Weighed in two pounds heavier this morning. Knew I'd pay a price for yesterday's "celebration".

Lunch at the Baenas. Manuel was learning how to slaughter, dress and cook one of his goats. Invited friends over to test his first go at it. Yuca and potatoes, Colombian style, were served with the entrée. The meat was too red (raw?) and slimy to my taste. But, I merely told Manuel that the flavor was good. Not exactly a fib after all.

Besides me and Mary, Elmer, a Guatemalan friend of Manuel's, and family attended, but the parents couldn't stay long. Manuel's brother Danny had to leave early too.

The Baenas and Amayas showed off their garden, but the heat, and especially the humidity, was intense. I soon retreated into the house. Better to listen to Mary and Miriam gab.

Eventually Martha showed up with her friend Ilia and son. I was coaxed outside again. Ilia brought us corn bollos, a Colombian coastal treat she made, to be eaten with suero sauce.

Cool breezes. The sky darkened. A tropical rainstorm trapped us in the garage with the food. Cozy. Good time to swap tales.

During a pause in the rain, Manuel decided to find the blockage in his drain. So fixated upon this idea was he that he ignored his guests. Brought out his tractor to raise a manhole cover and lowered himself into the hole. This soon became an attraction for the kids. Manuel obliged by giving them hands on tours, helping them one by one down a ladder to see what lay in the darkness. Quite an adventure. Better than Disney World.

The rain eased up. Martha and Ilia left. Mary and I set out for home. But, the rain now intensified. Soon, as night came on, I found myself driving through a hard beating rain. The headlights of approaching cars obliterated all but their glare. My neck ached from straining to see what lay beyond my windshield. Where was the center line? Where exactly was the road?

We made it home.

70.7 °F, rain.

Back on track.

I learned that Harrison likes to have his feet tickled.

For lunch: vegetable beef soup, featuring peas and yellow squash from brother George's garden. George's tomato on the side. Cantaloupe appetizers. Strawberry shortcake for dessert.

After cards, Delores picked up Marion and Andrea took Mother home.

Talked to Bill Spence on the phone. He had me call Mr. Pascal, a possible client.

Town run. Mary and I deposited three checks at First Farmers.

Call from Mother's cousin Joan. We chatted a long time about the Dunn family.

In a celebratory mood. Heck with the diet. For supper I had a toasted pepper jack cheese on rye sandwich, mustard potato salad and a bowl of black cherry ice cream with dark chocolate chunks in it.

116 lbs.

78.4 °F, clear.

Obsessing early. Messed up stomach the rest of the day.

91 °F. Gas for the Durango at Murphy. Club sandwich with avocado for Me and Mary at Subway.

Waiting outside Walmart for Mary to check out, I ran into Sheila who used to work in the Tax Assessors office before marrying and moving off to Alabama. Super friendly country gal. Hubby lost his Alabama job. She's back in town, and with her old job.

Back home, Mary and I watched Transcendence (2014) from Netflix. Spanish language option. Computer threatens to take over the world. One of my favorite themes. Not a lot to like here though, unless you are a Johnny Depp fan.

George brought more squash, tomatoes, etc. Says his garden is about kaput.

85 °F, clear.

Got up in a fair mood.

Near noon, I drove us down to Donny Elder's shop in Cornersville. Donny replaced a battery cable. $29. Might help. Beyond that, he didn't know much I could do but wait until the Durango wouldn't start and have sensors checked then. The same old story.

I decided to take I-65 up to the Columbia exit, then give Mary her birthday shopping spree at the mall. Hadn't been that way in a while, so forgot about the Mooresville Road exit. Got off there. Rather than getting back on the interstate, I figured I would follow Mooresville Road and continue to Columbia by way of Culleoka, seeing a little country scenery on the way.

Turned out to be more scenery than I meant to see. The other side of Culleoka, we got behind some farmer moving his harvester. I followed him a while, but finally became impatient. I hadn't been on Scribners Mill Road in years. Seeing the turn off to the right, I took it thinking I would make a quick cut to Highway 50. Didn't turn out that way. Apparently, the road runs almost parallel to 50. By the time we hit 50, we were half way back to town. Impatience can be costly in time, effort and gasoline.

Didn't matter. We were not on a time schedule. We had to be nowhere. Fine summer day. Each turn gave a new vista. Flush with the green hues of life. We were young again.

In Columbia, we lunched at Shoney's. Mary had the salad and soup bar. When I saw her plate, I regretted ordering the pricy Grilled Wild-Caught Pacific Salmon. My rice was over-salted, my vegetables almost raw. Shoney's coffee, however, was excellent as always.

At the JC Penneys in the mall, Mary bought a Liz Claiborne top. In Goody's, she bought a Rebecca Malone blouse and a pair of Sugar boots.

To top off a fine day of shopping, we visited Columbia's Walmart. Much better selection than our Walmart. Besides groceries, we bought Leah some little jigsaw puzzles.

The temperatures being moderate and my nerves settled, I was not overly tired on our return home. George met us in our driveway. Driving the golf cart, he brought us peas, tomatoes and squash from his garden. He and I talked a while.

75.1 °F, clear.

Monday. So, Leah gave Mary a workout.

Tilapia for lunch, with sautéed yellow squash, stewed acorn squash, tomato and an asparagus steamer. Avocado on the side. Cantaloupe appetizers.

Leah hardly ate and wouldn't take her nap. We learned later that she had gone to bed very early yesterday.

Niece Andrea called. Unsettling. I immediately went to the office and put on my Hawaii Beaches Blu-ray in hopes of forestalling another attack.

83.6 °F, clear.

Partied with more of Rumpole last night. Slept alright, but anxiety this morning, easing up by midday.

Mary arrived at St. John's today to find the mass had been called off. The new priest was not quite ready to take over it seems.

We met the Amayas and Baenas at O'Charley's in Columbia about 1:15 pm. We were to celebrate Mary's birthday she has tomorrow. Mary ordered steak scampi. I tried the Tuscan Chicken. Heavily seasoned. Didn't go down well. Food for eight, $127.97. Could have been worse.

Although Adriana is going through the early teenage snooty phase, we all mostly enjoyed ourselves.

90 °F on the way home. Mary took pity on me and decided to postpone her birthday shopping spree to a later date. I was pooped and the Tuscan Chicken was really working on me.

86.1 °F, clear.

Did a little research last night. I suspect a malfunction in either the Durango's throttle position sensor or its transmission speed sensor. Do I wait till one malfunctions and have it checked, or do I just replace both?

Both Andrea, with Harrison, and Marion joined us today for lunch and cards. With Mother, we made a dynamic six.

We feasted on Chicken gizzards, peas from George's garden, tomato and cornbread. Cantaloupe appetizers.

Mary won at rummy. Andrea took Marion and Mother home.

Mary and I watched the first three episodes of True Detective (2014) from Netflix. Spanish language option. Evocative Louisiana scenery. Plenty of suspense to keep Mary tuned in. I used to loath Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. This has turned me around. McConaughey ages well.

Deborah called. She had a good visit today in Petersburg with Grady Reavis, former associate of my father.

82.7 °F, clear.

Watched Mary mowing the lawn. A turtle strolled by.

 

For lunch: leftover chicken, spaghetti and acorn squash, with yellow squash and tomato. Avocado on the side. Peach and pear appetizers.

A little backsliding. Sunrise videos. Only got worse.

85.6 °F, clear.

Pork ribs for lunch, with tomato, cornbread and a steamer of black beans, rice, carrots, broccoli and red bell pepper. Avocado on the side. Cantaloupe appetizers.

After a siesta and coffees, we headed to Walmart. The Durango showed 95 °F.

In the egg, dairy and beer aisle of Walmart, we ran into Maylim.

Besides groceries, Mary and I bought color markers and a Dora the Explorer coloring book for Leah.

Both times, before Mary turned the Durango's ignition key, we paused for a silent prayer. As with the scooter and the television remote, we never know when the Durango will decide to quit on us. So far, two mechanics have failed to find a problem. I'm told that, unless one catches the Durango in flagrante delicto, there's not much I can do.

77.3 °F, partly cloudy.

Clawing my way back to functionality.

Rotisserie chicken for lunch, with seared yellow squash, steamed carrots, tomato and a steamer of spinach. Avocado on the side. Apple and pear appetizers.

Watched The Moment (2013) from Netflix. Hardly a thriller. Heavy on flashbacks. I hate 'em. Really dragged the first half. Final twists never made up for it.

While Mary was mowing out front, brother George drove up in the golf cart. Gave us acorn squash, yellow squash and okra from his garden.

85.0 °F, clear.