2018 - Day 365/0 - Monday...1704...New Years' Eve...

As further testament that there is indeed climate change (or possibly just confused flora) here is another photo of another set of Iris in the back just blooming their (there, they're) little hearts out. Bless them, they are really pretty, and just a hint of what is to come. Sorry that we are expecting to have a couple overnight temperatures below freezing, but the Iris seem to take it all in their (there, they're) stride. We shall see.

So...this is the last day of 2018. I have been reflecting on the past year. Many of you know that I am obsessive-compulsive. I wish I knew what event in my childhood sparked that particular trait, but I am stuck with it, and you, by default are as well. I am a list keeper. A number keeper. That particular hickey started about ten years (maybe a little more) ago, when the cattle did something to rupture a water pipe back in one of the pastures and we went through (thru, threw) about 50,000 gallons of water before we figured it out. So, I started keeping lists and meter readings. Ans, as the years passed (past), I added more things to the list of things that needed to be kept track of.

Here are the results of my list keeping for 2018: We used an obscene amount of water this past year, about 119 thousand gallons. There is a lot of landscaping that needs to be watered, so don't hate me. Plus cattle. Shut the front door. On brighter note for conservationists in the crowd, we only used about 40 thousand kilowatt (kWh) hours of electricity. I checked with Mrs. Google, and she said that the average house in the United States uses over 10 thousand kWh or electricity per month. We also returned 1147 kWh of electricity back to the grid, so that is a good thing. We had 37.8" of rain for the year, and we got 2,369 eggs (197.4 dozen) from the girls. At about 50 cents per egg, we are about to go broke. AND, over the last twelve months, I have received 18,321 spam e-mails.

Good night, and I hope we all have a better New Year!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, IRIS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 364/1 - Sunday...1714...

We pretty much stayed around the house all day long. It was cold (in the 40s), grey and dribbly. I did manage to keep the fire going and took a couple naps and got the chicken coop cleaned. About 4 o'clock this afternoon, we piled up in the car and headed in to Austin. We had dinner at Kerby Lane on Kerby Lane, and then went to check out the lights on 37th Street. Not as great as they were years ago, but it is post-Christmas, so maybe some of the residents got OUT of the spirit. At any rate, it was gun, particularly the 'Joy to the Weird' lights.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2018, and I have been working on my year-end post already. Stay tuned, you are about to find out just how crazy I am.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WEIRDNESS, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 363/2 - Saturday...1704...

“Frederick, Maryland” Founded in 1745 by German settlers, The City of Frederick today boasts over 65,000 residents (and Peter), making it the second largest city in Maryland after Baltimore. 

Famous lawyers the likes of Francis Scott Key were from there. Frederick is now famous for its historic homes, Civil War battlefields, architectural spires and an eclectic, bustling downtown. But did you know Frederick was at one time home to Patsy Cline? Or that it boasts three critically acclaimed restaurants by Top Chef and James Beard finalist Bryan Voltaggio? And did you know my friend, Peter is a REALTOR® there and passes his time as an Artisanal Pencil Sharpener? I didn't either, but it happened today! In todays' post, I received my very own missive, a signed certificate of authenticity that my pencil (enclosed as a part of the aforementioned missive), the Dark Stallion (maybe the Dork Stallion, it's kind of hard to read), was hand sharpened by Peter on December 16th using a state of the art Staedtler Single Hole Metal Sharpener. It is truly a thing of beauty, and must really be seen to be fully appreciated. The care and attention to detail are exquisite, and I am sure that it took Peter most of the day to get it sharpened so perfectly. Lines are forming to the right of the home office, and you can get your tickets to witness this thing of beauty yourself on-line for $19.95.

Nothing more need be said. I am speechless.

Is there any pie left?

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DORK STALLION, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 362/3 - Friday...1694...

It is the last Friday of 2018. It is the beginning of the last weekend of 2018. It is the beginning of the last Holiday of 2018. AND, it is a four-day-weekend too. The next REAL Holiday will be Memorial Day, and it seems like such a long time between now and the end of May. I am pretty sure I will make it, but it seems like a REALLY long time. Of course, I remember when I started this journal (this year's journal entries) and it seemed like it would go on forever, and the year is already over. Whatever. So, the temperatures are supposed to take a nose dive beginning tonight and lasting much of the coming week. We have not had a fire in the stove in about a month or so, so tonight was a good time to get one started. If you look closely, you can see the Callie girl in front of the stove. She likes the fires, she knows how to stay warm.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LAST THINGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 361/4 - Thursday...1696...

I am prepared for 2019. I officially took down my 2018 wall calendar, and replaced it with a 2019 wall calendar. I believe I stayed current with the year when writing checks, and I don't expect I will write 2018 on any checks after Monday. I will admit that I wrote a check or two in 2018 and dated them with 2014 on the date line. I am obviously living in the past, and not in the future.

I stopped at the car wash on the way home this afternoon, to relay (in an incredibly calm demeanor) his tale of his less than satisfactory experience there a few days ago. Think back... There were apologies galore, but no mention of compensation. No refund for the cost of the car wash, no mention of a monetary compensation for the destroyed (and not notified of same) windshield wiper. The manager did not write down my name, no documentation of the incident, nothing. Just an apology. I wanted to escalate the conversation to a supervisor, but, well, you know...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PREPAREDNESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 360/5 - Wednesday...1698...

Think back. I know many of my legions of followers are afflicted with short attention spans, but just think back three days. Sunday...Day 357/8...I spent an hour and twenty minutes at the carwash. Totally disappointing experience. Blah, blah, blah...well, yesterday, Jody and I went in to town to have Christmas Dinner with our friends Michael and Lynda. On the way in, there was a little mist in the air, and I turned the windshield wipers on. Much to my surprise, there was NO WIPER on the driver side. The forecast was for absolute DOWNPOURS beginning today and especially tonight. In fact, we are under a tornado watch right now for the next several hours. Whatever... Another little gift of incompetence from the car wash. My first stop this morning (in a light drizzle) was to the dealer for new wiper blades. NO I CANNOT go to a parts place and buy new blades. And if I could, I am not smart enough to install them, so shut the front door! AND...as soon as it quits raining (Friday or Saturday most likely) I will make another stop at the car wash and try my best to have a reasonable conversation with them.

We shall see...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WIPER BLADES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 359/6 - Tuesday...1671...Christmas Day...

I have owned this suit for at least two years. When I originally bought it, I needed to have the pants altered, they were not cuffed. So, I had them altered and the suit has been hanging in my closet ever since. Even though I am not typically shy about things, even I think this is just a little bit too much. I think they look fine in a whimsical sense on other guys, I just don't think it is a good look for me, personally.

What I meant to say was, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are all looking forward to the New Year.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHRISTMAS SUITS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 359/6 - Monday...1679...It's Christmas Eve...

Everywhere I went today (and believe me, I put some mileage on the car), people were standing in lines and looking like they didn't know whether to sh*t on the road or go blind. These loose cattle would have fit right in. If only they had opposable thumbs. I made stops at ten different places between 9:15 and 1:15, and I think I am a pretty accomplished person right about now. There was also a lot of horn honking too. The weird is, you can't really tell who the honkees are. The sounds I heard did not seem likely to have been produced by the usual suspects. Odd little honking sounds coming from large vehicles? Throaty deep registered honking sounds coming from Yugos? Irt just does not seem likely. And people were making up problems in the lines too. Of course, I was not at all content just to ignore them, I had to chime in and let them know how ridiculous their complaint was. One 'older' (that is like the pot calling the kettle puce) lady told me she could not stand to walk behind slow moving people. The lady behind her started laughing as I explained to her that was a 'first-world-made-up-problem'. I asked her if she wanted to go in front of me, but she declined. Another gentleman was offered the opportunity to take cuts, he too declined. Every place I went today and stood in line, I asked the person behind me if they would like to go in front of me. Not a single taker.

We are a nation of complainers.

If I am to go forward with this journal, I need a new ending line. Let me know your thoughts.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COMPLAINERS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 357/8 - Sunday...1689...

I participated in a little bit of retail therapy today, and I did not get any of my chores done around the house. There is always tomorrow, and if I don't get it done tomorrow, there is always the next day. And if not then, there is always the four day weekend coming up a few days after that. I spent a hour and twenty minutes at the car wash (it was really busy) and a few minutes at Costco (I will be going back again tomorrow) and then a little while doing some miscellaneous this-and-that. During one of the this-and-thats, I turned in to a parking lot off the MoPac service road and spied this Indian Blanket blooming. there was no dirt anywhere close to the guy, but there he was, blooming his ass off right there in a crack between the various concretes and asphalts and pedestrians. If that little Indian Blanket can make it, then I think the rest of us stand at least a half-a-chance. It all depends on us. SO, take from this photo what you will, but I am encouraged that, even in the harshest environments, we can all hope for the best, and if we try our best, we can all get our blooms on!

You're Welcome!

Time for some pondering, which is something I do every year just about this time. This journal entry is the 3,642nd entry to this journal. On December 31st I will finish ten years of journaling, which when I started was expected to be a one-year-gig. If you do the math (and include leap year extra days) I figure that I will be 2 entries short of penning an entry every single day for the last (almost) ten years. I can remember vividly the first day I missed an entry; I thought the world just might come to an end. The second missed entry (I can remember that one too) passed with not too much fanfare, but I still feel the need to complete the entries on a daily basis. If I pen an entry on January 1st, you will know that I am in for at least one more year.

We will know in nine days!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEVER QUIT, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 356/9 - Saturday...1695...

Those of you who know me at all will not find any reason for panic at the following statement: I am crazy as a loon. Well, maybe not CRAZY in the biblical sense, but I definitely do have some quirks, which leads me to go forward with a theme that I have used in this journal on at least two earlier occasions in recent months. How much is too much? I know for certain that I went on and on about Band-Aids (or products of a similar nature). I also believe I went on-and-on about toilet paper. I have LOTS of socks, but I know for sure you can never have too many socks. Whatever. Today I decided to tidy up the shelves and hidey-holes in the home office. This is where the crazy part comes in. I have 1,669 return address labels from (mostly) unsolicited sources. What with the demise of the US Postal Service, I cannot imagine EVER having a need for that many return address labels. Not counting leap years, I have enough return address labels for 4.58 years of mailings, if I mail one envelope per day. The odds of that happening are not particular good. I give it 8 to 1 against that happening, However, if any of you (kind readers) would like to send me something, just let me know and I will forward you a batch of address labels so you won't have to worry with that part. I considered not attaching this particular photo to this entry, fearing someone might be a super-sleuth and determine the address and send me another batch of return address labels, just out of spite, but that is the chance I will take.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LABELS, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 355/10 - Friday...

Well, it is that time of year. Mad dashes and all that stuff. But...I like it, I am not gonna lie. I did do a little bit of on-line shopping this year. I think I spent less than $100 on-line, and it was for stuff that I could not find at the big box stores (even though they had it on their web-site). AND...when I went on line, it was cheaper on Amazon than where I tried to buy it locally. That is the whole thing that makes Amazon Amazon, right? I may have to try this more every now and then. I am NOT keen that I can't touch it before I buy it, but so far, so good. I did not get to the office until about 1:30 this afternoon, and when I got there, my desk was covered with gifts from friends, staff and colleagues. A lovely cashmere scarf, a glass zip lock bag that will soon be filled with M&Ms (lookout Costco), some daffodil bulbs and these durable plastic egg cartons with ribald double entendre sayings on them. All the gifts were wonderful, and I liked all of it. Just between you and me, I am kind of awkward when it comes to accepting gifts. Try to remember that when it comes to mind the next time.

SO...Friday. No work until Wednesday, although I do expect I will be in the office for a few minutes on Monday because I am planning a trip to Costco that morning. I know, I am crazy, but what's the worst that could happen? Plus, I need the M&Ms.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EGG CARTONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 354/11 - Thursday...1697...

One of the nice things about living in the Capital City of Texas (and believe me, there are many), is that I get to visit with our state association staff pretty much whenever I want to. Yesterday, I could have called in for a webinar kind of Ombudsman meeting, but instead, I drove the 24 or so blocks to our association office, and sat in the room with the guide (Candy) and Sherri and did not experience any connection issues. It was fun! And today, it was my pleasure to invite the TREPAC staff to join me for a nice, off-the-cuff-spur-of-the-moment lunch. Some of the most productive and fun things are NOT PLANNED. Don't think about things too long or you run the risk of mucking it all up. Just do it! SO, in addition to all the other wonderful things in my life, I got to have lunch with all these folks today, and we talked and laughed and plotted and planned. All the plotting and planning was accidental. The laughing and talking was all done on purpose!

All day long today I thought it was Friday. I have an appointment to get my hair cut on Friday. Today was not Friday, today was (and still is) Thursday. It is very confusing.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PLOTTING AND PLANNING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 353/12 - Wednesday...Done...

It is Holiday office party season, and there is no reason for us to be left out of the mix. Today, Carrie and Tosalyn put together a great office party for about 20 of our colleagues, staff and friends. There was LOTS of food and fun to be enjoyed by all, and it was all topped of with a visit to Zach Scott Theater for a performance of 'The Santaland Diaries.' AA good time was had by all.

I am not necessarily responsible for the content of this journal entry. Apparently, on the way back to the office from Zach Scott, I was convinced to refer to this particular entry with the words 'Boy Parts.' Again, I take no responsibility for the content or the intent of the message that may (or may not) be conveyed in this specific entry. I can neither confirm or deny that this site may (or may not) have been hacked in to by Russian propagandists, whose sole interest is the downfall of this country. Having said that and alerted all my legions of loyal followers to the possibility that I may (or may not) be authoring these words, you may (or may not) proceed. The choice is yours.

Boy Parts.

There. I said it again. I hope you are all happy.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BOY PARTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 352/13 - Tuesday...1703...

You can all take your Elfs (Elves?) and the shelfs (shelves?) and put them where the sun don't shine. Me? I got me an Elf that I can wrap my arms around, no shelf needed! Yep, Christina the Elf is back for another couple weeks or so, and rumor has it she may be retiring the Elf suit at the end of this month. It has been a good and memorable run, and I am pretty sure that EVERYONE knows about this little mischievous Elf.

This Elf moment was captured at the ABoR Foundation final meeting of 2018 and our little groups Holiday gathering at the board office. The festive part of the gathering included a variety of meat balls of various descriptions. When I got home this afternoon, I told Jody that all I really cared for was a very light dinner, that I had been eating crap and meatballs all day long. Jody had made meatballs for dinner. I had a salad.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ELF IN MY ARMS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 351/14 - Monday...1689...

I am confused. The dogs are confused (they think something is living under the deck in the dog yard and they are probably right). The chickens may not be confused, but there are a couple missing. Last night I counted (three times) 21 chickens, and that means there are two AWOL chickens. Probably never to be seen or clucked from again. I am confused by the length of darkness we are experiencing here in central Texas. This is not Alaska or Norway. It is not supposed to be dark this long in the day time. But I digress. The topic of this confusing entry is the discovery of these two Iris in one of the back beds. It is NOT springtime, there should be no confusing that fact. We are NOT experiencing springlike temperatures. It is COLD. The days are short and the nights are long. But these Iris have decided to be early adopters (I don't know where they get that from), and bloom in late December.

BUT...the truth is, they are exquisitely beautiful, a pleasure to behold. So enjoy them as much as we are enjoying them now.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, IRIS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 350/15 - Sunday...1660...

Today was a terrific day: piles of eggs, worked on the pool, cleaned the chicken coop, did some miscellaneous things around the house, put ALL the plants outside (I totally expect it to freeze again just any minute), and then we got ready to go in to Austin for Brunch (capitalized?) with friends. We are kind of hit-and-miss with this, but I kind of want to do this every year. I am totally obsessive-compulsive enough to get it done, I guess the real issue is that 'stuff happens'. The last time we had a Holiday get-together, the place burned down a week later. If the same thing happens this year to this restaurant, that might be an indication that enough is enough. Otherwise, it was a really great day, got to see lots of friends, and a good time was had by all!

This should be a pretty quiet week, not too much on my plate for the week, and the week after should be relatively quiet as well. I do not really have any plans for the New Year, nothing really that I am crazy about organizing, and I am CERTAINLY not going to begin an exercise regimen.

We shall see how Madison Avenue can influence me in the next 15 days. I am pretty weak when it comes to subliminal messages.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BRUNCH, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 349/16 - Saturday...1660...

You cannot go anywhere near the State Capitol and NOT take a photo under the dome. It is impossible. You cannot not do it. I had to make a quick stop in town this morning, and decided to go and put my CHL to good use. It really wasn't that big of a deal, but at least I did not have to take off my shoes and empty my pockets. As expected, the dome was still there and it was welcoming a variety of people and Holiday performers. Nicely done Texas State Capitol.

Otherwise, the thing I got the most pleasure from today was cleaning out the drain in Jody's sink in the bedroom. It took a couple tries and a good bit of drano, but I got it taken care of.

Tomorrow, the biggest accomplishment will be cleaning out the chicken coop.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DOME, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 348/17 - Friday...1668...

The year is winding down, and today was the last Legislative Management Team meeting at ABoR for 2018. There was a recap of all the issues we dealt with throughout the year, and it was eye-opening. on this one group alone, it was figured that we each gave 300 volunteer hours to the process, and could claim success in most of our recommendations and endorsements. Not all, but most, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. My friend and colleague Holly is also on the LMT, and she gave me this pair of socks. You know I am sock-crazy, right? I cannot keep from buying socks, and soon I expect I will be able to go more than a year without having to repeat a sock pattern. I am actually a man of simple needs, socks just happen to be one of the simplest!

And today, I am celebrating the fact that today is Friday. I am not necessarily celebrating the fact that it is freakin' cold outside and there are gale force winds blowing in from the north-northwest. The winds started getting really strong yesterday afternoon, and they are scheduled to subside sometime tomorrow. The forecast for the next week is more seasonal temperatures; highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-40s. I will take it.

I am working on my list of chores for the weekend, and it is not terribly extensive. I am pretty confident that I can get most of it accomplished. I do need to take the car in and have it inspected so I can renew the car tags. I can't believe that I put it off this long. It will get taken care of though.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SOCKS, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 347/18 - Thursday...1647...

Today was the final class meeting for the SAE Property Management class I was guiding at the Austin Board of REALTORS®. The whole mood of the class kind of changed today; everyone was tired, but everyone was happy at the same time, and it seemed like the result of the four days of classroom had brought everyone together. It was really kind of neat. This photo of the group is not the greatest, and I enhanced the lighting of the photo as much as I possible could. I should have known better and realized that there was just too much light behind the group. I should have had them pointed the other way. So much for that, live and learn! Oh yeah, everybody passed!

Well, to tell you the truth, I am tired of Tire Stores. The back tires arrived today, and I stopped on the way home to have them put on the car. I am weary of getting home WELL after dark, and waking well BEFORE the sun comes up. Maybe I will catch up in a week or so. I am pleased that I do not have to stress about flat tires, low tire pressure, hydroplaning and other tire related crap. I can only stress SO much at any given time, and I do not need outside influences influencing my stress levels.

I'm serious.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TIRES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 346/19 - Wednesday...1654...

Those of you who know me well know that I have a sock fetish. I like interesting socks. This is a pair of socks I was turned on to by a friend, and so I just wanted to share. Those are not my feet, but I admire the socks! Sharing for a friend...

Well, I finally got tires on the front of the car this evening on my way home. They are ordered, but the tire store got them in the same day. The back tires should be delivered either tomorrow or Friday or Saturday, but I am chilling about that, since (at the moment) there are no flashing lights on my dashboard telling me to 'Pull the F*ck Over, your tires need air, dumbass!' The relief of that is quite welcoming, and I can wait on the back tires.

No problemo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SOCKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 345/20 - Tuesday...1654...

I LITERALLY chased this Cowboy Santa down South FIrst Street, screaming "Santa, stop!" So, what did Santa do, he stopped, turned around and met me half-way. I admit, we did draw a crowd, and there were selfies all around. The horse was not at all interested in the goings on, but he/she/it was not nervous about anything either. Very calm. I suspect pony downers, but I am not for sure. I was digging on Santa's sunglasses though, they were really cool. I think he got them from a trade show, they looked like most of the gimmes I get and hand out. Bottom line, only in Austin, but that is really pretty cool, too.

Other than that, it was an eventful day. I have been putting air in one tire repeatedly, but I thought A). It is because of the temperature changes or B). There is something wrong with the warning light in the car. That answer was C). There is a nail in the tire. I found that out this afternoon when I went to the tire place, and after ALMOST two hours, they said, yep there is a nail in the tire and the inside of the tire is bald and we can't fix it; here are your keys. I replied (something like) you are sending me away into the dark with a tire with a nail in it. Their response was...YEP. SO, now I am on a mission to get new tires, but I can't in good conscious go back to that place. Costco has to order them, and there is a Firestone dealer that opens at 7 in the morning, I will try them.

I have a class that starts at 8:30, so I am working all the angles.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COWBOY SANTA, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 344/21 - Monday...1654...

A good day here in central Texas. I left the house early this morning, so I could get in to the office and then head to the Bryan/College Station Association of REALTORS® to present a program on Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. This class does not lack when it comes to participation on the part of the folks attending the program. Almost EVERYONE has an opinion on the subject, and the opinions are not always positive ones. In fact, some folks are downright angry about the subject. My mission during these presentations is simply to give a total perspective and a balanced perspective on the subject. It would be an achievement if the program was successful in broadening some opinions about the subject, and letting all participants understand that there are anywhere from three (at least) to four sides to every request for accommodation that REALTORS® receive on the topic.

I will now step down off my soap-box.

Otherwise, it was a lovely day. The sun was shining and life was good. Unfortunately, the last two times I have driven from Bryan/College Station, it has been (for the most part) in the dark. The drive to the edge of nowhere from Bryan is really pretty, but the prettiest parts have not been visible on my most recent trips.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ANIMALS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 343/22 - Sunday...1668...

Okay, class. Keep your test packets closed and your pencils on the desk until you are instructed to begin. This is a timed essay test, only one question. You will have five minutes to complete the test, and when 'time' is called, you must put your pencils down and close your test packets. There will be no talking, and if anyone is observed trying to look at a neighbors answer, you will be sent to the Vice-Principals office.

This is the question: How many Band-Aids (or Band-Aid type products) are too many?

And...BEGIN!

I had given myself a good talking to weeks ago about cleaning out the cabinets below my sink in the bathroom, including the two drawers on each side. I did it today, and it was quite a feeling of accomplishment. I discovered that I had about 15 brand new tooth brushes (at an average of two cleanings a year times the ten years we have lived in this house, it means I use a new toothbrush every two years or so). A couple dozen razors of various makes, models and blades per razor, more shampoos and styling gels than you could possibly ever need, several bars of soap that are now conveniently stored where I can see them, a couple different nose and ear hair trimmers, a couple different (and dead) appliances used for 'man-scaping', dental floss out the king-yang, a couple different kinds of facial jams and jellies (none of them worked), one Susan B Anthony dollar coin, a couple keys that I have no idea about, and at least a thousand loose dental floss picks that are now all nestled in the resealable plastic bag from which they covered the bottom of one drawer. Four brand new bottles of nasal spray. Seven different kinds of Visine or eye drop products (four of them unopened. And prescription drugs. I have no idea what all those prescription drugs were for, but I could probably support a pharmacy if they were in a pinch.

But then there were the Band-Aids. Band-Aids of all different sizes, colors, strengths and brands. I really don't remember buying all those Band-Aids, but I am pretty sure I have not been discreetly picking them up from other peoples houses. Some people go out and buy cars when they are sleeping under the influence of Ambient. Maybe I am making trips at 2 a.m. to the Dollar General and buying Band-Aids. I think I need professional help.

TIME!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BAND-AIDS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 342/23 - Saturday...

This is a photo of some of my belated birthday loot. Yesterday, we had a office late birthday luncheon at the Shoal Creek Saloon in Austin. I have lived here since 1985 and I think that was the first time I had ever been to the place. Pretty good food to be honest. I had the pork chop, and I think I may go back for the catfish one day soon.

It is colder than a fart in a dead eskimo. That is not intended to be any kind of a derogatory racial comment, it is simply a description of the coldest thing in the world. The temperature is indicated to be 41 degrees, but I think the wind-chill calculation would put it somewhere closer to -30 degrees below zero. Celsius. That is cold. It has been dribble all day long, and in the past 48 hours we have recorded EXACTLY three inches of rain here on the edge of nowhere. Wind, rain, falling temperatures, and my eloquent descriptive words mean that it is cold as hell. The bumpy bits of a witch come to mind, but this is a family journal, so I will desist from getting into vulgarities. Suffice it to say, it is cold.

How Cold Is It?

It is so clod that I saw a lawyer last night (several of them in fact), with their hands in their own pockets!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HOW COLD IS IT, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 340/25 - Friday...Ugh...

Five years ago today, the temperature was FREEZING, and I was installed as the 2014 President of the Austin Board of REALTORS®. Today, it was just raining and miserable, but at least it was not below freezing. Today, it was time to induct the 2019 Board of Directors of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, congratulations to them all. This is a picture of the 2018 President Steve, with our friend Candy, and me.

It's Friday, and we are all welcoming that fact. It has been raining all day long here...it started overnight and has continued all day. Overnight, we had about 0.42" of rain in the gauge, and Jody reports that we received over an inch already today. Expecting another couple inches before the whole event is over.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, INSTALLATIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 339/26 - Thursday...1669...

On the way home from the Highland Lakes Association of REALTORS® Installation Banquet, I stopped at the Pedernales Electric Coop Building and took a photo of their lighted tree. In the rain. They are the electric coop, they can afford the higher utility cost. If you think this is nice, you should go to see their HQ in Johnson City, always lovely. The installation was a really nice event, always nice to see my friends and colleagues on their home turf. Thanks to all for their leadership and the invitation to share the evening with them.

Today was also another full day of guiding a class. The final two days of this series will be next week, then that will be be it for this year.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LIGHTED TREES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 339/26 - Wednesday...1653...

This was fun. Sunday night when I stayed in Austin, a bunch of us walked from the restaurant where we had dinner a few blocks (four) to the Capitol to see the Christmas Tree. It is kind of a miracle that we all survived. Between the crazy people on the scooters to all of us straddling the yellow line in the middle of Congress Avenue (to take fabulous photos), we made quite a scene. We did not really make a SCENE, the SCENE was US being seen by strollers, drivers and (perhaps) the occasional law enforcement official. Bottom line, it was a lot of fun, and it is comforting to know that there are still cities in this country that are clam and quiet enough that activities like this go largely unnoticed and accepted as the norm. For all its' faults, Austin is still a nice place to live, and we all do our best to Keep Austin WEIRD! You're welcome!

I presented a class today to about twenty (mostly) newly licensed agents. The subject was property management, and it was a fun class. The class will total 30 hours (another full day tomorrow and two more full days next week). I feel kinda sorry for the attendees because I can not stand to hear myself talk for eight hours, and I can only imagine what it is like to have to listen to me!

Not that anyone really does, but that is for another journal entry.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WEIRDNESS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 338/27 - Tuesday...5001...

It has been quite some time since I offered up to you, my legion of followers, a photo of yet ANOTHER wreck on IH-35. When I lived in New Orleans, someone WAS NOT MURDERED one day, and it made the front page of the newspaper. I wonder if there was not a wreck on IH-35 within the Austin City Limits, if that would make the news? Wrecks are so commonplace these days, it is really becoming tiresome. An traffic congestion and time wasted going nowhere quickly is also a real problem, literally a waste of time. So, this happened this afternoon on my way home, there were a couple emergency vehicles, a couple firetrucks and three or four police cars responding to a truck/car incident. When I passed, it did not look like there was terrible damage to either vehicle, and I did not notice anyone receiving any kind of medical assistance. All hat and no cattle.

I finished my second day of New TREPAC Trustee training today, and it was good. Our next meeting will be in January (not that far away), and then a couple more throughout the year. The Legislature meets again in January, so that will be an interesting time.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WRECKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 337/28 - Monday...5000...

Today was and still is my birthday. It seems that that is not news. I have had many MANY birthday wishes from friends and colleagues old and new. So nice to receive all those acknowledgements! Interestingly, I have been in meetings all day today, and they will continue tomorrow. The first time in 26 years that I have not spent the day with Jody, but we are nothing if not flexible. My birthday was celebrated by thirty or forty people in the meetings today, and I am sure I will hear more kind words tomorrow as the meetings continue. This is what was left of the Baked Alaska I was presented with tonight at dinner.

Thank you all for your kindnesses, but I am glad that birthdays only come around once a year!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIRTHDAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 336/29 - Sunday...Apple Pie...

After a working dinner this evening, I walked with a bunch of colleagues to the Capitol to see the Christmas Tree. It is really fun...it sings and plays the piano. Interesting. And fun!

If you want the temperatures at your house to tumble downward, just let me know. I will come for a visit and take all your plants outside. Within a day or two of that, you will experience the threat of freezing temperatures yet again! It never fails.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CAPITOL, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 335/30 - Saturday...1627...

Welcome to December. This was not intended to be a particularly busy day, but I got everything on my list accomplished. Chicken coop cleaned, lots of this-and-that, and I even got the lights up by the road repaired and lighted. I am about ten days late in doing that. Traditionally, the lights up by the road go on Thanksgiving day and go off on New Years Day. I was late this year, but that will just have to do. I am pretty sure that I am the only person that is obsessive-compulsive about the lights up by the road, and I doubt that too many people pay any attention anyway.

Jody and I both slept through the news, and that is probably for the best. Tomorrow I will be going in to Austin for a couple days worth of meetings, and then I will present a couple classes on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday night is the Highland Lakes Association of REALTORS® Installation, and I will attend that, and Friday is the ABoR Installation. Things pretty much wind down after that, and it will be relatively calm for the rest of the month.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LIGHTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!