Author: Peg

Isn’t this title a bit redundant? Don’t you have to be a dummy of the first order to run a marathon? Don’t they know that the first Marathon Man died upon the completion of his run. There is absolutely no reason to run any distance unless you are being chased by something akin to a sabre tooth tiger.

Two weeks from now – I should be all ready to go move to winter quarters. I haven’t even started. Well, I asked the hotel to ready our humble room. And, I notified Carlton’s volunteer job that he’ll be back and they should keep him busy for me. And, I ordered a new underwater camera. Guess I could rouse myself enough to make a 2DO list.

Carlton does not like presents. Well, it is really surprises that he doesn’t like. And, good presents always have a element of surprise. And, he doesn’t like to incur any obligation that a present might convey.

So, we don’t do Xmas presents. Or birthday presents. Or anniversary presents. Or anykind presents. No cards either. Most of the time I am OK with that. That is just the way it is.

Nevertheless – every year  I make him a Solstice Present. I make him a spreadsheet of this investments with projected payouts by month for the upcoming year. I worked on his annual Solstice gift this afternoon. It is almost done – assuming he doesn’t do anymore investing this year. A good enough way to pass a rainy afternoon.

Speaking of presents – I ordered myself an early Solstice gift. An underwater camera. See, I am not bereft of gifts. Just bereft of givers…

The good news, Christine I am not a witch O’Donnell is behind by 19 points.
The bad new,  Christine I am not a witch O’Donnell is behind by 19 points.
Good for the republic. Bad for political theater.

Maybe it is starting to look a little autumnal.

Carlton returned safely from his hike up Old Rag. He sadly reported that that was most likely his last trip to the mountain. 75 years must be catching up with him.

Exercised my franchise today.

HoHum… another day – no autumn color action.

Today, for the first time ever, Carlton used a cell phone. Well, he has started to use my cell before but always right after “Hello” – tossed it down saying it didn’t work.

Today, I dialed the number for him. Showed him how to hold it. “The sound comes out here”. And, he had a complete conversation. Next trick teach him how to dial. And then – the biggie – how to answer.

Tomorrow Carlton is going to hike up Old Rag Mountain with several friends. If he doesn’t survive – well, he was good while he lasted.

Not much happening fall color-wise. Better start happening. Because 3 weeks from now – I’ll be hanging out by Kailua Bay.

Spent the day tweaking the Airness. Making it ready for the trip. Freed up disk space. Removed unloved programs. Took the pledge to not install any software until we are safely back home. And promised to not run WINE. No need for any Windows weirdness.

I am not a witch. Wish I were. But, I am not. I am not a Nazi either. Interesting the things that the teapotheads have to say they are not.

Don’t know why it took me a week to realize that I can set the camera on the balcony rail and get the same shot every time. Still not much fall. This is looking south.

And for something totally different –  tweaked B/W looking east.

It is good to be up top of the trees. These images were with the cheap little point and shooter. Panasonic ZS3.

If I use the $300 point and shoot or the DSLR with the lens that costs as much as a car shouldn’t matter for photos at this size and resolution. Which is good I guess. Except it is hard to explain to non-photographers just why it is that you MUST have a lens that weights a pound and costs more than your first new car.

I was going to go vote for the good guys when I finished up volunteering today – but – I was overcome by fatigue – allergy induced I presume. I am rather like McClellan’s horses – what exactly have I done that fatigues anything? But, I will go vote. I think there must be a republican running for our congressional seat. I want to believe that he/she is a mild mannered rational intelligent human person. But, in case he/she is a teapothead – our democrat who always wins deserves a vote – just in case. Come election day. I’ll be in Hawai’i. My old polling place was the rich old folks retirement home next door to our condo. That was the whole entire precinct. New precinct votes a couple of blocks down the street at the law school. The old folks used to serve coffee and cookies. Bet the law school doesn’t.

Still no signs of cheery red leaves. The leaves have 3 weeks to change before we leave.

The family foundation is going to make a grant to the church across the street. St George. Of the Episcopal flavor. They provide “sack lunches” to anyone who comes to get one every weekday. No religion. Just food. They seem to have no expenses except for the food. It is very modest. Like Melinda Gates, I like to see where my money is going. And, like Melinda, I like to get good value. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation just has more zeros than the Bethany/Combs Lagniappe Fund – lots more zeros.

Speaking of Bill Gates. Imagine, being one of the richest men on the planet and having to use a Zune and not an iPod.