Category: The DayBook

And any second now, we’ll get rain.

I am not a video person. Even if I live another 20 years, I won’t become a video person. Heck, it was hard enough becoming a Kodachrome person. But, the Victoria Water Taxis deserve a video shot.

Hey, tomorrow I’m off see the brain surgeon.
Since I know I don’t have a brain tumor or an aneurysm, I am sorta looking forward to it.

Who knew old age would be so much fun?

And here we are.
Another hot summer week.
Lots of residents heading to the beach.
My group seems to be focused on medical visits and procedures.

This one will be showing up in our Asylum Thrift shop soon.
But you can get your own in the original box on eBay for $41.

Grateful for books to read, paper to fold, orchids to mostly ignore, clouds to watch, friends to cherish.

Big event today was putting together a little spreadsheet for the brain surgeon on Wednesday. Not even considering brain surgery. But I do love spreadsheets. Any excuse to make one.

I’ve been using spreadsheets since the days of VisiCalc. Back then, watching an entire page of numbers instantly recalculate was magic. From VisiCalc to Lotus 1-2-3 to Excel, they’ve been one of the most useful tools I’ve ever encountered.

When I built spreadsheets for Tom Billman, a well-known local con man back in the ‘80s, they became so complex that we’d hit F9 (I think) and go out for lunch—or happy hour—while the PCs churned away. All the while, I was being paid by the hour.

Tom ultimately became one of the country’s most notorious Ponzi schemers and was eventually arrested after being featured on America’s Most Wanted. He paid his spreadsheet wizards well. I got a first-class education in finance and an even better education in what not to invest in.

Note to residents of The Asylum: Tom Billman’s con was run out of a suite of offices in Skyline.

Going to cull and catalog these photos someday!

But not as bad as yesterday.

Walking around the compound this morning, I saw a homeless woman sleeping in the parking lot. Usually, she finds a “better” place to sleep. Maybe she felt this was a safer place than where she normally sleeps. (She usually sleeps on some benches about a block away.)

And here I am. All comfy in my favorite chair. Waiting for the dinner hour. Where I will most likely complain about the food. (Maybe not. Steak and free wine tonight.) And I will sleep with the A/C cranked in my bed where I don’t even have to change the sheets. 

But by grace. 
I didn’t make better choices.
I was just luckier.

Haven’t seen air like this since Kona earlier in the century.

Smoke and Wasps.
Don’t get much better than that.

They didn’t want us to go out in the smoke either.

I went out.

It was a good day.
Mac&Cheese. 
Beer.
Friends.

Taking the day off today.
Been busy non-stop since I got off the plane on Monday afternoon.

I have been expending a great deal of energy hating the current regime.

It’s not easy hating as many people as I do as much as I do.

Nothing exciting has happened. That makes it a good day!

And, today, 50% of our elevators are working.

That makes it a very good day.

At this very instant I am watching my favorite volcano in action. By the time you read this she will have either destroyed the camera or gone back to sleep.

Welcome Home.
101° promised for tomorrow.
75% of our elevators are out of service.

Exactly why did I return?
It sure wasn’t for the food.

I came back to see my friends,  check on my orchids,  plan my next trip, oh and see the brain surgeon next week.

I am so not going to have brain surgery. And if I were to have brain surgery, it wouldn’t be at my little suburban hospital.  

But, life is good. I can walk up to the 11th floor a couple of times a day. I won’t like it. But I can do it. Went to yoga class today. Took the bus both directions. Got about 3 miles walking and a little cardio as well. My weight is back to where it was before the bad TN flare up earlier last month. Things are pretty mellow. 

Whatever happens next will be what I planned.

2 buses.
2 planes.
1 subway.
2 miles walking.
And I am back in the Old Bat’s Cave.

I left from Toronto’s little “city” airport. Checked Google Maps before heading out. On the bus.

The airport is on an island.
There’s no bridge.
How is this going to work?

Well, you walk.
Of course, you walk.
It’s an airport.

There is a pedestrian tunnel. 

Smooth trip back. 
Currently undergoing re-entry.
Time to start planning my next adventure.

Grateful to have the trusty MacBook Pro back.
You can get a surprising amount done with an iPad mini.
But the MacBook is still home.

I didn’t do the CN Tower this time. I find that I do very few things that involve waiting in line these days.

One of the ferries was out of service today. So. The lines were longer than their normal already long.

I went to the train museum instead.

But the most interesting part were the old mid century films about the wonders of crossing Canada on the Canadian. The current train uses the very same cars. In the 50s,  the trip in 72 hours vice the current 96. And it used to run everyday. Progress? I think not.

Well I gotta break camp, pack up and be ready to leave early tomorrow morning.

Grateful for this adventure. Albeit a very modest adventure. 

Needed to get some exercise after four days of eating and sleeping and sitting.

Four and a half miles later I declared myself sufficiently exercised.

And then there was the grocery store where I stopped to get a sandwich for dinner.

I may need to return to that grocery for more than a sandwich!

I ran into this:
Chariot Fest, organized by the Toronto chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), begins Saturday with its signature Ratha-Yatra procession. Three towering wooden chariots will be hand-carried along Yonge Street by thousands of participants as musicians, dancers and devotees fill the route with singing, chanting and drumming.

Back at the hotel…

And that’s a little walk about downtown Toronto. Maybe a boat ride tomorrow?

it was a great train voyage. 

Just look at all that space. 
I ordered room service dinner.
Will enjoy a nice shower.
A stationary bed.
And a WC that isn’t under a Murphy bed.

I wonder what I will do tomorrow?