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Dispatches From Dystopia

~ "What man by worrying can add one cubit to his span of years?"

Dispatches From Dystopia

Monthly Archives: November 2019

J’s Birthday (Updated)

30 Saturday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

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Today is J’s birthday, her 65th. We are supposed to meet her brother and his wife in Fredericksburg for brunch. Only problem is I don’t want to go.

More later on this developing story.

We drove up. Traffic on I-95 Northbound during a major holiday weekend was not bad. We departed early enough and drove only about 55 miles.

Brunch was pleasant at the hip restaurant in the converted bank. I had a black bean “burger”, declining the usual egg variants characteristic of an American “brunch”.

I wore my “red ball” cricket tie, as a conversation starter. Most people think the red ball is a Christmas tree ornament. D, J’s sister-in-law, has lived in Perth, near the WACA cricket stadium. So cricket ball was her second guess. When living in Australia, she never could get used to following the game. I said it takes a while, then one discovers how simple the game is.

The point is to keep the bowling side from taking a wicket. The batting side scores runs in the course of preventing wickets from being taken. That is pretty much it. Actually it is all I want to say about it now.

Driving home on Route 1 was uneventful, relatively fast and no where near as stressful as I-95. Those living overseas or in parts of the US of A not served by I-95, pick your nearest nightmarish Hell of a road to comprehend the East Coast experience.

I am now home, tired and glad it’s over

Cricket From Adelaide

30 Saturday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Cricket

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Tags

#Cricket #Self-care

I was feeling more than a little tired after dinner. I went upstairs to sleep. Realistically, going to bed at 7:30 is a tad absurd, even for me. I did wake up around 9:00. Next thing I know, I’m downstairs and cricket is on, live from Adelaide, at The Oval, Day 2 of the Second Test between Australia and Pakistan. The Aussies are in control, due largely to an incredible partnership between David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. Both had centuries. Labuschagne was bowled out at 162. He was replaced by Steven Smith. After 97 overs Australia is 434 for 2. Warner is 236 not out. I have never seen run totals like this, in my limited time following this marvelous game.

Part of the appeal of cricket, for me, is the commentary. It doesn’t have the excitement of much sports commentary and play-by-play, just a pleasant measured chat among friends.

I had the usual mix of emotions of sadness and frustration, until I turned on the game. I let it be Summer again as these two sides go at it.

Notes To Self:

1. Make a list of stuff to do.

2. Stop beating myself up.

3. Swim every day.

4. Eat right.

Morning Mulligan

29 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

In AA, we like to say we can start our day over at any time. Nothing bad has happened. But I feel a nap and a re-boot are in order.

Post-Meal

28 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

My family all gathered at my sister’s. We had a lovely time with laughter, et cetera. I almost ate too much food. The desserts were good. Now I am tired.

Thanksgiving,

28 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

It is all I can do to refrain from multi-tasking. I am alone, at home, J is at work, prepping for the Black Friday onslaught. (Don’t get me started. This should be a No Rant day.)

Truth be told, I love the silent house, silent except for the refrigerator compressor.

Thanksgiving is at 2:00 PM at my sister’s. I plan to go to a meeting at noon. The Y is closed today.

To all my blogosphere companions, Happy Thanksgiving.

Free (Frozen) Bird Part II

28 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

For some reason, I accidentally disabled comments on the earlier post Free(Frozen) Bird…

I have no idea what I did, but WP says comments are allowed for future posts. I hope this works

Frustrating,

Free (Frozen) Bird

27 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ Comments Off on Free (Frozen) Bird

Today I got my monthly Social Security check deposited into my checking account. I also needed to buy stuff. We were running low on paper towels and bath tissue. BJ’s had a deal where, upon purchase of three qualifying items, a frozen turkey could be yours. I did exactly that. Some Swiffer© dusting products completed the purchasing trifecta. That was roughly $70. I also spent about another $100 on other items in the course of acquiring The Bird.

At this point I wanted the turkey just because they were giving The Bird away. Departing the store, after spending roughly $170 to acquire the “free bird“, (apologies to Lynyrd Skynyrd), I was somewhat ambivalent about my shopping coup. J and I might not live long enough to eat an entire turkey between the two of us.

When I got back to Knollingwood Townhouses, the yard maintenance people were blowing leaves around. I approached one of the yard guys and offered the frozen turkey to him. He gladly accepted this little bit of frozen largesse from the American cornucopia.

It felt good just giving The Bird away. Really good.

Yesterday

26 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#Death

Yesterday I went to a visitation for a young man I had never met. He died in an accident ten days ago. His mother and his three aunts were high school friends from over fifty years past. I remember one Christmas Eve where I sat with this family as their mother read the Christmas story from St. Luke’s Gospel.

When my brother died nearly five years ago, DM, the eldest of the sisters came to the wake. Her showing up meant a lot to me.

And I learned Betty Ann, his mother, and the youngest of the four sisters, had suffered a series of mini strokes four days after his death. This is in addition to having Stage IV cancer. I expressed my condolences to her; she remembered me after fifty years.

If you would ask me why I have stayed in my hometown all my life, I think this is why. I’m here to reconnect with my friends when I’m needed.

I just needed to be at this visitation for this boy I had never met.

Thoughts

25 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Back folds are sexy.

Happiness matters.

Loving and being loved are important.

I am exhausted.

Nap Again

24 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by David in Existential Despair

≈ 2 Comments

I took a nap. I did not go to Mass. Like there is a sad in me I don’t want Him to see. Maybe He can’t fix it. Or perhaps this is the mourning the experience of which He blessed Himself.

Still I did take that nap. And have that acorn squash cooking in the oven to go with our pot roast.

Two Hours Later

That acorn squash was the best. It sat on the table, near the fruit basket, waiting for me to “deal with it”, as if slicing this squash in half, dusting it with spices, and putting it in a 375° F(191°C) oven was some major deal. It wasn’t.

I cooked the eye round in the slow cooker for five and a half hours after searing it. I put some mushrooms in the pot, along with an onion, some garlic, bay leaf, rosemary, fennel seed and thyme, oh, and a shake or two of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. Well-received. And I had a pear for dessert, a Bartlett.

Later, I will slice strawberries and bananas for J’s lunch, with the last of last week’s chili.

The decaf coffee is ready.

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