Category: The DayBook

No news from the asylum as to the results of my mental interview. Wish Carlton had been in the room. He would have aced it. Charmed the panties right off the interviewers. What if I flunked my entrance exam to the asylum? What if there is no old bat cave for me? It will be pretty embarrassing if I can not get in. But, it would make a good story.

Assuming I am going to get in the asylum… attacked two vintage piles of junk in my “home office area”. As best I can tell, the piles were two years old. Scraps of photos, negatives, notebooks. I tossed some of the stuff. And, fitted the rest into one of Carlton’s many old tennis shoe boxes. I will move these to the old bat cave.

Made a little experiment with the android-Pod camera. I put one of the old photos on the window ledge and took a picture. Two years ago, I had scanned – using my rather poor scanner – here are the results.

 

This was Henderson Harbor NY – sometime in the late 1990’s. Thanks Mr C. We had a lot of great road trips.

Think I’ll print up the test photos. The android-pod approach is sure easier…

I also decided to digitize all my negatives. (I should rethink this.)

 

Yes, they shave their legs. Always have, for as long as I can remember. And, I have been a fan of bike racing for decades. They believe it makes them faster. And, it sure shows off the legs nicely. Most of them shave their arms too. As I said, buff guys in spandex.

Today I realized that the old bat cave is 2 inches too short for my beloved carpet. Well, the carpet is just going to have to deal with being folded or rolled at one end until a larger cave opens up.

I spent Carlton’s last tax refund on a Nexus 6 – I still haven’t decided what carrier to use – so it is still a HUGE android-Pod. Today, I remembered that the thing has a camera. So, I took it for a little test photo walk. A thunder storm came up – so the testing was cut short.

It isn’t too shabby as a camera.

As for the whole android experience. Well, it isn’t as sleek as iOS. Sort of like the A-Team did the apps for iOS and the B-Team made the android versions. Note to Apple: The BACK arrow is very nice. And, I completely forgot that my collection of earbuds/phones with mics and controls only work with i-devices. The ear part works – but the control/mic parts don’t.

Did a little work to help getting ready to move to the bat cave today. Things like measuring the rug and taking into account things like radiators. Also, consolidated Carlton’s three investment binders into one. I squeezed Carlton’s old tax returns into my tax records box. Mr C kept returns for 6 years. I keep them 4 years. Mr C now keeps returns for 4 years. I would like to keep this box in the storage cage. But, it might not be the smartest move.

Gotta get back with the getting ready to move program.

 

I bet this guy didn’t spend the last 4 hours culling 1271 paintings from today’s bike race down to 71. I am actually rather pleased with myself for:

1. Going to the race.
2. Staying for the women’s and men’s races – all the way to the end.
3. Deleting 1200 digital images.

Continuous shooting mode fires off a lot of shots with the newest camera. I got it late June last year as a “retail therapy” device. So, this was its first bike race.

As usual my race photos are only OK. But, OK is OK with me.

What’s not to love about a sport that involves buff guys with shaved legs in spandex? Sounds I little like the gay pride parade that also took place today. But, the old bat body wasn’t up for another 4 hours in standing on the street in the sun.

No bees today. It was really hot. I didn’t spend much time bee hunting. So, this rather common fly will have to do. For me, the fun part of bug photography is seeing what I manage to capture in the camera.

No news from the asylum re my acceptability. It is kind of like trying to get into an exclusive country club or to buy into a NYC coop apartment.

Addendum: Will it take an “Internet Pearl Harbor” for the US to secure our cyberspace? And, will we survive the initial massive attack?

 

Well, I spent an hour being tested for possible admission to the asylum. They wouldn’t tell me if I passed or failed. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if I flunked??? But, then, would I want to live in an asylum that would have me… to paraphrase Groucho.

After the tests and interviews, I measured everything in the proposed bat cave. And I inspected it’s 4 square foot chicken wire storage cage. I don’t think I would store anything in it that I really cared about. Rather ordinary snips would get anyone into the cage, and it is in the basement with the proverbial “overhead sewer lines”. Wondering what I might store in it. But, all the cages seemed to be full of mostly junk. Well, I guess I can keep my sewing box and electronics box in the cage. And, maybe a box of kitchen stuff that I could later move to a bigger apartment. If I move to a bigger place, I’d get a different (but same size) storage cage. Don’t want to get involved moving junk from cage A to cage B.

Note to Carlton: the asylum a soft ice cream machine. I had a small cone before bussing back home. Dolce de leche.

Today, after my nap, I decided to call my new digs “the old bat cave”. My definition of an “old bat” is the British one: an old woman who you think is slightly crazy. I think old bat describes me rather nicely. And I always loved Batman.

The big mental exam for the old folks asylum is tomorrow at 1400 hours. That is my naptime. Hope I pass the test. Note to self: Take it seriously. Remember the trouble you got into years ago when you didn’t take your DIA polygraph seriously.

What’s in a name? My 367 sq foot cell at the asylum. Possible names:

Cell
Room
Studio
Pad
Efficiency
Chamber
Pied-à-terre
Flat
Micro Unit

I am thinking that what I call it is important. I am leaning towards “chamber” or “micro unit”. In late April, I did test layout.

On my last visit, I located the outlets etc. So, I revised the plan.

After my mental exam on Thursday – hopefully, the “chamber” will be empty and I can get really accurate measurements. There is zero room for error. Absolutely everything has be measured. Also, I’ll add the bathroom, kitchen area, and closets. Maybe, I’ll call it a micro unit. (Carlton was always in charge of measuring and drawing layouts. He had an unused degree in architectural engineering.)

The Capital is undergoing massive renovations. (Too bad the occupants can not be renovated!)

Note to self: look out the window before you get on the elevator. If there is lighting – reconsider boarding the elevator. Especially with a skittish, elderly german shepard. The elevator stopped about 5 times. Each time we got it going again. I finally wised up and got off. But, had I learned my lesson? NO. I was on a mission. Going to Starbucks for a fix. So, I continued down. Via the stairs. When I finally made it down, the lobby was filled with large dogs and their owners. No one wanted to get stuck in an elevator with someone else’s dog.

I went off to Starbucks. When I got back to the dog filled lobby – decided to walk home. Up all 17 floors.

Nothing much going on. Nothing wrong with that.

 

This 36 hour period was “easier” than the last 36 No Technology weekend. Last time I had to keep a pencil and paper log to keep myself sane. But, this time – I “needed” to work on my photo files. So, I allowed myself to use Lightroom. 2014 photos are all off the Airness. As are a bunch of audiobooks and the Airness has more space.

I read all the old newspapers and magazines. And researched the tax implications of moving to the asylum. The asylum promises to take care of my sorry ass – no matter what. It is really just very good long term care insurance. And, I am moving into the cheapest unit in a very expensive building. The result is – I have a tiny little unit. But, I am going to get a killer tax break. I knew there were tax consequences. I just didn’t know how good they are.

Getting sort of psyched about moving to the asylum. I still love it here. The view and the location. But, the asylum will cost 1/2 as much. And since I know I’ll be moving, I am getting short timer’s attitude about this place. Also, I have to be gone before the vacuum cleaner needs to have it’s bags, boxes, and filters replaced or cleaned or whatever one does to the vacuum. The asylum includes weekly maid and linen service. The vacuum ain’t making the move.

Tramping around DC yesterday – what should I find but a Paul’s. And another. And another. I finally gave in. Had a ham, cheese, in a baguette with butter. Exactly like in France. Who knew we had a Paul’s franchise in DC. Well, at least 3. I have to get out more.

 

Ok, it worked out well a month ago – 36 hours w/o technology. I am going to try it again. But, this time I am going to allow myself (maybe even force myself) to cull through November and December 2014 photos and get them off the Airness. But, no internet. No games. No surfing about looking for a cute shower curtain for my new digs down at the asylum. And no TV. Newspapers for news. Old school iPod for music. The theater for movies.

Speaking of the asylum. I am sort of with the program now. Actually almost looking forward to getting on stage for the last act of my life.

Also looking forward to 36 Drugger (is that their name – the christian family whose matriarch has a clown car uterus?) free hours!

Back on line at 1830hours Sunday.

Still damp and cool. But, summery weather is supposed to return tomorrow. And tomorrow, I will be going downtown to take more orchid pictures. At least that is the plan. Subject to change.

I converted Carlton’s Last Tax Refund into a Nexus 6. It is not an Apple. I might have been happier with one of the big-ass iPhones. But, I figured it was time for a little diversity. Also, the Nexus 6 is $150 off right now. So, Carlton’s tax refund covered it. NOW, I have to decide what cell service to use. Right now the Nexus is just a big Android-pod. I took it down to Starbucks and downloaded about 3 system updates. I am in no rush to pick out a cell service. (It seems to be a serious battery hog).

OH, here is my first try at elephant origami.

Another chilly damp day. By long pants were all washed and hanging in the back of the closet, waiting for fall. Out came the levis. And a sweater. Also wool sox.

After my required nap and reading period, I finished up the October 2014 photos. October 2014 wasn’t one of my favorite months. I was tempted to just archive October and move directly to November. But, I reviewed October. Started with a perfectly normal October 1 and 2. Then October 3. Finally landed in Kona on Halloween. And you know you were going to see this sooner or later, the picture I took when I came home and found Carlton dead. Very dead.

In case anyone is really freaked out – don’t scroll down the page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly – his arm off the bed is the only thing in the least abnormal. He frequently napped with his mouth open, snoring away. We should all go so quickly into the good night. Or afternoon in his case.

Now, I am going to figure out how to make an origami elephant. I think I can do it.