{"id":94812,"date":"2026-03-20T05:20:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=94812"},"modified":"2026-03-21T03:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T10:28:08","slug":"packing-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=94812","title":{"rendered":"Packing Day!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In retrospect, I should NOT have had Mary read the book three times!\u00a0 \u00a0 I observed her packing activities and saw she thought packing for a week was easy: 3 swimsuits, 1 pair of flip-flops, and 47 “just in case” outfits for the hotel lobby you’ll never visit.<\/p>\n

My packing strategy is quite simple:\u00a0\u00a0Packing for a week in Hawaii is just deciding how many times I’m willing to re-wear the same pair of shorts and call it “vacation minimalism.”<\/span><\/p>\n

We both packed workout clothes for Hawaii because we love telling ourselves lies in new locations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Now all we have to do is fit it all into a Volkswagen bug!<\/p><\/div>\n

We made it\u2014another Spring!\u00a0 Nature’s blooming, allergies are attacking, and somehow we’re still here to celebrate together.<\/p>\n

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Happy Spring, everyone!!<\/p><\/div>\n

I heard Mary yelling and ran.\u00a0 We had visitors, DUCKS decided to invade our pool, and we all know what ducks do in the pool.<\/p>\n

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I yelled so loud at them, they wet their feathers!<\/p><\/div>\n

There were five of the little suckers enjoying a bath courtesy of Mary, Paul, and the pool man!<\/p>\n

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Off they flew, and I fear they were NOT happy!<\/p><\/div>\n

Alas, we had one more funeral to attend\u2014Papa Escolante passed at the ripe old age of 100 (clearly, he was on a long-term plan and actually stuck to it).\u00a0 With Diane and the “Car Gang,” we went to Mass in Santa Ana and then on to Fairview Cemetery for the burial.\u00a0 We skipped the group luncheon at the shop\u2014after all that standing, I was getting so sore I was about to request my own folding chair and a priest.<\/p>\n

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I got to ride in the front seat of Tom’s 1942 Packard.<\/p><\/div>\n

We went to Benjie’s and camped out at the bar, splitting a glass of wine and a vegetarian omelet.\u00a0 Since we’re officially “regulars,” our order is basically on autopilot\u2014the only decision left is whether the waiter should nod at us or start cooking the moment we walk in.<\/p>\n

From Benjie’s, we went home.\u00a0 Mary took a short nap, and I went into the backyard to verify that all the sprinkler\/drip lines were working, since it will be hot while we are gone.\u00a0 Robin and Joe will be watching over the place, with Robin staying several evenings.\u00a0 We are lucky to have a policeman right across the street, and his Orange Sheriff friends often drive by to check on everything.<\/p>\n

We also have our Multi-camera security system wired into the neighbor’s house so they can keep an eye on things along with us; you gotta love the Internet.<\/p>\n

Robion brought dinner over around 5:00 pm, and we indulged in In-N-Out’s, plus we froze one which we will be taking to Hawaii with us for Mary’s brand daughter.<\/p>\n

Before it got too dark, I changed the flag and the outside lighting (using my trusty iPhone and LED lighting system) to an Easter-based theme!<\/p>\n

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Looks pretty good!!<\/p><\/div>\n

We watched a movie with Robin about time travel.\u00a0 It was called\u00a0“Just Visiting” and came out in 2001.\u00a0 It was very funny.\u00a0 The three of us got a real hoot!<\/span><\/p>\n

As I lay down to go to sleep, I thought to myself,\u00a0 \u00a0why is it that I never made “Who’s Who,” but I’m featured in “What’s That?”<\/p>\n