I had help today from three unexpected sources: AppleCare, Peter’s across the street neighbor and a couple of landscape company workers who were doing leaf cleaning next door.

I got to Edgewater late, around 3, and stayed until a little after 5. My plan was to clean up the rock garden, which was piled with leaves and had dozens of gone-bys.

The leaf blower worked great, even on wet leaves, so I was able to clean up almost the whole front yard.

The landscape company workers took pity on me and moved all the heavy leaves from the street to the little wooded area on the right side of the yard.

The neighbor helped me lift a tarp full of leaves into the truck, so I can bring all of it to the transfer station tomorrow.

Earlier, a support tech at AppleCare helped me reconfigure Ron’s old iPhone 4. It’s now my phone, with my valid AppleID.

Slow cooker chicken, mashed and beans for supper.

… but it doesn’t matter to a bully.

Than again, there’s the fabulous Jia Jiang.

Bullies: why.

I tried giving blood today but was turned down because of the surgical wound.

Since James didn’t want to do leaves, I put up the lights here instead. Surprised to get it done myself.

Got a call from a reporter at the Enterprise about my sad Trustee story. He listened to me with great patience!

Light frost this morning. I turned off the back faucet and disconnected the hoses last night.

Kitty came by for a 2 hour nap. I had to dismiss him when it got dark.

Robert was feeling better so I drove him to work this morning. Wound Center at noon.

Treated Ron to lunch at Panera yesterday. They’d sent a $5 coupon to try out their Rapid Pickup: fantastic service. We loved our meals. Actually cost about the same as what I paid today at Wendy’s. Yes, I’ve been out of control, buying lunches twice this week.

Stopped in to Harbor Freight to look for an extension cord for Peter. Did not get one; had forgotten how expensive they are.

I finally sliced open the pumpkins. One had rotted seeds, so I’m composting it. I roasted the other and will make soup.

Found a nice sauce recipe while at the Wound Center that looked like it would work for slow cooker pork chops. House smells great.

Found and tested a bunch of outdoor lights. Cut down the asparagus. Cleaned out most of the debris under the big hydrangeas. Swept the deck of the gutter junk that Ron cleaned out the other day and put the grill and chairs back.

Five excellent ideas for restoring integrity in government and increasing responsiveness to the public’s concerns.

In frustration with the most recent round of petty BS, I finally resigned from the Library Board yesterday.

I try but after 70 years, still haven’t figured out “the formula” to “fit in”.

Discussion with Ron followed this morning.

Ron says he and I want to make the world better, but the people we encounter make it so impossible that it would take a “gift from God” to make it happen.

“The three-month hemoglobin A1C test that measures blood sugar should register less than 7 percent, blood pressure should be less than 120 over 80, and LDL — or “bad” cholesterol — should be 70 mg/dL or lower.”

Yeah.  Right.

Our next door neighbor’s father (95) and a friend’s mother (85) passed away peacefully last (Thanksgiving) week. Both wakes were crowded, but we were warmly received by our friends.

(Finally) made a pumpkin pie and an experimental fruit cocktail cake this morning.

We watched the final Season 4 episode of Vikings last night.

I did more yard work yesterday. Mowed the front and cut down some gone-bys in front of the fence and in the corner garden.

I blew it: after looking forward to seeing Alpha for a week, I remembered the pick-up time incorrectly.  I was able to redeem myself, at least to A, by making a special trip with coffee and a muffin.

I will ask A and R to give us reminder calls a half hour before pickup time.

“These are mine; you cannot have them.”

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

I tried to explain my theory of household budgeting to Robert. I think he was amused.

The way I figure it, we’re “ahead” if we have a chance to spend money, but don’t.

Example: we could buy tickets to a show at the local Center for the Arts. That would set us back at least $60. By not buying tickets, we’re ahead $60.

Aside from providing a rationale for not spending money we don’t have, this silly fantasy has no real effect on our assets or cash flow. It just makes me feel better. It’s a pretense that we have enough disposable income to spend on luxuries and entertainment, but choose not to.

So, although we have less than many other people, it is a smaller amount of less than if we (I) weren’t so abstemious. Less of less.