The Only Thing That Changes Is The Weather!

Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2026 by Paul

Mope, not today!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Last week it was so hot that I considered applying SPF 1000 just to step outside. This week, it’s like Mother Nature’s gone bipolar—highs in the 60s and rain! At this rate, my wardrobe is just going to be a mix of tank tops and an umbrella. I feel like I need a weather therapist to help me cope with this emotional rollercoaster!”

It could be worse, as Dover, New Hampshire, has a high of 30 degrees, Colleen will be freezing!

Mary had a modification made to our bed without my knowledge.  Apparently, I was snooring too much, and she pulled the lever about 3:00 am this morning. I never knew it was coming!

OUCH!!!

We decided to invite Gary Parsons, Zack’s father-in-law, to Gir’s Night Out, because after retiring, he was starting to feel lonelier than a sock without a match in the dryer.  We figured he could use a little adventure to spice up his post-retirement life, especially since Peanut, his wife, still had several months left on her “working prison sentence.”   So off we go: three errands, one confused Gary, and a girls’ night that promises to end with either laughter or questionable dance moves at the local karaoke bar!

To add to the fun, Sydney joined us!

We departed for home around 2:30 pm, and Mary rested her back while I continued doing chores.  About 4:00 pm, I joined her inthe TV room and promptly fell sound asleep!  After a short nap, I went back to doing chores.

We often talk about Scout; he was such a good baby!  I used AI to build a short movie about him.  He comes up in conversation all the time.

We watched some TV, and between rain clouds, I took out the trash, and he crashed about 11:00 pm.  We finished off the evening by watching three episodes of “Suits,” a fantastic series.

“Suits” concluded after its ninth season, which aired from July 17, 2019, to September 25, 2019. The decision to end the show was made by USA Network, the network, as part of its programming strategy. While the series had a dedicated fan base and received positive reviews, it ran its natural course, and the creators decided to wrap up the characters’ storylines. The final season consisted of 10 episodes, which provided closure to the arcs of key characters, including Harvey Specter, Mike Ross, and Rachel Zane.

Good night, all!!

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Mid-Week Meaning Going To The Gym

Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 by Paul


Estimated reading time: 3 minutes


It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for our weekly pilgrimage to the House of Pain, where we pay professional ninjas to legally assault us under the guise of ‘wellness’.  First, we enter the establishment carefully so they do not see us, and we hop on the stationary bikes facing the parking lot, fingers crossed that we were not seen.  Then, we are off to the races, generally cycling 4-6 miles at a blazing speed that would make the Tour de France professionals green with envy.

Around 9:00 am, we are discovered, and our trainers come to get us (usually with an oxygen bottle in hand!).  Then, it’s snap-crackle-pop time for the next hour, and our poor bones and muscles are tormented by adept, crack, expert, master, proficient, and skillful providers of pain!

When we hear the local train whistle at 10:00 am, we bolt from the facility and run to the car, careen out of the parking lot, and race for the safety of our little home.   But first, the errands must be accomplished!  I sprinted to the market in a desperate quest for anise liquid, only to find the shelves mocking me with their emptiness. Apparently, my local grocer doesn’t support my licorice-flavored dreams. Thankfully, Amazon has stepped in to save my soul—delivery is scheduled for Saturday, assuming the delivery driver can handle the raw power of that much black jellybean energy.

After my market failure, we went to UPS, and I mailed four packages to the kids.

Anise liquid is a distinctive licorice flavor from anethole, its “ouzo effect” clouding when mixed with water, its role in iconic liqueurs like Ouzo, Pastis, and Sambuca, ancient medicinal uses, and even other surprising applications. It’s a key ingredient in baked goods and savory dishes, prized for centuries as both flavor and remedy.

Today was a special day.

I do, I do, I do, I do!

Once inside and safe, we do a quick check for missing or broken parts before continuing on the day’s adventures.

Mary’s back was still hurting, so we stayed home.  She rode the couch all day, and I puttered around the house.  When Domi and crew came to clean house, we scampered into the office while they were doing their thing.   After they left, Mary went back to the TV room, and I provided her with cold packs for her back.

We had leftovers for dinner, which I made by simply reheating the mashed potatoes and lamb chops.  The cucumber/yogurt salad was perfect, but Mary sliced up some additional Persian cucumbers to add to the mix.  We poured a glass of wine and dined while watching the TV we have set up on the kitchen island.

After dinner, Mary went to the TV room to rest, and I completed the Starlighter’s Website.

The dance theme was “Glitter Winter Ball”, we fit right in!!

We finally crashed about 10:00 pm, as tomorrow is another semi-busy day.  We are also expecting half an inch of rain in the morning.

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Off And Running!!

Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 by Paul

Every day would be entirely too much!

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

This morning was full of amazing events!  Mary beat me up—though I guess it’s more accurate to say she was out of bed before I was.  I could have sworn she made it look like an Olympic sport!  I woke up to her already in the office filling our pill boxes, and I’m pretty sure I heard her whisper, “Gold medal for getting the coffee first!” The only thing I earned this morning was the silver medal in snoozing, but Lord knows, I need my beauty sleep!

Today kicked off with a trip to Mary’s old office for her eye exam, where she was determined to prove that she doesn’t need glasses—until she tried reading the eye chart and ended up mistaking “E” for “Z” and “F” for “Is that a cat?” The optometrist must have thought she was auditioning for a role in a comedy!  By the end, I half-expected her to walk out wearing glasses with neon stickers and flashing lights on them, shouting, “OMG, I married you!”

While waiting for Mary to arrive, I took a little detour into the rabbit hole of Facebook, where I stumbled upon a fantastic gentleman who speaks so candidly that I half-expected him to walk through the screen and shake my hand!  This guy doesn’t just “say it like it is”; he says it like it’s a life-or-death situation and he’s the last lifeguard on duty!  Honestly, I was both impressed and slightly terrified—like I wanted to applaud him, hug him,  and simultaneously wrap him in bubble wrap.

After ninety minutes of Mary playing ‘Is that a letter or a smudge?’ at the optometrist, she staggered out—Mary had dilated pupils the size of dinner plates—and we headed to her watercolor class. It was the first day of the ‘semester,’ and I’m just glad she was painting landscapes and not trying to paint me based on her new, blurry vision.”

Yours truly volunteered to pose lying down naked (the Burt Reynolds pose, but a) they did not have appropriately sized canvases, and b) given the age of this group of ladies, we did NOT have ambulances or oxygen bottles standing by.  The ladies took a vote, and I was kicked off the island!

Who said, “Paul is NO Burt Reynolds!!” I still have a figure, but it is round!

I was dejected, so I went home and cleaned house, worked on the Starlighter’s website, and rested for the night’s theater adventure.

Mary caught a ride home with our neighbor and arrived in time to use an ice pack on her back.  She was still in pain.  The painting lesson went well, but I thought it was for the birds!

After Mary got home, she sat on an ice pack for about 45 minutes before Dru showed up, and we visited for a while.  Then it was off to the Seagerstrom Theater to see “The Whiz”.  This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.

But first, we stopped at the Silver Trumpet for a wonderful dinner with Dru and Dianne.  We reserved our usual booth, which gave us plenty of room to move around, and it was quiet.

Look out, dining room, here we come!!

The menu changed slightly.  While everyone went for the lamb lollipops, I opted for the sea scallops on a bed of mushrooms!  They were cooked perfectly and a joy to nibble on!

Seared Diver Scallops, which came with sweet shallot puree, baby squash, zucchini, and brown sage butter.

Dianne and Dru ordered steak and shared a side of risotto.

The girls reported the steak as perfect!!

At 7:00 pm, we decided to take our lives in our hands and embark on the daring adventure of walking to the theater.  It was like we were auditioning for a reality show titled “Survivor: City Edition.” Our hearts raced as we approached the busy street, dodging cars like we were in a game of human dodgeball. 

Honestly, if crosswalks could talk, they’d have been screaming, “What are you doing?!” But hey, at least we made it to the theater.  A little adrenaline rush before “The Wiz” isn’t too bad, right?

We were in Row E (It’s a long story)

Two rows ahead, the girls were sitting, allowing us to yell, “DOWN IN FRONT repeatedly.

All smiles!

The performance was excellent, though we had difficulty hearing all the words; we probably averaged about 40%.

The singing, dancing, and costumes were terrific.

Upon leaving the theater, we were reminded that the weatherman had forecasted fog this evening, and I worried about driving home.  Within two miles of the theater, it was all clear.  Tomorrow morning, we will have fog until probably noon.

The tall buildings were becoming partially obscured by the fog.

As we continued walking, we spotted the office building across from the Silver Trumpet, and I declared it the perfect photo op.

M-m-m-m-m, isn’t management always on the top floor, and if so, they are in the fog, right?

We were home by 11:00 pm and in the sack at 11:30 pm.  It has been a long day, and Mary’s back is still giving her fits.

Good night, all.

Posted in Dining Out, Doctor, Friends, Painting, Theater | Leave a comment

The Dreaded Monday Has Arrived!

Posted on Monday, January 19, 2026 by Paul

Croak croak!

Up and at ’em!  By 8:00 am, Mary and I  got dressed in our battle gear—a questionable mix of workout clothes and “I promise I can run directly to the fridge” shirts—ready to fend off the dreaded personal trainers.  You know, those fitness ninjas who can spot your lunge form faster than a hawk spots a mouse!

I mounted the stationary bike, ready to unleash my inner Tour de France champion.  I cranked the resistance up to “what-was-I-thinking” level, and suddenly I was pedaling as if the escape route from a zombie apocalypse depended on it.  I hit a magnificent 15 miles per hour—clearly, I was in the running for the subsequent Olympic cycling trials… or maybe just the local coffee shop’s “fastest rider” award!

After 5.5 miles of what I can only describe as a battle royale between my legs and my will to live—throw in a decent amount of blood, sweat, and a few tears of regret—I leaped off the bike as if I’d just won the Tour de France, ready to face JC, my personal trainer.

I always listen to JC, and last week he said I should try curls!

“Alright,” he said, looking at me like I was a slightly malfunctioning robot, “let’s hit the serious workout machinery.” I forced a chuckle, wondering what “serious” meant.  Were they so heavy that I’d need a crane?

We completed the exercise at 10:00 am sharp and limped to the grocery store next door to obtain some much-needed groceries (chocolate syrup, sugar cookies, donuts, and heavy cream).  I swear, JC was watching us go calorically berserk in the store and just shaking his head!  We did get some serious groceries, including baking products, as we plan to make our neighbor some bread.

Upon arriving home, Mary’s back was killing her, so she headed to the TV room to read (the room has excellent lighting from the Sun.  While she was resting, I brought in the groceries and put them away.

Upon arriving home, Mary felt like her back had been cast in concrete.  It was as if someone had decided to use her spine as a personal seatbelt during a rollercoaster ride—up and down, with all the thrills but none of the fun.  She shuffled her way to the TV room, where the sunlight spilled in like a warm hug, ready to comfort her tortured muscles.

Why did her back hurt?  Duh!!

“Ah, excellent lighting!” she sighed, plopping herself down on the couch like a deflated balloon.  The sunbeams hit just right, making her feel like she had been transformed into a reclining Sun Goddess, ready to bask in her well-earned rest.

Meanwhile, I was heroically (and somewhat dramatically) dealing with the grocery bags.  As I wrestled each bag from the car, I felt like a contestant on a game show, trying to transport items without dropping a single thing.

So, while she rested, I planned to load the car with our donation boxes and take them to the Goodwill.  Mary asked whether there was anything I wasn’t using.

The phrase “dead as a doornail” is an idiom used to indicate that something is unquestionably dead or inoperative.  It suggests a state of complete lifelessness or inaction.  The origin of the phrase is somewhat unclear, but it is thought to date back to the 14th century.  The term “doornail” refers to a nail that has been hammered into a door and then bent over to secure it, rendering it unusable—essentially “dead.”

Alas, I could not go because the van’s battery was dead as a doornail!  I called the AA, and they will come out and get me started.  While I was waiting, I thought I would start up Mary’s car and go to CVS to pick up some meds, but again, my plan was thwarted by tiny electrons refusing to move.  We had another dead vehicle.  Precious bit the bullet!

The phrase “bit the bullet” means to endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable or necessary.  It implies facing a difficult challenge with courage and determination, often after trying to avoid it.

The phrase’s origin is thought to stem from the wartime practice in which soldiers would actually bite down on a bullet during surgeries or medical procedures, often performed without anesthesia.  This act was meant to help manage pain and maintain focus.  In contemporary usage, the expression has expanded to apply to a wide range of situations.

When the nice man from AA showed up, he tested the van and found that a new battery was needed.  To make things worse, Mary’s hot rod had a dead battery, too!  So, we are the proud owners of two brand new batteries.  $500 wne poof, just like that!

Two of them died in the line of duty! CHARGE!

I finally made the trip to CVS using Precious and her new battery.  Between Mary’s back and my battery battle, I decided to pick up In-N-Out burgers for us to nibble on for dinner.

We watched a little TV and crashed at 10:00 pm!  Mary was feeling a little better, and I think the glass of wine helped.

We had a little midnight snackie before turning in!

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Another Fun Day Begins!

Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2026 by Paul

After five days of Spring Cleaning, we decided to take a break and have a fun day!  Because after removing enough dust bunnies to start our own petting zoo and finding a lost sock from 2018, we realized our sanity was hanging by a thread—probably one of the ones we vacuumed up!  So we decided to have a great lunch with the kids and then go to the Winter Glitter Ball!

First, Robin helped us get our reservations for Honolulu in March so we can visit with our granddaughter, who has a gymnastics match on the 24th.  Now we can take her to dinner and between classes, go places she has yet o visit.  We will be staying at the Royal Hawaiian (referred to as “The Pink Lady” while we are there.

Off to Darya’s we went, not realizing it would be packed.

We love our girls!!

Bob and I had such a fantastic time that we accidentally turned our cocktail ‘sampling’ into a professional cocktail taste-testing session!  At one point, we were trying so many different drinks that I couldn’t tell if we were at a bar or auditioning for a reality show called ‘Survivor: Mixology Edition.’ By the end of the meal, I was pretty sure we had invented a new cocktail called ‘The Regretful Decision.’ Cheers to fun times and questionable choices!

Hic!!

We tried all colors of the rainbow, Bob’s favorite was the purple one which was made from Odessry 1908, my favorite gin!

OK, the truth: Bob and I shared just one stiff drink with assistance from the girl, but it made for a good story!

We got home and changed into our formal attire for the Starlighters’ “Winter Glitter Ball” dance.  I suited up in my best sequined dinner jacket, which was so shiny it could double as a disco ball.  Honestly, if I stood still for too long, I was pretty sure I’d attract a flock of confused birds thinking it was mating season. We were off and running—well, more like stumbling and twinkling.  I ended up blinding a few partygoers with my dazzling ensemble, but hey, at least I looked fabulous while gracefully attempting to navigate the dance floor like a newborn deer on ice!

We slowed down once for some snapshots courtesy of Vicky.  How about that coat?  BTW, Paul is on the left.

We dazzled the members and long-time friends, some of whom renounced their friendship after my blinding entrance.

Vicky’s chosen backdrop looked so cold that I could practically hear it whispering, “Welcome to the Ice Age!” I was shivering so much, I was pretty sure the band was about to play “Let It Go” just to seize the moment!  Meanwhile, the lighting created a rave of little dancing reflections on the ceiling, more distracting than my grandma in a hula-hoop contest.

Then someone offered me $5 to throw a trash bag over my sequined jacket to keep those reflections from going wild.  Honestly, I was tempted—imagine the hilarity of a high-fashion trash bag moment!  I could start a new trend: “Chic or Cheeky?” On the plus side, I’d have an excuse for why I went home smelling like last week’s leftovers!

We made a statement, but we are still trying to figure out what it was about!

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The Weekend Has Arrived And We Are Still Working!

Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2026 by Paul

Mary kept thinking about her vintage dresses!

It’s January, and Alexa just reported it’s going to be 85 degrees today!  I thought to myself, ‘Maybe we’ve had a pole reversal, and summer came in like a boss!’ I half expected to see palm trees sprouting in my backyard and someone at the neighbor’s BBQ flipping burgers in a Hawaiian shirt.

So, naturally, I dove into the internet like a kid in a candy store, hoping to find the reason behind this meteorological madness.  Turns out today’s historic high average is 69.5 degrees, the historic low is 48.8, and the landmark average daytime temperature is a cool 59.2.

After several minutes of manipulating my fingers and toes (I swear I’m not trying to summon a rain dance), I concluded that today is a whopping 36.8 degrees warmer than usual!  At this rate, I should probably dig out my sunscreen and make a snowman out of ice cubes—because who wouldn’t want a frozen margarita in January?

Mary made a great breakfast, and I decided to reactivate my food vacuum system that I bought when Sue passed; I was alone, and you can’t cook for one, so I sealed everything up.  Bob Duda was going to call and assist me since he uses his all the time.  I fiddled around for quite a while and finally figured it out (I admit, I read the instructions).

FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Automatic Vacuum Sealer Bag Detection and Starter Kit

On a serious note, during our cleaning activities, we found a bible given to my Aunt Opal and Uncle Jimmy by my grandmother in 1936.  It was in good shape except that the leather cover was drying out.  I put it into the vacuum machine, and now it is sealed!   I did the same with the Bible given to me 76 years ago by my Aunt Edith and Uncle Claude.

OK, back to work!  I replaced several LIFX bulbs with the new Govee lights and changed the security camera power supply, so we now have a view of the living/TV room and front door online.

I finished re-bulbing the critical lamps in the house, with only two bedrooms left to go!  In case you wondered, IF the wifi goes out, the bulbs will work with Bluetooth!  If all power goes out, who cares?

Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs, 1000LM Color Changing Light Bulb, wifi & Bluetooth Light Bulbs, Work with Alexa and Google Assistant, Dimmable RGBWW A19 75W Equivalent Smart Bulbs.

The greatest surprise of the day?  The mailman delivered a card from Colleen that looked like it could compete in a family reunion photo contest!  We opened it up, and BAM!  There it was: our family immortalized on a card, like some Hallmark miracle.

I did that????  Oh my!!  My Spirit Animal is now a RABBIT!

I squinted at the picture, half-expecting to find a stranger or someone I could pass off as ‘that weird cousin from out of town,’ but nope!  It was just the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids – all there.  It felt like I’d stumbled upon an accidental game of family bingo, and I was one card away from winning a trip to the Bahamas!

I mean, how did we end up with so many people?  Just yesterday, it felt like it was just Mary and me arguing about who was eating the last piece of pizza.  Now we’re basically a small army.  And let’s be honest, if family photos were a reality show, this one would definitely win an Emmy for ‘Most Awkward Poses’.

We continued working all afternoon and well into the evening.  Mary made extreme progress going through all the costumes and hats, and even donated several.  It did amaze her that the closet contained little bugs that ate the dresses and made them smaller; after all, it had been almost 20 years since she wore some of them.

Paul was puzzled by many of these devices!

No pictures of us today—we looked like a couple of raccoons after a dumpster dive!  After hours of cleaning and rearranging, I’m pretty sure we could win an award for ‘Ultimate Messy Makeover.’ My hair was doing its best to look like a tornado.

Honestly, we were one step away from creating a new trend in ‘post-apocalyptic chic.’ Instead of capturing our radiant smiles, the camera would have just caught the chaotic energy of us trying to find our sanity among the clutter.

We watched “In Harm’s Way” in the “new” TV room while sipping on some vino.

Crash time this evening was 10:30 pm.  Good night, you all!

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Work And More Work!

Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2026 by Paul

We are on Day Four of our Spring Cleaning activities!

No, we have not arranged for hired help!  Mary and I work like 3 1/2 people, each having the effect of seven!  Mary did another flyby on her closet while I attacked my two small file cabinets.  We have taken our four waste baskets full of useless paper and created four box loads of clothes, belts, shoes, etc.   Mary began the attack on her “costume/vintage” closet, removing several outfits to consign to a vintage store.

We only had one meal today around noon because we were on a roll and didn’t want to stop the momentum.

We spent the afternoon tackling the office closet shelf above the clothes racks, and let me tell you, it was like diving into a time capsule of bad decisions! I managed to clean out six boxes of things we definitely didn’t need. I mean, who knew we were hoarding accessories for two flatbed scanners? It’s like keeping a box of VHS tapes when you’ve switched to streaming!

And those massive printer manuals? What am I supposed to do with a 200-page guide on a printer that went extinct before dinosaurs roamed the Earth? I half expected to find a long-lost sibling in there. Honestly, if anyone needs a manual on how to avoid clutter in their lives, I’m now an expert in what not to keep!

Tomorrow I plan to load the van and take things to Goodwill.  Goodwill was founded by Rev. Edgar J. Helms in Boston (1902) with the “not charity, but a chance” philosophy, using donated goods to train people for jobs.  Key facts include its non-profit status, that it’s a network of independent local agencies, and that donations fund job training, not corporate profit, with some stores (like Seattle’s flagship) being huge retail hubs for these programs.

Colleen is well known at the store after she helped us move into the new house!

Around 4:00 pm, I set the sump pump in motion and drained the swimspa, sending 600 gallons of water down the drain.  Then, I began the refilling process, which took almost twohours using a single hose.  We are expecting a brand new swimspa cover to be delivered and installed within the next two weeks!

We finally stopped around 6:00 pm and watched two westerns in the newly reorganized “Exercise Room” where we store our 60″ roll around TV and stand.   We watched two movies with Willie Nelson, including the remake of Stagecoach (1986) alongside Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, playing Doc Holliday.

Stagecoach was great.  Here is one clip:

 

We also enjoyed the musical western Red Headed Stranger (1986) based on his album.  Willie is a preacher gone bad.  The music was terrific.

We finally hit the sack around 10:00 pm, for tomorrow is another day, and we have an attack plan in place!

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Beep Beep! Thursday Has Arrived!

Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2026 by Paul

BEEP BEEP is a horrible sound in the middle of the night!

This morning we woke up to “Beep Beep”.  We immediately knew it was one of our many CO2/Smoke alarms, but which one?  (We have one in each room, and there are ten rooms, plus several down the three hallways.)

Are we on fire?  I immediately jumped out of bed and headed for the wine cabinet, opened a bottle of “Two Buck Chuck” just in case there were flames.   Two Buck Chuck is cheaper than water!

Luckily, we had no fire or smoke, just a  continued “Beep Beep Beep” every thirty seconds.

The nasty little culprit!

I began listening, removing units from the ceiling and putting them in the bathroom or under a pillow in the guest bedroom until I could no longer hear the sound.  Midnight and back to bed!  All was quiet because the guilty units were in my bathroom with the door shut.

After a couple of hours of sleep, we heard it again because I had left the bathroom door open where I had stored the removed sensors.  Mother Nature’s nighttime calls can be a pain!!

Finally, we combined forces and determined which of the little devils was causing the problem, and he got de-battery-ized!  All quiet on the Western Front!

We had our coffee and then began further Spring cleaning!  But first, I attempted to replace the batteries, which led me to discover I had no lithium batteries!  So, off to Amazon my fingers went!  They will be delivered this afternoon!

Did You Know?  While lithium and alkaline batteries differ significantly in performance, each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses.  As noted above, lithium batteries lead in performance and shelf life; however, they cost more.  The upfront cost of a lithium battery can be up to three times that of an equivalent alkaline battery, making alkaline batteries far more affordable.

One important thing to keep in mind, though, is that lithium batteries don’t need to be replaced as often as alkaline types.  Because of this, a lithium battery will offer a better return on investment, saving you money in the long run.

We continued our Spring cleaning until 10:00 am, when it was time to get ready for the Elks weekly luncheon (Girls Night Out)!  We found out that Ronnie married Cindy, his fiancée, on the 3rd of January.

Congrats, may you be half as happy as Mary and I, which will make you ecstatic!

Dianne needed to have her car serviced, and we did not want to have her sit at the mechanic’s all day, so we picked her up and brought her to lunch at the Elks!

What a threesome!

I decided to focus on the ladies and leave the Elks out of the picture.

Ladies, time to return home!

When we got home, Mary took a nap, and I continued on my quest to Spring clean.  This activity included organizing the home automation systems.   For years, I used LIFX Wi-Fi light bulbs, but they were difficult to install, often disconnected from the network, and confusing to operate due to their software.

Since I had Govee lights on the front of the house, I decided to replace all the inside lighting with Govee bulbs.  Now, with one app on my phone, I can control the entire house lighting system, and the Govee lights are easy to set up and use.   As a bonus, the Govee lights can be operated by Alexa, so all I have to say is “Alexa, Living Room Lights ON 75% Red,” and the room will be lit accordingly.

It works!

Off we go to the Elks for Tiki Bar Night.  Robin joined us tonight, and we went to the Tiki Bar with DJ Ronnie!  Gail also joined us, and we had a delightful evening!

I was asked to pose for this image; it looks just like me!

They played some line dances, and Mary was off like a shot!!

You Go, Girl!!

We checked her shoes, and they were NOT smoking like Dianne’s shoes were last week.

Looking good!

I decided to dance with a strange lady who was watching up close.  We danced the entire dance!

Snap, crackle, pop!!  I needed a chair, too!

Ronnie and I did our Oreo Cookie photo, I am soooooo bad!

Great fun!!

Gail was up when the line dancing began.  We both ordered prime rib.  I thought I would try “medium” instead of rare.  Gail looked at mine after her medium rare arrived, and she decided we should split our steaks – her’s was too rare!

We have been friends for years, going back to the Phoenix Club!

We departed for home around 9:30 pm and went directly home.  Upon arrival, the girls got on their jammies and found the movie, “Three Coins In A Fountain” on TCM.  I took out the trash cans in the blinding rainstorm, battling the water spiders and other wild vermin along the way.

Finally, we were all watching Three Coins, and we all fell asleep.  Rogin went first, and I woke up at 11:00 pm and decided to turn down the bed and heat Mary’s bathroom.

Good night, all!

Good night emoticon with nightcap

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Gym, Work, Dine; It’s A Rough Life

Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 by Paul

How I feel after the workout!

All was going well until I realized it was Wednesday, which meant we had to trek to the gym and submit our bodies to extreme pain under the guidance of our drillmasters.  Today, I did something new: I scratched my nose with my knee cap!

After leaving the gym and doing 5.5 miles on the stationary bike, I felt pooped; time to go home!

By 10:30 m, we were working hard, with Mary attacking her closet and me going through my clothes one more time, then wheeling the boxes to the garage.  We have donation boxes, give-to-Michele boxes, and storage boxes for the garage or the SheShed.

Domilita’s crew arrived about 4:00 pm, and we offered the piles of clothes we had decided to give away.  Some of them still had the price tags on them.  Domi took all of my goodies (19 pairs of pants, 10 pairs of shorts, sweaters, and a mess of T-shirts) and many of Mary’s clothes.

After the ladies came in, I suggested we go to a new venue for us, Darya Persian Restaurant in Orange, on Tustin.

Darya Restaurant in Orange County, California, is known for authentic Persian cuisine, pioneering fine dining, and being a community staple for celebrations, offering dishes like Koobideh and Tahdig, focusing on halal meats, and providing a unique atmosphere with a waterfall patio and bar, serving as a beloved cultural landmark for over 30 years.

The meal was fantastic!!

We had Khiar-Shoor (Sliced Aged cucumbers in a vinegar brine) and Sauteed Mushrooms (sliced mushrooms sautéed with onions and garlic with a splash of cognac)  for appetizers.

Then, being smart (and on diets), we ordered Darya #5 to share, which consisted of Filet Mignon Barg, Boneless Lamb, and Salmon, along with a great green salad and a fantastic dish of Persian rice with sour cherries; simply amazing.   We shared a bottle of wine and just enjoyed each other’s company.

It was dark when we arrived home; the ladies were gone, and we were tired from another all-day “Spring Cleaning” activity.  We have two more days of work around the house planned, and then we can coast while others do their Spring cleaning.

Tomorrow we will again attack closets, but we will stop at 10:00 am and get ready for Girls Night Out with the gang.  Dianne will be joining us tomorrow!

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Tuesday, Where Did You Go?

Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 by Paul

We didn’t even leave the house except to get a quick breakfast at Benji’s.    Mary had to register for her painting class at 9:00 am, so she had to be there no later than 8:30 am to secure her place.  Our neighbor, who is also in the class, picked Mary up, and off they went.  As they departed, I suggested the three of us go to Benji’s to a) have breakfast and b) to celebrate getting registered for the next ten weeks of class.

We came straight home after the excellent breakfast, began working, and kept going until after dark.  We talked to Robin around 7:00 pm and finally decided dinner was not going to happen this evening.

Mary developed some additional muscles from her fight with the closet!

We took a short break late in the afternoon  and had some delicious water1

We done good.  We tried to watch a movie on TV, but our eyes wouldn’t focus; we both fell asleep.  At 10:00 pm, we went to bed, and I put our glasses of wine in the refrigerator; we were too tired to even crink wine.

We needed our rest because tomorrow is another gym morning!

Good night, all!

Posted in Gym, Uncategorized, Working Around House | Leave a comment