Birthday Reflections
A wonderful day, and I couldn't be happier choosing to spend it with my eternal soulmate. Visited my mother's space at the mausoleum, something I usually do on Good Friday, but had a prostate biopsy. (It was scheduled previously but the prep instructions were wrong and I was sent home after being almost all hooked up.) This was after I finally got my haircut and beard trim, hoping it will bring warmer weather it is...
Dream Stuff
I've had many revelations in dreams over the years in various forms, more and more often in a state of lucidity where I know I'm dreaming. I give a lot of thought to the nature of dreams, psychologically, spiritually, and metaphysically. I ask questions and sometimes get deeply-felt answers. What prompted me to write this was a specific insight I gained while in my dream. I realized the notion that dreams were...
Revisiting Myself Through Others
We're at the edge of the snowbelt for the first snow of the season, getting almost two feet here while those to the south have driving bans and those to the north have green lawns. Our usual Sunday visit of "the Daves" to watch old Dr.Who episodes was called off, but it gives me time to finish final editing for my book on Research Lodges -- and this entry. Last week I caught up with Dr. Abbarno, one of my college...
Final Stretch of the Year
My health is fine in spite of scares. I always feel I've been blessed with a modicum of stability in my genes, as much as I'm not without ageing. Mer had a scare (or two) but will not need a pacemaker, and meds seem to be doing their thing. It's funny how long it took us to even have a pill regimen, I suppose. But it still seems like we just can't keep up, around the house, or with other such things. In spite of...
Travels and Dreams
Went to Grand Lodge this year, if only to babysit Marry's cousin who was Worshipful Master of my mother Lodge. He hadn't visited Manhattan before and I was glad to play your guide; he was grateful I handled all the arrangements. We parked the car in Pughkipsee and too the train in, then the subway, and the rest of the time we walked. Everything we needed was right there in Chelsea, and we had fun exploring the...
Nearby Fire
Across the street from us is Linda, our cat-lady neighbor, and next to her is an empty lot where an abandoned house was torn down some years ago. The deer like to hang out there, mostly ignoring those who walk by. On the other side of the lot is (was) a house with various tenants over the years. A few weeks ago, late at night, we heard a band or bump of sorts, figuring it was Hazel crashing around in my office...
Stay-at-Home (Dog) Dad
Starting late last year, Hazel Nut has had much trouble keeping food and water down, to the point of losing weight and dehydration. Possibly being connected to the neurological issue that baffled the vets a while back, she now has megaesophagus and the only thing that seems to work is Viagara -- and sitting her up to eat. It's also cost a fortune in tests and meds (antifungal and antivirals for her chest). Merry...
Dreams, a Feather, and Sandwiches
While finally tending to the ancestral graves in Dunkirk this year, there was a seagull's feather on that of my Grandparents on my Mother's side. This has always been a sort of symbol or sign for me, but this is the only one I've ever seen that was really small. My instinct told me it may hail the rebirth of one of my descendants. A few days later, I found myself sharing on Facebook the following ... It's hard to...
Reunion
Went to the Buffalo River Works to connect up with old classmates from D'Youville. It was the first time I saw more than one person from my class and or someone I knew. It was getting to the point I was remembering alums from much older eras at yearly events like the tea luncheon, but almost never anyone I knew from my actual time as a student. At this one, there was even the husband of an alum who turned out to be...