Category: The DayBook

Got Mr C all packed up and ready to today. BTW – I happened to find a fake Carlton obituary online the other day. I was seriously pissed and offended. It was everything Carlton hated about obits. He specifically requested “no obituary, no service, no regrets”. Who knew you could just invent an obit and put it online. Sort of like having some Mormon digging you out of a genealogy study and baptising you – or whatever they do…

So, Mr is ready to go. I am not. But, by this time tomorrow – I’ll be ready and will be on the glide path to Wednesday and the train trip west. I checked the long range weather – Chicago and Seattle are both looking “OK”. And Kona – well – it is always good.

Yesterday, I checked the hotel across the street to see if they still have yoga. Yoga is questionable -but they had this nice photo.

A little tour:

1. My digs.
2. Yoga.
3. Breakfast – Oct 31 – eggs, rice, spam, kona coffee.
4. Favorite snorkel site.
5. Paul Allen’s digs.
6. “My” palm trees – suitable for lounging under.

Still toasty warm today. I spread all my “stuff” all over the apartment – sort of a pre packing frenzy. Then I realized that the maid comes tomorrow. And everyone knows that you have to cleanup before the cleaning lady comes!

One of my older friends suggested that the current election might be more like the election of 1824 or 1828. I believe he has a point. It is somewhat encouraging to know that the republic survived those two elections.

A week from now, I should be on the Empire Builder rolling through Wisconsin.

I need some Kona.

Found this fine butterfly one the Asylum grounds this afternoon. This warm afternoon. The high was 87°.

The last of the unpresidential debate tonight. What can I say? How did this happen? Was it like this in 1860? How about 1856?

Another really warm day. Seems pretty silly to be planning the imminent annual migration to Kona whilst having a cold one on the patio. On days like today, global warming doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Speaking of not such a bad idea. The “Giant Meteor -2016 – Just End It Already” signs have been reported in the area. I haven seen one – but I’ll be looking.

Trump? Clinton? Many young Americans prefer giant meteor, poll finds

Just watched the Antares Rocket launch. Unfortunately, too cloudy/too much urban light to see it from here. Or, maybe there was a building in the way. My southern view is obstructed.

Starting to think about my train trip. Wouldn’t be cool if I could see some Northern Lights? It isn’t impossible. But it is highly unlikely.

Today, at work, we celebrated “Boss’s Day”. We gave our boss NOTHING. Actually, we gave her 5 empty file cabinets. The administrative assistant and I worked for the last 5 months scanning all the files. She didn’t know that we finished last Wednesday. We put the a file cabinet key in a card and told her that her present was in the file cabinet.

We also have a wonderful breakfast. Then I left work early and had lunch with one of Mr C’s friends. And, pretty soon, it was dinner time. I just had lentil soup.

As long as I don’t think about politics, life is good.

Bussed it up to North Jackson Street and enjoyed a little Halloween. Actually, I lot of Halloween. Then I wandered down to Clarendon – where I engaged in one of my favorite pre-travel activities – looked at suitcases and all of those travel trinkets and gizmos that people think they need to improve their experience. Best rule for me is “Twice the money and half the stuff”.  Followed by, “If I don’t need it here – why do I think I’ll need it wherever I am going”.

On the bus back to the asylum – I realized that I am growing fond of the hispanic working class vibe of my new neighborhood.

By this time next Sunday – I will most likely be in full pre-migration panic mode. But, by this time two weeks from now I’ll be five hours away from Kona.

Being frivolous and superficial, I spent this fine fall day shopping. As my evil twin says “Someone has to support the economy.” The economy is well supported. And not just by me. The shops were busy.

Being frivolous and superficial and a literary lowlife – I was overjoyed when Bob Dylan won the Nobel for Literature. Finally, something I understand. I usually know more about the Nobels for Chemistry and Medicine and Physics than I do for the Literature one. Sometimes, I get an audiobook by the Literature Laureate and use it to put me to sleep for the next year.

Rather than photoshop out the double of the moon from the window glass – I left it in as a “feature”.

Tonight at the regular meeting of the Bar Belles – I was reduced to near hysterical laughter. Two of our residents are getting married on December 31. (Not sure that they shouldn’t wait until January 1 – but, I was always a mercenary bitch.) Two residents getting married was not hysterical. What was: They are taking ballroom dancing lessons from a man named “Fabio” in preparation for their wedding reception. According to the bride, Fabio is hot.

Laissez les bons temps rouler! 

Still terrified about the aftermath of the upcoming election. Really glad that I am going to be in Hawai’i – which we all know – isn’t a part of “America”.

Enough of politics. Saw a super ad in the dead-tree version of the Wall Street Journal yesterday. It was sorta like this:

Think about it – a Samsung refrigerator – with wifi and controllable from your phone. I kept imagining that the fridge would self immolate and your pork chops would be barbequed!

Guess if you are Samsung you do anything you can to save your brand.

Went to the doctor today – well actually to the nurse practitioner. Guess what – I have high blood pressure. I am not fat but I do NOT need to gain weight. 70 is NOT the new 40 and indeedy I could be getting arthritis. I shouldn’t do less. But, I should “rest” more and better.

Had a lovely, peaceful, and quiet lunch outside today. I was the only person eating outside. It was perfect. (Tuna salad, lentil soup, ice tea.)

Lovely fall weather today.

What is not lovely is the general unease that I am feeling about the upcoming election. I feel sure that Hillary will win. I am really concerned about what will happen then. Not worried about total government gridlock. Worried about Donald’s supporters. They are scarey. They don’t respond to logic, reason, or decency. Pretty sure they never heard of the Electoral College. They have guns.

Called in “cold, dark and tired” at 0555.  And at about 0930, the sun bounced off the top of the bell tower. Managed to get myself to the office by 1130 – just in time for yoga.

Went to dinner with the office peoples. Great big bowl of pho, some old time Vietnamese beer. And then off to bed.

Political note: Is this like the election of 1860 – As you may recall it ended badly.

 

Walked through the Nature Conservancy Back Yard over near my old apartment today. Lovely crispy cool fall day today.

And that is the only good news. Even the politicians couldn’t mess up Mother Nature’s gift. But they tried.