Raincharm’s Weblog

As noted in my last post, I don’t do many of the tedious things that keep the house and home operating. I can however, realize when time is running short, and things just have to get done.

So the first thing I did on Wednesday was go get my second booster. I have had a down day after all of the other shots, so was reasonably expectant that I would be slow on Thursday. Maybe it was because I had so much to do that there was no time to be slow, but I had a much milder response and was able to get moving when the alarm sounded.

I was up, got my hair washed and went grocery shopping before work at 8. It wasn’t a huge shopping, but I am not a professional shopper and can spend precious minutes trying to find one thing. Luckily most of the items on my list were in the produce section. Two events stood out about this particular trip. 1. I had my mask, but didn’t put it on when I got out of the car. I realized it was not on when I passed a person wearing one. By this time my basket had enough in it to make juggling the mask a problem. Since there were only a few others in the store I soldiered on with my nose in view. When it came to checkout, there were no checkers manning any stations, so I headed with my load of produce to the u-scan. And figured out how to get them all coded to in correctly. Have I mentioned I don’t shop much? I only went shopping because a friend was going to be visiting and staying for 1 to who knows how many days.

Which is the real reason behind so much busyness. We have not had much company over the last two years. Straightening, dusting, clearing and cleaning. It’s important to have folks over from time to time.

Dennis was up for the Mariners Home Opener. We walked to light rail and took the train to the stadium. I was probably a bit anxious about Dennis’s walking speed (he uses a cane), but I over padded my estimates of time and we were first in line.

It was good to see a few folks we only see at ball games, and a bit of pomp. I am happy to say the Mariners beat the Astros 11 to 1! It was pretty good weather (no rain, hail or snow) but still chilly. I was five layers and could have used one more.

For the trip home Dennis and Jim and I snagged a ride with Kevin. It should have been uneventful. However, after dropping Jim at his car at Northgate we noticed a man lying in the road in the middle of an intersection. Kevin thought it was a blanket at first. With a fair amount of traffic including buses, and a lot of cars from folks arriving at the light rail station from the game. We stopped and I got out to see if he was ok. He said no, so Kevin kept the car in the intersection to provide some protection from other vehicles while I called 911. They said I was not the first call and they would dispatch someone when they were available…… Apparently this person had been walking around the intersection blocking traffic and then held onto a bus for a while before gently falling to the ground, where we happened upon him. I am fairly sure he was under the influence, and it was not alcohol. He said he needed help, but really wanted a cigarette, and was actually getting belligerent with people. Others stopped, a nurse among them. He wasn’t in obvious distress, although he must have been cold. After a bit I called 911 again. I was really cold and we couldn’t just leave. A Security person with one of the transit agencies did come over and helped to direct traffic. Finally after 20 or more minutes a police car arrived and we were able to leave. I don’t think we really did much to help him other than keep him from getting hit by a car. And if I had a cigarette I would have put it on the sidewalk to entice him out of the street. Hopefully the cops will get him someplace warm for the night. What he really needed was social services.

We are back to our warm houses, and ready for sleep.

Since Carl is busy being a grandfather, I am tasked with more chores than usual.

Thursday it was lovely outside. Instead of walking at lunch I did a little yard work. We have a camellia. It’s huge by my standards and needs to be pruned way back. But when it blooms the color is spectacular. Until it is carpeting the grass and beds. Then it really needs to be picked up.

This weekend I was outside a lot on Saturday and inside on Sunday. Weather dictated my plans. There was more sun on Sunday than predicted, but it was chilly. And raining even as the sun shines, so I am in a rainbow.

The chores? Shopping, mailing letters, cleaning and organizing. I went through my jewelry box and sorted out several pieces I know I won’t wear. And hanging pictures that have been lounging around the house for far too long.

On my Saturday sojourn to the farmer’s market I spied a new Henry artwork. It is only a few blocks from our house, over a new record store.

And the garden is continuing to bloom.

Baby, the older brother, Baubei, parents Mama and Baba, and grandpa Baba Carl are all doing well. The older folks are all a bit tired, but that is to be expected. And the baby attended his first baseball game today. The Nashville Sounds at 7 days old. That beats Rey who saw his first Mariner game at 8 days.

And now I must attend to the cooking chore.

Orginally written on Saturday. But it’s Monday now. Apparently I never finished or hit publish.

What has changed, hmmmm

WE HAVE A NEW GRANDSON

Other than that, Saturday’s news can stand. The baby arrived, quickly, but right on time. Carl said they left the house at 10:15 AM and the baby arrived at 11:31 AM. Baby and Mother and Father are doing well.

I was actually a bit giddy all day.

Back at the ranch Carl and Corwin are getting to know each other better. Corwin is feeling out how much he can push Carl around while wondering where his Mama and Baba have disappeared to. Tomorrow should be equally confusing when a new brother makes his appearance.

Saturday’s version, rather boring

Last week was busy for both Carl and I.

My busyness was primarily work related, but it was good to make progress through a few sub-projects.

Carl’s busyness was focused on getting his home projects to pausing points. He is now off for about 3 weeks. Hanging with his grandchild/ren. And Rey and Becca. He also prepped food for me. Frozen burgers, chili, chicken in the refrigerator. We’ll see how well I do.

Usually when we travel we leave in the morning. Today it was a late afternoon flight, so there was time for errands. And a walk.

We decided to go check out the cherry blossoms at the UW. It seems that a lot of folks had the same idea.

I’m surprisingly proud that someone stopped to take a picture of the tulips.

My final days errand after dropping Carl at the airport was to drop some old material objects at Goodwill. Most were beyond reuse, but they do threadcycle too. The correct location for our worn pillow top mattress pad.

Today is a very nice spring day. It has been nice off and on, but frequently with wind or rain hot on the sun’s heels. I drove home one day in sun and rain, together.

Work is back to one day a week in the office. Two days a week starting in April, and finally three days after May 7th. Three days is only partially a slow transition, and more waiting for the office carpet replacement project to be completed. About 25 years and it is time for an update. This also means sorting through 25 years of paperwork. Scanning, shredding, retaining and archiving. I filled a janitor sized recycle bin last Thursday. Much was plans from other utilities that had been updated. Previous cleaning had seen the last of several versions of daytimers from 1987 forward to the advent of my computer calendar. And decades of meeting notes. Copies of District Comprehensive Plans (I always retain at least one hard copy, and am making sure scanned versions are available. ) Requests for service were reviewed. If connected, to the log and destroy pile. If not, keep for scanning and reference when the next request is received. All of this sandwiched in with the current workload. But it is a good exercise. One of my coworkers refers to this as pre-retirement work.

And my peripheral interest in March Madness is waning as the St. Peter Peacocks have seen their Cinderella run ended. While the Peacocks run killed several brackets, our daughter-in-law Becca picked them to win it all. She traditionally bases her picks on the team mascots.

And finally, Nymph in 3 tries and 30 minutes. If you know you will understand. If not, let it go.

I worked, and walked occasionally.

Took care of a few tasks last weekend, like taxes. And paying bills. Today will be more of the same, except the taxes part, sort of.

We scored by getting out for a walk this morning between rain showers. I know it rained before, and since there is a 90% chance of rain today, am assuming there is more to come. I also scored with another Little Free Library selection. One of Maeve Binchey’s that I don’t think I’ve read.

Currently reading The Splendid and the Vile.

The focus of this morning’s walk was to acquire some Raisin Bran. This appears to be one item where supply ebbs and flows. The brand available changes, if it is available at all. This morning we found the store brand, which is fine, but no Kellogg or Post.

Happiness abounds. Books, raisin bran and some exercise. And Wordle in 3. Appreciate the mundane.

And back to work.

Okay, so Theo is a cat. Our grand-cat. But he’s the light of Ashlan and Allen’s life, that is until baby Brewington makes his debut. So let’s celebrate Theo while he’s still the king of his castle.

I was going to say Spring, but I have been continuing to wear my winter wardrobe for walks. Jacket, knit hat, scarf, gloves, hand warmer. We did take a walk last weekend where I stopped for a bit on a bench dedicated to a friend of ours. It was the first time in quite a while where I was sitting outside, being warm.

The most notable growth is in the length of the days. We didn’t leave for our walk until 5 PM, and it was just being dusky when we returned at 6.

We don’t usually do too much for Valentine’s Day. But I got inspired this year to order a really nice meal. Kind of a sneaky way to take credit for picking up the telephone. I was working, after all.

It included steelhead, swordfish, Kobe steak, lobster … oh heck, here’s the menu. Since there were 2 of us, we basically got everything (except the oyster). It was all so tasty.

Best of all, I had just finished my Board presentation when Carl got home with the food. And had two splits of Prosecco.

Carl did have his moments.

I think I’ll keep him for another year.

It had to happen. Happens every year. And really, it is a good thing.

I guess I don’t take as many pictures as I think. Actually, I have an abundance of pictures of the grandson…

NOW FOR SOME FUN! Because you are never too old to have some fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAVE A GREAT DAY

We had a good walk each morning this weekend. Perhaps the Olympics are inspiration, but it is more likely that it wasn’t actively raining.

From today’s walk, when the sun replaced yesterday’s mist.

Part of the weekend was spent working. And part was spent adding tax information. We don’t have all of the required forms yet, but are getting closer. One of the more intriguing bits are the two letters we received indicating we each received the third Covid Stimulus payment. Which we did not. I seem to recall there was some income component that might make this the case. Not a problem, except for the letter. Ever helpful, Turbo Tax says to go check the IRS site. 45 minutes later, with email, telephone, uploaded license and web video for ID verification, I was able to see we had received only what I thought we had received.

I don’t think I care too much about the 3rd payment, just that I got letters saying we had – when their site says we didn’t. Grrr. Why would they send the letter?

Oh, and the car has a flat tire, again. A different tire this time. Double grrrr.