Volume 17 - Day 93/272, 2025 - Thursday

Today was kind of an odd day, don't you think! Of course, most of the chatter will be about world wide economies, and some peeps are posting things on my posts that I can't decide if they are trying to insult me or agree with me. So, I am choosing to just ignore comments that I don't get the jist of. We had a nice walk this morning as usual, and I had a 9 o'clock call with Alexandra (not sure where she is), working on details of my trip to Antarctica in November. That was fun, and I made notes! After that, I had lunch with Eileen and Holly, and that was really fun. I am apparently on a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup kick, and I was good. Both grilled cheese sandwiches recently were really good. I got home around 2, and there was an e-mail from Klaus (he's in Spain), and we were working on flights from Austin to Ushuaia (pronounced U-SHWY-AH), via Buenos Aires. Lots of planning to do for a trip that is not happening until November. So, yes, it was an interesting day. A little while ago I was out in the back yard with the girls, and I saw the absolutely most beautiful, brilliantly feathered male cardinal. I tried for a photo, but it was not to be. Just an idea, try to pay attention to stuff when you are outside. The photo accompanying this entry is of a sculpture I saw off MoPac this morning, when I was on my way to lunch. Pretty cool.

Volume 17 - Day 92/273, 2025 - Wednesday

I am very happy to report that the Hummers have returned to the Curious House environs. I have seen Hummers at the feeders everyday for the last three days, so I think that makes it official. We had a good walk this morning, but it was VERY windy. Crazy windy. I watered stuff in the front and back, which contributed to a little bit of rain, not too much more than a trace. But, it was a little rain, and that is a good thing. I went down for a little nap after breakfast, and then I headed in to the office. I had one errand to get done on the way, but that chore ended in failure. Some things are just more trouble than they are worth. I will have to come up with a new tactic within the next 30 days or so. It took almost thirty minutes to make the last mile in to the office. Crazy. They should choose a less busy part of the day to reduce traffic from five lanes to two lanes. I makes people testy to say the least. On the way home, I stopped at Galaxy Bakery and got myself two raspberry scones, so I am set for breakfast tomorrow, maybe Friday, too. I actually think I might check out a couple programs on HBO this evening, and that will pretty much do it for the day.

Volume 17 - Day 91/274, 2025 - Tuesday

Happy April Fools Day, and Happy Birthday to Jody and my mother...they shared birthdays but different years. We had a nice walk this morning, and then went to Monument Cafe for our weekly ROMEO breakfast. AND...today is Total Stranger Tuesday. No problem this morning, and everyone had a nice breakfast, laughs and we solved many of the world's problems. If only everyone else would listen to us we could all sleep much better at night. I stopped at UFCU on the way to breakfast to cash a small check, but apparently the drive through does not open until 9AM. It seems like the drive through used to open at 7AM, but I guess not any more. I really do not like UFCU, but it is too much trouble to move to another bank. I also have my doubts that any other financial institution would be any less problematic. I did not do much of anything else for the rest of the day, but I did go with Linda and Jimmie this afternoon, to Jack Allen's Kitchen for dinner. I had the same thing for dinner that I had for brunch on Sunday. I am not that adventurous when it comes to palate testing. Home now, and about ready to settle in for the night. The girls know that when I put my pants on, I am going somewhere, and they are generally happier when I take my pants off. I can go outside nnd water stuff and/or talk to neighbors in my boxers, no big deal. It is the way I started making friends here at the Curious House, five years ago. Okay, four years and four months ago. I am working on my fifth year. I have a few things on my list to get done tomorrow, but nothing I need to stress over. One interesting thing about this semi-retired gig is, I can just wander around here and there, and I have very few deadlines. I like it!

Volume 17 - Day 90/275, 2025 - Monday

So, this is the last day of the first quarter of 2025. Probably the worst first quarter of all time, speaking politically. Just my opinion, and I expect it may be the same opinion of lots of other people. IYKYK, and I expect most of you know. It was a good day for a walk, and when that was over, a good day for feeding the girls and fixing a bagel for myself. I got some work done, and did not have to go in to the office to do it. I did get the hibiscuses (hibisci?) planted in the two pots in front. The proof of one of them is included with this journal entry. I had one appointment at the Curious House this afternoon, and that went pretty well. The appointment went pretty well, but I doubt too much will come from it. I enjoyed some cold chicken fingers for dinner, with Ranch Dressing dipping sauce. I got the chicken fingers at HEB, and they were okay. I expect they would have been better if I had eaten them the day I bought them. Or maybe even if I had warmed them up before eating. Whatever. Tomorrow is expected to be a good day, and it will be the ROMEO breakfast day, and Total Stranger Tuesday. Lunch with Holly and Eileen on Thursday, and a doctors appointment on Friday, and then a PAC meeting in Austin. Not too much, not too little, just right.

Volume 17 - Day 89/276, 2025 - Sunday

It was a pretty good Sunday, and I'm not sure that anyone could ask for better than that. A good walk this morning, and then I went down for a nap after I fed the girls. I got up, did a bunch of little (and not memorable) things around the house. The irrigation guy came out and checked the sprinklers, and I think all is good, but not sure. He may need to come back and replace a head or two. Maybe. Maybe not. I took off for brunch with Val, Paulina and Oliver, and the fish tacos I had were really good. Messy, but good. On the way home, I stopped by Home Depot and bought two Hibiscus for the two planters in the front of the house. That should be it for a while. The Mexican Sunflower seeds I planted a couple weeks ago are shooting up nicely, and I am really happy about that. So far, the milk weed seeds have not sprouted, but I have my fingers crossed. Tomorrow, I will plant the Hibiscus, and maybe take a picture to share with you. I just got home from going to have ice cream with Linda and Jimmie. There was a line out the door, but it was worth the wait. I don't have a lot on my schedule this week, in fact, I don't have much of anything on my calendar that this week, not that there is anything wrong with that. I expect I will continue to complain about politics, and I also think I will be complaining about politics for the next several years, at least. The photo of roses I am using with this entry are the easiest roses to cultivate, bar none. You din't need to really do anything, just dig a hole, put them in, and walk away. And they thrise in central Texas. Not that there is anything wrong with that, either. 

Volume 17 - Day 88/277, 2025 - Saturday

James and Richard and I had a nice walk this morning. After the walk, I fed the girls. They don't seem to be having any issues with the store bought food they are being fed now, and I am delighted that it is much easier to serve them. I had a bowl of cereal and went down for a quick nap, and then it was off to estate sales; me, Marian, Judy, Diane and Margie. Four sales. I spent $13.50 and brought home an old iron and a Dia de Los Muertos skeleton playing a trumpet. It was down for another nap after the sales, and I worked up the courage to go to HEB. I have sustenance for at least another three or four days, at which time I will likely make another trip. I have not needed to water outside plants since we had a nice bit of rain in the last couple of days. There is a rumor that we might have more rain tonight, I hope so, and I hope it will provide us with a nice lightning show, too. This orange was the best part of my dinner so far, the other dinner bits have been some Oreo cookies. I really need to work on my diet. Tomorrow is lunch with Paulina, Val and Oliver, and not sure what else might come up, but I am pretty sure something will. 

Volume 17 - Day 87/278, 2025 - Friday

By the time we were ready for our walk this morning, the rain had ended. Overall, yesterday my gauge recorded 1.13" of much needed rain. It dribbled just a little bit today, and not a lot is in the gauge, but we got enough to turn the sprinklers off. We had a good, but abbreviated walk this morning, and after a little while, I went in to the office. Deposited a few checks, brought a few things to the Curious House, stopped to check my (losing) Lotto tickets, bought more, bought a giant burrito, ate the burrito, read the paper, took a nap, fed the girls, checked the mail, complained about my 'toll tag,' made a couple calls, answered a few emails, deleted a LOT of emails, watched the news, ignored the news, and now I am composing this journal entry. There are four estate sales tomorrow, and we will make the best of those. The girls are now off their fanch-schmantzy food, and back on the store bought food. They are not complaining, and I am really happy with the convenience. I have learned that, the more expensive the food is, the more difficult it is to serve it to the girls. Lesson learned.