Eek I Had No Idea in Everyday Ramblings

I looped around the big hill to the track after work yesterday to see what the new trees are. This is cool; the three are Jefferson elms. They are not native to the Western United States but are derived from a cutting of one tree on the Mall in Washington D.C., an elm that was planted in 1930 and is about 70 feet tall and resistant to Dutch elm disease.

It was a surprise to see non-natives and when I retire I will find out more about how the Urban Forestry folks make these decisions.

This week I won’t mention work other than to say that the toxicity is insidious and I am absolutely blaming my inability to lose any weight on the people I work for and with.

Opportunistic pandering is not something just going on in our nation’s capital these days. And I truly rue the day that with the best of intentions I supported promoted and protected Motorcycle Man.

I guess if it seems to be too good to be true…

I made a heart wrenching social blunder this week while teaching. I have a student that is so great, I adore her and on Wednesday she came by herself. I had a big class on Monday so it was just the two of us.

We chatted as I do when I am working one on one and I was excited to tell her the nugget of information I learned about how to get a traffic camera installed locally. I know she walks a lot.

She told me her life partner was killed last year crossing in a crosswalk with the light in the afternoon by a car turning into him. The driver cooperated with the authorities.

On my God, I had no idea.

I looked it up when I got home. This was last October; he was 82, a retired math professor that ran a local historic trolley for fun.

You just never know what people are going through. It is very sad.

Apparently one needs a top-loading washer to felt knitting projects. Kes has made some adorable gray slippers with a red snowflake pattern and so she is planning on coming up this weekend and hang out while they felt.

I am looking forward to it as I am spending too much time alone. Both Mrs. Sherlock and my online therapist have been on vacation this last week. The work stuff affects me more, even when I write about it privately, if I don’t talk about it.

The plumber guy came yesterday and installed a new disposal and fixed my sink. He also fixed my toilet that hasn’t been filling automatically for many many months.

I admit, even when I focus on gratitudes I don’t think I have ever said out loud how incredibly grateful I am for a functional kitchen sink. I live in an apartment so don’t have a basement sink and although I do have two sinks in my bathroom they are shallow and just not a useful substitute. Won’t be taking that for granted anymore.

We are turning straight into fall. The leaves are just beginning to change on the east facing Oregon maples and the light is changing every day.

And the weekend is very close.

Last updated August 23, 2019