2024 Life Logs, Day 159: Coco and Jo in Boston, Indian Dinner with the Goldstones
Date: Friday, June 7, 2024
Weather: Beautiful Day; Temp 73, Low 59 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

The time with Justin and family is passing by way too quickly. We have only two days left before they leave at 4 am on Monday morning. Jo and Coco will return from Boston tomorrow afternoon, but then Sam and Jed have to leave by 3 pm to head almost 2 hours north for a soccer tournament game from 5 to 7 pm. And if Sam’s team wins tomorrow night’s game, he and Jed will have to do a repeat performance on Sunday afternoon and evening. If they win, maybe we can have brunch on Sunday morning so the whole family can be together one more time. But we made the most of our time this evening by ordering Indian food from the Golden Swan and eating here in the front yard. After dinner, Sam took Ollie, Jonah, and Ziggy to the beach to play with a frisbee but returned sooner than expected because Sam got a cut on his heel by stepping on a sharp piece of metal. After he got that cleaned up, we all sat together around the fire pit.

We missed Jo and Coco, but Jo kept sending photos of Coco and her friend Lily as they got ready for the Melanie Martinez concert tonight. and more photos and videos of the girls at the concert. Jo said Coco was so excited she could hardly contain herself. I will look forward to hearing more about this from Coco when she returns tomorrow.

2024 Life Logs, Day 158: Coco and Jo Off to Boston
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Weather: Rainy Day; Temp 68, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

We have had beautiful weather the whole time JJZ&C have been here, but today it rained all day, ending in a foggy evening. I had PT this morning. Then in the early afternoon, Jo and Coco were off to Boston. Coco’s Christmas present last year was a ticket to a Melanie Martinez concert at TD Gardens. Ziggy asked her why she was so excited. He said, “It’s not Christmas, you know.” She replied that is Christmas for her. Justin drove them to the Quincy Adams T station south of Boston and they took the T to the Medford-Tufts stop which is a short walk from the Airbnb they are renting. Coco’s friend, Lily, and her mother were flying in from Missouri to meet them. Tomorrow they will tour Boston and then go to the concert. Then on Saturday, they will take the T back to Quincy Adams to be picked up.

Ziggy and I watched a Star Wars movie in the afternoon, followed by a taco dinner. Then Justin and I watched Dune 1. I asked him if he wanted to watch Dune 2 with me, but since he had never seen the first one, this will be a two night affair. Ziggy has zero interest in watching what he deems to be a long, boring movie. However, Justin and I really enjoyed it. But the biggest excitement here at home today was the snapping turtle in the driveway. Lots of snappers out and about these days.

2024 Life Logs, Day 157: Trip to Hyannis, Fabulous Dinner at the Goldstones
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Weather: Mostly Sunny; Temp 68, Low 63 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

The trip to Hyannis was necessary because I had my three-week post op appointment with my knee surgeon, Dr. Timothy Kinkead. I got good reports all around. The x-rays looked good, the bandage was removed from my incision, and it looks good. Next week I can stop wearing the compression stockings and stop taking the Aspirin as a blood thinner. Dr. Kinkead was very happy with my progress to date and said I can drive if I can easily push on the brake pedal. He saw no reason that I shouldn’t be able to do that now. He said that I should spend a day going in and out of the car and just practicing pushing on the brake. Once I do that and feel comfortable with it, I’ll drive a short distance and see how it goes. I don’t have another appointment with Dr. Kinkead until May of next year and that is just to check in and see how things are going. All good.

While I was at Cape Cod Orthopedics, JJZ&C walked down Main Street in Hyannis, mostly window shopping but buying a pair of Carhartt pants for Ziggy at the Army surplus store. Then it was on to the Cape Cod Mall for lunch at 5 Guys. Justin had a 3 pm Zoom meeting, so he headed to Barnes & Nobles and the rest of us followed soon. He sat in the coffee shop for his meeting while Ziggy, Coco, and Jo just enjoyed looking through all the books. They do not have a book store in western Puerto Rico, so this was a special treat. Then after Justin’s meeting, he and I took off to run some shopping errands in Hyannis while Jo, Ziggy, and Coco walked through the mall. The bookstore was definitely the highlight of their afternoon, but the successful visit with Dr. Kinkead was my highlight.

We didn’t get home until almost 6 pm, so we all took a little rest before heading to Heather and Jed’s for dinner. While I was icing my leg, Mark’s brother Steve called from Florida. I hadn’t heard from Steve for about two years, so we had a wonderful conversation, catching up on all the Handley news. Then it was on to H & J’s. Sam was not home tonight as he had soccer practice in Hyannis, but the rest of us enjoyed a meal of seared ahi tuna served with asparagus and arugula, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and dried cranberry salad

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Everything was delicious. So, another big thank you to Heather and Jed.

2024 Life Logs, Day 156: Pancakes, PT, and Pizza
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Weather: Mostly Sunny; Temp 67, Low 57 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Pancakes, PT, and pizza all in one day. I almost never eat pancakes and pizza, but I did it today and survived just fine. This morning, I made Tassajara whole wheat pancakes for Ziggy and Coco and decided I just had to try them. These were a staple in our house as Heather and Justin were growing up, so it was like a trip down memory lane. This afternoon Jo took me to PT. Things are moving along. I now have 125 degrees of knee flection and will find out from my knee surgeon tomorrow how he thinks I am doing.

In the late afternoon, we headed over to Heather and Jed’s. H & J were going out tonight to a Farming Falmouth affair, so we offered to come over and spend the evening with the boys. We ordered Moto Pizza and enjoyed the pizza and an evening of fun. For a while we just sat around talking and then the kids (that includes Justin) went down to the basement to play ping pong and foosball. So great to be with all five grandkids!

2024 Life Logs, Day 155: Gardening Day with JJZ&C
Date: Monday, June 3, 2024
Weather: Overcast AM, Mostly Sunny PM; Temp 78, Low 56 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

My Christmas present from JJZ&C was a day of gardening work and today was that day. We got most of the plants that I started from seed planted, fixed the garden fencing, got two of the four raised beds in the garden ready to plant, dug up much of the prickly weed that seems to take over in the summer and accomplished many other miscellaneous jobs. What a wonderful Christmas gift! We got lobster rolls for lunch from Jack in the Beanstalk for those of us who love lobster. Otherwise, it was just a low-key day. Late afternoon we made two strawberry rhubarb pies, one with a regular crust and the other with a grain-free crust for Jo. Coco took a walk downtown, Ziggy went over to be with Jonah and Sam after school, and Jo, Justin, and I worked together to fix dinner. We ate dinner outside, but when the sun goes down, it does feel a bit cool outside. So, we came back inside to have dessert. It was the first time I have ever made a strawberry rhubarb pie with no granulated sugar. I substituted maple syrup and that worked great.

2024 Life Logs, Day 154: A Walk About Town and a Cookout at the Goldstones
Date: Sunday, June 2, 2024
Weather: Another Beautiful Day; Temp 73, Low 61 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

It was another lovely day with family. In the early afternoon, JJZ&C went for a walk about town with me and my Shadow. We walked to the far end of town and then back home.
It was probably about a mile and a half, the longest walk I’ve been on since my knee surgery, and it was fine. I still get tired easily, but otherwise the healing process is moving along. I see my surgeon for my post-op check up on Wednesday. I’m anxious to find out how he thinks I am doing.

Mid-afternoon, Heather invited all of us to come over. We were going there for dinner, but she thought it would be nice to come early and just hang out together. I had planned a repeat of the marinated meat and veggie dinner we had on Memorial Day and started marinating the chicken and steak tips yesterday. So I sent the meat and lettuce from the garden with Justin and gang and I stayed home to prep the veggies. It takes a lot of food to feed the 10 of us! When I was ready, Justin came to pick me up. Jed did the grilling. Thank you, Jed! And Heather made the salad and did all of the other preparation. It was a great dinner that all but Jonah enjoyed. He got braces on Friday and is having a hard time eating anything but mac and cheese and yogurt!

2024 Life Logs, Day 153: Happy First Day of June with Family
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Weather: Beautiful, Sunny and Warm; Temp 73, Low 53 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Justin and family arrived late last night and this morning they tested to see if they still were positive for Covid. They all tested negative, so the first thing we did was to have a family hug. The weather could not have been better today, so we took time to enjoy sitting outside and just relaxed into a very laid-back day. Heather, Jonah, and Ollie came to visit during the morning, but Coco and Ziggy had already taken off for an explore down Main Street. Ollie and Jonah took off to find them and then Sam arrived. He took the SAT this morning and just stopped to say hello. He drove downtown and met up with the others. Later in the afternoon, after Heather and gang headed home for afternoon soccer games, JJZ&C and I went on a shopping expedition. They found out this morning that the dress Coco ordered to wear to the concert she is going to in Boston on Friday is not going to arrive in time. We first went to Hand in Hand, the thrift store, and then on to Mashpee. She did find a dress that will be a great substitute, Ziggy found a pair of pants, and I did a little grocery shopping.

Then it was home for a wee nap and dinner. I had planned a big cook out, but Sam had a night soccer game in Boston and could not be here. So, we postponed that until tomorrow night and ordered out sushi tonight. Then we sat around the fire pit. This was a perfect first day of June with my family.

2024 Life Logs, Day 151: PT, Welcome Newcomers, and Guilty x 34
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Weather: Overcast with Mist and Rain; Temp 63, Low 51 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty,
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty,
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. Yep. That is 34.

I was at a Welcome Newcomers event from 4 to 6 this afternoon, and near the end of that time an Encore friend came in showing everyone his phone. There were exclamations of joy, and then I heard the word “guilty.” I had a moment of disbelief and then I had to go look at that phone. Sure enough, our former President had really been found guilty on all 34 counts. From my point of view, our justice system proved itself to be just. Who knows where this will lead, but finally there is some accountability. The evidence was all there. I guess I just didn’t believe a jury would ever be able to come to total agreement. Yes, to the rule of law.

The Welcome Newcomers event was hosted by Encore. After seven years in Newcomers, you move on to Encore. Some opt to end their participation, but most move up. This was our opportunity to welcome those Newcomers and it was lovely event despite the nasty weather. In the hour leading up to the event, the wind started gusting and a steady, misty rain set in. I had my second PT session from 2:45 to 3:45 this afternoon. Karen Baranowski dropped me at the hospital rehab center, drove to the event to drop off my contributions, and then came back to get me. I did a quick change after my session and off we went. Everything was just perfect and I think everyone in attendance did feel truly welcome. Lovely event.

Tomorrow will be spent moving myself into the studio apartment in anticipation of Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco’s arrival tomorrow night. Since they are doing a show tonight, I don’t know how early they will get started tomorrow morning. It could be quite late when they arrive as Friday traffic up the I 95 corridor can be brutal. If so, there won’t be much visited until Saturday, but it will feel really good to just have then here.

2024 Life Logs, Day 150: Public Policy Meeting and Ollie’s Spring Band Concert
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Weather: Sunny; Temp 70, Low 57 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA

Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco did make it to Washington, DC, this morning, slept most of the day, and ventured down to the mall in the late afternoon. Evidently, they are all feeling good enough to be out and about. Hopefully by this time Friday night, they will be here.

This morning, I spent some time getting the house ready for the family visit. Then I had an Exploring Public Policy meeting this afternoon. The topic today was How to Talk About Climate Change. I led the discussion based on an article by Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist who says the most important thing you can do to fight climate change is to talk about. And I then went to Ollie’s spring 5th and 6th band concert.

I am always amazed at the quality of music performed by these upper elementary students. Their band teacher, Thomas Borning, does an incredible job. The 5th grade band plays, then the 6th grade band, and finally the jazz band. Ollie plays the saxophone in the jazz band and they were really good tonight.

They played three songs written by Mr. Borning, the titles all word plays on nearby towns: Plymouth Rocks, Mashed Peas (Mashpee), and Sand Witch (Sandwich). Afterwards, we made a trip to Smitty’s to celebrate with Ollie’s friend Simon and his dad.