Mike Befeler's Blog, page 17

Knee Surgery

I’ll be going through the third knee surgery in a year next week. It was infected two times and I’ve been using a walker since February. This next surgery will put permanent parts back in my knee. Then after a recovery period, I should be back to walking normally again.

School Is Almost Upon Us

This summer has sped past us. Our grandkids in Iowa will be starting school in three weeks and our grandson here in Lakewood, CA, will be starting second grade on Aug. 31. There have already been the back-to-school advertisements and hints of Halloween. For me, August will be knee surgery month with pre-op and other appointments as well. 

Cousins Gathering

Our son and his two boys from Iowa are visiting. They went to Disneyland with our other son and his son. The Iowa contingent are staying with us, so our grandsons are having an opportunity to do things together. I’ve enjoyed watching the cousins build creations, play games and go on excursions.

Priorities

Right now, I’m focused on physical priorities to stay healthy in preparation for knee surgery in August. I’ve been using a walker since knee surgery in February because temporary spacers were put in by the surgeon due to an infection. I’m looking forward to getting my mobility back after the upcoming surgery.

Grandkids Getting Older

These grandkids keep getting older. Growing from infants to young adults, we now have five grandkids between seven and twenty-two. It’s enjoyable to see how they progress and what their interests are. One has graduated from college and one from first grade with three others in between. We like seeing all of them and hearing about their activities.

Nikola Tesla’s Birthday

This weekend will be the birthday of eccentric genius Nikola Tesla. He was a dichotomy. He had a brilliant mind and could invent in that mind and go to prototype without a blueprint. He gave us alternating current technology for the lights in our homes and offices. But he was also on the autism spectrum with many weird quirks. When he went to a restaurant, he insisted on having multiples of three napkins (3, 6, 9), and he didn’t like being touched.

My international thriller, The Tesla Legacy, is a modern-day story of an Afghani terrorist and a secret government agent trying to get their hands on a weapon of mass destruction designed by Tesla but includes a lot of background about Nikola Tesla, the historical figure.

The Tesla Legacy is available in print, e-book and audio editions:           

Print https://amzn.to/3mz4rlf 

e-book https://amzn.to/3d45whL

Audio download https://bit.ly/3rZtlvD          

Audio CD https://bit.ly/3dP9LNp

 

Keeping in Touch with Friends

Periodically, I call old friends to check in to see how they’re doing. I did this during the pandemic and again recently. My friends include those from school, college, graduate school, work, writing and Boulder, CO. It’s always a joy to catch up but fraught with illnesses and disabilities. All in all, I find it a worthwhile activity.

Pet Peeve

When contacting an organization that provides a service I’m interested in, my pet peeve is that no one responds. Recently, I wanted to sign my grandson up for private swim lessons. I was given a phone number to do this, but no one answered the phone after multiple attempts. Finally, I left a message to call me back. No response. Then I sent an email. No response. After several weeks of frustration, I found another organization where someone answered the phone immediately and I got my grandson signed up within five minutes. If the other organization ever responds, I’m tempted to say, “You have my condolences.” I’ll pause. “Apparently, you had a major family emergency because you never answered the phone or responded to voicemail or email.”

Book Talk at Bach Library in Long Beach, CA

Mike Befeler : Lessons Learned as an Author

Friday, June 24, 2022, 11:30am – 12:30pm

Bach Neighborhood Library, 4055 Bellflower Blvd

I’ll be speaking about Lessons Learned as an Author and my latest mystery novel, Old Detectives Home. 

Gun Violence

Usually, I blog about things I’m doing or book related activities. Today, I’m taking a detour because of the serious nature of a vital issue in our country: gun violence. A minority in our nation has placed unlimited gun ownership above the value of human life. We, as a civilized nation, need to change this priority and place human life above unlimited gun ownership. Common sense measures of background checks, red flag laws and limiting access to assault weapons need to be enacted. Encourage your representatives to change our priorities.