life in the old lane

This is one from the vault. Way back when I was one of the boys and we all read John Molloy’s “Dress for Success”. So it was after 1977. 

Didn’t do much today. Went to work and got some rest. I’ll hit the bricks and do some more photos tomorrow. Also going to a memorial service for my across the hall neighbor. She was the first person I met when I moved in. She was already fairly old and frail then. She made it to 92 – give or take a year. She was an airline “stewardess” back in the 40’s and married one of her passengers. She told me that was her plan. Always good when plans work out.

 

And I, gotta go back to work tomorrow to get some rest.

But, got more photos to take… A distressing number. Well, that is why I get paid the big bucks!

And then, there are the rest of us. 

Worked on my photo project this morning. Had “open house” or “open one large room that I live in” this afternoon. 

After the open house,  I opened beer and set off putting names in the photos – when I could still read  the scribbles in my log book. 

Tomorrow is another day of shooting.

Don’t know what I was thinking. Thought I could walk a mile to the shuttle bus. Work. Go to yoga and then walk home. By the time I hauled my sorry ass up the hill and on to the asylum grounds – the green lawn was looking all soft, cool, inviting. I wanted to just lay down on the lawn. Well, fortunately, fortunately… I didn’t. Laying on the ground at the asylum usually results in a trip in an ambulance. Or a transfer to the locked unit – known as “The Terrarium” 

Tomorrow. Up and rolling. Taking pictures for The Last Great Photo Shoot. Then stop for second breakfast. More pictures. Stop of a little lunch and spiff up the old bat cave – because at 2pm the Old Bat Cave is being used as a “model unit” on the Asylum house tour. Since we at 100% occupied – the only way they can show units to prospective replacement residents (remember – no one gets out of here alive and it is a Ponzi scheme) the  sales staff has to show off occupied units.  My unit is pretty funky. I can not see that there will be much interest in it. Not to mention – it is the only one. And it is occupied by me.

Hoping to be able to report much progress in tomorrow’s post. 

Sixteen years out. Took these on my walk from from the hospital today. Yet another lovely day. 

About that to do list. Started on it today. Taking two days off work to free up some time knock out some big chunks of work on the Last Great Photoshoot.

Back in September of 2010 I was taking pictures of the sunrise every morning from my terrace. 

This morning – before the sun came up at about 0600 hours – there was a big boom and flash of blue light – then no lights at all. Then a small boom and smoke. And, we had no electricity until almost noon. But, the Asylum has a most excellent generator. Water pressure was maintained, the elevators elevated, the halls and lobbies were fully lighted. AND – breakfast was served like nothing was amiss. Oh and snail internet continued. 

I rather enjoyed doing origami and reading the Sunday papers. Oh and I listened to  my new old school “transistor” radio. Glad I got it.

I have heaps of shit on my to do list. Starting tomorrow — I will stop putting things on the list and start knocking stuff off.

 

 

Found a dead mouse in the stairwell. I wonder how long it will take for anyone else to remove it.

A third lovely day in a row. Walked to a couple of thrift shops  and got a few accessories. Love accessories. 

Just got back from a little party. Beer, wine, salmon, asparagus, apple pie, walnut bourbon pie, ice cream, coffee. Good company. Good booze. Good food. Good times. 

Meanwhile in the asylum lobby…

I am feeling a little guilty about the 2nd in a row lovely day that we enjoyed here in the DC area today. It was so lovely that I got off the bus a couple of stops before mine so I could enjoy it to the max. 

When I got home I plopped down on the bed and noticed that my old lamp was still standing in the middle of the room. This would not do. I call the desk. In less than five minutes “staff” arrives to remove the offending lamp. 

Plop back on the bed. “PING” goes my phone. My county is nagging be to be sure my “emergency plan” is up to date. My emergency plan is to  lay in a nice supply of chocolate. Beyond that, “staff” will take care of me and my asylum sisters. 

Then it was time for another walk. And happy hour. And dinner. And “Its Aloha Friday”

Lucky live in the asylum…

I was asked to write a story for a cancer advocacy group – the story could only be 6 words. My cancer story is from Carlton: Hope is simply faith in action. Carlton’s actual words are “Hope is faith in action” – but that is 5 words. And 6 words were requested. 

A pretty ordinary day with great weather.

The Asylum decided it would be “fun” to have an outdoor movie tonight. It didn’t seem like fun to me – but they did have darn good popsicles. I ate a popsicle – took a picture – and left.

But, there really are no ordinary days, are there? Friends in the south are under water or waiting for whatever horrors Hurricane Irma has in store for them. And, friends out west are watching their forests burn. Persons of good will everywhere are concerned about North Korea and it’s nukes. (And the Orange Lord and his nukes.) I am most concerned about and EMP attack. But, that is just because that is what I would do. Of course, Mother Nature could launch her very own EMP attack with a well placed solar flare. 

 

Didn’t want to miss dinner so I say “Computer, 15 minute timer” and

It took about 15 minutes. It puts out a heap of light – with was the general idea. And, I hope that it will sort of vanish when turned off.

Next, I am going to connect it to Alexa… So I can lay in my bed and turn it on and off – just because. “Computer, Light on”. “Computer, Light off”

Today, my starter husband got snail mail here at the asylum announcing his umpteenth college reunion. I might add that Chuckles left my bed and life 40+ years ago. And my final husband got an email today asking him to “Link In” with someone. It has been almost 4 years since Carlton left this life in my bed.

And, I still use the bed. Thank goodness this bed can’t talk. 

Now how would Carlton like to respond? Boo! 

Back to work today, and a crazy day it was. I was happy to leave at 12:15. 

Came home, ate lunch. Was lazy all afternoon, drank beer, ate dinner and now back to being lazy. 

I figure my laziness is because my leg pain is acting up. Doctor says my leg is fine. It is my back that is going bad. And I just have to accept/deal with it. For sure nobody is going to operate on the old back. Yoga, booze, drugs… that is what I am doing for the back. In that order. 

On a more positive note. We are not under a hurricane warning. Nor are we troubled by wildfires.  Mother nature may have something in mind for us. A friend suggests locus plague. Mother nature is definitely pissed.  

And I had been doing so well lately. No prima donna melt downs. But, this evening, I just couldn’t stand the crowd in the geedunk at dinner time. So, I left. Walked out. On my friends. Not in a huff. I wasn’t mad or upset. I just didn’t want to wait forever to get waited on and then wait more for food to arrive. So, I left. Came back up to the Old Bat Cave and made a perfectly fine tomato and cheese sandwich, opened a bottle of beer and had dinner. Alone.

I am pretty sure that amends are in order.

Other than that, I had a fine enough day. For the last two years, I have been wanting a new lamp. What is so hard about picking out a lamp. Seriously. So, I ordered one from Amazon. I’ll either like it fine or not. It isn’t a big deal. I was just making a big deal out of it. 

And, I ordered a little battery radio. Seems to me that it is pretty silly to not be able to tune in a AM station or NOAA without cell or wifi. Because we all know that it is only a matter of time before something goes really wrong with “online”.  Heck even that punk kid in North Korea should be able to figure out how to set off an electromagnetic pulse that will at the very least be unsettling.

And, as is my custom on Labor Day, I remind one and all the you enjoy weekends and holidays because of Labor Unions. I remain proud to have been a member of Local 142 of the ILWU.