Cold morning!

We did a recon of Global Mall seeing if perhaps the Shiv Mandir had moved to another spot in the mall. Alas, no. We still like to shoot pictures in front of their wall.

The trailer for dumping the shingles for our roof job came this morning.

It would be what we would call a “roof tearoff.”
The girls liked it.

Always great to see Ashley!

I pulled out the hats and gloves.

We came back to the mission around 4:30 PM.

Helped kids with their homework.

I teach them from scratch a lot.

Studied Spanish.

Always excitement in the air when spotting the International Space Station is afoot!

Deposited checks. Thank you, Lord. We need it.

Gassed up my car.

I’ve started getting in the habit of washing the windshield and checking the oil levels every time I get gas.

Went to my office to check the mail.

Cold this morning, although it warmed up nicely.

Got to Global Mall right at 8:01 AM.

Ashley wanted the Christmas tree we had stored. Gave it to her this morning.

Never too much Ashley. I really miss hanging out with her more.

Got the word from my roofer.

Set up an appointment to get the grandgirl’s hair cut.

Overall I thought it was a very positive experience.

They were enjoying playing a game where they had a menu and then would get the corresponding “dish.” It was very interesting.

Climbed up on the roof to get a sample of photos from the shingles.

My roofer wanted to know what color to get.
The dumper is expected to arrive at my house tomorrow. Then they’ll actually start roofing Friday.

I piled up leaves for the grandgirls.

Got to the Cookie Cutter place around 11:45 AM. They liked picking the car they rode in. I liked having the entire shop to ourselves and it being completely clean. She checked our temperatures before letting us stay.

We wore masks except for when they were getting their haircuts.

Her hair was a real mess.

We’re going to have to start braiding it most of the time. She actually wants short hair. I think that’s in part to Ashley cutting her hair. Ashley’s looks great!

It’s quite an endeavor to get it done. I think it was really worth the money to go where it’s a super kid friendly environment.

Xy did a great job with the girls. Penelope’s hair took some extra work to get untangled. She had to put a lot of product in the hair to get it to loose. Penelope never batted an eye. I think it was how Xy was holding her hair. Didn’t look like there was any pressure on Penelope’s scalp at all.

We picked up Thai food on the way home. Cashew Tofu and Sweet and Sour Chicken. They love the sweet chili sauce on the salad, too.

Studied Spanish.

I tried to get them to take a nap to no avail.

Went on back to the mission. I helped the kids and watched the girls on their bike and trike.

It’s a very rich environment.

She’s so beautiful. She deserves a nice haircut.

Mailed a package to my nephew and his wife who are expecting a baby.

Beauty.

Girls finished out the day digging.

Just released an episode of Verbal Surgery “Graveyard Circus.”

Cold day.

Made it to Global Mall in great time.

I liked this logo.

Always great to see Ashley!

Studied Spanish.

I’m still working very aggressively on the physical therapy for my hand. Not only do I do exercises, I also practice words that require a lot of dexterity in my little finger, which actually does a LOT in typing. So it ends up looking like this:

jljkl//jkl;jkl;;;;;;;ol/,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,n ;oijjkkjkl;;lkjkllkjkl;okjkl;oll;o;;l;;;;;;;;;;;;;ljl;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;lkjkl;lkjkl;lkjkl;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;lkjkl;;;;;lkjkl;lkjkl;jkl;lkjkl”””’;;;;;;;;;;;;;llkkjljkl;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;lkjkl;;;;;;;;;;;/;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;ll;l;l;l;l;l;l;l;lo;llkjkl;lkjkl;lokkkl;lkl;lkl;lkjkllkjkl;lkjhkl;;[[;”;j’j

The girls had a great time with the leaves.

I had a good study time with Penelope. The could read all these letters no problem.

She was doing great with the “at” words like bat, cat, fat, sat, rat . . .
That’s a really critical piece of knowledge.

Got them raking leaves, too.

They both have some great imaginations.

Penelope took a nap with me. She was out, baby.

Everly was about asleep when I put them in the car. I play this. It’s so soothing and sleep inducing.

Helped the kids with their homework. They were complaining about the cold. I told them to go get more clothes on. It’s a work in progress.

Penelope wrote this.

Beautiful.

Saw the International Space Station for the 63rd time this evening.

I also saw three planets for sure and probably two others. Jupiter and Saturn were together. Mars was super red. Uranus and Neptune I think I saw but they’re so faint it’s hard for me to be certain.

Went by my office to check the mail.

This bulb in my lamp burned out.

It’s a weird size. Always a hassle to get a replacement.

Studied Spanish.

Beautiful weather.

Jesse and I talked with our Health Insurance agent, Tim Deter. He’s great!

Took about an hour and a half to get everything squared away for our whole family.

We got a cheaper plan and will add to our HSA about $200/month to cover the gigantic deductible and out of pocket expenses for specialists if we need them.

We park Jesse’s car at Kathy’s sister’s house. Every month, I go by, jump it off and drive it for about twenty minutes.

We were stopped when I took the picture!

Sent a text to my roofer to see if we can get the work on my roof knocked out.

Sent him a picture so he could remember my place. I love all this technology!

Went to Walmart to pick up my groceries.

After using curbside service, going inside seems silly. Although I do go inside on special occasions, like buying shoes.
Jesse wants to paint her office. I went through my tools to make sure she has what she needs.

Ashley bent her car key last week. I figured out a way to fix it with a vice I have and two silver dollars. They’re not actually silver!

I tried glueing Kathy’s carpal tunnel wrist bands. Just doesn’t work.

My weather station is not functioning properly. I need a new outside sensor, which I ordered today.

Put the latest edition of Verbal Surgery on my Mac.

Studied Spanish.

Did my brain training.

Paid bills.

Ordered groceries.

Lovely day.

I had a fun talk with my buddy Joe Dickey. I shared this song with him and told him about the Pink Magnolia that had been cut down and made me so sad.

This breaks my heart.

I also told him he would like this band.

Joe is a real guitar guy. He wanted to see my SG. He remembered it from the old days when we used to jam.

Had a great talk with my best friend, Anthony Jacquin. Always interesting. We discussed a friend of his from Nigeria that he thought I could have a positive influence on. Paul quickly gave me a call after Anthony said he should speak to me.

I enjoyed my conversation with Paul very much.

Last night, I did some algebra. I was surprised I couldn’t do better.

Had fun last night looking through some old pictures.

I like to do detailed inspection of the objects on my desk.

Clean teeth.

Released a new episode of Verbal Surgery -807- “Instant Me.”

Beautiful day.

Listened to Harry Potter in Spanish.

Studied Spanish.

Recorded “Seek and Hide” and put it on my computer.

Did more algebra.

Checked my carnivorous plants outside. They are in a dormant mode now. I bring them in if it gets too low in the thirties.

I guess I was at the right spot.

Blew the driveway and the deck.

Had a great talk with my lifelong friend Joe Dickie last night. He lives in Austin and is helping take care of his 90 year old mother. We grew up together in Kenya. It’s rare I get to talk with people who know me from that long ago.

Happy Birthday, Ashley, you magnificent human being! How you have filled my life with joy!

Cloudy day.

Listened to some British rock.

Picked up the girls at Global Mall.

There have been changes including the Shiv Mandir has left. They may be in a part of the mall I’m not aware of. I liked the signage in the food court.

We had a fun time going up and down the escalators.

Deposited checks.

The girls had fun building their town with all the little play houses they have.

Picked up some new shoes, socks and undies at Walmart for them.

We went the Library and turned in the books we read last week.

Getting more!

Interesting.

Some fantastic mushrooms outside the library. I have this species in my yard, too.


Played at the Library Park.

They hang from this and it turns around.

We read some of our new books then they went to sleep. I let them nap for a little over an hour, then woke them up and took them to the other grandparent’s house to spend the night.

Gassed up the car.

Perfect sleep quality!

Kathy, Jess and I discussed the balance part of your body known in martial arts as the dantian.

Went to the dentist today to get my lower left rear molar crown reglued.

After that procedure, I went ahead and got the cleaning and x-rays.

Good news from the CDC.

Listened to Harry Potter in Spanish.

Helping my sister in law Ann get her phone set up to do grocery pickup at Kroger.

Had a great talk with my buddy Anthony.

Also talked with fellow NoZe Brother Chris Neal.

Got an Oreo Ice cream cake for Ashley’s birthday tomorrow. We had a party for her after I worked with the kids at the mission. I was astonished to see Penelope riding her bike!


Helped the kids at the mission with their homework.

I went to the Dollar Tree to get decorations for Ashley’s party.

Saw what I think is a red tailed hawk at the mission.

Beautiful sunset.

We had a fun party with pizza and ice cream cake.


Went by my office to check on the mail and water my ficus.

The new prayer cards came in!

Studied Spanish.

Picked up the grandgirls at Global Mall. Always great to see Ashley!

We went straight to the Perimeter Mall Goodwill area. Picked up breakfast at McD and ate in front of some stores that had tables set up.

We spent about two hours looking through all the children’s clothes to find warm, long pants the girls could wear. They have about the same waist size, but Penelope is several inches taller. The Goodwill by Perimeter Mall is the best in the ATL as far as I’m concerned.

I bought nearly $100 worth of clothes.

We got a tremendous haul. We were all very happy. I let them buy some toys and also came home with a new little Huffy bike, for only $7!

Came home and cut all the tags off. Then washed and folded everything. Set it on hot to kill germs.

The girls enjoyed playing with their new toys.

Heard from the mortgage man. Looks like we’re better off hanging in with what we refinanced five years ago.

Had a talk with FBC Atlanta about some washer/dryer machines.

While I was flossing my teeth this morning, one of my crowns came loose. Kind of freaked me out. Immediately called my dentist and set up a time to come in tomorrow morning. Hopefully, all he’ll have to do is clean it up and reglue it.

Also heard from my tax guy. He said I was better off to try and pay off my house asap.

Drizzly weather.

Spent time brushing the girl’s hair.

Went back to Azalea and put Everly to sleep.

I spent about an hour working with Penelope and her new little bike. It’s tiny so she can put her feet down easily. It doesn’t have any training wheels.

Penelope did some workbook time. Not much. She wasn’t very enthusiastic about it. Neither were the other mission kids!

Listened to Harry Potter in Spanish on the way home. Still need to do my Duolingo work before the night is up.

I took a ride around Stone Mountain this evening. I’ve never seen the Christmas tree on Stone Mountain with clouds beneath it. Beautiful.

We are in birthday mode! Ashley is the birthday girl in only three days!

Studied Spanish.


Highest score I’ve every gotten on Clozemaster.

I changed the height of the netball goal for the girls.

I always enjoy my time with the girls.

I modified Kathy’s CPAP mask and one of her carpal tunnel wrist braces.

I was feeling really tired today, even though I went to sleep super early last night. Kind of felt like I was coming down with something. I tried to rest some this afternoon.

Helped the kids at the mission with their homework. Full house. I was there till after dark.

Gassed up my car. I always tell the girls, “I reckon I better get gas unless one of you wants to push.” I laugh and laugh. It was down to $1.70 last week.

Checked the mail at my office.

Got groceries on the way home. If you haven’t tried the pick up service at your grocery store DO IT!

After getting my roof check from my insurance and talking to my bankers at PNC, I decided to look into seeing what the deals are for my mortgage rate. I saw this this morning.

Listened to Harry Potter in Spanish.

Just released Verbal Surgery -806- “Wake Out.” It’s one of my best editions ever.

When I posted the episode on Facebook (which I don’t look at anymore) I noticed a post from my buddy Jim Pirtle who was in Savannah. Called him straight away to see if he was in the area. He was already back in Texas. Bahd luck.