Volume 17 - Day 12/353, 2025 - Sunday

I am not going to bore you with the outside temperature this morning, because I don't remember what the temperature was when I got up this morning. I am pretty sure it was warmer than it was yesterday, so there is that. Richard and Paul and I had a nice walk, and when I got home, I watched about 15 minutes of Sunday Morning and then I started putzing around the house. I put all the plants back outside (I know it was 36 degrees when I did that) and the front plants were happy to enjoy some morning sunshine. I took the back plants out to the patio and deck, and they got some sun this afternoon. All the plants got a little drink of water...they did not get a lot of water because I knew I was going to have to bring them back in in the afternoon. I did a couple other things in the garage, and then I headed off to brunch with Candy and Terry. I had no other errands to run, so I got home and went down for a nap with the girls. As of now, I've had dinner and put the plants back in, and it is time to call it a day. I will be going in to Austin tomorrow, probably for just a couple hours. I have one doctors appointment this week and one next week. Hopefully, that will wind down after that. It should be a pretty good week.

Volume 17 - Day 11/354, 2025 - Saturday

This was the coldest morning for our walks this season, 28 degrees, maybe 27, but there was no wind. Me, James, Paul and Richard. We solved a lot of the worlds problems, and likely created a few that someone else can solve. My cable and internet service is $210 per month. Yesterday, Optimum (hereafter referred to as 'those people') stopped making Nextstar (NBC) available. I don't know which company is the selfish one, but I really suspect them both. I do have one tv in the kitchen that is on an antenna, so I can get NBC on that tv. I am on the verge (probably more like planning) to cancel my Optimum cable and keep the internet service, and go to streaming. Just as soon as someone (anyone) comes to the Curious House and makes all the changes for me. Apparently, streaming is what we are all going to be doing in the near future, and I guess I will be okay with that. I still want printed newspapers, though, so I think it is ironic that I am an early adopter for some things, but a luddite for other things. UGH! There were two estate sales this morning, both put on by the same company, and one was awful and the other one was pretty good. I did buy a few things at the second one, and I think everyone bought something except Marge. I think that is two weeks that Marge has not bought anything. After the estate sales, Val, Paulina and I went to brunch, and later I needed to go by the bank, and then it was nap time for me. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, and I think I will be able to put the plants outside for a couple days on Tuesday. At least for a couple days. Tomorrow, I am meeting Candy and Terry for brunch, and then I am not sure what the plan will be, not that I need to be making plans, and not that there is anything wrong with that.

Volume 17 - Day 10/355, 2025 - Friday

Well, here we are again on Friday night, finally the skies are clear, we got a little bit of sun beginning about 4 o'clock this afternoon. It will be really cold overnight, expected low temperature of 24 degrees, and then a warmup for several days. Overnight tonight might be the last freeze here for about five days. Maybe. It was a good morning for a walk, it did not get to freezing last night, and I think it might have been in the 40s when I got up this morning. I did go in to the office this morning, and did about a couple hours worth of stuff, and then I headed home. There were no stops on the way home, and I did a couple loads of laundry this afternoon, all clean, all dry, all put where it is supposed to be put. I had 31 t-shirts in the laundry, and I think that is a record for me. Tomorrow there are two estate sales, and I am looking forward to doing that, and then I might do something else. Not sure. Breathing. I am pretty sure I will keep breathing.

Volume 17 - Day 9/356, 2025 - Thursday

It was 38 degrees when I got up this morning, and it stayed about 38 degrees most of the day. It is 36 degrees now, and it has also been drizzling rain for a large part of the day. You know what that means, right. The girls are not too interested in getting their feet wet. But I digress. It was a pretty good morning for our walk, but I only did a half walk. I had a 9 o'clock meeting in Austin, and I left the Curious House about 8:30. I got back from the meeting about 12:30, and spent the rest of the day watching it rain. Tonight was the neighbor's dinner, and that was fun. There were 11 of us, and there was lots of good conversation and story telling. We always have a good time at our dinners. I am going in to Austin sometime tomorrow morning, just to see if there is anything that needs to be done. We are probably going to lease the office to someone, and we are giving ourselves some time to get stuff done, and make it available for an April 1st occupancy date. That should be enough time. Other than cash, I wish I could think of something I could do for the people in California that have lost everything. It just goes to confirm to me that I am a really, really lucky person.

Volume 17 - Day 8/357, 2025 - Wednesday

It was a few degrees warmer this morning (two days in a row) when Richard and Paul and I went for our walk. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer...maybe right at freezing, maybe a little bit above. Some counties west of us may get some freezing rain beginning tomorrow morning, but here in our part of the world, just ordinary rain. Ordinary is not that ordinary here lately, we are way behind in rainfall for the last couple years, and there is a chance we could get up to two inches, and that would be a real treat. We need water in the lakes, for sure. I went in to the office for a little while this morning, and got home about 2:30. I stopped at HEB on the way home, so far, it doesn't seem like folks in this part of Texas are clearing the shelves. There was plenty of milk, eggs and bread. Tomorrow, I have a 9 o'clock meeting, then I will head home, and the neighbors dinner is tomorrow evening. It will be fun to see everyone, and I an looking forward to that. The photo accompanying this entry was taken yesterday, we have really had a great showing of clouds the last couple of days. I believe these are mammatus clouds, but if I am wrong, feel free to correct me. 

Volume 17 - Day 7/358, 2025 - Tuesday

It was 2 or 3 degrees warmer this morning than it was yesterday, and the wind was not nearly as strong, which made it a much nicer walk for Richard, Paul and me. After the walk, I met Richard and Rick for the ROMEOs breakfast, and since it is Tuesday, it was another Total Stranger Tuesday day (see photo above), and then went back to the Curious House for the rest of the day. I did not do much of anything, napped a little, cleaned and straightened a few things, and got ready to go out to the Bon Aire for dinner with Linda and Jimmie. Going to the Bon Aire is always kind of a treat, because the have peel 'em and eat 'em shrimp for 39 cents a piece, and really good hamburgers. On the way home, Linda was reading previous journal posts and complaining that she and Jimmie were not getting nearly enough print space in the journal. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Jimmie & Linda. Okay, that ought to hold her for a while. 

Volume 17 - Day 6/359, 2025 - Monday

It was cold enough this morning that an ice cube could have had a chance in Hell. It is supposed to be a couple degrees colder in the morning, and then a 'warming' trend for the next several days. BUT, the freezing temperatures may go through Sunday morning. The boys (Paul and Richard) and I are not really sure who the dumbest ones are/were, but we did walk this morning, although we did cut about a quarter mile off the walk. Once I got home, I had a leisurely time getting ready to go in to Austin. Once there, Maggie and I took a trip to one of the properties we will be listing. We were almost back to the office, and we turned around and went back. We are both victims of circumstances. Whatever. It did make it up in to the high 40s this afternoon, and it could have been worse. I am pretty sure that NONE of the morning glories will survive the cold temperatures, but that is totally expected. I am not quite ready to call it a night; I went to check the mail after 6PM and it still had not been delivered. I will go look again after 8, and will wonder why it seems to be getting delivered later and later.