Yeah, as a matter of fact I do have a permit for it...

Okay, attitude improved.

Made it through the doc appointment today only to learn—wait for it—I must have tendonitis. Well, it’s over. That's the important part. I scored my prescriptions, was given a clean bill of health (even though no one laid hands on me, not even a stethoscope), and finagled some physical therapy. Which starts tomorrow.

Took a trip out to PetSmart this afternoon. Picked up some goodies for the cats. Kit in particular.

Read a Denis Johnson essay when I got home, then tried to take a nap.

Feel exhausted for the first time in a long time over nothing but worry. Guess it’ll pass. Talked to our wonderful neighbor R, this morning before driving out to the doc’s. Always good to see her when I think my life is out of whack. What a jewel, she is.

Summer came knocking this afternoon with temps in the eighties. After all this time! Hope it’s not the start of a heat wave yet, but I suppose it can’t be far away. At least the planting is out of the way. Will cut the lawn tomorrow, after therapy. Tonight, just gonna sit and reflect. Toss back a few Tylenol.

In my own defense...

I haven’t quit caring. Not as such. I’m just tired of everything and everyone. It’s probably the arm that’s making me crabby, but then again maybe not.

Was up early, started to write, then quit out of apathy and went back to bed. Might have been the best decision I made all week.

FaceTimed with Jackie when I got up. A second sunrise.

Grocery shopping went all right, though can’t say it was particularly exciting. Those of us with masks looked with disdain upon those who didn’t, and we all understood was going to come to a head someday. S told me to chill, some security guy in Target had his arm broken in a dispute over a mask. Yeah, this country’s great all right…

Neighborhood kids have been creeching and wailing all day. Laid down to rest and some bozo’s car alarm went off—twice—for fifteen minutes at a stretch. Not sure I can pass up a trip to Wyoming, plague or not.

Hope the doc’s appointment tomorrow morning goes well.

Got in a workout and a walk today, and neither did much good.

Rain! At last!

Okay. Let’s review just this much.

Up early? Yeah. Revisions? Check. Yard work? Of course. Workout? Yup.

So there you have it.

Another day on the block.

Did manage a quick trip to Ace to buy some compost for the new apple tree. Other than that (and a short nap) the day passed pretty much the same as all the others.

Started another short piece this morning. One I’ve been thinking about for while.

Tomorrow, back to the novel.

Ha! It's only Friday!

Tough day.

Writing went well, managed a pretty good workout, even got in some nursery shopping—but everything was overshadowed by the arm.

Picked up a small espalier apple tree to plant against the north wall of the house on the back patio. Didn’t have the ambition to get it in the ground, but think it’s going to look pretty good once its planted.

Took a long nap after I got home and woke feeling better. The pain was still there, but mitigated.

Rained while I was asleep, and by the look of things more than a sprinkle for a change. Yard’s starting to shape up. Even the grass.

Read a nice essay by Sherman Alexie when I got up. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

So this is how it goes...

Launched into work early this morning after another decent night’s sleep. A cloudy sunrise gave way to a beautiful day later on. Cool, sunny. Blue sky.

Got in a nice workout, too, despite the arm hurting pretty good. Not sure what’s going on in the world at the moment, and don’t really care. Just wanna get back to the long piece, make some strides, and not worry about anything else.

Letter from Jack today. Simple, wonderful, touching.

Took a late afternoon drive out to Hardings Nursery to scout bushes to replace the dying arbor vitae. Hardly any people out there, and of those who were, most were wearing masks.

Re-read Gina Berriault’s “The Bystander” this afternoon. Lovely piece of work. Been a while since I spent time with it, and happy, as always, I did.

Took a nap after the drive out to the nursery. Fell into a deep sleep.

Veal piccata tonight.

Bring me another, doc, and make it a double...

Another decent night’s sleep—till morning.

Logged in a strong morning at the keyboard, but still haven’t finished the pieces that’ve seemed so close, so long. No worries. It’ll happen. Meanwhile, just keep plugging.

Good workout, despite the arm. After, long conversation with old buddy B in the Czech Republic.

Wish I could say something new is going on, but it wouldn’t be true. Just looking to maintain an even strain until next Monday when I see the doc. After that, things’ll either get better or I’ll get better about living with what I have.

Small reason to celebrate. Found a lotto ticket with three numbers! Now if I can only get it over to a machine and cash it in. Or, reinvest, as I like to call it.

No word from the boys for the past couple of days. Miss those guys, but that goes for a lot of things.

Someday, right?

Wins and losses...

Slept pretty well last night. Till morning, anyway. Arm had me up a little after six, but that's when I rise most days, good or bad, so it all worked out.

Put in some good time at the keyboard, then abandoned the cottage to clean the house.

TruGreen tech stopped by to do his thing, did it and left.

Drove through Starbucks for late afternoon latte, picked up a few groceries, and settled into a hot bath to see if I couldn’t knock down the ache.

Gonna take it easy tonight. See if I can’t hit the rack early and get a jump on tomorrow.

Another acceptance.

The Opiate (small pub out of NY) picked up “Working to Beat Hell.” Began to wonder if anyone would take it, given the subject matter, etc., but here we are with a new home.

Front and center...

Slept in today without meaning to. Wasn’t up until 7:40. Long night twisting and turning ruined my sleep.

Good morning working the various drafts I’ve got in play. Good morning working out, too, though the arm spoke back on occasion. Doc appointment set now for the morning of the 18th. Here’s hoping we can have a discussion that sets the rehab in motion.

Got my lawns cut this afternoon, and caught up with my neighbor R, in the process. Had a nice chat, many pleasantries.

K had her surgery this morning, and it sounds as if it went well. A couple of weeks in recovery and she should be back for eye number two. Can only imagine how good it would feel to regain all that lost vision. Who knows, might find out firsthand someday given my folks had both glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Got in a quick nap around four, then out for walk. Neighborhood quiet owing to the cool weather.

Gonna throw together some omelettes for dinner. Kick back, watch a little TV.

Entertainment galore...

Swear I live a fuller life now, during the Covid-19 days, than I had before the pandemic.

Up early after a halfway decent night’s sleep, and off to the keyboard. Put in revisions, enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee, worked out, and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Mom and Jack.

Got in walk later, after making a pot of potato leek soup. Pretty evening. Lots of sun, a cool breeze and blue skies.

Feel like I need another day fishing. Something. We’ll see what the week brings.

K goes in for cataract surgery tomorrow morning. TrueGreen guys come later in the week to diagnose the lawn problem. Need to get out and do some mowing. Venture across the street to have a look at my “nice” lawn.

Rome wasn't burnt in a day...

Just back from H&T’s for a socially-distanced glass of wine in the back yard. Nice to get out. Weather could have been better (spitting rain) but there was a fire going and the trees were pretty and the company was good, so no complaints.

Productive day at the keyboard. Close to finish on two of the new short pieces and happy with both. Need to quit dodging time with the new novel, now, bear down while the opportunity to make headway is there.

Had a nice workout around noon, then settled in for some reading a quick nap.

Looking forward to a movie tonight. Maybe a hard deep sleep if I can manage. Ten days till my physical, and with any luck, some sort of PT to get this arm in order.

This kind of thinking is (probably) counterproductive...

Talk about losing track of time.

Woke late, went to work late—hell, the rest is all a mystery.

Did get in a decent workout late morning, maybe the highlight of the day. Then went off to Costco to do a little shopping.

Tried to get in touch with the doc’s office again, but without any luck.

Socially-distanced drinks with the neighbor’s tomorrow. Tonight? Who knows.

Guess it’s the weather, but I’m feeling a little frayed. But maybe it’s the healthcare fiasco, severed brake line, miserable looking grass and all the rest.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give right now for a pain killer and a glass of wine.

You'd think otherwise...

Opposite reaction day.

Thought I was on a roll after yesterday’s small triumphs, but the whole train went off the rails after an hour-long chat with the financial advisor.

Still, got in a nice early workout, packaged up a new parcel for the boys, and got my retainer re-glued at no cost. So, whoohoo!

Figure to get up early tomorrow and soldier on.

Meantime, I’ll dream about grass, shoulder rehab, and a creel full of trout.

Inching my way back...

Managed some pretty good work at the keyboard this morning. Rest of the day went well, as well. Did some lifting and rope skipping, got my hair cut for the first time in about two months, face-timed with young Jack for about an hour, picked up the (repaired) truck, and even got in a short walk.

Almost forgot. Fertilized the lawn, too.

See the orthodontist tomorrow to have my broken retainer fixed. Also hope to hear from the doctor’s office. Was supposed to get a call back today, but—wait for it—they blew me off. Nothing like third-world medicine at Disney World prices. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Beat. Think I’ll call it an evening.

Yes, thank you. It was a lovely day...

You can’t make this shit up.

Called the doc at 9:00 this morning. Hung up, after being on hold 2 and a half hours. Drove out to the main office around two, to schedule an appointment in person, but only got the run around. Leaving, ran over a “patient parking only” sign and severed the brake fluid line in the truck.

Could’ve F*cking killed someone, but didn’t. Professional reasons.

No point going into the rest of the day because it wasn’t any better. Arm will, apparently, have to wait.

That’s it.

Welcome to the Days of Covid.

Et cum spirit tu tuo...

Self-diagnosis: brachial plexus injury. We’ll see what the doc says if/when I get to see her. Meantime, serious-ass, unrelenting pain. On the positive side of things, the lower retainer in my mouth broke, so I have something to offer a distraction. Old’s not the problem. I can hack old. Pain’s not the problem. I can hack pain. Money is—and always will be—the answer and panacea to everything medical, and otherwise.

There, bitch over. I’ll call the doc and orthodontist tomorrow and see what cooks.

Had a great day today, driving up to Sedalia and back down through Deckers. Scenery was wonderful. Even saw a wild turkey! Enjoyed a nice ham and cheese sandwich up on the mountain, and the Jeep didn’t think about breaking down until the air conditioning cacked. But hell, it wasn’t that hot, so who cares.

Observed lots of folks milling around the small towns today, and only one or two of them with masks. Social distancing apparently not a big thing with them. Judging from that weak bit of empirical evidence, I’m gonna put my money on a new uptick in infections about two weeks from now.

Breeze blowing up this evening and overcast skies. Haven’t seen rain in forever, despite the predictions of the weather people. Tonight? We’ll see.

Maybe it's time for acupuncture?

Nice lemon pasta dinner at K’s last night. Perfect evening.

Woke early and went to work on a new story. Arm’s been dreadfully sore, making the keyboard a more painful experience than it typically is, but pounded out a couple of thousand words just the same. Gotta make a doc appointment this week. See if I can’t get something done about it.

Worked out early afternoon, then went for a long walk up to Walgreens to buy some painkiller patches. Saw three deer, all young, walking up the sidewalk while going though the boys old neighborhood. Must have been on the hunt for flowers.

Day started out overcast and cloudy, but improved considerably as the afternoon wore on. The wind picked up, but the sky turned blue and the sun came out.

Taking it easy this evening. Hot dogs and potato chips. Maybe a little sipping whisky. See if I can’t catch up with Mom on the phone.

All the better for it...

Up early yesterday for a nice secluded day on the water. Drove down to the Arkansas and up Bighorn Sheep Canyon a few miles above Five Points. They’re resurfacing the road, so going was slow, but hit a lot of nice runs before the day was out and saw a lot of nice fish.

Caught five good brown, returned all but two. Also hooked and lost the biggest fish I’ve seen in my thirty-plus years of fishing that river. An absolute monster.

Up early again this morning after another hard night’s sleep on the bum arm. Somewhere in the middle of the night it ceased hurting, but came back again, with a vengeance, toward dawn. The day off was good for the head. Gave me the time to figure out where I’d gone wrong with the story I tore up. Went back to work on it this morning and, presto, it found its way to respectability.

Put in a good workout this afternoon, then went off to run errands and hang a few flower pots for K. All in all a nice quiet day.

Hey. Trout dinner tonight.

Getting my hands dirty...

Tore apart one of the short pieces I was working on an started over. Spent the morning drafting and reading. Found a new(er) short ”Warrior Jesus” by T.C. Boyle on the Narrative website. His work has a bite to it I can’t help loving. Made me think I need to pick up something else of his soon.

Got in a nice workout just before noon. Integrated bricks into the routine along with the jump rope, medicine ball and cargo straps. Not perfect by any means, but a challenge all its own.

Hit Costco later in the day and Lowe’s after that. Trying to collect all the lawn & garden stuff I need before the hot weather draws down on us.

Sprinkler guys came . System’s up and running again. Let’s see what it does for the lawn.

Heading down to the Arkansas tomorrow to do a little fishing. Looking forward to the drive as much as anything. Taking a box of streamers with me for fun, see if I can scare up something unusual.

Weather beautiful today. Windy later, but still nice. Looking for more of the same tomorrow.

Hey, It's Monday! Again...

It’s like the days get more and more surreal.

Made an early rise thinking to pick up some plants and bushes at Lowe’s. Website said they opened at six, but as it turned out their idea of six is other people’s idea of eight…so, reset.

Got what we needed after the store opened for real, but by then the chance of any decent writing time was shot to hell. Worked out instead, then planted, pruned, and policed the yard.

Tried to nap after the work was finished, but the arm and shoulder wouldn’t go for it.

Went out for a walk instead.

Think I need to go fishing this week. Maybe tomorrow. We’ll see what the weather has in store. Could use a week on the mountain to get my head straight again.

Happy birthday, ma...

Felt like I’d been maybe spinning my wheels at the keyboard the past couple of days, so took the afternoon off and plunged into yard work instead. Mowed, edged, weeded…cleaned up some of the old edges. Made pretty good progress until the neighborhood woke up. The arm’s gonna give me payback tonight, but i’m glad i did what i did.

Talked to Mom for a long while this afternoon. It’s her 90th birthday. Figured to be down there for it, but figured to see the boys, too, and that didn’t happen either. She sounded happy, as always, so that’s the good part. Look forward to seeing he

Cooked up a pot of cream of broccoli soup for dinner. We’ll see what the evening brings.