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.