Found an old uncataloged photo of Carlton in my computer this afternoon. Apparently I took the picture on a camping trip in 1986. And, I seem to have scanned it (badly) in 2013. Can not bring myself to delete any Carlton photos.
Serious do nothing day. I was going to have dinner with Canadian friends today. But, the cold bug stuck their household. Looking forward to company from The Asylum arriving on Saturday.
Been trying to ignore the situation in the Middle East. Pretty sure something bad is going to happen. But, I can not do anything about it. So, I will continue to ignore. I have been ignoring a lot of shit lately. I wonder if elderly women in Germany in the 30s also igorned a lot of shit. If I were Iraq – I would hack something really important. Like maybe the Superbowl.
Even cake couldn’t make me happy about getting married! Maybe if it had been chocolate.
As you all know, Carlton tricked me into getting married. He picked his AA Anniversary. Today is our 26th wedding anniversary and his 47th AA anniversary. In his “Little Book” where all important events were recorded – his wedding is noted in ink. But, his sobriety date is noted in pencil. Which is as it should be.
I think I am getting my annual winter cold and/or sinus infection. Hope it doesn’t get as bad as it did last winter when Billy drug me kicking and screaming to Urgent Care.
Today I finished up 2018 photos and moved them off the laptop. For my personal amusement I put 60 of them into a 2 minute slideshow. Using iMovie. Which isn’t what I normally use to render slideshows. But, this a part of my learning experience. I will not have my feelings hurt if nobody watches it. If you do watch it, full screen is best.
Making one last lap through the 2018 photos before I archieve them off the computer. I may make a 2018 Photobook. I made them every year since 2000. But, I sort of stopped when Carlton died. Because I made them for him. Seems pretty silly to make them for myself. Absolutely no one will want them after I die. And, that is OK. I am not Ansel Adams.
Walked up to Wal Mart today. Discovered that Wal Mart sells not very good but cheap long underwear. But, I surely don’t need longjohns that will last a lifetime! That’s one of the things about old age: “Lasts a lifetime” doesn’t excite me.
Figured that a set of el cheapo long johns will be just what I need for my proposed trip across Canada in the winter. Didn’t get them. But, I will need to snag a set before someone ships them all off to a Wal Mart in North Dakota.
It is all good today. And that really worries me. I guess that I am not paying attention.
Most of today – after walking and swimming and eating and reading of course – I worked on my trip back to The Asylum.
Currently thinking:
Fly to Vancouver from Kona – nonstop
Take train to Toronto – same train 4 nights and 3 days
Hang out in Toronto 3 or 4 days
Fly back to DCA – nonstop.
That is about as simple as it can get. I could take several trains all the way to Halifax. But, then I would have to go back to Montreal to get a direct flight home. And, Toronto has the 30 kilometers of underground paths. SO, I can amuse myself by pretending to be a naked mole rat. Will not have to expose my under-clad wimpy Hawaiian self to the rigors of a Canadian winter. Just hole up in a hotel connected to the underground. A hotel with a view and room service. (Note to self: Remember how lost you got in Tokyo’s underground streets.)
Whatever happens is what I planned. Works for GoPro’s too. I put it on the lanai while I was having dinner yesterday. And forgot about it.
Yes, I realize that I am now entering my 9th decade. I came in the 1940s – just before the Boomers. And, now I am into the 2020s. Doubt that I’ll make it to the next decade. I don’t come from a longlived gene pool. And that is OK. I was always of the “Live fast, love hard, die young” mindset. Now, it is more “Live large, love good, die well” Maybe I’ll get that tramp stamped on my backside.
Went for a swim today. Ocean still a little unsettled. But good. And still getting my accounting and records set up for 2020. And, thinking about going back to The Asylum. Thinking maybe train across Canada. As far as Toronto. Then fly the rest of the way home. Figure if I stay on the train, I can make it fine with the clothes that I have – especially if I pick up a merino base layer in Vancouver. Just a thought.
The ocean was unfriendly for old lady swimmers and cruise ships today. Cruise ship came on its regular Wednesday schedule this morning at 6:30. They put a little boat in the water and came up to the dock. Turned around, returned to the mother ship, and off it went. Feel sure that most of the folks in town who were scheduled to work because of the ship, well, they might have missed the money. But, were glad for the day off.
I started my 2020 with a little walk. Some quality time watching the ocean. Took myself to breakfast. Did some yoga. Assessed my financial condition. Resolved to not make any resolutions. Read some. Took the first nap of 2020.
Anyone besides me sort of freaked out by the Year 2020?As I recall that was a couple of spaces in hexadecimal. Year SPACE SPACE. Year BLANK BLANK. Yeah, right.
I ended the old year with an old cartoon. Let’s start the new year with a new one.
Yes, here it is again. My favorite cartoon ever. Which exactly describes Carlton’s traditional New Year’s celebration.
Strolled up to the grocery to top off the fridge this morning. I defrosted it yesterday. So, it needed a few things. Bet your grocery store wasn’t well stocked with mochi this morning?
New Year’s Mochi from Japan.Plus all kinds of local mochi.
Plus all kinds of local mochi. Which are much tastier than the Japanese kind.
They also have all the makings if you are so inclined to make your own. Not familiar with mochi? There is no Western equivalent. Except maybe really squishy gummi bears. (I was going to show you the fireworks, but they were all sold out.)
I picked up a New Year’s Eve meal of shusi. And, my much loved local holiday sweet – a square of pumpkin crunch.
For those who were none too happy with 2019 – it could have been worse.
65,000,000 BC – that was most likely the worst. Your giant asteroid that wiped out 75% of life on the planet including every single dinosaur. That had to be Worst. Year. Ever.
1348 – The Plague in Europe. 1/3 of the population dies. This one gets my vote.
1492 – That wasn’t a very good year for the existing population of the Americas.
1837 – The Panic (financial) of 1837. This was a US thing. And, I know it would get Carlton’s vote for worst year ever.
Just a little reminder. The “Good Old Days” were not always better.
2019 was a fine year for this old woman. Oh sure, I could be 10 pounds thinner. My old body could be way less troublesome. But, life is good. At the moment. And that is all any of us have.
Gratitude
Grateful for this very moment. Internet is working, nice breeze on the lanai, ocean in view, coffee at the ready.
I don’t have many pictures of Carlton and me together. This is one of my favorites.
Carlton insisted that Dec 30 was our “real” anniversary. He didn’t really do Christmas, Valentine’s, Birthdays, But, I guess it was because of AA, he did remember anniversaries. It has been 41 years. Pretty damn good years too.
Gratitude
For all those good years with Mr. C and the last 5 years as well, without Carlton in person but surely still in my life and heart.
You know what? I made Carlton’s life way more interesting. He had a very limited comfort zone and I kicked his butt right out of it. Bigtime. And, he provided me with a degree of safety and security that I would never have provided for myself. That comfort zone of his, which I did have to honor to a degree, established limits for me. We were a good team. Still are.
1. Wake up (this is the most important thing.)
2. Drink coffee.
3. Go for walk and stop by farm market for bananas, avocados, papayas
4. Have breakfast with friends.
5. Read a little.
6. Spend an hour messing with photos.
7. Read a little more.
8. Swim.
9. Soak in tub.
10. Nap.
11. Mess about with today’s videos.
12. Update blog.
Nothing but fish today. But, I did find a sweet pair of Saddleback Butterflyfish.
The days mush together in Kona. But, you can always tell Saturday – the old guys bring their old cars to breakfast.
Another lazy day for me. Why do people ask old women “What are you going to do today?” or “What did you do for the weekend?”
Speaking of old women. I am most likely the only old woman who has seen every episode of Game of Thrones but not one Downton Abby episode. Yesterday, I watched episode #1. The photography was lush. I didn’t notice any obvious wardrobe mistakes. But, it certainly didn’t seem like the sort of life that I would have enjoyed. All those people bustling around. It seems to be a big budget soap opera.
You know, it is time to come up with a Plan B. What are we going to do if The Orange Lord wins in 2020. It is entirely too possible. And, I fear that after 4 more years democracy will be as good as dead in the US. That is federal government democracy. It will be time for the remaining liberals to become ardent supporters of states rights and we will have to work to make our communities and states “good”.
The weather turned back to normal today. And, everyone was back in the bay. Including me.
Starting to play with the idea that I rejected last winter. Going back to the Asylum via the Arctic Circle. Don’t think that climate change has warmed things up that much since last year. And, I sure don’t have better clothes. But, if not now when? I am going to be fitter next winter. Don’t think so. But, how fit do you have to be to freeze to death? Stay tuned.
Gratitude
Grateful that my legs work better than they did last year. Or, I have just gotten used to the new normal. Either way is OK.
And I am sure that my shoulder is heaps better than it was when I got here. Doubt that I will ever be able to do Gomukhasana properly ever again, but I can live with that.
Finally, grateful that I am willing to go out in public in a $1.50 swimsuit from the thrift shop.
Life continues pretty smoothly out here in the middle of the Pacific. Well, except for the ocean. Still junky today. So, no swimming for this old woman today.
Thought I might try a little “wildlife” videography.
Gratitude
Grateful for NAPS! And really grateful for that elusive “good” night’s sleep.
I know that drugs and alchol are most likely involved. But, seriously, can we not figure out something to do about homelessness?
