World War I and me

I am discovering that, though I was born in the 1950s, I have some historical connections to the first world war.

Both grandparents on my mother's side were born during World War I. My grandfather, H. K. Huffman, was born in 1914; and my grandmother was born three years later, in 1917. Strange how I never thought about that before I began preparatory reading for an upcoming class on the Great War.

Another interesting thought is that my paternal grandfather, Eugene Howard, who was born in 1900, may have actually fought in the final year of the war, or at least might have been called to duty, for he was certainly old enough since the war did not end until late in 1918.

Maverick's Milestone

Maverick ...
caught his first squirrel today.

Attention all squirrels: Your days are numbered ...

Jury Duty ... Oops!

So I get this summons in the mail for jury duty the week of January 14. 

Actually, my daughter, Sarah got the summons. It had been lying in her stack of unopened mail for who knows how long. She brought it to me a few days ago with apologies, telling me that the good news was that I haven't gone to jail yet, so it can't be that late.

I opened it to discover that I'm scheduled for duty the week of January 14. So there was still time.

But, since I'm likely to be in the hospital that week (long story) I took the summons with me last Friday to my Dr's appointment. No problem. The doctor filled out the portion on the back of the form where requests for medical excusal is provided. All I had to do was take the form to the office of jury services downtown before the deadline.

So after circling the parking lot at the Judicial Center for several minutes, then finally finding a space down the street a ways, in a muddy field, I walked the quarter mile in the stiff, icy breeze to the building. I found the jury assembly room and presented my summons to a young lady who appeared to be sort of in charge. 

She examined the form and said it was from last year. She and I walked into a separate room where there was a computer. She looked me up in the system and said, yes, this summons was for January 2013.

LAST YEAR!

Sarah was right. I haven't gone to jail yet. Guess if I was going to, they would've picked me up by now.

Then the nice lady at Jury Services told me that, since I have a medical excuse, they will defer me from service for another year.

The walk back to the car wasn't all that bad.

John's Birthday

John holding his great grandson, Haydin;
Me in the background;
At the Village Deli in Augusta;
Circa 2008

John would have been 74 today.

New Books for Christmas

You'd think that with all the books I already have, I wouldn't be purchasing any more. But if you really thought that way it would only prove that you do not yet understand books, or reading, or me. My family and close acquaintances have long since quit getting me anything for my birthdays or for Christmas except for gift cards at bookstores, like Barnes and Noble's. This year they even got me one of those pre-paid Visa cards so I could shop at my favorite online, second-hand bookstore, Abe Books. So I'm anxiously awaiting the mailman's delivery of this year's haul; and, as you can see, I've opted for something besides military history.

Gleanings from Paul, by Arthur Pink.

Commentary on Matthew: The Gospel of the Kingdom, by C. H. Spurgeon.

Romans: An Exposition of Chapter 12 Christian Conduct, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Glorious Freedom: The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law, by Richard Sibbes.

Facing Grief: Counsel for Mourners, by John Flavel.

Jonathan Edwards on Knowing Christ, by, of course, Jonathan Edwards.

George Muller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith.

Andrew Bonar: Diary and Life, by Andrew Bonar.

Josiah's Reformation, by Richard Sibbes.

The Glory of Christ, by John Owen.

I'm sure it won't surprise anyone that one of my favorite quotes is from the Reverend Samuel Davies, (1723-1761) ...

"The venerable dead are waiting in my library to entertain me and relieve me from the nonsense of surviving mortals." 

Guess What My New Year's Resolution Is?

It's to read more books!

Halfway There

After week-8 of a 16-week class -- MATH 125, Math for Liberal Arts Majors -- my grade stands at

92.9% (based upon completion of 39.5% of the material). This is an A-. In a math class!

It's possible that I can still make an A.

It's also still within the realm of possibilities that I bomb the whole thing.

What will happen?

Stay tuned.

---------------------------
June 12, 2014

Forgot to update this after I finished the class. Believe it or not, my final grade was an A-. After sixteen long weeks of frustration, I was very happy to escape with a grade like that.

Now, on to other things.

Think It'll Work?

See if you can find the cheap burglar alarm I installed.

I don't think that's the right word

So, I'm at home and my wife is telling me a story about some guy that got caught stealing in a men's clothing store she worked in a long time ago. Not only was the guy taking money, he was giving suits to his buddies as huge unauthorized discounts. 

To this day my wife can't get over the guy's audacity. 

"Yeah," she said, with excitement, "the police came took him out in cuff links!"

"In Your Face"

My early
birthday present

So, Haydin, a rising first grader, sees on the computer screen that we are in the month of April.

"Good," I exclaimed.  "That means next month is ..."  (Sensing a good teaching opportunity, I said to him,) "You know what next month is, right?

"January," he says.

Nope.

"February?"

No.

"March?"

WRONG.

From the next room, someone whispered the correct answer to him.  "May!" he said.

Right, and you know what May is, right?  (He didn't, because his parents, apparently, have neglected one of the most crucial aspects of the young man's education).  May is the month of PaPa's birthday!

This news excited him.

So, I asked him, "Are you going to send PaPa a present?"

"No, I'm here," he said.

What?

"See," he said, as he rushed right up to me, "I'm in your face," he said.  

He meant it one way, but I couldn't help but take it another way.

Guess Who's at My House!

These guys!

Happy Birthday John -- I Wish

John H. Edinger, Jr., 1940-2010
(Photo: John H. "Jack" Edinger, III)

John would have been seventy-three years old today. I tried to always send him a card. His birthday follows so closely behind Christmas and New Years that it kind of sneaked up on me and I had to rush to find a card. As often as not, if memory serves, my card was late. 

Along with the card I also generally bought him a book. Books were about the only kind of gift from me that he appreciated. It was a challenge to find one that he had not already read or knew about. Memorable are the occasions when I got him one that he really enjoyed. He would tell me all about it, many times over the breakfast table at some greasy spoon, in Mount Airy where he lived or else here in Augusta. Whenever Connie and I visited him and Mom—or whenever the two of them visited us—John and I always went out for breakfast. It seems we did just about all our talking over sausage and eggs, grits on some mornings and hash browns on others, sometimes a little bacon, or a stack of pancakes, and gallons and gallons of coffee. 

Happy Birthday, Rebekah!

The Beekster and her little ones

It was on this day, a few decades back, that the Beek came into the world--via Texas, I might add.  Her first home was on the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.  Since then, she's lived on both sides of the United States and in two foreign countries.  Always been quite the traveler.  Now, she is the joyful mother of her own two little darlings.  And they like to travel, too, especially to Georgia to see their PaPa--which, I might also add, it's about time they did .... hint, hint.

Many happy returns to the Girleez!

My Favorite Little Skypers

Papa and Gramma Pooch (in the computer screen) having a
Skype visit with Haydin (5) and Rory (2)

When you're a grandfather and your grandchildren live three time zones away, Skyping is the next best thing to being there.  This is us last night.  This conversation included some peek-a-boo with Rory, me trying to reach through the camera to steal their popsicles, and the little man showing off his Incredible Hulk tattoo.  All the while, Rebekah provides a running commentary in the background.

Favorite TV Shows of the Past: Tom and Jerry

Many a Saturday morning spent watching these two make believe creatures.  They were--and still are--amusing.  But the source of my most remembered laughter was when I watched these guys with my grandfather.  I never knew he was even the slightest bit interested until one morning he startled me by his deep laughter.  He laughed so hard that he attention to the cartoons ceased.  It was almost as if the TV wasn't even on.  It was just me and Granddaddy Huffman sitting in the living room of his house ... laughing our heads off.

Making Do

Here's recent episode from the continuing saga of Earl and Opal Pickles ...



At my house, Connie is still making do with our old TV set .. and me, thank goodness.

Favorite TV Shows of the Past: Petticoat Junction

It's on in Augusta weekday mornings at 0630.  Connie and I watch it while I'm getting ready for work.

Saturday Morning

The view from my office

Started the day with a cup of coffee and Rick Atkinson's Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War at Starbucks.  Came back to the house about 0730 and within the hour the bottom fell out of the sky ... a big, loud thunderstorm.  

Rained for a couple of hours.  Filled the pool right up to the brim.

Great morning to get some work done ... or not!

From My Niece, Tara

This came in the mail today, a homemade get-well card from one of my nieces, 8-year old Tara who lives in Fenwick, Ontario, Canada.


Front Cover ...

"To: Uncle Tony"

"I hope you feel better"

Inside ...

"You rock.  I love you.  You are the best uncle ever.  Nobody could replase [sic] you because you are my uncle.  I hope I can see you soon.  I miss you lots.  I realy [sic] hope you feel better.  Love you lots.  xoxo.  Bye!  From:  Tara."

Back Cover ...

"You Rock!!"

... and signed off with a smiley face. 

 

Now, how could I possibly not feel better?

Thanks, Tara!

Favorite TV Shows of the Past: The Rifleman

My wife and I just watched an old episode while we were eating supper.