fossilfreak

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 572

2.8 miles

rain yesterday, sunny and warm today.

359 recordings of 60 types, 1 old SVU (though the machine keeps trying to give me more no matter how many times I say "don't record"), 59 old CPD, 51 old Last Man Standing. 23% clear.

On New Year's Eve I drove down to the Crocker and parked where Bernadette usually goes for these events. Parking was free, even though I thought Sundays and holidays were now charged for. I waited a few minutes and here came Bernadette. We moved Gareth's bag to my car and walked the block to the museum, where we lined up to wait for the doors to open for their Noon Year's Eve event. In the end, there must have been almost 1000 people there. The first thing we did was watch the Pixie magic show (by the Pixie who did Joanna's birthday last year) and then we went down to Tot Land for awhile. Then Joanna was interested in arts and crafts, and made a lovely headband hat and then a stick with ribbons to wave and then a shaker. Padreic did one of these, too. Up in that gallery I spied someone I knew. I'd said "hello" to her earlier but was trying to remember who she was, but up in the gallery I figured out how I knew her so went over to say a better hi... "you were in the mock jury!" I was able to meet her kids and ask about the one who just had brain surgery. He looks great.

(I told Joanna to smile. I love the gappy-toothed real smile, but I guess she's sensitive about it.)

At noon the star balloon dropped. And then we went back to the cars and I drove home with Gareth.

Gareth played with his iPad and he and I did some work with his Continental Drift kit. There are things he wouldn't enjoy, like coloring the flip book. We didn't do it all, but got a pretty good start about rifts and plates, anyway. I told him how I'd learned in college that continental drift was a stupid idea, and then everything changed. Science is like that, it's never settled.

Because my DVD player was toast, I actually paid On Demand money so we could watch Cars 3. Then after dinner, about 8, we started watching the news. Fox was a bad choice, because when midnight came, they didn't watch the ball go down. Next year, ABC. Also next year, he'll get to stay up through Chicago! We toasted (earlier, so he didn't have a bedwetting accident) with sparkling cider.

I went to bed by 10, woke up with the bangs at midnight, and back to sleep till almost 6. Gareth also got up pretty early, we had breakfast, and his iPad needed charging so he was at loose ends. After I'd watched him galloping through the house for awhile I suggested we walk around the block to get rid of wiggles. I showed him how so many of the tract houses had changed, and we looked at Christmas decorations. Then he was eager for Mommy to come pick him up so he could go with the family to see Grandma off at the airport.

I spent the rest of the day watching the London parade, but I didn't see Lexi. I also tried the YouTube film but kept missing the cue. Fortunately, one of Roni's friends got an excellent picture.

All in all, a great New Year's.

On Tuesday I went in for my A1C test, hooray, now I can have a few carbs until they tell me I can't. I won't pig out, but it'll be nice to have some of these things I've been not-having.

Back at home, I called the garage and then took the car in. It was going to have a major tune-up, as well as fixing the oil leak. I took the shuttle home, and was second to be dropped off, which didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed the trip to West Sacramento, noted new construction near the railyards , a new light rail line, and an access point to a number of geocaches.

At home, I discovered my goodies had been delivered, so spent the next hour or so setting up my cordless phone and three handsets, and my new DVD player!

Then when Vince called, I had no idea how to answer the phone. We finally figured it out, so when my neighbor called, I was able to answer it... but as she wanted a ride to fetch her car from the garage on the next day, I pointed out my empty carport and had to tell her no.

2018