest. So far I've read about 100 pages dealing with 18th century settlement in the South before the Revolutionary War. Interesting stuff.

Not much else to report at this time. Caleb has just begun to get supper ready for this evening.