Niche of Time

3/3/2021: Up about 5:30 AM. Prayers. Bible. Catch up Diary. Mean to shower then watch cartoons. Here we go.

Day spent with usual activities, except I didn’t pray the rosary because I felt too sleepy and distracted. Kaitlyn and Ryan drop by to visit Susan.

3/4/2021: Read day as usual, except distracted by my vaccine appointment. Did rosary in the morning, and then in the evening to catch up. Prayers, Bible. Didn’t feel like it at 9 AM, but went to FD at 10 PM, and on my way home Kaitlyn called. She was at the house to give her German Shepherd her medicine and like that. Got home and we visited a bit. Had bologna sandwiches and honey and butter sandwiches.

At 3:30 PM I made supper (chili and rotini and corncobs). At 5 PM Andy came to take me to the Coliseum for my shot and by 5:30 PM we were home. So no trouble at all.

A little after 7 PM Andy come over asking about the ground turkey (the chili tastes a little strange) and sure enough when I checked the package it was about 5 days off. But the meat had looked and smelled good and I think it was okay, if not best fresh. Bed about 10 PM, feeling okay.

3/5/2021: Up a little before 6 AM from dreams. In one I was looking for a short story for Kam to read, and it turned into a whole episode. It was a gothic tale written in the 1800’s about a family being attacked by a monster, especially targeting their 10-year-old son. Finally the uncle tracks it to its lair and kills it, but it disappears, leaving only a pile of mangled corpses, including a fresh one. The uncle returns and reports and spends the night, but next morning his bloody bed is empty. The father sends the son to England to school.

However, it soon appears the son is haunted by the beast, as a series of mysterious scares and even a murder or two appear among his acquaintances. Finally, the father comes over for his graduation and to take him home and hears about the beast. He determines to destroy the thing that is shadowing his son. After a trap the monster is killed, and is revealed to be the uncle, who had killed the original beast but in werewolf fashion had received the curse. While not evil, he was able to become a protector of his nephew from those who wished him ill. He has been freed from the curse, and father and son return home.

So, prayers. Then cartoons. Then Bible at 7 AM, I guess. Arm a little sore.

Whoo! The day was like dragging through a dreary dream. I ordered 10 jugs of HCF water, but they switched it on me to Nestle bottled water (the same price but only about half the water – but needs must). Was able to get Kam off and meet him again, dump leftovers from the fridge, and fry potatoes over about 5 hours. Then when I was finally done and had the opportunity to sleep, I couldn’t. Rosary. Didn’t watch shows or YT most of the day. Evening hot.

3/6/2021: Woke up about 6:30 AM. Watched Popeye show. Prayers. Bible. Took a shower. Feeling better today. Made some ramen and was about to eat it when Andy brought me a couple of tacos. I mentioned if in the next day or two we could get my medicine. I start watching “The Kennel Murder Case”. Andy comes out and tells me he and Kam are going for their haircuts and do I want to come along, wait in the truck, and then get medicine at HEB just over the way? I agree and we dash on over. When we get there, they have to wait, and I spend about half an hour reading ghost stories on my Kindle, then decide to hop over to HEB and go to the restroom and get my medicine just as they are allowed in. I do my business, then get back just before they come out. Couldn’t have been timed better. We come home.

After a bit I think, “Maybe ‘The Kennel Murders’ is on YouTube?’ and sure enough it is, so I finish it up, though I was sort of out of the moment. Looked for ‘The Mask of Dimitrios’ which I had also missed, but no free version. I knock about a bit, then decide at 2 PM to go to FD and at least get bread. I rig the big cane with the tip from another and walk over. Bread, bologna, wieners, can peaches, 2-liter Diet coke. Come home with my right arm a little strained, but glad to get it done. Reading Benson’s Supernatural Stories (The Monkey Paw guy) on and off all day. A little after 4 PM I take some garbage and recycling out, and Susan reminds me of the salad, boiled eggs and half a grapefruit in the fridge, which I take back. Man, it was a sweet grapefruit, and good! No sugar required. Watched the beginning of “Man of the People”. Ate salad and made deviled eggs for supper. Listened to Corey Olsen on the section about Wizards in Unfinished Tales. Had a PBJ and then Honey and Butter sandwich.

About 8 PM I felt ready to call it a day. Prayed my rosary then settled down. Slept and woke and dreamed, and now it’s almost 1 AM and I feel awake, so caught up diary.

3/7/2021: Up at 6 AM and left for church at 7 AM. Had the Father Stan substitute. 108 participants today, so the number is up. Home. Had Knorr chicken noodles, peaches for breakfast. In the afternoon Kelsey and Ryan came by, but other than that nothing much but napping, LOTROTP, and The Ball and the Cross. Supper was spaghetti and watched some Fox Sunday animation. Bed, with my right leg hurting.

3/8/2021: Up at 5:30 AM. Prayers and Bible. Got dressed, then cartoons. About 7:30 AM went out and started my wash; noticed Susan’s car wasn’t here. At 8 Am waited with Kameron, then went in at 8:15 AM went in to boil eggs. Susan came home, and by the time she left at 9 AM the egg salad was made. Put the wash in the dryer. At 10 AM got the clothes out. Kam home at 1 PM; made broccoli salad; no cheese, so at 2 PM went to FD and got some. Done with stuff at 3 PM, so resting till 4 PM and finishing cooking supper.

Well, at 3:30 PM a strange dog turned up that looked like Goose then ran off. I called Kelsey to make sure it wasn’t him and we talked for about a half an hour. Went in and made fish cakes and couscous. Listening more to Corey Olsen. About 7 PM went in and washed up. After 9 PM watched two new Duck Tales. Rosary. Now 10:45 PM and back to finish an episode of Olsen, then bed, I guess.

3/9/2021: Up at 6 AM, cartoons, the prayers and Bible. Boiled hot dogs for breakfast.

The day went on as per usual. It was a very windy, warm, and cloudy day. John sent me this e-mail, probably because he hadn’t heard from me for days:

Hey, hope all is well! Sorry our shopping day hasn't happened yet, things are still a little bumpy around the old Babel homestead, I'm afraid. [ ...] We spent most of the day redecorating and resetting Morgandy's room yesterday. I guess she inherited the old Babel need for doing such things when under stress. I checked in with Hexcel- things are picking up again somewhat and there is a chance of being called back perhaps in the not too distant future- nothing solid yet, but a decent chance, so I am hopeful and praying fervently for that to occur soon. Things are kinda bleak in this old heart of mine- though I am grateful that the fundamentals are still okay, and we have it far better than some. It's been tough, I can't deny, this job, though I am grateful to have it, as it is providing us with the means to get by, is somewhat body and soul crushing. I feel like I have aged ten years in the last six months. Remember us in your prayers, dear boy! But spring is in the air, there is life, there is hope, and God is very good. So. I still hope to see you soon, maybe Saturday or Sunday, if possible. I love you!

To which I replied in my inadequate way:

Yes, all is going alright. I am sorry to hear about the continued bumpiness. Morgandy is just at that age when the world comes crushing in on us -- do you remember the nights we would spend with me telling you the story of LOTR to help you get to sleep? The rearranging does help, doesn't it? Many the times I've rattled through the hoard to remind me of positive things and to clean up and get a new perspective on things. I know what you mean about the bleakness. Sometimes sieges are more debilitating than battles. It would indeed be fine if Hexcel was happening. In the meantime, courage, my brother! I love you too. May it be we have some good cheer this weekend!

LOTRO TP, rosary, then bed.