life in the old lane

I am NOT a scrapbook person – but I do find it hard to toss out “trip chaff”. But, I do. Just take a picture of it and pitch it. That was one fine trip that the granddaughter and I made to Japan 2 years ago. Now, she is all grown up and in Costa Rico by herself and in 3 weeks or so, I’ll head out on the Great North American Train Trip – also by myself.

Been tracking the “on time” arrival status of my trains. This one – the Empire Builder – from Chicago to East Glacier Park Montana has definite timeliness issues.

That makes my 26 hour train trip a 31 hour train trip. It also means if I am getting on that train going to Seattle – I’ll be darn happy to have my room for another day. BTW – if I were on that train I would have missed my bus to Vancouver.

Who would have thought that Justice Roberts would be on “my” side of today’s Supreme Court decision??? It is enough to make an old woman reconsider her position. At least Justice Thomas was on some other side. Rumor has it that Justice Thomas was replace by an android years ago and is fishing guide somewhere in the Caribbean these days.

Did I mention it is hot here today?

Christ Church – Alexandria. This building was finished in 1773. George Washington and Robert E. Lee are some of the more famous members. I stopped by to look around the graveyard and looked inside. I have been to weddings there.

The weather was great today. A day of breezes, sunshine, low temperature. I went to collect my train tickets at the Alexandria train station. Totally unnecessary. I could get my tickets on the day I leave on my trip. But, I could hear the shops in Alexandria calling me. I bought a raincoat. I have wanted a replacement for my ugly pink rain jacket for years. My new black raincoat lovely. But, this is an honest blog, so, I must admit that I believe the ugly pink rain jacket will prove to be more serviceable in actually repelling rain.

Focusing on “What Now?”. As in, what to do with my money if I don’t manage to spend it all. I could setup a modest scholarship program at UTEP Figure I could help 100 kids get a degree. In math, physics, or engineering. Not computer “science”. Not education. Not nursing. I would like to limit it to math or physics. But, I took a lot of engineering courses. And Carlton’s degrees are in engineering. Carlton favors a “legacy” type endowment. But, I am not sure that we are “legacy” type people.

UTEP is a modest college with much to be modest about. There are no 8th graders going to summer school hoping to increase their chances of getting into UTEP. UTEP is for people like me, people who are too poor to go anywhere else.

Carlton was talking to a buddy of his about estate planning yesterday. This friend, who is “comfortable” has 10 “chuckles” bequests. Money (in the 5-10K each range) he is leaving to various old girl friends in remembrance of good times past. Carlton and I are not sure this is such a great idea. There might be some serious explaining required  by the old girl friends to her current romantic interest.  This friend of Carlton’s does not date women his own age.

Wreckage of the future: been watch the on-time performance of “my” trains. The train that I am taking into and out of East Glacier is almost 5 hours late today.

Went to the Boy Dentist today. My dental condition was declared “stable”. The Boy Dentist said that was as good as it gets at my age. He said teeth don’t get un-decayed and gums don’t return to youthfulness. So, I be happy with “stable” and I am glad that I still have teeth to take to the dentist.

Clearing last year’s photos off the Airness. The only reason I want a new Airness is the bigger drive. But, before long bigger drives get full too.

 

Today, I was asked to photograph these charming Lovenox vials. I am enjoying a nice mid-summer lull at the Hospital volunteer job. In a week or so I will inventory our physical files. I have done it for the last 6 years and I know it takes 5 days. I try to do it all in a single week. A week when there will be no new hires.

Later this summer – right before we start trying to give 3000 flu shots in 6 days – we are supposed to get an entirely new computer system. We need a new computer system. Our current system is from the early 1990’s and the company that developed it has gone out of business. (They deserved to go out of business.) But, of all the people I work with, only I know how hard it is going to be to convert our existing 8,000 plus employee database to a new system. I hoped that this conversion would take place whilst I was in Hawai’i. My devotion to Virginia Hospital Center is limited.

It is/was hot here today. According to the computer it was 99°. It’s not the humidity – it’s the heat.

As I reconsider the Great North American Train Trip, I realize that I might just be a little too old to hang out until midnight waiting for a train or bus. So, at least in East Glacier – I am going to keep my motel room for another day. That way I can take a much deserved nap while waiting.

A couple of days later, I am staying at the YWCA in Vancouver. Check out time is 11AM and the train is 11:30PM. An extra day at the YWCA might be in order. And, in Toronto, where I arrive at 0900 on the train and leave at 11PM on the MegaBus. A hotel room would actually be cheaper than a visit to a day spa and a movie. And, more restful.

This is a small test. Hummmm, I might just like this theme. It supports “child themes” so, I can tweak it some. Never mind that a little tweaking was what wiped out my old theme.

Afternoon now, guess I’ll keep the theme for a couple of days.

I booked myself on an 8 hour bus tour of Glacier Park. And, I worried about what in earth am I going to do in Toronto from 9AM until 11:30PM when the $10.50 MegaBus departs. I did find an AMC MoviePlex across the street from the bus stop. (Thanks Google!) I’ll plan to see a movie after dinner. And there are Starbucks. Maybe, visit a day spa. (What I really need is The Dormy Inn – a Japanese budget hotel chain that Sam and I used several times. It rents rooms in 4 hour chunks and that includes use of the communal bath). It is all part of the adventure.

 

I decided to get these really tiny, really fine binoculars for the Great North American Train Trip. (I admired them in Japan a couple of years ago.)

And, I decided to not get a new iPod Touch. (Mine is from 2009). It was pointed out that the Gen 4 has a camera, but a pretty crappy camera. And, I think the Gen 4 will be 24 months old come this fall. So, it might be time for a new release for back to school. Except for pictures, my old one does everything I want it to do. It Skypes fine, does email, updates the blog, checks facebook. Oh, and it plays music, movies and is a trusty alarm clock.

Rumor has it that yesterday’s tragic event was a suicide. From the 9th floor. If the guy wanted to die, I hope he did. Because, if he was unhappy enough to end it all and wakes up in the ICU – well – let us just say that his sorry life will not have gotten any better as a result of  the SPLAT.

About an hour ago, I was all settled down getting ready to work on my cookbook. Carlton was watching golf on TV. We hear a soft “thunk” outside. Never heard that sound before. I think maybe something fell over at one of the constructions sites nearby. I hope no one got hurt.

Then sirens. They don’t sound like they are going any of the usual routes. When you live in the city you know when the sirens are doing something different. I getup and decide that they are at our metro stop. Get new binoculars. Go to the balcony that allows a fine view of metro. And SPLAT. Someone seems to have jumped, fallen, or was pushed out of an apartment on our end and our side of the building. We watched the EMT’s. I go up and make sure our Russian lifeguard is OK. But she says he didn’t come from the pool area. Life in the city. Nobody on the roof is aware that anything is going on. He must have come from the apartment above ours or one in our line below us. I think the SPLAT would have been messier if he had come from a floor near ours. Maybe from 5 to 10. But, I don’t know how much SPLAT a jumper makes.

No, not that touchy feely kind. Real closure. Once again, my Levis button. But, I don’t think it is time to abandon the diet. For one thing, if your body thinks that a Luna Bar and a big cup of coffee is breakfast – well, that makes it darn easy to get breakfast on the train. BYO Luna bars and buy a big coffee. And, if – The Horror – they are out of coffee – one can always pop two NoDoze tablets.

One of the other volunteers at the hospital brought me some maps and info about Glacier NP. (He went last week). I think he made a point of getting all the bear warning propaganda. Doubt that I will see a single bear. More likely I’ll see mosquitoes as big as 747s.

Working on the Hulihe’e Palace Holiday Cookbook today. That sort of used up all my zeal for computer things today.

Speaking if computers. The MacBook Pro with the Retina Display is gorgeous. Even these old eyes (with glasses) can see the difference. I went down to the Apple Store today. Apple Store happens to be across the street from Whole Foods. Lunch from Whole Foods today. Grilled chicken and mushrooms with broccoli.

Not very interested in fixing my WordPress Theme today. Maybe I’ll putter around with a different theme.

Wiped out my theme again. Guess I know what I’ll be fixing again. OK, that is done. Now, gotta find my header picture.