Volume 18 - Day 228/137, 2026 - Sunday

Well, the Piglet is not going to be happy abut this. She still has the bandage (kleenex and tape) on her right front foot that VPO fashioned for her yesterday, and I pretty comfortable saying that there has been no more bleeding since yesterday. I will be dropping her off at the vet tomorrow morning at 8:30, and the part she will not like most is that she cannot have breakfast in the morning. I expect the vet will remove the toe nail that is just barely hanging on, but I will know more tomorrow. VP and I went to another estate sale this morning in Liberty Hill. That is not my usual hunting ground, but one of the women I like very much that does estate sales, told us about it last week, so we thought we would give it a shot. We all bought a few things, and that was good. Then it was time for a nap, and I took off for HEB at about 1:30, but before that, I stopped at Paris Baguette (a franchise) that opened last week. I have been to another location in Austin, but the one that opened here in Georgetown was overwhelming. Lots of interesting looking culinary delights, but I didn't buy anything. Again, I was just overwhelmed and decided I would go back during the week when it may not be quite so crowded. Val made goulash so I went next door for dinner, and after that, PO went to Paris Baguette and brought me a couple treats. That will keep me busy for a couple days, anyway.

Volume 18 - Day 227/138, 2026 - Saturday

Well, today turned out to be an interesting day, and kind of out of the ordinary for some parts of it. Of course it started with a nice walk. My knew is not pain free, but the pain is a different kind of pain, so not sure what to think. I looked up the particular injection that I had yesterday, and it said I should expect tremendous relief 'several weeks after the fifth injection.' Well, that means I have a little bit over a month to go. We shall see. Marian, Paulina, Judy and I went to two estate sales, they were not great, but everybody bought something. I spent about $30, I bought a couple odd pieces AND a couple (maybe three) sets of white towels. Bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths. I bought towels a while back, allegedly 'very absorbent' but not really. I could not get dry with those towels. The towels I got today, that Paulina took and washed and dried already, and (hopefully) are hopefully very absorbent. Val is a self proclaimed towel expert, and he tells me they are very good, high quality towels. Yippee! After the estate sale, we decided to go to Temple for lunch. At Buc-ee's. Paulina was on a quest to get an A&M t-shirt for herself, and they had just gone on sale. I had a brisket sandwich for lunch (there is no place to sit inside Buc-ee's, so we sat in the jeep). Really, honestly, going to Buc-ee's was just a cover for the real purpose, which was to go to GoGo's Treatery. We love that place. They have the best FrYo and pastries, cakes, cupcakes, etc. Absolutely the best. We made it home, no longer hungry, and it was time for a nap. Later in the afternoon, Val brought the freshly washed towels over, and when he left, the Piglet decided to leave a trail of blood from the front door to the bedroom. Val, Paulina and Oliver came over and got the Piglet's front right paw wrapped and got the bleeding stopped. Apparently, she chewed one of the nails on that pay practically off, and it is just hanging, hardly attached. There was blood EVERYWHERE. I have requested an appointment with the vet for Monday morning, we will see if that can be done. Time to call it a day!

Volume 18 - Day 226/139, 2026 - Friday

Inside this blue bundle awaits the miracle injection(s) I have been waiting for for a while. GenVisc (Sodium Hyaluronate 25 mg) 850. Five injection regimen. I was expecting one shot and done, and I was surprised when the doctor told me 'the insurance company said you need five injections.' I am surprised that the insurance company knows anything about what I need, but who am I to question the medical/insurance professions. Not like I have been trying to get these injections for a while now, so I am not going to protest anything. So, right now I have a bit of pain in my knee, but it is a different pain than what I ws experiencing this morning. That might go away tomorrow, fingers crossed. SO...my appointment for the shot was at 10:20 this morning, and it is/was forty miles from the Curious House. I made it with no real issues, and I left that office at about 10:45. I had a one o'clock appointment by Mansfield Dam (Lake Travis), so I stalled, and drove up and down 620 for about an hour-and-a-half. I got to the appointment at about 12:35, and the client was up at the road, so there was no way for me to hide. It all worked out, and that appointment lasted a couple hours, and I got back to the Curious House  little after four o'clock this afternoon. I went to dinner with Jimmie and Linda, and when I got home, Paulina came over to chat for just a few minutes. I will be heading to the bedroom to pile up in the big chair with two small dogs in just about ten minutes. I am ready to call this day finished. 

Volume 18 - Day 225/140, 2026 - Thursday

The photo accompanying this entry is (possibly) what it looks like to be kind of bored at a neighborhood HOA meeting. There are 441 (some say 440) homes in our subdivision, and owners of twelve homes were represented at the meeting, not including the two Board members in attendance. Whatever. I said what I said, and did not insult anyone in the process. I must be losing my touch. Whatever (again). Today was a platelet day, and Marian and I went to donate, and walked out of the blood bank with a pint of Blue Bell ice cream. I chose Black Raspberry Fudge flavor, and I had never seen that flavor before, but I am told it is really good. I will let you know. Donating platelets is something I really like to do, so I get to visit with all those folks every two weeks or so. I get to trade interesting book reviews with Kristen at the front desk, and she and I like the same kinds of books. I have two appointments tomorrow, the first one at 10:20 in the morning, to hopefully get a shot in my knee, and the other one around Mansfield Dam at 1PM. I am going to need something to do between appointments, but I will figure something out. 

Volume 18 - Day 224/141, 2026 - Wednesday

Oh well, I tried to put these photos next to each other, but apparently I am not smart enough to do that. Thirteen years ago today, Joel W Rudd and I were officially married by a Republican Justice of the Peace in Glastonbury, Connecticut. I think these photos were taken the evening before, but I am not sure. We were at the Bed & Breakfast where we stayed, and we were all having a wonderful time. This is not all the friends we were surrounded by, but it is a good representation. Melody worked very hard to put this on for us, especially since it was just a few days after her birthday. I am a very lucky man! I had a quick zoom meeting this morning, and then I went to the VW collision place to have the badge replaced on the back hatch of the Buzz. It was touch-and-go as to whether they were going to break this one, but they were careful, and there is no longer a hole in the back of the Buzz. Tomorrow will be a platelet day, Marian and I will be going, and of course we will be making a stop at Upper Crust, just to make sure we are not deprived of anything we might find there. And tomorrow evening, there is a Board of Directors meeting of the HOA, and that will be interesting. I am looking very forward to attending that meeting. YIPPEE!

Volume 18 - Day 223/142, 2026 - Tuesday

OMG, I am a tired old man right now. Well, I forgot to self-medicate last night, and I didn't realize that until it was too late. I slept very poorly, although I know I slept a little bit. I got out of bed at five, and I already knew I was not walking this morning or going to the ROMEO breakfast. I had an appointment in Austin at 8:15 this morning, and I got home from that appointment at about 2 o'clock this afternoon. The good part is, we got our work done in the meeting, and I believe we did some really good work. I have a zoom meeting tomorrow at 11AM, and that is very civilized! The girls were a little bit confused this morning, because my schedule changes affected them as well. But, it is all done now, and life as we know it at the Curious House will get back to normal in the next several hours. Paulina and Oliver are back from Las Cruces, and they came over and visited for a little while. I think they too are tired, it's a long drive back to Georgetown. All is good. I left the Curious House this morning at 7AM, since you never know what traffic will be like at any time of the day. The clouds were really interesting, so I thought I would share it with you.

Volume 18 - Day 222/143, 2026 - Monday

In the very early evenings of the last several days, I have had notifications on my phone: Lightning has been detected in your area. No. It hasn't. Not in my area, although I am not sure how they define 'my area.' But also, if there is lightning, you would think there would be a drop or two of rain. Nope. Just really warm (hot) days and really high humidity. Ugh. I will continue to complain about this for another seven or eight weeks, so just sit down and be quiet. Today is Melody's birthday and it was fun to talk briefly with her and Bruce. I think they are all heading out for dinner later tonight. Melody is who planned Jody's and my wedding back in 2013. I went in to Austin this afternoon and had a late lunch with Jetta and Julie, always a lot of fun, we talked and trashed people, and laughed and had a good time. There was not much else that needed to be done after lunch, but I did break down and made a stop at HEB. I filled the little white car up with gas, and bought a few things inside the grocery. I expect I will make another stop at HEB later this week, since I am kind of close to running out of ice cream, and if you know me, you know I cannot let that happen! No walk or ROMEO breakfast for me tomorrow, I have an early appointment in Austin tomorrow, so I will be leaving the Curious House at about 7 or 7:15 in the morning.