Tuesday today

Hi again:

This picture is from a lake west of Kunming China.  This shows the back water of the lake. I will add more pictures in future posts of this lake.

I am working on my Kindle Fire, which I got a few days ago.  Strange to see color on a Kindle.  It is not an e-ink screen so I don't know if I will be reading any books on it, a totally back-lit screen.

I am not sleeping through the night here. I get up in the middle of the night still, around 3:00 am.  I watch some TV programs I recorded then I go back to bed for a few hours.  I guess I am not over my jet lag yet.

Tomorrow is Leap Day. A late uncle of mine has his birthday on Feb 29.  Stayton Ace is having a sale tomorrow with anything less than $30.00 is 29% off.  We need some lights here so I will go there tomorrow to get them.

I am finishing Rin Tin Tin, a book on the dogs that appeared in silent movies, in talking movies and finally on TV. I watched the TV show as youngster so this is an interesting book.  When the first Rin Tin Tin died it made national news and was quite the thing.  By the time the TV show we are on Rin Tin Tin IV.  It was the most popular TV show on TV in the late 1950's. 

The book's author is Susan Orlean, the writer of the Orchid Thief earlier.  I like the way she writes so I read every book and magazine articles she writes.

I am getting physical books from my local library again.  Waiting for me there are two more books, The House of Silk and Micro. 

I made lists at the Stayton library while I was in China. Because it is a regional library I cannot request all of my books at once, for they come in too fast. 

I am not getting used the cold weather here yet.  It was warm during the winter in Kunming.  It is called the City of Eternal Spring.  It does get a little humid in the summer but not like Beijing or Shanghai. 

I lost over 35 pounds in China. Now we shall see if I can keep the weight off during my long stay here.

Still looking for an Irish Setter dog. 

Steven

Seeking new dog...

Hi again:

My second post today.

I seek a new dog, an Irish Setter.

If any reader knows of a local breeder of Irish Setters, you can write me at schwindt68@hotmail.com to tell me of what you know. I want to find a local breeder of Irish Setters around Stayton or Salem. 

I have no plans to travel again. So this new dog will be with me for a long time.

The picture shows you what an Irish Setter looks like.

Steven

Back in Oregon

Hi again:

I went to China where I had no access to my blog, Facebook or Twitter. 

I am back here now.

The picture here is from Black Dragon Park in Kunming.  The flowering trees are plum trees, already in bloom in Kunming China.

I don't know if anyone reads this blog now as I have been away for more than six months with no posts.

This is my my first entry but I will post every day for the next few weeks.

Steven

Four more days....

Hello:

Sorry for not writing much here the past few weeks.  This coming week I will be traveling for three days to get to China so no posting there.

I have spent today getting books loaded to my Kindle I want to read on the trip to China and while I am in China, I got both of Charles Mann's books, 1491 and 1493.  I also got Dreams of Joy by Lisa See.  I had this latter book on reserve at the library for a few months, but today I canceled it and bought for my Kindle.

I am glad to see there is a lawsuit against Apple and the big publishers now  Hardly no ebook is priced at $9.99 anymore.  The three ebooks I got today were priced at $11.99, $14.99 and $12.99, prices all set "by the publisher." 

The picture here is the last entry in our 4th of July parade, a fire truck that spayed water over everyone there. It sure felt good to get a mist of spray on this hot day.

No more library books for me. All of my reading is now on my Kindle.

Today I read an article I put on my Kindle last month, called Where are All the Girls?   Too much sex selection by parents in India and China now.  I know some places in China the ratio of men to women is 110 to 100.  In the countryside the ratio is even higher at 130 men to every 100 women.  An entire generation of men in China and India will not be able to find wives among the native population.

Another article I read on my Kindle is the Chinese Babe Tax, a funny way for China to raise some money by taxing Americans and westerners who take Chinese women away from China.

Have a great weekend.

Labor Day is coming. What are your plans for that extended weekend?


Steven

 

13 days to go...

Hi again:

I have not been posting here very much. I will do better once I get to China in 13 days.

The picture here is wind-up Nash Rambler.  It runs on a small engine.

This picture is from the old car show during Summerfest.  Many old cars there.

I leave here on August 23.  I get to China on August 25.  I cannot sleep on the plane so I will be up from late night on August 23 until I get to China mid-day on August 25. 

I am reading Buried Secrets and I will finish it later tonight. It is page-turner now. 

I cancelled most of my book reservations at the library.  I have one other library book here, but if read it and then will read books on my Kindle. 

I am not taking many books with me to China this time.  I have over 1,300 books and magazine articles on my Kindle now. More than enough to read here, read on the plane, and read in China.

Hope your week is going well.

Steven