Volume 18 - Day 136/229, 2026 - Saturday

The two estate sales we went to today were nothing to get excited about. I spent $2 on a plastic Statue Of Liberty bank that had five pennies in it. I was hoping the pennies were pretty old, but they weren't...they ranged from 1969 to 1977. After the estate sales, Mike and I went in to Georgetown to get some scones for the next few days, and then we stopped at Walgreen's to get Marge a birthday card. We got her a cute card, but then we forgot to give it to her. I'll give it to her tomorrow. Dan barbecued burgers this afternoon, and I had one patty, then I was back at the Curious House waiting on the band to arrive and get set up. Tonight was the first House Concert of the sixth season that I have been living here, and we had a pretty good turnout. I think everyone had a good time, and it is a great way for the neighbors to get together and have a good time. The weather was perfect for the evening, and there was a nice breeze, so that was great. Tomorrow, I am not sure what is on the calendar, but I know there will be a dinner (or late lunch?) in Austin, and that will be another good evening. 

Volume 18 - Day 135/230, 2026 - Friday

Not a lot going on today, we had a nice walk this morning, and James and Dan joined me and Paul and Richard. When we finished walking, Mike and I had some breakfast, and then it was down for after breakfast naps. We sat outside for a while after that, and the weather has been really nice for the last several days. Not particularly hot, kind of cloudy, and I think the humidity has been under control. I discovered that I have misplaced a credit card, and the last time I had it was at lunch yesterday. No one has tried to use it, and I cancelled the card and there is a replacement on the way. I really believe I will find it somewhere, but just in case... A group of us went to Dahlia's in Liberty Hill for dinner tonight, and that was good. I had meat loaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and spinach. There was a lot of food brought home, but I was a member of the clean plate club. I am looking forward to estate sales tomorrow, and then the first House Concert of the Year will be in the driveway tomorrow night. I am a lucky man!

Volume 18 - Day 134/231, 2026 - Thursday

Today was an extra good day! Dan and Nancy got here (okay, next door) yesterday, and Mike got here this morning. We all went in to Georgetown for lunch, and tonight we had pizza and pasta at Frankies. Tomorrow, I think we are going to Dahlia's for dinner, and Saturday is estate sales and the house concert. While we were at Frankie's, Albert came in for his pick-up order, and that was fun. Albert (and Amber and Evan), lives four doors down. It is warm for this time of year, in my opinion, and getting warmer. I have done most of the stuff in the yard that needs to be done, but I need to call a tree guy to come out and trim up the Live Oak in the back yard. It will all be okay. This looks like a short post, but it pretty much covers all the events of the day. More tomorrow

Volume 18 - Day 133/232, 2026 - Wednesday

It was a really busy day today, and it was almost like I am not really retired! Of course, I started with a walk with Richard and Paul, and then I started making phone calls to a few colleagues that had been named as references for another colleague. I only had five calls to make, I spoke with three of them and left messages for two. I got ready to head out to my 11 o'clock meeting, and I got to the meeting with two minutes to spare! After that, I had lunch with Holly and Eileen, and then I headed to the store where I bought some patio furniture several years ago. I was just curious (as in the house) as to the possibility of buying replacement cushions for the front patio couch. I would need three sets of cushions, $400 per set. Nope, I am good with what I still have. Then I headed to an orthopedic doctors office in Georgetown. I tried to make an appointment with that doctor by phone this morning, but I was told I could not see that doctor because I was already seeing another orthopedic doctor in that same broad medical group. In my opinion, I can make an appointment with any doctor I want to...but I did not lose that battle. Ugh. Then I headed to Leander to show a home, and then back to the Curious House. I put $68 worth of gas in the little white car, and that was surprising. Nancy and Dan are in town for the weekend...they lived three houses down from me when I first moved to the Curious House. Mike will arrive tomorrow, and then the party will be starting. Did I mention I bought a Venus Fly Trap a couple weeks ago? Not sure that it has ever caught a fly, but it is interesting to look at.

Volume 18 - Day 132/233, 2026 - Tuesday

It was cool enough when I got up this morning to open up the windows. Last night, as I do most nights, I turned up the air conditioner so it will not come on unless it gets REALLY warm. I think it was sixty when I got up, so I like having the windows open to get some fresh air in the Curious House. After our walk, I met Richard, Paul and Rick for our ROMEO breakfast, and then I stopped at Galaxy Bakery for some scones. When I got back, I decided to plant the tulip bulbs that I brought back from Amsterdam a couple weeks ago. I brought back 40 tulip bulbs, and the box includes a 'Plant Passport,' and a 'Certificate of Inspection,' so everything is kosher. The box also refers to the bulbs as 'A Typical Dutch Gift.' It also says that these bulbs are going to bloom in 4 to 6 weeks, but I have my doubts about that. I expect they will bloom next spring, but I have no idea. I think the tulip people may well be better informed about that than me. I had a zoom meeting this afternoon, scheduled for an hour-and-a-half, but we got our business done in 25 minutes. Sweet! Tomorrow, I will be going in to Austin for a meeting, then a lunch with Eileen and Holly, and then I will show a property for sale later in the afternoon. It's going to be a busy day!

Volume 18 - Day 131/234, 2026 - Monday

Well, the storms that were predicted did not happen. We had a little bit of wind, 0.6" of rain, and LOTS of thunder and lightning. I enjoyed that part, and I particularly enjoy the fact that the girls are not the least bit concerned about thunder and lightning. As I have said in the past, these are the only dogs I have ever had that are not afraid of storms. I walked with Richard and Paul this morning, and then I just hung out a little bit before I went in to Austin to donate platelets. Paulina had to go in to her office, so we met at the blood bank. The place was REALLY cold, and even though I have a blanket, I was so cold I was shaking. It was a double platelets day, so even though I was cold, I like doing it. We have already made our appointments for the next donation. On the way back to the Curious House, I was caught up in traffic, which is not a surprise for 4 o'clock traffic in central Texas. I had dinner with Jimmie and Linda, prime rib night in Georgetown. There are a couple things on the calendar for tomorrow, but it should all be kind of fun. I've worn my Ushuaia t-shirt for two days now, and nobody has made any remarks about it. Ugh.

Volume 18 - Day 130/235, 2026 - Sunday

I am set for photos to accompany this entry and at least the entry for tomorrow. We are looking for heavy storms overnight, beginning at about 9PM at the Curious House, and ending probably around 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. By the time we are ready for our morning walk, there will be no signs of rain. I have put all the potted plants on the ground, and moved a few things here and there, to avoid problems with winds, forecast to be upwards of 60 miles per hour. Hopefully, the fact that I have prepared what I could, it will not be as bad as it could be. It has been a really lovely day in central Texas so far, the temperature peaked in the upper 80s, and part of the storms this evening will be the result of a cold front coming through. I did very little today, so far, and I don't really see that changing for the hours leading to tomorrow. Val and I did go to an estate sale, neither one of us bought anything. I have eaten lots of left-over food collected over the last week. There is plenty of open space in the refrigerator now, so I expect I will start collecting again this week. Tomorrow is going to be a platelet day, and Paulina and I will show up at the blood bank about 1 o'clock. Donating platelets always make me feel good, so I am looking forward to it! The photo accompanying this journal entry is what I paid $7.50 for at an estate sale yesterday. I just had to have it!