Ted Cate
A Personal Journal Reflecting On Aging
June 11 | June 12

	Reflections of Ted Cate June 6: A Weekly Retirees Meeting June 8: Weeds, Weather, and Reading June 9: Build For the Future June 10: Flight Breakfast June 11: Broadband for the Computer June 12: Philosophy of Mowing June 13: Facing Extended Care June 14: Storm Damage June 15: Dishwashers June 16: Happy Birthday June 17: Adventures in Baking June 18: Wash Day

Placed a call to the local utility company requesting that they connect me to their high-speed Internet service along with their TV service. Once in place I can try my hand at networking my two computers. Without such networking Phyllis Ann can't use the Internet on the old computer, which is referred to as "her computer."

The new computer (referred to as "my computer") has DVD capabilities so I purchased the cheapest movie I could find to try out said DVD equipment. The movie came through loud and clear. Phyllis thinks I will now spend all of my time in the computer room and expect her to bring in my meals. Popcorn would be nice.

Having one bag of mulch left, I had no choice but to continue mulching around trees and shrubs in spite of the fact that all of the biting insects in northwest Iowa are holding a convention in our backyard. Even our dog Elizabeth retreats under their attack.

June 12: Philosophy of Mowing
True to their word, the Spencer Municipal Utilities showed up at 8 am and connected me to their high-speed Internet and TV service. It required running new cable the length of the house to connect to the incoming cable. It went quicker and smoother than I expected. The end result was that I had to reprogram three TV sets and my new computer.

With all of the rain and cool weather we have had this spring the grass doesn't seem to know when to stop growing. It is mow, mow, mow, and mow. Perhaps the most devastating thing that can affect your mowing routine is to have a neighbor that insists on mowing the grass whenever it needs mowing. This type of person just doesn't realize that if it doesn't trip you, it doesn't need mowing. Besides, the National Wildlife magazine reports that grass releases a significant amount of hydrocarbon gas when it is cut.

The pattern that you use to mow becomes a favorite subject for neighborhood discussions. Those that mow in straight lines paralleling the lot lines are considered the worst kind of squares, whereas, those that wonder around wherever the mood dictates are considered kooks. It is difficult to create a compromising pattern acceptable to all.

To bag or not to bag is also subjected to debate. I certainly thought it was the thing to do until I became of age—he age of taking the line of least resistance, that is. The baggers tell me unbagged grass chokes the grass; whereas the unbaggers insist it provides food for the grass. Perhaps the best argument I've heard yet for bagging is that the children track the freshly cut grass into the house. Thank goodness our children are no longer around to track.

I like to think that the mulching blade has sort of created an acceptable compromise between the two.

The size of mower you use is closely related to the old philosophy of keeping up with the Joneses. I don't know any Joneses, so I'm content with a self-propelled mulching mower having a 22-inch cutting width. How one can justify owning a riding mower to mow a residential-size lot, I'll never know. Perhaps the owners are all agriculturally orientated and want to keep their hand in farming with the hopes of some kind of government subsidy.

The time of day that yard mowing should take place is questionable. I, for one, have no problem with this. I have a neighbor on one side who works nights and mows at the break of day, whereas the neighbor on the other side is so active that his day is completely occupied, resulting in his mowing into the night. Not wanting to offend either party, I usually spend the entire day mowing, stopping every so often for a cool drink, a favorite TV program, or just for the heck of it. All of these interludes can be translated as well-deserved and needed rests.

How you dress when you mow is important in that you never know whom you might meet during your sojourns into your front yard. Neither of my neighbors has heard of skin cancer, so they enjoy exposing as much of their skin as society permits. Unfortunately, they are both male. I, on the other hand, prefer dressing in such manner as to have some protection from the sun. The clothing I wear usually resembles that turned away by the Goodwill box proprietor. It is the same outfit I wear for painting, washing the car, gardening, and working on the plumbing. When I'm hailed by a passing motorist for directions to a particular location in our city, I'm not surprised when they offer me a tip, which I accept.

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