Celery Stalk Day

I might buy one or two donuts from them – never another dozen!

Well, poo. How did that happen? I missed the deadline for putting my hat in the ring to attend the November Stock Holders Meeting for Tesla. I had to wait until I had a statement from my brokerage firm proving I held stock at the time designated. I got that only a few days ago. My brokerage didn’t have the necessary document ready when I first checked. I checked and downloaded it later, around the 15th of October. But I didn’t check then to see the date by which I had needed to apply. Since the meeting was in the beginning of November, I thought I still had time. I didn’t. Poo. Not that I would have gotten a space anyway since I don’t hold very much stock and I think the number of entries one got in the lottery was equal to the number of shares held. Whatever. Saves me a long drive. I can just watch it on TV with the hoi polloi (from the Greek meaning “the many”).

Today has been another vegetable day. Maybe a stalk of celery. I had thought I would be helping JC to visit with TC but I got a call saying that he (JC) wasn’t feeling up to it. I am going to try to get down there this week sometime. I think Wednesday might be good. The week’s schedule is unclear at this point. First, I am hoping that I have enough rides stored up to dash anytime. If not, I will have to use one of my “dash anytime for a week” passes. I have three. And secondly, SM ought to be returning soon. Not exactly sure when. Or how. I guess she will ping me when it gets close.

So, instead of heading to Auburn, I got to stay in. Woo hoo.

Tomorrow, I am going to ask my erstwhile contractor and friend to help me with two emergency issues. If he won’t help in a timely fashion, I will have to find someone else to help me. First is the nest thermometer. Last night it heated the house to 75 degrees! It lost internet connection and power. I wonder if the wiring needs to be looked at. The second is a dripping faucet in the blue bathroom. I have replaced one of the faucets already. (Though that was a while ago – and I didn’t like doing it) I don’t really want to replace the other. So, I am going to ask JM to installed shut off valves for the two lines into the tub. Neither job should be too onerous. Or take too long. I hope he can get to them quickly. And if not, as I said. I will find someone else. There must be many handy people around. It is a good gig sort of job.

Augustus for President: K+ asked me to put my picture back on the badge. Which I did and sent to him.

I am already thinking about my second country wide sweep next year. I hope by that time to have some funds coming in from donations. Anything is possible. What I am thinking most about, though, is what proportion of time I plan to spend in each state. Mostly population driven I think. Have I mentioned lately that I love spreadsheets? Did you know that a little more than half of the population in the United States lives in just 10 states? (CA, TX, FL, NY, PA, IL, OH, GA, NC) So half of the 3-4 months that I am allotting for that tour will be spent in those states. Or at least thats what makes sense to me right now.

As for getting on the ballot in all the states, the rules aren’t up on Ballotpedia yet. But from the 2024 information, it seems that we want all of our ducks in a row, all of our i’s crossed and our t’s dotted by June 30, 2028. I would love to download that information, but I couldn’t figure out how. And there didn’t seem to be a way to contact the people managing the site. Google gave me an email address and a phone number. I sent an email and will wait to call until Tuesday. Give them all of Monday to respond.

Driving Day – ME to CT to NY

One final view of Maine

My tummy is not thrilled for some reason. Probably something I ate. Who knows. This too shall pass. I hope.

I got up and packed and I hope I left nothing behind. I also stripped the bed. I like to think that I am a decent house guest.

Said goodbye to J&P and hit the road.

First stop – The Only Donut in Belfast. When did donuts become so expensive? Or maybe they have always been relatively expensive but now prices are so high, they just seem more expensive. I don’t know. Anyway, I think $38.50 for a dozen donuts is a bit on the pricey side. I got them for two reasons – one because I wanted to check the place out and two because I wanted to be able to give them to K+ when I got there. The place was cool and I think the donuts were and will be appreciated.

Lots of driving. And listening to The Great hunt.

First Charging stop was near Lawrence MA. I had thought it was going to be a charger I had not been to before. But I had been there before. Not a lot around there in terms of shops and things. There used to be a subway. And the gas station had some stuff. And there was a starbucks. I was looking for Pepitas. And a bathroom, but I ended up not not really needing to go at that point.

Next stop was K+’s house. That was a pleasant surprise. I told the car that I wanted to arrive with at least 25% battery. I didn’t realize at the time that I would be doing a bit of (self-volunteered) driving or I would have asked it to be at least 30%.

At the house, quiet chaos reined. Well, not so quiet. They have a great dog who barked and barked and barked until someone (E) eventually came to the door. During the course of the brief visit, I got to see and chat with most of the kids. And with K and C. They lead a hectic life it seems to me. But they also seem to be settled into it and comfortable with it. I hope that it is a shorter time between visits than it was this time! Maybe I will ask to stay with them when I visit Hartford in March 2026.

After that visit, it was off Home. First charger at Hartford, which I had been to before. Next charger at Lee. Also one I had been to before. And lastly, a charger in Utica, again, a previously visited location. I didn’t find Pepitas in the first two and didn’t even look at the third stop.

On the way to the house, I stopped at the library to drop off a library book that was due on Friday. I hope me dropping it in the slot on Friday night or at least before they open on Saturday will result in my not getting a fine. That would be nifty.

Exciting day or what?

When I finally got home, I really wasn’t in the mood to write a blog post. So, I didn’t. I ate a little something, watched an episode of The Diplomat and then went to sleep.

Augustus for President: Well, it is looking like I will have to end up using swift if I can’t get Powerpoint working as a kiosk like thing on my iPad. Or using the midi device I have. That gives me sixteen sounds I think. I’ll just keep plugging along. Then again, it might be the case that I can create the animation in wick on my iPad. I think I will check that out soon. (Yes, it works!)