I made it out last night.

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Dinner invitation accepted.  As well, I saw a few new and old faces, spoke with them.  One was just a young man when I moved here.  They were just having a baby.  The baby... is now 7 1/2?  9 1/2?  Yes, time... flies.  Beautiful girl.  Everything a man would want from a daughter.  I make the wife nervous, but then my size really... is...  I am quite large.  And a stranger.  

I just try to be... very... gentle around such small fearful feminine types.  Actually, I generally try to present as sound and humble around most folk.  If we need to zoom, we can do that, but from the basis of peacefulness as the first option.  I can take even a few sucker punches, even now, without a sweat.

Wasn't sure.  But, got my teeth brushed regularly for several days, got a shower or two in the lead up.  Was having trouble, with sleep, and cycles.  But... made it.  If asked, I will usually try to make it.  If it is possible.  But, of the last invitations, I have only been able to make one of... about five?  Between churches and socials, I haven't been batting well this summer, through last spring.  Trying to get back to the starting line.

Then, this morning, some beeps, and calls?  Ah.  Milk, I had forgotten all about that.  And, it will be arriving earlier than usual lately.  All good.  But, I hadn't left the door open, so had to get up.  I didn't go to bed until two, again?  Socials do that, if I haven't been to one in a while.  Not a bad thing.  Just, so used to being alone that, when I see groups of people, I think, and process, all that was said, sensed, even scented.  Some of use men types still wear cologne or such, and women often put on something, if often at this point they try to keep it very light?

And I spoke with whoever would speak.  Not... sure all approve.  They know who I am?  Where I live.  And it's rough, looking.  I know.  Not much I can do about it, or I would.  The local haunted house, I suppose.  But with a name.  The family that lived here lived here for over a hundred years.  It'll always be theirs, by name at least.  It's how locals do.  I am in interloper.  The ones who replace me will be... better.  Will tend the house and property better.  And... be more welcome.  Especially when they begin spitting out little bundles of joyful trouble.

Anyway, much to process.  I just hope I wasn't too offensive in appearance, shape, or smell.  Old goats do what we can, but there are limits.  Living in a smaller place, having it kept clean, somewhere, perhaps, where I can cook outdoors or eat out only.  And, move every six months to a year, so as to not... get cluttered.  Gather moss.  Rolling stones and all.  If I doubt the saying, only that there might be some limited truth in there?

All good.  Oh, but I forgot medicine last night.  No worries, I am still in recovery from whatever went wrong.  Taking one water pill per day, now, as well.  Having a hard time drinking enough, so may cut that until I can get thirst back.  How... strange.  Eating once a day, or every other day, drinking maybe half a gallon a day?  Needs and wants are simplifying.  Hmm...

Oh, but while out, I made it to the post, and then on to the grocery store.  Double french roast, but no espresso?  Okay.  That'll work.  I bought two pounds of the stuff.  Two types.  I have airtight containers for nearly one pound of whole beans, and enough for probably half pound of ground.  I get get the excess ground, and all of the first bag stored.  The other bag went into an over plastic zip gallon, and was put in the freezer.  It works, though better in a ziploc on top of the fill package from the station.

I so wanted a fresh coffee, but couldn't quite get everything ready and together.  Not sure where the french press is.  Bought an all stainless one.  I bought filters, which were horrible.  But, I can use them in a different way.  I skewer them onto the french press metal screen rod plunger assembly (sounds more complicated than it is), and just use that as a secondary filter.  I don't even change it every time.  It lasts a bit.  And, since it's folded over flat, I get a double filter, along with the metal mesh.  Works really well.  I don't get as much crema?  Or whatever.  But it is still a delicious cuppa.  Well, as good as coffee gets.  It's... just caffeine with a muddy taste if wonderful nose.  Only addicts could conflate smell with taste, in this case.  But... okay.

My doc only sent one pack of fifty testers.  They are sure fucking stingy about those, for being so picky about the number.  Rather than fight for it, I just went and bought some on my own.  Can't really afford it, but... I need more.  So I ordered a hundred, for now.

They arrived.  One pack?  I was sure I ordered two.  So, I went to look this morning.  Yep, I ordered two.  I was just winding up to begin a fight over THIS, now, too!  But, wait.  A bit more checking.  I ordered two 50 counts.  Received one.  But, it is 100 count.  AND, it is in two packs, inside.  So... not what I ordered, exactly.  But, in practice, exactly the same.  If it had been in one pack, that wouldn't have fit into my blood test kit.  So, yes, had to be in two, 50 each, and it is.  Ugh... always ready to war these days, but trying to pick my fights and do what needs to be done, and only that.  But... to do that.  Trying not to be "one of those guys", but have to have the data, numbers, and such.  And the internet and web sites fail, so I have to fight blind.  Mistakes will be made.

Yes.  Mistakes.  And... not mistakes.

Hmm?  Blathering.  Later.  :)