Thursday, Jan. 15
Birchwood Cottages describes itself as an assisted living facility but it's rean. assisted dying place, taking care of me while I die. Assisted living is the Visiting Angels progam which provides drivers ti take me downtown for coffee, waffles, bagels and a chance to socialize with friends three mornings a week.
2026
Jan. 14, Wednesday
I'm 91 & 1/2 and thinking abouit returning to my blog/journal, inspired by a New Yorker piece by Calvin Tomkins who is 100.
I'm living in room 10 at Birchwood Cottages, Owatonna MN. Much smaller than the townhouse on 855 22nd SE, but environmental sounds here fascinate me. I hear a man haller with a yodel affect, an operatic plea for help. Across the hall me Tom chuckles a lot with staffers.
Today my Visiting Angel Cindy, a woman in her late 60's and walks with a cane. drove me to Central Park Coffee where I had a waffle and coffee. The place was nearfly empty when we arrived filled up within an hour. Later I asked Cindy to drive me to the river where I took a few pictures to post on Facebook.
Tonight I watched Patrick Gibson and Molly Brown in Clyde Phillips's “Dexter: Original Sin” (2024)..
Sunday, Oct. 20 2024--My closest friend in high school was John, a handsome, quirky fellow. His quirkiness was a result of his memory of watching as a child his mother throwing herself in front of a railroad train. Years later John and I were in the attic of my parents’ garage listening to my 78 rpm jazz record collection. Suddenly John started tossing my Fats Waller record as if he were a discus thrower, smashing them to pieces. From that time on, John was known as “Waller.” He also was a left-handed pitcher for the Dickinson Junior Legion baseball team.
Saturday, Aug. 21 56 degrees—Up at 6:so after a nightmare about losing my van at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Took meds, posted backyard pic, then I drove to the library and walked to Old Town Bagels for coffee and a breakfast melt on an onion bagel. Had a brief chat with Lavonne Trotter.Read more of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories at Lake Kohlmier.
Supper was a hamburger, baked potato, salad, and steamed asparagus/green beans.
Tonight I watched Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Carmen Miranda, The Nicholas Brothers, Charlotte Greenwood, and J. Carrol Naish in Irving Cummings's “Down Argentine Way” (1940).
Thursday, Aug. 29 71 degrees—Up at 7. Took meds, posted backyard pic, then had grapefruit/oatmeal breakfast.
Parked at the library, walked to OTB where I had a garlic bagel with honey walnut cream cheese at a sidewalk table.
This afternoon I had the 2014 van’s oil changed, etc. at Seykora’s for $61. Only 44,247 miles on it. While that work was being done, I had coffee and read read Poe’s short story “Hans Phaall.”
Supper was a brat, mashed potatoes, salad, and steamed asparagus/green beans.
Tonight I watched Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, and Veronica Cartwright in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (1963).
