An Open Mic Night

An exceptionally busy day at work resulted in me being just exhausted from all the stuff. 

I told mom I was going to take a walk in town like I did yesterday, and would stop and get myself dinner. I needed the walk, and I didn't want to cook myself dinner. She didn't want anything, she was just going to eat a PBJ sandwich. 

So I didn't want to lift a finger for anyone, much less just me. 

I went to town and didn't get as long a walk as yesterday as it started raining. I ducked into the Mexican restaurant, which was hopping at 6pm, and got a single seat to enjoy a meal. 

Got a beer from a local brewery who used to have a tap room the next town over, but, that has closed. Sadly. We like their beer and I'm sad they are not there anymore, so I was happy to see this available. Got a chimichanga with steak, and ate the rice with it even though that was carb-riffic. But it was so tasty. 

After dinner, I stopped up the road at the brewery actually in downtown and they were hosting an open mic night. I walked in to some Counting Crows and they were doing a good job. I asked if they knew any Guster and one of the guys did - and played Satellite.

Three beers later my mom called to ask where I was with the car. She doesn't like it when I'm gone long. Remnants of her freaking out when dad took the car and went places. I was annoyed because this was an exceptionally fun time for me. I was singing along to Social Distortion and the Grateful Dead. I bought beer to go home with, and was very happy for the time there. The guy who knew the one Guster song said "Come back next time, I'll play more Guster!" 

Gotta be honest, dude. I'm not sure when I'll be back here for an open mic night but good job on the Gusters. I appreciate you! 

Digits below.

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps. 15 minute walk in town; 7000+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:30am: 174
4:15pm: 185
10:45pm: 312 (thanks beer and rice)

food:

coffee/water 
11:15: Metformin; pb & low sugar jelly on Keto bread
6pm: steak chimichanga w/guac. sour cream, salsa, refried beans, rice; beer
8pm: metformin+jardiance
through the evening 4 more beers
10pm: a couple pieces of colby jack cheese

Off Her Game

Yesterday mom mentioned that staying up all night and sleeping in knocked her off her game, and I said "what game?" jokingly. 

She's got a game. She's got a very specific organized game, a this is what we do when we do it kind of game. There is the trip to the foodrinkery on Tuesdays, Fridays, and every other Saturday. Coffee is made at X o'clock. She takes her pills before she has breakfast. She has breakfast at a fixed time. She plays her computer games, she has the TV on, she takes a rest. She gets up and makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Naptime. Computer games. Bed at 8pm. Up again between 4 and 5 to do it all over. 

She has wiggle room for going an gossiping with the neighbors, like this morning. One of the neighbors down the way still does not have power since the Wednesday outage last week. So she's all, as they say in Pittsburgh, "Nebby" about it. 

"If I want to know what is going on with Bob, I'm going to have to walk down there because Shirley is working this afternoon." Oh my.

Oh, okay. "Maybe you don't need to know what's happening with Bob? I mean. He's staying with Donald next door to him, so he and his dog are okay and nice and warm. You don't need all the details of the fight with Eversource that they said it isn't their problem, but it is, and blah blah blah and finally a truck and backhoe came today. Just. Let it happen?"

She didn't like that response.

While I was still sleeping this morning, mom spilled an entire cup of coffee all over her computer desk. Paperwork, breakfast, herself, chair, everything. She probably had a swearable moment, but I didn't hear her all the way down here. I heard her in the kitchen say "sonofabitch" but, it wasn't very dramatic, so I didn't fully wake. 

I was in a meeting at 9am and she came down the hall, to my door, and was talking out loud, like, she maybe couldn't hear that people were talking on my computer. I muted and went off camera.

"I've had a horrible morning. I can't get anything right," she said. She told me about the coffee incident.  

"Why didn't you wake me up to come help you?" I asked.
"You were sleeping," she replied.

Well yeah but. I mean. I could have helped. 

She cleaned it all up herself and I guess that's better than not cleaning it up or not caring enough to clean it up.  What would she have done if I wasn't here? She'd have to deal with it on her own, right?

But she was very grouchy the rest of the morning. A little petulant. Childish. I asked her to put her clothes in the laundry basket because I had started to wash for her this morning. 

She said "no. Fuck it. The pants are brown." 

So you gonna walk around in wet pants? 
"They dried." 

Okay, lady.

I was incredibly busy today, and couldn't go out to lunch with her because we were doing QA testing for something happening Monday that is huge. She was a little pissy about it but I stepped away from the meeting to apologize and say that Friday would work out better for us. She was still grumpy, part and parcel of what she'd been all day. 

She got back and got a nap. I ran three loads of laundry from her basket in the closet, and got it all on hangers and put away. That seemed to brighten her up a little. 

After I finished work, I decided to go for a walk in town, even though I didn't want to. I parked at the boat launch, walked up to the fire house, over to the river, along the train tracks and back. I thought about taking myself out to dinner at the mexican restaurant but I told mom I "wasn't going to be long" and already I'd been over a half hour. So I came back to the house and made dinner from the food that I bought, so it won't go to waste, because I know she isn't going to eat it if I leave it. 

I was thankful after I got back that I did go. It was really beautiful out. I wished the brewery had been open, but they are not on Mondays and Tuesdays. I'll have to go swing by tomorrow. 

All told, not the most even of days but, tomorrow's a new day, right.

Digits Below. 

exercise: 11/12 hours of 250 steps.  Missed 3pm steps by a couple. Took a 24 minute walk in downtown, playing Pokemon. 

blood glucose:

8:30am: 135
5:30pm: 171
10:45pm: 240 (note time of the meds taken)

food:

coffee/water 
9:15: english muffin w/pb
(I can't remember if I took my metformin, I also was off my game)
7pm: grilled cheese w/roast beef and hummus, KETO friendly bread
8pm: triscuits+more hummus
white wine
9:30pm: Metformin+jardiance (off my own game, I forgot to take it with dinner!)

Eclipsical

First thing this morning, before 8am, I went to get milk for coffee. Please be proud of me. 

Everyone at Cumberland Farms was super friendly. It was a little much for me, since I was awake for all of 25 seconds. But. I got milk for the coffee. And said a lot of "HI! GOOD MORNING!" to people. 

As you may know, today we had the big Eclipse, the big Totality, the Black Hole sun. 

Initially, I didn't think I'd be in a good spot to see anything while here or at home so my expectations were slim.  But the internet said it would be about 90% totality here. Not like Vermont's totality or anything fantastical. But enough for it to be interesting. I'll take it. 

Molly had given me glasses, so I was prepared. I thought for sure I wouldn't be prepared to see it, but suddenly, there I was. With glasses and no excuses. 

I waited until 2:45 to go outside and look. and the sun was an impressive little cookie with a big bite out of it. 

I had a super hard time with the glasses - they wouldn't stay on my face unless I held them there with both hands.

I remembered Jess had given me a Amythyst Kiah bandana for Toffee, so I grabbed it and put it on to hold things in place. Victory. Okay, Alright. Okay, Alright. 

3:30 was when the eclipse would be at its peak and I initially was going to just sit in mom's yard. I had a good view through to the sun, with no trees covered with leaves. It would be just perfect. 

Then, I thought to myself it would be fun to go to the beach. Hell YEAH the BEACH! 

I threw my shoes on, grabbed the car, and went. When we hit the full eclipse, I didn't detect any extra darkness or temperature drop but it was still super cool. 

On the dock, there was a family with 5 kids, grandma and grampa, mom, dad, another adult... and they were trying like hell to take a selfie. So I walked over and offered to take their picture. I'm that guy. 

I got everyone in the picture smiling, with the glasses on. I then told them to point at the sky with astonishment and they laughed and did it.  One of the little ones put their hands on cheeks and screamed. Everyone laughed. It was a great photo. 

Honest to God, I hope they look back on that in 20 years and just love it.

Someone at my office needed help with something, so I rushed back to assist. I could have spent another half hour there waiting for it to go the other direction but, duty called!

When I got back, mom came out and said "oh the eclipse is over!" and I told her no it wasn't, it was still going on. 

I handed her the glasses and told her to go out on the steps and see for herself. She said no. I told her to shut up and do it. "It'll happen again in 20 years and you will be dead and gone so go look!" 

I thought of the family at the dock, with the grandparents and little kids. I wanted her to see this and be part of the experience. 

She made a face as I forced her to go out and repeatedly berated her. She looked up through the glasses and said "Oh. That's kind of cool."

"Yes, yes it is." She lowered her head, closed her eyes so she wouldn't go blind, and took the glasses off and went inside saying "Are you happy now?"

"Yes. Yes I am." Ha... she went and looked at it. Even though I had to force her. I thought of my dad, and how he'd probably love to see this. I would have taken him to the canal, not just the beach here. And then out for a beer. I bet he'd chuckle at it. I bet he would have just loved to see it. Whereas Sourpuss Shirley did not want to look at all and had to be bullied into doing it and then like it. 

I continued to work, had a great meeting to build a test plan for us to take on this week. We finished up around 6. I went to the drug store for mom, she was out of something and I wanted toenail clippers. So zoomed over to Walgreens to grab the things. I then got gas in the car for her since I've used the car a lot over this week. 

Talked to my friend Rob for about 2 hours, catching up after a long drought of contact. It was a laugh riot. We've been playing phone tag since Christmas so this was good. 

I thought about taking a walk, but it was well after 10pm, and no. Button things up. Go to bed. 

All told, a good day. Here are some pictures. One of the women who was with the big family took these for me. With my Amythyst Kiah bandana holding things in place. 

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps. No dedicated 10 but a lot of hustlin' round. 5300+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8am: 186
5pm: 155
10:45pm: 161

food:

coffee/water 
10am: 3 egg omelet, wilted greens, goat cheese
12:30: Metformin
5:30pm: left over buffalo chicken fingers+salad
7pm: metformin+jardiance
8:30pm: left over chicken parm sub (not the bread, just the chicken)
white wine+ginger ale

Sleeping In and Squadding Up

I woke up around 7:30am and noticed my mom had not made her coffee, or anything. I peeked down the hall and she was still in bed. 

Keep the old lady up until 11pm, she'll sleep past 4am. 

I started the brew, went to the bathroom, got back in bed. I heard her bumping around at about 8:15. She complained that this was throwing her off her game. 

What game?

Anyway, she got her coffee and took her morning meds. I decided I wanted to keep sleeping, so I did. Missed my 9am steps because, baby baby let's sleep in. Feels good. 

Jess and Molly came over after they checked out, we went out to lunch. We sat at our table drinking coffee until the place was about to close. I missed 2 hours of steps because it was good to just sit and talk with the kids. It's been a while since I've shut a place down. Lots of stories to tell and laughter. And fancy mimosa drinks. 

Jess and Molly had to hit the road, but they stopped by mom's foodrinkery because Molly thinks she wins the scratch tickets at that restaurant all the time because of my Dad's good luck to her. Hilarious. They left and I missed them already. 

At 4pm I had a D&D date. I missed the last session because I was dropping Lin off at the airport in Baltimore. I could have jumped into the game late (an hour...) but was just exhausted from the Guster weekend. They got me up to speed with "on the last episode of ..."  

We had a new player with us, she joined last round and I missed her, so this was our first time together. She and I got to do some wild silly game play and it resulted in her turning into a pillbug, me dropping the bug into a martini and then screaming "Waiter there's a bug in my drink" as I flung her. Ridiculously silly. Big laughs. Lots of fun. We got through our caper and next game we'll be robbing a casino. 

I made some incredibly winning jokes today too. It was fun. Lots of fun. Best two hour block of silliness I've had in a while.

I texted Jess to see if they were home yet, as they'd left when I started playing, and I figured a quick stop for scratchy tickets would be short. They texted back that they were still there. But they were getting in the car to go. 

Moll and Jess hung out with my mom's friends. And they were all causing a ruckus, like ya do on a Sunday afternoon at the foodrinkery. They had a great time, Molly didn't win money on the scratchies but everyone had a blast. I had been invited but had to nerd out with the DnD crew. No regrets but how wild is it my 31/32 yr old kids (Molly's my kid, tbh) are Squadding Up with grandma's pals. 

The rest of the evening was quiet. We need milk, and she needs her bottled water she uses. Milk mostly. I am setting an alarm clock to go pick some up in the morning. Rather than going out tonight. 

That's about it. Here's me and the brunch skunks. Digits below.

exercise: 6/12 hours of 250 steps.  No dedicated 10. 3100+steps by bedtime. 

blood glucose:

10am: 174
6pm: 227
10pm: 260

food:

coffee/water 
11am: Metformin
2pm: mimosa, Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad on wheat wrap
8pm: English Muffin w/ pb. Metformin+jardiance

An Eagle Court and a Late Night

I went to the Eagle Court today. My friend was surprised that her son named her as her Eagle Mentor. Sometimes you look at a relationship for a while, from a distance, and you say "no, of course he did. Of course. You are."

The Eagle Ceremony was nice. Three Eagles and a lot of time, each boy got their moment in the sun and it was beautiful. I got cards for each of them and put 20 bucks in each. Wrote a little congratulations note. Only my friend's son will really know who I am. All three Eagle projects were so impressive. I got to talk to each Scout about their experience. And it made me really really homesick for our Troop in MA. 

Sometimes I do pine. 

After the Eagle Ceremony, I headed back and hit up Jess at the hotel. We sat and chatted for a bit and I thought I may want to go take a nap. Out in the parking lot, Molly drove up and I was like oh okay, let's go back in and get you settled and stuff. 

We ended up at dinner at mom's foodrinkery. She didn't want to come out, but we brought her a tuna boat and hung out. We chatted and spent time. I know my mom loves telling the stories, and there are plenty. Jess knows some but Molly doesn't, so we had a lot of laughs.

After 11:30 the kids left. I'm exhausted, and hope to have some more fun tomorrow. 

And maybe a nap. 

Here's a picture from the Eagle ceremony. "Mom, you got your Eagle but they gave the badge to me!" 

Digits below.

exercise: 10/12 hours of 250 steps.  No dedicated 10. 5900+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

9:30am: 190
6pm: 174
11pm: 170

food:

coffee/water 
1pm: metformin; salad, chicken parm, bbq chicken strip; stuffed shell
6pm: buffalo chicken strips, garden salad; white wine
7:30pm: metformin+jardiance
11pm: blueberry muffin w/ butter (sorry not sorry)

Looking forward to not working

We have a slack-bot that asks us questions like "hey, what are you listening to now. post a link or playlist!" or "It's almost the weekend. What are you looking forward to?"

Every Friday I'm tempted to answer "I'm looking forward to not working."

But especially this weekend. 

Work was super busy, I cranked until 5:30, stopped and took a walk, it was a little colder than I'd hoped, I should have gone out earlier like when I brought the trash barrel up and it was much nicer. But. I got a goodly amount of time in out there, before it started raining. 

After  my walk, I came back in to check in on a problem one of the clients was having with their website. Going into the weekend with a problem sometimes turns into an emergency page. I'm not on call, but I wanted to try and prevent the emergency if possible. No solution, but the guy said he's happy to wait until Monday. 

My mom went on errands today on her own, and out to her lunch spot. I couldn't afford to skip out, we were (as I said) super busy. I'm glad she got out and about. I watched her talking with a couple of her neighbors down the way, probably about all the excitement with the power outage on Wednesday.

Jess hit the road this afternoon and arrived around 7:45. I had gone over the hotel and checked them in. We ordered a pizza from a place that has me saved in their computer and they think my address is the hotel. I love it. I'd probably confuse them if I got delivery here at mom's or at the brewery. Ha. We sat and talked until 11 and I had promised my mom that I would set up the coffee and do the dishes. I told her not to do it. 

And she didn't. Good girl. Way to listen. Usually I tell her I'll do something and literally if I've not done it in 5 minutes she goes to do it. I told her that insults me. I'm working, it is the middle of the day. The trash guys came and went. I'll bring the barrel up when I'm looking for a break. Just let me do this thing for you. 

Tomorrow I'm going to an Eagle Court of Honor. The son of a friend from college got his Eagle this year and their troop does one ceremony for all the Eagles who ... Eagled. So there are three boys total this year. She told me that they came up through Scouting together from cubs, so this is very exciting for them to share this event together. I was honored she invited me. They live here in the same town, and it's been nice to get to re-know her while visiting. If I call her up while I'm at the hotel, she'll come running over to hang out and chat. They babysat Phineas during my dad's funeral here in July. They're super nice. 

After that, Jess' friend Molly will be down here too in order to hang out and visit. Very excited. I love Molly, she's fantastic, and I'm glad she and Jess are friends. There will be lots of talking.  Probably wine. PJs or Yoga Pants and just shooting the shit. 

Sunday the kids will head back north, hopefully we'll have the full day. I so wish it was warmer. A stroll by the canal would be lovely. Just lovely. 

Alright. Let's hit publish to get this in on its actual day! 

No picture - digits below

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps. A 20 min walk, interrupted by dog pats. Fitbit measured 17 minutes of movement. Heh. Dog pats; 7400+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:45am: 178
6pm: 174
11:45pm: 277 (see medication time below)

food:

coffee/water 
noon: can of tuna w/mayo; metformin
7pm: 2 carb balance small tortillas w/ fajita chicken, melted cheese, guac and sour cream
8:30pm: 2 slices of pizza w/sausage and onion
11:15pm: Metformin+jardiance (forgot to take at dinner)

Lawyer Office Trip

She was dressed, ready, and out in the car at 10:10 for an 11am meeting 30 minutes away. I still had emails to finish and slacks to answer but I closed my laptop, went to the bathroom, and went out to the car. 

The weather outside was frightful, as the song goes. Sheets of rain, flooded roads. I assured her I'd get her there and if we were late at all, they'd understand. 

Her knuckles were white the whole time. Driving up Rte 3, the conditions were brutal. Grey everywhere, road spray and white vehicles with no lights on. It's the law in Massachusetts you dipshits, windshield wipers going put on your lights. 

"I can't see the road," she said, gripping the OH JESUS handle over her head, "Chrissie, I can't see the road." 

"It's okay mom, I can," I answered. "I've got you. Don't worry about it." 

We were on time. Everything went smoothly. I was slightly confused about one thing that we still need to do, but, I asked them to put a yellow sticky note on the thing that I have to take to both of her banks, and we'll get that done while I'm here. 

I offered to take her to lunch but she wants to go her usual day tomorrow. So we came home, I made a turkey sammitch for myself and she had a pbj and went to nap. 

Got my work day all done, took a ride out to catch pokemon and spin pokestops and dropped into Lucky Goat brewing. Why not. I'm in downtown. 

A hugely busy day, and I'm tired. Digits below. 

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  no dedicated 10. 4500+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:30am: 183
6pm: 174
10pm: 211

food:

coffee/water 
1pm: Metformin; turkey and american cheese sandwich on Keto bread (1 g Net carb each slice)
7pm: metformin+jardiance; left over turkey dinner (with potatoes and stuffing, gravy); 2 beers
10pm: Triscuits+peanutbutter; one more beer

Outage to Outrage

Mom got up at 4:45 and started the coffee. It was kind of funny, I was awake and could see her shuffling towards me in her big white sweattery nightgown thing like a big old shuffly ghost. 

"What are you doing?" I asked sleepily.
"Closing the door so I don't wake you up, I'm going to turn on lights and make coffee," she replied. The fuck, woman? why are you up! But ... that's her. 

She closed the door and I laid there a minute. I had to pee. So I got up. I was awake for a while listening to her bump about. Then I smelled her cigarette and was happy the door was shut. I had two windows open, the room was freezing and it felt good, and the wind was blowing outside, rain was falling, the big storm that we've been waiting for was on the way. 

I fell back asleep and woke up when I heard birds, around 7. I got up, hit the restart button on the coffee to heat it back up. She usually does that for me so it is hot when I'm up but I beat her to it. 

I played with my phone. At about 8:30 I started working, and the lights started flickering around 8:45.

I brewed more coffee, just in case we lost power. Wicked Smaaahhht. And like that. The power went off at 9:30. 

I called the office for the mobile home park and the office manager who is only on duty on Wednesdays does not come to the office regularly. Of course today she's working but not here. So helpful. 

She told me to call maintenance. 

The dude said "we manage 5 parks so I don't know what's going on over there. Call Eversource." So helpful... thank you.

I skipped my 10am meeting. My co-worker H and I were supposed to have check-in at 10:30 and I asked if we could boop it. I explained the situation. 

I also told her I was so happy to be HERE because there is no way my mom could have handled this solo. She would have absolutely lost her shit. 

H said "there is only one letter's difference between Outage and Outrage." And I thought that was hilarious. 

Before I called Eversource, I decided to drive around the neighborhood to see if anyone else had lights on. I went down to the office and mailroom, they have power. Okay. I drove around and looked and not a single light was on in any of the mobile homes except oh - that one has their porch light on. Okay so not everyone is without power.

I surmised old people like sitting in the bloody darkness on a cloudy shitty rainy Wednesday. 

Coming back to the house I saw two dudes down the circle getting in a car. Oh hurrah, humans. They drove towards me. I waved at them and they slowed, stopped, rolled the window down. 

"Is Shirley okay?" asked the driver
"Oh yeah absolutely, she's great. I'm just visiting. But I wanted to ask you, since you are out and about. You have power at your trailer?" 
"Neither of us do," the driver told me.
"I was in the middle of making bacon on the stove for breakfast and the power went out!" said the passenger. Obviously very sad. I would be too.
"So you're off to breakfast and some fun somewhere, eh?" I asked.
"Maybe breakfast, and maybe fun. But mostly breakfast," said the passenger.
"I can't deal with any of this without some coffee," the driver said. "I called Eversource and put in a report so," he shrugged. I could tell I was keeping this man from coffee.

I thanked them. I told them I'd also call Eversource to add to the complaint. 

They drove away and I wondered where good breakfast was around here.

Okay, evidence of two additional homes with no power down this end.

I came back in and mom was reporting this had no power and that has no power and the phone isn't working and she walked over to Joyce's but Joyce HAS power. But Joyce also has a generator so maybe she's running on her generator... okay Sherlock Shirley thank you. 

Also she can get out and walk all over at top speed when she wants to, if she wen't over to Joyce's and back here in the amount of time it took me to drive down to the clubhouse and office.

I called Eversource. 

The customer service girl said one other call had come in and I told her it was probably the guy I just talked to outside. So there were at least three homes without power. I told her the one neighbor didn't call in because they were going to breakfast. Everyone else is already gone for the day. I don't know how many houses are without power beyond the three I know. 

She said they had already dispatched a crew. 

I decided I should figure out what to do about my noon training call with a client. I told my mom I was going to the library. 

The service truck pulled in as I was getting ready to go out. Mom was out here as fast as you could imagine. She headed straight to the truck. I decided to head her off at the pass. The guy was on the phone, and mom gave them the entire play by play about everything. The guy said they were there to figure it out. 

I told him I had an incident number, gave him my cel, and told him I was going to work at the library. He said he'd call or text with news. 

Around 1pm I got a text saying the electrical box between mom and her neighbor Mike had burned out. They had to replace it. 

"I'm not sure how long this will take, or if the power will be on again today but we'll do our best since the storm is coming."

Yes. The Storm. We're expecting a monster storm tonight and tomorrow. Fudge. "The STORM." 

Library. 

I went into the town library and asked if it was okay if I wasn't a resident but I'm visiting a resident, may I please work. They said absolutely and pointed me to a quiet place. The quiet place had no internet connection, there was no wifi signal. I walked back and the woman nodded "Oh no. That wing has problems in the rain. Sit in the teen area, there are no teens right now because they are at school."

I had to do a training call at noon, and I was probably going to annoy the two or three people reading in the teen area. 

Walking about I realized I should use the bathroom, and there was the Meeting Room, where they do the town meeting and other things. Powerful wifi signal, no other humans, alright! I set up there. I plugged the phone and laptop in. I set to work.

Got on my call with the client and apologized for the Old Navy baseball hat and sweatshirt, explained where I was sitting (big gorgeous window behind me), and why, and the fact I was not professionally groomed and showered, that's not usually how I'd roll. They laughed and said it was okay. They were proud of me for being there. They said I could have canceled. No. Gotta take care of my peeps. 

I did the training, and one of the guys on the call I've known for YEARS through different clients. He said to me, "You are so calm and caring, and I love listening to you talk and explain things. With everything you have going on today, I'm so impressed at how you showed us all of this, this was fantastic. Thank you." 

It made my day. I told him that in the midst of everything being wild and somewhat out of control, I knew this would relax me. I knew this would be good for me to not cancel. 

We had a team meeting at 1, that was not as calming and nice, and I got a little frustrated over a few things but I let them go. Just let it go. You can't change how people think and stuff so just pick your battles. 

Next call, another hour long discussion about the same thing I spoke with the other client on. It was a good talk. They had complaints and suggestions. I told them I am 100% in agreement with them, and maybe in the future those things would be in place, but for right now, how can we work together to make this work?

Check in with my manager next. We mostly talked about Guster. He personally knows Ryan and his wife. So he wanted to know all about the tour and shows. 

The library was closing at 4. It was 3:45. I decided to pack up and go home and see what was happening. Is the power back. 

Mom was bundled up and cranky. The power was not yet back on. She said it was 60 degrees in there. Okay lady, Let's go to your favorite restaurant, eat some dinner, see what happens next. I asked if she wanted to go check into the hotel if the power wasn't yet on by the time we left. She said she wanted to go to a different neighbor (not Joyce) with a generator maybe, and stay there. 

Not me, I'll go to the hotel but okay boo, if you think you can invite yourself into someone's home like that we'll see what happens after dinner. 

Around 5pm I got a text saying power was restored. We finished dinner, knowing that the furnace was heating up in the tin can, and things would be warmed up for us to return. And sure enough they were. 

I somewhat regret not making a hotel reservation anyway. Ha. Here's a picture of my glass of wine at the bar at the foodrinkery. The Red Sox were on TV. My mom has a mouth on her when watching the game. It is kind of funny being "back home" here in Massachusetts listening to her call balls and strikes and the pitcher being a "fucking idiot." Must say it's sweet and delightful. 

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  No dedicated 10 due to weather. 

blood glucose:

8:30am: 171
4pm: 130
10:15pm: 181

food:

coffee/water 
10:30am: Metformin
5pm: Cheeseburger, onion rings, pickle, cole slaw. Metformin+Jardiance
White Wine
8:30pm: left over turkey dinner w/some stuffing and mashed potatoes, gravy
more white wine

No Trump, No Toilet

Lin and I checked out of our hotel this morning after working until noon. Thankful for late checkout. We hit the grocery store for mom. I didn't buy food for me, we just knew she needed dixie plates, and I wanted to get some more milk in case she was running low. 

Oh, and wine. Yes wine. 

She needed Ultra Strong Dixie Plates, because heaven forbid a dish gets washed. And she wanted us to see if there was any lemon loaf (they don't have it. New season: Lemon Raspberry). While there, I should have gotten some dinner things but I only grabbed english muffins so I can have a pb muffin for breakfast. I wasn't thinking beyond this afternoon.

We came back here to mom's and I called a plumber because she's having toilet trouble and all she could do was bitch about it. 

"Did you call a plumber?" 

"No." 

Of course you didn't. Give me his number. I will call the plumber.

She explains the happenings in such vivid and disgusting detail that I had to tell her "okay I get it. Gross please stop." At the restaurant she was started telling us something  about Donald Trump, and Linda stopped her, she didn't want to talk about that man while having lunch and eating food. 

So I chimed in, "Just like we don't want to talk about the toilet. No Trump, No Toilet."

That was about the extent of it. 

Lin hit the road after she ate, and I wanted to hit the pillows. Mom and I got back here and started looking for some paperwork she's going to need for Thursday. Mom started futzing with something and I had to get back to work. We'll find the thing tomorrow at some point.

At about 5:30, I figured I should run out and get food that is suitable for me. Not just lemon loaf and blueberry muffins and such. Eggs. Salad shit. goat cheese for an omelet. I got some Mac & Cheese that I can make for her and me, and I'll put meat in it. Carb Balance flour tortilla wraps that I can make a chicken quesadilla out of. Yes please.

I got out of Walmart just as the storm really started to come up. We'll be socked in for a few days. I am thinking of upgrading my Planet Fitness to black card, but it is kind of far from here (if you think 6 miles is far). How often would I ever use black card? I don't go anywhere that I need a gym really. I don't know. I'll sleep on it. Maybe tomorrow I'll need an escape. 

The toilet is working just fine, thanks for asking.

Jess messaged me that they wanted to come down on Saturday with the Bestie Molly. I booked them a room at the hotel. Then they messaged me that they wanted to come down Friday night. I added another day. I'm very much looking forward to Molly and Jess.

Saturday, I have a BSA Eagle court of honor to attend. A college friend lives here in town and her son got his so their troop does one big Eagle ceremony for the kids that year. Cool. Invited. Going. Gotta verify the time. Jess and Molly can visit with Shirley or entertain themselves. Maybe the storm will be gone? Hopefully. They can walk around town or the beach or go to New Bedford (don't tell grandma).

Last note. Everyone online is talking about the On the Ocean festival that Guster just announced the solidifying of the jello for. Tickets go on sale Friday. Everyone is scrambling to pick a hotel! Do I get VIP or regular admission?! I'm traveling with my 3 kids! What will this festival be like for them! 

I can't even think about getting past maybe putting sheets on this bed and getting in it. But it is only Tuesday. Only Tuesday. We'll get through. 

One of the things I need to do is go through the pictures that my girl C sent me. She sent some really sweet ones. Here's one of me and Linda. I look like I'm not smiling but I think she just caught be before I got my grin on. C you're reading this so thank you so very much for pictures. I'll mix them with mine for an overall gorgeous album presentation. 

I miss Linda already. I missed her in the parking lot when we said goodbye. Here we are at the rooftop bar at the MGM. Ready for some Gusters. 

Digits below.

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  No exercise. Hotel gym closed for renevations. 6400+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:30am: 164
5pm: 195
10:15pm: 194

food:

coffee/water 
10:30am: about 2 oz of cheddar (last of the block)
11am: Metformin
1:30pm: fried chicken sandwich w/ side salad. pickle. 2 beers
8pm: Metformin+jardiance; about 10 triscuit crackers with peanut butter
white wine

The Screaming Mimis

My sister used to have backyard neighbors that she called the screaming mimis. 

The children would come out to play. And they would SCREAM. Outside voice, at 20,000 db. The mother would come out and scream at the screaming kids. 

This went on forever, and Lin called them the Screaming Mimis, or just the Mimis for short. 

They moved away and there was peace and quiet in the kingdom. But a new family has moved in and, well. not quite as bad as the Mimis, but they are kids and they are noisy. 

We're in a hotel today. Lin and I are both working. And the room next door has small children in it. The screaming. The pounding on the wall and the earth shattering jumping off the bed stuff. 

sigh.

I got up and went and knocked on the door. I was that guy. 

A teenaged girl answered the door. 

Me: Hi. 
Teenaged Girl (TG): Hi.
Me: I'm in the next room
[two small girls come running to the door, squealing.]
Me: Oh! Hello! 
[squealing continues]
I turned to the older girl and asked she could please get them to stop kicking the wall. Please.
TG: I'm so sorry.
Me: I understand the screeching. I've been cooped up in hotel rooms with little ones before. I get it. But the .... wall kicking is not cool. My head is right there [pointing to the shared wall and making a face].
TG: I am so very sorry.
Me: Thanks I have a confer ----- [smallest of the small girls rushes to hug me. Her pyjamas say Easter Egg Hunting Champion 2024. She's cute as fuck.] Oh this is surprising hello. Very nice. So nice to hug you. [larger small girl also comes in for the big hug] Oh and yes you too hello. 
TG: Thanks. I'm sorry. I'll try to keep them quiet. 
Me: Thanks a lot [small girls blow me kisses. I feel manipulated into not being as super mad as I wanted to be]

Walk back into my room to screaming through the wall. 

I'm sitting there thinking. What's up with that. Are they homeless and live here now? Are their parents at work? TG should be in school? What's happening. Also, TG, it's not bad out maybe take the two smalls for a really nice walk around the cranberry bog? Maybe? There's a pool? Can you all go to the pool? Can I take you to target and buy you bathing suits if you live here? 

Are you being human trafficked? What are the stories. What is happening. 

Should I keep my brain on work [squealing] and not worry about the kids [someone lands on the floor, there is laughter] 

At least the kicking and pounding on the wall stopped. 

We both got a lot of work done, I got a treadmill walk in, which was super nice. Hotel life. Just go downstairs. Walk on machine. Go back upstairs. Not saying I need a basement treadmill, what with actually having a gym membership and all. But just signing off for a little bit and going down was good. I wanted to take a walk around the cranberry bog out back but it is too cold and windy today. Treadmill was helpful. 

Lin and I went to dinner with our friend Alex. We didn't get to spend any time with him during the Boston Guster fun, so we got to go out tonight and kept the good Guster vibes going! 

We got back to the hotel and fell down a rabbit hole of Justin Timberlake videos where he was on SNL and Jimmy Fallon. Honestly hilarious. 

Digits below! 

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  15 min on the treadmill approx .6 miles; 7500+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

9am: 181
4:15pm: 154
10pm: 230
12:15am: 161

food:

coffee/water 
noon: triscuits and slicey cheese
1:30pm: Metformin
a few more pieces of cheese
7:30pm: piece of brisket quesadilla. Salmon, broccolini, mashed potatoes, 2 beers
8:30pm: Metformin+jardiance