Red Wheel Node 3 book 3

March 1917: The Red Wheel, Node III, Book 3 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My rating for the whole Red Wheel series to date is a full 5 stars. This epic historical fiction account of the Russian revolution is intense, complex, and exceptionally long. To date I have read about 4000 pages in the series and have one more book in node 3 with 1 or more books in node 4. Books have varied from over 600 pages to over 1000 pages.

This book has a nice list of characters in the back encompassing fictional and real people involved in the complex story line. This book would make little sense unless one had at least read the two prior books in this node. Really one must have read nodes 1 and 2 to appreciate this book. Also a number of maps in the back for orientation. Both are great helps.

Highly recommend to those who love Russian history or the Russian revolution and don't mind a multi-year reading experiences.

View all my reviews

LARGO

Largo



My first race as an Astronaut War Eagle was the 1978 Astronaut invitational at the Old Horse Arena in a hot, humid Thursday afternoon in late August. We had endured two weeks of two-a-days and two team time trials. A freshman, I was one of the top JV runners on the team. Not "the" top, but one of several. I had prepared as well as I could. I had even gotten a hair cut the week before the race to help with the heat.

Most coaches and teams barely consider JV races. Nick Gailey, our head coach was not like like most coaches. Indeed he was unlike any coach I had ever had or would have in my high school or college running career. He was **intense**. He cared about the JV race. He even noticed that I had gotten a hair cut and said something about it to my dad. He made mention of how our JV team had fared in recent years in this meet in general and against one team in particular.

Nick also had the highest respect for one of our opponents that day. Largo. I do not remember Coach Gailey dissing any team. But Coach talked about Largo with a degree of respect and admiration that dwarfed every other program in the state. And I should add that we did not have a cross country team, it was a program. Twenty five to thirty plus male runners, summer track meets, pre-season letters, a pre season team booklet, a post season results booklet, Gailey girls, Space Coast track club officials, strict in season dietary requirements, strict in season rules (no lateral movement sports, etc), team parties, etc. This was a program with a strong tradition. And Largo matched that and more. Indeed Largo had one thing more than Astronaut. State XC championships. Fortunately Largo was in a different sized school classification, they were largest division 4A while Astronaut was 3A. Maybe that allowed them to be a rival, but not a bitter rival.

If you have read this far, you are probably thinking about now here is the part about some crappy JV race that did not matter. You are right. Nothing but an opening meet JV race on the Florida east coast. A big opening meet with many of the best teams and individuals in the state. Nothing on the line but personal and team pride-and a long summer of training. If you know these schools however you may recognize a name or two on each side. Also by the end of the season Astronaut would have 3 or more JV runners run under 16:00 for 3 miles on legitimate courses. The JV team could realistically have been a top 10 team at the state meet in November.

Both teams were known for a style of running known as "pack running" and for closing fast. Old Horse Arena was a 1.5 mile course so we did 2 laps. After a long opening straightaway of 220 yards or so the first mile was a series of 3 switch backs that worked us back towards the large grass area that has the starting and finish lines and the mile and a half marker. This area also was where the crowds were. Remember, Astronaut has an XC program, not a team. At this meet there were probably over 1000 spectators, not counting XC teams, the Pep band and officials. This was no ordinary high school XC meet. By the half mile mark three Largo runners had established themselves at the front with one War Eagle (Chuck Byrd, rip). I was running with several other teammates a little further back. Phil Stephens, Guy George, ....all runners that would go on to individual and or team state medalists in the years to come.
The three runners from Largo were Kevin Crawley, Brian Benedict and a kid named Basil Magee. As we came up to the mile mark we could hear no split times. They were being called, but the roar of the crowd (a JV race mind you!) was too loud. I remember the hair standing up on the back of my neck. The course turned into the back portion of the course, clear of the crowd. The roar replaced by the rasp of heavy breathing. Over the next half mile we ran thru trails to the edge of Sherwood golf course and then turned right down an old dirt road like trail before turning right to the large grass area of the 1.5 mile mark. By this time my teammates and I had closed the gap. Astronaut and Largo packs were firmly entrenched at the front. It was on. Contact had been obtained.

I do not remember the crowd as we went down that long straight past the 1.5 mile mark. The 2 mile mark was around in the grass switch backs at the half mile mark. After 2 miles we switched from pack running to "go for it" stage. We knew those switch backs from many mile repeats run and still to be run (Old Horse Arena had this course for many years; it has a relatively mild change in 1979 she to construction. Further development meant 1979 was the last year of this course). After 2 miles we switched from pack running to "go for it" stage. As we worked out way to the crowds at about a half mile to go, Brian Benedict and I seemed to pull away. I do not remember the crowd at that point as distinctly as in the first lap, but two runners from two programs, a freshman and a sophomore were making this a two man race.

As we ran in the trails and along the golf course The pace began to build. We ran side by side as the course followed a broadly curved "S" configuration with either line trees or palmetto bushes forming outer boundaries. We ran the tangents, side by side, neither wanting to back down. As we approached one pine tree, Brian on my right and the tree in my left i suddenly realized that I had to back off or surge or I was going to hit that tree. I wondered at the time if he was trying to run me into the tree-not maliciously and there was no contact, but there was no giving ground either. I thought that we were two racers fighting for every inch. I also realized that this was going to be decided on the last straightaway and not until then. We turned right to the short, tree covered road which was out of sight of spectators and serene and isolated our struggle. Then appeared from the cave of trees and immediately slowed down to make a sharp, 135(ish) degree turn around one last pine tree and headed to the finish line about 150-180 yards away. At this point I put my head down and kicked for home. I began to slowly pull away. I could feel the slow separation. I thought this race was mine. Within 75 yards to go I began to tighten up. Brian came by me strongly and pulled away for a decisive victory. This was also the first, last and only time I beat Basil Magee who was a fabulously talented runner who was way out of my league and went on to a fantastic high school career. From communication with Coach Haley, Basil is the current (almost 40 years later) school record holder for 880, mile and 2 mile (1:51.8, 4:08.8 and 9:02). I think he ran at U Tennessee in college. Brian Benedict went on to be a sub 4:20 mile in high school and ran at least in junior college at Santa Fe CC in Florida. Third place Kevin Crawely also went on to run sub 4:20 in the mile. Guy George would be 4th overall in cross country at 3A state in 1980 and Phil Stephens was a sub 4:20 miler and state runner up in the mile in 1981 in 3A.

Team results. Astronaut beat Largo 28-31. Per my scrapbook this was the first time in 7 years that Largo boys JV had "lost"- although I am not sure if the is overall or in this particular meet.

Results from the Star Advocate of Titusville:
1. Brian Benedict, L 16:20
2. Van Savell, A 16:21
3. Basil Magee, L, 16:27
4. Kevin Crawley, L 16:37
5. Guy George, A 16:51
6. Phil Stephens, A 16:51
7. Danny Treder, A 16:51
8. Danny Jones, A 16:54
9. Chuck Byrd, A 17:08
10. Anton Smallridge, L 17:13
11. Kevin Reiff, A 17:19
12. Danny Rice, A 17:23
13. Steve Lysnia, L 17:31
14. Rick Higel, L 17:34
15. Randy Settle, Titusville High, 17:35

The last finisher for Astronaut was in 95th place, suggesting over 100 runners in the JV race alone. It is amazing to me as I look at the results that the first 14 all were from only 2 schools. There were 19 scoring teams in the varsity race that day (news papers did not have all teams listed in the results section).

I went on to run many races, state championships, conference meets, regional and national championships (division 2 NCAA_ and hundreds of races over the years. But no race has been mentally re-lived or carried me through tough workouts than my first high school XC race as a freshman in JV against Brian Benedict of Largo High School. No race has captured the purity of competition or the desire of victory of that last half mile in the hot and humid Florida late afternoon in August race.

Older posts 2010-2011

From Job 21

23 One man dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,

24 his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow.

25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

26 Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010
Kids, Parenting, and Bears, Oh My!
Anyone who knows us, knows the my weakest link is parenting. We have struggled with that over the last several years. The struggle continues. Like the book of Job suggests and Ecclesiastes suggests there are things God knows that we do not. Maybe it is best to not ask some of the questions. I don't struggle too much with what is God doing in Barbs life or mine. But I do struggle with what He is doing in our kids lives via this accident. My belief in Gods sovereign providence is extends to ALL. This accident is not His accident, but within His sovereign will for Barb and I. But also for our kids and all those around us.

I cannot understand much of what He is doing-but for the kids and parenting them, I understand nothing. Has this been an opportunity for growth that I have failed them? Is it their failure? How does being further handicapped in parenting help? How does Hannah fit into all this? We believe God sent her to us-but are we failing her? We cannot physically parent all these kids like we feel we need to. We certainly see no positive parenting results. We do not see where He is going with this-we sure can't cooperate with where He leads.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2011
Thanks
Last week, the day before our oldest was to leave to go back to college we were getting ready to have a special family meal. We often do special meals for birthdays or occasions (graduations, etc) and either go out to eat or have something really good (i.e. expensive) at home. This time we were having boiled snow crab legs and shrimp-something Matt and others (except Sarah) really like.

Anyway things were the usual around here, so after we all sat down I said, "We are going to do something different today. Instead of praying and thanking God for the food, we are going to complain to Him. Then when we are done doing that we will eat and be thankful the rest of the day." I received a few "say what?" looks.

But wouldn't God prefer that we are ungrateful to Him for 5 minutes each day then grateful to those around us the other 23 hours and 55 minutes?

When I said this the kids all looked at me weird. Maybe Barb did to. I did not end up offering a prayer of grumbling to God. But maybe I should have. How can we complain every waking moment, then thank God for our food three times a day. Often both before and after the prayer I hear "You KNOW I don't like beans (or this or that)."

What is this source of ungratefulness? Generally I believe I am grateful. Maybe I am blind to my ungratefulness. My wife also is usually grateful-well except with certain cyclical exceptions.

from another blog-November 2009-

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009
afraid
Barb is afraid that she is going to die (presumably soon)

Van is afraid that he is not going to die soon.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009
follow-up
Barb asked me this morning that if she dies first that we buy two burial plots. I told her I am holding out on that crypt over Marilyn Monroe.
Then I said nothing.
She said she wants Seaside Cemetery (in Corpus Christi).
I said i prefer Rose Hill (where our youth group does luminaries in December).
Then I told her I want the Mississippi Delta as my final resting grounds.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
Step forward
Small milestone yesterday (11/4/2009)-the medical supply company removed the rental hospital bed. B has been in her bed for a few weeks. Still using the bedsore layer and foam cushion on top of our mattress.

Only rentals we still have are the potty and wheelchair. I can see the wheelchair going away once football is over. The potty may be here a while.

B is now doing 3 days of PT/OT a week as an outpatient. Tuesday she was there from 9:30 till about 11:45. It is exhausting, but I think it is helpful and allows her to focus only on rehab and not be distracted by other stuff that needs to be done. Yesterday she had no PT and went to FBS to eat lunch w Sarah and also went to FBHS school to do an errand. That amount of errands was too much for her (Her Mom helped her with all that). She will have to focus on what needs to be done, not all the un-necessary stuff.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
And a step back
Dealing with conflicting interests. Yesterday was about as bad a day as we have had since mid July.
One hand-Enough pain medicine leads to severe constipation (uncomfortable to say the least). We are talking severe and long term.
Other-Decreasing pain med leads to severe depression, jealousy and, oh yeah pain without totally solving the first problem.
Lastly the Mrs. is getting very tired of being very tired and hurting.

Lots of people tell me how this is gonna "work out" (kind of like good karma) or good stuff is gonna happen. I don't see that. Well, maybe I do-people in our church, family and friends have been overwhelmingly giving. And maybe what God wants to do is allow us to be the receivers of others (that is not fun btw for V). But what she would really like is to be able to go to the bathroom, and not be in pain.

I do know we have lived an incredibly privileged life . I still see God as God-but there are a lot of people whose physical lives are much worse who never get to see the metaphorical light of day. Being restored a la Job just may not happen.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009
Questions-maybe not
Barb and I went to Houston to see a Colorectal surgeon specialist yesterday. Drive there-4 hours of doctors office and then home. Lots of quiet time. Some interesting discussion and open sharing. News? Wait and see.

I was going to list some questions-but I just got word about another family tragedy. One of the dads who was in our China group -adopting their 3rd kid-a special needs girl that Barb and I actually looked as has been diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer with a very grim prognosis. We will pray for him and his family.

It seems all we get is bad news. Is this what 45 is? Ty. Mark. College friends son. My questions are so small.

It ends badly doesn't it? At least here on earth.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009
Nothin' lyrics (Townes Van Zandt)
Hey mama, when you leave
Don't leave a thing behind
I don't want nothin'
I can't use nothin'

Take care into the hall
And if you see my friends
Tell them I'm fine
Not using nothin'

Almost burned out my eyes
Threw my ears down to the floor
I didn't see nothin'
I didn't hear nothin'

I stood there like a block of stone
Knowin' all I had to know
And nothin' more
Man, that's nothin'

As brothers our troubles are
Locked in each others arms
And you better pray
They never find you

Your back ain't strong enough
For burdens doublefold
They'd crush you down
Down into nothin'

Being born is going blind
And buying down a thousand times
To echoes strung
On pure temptation

Sorrow and solitude
These are the precious things
And the only words
That are worth rememberin'

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
Bad days and not as bad days
It is always hard to answer the "How is your wife doing?" question I get all the time. First our 15 minutes of fame should be over-it has been almost 20 weeks now. Second the question is kind of like asking someone how are you doing. The answer is an implied positive. The answer I give is some variation of such.

The real answer is either bad, or not as bad as bad. Everyday it is hard at wake up time. Hurt, pain, stiffness. Also in the afternoon it is bad. Then their are the additional things-constipation, worried about the kids, husband being a jerk, can't do anything. Not just some days, everyday. Looks, like answers are deceiving.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009
Suffering
Barb and I were talking this week-I told her that she is probably suffering more now (pain, discomfort, unable to get comfortable at night) than she did in the hospital. She agreed-except for the ventilator-that was the worst according to her. Contrary to how she looks, she hurts. She is improving but the improving hurts. And mentally she thinks her physical improvement has leveled off.

Attached is an article from the Sunday November 29 news paper article.

from another blog I had-written prior to this blog October 2009 posts: Consolidation

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2009
Mortality
This accident has certainly led to some discussions and thoughts (particularly by Barb) in regards to mortality. It has always been the assumption in our house that Barb-by nature of her family history will live the longer than me. Both her granddads were over 90 when they died (her grandmothers died in their 70s however). Her parents are in remarkable health at 79 and low 70s. She eats good and takes care of herself. While my family history is much more significant-granddads having died of myocardial infarcts in lows 30s (mother side) and 50s (? or early 60s -dad). I also have the "benefit" of a job that deals with death and have a near daily reminder (in winter particularly) of my own lack of health from a couple of medical issues I have developed over the years. Plus I know a lot of bad things that can happen medically.

Now all this has changed-Barb has wondered will this accident shorten her life. The answer is yes it could. I think in some ways this is good. People with spinal cord injuries are sure at risk of urosepsis. Her IVC filter is not going anywhere. She has more surgery scheduled. Heck, we have to drive on Texas roads to get to San Antonio multiple times. We should always appreciate that our days are limited (Psalms 90:10). I know from medical experience and thought-that except for those few who die of suicide (or with Alzheimers) death comes to soon-weither you are 20 or 85 years old. I think assuming you will live to 90 plus could lead to a lack of numbering of days.

Barb's condition puts pressure on me-particularly if she doesn't fully recover all bodily functions. I need to stay healthy to help her. She may need my help for a long time. I also think this may have helped her live in the moment. She has certainly seemed to change in some ways in that regard.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009
Funny
Barb will tell you that I laugh or make fun of way too much. Inappropriately. Well todays short blog will be inappropriate so you should stop reading now. Course it is not as bad as it could be. I find more things to laugh about than cry about in life. Actually my two emotions are most likely finding something humorous or being angry about something.

Barb has had a Foley catheter in for most of 12 weeks now. After a while they stink. She has had it changed out several times-but especially since she has been home there is this strong, pungent oder that has driven her crazy. She asked me for some body spray to cover it up. I tried one fragrance-nope. Another type-better, but no. Finally she sent me to Bed, Bath and Beyond. I found nothing humorous in that store. Total chick place. Worse going in there than Victoria's Secret to be honest. But Barb gave me a fragrance to get so I was successful. Mission accomplished and I wasn't seen by anyone.

The "good part" is the name of the fragrance. And while she does not find it funny or even a coincidence. The fragrance she picked out-Sweet Pea. Yep. Now if you don't find that funny (and she doesn't), there is not much I can do for you. And if you can't figure out why that is funny-again, you have no hope.

I do want to add that the main word I have used with great delight and laughter (to myself) and with Barb is "tenacious". You will have to ask her why, cause she won't let me tell. Her being tenacious and all...

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009
Cutting the umbilical cord
We need to cut the cord. Sometime. This morning the in-laws left. Tomorrow Bs in-laws arrive for a little less than 2 weeks. The next big change will be whether to ask Bs parents back or what to do after mine leave. I have had the urge to be more self sufficient for a while. B not so much. She really cannot contribute to the work or management around the house. Today would be a good day to see how ready we are.

By lunch time I had already realized how much we need help. My idea of feeding the kids is to tell them to clean up whatever they get out. Course I end up cleaning most of the stuff. I know with family gone more will fall on me. But I have a need to not be so dependent. The kids are just going to have to come along for the ride. Or get it going of get it gone. OK?? I have more thoughts about this in terms of responsibility-but that will have to wait.

Forward progress: On friday Barb became eligible to put weight on her right foot. It did not seem like much, but today-Sunday she walked into church. She had a walker and a brace, but she sat in a chair and not the wheelchair. She also used a leg bag for her foley. It did not seem like much to us-but it did to some people at church. And I see that too. She is walking with a walker. She is not shuffling. Small steps, but steps nonetheless. She could get her brace off in a week or so. That will be another big step towards independence-towards restoration.

Today the local bike/run club had a ride to raise some money for Barb near Mathis, TX at the state park (Lake Corpus Christi)-despite an early start (for us) of 8am we were able to make it out there and say thanx at the starting line. It was very, very very nice-very humbling and overwhelming. I got up about 5:30 and we got out there before 8am and then back home by 9:30 to get the 4 kids ready for church. Daniel did the ride with some friends-it was cold and rainy-ish so he did the 12 miler instead of the 45 mile ride and was the first to finish.

In terms of bathroom we are mostly at status quo. No major improvements. No setbacks. No catastrophes.

I have enabled this site for comments without registering. I assume no one outside of close family or friends will ever read it. If we get unfortunate or outside comments I will disable this feature.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009
Loved
Initially the most overwhelming emotion regarding Barbs accident for me was the overwhelming love and support for Barb. I loved her and we had a good thing going with our little love affair/marriage. But the overwhelming support for her was humbling. Barb and I have been amazed. We also realize that much of that support is really the love of others not for Barb directly-but love others have had for Barbs parents, mine, or Barbs family. Particularly members of churches of John, Robert, Mr. Compere and my Dad-people we have never met or seen calling, sending gift cards, visiting us. Plus the incredible support of people we know. Add that in to people at work that I have never spoken with stopping me in the hall to tell me they are praying for us or asking how Barb is doing. For a introvert like me that has been hard to handle.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
Short thoughts
The last 15 weeks remind me of college more than anything else. Not nearly as fun, but the frantic pace of life is similar.

Final results for Barbs (probable) final bike ride (at least from a training-racing perspective). From her computer-she was in lap one of two (probably had 6 miles left in the first lap) ride time 40:58-max speed 24.2 mph; max rpm 107; average speed 19.3, average rpm 95, distance 13.18 miles. Very low wind day for that high an mph, imo. She likely was going about 22 mph at the time to the accident (there is one hill that she hit the 24 mph with the wind about 3 miles earlier). She had a net into wind ride based on the prevailing wind (albeit low for CC).

The accident has certainly changed my attitude towards life. I have what I consider an "old mans" perspective. I look back to what was, not forward to what is to come.

The last few weeks have shown B and me more things she can't do that we did not know. Today we learned she cannot stand on her tip toes. She also cannot spread her toes and they hurt (due to her socks) which suggests its related to her cord injury. No success today on a urination trial. Will try again with a urodynamics study in 3 weeks. We were hoping to see improvements not to identify more deficits.
POSTED BY VANANDBARB AT 8:56 PM NO COMMENTS:
More of the same
For the first 21 years of our marriage, the Mrs. and I have had the typical health working relationship. She shares each and every pain, odd feeling and tells me about it-asks me what it is and wants to discuss it with me. I think this conversation occupies about 30 to 40% of our total volume of conversation. I have traditionally done the male approach in this. Not sharing anything I feel medically short of a fatal MI (and of course many a male fails to mention that till it is too late). I have relaxed my standards on this the last few years, I regret to say.

Now status post accident I would guess the Mrs. would pump up the volume on this topic so that it occupies about 99% of our conversation-but so far its still in the 40% range. The only bad thing is I can't mentally dismiss everything she says anymore...

Mountain biking, Ain't happening.

Got a mountain bike several weeks ago and so far it is a no go. I did a quick, get the right seat height ride and did a total of 5 or 6 minutes at the local trails-flatted and that is it. My bike is very nice and includes tubeless compatible wheels so I thought I would go tubeless when I fixed my flat. Well it took a week for my Stans no tubes to get here and I have been trying on and off for over another week to do my first mountain bike tubeless install. I could not get it to work so ordered an automatic pump. That does not work. Today tried an air compressor and fail yet again. It may be tubes or no ride. There are a million online videos and they all say it is easy. I may be the only person who can call a embryonal sarcoma of the liver on frozen section but cannot set up a mountain bike with tubeless tires even one whose wheels are explicitly tubeless compatible.

God's Word and the Logic of Man

This is the kind of post that gets one kicked out of the ministry, if in deed you are in the ministry and requires a discerning mind to understand and get the points.

First a short passage of Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-13


I. Gods Word
a. God is the first and most important aspect of this
b. Fundamentalists tend to focus on the Word part (as in the "inspired, plenary autograph document"
c. God however uses many varied translations
d. warning re clear corruptions

II. Gods ways are not our ways
a. understand scripture as bricks
b. do not have to fit the bricks together to an ediface
c. danger of mans logic

25TH ??!

I got my invitation to my twenty-fifth medical school reunion last week. I keep skipping the rare reunions I am invited to as if I will get another chance but at 25 there will not be any other chances. In some ways I cannot believe it has been that long. In other ways it has been.

Wow. What did I do with my career?

Strat-O-Matic

I cannot believe I am just realizing the usefulness of the internet to allow me to play strat-o-matic sports games. I am starting with a starter pro football set and hope to learn and expand it over the next year. If I can get my wife to go in for the new edition baseball set next spring (She is a Royals fan and their world series win should help me here) then that it next. May even try pro basketball and hockey with time. I am currently looking at the C&D (cards and dice ie board games) verious, but may try computer ones in the future.

Bikes

i know i am never going to do much biking, but i still kind of keep in the back of my mind getting a fat bike or a 29+ (surly krampus or salsa deadwood) would be a fun thing to have in south TX and to use for beach, trails and alternative to running.

Table Tennis Equipment

I have gone to double inverted in table tennis for yet another time. This from back hand (BH) short pips chopping.

Blade wise I like my two Double Fish Chen Qi blades which appear to be not longer produced and my 3 Sword yokohama yue bladed. The DF blades have a carbon layer but have a relatively soft feel and pretty good dwell time. They are certainly NOT the rocket galaxy T8 style of blade. The yokohama yue blades are 5 ply wood (+2 whatever that means, but not carbon) which have a similar feel but are more flexible and a little more loopy. I am perfectly satisfied with these blades. I would like to try some others but frankly these blades are all I need.

For rubber I am liking new generation tensors in 2.0 sponge (ie one step below max) on my forehand. They have great power and the slightly thinner sponge helps me to block when my opponent attacks strongly. These tensors can still counter loop or open loop nicely at 1.9 to 2.0 sponge and the short game is also better. Currently have TSP ventus speed on a double fish blade, Razka 9 (max sponge) on another double fish, Mizuno GF45 on a yokohama yue (favorite FH set up), Xiom Omega Asain on a YY blade as well. Previously I was using 729 battle 2 (tacky one) and it worked great for everything BUT the off the table counter loop off opponent topspin.

The BH rubber is where I am having a difficult time. I want to be able to do it all on my BH. Including chopping. Right now I have Air AssasinS in max sponge on a double fish blade, and in 1.9 on a yokama yue. I also have a sheet of max air illumina harder sponge on a DF and a sheet of older tibhar evolution ELP in 1.7 sponge on a YY blade. The AssainS is pretty good-I have control and can spin the ball. The max sponge is spinnier but may be slower than the 1.9 sponge. The thinner sponge chops better. I also have to factor in the quality control (or lack thereof) in the dawei produced Air products.

SEC?

I am trying to figure out why football commentators keep harping on how the Big 12 has poor out of conference strength of schedule while ONE LOSS Alabama has Charleston Southern at home this weekend. Course ONE LOSS TO UNRANKED TEAM Bama has also had to play Middle Tenn State and UL-Monroe. Now I will give Bama kudos for playing the ranked Wisconsin team and winning. That Wisconsin team has only lost one other game to the UNDEFEATED Iowa Hawkeyes who did it to them at Camp Randall. I guess that puts Alabama almost with the top teams in the Big Ten.

And yes this post is quite time dependant.

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.

Health Care and the ACA

This is just my personal opinion not endorsed by anyone in particular. I am not a high level player in the medical system, but I am in the system and I can think and see how things affect our system. There are two separate but related issues I want to discuss.

First our current system. There is much talk of going to a socialized system by both the right and left. The implication that ACA or the left is moving towards a socialized system implies that we have a free market system. We simply do not have either system. We have a hybrid system with components of both. There is the Medicare/Medicaid portion that is partial socialized care and we have an insurance based system that has a small part of free enterprise system and then we have the most free enterprise portions of dental/podiatric/cosmetic medicine where it is more "cash and carry'. As an added complication we have a heavy handed government that makes requirements that may at times work both for and against the best interest of the patient and the medical care industry as a whole. The simplest example is the US Post Office which can't ever seem to get its head above water-not because the Post Office leadership and workers do not know how but because there are so many government regulations and stipulations. You can't run a successful business if some senator requires a post office station in "Nowheresville, TX" like I drove by last week. So medicine is a heavy regulated, but partial free enterprise system. It thus has the efficiency of neither an integrated single payer system nor a free enterprise system.

Next,cost shifting is universal and no one even knows what things cost until after the service has been delivered. The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare is a law intended to expand coverage to more US citizens, presumably without "breaking the budget." The goal of the ACA is initially contrary to its aims. To expand coverage will cost more. The law does little to address the problems of a hybrid system as noted above. The ACA is also an extremely complex bill. It is hard to fault any single party in terms of difficulty with implementation. It is so complex that no one could get it right and have a smooth lead in. Additionally almost any major governmental program will do poorly if a significant number of governmental officials are working against it.

So where do I think this leaves health care? I essentially see it between a rock and a hard place with no good options. The current hybrid system is bulky, inefficient, costly and too large. The ACA probably will not work. If the ACA does work, it still will address the issues of our large complex system. The public in general wants not just medical care, they want it to be the best and to be free. Well maybe not free but with little additional out of pocket costs. Of course this is simply not possible. Proposed options that are simple minded included making Medicare universal, but that will not work. Not at the current level of tertiary and quaternary care that we currently have. Decisions have to be made at what level of universal coverage is given if indeed universal coverage is granted. It seems to me no one has the ability to solve the healthcare problems and no one has the authority to do so.

For me, the goal is always the same-to provide the best healthcare possible and to do so as efficiently and humanely as I can. I will have to let others deal with the rest. Even if many others do not have a clue what they are doing.

A visitor

I live at the end of the road. Corpus is not a table tennis mecca. No one comes through Corpus on the way to somewhere. There is one table tennis club in town and the nearest clubs are in Harlingen or San Antonio and we rarely get visitors. Last night we had a player from Chicago show up at our club. A 1900 level looper. Oh boy was it sweet to play someone a little better than me AND to play someone who plays a different style and is new. It is very easy to get used to playing the same few buys all the time. I lose all the problem solving ability. We all know each others weaknesses and strengths. I also have to initiate attacking or offense. Last night it was fun to have the back and forth of who initiated offense and to play someone who actually looped the ball and did not smash. I was able to have some blocking, some good fishing and an occasional counter loop. I was also able to work on preventing a powerful opening loop and work on spin variation and no spin strategy. Since I have gone to double inverted I need to visit some clubs around the state myself. Equipment wise I played most of the night with maze on FH and tenergy80 on BH of double fish carbon blade. I played El Visitor twice-the first time with my 729 HS champ carbon blade with Juic Nano Spin 2 and kept blocking his loops long from by BH. Lost 0-3 and was down 0-5 or so each game. I choose that blade cause I thought it would have more control, but it was the only match I used it all night. I played him the last match of the evening and won 3-1. Tenergy blocked better and sure pushed better than nanospin and I think either he was tired (looping takes a lot of legs) or he let up. I did play strategically better-varying spin, returning serve much better and even doing a couple of 3rd ball attacks. I also found a serve he did not return well.

Sword Maze

I have been using Sword Maze- on my forehand with either a 729 hao shao (HS) blade (using it on the card side) or on a double fish (DF) chen qi blade (double sided carbon) and have been pleased with the balance between power and control. It has listed a 42 degree sponge-which is less than what I have been using on rubbers in the past. I have various euro/jap rubbers on my BH. Juic Nano Spin 2 on my HS blade (which I used today at the club), Tenergy 80 and Razka 7 on my two DF blades. Having the faster rubber on my BH side is a little non-conventional except for chinese players. I have been tempted to try bluefire M2 or T80 or tibhar evolution on my FH but I am way over budget as it is. I really need to work on consistency and game play with this current combination. It may not be the best, but it feels good and I can play naturally with it. I do have to adjust between blades, but that is more a function of the different BH rubbers.