Short book

I've had a Border's gift card lying around for some months now and decided to go find out how much it was worth. Besides there was nothing lying around the house that I wanted to read. There wasn't a lot left over from the day I bought "Audacity of Hope" so I looked in the recent paper back section. There was "for one more day" by Mitch Albom. Since I had already read "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Five People You Meet in Heaven", it was worth a try. About 200 short pages I have read it this afternoon. A good read about a guy who has a hard time reconciling time with both his father and his mother. Things get resolved as he is close to death. Albom apparently likes to deal with that subject. It is, however, a good read.

Spring is springing in Billings today with temps in the 60's, I see in the Huntington, WV paper that they are having heavy rains. Montana could certainly use that. Billings is nearly 2 inches below normal for the year.

Surprise, Surprise

I decided yesterday that I'd best get gsoline at $3.099 yesterday before it goes up again. At Costco with my AMEX card I save 9 cents: 3¢ at the pump and the additional ¢¢ at refund time next year. When I came home and began to update my expense program I referenced the grocery chrge to Quicken and then took the pump receipt. SURPRISE! It read 22.893 gallons of premium at $3.189 per gallon - $73.81. When I filled my tank the receipt was there already when I put away the hose. I thought then that that was quicker than usual. Obviously the guy before me had a bigger tank that my Accord and an engine that called for premium, and had left thr receipt. But, then, if I had let my tank go to near empty it would cost me over $40 to fill up. Guess that I won't be hitting the road anytime soon. Of course my charge will be on my AMEX account which I check fairly regularly to mke sure there are no strange charges.

March One

Yesterday was an interesting one. By noon the temperature was near mid-60's. By 3 o'clock when I was out shopping (and getting a tire repaired) the wind had come up and it was in the mid-40's. Nevertheless I would have to say that March has come in like a lamb. Not unusual for Billings. It may very well go out like a lion.

Pete, bless his heart, noticed that the tire was flat and took it off for me before I went to Tire-Rama. They had supposedly repaired it some weeks earlier. He was also a good help as we got ready to host the rest of the Billings family Saturday a.m. for sourdough waffles.

Another Church Dinner

I was sitting at home Saturday minding my own business when the phone rang and one of the long time members of the Church (is that better than saying "one of the older women"?) called and wondered if I was going to the "Sentimental Journey" dinner that evening. I had not planned to go for several reasons, but since she had "an extra ticket", and was encouraging me to join her, I decided "what he heck!" The dinner is an annual thing sponsored by one of the ladies Circles, and is usually pretty good. Last night it didn't meet expectations. Mostly vegetarian with a small piece of chicken. The Cauliflower and broccoli were all right, but nothing to write home about. The big mound of rice cried out for some picante or other sauce. I noticed that not much of it was eaten by anyone else at our table.

The entertainment was, however, worth it. The musicians took over and sang many of the old favorites of my generation: "I can't stop loving that man of mine", "Smoke get in you eyes", etc. And then the Choir Director (an old southern boy) came on an did an Elvis impersonation. "Hound Dog" was particularly good. And I got home in time for "Waiting for God", one of my favorite British comedies. I spent the rest of the evening with "Havana Bay" by Martin Cruz Smith.

Texas trip

I was going to say that it was a wild, whacky week-end, but that was way to much alliteration after "Texas trip." I'll just say it was great for most of us and glorious for the couple pictured here. I debated this trip for a time and suddenly realized that there would be several grandsons there I had not seen since Christmas 2004. As it turned out there was half of the dozen all there. Christopher, Stephanie, Jonathan, Nathan, Geoffrey, and Natalie. I have had a chance to see the other six in the last half year.

It was also good to meet most of Suzanne's family. We were all well treated. David and Suzanne took us all out to a pre-wedding dinner Friday night. Winona Dees (Suzanne's motherr) and sister Diane saw that there was an ample repast following the morning wedding. Sunday night I was able to take most of the grandchildren plus Cecilia out to dinner. Cec had rented a car with GPS so I rode out to the DFW airport with the NoDaks. Christopher is designated to get pictures from everyone so more will be available soon - or look of the Taylor Facebooks.

If it ain't one thing

it's another. Earlier this month I visited my Optician. He was concerned last year that I might be developing glaucoma. I was back this morning for a follow-up and an OptoMap of the retina. That and another test indicate there are some preliminary indications of the problem, including borderline pressure. I was given some drops to use at bedtime and scheduled for a followup visit at the end of the month. Again, I have a concerned doctor who wants to make sure that further change does not take place. No mention was made of the cataract.

I'll be busy tomorrow finishing up preparations for the trip to Denton and goingto the bank for travel funds and for a roll of the latest gold president dollar - Monroe

Activities

I sat and watched most of the Grammy Awards, etc. Sunday night. Since Grand Old Opry went away I've lost complete track of today's music and "country" singers. What the heck is "Rehab" all about? Then they went back to Gershwin. I don't belive that I have ever heard "Rhapsody in Blue" butchered so badly. Enough already. And 3 1/2 hours plus. They need to take some lessons from the Academy Awards.

Then on Monday afternoon I had a visit with Billings' finest Cardio Surgeon, Dr. Scott Milliken. We talked very frankly and at length about my failing aortic valve, and the possiblities of surgery. It was clear that the man had taken a long look at my extensive medical history. I've been seeing doctors at Billings Clinic since the Fall of 1961, and had have by-pass surgery twice. The final decision was up to me. "I'll would be honored to do your surgery" the man said. BUT it was clear to me that as long as I am able to function the same decision was made (by me) as was made in regard to knee replacement. Let's delay this until it is absolutely necessary, and even then it has already been a long and fruitful life. Taylor males don't typically live into their 80's.

And there IS family on the other side.

Confused?

Last post when I commented that I was "done" I simply meant to tell DD that I had finished the book she wanted next. Not that the Curmudgeon was through Blogging. I'm still sweating out the Turbo Tax thing. Every time I redo it I get different figures. Oh, well. It is still a couple of months to April 15, and I have a wedding to go to next week-end down in Texas. I'll try to update readers one what the heart surgeon has to day Monday afternoon.

Frigid here in Montana over the week-end with a promise of the mid-30's next week.

The Appeal

I'm done!

Reads

I finally finished Michael Gruber's "Valley of Bones" last night while keeping an eye on CNN for election results. I was also able to read the first chapter of "The Appeal" by John Grisham. The first book was very interesting with the story of a hillbilly girl who has more facets to her personality than seems possible; plus a PhD female with health problems who keeps putting off a visit to a doctor, and Detective Jimmy Paz, who has a strange Cuban mother. It turned out to be a good read. Grisham starts out as typical Grishman. I'll probably finish it before the week is out.

I got a kick out of the local Republican County Chairman who commented about how democracy was at work with the Montana Republican Caucus. Democracy?? Taking the vote away from the majority of the citizens. How does that add up to a truly democratic process? Thankfully us Democrats will have our regular Primary in June,.

New Book

I bought a copy of John Grisham's latest book - The Appeal - at Costco yesterday. When I went to add it to my Goodreads list as one to be read it did not appear in a search either of Goodreads or at Amazon. Today (Sunday) I listed "JohnGrishman" in Goodreads and the title still does not appear. I listed the title and it showed up among a long list of books with the word "appeal" in the title. I look forward to reading it as soon as I finish "Valley of Bones".

Otherwise Pete is busy getting dinner ready before he leaves to watch the Super Bowl with friends.

Tagged by Trudy

So!? Get the book that is closest to you and: Find page 123, Read the first 3 sentences and then post the next two. The books closest to this computer are a Schfield reference Bible, a copy of the NRSV of the Bible and the New Testament in the New English Bible edition. The passage on page 123 from Luke is the tale of the so-called Podigal Son. Sentences 4 and 5 read: "He had spent it all, when a severe famine fell upon that country and he began to feel the pinch. So he went and attached himself to one of the local landowners, who sent him on his farm to mind the pigs."

The earlier sentence says that he took his inheritance and went to "a distant country." You don't suppose that was Iowa do you? I have deep memories of driving past pig farms in that "far counrtry," having lived there for four years.

I really don't have anyone to tag.

Uncle Curmudge

Winners - Losers

Once again, you can't win them all. The Patriots won and the Pack lost. Oh, well! At least Eli Manning looked like a real quarterback. And Pete and I were able to watch in relative comfort indoors. Even so, we made it to a Church Pot Luck dinner and so missed the first half of the second game. AND it has been 0 degrees in Billings the last couple of days with our heaviest snow fall to date. I'm fortunate that Pete is here to take care of the shoveling.

We are now on Facebook as a Taylor Family group with 14-15 members so far including a number of grandchildren.

Good News and questionable

Exactly one month ago (12/17/07) I saw my cardiologist for a routine checkup. I suggested that I was having occasional angina and wondered if it might be related to the stenosis of my aortic valve. That condition has a long history. Dr. Dudczak suggested that we could schedule another Echo Gram and see if there was significant change. She also suggested that I might lose some weight. After all 175 on my 5"2" frame (if that tall) was a bit much. The good news is that this morning (one month later) I weighed in at 168.2. Still a ways to go, but cutting out the Fritos plus dip seems to be working.

The questionable news is the suggestion that sugery is indicated. Dr Barbara (she is also a twin) will be talking with other staff tomorrow and will get back to me next week. She showed me that the size of the aortic opening is about the size of the opening in a ball point pen where the "stem" comes through. It all means that after the pros make some decision I'll also have to be making one.

Jane Eyre

I didn't get turned on to the Bronte sisters when I was going to high school or college. The last couple of Sunday evenings I have watched the PBS Masterpiece Theatre production of "Jane Eyre". It was a good story and well done. Since it was four hours w/o any commercial breaks can I now list that in my "Good Reads"? Probably not, but I'm not likely now going out and hunt up more of the Bronte books. After all this way had a pretty girl to watch instead of a Sunday Night football game.

Of course, tonight will be a difficult TV choice. BCS Championship Bowl or CBS Monday night comedies?

West "By God" Virginia

At last a football game worth watching. The WV Mountaineers beat up big time on the Okies. The Sooners were listed as #3 in the final Bowl Champion Series ratings to West Virginia's #11. So much for computers. As a Marshall graduate it does not pain me at all that WVU did such a a great job in their 48-28 victory - and without Slayton. The Freshman, Noel Divine stepped in and did a great job. And in regard to the above phrase - West "By God" Virginia" - I heard it at least 3 times during the telecast. As one who regularly heard people in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Montana tell me that they had "a friend in Norfolk" or in "Richmond" and I had to remind them that I was from "West 'by God' Virginia." And while I have no desire to move back there, I've always been proud of the Mountaineers stance at the time of the Civil War, and I don't want people to think that I'm a Virginian.

Another Muse

It is hard to believe that I have gottn bored with football. Well, I do look up once in a while, but a good read tops most of what I've seen on TV lately, and I don't think it all relates to the writer's strike. I started Nora Robert's Blood Brothers last week and picked it up after Church yesterday and finally finished it at about the time the Sunday night football gamer ended. I can't even tell you who was playing or who won witout checking the paper. I'd read an earlier book months ago with the same title - Blood Brothers, but that one was about the Jewish-Palestine relationship between Isaih and Ishmeal. Basically Hebrew and Arab Christian. Robert's writes about three kids who celebrate there mutual 10th birthday by blood bonding and setting off a lot of trouble for their small community every seven years. They are now at 3 times seven and are finding out a lot about the whole situation. Unfortunatly it's one of Nora's triplicates so I guess I'll now have to find the sequels.

In the meantime Ihave Gary Wills "Head and Heart" to be read along with a bunch of books which came under the Christmas Tree.

And furthermore - HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

DEJA VU all over again!

We had a glorious week-end with family visiting both from North Dakota and from Montana. The NoDaks came in around 9 o'clock Friday night so we caught up a little before bedtime. Ice Cream and Pete's cookies were well received. On Saturday Annie and Bill come over and we planned to go to Jake's for dinner. Andrew was expected. His parents went a bit early to stop by John's and Jean's to pick up an old photograph John called about. Turned out to be a copy of a Christmas Card Betty and I had sent out from our days in Davenport, IA. I had superimposed head shots of Ken, Ann and Jimmy on a picture of a coal fired train engine I had taken earlier. It probably dates from 1953 or '54. Andrew came in from Bozeman just as the rest of us were leaving the house. Good timing!

Anyway, Sunday afternoon after Church we were all sitting around the front room and the second and third generation adults and grown children were deep in memories as I sat and listened. All of a sudden in seemed to me that I was the kid again back at Grandfather Taylor's listening to all of my Uncles and Aunts in conversation about their past history and present activities. And then today in the comic strip "For Better or Worse" it all came back again. April, the teen aged daughter is asked to sit at the kitchen table with the young children since there isn't enough room at the table in the dining room and the children need someone to watch over them. As she listens to the "yackty-Yack" from the adults she mutters to herself - "Bonus". No that I felt than my hard-of-hearing was any sort of bonus yesterday. It was simply great having them all present and enjoying their "catching-up".

And a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

He's back!

It's been a long time since you found me here. Not much happening. Life is not dull, but not much happening. For the last few weeks I've been going to Choir practice to help our Choir in its production of "The Birthday of the King". It was not exactly a cantata since there were many speaking parts of Bibilical chracters between numbers, and there were many more solos than Choir selections. We produced it Friday night to a big audiance and Sunday evening to a full house. It was a challenge since I stopped regular choir participation when I turned 80. (Well, after all practice was on Wednesday nights, but so was "The West Wing.") I went back after Betty's death, but some of the numbers were much to much so I stopped again.

I saw my Cardiologist yesterday. She suggested that I might feel better if I lost some weight. I found it hard to believe that I had topped 173. We've scheduled a follow up echo cardiogram for January to see if there has been any major change in the stenosis of the aortic valve. Otherwise the visit was fairly uneventful.

Jimmy's family will be coming in from Dickinson late Friday for a week-end visit. We'll have dinner at Jake's with Pete as our waiter. There will be 7 of us: myself, Cec, Jonathan, Natalie, Ann, Bill and Andrew. I'm truly looking forward to this time even if I'll have to order lightly.

That's probably it until after Christmas.

Fiesta Time

It is in the holiday-fiesta period at Rocky Mountain College. A couple of weeks ago I attended the Annual Thanksgiving meal with the price of admission some nonperishable food for the area Food Bank. Tonight it is the Annual Yule Log Dinner. When we first came here there was a real yule log fire, Cliff Clark as Santa, and the singing of carols. Lately it has been the dinner along with some theatrics by the drama people. I plan to be there. At least its a chance for a balanced dinner for a widower.

Last night Pete (son) and I went to the Annual RMC Choir program of Lessons and Carols. Various students and staff members read from the Bible stories of prophecy and anticipation, and the Choir and other members of the Music Department perform. The First Presbyterian Church was packed for the 3 o'clock performance, and it is probably the largest church auditorium in town. One family said that they had come in the afternoon this year because the evening is "so packed." I've been many times, but not at the 7 o*clock. This year there was more instrumental music than in previous years. On the last number the congregation joined in singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful." When the Soprano's came in on the high notes at the end of each chorus it was thrilling to these old ears.

I had checked the list of choir members in the program. Fifty-six in all. One name I recognized as the last name of students who were enrolled while I was still on staff. After the program I approached a young lady and told her how good the concert had been and said that I recognized one name in the Choir. Surprise, Surprise. She turned out to be the one. She was not, however related to the previous students even though she was from the same town in Montana.