Volume 15 - Day 304/61, 2023 - Tuesday

You never know who or what you might see in the 'hood when we are out walking. It is dark as pitch when we start lately, but the sun starts to come up as we are close to finishing. There were four of us this morning, and we ran into Tigger along the route. Always nice to see a happy Tigger. The ROMEOs had a nice breakfast this morning, we have started having breakfast at Monument Cafe, and I think the overall opinion is that it is a better breakfast spot. I went by the Post Office after breakfast, and put a property tax check in the mail. No sense on waiting, and maybe forgetting, so I just write the check and post it. Nothing too much going on in the office, it is the last day of the month, so it will be busy tomorrow with move-outs and move-ins. It is late afternoon as I write this, and I am ready for Halloweeners, so far there has been one set go past. They could hit the jackpot here, I don't expect too many kids by. When I post this, I will go sit outside for a while, hopefully there will be a few photos. Welcome to November!

Volume 15 - Day 303/62, 2023 - Monday

I was half-way expecting a call from Jody this afternoon. Not really, but it was days like this, cold and wet, that Jody would suggest I stop at Wendy's on the way home and pick up some chili for dinner. And so I did. I was not as good as I remember, but it was okay for a quick dinner this evening. It was raining and cold this morning, so there was no walking, not sure what to expect for tomorrow morning, I'll let you know. It was a little bit busy in the office today, but all is well that ends well. I got home this afternoon, and put some tape on the shattered window, hoping that it will not totally disintegrate before I can get it replaced. I can tell you, is it not a cheap window, and it is going to be about four weeks before it will be replaced. This afternoon my friend Deb came over, she is visiting from Washington State (should state be capitalized?), and she rented a car that is a Volvo electric. There were no instructions, and she had no idea how to charge the car, so, we ended up at the Round Rock outlet mall, and she got some charge while we sat in the car and talked. She should be alright for the rest of her trip. Tomorrow is Halloween, are you ready? I think I will put some candy out on the driveway, and let the kids fend for themselves. 

Volume 15 - Day 302/63, 2023 - Sunday

I did a full walk this morning, and there were four of us; Paul, Richard, Jack, and me. We got rained on just a little bit, and I am expecting tomorrow mornings walk to be rained out. It has rained off-and-on all day today, and I took off to the grocery store between downpours. The cold front came in before I took off for the grocery, and I work a light vest for that outing. I took the girls outside a little while ago, and wore a heavier jacket. When the girls go out before bedtime tonight, I am going all winter coat. I've been wearing sweat pants most of the day. The heat is not on in the house, and it is a comfortable 74 degrees inside, and it is 44 degrees outside, windy and dribbly. Just about the time we are ready to start complaining about the cold, it will be back in the 80s on Friday. Other than going to the grocery, I didn't do much of anything today, except taking a couple naps and watching television. Bette Davis was in a movie called The Nanny, but it really did not keep my attention. I will have to see what can hold my attention for the next couple hours...not sure. I saw this guy on a fence this morning when I was heading to the grocery. I turned around a went back, and he was still there, and he cooperated while I took this photo. I think there was brunch for him somewhere there in the weeds.

 

Volume 15 - Day 301/64, 2023 - Saturday

Okay, I am feeling better, but I did have a coughing fit at about 4 o'clock this morning. I was still in bed when Paul let us know he was heading out for our walk. I was out in record time, and did the full walk this morning. After the walk, I took a quick nap, and then Marge and I hit three estate sales. Nothing much at any of the sales, but I did buy a belt for $1.50 plus tax. After the sales, I did not leave the house, and just lolly-gagged until the House Concert started. I started it a half-hour earlier than usual, since other neighbors were having Halloween parties, and I did not want to have too much overlap. It was the final concert of the season, and it was good to visit with neighbors. Deb is here, too, visiting her daughter and grand kids for several days. It was great to see her, and I think she was happy to see all of us, too. It's a full moon tonight, and the evening started out cloudy, but the clouds are breaking, and it is a lovely moon. It was not supposed to rain today, but it rained off and on most of the day, but it was very nice for the concert. We are enjoying almost three-and-a-half inches in the past week, which is still leaving us about eight inches behind where we should be for the year. 

Volume 15 - Day 300/65, 2023 - Friday

I'm feeling better, not coughing nearly as much, and I had a good nights sleep last night. I did half a walk this morning, it was warm and really humid, so I didn't want to push it. I got to the office, got done what needed to be done, and came home, took a nap, and got ready for the neighbors dinner. There were eleven of us, and we went to the Walburg German Restaurant. Kind of interesting, since it is Octoberfest. We all had a great time; the food was good, the company was good, the music was good, and it was just a bunch of us having a good time. I think we will suspend the dinners until January, since we are coming up on Holiday months. Tomorrow will be estate sales, and tomorrow night will be the last House Concert of the season. This is the end of the third season of House Concerts, interesting that I have been here at the Curious House for almost three years. Time flies!

Volume 15 - Day 299/66, 2023 - Thursday

I stayed home today, not working, trying to recover. I did get some better sleep last night, and I am not coughing as much today as I have been the past week. The girls and I spent most of the day in the big chair, sleeping between the rain, sun, clouds and blue skies. I am not sure if we are supposed to get any more rain overnight, but it will be okay with me if we do. I am planning to go in to Austin tomorrow, I have a few things that need to be accomplished, but I am not real sure about walking in the morning. Maybe. Maybe not. Tomorrow is the neighbors dinner, and we are going to the Walburg Restaurant. Always fun, plus it is Octoberfest, and that will be even more fun. 

Volume 15 - Day 298/67, 2023 - Wednesday

Okay, I have been victimized once again. I have been tricked by Madison Avenue. I have been craving whatever it is that I see on Dominos Pizza Commercials. I tried to order what I saw on television, and the staff was not up to speed about what they offer. So...I ordered some kind of tater tots and a Memphis Bar-B-Que Chicken pizza. I had to order a medium size, because it is not offered in the small size. None of it looked anything like the pictures on the menu, and not sure if it is what I had seen on the commercials, and in my allergy/upper respiratory infected state, I had no inkling what any of it was supposed to taste like. I have plenty of each item left for at least two (maybe three more) meals, so I will let you know if there are any changes in the near term. Whatever it is that ails me, now entering its second week, goes on, and it is traveling south. Sinus to throat, throat to lungs, lungs to stomach, and stomach to...well, you know. Tonight is book club night, and I am going to do it via zoom. I don't want to risk anyone becoming infected, if I am indeed infectious. If I could go longer than ten minutes without coughing, sometimes convulsive coughing, that would be progress. And...I could really use a good nights sleep. We are expecting more rain tonight, and that is a good thing. I hope there is thunder and lightning, too. I'll let you know.

Volume 15 - Day 297/68, 2023 - Tuesday

I am still feeling kind of poorly, and I am sick of it. I cannot even enjoy the rains we are experiencing here in central Texas. I think with the rain we accumulated today, we will surpass the 2 inch mark, and the most rain is supposed to hit late tomorrow night in to Thursday morning. AND, we are going to have to get our winter jackets out next week, they are predicting the second coldest Halloween in history. Okay, I just hole I am done with whatever is ailing me so I can enjoy that and complain about it as the same time. Recently, I have been hearing a dripping noise, and I thought it was dripping into the water softener tank. The service man came out today, and the parts that were affected were still under warranty, but not the labor. Whatever. The culprit (that caused the malfunction) is pictured in the photo accompanying this journal entry. My question: How does something like this get get into the public water system, and if it had not been caught in the water softener, where would it have ended up. Somewhere in the cold water sides of my plumbing is my best guess. SO...in Georgetown, Texas, not only do we not get water in the summer to maintain our landscapes (because we don't get a vote for the powers that make those decisions), we also get CRAP in our water. Okay, now I'm finished. Talk to y'all more tomorrow.

Volume 15 - Day 296/69, 2023 - Monday

I am very tired of coughing. I have not really had a good nights sleep since last Wednesday. I am not particularly keen on blowing my nose, either, but I stopped at Costco this afternoon, and bought a crate of kleenex. When I finally gave in that I was not going to be sleeping this morning, I let the girls outside, and just about five minutes later, it started to rain. Almost a half-inch before I left for town. It kept raining for a little while, and this afternoon, it started raining just after I got home. So far today, we are at just about an inch-and-three-quarters. Lovely! It is supposed to rain the rest of this week, and I can hardly wait to start complaining about the rain. Maybe we will get a little bit of water in the lakes, it's about time. There was no walk this morning because of the rain, and it won't make me feel bad if we cancel the walk tomorrow, either. All was good in the office, and we are pretty much winding down the month. I did stop, too, on the way home and did my thing, early voting started today, so I have finished that. All y'all need to get out and vote, it what we all need to do. This sign at the early voting place is new, I did not know they offered curbside voting. I guess if it works for HEB it can work for voting.

Volume 15 - Day 295/70, 2023 - Sunday

I have lived in central Texas for just over 38 years, and I usually do not have too many bad bouts with allergies. When moving to Austin from other areas, people are advised to find an allergist, because you are going to need one. This year, right now in general, is really taking me down the allergy road. It has been going on for at least a week now. Coughing (a lot), sneezing, runny nose, sore throat. I am a walking commercial for OTC allergy drugs. It will all work out okay, I am pretty sure. I did half a walk with Paul this morning, I did not sleep well because of all the coughing. And, after brunch this morning with Oliver, Paulina and Val.

I tried napping and that didn't work either. I was planning on going to a movie this afternoon with Jimmie, so I rooted around in my medicine cabinet and found some cough medicine (with codeine and dated in 2007), which seemed to have done the trick. I still coughed through the movie, but not  so much that I convulsed. Honest. So I think I will indulge with some more tonight when it is time to turn in for the night. MOVIE: Killers of the Flower Moon. A very good movie, I read the book a while back, the movie reminded me of some things I had forgotten in the book, and it was visually stunning. It was also three-and-a-half hours long, with a few movie stars that I had no idea were in the film. I recommend it if you can find a free afternoon in your schedule.

Volune 15 - Day 294/71, 2023 - Saturday

Today was kind of a calm, quiet day. Paul and I walked this morning, then I came home and did a few small chores around the house. I left for estate sales (with Pam and Diane), and we were home by about 11:30. Everything going according to schedule. I had an appointment for my RSV shot at 12:45. After that, I thought about doing some this and that, but instead, I did nothing. I laid in the big chair in the bedroom with two girls, and napped for a couple hours. Later on in the early evening, I took the girls out, and left them out while I did some more stuff in the house. When I went to let them in, the Piglet was missing. I looked everywhere in the back yard, went up and down the street, and about 15 minutes later, she reappeared in the back yard. 'Were you looking for me?' Whatever. I have no idea where she could have been, there is no place to hide in the yard, and it's a puzzlement. Whatever. Again. No photos of any interest today, but here is another one of me Scuba diving in Playa a couple weeks ago. I'm the nervous looking one on the right.

Volume 15 - Day 293/72, 2023 - Friday

Okay, it was back to the office today, and it is great to know that there were no real challenges to be taken care of. It is a tribute to our colleagues that they know what they need to do without being told. Kay and I went and visited a property, I spoke with a couple clients, and I have a few things on my list to get done at the beginning of next week. I had a couple errands to run on the way home, and most things are back to normal, back to my routine. Tomorrow, it will be estate sales, and I have an appointment to get my RSV shot early tomorrow afternoon. I am strongly considering taking in a movie, and cleaning out a closet (or two). Yesterday, one of our guest speakers wand Buster Douglas. In 1990, Buster Douglas knocked out then-unbeaten 'Iron' Mike Tyson during a heavyweight title fight in Japan. The win was considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. He was an interesting speaker, he weaved storiy after story about what to concentrate on and how to keep going, even in the face of adversity. An interesting guy. 

Volume 15 - Day 292/73, 2023 - Thursday

Well, that's a wrap on my last Texas REALTOR® Party training summit. It was a really good three days, and I was happy to be a small part of it. I did not walk this morning, the first meeting started at 8:45 this morning, and I got there in plenty of time. We had several very good sessions, and we are all motivated to go into 2024. Tomorrow will be a day back in the office, and I have plenty of stuff to catch up on. It is mid-October, and we are expecting two consecutive days of record breaking heat. 97 degrees tomorrow and 95 degrees forecast for Saturday. Saturday always means estate sales, and I have my schedule already planned. It was nice to see colleagues at the meetings today, from several states. It was especially nice to see Tamara and a couple other colleagues from California, Ryan and Rick. Short post tonight, and sweet!

Volume 15 - Day 291/74, 2023 - Wednesday

Well, the dog treats I take with me everyday when we walk, really came in handy this morning. Peter and I started the walk, and we got about a half-mile into it when we noticed a dog off-leash. It was kind of skittish and friendly at the same time, probably a Labra-Doodle, or one of the more popular hybrid dogs that are popular now-a-days. Eventually, we got a look at the tag on the dog, and determined that his name was Bentley, and there was a telephone number on the other side of the tag. Peter called the phone number, and it went directly to voice-mail. I tried calling the number, and it said the call could not be completed as dialed. The further we went, we would see some people, and they had no idea who the dog belonged to. Eventually, Paul joined us, and again, I think at times I should be referred to as Mary (see what I did there?), and we still could not locate anyone that knew about the dog. THEN, a man we had never seen before on our walks (Taylor), saw what we were doing, and he had a leash. Bentley was too smart for that, but I bribed him with dog cookies, and we eventully got the leash on the dog. By then, the owners had left a voice mail message for Peter, and within five minutes, dog and owners were reunited, and we were relieved of further responsibility. I had only intended to do half a walk this morning because of my planned meetings, and everything worked out. I got where I needed to be when I needed to be there, and Peter and Paul finished their walk. Hats off to Taylor! In the photo; me, Peter, Paul and Taylor.

Volume 15 - Day 290/75, 2023 - Tuesday

Well, day one of my last TREPAC meeting is in the books. The day started off with a walk with Jack and Paul, then on to the ROMEOs breakfast. After breakfast, I had to go back to the Curious House just for a minute, and then it was on to my meetings at the Kalahari Resort. Before I could get serious about the meetings, I had to go upstairs and jump on a zoom call, that lasted about 30 minutes. Then lunch, then meetings and we were done for the afternoon. There is a dinner tonight, but I am not staying at the Resort, so I am home with the girls doing dog-daddy stuff. Tomorrow will be a little bit of an earlier day, and the same evening drill. Thursday should be done by about 1 or 2 o'clock. Tomorrow I am also supposed to get the rugs that I ordered for the bedroom, so the Piglet will quit pouting. There are no 'fake faces' in the photo accompanying this journal entry, maybe there are, but I don't think so; me, Eileen, Becky, Jennifer and Aaron. 

Volume 15 - Day 289/76, 2023 - Monday

Dad-Eee Shark, doo doo doo doo doo do! Now you've got that spinning around in your head, you're welcome! Sometimes you just need a new pair of flip-flops, just because. These are going to live down in Playa, and I like them a lot. Too much fun. It was in the 40s this morning when we walked, and it was chilly. It will be a little bit cooler tomorrow morning, but then it will warm up for the next several days, and we are expecting to be back up in the 90s over the weekend. Not a bad day today at all, considering that it is Monday. The next three days, I have meetings, and they will be spread out by times, which means there will be meetings, then a break, then meetings, and then a break. It will all work out, and it will all be done by Thursday evening. Fingers crossed. My last trip of the year will be in the middle of November, the annual NAR Conference which will be in Anaheim this year. Always fun and interesting. Fun to see friends and colleagues from across the country, and interesting to learn about trends and issues affecting property owners and REALTORS®,

Volume 15 - Day 288/77, 2023 - Sunday

The weather has been very nice for the last few days, and I have made good use of that fact. I have had a really productive three days, getting lots of stuff done, and just having a sense of accomplishment. Today, I took some stuff to Goodwill, got the car washed, did some other chores around the house. I had intended to go to three estate sales this morning, and I went to the first two, and could not find the third one. I did not spend a nickel, although there was some nice stuff at both of them. Although I did lots of things the past three days, pulling weeds was not marked off the list, and it will just have to wait for another day. Maybe thirty minutes a day can be worked in to my schedule. It is supposed to be in the 40s tomorrow when we walk, so I will need to find a pair of sweat pants. It will be back in the nineties for the coming weekend, and then cool off again. Halloween is coming up, so I changed the lighting on the house, to be more in keeping with the season. The coming week will be a little bit busy for me, a series of meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but they won't be prolonged and drawn out...just in and out, nobody gets hurt.

Volume 15 - Day 287/78, 2023 - Saturday

I had an interesting realization today; I am through with grey. Or gray. I'm through with both of those. I am entering a blue and yellow period. For the last three years, I have been in a grey (I prefer this spelling) period. Grey carpet. Grey sheets. Grey furniture. Grey blankets. But now, I am getting into yellows and blues. I have a yellow bedspread expected to be delivered between 4AM and 8AM tomorrow. The area rugs I bought for the bedroom (at the insistence of the Piglet) are blue and ivory. I was at At Home this afternoon and bought some yellow sheets. So...done with grey. I got a lot of my chores done today, and took time to sit on the tailgate of Jimmie's truck to watch the eclipse. Even the neighbors (formerly known as the dead people) came outside and watched. I was surprised that there were not more people out watching, but that was okay. It has been a calm, late afternoon and evening. Just me and the girls, and hardly anything to watch on tv unless you like football. Or aliens. Or more dead people. 

Volume 15 - Day 286/79, 2023 - Friday (the 13th)

As Friday the 13th's go, this one was not terrible. I had a little heartburn now and then, but overall, it was all good. Jack and I walked this morning, my first official walk since last Wednesday. Today was the day that I was expecting the flooring guys to show up at 8:30, but they didn't appear until a little after 10. They got everything done by five o'clock, and I am really happy with it all. All I have to do now is to finish putting the bedroom back together. Since everything was chaos, I figured I might was well wash all the linen, including the mattress cover, and that is all done, so I don't have to do that for another couple years. I will finish getting everything back together tomorrow, a couple more hours and it will be done. I am not too sure about estate sales tomorrow, what with the Annular Eclipse and all that. Maybe I will just go in the afternoon, after the eclipse. Another thing, I got some photos of the last dive I did in Playa del Carmen, and I have to say, I look as anxious as I felt. It is an amazing experience, and lots of stuff to see, but I was busy paying attention to all the stuff that I needed to pay attention to. Like breathing. You know, just the basic stuff. I also think, the more classes I take, the more at ease I will be. We shall see!

Volume 15 - Day 285/80, 2023 - Thursday

I was up early this morning (4:30) and I sat at my desk catching up with a variety of things. I knew I was not going to walk, and I had a meeting in Austin at 8:30, so I made good use of my time. After the first meeting, I had a quick meeting that started at 10, and then I was off to donate some blood. I am not sure why, but I just feel good to donate blood. It make me happy! After that, I headed in to the office, got a lot of stuff done, and I headed home at about 2:30. I will be 'working' from home tomorrow, and I do have one meeting scheduled. I have been busy clearing off stuff on shelves and tables and stuff in my bedroom. The carpet in this house was not of the best quality, and there has been a lot of wear (already) from me and the girls in that room. They still make the hard wood flooring that is in the rest of the house, so tomorrow, the carpet will be gone, and the room will have hard wood floors matching the rest of the house. I ordered two area rugs from Amazon, and they will be here next Wednesday. All in a days work. The photo with this entry is of the breakfast meeting this morning. If I had known there were going to be photos, I might have worn long pasts. Probably not.

Volume 15 - Day 284/81, 2023 - Wednesday

I am tired. Yep, plus I'm old, so I am (apparently, but just for the moment), a tired old man. Not really, I am mainly just tired. There was a bit of confusion most of the day, because the communication was not the best, but the best was made of a bad situation. A lot of gossip and a lot of guesswork got most of us all through it. We (kind of the royal we) were back on buses by about 8:15 this morning, got to the airport, back through check-in, back through customs, back through security, and back to waiting. The flight was supposed to leave at 10:30, we left at a little after noon, but I think we landed close to on-time. It was an adventure, and we are all none the worse for wear. I actually stopped at HEB on the way home, and I think the girls were pretty glad to see me. I think there was some confusion about the whole thing on their part, and they have both been pretty clingy since I have been home. I got a lot of work cleared up, and I think I am pretty well set for tomorrow. I have an 8:30 meeting, a 9:45 meeting and an 11 o'clock meeting. That will be the worst part of the rest of the week, only because there are three things back-to-back with very little room to breath. After my scuba diving lessons, breathing has taken on a whole new meaning. I really don't have any photos taken of any interest today, but this is the daytime view of the photo I used on the journal entry yesterday. Have fun...

Volume 15 - Day 283/82, 2023 - Tuesday

OMGoodness! I have experienced flight cancellations before, but never after the whole plane had been boarded. More later. Routine stuff this morning, going to the 7-11 is always a great way to start the day. I had a couple things I needed to do, and got that done, and then I got on the shuttle to the airport at 1 o'clock. So far, so good. Checked my bag, went through immigration, went through security, had lunch, went to the gate, and waited. And waited some more. My boarding pass was B7, and the A group and the pre-boards took FOREVER. Seriously. Finally, it was my turn, and the people behind were B5 and B6, and they insisted they get in front of me. I let them know they were welcome, but that I was superior. I got on the plane, seat 4C, next to two really nice people. Then the rumors started that when the plane we were on was landing, they hit a bird, and something in the break system broke. Brake Broke. And the bird...I think the bird was a victim of the avian flew. I made that up standing in one of the dozens of lines we stood in after we deplaned. We then went and retrieved our luggage, went backwards through immigration, and then lined up to get on busses to take us somewhere. I think we are still in Mexico, at a place called the Krystal Grand. No signs or a Krystal Burger in the place. Plus, it is not that Grand. It has air conditioning, and it will do until we get back on busses at 8 o'clock in the morning, and then head back to the airport. Breakfast is at 7, my phone is set for 6:15, plane is supposed to leave at 10:30. I know the whole thing is nobody's fault, and there have only been a couple Karen's out of a whole plane load (one man and one woman), so I guess that is not too bad. I could have been worse. That's it for me for tonight, my goal is to be home not later than 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Word!It's really not a bad view for being on the seventh floor.

Volume 15 - Day 282/83, 2023 - Monday

Today was a good day of accomplishments in Playa del Carmen. The routine stuff, muffins and coffee, and then I went over and talked with the folks that manage the unit. I have no issues with them, they are very competent, but I am finicky about details. I went to a plumbing supply shop, and bought new shower heads (again), and I am now satisfied with these. Immediately after I closed on the condo, I was under the impression that I could only replace the shower heads with the exact same kind that were already there. Apparently, that was not the case, so I am very happy with what I have now. My SSNI Certificate arrived by email today, so I am officially certified for Open Water Diving. I will take more lessons, probably a lot more, but it is fun and really interesting. Steve and Silvia and I went over to visit with Amy and Kurt for a while this afternoon, and then I had dinner tonight with my friend (and ReMax agent, Hazel), and it was good to catch up and just spend some time talking. I will head for home tomorrow afternoon, the shuttle will be here to pick me up around 1PM. I am looking forward to getting back home and seeing the girls, but I am also ready to figure out HOW to transport the girls here to PDC, so I can spend longer time here. I really like it, and there are lots of fun peeps and lots of things to do. Even doing nothing is good, because I am doing it here. Oh yeah, I found Low Fat milk here this time, I could not find it on other visits. Interestingly, the milk i not refrigerated in the stores, you refrigerate it after you bring it home. It is just the way it is!

Volume 15 - Day 281/84, 2023 - Sunday

I think that I shall never see. A poem lovely as a tree. What do y'all think, I just made that up. I think it's kind of catchy! I should try to copyright that. I love routine, and Playa del Carmen gives me at least a few opportunities for routine. I get up in the morning, go to the 7-11 for my coffee, come back, eat the muffins that I bought the night before from the Selecta. Then, I pretty much make up the rest of the day. My friend Steve from Austin who lives six months of the year in PDC, texted me to see if I wanted to go to breakfast. His two daughters (one in Austin, the other in NYC) had been here for the last week, and I met them on Thursday. We went to Mamitas Beach and had a nice, unhurried breakfast. He decided then that he needed to go back to his house and clean up, and we decided that we would spend some time together at the pool. He came over about 1:30, and stayed for about three hours, just talking and thanking our lucky stars. I invited Isabella and Mike, but they were off on a bike ride. Later, I did some walking, and went to Selecta for tomorrow mornings muffins. Apparently, my new default dinner selection is fish tacos. I have ordered that three out of the four nights I have been here. Two were excellent, one not so much. I walked to the beach a few times, no moon, so it was kind of dark this evening, but lovely this morning and afternoon. There are all kind of interesting things to pay attention to here, but I thought I would just share this tree (maybe a bunch of trees) outside the restaurant where I ate this evening. I like it a lot.

Volume 15 - Day 280/85, 2023 - Saturday

Well, I don't have any of the photos of my fourth dive today, so you don't have to believe that I did it, and that I am now a certified Open Water diver. The next time I come back, I will take a few more lessons, make a few more dives, but I will probably be more comfortable in the 'shallows' for now. That is down to 40 feet or so...I think I might have gone to about 45 feet today. There is lots of really beautiful stuff down there, but for now, I am concentrating A LOT on all the stuff that you need to do, how to do it, how to acclimate your ears, how not to do stupid stuff. I think the really most difficult part for me is to breath constantly through your mouth and not through your nose. I doubt that I will be running out and buying a lot of scuba gear, but I might actually invest in a nice mask, we will see. I got back to the condo at about 1 o'clock, and took a two hour nap. I am not 'sleepy tired,' but I am tired, I used a lot of muscles in the last two days that don't usually get used. I had an excellent fish taco dinner, and then my Policia friends (one of them) was on duty. Whenever I am here, I buy them ice cream, no sense not trying to make friends. This photo is Jasmine and Mario and me. Usually Jasmine is partnered with Marco, but she said he is home sleeping tonight. She will let him know he missed the ice cream! I'll share some underwater oics when I get them next week.

Volume 15 - Day 279/86 - Friday

Okay, it was kind of a busy day, in a good kind of way. I was up at my usual time, sort of, maybe a little later than my usual time. I had some studying to do, some email stuff, some calls to make, just stuff like that. I had an 8:30 appointment to take my first SCUBA diving class. The first class was review of the book stuff, and then we walked down the street a little ways, and did some stuff in a hotel pool. I'm pretty sure I did okay for that part, so far, so good. Then, about an hour break, and I got a chicken salad sandwich and a diet Coke at the 7-11 around the corner. I also dried my clothes before I put them back on and went back for my second class of the day. For the second class, we headed to the beach, got in a boat, and went off into the Caribbean. I am not crazy about sitting on the edge of the boat, in full wet suit and tanks, and falling backwards into the water. But I did it. The first descent I was a little anxious at first, but the third time I started down, all was okay. It is kind of interesting to think that you are forty feet down in the Caribbean, and you are gliding along, looking at all kinds of fish, coral, crabs, flounder, and sting rays. We were down for about 45 minutes on that first dive, and then we went to another spot. I think I did better on the first dive than I did on the second dive, but as I write this, I am above water, sitting in the dining room at the condo, typing this journal entry. I must have done at least a few things right. Later on this evening, all the Austin peeps and I went to the Freaky Tiki, and we met up with the same ex-Pats from last night, and on previous trips here. The music was good, the food was good, and I have another hat for my collection. After dinner, I went back to the Selecta, and got milk, paper towels, just ordinary stuff, and it is just about time to call it a night. I have an 8:30 class tomorrow, and then a test, and then I just be certified. Not sure what I will be certified for, but I will be certified. I should have at least a few better photos to share tomorrow. If there's no pictures, you didn't do it!

Volume 15 - Day 278/87, 2023 - Thursday

It was pretty much a total cluster getting to the airport this morning. There was a pretty good storm over night, there was 0.78 in my gauge, which was pretty darned good, considering. I left for the airport at 6:15 for my 9:30 flight. I already knew there was a fatality wreck in front of the airport, going west, so I thought I would be smart and approach it from the other side. Traffic was total chaos for five miles from the airport. ALL the intersections were blocked with cars that could not go anywhere. I finally got to the place where I park, but the vans could not get in or out. I decided to walk to the airport, and I got about half way there, and a taxi came through, and I paid him $20 (US) to take me the rest of the way, about a half mile. Ultimately, my flight was delayed about an hour, and everything was just fine. I got to the condo, made a couple appointments to do some stuff tomorrow and Saturday, and then I hooked up with a bunch of friends from Austin. We met up with a bunch of ex-Pats that I met here before (Steve, his two daughters, Isabella and her husband, and a few others, I am really bad with names), had dinner, walked back to the Selecta (where I got breakfast muffins), and now I am about ready to call it a night.

Volume 15 - Day 277/88, 2023 - Wednesday

What day is it? It's HUMP Day! Thank goodness! Among other things, I had an appointment with an appliance person, with a window of between 2 and 5. The man, a very competent mad, called a little after noon and said he was running ahead of schedule. SCORE! And, the ice maker is once again making ice, which is another SCORE! I really don't use ice that often, but since the ice maker has been broken, I have wanted NOTHING BUT ice in my soda. I finished my most recent book, Enough, and it was pretty good. I have no idea what I will read next, but I am not going to start anything else for a while. Kudos to Nancy, who bought the pie that Paulina brought back from Las Cruces, and kudos to Paulina for sharing it with me. I've got laundry in the dryer, and I will get that stuff out of the dryer in about thirty minutes, and that will do it for the night.

Volume 15 - Day 276/89, 2023 - Tuesday

We tried a new place for the ROMEOs breakfast this morning, the Monument Cafe in Georgetown. I think, overall, it was a much better experience that the place we have been to every Tuesday for the past couple of years. Has it been that long? Not sure. But, it was good, and we will take a vote to see if we make the change permanently. I made it in to the office, had a couple meetings, got some work done, and took off to a 1:30 appointment. I got home after that, and have not yet gone down to take a nap, but it may be an early evening nap. I am doing a lot less watering outside, which is a good thing, and we are supposed to get some rain later this week, but I think I will just leave the sprinklers on to make sure it rains. I am working from home tomorrow, and I have a whole list of things to get done before I take off on Thursday morning. Paul and I split $12 in PowerBall winnings, and we are already ready for the drawing tomorrow night. The odds are 50/50 as far as I am concerned.

Volume 15 - Day 275/-0, 2023 - Monday

Well, it's the first Monday in October, and it could have been worse. Actually, it was not bad at all, I'm just trying to be dramatic. Walk, check. It was 66 degrees for the walk this morning, and it is supposed to be cooler the closer we get to the weekend. And, they are still forecasting raid for the weekend, so I am crossing my fingers. It was pretty quiet in the office, just a few challenges, but it should all work out. I will be in the office tomorrow, and I will be (pretending to) work from home on Wednesday. Then I am off to Playa on Thursday, driving to the airport in the middle of a forecast downpour. I will drive slowly. I do drive like an old granny in the dark, and even more so when it is raining. It will be a relief not to have to water for a few days, and the plants do much better with rain water than they do with city water. Yes, it is the month of Halloween, and it is starting to show in the 'hood. Who knew they sold twelve foot skeletons at the new HEB? But, apparently, they do!

Volume 15 - Day 274/91, 2023 - Sunday

Welcome to October! Not as humid, and in fact, it only got up to 95 degrees today. Fingers still crossed for some rain this week (starting Wednesday) and really cooler weather. Paul and I did a walk this morning, and then I did a few chores around the house, made a trip to the Post Office, got gas in the car, re-entered some listings in the MLS. I borrowed Linda's blow dryer, I am still trying to get the ice maker in the refrigerator working. I have until Wednesday afternoon to try and figure it out, that is when the appliance repair guy is expected to show up. I didn't watch any movies during the day, nothing was really sounding too interesting to me. I did go down to Linda and Jimmie's this evening and we watched Asteroid City. I think it is a great movie, I have no idea what it is about, but I like the artistry of it. I hope I am still friends with them after the movie! Last night at the House Concert, I think Alisha let it slip that she was the culprit of the box of squeaky toys that were anonymously delivered to the Piglet a few months ago. The Piglet has plenty of squeaky toys, and there are still, at least, a half-box of squeaky toys somewhere here in the house...I forgot where I hid them. I have a few tasks to get accomplished this week, but I have a plan, so that won't be too big of a deal.