Catching Up after Traveling for 5 Months
Oct. 1-Present, 2007--San Antonio
It's now been 9 days that I have been back in San Antonio. They have been filled with chores related to dealing with problems and catching up on things:
1. I took the car to have the air conditioning repaired. It had started giving me problems just a few days before I departed on my trip.
2. I took the car to have the sunroof adjusted and its drain holes cleaned out. It had gotten out of alignment and was leaving a small gap where water was coming in. That water wasn't draining as it should and was runing down into the floorboard where the carpeting was soaking it up.
3. I tried to install new software/hardware on my computer, and it apparently changed some settings so that the machine would never completely load all its software. Zone Alarm in particular would not load, yet it kept recyling through the process of trying to load. That slowed the computer down to the point where I couldn't do anything. I uninstalled the software/hardware, but that did not change the settings back. I tried deleting Zone Alarm, but it couldn't be deleted because it was an active program (spending every moment the computer was on trying to open itself over and over again). I tried to reset the system settings to a date prior to the date when I installed the software/hardware, but the computer is just too slow to complete such a major task. I returned the software/hardware to the store and will probably have to get a repairman to work on the computer.
4. I went through 5 months of mail. I matched credit card receipts to credit card statements. I balanced my checkbook and put all the entries into it related to the automatic payments I have set up for all of my monthly accounts. I read back issues of magazines and newsletters from organizations.
5. I thoroughly cleaned my two toilets. The water in the bowls had completely dried up while I was gone, so that meant that I could use the cleaner full-strength to get rid of the calcium build-up (which is significant in San Antonio since our water comes from underground limestone caves). They are now both so smooth and shiny inside!
6. I went shopping for basic supplies (and for a few non-necessities such as cookies, cakes, etc.) for eating and to replace items I needed that were lost with my stolen suitcase.
7. I went to my insurance company and filed a claim for the stolen suitcase and the items inside it (a surprisingly high amount of $1800+) for a 21-inch mostly full suitcase. Fortunately, I had removed some things (including the gift items I had bought in Taiwan and India)and left them in Copenhagen, or the claim would have been even higher. When I get paid by them, I have to take the check and start buying everything (suitcase, sandals, travel pants, shorts, shirts, underwear, socks, windbreaker/raincoat, binoculars, flashlight, travel alarm clock, universal stopper [Don't laugh, Torben], battery charger for camera, battery for camera, memory cards for camera, usb camera card reader, international plug/electricity converter kit, chain and lock to lock suitcase in overnight trains and in hotels, suitcase locks, etc., etc., etc. The list was about 4 pages long when I wrote it up with links to indicate the replacement cost of them.
8. I bought a new laptop computer to have one that works for now. I will still get my desktop repaired and then will try to use it as a server so I can move the laptop around within the apartment and even as far away as the pool area.
9. I dusted and cleaned the floors inside the apartment.
10. I repaired my dishwasher when it wouldn't operate after being still for so long.
11. I went to the nearby bus station to get my senior citizen's pass, since I turned 62 while I was gone traveling. It will allow me to take local buses for 25 cents per trip with 1 free transfer for changing buses between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., for 50 cents at other times M-F, and for free on Saturdays and Sundays. I plan to start going downtown regularly by bus to attend concerts, eat lunch, etc.
But, it hasn't all been work. I spent 12 hours downtown on Friday. I ate lunch at MK Davis Restaurant, went to an organ concert at lunchtime at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, stopped at the library for a while, went by the insurance company, walked along the river, went for happy hour at Mexican Manhattan ($1 off drinks and free taco and tamale buffet with a seat on the edge of the patio overlooking the river), went to First Friday (a street fair along a street with lots of galleries who schedule their new shows to begin on the first Friday of each month) in Southtown, and saw "Mama Mia" at the Majestic Theater. The weather was great, I got lots of walking for exercise, and all of my activities were fun!
Last night (Tuesday), Merryl and I had free tickets to be a part of a focus group to preview a new movie at the Silverado Theater that is opening in two weeks--Dan in Real Life. (Note: The link will only work until Touchstone has a new movie coming out, then it will be necessary to go to another page to find the trailer for it.) It's a funny film that is much funnier than most romantic comedies have been in the past few years.
Life is slowly getting back to normal now. I am beginning to feel mostly caught up on critical things. It will be a while still before I get my complete backlog, but my list of things that need to be done is always growing and, therefore, keeping me behind constantly even when I have been here at home for months.
Final Spending Update for 2007 Travels: I traveled 140 days this year and spent $4611.05 for an average of $32.93 per day. That includes my dental expenses in Thailand and the purchase of 6 air tickets (two in India and four in Indonesia) via low-cost airlines. That does NOT include my around-the-world air ticket which cost about $3600. Add that into the picture, and I spent approximately $8200 with a daily average of $59. Even at that, as I have always said, I SAVE money when I travel. That's a monthly expense of only about $1800!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Returning Home
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007--Lancaster County, PA
It's another nice spring day. We all went on an outing to a local nursery where we ate hotdogs and the children participated in activities. They had pumpkin painting and scarecrow making activities among others. Here, many of the homes have stalks of corn tied to their porch posts, have scarecrows on the porches, and have pumpkins either in the yard, on the porch, or in flower boxes. They are really celebrating the harvest season, and the decorations will be appropriate for Halloween later in the month, too.
Jack and I went walking in the early afternoon. I couldn't believe he wanted to do so. And once we got started, he kept saying he wanted to go further for me to see certain things. I was amazed at how far we walked. Later we measured it in a car because he was so proud of going so far. It was 2.3 miles!
Jack and I drove to Delaware. I had only been through it on a train before, so it was fun to get out and see the countryside and to see Newark, the city that is the home of the University of Delaware. It is only about an hour from Lancaster County and involves 3 states going there--Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. On the way, we encountered the Amish out in their buggies and a few of them walking. The men were all wearing their black suits, black ties, and black hats completed with bright colored shirts--purple or green. Newark is a wonder example of a college town--not too big nor too small. The campus is just a block behind the main street and actually spreads across the main street on one end. Main Street is lined with restaurants and cafes with outdoor tables. We went into a gelato place and had an ice cream cone.
In the evening, we went down the street 1 1/2 blocks to the Sugar Bowl, the local college hangout that is managed by Jack's and Drew's son Kyle. They have strombolis, pizzas, cheese steaks, etc. Jack and I each had a stromboli. We ordered the regular (vs. the large), but I think Kyle must have made us the large. I could barely finish it all. It was good, though. Drew had a pizza.
Monday, Oct. 1, 2007--Harrisburg to San Antonio
I went out early in the morning for donuts and the newspaper. Millersville is such an easy place to explore on foot. Everything is really within walking distance. And downtown Lancaster is only 3 miles away which is walking distance for me.
Drew and Kyle drove me to the airport in Harrisburg, since Jack had left for a meeting at the International Reading Association office in Newark where we had been the day before. It was an easy drive, and I enjoyed seeing the countryside on the way. I was surprised when we arrived at the airport to have them point out the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant and tell me that it was Three Mile Island, the place that had a limited meltdown a few years ago. I knew about TMI, but I really didn't know where it was. It is just by the airport.
The Harrisburg airport operates a lounge for all silver and gold members of frequent flyer clubs of the airlines serving the airport. I went in there and had a complimentary soft drink and read the New York Times. It is a conservative area, and all the other men in there were watching Fox News. I wonder if they noticed I was reading such a liberal newspaper?
My flight to Dulles was short and easy. Then I had another wait of several hours for my flight to San Antonio. I read more newspapers, I watched people, I walked up and down the terminal for exercise, and I finally went to a sandwich place and got an Italian sandwich on focacio bread, since the airline doesn't serve food on the San Antonio flight. Just before boarding, I was watching a man work on his computer creating a painting. He had a large sketchpad attached via a usb port and would draw on the pad, and it would show up on the computer screen. I don't know if he started the picture from scratch or was altering one that he had imported from elsewhere, but it was fun to see his equipment and what he was doing.
The flight to San Antonio went well again, but it seems long at 3 1/2 hours. Anyway, my luggage came quickly, and my sister picked me up just 7-8 minutes after I went outside. I was back home again a few minutes after that for the first time in over 4 1/2 months.
Note: I will write another update with final spending info and notes about my first week home in a day or two.
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007--Lancaster County, PA
It's another nice spring day. We all went on an outing to a local nursery where we ate hotdogs and the children participated in activities. They had pumpkin painting and scarecrow making activities among others. Here, many of the homes have stalks of corn tied to their porch posts, have scarecrows on the porches, and have pumpkins either in the yard, on the porch, or in flower boxes. They are really celebrating the harvest season, and the decorations will be appropriate for Halloween later in the month, too.
Jack and I went walking in the early afternoon. I couldn't believe he wanted to do so. And once we got started, he kept saying he wanted to go further for me to see certain things. I was amazed at how far we walked. Later we measured it in a car because he was so proud of going so far. It was 2.3 miles!
Jack and I drove to Delaware. I had only been through it on a train before, so it was fun to get out and see the countryside and to see Newark, the city that is the home of the University of Delaware. It is only about an hour from Lancaster County and involves 3 states going there--Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. On the way, we encountered the Amish out in their buggies and a few of them walking. The men were all wearing their black suits, black ties, and black hats completed with bright colored shirts--purple or green. Newark is a wonder example of a college town--not too big nor too small. The campus is just a block behind the main street and actually spreads across the main street on one end. Main Street is lined with restaurants and cafes with outdoor tables. We went into a gelato place and had an ice cream cone.
In the evening, we went down the street 1 1/2 blocks to the Sugar Bowl, the local college hangout that is managed by Jack's and Drew's son Kyle. They have strombolis, pizzas, cheese steaks, etc. Jack and I each had a stromboli. We ordered the regular (vs. the large), but I think Kyle must have made us the large. I could barely finish it all. It was good, though. Drew had a pizza.
Monday, Oct. 1, 2007--Harrisburg to San Antonio
I went out early in the morning for donuts and the newspaper. Millersville is such an easy place to explore on foot. Everything is really within walking distance. And downtown Lancaster is only 3 miles away which is walking distance for me.
Drew and Kyle drove me to the airport in Harrisburg, since Jack had left for a meeting at the International Reading Association office in Newark where we had been the day before. It was an easy drive, and I enjoyed seeing the countryside on the way. I was surprised when we arrived at the airport to have them point out the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant and tell me that it was Three Mile Island, the place that had a limited meltdown a few years ago. I knew about TMI, but I really didn't know where it was. It is just by the airport.
The Harrisburg airport operates a lounge for all silver and gold members of frequent flyer clubs of the airlines serving the airport. I went in there and had a complimentary soft drink and read the New York Times. It is a conservative area, and all the other men in there were watching Fox News. I wonder if they noticed I was reading such a liberal newspaper?
My flight to Dulles was short and easy. Then I had another wait of several hours for my flight to San Antonio. I read more newspapers, I watched people, I walked up and down the terminal for exercise, and I finally went to a sandwich place and got an Italian sandwich on focacio bread, since the airline doesn't serve food on the San Antonio flight. Just before boarding, I was watching a man work on his computer creating a painting. He had a large sketchpad attached via a usb port and would draw on the pad, and it would show up on the computer screen. I don't know if he started the picture from scratch or was altering one that he had imported from elsewhere, but it was fun to see his equipment and what he was doing.
The flight to San Antonio went well again, but it seems long at 3 1/2 hours. Anyway, my luggage came quickly, and my sister picked me up just 7-8 minutes after I went outside. I was back home again a few minutes after that for the first time in over 4 1/2 months.
Note: I will write another update with final spending info and notes about my first week home in a day or two.
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