Rain, New Home & MLS

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This has been a dry season. I was concerned about having the lawn aerated and seeded with everything being so dry. However, the Lord was kind and brought a couple of days of soaking rain. I watered in-between and everything seems to be fine. 
(I went to Church and lit two candles, thank you Lord.)
  

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Our new home is being framed. It is nice to see things moving forward. 

Photo by Dee

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Selfie of Dee and me at the house

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Our son Todd was here for a few days and is a fan of MLS Soccer. His favorite team being the Toronto Football Club. So, we watched Toronto defeat New York City 2-1. It was an exciting game and fun watching it as a family.
Toronto will now play Atlanta United in the Conference Final on Wednesday, October 30. The winner then advances to the Cup Final on November 10.

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Tonight we are attending the "Patricia Schrock & Friends Concert" at our parish, Church of the Epiphany. Last year was excellent and we are looking forward to this evenings performance.

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I haven't been doing any painting since we've put the house up for sale. So, I though I'd grab some old photos of things completed in the past. The first one is the "Film Crew," and the second one is "Lee's Legion." Both of these were painted back in 2013.

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Chris Stapleton - "More of You"

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Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.

Ancestry, D&D Art & the Dish

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Today is “Indigenous People’s Day” in the United States. It is a change that was proposed back in 1977. In1989 South Dakota switched Columbus Day to “Native Americans’ Day. Soon afterward Berkeley switched to “Indigenous People’s Day.” More details at NPR’s website.

Canada also has a “National Indigenous Peoples Day.” They recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the “First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous” peoples of Canada. It is celebrated on June 21. My father’s side of the family is connected to the Métis people through my grandmother. However know one never talked about it. At the time they immigrated to the United States it was important to become an “American” and leave behind the French Canadian heritage.

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On Monday we had aeration and seeding completed in preparation of the spring. This helped last year and I want to make sure that whomever purchases our home appreciates the time and effort Dee and I have put into the gardening and lawn.

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Eric recommended that I watch, "Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons."

Watching this great documentary brought back a lot of memories. I got into D&D when it first came out and played it for many years. When our sons were old enough we played the game and I even got Dee in a couple of games. (Really not her thing.) We still have many of the miniatures that we painted. I think Eric has most of them.
The great stories about the artists and their contributions to the game was far beyond my expectations. The amount of effort and creativity was not really appreciated during the years I played. We were just enjoying the game.
Thank you all.

Two Dwarves and a Dragon

These were painted over 30 years ago. Dwarves by Stephen & Dragon by Dad.

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We lost communication with our "television dish," error code 775.
So, I called the "television dish" company to get a technician out here to reset the dish. The process was interesting. 

The person taking my call asked me all the pertinent questions about the account number, whose name is on the account, what is my relationship to the account holder, the address, the telephone number, name of our first born, etc.. 

Then she asked me to go through the reset of the “receiver box” process. I explained that I already completed that task and discovered that error code 775 is showing. She said fine. There was a slight pause, figured she was going to get me a day and time the technician would show up. However, after a few moments, she advised me that she couldn’t send anyone out as my name is not on file. 

Excuse me! I went through this whole process, answered all your questions and now you tell me I’m not authorized to request a service call? 
“Yes sir,” she replied. 
So, I answered all the questions but now I have to have my wife call and go through this whole process again? 
“Yes sir, I’m sorry but those are the rules.” “Have a nice day and thank you for calling "television dish.” 

Next time I’ll call and tell them I’m Dee, but to excuse me as I have a cold.

 Fini.

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Bernard Cornwell's "Sword Of Kings," book twelve of "The Last Kingdom" series will be released in the United States on November 26, 2019.

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We listed the house this week and already had two showings. Waiting for feedback from those who looked at our home. 

Photo by Dee

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The Fleetwoods - “Come Softly To Me”

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Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.

Stuff, Italy & a Journal

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We’ve been busy packing odds and ends that were discovered when putting together the “moving sale.” I’m amazed at how much “stuff” we have collected over the years. The hard part is deciding what to keep, what to give away and what to dispose of. 

Some things that I forgot about:

Photo of my first communion …

Downhill snow skis …

High school photos … 

High school graduation cards and announcements …

Various acknowledgments and certificates of appreciation …

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In preparation for listing our home, I'm making sure the outside looks presentable, Not that we have an unkept yard, just things like trimming the bushes, disposing of "junk" stored behind the shed and leaf removal.

Unfortunately it's rainy today, so the bush trimming needs to wait.

Collecting whatever "junk" there is will also be rescheduled.

Leaves are just starting to fall, so we're okay with that.

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Dee and I watched “Shadows In the Sun,” with Harvey Keitel. It is a great “couples” movie about a young editor that is sent to Italy to convince an author to write for his publishing company. The main characters are Harvey Keitel, the writer, Claire Forlani as his daughter, Joshua Jackson as the editor and Giancario Giannini as Father Moretti. All of them excellent.

The story takes place in Tuscany, Italy. The scenery was beautiful, so much so that Dee wants to go back to Italy. 

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In addition to "Literature & Angels," I have a personal journal. Lately I've not taken the time to keep it up to date. So, this week I started writing again. Hmm, inspired once again. I don't have an excuse for not writing. There's plenty of things going on in my life and I need to make sure those who read it understand that we all have things we can share.

Life is wonderful and sometimes challenging. I've found that the strength I get from the good times is what helps me face the frustrating times. Through all of it I've learned to keep an open heart, talk to God every day and be thankful I'm here to enjoy each day He provides.

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I like sharing cartoons, quotes, poems and music. Sometimes I get carried away and don't take the time to write my own quotes or poems. I could make a video of me singing. 

Okay, I can't sing, well definitely not well enough to make a video. I was once picked to sing in an eighth grade program. We were a small quartet and did rather well. When we were younger, my brother and I used to sing the Everly Brothers song, "Ebony Eyes," at parties. But then as we got older people stopped inviting us. 

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One of my favorite songs is "Seven Spanish Angels," with Ray Charles and Willie Nelson. The video below is by another great duo Jamey Johnson and Wilson Krauss. They sang this as a tribute to Willie Nelson in 2015 when he was the recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

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Jamey Johnson & Alison Krauss - “Seven Spainish Angels.”

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Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.

Guardian Angels, RFD & Calvin

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Wednesday was the “Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels”

I liked what Bishop Barron wrote about in his Daily Gospel Reflection.

“Friends, today we celebrate the feast of our Guardian Angels. Why does God send these spiritual messengers to help us? Well, Aquinas says that each of us, due to our fallen nature, has been assigned a heavenly guide. Is all of this just speculation and conjecture?" 

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I'm blessed and thankful that God assigned a Guardian Angel to me. Although the assignment has been arduous.

He has dealt with my many years of good things, bad things, indifference and problems. 

Never faltering, always supporting and guiding me.

I pray and thank him every day.

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Our “Moving Sale” was successful. We sold and gifted many things to friends, family and all those who attended. We had a total of three homes, all next to each other, providing a variety of goods. 

There was a nice group of shoppers, and all of them pleasant to talk and deal with.

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"In October 1920 I went to Leeds as Reader in English Language, with a free commission to

develop the linguistic side of a large and growing School of English Studies, in which no regular provision had as yet been made for the linguistic specialist."

J.R.R. Tolkien

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This is a photo of our son Stephen, a Richmond Fire Department fireman.

The photo was taken by Mr. Bill Dent at a fire on September 23, 2019. The temperature was in the low 90's.

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Eddie Hodges - “I’m Gonna’ Knock On Your Door”

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Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.