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Showing posts from September, 2017

Tolstoy, after Rousseau, on Knowledge and Wisdom

“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one’s life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.”

Rainbow Shark

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Earlier this month we were picking our daughter up from work when glancing out the window I spied this boney rainbow shark-cloud. Glad I got a pic before it faded away.

Antiques

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The other day we took a short road trip (no more than two hours, tops) up some back-roads to Ridgeway, SC then on up to Winnsboro, SC. Not much to see in Winnsboro but the South Carolina Railroad Museum and a stop sign that holds your attention long enough to read the green sign that points left to "Columbia." A right turn will take you to a red light that, if you wait long enough to make a left turn, will take you to a little dive that serves greasy burgers and good southern fixins'. Park in the dirt, step up onto the porch and in the door on your right and wait your turn to place your order in line past the tiny tables that, with ten people, completely fill the joint. Belly up to the counter that is no more than a shoulder-wide and tell the lady what you'll have. When she calls, grab your baskets and make your way out the door on the left and enjoy the sweltering summer heat that keeps the grease draining from your burger and nice cold tea. Or a Coke. But if&

Went For A Drive

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Saturday, we just got in the car and drove. Didn't go far. Just down the road a piece. Beautiful day to just get out. Visited Ridgeway, SC (population: 303). 625 feet above Sea Level. Leslie's waiting outside the Ridgeway Police Department. She don't see I escaped and am across the skreet.

"Loredo"

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"Loredo" 6 RFT 24 Squats 24 Push-ups 24 Walking lunge steps Run 400 meters

Here We Go Again

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ht: Analisa Crowder for making this.

Departures

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This show is going on 10 years now, but who cares. Just finished Season 1 and started Season 2. Binge-worthy. Streaming now on Netflix. Makes you want to get out and see the world.

Excursion: Downtown

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Moon Over Magnolias

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Photo taken in mid-July 2017

Interstellar Medley

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ht: Wilfric for this magic

"Hidden Figures"

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Watch this movie. Enjoy this movie. Learn from this movie. Be inspired by this movie. Be "the first."

Hurricane Prep, Day 4

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Different forecasters have different models but looks like we're still in "the cone." My prediction is the storm will move more westward before turning North--if it turns at all. Regardless, until it move on by, our guard remains "up." Today, matters will be more "around-the-house" focused--in no particular order. Car's already gassed up, so that's done. Pick up prescriptions; Get the house clean, per usual; Clean gutters and make certain yard drains are clear; Make room in the garage to bring in outside furniture and garbage cans; Tie down or remove fence gate altogether (latch is broken and having that heavy things banging in high wind can be dangerous). Take down outside lights, windchimes and the Flag; Charge all the chargeables (batteries, cell phones, laptops); Fill all the fillables (maybe on Sunday, if it looks like weather's turning); Get reading material together (see sidebar). I'm sure other things will demand

Hurricane Prep, Day 3 "Two Cases, No Exceptions"

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Decided to make a couple stops on the way to the house last evening, one stop being at a smaller local grocery store. Signs taped on the door said "Two cases of water per customer. No Exceptions." I took that to be a good sign that water was available, so though I already have a water plan in place, thought I should take advantage of the opportunity. I grabbed the last basket and we made our way in. Boy was the place busy. Not far from the registers were pallets of gallon-size bottles with a sign "2 for $1.39." Noted. $1.39, huh? For a case? as of 6:00 a.m. today, by Intellicast Made our way to the back of the store and found one pallet with a couple cases of water left, six gallons per case. I lifted a case into our basket and left the other for someone else. Finishing our shopping, we were behind another fellow who (among other things) had an identical case of water. The store manager standing nearby saw our cases and came over, "you can only

Hurricane Prep, Day 2

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University officials announced this morning that school will be closed Monday, September 11 due to the size of Hurricane Irma and the potential damages. This may also give some students an opportunity to find safe retreat with family or friends in other locations over the long weekend.  HT: Marti A friend of ours (not a student) isn't worried. When commenting on the hurricane she said, "100 miles from the coast; 1 mile to the closest bar." I'm not worried either as my bar is in the garage. On the weight bench. Got back-up water bottles frozen and bags of ice stashed away. Just need to fill the coolers when it's time. 

Hurricane Prep

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Hurricane Irma has slammed into Puerto Rico and at this point, the storm could still turn any direction. Regardless, our state has been placed under state of emergency by the governor. So with that in mind, the mix of overcast skies and a little rain made folks go a bit nuts. Already.  Gas prices have been riding high for a few days now, but the stores are getting hit fairly hard. The store parking lot was full of cars and I witnessed folks sauntering out carrying loaves of bread and jugs of milk like prizes won in a fight.  Inside the store it was not terribly bad--attitudes were good--but the water was gone. And the bread. Plenty of milk though, and eggs were 59 cents. So we loaded up on bread items that were left--though I can't figure out why all the sliced bread was gone but not the Ciabatta rolls. I'm not ashamed to put a slice of Spam on Ciabatta if I have to. Thanks for leaving the good stuff! Plenty of water-bearing fresh fruit left. Especially the watermel

"Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat"

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Thor Heyerdahl born this day in 1916.

Silver Lining

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Enjoy this amazing pre-sunset view.

"A Miracle . . ."

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 . . . or something terrible happened," observed our son when we came around the corner and found this in the aisle.

Sushi

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or as our Granddaughter says, "Shooshi" And if you're interested, my fortune cookie read, "Speak softly and sweetly." Yum

Shweeb! Yes, please!

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Trail Run

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Took a trail run at lunch today. 2.67 miles in 40 minutes and some change. I ran the trail "backwards" today because, well, this hill's been climbed enough. It was time to run down it today. A kind of a victory run, as it were. I needed a little victory run today. Tired of getting my butt kicked. Thought I would kick back today. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of work getting to the top and by the time I decided to record this part of the descent, I had already come down quite a ways. And there were two more very large hills yet to climb before I got back to the start. Impossible to get anywhere around here without climbing a hill or seven. Today I just needed to get out in nature where nothing's in a hurry and everything's on time. Out on the trails, the only sound heard is the wind in the trees, the birds and squirrels gossiping, the occasional "plop" of someone's fishing line as they hide in the bushes on the banks of a priva