[Fri]

Andrea arrived with Harrison and Mother. Marion didn't make it. Expected.

Shrimp in pink sauce for lunch, with creamed spinach and baby potatoes. Cantaloupe appetizers. With everything going on, Mary forgot the black beans. Lunch was good just the same.

Stephanie surprised us, just in time to join our card game.

During the game, Blanca, Martha and Nidia drove up in a van with Claudia, Christian and other stout youngsters to help finish Mary's yard work. While some worked outside, Martha began cooking sancocho.

It was decided that the kitchen was too small for that and cards. Stephanie took her leave. Andrea took Mother home. Nidia took temporary charge of Harrison. As a matter of fact, Harrison probably enjoyed himself more than anyone else this day. Constant attention from the ladies.

I braved the cold just long enough to snap a few pictures. Was told Bill Spence's two daughters were taking down the corral fence at the old barn. Bill, George and Todd attended for a while. But, they were all gone by the time I was out. Would have been a good photo-op. Oh, well.

Odors from the kitchen filled the whole house, driving me crazy. Andrea and I had to have some sancocho. We did. Call it early supper.

Delores called. Marion, as I feared, is back in the Vanderbilt psychiatric hospital. He's not allowed visitors. We'll see.

Company left. Mary cleaned up. Was a good day.

119 lbs.

39.7 °F, overcast.

[Wed]

Feeling my weakness all day. With great reluctance and care, I rise from my chair.

Finished off the soup and green peas for lunch.

Blanca paid us a visit, bringing daughters Daniela and Jamie, Daniela's new boyfriend Christopher, and Blanca's friend Nidia. The three older ladies chatted in the kitchen for a while.

But, after coffees and ice cream, Mary sent the young folk out to finish hanging her Christmas lights on the porch.

Then, it was the ladies' turn.

Blanca and Nidia helped Mary move leaves.

Grandson Johnny called. He has found WoW too easy now, boring. I told him I too would probably stop playing after the free trial period expires.

But, Johnny's a half century younger than I. So, maybe it's not just because I'm old and tired.

Hold on to that thought.

37.4 °F, partly cloudy.

[Tue]

Town run near midday. At First Farmers, we deposited a check and withdrew cash out of Mother's account for her to give as Christmas presents. At Kroger we got medications and a few odds and ends. I think I spotted Tiffany's mother. Mary thinks she saw Linda Cox.

For a late lunch, we finished off the spaghetti and green peas, adding savory rotisserie chicken and sweet potato. Avocado on the side. Apple and pear appetizers.

Mike Wiggins called from the bank to say he had given me two dollars too much. Doh. Debit my account.

Almost too lazy to come to the office and post.

44.1 °F, overcast.

[Mon]

Feeling much better.

George and Anna brought Leah this morning.

Tilapia, green peas, turnip, plantain and carrots for lunch. Avocado on the side. Apple and pear appetizers.

Mary was busy keeping Leah from taking apart the Nativity scene and Christmas tree. I was Mary's eyes and ears while she was in the kitchen, etc.

Denise picked up Leah.

Deborah called. The carpenter began tearing out her kitchen floor today.

50.4 °F, overcast.

[Fri]

Yesterday evening, after a download lasting three days, Warcraft was installed on the Compaq. Immediately, a message popped up, saying the computer did not meet recommended capacity to run the game. Sheesh!

Marion called this morning. He's spending the weekend at Vanderbilt Hospital. I hope Delores didn't put him in the psycho ward again.

Niece Andrea brought Mother and tried out the simple GizmoPal on her. Didn't work. Mother couldn't figure it out. Back to the drawing board. Andrea ran to Walmart and bought a pre-paid phone very similar to the one Mother was using before. I fear Mother's past using any phone at all.

Mary gave Mother a manicure and a pedicure.

Mother had a chicken pot pie for lunch. One of the few things she will eat. The rest of us enjoyed Mary's spaghetti with bread sticks. Cantaloupe appetizers. Cheesecake for dessert.

After the card game, Andrea left Harrison with Mary and took Mother home. Niece Stephanie came. An expression of great weariness on her face. Andrea returned. Serious talk about Mother between the three of us. Weighing the options.

Andrea and Stephanie left me at ease, feeling problems can be resolved.

119 lbs.

36.5 °F, clear.

[Thu]

To Columbia, niece Andrea driving the Durango, Mary tending Harrison in the back. We arrived at O'Charley's in time for lunch. I had a 1\2 BLT, donating the accompanying potato soup to Mary. At my suggestion, Mary had the shrimp scampi pasta plate. I helped out. Andrea ordered a hamburger with fries. Let Harrison lick Mary's soup bowl. The coffee was some of the best I've had, not requiring sugar. All came to about $35, plus $5 tip.

Marquis attended us at Verizon. Took a good while for us to decide on the GizmoPal™ for Mother ($87.39 cash), arrange for payments through my account, program the phone, etc.

Seems Marquis is in training, otherwise we might have gotten out a little sooner. Mary was beat by the time we left. Lugging Harrison around is a job. He is huge for his age.

Nice outing. Got a lot done. Andrea made it easy.

32.4 °F, clear.

[Wed]

More of Mary's soup for lunch, then we headed for town.

Mailed Christmas cards at the post office. From there we drove to Walmart to get the Durango serviced and to do our weekly grocery shopping. In the Auto Center I was hailed by some fellow who thought he knew me very well. Looked kinda familiar, but I hadn't the faintest idea who he was.

Ran into Sharon Downing, daughter of "Bubba" Downing who used to fill in for me at Belfast Rock. Sharon is seventy now, but looks as pretty as when she was in brother Marion's high school class.

Call from grandson Johnny in Kissimmee. He back-ended a girl today. He is not insured. Mary was upset.

Back home, Mary unloaded the groceries. We headed back to town. Kroger for prescriptions this time. I was again hailed by a lady who looked very familiar. Again, I drew a blank. Twice in one day? Am I so far gone?

Keep moving. Keep the blues away.

39.5 °F, mostly cloudy.

[Tue]

Business on the square. Time to pay taxes on my and Mother's properties. We started at the municipal building. Didn't take long there. Leaving the Durango parked out front, we headed to the Art Guild to meet niece Andrea. A bracing wind made 46 degrees feel like 36.

Delivered Mother's Verizon information to Andrea and browsed the art until we could feel our fingers again. Real estate agent Billy Lanier came in for some Christmas ornaments. We served together on the Equalization Board. He told me he is with Homestead Realty now.

Warmed up, Mary and I headed to the Courthouse Annex, stopping along the way to buy a newspaper. Harrison appears in it dressed in a Santa suit. Precious.

At the Annex, we renewed the Durango's license, then paid taxes in the Trustee's office. That latter was a hassle. My and Mother's info had been mailed to me in one bundle. I had to sort that out. My property needed to be further split into personal and business. Had to sort that out, paying from two accounts.

Lunch was at Rafael's. Mary had her regular house special calzone. I tried the ravioli. Too much sauce. Acid reflux.

Back home, we watched Frontera (2014) from Netflix. Everything that could happen to immigrants crossing the border illegally, does. Not a feel good movie, but satisfying. Well done.

Andrea called. I will have to go to Columbia in person Thursday to get the Verizon phone we picked out for Mother.

Delores called to tell me Marion has a doctor's appointment for Friday and can't eat lunch or play cards with us. Furthermore, he has three other doctor's appointments this month. Hmm.

Feel good about today. Productive.

39.7 °F, partly cloudy.

[Mon]

Anna brought Leah. George dropped off a check to deposit for Mother.

Pollock fish for lunch, with butternut squash, turnip and turnip greens. Cantaloupe appetizers.

Leah removed a couple of Christmas tree ornaments and refused to take a nap, but was overall, more of a "big girl" today.

Been downloading World of Warcraft onto the Compaq. Huge program.

46.2 °F, partly cloudy.

[Fri]

Deborah called. Mother needed to be picked up at 11:30 am from the Hairport.

Call from TNWEB. They found nothing wrong with the Compaq. Plays movies just fine. Hmmm.

Andrea came late with Harrison and Mother. Marion, Mary and I had already begun eating our soup and cornbread when they arrived. Marion needs to eat at a certain time because of his medication.

The card game went alright, until Deborah called. Several times. I needed to deal with Mother's cell phone that was out of commission. It had been dropped and soaked in the rain. I was left in no shape to play cards. We called it a day.

Delores picked up Marion. Andrea took Mother home.

Andrea made out checks for Mother's annual gift to her children. I signed them. Barely able to do that.

Town run. Spitting rain. Picked up the Compaq at TNWEB. Deposited my check at First Farmers. I was feeling better.

119 lbs.

58.7 °F, overcast.