life in the old lane

It was seriously cold this morning at 0600 hours when I headed out for my mammogram appointment at 0700 hours. It took 3 buses and a stop for coffee.

As for the mammogram – well – all you ladies know how those go. But, at least I didn’t have to wait. Last time I had a mammogram – it was the first time since Carlton died. And, I spent a lot of time worrying about “what if”. Well, this time I am OK, and if “what if” happens – well – I am certain that my friends will circle around and everything will “work out just like it is supposed to”.

However, when I went to check in at my office I found that the office had moved! And nobody told me. I felt like a kid who came home from school and found out that her parents had moved during the school day! The new office space is really nice. We still share with the chaplains – and that is cool. We actually have a window! It is also closer to the Starbucks. Seems to be all good.

Then it was time to come back to The Asylum. This time, I decided to walk part of the way. And, it was even colder. Temperature was up a little and the wind was up a lot. Two buses. No coffee stop. 

Tomorrow’s medical adventure is a visit to Carlton’s dermatologist. Not looking forward to this. 

What can I say, a snow day. But, snow is no biggie in the asylum – they started plowing the employee parking lot as soon as the flakes started hitting the ground. Most everyone stayed in doors. By noon, all most all of the outside paths had been shovelled and salted. I walked my 5 miles (first time in a week) – all indoors. Did yoga. Filled out paperwork for upcoming doctor visits. And had dinner with my next door neighbor who is a old enough to be my mother. Knowing people who are well into their 90s who still live active lives always makes me think. Most of them are resolutely content. How well would I be doing if I make it 20 more years? Scarey isn’t it. 

“There was an article this week that talked about how you can surveil someone through their phones, through their—certainly through their television sets, any number of different ways,” KellyAnne Conway said. “And microwaves that turn into cameras, et cetera. So we know that that is just a fact of modern life.”

Or maybe it is “microwaves” as in a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from one meter to one millimeter; with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. 

Maybe by some sort of quantum-mechanical transformation the waves turn into tiny little cameras. Or not. Or both. This being quantum physics. Which of course brings up Schrödinger’s cat, which might mean we could use our microwaves to solve our mouse problems. 

Sorry for the silliness. Taxes tired the brain. But, I have I nice tidy package ready to deliver to The Tax Guy. I still have to clean up, there are files and papers covering every flat surface. But, that can wait until tomorrow. When it is supposed to snow. I am like a kid – waiting to see if my doctor’s office is closed tomorrow. Or if I’ll be slip sliding my way through a blizzard to the Hospital. At least if I fall and fracture something – I’ll already have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon! Well, they just sent me a message saying they would not open until 10AM tomorrow and since my appointment is for 9AM – well, I am out of luck. Or, if the weather is bad, I’ll guess I am in luck. Glad I didn’t waste any time worrying about the snow. As Carlton liked to say “Things work out just like they should”… Whatever that meant.

From The Asylum: I went to a meeting about nutrition. Someone complained that our wine glasses were filled with “too much” wine. Someone else complained that the desserts were “too sweet”. 

Another day of taxes. No new pictures. So, I dug out this male shortbodied blenny from January. I know it is a male because the back end is red. Females are all brown spots on cream. Which is why these critters are also known as Leopard Blennies. You find them perched on coral – which isn’t surprising because coral is what they eat. It is good to be near your dinner.

Speaking of dinner. The Asylum featured “hot dogs and turnip greens” for supper. I dined elsewhere.

Taxes where the today’s order of business. Yesterday, I was just moving papers from pile number one to pile number two. Today actual progress was made. Hopefully, they will be more or less finished by tomorrow evening or sooner.

Oh more news from the Asylum. Mice. We have mice. Apparently not rats. But mice. Two of my friends have resident mice families. They are on the 10th floor and the 12th floor. I am on the 11th. Management should supply us with cats.   

And a “monster no’easter” storm is on tap of Tuesday. When I am supposed to go see the orthopedic guy. If I can walk 3.5 miles in a blizzard to see him, maybe I don’t need to see him. 

The DC area saved winter for me. Yesterday it rained, sleeted, snowed etc. Today it is just cold and windy. I have sequestered myself in The Old Bat Cave. 

But, it hasn’t been all bonbons, beer and binge watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer… I have been working on The Taxes. 

Mr. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: Taxes are the price we pay for civilized society.

Well, I don’t exactly feel like I am getting my monies worth. I haven’t noticed much civilized about our society in recent months. 

And, why am I doing The Taxes? Don’t I have a tax guy? Well, I am somewhat like the ladies who clean their apartments before the maid comes. I do The Taxes and give The Taxes to the guy to check. Then the guy does The Taxes. And gives them back to me to check. It was quicker when I did The Taxes myself. But, if I live long enough – some day I’ll not be able to deal with The Taxes and by then, the guy and I might have established some sort of workable tax preparation plan. 

And tomorrow is daylight savings time. Isn’t that about the silliest thing ever. Here at The Asylum there is the concern that one might not be around to collect that lost hour in October. 

Well, I think it is back to The Taxes. Then yoga. And dinner. 

Note to Carlton: I just finished springing the clocks forward. So, know that you were missed today. Especially today.

A very dull quiet day at the asylum. I processed the mail. Except for the tax stuff. I put the tax stuff in a nice pile. And that is it. But, the good news is, my room is all sort of tidy and normal. Oh and tomorrow is “maid day”. And I do love maid service. 

I will now do some yoga and try very hard to not drink my way into AA or eat my way into Weight Watchers (I wonder is it called WW?) – both of which are a distinct possibility here at the asylum.

Most of the world celebrates 4/20; the asylum celebrates 4/01 everyday except Sunday. 4:00 PM being when our bar opens. 

 

OK, I am back home. Got everything unpacked and washed today. Stuff is still drying. Everything that is dry has been put away.

One of the zippers on my rolly suitcase jammed while in Grand Canyon. Today, with good light and needle nose pliers – I got it working again. Which is good- I always look at new luggage. But, I really like what I have. I know where everything goes.

Tomorrow – I attack the paperwork. And maybe Friday, start on the taxes.

Yes, the flower really is green. And speaking of colors – Harlene: That image of the Mississippi the other day wasn’t B/W. It was just a really gray day. And, the river looked really gray as well. I think that it would look more brownish on a bright sunny day. 

Surprise Surprise: The Asylum had really good tacos at dinner tonight. The asylum is starting to grow on me. We have about 500 residents in two connected apartment towers and there are about 500 folks on the waiting list. They must be doing something right.

I very uneventful last day on the train. But a very fine sleep last night. I usually sleep really nicely on the train. Carlton and I spent 4 or 5 happy summers living and working at Harpers Ferry National Park. The town still looks sweet from the train.

A friend from the asylum picked me up at the Metro – so no bus action this trip – and took me by Trader Joe’s where I got coffee, beer, yogurt and oranges. Then back to home. I did nothing unpacking-wise. I did not look at the mail. I drank coffee, ate cookies, did yoga and went to see how my 11 square foot “garden” wintered. Had dinner. Salmon, green beans, wine (free wine night!), birthday cake and ice cream. And coffee. 

The chives look ready to harvest. 

Tomorrow. Unpack. Laundry. Look at mail. Plan next escape.

The major stop today was in Kansas City. Lovely old station. Being tired of train food – I picked up an excellent scone for breakfast. 

Always fun to cross the Mississippi. This was late morning.

Then arrive at Chicago Union Station at three in the afternoon.

The highlight of my afternoon was using one of the showers at Union Station. After my very fine shower, I talked to a couple of nice ladies.  One my age was heading to New Orleans for food, shopping and gambling. The younger to DC for The Day without women March.

Now, I am on the train heading back to the Asylum.

Hopefully, I get enough signal soon to link the Mac to the iPad and update the blog. Ok, the signal fairy just blessed me with a little window of connectivity. So, I’ll just blast the out.

I had a lovely day on the train. It was about an hour late arriving at Flagstaff. Amtrak sent me several texts telling me about the lateness. So, I hung out at the saloon for a little longer. True to the manager’s promise – coffee was waiting for me. And not just any coffee, but Starbucks – Pike’s Peak with a note telling me to take as much as I wanted. 

As soon as I was settled on the train, I had breakfast. Then a little nap. Looked out the window. Read a book. And some how or the other, the train got back on schedule and arrived in Albuquerque early. So, I had a nice walkabout in the train station neighborhood. 

Then a very late lunch – which will suffice for dinner – more looking out the window and napping. 

We just arrived in Colorado. Where we are going about 3 miles per hour. Seems like there are “signal problems.” 

Chicago mid afternoon tomorrow. Then on the  Capital Limited at 6ish in the evening for the last night away from The Asylum.

Can not say that I am all that excited about getting back. Time to find another trip to take.

I completely enjoyed my time on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is just a big hole in the ground. But, it is a really fine big hole.

And then it was back on the shuttle to Flagstaff. And, my hotel room over the saloon. Actually over 3 saloons and under the “Zane Grey Ballroom and Bar”. It seems like it is going to be a fine place for the night. It is only 10 minutes from the RR Station. I’ll be leaving at 0500 hours for the station and the manager said it would try to remember to set the coffee to be ready 0500. 

I stashed my stuff in my room and went walkabout. Flagstaff is a great little town. With lots of my favorite things.

Now that it is dark outside – think I’ll go check on the nightlife. Well, the very early in the evening life. Don’t think 7PM is “nightlife”.

 

I made it up in time for sunrise. And, a little 7 mile walk/hike seem like a good idea.

The mule was going down to phantom ranch at the bottom. I am going to hermit’s rest. Which is mostly flat and you are never more than a mile from a bus.

Lots of trees, ravens, elk scat, snow,ice, mud, great views and almost no people.

Carlton would have hated the trip. It costs too much. It wasn’t easy getting here. I ate in restaurants. And went on a bus tour. But, I am pretty sure he is happy that I made the trip. But I am dam glad that I don’t have to turn in an expense report on the trip to him.

After my long day, l am staying in tonight and will have a granola bar for dinner. 

Back on the bus to Flagstaff at 10 tomorrow.