Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Another typical day, we are off to the races!
Oh boy, we set the alarm for 6:00 am because apparently my eyeballs require a two-hour commute and an early-morning wake-up call. We had to be in Newport Beach by 8:00 am for my semi-annual eye checkup, so we rolled out of the house at 7:10 and obediently followed the GPS like it was leading us to buried treasure—or at least clearer vision.
We arrived about 20 minutes early, which was perfect timing for coffee, because nothing says “medical appointment” like showing up over-caffeinated and slightly confused.
And, of course, we brought two boxes of fresh veggies from our garden, because when you go to the eye doctor, it’s always good to arrive with produce. You never know when someone might say, “Your vision looks great—also, are those zucchini?”
I was poked, examined, dilated, and imaged for about an hour, and the diagnosis was, “You are doing excellent for an old fart!” It was a good thing that I studied for the eye test last night!
While driving home, I remembered what had happened this morning and why Mary seemed distant from me!
Note to self: You do not have to tell the truth ALL THE TIME!
On the way home, we stopped at the Original Pancake House for breakfast! We shared a veggie omelet, and I added a hunk of ham. We could not finish the omelet (which is about 1400 calories according to the menu), so we brought it home, meaning tomorrow we will finish it off.
When this delivered to our table, Mary went into hiding!
We spent the rest of the day working around the house in our usual highly organized division of labor: Mary handled the civilized indoor work, while I tackled the workshop—also known as “the place where tools go to hide.”
And believe it or not, I made it almost presentable! I can actually see the top of the workbench now, and all the tools are put away, which is either a miracle or a sign I should buy a lottery ticket.
I even fixed the brakes on Mary’s tricycle, so she can now stop safely instead of relying on bushes, walls, or sheer panic.
On top of that, I repaired six of the outdoor solar-powered lights in the backyard. So now, not only is the workshop less dangerous, but the yard is once again beautifully illuminated for raccoons, possums, and any neighbors wondering whyI’mm outside celebrating light bulbs.
Then it happened: Tina came to visit, and she brought a new friend. We have a new family member! Grace came to stay! We went through her stuff with Tina (the previous owner’s housekeeper) and moved everything into the guest bedroom. We thought it best to confine her to one room for a while until she gets used to the smells and sounds of the new quarters.
Mary fixed a wonderful dinner and, using my calorie counter, she made it a little more than 300 calories! We watched TV until 7:00 pm, then headed to the pool for 90 minutes of luxuriating in the 90-plus-degree water.
It became 10:00 pm, and we crashed!
