Volume 18 - Day 91/274, 2026 - Wednesday

The score is now 3-0, I have been in Austin for three days in a row now, but I will not be driving in tomorrow, in fact, I have nothing t all on my calendar for the next two days. Actually, that's a lie; I am taking a virtual class on Friday, but at least I don't need to go anywhere to take the class, and I don't have to wear pants. Yes, there was a nice walk this morning, I think I might quit remarking about that, and as of tomorrow I will only be reporting if I DO NOT take a walk, or if something extraordinary happens on the walk. You're welcome! Let's all work toward keeping Austin weird; on the way in to Austin this morning, I passed this truck, and was a little bit startled until I figured out it was a dummy in the back seat. Not sure if there was a dummy in the front seat or not, but I did manage to get a few photos during the next several miles. Interesting! I did make it to two meetings, and I was on time for both of them. This afternoon, I had an appointment to get 'cracked,' and I am on a monthly rotation for 'cracking.' If everything works out overnight, we MIGHT get a bit of rain, and I hope this forecast is not an April Fool's joke. I am reading a new book (for the last couple days), called The Secret Lives of Murderers Wives, Elizabeth Arnott. It is very interesting, and I am going through it pretty quickly. It is about women who were married to serial killers, what they had/have in common and similar characteristics the men they were married to shared. Fiction (I think), but interesting. 

Volume 18 - Day 90/275, 2026 - Tuesday

Yes, of course I had a walk this morning with Paul and Richard. Then we had our ROMEO breakfast, and Bob joined us for the first time. We might have overwhelmed him, but we are hoping he will become one of the regulars. Not only do we solve the problems of the world, but we also eavesdrop on conversations and criticize diners at other tables. Okay, that is me, really, sharing my thoughts with the servers helping the diners at other tables. After breakfast, I got back to the Curious House, and did some more work on my taxes, and I am very happy with my results so far. I am pretty sure I will be ready for my appointment with the CPA a week from today. Late this morning, I drove to Dripping Springs to visit with my friend Betty who is on a six month RV trip across the country, going here and there. She lives in Maumelle, Arkansas, and I think going cross-country at your own pace is probably one of the coolest things you can do. Unless, of course, you do it on a train, but then you could not have lunch with your friends along the way. Tomorrow will be another busy (sort of) day, and the third day in a row that I will go in to Austin. Two meetings in Austin and a chiropractor appointment in Georgetown. 

Volume 18 - Day 89/276, 2026 - Monday

This is pitiful; I had lunch with Michael and Lynda this morning, and book club met at the Curious House this evening, and I did not take a single picture of either event. I think I am losing my touch. Richard and Paul and I had a nice walk this morning, and after that, I went down for a little nap while I watched the morning news shows. I went in to Austin for lunch with Micheal and Lynda, and got lost in the process. Siri wanted me to go to one restaurant location but lunch was at another location. I made it on time though, and spent some time catching up. On the way home, I needed to stop at the bank and then HEB. I got gas in the little white car, and snacks for book club. I will be eating the snacks for at least a couple days, not that there is anything wrong with that. During book club, the girls went over and spent the evening with Val and Paulina, and Paulina even let them get up on her new couch! We are all back at the Curious House now, and pretty soon it will be popcorn and ice cream. No ice cream for the girls! Tomorrow will be the ROMEO breakfast and I think another friend of ours, Bob, is going to join us. After that, I am going to have lunch with my friend Betty, and I am really looking forward to that. I am also working on my income tax, and I have an appointment with the CPA next Tuesday. I will have enough stuff done that he can estimate my tax liability and file an extension. Whatever!

Volume 18 - Day 88/277, 2026 - Sunday

I stayed pretty busy today, starting with a good walk with Richard and Pau. I watched part of Sunday Morning, but lost interest and started cleaning (straightening out) the garage. I almost filled the recycling container with paper bags that I have been saving for too many years. I am not saving them anymore. After that, I went to one of the big box pet stores (not sure which one) and got bird seed and some dog food. I am stocking up on dog food because I will be out of town for a couple weeks in April. After that, Val and I went to an estate sale that I was at yesterday, but the main thing I went back for was already sold, that's just the way things go. I thought it was too expensive yesterday, it would have been better at 50% off, but it was a goner. I watered plants, and then some other neighbors (Albert, Amber and their son Evan) came down, Evan is going to help watch the girls and water plants while I am gone. After that, I went to Costco with Linda and Jimmie, and now I am ready to have some ice cream and pile up for the night. I think the girls are pretty ready to chill out as well.These geraniums are at least three years old, and I have two potts of them, and they seem to be very happy, which makes me smile. I also put some potting soil in the pot with the big ficus, and I will give it a little fertilizer later this week. 

Volume 18 - Day 87/278, 2026 - Saturday

We went to seven estate sales today, and at one of them, across the street from the actual sale, there was a house with an absolutely beautiful stand of red, white and pink amaryllis. Absolutely beautiful. The Curious House boasts a few amaryllis, all procured over the years from Trader Joe's, and they get better every year. I'm happy with them. Before estate sales, Richard and Paul and James and I had a nice walk, and there was some (only some) good conversation. Seven estate sales is a LOT of estate sales, and it was me, Diane and Marian. I am pretty sure everyone bought something, and I spent about $25 and got a few cool things. I am going back to one of the sales tomorrow to check out a couple things that will be half-off. You never know what might happen on the last day of a sale. After the sale, Marian, Paulina and I went to the Georgetown Community Center, where they were having a native plant sale. By the time we got there (1PM) they had sold out of everything and the place was next to empty. I guess it was a competition between estate sales and native plants, and the sales won. I hired a new lawn care guy, and he cut the grass this afternoon, the first time of the season. He did a good job, and I think we will be on a two week rotation. Every two weeks should be plenty. I just got back from the quicky-picky, where I got my lottery tickets for the next few days. One of these days...

Volume 18 - Day 86/279, 2026 - Friday

Today is Val's birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAL! The day started with a good walk, and then I got back to the Curious House, had a scone, did a few things in the office, and then I went down for a nap. I didn't do a whole lot for the rest of the day, the girls and I just kind of hung out. I did get a few things in the office done, and got some planning done. I talked to a couple people in Chicago about flights to and from Africa for my trip in September. I think I (Paulina) found better and less expensive flights round trip, so I probably will not use the recommended vendor to book those flights. We have had a cool front come through, so it is 17 degrees cooler right now than it was a five o'clock this afternoon. The cooler weather is only going to last a couple days, but we will take what we can get. I went to dinner tonight with Val and Paulina to celebrate his birthday, and had cake from Upper Crust after dinner. Tomorrow will be seven estate sales, and I am looking forward to that. In the afternoon, there is a native plant sale going on at San Gabriel Park, and I expect I will go to that, just to see what I can find. 

Volume 18 - Day 85/280, 2026 - Thursday

This time tomorrow should be a little bit cooler than it has been lately in central Texas. The weather prognosticator said it is unusual to have 90 degree temperatures in March, and so far there have been five days at 90 degrees or better. I think that is the most 90 degree days in March ever here. Maybe tomorrow it will break, and we will be more seasonable, and I can open the windows again. Maybe. Paul and Richard and I had a nice walk this morning, I need to start walking a little further to get my knee used to it. I had a zoom class this morning for three hours, and then a zoom meeting for one hour this afternoon. Other than that, I did very little of anything today. I did get a few things done in the office between zoom meetings, and I have absolutely nothing on my list of things to get done tomorrow. There are seven estate sales on Saturday, and that might well be a record for us. I plan to finish the current book, The Bean Trees, over the weekend since book club is Monday night and I am the host this month. I have to say, I am not particularly fond of this book, but I will get it finished. I do have a nice little group of Bluebonnets in the front bed, and they are particularly lovely this year. Lots of them on the sides of the highways, always a sign that spring has sprung!