~EN MEMORIAM~ Remembering... Danielle Debelius Taken from us at age 26 on Oct 21st Todd Gauvin Taken at age 31 Born Oct 18th Eula Vay (Wingate) Bernard Died Oct 4, 1967 The Mighty Quinn 10/21/00 -- 06/09/03 See Memorial

To Family and Friends Tehya Ruby Rose "Little Rainbow" October 2nd Granddaughter of my dear friend, Ruby Dancingmoon Hants, England Eric "Wahya Egwa" October 2nd Brief Acquaintance Happy Birthday TO ME ... Now 48! October 3, 1957 Brenda Phelps October 3rd Friend, former co-worker, Mother, and Hairstylist David Williams October 3rd Former co-worker who shares my birthday. Frances Bowen October 3rd Friend, former co-worker, Esperantist, Klingonist, and Lupus victim Leo "Skip" Lewis October 9th Brother and Roommate Gary Anderson October 16th Friend & Coworker Joe Frank Wingate October 17th My cousin in Oklahoma Barry Stoves October 18th Former Coworker Todd Gauvin October 18th Former friend & neighbor Marlene (Jones) Muñoz Pardue October 21, 1946 My Aunt and my mother's youngest sister

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 1, 2005

I got up early this morning. Or, earlier than Marty & JR. I got the fire started. It was an hour or more before Marty and JR got up. We fixed breakfast and sat around for a while. Later, I took a walk down the road and took a lot of pictures.

Around 1:00p we set out to go see the petroglyphs. These rock carvings were etched into the stone by the indigenous people of the area around 1000-1400 AD. It was fascinating to be there and see these ancient symbols left by people who could have been distant ancestors of mine.

We left the petroglyph site and found another, smaller site with some less distinct carvings.

From there we went to the "Opossum Trail." A three mile hiking trail through the forest. We only went about a half mile at most before Marty's knee and my back decided us to return. It was still good exercise and an interesting excursion. Of course, I got lots more pictures.

We went back to camp and they left me there to start cooking a pot of chili while Marty & JR headed back into town for some things. I got the chili cooked and had a few beers by the time they returned. The sun was low in the sky by then.

We finished off the night with chili & beer and I crashed around midnight.

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 2, 2005

It was my turn to sleep in late this morning. It was not as chilly last night as it was the previous night and I did not sleep as well. We fixed breakfast; I cooked the eggs, since I seem to be better at it than Marty. With little enthusiasm we slowly began to break camp. Eventually we got everything packed up and head out. It seemed to be longer going home than it was going to the park. We went by JR's first and unhitched the trailer and left Nibbles behind. Then they brought me home. I was totally exhausted by this time. I took a nice, long, hot shower right off the bat. Much needed and welcome!

I tried to take a nap, but the fleas in my bedroom were so bad I had to get up and spray my room down! This flea problem is getting out of hand.

Aunt Marlene called me to wish me a happy birthday tonight. That was nice of her.

MONDAY – OCTOBER 3, 2005
Happy Birthday to Me! (48)

I had nothing really planned for my birthday. Being unemployed puts a damper on nearly everything. I made some chicken soup for brunch. Later, Skip and I went over to Wal-Mart & Schnuck's. (He took today off work). Then he bought me lunch at KFC. I got the kitchen cleaned up again; it was still a mess from when I left on Friday, as I expected. We cooked a big supper tonight consisting of a huge pork loin, mashed potatoes & gravy, fried okra and cornbread stuffing.

I finally got my pictures all edited an put them online in an album.

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 4, 2005

10:13a – I am catching up my journal.

11:05a – The journal is caught up. Now I really need to get motivated to go to the courthouse and continue my name change process, but I am just dreading the ordeal of traveling there. It takes so long.

1:06p – I just can't seem to get motivated today, but I do have the kitchen partly cleaned up after last night's cooking spree; and a load of laundry is washing. I am obviously not going to make it to the courthouse today. I must get this done tomorrow. I can't let it wait any longer.

4:49p – I just gave Kira a very thorough bath and then applied the topical Bio Spot. I hope this helps relieve her of some of the flea infestation. Skip just gave Barnabas a similar treatment last night.

6:03p – Towels are folded, dishes are put away and I scrubbed the foyer down where Kira gets it all dirty. I also washed her pillow case and sprayed the pillow with Bio Spot mist on the inside. I also spray my room down again. It's war on the fleas!

10:41p – I chatted with Ken online for a while tonight. Then I made a supper, consisting of leftovers. It was "edible" ... but not all that great. I am off to bed now.

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 5, 2005

8:31a – I slept fairly good last night since Kira went into the living room to sleep. I was worried she might have had an accident, not having been let out during the middle of the night, but she was fine. I am going to try to catch the 10:18a bus this morning and go to the courthouse.

9:55a – I don't think I will be able to make the 10:18a bus. I just got out of the shower and I still need to eat a bite. I may have to take the 11:18a bus. That will still give me plenty of time, but I may get there while everyone is out to lunch.

8:44p – WOW! ... This has been an awesome day. I did not catch the 10:18 bus, but I did catch the 11:18 bus. As I expected, I arrived at the Civil Court at about 12:24p and the Judge was out to lunch. I as asked to return at about 1:30p. I took a walk down main street Belleville, looking for some place to get a bite to eat. I passed a Quiznos, but kept walking. I did not find anything better, so I headed back toward the Courthouse with the intention of stopping at the Quiznos to eat. I managed to pass the Quiznos and got all the way back to the Courthouse, so I had to turn around and walk back again. I found them, and stopped for one of their "Black Angus Steak" toasted subs. It was okay, but how do I know the meat was from a Blank Angus? And is that better that Herford, or Guernsey? I don't know...

Anyway, I sat and ate... slowly and tediously. Stretching out the time. I went through 3 cups of Dr. Pepper as I waited. I finally left at about 1:24p and headed back to the Courthouse. I met with Gerri, the secretary, who help me track down Phyllis, the judge's secretary and after a good deal of waiting, and such, I finally received my Court Order making my name change from TERRELL to LEWIS official!

At this point, I decided to ask Phyllis if the Court Order would be adequate in my pursuit of a valid ID? She thought it might and further questioning revealed that the Department of Motor Vehicles was just a short distance down the street from me. After getting my Court Order stamped and certified, I took a walk 'down the street' to the Dept of Motor Vehicles and ... Lo And Behold... I was able to get a legal State ID!!! I was not expected to accomplish that today!! YAY!!!

10:33p – Ick... Kira had an unexpected accident ranging from the hall way to the laundry room! I was in the middle of cooking and had to clean up after her. That really sucked.

10:35a – I have more to say about this day... but I have to go to bed now...

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 6, 2005

9:02a – Kira kept me up half the night wanting to go back outside. I didn't dare ignore her.

12:55p – I am not accomplishing much today. I am unmotivated and BORED.

7:05p – I officially switched my brand of beer tonight (again) from Busch Light to Keystone Ice. It's ten cents cheaper and I need to cut costs where I can.

I am working on some projects tonight regarding birthday cards received from RD and Chuck. I am attempting to animate one of RD's cards to me.

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 7, 2005

1100a – I finally got my project from last night completed. It was a bit tricky.

4:02p – This has been a very boring day.

5:26p – I just got back from my daily walk to the store. The dishes are done; that was about my only note worthy accomplishment today.

6:39p – I just turned the heat on for the first time.

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 8, 2005

8:23p – Skip and I walked to Walgreen's, Shop 'N Save, Aldi's, and more today.

9:29p – I set off a flea bomb "fogger" in my room tonight. I hope it helps!

9:38p – Skip is cooking okra. I have the meat, pasta and veggies (broccoli) cooked. I am ready for some good cooking, but Skip thinks I am being 'cooking oriented.' Okay... whatever...

9:98p – I am very pleased with the way supper is going.

10:34p – The bomb in my room has been going for less than 3 hours so far.

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 9, 2005
Happy Birthday tO Skip !! (37)

9:49a – I woke up around 4:00a and could not get back to sleep. I finally stopped trying and lay in bed watching TV for a while. Around 7:00a I finally dozed off and started having some spectacular dreams. These were flying dreams, but not the "swimming through air" kind of flying. This was the "concentration" variety using some form of psychokenesis I also could control other things by concentrating on it, but I wasn't very good at it. I had to really focus and the object I was trying to move would often wobble and veer off course. At one point, I was in some kind of HUGE building with expansive cupolas, graceful arches, high waterfalls and vast turquoise swimming pools of crystal clear water. I was mixing my flying with swimming, which was a new dream experience. Later I woke up and fell back to sleep and my dream took a less fanciful tone and became a bit darker. It is very confusing, but someone (Skip?) was constructing a very large set of toy trains (in a living room?). I was running around with my camera trying to take pictures and Darlene wanted to be in the picture. I couldn't convince her to leave me alone. Then we were down some long hallway and Calisa and Darlene were doing something and making a loud racket. I head back down the hallway away from them, and encountered a set of shelves that were oddly built in to the hall and blocking passage. I slid some of the boards out and (now nearly weightless) I sort of slipped through the open space. Meanwhile, the girls were still making a ruckus down the hall and I would hear Daddy's voice coming from a nearby room yelling at them to be quiet. As I started to go on down the hall, Daddy came out of a side room with a towel wrapped around him and an angry look on his face. I felt relief that I was away from the source of his anger (my noisy sisters) and continued down the hallway to an area with a big elevator shaft of some sort.

I got some more yard waste and wood burned in the back yard today.

I had some magnets for some reasons. About four of them stuck together. I decided to toss them up on a metal beam with the intent that they stick there, but the bounced off and fell into the dark shaft where they attached themselves to another spot. I jumped in to get them, still nearly weightless, swinging myself gracefully from one projection to another with simian ease. I recovered the magnets and tried tossing them up to a higher position and was successful. However, about this time, Daddy was coming back from down the hall and I knew he would not understand or approve of me flinging myself around down in this large elevator shaft. I tried to quietly move into the shadows and keep quiet, but apparently he had heard the click of the magnets when I threw them and a moment later I saw him peering over the opening of the shaft searching for the cause of the sound. For some reason, he no longer looked like himself though, but was wearing a long sleeve, white dress shirt with a tie (which Daddy would never wear) and was wearing spectacles. He had thinning gray hair and a gray goatee. I thought he saw me and started to give myself up, but apparently he could not see me and moved away. So I moved back into the shadows again. I woke up about this time. What a vivid and peculiar set of dreams!

I made a big meal of homemade chicken & dumplings in honor of Skip's birthday tonight. I used fresh yeast dough for the dumplings and some garding grown ingredients.

MONDAY – OCTOBER 10, 2005

10:22a – I am getting hungry for some of last night's leftovers.

8:23p – This has been a very dismal day. I got up late, then around 1:00p I felt sick and went to bed for about 3 hours. I am making leftover dumplings for supper (which is what I had for breakfast). The flea problem continues to be a major problem.

I did contact Vanguard today, but apparently my balance is about $400 less that I thought. My penalty payments and taxes are going to really hurt. I suspect I will get less than $2900 when it is all said and done. Plus, just to complicated matters, I must get the form notarized

10:11p – I am going to eat and go to bed now....

10:24p – I am eating supper now. Skip is watching something about the "Conspiracy Spiracy". I am off to bed (I hope!)

10:44p – Skip is really giving me a hard time. I am off to bed.

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 11, 2005

3:04a – I just got up and straightened up some in the kitchen. I put away the leftover (re-cooked) dumplings (which were better re-served than they were last night!),  and put the leftover mac&cheese in the freezer from a couple of nights ago. I could probably live on leftovers easily for the next week better than most people in the world eat for a month. <sigh> ... now I feel guilty... :(

9:29a – I went back to bed, but couldn't sleep. As usual. So I turned on the TV and watch the movie about the Three Stooges. I finally got back to sleep sometimes after 7:00a. Then I started having the wild dreams. In one dream I had my old Toyota again, but part-way through that dream it turned into an extremely small Volkswagen. It was so small that only one person could fit in it, and only if they were positioned just so. I had to push the port side window outward, as it was leaning in toward me, and the pull the roof down and fasten it to the front windshield. Then I had to go over to some place on North Orange Blossom Train (in Orlando) to get some kind of paperwork completed. I was not sure what it was, but I was sent their by some other people. I went to the address, and was greeted by a very old man. He seemed to know what I was there for, even though I still had no idea. I came into his house and had a seat on the edge of a bed. Then his pets came in. They appeared to be miniature black llamas. They were all peering at me and gathered around to gawk at me. There were lots of them too! I don't know how many. One of them tried to bite me and I swatted it on the nose. Then several more started nipping at me. I crawled up on the bed out of their reach, but one of them got up on the bed with me. However, it was no longer a llama, but some kind of iguana. The dream went on, getting more and more confusing and bizarre. The old man came back and shooed his pets away at some point (I was wrestling the the iguana thing by then). We were joined be 2 more men later and then the old man's aging wife came home. I still had no idea what I was doing in his house, but then apparently he had a heart attack and his telephone system automatically dialed 911.  The dream gets all jumbled and confusing by this point. I think I woke up during this dream and went back to sleep and continued it. That's a rare occurrence!

10:13a – I got up this morning and Kira had peed in the floor! That is very unlike her. She hasn't done that in about 3 or 4 years.

10:47a – I just finished cooking up some of those rice sticks I bought a while back. They always come out tough and gummy, but I've found that I can keep cooking them until they thicken the broth.

3:30p – I am not accomplishing a thing so far today. I am really having a hard time getting motivated. I just took a shower and feel refreshed, at least. I need to clean up the kitchen.

6:05p – I finally got the dishes done and I walked to the Dollar Store and got some fresh AAA batteries for the alarm sensor. It is all working again now. I also put some tea on and it's steeping. I was looking at the old framed picture I have hanging in the bathroom. A reproduction of the painting called "May Morning - American Country Life." I found a copy of it selling for about $4,500.00! I wonder if the one I have is worth anything? (It looks kind of old).

8:45p – I have put on some banana nut bread for Skip's office tomorrow. I should be ready in the morning around 6:00a. I am making supper for supper, but I am not sure what yet.

8:54p – Something to do with chicken breasts....

9:27p – I ran out of flour. I had to use corn starch (for the banana bread). I hope it comes out okay.

10:17p – Supper was great! Kira is still not quite getting it.... but she will. Skip thinks I am not understanding her position.

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 12, 2005
jubchuQun jaj (Day) -- 14 years old today!

2:11p – I slept horribly last night. I was awake more than I slept. Then, as usual, I fell into a sound sleep around daylight. I had an onslaught of electric dreams.

In one, I got poisoned by a huge feathery spider-like creature. Mom was in this dream too. She was laying (reading) on a mattress on the floor. There was some kind of brush or bramble next to her bed and the spider thing scuttled into it. I was trying to warn her about it when I felt the tug of the web on my hand. I pulled on the web trying to pull the creature back. It had shot out a strand of webbing and struck my hand. Apparently web was toxic and moments later my hand had swollen up. I washed it off under a faucet and the water came off bright yellow. Then I woke up and my hand was numb and puffy (which happens every night).

Then went back to sleep and dreamed about a plane crash. I was with some people in some place that reminded me of Laurel Hills (in Pinehills, FL). We seemed to be near the end of a runway for an airport. A jet liner was taking off and flew exceptionally low over us. I commented that I thought it might be having problems, then I noticed the sound of the motor was all wrong and kept changing, as though it were failing. I realized the plane was losing altitude and was indeed going down! The plane did crash and I saw smoke rising not far off in the distance. It had gone down in some buildings. I ran indoor and frantically grabbed my camera, then took off running toward the crash site. I got there before any emergency vehicles. There were many survivors, but they were all screaming and trapped. I did not know if I should help or not touch anything. People were screaming and one man right in front of me was trapped painfully in his seat. Behind him was another man whose clothes had been blown off and who was obviously killed. I climbed up in the plane, possibly to help, and suddenly felt I might be doing more harm than good. People were yelling and panicking and I seemed to be entangled in the wreckage somehow and could not get back out. I woke up with my heart pounding... took a while to go back to sleep ... then the next dream started.

I was at some kind of big carnival or convention of some sort. It took place at the edge of a small town and was in fact bigger than the town. I was like a city in itself. My sisters and Skip were all there too, but Skip was only about 5 years old instead of 37). I had Skip with me and I got lost and couldn't find my way back to the main event. We wandered into the edge of the township and then turned around and returned. At some point I discovered that Skip was no longer with me; I had lost him! About the same time, I saw Calisa crossing over on an elevated sidewalk and I called out to her. She heard me and found her way down to me (I think she was pushing a baby stroller). I was telling her how I had become lost and then lost Skip when some guy came up to me and told me that Skip had eaten at his food stand and (being only 5) had no money... they needed me to come get him and pay for the food. I tried to follow him, but I lost track of him and I got lost again. I kept getting turned around and confused.

At some point the dream changed and I came to be in possession of a small gray and white wolf cub. I was with a group of people and we were traveling to some destination in this huge city-carnival. I had the cub on a leash (and sometimes there were four different leashes with different kinds of canines at the end). At one point I became concerned with the location of Kira and I saw her high up on a causeway being led by a stranger. I saw her bright pink collar and called out to her. She heard me and I saw her looking for me, but she was being led away and I lost sight of her. I was still traveling with the group of people and we were climbing up and spiral staircase, however it was so small and confining that I found that at some point I was climbing on the outside of the spiral, somehow dragging "Smokey" (the wolf cub) along with me.

I finally had enough of the exhausting and disturbing dreams and got up. It was nearly 10:00 a.m.!!

4:07p – I have spend that last couple of hours slowly writing the above dream sequences and trying to remember the complex and chaotic dreams. Now I am off to mow the lawn.

4:42p – The lawn is mowed. I did part of the weedeating, but ran out of cutting line. That's the first time I ran out of line on the weedeater since buying it!

6:23p – I just got back from the store. Put weed&feed down on the lawn and set the sprinkler going. Then watered the tomatoes & peppers and cleaned up the lawn mower and stowed it away in the shed. I have managed to be more productive and less depressed today.

7:53p – I am going to go do dishes. I usually do them earlier in the day, but I was doing yard work today. Skip won't do them of course, since his 'has a job' ... <sigh>

8:21p – Dishes are done, Skip's lunch is fixed for tomorrow and now I need to get something made for supper.

9:54p – Supper is done, dishes are done and I am having one last beer before eating. I suppose I will sleep until about 1 or 2:00a, then lay awake until around 6 or 7:00a before finally falling asleep. Then I will have more wild and bizarre dreams for a couple of hours, wake up exhausted and go through another day of boredom and depression. Thank you Laura.

10:27p – The Sewer bill is paid. Yay. Time to eat and go through my nightly torture. I am now #83 in the state of Illinois in the WheresGeorge realm.

11:09p – Supper was quite tasty, but I am off to bed now.

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 13, 2005

10:24a – I ended up laying in bed watching TV until about 1:00a, then went to sleep. The dreams stated earlier than usual with a long dream about aliens ...

11:29a – I had to take a pause and eat a bite. My hands were feeling "disconnected" from the rest of me and I was finding it hard to type. I think my medications are messing with me worse than usual today.

11:30a – Anyway, the dream was about aliens invading Earth. The basic idea must have come from Robin Cook's "Alien Invasion." There were these smooth dark stones that would would fall to the Earth like meteorites. They were marbled and the cracks glowed faintly. When an animal got near them or stepped on them, a little barb would pop out and inject the animal with the alien intelligence. The animals body would act as a host to the alien until it could make contact with human. Then the alien/pet would make contact with the human and swap minds with them. The human would end up in the body of a dog or cat and their body would be taken over by the alien intelligence. I did not know this at the beginning of the dream, and it was quite a long and complicated dream. I can't remember it all. However there was one scene where there was a cat and I was seeing from the perspective of that cat. It was actually a human trapped in the cats body. It (I) was very frightened and wanted to warn people about what was happening. I somehow managed to scratch the words "HELP ME" on a wooded cabinet door.

In another scene, I don't know if it was before or after, I was a young man who had pretty much figured out what was happening and I was also marked by the aliens as another host/victim. One of the alien inhabited people was trying to coax me to near to them. I seemed to be in a driveway. The garage door was open and it was night time. The light from the garage spilled out on the driveway and the alien was only a silhouette from my position. I was not to be fooled though. I knew something was up. Then from the sky came one of the "space nuggets" which slammed into the ground a few feet away from me and sat sizzling in the grass. The alien tried to convince me to pick it up or touch it, but I refused. I continued to back away into the darkness of the suburban neighborhood as the sinister creature advanced toward me. Then a pack of dogs came racing down the street. Several of them began to hassle the alien and I took off running. About four of the dogs, including a huge black Standard Poodle (with the frou-frou haircut and all) joined me, and the led me into a wooded area. They seemed very organized and coordinated. It dawned on me that these were some of the humans who had been trapped in the bodies of pets! They were managing to work together to fight against the invading aliens.

There was another portion of the dream which may have taken place early in the sequence in which I saw one of the aliens extend his arm toward a young man (maybe me or one of the many characters I seemed to be jumping between). It's arm stretched like a pseudopod through the air. I thought it was reaching for the young man, but it reach out over a crosswalk on a city street where it widened and settled down like a special walkway from one side of the street to the other. I am not sure of the purpose, but I had this suspicion that the alien was planning to feed in someway on anyone crossing the street at this point!

In yet another fragment of this dream I was in a car with some people. I am not sure where we were, but we stopped at some building and I spoke to Conrad Cross with who I used to work in Orlando city hall. Conrad was all smiles and spoke to me through the barely cracked window of the car. I did not trust anyone. He might be an alien, but I don't think he was possessed. Nevertheless, I did not take any chances. This part of the dream was very vague and I don't remember much of what was said, though I vaguely remember there may have been a chase scene in this car, and another vague memory of speaking to Conrad again; this time it was night and he was sitting on some steps.

11:57a – I've warmed up some more chicken & rice (which I slightly scorched) and am watching the video tape I recorded a few weeks ago of Star Gate Atlantis. Not very productive I fear.

10:13p – Skip is trying to coax a big fluffy (feral?) cat into the house. Barnabas is freaking out. We had this cat in the house last night, but Skip is thinking of making is a "permanent" addition. I don't object, but it's... awkwared...

I took some good shots of the moon this evening...

11:46p – I just woke up from a sound (and dreamless) sleep. (I guess the beer has not worn off.). I stepped out to us the bathroom and... "the cat" zipped off with a "meow!" down the hall. No - NOT Barnabas. The stray cat. <sigh> I can appreciate Skip's desire to save the unfortunate, but he should let me know. I just let Kira off into the other room and she might go loco and give chase! I will have to make sure she stays in my room I guess... but what about tomorrow? I wish he would consult me on such things!

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 14, 2005

2:10a – I just woke up and let Kira out. I was having perfectly "normal" dreams which I cannot remember much of. Only something about Greentree apartments back in Orlando. Nothing sinister, dark, fantastic, complicated... just normal dreams. Of course, it's early yet. I expect the wild dreams to hit me later, around daybreak, as they typically do.

4:37a – I haven't been back to sleep. In fact, I've been sitting in the living room watching TV. I am going to try to go to sleep again now, but Kira is keeping me awake.

10:54a – I finally got to sleep just before 7:00a. The dreams began, but this time they were more chaotic and fragmented than usual. Again, as they do a lot lately, they were full of family member. Mom was in the background and was in bed with some man. Daddy was sleeping alone in the next room, but the wall between them was only a hanging bed spread. Everything seemed very impoverished. Calisa had apparently gone mad and was eating dirt and making no sense. I was trying to cook a meal, but I was so confused I ended up cooking food and forgetting about it, and then cooking more. This was on a grill in the same room where Daddy was sleeping. I ended up waking him up. Darlene was there, vaguely, on the side lines, and Skip seemed not to be in any of these dreams. Either as an adult or otherwise. All the dreams were disorienting and confusing. I would wake now and then and felt pulses of vertigo. I know its the medication, but this was a bit more intense than usual. It seems the dreams are getting more extreme here lately.

My replacement red ink pad for my circular "Where's George" stamp arrived today.

3:11p – I just finished giving Kira an exceptionally thorough flea bath and conditioning. Plus I sprayed yet more bug spray in my room, the hallway and the office. Hopefully it will give a brief respite from the vicious little bugs.

5:46p – Dishes are done, kitchen is cleaned, lampshades are cleaned, rose bush is trimmed and I've been to the store.

9:10p – I have been trying to set the VCR to record Sci-Fi Friday... but it had been stupidly fruitless.

10:04p – We are very sell messed up.

10:42p – I have enjoyed an understandable case ....

(I have no earthly idea WHAT I was trying to say on those last two entries!)

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 15, 2005

9:36a – I slept much better last night and I think Kira did too. Not only did I give her an intense flea bath, but I made sure I got her flea collar back on her, and spayed her down with Biospot. She slept in the living room too, which is probably better, since my room is so infested with the chingado pulgitas. I must have gone to bed around 11:00 and slept nearly the entire night. I only woke briefly once or twice. That is very rare!

Skip and I walked over to Hardee's for lunch, then to Wal-Mart this. I needed to pick up some strimmer line, but they have removed it all and are putting up Christmas stuff already! <grrr!> I ended up only getting Kira's ALA and Milk Thistle Extract which she had run out of.

10:32p – Marty and JR just left. I am about to figure out how to get supper ready...

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 16, 2005

1:29p – I am not drinking any more of that Keystone Ice beer! I learned that it has 5.9% alcohol, so no wonder I have been getting so drunk on it. I will go back to the milder stuff. Last night I messed supper up. Skip said I was pour COFFEE in the batter for the chicken (but I don't even remember). I like to get a little buzz off the beer, not become an idiot! So, no more of that kind of beer from now on.

I had some strange dreams (as usual) this morning. In one of them, Kira was in reservoir or pond and was laying at the bottom like she was taking a nap. I called to her, she lifted her head and swam up from the bottom. But she could not seem to get out of the water and just let herself sink back under. I kept calling her but she did not seem inclined to put much effort in getting out. I was worried she was going to drown, and jumped in to help her get out. I noticed she yawned under water and I wondered to myself how she was not drowning! At the same time I realized it was because it was all a dream, but I figured I better keep trying to get her out anyway, just in case I was wrong about it being a dream.

3:49p – I have been watching "The Legend of Earthsea" since noon. It's almost over. The movie is way different from the book though.

MONDAY – OCTOBER 17, 2005

I was productive today. I got to the Bank of America in St. Louis and got my Vanguard form notarized and in the mail. As usual, it took hours of travel, but I spent part of that time wandering around the Old St. Louis Courthouse downtown. I had been in it before, but I never realized that it was  so extensive. I took a good deal of pictures, but few of them are very impressive.

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 18, 2005

3:42p – I've been busy today. I got up early and have been cleaning nearly all day. The kitchen is back to "acceptable" and a pot of beans are in the crock-pot. I peeled the contact paper which I had applied to the living room's coffee table off. It was a mistake to have applied it in the first place. It spent an hour scrubbing it with wax, alcohol and Pinesol, but I don't think is will ever be the same. I think it needs to be sanded and revarnished.

4:38p – My back is killing me, but I got the leaves all raked up in the front yard (yep ... it's that time of year again). Then I watered the plants and took out the garbage. I still need to vacuum, but I probably won't get to that today.

7:23p – I just paid over $257 in bills, including the remainder of the November rent payment. That hurts.

8:41p – I'm cooking scalloped potatoes with hamburger to go with the beans. It's not an ideal mix, but Skip did not realize I had the beans cooked, even though their smell has been permeating the house and we discussed cooking them last night. I guess he did not think I would remember or follow through with the plan. That's a bit annoying. Or maybe he just forgot.

8:43p – At the moment I am in the process of backing up photo folders from the PC. I have videos backing up now... oh... they just finished. I hope I did it right!

11:45p – Supper was ... edible. Nothing all that great, but it filled the void. I am off to bed now. Not sure what I am going to do on the morrow.

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 19, 2005

10:09a – I got up around 4:00a to let Kira out, but... it was too late. She had left a trail of poop all the was from the kitchen to the living room. About 10 feet. I got part of it up and went back to bed, not willing to deal with it at such and ungodly hour, but then I just didn't want to get up at all. Of course,  I had to eventually. I have the bucket and wet-vac spot cleaner in the living room, but I am waiting to wake up a bit more before tackling this most unpleasant task.

11:07a – I am finally getting started on the carpet. I procrastinated long enough. She sure did make a mess this time. I am glad I bought the carpet cleaning machine now.

11:46a – Whew! I am dripping sweat, but the carpet is scrubbed clean again. What a pain! And the FedEx guy banged on the door while I was hunkered over the spot-scrubber. Skip received a box. Probably his video card.

12:39p – I fixed some soup for lunch. A variation of hot & sour soup, but I used bean broth. So far it's too hot to eat, so I'm not sure how good it is yet.

12:58p – That soup was awful. That's the first time in I don't know how long that I made something I would not finish eating. I think I put too much rice vinegar in it.

1:48p – I made a second lunch since the first one was so awful. Something more bland and less experimental suing rice noodles, left over roast beef and onion. Seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper only. This looks much more promising!

2:57p – I just finished watching the second part of the Hercules mini-series. That was surely the best "Hercules" story I have ever seen. It had special effects and lots of mythology, yet managed to keep the characters real and believable. I really enjoyed it. More than I expected, in fact.

4:11p – I need to get the dishes done. It's hot in here though and I don't want to turn on the A/C. It will be hotter washing dishes.

5:18p – Dishes are done. Skip came home early. (Greg gave him a ride home). Mi estas ironta vendejon nun.

9:35p – I am making leftovers of beans, potatoes & hamburger tonight. Skip has been talking to Blake (the landlord) about the status of the fence, and I can tell he is feeling some pressure. And well he should. I've been telling him he needs to get on with this project and not sit on it. He has a tendency to start things he does not finish though, and that worries me. Now he is all "we have to do this..." and "we have to do that..." ... and "we," "we," "we," "we," ... on his project. I have already fronted all the money on this and Blake is covering it in the long run, but now Skip needs me to do all these things like washing down more boards and painting them... and buying more paint. I think I need to buy my meds first. Sometimes I wonder, would I still live at Gentry's and have my job at Wash U. if he did not move up here? Who knows. I can't say I regret it, but I can't say I know where my own life was going or would have gone either. I can't help but to wonder.

Of course, I would do it all over again, but it would have been nice to be on my own for longer than the three months that I had from July 5, 2001 to September 23, 2001.

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 20, 2005

12:03p – It's a cool cloudy day. I was awake much of the night and at precisely 6:00a on my bedroom's digital clock it started to rain. It was sunny again when I got up, but the clouds are back now. The temperature is 62°F as of 11:45a.

1:13p – I just checked the balance on my unemployment benefits and am relieved to see I still have about 3 weeks left. I was not sure if I had even one left! ... so that is a true relief.

9:33p – I am making chicken & rice for supper.

10:00p – The food is going great so far. I am currently rendering down the broth from the chicken to a thick roux to pour over the chicken & rice.

Wow, the battery has FINALLY died on my little PC Clock/Calculator than Nikki bought me years ago. It has been about 10-15 years now!

10:04p – The storm seems to have subsided. It is wet out, but no wind, rain or other admonishments of nature. Skip did bring the cat in, who I call Chooga, but I let him back out again. I gave both him and Barnabas a slice of Braunsweiger, but neither of them seemed interested in eating it. Chooga seemed to just want to go back outside (despite the rain), so I let him out.

10:13p – Darn... I slightly scorched the gravy I was making for the chicken & rice. It is edible... but not quite what I intended.

10:38p – I am going to go eat now and see what happens after that...

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 21, 2005

10:11a – I slept in late ... again. It's chilly this morning and I've turned the heat on for a few minutes to take the chill off the air.

12:36p – I fixed some left over rice and easy over eggs for brunch, but started to feel nauseous after eating. Now I am too sleepy.

4:11p – I just got up from a long nap. I wasn't feeling good. It looks like Skip is home early. I think he's in his room, but I'm not sure.

6:11p – I just got back from the store. It's chilly out today. I actually wore my jacket for the first time this season.

8:46p – I just finished cooking some beef & pork chimichangas for supper. I am not overly impressed with the results, but I guess they will be edible.

10:17p – I am off to bed. Supper was ... okay. Not as good as I had hoped.

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 22, 2005

9:39a – I slept pretty good last night. My windows were open, the fans on and the temperature was down in the 50's. I just curl up under my blankets and go into hibernation mode. Even my dreams have been less chaotic since the weather has started to cool down.

11:16a – I am already bored. Nothing to watch on TV... and I don't want anything else to much on. I don't feel like reading or doing house work. Boring!

12:44p – I am watching "Wildcats" (Goldie Hawn). I may go for a walk with my camera later.

2:44p – Skip and I have been out working in the back yard. Burned about four more panels of wood and washed down more boards to be painted.

4:33p – I am still so bored and sleepy. I just cooked a pot of pork with rice noodles, celery, onion and seasonings. Eating again.

6:08p – I thought I might be going out with Rick and Deana tonight, but I called to check on our status and he did not get his paycheck yet, so the outing is off. That's really just as well. I can't afford to be throwing money away. But I've been so bored. It would be good to get out of the house and do something.

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 23, 2005

12:08a – I made some more chimichangas for supper tonight at Skip's behest. I think they came out better than last night. Anyway... I am off to bed now.

11;09a – I slept in VERY late this morning. Not because I was exceptionally tired or anything, but I just did not really have any reason to get out of bed. My dreams have calmed down some lately and I have not been having the extreme, chaotic variety. I wonder if it has to do with the cooler weather?

11:11a – Skip has a jaw-ache this morning and actually asked me if I had any antibiotics or medicine that he could take for it. That is rare for him to ask for or take pills. He must really be in some pain.

1:30a – I got most of the dishes washed and the kitchen mostly cleaned up this morning. Then I made some pork and noodles for lunch. It's a sunny but cool day, and very breezy. I just chopped up some old pieces of bread; a half roll of garlic bread, some banana nut bread and some fruit bread. I put it out with some seed for the birds. The sparrows are really swarming on it.

2:51p – I just called Deana. She is going to come over to look at pictures from Lisa's wedding and maybe have me print some out.

Deana was here until about 5:30p. I had a good time working with here printing out pictures for her project. Later, around 7:30p, she called med up and she and Rick let me join them on a trip over to Wal-Mart to pick up some bulk items. That was a nice excursion and a welcome respite from boredom!

Skip has been sick tonight, throwing up several times. I hope he's okay.

MONDAY – OCTOBER 24, 2005

1:39a – I just got up to let Kira out. It's cold tonight, but it feels good curled up under my blankies! :)

3:52a – Kira needs out again.

9:35a – Brrr! It's chilly this morning.

3:16p – I am having another horribly boring day. However, my pension check arrived. That was one bright spot.

4:29p – I finally got most of the dishes done. I am really not very motivated today though.

6:07p – I've been to the store. Skip is home. He's still not feeling very good.

9:59p – In chatting with Bill & Marty tonight, it looks like I will be going camping at Kenny's this weekend. (As a Klingon?!)

10:24p – I am off to bed now. I had some beef fried rice for supper.It was a bit spicy, but tasty.

TUESDAY – OCTOBER 25, 2005

12:05a – I just let Kira out. I feel like I've been asleep for many hours, but according to the the time it has only been a little over one hour. Strange...oh well... off to let Kira back in.

3:07a – Kira has me up again.

9:21a – I let her out again around 7:00a and went back to bed until a little after 9:00a. Lisa and I are supposed to go in for our final four-week check in with unemployment today. I will see if she can run me by the bank to deposit this pension check.

5:07p – Lisa got here about 2:30. She dropped me off at the bank and I got my check deposited. We got our 4-week renewal done and then she dropped me off at Jay International where I bought about $30 worth of goods. Lots of noodles and bean threads. Some dried shallots, and a few cans of various mushrooms. Another jar of kim chee and a couple of boxes of Sazón con azafrán.

Skip picked up from COSTCO a box of 25 individually wrapped and frozen chicken breasts, and a 7+ lb pork loid for $13.83. I split the cost with him. As he said, it was a deal he couldn't pass up.

WEDNESDAY – OCTOBER 26, 2005

Today was pretty boring, but I did apply for five different jobs. This evening I designed a greeting card for Bethany Place. They are having a contest. Unfortunately, I did not realize the contest was over on October 14th, until I was nearly thru with my design. I finally took some pictures of "the cat" ... which I have named Chooga, tonight

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 27, 2005

Today I was supposed to get with Deana and practice driving. I got up early (well... early for me these days), and called her. There was no answer, but I left a message. She called me later and told me that she had to take Ricky to court and had to cancel. We may try again tomorrow. I don't think I will need much practice... just enough to get the feel of her car. I really need to start going through the driver license test probram on-line and preparing myself for the written test. I got motivated this morning, and went out and mowed the front lawn. I also picked some tomatoes & peppers from my "crop" as well.

I took Skip's movie ("The Last Temptation") back to Block Buster today, then I walked over to Schnuck's and bought a few vegetables for supper.

RD spent the day at a local zoological park in England. One of the best points of her pictures, which she took with my old HP200C (aka "ButterCam") were pictures of the adorable MeerCats.

8:14p – I have a variation of "Potatoes Au Gratin" in the oven baking now. But, with a Mexican twist to it. I hope it comes out okay. I am going to heat up last night's pork loin for meat, and I will put on a pot of white corn for veggies...

8:29p – I have the corn on the stove (on low) and the meat is ready to warm up in a pan.

FRIDAY – OCTOBER 28, 2005

1:45a – I am up letting Kira out again. Skip must have set the alarm for 'away' ... it went off when I went into the kitchen.

4:33a – Kira has me up again. When I get a job, this is going to be a problem.

7:22a – I just let Kira out again and Chooga came running to the door. He came right in with Kira standing there and she didn't seem to bat an eye.

4:01p – I cancelled out on the camping trip. I thought we were leaving tomorrow, but it was supposed to be today. Then the location changed several times, and it got too confusing. Beside which, I only have $1 left in my wallet. Skip should pay me rent tonight. I decided to just stay home, though I am interminably bored.

5:04p – Skip came home early to get some painting done on the fence.

SATURDAY – OCTOBER 29, 2005

This was a very boring day. Skip and I went to Taco Bell for lunch and then to Wal-Mart. I bought some vitamins.

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 30, 2005

There was major fire in Southampton University today! Ruby Dancingmoon was in the middle of it all. All is well, but it was a very scary event!

MONDAY – OCTOBER 31, 2005

It rained all day long today. I did not accomplish much. I let the dishes go unattended all day, but I did some washing this evening.

Later this evening, I walked through the rain over to Q-Mart and asked if they had decent sized bags of candy. They did not. I had to cross over Hwy 157 to the Dollar Store and spent a bit over $9 on some chocolates for the Trick-or-Treaters. We had quite a few of them too! I was going to take pics, but decided against it.

To Stars and Celebrities Chief John Ross October 3, 1790 - 1866 Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 - 1866. Michael Crichton October 23, 1942 (author - Jurassic Park) Chicago, Illinois