Day 1216

We got up at 8 again.  After pet stuff, breakfast, and a little surfing we gave Devon his medicine at 9.  It was cold this morning, 40 degrees.  That's 25 degrees less than it was yesterday at the same time.  The wind was blowing, too.  A little after 9 it started raining.  All in all, shitty weather.

I spent the morning surfing.  Ellen did some sewing. I did my exercises just before lunch.  Lunch was the last of the brisket.  Tha tmeant we had to go to HEB.  We had to get cat food also.  Devon won't eat the frozen chicken any more.  He wants the canned kitten food we used to feed him.

We went to the post office.  Then we stopped at the pet store by Costco to get Devon's food.  Then we went to Tomlinson's to get more of Cooper's food.  Lucy thought she'd hit the jackpot - back to back pet store stops.  The last stop was HEB for people food.

When we got home I made up a list of all the music that I recorded last week.  That's the first step in listening to it to determine what I'll put in a new playlist.  Ellen didn't go to Hog Heaven because they cancelled it due to weather.

Dinner was some meals we'd bought at HEB.  After dinner was TV and reading.

Day 1215

We got up at 8 today because we need to give Devon medication at 9.  We'll be doing that for a couple of weeks.  After pet stuf and breakfast we surfed until 9.  Devon is doing a whole lot better than he was last evening.  The anesthetic has worn off and he's adapting to the dizziness.  He's still unsteady on his feet and tilts his head.  You can tell he wants to do more, but he's not able to.

Devon fought us tooth and nal when we tried to give him the medicine - two syringes orally.  He really tore up the back of my left hand with his back feet.  We had to wrap him in a towel to give him the medicine.  I ended up with a big bandage on the back of my hand.

After that I went out to the garage to build the stand to hold the windmill post when I erect it.  I think what I've built will work well and be easy to use.  We'll see.  Then I went out and cut away some of the plant where I plan to dig the hole.  That's all I plan to do until the pole is ready.

I did my exercises and came back inside about noon.  After a little surfing it was time for a brisket sandwich lunch.  After that it was a couple of hours of surfing.

The after noon turned out to be sunny and 77 degrees.  I really felt like sitting in the sun with a beer.  So we went to the restaurant in Belterra.  I had a Guinness and part of a sandwich.  The rest was dinner.  We also had a moon pie.  It was just as good as the one at Mickelwaithes.  We stayed there for abot an hour and a half.  Then we went home.

I took the dog to the mailbox after a little surfing.  On the way back I met Lee and we talked for about half an hour.  Then it was home for the leftover dinner.

After dinner was TV and a little reading.

Day 1214

The day started out crappy.  Just before we went to bed last night Devon started having trouble walking.  It wasn't really bad, so we decided to wait for the morning.  When we woke up he couldn't walk at all.  Ellen called the vet, got dressed, and took him in.  I had to stay home because the sewer people were coming this morning.

I did the pet stuff and had breakfast while I waited for the sewer people.  There was two vehicles and 6 or 7 people.  They got here a little after 9 and worked until a little after noon.  They tested the system when they were finished and said it was working perfectly.  They gave me a small discount and it ended up costing about $300 less than I thought it would.  I shouldn't have to worry about it for the rest of the time we live here.

Ellen came home while they were working.  She said the vet was running tests and would call us later.  I went out and did my exercises.  Then it was brisket sandwich for lunch.

After lunch we went to the post office.  We haven't been there since last Friday.  Then we stopped at NAPA to get spray undercoating for the windmill pole.  After that it was home.

The vet called just before Ellen left at 3:30 to go to Hog Heaven.  He said he was going to run some more tests and that Devon could go home about 5.

I picked up the cat at 5.  The vet explained that Devon had a small hole in his eardrum.  Apparently this makes cats VERY dizzy.  So dizzy that it's hard for them to walk.  He gave us some steroids and antibiotics.  He sent out samples for lab work, but it will be at least a week before the results are back.

When I got Devon home he was still sedated.  Between that and the dizziness he could only flop around.  Over the course of the evening he managed to get around, but his head is twitching which means he's still dizzy.  This may last for several days.

I had leftovers and salad for dinner.  After dinner was TV and reading.

Day 1213

I woke up about 8 and was out of bed before 9.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.  After breakfast Ellen decided to make rice crispie treats.  I did a little surfing.  Mostly I just killed time until a little before noon.  Then we left to take the bearing to the metal shop.  I wanted to get there during lunch because the manager seemed less busy then. 

It turned out that the manager went out to lunch.  So we went to Harbor Freight to get some cable ties.  I was running out of them.  Then we stopped at In-N-Out because it was getting near one.  After that we went back to the metal shop and dropped off the bearings.

Ellen wanted to stop at Best Buy to see about a phone charger.  Unfortunately they won't have them until next Monday.  We looked around a little any way.  I'm still trying to decide on a pocket camera.  We stopped at Lowe's to get some wood that I'll use to brace the weather vane pole.  After that we went home.  I was getting tired of going around.

When we got home I put everything away in the garage and did my exercises.  Then it was a little surfing before taking the dog to the mailbox.

Dinner was the last of the smoked salmon and a salad.  After dinner was reading and TV.

Day 1212

I woke up about 8:30 and got up about 9.  After pet stuff and breakfast there wasn't anything much to do.  So it was surfing.  Eventually I decided I needed to accomplish something, so I went to the garage.

I started off by doing a bunch of cleanup that needed to be done.  I put away stuff that was piled up on the workbench and cleaned off the work table.  Then I got to work on the stuff for the Bronco.  I cleaned the armrests with 409.  They came out pretty good.  unfortunately I'm not sure I'll be able to use the dirver's one.  It lacks a backing.  Without the backing it's useless.

Then I checked out the wiper switch.  It works perfectly.  There may be a problem though.  The switch provides input to a balck box that actually controls the motor.  If the black box is the problem replacing the switch won't help anything.  I'm going to have to wait until I can look at the Bronco to see if I can fix it. When I was finished with the parts I packed them in a plastic bin to take to Oregon.

I put a battery in the stud finder I bought at an estate sale awhile back.  The finder seems to work well.  The final little chore was putting the magnetic mount for the tire alarm on the truck dash.  I think it's going to work really well.  I finished up by doing my exercises.

After a brisket sandwich for lunch it was more surfing.  It was a really nice day - sunny and low 60's.  So about 3 we took Lucy to Circle C for a walk.  It was nice.  We missed the soccer rugrats though because we came too late.  We also went to HEB to buy a meal for dinner.

There was a little more surfing and some TV before dinner (the HEB meal).  The rest of the evening was TV and surfing.

Day 1211

I woke up at 8 this morning.  We surfed and played with the cats for awhile and were up about 8:30.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.  After breakfast it was surfing.  About 10 we left to go to an estate sale.  I'd seen a CD rack on the website that I wanted to buy to put Lego Minions on.

Parking was really limited at the sale.  We had to drive around for awhile before we found one.  The sale had started yesterday, so a lot of things had been sold.  Fortunately the stand I wanted was still there.  I guess CD's aren't popular any more.

After that we really didn't have anything to do.  I really didn't want to go home.  It was a sunny day, so we decided to got to Mickelwaithes.  We got there at 11:20, they opened at 11.  There was already a line of about 40 or 50 people.  We had our phones, so I decided to wait.  It took us an hour to get to the front of the line.  Of course the food was good.  We had a fine meal on the picnic benches.

After lunch we drove to the yogurt place on Slaughter.  We discovered that there was one of the coffee shops I like next door.  I'll have to keep that in mind.  The final stop was Circle C.  We walked around for awhile and watched some soccer rugrats.  Then Lucy did 10 short retrieves.  After that she called a halt, probably because it was pretty warm.

It was more surfing when we got home.  I took the dog to the mailbox and then Ellen fixed dinner - sausage and pancakes.

After dinner was TV and reading.

Day 1210

We woke up a little after 8.  After some surfing and kitty petting we got up for pet stuff and breakfast.  Late last night we noticed that Devon has something wrong with his ear.  We called the vet  They didn't have time, but they referred us to a place in Dripping Springs.

We went to Dripping Springs at 10:30.  We had to wait because they had an emergency come in.  Devon has a fairly bad ear infection.  They gave us some drops to stick in his ear.  He's going to love the next 10 days.  After the vet we went to the cafe on the other side of RR12.  It was good.  Then we stopped at Tractor Supply to get bird seed.  We also made stops for fuel and at HEB for milk.  On the way home we stopped at the post office.

When we got home I surfed for a couple of hours.  I found an estate sale to go to tomorrow.  Then I did my exercises and took Lucy to the mailbox.  Earlier she had stumbled getting off the couch and fell on her ass.  She seemed to do good walking to the mailbox.

Dinner was a meal from HEB.  After dinner was TV and reading.  I've started recording all the shows I want to watch.  I just can't stand sitting through the commercials anymore.

Day 1209

I woke up at 7:50 today.  But, between surfing, dozing, and playing with the cats we didn't get up until almost 10 again  When we got up it was pet stuff and breakfast.  There were 5 deer in the side yard when I looked out the bathroom window.  I also noticed that the antenna wire was really sagging.

After breakfast I went out to look at the antenna wire.  The excess had been attached to the antenna pole, and it had broken loose.  I got out the ladder and cable ties and fixed it.  The guy wires for the antenna pole had also come down, so I fixed those.  Finally I tightened the top wire of the fence and reattached the fencing to it.  I'd been meaning to do that for years.  It made the part the deer had damaged look a lot better.  All of that took until after noon.

I went back inside and did a little surfing.  Then it was a brisket sandwich and crackers for lunch.  After a little more surfing we went to the mailbox and CVS for new drugs.  The doctor has prescribed some anti-cholesterol medicine that supposed to give me cramps.  Great.  The bearing for the windmill was there along with a couple of Minions legos.  We went back home and I started building one of the kits.

Ellen went to Hog Heaven.  I did my exercises and took the dog to the mailbox.  Dinner was a TV dinner and salad.  After dinner was TV and reading.

Day 1208

I woke up about 8:15, but we stayed in bed surfing and playing with the cats until almost 10.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast. After that it was some surfing.  About 11:30 we left for a doggy day.

We stopped at the post office and then went to Zilker.  We walked across the park and back.  Lucy actually did about 10 retrieves.  I didn't want her to do much more.  She didn't answer the whistle though.

The next stop was Trader Joe's for more cereal.  Then we went to Rudy's for lunch.  It was sunny and low 60's, so we ate outside with Lucy.  Yes, she got some brisket.

We had run out of the fish food that Cooper likes, so we stopped at Tomlinson's.  Of course she got more treats there.  We weighed her the other day and she weighs 60 pounds.  That means we have to limit her treats.

After that we went home.  I continued encoding CD's.  Between about 3:30 and 7:30 I encoded 20+ CD's.  I now have encoded 700 songs in two days.  I'll have to start listening to them in order to select ones I want to put on my play list.  I also still have about 50 CD's left to do.  I think I'll concentrate on encoding for now.  This isn't the end of it though.  I have a lot of CD's in Oregon that need encoding also.

I did my exercises and took the dog to the mailbox while the laptop was encoding.  Dinner was salad and frozen breakfast.

After the encoding was done I watched TV and read.

Day 1207

I woke up about 7.  We stayed in bed until almost 9, dozing, surfing, and playing with the cats.  Then we got up to do pet stuff and have breakfast.  It was 40 degrees and raining - hard.  We started the washing and surfed.

I didn't want to waste another day.  I've been meaning to encode a whole bunch of CD's that I've purchased over the years.  There over 100 of them.  I started by making a list of all of the CD's that are on the music archive disk.  Then I went to the apartment and separated out the CD's that I'd already encoded.  I divided the remainder into two groups - those that looked really interesting and those that didn't.  I took 50 of the first group to the house.  That left 11 of the first group in the apartment.

I started encoding the CD's.  Some of them were easy because the info was entered automatically from the web.  Others I had to type in.  This took me from before noon until 8 in the evening.  I encoded all of ones I brought over, 1.5 GB of songs.  That's over 400 songs.  At that point I decided to quit.  Instead I surfed and watched TV for the rest of the evening.

We were going to go to a tournament at Capital City this weekend.  I think today's rain has probably killed that idea.

Day 1206

I got up at 7:30 and did the pet stuff.  That took longer than usual because there are now three meals to prepare.  Then I left for the doctor for the yearly checkup.  It went like they always do.

When I got home I had breakfast.  I was hungry.  Then I got on the internet and found a bearing for the windmill.  I looked at several places, but ended up buying it at Amazon.  Then I went out to the garage.  I did a couple of small chores and hung up the bird house I fixed yesterday.  Then I did my exercises.

I had lunch when I got back to the house.  After some more surfing we went to ACE.  I had a coupon and wanted to buy a rake.  They didn't have a rake, but we bought a couple of small items.  Neither of us felt like going home, so we went to the restaurant next door.  It was only 60, but they had outdoor heaters.  We ordered second lunches.  We ate about half of them and took the rest home for dinner.

When we got home it was a little more surfing and then I took the dog to the mailbox.  There was no mail because this is President's day.  I just wanted to give her an outing.

I started watching TV and had a late dinner from our second lunch.  The evening was TV and reading.

Day 1205

I woke up about 7 and got out of bed to get Cooper.  I brought him back to bed an played games until after 8.  I might have dosed a little also.  Then it was time to get up, do the pet stuff, and have breakfast.

After breakfast it was a little surfing.  Then it was time to repair the bird feeder that something, probably deer, had knocked down yesterday.  One of the wooden covers was broken off.  I took it to the garage and glued it back on.  Then I got out the implements of destruction and trimmed all of the trees that had grown too close to the driveway.  That way getting the trailer out of here will be much easier.  That process took until about noon.

I did a little more surfing and then had lunch - brisket sandwich.  Cooper has been eating really well today.  By noon he'd had breakfast, a snack, and lunch as well as almost cleaning his bowl last night.  Also, Devon isn't beating up on him as much.  A lot of the time Cooper initiates contact.  That's a lot of progress for a week.

Cooper destroyed the mat under his food and water bowls last night.  So after lunch we went to a pet store to buy another.  We also bought him a sisal scratching post instead of the cheap cardboard one he had.  We weighed Lucy.  She's 3 or 4 pounds heavy.  It's almost time to buy her more food.  From now on it will be senior food only - no more high octane stuff.  She just doesn't get the exercise to need it any more.

We also stopped at HEB to get a couple of items.  When we got home it was a little surfing.  Then I took Lucy to the mailbox even though it's Sunday.  I wanted to get her a little exercise.  I would have taken her to Circle C, but Ellen is feeling sick and didn't want to walk.

Dinner was some cocanut shrimp and mashed potatoes that we'd gotten at HEB.  After dinner was TV and some reading.

Day 1204

We got up at 7:30, did the pet stuff, had breakfast, and were on the road by 8:05  The trip to Marble Falls was uneventful.  We got there before 9:30.  We stopped for coffee and then went to the range.

It was supposed to be 70 to 75 today.  It was 40 when we got to the range.  At least the wind wasn't blowing.

We had fun shooting.  The targets were pretty easy.  I'm still getting used to shooting one eyed though, so I only shot an 84.  We shot with three other guys.  We were the next to last squad to finish the course.  It took us until after 1:30.  We left after eating lunch.

I took 71 on the way home.  It sucked, way too many lights.  The only reason I took it was because we needed to go to the post office and the pet store by Costco.  I cemented my belief that going through Johnson City is faster, even if Google says it isn't.  We picked up some more food for Cooper at the pet store and went home.

A note about Cooper's appetite.  He ate fairly well last night and finished up a lot of the food we left for him overnight.  He also ate quite a bit for breakfast.  We fed him again when we got home - he ate well.  Then we fed him dinner two hours later and he ate more.  We fed him again at Kong time and he ate again.  I think he's finally starting to eat like a kitten.

I did my exercises and then took the dog to the mailbox.  Dinner was an HEB meal - turkey and mashed potatoes.  After dinner was a variety of TV shows.

All in all it was a good day.

Day 1203

I woke up at 7 today and brought Cooper to bead.  He messed around a little ad so did Devon.  They both settled down and we all went back to sleep until after 8.  Then it was a little surfing before getting up and doing pet stuff and breakfast.

I spent a good amount of time this morning figuring out hoew I wanted to mount the Aermotor vane.  My original approach wouldn't work at all.  It needed something more complicated.

Cooper ate pretty good at dinner and after dinner yesterday.  This morning he wouldn't eat anything even the food he was scarfing down last night.

The vet called and said Cooper's shit showed that he has a bacterial infection.  So we got in the car to pick up some medicine.  We stopped at Walgreen's first to get some half priced Valentine's day candy.  There wasn't any.  They'd removed almost everything from the shelves.  What was left was over priced stuff that had been marked down.  It still wasn't a deal.

After the vet we took Lucy to the grooming place next door for a nail trim.  I got lunch for us at the donut shop while that was being done.  I planned to eat at a park, but there weren't any in the area.

The next stop was the metal place.  It was 12:30 and everyone except the owner was at lunch.  We talked about it and he made some suggestions.  Now I have to go buy a bearing.  We also bullshit for awhile.  It was fun.

We stopped at the post office and then Tomlinson's.  We bought some more of the food Cooper had liked.  Then we had lunch at the restaurant across the parking lot.  It was 89 today, so we didn't take the dog to Circle C.

When we got home it was some surfing and then a trip to the mailbox.  I didn't exercise - I'm feeling guilty.

Dinner was salad and salmon.  Cooper didn't eat anything then either.  Later I had Ellen get ouit some goopy packet food.  He ate a lot of that.  I guess we'll be going back to Tomlinson's.

After dinner was TV - Gold Dust and car shows.

Day 1202

Cooper woke us up at 5.  I went and got him and put him in bed.  He slept on my shoulder.  Devon came and slept between us.  We slept until a little after 8.  Then we stayed in bed for a while longer before getting up.  The first thing was pet stuff and breakfast.  Then I did some surfing and made an appointment with the doctor.  I was going to go to an estate sale, but Ellen's asshole was acting up.

Ellen's asshole got better about 11:30, so we left.  The first stop was the vet.  Cooper finally started eating some stuff last evening - he likes fish.  So he shit this morning and we needed to take it in to be tested.  Then we went to the estate sale.  It was a success.  I bought the two things I saw on the web - a stand for Ellen's metal works things and an old slide projector.  We also got a lighthouse book for Patty and a miniature guitar for Sophia.

Ellen's asshole was acting up again, so we stopped at CVS so she could go to the can.  Then it was on to the metal working place.  It's an amazing place.  They do heavy steel fabrication there.  My post is trivial for them.  I need to bring them the a-frame tomorrow.  The last stop was the post office because Ellen's asshole was still giving her trouble.

When we got home I did my exercises and then it was surfing until dinner.  Ellen went to Hog Heaven.  Dinner was a salad with a little brisket and cheese.  Dessert was these small Valentine's cakes we bought yesterday.  They were really good.

After dinner was TV.

Day 1201

I woke up at 8 today.  Cooper was crying in his room, so I got up and brought him to bed.  We stayed in bed with him for a little while and then got up.  After pet stuff and breakfast I did a little surfing.  I really wanted to accomplish something, so I went on the wen to look for a post to mount the windmill tail.  I found a likely place and emailed them.  Before the email I went out to measure how long the post should be.

Ellen and I used the pole saw to figure out the height.  We adjusted it until we had what we thought looked good.  We decided on 11 feet high with 2 feet in the ground.

While I was out there I identified a couple of things to work on.  Some of the brickwork at the end of the deck had been covered up with dirt.  I got out the rake, shovel, and garden cart and removed it.  I washed off the brick, but there was too much to wash off at once.  I'll have to give it a second spray later.

I also noticed that there was a dead branch laying on the play house roof.  It was about a 3 inch branch and about 15 feet long.  I got out the sawsall and cut it off.  Then I dragged it off the roof and hauled it back into the woods.  I also took out the garbage and recycle.  By the time I was finished putting everything away I was tired.

I went back in and had lunch - brisket sandwich.  I discovered that Cooper liked brisket.  We're both worried.  He hasnt eaten very much since we got him.  He's acting hungry though.

Devon is still getting medieval on Cooper's ass.  I spent a lot of time spraying him to discourage him.  He still hasn't got the idea yet though.

After lunch we went out to buy fish flavored cat food for Cooper.  We stopped at both pet stores and the post office.  We also stopped at HEB for some needed groceries.  The final stop was Circle C for a short walk.  It was a nice day, 65.  That gave Lucy a great doggy day - two pet stores and a walk in the park.

When we got home I did a little surfing and then took the dog to the mailbox.  All that time I was spraying Devon to keep him off Cooper.  We bought a "cat calmer" scent generator.  Maybe that will help.

Dinner was fish burgers and salad.  After dinner was TV.  Cooper and Devon were both on my chair.  Cooper moved next to Devon and Devon started licking him.  It was really cute.  They stayed that way for a whole movie.

After Kong time they got back on my chair.  This time Devon stated chewing on Cooper.  I had to whack him a few times to remind him that that isn't allowed.

The rest of the night was TV.

Day 1200

I woke up a little before 9, spent a few minutes in bed, and then got up for pet stuff and breakfast.  Cooper was crying before we got up.  I let him out as soon as the other pets had eaten.  I let him run around as much as he wanted.

Last evening Devon had quit hissing at Cooper and had even sat between my legs while Cooper was on my chest.  He stayed that way for an hour or more.  Today he kept chasing Cooper around like a cat toy.  Unfortunately when he caught Cooper he would jump on top and try to bite Cooper.  I had to keep spraying Devon and even hit him a couple of times when he got really mean.  I'm not sure why he does this.  He never did anything like it with Fletcher.

Cooper has been acting hungry all day.  That's no surprise, since he hasn't eaten very much since he came home.  He just won't eat anything.  He won't eat dry food, wet food, or kitten milk.  He did eat a very little cheese and salmon.  I'm getting worried.

It was all the way into the 60's today.  Again, I didn't really have anything that needed to be done.  So of course it was surfing.  I did my exercises before lunch.

Lunch was brisket sandwiches.  Then we left to get the truck a safety inspection.  Cooper really cried when we put him in the bathroom.  We went to the oil change place.  There was a little wait, but it wasn't really long.  Then we stopped at Costco for water and SonicCare toothbrushes.  We used the last ones we had today.  We stopped at the pet store for kitten milk and the post office.

When we got back Ellen went to Hog Heaven.  I surfed for awhile and then took the dog to the mailbox.  That's when I got Cooper to eat a little salmon and cheese.  He wouldn't eat the wet cat food though.

Dinner was salmon, cheese, and salad.  Ellen brought me some ice cream from Hate Chicken.

After dinner was TV, mainly car shows.

Day 1199

I woke up at 8:45 and got up immediately.  I want to try to get up earlier.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.

Of course, just because I got up didn't mean I had anything to do.  At least it was warmer, 50's, but it was still raining.  Ellen called the vet so we could take Cooper in.  The appointment was at 2.  So it was surfing until then.

Lunch was leftover Pad Thai.  I think it was better today than it was at the restaurant.  We left for the vet at 1:30 and got there a few minutes early.  We did have to wait around awhile before they got to us.

The vet pronounced Cooper healthy.  She tried to sell us some vaccinations, but Ellen wasn't buying any.  We left with a cat shit collection kit.

I did my exercises when we got home.  I felt guilty for not doing them on the weekend.  They aren't getting any easier.  There was a little more surfing and then I took the dog to the mailbox.

Ellen fixed frozen bacon burgers on the Traeger for dinner.  After dinner we watched a movie and then Futurama.

Day 1198

I woke up at 8:15, took a short cat nap, and then surfed for about an hour.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.  It was a little warmer than yesterday (40), but it was still cold and raining. I didn't really have anything to do, so I just surfed the rest of the morning.  That got boring, so I built a couple of the Minions Lego's that I had in the spare bedroom.  Then I surfed some more until a late (2:00) lunch of salmon and crackers.

After lunch and a little more surfing it was time to go pick up the cat.  The breeder is about 40 miles north in Leander.  We mad great time getting there, just about half an hour.  That meant we were half an hour early.  I put some gas in the car and made a really short trip to HEB for milk.  We got to the breeder exactly on time.

The breeder's place had at least 4 kittens and 4 cats running around the house.  Their daughter and her 3 year old son were there also.  Did I mention the dog?  It was a busy, noisy, pace.  I kind of liked that.  It meant that the kitten would be a little less sheltered.  There were two males to choose from.  We chose the one that the breeder said was more outgoing.  I liked him because he kept walking on my arms and shoulders.

We talked with the breeders for about an hour and a half.  They were a really interesting couple.  I got to look at one of their full grown males  He's an amazing looking cat.  I hope ours turns out like him.  Right now he's mainly white, with ight coloring on his face and a darker tail.

We had a great ride home.  I don't think I went below 70 the whole way.  The kitten seemed to take it well.  Ellen took him out of the carrier and he seemed OK with Lucy.  He eventually fell asleep in her lap.  While we were on the road we decided his name would be Cooper.

We stopped at Rudy's on the way home for more brisket.  I'm liking brisket sandwiches.

We got home about 7.  Everyone got fed and Cooper got put in the guest bath.  He immediately used the cat box - a good sign.  Devon didn't seem to be too interested in what was behind the bathroom door.

After dinner - brisket sandwich, salad, and key lime pie - Ellen started to watch a chick flick.  Lucy and Devon were playing in front of her.  She took a video.  They were cute.  After that she got out Cooper and put him on her lap.  Devon was not amused.  He sat below and hissed and snarled.  Cooper puffed up his tail and kind of hissed back.  He even hissed at Lucy, who he'd liked in the car.

Ellen put Cooper back in the bathroom.  Lucy was confused.  She went over to Devon and rubbed noses with him to make sure that he wasn't mad at her.

The rest of the evening was TV for Ellen and surfing for me.

Day 1197

I woke up at 7:15, turned over and went to sleep until 8:15.  Then turned over and went to sleep until 8:45.  It's great to be retired.  I proceeded to surf until after 9:30.  I finally got up, did the pet stuff, and had breakfast.

After breakfast I cut up the furniture felt that Amazon delivered a couple of days ago.  I put it on the bookcase.  That was all the useful activity for the day.  I surfed until 2 and then we went to the Thai restaurant in Belterra.  It was OK, but I think we'll be going to the place next door whenever we're in that area.

After that we went home.  Ellen's asshole was giving her trouble.  I surfed until it was time to take the dog to the mailbox.  With a late lunch I wasn't hungry, so I watched TV until 7.  Dinner was scrambled eggs and bacon (frozen).  The rest of the evening was TV, too.

Day 1196

It was 34 degrees when I woke up at 8:15.  The first order of business was to go back to sleep for half an hour. Then I stayed in bed surfing until 10.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.

I decided to get a few minor chores out of the way.  I had Ellen sort through the old cleaning stuff, throw some away, and put the rest under the guest bath sink.  That officially ends the moving of stuff back into the bathrooms.  Then I got out the two frames and pictures we had sitting in the guest bedroom.  It took awhile to unwrap the frames.  they each had 5 pieces of cardboard stapled to them.  It took vice grips to remove the staples.

Ellen put one picture in a frame and I did the other.  We walked around the house for awhile deciding where to put them.  There aren't many possibilities.  We settled on replacing a picture in the entry way and putting the other in the kitchen.  I also got a road runner sculpture we bought last fall and hung it up in the cat room.  It balances one already there.

I took the picture we took down to the apartment.  I hung it and the poster from the Lincoln City eclipse in the kitchen.  They both look great there.  I did my exercises before going back to the house.

That pretty much ended the work for the day.  After a little surfing it was lunch - the last of the brisket.  Both Lucy and Devon got some crumbs.  Devon wouldn't eat his until he figured out that that was all he was going to get.  I think he wanted his frozen chicken.

We went to the post office to get the package that should have been there yesterday.  Then we went to Wells Fargo to get more cash.  They still haven't sorted out their server problems, but apparently it's getting better.  After that we went to the coffee shop and Best Buy.  Neither of us wanted to go home.  We just walked around Best Buy looking at things.  We didn't buy anything.  Everything we wanted to buy was fairly big ticket and can wait until Ellen goes to Oregon next month.  That way there's no sales tax.

We got home about 4.  At 5 I took the dog to the mailbox.  It was windy and about 37.  I forgot to put on a coat, so it was a quick trip.

Dinner was Costco chicken alfredo.  It wasn't very good.  I bagged it and ate the smoked salmon that Ellen fixed today.  It was really good.  After dinner Ellen watched chick flicks and I surfed.

Day 1195

For some reason I didn't feel like getting out of bed today.  So I didn't.  It must have been about 10 by the time we got up, did the pet stuff, and had breakfast.  Then it was surfing, the theme for the day.  We basically surfed the rest of the morning away.

About noon we went to the post office.  The USPS tracking website said that a package had been delivered at 7:30 this morning.  It wasn't there.  Oh well.

The next stop was Randall's to get Glass Plus and some frozen food that no one else sells.  They had the food, but not the Glass Plus.

We stopped at Wells Fargo to get $550 cash to pay for the cat on Sunday.  They would only let us have $500.  Apparently they had a fire at their server farm and couldn't verify how much we had.  We'll need to get more tomorrow.  After that it was home.

It's been windy and getting colder all day.  By the time we got home the temp had gone from 65 this morning to 51.  Ellen went to og Heaven at 4.  When she got home she said she'd froze.

I went to the apartment and did my exercises.  At 5 I took the dog to the mailbox.  Dinner was HEB ready to cook meals.  After dinner was TV and a little reading.

Day 1194

Devon woke me up at 5:30 by knocking a bottle and hairbrush off the bathroom counter.  That got him put in the cat room.  After that I couldn't go back to sleep.  So I surfed for about an hour and a half.  Then I managed to go back to sleep.  The bottom line was I didn't get up until 10.  When I did it was pet stuff and breakfast.

The sewer people sent their estimate - $2,500.  I replied telling them to call me to set up a time.

I've had two old shavers on the bathroom counter for several days now.  They both have warning lights that say they need to be cleaned.  That isn't true.  So I took both of them apart, cleaned them, and oiled them.  They still have the error light.  I'm going to ignore the lights.

That took awhile to get done.  Then we had lunch - brisket sandwiches again.  We're almost out of brisket.

I wanted to go to Trader Joe's to get more cereal.  They have some off brand that I like a lot.  We went there and the post office.  Then we stopped at HEB to get normal food.  We got salmon to smoke and some ready to cook meatloaf meals.  The last stop was Circle C for a walk.  Lucy had a good time sniffing.  It was 75 and humid though.  She was pretty hot and tired by the time we were finished.

We got home at 4.  I surfed until 5 and then took the dog to the mailbox.  Ellen fixed fish burgers and frozen beans for dinner.  I really hate frozen beans.

Ellen watched a variety of her shows all evening - cooking, sewing, and fantasy.  I surfed and read.

Day 1193

It's a pattern.  Wake up a little after 8, turn over and go back to sleep for half an hour, and then get up to do the pet stuff and have breakfast.  After a little bit of surfing we left do do errands.  I wanted to get an early start to make sure we were back in time for Ellen to go to Hog Heaven.

The first stop was the Postal Annex on William Cannon to drop off some old glasses for the Liion's Club.  Then it was the post office.  We had a lot of mail and two packages.  The next stop was the home store to buy a couple of frames for pictures we bought just after we got down here.  We also stopped at Target looking for Glass Plus.  Apparently no one carries it anymore.

I stopped at Home Depot to buy a treated lumber board and some rebar.  I'll use them to build a bigger rock barrier by the apartment entrance.  Lunch was at Fireman's, then a stop at Costco for water and almonds.

We got home a little before 3.  I went out to build the rock barrier.  I dug out some of the dirt and rock between the steps and the railroad ties.  Then I put in two more barrier boards.  Then I back filled the boards with rock from the gravel pile.  The result looks great if I say so myself.  It was mid 70's and really humid, so I was really sweaty when I was done.

Ellen left for Hog Heaven while I was working.  When I was finished I was going to take the dog to the mailbox.  Unfortunately Lee's horses were on the road, so I took the dog home and fed her and Devon.  Then I took a shower.  One of today's packages was the box for the light bulbs.  I packed them in the box and put them in the guest bathroom cabinet.  We're almost finished with moving all the stuff back.

I surfed for awhile and then had dinner - salad, cheese, crackers, and a pear.  The evening was TV.

Day 1192

I woke up a little after 8.  Again I turned over and went back to sleep for about half an hour.  Then it was get up to do the pet stuff and have breakfast.

After breakfast it was time to do some things that have been hanging around.  I emailed the sewer people because they hadn't sent me an estimate.  I also called someone to fix the safe.  The locksmith said he could get here today. Unfortunately that meant we couldn't leave.

We put some more stuff away in the bathroom cabinets.  There's still a little left to go.  Then the rest of the morning was spent surfing.  I made up a final list of cat names.  I hope we make a decision tomorrow.  Someone from the sewer place called.  They want $2,500.  I told them to send me a written estimate.  The locksmith called me to say he'd be there at 1:30.  It was brisket sandwiches again for lunch.

A little after 1 the locksmith guy called to say he'd be about an hour late.  Crap.  That meant we'd be housebound the whole day.  He actually got here about 3.

I looked over the locksmith's shoulder while he worked.  It was quite interesting seeing how the whole thing worked.  It turns out the problem was that the last two numbers in the combination were too close together.  He reset the last number to be much less than it was.  He also took the lock apart, lubricated it, and "tuned" it.  When he finished it felt much better than new and worked flawlessly.  The tab was $190.

When he was done a put a few things from the house in the safe.  Then I did my exercises.  By the time it was done it was almost 5.  I took the dog to the mailbox.  There was a box with 50 lbs of cat litter and cat food in it.  I carried that back to the house.  It was a warm, humid day.  By the time I was finished I was really sweaty.  So I took a shower before dinner.  Dinner was salad and a little cheese.

After dinner was TV.  It turns out there are a few new channels that weren't on the "good ones" list.  So I added them.  I am tired, so I'm going to bed a little early.

Day 1191

I woke up at 8:15, too a short nap, and got out of bed at 8:45.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.  After breakfast it was time to put some of the stuff back under the sinks in the master bath.  I put all of the stuff for my cabinet back.  I took the opportunity to get rid of some of it including old glasses and razors.  Ellen sealed the tile while I did that.  I also put some stuff under the guest bathroom cabinet and washed the outside of the master shower glass.  The rest has to wait until we get a light bulb box.

I took the last of the stuff associated with building out to the garage and put it away.  I guess that officially ends the bathroom modifications.  While I was there I did the first exercises I've done in almost 6 months.  I managed to do pretty well on everything except pushups.  I could only do 13.  I used to do 25.

By then it was noon.  I surfed for awhile and then had lunch - brisket sandwiches.  Then it was surfing and TV.  Somewhere along the way I had a nap.

I watched the super bowl.  The Rams sucked in the first half.  Amazon said a package was out for delivery.  I went to the mailbox, but it wasn't there.  A little after that they said it was delivered - at 8:45.  It was at the gate and contained the new door knobs for the master bath.  I gave up on the football game because it was obvious the Rams were going to lose.  I installed the door knobs instead.

While I was doing that another package was delivered - about 9:15.  It had the outlet covers int it.  So I installed them, too.  The bathroom looks a lot better now.

I took the recycle out and turned off the TV.  The rest of the evening was surfing.

Day 1190

We woke up at 8, but surfed in bed until 9.  Then it was pet stuff and breakfast.  It was in the 50's and raining, so after breakfast it was more surfing.

I got an email from LEGO.  They told me to go to a debug website to look up what might be wrong with the kit I bought yesterday.  It turns out I fucked up.  I had only put 3 batteries in the battery box.  It takes six.  I had misread the pictograph instructions.  When I put in the other three batteries the car still didn't work.  I wasn't going back to Lego though.  I figured if it wasn't the battery box, it must be the transmitter.  Sure enough, I'd put the batteries in it wrong also.

Once I corrected the problems the car worked great.  I spent half an hour chasing Devon around with it.  It was fun.  After that it was a little more surfing and then lunch - BBQ sandwiches.

After lunch we decided to go out.  Both of us had cabin fever.  We went to the post office and HEB.  I needed some bananas.  We also got a couple of other items we'd forgotten.

It was more surfing when we got home.  I took the dog to the mailbox before dinner.  It was a made up dinner that we bought at HEB.

After dinner was TV - car shows and the "first ever cat bowl".  It was kind of fun.

Day 1189

We didn't get out of bed until 10 today.  We woke up earlier, but just didn't want to get up.  When we did it was pet stuff and breakfast.  Then I went out to the garage and got screws for the outlet covers.  I also got a standoff for the outlet in the tile.

I used the Dremel to cut the standoff in half.  The two halves were the perfect size to use to position the outlet in the tile.  I also had to use the Dremel to cut off the mounting ears on one end of the outlet because they were interfering with the tile.  Then I put the two covers on the outlets.  That was the sum total of the useful activity today.

There was an interesting estate sale in Kyle, so we drove there.  We took 150 south.  That's the first time we've gone that way.  It goes through beautiful downtown Kyle - all 2 blocks of it.  The estate sale had some neat antiques, but everything was over priced.  I did get some deep sockets and an old stud finder that I really didn't need.

Then we took I35 over to Barton Springs Mall.  Traffic was surprisingly light.  We were doing 75-80 most of the way.  360 was a little jammed up, but not too bad.  We parked by Macy's because I wanted to exchange the shirt Melissa had given me.  I exchanged it for a nice Hawaiian shirt and a belt.

Then we walked a little bit in the mall.  We looked at the Tesla cars.  I could almost live with their sedan for Texas.  We also stopped at the Lego store.  I bought a Technic remote control kit.  It was $100 - thank you Social Security.  It was 2, time for a late lunch.  So we went to Rudy's and bought lunch and some additional brisket.  We went home after a stop at the post office.

When we got home it was raining.  It had been raining a little off and on all day.  I got out the Lego kit.  It was fun to build.  It was pretty complex though, and I didn't get it near finished until 7:30.  Then it was time for a late dinner - salad and some leftover brisket and shrimp that Melissa ordered when we were at the Oasis.

After that I surfed while Ellen watched gymnastics.  The lady selling us the cat called.  She'd like us to pick up the cat next weekend.  The cat will only be 9 weeks, which may be a little young.  We decided to play it by ear.

About 10:30 I decided to finish the Lego kit.  I couldn't get it to work.  I wrote a bad review and contacted their service dept.  We'll see what happens.