life in the old lane

No Go… As in “No I am not playing Pokemon Go”. But, I do think it is an interesting way to waste time. I have more than enough ways to waste time and I at my age – I may not have all that much time left.

About the wifi. I decided to stop whining and just use my iPad (or Shamu the Phone) as my own personal HotSpot anytime the asylum wifi wimps out.

Seems like everytime a go out hunting for bugs – the wind kicks up. The asylum is located in a naturally windy location. And the natural windiness is exacerbated by our highrise buildings.

Still don’t have a good feeling about the upcoming Presidential election. It will not be boring. Was Germany like this in 1930?

 

Help. I am holding myself prisoner in my own apartment without internet. Without internet is either my fault for being too cheap or lazy to get FIOS. Or it could be the asylum’s fault for having really crappy wifi service.

The asylum is supposed to have major bucks in next year’s budget to fix the wifi. I will wait until next spring – if it is still seriously crappy – I’ll get FIOS.  Or maybe I’ll get a neighbor who has FIOS and I can borrow some bandwidth from them. But – my current neighbors are not of the online generation. I am the only one who cares about internet on my hallway.

Now, why am I on lock down in my apartment? The Summer Splash Calabash – that is why. It started with Senior Citizen Synchronized Swimming performance. Followed by a “Beachy” Cocktail Hour. And then a by reservation Summer Calabash Buffet dinner. Topped off with entertainment by the Beach Bumz. None of that sounds in the least bit like me. So, when asked if I would join a table or otherwise attend – I pled “Previous Engagement”. My “Previous Engagement” is dinner for one in the Old Bat Cave and a nice book. That is what any sane introverted nerd would do when faced with the Summer Splash Calabash.

Thinking about little luxuries:

1. Perrier. I love that stuff.
2. Uber.
3. Dark Chocolate.
4. Kona Coffee.
5. Smart Phones that work when wifi doesn’t. Hence this blog entry.
6. My door that when closed turns my apartment into a nice retreat. Making it is easy to forget that the Old Bat Cave is in the asylum with 500 of my closest really old friends.

Carlton: I could have said “I love you” more often, but I couldn’t have loved you more. And, I could have said “Thank you” more, but I couldn’t be more thankful for the life we had together.

Sort of looked like the universe was ripping apart this morning! Not the best possible way to start off the week.

But, the day went fine. The Boy Dentist patched up my tooth; managed to salvage a 40 year old gold crown. That was a very good thing. And the weather was just about perfect. Lovely and warm and summer with low humidity. Thank you, Mother Nature. (I am sure there will be payback.)

About the bus: I think I have about adjusted to the buses in my new neighborhood. Today, after the dentist – I almost called Uber – but I decided that all things considered – I’d just go get a double shot of espresso at Starbucks and wait of the the bus. Partly an economic decision and partly desire for good coffee.

One of my fellow 11 sq foot gardeners is growing beets in her box.

 

Time for the weekend to end. Time to get to work and to the dentist tomorrow and to work and yoga on Tuesday. I am still not 100% OK with Carlton Free Days. Carlton was high maintenance. He was “my way or the highway”. But, he was great company.

Took my first look at plane tickets to Kona today. Most likely I’ll take the early AM out of DCA into Phoenix and then over to Kona arriving mid-afternoon. Not the cheapest. But the easiest.

Thinking about a little trip to Iceland next month. Just thinking. No serious planning.

 

Internet service is not happening at the asylum today. Or last night. Not a problem. I need a little time away from all things #tag.

Yesterday I rather timidly went downtown to finish up the process to get a Global Entry Card. I made the appointment several months ago – not knowing that Friday July 8 would be the hottest day of the year (so far), the Metro would be having major service disruptions due to repairs, and the social fabric would be frayed by current events. Friday July 8 was not a great day to be a human.

On Friday July 8, for the first time in my long life – while dressing for the day – I actually made my “what to wear” decision based on “what if something really bad happens and I have to walk the 8 miles home and/or run for my life”. I also decided that my first clothing choice – a white dress with small black stripes – made me too good of a target for a sniper.

I did not have to walk home. Nor did I have to flee for my life. Had no trouble at all. Worse thing that happened – I got stung by a wasp. But, I am not too sensitive to most wasp venom – so it was no biggie. (No, I wasn’t taking pictures of the wasp. It just landed on my skirt and I didn’t know it was there and accidentally brushed my arm against the wasp.)

Today – I mostly rested. It is still hot. But, hey – it is summer.

Oh, and I decided that I need to see a narwhal. I think they are found in the Canadian polar regions.

 

 

Went to the dentist this afternoon. Scored a return visit on Monday afternoon for a little repair work.

Saw a bumper sticker today “Either way, we are screwed”… Sort of sums things up, don’t you think? Those of you who do not obsessively follow American politics – there are small rumblings that The Donald may drop out after he is nominated. Or resign if elected. Interesting concept. It makes some sense. Running for President would be lots more fun for The Donald than actually being President.

Too hot for bugs today.

94 degrees at this instant. Going to be 94 tomorrow afternoon when I am at the dentist – think I might just Uber home. And 93 on Friday when I am going to be in DC. Not going to Uber home from DC during rush hours.

Thank goodness for air conditioning.

My 1st Annual Friends & Fireworks party was all friends and no fireworks. The fireworks went off on schedule. But, it was just too cloudy. Maybe next year. Last year was a fireworks bust as well.

Yesterday, it was cold. Well, cool. High was 73. This coming Friday – I have to go downtown to get fingerprinted. And, it is supposed to be 98. Hottest day of the year. Not good planning. And why am I going to be fingerprinted? Getting a Global Entry card. Let the travelling begin.

One of our nurses works in GI surgery as well as in our office. Today he told us about an unbelievable “weight reduction procedure”. They put a little spigot in your tummy and you sort of drain the excess food out. Not kidding.

Read about it: The Stomach Tap

And here is the ad: Be sure to watch the video!

I would just be fat.

But, if the Hawaiian flag were in the correct place – this photo would feature the Alaska flag. And what was I doing at National Cathedral – went to a concert. It was fun. Anytime a big ass (189 ranks and 10,647 pipes) organ in a church does Darth Vader you know you are going to have fun. Not to mention watching 1,000 + white folk trying to clap in time to the music. Not pretty. But fun.

And then out to eat. Excellent fish tacos. And we got good seats – right next to the flour tortilla making machine.

Normally, on July 4 seating next to this gas fired gizmo wouldn’t be such a fine idea – but – today is the coldest July 4 in DC ever. (Well, I bet July 4, 1816 was colder. I leave it to the reader to research the summer of 1816.)

I am having 10 or so of my new friends over for fireworks. I don’t hold out much hope for good viewing. Too cloudy and damp. Will need a good breeze to keep the smoke away. I am serving wine, cherries, and chocolate. With beer for me. I am not going to take pictures. I got great pictures from the last apartment. I’ll enjoy my company. And not try to shoot through double pane windows.

Been to a lot of parties in this house. But this 1st Birthday Party is one of the last. When grandkids arrive – it is time to get serious about downsizing. The party started at about 4PM – I arrived almost on time thanks to MetroBus. (took Uber home) It was damp and almost chilly today – not 4th of July weather.

Seriously, the food truck got lost. It went to the correct house number and the correct street but the wrong city. Yep. wrong city. Zip codes are our friends.

Introduce your kids to photography early – that way they will always be too poor to buy drugs!

My only theory is the grownups were encouraging bad behaviour in hopes of getting a really cool video to post to Facebook. But young Oliver was cool to be suckered into doing a faceplant in the cake.

A busy day. And tomorrow promises to be busy too. Going to a concert and lunch. Then hosting a little “Friends and Fireworks” get together in the evening – weather permitting. I’ll have to go back to work on Tuesday to get some rest!

Feeling a little mopey today – so I decided that a nice walk in the woods was called for. I head off to Long Branch Nature Center – that’s as close to woods as I can quickly access. Where I found this really cool bull frog. And a fine ladybug. Life is too short to try to identify what kind of ladybug it is.

Didn’t do much at all today. Went for a walk in the park. Took pictures. And naps. Avoided all things Trumpy. I vacillate between absolute confidence that he will never become president and abject fear that he will.

I plan on doing my normal Sunday things tomorrow. Work on deadheading the asylum rose bushes, have breakfast, shop for “groceries” – which is to say yogurt, cherries and chocolates, do laundry and then in late afternoon escape from the asylum for a party. In Hawai’i it would be called a baby luau.

Note to Carlton: You might be interested to know that the price of gas is at an 11 year low. I think it is about $2 a gallon. Not sure, since I don’t buy gas. Also, I did a little midyear check up on “your” money today. You would approve of my stewardship. Oh, did I tell you that bonds are getting dangerously close to negative yields? There is a capital gains play. But, I haven’t chosen to be a player. Figure that you would approve of that “non” action.