Author: Peg

And, in two weeks, I’ll be about a couple hours away from landing in Kona.  I so miss my islands. 

Wondering what to take. And what to leave behind. Will make a serious effort to keep my load to 20 pounds. If need be, I can always mail my wetsuit and mask home. I would only do that if I acquire stuff (that has happened) or if the weather/air travel looks to be iffy on Dec 24-25. 

Well, I do have a window since WFH started during Covid. 

This picture illustrates why I am so happy to be supported in my dotage by a wonderful circle of women friends.  I was one of the guys for a long long time. But, I was really good at being one of the guys. 

Today was another less-tech day. Main events: water orchids, forced march around the big block, brunch, major nap, and soon salad and coffee for dinner. 

Such is the active life of an old woman. 

More on Robert Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children. Yesterday, I mentioned there was no mention of “screens” in the 2200 century. Well, moving along into the book, a video phone appeared. The video phone was in a phone booth!

Oh, and the salad and coffee for dinner turned into pizza and dessert and coffee. Exercise on tap for tomorrow. 

Sometimes I need to “Step away from the computer” to get anything done. I had things that needed doing. Some of them required using the computer. Investments to investigate. Donationations to make. Tax maneuvers to set up. Serious stuff. But, I managed to do all of that without online shopping, gaming, Ai Art making, or mindless surfing down rat holes. I did do one online shop – I installed my last printer cartridge. So, I allowed myself to order a backup cartridge.

I read the dead tree version of WSJ. Listened to the news on the radio. Yes, I have a tiny radio. You never know when you might need a radio. And read a book on my Kindle. For me reading the Kindle is just like reading a book except you really don’t want to use it to kill cockroaches. 

Read Robert Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children. Written in 1941. First read in the late 1950s by me. It is fun to look at his future history view of the universe. People still smoke in the 22nd century. And Heinlein seems to have completely missed the TV exhibition at the 1939 NY World’s Fair. Because there doesn’t seem to be anything “screen-like” in the 22nd century. There are radio-like devices, typewriter-like devices, and even torn-tape-like communication devices. But no screens. So, a good book for a low-tech day.

Time to get off the computer and back to the kindle.

It’s time to go to Kona. The sun is slipping behind the building. The dark days are coming. Zero sun will come in my windows for about 3 months. I didn’t know this until Covid kept me home during that horrid winter. 

Today’s one and only accomplishment was getting a flu shot. And my reward for that is a sore arm. 

I read, walked and played the rest of the day away.

Sometimes I wish I were just a nice little old lady. But wouldn’t that be boring?

Lots of pictures of greats and grands around The Asylum. I am happy to show off my great-grand cheetahs.  They were born here in Virginia but now live in the Honolulu Zoo. My granddaughter, also born in Virginia, is their keeper.

Went to see my doctor this morning. How could she not say I was fine since she is about 2.75 miles away and it was raining and I walked? We agreed that I did need to try something different for my blood pressure since what has worked for 20 years doesn’t seem to be getting the job done anymore. It’s great to have a doctor who says “shoot me a text if you have any questions or problems”.  (My doctor is in that ugly silver building)

Kinda lost today because midmorning I had one of my fortunately infrequent attacks of variant angina. I have had them for almost 40 years.  It isn’t really dangerous. But, it always leaves me a little unsettled, tired, and off-center for a while. So, I spent a lot of time reading, napping, and resting. That’s sort of what old women are supposed to do, right? WRONG.

Oh, and playing with MidJourney.

We had animals. Ranging from llamas to a hedgehog. And a cute little blue-eyed goat.

Also a good bluegrass band. The fiddle player was doing his last performance with the group. He is heading back to the Bahamas. One could do worse.

Didn’t have much time to mess around with MidJourney today. 

Actually, a not-so-little walk 3+ miles. 

Stopped off to check out the turtles. Turtles have a great lifestyle. You could do worse than emulate a turtle. 

In the win column – The Asylum removed the stupid and highly offensive question from our TB questionnaire. ( “Do you have close contact with any person infected with HIV?”) I had a lot of help with this one. 

Also in the win column – Got a really crappy app removed from Apple App Store.  I am sure that I was just one of many who complained about the app. 

After causing all the good trouble, I decided that I needed a “subscription” to MidJourney. So, you will be subjected to my messing around. It’s a new toy and it’s cheaper than Aibo. That is my rationalization. 

Full moon tonight. And we can even see Jupiter. Even with all of our urban light.

OK, it was 35° this morning. Good thing I am going to Kona soon. But, after a breakfast of waffles – I made it out for a nice 3.5-mile walk. Can not let those waffles take up residence on my hips.

Along the way, I tossed a little more gasoline on the “Do you have close contact with any person infected with HIV?” fire that I started. Fire is burning nicely now. I believe the question will go away.  With more than a little help from my friends. This is a hill that I am willing to die on. 

Still having a blast with AI Art. 

The most fun I have had with a computer in decades – AI Art! I haven’t figured out all I need to know about the MidJourney beta that runs on Discord. But that is where I started after lunch today. The Old Woman Lost in Cyberspace was generated by the “big” version. Then I switched to a lighter version that runs on the iPad as a very early beta. The surfer cat and wine scene were generated by that app. Lots to learn.

I had been meaning to try AI Art for some months now.  Today seemed like a great day to try it out. This is just pure fun.

Back at setting the woods on fire. 

Not at all satisfied by the official answer to my question about the legality or even correctness of asking the residents: “Do you have close contact with any person infected with HIV?” The official answer seems to be a variation of “Just following orders”. No reason to fight this battle today because there isn’t anyone to fight on the weekend. 

We have zero cases of covid among the staff and one case among the residents. And we still have to wear masks. Never mind that many of the residents use their masks like chin straps. Or take them off because they can not stand them anymore. This is the official Asylum position on masks:

Local health authorities are reviewing the CDC recommendations and will provide guidance on implementing them in our setting. As both Fairfax and Alexandria continue to have high community transmission levels, we are awaiting this guidance before we update our protocols. We anticipate publishing updated protocols the week of October 10.

It will be very interesting if management keeps the mandatory mask rule in place. The mask thing doesn’t bother me very much. But, it is a major issue for many. I think it is because I don’t really participate in many Asylum activities. So, I only put on my mask to go the breakfast or dinner or to leave the building. Most people go to the gym, take art classes, attend meetings, watch movies, play poker, etc. So, they spend hours every day masked.  And, in 3 weeks I’ll be going to Kona. 

Maybe I like summer’s end roses because I am creeping up on the end myself. 

Just a fine warm and sunny day. I am behind on my weekly exercise since it was cold and rainy and I stayed inside. But, I made it out for a fine walk this morning.

Speaking of exercise – Google finally came up with a watch. But, by the time I got around to trying to order one they were out of the one I wanted. So, I’ll just wait. I have gotten along fine all these years without a Dick Tracy Watch. (Us old people say we get them for the fall detection feature. Yeah right.)

Got pissed off beyond all recognition this morning when The Asylum asked me: “Do you have close contact with any person infected with HIV?” Why not ask me if I have close contact with any person infected with monkeypox or Ebola?  How about measles, polio, or syphilis? This question will go away.

The bees and I enjoyed the fine warm sunny day. It must be the pits to be a bee when it is cold and rainy for a week. 

Spent a lot of time outside today.  Went to one meeting and skipped a funeral. I think that good food and drink were on tap, but I didn’t really know the guest of honor that well. And, I have already done one funeral this week. 

Today’s fun event was hauling out my 2KOA 2DO List and making this year’s adjustments. Lots of last year’s Covid tasks are gone. Hope they stay gone. 

Been happily ignoring all things political all year. Is it time to start worrying again? Not that I can do anything about it. I mailed my ballot in today. One vote in the Democratic column.

Had a delightful al fresco dinner of wine, lentil soup, and bread pudding. The dietitian might not approve. But, I did.