Volume 16 - Day 361/5, 2024 - Thursday

So, the day after Christmas was nothing too exciting. Calm, no hysteria or anything like that. It was very foggy this morning when I got up, and after our walk, my hair was soaking wet. It stayed grey and misty through most of the morning, and the sun did come out about 1 o'clock. I got some work done in the office, and that was good. I had an opportunity to speak with a couple of our Landlords, and a couple tenants, but all was good. I have been feeding the girls mail-order dog food for at least the last four months or so. I started with Farmers Dog and now they are eating Nom Nom. I had a LOT of store bought dog food that I took in to the office, and Carrie and Kerry took some of it. I then headed to the Georgetown Shelter, but they said they no longer accept food. Interesting. SO...Marian and Ronnie got what was left of the dog food, and now I know it won't just spoil sitting in the garage. Right now, I am not planning on going in to the office tomorrow, but I do have one appointment in the late morning. It all depends on how the appointment goes as to whether or not I go in to the office. We shall see. The photo accompanying this entry was taken on this date a year ago, I seem to be falling down on the photo taking.

Volume 16 - Day 360/6, 2024 - Wednesday - Christmas Day

Merry Christmas everybody, I hope you all had a great day. Personally, my day was just the way I wanted it to be, I went for a walk this morning, and then I did not leave the house again until Richard and Marge and I went to Wasabi in Georgetown for dinner. Otherwise, I sat in the big chair with the two girls and watched television and took naps all day. It was not a really great day in central Texas to do anything else, I do not think there was a minute of sunshine today. All grey, gloomy, damp and chilly. That's pretty much it, short and sweet, in and out and nobody gets hurt. More tomorrow.

Volume 16 - Day 359/7, 2024 - Tuesday

There has been a lot of food consumed today. After our walk this morning, we went and enjoyed our ROMEO breakfast. There were five of us today, Rick, Richard, Paul, James and me. Monument Cafe was busy, but we got a table pretty quickly, and we all had a great time. The modus operandi has always been that the Total Stranger Tuesday would feature a lady or two, but today, there was a table full of Highway Patrol men, and since I had not yet been arrested in Georgetown, I decided to test my luck. It was not unanimous that they would be okay with me taking an ussie, but the one hold-out caved, and I got the photo. The other ROMEOs encouraged the men, and applauded when the deed was done. After breakfast, I went down for a nap with the girls, and at Noon:15, Jimmie and Linda picked me up and we went to lunch at the Salty Sow in Austin. I had a good burger, no top bun, and that kind of put me over the top, food consumption wise. We rode around a while after lunch, and made a stop at Trader Joe's in northwest Austin, and then headed home. Just in time for another nap. I have no real plans for tomorrow, except for our morning walk, and that is just fine with me. Nothing to worry about. I will talk to y'all later...

volume 16 - Day 358/8, 2024 - Monday

It was a very nice day today in central Texas. About 46 degrees when I got up and took off for our walk, and the temperature reached 78 degrees. I swear I heard the weather prognosticators say there was a cold front coming through, but every day in the seven day forecast says it will be in the mid to upper 70s. Not bad, this is when the weather in central Texas is really nice. Not so much in July and August. All was good in the office today, and I had an appointment with the pest control company (mice or other vermin in the attic), so I left about 1:15. They did not show up. I called, they did not answer. They can't say they were here and I wasn't, I have cameras, and I know exactly who was at my house today, and none of them were the pest control guys. Whatever. I went out to check the mail a few minutes ago (after 6PM) and there was nothing in the box. As I was walking away, the carriers were just pulling up. We really miss our regular carrier, we all liked her, but she is out with an injury, and just hope she makes it back soon. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day, I think. First a walk, then the ROMEO breakfast, then lunch with Jimmie and Linda at the Salty Sow in Austin. Never been, it should be interesting. Should be well fed by this time tomorrow... Also, I will try to do a better job of taking photos for these journal entries...

Volume 16 - Day 357/9, 2024 - Sunday

It turned out to be a beautiful day in central Texas, and Richard, Paul and I started it out with a nice walk. It was in the mid 40s, and that did not require gloves or a hat. Very nice. After the walk and after I fed the girls and myself, I put the plants back outside, front and back. Then, I started watching Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley, but it did not really keep my attention. So...I went out in the garage and straightened up some stuff, did some this-and-that, and made thing a little better organizing wise. I love working in the garage. A little while later, Linda and Jimmie invited me to go with them to have lunch in Belton at Miller's Smokehouse Barbecue. Very good, I had a sliced brisket sandwich (moist), fries and corn bread. It was way too much food, and lots of fries were left on the tray. On the way back, we stopped at Costco, and I bought nothing, and Linda bought some staples. Interestingly, Pam asked me this morning if I needed anything from Costco, I didn't, because I had just been there a couple days ago. Mike is coming in to town on Saturday, and I spied some Lemon Raspberry Muffins that looked really good, and I may go back before Mike arrives and get a package of them. I did not move either vehicle today, not that there is anything wrong with that. Tomorrow, I will head in to the office for a few things, and then the office is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Back in on Thursday and Friday. 

Volume 16 - Day 356/10, 2024 - Saturday

It was 34 degrees outside when I got up this morning, and when I left for our walk it was 32.7 degrees. The morning glories look like they made it, so that 7/10 of a degree was all they needed, I guess. We had a good walk, and I am the guy that generally gives treats to the dogs we pass along the way. The only dog we passed this morning was this one, but it wasn't too interested in the treat. I do not take rejection well, but I was able to complete the walk. After breakfast, the girls and I went down for a nice nap, and then I got up and did a few things in the garage, and followed through with my decision to do a little shopping. I went to the At Home store in Cedar Park, and bought nothing. Then I went to Target, where I bought dog treats, some candles and a couple books (gifts for Wells). The candles were shown as 'buy one get one at half price,' as were the two books. At 'self-checkout' the discounts were not applied, and it was explained that the offer was for the customers in the Target club, whatever that is. Whatever it i, I am now a member, and all I need is more emails. Ugh. Okay, then I stopped at HEB before going home, and got ice cream, milk and something else, but I don't remember what it was. I was looking for pre-made mixes for the bread maker I got through a TREPAC auction, but I could not find any. I can find it on Amazon, but it looks kind of complicated. Even so, I expect I will buy it after I finish this journal entry. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a quiet day, and that is perfectly okay with me. I will do some straightening up in the garage. I take great comfort in straightening up the garage, and I don't understand how I always seen to un-straighten it over the course of a couple weeks. Whatever.

Volume 16 - Day 355/11, 2024 - Friday

Well, the day did not go as I had planned it, but I guess it all works out the way it is supposed to. Richard and Paul and I had a nice walk this morning, it was in the 40's, much warmer than yesterday, but it was still bundling up kind of weather. I did not go in to Austin today...well, that is not really accurate. I did not go in to the office today. I did go in to take a sign and lock box off a property, and then I had lunch with Eileen. I cannot believe neither one of us remembered to take an ussie. Ugh. I had an errand to get taken care of on the way home, and that was okay. I got home about 4 o'clock, and it was time for the girls to go outside. I went down for a quick nap, and watched the news. So far, this day sounds extra exciting, doesn't it? Well, I guess it really wasn't. Anyway...it is nice winding down this year, and getting ready for the next year. I was surprised last night when one of my neighbors brought me some home made cookies, and I got a couple little gifts from Eileen at lunch, and Wells (Jimmie and Linda's grandson) brought me some pralines from their visit to New Orleans. No estate ales tomorrow, but I think I will find stuff to do. I expect the Curious House will experience its' first freeze of the season; the plants are in, but the faucets are not covered yet, it won't be that cold lang enough to do any damage. Oh yeah, I did a couple loads of laundry before I headed out, and now I have plenty of clean clothes. That's important!