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Law of Geography

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  Paluxy River White Bluff Creek “SIR, SIR” came an urgent shout from some distance behind me. I was standing near the confluence of White Bluff Creek and the Paluxy River on what is sometimes referred to as Flat Rocks with my back to the road traversing the creek without a bridge. It was an early spring morning after a rainstorm the night before. I stopped my car a few minutes earlier to enjoy hearing nothing except the sound of water rushing over the limestone riverbed. About 6 miles upstream from Glen Rose, Texas, and less than a mile from the little patch of land made famous in the book Hard Scrabble by John Graves.  Flat Rocks is a nickname given to the fairly flat and usually dry rock formation of a few thousand square feet.  It may be that the locals called it flat rocks because the city park in Glen Rose is officially named “Big Rocks”. It was popular as an out of the way place for high schoolers to congregate on weekend nights around campfires many years ago, perhaps it still
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Mom

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Cynthia McIntire Born to Ben and Montie Holmes Wann, the second of five children on April 9, 1927. Cynthia was born, raised, and lived in Paluxy where she spent the next more than ninety years. Only leaving Paluxy for a few months in Florida early in her marriage and then for her last couple of years in a nursing home as the result of a fall followed by a stroke. She is survived by Clinton (Junior to many), husband of 73 years, children Terry, Sheila, Sharon, sister Glenda, sister in law Jean, 7 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. While the last 3 years of her life were difficult because of declining health, very few of us will experience 91 good, happy years with family, friends, and home. And, this is what she had. She and Clinton were rarely apart. They worked together side by side on the farm. They traveled and socialized extensively after retirement mostly with the local Good Sams group of which they were members for over 25 years. She was a great mother, but cou
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500

Work out number 500 I was already a Medicare recipient for my first Camp Gladiator workout. Attended a presentation and thought why not give it a try.   My only exercise for the past few years was the occasional bike ride.   Got out of bed with joints popping and an aching back each morning. I was also considering surgery for a chronically swollen and enlarged joint in one of my feet. Although everyone at Camp Gladiator was always very supportive, I suspect many thought, “What is this old guy doing here, he will be gone soon.” Made it through the first workout without throwing up or passing out (a co-camper generously reminded me she was a nurse well versed in CPR).   Struggled to finish sets with 8 lb. dumbbells and mostly walked warm-up laps.   Didn’t think my joints would hold up to this kind of work out even if the rest of me did. Fast forward about 3 ½ years.   I now struggle with 20 lb. dumbbells and can do most of the running.   I have lost 15-20 lbs.   Not only di
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Wildhood

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Wildhood: The Epic Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz My rating: 5 of 5 stars If you have a teenager, know teenagers or were ever a teenager yourself, this is a must read. That animal adolescents are so similar to human adolescents is amazing. And the book written by a female scientist gives a somewhat unique perspective. Highly recommend. View all my reviews
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Happiness and Habits

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The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was recommended by a social worker friend. Wouldn't have thought I would have much in common with the author. However, I enjoyed the book very much and will be trying some of the behaviors for making my life more fulfilling. This book was part of trio I read and would recommend from this year. They sort of seem to go together for me. Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein - reminds us not to get stuck in rut and that people who pursue many interests are the most successful and happiest. Happiness Project (this book) - suggests behavior changes to make us happier and more fulfilled. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear- How to much more easily incorporate helpful changes into our lives.
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Mary's

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If you have a Texas-specific or maybe N Texas-specific bucket list, there is a good chance eating at Mary's cafe in Strawn, Texas is listed. As the sign says, world-famous chicken fried steak is the calling card. Dad and I were driving back from Abilene on Friday and gave it a try. Dad had tried to go once before with a camping group, but the long wait for a table steered them away. Large portions, busy place, friendly patrons and staff, and small-town abience probably make it worth a stop.  The food was disappointing but still worth the stop. The better reason to visit Strawn would be for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. It is far enough from the big city lights to offer excellent star gazing and astronomical groups frequently go there.  My personal bucket list includes going to a stargazing party here.  Perhaps I will find some friends with telescopes and organize my own. And, I will probably give Mary's one more chance.
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Range

“ Our work preferences and our life preferences do not stay the same, because we do not stay the same. ” ―  David Epstein,  Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World A must-read for everyone, but even more important for younger readers. A very readable enjoyable book illustrated with a series of stories, showing increased success and increased satisfaction with life by trying and doing many things versus specializing at an early point and never changing. I think of the impact this book could have on lives. It is the book for our times the same way Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence was in the 1970s. If you read, enjoyed and spent time thinking about the Undoing Project, this should be your next book but read anyway, you will be glad you did. “ In a wicked world, relying upon experience from a single domain is not only limiting, it can be disastrous.”  range https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41795733-range
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