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.

Volume 18 - Day 221/144, 2026 - Sunday

My friend Deb is visiting from Vancouver, WA...okay, she WAS visiting...she got here on Friday evening and right now she is on a plane heading home...but that is just a detail. I'll start over...my friend Deb was visiting from Vancouver, WA, and she had lunch with another couple friends in the neighborhood, Mike and Judy. I was asked to attend and I did, and it was a LOT of fun. We laughed and talked and caught up with lots of stuff, and the lunch was delicious. After lunch, I had planned to go to Target and HEB. On the way to Target, I talked myself in and out of going to either one of them at least four times, and Target is not that far from the Curious House. I did make it to Target, but I decided I could go to HEB tomorrow or the next day. We shall see. Otherwise, it was a very nice Sunday that was unhurried and untroubled. During my visit with Deb, Mike and Judy, I discovered my next book (before I start the September book club book); The Calamity Club, by Kathryn Stockett that also wrote The Help. Deb said she laughed out loud a lot while reading the book, and that is what I am looking forward to. However...it is a 29 hour listen on Audible, so I expect I need to start listening pretty quickly. Tomorrow I am having lunch with Jetta and Julie, and on Tuesday, I have an early morning meeting in Austin. That is as far as I have looked on my calendar, and...there is always tomorrow. Or Tuesday! The photo is me, Deb, Judy and Mike.

Volume 18 - Day 220/145, 2026 - Saturday

Well, there was no need for me to chop and pull the morning glory vines out of the trees behind the rock wall today. Oliver, 19 year old monkey person that he is, climbed up the wall (no ladder needed) and cut the vines and pulled them out of the tree. This is an annual chore, and I appreciate Oliver doing it. He said he was helping, but he did it all, I did nothing but watch. There were five estate sales for me, Judy, Marian and Diane to visit this morning. I spent about $35 on stuff that I really needed, and I think Val and I will go to a couple tomorrow. Paulina and Oliver are in Las Cruces right now, so Val and I went to Taylor and had catfish for dinner at Lucky Duck's. I have been having a craving, and that is taken care of for a month or two now. The most recent lawn folks cut the grass today, and so far, so good. It is not easy to find good grass cutters these days; first world problems. I am getting itchy to get on a train, so I think, if all goes well with the knee injection next week, I may plan something. I am thinking a seven day trip, maybe. I will have to see what I can come up with.

Volume 18 - Day 219/146, 2026 - Friday

Well, that was disappointing. I made an appointment with a pain relief doctor, hoping to get a viscosupplementation injection in my knee, but NO! They have to submit it to my insurance companies (Medicare is one) to approve the fee. The office for this pain group is $) miles from the Curious House, one way. I feel like I have been driving for most of the day. I am not in constant pain, I just want to have the gel injection to SEE if it will lessen the bone-on-bone challenge I am experiencing. The steroid shots worked the first time, but after that, nothing. I was prescribed a pain drug, which I do not expect to use, I don't want to use, but I guess they know better than me. Whatever. The pills are in my medicine cabinet if you want them. Other than that...Oliver brought me a burrito (I think) that was really good, he is quite accomplished at burrito making! I did a few things around the Curious House, and there are five estate sales tomorrow, that will be fun! Me and the girls (real girls!). I also expect that I will go chop down some morning glory vines that are growing up in one of the trees on the other side of the rock wall. I do that every year, nothing terrible. I have no idea what the police, fire and ambulance was doing on 38th Street this afternoon, but that is not unusual, either. Always something going on that I can't figure out.