Took a dry run to Atsion Lake, an hour and 35 miles from here. I do want to join the hike on Monday, unless weather or something else comes up.
Had three phone calls yesterday, two of which were very welcome. Alison called about noon on her way home from work. She and Mike took the afternoon off to drive to Charlottesville, Virginia, for a half-marathon (13 miles). It starts at 6 am, so they'll stay overnight, then go to Monticello or something after; there are about 15,000 entered. I always marvel at how well-suited they are to each other, and what vigorous, happy, joint lives they lead.
Mike, Paula, and Vivian called/cammed last night. The little sweetie showed me all kinds of stuffed animals, books, and a water-filled balloon she got at "the picnic" (they let her play with that in the house!). She counted out 20 fish in her book--not bad for 3 1/2. Mike said they changed the place they'll stay in California to The Cheshire Cat in order to stay in a two-bedroom cottage instead of a hotel. Of course, it has maid and room service, with which they couldn't do without even though they carry their maid with them.
The last call was not pleasant. I spoke to my friend, Mary Ann Van O., who told me her husband, Bart, is being released from the hospital on Monday into hospice home care. He is on 11 liters of oxygen, an incredibly high number. (Pat, who is so air-deprived he can't walk across the room without being short of breath, is on 3 liters.) Of course, I offered to do whatever I can, which is little enough.
During our walk, Susan had told me she has a gum problem that's very painful. She had gone to her dentist up north, who had injected it with an antibiotic (ouch!) Oddly, he didn't offer to write her an RX for pain-killer and I told her we had Percodon (?) that Pat hadn't needed after his skin excisions. She was in such distress that she came over before dinner to ask for some and I gave her four. (Yes, that's how drug pushers are convicted, on evidence like this.) I'll see how she is in an hour or so when we walk.
Later: Hey, good news: I'm down another 2.4 pounds for a total of 65.4 and a current weight of 134.2. Now I'm going to decide how far I want to go and my strategy for staying there.