life in the old lane

Yep, the phone can still update the blog.

Lobster bisque was on the menu tonight. No complaints. And yes, those pizza boxes. We have pizza. Eat in or take out. 

This afternoon I tossed all the possible clothing choices for the trip on the bed. 

Biggest problem is the wedding on June 1 in Honolulu. I barely have anything suitable for a wedding to start with. I will cobble something together from my travel wardrobe. And, just not worry about it. 

What I should be worried about is not the wedding – but the weather.

• • • Honolulu – 88°
    • Tokyo – 74°
    • Singapore – 89°
    • Dubai – 100°
    • London – 64°
    • Bermuda – 74°

I need to remember that all these places have stores. Lots of stores. Stores that sell clothes. 

 

One of the buildings that I can see out my window is the building I lived in before moving here. And, last evening the light was reflecting off the windows in the party room. And, it almost looks like there were people in the party room. I hope so.

Sort of had a little panic today. The enormity of taking off around planet without Carlton back here to bail my sorry ass out if something goes wrong hit. Yeah, what could possibly go wrong. Well, let me count the ways. 

1. 1. I could get sick or injured. Got Global Rescue for that. 
   2. Could miss a plane. Well, I can buy my way out of that problem. 
   3. Could get lost. Well, I have gotten lost before.
   4. Could have major trouble getting/changing money. That has happened before too. Plan to have some $100s stashed in the bra AKA the titty bank.
   5. Could be bored. Not likely.
   6. Could get really tired. Likely. So take a day off.
   7. Could get involved in some civil unrest/war/terrorism thing. That could happen here too. And, it wouldn’t be boring.
   8. The weather could be really shitty. Well, suck it up and carryon. 
   9. Could be attacked by ruffians. So, that could happen here too.
   10. Could be run over by a bus. So, watch when crossing the street.
   11. Could lose luggage, money, credit cards, passport, phone. Well, it wouldn’t be good. But, it would be survivable. 
   12. Could have to use a squatty potty. This could be ugly.

But, I’ll be on that plane a week from Sunday. 

Most days The National Cathedral in northwest DC is visible on my skyline. Its kennel club name is: The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington. So, we just call it National Cathedral.  It is still undergoing repairs from the 2011 earthquake. 

Went to PT again this afternoon. I think it is doing me some good. But, it will only keep doing me good if I keep doing the exercises. Easier said than done. But, I really do want to keep my ability to walk. It’s on me.

It was warm enough for dinner on the patio tonight.  Wondering “what’s next” tonight. OH, I just saw what was next – A deer bounding around across the street. Hope the deer finds a safe way back to Four Mile Run  (about .5 mile away) where I normally see them. 

The Shrine is in north east DC. And, it is the tallest habitable building in DC. The Washington Monument is taller. But, it is not considered habitable. And, when the light is right – it is one of the features on my skyline.

Now, I know I said that my 7-year-old iPad Mini was good enough for my lap around Mother Earth. Well, I lied. This afternoon I checked out a new iPad Mini. Yes, what I wanted was in stock at my favorite Apple store. Yes, I had a spare data-only SIM from Project Fi. AND… for $9 (nine dollars)  Apple would courier it to me within 2 hours. Well, how cool is that? For about the price of 2 frou-frou coffees – a new iPad would be chauffeured directly to the Old Ladies Asylum. 

You all know that I did it. Of course, I did. And, in less than 2 hours – I was setting up the new Mini. 

And, crab cakes have returned to the menu at The Asylum. Life is good, if you don’t look outside my safe little (white) world. 

Cloudy, rainy, chilly. Oh, and Monday. Making the best of it. Tested my little new backpack in the rain. Tested my long pants in actual rain. Also tested Carlton’s jacket – which I am considering taking along for rainy days and the UK.  

Yesterday at brunch several of us old women bravely decided that it might take a major market crash to focus sufficient attention on the current state of our nation. And, today, we seem to be heading that direction. 

And, the Orange OverLord has co-opted July 4th. I will not be celebrating this year. For me this is serious. Carlton and I loved July 4th. I continue to celebrate July 4th. I planned the end of my jaunt around the planet so I would be home to have July 4th with my Asylum Sisters. But not this year. Of course, I think that fireworks come from China.  Note to the Orange One. Lots of stuff comes from China. Stuff that your peeps buy at WalMart. Lots of stuff that your peeps grow goes to China as well.  Stay tuned. 

Mother’s Day Buffet at The Asylum today. Buffets always end with me behaving like a 3 toed sloth on Xanax. I spent the afternoon in a food-induced coma. And it is only 45 minutes until it is time to eat again.

Back in the day, The Pack Test was a Park and Forest Service thing that as I recall involved walking (not running or jogging) 3 miles in 45 minutes with a 45-pound pack. That was then.

Nowadays, my pack test is more of a pack question. What is going to happen to these clothes when they are soaking wet. So, off to the shower went all of the clothes that I am considering taking that have never been washed in the sink and dried in the bathroom. Because I will get drenched – right down to my granny panties. And, since the weather in Singapore and Dubai is a whole lot like Samoa was – if I am not drenched in rain, I will be drenched in sweat. Also, after Honolulu – not sure when or if a washer/dryer will appear. 

So, last evening – I did The Pack Test. All of the questionable items were dry by morning. 

Have I complained about PT lately? I am sore in places that I didn’t know I still had. 

When Carlton died he had a little money in his wallet and some coins in his change purse. Yes, he had a change purse. If you knew Carlton you would know that. And bundles of money all nicely faced, sorted and counted. Then bundled up and the amount recorded. This is from a stack of 30 fives.And, I have not been able to bring myself to spend any of this money. Not even the coins that were in the change purse.  Maybe someday I’ll donate it some fine little cause. Or maybe moths will eat it. Actually, moth caterpillars. 

Carlton had a very hard time spending money and I don’t seem to be able to spend his money either.

2 weeks and one day to blast off. Today, I charged my phone using the new powerbank. Looks like I got the “right” one. It fast charges my phone but not blow out my earphones. Good to go.

Found my passport. It wasn’t lost. Surprise. It was where it was supposed to be.

And talked myself out of buying new stuff. The little old rolly suitcase is fine. Not classy but the zipper zips and the wheels go round. Don’t need new shoes. Or clothes. I will not be very well dressed. But all the important parts will be covered up – even in Dubai – where it was 103°. And Singapore where it is 91°. Oh, and I think I have talked myself out of a new iPad mini. 

I put 8 pounds of stuff in my little backpack and took it on my walk.

And, I did my PT exercises. Is it OK to admit that I hate doing exercises? Well, I do. But, I am pretty sure that I would hate not being able to walk more.  

This is the end of my 3rd week of PT for my legs. Really, the PT is for my back. The symptoms are in my legs. Caused by my back. Plus some general “age-related” loss of muscle. 

The first two weeks of PT were a joke. Oh, really, you want me to “try to hold a kneeling plank” 10 seconds. How about I hold a regular plank for 30 seconds. Or more. 

This week, I am guessing they put the geriatric playbook away and got out the real people book. My ass is dragging. But, that is good. I had too much fallen into the senior exercise trap of “take it easy” “don’t strain anything” “just do what feels right”  – at 75 as at 25 – I fear that “no pain no gain” is the real mantra.

Checking out hotels in UK and noticed that toilet paper seems to worth mentioning. And this was not at a hostel. But a regular overpriced hotel. Heck, even Motel 6 has TP.

It goes without saying that my opinion wasn’t solicited. My only observation is that this carpet selection doesn’t seem to be just what  I would select if I were trying to attract a younger clientele. 

Thoughts on packing for an Around the Planet trip. Seems to me there is the Boy Scout – Be Prepared (for anything) approach. And, the Running for the Life Boat approach – just grab what you can that is necessary to sustain life until rescue. 

I am going with the lifeboat model. I will be going to some of the major shopping destinations on the planet. So, if I run out of something – not a problem. (Unless what I run out of is money!)

I have sunk into a deep depression over the fate of our country. I doubt that it will survive. I see an increasingly rapid decline into an oligarchy of the radical right. I know we survived the Red Scare era with Joe McCarthy, John Birchers, and even Barry Goldwater (who now seems fairly rational). But, this seems worse. Fortunately, it is free wine night here at the Asylum. I may drink myself into oblivion.  

It’s Aloha Wednesday, no work ’til Monday. 

I found myself asking Alexa “what’s the temperature in Dubai?” 95° she says. And the humidity is 88%. OK. And, my whole body has to be covered in cloth. No wonder I got a 5-star hotel room, with breakfast and a car to pick me up less than I am paying for a very modest hotel with neither breakfast nor car service in Bermuda.  It is 72° in Bermuda with 75% humidity. 

Well, it’s an adventure. No whining.

Went to work today. Started on a very boring task. Boss says this will be really boring. I assure her that I do boring really good. I’ll bring in the old Bose earphones and knock it out next week – with a little help from The Dead.

My apartment has that sort of mastic type smell this evening. I think it is coming from the flooring that was laid next door this morning. Nevermind that it is chilly, my windows are open. And, once again the dinner venue was too congested for my liking this evening. And, if these are my only problems then I am a damn lucky old woman. Thank you, Carlton. Thank you, Cliff.  

Oh, while walking to the bus stop this noon, I saw 6 stealth fighters fly over low and loud.  It was too many for an Arlington funeral. And, no one with enough rank to get a flyover was being buried today. Still, always fun to see them. Except when there is a war going on. And with the bozo at the helm – that could happen any second now.

Well, took the day off from work today. My goal was to get my trip planning into the “OK, this is really going to happen mode”. 

I tweaked my standard Trip 2Do list and dusted off Peg’s Universal Packing List. Attended to anything that I know will need attending to while I am gone. And, I thought about the British Isles part of the trip.  Discovered that Prince Chuck has a B&B in the wilds of Scotland. Now, I am not a fan of B&Bs, give me a good anonymous hotel any day. But, a B&B owned by the next King of England amuses me. I am easily amused. Which is a good thing.  

The camera question: Which one to take?

1. 1. The Pen F – weighs 15 ounces plus lens 10 ounces of lens. 
   2. The OMD –  weighs 15 ounces too. And, it is weather-proof.  ditto lens.
   3. Buy a new “tough” camera – 9 ounces but that includes the lens.
   4. Just take the phone. weigh 0 ounces because it is going anyway. 

This really is silly. An old woman taking off on a trip around the world. Alone. Sort of a senility gap year?

(just upgraded to the latest version Word Press. that always makes me a little nervous. here goes nothing.)