Accent

O.K. Philipa, you started it. My accent is Midland.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

To do or not to do

About a year ago my Cardiologist had an Echo test done when I suggested that my increased angina might be due to a previously diagnosed aortic stenosis. The test showed an opening of the valve about the size of the opening of a ball point pen. She indicated that I should have surgery right away and made an appointment for me to talk with the outstanding heart surgeon in Billings. I told her that I had a wedding to go to in Texas in February, and she said surgery in December should not hinder that. I was told a couple of years ago that my chances of surviving knee replacement were 1 in 4 so I was not enamored of heart surgery. I did talk with Dr. Milliken and we discussed the odds, He seemed to agree that such an operation was problematic, but that he would be willing to do it. My decision at the time was to not have it. Lately I find the angina getting, if not worse at least more prevalent with less activity. Nevertheless today I was able to do several errands including walking around Wal-Mart and Costco with no real trouble. Then Studs Terkel died.

What does that have to do with it? An article in the Chicago Tribune included the following: "In August 2005 Terkel added another item to his lengthy list of accomplishments, undergoing a risky open-heart procedure at 93 to replace a narrowed aortic valve and redo one of the five coronary bypasses he he'd undergone nine years before." He died three years later at the age of 96. If I were to have such surgery and live to 2011 that would take me to 86-87. And I'll never be any healthier than I am at this present time. There is, of course a decision to be made, but my "musing" tells me that such decision should be made, plus or minus, by the end of the year or no later than January. Actually I would not choose to have any surgery before Christmas.

Busy

Watching the World Series last night I was truly amazed that they kept playing. What a storm! True to the old saying : "when it rains, it pours." Then I looked at my own plans for this Tuesday night. My Alma Mater, Marshall U. is on ESPN2 tonight from the home town playing Houston - 6 pm mountain time. The Yellowstone County Democrats are having the monthly dinner at 5:30 pm. And a friend has encouraged me to attend a meeting at Rocky Mountain College at 7:30 tonight - sponsored by her son.

I guess that I'll skip the dinner and watch the first half of the game and then go to the meeting. I do have some lasagne left from last night so will certainly not go hungry.

By the way. It is a beautiful day here in Billings, Montana today.

A growing family

Knowing that Stephanie was in labor and that it was prolonged I waited until after noon (CDT) to call her Dad to find out if the baby had been born. YES. Son David is now a Grandfather and I am a Great Grandfather. Then I got there e-mail with further details. Arianna Elizabeth, welcome to the Huss and the Taylor family. You will have many Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents to love you. May we simply love and then let your be yourself. I will have to admit that when I read the e-mail that this little girl was to carry her Great Grandmother's middle name - Elizabeth, I felt a deep emotion knowing the my Harriet Elizabeth would never hold her, but she will surely be a guardian angel. And there is still to be born, Sophie Harriet Elizabeth Taylor later this year. That, too, will be a time of great joy. We Montanan's and North Dakotan's are looking forward to meeting Arianna at Thanksgiving.

Shopping

I have been able to pretty much save my Social Security income so it had built up in a typical savings account. I checked the Credit Union and found that I could get a 6 month CD with 3.0% interest so half of the savings have been so transferred. I caught my favorite "banker" just before she headed out to lunch.

Then I went to Costco for some lunch stuff and whatever. It turned out to be more whatever. They had a collection of chicken legs and wings with mesquite. Very good. I anticipated an Eggo omlet for supper, but it will be chicken instead. I also got some bread, English muffins, mixed nuts (Pete seems to like them - too), and a couple of books: Garrison Keillor's latest: "Liberty", A novel of Laker Wobegon; and "Blue Man in a Red State" - the story of our Governor, Brian Sweitzer. While I have met the Gov. I have not met Garrison except on NPR.

So much for the economy.

Politics

I commented on Facebook the other day wondering what McCain was afraid of while making plans to ditch the first Debate. Today I noticed that after FOX carries the Presidential Debate it will be followed by "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

Widower-hood

As I sat in Church last Sunday I noticed two of our retired clergy sitting together. Hugh has just recently lost his wife, and Paul was widowed 3-4 years ago when Mary Lou died. She had been wheel chair bound for some time. Mary Huntley died soon after planned surgery which resulted in a massive blood clot to the brain. She never recovered, and was dead within a week. Ahead in front of me was A layman, younger than myself, whose wife died after a long battle with cancer. Today I went to the College to attend an Art Exhibit of current teachers work. There was some pretty nice work n display. One of my colleagues, now retired, was also there. Bob Morrison's wife died from a massive clot which lodged in her brain just over a year ago. I had not seen Bob since that time so it was good to have a chance to talk with him. He also expressed that it was "good" to have a chance to talk. He commented that he was still adjusting. He though early of selling the "big" house they were living in, but the children all said "no". "Where would we stay?" I, of course, know that feeling. I want to always be available to house any of the children who are able to come for a visit, and with Pete living with me taking care of things is no problem.

I guess that what started all this in the realization that it is not always the husband who dies first. And just like Bob, we soon come to the realization of how much the wife has been doing and we were not quite aware. And in recent weeks I have thought often of how often I was on the road - out of town - and Betty was left to raise the kids, and take care of things. Now I wonder if I did not miss the most rewarding part of being in a family.

Are you grown up?

In cleaning out some files today I came across the following from my ancient file for a course in Healthy Personality at Rocky Mountain College. I labeled the course that instead of "Mental Hygiene." This list is based on "Ten Marks of A Disciple" by The Rev. Rod Romney, an American Baptist Pastor who served in Seattle many years ago. I don't know if he still lives or not. I label it "Ten Marks of Maturity:

1. A loss of interest in judging the self.
2. A loss of interest in judging others.
3. A loss of interest in conflict in any form.
4. A loss of interest. More seriously, a loss of ability to worry.
5. An unmistakable tendency to enjoy each moment.
6. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation and thanksgiving.
7. Tendency to think a and act spontaneously and lovingly rather
than from fears based on past experiences.
8. Contented feeling of being connected to all of life.
9. Increased ability to let things happen rather than trying to make
them happen.
10. Increased susceptibility to love extended by others, as well as the
the uncontrollable urge to extend love in all directions.

Phillippa follow-up

Got this from a niece the other day and since things are kinda slow I've given it some thought.

1. Where is your cell phone? ……………… No phone
2. Your significant other?……………………. She’s gone
3. Your hair? …………………………………….. shaved off
4. Your mother? ……………………………… died 1946
5. Your brother?………………………………… two living
6. Your favorite thing?……………………. eat well
7. Your dream last night?…………………. had none
8. Your favorite drink? ……………………….cold pepsi
9. Your dream?………………………….. live longer
10. The room you’re in?………………. living room
11. Your ex?…………………no such
12. Your fear?……………………………………..no more
13. Where do you want to be in 5 years?………….right here
14. Where were you last night?……………at home
15. What you’re not?……………………………very young
16. Muffins?…………………………………… home made
17. One of your wish list items?…………..Great Grandchildren
18. Where you grew up?…………………… Huntington, WV
19. The last thing you did?………………. Computer Search
20. What are you wearing?………………… blue jeans
21. Your TV?……………………………………not on
22. Your pets?…………………………………. have none!
23. Your computer? ………………………… use regularly
24. Your life?……………………………………..old guy
25. Your mood?………………………………pretty relaxed
26. Missing someone?…………………My Harriet
27. Your car?……………………………………Honda Accord
28. Something you’re not wearing?………………my shoes
29. Favorite Store?……………………………. Costco market
30. Your summer?…………………………….. all done
31. Like someone?……………………………my family
32. Your favorite color?…………………….. Kelly Green
33. Last time you laughed?…………………this morning
34. Last time you cried?………………….August 2006
35. You are with?……………………….. son Pete
35. Who will re-post this?……………………hopefully someone!
 

Housekeeping

Early in the week I called Pro-Steam to get my carpet cleaned. Thursday at 8 o'clock o.k? Fine. Then I called Pro-tech about servicing the furnace. Thursday at 8:30 o.k.? Fine. So last night I was awake off and on to make sure that I was dressed, pilled, and had breakfast before 8 a.m. The carpet guy came about 7:45 and worked diligently with his assistant, and they were on their way by 8:30. About 8:25 the furnace guy called and was running a bit late. Good! One truck out of the way before the next one shows up. I was really surprised to get them both here so quickly, but according to the carpet guy, people are putting a lot of this sort of stuff off. He was truly glad to get the job.

The furnace guy tells me that there is a small amount of CO2. Not to worry, but I have budgeted for a new furnace next year. I was thinking yesterday about a 2009 budget. This year the big expense has been hearing aids. At least my income should not be much different from this year. Social Security should increase due to inflation, and my Equities retirement will decrease due to market forces. Annuities and Bond income will remain constant. I've increased amounts for Utilities, groceries, auto expense, Medicare, Medical Insurance, etc. It looks as if I'll survive.

Time marches on. Today people are remembering 9/11. Every day I remember 12/3.

Family Gathering

I've been writing on Facebook about Sour-dough waffles for breakfast. Saturday mornings brother John's family along with Pete and me have been having late morning breakfast. We call it "Farmer's Market" because the 9:30 time gives those who wish time to get to the local Farmer's Market before hand. John and Jean are the usual hosts, but this last Saturday Pete and I did it. I have a sour-dough starter I got in Jackson Hole, WY in the early 1960's. From this I make waffles on occasion, and sour-dough wheat bread. Both are very good. The picture above shows this past week's gathering with the one of little hair being brother John - my twin. And I have less hair. Clockwise around the table are Jean, Lisa, Pete, Mark and Rosanna. Lisa is not often with us since she lives in Red Lodge. It was good to have her. Dennis could not be with us as he was visiting his mother in Cody, WY. She is not well, and is in our prayers. Of course, in addition all the human types we had Rosanna's two large dogs. They are very well behaved, and love human contact: that is "scratching".

Democrats!!

I've spent the last couple of nights watching the Demo gathering in Denver. At times it has seemed like old home week. Last night was the stirring speech of Ted Kennedy in strong vibrant voice fresh out of the hospital. I met and shook hands with Ted in the mid 60's right after Bobby's murder in 1963. He was visiting Billings and we had a breakfast for him on the Rocky Mountain College campus. AND I had attended seminary in Massachusetts for four years 1955-1959. The Black Gov. of MA spoke tonight. Also Gov. Manchin of WV the State where I grew up and went to College spoke. In addition there was Ed Rendall, Gov. of PA. I went to Penn State for graduate study 1950-51. There was Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. I lived there from 1951-1955. And just before Hillary there was my current Gov. Brian Schweitzer of MT. Schweitzer did a great job of getting the delegats involved. I've lived in Montana now since August 1961, and know most of the State and national office holders. In fact I was at a cook-out last week with Sen. Max Baucus who is now running for his 6th term in the US Senate. He is currently Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Montana is often thought of as a Republican State, but we have a Democrat Govenor and two US Senators who are Democrats. And who could forget Mike Mansfield who was Majority Leader of the Senate for many years. I knew Mike well and once had a rather long visit with him in his Senate Office where he showed me a side room dedicated to the memory of John Kennedy.

I was pleased that David Gergan of CNN mentiion the part of Hillary's speech that I found very good. It was the comment that it was right that Bush and McCain would betogetherr next week in the Twin Cities since it is so difficut to tell them apart.

jimmy w/ his Mom

In looking through a large box of ancient pictures this week I came across this one which family will recognize as especially significant. Mom died in December 2005 and Jimmy died just a year ago this week. Betty's beautiful smile has always captured my heart. She was generally 100% positive in her outlook on life. During the two weeks she was in the hospital with leukemia we never talked about her not eventually coming home - to me. She was happy to visit with her children and most of our grandchildren who were here for Thanksgiving. I do hope you all enjoy this picture.

Auditory

A couple of weeks ago I saw an Audiologist who checked things out and determined that I could benefit with some sort of hearing aid. Today I went in and was fitted for the latest in digital devies - Opticon. They are very small and will take some getting use to. For example I was very much aware of my footsteps on the kitchen floor, and the click of these computer keys is not something I am use to. When I first got home I turned on the TV and found that I didn't need to turn the sound to 35. I could hear things perfectly well at 20. That should make things easier for the rest of the household. The man I dealt with is owner of the Billings Hearing Aid Service. He spent over an hour with me this tine checking, adjusting, and making sure that things were going to be alright. I had won a $3,000 certificate through a newspaper program for which I paid $1060. The two aids cost an additional $2200 each. I guess I had expected to pay a bit more so the $5460 total wasn't a big blow even if that would buy a lot of groceries and gasoline. Now to see if it makes some of those young fast-talking TV news people more understandable.

Betty - plural

I guess that I just have to go ahead and put this in writing. Maybe it will get it out of my head. In looking through a box of pictures this past week I have come cross the idea that I must be a "Betty" person. In grade school and early junior high I had a crush on Elizabeth Wilson. She wasn't that popuar or good looking, but I can still remember my chagrin when she answed in class pretty much like Jake in Two and a Half Men. I didn't find a picture of her but I did find pictures of BJ Jobe (Betty Jean) and Betty Mavity. Both of these I dated in College and beyond. BJ was a classmate of Betty Clarkson (my Harriet), but I didn't know that until sometime after I was married to Betty C. Betty Mavity was from Charleston, SC and was visiting her Granparents who belonged to my Church in Huntington, WV - Fifth Avenue Baptist. We dated while she was in town on occasion and when she matriculated at Denison University in Granville, Ohio she invited me to a Tri-Delta sorority dance her Freshman year. I remember hitch-hiking there and back. Of course, there was a rather long period of time through the 12th grade and beyond when the only girl I thought about was Julia (Judy) Gaines. That broke up during my brief absence in the military and her move to Washington, DC to work as a Secretary. Brother Don evenutally married Judy's sister, Garnett. So maybe I am not just a "Betty person", I'm a Harriet Elizabeth Clarkson Taylor person.

Rambling

’m going to ramble. Early this morning I got up (around 5:30) to do what old men do after a long night sleeping. I turned off the night light, and then stepped out the front door to get the morning paper. To early to stay up to read so I did my usual bit of grabbing an afghan and stretching out in the Lazy Boy lounge chair. It does cool down pretty well at night here in Montana. I laid back, pulled the cover up, and my brain began to “spin”. I began to wonder about the difference between “best” and “better”. For example: was is best that I get up when I did or was it “better”. My less that total command of the English language decided r that “better “ was the correct usage since there were only two choices. Get up oe wet the bed. About that time my right eyebrow began to itch. Descartes came to mind: I itch therefore I am. By 7:15 it is time to get up, take my 30 minute before breakfast pill and make some coffee. Now I can read the funnies and the sports page before Pete gets up. AND then eat the roll he brought me from Perkins. What a thoughtful kid. Guess I’ve somehow got to stop thinking of our offspring as “kids”. The youngest is 46 and they just go up at 2 year intervals to 58. And that sort of thing starts a whole other line of thought. At 83 I am the oldest male survivor of the A.B. Taylor family. Dad died at 59 of coronary thrombosis Uncle Claude at 61. My last memory of him was after a stroke which left him uncommunicative. Uncle Cordie in his early 40’s of TB. He had served in the military in WW I. My first military funeral at age 7. The Aunts died mostly in their mid to late 80’s and my only sister if currently 89. My older brothers died at 63, 50, and 56. I am said to be the first born of twins. Brother John still lives and appears to be in better health than I am. I honestly don’t know what brought this all up - but there you are. Another bit of Taylor history.

No Problem

Annie reporst some problem of not being able to log in to blogger.com. Obviously it hasn't happen to my account. On the other hand my Facebook account is always asking me to sign in. I do so with the wrong password, it tells me that is the wrong one and then adds the right one and signs on. Computers!!!

I did go up to Rocky after a lunch at the Church for a quick trip around the stadium to look at the various booths at Summer Fair. Not much appealed to me, and I'm still having to clean up 50 yeas of clutter. Not just Mom's. I did have a chance meeting with Lyndon Pomeroy who I have not seen for many months. He has lost a lot of weight. The next door neighbors were there this year for the first time in several years. Nancy has added a lot of color to Greg's pottery. Near the end of my sojourn I came acrosss Hal Mathew's booth. He has brought his potter to town from Missoula for the last several years. It is always good to have a chance to vist with him.

The Luncheon at Church was to say our "good-bye" to Bobby and Gloria Shaw. Bobby has been our Choir Director the past couple of years. Mary Lynn Anderson had asked me to say the blessing. One needs to be thankful not only for food, but for good music.

Pete is out so I am catching up and in the meantime doing some laundry,.

History

I've spent a major portion of this afternoon going through a file collection which contains a lot of hitory. Contracts which deal with the purchase of the current house and its upkeep. There was a number of purchase invoices of cars which we have ownned in the past. One was a Volkwagon "bus" which most of the kids will remember. With a family of 9 it sure came in handy. I remember going with Betty to a Class Reunion, but threre was a newpaper article with her picture at her 30th class reunion. That was held in 1973 a few weeks after I had come home from by-pass surgery in Denver. A Christmas letter spoke of this as my being well enough to be left in the "care of the kids". As I recall they must have done a good job. There is a group of letters of my correspondence with various Seminaries - and this before I had even finished a year of College. There is also a copy of my discharge from the Army Air Corps in Nov. 1943 - after 7 1/2 months of military training. They finally admited that I could see only with one eye. There was a pciture of the family which appeared in the Jersey City newspaper. Paul had not yet been born, but was born later in Jersey City. Of Course Peter did not arrive until we had moved to Montana. Betty only got prettier as she aged. But there was always that welcome smile. Letters from Father and brothers, and some copies of my own. My, O my. What an afternoon.

Murder???

There is a group in Montana gathering signatures to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Fall ballot to state that life begins at conception therefor abortion is murder. I guess that I can't argue against the major principle, but I have been known to argue that life begins with the first breath. Well, a couple of things have been going through my mind lately. If this law passes what happens to the lady who has an early miscarriage. Looking through some old folders this week I was reminded again of the fact that Betty had a first term miscarriage when we were in Davenport. That would be the early 1950's. As I recall most of the tissue fell into the toilet and was flushed away. Was this LIFE? And did this tissue deserve a Christian burial? A few years later she suffered the early birth of twins at about 6 months. Were we somehow subject to criminal prosecution? The twins were given a Christian burial with the Pastor of the local Congregational Church in charge. I can't help but believe that if our constitution is changed we will all be in big trouble.

Betty's absence from me in death is often on my mind. Does she miss me as I miss her? And then I think of the nunc aeternam - the eternal "nowness" of God, and it occurs to me that as far as she is concerned we are all with her in God's present. So much for now.

Ecclesiastical Conflict

So? So Obama left his Church. So what? I found that I had to do that at one time myself. I left the Highlawn Baptist Church of Huntington, WV. A Church of which my parents were charter members and in which I was baptized and grew up in. A Dhurch which contained many friends and spiritual mentors. A Church in which I had learned my Baptist freedom roots well. Unfortunately after both mother and father had died; I had graduated from high school; ,served a brief tour with the Army Air Corps (that should tell you how long ago this history was); and was very active in State Baptist Youth Fellowship work the Church hired a young man as Pastor who had lost his sense of Baptist History. He was the son of a pastor with whom I had worked one summer in Logan County coal mine communities. This guy came into the Church out of a very conservative southern Baptist seminary in Texas. He immediately got the Board of Deacons to enact some of his conservative theology and required that anyone who was active in the Church to subscribe to a creed he had written based on his fundamentalist beliefs. In the first place I could not subscribe to many of the statements contained therein, and secondly I felt that having to accept a creedal statement was outside the scope of being a Baptist. I believed that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, . . ." and that was all the "creed" I needed. BUT, after all, this was my famly's Church. The "Mother Church" was one in which my Grandfather Taylor was a patriarch. Fortunatly at this time I was graduating with a Master's degree and going to Connecticut so I was able to transfer my membership to a Church in Hartford, and then back to a more Baptist congregation when I returned to Huntington to teach at Marshall College. It did not become a University until long after I had moved on.

There are many reasons for leaving one's Church, even after a long time membership. I, for one, think that Senator Obama has done both himself and the Trinity Church a good.