We’ve managed a nice walk together every morning, except the day we skipped and the one we went on in the evening. We walked to Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and Publix on different occasions. I meet Priscilla (who loves to garden) and Marjorie (from Buffalo, NY), and walk a few laps with Mary Jo (and her swollen knee), which leads to coffee at her house. I changed the insoles in my Altra Lone Peak 9+ shoes a few months ago, but the soles are finally wearing out after their designated lifespan.

I logged almost three times their max mileage of 500, but some of that walking was done in flip-flops, slides, and barefoot (so definitely not an accurate measure of usage). It’s a good thing I’m replacing my shoes before a trip, unlike when I went to Japan and walked myself into foot pain (possibly plantar fasciitis and runner’s toe in an attempt to avoid the first injury). I walk Sarah’s dogs seven times, and we’re leaving for Europe the same day, about two hours apart.

Great Egret

Coming from the pool, I talk with Diana, who is usually on the phone while standing around with her dog (an ancient version of Toto). I spent some time with Sue C., had a glass of wine, recycled some large boxes, and was offered a large bird painting. I talk with Christine B. and check in on Dar and Grace while she’s away at a waterfront home watching a little dog named Lucy. I get more cookies and conversation from Penny, and a book to borrow from Jan, along with a swimsuit to try on. I’ll return the bikini to her at her 59th birthday celebration.

She had planned to bake her own cake, but with a busted thumb, Adrian helped squeeze the lemons for the two layers of curd and put the coconut frosting on top. I talk with Jen G. and admire the peach fuzz on her scalp in preparation for surgery. Then I met Jen H.’s husband, Ed, and their daughter, and her dog. I spent a few hours listening to Deb Y. talk about tailgate parties, travel in Mexico, and plastic sand. I sat for a couple of hours in Tina’s garage, entertaining Mike R. (over 80 years old) with my youthful energy.

Cuban tree frog

Roberto invites me to stay for pineapple because of the memories he and his wife have of getting such a sweet treat from a delivery truck in Brazil or Colombia. An invite to their home is never without aconchego or gemütlichkeit (a balance of inviting warmth) to the point where we have to walk away while chatting. I’m grateful for the time spent with them, never in a hurry but always busy. I chat with Susie while her 19-year-old cat Molly gets some outside time. Amanda tells me about trips abroad with her class.

Dawn shows me the latest homemade dress and towel set for the grandkids while I sacrifice my legs to mosquitoes. I sit with Linda on her lanai and discuss books, friends, and injuries. I hang out with Delight for a bit while she sells a lamp, one of a few she doesn’t need anymore. I finally met Dallas’ adult nephew while he was cleaning his truck. My talk with KaraLee is interrupted by a call from Helen. We spent two hours on the phone this month.

Dar and Grace

Anytime I see Tulie (a Cavapoo), it gives me an opportunity to chat with Pat and Mike about gardening, grandkids, and gnomes. I return Gary’s books and tell him I’ll wait to return from my trip to borrow more, but I’m glad I didn’t, so that I could enjoy another Sam Kean book, The Icepick Surgeon, before departure. I finished Life by Keith Richards and gained a new perspective on the musician’s lifestyle. I quickly read Maisie Dobbs for the book club by skipping the middle flashback, and was excited and disappointed by Trail of the Lost because I have a love/hate relationship with the PCT.

I met Chris D.’s grandson on his way to the mall to get his sunglasses fixed with his grandpa. I see more of Lisa walking with Harper or Lucas, sometimes both, dressed for her tennis court visit. I talk with Christine R. about Spanish (she’s also on Duolingo) and gardening (a popular pastime). I spent almost four hours on the phone with Fallon and close to 42 minutes talking with Dad on his birthday. I managed to finish four short posts about the rest of the trip from August 2019. We get invited to Al’s heated pool, and I enjoy talking with his son, Grant, about calculus while the guys move a table.

Sandhill cranes

I’m learning the difference between alsjeblieft and alstublieft (informal vs formal, please) so that I may ask for een kopje koffie while in the Netherlands; not that they won’t speak better English than me. I spent a few days working on two 1000-piece boat-themed puzzles while still working out some travel logistics for our time in Europe. I haven’t played the piano for but two hours, but I love having it available for when I’m in the mood or a friend who plays comes over.

I called USF, since it has been months since I first applied, and the delay is that they “lost” my one-class transcript for five weeks in their online system. I’m not sure how this happens, and it doesn’t give me hope, but others have assured me it’s difficult to get into a Florida university; that, or people simply move on to another school that is willing to do the work on time, so they can coordinate their schedules and get on with their education and the rest of their lives. I might be taking another business degree if I haven’t been accepted by May.

North American wheel big nymph

We go paddleboarding at Sunset Beach, and I see a sea turtle, a cute medium one with barnacles on its back. We both see many sting rays, some calm and others disturbed by the giant shadow passing over them, causing them to stir up sand in their getaway. It was a lovely high tide, and we beat the crowds. I look forward to going out again next month and also going to the park to paddle among the gators. We eat at Fireside again, and after we learn that it’s Dawn’s favorite place that she visits weekly. Our neighbors are super supportive of our upcoming trip and are looking forward to the photos.

I moonlight as employed on a Sunday, so that Mitchell, whom I haven’t seen in a year, can take his new fiancée (also named Jessica) to get baptized at a beach over an hour away while I watch his two kids, Layla and Brodie, five and three years old. I give them a ride to/from the park, which is only a few minutes farther from their old house. They have moved at least four times in two years. They have fun playing in the fountains for an hour, so they change when we get back to the house for an evening of making chalk rainbows, helping cook eggs, playing with magnetic tiles, and hide-and-seek (in front of me).

Caleb rotates the tires on the car, as he had forgotten how difficult it was last time with the size jack we have. At least we are remembering to get it done with these tires. Caleb is gifted a bread-loaf-sized eggplant parmesan, so we cook that for dinner. That vegetable is difficult to cook, which is the same reason I don’t make hash browns. Caleb will throw two soccer or volleyballs back into a schoolyard just for there to be even more when we pass by the next morning. It’s too bad the guard can’t add that simple task to his list of duties. Caleb gets a haircut because he’s not used to having it on his neck.