life in the old lane

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.

 

Cold and rainy here today. Wasn’t I just complaining about it being hot? Well, it happens every year. As soon as the pool opens. It gets cold.

We are so politically jaded here inside the beltway. Two short blocks from here, Lincoln Chaffee announced that he is running for President this afternoon. Do you think I could rouse myself enough to go down and cheer? Not me. And, I think that Lincoln Chaffee is one of the good guys. (Actually, I think that C-Span was the only news outlet that covered the “event”.)

Still plugging my way through my 2014 photos. Doing it one month at a time. I have made it through September. Sort of a bittersweet trip through my last year with Carlton. Gee, it is the 3rd of the month. Carlton died 9 months ago. Carlton didn’t like this picture – I asked me to take it to send to a friend. If I had known… I would had done a better job. I may still take it into photoshop and blur out the background some. (Carlton didn’t like the picture because it made him look “old”.)

Think that I’ll go down to the Conservatory this weekend and take more orchid photographs. I suspect that the Phalaenopsis orchids are the most fun. But I don’t know. I only discovered “fun with orchids” last week.

Just got a great electronic notice. My bank wants me to know that Carlton’s last tax refund was deposited by the IRS. I know that he could still get audited. But, at least “the IRS computer” is happy enough to send me a few bills.

Thank you, IRS. Thank you, Carlton. As soon as I finish this post I am going to make my dinner. Then I am going to go shopping for camera gear. I will make an except to my “NOTHING that can not be eaten is allowed to come in the door” for camera gear. Thinking maybe a better macro lens. All the better for photographing orchids!

Speaking of the weekend – airing out the east coast edition of the damn white dress for my annual Kamehameha Day event at the US Capital this Sunday. If the weather isn’t long white dress friendly, I’ll wear an Aloha shirt. (and pants)

 

Stormy this afternoon. Maybe there will be some cooler weather behind the storms. I’d like to turn the A/C off for a while.

My wardrobe has gotten out of hand. I had 37 hangers of clothes. I got the count back down to 30 hangers. (Plus one winter jacket, one bathrobe, one raincoat and one wetsuit. I don’t count those four hangers.) These should fit nicely in the studio. Especially, if I replace my puffy old fashioned satin hangers with new modern velvet hangers.

Running out of space on the Airness – time to off load a bunch of images. So, I going through 2014 photos one last time. Tweaking the metadata, deleting some, adding keywords so I can find them if I want them back some day – not likely – but it has happened.

There is my old buddy, Mr C, in his chair, watching his TV. The remote at the ready. I was in my chair playing with my camera. Simple pleasures.

Lazy Summer Day. I hope that May isn’t a harbinger of things to come. It was 93 degrees today. That’s July weather. Not May weather. Not even the last day of May weather.

Big adventure was going to the grocery – an entire block – to get popsicles. (Not real popsicles, the so called “healthy” alternative – frozen fruit juice bars.)

Did some thinking about “the move”. The tiny kitchen. The smallness of the whole thing. But, I am starting to look forward to moving on the the next level. I’ll work on finding good homes for some of my stuff.

A friend sent me a lot of strange orchid photos. So, yesterday I did more than a few pictures up close of orchids. And, who should I find in one of the pictures – I know it is me, I recognize the hat. Played around with post processing for this version. The original is up top.

Enjoyed some of yesterday’s herbs on my lunch salad. The chef that gave me the herbs said to just saute them a little in a pan, then stuff the herbs in a jar and fill with olive oil. Will acquire a job tomorrow and give it a go. I should also get a chicken and make roast herbed chicken.

 

Can you imagine actually owning this thing. The Queen of England owns a painting of the wedding and one can see the crown in the painting, but Majorie Merriweather Post owns the Romanov Nuptial Crown. The catalogue says that “The crown is crudely made and has flaps at the bottom so it can be pinned on the hair.” Well, MMP knew her bling, so if she said it was crudely made – it was.

Indeed, I went to the Hillwood Mansion – Where Fabulous Lives – and I had a great time. I had been there before, but I never made a day of it. Started out when I arrived by making a reservation for lunch at 1230 in the Cafe. IN being the operative word – I knew that by then I would enjoy some serious air conditioning.

So, with lunch set – I wandered around the grounds for a couple of hours. I was inspecting the culinary herb gardens when the chef stepped out to cut his herbs for the day. We talk story – he is from France – and I come away with a fine bunch of herbs. I had a plastic bag in my purse and they made it home in good shape. I will have to do something to honor them. Maybe an olive oil infusion? That is tomorrow’s task.

I had great fun getting up close to the orchids in the greenhouse. The water lilies were blooming. Which reminds me – maybe I’ll make a trip to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The neighborhood is a little sketchy. Yes, Carlton, I know it is in Anacostia. But I haven’t heard of any old white women being killed in broad daylight in Anacostia in years. Of course, maybe most old white women aren’t dumb enough to go to Anacostia on the bus! Old age is no time to be cautious. Nobody gets out alive. Basketball size water lilies are worth the risk.

Returning to the day. I had a wonderful lunch. Nicoise salad with a huge chunk of salmon redolent with fresh herbs to die for. After a little rest – I went off to see the “History of Containers”. Yesterday I joked about the boxes that the Faberge eggs came in… Well, the egg boxes were a part of the exhibit. As was one of Mrs Post’s 64 steamer trunks. Louis Vuitton – of course.

For all of its over the topness – Hillwood museum is charmingly accessible. They tend to guard the artifacts with museum guards not off putting armored vitrines. That makes for a better visitor experience. Hulihe’e Palace should beef up their watchfulness.

More photos from today tomorrow.

For some reason, my Olympus has a “Pinhole Camera” setting. Back in the day, we made pinhole cameras out of oatmeal boxes or coffee cans. I never had great luck with real pinhole cameras. And, my expensive Olympus faux pinhole camera was just as unsatisfactory. But, a lot less trouble.

I made a plan for tomorrow. Don’t want to get into a funk. Best way to avoid that is to have a plan. My plan is to go to Hillwood – Marjorie Merriweather Post’s DC estate – and take in the exhibit on the history of the box. I suspect that Mrs Post had better boxes than I do. She had a wonderful collection of Faberge eggs – I am guessing that the eggs came in pretty good boxes.

This is just a test that I am doing for a little work project. This is just a proof of concept

Started to work at 0700 hours this morning and clocked out at 1800. Which is a pretty long day for an old woman. I was knocking together a little users guide to a little scheduling system that I cobbled together. I always had a hard time with that last 5% of a programmer’s job – making it look all pretty for the end user. And doing as little as possible as far as documentation went.

Then went out for beer and pizza. Tomorrow, I am scheduled to spring the new system on the end user. They think they want it. I hope they still want if after they see it. And will it be user friendly enough for the user.