Dinner.

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I was really moving slowly today. Nothing seemed to work right, from my brain to my computer. Watching the clock seemed futile, as every time I looked I was simply that much closer to being late and yet I did have to keep an eye on the clock.

My little computer seems to have a problem with visuals. It will not run. I tried to turn off some things related to it in the pre-set up, but then it could not find the OS. Oh well. I suppose I will have to figure out where to take it, or send it, for repairs. It should still be under warranty. I am using the big old machine, for now. With the desk I am using the screen is huge. That and having gotten used to a mini-screen on the notebook. I worked with it as much as I could until it was almost too late.

Then I rushed to undress, shower, brush my teeth, and jump into clean clothes. Hmph, half of my shirts have spots on them. Enough spots so that even I cannot agree to wear them. I will simply have to spend extra time washing and rewashing them to try and remove the stains. I am not sure what is on them, as I do not recall staining them when worn last, but oh well.

Dinner was very good, again. They have not used the soda siphon, but they have been researching CO2 cannisters, and trying to figure out if they need to search for food grade CO2. I think it is probably all the same, but I could be wrong. They are saving it for Hawaii, and passion fruit juice, so I hear it. And, CO2 being compressed, there is some consideration about how best to ship it as they do not think they will be able to take it even in check in luggage and shipping to Hawaii can be terribly expensive. I could not help them there, other than to agree that it is expensive.

There were four of us tonight, so it was a bit quieter. They had been discussing religion, and so I asked if they are Mormon. Not, as it turns out, or religious at all. They indicated they are typical academics with no faith as such. I had been curious. When we got to speaking about blogging, I fibbed a bit. But that happens. I have had my blogging become known, and to bad ends, within academic circles before and would just rather not go through that again. Still, I do wonder if they already know. It is difficult to know.

I did suggest that I would like to figure out how to carry on with meals on Sunday. The hostess suggested that it was a pleasant thing to do, and ensured she at least kept the place up a bit more. I had thought of that and agreed. And, a homecooked meal once a week at least, seems like a good plan. If some of the other people who show up once in a while would want to do something like that, I might ask them to offer suggestions. I can do most beef meals, roasted or fried chicken, some pork meals, shrimp, and things like that. Though sides and planning, well, it has been a while since I cooked full meals. Both the challenge and the company, plus the call to keep the place up, would all be worth the effort.

I think they chuckle a bit at my idea of owning a more secluded place, with horses, and maybe goats. For people who believe yesterday, becomes today, which will become tomorrow without end or problems, it must be humorous. I understand that and take zero offense. Much like my last landlord, who when he found out I had purchased an AK-47 suggested quite cynically, I am sure THAT will come in handy. I thought about suggesting that if it is never needed, all the better, but if it is needed at some point, nothing could replace it (or it's ilk). But some people simply cannot or will not understand until they are broken and on their knees. I saw him go from being a fairly comfortably set retiree to being very afraid he might be living on beans and rice in only a few years. His wife continues to work because they cannot afford to have her quit. He, I think, would like to go back to work as well (not really, merely for financial considerations) but I think it would be a bit much in schooling and some other things at this time.

Yeah, if life gets very hard, a lot of people are going to be more than just a little worried. The baby boomers who are retired and thought money was enough are finding out that both the worth of the dollar and the value of stocks are becoming a fiction. Their house is not worth the million it was supposed to be worth by now. It is not even worth what they paid for it. Nothing is going right, but by (little g) god, they will have medical care! They have no clue. And they are finding out that voting does not do them much good either. Their feel good vote is going to break them and give people who have never worked insurance while merely eating up what is left of what they thought was their secure future. And at their age, there is little they can do to change anything. I do worry about the old, especially those with few, or worse no, children. Yes, that is getting close to including me. The only cure the state has is euthenasia.

Time to get to bed and try and be up early. Sleep should be pleasant tonight. I have not done very much today, but I have been pushing to be awake when I can. Tomorrow I will get back with my neighbor about the rifle trip, probably pick him up for coffee somewhere, and see if he wants or needs to do anything. Another day at the range would be good. Oh, and I best do laundry and clean the place up a bit. I have been sliding.

Sleep well.