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I think so.

Drabble

So far our store waits until after Halloween to put up Christmas things, but apparently that isn’t true everywhere. What is it like where you are?

October 6, 2026

Saturday, when Andy was leaving, he came back in to tell me to come see. Sure enough from the porch we saw a buck munching on this tree.

I, of course, ran to get my iPhone to take a picture, but I wasn’t nearly quick enough. When I got back outside, the buck was gone — a fellow had seen it and chased it away.

That was no doubt good for the poor tree, but it was bad for me getting a picture.

October 5, 2026

Garfield en Español

Garfield

Garfield en Español

Garfield

Garfield en Español

Garfield

Garfield en Español
Click on image for higher resolution.

Garfield
Click on image for higher resolution.

Garfield en Español

Garfield

Peanuts en Español

Peanuts

Peanuts en Español
Click on image for higher resolution.

Peanuts
Click on image for higher resolution.

October 4, 2026

Betty

Betty

We will have to see!

October 3, 2026

It’s nice to see the sun, but I liked the rainy days we just had. The Forest Service sign up in the mountains now says the fire danger is only moderate rather than high, and the drought map looks better.

This is what the map looked like two weeks ago:

Click on image for higher resolution.

And this is what it looks now:

I should point out that the rain wasn’t all positive. In some places it came down faster than the soil could absorb it, so there was dangerous flash flooding.

At any rate, for better or worse, it looks as if it’s over for a while.

October 2, 2026

Their portal worked! The PA (physician assistant) answered my message and said he had made a mistake and corrected it. I checked and it looks a lot better. I thanked him, and I also wrote a message to my doctor saying I appreciated the portal and being able to communicate with my care team. They are short-staffed and good for them for trying to make things go more smoothly.

The PA is only here until the end of the month, and we don’t know what happens after that. Fingers crossed. Andy does have his annual physical with our doctor in December. My physical was originally with my doctor but is now with the PA October 27, shortly before he leaves.

October 1, 2026

I mentioned that my doctor’s appointment went well last Thursday. It was actually with a temporary PA instead of my regular doctor, who is super busy. It was a good conversation and I liked him, but when the visit summary was posted a lot of it was clearly about another patient. If some of the symptoms mentioned weren’t enough of a clue, the fact that it says I have a history of prostate cancer clinched it.

I used their portal to ask them to correct the mistakes and will see if they respond. I have my annual physical October 27, so I can bring it up again. I did point out that inaccurate medical histories could be dangerous in the long run.

They are having trouble getting people and are probably using AI to lighten the load, but the system is still slightly less than perfect.

September 30, 2021

This comic was published yesterday, which was great timing for yesterday’s post:

Bliss

It made my day. 🙂

September 29, 2026

Ziggy

Sorry, Ziggy, I don’t share your feelings. I’m with Michael Leunig and his JOMO — the joy of missing out.

JOMO

Oh the joy of missing out.
When the world begins to shout
And rush towards that shining thing;
The latest bit of mental bling—
Trying to have it, see it, do it,
You simply know you won’t go through it;
The anxious clamouring and need
This restless hungry thing to feed.

Instead, you feel the loveliness;
The pleasure of your emptiness.
You spurn the treasure on the shelf
In favour of your peaceful self;
Without regret, without a doubt.
Oh the joy of missing out.

What do you think?

September 28, 2026

I’m glad I’m not young anymore.

Pickles

Pickles

I know this isn’t true of everyone, but I was a lot more bored as a child than I am now. These comics remind me of Pablo Casals,

The man who works and is never bored is never old. Work and interest in worthwhile things are the best remedy for age. Each day I am reborn. Each day I must begin again.

And of Bertrand Russell’s,

The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.

Yes, I would still rather be me now than be a kid.

September 27, 2026