I never get as much as I hope to do done.

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I am okay with that, up to a point. I don't have to like it. I can try to change that. I think, however, at this age, regardless of effort, regardless of will, regardless of anything, I move as fast as I am going to move and I do things in such a way to where optimization has already probably been had and passed. I will, if anything, probably slow down even more as time passes. Like it? Like I said, I don't have to. And it wouldn't matter in any case.

I did make it into town. Later than I had hoped but within reason. I do believe my friend started to become suspicious when I was not there when I said I would be. I took some time mentally sorting things out. Calling his sister took a bit more time. Showering and shaving, checking the mail. It all added up to more time than I thought it would take, when added to the drive and this insane summer traffic. On top of the few roads available is summer tourist travel and probably extra summer business needs for that, such as supplies, services, repair, and add in road work and other work which requires good weather and road use or blockage. You all know that, of course.

I decided to pick up hard candy. I bought four pounds of various kinds. It is what I have used when I have been on the patch. I picked four types I have seen him have at his apartment. I then went to see him. I explained why I could not, in good conscience, bring him cigarettes. After I did, I was glad of it even more than before, or at least how I went about it. If I had told him it was his sister, he would have tried really hard to get me to just ignore her or slide a little or such. This way he knows right out that I won't do that. They had forgotten to give him his patch today. I think they listen to conversations and thought I was going to bring him cigarettes. In any case, when I learned he had not gotten his patch, I went and asked an aide to see if the nurse would do so. He got his patch, and other medicine, right away.

Oh, I bet he is mad as heck. Yes indeed. A good friend doesn't do that, not to the logic of an addict. That is coming from an addict (if one who will be quitting soon, again, after a bit of a break after my mother returns home from her visit). My friend doesn't want to quit. And I am most certain, when he leaves the hospital, he will begin smoking again. You can't force it. But for now, that is what he has.

He will be contacting his sister about picking up a couple of pistols and some ammunition this Saturday. I think he ought to bring enough ammo out that we can shoot once a week for a month, so we don't have to keep bugging his sister. I can just keep it stored here. A meal out too, for him, should be good. But he says they have allowed him seconds, to his hearts content, so he is now being fed well. All good. Hopefully his sister will get him on the 21 mg patch. Look, the easier it is to go without the more likely he is to actually consider quitting. Suffering through quitting is no way to succeed. I just don't understand why they do that unless they expect people to cheat, then it makes even less sense. The difference between 14mg and 21mg patch, on top of other tobacco use, is just as lethal. If they are going to cheat then don't start them on the patch unless you know they can't cheat.

That took up my afternoon until it was too late to pick up the map. Which is fine. I remembered something on my way home, another reason to be in town and early tomorrow and the day after. The county fair. And, that would be a potential event to invite the map lady. I want to look at the goats, which are showing early in the day. Oh, she might be interested, but she will be working. However, it will give me an opportunity to see if there is anything else there which might be worth seeing with a companion. She is Mormon, so she might not be a coffee (or tea) drinker. But there are non-caffeine drinks available (and no, not wine... you guys!). Anyway, I have a potential place to invite her to be, public, maybe fun, we will see.

I need to check on flights. It seems my mother is back to wanting an open-ended visit. I think the flights will be less expensive as one way flights in any case, plus it offers me the ability to buy half of the tickets one month and the other half the next month. Just a cash flow thing. She thinks perhaps that angiography might go forward with her here, and I think so too. When I figure out the tickets, I will give the V.A. a call and look around for hotels/motels in the area. Ones with a shuttle service. Oh, my mother is an excellent driver. But I don't want to put her through city driving in a strange city, early in the morning, and all that. Yes, yes, wonderful son, yes, yes. No, I just don't want to die screaming on fire. :p Nah, just don't want to stress her.

I still haven't gotten on my bike. It WILL happen. It is just that now that I am doing at least a bit better, my functional time is being used on what I can and am really doing. You would think using four to six hours a day would leave me plenty of time to still get on the bike. But it doesn't. When I am done, if I am able to get back to things, it will be dishes and laundry until those are caught up. And I haven't been able to get to those, even, yet. So, just... wait. I'm getting to it. Got to admit, at least I am not just sitting on my bum, looking at a monitor or television. I've even restarted weighing and taking my blood pressure first thing, then taking medicine (including potassium), and am back into day-time living. Hmm, when did that all happen? How did it happen? Never mind. It just did.

Later or good night.