Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .
Note to Mother Nature: Time to roll out those apple pie kind days – you know crispy around the edges and warm in the middle.
Note to Carlton: As you would say: “Now that I am well into the 5th year of my widowhood…” I am happy to report that I bought some Virginia paper yesterday because the yields looked OK-ish. And today’s WSJ headline was “Bond Yields Hit Multi Year High”. But I still have more in cash that you would think is wise.
Today’s butterfly hunt went well.
And this is where Carlton played tennis (and won) on Oct 3, 2014.
I spent a little while this evening, after dinner looking my photos of Carlton. We had a great life together. We still have a great life together. It is just a different kind of “together”.
In Kona, as at The Asylum, I am totally dependent on the kindness of friends, buses and feet. Plus the rare taxi/uber. So, it is good to see that the bus option still runs.
Another busy day at work. And another yoga class. Not the brightest idea to have back to back yoga classes at my age. But, I was always a few screws short of a hardware store.
Then for excitement – I went hunting for signs of autumn. All I found was more butterflies.
This time I was able to sneak up on on the sulfur. And capture his/her yellow spotted eyes.
Best part of the day (so far) – French press Kona coffee.
How did October sneak up so quickly? October used to be one of my very favorite months. And then Carlton died. But I still look forward to October.
Busy day today. Slept late, lots to do at work, Rushed home, just in time for yoga. Then a little rest and first thing you know, it is dinner time. Busy is good for this old woman.
Last night at dinner we remarked that the menu was getting a little tired. I think it is time for a new menu in more ways than one. But, I really have no complaints about our food here at The Asylum. Gee, in just a month – I will be responsible for feeding myself 3 times a day for 4 entire months. Wow. Fortunately, my kitchen will consist of a tiny fridge and a microwave. So, not much actual cooking will happen. I will also be the dishwasher. And grocery shopper.
Yesterday, I checked the webcam outside of my lodgings in Kona. And, I was stunned by the quality of the light in this image from a $99 web cam. Photography is all about capturing the light.
Oct 1, 2014, Halloween Day 1 of 31, I was happily starting a series of Halloween photos. All things considered the series came out pretty good. Hopefully, the weather will allow some Halloween shots this year. I think I’ll have to return to the old neighborhood for them. Not a problem.
The common sulfur wasn’t too happy about getting photographed. But, it was another nice fall day for butterfly pictures. And hanging in the Old Bat Cave with the windows open.
Spent rather a lot of time reviewing my finances. Figure that Carlton will be expecting a full report – since I have now been in complete charge of the finances for 16 quarters.
And I discovered that my phone – the corded on that The Asylum insists that I have doesn’t work. Methinks it got fried in out last thunderstorm/power outage. People lost TVs, microwaves, etc. So, why shouldn’t my phone line have gotten fried? I never use the thing. I use the cell.
Also, did some origami. Fish Went for a nice walk. And, was able to fix a problem at work without going to the hospital.
The best part of the day – hopefully, a nice al fresco dinner with the Asylum sisters in a little while.
Went back to the old neighborhood today for a little walkabout. Well, also a little scootabout. I played millennial and picked up a Bird dock-less scooter for a short trip. No selfies or other pictures. My little liver spotted hands had a death grip on the scooter. I just wanted to do it. I will not try it again. Figure I just about used up all my luck with that mode of transportation today. To crash one of those things when you are 25 is a minor thing at 75 it could be serious. Very serious.
Mostly just a gentle lazy day. Interspersed with extreme worry about the future of our country.
Best thing today – surviving the scooter ride. It is always better to be lucky than smart. And, I have been damn lucky.
I walked 5 miles today and worked in the weedlot.
Also finished my technology fall change over. I now have the latest versions of everything on everything that is new enough for the latest. Pie on Shamu 2, iOS 12 on the iPad and Mojave on Forbin.
Guess I should check the firmware on my cameras – just in case. Likewise the Kindle.
And, I took some bug pictures late this afternoon.
Best thing today – my housekeeper has learned how to use my Alexa to play music while she is cleaning.
Alexa just reminded me – Dinner Time. How easy it is to get used to just going downstairs and eating. No muss, no fuss, no bother.
The lites could have gone out for life on the planet as we know it on Sept 26, 1983. Oh, you have forgotten, that was the day that WWIII did not start – thanks to one Lt. Col. Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov. Read about it.
Our glorious sunny day ended in thunderstorms last evening and another power failure here at The Asylum. Fortunately, I was finished dinner – so, I played with the phone and read my kindle. Most of my neighbors moved chairs out into the passways and read dead tree books. I stayed in my apartment. In my recliner.
And, it is raining again.
And the best butterfly – a red-spotted purple admiral – yes there really is such a butterfly – well, it got away. It was out and about when I only had my phone.
The sun was out. It was glorious. But this just appeared:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 390 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
Well, it was good while it lasted. Tomorrow, I will make another attempt to wade off to the office. Looks like I can get there semi-dry. Then slosh back home. Or maybe Uber it.
Best part of today: Tacos for Breakfast. But, the butterflies were pretty damn special too.
Rain and more rain. Got half way to work this morning when I got soaked. All the way through to my underdrawers. In less than a block. Turned around and sloshed back to the Old Bat Cave. Everything, including the Old Bat, needed drying.
On the other hand, just now, Kona is looking incredible.
Wonder if there is any chance it can last until I get back there.
I may not be able to see the computer after mowing down 7 glasses of wine. I moved into The Asylum 3 years ago today. And, they would not feed me dinner because I was wearing jeans. Well, tonight they put my name on the table along with 7 wine glasses. And, I am going to sashay into the dining room. In my jeans. (Dark wash).
OKAY, I sloshed and waddled my way back to the friendly confines of the Old Bat Cave.Seven courses of dinner, but I missed photographing the pig and red wine course.
Next was the pig and red wine course – which I was too drunk to photograph.
This is not your mother’s Asylum.
Too easy to declare dinner the best thing that happened today. Gotta narrow it down to the fish course. all things considered, not a bad 3rd anniversary at The Asylum.
No pictures from here today. So, I took a random dive back to Australia and landed in Cairns.
Where they have BATS.
In fact, there was a lot to love about Cairns. So much so, that I might go back for another go at it this winter.
It is a dilemma. I am running out of time to go places. So, I shouldn’t take do-overs. But, I am running out of time to go places – so, I don’t want to waste it going somewhere crappy.
Fours years ago today, I came down to the Asylum and give them a $2,600 deposit to get on the waiting list. It was not one of the best days of my life. Little did I know that in less than 2 weeks I would be a widow.
This photo is from this afternoon here at the Asylum. The woman is the artist and Frank, a resident, is one of those people who can talk the ears off a gargoyle.
Best thing today: “Computer, tell me a joke about yourself” and Alexa says “A person didn’t laugh at one of my jokes, so I put it on their to-do list and set a reminder.” Hey, it is a rainy day.
Second best thing. Remembering how much I liked Cairns.