life in the old lane

So much for the city life, only thing I found to photograph on my walk home for work was a rabbit.

I think Carlton and I need to get away for a little while. But, Carlton hates to “get away”. And, I love to “run away”. I was planning to go to Norfolk for the Tall Ships War of 1812 event next month. But, we need to be together right now. I’ll try  to think up a Carlton Friendly little trip.

Carlton has just fired up a DVD about the War of 1812. I don’t know squat about the War of 1812. Maybe, I should watch.

 

Yesterday, I called in “sick” to the volunteer job. But, as we old women do, this morning I put on my sensible shoes and carried on. I went to the volunteer job today. My coworkers figured I would be there. They had flowers for me. Peonies. It pays to show up for life.

Came home this afternoon, Tuesday being Carlton’s volunteer afternoon, I was home alone. So, I  put the flowers in the window and played with the new camera. (It was raining. That is why indoors.) The camera takes 3D pictures. Only thing is, you need a 3D television to see them. The camera is from Panasonic and Panasonic makes 3D TVs. Do you think there might be a connection? Really?

Nothing has changed with the family. Carlton and I are saddened by the departure of our daughter from our family circle. I morn her departure, but, I am better for having had her in my life for the last three plus decades.

 

The worse day of my life will be the day Carlton dies – or the day that we learn he has a terminal illness.

If I am first to go then this is the worst day of my life. I did the best I could  for my cobbled together family and I was found wanting. And now, and now I am bereft.

This is altogether too much public display of angst – but this records my life. And my life is currently unraveled. I shall wallow in misery for several days – then kick myself in the ass and get on with life.

Sort of busy, sort of moping around when I wasn’t busy, last week.

A bunch of Tall Ships are coming to Norfolk, Baltimore, NYC, Boston and New London. Thought Carlton might like to go see them. So, I planned a couple of different trips. But, he wasn’t interested. I don’t have any problem leaving him for maybe 2 weeks. But, I don’t really want to leave him Home Alone for too long these days. We aren’t getting any younger – time together is precious.

I’ll try to come up with some other trip he might like. But, Mr C has pretty much reverted to his original homebody ways.

Been thinking about Japan for the last week or so. Japan – with all of it’s strangeness – pleased me.

 

I had a totally urban day today. Took the elevator to the Metro. After 2 transfers and 3 trains, I arrived at a stockholders meeting. After stockholders meeting, returned to Metro. Stopped in Alexandria. Visited some shops. Bought a pair of shoes. Went down to the Alexandria waterfront. Ate the sandwich which I craftily brought from home. Drank a bottle of water I craftily snagged at the stockholders meeting. Then I hopped on the Water Taxi (more like the water bus) and went to Georgetown. The pictures are of the Georgetown water front. Wandered around Georgetown, took a bus to Rosslyn. Took the Metro, to the apartment building and the elevator back home.

Then, I completely screwed myself by telling Audible Dot Com to send 5+ GB of audiobooks to my Kindle. This is a total screwup on my part. The intended to have them sent to my computer and then to my iPod.

Amazon says it is Audible’s problem. Audible says it is Amazon’s problem. Which means it is MY problem.

Haven’t had nearly enough time to play with the new camera. Must do something about that next week.

I spent most of this weekend writing a policy/procedure for dealing with workplace fatigue. Not very exciting.

Busy day at volunteer job. Seems our hospital has to come up with a policy on “workplace fatigue”. Everyone else was tired of the problem, so it got passed off to me. Just as I was settling down with coffee in hand, in full bullshit and plagiarism mode – we got real busy. I had to play receptionist and medical assistant, not bullshit and plagiarism maven. So, I’ll be working on our fatigue policy this weekend – if I am not too tired!

This afternoon, I was taking a rest. Carlton decides to go for a bike ride. He crashes into a wall and cuts his hand. Returns to the apartment for first aid. But, wait – there is more – he crashed in to the wall on the way to the elevator. He was riding his bike in the hall. So, he crashed into a wall in our hallway. Happy to report that he did not hurt the wall or bleed on it. You would think that a 77 year old man would know better than to ride a bike indoors. So much for my afternoon rest. Sigh.

Ah, what a fun way to spend the day. Looking your failures in the eye. Owning up to mistakes. Errors in judgement. Miscalculations. Bets gone wrong. Important changes in underlying motivations that were missed.

What happened to my Drone Aeroplanes??? What the F happened to my little company that makes: bullets, pressure cookers and generic Depends??? Why did my little local defense contractor have a serious sinking spell??? And mostly, why on earth did I keep buying coal as it kept going down??? Couldn’t I see what nat gas was doing to coal? It wasn’t a secret. So, I have been doing some buying and selling. throwing good money after bad. Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

It is most likely time to just accept my losses in coal and get on with the rest of my life. Also, toss good money after bad and get more of my little defense contractor. Wait on the drone aeroplane business to get better and cut my losses on bullets, pressure cookers and generic Depends.

Spring cleaning for the the portfolio.

There are 2 big power substations within a mile of our apartment. They are surround by tall fences. But, every now and then they leave a gap in the gate and you can sneak a peek. I always like to take a picture when I get the chance.

Bought Apple stock this afternoon. Unfortunately, only 5 shares. But, every 5 shares helps.

Got two ads in the snail mail this morning. One was for a rather modest mid-rise condo and the other was for Turnberry Tower. There is one in Vegas. This one is in Arlington and you can have one – with a really pimped out potty for about one mil. The ones in Vegas seem have fallen on hard times and I am guessing you can have one there for 1/4 mil or less.

Don’t want one. Not here. Not in Vegas. Like my rental digs fine. This morning the fridge sounded “funny”. Well, it was a rented funny sound. If the fridge stops working management will make it all better. When I came back from volunteer work – it sounded normal.

Investment-wise, starting to get a real queasy feeling about the equities market. I might take 25% off the table. It is never too early to take profits and the first loss is frequently the best loss.

Seven years ago, we did a massive downsizing and moved into an apartment. Just about two years ago, we moved into this apartment. Stuff is starting to pile up again.

Rained all day today. Not a bad thing. I found the top of the desk. Chucked a bunch of old software CDs and manuals. Pitched a bunch of non-iPod mp3 players. Remember the Diamond Rio – late 1998. Beat the iPod by three years. It’s not much. But, it is a decluttering start. Eternal vigilance.

A life well lived would leave little stuff behind. And all the stuff that is left should be neatly labeled in several cardboard cartons.

Not sure how serious Carlton is about identifying an Old Persons Asylum for us.  When you reach our age you have friends who live in “those places.” Our friends live in very nice (read expensive) Asylums. Never mind that the most expensive one is going bankrupt. Problem is: they are all geriatric country clubs. What’s this with “Gentlemen must wear jackets after 5PM”? Some of the men look like they would forget their pants without a reminder.

What we need is a Rock and Roll Rest Home. California seems to have some emerging Rest Homes for Rockers. Nothing  in our area. You have to die with your panty hose on, your face done and your hair processed at the beauty salon. And, if you are a gentleman and die after 5PM you darn well better have your jacket on.