Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Mary was still conked out when I made my first coffee this morning!
I took the image above after I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and used eye drops!
I always wondered what made the little kids scream when I went outside in the morning to pick up the newspaper. I mean, all I was doing was getting my daily dose of world events and crossword puzzles!
Was it the sight of my hair—frizzy enough to resemble a mad scientist’s after a lightning bolt, or maybe it was my fuzzy slippers that looked like they sprouted legs and danced their way out of a cartoon? Because let me tell you, the way those kids squealed made it sound like I was the ghost of Grandma’s old cat making a surprise appearance at breakfast!
There I was, all proud and determined, strolling out like a majestic lion about to claim its territory. Instead, I looked like a combination of a zombie and a grizzly bear, shuffling toward the mailbox like I was auditioning for “Dancing with the Stars: Morning Edition.”
Now I get it—my morning routine must have been more shocking than the headlines themselves. Who could blame the kids? It was probably like seeing Bigfoot on a coffee run. “Mom, I swear I saw a creature that’s part monster, part newspaper enthusiast!” I should probably start charging them for the show. After all, what’s better than a morning scream fest with a side of current affairs?
So, howcome it looks like the picture above after cleaning up, and Mary can pop out of bed and look like this?

It’s not fair!!!
After going through our mail for the last two days, we got cleaned up and made ready for blastoff to Benjie’s, where we plan to meet up with Robin at noon!
We got there just after the bar opened (funny how that happens—like a moth to a flame or a cat to a laser pointer).
As luck would have it, Robin made her grand entrance just a few minutes later, looking like she had just emerged from a top-secret mission to find the perfect shade of lipstick.
We all ordered the half-sandwich and soup combo, which is basically a fancy way of saying, “can’t commit to an entire sandwich, but I still want to feel like a gourmet.” Of course, we couldn’t forget the glass of their “finest vino,” which had all the bravado of a wine that probably thinks it’s better than it actually is.
As we sipped our “vintage” and contemplated the existential crisis of whether half a sandwich is really a meal, I couldn’t help but wonder if the bartender was secretly judging us. “These drinking philosophers think they’re having a fine dining experience with two-buck chuck and a bedazzled bowl of tomato soup!”
At least we were all in it together, united by our culinary indecision and the quest for the fanciest buzz on a half-empty stomach. Cheers to bad choices and great company!
After one drink, Robin was feeling really frisky! After a forty-five-minute dance, we got her sat down again.
Robin followed us home to make sure the Robin’s Nest was ready to receive Colleen next week. Robin wanted to make sure Colleen had some room in the drawers and clothes racks so she did not have to live out of a suitcase.
By 2:30 pm, I was in the garden working feverishly to fish off the fourth bed, and I did it right before the sun was setting. It was 86 degrees outside, so I did most of my work in my birthday suit to stay cool. (NOTE TO SELF: Get the birthday suit ironed, it has a bunch of wrinkles in it!!)
I lifted nine bags of 80#/bag soil, cut them open, and worked them into the existing soil. Then, via the magic of the iPhone, I watered the beds using the Hydrawise app. Except for the large bed, which is 8′ by 25′, we are ready for Tomatomania!

The soil is ready, all we need are plants and straw for the mulch!
I bought a pot mover because I move pots around all the time, and the two-wheeled cart is OK, but the bottom slips easily. The new cart has two prongs that go under the pots, thereby preventing slipping.

It was getting dark, so I came in and took a quick shower, mainly to wash my hands, which get pretty dirty!
We did not have dinner because today’s lunch was more than enough. On the scale, I now weigh 187.8 pounds. I want to drop another eight pounds and then hold it there!
We watched several episodes of Ted Lasso, but after several episodes of the continual use of a certain word (the “F” word), we switched to a movie instead. The following selection was a movie on Apple TV called “Shrinking,” identified as a comedy. After ten minutes of the “F” word being used in every sentence, we switched it off. We are NOT prudes by a long shot, but if the writers’ only creative work involves yelling “F-this” and “F-that,” the movie/series won’t be seen on our home.
Apparently, it is the younger generation that finds this entertaining. Mary and I have two kids who swear all the time, and every time they do, it’s like getting thumped on the head with a hammer. We corrected our grandson at least twice.
We ended up watching “Family Plan Two,” which was great.
Summary: In The Family Plan 2 (2025), former assassin Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) takes his family to London for Christmas to reconnect, but is forced back into action when he discovers a long-lost half-brother, Finn, who seeks revenge, endangering his family. While attempting to enjoy a festive trip, Dan becomes involved in a confrontation involving his family and a dangerous new enemy.
At 11:00 pm, we headed to bed and are looking forward to a fantastic night of rest!