Argh. This morning I could not find the key to the mailbox. It is on a large fob, so it can't get lost.
I used it last night, picked up a New Yorker magazine on my way to dinner. Remembered seeing it on the way home...or did I?
I took a walk over to the restaurant but the aren't open now.
Checked the pants I wore yesterday after the washer was done.
Looked all through my purse several times.
Looked through the New Yorker.
Checked the catch-all to see if there is another one.
Finally, called the locksmith. $130!

Decided to watercolor while waiting for the locksmith. Put on a CD, and there on the coffee table - the mailbox key.

So now the quandary. Do I cancel the locksmith and admit my deficiencies? Or pay $130 and pretend I don't lose things?

I invited J to be a family with our iPhones, sharing apps and tunes. He ignored me for about 3 months, and then sent an invitation to be in HIS family. I said, "woohoo!" because the inviter has the credit card for the shared purchases. (There is an approval process if one choses to invoke it)

Except he never added the confirmation code for his credit card and now I can't buy anything unless I leave the family. 

Stopped in Berea where we have visited the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea previously.  On this day we found the street with artisanal workers and visited Painter's Palette Gallery and the Gastineau Studio. We spent so much time at these that we had to skip the fiber place, the weaver's shop, and the instrument maker, plus, plus, plus. Have to go back!

Two "hipster sipper" pewter cups from Gastinaeau Studio.


Turning a pewter cup

Jokes of the day:

The chances of Trump getting the Republican nomination are as slim as the Chicago Cubs leading their division!  

Momma Bear abd Pap Bear were getting a divorce. Baby Bear was asked if wanted to live with Momma. "No," he said. "She beats me." But what about with Poppa? "No, he beats me too." Exasperated, the judge said, "Well, who DO you want to live with?"

Baby Bear said, "The Chicago Bears. They don't beat anybody!"

We're watching the morning news. I took a big swig of coffee. J. Said, "I think Trump might win this election."
Choke.
Coffee everywhere.

For a friend undergoing chemo, her daughter has used a website called mealtrain.com to organize meals for her mom and dad. Friends always ask, "what can I do to help?" but then someone has to coordinate who is helping with what and when. This program includes a shared calendar and meal or errand instructions to answer questions in advance.

When planning my mom's funeral, I had a"What can I do to help, just ask, anything?" call  but when I listed a need like drive to Big City and pick up Auntie Em at the airport, the response was "well, no, I don't have time for THAT." An exchange like that leaves a bad taste. With this, the needs and preferences can be added to an interactive, online calendar, invitations to participate can be sent via e-mail and facebook, there are reminder emails, and there is an online journal for updates.

I hope my friend uses the journal. It would be nice to hear, without feeling like I'm intruding, how she is progressing.

Suggested uses for meal train: Arrival of a new baby, injuries/surgery, military deployment, extended illnesses, condolences, group events.

Prepping for the trip, I've switched from my overstuffed wallet in the bottom of a shoulder bag to a small, only the essentials bag so what I need is easily accessible.

This holds money, credit cards, passport, phone, and their is a pouch for paperwork, like tickets or other travel documents.

What didn't make the cut:

After 24 hours of testing, I've added a pen and a cloth for my glasses to the essentials.

Arranging for a locksmith to visit, I typed my phone number incorrectly (fat fingers?) but I also used the cross street instead of the actual street for the address. The name of our building is the cross street - conflated the two.

Really enjoying the app Wunderlist. Easy to figure out, includes lists within lists, the ability to see (or hide) completed items.

Really glad I looked in the mirror when I brushed my teeth. My shirt was inside out and backwards. Glad there was a visible label.

Good thing about having a young person visit: we walked!
After a movie at Clark and Diversey, we went to Uncle Julio's Hacienda. I would have walked over to the red line and taken the train 2 stops. We walked instead - 37 minutes.
Another day we walked to Shake Shack, then to the John Hancock Building, then to the Chicago History Museum. 4 miles! We took the bus home.

I walk a lot in the city but mostly a mile at the most, about 20 minutes, at one time. This has been a good reminder to go the distance.

The goal is to travel for 5 months with one less than 50 pound backpack. If I can keep it to 40 pounds leaving, that would be wonderful - both for being able to walk and having room for additions.

All fairly warm destinations but could be cool at night.

Here's a suggested list 100 things to pack that might require a sherpa.
Here's a Lonely Planet guide for multi- months that says if your clothes take up more than 1/3 of your backpack, you're taking too many.
Tips from 31 experts; very helpful.


My  (less than) 100 things, so far

1 carrier (small purse, cross-body or around my neck for passport & credit cards & money
1 cloth bag for carry-on essentials, if I have to check my backpack
1 pair of sandals
1 extra pair of glasses
1 big scarf, cotton blue
1 swimming suit
1 pair of googles
4 pairs of pants (blue corduroy, gray, khaki, waterproofs)
3 underwear
3 pairs of socks
1 bra
1 bathrobe
1 night shirt
1 black and white striped sweater
1 black sleeveless top
1 black top
1 white tee shirt
1 coral lighter sweater
1 pink scarf
2 tunic tops (gray, blue print)
2 coverups/long tops (pink, blue floral)
1 laundry bag (could also be the carry-on bag)

The list above minus underwear

The above - about 1/2 of backpack used








1iPad (travel books, dictionary, pdfs, leisure reading, etc. pre-downloaded)
1 cell phone
1 charger and cord
  adaptor
1 ear buds
1 frisbee
1 bungee cord

= 38

Wear traveling: orange corduroy pants, pink and orange striped tee, orange cotton sweater,  underwear, hiking boots, hat, belt =9

We aren't leaving for another 24 days but all clothes except underwear and socks are packed and they take up 1/2 of backpack.

Practicing for a better old age / Gerald Marzorati, NY Times p.1 Opinions

The author writes about his concerted effort to learn tennis, REALlY learn tennis, with a coach and 5 hours of practice a day.

Bottom line, one seizes time and makes it yours. One counters the narrative of diminishment and loss with one of progress and bettering. One spends hours removed from the past and the present and immerse oneself in the as yet. One is looking ahead, at least for a little while longer, without wistfulness or a flinch.

Inspiring! Since retirement, I spent 5 years learning French, continually taking classes, traveling to France.
I learned to weave,
I took several ceramics classes.
The latest is watercoloring.
But we started to travel A LOT, maybe 6 months out of a year. It's made keeping up with weaving and ceramics difficult.
What is my new passion for learning? Could it be travel?