life in the old lane

Forever, or at least all last week, there has been a storm every afternoon between 3 and 6. One seems to be getting together for this afternoon’s show. I get this shot by sticking my head out the window and looking NNE.  

Gratitude

---

Grateful that I can stick my head out the window.

---

It was too breezy for the macro lens this afternoon. But, I needed to step away from the computer.  So, I went out on a bee hunt.

Found more birds than bees today. 

As you know, I have been working on “getting my affairs in order”. One of the things that I am supposed to agonize over is “cherished possessions” and what to do with them. I am pretty sure that I don’t have any “cherished possessions”. Basically, the stuff is just stuff.  Mainly you have to dust it or store it. And every time you move, you get less stuff. Which might account for my lack of “cherished possessions”. One less thing to worry about.

I had checked off all of my weakly weekly fitness goals yesterday and was planning two days of rest. But, then I remembered that I am leaving on an adventure in a month and maybe I should put in some extra time. Extra time with an extra 15 pounds. So out I went on the bus. By the time I got back home, I had 9,500 steps. But I didn’t get extra credit for the pack. Damn, that Fitbit app.  I should have gotten a bonus!

Gratitude

---

Grateful for air conditioning.

---

Been sorta watching the weather up north. The coldest I have seen is 35 degrees today in Utqiaġvik (AKA Barrow) Alaska. Which is good because I don’t have any “real” winter clothes. During my Northern Lights Quest in 2022, I survived being outside at 20° with just my layers of layers. (And a good Marmot wind/rain jacket) If I think I am going to freeze I’ll get an extra layer in Iceland. 

Not long ago papers were read with breakfast. Now,  we read our phones. Or our watches. It’s really kind of amazing. Of course, we don’t have our jet cars. And I don’t have my robot cat. 

Had a  successful day culling my wardrobe.  I should have eliminated more. But, it’s really hard for me to get rid of clothes. I don’t need 5 pareos. Or 4 swimsuits. Or even 2 rash guards. Down to one of each of those.  

“They” say you should eliminate clothes that you don’t wear, don’t like, don’t fit, or need mending “first”. Well, why would I have clothes that I don’t wear, don’t fit, don’t like or that need mending to begin with? 

MidJourney seems to have a strange concept of tomato frog

A salad frog perhaps?

Fun tomato frog fact: They aren’t very good swimmers and may well drown if they accidentally fall into a pond.

Gratitude

---

Grateful I escaped the dark black mood that I slipped into yesterday afternoon.

---

Provided I don’t get Covid (or worse) – everything is all arranged for my Northwest Passage trip. August 7 – September 11. 

I saw the magnolia blossom while testing my vintage binoculars – they are only 7 x 15 – but tiny. I got them years ago. They are reproductions of Nikon’s original 1917 binoculars. And, they are rather valuable. Not to mention cool. I should give them to someone who would enjoy them as much as I have. But, I am not ready to give them up just yet. 

Death cleaning today: Carlton’s Rolex and his maternal grandfather’s  (maybe?) pocket watch went to the upcoming jewelry sale to benefit the Foundation.  (The watches will not be sold at the sale, but they will be sold to a local jeweler.)  

 

Suffered from a serious attack of “I hate this f-ing place” this afternoon. I grabbed my camera and forced myself out of my room to take pictures late this afternoon.

After taking some photos, I went to the saloon and got a Dark Hollow brew. Things were better until it was time to eat dinner. Couldn’t face the food. I had beer and coffee with my friends and returned to Old Bat Cave for dinner. Sauted chicken, onions, and steamed brussel sprouts and carrots.  Seasoned with pepper and balsamic vinegar. Finished with a little butter. 

Gratitude

---

Grateful to my friends who put up with my periodic meltdowns. Also grateful to live in an institution with an in-house saloon. If one has to be institutionalized.

---

Major accomplishment today: Have tickets from Vancouver to DC via Amtrak for September 9. Also, finished uploading all my forms  (I hope) for the trip. And I avoided The Asylum July 4th Lunch which was an apparent meltdown. They ran out of ribs, corn, fried green tomatoes, and ice cream. Apparently, they did not run out of veggie burgers or potato salad. 

During our summers working at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, we immersed ourselves in all things Civil War. The first three days of July were dedicated to the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle ended with significant casualties, with the Union suffering 23,000 and the Confederate army enduring 28,000, one-third of its total army. Interestingly, many people tend to only remember Lincoln’s speech five months after the battle, overlooking the fact that he wasn’t even the main speaker on that day.

The summer of 1863 was much grimmer than the summer of 2023.  Never mind recent rulings by the High Court. And the continued survival of the lunatic right and its criminal leader.

Gratitude

---

Grateful for all those summers spent in all those parks. Hot Springs, Harpers Ferry, Petersburg, Volcano, Yosemite, Skagway, Theodore Roosevelt, Lowell. Did multiple summers in Harpers Ferry WV, Skagway AK, and Theodore Roosevelt  ND. Thank You, NPS.

---

Memories of good times make old age easier.

Our new coffee machines do not enhance our dotage. The woman in the ball cap can not get coffee from the new machine. Three people try to help her. Still no coffee.  How hard would it be to have a machine that dispenses regular coffee? And a machine that dispenses decaf coffee?  Steve Jobs would not like our new machines.

Cleaned out a kitchen cabinet today. And. This is a biggie. I cleaned up my DropBox folder. Figure that “important” stuff that I put in there in 2010 really isn’t all that important in 2023. Full disclosure. I copied my Dropbox folder to an external drive. Just in case those files from 2010 really are important.

OK, why can’t I have a robot cat? How hard could it be? I like this one. It’s not soft and cuddly – but neither am I. We would get along fine except if RoboKitty jumped on the countertop and went CLANG in the middle of the night.

While I was playing with MidJourney, all new weather arrived. Not only can I see Washington DC again, but all the way to Maryland. I need a couple of days of nice air. 

I was able to enjoy my do nothing day because progress is being made on my Shit2DoList.  Next week’s calendar doesn’t look too busy. So, I should be able to complete some tasks. Week after next is fully scheduled already. Then soon, it will be time to start thinking about the big adventure. Leaving here about midnight on Aug 7 for Iceland and points Arctic. Returning, goodness knows when, haven’t made those arrangements yet. But sometime between Sep 9 and 15. 

Still on track with working down the Shit2Do list. Adding some new things to it as well.  Getting the Death Documents finally squared away was #1 task. By comparison, the rest are easy ‘nuf if I just get started on them.

Maybe I should consider moving the box? But no, it’s good to keep an eye on the future. 

Gratitude

---

Grateful for a period of relative contentment and tranquility. I know it will not last, but just for today…

---

Couldn’t resist a selfie.

Watered the garden box this morning to encourage the rain this afternoon. And, indeed it did rain. The rain washed out the smoke for at least this afternoon. 

Continuing to plow through my nagging Shit2Do List. Major accomplishment today – The Dead and Dying Documents.

The box, with the attached label, is on display in The Old Bat’s Cave. Talk about embracing impermanence.  This has been on my Shit2Do List all year. It is so good to have it done. 

Gratitude

---

The air has returned to “Moderate” thanks to the rain.

---

Origami is not a chore. Look at how much new paper I can buy now! OH, but wait. That’s not the point. The point is to reduce the paper cache. 

 

Seems like this is the new normal. Smoke. 

Gratitude

---

Wine!

---

Made actual progress on my Shit2Do List today.  None of the remaining things are very difficult or too tedious. I just have to complete them.

You might notice it is very gray. DC has disappeared again. Smoke again. But, not as bad as before. Yet. I suspect the worst is yet to come.

Found some furniture on my walk today. Years ago, when I was young, poor, and lacking furniture, I might have tossed that drop-leaf table with the blue paint spatters in the back of my car. Got rid of all of my “road kill” furniture when we moved out of the house. But, I still have a yard sale bookcase that I bought in Hawaii 50+ years ago. And, I bought my comfy chair here at the Asylum’s Thrift shop. 

Gratitude

---

Blueberries, raspberries, and peaches for lunch. Thanks to friends and Trader Joe.

---

I’m feeling overwhelmed by my Shit2DoList.  It’s like being pecked to death by ducks.  I never used to worry about unfinished business, but maybe it’s just a part of getting older.   I can fix this. Firstly, I’ll do the tasks that must be done.  Secondly, I’ll decide whether to complete, discard or ignore the remaining tasks on my to-do list. Lastly, I’ll follow Carlton’s advice to “Avoid Beginnings”.  Focus old woman. Focus.