2020 Diary: The Last Days of August

8/22/20: Up at 6:30 AM, prayed, shaved, and Bible. Kelsey and Ryan are supposed to come this weekend, and the Babels visit today. I’m going to try to finish at least that half page now, and then the 2 later this morning, after a bout of DQ8. I must get that Gringham whip!

Just looked out at 8 AM: it’s raining and grumbling with thunder. It looks like one of those rains that just settles in. So much for our hopes of outside frolics! Still, now I am just a page short of my 20 pages. Excelsior!

The rain cleared up, the sun came out, and by the afternoon all was well. Played tons of DQ8, ate nothing, and finished the page. I peeked out about 4 PM and Susan and Kelsey were cleaning up the outside table. K&R had come in last night at about 11 PM already. I gave Susan my old Dobie pad to use on the table. About 5 PM the Babels arrived, I quickly made cheese spread and hot cheese dip, they put jalapeno poppers in the oven, and Ryan fired up the grill for hot dogs, sausages, and boudin. I read John my new 20 pages out loud. We all ate outside and had a good visit. There was swimming in the pool (including K&R dog, Goose). John and I did not swim. Ryan’s cousin was here for a while. Afterwards there was a new tourney of [Scattergories? That game we always play], on a new machine with new updated words. At 11:30 PM we all rose, and adjourned for the night, having enjoyed gossip, old jokes, and good company. I came in, prayed my Rosary, and played DQ8 until well past 1 AM.

 

8/23/2020: As it was, I stayed up until 4 AM. Still woke up at about 8 AM. Prayers, Bible, Youtube church. Played DQ8 until 1 PM, went in and checked about lunch, which we ate at 2 PM. Kelsey and Ryan packed up and headed home, and I laid down and slept until 8 PM. Up and played even MORE DQ8, getting to bed about … 2 AM? My body just feels terrible and creaky, and much pain, especially in my right knee.

 

8/24/2020: Really up at 7:45 AM, with Andy at the door about making eggs. Prayers, Bible. Shower, and posts for NOT. At 9 AM started wash and boiled eggs. It’s now 10 AM, and time for DQ8, with wash change at 10:15 AM. DQ8 between all times. Got the wash about 1 PM, made broccoli salad from 2 – 3 PM. At 4 PM started supper – fish cakes and couscous – then in and more DQ8. Went in at 9 PM and washed up; Susan said I could eat whatever leftovers from the weekend I wanted. Rosary at 10 PM. Played until about 11 PM, then bed, feeling lousy and knee hurting.

 

8/25/2020: Up at 7:30. Prayers, Bible. Dressed, blogged, and did clean-up, prep, and search for new posts. Now it’s 8:40 AM, so back to DQ8 for a bit until breakfast at 9 AM. Tortillas, chili, and cheese, here I come!

Ate a hearty breakfast, then on to DQ8. Obsessed me all day, getting through Rhapthorne the firefly, Rhapthorne the fat geezer, and even the Lord of the Dragovians. At lunch had some hot dip. Prayed rosary. At 3:30 PM went in, took care of the pets, then started on sausage and cabbage and taters. Kam came in about 7:30 PM and we watched a Mystie [Mystery Science Theater 3000], then in at about 9 PM. I washed up. Back out once more, played DQ8, then stopped after Dragovians to get the pictures for tomorrow’s NOT, which were many as they are Terry Pratchett. Got a ton of covers, then had to put them in the right order and rearrange my list in the BIB, and that took me 2 and ½ hours, and it’s now 3 AM! Curse my obsessive cumpulsivery. It’s already TOMORROW!

 

8/26/2020: Dredged myself out of bed at 7:30 AM, prayers, Bible, got dressed. I had been having a depressing dream about having to do school all over again starting at first grade; my teachers were frustrated too. Gathered material and did all my posts for NOT. Now it’s 8:35 AM. Just heard the hawks screaming outside; is it a presage of fall?

The day went along: finished off the cheese spread and hot dip. Played DQ8 but slowing down a bit, interspersing it with reading “The Prince and the Pauper” (hereinafter PP).  Twain was a sentimental cynic, and rather infatuated with gorgeous pageantry, however much he pretends to denigrate it. Made chicken and rice with broccoli and mushrooms for supper. “Uncle Giggles” on The Flintstones today. Rosary about 7:30 PM. Went in and washed about 8:30 PM. Spent the evening updating NOT into all extra-large pictures from 9 to 11 PM; all part of my OCD. Tomorrow should start the Tolkien paperbacks and have the last of the DVD Library.

 

8/27/2020: All the usual things today. Except that I made stuffed peppers and baked potatoes for supper, unfortunately forgetting the corn on the cob, because it didn’t strike my memory because of the “usual combo” nature of the meal. I really am a creature of habit. Kam came in and we watched the first episode of “Cowboy Bebop”. Watched a show on Aunt Ursula [K. LeGuin] on American Masters; she remains as enigmatic as ever, and I now see her as bending in the societal waves like a martial arts master (mistress?).

 

8/28/2020: All the usual things today. Worked on NOT and played DQ8. Kept hoping John would come by with $20 for 20 pages, but nay.

 

8/29/2020: Much the same, until this evening when Kaitlyn came over. She’s dyed her hair BLONDE (just like Nanny, Mom, and Susan before her – what a tradition!). They’d bought Wing Stop and gave me a goodly amount of fries and chicken tenders. Legs feeling a little better today.

 

8/30/2020: August STILL not over. Up about 5:30 AM. Prayers, Bible, rosary, then FB church (Father Greg is back). Then kept posting on NOT all morning, about 15 different posts so far. Went in a little after noon for a couple of deviled eggs and the leftover bananas. Did I mention I’m all out of medicine? No-one has won the lottery yet, so that’s good. Right now, it’s a little after 2 PM. At 4 PM I got the brilliant idea to catalog and write a guide to every box, bin, tin, and drawer in the house. Did about half, pausing at the Wall of Bins to call John. Started watching Deadpool 2, and then tucked into the bins. Finished at about 11:15 PM; now I just have to put it all back. Still haven’t located my other games, which was one reason I started the project. Is it just possible they’re in the file case holding up the black shelf – do I have to check to make sure? At least I now know where they AREN’T. Midnight, and everything’s back, except I can’t get the drawers to close correctly on Kelsey’s dresser. Try to fix it tomorrow. Time to shower and hit the hay.

 

8/31/2020: The Last Day of August. Up at 6 AM, prayers and Bible. Ate a banana. I should never lack potassium, anyway. Got to check one or two further things (never ASSUME) and then start the daily rounds for Monday again. Whee! Found out that the file case holding the little black shelf is the one with cassettes (in other words, NOT empty) and that my Kingdom Hearts game was in the big chest under the dragon. That means I DID give Kam his DQ8 game back, and that’s what I’ve been playing. But where are my memory cards? Almost 9 AM and time to start the wash.

Now 10 AM, and I have boiled the eggs and made the egg salad. Apparently, I am to make cucumber salad this week, and I am glad. My labors of last night have tired me considerably. I did get one comment on NOT: my old friend from POB, Nathan. He always has something to say about Oz. A 10:15 AM I shall change the wash, and then maybe try for a nap.

So the day proceeded much as usual. Started playing a little Kingdom Hearts. Made fish cakes and couscous for supper. Made little adjustments to stuff here and there; but taking it easy. At 10 PM said rosary.

 

Notes

I loved and love Dragon Quest 8; it is one of my favorite time wasters. Just roaming through the overworld was one of my favorite past-times, getting the view and discovering odd nooks. I wish I had another PS2 to play it on.

The last weeks of August have always been a time of family gatherings. Also, my diary entries get a little telegraphic as the temperature rises. That bin directory has been rather useful over the years, saving me quite a bit of trouble. Been? Bin? I made a funny!