Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
This Blog started in 2001 as a Trip Log to record a summer in Alaska. Since then, it has morphed into my online diary.
On his last day, Carlton played tennis and won. His opponent put a sign on the court fence to commemorate Carlton’s final victory. Every year, I return to visit the courts, which we could see from our apartment. I’m always surprised that the sign is still there.
Then, in Lousianna Second Line fashion, I wander over to check out the N. Jackson Street Halloween decorations.
Last night – moonrise was even better because it was darker.
Grateful for my splendid view to the east.
Today’s elderly lady adventure was a trip to vote. I walked about a mile and got lunch. After a leisurely lunch, I bussed it the rest of the way to the polling place. I waited in line for 50 minutes. I checked in, they printed out a ballot for me. I filled in the circles. And scanned my ballot into the machine. All done in less than 5 minutes. After I got to the check-in people. Then I bussed home.
The wait was long because many people were voting, not because there was a shortage of poll workers and machines.
They said over 1,000 people voted at this location yesterday. Yesterday was the first day for in-person voting in Virginia.
Happy Hour soon.
It might be time for a hair trim. But, that’s a project for another day.
Today, I was going to do a new government report for Employee Health. But I couldn’t get logged into the system. We only have a limited number of logins, and they were all busy. So, what did I do? Well, I gathered up the clothes I plan to take to Kona. And then put ½ of them back.
And I still couldn’t get logged in. SO. What did I do? Totally old-school. I got out a notebook and a pen and wrote down the needed information and what extracts I thought I would need to run to get that information. And guess what? I think that was actually faster than my usual way of just diving right into the data.
I do love data.
Wine is good too.
Stuck my head out the window and picked up the sun reflecting on the building along the Ballston Corridor. Where Carlton and I lived for many years.
I did not venture out of the building except for a walk today. So, I didn’t mess anything up. YET. As long as I am awake I can get things totally FUBAR.
At this instant, I am updating my phone to Andriod 15. I liked Android better when Google named the versions after desserts. Think they stopped doing that about COVID Time. Version 15 seems to be installed and ready for a test drive. Not too smart of me to install it less than 24 hours after release.
Did I mention that 2 of our 4 elevators were broken yesterday? Marketing’s new slogan is “It’s Worth The Wait”. It should be painted on the elevator doors.
Okay. There is a lot to be grateful about. I don’t have to make another trip to the dentist. They have mats for the forgetful at my yoga class. I can afford Surge Pricing and an unexpected filling. The shirt will wash. And the coffee that made it into my mouth was excellent. Oh, and missing my morning BP meds isn’t fatal.
Three weeks from today people. Three weeks from today. I am scared. It will be ugly no matter who wins. We are all already losers.
Nice crispy fall day today. I mostly cleaned out my email inboxes and made reservations for this plane.
That is the kind of a plane that one has reservations ABOUT not FOR.
But, that’s how you get to Moloka’i and Lana’i.
And I still have to get to and from Honolulu. I assume that will not be a problem since real airplanes are involved.
And I said I was too old for adventures just a couple of months ago. Hoping the kid can find a vehicle to rent on Lana’i. The island only has 30 miles of paved roads. But one would like to be able to use the road.
Warning. Cat Picture. Below.
Guess I was too lazy to open the screen this morning.
This morning was devoted to orchids. I repotted my two new orphaned orchids. One is in great shape and I will pass it along. The other has serious root issues and it may not survive. But, perhaps it will recover with ample doses of benign neglect. It deserves a chance.
Grateful for the orchids that add life to The Old Bat Cave. And to Barb who keeps them alive when I am away.
Then I spent a wild and crazy afternoon planning a trip to Moloka’i and Lana’i. Master Card just rejected the charge from the Lana’i Hotel. But it let the one from Moloka’i through. Ah, the Lana’i hotel just went through. So, the next job is to get the little planes set up. The kids have to get ground transportation. Maybe mules.
While all this was going on, the son of the guy I rent the condo from texted me about this and that. It seems that the son didn’t know I had sent his dad a check—a check that the dad never cashed. There is a little family drama there. But the condo seems to be OK.
And tonight I will treat myself to a grilled cheese sandwich. With bacon?
It’s 80° this evening. Two weeks from just about now – my train should be pulling into Harpers Ferry, heading to Chicago. Must spring into action about going to Kona someday soon.
But before that I need to plan an adventure to Moloka’i and Lanai for November 10 – 16. Air travel to those islands is infrequent and hotels are almost non-existant.
You might also notice a lack of roads. I may charter a plane and hire a mule.
Damn, for an old woman, I know how to have fun.
Something I never thought I would see.
This email arrived a little after 8 last night. An aurora alert for Arlington, Virginia!
Zipped over to the window. Not once but many times.
But they were definitely visible to some folk in our area. How cool is that?
I needed some downtime today. So, very little was done. That’s OK. Very little actually needed doing. Except some emails are piled up awaiting responses. Maybe tomorrow.
I had I nice walk. Took the longer hillier more “challenging” walk today.
The asylum is having lox, bagels, and chocolate hamantaschen for dinner tonight. In honor of Yom Kippur, I suppose. My gentile brain thinks that maybe tomorrow night would be more appropriate. But, what do I know?
Before lox, bagels, and chocolate hamantaschen – Happy Hour.
Kona. Leaving soon. Two weeks from Saturday.
The good news is I am still alive. According to my doctor’s notes “Pt is quite active, walks 2.5 miles easily”. Guess that means I am OK for an old woman. Active is important for me.
Actually, the old woman walked 4.62 miles today. I enjoy walking to the doctor’s office. It’s a nice walk, and I like telling the doctor that I must be OK because I walked. Today, I had time for coffee and a croissant at Peet’s before wandering over to the doctor’s office.
Grateful for this fine fall day. And for coffee at the end of a walk.
The bad news is: Donald Trump thinks he’s my friend.
Fortunately, GMAIL thinks that Donald Trump is Spam. That’s an insult to Spam.
A lovely lavendery sun rise.
Then it was off to set up for the origami sale.
The 11th Floor Origami Dojo had a very successful sale. I contributed very little to the sale’s success, but I am still as pleased as can be.
Grateful to everyone who made this so special for the 11th Floor Origami Dojo. ありがとうございます
When I returned to the old bat cave all tired and hungry, what do I find? One of my orchids sprawled on the floor. There were no open windows. I don’t have a cat. I don’t believe we had an earthquake. Blame it on gravity. No harm done to the orchid or the floor.
Tomorrow, it’s off to see the doctor. She will tell me I am old.
A rather bleak morning, I had blood work done so no breakfast for me. I was allowed black coffee, thank goodness.
After visiting the hospital lab, I had a coffee and croissant. Then it was in-person yoga time. And that was about it for the day.
Grateful that I can still take part in a yoga class.
Got everything ready for tomorrow’s craft sale.
The craft sale will take up most of tomorrow. I can hardly stand all this excitement!
(Yes, I am reading World War Z by Max Brooks. It’s one of Carlton’s books. I was busy when it came out 20 years ago, Carlton read it somewhere along the line, and I was going to read it in Covid time, but decided not to. Maybe too close to reality.)