2020 Diary: The Last of November

11/24/2020: Up about 7:30, dressed, prayers and Bible, ate the last elderly banana and took my medicine. Caught up diary. The morning is cool and a little damp with a spit of rain laying on the land. This continued, on and off, through the morning, but by the afternoon was mainly scattered clouds and fair sun.

In at 9 AM for the usual ramen-and-eggs. Played DQ8 throughout the day, eventually beating Little Rhapthorne at about 2:30 PM and calling it a day. At lunch (12:30 PM, to go back a bit) had 2 turkey sandwiches and broccoli salad. At 3:30 PM started potatoes-carrots-onion-cabbage-mushrooms and sausages and finished at 5 PM. Talked to Kam and listened to Christmas channel while I cooked. Went in and washed at 8 PM. Susan told me all still seemed on schedule over at Babeloth. Watched Green Acres. Read The Confidence Man. Started rosary about 9 PM, but drifted off after the 3^rd decade, finishing it off during the periods I woke up through the night, the last one being at 3 AM.

 

11/25/2020: Awoke at 3 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. So washed a couple of dishes, said prayers, read Bible, caught up diary, and now mean to shower and perhaps read more TCM, making a drive to finish it and maybe helping me get to sleep.

So, I prayed a rosary, finished The Confidence Man and slept a bit more. Up at 7 AM and got dressed and left at 7:40 AM. Got to DG precisely at 8 AM, just as they opened. Got a ton of junk on my card and was home at 8:40 AM. Watched the end of Perry Mason, ate an apple pie, and gave an expired one to the Rotts and Jade. Went in at 9 AM and got ramen-and-eggs. Caught up Diary.

So, played DQ8. Went in at lunch and had the leftover cabbage-etc.  A little after 2 PM Yen called and we had a nice talk, I telling him about Lady Willow and The Elderly Princess, which I sent to him after we hung up.

In at 4 PM and fed animals, swept porch, and made sloppy joe mix. Now await S&A arrival to eat.

It was about 7 PM when we did eat. In the meantime, I had started the pea salad. Finished making that at about 8 PM, washed up, came out, watched Green Acres, then hit the hay.

 

11/26/2020: Up at 7 AM, prayers, Bible, and rosary. About 8:30 AM Andy came out and asked me to make bacon, eggs, and pancakes, which I did, and we had a good meal. Almost immediately after that (it took over an hour to cook and consume) I started boiling eggs, then made the deviled eggs. When I finished that, I made the mashed potatoes. Also made cheese spread for their trip tomorrow. After that I came in and played DQ8 for a while, showered, dressed, then more DQ8. By 2:30 PM I had beaten Rhapthorne and was at the closing credits when Andy called me, and off to Babeloth we went. Started eating a little after 3 PM, and a fine meal it was with smoked turkey, green bean casserole, gravy, rolls, orange fluff, dressing, soda, sweet potatoes, and for dessert, pecan pies. We yakked and visited and then started playing Catch Phrase, with Kam and Joey taking places on the girl team, as Morgandy didn’t want to play. Kameron did really great! Then Fred called (I think about 7 PM) and Andy had to leave, then Joe came out and played and he did good too, for the first time around. Then he had to go to bed. We moved inside and talked and had a bit of seconds, discussing among other things business and futures. Andy finally got back about 9 PM, and we headed home (John had had to go to bed at 8 PM), stopping to get gas for tomorrow. Home about 9:30 PM, where I finished my DQ8 game and caught up the diary. It’s now 10:10 PM, and I should try to settle down for the night, but can I? I drank a fair amount of Big Red Zero today.

 

11/27/2020: After a restless night, I was up about 6:30 AM. Prayers. Kind of puttered around until the Shanafelts left for the park (a 90-mile drive) where they are going with Amy and the kids. Had a mashed potato sandwich and a turkey sandwich for breakfast, and a few deviled eggs. Kept checking the porch all day because Susan is expecting her Strawberry Shortcake dollhouse, but it didn’t come today. Got the mail at about 11 AM. At lunch had ramen-and-eggs. Did a load of wash. Grassed Ginger. Fed the pets at 4 PM. Played a little DQ8, watched some YT shows on the recent episodes of Duck Tales, and then set the lights at 5 PM. The weather has been mostly cloudy with some spotty precipitation never rousing up to actual rain, hovering at about 60 degrees all day. Don’t have to cook this evening and don’t know when they’ll be back.

So, they got home a little after 6 PM, and Andy brought me a chopped BBQ burger. The evening rolled along (it was weird because the day felt like a Saturday while being a Friday) with Green Acres, a rosary, and defeating the Lord of the Dragovians. Had a hard time going to sleep, getting up and laying down again all night.

 

11/28/2020: Up about 7:30 AM, from a dream of Star Wars characters playing a sacred game of tennis on a planet of reptilian people they were trying to woo into the alliance, when suddenly the Empire swoops in. Sheesh. Did get to see a reptilian funeral, though. Prayers, Bible, getting ready to go to town, if need be, and trying to distract my stupid mind. Rainy drippy (not showering) and so predicted for all day. Had a ramen for breakfast. Watched YT stuff on the old Duck Tales, my latest catch-up obsession. Andy called about 10 AM, and we went first to the bank and cashed my check with some deposit ($4500 back – it’s the most money I’ve ever seen in me life!) then went to HEB pharmacy for my medicine. Now it’s 11 AM, and on we go.

Sent John a collection of about 2 dozen quotes at noon. About 1:30 PM Andy came in and collected $60 because earlier I had suggested I pay for Chicken Express for lunch. Started watching the old cartoon series “Around the World in 80 Days” (there is now the complete series on YT). The Shanafelts finished their business and were home at 3:40 PM and we ate. I unfortunately broke a coaster as we were cleaning up.

Started reading Chesterton’s “Robert Browning”, took a little nap, then read some more. Been raining all day (good, we needed some). It’s now 9 PM.

At 9:30 PM said rosary, then spent an hour or so looking for a statue of the Virgin Mary on E-bay. Found a good one. Now back to GKC until I get sleepy again.

 

11/29/2020: Up about 6 AM. Prayers, Bible, and rosary. Then church on YT. First week of Advent. (I had only tried to reserve a confession spot on Wednesday about 1 PM, and the office was already closed for the holidays.) Father Stan was wearing a vestment that said “Jezu Ufam Tobei” which is Polish for “Jesus, I Trust in You”.

Afterward I posted on NOT and POB, had a shower, got dressed, and took my medicine. It’s now 8:07 AM. I am determined that tomorrow I will get my Social Security and bank business straightened out.

I finished “Robert Browning” and started “Lord Kitchener” (more a pamphlet than a book). About 10:15 AM Andy came out with the weekly leftovers (I ate the boiled eggs and the last of the oatmeal cookies). I took the bowls in and got the leftover turkey and mashed potatoes. As I returned, I heard what sounded like “Morning Has Broken” on the bagpipes being played in the neighborhood. I mean I know the tune, but not exactly sure if it was someone playing the bagpipes. Made a turkey, mash potato, and ramen bowl.

I had just laid down for a nap when Andy arrived with the pumpkin pie and the rest of the tea from yesterday at about 12:10 PM. Had a slice and watched some YT, now ready to get back to sleep … or try to.

So about 5:30 PM I go in to nab more leftovers (mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, Chicken Express stuff) and Andy returns with a burger and fries for me from Whataburger as well. I try watching the Sunday animation block, and it’s oh so dreary. Read Typee, then bed.

 

11/30/2020: Woke up about 5:30 AM with determination about straightening out SocSec today. Prayers, Bible. Arranged my papers, saw there was naught to do until 9 AM, watched Perry Mason and fretted, gathering garbage, etc. Boiled eggs and made egg salad. A little after 10 AM made my call and waited almost AN HOUR, and then when I was talking to a lady and making some progress we were disconnected! Called back and waited another 40 MINUTES until I got another agent (he seemed somewhat duller than the bright lady I had before) and then I was only able to get ONE of the check accounts settled. He suggested I get with RBFCU to settle the other one. >Sigh< But, PROGRESS, of a sort. If I had only been more proactive before and less anxious and depressed, I maybe could have settled the whole thing.

So, got Kameron most of the Chicken Express for lunch, had cheese spread sandwiches, then made cucumber salad. Such a bright, clear, cool day! I was on the manic part of my manic-depressive cycle. Read lots of “Typee”. At 4 PM went in and fed pets, made fish patties and couscous, then out again. Watched the new Duck Tales Christmas episode at 6 PM, which wasn’t as good as I’d hoped, but alright.

Went in and washed up at 8 PM. Watched Green Acres. Prayed rosary. Washed up here. It’s 9:20 PM and a clear cold moon-bright night. Getting ready to read a bit, then hit the hay.

 

NOTES

 Well, I was certainly watching a lot of Green Acres. It had just started playing on MeTV and so was at the same time novelty and nostalgia; it recalled a time when I was a kid. I don’t retain many memories of all the Herman Melville or Chesterton reading I did then, just vague impressions. I only learned afterwards that I shouldn’t have fed any ‘human food’ to the Tovars’ dogs. Thanksgiving that year was over at John and Amy’s; I didn’t have to cook the complete meal, just our contributions, of which pea salad and deviled eggs were our traditional offering. Never did get that statue of the Virgin Mary; ironically, I had a good one from Paper Bear, years before I became Catholic, that had been broken and thrown away. We don’t play many family games anymore; perhaps having the young’uns when we do gather makes it a little more complicated. Lady Willow and the notes for The Elderly Princess are published elsewhere on this blog. A little fuzzy about whether Scattergories is the right name of that game we played, or just the thing I mistakenly called it all the time. [Update: it was really Catch Phrase, which I've updated in the body of the entry.]

2020 Diary: Whut?

11/10/2020: Up at 6 AM. Prayers and Bible. Sent John an e-mail, explaining my debit card boondoggle. Spent most of the morning thereafter reading Kipling, and notes on stories from the Kipling Society, and eating bananas. About 8:30 AM started watching Perry Mason. Taken my morning medicine. Leg feeling slightly better, though twangles from (nerves? veins?) still shooting now and then. Mean to go in at 9 AM for ramen-and-eggs.

So almost at random, I started reading “An Enchanted April” and found it engaging and kept reading the rest of the day. John e-mailed me back and said that Amy had my paper and would bring it over in the afternoon. Overcast most of the day and a little gloomy, but I liked that it grew cooler as the day went on. Spaghetti for lunch. About 2:30 PM started carrots-onions-potatoes-cabbage-mushrooms, then sausages. Finished a little before 5 PM. At 5:15 PM I heard Amy looking around the gate and went out to get my paper, and then Susan got home and I remembered the records I wanted to pass on to John, and Susan had a couple of bags of clothes for Morgandy, and then we sat around and visited outside until almost 6 PM. A little after 7:PM (when I had started my rosary) Kameron came in, and we started to watch Hell Boy 2, then paused at 8 PM to wash up, then watched until finished at 9 PM. I completed my rosary.

Back to reading EA until about 10:30 PM, then bed.

 

11/11/2020: Veterans Day. Up at about 6 AM. Still limping and unbalanced but not quite so painful. Caught up Diary. Prayers and Bible. Went in at 9 AM to get eggs-and-ramen. The day was bright and clear again and cool, at least in the morning hours. I finished reading “An Enchanted April”. Around lunchtime S&A tried having Ginger in the outside dog pen (the poor old dear is getting very sloppy about her peeps and poops). She whined and worried. They hope that maybe she’ll get more used to it so she can at least spend some time outside. She’s almost blind and I think entirely deaf and very nervous in consequence. I’m afraid she won’t be around much longer, but until she hops the twig, I’m afraid she’s going to be a growing nuisance, the poor old thing.

In the afternoon I had a beef ramen on bread (and 1 Big Red Zero) and began watching “Enchanted April”, then went in about 2:30 PM to start lunch (rice, mushrooms, broccoli, chicken). Let Ginger out about 3 PM and sat watching her. About 3:30 PM popped all the food in the oven and came and finished watching EA and went in at 4:45 PM to take the food out. 

Rosary at 7:15 PM, then went in at 7:40 PM to clean up. Had a butter-and-raspberry jam sandwich. Started reading “Ben Hur”, but not sure if I will continue on with it. Roused myself at 9 PM to clean up, then ready to hit the hay, I think. Played DQ8 until almost midnight.

 

11/12/2020: Woke up at 6 AM. Prayers and Bible. Still fighting down thoughts, but they are diminishing, and once real life completely takes hold and not drowsy old bad habits, I should be fine. The election continues to be contested, and it is very close, and Biden will probably be found to be the winner, but there is no reason for Trump to concede until it is absolutely proven. Then things will be absolutely clear and no reason for doubts afterward. [Well, that proved to be hopelessly optimistic.] In fact, I am rather fearful about all the “mostly peaceful” protests that would now rage if Trump were found by some miraculous margin to have won. Oy. Now 8 AM. Today’s goals: call St. James for a reservation and call SocSec about account.

So, ramen and eggs at breakfast, raspberry jam sandwiches for lunch. Did make church appointment but funked the SocSec call. Played DQ8 and watched Red&Blue history about Rome. Weather clearish again but neither too hot nor cool. At supper made chili, noodles, and corn on the cob, and had a chicken sandwich with the leftover chicken from yesterday. Went in and washed up about 7:45 PM, watched Green Acres. About 10:10 PM prayed rosary. Now it’s 10:42 PM. Read? DQ8? Then bed at midnight.

 

11/13/2020: Up at 6:30 AM with dream to write down. Prayers, Bible. So it was Friday the 13^th. I went to FD and got cookies, eggnog, shrimp ramen, and Italian dressing at 9 AM. Wrote a page starting a new short story: Lady Willow. I say new, but it is an old idea I’ve had for years. I drew a picture and was going to write a ‘ballad’, but never did. The day went on as per usual, warmer than I would like. Started frying taters at 2:30 PM. Not so many this week and I noticed no lack. Rosary at 10 PM, then bed.

 

11/14/2020: Up about 7 AM. Prayers, Bible. Ate a few cookies to take my medicine. Spent almost half an hour once the water ‘boiled’ (it never came to a rolling boil with the large pot I was using) until the pasta was done. Used the whole bottle of dressing. Eaten at about 10 AM. Wrote a page of LW. Slept until almost 2 PM. Played DQ8 (brought my token count to over a million); read TCM (The Confidence Man). About 4 PM buzzed my hair. Rosary. About 5:30 PM heard Susan working in the back yard. Went and asked her to check my buzz. She told me Kaitlyn had tested positive for Covid but not her Ryan. But she is young and strong, and we are all praying for her, I’m sure. But how long before we see her in person again? Warmish all day, and no cooling down tomorrow predicted. “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms” on tonight.

 

11/15/2020: Up at 5:59 AM, just before the alarm went off. Prayers, shower, dressed, Bible. Windy morning. Going out the door at 7 AM.

Got to church. Rosary. A little delay with Fr. Greg having to do the service, but he handled it well for having to step in at a pinch. Took the long route home to go to FD, where I bought chips and a 4-pack of ravioli.

When I got home, I tucked into the ravioli, and didn’t stop till it was gone! Shameful. Read some TCM then napped. Andy brought me out some bananas and cinnamon churro chips. Started a new game of DQ8, with the name ‘Erasmus’ this time. About 4:30 PM they came in and said they were going to New Braunfels, and did I want to send some money to get Long John Silvers. Yes, please! Came back before the new animated shows (a dull lot). I got leftover fries from Andy, and leftover hushpuppies from Kam. My own plate was two fish, shrimp, and a plethora of Hushpuppies. When I was done, I was bursting. Really overdid it. By 12:30 AM I was in Simpleton in DQ8 and ready to recruit Angelo. Must stop and go to bed.

 

11/16/2020: Up at 7 AM after early morning sleep broken by dreams and barking dogs. Prayers, Bible. More DQ8 (and all day, at interstices). Wash at 9 AM and made my breakfast ramen. Boiled eggs and made egg salad and cucumber salad. At 12:30 PM made Kam lunch. Hung up clothes. At 4 PM made supper (fish and couscous). About 7 PM Andy came out and told me Susan wanted me to make oatmeal cookies, so I came in. He had to go and buy white and brown sugar. Listened to “Elf” while I baked. Very good batch, too. Went in at 8 PM. Rosary at 9 PM. Playing DQ8. Stopped at 10:30 PM. A cool brisk day, but for some reason I seemed to be distracted, “staring into eyes of darkness and despair, that rise and shrink with hate”, like I lacked all reason to live.

Notes

Well, I have to say that if it weren’t for these diary entries, I wouldn’t have any recollection of reading The Enchanted April, The Confidence Man, or Ben Hur, which I never seem to have persisted in. I still have no conscious recollection of any of that happening, only a written record of it. It makes me wonder what other things never got determinedly noted in my ‘permanent record,’ but which might still be making some sort of shadowy influence there underneath the surface.

In time Lady Willow was finished and is now published on this blog.

2020 Diary: Nine Days in November

11/1/2020: Up about 3 AM. Prayers, Bible, and rosary. Posted more ‘What Happened’ (hereinafter WH) on NOT. Found a picture of Mom’s old jewelry box on Etsy. Lay down and slept a little until 7 AM (and since today is the time change, yesterday it would have been 8 AM). Time for YT church (now 7:30 AM).

Went out at 9:25 AM to get a jug of water, and all around my door is a little swarm of butterflies! Just such swarms as accompanied the passing of Mom and Mike; I tend to think of them as messengers, and here on All Saints Day, why not? Just around the door too, not everywhere at the moment.

The day passed along, a little disjointed because of the time change. I made the last of my Taste of Thanksgiving meals and took the pan and can opener back in a little after noon. At one point of the day (about 4 PM, I guess) Andy brought me out some leftover Panda Express, a lot of stir fry and a bit of chicken and peppers. He asked me in about 7 PM to make some dip-dips, and I got an RBFCU deposit slip from Susan so I can deposit the check that came in on Friday. I’m hoping John can take me when he visits. The day trundled along with Kipling until I went to bed (probably before 10 PM).

 

11/2/2020: All Soul’s Day. Up and down all night trying to adjust sleep schedule until I decided I was up at 4 AM (3 o’clock, according to my body). Prayers and Bible. Shaved and dressed. Saw a little Dragnet (1969, and about race relations). Worked on organizing my SSI stuff into a folder. It’s now 5:42.

I decided that I would bag up the 20-year-old docs and whatnot and just put them in the trash bin, then cut up the cardboard box they were in. The house looks definitely lighter.  I went in at 9 AM, started my wash, boiled eggs for egg salad, and made my ramen. At 10:30 AM went out to put my wash in the dryer, just when the pool guy drove up. Swept the kitchen porch. At lunch Andy came over with yet another Treasury check, this one for November. Puttered around until 2 PM, and when it was clear John wasn’t going to call or come over, I hopped over to FD, this time taking the long way round so I didn’t have to watch the traffic so much. I only picked up some cookies and chips and a can opener (my old one having disintegrated) and some magic erasers, but I got caught behind a woman who had $200 worth of stuff to buy, and it took me at least half an hour of standing there behind her, arm twangling. She was apologetic but did nothing to hasten the process, even getting more stuff as she stood there. Got back home about 3:15 PM, and soon thereafter made cucumber salad, fed pets, started supper, and helped Kameron make a cup of green tea. Came out and got involved with a series about tropes. Watched Green Acres and what looks like the first episode of Hogan’s Heroes. It’s now 10:15 PM (though it seems earlier) and I’m about to start my rosary. Bed 12:30 AM.

 

11/3/2020: Election Day. Up at 4:30 AM to write down a dream, then prayers and Bible, then on a whim thought to look up “The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood” and there it was at last, only put on YT on July 19^th this year! Ran some recycling out at 6:30 AM, and Andy was already heading out on a call. 41 degrees this morning, and a red sunrise.

7:25 AM starting to make beef ramen with hot sauce.

Throughout the day it became obvious John wasn’t going to visit. Watched the Daily Wire show with the four hosts and their guests, and for a while it looked like a Trump victory might be squeaked out. Made cabbage soup with carrots and potatoes for lunch, ate half and put the rest in the cabbage and taters at supper; also made sausages. By the time I went to bed there was still no clear winner.

 

11/4/2020: Got up about 5:30. Prayers, Bible, and a rosary to make up for what I’d skipped yesterday. Also made sure I took medicine, which I’d also inadvertently forgotten yesterday. Posted on NOT and at lunch looked up ‘cardboard chimney’ on eBay and told Susan one was available. Weather just glorious today, cool, with a few wispy mare’s tails. Still no clear winner, but it looks like Biden is gaining. If Biden wins, it will not be because of anything the fellow has done, but because more people hate Trump for some reason. They just don’t like the sound of economic growth, support for Israel, the protection of American interests, religious freedom, or respect for unborn human life.

In the afternoon helped Kameron with his homework about shopping, then made supper, chicken breasts, rice, mushrooms, and broccoli. Ate, took a little nap, then rosary, wash dishes, and today’s rosary. When I went to bed, Biden was 7 electoral votes away from the presidency, with Trump trailing behind. Maybe the magical Utopia the liberals say will spring up and be miraculously instituted, with Covid suddenly disappearing (because it was the Orange Man’s fault somehow). Anything bad after that will be the fault of the unenlightened masses who voted for Trump, the Republican Congress, and the new justices on the Supreme Court, which, if they weren’t still around, all would be sweetness and light.

 

11/5/2020: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November. Up at 3:30 AM, with the idiot neighbor barking at the dogs who were barking at him. Tried to get back to sleep, but no go. Got up and caught up diary. It’s now 4:07 AM, and what am I to do?

It is now 5:55 AM, and I had laid down a while after reading a bit more Kipling (having finished his dog stories) but after some restless drowsiness I am up again. Shaved, in case I do decide to go to DG again later. I suppose it is now time for prayers and Bible.

But first I did some research (being led along by some images on Prof. Oddfellows site) on Fritz Eichenberg illustrations and discovered “Padre Porko, the Gentlemanly Pig” by Robert Davis, which looks and sounds like it might just be my cup of tea. Added it to the Wish List. Now 6:47 AM.

Said my prayers, dressed, and headed out at 7:30 AM. Had to wait 5 minutes till open at 8 AM. Out by 8:20 AM, and home by 8:45 AM. Since I bought 3 jugs of Diet Dr. Pepper for $3, my right arm was dying by the time I got back. Opened the house up, read 2 chapters of the Gospel of John (finishing it up), then went in to get ramen. Kam and Susan still there (9:10 AM) as S is taking K to the Dr.’s. Boiling up wienies for breakfast and drinking eggnog. Took my medicine. Wonder what the political landscape looks like? Either way, it won’t be the Millennium or the Apocalypse just yet, I’m guessing.

Ate 10 wienies for breakfast then laid down to rest. Kam called me at 12:19 PM to make him lunch, which I did, with right leg feeling every yard of my morning journey. Must not try to lug such heavy loads over such distances, I guess.

About 2 PM went looking for a Tinker Bell Tree Topper for Susan, and found it, sure enough. E-mailed the link to her. At 4 PM went in and started supper (leg still hurts and hurt all evening). Made chili, rotini, corn on cob (which was really easy as it came already shucked in a bag). Went out at 5:30 PM to talk to Susan who came out into the back yard. Went in at 7:30 PM to wash up, finish off chili, and watched Green Acres at 8:30 PM. Now a little after 9 PM, and ready for rosary. Bed by 10 PM.

 

11/6/2020: Up about 4:40 AM. Prayers, dressed, brushed up shoes with a wipe of a washrag and some Sharpie. Right leg still aching; I should never carry home so much soda from so far away again. Caught a little Dragnet and one was a teen drugs episode; even stiffer than usual. I wonder what Friday would think of our situation today. 5:20 AM now and I’m making some ramen. Bible, starting Acts today.

Spent most of the morning watching Trope Talks on YT and eating more ramen and polishing off the cabbage/taters/carrots from Tuesday. Laid down about 11:30 AM and Andy brought me in a notice from Medicaid about 12 PM. He said he’ll take me to RBFCU tomorrow at 8 AM.

Continued watching Tropes, talked to Yen a bit on FB Messenger, started frying taters at 2:30 PM, made fish, continued frying until almost 7 PM. Dishes at 8:10 PM. Rosary at 9:10 PM. Fixing to hit the hay at 11 PM.

 

11/7/2020: Up at 4:40 AM. Prayers and Bible. Showered, got dressed. Now 5:25 AM. Ready to make out my deposit.

6:10 AM: wasted time taking a test for autism on FB, and at the end didn’t see any results. Made out my deposit. Okay. Hope it’s right.

Went out at 8 AM and Andy took me to Shanafelt Auto first, then we went to get breakfast tacos. I got 4 eggs, bacon, and cheese, with salsa verde. RBFCU wasn’t open yet, so we came home and ate and headed back out at 9:10 AM. John called unexpectedly at 10 AM, and a little before 11 AM he was here and we went to Walmart. Got a few things like socks, Bengal spray, Big Red in cans, and so on, like bread, jelly, Ritz crackers, ramen soup in cups, pasta, eggnog, dip. When we came home S&A were scrubbing the side of the guest house, and we talked about Biden (apparently the winner), Thanksgiving, and so on.

Spent the afternoon watching more Trope Talk and trying to remember an old story I told Kameron about him and me visiting a magical land and a troll eating his hand (as proof, I pointed to the crease in his wrist where I had used magic to grow him a new one).

About 5:15 PM I started watching “My Favorite Year”. It’s 6:30 PM now, and it’s dark (after a day of glorious weather). Rosary at 8 PM, then I just dropped off.

 

11/8/2020: After several wakenings even before midnight, I finally gave up trying to get back to sleep at 4:40 AM. Got up with ideas about ‘Lady Willow’ again, perhaps adding a Lord of the Wood as another antagonist. Prayers and Bible. Shower and dress. Decide to arrange my funds and find I have an astonishing sum for one who was getting by on $20 every two weeks. Must get my affairs in more order, get shoes, pay bills and so on. “Pride and Prejudice” on TCM right now. I shall be on my way to church at 7 AM.

Limped over to church. Had an elderly unknown priest [Father Mike], who was obviously filling in. After a fairly rambling sermon (he had some good points there but was having a hard time bringing his sheep into the pen), started to limp home, thinking the best part was that I’d had the Eucharist. At the corner where I turn down Nolte Street, Andy drives by and picks me up, having got breakfast for them and heading home. I have peach jelly bread for breakfast.

The day spent with Trope Talk and reading Kipling. Right leg giving me the pip all day, although the weather is glorious fall, with cool breezes, bright skies, and falling leaves. At lunch I went to the garage fridge to get the rest of my grapes, and talked briefly to Andy, who was washing the dog-pen side of the guest house (where it had an enormous green stain). About 7 PM they asked me over to make dip-dips, which I did, and borrowed the medium pot to make spaghetti in for my own supper. Tried dipping into the Sunday animations, but blecch. Read GKC’s criticism on Kipling in “Heretics”. Bed at about 10 PM.

 

11/9/2020: Up about 4:30 AM, after dreams about decay and duty. Prayers, cleaning, and caught up diary. Right leg still hurting, knee still crumpling, right out of the box.

In between I drifted off (thinking about maybe finally writing out the story of ‘Lady Willow’ and woke up just before 9 AM. Bathroom, started wash, then made my ramen-with-eggs and boiled eggs and made egg salad. It’s now just 10 AM.

“We must stop treating ‘Science’ like it is monolithic and infallible; it is an ongoing process of trial and error. Nor is it, in medicine, an absolute that works the same for everybody. An operation or a drug that would be fine for a ten-year-old might not affect a mature adult at all and may outright kill an elderly person. This even applies to different population sizes, ethnic make-up, diet, and so on. It must be handled especially carefully when, in the name of ‘Science’, certain human rights are declared to be curtailed or even abolished.”

Old [PS2] game card actually loaded. Names of ‘Hero’ in DQ8: Walnivar, Braden, Leo, Fists, Rhane, Eltrius, Burian, Samuel, Leo, Finn, Guv M’Boy, Kit Sune, Findlore, Hiro, Po, Dragomir, and now Borkim and Taryn.

Made broccoli salad from 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM. About 3 PM had ramen, then at 4 PM started supper (fish, couscous). Rosary a at 7 PM. Kam called me in at 8 PM to make corn dogs and TX toast. Watched Green Acres at 8:30 PM. Pootled around with PS2 for a while. Tis now 10:30 PM, and I think bed calls. Not quite as cool as I want it. 

Notes

I've spoken elsewhere about Taste of Thanksgiving, a not-entirely-satisfactory dish made when I wait in anticipation of real Thanksgiving, of stufffing mix made with a can of chicken and a can of mushroom soup.  It's getting to be souping weather again around here, and a good beef stew might be in the near future.

This will probably be the most you will hear from me about politics. It is a nasty necessity that I hate having to think about, devolving all too often not into facts but 'narrative.' Sure enough, it is neither the Millenium nor the Appocalypse even yet.

The many names I came up for the Hero in Dragon Quest 8 reflect the many times I started playing it from the beginning again, trying different skill sets for all the characters or seeking out obscure story elements. I remember being stunned when I read books in the Trodain library that had the name I had chosen in them, before realizing that it was just part of the programming. 

We had only just started going back to irl church after the lockdown. I had to do a lot of finagling to keep my old pair of shoes going, a necessity that was relieved by my SSI stipend. I did get that copy of Padre Porko eventually, and Susan did get the Tinker Bell tree topper. 

 

2019: Not Quite My Favorite Year

 

11/10/2019: Up at 5:30 AM. Dressed, prayers, catechism, Bible. Off at 7 AM, church at 8 AM. Thought of the concept of "the big room"; that my life was lived in a big room that included Hardscrabble House, the park, St.James, DG and FD. A nippy morning, but not coat-cold, but with a nice smell of woodsmoke in the air; had a very good celebration, Father Greg presiding. Actually had a dollar for both collections, that made me feel good. Came home, ate chili and crackers, and watched a couple of episodes of The Practice. Lay down for a nap and up at 1 PM.

Lunch about 2 PM. Susan came over and we talked about what we needed to make stew, and how they're going to try to re-arrange Kam's room. Brought over some bananas. Don't need to make broccoli salad this week. A little after 4 PM Kam asked me to grass dogs, which I did. This evening Andy brought me some Whataburger fries and two quarters of burgers (delicious). Watched end of "My Favorite Year". Look forward to an evening of animation, including the Season Premiere of Rick and Morty.

Had a strange feeling today looking around and wondering how someone after my death would look at my stuff and what they would think of it, how it would be bereft of what meaning I gave it while I was alive, and what, if any, meaning it would have for them. The strange feeling was me imagining being that someone and seeing my stuff at a remove, like relics, seeing the arrangements and whatnot and wondering what if anything could be made of it.

Ricky Gervais is not a religious argument, he's a snotty attitude.

 

11/11/2019: Veteran's Day. Up at 6 AM. Prayers, Catechism, Bible. Ramen. Andy told me a little before 8 AM that I don't have to make chicken salad. At 9 AM went in and sliced apples for Kam. Went in at 10 AM and got Kam on his way; bus about 10:35 AM. S&A home about 12:30 PM; gave me breakfast taco. Pool guy had been here, so they let the Rotts out. At 2 PM the front struck, and the guy came for the windows at the same time; locked the Rotts up again, so he could work.

E-mail to John: Well, when the cold front hit it seemed to knock me into another dimension, a dimension where my well-laid plan to brew a stew this afternoon took a couple of strange turns. First, the pork carnitas that we had ear-marked for stew turned out to be ... not up to snuff (well, they were remainders that Kameron had brought home from his work program).  Never mind, from the same source were some vacuum sealed chicken fajitas that worked as a replacement. Then the taters (which I could have sworn I had seen in the cabinet this morning - just expectations, I guess) turned out not be there, having been forgotten while shopping. What was supposed to be a pork stew with carrots, potatoes, tomato sauce and onions in the end turned into a chicken soup with carrots and rice. Pretty tasty in its own right, but not quite what Andy was hoping for to go with the jalapeno cornbread.

Popped a picture of Pop in uniform on Facebook today. I listened to John Huston's son on Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast today - he does an eerily close imitation of his father's voice. It came to me that none of us had even a fair approximation of Pop's voice or could produce one, and you and Kenny both have great powers of mimicry. Mike would sometimes do Pop, but it was a mockery, and not so much a mimicry. I suppose we never really had that much time around him when we were kids to pick up his tones. "Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears - for I am deaf."

 

11/12/2019: Up about 6:30 AM and decided to go for a Megamillions. Short prayers, then on my walk to and from the little store, I said my rosary. I was at the park, when Andy stopped by and offered me a ride to the store. Back by about 8:20 AM through the bitter cold. At 9 AM  went in asked Kam what wanted for breakfast (apples), then took my ramen, some bread, and some deer sausage. Went in at 10AM and got Kam going (he was already almost ready) and loaned him a padded jacket (he wanted to go in that thin little sweater!) because he wasn't sure where his warmer jacket was. Lay down for a nap. At 1 PM went in and got left-over chicken soup for lunch; brought the trash bin in. At 2 PM went out and swept back and kitchen porches, including screenless windowsills. Went ahead and fed the cats a little before 3 PM. Don't have to cook supper today.

Went out at 3:30 PM, grassed the chihuahuas and brought the recycle bin in. Picked up some wind-blown trash along the way. Was just feeding the inside animals when Kam got home. I went inside, said the rest of my prayers and read the catechism and Bible. Susan brought me a BBQ plate a little before 6 PM. Binge-watched about 6 episodes of "Green Eggs and Ham"; it wasn't quite Seuss, but I found it engaging and the traditional animation was stunning. 

John answered my e-mail with this news from Kenny: "[Kenny] did mention how proud he was of your work, and that he would like to do a screenplay treatment of it, to peddle to the various media platforms- a very good idea, as we have discussed in the past. He would be the guy to do it, too, he has screenplay writing programs and some proximity to the movers and/or shakers. Have ya'll discussed the possibility? Ventures with Kenny are always a bit misty to get your hopes up too much; but seeing as the source material already exists, perhaps this one might be more likely to come to fruition." Which is a nice thought to go to bed with. Kam called me in about 10 PM with a food order, but Susan said he should eat his BBQ plate. I did get him a root beer and wished him good night.

 

11/13/2019: Up a little before 6 AM. The Dream Wars continue, this time in a very personal way. Prayers, catechism and Bible. See 8 1/2 on this morning; dip in and out, but as it is subtitled it requires more attention than I can spare all the time. Wonder if my Paypal money is available yet? Got Kameron off to school. Nap at 12 PM.

Woke up from nap at 2 PM, with another dream. At 3 PM went in grassed chihuahuas and fed cats, then started supper. Chili, noodles, corn on the cob. Kam home at 4 PM. Went in at 8 PM and washed up. The night went as usual.

Notes

I'm still unsure how much money (if any) went into the Paypal account. That phrase about "friends, Romans, and countryman" is an actual quote we have on tape by Pop, one of the first tapes we ever made. Didn't get that photo of Pop placed quite right, but it'll do.

Christmas in November?

 

As this Peanuts comic from October 23, 1959, shows, the expansion of the 'Christmas season' has been going on for a long time. The reason for it is not far to find: big business and stores want the longest buying period possible at the end of the year, to bring their balances into the black. They have a way to force compliance with this plan; if people don't start consuming quickly and early, by the time the actual Christmas season rolls around (traditionally held to begin after Thanksgiving) the best presents, the best decorations, sometimes even the best food is already sold out. The result is that by Christmas day everyone (especially the adult part of everyone) is tired out and ready for it all to end. One cannot be kept at an emotional boil for two months and not be somewhat exhausted by the whole thing. It is a situation from which there seems to be no escape, not for society as a whole. One can only strive personally to keep an even keel and not be drawn too much into the feeding frenzy. Decorations, sales, and carols over the radio and in store Muzac are already everywhere. But being aware of the hard sell grants one some degree of objectivity, and allows one to reserve some Christmas cheer for the actual day.