Wednesday, August 31, 2022

The Second Mountain

Reading the book: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. The first mountain is the climb up the corporate ladder, the route taken by many only to learn it doesn’t bring true satisfaction and fulfillment. Some seek to climb the second mountain which leads to a life of giving and focus on others instead of yourself. An okay book, though its not from a Christian perspective. Frank Tait read it, so it can’t be all bad.

There are two trips to NYC this fall that look appealing to me, particularly the Queens trip at the end of October. Both are working with new churches started up by JFBC. JFBC is always sending members on mission trips, both local, domestic, and overseas. In fact our friends Rob and Nancy just left this week on a trip, landing in Spain and crossing over into Africa. Jamie and Elise also left this week on a three month mission to Spain, across from Morocco I think, to work with refugees. They hope to become full time missionaries there, but have to return to renew their visa. Saturday we have a zoom call with other class members who are overseas.

Loyalty, excellence, and integrity are characteristics I strive for every day. At my company it helps to have leadership above and around me who exhibit these traits – hardworking but also devoted to their families. At my 35th anniversary celebration coworker Steve, who runs the office but isn’t my boss, made a short impromptu speech about me, and said some nice things that mentioned loyalty, excellence, and integrity.  His speech made my day. My prepared speech included several jokes about Steve.

Fried was due for a bad start, and still the Braves were in the game. Kyle Wright is tied for the NL lead with a whopping 16 wins. With a strong finish he could be a 20 game winner. Wright. Fried. Morton. Soroka. Need Ian Anderson to get over his struggles. After winning like 8 straight series and being the hottest team in baseball the past two months, everyone is mad at the Braves for losing three straight. Meanwhile Ozzie Albies is joining Mike Soroka out in Gwinnett to rehab. The Braves have a big lead in the wild card, though I still expect them to overtake the Mets to win the division again. Caleb was at last night’s game. Not sure about Anna.

I had bragged on the McDonalds app so what happens? Before lunch I checked the app, and the Braves double deal showed up. So I went out to pick up McDonalds. When I got there the Braves deal didn’t show up. I switched to the free McFrappe deal but read it wrong – I needed a $3 purchase, not a $1 purchase. So I ordered two McChickens and a Coke Zero. When I got back to the office I checked the app again, and the Braves deal had reappeared. Crazy. Diet starts next Tuesday.

Tomorrow the boss is taking me and Angie out for lunch, probably to the Medlock Tavern. Better food than the Duluth Diner, another of the usual spots. I'm going to buckle down after Labor Day. I’m through with most all of my birthday meal deals after last night’s ten free wings. And…I have been entering a Ruby Tuesday sweepstakes where you spin the wheel every day on their website. So far I’ve won a chicken sandwich and burger and appetizer, so I’ll be eating at Ruby Tuesday the next few Tuesday nights, since C doesn’t like to go there.

I don’t drink nearly as many soft drinks as I used to, usually at most 12 ounces per day if I don’t eat at a restaurant. I will mix my mtn dew in with my cherry koolade to make it last longer. Lately I’ve been pouring whatever I have into my tumbler, mixing together cherry, orange, and even cola.

Monday at the gym I knew I didn’t have much time, but when I got my favorite treadmill going the clock on the treadmill said I had more time than I thought. Then when I got in my car I realized the clock on the treadmill was almost ten minutes slow. I confirmed it this morning. Running without my glasses, my watch on stopwatch mode, and my phone on audiobook mode, its hard to keep up with the time as well. Ran both miles super fast this morning. The second mile again faster then the first.

Left work about 5:20 yesterday afternoon and fought traffic over to Gwinnett Place to eat boneless wings. Very good. Got home after seven. Walked in the door and Matthew had the music blaring while he was in the kitchen. Winnie was on the couch watching M, her back to the door – so I was able to surprise her, instead of her attacking me when I walked in the door.

DENISON: Gorbachev was despised in Russia but praised elsewhere. The opposite is true of Putin.

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/last-soviet-leader-mikhail-gorbachev-dies-at-91-a-surprising-part-of-his-historic-story/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Last+Soviet+leader+Mikhail+Gorbachev+dies+at+91&utm_campaign=08-31-22+Last+Soviet+leader+Mikhail+Gorbachev+dies+at+91

Before Jose Altuve, KIRBY PUCKETT  [SABR Bio] was the last player in the 20th century to lead his league in hits for three straight seasons. Puckett led the AL in hits 1987 (207), 1988 (234) & 1989 (215). At the time of his retirement, Kirby’s career batting average was the highest by any right-handed American Leaguer since Joe DiMaggio. Puckett retired after the 1995 season with an average of .318.  DiMaggio retired at .325. Like The Yankee Clipper, he only played for one team in the majors: the Twins from 1984-1995. Kirby once homered on the first pitch of a game in back-to-back games, off Detroit’s Jack Morris 02-May- then off Walt Terrell 03-My-1986.

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