Thomas Day Letter 2009 Issued MidWinter, December 21, 2009
the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day – proverbs 4:18
Travel by Truck Driving down highway 41 with my dog Buddy may sound a lot more exciting than it is, especially when it is almost time for the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airventure Fly-In. We were on our way to Hartland to visit Tracie, Adam, Bela (the dog), the cats (as much as they would allow), and the new house. The dogs went to a new dog park where they enjoyed the land, each other, and a large number of other dogs. Afterward, Buddy and I drove home. Because of the EAA, I decided to follow the east side of Lake Winnebago rather than return by the same route. That proved to be a beautiful ride, but not quite exactly the one I had anticipated. It seems that every time the Thomas Day Letter tells about driving I also tell about road construction. Buddy sent Bela the story in this email after we got home. (I helped.) Be sure to find the picture that Buddy sent of himself. While Buddy hasn't yet found how to walk me to Bela's house, Bela did come up to Green Bay and visit Buddy one night.	Involvement This fall, I began working with the Homework Help Club at the Salvation Army's Community Center. This adds both another organization and a different age range to my weekly involvement. The Homework Help group ranges from early elementary ages into middle school, but elementary age students are a clear majority. [+] Silver Streak is the drumhead for the train of which the Silver Spirit was the lounge car. At the National RailRoad Museum, I continue both with photography of special events and with general assistance to the curator. The latter covers such mundane tasks as transcribing paper notes into computer files, scanning photos from the archives, and even threading curtain holders onto rods for the restoration of the Silver Spirit. I do get to see the old books and photos, but even so this would be a pretty boring endevor except that the curator himself is pretty amusing. As for the photography, this allows me an excuse to be on the grounds and looking at everything (and everybody). For special events, like the Polar Express™ in December or Thomas the Tank Engine™, even my museum membership wouldn't get me in. As far as results, they're mixed. Take a look: http://nrrm.pivotrock.net/ Naturally I continue my involvement with the West Side Moravian Church. This year there is a confirmation class again, which I am co-teaching. They are a particularly fun group, partly because they actually know some of the background of what we are trying to teach. One Wednesday, 3 students recapitulated 380 years of theological history on the nature of Christ in 3 sentences. What is possibly more significant, they were impressed with themselves when I told them what they had done. Another new activity is the Loaves and Fishes breakfast (oddly named for a pancake and porkie meal). This is held on the 4th Saturday of every month but I've only been called on about half the time, usually to help with washing dishes. I also continue to preach occasionally. If you like my sermons no doubt you already read them regularly on my website. The most recent was on Second Advent (December 6). As I've pointed out in the past, the sermons reflect my best understanding of what the Spirit wants to say. As for what I wanted to say myself, based on my own wit, that's on the web, too.
Gradual retiring Your editor is neither confirming nor denying reports of further retirement. Reliable sources have said that he will be dropping from 25 hours a week to 20, while staying employed at Medco. When asked about these reports, your editor responded by saying, "I've never worked for an organization where the Human Resources staff was less in contact with the employees." To fill up the space, not having any actual news, we have decided to reprint a portion of a report on the same subject from a previous Thomas Day Letter: No doubt many of you have wondered how 33% retirement has been working. The answer is, quite well, except that I have to work too much. Now, I know that sitting at a desk for 25 hours a week doesn't seem like a lot of time, especially for someone who will take off on the bicycle for a 10 hour ride. The problem is that too many of those 25 hours are work instead of fun. I've talked to my boss about this problem, but he keeps changing the subject to his photography or the problems with a temporary extra child. But still he does let me program, and who else would give me that today? Perhaps there will be further news by the next edition of the Thomas Day Letter. Watch for us again next December.	Different Tom Buddy found a Tom kitten one day in the woods. With cats, Tom isn't a name, but a gender. I was calling him Lucky, because he was lucky that Buddy found him and lucky again the our neighbors returned home in time to adopt him. They named him Tux, for his black with white markings, and he is very happy to be living across the road with good animal people and strings of Christmas lights to pounce on.
Bike Trips Old guys who bicycle invariably mention details of their prowess whenever the occasion permits. This is because the facts prove that they are at least a whole lot more physically able than 90% of all the younger guys you might know. Endevoring to conform with this stereotype — I know, I know, conformity is out of character — I now provide you with details of my biking prowess. In keeping with my plans in the last Thomas Day letter, although that was 2 years ago, I expanded my bicycling this year. Here's a sample of trips outside the immediate Green Bay and De Pere area: [+] The Woods. May 22: Pulaski June 14: New Franken and Bay Settlement June 15: Little Rapids June 21: Scray's Hill July 3: Wequiock Falls July 7: Cooperstown and the Woods July 13: Seymour July 20: Wrightstown July 27: Pine Tree Road (western Brown Cty) August 3: Pulaski August 6: Kewaunee August 10: Suamico August 15: Askeaton August 24: Cooperstown, the Woods, Greenleaf September 13: Red Banks, Pointe au Sauble October 26: Dutchman Road, Scray's Hill November 9: Cooperstown and the Woods November 22: Suamico (church) The owner of the local bike shop introduced me to a new employee as "our favorite commuter rider" and I thought, yes, I commute the 2 miles church, the 3 miles to work, and every so often the 32 miles to Kewaunee for lunch. I will admit that a 64-mile round trip is near my limit for one day of riding. That's why I usually only make that trip once a year despite the idyllic views in Kewaunee County. The woods, by contrast, is only 25 or 30 miles each way (depending on the route).
Let Them Come To Me For much of this year, I was content to let the world travel to me. There's a surprising amount of activity that happens if you just stay home. For example, the annual West High Homecoming Parade comes past my house every year. [+] Fisk Addition Neighborhood Association Party. The local neighborhood association held 2 events both at Fisk Park. The first was a pool party at the big pool. It was rather cool for swimming that day, but I found the weather amenable to photography. The second was a Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese party, where they also let me expand my journalistic photo skills. Continued next column →
Continued … Let Them Come To Me [+] The West High band on Reed Street. West High itself is just down the street, and offers music, theater, and (of course) football free to me because I'm so old. (The football pictures are by Randy Kostichka, friend, amateur sports photographer, Medco manager, and husband to a Green Bay Police and Fire Commissioner.) It is true that I don't always avail myself of the opportunity to enjoy high school culture but at least I know it is there.

Thomas Day Letter 2009

Issued MidWinter, December 21, 2009

the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day
– proverbs 4:18

Travel by Truck

Driving down highway 41 with my dog Buddy may sound a lot more exciting than it is, especially when it is almost time for the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airventure Fly-In.

We were on our way to Hartland to visit Tracie, Adam, Bela (the dog), the cats (as much as they would allow), and the new house. The dogs went to a new dog park where they enjoyed the land, each other, and a large number of other dogs.

Afterward, Buddy and I drove home. Because of the EAA, I decided to follow the east side of Lake Winnebago rather than return by the same route. That proved to be a beautiful ride, but not quite exactly the one I had anticipated. It seems that every time the Thomas Day Letter tells about driving I also tell about road construction. Buddy sent Bela the story in this email after we got home. (I helped.) Be sure to find the picture that Buddy sent of himself.

While Buddy hasn't yet found how to walk me to Bela's house, Bela did come up to Green Bay and visit Buddy one night.

Involvement

This fall, I began working with the Homework Help Club at the Salvation Army's Community Center. This adds both another organization and a different age range to my weekly involvement. The Homework Help group ranges from early elementary ages into middle school, but elementary age students are a clear majority.

[+] Silver Streak is the drumhead for the train of which the Silver Spirit was the lounge car.

At the National RailRoad Museum, I continue both with photography of special events and with general assistance to the curator. The latter covers such mundane tasks as transcribing paper notes into computer files, scanning photos from the archives, and even threading curtain holders onto rods for the restoration of the Silver Spirit. I do get to see the old books and photos, but even so this would be a pretty boring endevor except that the curator himself is pretty amusing.

As for the photography, this allows me an excuse to be on the grounds and looking at everything (and everybody). For special events, like the Polar Express™ in December or Thomas the Tank Engine™, even my museum membership wouldn't get me in. As far as results, they're mixed. Take a look: http://nrrm.pivotrock.net/

Naturally I continue my involvement with the West Side Moravian Church. This year there is a confirmation class again, which I am co-teaching. They are a particularly fun group, partly because they actually know some of the background of what we are trying to teach. One Wednesday, 3 students recapitulated 380 years of theological history on the nature of Christ in 3 sentences. What is possibly more significant, they were impressed with themselves when I told them what they had done.

Another new activity is the Loaves and Fishes breakfast (oddly named for a pancake and porkie meal). This is held on the 4th Saturday of every month but I've only been called on about half the time, usually to help with washing dishes.

I also continue to preach occasionally. If you like my sermons no doubt you already read them regularly on my website. The most recent was on Second Advent (December 6).

As I've pointed out in the past, the sermons reflect my best understanding of what the Spirit wants to say. As for what I wanted to say myself, based on my own wit, that's on the web, too.

Gradual retiring

Your editor is neither confirming nor denying reports of further retirement. Reliable sources have said that he will be dropping from 25 hours a week to 20, while staying employed at Medco.

When asked about these reports, your editor responded by saying, "I've never worked for an organization where the Human Resources staff was less in contact with the employees."

To fill up the space, not having any actual news, we have decided to reprint a portion of a report on the same subject from a previous Thomas Day Letter:

No doubt many of you have wondered how 33% retirement has been working. The answer is, quite well, except that I have to work too much. Now, I know that sitting at a desk for 25 hours a week doesn't seem like a lot of time, especially for someone who will take off on the bicycle for a 10 hour ride.

The problem is that too many of those 25 hours are work instead of fun. I've talked to my boss about this problem, but he keeps changing the subject to his photography or the problems with a temporary extra child. But still he does let me program, and who else would give me that today?

Perhaps there will be further news by the next edition of the Thomas Day Letter. Watch for us again next December.

Different Tom

Buddy found a Tom kitten one day in the woods. With cats, Tom isn't a name, but a gender. I was calling him Lucky, because he was lucky that Buddy found him and lucky again the our neighbors returned home in time to adopt him. They named him Tux, for his black with white markings, and he is very happy to be living across the road with good animal people and strings of Christmas lights to pounce on.

Bike Trips

Old guys who bicycle invariably mention details of their prowess whenever the occasion permits. This is because the facts prove that they are at least a whole lot more physically able than 90% of all the younger guys you might know. Endevoring to conform with this stereotype — I know, I know, conformity is out of character — I now provide you with details of my biking prowess.

In keeping with my plans in the last Thomas Day letter, although that was 2 years ago, I expanded my bicycling this year. Here's a sample of trips outside the immediate Green Bay and De Pere area:

[+] The Woods.

May 22: Pulaski
June 14: New Franken and Bay Settlement
June 15: Little Rapids
June 21: Scray's Hill
July 3: Wequiock Falls
July 7: Cooperstown and the Woods
July 13: Seymour
July 20: Wrightstown
July 27: Pine Tree Road (western Brown Cty)
August 3: Pulaski
August 6: Kewaunee
August 10: Suamico
August 15: Askeaton
August 24: Cooperstown, the Woods, Greenleaf
September 13: Red Banks, Pointe au Sauble
October 26: Dutchman Road, Scray's Hill
November 9: Cooperstown and the Woods
November 22: Suamico (church)

The owner of the local bike shop introduced me to a new employee as "our favorite commuter rider" and I thought, yes, I commute the 2 miles church, the 3 miles to work, and every so often the 32 miles to Kewaunee for lunch. I will admit that a 64-mile round trip is near my limit for one day of riding. That's why I usually only make that trip once a year despite the idyllic views in Kewaunee County. The woods, by contrast, is only 25 or 30 miles each way (depending on the route).

Let Them Come To Me

For much of this year, I was content to let the world travel to me. There's a surprising amount of activity that happens if you just stay home. For example, the annual West High Homecoming Parade comes past my house every year.

[+] Fisk Addition Neighborhood Association Party.

The local neighborhood association held 2 events both at Fisk Park. The first was a pool party at the big pool. It was rather cool for swimming that day, but I found the weather amenable to photography. The second was a Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese party, where they also let me expand my journalistic photo skills.

Continued next column →

Continued … Let Them Come To Me

[+] The West High band on Reed Street.

West High itself is just down the street, and offers music, theater, and (of course) football free to me because I'm so old. (The football pictures are by Randy Kostichka, friend, amateur sports photographer, Medco manager, and husband to a Green Bay Police and Fire Commissioner.) It is true that I don't always avail myself of the opportunity to enjoy high school culture but at least I know it is there.

This page is valid Valid HTML HTML.