life in the old lane

Not much action on the 2:07 25B out of Ballston. The bus was parked and the driver left the door open, told us to get in, and he went off the Starbucks. 

About 20 folks got on. Old people, punk looking teenagers, laborers, mothers with small kids… and every single person paid their fare. $1.85 for regular people. 90 cents for us old people. I found it rather amazing. In our system, there is no after the fact way to tell if you paid or not. Everyone of us could have gotten a free ride. But, everyone paid. 

But, it was a little busy today. No problem with that. Went to a sweet yoga class. And I am designing a new “system” at work. It should save time and eliminate printing, filling out, scanning and finally shredding about 4 reams of paper. Not much. But, still a good thing. The paperless office that we were promised in the 70’s is slowly starting to happen.

About – Windows 10. I try to be modern and to stay sort of with it techwise. I have had two close encounters with Window 10 lately. I am underwhelmed. Seriously. 

Yes one got away. One insect photo. The insect was part of my lunch – lagniappe. In my spinach. My sauted spinach. Oh yes, it was an insect. 6 legs, 2 eyes, 2 antennae. But, while I was admiring this creature – management whisked it away, before I could take a picture. Soon my plate returned. Sans insect. I am not sure if the spinach was replaced. These things happen. And the only thing worse than finding an entire insect in your spinach is finding half of an insect. After you have noticed that your spinach was a little, shall we say, crunchy. (Yesterday, I reflected that the Asylum might be too upscale for me – after the insect – not so much.)

Time to go down and get dinner soon. Pretty sure I will not order spinach!

Invited a new friend to the Old Bat Cave for dinner. Well, she brought her own food. Which, if you are coming to dinner at my house is a damn good idea. She drinks beer – there aren’t that many of us beer drinkers here at the Asylum. Mostly wine drinkers, with a few old time “cocktailers”… It is a pretty classy joint. Maybe too classy for me.

 

 

Friday was a crazy sort of a day. I logged 6.5 miles on the fitbit. BTW – Fitbit is 10 years old today. Mine is almost 3 years old and it has changed my activity level for the better. I purchased it as retail therapy during Mr C’s last months. The fitbit and the camera. I think they were the only “good” therapy purchases. 

After the unhealthy BLT with fried egg start to the day – I decided to walk the 3.2 miles to work. Admiring the flowers along the way. 

Later, after an uneventful visit to the dentist I took the bus home. 

This is up in the old neighborhood. We don’t have a fair trade coffee wagon at the bus stop near the Asylum. But, there is a damn good taco truck from time to time. Until the owner of said truck gets ICEd, that is.

Finally, back at the Asylum – I had drinks with 25 of my closest friends, a quick dinner and it was off to an unbelievably bad indie film. The woman I went with noticed the total lack of plot, dialog, etc. However, I obsessed over the computers. Specifically, how did they keep those laptops going for days on end with no apparent source of electricity. 

The weather was wonderfully warm and wind free today. But, I enjoyed a day of rest. I find that as I get older, I need more down time. 

So, I work a little on my garden box. The mint has already started trying to take over all 11 square feet of space. 

And, I did some origami – not very successful. But, restful.

By the time I got to the little one (which I made with the best paper) I almost had the model figured out. I’ll try one out of a dollar bill tomorrow. US currency is really my favorite folding paper. 

Now, it is time to venture down to dinner. Or I’ll miss dinner. And I wouldn’t want that.

DUCK. No duck for you chickies! Duck spring rolls were on the menu in the formal dining room. A friend and I decided to go and do duck. We were turned away. I try not to take these things personally. But, I do. Nevertheless we had a fine dinner – sans duck – in the less formal dining venue. We had seconds on “free” wine. 

Went to one of the funniest “meetings” ever at The Asylum this afternoon. It was about TV. Now, I don’t have a TV. So why was I even there? Well, I didn’t know the meeting was about The Asylum’s “free” cable TV service. And the upcoming changes to the aforementioned service. 

Management of The Asylum plays this little game and allows the inmates to think that we have a say in what is going to happen. Management presented 5 options ranging in price from $500,000 per year (we have 427 units) for Verizon FIOS down to a one time $5,000 charge for a roof top antenna. It was obvious that management has selected a vendor that combines satellite TV for limited “cable” and roof top antenna service for over the air for about $95,000 per year. (This was the 2nd cheapest)

You wouldn’t believe the pissing and moaning. What? No CSPAN? No MSNBC? No Turner Classic Movies? What about British PBS? And HBO…

One elegant old lady, who must have been a Mother Superior in a former life – harrumphed “Don’t these people do anything except watch TV?”  

I must add that any of us who want to shell out the bucks can get our own cable service. Or Verizon FIOS. 

This went on for an hour. It was better than anything on TV.

And, this is Four Mile Run. The only body of water that I get to see on a regular basis.

Dentist tomorrow. 

 

I am usually interested in the other bus people. Maybe I provide some entertainment for my fellow riders. 

Went down for dinner tonight. Didn’t see anyone I wanted to dine with. Didn’t see anything that I wanted to eat except something wildly unhealthy like grilled cheese sandwich or taco salad or quesadillas. And, the whole place smelled of fried liver. So, retreat back to The OBC for egg sandwich and a beer. With coffee and chocolate for dessert. Not exactly health food – but healthier than the asylum offerings and NO fried liver smells. And, that is why I always have something to eat in my apartment. 

Getting ready to do some yoga this afternoon. I get a travel yoga mat out of the closet. I give it a huge shake. And out pops my cheapass long lens. Smash, bounce, Quick as a bunny, the lens is attached to the camera. 

And, big sigh of relief, the camera/lens seems to work OK. 

Who know that when you go to see the orthopedic guy they expect you to wear these gym bloomers – in size X-Lg no less. Nope. Not me. I wore my leggings and French not granny panties. 

Seems like I have a little lumbar osteoarthritis and sciatica. Which I sort of knew anyhow. And that it just got way worse for a couple of weeks when I was in Hawai’i but everything is hunky dory. Stronger drugs were suggested and maybe a visit or two to PT. 

What is not hunky dory, is the Federal Government. And some of the states aren’t so hot shit great either. It is beyond bad.

I always cringe when our leaders or anyone says “God Bless America” – like what about the rest of the world? “Yo God, you bless us and screw everyone else.” Now, I wish they would say “God Save the Country” as in “God Save the Queen”. And while we are at it, what exactly is God supposed to be saving the Queen from? Prince Philip? The Corgis? But, this isn’t funny. 

I know the old guy loves this. As a bonus, it was a fine sunny spring day and two gentlemen of a certain age were playing on “his” courts. I stopped off at “his” courts on my way to lunch in Maryland.

And, how did I get to Maryland, being sans car?

• Walk, longer than necessary for exercise.
• Bus.
• Stop and visit the tennis court.
• Metro.
• Transfer to another Metro.
• Uber.

I could have Ubered all the way. But, then I would have had to spend some time exercising. And I would rather get my exercise “accidently”. 

Had a nice lunch with Carlton’s boss. We talked about grandkids, dementia, and our respective Asylums. He said they only got free wine one night a week. 

Tomorrow: work at hospital, first yoga class in almost 5 months, see orthopedic guy. 

The day got off to a bad start. There were no prunes at breakfast. Oh no, I cannot go. 

I usually sort of hideout in The Old Bat Cave after breakfast on Sunday. Sunday’s are sort of weird around The Asylum. People have guests they don’t want to have. People want to have guests but don’t. People are coming and going for church. Lunch is a big deal. And, dinner is always a mess because only one dining venue is open after lunch. 

So, I stay in the Old Bat Cave and feed myself. 

But, today, I had to venture out and take an “environment photograph”.

For a person who doesn’t photograph people, I think I did a good job. Several of my friends want me to take environment photographs of all of the staff over the next 6 months. I don’t think they know that they want “environment photographs” – but they do – otherwise the pictures will look like the Sophomore Class 2015 at Our Lady of Perpetual Boredom. 

BTW – we have a huge staff. So, I’ll need to have a plan. And be damn good at execution. 

I am contented here. I miss the great location and killer view that I had in the apartment. I have to be happy with a good view here. And, the location… let us just say that the bus service is fine. 

I sort of like buses. I am nearly always the only caucasian on board. And, I am nearly always treated with deference. Buses are hardcore, gritty, real… Nothing cutting edge, glittery or soft about them.

Doing lunch tomorrow with Carlton’s old boss. He confronted Mr C about his drinking, got his sorry ass to AA and continued to be his boss and friend until the day he died. The Boss lives at a more upscale Asylum in Maryland. We are lunching at one of his clubs. The one that lets women in. Note to self: Don’t bite the hand that is buying your lunch.

And, one photo fun shot –

I did not go on any adventure. Being a total nerd – installing Android Nougat on Shamu the Phone was an adventure. A rather boring adventure. Sort of like a senior citizen bus trip. BUT, that is just how I wanted the update to unfold. 

 

I seem to be suffering from a mild case of what Carlton called – unresolved discontent this evening. It just pounced on me when I came in my door after a nice happy hour and dinner. 

I am currently daunted by the thought of 2 days with no work to go to or obligations. Other than washing my unmentionables. 

The short term solution is to make some tea and jump in bed with a nice book. “Long term” solution is to go on a little adventure tomorrow. And by tomorrow evening I should be all good again. As long as I don’t just hang around and sulk.

Good new from the mammogram. Normal, but old, tits. And, I got the colonoscopy sales pitch today. Not sure that I am going to get one. Had one once. It was very unpleasant. 

No reason at all for unresolved discontent. Onward to “Tea and Trashy Novel” therapy!

Amtrak is on the Orange Lord’s budget hit list. Even my bleeding liberal heart is hard pressed to support long line passenger trains with tax money. But I would really hate to see passenger trains vanish. 

No news on the mammogram.

Great news from Carlton’s dermatologist. “Go in peace, old woman and come see me again next year”. Which is about as good as a doctor visit gets at my age.

Still cold. 3 buses to hospital this AM. With a stop for coffee. And one bus home. It is too cold, dark and icy to make it to hospital using the one bus option. 

Tomorrow. Work. Visit gastroenterologist. Maybe take taxes to accountant. Depends on weather and how long the doctor visit takes.