Bad day, Good day

Monday was a fairly difficult day.  I awoke fairly anxious, did my knee exercises, then did a slightly shorter bike ride.  I practiced some singing and then went to play golf but I was awful.  It was windy so I was wearing my flannel liner and my goretex jacket but I am not sure that really affected things.  I drove over to Heather Hodges’ office and signed my lease so that is done.  Later I did attend the Holy Spirit group and with Betty Anne there, the singing was better but it was very cold and I was really uncomfortable.  Next time I will wear my heavy coat. When I got home I was thoroughly chilled and I didn’t do my weights and yoga but I did watch A Man for all Seasons and enjoyed it very much.  Thomas More was an extraordinary individual. 

Tuesday, Halloween, is my birthday and I am 66.  I think I have come to terms with my finances and after I pay off my truck loan and my AXA loan, both in February of 2020, I should have a reasonable amount of extra cash coming in, and then when I finish paying Tracy off in December 2022, I will have even more financial flexibility.  I probably means I should keep working until June 2020, but that is only five more semesters and I will be 69.  Moira Bake is 70 and still working and Lou is 72 so 69 shouldn’t be a problem if my health continues doing well.  It is that next two years and a half that will be tighter than I would like but if I am careful with my money, then I should get by.  Kelly called me and wished me a happy birthday and we chatted some and that was nice.  Gabes also called and I should see him the weekend of November 11^th and 12^th  when I will be taking Amtrak from Roanoke to New York.  I also got a call from Lou wishing me a happy birthday.  He and Cathy are going to take me out Saturday for dinner at the Mexican place next to Sal’s.  Maddie sent me a birthday greeting also.  She is feeling a little better.  I texted Claire Gallo about how her job is going and how her cough is and she texted back that she talked to her boss and that her cough is better.  I did my knee exercises, practiced some singing, and then went for a good bike ride.  I tried to nap a little but could only rest my eyes.   I went over to Radford to meet Kate at Macados and we had salads and a nice chat then Rob called and I went for a full walk on the Tom’s Creek trail with him and caught up on his doings.  Then it was home for a quick nap and some more printing out songs and singing practice.  I will watch the World Series and do my weights and yoga.

Good Day

Sunday ended up being a very good day.  I slept till almost 7, got up and did my knee exercises, read some more of Samuel I, and then got ready to go to St. Mary’s to see if I could join the choir practice.  Beth was fine with that and after practice went well, she told me to stay and sing during the mass.  I was a little nervous, but I think I did okay and Beth thought I did well.  I almost started crying during one of the songs and during the last song, where we started clapping while singing, I really felt good.  There were 6 singers and 4 musicians so my singing was actually an important part.  After that I went home and rode my bike for 45 minutes, up the big hill on Plantation once, then twice up the smaller hill on Plantation, then four times up the small rise off Plantation.  After that I took a nap (it was pretty easy to fall asleep since I felt much calmer than yesterday and I was pretty tired.  After my nap I did some bill paying and sang some of the holy songs and I felt my voice was getting stronger at points.  I then headed to Walmart to pick up supplies.  I had left messages for Lou and Gyorgyi but they didn’t return my calls yet.  I returned home, put the frozen stuff away and then drove to VT and walked for 40 minutes and took out a DVD of A Man for all Seasons.  Then it was time to drive home and make dinner and start watching the World Series and the Sunday night football game.  I may practice some of the jazz songs and I will do my weights and yoga later.   

A pretty awful day

Saturday has started out poorly.  I woke somewhat anxious and that increased as the day progressed.  I also got the chill and had to hide under the covers for a while.  I did finally get out around 10:30 and do a good bike ride and that made me feel a little better. 

     I have been working on my leaving the hollow piece and that may not be the best thing to be writing about right now. 

     Mary Gorton says I worry about money too much and perhaps that is right.  I saw a program this morning which talked about having 600K in retirement savings by age 67.  I will have about 480.  If I keep working till 69, I will have about 600K.  And if I increase my long term care insurance some I will have enough to pay for the average cost of a nursing home (about 90K a year, and right now I would have income and insurance of about 87K) but should that be my real concern.  I dread the thought of being in a nursing home.  I still can’t get over the loss of the 55K on the hollow sale.  That certainly has made a difference in my thinking but I can’t do anything about it so I just have to let it go.  .  And now much of the money I gave to people seems to have been very questionable.

      My problems with religion are also troubling me deeply.  I wrote to Mike Ellerbrock today about my concerns and perhaps he will have some advice on what to do.  I quit Holy Spirit because of Joseph’s reaction to my email and because the group is not going well (at least in my view) and I don’t feel like going to mass today because of the priest that is filling in for Father John.  He is a bully and that is not the kind of priest I want to deal with.  I read the prologue to Matthew Fox’s Cosmic Christ and that seemed to make a lot of sense.  I understand that the Earth is suffering and that the Catholic faith doesn’t have the mystical connection to it.  But I am not now a mystic nor have I ever been.  I remember Judith Gleason telling me that my vision would come when I really needed it.  But if it didn’t come while I was so sick in the hollow I doubt if it will ever come.  I like the belief of the some Episcopalians, that the Bible is “inspired” by God but not “dictated” by Him, thus you needn’t take all of it literally.  I have been reading the Bible steadily and I am up to Samuel I and I am struck by the violence of it (all the killing of the men, women, children and animals), the pettiness of many of the rules (does God really care about the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant or what color cloth should be used).

      I called  Lou today and found out that Maddie is sick with perhaps bronchitis and Eric is bringing her home (along with Claire) to go to the emergency room.  I offered to drive them back but if she has acute bronchitis then I might get it and end up in the hospital.  That could be very serious and I wonder if I just want things to end, to not have all this anxiety, almost as bad as I had in the hollow but I am not taking any valium.  Dave says I should take a little just to get through this tough period.  Perhaps he is right.  I don’t think I am suicidal but I am very anxious.

      I guess the move is also bothering me a little since that is coming up pretty soon.

     I did end up taking a half a valium before mass and that calmed me some.  I am not sure why I am so anxious so suddenly.  I know I feel bad about my argument with Claire but I apologized to her so I am not sure what else to do.  I did email Joseph with an apology and he emailed back a very comforting email and I will attend on Monday night. 

      I exchanged some friendly emails with Mary and that calmed me a little.

      My right breast still hurts but I did my weights and yoga anyway. 

      Rough day, to be sure.

Bad day, good day

Thursday started out as a pretty bad day, but ended up okay.  I woke up and was pretty worried about my finances.  Then I called my sister Judy while I was doing my knee exercises and she tried very hard to be helpful but I was in a very down mood.  I was feeling very trapped and even more so with moving to Prices Fork (the idea that they are planning to build more apartments behind me upset me even further).  Finally I got going and rode my bike for 45 minutes, then went to Auburn Hills to play golf.  I was horrid and didn’t even finish up the nine holes.  Things started to change when I called Heather Hodges and she told me they wouldn’t be building for at least 2 years.  That was good news.  Then I spoke with Dave and he cheered me up and said that perhaps I should look into increasing my long term care coverage. I also spoke to my niece Jenny and she was as lively as ever.  I drove to RU and dropped off Kate’s gift, visited Holly, said hello to Rosemary, then had a nice chat with Moira Baker.  It was almost 8 when we finished so I went to the reading in Rick’s class and the woman who read was very good, and she read from a piece on the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where I had been in December.  After that I drove home in a good mood.

Friday was a much more relaxed day.  I did my knee exercises, then took a good bike ride.  I tried to nap but just rested my eyes, then I got an email from my kayak friend showing me the bouquet of Oriental lilies and red roses I sent.  I then drove to the Cascades and walked up about a mile and back.  It was very pretty and I felt very good that I could go so far.  I then drove out to Walker Creek and first stopped at the bridge in White Gate to fish (no hits) then drove to Mechanicsville and got two nice bluegills on a spinner.  After that I drove back to Bburg, stopped at Kroger for some shredded cheese, and headed home for a quick nap and getting ready to watch game three of the world series. 

A return to Macados and to the Cinebowl

Tuesday was a pretty busy day.  I did my knee exercises, reading Augustine and the Book of Samuel, then I took the wet kayak out of the back of my truck and started drying it.  I did my 45 minute bike ride while it was drying and did some straightening out of the truck.  When the drying was done I folded up the kayak and put it back in the guest bedroom closet.  I then headed off to meet Heather Hodges at the Prices Fork apartments and after seeing the apartments, I decided to rent one of them with a washer/dryer outlet, around 750 square feet with the rent 850 a month, with electricity costs for heating and cooling and other uses about 125 a month.  Then it was off to play golf and I did okay shooting roughly a 51 for nine holes.  Following that I dropped off my application for the apartment and then drove to Blacksburg for a short walk with Rob on the Tom’s Creek trail.  I decided to treat myself to dinner and headed to Macados and saw Jake for the first time in months and saw pictures of his beautiful 20-month-old son.  I ate my Margie’s Cashew Chicken Salad and then decided to really treat myself and go to a movie for the first time in months, my choice being the new Blade Runner movie.  It was not a great movie—and it ran 2 hours and 44 minutes—but I enjoyed it a lot.  Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford are two of my favorite actors so that was a treat.   Finally, after an ice cream sandwich, I headed home and got to bed a little after 1.

Wednesday turned out to be a cold and blustery day (luckily I had dried out the kayak yesterday).  I did my knee exercises, read more Augustine and Samuel, the showered and headed over to have an early lunch with Claire Hall.  It was nice to see her and after lunch we took a short walk on the Tech campus.  After that I returned home, having mailed Dave a copy of my book, and took a short nap, really enjoying my warm covers.  A bit slow to wake up, I finally got going and went outside, dressed in my heavy winter coat and gloves, and rode my bike for 45 minutes.  When I got back I took another short nap and then did the rest of my piano playing, read some of Lou’s poems, gift wrapped the present for my kayak friend, did the dishes and did a wash, then made dinner and started watching the World Series.  I read the packet from Warm Hearth and it seems that any of their options are out of my class financially.  That depressed me, and I realized that I will have to be careful with my money the rest of my life.  I hope I like the apartment at Prices Fork.  I can certainly afford it but I still can’t spend much extra each month.  Then I think of people like Mary and I wonder how she really gets by.  Oh well, there is not much I can do about my financial situation except keep working for 5 more semesters and hope that I don’t end up in some awful nursing home.   

Rainy Day

Monday was a dreary weather day, even though the rain was well needed.   I did my knee exercises, read more of Samuel and Augustine, dried out my kayak stuff and did some writing, along with 30 minutes of piano playing.  I had dinner with Kim at the River City Grill and the crabcakes were pretty good.  It was nice to chat with Kim and I am glad I could be there to support her during her heath problem.  I also responded to Jeff Saperstein and I will try to get together with him soon.  I went bike riding in the Perry Street garage and that felt good even though I didn’t go up and down the ramps because they were wet.  I sent my kayak friend an email that I hope was funny but it got too long so I ended it pretty quickly.  My right breast is still sore and if it doesn’t clear up soon I will have Rob look at it.  I also had a nice chat with Dave.  

Another excellent kayak trip

Sunday turned out to be a wonderful day.  I did my knee exercises, reading more of Samuel and Augustine, and then I played some piano before heading off to go kayaking with my kayak friend.  The river was fairly low so we couldn’t go around the island but we both had fun, chatting and joking and enjoying the warm sun and the change in the seasons.  My friend got a little cold toward the end but I think if she dresses better next time (with her spray jacket and pants and her wet socks, along with a toboggan I am going to get her for her birthday) she will be fine.  We are hoping to get out one more time before it gets too cold.  When I got home I napped, then went over to VT and rode my bike all over campus, up to Deets and back.  I rode for 45 minutes and it felt good to ride on campus again.  Back home I made dinner and watched the end of The Night of the Hunter.  Not a great movie but good enough for a Sunday evening.  I have one set of weights and yoga to finish and then it will be time for bed.

Taking Mary to the Airport and lunch at Smokey Bones

Saturday was an okay day.  I got up around 8, did my knee exercises, showered, then wrote some before heading over to pick up Mary so I could drive her over to the Roanoke Airport.  She needed to deposit a check and she had problems with that but finally we got going.  Then as we were approaching the Peppers Ferry exit she discovered she didn’t have her cell phone so we had to drive back to her car.  After finding the phone we started off again, only about a half hour late and got to Smokey Bones in plenty of time for lunch (which she treated me to) and to get her to the airport by a little after 1 for a 2:30 flight.  I drove home and took a nap, then watched VT demolish North Carolina.  I decided not to go to mass, mainly because I really don’t like the priest who is filling in for Father John.  He is a real bully.  I would like to give him a piece of my mind but I doubt it would do any good.  I tried to nap again but didn’t feel well and thought I was getting sick but I did go on a good 45 minute bike ride (3 times up the bigger hill) and when I got back I did really nap and woke up feeling much better.  I made dinner (spaghetti and clam sauce and a bowl of veggies) and then watched some of the Michigan / Penn State game before playing piano for 30 minutes.  Then back to football and baseball until I took another break to do my blog.  The only thing I have left is my weights and yoga.  I took my golf clubs out and put the kayak in, but two of my patches on my right arm broke and there was blood all over.   

Good Biking and Fishing

Friday turned out to be a good day.  I had a very good night’s sleep, not getting up until after 8, then did all my knee exercises while reading Augustine and the Book of Samuel.  I then did a solid bit of writing on the hollow piece and that felt very good.  I talked to the woman who is handling the place out on Prices Fork where Mary is going to rent and I am going to meet her on Tuesday to see if one of the apartments will work.  They are rather small (750 square feet) but the price (850) is attractive.  I rode my bike for about 45 minutes adding rides back up the hill three times.  I then drove out to White Gate, where I got a couple of hits and decided to go to Trail’s End, where I got two nice bluegills.  I drove back and got to Lowe’s just before dark, and there I got a piece of furring strip.  I drove home and cleaned the windshield for my trip tomorrow to Roanoke and also drilled out the hole for the hook in the furring strip.  Then it was time to cook dinner (a big dish of veggies and a veggie burger sandwich), then time to watch some of the Yankee game.  Cathy emailed me and thanked me for helping Claire and Maddie.  I responded that it was no problem but that Claire’s comment about me imposing on her to help navigate hurt a little.  I hope to do some piano playing later and my weights and yoga.

An Argument with Claire

Wednesday I did my weights and yoga in the morning after my knee exercises.  Then I headed off to Wake Forest, where I rode my bike for 40 minutes.  The campus is not bike friendly but I got to see more of the campus, including Wingate Hall and The Waite Chapel.  I met Maddie at 4:40 and she was upset because she had lost her keys.  We called the bus company but no one returned our calls so we were hoping that we might hear tomorrow.  When Claire arrived, we drove over to MacAllister’s Deli, a place I have never been and Claire and I had a big argument.  She started yelling at me not to turn just as a car started pulling out in front of me.  I yelled at her because she was supposed to be paying attention to traffic.  She said I was imposing on her by asking her to be navigator and that upset me a lot.  Does she think I am her servant or an Uber driver.  When we got to MacAllister’s we chatted for a while and I explained that my only focus was safety and that I needed help with getting there since it was a completely new place.  She calmed down a bit, paid for her own food, and despite saying she was going to sit by herself, she sat with Maddie and I although she didn’t speak much during dinner.  When we got back to the apartment, I offered to stay outside for awhile or get a room, but Maddie wanted me to stay so I did.  Maddie came out from her room later and we had a nice chat and then Claire came out and joined in for a few minutes.  I watched Mad Max Fury Road and a few other programs until I went to bed around 11:30.  I didn’t sleep well even though I had closed the vent and the air wasn’t blowing much on me but it was still pretty cold and I ended up putting on an extra set of long johns and my sweater over my liner.

Thursday we got going around 9:30 and the drive up was fine.  Claire seemed in a good mood and we passed the giant pumpkin fields just before getting on 81.  I got Claire and Maddie home safely and chatted with Lou for 15 minutes before heading off to meet Doug.  The house was okay but there were steps up from the garage and the price 249K was just too high.  We then drove over to the Lovely Mount townhouses but they weren’t in very good shape so I decided to pass on them.  I took a nap then played golf, playing the last three holes, 4/3, 5/5, and 5/4 to finish 4 over (roughly a 49).  Then I drove home, tried to nap and couldn’t, then rode my bike for 40 minutes around Hethwood.  I straightened up the truck, did my knee exercises, read Ruth in the Bible, some Augustine and then cooked dinner.  I hope to do my yoga and weights later.

Almost making an offer on a house

Tuesday was an interesting day.  I did my knee exercises and read some of Augustine and the Bible.  I wrote to Joseph about how I felt his email to me was autocratic and made me uncomfortable and that I was not going to return to Holy Spirit.  He did send an email apology but I think I will stay away from Holy Spirit until things change: we need a good singing lead like Candido was, we need a regular instrumentalist, and we need the energy of someone like Glenda.  I went to play golf with Craig Waggaman and surprisingly, I won handily, not losing any holes and winning 5 outright.  Craig just kept missing putts and I played okay, shooting a 50 and he shot only a 47.  I tried to adjust the rules but he wasn’t having it.  It was good to see him and I hope we can play again.  I then went to meet Doug for a look at the house on Cub Circle and I liked it very much and told him to make a bid for 230K which would put me at my limit financially but still allow me to keep paying Tracy the full 500 a month.  However, Doug called me later and said that he had noticed that the 2 acre lot behind the house was for sale and zoned B-1 which he wasn’t sure what that meant so we postponed putting in a bid.  I then had dinner with Claire Hall at Greens and we went for a nice walk on the Drill field.  After our walk I went over to the Perry Street lot and rode my bike for 40 minutes and then went home to warch the exciting Yankee game (they won 6-4).  I did do two sets of weights and yoga.

A Visit to Winston Salem

Saturday was a very decent day.  I looked at some houses with Doug Trexler, and then I went out to play golf with Mary Gorton.  She didn’t play very well (she simply needs to practice some and play more) but we had a good time and I took her out to eat at Panera, and that was fun.  I did my bike ride at Perry Street and then I was too tired to do my weights and yoga so I simply watched the TV I had recorded, including the end of the Michigan Indiana game, the Georgia Tech Miami game and the Yankees Astros game, all three of them very good games.

Sunday started well, with knee exercises, weights and yoga and a 40 minute bike ride.  I then went to 11:30  mass and came home, tried to nap and failed, did some work on the truck and did some straightening up around the house.  I then headed off to Radford to pick up Maddie and Claire and when I got there I stayed for 20 minutes to chat with Lou and Cathy.  Cathy looked like she was worn out and in a lot of pain.  Then the three of us headed to Winston Salem.   We stopped at Zoe’s Kitchen for dinner then we headed to their apartment.  Unfortunately, Claire was coughing a lot and at midnight I called Cathy and she talked to Claire and told her to try to wait until the morning to go to the urgent care place, which she did.  I cancelled the listings that Peg Warren was sending me and I also told Doug Trexler that I only wanted to look at places with a HOA and around 220 or less.  

Decent numbers and the House Search

Friday started out somewhat poorly but ended up being an okay day.  I didn’t sleep well, having a nightmare related to the Holy Spirit group and Joseph.  I finally got up around 10, and then did some of my knee exercises, then did some figuring out on what I can afford for a house.  I went to meet Doug Trexler and he showed me one of the Villas at Peppers Ferry but it was too expensive and not very enticing.  Then we went over to Spencer Springs and he showed me a house with a second story that was 239K.  I liked it and the neighborhood looked fine but I don’t need a second story and 239K would really push me.  He is going to show me something tomorrow that is one story.  I also looked at 5 houses in Cburg and Bburg, but none of them fit the bill.  I am finally getting to look at the stuff Peg Warren sent me.  Then it was home for laundry and dish washing and my blog.  I am going to see Cathy on Sunday at least for a few minutes so that will be nice.  I will do my yoga and weights later and I hope to send out my proposal for CEA later tonight.   I did get a good bike ride in of 40 minutes.  I got my bloodtest results today and my blood numbers were slightly better.

Safe Drive Back with Claire and Maddie

Wednesday was a good day.  I drove down to Wake Forest, leading around 9:30 in the morning and getting there around 11:30.  I rode my hike for forty minutes seeing a little of the campus (I didn’t want to go down a hill to the main part), including Waite Chapel, Farrell Hall, the Heath and Fitness Building and Alumni Hall.  I met Maddie at 1:40 and took her out to lunch at the Silo Bistro and we had a fine lunch, with the baked brie as an appetizer a fine treat.  My shrimp salad was very good.  Then we went back to the apartment and Maddie studied until Claire got home around 5:15, then we drove to a Brixx Pizza place which was decent.  After that we headed home and Claire and Maddie stayed in their bedroom and I watched TV until 11:30.  I did do my yoga.

Thursday was another good day, with Maddie and Claire getting up around 8:00.  I was able to do my yoga before they got up.  We left around 9:00 and we passed a huge pumpkin patch near the New River, literally thousands of pumpkins.  I dropped them off around 11:00 and it was good to see the reunion between Lou and Maddie and Claire.  I stayed and chatted for a few minutes, then drove to Rob’s for a flu shot and my blood test, then I headed off to play nine holes of golf.  I started awfully, an 8 and a 7  on the opening par 5 on the back nine but I played okay after that, ending up 2 over so a 51 for each nine.  I did play from further up since I wasn’t playing that well.  Then I headed back for a nap and then a bike ride over at VT in the Perry Street garage.  Then it was home for pasta and veggies then another nap and watching the Cubs/Nationals game.

Still Looking for a Place

Tuesday had its moments as I ended up looking at a house for rent on Glade Road.  It was very private, near Heritage Park and across from some VT fields.  But ultimately it had too many negatives: no thermostat in the basement, large yard that had to be cut, snow removal not included, no washer dryer and if I put one in it would be in the basement.  I looked this evening at over 1300 listings on Craigslist covering the NRV and there were many duplicates.  After I go pick up Claire and Maddie in Winston Salem I will look at a handful of listings that looked promising.  I also found out from the IRS that I am only going to lose my October check instead of both September and October, so that is an extra 2000.  I did my knee exercises and rode my bike for 40 minutes and I will do my weights and yoga later tonight.  

Back Home and looking for a new place

Saturday was kind of a down day.  I did my knee exercises, then rode my bike for forty minutes, then did some straightening out around the apartment.  I looked at some houses on Craigs List but I couldn’t look past page one so I switched to Zillow and found a number of houses for rent and did look at several (only the 1350 place had any appeal) before heading out to play golf, the first time since I hurt my back.  I played reasonably well, shooting 2 over, and my back felt okay.  I had invited Mary Gorton to join me but she helped out at the church work day and was too tired to play.  I stopped for some supplies and then got home in time for the VT game (which they won fairly easily) and did my weights and yoga.  I put on quite a few pounds on my trip and I hope to work off some of the weight soon.  I felt kind of depressed all day, and I am not sure why.  Also tomorrow will be rainy and that means my kayak friend and I won’t be going kayaking tomorrow.  

The Rest of the Trip

Tuesday  went very well.  I drove to Arches and spent a couple of hours in the park, taking a few pictures, two of which I sent Kate, and one short hike.  The park was a lot more crowded than I expected and I didn’t park at the Windows or at Devil’s Garden.  My favorite walk, at Park Avenue, was closed but it was still a very good visit.  I took a nap after I left the park, and then I drove on to Glenwood Springs, where I stopped just before it got dark to fish the Colorado at a ramp and I got several hits.  I got to the Quality Inn just before dark and I couldn’t nap so I watched the Yankee game and ordered salad and a small pizza from Dominos.  I didn’t feel like driving into town and that worked out fine.  I talked to Dave and he was really out of it and I think I have to talk to Danny about his drinking.  He certainly puts the vodka away, and he smokes weed constantly.  I did my knee exercises and my yoga just before I went to bed.

Wednesday was my final day of driving and it went very well.  I only had about 150 miles to go and I stopped several times to fish some very tempting if accessible spots.  I didn’t get any hits but I did see a small trout run after my spinner in one long pool.  Catching fish would be an added plus but just being out fishing on a Colorado stream is reward enough.  I wasn’t sure I could make this trip and it turned out very well.  I got into town around 2, checked in the car, then got a free ride from Lyft over to Union Station where I checked my bags and then rented a bike and drove over to the Platte for about 40 minutes.  I stopped for coffee and a coffee cake at the Starbucks at the kayak run and then rode back to the train station.  I took a short walk and then got my bags and decided to work on my blog.  We should be mercy boarding in less than an hour.  I boarded at around 7 and the train headed out around 7:30, only 15 minutes late.  Dinner was pleasant and I had the Land and Sea, a steak and crabcake combo which was pretty good.  I went to bed around 11:00.

Thursday started slow because I didn’t sleep well.  I was up at 5, then I dropped off to sleep for a few minutes and got up just as breakfast was starting at 6:30 so I had my breakfast then.  I came back and napped some and that made me feel a lot better.  Mary Gorton called and Carilion called so I will return the calls when reception returns.  I read a little of Mary Bland’s book on prayer but I feel really detached, still as much as an agnostic as ever, though I am praying some.  The kind of God I would like is one who loves me despite my faults and doesn’t expect too much from me, a gentle God of compassion and.  Not sure there is such a God.  I will be home tomorrow and I will begin my search again for a new place to live.  I am not looking forward to it but it has to be done and I will get to work as soon as I return.  I got on the train around 5:30 and it left at 5:45 so that was on time.  I read a little more in Mary Bland’s book and I hope that helps.  I had a fun email exchange with my kayak friend and I am expecting her to respond to my latest one.  It doesn’t look like Sunday will work out because of the expected rain.  I am less than 16 hours from home and I will be glad to get home to ride my bike and maybe play some golf with Mary Gorton. 

Friday began with breakfast at 6:30 after another restless night.  It took me a while to put towels under the upper bed to quiet its ceaseless noise but after I fixed it I was able to catch a few hours sleep.  After breakfast I awoke at 9:00, cleaned up some and then watched the view of the New River Gorge, always spectacular.  I am about 2 and ½ hours from Clifton Forge, with lunch coming up at 12:30.  The trip was a good one and the only problem driving came at two of the rotaries, where I had to make a quick move to get over to the right exit lane.  Other than that the driving was pretty easy, which bodes well for another trip at some point.  Money will be a factor but if I save some up, I should have the possibility of traveling next summer.  I have already planned a couple of winter trips, one to visit Gabes and one down to Charlotte.  This trip cost me about 3500 but I had paid for the train trip (1900) back in December before I got sick.  I got off the train around 2:15, an hour and a half late, and walked over to the police station and then drove back to Blacksburg, thus ending my first trip since December.  I napped, then rode my bike for forty minutes, watched some of the Yankee game, then did my knee exercises.  I texted Maddie, congratulating her on her A minus in her paper (she was very happy with the grade).  I will drive down on Wednesday to visit and then drive them to Radford on Thursday.  I hope to do my yoga and light weights later.

leaving Las Vegas

Saturday I got up around 7 and started my knee exercises, then did some financial stuff (both my TIAA account and my AXA accounts did much better than expected so that was a nice surprise).  We sat around and chatted, went to the weight room and worked out a bit, then I napped and we headed out for dinner at a very good steakhouse.  We returned home and I had one poke on the higher level joint, and that kept me pretty high the rest of the evening.  I went to be bed around 2.

Sunday was a good day initially.  I got up around 7, did my knee exercises and yoga, then Dave and I chatted for a long time then went out for breakfast.  After that we headed to a bar/restaurant to meet David and Danny, his two sons, and we watched the 49ers game.  After the game we drove over to Danny’s place and while Dave napped Danny and I had a good talk after I took one poke on some pretty mild weed.  I wanted to drive back but Dave insisted and it was a little scary but we got home safe.   When we turned on the TV we got the first reports of the terrible shooting which had occurred at the Jason Aldean concert.  I was too tired to stay up and Dave had fallen asleep so I went to bed.

Monday morning I did my knee exercises and my yoga and followed the tragic shooting online.  Over 50 people had been killed and hundreds injured.  When Dave awoke we watched the coverage on TV and then we went out to breakfast at the Black Bear Dinner.  After a warm goodbye I drove to I-15 and with a couple of breaks and a nap, I reached Richfield and the Comfort Inn, where I was able to do some weights and ride the exercise bike for over thirty minutes.  I went out to a steakhouse for dinner but I had a side salad, a baked potato and some vegetables.  Then I stopped at Walmart for supplies and headed back to the motel.