Day 327, Nov. 23: Worshipping

10 Interesting Places

I've Worshipped

Chalk another one up to Al for this suggestion. Not sure if I'll get 10 interesting ones or not.

1. A Boston Cathedral: I was visiting my friend, Mark, over Easter weekend when he lived in Boston. It was a huge Catholic church that really left an impression.

2. In a farm field: We had some Masses in the fields during the Richard family reunions when I was first married. It was a nice bonding experience.

3. Dubuque St. Luke's Methodist Church: It's known for its amazing Tiffany Glass windows and historic organ. Its recent remodeling has made it even more beautiful. I was married here.

4. Dubuque Arboretum: Our St. Luke's holds an annual service here and, though Kris and I don't always attend it, the setting is quite beautiful.

5. Dubuque St. Raphael Cathedral: The oldest Catholic church in town, it's also a very powerful place to worship.

6. At basketball camp: I joined hundreds of high school athletes joined together for worship in the bleachers of a football field at St. Olaf College.

7. Doniphan, Mo., Baptist Church: While visiting a girl friend when I worked in Fulton, Mo., we went to church and I was exposed to a very charismatic service.

8. Stoughton's "second" First Lutheran Church: After going to church in an old building for several years, it was very cool attending services at the newly built building.

9. Kieler Immaculate Conception: I was married there and its modest interior has its own charm.

10. Asbury Lutheran Church: I attended this small facility a few times when I first moved to Dubuque, before converting to Catholicism, before converting to Methodist.

Day 326, Nov. 22: Dreaming

My Top 10

Recurring Dreams

There are many things I dream about more than once. Most of them I enjoy; some I don't. I wonder if they mean anything?

1. Tornadoes: I have a dream involving a tornado every other month or so. I think it's because 

I want so much to see one in person (never have).

2. Running a race: Sometimes, I feel stronger than ever. 

Most of the time, I'm struggling.

3. Back at school: It might be college, it might be high school. Almost every time, I've either forgot to study, forgot what class I'm going to or forgot my locker number.

4. Playing basketball: I've played in NBA games and I've played as a kid with nerf balls or even wadded up paper. Almost always, I star!

5. Flying: These are my favorite of all. I wish I dreamed them more often. It's especially fun when I know it's a dream 

and I fly all over the place.

6. Visiting the ocean: Lots of times, it's just a beautiful blue color - s

o inviting and relaxing.

7. Being attacked: This comes in the form of a war, robbery in a house or on the street. I'm always able to force myself awake on these.

8. Public exposure: I'll find myself at a party or at work with no pants on (usually in my boxers). Nobody notices 

and it doesn't seem to bother me, either.

9. Approached by women: It's almost always just an innocent look or comment from a young woman that makes me feel noticed. But I always realize I'm married.

10. Seeing late relatives: It can be my dad, my sister or my first wife, Jane. It's usually a nice feeling, but sometimes it's sad.

Day 325, Nov. 21: Talking Civil War

10 People I Would Interview

If I Could Go Back to the Civil War

Another fine suggested topic from my friend, Al. Very thought-provoking. 

I'm looking forward to creating this list.

1. Abraham Lincoln: He's a no-brainer. To just hear what his voice sounded like would be cool.

2. Frederick Douglass: The former slave who became the intellectual and emotional spokesman against the evil.

3. Robert E. Lee: Did he really believe he could win? And why did you send out Pickett's Charge?

4. Ulysses S. Grant: I'd like to know the differences between leading an army and leading a country.

5. An older slave who was set free: Just to listen to his story and see the relief in his eyes.

6. Stonewall Jackson: He would make me nervous, but I'd want to try to determine if he was a bit crazed or not.

7. A common soldier from Stoughon, Wis.: We could exchange stories of living in our hometowns.

8. James Longstreet: With no malice meant to General Lee, could he have won the Battle of Gettysburg?

9. A common soldier from the South: What did he think of slavery and the rich in their Southern mansions?

10. George McClellan: I'd like to find out just how conceited and egotistical he really was.

Honorable mention: George Armstrong Custer: I wonder what his aspirations were 
at that young of an age.

Day 324, Nov. 20: Woody Allen

My Top 10 Favorite

Woody Allen Movies

I watched the first part of a PBS documentary on Woody Allen's career last night and it inspired me to write this post (a day late, however!)

1. Annie Hall (everybody's favorite, right?)

2. Sleeper (very funny slapstick scenes)

3. Take the Money and Run

4. Match Point

5. Radio Days

6. Midnight in Paris

7. Purple Rose of Cairo

8. Hannah and Her Sisters

9. Crimes and Misdemeanors

10. Vicky Christina Barcelona

Day 323, Nov. 19: Roger Whittaker

 

Roger's Christmas album includes my nos. 5 and 6 songs on this list.

My Top 10 Favorite

Roger Whittaker Songs

Yes, this old crooner has enough songs on my iPod to create a Top 10. His voice is just beautiful, if you can get past the image (and, besides, I'm old enough now not to be embarrassed about liking Rog)

1. The Last Farewell

2. I Don't Believe in If Anymore

3. Durham Town

4. The First Hello, Last Goodbye

5. Christmas is Here Again

6. Momma Mary

7. Summer Serenade

8. Mammy Blue

9. Hard Road

10. Should've Had Dogs

Day 322, Nov. 18: Hair Today, Gone ...

Memories

of My Hair

There's not as much as there used to be, but it's hanging in there - especially on the sides and in the back. On top? Not so much.

Early haircuts: I barely remember the Brylcreem - that "little dab will do ya" stuff that kept hair in its proper place. (Hair MUST know it's proper place in this world.)

Buzzcuts: I don't recall these cuts as much because 

they went pretty fast.

"Bangs are for sissies!" My dad's exact words when I tried to emulate John, Paul and George (not Ringo!)

The last short cut: I remember my mom cutting my hair too short and me, teary-eyed in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to stretch those sissy bangs farther down on my forehead.

Gum: It made its way from my mouth to my hair one night when I forgot to take it out before falling to sleep.

Oily: It's a scientific fact that long, thick hair has a tendency to get oily. That's all I'm going to say about this.

First scalp burn: I spent all day outside covering the Idaho State Track Meet in Boise. It wasn't too hot, but it was sunny. When I got back to my hotel, I had a top-of-a head burn - and it wasn't even thin yet!

"Oily's going bald!" A classmate named Kort exclaimed this during our 20th (or was it 25th) class reunion. Not sure who he was really talking about ... 

Blowin in the Wind: I love the song, but my "thinning-out" hair doesn't appreciate the feeling as it tries to maintain "its proper place." Guess I could surf for Brylcreem on the Web.

The Big Cut: One of these days I vow to get a short, short haircut so there is no question that I am not purposely striving for the perfect comb over. It's still natural so far, though :-)

Day 321, Nov. 17: Meow

Tabby, approaching his last days of a nearly 18-year life.

Cats I Have Known

Or Have Known Me

Some of these won't have names I remember, but I'll always remember them. Thanks to my friend, Al, for this suggested Top 10, as well as the past two posts.

Abby: My mom's last cat, she was a big girl who had an even bigger heart for my mom. It was a tough loss for her just a few years ago.

Bootsie: I asked my mom about this black-and-white cat we had when I was very young. She didn't remember it. But I'm sure we had it. Not too memorable, I guess.

Bubblehead: A sad, but memorable, kitten I knew owned by my friend Mark's family when we were in high school. It didn't live long with its over-sized water head or whatever it was.

Chang & Chang: Our first two of several Siamese cats we had when I was young. I was in junior high and we lived on Page Street in Stoughton when we had these two.

Chong: We gave this name to a giant Page Street neighborhood Siamese cat who would hang out near our house and meow in the deepest cat voice I've ever heard.

Farm cats: I've known several at the farm owned by my brother-in-law Jay. None of them really wanted to come to close to me, and they probably would have beaten me up, anyway.

Leah: One of our current cats, she's a jumper who flails after toys and leaps onto kitchen counters with the greatest of ease (and she gets in trouble for the second one)

No-name: I'm sure we gave her a name, but I forgot it. I do remember she and her kittens were ambushed by a coon or fox and all eaten while my first wife, Jane, and the kids and I were out of town for a night. (Obviously, they were outdoor cats :-)

Shrek: This was a cat that lived with my son Jay and his roommate in Davenport. I saw him only twice, but he was the biggest cat I've ever seen. Shrek was a good name.

Tabby: He came after no-name and not only survived wild animals as an indoor/outdoor cat, he lived to be almost 18. 

My favorite cat of all time.

Woody: Another of our current cats, he's a strapping young guy who loves drinking out of a faucet. Not one for a lot of affection, his time to seek it is in the middle of the night - in our bed.