Volume 14 - Day 334/31, 2022 - Wednesday

It was a solo walk this morning; Jay is in Washington state and Dick had an early morning appointment. I left the house early and got home early, and I took a path that we don't always take. In the last few months, the subdivision has worked on some of the trails in the neighborhood, and Jay and I walked this trail once after they had finished. I walked it again this morning, and I really like the diversion and the different point of view it provides. I had thought this detour was a little bit shorter than our usual route, but it seems it is a little bit longer. Either way, it was interesting, and I will encourage Dick to take that route tomorrow morning. Since I walked early, I left the house early and went in to the office. I have been working on an update to some information we include with our lease listings. It had not been updated for four or five years, so it was time. I condensed it and made some necessary corrections, so I got that finished this morning. I had an appointment in the office, and then left for home at about 2 o'clock. I stopped at Little Cesar's and brought home a pizza. It is only the second or third time I have been to Little Cesar's, so I don't really know the protocol, but it seems that if I want a deep dish ready-to-go pizza, I need to be there between 4 and 8 PM. Tonight is book club night, and it will be fun to meet at Dick and Marge's house for some good conversation. 

Volume 14 - Day 333/32, 2022 - Tuesday

It was another top down kind of day today in central Texas. The last I paid attention, it was 82 degrees. The high temperature for tomorrow is expected to be about 25 degrees cooler than today, and windy. WINDY. Blown away windy. There were only three of the ROMEOs at breakfast this morning, me, Richard and Jack. Jay was on his way to Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR...I'm not exactly sure where the airport is. He and Deb were plagued with delays, missed connecting flights, and interminable first world inconveniences. Stuff we cannot control are the most frustrating. We ordered Chinese food for lunch today at the office. I should have ordered Sesame Chicken but I ordered Sweet and Sour Chicken instead. I won't make that mistake again. On the way home, I had a 2 o'clock appointment, and that was pretty good. Fun folks. The neighborhood is starting to look pretty festive. This photo is Mo and Jo's house on the corner, I think you can see it from the space shuttle. 

Volume 14 - Day 332/33, 2022 - Monday

What a beautiful day it was today in central Texas. It was a bit chilly this morning, but the afternoon high was about 78 degrees. It was so nice, I left the top down on the little white car, turned the heat on, and drove in to Austin. I will do the same thing tomorrow, it is supposed to be another beautiful day, but then a cold front comes in on Wednesday, but it warms back up for the weekend. There were not any fires to be put out in the office after the long weekend, and that is always a good thing. Pretty much an ordinary day, which is another thing I like. I left the office about 2, stopped at the pharmacy and headed home. There was a wreck on the way in this morning, in the toll lane, which is kind of interesting. It had traffic backed up for a way, and I could hear the flashing lights and see the sirens (or vice versa). When I was in high school, there was a line in a play I was in...the line was 'this cabin is made out of driftwood and fish hooks,' and the guy whose line it was always said 'fishwood and drift hooks.' Isn't it interesting the things we remember. I wonder if that is a sign of something to come? I am happy that the Christmas Cactus in the bathroom is getting ready to bloom, right on schedule!

Volume 14 - Day 321/34, 2022 - Sunday

When the four-day Holiday weekend began, I had 14 items on my list of chores that I wanted to get checked off. As of the posting of this journal entry, I still have two items left, and I will carry those two items over to my next list, and I will keep doing that until I get them checked off, too. The day started off with our morning walk, and it was a lovely morning. For the first time in several days, there was a beautiful sunrise, which made for a great shadow photo-op. I had a couple appointments this afternoon, and on the way home, I stopped at McDonald's for a Filet-O-Fish Meal and an extra Filet-O-Fish. Now, I am watching a documentary Super Size Me, about a guy that ate at McDonald's three times a day for a month, and all the stuff that happened to him, health wise. I don't think this is going to end well, but there you have it. I also watched the latest 60 Minutes a while ago, and I am convinced that the only reason I have survived is because I am friendly. Friendly and fat, it is kind of an oxymoron for life in Texas. I have a pretty light schedule this week coming, and that is not a bad thing.

Volume 14 - Day 330/35, 2022 - Saturday

Not a bad day at all today. A nice walk in the morning, and then a little bit of nothing for a while. Deb and I went to one estate sale, and I spent a few dollars on a couple (3) things that I absolutely needed. Then home. Then I was off to the battery store, to get some batteries for the two alarm pads. They did not have them. So, I ordered them from Amazon. I don't know why I go anywhere anymore for shopping. I have not yet ordered groceries on line, and I will know that I have been defeated when that happens. I guess it is inevitable, but I will resist it as long as I can. I invited the neighbors over for wine this evening, and it was a lot of fun. We have not gathered for wine in a while, and it was nice to visit. One thing I like, we begin at 7 and we end at 9. Not 9:01. 9! I am not sure what all tomorrow will bring, I do have appointments beginning at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. We are expecting the temperatures to be near 80 degrees next week, then another cold snap. Texas!

Volume 14 - Day 329/36, 2022 - Black Friday

I did not buy anything today, I think that makes two days in a row. It is not all my fault, though. I did go into Georgetown for a couple things: I had a load of things to take to Goodwill, and then I wanted to stop at Diva on the square, just to see what they had. I saw something there last year that I should have bought, and when I went back about a week later, it was sold. I spoke with someone, and they will not be stocking it this year. Boo. Sorry, wrong Holiday. It has been another day of dribbling rain, and it is supposed to rain heavily overnight. We should end November with a respectable amount of rain, but we are still about ten inches behind where we should be this year. The neighborhood is starting to look pretty festive, and it is good to see the colored lights amidst the rain and fog. There is one estate sale to attend tomorrow, and I will be there...no matter what!

Volume 14 - Day 328/37, 2022 - Thanksgiving Day

And so this is how it all started. Egg Loaf. The girls and I had a nice egg loaf for breakfast, and I included half of an apple fritter, just to note the special occasion. But I am getting ahead of myself. Jay and Dick and I met for our walk this morning, and I thought I noticed a couple lightning flashes, but could not be sure. By the time Jay and Ginger got out, it was raining a bit more heavily, there was lightning and thunder. So, the walk was cancelled. That is when I did the egg loaf. After egg loaf, I went down for a nap. Off-and-on naps throughout the day, with bursts of energy interspersed just to keep things interesting. I am actually reading a book, and it is on my list to get done over the long weekend. I am about a third of the way through it, and it is pretty interesting. The Paris Apartment. So far the longest chapter has been about five pages, which in itself is pretty interesting. I also gathered up more things to take to Goodwill tomorrow, and now I have about a thousand coat hangers to deal with. I had brisket and pork ribs for dinner this afternoon, and I went to Jay and Deb's tonight to watch a movie. All-in-all a good Thanksgiving, being by myself for the most part, and really enjoying the day. It was good. I have a couple things I want to do tomorrow, and it will be another good day!

Volume 14 - Day 327/38, 2022 - Wednesday

There was no lack of topics (and photos) for me to choose from for this journal entry: Sunrise, assholes, wrecks, assholes, Deb. I chose to go with Deb, my neighbor down the street, who came and harvested the first Meyer lemon from my back patio plant. There are still about 11 more that a almost ready to be picked and passed out to friends and colleagues. I hope it makes a great lemon zest for her Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. It smelled really good. Or maybe that was me, I'm not sure, but I am pretty sure it was the lemon. The sunrise was really brilliant this morning while we were walking. Dick did not walk, he was having a bit of a reaction to his latest Covid vaccination. Assholes. Where shall I begin. The traffic this morning was expectedly light, but what traffic there was the result of a bunch of maniacal drivers. I repeat: Leave Earlier. Then there was the guy at Upper Crust that parked his truck sideways in three spaces in front of the store. We were patiently in line, supposing that they parked that truck just to keep things from looking so congested. We were wrong. The guy came out with a cup of coffee and a bear claw, and said his truck was too big to park otherwise. I goaded to woman in front of me in line to become a Karen, and she let loose on him. It does not take much to turn otherwise pacifist pie seekers into an angry mob. I am very proud of myself, she became crazy by proxy. I am pretty sure I am ready for tomorrow, even though we are expecting rain for the next two days. We will take whatever we can get!

Volume 14 - Day 326/39, 2022 - Tuesday

...and, speaking of estate sales...these little treasures were happened upon at the last estate sale we hit last Saturday. FREE! There was a note in the box, FREE! So, of course, I loaded them up, much to the chagrin of Diane, Deb and Marge. They do not seem to understand my new fascination with old baby dolls. Well, I am not sure I do either, but I just started looking for old dolls. Admittedly, I will have to clean these up a bit before I bring them in the house, but they are lovely in their own right. Even the one-eyed one. I think I will nick name her Dead Eye. If anyone has a Chucky doll in the attic that they no longer want, I will be happy to pay the freight. It just makes the Curious House even more curiouser! One zoom yesterday, one zoom today, and a listing appointment this afternoon with Maggie. It was a good appointment, the house needs some work, and we don't really expect the house to go on the market until sometime next year. Pool, view and yard. The Seller called it the trifecta. It will be fun, and it is always fun getting to work with Maggie. I am finishing off a bottle of wine I opened about a month ago. Over the long weekend, I will do some work out in the garage, which includes bringing two boxes of wine in...just to make more room in the garage. Tomorrow is the last day of office stuff for this week, I think we should all consider working three-day-weeks, especially for six or eight months after we set the clocks forward of back. Just sayin'.

Volume 14 - Day 325/40, 2022 - Monday

We could well be twins, just born 70 or so years apart. It seems we are both pretty whiny, and we don't necessarily go quietly into that good night. Plus we both fart a lot! Maggie came by the office this afternoon, and brought along baby Margo who will be six weeks old in a couple days. Or maybe five weeks old in a couple days, I apparently was not paying that much attention. Anyway, both Maggie and Margo are doing well, and it was really good to see them both. I do not have a lot of experience holding babies, but I am obviously a champ at making babies cry. That was almost effortless. It had dribbled rain all day long today, and I thought there was a zero percent chance of rain tomorrow, but that has been revised to a 10% chance. I have a property photo shoot scheduled, so we will just wait and see if it happens. Either way, everything will work out the way it is supposed to, and everything will be just fine! And...if you see Margo, tell her I said hi!

Volume 14 - Day 324/41, 2022 - Sunday

Well, the day started with a pretty chilly walk with Dick, Jay and Ginger (the dog). As usual, on out morning walks, we solve most of the world's problems, and today was no different. After the walk, I did a few chores around the house, and then I was off to be the trash man at the Austin Empty Bowl Project. I got there at about 9 o'clock, and I was surprised that there was not a line around the block waiting to get in. But, things progressed from there and there was a steady stream of people getting in line to buy bowls and have soup and bread, and to listen to the entertainment. I left about 11:30, since there was not a lot of trash to be collected. I stopped and got a few errands done on the way home, so I call the day a success. I even got a nap in, and right now, I am waiting for the football game to be over. so I can watch 60 Minutes and get depressed. The real highlight of the day was seeing my friend Kelly at the Project, and having the chance to do our annual selfie. I love her, and we are plotting and planning a surprise for next year. We shall see...

Volume 14 - Day 323/42, 2022 - Saturday

Okee-Dokee. Another year down for the Austin Empty Bowl Project Preview Party. Tomorrow, I will head back in to Austin and assume my role as the Trash Man at the Empty Bowl Project annual event. I enjoy being the trash man, it has very little responsibility, I just walk around, availing myself as the collector of trash. I have happily volunteered for this role for more years than I can remember, and it always a lot of fun. Now, back to the ordinary. It was a good walk this morning, but it was cold and kind of dribbly. A quick shower, then done. Another quick shower, then done. That is pretty much the way the day went, cold, wet and grey. We hit four estate sales today, and we all scored something, so that is the mark of a successful day of sales. Then, it was time for a nap, and then off to the Preview Party.Now, I am ready for bed, and so I bid you a a good night! Oh, the photo is at the Central Texas Food Bank, left to right: Michele, Andrea, me, Leslie, Eileen and Becky. Just part of the group. The sign behind us says 'Nourishing.'

Volume 14 - Day 322/43, 2022 - Friday

If it's Friday, I had my usual (usually unusual) 8:30 zoom call this morning. I always like it when I get to raise my voice. It went on longer than usual (unusually long), and I did not leave for town until after 10 o'clock. I got in to the office and did some power real estate, and then it was off to the Sine Die Smokers 2022 Cookin' for a Cause. This year is the 20th year they have done the event, and it benefits No Hunger, Inc., and the Central Texas Food Bank. Mace (see photo, when did he get so tall, and his mom Holly in the middle) started No Hunger, Inc. several years ago, and he is now a High School Freshman. I was late to this game, and have been attending a couple years, and this year Carrie and I became sponsors. There are so many great causes! Back to the office after a really good lunch, and then went to preview a property, and then I got my hair cut. Hairs. Then home, and I am in for the night. Tomorrow will be kind of busy, and so will Sunday Tomorrow will be estate sales (4) and tomorrow night is the Preview Party for the Austin Empty Bowl Project. On Sunday, I will be the trash man for empty bowl, and later that evening I will have a meeting with a prospective client. Life is good.

Volume 14 - Day 321/44, 2022 - Thursday

It appears that we are in for a period of grey days and biting cold. Cold for us in central Texas is a lot different than cold in places where it really gets cold. Don't judge. AND...is is supposed to be cold AND raining on Saturday. Ugh. I fully expect we will survive this latest first world inconvenience, although it will be worth at least a few days of whining. Bring it on! It was chilly when the walk started this morning, and then I think it became even colder by the time we were finished. I went to a TREPAC luncheon this afternoon, and I swear it was colder after lunch than before lunch. The thermometer in my car said it was about 60 degrees on the way home, but I did not really feel it. The luncheon was very nice, and once again, it was really nice to see friends and colleagues that have been out of pocket since COVID. The photo accompanying this journal entry includes Owen (South Carolina), me, Cathy (Austin), and Ben (Beaumont). It was fun, food was good, and I was served the biggest carrot I have ever seen. 

Volume 14 - Day 321/44, 2022 - Wednesday

Thank good ness for the Glucosamine-Chondroitin! If Costco had not changed the location of that over the counter miracle, I would have been long gone before I was. No food sampling for me, I have a mission. But, because I was delayed in my search, I, on the way to the check-out, was hailed by a good friend that I have not seen in five or six years. Paul called out to me, and I was so very glad to see him. We chatted for just a few minutes, but it was really good to see him. He offered his condolences about Jody, and told me he was sure Nancy would want him to say hello for her. It was very nice, and it was so very good to see him. Otherwise, it was a good day, a good walk, a good couple of appointments, a good series of phone calls to prospective clients, a good day looking at new listings and then the visit to Costco. The only down part of the day was attending the annual HOA meeting of the subdivision. There are still some homes to be built out, and there are currently close to 350 homes sold. There were less than 30 people that attended the meeting, but it could have been worse. It could have gone in to overtime, but it didn't! A perfect ending.

Volume 14 - Day 319/46, 2022 - Tuesday

Well, I think the lemons are just about done. There is still just a bare hint of green on them, so if you are a lemon authority, please let me know your thoughts. I had no idea how long lemons took to ripen, but it seems like these have been eight or nine months, at least. There are about a dozen of them on this Meyer lemon plant, so there will be plenty to share. I just checked with Mrs. Google, and she said they can stay on the tree as long as I want and they will remain fresh, but I need to remove them before a big freeze. We have had a couple chilly mornings, but the bush is relatively well protected from the worst part of the heat and cold. I got back in to the office today after being out of town for six days. Everything was pretty well under control, and I even took an on-line class this afternoon. I did get most everything cleared off my desk, and I can start fresh tomorrow. 

Volume 14 - Day 318/47, 2022 - Monday

I am having a difficult time realizing that today is Monday, because I was not supposed to come home until tomorrow, so, I think it is Tuesday. I changed my flight the other day to return early, and I am glad to get home. We have had a few days right at the freezing mark, I think most of the plants made it, but I am not too sure about the plumeria. It might be touch and go until spring. Dammit. I went and picked up the girls, and I think they are happy to be home, it is kind of hard to tell. They had a good time with Paulina, Val and Oliver, so that is good. I attended my final NAR BOD meeting this morning, I roll off as a NAR Director at the end of this year, but at the beginning of the year, I will take a seat as a Texas Director. It is good to be home, and I will be calling it an early night. The photo accompanying this entry was taken this morning of me with my two wicked step sisters, Deborah and Nancy. They are wicked and evil, but I love them both. And they tolerate me!

Volume 14 - Day 317/48, 2022 - Sunday

Okay, this is my penultimate day of this NAR NXT Conference. It started with a Texas REALTOR® Pre-Caucus breakfast at 8 o'clock this morning, and that was full of information needed to be reviewed before our Board of Directors meeting tomorrow morning. After that meeting, we went back over to the trade show for a while, and then there was a session with Venus Williams (which I did not attend), and then our Region 10 (Texas and Louisiana) Caucus. The caucus ended on time at 6, and then we were off to dinner at a Greek restaurant called The Taverna. Lots (and I mean LOTS) of good food, and hanging out with my PAC peeps and Marty and Debbie. THe perfect ending to the next to the last day here in Orlando.

Volume 14 - Day 316/49, 2022 - Saturday

Okay, another long and great day of governance and meeting up with colleagues from across the country at the NAR NXTConference in Orlando. The opening session was at 8:30 this morning on one end of Orlando, and my 10:30 Public Policy Coordinating Committee meeting was at the other end of Orlando. Kidding. The meetings were just at polar opposites of the Orange County Convention Center and the Hyatt. After those meetings (and lunch), I went down for a nap. Then it was up to get ready for the night's events: SeaWorld and a concert with John Mellencamp. John Mellencamp was the winner, hands down. The concert was not just a simple, outdoor concert. They shut the Icon Center (Icon Park? Icon Something) down for us, and it was food, drink, fun and concert. We all had a really great time. Shuttle bus back to the hotel, and then a little while in the hotel bar where we watched the last pitiful minutes of the UT/TCU game. BUT...overall it was a really good day!

Volume 14 - Day 315/50, 2022 - Friday

Another good day of governance meetings and RPAC meetings, The first was at 8:30 this morning, and the meetings (for me) went on until 2 o'clock. My friend Mike from Delray Beach came up to Orlando, and we all went to the trade show for a while. Then there was an opportunity for a quick nap, but we didn't nap at all. Then we were off for the evening. Our first stop was at the Ice Bar. I have been to an Ice Bar in DC, and now this one in Orlando. You do not go to the ice bar for the liquor or for the food, you go to the Ice Bar for the ice. You don heavy coats (provided) and gloves (provided) and you go in to what could pass for a freezer at either a restaurant or a 7-11. Some of our group were visibly shivering in the cold room, but I was not particularly bothered. My fingers were cold, even with the gloves on, but my fingers and toes are always the first things to get cold in the cooler climes. After the Ice Bar, we headed to Universal Studios, where part of the park was restricted to the REALTOR® attendees. We got there at about 9 o'clock, and I rode both of the Harry Potter rides, and that was enough for me. We got back to the hotel at about midnight, and as I write this, it is almost 1:30 on Saturday morning. My irst meeting is again at 8:30, so I need to get a few hours sleep.

Volume 14 - Day 314/51, 2022 - Thursday

There is certainly no lack of photos that could easily grace this journal entry. The real challenge was which one to use from, probably, at least a hundred images. It has been a pretty long day...several meetings throughout the day, lunch with friends, and finally the installation of our 2023 NAR Chair, Kenny Parcell from Utah. I have known Kenny for many years, and there is no doubt he will great advocate for all the things we believe to be worthwhile. It has been fun to see so many friends and colleagues that we have worked with for so many years.It is a great organization, and it includes hundreds of volunteers that donate their time and expertise to make our profession a better one. My work with this organization makes me happy, and I will definitely miss it when my volunteer days come to an end. I often wonder what will be next.

Volume 14 - Day 323/52, 2022 - Wednesday

My 7AM flight out of Austin this morning, MIGHT have been the last flight out of Austin heading to Orlando. All is good here, so far, expecting some wind and more rain about 1 o'clock Thursday morning, and I hope I sleep through the whole thing. I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, left the house at 5:15, got to the airport at 6-ish and the plane left at 7. The flight was uneventful, there were lots of my colleagues on the plane, and we got to the hotel about 2. I have definitely had worse days! A nap was in order, and then we got together for dinner with the TREPAC team, and that is always fun. My first meeting tomorrow is scheduled at 1 o'clock, but I plan to crash a couple meetings, starting at 9. Lots of things are closed here, or delayed tomorrow, and the local news is all hurricane, all the time. There are a couple high rise condo towers that have been deemed unsafe, and being evacuated. Ugh.

Volume 14 - Day 312/53, 2022 - Tuesday

I include with this journal entry the obligatory photo of the lunar eclipse. I do not think the photo is of any  particular note, but I got my ass up at 4 o'clock this morning, so I am damn sure going to share it with you. So there. It is my journal and I will do with it what I like! Otherwise, it was a rather unremarkable day. We had our walk this morning, and we did get a little spritz of rain while we were walking, and then the ROMEOs met for breakfast. There are now five us us: Me, Jay, Dick, Paul and Jack. Somewhere along the line, we lost Peter, and I think we need to see if he still wants to play. I got in to the office and made some tremendous accomplishments, and I am really happy about that. Once I got home, there was little to do, and I am determined NOT to watch the election results all night. I will occupy my time otherwise, thanks. SO...goodnight dear readers!

Volume 14 - Day 311/54, 2022 - Monday

When we left for our walk this morning, it was 73 degrees and 97% humidity. That is code for 'feels like' 120 degrees and three thousand percent humidity. It is November 7th Mother Nature, did you not get the memo? It is supposed to cool down towards the end of the week, and we will welcome that for a couple days before we start complaining. It was a little bit dribbly today, spotty little patches of rain here and there, nothing really to get excited about, and the windshield wipers hardly came on at all. I marked a lot of stuff off my list at the office, and that was good. I had a couple appointments, too, and those went well. Tomorrow is election day, I think everyone needs to exercise that right, so I hope you all vote and let your voice be heard. I have a couple things to get done tomorrow, laundry is one of those things, and that is a 'must do!' Otherwise, not a lot more going on, not that there is anything wrong with that. I almost forgot. Go up and look at the first sentence in this post. On our walk, one of the houses we pass has this inflatable Christmas display working already. Santa is not really ready, which is why I think he was ready to fall over dead. Yeah...it might be just a little early for this. Not judging. Oh yeah, and I think I will set my alarm to see the lunar eclipse tomorrow morning. If you need a wake-up call from me, send me a text.

Volume 14 - Day 310/55, 2022 - Sunday

This morning, Dick, Jay and I (with Ginger and Willie) walked down to the bottom of the Parkway, and over to the new areas that are being developed south and east of us. Lots of new home construction, lots of infrastructure being installed, lots of pasture and grazing lands going away, lots of people moving in to central Texas. The building boom is going crazy, and central Texas has nothing if not jobs. Jobs are driving all this. After our walk, Terry and I met Alisha and Reuben for brunch, then back home and Teri and I went in to Austin to attend the Travis Heights Art Walk. Neither one of us bought anything, but it was fun. We made a stop at Sandy's and got a cup of frozen custard. Then we drove around Austin a bit and I showed Teri a couple places where Jody and I used to hang out, where Jody lived on Windsor Road, and more or less just drove around. then we went to Round Rock and showed her a little bit of downtown Round Rock. There is, after all, only a little bit of downtown Round Rock. This should be a pretty good week, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Volume 14 - Day 309/56, 2022 - Saturday

For a Saturday evening, I am kind of tired. I spent a goodly portion of the day worrying with clocks, in dread of the end of Daylight Saving Time. All the difficult clocks are now reflecting the time change, and I expect I will be finding a clock or two that needs changing for a week or two. I think I am one of the very few people that is unhappy with the changing of the time, and I think (I am not sure) that we do it one more time next spring, and that will be the end of it. One can hope. I got my walk in this morning, then a bunch of us hit four estate sales. I bought a few things that I was in desperate need of, so the next time you are at the house, just see if you can spot any of it. After estate sales, I messed with more clocks before heading to my 2 o'clock appointment in Taylor. After that, I went in to Austin, and got the car washed on the way home. Then dinner (not great) with Terry and Christy, and then a couple dips of ice cream. Now, for a little bit of television, and then I think it will be time to crash. Lyle Lovett and His Large Band are on Austin City Limits, so that is a good thing. Did I mention the lemons? I think the lemons may be ready to harvest pretty soon, and they certainly do take a bit to mature. Need lemons?

Volume 14 - Day 308/57, 2022 - Friday

Okay, just a trace of rain overnight, and we got spritzed on during the walk this morning. During the day, we got 0.41" of rain in the gauge, and later in the afternoon/evening, we got about 0.22". There was a pretty good lightning show this evening, but no thunder, which I think is pretty odd. I had two zooms today, my usual 8:30 Friday zoom and then another one at 11:30. Really, sometimes, zoom meetings are just easier to attend. No driving makes it good. If the late morning zoom had been in person, I would have driven at least 30 minutes to and from the meeting, so I do not HATE zoom meetings, it just depends on the meeting. After everything, I headed home this afternoon, and tried to take a nap, but that did not work. Paulina and Oliver came by the house this afternoon, and that was nice, I have not seen them in a good while. My friend Terry and I went to dinner this evening in Liberty Hill (Dahlia's). While we were there, it rained pretty heavily, but it did not bother us a bit. Chicken Fried Steak. Yummy. It's gonna be a pretty fun weekend, so stay tuned.

Volume 14 - Day 307/58, 2022 - Thursday

See this...this is the stuff you can see if you just don't rush around everywhere. Okay, well, at least you could try rushing around not as much every day, and just wee what you could see. Most days, I stop at the mailbox (cluster box) to gather up the mail. Today, there was no mail when I checked. A while later, I walked down (up?) to the boxes. Still no mail, but on the way back to the Curious House, I saw these little teeny flowers, and thought you might enjoy them. Some things do best when they are ignored. Maybe. At any rate, these little flowers are doing just fine, thank you very much. A nice day today in central Texas. No stress, no pressure, just a nice day. A little warm, a little humid, but a nice day. On the way home, I got the little white car washed, and it is going to stay in the garage until AFTER the storms that are predicted for tomorrow afternoon/evening. At least. 

Volume 14 - Day 306/59, 2022 - Wednesday

Do you think this is done? How do you know it is done if you don't know what it is? It is/was a bacon cheese salmon patty. So far, it has not killed me. This is the third or fourth time I have used the cooktop in the Curious House. I try to avoid using is because of all the 'cooking splatter.' The positive part is, I am a better cleaner than I am a cooker. I am not that great at cleaning, either. We shall see. I am relatively confident that I will make another day. If not, they should go straight to the salmon patty. We all had a good walk this morning and we solved many of the worlds' problems on the way. It has been a touch warmer in the mornings that it was last week, and there may be a little more rain late Friday afternoon. It was really a quiet day in the office today, but I got a lot of work done, so that is always a good feeling. I am not projecting tomorrow to be much busier, but you never know. You never know, one of these days I might crank up the oven and try to bake something!

Volume 14 - Day 305/60, 2022 - Tuesday

Hmmm. It's already November, and pretty soon it won't be 2022 anymore. Last night was a blast! We had (maybe) 12 to 20 trick or treaters come by the Curious House, BUT, I did have four neighbors come by and sit on the front patio with me for a couple hours. We never do run out of stuff to talk about, and it was great! Me, Teri, Jack, Judy and Bob. So much fun just sitting around and shooting the bull (that's what my did used to say). I did not walk this morning, I got up, did all my morning stuff, and then left the house about 7:45 and headed to Waco. All the REALTOR® Boards are so welcoming and gracious when they ask up to come by and present on their behalf. I finished my most recent book on the way up there, and had breakfast, did my presentation, and headed home. I stopped and did two errands on the way home, and I got home about 1:30. I did a little work, crossed some things off my list, and went down for a nap. Tomorrow will be a bit more of an ordinary day; walk, drive, sign, read, drive, eat, nap, eat, sleep. Repeat!