The right temperature.

It's still 84 degrees in my house. Outside, according to my indoor/outdoor thermometer (thanks Santa), it's 69 degrees. I glow with a light perspiration of late evening. The outdoor thermometer compels me to resist the air conditioning. I am. I was cold all day except for my walks up and down the block to and from hearings. I've been laying on my couch reading this evening with the front door open. The languid feeling of sweat without motion gives me cause to be still. Sometimes there are thoughts, but sometimes my mind is empty. It's even empty of preparation for what should be done next. Is there no value in an empty mind? Isn't it a little easier to read when a mind is quiet.

My fan is turned backward in the window sucking hot air out of the house, while I have the door on the other side of the house open. The outside will replace the inside. It's one of those activities I forget about until I am doing it and I remember all of those times that I've done it before. It makes it seem like I've lived a long time and no time at all because years and years ago seem just like today.

Yes, I'm thankful for my air conditioning. But I think I'm more thankful for seasons. Anyway, it's a nice chance to glow.

Emperor Harry Lou Retton

Hello Harry Lou. Good-bye heart.

His real name in Caesar. I, in an attempt to become the worst houseguest ever, renamed the dog. I am curious however... which do you prefer Harry Lou or Caesar?

Tell the puppy I said hi.

Samson of the Cimmaron

Exploring again. This weekend it was to Samson of the Cimarron in Seward County. (I recommend clicking on the link. It has some great historical photos and an explanation of what led to its construction.)
The bridge is just off of Highway 54. If you turn off at the rest area west of Kismet and drive north you'll find the bridge. However, I would strongly urge you to approach from the north. You take the paved road off of 160 which is west of Kismet by a mile or two. I'm not sure the name of the road, but since you can see Kismet in the distance, just turn on the paved that appears to be west of the town. The benefit of that road is that you'll get this surprising view of the bridge that is hidden until you come over a rise. It's a shock to come upon this monster. The picture is taken just over the rise.

On the way to the bridge

This is the bridge over the Cimarron going on Highway 54. I'm on the north side of the bridge. Yes, there were ducks.


From the rest area there are stairs that lead to the river. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I sort of envisioned myself having to climb over no-trespassing signs to get to the bridge. There was evidence that someone was using the land for grazing, but I never climbed over a single fence on my walk to the bridge.

Picturing Samson

Samson on my head.

Me and Samson. There's a train on the bridge in this photo. Not much to see, but you should have heard it. I think that I took pictures to keep myself from running away. I nearly started crying because it was so loud and there was a train directly over my head.

As I hiked away from the bridge, another train traversed the bridge. I enjoyed this one much more.

Boys and Girls Renounce the World

Read first.

Ok. I haven't read the book that's being reviewed and I would bet you money that I could find a million more examples to bolster his conclusions about Christianity and Pop Culture/ Christianity as Pop Culture. I'm also the last person who is going to defend sub-par reading/music just because it's Christian. But this was funny to me. I got to the punch-line of the article mocking sub-par Christian entertainment and he uses a terrible example. "You'll have to excuse us/ we're in love with Jesus" is the song cited as the Christian sub-par punk music. And yes it is sub-par. What they were doing was cutting edge for the time even if it wasn't the best punk music. It humored me that I knew immediately that this is a song off of Undercover's first and worst album. I'm surprised at using it for an example because Undercover's next two punk albums were pretty cool. And then they did "Branded" which was my favorite album in junior high though no longer "punk" and no longer "fun". The author didn't even name the band that he was mocking, which is just lazy. Nor did he mention that this is off of an album that wasn't widely distributed and therefore hardly an example of the franchising of Christianity. There are some great examples of sub-par entertainment marketed as "Christian", but he really chose the wrong band. And I'm guessing we could find some "secular" punk music from the same era that's just as poor.

Lunch time: because the wind is blowing

Today is crazy. The wind is out of control which, as you know, always lifts my spirits. Some morning items of interest:
1. The police scanner is always on at the office. Scanner item: "Subject driving wheelchair down middle of (4-lane) street. Please respond." There may be some tragic, non-funny explanation as is usually the case with the scanner, but I like to think that the fellow just thought that it would be a funny thing to do today.
2. Another scanner item "Please respond to Law Enforcement Center. Subject's head caught in stair railing." Again, probably not funny for the kid in the situation.
3. At the grocery store, a lady's hot dog buns flew out of her grocery cart outside. It's that windy.
4. This is not funny, but made me happy. Morning music selections on the radio included songs off of two of my all time favorite cds. Cake's "Motorcade of Generosity" and The Maverick's "What a Crying Shame". When morning music is good, it's so good.

I'm sorry if the wind isn't blowing where you are the sky isn't dusty blue.