Category: The DayBook

Another lazy day. Well. Maybe not so lazy. My watch announced this morning that I had been slacking off with the aerobics and I should step it up today. I tried. Honest. I wondered if my watch knows that I am old. It said that it does. I am not sure. It seems to expect a lot out of this old woman.

Found a black squirrel on my walk this morning. In Arlington, we called these “Arlington Black Squirrels” but they are really “DC Black Squirrels”. The National Zoo got batches of black squirrels from Canada in 1902 and 1906. They were released on the zoo grounds and moved out from there.

We had a fashion show today. It’s the second one since I have been here. I wasn’t sure there would be any interest. But, this one, like the first one, had just the right number of participants and a packed audience. A good time was had by all.

Just coasting my way out of town. The weather has been splendid. It seems a pity to leave. Hoping to see some nice autumn colors out my train window. The sun seems to be taking a rest. So, the chances of Northern Lights seems very low. Maybe a trip to Norway in February? Or Fairbanks? Yellowknife? Maybe Ulukhaktok in the Inuvik Territories? I think they had a hotel. Or Churchill? It’s possible to get to Churchill by train. Or I could just stay home and work on my taxes like a civilized old woman.

Another look at N Jackson Street.

Supposed to go out to dinner tonight. Missing a chance to eat with the CEO of The Asylum. But, old friends are more important.

The printer needed some attention this morning. Did I just bend over/squat down like a normal person? NO. I got out my little stool so I could have a seat while tweaking the printer. I have never done that. This was a first. Not a good sign.

Ray the Rosemary and the sage did great. The new stuff – not good at all. I get another chance to do better next spring. Hope Ray and the sage make it through the winter. Hope I make it too! Ray and the sage have outlived one owner already.

Used ONCE in two years.

I was there. The only time the pit was fired up. And we didn’t even have marshmallows. But I do remember cocktails.

 

Gratitude

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Grateful for 3 wonderful moonrises. Specifically the 2024 Hunter’s Supermoon.

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It was time for chores today. I either had to wash or buy more undies. Some of my food stocks were running low. The orchids needed water and fertilizer. And the old bat needed a wee bit of aerobic exercise. 

And this time next week, I should be getting ready to get on the Empire Builder, Amtrak Train 7, in Chicago, heading to Seattle. With Amtrak and especially the Empire Builder, anything can happen. Since I booked the trip back on September 11, the price has dropped by almost half. So, I got a sweet cash refund and a large credit.  (Of course, now I will have to take another train trip.)

What? My tasteful shark-eating-swimmer earrings. I guess repairs are called for. The shark regurgitated the swimmer. The swimmer looks a lot like Donald the Demented. Well not fat enough. 

I know Carlton, I know. The election of 1860 wasn’t so hot shit great either. 

And Carlton, you know what happened after the election of 1860. It wasn’t great.

On his last day, Carlton played tennis and won. His opponent put a sign on the court fence to commemorate Carlton’s final victory. Every year, I return to visit the courts, which we could see from our apartment. I’m always surprised that the sign is still there. 

Then, in Lousianna Second Line fashion, I wander over to check out the N. Jackson Street Halloween decorations.

Last night – moonrise was even better because it was darker.

 

Gratitude

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Grateful for my splendid view to the east.

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Today’s elderly lady adventure was a trip to vote. I walked about a mile and got lunch.  After a leisurely lunch,  I bussed it the rest of the way to the polling place. I waited in line for 50 minutes.  I checked in, they printed out a ballot for me. I filled in the circles. And scanned my ballot into the machine. All done in less than 5 minutes.  After I got to the check-in people. Then I bussed home. 

The wait was long because many people were voting, not because there was a shortage of poll workers and machines.

They said over 1,000 people voted at this location yesterday. Yesterday was the first day for in-person voting in Virginia.

Happy Hour soon. 

It might be time for a hair trim. But, that’s a project for another day.

Today, I was going to do a new government report for Employee Health. But I couldn’t get logged into the system. We only have a limited number of logins, and they were all busy. So, what did I do? Well, I gathered up the clothes I plan to take to Kona. And then put ½ of them back. 

And I still couldn’t get logged in. SO. What did I do? Totally old-school. I got out a notebook and a pen and wrote down the needed information and what extracts I thought I would need to run to get that information. And guess what? I think that was actually faster than my usual way of just diving right into the data.

I do love data.

Wine is good too. 

Stuck my head out the window and picked up the sun reflecting on the building along the Ballston Corridor. Where Carlton and I lived for many years.

I did not venture out of the building except for a walk today. So, I didn’t mess anything up. YET. As long as I am awake I can get things totally FUBAR.

At this instant, I am updating my phone to Andriod 15. I liked Android better when Google named the versions after desserts.  Think they stopped doing that about COVID Time. Version 15 seems to be installed and ready for a test drive. Not too smart of me to install it less than 24 hours after release. 

Did I mention that 2 of our 4 elevators were broken yesterday?  Marketing’s new slogan is “It’s Worth The Wait”.  It should be painted on the elevator doors. 

• • But, I had already forgotten to take my morning blood pressure meds.
  • I go downstairs and get breakfast.
  • Back to the Old Bat’s Cave to  brush my teeth and pick up my purse. Going to get my teeth cleaned and then to yoga. I forget my yoga mat.
  • Back downstairs I hail an Uber. Surge Pricing.
  • Getting my teeth cleaned – Priscilla finds a cavity. “Fortunately” I can get it fixed ASAP.
  • Have lots of time, so I walk to yoga. Still have time.
  • Have a Starbucks and since my mouth is numb, I dribble coffee all down my white shirt.

Okay. There is a lot to be grateful about. I don’t have to make another trip to the dentist. They have mats for the forgetful at my yoga class. I can afford Surge Pricing and an unexpected filling. The shirt will wash. And the coffee that made it into my mouth was excellent. Oh, and missing my morning BP meds isn’t fatal. 

Three weeks from today people. Three weeks from today. I am scared. It will be ugly no matter who wins. We are all already losers. 

Nice crispy fall day today. I mostly cleaned out my email inboxes and made reservations for this plane.

That is the kind of a plane that one has reservations ABOUT not FOR.
But, that’s how you get to Moloka’i and Lana’i.

And I still have to get to and from Honolulu. I assume that will not be a problem since real airplanes are involved.

And I said I was too old for adventures just a couple of months ago. Hoping the kid can find a vehicle to rent on Lana’i. The island only has 30 miles of paved roads. But one would like to be able to use the road.

Warning. Cat Picture. Below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guess I was too lazy to open the screen this morning.

This morning was devoted to orchids. I repotted my two new orphaned orchids. One is in great shape and I will pass it along. The other has serious root issues and it may not survive.  But, perhaps it will recover with ample doses of benign neglect. It deserves a chance. 

Gratitude

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Grateful for the orchids that add life to The Old Bat Cave. And to Barb who keeps them alive when I am away.

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Then I spent a wild and crazy afternoon planning a trip to Moloka’i and Lana’i. Master Card just rejected the charge from the Lana’i Hotel. But it let the one from Moloka’i through. Ah, the Lana’i hotel just went through. So, the next job is to get the little planes set up. The kids have to get ground transportation. Maybe mules.

While all this was going on, the son of the guy I rent the condo from texted me about this and that. It seems that the son didn’t know I had sent his dad a check—a check that the dad never cashed. There is a little family drama there. But the condo seems to be OK.

And tonight I will treat myself to a grilled cheese sandwich. With bacon?

It’s 80° this evening. Two weeks from just about now – my train should be pulling into Harpers Ferry, heading to Chicago.  Must spring into action about going to Kona someday soon.

But before that I need to plan an adventure to Moloka’i and Lanai for November 10 – 16. Air travel to those islands is infrequent and hotels are almost non-existant.

You might also notice a lack of roads. I may charter a plane and hire a mule.

Damn, for an old woman, I  know how to have fun.