Category: The DayBook

Another gray damp chilly day.

Radiation just called. The machine broke again and they need to reschedule Mr C. It doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Sort of like being an astronaut – back in the olden days when the US had a space program – knowing that your life depends on low bid equipment.

At this instant, I am listening to Haines AK public radio. One of my old park service friends does a county music show on Tuesday afternoon in winter.  At this instant he is playing “Randolph the Brown Nose Reindeer”. Sometimes I miss SouthEast Alaska.

And, and this is a biggie – today I officially turned over management of my retirement accounts to my “money guy”. Sort of like moving my money into assisted living. It was really hard. But, now it is done. And, it is OK.

A little sunrise shot from this morning – with the Air Force Memorial.

Sort of a do nothing day. Nothing wrong with that. Did some cleaning. Did some cooking. Played with the iPad. Watched some football. Read the deadtree papers. Just an ordinary old woman day.

Today’s good thing: Mr C is looking a little perkier this afternoon. He’ll get nuked tomorrow and will stop looking perky – but, it is nice to have him peppier for a couple of hours.

It was a gray day. Was supposes to snow, but it was only gray until about four o’clock. Then it started to sleet. The iPad takes pretty funky pictures of sleet thru double pane windows.

Got myself a sticky mat today. It didn’t make my yoga app any easier. Guess I was hoping it would. I am noticed tiny glimmers of progress.

Going to make some broccoli and chicken soup for dinner. Carlton cracked a tooth on Thursday. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with his dentist yet. So, I am sort of back on the “mushy” diet plan.

Studying the documents from my financial “guy”. I know it is the right thing to do – to start turning my money management over. My investments have been neglected for the last 12 months. I have been totally consumed by Carlton’s many health issues and have ignored my investments. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. Well, I am sure I would have made more money if I had been doing my investing job. But, since the markets were up this year. Benign neglect was “ok”. In a down year – it would not be “ok”. And, what if it was me with the health issues? Yep, it is time to start moving towards “Plan B”. I am not complaining… I am grateful that I have money to manage.

Today’s good thing – The soup turned out great.

Yesterday, while we were out – the last construction crane vanished. The new buildings don’t really impact our view – and the new buildings mean more units to rent.

 

But, I have something new to watch out that very same window. Cracks. I have been watching the cracks for a couple of weeks. The cracks are the landlord’s problem. Unless the window falls out. Don’t plan on complaining until the weather warms up.

Oh yes, Mr C is starting to look pretty red. But, “they” told him that would happen.

Don’t think that our apartment tree will be as nice as our Kona hotel will be… On the other hand, I don’t have to spend 5 hours helping decorate either. Our apartment party was nice. We are the “old” people. Our neighbors treat us like their grandparents. Which isn’t all bad. Young people give you their chairs and bring you beers.

 

Sneaked a photo of Mr C with the iPad while we were resting after coming home from the doctor’s office. He was at the doc’s from 10 until almost 2. I heard him tell someone that he should have had that cancer excised a year ago. No shit. At least it hasn’t gotten to the tendons.

I worked “overtime” at the volunteer job. So, I could help him home, pickup drugs, etc. Been trying to figure out how the evil heart of our expensive computer system works. I am pretending it is a computer game – not a FPS game – but a puzzle game. Which isn’t to say that I wouldn’t love to shoot the computer.

 

Today’s Good Thing: Halfway to done with the radiation.

No complaints – cold but sunny today. Really cold tomorrow. I may complain. Mr C is starting to look a little “toasty” as he gets to the half way point of the radiation.

The Yoga App continues to challenge. And I am still just doing one of the 15 minute beginner sessions.

Today’s Good Thing: Well, this a is hoped for good thing – going to the building Holiday Party tonight. My office party was cancelled due to evil weather yesterday. I am up for a glass or two  of holiday cheer.

One more thing – Mr C is supposed to have a relatively large chuck of some sort of skin cancer removed from his left hand tomorrow. So, unless I lay in a supply of large rubber gloves – he will have to be excused from his kitchen and bathroom cleaning chores for the foreseeable future.

Note to Self: Get Large Gloves!

 

We had a snow day today. I didn’t go into the office today. Carlton postponed his nuking until this afternoon. After the snowed stopped, Carlton went off to his volunteer job and nuking and I went for a little walk. And, took a few pictures of decorations.

On a more serious note, I interviewed a money “guy”. I always did my own money management/investing. But this year, I have been so tied up with Mr C that my investments have been on autopilot. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. But, it was a wakeup call.

 

Happy Birthday Day Grace Hopper!

We slip-slided to the bus stop this morning. All the trees were covered with ice. And, it was raining. The sidewalks were not too bad.

I went to volunteer. Mr C went to get nuked. We made it back home on our respective buses without any problems.

I did the yoga app again today. No improvement noted.

And, it is supposed to snow 4 or 5 inches start at about 7AM tomorrow. I am getting really tired of this polar bear weather.

Todays’ Good Thing: The power stayed on. And, the ice mostly melted.

But wait! A Better Thing: Street musicians set up shop outside and they are playing seasonal tunes. It is too dark to see if they are getting much money. Should go down and pitch a buck or two their way.

I don’t think the snow amounted to much. It is hard to tell from the 17th floor. One thing is for sure – there was almost no one on the roads.

Also, we decided that if the power went off (it didn’t) we would sure like to run our gas fireplace and gas stove – and to do that – we would need matches. We have neither matches nor plastic lighter. So, we need to get fire.

There is an app for that. Yoga, that is. For years, I did yoga. I never did yoga on my own. I always went to class. I was good. Then we started working for the park service… I stopped going to yoga class. Years pass and yoga became fashionable and expensive. I haven’t done yoga in 20 years. Yesterday, I downloaded a yoga app. Today, I did one of the 15 minute beginner segments. It wasn’t pretty. Glad that I was doing it in the privacy of my own bedroom and not in a froufrou yoga studio. Think I’ll try it again. Maybe as soon as tomorrow.

Today’s Good Thing: Being able to stay indoors all day.

 

The sun was sort of out today. And we are supposed to have ice pellets for weather tomorrow. SO, I rushed over to the grocery store early and then I went for a little walk. I headed for the single family residential area to take in the holiday decorations.

But, less than 1/2 mile from here – there are blocks chocked full of 1920’s – 1930’s houses. Most have been lovingly and respectfully restored.

 

Don’t get me wrong… I don’t want to be up on the roof – or – inside decking the halls.

I should go back after dark to admire the lights – but I don’t think it will happen unless we have a real heat wave.

I decided that I’ll feel better if I get off my duff and do stuff. Oh yes and I need to stop eating so much. I was going to wait until I got to Hawai’i before addressing the over eating problem. But, I do want to be able to fit into my wetsuit. So, no more extra portions. And, no more “treats”.

Carlton is doing fine.

 

At OH-Dark-Hundred hours this morning the cell chirps. It is the Hospital. Their positron accelerator isn’t accelerating so no nuking today. But, it got fixed. So Mr C went over later and still got his daily blast of positrons. Don’t know if I would have wanted to be one of the first folk to use the newly repaired machine.

“They” are predicting an ice “event” for Sunday. So, I will do my Sunday grocery shopping on Saturday. We are only having a rain “event” on Saturday.

By work friends continue to take care of me. I was given I nice fuzzy gray shirt. Which will come in handy – as soon as Sunday.

Today’s Good Thing: Good Friends.

It always seems impossible until its done.
Nelson Mandela – RIP Mr Mandela

A lovely unseasonable warm day today. I walked home from work and took a walk this afternoon. Wearing my shorts, with camera in hand.

Mr C did day ten – 33% done – of radiation today. And, he went to see the Little Cancer Doc. Little Cancer Doc plans on cutting a chunk of cancer out of his left hand next Thursday. And, he got generally scolded for letting the cancer on his chest get out of hand. Little Cancer Doc said “don’t do that again”.

Today’s Good Thing: The weather. I enjoyed it. Thank you, Mother Nature.