Volume 16 - Day 182/184, 2024 - Sunday

I did get a lot of stuff done today: pulled some weeds, trimmed the crepe Myrtle, trimmed the morning glories, moved one pot of morning glories so they don't burn up from the heat, went back to one of the estate sales I went to yesterday (bought nothing), bought some donuts, brushed burrs off of Callie's ears, and some this and that. I did manage to work in a couple naps, and then I would have another burst of energy. I also cleaned the humming bird feeders and put new syrup in them, and put them back out on the back patio. I am about to give up on the hummers for this year, but then I feel bad about having those feelings. BUT...I am happy with all the stuff I got done. Later in the afternoon, Val, Paulina and Oliver come over, talked about Europe (Paulina and Oliver just returned yesterday) and then we went to Fish City Grill for dinner. I am home now, taking it easy, watching a re-run (maybe) of 60 Minutes, and getting ready to finish the day. I is still hot, and there may be a hurricane (Beryl) headed for Playa. It will all be okay, and tomorrow is the exact middle of 2024. Enjoy! The other wildlife around appreciate the various water spots I have spread around, and I appreciate the opportunity to make it available.

Volume 16 - Day 181/185, 2024 - Saturday

Have I mentioned that it is too far for this time of year? Probably not, but it is. It is very warm and very humid when we go for our walks in the morning, and it gets warmer during the day. A special shout-out to Willis Carrier, who invented the first electrical air conditioning in 1902. I didn't know it was invented that long ago, and I am pretty sure it was not readily available for a long time after that. When I was growing up in Michigan, our house did not have air conditioning, and after my father died in 1968, we got a window unit that cooled the living room and dining room. When I/we moved to Memphis (c 1969), air conditioning was pretty common, and it is definitely common here in Texas. But I know air conditioning in Texas was not really common until maybe the 1960's, and I know for sure it was hot much before that. Enough of that. We had a nice walk this morning, then Diane, Pam, Marian and I hit five estate sales. I spent a few dollars and got a few treasures, but the sales and the houses they were at we all kind of weird. But, I may go back to one of them tomorrow, maybe. Tonight was the second house concert of the season, and there were ten of us, and that was kind of surprising. It was 95 degrees, maybe more, and it would not have surprised me if everyone stayed home in the air conditioning. See above. It was a fun evening, and there was a nice breeze, and we all had a good time. Now it is time to go have a few slices of water melon, and pile up in the bed with the two girls. Good night!

Volume 16 - Day 180/186, 2024 - Friday

You can't see my journal posting from last night, because some robots at Facebook deleted it. I am protesting, but I doubt it will do any good, there is no fighting an algorithm. City Hall has become easier to fight, but not Facebook. It was deleted because I included the name of our book club selection for July. I cannot (apparently) risk including the name of the book in this post, but if you are interested, look for a book written in 2016 by David Duchovny. Yes, that guy. He wrote the book, and it has been released as a movie a couple weeks ago, that is how I heard of the book. So, for the immediate future, our book club selection for July, 2024 is A Book Whose Name Shall Not Be Said. You can also send me a private message and I will supply you with the link to blogspot where my journal is housed. I just cannot provide that link on this Facebook, either. I have always had issues with authority figures. Oh, well. Today is Friday, and I like Friday's. We had a nice walk in the morning, then it was off to the office. I gave double platelets this afternoon, and my hemoglobin level is now up to 13.7, so that is a good thing. I got home about 4 o'clock, tried to go down for a nap, but that didn't work. Later, Jimmie and Linda and their grandson Wells came down to visit, and then we went for ice cream. All-in-all, a good day. Let's talk about the picture accompanying this post. Last night, at book club, I won one of the door prizes. Since the Jone book club selection was about cherries, cherry trees and all things cherry, I won a LED Neon Sign in the shape of two cherries. The picture accompanying this post is one of the disclosures on the front of the box. I am just a little bit nervous about exploding cherries. 

Volume 16 - Day 179/187, 2024 - Thursday

Today was a busy day, but it was a good day, and the day went by quickly. Paul and I had a nice walk this morning, and I will try to not talk about how hot it is 24/7. Just know, that is what I am thinking as I sit here authoring this entry. After the walk, I made it in to the office pretty early (for me), and got everything done that needed to be done. I did have a little mix-up with a tenant, but that is to be expected if your air conditioning system goes on the fritz. They are not alone, and there are a finite number of air conditioner repair people in the world. Since it was Thursday, we had burgers from Sandy's for lunch, and as usual, they were really good. Late in the afternoon, I got an application approved for one of our managed properties, and then it was time to go home. Tonight was book club night, and it was fun talking about this month's book, Tom Lake. Dick and Margie attended book club virtually from their house outside Chicago. Great to see them! We have picked our book for July, it was written in 2016 (I think) by David Duchovny, and it is titled Bucky F*cking Dent. No, really. David Duchovny was on every morning talk show a week or so ago, and that is how I heard about the book. I think he was on all the talk shows because they make the book into a movie which is to be released soon. Time to call it quits for this day

Volume 16 - Day 178/188, 2024 - Wednesday

It was a nice walk this morning with Paul, and once again, it was 79 degrees when I let the girls out this morning. A little too warm, a little too early. After the walk, I fed the girls and had some breakfast for myself, and got ready for my zoom meeting. I was on zoom from 9 o'clock this morning until about 2 o'clock this afternoon. There will be a follow-up call tomorrow, but we are only scheduled for an hour-and-a-half. I really doubt if it will take that long. After the zoom meeting, I did go and take care of a couple errands, and I have a couple more that need to be taken care of tomorrow morning. Have you ever heard the theory of Schrodinger's Cookie? Well...Schrodinger's Cookie is a thought experiment devised by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrodinger, which he designed to illustrate a paradox of quantum superposition wherein a hypothetical cookie may be considered both eaten and not eaten, simultaneously because its fate is linked to a random event that may (or may not) occur. So, the question is, did he open the package of cookies or not?

Volume 16 - Day 177/189, 2024 - Tuesday

Paul and James and I had a nice walk this morning. It was 79 degrees when I got up and let the girls outside, and it was made worse with the 1000% humidity. But we survived. Then it was off to the ROMEOs breakfast. We tried to facetime with Richard at his ROMEO breakfast in Chicago, but none of us (in Georgetown or Chicago) could make it work. I took a selfie with today's perfect stranger even before I sat down at breakfast, I spotted her right off. After breakfast, it was off to the office, and getting stuff done before the end of the month. Tomorrow I will be staying home, I have a zoom meeting from 9 until 2:30, and I am pretty sure it will be a tiring day. I need to go outside in a little while and water some plants, and then I will settle in for the night. I got my results back from my doctors visit yesterday, and the doctors comments overall were 'unremarkable.' I have a couple areas of concern, and I will work on those in the coming days/weeks. I have still got ice cream and cookies, so there is only so much I can do.

Volume 16 - Day 176/190, 2024 - Monday

I didn't walk this morning because I had a doctors appointment in Austin at 7:45. They did blood work, and I got the results back this afternoon, and (if I am reading it correctly) I think all the results are within acceptable standards. That means I will have ice cream and cookies later tonight. After the appointment, I was actually in the office early, and got stuff done that needed to be done. We are in the midst of the crazy summer leasing season, and we are trying to make sure we don't miss anything...that we get renewals done, and other properties on the lease market. Holidays at the beginning of the month are always kind of difficult for leasing, because it is difficult to get properties on the market over a Holiday. Since I got in early, I left a little earlier than usual, and there is plenty of stuff that still needs to be done. Tomorrow will be another full day after a good walk and a ROMEO breakfast, and Wednesday I will be staying home; I have a full day zoom meeting on Wednesday. These Monarchs (or maybe moths) have been hanging around the back yard for several days, and I think this is an interesting photo accompanying this entry. That is me at the top right of the photo, after one visit too many to the McDonald's Drive-thru!

Volume 16 - Day 175/191, 2024 - Sunday

Not a bad day, if you don't really think too hard about the heat and the humidity. Paul and I had a good walk, then I watched most of Sunday Morning. I put my new sheets on the bed, and I am very happy with the one pair of 'shallow pocket' sheets I have bought on Amazon. I met Candy and Mike and Terry for brunch this morning, and then Val asked me to take him to pick up his work van. When I got home, I started doing laundry, and that went on for several hours. I went back to an estate sale I went to yesterday, and bought about $13 worth of stuff that I could not live without. Everything was half price. The Piglet doesn't know it yet, but she is fixin' to go on a diet. I placed my first order of The Farmer's Dog food this afternoon, and the Piglet and Callie will have different foods. Interestingly, right now they both eat exactly the same food, and they both weigh close to the same (I think), but the Piglet does not carrie it as well as Callie does. I may need my own order of dog food if it works for the Piglet. I have my six month medical check-up tomorrow, so I will let you know what he finds out this time. Hopefully nothing. The Plumeria on the front patio is starting to bloom, and I am very happy about that. It did not produce a single bloom all of last year, and I am delighted that I won't have to say that again.

Volume 16 - Day 174/192, 2024 - Saturday

I did a whole bunch of stuff today, starting with a nice walk with Paul. It did not seem as humid, and it felt a bit less hot, but we were both glistening by the time we finished the walk. After the walk, I fed the girls and watched the morning news. I got up and did a few things around the house until it was time to leave for estate sales. We (me, Marian, Pam and Diane) thought there were four estate sales, but in reality, there were three estate sales and one moving sale. I was not convinced about the moving sale, but I scored a couple good things there. I may go back to one of the sales tomorrow, but it does not open til one o'clock. If I'm not busy, I might consider it. I ran a whole bunch of errands this afternoon, and I still have a few things on my list that will get done tomorrow. I had lunch at Fire Bowl in Round Rock this afternoon, and it has been a minute since I've been there. I had Sesame Chicken, and it was just as good as I remembered it. I am still Jonesing for shallow pocket sheet sets. I went to three or four brick and mortar stores today, looking, and none were to be had. This is not helping my CDO-ness at all. I did order a set from Amazon, and if they fit well (I will find out tomorrow), I will probably order a few more sets. Brunch tomorrow with me, Candy and Terry, so that will be fun!

Volume 16 - Day 173/193, 2024 - Friday

Today was a good day...Paul decided he did not want to walk this morning, so I used that time to get caught up on a few things around the house before going in to the office. HUMMER ALERT: I saw one hummer visit three of the four feeders this morning, so that is a significant win on my part, very happy to see that at least one hummer knows the feeders are there, and I hope it will get better through the summer. I went in to the office and got my work done, and left at 12:30 for my 1 o'clock appointment to see if my iron/hemoglobin levels had increased enough for me to make a platelet donation. Just barely. I think the acceptable range is 13 to 18, and my level was 13. Good enough, and I donated platelets AND plasma today. I am glad to be back as a donor. I have a doctors appointment on Monday, my regular six month checkup, and I will ask him what I need to do to increase my levels. I bought a bunch of fresh spinach this afternoon, so there are at least a few 'iron rich' foods that will help get the levels back up. Plus the iron supplements I am taking every day. I won't go in to details about what effect the supplements are having on me, this is a family journal. I am going to leave in a few minutes and head to the airport, to pick up Val. His flight from Atlanta should arrive about 8:30, and Paulina and Oliver are still in Europe. That drive will also give me time to finish the book I am reading, Angela's Ashes. Oh dear, life in Ireland in the 1940's was not fun. Estate sales tomorrow, and that is always fun.

Volume 16 - Day 172/194, 2024 - Thursday

So...there was 0.95" of rain in the gauge overnight, which is better than what I was expecting. We have had a little bit more during the day today, but I think that is it for the near future. I had two meetings today, and I got home about 3:30 this afternoon. I had an appointment with a guy to work on the exterior lights between 4 and 5, and he showed up about 5:45. Really no problem, just a little bit of this and that. When that was done, Jimmie and Linda and I went and had ice cream. Very good. The only other news is that it is HOT. Already HOT. I think it may be a long summer! I am settled in for the night, and I cannot think of anything better at the moment. Tomorrow is Friday, and that is always welcome. Stay tuned. Truth be known, there was nothing much to talk about today, and it shows!

Volume 16 - Day 171/195, 2024 - Wednesday

Well, so much for the predicted 5 to 7 inches of rain. It rained a little bit at the Curious House, and so far we have received less that 2/10". Not complaining, just wishing we could get more rain. It is still dribbling a little bit, but we are going to be WAY short of what was predicted several days ago. Paul and I had a nice walk this morning, Pam is back from her visit north with her quilting friends. I got in to the office about 9:30 this morning, and left before 1 o'clock. I stopped at AT HOME in Cedar Park (maybe Leander) on my quest for shallow pocket king size sheets. You try finding them Deb...it is not easy. There are sheets that say 'fit 8 to 16 inch mattresses', and that is where I fail. There is too much sheet on those things. I know, first world problem, and it (so far) is NOT keeping me up at night worrying, but I would not think it was that much trouble finding them. Recommendations are appreciated. I am still gloating about the concert last night, it was really great! I need to look and see if Hauser has announces a 2025 Tour already. He hinted at it last night. I have two meetings tomorrow, one at 10 and one at 2, so that will keep me occupied for a while. Maybe there will be a rain dealy! Fingers crossed. 

Volume 16 - Day 170/196, 2024 - Tuesday

It's Tuesday, but it seems like it should be Friday already. James and I did a half-walk this morning, my decision because I had a 10 o'clock appointment and I had stuff to do. It was not as humid this morning, and it was a pleasant walk. Because I did an abbreviated walk, I had a leisurely time getting ready and took off for my meeting a little bit before 9. After the meeting, it was in to the office, and there was some stuff that needed to get done, and it got done. The rain forecast is really disappointing; we went from a forecast of 5 to 7 inches by the end of the week, we are down to a half-inch if we get that much. Very disappointing! Tonight was really good. I had tickets to see Hauser at the Bass Concert Hall. I've had tickets since last year, and I think it was a GREAT concert, much better than I was anticipating. If you have ever thought of becoming a fan of a cellist, take a look at Hauser on the interweb. Very cool.

Volume 16 - Day 169/197, 2024 - Monday

Hummer update...I removed the feeders from the back patio, and I am not going to put them back for several days...maybe they need a fresh look at them . BUT...when I was leaving the house for our morning walk, there was a hummer off the front patio, paying attention to the blooms on one of the baskets out there, so that is a good sign. Tonights weather forecast says we could get 4 to 7 inches of rain in the next three or four days. I would settle for any of that, 7 inches might be a little bit too much. Whatever we get, hopefully I can turn the sprinklers off before they run on Saturday. All was good in the office today, I have a 10 o'clock meeting tomorrow, and then I will go in to the office. I learned something today: All king size beds are not equal. I thought I had a California King, I do not. Also, there are various 'pocket' sizes, and my mattress is a 'shallow pocket.' What the hell? But, now I am on a mission for (hopefully) sheets that will fit my bed properly. I have been sleeping on wadded up sheets for almost four years, and I just thought I did not know how to make a bed. 

Volume 16 - Day 168/198, 2024 - Sunday

I got more than everything on my chore list accomplished today; pulled weeds, washed the floor in the garage, and a whole bunch of this-and-that. I am going to take the hummingbird feeders in tonight, clean them, and then put them out again later in the week. I have no idea why the hummers are ignoring me this year, but I will keep trying different things and maybe I will find something that works. This doll is one of my treasures from the estate sales yesterday. I paid $7.50 for her (I am assuming it is a her), and I like her very much. She has no hair, and her head was stuffed with bubble wrap. The bubble wrap was keeping her eyes in place, but I have come up with another temporary fix for that. I am becoming more discriminating with my purchases particularly clocks, dolls and bells. I'm still open to Statue of Liberty souvenirs, and most other things, but I am pushing back on a few things. It was warm today, but we escaped the 100 degree mark. With the disturbance in the Gulf, we are crossing our fingers that we get some rain, but also hope there will be no harm as a result.

Volume 16 - Day 167/199, 2024 - Saturday

Richard and Margie headed off to Chicago for the summer, so he will not be walking with us anymore until sometime in October. So...Paul and I were on our own this morning. It was a nice walk, although it was really warm and really humid. We came upon this guy about half way through the walk. He was working to catch a bullsnake, and he finally got it, and posed for the picture accompanying this journal entry. I don't know the mans name, but his son (Noah) was with him, and wanted nothing to do with the snake. A Texas Bullsnake is a large, nonvenomous, colubrid ( a snake of a very large family which includes the majority of harmless snakes). It is a subspecies of the gopher snake. The bullsnake is one of the largest/longest snakes of North America, reaching lengths up to eight feet. You're welcome, class dismissed! For sure, it was a long snake, and the captor re-homed the above mentioned snake, and all is right with the world. I think bullsnakes also prey on rattlesnakes, and are overall categorized as 'good snakes.' After the walk, we made it to four estate sales, five if you count the one we went to twice as two. After estate sales, I took a nap, and then at 3 o'clock I settled in for a Continuing Education class. It was a three hour class, and there was a lot of good information provided to help with all the form updates and changes that will go into effect in about ten days. Preparation is key!

Volume 16 - Day 166/200, 2024 - Friday

It's Friday, and Friday is my second favorite F word. We started the day with our morning walk, and Richard and Margie are heading to Chicago tomorrow, and they will return sometime in late October. We will all miss them, and will welcome them back with open arms when they return. After the walk, i fed the girls and had some oat cereal, then it was in to the office. I got what needed to be done, done, and then I went to Michael and Lynda's for a very nice lunch. Thanks for the invitation! Back to the office, got more stuff done, and then headed home about 2:30. I made a stop at Deep Eddy Carpets, where I had ordered some rug pads. I ordered five of them because I was tired of having the girls fling the little rugs all over when they run back and forth. What a difference the pads make. It is (I started to say 'still,' but we are just beginning the summer heat) very warm, and supposed to be hotter over the weekend. We have four estate sales to hit tomorrow, and late in the day, I am even taking a CE class about all the new updated forms being mandated in the next couple months. I usually don't have anything going on from 3-6PM on a Saturday, anyway, so I might as well take a class!

Volume 16 - Day 165/201, 2024 - Thursday

On our first dives last month, Paulina, Oliver and I met a couple whose names were Lincoln and Brande. Lincoln had a camera (GoPro?), and I asked him if he would share some of the photos with us. He said 'of course,' and I got his text this morning. This photo shows me, the guide, Oliver and Paulina resting on the bottom of the Caribbean, somewhere around Playa. Scuba is really a lot of fun, and I am glad I did it last year. We have another trip planned later this year, and have already reserved time for more dives. Yes, there was a walk this morning, and that was good. I had a leisurely morning after the walk, and I got in to the office about 9:30. I got done the things that needed to be done, and I had an appointment for give platelets at 1PM. I was declined last Monday because my hemoglobin was too low. I have been eating all the right iron building foods and even an iron supplement for the last few days, and today I was declined again. I think my hemoglobin was even worse today.  I have another appointment for next Friday, and if it is still low, I will need to make an appointment with my GP to see what the hell is going on. Today was a lot less harried than yesterday, and as I (kind of) predicted, everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I'm pretty sure it always does.

Volume 16 - Day 164/202, 2024 - Wednesday

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days. Not really, but it landed somewhere in the middle, heavy on the worst side. Not really even that, either. There were some definite low points, but it will all work out the way it is supposed to. We had a little rain overnight, and there was a little threat of rain while we were walking this morning. I had intended to work from home today, I had two zoom calls and thought I could make the best use of my time at home. I forgot about owner statements that needed to be approved, so in I went. I did my first zoom call in the office, and then I headed home for the second one. In the middle, towards the end of the day, is when things took a turn south. Again, it will all work out, just first world problems. Tonight was our Neighbors Dinner, and there were 13 in attendance. It was great seeing everyone, and lots of good conversation and story telling. 

Volume 16 - Day 163/203, 2024 - Tuesday

Yes, there was a nice walk this morning. Do you know I carry dog treats with me in the mornings, and many of the dogs recognize me during the walks. I generally have six treats in my pocket, and I gave away five of them this morning. Not every dog we see gets a treat...some of them don't like the treats, some of the hoomans don't want me giving their dogs a treat. I always ask permission first, and that is not a bad way to get to know the hoomans, too. Today is Total Stranger Tuesday, but there were no likely candidates for the honor this morning, so I decided to acknowledge Richard's last ROMEO breakfast until they get back from Chicago in October. Friday will be his last morning walk, too, so there will likely be another photo. We did have a good breakfast, and then it was in to the office. On the way to breakfast, I stopped for two bottles of iron supplements (buy one, get one free), and got gas in the little white car. I had a three o'clock appointment, and that appointment time changed two or three times, before it was finally decided that we would meet at 12:30. As I was waiting, I got a text and an email that the appointment was at 1 o'clock. Then I also got reminders about the three o'clock appointment. Whatever. On my way home, I stopped at HEB and got the stuff that was not available yesterday at ALDI. Watermelon, baked chicken, not sure what all else I got, but I should be good by my Thursday appointment. I have two zoom meetings tomorrow, and our neighbors dinner is tomorrow night. Still no evidence of hummers at my feeders. Not sure where I am going wrong. Photo credit: Princess Leah at Monument Cafe, me, Paul and Richard.

Volume 16 - Day 162/204, 2024 - Monday

ALDI: How do I hate thee, let me count the ways. I don't carry change in my pocket, and at the register, they refused to give me change for a dollar. I get it that they don't want to open the register willy-nilly, but it is their rule, not mine. I finally got change, got my cart, but there were only a couple things that I was there for, and they did not have the most important stuff. I went to ALDI because I thought, since it is a small facility, I could be in and out, no problem. Nope. Whatever. I was supposed to give platelets today, but I should probably re-think giving on a Monday, when I spent the weekend eating nothing but ice cream and pie.  Now I am on a binge to get my hemoglobin (a protein produced by bone marrow that is stored in red blood cells) count back up to an acceptable level. I made another appointment for Thursday, so I will let you know if it works. Additionally, today was a crazy day, and even though I had no real confrontations with anyone, I feel like I am at the point that I should quit interacting with people. It is not a good feeling, and I will most likely feel better about the whole thing tomorrow. Maybe. 

Volume 16 - Day 161/205, 2024 - Sunday

After the morning walk, I only had two items on my chore list to get accomplished, and I actually got one done BEFORE the walk. Trimming the suckers off the crepe myrtle got done before the walk. After the walk, I watched Sunday Morning, took a nap, and then got up and re-affixed the garage door insulation to the doors. All done. So, it was time for another nap, and when I roused myself up out of the chair, I decided it was time for laundry, which means I was nekkid in the house from about 9:30 til 1:30. I finally put on some clothes in order to take the girls out in the back yard without having the cops called on me. I did not go anywhere after the morning walk, and I doubt that there was anything that I missed. My lack of venturing out kind of makes for uninteresting photos to accompany this journal entry, but it beats the alternative; a shot of the inside of the garage door. The coming week should be relatively calm and quiet, there is not a lot of stuff on my calendar. I will eventually get all the stuff from my visit to Mexico put away and get that bedroom cleaned. No rush though.

Volume 16 - Day 160/206, 2024 - Saturday

We hit a record breaking EIGHT estate sales this morning, and we were pretty well done by the time we finished. I spent some money (I was out of action the last two Saturdays), and life is good. When we got home, I went down for a nap, and then about 3 o'clock, I got motivated to go to the At Home store in Cedar Park. I needed a new outdoor rocking chair for the back yard, where I sit while I take the girls outside. The last one(s) we had, Jody bought at Shropshire Brothers in Salado, probably 15 years ago, for $20. The last one finally gave up the ghost about three weeks ago, and the replacement (identical to the last one) cost $60. Whatever. It is hot (kind of an understatement), and I have two more things on my list to get done tomorrow. I need to trim the suckers off the crepe myrtle outside the garage, and I need to fix some of the garage door insulation...which means I need to put more tape on the insulation so it won't fall off. I think I can accomplish both of those chores in the morning before it gets too hot. NEWS FLASH: Blue Bell is making Root Beer Float ice cream. I read about it before I went to Mexico, and I bought a half gallon when I got back. Initial taste tests prove that it is pretty darned good, and it will only be made through 2025. I recommend it, you should go buy some, and if you don't like it, you can mail it to me.

Volume 16 - Day 159/207, 2024 - Friday

Friday: My second favorite F word! We had another pleasant walk this morning, not hot, therefore, it felt less humid. I arrived at Val and Paulina's house early this morning to get them to the airport. They are headed to Ireland and points east for a couple weeks. Val will be back first, then Paulina and Oliver. I think Nancy is joining them next week in Paris. I had a late appointment in the office, which meant I did not get home this afternoon until almost 5 o'clock. I am in the middle of a humming bird crisis: I have never had too much trouble attracting hummers, but nothing this year. I got new feeders, they don't hold as much nectar, and are a lot easier to clean, so I hope they rediscover this feeding station. I'll let you know. I am doing this journal a little bit early, so there will be no chance of me missing the final Pat Sajak episode on Wheel of Fortune. It should be interesting. There are eight estate sales tomorrow, I need to rest up for it. 

Volume 16 - Day 158/208, 2024 - Thursday

Have I mentioned that it is already summer-time hot in central Texas? It is. We are kind of 'okay' with rain, but we can always (almost always) use more rain. Our morning walk was a lot more comfortable this morning than yesterday, and that was great. I made it in to the office with no real issues, and took of for home early in the afternoon. Tonight was TREPAC movie night at Alamo Draft House, and it was fun to see Back to the Future again. Some folks had never seen the movie, and others (me included) did not remember a lot of the details that were reminded. Again, it was fun. It is WAY past my bedtime, so enjoy the photo accompanying this entry, many friends and neighbors!

Volume 16 - Dy 157/209, 2024 - Wednesday

Well. everything is almost back to normal. I spent a good bit of time this afternoon starting the clocks. It is not good to let the clocks wind down completely, so I stopped all the clocks (except one) before I left for Playa. I think most of them are back running now. A couple of the clocks are being a little finicky, including Jody's Grandfather clock. It will all be okay. The only clock I didn't stop is the one in my bedroom, and that is because that clock is a 31 day clock. More than you wanted to know about my clocks. Did I mention to you that the Piglet decided she would be plagued by constipation while we were in Mexico? I didn't think so, but I have discovered the miracle that is canned pumpkin. Who knew? She is doing better, and now I am giving both the girls a little bit of pumpkin with their food once a day. Can't hurt, according to Dr. Google. It rained on the way in to the office this morning, and that was nice. I am always open for a bit of rain. Points north and south of us had had a LOT of rain, flooding, and damage of all sorts. Fingers crossed, we have been lucky in this part of Texas. I had a few things to catch up on today, and I have completed most of it, I will get the rest done before the end of the week.

Volume 16 - Day 156/210, 2024 - Tuesday

It is such a pleasure to be home, click on my blog, and it opens. Just like it is supposed to do. Pretty cool if you ask me. Okay, we are home after eleven days in Playa. Great fun, lots of naps, four more dives, snorkeling, visiting a couple cenotes, meeting up with Playa friends. Paulina and Ollie are great traveling companions, and they were a lot of help with the girls. I think the girls are done for the day, they have had several new adventures, and they are international travelers now. Everything worked out pretty well today, overall, everything was right on time, no delays, and it will be back to the routine stuff tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I like routine, and it will be good to be back in it. More tomorrow. Maybe.

Volume 16 - Day 154/212, 2024 - Sunday

Okay, I am going to quit worrying about whether Blogspot is working or not, and just take my chances. Another thing I am not going to worry about is, catching up with days that are missed because of Blogspot. So, today is Sunday, and the title of this entry says Sunday, so it must be Sunday. I am not sure why Blogspot is 'iffy' in Mexico, I never had that issue before, but when we are trying to watch movies on Netflix and other providers, it frequently says 'Not Available at your Location.' What the hell? Whatever. The big news of the days is that the Piglet has pooped. I went to the grocery this morning and bought some canned pumpkin, and it did the trick. Today would have been the third day with no poop from her, but all is well that poops out well. Of course, they only had pumpkin in a 29 ounce can, so we have enough pumpkin to last us until the second coming. Today was a quiet day, we spent some time at the pool, had a nice lunch, then went down for naps. There is no question that it is hot and humid here, but that is to be expected. There are nice, big, frothy waves at the beach, and lots of things to go explore. The photo accompanying this journal entry (if it actually makes it), is kind of my current situation!