Hey There!
It's another very nice morning, with temps in the mid-60s going to maybe 70 degrees. It's a bit windy thought. I took my morning walk already and the lake was quite choppy. Flannel season is coming up on us!
Got my oil change done - simple, and free! While there I noticed an elderly gentleman who was driving a small Chevy sedan. He parked right in the middle of the lot, and when he got out of the car, he was walking very slowly. I'm not sure he should be driving at all. When I came back to pick up my car he was still there, and they were discussing with him some repair that would probably cost about $80. He s-l-o-w-l-y raised himself out of the chair, grabbed what appeared to be a ziplock bag, and sat back down. The bag contained cash, and he counted how much he had to pay for the repair. He said he had enough, so they went ahead. I had to admire him for his independence, but it seemed clear to me he shouldn't be on the road with how slowly he moves. The service manager seemed to know him, so I let it ride. It's moments like these that make me wonder whether or not I'll be able to determine my ability to drive in the future. There's a line, I believe, between being as independent as possible, and endangering yourself and others.
I killed a little time before doing another interview for my podcast. I am trying to get as many interviews as I can this week and next with the aim of freeing up September for some possible short travel trips without worrying about the podcast. That seemed to work well on my recent road trip. If I can get both of September's podcasts in the can as well as the one for Oct. 1, I'll be ahead of the game enough to let it ride until October begins.
DW and I brought dinner in from our local hamburger shack. It will be closing soon, so we're trying to enjoy a few more meals from there before it shutters for the winter. I was depressed to find that they had stopped making the Texas brisket sandwich, so I had to settle for BBQ pork. That, and an ear of sweet corn, made a nice dinner.
In the evening I went down a rabbit hole of minimizing the look and feel of my smart phone. I have been on a quest to make my tech as minimal and as free of Big Tech as possible, and I came upon a phone app launcher called Olauncher. All text. I have 8 programs listed in text on my home page, and to open another app I have to dig through an alphabetical text listing of all the rest. I've only had it less than a day, so I'll discuss it later as I use it, but I really like the look and feel of it. I really would like a "dumbphone," but I can't justify the cost, and I truly believe there are ways to turn a smartphone "dumb" by limiting apps and minimizing the look and feel. It's my latest quest, to minimize my tech as much as possible.
I've already gotten another podcast interview done this morning. DW took off to visit a sick friend, but she took the car with all my tools in it. So right now, I have to bide my time and wait for her to get back before I can tackle another landscape project out back. Not too much to go, and it looks like I'll make the deadline of Sept. 8, when all the brush has to be out on the curb for collection. The city used to maintain a brush pile, but they stopped doing that in April due to the cost (they say). Very inconvenient.
Son2 returned safely from the Maldives, so I am free from worrying about maintaining his little side business. I hope September can stay as wide open as it is right now. My neighbor to the north of my camp site has sold his house and is moving around Oct. 1, so I will be sad to see them go - great neighbors! I hope to be able to take them out to dinner or something to pay them back for all they've done in the way of maintaining my place. The new owner is a retired teacher from Minnesota, so at least the weather won't be a surprise to him. I still think it's time for me to sell my piece as well in the coming year or two. There are many private places to enjoy on public land in the county, and it might be time to take advantage of that and leave the maintenance and cost to others.
'Til We Meet Again!