Volume 16 - Day 258/108, 2024 - Saturday

I was wakened at 5:07AM by some red and blue flashing lights. I got up and opened the blinds, and I could see a cop car on the Parkway, and a couple people, but my curiosity was not enough to keep me out of the bed. I went back to bed, and a few minutes later, the lights were off and I assume the car was gone. I have no idea what was going on, and another curious thing is, there have not been any old ladies on Nextdoor exclaiming about attempted car thefts or break-ins. No telling, maybe there will be something in the next couple days. I had a nice walk with Paul this morning, and the accompanying photo is about the mid-point of our walk. Very nice. After the walk, I went down for a little nap, and then I went to four estate sales with Pam, Diane and Marian. They were not exciting, but I did spend about $20. There is a chance I may go back tomorrow and see what is left at half-off prices. After returning home from the sales, I ate some pizza, and went back down for naps. The girls and I were pretty much slugs for the rest of the day. I think football season has started, and I am already tired of it, it totally interferes with my television viewing, and even I can only watch so much television about murders and Nazis. Ugh.

Volume 16 - Day 257/109, 2024 - Friday

It seems to be the cost of everyday things that surprises me most. I know I have mentioned this before, but I ordered a pizza and some cheese bread this afternoon, and I did tip the guy, and it was $40. Granted that is going to be a minimum of three meals and a snack or two, and you can't really go anywhere these days and have a meal for $13.50 or so, so I guess I just need to shut up. Maybe I will, but it is still kind of a surprise. If you ask the girls, they will tell you it was a totally outrageous expense, but that is only because I did not offer them any of it. I continue to explain to them that, they never offer to share their food with me, so... I had a leisurely morning after my walk with Paul, and I got in to the office about 10 o'clock. It was the end of a not-so-bad week, and that was nice. Carrie and I went on a tour of three or four of her properties, and we even checked out a couple of mine. Mission accomplished. I threatened to stop for fast food on the way home, but I opted for slow food and I timed the delivery so I would be eating about the same time as the girls. I am pretty well done for the day, looking forward to estate sales tomorrow, and doing a few chores around the Curious House. I really need to vacuum, but I don't want to get too crazy. That notion will likely pass before too long. 

Volume 16 - Day 256/110, 2024 - Thursday

It was a nice walk this morning with Paul, there were lots of pups along the way that recognize me, and they get rewarded with treats. It's a great way to get to know folks in the neighborhood. I can sometimes remember the dogs names, but seldom the neighbors names. I never have been good at remembering peoples names. I got in to the office at about 9:30, and today was the day we process funds to our Landlords. We got that done by mid-day, and I took off about 1:30. I took kind of a long way home, by way of the McDonald's on North Lamar. I did not have to make any other stops along the way, and I made it home with no issues. Do you remember when checking the mail was kind of fun, because you usually got something interesting? I would say that 95% of the mail I get on a daily basis goes right into the shredder. It's kind of a disappointment. I did take a short nap when I got home, and I went down to Jimmie and Linda's to watch Only Murders in the Building, and then we played a couple games of Rummikub, I don't think I have won a single game, but it is fun and quick. I am thinking tomorrow will be a quiet day, and then I will be happy to enjoy the weekend. Except for the heat and humidity part. There are estate sales on Saturday, and maybe a brunch or dinner thrown in. It will all be good.

Volume 16 - Day 255/111, 2024 - Wednesay

Honestly, this was a zip-a-dee-doo-dah kind of day. Well, the morning anyway. Paul and I had a nice walk, and it is warming up outside. High 90s for the next several days, forecast to be 99 on Saturday. I feel bad for the people in the path of the zHurricane Francine, but we were hoping to get some rain out of it. I got a couple things done that we have spent WEEKS (maybe months) working on in the office, so that was a feeling of accomplishment. I had one in-person meeting this morning, and a zoom meeting in the afternoon. Here is where things went south. I got a check in the mail a couple weeks ago, and I took it to the bank to cash it. I did not pay any attention to the date, and neither did the bank. I went to cash another check today on that particular account, and the cashier said that account had a debit balance. I was not a happy camper. I told them to send the check back, and I would go inside and get this straightened out. Well, it seems that I was supposed to have received this check in July of 2022, and I never got it. I have no idea where the check has been, but it was just delivered. By this time, that company was sold to another company, and I have spent a lot of time today trying to figure out who should be re-issuing the check. It kind of made the zip leave my doo-dah, but I am pretty sure it will all work out in the end. So far I have talked with one nice man with one company and on mean woman from the company that was sold. Tomorrow, I will start working on yet a third company, and see where I get. If you're lucky, you may get a blue bird on your shoulder!

Volume 16 - Day 254/112, 2024 - Tuesday

There was no walk for me today, and there was no ROMEO breakfast, but I think these two count as Total Strangers, so this is my Total Stranger Tuesday picture. AND...I am not sure what is worse for my television viewing...politics or football. I don't care to see either of them on television, but I will tune in tonight just to see what happens. This journal entry is not leaning either direction, so shut the front door. Yes, I am talking to you. I had an appointment at the Curious House this afternoon at 2:30, so I made it home with 4 minutes to spare. I have little bugs in the house, mostly around the window in the front bedroom. If they were in cereal, I would say they were weevils, but there is no food source where I find them. The pest control man did not really know what they are (that is not comforting), but he sprayed inside and outside all the windows in the house, and I will pay attention to see if they reappear. I have a couple meetings tomorrow, one is an in-person meeting and the other one is a zoom. I know where the zoom meeting is originating from, so I may make them both in-person meetings. Our cool temperatures are a thing of the past now, 98 degrees predicted for Saturday. We will survive, I am confident of that. If I survive the evening, I expect I will go for a walk with Paul tomorrow...that is, unless we win the Mega Millions prize. I will be checking my numbers in themorning.

Volume 16 - Day 253/113, 2024 - Monday

Monday, Monday...so good to me...Monday morning, it was all, I hoped it would be. Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning, of what was to be... Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Honestly, nothing terrible happened today, just a series of minuscule defeats, not just for me, but for a lot of people. Perhaps the moon is in Uranus or something, not sure. But...because of that, I did get a chance to watch a couple videos of the Mamas and Papas. I always liked them! Paul and I had a nice walk this morning, and so I am regaling you with the temperature reading this morning. Two in a row low morning temperatures. The whole thing will be over tomorrow, so there may be one more, but then the temperatures and the humidity goes back up. 98 degrees forecast for Saturday. I got in to the office and things were pretty typical, just lots of things to touch on my desk. Even so, I left at about 2:30, and got home about 3:30. I forgot that Linda and Jimmie sent me some cornbread and black eyed peas about a week ago, and that is what I had for dinner tonight. Yummy good. They sent me home with soup last night, too, so I am fixed for a few more days. I need to go water some potted plants in the front, but all is good in the back until tomorrow. 

Volume 16 - Day 252/114, 2024 - Sunday

I was certainly nice to wake up to temperatures in the low 60s, and I think the humidity had decreased as well. More fake fall, I don't think this is going to last very long...maybe through Thursday, and then back up into the 90s during the day. Paul and I had a good walk, sweaters were not required. I had several bursts of energy after the walk, and I unfortunately found Sunday Morning not interesting. I got a couple pictures hung (now not too many still leaning against the wall), cut the suckers off the crepe myrtle, got the outside house lights all synchronized again, and a few other little chores. I decided to check the seats available for Beetle Juice Beetle Juice and bought a ticket even though it was not a great seat. It wasn't a lousy seat either, so that was okay. I enjoyed the movie, and the reviews have been mixed. It was not as entertaining as the original, but I enjoyed it. One of the best parts of the movie was the Donna Summer music playing. One of the worst parts was the $12 I paid for a small popcorn and a small diet Coke. Whatever. When I left the movie, I put the top down, and that was GREAT. Beautiful weather for the top down. I had dinner tonight with Val and Paulina, and it was good, and the company is always good. After I got home, I was invited down to Jimmie and Lindas and we played a couple games of the board game that they are trying to teach me how to play. It's fun and fast, and there is a lot to be said for fun and fast. I opened windows this morning, and they are opened now, so I am glad to get some fresh air in the house. I'll take advantage of that as long as I can.