bill_schubert | Reading

I read an ad for a water filter on Facebook that said that energy shortages could affect water supplies. It was trying to scare us and it said that the filters are in short supply, but you can get water filters from REI! I decided that having one (from REI) is not a bad idea though. And I want to get a folding tricycle in case there’s an energy shortage. No, I don’t trust the way things are going. (I do have a bicycle but don’t know how to ride it. And a tricycle would be better for groceries and such.) Actually, a rain barrel is not a bad thing to have too. I can always use it to water the garden.

Overslept. I was scrambling to get myself together for my physical therapy appointment, but I decided to call in sick for the appointment and dental appointment, and I’m going back to sleep. Overslept my nap too. Jammed into the shower in case we needed to appear on camera for the presentation today. (We didn’t.)

The presentation today went well except for a moment of worry because the Zoom meeting was waiting for my boss to log on, who is at a conference in LA. One of my colleagues texted her and she logged on.

Napped after work and way overslept. Fed the fur faces. I’m making myself some food. Ate. I need to go back to bed soon.

summersgate

The moon tonight. I was just talking to Dave up north. He was driving home from Chloe and Jimmy's house in Weedville and said the full moon was beautiful. So Kathy and I went out into the backyard and I took this pic. Had one of those thoughts about how Dave and I were both looking at the same thing even though we were a thousand miles away.

Today's art a day: Crescent.

bill_schubert

I agree with Fogerty's ideas and his stance in Fortunate Son. But, there's no way around it, I'm the antagonist in his son. I was born on third base and have felt like I should have done more with it. But I've brought along some people who needed help and still do.

Two lunches this week. On Saturday I met with two of my previous employees. We still get together on occasion. One of them has a fiance who also comes to the lunch. On reflection I'm the only one without PTSD and all the resultant symptoms. We talked about that. It is an open group. The couple are both refugees from Johova's Witness families and have been excommunicated and no longer have any relationship with their families. The other two had bad childhoods. Really bad. Everyone's gotten to the point they can talk about it over lunch but it is a bit weird for me.

Then there is today's lunch. Polar opposite. It is with the three business people I met at networking years ago. We meet every month and discuss business and families. The three of them are wildly successful and the same age as my two kids. An insurance agent who has enough money to throw a bunch into another business, which will also be successful, just so his wife can have her own business. They are just taking off and learning what they need to know about the food product business but it will be a million dollar business soon enough.
Then there is the pest control guy whose multi million dollar business is growing by 30% per year. He no longer really needs to do anything with it now as he's done all the work to make it operate on its own, the way business should be He does the marketing and some sales because he wants to buy will soon be staying home more. He has three adopted children in addition to the natural ones. The three adopted ones need some more hands on so he's going to do that more. He's got all the choices he could ever want.
Then there is the woman who owns her own bookkeeping service with half a dozen employees and enough income to employee a consultant, me, to help her grow and get more of her businenss as a process than it is now.

All the people of both lunches are happy, growing, and doing good things in their own area.

And I get to hang out and watch and applaud and enjoy and occasionally make some pithy comment. Their token father figure Buddha.

I received a paycheck today from the bookkeeper. The first half of our agreed upon first initial project pay. There might be more projects but I said let's just go this far for this much and see what we thing. And so I received way too much, of course, for what I feel like I contributed but she's happy and I'm motivated to do more. And it is fun.

If I were one of those people who walked on eggshells waiting for the floor to collapse when things are going well I'd be terrified now. But I'm not. I lean into good fortune and opportunity so I'm pretty happy right now.

And very grateful.

I came home from lunch, opened the door, and was greeted by Beaux galloping towards me in his happy dance to see I'm home.

Icing on the cake.

maju

Spring takes its time arriving in this part of the world, but when it's time, it happens quite suddenly. Almost overnight, trees change from bare and grey to covered in blossom or leafy and green. After the first gradual appearance of bulbs here and there (crocuses followed by a few daffodils), now there is a profusion of daffodils plus tulips also appearing. Even on a grey drizzly day like today, it's beautiful outside with all the spring colour.

I keep hearing about hot days in the DC area already, and I'm glad to be here, slightly further north, where the heat hasn't arrived yet. We had a slight taste of it, with some warm days in the middle of April, but it wasn't really hot, although the girls were outside in their bathers playing under the sprinkler.

I woke up to rain this morning; it continued until around lunch time, so I had a lazy morning and then went for a walk after lunch. I almost didn't go, but staying inside being sedentary all day didn't appeal.

susandennis

I've started this entry a half dozen times writing about different things and then wiped them out and started again. I think the reality is that I've got nothin'. I have a wonderfully comfortable life that just does not change. On the one hand, it's marvelous for living but, on the other, it sucks for journaling.

A few weeks ago, I bought an afghan kit from Herschners (online yarn store). They have a very nice, soft worsted weight yarn that is really nice to work with and this kit uses it in four colors that I like. So I bought it. But the pattern turned out to be not so interesting. So I made up a new one but then abandoned that one and tried another. Fail again. I think now, I may be on the right track.

I remember years ago, I had a friend who was trying to get into woodworking as a hobby. He was so frustrated by my knitting and crocheting in contrast. "If you fuck up or change your mind, you just unravel and start again. If I fuck up or change my mind, my wood won't go back to the way it was! Not fair."

The Mariners won again yesterday and now are off until tomorrow. After my Dad died and Mom had spare time on her hands, she would follow the Mariners with me. At that time we had a pitcher who was a massive asshole. And, together, we hated him. This coming weekend, they are retiring his jersey number* and all the recent games have been peppered with vignettes about what a miracle worker he was on the mound. I am so over it. I will be very glad when this weekend's games are over and I know Mom will be, too.

*After his career was over, Ichiro joined the Mariners and picked the same number - 51. Nothing to do with the asshole pitcher, it was just the number he had always had in Japan. Having that number was in his initial contract. They retired Ichiro's number a few years ago. So now asshole's number will just be a retirement repeat.

I have 3 Amazon returns. I think I'll take them today and stop into Safeway for a couple of things.

I forgot to suss out that sports car guy from yesterday. I'll look when I got down to the car today.

zforce

I tend to write these posts when I'm working from home. Unfortunately I have less time to to that now. Our hybrid work schedule is going from two days at home and three days in the office to one day at home and four days in the office. Sales are slow and the CEO wants to torture us. He was in the NY office for three weeks yelling at the sales team in meetings and going through everyone's desks at night and throwing away stuff. We are supposed to have a clean desk policy. It would help if they provided us with storage! They want us in the office more, but we can't personalize our desks?

I was told at my last review that I wasn't getting a raise. Well, that turned out to not be true. I did receive a small one. It amounts to maybe another $60 per month. I suppose I shouldn't complain. Not everyone on my team got one. I have been taking up the slack of a team member who was let go in the middle of last year. I think I deserve a little more money.

Some bad news at work is that my manager is moving to a new position. I would have loved to have been appointed as a team leader, but no. They are making one of our UK CSMs a manager for all the US team. Not looking forward to this. The woman is at least 20 years my junior and is a real company gal. I hope she isn't going to insist on playing by the book. My current manager gives our team a lot of freedom. We can work from home as needed, which is important for things like doctor appointments or in my case, rehearsals. Current manager warned the new one I am accustomed to working from home when I want because of my play schedules. I hope that doesn't cause any trouble.

Last day of April and it's so gloomy out! April showers indeed. I hope we have a better May. April started out better than it ended. The week ahead looks confused. We have 70s and rainy and 50s and sunny and nothing is consistent anywhere. At least it's not snow? Maybe the long range forecast will improve. Weather is never guaranteed, right?

Kevin told me yesterday I looked like I lost weight. I wish! I have been making an effort to eat better when not out with theater friends, but I guess it's not good enough. I like to think his observations about my weight are related to success in returning to the weight room. I am managing to keep up some lifting despite the injuries. I'm already adding weight to my workouts. I'm still pretty strong. I am impressed with how well I can hold a boat pose.

Unfortunately my shoulder still hurts. It hurts less, but it hurts. I still have to be careful with some movements.

My hamstring has improved, but it's not fully recovered. It isn't getting worse, but I think I am kidding myself if I think I will never have it looked at or get therapy for it. I just don't want to spend the money. I am hoping to wait it out until the fall. If I can manage the pain and do the exercises needed to at least partially heal it, I will look into doing the full work in September.

It's May. I have to figure out what to do for Mom's birthday and Mother's Day. Sian is talking about making a visit around this time. I would like to plan all this stuff around her. So much to figure out. I should get on the ball and ask Erik if he has any plans. I think I will invite Dad over for Father's Day dinner. I want to make lasagne fully from scratch and maybe some homemade ice cream.

days_unfolding

Got up around 6:30 AM. Threw myself together and got my blood test done a little after 8. The blood test person asked me which arm, and I said, “Whichever arm in which you can get a good vein.” She said, “Oh, you’re going to be like that.” She found one. I can check that off of my list.

I really want to go back to sleep. Come on, lunchtime. It doesn’t help that Gracie is snoozing in my field of vision. So jealous!

I got my slides done for work last night, so the pressure is off me today.

Called the CPAP people and they’re emailing me some forms to fill out. Made an appointment with Weight Management–for June, sigh.

Way overslept my nap.The dogs had been jumping on me and wrestling before I fell asleep. Maybe I should wake Gracie up whenever she naps upstairs. She’s snoozing now.

Got some file sorting done while Zara was eating because Oliver wasn’t in there. Then he came in and I stopped. Every little bit helps though. I need a box of file folders (ordered).

Cat thermometer. When it’s cold, Lily curls up in the cat bed, which has fleece. When it’s warm, she sprawls out in a box. It’s in-between right now, so first she tried the box and is now in the cat bed. She’s stretched out though. Gotta calibrate!

Oh! No piano tonight. My teacher sent a note because it’s the fifth Wednesday of the month.

I should be able to book the cruise in about a month if I don’t tap my Ally savings. Pink sand beaches, here I come! Oops, two months. Four paychecks.

I’m thinking of driving up to Michigan to get Mom’s stuff in storage the weekend of July 4th. We get the 3rd off, and I can drive up then. I need to check that the storage place will be open on July 4th though. I’d load up the car then and clean out the storage space. Then I’d drive back on Sunday. I need to get Mom’s car fixed by then. Money, money, money.

I finished my latest Heated Rivalry book (the guys wound up in each other’s arms after being idiots) and am waiting for a new one to load in the Kindle on my phone.

Gracie is barking her fool head off.

Got my groceries in. Got my recycling out. I need to get to bed early because I have a physical therapy appointment at 8:35. And then a dental appointment afterward.

Oh ugh. Passports with Trump's face on them. Good thing that mine won't expire for a while.

summersgate

Rowan arrived this morning at 5 am! Everything good. I'll get back to PA on Sunday. God willing, who knows with plane travel the way it is. Chloe's trip back to PA was messed up and she had to fly into a different airport. Then next Wednesday Dave and I will make the 5 hour drive over to Reading to see the little guy in person. :-)

Out back of Kathy's house. I liked how these ferns couldn't wait to get potted and jumped into tears in the potting soil bag.

I've been reading Life of Pi through the kindle app on my phone for free with the Libby app - taking my time and enjoying the rereading of it. And then last night I started listening to Dear Debby being read on the Libby app while I worked on a puzzle. An entertaining book. It's free too. I never took much advantage of my library card before but I think I will now with the Libby app.

While Chloe was here I did yoga under her guidance one morning which got me interested in yoga again. This afternoon Kathy and I did YouTube chair yoga. It felt so good! I want to get back into that habit.

Dave says the hummingbirds and orioles arrived today. Most years they get to our house on May 1st so they are early this year. We know when they have arrived because they start looking in the windows at us. Where's our food?

mallorys_camera

Two things I'm conscientious about on a daily basis: making money and exercising.

I had to sign an ADA for the latest revenue-generating scheme, and the gig has no security: It could end tomorrow or maybe even after dinner tonight! (True of freelance writing, too, of course.)

But the work itself is so entertaining, I sometimes have a hard time pulling myself away from it. My years and years of Photoshop expertise finally paying off! And also a certain facility for what one might call imagination-casting, I suppose. I can make the nut in four hours a day—but I can also make extra. Ya gotta cut hay while the sun shines! I tell myself. True dat, but it does eat into time allocated to the Work in Progress.

###

I've increased my exercise tolerance: I'm now tromping three miles a day and will shortly return to the gym again to start working on upper-body strength. This was the year I finally started looking old to myself. No idea whether that's a real change or morbid self-consciousness. (I mean, I'm 74, of course I should look old.) I'm not talking wrinkles or crepe neck; I'm talking about the way my eyes seem to sink into their suddenly gaunt sockets: My face looks positively skull-like. Of course, I lost about 10 lbs working for Schlock, and as is always the case, I didn't lose it in my belly (where frankly I could afford to lose it); I lost it in my face and arms.

And there's also my clothes. I take an impish, almost perverse pleasure in dressing like a bag lady. (God knows why. I have an excellent eye for fashion.) But in the wake of all that weight loss, my pants are actually sagging, I have a hard time keeping them up. I look like some sort of low-rent rap star wannabe, MC Patty TaxBwana! Good grooming is a significator of mental health— as without, so within—so I really need to spruce up my image.

###

This has been a bad time for farmers and gardeners in the quaint and scenic Hudson Valley. About two weeks ago, during a brief run of 80° temps, all the fruit trees burst into blossom. Literally two days later, nighttime temperatures plummeted into the 20°s. The fruit blossoms' delicate pistils froze, which probably means that there won't be any apples, peaches, or cherries in the Hudson Valley this year. The celebratory marigolds and strawberries I planted died, too. Fortunately, I didn't plant very many of them.

It's still dropping into the 30°s at night here. Not frost, but difficult for tender seedlings. But by next week, we should be moving into night-time 40°s, and I'll plant some more. I sowed some peas along the fence two weeks ago—peas are hardy, cold-weather plants—but only a few of them sprouted. Peas and lettuce are the only things I grow from seeds. Usually, I buy baby plants from the nurseries—though this year, I scored a bunch of Roma tomato seedlings from a lady on Facebook.

In the meantime, I'm cleaning up my plot. Weeding, replacing the winter straw ground cover with wood chips. Nettles in particular seem to thrive in coolish weather, so it is a lot of work that involves much ferrying of laden wheelbarrels over long distances. (The New Paltz Community Garden is huge.) Ferrying laden wheelbarrels is hard on the back.

###

Dolores (not her real name), the lady who gifted me the seedlings, is a very nice lady struggling to maintain sobriety by posting on the New Paltz Page on Facebook 30 times a day, attempting to rally what she calls Community (with a capital C). She gives away seedlings, she gives away baked goods, she solicits donations on behalf of the battered cats who show up regularly at her door. She lives in what was once one of those old Dutch stone houses. Was there a fire? The house seems to have been extensively rebuilt, but that was a while ago. It has very low ceilings and very small rooms. I borrowed it to be Neal's house in the Work in Progress.

I could tell Dolores would be happy to hang out, but I don't want to hang out with her, I don't want to hang out with anyone. I've fully embraced my solitude; I no longer feel isolated. Talking to other people right now is an effort.

maju

I keep slightly annoyingly waking up at or just before 4:30 am. In general I don't feel particularly tired when I wake up at that time, so maybe I'll start setting my alarm earlier. I like the fact that when I get up that early it's easy to go for a walk or a run around 6, around sunrise when it's getting quite light outside. I'm enjoying these early morning excursions now that it's not so cold, because it's so quiet and peaceful. The past few mornings have been in the low 40s/6 - 7C. I come back with my fingers and toes feeling cold but the rest of me comfortably warm.

I remember writing, on one of my very early visits to this house and neighbourhood in 2023, that when I went out walking I didn't see any other walkers. I don't know what was going on back then, but these days I see plenty of other people, some walking dogs, some just running or walking alone or occasionally in pairs, and I exchange greetings or just waves with almost all of them. It's not like there are crowds of people, but it's rare for me to go out and not see anyone. I wish I could recognise them if I see them again though. (I'm starting to recognise a couple of the dogs though.)

This morning I ran past the Gulf petrol station and saw that petrol was $4.17 per gallon. Last week it was $3.95, so I decided I'd fill my car today before it goes up again. Therefore I was somewhat annoyed to find that between 6:30 am (when I ran past) and 10 am (when I went back in my car) it had risen to $4.23. And then I discovered that $4.23 was the cash price; because I was paying by card it was actually $4.29. Grrr. Oh well, in Australia people are paying an average of something over $7 per gallon. And I'm not using my car much so this tank full should last quite a while.

susandennis

After dinner or sometimes before, my Mom would go to her room announcing she was putting on her soft clothes. Sometimes it was sweats. Sometimes it was nightgown and robe. It was comfortable clothes, no bra and meant to be seen by family only.

I had a great swim this morning. The Mariners game is at 10:40 today. I have no other obligations or things I want to do outside this apartment and enough food so I don't even need to go get any so I have declared today a Soft Clothes Day. Sweat pants, a Mariners 3/4 sleeve t shirt and no bra. Cause, why not?

My doctors' office is switching from their own online portal which is kind of a dog to My Chart which is less of a dog. The switch over is going to take place on May 2 - Saturday. They have it set up so that on Saturday (or after) you can, apparently create an account but not until then. My doctor did make a remark when last we talked that finally she'll have a decent connection with her patients so I am interested to see what the differences are. I was one of the first patients to use My Chart when my Seattle doctor got it years ago. I wonder if it will remember me.

Ok so. I just logged onto the my old MyChart which now shows my current primary doctor! Her info is in shadow and in complete so clearly a coming soon situation. And there is an umbrella MyChart (now known, apparently, as Epic) where I can link my two accounts. So I'm now all set up on it and will add the new link on Saturday. It would be very cool if it also linked the info - like if I could see/compare 10 years of test results.

Oh! A silver Audi convertible sports car just left the garage with the top down. Old guy in ballcap at the wheel. Now there's a true picture of the much overused expression - living his best life.

Ok, time to get off the computer and empty the dishwasher, and tidy up before first pitch.

zforce

So I am looking at a quiet, uneventful life until my next audition.

Famous last words. Life can become quite full unexpectedly. I shouldn't anticipate too much boredom.

Death of a Salesman went well last weekend. That was an understatement. The production was exquisite. It was well-staged and well acted. All the cast members were at the top of their game. Kevin had only one scene and he chewed it right up - devoured it even. Audience members were shocked at the character he played, including me. Advanced ticket sales were weak. Their first night audience was small, but appreciative. Word spread. Seats began filling up for subsequent performances. I am so proud of Kevin, Anthony, and all of the cast for the job they did. I didn't even mind seeing it twice (and I stayed awake).

Kevin bought tickets for the Broadway performance on the 15th, so I have to see it a third time. I am so curious to see how Nathan Lane will handle playing Willy Loman. I have no doubt Laurie Metcalf will do a great job as Linda though.

The fundraiser for the Manor Club was an enjoyable night. The performances were a little unpolished and amateurish, but the singers were enthusiastic and talented. James, Michele, and Eric were there (Eric had to be there since his wife was in the show). Nobody brought up the weirdness from the cast party. It's a little sad that I worked so well with this cast and I may never see - let alone work with - most of them again. James and Michele slipped out after the show without saying goodbye and I was a bit upset, but they are having a goodbye party on the 17th, so I guess I will see them once more. I told Eric I hope we can work together again in the future and he said it was unlikely as he only does a show about once every five years. On the other hand, Jack loves karaoke singing as much as I do and he will be joining my little karaoke club.

I'm trying to get the gang together for regular karaoke again. It's hard to work with everyone's schedules, but maybe we will have to accept that there will be a slightly different group every time we meet. I'm hoping to do it again in two weeks.

Karaoke and the 13th, Broadway on the 15th, James and Michele's party on the 17th. Who said life has to be boring from now on?

Plus I have to figure out some plans for Mother's Day and Mom's birthday on the 24th. Sian has been talking about making a visit as well.

I am also happy to have more barn days now. Tara asked me what my next play would be and I told her it's a play called, "Rachel wants to take some time off and spend the summer with Riddle." Too bad the weather hasn't been great. I went to the barn on Saturday and had to deal with lots of chilly, rainy weather. This weekend doesn't look much better. It will still be a good day to trim Riddle's mane and do some serious tack cleaning. I have no place to go Saturday evening so I can stay at the barn as late as I want. Maybe I will stop at the Bellvale Creamery on the way home.

Not that I need ice cream. Weekends full of parties and late night outings have not done much for my weight. I'm back up to 144. I'm getting my weight loss advice from Marjorie Dawes (100 points to you if you get the reference).

nverland posting in

creative_cooks

LENTIL WALNUT VEGAN CHORIZO STUFFED ZUCCHINI
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
For the Zucchini
2 large zucchini
About 1 tsp. olive oil

For the Lentil Walnut Chorizo
1 tbsp. olive oil
½ medium red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cooked brown lentils
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ancho chili powder
1 tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. cayenne chili powder (or to taste)
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. ground cloves
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Salt to taste
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

For the Cashew Cream
½ cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight, drained and rinsed
½ cup water
¼ cup lemon juice
Salt to taste

( Read more... )

days_unfolding

Woke up at 7 AM. Let the dogs out and went back to sleep. It’s a nice sunny day.

Bella came inside at 10 AM. I think that she wants a nap. Gracie is out lying in the mud, sigh.

It occurred to me that I should bring in a recycling bin when I watch Zara eat and go through some boxes of papers.

Oliver was snuggling up to Bella! They were even playing for a while, but then Bella got too rough. I took Oliver out of the room. Napped and overslept.

Gracie wanted to come in at 1:30 PM! She was waiting for me to open the door. I guess that she’s tired. Yeah, she’s out cold.

I really want to take a nap after work, but I need to get up early for a blood test tomorrow morning. I might have to finish up some work too (done).

Well, Project Go Through Papers didn’t go very well in Zara’s room. Oliver took advantage of my distraction to eat some of Zara’s food. Maybe a better plan is to watch Zara eat and then work on a box for a few minutes afterwards.

Fed the cats and myself. Gathered the garbage to go out. I started cleaning out the refrigerator, which sorely needs it. I’ll roll the can out after the dogs come in (done). Fed the dogs. Wrote myself a big note not to eat tomorrow morning for my blood test. I think that I’ll wend towards bed and read a while.

summersgate

Today's: Doodle Landscape.

We just got the news that Alison's water broke. Rowan is on his way! I won't get back to PA till this Sunday so I'll have to wait till after then to meet him. May all go well.

maju

My leg was acting up again in the early hours this morning. It seems to be because I can't lie on my right side with my right leg stretched out and my left leg drawn right up because if I lie like that I get a bad back ache. So it's a choice between a back ache (which can be fairly debilitating) or an uncomfortable leg (which doesn't last long once I wake up and move around). It's annoying but I can deal.

My daughter and I have just discovered phlox. They're in full bloom everywhere here right now, flowing over rocks, along the tops of rock walls, and along the edges of paths. We didn't know what they were, but my daughter was talking about this particular plant she wants to have growing in her yard, and as she talked I realised this plant sounded like the ones on a rock wall near here I'd walked past a few times. So yesterday evening we went for a short walk with Eden and Aria to have a look at these plants; when we came to the place where I'd seen them my daughter took photos and using an image search, was able to identify them. My daughter is a keen gardener (inherited from her father, not from me) and has been remodelling their yard since they moved in here at the end of 2022. She's been growing herbs and a few vegetables in the side yard for a couple of seasons, and now is working on the other side of the yard towards the back of the lot.

susandennis

It's that time of year. The first wave of baseball managers ripped from the dugout. Alex Cora (whose little brother Joey was one of my favorite Mariner players ever) got the heave ho from Boston earlier this week. Today the Phillies canned their guy. Boston has won 12 but lost 17. Philly has won 9 and lost 19.

The Mariners have won 14 and lost 16 which isn't great considering they were supposed to be the top dogs this year but also not so terrible that their manager will be fired this week but... maybe... who knows?

And ballparks without roofs should be eliminated from Major League ball.

Volleyball was ok today. At least it wasn't cold.

Today is house cleaning day and I have an Amazon return which I think I'll take while the house cleaner is here.

I dreamed last night that I lost my watch and that my brother adopted a baby goat. Today, I have looked at my wrist a couple of times and been surprised to see the watch is back. Also I have thought of texting my brother to ask what he named the goat. Apparently these dreams were fairly Vivid.

Biggie is begging for breakfast number 2 and I need to get dressed.

days_unfolding

The dogs completely crashed out as soon as we got into bed. I finished reading my book.

Woke up at 7 AM. Let the dogs out. Went back to sleep and overslept.

It’s a stormy morning. Let the wet dogs in. Have lights on throughout the house.

I had to put the clothes in the dryer because they wouldn’t be quite dry when I take my shower at lunchtime. Now I know more about timing when I use the heated drying rack.

Lily is looking lovely in the cat bed on my desk. Wow, that cat is beautiful.

Tornado warning. I’m in the basement with Lily and Oliver. The dogs won’t come down. Zara is in her room. It’s over now.

Groan. Lunchtime and I had to tell Gracie to stop barking at Lily. Showered.

I really, really want to go to Hawaii (Oahu). Maybe next year? Ack, flights have gotten expensive! I’m thinking May or June. Though I want to take a cruise to Bermuda, and that would be the same time frame. Well, there is a cruise in March. Maybe I could do that and go to Hawaii in September? Actually, there is a cruise on April 6th that looks good. I need to save up the money for it. It’ll be on Norwegian, which doesn’t thrill me, but they have nice solo cabins. And the cruise is out of New York City, so I could spend a day in the city.

Oh what a night. It was storming and pouring when I left for choir-–and Gracie ran out in the yard. Fuck. I had to go because it was dress rehearsal for our concert next week. I told Gracie to go under the porch, and she did go under there and checked it out, but she decided that she didn’t like it. So I drove off, worrying. The drive was scary. I got drenched running into the building. So we gathered for the rehearsal. And then there was a tornado warning (for those who are counting, that makes two). We went down in the basement of the church. Now I was really worried about Gracie, but the tornado was up north of us, so I figured that she would be okay. We sang a song a capella in the basement and then the warning was over and we went upstairs. Many of us, including me, were making mistakes on the songs. On our hardest song, she stopped us partway and asked why we were falling apart when we did a good job last week. But we got through it.

The rain had stopped when I left. I had planned to stop at the grocery store, but I thought that I shouldn’t because of Gracie, but I decided to run in and grab a few things. Then I went home. Gracie ran over to the fence near me when I drove up. When I got to the gate, she barked at me. I think that I was told off. I went inside and expected Bella to run out, but Gracie pushed her way in and Bella followed her. Gracie was soaked to the skin.

I ate the food that I picked up. Bella was being obnoxious and tried to take a bite of my chicken sandwich. I fed them after I finished, and Bella ignored the food. Right. Gracie was nowhere to be found; I think that she’s crashed out in the bedroom.

bill_schubert

Beaux taking some after dinner rolls in my office

somedayseattle

My foot appointment for today was called off. Instead I have an appointment with the plastic sturgeon on Thursday. The wound on my left foot has been steadily healing but at this rate will take 4-6 months for the new skin to completely cover it, so we are going to discuss a skin graft. I know this may sound silly but I am going to suggest using the skin of a Nigerian donor.....as dark as possible. That way I can tell people I am 1/72nd black, which accounts for my amazing dance skills.

Dig this. My plastic sturgeon-

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bill_schubert

April 2026

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Page generated May. 1st, 2026 10:41

Every day's a holiday

Every meal's a feast

Reading

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Water Filter, Tricycle, Rain Barrel?

thursday

Fortunate son

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Misc

A Few More Updates

Odds and Ends

wednesday

Solitude

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Soft clothes day

Normal Life Resumes

LENTIL WALNUT VEGAN CHORIZO STUFFED ZUCCHINI

The Calm After the Storm

tuesday

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Firing lines

Tornado Warnings

I think he feels at home now

a lot of adjectives

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April 2026

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