Addicted to a clean car

This past winter we had a new car wash open not far from our house (Yea, Wash N Roll!) They offered one month of their free premium membership. Which meant I could drive through and get my car washed as often as I wanted. It was nice, so I took it!

I fully intended to use it for that month, then cancel the membership. Then... you know... because it was winter... I thought I would wait until Spring and cancel it.

Well, wouldn't you know... I still have that membership.

I've had it on my list of 'things to do' for weeks now to cancel that membership... and I just can't bring myself to do it. I think I'm addicted to a clean car.

And what I like about Wash N Roll is... not only is it an easy way to get my car automatically washed on the OUTSIDE... but I also like their features for the inside.

There is an attached garage with:

•  Microfiber towels to dry off the inside parts of the doors and back hatch (that the automatic dryer don't always get)
• Two types of vacuums for the interior
• An air hose to blow out little nooks and crannies
• A dry cleaner for floor mats
• A window clean for interior and exterior window cleaning
• And an interior spray to use on the hard surfaces
• They also sell various cleaning supplies inside

So, lately I've been cleaning my car inside and out at least once a week... and I can't tell you how much it improves my mood simply driving around in a clean car.

Whether it's worth $40 a month... I don't know. But I'd probably choose this over a lot of other things that cost that much or more.

Maybe I'm just a sucker for yet another subscription scam-a-jama... and I realize it's a super privileged thing to do (both the cost and having the time to do it)... but maybe some things that feel good... should be done.

I dunno. 

Writing ritual

I really do want to write in this space more often. I know I say that all the time (at least in my head I do). Yet, something always seems to come up.

Even lately, it's not that I haven't been writing. Not as much has been on this blog. However, I do have one chapter complete in what I hope some day will either be a short story or short novella. It's a lot different than anything else I've written, so this is the first I've spoken of it... to anyone. I also have somewhat of a framework for my long-overdue Holy Week devotional using the music of David Gilmour. And, then there's the handwritten journal I keep.

Still, what I would like to do is have this blog be for my daily writing routine. Just stuff that's off the top of my head. Then, perhaps I can utilize my substack page for more Five Things Friday type stuff... or something. I dunno. 

Basically, I guess, I want to continue trying to be a writer. I know I will never make a living at it... or probably any money at all... but I think there are worse things I could do with my time. I have the perfect spot to do it from - sitting here at the dining room table looking out over the neighborhood. The slightly elevated view of our street gives me the feeling of being the overseer or something... 

Yesterday I happened across this short (10-minute) video clip of a guy talking about the drawing advice that changed his life. He said he was advised to stop trying to do so many things, and concentrate on just doing one thing every single day... over and over and over... for a year (he drew pictures of a bird). I'm not sure how it works for everyone, but for an artist... it kind of makes sense. And, right or not, I consider writing to be sort of an art. So, I'd like to just write more... maybe not every day, but most days - whether I have anything to say or not. Sometimes... it may be that our best efforts come from those days we don't think we're being effective... (I dunno for sure, but it sounds like a good thing to say).

Although, I just read a piece on Wendell Berry (I can't believe he died yesterday - even though he was 92, but still...). Winn Collier said Wendell told him "our real work is our love." So Wendell may refute that 'do the same thing every day'... because life will dictate that interruptions will be necessary... if we're loving people. 

I suppose those are two good things to hold onto together: being intentional about what we do, but also holding onto love for others above all else.

And there it is... 

Preaching...

Yesterday I spoke at our Sunday service again. Oof. I'm glad it's over. Again.

I suppose it went fine. I mean, I survived... no one threw anything at me... no one cussed at me... no animals were harmed and nothing got broke (at least I don't think so). 

Still... ugh. 

I didn't sleep very well the night before - which I think had more to do with what I'd eaten for supper than nerves about speaking. But it made me nervous, because I wasn't sure how/if my stomach would cooperate. 

That part went fine. The part that didn't... I don't know... it's hard to explain. 

I'd been working on this sermon for way too long. I thought I was suppose to share in June, or July, or sometime before the last Sunday in August. So, I had too much time to prepare. Which, naturally, meant I didn't really settle on what I was going to say in particular until too late. Also, I didn't really go over it very much the few days before. 

I felt kind of unsettled - for lack of a better word I can think of - as I delivered it. 

And... two people got up and walked out right as I started to share. I felt my heart drop a bit, and it took way too much energy from me to not let it get to me... which means it got to me.

The space where we meet - which is actually a Methodist church sanctuary - has all glass across the back. So when I'm up front speaking to the audience, I can see what's happening in the foyer and even outside - since the doors and walls leading outside are all glass too. It can be very distracting to me when people are out in the foyer. Even more so when I see them walk out of the sanctuary, and then leave the building. My mind wanders and I wonder why they left, what were they thinking, was it me, something I said or did... or did it have nothing to do with me at all?

Anyway, I left out some big hunks of my manuscript, I rearranged parts of it on the fly (and not well), and I added some bits here and there. I wasn't very happy with it.

And that doesn't really bother me so much. I knew it was not my best effort going in. Maybe that's why the two people who left made it hurt so much worse.

I don't know.

Anyway, this morning I started reading Andrew Arndt's substack post for today (https://theandrewarndt.substack.com/p/20-years-in-miscellany-and-meanderings?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web). In it he had this little ditty about Yo-Yo Ma:

 I heard Yo-Yo Ma say once that he approaches his concerts not as performances but as acts of hospitality. The goal is to use the music to open up a generous, life-giving space for all to feast and enjoy.

I like that. THAT is what I would like my preaching to be like... opening up a generous, life-giving space for all to feast and enjoy. What a way to enter into communion, eh?

So... there ya have it. That's all I've got to say today.

I will try to remember to insert the Youtube link here when I receive it later this week:  

Tedeschi trucks band & alabama shakes show

I finally gave m'Lady her birthday present (from February). We saw the Tedeschi Trucks Band & Alabama Shakes at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN this past Saturday (8/22). It was awesome!

For those wondering about the show: they were co-headlining (I guess that's what you call it). Alabama Shakes opened, but both bands played just a tad over 90 minutes... and they both had their own stage setup. It wasn't a traditional opening band then headliner. And they were both equally incredible.

I was perhaps slightly surprised at how good the Alabama Shakes set was. Wow! Just filthy awesome. Brittany Howard can sing out of this world, AND play the guitar! I really, really liked them. And the two female backup singers were fun to watch too. We could see them when they came off the stage. We were on the left side (looking at the stage), and they sang and danced just as hard when they were off-stage as they did when they were on! It created an extra good vibe.

Tedeschi Trucks, of course, sounded incredible with their 12-piece band. Susan (Tedeschi) and Derek (Trucks) were on top of their game. Between her vocals and his guitar, it sounded as good as anything I've ever heard. My only problem... the stage set. For some reason they had the keyboard/organ on risers in front of the entire rest of the band. Since it was to Susan and Derek's right, it almost completely blocked our view. We could only see Susan when she stepped to the mic to sing, otherwise she was hidden from us. So it seemed like they were only playing to the people from the middle seats towards the right side. It bothered me at first, but I was either quickly high enough (from the people around us), or I decided I wasn't going to let it ruin my night. They still sounded great.

Otherwise... there was about a 10-minute total downpour during the tail end of Alabama Shakes. We were under the roofed part, so we didn't get wet, but a lot of people got completely soaked! Still, I didn't notice that anyone left. 

The other annoying part were two women seated directly behind us. One of them in particular had the most annoyingly piercing voice - and she talked the entire time!!! I turned around and burned them both a look twice, and other people were doing the same. Finally, about halfway through TTB the two rows in front of them (including us) just stood up so they couldn't see anything. They obviously weren't there for the show anyway. They all left shortly after that.

Besides the stage setup for TTB, the brief downpour, and the annoying talkers... it was a near-perfect evening.

Logistically... the show start time was 7:30. We left home at 4pm and arrived at the Sleepy Bear Campground (directly across the street from Ruoff) at 5:30. It was a piece of cake getting there. Originally we intended to tent camp there, but our son happened to be in town for the weekend, so we just parked their and drove home after the concert. It was super convenient, and was a mere 1/2 mile walk to the venue. We had a glass of wine and ate our peanut butter sandwiches in our lawn chairs while we waited for gates to open. There were plenty of people milling about - playing cornhole, music, smoking pot, and drinking.

We walked over to the venue around 6:30 and just followed a group of people who went all the way around the entire venue before entering. There was quite a line, but it didn't take long at all to get through because neither of us had a bag to search and they didn't make us go through the metal detector. Once inside, we meandered about and located restrooms, food and drink spots, and our seats. 

A lot has been added since our last time there in ~2006. There were plenty of drink options and spots to get it, and bathroom lines weren't even too long (especially the mens). We did get a couple drinks each. Ouch! Beer and seltzers were in 25oz. cans, and two of them were $50+. I had two light beers between 6:30 and 11:30, and I didn't need any more than that.

Our seats were great (other than the organ/keys setup). We were in section 105, row D, seats 1 & 2. So we were the fourth row back behind the pit area. They were nice stadium seats and we had a good view of the stage, but also the hallway leading from the green room to the stage. I always prefer being on the end of a row, and kind of like being slightly off to one side or the other. I think we paid $158 apiece, and for this show it was worth it.

The only real snafu came when the show ended. We just walked out with the crowd - which went toward the venue parking lot. Neither of us had any idea what direction the campground was from where we were, even while I was trying to use my phone map for directions. Finally we turned around and went to go back in the venue, which is what google maps said to do, and a kind security guard took us under his wing and walked us to where we needed to go to get to the campground. So, what should have been a 10-minute walk was more like 15. We made it to our car, and were easily back on I-69 heading north. We left the campground at 11:45pm, and pulled in the garage at 1:10am. Our son had just gotten home before us (from his 20th high school reunion).

All told, it was a very enjoyable time. The bands were awesome, the venue was superb, the campground parking excellent, and other than 10 minutes the weather was beautiful. I would definitely go see both bands again, and for sure take in more shows at Ruoff. A fine time, indeed! 

Five things friday

It's not that I've given up on this 'Five Things Friday' thing...

Some days I sit down to write a blog post... I put my hands on the keyboard... I raise a finger here and there (like opening my mouth to speak)...

And nothing comes out.

Here's another shot.

1. GLP-NONE

I tried some GLP-1 for weight loss. Granted, it wasn't the shots, and I didn't take it very long, but instead of losing weight... I gained a few pounds. Sounds about right, doesn't it?

Jane had gotten some GLP pills called "Calocurb" from a dietician or something (the main ingredient was Amarasate extract). They made her sick. So, instead of throwing them away, I took the rest. It was maybe 2 1/2 weeks worth. I could stand to lose 10 pounds or so. I figured, "Why not?"  

Well, one reason "why not" is because they didn't seem to do anything. I think I gained a couple pounds WHILE taking them, and a couple more since I stopped. 

2. BOOKS

I finished Jay Stringer's Desire (I may have already mentioned that), and last week finished Robin Wall Kimmerer's fine little book The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. 

I loved it! For one thing, it's short (100 and some pages), but I also loved the sketches and the idea as a whole. What I think is most interesting, is that a lot of rural-ish, traditional-type people - the very same base who seem to make up a large portion of MAGA - would agree wholeheartedly with the book. However, if anyone else suggested the very same ideas, they would call them "woke" (or socialists, or liberal) or some such craziness.

Anyway, I really liked it, and think everyone should read it. It's economics made super simple, imho.

3. I'M PROBABLY ADDICTED

I stumbled onto this piece by Alex Olshonsky last week: You're Probably Addicted to Thinking. I think it's almost definitely true, but I'd like to read it again... so I put the link here.   

4. YES, I SAID SEX-THERAPIST

This is one (just one) of those things I've been meaning to write about but just don't really know how to get started. We have been seeing a Sex & Relationship therapist for... I think we've been there three times now. I know what you're thinking: We've been married more than 43 years, don't we know how to have sex yet??

Well, yes, we do. We even have proof!

However, it's also true that sex (and relationships) are complicated things. So, rather than just continue to avoid some delicate issues and cowander through old age as mere "companions"... we decided to do something about it. In other words - we think things could be better. 

I don't know why sometimes it seems so hard to say we could use a little help... because we could ALL use a little help. And, that's what we're doing. So far it's been good. We both really like our therapist, and most of the time it's honestly just us paying someone to sit in the room while we talk to each other. I think it's worth it. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

5. THE QUOTE

“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” — Walter Heisenberg, Nobel Prize-winning physicist 

Okey doke... I've done it! Five actual things. And I even have some left over! 

Here's some bonus content (for sticking around and being a pal - plus I didn't know where else to put it). From Mike Woodruff's Friday Update:

1) July was the hottest recorded month in the continental USA’s history.

2) Citing mental health concerns, the University of Michigan is launching a 2027 pilot program where no grades will be given to first-year students.

3) In the ‘90s, US men held 7M more payroll jobs than US women. Today, women hold 176K more jobs than men.

4) Last year, 52% of Zers directed funds meant for investing into sports betting.

5) Domesticated pet raccoons are becoming a thing.

6) Per this study, pastors are more concerned about AI than those in their churches.

7) Although sharks get the movies, mosquitoes kill more people in a day than sharks do in a century.

8) Among D’s, more now favor socialism than capitalism.

 

Five things...

I didn't use the full title of my old "Five Things Friday" because this isn't a full-fledged ftf. But, I realized I need to write something. If not for you, for myself. So, here's... something.

1. NEW COMPUTER

We got a new laptop. The one I've been using (and still am using for most things) is a Lenovo we bought in 2012. I can't believe it still works. 

We bought a refurbished Dell from a guy Jane works with for $300. I have yet to transfer very much over to it, but yowza is it a lot faster! It's not fit for gaming or anything like that - but neither am I. It makes the simple tasks of reading email and online articles a whole lot better though.

2. RUNNING... SLOW

I ran two days this week again. I started back after taking a month off, but only made it a couple days before the back started aching again. So, I took a couple more weeks off. Wednesday was the first run since July 17. I just went a couple miles - jogging 1/4 mile and walking .1 alternately. Today I went 1/2 mile before walking, and did 3 miles.

We'll see how it goes.

3. PROCRASTINATION

I have been having a really hard time with procrastination lately. Not long after I last spoke at church I started work on a new message I thought I was to deliver right about now. That has been pushed back to the end of August. I've basically written two separate messages, but not finished either one.

It seems to take me forever to start writing once I have an idea in mind. Then, I just can't seem to follow through. I don't know what my problem is. I don't know if I simply need to take a break from speaking or writing things again... or if I need quicker deadlines. I'm leaning toward the first, because it's really wearing on me. 

I miss my routine of reading, writing, and running. And, by 'writing,' I mean on here. Maybe I simply can't handle the pressure of speaking in church anymore. I dunno.

4. DESIRE

I am nearing the end of Jay Stringer's book Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal and Grow. It's been helpful, but it's a long book. I was thinking of getting the workbook, but, dang, I see it is every bit as long as the regular book. I don't know about that...

5. QUOTE (actually, two - totally separate, but the same)

"Whatever can be measured grabs our attention. How much money we make. How much weight we can lift. How many bedrooms are in the house. And once we notice a number, it is natural to want to improve it. We find ourselves wondering how to make more money, lift more weight, add another bedroom. What is measurable becomes what is important. Not because it matters more, but because it is easier to see..." - James Clear

"We often value what we can count, rather than what's important." - David Brooks

And... there ya have it. Five things. I actually did it. I wasn't sure I could... 

Sleep disorder study

I suppose it means I failed. Not necessarily that I have a sleep disorder... I failed the test entirely!

Last night I did my much anticipated/dreaded at-home sleep disorder test. My cardiologist (EP) ordered it for me just to see. I told him my wife says I sometimes stop breathing when I sleep. 

I went to the sleep disorder clinic at 3:30 to pick up the stuff and have them show me how to use it. A woman who had lost her voice the day before took me into one of the bedrooms. She sat on the bed and I sat across from her in a chair. She put the contraption together and showed me how everything worked and what I was supposed to do. There was...

• One strap with the battery-operated device that went over my chest
• one strap that went over my abdomen and connected to the device on my chest
• an oxygen sensor that wrapped around my finger and connected to the device on my chest
• a tube that wrapped over my ears, went into my nostrils, and had a piece that hung down to my bottom lip - which also connected to the device on my chest.

The device was set to turn on automatically at 9pm (which is when I told them I went to bed), and would turn off automatically at 6am. I think I was supposed to wear it for at least 6 1/2 hours. I asked what happened if I didn't sleep very well. The lady said as long as I slept at least a couple hours that would likely be sufficient.

So, at 9pm I strapped everything on. I had to tape the tube to each cheek, and the sensor onto my hand. I felt like I had wires and hoses dangling everywhere when I tried to climb into bed. I wondered if I would ever be able to sleep.

Actually... I found I could sleep better than I thought. Once I lay down and got adjusted to everything, it wasn't so bad. Of course, I had to get up and pee twice during the night. Once around 11pm, and again at 4:14am. 

That's when the bad news came. 4:14am. I know, because I had a strange feeling, turned on the bathroom light, and checked all the wires.

Somehow the lead from the abdomen strap/sensor had come unplugged. I'm not sure when it happened. It could have been right from the start when I put everything on, or at any point during the night.

So, I plugged it in at 4:14 and went back to bed. I intended to get up at 5:15, but I decided to wait until the unit turned off at 6 - hoping maybe that hour forty five would be enough time to get what they needed.

When I returned the unit at 8 this morning the lady who took it from me seemed like she was in a hurry, and she didn't speak very good English either, so I didn't get a chance to say anything about it. I'd written it down, so hopefully someone will read it in the paperwork I had to submit with the list of questions from before and after the test.

Now... I wait. They said it will be up to two weeks before they send the results to my doctor.

I suppose the worst case is that it will be inconclusive and they will either want me to do it again, or they will want me to do the test there. Best case would be that they got enough info to determine one way or the other. I'm hoping for that... and that it determines I do not have a sleep disorder.

All in all, it seemed like a lot of hassle for something that doesn't seem to bother me. But, I guess we'll see. 

Bike lubing

 I'd had it on my list of things to do for over a month. Earlier in the spring/summer, we'd gone for a bike ride and Jane said her shifter wouldn't change gears. She has a Linus bike with an internal-hub 7 speed. Naturally, I procrastinated because... "internal hub." I figured it was beyond me to repair.

We finally got it to work in one gear. I kept it on my list of things to do, but... you know how that goes.

Well, Monday she wanted to ride her bike to work. Her office recently moved to a new location which is much closer than her old office. It is 2.5 miles from our house by car, and 3.5 miles by bicycle via the river greenway path. Wouldn't you know it, when she went to leave, the shifter wouldn't work again.

She ended up taking my bike, and I went out right away and started looking her bike over (still in my pajamas).

I pulled up a Youtube video on Shimano shifters that won't change gears. Oh... it seemed like a simple enough fix. They said the old lube was likely hardened and gunked up and that's what was keeping it from moving. So...

I removed one screw, popped the cap off the bottom of the shifter (after loosening the whole assembly and turning it upside down), sprayed it with some PB Blaster penetrating oil, let it sit, dried it off, shot it with some compressed air to remove particles and further dry, then sprayed it with the WD40 chain lube. Now it works like a charm!

Chain lube probably isn't the best thing to use on the shifter, but google says it's okay as long as it's not too thick. I just gave it a light spray.

While I was at it, I sprayed down the chain and sprockets too. I went ahead and did my bike as well. So, we are rolling smooth and good to go!!

This morning we both rode our bikes to her office. It took us 24 minutes together. I raced home and made it in something like 17 minutes. I drove the car there later and it took 6 1/2 minutes. And here we are…

Family vacation 2026

I'm finally getting around to posting about our family vacation from a few weeks ago. It was basically a long weekend from July 2-6. The two of us along with the Feipel five drove to Galena, IL from Fort Wayne (right about 6 hours), and the Minnesota clan drove down in just under 5 hours. We all arrived Thursday afternoon, and left Monday around noon.

This was our third family vacation where we rented a vrbo in The Galena Territory. The other times were in 2017 and 2019. It seems to work out nice for us. It's hard to beat the beautiful views in the rolling hills of Northwest Illinois; Galena is a cool little town with a lot of quaint shops, parks, and paths; and we always put the Owner's Club to good use with their indoor and outdoor pools, game room, fitness center, and courts.

This year a number of our group went on a trail ride at the Shenandoah Riding Center. Jane, Isaac, Drew, Anna, Bennett and Caleb braved an hour ride - and discovered horseback riding uses muscles that don't often get much work! I can't remember the name of their guide, but she did an awesome job - especially considering most of the group had never been on a horse before, and even the ones who had were well out of practice.

Another outing we all did together was a tour of Ulysses S. Grant's home. It was interesting, though a few of us had seen enough before the full tour was over. There were a bit too many people in our party, and it got a little crowded. 

Most of the time we made our own meals - with different people taking turns cooking. One night we did order pizza... I think it was Cannova's Pizzaria (?). Oh my... it was sooooooo good!!!

Other than that, we hired a photographer (JennaDarcy.com) to take some family pictures. She was absolutely fantastic to work with - especially since we had to work around a nasty weather system - and we got a lot of nice pics from Grant Park in downtown Galena.

So, that's the basics. As always, it was much too short, but we do appreciate our kids/grandkids taking time out of very busy lives for the biennial (every other year) gathering.We know it may not be possible much longer, but we'll take what we can get. 

It's been awhile...

I posted this on my Substack page today. I hadn't written anything there in a long while. I still go back and forth whether I like that format or this one better. Anyway, if you would like to subscribe to my substack, just click the link to my post from today (https://open.substack.com/pub/danhorwedel/p/its-been-awhile?r=1n32p6&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web) and then click "subscribe." It's free, though I'm still not sure you'll get your money's worth...

Anyway, here is today's post: 

Life has a funny way of changing us sometimes, doesn’t it? I tend to think of that as a bad thing… but is it? Imagine if we never changed…

I don’t really know why I stopped writing. One might think it was because I had nothing to say. It may be just as likely I had too much. I suppose a lot of problems have been caused by people saying things they weren’t really sure how to put into words. I’m never sure if it’s better to say them poorly, or not at all.

I finished reading the Penguin Classics book ‘The Desert Fathers,’ which was translated by Benedicta Ward. It was not an easy read - which doesn’t mean it was bad or good. I suppose it was good to read during a period of darkness. I know it was good to read while lying flat on my back for a week recuperating from a bout of stupidly lifting too much weight. I wish I could say it helped me deal with not being able to run for almost a month now. Still… I’m glad I read it, and glad it’s done.

I am currently reading through Poet Priest-Vol. II by Andy Squyres. Today’s reading included this (p.31-33): “The world is such that if you don’t abandon your tenderness early on, you will be crushed, and sometimes dramatically so. You will be crushed many times over as long as you let tenderness be active in your heart… But Christ promised that in learning from him - from Christ - we will ‘find rest for our souls,’ and I think that we who have been taught by the hostility of the world must dare to hold ourselves open again to the tender workings of Christ.” I’m trying to do that. But… damn… it fucking hurts to be crushed over and over. And I don’t say that as an innocent victim. Merely a human being stumbling through life the only way I know how.

Next up to read is Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow, by Jay Stringer. I’m not really looking forward to it - mostly because it has a lot of pages but also because of the content - but I’m also looking forward to it.

I have a lot of unread and unanswered emails. I never used to be like that. I don’t know what’s happened to me. Anyway, I was supposed to send a link to my latest “sermon” (or, the last time I spoke in church) to a couple people. I think this link still works: 5.3.26 sermon. Sorry about that.

I’m currently working on a message about Habakkuk, which is due to be delivered in a few weeks (I think). I’ve been living with him in my head for too long… though, probably, rightly so. I feel like we’re kindreds. And I can’t seem to find the right words to describe him (or me).

Such is life, eh? 

Clogged drain

Well, it's been a bit... again. We were gone for a week on vacation and I'm just now getting back into the flow of things.

Speaking of flow... the DAY BEFORE we were to leave for a week's vacation... the main drain in our house clogged. Ugh. That's such a terrible feeling.

I'd cleaned the house and did some laundry and I was washing the throw blankets we use on the couch. When I went to put them in the dryer... there was still water in the washing machine! We also have a utility sink beside the washing machine that the machine will overflow into when draining, and it was full too. Not good.

First I called Korte, because that's who we used 15 years ago when it clogged. It was about 1:30pm, and they said they could have a plumber there "sometime in the afternoon/evening." I went ahead and booked the appointment, but then called Roto-Rooter. They said they had a couple guys just finishing a job, and they would send them straight over. So I cancelled the Korte appointment. 

Two guys from Roto-Rooter showed up in 30 minutes. Since we don't have an outside drain cleanout, they were unsure exactly how to go about snaking the main drain. The inside cleanout is the old cast pipe, and the cap sits right up against the furnace (for some stupid reason). It wasn't likely to come out anyway - at least without breaking. At first they thought about pulling one of the toilets off and snaking through there. What they ended up doing was cutting the copper soil pipe that comes down from the two bathrooms. 

So, they cut the pipe and ran their snake with the root cutter through there. The guy worked at it for about 30 minutes or so. Then they patched the soil pipe with a rubber boot. All told, they were here for 90 minutes and it was $635! Wowza!! That's a bit more than the $168 I paid in 2011.

They said what we need to do at some point is have an exterior drain cleanout installed. That piping is larger and they can use a larger snake/cutting tool. It's likely that there are tree roots that have grown through the pipes outside, so it's probably only a matter of time before it happens again.

I was just relieved they got it unclogged before we left on vacation. Although I did still worry about it off and on while we were gone. One of those things, I guess.

I don't even want to think about how much it will cost to have someone put an exterior cleanout in... 

Back to back

Hey there.

So... I don't know if anyone even noticed, but... I took a bit of a break. It wasn't intended. I just sort of... stopped writing.

At first I guess I just ran out of things to say. Or maybe I simply got tired of saying them. I'm not real sure.

Then... I've been through a bit of a rough patch. Still am, in some ways. A lot going on inside my head and such. Among other things.

Some of it has not been bad. Maybe even good. Those wilderness times / dark night of the soul type things are maybe difficult at first, but usually seem to be better in the end. I guess. I can't say that I'm 'better' yet. But the silence and alone-ness has been noticed. I am beginning to feel different.

I've read some books, and am currently reading an old book on The Desert Fathers. That is somewhat helpful. I think. I feel like I'm in the desert, and a bit monk-like. And I think I feel just as messed up and vulnerable as some of them - which is why they went to the desert in the first place.

So... that's about all I've got as far as explaining my absence for the last month-plus. This may be the longest break I've taken on this blog in the twenty-some years I've been writing here (maybe not, I don't know). Anyway, I can't say if I'm 'back' yet or not... but I'm here today.

* * * * * 

Also, today is the first time my back hasn't hurt since last Wednesday. I had started doing some additional weight training and was doing some speed work running. A week ago Tuesday I added dead lifts. I really have no business doing dead lifts - especially not at my age, and since I've never done them before. Plus, I probably had too much weight on the bar to begin with. So, my back was already a bit sore from that, in addition to the normal weight routine I do.

It didn't stop there, though. A week ago Wednesday, while my lower back was already sore from the dead lifts, I did five 800 meter runs at a pace quite a bit faster than I normally go. This was after a mile warmup run. On the second one I actually had to stop halfway through because my back sent a jolt of pain into my hips. Silly me... I kept right on going in spite of it.

Well, beginning that afternoon I could barely walk, sit, stand or breathe without pain. I figured I'd give it a few days and that would be that. Except... after a few days it was still just as tight/sore. So, for a full week I mostly laid on the couch or in bed (other than the day before Fathers Day and Fathers Day itself, when we went to ribfest). However, I couldn't drive and it was pretty darn uncomfortable. 

I finally drove for the first time this past Wednesday - so a whole week later. I also mowed the lawn... with my back brace on. It has slowly gotten back to almost normal. Today was the first time I did my morning stretches.

I ended up having to postpone my at-home sleep study test, because I didn't think it would be very accurate when I was having such a hard time sleeping. I also missed an elder meeting and the Sunday gathering. And... I was plenty lonely, not being able to go anywhere or do anything.  

Anyway, I'm glad the back is back to mostly-normal. I plan to go for a walk today (3 miles, hopefully), and gradually ease back into running maybe next week or the week after. Fortunately I wasn't really training for anything at the moment. However, it is a bit of a bummer that I'd actually started making some strides towards getting a bit faster and increasing my VO2max slightly.

 

So, there ya have it. Carry on.

Five things friday (anniversary, coaching, church)

Hey there, and happy Friday to you! I am back in my regular routine again... so the house has been cleaned today, and my head feels a little more stable atop my shoulders. 

1. ANNIVERSARY #43

Yesterday was our 43rd wedding anniversary. It's weird that I can remember some things from that time like yesterday, and others... not at all. At any rate, we went out for supper last night, and discovered we sat at the very same table in the very same restaurant (Cork n' Cleaver) for our anniversary last year. We also both had a filet, baked potato, and salad bar last year too.

We talked about old times a bit last night. My first memory of m'Lady was when I was in 6th grade and she in 5th. I can still picture her, with her sandy blonde hair, standing in the hallway line for the drinking fountain. I don't know why that memory is burned into my mind, but I'm glad it is.

I don't really have any marriage advice - if someone were to ask - but I know it involves a lot... a lot of love, tears, forgiveness, life, death, humility, heartache, strength, perseverance, grace, mercy, kindness, help, kisses, sex, and... did I say love? I suppose we could go on but... you get the idea. I consider it nothing short of a miracle she has stayed with me this long...

2. COACHING WEBINAR

Yesterday I took in a webinar on 'The Art of Asking Better Questions' with J.R. Briggs. I believe it was put on by Coach Approach Ministries. That's the organization where I got my coaching license years ago, and it was good to see/hear Brian Miller (their president) again. I miss him. I also miss the leadership coaching world in general. 

Anyway, I took in the webinar yesterday because I would still like to use coaching principles in day-to-day life and other areas of leadership, even though I no longer do it formally.

Two points that stuck out yesterday:

1. "Four-year-old girls are the best question-askers." (We generally stop in middle school)
2. "The best questions are 15 words or less."

3. LUNCH WITH THE PASTOR

I had lunch today with our pastor. We spent time talking about our upcoming summer focus (as a church) on tending. The idea: 1) Create more awareness of how spiritual growth works and is sustained. This may include both the ways we knowingly tend to our souls (and the souls of others) and the ways we are pure recipients of God's tending. 2) Equip people to identify the sublime work of God within their inner worlds. 3) Encourage people to engage and learn through hands on tending to nature (gardening, landscaping, tending to house plants, time outdoors) and specific spiritual practices, which correlate.

We also shared some personal issues, as well as the struggle to guard against those who want church to fit into a certain box - especially those who ask "why can't we just have a normal church?" It may sound odd, but this is a serious thing for both of us. I always feel honored and humbled to be invited into these discussions...

4. CREATINE

I have always somewhat prided myself on not taking any supplements (other than a single multivitamin). However, I'm seriously considering adding creatine gummies (particularly this brand designed for endurance athletes). I've been seeing more and more about it, and have read a few articles. I recently subscribed to Runners Connect and their 5/12/26 newsletter went pretty in-depth into what it is, why, and the benefits especially for older athletes. I would try a daily regimen of 3-5g on a consistent basis. I have no interest in bulking up, but I can really feel how my muscles have weakened the past few years. Hopefully it would slow the deterioration down, and also aid in recovery after longer runs. So, we'll see...

5. THE QUOTE

"Stop asking what your life means. Ask what life is asking of you, right now, in this specific situation, with these specific people in front of you. Your conduct is the answer."

    - (Crazy Old Man, explaining Victor Frankl)

Okey doke... I'm not even going to look over this for typo's. You're on your own! Enjoy... and why not force yourself to smile right now. Seriously! Do it! Just... smile. Right now. Hold it for 20 seconds (or more).

There... Have a great weekend! 

Spiritual maturity: we have a good god

The second "conversation" (chapter) in Winn Collier's exceptional little book 'Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon' is titled "How Do I Pursue Spiritual Maturity?" Or, as Winn says, "How do we grow up?"

On p.21 are these gems he has translated from Fenelon's work:

• "With all the mental energy we exert, we can spend so much of our life hoarding knowledge that we will need another whole life to try to actually live any of it. We face the very real danger of thinking that our accumulation of 'spiritual' knowledge is the indicator of our spiritual development. Not true."
• "We love the learning, the knowledge, the illumination of ideas, just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden. But unfortunately, we do not love simply trusting, simply obeying, simply living." (Ouch - in a good way)
• "If you just stop all the wrestling and resisting and harried effort, you will find yourself on your way to becoming who God has in mind for you to be."
• "...these are the virtues you really need: humility and self-distrust."

 Hmm... yeah... That's something worth chewing on. For me, personally, I think that's why I've always liked to read through books slowly. It is also why I have lately been leaning towards buying fewer 'new' books, and re-reading more books I've already read in the past that I found helpful. It would be nice to say I won't buy anymore books... but I know that's probably never going to happen... 

In his letter "To a Spiritually Exhausted Soul"... I liked this bit of encouragement from Fenelon (again, as translated by Collier): "...there is something very rich and pure about simply not giving up, particularly when there is little pleasure in your Christian experience."

He goes on that... if it still seems too hard... then make it even simpler: "just love God." Whatever else you need to do "will grow from the soil of love."

I like that.

The kicker in this section, to me, was this little bit:

When St. Ambrose was dying, someone asked him if he was afraid of God's judgments. "We have a good master," Ambrose said. This is what we need to tell ourselves: we need not fear death; we have a good God.

He carries on this thought...

Saint Augustine said that we need to be emptied of all we have tried to make of ourselves. That way, when we stand before God after death we have only two things to give him: our utter brokenness and God's rich mercy. This is a brilliant way to arrive before God, because our brokenness is the very spot where he longs to pour his mercy -- lots of it. And this overflowing mercy is the only thing that can ever make us (in any true sense) good.

 

Yeah... So, maybe: spiritual maturity is all about coming to realize... the goodness of God.

Hmm... 

---

• Introduction
• First Conversation
  

Trip to minnesota and my electrophysiologist visit

I am gradually catching up and getting back in the saddle today. Man, I don't know how I would ever do this if I still had a real job...

TRIP TO MINNESOTA

We visited the boy and his family in St. Paul this past weekend. We drove up last Thursday and arrived back home Monday evening. It's funny how it takes around 9 1/2 hours to get there, but it only took 8 hours and 40 minutes to get home. Weird. Although, leaving from their at 7:30am-ish put us through Chicago just after lunch time, and that's a really good time to do it.

On the way there we took Rt. 30 to I-65 to I-80/90 to I-294 to I-90/94. On the way home we took I-94 almost the entire way, then I-90 right through Chicago. From the Barrington Travel Oasis (north of Chicago) to the Skyway (south of Chicago) took right about an hour. Not bad at all. Of course, once we got to Fort Wayne it seemed to take forever to get through town...

While we were there we mostly just hung around the house, went for walks, and played with the youngest grandchild. I believe we went out to eat Friday evening, and Sunday for brunch.

HEART DOCTOR VISIT

Of course, my electrophysiologist's office called while I was on the way to Minnesota and said they could get me in to see the nurse practitioner the day after we got back (yesterday) - for my annual consultation. I took it, because the next available for him was September, and the next available with the actual doctor was now sometime in January. Whatever.

It went fine. My blood pressure was 180/90, but I think most of that is because they do it right away and I'm leaning weird on the table with my legs dangling down. It's also because I just freak out in a doctors office. No one was worried about it. My EKG was apparently fine. I told him I'd had an "episode" of some kind twice since last year - a couple days around Christmas, and again in February. However, they didn't last, and I wasn't sure if it was actual afib or something else. He said to just keep doing what I was doing.

I asked about the Watchman implant - because there was a poster in the office. He said that's always a possibility, but he said as long as the blood thinners weren't a problem, he didn't really see a need for it. Even if I someday had another ablation, the implant would be a separate procedure anyway.

I also asked about getting a sleep test done - just to see. He ordered an at-home test for me, saying that he had just ordered one for himself too. I will be curious to see what that turns up.

Otherwise... it was an okay visit. I like both the doctor and the NP. They're very laid-back and friendly.

 

So, that's about all there is to say about that...