Weekly Ephemera #168

The Holiday season has come to an end and, frankly, it felt like the shortest Holiday season ever.

• On New Year's day, after a quiet New Year's Eve, I took down the wreaths, lights, and ornaments from the front yard.  I took down the Christmas tree.  The Wife took the rest of the indoor decorations.  I will be stuffing everything into the furnace room closet this week sometime.
• I didn't walk this week.  I decided to take the last week of 2025 off.
• We watched the finale of "Stranger Things", which was a good end of the series.  Unfortunately it ended wide open for a sequel series.

First Bloom

Yesterday, despite it being late this year again, one of our Christmas cactuses has bloomed.

December 30th bloom.

Weekly Ephemera #167

• We had a quiet Christmas.  We went to see a movie ("Marty Supreme") which the Wife and I thought was Meh.  We ended the day with yummy steaks on the grill.
• I hiked three times this week for a total of 22.5 miles (36.2 km).  The walks were uneventful.
• We started watching "Stranger Things".  This is the last season and it seems to be a fitting finale so far.

Merry Christmas!

Weekly Ephemera #165

• I walked three times this week.  The first one was ... interesting.  This is what happened:
  

  I was walking in a middle-class area in Omaha called Benson.  I noticed three boys, sixteen to eighteen years of age (not sure) at a corner.  One of them flagged me down.  Now, I often get asked for the time or someone asks for cigarettes or a light, so this wasn't unusual.  What he asked was unusual.
  
  Boy: Can I ask how old are you?
  Me: Why do you want to know?
  Boy: Are you forty-five plus?
  Me: Why do you want to know?
  Boy: I hear when old people think too hard the blood drains from their d!cks and they go floppy.
  
  Ok, The kid is being an asshole for his buddies.  I give one of my standard answers to assholes:  God Bless, Jesus loves you, or 
  
  Me: I'm happy for you.
  Boy keeps on talking about flippity-floppity d!cks, not getting it up, and stuff.
  
  He's sort of blocking my way though I could easily have gotten around him but instead I said:
  
  Me: So, do you sit around thinking about my d!ck all day?
  
  He kinda moved out of my way and I walked away hearing him ranting at me. I didn't really hear what he said but He did say M*therf*cker and fa**ot.  They didn't follow me.
  
  I'm not sure if I handled that the right way.  My last statement did confuse him a bit.  I think he saw me as an easy mark and me throwing it back at him kind of stopped him in his tracks.  I'm sure his 'friends' were having a chuckle, too.
  
  All I can say is, I'm happy it ended well.  Omaha has had its share of shootings and stabbings.  It could have ended much differently.

  For the week, I walked three times for a total of 21.7 miles (34.9 km).  The second two walks were uneventful.
• On Tuesday our garage door spring broke.  Fortunately we had it fixed by the end of the day.
• I put up the big balls in the oak tree on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, we had a big wind come through.  I was finding big balls over a block away from our house.  I didn't find all of them either, though I did find one that wasn't ours, so I think I broke even.

Weekly Ephemera #163

• I went to the doctor on Tuesday to discuss my blood test numbers.  I'd been disappointed with the numbers but, when I told the NPRN, she asked me why?  She said the numbers appeared stable and she wasn't concerned.  I will be staying on my medication at the same dosage.  I guess this is a good thing.
  
  I talked about my blood pressure.  The NPRN suggested I bring in my blood pressure monitor I was using at home and compare it with a nurse's measurement.  Turns out it was around twenty-four points high on the systolic.  The old 30+ year old monitor is in the garbage and I purchased a new one which I will start using this week.  The new one has some features that should ensure more accurate measurements, like it will take three readings and average them.  It also tests for AFIB which I do not suffer from, but it's nice to know it will be monitored too.
• On Thursday, Thanksgiving, I put up the Christmas tree, outdoor wreaths, garlands, and laser lights.  The balls will go in the Oak Tree later this week.
• On Saturday we had our first snow.  It snowed around 3 - 4 inches (8 - 10 cm).  The neighbor gave us her snow blower, like she does every year, but it wouldn't start, so I cleared our driveways by hand.  I have to say, the physical activity felt really good.
• I did not walk this week.  I just needed a break.
• I watched season two of "Wednesday" on Netflix.  I enjoyed it.  The Wife and I watched the latest season of "The Great British Baking Show."  The winner was obvious from the second episode.

Weekly Ephemera #162

• We celebrated an early Thanksgiving at the Wife's Niece's house on Saturday.  We had a good time with good food.  We are grateful that they include the Wife and I in their celebrations.
• On the prior Tuesday, I took my first blood test since I went on Metformin for my diabetes.  Unfortunately, my A1C and glucose went down only a tiny bit.  I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday to go over the results.  I expect either an increase in dosage or a change in drugs.
• I walked three times this week for a total of 24.4 miles ( 39.3 km).  This was a good week.  This coming week, I am considering taking a day off from walking on Monday.  We'll see.
• I started watching "Alien: Earth".  I haven't finished it yet but I have mixed feelings.  It is interesting but I am having trouble getting excited about it.  Not sure why since this should be right up my alley.

Has It Happened Yet?

Has the Rapture happened yet?

Happy Autumn!

Today summer comes to an end in the northern hemisphere and Autumn begins.  It's been a hot summer here in the middle of America and I'm looking forward to some cooler temperatures.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Weekly Ephemera #148

• The Wife and I went to see the procession at the Santa Lucia Festival today.  It turned out to be a bit underwhelming.  The food from the stalls did smell good after the procession but we didn't partake.
• One reason I didn't buy any food at the Italian themed festival is that I'm getting blood work done later this week and pasta, bread, and other carb-heavy food would not be helpful.
• I went to see "Fantastic Four: First Steps" in IMAX this wednesday.  I like how Marvel is moving to smaller scale movies and varying the styles and stories.  I enjoyed the movie and can't wait to see what's coming.
• I watched more "One Piece" before starting the second season of "The Sandman".  I like "The Sandman" but it's too bad that the author turned out to be so stupid.
• I walked twice this week for a total of 12.7 miles (20.4 km).  I need to start increasing the length of my walks.  I feel like I'm slacking off.

Weekly Ephemera #146

• I went to see if it was worth changing to Allo Fiber over the Cox Internet we currently have.  While Allo has no data caps – a big advantage – and is faster, there's no price advantage.  The increased speed isn't a big factor as we currently have enough speed to do everything we want.  I decided that we would not switch until Cox prices went up.
• We restarted Netflix for a month and I binged the latest seasons of "Love, Death, and Robots" and "Black Mirror".  I started the last two seasons of "Squid Game".
• I started walking again.  It's strange that even short walks feel hard after doing a long, multi-day hike.  I only managed 4.4 miles (7.1 km).  Next week, the temperatures are going to be over 90℉ (32℃) with 'feels like' temperatures over 100℉ (38℃).  I want to walk twice this week and will probably start walking earlier than usual to try and beat the worst of the heat.
• We're taking care of the Wife's niece's dog, Cooper.  We've taken care of him many times over the years, starting when he was nearly a puppy.  Now he's an old man.  Since he lives in a house full of little kids, this week will be a quiet one for Cooper.
• Today I turned sixty-two.  Not sure what to think.

Weekly Ephemera #145

Ok...It's been a while since I last posted.  As a matter of fact, I didn't post even once in June.  This is the first time since August 2006 – when I started Homer's Travels – that I've had a month without a single post.  This is unlike me.  The reason: my third Camino.

• Since my last post, the Wife and I finished her Camino (and I finished my third).  I could have posted while I was walking, but it didn't feel like an important thing for me to do at the time.
  
  We returned from Spain on Tuesday and I am having a difficult time re-entering the real world.  I was originally going to put together posts to document each day of our walk across northern Spain, but I stopped taking notes on day two or three.  Instead, I'll be composing three posts: my impressions of the walk, photos taken by me and the Wife, and a magnets post.  I'll give one preview of my impressions: I'm very proud of the Wife.
• Speaking of being proud of the Wife, this Friday was our twenty-eighth wedding anniversary.  The Wife celebrated by having a spa day.  We didn't go out or anything, as we were/are still tired.  It takes a while for your body to recover from walking thirty-seven days straight.
• While I was walking I was still reading.  Actually, I stopped reading for the first couple of weeks of our Camino.  Not sure why I stopped, but I eventually re-started my reading, and it became an important part of my after-walk recovery.  I ended up finishing three books which I will post about eventually.
• After getting home, I started catching up on my TV watching.  It was an activity that didn't require me moving, which is the only activity I could psychologically muster.  The only notable show was "Ironheart".  I like how it became a mix of tech and magic, and I was pleasantly surprised when an infamous magical villain was introduced.  I hope there's a second season.
• I ended this last week going to a concert – more on that in a later post.

Happy Birthday Mom

This would have been my Mom's ninetieth birthday.  Based on some genealogy research and some questioning of my one-hundred-years-old Great Aunt, she probably would be turning ninety-one today but that's a whole different story.

Happy Birthday Mom!  Miss you.

P.S. We are celebrating this birthday by starting our Camino and leaving Burgos to our first stop, Rabé de las Calzadas.

2025 Spring Solstice

Today is the Spring equinox in the northern hemisphere.  While I have lamented the lack of a decent winter this season, I do welcome the arrival of astronomical Spring.

I hope everyone has a great first day of Spring!

P.S. For those expecting a Guatemala Post, I am taking a brief break and will post the next one on Monday (probably).

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Hope you all are having an irrational ℼ day.

Weekly Ephemera #131

"I will not give into the lies.

I will not give into the fear."

      - Jim Acosta

        ex-CNN correspondent/anchor

• I have spent most of this week doomscrolling.  I have spent too much time on Bluesky watching our great nation starting to corrode and crumble in darkness.
• On Tuesday I had an MRI taken of my abdomen to check for lesions in my prostate.  None were found (yay).  I am not a claustrophobic person most of the time but after nearly an hour in the tight spaces of the MRI machine, I was getting antsy.
• Wednesday was the Lunar New Year.  Happy year of the snake everyone!
• Saturday was the first day of February which is kinda blowing my mind.  Where did January go?
• I walked three times this week for a total of 30.8 miles (49.6 km).  Next week I plan to walk twice.
• My television watching this week was of a scientific nature.  Namely, I watched episodes of "Nova".  I watched one on Quantum discoveries, one on Astrophysical discoveries, and several on the different planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system.  In my early years I had most of this type of knowledge memorized.  I was fascinated with it.  But over the last few decades I have not kept up with the cutting edge research.  These episodes helped bring me up to speed.
• In a week the Wife and I will be traveling to our next international destination.  It's somewhere I've been before - Guatemala.  I intend to post about the upcoming trip later this week.  Stand by.

Another of the old pictures my cousin sent me:

My cousin's sixth birthday.  She is on the right.  My brother is left of her.  I am the three and
a half year old covering his face on the left.  My Mom is standing behind me.
1967, our house, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

Weekly Ephemera #127

• This week we took down our Christmas decorations.  On Tuesday the tree came down and the Wife took down the rest of the inside decorations.  On Wednesday I took down the outside decorations including wreaths, laser lights, and the ornaments from the oak tree.
  
  Our Christmas cactus bloomed this week.  This was several weeks later than normal.  Even the bloom was trying to avoid the new year.
  

  

  First bloom of my 'Christmas" cactus.
  This is several weeks later than usual.

• New Year's Eve was quiet.  The Wife watched football and I watched the Times Square ball drop.  At 11:00PM after watching the east coast new Year's celebration, I went to bed and read until about 11:56Pm when I said to heck with it and turn off the lights - the Wife had given up about twenty minutes earlier.
• The most poignant part of the celebrations were the memorials for the people we lost last year.  I should have known that as I aged, more people who entertained and informed me as I grew up would start dying off at an ever increasing rate.  I should expect it but denial always ensures I will be surprised.
• The New Year started off with terror and violence.  Not an auspicious start to 2025.
• We had a slight dusting of snow on Thursday.  I shoveled it but it would have melted on its own if I'd just waited.  Not sure I can count this as our first snow of the 24-25 winter season since it was such a small amount.  We were supposed to get one to three inches today but ... there ain't no snow out there at all.
• I hiked twice this week.  I took the first two days of the week off before restarting on the first of January.  I walked 20 miles (32 km).  I have a blood test a week from tomorrow so I'm really going to try hard to walk three times this week.  It's going to be really cold early in the week so it will be a bundle up walk with many layers.
• I watched Marvel's "What If ... ?" season three this week.  It was interesting.  I wish Disney would figure out how to make the movies better again.
  
  I returned to the Alien world with "Alien: Romulus".  After rather crappy Aliens 3 and 4, This one was pretty good, returning to horror mixed with corporate malfeasance.
  
  We also watched "Cool Hand Luke".  As the Wife said, and I agree, it was better than the last fifty movies that we've watched.

Weekly Ephemera #126

• On Christmas Eve the Wife and I went to see "A Complete Unknown".  I thought it was ok but the Wife thought it didn't tell us anything about Bob Dylan leaving out "why he cut ties with his family, why he was in and out of relationships, and why he was such a dick to the folk movement."  She suggests waiting for it to stream instead of paying to see it in the theatre.  This means it will probably win some Oscars.
• I went on a mini Godzilla/Kong Marathon this week watching three of the last five Godzilla/Kong movies.  I've seen the first Kong movie and the first of the new Godzilla movies is not on streaming it seems ... unless you want to pay.
  
  Also watched "Civil War" (ok), The Doctor Who Christmas Special (ok), "Inside Out 2" (enjoyed it), and "Asteroid City" (WTF was that ... remind me not to waste my time on a Wes Anderson film ever again).
• I walked twice this week.  I was going to walk three times but the gloomy/foggy/drizzly weather kept me indoors on Friday.  I still walked 20.9 miles (33.7 km) which isn't bad.  I'm done walking for the year.  My next walk will likely be Thursday or Friday.
• Christmas decorations come down this week.  If things go as planned everything will be put away by the 1st.
• They say it may snow this coming Monday-Tuesday.  If it does it will be the first real snow of this winter.  I'm not holding my breath though.
• Question:  If I put this thing in a Museum of Modern Art, how much would it sell it for?

  

  Is this art?  If it is, would it be worth more than a banana duct taped to a wall?

  
  

Merry Christmas!

Weekly Ephemera #125

• Today we celebrated Christmas with the Wife's niece's family.  We met their new dog, Moose, who is a sweetie and watched the kiddos open presents.
  
  It's kind of nice celebrating holidays before the actual holiday.  It lets the actual day of celebration be relaxing and quiet.
• I walked three times this week doing 32.4 miles (52.1 km).  I prefer doing three shorter hikes than two longer ones.  Of course your definition of shorter might be different than mine (10 - 12 miles).
  
  I listen to podcasts while I walk.  This week, for the first time in a while, I ran out of podcasts and had to switch to music.  I will have to find new podcasts to add to my list though listening to music while I walk is not a bad thing.

  

  "In an age of performative cruelty, kindness is punk as f*ck.  Please, be punk as f*ck"
  - Signed ☮,❤, Anarchy!

• On Max I watched "The Penguin".  While I'm not a big DC comics fan I did like this show.  Batman and Batman adjacent shows have always been done well.  I think it's because they are grittier and more 'realistic'.  Also watched "Dune pt 2".  It met my love/hate relationship with the Dune series.