Just a nice ordinary Saturday. With a surprise. The surprise being: My new passport arrived. And, I just mailed it off on March 16th. My white hair looks yellow. But, I don’t suppose that matters. It lasts until 2028. Doubt that I will last that long. Hell, I hope the country lasts that long.
Did laundry and a serious inventory of my dresses. And I decided that two were not even close to age appropriate.
Deacquisitioned today: two dresses, one tee shirt, and some ratty undies.
As for the new header – I love pussy willows. Went out with my very favorite lens today. I didn’t take it to Hawai’i because it is so heavy and I didn’t use it for The Last Great Photo Shoot last summer and fall. It has been too long.
The hellebores seem to have been splendid this year. Maybe this elongated winter is to their liking.
I didn’t really try full on retirement again. But, I am trying for 3 days a week. So, I have Wednesday and Fridays off.
It was nice and toasty this morning, so I went back to the old ‘hood and got what I needed for my contribution to our Easter potluck. One of my friends, fearful for her health offered to assist. But, I got it covered.
The reason we are having a DIY Easter meal is: we didn’t get reservations for Easter at the Asylum in time. Bet we will be quicker on the draw next year. But, we will have a jolly group. My culinary skills not with standing. Booze and chocolate are promised.
With apologies to those who saw this on FB
I got all excited this morning when I spied Favorite Songs of the Nineties on the piano. Then I realized it was the 1890’s.
Sad news today. The man who saved Carlton’s life by sending him to Alcoholics Anonymous in January 1973 died last night.
He was also Carlton’s boss. And my boss. For me, he “integrated” a famously “male only” black tie dinner back in the day. Cliff and his wife were the only people at our wedding in 1994.
Ninja Bride w/wedding party.
Cliff and his family are a huge part of my life. And, Cliff was my Carlton designated “guardian”. As in “If you have any questions about anything: Ask Cliff and do what he says.”
About 4 times a year, I have to call Cliff and ask for advice. And at least once a month I just ask myself “What would Cliff do?” Fortunately, I can still do that.
Went to my mailbox after dinner this evening and found this wonderful offer. FREE lunch and informational seminar on the benefits of preplanning your cremation.
Coming upstairs, I think – does it get any better than this? Well, then I check my email.
Exciting NEWS!
Yes, apparently it gets better. My doctors are moving to a new computer system. And that is supposed to make be happy? Or rather excited.
Spent the entire day here at the Asylum trying with little success to help my friends move to our new WiFi. I finally got all my stuff moved over. Will be glad to go back to work tomorrow to get some rest.
Deacquisitioned today: one funky little purse, two eyeglasses – to the Lions box.
Some things I am just not going to explain. But, that is me. Inside an earth moving machine.
Still cold and damp and dreary what the f… am I here here. But, I am not going to work tomorrow.
Got home late today. Went to a meet and greet with the head of our Dining Services. Then dinner. Then off to a friend’s apartment for ice cream. Finally went to a talk given by a Washington Post reporter. His world view is rather bleak. But, who am I to talk. I am not so cheery about the future either. He says that in the near future we should watch the elections in Mexico and Brazil plus the war in Yemen. And for the US – he sees a huge political move to the left if the millennials decide to register and vote. Universal health care, jobs, student loans being the concerns of the young.
Still wicked good WiFi.
Deacquisitioned today: one pair of shoes. today: one pair of shoes. Acquisitioned today: one pair of shoes. So, I am not sure I get credit for the deacquisition.
My friend and I were standing here – hoping to be rescued by hunky young men.
Male ostrich
Ostriches are native to Africa. But, they are “ranched” in Australia. This big guy was more or less contained behind a none too tall fence.
Male? Emu
All I have to do is look at this guy and there is zero doubt that birds evolved from dinosaurs. A memory that is hopefully seared in my mind (because I have no photograph) is of a herd/flock of emu spied striding across the nothingness from the Geraldton to Perth bus window.
If you were a tree in Australia, you would lay down too.
This blog has been around for years. sometimes I wander back for a looksee:
Australia is stuffed with very large free range lizards.
Now this is MUCH better:
This morning I am playing around and discover a new WiFi network. Well, of course I try to get into it. It seems to be our “new improved” wifi. I am guessing that I am the only one using the network. And, after my 500 neighbors get on line – well – I am enjoying the wicked great speed while it lasts.
Realized today that I am going to have to learn how to be “retired”. It can not be all that hard. You just stop going to the office. How hard is that? Well, I have cut back to 3 mornings a week. We’ll see how that works. For me. And for Employee Health.
Leisurely day today. I still find it too unpleasant outside. Windy and in the 40’s.
I have a new neighbor. She moved in while I was away and I haven’t seen her. But our website says: She has a piano, folk harp, hammered dulcimer, fretted dulcimer, and autoharp in her apartment. Well, today I could hear little harp-like sounds wafting from her unit into mine. Not really too loud. But disconcerting. “Computer play Pandora Grateful Dead” time.
A closer look at the top of page lizard. He/she was not in a cage. but just wandering around Brisbane.
Deacquisitioned today: nothing. Well, nothing real world. Some digital stuff. But, that doesn’t count
The Asylum Bus heads out to DC for the March For Our Lives.
I did not attend the March – I sent warm thoughts and money. Hope that all those great kids register to vote and then vote when they hit 18. That should scare every politician in the USA.
Really happy that it went well.
Still looking for spring:
Squirrel raids one of our bird feeders. I root for the squirrels.Another small hint of spring.
Deacquisitioned today: 1 jigsaw puzzle, cleaned out my pencil jars. Not very impressive.
Spring Quest – Not a hint of spring here. At least the stream isn’t frozen.
Time to renew my library card – so – I headed out to the library with camera in hand. Figured I would look for signs of spring. Signs of spring were hard to find.
Feeling a little guilty about not joining the other grannies in DC tomorrow for the March For Our Lives. Out of town grannies and kids are staying here today. Our Asylum bus is delivering folks downtown and will pick them up – complete with a box lunch to enjoy on the way home.
But, I decided to wimp out. If I change my mind, I can get there using public transit/feet. But, I am just feeling a little too old. And, I really don’t stand well any more. That is a pretty lame excuse. Props to the sisters who will be on the bus and in the street.
Spring Quest – the smallest hint of spring.
Dinner conversion tonight – My dinner companions wanted John Denver music played in the Alzheimer’s and/or Nursing Units when we get there. If they are playing John Denver – then I ain’t going! Or I’ll take my Bose cans and keep following The Dead. With a little Parrot Head music for Friday afternoons.
Some cheery old bugs-as opposed to yesterday’s old bug!
At 1604 yesterday my Lightroom catalog seems to have had a major upset.
Think I have it back in order. Not that it really much matters anymore. No, it matters. I would hate to lose my photo library. (The VW image was one that was in the messed up part.)
But, I am having a harder and harder time getting stuff to “matter” these days. Maybe I am an old rock and time has worn my sharp edges down.
But, the Lightroom catalog was the least of my worries. My portfolio is noticeably lighter this evening. Thank you trade-warmongering Orange Lord. And, the dangerous John Bolton is back in the house.
Maybe stuff doesn’t matter so much because I realize how totally out of my control everything is. Laissez les bons temps rouler
