Volume 14 - Day 212/153, Sunday

Dogs are rarely traumatized as a result of spending time at a boarding facility. If proper preparations are made and research is done before choosing a facility, nothing bad should happen to your dog during their stay. It is highly likely that I am more traumatized when I board the dogs, than they are. And I am also relatively confident that I traumatize the staff at the kennel as well. I should probably work on that. I got home from Abilene this morning, and it was not a terrible drive, either way. It was certainly a time saver; three hours driving versus 6 or 7 hours (total) if I flew. Once I got home, I cleaned off the back patio, moved a few things around, and took a nap. Then, I went and bought my weekly ration of donuts and stopped at HEB and got $31 worth of groceries. Well, milk, salads, pre-made sandwiches. Then I came home and took another nap, and went and fetched the girls. We are all settled in and comfy, and we all took naps. I think the piglet was just tired out, and we should all sleep well tonight.

Volume 14 - Day 211/154, 2022

The word 'Abilene' means grassy plain. It came originally from the Bible, third chapter of Luke, the name of a Mid-East tetrarchy. The word 'tetrarchy' means 'rule of four.' It derives from the Greek words for four (tetra) and rule (arch). In practice, the word refers to the division of an organization or government into four parts, with a different person ruling each part. I am in Abilene right now, having driven up here this afternoon. A nice ride, listening to my book and looking at the scenery. Kay and her hubs came and picked me up at the hotel, and we went to Perini Ranch for dinner and a TREPAC event. It was great visiting with everyone, and we all had a great time. The Piglet was shaking like a leaf when I took her to the kennel this morning, Callie was not annoyed at all. I will be back to pick them up tomorrow afternoon. I expect I will leave here about 7:30 in the morning, and should be back home by 11. Ish. 

Volume 14 - Day 210/155, 2022 - Friday

When the sky is the bright red and orange colors we like to see, it's an indication that the atmosphere is full or moisture and dust particles. We see the red color because red has the longest wavelength in the spectrum. Time of the year is also a factor. In the eastern half of the United States, late fall and winter are the seasons for the best sunsets. This is because the normal weather patterns usually result in a clean and clear lower atmosphere, increasing the likelihood of a postcard-worthy sunset. We could all use more pretty sunsets. We could use less division, less screaming, less triggers. I am experiencing short triggers these days. I am just tired of a lot of it. Even though I still consider myself a very lucky man, I am having some questions about the future. Not necessarily my future, the future of a lot of things. I think I have a good and happy future before me, I just wish I could better predict that. If this sounds macabre, it is not supposed to. Maybe I should just quit reading the newspaper. Maybe I should just quit watching the news on television. Maybe I should just sit back and do whatever it takes to make me happy. My real question is: Where?

Volume 14 - Day 209/156, 2022 - Thursday

Cabin fever is neither a mental disorder or any type of fever. For decades, it has been used to explain feeling bored, sad, or lonely because of being stuck at home for several days or months. This can be seen most commonly during winter months, natural disasters, lack of transportation, and pandemics such as our recent Covid-19 pandemic. Last night was book club night, and I had a lot of fun. Five of us in person, and two via zoom. We talked about the book for about 45 minutes, then we had snacks, and then we just talked. Great to see everyone. The oppressive heat and lack of rain was a topic for a bit, and Deb said she felt like she was trapped at home because it is just too damn hot to get out. She complained that she felt like she had cabin fever, and I had never actually thought about it, but I can see how it could happen. I have been really lucky during the whole pandemic thing. I took ordinary precautions, I had a letter from the governor that said I was authorized to go on about my business, and I felt great. I think I have had Covid twice, I can verify at least once. But I remain a lucky man. I left home for the office this morning about 10:30, and that was just in time to spend about an extra 40 minutes stuck in traffic on MoPac. I guess things really are getting back to normal.

Volume 14 - Day 208/157, 2022 - Wednesday

The Austin Transportation Department has posted signage reminding drivers not to block 'the box' at critical intersections around the City. When a driver enters an intersection and is unable to travel all the way through, they prevent cross traffic movement, and endangers other travelers by blocking crosswalks and bike lanes.  If you're an Aggie, that means you can't go anywhere. Bottom line, blocking 'the box' is unsafe, illegal and causes traffic congestion. This all started in Austin at least five years ago, and I think it has been well received by most drivers. This happened a couple days ago, and I sat trough two sets of traffic signal changes while this Capital Metro driver blocked 'the box.' Harumph! Still hot, still dry! Tonight is book club night, and it will be a hybrid get together. We will meet in person at Deb and Jay's, and Dick and Marge will join by zoom from Buffalo Grove. It will be fun, I am pretty sure about that. I was going to fly to Abilene this weekend for a meeting, but this morning I cancelled my reservation, and I am going to drive instead. 195 miles, a little more than three hours. At least six hours of time if I take everything (dogs to kennel, etc.) into consideration. It was a no brainer for me, which good because I have very little in the brain department.

Volume 14 - Day 207/158, 2022 - Tuesday

Most traffic accidents occur within three miles of a persons home. For both fatal and nonfatal crashes, the peak time of day (for a crash) is 4PM to 7:59PM, but peak crash periods vary substantially over the span of a year. During the spring and summer months, fatal crashes tend to peak between 8PM and 11:59PM. It has been a while since I have regaled you with car wreck photos, but here you go. I had to be in the office a little early today (9:30), which meant I got to play in traffic. I don't think there were any serious injuries in this wreck, but there were three vehicles involved. Old age must be setting in, it appears I FORGOT to post yesterday, and Joe Mac e-mailed me early this morning to make sure I was still breathing. Oh well, I thought about doing a double post today, but thought better of it. Just blame in on Monday being Monday, and we will forget about it. I had to get in to the office a little early this morning because I had an 11 o'clock appointment, for which I was not 100% prepared. The wreck slowed me down a little bit, but I made it and everything worked out just fine. I got back to the office about 12:45, did a few things, did some office stuff, and headed home about 3 o'clock. I made a couple stops, and still got home in time for me to speak with (yet another) housekeeper. We are set for August 18th, and we are good with a once a month cleaning. I do not consider myself to be that picky, but maybe the housekeepers are pickier than me. This one looks like a winner, though. We will wait and see.

Volume 205/160, 2022 - Sunday

Power: the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Supply (a device) with mechanical or electric energy. Move or travel with great speed or force. Or, in this particular case, it was the word of the day for Wordle. Sorry if you have not done today's puzzle, but you should have been quicker. I had a nice brunch with Candy and Mike this morning, and then it was home for a nap. Laundry. Weed pulling. Just a nice, calm, Sunday. My schedule for the coming week looks pretty calm, and that is a good thing. Been having a little back problem, but it seems to be getting better. It is taking less and less time to stand up straight. Linda and Jimmie are back from back-to-back cruises. They were gone three weeks. We went out and had ice cream earlier this evening, and it was perfect! We drove around the neighborhood after that, and looked at the varying degrees of dead grass. We could really use some rain. I have recorded NO RAIN this entire month, and there is none on the horizon.

Volume 14 - Day 204/161, 2022 - Saturday

Here you see the payoff of my Masters in Engineering. This is just the prototype, and I expect I will make a few refinements to it in the coming few days. Then, I expect to file for a patent, and then my next stop will be Shark Tank...or not. It was a pretty full day, a good walk this morning, then I went to see how much money the lottery pool won overnight. There was no big winner, and our pool netted $6 on a $35 investment. I owe all the members $0.85. A win is better than no win! I made a trip to the local Harbor Freight, and spent $70 for a few things I might need sometime in the future. I was invited over to Deb and Jay's for dinner tonight, leftover casserole that had chicken, broccoli and Brussel sprouts and some other stuff in it. I am never afraid of leftovers, Jody used to always think that food was better after it had a day or two to age. My problem is, I can eat the original meal and then eat the leftovers until they are gone. Jody liked to space stuff out. Deb also made a peach cobbler and she served it with ice cream, during the intermission of the movie we watched (Avatar). The movie made me a nervous wreck, but the more I think about it, the more I liked it.

Volume 14 - Day 203/162, 2022 - Friday

Birds are messy eaters, and many seeds (in my case, pounds and pounds since I have moved to the Curious House) drop to the ground. Bird seed is for the birds, contrary what the two girl dogs might think. The area under the bird feeder is inherently dirty and wild birds can carry germs and diseases. If you were in the area, you could have watched me using one of my shop vacs out in the back yard this evening, vacuuming up the birdseed. One full vac full (about 2 1/2 gallons), was deposited over the stone wall into the 'natural area' behind the house. The balance (about 3/4 of the vac) is intended for the garbage can. The photo accompanying this entry is a fairly accurate representation of the seed on the ground. It is not the seed I am concerned about...I am tired of the girls eating the seed (they know I don't approve), and then they shit seeds. I have actually witnessed the seed exiting the dog much like one of those t-shirt cannons you see at football games. SO...I also purchased a new feeder, and tomorrow I will put all the engineering knowledge I gained in college (HAHA) to use fabricating a tray to be attached by chains and 's' hooks under the new feeder, to (maybe) catch most of the seed that is flung out of the feeder. We shall see...

Volume 14 - Day 202/163, 2022 - Thursday

Before there were garbage men, there were Toshers, Mudlarks, and Dustmen. People took care of their own waste by burying it or burning it, until the population boom around the turn of the century. With the arrival of the Industrial Age, some waste products could be recycled to make others. The Public Health Act of 1875 created a formal waste collection authority and REQUIRED that household bins be FULL with each pick up. Less than full cans resulted in a fine.Benjamin Franklin created the first street cleaning service in 1757. I am not even sure 'garbage men' is an appropriate phrase now. But I digress. We have trash collection at the Curious House every Thursday, and the recycling is collected every-other Thursday. On one of my walks last fall, I noticed that one of the neighbors several blocks away was leaving water for the collectors, so I started. When I did that, the collectors started putting my trash and recycle cans up at the garage door. I had no idea who was putting my cans off the street, and everyone denied it, so one day I watched the saved videos from my cameras, and it was the collectors. Now, this morning, one of the houses we passed by is trying to out-do us all! Water, energy drinks, cookies, candy bars...I'm just going to stay with water, and maybe next week I will help myself to a cookie.

Volume 14 - Day 201/164, 2022 - Wednesday

Mageirocophobia (mah-jay-ro-cah-phobia) is an extreme fear of cooking. It's a specific phobia, meaning that it causes fear of a particular situation. Mageirocophobia may stem from other mental health issues, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD or CDO depending), known for its repetitive thoughts and urges. Okay, I have never been afraid to admit that I am crazy, but I really think my particular phobia is one of fearing the washing of a shit-pile of dishes as a RESULT of the cooking, not of the cooking itself. Whatever. This particular pre-prepared meal looked somewhat attractive in the refrigerated case at HEB, as much as raw meat and a pitiful little pretend baked potato can look in a refrigerated case. I pay attention to the directions, and I always cook these things for at least an extra minute more than the directions call for. Today, the meat turned out to be a little bit more rare that I care for, but so far I am still alive and not having any particular negative reaction. If I go, the girls will (probably) go too. They may be more tolerant of bad food that I am, we shall see. A good walk this morning, in to the office, back home, all is good. I had a plan to go to Costco this afternoon, but I forgot my membership card, so maybe tomorrow. Hot. it's still hot. There, I said it.

Volume 14 - Day 200/165, 2022 - Tuesday

The longest recorded pregnancy was 375 days. According to a 1945 entry in Time Magazine, a woman named Beulah Hunter gave birth in Los Angeles nearly 100 days after the average 280 day pregnancy. I'm hoping there is not something in the water around the office, but shortly after this photo was taken (thanks Carrie), I noted that I should have been included, because my fat belly is about the same size as Maggie and Tosalyn's! I think mine is just the result of swallowing some watermelon seeds, but you never know. I was in a six-hour virtual class today, and then I was showing a property. Three of us attended the class, and we were glad when the whole thing was over. It is hard to sit there when you are not really used to sitting in one place for that long. We ordered pizza for lunch, and I brought what was not eaten home with me, and I had two more pieces for dinner. Maybe it really wasn't the watermelon seeds! I think the rest of the week will be more calm, but it is still hot like Hell here in central Texas. I think I heard that is was 116 degrees today in Wichita Falls. That's hot. I am certain I will be complaining and sharing crap about the heat for at least another couple months!

Volume 14 - Day 199/166, 2022 - Monday

Business casual attire has become the norm in many industries; it is meant to give employees the freedom to wear comfortable-yet work appropriate-clothing so they can focus on work performance instead of office attire. The pandemic probably took 'business casual' to way higher levels, since we could really only be seen from the chest up. The photo accompanying today's post shows my business casual attire for today. I'm not really sure that the shirt was of an appropriate color, but I am at the age that I really don't give a flip. Whatever. A good walk this morning, but abbreviated. Jay had an early appointment. I won't walk or go to breakfast tomorrow, I have to be in Austin for a 9 o'clock class. It will all work out. Are you tired of hearing about the heat in central Texas? I'm definitely tired of reporting it. It was 106 degrees today, and supposed to be hotter in the next few days. Austin has officially recorded a 'trace' of rain this month, and there has not been even that much out here at the Curious House. I noticed today that the plum tree Michael and Lynda gave me is suffering, and that came about pretty quickly. I have the hose dripping on it right now, hoping a little bit of extra water will help. It can't hurt!

Volume 14 - Day 198/167, 2022 - Sunday

Where the Crawdads Sing was written by Delia Owens, and the title was inspired by her mother, who encouraged her to explore the woods near their home in Georgia. The title of the book refers to being so deep in the wilderness that you can hear things you could not ordinarily hear. And crawdads don't really sing. It was a good walk this morning, not nearly as productive as yesterday, but it was a good walk. I took a little nap when I got home, and then got ready and went to brunch. There were four of us this morning, and we tried a new place, Bar Louie in Round Rock. Very good, we will need to go back again. I made one trip to Home Depot, and then went down for a longer nap. Deb, Jay and I went to see Where the Crawdads Sing at 3 o'clock. I was a slow adopter to the book, most people I know read it a couple years ago, but I just finished it a couple months ago. One friend of mine had said the movie was a good adaptation of the book, and I think that is an accurate statement. The movie reviews have not been terribly positive, but I am not nearly snobby enough to criticize what I took as a pretty good movie. On the tear meter, I give it a seven, but then again, I cry at TV commercials. I enjoyed it very much, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to you...

Volume 14 - Day 197/168, 2022 - Saturday

Dogs can be stubborn when they are out for a walk. It may be because they are bored. That was not the case this morning with Knox. We often see Knox with his dog-mom or dog-dad on our morning walk, and Jay is always has a supply of dog treats. After we had some conversation with Paul (Knox's dog-dad) we took off, but Knox decided he was not moving without more treats. He stayed there, not moving for a good while, and we finally got far enough away that he decided it was a lost cause. We also go through the pocket park everyday, and there is a dog that lives off that path named Kona. Kona was out with his human this morning, and Wayne was giving away peaches from his tree. They were delicious (I had two of them), and we told him we would try and remember to bring plastic bags tomorrow if he had more. His tree is FULL of peaches. Nancy is here from Las Cruces, so Diane, Deb, Paulina, Oliver, Nancy and I hit four estate sales. Combined, I would say the sales were lack-luster...nothing exciting. I got two bells ($5 for both), and that was it. There is always next week. Tomorrow is brunch Sunday, and that will be good. Not sure what else I have on the schedule for tomorrow, but I will think of something!

Volume 14 - Day 196/169, 2022 - Friday

The very first circuit breaker was devised in 1879 by Thomas Edison, when he came up with the idea of protecting circuit wiring used for lighting from the common problems of current overloads and short circuits. As you know (or maybe you don't) we had a power outage at the Curious House on Wednesday, and the solar system kicked in just as it was supposed to. The only problem was, there were seven circuit breakers that tripped, and I could only reset two of them. This does not count the GFCI (4) circuits throughout the house. This is not the first time these circuit breakers have failed, it is the third time. I have replaced WAY TOO MANY of these breakers, and I am a bit tired of it. It is a really expensive fix. I was able to finagle myself into getting an appointment from a kind electrician (he knows the circuit breaker history at this house), and everything is back in working order now. Although I am not an electrician, he noted that all the breakers that failed this time are on the B Phase in the breaker box, so that might be a start to figuring out why this continues to happen. It is a start. A good walk this morning, and visits from ADT, an HVAC vendor and the electrician. I had a zoom call at 11:30, and I did that in my car on the way to the office. I got some work done in the office, and got back home in time to take a little nap, before putting some backyard lawn furniture together in the dining room. I still have the table to put together, but there will be plenty of time for that tomorrow. Tomorrow is estate sale day, too. Stay tuned!

Volume 14 - Day 195/170, 2022 - Thursday

Dorothy Ann Richards (maiden name Willis), was the second female governor of Texas. Born in McLennan County, she became a schoolteacher after graduating from Baylor. She won the 1990 Texas gubernatorial election, and was later defeated by George W. She remained active in public life until her death in 2006. Some of my favorite quotes: You can put lipstick on a hog and call it Monique, but it's still a pig. And: I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I have been having some really interesting dreams, and last night I dreamed about Ann Richards. I did meet her a couple times, and I liked her a lot. In my dream, she was wearing a white wig, and some of her natural hair was sticking out here and there, and I was cutting her real hair off that was sticking out from her wig. Whatever. Almost as soon as I posted my blog last night, our power went out, and the solar kicked in. BUT...seven of my fancy schmancy circuit breakers tripped, and only two of them would reset. I am tired of replacing circuit breakers (they are not cheap), and the power was restored after about three hours. As it is right now, I have no overhead lights in the kitchen, dining and main bedroom, and several plugs are not working. I have an extension cord run from one place in the bedroom to another place, so I can have my bedside clock and lamp plugged in. Necessity is the mother of invention. I have no idea yet when the electrician can be here to replace the circuit breakers. I am also working on a Plan B about why the circuit breakers fry themselves at the least convenient moments. Stay tuned.

Volume 14 - Day 194/171, 2022 - Wednesday

Solar panels are rated on the watts they generate. Most residential solar panels have power output ratings from 250 to 400 watt, depending on panel size and how well they convert sunlight into energy. Higher power ratings are considered preferable, but power output is not the sole factor in judging a solar panel's performance. It is kind of hard to brag about power production when it is 110 degrees outside. Generally, I produce a good amount of more power than I use, even though I charge my electric car, too. That takes a good bit of energy. BUT, so far I have produced more than I have used today, but that will all change when I plug the car in. I am trying (just a little bit) to do my part to prevent what I believe is an inevitable grid failure. This afternoon, I filled up the little white car with gas, and I am not planning to charge the car until about 8 o'clock tonight, when people say there is less power demand. We shall see if that helps anything. A good walk this morning, then on to the office. Things are pretty well under control, people are experiencing shorter patience times because of the heat. Just crazy. WHOA, there is a 30 percent chance of rain tomorrow, I think that means I will not see any rain. Oh well, it will rain when it rains.

Volume 14 - Day 193/172, 2022 - Tuesday

In 1936, Carl Mayer (nephew of Oscar Mayer), suggested a marketing idea to his uncle; build a 13-foot-long mobile hot dog and cruise around Chicago handing out his 'German wieners' to pedestrians. Throughout the 30's, 40s, and 50s, they enlisted various 'little people' to portray 'Little Oscar,' the company mascot. Little Oscar ultimately was the vehicle operator, waving to crowds and dispensing wiener whistles. I see the wiener mobile in Austin about one time a year, and it was happily traveling down South First Street when I was on my way to the office this morning. Always a good photo op! Good walk this morning, then breakfast with Jack and Jay. On to the office, watched the January 6th hearing stuff, then home before going to a 5 o'clock meeting. Back hame, dogs fed, plants in the back yard watered. I'll do the front ones tomorrow morning. EVERYTHING IS SUFFERING from the heat and lack of rain. I am not sure if all the plants will survive, but I am trying my best. Stuff in the ground seems to be doing pretty well, but the heat and sun are just brutal. It is what it is. The high temperature today was 109, the low high temperature forecast in the seven day is 104, and no mention of rain.

Volume 14 - Day 192/173, 2022 - Monday

The Organ Mountains originated about 32 million years ago, in the middle of the Tertiary Period. Look it up. At that time, magna began to ooze up, pushing up the overlying layers of rock. Some of the magma was forced to the surface ejecting vast quantities of ash, rock, and lava over an area of 100 square miles. Most people accept they were named by passing Spanish colonists who thought they looked like a pipe organ. They were first documented in 1598 when Don Juan Onate mentioned them during his first trek over El Camino Real. In 1935, the New Mexico School of Mines published The Geology of the Organ Mountains. They are truly spectacular, and just about everywhere you go in Las Cruces, you can see them. I was awestruck for the 48 hours (or so) that we spent visiting Dan and Nancy. Beautiful! So...it was back to the more mundane today. I got up at 3:30 this morning, and apparently Mike couldn't sleep and he had been up most of the night; about 1:30 in the morning to his recollection. We left the house at about 3:45 and we made good time to the airport, and we got him to the airport at about 4:30. He had a 6 o'clock flight, and he reports he made it back with no problems. Always great to visit with him. The office was quiet for a Monday, we are still dealing with HVAC issues, but I guess that is to be expected when it is 110 degrees outside. We all do the best we can. 

Volume 14 - Day 191/174, 2020 - Sunday

Billy the Kid never robbed a train or a bank. Unlike other Old West outlaws, he didn't make his living as a bandit. He stole the occasional horse, but never once held up a bank, train, or even a stagecoach. Outside his gunfighting days with the Regulators, his main criminal enterprise was rustling cattle on the New Mexico plains. His very first arrest  was for stealing clothes off a clothesline. He did however. kill at least nine men in his lifetime. Mike and I made it back to Georgetown this afternoon, and we picked up the girls about 4 o'clock. It is good to be home, and Mike leaves for his home in Florida tomorrow morning at 6AM. That means, we need to leave here at FOUR A.M., and I don't even want to think about what time that means we have to get up. I will take him to the airport and then come back home, maybe go back to bed, but then it will be back to the office. I will have one more post tomorrow about Las Cruces, and then I will revery to complaining about the heat and lack of rain in central Texas.

Volume 14 - Day 190/175, 2022 - Saturday

The Farmers & Crafts Markets of Las Cruces features hundreds of vendors selling locally made foods, crafts, and produce. It is a great opportunity to experience the people and culture of the Mesilla Valley. Everything is produced in Dona Ana County, which is where Dan and Nancy live. The day started out with breakfast at a place called The Shed, and it was really good, obviously a place really popular with the locals. After breakfast, we went to the Market covering about ten blocks or so on Main Street. I got a baseball cap (required), a couple t-shirts, and a fabulous button down shirt with a Dia De Los Muertos theme. After the Market, we did a little sight seeing and got closer the mountain ranges. Then it was back to the house for naps, Yahtzee and thunder and rain. RAIN. If you can't get rain in Texas, go to where the rain is. It rained (unexpectedly) for about thirty minutes, and it was interesting to see that it can still happen somewhere. Nancy made a delicious rib dinner, and now we are all chilling out watching tv. Back to Austin tomorrow.

Volume 14 - Day 189/176, 2022 - Friday

Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico and the seat of Dona Ana County.The approximate elevation of Las Cruces is 3,908 feet above sea level. The city has a total area of 76.6 square miles, of which 76.5 square miles is land and 0.2 square miles (0.18%) is water. Today, Mike and I travelled three states and three time zones. It was a five hour flight to El Paso, and Dan picked us up at the airport. I never really thought about the mountains around El Paso, but it is beautiful, and the clouds are extra beautiful. 

Dan and Nancy moved from Georgetown to Las Cruces in March, so it was time for a visit. They have a beautiful home, lovely patio area, and it is great to spend time with them again. No walk this morning, some office stuff. We went to dinner tonight in Mesilla (and small town outside Las Cruces), and now it's time to quit for the day. It's gonna be a fun weekend!

Volume 14 - Day 188/177, 2022 - Thursday

It is believed that ghosts can read your mind and also foresee your future. They try to communicate with you about your future through your dreams. So next time you have a dream about your future, you will know who to thank. This bit of trivia has nothing to do with this journal entry, I was just without a photo to accompany the post and nothing in particular to share with you. I was watching Ghosts on tv, and Callie was asleep next to me, so there you have it. A good walk this morning, a quick day in the office, picked up Mike at the airport, put a sign on a new listing and made it active in MLS, had lunch at Meyers Sausage in Elgin, then came home for a nap. Dinner tonight in Taylor with Mike, Deb and Jay, and now getting things ready for tomorrow, heading to Las Cruces for a couple days. I am pretty sure things are under control, and I will let you know for sure at a later date.

Volume 14 - Day 187/178, 2022 - Wednesday

Texas has (historically) experienced 98 degrees or higher during every month of the year. The record high temperature recorded in Texas during May through September are 116 degrees or higher. We don't have any forecast temperatures of 116 or more in the seven day forecast, but I have lived in central Texas when the temperature WAS 116 degrees. That's hot! This is hot, too, and I know you are tired of hearing about it. It is, however, nice and comfortable inside the house and the car and everywhere else I go lately. I did go to the UPS store this afternoon, and it was HOT in there! Good walk this morning, then on to the office. An average day, and tomorrow will a good day, too. I have a listing going active tomorrow, and Mike will be here from Florida. Friday, we will head to Las Cruces for 48 hours to visit with Nancy and Dan, then back home. Quick trips, in-and-out, nobody gets hurt!

Volume 14 - Day 186/179, 2022 - Tuesday

123 Sesame Street is the most famous address on Sesame Street. It is a large, two story brownstone apartment building with an inviting front stoop. 223 Heather Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, known as the Zimmerman House, was built in 1951, and is the first of two houses in New Hampshire, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Where is this leading, you ask? Well, I had never noticed it, but one of the houses we pass every morning on our walks is apparently having an identity crisis. It is not sure if it wants to be 113 or 223. I have a theory that it is a drug dealers house, and they interchange the address plates depending on who (or whom) they are expecting. I wonder how long this has been going on? Do you think I should alert the HOA? The morning walk was good this morning, Jay and I were joined by my neighbor Rick, and it was fun. Breakfast after the walk with the ROMEOs, and then off to the office. It was a good day, overall, and I headed home about 2:30. Then it was down for a nap. I had a salad and a turkey pot pie for dinner, and now it is time for Finding Your Roots. It is still HOT here in central Texas, having already experienced 26 days over 100 degrees this year. We are on track for record breaking high temperatures this year, with no rain in sight.

Volume 14 - Day 185/180, 2022 - THE FOURTH OF JULY

Moles are unique creatures that spend their lives underground, constantly digging to hunt and navigate under the earth's surface. Their digging habits notoriously destroy lawns, gardens and golf courses, frustrating home and business owners. I saw this guy on our walk this morning, and contrary to the trivia, I was not traversing underground. At first I thought it was a rat, but the tail was not right. If any of my tens of followers know what this is, in reality, feel free to chime in. It was, yet another, really hot day in central Texas. It was calm however, and I managed to get a few more things done; refreshed the hummingbird feeders, filled the bird feeder up, found my office trash can that I thought I had lost (honest), broke down a bunch of boxes to recycle, went in to the office for about an hour, did a little bit of shopping (bought hardly anything), and worked in a nap or two. I watched the 1972 movie called 1776 and I thought it was pretty interesting. It had been a Broadway play then a movie. Most of the actors from Broadway reprised their roles. It is a musical about declaring independence from Britain. Really pretty interesting. Tomorrow will be back in the office, after the morning walk and breakfast with the ROMEOs. Life is good to be perfectly honest. It could be a lot worse!

Volume 14 - Day 184/181, 2022 - Sunday

Let's talk about the disadvantages of low-voltage lighting. First, is it also low-amperage? Not sure, but I digress. You need a transformer. Check. It can be less bright. Not an issue. There are limited lighting options. Who cares? Commercial businesses might have a harder time passing inspection. See previous response. Maintenance can be challenging. Check. When I was at dinner with Jay and Deb the other night, I asked them if the light in their pantry (which comes on when you open the door) was wired during the house construction, or if they had installed. I expected it was a switch in the door hardware somewhere. Well, it isn't. Jay said he had just changed the switch with one that has a motion sensor. OMG. I rushed out the next day and bought one. Installed it. The pantry light came on, but it would not go off. Jay figured out it was because the fixture was a low-amp (that is what I remember him saying), and I figured out I could just go buy another ceiling fixture, then replace the switch, and everything would work. And it did. Jay did all the work, my job was to hold the flashlight, and hand him tools and things. It was kind of like auditioning for a job as a surgery nurse. Well, maybe not exactly like that, but that's what it reminded me of. SO...life remains good, the light comes on in the pantry when I open the door, and it goes off a minute later. Another first world challenge fixed. In the photo, all those little yellow squares are actually LED things. It's a goner.

Volume 14 - Day 183/182, 2022 - Saturday

Mules are the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Mules are also 99% sterile. Mules combine characteristics of both horse and donkey parents to create a tougher, more resilient working animal. A hinny, the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey is much rarer and more closely resembles its mother with the long ears of a donkey. After my walk this morning, Deb, Diane and I went to five (count 'em) FIVE estate sales. We would probably have been better off if we had stopped at the garage sale we saw on Williams Boulevard on the way to the first sale. Lots of stuff, nothing too interesting to any of us. It was a fun morning, though. After that, I went in to Georgetown, and saw the art work that accompanies this journal entry. It is called Waterin' the Work Mules and I have never seen it before. I think it is great and I wish it resided in the Curious House instead of 'off' the Square in Georgetown. Once I got back home, I did a little bit of this and that, and went down for a nice nap. I am going to leave in just a little bit and go have some wine with the neighbors. I thought it best to finish the blog before drinking wine. Get it?

Volume 14 - Day 182/183, 2022 - Friday

The first lawn mower was invented by Edwin Beard Budding. Sounds English, right? Patented in 1830, he got the original idea from watching a cutting cylinder at a local cloth mill. While patented, it took almost ten more years for an effective machine to be put into action. When Jody and I lived at the farm, I had a BIG tractor, and a smallish John Deere riding mower. As the years went by, the mower did its' job, in spite of me. At one point, I crashed into the hay fork on the tractor, parts of the mower flying hither and yon. But it still worked. I used to lust after a bigger mower whenever I went to Home Depot, but I never caved in. With the mower we had, it would take four to six hours to cut the grass around the house, but I really enjoyed it, it was time to be kind of mindless, not really thinking about anything, but thinking about EVERYTHING at the same time. Today, I passed this row of mowers at Home Depot, and it brought back a lot of interesting reminders of our years at the farm. I stayed home today, and got a lot of stuff done. I decided over the last weekend that I needed (NEEDED) a television in the living room, which meant rearranging the furniture, buying one more piece of furniture, arranging the cable box to be activated, buying a television and rearranging some of the art pieces in the house. It was all supposed to happen today, and it actually did. The cable guy got here first, the guys to help move the art around got here next, and they delivered the tv before noon. Everything fell into place as planned, which hardly ever happens, no matter how much I try to get everything coordinated. I think I should buy a lottery ticket now.