life in the old lane

Mr C went to see the “Big Cancer Doc” this AM. He had a sonogram – inconclusive. And a biopsy. Nothing back from that yet. Doc didn’t say “don’t worry”. He did say “this will not be as bad as the last one.”

Mr C has decided to watch the Howard Hanks, John Wayne Rio Bravo, El Dorado, Rio Lobo trilogy. I have decided to keep not thinking about it. Soon enough there will be something to think about.

I got drenched today. Found myself walking home from work when it started raining about 5 inches per hour. Fortunately I had an umbrella, raincoat and Dansko shoes. And, it was nice and warm. Reminded me of June in Japan. But we had a great sunset.

Thinking about closing out all of my equity positions. Insanity is rampant. And, this do give my brain something to think about.

 

Still not thinking about Mr. C’s potential medical problem. Of course any time you have to think about not thinking you are thinking. But, it is sort of compartmentalized. His appointment is at 8AM tomorrow. And, on Thursday, he has an appointment with his “Little Cancer Doc”. He will be having more “little” skin cancer removed.

I was a cooking fool today. It was 90 degrees – but I made turkey and veggie soup for later in the week when fall-like weather returns. And, I made bread pudding and egg strata from all the bread scraps in the freezer. Also, grilled fish and cauliflower for our lunch today. It is time to clean out the fridge in prep for our winter migration to Kona. And today’s kitchen work finished up lots of scraps and leftovers.

We have agreed to not think about Mr C’s condition real or imagined until he goes to see his “Big Cancer” doctor on Monday morning.

So, I have been thinking about a smart-ass phone. Again. I went to see the Note 3 and the iPhone 5S this morning. The Note 3 is a big Naugahyde and plastic thing. The iPhone 5S is an iPhone. Period. Small, sleek, metal. Think I’ll wait and see what Google has to offer in the Nexus 5.

The Note 3 has been rejected because of the Naugahyde. The iPhone is still in the running.

Or I might just keep with my current dumb-ass phone solution – a vintage cell phone and an iPod.

Here we have an accidental panorama. I found two snapshots. Apparently taken from a gondola – somewhere in New England in 1986. They seemed like they could become a panorama. And, sure enough they worked fine.

The scanning project is on hold. My USB extension cord was called into service at my volunteer job. I may have mentioned, only computer that will drive the scanner is in the kitchen and the scanner is in the living room.

Oh, panic – Mr C just came in the living room and showed me an alarmingly large lump near his left tit. How long has it been there, I ask? I just noticed it, he says. But on Tuesday, he went to see his “big cancer” surgeon. And, he said that that doctor looked at his chest and checked out his lymph nodes. How could he have missed something the size of a cherry tomato on the chest of a 6 foot tall 145 pound man? Maybe this is just some side effect of all the surgery he had done in that area. A side effect that just popped into view. I’ll hold on to that happy thought as much as possible.

I too have a little (small pea size) something near my left tit. But, I took myself to see my doctor yesterday and she agreed with me and my nurse friends that it looks like a little harmless cyst. Especially since I aced my mammogram in April.

This getting old business isn’t fun. I should have studied medicine.

What a way for the grand old park to spend a 123rd birthday. With your doors locked. And your website down.

Note to NPS: Even the extremely Orthodox BH Photo keeps their website up on shabbos. You can not buy anything – but you can look at the stuff.

Shame on you, Congressional hostage takers. Shame on you.

PS – I hope the park rangers that live in the park who are not getting paid at least enjoyed a lovely tranquil day in their park without visitors. Actually I hope this for all NPS employees.

Boys and Girls – tag your photos. Because 30+ years from now, you won’t have a clue.

About “wealth”. When I was young – I desired the accouterments and perquisites of wealth. Mega houses. Haute couture clothes. Jewels from Graff. Camera by Hasselblad. Etc. Now that I am old – I no longer crave houses, clothes, diamonds and custom cars, or even Hasselblads.  But, I still crave a NetJet share. A big fat NetJet share. Not a little bitty dinky share. But a huge lavish go anywhere anytime I want size subscription. I don’t want my own personal private jet. Just a supersize NetJet share. NetJet = Timeshare for the super rich.

In the late winter of 1992 we crossed the USA. From the looks of my photos from that trip – I was starting to take better pictures. I came to photography late in life. An employee of mine told me that I would be a total failure as a retired person. He predicted that with in 6 months I’d be photo engraving US currency in my basement. At that time, I didn’t own a camera. Or a basement. But, he wasn’t far off the mark. (That would be you Dave)

I am appalled by the performance or lack thereof by the Congress.

Nice day today. The scanner did not eat any photos today.

I am having bad old foto karma today. I got a book back from Shutterfly today and it was an epic fail. Half the pages were upside down. I emailed Shutterfly and they promised to send a replacement post-haste.

Then, I fired up my scanner and for some reason it ate 23 of the 62 images that I scanned today. Fortunately, I noticed it and rescanned the 23. But, it do make one wonder how many other images were eaten…

Gotta get back with the Ephemera Project. But, at this instant I am feeling a bit daunted by the size of the job. In 1987, Mr C and I tramped about New Zealand for 3 months. I have a lot of photos and 2 full notebooks from that trip. They are next up. Hopefully, by tomorrow, after 3 days off from scanning, I’ll get back into action.

One of the less important things that I have been struggling with as I get older (and older) is what to wear. How vain can I be? Who cares what I wear? For years I have gotten by with “no elastic waists, nothing from Talbot’s ever, and only one thing from Free People at a time”. That doesn’t seem to be working any more.

One thing is for sure – hemlines must be “closer to my knees than my crotch”. That goes for pants and skirts. I think I have decided to limit my dresses, skirts, pants and shirts to black and beige. Pants and skirts can be denim. No denim dresses however.  And allowing any sort of jacket/sweater/wrap that I want – the flashier the better. And, of course, Aloha Shirts. And still no elastic waists. And rethinking the whole Free People thing.

You’re so vain, Peg.

Yesterday when I went walkabout the neighborhood I took the elderly FX01 along. And sneaked up on a bee on a basil plant. No need to sneak up on a sleeping cat.

Rainy day today. I did NOTHING. Well, I hauled my little old lady grocery cart to Trader Joes and filled it up to over flowing with heavy stuff. Canned tomatoes, beer, olive oil, cheese, wine, chocolate…

The Bug Out Project is over. It wasn’t bad at all. Carlton was a “Drama King” all day. But, it was no biggie and the weather was so good – I didn’t mind spending the afternoon out wandering around exciting downtown Arlington.

Carlton plans on playing tennis tomorrow. If he hurts himself – I hope his doctor will not mind being called out on the weekend. Because she told him he could do “anything”.

Oh, about the photograph… Nothing fancy. Just the point and shoot camera (Panasonic ZS15)  – hand held.