Volume 18 - Day 179/186, 2026 - Sunday

When Paulina and Oliver got home from church this morning, we all piled up (Paulina, Val and Oliver) in the car and headed to Marble Falls to have lunch at the Blue Bonnet Cafe. The last time Paulina and I were there (three weeks ago), I had liver and onions. Yummy good. Today I had catfish, fried okra, candied carrots and french fries. You can't beat it. I was the only person that did not bring pie home, but I still have carrot cake from Upper Crust that I got last Monday when we donated platelets. It's fine! After we left the restaurant, we stopped at the Mexican import place again. When we were walking in the place, Carrie, Susan, Terri and another lady (from Memphis and I can't remember her name), were walking out. It was like old home week in Marble Falls!  Once we all got home, I think it was nap city all around! I had to go check out a property late this afternoon (Paulina went with me), and when we got home, we rearranged the furniture on the front patio. There is always something to do, whether it needs to be done or not. I have NOTHING on the calendar for tomorrow, and I like that very much. I was kind of excited that the coming weekend will be a 'long weekend,' but then I remembered that every day now is a long weekend day. I like it!

Volume 18 - Day 178/187, 2026 - Saturday

There were three estate sales today, Marian and Judy and I got to the first one, there was a line, and we decided not to even stop. There is no reason to stand in line at an estate sale in 90 degree sunny weather. Marian and I had previewed the sale from photos on line, and nothing jumped out at us that we were in particular need of. We did hit the other two sales, and we all came away with stuff we could not live without, so that made it a good estate sale day! After the sale, I did a few things around the Curious House, getting ready for the Curious House Concert tonight. I think it was a great concert, and everyone seemed to enjoy the jazz group (Swing Shift of Austin) and the popsicles. I learned tonight that 'popsicle' is a trademarked word, and I most likely should not have been using that word so carelessly. Whatever. The photo is of the group, most of them anyway. After the photo was taken, two or three other neighbors joined the group, and it was a lot of fun. There was a good breeze, I did not get one mosquito bite, and there was plenty of shade. Tomorrow will be a trip to Marble Falls, and I will fill you all in on that tomorrow night. Maybe.

Volume 18 - Day 177/188, 2026 - Friday

On this date in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the country, ruling that state-level bans on same-sex marriage violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. By 2015, Jody and I had already been legally married for a couple years, but I can remember exactly where I was when I heard that news. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen in my lifetime, and I cried in a professional setting that could not understand if I was crying happy tears or sad tears. Back to today... I walked this morning and prepared for my doctors appointment, which did not happen. The appointment, which I thought was my regular six-month check up, was only for a blood and urine test. If I had actually been aware of that, I would have spent a few minutes studying for the urine test. Whatever. The results that have been returned so far, show everything to be within 'acceptable ranges,' and I continue to be 'unremarkable.' And boring. After that disappointing appointment, Marian and I went to two estate sales that were just Thursday and Friday sales. I bought the little print that is included with this entry for $7. Tomorrow there are three more sales, and maybe I will find a few more things that I cannot live without. Oh, and the Curious House Concert is tomorrow night, and I think that will be fun. More later.

Volume 18 - Day 176/189, 2026 - Thursday

It is way past my bedtime, but I will tell you more about that a few sentences from here. I walked with Paul this morning, that is the first time I walked in a while, so that was good. My knee is not really getting any better, and I will find out more about that tomorrow at my doctors appointment. There are a couple things (I think) that could avoid a knee replacement, one of which may include a trip to Germany. Cheaper than a replacement, much more fun, and a much quicker recovery time. I did visit the chiropractor this afternoon, and then Oliver and I went to Costco. I got a few things, including a pistachio cheese cake, which I took to our neighbors dinner tonight. Gina and Billy hosted the dinner at their home, which is beautiful, and Gina is a wonderful cook, and none of us left hungry. When Gina and Billy lived next door, I was the recipient of food frequently, and I brought steak, chicken and cheesecake home with me this evening. Gina and Billy have three pooches, so there was a lot of petting, snuggling and baby talk as well as the great food. We are skipping July for neighbors dinners, and Marian and Ronny are in charge of coordinating for August. Really...we are already making plans for August. I think book club is skipping July as well, but I will really need to check my calendar to be sure.

Volume 18 - Day 175/190, 2026 - Wednesday

Evidence that I trimmed the crape myrtle limbs off the garage roof, because if you don't have a picture to prove it, it didn't really happen. And geraniums, I trimmed to dead-heads off the geraniums. I will trim a few more over the weekend, but I will need someone to hold the ladder for me. I am not totally stupid! I got a few things done in the Curious House this morning before I left for my committee meeting, the most significant of which was getting the damage claim filed with the totally useless insurance company the man that hit me uses. I won't mention the name of that company (again), but the name rhymes with State Farm. Again. SO...we will see where we go from here. I was required to send 11 photos of the Buzz, the VIN number, a shot of the odometer, and a couple other things. Ugh. Someone from that insurance company should be doing this, I did not cause the challenge. I DO cause lots of challenges, but I did not cause this one. I got in to Austin in plenty of time to chill before the meeting started, and it was another day of good works for our REALTOR® association. Once I got home, it was mainly nap time, and tree trimming. I trimmed the limbs today so I can put them in the can for pickup tomorrow. Tomorrow I will also check for estate sales over the weekend, I have an appointment with the chiropractor, and a visit to Costco. Fun times! 

Volume 18 - Day 174/191, 2026 - Tuesday

I didn't realize it was Tuesday until Tuesday was almost over. I will try to remember that tomorrow is Wednesday, but there are no guarantees. I left to go in to Austin this morning at 7 o'clock to get to my 8:30 meeting. The photo accompanying this entry is the view from the third floor of the Austin Board of REALTORS® where the meeting was held, and where I will be (again) for most of the day tomorrow. Volunteer servants doing their servant thing! It was good working with my colleagues, making good decisions for all our members. I got home this afternoon at about 4:30, and the girls had convinced themselves that they were never, EVER going to be fed again. For them, today was a lot like the days when I was still doing business and would be gone for most of the day. They don't want to get back in to that routine, and I don't want to do that, either. I like the life of a retired person. Thursday I have a chiropractor appointment and the neighborhood dinner Thursday night at Gina's house. I am bringing apple pie from Costco. Friday, I have an appointment with my 'new' GP, my first real doctors visit with him, and I have a couple pages of questions and concerns. He may not want to be my GP after that appointment, we shall see. 

Volume 18 - Day 173/192, 2026 - Monday

When Paul and I walked past the little pond in the subdivision, this heron was in the water. When I got on the sidewalk to take a picture, it flew up in to this tree, which was still a good setting for the photo. Thanks. I did a lot of busy work this morning, and ran errands. I watered the plants front and back and made a quick trip to HEB. I had a $100 Gift Card, which I spent and more. I also went to Georgetown Donuts (my favorite) and got a half dozen donuts. At noon, I picked up Marian and we headed in to Austin to donate platelets. I made two stops on the way; I picked up prescriptions and we made a stop at Upper Crust Bakery. I have cinnamon rolls for a couple breakfasts and two pieces of carrot cake. Interestingly, I have not consumed the cupcakes I bought yesterday at GOGO'S TREATERY, so I would say I am pretty well set with sweet things for at least the next ten days. Paulina met us at the blood bank, and we all donated platelets. Our next visit will be on July 6th, and we all like doing that. Tomorrow, I will not be walking, I have an 8:30 meeting at the Austin Board, and breakfast is provided, so all the bakery goods will stay in the refrigerator for a while. Good grief!