The Last Day of July

This picture is a retired Greyhound dog. They like a soft place to sleep, which they do a lot.

They are short-haired which means they do not shed much.

These dogs come a variety of colors.  This one is, obviously, black. 

They told me these dogs are good travelers.  We are planning a long road trip to Utah in September.  If I get a retired Greyhound by then he may travel with us on our trip to Utah.  He can stay in the back of my pick-up for four to five hours.  That is about how long I can drive before I must stop to take a break.

I took this picture at SummerFest on Saturday.

I may not get a retired Greyhound dog until we buy a new house and I can fence part of the yard.

I am half way through The Columbus Affair, and it is turning into a page turner now.  Part of today I will be reading this book.

Steven  

SummerFest on Saturday...

I thought this only happened in China but at SummerFest on Saturday here, there were many young girls wearing very short pants.  This is the only picture I took of a young girl wearing very short pants.    I will post more pictures this week of SummerFest here.  I took 42 pictures at SummerFest so I will share many of them with you.

I am now reading The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry. I read every novel Steve Berry writes.  He is one of favorite authors.

I am still debating whether to read 11/22/63,  It is almost 900 pages.  Too big of a book to hold while attempting to read it.  It is on the Kindle page, but the sale price is $16.99, way too much to pay for an eBook.

My wife will be here this week if it goes good.  Once Helen arrives you will see more pictures of her on this blog. 

Not much else happening here. I mowed the lawn on Friday and this past weekend I read my book and watched a few movies I recorded on my TV.  I made two trips the SummerFest on Saturday. I am thinking of getting a retired Greyhound dog.  They had display of these dogs at SummerFest.  They need a short walk every day and will bond with you quickly.  Most of the time they will sleep.  A retired Greyhound will be 3 or 4 years old. 

A puppy of an Irish Setter would cost me between $1,000 and $1,500 per puppy.  A retired Greyhound costs me $250 for the health issues and getting it spayed or neutered. 

More posts as this week progresses.

Steven

Hi again on this U....

Hi:
Once again I failed to post every few days. 

This picture is from the parade on the 4th of July here. A very pretty girl on the top of a horse.

I am nearly finished with The Devil's Elixir, it turns into a page tuner in the last 100 pages.

I checked out 11/22/63 by Stephen King.  I can tell he needs an a good editor.  This book is nearly 900 pages long.  Like I said he does not use an editor.

There is no State Farm Bank in Oregon.  I tried to use online account but it failed to work. I got an email from them to talk with me.

I want to find a State Farm Bank.  If you know about it, email me at schwindt68@hotmail.com.

Steven

First post in a long time....

This picture is from the 4th of July parade in Stayton earlier this month.

I have been bad not wriiting here  I promise to write more each week.

I finished China Airborne by James Fallows. It was a great book that told me things about China I did not know.  The miilitary there controls the skies there so airlines and small planes must get permission from the military to fly in the air.  Even commerical airlines fly at low evelevations around 10,000 to 15,000 feet instead of the more efficient 30,000 to 35,000 feet we fly in the United States and around the world. 

On my last trip home from China we had an 8 hour wait at Beijing before my flight finally took off.  That 8 hour wait was suppose to be one hour but it lasted 8 hours.  The airline feed us there as we waited for the airline to take off. We did not enter the plane until it was ready to take off.  Now I realize it was the military that prevented us from taking off on time.

This was after a five hour delay in Xi'an before I left there.  Again a one hour delay turned into a five hour delay.

Every time I flew in or out China we had long delays.  The military controls the air space there and wants bribes from airlines to let them fly.

I am now reading Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  I have Mocking Jay on my Kindle 3 to read once I finish the second book.  Mocking Jay is the last book in the series,. I get all three of these ebooks for free as I am a Prime Member on Amazon so I get one free book a month from its Lending Library. My first book was The Hunger Games. 

I am also reading The Devil's Elixir by Raymond Khoury.  I read all of his novels, as he writes very good mystery novels.

My Kindle 3 goes with me to Church every Sunday at Mass. I have the old catechism on it, plus I have The Divine Office on it.  Do you think I read these at Mass?  I started to read these things but today I read Catching Fire at Mass.  I don't read it during the prayers of the Mass, but during the sermon and before Mass starts.  I read it after the sermon too. 

I hope your week goes well.

Steven

early Sunday today....

This is what you see in China cites.  I never saw many of these in Oregon, but every city in China has these big cranes building apartments or other businesses.

I am now reading China Airborne by James Fallows.  I read every book he writes.  I also read his articles in The Atlantic magazine.

I have not finished yet Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy.  I got as a free book because I am a member of Amazon Prime.  I must return this book before getting my free copy Mocking Jay, the last book in this series. Catching Fire is on my Kindle Fire and also moved it to my Kindle 3.  (I get one free book a month because I am a Prime member)

I also am reading the decision by the Supreme Court upholding The Affordable Health Care plan of President Obama.  I am so glad the Supremes upheld the law.  I fully support everything our President does.  He will be reelected so easy in November.   I put the decision on my Kindle Fire and I am sort of enjoying the main decision calling the fee paid by those who do not buy health insurance a tax.  I don't care what they call it, tax or penalty, as long as the Health Care was upheld.  The stupid R's will try to repeal this law, not realizing how much American people like the parts already in force. As more in force over the next year more Americans will like the plan. 

We are the only modern country that does not have national health insurance. This is so sad for United States. 

I would have like to see a public option in the plan.

I liked the sign that one stupid Tea Party held up: "Keep the government hands off my Medicare."

You can now believe I am so very liberal and proud to say it.

Steven