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.
Clarkston is a modest little town with much to be modest about. Even Lewis and Clark camped on the other side of the river. Twice.
By dawn’s early light, this morning, I got the best shot. I am likely to get of my boat.
Clarkston is a nice little town. Apparently the busy summer season starts tomorrow with the art show, the dog show, and the return of river boat passengers like me.
There was some sort of TSA meltdown at the Denver airport this morning. It took me about 30 minutes to get through TSA even with pre-check and Clear.
Got to the little plane with no trouble. Arrived in snow free Lewiston, Idaho early. I decided to walk to Clarkston, Washington. Google said it was 4.6 miles and would take 1 hour and 40 minutes. Your actual mileage may vary. 5.6 miles and 2.5 hours. I plan on sleeping well tonight. And, know that 5 miles is about my walking limit.
It really wasn’t one of my brightest moves. To set out walking in a part of the country were walking isn’t considered a mode of transportation. But bless Google. There was only one short block that was sans sidewalk. Also thank the wheels on my luggage. A lost wheel would have been a major problem.
Thinking I need a shower and some dinner. The room has a microwave and a fridge, but I think I want to be waited on this evening.
They said there was a 30% chance of snow at 8 PM. Well, they were wrong there’s 100% chance of snow at 6:45 PM. Fortunately, I decided to just stay out at the airport hotel and not go into town. I would have been cold. There is more snow coming down than we had all winter in DC.
The bed is cozy, the pillows are fluffy, the coffee is Starbucks, the chocolate is dark. It’s all good here at hotel.
Pretty sure I over packed.
Leaving at 11:30 tomorrow morning for a short flight to Lewiston Idaho. Wonder if it is snowing there? I really wasn’t expecting snow. But, you take the weather you get.
Racing frantically around trying to be sure that I am good to go at 0930 tomorrow.
Got everything packed and decided that I desperately need to take my noise-canceling cans. Reason. 2 planes. 1 small boat. 4 trains.
I usually sleep in little or nothing when I travel, but after hearing a story from one of the residents here at the Asylum, I’ve decided to pack some age-appropriate sleepwear. My friend accidentally went into the wrong roomette on an Amtrak train, and he ended up in someone else’s bed. (He realized he was in the wrong roomette when he couldn’t find his CPAP machine beside “his” bed.)
Finally, I decided to toss in a pair of yoga pants. Just because.
I think that’s everything I need. Off to bed! I can finish spiffing up the Old Bat Cave in the AM.
I am just testing to be sure I remember how to update my blog without my computer. There used to be a cute little app. But they improved it so much, that it doesn’t work anymore.
It’s even harder because I take my pictures with an android device, and I really like to update the blog from my iPad, but obviously I remembered how to do it.
And I’m counting that as one in the win column. Now they just have to have Wi-Fi but that’s an adventure for another day.
Weighed all my stuff today. 14.5 pounds. Including my cane, jacket and all of my electronics. Drugs. Glasses. Might even be able to take my Bose headphones.
Your eyes get droopy, the hair gets thin and wild simultaneously, your ankles threaten to puff up like balloons at the drop of a hat, and the skin loses interest in keeping the body sealed shut. Leaks in the epidermis appear for no apparent reason.
And, these are the warning shots. Far worse shit lurks just around the corner.
Clothes for the April Trip
Items 1-11 go in the tote bag. 14, 15, and 18 will also be in the tote depending on the weather. 13-17 will be on Old Peg.
Nice little storm this afternoon. I like storms. I fear that the storm made our dining patio too wet to use, however.
I am in pre-packing mode. When I question everything that goes into my pack. Never mind that I made a perfectly fine packing list a week ago. Now I am in questioning mode.
My Northwest Passage trip told me that rainpants are mandatory. But this trip seems to involve wine and antique cars. Also “charming farm animals”. Thinking the rainpants stay home this time.
These are great problems to have when you are 79 going on dead! Thank you, Cliff. And you too, Carlton.
My solution to the unacceptable food here at the Asylum is to have salmon and some veggies every night. It’s healthy. And they usually cook salmon OK. It is sort of Carlton’s approach to food. Food just fuels the body so the body can do stuff. I consider food a sensual pleasure. This really sets me up for disappointment. BigTime. I can not change the food. I tried. But, I can change myself.
One of the questions you are supposed to ask when doing your own “death cleaning” is: “Will anyone be happier if I save this?”
Answer: Nobody needs my grandmother’s Eastern Star Cookbook.
Before consigning it to the recycle bin – let’s give it one last look. There are 10 recipes for “salads and vegetables”. 5 use at least one box of Jello. 4 contain marshmallows.
I ended up with that #6 cast iron skillet. And, I found it a good home before moving to The Asylum.
In the back of the book, there is this rather terrifying veggie cooking chart.
It also explains why Carlton wanted his green beans cooked until they were gray beans.
But, gotta give these ladies props. The last page of the book explains what you need to serve ham dinner to 225 of your closest friends.
No muss no fuss. Need to feed 250 people. How many of us would have a clue where to start? These were tough old broads wearing their pearls, stockings, sensible shoes, and aprons making turkey dinner for 250.
The other “death cleaning” question is; “Will I ever need this again?”. Nope.
But, at 91°, they aren’t going to stay cute and baby-size long.
Wonder what kind of ferns MidJourney comes up with. Better ones than mine, I am willing to bet.
Today’s big event here at The Asylum was our semi-annual informational briefing by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the CEO of the Asylum. Let’s say, if bullshit were electricity, then our CEO would be a powerhouse.
The CEO proudly announced that he and the COO were both alumni of Erickson Senior Living which had the largest bankruptcy ever in the history of Old Folks Homes about 15 years ago. And this is supposed to make me feel good? Well, I sure hope they learned something along the way. But, the Asylum just has to last as long as my friends and I last.
Nope! I like my real ferns better. Score one for Mother Nature.
I actually accomplished stuff today. I cleared out my major mess accumulation areas. The kitchen counter. The coffee table. The desk. And the origami dojo. The black cashmere hoodie was mended – good enough. Good enough for a couple more trips.
And I made a little video message for a friend. I don’t like making video messages. But it’s not always all about me and what I want. Or don’t want.
Summer seems to have arrived. It was 85 today. And the same is expected tomorrow.
Still boring. Sorry.
8 days and I’ll be off on the Spring Adventure. 2 Planes. 3 Trains. 3 hotels. 1 Boat. 19 days.
Today the Asylum had an “Armed Intruder” drill. I figured it was going to be annoying so, I left the building.
I wandered into a discount shoe store. Who knew they made pink and blue Doc Martens?
Not only do they make pink and blue Doc Martens, but even MidJourney knows how to make pink and blue Doc Martens.
I actually thought it would make two-tone shoes. Or maybe a pink and blue pattern shoe. But, it made a pair.
And that’s about it for this little old lady today. I am getting pretty boring, aren’t I? I am even boring myself.
Didn’t actually accomplish anything today. But, I did not upgrade myself to first class on the trip to Denver. And I did not buy a lime green see-through suitcase for the “excellent” price of $289.
Rimowa made these things in pink and green around 2018 and sold them for about 2K a pop.
I saw one in TJ Max today for $289. It was hard to pass up. I had to talk myself out of it. It is a regular size roll aboard, which is huge for me. Figured I could take it on the upcoming trip. And on the Northwest Passage. And to Kona on Halloween. That would get my money’s worth. But, I am old.
And when you get really old, like me, the “Buying for Life” concept gets shaky. Old women don’t purchase copper stock pots. So getting a killer price on a silly Rimowa suitcase doesn’t work for me. It will be me and my backpack on this year’s travels.
So today is mostly about what I didn’t do. I did discover that my much used black hoodie has worn through the elbows. As has my equally loved flannel shirt. How did this happen? I don’t have many clothes – and to have two items die at the same time leaves me needing to do some serious thrifting. But, I am pretty sure that any black hoodie or flannel shirt that I do buy will be a “Buy for Life” purchase.
Not sure which one I like the best. Think I like MidJourney’s best.
Another note from the distant edge of life. A couple of politicians came to visit us old people today. (Hey, we vote. For all the good it does.) One of the residents jacked the pols up about getting cracking on assisted suicide legislation. He more or less said, “not in your lifetime people”.