tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12128904280515154942024-03-19T04:48:47.499-05:00Say What?My attempt at journalingKevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.comBlogger1016125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-2058507133222562832024-03-18T15:51:00.020-05:002024-03-18T20:42:05.340-05:00Can We Talk?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-pkDI6_Jf6dl9bETBgDvbsy0HvisioQEhhGteCn8Px4dcINYZexHPZKlediIxg9Wr1PXhCMvf4i89URziPSJPE5_ZDNb4UutqdTp4rkViMWvaGI1fkDA99cTo_0x35k029E5UsoUZ0dMcWgdyPUmgsjrrXTnwF1MADHRN4fXcX2z7inIZkYcuH41-E4/s5712/IMG_2665.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-pkDI6_Jf6dl9bETBgDvbsy0HvisioQEhhGteCn8Px4dcINYZexHPZKlediIxg9Wr1PXhCMvf4i89URziPSJPE5_ZDNb4UutqdTp4rkViMWvaGI1fkDA99cTo_0x35k029E5UsoUZ0dMcWgdyPUmgsjrrXTnwF1MADHRN4fXcX2z7inIZkYcuH41-E4/s320/IMG_2665.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our curling league is done for the season. I hope to join league play again next winter and improve on my budding but limited skills. <p></p><p>I woke up this morning and reached for my phone on the nightstand to read Heather Cox Richardson's most recent update—an update that usually lands in my inbox just after drifting off to sleep for the night. It's how most of my mornings begin. In another era, it wouldn't be this way. I wouldn't have to spend even one second of my day worrying about the direction many in our country would like to lead us or force us to go. But that's no longer the country we live in. </p><p><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-17-2024?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" target="_blank">Read Heather's most recent update here</a>.</p><p>It's not just the direction of our country under a Republican administration led by an authoritarian-curious kleptocrat that worries me, but that far too many people seem oblivious to what that will mean, or that some may even welcome it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D6cSFo4HfnSVerrMuJVgfmqJNm63Lw4BHmq3S_f_9Ey0BANCVCBZMnc9vTWF8-BtbAXi4Dxoj3MDIb-e2pF4Wslw6Jnh80e-16ughOFeNLTWVGMI6qns_4s82aYZM7dZMpoSlr3MjtedAgwxGFE6R5mpbLp2GhkZXQygWr2o4l67uMydUnpkIRkpqDA/s1006/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-18%20at%203.03.12%20PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p></p><p>I've spent my life free from such worry, always so sure that nothing would or could ever erode the democratic freedoms I've enjoyed and have assumed will always be there for not only me but for unlimited generations to come because authoritarianism could never get a foothold here, or so I believed. I long for those worry-free days again. </p><p>As I write this in early 2024, we're in an election year where the choice between the presidential candidates could not be clearer. This is not a typical presidential election: our constitutional republic—our form of democracy, hangs in the balance. Yes, I know that sounds hyperbolic and I would never have written such a thing just a few years ago but there's been a change. This has been a rapid and disturbing shift that has left many unaware of the growing tsunami of authoritarian rule that awaits us if Republicans prevail. Many of those who are oblivious to this growing concern are themselves unwittingly supporting the movement. </p><p>As I said, the differences between the candidates for president could not be more clear.</p><p>One candidate has presided over <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-credits-americans-strong-economy-touts-legislative-wins/story?id=106681496" target="_blank">a robust economic recovery</a> through a middle-out and bottom-up approach while the other is promising more tax breaks for the wealthiest among us at the expense of programs for the neediest among us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUdsZyZOHuEWp_NavqWhfgVVanREni51lRlMFJV-8b8VnKBWvJZjVtOR5EMjXDtOiuws6WiJgUp1hHoaP_J5vsVB1yluNccIvn2SqyFNE4FgdSf9roKe7LvBWXhnWTmE8jnJBhiF9j4foavJJpuxLYD7qd2kA8HKiF-a3s9oPL74yc4Nkgb6yu28aYV0/s1080/biden_tweet.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1080" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUdsZyZOHuEWp_NavqWhfgVVanREni51lRlMFJV-8b8VnKBWvJZjVtOR5EMjXDtOiuws6WiJgUp1hHoaP_J5vsVB1yluNccIvn2SqyFNE4FgdSf9roKe7LvBWXhnWTmE8jnJBhiF9j4foavJJpuxLYD7qd2kA8HKiF-a3s9oPL74yc4Nkgb6yu28aYV0/s320/biden_tweet.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>One candidate worked to bring recovery to our nation during and after the pandemic while the other stoked divisions with blatant lies about the virus and the threat it posed.</p><p>One of the candidates stood with striking auto workers on the picket line while the other posed the next day for photos at a nonunion facility decked out to look like he was speaking to striking union workers where he <a href="https://youtu.be/HJJF8tuKCRs?si=CplZ85cdsiTnDq6G" target="_blank">paid $20,000 to stage the fake scene</a>.</p><p>One of the candidates implored Congress to work together to hammer out fixes for our southern border, and when they did, the other <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4448556-trump-calls-border-bill-a-death-wish-for-republican-party-dont-be-stupid/" target="_blank">made sure those plans were never signed into law</a>, preferring instead to keep the crisis an issue that he could use to continue to score political points with his unwitting followers.</p><p>One of the candidates is urging lawmakers to approve funding to help Ukrainians in a battle for their country from Russian aggression <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/10/politics/trump-foreign-aid-loan-senate-package/index.html" target="_blank">while the other is preventing that aid from being approved</a> in service to Russia's dictator, Putin. </p><p>One candidate stands strong with our NATO allies while the other tell Putin <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-russia-nato-defense-funds/story?id=107136736" target="_blank">"to do whatever the hell they want</a>" if a NATO country didn't spend enough on defense. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-IgWSStZTYDIcC155b_I0rLU9Iv0kWzII1j8IF0zJskwBTCX8os6vus42-NwQxZk4VkZmqNyyG7HpCLO5XQsQAVUn8nTtyauP_YTHsCVAyTnaQJRkDIyXilkv86DDIQWcVP2hOboG5hDAYZvYUq91NcjiNd4nrExOD1F6W6gGbjhyphenhyphenQoESdCcrQHskIk/s1006/lindy.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-IgWSStZTYDIcC155b_I0rLU9Iv0kWzII1j8IF0zJskwBTCX8os6vus42-NwQxZk4VkZmqNyyG7HpCLO5XQsQAVUn8nTtyauP_YTHsCVAyTnaQJRkDIyXilkv86DDIQWcVP2hOboG5hDAYZvYUq91NcjiNd4nrExOD1F6W6gGbjhyphenhyphenQoESdCcrQHskIk/s320/lindy.png" width="237" /></a></div><p></p><p>One candidate stands firm against authoritarian leaders of the world while the other offers them only his praise.</p><p>One of the candidates understands that decisions about going forward with a pregnancy are best had without a politician in the doctor's office but left up to a woman and her doctor.</p><p>One candidate sees immigrants as an integral part of our social fabric while the other sees them as "animals"—as "vermin who are poisoning the blood of our nation."</p><p>One of the candidates owes $500,000,000 in punitive damages for his sham business practices but <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmD5SCTSj34j324P9" target="_blank">can't find the money to pay the fine</a> even though he claims to be fabulously wealthy, all the while fleecing his followers for donations and diverting RNC funds intended for Republican candidates all across the country for his personal use to pay his legal bills.</p><p>I could go on but you get the idea.</p><p>I worry about young impressionable minds being corrupted by parents caught up in the ugliness of the MAGA movement. How do these children reconcile the teachings they're learning in Sunday School with the hate that flows from their parents' mouths or the hate that is written on their parents favorite "Fuck Joe Biden" T-shirts?</p><p>I'm trying to imagine myself as a child trying to make sense of parents who support this kind of man: a man who has been found civilly liable for raping a woman; a man who orchestrated a coup on our nation's Capitol in a deranged effort to remain in power; a man who speaks endlessly about hoaxes and witch hunts against him but who is deadly afraid to have his name cleared in a court of law; a man who says shoplifters should be shot; a man who called for the jailing of Biden in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election; a man who used the cruel act of separating mothers from their children, some of them infants, as a way of deterring others from seeking asylum here. Some of those children have still not and likely will not ever be reunited with their families because records weren't kept. How does such a man's approval poll above a fraction of a percent? </p><p>Propaganda. That's how.</p><p>I could go on all afternoon and into the evening detailing examples of this flawed man. It's too late to be on the right side of history for many of you as that ship has sailed, but it's not too late to do the right thing and finally abandon support for this awful man. The off-ramps have been there all along. It's up to his supporters to wake up from their stupor and take an exit. Even Trump's most fervent supporter <a href="https://youtu.be/LyuwkzpPlRI?si=44IJhLFPNsEH-6Xq" target="_blank">was finally able to do that</a>. </p><p>How about you? </p><p>Extra credit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Republicans_who_oppose_the_Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_campaign" target="_blank">reading</a>. </p><p>That's all I've got.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YtcPHt_sp6M?si=znzKM7j-E79SgG35" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-34850752074542999022024-03-04T21:10:00.008-06:002024-03-05T10:33:53.051-06:00Projects, Politics, and Pedaling<p>I blinked and February was gone!</p><p>I have a confession: I've been watching an embarrassingly large amount of curling videos on YouTube. Now that I understand some of the strategies (there's still much that goes over my head), I find it fascinating to watch. </p><p>I've been experiencing excessive knee pain lately. I know that curling doesn't help the matter but this began before I ever joined a curling league. I'm concerned it may possibly be related to the statin (Rosuvastatin, aka Crestor) I've been taking to manage my cholesterol level. There are reports of the kind of pain I'm experiencing as a side effect of the drug. My right knee has been a problem for me <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/JLjNvQpkbi8kTq3c7" target="_blank">since high school</a> when I tore the meniscus in it (twice in two months) but I've managed to keep it mostly healthy through exercise (and arthroscopic surgery in 1991). But back in December, before curling was ever a thing for me, I developed aggravating knee pain in my right knee that limited how hard I could push myself on my indoor bike trainer. And now the pain has begun to affect my healthy left knee. I decided to stop taking the statin one week ago and already I'm experiencing less pain in my knees. I'm still mostly soft-pedaling my rides but there's noticeable improvement.</p><p>I've been on Rosuvastatin for one year and I prefer to remain on it because it's done well at lowering my overall cholesterol value from 208 to 164 but being able to live my life actively is also a consideration of mine. I'll check with my doctor about an alternative med.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKApf6DmfCbSrQCcfP3FkjJbdqYJxpz-mhkGsL4uJ6wRFzRwBQBuTImG8Cz10ue-66-EKiWkWo9Yng9pSSWKXRiMI3rP8DFFbyxMr-RuMap5Hb4rKl6hhKt21hRkxEOddHiXLQ5uwAcMfzbPQpu3vLuhyphenhyphenCn_Pfng67e1TVyLeHT8VMd_i8K1q6QwPCTG4/s2947/IMG_2463.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2947" data-original-width="2947" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKApf6DmfCbSrQCcfP3FkjJbdqYJxpz-mhkGsL4uJ6wRFzRwBQBuTImG8Cz10ue-66-EKiWkWo9Yng9pSSWKXRiMI3rP8DFFbyxMr-RuMap5Hb4rKl6hhKt21hRkxEOddHiXLQ5uwAcMfzbPQpu3vLuhyphenhyphenCn_Pfng67e1TVyLeHT8VMd_i8K1q6QwPCTG4/w287-h287/IMG_2463.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's been a couple of weeks since I've turned out any new stained glass pieces. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrapevineArtGlass" target="_blank">My Etsy site</a> has some inventory once again so that's no longer my focus. I've been working on a design for the <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/1AYMfWoxwEWqoN357" target="_blank">openings (15 total) above our kitchen and front room cabinetry</a>. I've got some ideas I'm working with but I'm a little stuck. I would like to keep the design fairly simple, keeping in mind that less is sometimes more. They will be in the vein of Mission / Prairie Style. </p><p>It's an election year and because I care about our form of democracy continuing, I'm anxious about the outcome of not only the presidential race but down-ballot races as well—even the Secretary of State races that nobody ever had to concern themselves about until election deniers began infiltrating our election process and before radicalized conservatives began <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/election-workers-are-being-bombarded-with-death-threats-the-u-s-government-says" target="_blank">issuing threats to election officials and volunteer poll workers</a> as a way of intimidating them to give up their positions. It seems so strange to be writing about our democracy continuing but for those paying attention and not steeped in conservative propaganda, it's a real concern. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UMKsBgkim1qhVNO4XnXlZkc_XJzurVI8IQ2VYSKTkPbnw90BLNuEuZJZ023DxLjPFrMaolWR7fSwTHzL-IiA04QAFq1wmIWo4zUe2OepONJZc4opYHF9uvlVPIDBQKvMcQzIEcCyjCXcyJiYaZrqalyC5ldA-aZHwddREHCK5VXqAl3N5d32DgeDC4I/s1076/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-04%20at%209.07.04%20PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1076" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UMKsBgkim1qhVNO4XnXlZkc_XJzurVI8IQ2VYSKTkPbnw90BLNuEuZJZ023DxLjPFrMaolWR7fSwTHzL-IiA04QAFq1wmIWo4zUe2OepONJZc4opYHF9uvlVPIDBQKvMcQzIEcCyjCXcyJiYaZrqalyC5ldA-aZHwddREHCK5VXqAl3N5d32DgeDC4I/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-04%20at%209.07.04%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>The Supreme Court of the United States is going to take up the immunity case that Trump wants his lawyers to present; the one where he could literally have his opponent killed and not suffer consequences for his actions. But while many are upset (and rightly so) that this will cause even more delays in a case that needs to be heard before the November election, it's doubtful that it will. Rather than the case (referring to the federal elections interference case) being tried in court with facts and witnesses, it's going to be tried in a sea of conservative propaganda that bears no resemblance to the facts of the matter. Again, I have to ask: for a man who is clearly innocent of the "witch hunt" that this case and other cases against him represent, why is he so fearful of going before a judge and jury to clear his name?<p></p><p>Ukraine is losing ground in its war with Russia while MAGA Republicans in Congress withhold aid meant to help Ukrainians defend themselves. It's unbelievable watching conservatives not only side with Putin (by their actions) but also help in spreading his propaganda. It came out two weeks ago that the central figure in Republicans' impeachment case against Biden was actually <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/informant-in-gops-biden-investigation-accused-of-lying-and-having-ties-to-russia" target="_blank">a guy with connections to Russian operatives</a> whose claims about the "Biden crime family" had no basis in fact—just Russian propaganda. Conservative media put this propaganda on blast to their viewers. If that’s what they rely on to be informed, they don’t stand a chance of knowing the truth. And for most, it’s willful ignorance.</p><p>One of Tammy's and my guilty pleasures this time of year is American Idol. <a href="https://youtu.be/x_aZGrZa6-8?si=ExaHql2I3gXLhzCg" target="_blank">This woman's performance</a> recently stole the show. While some of the talent is exceptional, for us, it's also about the stories of the contestants and some of the hardships they've faced in their young lives to get to where they are.</p><p>Extra credit reading <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/march-4-2024?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-stalled-u-s-aid-for-ukraine-exemplifies-gops-softening-stance-on-russia" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68440150" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I made it out for a few hours on my gravel bike last Monday. It felt nice to be riding gravel again. I've also been getting out on lots of walks as our mildest of winters continues.</p><p>That's all I've got. </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wyNNjsClqUY?si=GL2o7pa1Y3BCXqck" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eD2W81hd7e8?si=kXswMIPOdt1MImnF" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-36424915921325097262024-02-13T21:43:00.009-06:002024-02-13T22:12:19.632-06:00The Future is Upon Us (Maybe)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD-h_6muGM2BkVTgVTzJKxOCOEaHoT7U-IGeHy0JY84dlINTUd6t6Cfe09nYQfH_SoSd7f-wcMCuhmixodtF_mn6KeYnFqdSjebz_M9BTXWKqIe4UMcnJ0tT-2RRJ-lamEadJ4N8Wz6p6UeU3PLE9sizIrE48glJpOv87v6_IE-ZwkzZ2kCEL4B2pXRc/s5712/IMG_2125.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="3213" data-original-width="5712" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxD-h_6muGM2BkVTgVTzJKxOCOEaHoT7U-IGeHy0JY84dlINTUd6t6Cfe09nYQfH_SoSd7f-wcMCuhmixodtF_mn6KeYnFqdSjebz_M9BTXWKqIe4UMcnJ0tT-2RRJ-lamEadJ4N8Wz6p6UeU3PLE9sizIrE48glJpOv87v6_IE-ZwkzZ2kCEL4B2pXRc/w286-h161/IMG_2125.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>I can now ✅ curling off of my bucket list. I joined a curling league at <a href="https://dakotacurling.leagueapps.com" target="_blank">Dakota Curling Club</a> in downtown Lakeville across the street from B52s. Like almost everyone else, I've seen the sport featured in the Olympics every four years and have been somewhat intrigued by it. So when friend and neighbor Rebecca put out an announcement looking for people to join a novice-level curling league, I didn't hesitate to add my name. <div><br /></div><div>I was a little worried about my knees allowing me to get down into the proper position to push off from the 'hack' to slide the 40 lb stone down the ice but it wasn't the problem for me that I was expecting it to be. However, I did overdo it on Sunday night when the facility was open for two hours during the Super Bowl for anyone who wanted to come in and practice. I figured I threw 70 stones in my time there. The next morning both of my knees were cussing at me. They hurt! I suck at moderation. Another curler (with 15 years of experience) who was there on Sunday offered to give me some tips on form and technique; something I'm woefully lacking. She was very helpful. Here's <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/gWjeqhovL8X4zRkFA" target="_blank">a short clip</a> she took of this beginner for the archives. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm all in with the sport. I bought some curling shoes and a broom (used for sweeping the ice). I hope to continue with leagues in the winters to come. It's so much fun and also very challenging. Give it a go if you ever have the chance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tammy and I went to the Apple Store at Southdale last Saturday to demo the new <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/guided-tour/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a> spatial computing headset that was just released last week. Our friend Patrick manages the store and has been encouraging us to come in and give the Vision Pro a test drive (you can schedule a demo in the link above). Because we both wear glasses and the headsets aren't compatible with eyeglasses, our Vision Pros needed to be fitted with lenses that matched our eyeglasses prescriptions. They're able to do that all within the store in a process that takes only a few minutes. The demo lasts about 30 minutes and takes you through most of the features of spatial computing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIcwfZj9j4rJeAWduKnA_xzwpqvCrhklBUp1oN5_BG2Zmu_G-LVL4h4bU-iy4hYiF-kAYjlS7j6KZG2sPCsX7NKPnQCmUUyJZOJBJvGrzG7Kg9CBhehKLYtHQiFSf6sCV2dXbadhvqv4HUAeOtVLLuNnCLFVRiS7VY0bmSAmoXOHvrf8XZAFTfrN_CLI/s4032/IMG_2280.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIcwfZj9j4rJeAWduKnA_xzwpqvCrhklBUp1oN5_BG2Zmu_G-LVL4h4bU-iy4hYiF-kAYjlS7j6KZG2sPCsX7NKPnQCmUUyJZOJBJvGrzG7Kg9CBhehKLYtHQiFSf6sCV2dXbadhvqv4HUAeOtVLLuNnCLFVRiS7VY0bmSAmoXOHvrf8XZAFTfrN_CLI/w267-h150/IMG_2280.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I was impressed with the technology (10 years in the making) that's packed into Vision Pro although I don't see them taking the place of my laptop just yet. Where I do see them being very useful would be along the lines of entertainment, such as movies and possibly some sporting events rendered in full-surround and 3-D. I think this is where they're going to ultimately find their place, at least for me. I don't rule out their use for general computing at some point down the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were sitting around with friends on Saturday night and talking about uses for this technology. Mark mentioned placing cameras inside a Formula 1 race car and giving the viewer at home a fully immersive 3-D experience of being in the race—turning one's head to look at the action from different perspectives. Or watching other sporting events where cameras are placed at various places around the playing field that users could toggle between while listening to the play-by-play and viewing the action in full-surround 3-D. Concerts as well. You could pay a fee and see a show in another part of the world that you couldn't otherwise see. And they would mount cameras onstage! </div><div><br /></div><div>I was also thinking about how I could someday use a Vision Pro-like device for indoor riding. It's not ready for that yet due to the bulkiness of the headset being worn during a hard workout but at some point, it will be—maybe about the time I'm ready to stop riding outdoors. 🤷🏽♂️</div><div><br /></div><div>Another appealing aspect is the ability to change your environment while wearing the headset. You can choose between a variety of places: the moon; a beach; Yosemite; Joshuah Tree; Mt. Hood, and several more. I can imagine myself tuning out the real world and getting lost/immersed in one of the 3-D environments then sitting down to write in my blog. No doubt, I would love that!</div><div><br /></div><div>The only downside that I experienced in my demo was the weight of the headset which weighs 1.3 lbs. I don't know if it's something one gets used to or not but I would guess it's only going to become lighter in future versions. It's a technology that they're only scratching the surface with up to now and I'm curious to see where it goes in the years ahead. I'm rooting for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still spending much of my days and evenings down in our basement making my little sun-catchers for my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrapevineArtGlass" target="_blank">Etsy store</a>. My most recent pieces can be seen <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C28DLRBuivZ/?img_index=1" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3OKO59uBWx/?img_index=1" target="_blank">here</a> (swipe left to see additional photos).</div><div><br /></div><div>Our mild weather continues. <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/JxjsdyHC5MzxkAJf6" target="_blank">Steve and I</a> actually made it out golfing last Wednesday at Hidden Greens. It was a breezy overcast mid-40s (7.7ºc) day but it was nice to be walking the links again.</div><div><br /></div><div>One last thing before wrapping this up: Tammy was the big winner from our group of 6 at BINGO last Tuesday night. She won $34 plus two tickets for Sunday brunch at the Chart House restaurant. Woohoo!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-12-2024" target="_blank">Extra credit reading</a>.<br /><p>That's all I've got.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SX26JlMHMNE?si=WjdYPHHWJXAyK1wS" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-80201503181419232242024-01-31T17:36:00.008-06:002024-02-08T09:56:45.141-06:00Please, Make it Make Sense<p>After today our snow will be nearly gone as our mild winter continues. My phone's WeatherBug app shows us to be well above freezing for daytime high temps for the 10-day outlook. Even the nighttime lows are at or above freezing, all thanks to <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/el-nino/" target="_blank">El Niño</a>. This ocean temperature phenomenon typically results in warmer and dryer than normal conditions for the Upper Midwest, which is exactly what we've been experiencing. </p><p>Charlie would've loved this mild weather for our walks together. I'm still missing my little buddy and think about him often. </p><p>I was hoping to be seeking out some gravel roads to ride today but I've been sidelined until at least Friday after a procedure yesterday to drain a rather large cyst on my right knee. The cyst developed two weeks ago after pushing myself too hard on my indoor trainer with some climbing challenges I participated in on the Rouvy online platform I use for indoor riding. I should have eased back into training after my Covid infection but instead, I was trying to make up for lost time. That never ends well for me. I need to be careful how I go about resuming my riding because the physician assistant who aspirated my knee told me there's a 40% chance the condition could reoccur and require surgery. I'd like to avoid that. I've got stained glass projects to work on so I'll stay busy but I'd much rather be outside. It's where I thrive.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EQkC4NK6o5XLkvBEB5hM-1FGrvm3BambHJcxLY4vzVOCLIx7eSZLuPeWZM7sSG-n2sDadUCjQQL1q-mHRor716mqZ9LFZCu3K-defsEWhplF-8CXEApyb648BEF7H19K1EoJjUDL0oV_MBMcXSlpISzkSf8tNm-FXWbHZDxCDB4GEQ1lQTE8EnpXf_c/s4000/IMG_2123.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EQkC4NK6o5XLkvBEB5hM-1FGrvm3BambHJcxLY4vzVOCLIx7eSZLuPeWZM7sSG-n2sDadUCjQQL1q-mHRor716mqZ9LFZCu3K-defsEWhplF-8CXEApyb648BEF7H19K1EoJjUDL0oV_MBMcXSlpISzkSf8tNm-FXWbHZDxCDB4GEQ1lQTE8EnpXf_c/w266-h266/IMG_2123.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Speaking of stained glass, I've been immersing myself in glass projects down in my basement studio for the past month and enjoying my time working the craft again while watching Dateline and 20/20 murder mysteries along with my YouTube feed's assortment of videos. They're good company.<p></p><p>I had such little motivation to work on stained glass projects last winter. I knew Charlie was in his last year of life and it never sat well with me to squirrel myself away from him in our basement while I was home. I tried bringing him downstairs with me but he preferred to be upstairs where he was more comfortable. I'm glad I put my glass projects on hold as I did. </p><p>I've yet to come up with a design for our master bathroom windows and unless I come up with one soon, they're going to have to wait another year until next winter. That's in addition to the mission-style panels I have planned for above our kitchen cabinets. For now, I'm content to make sun-catchers.🤷🏽♂️</p><p>A disturbing statistic reported in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2814274?guestAccessKey=e429b9a8-72ac-42ed-8dbc-599b0f509890&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=012424" target="_blank">Journal of the American Medical Association</a> last week stated that "In the 14 states that implemented total abortion bans following the Dobbs decision, we estimated that 519, 981 completed rapes were associated with 64, 565 pregnancies during the 4 to 18 months that bans were in effect (Table 2). Of these, an estimated 5,586 rape-related pregnancies (9%) occurred in states with rape exceptions, and 58, 979 (91%) in states with no exception, with 26, 313 (45%) in Texas." </p><p>How many of those were children?</p><p>The disturbing aspect in all of this is that an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/07/donald-trump-rape-language-e-jean-carroll" target="_blank">adjudicated rapist</a>, a man who bragged about sexually assaulting women, was responsible for appointing 3 SCOTUS justices who paved the way for overturning Roe v. Wade. But not only that, there are two justices, Thomas and Kavanaugh, who have been credibly accused of sexual assault. And yet, this is what conservative Christians are happy to support. Please, make it make sense. </p><p>Jurors in E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against Trump where she won an $83,300,000 judgment against him were instructed by Judge Kaplan to "never disclose that you were on this jury" out of concern for their safety from expected threats to their lives by Trump's supporters—you know—conservative Christians. Again, please, make it make sense.</p><p>This is what it means to be a conservative Christian in conservative America today: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A42-46&version=NIV" target="_blank">ignore what the Bible tells you</a> about welcoming the stranger, or those desperate and in need. No, fuck that nonsense. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-migrants-drown-near-shelby-park-eagle-pass-texas-soldiers-denied-entry-federal-border-agents/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=263562821&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">Let them drown!</a> </p><p>That's Texas pro-life in action.</p><p><a href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2024/01/20/bryan-ohio-pastor-chris-avell-charged-housing-homeless/72285157007/" target="_blank">And this</a>.</p><p>No, there's no making sense of any of it.</p><p>That's all I've got. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sDf3Lr8Mfcc?si=PwEOGDl7-W8_z0Jk" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-35973303079251785072024-01-07T19:17:00.011-06:002024-01-07T22:13:37.196-06:00Does the End Justify the Means?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4BjyWfX9i-pnkoWRQm7eSFQDuZIWJ3fLx7c4uVNmPLWzRS5mnto5jRrU2Y47A00tab5WpvnTkaQFvKP82d8zvLNGfgDD6nA_JN__8sCZUk8EB8Y3SPlzcjLsjIW_oNuQN9GjHUyOzvROkorDa9uWXqogSn_tnalLGa7NwvhJhIZydG3uP5O1XV_002A/s1959/IMG_1879.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1959" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4BjyWfX9i-pnkoWRQm7eSFQDuZIWJ3fLx7c4uVNmPLWzRS5mnto5jRrU2Y47A00tab5WpvnTkaQFvKP82d8zvLNGfgDD6nA_JN__8sCZUk8EB8Y3SPlzcjLsjIW_oNuQN9GjHUyOzvROkorDa9uWXqogSn_tnalLGa7NwvhJhIZydG3uP5O1XV_002A/w214-h180/IMG_1879.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>I was in Mr. Don Chase's World Affairs class in 10th grade at Bloomington Jefferson High School in the '72-'73 school year. I was the quiet one, very seldom adding much to the discussion (like so many other classes of mine). Much of what we talked about held little interest for me at the time, but I do recall a question Mr. Chase posed to the class one day: Does the end justify the means? I can't recall the context for his question, if there was one, but it piqued my interest and it's a question that has stayed with me throughout my adult life—perhaps for a time such as now.<p></p><p>I've written in my blog numerous times about my disappointment with Christian conservatives and their cozying up to Trump in a most hypocritical way to advance their political agenda while undermining what I always felt was the main goal of evangelicals: to make disciples of men and advance God's kingdom. From a moral standpoint, it would seem that the end falls very short of justifying the means because if their true goal is to gain followers for Jesus, they have <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/november/trump-effect-church-attendance-pews-polarized.html" target="_blank">failed spectacularly</a>. Yes, Christian fundamentalists now have their Supreme Court justices who they hope will yield to their Christian Nationalist desires, but it's going to come at a cost as more and more of us see the politicization of the church and abandon houses of worship, thereby losing even more of their flock. What have they gained?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREHq2ybO1MoQUAngVmENX7jEBDjPeGIPIc8RLswTr4XiGVg4NLdvcdR-6lKkE8eQ9TRZVBiWxpBfhy1GVx9a4aa87A7bUimwPFo2dDDXrVv09IJJO4Il9iL61duoDRR3kP0TQiJHzdb2p4TRs3papLxX38yZxJowT2N3x_WJnXwyimpvMpGK8HUWwews/s1200/insurrectionists.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREHq2ybO1MoQUAngVmENX7jEBDjPeGIPIc8RLswTr4XiGVg4NLdvcdR-6lKkE8eQ9TRZVBiWxpBfhy1GVx9a4aa87A7bUimwPFo2dDDXrVv09IJJO4Il9iL61duoDRR3kP0TQiJHzdb2p4TRs3papLxX38yZxJowT2N3x_WJnXwyimpvMpGK8HUWwews/w258-h180/insurrectionists.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>Yesterday marked 3 years since insurrectionists assaulted our nation's Capitol in an attempt to thwart the will of the voters and keep Trump in office. It also marks the first time in our history that we didn't have a peaceful transfer of power. What's most shocking to many of us is how anyone can look at the events of that day and buy into the revisionist history lie being pedaled by Trump and conservative media that it was a peaceful event—"a beautiful day!" as described by Trump. What has caused these people to check out of reality and disregard the truth they saw with their eyes that day? I didn't realize until seeing this play out over the last few years how powerful propaganda can be to those not astute enough to see it. <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-grapples-with-rising-threats-of-political-violence-as-2024-election-looms" target="_blank">Political violence</a> has now become commonplace in the U.S. as radicalized conservatives, hopped up on lies about a stolen election, show little restraint in making threats to those they see as standing in their way. And all the while their leader says not a word to try and reign them in. It's despicable. Oh, but he encouraged his insurrectionists to march peacefully to the Capitol on January 6th his supporters say. Yes, but that was before he instructed those in charge <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jan-6-panel-looks-trump-white-house-cassidy-hutchinson-testimony-rcna35550#" target="_blank">to remove the magnetometers</a> used to detect weapons within the crowd because he was sure their weapons wouldn't be used against him and before he sat and watched for more than 3 hours as his insurrectionists assaulted the Capitol and threatened to hang his loyal VP Mike Pence—all the while <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephanie-grisham-trump-was-gleefully-watching-the-january-6-riot-2022-1" target="_blank">watching gleefully</a> as he replayed some of the more gruesome video footage over again and again as the violence played out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is this the America you want, my conservative Trump-supporting friends? It appears to be because I have yet to hear even one of you admit that you were wrong to ever support such an evil, incompetent, and detestable man. Not one. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know how we got here: conservative media and the useful racist idiot they breathed life into. The much bigger question is how do we get out of this mess and get back to debating policy and coming together through compromise to move us forward the way our form of democracy was designed to function. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because this can't continue.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recall how Republicans were fond of calling on Muslims to denounce the radical jihadists who attacked us on 9/11? When am I going to hear Christians stand up and voice their concern about what has become of a radicalized Republican Party?</div><div><br /></div><div>If we want the end to our actions to justify our means, we would do well to realize that we're living in a society of people of varying beliefs and that we do best when we work together rather than pit ourselves against one another. It's really our only way forward if we want this grand experiment to continue because, in the end, that's really all it is. Nothing is guaranteed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll close with this, a video of Trump's Truth Social ramblings a couple of nights ago. It's disturbing to think that this man has any sort of measurable following whatsoever to lead the country. Had Biden been saying this on a social media platform, I would denounce him without hesitation as someone unfit to lead the country or even a Taco Bell. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is this someone who inspires you?</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got.</div><div><br /></div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G46W0moodsc?si=AE11-IBCZB2kMASg" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dGjsTSaG2Gw?si=4Qf-cPVO014DkdtS" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-16385202287176309592024-01-01T16:34:00.000-06:002024-01-01T16:34:00.065-06:00Welcome to the World, Clifford!<p>Thursday Evening</p><p>We are grandparents! Clifford Henry Seisler surprised us all when he made his appearance nearly 3 months early on December 11th, weighing in at 2 lbs 13 oz. It was an exciting time but also a concerning time as Rachel's pregnancy was only 28 weeks along. He's been in the NICU and will be there for a little while longer. It won't be until early March before Rachel and Drew can take him home and introduce him to PJ. Medical science is amazing!</p><p>What will Clifford witness in his life and how will the world change over his lifetime? When he's Tammy's and my age the year will be 2089; not far from the turn of the next century.</p><p>Tammy and I have mostly stayed close to home since Cliff's arrival. We made the 75-minute drive to see him the day after he was born but then Tammy went back a couple days later and picked up a Covid infection (at the hospital we're assuming) and brought it home to me. She's in the clear now and will be going to see them all tomorrow. I'm on my 11th day with the virus. I'm still very tired and <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/HgcvLkFAaiaZaext5" target="_blank">I'm still testing positive</a> as of this morning. I'll bide my time at home working on some stained glass projects while Tammy is away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqDteZnmNGkcK2BOcHZlKETmCz9y7D4Bo4YAHlcBcDDA8zgNPmKxZWfE11d9JaEOQdG36zTkz8M04RgYAnO-AH8fWynBp6orw_z8ok8aDl3xuDhJdNGKm4zBNelpTzS6vVvckbH4t1ZYUrPPHGhPDdhv4YWoGQPD3je15AF5exbl0FUcN1mhFuTQ9NA0/s2511/IMG_1745.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2511" data-original-width="2510" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqDteZnmNGkcK2BOcHZlKETmCz9y7D4Bo4YAHlcBcDDA8zgNPmKxZWfE11d9JaEOQdG36zTkz8M04RgYAnO-AH8fWynBp6orw_z8ok8aDl3xuDhJdNGKm4zBNelpTzS6vVvckbH4t1ZYUrPPHGhPDdhv4YWoGQPD3je15AF5exbl0FUcN1mhFuTQ9NA0/w237-h237/IMG_1745.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've had a couple of stained glass projects on the back burner since last spring that I'm finally getting to. Fortunately, those who requested them are patient and understand that it's only my wintertime hobby. I finished the project in the photo today for a guy in St. Paul. </p><p>My inventory of sun-catchers is running low. I think I'll try and use the next month or two to replenish my supply for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrapevineArtGlass" target="_blank">my Etsy shop</a>. </p><p>We're still adapting to life without Charlie. He would have loved the bonus walks we would have enjoyed together in our warm December weather; a record-breaking December that was 12.5ºf (7ºc) above average. Needless to say, it was a snowless, brown Christmas. And speaking of a brown Christmas: I was out <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/hPVevYcp7RArVq4u6" target="_blank">vacuuming up leaves</a> Christmas Eve day! (Thanks for the photo, Katie!) </p><p>New Year's Day</p><p>I finally tested negative for Covid this morning after having been positive for 14 days. I'm surprised at how long the virus stayed with me. I thought I would be done with it after a week or less but I was wrong. While I'm now testing negative for Covid, I still have lots of coughing, sneezing, and congestion. I was hoping the vaccine and its boosters would've minimized the virus's effect on me more than they did but who's to say how much more serious my condition may have been without their help? It's time to order more test kits in case we have to do this all over again someday.</p><p>I finished two more stained glass sun-catchers over the weekend. I'm waiting for the sun to show itself so I can get some proper photos of them before adding them to my Etsy site. It's been nice working with glass again. I've missed the calmness that settles in when I'm involved in a project while watching murder mysteries from Dateline or 48 Hours or listening to podcasts or audiobooks. </p><p>I finished 2023 with 4223 outdoor miles (6797 km) plus another 2162 miles (3479 km) of indoor training. It's not as many miles as I would've liked but I golfed more than any other year in my life with 62 rounds for a total of 365 miles (587 km) walking the links. I also did more walking this past year with 608 miles (978 km), almost doubling the previous year's total. Plus, Charlie and I walked 145 miles (233 km) together. I will miss my walks with him most of all.</p><p>For my Trump-supporting friends, I hope you'll take the time <a href="https://youtu.be/ayskvrPidTI?si=_tqEK-kyZCiNMHrw" target="_blank">to view this</a>. </p><p>Wishes to everybody for a safe and healthy 2024.</p><p>That's all I've got. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nI0GbuJIagM?si=aAr22B55Tv-N6T_K" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zRh5LY79-Es?si=LW4JzvT7zh8GJ6AJ" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-18869198735777273922023-12-10T14:32:00.007-06:002023-12-14T20:04:34.529-06:00Goodbye, Sweet Boy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IcxmlGJksAJ53Q2TqxeENvuAv7SPybPuxqgwIWk8y8oCgi3JWxLnrhfuEPmsm-CO9kbpkdg17mcsNvjjKxWdBZIcJy2Vx2bzxWjFYzNxZREfJZVdMjfBvR75iUgaJlyGn2dEKojXCHSmcQ1XQEQTyEr8w3eyidFBSpUWOmaGuZmJ5SeQN_3zRA1nArw/s1280/charlie.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IcxmlGJksAJ53Q2TqxeENvuAv7SPybPuxqgwIWk8y8oCgi3JWxLnrhfuEPmsm-CO9kbpkdg17mcsNvjjKxWdBZIcJy2Vx2bzxWjFYzNxZREfJZVdMjfBvR75iUgaJlyGn2dEKojXCHSmcQ1XQEQTyEr8w3eyidFBSpUWOmaGuZmJ5SeQN_3zRA1nArw/s320/charlie.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Thursday Evening<p></p><p>We had to put our precious boy Charlie down today. What follows is mostly for me as a way of memorializing him and how much he meant to us. </p><p>Our home feels so empty tonight. There's no little Charlie to greet us as we come home and we dearly miss that. His absence is deafening. Everywhere I look I reflexively expect to see him in his usual places but he's gone.</p><p>His health began to worry us a couple of weeks ago when he lost his appetite, something he'd never had an issue with before. He loved his food and his treats. We took him to the vet on Wednesday morning to see if there was something that could be addressed to help him be his normal self again. The doctor did her exam, focusing mostly on his bloated stomach, something that had very recently become noticeable. She said she needed a sample of the fluid in his belly to know how best to proceed. We waited while she took him back to the lab. </p><p>She returned to the room ten minutes later and I could tell by the look on her face that it wasn't good news. She said she found a large tumor in his stomach and that the fluid she had drained from it was bloody. She apologized and said that if it was cancerous, there was nothing that could be done for him. Two hours later, pathology would confirm our fears that it was indeed cancerous. It all happened so fast. She told us "Today isn't the day to put him down" but that his time was short. She suggested we buy a rotisserie chicken on the way home and see if that would appeal to his appetite. It mostly did. </p><p>We sat with him last night while watching TV and noticed that he was even more bloated than earlier in the day; plus, the fluid in his belly was leaking an alarming amount from the needle jab earlier in the day. It became clear to us that we needed to let him go as soon as possible while he wasn't in noticeable pain rather than get into a situation where he was suffering unnecessarily. To keep Charlie alive in that condition would have been selfish. </p><p>I called the vet's office this morning when they opened and took their first available appointment for 1:30 this afternoon. It gave us time to sit with Charlie and just be in his presence, giving him ear rubs and hugs and telling him how much we loved him. There were a lot of tears. So many tears. </p><p>Putting down any of our pups is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I paid over the phone earlier in the day, not wanting to try and contain my emotions at the desk when we brought him in. My voice kept breaking up as I gave the woman on the other end my credit card information. </p><p>We made a slow drive to the vet's office in Farmington with Charlie in my lap, as that's where he always liked to sit when he rode with us; sitting up at times while trying to look over the steering wheel when he wasn't trying to find a comfortable position in which to lay. His bloated belly made it difficult for him. I wanted to time our arrival so we didn't have to spend any more time than necessary waiting to be seen. The vet's office always made Charlie nervous.</p><p>The doctor was prompt in seeing us and after some small conversation, she administered a sedative to Charlie, saying she would be back in a few minutes. We spent that time petting him and telling him how much we loved him. Charlie was mostly sleeping when she returned 5 minutes later to administer the shot that would take him from us. I tried to suppress my tears but it was pointless. Tammy was leaning against my right side as I held him in my arms while we waited for his life to slip from him. Doctor Jenny checked for a heartbeat, taking her time to be certain before telling us he was gone. I could feel some small tremor-like vibrations from his legs but she told me that it was normal and assured me that he was gone. It was 1:40. She helped us place him on a blanket on the metal table and then left the room so we could be alone with him. I read recently that when a person dies, those present should remain and not be in a hurry to leave their loved one—that their spirit is in a transition phase and they're still with you. If that was true for Charlie, I wanted us to remain there for him as he transitioned to his next life. We stroked him and kissed his lifeless, limp body, whispering our love to him and thanking him for being such a good pup and being a part of our family. Again, lots of tears. </p><p>We made our way to the door but I had to go back for one last kiss on his head. </p><p>I made eye contact with the receptionist as we were exiting the room on our way out of the building. She could see we'd both been crying and gave us a sympathetic look. I got to our car and texted Rachel, "Charlie is gone." It was all so emotional and painful. We loved our little boy with all of our hearts and feeling that deep pain was appropriate and not something I felt the need to suppress. It was 7 years to the day that we'd made the same drive to have <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2016/12/goodbye-sweet-girl.html" target="_blank">Allie</a> euthanized. </p><p>Saturday Morning</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B76vtTlaccJ0iv9bO2JG4k10pR8rOzVwA2JRiM2AtCBWVCUR35p-4c6t17oZwmZ_n8e5I90cg05gV85n7XK1m8-3SMlqgvcm7uaJFGYPVibWzGbEx0wv82kuqu4Kj_4E81NuXiHcxXyzTKWX1-B-mzGGX-1yFs3qBZuksOYjMBWyk1Xi6v14JKBm9rM/s2048/3190746456_c36de1c95c_k.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B76vtTlaccJ0iv9bO2JG4k10pR8rOzVwA2JRiM2AtCBWVCUR35p-4c6t17oZwmZ_n8e5I90cg05gV85n7XK1m8-3SMlqgvcm7uaJFGYPVibWzGbEx0wv82kuqu4Kj_4E81NuXiHcxXyzTKWX1-B-mzGGX-1yFs3qBZuksOYjMBWyk1Xi6v14JKBm9rM/w254-h191/3190746456_c36de1c95c_k.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>Charlie, with his brown eye and blue eye, came to us in <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/2tSRAGZDC2pTVPvk9" target="_blank">January 2009</a> when a woman Tammy knew from church asked if we'd be interested in taking on another pup. Loretta had recently had knee replacement surgery and lived on the upper floor of an apartment, making it difficult for her to take Charlie outside as frequently as he needed. I was hesitant because I was concerned about upsetting the nice balance we had with just Toby and Allie. Tammy assured me it would just be for the weekend and that she would return Charlie on Monday if it didn't work out. He never left. <p></p><p>Toby wasn't at all keen on having Charlie around (he would eventually warm up to him but not in a playful kind of way) but Allie enjoyed his company and the two of them would play together quite a lot. I had actually found a friend at work who was going to take Charlie off our hands but when it came time for me to follow through, I backed out. I couldn't let that little rascal go. He was such a dickens—Charles Dickens, as we'd sometimes refer to him. He was worming his way into my heart in a big way.</p><p>On one of our first walks that spring, Charlie found a Greenies (dental chew) at the bottom of someone's driveway and carried it in his mouth the rest of the walk, occasionally bumping into Toby with it as if to taunt him. He was so funny. He waited until he got home before devouring it.</p><p>Tammy and I took him to the Renaissance Festival in 2012 to show off his Charlie Horse costume that Tammy had made for him <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ru7HK3bHrk4HTehg6" target="_blank">with a knight</a>. He wasn't thrilled with it but he did get <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/UBjduQRHoR3p6boo8" target="_blank">lots of attention</a> for the hour or so that he wore it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iOjuu3MgP7QI4Tz122gg2vkGEsbYcXpNqam-Y8LDO1g1pIaVHvzM-daEOd3u_ZYfs8fKbhRkZ9YZjDuHX4HTp6ukdw2MsKegpxLAiEsE_Hc7R9Y1giPjSwj6W_8riemMmTJm7X-8aCUL0Den8I3D6XM_gOLcuIDLtRpF7IeECRyMqmA0mYvomTHPVbw/s1932/IMG_20200210_143943_477.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="1932" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iOjuu3MgP7QI4Tz122gg2vkGEsbYcXpNqam-Y8LDO1g1pIaVHvzM-daEOd3u_ZYfs8fKbhRkZ9YZjDuHX4HTp6ukdw2MsKegpxLAiEsE_Hc7R9Y1giPjSwj6W_8riemMmTJm7X-8aCUL0Den8I3D6XM_gOLcuIDLtRpF7IeECRyMqmA0mYvomTHPVbw/w209-h209/IMG_20200210_143943_477.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>I'll never forget the time we bought him <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/hrafvU5yucmuUGsMA" target="_blank">a squeaky toy</a> with a dozen squeakers. I woke up in the early morning hours to the sound of him downstairs playing with it. He loved his toys. <p></p><p>Often if I was preparing something to eat, Charlie would be at my feet with his front paws on one of my feet to let me know he was there in case I felt generous and wanted to give him a small bite to eat. How could I ever say no? (See photo.)</p><p>He loved the dog park and being able to run <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/xg9eDgTsxpBRZum89" target="_blank">to his heart's content</a>—always looking back to make sure we were keeping up with him.</p><p>I loved taking him on walks and letting him lead the way. He had his routine of places to stop and sniff before leaving his calling card. He would often have a bounce to his step and I would get comments from other walkers that he had a happy walk; I actually had a neighbor make that exact comment to me last week. I had no way of knowing last Sunday that our walk that afternoon would be our final walk together. I rarely took videos of him out on a walk (photos, yes, but videos, not so much) but that day <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/31dMJAgZhPBEBoFu7" target="_blank">I decided to</a>. God, I miss this little guy. </p><p>We're two days removed from losing him and the wound is still so fresh. His routines were my routines. I instinctively thought to freshen the water in his drinking bowl this morning before instantly realizing he was gone. I'm so easily brought to tears at the thought of him no longer here in his usual places around our home—sitting on the ottoman between my legs, sleeping securely by the warmth of the fireplace. I never imagined just a few days ago that he'd be gone so soon. </p><p>Tammy came downstairs this morning and saw me sitting in the chair by the fireplace without Charlie. She burst into tears. We made a trip up to Excelsior this afternoon to get out of the house and the sadness we've been consumed by but all the while I was thinking of our little guy and missing him. In the back of my mind, I was still thinking that we should hurry home to be with Charlie. I never liked to leave him alone for long in his senior years with his limited vision and diminished hearing. </p><p>Sunday Morning</p><p>It was nice to get together with friends last night and get our thoughts away from the sadness we've been feeling. But coming home afterward, it still evoked emotions as Charlie wasn't there to greet us as he always had been for the last 15 years. It's going to take some time before that coldness diminishes.</p><p>I recall driving home from work late on a Sunday night close to 30 years ago and listening to someone on the radio. He had just lost his faithful companion, his dog, after a life well lived. His voice was breaking up as he eulogized his pup and my heart went out to him. It struck me that you don't normally hear someone take time on a national radio program to talk about their departed pet in such a way. I admired him because it speaks to the strength of the bonds we have with our pets—at least for some of us. </p><p>For Tammy and me, this is the close of a chapter in our lives as the last of our little loves leaves us. I spent several hours yesterday and a few more today going through my Google Photos collection and making an album of photos of <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/MeFNeKTzHdxqaNwP6" target="_blank">Allie, Toby, and Charlie</a>. It's nowhere near complete but it's a start. I'll keep adding to it over the next few days. It was bittersweet looking back and I broke down several times. What I wouldn't give to do it all over again—to live with our pups and their unconditional love for eternity. </p><p>For the past 20 years, we've always had a pup or three to come home to. This isn't going to be an easy transition but that's as it should be. Our plan was to not get another dog but to occasionally provide respite care for people who are fostering dogs and need a break for a few days. That's been our plan for years but I sense a strong desire from Tammy to bring another little furry love into our home. I'm not opposed to that but I would like to take some time before we do, and if we do, I would like to consider adopting a senior dog that is languishing in a shelter with little chance of finding a forever home. I would love to be able to do that and give a pup in need another shot at life. </p><p>We shall see.</p><p>Dogs are the best!</p>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/66qV1fQXJ4M?si=T-8DvViNZnTNKLir" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wpyj3qTRac0?si=kF7TZCWaXDDM4ue-" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-63534476766688200782023-11-18T11:08:00.011-06:002023-11-19T17:51:24.232-06:00What If?<p></p>I avoid getting too political in my blog but occasionally I find I have to make an exception. If my blog is to be a time capsule for me to look back on years from now, I have to keep it real and talk about what's been on my mind, especially now. I would never forgive myself for remaining silent in the face of the propagandists and christian fundamentalists working on behalf of the Republican party who have turned our nation on its head. <div><br /></div><div>I was imagining the other day: what if Biden appeared at a rally and began <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/trump-vermin-hitler.html" target="_blank">parroting Hitler</a>? What if he stated to loud applause that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/10/01/trump-police-shoot-shoplifters-california/71021289007/" target="_blank">shoplifters should be shot</a>? What if he <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/25/trump-paul-gosar-suggest-gen-mark-milley-deserves-death.html" target="_blank">called for the execution</a> of his former Joint Chiefs of Staff because he was irritated by him, unfairly labeling him a traitor? What if he spoke of a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-loyalists-2024-presidential-election" target="_blank">loyalty pledge</a> whereby only people loyal to him would be considered for appointment to tens of thousands of government jobs? What if he talked of <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/07/trump-power-grab-00125767" target="_blank">invoking the Insurrection Act</a> as a way of tamping down any protests against his administration while turning his back on our Constitution? Or what if he just rambled on like a fucking idiot, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/11/12/trump-has-confused-obama-and-biden-at-least-7-times-in-recent-months-amid-other-notable-gaffes/?sh=2b0c2ffd4be6" target="_blank">not even sure about who he's running against?</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Would I ever support such an imbecilic, fascist of a man? Of course not, yet this is exactly the kind of crazed individual that Republicans by the tens of millions are prepared to support, overwhelmingly, for president in the upcoming election. It's worrying. For anyone considering supporting this authoritarian in the making: what the fuck are you thinking?</div><div><div><br /></div><div>This, I contest, is what happens when propaganda is allowed to flow freely—propaganda fueled by billionaire oligarchs with a thirst for domination. What else can explain continued support for a man who clearly, before the eyes of the nation and the world, attempted a coup on our government on January 6th, 2021—<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/01/donald-trump-stephanie-grisham-january-6" target="_blank">watching gleefully</a> for more than 3 hours while people were injured and killed in the struggle to save democracy because Trump couldn't accept the result of an election that he lost in a landslide (by his own definition), only telling his insurrectionists to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/532976-trump-tells-rioters-go-home-we-love-you/" target="_blank">go home and that he loved them</a> when it became clear that the attempt had failed.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you've been conned into believing in and supporting this man, you've been propagandized, and dare I say, possibly radicalized as well. If after all of the recounts and court decisions you're still in denial of the 2020 election outcome, you've fallen victim to propagandists. That's something to be embarrassed by and not something to dismiss. Please, be better.<br /><p></p><p>In the same way that Trump's <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317" target="_blank">denigrating of John McCain</a> as a war hero wasn't too much for his followers, neither, does it appear, is his use of quotes by Hitler when he states he will "get rid of the communist vermin" and immigrants who are "poisoning the blood of our country" and other similar remarks taken from the mouth of Hitler. Rachel Maddow had an interesting take on what he's doing. <a href="https://youtu.be/NPjdgZ-7ZMs?si=8RSF9XdlFb5CL93t" target="_blank">Roll the video</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsVRcXO0f_0vqInf5Weng39KeG3V7TMJI-MydbuPBzzaHJbIn5aXk8onEFKHhG9sNxPJ2P0PKjlXWXdXgniEQ7VhSdsnFJW7mDuV6PODJCYw6aSqTUYkq-reilY7guyBD71nPnX7YDzCRIKvhS8TVkIeTa2FePBJbPR8iQqnkObIbUPWQ3YJ-ZN5UTD4/s970/odal-rune-stage-1614629146.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="970" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsVRcXO0f_0vqInf5Weng39KeG3V7TMJI-MydbuPBzzaHJbIn5aXk8onEFKHhG9sNxPJ2P0PKjlXWXdXgniEQ7VhSdsnFJW7mDuV6PODJCYw6aSqTUYkq-reilY7guyBD71nPnX7YDzCRIKvhS8TVkIeTa2FePBJbPR8iQqnkObIbUPWQ3YJ-ZN5UTD4/s320/odal-rune-stage-1614629146.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>But then, Republicans flirting with Naziism isn't anything new of late. Recall the CPAC stage from 2021 where <a href="https://forward.com/culture/465017/the-cpac-stage-was-shaped-like-the-othala-runewhich-is-what/" target="_blank">they used a Nazi emblem as the design for the stage</a>. People have given their lives fighting fascism but now we have a major political party that is at the very least flirting with it.</p><p>The war in Gaza rages on with Netanyahu unable to contain his hatred of the Palestinian people. He says his intention is to go after the terrorist group Hamas but for anyone who has been following along and paying attention to the human rights abuses by the Israeli Defense Forces that have gone unchecked for decades against the Palestinians, the high number of dead innocent people in Gaza is no surprise. Biden is in a difficult place as he tries to be an ally to Israel while at the same time speaking out about the need to wage war within the confines of what is acceptable in war. So far, his pleas for humanity have gone unheeded. </p><p>Please watch: <a href="https://youtu.be/pJ9PKQbkJv8?si=s0Sx491-PsmaDmFD&t=1231" target="_blank">WCNSF</a></p><p>I had a Christian Nationalist acquaintance on Facebook until recently. Every day, Jim would post biblical scripture on his Facebook page, usually New Testament stuff. A few days after Hamas attacked Israel, Jim posted something from Deuteronomy about vengeance. I waited a few days after his post had received many likes before I posted in the comments some scripture from Matthew 5 where Jesus is said to have implored us to embrace the radical idea of loving our enemies because anyone can love their friends. Jim saw my comment and proceeded to make a half dozen separate posts of animal videos in the next few minutes, effectively burying the scripture I had just posted. He buried the scripture he loves to hold up for others to see but not when it actually matters. </p><p>And then he unfriended and blocked me. </p><p>He's easily the most dedicated Christian I've ever known. I've never actually met Jim in person (he friended me years ago when a mutual friend passed away) but I had recently reached out to him more than once, inviting him to meet me for coffee. He always turned me down, saying he was too busy. I took that to mean he's not interested in having his views challenged or in hearing another perspective to his neat and tidy worldview. He's content in his make-believe world where Trump is a righteous, honest man and nothing I say will ever change that. </p><p>This MAGA craziness is a cancer on our country and has to be taken seriously. Our democracy and the MAGA/fascist-supporting ideology are incompatible. </p><p>That's all I've got. </p></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Je6bivQVnEQ?si=7Mu7Zb4gJPK_uKM4" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-75809767196074834942023-10-20T16:37:00.007-05:002023-12-14T19:56:28.758-06:00Autumn Bliss and a Story of Budding Aviators<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-k7OZH2m15NUSukSJUVKO8zgrenv2gzEyU4KrzHAbip2f1p8Imx8QSPbTJ7HpW0Evpv1ZpB2k8fTEzQCoOw9U1v_5KHgmkLO-1BmGb3eYdeIUS5FCHai5H1uSfk_xhQG2uus6GRdJJgNFnU4PJN-rR9nvTE_azZ5-LMMYWgYibt02zo8Y_n8tKfQ4jY/s4032/PXL_20231020_200308496.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-k7OZH2m15NUSukSJUVKO8zgrenv2gzEyU4KrzHAbip2f1p8Imx8QSPbTJ7HpW0Evpv1ZpB2k8fTEzQCoOw9U1v_5KHgmkLO-1BmGb3eYdeIUS5FCHai5H1uSfk_xhQG2uus6GRdJJgNFnU4PJN-rR9nvTE_azZ5-LMMYWgYibt02zo8Y_n8tKfQ4jY/w267-h150/PXL_20231020_200308496.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>It's an absolutely gorgeous day out—perfect for golfing or riding—but I'm grounded from being out in the sun due to another Photodynamic therapy session yesterday. I need to remain out of the sun for two days after the procedure. I have one more of these sessions scheduled for another month from now. <div><br /></div><div>I'll be out and about tomorrow but the weather won't be quite as nice. For now, I have to be content to sit in the shade on our deck with thoughts of going on a long-ish walk when the sun gets a little lower—about the time I finish this blog update. </div><div><br /></div><div>With the cooler weather, my trishaw rides at Trinity Care in Farmington are coming to a close. I only had two riders last Monday. Temps above 50ºf (10ºc) without too much wind are very doable but anything cooler than that is a little too chilly for my riders. It's been such a rewarding volunteer opportunity for me, and the residents enjoy getting out in the sun and fresh air with the wind in their faces. I hope to give rides this coming Monday before ending them for the year and resuming them next spring.<br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzLwDs4I8dAOePJfrPsUw63FRr-PQgGnQyuLk-RnvkCBKVyKjLYLRiWHbidZafPkEMN_CSzdXm8MgGQJk5v0GVwAo2X-U2_oyvQ67XGeTcqAPAWFO-M-H3paEDMwzkqcHJbVoHrTTdFGLi1qmFu0CeW72kd1FoGjksqqSaw4DpQm0H8ptOYSud6KhDAo/s3296/PXL_20231020_200738937.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="3296" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzLwDs4I8dAOePJfrPsUw63FRr-PQgGnQyuLk-RnvkCBKVyKjLYLRiWHbidZafPkEMN_CSzdXm8MgGQJk5v0GVwAo2X-U2_oyvQ67XGeTcqAPAWFO-M-H3paEDMwzkqcHJbVoHrTTdFGLi1qmFu0CeW72kd1FoGjksqqSaw4DpQm0H8ptOYSud6KhDAo/w275-h155/PXL_20231020_200738937.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>I was contacted via Facebook Messenger earlier in the year inquiring if I would be interested in submitting a story for a book being assembled by Terry Ahlstrom, a resident of Richfield, MN, (a city we lived in for one year in 1965) for a collection of stories about growing up in Richfield that he was putting together. I had written <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2007/10/mike-lynch.html" target="_blank">a blog post</a> about our time there and I believe a mutual friend forwarded it to Terry for consideration. I edited the original blog post for brevity and was happy to have him include it in his collection of stories. My book arrived yesterday. I'm looking forward to sitting down with it and reading the contributions of others, of which there are many. Terry did a super job with it!</div><div><br /></div><div>My headaches are finished but even now that they're done, I'm always a little anxious about being too far away from the comfort of our home should I have another attack. The canary-in-a-coal-mine for me is alcohol as it's easily the biggest trigger I have for inducing a headache. It never fails (if I'm in a headache phase). I've not wanted to test it yet, though; maybe I will tonight. The reason I'm a little hesitant to say that they're completely done is because of the psilocybin used to stop them. Will it hold up long-term? I'm confident it will but I'm not 100% sure.</div><div><br /></div><div>I rolled the dice on Tuesday and went out for a few hours on my gravel bike. It was a gorgeous day, much like today, and I took full advantage of it. But best of all, I had no headache after my ride was done. That's usually when they hit me. I've lost a little bit of form but not so much that I'll need to work so hard to get it back. That's what indoor training is for during the winter. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://ridewithgps.com/trips/137539416" target="_blank">My ride</a> took me south beyond Lonsdale and back on a combination of gravel and asphalt roads. It felt nice to be riding again and lost in my thoughts. I stopped at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trondhjem_Norwegian_Lutheran_Church" target="_blank">Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church</a> south of Lonsdale and took some photos. It's a historical site now, open to the public a few times each year for fundraising events. The cover photo of the video below is of the church off in the distance.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things I regularly pray for is for God to reveal himself to me in whatever small way that may be—just something that causes me to pause and acknowledge his answer to my prayer. The woman who administered my Photo Dynamic therapy yesterday mentioned that she's from Lonsdale. I told her that I was just there a couple of days earlier on my ride and I mentioned the Trondhjem church. To my surprise, she told me that she is a member there (they have a newer church near the original church). What a fun coincidence and what were the odds of that happening?! Or was that God answering my simple prayer and revealing himself to me? I think I know.</div><div><br /></div><div>The sun is low enough now so I think it's time to get my walking shoes on and head out.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got.<div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/taDSp2QZKfY?si=2-CDb2CE5qtmfqbB" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-2867408161257858022023-10-12T18:48:00.013-05:002023-12-14T19:48:01.255-06:0020 Years Old!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m1uqjoBJSkLKze_XAzMFokGEUe4ylcQWppFHyGImRpqmenIvG4f_na_GtU63YPTKVUtO5026ucf5HgFhm-4iODC30FG7CdKzm0alE-VSBpSsz8wPkvIhCbAP96y9BKrN6flXInoXpv4c21lQrwVovaVSy7D3I22aXhX12bgNQpVJ7gqldWhPzBroSZw/s3389/PXL_20231012_202821081.MP%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="3389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6m1uqjoBJSkLKze_XAzMFokGEUe4ylcQWppFHyGImRpqmenIvG4f_na_GtU63YPTKVUtO5026ucf5HgFhm-4iODC30FG7CdKzm0alE-VSBpSsz8wPkvIhCbAP96y9BKrN6flXInoXpv4c21lQrwVovaVSy7D3I22aXhX12bgNQpVJ7gqldWhPzBroSZw/w280-h158/PXL_20231012_202821081.MP%20(1).jpg" width="280" /></a></div>My blog/journal turned <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2003/10/im-journaling.html" target="_blank">20 years old</a> earlier this month. When blogging became a thing in the early 2000s, it seemed a perfect fit for me. And it has been. I first became interested in journaling when my mom sent me a diary/journal for Christmas in 1976 while I was enlisted in the Navy. I liked the routine of ending each day with a simple entry that talked about my day or my thoughts. I could count on another blank journal from her each Christmas until my enlistment was done. <div><br /></div><div>I used to pen a weekly entry in my blog but I no longer write that frequently. It's still an important place for me to sort out my thoughts and to make mention of things that matter to me. My transformation over the years from conservative to progressive can be found in my posts as well as so many proud moments of having a ringside seat to Rachel's life and watching her become the person she is today. And of course, my wingwoman, Tammy, and our life together.<p></p></div><div>I'll list below some of the more meaningful (at least to me) pieces I've written:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2008/02/a-brave-new-world-part-1.html" target="_blank">A Brave New World, Part 1</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2008/06/intersection-in-my-life.html" target="_blank">An Intersection in My Life</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2008/12/1975-revisited.html" target="_blank">1975 Revisited</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2015/09/an-emotion-filled-day.html" target="_blank">An Emotion Filled Day</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope to continue sharing my thoughts in the years ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div>My last dose of psilocybin was 8 days ago, and with that, my headaches have stopped. It's nothing short of miraculous the way the drug was able to bring me the relief I needed. I'll keep my O2 tanks on hand for at least another week or two before returning them. I want to be sure the beast has been pushed down far enough that it won't pose a problem for me anytime soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tammy and I were talking about previous cluster headache phases of mine and how it would take me at least a couple of months after I had tapered off prednisone before I'd begin to feel normal again. I'm thankful for not having to go through that again this time. I've resumed my walks and golfing but I've not yet taken to the roads on my bikes—my time on the links will remain my focus until the courses close in a few weeks. And then my bikes!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to make a brief mention of the continued vicious attacks by Hamas on Israel beginning last Saturday. I have no words for the inhumaneness of what they've done but what seems to be lost in all of the discussions I've seen is any reporting on the ongoing plight of the Palestinians who continue to live under severe oppression by Israeli authorities. I fear for what is about to happen to them in Gaza. Netanyahu has never shown any ability for restraint. The people who pay the price for his vengeance will be innocent children and families. That too is an atrocity if it's allowed to happen. Their voices need to be heard as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>I watched a documentary a few years ago called <a href="https://youtu.be/WAR8n4A2wZU?si=RQ8qASgzZaRPb3fQ" target="_blank">Five Broken Cameras</a>, about a Palestinian father who peacefully told the plight of his family and his people through his cameras. It's both a moving and an informative documentary. I hope you'll take the time to view it. </div><div><br /></div><div>During my downtime, I've been enjoying some new-to-me YouTube channels. See below. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldef6u-W42w?si=cIYGLX3PEvN6TtxO" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S0SUhazwmgc?si=qzX0kJlPTS_dg1gJ" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-1211866290830144862023-10-01T12:33:00.012-05:002023-10-05T13:08:47.981-05:00Charlie Turns 15 and a Difficult Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_l2cD-vp2suDVZ3W2wIgdPXasrhtBQxaXM2QWnl9-yUwqlJYI3qETBubATD6SGlhcJdGv1-SAYpwlpyyeYZpoDwkVJrieEpnaAm83_oCsDXvrxtT2sMnwRhmcxytj_epUdbEXpxUipUog9wEyrlih0X70CpQ1vGp9LP39-n44O41Fu629epQw7CMGqc/s2737/PXL_20230930_233011476.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2737" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_l2cD-vp2suDVZ3W2wIgdPXasrhtBQxaXM2QWnl9-yUwqlJYI3qETBubATD6SGlhcJdGv1-SAYpwlpyyeYZpoDwkVJrieEpnaAm83_oCsDXvrxtT2sMnwRhmcxytj_epUdbEXpxUipUog9wEyrlih0X70CpQ1vGp9LP39-n44O41Fu629epQw7CMGqc/w287-h161/PXL_20230930_233011476.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx1iwiqLuKp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">Charlie turned 15 yesterday!</a> He's slowed quite a lot in the last year but he still enjoys going for walks and getting a nice treat upon our return. One late afternoon last week we went for a 1.7 mile (2.7 km) walk that took us about 75 minutes. He was a happy boy as I walked along behind him while he let his nose lead the way. I know our time together is drawing to a close and that saddens me. I don't imagine us getting another pup after Charlie is gone but I've learned to never say never.</p><p>I mentioned in <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2023/09/exciting-news-and-some-not-so-exciting.html" target="_blank">my last post</a> that my <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/cluster-headaches" target="_blank">cluster headache</a> condition has returned. I've been laying low, not wanting to stray too far from the <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/DxEnqXyCVVmZVmjz5" target="_blank">O2 tank</a> that provides me with mostly dependable relief. I say mostly because there are times when it struggles to overcome a headache, leaving me rocking on the side of the bed with my head in my hands, taking deep breaths through a special non-rebreather facemask waiting for the pain to subside. <a href="https://youtu.be/Zw88nYSAT_M?si=ptxviU5qdBqCeNAH" target="_blank">It's a disturbing scene</a> to anyone who witnesses it, especially a loved one. I'm taking time away from riding, walking, and golfing. I had to walk off the golf course one day last week due to a building headache. I hurried back to my car but by the time I made it there I was in deep pain and the portable O2 tank I depended on for relief was in over its head. I much prefer being home to being in my car in a parking lot when the beast shows up.</p><p>It's been a difficult week for me but I remind myself that there are more debilitating health issues that others face. </p><p>Not having prednisone (a very effective steroid for treating cluster headaches) in my arsenal this time leaves me a little uneasy as it's been my first line of defense since the early '90s, but I've had to abandon it due to the havoc it has wreaked on my body from decades of intermittent use. I had a prescription filled for Imitrex (a nasal spray that works to abort a cluster headache) but so far I've been relying on oxygen for relief. Imitrex will be a last resort for me as I'm trying one other approach that I've not tried before: psilocybin; a psychedelic drug derived from mushrooms–aka magic mushrooms. I've read that any use of Imitrex will block psilocybin from working. I can't find a specific study to support that claim but it's an accepted understanding within the cluster headache community.</p><p>This past Thursday was exhausting. I went through a full large tank of oxygen as I was hammered by one headache after another. It's exhausting because there's a degree of stress associated with this kind of headache and that weighs on me, plus I haven't been sleeping well. I'm typically up 3 times each night to don my O2 mask to abort a headache. Thankfully, I can usually fall asleep again quickly. </p><p>Using psilocybin or LSD to break a headache cycle is called busting. The recommended dosage of psilocybin is 1.5+ grams per dose spaced out 5 days apart. Results (aborting a headache phase) are usually felt after the 3rd dose if not sooner. Friday, my 5-day waiting period was over since my 2nd dose of psilocybin and my headaches were still relentless so at 1:00 in the afternoon I took 2.18g of the elixir and retreated to our basement where I had some relaxing videos queued up to watch with some blankets to keep me warm. For whatever reason the mushrooms give me chills. Tammy would occasionally check on me. </p><p>Five hours later I was still a little light-headed but I made my way upstairs to let Tammy know that I was doing well and that the experience felt positive. I was free of pain and would remain that way until yesterday morning when another headache developed. I was fine the rest of the day and took advantage of being pain-free to do some much-needed yardwork. The headaches would begin to appear again later last night and throughout the night but I was thankful for the more than 24 hours that I was feeling normal again. I'll repeat the busting procedure again on Wednesday.</p><p></p><p>My downtime prompted me to make it back down to my glass studio to knock out <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1578893755/frank-lloyd-wright-inspired-stained" target="_blank">a sun-catcher</a> for my Etsy store. It was relaxing to be back down in my studio again. It's been a while. </p><p>I listened to Cassidy Hutchinson's book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Enough/Cassidy-Hutchinson/9781668028285" target="_blank">Enough</a> which was just released this week. It's an incredible story she tells and a cautionary one at that. I recommend it. </p><p>Tammy and I finished watching <a href="https://youtu.be/Tw1rAMzPf70?si=6kH0gJmiEITsiq6E" target="_blank">Shiny Happy People</a> on Amazon Prime last night. It's a 4-part docuseries detailing the Duggar family from the reality TV series The Duggars and the radical religious organization, The Institute in Basic Life Principles, that they're a part of. It's an abusive and misogynistic organization that has left many shattered lives in its wake. I recommend it as well.</p><p>I came across a light painting stop motion artist on Instagram recently. His work is so incredible. <a href="https://youtu.be/IEn1Bwd-krI?si=yCSqXJpVRtrhcFPK" target="_blank">Here's a sample</a> from his YouTube account.</p><p>It's a beautiful morning and unseasonably warm as I write this. I'm sitting on our deck and just noticed that our hummingbirds are still with us. I love the sound of their little chirps that let me know they're at our feeders.</p><p><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/september-28-2023?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true" target="_blank">Bonus reading</a>.</p><p>That's all I've got. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kNfT6NIraYU?si=NpeeK6ysAYeF7gQc" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OvP4LmN_GmA?si=0jj_tbxjUnLJLx6a" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-7862230399562437132023-09-16T11:08:00.002-05:002023-09-16T13:43:39.494-05:00Exciting News and Some Not So Exciting News<p>We have some exciting news that we've been mostly keeping quiet about. We're going to be grandparents! Rachel and Drew are anticipating a March 2nd arrival but Rachel is hoping for a February 29th birthday—a leap year baby! We're happy and excited for them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CnzpxqEFIiFRbx3stMyKq_Y5NZXkdv4NdC0rwW6So00pL2NfRrfiR3p5fX00LN2nPGujhiMa-EU04_oOewfjL6kHB1J62j3l1GLXa6kdsBoXpxnNW_nPVwPfwYu7EtI4u8QdFhQsUNHbTd3GFXtXRs0bPLdJRace_9QBdOzR2f-1VrRHySAH4JPt_lo/s4032/PXL_20230905_150058278.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CnzpxqEFIiFRbx3stMyKq_Y5NZXkdv4NdC0rwW6So00pL2NfRrfiR3p5fX00LN2nPGujhiMa-EU04_oOewfjL6kHB1J62j3l1GLXa6kdsBoXpxnNW_nPVwPfwYu7EtI4u8QdFhQsUNHbTd3GFXtXRs0bPLdJRace_9QBdOzR2f-1VrRHySAH4JPt_lo/w124-h220/PXL_20230905_150058278.jpg" width="124" /></a></div><p>I had Photodynamic therapy done on my face to attack precancerous cells and prevent them from gaining a foothold and becoming a bigger problem if not addressed. I've had the treatment in the past but it's been 6+ years. My dermatologist highly recommended that I have it done again. The procedure takes about 90 minutes and involves having a chemical/drug solution applied to my face and allowing it to absorb into my skin for an hour before exposing my face to a specific spectrum of blue light for 16 minutes. It leaves a burn that requires I avoid direct sunlight for 2-3 days afterward. I'm scheduled to go back in a month for another follow-up treatment.</p><p>I thought our hummingbirds had flown south for the winter because of a lack of activity at our feeders but I was wrong. They're still here. My understanding is that the males have already flown south as of 2-3 weeks ago. I took some video of them earlier in the week. </p>
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<div>I won an instructional round of golf with PGA pro Bryan Skavnak through the <a href="https://www.thepubliccc.com" target="_blank">PCC golf program</a> I'm a member of. We met with 3 other winners at New Hope Village, an executive (par 3) course in New Hope. I nearly carded my 2nd ace on the 130-yard 6th hole with a 9 iron. The ball hit <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/g3C8E8uh4Vpcm5Pz7" target="_blank">just beyond the flagstick</a> and spun back past the hole stopping about 16" under the cup. Bryan was trying to figure out which side of the hole the ball slid by to avoid going in. As I'm fond of saying on the course: lucky shot! And speaking of PCC; it's been such a good value for me. I'm in my 6th year in the program.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/cluster-headaches.html" target="_blank">written in the past</a> about the cluster headaches that occasionally make a mess of my life. It's been nearly 4 years since I've had to contend with them—the longest break I've had since I first experienced them as a senior in high school. They're back. I was getting signs (upset stomach and mini cluster headaches) as of last week that they were about to return so I scheduled an appointment with my neurologist to get the tools in place that I'll need to get me through this phase of headaches. Over the years, one of the main meds in my arsenal for dealing with the headaches is a heavy reliance on prednisone; a very effective steroid but also a drug with serious downsides if used in large quantities for extended periods. That would be me. I believe it was my dependence on prednisone that led to my osteoporosis condition. I won't be using it ever again. So, I'm in a difficult place. One of the best abortive tools I have is pure oxygen from an O2 tank at a rate of 15 liters per minute. The only downside is the need to have quick access to an O2 tank when I'm away from home. I'll be keeping a smaller portable cylinder of O2 with me in my car just as soon as the order for oxygen is filled but it won't be until Monday. I'm lying low until then.</div><div><br /></div><div>One other tool that I'll be using (and have already used) will be psilocybin derived from specific mushrooms, aka magic mushrooms. I wrote about it <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-psychedelic-solution-and-i-hope-youre.html" target="_blank">here</a> back in March. Honestly, I'm willing to try anything when it comes to managing these. People are free to judge all they want. I really don't care. I was telling Tammy last night how grateful I am for her and all she does to help me through these headache phases and for the fact that I'm no longer employed and worrying about how I'll manage at work without enough off-time available to remain home until I'm back to normal.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been watching a fascinating <a href="https://youtu.be/Cv_48qFhoO4?si=7S2QqzJJrHrKX-4j" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> lately about aviation incidents. Petter Hörnfeldt does such a good job of detailing what went into each incident he talks about. For my aviation friends, if you aren't subscribed to Peter's channel, do check it out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another YouTube channel I subscribed to a while back is Dead Malls. The channel looks at dying and dead shopping malls around the country and goes into the history of their rise and fall. I noticed last night that they had done a <a href="https://youtu.be/BVfaeh6U1Rc?si=ho17to27T2SQRyl7" target="_blank">recent video</a> about Burnsville Center, a mall just a few minutes from home. It was such a vibrant mall a dozen years ago but now it's mostly a ghost town. </div><div><br /></div><div>Heather Cox Richardson is a historian who began writing daily letters and sharing them on her Facebook page early on in Trump's presidency due to her concern for the direction in which she saw Trump taking our country. I've been a follower of hers since I first stumbled onto her page early on in her writings. <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/september-14-2023?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" target="_blank">Her recent letter from two days ago</a> is a very poignant summary of what has become of the Republican Party over the past several years as they turn their back on our constitution and our democracy. Please take the time to read it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I rode the St. Paul Classic with Rachel, Kevin, and Ann last Sunday morning on a beautiful fall day. Rachel and I have ridden this ride together several times, but this was the first time in a few years. It's always a well-organized and fun event.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1YtFI3QWWOs?si=R9f_PaO99IkcWDvP" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-55034056519530707482023-09-03T19:04:00.013-05:002023-12-14T19:42:43.893-06:0066! Switching My Focus and Bye Bye Wetlands<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW1KlxazY22OagpLND117S5ipG5XNakctVo-iaB4Onn5YjBHwux7vFFkttODzvly2UxKbmktj4k8oj59UQYIhEbNYZJomqdeXIyErCjul1d5LjaU4uyP6jiTeT8d-CutVHIKNADW15MCPKBonZgdIn_jsD1QISiflKXKUr1q3KpBIfzxzGMEqE_MVAO0/s2160/jersey_boys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1620" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW1KlxazY22OagpLND117S5ipG5XNakctVo-iaB4Onn5YjBHwux7vFFkttODzvly2UxKbmktj4k8oj59UQYIhEbNYZJomqdeXIyErCjul1d5LjaU4uyP6jiTeT8d-CutVHIKNADW15MCPKBonZgdIn_jsD1QISiflKXKUr1q3KpBIfzxzGMEqE_MVAO0/w183-h244/jersey_boys.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>I turned 66 years young last week. I'm not one to celebrate my birthdays but Tammy never lets me off that easily. She took me to see <a href="https://chanhassendt.com/jerseyboys/" target="_blank">Jersey Boys</a> at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre and we had such a fun time. We've seen several shows there, and this was one of the better ones for me. We both loved it, which may be why we spent the next several days singing Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons songs. We both have a new appreciation for their music.<p></p><p>The doe and her triplets that I mentioned in my last update continue to be a common presence in our neighborhood. I caught <a href="https://youtu.be/Vv6f3gLV7F4?si=ptU3S_ZKTU_Wc1Oo" target="_blank">this video</a> of them a few mornings ago as they feasted on our flowers. I can't be upset about them because they're too adorable!</p><p>Tammy has been busy for the past few weeks working on <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/uibP8SUjCs3MHAuw8" target="_blank">reupholstering 10 chairs</a> from the library at Trinity Care where we volunteer our time. It's no small task that she's undertaken but she's nearly done. She's working on the last chair as I write this. The residents are happy with the work she's doing because not only do they look much nicer, but she's also adding new padding and new support straps for some of the chairs that were sagging. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIyLgjcHOa51j0vzZYpEHbkHMs5L9ntOMbRor8nwE5DX--5lB8MPDcjp_8kLUzhjNaz2zbPBcBwpZR7mvl4o9crA9iVfTe_MIeavLmnXqe2LncyDk9OvViAU_rBvAoKLoIhNUtHGGHPu5J8U71ZulKg_SEmCPhRdEV5J_RQV5ZMCGHY5VCOo7seAm2sg/s4032/PXL_20230903_173352759.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><br /></a></div>I've switched my focus from riding to golfing until the courses close for winter in about 3 months. I have to find a happy middle ground where golf is my priority but where I don't neglect my time spent riding. Fitness leaves too quickly at my age and is harder to get back so I have to be sure I'm getting enough saddle time. Plus, I do like stitching together my ride videos and sharing them. If I can golf 3-4 times each week, I'll be happy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTChPnkXo_ZVYLWfSOuzedcah6PoB5pih9QdBjDkOvhoBI3H5TPizOqBQcaa2nCrXGsJCrDWumit0DrOLjoDMjyIAMR_05G2WacMUmvpUM7pHD6KtxhaBS55eUHvTQQ9XOM6fiIDA-Z30uvrNDr2F-FbGa8kpL7l7T_EXWFpCtSvj6mC2RJwAwRgGdJVY/s4032/PXL_20230903_173352759.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTChPnkXo_ZVYLWfSOuzedcah6PoB5pih9QdBjDkOvhoBI3H5TPizOqBQcaa2nCrXGsJCrDWumit0DrOLjoDMjyIAMR_05G2WacMUmvpUM7pHD6KtxhaBS55eUHvTQQ9XOM6fiIDA-Z30uvrNDr2F-FbGa8kpL7l7T_EXWFpCtSvj6mC2RJwAwRgGdJVY/w243-h146/PXL_20230903_173352759.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><div>It's oppressively hot out today so I went to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls rather than walk the course. I'm working on making better contact with the ball by using some foot powder spray to show me where I'm striking the ball on the club face. I have a tendency to occasionally hit a little too close to the heel of the club and in severe cases, causing the dreaded shank. It's a simple yet helpful tool.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been another very dry and very hot summer here in Minnesota. Southern states have been hit especially hard with dangerously high temps. Even the most fervent climate change deniers must be taking notice. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had a friend mention to me the other day that it doesn't seem right that our summers pass by so quickly but our winters seem to drag on and on. She makes a good point! I would love for both our winters and summers to drag on because right now, my life is moving at much too fast a pace. I look at the oldest of the people I give rides to at Trinity—those well into their late 90s—and I think to myself how they were the age I am today about the time I moved into our home a little more than 31 years ago. It's a sobering thought because those 31 years have flown by.</div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of time passing by so quickly, I retired <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2015/09/an-emotion-filled-day.html" target="_blank">8 years ago today</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recently saw <a href="https://youtu.be/eg5KWbAMT7I?si=IT_y8Kv2zyCZggTG" target="_blank">this video</a> in an online cycling forum I frequent. Yes, I see that the cyclist who was hit was riding to the left of the white line but there's absolutely no excuse for the RV driver to not maneuver around the group. (I assume the driver is on vacation, so why the hurry?) What's aggravating is that the driver received only a $500 fine for passing too closely. Had the driver killed the cyclist it would've only resulted in a $1000 fine. There's something seriously wrong with that but it's what <a href="https://www.summitvelo.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ARS-Regarding-Bicycles.pdf" target="_blank">Arizona state law mandates</a>. It's why I ride with a small mirror attached to my sunglasses. It's saved me once that I can think of when the driver of an 18-wheeler forced me off the road to make his point—whatever it was—a number of years ago. I saw that he wasn't moving over even though there was no oncoming traffic so I jumped off the paved surface and onto the gravel shoulder. I can still picture the semi driving away hugging the right side of the road. What an ass. But I can't complain about Minnesota drivers because they're generally very good about sharing the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a dermatologist appointment on Tuesday morning for a session of <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/photodynamic-therapy/about/pac-20385027#:~:text=Overview,energy%2C%20usually%20from%20a%20laser." target="_blank">Photodynamic therapy</a>. It's akin to a chemical peel for my face to attack any developing skin cancer areas. I've had the treatment before but it's been at least 5 years. I'll need to stay out of the sun for 3 days afterward so I may try and make it down to my glass shop and knock out a suncatcher during my downtime if I can find the motivation.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGnvel2Wr1vhpnsk7iqK9sWawk4ybdO3wBqfLekAbS9wrmJA8W7h9S0nGCe73LMmWaDXErUBO0kW7jEuceVBjcjq5Ep6fb_NQnVHLc8eYNloqYnsQWkLYn1hFvNJ-QK5_XVlgWjP2Uy7JCHSdSJ9Rru1lSRr7nmUye7IqPgUJl9gNUlXiqhAEioLT0oQ/s3840/PXL_20230830_175610167.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGnvel2Wr1vhpnsk7iqK9sWawk4ybdO3wBqfLekAbS9wrmJA8W7h9S0nGCe73LMmWaDXErUBO0kW7jEuceVBjcjq5Ep6fb_NQnVHLc8eYNloqYnsQWkLYn1hFvNJ-QK5_XVlgWjP2Uy7JCHSdSJ9Rru1lSRr7nmUye7IqPgUJl9gNUlXiqhAEioLT0oQ/w267-h150/PXL_20230830_175610167.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>We made it out to the State Fair on Wednesday with Rachel and Drew. I had to laugh a little because Rachel had mapped out a plan to munch her way around the fairgrounds. We were happy to tag along on her journey. We didn't get to all of them but got to most of them. I think it was Drew who wanted to try a pickle pizza but the line was one of the longer ones we saw so we opted to take a pass. One of the highlights for us all was the group karaoke singalong. <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/qF4GSAHN1XJwQ4L87" target="_blank">We held nothing back!</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dk3dYH27eMY6BJ6UA" target="_blank">a link</a> to some photos I took at the fair.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling this past May that opened up a majority of our country's wetlands to developers went into effect this week. Harlan Crow's firm lobbied for this <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/30/1196875240/more-than-half-of-wetlands-no-longer-have-epa-protections-after-supreme-court-ru#:~:text=More%20than%20half%20the%20wetlands,of%20the%20Clean%20Water%20Act." target="_blank">rollback of protections</a> while <a href="https://youtu.be/P1fyNzwppj4?si=DAY3PIDtMJfZlsJl" target="_blank">Crow secretly lavished gifts on Supreme Court Justice Thomas</a> who voted in favor of it. Think about that when you soon see wetlands being eviscerated by developers, never to be replaced.</div><div><br /></div><div>Additional reading: <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/september-1-2023?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" target="_blank">Worth a look</a> and <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arkansas-prohibits-students-from-receiving-graduation-credit-ap-african-american-studies_n_64dd73e6e4b02db4410af74f" target="_blank">What are they afraid of?</a></div><div><p>That's all I've got.</p>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_-wg_oEugA?si=QHqGfY5ERiTmEllv" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLbks18IhFw?si=yF_fTUrBEPejs6mT" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-242527515007096542023-08-04T09:01:00.002-05:002023-12-14T19:34:57.510-06:00The Idaho Stop, Legalized Cannabis and More<p>The cyclists you see rolling through stop signs in Minnesota are now doing so legally. A new law that went into effect on Tuesday, commonly referred to as the "<a href="https://patch.com/minnesota/saintpaul/idaho-stop-go-effect-mn?fbclid=IwAR2HxkGmhfvw_C6Ajn_gtGsNTJQI5f_ZjVyrWDEBRCXJCVzIkodYYe2PSao" target="_blank">Idaho Stop</a>", allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. We can also proceed through a red light after stopping, provided it's safe to do so. I generally like to model good behavior when I'm riding by coming to a stop at stop signs but there are times when nobody is around (or when I'm riding with a group of cyclists) and I'll slow and roll through them. It was a nice feeling on Tuesday to finally be doing so legally. </p><p>Also as of Tuesday, recreational marijuana is now legal in Minnesota. I've never been much of a fan of smoking weed (out of concern for damaging my lungs) but I do enjoy edibles and cannabis-infused drinks. My nightly glass of red wine or a pour of whisky to sip has mostly been replaced by cannabis products. For those who may be harboring a negative stigma about marijuana, please reconsider. It's not a substance that's going to make a person more aggressive and it's not something that you can overdose from. The same can't be said for alcohol. Plus, many people are receiving health benefits from it for conditions where pharmaceuticals fall short.</p><p>And please, <a href="https://youtu.be/2PLC_cBJwk4" target="_blank">don't drive impaired!</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafuMAdAJwfCGF6YXFF1I9YOg__aVmoFOBrCKyciWMWfNUZcN5C1aGQXM_rXyjp6ux7cbDreUiOJYC-nHykhCEsftcbgyg4YGEZJUo7X7WOkSIyrGJcfjiVDfcnd8CfiW0tMyj1g3T2TiOWFWf1i7BfFSWEx-kDGcCH__4zTgy0IiSVzYoOXRnpVmm0Nw/s2390/PXL_20230716_151913878.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="2390" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafuMAdAJwfCGF6YXFF1I9YOg__aVmoFOBrCKyciWMWfNUZcN5C1aGQXM_rXyjp6ux7cbDreUiOJYC-nHykhCEsftcbgyg4YGEZJUo7X7WOkSIyrGJcfjiVDfcnd8CfiW0tMyj1g3T2TiOWFWf1i7BfFSWEx-kDGcCH__4zTgy0IiSVzYoOXRnpVmm0Nw/s320/PXL_20230716_151913878.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We have another set of triplets in our neighborhood. This is the 3rd time in the last 4-5 years that we've had a set of triplet deer living among us. I've accepted that our flower beds are our small sacrifice to have them around. <a href="https://youtu.be/O8aTEu9Fd_8" target="_blank">They're adorable!</a><div><br /></div><div>The trishaw rides that Tammy and I have been giving at Trinity have been going really well. We had a funny encounter with one of the memory care residents a couple Mondays ago. It was Curt's first ride with us and while I was walking him out to the bike I asked him his age. "About a hundred" he replied. I smiled because I didn't think he could be that old—he looked like he was maybe mid to late 80s. During the ride, Tammy asked him what year he was born. Without hesitation, he said "1922". Hmm...that math works out to "about a hundred" years old! When we returned to the facility I walked Curt back to the chair he likes to sit in and that's when I noticed a sign above his chair wishing him a happy 100th birthday. He wasn't kidding!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wXOpjJRimIc-W2kfuliASV0nSw3huF5bD4XM-MgmxkZRvoBy580zrZwLSLUxBF7oA8CZc6tr0SH6yi6tKZx5SJGthmNmU4tMSID6e5-t-rDb7Y5jp56GmeSCQebZzuAB0b6YnOfRaZdnBHVBTiTVxHkAvMQCJTJyYDaomZRQa1tQXVXnDEwIPA72ChU/s1280/kevin_and_rachel_golfing.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wXOpjJRimIc-W2kfuliASV0nSw3huF5bD4XM-MgmxkZRvoBy580zrZwLSLUxBF7oA8CZc6tr0SH6yi6tKZx5SJGthmNmU4tMSID6e5-t-rDb7Y5jp56GmeSCQebZzuAB0b6YnOfRaZdnBHVBTiTVxHkAvMQCJTJyYDaomZRQa1tQXVXnDEwIPA72ChU/s320/kevin_and_rachel_golfing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rachel has discovered the fun of golfing. She began playing last year with a beat-up set of clubs that were randomly acquired from garage sales. They didn't fit her and the grips were in need of being replaced. We saw her enthusiasm for the game so I suggested to Tammy that we get her a gift certificate for lessons with a teaching pro near where she lives. We also bought her some nice golf clubs because golf can be a frustrating game to learn and I want to see her succeed at it. Having a set of clubs that fit her is important to that end. I'm excited for her. She regularly takes her clubs with her and seeks out driving ranges or courses in whatever city her work sends her to so she can work on her game in her off time. I did not see this coming and it makes me happy to know that we'll be golfing together in the years to come. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqetXZEaoaOlxNyZuX26cPxwRAb9KwwhyNC6-rhGtjAnlQAvgnzDvxju25N_zjH1diSjCzoICNU8ZC_e6Jx4FZiQhBEQDnuuxbt9m_6IhNY8lEG3h9cy3xsPVK2LBvANORHQIDvmYkcXUpAzDNdbLIUI6HHhO0Ucwq7xbKh3sx1ffNSJ28iXFo_qR5ggw/s1280/mesabi_trail_at_embarrass.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqetXZEaoaOlxNyZuX26cPxwRAb9KwwhyNC6-rhGtjAnlQAvgnzDvxju25N_zjH1diSjCzoICNU8ZC_e6Jx4FZiQhBEQDnuuxbt9m_6IhNY8lEG3h9cy3xsPVK2LBvANORHQIDvmYkcXUpAzDNdbLIUI6HHhO0Ucwq7xbKh3sx1ffNSJ28iXFo_qR5ggw/s320/mesabi_trail_at_embarrass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We made a trip up north last weekend to see Cindy, Tammy's sister, living in Babbit. While they took in the Blueberry Festival on Saturday in Ely, I got on my road bike. I've been itching to ride the <a href="https://mesabitrail.com" target="_blank">Mesabi Trail</a> and this was the perfect opportunity to do that. The trail extends 162 miles (260 km) through the <a href="https://mesabitrail.com/trail-maps/interactive-map/" target="_blank">heart of the Iron Range</a>. It's a beautiful way to see the area from the seat of a bike and not have to deal with highway traffic. I didn't get to ride as much of the trail as I would've liked but I thoroughly enjoyed <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/9545565838" target="_blank">every mile of my ride</a>. I've added a video from the ride to the end of this blog post.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my cycling friends; I've been using the <a href="https://windfield.app" target="_blank">Windfield app</a> for my Garmin Edge 830. I like the app a lot and I think you may as well. I'm using the $15 per year version which updates the data every 5 minutes. The main field is current wind data. I sort of like that kind of data when I'm out on the road—not that I can do anything about the winds–I just like to know what the actual wind is. I also like that it gives me the actual temperature and relative humidity. There's a free version but it only updates once each hour.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean to make this post political but I have some things I need to make note of below.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trump was arraigned in federal court yesterday for his role in the events on January 6th, 2021 that led to an insurrection at our nation's Capitol. It should be clear to anyone who looks at his actions—especially the part where <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/01/donald-trump-stephanie-grisham-january-6" target="_blank">he sat gleefully watching the events unfold</a> on that day for more than 3 hours and did absolutely nothing to stop it—that he was attempting the undermine the will of the voters and steal the election from Biden. But if your source of news is conservative media, there's no telling what fanciful storyline you've bought into. I do make an attempt to watch FOX News to see how they're portraying what's happening but it's more frustration than I care to subject myself to for more than a few minutes at a time. I implore my conservative friends to tune into a competing channel and see what they're saying without all the bluster that is commonly found on conservative sites. I know there's a strong kneejerk reaction to dismiss a competing network as fake news but is it possible that you've been conditioned to believe that? I promise it will prove to be eye-opening for you. But if you're content to remain loyal to a network that continually pivots to talk of Hunter Biden and his alleged corruption while never once mentioning <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-made-millions-washington-what-cost-ncna1257795" target="_blank">the $640 million that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump made while working in the White House</a> or the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kushners-2-billion-investment-saudi-backed-fund-concealed-sec-rules-2023-2" target="_blank">$2 billion Jared received from the Saudis</a> after leaving the White House, you're engaging in willful ignorance. I guarantee that you've never heard Fox talk about any of this. Please, be better. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because there's no reasonable or believable defense that Trump can counter with, my biggest worry is that conservative media will soon begin a steady drumbeat of encouraging just one juror to never, under any circumstance, agree to find him guilty. They will make this holdout juror into a folk hero because they had the temerity to stand up to the "deep state" or to Biden's DOJ or to the liberal media or blah blah blah. I hope I'm wrong but conservative media has shown itself to be powerful in their ability to propagandize their viewers and get them to disbelieve what their eyes have shown them to be true. It's the world we live in now and it's not going away. If anything, it's getting worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>For my conservative friends. <a href="https://youtu.be/g4v-BVSF4ts" target="_blank">Please watch</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r1Dq3qEfb84" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J-rM5priCmY" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-28730117264232438822023-07-08T20:24:00.006-05:002023-12-14T19:23:27.227-06:00A Fresh Look, A Stubborn Tattoo, and It's a Small World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vQQQxLPkwiH5NjIGnD0o2bMqEpqBuPkSvIZsuigJfaR4sncTMB_jq3t_YACGY76knfiuWFxEpkEkFynVc1eW7gL3NTRxPS75PyoZ26vQxAmAxk5YgZKlnKlPJ3J3oUiBDtjoFmcgBYrM9ZlYMSLrbgfwn5pxMxtcmOQp9nsD6FNeVk0bktCwDHW-8yc/s3849/PXL_20230623_185143996.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="3849" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vQQQxLPkwiH5NjIGnD0o2bMqEpqBuPkSvIZsuigJfaR4sncTMB_jq3t_YACGY76knfiuWFxEpkEkFynVc1eW7gL3NTRxPS75PyoZ26vQxAmAxk5YgZKlnKlPJ3J3oUiBDtjoFmcgBYrM9ZlYMSLrbgfwn5pxMxtcmOQp9nsD6FNeVk0bktCwDHW-8yc/w260-h146/PXL_20230623_185143996.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div>We were due to have our house painted later this month but due to a cancelation, our painter could fit us into his schedule earlier than planned. As of a few weeks ago, it's all done! And they did it during the year's hottest week (so far). We kept a cooler filled with drinks and nutrition bars available to keep the guys fueled. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's been 15 years since we last had our home painted and we're happy with how it's held up so well but it was definitely time to give it a thorough power washing and painting. We're very pleased with the job they did. If you're anywhere near us and need a bid on some painting work, give me a shout and I'll send you Josh's contact info. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2023/01/i-will-never-stop-seeking.html" target="_blank">I wrote in my blog</a> back in January about having my Christian fish ankle tattoo removed. I've had 4 sessions so far (each spaced 6 weeks apart) and none of them have yielded much in the way of results. It's faded some but it's not changed much at all. I went in for another round of laser treatment this past week and asked the woman doing the procedure if I'd be better off having it covered with a flesh color tattoo. She wasn't keen on that idea because the fish tattoo would likely still show through but she also added that she didn't think more treatments of the kind she was doing, called Q-switch, were going to be of much help. She recommended I pay <a href="https://removery.com" target="_blank">Removery</a> a visit as they use a different kind of laser, a PicoWay laser, which is more effective. I found this <a href="https://youtu.be/xo1VvKKVN_M" target="_blank">short video</a> that discusses the differences between the two types of tattoo laser removal options. I have an appointment for Tuesday morning with the people at Removery to give their laser method a try.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLRZMEyZVv47J98YPRQy_zn2k3qvCheqE5OTzYUsQ2NT6P1k2RdneQyVnTgN5otVytHWZheb9Db5kJLwn2yzuGhOp9maTDvb4T9ATufV5E-21CutecUIUC8DYltcKnYGnAMUCUlTMSHRxr-fy3bYwDv3wluSoPtnslUDcqTtJnekGgkG3JEgrBwt7tPs/s3072/PXL_20230707_184200536~2%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="3072" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLRZMEyZVv47J98YPRQy_zn2k3qvCheqE5OTzYUsQ2NT6P1k2RdneQyVnTgN5otVytHWZheb9Db5kJLwn2yzuGhOp9maTDvb4T9ATufV5E-21CutecUIUC8DYltcKnYGnAMUCUlTMSHRxr-fy3bYwDv3wluSoPtnslUDcqTtJnekGgkG3JEgrBwt7tPs/s320/PXL_20230707_184200536~2%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I trashed one of my road bike rims this past week. I was trying to stretch a very tight-fitting Continental GP 5000 tire over the rim while using nylon tire irons to coax it into place when a small chunk of carbon fiber broke off of the rim, compromising the integrity of the rim—meaning, I trashed it. My heart sank because that was an expensive mistake. I gave Adrian a call at Flanders Bros in Minneapolis and explained my embarrassing situation to him. It's not the first time he's fielded a call like mine. He set me up with a much better pair of rims/wheels that are built stronger, lighter, and more aero than the Boyd wheels that came with my bike. I'm now the happy owner of a Campagnolo Bora WTO 33 wheelset. A nicer pair of wheels I can't imagine!</div><div><br /></div><div>For my cycling friends: I came across this impressive <a href="https://youtu.be/FbFNrnQ4QUo" target="_blank">chain lubrication video</a> recently and thought I'd share it here. I've never seen a more thorough breakdown of chain lubes. I won't give away the ending/results but I will say that Rock N Roll Gold lubricant is what I'm currently using.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4yjfrlV97-TdeCVpUDnXARKZo8kgN5po5sSgZj2bjBCy3NEJywkj0iFknkgKiND9s8z86pGC9GDyu_SUOO09q5phaKCQxaouvvIbxxNAgkBsps4g2uiXeWfr7UtqZ7oXbMEFIn1QEUq7ALBFUTpu6_IxoG02jtvnOtuvk6WG_WEAybeIWgDz4vCRG6U/s3624/original_49a81a59-a616-4aa6-9fca-4fdd4d84ad11_PXL_20230703_153032343.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="3624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4yjfrlV97-TdeCVpUDnXARKZo8kgN5po5sSgZj2bjBCy3NEJywkj0iFknkgKiND9s8z86pGC9GDyu_SUOO09q5phaKCQxaouvvIbxxNAgkBsps4g2uiXeWfr7UtqZ7oXbMEFIn1QEUq7ALBFUTpu6_IxoG02jtvnOtuvk6WG_WEAybeIWgDz4vCRG6U/s320/original_49a81a59-a616-4aa6-9fca-4fdd4d84ad11_PXL_20230703_153032343.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My volunteer gig giving bicycle rides to residents at Trinity Care has been going really well. Tammy assists me for the first 90 minutes of the day by <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/NHeVejsyNQHD71f37" target="_blank">sitting with memory care residents</a> so they too can enjoy the experience. They don't appear to ever remember having ridden with us when we see them the following week but in the moment, they enjoy it a lot and that's really all that matters. After Tammy leaves, I make my way over to the assisted living part of the complex and give rides for a couple more hours or until the bike's battery runs low. </div><div><br /></div><div>This past week I was chatting with one of the residents while giving him a ride. Arnie is 99 years old and is such a sweet and kind man. He has the most pleasant attitude and is a pleasure to talk with. I learned that he used to live in Babbitt (a 4-hour drive north and where Tammy was raised) from 1956 until 1960. He was the city's banker and said he knew pretty much all of the men in town. I gave him Tammy's father's name and he assured me that he knew him. I asked him his address and without hesitating he told me "34 Fern Court". That was just a few houses down from Tammy's home also on Fern Court. What a small world. He then gave me the names of a few close friends of his from back in the day. I made a note of them and gave them to Tammy. She was familiar with them. I'm going to get Tammy and Arnie together so he can reminisce with her. Tammy said she would like that. I know Arnie will.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've added a number of riding videos below from the last few months. I hope you like them.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dnU5XzE7srA" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rUADVbYA01s" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kQj7Vk9EAM" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtS3R68MTLc" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/46UaCzcJhTM" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-48998665774707742892023-06-11T18:41:00.002-05:002023-06-11T21:01:34.911-05:00A Tragic Loss<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlVyfYA6ro25DrapsNyzSqBsVvqffMIAfPXCLY4eIX0X1oV_Ng09mBwGAGQYjdsZw0d8UUtZ39f8mAXSV3v_XAIa9cibHlx38ETJsMjMmmVxtIAaYHt8NwrFFTA9K1HWk6QiUMeQENzm__wOaKSf0e_IXGl3VgXeB9hWQ8Nah3iWQ_YXdo0PPDgkD/s682/350135089_797472875039400_4571674086780487256_n.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="682" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlVyfYA6ro25DrapsNyzSqBsVvqffMIAfPXCLY4eIX0X1oV_Ng09mBwGAGQYjdsZw0d8UUtZ39f8mAXSV3v_XAIa9cibHlx38ETJsMjMmmVxtIAaYHt8NwrFFTA9K1HWk6QiUMeQENzm__wOaKSf0e_IXGl3VgXeB9hWQ8Nah3iWQ_YXdo0PPDgkD/w202-h202/350135089_797472875039400_4571674086780487256_n.jpeg" width="202" /></a></div>I received a phone call from my sister-in-law two weeks ago this morning. Tracee was sobbing heavily but I could make out that she had some terrible news to tell me. For a moment, I imagined that my brother Keith had passed away and she was letting me know. It wasn't that. Their grandson Madden had died the night before after a fall off his bike. I didn't press her for details and we soon ended the call. I was so stunned by what I'd just heard. Madden had just turned 13 and he meant the world to Keith and Tracee as well as to his mother and father and so many others who were part of his life. Madden's life cut so short is nothing less than a tragic loss.<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/13-year-old-dead-after-falling-off-bike-in-farmington/" target="_blank">Here's a news report</a> from one of our local stations.<br /><p></p><div>I didn't know Madden well but I was able to spend time on the golf course <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/PpuSu5B1oyPpE8kR8" target="_blank">with him last summer and fall</a> with Joe (his father) and Keith. He was an exceptional golfer for his age, that was clear, but he also had a talent for basketball and football. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t7aisf9yP3pcYfagfuBbQapafVJMLhX1SSuetKW34wIuCu9sNzKtFL5MxOq-IE4d_icXfjRDxW_tdih5_krra10oTUf9EwX0Tf2L6jUKs459XIYp_IqAA9vBIyY9FbLXC3VZHD0xfLoloGqygSkkWA0d3QiPk04M7Pe2cirfHiEfZhVf7iyee7QM/s4032/PXL_20230606_173152509.MP.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t7aisf9yP3pcYfagfuBbQapafVJMLhX1SSuetKW34wIuCu9sNzKtFL5MxOq-IE4d_icXfjRDxW_tdih5_krra10oTUf9EwX0Tf2L6jUKs459XIYp_IqAA9vBIyY9FbLXC3VZHD0xfLoloGqygSkkWA0d3QiPk04M7Pe2cirfHiEfZhVf7iyee7QM/s320/PXL_20230606_173152509.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I feel terrible for those close to him. He was as loved as any young person could hope to be. It's hard, if not impossible, to find any kind of silver lining to this that could help comfort those grieving his loss. Keith came closest when he told me that he had 13 wonderful years with him and that he was grateful for having had him in his life. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a link to Madden's funeral service. There were an estimated 800 people in attendance (an overflow of people) with more who couldn't attend due to a lack of parking. I've queued it to start with the eulogies. Joe beautifully eulogized his son with a mix of tears and laughter. My heart goes out to them all.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VA8IL0euX8g?start=3413" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-34362358704587036252023-05-18T22:10:00.007-05:002023-12-14T19:15:58.883-06:00Hummingbirds have Ushered in My Favorite Time of Year!<p>It's been nearly one month since I last updated my blog. With a myriad of distractions for me outdoors, I find it especially hard this time of year to sit at my laptop for very long. A lack of updates to my blog is part of the cost.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisUYmm1rM9_lSbaDVVBtEE-7sJN2mZeT43O-ctIl3h2Rn41IMNPvjfSyxWVpGii8Dz7zVU72Q3IPsn2EWceLv5z3Ei_naGGy9YW8gr-PIASyXNXtUxSeGxyJtVTy4t7V6T8rzxQRoOGhHLlx2AsBnDuigkhxCCW_IP3PBDf6bYHybUOBTzKhOiULZ/s1280/PXL_20230518_231041552.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisUYmm1rM9_lSbaDVVBtEE-7sJN2mZeT43O-ctIl3h2Rn41IMNPvjfSyxWVpGii8Dz7zVU72Q3IPsn2EWceLv5z3Ei_naGGy9YW8gr-PIASyXNXtUxSeGxyJtVTy4t7V6T8rzxQRoOGhHLlx2AsBnDuigkhxCCW_IP3PBDf6bYHybUOBTzKhOiULZ/w235-h132/PXL_20230518_231041552.jpeg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was on a ride last Friday when I got a text from Tammy telling me that she "just saw a hummingbird". That makes it official—spring, my favorite time of year, has begun! We spent the better part of the last few days shopping for flowers and getting them planted in our gardens. It's always nice to have that work done. My mother liked to wait until after Memorial Day to plant her flowers out of concern for frost but the long-range forecast shows no hint of anything close to freezing.</p><p>To date, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-Games-Deluxe-Pit/dp/B00000DMBD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2QGC2CYGA3MVT&keywords=pit+game&qid=1683503986&sprefix=pit+game%2Caps%2C266&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Pit</a> has been arguably the most fun game we've played with our Saturday night crew–if we use loudness as a measure. The game has been around since 1904 and is based on commodities trading. It's very fast-paced and fun as well as being simple to play. In the game, we're trying to corner the market on one of 8 different commodities, trading our cards until we have all of one commodity. There's one spoiler card (the 'bear' card) in the deck and you don't want to get stuck with it. Trade it away as fast as possible and try to keep track of who passes it off to whom. That's almost a game in and of itself. Here's a short video I made of one of our sessions.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqHNK9A2bTw" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></p><p>Katie and Patrick's tree across the street was a victim of Dutch Elm Disease and <a href="https://youtu.be/Jy-B-4LL3Qo" target="_blank">had to be cut down</a>. I know the disease was an issue 30 years ago but I didn't realize that it was still infecting trees. </p><div>Tammy and I (mostly Tammy) have been talking for years about taking dance lessons. Rachel finally got us out on the dance floor last Saturday night in Rochester where she leads a USA Dance chapter. We learned the basics of the Walz from Gary Dahl of <a href="https://dahldance.com" target="_blank">Dahl Dance</a>. Gary and Rachel have known each other for several years. It was much more fun and challenging than either Tammy or I imagined. The next morning both of my hips were sore which surprised me. We would like to take another lesson next month either in Rochester or at a studio closer to home. We think it would be fun to get a group of friends to do it with us. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rabbits did some major damage to several of our shrubs over the winter as they chewed and fed on the bark of our euonymus shrubs. I was going to cut them down to the base and remove them but after reading <a href="https://northerngardener.org/rabbit-damage/" target="_blank">this article</a>, I think I may try and save them by severely pruning them back and hoping that new shoots will form and rise up. We have no lack of rabbits around our neighborhood. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZIEIj6IsOth9At3LoneYn2riYZJBfO-CxDdyktXLPghIFamLiFKWgTwpjFjlLd3AYW8ctTU-NUkwklDyh2Q18-5KpSupA2ghNXOdwejzxVY19xl2DkmKIxnhAhNo8J66FOES2pE9ySnfAqSMnPzv3t37VNFTuM09zfbeBvp_G7kjAqEjQayJ5zMT/s4032/PXL_20230510_161727716%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZIEIj6IsOth9At3LoneYn2riYZJBfO-CxDdyktXLPghIFamLiFKWgTwpjFjlLd3AYW8ctTU-NUkwklDyh2Q18-5KpSupA2ghNXOdwejzxVY19xl2DkmKIxnhAhNo8J66FOES2pE9ySnfAqSMnPzv3t37VNFTuM09zfbeBvp_G7kjAqEjQayJ5zMT/w264-h149/PXL_20230510_161727716%20(1).jpg" width="264" /></a></div>A few weeks ago Tammy alerted me to a volunteering opportunity at the care facility where her mother spent her final years. They were in search of someone to pilot <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/TxdW2BxMkkZo5UMz7" target="_blank">their trishaw bike</a> and take their residents on rides through the neighborhood. I jumped at the chance because it's the exact kind of volunteering position I've been hoping for. Tammy is also going to be a part of this with me and <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/wFp9qcrkvewuk8SH9" target="_blank">will sit with memory care residents</a> so they too can experience the fun. She's so good with the senior population and loves chatting with them. Tammy had the idea, and I love it, for giving each rider a sucker to enjoy during the ride. The rides are a great way for getting the residents outside and giving them a break from their normal routine. We're hoping to make it a fun and memorable experience for them. I have a 20-minute loop that I take them on which includes a bike path for much of the way that winds its way through a park-like setting. It's been so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and seeing the joy they get from the ride. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0JXcG9p6OTzB8rXJsxNDb5B368yDbdSxNUgb-X5u8KZwGlUaoOKVBSSlgk8ilvCprdtFJs6K1d2CHZNbhqW8NeCKAE8_yD4kq_aN5gQIQ_z7ROMc-dp6mKdvkoCydiiCsdJUCTztbiMbtUwVgdk1hIv1mAG_D_WVMlCyz_DvD-G8FJhDc1I4DWCY/s4032/PXL_20230506_201030625%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0JXcG9p6OTzB8rXJsxNDb5B368yDbdSxNUgb-X5u8KZwGlUaoOKVBSSlgk8ilvCprdtFJs6K1d2CHZNbhqW8NeCKAE8_yD4kq_aN5gQIQ_z7ROMc-dp6mKdvkoCydiiCsdJUCTztbiMbtUwVgdk1hIv1mAG_D_WVMlCyz_DvD-G8FJhDc1I4DWCY/w251-h141/PXL_20230506_201030625%20(1).jpg" width="251" /></a></div>Most of my riding this spring has been on my gravel bike which has been a nice change of pace from the road biking I was primarily doing last year. My <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/MMZ38Mq5ivjdyPyY6" target="_blank">new road bike</a> will get plenty of use soon enough but for now, I've been content to enjoy the solitude of the gravel roads and the beautiful scenery that surrounds them. </div><div><br /></div><div>My knees have been much more sore than normal. I'm hoping it's because I ramped up my mileage on my bikes a little too much a couple of weeks ago and they're simply still recovering. My worry is that it's partly due to the statin (joint pain can be an issue with statins) I'm now taking and that I'm just going to have to deal with it. Time will tell. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't generally appear in my cycling videos but I kind of do in the 2nd video below. (That's merely a tease to get you to watch it.) Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/may-18-2023?r=4ci4d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">Bonus reading</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4Gh8BwFDO4" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0YkUCiELnw" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-b4vQW4770o" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-61808859358229544062023-04-20T21:28:00.009-05:002023-04-21T08:33:56.110-05:00Crummy Spring Weather, My Guilty Pleasure, and How About a Ride?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEzkf9Qd8oFpdzbqpquMnGjV89OJ6bsjHaTj70gmRk8CPnMtZY-mUxwKA_DACAL-Ch-2jGmRqDD13eFFdSJN6ovfND6W58W46Koe4iVM77Aya_JUlW9HEOfEUfIYz8BmTrf-cEGPZI0dRXbRl0Tckevpx3oNL3OK_9kDhYdfhUQXz4qcNbwC-KRGn/s3828/original_9b359bc5-5545-4df7-b2e2-45cd5f640a78_PXL_20230419_212609329.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="3828" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEzkf9Qd8oFpdzbqpquMnGjV89OJ6bsjHaTj70gmRk8CPnMtZY-mUxwKA_DACAL-Ch-2jGmRqDD13eFFdSJN6ovfND6W58W46Koe4iVM77Aya_JUlW9HEOfEUfIYz8BmTrf-cEGPZI0dRXbRl0Tckevpx3oNL3OK_9kDhYdfhUQXz4qcNbwC-KRGn/w269-h152/original_9b359bc5-5545-4df7-b2e2-45cd5f640a78_PXL_20230419_212609329.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>I just had Charlie out for an aborted walk. Even he is tired of our very cool weather and wanted to turn for home after barely getting started. He didn't have to ask me twice. I don't mind the cool temps (39ºf / 4ºc) as much as I mind the stiff wind. For all of my unhappiness with the weather, I haven't allowed it to slow my roll too much. I've managed to golf 4 times in the past 8 days. There's a benefit to this cool weather if you don't mind being out in it. I golfed 18 holes yesterday in 2 hours and 36 minutes! A typical round of golf is closer to 4 hours but there was nobody in front of me to slow me down. It's been nice to be on the links again.<div><div><br /></div><div>I had my 6-month checkup with my dermatologist a couple of weeks ago. She sent off two samples of blemishes, one from each calf, to be evaluated for cancer. One of the areas came back positive for basal cell skin cancer and the other came back positive for squamous cell skin cancer. They're both very treatable. I've had areas biopsied before but they've all been benign. I have an appointment in a few weeks to have both areas excised of the remaining cancer cells. What I'm a little worried about though is that the areas will heal before I return for my follow-up treatment, making it difficult for my doctor to find the correct area again to treat it. I'm thinking of keeping them circled in ink so we're sure where they're at. It's probably overkill but it's the way my mind works. </div><div><br /></div><div>My guilty pleasure lately has been a program on TLC called <a href="https://go.tlc.com/show/return-to-amish-tlc" target="_blank">Return to Amish</a> which is about an extended Amish family in Pennsylvania. The show follows the lives of several family members, some who choose to leave the Amish lifestyle and others who decide to remain. What I find so interesting are the many storylines that weave their way through the episodes. But also, what is so clearly evident are the family ties that bind them, even through all of the hardships the church places on them as it requires they make a choice between family members who have left the church and the church itself. Once a member has chosen to leave the church they're shunned by those who remain. If someone is found to be associating with shunned members, possibly your own children or siblings, they too are shunned. The show is much more than that, though. I'm just starting season 3 of 7.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VfKd-PYLtA9D0IMc606XYUQO5ndOlCFIsMsjPWPfCJkHNrkdOCHCCoTMm9gxX3SP7l4me4aWVN_9IE8trurbZ4aGftGUF1ZUdCXaJmGR66IZr2mkCyZ6wgyDSvbj9dUyCjpZpq_WaW0CY_XMXSlluWX4Okz3-Nw8wGvvpuPCS54BVtknHQS7p_y/s3443/PXL_20230419_183048365.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="3443" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VfKd-PYLtA9D0IMc606XYUQO5ndOlCFIsMsjPWPfCJkHNrkdOCHCCoTMm9gxX3SP7l4me4aWVN_9IE8trurbZ4aGftGUF1ZUdCXaJmGR66IZr2mkCyZ6wgyDSvbj9dUyCjpZpq_WaW0CY_XMXSlluWX4Okz3-Nw8wGvvpuPCS54BVtknHQS7p_y/w272-h153/PXL_20230419_183048365.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>Tammy showed me a Facebook post a few days ago from <a href="https://fhs.sfhs.org" target="_blank">Farmington Health Services, Trinity Campus</a> where her mother lived out the final years of her life. They're looking for volunteers to pilot bicycle rides for residents of their retirement home. It's the kind of volunteering opportunity I've been hoping for. I stopped by yesterday to speak with some of the staff there and to talk about the program. They have two bikes: the one in the photo to the right which can carry two passengers and another bike that serves as a platform for a wheelchair-bound person. I don't know how easy it will be to talk with my passengers while we're riding but I'm hoping I'll be able to listen to them tell me stories about their lives as we cycle through the neighborhood streets. I'm excited to get started just as soon as the weather allows. If anyone reading this would also like to volunteer for this program, they would love to have you.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgWQxot4Jz6X1hf8qRRvX11ln-iRZVoyMmFqPxXrMx6rbk_oBuKdBdA2qFNt5qjiit2SYx4Z9ljYvJVjTmpLPtxPyAD3O5BAyCyK9T4Yz0SZTFhl5hnzW7BZUq_7S2ge8Tg3jWcZigOKyc2-YaKMpE-2SNass10zr1e1zL3jA_dVU-8kPyEWUyU_b/s5000/445cc063-643f-42ba-8db9-6858a32e7235_5000x4000.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5000" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgWQxot4Jz6X1hf8qRRvX11ln-iRZVoyMmFqPxXrMx6rbk_oBuKdBdA2qFNt5qjiit2SYx4Z9ljYvJVjTmpLPtxPyAD3O5BAyCyK9T4Yz0SZTFhl5hnzW7BZUq_7S2ge8Tg3jWcZigOKyc2-YaKMpE-2SNass10zr1e1zL3jA_dVU-8kPyEWUyU_b/w254-h203/445cc063-643f-42ba-8db9-6858a32e7235_5000x4000.jpeg" width="254" /></a></div>This week, FOX News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Services $787.5 million to settle a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-dominion-voting-systems-lawsuit-settlement/" target="_blank">defamation lawsuit</a> just as the trial was to begin. I was glad for Dominion but disappointed that the case didn't result in any of FOX's television hosts having to testify in court about their on-air support of lies by guests that they clearly knew weren't being honest. And unless their viewers ever left the comfort of the disgraced network for news, they likely never even knew that there was a lawsuit against them. With the exception of (I think) two small mentions, the network was silent about the matter. </div><div><br /></div><div>FOX still has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/19/fox-smartmatic-defamation-case-dominion.html" target="_blank">one more pending defamation suit</a> against them from Smartmatic USA to the tune of $2.7 billion. These cases are why I continue to harp on conservative media as they lie to their viewers and irresponsibly divide our nation for monetary gain. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/clarence-thomas-investigation_n_642ec7bde4b05cef00c7c392" target="_blank">Extra credit reading</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/04/20/mike-lindell-prove-wrong-contest/" target="_blank">This makes me smile</a>. 🙂</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ga5AV3RbaiE" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zOTn_5IciPQ" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></p></div></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-56335604749212843542023-03-28T19:59:00.004-05:002023-12-14T19:04:59.241-06:00Laying Low<p>My energy reserves are at low tide today. I had plans to get out and walk this morning followed by a TNG ride with friends in Northfield tonight but I'm laying low. It's a cool, blustery, and overcast afternoon. I just don't have it in me to battle the wind tonight. My body thanks me because I've not taken a day off from working out since the end of January. My meditation streak remains alive at 57 consecutive days. </p><p>I'm enjoying my walks so much lately, especially now that most of the walking paths are clear of snow and ice. While on my walks I've been listening to books on my Audible app. Most of what I've been listening to have been books related to Christianity as I try and make sense of my faltering beliefs: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Everythings-Fire-Faith-Forged/dp/B09R8SWTDS/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=548300352875&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019498&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16616321178931683940&hvtargid=kwd-1430188218179&hydadcr=27889_10745036&keywords=when+everything%27s+on+fire&qid=1680040480&sr=8-1" target="_blank">When Everything's on Fire</a>; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Do-Stay-Christian-Disappointed-Disillusioned/dp/B09GH1CJFT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UHJXOEQTTVVY&keywords=do+i+stay+christian+book&qid=1680040529&s=audible&sprefix=do+i+stay%2Caudible%2C123&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Do I Stay Christian</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Revised-Updated-Investigation/dp/B01M1UOEV4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8UUZJL87JRMW&keywords=The+case+for+christ&qid=1680040566&s=audible&sprefix=the+case+for+christ%2Caudible%2C121&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Case for Christ</a>. They're thought-provoking books but still, I find myself where I was before reading them; leaning ever more in the direction of agnosticism with a budding fascination with reincarnation. I know stress testing one's faith isn't for everyone (it should be) but I need to do this. The older I become, the more I'm coming to understand that my time here is limited—a thought that keeps coming ever more into focus. Perhaps I think too much. Perhaps not.</p><p>I've got a bad case of spring fever as do most others who are still dealing with more than a little remaining snow cover. I keep seeing photos that show up in memories on my phone from this or that day from years ago. They nearly all have little to no snow and in some, there is green grass. I love our change of seasons, including winter, but I'm very much in need of some warmer weather at this point.</p><p>Charlie is happy to be out walking again. He usually requires a minute in our laundry tub after our walks to wash the grit and mud off his feet and belly but he doesn't mind. He'll be 15 in September. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6jOlO7AxWc3MHWYHHnSPgrdKsvXvp07Zjt1jnHdHft-shH4pm1O_ekq2NoaZtVbbGOTDs000lZV4V7t8qYfRkcWka6UaqWsBiPKrFOlERZi8q5uXxtRnsjn2EegpZtqT6HsAbjr9emb1AwiXFOjkvNz7nuqp6LRH9JiK14JzIU2Cj76eE3dtJ0xI/s2000/80.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6jOlO7AxWc3MHWYHHnSPgrdKsvXvp07Zjt1jnHdHft-shH4pm1O_ekq2NoaZtVbbGOTDs000lZV4V7t8qYfRkcWka6UaqWsBiPKrFOlERZi8q5uXxtRnsjn2EegpZtqT6HsAbjr9emb1AwiXFOjkvNz7nuqp6LRH9JiK14JzIU2Cj76eE3dtJ0xI/w263-h175/80.jpeg" width="263" /></a></div>Gun violence is in the news again (not that it ever leaves) here in the land of the free as children again pay the price for people's unfettered access to not only guns but also weapons of war. If there's a cancer on our country, it's gun violence and the easy access we afford them. <div><br /></div><div>More children in the U.S. die today from gun violence than any other cause of death and we also have more mass shootings than we have days in a year but our conservative lawmakers refuse to work toward minimizing this scourge. In fact, one of the first acts of the Trump administration was to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221" target="_blank">roll back an Obama-era regulation</a> making it more difficult for a mentally ill person to own a gun. </div><div><br /></div><div>It concerns me to think of the active-shooter drills our young children are having to routinely practice in our schools and how they process that. It's just the price to pay I suppose in support of our gun culture. But heaven forbid that they're taught about love between people of the same sex or about our racist history. No, we can't have that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been having dreams at night of riding my road bike. They're such nice dreams. Indoor training is fine to a point but I need the real thing. I went out for a little more than 60 miles (97 km) last Friday on a loop from Northfield to Wanamingo where I met up with some friends at Area 57 Cafe to refuel before getting back on the road. It was such a beautiful day to be out riding. See the video below.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/more-parables-our-time" target="_blank">More Parables for Our Time</a></div><div><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/jimmy-carter-october-surprise-iran-hostages.html?smid=url-share" target="_blank">Extra credit reading</a>.</p><p>That's all I've got.</p>
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The song below was written in response to the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT in 2012 where 20 children between the ages of 6-7 were gunned down including 6 adult staff members, and yet our conservative lawmakers sit on their hands and claim they're doing enough already. We have to do better. Use your voice. Join the fight because that's what this has become.<div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uiIFQXpzDwM" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-45357020226065598802023-03-08T20:15:00.010-06:002023-12-14T19:07:17.669-06:00A Psychedelic Solution? And I Hope You're All Paying Attention<p>It's been 3 years since my last cluster headache phase, leaving me with a foreboding sense that another round of headaches can't be too far off. I'm glad that I've made it this long free from them because ten years ago I could expect a cycle of headaches to appear every 15 months, give or take a few months. They're incredibly disruptive to my life, leaving me anxious as I await the next attack and leaving me somewhat <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/F7Rb4wcyE7VNtbYYA" target="_blank">tethered to an O2 tank</a> for relief from a headache once it starts. (High doses of oxygen at the rate of 15 liters per minute can work miracles at aborting a cluster headache attack.) The search function of my blog will reveal some extensive writings I've done about my headaches, or, you can read <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/cluster-headaches.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from 8 years ago which will give you an idea of what they are.</p><p>Toward the end of the post I linked to above, I talk about psilocybin mushrooms and LSD <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/longtime-sufferers-of-cluster-headaches-find-relief-in-psychedelics" target="_blank">and the success that's been had</a> by the use of these psychedelics in aborting headache phases. For decades, testing with these hallucinogens for a myriad of both physical and mental health issues has been prohibited—until relatively recently. The results I'm hearing so far about their use seem promising. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZAWo5tLaqAOiCD8-B3gY9OURPVwiKJXhrbvzEbsR0-xB9vRi3PgOwyL0E3f2Ejb4RsdUaRFHQibI24u9TWHwUr7VALcSDsrJa7R1tMV-3XcbYkfZ56QbETA6pd9AG0uEHFC7qrsfxxzX0qeAV8P32WKzJP5pgBhKyLkkDC4XqtA9dyp1jAtilB_j/s2144/mushrooms.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2144" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZAWo5tLaqAOiCD8-B3gY9OURPVwiKJXhrbvzEbsR0-xB9vRi3PgOwyL0E3f2Ejb4RsdUaRFHQibI24u9TWHwUr7VALcSDsrJa7R1tMV-3XcbYkfZ56QbETA6pd9AG0uEHFC7qrsfxxzX0qeAV8P32WKzJP5pgBhKyLkkDC4XqtA9dyp1jAtilB_j/s320/mushrooms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I poked my head into a cluster headache support group on Facebook a couple months ago after having been away for at least two years and was pleased to see that many of the members there were turning to "magic" mushrooms and finding success through their use. After my osteoporosis diagnosis one year ago, I'm determined to never use prednisone (the drug I used extensively as a prophylactic for cluster headaches) again as it leaches calcium from one's bones, contributing to osteoporosis. If I can find relief organically through psilocybin mushrooms, I will. <br /><p>Part of my research about psilocybin led me to the Netflix documentary <i>How to Change Your Mind</i>. It's a fascinating film about the use of psychedelics for treating a host of mental illness conditions in addition to a brief mention of psychedelics for treating cluster headaches.</p><p>(The blog continues below the video.)</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8LRb4jfZ9g" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></p><p>Of course, it doesn't work for everyone but I'm willing to give it a try if it means I can avoid any additional dependence on prednisone. A good companion film to the one above is <a href="https://youtu.be/bxABOiay6oA" target="_blank"><i>Fantastic Fungi</i></a>. I found them both to be worthwhile.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvv_D9gOjuyt83_-6bwvpl1HE5fTBXcAkSKgL2zcokWNICiATvKUhG0fdqgwUOD0diciNaPsSAGwsUZvE3yq78KqkbOWp2e8uRJBNZtLIEG0opk6o6LXC6jnVBF1OSIgT3bKvz6AZTnki-N0aWDDhwR0MWOAuyN6RBFO3SkHHfTn2VukPaOhSGlJM/s4032/PXL_20230216_234942318.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvv_D9gOjuyt83_-6bwvpl1HE5fTBXcAkSKgL2zcokWNICiATvKUhG0fdqgwUOD0diciNaPsSAGwsUZvE3yq78KqkbOWp2e8uRJBNZtLIEG0opk6o6LXC6jnVBF1OSIgT3bKvz6AZTnki-N0aWDDhwR0MWOAuyN6RBFO3SkHHfTn2VukPaOhSGlJM/w290-h163/PXL_20230216_234942318.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>I've had a few favorite bands/artists over the years: Supertramp; David Baerwald; U2, and The Bodeans. I recently came across a book about Supertramp from a Facebook group dedicated to the band. The author of the book, <a href="https://a.co/d/8z5KDVQ" target="_blank"><i>Tramp's Footprints</i></a>, is Abel Fuentes and he's also a member of the Facebook group. Abel was offering a teaser of a few paragraphs from his writings in a post he'd made to the group. I found it interesting. I ordered the book and was more than a little surprised when it arrived to find that it was more than 700 pages with hundreds of interview quotes from members of the band as well as others within their orbit. It contained detailed information in chronological order about each of their albums as well as the individual songs that made up each record—the sort of stuff that, if you're really into a band, matters. Abel had so much commentary/quotes to work with and he did a superb job of stitching them together to tell the story of one of the best bands of the '70s, playing music with a catchy mix of rock, jazz, and blues in such a distinctive way. If you're aware of any Supertramp fans in your circle of friends, this book might make a fine gift for them!<div><br /></div><div>I hope you're all paying attention to what's happening over on FOX. Not only is the network <a href="https://youtu.be/hXowA0E4lZ0" target="_blank">not making any mention of the trouble they're in</a> with the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/07/media/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit/index.html" target="_blank">$1.6B lawsuit against them by Dominion</a>, but even more head-spinning is what their primetime host Tucker Carlson is doing with the 44,000 hours of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection video footage that Republican leader Kevin McCarthy gave him exclusive access to. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you thought the network's ongoing allegations of (nonexistent) election fraud appeared to have all of the hallmarks of propaganda, wait until you see how Tucker Carlson is editing the 44,000 hours of video to paint a picture of the January 6th insurrection as nothing more than a few tourists milling about. It's propaganda on a massive scale; the kind of stuff that would make Joseph Goebbels and Vladimir Putin proud. And it's the reason I keep talking about this network and other conservative media sites that are so corrosive to our democracy. They pedal in propaganda. Yes, I know that other networks have a bias but it's something entirely different to lie to your viewers, filling them full of misinformation out of fear that if you don't tell them what they want to hear, you will lose them to an even more extreme "news" source. </div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, if I found out that I was being lied to by the voices I trust to help keep me informed, I'd be upset. I would also find a new source for news. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8htJw5v9FguNriS6laC64iuw9D8EFp-YU12rgvJJQjaaCoEjU-PuYRX_vG91YQ-QeUWi_cOGcEcpGEIxNpRz2YUEaNTBg25qO5fN-DvlbB3q7JtUEBiKBU9XjZcUTp6hSfrp3jvu09i6p6R0EhFpUf6E2L1PyCXaQrqQkfIHLHePLN0ef85nvEY3/s5000/445cc063-643f-42ba-8db9-6858a32e7235_5000x4000.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="5000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8htJw5v9FguNriS6laC64iuw9D8EFp-YU12rgvJJQjaaCoEjU-PuYRX_vG91YQ-QeUWi_cOGcEcpGEIxNpRz2YUEaNTBg25qO5fN-DvlbB3q7JtUEBiKBU9XjZcUTp6hSfrp3jvu09i6p6R0EhFpUf6E2L1PyCXaQrqQkfIHLHePLN0ef85nvEY3/w266-h213/445cc063-643f-42ba-8db9-6858a32e7235_5000x4000.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>The problem is, FOX's viewers have been conditioned to believe that anything to the left of FOX's hard-right conservative narrative isn't to be trusted. Their viewers don't appear at all interested in taking the time to listen to voices other than those who are filling them full of fear and propaganda while making them appear both ignorant and dumb. I mean, when you find that you've been lied to again and again and again (unless you never leave your bubble and Howard Kurtz can't be honest and level with you that you're being lied to) but yet you continue to tune in and trust those who have been playing you for a fool, that's on you. And we all pay the price in the form of a divided nation where a large percentage of people have totally checked out of reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recall a conversation I had with a sibling more than a year ago after having them tell me that the insurrection at our nation's Capitol wasn't what I thought it was—that it was nothing more than tourists. I responded <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007606996/capitol-riot-trump-supporters.html" target="_blank">with a video</a> put together by the NYT where they detailed minute-by-minute how the insurrection unfolded. Their reply was "we believe different things." I've often thought about that because my sibling was right—we do believe differently. One of us is believing in the truth and one of us is believing lies. I'm not sure how else to make sense of it. I only wish we had a better relationship where we could sit down together over a beer and I could explain to them why I think they've been lied to but this sibling won't allow for that discussion. Sadly, I have little doubt that they're tuning into Tucker Carlson's show on FOX this week and feeling vindicated because Carlson is telling them what they want to hear—what they want to believe is true—that the attack on our nation's Capitol, incited by Trump, wasn't at all what my eyes saw in real-time; an attempted coup where lives were lost on one of the darkest days in our country's history.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll continue to speak out about the politics of our time and the threats we're facing from within because I do not want to look back years from now and see that I was silent in the face of so much misinformation and propaganda from conservatives that has made our country unrecognizable. You'll often hear people speak about our democracy as a fragile thing and not something to be taken for granted. A few years ago I might have dismissed that sentiment as just so much hyperbole and not given it much concern. I no longer think that way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to do my part. How about you?</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got.</div><div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tCuIxIJBfCY" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>
Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-40574694748660865822023-02-17T14:12:00.008-06:002023-02-17T18:05:26.107-06:00Pharmaceutical Fixes, Game Night, and We Must Do Better<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z-hUpnxGlfZ3R15YXCGMo2A0JD9GdO2Kg7rxLXeUKhipdggzgmH1FGaS9NPLYeO__kiQJ1kDXGF0gv0-s5sxaVaiVb6IzJBzeoPjT2ouGsqErK-RZ7IFtlFYlj9IRZIONkoVtBoA2Z1f2MPKnAV1UrBD9huKeGEJKMkZejI7zcQ8Hv2sgrIGE4ar/s1958/PXL_20230206_185336911-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1958" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z-hUpnxGlfZ3R15YXCGMo2A0JD9GdO2Kg7rxLXeUKhipdggzgmH1FGaS9NPLYeO__kiQJ1kDXGF0gv0-s5sxaVaiVb6IzJBzeoPjT2ouGsqErK-RZ7IFtlFYlj9IRZIONkoVtBoA2Z1f2MPKnAV1UrBD9huKeGEJKMkZejI7zcQ8Hv2sgrIGE4ar/w274-h154/PXL_20230206_185336911-2.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>We had to take Charlie to the vet a couple of years ago because of a persistent cough. At the time, the vet told us it was esophageal collapse; a not uncommon condition in dogs, possibly brought on by years of using a collar and leash when walking him. She said it wasn't a fatal condition and then prescribed prednisone to see if that would help. When it didn't, she gave us oxycodone to use as necessary. We used the drug a few times and neither of us liked the way it left him tired and not his normal self. </div><div><br /></div><div>Charlie's coughing has gotten worse in the past few months so Tammy went online to research the matter more. She found another possibility of what is happening with him; a condition called <a href="https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/what-is-acid-reflux-disease" target="_blank">acid reflux</a>, with the remedy being Pepcid or another long-lasting antacid. He's been on the drug for about 5 days and the coughing has mostly stopped. We're happy for our little guy. Also, when the condition was first diagnosed we immediately stopped using his collar and switched to a harness instead (as seen in the photo). He doesn't seem to mind it at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of drugs, my doctor recently prescribed 10mg of Rosuvastatin for me due to borderline high cholesterol. I've been slowly inching upward over the past 5 years and now find my total cholesterol value in the range where a statin is in order. Dr. Foley would like to be more proactive with me considering <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/ill-be-few-hours-late.html" target="_blank">my history of blood clots</a>. I've resisted his previous suggestions for statin use out of concerns that I'll have the same debilitating side effects my mother and a sibling experienced with them: achy joints and sore muscles. He has me on a low dose and so far, after being on the drug for one month, I'm not noticing any increase in the usual amount of pain I already feel. Another of my concerns about using a statin is having diminished muscle strength but that doesn't appear to be an issue, either—at least not yet. Fingers crossed!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been taking advantage of some warmer-than-usual February days to do some walking. At one point last week, I had a 7-day stretch where I had walked 40 miles. In another lifetime when I was a runner, I never could imagine myself enjoying walking. I was so wrong. For as much as I enjoy cycling and golfing, I enjoy my walks every bit as much. They're beneficial for both the mind and body. I do have to be careful of the ice, though. Sometimes it's safest for me to walk against traffic on the shoulder of the road because the walking paths are iced over for long stretches. I'll get the occasional admonishment from a passing driver to get off the road and onto the path. <br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxuXul1yTav6R2hkTiQggngRRvsqq_He1HctELBxY2rA1957TNXP-Jtz2DQ4U7UkPkLkhX2iYzBnvXKSwrdLBK_9nn60gUFKPVjdoh29LfrGBmRd21ButhoY4NlQwXNywEJEaOSkIYORArNUNisQslXQ8dks_MyGEsyMvNJI46ubAKM8nho6MkIyX/s1200/me.playing.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxuXul1yTav6R2hkTiQggngRRvsqq_He1HctELBxY2rA1957TNXP-Jtz2DQ4U7UkPkLkhX2iYzBnvXKSwrdLBK_9nn60gUFKPVjdoh29LfrGBmRd21ButhoY4NlQwXNywEJEaOSkIYORArNUNisQslXQ8dks_MyGEsyMvNJI46ubAKM8nho6MkIyX/w251-h188/me.playing.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>Our Saturday night get-togethers with neighbors turned into game nights last fall when the cool air forced us inside. I was telling them all recently that these few hours we spend together each week are the highlight of my week. We have lots of laughs. They began as socially-distanced nights spent on our decks during the pandemic where we would rotate between our 3 homes with the host family providing an assortment of snacks to munch on. Last week's game of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pictionary-Drawing-Light-up-Devices-Exlclusive/dp/B07P5PQZY7/ref=asc_df_B07P5PQZY7/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366016992680&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14974281531595760725&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019498&hvtargid=pla-812104633626&ref=&adgrpid=76905690155&th=1" target="_blank">Pictionary Air</a> was maybe the most fun game we've played yet! Oftentimes we'll toss out the rules and make up our own version of whatever game we're playing. We're funny that way. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to touch on some things political in nature below. Catch you next time if that's not your thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been writing lately about my feelings of disillusionment with the Christian religion and the church and wondering if either of them has a place in my life anymore. I've become very cynical about the church's role in our society as we see how it has too often become politicized in an ugly, off-putting way, resembling nothing that Jesus stood for. I saw <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/asbury-university-revival-college-kentucky-going-viral-tiktok-rcna70686?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR21WohcqtkEFKEIYeOtrUoPnJEOPcz4mmPC2KgstTa2de2rJEyvaN4bh3w" target="_blank">an article</a> last night from NBC News about a revival among young people who are flocking to a church in Kentucky to gather and pray. Normally, I would think this is a good thing—something to be encouraged. The more cynical part of me worries that some young impressionable minds will be lured in and hooked into just another hard-right conservative agenda-driven church where they think they're there to learn about Jesus but along the way, a bait-and-switch happens and they're groomed to become disciples for conservative politicians and their hard-right policies and causes. </div><div><br /></div><div>What I've come to realize through all of the nonsense and lies from conservatives over the past several years is how easily people can be manipulated and conned into believing whatever their respected leaders tell them to believe. And if the news they're watching isn't shoveling enough propaganda, they'll turn to another channel that will and feast on it there. Heather Cox Richardson's <a href="https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-16-2023" target="_blank">newsletter from today</a> illustrates this very well in the case of FOX News and their on-air personalities worrying that by telling their viewers the truth, that Trump lost the 2020 election, they were going to lose viewers to OAN or Newsmax. Notice the part where Tucker Carlson is calling for the firing (in a text with Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham) of one of their reporters for telling the truth on-air. It's depressing to watch good people being conned to the point where <a href="https://youtu.be/BS_V9koJ0R4" target="_blank">this is the end result</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would rather not have to write about this kind of stuff but my conscience won't allow me to be silent about it—not when there's a real ongoing threat to the viability of our democracy from those on the right who continue to tear at the fabric of our institutions and the trust we place in them, to include our election process. </div><div><br /></div><div>We must do better.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/missouri-votes-against-children-carrying-guns_n_63e71736e4b022eb3e305904" target="_blank">Extra credit reading</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I got together with some friends Sunday afternoon ahead of the Super Bowl to burn off a few calories before sitting down to watch the game—and what a game it was! It's been since last fall that I've done any road riding. It was nice to be out again. The gravel roads we typically opt for are still ice covered in many areas so we kept to the pavement. The temp was just above freezing with very little wind—an ideal day for this time of year in Minnesota.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VK0GPQtuIgY" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-15003156685329423822023-01-31T20:07:00.005-06:002023-02-01T10:11:51.647-06:00Trying to Make Sense of the Unknown and a Beautiful Ride with Eddy Voorspoels<div>This blog post dovetails with <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2023/01/i-will-never-stop-seeking.html" target="_blank">my previous entry</a> as I continue to ponder life—my life, in search of answers that likely won't be revealed to me until my time here is done, if then.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhydgfOD6a0ONcZQEjVAZBqZSvCyf03GtdwpvkSMYtEH0CrxHiRsiKuX-Qu1oOG6adJzBJRJ453uq1z92IPtsj_JRfSyKlTI0aizXJsLxrgX_v53d814_6dO4RjYLbVWF4OXFpQhB0bsb8DDU3F9bYfDq4lhks6LbC2VCJQS9dZ-aCU1Jl7Io885BD/s1024/9.16.19_LifeDeath-1024x683.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhydgfOD6a0ONcZQEjVAZBqZSvCyf03GtdwpvkSMYtEH0CrxHiRsiKuX-Qu1oOG6adJzBJRJ453uq1z92IPtsj_JRfSyKlTI0aizXJsLxrgX_v53d814_6dO4RjYLbVWF4OXFpQhB0bsb8DDU3F9bYfDq4lhks6LbC2VCJQS9dZ-aCU1Jl7Io885BD/w233-h155/9.16.19_LifeDeath-1024x683.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>I've been in a very contemplative place for at least the past two years while I watch helplessly as the years of my life pass by, each one faster than the one that preceded it. Contemplation is one of my superpowers, if only for my benefit. Along with my preoccupation with contemplating my life and all of its twists and turns and lessons, my thoughts are beginning to dwell more and more on life beyond this one and what that might look like. It was so much easier when I took shelter in my Christian faith, not really bothering to seriously consider any other alternative than one where I leave my physical body and pass through a tunnel of white light into the arms of Jesus, to dwell with other believers as we sing songs of praise to God. It was a very simple way of looking at life and death; so much so that it required little to no deeper attempt at understanding what I was accepting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, the singing praises to God part never appealed to me in the least. How boring, I thought.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I now see myself as much more an agnostic than a Christian, it's opened up entirely new areas of possibility for me to explore—but along with that comes an uneasiness in admitting to myself that I lack so much understanding about what lies ahead. I'm a Virgo and one of our traits is orderliness (another one of my superpowers, if you can call it that). Perhaps that's why not knowing what awaits me after this life troubles me and leaves me with a feeling of anxiousness. But it's where I am.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's comfort in believing as the masses do; I get that. And Christianity is the most popular religion worldwide so this should be an easy call, right? Not for me. </div><div><br /></div><div><div aria-level="3" class="co8aDb" role="heading" style="caret-color: rgb(189, 193, 198); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><b>Major religious groups</b></div><div class="RqBzHd" style="caret-color: rgb(189, 193, 198); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 0px 20px;"><ul class="i8Z77e" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Christianity (31.2%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Islam (24.1%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Irreligion (16%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Hinduism (15.1%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Buddhism (6.9%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Folk religions (5.7%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Sikhism (0.3%)</li><li class="TrT0Xe" style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;">Judaism (0.2%)</li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div>If I had to explain it, after all of the thinking I've done about what I really believe happens to us when we die, I would say that there's a transition period between our death and the next life that will follow. How long of a transition period, I haven't a clue but I'm becoming more accepting of the belief that we will be given new lives after this one—reincarnated lives. Our soul's energy continues on to take up residence in another being and can't be extinguished. And the cycle repeats. Honestly, it makes as much sense to me as any religion I'm familiar with and the sometimes outrageous claims of truth they put forth. </div><div><br /></div><div>At 65 years old, one would think I would have long ago settled on a belief that I could cling to, and I thought I had, but as I said in my previous post, evangelicals over the past 6-7 years have shown me that what I was putting my trust in (to include the leaders of the Christian church both yesterday and today) are merely men with agendas and aren't to be blindly trusted. It really boils down to that for me. And so I continue to contemplate that which can't be known with any great degree of certainty. It's part of life as I see it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, moving on. </div><div><br /></div><div>A video popped up in my YouTube feed last night that captured my attention in a way that very few videos do or can. It's a video posted by Eddy Voorspoels from Belgium. My interest was piqued all the more when I learned early on in the video that we're the same age, within about a month. Eddy has quite a lot of experience cycling around the world (a dream of mine—maybe in my next life?) but had to dust off his bike from years of idleness for this latest 32-day journey—a journey that would take him from Antwerp, Belgium, southeast toward Luxembourg and France then northeast into Germany before returning to Antwerp for a total of 1460 miles / 2350 km. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eddy talks about the simplicity of riding as he captures some beautiful scenery along the way while leaving me longing for that same kind of experience which is considerably different than the kind of riding I enjoy. His is a slower pace and one that focuses on taking in all that the road has to offer, most importantly, the encounters with people along the way. He had me so captivated that it wasn't until I was well into the video that I noticed he was riding in sandals and without the ubiquitous helmet the rest of us wear. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eddy rides without the latest technology or cycling apparel that I can't seem to get enough of—very old-school, yet he has the ability to capture video footage and stitch it together in a way that most of us who dabble in this sort of thing can only dream of being able to do. </div><div><br /></div><div>For as vastly different as our riding styles are, I couldn't help but feel a kinship between myself and Eddy. I would love to ride with him and get to know him. It's truly a beautiful journey he will take you on in the video below. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you with some words of Eddy's as I close this out. </div><div><br /></div><div>"In the end, everything passes—the heat and the cold, the rain and the wind—steep climbs, mechanical breakdowns. Everything always passes or finds a solution. The only thing to stay is the road—the ever-changing, eternal, and glorious road. And it always leads back to ourselves."</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy the ride. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SKudITYlfh8" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-51232842026138688842023-01-19T15:47:00.006-06:002023-04-01T10:30:10.617-05:00I Will Never Stop Seeking<div>This blog update is a follow-up to a post I made on Facebook last night. The first paragraph below was what I posted. What I'm about to write is personal but I share it with hopes that it will help others see another side that they may not be appreciative of with respect to those of us who have chosen to leave organized religion or whatever belief system they may have walked away from. I've always been a very spiritual person, seeking after God and in conversation throughout the day with this entity, whatever it may be. If you ever see me out walking and it looks like I'm talking to myself; I'm likely in conversation with God. Some of what I say here in this post may strike some as offensive. That's not my intention but I don't know how to sugarcoat this to make it more acceptable to you. Thank you for hearing me out.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOFzol8NiB1CQNC8-ALynhCmhqAvajWzPVR0C5CHxciW7Wv71mRDVrwLi6ymeuZ3qYBAqoBoMCm0MYUCQOqPdaBkk4p6G5b4UR85z-EPTLaI-gObacjRrig6dNXNqL0aB4sdLSMRZqXaorY9HhnA_M3Bhu6baHnWrUrpgK7dvV8gOArb9XzIS9erg/s2048/1269412299_36486a7b77_k.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOFzol8NiB1CQNC8-ALynhCmhqAvajWzPVR0C5CHxciW7Wv71mRDVrwLi6ymeuZ3qYBAqoBoMCm0MYUCQOqPdaBkk4p6G5b4UR85z-EPTLaI-gObacjRrig6dNXNqL0aB4sdLSMRZqXaorY9HhnA_M3Bhu6baHnWrUrpgK7dvV8gOArb9XzIS9erg/w207-h156/1269412299_36486a7b77_k.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /></div><div>A little more than 15 years ago when Rachel turned 16, Tammy, Rachel, and I got Christian fish ankle tattoos to signify our walk with Jesus. I liked it—we all did, but a number of years ago it stopped being something I was proud of when the religion I once was so fond of was hijacked by a political party that had zero in common with the Jesus they claim to follow. I was embarrassed. I did my best to cover it by wearing taller socks than I liked but I just wanted it gone. Today was <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/TvLNEz4xrPLgWPjE8" target="_blank">my first step toward having it removed</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I pause long enough to think about all that went into this decision, I can cry, and that's not something that comes easily to me. I used to say that attending church at Hosanna was the highlight of my week. I really meant that. But then our senior pastor, Bill Bohline, began preaching politics from behind the pulpit by encouraging us to vote YES on <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/11/07/minnesota-voters-reject-marriage-amendment" target="_blank">an upcoming amendment</a> to our state's constitution. The amendment would ensure that same-sex couples could never marry in Minnesota. He had also made it clear that, while welcoming same-sex couples into the church, they would not be allowed to serve in any leadership position at Hosanna! (The lead cook at Hosanna was fired for this offense.) I have a heart for the LGBTQI community and this <a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2012/10/losing-my-religion.html" target="_blank">wasn't sitting well with me</a>. My heart hurt for any same-sex couples that may have been in attendance as he singled out their "sin" but gave a pass to the rest of us for ours. Sure, Bill always couched his condemnation with an assurance that all are welcome at Hosanna but his actions spoke much more loudly. Hosanna would break from the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) over this issue and I would leave the church soon after. </div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't help that around this time I had just finished reading the Bible, cover to cover, for the 7th time, and I was left with many more questions than answers. These were serious questions that had become part of a huge hurdle for me having to do with the authenticity of biblical scripture. I actually prayed for clarity all the way through my daily reading/devotion. The clarity I received wasn't the clarity I expected. I came to realize that the Bible was written and assembled by men and was heavily influenced by their prejudices and agendas and not so much by God. </div><div><br /></div><div>I worry that the Bible isn't genuine and that we simply choose to embrace it and accept it as factual because, well, because we always have. Man has corrupted everything he's touched, including the church so why not the Bible as well? I no longer believe in its inerrancy. I'm troubled that it took literally decades, many decades after Jesus was crucified before the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written. These gospels detailed the life of Jesus. Why would something so important as his walking among them/us, his crucifixion, and his resurrection, including the numerous miracles he performed, take <a href="https://exactlyhowlong.com/how-long-after-jesus-death-were-the-gospels-written-and-why/" target="_blank">40-110 years to write about?</a> (The number of years varies depending on whose interpretation you trust, but I don't care if it was 10 years. The writings should have begun as they were happening.) I can't help but imagine the stories becoming just so much folklore by the time the gospels' writers put pen to parchment, and I assume, embellished them along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it wasn't just clarity about what I was reading in the Bible that was at work because, around this same time, I began asking God to let me see the world through his eyes. I couldn't think of a more meaningful thing to pray for. It was something I prayed fervently for and continue to seek today. I wanted him to open my eyes to any blindspots I may have. That's when so much began to change for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is also when I began to quietly deconstruct my faith and rebuild it in a way that made sense rather than something that adhered to the tenants of the Christian faith I had come to question.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it was God answering my prayers or maybe it was me giving myself permission to take down the walls I'd built around me that blinded me to another perspective. Whatever it was it was powerful and it was freeing. I began to try and put myself in the shoes of others less fortunate; in the shoes of a Black man in everyday life and the hurdles and stares and judgment that come with being a Black man in our society. I try as best I can (and I never will be able to) to feel what he must feel. It's been a revealing practice that I can't recommend enough. I've learned so much about my own preconceived, ingrained prejudices. I'm a work in progress. </div><div><br /></div><div>Does that make me "woke"?</div><div><br /></div><div>Thoughts about self-fulfilling prophecy kept coming to the fore.</div><div><br /></div><div>I began to take more notice of those less fortunate than myself. I saw them as equals with lives and family and needs and dreams, like me. We are no different. Compassion for them replaced the judgment I had been harboring. I was seeing the world through a different pair of eyes. I do believe God had answered my prayers and was working on my heart and still is. I have a long way to go yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWK-_lb6qbcYSA5asYLHgnLmX-sFsEWYBjR_57kx5W_xR0W4G1SnSH56er_kLuv0wj4MUVbKYtvRjIckCiz0lsN2A7yzZAR3TzaQziZSukOCi9QqDYuCUQePFmUimskVKKHooFksKDGBe4UNWvY-c6CrqrP_xDU-Q5VD0X8QYtVWoVPRH7wrhf8N8/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-19%20at%201.31.17%20PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWK-_lb6qbcYSA5asYLHgnLmX-sFsEWYBjR_57kx5W_xR0W4G1SnSH56er_kLuv0wj4MUVbKYtvRjIckCiz0lsN2A7yzZAR3TzaQziZSukOCi9QqDYuCUQePFmUimskVKKHooFksKDGBe4UNWvY-c6CrqrP_xDU-Q5VD0X8QYtVWoVPRH7wrhf8N8/w252-h150/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-19%20at%201.31.17%20PM.png" width="252" /></a></div>And then Donald Trump, a racist conman in a red hat, came on the scene, spouting hurtful words directed at anyone who dared question him or disagree with him while at the same time making it clear that <a href="https://youtu.be/WIs2L2nUL-0" target="_blank">violence is acceptable</a>. Evangelical Christians couldn't get enough of him. They loved him! I have no doubt that Jesus wept at the sight of this. My heart would sink even further as I watched family and friends get sucked into this madness where most of them still remain today. Even when he was separating infants and children from their parents at our southern border as a signal of deterrence to others, Evangelical Christians stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Today, more than 5 years later, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/five-years-later-work-of-reuniting-families-separated-at-us-mexico-border-remains-unfinished/6610677.html" target="_blank">many of those children have yet to be reunited with their parents</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever happened to WWJD? Was that just a catchy slogan worn on a rubber wristband, not to be taken seriously? Can you imagine MAGA people being at all influential in writing and organizing the books of the Bible? Would you trust them? Can we be sure it wasn't people with this kind of mindset who played an instrumental role in the origins of Christianity? </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't want to make this about Trump but I felt it important to mention him because he made clear to me how easily people can be led astray by a demagogue. I began to think again about the authenticity of scripture within the Bible and wondered, <i>what if Moses was a Trump-like figure who would lie about anything?</i> He could claim whatever he wanted and his followers would believe him. The voice of God coming from within a burning bush? The parting of the Red Sea? A talking donkey? Noah's Ark? Those are some grandiose tales, no? Do you honestly believe they happened? What if the first 5 books of the Old Testament in the Bible attributed to Moses are nothing more than the ramblings of a madman claiming all sorts of made-up nonsense? Would you put your trust in anyone <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+22%3A28-29&version=NIRV" target="_blank">who would tell a rape victim that she shall marry her rapist?</a> No loving God would condemn a woman to such a life because those aren't the words of God. They're the words of Moses. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've closed my Bible for the last time with no intention of going back to it again. It only diminishes my faith, especially the Old Testament. This is where I find myself at age 65 with my life passing by faster than ever with no real idea of what lies beyond this life. It's a confusing time for me. And, in some regards, a sad time as well. I miss the faith I once knew but I can't go back, not with all I've seen and have come to realize. In some respects, I feel like one of the Voyager spacecraft, hurtling through space, no longer tethered to the foundation that once grounded me while leaving our galaxy for worlds unknown.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still pray to Jesus but not as frequently or fervently as I once did. I believe we have guardian angels that guide us through this life, and I believe in reincarnation. I'm a very young soul but I've been here before. I feel that deep within me. I've experienced God's miracles in my own life in many ways: from his guiding hand throughout my career where I relied on him more than you would know, to Tammy and Rachel coming into my life at the perfect time, to the many health scares and truly miraculous healings I've had along the way. I know in my heart these things were gifts from God, not to be discounted.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you with this story of losing my cross necklace while on a ride one day and the meaning the cross held for me then (it lies at the bottom of a glass bowl on the counter in our laundry room now). I wouldn't give up on finding it. I won't give up on myself, either. I am a work in progress and I will never stop seeking.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://onekgguy.blogspot.com/2008/05/lost-then-found.html" target="_blank">Lost Then Found</a></div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've got. </div><div><br /></div>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-4444254311018683112023-01-06T21:28:00.006-06:002023-01-10T12:34:31.336-06:00The Sky is Falling!<p>Tammy is 11 weeks post-op from her hip replacement surgery and is pretty much back to normal. She was given the green light a few days ago to resume her Zumba workouts. I'm super happy for her because I know how important those workouts are for her. She's happy as well. It's been a few years since she had to stop exercising due to hip pain.</p><p>We braved some near-blizzard conditions two weeks ago to take a <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/4tF5ZNXB9A6fXRRC9" target="_blank">mixology class</a> at <a href="https://norsemandistillery.com" target="_blank">Norseman Distillery</a> in Minneapolis. It was a gift Tammy had surprised me with one year ago and it was about to expire. I've put so little time into learning what goes into various drinks so this was all new to me. It was a lot of fun—so much so that we're talking about taking Mixology 2 as a follow-up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-M18bqc1XAOEQd64H0c2uoRB3otaGiHcrdiFV4VWTI-0Xo1aHXgGJdAGxprZiSbcdGanyzSqu6X5uM0lOkE1tqela2SQs0KNer7GM28GUoEl53sim5jT84IqW3OhzFhJsYAqgGJ8D_HTdYXWAoAvZsiRp7qT-TkjwEeCcIL9mXFxgwdFd2YFfPMn/s2500/IMG_20230106_161153_(2500_x_1406_pixel).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2500" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-M18bqc1XAOEQd64H0c2uoRB3otaGiHcrdiFV4VWTI-0Xo1aHXgGJdAGxprZiSbcdGanyzSqu6X5uM0lOkE1tqela2SQs0KNer7GM28GUoEl53sim5jT84IqW3OhzFhJsYAqgGJ8D_HTdYXWAoAvZsiRp7qT-TkjwEeCcIL9mXFxgwdFd2YFfPMn/w263-h148/IMG_20230106_161153_(2500_x_1406_pixel).jpg" width="263" /></a></div><p></p><p>We had the most beautiful snowfall earlier this week. Over two days, about 20" (50cm) of tree-clinging snow blanketed the area and because there was very little wind, most of what was clinging to the trees is still hanging on, making a walk through our neighborhood look much more beautiful than normal. I had to get out and <a href="https://youtu.be/dT0tc85E0lY" target="_blank">get some video</a> this afternoon for the archives. I know, kind of boring. 🤷🏽♂️</p><p>They say this is the snowiest start to winter the Twin Cities has seen <a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/twin-cities-snowiest-start-to-winter-in-30-years/89-d7efb48f-56b5-492d-ad75-623b184d1306?fbclid=IwAR1qQqxb3Krd6TvhJxnpn6CeLCioVEAHJ28zxOEbBOK9yz-8QZlV4YwSabQ" target="_blank">in 30 years!</a></p><p>My nearly 2.5-year-old Google Pixel 4XL cellphone died last week. That does seem premature. For a brief moment, I considered climbing aboard the iPhone train but since we're very happy with Google's <a href="https://fi.google.com/about/" target="_blank">Project Fi</a> phone plan, it wasn't something I considered very seriously. For me, the most important aspect of any cellphone I've had has been its camera. My new Pixel 7 Pro doesn't disappoint at all in that regard. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmzdT8yOBCG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">I posted this</a> to my Instagram account to show the phone's 30x zoom ability. It's quite remarkable! The newest iPhone 14 Pro only has (I believe) a max of 15x zoom. I imagine my new phone coming in handy when I'm riding the river trails and want to zoom in on eagles that are plentiful along the river.</p><p>I've had zero motivation to be down in my shop working on stained glass this winter. I'm not sure what that's all about. No worries. At some point, I'll find the desire again and find my way back to it. I do need to continue work on a design for our master bathroom windows. Coming up with a design I'm happy about will be all the motivation I'll need to start on them. We also have some stained glass panels planned for above our kitchen cabinets, but again, I need to sit down and flesh out a design first. </p><p>Today marks 2 years since the attack on our nation's Capitol. I'm hopeful that the ongoing investigation will ultimately result in indictments of Trump and those who plotted the failed overthrow. I feel it's far more important to have justice for this matter than worrying about dividing the nation over an indictment of a former president. We're already hopelessly divided and that's not changing; not until conservative media and conservative politicians decide they've done enough damage and level with their followers about the extent to which the former president bears responsibility for the attack. I don't expect that will ever happen. </p><p>One of my favorite albums from 1988 was <a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/2953187-Mark-Place-Third-One-From-The-Sun" target="_blank">Third One From the Sun by Mark Place</a>. I only had it in album format and was never able to find it as a CD. I bought a Stanton turntable a number of years ago and went about digitizing several albums that were never available in CD format, with Mark's album being one of them. There was a song of his that I wanted to use as backing music for one of my ride videos so I somehow managed to find an email address for Mark and ask him for his permission to use his song. It was probably the record label's call to make but he encouraged me to use it. And so I did. I sent him <a href="https://youtu.be/7fGBeGDyics" target="_blank">a link to the finished product</a> and didn't think much else about it. He reached out to me recently (through the comments in the video) to get my contact information. When he replied he shared that he's recorded some more songs in case I was interested. Definitely!</p><p>I decided to use that same song again plus another song of his in a video for a ride I did on New Year's Day. The first video I'd made using his song is inferior to what I'm putting out now and I wanted him to have something better than my first effort. I like the way the video transitions from the first song to the second song. It's the 2nd video below.</p><p>The 1st video below was from a ride I did yesterday. I had to get down to the river trails to see the beauty of the snow-ladened trees. They didn't disappoint!</p><p>That's all I've got. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AkenmhTFuJo" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ephuj_OwyY" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212890428051515494.post-11729949545665519012022-12-19T19:50:00.006-06:002023-12-14T20:17:39.437-06:00Happy Holidays!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhScouwJgX9evGexFExc6yF5xSkzsA7KClgOONzzk9B2FFv8LL9wK5qKBJh2mmgGPphrl1eYiRc-p5bdwUKvwsWU4ai2XMtefvPWNFGNGFvJ6Ldd5t1x37kCmO9YJQZ-ikfwWz9BroaISPQYrzL9_mSsHwgrRxl_qile07g_V3t5E0j4vcAU8Q8_4/s1920/hdr_1671492024299.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1920" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhScouwJgX9evGexFExc6yF5xSkzsA7KClgOONzzk9B2FFv8LL9wK5qKBJh2mmgGPphrl1eYiRc-p5bdwUKvwsWU4ai2XMtefvPWNFGNGFvJ6Ldd5t1x37kCmO9YJQZ-ikfwWz9BroaISPQYrzL9_mSsHwgrRxl_qile07g_V3t5E0j4vcAU8Q8_4/w259-h146/hdr_1671492024299.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>Charlie says Happy Holidays! <p></p><p>I still have some gifts to wrap but other than that, my work is done for this holiday season. </p><p>We had a gathering of family over on Saturday and enjoyed our time together. Rachel, Drew, Jenny, <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/32RWGkvCz1WpG2yH8" target="_blank">and PJ</a> came over early to cheer on the Vikings in what was looking like a route after the 1st half with the Vikings down 33-0 at the half. The way they were playing, I gave them a 0% chance of coming from behind to win it. But we kept watching, and steadily they kept closing the gap <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAr9EWMggZHadfrX6" target="_blank">to win it in overtime!</a> Neither Tammy nor I are football fans but we both found ourselves getting caught up in the moment when the Vikings did the near impossible. It was the largest come-from-behind win ever in professional football. Fun stuff!</p><p>Later, <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/tGmZGG6dEVSFBYDB7" target="_blank">we danced!</a></p><p>Before I forget: I'm no longer on Twitter. I canceled my account yesterday. I've seen enough. </p><p>I had this text conversation with a friend a few nights ago: </p><p>Steve: I’ll trade you a Trump ‘wrestler’ for a Trump ‘golfer’. </p><p>Me: But I really need the Trump ‘astronaut’. Any chance you have that one?? 🤷🏽♂️ </p><p>Steve: The Space Force one? </p><p>Me: Yes, duh! </p><p>Steve: I don’t have the Space Force card. I do have the ‘inmate picking up soap’ card. </p><p>Me: Ha! I didn’t realize they had released that one already! They’re great stocking stuffers! </p><p>Steve: Yes, and a bargain @ $99.99…still under a hundo! The man has no shame! </p><p>Me: None. It’s not within him. </p><p><a href="https://opensea.io/collection/honest-trump-cards" target="_blank">Honest Trump Cards</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pp2dIqaXUz6kdif8LJRIcdcjqW79lRfuQuFhJqQTtzvtBkkBwSVlXi3hlgMDvqkmC0Se0xnRlgQiNy_uUSEqeI2GxYGhKwg-x2WYJo8_lKJQlDYYu1nsZV9NoXZngGvhRH4dHQEC7MGPkrLVyqbXQf2e_n2GUY2s6mGxu5R7kz6G1Gn-4hpt1JdC/s2371/hdr_1671498487140.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="10" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2371" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pp2dIqaXUz6kdif8LJRIcdcjqW79lRfuQuFhJqQTtzvtBkkBwSVlXi3hlgMDvqkmC0Se0xnRlgQiNy_uUSEqeI2GxYGhKwg-x2WYJo8_lKJQlDYYu1nsZV9NoXZngGvhRH4dHQEC7MGPkrLVyqbXQf2e_n2GUY2s6mGxu5R7kz6G1Gn-4hpt1JdC/w254-h143/hdr_1671498487140.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><p></p><p>Lakeville has a new indoor golf simulator that I've had the opportunity to play twice. It's called <a href="https://www.lakevillelinks.com" target="_blank">Lakeville Links</a> and it's located just 5 minutes from home. I like it. I hope to schedule an hour or two a few times a month to keep my swing in form for when the courses open next spring. It's unlike any other simulator I've played before in that the platform you stand on tilts to give you the feel of the kind of lie your ball would have in real life. Here's the platform in <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/4dwQ8AgcUEM9ECsYA" target="_blank">a neutral position</a> and here it is in <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/SyyKdcpnhiPPjaEJ9" target="_blank">a downhill-lie position</a>. Look a little closer at the photos and you can see the varying types of grass/sand you place your ball on to hit out of. The dark and light green striped grass represents fairway grass. To the right of that, you'll see two types of long grass which represent the rough if your ball lands off the fairway. The white material represents a fairway bunker while the brown material represents a greenside bunker. For your initial tee shot for each hole, the ball pops up already on the tee at a predetermined height (set by the golfer). I like that. </p><p>Putting takes some getting used to but once you figure it out, it's okay. </p><p>The only drawback, at least for me, is that it's a little dark inside, giving me the feeling that I'm playing golf with the ambient light that remains after the sun has set 20 minutes earlier. Hopefully, I'll get used to it, and hopefully, I'll not develop any bad habits along the way that won't transfer well to the real world. My score while playing on the simulator is less important to me than the ability to hit some balls during the off-season. Plus, it's fun.</p><p>There's a videographer whose cycling videos I can't get enough of. His name is Ryan Van Duzer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@duzer" target="_blank">Here's a link to his channel.</a> His passion is something called bikepacking, where he takes multi-day trips on his bike and puts together videos of his adventures. His use of a drone is what really captures my imagination as a drone is still on my wishlist for use someday with my own videos. Take a look below at one of his recent uploads, then stay for mine. 🙂</p><p>Wishes for a happy and fun-filled holiday season!</p><p>That's all I've got.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QGKzlKwIpbs" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xaXd4jpyQgs" title="YouTube video player" width="853"></iframe>Kevin Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07689287179985777963noreply@blogger.com0