;)
This is it, right here - the only three humans that I had any direct contact with today. Carmen, of course, Samantha, who is in the fourth grade, but "going on fifth," and her mother, Tina. This happened a bit after 4:00 PM, when I got into the car and drove to Metro Cafe to get my Americano, and to listen to one hour of NPR, followed by President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address.
Other than these three, I did not come within face-to-face talking range of any other humans this entire day.
;)
When I got up, Caleb had already gone to bed. I almost punched the auto-start to the car so that it could warm up and I could head to Mat-Su Valley Family Restaurant, but it seemed to me that I should eat oatmeal today.
So I scooped some out of the round Quaker Oats box, put it in bowl, ran a little water into it, pulled a pack of mixed berries out of the freezer, dumped a handful in, micro-waved it for two minutes and then, surrounded by cats, ate it.
I also had a banana and a cup that I brewed myself.
;)
Afterward, I took my walk and as I did, I exchanged a series of text messages with Lavina. Her situation is getting to be quite nerve-wracking. The contractions that she has now been having for a good week at least have intensified. They are getting strong and causing her significant pain. She is exhausted. Still, the doctor is telling her to stay home and stay in bed until they get to be about 15 minutes apart.
Right now, they are 30 minutes to one hour apart. Her doctor still hopes to delay this birth a bit, as the baby is not officially due until one month from today and it would be good for s/he grow a bit before coming out.
But I hate to have Lavina suffering. It is hard for me to stay home. A couple of times today, I almost dropped everything to drive to Anchorage, but then if I got there and the baby still did not come for a couple of days, that would be kind of crazy.
I don't think s/he's going to wait until Tuesday for Grandma Margie to come home, though. As for Grandma Mary, she has given up the idea of coming. She still has some recovering to do from the injuries she sustained in the crash.
So Lavina's sister, LaVerne, is coming, with her young daughter, Gracie.
I am excited to see them.
After we quit texting, I looked from my iPhone and saw this jet passing overhead, going north.
;)
Royce in the afternoon - he seems to be improving, but he is still mighty skinny.
;)
That brings me back to coffee-break time. Here is Samantha, by herself. I, of course, am sitting in my car at the drive-through window.
;)
Now I am driving, drinking my Americano, listening to the news, waiting for the Obama State of the Union Address.
;)
At the very moment that I pass by this house, Obama begins to speak.
;)
His speech continues as I wait at a stop sign for this car to go by.
;)
I had thought that I would return home and finish listening to the speech in my office, but I did not want to get out of the car. So I bought a hamburger and a glass of water for dinner, and then ate it in the parking lot, not far from the Tesoro station.
I thought it was an excellent speech. Our President said some things that needed to be said and as I listened to him, I once again felt the rise of a sense of hope - yet, I'm pretty sure that those who needed to hear what needed to be said have already shook it all off and are busy planning and acting out the mischief that will build up their egos, spread the word of nonsense, hype fear and tear down our country.
Our nation drowns in absurdity - and my little town has contributed far, far, far, FAR more than its fair share. But damn - I still love this place.
;)
After I returned home, I read Apple's announcement on its new iPad computer. This is just the tool that I wish I had 30 years ago, but new developments come along with they come along. I can't wait to get my hands on one. Maybe I can create little digital books about cats and coffee, and market them to people with iPads.
Margie called. She is a bit discouraged to be so far away as our new grandchild apparently draws so nigh to being born.
Somewhere near 10:00 PM, Caleb rose from bed and slipped off silently to work, so I never laid eyes on him today. The only folks I saw were Carmen, Samantha and Tina - just long enough to get an Americano served to me through the drive-through window. Other than that, my only companions today were cats and fish.
I love my cats and fish, but I think I will go to Family Restuarant tomorrow morning. I will spend half-an-hour or so in the midst of other humans, as their knives and forks clink against their plates and they ignore me and say clever things to each other and make each other laugh, or perhaps tell somber and grim stories and frown at each other.
My waitress won't ignore me, though. No. She will treat me right. At Family Restaurant, the waitresses all treat you right. They are excellent waitresses, each and every one.
Of course, if my phone should ring sometime between now and breakfast... then I will be off to go meet my new grandchild instead.