Soul of An Octopus

Finished up listening to the interesting book “The Soul of an Octopus” by animal researcher Sy Montgomery. Different Octopuses have different personalities. In captivity, and even in the wild, some will warm up to people. They can recognize who feeds them. They enjoy touching people with their arms, but dislike smokers for the nicotine the octopus can taste on the smoker’s skin. Octopuses are strong. They’ve been known to watch TV with their masters. In an aquarium they look for wats to escape. Lots of interesting information. Three more books that I’ll be listening to next…

From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, by Arthur C Brooks (since I am approaching the second half of my life!). Brooks says that analytical skills may peak around 30, then as the years pass and analytical skills fade, wisdom and experience and knowledge can make up for it. Older people have to work harder. Brooks wrote this long article on how to want less.

Now reading The Road to Character, by David Brooks. The author occasionally references God and Bible verses, but does not true character and humility come from having God in your heart?

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport, author of Deep Work. Perhaps this will help break my addiction to my phone.

Hawks season opener tonight. What did you think about LeBron playing with his son? They appeared to come into the game at the same time. Did LeBron not start? Or did he take a rest, then come back into the game with Bronny? I didn’t watch – Ceil was watching “Death in Paradise” and “The Voice”. 

GT QB Haynes King will again be a game time decision. The other two teams we usually watch bothl have bye weeks: UGA & Clemson. The race for the SEC Championship game should be interesting, with two unbeaten teams Texas A&M and . I thing the two highest ranked teams qualify for the championship. Tennessee also has a bye. Vandy is ranked #25 in the nation.

1200 GT @ Virginia Tech

1200 Nebraska @ Ohio State

100 Georgia State @ App State

330 Mizzou @ Bama

415 Texas @ Vandy

700 FSU @ Miami

730 LSU @ A&M

745 Auburn @ Kentucky

Monday: left work at 450. Traffic wasn’t too horrendous driving down to Peachtree Hills. Got there at 545, the same time as Will. Ceil brought all the fixins to make pizza. Caleb fired up his Big Green Egg and cooked them. I was starving, but they were better even than Ceil’s usual homemade pizzas. Hung out and didn’t get home until 945. It had been a crazy day and I just vegged out on the couch.

Tuesday: Will brought Okie over at 530 am. W&MC are taking the girls to Disney World. It is a work trip for MC with 4H. 

How I overeat: so yesterday by lunchtime I was hungry, and needed a break. Went to Wendys for two small chicken sandwiches for $3.00. Got back to the office to find Jason’s Deli leftovers, so I gobbled down a salad and half sandwich. 

Then at 5 pm I remembered it was time for the Taco Bell Tuesday dollar deal, so I quickly ordered it. Drove to the nearby Taco Bell and waiting in the slow drive thru line – then realized I had placed my order at the East Cobb Taco Bell. Since I was stuck in the slow line I ordered one small burrito. Forgot to get the free senior citizen drink. Drove to East Cobb and told them I was there to pick up my mobile order. They handed me a box and soft drink and I sped off to my seminar. Only then did I open the box to find not my order (a big burrito), but a crunch wrap supreme, soft taco, chips and cheese, and the drink. Of course I ate it all.

Wednesday: up early to lift weights at the gym. About 24 coming and going. Small group tonight.

WARREN SPAHN [SABR Bio] was the NL starting pitcher in the All-Star Game three times, in 1949, 1958 & 1961(1). He was the Braves Opening Day starting pitcher ten times, in 1950, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, & 1964. Spahn’s 363 victories ranks him sixth all-time – first among lefties. Steve Carlton, the next lefty, is second with 329 wins. He won 20 games 13 times. He led or tied for the league lead eight times. He was the last pitcher before expansion to lead his league in strikeouts four consecutive seasons, in 1949, 1950, 1951, & 1952.