Truck camper

List of times when having a truck camper would be "mighty nice."

1. Table tennis tournament in San Antonio in May
2. Family reunion in Brookhaven MS in June
3. Quick to Reverie Ranch in TX for some mountain bike riding
4. FISHING via kayak.
5. Visiting family (inlaws for either me or my wife)
6.

to be continued...

2014 Reading List...and counting

As opposed to years past I plan to continually edit and update this post. As in times past however this is a list of books finished in 2014 rather than books read. I tend to have a lot of hang overs that I read slowly over a couple of years or so-but some books are started and finished this year.

1. Russia and the Russians: A History, 2nd edition by G Hosking
2. Jewelweed: A novel by David Rhodes
3. Deathride Hitler vs Stalin, the eastern front 1941-1945 by John Mosier
4. John A commentary by Craig Keener, volume 1
5. Mao: The Real Story by AV Pantsov
6. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
7. Dead Mountain The Untold Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
8. Peace Warrior by Steven Hawk
9. Fragile Empire-How Russia Fell In and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin by Ben Judah
10. The Gospel of John, A commentary, volume 2 by Craig Keener
11.

19 vs 49

I have been thinking how I compare to myself-comparing the say, 19 year old Van to the 49 year old (current) version. I look at my physical self and of course the 19 year old wins in a total knock-out. Not only am I not the man I used to be I am not even on a linear decrease from that guy. I am more than a few "levels" away from what I was in terms of running, weight, ability, ability to improve, etc. I know that sounds normal. Most men are not at the level they were in younger days, but unlike most men I DO workout. I run, I am very active. But I do not seem to lose weight or get any better/faster.

I do have one thing more than I had at 19-I have experience. Experience and a better paying job. I do not think I am any smarter now. I am not able to concentrate for as long. I do not memorize scripture like I used to. I still spend time in the Word, and probably with more depth but I do not minister or serve as much as I did in college.

I certainly have more responsibilities and less freedom-even though at 19 years I lived at home and was under my parents. I now have to take into account 5 kids, 1 wife and to a degree the presence of dogs and cats. If I want to play a table tennis tournament in Austin I have to first check to see if I am on call, trade call if necessary, sign up, get permission from wife, make sure I am not missing some once in a lifetime event like a birthday party, or significant kid activity, make sure I am healthy, make sure no kids have a life threatening illness and even then I may be de-railed by a last second gastroenteritis viral process that hits my wife just hours before my 5 am departure.

Time-certainly there is less of it now. Probably 90% work related but also family related as well.

Lots of things I did not expect when I was 19.

2013 totals

Athletic totals for 2013

Running-1111.75 miles, up some from last year.
Lifetime total from all run logs is at 71109 miles.

Bike total 1060.8 miles. Down from last ear.

Table tennis is 164.75 hours Down from last year.

Next year goals includes 1800 running miles.

Books read-2013

This probably should be "books finished" during 2013 as at least 2 or maybe 3 probably were probably stared before January 1. Then again I am currently reading several books that will not be finished till 2014 so its all a wash. The following are in order that I finished the book.

1. THE CHILDREN OF HURIN by JRR Tolkien
2. ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, 2nd edition by Fritz and Thomas
3. THE COMPLETE SHORTER FICTION by Herman Melville (can't remember the editor but nice intro by the editor for context)
4. EZEKIEL, volume 2 by D Block, NICOT-New International Commentary on Old Testament series
5. DEEP AND WIDE by Andy Stanley
6. STICKY CHURCH by Larry Osborne
7. OR PERISH IN THE ATTEMPT-THE HARDSHIP AND MEDICINE OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION by David Peck, MD
8. DRIFTLESS by David Rhodes
9. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN by DA Carson (2nd time)
10. ENCOUNTERING JOHN by A Kostenberger
11. THE SUPERIOR PENINSULA by Lon Emerick
12. THE COMPLETE WORKS OF EM BOUNDS by EM Bounds (all 8 of his books on prayer)
13. WANNBE DISTANCE GOD: THE THIRST, ANGST AND PASSION OF RUNNING IN THE CHASE PACK, by Timothy Tays
14. THE YEAR 2889 by Jules Verne. 22 pgs. First eBook finished

As I look back along the list I regret that I have not finished a pathology text in the last year. I surprise myself to see that I read a LOT more non-fiction than fiction. If you asked me what do I prefer I would say fiction every time.