Six years ago today!

OYB!

I finished stuffing all the envelopes last night. Got them ready to take to the Post Office this morning.

Dropped my car off at T&G this morning to get the alternator replaced. It was still under warranty so the work was free. Amen! It didn’t get finished till after 3:00 so I didn’t make it to the Mission today. Miles picked up the girls.

Had a good chat with my buddy Anthony this morning. Always fun.

Also talked with my Mom. Excellent.

I drove home in the rain last night. I dried off my bike and coated it with the WD-40 again. This morning I put my utility bag back on.

Walked 3.04 miles this morning while I studied Spanish.

Did my hill sixteen times.

Took out the trash.

I went through all my reservations for my trip to Guatemala today. It’s exactly one month until I leave! I have reservations in Guatemala City, Antigua, Panajachel and San Marcos la Laguna. I printed everything out just in case. Most of the time they just need ID and that’s enough. I’ve seen where sometimes customs in countries want to know where you’ll be going so I like to carry hard copies.

I’m staying at hostels and an Air BnB. That saves a LOT of money.

Here’s my rough draft of my trip. I’m still doing research on the cities I want to check out around Lake Atitlan and things to do in Antigua.

Also made copies of my flight confirmation #. I like to have everything in one place. Eventually, I’ll put all this information on a series of pictures on my phone and add details in an app. I’ve gotten stuck before in the UK when my phone was dead and I was completely screwed until I talked a lady into letting me plug my phone into her computer to charge it back up. Ever since then I like to carry hard copies. I rarely use them, but I like to have them. Just like carrying extra power supply chargers for my phone.

Just talking about that made me order another external battery! Never too many!

I also made copies of all my credit cards, driver’s license, passport, Breeze card and records of inoculations. I made one copy to take with me in case of theft or loss and the other one to leave here with Jessi.

I determined that Guatemala is two hours behind us here in the ATL.

I also made my reservation for the guides to take me up Acatenango volcano! I’ll be going up on Monday, October 9th. Should be an adventure!

Used What’sApp to contact them directly.

I’m looking into local mobile eSIM cards to use when I’m in country. LOT cheaper than roaming fees. I’m still figuring it out. My phone is unlocked so I don’t think it will be too hard. My main question is does it activate as soon as I buy it? I’ll probably get the 3GB for $20.

Rained some this evening. We got about 2″ yesterday!

Got more black ink for my printer.

Productive day even without my car.

Nicole looks like she wants it pretty badly. We’ll see.

My buddy Anthony and I both came in the top 3 in the Diamond league.

I made it to #2, as I predicted.

OYB!

Español!

Amen!

Walked 4.21 miles this morning. Sweaty mess for sure. She’s a big hill. Walked up and down her 23 times.

After my walk, I showered and got into some fresh clothes. Then I went to Aztec Bike to get my flat tire repaired. Turned out that the tube had completely split open. Bizarre. They replaced the tube for free, but I insisted on paying them for their labor. They gotta eat too! I really appreciate them stopping what they’re doing to go ahead and wait on me. Speeds up my day a LOT!

Left a message for my Mom today. I’m sure we’ll be in touch soon.

I brought my bike on into Chamblee.

Deposited a check. Amen.

Went to the Post Office to get stamps.

Put the stamps on the envelopes while I was waiting for my food to be cooked at Taco Veloz.

The apartments across the street from Azalea continue towards completion.

Picked up the girls at the bus and took them to the Buford Highway Farmers Market to get something to eat.

Went by the office to pick up the newsletters.

Helped the kids at the mission with their homework. We were under the canopy because of the threat of rain. Just some sprinkles is bad for laptops.

We managed to get the homework finished before this clobbered us. I skirted the edge of it on my way home.

My charging light came on in my car. That’s never good. I just had the alternator replaced about a month ago. I’ll need to take it in tomorrow.

Came home to fold and stuff the newsletters.

It’s important to have consistent effort if I want to improve.

Ordered more small envelopes for the newsletters.

OYB!

Español!

Sweaty morning for a walk. Hiked up my hill sixteen times. Went 2.80 miles.

Blew the driveway.

Got ready to ride my bike but the front tire was completely flat. That’s not zesty. I got the soapy water out and eventually found where there was a thorn in the tire.

Aztec Cycles does all my repairs. They’re closed today so I’ll have to take it there tomorrow morning to get it fixed.

I rode over 45 miles last week on my bike, so I wasn’t too uptight about not getting a ride in. I had other things I needed to work on.

It was really hot today.

I went to Stone Mountain to record an episode Verbal Surgery called “Used To It.”

Also wrote my newsletter while I was there.

Came home to produce the newsletter and label the envelopes. I still need to get the stamps tomorrow as well as take it to the FBCD to make the copies.

Put my bike rack on my car and got my bike on it.

Checked the oil in K’s truck.

Downloaded the episode of Verbal Surgery onto my Mac Air.

I’ll come in second this week. It was a solid competition. I worked hard.

I enjoyed watching Ahsoka today. I’m a big Star Wars Rebels fan so seeing a live version of the animated series is really cool.

I’ve also had fun watching The Rookie starring Nathan Fillion. He’s one of my favorite actors and the writing is really good on this show.

Fun day. Got a lot of things done.

Just keep learning.

OYB!

Hot day.

Español!

I focus on the speaking exercises after I do the lessons.

Indeed.

Walked 2.49 miles while I studied.

Fifteen hills.

After my walk, I took a shower and put on fresh clothes. Had some nuts and a banana smoothie. Then got ready for my bike ride. It just kept getting hotter. The humidity was harsh.

Listened to music and Don Cheto as I rode.

Biked 15.48 miles.

Released Verbal Surgery “The Real Stuff.” Excellent.

I’m enjoying watching Nathan Fillion in The Rookie. He’s one of my favorite actors.

Looks like I’ll be #2 this week.

OYB!

Español!

Beautiful morning!

Walked 4.14 miles. Did my hill 22 times. Walked for about one hour and forty five minutes.

Too hot for a shirt.

I walked this morning. It was hot and sweaty.

Worked on this.

By the time I biked it was this hot. I kind of got a little psyched out about it, actually. I was fine. In the sun that would be about 115 degrees.

My bike ride took longer than usual today because I took my branch shears to get them out of the way of the sidewalks where I ride. I stopped and cleared out about five different areas.

Made a nice pathway.

This rose bush was about halfway into the sidewalk. It was the main reason I brought the shears.

I biked 15.67 miles.

It was challenging.

Looks like the Mint situation is being taken care of.

Just keep going.

Super hot.

OYB!

Español!

I’ve been working out hard. Sweating a lot means that I’m losing electrolytes. I’ve been studying on how best to replace them.

Up before the Sun this morning.

Walked 2.58 miles. Fourteen hills.

Took J to the dentist.

I organized my trunk while I was waiting.

Another hot day.

I got an email from Mint today. I thought I’d taken care of this.

Cleaned and refilled my hummingbird feeders.

The apartments across the street from Azalea continue to evolve.

I brought Everly’s skates and helmets from my trunk. She had fun playing with them.

Watered and cleaned off the leaves of my Pink Magnolia. I think she’s going to make it through the mildew powder problem.

I liked his “Penguin at the Beach” picture.

Helped the kids with their homework.

Noah was on a Florida team ten years ago that worked with us. He finished High School and University and is now doing a Seminary degree on line. He’s living in the area. It was fun to have him come help us today. He grew up in Miami and speaks Spanish. Amen.

Went by my office to check the mail.

Gassed up my car and checked the oil on my way home.

Beautiful sunset.

Challenging group this week.

I watched a video with Peter Diamandis this morning. I was reminded about how much I enjoyed his book Abundance.

I read this word this morning. Had to look it up.

OYB!

Español!

Walked 3.12 miles while I studied.

Seventeen hills.

Picked some gardenias for K from my garden.

My brother-in-law reminded me about my need for electrolytes when I’m working out and sweating so much. I was just trying to hydrate. Water alone is not enough! I got some Gatorade powder today with my order from Walmart.

Listened to Don Cheto while I was riding my bike and when I was driving home.

Rode my bike 15.41 miles.

I rode and biked while it was still pretty cool in the morning. This afternoon at the mission it was brutal.

I washed my clothes while I showered and cooled off. I’m going through a lot of clothes while it’s so hot and sweaty.

Went to my office to check the mail. Watered my ficus.

While I was there, I noticed a bunch of trash bags around the dumper. Took care of putting those inside the dumper after I did my office work.

My friend Rob Bryant came by the office today to drop off some boxes of clothes. I gave a lot of them away.

It was so hot while helping the kids.

Deposited checks. Thank you, Jesus.

I dropped off the clothes I had left over at St. Vincent de Paul’s.

Picked up my groceries on the way home.

Tough competition this week. This score would be far and away #1 in many weeks. Really just depends on who’s in the competition with me. I rarely see the same people twice. If ever.

OYB!

Español!

It’s why I climb my hill so many times.

Kathy asked me to help translate some things for her boss. I reminded him about Google Translate which works really well.

My walk got chopped in half because I got a text from my insurance guy about Kathy’s life insurance policy. They had written the bank account down wrong. It took several calls and even more transfers between departments before I could get it hammered out.

Went up my hill sixteen times.

This took a long time to accomplish.

It was really hot today. I was soaking sweat this morning. It got up to a heat index over 100. It was still that hot at 7:00PM.

I spent time talking to Walmart corporate office about trouble I’m having with their web site. Still didn’t get it fixed.

Ordered my groceries. I’ll pick them up tomorrow.

Not only was it hot but the air quality was also bad.

I had my car in the shop all day long today. They were slammed. I wasn’t able to go to Azalea because of it. Penelope was sick so Miles stayed home with her today. That meant I didn’t have to pick them up from the bus. It all turned out ok.

I picked my car up after K got home from work. She has fresh oil and added two quarts of transmission fluid. That solved the shifting issue she had. So everything was good news. Amen.

I stopped at Walmart on the way home to pick up some bananas and peaches. I ate both of the peaches this evening. Super good. The bananas are still too green to eat. I saw a friend of mine from the old days of ministry in Clarkston over there. It’s always cool to see people I know.

Goose crossing on the way home.

As I thought last night, Jennie will probably come in #1 this week. I’ll keep pushing her.

I continue to do well in the Duolingo leagues. Duolingo is the world’s largest language learning community.

I’ve been checking the weather on Acatenango regularly. That’s the 13,000 ft. volcano in Guatemala I’m planning on climbing in October. It’s the rainy season now.

Kathy has been taking this medicine as a sleep aid for a long while. We been reading about the risks of it for dementia. I ordered her some melatonin which is supposed to be safer.

OYB!

Español!

Kathy helped set up the psychiatrist appointment for Jessi. I got the information for her to call.

True.

I walked up the Pitty Pat hill twenty five times today. A new record. I studied Spanish the entire time I walked. A win-win. Makes walking a lot less boring.

It was really sweaty.

Lots of little sticks.

I talked with Mint Mobile today. I wanted to get reimbursed for an order that I made by mistake. I also got the insurance for J’s and K’s phone set up.

I also had an issue in June when the girls and I rode MARTA. I bought three tickets but it only printed out one. They are working on reimbursing me for that. Then I got a Breeze card and put a round trip ride on it to get to the airport and back in September. She told me that wasn’t on there, so she put in a request to get those trips put on my card in about a week.

While I was on hold, I’d work on sewing up the case for my jumper cables. I didn’t completely fix the case because the cables are really heavy and I figured it would just bust out the stitches again. At least it’s better.

Part of my medicare insurance includes $30/month of medical supplies. J and K went through the catalog and picked out stuff we needed, like that melatonin. I also got pain meds and vitamins. They give you $90 every quarter. Pretty cool.

Talked to Jason at T and G to get my oil change scheduled for tomorrow morning. K picked me up over there on my way home. That’ll get that worked on before lunch. I just leave it in their parking lot over night.

Had a nice chat with my Mom on the way into Chamblee. That’s always good.

Worked with the kids at the mission.

Listened to Don Cheto on the way home.

There’s one lady in this group that may give me some competition. She scored more points than me last week. We’ll see. I put in excellent effort today. She’s #5 this evening.

I thought this was cool.

OYB!

Lovely.

Español!

Great talk with my buddy Anthony today.

Walked 2.19 miles. That’s 12 hills.

Biked 15.70 miles.

After I work out, I always dry all my clothes before I put them in the hamper so they won’t stink.

Kathy and I went to Chinese food for lunch.

I repotted this pony tail plant. I think she’ll really be happy now. She was really top heavy and the wind would blow her over.

I had to add drainage holes to this pot. Why they would leave those out I have no idea.

Fortunately, I had all the materials I needed.

We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of rain so far this Summer. This week has been dry. It’s supposed to be super hot in the days to come. I watered all my outdoor plants.

Tea roses.

I also repotted this fasciata.

Trimmed the shrubs along the front of my house.

Watered my deck plants.

Took a shower and got some clean clothes on then went over to Stone Mountain to record “The Real Stuff.” Excellent!

Watered the orchids and violets in my Green Room.

I’ll come in #1 again this week. Dominated.