Volume 17 - Day 365/0, 2025 - Wednesday

Well, this is the last day for Volume 17, and the last day for 2025. Volume 17 will be finished with this post, and tomorrow will start Volume 18. It is about 10:30 in Playa, and for two people who barely got out of the house today, Mike and I are settled in for the night. Truly, other than going for coffee at the 7/11 this morning, we did not leave the condo until about 4:45, waiting for Candy Crush to pick us up and take us to the venue for Cirque du Soleil. Joya, is very well done, and the venue is the only permanent Cirque venue in the world. I think. It is tucked back in the jungle a pretty good way off the highway, and it is really well done. We had dinner first, and during dinner there was entertainment by a trio (sometime a quartet) that reminded me a lot of the Buena Vista Social Club. The whole experience was really good, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Cancun or Playa. When we got back to the condo, we walked a little while, but I fear neither one of us will make it until midnight. If I make it to midnight, it will not be by choice, and it will be the first time I have seen the New Year in for many years. Happy New Year, y'all.

Volume 17 - Day 364/1, 2025 - Tuesday

We had a relatively calm and quiet day. Last night, Mike bought some pastries when we were at dinner at Chez Celine, and this morning, he got up and went to 7-11 for coffee. Nothing like coffee and pastries for breakfast. At 9 o'clock, Marco and Hugo were at the condo, and we talked about four paintings I would like him to do for the condo. I may get more before 2026 comes to an end. I like his work very much. Later in the morning, Candy Crush came to the condo and took us to the DHL office, where we shipped some stuff home that we bought the other day. I am pretty sure it would have been WAY cheaper just to buy a giant suitcase, and put it in checked baggage. In fact, I am certain of that. Live and learn, or in my case, live and be less stupid. Once we got back to the condo, we walked to the grocery where they had bananas (finally) and we got enough for the rest of our stay, and then had lunch across the street. Then it was nap time, and after the news, we took off just walking. Neither one of us were hungry, but we made room for ice cream, and just walked up and down for a while. It's Tuesday night, but working up to New Years Eve, the street performers are out, but the tourist numbers are down considerably. I wonder what it will be like tomorrow night? Whatever it is, I expect it will be fun!

Volume 17 - Day 363/2, 2025 - Monday

Okay, it's Monday in Playa (and other places, I assume) and once again, I slept for more than 8 hours. Weird. I went over and met with Simona, one of the managers at Riviera Maya Suites that also is the property manager for the condo. It has been a couple years since we met, and we are working on a plan for some cosmetic upgrades in the condo. Since I apparently have a fetish for Frida Kahlo, I am going to replace the artwork with art that reflects Frida, and all of it will be done by Hugo, the artist here in Playa that I like very much. Then, we will market the condo as 'The Frida Suite,' and I will also do my best to promote Hugo to guests at the condo. I really want to support local art, and I like Hugo's work. I am not really sure that he needs my help, but it (probably) can't hurt. It was dribbly rain when I got up this morning, and Mike got here this evening, and said it had apparently rained very hard in Cancun, there was still water standing in lots of the roads and getting through was a bit of a problem. Did I mention that Mike is here? We ciphered it, and we have been friends for more than 50 years. I really value that friendship, and I don't think we see each other enough. After Mike got here, we took off and went to dinner, and then walked up and down Fifth Avenue for a little bit. We have a couple things we will be doing tomorrow, but nothing big, just taking it easy. We're in Playa...that's what we are supposed to do.

Volume 17 - Day 362/3, 2025 - Sunday

According to my cell phone, I slept over 8 hours last night. I cannot tell you the last time I slept tht long. I usually sleep about five hours a night, so 8 hours is kind of crazy. I did a lot of touristy things today, and some things I do out of habit. Habit was that I went to the 7-11, about a half block from the condo, and got a large coffee. Much easier than trying to make coffee at the condo. I had one of the muffins I got at the grocery last night for breakfast, and then I finished listening to the book I have been 'reading,' Wild Dark Shore. There were a lot of twists and turns in that book, and I liked it a lot. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, though. Next up is A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost. I will be very sad if it is not funny, I need a funny book about now. I had a burger (across the street from the condo) for lunch, and I had a call from Paulina and Oliver (they are in Italy), and Oliver guided me through getting the television to work. Finally. The last time I was here, the guys from ExPatTV came out and installed their new streaming system, but we left about an hour later and I never got a chance to enjoy it. Now, I appreciate the service that gets about six or seven hundred channels, including the local Austin channels. I like that very much, and really, that's all that matters! I did a little bit of souvenir shopping, and went back to the grocery for milk, paper towels, a sandwich (that I had for dinner), and a couple more diet cokes. You don't buy refrigerated milk here, it is room temperature on the shelf, and you put it in the refrigerator when you get home, and keep it in the refrigerator after you open it. I prefer skim milk, but I think I ended up with low fat milk, which is fine. According to the news, it is going to be windy in central Texas, winds up to 50 miles per hour. Crazy! And it will cool down, but I think the threat of freezing temperatures might not be happening, I will keep watch. Mike gets here tomorrow about 7PM, and it will be fun to hang out with him for a couple days, before we head back on on Friday.

Volume 17 - Day 361/4, 2025 - Saturday

It has been a really long day! I was up at 3AM to catch a shuttle at 4AM to make sure I did not miss my flight at 5:30AM. Everything worked out okay, but I am tired, and it was a bit of a chore to get in my 10K steps, even though all I really try for is 7K steps. The plane landed in Playa right on time, and I got to the condo at about 10AM. Playa is on Eastern time. There was a wreck on the way, and the highway was a mass of mashed tomatoes! First time I ever saw tomatoes as a victim of careless drivers. The condo was not ready, so I went and had breakfast at Chez Celine, just around the corner. Once I got in to the condo, I panicked (sp?) for a minute, thinking I had left ANOTHER set of headphones in a hotel, but I didn't. I found Hugo, the artist I like, and talked with him for a while. I went to the grocery and bought some muffins, an eclair, some chips and two diet Cokes. That is totally logical, right? I had pizza for dinner at De Local, and the pizza is DELISH! I have not been to Playa in too long, and I am glad I got this chance to be here. Some things have changed, some things are the same. I am happy to see the dogs everywhere, and when we brought the girls one time, they did not have any issues at all. I did make it to the beach for a few minutes as well, but it is time to call it a night. 

Volume 17 - Day 360/5, 2025 - Friday

I am having a little bit of trouble keeping up with what day of the week it is. I know it is Friday, but it does not feel like Friday, and I am not even sure what day of the week it feels like. AND...I do not believe that it has anything to do with my advanced age, so put a sock in it! I had a nice walk this morning with Richard and Paul, and it was about 84 degrees in Georgetown this afternoon. I did turn the air conditioner on, mainly to get the humidity out of the house. We are expecting a little bit of a cold wave next week, Monday night going in to Tuesday morning. The forecast, so far, is a low temperature of 31 degrees, but you never know what might happen. Whatever happens, I am ready for it. I got plants moved and faucets covered. It is not going to be that big of a deal if it really happens, but the morning glories might not make it. I said that the last time we were threatened with below freezing temperatures, and they are still doing just fine. Cold weather is big news in central Texas, and I will keep you updated. Other than that, it ws a relatively quiet day, we will see what tomorrow brings. The amaryllis I got at Trader Joe's earlier this month are blooming beautifully, and in the spring, I will plant them with the other amaryllis I got over the years at Trader Joe's.

Volume 17 - Day 359/6, 2025 - Thursday - Christmas Day

So, somebody got a Power Wheel for Christmas! When we were walking this morning (me, James, Paul and Richard), we saw this family (see photo) out celebrating the day with their young one enjoying his Christmas present. Fun to see. Otherwise, my day was relatively calm and quiet. I did check our PowerBall numbers, we won $16, but I am glad somebody finally won. No more playing until the jackpot gets back up to about $450M. I went down to Jimmie and Linda's to have some cake for Wells's birthday, and then Richard and Marge and I went for Chinese for dinner. I am in for the night, and I will (perhaps) have more to say tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

Volume 17 - Day 358/7, 2025 - Wednesday - It's Christmas Eve!

I may have started a new Holiday Tradition at the Curious House. I washed four loads of laundry, and made those into five loads to be dried. AND...(are you sitting down?)...I vacuumed. The whole Curious House. I may not have done the best job ever, but it is no longer in obvious need of being vacuumed. Okay, to be honest, it was NOT in obvious need of being vacuumed, depending on the time of day and how the sunlight was coming in the windows. But it's done, and there is no turning back. Richard and Paul and I had a good walk this morning (see the sunrise photo), and after my chores, I did have a couple other errands that needed to be taken care of. It was up to 79 degrees at the Curious House, and so I put the top down to do those errands, and it was basically a lovely day in central Texas. Marian and Ronny brought me pralines (the first time I have ever had a praline) and cookies, and Billy and Gina brought over three different kinds of tamales. I am a lucky man, and I know it.

Volume 17 - Day 357/8, 2025 - Tuesday

It was 68 degrees when I got up this morning, and Richard, Paul and I had a nice walk. After walking, we met for our ROMEO breakfast, and Rick joined us. On the way home from breakfast, I made two stops: Target for dog food and dog treats, and then to Costco for vitamins and stuff like that. I made it home and went down for naps, and a little of this and a little of that. Later in the afternoon, Billy, Gina and I went to the Lucky Duck in Taylor for catfish, always good! I have a couple errands to run tomorrow, mostly concentrating on eating kiwi fruit and ice cream. Don't tell me I don't have my priorities in line. I just realized tomorrow is Christmas Eve, even though I have thought about that now and then. It still seems like it has snuck up on me, but I will get it all figured out in the next day or two.

Volume 17 - Day 356/9, 2025 - Monday

I may try t come up with more interesting photos to share on platelet days, but then again, I may not. Just in case you were wondering, today was platelet day. On the way in to Austin, I did a few chores, and on the way home from Austin, I did a few more chores. That is not to say that I did not have a nice walk this morning, I did. One of my chores was to find some already peeled kiwi fruits. I thought Trader Joe's might have them, but no. I did find them at Whole Foods. I have not been in a Whole Foods for quite a long time, not for any reason in particular, just have not needed to be in a Whole Foods. I was glad to find that they do indeed have peeled (for lack of a better word) kiwi fruit, and I am also glad to know that I am apparently not the only first world person that is not fond of peeling kiwi fruits. Granted, I only did it once, but I was not very good at it. AND THEN...shortly after I got home, Gina brought me a slew of peeled kiwis. I have plenty for the short term now, so I will let you know if kiwi consumption helps me in the platelet world. They are supposed to be good for platelet health and platelet counts, that's my story and I am sticking to it. For dinner, I had an HEB meal-ready-to-eat (steak, potato and green beans) that said on the label that it should be consumed by December 17th. That's only five days ago, and it didn't smell bad, so I ate it. I did cook it a couple minutes longer than the directions said, just to mae sure I killed all the bad stuff if there was any bad stuff in it. I'm still breathing, and I don't have any ill feelings, so I guess it was okay.

Volume 17 - Day 355/10, 2025 - Sunday

I just got off the phone with Mike, and I am waiting for 60 Minutes to come on. This football game is NEVER going to end. After 60 Minutes, there will be a special about Rob Reiner, and, bless his heart, I do not think there is anything else I can learn about Rob Reiner. I am pretty sure they have covered it all. It was a good morning for a walk, and I did not even check our PowerBall tickets until after noon today. Someone is going to win it one of these days, and it is a 50/50 chance that it will be me! Stand by! I went to Home Depot and HEB later in the afternoon, and I need to go to Target tomorrow. Tomorrow will also be a platelets day, and I always look forward to doing that. While I am in Austin, I have a few errands that I can take care of, too, and that is always good. You never know who you are going to run in to at HEB, and today, it was Santa. Who knew Santa shopped for groceries at HEB! It seems like he is a yogurt fan, too! Well, one of us is, and it is likely not me!

Volume 17 - Day 354/11, 2025 - Saturday

As you may or may not recall, I have proclaimed myself to be the penguin expert of this journal. You may (or may not) also remember my comments about penguins get about 11 hours of sleep per day, in four second increments. My internet home page is abcnews.go.com, and this afternoon, for some reason, there was an article titled Some animals have evolved extreme ways to sleep in precarious environments. In particular, they discussed chinstrap penguins in Antarctica, and that they survive by taking thousands of catnaps per day-each averaging just four seconds long. It was interesting to see that, and I invite you to click on the link (above) and read the whole article. Unless of course you are not in the least bit interested in penguins, which I cannot at all comprehend! I take several short naps a day as well, but mine are about 15 minutes a piece. It was a good day for a walk, and after the walk, a bunch of us took off for the single estate sale of the day. We were not expecting much from this sale, and we were right. I spent $2, and walked away with a couple things. I went nowhere else for the day, and snacked on leftover food (pizza, brisket, biscuits, cornbread muffins) throughout the day, not that there is anything wrong with that. It got up to the middle 70s today, getting a little cooler overnight, and then warmer for the coming week and through the end of this year. The photo accompanying this entry is another from the boat ride on Thursday. Austin is a pretty place from Lady Bird Lake!

Volume 17 - Day 353/12, 2025 - Friday

The most important thing I did today, was to remember to keep breathing. I was a total lump, and I am okay with that. I did walk this morning, I wore shorts and it was a bit chilly for that. I got up to the low 60s, and I was chilly all day long. I was too stubborn to turn the heat on, but I bundled up and suffered the consequences of my stubbornness. It was a beautifully clear day, and even when I sat in the sun, I was still 'not hot!' Biscuits, cake, and sausage was distributed throughout the neighborhood, but I kept the brisket. I also learned that you should not try to heat brisket in the microwave without covering it with something. On the positive side, the microwave is now nice and clean! I went with Jimmie and Linda in to Georgetown this afternoon, and we had salad and pizza at 600 degrees. Time now to chill for the rest of the evening, and get ready for one estate sale tomorrow. I expect to find something I cannot live without!

Volume 17 - Day 352/13, 2025 - Thursday

Well, another day has come and gone, and it was relatively busy for someone who did very little of anything for most of the day! Of course, it was a good morning for a walk, and the weather was lovely. It was a beautiful, sunny day today, blue skies, a blue that you can only see in central Texas. Okay. This evening was a very nice gathering of a bunch of friends on (what is now called) Lady Bird Lake. It was a great day for a boat ride, and I think everyone had a good time. We got to see the Trail of Lights from the water, and looking at the Austin skyline from the river is always interesting. We had really good brisket, sausage and chicken, with the appropriate sides, and chocolate cake that was really good. The girl dogs assumed that I had abandoned them and that they would never have another bite of food, but they think that a lot and I always prove them wrong. It is way past my bedtime, so this is the end of this entry. Thanks to Gina for the photo!

Volume 17 - Day 351/14, 2024 - Wednesday

When I got up this morning, it had actually dribbled a little bit over night. 0.02" of dribble. It was still dribbling when we would have ordinarily started our walk, so I decided to go back to bed, and I think that option was easily adopted by Richard and Paul. Throughout the day today, we have received an additional 0.05" of rain, not great, but we are not complaining. The dribbling also meant the skies were grey all day but by this time tomorrow, the skies should be clear. I did have an errand to run in Austin as well, so I got there and back without any trauma. The girls went to the beautiful parlor this morning (while I was on my way to Austin), and I left to pick them up at about 3:15. By the time we were getting close to the Curious House, about 3:45, this wreck happened. It looked like a big truck went into a ditch and took out a light pole as well. The emergency vehicles were inconsiderate to the point that I could not really get a good photo or really see if any other vehicles were impacted. BUT, it was quick and the responders were quick, too. The girls would most likely have NOT chosen to get their hair cut, considering the chilly weather, but it will grow out quickly. I started reading a new book today, and I like it a lot, It was recommended by Marian, Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy, about a family on a remote island (Shearwater), not far from Antarctica, and a woman that washes ashore after a shipwreck. Interesting, and I was into it right from the beginning. Other than that, nothing else is very newsworthy from this side, what is new with you?

Volume 17 - Day 350/15, 2025 - Tuesday

It warmed up some today, but still a little bit chilly. Walking was good, and then Richard and Rick and I met for the ROMEO breakfast. After breakfast, I stopped at HEB and bought stuff that will last me for a while, and the girls have enough food to last them for a while, too. When I got home, I started taking plants out of the garage and the dining room, and there are no more freezing temps forecast for the foreseeable future. I am not convinced that will actually happen, because this is central Texas, and stuff happens when you least expect it. Jimmie and Linda stopped over about 6, and we rode around and looked at the lights in the neighborhood, and then it was time for book club. We had a good book club get together, and picked our book for next month, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. I finished reading Nobody's Girl today, so I am ready for some lighter reading. Tomorrow, I have a couple errands to run, including one that will take me in to Austin, and the girls are going to the beautiful parlor. They don't know it yet, so it will be a surprise. 

Volume 17 - Day 349/16, 2025 - Monday

Well, as Monday's go, this one did not suck for me. It did freeze (barely) overnight.Two outside water dishes (for dogs, front and back) did not freeze, but one shallow and elevated bird bath did freeze. I actually think the morning glories survived for the most part. The plants that I brought in from the cold will be put back outside tomorrow, and the forecast calls for temperatures in the high 70s in the next couple days. The walk was chilly, but we did it, and I did not go anywhere until my doctor appointment at 3 o'clock. The appointment was basically to interview a new doctor, because the doctor I have been going to for over two decades is retiring. So, I think it was pretty successful, we both agreed that we could accept each other in a doctor/patient relationship. We are both (probably) going to be on probation for a while, but my first appointment with him is not until June. I also went to my subdivision HOA meeting this evening, where it was much of the same. I whispered a lot to the people sitting around me, but it was another event where one member (who does not want to participate) has all the answers and knows everything there is to know. That's okay, I can just sit back and whisper to my hearts content. After our walk in the morning, the ROMEOs will have breakfast, and tomorrow night will be book club at Margie and Richard's house. Always fun.

Volume 17 - Day 348/17, 2025 - Sunday

Well, depending on what happens overnight, this may be the last of the morning glories for this year. They have done well for the last couple years, and they require very little maintenance. I think I will need to watch them a little closer next year, they have a tendency to take over everything in their path. I knew that when I put them in, I just need to pay better attention. It was very cold this morning when we walked, and it did not get any better during the day. All the plants are either in the garage or in the dining room, and it is expected to warm up through this week. I guess I could go wrap the outside spigots...That won't take long, but I really don't think it needs to be done. Whatever. I had brunch today with Terry and Candy, and then I went to Costco. I will go to HEB maybe tomorrow or Tuesday, and I have an appointment to interview a possible new doctor tomorrow, too. I have a couple hours to go to finish the book I am listening to, and book club is Tuesday. For the rest of the night, I think I will just pile up with the girls and try to stay warm.

Volume 17 - Day 347/18, 2025 - Saturday

I had a perfectly good reason to go to P. Terry's for a double cheeseburger combo this afternoon. Today, they will donate 100% of their profits to the Statesman Season for Caring program. They did the same thing earlier this year (after the Kerr County floods in July), and Gina and I waited in line for at least an hour to order and get our food. The lines were not as long today, but I helped (I hope) increase the dollars they will donate. We had a good walk this morning, it was foggy (or misty, I'm not sure the difference), and it was shorts weather again. After the walk, it was time for estate sales. There were three, and I bought something from two of them, including a kitchen apron with penguins on it that Marian found for me. In addition to the penguins and chicks, it references Antarctica, Ushuaia, Argentina, various penguin species (including Macaroni), whales, and the End of the World. Not the kind of the End of the World that you might immediately think of, but that Antarctica is the End of the World. I am very proud that Marian found it, and I will display it somewhere in the kitchen. It is supposed to get very much colder over night, and the high temperature tomorrow will be recorded at 12:01AM. Then, it will be back up to 80 degrees by Thursday. All that really means is, I will bring the plants in for one night, tomorrow afternoon.

Volume 17 - Day 346/19, 2025 - Friday

I GOT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS! No, really! billy and Gina gave me a dancing and singing hippopotamus for Christmas! I love it, but the Piglet hates it, which is okay with me. She cannot have the hippopotamus out of her sight, and it is kind of interesting to watch. It was a good morning for a walk, and it was shorts weather, too. I think tomorrow will be a shorts morning as well. I had one meeting to attend this morning, and that was interesting. I did nothing of any consequence after getting back to the Curious House, and that was okay, too. Paulina, Krisa and Maja made it safely to Poland, and the photo they shared did not show them any worse for wear. I saw Jimmie and Linda for a few minutes, and I think they are heading to Nac either tomorrow or Sunday, and they will be back on Monday. Lots of peeps are taking short trips here-and-there, it is that time of the year. Today is Mikey's birthday, so if you talk to him, be sure to wish him a happy birthday! Three estate sales tomorrow for us to check out, and I am on the prowl for treasure.

Volume 17 - Day 345/20, 2025 - Thursday

Well, today was a busier day than I have experienced lately. I only did half of the walk this morning, because I was expected at a meeting in Austin at 10 o'clock. I got to the meeting at about 9:45, all was good, and then I found out there was NO meeting at 10 o'clock, but there was a meeting at 11:30. It was comforting to know that I was not the only person that believed there was a 10 o'clock meeting, but I really would have appreciated getting the change memo. Whatever. I was ready for anything: I put on real socks, long pants, and a sport coat. Bonus: The socks were brand new, and I have had them for years, a time long, long ago when socks were a thing for me, and I bought and was given socks for any occasion, and no occasion.So, how long has Stein Mart been gone? I miss Stein Mart, for many reasons, one being that you could go in there and walk out with lots of goodies, and still have money left. The on-line Stein Mart just does not do it for me. Whatever. Once I got home from my non-meeting and the real meeting, I fed the girls and then headed out to dinner with Jonathan and Dale, and that was fun. I have one meeting tomorrow, and that will be it for the week. Good!

Volume 17 - Day 344/21, 2025 - Wednesday

I am about half-way through the book I have been reading, and I do not recommend that anyone read it. Nobody's Girl by Virginia Giuffre. The book is well written, nothing wrong with that. The subject matter is disgusting and sad. To think that things like this can happen to people by people in power is worse than horrifying. There have certainly been plenty of women who have made similar accusations, and all we really need to do is believe them and prosecute everyone that participated. I will finish the book, and if you are curious, it is your decision, not mine. You have been warned. It was a little bit warmer this morning, so I wore shorts for our walk. The sun cast long shadows on me and Richard, and I always like seeing and sharing that. Apparently we are also in the middle of some interesting meteor showers, the Geminid Meteor showers. You can see up to 100 meteors per hour, peaking on Saturday and Sunday, and nightly after 9PM, and best from midnight until 2AM. I will be asleep, but let me know if you see anything. Don't call! I have a meeting tomorrow, and after that I will be taking Paulina, Krisa and Maja to the airport, all headed back to Poland. I think Val and Oliver will leave sometime next week. I will have another meeting on Friday, and there are two estate sales on Saturday. 

Volume 17 - Day 343/22, 2025 - Tuesday

The photo accompanying this entry is one of the things I miss about the farm. Jody and I did not do a lot of decorating, we kind of quit after 9/11, but I always did put lights up by the road. I always liked looking at the lights at the gate, I thought it was really pretty. Plus, I always preferred multi-colored lights, as opposed to all clear lights or lights of all one color. That preference remains at the Curious House, maybe I will include a pick of that in another entry. It was cold, relatively speaking, this morning, but it did not freeze at the Curious House. We had a good breakfast with the ROMEOs this morning, and after breakfast, I went back in to Austin to get an errand done that I should have done yesterday, but forgot. I intended to stop on the way home to get my haircut, but I forgot that, too. SO...after a nap, I did go and get my haircut, and that is one more thing I can cross off me chore list. I think it will be warmer overnight, and I put the back patio plants back outside, and I might put the front plants outside when I complete this entry. Maybe.

Volume 17 - Day 342/23, 2025 - Monday

Call me stupid (all together...YOU'RE STOOPID!), but donating platelets twice a month is something that I really look forward to, and something I really am happy to do. It was chilly for our walk this morning, but it did not get to freezing or below. I did not bring plants in last night, but I brought everything in this morning before walking. It MAY get to freezing or below overnight tonight, and then it should warm up for the foreseeable future. Nothing even close to freeing in the forecast through Christmas day. After platelets, I got back to the Curious House, and I continued eating food that has been (mostly) brought over to me by neighbors. I think I still have three or four more days of food before I need to buy anything at the grocery. After walking tomorrow, I will join the ROMEO breakfast, and then (maybe) go back in to Austin for something I should have done today when I was there. Everything will work out, no problems. Since it was platelet day, I include a photo of the donation for your enjoyment. While I was there, there was a man who decided to 'live stream' his whole blood donation. It was the first time he had ever donated, and I was full of sarcasm and questionable comments, which should not be surprising to anyone. 

Volume 17 - Day 341/24, 2025 - Sunday

We are at that time of year in central Texas, when it can be 75 degrees yesterday, and only 55 degrees today. That also means it will be in the 30s tomorrow when I get up and get ready for my walk with Paul and Richard. I wore shorts for the walk this morning, but not tomorrow. I am being very daring right now, I am not bringing the plants back inside or in the garage. I am betting it won't actually freeze this week, but we may get close. I may not be able to take the stress and change my mind tomorrow, stay tuned. I had a nice brunch this morning, and made a stop at HEB on the way home. That is about the most productive I have been, and I am totally fine with that. I did do a few things in the office, cleared the desk, and I am ready for the new week. Tomorrow will be a platelet donation day, and that makes me feel good. I have a couple things to do Thursday, including taking Paulina, Krisa and Maja to the airport. A meeting on Friday, and that will pretty much make another week. Life is good! I harvested the lemons today, and took them to Paulina. They will be on their way to Poland on Thursday, and Paulina's mom will enjoy them.

Volume 17 - Day 240/25, 2025 - Saturday

Well, it has been kind of a long day, and it is only about 7:30, and it feels like it should be about 10 o'clock. It gets dark too early, and I am not used to that. We all had a nice walk this morning, and then shortly after that, it was time to hit the estate sales. We did three estate sales, I bought something at two of them (half-price), and got home in time for a nap. I briefly considered getting up and doing something more productive, but that thought left me quickly. I went twice to check the mail, and it had arrived on the second attempt. Val and Paulina came over with Krisa and Maja, and we all went to dinner in Georgetown, and then walked around the square for a while. It was an absolutely glorious day weather-wise in central Texas today, blue skies, sunshine and the temperature in the low 70s. Not sure what the weather has in store for the coming days, but it will all be okay. Nothing in particular on the calendar for the next several days, but, as usual, I will find something to fill the time. For now, it is time to get in the big chair with the girls and flip through the channels!

Volume 17 - Day 339/26, 2025 - Friday

I did a lot of this-and-that today, including going to Trader Joe's (not once but) twice! Gina was a good sport and went with me both times, and I expect I will be back there tomorrow morning soon after they open the doors (8AM). I am on a mission. Don't ask, it is just one example of my OCD. Whatever. I also walked this morning with Paul and Richard, and found time for a nap or two. I was on the phone for quite a while, trying to get some billing issues settled, and got all but two items on my chore list completed. It has been another chilly, grey day, but things are supposed to improve tomorrow, and warm up over the next several days. That will be good, even if all that gets better is that the sun will shine. I think that makes everything better. We will also have three estate sales to hit tomorrow, and I have not been to an estate sale in about a month. That will be fun. I am attaching a photo from my Antarctica trip to this entry, since I did not take a photo of anything today. We will see what the day brings tomorrow.

Volume 17 - Day 338/27, 2025 - Thursday

I have lived in central Texas for a little over 40 years, and in that time, I have visited the Capitol dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Yesterday was the first time I ever used the north entrance, and I was totally disoriented once I got in. BUT, I soon figured it out, and got my business taken care of, in and out, nobody got hurt! It was 'kind of' raining this morning, so we did not walk, and I don't think anyone was particularly dismayed about that. Honestly, I don't think any of us are that keen on our daily walks, but we do it because we need to do it, and because we get to moan and groan and solve the problems of the world. I don't expect it will be rainy tomorrow, so we will be taking a morning walk. I had a nice lunch this morning with Michael and Lynda, and it was nice seeing them. I had a 1:30 appointment in Georgetown, and I made it back with a few minutes to spare. I made a few stops on the way home, and Jimmie and Linda and I took off for dinner at 3:30. I am making a trip to Trader Joe's tomorrow with Gina, so let me know if you need anything, I am taking requests!

Volume 17 - Day 337/28, 2025 - Wednesday

Well, in case there was any doubt, yes, today is my birthday. 74. It's alright, nothing particularly unsettling about it to me, just (really) another day. I need to remind all of you that I consider myself to be a really lucky man, and I wish more people could be as lucky as I am. We did get a walk in this morning, and then I had a meeting to get to in Austin. I fear I may be becoming one of those people that lives in the suburbs, and has discovered that Austin no longer has the appeal it did when I first moved to central Texas in 1985. But...the burbs are quite acceptable, and I am quite content to be here. I took the birthday cake from last night to the 10 o'clock meeting, and left there with kolaches and bundt cake cupcakes. I continued to collect food and wishes as the day went on, and this evening I went to dinner with Jimmie and Linda. When I got home, Billy and Gina brought me more food over, so I think I am set through the end of the year with food in the refrigerator. It is kind of dribbly outside, and I think that is expected to continue for the near term. If it is still going on tomorrow morning, I expect we will not walk, which will be just fine with me. I am having lunch with Michael and Lynda tomorrow, and then I have a 1:30 appointment back in Georgetown. The photo accompanying this entry is the cover of the birthday card from Jimmie and Linda, probably the best birthday card I have received in a while. What could be better than Death by Puppies?

Volume 17 - Day 336/29, 2025 - Tuesday

So...today was a chilly and busy day. It was 32 degrees when I got out of bed this morning, and it was not any warmer when Richard, Paul and I took off for our walk. After the walk, the three of us, plus Rick, met for the ROMEO breakfast. Between breakfast and getting back to the Curious House, I ran SIX errands, but they are all done now! Then it was down for a nap, and then the doorbell rang (which always sets the girls off), and it was the guy there to fix the outside lights. That took him about 45 minutes, and it was another instance of squirrels chewing through the wires. I don't have a solution to that problem, so I expect I will be doing that once or twice a season for the long term. Tonight was our neighborhood Drinking Liberally group, and we all had a good time. Tonight, the group turned in to an early birthday celebration for me and Richard (whose birthday is Monday). Great fun, great neighbors. I have a couple appointments in Austin tomorrow, so that will take up a good part of the day. Lunch with Carrie and dinner with Jimmie and Linda. I am a lucky man!

Volume 17 - Day 335/30, 2025 - Monday

I wimped out as soon as I got out of bed this morning, and I turned on the heat. It was, I think, in the low 40s outside, and the low 60s inside the house. I actually got cold enough to wake up overnight, but I did not do anything about it until it was time to get up. It has been grey and overcast all day, with little dribblies of rain, and we are expecting a light freeze overnight. Then it is expected to warm up again, and no more freezing forecast for a couple weeks. After our walk, I brought all the plants in from the back, then I took the little white car in for more service. I got a call that one of the tires needed to be replaced, tires that I just bought last year, and has about 16,000 miles on it. BUT, it is out of warranty, because...and I just really can't get in to it right now. Needless to say, it is not logical to me, but it seems to be perfectly logical to the dealership that sold me the tires. Whatever. In between times, I started my search for a new doctor, and I have an appointment with one on the 15th. I brought all the plants in from the front, and one it too big to bring in, so I have it covered with a sheet, and there is a heat lamp under it, so that should keep it from freezing. At least, that is the plan. I think the lemons are pretty close to being harvested, and I only got three this year, hopefully more next year. 

Volume 17 - Day 334/31, 2025 - Sunday

Well, if you substantially discounted the temperature and the wind, it would be considered a beautiful day in central Texas. It was a chilly day, I don't think we made it past the low 50s, and a pretty good wind. We did walk, and it was good, and after I got home and fed the girls, we all (the three of us) went down for naps. I will be bringing plants in, front and back, tomorrow, and I will likely put them all back out Tuesday or Wednesday. I did cave in and got the pizza I have been craving. It took me longer to place the order on-line than it did to go pick it up and bring it home. I confess to being a Luddite when it comes to some things technical, but really, ordering a pizza. I am getting comfortable with the fact that tomorrow is December 1st, but it does not seem like it should be December already. Bring it on...I am looking forward to some planned travel next year, and I will spend the New Year Holiday in Playa. There are all kinds of thing planned for December, so just hide and watch. But...tomorrow, I will be taking the little white car in for MORE service, and then I am planning to get proactive in finding a new doctor. The doctor I have been going to for the past 25 years is retiring in the middle of January, but I expect that he will be winding down some time in December. I need to get ready for that change, and I need to make sure that a new doctor is ready for me. I have questions!

Volume 17 - Day 333/32, 2025 - Saturday

It was warmer this morning than it was yesterday, but I think that will be short lived. The walk was good, me, Richard, James and Paul. Sixty degrees, and later this afternoon, we were in the middle 70s. Tomorrow morning, I expect it will be in the lower 40s, and I doubt we will get out of the 40s all day. It is going to be cooler later in the week, and I am starting to think about which plants I will take in to the garage, and which plants I will cover and place a heat lamp under the cover. The worst of it for the immediate future should be over by Wednesday afternoon. I did not do much of anything after the walk, but I did get motivated about 12:30 and took a shower and got ready to go to see Nuremberg. I think it was a well done movie, thought provoking. The movie has certainly sparked some strong opinions on line, and I think it is good that there are those conversations going on. When I go to Italy in May, my plan will also be to Munich for a day or two (to maybe visit Hanna and Lisa), and the train ride will take me through Nuremberg. It will be interesting to pass through the train station that was depicted in the film. I had intended to stop and get a pizza on the way home, but I decided to put that off until tomorrow. It seems the rain that was predicted is going to bypass us, but fingers are crossed for tomorrow afternoon. I did see some lightning on the drive home, but that was too far off to do us any good.

Volume 17 - Day 332/33, 2025 - Friday

It was a very calm day after Thanksgiving for me and the girls. I did walk this morning, and then got home and did very little of anything. I eventually got a little bit of motivation, and went in to Georgetown to Galaxy Bakery for some scones to hold me over for the weekend. Traffic was not really terrible, maybe even lighter than usual, but there was very little parking available around the Square. The annua tree lighting ceremony is this evening, right about now in fact, so lots of the streets and parking lots were closed off. Idid find a spot about two blocks away from the bakery, and managed to get my scones. I can not confirm nor deny that I was parked in a tow away zone, and honestly, I could not interpret the signs that made it very confusing about whether parking was appropriate or not. I did not get towed, so that is all I really cared about. And why is everything on tv about football. Pick one channel, and let me have the other three hundred channels to try and find something interesting. Lort! The girls did enjoy time out in the backyard today, and I got this photo of some wildlife on the back deck.

Volume 17 - Day 331/34, 2025 - Thursday, Thanksgiving Day

Well, that was fun! James and Paul and Richard and I had a nice walk this morning, it was a little bit chilly, but we did it, and we did solve many of the world's problems. After the walk, I did nothing much, but I did go to HEB to buy some things that I should have bought yesterday; salad, salad dressings, some of this and some of that. I got the Curious House ready for company off-and-on throughout the day, and got in a couple naps, too. I changed the outside lights from everyday to Holiday lights, and apparently I followed the directions properly, and everything worked. Every year, I have to follow the directions, and I am not really keen on following directions. Val and Paulina and Oliver got to the Curious House at about 3 o'clock, and we sat down for dinner around 4. It was a good dinner (I was responsible for heating everything up), and I was happy to share it with them. I have a lot to be thankful for, that's for sure. There is not a lot on my chore list, Paulina and I may go to the tree lighting at the Square, not sure. It will be getting cooler for the next seven to ten days, but no freezes in the forecast. I will be covering plants and putting a heat lamp out there with them pretty soon, but nothing to bring in to the garage as of yet. We shall see. If you want to see a video of my Antarctica trip, let me know and I will email it to you. It is fun, and brings back lots of remembrances of the trip.

Volume 17 - Dy 330/35, 2025 - Wednesday

I did not sleep very well at all last night. I'm not sure why, but I feel like all I did was toss and turn. I made up for it with a few naps today, so that is good. The day started with a nice walk, a bit chillier than yesterday, and that seems to be the trend for the near future. No freezes in any of the forecasts yet, but I think I need to start getting the garage straightened around to make room for some of the plants. It will be sheets and heat lamps for the plants in the back. After the walk, I had some errands to run; a stop at the post office, then on to the first grocery visit to pick up dinner for tomorrow. I took the slow roads everywhere I went today, there was no need to be in a hurry. Later, I went to HEB and did a little more shopping. How do you spell 'crazy' in central Texas? H-E-B! I don't use very much ice, I am just not in that habit. I emptied the ice in the ice maker, hoping it will have some ice tomorrow is Val, Paulina or Oliver would like ice in their sodas. Or water. Whatever. THe good new is, dinner will be ready in a few minutes.

Volume 17 - Day 329/36, 2025 - Tuesday

The day started off with me getting out of the bed. You thought I was going to say something about walking, didn't you? Well, shortly after getting out of the bed, Paul, Dick and I went for a walk. Since it is Tuesday, we then met for the ROMEO breakfast, and after that, I took the little white car in for service. Poor little white car, it has to go back on Monday for 'more stuff.' Don't they always? Whatever. My friends Carol and Mike invited me to join them at a David Byrne concert in Austin tonight, and it was a great concert. To be honest, I never paid much attention to David Byrne or the Talking Heads, but I was totally impressed. I will have to pay better attention in the future. I have turned on the sprinkler to let it run overnight, and then I will turn it off again. It is supposed to be considerably colder tomorrow, we got in to the high 70s today, and I put the top down on the little white car. I think the top will be down for a while. I have nothing on the schedule tomorrow, but I feel confident that I will find something to fill up the time. I feel certain I will visit one (if not two or three) groceries tomorrow, in anticipation of Thanksgiving on Thursday. 

Volume 17 - Day 328/37, 2025 - Monday

As it is wont to do, the sun came out this afternoon about 3 o'clock. Otherwise, it was grey and overcast most of the day. This morning when it was time to walk, it was raining, so we decided not to walk. Then it quit raining, and Paul and I did a half walk. It did kind of rain here and there in the morning, and at the Curious House, we recorded 0.04" of rain. Not much to talk about, but it is something. I had an appointment to take the Buzz in for service on Wednesday, and then I remembered that it was the day before Thanksgiving, and I plan to be busy on that day, so I took it in this morning, and got done what needed to be done. Later in the afternoon, I took the oven for a test drive; I have not used it for (probably) over four years. I did use it a couple times when I first moved in, but then I found it unnecessary to use, since I have a little toaster oven that works just as good. The bottom line is, the oven works and it no longer smells like a new oven when it is working. IYKYK. Tomorrow plans: Walk, ROMEO Breakfast, little white car service, nap(s). 

Volume 17 - Day 327/38, 2025 - Sunday

The photo accompanying this entry is as good as it got today. After the walk, clouds rolled in, and grey skies dominated the day. I did very little today; I went to HEB with three things on the list, and totally forgot about one of them. Butter. Late morning, Gina brought me some french toast and some bacon. That was my dinner, and it was delicious. I went to two estate sales and I bought one little thing that was priced at a dollar...and everything was 60% off, so... I'm taking the little white car in for service on Tuesday, and the Buzz will go in for service on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, I have been invited to a David Byrne concert, and I think that will be a lot of fun. Otherwise, the week ahead seems to be calm. Oops, I forgot, Thursday is Thanksgiving, and that is going to fun, even the football parts! 

Volume 17 - Day 326/39, 2025 - Saturday

A lovely day in central Texas. A good morning walk with James, Dick and Paul, and after the walk, I fed the girls and had a bagel for myself. I left about 9 o'clock to retrieve Paulina, we had a date at the blood bank to donate platelets. I have two appointments made for December, and I will continue going twice a month for the foreseeable future. For the first time since I have been donating, I donated from the vein in my right arm. I have always donated from my left arm, but the last time I donated, the vein in my left arm became angry, so I am giving it a rest. I think I will use my right arm for the next couple months, and then I think I will alternate arms. I really don't want my veins to be angry with me. I am fascinated with the book I am reading, Demon Copperhead. It received a lot of awards last year, and is allegedly a new take on David Copperfield which I can't remember if I ever read or not. BUT, it is an amazing book, not a happy book, but I am fascinated with it. It is about a 20 hour listen (I do Audible), and I am about half-way through. It is a side of life I have been lucky enough not to have experienced first hand, but it is a view of life that many do experience. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something that will keep your attention from the very beginning. The girls and I are basically piled up for the night, and we have had the windows open for that last couple of days. It is chilly outside, but still about 70 degrees inside, and very comfortable. So far today, I have not had to put on my winter slippers. 

Volume 17 - Day 325/40, 2025 - Friday

We got no more rain overnight, and the windows have been open since last night. The sun finally came out a little bit this afternoon, but it was mostly a grey day. Paul, Dick and I walked, and that was good. It was in the 60s, but it was not uncomfortable. As the day progressed, it was more and more chilly, and I put on my winter time house shoes because my feet are cold. But I am not going to close the windows. I was supposed to be at the truck accessory place today at noon, and apparently I can no longer tell time. I had it all timed out so I would not be late, and in fact I was an hour early! The running boards are installed on the Buzz, and now all I need to do is to get used to them. They are a definite help getting in, I am still awkward getting out. Fingers crossed. On the way home, I stopped by the VW dealer in Georgetown, a place that I am not thrilled to patronize, because I keep seeing messages like this when I get in...Inspection Service in 9 Days. Apparently it is just a kind of a routine inspection. In two or three weeks, I will have had the Buzz for a year, and it only has 6.200 miles on it. Speaking of 6,200 miles, while I was in Antarctica, we were told that our voyage, round trip, was 1,610.77 miles. It seemed like a lot farther. Tomorrow, Paulina and I will go and leave some platelets at the blood bank, which means that tonight and tomorrow morning, I am eating things that help build my iron levels up. Salmon, eggs, spinach. I'm glad I like those. No more rain in the forecast for a couple days, and the weather is supposed to cool down a little bit. In Texas, a little bit means 2 or 3 degrees cooler during the day, and overnight lows in the 50s.

Volume 17 - Day 324/41, 2025 - Thursday

We got a trace of rain off-and-on today, and finally this afternoon, we got a couple good showers. Now, it is still dribbling a little bit, I just went and checked the gauge, and so far 0.29". That is a good start. Jimmie, Dick, Paul and I walked this morning, and that was fun. Later in the morning, I went to Target (dog food and dog treats), I stopped at the little white car dealership and made an appointment for next Tuesday for regular service. I thin had a couple other stops before getting back to the Curious House. I had a 1:30 appointment, and then about an hour later, Jimmie and Linda and I went to Salt Trader for dinner. I had the fried fish and shrimp platter. It has been a while. Paulina came over at about 4:30, and we took off to Costco, so I can cross that off my list. I have worked for many years to convince people that I am helpless, and I think it is working. On Tuesday, Jimmie and Linda brought me food. Last night (I think it was last night) Kyung and James brought me food. Tonight, Billy and Gina brought me food. My neighbors are really generous and fun to hang around with. I also got the PowerBall pool going again, so we have that covered. Now, I am going to go get in the big chair and wait for more rain. I have never had a planter of impatiens look more beautiful than this, and I hope I can repeat it next year. They will still be good for a while, no freezing weather in the forecast...yet.

Volume 17 - Dy 323/42, 2025 - Wednesday

I'm happy to be getting back into my routines. I like very much having routines, and knowing what is on the schedule here and there. The day started with a walk with Dick and Paul. Some how, we missed Jimmie, but if it is not raining tomorrow morning (as predicted), he will join us for a walk. After the walk, I cleaned up some things in the office, and purged some things, and got the desk and work table cleared off so you can actually see that there is a desk and a work table in there. Then I was off to Austin, I picked up prescriptions, made a stop at Upper Crust, and then a stop at the place that has had the Buzz running boards for five weeks now. I now have an appointment on Friday to have them installed, and I hope that all goes well and that I will be satisfied, this time. Once back at the Curious House, I went down for a nap, and then took off for dinner with Jimmie and Linda. The girls were about an hour late getting their dinner, and I am pretty sure they thought they would never have another meal, and they would soon be dying of starvation. I don't have a whole lot on the calendar for the next several days, but I am pretty sure I will find something to keep me busy. I wonder what this journal would look like if I totally quit trying to correct all the spelling errors? There is always Paul!

Volume 17 - Day 322/43, 2025 - Tuesday

Well, I left on a Tuesday and I returned on a Tuesday. I'm just glad I don't have an office to go in to in the morning. Many of the people I was in Antarctica with were scheduled to go to work today. I left Buenos Aires last night at about 10PM. We made it to Houston this morning, maybe even a little earlier than scheduled. I went through customs, retrieved my luggage (maybe not in that order), checked in, put my luggage back in to the checked luggage place, and headed to the gate. The plane from Houston to Austin was not even close to being full...maybe not even half full. My entire row, not just my side of the row, was empty except for me. I am thinking of working myself into a complex about no roommate, no one next to me on planes...you know, just a general, all encompassing complex. Paulina was at the airport in Austin when I got out of that baggage claim, and we stopped at her house to pick up the girls. Everyone is settled in, I emptied the suitcases, and will finish putting stuff in its' proper place tomorrow. I did make a stop at the bank this afternoon, and a stop at HEB, so I am pretty set. I have had a couple texts from Lisa and Hanna, they are, as last reported, stuck in Ushuaia. They were to take a bus to Chile to pick up a camper van, and the bus keeps delaying the departure. It will all work out, and they will be having more adventures in their travels. As for me, I am getting ready to publish this entry, and then I will retire to the big chair with a couple girls, and that will most likely be it for tonight. Photo: I saw this guy n the airport last night, and when he was walking down the aisle of the plane, I told him I just wanted a picture of the shirt. Perfect. I edited the photo, but the photo has the biggest laugh on his face, fantastic!

Volume 17 - Day 321/44, 2025 - Monday

I am not even sure you can but a car with an automatic transmission in Argentina. I have been in a series of automobiles since I started this journey, and they were all stick shifts. Kind of reminds me of when I drove a stick shift, fun, nostalgic, but nothing I care to do again. I paid for a late checkout ($90US), and I slept late this morning. My watch said I got over eight hours of sleep, and I don't think that has happened in years. SO...I got up, had breakfast, and decided I would go in to downtown Buenos Aires, to see if I could get in to the cemetery. The first Uber I called charged my 7,000 pesos (about $5US) to tell me that the LaRecoleta I entered as my destination was not the LaRecoleta I wanted to go to, and he did not want to take me there. The hotel got me a cab, and all was good. I did not find Evita's tomb, I did not want to linger too long, because I did not want to do something stupid which would cause me to miss my flight. It is interesting walking around in the cemetery, many tombs are very pristine and beautiful, and many others are in a great state of disrepair. Those were the ones I wanted to look inside, where you can see the coffins and read about the inhabitants. Lots of baby sized coffins, and a very interesting place to visit. I overheard one of the tour guides say that the families of the dead have to pay a fee to the cemetery every 100 years, which might account for some of the maintenance issues. It is a beautiful day here, t-shirt weather, beautifully bright sunshine, and right now about 77 degrees. Traffic doesn't seem terrible here, there is just a lot of it, and it gets backed up. After the cemetery, I walked around for a while, then got an Uber back to the hotel. I plan to have a leisurely afternoon, and leave for the airport at 6PM. Okay, so that was not terrible. I was in the hotel vsn at 6PM, I got to the gate for United at about 7:15. Lines, there are a lot of lines here. Whatever. I made it through all the check points, and discovered that I had left my good luck charm in the basket that goes through TSA. I never expected to see it again, but they had it, and now I have it back. It was a crusher for a few minutes, though. Okay, this is it for today, I will post a comment when I get on the plane. I get to Houston at 5:30AM tomorrow, have to retrieve my two checked bags, go through customs, and then RE-check them for the Houston to Austin flight. It will all work out in the end. Just an FYI...every now and then, my sea-legs hit, and it feels like I am still on the ship. Just so you know...

Volume 17 - Day 320/45, 2025 - Sunday

Today was a REALLY busy day, but I am finally checked in to the hotel, and I just finished my dinner. SO...we got in to Ushuaia this morning, but the winds were very high, so it took us a little while for permission to enter the port. I did not sleep really well overnight, so I was up really early, and luggage was to be outside our cabins not later than 6AM. Breakfast was at 6:30, and we started disembarking about 8:15. I snuck out a little early, and stored my luggage (compliments of Quark), and took off to return the items I had rented for the trip. St. Martin is the main tourist street in Ushuaia, and I knew where I was headed this time. I got the stuff returned, just wandered around a bit, and I saw Lisa and Hanna having coffee. I told them I was going to walk up the street for a bit, and I would come back and join them. I could not find them when I went back, but I bet they are having fun in their B&B now before they head to Chile. I did not want to take any chances, so I Ubered (when did Uber become a verb?) to the airport, got checked in, checked two bags, and then waited. Antonio and Marcella arrived, and we hung out. When we got to Buenos Aires, they had about three hours to get to the OTHER airport in BA, get checked in, and head home to Paris. I thought I was at the right airport and called to courtesy van. After about an hour on WhatsApp, I determined the hotel is at the OTHER hotel, and Ubered there. Crazy. I am tired, I paid for a late check-out (6PM), so I am planning to sleep late, and maybe do nothing. I'll probably find something to do, maybe go back downtown and visit the cemetary. Maybe...

Volume 17 - Day 319/46, 2025 - Saturday

Today has really been a bittersweet day. It is interesting that I think I made at least four friends that I could consider really good friends. Lisa, Hanna, Antonio and Marcella.Lisa and Hanna will continue their journey that they started in October. Lisa will return home to Munich about December 18th, and Hanna will make it back to Munich sometime in April. My April trip to Italy will actually end in Berlin, but maybe I can see about getting a train to Munich and spend a night or two with them. I also believe I have made good friends with Antonio and Marcella, and they are now living in Paris. Marcella is from Montreal and Antonio is from Italy. Really good people, and I am just inappropriate enough to keep them all laughing. I am very proud of myself for making friends with these folks, and for even having made the acquaintances of several more. Most of them are terribly out of my league, and much more cosmopolitan than I could ever think about being, but it has been a lovely nine days.I learned a lot about the animals that service in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. They too have their ups and downs, but is is wonderful to think that even a little bit of help can make a big difference. I am also very proud of the fact that I know a boat load of people who have been to Antarctica, but they get it. Maybe I'll go back again, and maybe the next time I will camp out and do some kyaking. Who knows? I met some other folks; Mickal from Poland, James (like Bond) from Vietnam and currently living in Mebourne, a beautiful young lady named My (phonetically pronounced ME). My lies in Vietnam. William is a 22 year od Chinese man, and he is a fine young man. All the people I met are fine people, and I am happy to have made their acquaintance. I expect to talk more about this Expedition to Antarctica for at east the next couple of weeks,  so get prepared! Photo left to right: Ryan from Canada, Lisa from Germany, me, and Hanna, from Germany. Lisa and Hanna are sisters, and they are a bunch of fun.