Tag Archives: Shire

April 19, 2012 · 8:53 pm

Shelter in the storm

Time and again, I would return to the Shire to find that the electricity had gone out. The clocks showed me that. Power seemed somewhat fragile.

Yet two years in a row, when snow and ice sent Louisville into a deep freeze, the Shire provided shelter in the storm for me and served as a warm place of refuge for friends stranded in the city, for friends whose homes, as had many in other parts of the city, had lost power.

See you along the Trail.

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April 17, 2012 · 10:42 pm

Dismantling the Shire

The evening saw, not the Scouring of the Shire (written by Tolkien but not used by Jackson), but the Dismantling of the Shire. That word doesn’t really fit either. Let me write a bit about what happened and see if a fitting word emerges.

A few years back, more than I can remember at this point, Tricia and I purchased the Shire – a three-bedroom condominium in Jeffersontown – east of Louisville. It served us well and became a site of hospitality for co-workers, folks who worked on projects with me, family members, and even an Obama campaigner. Not counting family, I think twenty people stayed at least one night at the Shire. Some stayed a few more.

When I moved to New York, the time came to sell the Shire – no Sackville-Bagginses being present to take it off my hands. That has proven easier to say than to do. Over time,we have removed different items. Some given away; some thrown away; and some sold. Still no one appeared on the horizon to buy the Shire itself. But that may change soon. Or not.

In any event, with Tricia and I both in town (it does happen), we used our time to sort through the remaining items. When I leave on Friday, little will remain in terms of household goods. Some large pieces of furniture will remain. But we will have dismantled the Shire, for all intents and purpose.

An era slowly draws to a close.

See you along the Trail.

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August 9, 2011 · 3:20 am

Ownership

Headed on the road again. This time to Cleveland to hang out with Tricia and Eric. A trip to Louisville may prove necessary to deal with some issues at the Shire near the Ohio – also known as the original Shire. Yet another demonstration that while we may own things, things definitely own us.

See you along the Trail.

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January 7, 2011 · 4:53 am

Another day, another trip

Flew back to NYC (Shire East) from Louisville (Shire West) late this evening after a day of meetings.

The meetings went well. I watched Whiteout upon returning. An OK escape, but nothing profound. It seems to winding down, I will see if I figured it out. Not sure I have been paying enough attention to be sure about my suspicions.

Tomorrow is the interfaith prayer service for Sudan. There are signs of hope . . . may they come true.

See you along the Trail.

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January 6, 2011 · 4:39 am

You travel too much

That’s what my friend and colleague Petero told me when he learned I was returning to Louisville this afternoon. Of course he has travel scheduled to Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, and several other countries in February. He works for the Episcopal Church and holds their Africa desk.

The morning began with a visit to the office by a group from Eckerd College. They were in NYC for a class on the United Nations. They made their first stop the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. I had the privilege to talk to them about our ministry and to respond to questions. It was great fun!

After meeting with the group, it was discovered that the PC(USA) email system was done – so instead of email, the phone was necessary to make arrangements for Friday’s prayer service on Sudan. Fascinating to realize how much a part of life email is.

Then headed to LGA. The security line was about as long as I have ever seen – but it moved quickly and people were very patient. The flights went well – picked up the rental car and made it back to the Shire. Renovations have continued in preparation for selling the condo.

A limited number of dvds remain at the Shire – that was probably poor planning since the Shire on the Hudson has cable and the Roku box – should have left more to have more variety. Watched Amazing Grace.

Tomorrow I travel back to the Shire on the Hudson.

See you along the Trail.

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December 22, 2010 · 4:44 am

Toward the end of an era

It has been almost two months since my last post. Numerous trips between the Shire East and the Shire West have occurred.

I have been at the Shire since December 8. There were meetings – a wonderful celebration (including a fair imitation of lembas) led by my colleagues in the Peacemaking Program (Tricia and I made the run to Costco to buy many of the other supplies) – a great dinner at Havana Rumba with good friends – a football game won and a football game lost.

Mostly there has been transition – pretty relentless transition – working to prepare the Shire to go on the market. Home repair is no where near the top of my list of either things I enjoy or things I do well – even when my primary role (well, pretty much my only role) is writing checks or making runs to Home Depot.

It is made more than a tad bittersweet because this marks the end of an era.

Tonight’s movie – 3 Godfathers – John Wayne does Christmas.

Tomorrow – Cleveland.

See you along the Trail.

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October 25, 2010 · 11:57 pm

The Name

I am sure that everyone has been anxiously awaiting this news.

Following some valuable and valued input; following the testing and weighing of several possibilities; following deep thought and careful reflection, I have decided for a name for my new abode.

At times this seemed a difficult decision. One that might not ever be made.

But then, suddenly, things crystallized. It became clear that for all the good options, for all the creative possibilities, there is only one choice. As clarity snapped into focus, peace descended.

And now it can be revealed. The name, the only possible name for the new abode is:

The Shire

There is a practical reason that this is the only name. I have realized that it is the name I am going to call where I live. Whatever other name I might try to apply to the place, I will call it the Shire. I have already found myself doing that. Why fight it? It is what is.

But there is another deeper reason – as I have worked through the naming process and reached this conclusion, I have realized that the Shire may be a place, but it is also a way of being – an attitude – an understanding – an ethos – a vision and practice of living. In affirmation of that reality, I proclaim my new place:

The Shire

While there remain two primary abodes for the Shire (Louisville and Manhattan), I will try to distinguish between them in writings to help people know where I am. Of course my practical side immediately tells me that I will not succeed at that. So be it. That is part of the reality of being a resident of:

The Shire.

In usage, there will be the Shire West (Louisville) and the Shire on the Hudson (Manhattan).

See you  along the Trail.

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August 15, 2010 · 3:34 am

The Shire is abuzz

Tricia arrived at the Shire this evening. She had been unbinding the church. She came through Louisville to pick up Eric and take him back to Bowling Green. It is nice to have a fuller than normal Shire. But they leave in the morning. But Jessica and Ricky arrive on Tuesday.

The goals were met. Step count totaled 10,323; 35 minutes on the treadmill at the gym; and eating well.

Painting moved into the kitchen, thus making cooking a bit of a challenge. So eating took place in restaurants (except for an evening protein bar). That was accomplished within the goals. It is very helpful to have menus with nutritional information posted online.

Very helpful to have Eric as a co-painter.

Watched the Steelers play their first preseason game online. No movie today.

See you along the Trail.

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August 14, 2010 · 6:37 am

Shire renovations continue

With Eric’s help work began on the kitchen. We painted the stain on the ceiling. We also prepped the walls and painted the walls under the cabinet. Moving the refrigerator led to the discovery of some pretty disgusting dirt. But that is no longer there. Tomorrow we will try to finish.

The three goals were achieved with 30 minutes at the gym (got there a bit late) and 10 minutes walking outside. Steps totaled 10,259.

Star Trek was the movie after the painting. Good stuff.

See you along the Trail.

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August 13, 2010 · 5:22 am

Ten days

I made it today. I was working at the Shire (a new dishwasher is installed – not by me, but it is in) and that made walking hard. But with a little effort, and finishing after midnight, I made it to 10,025 steps. The gym and eating well were easier. That’s 10 days. Pretty cool. I am starting to keep stats now.

Eric, Sparky, and I went to see Inception. A very interesting movie – great special effects and acting. Sparky said it would be a good movie to see again. I agree. It will take some mulling. I had not expected to see Michael Caine in it, but given the number of times he has worked with Christian Nolan, it maybe should not have come as a surprise.

See you along the Trail.

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