2922

August August ends and September looms! Daze without end begin! Managed to get a hair cut today (there is a local barbershop run by several Asian women) even though it was a holiday weekend and a Sun Day. When she asked if I was over 65, I replied that I was, unfortunately, not just over 65, but closer to 80 than being near 65. They charge $2 less for those of us that are under 10 or over 65. For the amount of hair that I do have, I should get additional credit as well--or start shaving my entire head!

I also did my laundry since there was seemingly little demand for the machines today. There was a wedding this weekend in my daughter's partner's family. They were immersed in rehearsal dinners, getting dressed, and attending the ceremony and reception.

I finished viewing the House of Cards episodes. Not many things or people to like by the end of the story. Power corrupting absolutely--not just locally, but globally as well. The acting was superb--but also nauseating! No good guys left--if there ever were any to start with!

Have to find another show. Not an easy task now that I've screened so many of the lengthy ones. The shorter ones were probably canceled early on--probably for good reasons. The saving grace is that the networks are about to begin their Fall offerings--so there will be plenty of new episodes to view.

I had a huge breakfast this morning (actually was at brunch time) of a waffle (topped with caramel, bananas, walnuts, syrup, and a dollop of whipped cream), two eggs and sausage links! I was hungry! The place, CoCo's, has a monumental set of breakfast offerings! I will return!

A busy, event-filled week on the horizon! Dance classes, medical stuff, support group, family visitors, and no doubt a lot more! Let the Fall begin!

2923

Today was really Saturday--unlike yesterday's imaginary day. I spent the day not doing much of anything. I tried shopping for some new t-shirts but couldn't find any that had any style or interesting colors/designs. It was fairly warm outside today, but I felt more like being outdoors than hunkered in my room. I'm noticing that I enjoy just sitting at SB's, drinking something (iced/hot latte, Frap, or a tea) and using my phone to pull up stuff from the web. That activity is enjoyable except at those times when the schools empty their hordes into SB's and the place goes manic.

I spent some time going over the steps in the Raggle Taggle Gypsy O line dance. I'm going to learn to dance this one no matter what. It's great music and the steps are fast but not all that difficult. I'm having trouble really learning the dances we are doing, but I know that pushing through is going to be better than not facing the challenge(s).

At dinner tonight (daughter left a pot of rice, some baked fish and a veggie stir fry) MD was opening a soy sauce packet and it popped and flew across the room. The result was an arterial-like spray across the curtains in the corner of the room. I just spent about 3 hours cleaning the spray of dot patterns off the panels. I had to use a rug cleaner and douse each spot, work the dampened area by hand, and then blot the damp area to lift off the stain.

I'm late to the gate tonight! But it's all right! I'll sleep tight! Until the morning light! Good night!

2924

Slow day this Fry Day (for some reason, I thought it was Saturday until just now)! Slept in after waking in the early hours so day began delayed. I fooled around and didn't get out for lunch/latte until the early afternoon. And then, suddenly, it was dinner time (although I ate lunch so late I wasn't hungry). I ate a piece of apple and now it's already time for my night rituals. So it feels like the whole Fry Day has come and gone--without much of a trace of me being around.

Partly, I was feeling the effects of yesterday's dance class. The class was good and energizing, and I felt really awake and alert last night. I also spent a fair amount of time reviewing some of the dances--especially the Raggle Taggle Gypsy O dance. Love the music and want to do the dance smoothly and without thought. Yeah for YouTube! I can pull up a video for almost every dance--especially dances that are popular, like Gypsy O.

I booked a CRP test using the online DirectLab site. It sent me a test requisition that I can take to a local lab. They will perform the test and report the results back to DirectLab, and I can pick up the results online. Yeah for the Internet! What did we ever do without this ubiquitous resource?

Next week is September--Fall Calls! The Summer ends and Autumn begins!  There will be rains and there will be winds! We need the water! Our drought needs to end!

Dancing the dance! Give it a chance!

2925

I went to dance class feeling kind of loopy. The dancing helped stabilize everything even though I was having difficulty keeping my feet in motion.

Last night I had episode with an alarm clock. The clock in the kitchen, which is mostly used for reference, got the alarm button turned on by accident. Around 1am, I started hearing faint warbles from something electronic--it was a faint, muted beeping sound. I got up and checked the thermostat since it sounded like the beeps were coming from that area of the house. I didn't see anything on the thermostat displays that indicated any problem. But, as I fiddled with the device, it went silent. I went back to bed.

A short time later, I started hearing the beeps again. This time, they started off beeping softly and then built up in frequency and volume. I got up again and started trying to locate the problem. I checked the fire alarm, the burglar alarm, and ultimately the clock--it was apparently going in and out of snooze mode, but getting louder and more intense when it was being ignored. If the thing were beside  my bed, I would end up smashing it into the wall.

So, with a bit of early (really early) morning somnambulism, the mystery was solved and the clock was silenced. I reset the alarm to go off at 8:00 o'clock just in case it was accidentally activated again. I figured that being beeped at around bed time or in the morning about wake up time can be handled. Having it happen at 1am is not optimal!

I'm still resonating with all of the physical issues that have emerged (in addition to PD)--dental health, CRP levels (a blood test that hygienist suggested that I have done), colonoscopy (and what might present when that is done), tiredness, and a few other comparatively minor things.

Have to dance the dance--until the music stops--and then keep on anyway!

2926

Tooth is Truth! An obscure saying I once spoke at a college party. The party host had a large replica of a molar on his mantle. When I saw the large dental relic, I immediately blurted out the obscure rhyming declaration.

Today, I was face with the reality of the phrase. My teeth (and gums) are in bad shape despite the efforts I have made over the past three months to turn the problems around. I scheduled a round of deep scaling and some prophylactic interventions. The cost is moderate but I can't just let it go any further.

So the day was spent in waiting for the dental session and then dealing with the prognosis.

Dance class tomorrow--no class on Friday. Holidaze weekend! Visitors arriving next week.

I recalled a piece of a dream from last night as I awoke. It was actually not so much dream, but a replay of some actual events around the time of my last divorce. The memories of those events triggered a lot of sadness and anger in the dream state I was in.

2927

Danced today and it helped smooth out things! I was a bit sluggish after eating some lunch and getting a latte before heading to class. I also downed my medications when I got to the recreation center. The sluggishness persisted for about half of the class. It smoothed out in the 2nd half and later at home. I'm still riding that wave now, as I write these notes.

Have a dental hygiene appointment tomorrow at 1pm--so I'll be hitting about the same period of time then as I hit in class today. Except--I will probably not eat anything dense before going into the dentist. I want to see what the results will be of my using the OraMD dental oils for the past three months. I'm hoping that I will show some marked improvement over past dental forays.

I'm feeling sort of sleepy as I write this--I didn't get a nap this afternoon (although I napped in late this morning).

I think I've been having fairly detailed dreams but I'm not recalling them. May start writing them down right after I awake during my night sleeping. My morning napping after taking my morning medications seems to help erase my dream residues. Dream on! Dream on!

2928

Moon Day! Had a fairly steady day. Nothing major that caused any disruption or stress. Weather was windy, which felt good--the soft touch on the skin.

I had a great lunch at the local Persian kabob place--rice, chicken, roasted tomato, and pita with butter, feta, and raw spices. Delicious! I was the only one in the place! Slow day on the kabob scene!

Grabbed a peach/green tea/lemonade drink instead of my usual beverages. It was a refreshing change.

Took a nap and then drove B to work.

Tomorrow is the CW dance class over in Rancho Cordoba. May try an extra hour and see how it goes. Staying puts me returning in more of the afternoon traffic, but nothing ventured nothing rained--and we need the rain!

Got a call from MF this evening. I said I'd send her an email with the names/URLs of the things we talked about--mostly to do with PD and Alzheimer's. She said she'd send me a partial video of the play she was in.

2929

Shake, rattle and roll! Last night's temblor shook up the North country. Fortunately, it happened quite early in the morning--around 3am. I awoke a bit later than that time but I didn't feel any shaking--at least not from the earthquake--maybe from the PD perhaps.

Today was a good day. It was quiet and I napped and rested a lot. I also didn't eat anything heavy (except for a small chocolate croissant with my morning latte). I rested, napped, ate sparingly, did the laundry, watched some episodes of House of Cards (which is starting to fall), played some Just Words, and generally stayed still.

For some reason, there is an infestation of house flies--they seem to be in every room with more than one per room. Not sure how they are getting in and locating themselves everywhere. But, my reflexes are still pretty good--so they don't have a chance. Fly by dear flies and I'll make you die, or at least I will try!

Another one has invaded my room! Have to deal with it--don't want a buzzing insect humming in my sleep!

2930

It's a very slow Saturday. I feel like I'm swimming through molasses. I've had food and a Frappuccino  and a short nap (plus didn't get up all that early) and still feel like I'm being drug through the day. It's quiet here today--still and quiet.

I guess I may be feeling some repercussion from yesterday's activities. I'm not thinking all that clear--for example, I took off for lunch and left my wallet at home. Fortunately, it was a place where you paid after you ordered, and I discovered my tiny missing portmanteau before eating the meal.

Lunch was great once I retrieved my wallet. Went to O'Conners--the BBQ place. The sweet potato fries are the best that there is.

I think I'm beginning to feel some of the evening-time energies that I usually encounter. May it be so!
Let the lights dim and the magic begin!

Watching House of Cards--I'm nearly through the first season. I wasn't sure that I'd stick with it and having Kevin Spacey doing asides throughout the whole thing. But, it's engaging--and a reflection of how life is on the hill might be with all of the wheeling and dealing that is done there.

2931

Made it to the Friday dance class in Citrus Heights. Not that far--probably closer than Cardoba.

Instructor has done it for a while--she gives a smooth, clear breakdown of the steps. The class goes 1.5 hours and I was tired by the end of the first hour. Some of it has to do with doing two classes back-to-back on two separate days. Thursday's class is challenging--doing another 1.5 hours on Friday will take some getting used to. (No Friday class next Friday--labor day weekend.)

Today's class is probably the biggest of the three I'm taking. She also teaches a Wednesday class but I think I'll stick with my plan to go to class on Monday and Tuesday, take Wednesday off, and do two classes on Thursday and Friday. That will be about 5-6 hours of dancing each week! Enough to start with!

I had a connected and really detailed set of dreams over the past two nights. I'm not sure what they were about, but I know I felt, in the middle of the dreaming, that the dreams were important.

I was a bit out of sync today--didn't have a substantial meal before dancing, the room was cold, and the class is lengthy. I ended up eating after class was over. I then came home and napped out for a couple of hours. I then had the other half of my late lunch (a Panera sandwich) for dinner.

It's still fairly early in the evening, but I feel somewhat blotto. I'm feeling a bit wired but also tired. Tired and wired--the happy couple of sensations!

The weekend looms! The silent rooms are filled with brooms and old bassoons. I'm with the goons, the floral blooms and ancient tunes. A set of runes sit in a bowl of pickled prunes. Where are the moons?

2932

Good day! Dancing was the highlight--I'm doing better and better. I'm starting a 3rd class tomorrow. I will be dancing Tues, Thurs, and Fri. I'll add a 4th class on Monday come the Fall.

There will be a dance in September and a workshop/dance in October--and probably more to come.

In fact, I'm going to shut down early tonight and watch a few videos of dances we've been doing.

Waltzing off to dreamland!

2933

Got a call from the PCP's office this morning. Nurse wanted to know when I could come in and go over the stool test that was done. Not good news if they wanted me to come in!

I said I could come in in the afternoon. I had a hearty breakfast, a latte and a scone. Not sure what I did until it was time to head out for the appointment. My appointment was scheduled for 3:15 but I sat around for more than 30 minutes before I was called. I knew what was going to be said--the test results were positive and I need to get a colonoscopy. Not what I wanted to hear, but what I was expecting.

I left and went to the bakery and got a big piece of cheesecake--I felt like indulging. I came home and tried to nap and was awakened and disturbed by the grandkid. She wanted to play--I wanted to sleep. I finally got her to let me alone and I slept for several hours.

I have an appointment with the neurologist in early September--I'll speak with him then about any complications he knows of that I should be aware of when I schedule the procedure.

Dance class tomorrow! Move and dance--dance and move! Keep on going--in the groove!

2934

Dancing makes the difference! Had a good lunch, a latte, and then some dancing. Came home feeling good--some of the shakiness of the morning went away in the afternoon! I was tempted to stay for a 2nd hour of classes, but decided not to do that yet. Will add a 3rd day (Friday) and see how that plays out over the weekend. Then I'll start thinking about extending the classes. No hurry! No imperatives! Just going by how it feels.

I also have a small to-do list of things that I need to get handled beyond just dance classes. Tomorrow will be an ideal time to get some of those things done (started).

I'm awakening around 2am-3am no matter what or so it seems. I think that last night I spent some time surfing after I awoke, and then fell back to sleep and did my regular morning pattern of napping and waking until I finally got up.

I think that I dreamed but I don't, now, recall the details.

Oh, yes! Last night, around midnight, I was awakened by MD doing her laundry. I guess her caregiver was coming this morning and she wanted to have a load of clothes done in the off-peak hours. But, midnight and right next to my bedroom! I still awoke around 2am even though I did go back to sleep around midnight. Sleeping and dreaming--dreaming and sleeping! Letting the day flow--letting the day go! Time to sleep--time to weep! Time to slide into the deep!

2935

I almost slept through this morning and would have missed the Folsom PD support group if I had done so. Got up at 9:30am and made it to the 10am meeting--with a dash and a splash and no loss of cash...

Group was small and inward. Two of the women have spouses in care homes. One guy in a wheelchair came with his caregiver. A couple, newly diagnosed, came armed with all kinds of questions. Then, there was two other guys and me. There was not much energy in the group. I know I was still trying to wake up for an hour into the session. I had missed getting a latte on the way.

Had my latte after the meeting, but didn't eat anything substantial. So, came home and crashed out for a couple of hours. Awoke and took B to work and grabbed some food on the way back. Remained in a blur state until I had a light dinner.

Dance class tomorrow! Looking forward to it even though it's the most distant location. Getting more comfortable with driving somewhat longer routes and using the freeways.

I was a bit more shaky today versus normal. I've been surfing on the computer quite a bit--that activity, when done for long periods of time, seems to trigger some shaking. Need to take more breaks and do some stretching and light exercise. Must get back into walking more--I've really let that regime slip. Move it or lose it! Yeah, yeah--alright!

2936

I dreamed an active dream last night. It was active and verbal--I believe I woke myself up talking to someone in the dream. The dream took place in a spaceship. We had been captured by aliens and we were in an observation room where we were being monitored. The aliens were running different types of tests on us. At one point, the ceiling in the room cleared and we watched as large space craft began a descent on top of us. It appeared that we were going to be crushed by the rapidly defending vehicle. At some point, I noticed that we were being fed an illusion. The craft was, in fact, a scale model of an actual craft and it was being manipulated so that seemed that the craft was larger and more dangerous. I started telling the others with me what I had deduced--it was then that I started talking aloud in the dream state.

There were other parts of the dream--mostly dealing with us being moved about the ship and being shown how different controls operated. We were in light gravity most of the time--floating as we moved about the facility. For the most part, it was a pleasant dream.

PD support group meeting in the morrow. More dreams! More schemes! Full of beans!

2937

Saturn Day! Temperature ultimately rose up into the low 90s, but a bit of a breeze. I awoke around 4am and napped on/off until I got up around 9am. Finally made it out for a latte and then back out for some lunch--and napped again for a little while. Again, I waited too long to eat something and I felt the results--I get shaky and diffused--and I want to just lay down and sleep.

I did manage to locate (after some sidetracking into search spirals) the place in Citrus Heights that has line dancing on Fridays. The classes run from 1pm to 2:30pm. Will check it out! I suppose I could find a class on almost every day--but not going to try just yet. One class at a time!

Picked up my prescriptions from the pharmacy--It costs me $100 a week for the batch of pills I take! That's what it costs me--the insurance pays out even more than that despite the donut hole. Oh, well! Consider the alternatives!

I finished another Louis L'Amour short story collection. He must have been some kind of character given what he writes about--a lot of them having the ring of having been experienced. Of course, his boxer personality insinuates itself throughout the plots--he did fight 50 bouts in his career. The stories are simple and entertaining--nothing too complex, just solid narratives and resolutions. He was amazingly prolific despite his many journeys and times away.

The day fades--merges into the afternoon and evening, and ultimately the darkness and stillness of the night. I was dreaming the other night and was talking to someone in the dream. I awoke myself actually talking--speaking the dream words out loud! And the dreams go on!

2938

Slow day today! Napped a lot in between venturing out into the heat (got really warm today) and the school-is-in-session crowds and traffic. SBs went from a quiet, peaceful place to a virtual madhouse in just a few minutes--while I was finishing off a Frappaccino. Have to avoid going out around 3pm when most of the schools let loose.

I feel like I'm somewhat recovering from yesterday's stint in the dance class sauna. I just wanted to sleep, eat a bit, and sleep some more. I also felt displaced in time--it didn't seem like Friday for some reason. Distortion and confusion--the blending of the dream state and reality--munched!

The place where I ate lunch today was like an icebox (whatever that may be)--it was cold and drafty. Most places are like that--enough so that I tend to wear a long-sleeved shirt no matter what the external temperature is like. I can bet on it being way cool inside most places (dance class yesterday excluded).

The week ends! Today is the feast day of the Assumption in the Christian (mostly Catholic) traditions--the day celebrating the assumption of Mary, mother of Jesus, into heaven, body and soul.

Arise and float into the heavens, for it is time to fly!

2939

Hot and steamy day! Went to dance class and the building's AC was not working. After an hour, of a scheduled 1.5 hour class, everyone was wilting. It was like dancing in a sauna! It was actually cooler outside--where there was at least a breeze moving the air.

I'm still jazzed about locating my older sister and making contact with her. I've also been doing searches for some people that MD has lost track of over her many years. I'm finding clues and I am making progress. It's amazing what all is out there in cyberspace!

It's getting late again tonight--my days seem to be getting longer and hours are flying by.

Still ringing with sadness over Robin William's demise--what a waste of such a talent. I hope his soul has found the peace he needed.

Fry Day in the morrow! And the living is easy!

2941-2940

Had an enjoyable dance class yesterday--but was too out of it to post anything last night.

Today was a busy day--ex and a friend of ex dropped by and we had a family dinner. (Great yam fries were eaten!)

But it's now late, and I am zonked. This is so despite me sleeping well last night, this morning, afternoon napping, and not doing much other than eat.

So, I'm checking out early tonight. Have dance class in the morrow--looking forward to that!!

2942

Meteor showers tonight! That and a very big full moon make for lots of eyeballs looking to the sky. Skyballs!

I think I found the address, telephone, and email links for my older sister! Everything is on the Internet if you persist long enough! I found the info without having to pay for one of those search reports. I'm not sure what made her info more accessible than on other people--but now I have it! I'll do a bit more research on the data I've been given and then either call, email or write to her. It's been decades since we've spoken to each other.

I found a photograph of her in a magazine article from about 20 years ago. Amazing! One search popped up our mother's gravestone--because of our names being mentioned in the obituary. What can't you find in cyberspace?

Dance class tomorrow! I felt kind of logy for most of today--I got a late start and didn't eat much until around 1pm, when I also had my daily latte. Will get going a bit earlier in the morrow and go for my latte sooner rather than later.

Happy meteor showers! Blast away!

2943

Sunday sundaes! Awoke in the early morning but managed to eke out a few more hours before everyone was up. Most of the day was spent playing with the grandkid and eating. I picked up some pastries from Pantera and a pizza was ordered in for lunch. Hopefully, I'll only have some fruit for dinner, but there are a lot of leftovers from the earlier parts of the day. Can't let them go to waste--ha, ha!

I went online to help my daughter find some government documents on canning. I felt foggy and somewhat stressed when I couldn't find the exact item. There were several sites with multi-part documents available for download--I wanted one with the whole thing in one file. Took me some time and effort, but I found one. I knew I had seen one in my previous searches. I just had to do some sleuthing this time around.

I tried napping today, but wasn't successful (so far). Perhaps it's an early to bed night.

Quiet right now! Quiet and still--or almost so!

I need to do my laundry--perhaps can slip in a load after dinner subsides. My laundry schedule seems to have become more erratic than I was maintaining. I usually only did a load every other week, but recently I think I escalated the schedule now and then--most because I seem to run out of short sleeve shirts more quickly than when I only wore long sleeve ones. But who knows (or cares)--the machines are robotically ready to handle whatever we humans want to send their way. So be it!

2944

The daze move onward! I had a tough time getting up this morning. I awoke around 7am but went back to sleep. I thought I had taken my medications, but discovered I had not when I awoke around 8:30pm. Took my medications and fell back to sleep until nearly noon. Finally made my way out around 1:30pm and grabbed a couple of flatbread tacos and a green tea latte. Went back home and napped on/off for about an hour.

My ex arrived sometime in the morning. She and my daughter pulled a dinner together (chicken, potato salad, kale salad, faux crab salad). We then hit BR's for an ice cream celebration! I started the grandkid on flipping the plastic spoons into the air. It was fun and relaxing! And the ice cream was delicious!

A day of food, fun and sleep!

I spent some time on the Internet searching for traces my oldest sister, CB. I found several computer magazine articles talking about her IRS projects dealing with image recognition. Among others, she was a key person who helped implement the image processing technologies that lets us file our tax returns online. They were working on the preliminary procedures and processes in the early 90s. One article contained a photograph of her from around those times.

However, one of the first search results brought up a page on a mortuary site! It turned out (after a little e-searching) that she had contributed an obituary for someone she knew. So, I'm on the trail. Hope to chase her down and make contact. It's been a long time!

2945

Did well in yesterday's dance class. The brain/foot connection is starting to happen--more smoothly. I still notice that leftward movements seem slower and more erratic than those going right. One dance, Raggle Taggle Gypsy O, is a Celtic kick. The music and the dance fit together in a smooth way.

I awoke somewhat early this morning. The AC guys are supposed to come around noon to inspect the system. They were supposed to need to get into the attic through my closet--which has the access panel in the ceiling. They came, they inspected, they billed, but they didn't climb into the attic. Just as well! I got some minor exercise moving boxes out of and back into the closet. No harm--no foul!

Dreamed a couple of dreams last night. They both had to do with being in a shadowy location with some kind of negotiations going down. People in the dreams were ghostly and diffuse, wraith-like and difficult to see completely.

I just came back from eating lunch and shopping at TJ's. Feel like resting for a while, before heading out into the heat which is increasing as the day plays on.

May do my laundry when I awake. It seems like I'm needing to do laundry more often for some reason. Maybe I'm just forgetting when I last did a load. Everything is blurring together--becoming a memory lump and no fine details. I wake, I sleep, I dream but the solid parts of the day become diffuse and cloudy with no particular points of distinction.

It's time to rest!

2946

Went to the local PD support group this morning. It was pleasant and informative. The local pharmacy director talked about our medications and what she can help us do in evaluating the effects we experience when taking so many different dosages.

This group is usually only about a dozen or so who attend irregularly. They tend to be older and further along with the symptoms. Most can only speak very softly--they remind me to be LOUD!

I'll be heading for a dance class in a little while--in a few minutes actually. I came home from the meeting (had a latte on the way), ate a sandwich, and lay down and slept for a couple of hours. Do a little, sleep a lot! Seems to be my mantra!

I suppose that's better than what others are experiencing--do little and sleep little! That has to be much worse!

Well, off to the dancing place and space! 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3!

2947

I turned 75 today! How did that happen? Where did the decades go? What does it mean? It means that I've been here 75 x 365 days (27,375 days more or less)! Days upon daze upon daises!

I slept through a lot of today! I awoke to find an email from LL letting me know that she can't do the HI trek we were planning. I was irked, relieved, and sorry that it is what it is, but there's a silver lining. In the process of figuring out my frequent flyer status, I discovered that I could make about 4 RT flights to the continental US with those miles! The cost of going to HI would eat up all the miles--doing hops around the mainland would let me do more flights.

Daughter's partner, B, made a great dinner tonight (homemade enchiladas, refried beans, guacamole, corn chips using peppers and stuff from the garden). We didn't do a Happy Birthday thing--just had dinner and enjoyed the company.

I took a stool sample into the lab today--hope it gives me some good news.

There's a PD support meeting in Orangevale in the morrow and I have a dance class in the afternoon. Will try doing both and see how I fare. It will spread the day out a bit (9 to 5) with a big lunch break. May have to nap around midday so I don't get too tweaked.

Happy Birthday to me!

2948

Went to dance class today and that was fine. I was murky this morning and into the afternoon. After dancing, I rested for a while and everything seems to have come into focus now. Dancing was joyful--at times I found myself lifting and rising. We did a simple waltz--Texas Waltz. There are several YouTube videos of people dancing the dance (or not in some cases).

I was awakened around 5am by a bogus telephone call. The phone number is assigned to a Toyota Franchise in Georgia. I didn't answer and they left no message--just a hang up. In the process, I learned some other new phone features that I didn't know existed.

I did some more digging on possible HI trek. I think I have enough frequent flyer miles to cover one RT to the islands and back. I have to call the support people and check out how it all works together. I may have to purchase a few miles to merit getting a fully paid ticket. I show a bit over 97,000 miles in my account--I need 97,500.

I made an appointment to get an eye exam--in January of 2015! They sure like to book ahead!

We got a touch of rain today! It felt good to feel the light drops touching my skin. Will be nice when it rains a lot.

2949

I completed a couple of things today--Got MD's new battery for her health alert system installed and checked out. In the process, I also learned how to go to another App while still on the phone. Progress! Also found out how to use multiple windows--show two Apps at the same time! More progress! I dumped the old battery off at a recycle place--it's a big, heavy job and must be filled with nasty stuff.

I called the health insurance people and was able to (finally) grok just how the whole co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance (plus in/out of network and PPO) work. It's like a cloud clearing up a fog that I've had floating around all my medical activities--I think I finally get how the convoluted process is computed. The bad news (or is good news?) is that I'm still working on this year's deductible--which clarifies some of the billings I've been puzzling over. Plus, the whole system contains inordinate delays that compound the confusions. I also began to think about the plan that I'm using and if there's not a better one given my medical needs. Is possible!

I grabbed a sandwich for lunch and latte. I checked out the AAA travel bureau that is in a nearby shopping center. I think I know how the ticketing to HI is going to work--it'll just be a function of costs and how my frequent flyer miles are applied. We shall see!

I spun out when I got back home and I think I conked out for a while. Ate a bowl of fruit for dinner (sort of my standard fare) and watched a few TV episodes. It's still a bit earlier than my normal bedtime, but my eyes are feeling dry and itchy from the pervasive AC (and so much screen time). Will read for a bit and rest up for tomorrow's dance session. It's cooled down some and a there's even a tiny bit of rain. Anything is possible!

2950

Quiet Sunday! Cloudy and cooler outside! I slept fairly well last night. Woke up around 7am and fell back asleep to about 8:30am. Took my medications and fell back asleep for another hour. Dozed for a short while and got up. Spent a couple of hours playing Just Words--took B to work and then stopped off for a latte, did some banking, and picked up some items from TJ's. It's now 4pm and the day has collapsed in and upon itself. Where does it go? Why am I still so sleepy even though I've slept and slept?

I had a lengthy dream last night. I had just returned from a week's vacation and was reporting back to work. While I was gone, the huge project team was supposed to have developed some prototypes that I could use for testing the key module that was being developed. It became clear within a short while that nothing had been done while I was out. Everything was right where it was when I left, and possibly had even lost ground.

The project was huge and employed several hundred people on site and many external consultants and developers. At one point in the dream, I walked down a hallway to the room that was once my office space. It was a tiny room with just enough space for desk and chair. There were several boxes of my old items stacked up on some shelves. There was a manager there who was taking an inventory of empty offices.

The dream went on for quite some time--I had conversations and meetings with many of the project teams trying to determine the status of the project and tasks. It was a healthy-feeling dream--I seemed to have achieved some grounding on my vacation and came back to the project refreshed and rested. Things felt really positive in the dream!

2951

Slowly goes the Saturdaze! I awoke around 4am and gave it up an hour later and went online. I spent several hours looking at possible itineraries for the HI jaunt. I finally came to the conclusion that I'll need to go into the local AAA office and let them figure out the best routings. I keep going around in circles on the Internet and the various reservation sites.

I closed my eyes around 7am and woke up several hours later! I went to SB's and kick started my brain around noon and grabbed a sandwich from Pantera's. I'm not sure if I slept any before my ex dropped in for a visit. She, MD and I shared a Chinese dinner which we ordered from the local take out place. We had pot stickers, chow mien deluxe, and walnut shrimp. Tasty but a bit heavier than I somewhat felt like eating. My ex kicked around until about 8pm and she headed homeward.

I watched a couple of episodes of the 3rd season of The Killing (which now has a short 4th season on tap). The show is somewhat of a shaggy dog treatment that has spread out a mystery over three full seasons. Hopefully, the 4th season will break out and do some new stuff (the 4th season only lists 6 episode).

Oh, yes! Part of the day was spent going over a Medicare billing issue that I can't seem to grok. I'll have to go on the phone Monday and see if I can make sense of what I've got. I'm surprised, as wobbly as I felt today, that I didn't pass out and sleep more today--especially as early as I awoke.

Only thing scheduled for the morrow--give B a ride to work (like today). Otherwise it's another fun in the sun day--as long as you stay inside snuggled up to the cool AC!

2952

Fry Daze! I finally got up and out today--prompted by the gardener and his machines. It was late morning though and I went for lunch at the Persian cafe and had their delicious chicken kabobs. Then went to SBs for a green tea latte. Today was another scorcher--temperatures over 100+!

I came back and lay down for a nap. Several hours later, I awoke to a steamy room. If there hadn't been some activity in and around the house, I don't think I would have awakened.

I had several dreams last night. I don't recall the details, but they were set in darkness and shadows, and were mysterious and filled with trepidation.

Don't know why I'm so sleepy. Yesterday was intense and it made sense that I would collapse in the late afternoon. Today was not intense--but I still went down for the count in the afternoon.

Out of July and into August! Forecast is for high heat days throughout and no relief until September. Then, it will still be in the high 80s for a while.

In the late afternoon, my room is like a mini-sauna! Not as bad as it was in PA, but still uncomfortable just the same. Water, water! Drink the water!