Author: Peg

$39.95 and one day later. And I have a new SSL Certificate for this oh, so important blog.

Will not have to do this for another year. There is no reason it should take an entire day. The process is clunky, and I am not as fast as I once was. But, I didn’t knock my blog off either.

Another accomplishment was going to REI to get mosquito repellent to avoid sending Jeff Bezos more money.

Gratitude

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I saw a firefly after dinner. ONE. I hope there are more. I haven’t seen a firefly in years.

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While waiting on customer “service” to get my SSL cert done, I “pre-packed”.

The clothes and backpack weigh about six pounds. That leaves 4 pounds for electronics, drugs, toothpaste, binoculars, mosquito repellent etc.

When I did the Northwest Passage, I took my “real” suitcase.

I could take the suitcase. It has two wheels. It’s very light. And not very waterproof. It did make it all the way around the world in 2019. If I do take it, I’ll not take any more stuff. I’ll take it for the wheels. 

This really isn’t alaska. It’s the yukon. But you can walk there from alaska.

The heat wave broke. Nice cloudy damp 70° day. Which helped me get in the mood for Alaska. This is a totally last minute trip. There is stuff should be done before I leave. I don’t like coming back to loose ends.

But, I was wondering – that is it about Alaska that keeps dragging me back.

This blog started in 2001 to record our second summer in Alaska. May 30, 2001.

Carlton didn’t want to go to Alaska. But, love the man, he went because I wanted to go. However, as soon as he looked out the plane window and saw Alaska, he was hooked.

This trip is to a new part of Alaska.

We had our monthly “Town Hall” meeting today. My main question was, “How many vice presidents does it take to run a PowerPoint presentation?”
The people running the show were vice presidents and some underlings. Not old people.

And PowerPoint isn’t new. Microsoft acquired it in 1987, when it was still an Apple product, and ported it to DOS, releasing it with Microsoft Office in 1989. Those were DOS days, people. 35+ years ago.

Technology isn’t the Asylum’s long suit.

Note to young people: You might want to consider elevator repair as a career.

Today’s major adventure was wrapping up the taxes. Last night, my taxboy sent me a text with 4 things I had to do. I texted him right back and told him that I was not a functional human after 6pm and I’d get right on it after breakfast.

All tasks completed. Oliver Wendell Holmes said “I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization.” I am fairly certain that I am not getting my money’s worth.

Went out on my fitness walk before breakfast when it was only 83°. I stopped to admire the 100% virgin human sign.

So much wine. So little time.

I think these are edible. But I am not trying them. I always thought that people who gathered mushrooms were as crazy as folks who tried Russian roulette or ate fugu. Life is uncertain. But, still.

Doing yoga without long yoga pants. Do not do this. You have to look at your legs. Scary. (We had zoom yoga class and I didn’t think that proper yoga pants were required. I was wrong.)

But, the damn compression socks do coverup the legs. Maybe they aren’t all bad.

Hot today. And for some strange reason, Iran is pissed because 47 dropped 420,000 pounds of bombs on their country. So, we have non-trivial geopolitical heat too.

It’s so hot that The Asylum directs, “We ask that you reduce your energy use by not using your clothes washer or dryer, dishwasher, microwave, or stove till after 3:00 p.m. until further notice.” Just said a little prayer to the A/C goddess.

I got my outdoor exercise done before breakfast today and went out later to enjoy the heat. I rather enjoy just baking for a few minutes. While outside enjoying the heat, I practiced nature photography with a phone.

And I finished making all the reservations for my upcoming North to Alaska trip. Leaving July 3, returning July 29. Assuming everything goes according to plan. But you never know. This trip includes. Two planes, one boat, one bus, and two trains. And one old woman. Lots can go wrong.

First day of hot weather. First day of the new involvement in the Middle East.
I watered the orchids and did the laundry. Other than that, I accomplished ZERO today. But, I didn’t kill anyone, and that counts for a lot.

For many years, the Asylum had a well-cared-for Butterfly Garden. The Garden was on leased land, and the owner objected to residents working in it. The land was supposed to be used for a parking lot.

Last summer, the Butterfly Garden was relocated. Oddly enough, the original, now-untended site looks better than it ever did.

There must be a lesson in that. I’m just not sure what it is.

Today’s project was figuring out how to get to Seattle to get to Nome. I got that sorted today. Reservations made.

However, I am now “stuck” in Vancouver.

Last time I ended up in Vancouver, Sept 2023, I spent one fine day running all over the place and then took a bus to Seattle the next morning. Got on a train and came home. I might do that again. Or take a train across Canada and fly or bus home from Toronto.

That said, here’s the current status of Amtrak:
It doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
If I do get a ticket to ride, it will have to be for the adventure, not to get somewhere anytime soon.

Practicing for Alaska. Went out in the Asylum wilderness and read a book.

Finally, I rescued a fledgling pigeon that had gotten stuck on a friend’s balcony. I made pigeon noises at it. Walked over. Picked it up. It was undamaged. Just young and stupid. I held it over the edge of the balcony. It stuck its wings out. I let go. And off it went. A happy ending. 

Taking the “geographic cure” for grumpiness.

Heading to Alaska, July 7–24, with some travel days on either side.

I knew there was a reason to keep my good Patagonia rain pants. I almost gave them away.

I made the decision last night after dinner. Hurtigruten was having a sweet sale—zero single supplement—to fill up a small ship sailing from Nome to Vancouver. Most of the activities will be well beyond my capabilities, but that won’t stop me from enjoying myself.

The cabin isn’t in my ideal location, especially considering the very real possibility of rough seas. In Dramamine we trust.

Seriously—how many more summers do I have? Nobody is promised tomorrow.

In one of my grumpy moods today. Carlton would say, “Make a Gratitude List,” and my response would be, “I’m not in AA. I don’t have to be grateful”.

OK Carlton. I’ll try.
Gratitude: Air Conditioning. Indoor plumbing. Trader Joe’s Spicy Pecans. My Kindle.

So, do I feel better now? No. However, I believe I’ll have a few more TJ Pecans. 

Not much happening in the Old Bat’s Cave. Some accounting. Went for groceries. Went to yoga. Practiced gratitude. Grateful that I have money that can be accounted for. Grateful that we still have food to purchase with that money. And grateful that I can still make it through yoga class. Our yoga class is becoming increasingly “elder-friendly.”

And it was Democratic Primary Day in Virginia. Nothing in the least interesting on the ballot. But, I am voting whilst I can. I am sure the current regime would like to negate the 19th Amendment.