Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
Another really warm day. Seems pretty silly to be planning the imminent annual migration to Kona whilst having a cold one on the patio. On days like today, global warming doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Speaking of not such a bad idea. The “Giant Meteor -2016 – Just End It Already” signs have been reported in the area. I haven seen one – but I’ll be looking.
Trump? Clinton? Many young Americans prefer giant meteor, poll finds
Just watched the Antares Rocket launch. Unfortunately, too cloudy/too much urban light to see it from here. Or, maybe there was a building in the way. My southern view is obstructed.
Starting to think about my train trip. Wouldn’t be cool if I could see some Northern Lights? It isn’t impossible. But it is highly unlikely.
Today, at work, we celebrated “Boss’s Day”. We gave our boss NOTHING. Actually, we gave her 5 empty file cabinets. The administrative assistant and I worked for the last 5 months scanning all the files. She didn’t know that we finished last Wednesday. We put the a file cabinet key in a card and told her that her present was in the file cabinet.
We also have a wonderful breakfast. Then I left work early and had lunch with one of Mr C’s friends. And, pretty soon, it was dinner time. I just had lentil soup.
As long as I don’t think about politics, life is good.
Bussed it up to North Jackson Street and enjoyed a little Halloween. Actually, I lot of Halloween. Then I wandered down to Clarendon – where I engaged in one of my favorite pre-travel activities – looked at suitcases and all of those travel trinkets and gizmos that people think they need to improve their experience. Best rule for me is “Twice the money and half the stuff”. Followed by, “If I don’t need it here – why do I think I’ll need it wherever I am going”.
On the bus back to the asylum – I realized that I am growing fond of the hispanic working class vibe of my new neighborhood.
By this time next Sunday – I will most likely be in full pre-migration panic mode. But, by this time two weeks from now I’ll be five hours away from Kona.
Being frivolous and superficial, I spent this fine fall day shopping. As my evil twin says “Someone has to support the economy.” The economy is well supported. And not just by me. The shops were busy.
Being frivolous and superficial and a literary lowlife – I was overjoyed when Bob Dylan won the Nobel for Literature. Finally, something I understand. I usually know more about the Nobels for Chemistry and Medicine and Physics than I do for the Literature one. Sometimes, I get an audiobook by the Literature Laureate and use it to put me to sleep for the next year.
Rather than photoshop out the double of the moon from the window glass – I left it in as a “feature”.
Tonight at the regular meeting of the Bar Belles – I was reduced to near hysterical laughter. Two of our residents are getting married on December 31. (Not sure that they shouldn’t wait until January 1 – but, I was always a mercenary bitch.) Two residents getting married was not hysterical. What was: They are taking ballroom dancing lessons from a man named “Fabio” in preparation for their wedding reception. According to the bride, Fabio is hot.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Still terrified about the aftermath of the upcoming election. Really glad that I am going to be in Hawai’i – which we all know – isn’t a part of “America”.
Enough of politics. Saw a super ad in the dead-tree version of the Wall Street Journal yesterday. It was sorta like this:
Think about it – a Samsung refrigerator – with wifi and controllable from your phone. I kept imagining that the fridge would self immolate and your pork chops would be barbequed!
Guess if you are Samsung you do anything you can to save your brand.
Went to the doctor today – well actually to the nurse practitioner. Guess what – I have high blood pressure. I am not fat but I do NOT need to gain weight. 70 is NOT the new 40 and indeedy I could be getting arthritis. I shouldn’t do less. But, I should “rest” more and better.
Had a lovely, peaceful, and quiet lunch outside today. I was the only person eating outside. It was perfect. (Tuna salad, lentil soup, ice tea.)
Lovely fall weather today.
What is not lovely is the general unease that I am feeling about the upcoming election. I feel sure that Hillary will win. I am really concerned about what will happen then. Not worried about total government gridlock. Worried about Donald’s supporters. They are scarey. They don’t respond to logic, reason, or decency. Pretty sure they never heard of the Electoral College. They have guns.
Called in “cold, dark and tired” at 0555. And at about 0930, the sun bounced off the top of the bell tower. Managed to get myself to the office by 1130 – just in time for yoga.
Went to dinner with the office peoples. Great big bowl of pho, some old time Vietnamese beer. And then off to bed.
Political note: Is this like the election of 1860 – As you may recall it ended badly.
Walked through the Nature Conservancy Back Yard over near my old apartment today. Lovely crispy cool fall day today.
And that is the only good news. Even the politicians couldn’t mess up Mother Nature’s gift. But they tried.
Super day for richly colored fall veggies. Never Mind the rain. I got one of those adorable little cauliflower. Also a bar of coconut scented soap, a bunch of flowers, a bottle of chocolate milk. I think that was it.
Yesterday, a kinda had a little panic when I realized that 2 weeks from now – it would be almost time to go to Kona. And, the fridge is “full”. Well, full when you consider that they feed me here at the asylum. And, now days – as opposed to in Carlton days, I do go out to eat with friends.
But, this morning, I made a fine omelet – which polished off the eggs and grated cheese. And, I just finished a nice salad that used up some of my frozen chicken, some of my not-grated cheese, some of my lettuce and the last tomato of the summer and some peas. And, a beer. Which wasn’t in any danger of going bad! (Port CIty Monumental IPA).
And, I thought about my packing. Mc C is going in the Flat Rate Box, with monopod, cheap heavy lens, and wetsuit and mask and snorkel. Bigger problem is my pāpale. (That’s hat to you non-Hawaiians.) The airplane isn’t a problem. It can just set on my lap like a baby. It is the train part. It will sort of fit into to my rollaboard. But the rollaboard will not be with me on the train. It will be “downstairs” in the luggage rack. And mypāpale will surely get squashed. My pāpale can ride “upstairs” with me. But, this leaves the problem of getting off the train in Chicago AKA “The Windy City” and Seattle AKA “The Rain Capital of the Planet” with my dear hat on my head. The pāpale doesn’t fit in a flat rate box. And, the pāpale will be seriously pissed if I didn’t take it back home to Kona. One way or the other, the pāpale will get to Kona. As will I.
Late last night, there was enough bandwidth to upgrade The Airness to Sierra. Not an earth moving upgrade. But, my son-in-law did show me how to make Siri recognize voice command to fire up. SO… Now I can yell – HEY CARLTON at the computer and it is just about as useful as Carlton was. HEY CARLTON, who won the Redskins game? HEY CARLTON, is it cold outside? HEY CARLTON, what time is it? It answers all these questions, just like Carlton would. HEY CARLTON, what is going to happen to long term interest rates if Trump wins? No response. Same as what Carlton would say.
Going to watch the debate this evening with my housemates. I am bringing a travel mug of Kona’s finest for me to drink and some chocolate covered macnuts to share.
Or a Republican, hoping to ride to election victory on the coattails of the standard bearer.
Just realized that I have two weeks to get myself ready to go to Hawai’i. But, how hard can it be? Been doing it for 25+ years. And the train part too.
Yesterday, I took a picture of my neighborhood taco truck. It is our one and only food truck.
Today, I went back to the old neighborhood to visit the dentist. We had LOTS of shinny foodie trucks. They are not better. Just prettier.
No problems at the dentist. I didn’t even get scolded about flossing. Either I did really good or the hygienist has just given up on me. I’d bet on the later.
I had a Peg mini-meltdown at dinner tonight. I went into the dining venue with four friends. I waited in line. And ordered a nice dinner. There were no tables. We did find four seats at one of the “group” tables. And, I just said screw this. I don’t want to eat with who ever shows up at the table. I almost walked away, abandoning my ordered and paid for dinner. I stayed. But, it wasn’t pretty for about 5 minutes. My friends will be able to talk about my meltdown for the next couple of weeks. They patted me on the head and told me to “take it easy”. Group living isn’t easy for me. I stayed. In the end, the black cod was pretty good. And, some people that I know and like took the extra chairs at our group table.
Think it was a tired Peg at the end of a very long week. Or maybe it was the real me.
Note to Carlton: The Nats are just about to lose game one of the Division Series.