Delay delay
Apr. 27th, 2026 11:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bill_schubertI've got three things to do and I'm not doing any of them at the moment. One is some of the volunteer work. I'll be there in the morning but there is stuff I can do here. There is another volunteer that I've been working with to see if we can't improve their information flow some. I've not done anything with the project for a week or so and feel guilty. Then there is the bookkeeper I've been working with. They are about to execute a new system of information intake and categorization I've been helping them look at and I need to spend some time working on it. And I need to work out. I took a couple of weeks off for the most part with my cataract surgery and need to get back on the bandwagon.
That last one is kind of funny as I had an interview with the media person in the company last week. She had read some of my feedback and asked if I could go on record so they could use me in their promos. I love the guy, love what he does and feel really positive about his company so I was glad to help. About that time I decided to just buy into the company for a lifetime membership. It was about $1500 but they took $200 off when I offered to help with their media so that was pretty good. BUT now I've been lazy and haven't been doing the workouts.
Instead of doing all that I'm eating a blueberry muffin and typing this.
Good morning of pickleball, though. A couple of hours worth and I felt pretty good about it. Run around, whack the ball, win a few games.
I guess I'll get back to the more serious procrastination now.
(no subject)
Apr. 27th, 2026 12:52 pmmajuI've been feeling really stressed about the upcoming signing appointment for the sale of my old house, mainly because the first step, before I could join the signing appointment, was verification of my identity. This turned out to be painless, but I couldn't help remembering how much of a process it was trying to verify my identity for the IRS and worrying that this would be more of the same. I had managed to take a good selfie plus acceptable photos of both sides of my driver's licence, and after I'd uploaded those I had to answer half a dozen questions along the lines of "have you ever rented one of the following vehicles?", or "have you ever lived at one of the following addresses?" I got this step out of the way very early in the morning (for a midday appointment) because I didn't know how long it would take. Then I spent the morning unable to settle to anything because I was still stressed about the actual appointment. However, everything went quickly (after I'd turned on my sound and could hear the notary!) and now I don't have to do anything else except wait for the money to land in my bank account. Oh, and I believe someone is going to email me copies of all the documentation after the buyers have signed on Friday.
I did manage to go for a walk before breakfast this morning. It was enjoyable (it was a perfectly clear mild sunny morning) but didn't help with the stress levels.
Violet was also feeling very stressed this morning. She has been playing the glockenspiel (a heavy instrument) for a couple of years and having to lug it to and from school has sometimes been a problem. For Christmas her parents gave her a small luggage trolley (hand dolly?) to carry it on, which helped with the weight, but the soft carry bag for the instrument wasn't very durable, especially for such a heavy instrument, and eventually came to be full of holes. So her parents bought her a hard sided wheeled carry case which is perfect and should last a lot longer than the soft case she had before, but she was very worried that she wouldn't be able to get it onto the school bus because it would be too big to fit in the aisle. When she's stressed she tends to pick on her sisters, so nobody was having a fun morning. She actually wanted to just walk to school to save trying to get the glockenspiel onto the bus, but her mother said she couldn't walk until/unless she had tried and failed to get it onto the bus. Of course in the event, the glockenspiel fitted easily onto the bus and all that worry was for nothing.
I did manage to go for a walk before breakfast this morning. It was enjoyable (it was a perfectly clear mild sunny morning) but didn't help with the stress levels.
Violet was also feeling very stressed this morning. She has been playing the glockenspiel (a heavy instrument) for a couple of years and having to lug it to and from school has sometimes been a problem. For Christmas her parents gave her a small luggage trolley (hand dolly?) to carry it on, which helped with the weight, but the soft carry bag for the instrument wasn't very durable, especially for such a heavy instrument, and eventually came to be full of holes. So her parents bought her a hard sided wheeled carry case which is perfect and should last a lot longer than the soft case she had before, but she was very worried that she wouldn't be able to get it onto the school bus because it would be too big to fit in the aisle. When she's stressed she tends to pick on her sisters, so nobody was having a fun morning. She actually wanted to just walk to school to save trying to get the glockenspiel onto the bus, but her mother said she couldn't walk until/unless she had tried and failed to get it onto the bus. Of course in the event, the glockenspiel fitted easily onto the bus and all that worry was for nothing.
Monday
Apr. 27th, 2026 08:53 amsusandennisThis week promises to be a quiet one with nothing to dread. In other words, lovely.
My swim this morning was wonderful. I think I was just so grateful that the water was not ice cube cold. I've added about 10 minutes onto my swim for really no good reason - it just feels right. I do need to charge up my music player and change songs.
They are still delivering a newspaper to Jim Across The Hall every day and nothing has changed. No one has come to take his things. This week will mark 30 days since they took him and so the deadline for emptying his apartment. I guess the plan is to pay for another month. Curious but none of my beeswax.
No sun out this morning - no rain - just an eye pleasing cloudy. It would be a good day to run errands but I don't really need anything.
So I'll stay in and puzzle and knit and watch TV. The usual. The Mariners play at 5.
I was thinking yesterday about the life I lead now. And how lovely it is. And what I thought it would be when I was in my 20's and 30's. I have not worked now for more than a dozen years. I loved working. I really did. But, I think I really do like this better.
My swim this morning was wonderful. I think I was just so grateful that the water was not ice cube cold. I've added about 10 minutes onto my swim for really no good reason - it just feels right. I do need to charge up my music player and change songs.
They are still delivering a newspaper to Jim Across The Hall every day and nothing has changed. No one has come to take his things. This week will mark 30 days since they took him and so the deadline for emptying his apartment. I guess the plan is to pay for another month. Curious but none of my beeswax.
No sun out this morning - no rain - just an eye pleasing cloudy. It would be a good day to run errands but I don't really need anything.
So I'll stay in and puzzle and knit and watch TV. The usual. The Mariners play at 5.
I was thinking yesterday about the life I lead now. And how lovely it is. And what I thought it would be when I was in my 20's and 30's. I have not worked now for more than a dozen years. I loved working. I really did. But, I think I really do like this better.
(no subject)
Apr. 26th, 2026 12:51 pmmajuI was sleeping on my right side at one point last night and woke up with my right leg feeling very uncomfortable and I have no idea why. I could feel that I was restless for a while before I woke up properly, and realised later that the leg was the reason for the restlessness. I turned onto my left side for a while but woke up again after less than 15 minutes, so then I turned back to my right side and arranged my legs differently, and this time I was able to go back to sleeping soundly.
I went for a walk after breakfast and when I came back I found what looked like a bookmark on my bed. On it was a maths problem (with the answer written in), Aria's name, and 10:30 written prominently across the top. When I asked the girls about it, it turned out that Aria had arranged some kind of show for 10:30 which we were all invited to and this was my ticket. We had to wait until 10:30 because my son in law was out at Costco, but he didn't get home until after 11:30 so then we waited until after lunch to see the show. Aria had set up chairs for each of the adults; on each chair was a soft toy or, for her father, a baseball, and the show consisted of each of us doing something interesting with our toy. She gave me the octopus, and told me to make it talk, and her father had to catch the baseball when she threw it. Her mother was busy doing something else and didn't even make it to the show, so it was all over in about five minutes.
It rained all afternoon yesterday and all night last night, not heavily but very steadily, but now the rain has stopped and the sun is sort of trying to come out.
I started Violet's octopus yesterday afternoon and I hope to get the head/body finished this afternoon. The legs are not as simple as the head but each leg only takes about 15 minutes so the whole thing isn't a really long project.
I went for a walk after breakfast and when I came back I found what looked like a bookmark on my bed. On it was a maths problem (with the answer written in), Aria's name, and 10:30 written prominently across the top. When I asked the girls about it, it turned out that Aria had arranged some kind of show for 10:30 which we were all invited to and this was my ticket. We had to wait until 10:30 because my son in law was out at Costco, but he didn't get home until after 11:30 so then we waited until after lunch to see the show. Aria had set up chairs for each of the adults; on each chair was a soft toy or, for her father, a baseball, and the show consisted of each of us doing something interesting with our toy. She gave me the octopus, and told me to make it talk, and her father had to catch the baseball when she threw it. Her mother was busy doing something else and didn't even make it to the show, so it was all over in about five minutes.
It rained all afternoon yesterday and all night last night, not heavily but very steadily, but now the rain has stopped and the sun is sort of trying to come out.
I started Violet's octopus yesterday afternoon and I hope to get the head/body finished this afternoon. The legs are not as simple as the head but each leg only takes about 15 minutes so the whole thing isn't a really long project.
Little Mr. Muffet
Apr. 26th, 2026 08:41 amsusandennisThe pillow cases are in the washing machine right now. I just passed the bedroom door and saw this.
Nothing entitled about that cat!
The pool heater got turned back on or whatever the fix was, the water temperature was back up this morning. Woot! And my swim was wonderful.
I started a new book last night - I'm pretty sure it's one that I got from Jo's writing about it. A Killing in November by Simon Mason. It's extraordinarily written. Or maybe just well written for the ear. I was sucked in immediately even though there was no dead body in the first 40 minutes! I like my killings early on in the plot. But I'm totally sucked into this one - it kept me up late. AND... it's the first in a series. And there are already 5. Love that.
Yesterday was pretty much baseball, TV and knitting and today is likely to be the same and I'm perfectly fine with that.
My foot that the shots have helped fix is getting un fixed again and it's too soon. The nerves directing the toes get pinched and it's owwwwey to walk on it. I cannot match a shoe to the pain although this morning, my only shoes are the rubber sandals I wear to the pool, so maybe time to swap those out for something else - at least for a few days to test.
Ok the laundry needs folding and hanging.
Nothing entitled about that cat!
The pool heater got turned back on or whatever the fix was, the water temperature was back up this morning. Woot! And my swim was wonderful.
I started a new book last night - I'm pretty sure it's one that I got from Jo's writing about it. A Killing in November by Simon Mason. It's extraordinarily written. Or maybe just well written for the ear. I was sucked in immediately even though there was no dead body in the first 40 minutes! I like my killings early on in the plot. But I'm totally sucked into this one - it kept me up late. AND... it's the first in a series. And there are already 5. Love that.
Yesterday was pretty much baseball, TV and knitting and today is likely to be the same and I'm perfectly fine with that.
My foot that the shots have helped fix is getting un fixed again and it's too soon. The nerves directing the toes get pinched and it's owwwwey to walk on it. I cannot match a shoe to the pain although this morning, my only shoes are the rubber sandals I wear to the pool, so maybe time to swap those out for something else - at least for a few days to test.
Ok the laundry needs folding and hanging.
(no subject)
Apr. 25th, 2026 01:34 pmmajuI went for a run early this morning (~6:30 am) because according to the weather forecast there was a chance of rain from about 8 am onward. While I was out the sky was a clear blue and it was hard to imagine that it could change to rainy later. Because it was clear and the humidity was low it was also quite cold, around 42F/6C, and my clothes were just barely warm enough, so by the time I got home, although I wasn't feeling too cold my hands were chilled and for a while after I got home my fingers were too clumsy to do much.
Later in the morning my daughter asked if I could walk Eden and Aria to the library while Violet was at someone's birthday party at an escape room. It was cloudy by then but not raining, so we walked to the library and spent an hour or so there. By the time we were walking back it was starting to drizzle and we arrived home just as the rain was getting slightly heavier. I feel very well exercised now; I ran about 6 km/3 ½ miles earlier and the walk to and from the library is just over 3 km/2 miles.
I finished off Aria's purple octopus this morning, and she carried it to the library because she said it needed an outing. Now Eden wants me to make her a green one, and Violet wants one made of some pastel variegated yarn she has on hand. Luckily they don't take too long to make.
Later in the morning my daughter asked if I could walk Eden and Aria to the library while Violet was at someone's birthday party at an escape room. It was cloudy by then but not raining, so we walked to the library and spent an hour or so there. By the time we were walking back it was starting to drizzle and we arrived home just as the rain was getting slightly heavier. I feel very well exercised now; I ran about 6 km/3 ½ miles earlier and the walk to and from the library is just over 3 km/2 miles.
I finished off Aria's purple octopus this morning, and she carried it to the library because she said it needed an outing. Now Eden wants me to make her a green one, and Violet wants one made of some pastel variegated yarn she has on hand. Luckily they don't take too long to make.
More pool problems
Apr. 25th, 2026 09:00 amsusandennisThe pool water was a couple of degrees cooler than normal and the jets were shooting out cold water. This is has happened on the weekend so often, that a month or so ago, I asked the facilities lead what I should do when this happens and she had to contact Security and have them call her. I contacted security. The guy did not seem at all interested. I sent the lead an email. It could just be that the boiler needs to be switched on. If they wait until Monday, it will take several days for the pool to heat back up. It might be ok for swimming tomorrow but by Sunday, it will be too cold to be fun. Oh well. I've done what I could.
At least volleyball was good and not terribly chilly.
Today's Mariner game starts right after Elbow Coffee which starts in 30 minutes so that's my day!
First I need to get dressed.
At least volleyball was good and not terribly chilly.
Today's Mariner game starts right after Elbow Coffee which starts in 30 minutes so that's my day!
First I need to get dressed.
rant
Apr. 24th, 2026 04:31 pmsusandennisJan and Dick Gram live in Myrna's old apartment. Jan just came to my door and asked if I was busy. Their printer was offline and they couldn't get it online. Windows and Epson. I last used a Windows computer maybe 10 years ago. I'm not sure I've ever used an Epson printer.
Dick has a very large voice and he wanted me to know that the printer worked two nights ago and he put in new cartridges and why does it not work now. What is your password, Dick. The printer worked two nights ago and he just put in new cartridges and why does it not work when you need it. So you don't know your wifi password? Why won't it work when I need it?
I learned a while back, by accident, that an iphone will give you the wifi password you are using if you dig deep enough into the network info. Then I remembered that Jan has an iphone and so I was able to get the password which is about 25 characters long and has 3 dashes. Of course the Epson keypad has no dashes. My looking for it erased all the work I had done so far.
And, I need to mention that this was in a tiny room that is stuffed to the gills with furniture and papers. There is barely enough room to stand, much less get to the printer and it's about 85 degrees.
So I bailed. Sorry. Call IT. If they have left for the weekend, send your documents to the reception desk. They will be happy to print them out for you. I felt badly about it until I got home and did a search on how to get dashes out of that stupid Epson keypad and Google didn't know either. Now I no longer care. Those Timber Ridge IT guys are not paid enough.
p.s. BUT Google did know how to find the wifi password on an Android phone. I never knew that either.
Dick has a very large voice and he wanted me to know that the printer worked two nights ago and he put in new cartridges and why does it not work now. What is your password, Dick. The printer worked two nights ago and he just put in new cartridges and why does it not work when you need it. So you don't know your wifi password? Why won't it work when I need it?
I learned a while back, by accident, that an iphone will give you the wifi password you are using if you dig deep enough into the network info. Then I remembered that Jan has an iphone and so I was able to get the password which is about 25 characters long and has 3 dashes. Of course the Epson keypad has no dashes. My looking for it erased all the work I had done so far.
And, I need to mention that this was in a tiny room that is stuffed to the gills with furniture and papers. There is barely enough room to stand, much less get to the printer and it's about 85 degrees.
So I bailed. Sorry. Call IT. If they have left for the weekend, send your documents to the reception desk. They will be happy to print them out for you. I felt badly about it until I got home and did a search on how to get dashes out of that stupid Epson keypad and Google didn't know either. Now I no longer care. Those Timber Ridge IT guys are not paid enough.
p.s. BUT Google did know how to find the wifi password on an Android phone. I never knew that either.
(no subject)
Apr. 24th, 2026 01:39 pmmajuAria's class concert this morning was fun. I had an excellent seat, a few rows back from the front but with a clear view straight ahead to Aria between the various people sitting in front of me. When I first walked in she was looking very shy; I think she suddenly got overcome when all the parents started arriving. I'm not even sure whether she saw me, but I hope she did. Anyway, she perked right up when they started singing and was very animated, doing all the actions and obviously singing loudly. (She's a good singer.) I took quite a lot of photos and a couple of videos for her parents. After the concert we all went to the classrooms (there are three first grade classes) and there was a lot of milling around while the children ate their special "post concert snacks". This felt awkward to me, since most of the other parents seemed to know each other and I'm sure my daughter would have known most of them too, but I didn't know any of them. I've met the mothers of a couple of Aria's friends but neither of those friends is in her class.
I've got a virtual signing appointment for the sale of my house on Monday, and I've been feeling sort of nervous about that. I was also nervous about going to Aria's concert since I don't know my way around her school very well. I needn't have worried about finding my way to the concert, since the teachers let all the parents into the school at the same time and then we were thoroughly guided to where we needed to be, but this plus stress about the Monday appointment have been filling my mind and crowding out other things, and last night I couldn't get to sleep for a long time.
I've got a virtual signing appointment for the sale of my house on Monday, and I've been feeling sort of nervous about that. I was also nervous about going to Aria's concert since I don't know my way around her school very well. I needn't have worried about finding my way to the concert, since the teachers let all the parents into the school at the same time and then we were thoroughly guided to where we needed to be, but this plus stress about the Monday appointment have been filling my mind and crowding out other things, and last night I couldn't get to sleep for a long time.
(no subject)
Apr. 24th, 2026 01:21 pmmajuFrom ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thefridayfive
1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college? High school: 1960s. University: 1990s, but by then I was much older and much less influenced by fashion and behaviour trends.
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style? Stirrup pants.
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis? Yes. I often find some of my favourite 1960s songs on YouTube and go down a rabbit hole listening to them.
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college? My hairstyle was the same as it is now - short, parted on the side, completely untreated, but back then it was blondish brown and now it's grey. In the intervening years it's been long, short, long, short…
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college? I have no idea because I lived on a farm and had no way of hanging out with anybody outside of school hours.
thefridayfive1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college? High school: 1960s. University: 1990s, but by then I was much older and much less influenced by fashion and behaviour trends.
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style? Stirrup pants.
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis? Yes. I often find some of my favourite 1960s songs on YouTube and go down a rabbit hole listening to them.
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college? My hairstyle was the same as it is now - short, parted on the side, completely untreated, but back then it was blondish brown and now it's grey. In the intervening years it's been long, short, long, short…
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college? I have no idea because I lived on a farm and had no way of hanging out with anybody outside of school hours.
Latest breakfast favorite
Apr. 24th, 2026 08:57 amsusandennisI do not do well if I skip breakfast. So I don't but I also don't have a lot of patience with breakfasts requiring lots of ingredients, elaborate prep and/or dirtying of many items. I do have a tendency to find a good idea and have it every day until another good idea comes in to replace it. Currently I'm one egg scrambled with a fork full of cottage cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Except now I am out of tortillas. So a trip to the grocery is on the agenda. I think I'll go to QFC and score one of their poke bowls which will do nicely 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner.
I just picked up next week's Timber Ridge menus and there are a bunch of good choices. The past couple of weeks have been stinkers but next week... yum.
This morning was the first morning that I had to lower the shades to enjoy my coffee. I love my shades. This morning situation won't last long - a month or so and then the sun moves on.
I had a wonderful swim this morning. That forced week off has benefits of double enjoyment now.
The Mariners are in the Midwest for the week so nice early times.
I have a load of laundry that I put in before I went to swim. It's now nearly ready to come out for folding and hanging. And I need to get dressed. Time to get on with the day!
p.s. This past week, I misplaced a very handy metal retractable tape measure that I've had for years. Gone. Just gone. And now FOUND!! And it's very clean.
Except now I am out of tortillas. So a trip to the grocery is on the agenda. I think I'll go to QFC and score one of their poke bowls which will do nicely 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner.
I just picked up next week's Timber Ridge menus and there are a bunch of good choices. The past couple of weeks have been stinkers but next week... yum.
This morning was the first morning that I had to lower the shades to enjoy my coffee. I love my shades. This morning situation won't last long - a month or so and then the sun moves on.
I had a wonderful swim this morning. That forced week off has benefits of double enjoyment now.
The Mariners are in the Midwest for the week so nice early times.
I have a load of laundry that I put in before I went to swim. It's now nearly ready to come out for folding and hanging. And I need to get dressed. Time to get on with the day!
p.s. This past week, I misplaced a very handy metal retractable tape measure that I've had for years. Gone. Just gone. And now FOUND!! And it's very clean.
Back to normal for a few days
Apr. 23rd, 2026 05:12 pmbill_schubert The GDs haven't landed yet in Boston. Their flight was delayed half an hour or so but they easily made it through a mostly empty security line and onto the plane. At Juliette's age I'd already spent a summer on my own at a summer job in South Carolina. The gig and living arrangements were all made by my father but executed by me without much assistance when I was still 16. In retrospect my parents prepared me much more than these two for living in the world. I did not, of course, appreciate what they did but I sure as hell was independent.
I think what surprises me the most is that neigher of the girls use computers or actually know how to use computers. Other than getting to their games and texting systems they don't much know how to use their phones. They neither one had downloaded the SouthWest Airlines app and their father checked them in and texted them their boarding pass before I had a chance to make them do it themselves.
Younger than Juliette and Lil by a few years, my two sons travelled from Boston to Texas to visit my wife (previous edition) and me. Their flight was diverted and as this was before cell phones we were unaware that their flight was landing in Houston about the time we got to DFW. We found out when we were paged over the intercom. My sons had found a public telephone and called DFW, had us paged, and told us they were in Houston and what the flight was for the Houston to DFT leg. I'm sure they had help from the stewardesses but I suspect they would have figured it out.
Some of it is the male/female divide but much of it was just making them solve problems on their own.
We had the girls for two days so that is not even long enough to learn who they are much less do anything about it. I did discover that at 17 Juliette has neither driver's license nor permit. I'd had my own car and drove from North Carolina to South Carolina by myself before that age. She says she is too scared to drive. I bought her a journal for what will soon be her 18th birthday "Do one thing each day that scares you" and will send it to her once I've got it wrapped.
They don't like AI and seem to think that saying that absolves them of dealing with the issue. This is mostly Juliette who has some artistic potential. She's interested in medical art science and feels like AI has taken her future job. My thought was get over it and don't be a victim at 17. It stunts your growth. But I didn't say anything. They are standing on the edge of the pool worried that the water might be wet.
That age group and mentality does not happen in a vacuum. I suspect that the group of high school seniors she hangs out with share that view of their future being stolen rather than the fact that they have a new future that is open to so many varied possibilities that no one alive can envision what or when. That was true for my generation but is even more so for theirs.
As I write this I'm thinking that I need to write a letter to her to put with the book.
Anyway, it was fun. On the way to the airport Juliette, the 17 year old, asked if there was a Buc-ees we could stop at on the way. I had to tell her that there was one an hour north of us and an hour south but nothing in the actual Austin area. Had we another day we would have gone to see the dinosaurs with a Buc-ees stop on the way. Alas, their time was too short. Neither did we have Mexican food.
So we started a list for next time.
I think what surprises me the most is that neigher of the girls use computers or actually know how to use computers. Other than getting to their games and texting systems they don't much know how to use their phones. They neither one had downloaded the SouthWest Airlines app and their father checked them in and texted them their boarding pass before I had a chance to make them do it themselves.
Younger than Juliette and Lil by a few years, my two sons travelled from Boston to Texas to visit my wife (previous edition) and me. Their flight was diverted and as this was before cell phones we were unaware that their flight was landing in Houston about the time we got to DFW. We found out when we were paged over the intercom. My sons had found a public telephone and called DFW, had us paged, and told us they were in Houston and what the flight was for the Houston to DFT leg. I'm sure they had help from the stewardesses but I suspect they would have figured it out.
Some of it is the male/female divide but much of it was just making them solve problems on their own.
We had the girls for two days so that is not even long enough to learn who they are much less do anything about it. I did discover that at 17 Juliette has neither driver's license nor permit. I'd had my own car and drove from North Carolina to South Carolina by myself before that age. She says she is too scared to drive. I bought her a journal for what will soon be her 18th birthday "Do one thing each day that scares you" and will send it to her once I've got it wrapped.
They don't like AI and seem to think that saying that absolves them of dealing with the issue. This is mostly Juliette who has some artistic potential. She's interested in medical art science and feels like AI has taken her future job. My thought was get over it and don't be a victim at 17. It stunts your growth. But I didn't say anything. They are standing on the edge of the pool worried that the water might be wet.
That age group and mentality does not happen in a vacuum. I suspect that the group of high school seniors she hangs out with share that view of their future being stolen rather than the fact that they have a new future that is open to so many varied possibilities that no one alive can envision what or when. That was true for my generation but is even more so for theirs.
As I write this I'm thinking that I need to write a letter to her to put with the book.
Anyway, it was fun. On the way to the airport Juliette, the 17 year old, asked if there was a Buc-ees we could stop at on the way. I had to tell her that there was one an hour north of us and an hour south but nothing in the actual Austin area. Had we another day we would have gone to see the dinosaurs with a Buc-ees stop on the way. Alas, their time was too short. Neither did we have Mexican food.
So we started a list for next time.
(no subject)
Apr. 23rd, 2026 12:51 pmmajuThere's always something with Aria! She's had a loose upper front tooth for quite a while; the tooth has just been hanging by a thread but stubbornly refusing to completely disengage. Yesterday she was at a friend's place (with her mother and Eden) and when they came home she came rushing down to show Violet, who was with me in the basement, that her tooth was out. And the way it came out was surprising: somebody, probably my daughter, tied a thread around the tooth and tied the other end of the thread to a remote control car. Then the car was set in motion and boom, the tooth was out. I wish I'd been there to see it.
Aria is very excited about me going to her school performance tomorrow. She keeps reminding me, in case I forget.
I was thinking of going for a run before breakfast this morning but when it came to the time I just didn't feel like it, so I decided to go after breakfast instead, when it would be a bit warmer. It was above freezing early in the morning but the temperature rose slightly more later in the morning. By the time "after breakfast" rolled around I didn't feel very motivated but I made myself go out and did enjoy being out in the sun, but the humidity this week is higher than last week so it wasn't quite as enjoyable being out as it has been. Unfortunately I know it's usually very humid here all summer so I'm resigned to sweaty runs and walks.
Aria is very excited about me going to her school performance tomorrow. She keeps reminding me, in case I forget.
I was thinking of going for a run before breakfast this morning but when it came to the time I just didn't feel like it, so I decided to go after breakfast instead, when it would be a bit warmer. It was above freezing early in the morning but the temperature rose slightly more later in the morning. By the time "after breakfast" rolled around I didn't feel very motivated but I made myself go out and did enjoy being out in the sun, but the humidity this week is higher than last week so it wasn't quite as enjoyable being out as it has been. Unfortunately I know it's usually very humid here all summer so I'm resigned to sweaty runs and walks.
Thursday
Apr. 23rd, 2026 09:19 amsusandennisIt was good to get back to volleyball this morning even if the game itself was pretty meh. We have one guy who is only about half there mentally and he's really a pain to play with. He rarely shows up any more but he was there today. But it was ok. At least it was good to get back to moving.
About once a quarter, they have a Resident Update Meeting where the heads of the various departments give a, hopefully brief, state the state address. Yesterday of the 6 presenters, 4 were, indeed brief, and provided good info. 2 were dreadful - presented nothing interesting and presented it in as lengthy and boring way possible. At least most of the presenters have now quit reading the slides to us.
The sections of nursing care, memory care, and assisted living are full up and always have been. The lines to get in them are long. Timber Ridge contracts with other places to take the overflow - like Jim Across The Hall - but that is expensive in inconvenient for all. They have been saying for as long as I've been here that they are looking at various solutions to the problem. Yesterday was the first time I got the impression they really were. They are looking at expanding and, it sounds like, building something adjacent which ain't gonna be easy since two sides are occupied - a school and apartments - and the other two sides are steep hillsides.
I've developed a sore spot on an important finger from the doll knitting so I switched to one of my other projects last night. A blanket of very large squares. I finished a square before I realized that I had done it exactly backwards. So I ripped it out and got the first row started correctly before bed last night.
I may do laundry today - or tomorrow - I have an Amazon return that is not worth much so no hurry. I need a haircut. No baseball today. I'll finish my book but I have several candidates for Next.
About once a quarter, they have a Resident Update Meeting where the heads of the various departments give a, hopefully brief, state the state address. Yesterday of the 6 presenters, 4 were, indeed brief, and provided good info. 2 were dreadful - presented nothing interesting and presented it in as lengthy and boring way possible. At least most of the presenters have now quit reading the slides to us.
The sections of nursing care, memory care, and assisted living are full up and always have been. The lines to get in them are long. Timber Ridge contracts with other places to take the overflow - like Jim Across The Hall - but that is expensive in inconvenient for all. They have been saying for as long as I've been here that they are looking at various solutions to the problem. Yesterday was the first time I got the impression they really were. They are looking at expanding and, it sounds like, building something adjacent which ain't gonna be easy since two sides are occupied - a school and apartments - and the other two sides are steep hillsides.
I've developed a sore spot on an important finger from the doll knitting so I switched to one of my other projects last night. A blanket of very large squares. I finished a square before I realized that I had done it exactly backwards. So I ripped it out and got the first row started correctly before bed last night.
I may do laundry today - or tomorrow - I have an Amazon return that is not worth much so no hurry. I need a haircut. No baseball today. I'll finish my book but I have several candidates for Next.
(no subject)
Apr. 22nd, 2026 12:43 pmmajuRecently I've had a couple of mysterious calls from some place called Advanced Radiology Consultants about a supposed appointment I'm supposed to have with them, which I know nothing about. When they called just now I had Call Assist (by Google) screen the call and the caller texted that it was about scheduling an appointment. On the screen were three buttons: answer, cancel, or reschedule, so I clicked on cancel and a message came back "cancelling referral". None of it makes any sense to me, but I'm hoping I won't get any more of these calls until or unless I talk to my Primacy Care nurse about a necessary test.
This morning I got out of my comfort zone and drove over to Costco (about 10 miles/16 km away) to pick up a membership card. I've been thinking about how I need new hearing aids and Costco seems to offer good audiology services but to access those I need a Costco membership. So now I have the membership card and now I have to schedule a hearing test. While I was out I went to WholeFoods (basically next door to Costco) and bought myself some home fries and sausages for lunch. Yum. They were so good I now wish I'd bought enough for tomorrow's lunch as well.
I've been so sequestered here over the winter that it felt like a big deal to drive to Costco; I'm quite familiar with a small area of about 2 or 3 miles radius around this house, but I'm not very familiar with anything further than that. However, the drive was fine, and now that the weather has improved I think I should start taking myself to places further away every so often.
This morning I got out of my comfort zone and drove over to Costco (about 10 miles/16 km away) to pick up a membership card. I've been thinking about how I need new hearing aids and Costco seems to offer good audiology services but to access those I need a Costco membership. So now I have the membership card and now I have to schedule a hearing test. While I was out I went to WholeFoods (basically next door to Costco) and bought myself some home fries and sausages for lunch. Yum. They were so good I now wish I'd bought enough for tomorrow's lunch as well.
I've been so sequestered here over the winter that it felt like a big deal to drive to Costco; I'm quite familiar with a small area of about 2 or 3 miles radius around this house, but I'm not very familiar with anything further than that. However, the drive was fine, and now that the weather has improved I think I should start taking myself to places further away every so often.
Surf's back up
Apr. 22nd, 2026 08:37 amsusandennisYesterday afternoon Erica sent out the note that the pool was open again. It was too late for swimming - I'm a morning only swimmer - but not too late for anticipating this morning's swim. Which I did. And it was glorious.
Although, I do have to say that my skin really enjoyed dry dock. Spending 1/2 to 2 hours in water every day can dry out this old shell.
The Mariners lost again - sigh. Today is an afternoon game so at least we will get the loss out of the way early. And they have tomorrow off. I wonder when management heads will start to roll on down the road.
I have about a half dozen large flour tortillas that are really just too big. I was thinking yesterday, I need to go to the store and get some of the smaller ones to put my egg in for breakfast. Then, this morning, I spied the scissors and BAM! tortilla the perfect size. Ha!
I'm really into this book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It's kind of like a car wreck. I can't not read it but the main character is pissing me off. I'm not a letter writer. I receive very few letters which is good because they require a return letter and I find that annoying. I very much appreciate emails and texts over all other forms of communications. But reading someone else's letters is delicious. Especially someone my age. I spent a few hours yesterday listening while I knitted. I could repeat today. But that would finish it off and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
They have started making and selling these great quiche tarts down in the Bistro. They are the perfect size and quite tasty and they freeze beautifully. So that's been my dinner for a few nights. Very excellent. I have half of yesterday's lunch for lunch today. And since I've solved the tortilla problem, breakfast is sorted for the rest of the week. nice.
Although, I do have to say that my skin really enjoyed dry dock. Spending 1/2 to 2 hours in water every day can dry out this old shell.
The Mariners lost again - sigh. Today is an afternoon game so at least we will get the loss out of the way early. And they have tomorrow off. I wonder when management heads will start to roll on down the road.
I have about a half dozen large flour tortillas that are really just too big. I was thinking yesterday, I need to go to the store and get some of the smaller ones to put my egg in for breakfast. Then, this morning, I spied the scissors and BAM! tortilla the perfect size. Ha!
I'm really into this book The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It's kind of like a car wreck. I can't not read it but the main character is pissing me off. I'm not a letter writer. I receive very few letters which is good because they require a return letter and I find that annoying. I very much appreciate emails and texts over all other forms of communications. But reading someone else's letters is delicious. Especially someone my age. I spent a few hours yesterday listening while I knitted. I could repeat today. But that would finish it off and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
They have started making and selling these great quiche tarts down in the Bistro. They are the perfect size and quite tasty and they freeze beautifully. So that's been my dinner for a few nights. Very excellent. I have half of yesterday's lunch for lunch today. And since I've solved the tortilla problem, breakfast is sorted for the rest of the week. nice.
Search maintenance
Apr. 22nd, 2026 09:19 am![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
mark posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceHappy Wednesday!
I'm taking search offline sometime today to upgrade the server to a new instance type. It should be down for a day or so -- sorry for the inconvenience. If you're curious, the existing search machine is over 10 years old and was starting to accumulate a decade of cruft...!
Also, apparently these older machines cost more than twice what the newer ones cost, on top of being slower. Trying to save a bit of maintenance and cost, and hopefully a Wednesday is okay!
Edited: The other cool thing is that this also means that the search index will be effectively realtime afterwards... no more waiting a few minutes for the indexer to catch new content.
The fam
Apr. 21st, 2026 09:11 pmbill_schubert
Me, Juliette and Lil.
As I type this I can hear the two of them in the kitchen with Dana.
We never did make it very far today but the three women went to Sophora and Miniso (Japanese teen store) as well as a few stores downtown and a pizza joint that we like.
Tomorrow we really are going to Austin.
(no subject)
Apr. 21st, 2026 01:42 pmmajuFrom seaivy
1. Bagels or donuts? Bagels are more satisfying but donuts are delicious. (I'm going to miss the bagels from the New York Bagels place near my old house.)
2. Bar soap or body wash? Bar soap. I use it very sparingly.
3. Being afraid or being embarrassed? Neither is any fun.
4. Big bash or intimate gathering? Intimate gathering
5. Board games or video games? Board games.
6. Bridgerton or The Crown? The Crown. I've never watched Bridgerton and somehow it's never appealed to me.
7. Cardio or weights? Cardio
8. Carpet or hardwood? Hardwood with area rungs.
9. Clue/Cluedo or Monopoly? Cluedo. Monopoly goes on for too long.
10. Cook or do the dishes? Do the dishes.
11. Damp socks or a pebble in your shoe? Damp socks.
12. Dragons or unicorns? Neither
13. Family vacation or solo trip? Both have their place.
14. Fork or spoon? Both are necessary at different times. Try eating soup with a fork!
15. General admission or assigned seats? Assigned seats.
16. Give or receive? Both.
17. Hot cocoa or hot cider? Hot cocoa
18. Iced tea or hot tea? Hot tea
19. Italian food or Mexican food? Italian
20. Long car ride or short plane trip? Long car rides can be a lot of fun with the right companions. Short plane trips are for when you're in a hurry.
21. Mountains or beach? Mountain, but beaches can be beautiful.
22. Movie candy or popcorn? Neither, but I'd always choose candy over popcorn.
23. Musical theater or concert? Neither.
24. Nightlight or no light? No light.
25. Ninja attack or pirate attack? I don't want to be attacked by anyone or anything.
26. Outer space or bottom of the ocean? There are some absolutely incredible things at the bottom of the ocean which I'd rather see than go to outer space.
27. Painful truth or comforting lie? Sometimes you need one, sometimes you need the other.
28. Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes.
29. Passion or friendship? Both.
30. Phone call or text? Text
31. Pizza or tacos? Pizza (isn't this basically the same as question 19?)
32. Play or concert? Neither.
33. Playlists or podcasts? PLaylists
34. Puzzles or coloring books? Puzzles
35. Rain or snow? Snow.
36. Ramen or pho? Ramen
37. River or lake? A river flowing into a lake
38. Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Ferris wheel. I love those things.
39. Roller skates or ice skates? Ice skates
40. Salt or pepper? Just a tiny pinch of salt.
41. Singing in the shower or singing in the car? Singing in the car.
42. Skinny fries or thick cut? Thick cut
43. Sneezing or coughing? Sneezing. It's usually over quickly, wheras coughing can go on for a long time.
44. Snowboarding or skateboarding? Neither. I'm too old.
45. Snowmen or sandcastles? Snowmen
46. Spicy or mild? Mild
47. Street food or fine dining? Street food.
48. Subtitles or dubbed? Subtitles, but I'll take dubbed if I have to - with subtitles as well.
49. Wine or beer? Neither.
50. Zoo or aquarium? Aquarium
seaivy1. Bagels or donuts? Bagels are more satisfying but donuts are delicious. (I'm going to miss the bagels from the New York Bagels place near my old house.)
2. Bar soap or body wash? Bar soap. I use it very sparingly.
3. Being afraid or being embarrassed? Neither is any fun.
4. Big bash or intimate gathering? Intimate gathering
5. Board games or video games? Board games.
6. Bridgerton or The Crown? The Crown. I've never watched Bridgerton and somehow it's never appealed to me.
7. Cardio or weights? Cardio
8. Carpet or hardwood? Hardwood with area rungs.
9. Clue/Cluedo or Monopoly? Cluedo. Monopoly goes on for too long.
10. Cook or do the dishes? Do the dishes.
11. Damp socks or a pebble in your shoe? Damp socks.
12. Dragons or unicorns? Neither
13. Family vacation or solo trip? Both have their place.
14. Fork or spoon? Both are necessary at different times. Try eating soup with a fork!
15. General admission or assigned seats? Assigned seats.
16. Give or receive? Both.
17. Hot cocoa or hot cider? Hot cocoa
18. Iced tea or hot tea? Hot tea
19. Italian food or Mexican food? Italian
20. Long car ride or short plane trip? Long car rides can be a lot of fun with the right companions. Short plane trips are for when you're in a hurry.
21. Mountains or beach? Mountain, but beaches can be beautiful.
22. Movie candy or popcorn? Neither, but I'd always choose candy over popcorn.
23. Musical theater or concert? Neither.
24. Nightlight or no light? No light.
25. Ninja attack or pirate attack? I don't want to be attacked by anyone or anything.
26. Outer space or bottom of the ocean? There are some absolutely incredible things at the bottom of the ocean which I'd rather see than go to outer space.
27. Painful truth or comforting lie? Sometimes you need one, sometimes you need the other.
28. Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes.
29. Passion or friendship? Both.
30. Phone call or text? Text
31. Pizza or tacos? Pizza (isn't this basically the same as question 19?)
32. Play or concert? Neither.
33. Playlists or podcasts? PLaylists
34. Puzzles or coloring books? Puzzles
35. Rain or snow? Snow.
36. Ramen or pho? Ramen
37. River or lake? A river flowing into a lake
38. Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Ferris wheel. I love those things.
39. Roller skates or ice skates? Ice skates
40. Salt or pepper? Just a tiny pinch of salt.
41. Singing in the shower or singing in the car? Singing in the car.
42. Skinny fries or thick cut? Thick cut
43. Sneezing or coughing? Sneezing. It's usually over quickly, wheras coughing can go on for a long time.
44. Snowboarding or skateboarding? Neither. I'm too old.
45. Snowmen or sandcastles? Snowmen
46. Spicy or mild? Mild
47. Street food or fine dining? Street food.
48. Subtitles or dubbed? Subtitles, but I'll take dubbed if I have to - with subtitles as well.
49. Wine or beer? Neither.
50. Zoo or aquarium? Aquarium