Endeavor To Persevere

Well, my favorite month draws to a close. I think I'll change my favorite month to May. Or October. Or February. This December for me was notable for a couple of fights with UAB Hospital. I'm a very bad patient. But now I'm okay, God willing.

Because of this hiatus in my holidays, we (family) decided to celebrate my 80th birthday on January 3 instead of Dec. 27. I was in favor of January 8th, but I can celebrate E.P.'s birthday by myself.

I've got a lot of cards and other communications to answer/acknowledge this week. Also bills to pay.

This morning on Netflix I watched the first episode in a history of the English kings, to the point where Alfred has established England as a nation.

During December I read Commander by Stephen Taylor, about Edward Pellew, Lord Exmouth, who was probably the model on which Patrick O'Brien built Jack Aubrey. Good book.

I quit smoking for three weeks, proving to myself that I can, and illustrating what a miserable process it is. Today I've fallen off the wagon, but hope to hop back upon it tomorrow. Endeavor to persevere.

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Santa already left me one stocking-stuffer:

Little cheater bottle, probably 8 oz.

Friday night I went to the ER with my bronchitis. They put me in the UAB hospital until Sunday and made it a lot better. They did a pretty thorough workup on my old bones, and said aside from minor problems, I seemed to be okay. I thought, if I'm in such good shape, why the ____ do I feel so lousy.  One of the best things to come out of the episode, was that they prescribed me some nicotine patches, and I haven't smoked any since Friday. No major craving, just a sort of lonesome feeling. Awkward. Don't know what to do with my hands.

One of the doctors remarked upon my scoliosis. No one else has seemed to notice it since my college PE instructor noticed it, and a doctor in Huntsville diagnosed it. My right-side bones are bigger than the left side, which makes me walk crooked. When I walk. But you don't have to call me Richard.

Jed came over Saturday and stayed until yesterday. If he hadn't, I might not have made it through. He brought me a stack of the best Nero Wolfe books, and I'm reading the very best one, The Black Mountain.

I'm OK. Are you OK?

Something I posted in December 2012: "The news says that Voyager I, which left earth in 1977, is now 11 billion miles from the sun. I'll bet that's where Elvis went, and when he gets back, he'll still be middle-aged, and the rest of us will be dust."

That Voyager is now many more miles away. I guess Elvis isn't coming back. Who can blame him?

I've got my semiannual bout of bronchitis. But it's better than having it in the summertime. Am on a Z-pack and feeling pretty good.

Today I'm going to clean and decorate the living room. I am, I am!

Art Work

. . . while watching Jeopardy:

A story that probaby shouldn't be told.

Yesterday evening, Ramey and I went toward a poetry group meeting in Sylacauga, Alabama.

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Sometimes I wish I could put together a book of the movie and/or book reviews that I have posted on this blog. Then, at other times, I cringe with embarrassment to read over some of them. I guess that's what distinguishes a good writer from a bad one. But whichaway?

 

Die Fledermaus

Johann Strauss II was, in my opinion, the all-time best composer of light music. At least of all the music I've heard. Specifically, his operetta Die Fledermaus can make me fall flat on the floor in a "swound." Although I know the story, fortunately I've never heard the composition in English language. Words are irrelevant to such music.

The Nazis tried to keep his Jewish heritage a secret. I didn't even know he had one until I read it in Wikipedia.

Fisticuffs

Daddy and I used to listen to the "fights" on the radio, but after they started being televised, I couldn't take any more.

The Brown Bomber (Joe Louis), the Manassa Mauler (Jack Dempsey), Cinderella Man (Jimmy Braddock). Rocky Marciano, "Smokin' Joe" Frazier, Muhammad Ali. I remember them all, though I never heard a Jack Dempsey fight.

Max Baer (Sr.) said the only way he could have beaten Joe Louis was with a baseball bat. Max's brother Buddy also boxed, and played the giant in the film "Quo Vadis."

Max Schmeling was denounced by the Nazis after he lost the championship to an American. After WWII, a story was revealed in which he risked his life to save Jewish children from the Nazis.

A recent online "health" article stated that violent sports, especially football and boxing, are connected to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and early death. But some who survived the ring lived on and on. Jack Dempsey died age 87, and Max Schmeling lived to be 99.

Firpo knoxking Jack Dempsey out of the ring - Painting by George Bellows

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I also remember smaller champs: Bobo Olson, Sugar Ray Robinson. And a little flyweight fellow whose name I forget.

Now I Roku.

Jed added one to my TV. I don't know what it is, but I know what it does.

Wreath on the door, Father C. in the foyer. This is probably the last go-around for the little tree. I've just been putting out items that I want to use to decorate, before I start cleaning and arranging stuff. But at least the wreath is hung.