June 2020

June 2020

With all the craziness going on in the world I've been distracted and forgetful about a lot of important things. Now with the pandemic winding back up, we have protestors in the streets protesting for a good cause... and then rioters looting, and Antifa comes along taking over the protests with their special kind of hate and evil agenda. Who knows if we will ever get back to normal... whatever normal was in the first place. Living out in the desert I am separated from a lot of societies woes. Hope you all are well

Take care! Bob

Monday 01- 101/77F and clear. I went to the post office in Twentynine Palms to get packages. Filled up the little car with gas. Stopped off at Ace Hardware and then on to Stater Bros. to get some supplies.

Tuesday 02- 103/74F and clear. I finished painting the pool cover and put on the hinges so two halves will open. Filled it with water and jumped in... feels so nice!

Kjtel stopped by for a spell with Bodie to yammer with me.

Wednesday 03- 106/79 a few clouds. 

Thursday 04- 112/80F a little overcast. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

Friday 05- 100/62F overcast with high winds. 

I got up out of bed and started right in on pounding roofing nails into the roof. The box says 726 nails and there were few left when I decided to stop around 7pm. I also helped my guest install a swamp cooler in her trailer. 

Saturday 06- 88/62F with lots of wind. I received the news that My friend Mack Dodd had passed away. I had been going back and forth worrying if I should go see him, but he made the choice for me. I'll remember him as he was at our community parties. I did go see him a few times at the hospice and he didn't look that bad. I had a book I wrote to give him to read but then the pandemic hit and I wasn't able to see or give him the book I had written him into. I think he would have liked that.

Sunday 07- 82/62F with more high winds. When there was a low wind window for about two hours I went out onto the roof and nailed down the rest of the roofing.

Called and talked to Jimmy and then my brother Kevin.

Monday 08- 89/62F winds dying down around 2 pm. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

Wrote a poem for Mack Dodd.

Kjtel my neighbor came by to jaw for a while.

I took Cassie for a night run up the hill and back.

I practiced on my guitar.

Tuesday 09- 91/63F and clear. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I got up on the roof and finished the last of the roll-roofing, taring, cutting, and nailing. I am totally burned out... I got kinda dizzy and laid down for a while. Feeling better now. I just have the trim to do and that’s enough for the roof, hopefully, for another twenty years.

Wednesday 10- 99/68F clear. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk. I took the day off to do my studies.

Thursday 11- 106/64F clear and windy. I did my stretch and took Cassie for a walk.

Went to work on the metal trim of the roof but I was only able to do about 20 feet when the wind kicked up. I was heated up anyways, so I quit and came inside to mess around in the house to do my studies.

Friday 12- 101/63F with high winds. I did stretches and took Cassie for a walk.

I decided to rest today. I was just too burned out from yesterday’s work on the roof.

I took my scooter to the mailbox to pick up a package from eBay; an old HP 110 Windows 6 Classic PDA.

Saturday 13- 

I finished tarring and nailing the trim strips I had and needed about three-four more strips to complete the job.

I took Cassie for a nice midnight walk among the stars.

Sunday 14- 94/66F clear. I did my stretches.

Monday 15- 100/69F clear. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I worked in the garage clearing it out... looks like it’ll be many days until I get it cleared.

My old friend Larry Carlock called and we yammered on for way over an hour.

Tuesday 16- 98/67F and clear. I did my stretches.

I worked clearing out and throwing trash away from the garage.

Something bit me, maybe a spider. It hurt really bad and I was sick for the rest of the day.

Wednesday 17- 95/67F another clear day. I did my stretches and took the rest of the day off.

Thursday 18- 98/69F clear. I did my stretches.

Me and my “gest” went to the post office in Twentynine Palms and then to Star Pharmacy to get her prescriptions filled.

I took Cassie for a night run up the hill and back.

Friday 19- 103/72F and clear. I did my stretches.

I almost have the roof covered in white Snowcoat to keep the heat down but ran out and need to purchase about 10 gallons more. Little by little I'll get it done.

Saturday 20- 103/74F hot and clear. I worked out on the weight bench.

I worked outside on the back patio for a spell putting up some structural braces. 

Sunday 21- 105/75F hot. I did my stretches, lifted weights, and took Cassie for a short walk because of the heat. I’ll have to change my routine around because of the heat.

I worked around inside the house. Called and yapped with my brother Kevin for an hour.

I waited until the day cooled down before I took Cassie for a mile run and exercised on the core trainer.

Kjtel and our new neighbor Chisty came by and we chatted for a spell. Chisty is a writer and professional comedian. I gave her one of my poetry books. I walked both of them home but on the way I stumbled over a stone and hurt my left ankle. Later in the night it started to hurt so much I had to hobble around the house.

Monday 22- 106/76F clear. Woke up and the pain from last night's stumble really hurt bad. I did some little stretches but that’s about it.

I had a package delivered to my mailbox on Lear Ave and hobbled to my car to drive down to get it before the thieves did.

I got very sick off of something I ate and tossed up my cookies feeling very ill. It finally dissipated after a few hours and I felt better.

Tuesday 23- 107/75F clear and hot. I did my stretches. Still have a sprained ankle and feeling kinda weak after being sick last night.

I did my studies and cleaned up around the house.

Kjtel came by with Bodie to chat and take Cassie for a walk because of my sprained ankle I couldn’t. 

Wednesday 24- 107/75F and clear. I did my stretches, core trainer and exercised on the weight bench. I’m still staying off the foot.

I worked on the camper and replaced the old roof vent with a new one. I still have to secure it down with putty and screws.

Thursday 25- 107/75F a little cloudy. I did my stretches, core trainer, exercised on the weight bench, and took Cassie for a short walk.

I worked inside the house again messing around with my computers too. I did my studies.

I took Cassie for a midnight jog up and down the hill and back. My first time jogging since the accident with my left ankle.

Friday 26- 104/77F cloudy with some very light drizzles. I did my stretches, too hot to do much of anything else. I did do some laundry and a few things around the house.

I did all my studies.

My sprained ankle is getting better... slow jogged a mile with Cassie this evening. Resting and healing now is over... gotta work it out and keep it moving now.

Saturday 27- 107/76F clear. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile but I had to leave Cassie behind because the ground was way too hot for her feet.

I've been going through my notes I've written down for new books and poems. Doing a do-over on how I arrange my house putting things I want to do in easy reach. I also want to learn how to say hello in at least 5 languages. My list grows 

Sunday 28- 100/66F with lots of high winds. I did my stretches.

Monday 29- 89/66 a little breezy. I did my stretches and jogged a mile and a half. 

I went to my mailbox to pick up a package.

I took Cassie for a night run.

Tuesday 30- 92/69F very nice and pleasant day. I did my stretches, jogged a mile, and worked out on the weight bench.

I talked to a new friend I made who lives in Oregon for over an hour.

Later in the day, I drove to Home Depot to get 10 gallons more of Snow Coat for my roof and some fittings for the pool.

I did some of my studies.

I took Cassie out for a night jog up and down the hill outside my house.

*************************

I am only responsible for my own actions and nobody else's. I have nothing to apologize for in the past, present, or future that I personally have no control over. I find it appalling for anyone to take it upon themselves to apologize for me things I didn’t do. I am my own person!

~RD

Who's old?! We're as young as we believe ourselves to be even if our bodies tell us differently and our minds are far off daydreaming on a beach in Hawaii.

~RD

How can you be so mean and thoughtless, how could you be so cruel, to grow up before our very eyes, privileged young adults to face the world. Although you are amazing, it would be impolite for me to stop and stare, but to remind you of these facts of life, alone we all set sail. Upon seas of scattered wisdom, with malice and sword, you’ll ride the crest, with only luck and perseverance... and loathing at your backs. To be brazen on the stage of your forefathers, to slay the beast with its crown of thorns. In spite of your worst behaviors, you condemn those that came before, before the rumbling chariots, before the horseback thieves. So now it’s time they come out to haunt you all, the sullen, malnourished feeble patrons of the past.

~RD

The little things our minds pick up on, those bits of memories, old pictures, a cracked teacup, a lock of hair, these little keepsakes handled by those who left, helps us bear the burden of their passing. Their lives flash before us like a video on fast-forward. Reminding us of the warmth our departed friends bestowed upon us with these little mementos of their life. All we have left are these little keepsakes, tokens of a life passing that provides us the warmth and comfort of love we so dearly desire as we reminisce of lives gone by.

~RD

What may not be offensive to some may be offensive to others. I respect your sensitivity as long as you respect my rights to have an opinion...

~RD

Sorry... With all the crap going on in the world I can only come up with this? I think I need a new perspective...

Oh, the pain and suffering sorrow. Madness, crippled by filth and shame. Oh, these earthly demons come down to haunt me, peeling back layer upon layers of seething wickedness, reeking of pustulant pus embedded deep within my brain. 

Oh, how severe my mental anguish, suffering, bleeds like raindrops to fill the void, left by walking shadows of a younger wilder intense soul, of what I used to be.

~RD

Tears of the fallen have dried in the sun, eyes that now stare unfocused to gaze at no one, soldiers lie on battlefields of faraway lands never to see loved ones through those eyes again...

~RD

Hiding in the shallow depths of my mind, growing ever darker like oil spilled on an ocean’s tranquil azure surface. Dire despair conveniently hidden I had thought, safely tucked away, now exposes me to my own dreadful demise; a friend has recently passed away just a few months younger than I.

We had once laughed at jokes and stories we’d tell of younger days gone by. The girls we loved, the troubles we were in, not normal lives be ours.

An asset to our little community, a friend to all he’ll now leave behind to be untethered from this Earthly realm taking wing to fly the skies.

We will kindly remember our Mister Dodd and sadly say goodbye.

~RD

************************************

May 2020

MAY 2020

                                   Been working on the house. Needs lots of work!

Friday 01- 100/72F with evening winds. I’m just getting over being sick with very bad stomach pains. Must have been something I ate Wednesday night. I’m feeling much better but will take it easy today. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

Saturday 02- 90/62F windy all day. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I worked on the garage roof putting on the roofing felt. I have two rolls weighing 53LBs each up the ladder. I am totally beat. I must’ve smelled like a homeless person when I was done and took a hot soothing shower. Tomorrow (hopefully) I’ll do the roll roofing and hold it all down with Henry's Asphalt Emulsion and lots of roofing nails.

Sunday 03- 92/63F windy again. I did my stretches. Someone broke into my mailbox on Lear Ave. It was broken into last month, but this was worse. I don't believe there was anything but advertisements. I think the thieves are after those stimulus checks, but mine was automatically deposited into my bank account. I hope these people get caught, it's a federal offense to steal mail or tamper with mail boxes.

Monday 04- 91/62F clear and breezy. I did my stretches.

 I’m going back up today and finishing off the garage. I am getting a late start today because I kinda way overdid it yesterday. A gust of wind came up in the evening and I had to fight to keep all that I had done from blowing away. I ended up with tar all over me. Somehow my dog got tar on her too. I finished the garage roofing around 6 PM. I am totally exhausted!

Tuesday 05- 97/65F. I did my stretches and took the day off.

Wednesday 06- 98/63F. Again, I did my stretches and took the day off.

I came out in the morning and found a beehive in my tree. I ran back into my house, grabbed my camera to record the event. 

I started commenting on the hive when I remembered Cholla Needles Poetry wanted me to record one of my poems. I've been hesitant about recording a poem because I always sound like a robot when doing so.

Well, I decided right then and there since I was recording anyways to wing it and make something up as I went rambling on and on about the bees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THd11_Odhjk

Thursday 07- 100/66F hot and hazy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. I met Christine, a new neighbor, on my jog.

The bees in the tree have moved on. I shall miss them... not!!!

Friday 08- 100/69F with a nice breeze. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

Saturday 09- 101/70F and hazy. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk... just ain’t used to the heat yet and neither is Cassi.

I rode the scooter to get my mail at my box on Border Ave.

Sunday 10- 97/64F windy with some clouds. I did my stretches. 

I rode the scooter to my other mailbox on Lear Ave, the one that was broken into last Sunday, to repair it. 

Monday 11 92/59F and windy. I only did my stretches because I was going to go work on the roof, that is until the high winds came up.

I don't think we're out of the woods just yet with the coronavirus and I believe we should all keep up with the social distancing. There have been some who like to compare this virus to the flu, deaths due to drugs, or automobile accidents... it's not. It is a highly contagious virus and it'll come back to haunt us if we let our guard down. As I write this there have been over 80,000 deaths. Think about how many would have died if we didn't shut down the country and stayed at home. 80,000 would have been a drop in the bucket. People you and I know would have been dead. This is a pandemic and we should remember this fact when we start going out into the world again... be safe everyone, and keep doing what you have learned to do to stop this virus these last few months.

I leave the political out of everything if I can. I go on what I feel, not what others egos tell me how to feel. 

Honestly, I think this might just be the beginning of something worse if we throw our caution to the wind. I didn't say such things in my post as to not alarm anyone, but I did hint. It may be nature's way of saying goodbye.

Tuesday 12- 89/60F with mid-afternoon winds. I did my stretches. I then turned my attention to the roof. I did the roof to the front porch and finished it as the winds came up. I am totally burned out from doing roofs. I still have some left to do. I am going to use up all the roofing materials tomorrow to see what more I need to purchase.

Wednesday 13- 85/59F with high evening winds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I've been working hard on the roof these last few weeks laying down roofing, tarring, and nailing. I am exhausted by the end of the day. I'm almost done, just a bit more to do, and I ran out materials I need to finish... Looks like a trip to Home Depot next week or sooner. While I'm in town I need to stock up on some supplies at the supermarket. 

Thursday 14- 88/61F windy. I did my stretches, walked the dog, and took the day off.

Friday 15- 91/63F windy. I was going to go to town, so I did my stretches and walked Cassie, but my guest waited to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday because of Memorial Day, so I decided to dig a trench for the drain to the kitchen sink and run it out to the little desert willow tree I planted last year. This digging and laying of pipe took me all day to do. I will finish burying it all up tomorrow.

Saturday 16- 95/66F breezy and hot. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

Sunday 17- 94/63F I did my stretches and took Cassie for her walks. I took the day off from any intensive labor or exercise.

I called my Brother to yap at him for a spell.

I took Cassie for a midnight walk.

Monday 18- 85/59F very windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I dug out and placed pavers from the patio to the small pool. Now there’s a walkway to the pool.

Tuesday 19- 75/54F cloudy and windy. I did my stretches and walked Cassie. Kjtel came over and she, Bodie, Cassie and I went for an evening walk together.

Wednesday 20- 82/57F with a little breeze. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I started getting things ready to hook up the drain to the bathroom and run it to the big tree out back.

Thursday 21- 88/65F nice day. I took Cassie for a long walk.

Me and my “guest” went to Yucca Valley to pick up her meds. I finally dropped my Chevy Spark tire off at Big O Tire after going to 3 tire stores to get it replaced; it has a hole in the sidewall; I will pick it up tomorrow. Then we went to Home Depot to get some supplies to finish up my roof and other stuff I am working on. Then to Sonic Burger to eat.

I took Cassie for a walk when I got home. And then a midnight walk.

Friday 22- 91/63F and windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

Me and my “guest” went to Yucca Valley to do some shopping at Vons and for me to pick up my tire which Big O Tire had to replace. It was my first time shopping at a supermarket in this new era of post pandemic. Everyone was wearing masks and standing a more or less 6 foot distance apart. It felt a little stressful to me at first, but most people were kind and courteous.

Saturday 23- 94/65F windy. I did my stretches and took Cassie for a walk.

I did my studies.

I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

Cassie and I went for a midnight walk up the hill and back.

Sunday 24- 91/64F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I carried the 3 90 pounds each of roll roofing up the ladder on my shoulder like a gangster. I’ll probably be hurting tomorrow.

I did my studies throughout the day and finished the Molecular Biology book. I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

Cassie and I went for a midnight walk up the hill and back. 

I also did my nightly exercise (that hasn't been so nightly) with the 15lbs dumbbells.

Monday 25- 96/67F and clear with a bit of breeze. Went right to work on the roof when I woke up and before it got too hot. I finally finished the whole roof except for too tiny eaves that I can do anytime next week. I do need to hammer in bunches of roofing nails on what I already did and then snowcoat the whole roof. 

Later in the afternoon I mounted the new tire on the Chevy Spark and also patched a small leak on the rear passenger side tire.

My “Guest” cooked up steaks on the BBQ and we had Memorial Day dinner.

I did my nightly exercises and took Cassie out for a midnight walk.

Tuesday 26- 102/72F hot. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

In the late afternoon my stomach started to feel bad and I had to stop everything I was doing and went to bed. I was very sick for a few hours and when the pain and nausea subsided I was very weak for the rest of the day and into the night. 

Wednesday 27- 107/75F windy. I did my stretches and walked Cassie. 

Watched the scrubbed launch of the first manned SpaceX mission into space. I was very excited and then kinda bummed, but safety first.

Thursday 28- 109/76F cloudy. I did my stretches. Too hot for anything else.

I drew out a pattern on plywood for the cover to the small pool.

Friday 29- 106/72F cloudy. I did my stretches. 

I cut out the pattern from the plywood.

Saturday 30- 104/71F and breezy. Very excited as I watched SpaceX launch their first manned mission into space to rendezvous with ISS space station. 

I trimmed the plywood for the pool cover and got it ready to paint.

Sunday 31- 95/66F 

Two lost dogs came to stay under the motorhome. At first there was only one I saw and tried to lure him into the yard. He was very friendly at first until he went under the motorhome and there was a female and he became really protective. I gave them water and food. I left messages on several sites about them. When morning came and I went out to feed them they had already left.

****************** Poems May 2020 ****************

It’s not how much of your brain you use but the time you spend using it.

~RD

I wish for a way to communicate, I wish there was a way to call, but you are so far beyond the veil of life, I think my message would fail, to reach across those many years, to seek out your tender smile. 

I visit you in my dreams at night, I reach to touch your cheek, but like clouds dissolve in the desert skies, only vapor do my fingers meet.  

I can feel you standing next to me, for fleeting moments your presence I sense, with words I faintly hear you say, but for now I must settle and remain content. Until we meet in a moment of time and space, where elves play, pixies flutter around, with imps that make us laugh. Fly past the midnight moon above, beyond the reaches of time, only then shall I caress and hold my love, in these strong loving arms of mine. 

~RD

*******************************************

April 2020

April 2020

We've been having lots of rain this past month and should have plenty of flowers blooming soon. It is getting very green up here. I've been doing well, staying home mostly due to the pandemic and all that. I do my mile jog with my dog and weight bench almost every day except when the weather is bad. Writing and editing my books... stuff like that. Seems like there's not enough time in the day to get all these done. My neighbor Kjtel and I have been going out at 8 pm every night banging on pots and howling, I still don’t know why but she said it’s a good thing.

Wednesday 01- 84/53F clouds. Exercised on the weight bench. My hip hurt so I didn’t jog but took Cassie for her walks.

I did all my studies.

Thursday 02- 75/49F sunny day. I did my stretches, but I slept on my left side causing my hip to be very painful, so I didn’t do any other exercising. I will go back to sleeping on my right side.

Friday 03- 79/57F a tiny bit breezy but nice. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie.

I did my laundry and some chores around the house.

I practiced my guitar.

Saturday 04- 78/50F sunny with late afternoon winds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, and jogged a mile with Cassie. I did the poop patrol.

I did my afternoon exercises and took Cassie for a long walk. 

I rode my scooter to my mailbox that was mighty full.

I did my studies throughout the day.

Cassie and I went for a night run up the hill and back. I did my sorta-kinda nightly exercises.

Sunday 05- 74/49F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5  miles with Cassie. 

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I did my afternoon exercises and took Cassie for a walk.

I did my evening stretches.

I finally finished re-editing and updating "Upon Ashen Roads: Betrayal and Resurrection," and will now wait a few days before I advertise and promote the book.

Monday 06- I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5  miles with Cassie. 

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I did my afternoon exercises and took Cassie for a walk.

I did my evening stretches.

Tuesday 07- 58/35F rained all day long. I got up at an ungodly hour of 8 AM to take Cassie for a mile run and do my exercises before the rain came down... must of timed it just right because it started raining when we were all finished.

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I made myself popcorn and hot chocolate tonight... going to kick back and watch a movie

Wednesday 08- 52/40F rained even harder during the night and into late morning creating Lake Lucille. I did my stretches and that’s about all.

My brother Kevin called and we jawed over an hour catching up.

I did all my studies throughout the day.

Kjtel came over and we took her handmade sailboat and our dogs down to Lake Lucille and did some sailing.

Thursday 09- 57/46F with lots of rain. I did my stretches and cleaned around the house.

Friday 10- 54/43F mostly rain and drizzles all day long. I did my stretches, practiced on my guitar, and did my studies here and there.

Saturday 11- 71/48F sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged one mile with Cassie. 

I jumped on my scooter to check my mail down on Lear Ave. Seems like the postal service is doing what I asked, holding my mail and packages because there was nothing there in the mailbox. 

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I did my afternoon exercises and took Cassie for a walk.

I did my nightly stretches.

Sunday 12- 78/54F breezy with a few clouds. 

I did my stretches. My guest who stays in her trailer on my property cooked up a mighty nice Easter dinner. I got pretty stuffed. We kicked back and watched “Joker” , maybe not the right movie to watch on Easter...

Monday 13- 75/54F a few clouds and windy at times. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged one mile with Cassie. 

Tuesday 14- 72/48F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged one mile with Cassie. 

Kjtel came by with Bodie for an evening walk.

I did my studies.

Wednesday 15- 88/58F very nice. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged one mile with Cassie. 

I did my studies.

I did my not too nightly stretches... gotta work on that.

Thursday 16- 84/55F very nice. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I fixed the flat on my truck.

I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

Friday 17- 79/50F with clouds and wind. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I did my studies.

Saturday 18- 76/51F and windy! I did my stretches. Messed around all day in the yard doing this and that and other things of unimportance. Took Cassie for her walks.

Sunday 19- 80/55F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

I did my nightly stretches.

Monday 20- 80/55F nice breeze. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

Went out for a night run up the hill with Cassie and did some exercises.

Tuesday 21- 84/63F windy with scattered clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

My friend and neighbor Jeff brought me food from the USDA food distribution which was mighty welcomed.

I did all my studies throughout the day.

I took Cassie for an evening bike/run.

Went out for a night run up the hill with Cassie and did some exercises.

Wednesday 22- 88/62F windy. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

Took the rest of the day off.

Thursday 23- 89/66F sunny. I needed to brave the outside world and go with mask and gloves in hand down to the post office and pick up my packages they’ve been holding for a month due to the pandemic and my unwillingness to go down there myself. I’d say about 98 percent of the people there had masks on, but me and a few others were wearing gloves. We all stood six feet apart on these little lines of packing tape put down for that reason. It took about half an hour or more for me to get to the counter because there was only one employee trying to do everything. There was some mixup on my packages but it all worked out okay as I kept asking, “There should be more” and there was when he went back and brought out more of my packages. I thanked him. I told the people in line behind me I was sorry to have made them wait, they understood, some even made jokes about the post office as I walked out the door.

Friday 24- 93/65F getting dang hot out here. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I swept the floor of the entire house. Took out the small carpet I use in the living room and washed it down. I watered most of the plants outside. I took pics of all the flowers a FB friend asked me to do. I started digging out the hole for the 300 gallon tub.

I did all my studies throughout the day.

Saturday 25- 97/66F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

Did some cleaning around the house moving stuff I’m not using out to my storage trailer.

I did my studies throughout the day.

Sunday 26- 103/72F I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

Continued to dig out a hole for the pool.

Evening dog walk with Kjtel

Listened to Astronomy Cast Lecture Ep. 558: Supernova SN 2006gy

I did my studies.

Monday 27- 96/65F sunny. I did my stretches.

I did my studies throughout the day.

Still digging that hole for the pool.

Tuesday 28- 99/69 sunny. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged 1.5 miles with Cassie. 

I finished digging out the hole for the small pool. I saw what Kjtel did with river rock around her pool and decided to do the same.

Listened to Astronomy Cast Lecture Ep. 559: The Surface of the Sun

Evening walk with Kjtel and Bodie.

Wednesday 29- 101/70F cloudy in the late afternoon. I did my stretches.

Thursday 30- 96/66F more clouds. I did my stretches, core trainer, weight bench, jogged a mile with Cassie. 

****************** Poems April 2020 ****************

Sometimes I feel like leaving all material possessions behind... those things that tie me down to who I thought and others believed myself to be, and then emerge to raise high the sails, slip these mooring lines that shackle my heart to civilization’s trappings and drift silently into the promising darkness of night’s obscurity to be free to sail the seas again.

~RD

Don’t buy the dream, live it!

~RD

Uncharted 

Yea these be dark times ahead... distant are those uncharted shores we sail... bleak be our dreams we wake in the wee hours before dawn... rise high the waves in turbulent waters... that crest our bow awash and rattle... tall mast down to her sturdy keel. With a lowly bucket to bail icy waters... bringing numbness to fingers and blunting our courage... but we do what we must... we do what we will it to be... to guide our way by stars of night, to navigate these seas of dread and sorrow... to keep our course, our eyes set on the horizon... our lives, our souls, our very being depends on our dogged determination to make it to this journey's end and be free to do it all over again.

~RD

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