Volume 18 - Day 247/118, 2026 - Friday

OMG! I had a series of first world problems today, but I really understand that I am a very lucky person. I had the day planned from 9AM until about 4:30PM, and as it turned out, I got back to the Curious House about 3:30. I have always liked finding an extra hour in my day for me. PV kept the girls while I went about my chores, and I got to my first appointment about a half-hour early. The photo accompanying this was from a rain shower on my way to the knee pain doctor. I was called in, had my blood pressure, temperature and heart rate checked, and then they forgot about me. The lights in the room went out after about ten minutes, and I decided to just go with it. They finally came in to give me the injection about 30 minutes after the lights went out. The last time I was forgotten about in a medical facility included a CAT scan and I was the last appointment of the day. It was interesting. Plans for lunch with Eileen and Holly did not work out, so I went to what I though was going to be my 3:30 appointment, and I got to my 1:30 appointment at about 12:15. I sat in the car, took a nap, listened to the current book (I don't recommend it), and my alarm went off at 1:20. I got that done, and headed back to the Curious House. I expected we got nothing but a trace of rain in Georgetown, and I checked the gauge; 1/100th of an inch. It's Friday night, I have finished dinner and I am about to finish this journal entry, and I think it is time for a couple naps. 

Volume 18 - Day 246/119, 2026 - Thursday

The same damn song has been making me sing it in my head, all day long. The Birds & the Bees by Jewel Akens. I think it was the pick of the week on SHINDIG in 1965. FACT: Songs get stuck in your head, a phenomenon known as an earworm or involuntary musical imagery, because catchy melodies trigger brain loops that keep replaying patterns of sound. Whatever. I did next to nothing today; I trimmed some limbs off the maple tree at the front patio, I DID NOT put to garbage out for collection since there was next to nothing in the can, I watered very little since the sprinklers ran last night, and we had 0.22" of rain yesterday afternoon. At about 5:45, I went to my first Civilian Police Academy, which was very interesting. The Georgetown Police Chief was the instructor for this first class, then there was a tour of the facility. Overall, the facility is pretty impressive, and I had no idea there was so much stuff in that HQ building. The only problem was the class ran 45 minutes longer than expected, and the girls did not like that at all, which is code for 'they are gonna pee in the closet.' They are not pleased when I leave in the evenings, it is what it is. The photo accompanying this entry is one of the police training dummies, 155 pounds of dummy. I'm choosing NOT to drag a dummy anywhere!

Volume 18 - Day 245/120, 2026 - Wednesday

The girls were a little bit pissed off by the time I got home this afternoon. It was kind of like a day in the 'old days,' I left the Curious House before nine and I did not get back until about 4:30. After the morning walk, I headed in to Austin for our monthly meeting. After that, I stopped by the pharmacy, and then my next appointment was out by Lake Travis. I had about an hour-and-a-half before that appointment, so I wandered around a little bit. It was kind of nostalgic, although I had not intended it to be. I went down 2222, which was the route I took in 1985 and decided I was happy with Austin. It is a very nice drive, especially for someone that had just moved here. That took me to Jester, where Jody and I lived for a while when we first got together. The house brings back lots of memories, and the tree I planted in the front yard is really big and healthy looking. The photo accompanying this post is on the way down Jester to 2222. The view of the city from there was always worth looking at. I stalled until about 1:50 and could not think of anywhere else I needed to wander, so I got to our clients home, and Maggie met me about five minutes later. It was an interesting afternoon, glad to be back at the Curious House, and glad to report that we got a little rain shower, and there is about 2/10" in the gauge. We will take it, but that is not enough for me to turn off the sprinklers. 

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.