fossilfreak | Entries tagged with pagan

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 602

100.3 miles

80s

266 recordings of 54 types and I finished season 3 of NCIS. 37% clear.

I have never had a roommate before (Rich doesn't count, we were married and busy building a family.) I really thought I liked living alone, can go to bed when I want, get up when I want, leave dishes in the sink, watch the TV *I* like, cook with onions... so, when Steve's friend from 30 years ago needed a home back last summer, I reluctantly told him I would be plan B. And he was able to find another place to stay. Whew!

Unfortunately, that place fell through on the first of September. Bill e-mailed me to ask if the offer still held. My heart sank. I really tried to think of how I could say "no", but there was no way to do that. So, darn it, I said yes. I took all the stuff off the captain's bed in the playroom, made the bed, found some pillows, and prepared it as well as I could, though there are still a gazillion toys in it. If I have the kids, I'll have to take the toys out.

Then, in August, the medical issues came up and I realized there was a silver lining. He'll be here to feed the pets, and when I get back from the hospital he can help with some of the chores.

So, Saturday September 1, he came. I gave him a key, showed him his room, told him that the back bathroom was his. I told him I wouldn't cook for him all the time, but there's plenty of food in the freezer and pantry. I did cook for him this night, a frozen chicken-broccoli pasta dish.

To my surprise, it's working out! I kind of resented sharing the living room (like where else? I had given him a bedside light but there's not much room in the bedroom) but we knock along OK. The TV is mine till I go to bed, and if it's Fox News he disappears, but he likes much of the other things I watch. Then I go to bed about 9 or 10 and it's his, and he goes to the Cartoon Network or some "History" channel show. He's been buying his own food so I don't have to feel guilty about hiding the peanuts or the nachos! He has friends and goes gaming, and he has part-time work (he's applying for more) and I am on the go a lot, so we aren't under each other's feet all the time.

Bernadette and Rob got new kittens. They are, surprise surprise, cute!!

I went to church on the second. Then it was Day 5 with the puzzle, and I hooked up a cookie.

On the 3rd I woke up with tummy pains. I'll be so glad when this operation is over. My whole digestive system is not up to par these days.

I got a lot of goodies in Fishdom.

My computer was not talking to the Internet. Bill figured out how to fix it.

On the puzzle, I hooked two cookies together.

On the 4th, I played lots of games. My ankle bruise (from August 10) is slowly healing. The Senate indulged in Kavanaugh Kabuki. I had breakfast with the ladies, giving Fay the parking pass for the Kingston Trio.

Pagan came over and we went to Koreana. I love this store, but didn't have anything in mind to buy. I'll have to introduce Bernadette to it. I got the screws to hang the scratch-off map and the next day asked the neighbors to help. Carol misunderstood and when she found the right drill bit (actually not, I needed a concrete one) she called and asked if I wanted the drill, too. "Yes, and the husband!" Frank came and got the hangers up (pulling off the adhesive and the paint in one place. I do have patch paint and a couple of places it will go, someday.)

On the 5th, Spooky, who has midlength hair, was really matted. I did find a rake which took care of the mats instantly. Boy, that cat sheds!

I took Padreic to Wee Wednesday, which was fun. It was about primary colors and pretty well over the kids' heads. There was a three-year-old who was all over the place. It's amazing how Padreic ("I FOUR!") has grown!

I cooked an actual meal, tuna noodle casserole and salad.

Fishdom was going well on the 6th.

Oberammergau is on! Including Medjugoric which I know absolutely nothing about.

After the Retreat House I went to the Commissary. It was around here I was begining to resent cooking, but it's gotten better. Bill is really polite and stays out from underfoot.

I took a bag of books to the library.

I was going to relax but then I remembered that this was the day I was going to put the poop bag into the trash, darn it.

Day 7 of puzzle. Slogging today.

I started the Camino 3 years ago on the 7th. The butafumiero is down right now. How lucky I was!

I spent money on Fishdom. I've been playing Albion for 6 months. I hate to think how much I've spent on that.

I went to Renaissance, almost forgetting breakfast. I saw a slide show about Nepal. The western movie film was a documentary, Reel Injuns. Fascinating, about the depiction of Native Americans in movies. We saw "Smoke Signals" being filmed when we were in Spokane at one point.

On Saturday the 8th I went down to Oak Park to take the CASA files to be shredded. I'd never seen the actual park in the area, and it's gorgeous. I've been in the seedier parts of OP, but this area is nice. The volunteers at Wellspring were nice and I'm really glad to have these sensitive files off my hands.

Then I went to where the breakfast was to check on why Fay called. It was to remind me of breakfast!

Marty asked me to dinner to see Mike F., who is in town.

Day 8 on the puzzle.

I was tired of taking pictures off the picture disc so I could take more, and I bought a 32G new one. 3000+ new pictures!

Marty asked me to dinner to see Mike

I've been reading the Driver's Handbook.

Bill returned before I went to bed, darn it.

On the 9th, I finally finished Act One by Moss Hart.

(Reading: I'm still reading Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Pepys' Diary; Embarrassments by PJ Nel; We Die Standing Up, Dom Hubert van Zeller; The Gates of the Alamo, Stephen Harrigan; Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, Robert Goldsborough; The Halcyon Fairy Book, T. Kingfisher; plus I want to reread Charles Krauthammer's Things that Matter. I must read the Alamo book and the others I got as "homework" for San Antonio and stop getting sidetracked by Miss Read (though Gerrie is catching up!))

I went to Church and helped with Communion at the nursing home. That night I had dinner with Marty and Jim, Alicia and Mike F. We went to Olive Garden. It was so good! Mike actually met Steve when he was at Caterpillar. He also is really impressed with the IT system there, a fact I should share with Steve. Interesting... in his early 40s, he seems to be at the "finding himself" phase.

The cleaners came on Monday but didn't clean up the kitty litter. I will talk to them next time, before complaining to the office.

9-11 was on Tuesday again. I went to the DMV early and was #22 in line. They have it set up well, and I was actually done within an hour so I could go to the ladies' breakfast.

Minor gripes: he uses so many ice cubes! And has peanut butter in the evening and leaves the knives just sitting.

I'm going through old papers and found a letter from Granddaddy's brother, Uncle Frank. It was written in 1976 and was all about his brother Harry and sister-in-law Mary. Interesting letter, but they're all dead without children or grandchildren, nobody but me left who remembers them, and I pitched the letter. Later I found one from Tom, the guy I went to the Air Force Academy ring dance with... I was dating Rich by this time so probably wrote him just to find out what was up. He was madly in love with a girl in Pinedale who didn't return his calls, and he planned to go to flight school and then be an astronaut. Instead, he was shot down in VietNam. Another letter I trashed. Sniff.

And, Tuesday, a nice call from Vince.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 602

74.5 miles

hot again but a break in the smoke after weeks!

293 recordings of 52 types. 32% clear.

August 2 I wasn't going to leave the house at all, but I found some books of McClellan history in Hoarder Central and thought I'd try donating them to the air museum. They were delighted. While I was out I finally took the coffee I've been carrying around to Ann, who takes care of the donations for Sharing God's Bounty.

I called Carol to find out how her colonoscopy went. Better than mine, it appears.

The 3rd was Bonnie's birthday so I called her, which was fun. She was quite amused with Joanna's plans for Boxcar Children camp when SHE is a grandmother!! We discussed falls, too.

I was at Bernadette's from 10-1, helping sort through books, old board books out, slightly more grownup children's books to the living room (including some I took over which Padreic enjoyed), Joanna's books to her bookcases, Gareth's books to his. You can sure tell this is a family of readers!

Then I took some books to the library. (MY books, not hers, which she wanted to take to Little Free Libraries.)

Day 4 of a jigsaw puzzle I was trying to do before I go to Crater Lake. It was going fast, but it was obvious there were lots of pieces of another puzzle, as well. So I had no idea if I had enough pieces of the real puzzle. I would only know by finishing it.

I love watching Safari Live, and I also went onto the computer for an extra hour after the tv show was over. I just love it. I really want to go with Benson next year, but Zimbabwe is still roiling, and South Africa is looking a bit odd too.

On Saturday the 4th I got a free breakfast at the WPAC breakfast, so I left a tip and went out full and flush. One of the ladies had her daughter die of cancer. I feel, sometimes, like i've been dancing between the raindrops.

Willie (Bill) is going to be homeless at the end of August so will be coming to live with me for awhile. This will have some advantages... he can clean out the rain gutters which are full of driy leaves and palm seeds, and will be here if I want to take off for an overnight or two.

I was a bit appalled in the morning because Pharaoh ran into the kitchen with his rat-chasing look. Didn't spy any long tails, though, and the dog relaxed.

Sunday the 5th I went to Mass and Father asked us to pray for him. Apparently he's been the subject of some gossip, which isn't true, but he got a "canonical warning" (in other words a wrist slap) by the Bishop.

While in church I had a bad pain in the gall bladder area. I really don't need to add that, do I? However, it's gone now, so it was probably gas.

I kept thinking there was something I wanted to do this afternoon at 2, but of course I didn't remember what till 4:30, so I missed the Knights of Columbus ice cream social.

Charles Spinks, my friend whom I never met, the guy who went on the Camino 5 days ahead of me, died. :(

So. The doctor told me to come in to his office on the 6th, so I thought maybe I could do an end run around Kayla the unhelpful receptionist by calling the doctor's office directly. Michelle, his receptionist, didn't call back till the afternoon, and told me the doctor is not in his office on Mondays. Why did he tell me this? I will see this through, with the Nurse Practitioner Svetlana, on Monday the 13th, and get my operation, but I am definitely going to deal with some other group next time. I liked Svetlana, I liked the doctor, and the nurses were fine, but I can't take the stress.

I was trying to remember who I gave the baby gate to. I guess it was Pagan.

On Tuesday the 7th I went to breakfast and updated the ladies on my medical frustrations. First off, though, I listened to Jackie's stories, and it was something like having a MadLibs read to me, without any of the blanks filled in. I had to use a lot of imagination!

Then I went down to Elk Grove and read to Padreic and played with him while she worked on Joanna's stuff. She's going to have that room all cleaned up so Joan can trash it. Apparently J. complains that they don't have a decent guest room (and I've stayed at Joan's, so this is a bit hypocritical.) Anyway, I helped a bit, but mostly by keeping Padreic busy. I took a box of "food" and dishes (tiny Tupperware) to him and he was thrilled. I took the dehydrator to Bernadette. (When I dug it out I found a box, kind of a shelf which used to hold vinyl records, apparently, in the bar area and now it has scrapbooks in it)

Because of the smoke, it was possible that Vince would cancel Crater Lake, but now, a few days later, it seems like it'll be OK. I decided I would go anyway.

The 8th I apparently lost my Tac glasses, no idea how or where. Early in the morning, I removed some trumpet vine from the side yard.

Then I walked over to see the doctor. I was waiting in the room and he tapped on the door and opened it and said "sorry!" and backed out! That was puzzling. When he finally got back I teased him about being afraid of me and we had a good laugh. What had happened was he wasn't quite through with the other patient and just opened the wrong door.

He also took his time with me. He updated my shot records (though I'll have to correct one next time. I told him I'd had an injection for Typhoid but it was actually Yellow Fever.) He checked on the colonoscopy stuff and I told him how frustrated they are making me. He listened to my heart and lungs and felt my neck for lumps and, woe, looked at my feet. The prescription is to put Vicks Vapo-Rub on my toenails three times a day for one or two years! OK then. He said I was mildly depressed and I argued the point. It's because I don't sleep well.

Still, it was a satisfactory visit.

Once I got home again I went to the commissary for a big re-stocking (and of course, I already have two more items on the next list (oatmeal and RealLime)). It was over $220, so I'm sure glad I don't do this monthly. In fact, the last BIG one was in September, with a medium one in March, and I go pick up this and that approximately once a month. For the big ones, I go through the checkout and tip the baggers ($10 this time. Rich would have a cow.)

When I was putting the food away I heard the back toilet gurgling. Has that been happening since the cleaners were here? And if so, why didn't I hear it when I was putting papers in the back?

The temperature was back at triple digits.

On the 9th, I slept 9:30-2:40 and then went right back to sleep till 4:30.

I watched Gordon Ramsay's new show. He's doing a Sacto Restaurant next week. The post-show reviews don't look good. I believe I'll skip it.

I took the car in for its 122+K mile check-up. All it needed was a tune up and a replaced third brake light. (I hadn't even known I HAD a third brake light!) I took a long shuttle ride home, through downtown and East Sacramento, but that's nothing, he was in Rancho Cordova when I called him back so it took more than an hour. It's OK, though. At least I got to spend some time at home.

And THAT was interesting. Because it's Thursday, I took the dog poop bag out to the trash. While I was puttering back there, I decided to lop some of the lowest branches on the mulberry, so I opened the shed door to get the pole lopper. Like a flash, Pharaoh jumped into the shed and trapped and killed a squirrel right before my eyes. He was so proud of himself! He strutted out of the shed (thank goodness. I really didn't want to try to get the corpse with all the junk all over the floor and shelves) and brought his trophy to the porch, where I was waiting with a plastic bag. Then, as I took it to the trash, in front, I could hear him back in the shed. He then presented me with a dead young rat. So back into the house I went for another plastic bag (AFTER shutting the shed door!) and took THAT body to the trash! At least it's trash night!

And yes, I lopped the branches, and when I put the pole lopper away, I had the dog shut in the house.

I got new TacGlasses when I drove home. I see Sprouts has come into the grocery store that used to be SaveMart! If my food storage wasn't so chock-a-block full, I'd have checked it out, but maybe in a week or two.

That night, Pharaoh was still full of himself and wouldn't come in when I called him. I got the flashlight, which is usually the magic tool, and he still wouldn't come in. So I got a newspaper and whapped him when he came in. The next day again he didn't come in and I left him out for a couple of hours. Since then he's remembered to come when I tell him. (Which was something I taught him after Rich died. He needed to know who was boss, and it isn't him.)

The 10th, I was weeding the zinnia garden, one foot in my garden, one in the neighbor's yard, and I tripped over my little wire fence. Fortunately I didn't fall, but I sure got a big, painful, bruise.

I went back to Bernadette's, and again helped mostly by letting Padreic show me stuff. "Look!" every little thing he does. That and he starts every sentence with "no." "Are you going to put that in the dollhouse?" "No, I'm putting it in the dollhouse." Bernadette says he inherited it from Rich, who was very contradictory. "Why do you contradict everything?" "I don't contradict all the time!" he would say, contradicting me.

I finished the puzzle, 9 days, 995 pieces. There were 5 missing, but they didn't really ruin the picture. There were 31(!) pieces that didn't belong to this puzzle. No, I didn't pack them up with the puzzle!

My driver's license renewal came. I can't get an appointment until I know when my surgery will be. This is so frustrating. I did spend some time looking for my social security card, which I'm sure I used when I got my TSA pre-check number. Oh, well. I did find a piece of paper in my tax papers with the full number in it. And today I talked to Joan M. who didn't have an appointment but went at 0630 in the morning and got it taken care of and home by 9. So I'll do that.

I was invited to the Sharing God's Bounty board meeting, which was at a pizza place. I was amazed at how this ministry has grown. When it came time for me to speak I talked about the start, 35 years ago, and how Rich and I were in on the planning. How he did security/parking for something like 20 years. How I don't do much since he died except provide coffee. (Ann said there was more, but I didn't want to brag up my donations in his name.) I sat with Peter Mithin and talked to Bill Durborough.

I really pigged out on the pizza. And on the way home, my jaw hurt. I'm thinking imminent heart attack (no, if I get a heart attack, I want to do it in Svetlana's office!) It stopped when I got home, though I had it happen a little the next morning.

I was too late to see most of Safari Live live on the TV, but I managed to get to it overtime on the computer while I was finishing the puzzle. And it was exciting. There was a leopard (Hosana) stalking prey (and not getting it) and a hyena baby!

The next morning was the second Saturday breakfast, and I saw many of my friends. Mostly I talked to Marty.

Afterwards I went to Raley's for my prescription, and to Lazy Boy to look around (lots of pretty stuff, but I actually don't want any more overstuffed furniture in my living room. Something more like Bernadette's gliding chair which was initially Roni's. I don't like the new covers Joan put on that chair and stool so I've told her I don't want it. I got 4 glasses.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 599

66.4 miles

HOT

341 recordings of 69 types, (I watched the end of the season of Suits and am not going to continue with it), 11 old CPD (with one missing). 23% clear.

Tuesday I went down to Elk Grove to pick up the sunscreen Rob bought for me (it's an add-on, and I don't spend enough at Amazon for it). The place looked like it exploded... Rob apparently decided to clean out the garage. Their cat was so lonesome! And after that it turned out to be the wrong kind of sunscreen..I wanted the roll-on kind. Oh, well.

I had wanted to look for two geocaches, but when the GPSr batteries died I only got 10 or so caches loaded on. Fortunately, one of them was one I wanted to get, so I found it, for the first find in June.

I finished Notre Dame de Paris, volume 12 of the Harvard Shelf of Classics. There are some laugh out loud moments in it.

The cleaners came because I had the lifeline screening on Monday. While I was getting ready, after I'd shut my bedroom door, I opened Bernadette's room... and the sneaky cat wasn't locked away so went in there. Poor Alicia!

June 20 I went to the Knights of Columbus Ladies' Lunch. As they are on Wednesdays, I normally can't go. I sat with a lady who told the exact same story I'd heard before (from another woman) either at the brunch in Modesto or at the Retreat House. I.e., she's a parishioner at St. John Evangelist, her husband was Grand Knight, it was a lot of work, he was always on call, and when he was replaced they joined the Carmichael Elks and she said do NOT try to work up through the ranks. The exact same story, different woman.

I took one lady home afterwards.

I made a "Boxcar" geocache list.

June 21 Pagan came over and helped set up the White Elephant TV Rob and Bernadette gave me three or so years ago. It was a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be... I didn't need speakers. Also, getting the Uverse hooked up should have worked better, but there were some difficulties. Since I couldn't get through on the Internet, I was on the phone a long time with a helpdesk guy. The trouble with hooking up to the TV was that the DVR wasn't plugged in very well. (Oops.)

I treated him to an Indian lunch. So good.

In the afternoon I moved the furniture to get a good view of the television, which is now on the hearth. Then I took the 30-year-old Sharp TV to the recycling place. I was offered all of $1.30 for it, but couldn't be bothered.

Charles Krauthammer died. So sad! Meanwhile, I've realized that I'm much happier when I fast forward through Juan Williams. You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. And even his opinions are written by the Democrats.

I ordered up the Crater Lake boat trip. I decided I wanted to go, too, even though the climb back up is going to be very hard. This is fortunate, as it turns out Vincent misinformed me as to how long they were going to be there, (so I will be leaving before they do, instead of the same day, because I have a play ticket that night. Sigh.)

Friday I printed up the permission slip for Joanna, since Bernadette apparently didn't send it in and then lost it, and Rob hadn't yet received the replacement.

I spent so much on Albion the last few weeks, and didn't get the prize I was trying for, I've cut way back, and am doing all right.

Saturday I went out and got money, a hose for the back stand pipe, and bread, and mailed off the graduation and birthday cards to the boys in Snohomish. And Niki is reluctant to do all the great things around Bend, which is stupid.

Today at Mass Gerrie had the two Bertie books, and doesn't like them all that much, and I gave her Village School by Miss Read (which I re-read in a hurry this week: and am now reading the next in the set so we can trade next week.)

After Mass I went down to have Rob sign the permission slips (which I have left in the car! How awful if I forgot them!!) We also traded sunscreen since he got the stick stuff, including for himself. He's skipping the Crater Lake part of his trip, as Gareth isn't all that interested.

I got gas coming home, so I think I'm pretty well ready. I will water everything tomorrow morning and then it should be OK until Friday. I hope.

Today I decided I didn't feel like digging up tulips. It's not like I could be done tomorrow, so one day probably won't matter.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 595

26.3 miles

COLD!

334 recordings of 37 types. (Lots of movies, because TCM is really interesting right now). 70 CPD, 1 SVU (SO close to being done!) and 11 LMS. 24% clear.

(This is the stuff from Tuesday, Feb. 27th.)

Ash Wednesday being on Wednesday this year, I skipped getting ashes and instead did my stuff with the kids. Priorities! On my way down the hall in the early morning, I saw the map was skewed. One of the hooks had given way. I took the map down and replaced it later in the day. I wonder what happened... perhaps the cleaners bumped into it?

Padreic made a valentne for Mommy at Wee Wednesday and was so proud of it. He let me take care of it while he played at the Wng Ding exhibit, but otherwise he held it all the way home. He almost panicked when I took it while I was taking him out of the car, but was willing to hear me explain. He presented it with great pride and Bernadette was appropriately thrilled. Then he helped load the dishwasher.

I had nice valentines for the three and told Padreic his was the one with his name, and he picked it out. And was good about not taking the others. The big kids, too, enjoyed theirs, Joanna logically more than Gareth. (The school has an "all or none" policy about Valentines, so Joanna gave them out and Gareth didn't.)

And I drove home with the car seat. Fortunately, Bernadette didn't need it until Saturday, so I didn't have to take it back. This is good, because the freeway was a total disaster. I was going to get wine before I went home and had decided to get off on El Camino, fortunately. Hence, even though the Arden Way on-ramp was much busier than usual, I started over, and then one more lane to the El Camino exit, then, as things were really really slow... pretty well stopped in fact, one more to the exit only lane. Which was fortunate. As I glanced over on it, I saw traffic was completely stopped and the highway was empty, because there was an incident (suicide attempt?) on the overpass. I had heard on the radio there was an accident at Marconi, which is why I had thought things were so slow, but this was a surprise, and had developed about 5 minutes before I arrived there. They were telling people to get off on surface streets, but I was on the only possible way to do that. Lucky me. It only took me 45 minutes to do the normal 20 minute stretch.

I got the wine, got home, and waited impatiently for the time to go to Debby's. She'd asked me to a Valentine's day for widows, bring something red, so I brought red wine. The first time I went there, no one appeared to be home. I drove home to be positive I had the right time, then called... and she was there, apparently in the garage when I rang the doorbell. When I got back, another person was there and another person drove up, so I felt better. My wine went over well, and the food was great. A real disaster for low-carb, spaghetti (Debby had two sauces, but I didn't want to be the one among all the Catholics to remind everyone it was a day of abstinance, so my Ash Wednesday was a total failure!) and two fantastic desserts, but it was a delightful evening with a lot of talk, about widowhood and about other things. A nice Valentine's day after all.

Thursday, Pagan was in town (it was his birthday) but this would have been the only day I could see him and I really needed some time to wind down. I went out to the Retreat House and then came home to finish the jigsaw puzzle.(18 days of work since New Year's Day.) I also signed up for the triduum retreat.

It was really windy. Also, there are magpies building in the palm tree so I have to keep picking up so many sticks.

I took some stuff to St. Vincent de Paul, including my mom's rice cooker.

Friday was, of course, Renaissance. The morning documentary was about the Oscars, and gave me a lot of ideas of movies I would like to see. My Netflix queue somehow never gets smaller. In the Time Travel class, he had 3 short films. My favorite of the three was "Mi-Temps", and "La Jetee" was grim... and was the inspiration for the film we saw the next week, "Twelve Monkeys." I called Notre Dame High School in San Jose to RSVP for the Grandparent's day.

Oooh. Road Scholar is offering an Oberammergau Passion Play tour. When I mentioned it, Father Giltus at the Retreat House said he was possibly going to lead one. I would rather go with him instead of with a bunch of strangers, though the RS one also goes to Salzburg which would be nice. I've found out that I would lose $200 of the $500 deposit (it would be a transfer fee to another program, which I have planned anyway) if I signed up with RS then backed out. So I'm holding back for a short while. At least till the next credit card bill closes, because this month's is so huge I need to recoup a bit. (I paid for the Boxcar Children in full.)

Saturday I had a nice lunch at Marie Callendar's and met a Bob, new member of WPAC. Then Bernadette came by for the car seat, and I also gave her a ton of conditioner (because I kept getting it instead of shampoo) which she says Joanna can use, and fancy material for her costume-making friend.) Thence to Mass, because I had a great plan for Sunday.

Father Brown is Mr. Weasley?

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 560

220.5 miles

bitter cold

369 recordings of 72 types, 3 old SVU, 48 old CPD, and 61 Last Man Standing. 21% clear. (I particularly went mad over Christmas movies.)

Tuesday morning (the 19th) I went to the Widow's Breakfast, and Fay had again crocheted kitchen towels for us, and also did a needlepoint indicator of "clean or dirty" for the dishwasher. It's rather an ugly color, but I believe I'll use it anyway. She also put cookies and trail mix in the bag, but I put them too close to the edge of the table and Pharaoh got them. At least, no temptations for me.

In the afternoon Laurie came by. Her car was in the shop so Father Delgado gave her a ride over, and after a couple of hours with wine and cheese and great conversation, I gave her a ride to the shop. I realize I actually LIKE entertaining and I haven't been doing much of it. Or actually, any at all the last 6 years.

I got a notice from Social Security, a 2% raise... which somehow comes out to the exact same amount I've been getting the last three years! I may actually write them about this. Meanwhile, it looks like the tax cut will actually be good for me.

I asked Frank if he had a drill, because I can't get the hangers into the frame (I really should find Rich's drill and learn to use it. But it's only been 6 years!) He agreed he'll help me, after Christmas.

Wednesday I told Bernadette I would stick around so she could go see Lady Bird. First I took Padreic to Wee Wednesday. This was the least successful of the month... they had lots of kids, and they went through the galleries looking for winter pictures. A lot of this was over Padreic's head. The craft was making icicles from glittery pipe cleaners and beads. He very carefully put 4 beads on, was done, didn't want to twirl it, didn't want to make another. When we got home he put it on the tree. I wish Bernadette had displayed Padreic's tree that he made at my house. Heck, I wish she hadn't lost the alphabet board books, which were hard to collect.

I read to the kids, and then they played with their iPads, and I read, until Bernadette got back. I'm glad she had this chance, as she's been so excited about this movie. I know why I wasn't all that thrilled... I graduated from a small co-ed high school 40 years before Greta Gerwig and her character graduated from a larger all-girls' Catholic high school. Our experiences were totally different. Meanwhile, my girls were less than 20 years different, and from all-girls' Catholic high school, so they had more points of reference.

At home I had boiled that pork shoulder to get the last of the meat off, and used the broth to make 15 bean soup. It was good and I had enough to make two bricks for the freezer as well as this dinner.

Thursday Pagan came and we went to lunch at Fahrenheit 250. Yum. I had the One Meat lunch with cole slaw, as low-carb as I could manage. As I said, Yum. Then we went thrift shopping. I was looking at stereo slides and horrified to see Hawaiian natives referred to as "bucks." Oh, my goodness. Then, in South Sacramento, we were at a Goodwill dump-off station, all the stuff in bins and you buy by weight. I had seen a little penguin to stick in Gareth's stocking and a horse for Joanna's (I'd already given B. a notepad with a candy-cane pen for Joanna, too) and I saw a Thomas train for Padreic's, but then I saw more trains, all magnetic so they fasten together and don't need a rail, and got 13. So I called Bernadette. I thought they'd give him them from themselves, but at least on Facebook she said it was from me.

I was packing up the bean soup for the freezer and noticed the answering machine looked odd. I tried pushing buttons without luck, and thought at first it was broken, but then I picked the phone headset up and discovered the landline was down. I checked all three phones, making sure they were cradled. Nope.

Willie said he was homeless starting in mid-January. I dithered about it for awhile, then told him that while I really like living alone, if he needed to, he could stay here as plan B. He says he has a plan A but it's nice to have a backup plan in case. OK then. (I feel like I owe him for his willingness to house-sit while I was in Africa.)

I was watching Roots and Ed Asner talked about people making adjustments to maintain an evil... like, say, "body autonomy" to excuse the evil of abortion. I'm sure my great-grandchildren will look back on the likes of Planned Parenthood the way we look at slavery.

Friday I got in touch with AT&T and got a repair scheduled. I saw the "Friday at 8 PM" but glossed over the "29th" the first time. I made a quick dash to Raley's for pies. Then I realized I probably wouldn't have a phone for a week. I turned the cell phone on, and got a call... from a telemarketer!

In the afternoon I got the rest of the beds covered with leaves out of the bin. I thought the gardeners wouldn't be here the next two weeks (I was wrong. They came on Saturday. Fortunately, I left a note to stay out of the back yard.) Each wagon load took three scoops from the bin, and I moved 8 wagon loads, so I was tired when I was done.

My neighbor LaVonne brought over taffy. I've been terrible this year. I learned two things this week, that I've got to be better prepared for my neighbors and that I like entertaining.

I watched "Jailhouse Rock" (for the first time) and saw Knott's Berry Farm! The way it was on our honeymoon, before it stopped being a nice little frontier park and turned into a glitzy huge amusement park.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 558
174.1 miles

cold in the mornings, sunny and breezy

368 recordings of 27 types, 60 old SVU. 19% clear.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Monday the heater guy came for the yearly tune-up.

Yesterday I had breakfast with the widows. There were only 4 of us. I really regret this move to the different restaurant.

Then at noon, Pagan came by. He took me to Koreana, which is a super supermarket with all sorts of imported food. I found the banana catsup I was looking for, and some different brands of ramen that I want to try, and some tapioca pearls and some candy for Monica. The pearls are so she can make her own boba tea! (Somehow I doubt she will.)

From there to Fahrenheit 250 that Pagan wanted to try. Very good barbeque indeed.

I hoped that Cost Plus would have an African nativity set, but no. In fact, no nativity sets at all. I guess I'll have to get the online one.

And we stopped at Deseret so he could check out the last thrift shop. A fun afternoon!

Vince didn't call. My TV show ended at 8:15 and I realized he hadn't. I was slightly worried that something was wrong but thought he probably just forgot, and that indeed was the case. Sulk!