Reminder to self: work on Duncan's package, add info from Dawn Harvey.
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| View from our condo balcony |
We are in a rental condo at The Point on the Walden peninsula, Lake Conroe, Montgomery Texas.
31 Jan: This mornings treat was a Zoom meeting with Maurice, genetic genealogist from the U.K. Cynthia's cramming for DNA exam paid off. No rain in the forecast, so the plan is to walk at noon soon. Too cold for Cynthia, so Ron walked solo coldo and quickly.
30 Jan: Yikes, the day flew by into the night. We walked our usual 5 miles despite 41 degree temperature … four to the lake and back, plus an additional mile while running errands (we ate omelets at Magnolia Diner) and grocery shopping. Cynthia baked berry covered salmon for dinner, and Ron popped popcorn as usual. Then we cuddled up together to read through Maurice's DNA report together, looking for questions and confusions.
29 Jan: Rain is forecast for the next few days, including today. We managed to get from condo to car to church to car dry. At times on the drive homeward, the downpour was heavy. After feeding our faces, we are ensconced with our Macs, DNA, and the Lea book. Cynthia made ice cream we can eat by using the blender, almond milk and frozen bits of banana and strawberries. Ron made hot air popcorn that always warms up our chilled bodies. Ron walked at six PM and only needed waders in a couple of places. Cynthia is engrossed in a DNA Project.
28 Jan: We enjoyed sleeping late, exercised, and got oatmealed. It is a rainy day, so we will be condo-bound, cleaning and glued to our Macs. Ron started his morning doing dishes and housecleaning/ straightening his messes. Cynthia started laundry including the sheets. The condo is clean! Rain ended around 3 PM so we got in a good walk totaling almost four miles, tippy toeing around soggy spots.
27 Jan: Cynthia had fasting labs to check her thyroid meds today, followed by omelets at Magnolia Diner; we mailed tax records to the CPA, then shopped at Walmart and walked four miles. In case our readers wonder about our posts, we use this blog for our IRS diary, etc. Ron walked a second trip to the lake to talk with Donna and discovered that she is doing fine; Greg's passing was inevitable although an unexpected shock yesterday.
26 Jan: Ron is hoping that Paul's forecast for QQQ will miraculously come true at the last minute. (No such luck.) Hi Cynthia, you have homework to do: complete steps 1,2,3 on Jan 24th below. SmoochSmoochSmooch, I love you. (First written I love you of the day.) Goodnight. We spent all morning reviewing Maurice’s DNA update analysis, a delightful day, followed by a 4 mile roundtrip walk to the lake. Donna G. phoned with sad news that college freshman roommate Greg passed away this afternoon.
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| the usual Houston traffic on I-10, twenty six lanes wide |
25 Jan: Cynthia woke up early, exercised, ate and drove Ron to Sasha's with instructions that he was to keep quiet until Sasha finished fixing Cynthia's hair color. (Last week Ron distracted Sasha so that he made her hair highlights too dark.) We were rewarded by a dazzling smile from dee Weefee with the correctly colored hair. Whew. Then we ate huge salads at Jason's Deli, yum, and drove a few miles to the Medical Center for Ron’s appointment at two PM with Dr. Dougherty, his electrophysiologist. Cynthia does not like driving to the medical center. Streets and buildings have changed so that nothing is familiar any more. Medical Center parking was frustrating; first we circled the block once (at a crawl) to find the entrance; we had not parked in this building before; Cynthia couldn't reach the ticket box, so Ron walked around the car to push the correct button to get two tickets. Ron passed all his tests today; he is alive! EKG good, pacemaker good for three more years, resident fellow interrogation good, and Dr. Dougherty quite happy with everything. Ron likes having her professional opinion that he is alive! At 3:30 in the afternoon the traffic was horrendous on the return trip with a trillion zillion cars rushing to get home. (See photo above.) We survived. Fortunately it was a sunny day, and the sun was not blinding us today. Ron immediately popped popcorn for his beloved and walked his 4 miles to the lake and return. While talking to Paul, Ron learned of all the mistakes he made on this venture into the options markets. OOfta. Instead of going to bed at a reasonable time, it is now 2:17 PM. Goodnight.
24 Jan: The forecast for heavy rain proved true; the sky is black. We exercised and are hunkered down with projects. Today's continuing rain forecast is proving true, so Ron, at Cynthia's urging, has documented his Green Mountain Club trail maintenance for 2022. Cynthia has an appointment with her audiologist at 4:30 - - - - because every time her IPhone is upgraded, it loses contact with the hearing aids and it needs to be reset. Lets see, that sequence was 1, 2, 3, and wait a couple of minutes. Then open and close the battery doors on the hearing aids and repeat steps 1 & 3. Then turn the cell phone off to reset everything, open and close the battery doors, and try steps 1,2,3 again. Part one of the IRS accounting is complete.
23 Jan: This is the start of another jam-packed week of activity beginning with Cynthia’s Routine Upper GI exam, which means we woke up before six AM and left the condo at 7:00 AM for Hermann Memorial Hospital in the Woodlands. The plan was for Cynthia to drive the car, but at 7:25 AM on Texas 105, the blinding sun sits right on the roadway dead ahead. How do the regular commuters survive? After ten minutes of this Cynthia's nerves were so badly frayed that she chickened out and asked Ron to drive. He was not happy with the situation either, but we arrived alive at the hospital after wandering around lost in the neighborhood of the hospital for ten minutes. Then there was no direct access from the parking garage into the hospital. What kind of fools build mazes like this anyway? The good news is that her Barrett's esophagus is non-cancerous and looks nice and healthy (according to the doctor). We gorged ourselves overfull of salads and potato at Jason's Deli before returning to the condo. Ron walked across the peninsula to the lake and back before sunset.
22 Jan, Sunday: Again, already ?? We are off to worship on this sunny, but chilly day. We walked 5.7 miles. Ron ate some of the lentils for dinner with popcorn and pretzels. Early to bed tonight, the alarm is set for 5:30 AM. No food for Cynthia after midnight.
21 Jan: Ron promises to finish cleaning the kitchen and commense going through the papers cluttering the couch. It is supposed to be a rainy day, and Cynthia is nearly desperate at the thought of no Splenda. We made a trip to UPS to pick up a print job, and we shopped for Splenda at ALDI. Walmart has the cheapest price for the 200 packs. Deep into the dark night we pounded away working on our projects. The kitchen is cleaner.
20 Jan: The days are getting longer as our time here is getting shorter. We have so much to do before March first. Ron spent the day doing James Lea wild goose chases until the sky stopped leaking so he could walk to the lake and back with a half hour break to chat with Coach at the fitness center. He did only the tiniest bit of cleaning or straightening today, but he did cook the lentils using the chili fluid. It is edible, and Cynthia thought it delicious. She is knee deep in accounting and IRS tax prep. Ron's put option reversed course and is worthless today. ( I should have asked for you to wish me GOOD luck.)
19 Jan: And today, during our morning walk, we saw NO deer, but we did watch an eagle soar up to his nest and land. Isn't it peculiar that we have to reside amidst all these people to see wildlife? 7.2 miles.
18 Jan: Another wonderful, God given day to enjoy. We wish all of our friends and family a great Wednesday. The kitchen is getting cleaner! Ron just cannot prevent himself from working on James Lea whenever he is supposed to be doing housework.
17 Jan: We walked to the lake, rode to the storage unit and mailed letters today. Ron is still cleaning the kitchen, a never-ending job. We ran the errands and walked again, totaling 7.56 miles. WooHoo! (WooHoo! indicates that Cynthia is feeling better now.) We stayed up late discussing the ten e-mails sent she me to answer my request for two references for James Lea. Turns out we need to go to the Conroe library to consult their excellent genealogy collection one of these days (after Ron finishes cleaning the kitchen). Goodnight. The put executed early and was in the money by market close today.
16 Jan: Ron cleaned the kitchen. We walked to the end of the breakwater this AM with plans to walk again later today. Cynthia’s cough is greatly improved. Ron walked twice. 4.7 miles for Cynthia; a thousand trillion zillions for Ron who wins! Today Ron placed an order for his first stock option, a put on QQQ for 280. Wish me luck.
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15 Jan, Sunday: Life is good. We are off to worship, then brunch with daughters Roxanne and Julie (with her Lamar). Brunch lasted from 11:30 to 2:30 and was lovely and fun for all. Ron walked at five-thirty.
14 Jan: Cynthia made an executive decision to go to urgent care to ward off the possibility of an upper respiratory infection turning into bronchitis. The Covid test was negative, and it is not bronchitis. She is on a Z-Pak. Feeling good, she is not walking outdoors yet today.
13 Jan: Cynthia received word her 92 year old brother in law passed away last night. He enjoyed a long, successful life. Cynthia needs to be outa the house early for an appointment to see about new glasses. Ron hasn't been getting out of bed that early (9 AM) and did not today either. He wasn't feeling well rested. Cynthia has hope for improved glasses, one for reading, one for distance. Ron cleaned the kitchen somewhat. Stay tuned for tomorrow's report. Cynthia's cough is progressing, but she has new nose spray to help and did not walk in the wind and cold today. Ron walked briskly at 5:30, returned by 6:20 and did not find it windy at all. Cynthia cooked salmon w/ berries, and it was delicious. 9 PM pill alarm. Goodnight.
12 Jan: Today Cynthia is bothered by an increase in coughing. Let's hope it is merely a brief visitation. It is 11:14, so Ron needs to put on his other shoe so we can walk. It is now later, we walked twice, noon and sunset, grocery shopped (and brought home lots of food), and Cynthia whipped up frozen banana & strawberry "ice cream," then she cooked chili. Ron decided it is time to stop working on James Lea until he gets the kitchen and apartment cleaned and organized. Goodnight. 7.23 miles total.
11 Jan: We seem to be over the blahs that affected us yesterday and enjoyed our morning walk in the morning today. Ron continues proofreading transcriptions in the James Lea book. Cynthia is researching the James Sargent family for the book. We walked again at sunset, ate a baked sweet potato, and stayed up later than intended again. Goodnight.
10 Jan: We spent the morning playing catch up on our computers before realizing it was time to eat lunch, and just like that it was two PM, late for our morning walk. It was warm in the sunshine for the four-mile walk across the Peninsula to the lake and back. Ron popped some corn and continued cleaning the kitchen once we got home. Ron's labs were perfect! Cynthia's were almost perfect. She needs to drink more water, but apart from that, great labs.
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| Cynthia and Sasha playing grown up |
9 Jan: We walked 12 minutes from the hotel to the cardiologist's office at 8:35 this morning to be treated with good news all around. Cynthia is always greatly amused watching everyone respond to Ron’s warmth and good humor. After labs, Cynthia scarfed down a banana and whole wheat bread before we walked briskly back to the hotel to pack up and hurry to see Sasha at 12:30 PM, Cynthia's hairdresser since 1981. Immediately afterward we ate huge salads and a huge baked potato at Jason’s Deli before getting onto Beltway Eight in 4:30 rush hour to ride endlessly to get back to Montgomery, arriving at Walmart by 5:08. The traffic was horrendous, stop-and-go traffic for a mile in places and cars blowing by at 80 and 90 MPH in other places. After grabbing our necessary bananas and frozen mango, we asked about Covid boosters, and the pharmacist was available to jab us immediately. We are boostered.
8 Jan, Sunday: The clock feels like it is racing. We have a lot to do, like walk twice today, and ride to the medical center downtown to stay overnight before our annual checkup with the cardiologist. We are his favorite patients to see first thing every year because we do what he tells us to do, i.e. eat no added fat, sodium, or sugar. Ouch, Cynthia ate a piece of birthday cake yesterday! But this is the only cake she has eaten in twelve months or more, and she is confident it won’t affect her labs.
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| Charlotte at 1 |
7 Jan: We PARTYed, with a ride home afterwards courtesy of son Jon from Zoe's engagement party and Charlotte's first birthday party, a Winter “One”derland, with a snow blower to boot. Jon posted a zillion photos somewhere. Cousins Noah and Blaire (and a couple more toddlers) shared some of the adult adulations. We had a marvelous time, talking with the other old foggies at both parties. (We especially enjoyed Jack's parents and Tyler's grandparents.)
6 Jan: Yesterday evening we again got to bed later than desired, but this morning out of bed earlier, fed earlier, walked earlier, and dry cleaning fetched before mid-afternoon. We enjoyed popcorn prior to our second walk for the day. 7.72 total miles! 9:20 PM and Ron's brain is shutting down. Goodnight.
5 Jan: Another successful day of sleeping late and walking earlier than yesterday. We finished with walk #1 at 1:30 PM, and Ron promised to clean the kitchen soon. After running errands, we did walk #2 totaling 7.37 miles, and 17,545 steps. Cynthia baked a lovely piece of salmon, AND, Ron did indeed clean the kitchen. (Will miracles never cease?)
4th Jan: Due to yesterday's success with sleeping late and walking, we get tired, fall asleep, and then sleep in late. Cynthia and Ron rode the bike to the doctor's office to get a prescription, to Jon’s to get mail, and to Walmart to return broken lightbulbs. We then walked a total of 5.2 miles, starting at 3 PM, then ate a baked sweet potato and microwaved popcorn. Cynthia is working on her class newsletter. Ron continues making progress with the James Lea book.
3th of Jan: More fun with words for the 3rth time.!! It was a fabulous, great weather day for walking. Cynthia recorded 8.64 miles total from two shifts of walking, with 20,795 steps, after which she needed to ice her feet. All of this walking is excellent for continued good health, but it consumes so much time. In between walking trips, we shopped for groceries.
2th of Jan: It is forecast to be a rainy day! But the color radar shows no rain until noon, and the rain is supposed to pop up in scattered places, primarily right here. Being ever hopeful, we started walking at ten minutes to eleven. By 11:03 faint raindrops started, and we turned back, arriving home at 11:21. No rain, and the sun came out, so Ron walked afternoon, returning with a drenched shirt from the heat and humidity. About ten minutes after he returned, the forecast downpour poured down. After our respective "dinners," we enjoyed a glass of champagne apiece.
1 Jan 2023, Sunday: Cynthia already posted January under a different name. I wonder whose name will survive the battle. Cynthia asks, Hey, Ron, do you wonder where we will be in 2023? Right now, she knows where Ron is. Ron is back to work on James Lea and is enjoying it. And, in the usual two sessions, we walked 7.44 miles, 17, 926 steps! Yay for us. The wonder of 2023 is that God has allowed us to live this long in such good health. Thank God.
Where we will be, God only knows. Where we think we might be is in Sedona, then Santa Fe, then Pagosa Springs, then Butte, Montana or maybe the Olympic Penninsula of Washington/ Oregon - - - unless we stay right here in the Houston area or somewhere else in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
