Hypericum

Posted early yesterday, so I could watch the sun go down. The first street light came on at 8:03 pm. The last, at 8:18 pm. But, I barely saw it. The mosquitos were relentless.

Mother and Deborah brought a bouquet of daylilies with them this morning. From Marion's lot. It's all grown up. Has everything. I'm sure he would love to have been able to bushhog it. The Parkinson's has him pretty well housebound now.


Cured ham steak for lunch, with green peas, corn on the cob and sweet potato. Cantaloupe appetizers.

After cards, Deborah picked up Mother as usual and I spent some time outside. Wild Petunias are now out in number. Mary's mowing had kept them low and inconspicuous. I didn't manage to get a good snap of the delicate little purple flowers.


St. John's Worts (Hypericum sp.) were a different story. Hundreds of buds have been ready to pop for days.


Today, several were out, especially behind the mailbox. The strong breezes made snapping a problem. I used the Sony's Advanced Sports Shooting setting and was surprised. The Sony caught more detail that I thought it could.

Of course, I couldn't resist using the Illustration effect too. I love this effect. And, as far as I know, the Sony HX20V is the only camera that has it.

Life is good.

75.7 °F, clear.

seal of approval

Partied last night with Joe Besser in episode "Cry Love, Cry Murder", then with Abraham Sofaer in episode "A Penny Saved". Besser was the last to fill Curly's spot in the Three Stooges. Sofaer is recognizable by his spooky eye.

Not many more Peter Gunn episodes, thank goodness. The silliness that is acceptable in a few, becomes nauseous with many.

Mary and I made a town run this morning. Heading up the bypass, I spotted Steve Lewis coming out of Walgreen's.

First stop was at the Kwikway Pack and Ship to send the Canon off to Virginia. $17+. Then we headed to Sallys, where Mary exchanged some kind of nail treatment. Finally, Walmart, where she returned the shower curtain hooks that kept sticking.

So, I'm left for a while with only the Sony camera. A little bulkier and heavier, but still fits into my shirt pocket. Mostly I'll miss the Canon's more dramatic food shots. Other than that, I'm fine.

By coincidence, Steve Lewis called. After some discussion, I decided to invest in more bonds, at 7%. He picked up my check as I was eating lunch.


A shrimp salad. For some reason, tasted even better than it usually does.

We watched On the Ice (2011) from Netflix. Two teenagers in a far north Alaskan town unwittingly become involved in an accidental homicide and botched coverup. Too much hip-hop cool for me at the beginning, but not bad overall. At least, Mary didn't go to sleep. That's her seal of approval.

Everything is fine in my neck of the woods. Neither Xanga's imminent demise nor even the traffic citation bothers me. Funny how being able to breath changes one's outlook on life.

88.9 °F, clear.

recovery

George roused me out early. Good news. Teledyne will probably take my warehouse #8, the last of my empty facilities. Now if I can just get the rates back up to pre-recession levels...

When's the last time they were all filled? the economic recovery has apparently arrived in our fair little city.

Another wayward trucker at #4 called me as I was getting out of the shower. I took care of his problem.

Talked by phone with George. Teledyne is eager to move right in. I printed up a lease agreement and left a key to #8 in the mailbox for George, as Mary and I headed out.

Went to the Taylors' for eggs, then picked up pork barbecue sandwiches for our lunch at Lawlers. Ate them in the Walmart parking lot before we went in. It was 90°!


In the store, we ran into Maribel and son. Turned on the camera and the screen was blank. I snapped several pictures blind, figuring one should turn out alright.

Spotted Jerry Baxter on the way out.

Back home. Coffee. Checked the Canon again. No change, and it's not the battery, only the screen. Went to the Canon site on the internet. Arranged for repair service. Turns out the camera still has a month on its year's warranty. Just need to ship it to the service center in Virginia. With luck, I'll only be out the shipping charge.

Thank goodness I have the Sony as backup.

Funny. Almost disappointed the warranty is still in effect. Was looking for an excuse to buy my latest camera heartthrob, the Ricoh GR that just came out. It's a sweetheart.

Continued uploading Xanga photos to Picasa. Did I really take that many?

89.2 °F, clear.

silver linings

Took sun this morning. Too hot for more than an hour.

 
A big juicy pork chop for lunch, with peas, stewed turnip and seared sweet potato. A glass of guava juice on the side.


The Directv technician arrived to replace the bad receiver in the living room. He was nice enough to replace remotes there and in the office, fully programming both to operate receivers, TVs and Blu-Ray disk players.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon uploading Xanga photo archive files to albums in Picasa, organizing and reconnecting photos to posts. Xanga's crisis has caused me to use my head and learn/do things I should have a long time ago. Every cloud has a silver lining.

86.7 °F, clear.

mint

Mary can't figure out what/who tore up most of the chocolate mint around the tomato plants. She suspected me. I think the rabbit likes mint. Cats like catnip, right?


For lunch, perch, stewed acorn squash, steamed okra, corn on the cob and plantain.

Watched Teddy Bear (2012) from Netflix. Danish bodybuilder risks the wrath of his domineering mother to find love in Thailand. Low-key romance. Not bad.

From the outpost, I watched as brother George looked for arrowheads in the plowed field. Four young fellows in the golf cart joined him. Wonder if they found anything.


Two of Mary's celosias have taken off.

81.5 °F, clear.

forlorn

Partied with William Fawcett last night in episode "Portrait in Leather", then with Barbara Stuart in episode "Come Dance with Me and Die".

Rain mixed with occasional sunshine today. Humidity. A tropical feel.

While Mary was at mass, I programmed her remote for the theater satellite dish. Little things like that can make her happy.


Krystal burgers and fries for lunch.


At the outpost, I looked down and saw a a rather forlorn looking little turtle, eying me. I must have camped in his migratory path.


Eventually, he turned around and headed back the way he had come.

I think that's the first time the Sony's 20x zoom really came in handy. I was able to steady the camera upon the scooter chair arm.

Finished my audiobook, Letters from Egypt by Lucie, Lady Duff-Gordon. In the late 1860's, the author was living in Egypt for her health. She was dying from tuberculosis. Very warm, entertaining and insightful letters about the people and her life there. Sad to think they ended only with her death.

75.6 °F, clear.

drowse

Partied with John Fiedler last night in episode "The Deep End". Fiedler was the consummate pipsqueak.


For lunch today, cod fish herbed, then seared in a ceramic pan, oil free cooking. Plate completed with patacones, a cauliflower & broccoli steamer and the last of the rutabaga.

Drowsed at the outpost, listening to my audiobook.

80.2 °F, clear. (835 Yell Rd 1/8 mile S downtown square)