October 2019: That Time of Year

 

10/19/2019: Up at about 5 AM. Prayers, catechism, Bible. Wrote up to page 30 on BB2 [Bob’s Book 2]. Dressed, ate some ramen, and left for The Texas Cooler about 7:10 AM; got there and waited a bit while the lady finished filling the ice machine, then got a Powerball. Walked back (a little warm, as I'd worn my vest) and got back at the stroke of 8 AM. About 9 AM laid down on the couch and awoke at 11 AM. Caught up diary. Watched some Simpson Halloween. Ramen about 1 PM.

2:30 PM: soaked feet in pool. Head much licked by Rotts [Rottweilers]. 3:PM: Prayed Rosary. Watched some House.

In the evening, Andy brought me out the leftover chicken salad, some grapes, and bananas.

 
I watched some Ripping Yarns while I ate, and when I took the bowl in, I saw what I had rather suspected, that they had gone to Eckman's Toy and Comic show. Kameron had about six bags full of toys and Susan had at least 4 new cookie jars. I really didn't mind not going because 1) I had no money and 2) there hadn't been - and really isn't much anymore - stuff that I had wanted. And me legs are shit. So they could have told me what they were doing without any fear that I'd want to go along.

Looking at all the shows - Sherlock Holmes, Michael Palin stuff - from the 80's keeps reminding me of a world that was gone, a moderate world both conservative and progressive. The scales swing too wildly now.

Turned the AC on after having it off for a couple of days. Getting ready to sleep by 10 PM, I think.

 

10/20/2019: Up at 5:30 AM. Showered, dressed, straightened house. Prayers, catechism, Bible. 6:38 AM caught up diary. Ready to leave by 7 AM; it will be a rather dark walk, as the sun won't rise till about 7:30 AM.

So, church today seemed rather flat; Father Greg made a lot of mis-reads, as if he were distracted. Good thing that doesn't affect the efficacy of the Mass. Came home, made my last 2 ramen for breakfast (and a couple of bananas). Did nothing but putter around (read some Poe). At lunch finished off the other two bananas.

Watched an episode of Saints and Scoundrels (Kolbe v. Goebbels). In the evening I found I still had half a package of chocolate grahams that I had forgotten. To show how bored I am I actually watched the Fox animation block (The Simpson's Treehouse of Horror 30 - Episode 666. Sigh). Afterwards I found by scrabbling around I actually had a dollar worth of change (mostly pennies), so I could have bought some more ramen if I wanted to. Too late now.

I started reading my 2018 Diary and found to my dismay that about the last 1/3 of it was missing. Was able to recover it by going to my e-mail archives, where I had thankfully banked it.

 

10/21/2019: It is impressed on me how little of the year is left, and how soon it will be 2020. May we all see clearer then.

Woke up about 5:30. Wrote down Grizzly Bear and Terminator dream. Hear (I think) drips or rain outside. Now 6:30 AM. Must pray and write. End of Chapter 1 of BB2 in sight.

Wrote up to where Pa comes in. Looked out about 8:25 AM and saw that Susan was already gone, so went ahead and started wash, made chicken salad, made my morning ramen, ate it, then started broccoli salad. S and Kam came back about 9:45 AM; he had gone to the dentist. S left; I changed loads; K and I went out about 10:22 AM; I was way ahead of schedule. Then the bus doesn't get here until 11:03 AM. That's 40 MINUTES of my life I won't ever get back, most of it standing because the bench is too wet, in fact two of the seats have standing puddles. K a bundle of nerves. When I can finally go in and finish the salad my legs are a mess of twangling tendons. Finish up, change loads, go in to fold and listen to GGACP, and the connection gets knocked off in 3 minutes. I console myself that I am still ahead of schedule, as I usually don't make the broccoli salad before 1 PM anyway, and the wash is almost done. It's 11:55 AM; I just heard what I assume is the pool guy go through the gate.

Little before 4 PM went the usual schedule. Watched "The Devil and Daniel Webster" on TMC.

Afterwards about 7 PM finished BB2 Chapter One and sent it off to John. Went in to wash up and found that Andy hadn't been back yet and was in fact not expected until later. I said call me and I'd clean up, but it's almost midnight so I don't think that's gonna happen. Kam came in and we read riddles to each other for a bit, and I got the mini-pecan pie recipe from Amy as per Susan's request and sent it to her in an e-mail. And now I've suddenly remembered the Rosary and have to be sure I stay up long enough to do that.

 

10/22/2019: Got up about 8 AM. Got dressed, straightened up house. Prayed, catechism, Bible. Went in at 9 AM and got the stuff to make Kam bacon and eggs. Took him breakfast, then made my ramen. We went out about 10:20 AM (a little early because of yesterday) and waited till about 10:35 AM. There were a ton of monarch butterflies flying around. Went in about 1 PM to get lunch.

John called me; he congratulated me on the chapter, then reminded me that yesterday was the 13th anniversary of Mike's passing, and today was the 20th of Mom's. Now I understand the butterflies. He's going to bring me the pay tomorrow afternoon. Rosary. At 3 PM Kenny called, and we talked a while about the remembrances. Made supper and grassed and fed the pets; sausages, cabbage and taters. Marx Brothers movies on all day that I dipped in and out of. Connectivity for the computer very poor.

Watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" at 7 PM. Went in to wash up at 8 PM and found the back door screen mysteriously on the hook; no one claims to have done it. Made Kameron some TX Toast.

Notes

Father Greg had been doing rather poorly (strokes and falls) and has since retired. The anniversary of Mike's and Mom's passing is often marked by vast clouds of butterflies (and sometimes dragonflies). Perhaps it's just that time of year, but natural coincidences are often signs too, I oftensometimes think.