Volume 18 - Day 244/121, 2026 - Tuesday

I had a solo walk this morning, and I just walk kind of 'freestyle' when I walk by myself. I got home and fed the girls, the Piglet still has a couple medicines she is taking, and that will go on for another couple days. Being the first of the month, they also got their monthly pill to keep heart worms and other things away. They don't much mind because I camouflage the pills in the little red baby cheeses. They know when the first of the month is here. Bob and I met for the ROMEO breakfast, and I left from there to Galaxy Bakery to pick up my weekly scones. I asked them if I didn't show up on Tuesday morning, would they call the Police, and I was disappointed with their answer. On the way back to the Curious House, I took the little white car to the dealer for a car wash, it has been MONTHS since I got the little white car washed. It wont be long before I have to take it in for service, and that will be kind of extreme! I did very little of anything after I got home, but this afternoon, I vacuumed (honest!), and did a few more things around the house. Tomorrow I have a couple appointments; two in Austin, one out by Lake Travis. I am getting tired of complaining about no rain, so I won't. It has been a while since I shared cloud photos, and I think the clouds were extra nice today.

Volume 18 - Day 243/122, 2026 - Monday

Paul and I did an abbreviated walk this morning, and after that I got a few things done around the Curious House. Everything got watered, front and back, and I looked at my carry-on bag that I took to San Antonio last week. I still haven't unpacked it, I just take what I need out of it when I need something, and I will eventually get it emptied and stored back in the guest room closet. I don't think it was as hot today as it has been, but I'm not sure. I will catch the late news before I crash for the night, then again, maybe not. Paulina and I went to Costco this afternoon, and I got a few things, nothing really too much, but I am set with popcorn and pretzels for the near term. I have a whole new respect for the folks that collect shopping baskets from the parking lots. Paulina and I each had a basket, and there were two abandoned baskets next to the car. I gathered them all up and took them to the 'basket gathering' place in the parking lot. It was definitely not as easy as one might think, and this Karma thing is sometimes too much trouble!

Volume 18 - Day 242/123, 2026 - Sunday

I left the hotel in San Antonio this morning at about 7:30, and I made it to the Curious House by about 9:30. I am surprised at how quickly I made it back to Georgetown, but I am not complaining. Just before 10 o'clock, I went and retrieved the girls and brought them back to the Curious House, and then Paulina, Val and I took off and went to four estate sales. These sales were definitely better than the sales in San Antonio yesterday. I bought a few things and actually took the things out of the Buzz that I bought last week. A couple weeks ago, I decided that the ledge of the rock wall behind the house would be a great place to begin a sculpture 'garden,' only without the garden part. I saw this top piece of a concrete fountain at one of the sales, and I thought Paulina wanted to buy it for herself, but she actually bought it for me. And so, the sculpture garden begins. I made it to HEB this afternoon, and picked up some groceries, and fed the girls. I have made sure that I know what I have on my schedule for the next couple weeks, so I feel like I am in control. It's interesting how uncoordinated I feel after just a couple days out of town. I wonder how I used to do it?

Volume 18 - Day 241/124, 2026 - Saturday

I stayed in bed longer today than I have in probably at least the last year. I did not have to get out of bed, so I didn't. When I did get up, I got ready and went to lunch with Holly and Gavin. After that, I met Philip and Vanessa to three estate sales. OMG, they were not really that good. There were a few things I picked up and looked at, but nothing is so overpriced as estate sale items in San Antonio! Then back to the hotel, we sat in the bar for a while, then up to the room to get ready for the installation ceremony. My friend Tony from Lubbock was installed tonight as the 2027 Chairman of Texas REALTORS®, and he is a great choice for that office. The photo accompanying this entry is of me and a bunch of friends and colleagues from Austin, and we had a really great time. I do not need to stay for the Board of Directors meeting tomorrow, so I expect I will be on the road headed north by about 8 or 8:30. That will get me back to the Curious House and the girls at a reasonable time in the morning, and it will be good to get back home. I may even look at estate sales and hit a few. We shalll see.

Volume 18 - Day 240/125, 2026 - Friday

There was a lot of day packed into this day. It started early, even though I did not walk, there was stuff to do. I had a doctors appointment at 10:20, and the doctors office is 40 miles from the Curious House. That was convenient in a way, the appointment was in far south Austin, and I am now in San Antonio. After getting my viscosupplementary shot, I took off for the Alamo City. I will be here a couple nights, for the Texas REALTORS® annual meeting. I got registered, and took a nap, and then headed off to a TREPAC reception on the Riverwalk. I enjoy visiting with all the friends and colleagues I have met over the years, and there is a certain amount of freedom knowing that I no longer have a job or a responsibility at these meetings. I like that freedom. While were were at that reception, there was a 'Imminent Threat Alert,' and it was kind of crazy outside. The alert also stated it was a 'dangerous and life-threatening' situation. It was indeed kind of crazy, but we got ourselves back to the hotel with no real issues, other than a little bit of rain to and from the shuttles. It was really kind of interesting. Back at the hotel, we sat in the bar for a while, and I called it a night so I could get this journal entry done before midnight. One of my obsessions. Tomorrow morning, I may hit a couple estate sales in San Antonio, just because I can, we shall see! I like this caricature kind of photo very much; Holly, Melinda, me and Nancy! Much fun!

Volume 18 - Day 239/126, 2026 - Thursday

My day was a cacophony of first world problems, and I am totally aware that I am lucky to be having first world problems. Yesterday, my knee was giving me REAL problems. It is better today, but still a problem. Tomorrow, I will get the second shot (of a total of 5 shots) that is supposed to (I think) put some gel in the knee to help with the 'bone-on-bone' challenge. Then, of course, there is the arthritis, so, what to do? I walked alone this morning, and I changed up the route again, just for a different view of the world. Once I got back to the Curious House, I did a load of laundry, and I experienced another issue with the washing machine. Instead of spinning the clothes dry, it drains the water, then fills up again, then drains, then fills up. I finally figured this out, and put sopping wet clothes in the dryer. I did that with about three loads in the dryer, and put jeans and shorts out on the back patio. The error code on the washer says that the drain line might be clogged up, so I will try and make sure that line is clear. But not today. By that time, it was time to leave for the blood bank, me, Paulina and Marian. Of course, we made a stop at Upper Crust. SO...my platelet donation went bad, the 'rinse back' went outside the vein, and beepers and buzzers would not quit. Whatever. The main problem is, I can't make a donation for 56 days, which would put me at the end of October. I think I will just take a rest until November. We shall see.

Volume 18 - Day 238/127, 2026 - Wednesday

Paul did not walk this morning, so I did an abbreviated walk. My knee is really giving me challenges today, and I have no idea if I did something to aggravate it, or if it is just deciding to decline on its' own. Whichever is the most accurate, I don't like it. I had nothing on my calendar today until early afternoon, so I took advantage of the time, and finished chopping up t-shirts to send to the quilt making company. In the past five or six days, I have shopped up 92 t-shirts and mailed them off. 64 to make a king size quilt and 24 to make a twin xl. The twin size will be my new blood bank quilt, because it gets really cold in there when you are donating platelets. Oh, and tomorrow is a platelet day, so I am looking forward to that! Tonight was our neighborhood dinner night, and we went to Encantada (formerly El Monumento) in Georgetown. It was a blast, I had a great time, and I think everyone did. I ordered chile rellenos, and it was delicious, and the portion was huge, so I brought about half of it home. So far, with Paulina's help, I have my airline reservations made, and hotel reservations made in Paris, Barcelona, Malaga and London. I have two train trips left to book, the ferry through the Straits of Gibraltar, and guides in Barcelona and Malaga. It is going to be fun, and I am looking forward to it!