June 2024
June 30, 2024 - Sunday - I hung out with one of my bothers and two of my sisters this morning until it was time to take my little sister to the airport. It was a bit rough saying goodbye to her. I met a friend after for a late lunch. Last time I was here is was raining really hard. Today it was really hot and sunny outside.
June 29, 2024 - Saturday - Today my little sister, another cousin and I drove down to Roundrock to see some other cousins and to see my Uncle, Dad’s last brother. He wasn’t able to make it for the funeral because of health issues so we went down to see him and spend some more time with family. It was a really good time. My sister-in-law brought over a bunch of tomatoes before we left.
June 28, 2024 - Friday - Tonight I had dinner with my cousin, his wife and my little sister. It was cool to hang out with them for the first time in a long while. After dinner they invited us over to try some whiskeys and listen to his music in his music room. I forgot what music sounds like coming from really good speakers. It was a good time.
June 27, 2024 - Thursday - Today we laid Dad to rest. When Mom passed a very dear friend came to be with me through the service so I wouldn’t be alone. She reprised her role as my “better half” again today. Riley got up and shared a touching tribute to Dad too. This is the first military funeral I remember and it was quite an experience. Dad was well honored.
June 26, 2024 - Wednesday - Tonight we had the viewing at the funeral home. It was so good to see so much family and so many friends. So good to hear so many kind words and so many stories. Like at Mom’s service many of the grandkids got up and shared stories. It still amazes me what a great group of “kids” they all are. Ended the evening with a good stiff drink.
June 25, 2024 - Tuesday - I’ve sat here a million times and have never seen a cardinal here. This one stuck around for a while hopping in the tall grass. This morning I sat here and planned to spend the day going through my library of photos to get the video for Dad’s service done. As much as it kinda hurts to do this, I did Mom’s and had to do Dad’s.
June 24, 2024 - Monday - We met at the funeral home to review all the details to get Pop laid to rest. In my mind none of the details matter at all to me. I don’t care what’s on the cover of the guestbook. I don’t care if this ribbon or any ribbon is on this or that. The funeral director handed this to me while we were viewing caskets. One of my sisters will be getting his flag so he thought I should get something.
June 23, 2024 - Sunday - About 150 miles north of where I was yesterday, but it feels like a million miles away. I am blessed with more incredible friends than any one man deserves. Yesterday my best friend invited me to come and spend time with him and his family. To come and have a regular day, ease my mind and feel the love of him and his wonderful family.
June 22, 2024 - Saturday - Today Dad passed away. While how it unfolded was not how I ever could have imagined or expected, I think it was definitely the best way for Pop to make his exit. Just so thankful he didn’t have to go back into the hospital again. Turns out today was his and mom’s anniversary too. Must have been one heck of a reunion.
June 21, 2024 - Friday - In all of my 55 years on this planet I have never owned a pair of boots. And I guess I still don’t own a pair. They only gave me this one. To be honest I kind of feel like Buz Lightyear in this thing and I wish I had one for the other foot. I would probably fall down the stairs for sure then. To inifinity and beyond.
June 20, 2024 - Thursday - For the last week and a half or so my left foot has been hurting. I thought it was a flair up. I haven’t had one of those in a really long time, thankfully. My rheumatologist recommended an orthopedic doctor and according to the guy I talked to there’s a stress fracture right there on the left. I don’t see anything but that’s where it hurts so who knows.
June 19, 2024 - Wednesday - I don’t know if this thing out back is a really big bush or a small-ish tree. Whatever it is we pass by it every time we leave for a walk. This evening was really overcast but we stopped to get a photo of these buds growing all over it. There were quite a few bees and this really big bumblebee was hanging out too. PS: I hate mosquitoes.
June 18, 2024 - Tuesday - Today I had my own appointment with a kidney doctor. Having had arthritis for the last 29 years I’ve taken my fair share of ibuprofen. Its’s had an adverse affect on my kidneys and I can’t take them anymore. My kidney numbers have been a bit elevated lately but found out today, like my cholesterol, my numbers are much better.
June 17, 2024 - Monday - Today was a long, rough day. Dad was up quite a few times last night. Amy and I took him to the VA for a dr visit. It wasn’t an appointment so we were there a really long time. At the end of the day I was sitting at my desk. I just glanced down at my passport and imagined getting in my car with my phone, wallet and passport and not looking back for a long while.
June 16, 2024 - Sunday - There was so much food left over from our gathering yesterday. Eva also made me a cake for me since I didn’t get any cake on my actual birthday. She’s so kind. It was really easy to give away a bunch of the ribs and other meats. No one wanted to take a giant slice of cake with them!?!?! My nutritionist will not be happy.
June 15, 2024 - Saturday - My little sister and one of my cousins planned a Cousin’s Get Together today at the house. Some Aunts and Uncles showed up too. One of my aunts made a cake for all the June birthdays. It was a delicious chocolate cake. I felt like Brucy sitting in front of it. These are my other June birthday cousins.
June 14, 2024 - Friday - Today I got out of work a little early and drove into Dallas to meet Riley and her fiancee for a birthday dinner. I stopped and got my car washed and cleaned out too. It looks so nice now. Dinner was great and the present they got me was even better. We’ll be going to Mexico in the fall so I can meet his family and have a little vacation.
June 13, 2024 - Thursday - Next week I have a doctor’s appointment. I had to get some labs done today so next week they can tell me if I’m dying or just overweight. Hahahaha. I took off the wrap around my arm and set it down. I noticed it kinda looked like Scarecrow from the Batman series so in the absence of anything better, it’s my photo of the day.
June 12, 2024 - Wednesday - Today Dad had an appointment in Dallas. It’s about an hour drive to the VA. We stopped for lunch on the way home. Later in the day Dad decided he wanted to ride his bike for only the second time in several months. He went up and down the drive way a couple of times.
une 11, 2024 - Tuesday - I went grocery shopping during lunch. I had to go run an errand too. My birthday was pretty uneventful until I was helping Dad get settled for bed. I was about to walk out when he said come here and let me give you a hug. As we were hugging he said, “You’re all that I got and more than I need.” A pretty great birthday after all.
June 10, 2024 - Monday - Eva has been at it again. She made a big batch of these dark chocolate chip muffins last week and boy are they good! I’m embarrassed to admit there aren’t a whole lot of them left and I am mostly to blame for that. I like to think that I’m just being grateful.
June 9, 2024 - Sunday - This past week I came across these in the grocery store. This was my mid-morning, before lunch snack. I love fresh cherries especially when they’re cold. There were a lot of squishy, overly bruised cherries that I couldn’t/wouldn’t eat. But still I wish I were pitting these to make a pie. I need to call my friend.
June 8, 2024 - Saturday - Eva came out again today so I was able to go meet a friend for lunch today. My birthday celebrations have begun. I’m usually not a big fan of flan but this was pretty good especially the bits of chocolate dabs around the plate. I hope there’s a big slice of chocolate cake in my future.
June 7, 2024 - Friday - I came out to sit with Dad when Eva was getting ready to leave for the day. I was flipping through the channels to find something for us to watch and came across this. We didn’t watch the whole thing but I sure do love this movie. This is one of the first funny movies I remember seeing as a kid. Bernadette Peters made me realize I like girls when I was little.
June 6, 2024 - Thursday - Early in the evening Dad decided he wanted to go for a walk out to the fire pit. I went with and saw this growing on the side of the wood pile out there. I went in to get my camera. I’m surprised there aren’t mosquitoes in this photo. I could see them swarming all around. I was eaten quite a bit in just the few minutes we were out there.
June 5, 2024 - Wednesday - I had a photo the pasta we had for dinner as my photo of the day, until I came into my room at the end of the day. Zak was here keeping my spot warm. I put down my laptop and picked up my camera and got this one of him. Sometimes he doesn’t always stay still for photos but this was a good one.
June 4, 2024 - Tuesday - There’s a really large hibiscus bush on the side of the house. It’s doing significantly better than any of the rose bushes around the house. After our morning walk I came back out with my camera and was taking a few photos when this bee flew by. Apparently I was interrupting his breakfast.
June 3, 2024 - Monday - I think Dad likes Biscuit more than Pancake or maybe Biscuit likes Dad more than Pancake does. Either way she goes over and lays in Dad’s lap almost every time. Pancake stays with me or next to me. That’s how I ended up with another image of Pancake today.
June 2, 2024 - Sunday - Today was a very lazy day. Dad and I spent a lot of time on the couch. I think we only got out to get dinner. Biscuit is super attentive when I have food. This is my view pretty much anytime I have food. I do kind of admire her tenacity. Zak and Pancake go lay down when I tell them. I have to tell Biscuit a few times. She just wants to make sure I’m serious.
June 1, 2024 - Saturday - Today I got out of the house early. I met a friend for lunch and then went up to see my friend and his family up in Plano. It rained really hard while we were having lunch but fortunately stopped by the time we left. It was good to hang out with my friends today and their pets. Yogi is a good buddy.