life in the old lane

Feeling a little down today. My trigeminal neuralgia is letting me know that it’s still around. For a few days I hoped it was gone for a while. And, it’s damp and gray. Not my kind of weather.

I didn’t make much progress in my 10-year Spring Cleaning project today. I could only rouse myself enough to attack a small wooden bowl that held jewelry bits and pieces. All that remains is my diamond ring, Carlton’s wedding ring, and Carlton’s company tie-tack.  

Last Monday  an Asylum resident stood up to DOGE. He was fired and escorted out of his office building by men with guns. His car is still in that office building’s garage. His wife doesn’t want him to return to the building so she is going try to get his car out of the building garage.  Most likely easier said than done, but old people are tough. 

Normal Sunday for this Old Bat. Still working, little by little on my 10-year spring cleaning project. Today’s targets: my greeting card box, over the microwave cabinet, over the fridge cabinet. My rule is: everything comes out and at least one thing is not allowed back in. This is not a serious “declutter” exercise. Just a question: Why do I have this? I have gotten rid of all manner of weird things. And most of the stuff ended up in the trash. Very little is good enough for the thrift shop. 

But we are city people and dogs here at The Asylum. So we sit beside the chain link fence and enjoy the parking lot on the other side.

There was all manner of great food and conversation. 

Another spring day. I am reminded of one of my favorite films of all times The Producers. The 1967 version. And that wonderful song and dance scene “Springtime for Hitler”. Seems appropriate.

Doing a couple of quick laps around the building this morning when I came upon this pile of crap that some poor soul was moving out of a relative’s apartment. Who needs TWO fake Xmas trees?

I am still on my “one discrete area per day” of cleaning. Today’s target was under the kitchen sink.

Easy to make. Most likely that is the best thing in today’s paper. Maybe the best thing in the paper all month.

And, I just noticed I caught a plane. Of course, I love seeing the sun on the buildings back in my old neighborhood. (It would be better if the plane were on the left side of the image. I could fix it in Photoshop, but whatever happens, is what I planned.)

Gratitude

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Grateful that I am able to do everything that I need to do and a lot of the things that I want to do.

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Speaking of the old neighborhood… Exactly 10 years ago on March 20, 2015, I was gearing up to try to move to Goodwin House. Carlton told me to “Move to Goodwin House when the lease is up”. But, I got off the point of this paragraph. At the very end of the 3/20/15 post I wrote: “I am feeling very mortal. I really am down to my last 10 years of ‘good time’ – if I am lucky. Gotta make the most of the end of days.”

I believe I did make good use of those 10 good years. Do I have another 10 years of “good time”? I doubt it. But I am still going to make the most of the end of days.

Today’s main event was a nice 4-mile walk and a boatload of “cardio points” on my watch.

If I don’t look to see what is happening outside my tiny bubble, things are good today.

3.5+ miles walk, nap, nice lunch, helped a friend with a new computer, cleaned out one of my kitchen cabinets.

About this cabinet cleaning. Yesterday, I cleaned out the under-bathroom sink cabinet. Today, I did one of the kitchen cabinets. There is a vague plan starting. I am coming up on 10 years here at The Asylum. It’s time to assess my stuff. And ask myself – do I really need this anymore? So, I’ll try to empty one cabinet, drawer, or shelf everyday. And only put back stuff that is actually needed. Stuff that has been used since Covid, maybe?

We’ll see how this plan works out.

Grateful for eggs!

The orchids make me happy. Especially when they are all watered and blooming madly. But, the morning news was too depressing. I was so depressed that I cleaned out under my bathroom sink. I don’t believe that I have ever cleaned it out. So, that’s good. I channeled my disgust in a positive manner. Score one point for me.

Went to in person yoga today. That’s good. Getting out of The Asylum is good. Walked a little over a mile to catch the bus home and went past a Little Library. Little Libraries are good. They make as positive statement about the people who live in the neighborhood.

Drank wine this afternoon. We were told that if the tariffs go on European wines, the prices will go up immediately and no more European wines will come into the country. The wines, from Spain, were good. The info about tariffs not good. Not that I’ll will miss European wines. But what about Guinness? 

More than a few interesting people live in The Asylum. One stood up to DOGE.
They Came for George: Who and What Will Be Next?

56. That’s how many days it’s been since January 20, 2025. How long would it take to restore sanity if the madness stopped at this instant?

Looking ahead. Wreckage of the future.  Invade Greenland and go to war with NATO, US troops firing on US citizens, Martial Law, Civil War? Or maybe we the people keep on doom-scrolling. 

I’ll keep on folding paper. 

 

Well, a successful day. I didn’t kill anyone.

Messed around with some origami. All I succeeded in doing was messing up the Origami Dojo.

I wonder what horrors tomorrow will bring. I will focus on St. Paddy’s Day. Guiness anyone?

March 2020 I watched the world as I knew it was shutdown by Covid. We all could had died—especially us old farts.

March 2025 I am watching the world as I know it being destroyed by the world’s richest man and a complete idiot. We all might become collateral damage.

Kyrie eleison

On the bright side, it’s free wine night.

My orchid, the botanical equivalent of a rescue puppy on life support, is growing new roots. I’m taking this as a sign that I, too, can overcome any obstacle (like, say, getting out of bed).

Highlight of the day? A nap. A solid, one-hour nap. Happy hour is on the horizon.

I’m actively practicing gratitude, which mostly involves reminding myself that I have a roof, food, and people who tolerate me.

Let’s not talk about the dumpster fire happening just down the road. Focus on the orchid, people. Focus on the orchid.

I was spoiled by the sunny days. Not happy with gray.
So, I did my aerobic exercise, made some stars, and read a trashy book.
On the plus side, the entire Asylum family is gathering for dinner this evening.