Monday, February 23, 2026

     My insurance changed the mail delivery pharmacy this year. Four prescriptions need refilling before my next appointment.  I spend an hour going through all the options on My Chart and still I am confused.  Finally, I send a message to the Doctor and cross my fingers and hope for the best. This is actually harder than doing my income tax forms.

     I put the four solar lanterns out in the sun for recharging in the morning winter sun. The sun is out for half a day.  I will put them out again this morning.  I am getting ready for the next storm.

     We watch more episodes of LINCOLN LAWYER. The plot is complicated and keeps shifting. We eat our chocolate Sunday deserts while watching the desperate characters race around Los Angeles.

     I read the current New Yorker back in my room. Time to start a new book. Earlier I start a Lawrence Wright book and soon realize I had read it before. More books are waiting for me.

 

Sunday, February 22, 2026

     Sudden darkness.  Electric power stops as we are watching another episode of LINCOLN LAWYER. My roommate sits in her electric recliner fully extended. I move slowly to find the solar lanterns by the front door.  I am afraid of using candles. Two of the four lanterns work. With lanterns we are able to get ready for bed.  I am able to read for an hour. Power back on at 10:30. I turn off the living room lights and go to bed.

     This morning, I am putting the lanterns outside in the sun to recharge. I have been waiting for several years to see if the lanterns would really work.  They did. These lanterns are made for backpacking and are perfect for house use during a black out.

     At noon, the Instacart shopper brings in the heavy bags from the grocery store into the kitchen. I am so grateful for this service.

     Before the darkness we finish watching the last episode of HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST. Good strong unpredictable ending.

 

Saturday, February 21, 2026  

     Sunny cold morning.  My roommate is out for the day.  The house is mine.  I place an insta cart order for my favorite foods. The sun is warming up the eastern side of the house.  My western bedroom is cold.

     A crow marches across the dry road, stopping to peck at some residue from past puddles. My mind is full of possibilities for walking and driving around. Most likely I won’t do any of them.

     I am almost finished with the Swedish detective novel BLAZE ME A SUN by Christoffer Carlsson, an unknown author to me. A dark fast paced story. A stack of new library books is sitting on the dining room table, along with the 2025 tax forms.

    We watch two more confusing episodes of HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST, the Irish madcap bizarre series. There are lots of things I don’t understand in life. I do understand the supreme court beat down Trump on his tariff activities. Maybe we will endure and thrive.