I wasn’t feeling well last night. Had kind of a scratchy throat and was super tired. I was concerned maybe I was coming down with something. Went to sleep at 10pm and stayed in bed till 10am. I feel better now!

Studied Spanish/Swahili this morning.

If you’ve kept up with this blog, you’d know that I have been trapping squirrels. The last one I caught and released was #43! I started catching them because they were chewing holes in my soffits and boards around my roof. Today, I had the carpenter come and repair those holes. I know that all the squirrels are gone now. At least out of my house. I get new squirrels all the time at my feeders, but they don’t get in my house. Now they can’t!

The next step will be for my gutter guys to come and put new gutters on. The old ones leak a lot and are coming away from the boards. They’ve been up at least ten years.

Recorded a new episode of Verbal Surgery called “Rougheree!” It’s a good one!

Added some new material to my twitter feed. My version of sermon notes from church.

I had a problem with my bank. I was low on funds and got a couple of overdrafts. It happens every now and then. Not since last year, thankfully. I had a credit card from Bank of America that is only used as an overdraft protection. I knew something was wrong when I got penalized so I talked to the bankers today.

Apparently, because I hadn’t used the card in so long, they cancelled it! What?! I’d had that card number for over 17 years! So, anyway, I had to get a new one today because they one I had had different terms and conditions which they could no longer fufill. Oh, well. I got a new one and they took off the overdraft charges. Amen. I go back tomorrow to link the new card to my checking account for overdraft protection.

I liked this tree bark outside the bank.

Went by FBC Doraville to check on the mail.

Then to the mission to help the kids! One of my projects this year is to get a shot of all the kids with a name tag.


Jocelyn came by to visit today! She’s been having trouble with her algebra homework. Hopefully, I can help her.

Always great to see my girls!

Ashley had fun teaching the girls yoga! Groovy!

After I got home, I went for a 8.81 mile bike ride. I’ve been enjoying riding and listening to books.

Cleaned up after the carpenter. Collected and threw some sticks into my compost area.

Admin duties now.

I feel better than I did last night. Will probably still go to sleep early.

Studied Spanish/Swahili this morning.


Released a new episode of Verbal Surgery -583-“Brick in a Tree.” Things change over time. Accept and release yourself from the past! Click on the title and GROOVE!

Uploaded to server.

Link on Facebook.

Went to see my friend Carl Barrington today. Always a blessing!
Met the kids at the bus at the mission.

Had treats!

Helped the kids with their homework.

Love this baby!

Had a good crowd of kids today.
Went for a 10.83 mile bike ride this evening when I got home.

I called ACX this morning about why the audio version of Story Tim wasn’t ready. Apparently, the Title chapter needed to be split up into several sections. Have no idea why they wouldn’t have communicated that with me! I sent the file to my engineer in Venezuela. He said they’re having internet problems there. May take a bit.
Admin duties now.

Studied Spanish and Swahili this morning.



The girls came over to visit! I watched them while Ashley did an interview for NAMB for their radio program.

I shot some profile pictures for Ashley.


She’s so beautiful!
We had a fun lunch together at Golden Corral. Then Ashley dropped me off at T&G to pick up the PT Cruiser. Needed an oil change. They always give it a thorough going over. Looks good! Highly recommend T&G mechanics. I’m on a first name basis with all those guys!


Did the grocery shopping.

I’m enjoying my grocery bags.
Beautiful sunflowers at Azalea!


Penelope loves her friends at the mission!

We had a popcycle party to start our new after school program.







We had fun helping the kids with their homework. Penelope is practicing her shapes.

Everly was really walking today! She walked across the table top between me and Ashley a lot of times. She was taking four steps! Exciting!

Went by the church to check the mail and take the new Golden Box of Jams to our closet. The drums were too much for the one box.

Also got some name tags. I want to get name tags with pictures for all the kids at the mission.

Went by the Buford Highway Farmers Market on the way home. Got some goodies. I saw my friend Jouven’s mom near the market. I had a good talk with her about her son. He’s caught in an immigration problem. I really have issues with the current administration in Washington.

Got home and cleaned and refilled the bird hummingbird feeders.


Went for a 12.78 mile bike ride. I was listening to a great story on Audible. Miles just zoomed by.

Beautiful evening.



Mushrooms were fruiting.

Admin duties now.

Went to church this morning at Westside BC.


Pastor Ben spoke on the importance of evangelism.


Came home to work on editing the video I shot of the team from yesterday.

Got a letter from the county about our house. We bought it for $100.000. Now valued at $167,000.

Kathy has a new dress code at work. Went to Goodwill to get her a couple of shirts.

Gassed up her car and Jesse’s car this afternoon.

Uploaded the video I edited to YouTube.

Stitched up one of the shirts I got for Kathy.

Also repaired a hole in my comforter while I had the needle and thread out. Same color!

Sent the final email to our team with the links to the video and photo galleries.

Once that’s sent, I consider the team “complete.”
Transported squirrel #43 to the forest five miles from our house.

Mowed most of my back yard. It was pretty overgrown.


Turkey tail mushrooms were blooming from the dead trees I keep in our compost pit.

Also these little red topped mushrooms.

And these little white ones.

Collected a lot of sticks from my back-yard.

Little white lichens.


Yard looks better! I’m leaving some of the wild flowers intact. Nice ground cover plant.


Sweaty mess, even though I waited till after 7pm to get started!


Worked on Ashley’s resume.
Perseid meteor showers this evening. May be too cloudy to see much.
Admin duties now.

This morning, Kathy and I went to FBC Doraville to meet up with the Ashley and the girls. We hosted an enthusiastic team of high school and college students!

Always fun to give the briefing and sing!

Then on Safari to the Buford Highway Farmers Market for lunch and goodies!


I gave Antonia the award that Ashley made for her.

Missions next! They worked at Azalea Place, New Peachtree, Shallowford Arms and Shallowford Pines.








Gassed up my car.

Came home to have supper with Jesse. Always great.

Caught up the blog this evening. Lots of stuff happened last week!

Beautiful sunset!

Painted a new Golden Box of Jams for the percussion instruments.

Watered my plants.

My new carnivores seem happy.


Beauty!


They’re sealing the cracks with tar. Next stop will be repaving.

Saw the International Space Station for the 36th time!


There’s been quite a gap due to cloudy weather.

Went to sleep early. Tired.

Kathy and I had a fun vacation in the N. Georgia mountains. I made sure all my bird feeders were up to date before we left.

We went for a ride around Clayton on Sunday evening. It was the first time K had ridden a bike in over a year.

I’d ridden over 1,000 miles in the last year!


Powerful storms in the area!

We’ve stayed at Regal Inn a lot over the last fifteen years. It was our first time back in five years.

We like #12.




Monday, we hiked to the bottom of Tallulah Gorge. K made it more than half way. She hates the swinging bridge.



I hiked all the way to the bottom. When I was there, the siren went off! It’s supposed to signal a major water release from the dam! Supposedly, it was only a test. Yow!
Whole lotta steps!

I actually thought it was pretty easy. I reckon that shows that I’ve been exercising a lot!
Always something beautiful to see!




Good times!

Tuesday, K and I went to Dillard House to eat.


K liked the horses.

Gorgeous grounds!

Then went to look for antiques.

I bought this replica of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It’s fantastic!


I love seeing weird stuff like this.

I went for a bike ride that evening.

Wednesday, we went for a ride by Lake Rabun. Pretty tough!

Saw a dead copperhead.

Beauty!




Had some hard rain that evening.

Enjoyed Mexican food. Loved the art work.


Played with bubbles that evening.



Thursday, I went to Otto, NC to look at antiques.




I bought this little indian. Reminded me of the Cherokee tribe, which lived in this area. I have Cherokee blood in me.

I liked this hat. But didn’t get it.

Lots of fun stuff to see.



When I got back to Clayton, K and I went to Tallulah Gorge to ride along the Tallulah River. It was a pretty easy ride.





We rode all the way to Lakemont. I met K there, then rode back to get the car and came and got her.



That evening, we went up to Black Rock state park. It overlooks Clayton and the Blue Ridge mountains. It’s the highest state park in Georgia.



Great way to end the day, although the drive made K really scared.
We packed up our bags on Friday morning and headed back to the ATL! A great and renewing time. Ready for school again!
Always wonderful to hang out with the little girls! K and I took them to the pool at Stone Mountain and then to the park there.

They are both great climbers!



I saw some interesting mushrooms while we were there.

I love Stone Mountain!

After Ashley picked up the girls, Jesse helped me plant my new carniverous plants!


Fun day that topped off a great week!

Studied Spanish and Swahili last night and again this morning.

I bought a new bike seat and handle grips but neither fit properly. Took them back to Walmart this evening.

I took a black permanent marker and colored in the foam where the plastic had worn off.

Went for a 17.65 mile bike ride.

Always something interesting to see.
Yellow river turns red when it’s been raining hard.

I saw two small snakes that had died on the sidewalk. I guess they were trying to escape all the water.

After my ride, I washed off the garage.

Went to see Mission Impossible: Fallout this afternoon. I really liked it.

Absolutely incredible stunts.
Beautiful clouds after the movie.



Took the bike equipment that didn’t fit back to Walmart. I had the receipt so it wasn’t a problem.

Watered my plants when I got home.



Cleaned out my car in preparation for Kathy and I to take off a few days.
Admin duties now.

Released a new edition of Verbal Surgery -580- “Scars and Stars” this morning! The words people say to us can leave scars or stars! Click on the title and start to feel good, NOW!

Uploaded to server.

Link on Facebook.

I will be out of town with Kathy next week, so I set up the next two episodes to automatically distribute. I sent myself emails with the particulars of the episode and the direct URL link.


We have had a lot of rain in the last few days. Over 3″!

Dead branches have fallen during the storms. Always interesting to examine the lichens up close.


I’ve seen both species fairly regularly.
Cleaned and refilled my hummingbird feeders. They go through it pretty quickly. I have to refill at least once a week.


This is the first facia I’ve ever had that has bloomed again. I have six around my yard.

I cleaned out and organized the storage area under my sink in the bathroom.

Got a new wrist brace for Kathy. They seem to help her carpal tunnel.

Recorded a new episode of Verbal Surgery this morning called “Brick in a Tree.” The things that happen to us can imbed themselves in our psyche. It’s a good one!
Had lunch with Kathy, Jesse and the girls!

Took the Financial Report that Ashley makes to our treasurer.

Kathy and I took Everly and Penelope over to the pool at Stone Mountain and also to the park there.

It was the first time I’ve really seen Everly interact with the park toys.



Penelope wasn’t feeling that well, but she still had a fun time.

She’s very courageous!

Penelope had a good nap when we brought her home. Everly didn’t sleep at all. We had fun including swinging. She did great until just the last hour or so. She was ready for Mama!

The girls are SUCH a blessing. I’m glad Ashley shares them with us.
Just repaired a hole in my shoulder bag.
And helped Kathy get her phone charging. She wears out phone charger cables pretty quickly.
Admin duties now.

Wednesday night I did research on carnivorous plants I was interested in. I have a number being sent to me to add to my collection. I get tremendous joy from watching these little beauties.

Practiced with the Muse. Getting better all the time.

Studied Spanish/Swahili early this morning. Been waking up around 5:30am. Sometimes I stay up for a couple of hours before I can go back to sleep. So I study and pray.


Out of the last year and a half, I’ve probably only missed about ten days. Keeps starting the streak over. No big deal to me. Just keep going!




Recorded a new episode of Verbal Surgery. Pretty fired up with “The Tiniest Bit.” It’ll release in a week or so.

I remember putting this brick in the crook of the tree over ten years ago. The tree has grown over the brick!

Went to Global Mall to eat curry and tell the owner thank you for his help this summer.

Went by FBCD to check on the mail and drop off supplies that I’ve collected over the last week or so.

Came home to rest and work on admin duties.

Studied Spanish and Swahili this morning.

Finished stuffing the envelopes for our newsletter. Got them in the mail.

Recorded a new episode of Verbal Surgery called “Chill Pill.” It will release next week.

Sent my mileage report to Ashley.

Went to Walmart to get some supplies for the show and some things for my bike.

Enjoyed time with my good friend Carl Barrington this evening. Very heartfelt conversations. I took a picture with us at Plaza Fiesta. Don’t know what happened to it. The conversion process isn’t perfect between my camer and the phone. Needless to say, we looked great. Torrential rain and Carl not feeling great cut our trip downtown short. Honestly, I just wanted to spend time with him so not going downtown was no big deal to me.

Admin duties now.