Category: The DayBook

Yesterday when I was out and about, I went past Carlton’s tennis courts. Carlton will be happy that his courts are in good repair and are being used on a fine fall afternoon.

And the sign that Carlton’s opponent on that faithful October morning hung on the fence lives on.

Raining big time today. So I have been lounging around the Old Bat Cave. Wondering about how little to take to Kona. I tend to overdo Kona because I am going for 4 whole months. But, how much do I need? The big things for me are  “just in case” and “what if”. Well, Amazon delivers to Kona. And, I can walk to Target and/or WalMart. Don’t think I can fit everything in the tiny backpack. But I might as well try.

Currently lusting after After Effects. Nobody told me that I would require expensive software when I was 75 going on dead.  But, it’s only money and I can not take it with me and it really will not buy me one more day of good life.

. . .

First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League
Go Nats!

After voting in my own county, I headed back to Arlington for the Democratic rally outside the Courthouse.

 

It was a combination Get Out the Vote and Impeachment event. Arlington county is about as blue as possible. My current county, Fairfax, not so much.

Ran into some folks that I know.

I couldn’t sign the partition, because I don’t live in Arlington anymore. I live across the street from Arlington. Part of The Asylum is in Arlington. But the mailboxes are in Fairfax. It’s been 4 years and I still haven’t gotten over it.

It is a wonderful fall, with impeachment in the air and the home team in the Series for the first time since Roosevelt’s first year in office. That would be Franklin.Not Theodore. But still a very long time.

. . .

First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League
(The Nats are actually in the National League.The Washington Senators were in the American League.)

 

And, I wanted a little “stock photo” – so I made one.

Which leads to fun with Photoshop.

Sort of a lost day. Or maybe a lazy day. I feel sure I should have done something. But I did nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

. . . 

First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League
Go Nats!

And, why am I glad to be old. Because I will NEVER have sex with a man using one of these things. Of that, I am very sure. Absolutely positive.  i.Con a Fitbit for … well see for yourself NSFW

The parable of the hair stick.

This is my second favorite hair stick. It’s not that I don’t have lots of hair sticks.

Some rather expensive. Some started life as cocktail stirrers.

Today, it was chilly and windy. I debated the wisdom of using my second favorite hair stick to secure my hair. I knew it was a little risk. I might lose it. And sure enough, when I got on the bus, my hair was flying around and the hair stick was nowhere to be found.

So, I told myself. OK. You lost it. But, isn’t it better to have lost it wearing it rather than having it get termites or dry rot from just hanging with the other hair sticks. On my way home, I looked for it. And, when I got home – there it was at the front desk, waiting for me.

I was happy to see it, but, I still think that you should use the stuff that you love every chance you get. What are you saving it for?

. . . 

First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League
Go Nats!

When I woke up from a well-deserved nap – the sun was back and there were three layers of sky.

Just found out that a friend from Skagway died of a heart attack at the young age of 68. Buckwheat Donahue. He ended up in Skagway because he got drunk on the ferry and “overslept” his intended stop in Juneau. As the story goes. Alaska Public Radio has a nice obit about him. Some people are bigger than life. Buckwheat was one of them. A hui hou my friend.

Note to Carlton: don’t know if they cover sports where you are. But, the Nats are going to the World Series. DC last won the league championship in 1933. And, as I recall that was before you were born. First Game: Oct 22. Go Nats.

. . .

First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League

Work, yoga, dentist. Now my mouth feels like an army has bivouacked in it. And, I am more or less forbidden to eat until 9PM. Not to worry. I can drink and am having Guinness for dinner with my friends at the regular time.

Really shouldn’t take astronomical photos with a telephone. But, you shoot with what you have. And I had Shamu the Phone. This was at the bus transfer point this morning. I had just figured out that it was MONDAY for me, but it was SATURDAY for the bus service. And, that was why there wasn’t a bus. So, I turned to just walk the last mile – when I saw this fine moon setting in the west.

And, at the office. It was one of those “it must be the full moon” kind of a day.

You can tell it is getting close to Halloween…Because the stores have the Xmas decorations out.

But this gentleman, he has the pumpkin look down. Even to his shopping bag. Gotta love it.

I am feeling old and tired today. So, what’s new about that. Absolutely nothing. Goes with the territory.

In a little over two weeks, I will be heading off to Hawai’i. And, except for getting a ticket to ride – I have done NOTHING to get ready. I am going to try really hard to make this a minimalist trip. Don’t think I can just take the mini-backpack. But, I don’t need to take everything that I might possibly need. Amazon delivers to Kona.

Speaking of Amazon. I preordered some Alexa earbuds. They promise to deliver them by 8PM on Oct 30th. And since I leave at 5:30AM Oct 31, that is cutting it close.

Why? Because my Dr Dre’s died on my RTW trip. I really wanted new Bluetooth earbuds. And these are supposed to use  Bose’s technology for noise reduction. And, like many Amazon devices, they are relatively inexpensive – because the job of the amazon gear is to sell you more stuff. Stay tuned. I am not usually a day one adopter.  But, as I mentioned earlier. I am old. No percentage in waiting around.

Little projects:

1. 1. Add meditation or something to help with sleeping.
   2. Try to really understand YouTube and stop throwing something at YouTube and just hoping it works.

I always love a parade. And, for years I was a regular photographer at the Howard University Homecoming Parade. I have become a little less faithful in attending. But, I rectified that today.

The parade was much smaller than it was during the Obama Era. A lot of things have gotten smaller since the Orange Lord Era began. But it was still a parade. And a good time was had by all.

This is homecoming – so they had adorable smiling kids.

And the weather was great, so the girls could show off their moves.

One of the girl groups had a guy. And, he had a wardrobe malfunction.

But, soon he was back in the game.

And, of course, there were Slingshots. Very fancy Slingshots. I would create quite a stir around The Asylum if I showed up one fine day with a fully decked out Slingshot. Or even a plain basic black model!

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This is just an experiment. Please ignore. Unless you are one of The Asylum Keepers of the Web.

This is what it looks like if you embed the video in your page. It is the “best” way to do it.

Or you can just use a link: Like This

The link version kicks your readers out to YouTube. I am not sure about your software. I think you should be able to embed the link. Ask John.

A guy who lives here,  was a wire service reporter. Now, he reviews cars online.  He parks them at the Asylum. Today he had a very manly BMW and this sweet blue Bentley for my viewing pleasure. Just because I don’t have a car doesn’t mean I can’t admire them.

Today I was shooting with my phone, the two above. And a pretty marginal lens. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7. It is slow, hunts focus, and sometimes delivers this:

I consider that a “feature”.

For the last few days, I have been shooting the same weed patch in the late afternoon. using different lenses. The same (?) common buckeye has been there every afternoon. Today’s version with the Olympus  75-300mm.

 

Ok, got birds, insects, and rodents.  That is about the extent of our wildlife. Last year there was a black snake, but I haven’t seen it this summer.

All of these, including the butterfly, were taken with the Olympus Pen F and the modest Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II Lens.

Catalina continues to perk right along. I decided that Sidecar does every that I need so it will be bye-bye to Duet.

I am not designed for community living. Today I got a questionnaire in my box.

1. Do you feel you have input into areas that impact your life at The Asylum?  Seriously? They don’t even have Guinness in the bar.
2. Do you find a sense of purpose and fulfillment at The Asylum? This is where I live. Where I sleep and eat and where someday I will die. But, it doesn’t provide “purpose and fulfillment”. And, I don’t want it too. The Asylum is a building. A not for profit corporation.  Not my spiritual advisor.
3. Is The Asylum seen as an inclusive and accepting community where all people feel welcome? Not really, it is a lot like 8th grade.
4. Do you feel you have access to programs and services that not only entertain but also inspire and promote wellness? I am not entertained. Or inspired. And, I don’t need someone to tell me to eat my veggies.

Now, what really worries me is that management paid a consulting firm to create this worthless survey. Wait, that would be a fine place to use one of my favorite unused words. Now, what really worries me is that management paid a consulting firm to create this nugatory survey.

My friends say I complain about everything here at The Asylum. Maybe it is time to move back to the real world.

But, it would be a better plan to try really hard to just ignore 95% of what goes on here. Just stay in my lane. Pretend that this is just a strange apartment that I happened to rent. And to hell with the “being engaged in community life” crap.

Bee and butterfly season is rapidly coming to an end. Got a couple of nice shots this afternoon. If the goddess is willing the bees and butterflies will be back next summer. And I will still be able to hold a camera. (These were taken with my current favorite bug setup. (Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens on the OMD EM1 body.)

Nobody is promised tomorrow. Much less next summer.

Found a generic “Impeach Him” button in my junk jewelry box. I am wondering what president I was annoyed enough with to have an impeachment button. Maybe Reagan? All of those other presidents that I loved to hate now seem like rational grownups. I dusted it off and wore it to dinner. It is back in style again.

I haven’t stressed it, but Catalina seems to be working fine for me. Your mileage may vary.