Author: Peg

Went downtown to check out the cherry trees this morning. Really grateful that I am still able to do that. 14,000+ steps, 6 miles, 29 floors. Not too shabby.

Unbelievably that the gang is still all here!

A great day.  

Window washers always remind me of my favorite George Formby number from 1936. 

Fashion note. Women did not wear PJs in the 30s.   The song was banned by the BBC…” if the public wants to listen to Formby singing his disgusting little ditty, they’ll have to be content to hear it in the cinemas, not over the nation’s airwaves”. 

Going out to dinner this evening with my old boss from the hospital. 

Here is Vince, on The Table of The Dead. Vince lived in independent living. He did not have an aide. I believe he used a cane and/or zimmer frame. He could not hear. So that cut down on his social life. Every evening until the day he died, he put on a sports coat and came to dinner.  

He had a very nice Obit in the Washington Post. 

But what really speaks to the character of the man is the little note that the young people who work in the dining room put on his picture.

And, for Vince, a peaceful passing. After a long life well and graciously lived.  

Enjoyed a total no-brainer lazy as possible day.  

By request.

With apologies to every drag queen on the planet. 

Another good start to the day.  And the sun stayed around all day.

The day got off to a happy start with a couple of 80-somethings declaring that they are a couple. Then we realized that one of our group had failed to check-in this morning. Much worry and concern. Pollyanna Peggy was pretty sure that she left the building early in the AM and just forget to check in. But still. We have been doing this for 3 years now – and no one ever missed. An inspection of her apartment came up empty and we all relaxed. It was a good test of our system. 

I did my laundry while I was worrying. Bonus. One less thing on tomorrow’s to do list.

Now you gotta know that this is MidJourney. Because there are some things that a pig just won’t do!

On the bright side. My room got cleaned today. I got 30 floors and 3 miles in.  And, I didn’t kill anyone. (But, the day isn’t over. So, there is still time.)

Yesterday MidJourney and I crashed an art class. I had some difficulty getting MidJourney to put an apple orange and a pear on a white plate. Well, I tried that one again today, except

except I asked for a tangerine.  That worked. 

And since I crashed a watercolor class – I asked for a watercolor version. 

I gotta get out of this place. Going insane. But, I have a dinner on the outside, a birthday party, my dentist, and my lawyer. Those will be over by April Fools Day. Don’t mind me. I am in one of my periodic short-lived funks. 

The day started out fine and just got finer. I had no trouble getting myself outside for my fitness walk. 3.25 miles. 27 flights of stairs. I did the stairs in two cracks. Not up to 27 at one time and besides – I have to find a taller building.

The rainpants – required for the Great Northern Boat Trip – arrived. Patagonia’s finest. But from their  Previously Owned Department. I have been watching for a pair in my size to show up. I am now all kitted out for the trip. Just have to get the old body in shape and keep it operational. No small task.

The art teacher here at The Asylum had a still-life watercolor class this afternoon. With permission, I went and MidJourney-ed some of the subjects.

This one never really got the orange apple pear thing. Think I’ll play with it some more. I feel sure it is an order problem. 

Had a problem getting an empty pitcher. 

And this one is just funny. I got a useless white teapot shaped like a pear. What’s not to love about MidJourney?

 

Wine tasting this afternoon. I am not a wine connoisseur. So, the  “Name That Grape” game had little appeal. But, there was plenty of wine to drink. Fortunately, none of us had to drive anything more serious than an elevator.

I was hugely amused by the “cat piss on gooseberry leaves” or “hint of gentleman’s dressing room” reported tastes. I particularly liked “canned green beans”.  I gathered that “canned green beans” was a bad taste. But “cat piss on gooseberry leaves” was a good one. I might be wrong. There was lots of wine. 

Life is seriously weird at 79 going on dead. 

After making 22 floors of stairs and yoga class, I am feeling 79 years old. Must confess. I napped. 

But, I think that doing stairs will help get me “in shape” for this Northwest Passage thing. And, there is no excuse not to do them. Stairs are right outside my door. No equipment required. 

Let’s play.

Not sure what page MidJourney was on. I kinda like it. And, it is rabbits and sunny. The rest. Think I’ll smoke what MidJourney is smoking. But wait. We can not smoke anything here in The Asylum. No rules about Alice B Toklas Brownies, however.

This one is charming. 

They look pretty wonderful to me. 

Today, the “Armed Intruder” siren was tested. I didn’t hear it. I left the building. And, boys and girls, we will have an “Armed Intruder” drill next month. I plan to miss that too.

Frankly, we are in greater danger from our friends and neighbors, not some miscreant from off the street. 

All manner of rumors around about what is going to change in our food service operation. New carpets? New china? New chairs? New use of space? No mention of better food, however.  

Sunday is also hair washing day. And frequently laundry day as well. 

Gray, damp, chilly, and generally unpleasant outside.  But, I still logged some outdoor steps. And did 11 flights of indoor stairs. Also had a nice nap.

While I was outdoors, I stopped off at REI and tried on waterproof (yeah right) pants. These are for my Great White North Adventure.  Waterproof pants are the first thing on the What to Wear List. I don’t expect it to be very cold and fully expect to take what I took to Norway last winter. Plus rainpants. The ship provides “gum boots” for sloshing around on the Zodiacs. And everyone gets their own locker to store their “landing” gear in. So, the gum boots and rain pants don’t sully up the cabins.

And I really liked this note in the What to Wear List: Note that dress on the ship is informal. You may wish to bring something outrageous for the Captain’s drinks, but leave your formal gear at home. Normal clothing on board is jeans, casual slacks or trousers, light long sleeve shirts or t-shirts. Something “outrageous”. Well, this is an Australian operation after all. I believe that most of the residents at The Asylum would consider my entire wardrobe “outrageous” or at least inappropriate for a woman of my age. 

Until yesterday, I was actually hoping that there would be wi-fi in the villages in the Northwest Territory and in Coastal Alaska. But, I don’t think that is true. Don’t know about Greenland. 30 days is a long time without wifi or cell. Talk about a digital detox!

No, I am not going to get a satphone. Or travel with my own StarLink dish.

Since public transit is in weekend mode – I took the day off from playing tourist. But, I did get in a “brisk” 2-mile walk. And that is about my only accomplishment today. 

I am wondering exactly how fit I can get my antique body in the next 5 months before my Great White North Adventure. I would really like to be able to make it off the boat for at least one of the two daily Zodiac landings. I am almost one of those people that Carlton and I wondered about when we worked in Skagway. We would see really old, frail people being pushed about our little town in wheelchairs, and we would ask ourselves, “Why the hell didn’t these people do this 10 years ago?” Now, I am that person. Ten years ago, I had a sick husband; nine years ago, I had a dying husband; eight years ago, I was a new widow; seven years ago, I was moving into The Asylum, and then there were the Covid years.”

I have accepted that most likely I will sit out one of the landings every day and enjoy looking out the windows or even the hot tub. Looking at stuff with my binoculars. And drinking a hot beverage. But, I owe it to myself to be in as good aerobic condition as possible. And, my legs have to be the best they can be. Which isn’t all that good. I think that the stairs will be my training ground. 

Oh yes. And, I took my lunch (PB and Banana Sandwich) to my friend, Carol’s apartment and had lunch and a little read with The Princess Cat. The Princess Cat didn’t pay much attention to me. But, did manage to get out of her nest and come glare at me. 

Warning… Cat picture…