Midterm Report

image from here

The days are slow, but the years fly by.  We're halfway through 2023.  Each year, I set and present my goals for the year in January.  Today I look at how I'm doing.

Anyway, here are the goals and how it's going.

Spiritual
- Be disciplined in prayer.
- Overcome two besetting sins.

Some progress here! Prayer has been mildly better, and I'm doing much better in one besetting sin. Praying for more progress, but thankful for the growth.

Nutritional/Fitness
- Get (and keep) weight under 185 lbs.
- Complete 240 workouts (run, bike, gym, soccer, hikes, etc.).
- Eat more fruits/vegetables.

My weight has remained steady this year . . . but at 12-13 lbs above my goal. Workouts are going well—though my biking mileage is down, the number of workouts is up, and I've been working out my core more. I do eat too much junk still.

Reading
- Read 40 books.
- Focus on American authors/topics.
- Pick another topic and 'get smart' (i.e. read a few books) on it. Probably humor.

Nailing this one- really enjoying the year in books so far. I've read 30 titles, enjoyed a lot of American classics, and studied humor a bit.

House
- Finish the basement.

It's happening! We started in May. With the help of friends, we are at the drywall mudding/sanding stage. Hoping to be done by August. Blog posts forthcoming on what we did and learned.

Language
- Continue studying Spanish.

I shifted here to Latin, which I studied for a few months before shifting again to German. (DuoLingo added more German content, so I'm working through that.) The app is fantastic for those with some experience in a language; for those brand new, I'm finding the results are unfavorable.

Stuff
- Minimize clothing.

- Minimize game collection.

Haven't focused on this at all, but it's not out of hand, either. Well, maybe the games . . . I'll take a closer look during the second half of the year.

Overall

The year is going pretty well. Need more discipline in some areas, but growth is there.

Grade: B

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)

Greg Heffley is in middle school. He is not a fan. He keeps a journal (not a diary!) to write and draw things on his mind concerning school, friends, and family (he's the middle of three kids).

This book took the world by storm, becoming a New York Times number one bestseller, starting a series (17 books and counting, selling 275 million copies total) and eventually landing the author on Time's "100 most influential people" list. And . . . I don't get it. I was mildly amused and entertained, yes. The author does a good job portraying what is on a middle school boy's mind (generally, himself). But it wasn't that funny, and—this is what disappointed me—the protagonist shows no remorse for selfish actions, no recognition that those he has wronged have a right to be upset, and so on. He is completely self-absorbed and concerned only with how to 'get ahead' (meaning be more popular, get stuff he wants, and get out of stuff he hates). While that is realistic (for all human beings, really), it is not what we should strive to be. I had hoped for more. I think my rating is generous, but since I did laugh in places . . .

Rating: B-

In Cold Blood (Truman Capote)

In Holcomb, Kansas, on 15 November, 1959, four members of the respectable Clutter family were murdered in their home. The killers—ex-cons hoping to score big by robbing a rich family they heard about in prison—were apprehended six weeks later. There were sentenced to death and executed in 1965. In Cold Blood reconstructs the event and aftermath.

Labeled 'crime fiction,' this book was engrossing (and disturbing). In many ways, it feels like a purely historical telling, based on hours of research and interviews. But portions (especially sections concerning the perpetrators and their post-murder exploits and exchanges) must have been speculative, labeling the book as fiction. Whatever the case, it was a harrowing experience. Capote writes well and, impressively, manages to generate empathy for both the victims and criminals. While most of the book focuses on the time between the event and capture, a portion at the end briefly looks at the criminal justice system, psychology/mental illness, and the convicts' last days.

A classic, some argue this work grants "poignant insights into the nature of American violence." I'm not sure about American, per se, but it does show the terrible consequences and generational effects of sin.

Rating: A

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

I recently got a chance to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It was an amazing experience. The initial inside exhibits were fun (starting with a look at sci-fi in pop culture, from magazines to Star Trek to Star Wars)—my personal favorite was "Mannequin Skywalker"—but it got even better when you went outside. Two Saturn rockets (a I and a V) were impressive, and the various space station, missile, and aircraft displays were also cool. The highlight, though, was Saturn V Hall, which had a second rocket, on its side, with the separate stages on full display. That hall also had SkyLab models, Apollo 16's capsule, and an Apollo 12 lunar rock sample. 

We had only 90 minutes to enjoy the museum before it closed, and we used every minute. We could have spent longer—there were films to watch and more interactive exhibits—but were pleased with what we got to see and would heartily recommend a stop, even if you can spare only an hour.

The Last Unicorn (Peter Beagle)

There is one unicorn left. Pondering what has become of her kind, the immortal creature leaves the sanctuary of her forest home to find the answer. Along the way, she gains unexpected companions and a fearsome task: to confront a formidable creature devoted to her kinds' extinction. Regardless of outcome, the unicorn enchants all in various ways, but perhaps one said it best: "I never looked at you without seeing the sweetness of the way the world goes together, or without sorrow for its spoiling."

Enchanting, haunting, thought-provoking, powerful. Considered one of the top fantasy books of all-time, I see why. A poignant portrait of both beauty and brokenness. There are echoes of the gospel here: the vanity of Ecclesiastes, the well that doesn't satisfy, the beauty of Christ. Highly recommended.

Rating: A

Salt Lake City

I recently got a chance to visit Salt Lake City, Utah. It was my first time in the state. Though the visit was short, and I didn't get to see a lot, I enjoyed what I did see.

Driving south of the city, we attempted to take Rt. 92 east to Sundance. Alas, the road was blocked (the snow had not yet melted off the mountain passes), but we enjoyed the scenery anyway.

After that, we headed north. Salt Lake City lies in a valley between two mountain ranges. Ensign Peak is the best place to see the city (and, I'm told, where the original Mormons first beheld the valley and decided to call it home). Streetside parking was available, and we liked the short hike to the viewpoint (beware the thin air, though). We also enjoyed walking around the downtown area. 

Utah is an interesting mix of mountain and desert regions. I enjoyed the experience and hope to return some day to explore the rest of the state.