Volume 18 - Day 74/291, 2026 - Sunday

It was 93 degrees in central Texas this afternoon, right now, it is 76. The low temperature overnight is expected to be about 39 degrees, and overnight on Monday about 35 degrees. On Friday, it will be 90 degrees again. Crazy. It did make for a nice walk this morning, and I did very little after the walk. Jimmie, Linda, Marge and Richard and I took off for lunch at the Salt Lick in Round Rock and then we filed into the Dell Diamond to see Banana Ball, featuring the Texas Tailgaters and the Indianapolis Clowns. I've had tickets to this game since October, and ever since then, I thought the Savannah Bananas were playing the Texas team. No matter, it was fun, and they certainly don't waste any time. AND...the games do not go over two hours, not matter what inning it is. I like that. After the game, we met Ronnie and Marian, their daughter, son-in-law and grand baby at Culver's for a little bit of custard. I'm watching the Oscar's now, and I doubt very much that this will end on time. Nothing on the schedule for tomorrow, walk and in the afternoon I will go with Paulina to run a couple errands. I still have not gone to the grocery, but maybe I will check that off my list tomorrow. Fingers crossed. In the photo, one of the players on the Texas team is batting on a unicycle. And...he got a single. Texas won the game, 7-2. Or maybe 7-1. Not sure.

Volume 17 - Day 73/292, 2026 - Saturday

Overall, today was a most excellent day, in several different ways. Don't mess it up! It started out with a good walk with Richard and Paul, and when I got home, I had a bagel for breakfast. We had six estate sales to hit this morning, and Marian and Judy and I took off for that and had a great time. Judy finally bought something, Marian got a signed basketball from Tech, and I spent about $70 on stuff that I did not know I could not live without. The very best find of the day is Beulah! Meet Beulah, she is Bertha's sister. Beulah is happily ensconced in the living room, and so far, Bertha is in the garage. Beulah just absolutely makes me smile every time I look at her. After estate sales, I went in to Georgetown and had a six shrimp combo (shrimp, salad, fries and a drink). Then I went back to one of the estate sales, because Val saw a trunk that he wanted. When we were there this morning, it was priced at $225. They were closing for the day at 3, so I got back there at 2:45, it was half price, and I ended up with it for $100. Okay, really, Val ended up with it for $100. Later on in the afternoon, Val, Paulina and Oliver came over to do their final walk-through of the house next door that they will close on next week. I could not ask for better neighbors, so I am really happy about that. I expect tomorrow will start with a walk, and then late morning Jimmie, Linda, Richard, Marge and I will head off for lunch and then hit Dell Diamond to watch the Savannah Bananas. It should be a fun day, even though the weather forecast says it will be 91 degrees. Ugh!

Volume 18 - Day 72/293, 2026 - Friday

It turned out to be a really lovely day in central Texas, even though it started out a little bit chilly. If you think high 40s is chilly. I know it is much colder in other parts of the country, but we think 45 degrees is close to closing the roads temperatures. Paul and Richard and I had a nice walk, and then I did very little of anything until it was time to go pick up Marian to go to the blood bank. We met Paulina there, and the three of us wore our Lady Gaga t-shirts, so that called for a photo opportunity. Going to donate platelets is a fun part of my routine, and three of us going together is even more fun! Marian and I stopped at Upper Crust on the way there, and they were already out of cinnamon rolls, but they did say that, in the future we could order on-line and pick them up when we were going to donate. That should work! I've been having a hankering for pizza, but I was strong, and ate some chicken and cranberry salad flips. Maybe pizza tomorrow. There are six estate sales tomorrow, so there is no telling what I will find that I can't live without. Stay tuned!

Volume 18 - Day 71/294, 2026 - Thursday

It cooled off overnight, enough so that I had to put on a jacket to walk this morning. After the walk, I had an early morning appointment, and then I was on a zoom meeting later in the morning. The hallmark of a really successful zoom meeting is one that does not last as long as expected. The zoom meeting today was really excellent, both because of the content and the work we got done, but also because it did not last as long as we expected. After that meeting, I went over to Paulina's, where we (really not me, all Paulina) did a few final things for our trip next month. By the time I left Paulina's this afternoon, we (again, mostly Paulina) changed my KLM return flight from Berlin, made hotel reservations in Munich and Berlin, and booked two or three tours across Italy, Ireland and Germany. There will be lots of train rides, so I am totally 'on-board' with that. See what I did there? I have had the ficus tree in the photo accompanying this journal entry for at least two decades, maybe three. We bought it from HEB, and when we bought it (maybe three bucks) it was less that a foot high. Now, it is a great big ficus, and it takes very little care, very little attention. It is not like me at all!

Volume 18 - Day 70/295, 2026 - Wednesday

It was raining, thundering and lightning this morning, so I did not walk. Neither did Paul or Richard. With any luck, there will be a nice walk tomorrow morning. The temperature is expected to be in the 30s and 40s tomorrow morning, after being in the low 80s today. In the next couple days, we are expecting the daytime temperature to reach 90 degrees. Crazy. I had a zoom meeting this morning; it was actually an in-person meeting, but I had to get in the que for our NAR Legislative Meeting in DC coming up in June. I clicked on the registration button at 2 seconds past noon, and I was number 3000 and something in line to register. It all worked out okay, and I am registered. We have always done this meeting in May, but this year it will be in June for some unknown reason. I have another zoom meeting tomorrow morning, then an appointment after that, and then I will go to Paulina's so we can make sure we have everything together for our trip to Italy, Ireland and Germany next month. OMG, that is coming up in less than five weeks! We have been planning this trip for over a year, and it is getting ready to happen! The clouds gave way to sunshine and blue skies this afternoon, and that always makes me feel better!

Volume 18 - Day 69/296, 2026 - Tuesday

The house is very quiet right now. I took Mike to the airport this morning, and Jimmie and Linda caught a ride, too. It just so happened that they had ordered an Uber to take them to the airport, but since I was taking Mike, it was not necessary for them to take an Uber. They probably got to the airport a hour earlier than they needed to be, but I think that was not a problem. I got to and from the airport with no problems, and then I met Richard and Rick for our ROMEO breakfast. After that, I came home and took a nap, and later in the day, I got a message to go pick up a prescription. SO...my new general practitioner passed his first test, and renewed that prescription, so that is a good thing. For dinner, I had the rest of a salad and chicken that I had left over from dinner on Saturday. I think the rain chances are lessening, but I really can't tell for sure. It was expected to start raining early this evening, now it seems the rain won't really hit here until about 2 in the morning. I like rain and storms, but early morning storms like that are a little bit concerning here in central Texas. I have a zoom meeting tomorrow, and then a registration call for our Hill Visits in June. Then I will likely be done for the day, but you never know.

Volume 18 - Day 68/297, 2026 - Monday

Today has been a very quiet day...last night, after the Lady Gaga concert, I got to sleep at about 1:30 (actually this morning) and got up at about 5:30. Richard and I had a nice walk, and then I had a cardiologist appointment at 9:30. All is good. I got home, and had a nice long nap, and then Mike and I went in to Georgetown for dinner. All-in-all, not a terribly busy day, but there will be plenty of stuff to do tomorrow. It will be another early day tomorrow; Mike leave early in the morning so I will take him to the airport, and Jimmie and Linda are also going to the airport, so it will be a full buzz! I almost forgot...for lunch, Mike and I went to Golden Chick and had the fried shrimp. Nothing much can be better than that!