Thanksgiving is at my home.  I plan ahead.  OK, further ahead than many people do.  I accept that and have no plan to change.  Some items I can not buy ahead, but I have it written down when I will get them.  I went to get my haircut the other day and walked by the supermarket.  It occurred to me that the only buy ahead item I had not gotten were oranges. Perhaps I will buy them next week when I go shopping.

Nope. I have them now.

Every five weeks I get my hair cut.  I am unable to schedule appointments.  I see my hairdresser often at the gym and find out what day he will be working.  I knew he was going away.  I walked into the salon, knowing he was gone, and had another person do my hair.  Five weeks passed. I did not see him at the gym.  When I went to get a haircut, he was not in.  I was disappointed in my haircut this time.  He was still not at the gym.  I went in yesterday to discover he has been back from his vacation for weeks and I have just missed him.  He has not been at the gym because it is too cold in the morning.

Another California wimp.

I know the season is changing in Alameda.  The leaves on most trees are turning yellow and beginning to thin.  Some trees are now a bit orange and red.  The temperature hasn’t dropped much, but it is cooler outside.  The sun does not feel as warm.  Many are still wearing shorts and t-shirts.  I am wearing sweaters and boots.

Yep, it’s California.

Went to visit my friend in Florida.  Stayed at her beautiful condo where her brother is currently living with her.  There were no movies to see.  We spent a total of 90 minutes shopping in three days and bought nothing.  We sat at the pool a bit.  We went out to eat.  We watched television.  We talked.

A contrast to life at home.  Relax for a solid week.

Erik is going to visit Julie.  Many years ago Julie drove with Erik from Michigan to California when he was moving.  I wondered which mountain range one of them would toss the other one off of on their journey.  Today, they are going on a hike together.  If history repeats itself, I have no concern.

I treasure the relationship they have, flavored with lots of humor.

When having guests for breakfast or brunch, I will sometimes make French toast.  I have a recipe that has become a family favorite.  Recently, I decided to try making it before the guests arrived rather than cooking after they got to my house.  I prepared the French toast, bacon, and sausage, about 30 minutes before they arrived.  I put the food in a warm oven.  It turned out perfectly as if I had just prepared it.

It feels good to try something new and have it work.

On Thursday mornings I run two or three errands.  En route, I call Julie and talk until I get to my first store.  When I return to my car, I call Carrie until I go into the second store.  Carrie is now working on Thursday mornings and is unable to talk.  I am trying to adapt.

Change takes time.

My family was over for brunch to celebrate two birthdays.  My daughter noticed the word GARAGE on my note board.  I told her I had to move items in my garage to prepare for a reroofing.  She asked if the family could help before they left.  I assured her I would handle it myself.  She always thinks to offer help.  After they left, I realized I forgot to ask for help getting my Google Maps to talk to me.

They are available when I remember to ask.

Whenever I have guests for dinner, I tell then when it is time to end the event.  Either I sense there is no more to talk about, or I am tired and ready to have them leave so I can do dishes and clean up.  My friends like this.  No one is ever concerned about staying too long.

I had a party.  There were 24 people in the house.  One friend asked if it was time to leave, being cute.  I said it was not my choice this evening.  My 14-year-old grandson was there.  He knows nothing about my ritual.  I said, “Isaac, is it time for the guests to leave?”  He was engaged in conversation with someone at the time.  He looked at his watch and said, “Not yet.”  I asked him when they should leave and he said, “7:15.”  I asked him the current time and he said “7:10.”

My friends all laughed and suggested Isaac and I are related.

I have a smartphone that was a hand-me-down five years ago.  I use it when I travel.  I have a landline for home and office.  On a recent journey, I discovered I needed to recharge it far more often.  I suspected the battery was going.  And so, as soon as Julie arrived by plane, we headed to Verizon.  Buy a phone myself?  No chance.  Julie took care of all of the data, etc.

I bought an 8.  Anyone who knows me should be surprised.