I'm baaaaaack...!!!

The trip was lovely, had a great time with Steve and Amy, and the Kid and her fiance.

I started at [Unknown site tag]'s of course, had coffee and breakfast, showered, dressed, and headed out at 12:00.

Made it to Moynihan Train Hall by before 1:00. Sat in the ticketd waiting area until the track was announced.

Made it on board, got a seat. Read a good part of the way, finished The Impossible Fortune.

Got a window seat at Rhinecliff where my seatmate got off. There were a lot of people getting off, I wondered how many of them were Bard grads going to Alumni Weekend. I was not sorry to not be going though.

Steve picked me up at Rutland, we were a bit late so he was already there which was nice.

The Kid and fiance drove up after work, they got there about an hour later.

We had a great time drinking wine and talking over various things, family stories, wedding plans, politics (on which we all agree) and similar.

I slept in a king sized bed downstairs, the kids went upstairs and had their own room of course.

Next morning I woke up at 6:30 for some reason and got up around 7:30 or 8:00. Hung out with Steve until Amy got up, then we started breakfast (had coffee already) and the kids got up.

We had breakfast and went in to Woodstock (Vermont not NY) for the day. I got a Last Unicorn tee shirt! And a game for RK as a thank you for taking care of Oreo.

We had food and coffee at a cafe. Walked all around, went to a museum.

Finally came back. The Kid started baking an apple crumble (gluten free) for Amy and an apple pie (not gluten free) for the rest of us.

I played a game of pachisi with Steve and the fiance.

We had dinner of tacos, and spent a lot of time talking and telling stories.

Today we had the pie for breakfast along with eggs and sausage. WE spent time talking about politics, and agreeing, and then got ready to go.

I rode home with the Kid and her fiance. Beautiful scenery, trees turning colors.

They dropped me at the N train, I took that to the 7. Found out the 7 wasn't running ftom Mets-Willets Point to Flushing Main street and I had to take a shuttle bus. Got to Flushing, went to Mala Siblings coffee shop and had a pumpkin oatmilk latte while I was waiting for mashfanficchick who was bringing me my keys.

We went to the food court of the New World Mall and ate there. Then ze gave me my keys. It was 8:30 and I called Middle Brother. He is fine, went out to a Chinese Buffet yesterday for one of the other resident's birthday.

Then mashfanficchick walked me to the bus stop and I came home.

Teamed the FWiB with some technical difficulties.

Then I fed the pets and gave Oreo his shot.

And then I started here.

A lovely lovely weekend.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My cousins.

3. Amtrak.

4. RK.

5. The Kid and fiance.

6. Lovely lovely trip.

Woke up at 10:00, turned off my CPAP and took off my mask, and fell asleep until 11:00. Got a text from cousin Steve about the weekend, all is well. Got a text from RK, he is not pleased with my vet, but will take care of Oreo while I'm gone.

I had breakfast and coffee, gave Oreo his shot, and started to try and print out the paperwork I need to fill out for Middle Brother. An my printer is offline and nothing I do seems to be able to get it working. I tried fo a very long time, then finally gave up and called mashfanficchick.

I asked if I could use zer printer and ze said sure, so I showered and dressed and headed over as fast as I could.

We got one thing printed, which was one page, but when we tried the other, which was 18(!) pages, ze ran out of ink. So we went to Kinkos/Fed Ex, and printed it there, which took a lot of work and almost $5. But we got it done, thanks to zer.

So then we went next door to CVS and ze got zer vaccinations, Covid and flu, done. After that, ze went home, and I headed back to my place.

My turtle dock was delivered while I was there. I collected it from outside my door, still packaged. It felt suspiciously light though, and when I opened it, I found out why... the package contained an empty box. No turtle dock. Someone stole it before it was packaged and shipped.

I looked up Pet Smart and found a phone number to call. The man was very nice and they are reshipping me one. But it sucks, I wanted it before I went to Vermont.

Then it was almost time to team the FWiB. We talked until 8:00 when I got on Discord for my D&D game. The connection was awful, I had to use my phone sometimes, and they couldn't hear me for most of the game. I really think Discord voice sucks.

But it was a good game, we rescued some people, and killed giant rats. Also an animated crystal dragon. But Ralph has been kidnapped.

After the game I fed the pets and gave Oreo his shot, and had dinner, then started here. I'm going to start the paperwork I printed after this.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. mashfanficchick.

3. Got the paperwork printed.

4. Weekend in Vermont.

5. Getting the turtle dock reshipped.

6. My D&D group.

Actually I did lose it, but got it back.

I woke up at 10:00 and got up at 11:00. Gave Oreo his shot, then had breakfast and coffee. Then I called the vet for three reasons, to get more insulin, to get a written care plan for Oreo to give RK, and to tell them I was never charged for my first visit. There was no answe and the voicemail said it was full, so I couldn't leave a message.

So I went to take a shower, and of course while I was doing that, they called back and I couldn't answer. So after I got out I called back. No answer.

So I got dressed and called mashfanficchick and told zer I was going to walk over to the vet and talk to them in person.

I was abut halfway there when they called back. I explained what was up and the guy checked that they had insulin in stock, and they did. So I walked over and took care of everything.

Then I took the insulin and walked back home. On the way I heard a strange crack noise. I looked around but didn't see anything.

I got home, put the insulin in the fridge, and went to call mashfanficchick to say I was on my way. No phone.

I thought about that strange sound I had heard. But I told myself that I must have left the phone in the vets. I hurried back as fast as I could. (Remember it's only two and a half blocks away) It wasn't there.

But the guy called it, and someone answered! He had picked it up and had it at the house next door. We went over there and he gave it back. But when it fell out of my pocket, which must have been that crack sound, it cracked the screen a little, damn it.

Still, I have it back, thank God! I don't know what I would have done. I have so much in it!

Anyway, I went over to mashfanficchick's and we hung out for a few hours.

We watched the most recent episode to SWAT: Exiles. I'm not thrilled by it.

At 7:00 I Teamed the FWiB.

I called the Kid and she actually answered. So we had a nice talk about stuff in general. I'm invited to Thanksgiving at her future in-laws, but I can't do it because I have to take care of Middle Brother. He would not have a good time at their dinner.

Then we had dinner, ze had ordered a couple of burgers last night, but they delivered them in a regular rather than gluten-free bun, ze got refunded but kept the burgers. Ze gave them to me, which was nice, so I had one and fries, tasty!

Then we started watching a baseball game, but Dani called. She read us an essay she was working on. Then it was 11:00, and I took the bus home.

Gave Oreo his shot and fed both pets.

Bed now.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Got the insulin, and something written to give RK.

3. I GOT MY PHONE BACK!!!

4. Talked to the Kid.

5. Weekend in Vermont coming up.

6. Bed soon.

I started the day with the alarm at 8:45. I turned it off... and fell asleep again. I woke up at about 9:30. Which put paid to any hope of making my Al-anon meeting on time.

I got up and gave Oreo his shot, and again I messed it up, and pushed the syringe all the way through and lost the insulin. And again I was afraid to give him another shot for fear that he might have gotten some of it. Fortunately his urine tests have been good so I don't think missing a shot is too much of an issue.

Then I had breakfast and coffee and showered and dressed, and got out as fast as possible. I made it to my meeting about 15 or so minutes late, maybe 20, but I wasn't the last person to arrive so that made me feel better. The meeting was very good, we had new people.

Afterward I went to the diner, driven by J. As has become my custom I had French onion soup. Then I took the bus home. It was cold!

Got home, and went to the Starsky and Hutch chat on Zoom. Had a good time chatting, we kept talking til around 6:15. The heat is on in my apartment now for the first time this season (except for one night about a week ago, but not since)

I went to the bedroom and played solitaire. The FWiB still has his sisters visiting, so we didn't have our usual 7:00 Teams. I called the Kid, who of course didn't answer, and I called mashfanficchick who did. We talked a bit just to say hi.

At 9:00 I had dinner and while I was making it the FWiB emailed that he was home, so we Teamed at 9:20 but only until a little after 10:00 because he was so tired after his day out.

Then I fed the pets and gave Oreo his second shot, this time I got it in him so that's OK.

I started here, and took some time to read one of my older stories, and was pleased with it. It was better than I had feared.

mashfanficchick called again, to discus plans for this week coming up. I'm going to zer place Monday, and we're going to watch SWAT: Exiles, and then go shopping.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people there.

3. The Starsky and Hutch fandom.

4. Warm apartment.

5. mashfanficchick

6. My pets.

Decided to stay the night tonight at mashfanficchick and discussed tonight with zer. Ze agreed to me staying over so I showered, dressed, and packed.

Then I headed over to zer place. Ze met me after I got off the bus and we went to a discount store for some stuff. I saw a dish in the shape of an acorn with a picture of a chipmunk and the embossed word "chiipmunk" on it. Obviously I had to have one! Ze was kind enough to get it for me.

Then we went back to zer place and got settled in. We just hung out until 7:00ish when ze made a surprise appetizer... a nachos volcano, because tonight's season-opening episode of 911 (which is what I was here for) is about a volcano in LA. So we enjoyed the chips and nacho cheese, and then it was time to watch the episode at 8:00.

At 8:30 I called Middle Brother. His cold is better and he went to 5 Below to get Halloween decorations for the house. He continues to look forward to Halloween.

At 9:00 there was the season opener of 911: Nashville, which was... not as good as 911, and distinctly weirder.

At 10:00 I briefly Teamed the FWiB. He's going to be busy for the next few days, til Tuesday, because his sisters are visiting.

After we talked I made instant pho for my dinner, and then I started here. <lj user="mashfanficchick'> has gone to bed and Trish is doing something on her computer. I have my air mattress inflated and ready to go. Gratitude List: 1. The FWiB. 2. Staying over 3. Chipmunk dish. 4. Nice weather. 5. Good TV. 6. Chocolate covered strawberries.

I got to bed at 4:00 again last night, so again I planed on sleeping late, though I was going to wake up at 11:00 to check my email to see if there was anything about Middle Brother's LifePlan meeting.

I got a phone call though at 8:50 from the group home guy who told me that the meeting was rescheduled to 1:30 tomorrow. S I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep and got up at 12:00.

Then I had breakfast and coffee, after giving Oreo his shot, and then I went and got my laundry together.

Then I took a shower and washed my hair, and got dressed, and took the laundry down to the laundromat and dropped it off.

Then I sat around puttering on the computer. I tried calling Towlson Plumbing to get the cottage winterized, but they were closed for the day already, so I HAVE TO CALL TOMORROW! It's getting late in the year and it has to be done soon!

I started putting up some of my Halloween decorations, just the beginnings. I'll do more later.

At 7:00 I Teamed the FWiB. We talked til I had to get off for my Al-anon meeting by Zoom. But no one showed, so at 8:10 I ended the meeting. I knew S wasn't coming, he texted me yesterday. But I don't know why M wasn't there, it's a little bit of a worry.

Anyway, I had dinner, and then went to the bedroom. I texted mashfanficchick to ask if I could call (ze was supposed to be busy tonight) but ze called me and we talked about plans for tomorrow.

Then I called the Kid but of course she didn't answer so I texted her about Middle Brother's meeting tomorrow. Then I took a little nap, and got up at 10:30 for pet feeding and to give Oreo his second shot.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Middle Brother's group home people.

3. Clean laundry tomorrow.

4. Nice weather.

5. Halloween coming soon!

6. My meetings and the people there (even when one doesn't happen)

Got to bed at 3:30 last night so I slept til 121:00 this morning. When I finally got up I gave Oreo his shot and had breakfast and coffee.

Then I called mashfanficchick and ze told me they were ordering diner food and did I want anything? I said pancakes.

Then I took a shower and dressed, and headed over. It was raining nastily, it's overflow from Hurricane Isaias. I made it there mostly dry though so that was good.

They had already eaten when I got there, so I ate my very good pancakes. We hung out for a bit, and then watched the rest of season 2 of Hazbin Hotel. I like it, I'll think about seeing if I can watch the first season somehow. And I look forward to when the third season comes out.

After that finished it was pretty late so Mandy left. I hung out, and Teamed the FWiB from mashfanficchick's computer. At 8:30 I called Middle Brother, he is fine, looking forward to Columbus Day (like I said, I don't feel like trying to explain calling it Indigenous People's Day) and of course Halloween.

After I got off with the FWiB I hung out for awhile longer, then around 10:30 Ubered home.

It was still raining yuckily, but the Uber was warm. Got here and gave Oreo his shot and fed him and Christie, and started here.

And that was the day.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Friends.

3. Arrived dry footed.

4. Fun TV.

5. Middle Brother is fine.

6. Yummy pancakes.

Woke up this morning somewhat before 10:00,and was looking at stuff on my phone when RK called. He wanted me to get a written care plan from my vet. He was even willing to go with me to talk to them though I said no to that.

So after I got up at 10:00 and gave Oreo his shot and had breakfast and coffee, I looked up their hours on Friday, saw they weren't open til 12:00, and finally decided to email them rather than call. so I sent an email. No response yet.

Before that I put in the Shipt order I made out last night, and the shopper was really fast. Got everything put away.

Then I did make a phone call, to my union's dental clinic. I decided I'd rather go there than to the place here. So they checked my eligibility, and took my info, and told me to fill out the paperwork they'd send me, and then call back in the first week of November for an appointment in... March. Oh well. I agreed and got the paperwork texted to me and filled it out and sent it back. I guess if I have an emergency between now and March I can go to the dentist here.

Then I showered and dressed, and basically killed time until 5:00 when I went in to the Bronx for my Al-anon meeting.

I had pizza as usual before the meeting. The meeting itself was very good, we had several new people, and it ended up rather large for us.

Afterward I almost missed my bus home, made it by about 1 minute. M drove me to the bus stop.

Got home and Teamed the FWiB. We talked for somewhat over an hour, and then I got off and fed the pets and gave Oreo his shot.

Then I called mashfanficchick to talk about plans for tomorrow.

Then I started here, and that was the day.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. RK.

3. The union dental clinic.

4. My meetings and the people there.

5. Nice weather.

6. Didn't miss the bus.

I got up a bit after 10:00, and gave Oreo his shot and had breakfast and coffee. Then I showered and dressed, and killed time til 2:00 when I left for Flushing for my vaccinations at 2:30. I had packed up the box with the air mattress and pump in an IKEA bag to carry it.

I got there at about 2:20 but there was a line to talk to the pharmacy so i was just on time. Then I had to wait for about half an hour.

But they finally got to me, and I got all three shots, Covid, flu, and MMR.

Then I got on the bus to go to mashfanficchick's. Ze needed the air mattress because Trish still has to be there because her bedroom isn't repaired yet, and mandy was coming in tonight.

So I hung out there with them waiting for Mandy. We had dinner, I had pad Thai, and lots of gluten free snacks.

I Teamed the FWiB, and lovely surprise, the Kid called and we had a nice talk about wedding planning.

Mandy got in sometime around 1:00 I think, I know it was after 12:00. I stayed awhile, then Ubered home.

Got here and fed the pets and gave Oreo his shot.

Now time for bed.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Got all three of the vaccinations I wanted.

3. Hanging ouot with friends.

4. The Kid called.

5. Asked RK to inject Oreo while I'm in Vermont.

6. Bed soon.

Got up at 10:00, and got out of bed a little after 11:00, after spending a long time in pre-check-in for my dermatologist appointment tomorrow.

Then I gave Oreo his shot and had breakfast and coffee. Then before I showered I called mashfanficchick, and all is well. We arranged I should come over today and see zer and Trish.

So I showered and dressed, and headed over there.

There is very little to say about it. We hung out and chatted, and had sandwiches from Jersey Mike's for dinner.

I Teamed the FWiB, and we talked about an hour. Then I decided that since I was going to get a flu shot and a Covid booster anyway, I might as well add a measles MMR shot to the mix, because the governor has just declared New York a disaster emergency because we have had 108 cases of measles this year. Seven were here in the city. So I made an appointment at Duane Reade for Wednesday.

I also sent a message to BootPrince, the new Starsky and Hutch fan here in Queens, and we chatted a bit. mashfanficchick said we should meet with them (I think that's the right pronoun) at some point.

And that was about it. I Ubered home, and fed the pets and gave Oreo his shot and now I shall go to bed.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. All well with mashfanficchick

3. Got my vaccinations scheduled.

4. Made contact with BootPrince.

5. Fun time chatting,

6. Bed soon.