Friday, May 30, 2008

Tyson Graduation


Tyson Graduation Weekend















We had a great weekend in Minnesota to see Tyson graduate from Maplewood Academy. We especially appreciated our sleeping and dining facilities. Thank you Vern and Sherri. It was great to see everyone again. The weather was most cooperative. Vonnie played organ on Friday night for the opening ceremonies. The lighting in the gym left something to be desired, but we did the best we could. Tyson sang in a quartet, as well as playing his trumpet for one of the hymns. He also had a special number for the evening program.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Flowers in the yard







We have many flowering plants and bushes in our yard. The dew on the broombush was especially neat one morning.



Friday, May 2, 2008

Audio Books

I've been listening to audio books as I travel to and from work lately. I have just finished listening to "John Adams". It was approximately 30 hours long. I really enjoyed the book. HBO has a mini series that they just aired in 7 parts. The small excerpts on the internet appear to do a nice job of presenting the book. I know the book is biased to Mr. Adams but he was the driving force behind the beginnings of our country. It was amazing what he went through but kept his resolve. The other thing I really noticed was the eloquence with which they conversed. I think we have become quite lazy in our speech. Good read, highly recommend.

Another book I have listened to is called "China Road". This I downloaded from the library and burned onto CD. It is about 10 hours of the interesting travels of an NPR reporter that lived in China. China is and will be a force to be reckoned with. They are growing into the industrial age at light speed. We must remember that China was the most advanced civilization in the world for a long time and they want to regain that role.

I have also listened to the audio version of "Memoirs of a Stock Operator". This is a book from 1923 and is still considered by many as one of the best books on the stock market. It was indeed an interesting book and not boring at all.

I'm also listening to Pocahontas by John Smith.

Last fall I listened to a book about Buffalo Bill Cody - the first American superstar. I really enjoyed this book as well. I could easily visualize many of the areas where he entertained and lived. It is so interesting to hear about history from the eyes of someone who lived in the era. It puts a nice twist on the happenings of the late 1800's and early 1900's. He was a friend to the native americans and employed hundreds of them during his shows. He would take as many as 100 with him to Europe for his shows there. In fact, I think he spent as much time in Europe as in America. The audiences were a little wealthier and more intrigued by the "wild west".

Vonnie also picked out a book about the Wright brothers for me. This went through their life stories. They were an eccentric pair along with their sister. The sister finally married when she was about 50. She moved with her new husband to Kansas City.