2025 January 31 Friday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Joan, Grace, Michelle, Suzie, Val, Dianne, Ricky, Donna, Andrea, Ella, and I
WASH DAY: Ella is doing laundry today. Sorting the clothes into the automatic washing machine. When it's gone through all of its cycles she moves the clothes to the dryer and waits for it to signal that the clothes are dry. She removes them from the dryer and folds them into piles of like items.
This made me think of wash day as a youngster. It was different.
On occasion we would use water from the rain barrel to do the washing instead of pumping from the well. 
We had a hand pump in the kitchen. To get water you had to give water. There's a life lesson there. The leather seals in the pump would dry out and not quite seal enough to get a vacuum going to raise water from the well.
A galvanized bucket caught the water which was then transferred to a galvanized tub on the cook stove with all four burners going. Lifting thirty to forty pound buckets was a healthy way to build my young muscles.
About three buckets full were brought to a boil. Then mom and I would carefully, without touching the bottom, carry it to the washing machine and dump it in.
The tub went back to the stove and more buckets of water were brought to a boil. While that water was heating another couple of buckets of cold water would be pumped and emptied into the washing machine to leave it hot but not scalding.
Mom would then peel thin slices from a bar of strong homemade lye soap into the machine. That is an acrid aroma I can never forget. I'm sure it cleaned any viruses or bacteria or anything else that might have been hiding in a young boy's clothes.
The agitator was allowed to run for a bit to distribute the soap. Then the first load of white clothes went into the washer. The machine with no clothes made a chunka chunka sound. Once the clothes were added it became more of a gloppa gloppa noise.
Mom had a debarked stick about a yard long and three quarters of an inch in diameter. This was her washing stick. It was used to push and prod the clothes in the machine to keep them under the water. Years of contact with lye soap and blueing had turned it a silver gray.
Once she was satisfied that the clothes were clean enough we would carry the tub of boiling water from the stove and place it on a stand next to the washing machine. A marble size ball of blueing or two was added to the hot water in the tub and allowed to dissolve. More cooling water was added to the tub.
Then the clothes were lifted one at a time from the machine and run through the wringer and into the tub.
I was fearless except around that wringer. It grabbed my hand once. Though there was a lever on top that quickly separated the two rollers I didn't think of that. I hit the reverse and rolled my hand back out. Once bitten twice shy
The clothes in the tub were poked and prodded with the stick to make sure they were well rinsed of the soap.
Occasionally she would see something that had a spot or stain. That piece of clothing went back into the machine. But the machine was not run through another cycle. The washboard was brought out to stand in the machine while Mom or I would scrub it by hand, possibly using more of the bar of soap. Even a pre teen country boy would have clean hands after that. Red but clean.
Once it was satisfactorily clean it again went through the wringer into the rinse water.
From the rinse tub clothes went through the wringer again into a clothes basket. (The basket was one purchased full of peaches for canning. But that's another story.)
More clothes were added to the machine and began washing while my mother and I carried the rinsed clothes outside to the clothes line. Before anything was hung on the wire clothesline I would take a damp cloth and wipe the line free of dirt, dust, and bird poop.
I loved the feel of the sun on my skin. I was nearly feral, living as much time outside, preferably in a tree, as often as I could. So, hanging clothes to the line wasn't a chore but a pleasure to me. Unless it was cold weather. Then wet hands and winds were far less fun.
A bag full of clothespins hung on the line. These were used to pin the laundry to the line. They also could be made into rubber band guns and little wooden soldiers.
As the items came from the basket they were given a vigorous shake to remove excess water and wrinkles. Sometimes that would make tiny rainbows in the sun. While the sun and wind dried the clothes another round would begin; wash, rinse, hang until laundry was complete.
This process usually took the whole morning from breakfast until lunch. After lunch we would begin emptying the water from the tub and machine. This we carried into the back yard and dumped.
Once the machine was emptied it was removed from the kitchen to the porch. The empty tub was turned upside down over the machine to keep it clean and dry until next week on wash day.
Then began the gathering of the dried items from the line. Nothing else smells quite as good as line dried clothes. All of the wooden soldiers quietly went again into the pin bag.
Everything was folded as it came off. Nice crisp folds in the linens while the towels were gently folded into fluffy layers. Socks were paired and rolled one into its mate unless they had holes. Those went into the rag bag and might be used to wipe down the wash line next time. Those heavier things like dunggeries and blue jeans that were still damp would remain on the line for another hour or two. The wind moving the pant legs made them look as though they were walking, marching, or dancing.
As I said, way day was different then.
I miss you Mom.
A colorized photo of
me, Mom, and my niece Kathy.
I miss you both.
AGENDA
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
SAT 01 FEBRUARY tomorrow
Amy G's birthday
John L's birthday
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
WEATHER: 66°/43° Clear. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph becoming west around 5 mph
HAPPY HOUR: The turnout for tonight's potluck was moderate. The food was good.
HEALTH: BP 147/93💓Pulse 77, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:11 AM to 08:48 AM, Total 08h 36m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 n/a, deep😴 n/a, light🥱 n/a, awake⏰ n/a), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 266.8 lb, 1740 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 30 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianne, Sandy, Tom, Val, Suzie, Grace, Joan, Michelle, and Muriel were there for coffee and conversation today … though I can't remember the conversations
OVER THE HILL GANG: Wow! 47 for lunch today. That's a larger turnout than I've seen for a very long time.
There was a good size crowd gathered and socializing by eleven o'clock.
Lasagna, garlic bread, salads, deviled eggs, and an assortment of desserts.
Nathan and I played five crowns. I had a perfect game with zero points
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️11:00 a OTHG ⛰️
✔️6:00 p bingo at the Hills
FRI 31 January tomorrow
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
WEATHER: 66°/47° Patchy fog in the morning. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Less humid. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.
After the early morning rain was over it was a really nice day with occasional sunshine.
BINGO at the Hills: Ella hosted bingo tonight in the community room as she does nearly every Thursday evening.
HEALTH: BP 153/94💓Pulse 89, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:02 AM to 07:47 AM, Total 07h 34m, 94% of goal, REM👀 00h 22m, deep😴 02h 19m, light🥱 04h 53m, awake⏰ 00h 11m), 1.4 Events*/hr, Weight 2667.4 lb, 1744 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 29 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
❌9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️10:00 a Canasta
✔️5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL
❌7:30 p Hump day
THU January 30 tomorrow
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:00 a OTHG ⛰️
6:00 p bingo at the Hills
CANASTA at OTHG: There were four of us playing canasta at Over The Hill Gang today. Sandy and Ella were partners against Nathern and I. We played a game and a half before both Sandy and Nathern needed to go. I won't brag about which team won. But I will say that the women came in second place
WEATHER: 67°/61° Areas of drizzle in the morning. Cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Widespread dense fog in the morning. Patchy fog in the afternoon. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain near 100% overnight.
It was foggy all damp day. Not much real rain but plenty of precipitation.
REFUEL: We had salad, various pasta dishes, including veggie lasagna and a gluten free option, great rolls from Bella Sera, and a couple folks brought dessert. We did a comparison study between six Bible versions of the same text. We also looked at three versions of the Goliath story found in the Hebrew Bible.
HEALTH: BP 143/81💓Pulse 83, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:40 PM to 07:48 AM, Total 08h 07m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 09m, deep😴 03h 09m, light🥱 04h 49m, awake⏰ 00h 01m), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 266.8 lb, 2050 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 28 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park
COFFEE KLATSCH: Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle, Muriel, Ella, Ricky, Dianne, and I were at coffee today
AGENDA
✔️Donna Jeanne R's birthday🎂
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️Lab work💉 appointment set
❌12:00 p Arik bringing lunch BBQ🍱
✔️5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WED January 29 tomorrow
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Canasta
5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL
7:30 p Hump day
APPOINTMENT: Today, since no one called us pack yesterday, we drove to the doctors office and set appointments for us to have blood drawn on Monday morning.
FOOD: Now that we knew we didn't have to fast any longer we went to IHOP for brunch. Ella had breakfast of French toast, sausage, and eggs. I had lunch of fish, shrimp, and fries.
R.I.P. ZEUS: I received the following text from my son about his dog, Zeus.
Zeus's cancer spread aggressively. Saturday night the tipping point came when he had a long and violent seizure. He hadn't been able to smell, to see well out of one eye, to breathe, to eat without pain. The seizures took him down quickly. We just returned from helping him pass peacefully. RIP Zeus.
The family had Zeus for over a decade at least. He was truly part of the family. He was a large loving pitbull who desperately wanted to be a lap dog, a truly gentle soul. Everyone who knew him is heart sick over the loss.
GAMES: Lucille, Cindy, Jane, Ann, Fran, and I played cards while Ella, Sandy, and Maggie played dominoes
HEALTH: BP 139/82💓Pulse 81, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:40 AM to 08:53 AM, Total 07h 57m, 99% of goal, REM👀 00h 32m, deep😴 02h 14m, light🥱 05h 11m, awake⏰ 00h 17m), 2.6 Events*/hr, Weight 264.6 lb, 1666 Steps. INR 2.2🩸
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 27 Monday in Leander
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️INR Check (Home)🩸
✔️2011 Chevy TAG 🚗
5:00 p Canasta ♦️♣️♠️❤️
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
TUE January 28 tomorrow
Donna Jeanne R's birthday🎂
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
Lab work💉
12:00 p Arik bringing lunch BBQ🍱
5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
FASTING: We had hoped to have some lab work (blood draw) today. Because of that we needed to be fasting beforehand. Ella hadn't eaten since noon yesterday because she was sick to the stomach.
Breaking Fast: We hadn't heard back from the doctors office so at about one o'clock I gave up and fixed some food. I buttered and broiled some English muffins. Then I fried sausage and some eggs with broken yokes. Layered them on the muffins with a slice of American cheese for our meal. So much for our fast. Maybe tomorrow.
CAR: Because I had taken the car in for its emissions test the other day I was now able to go online and order the new license tag. I discovered that I saved a dollar by doing it online. It will be mailed with in the next week or two. The current tag is good through the end of February. However just to be safe I did a screenshot of the confirmation that I had purchased the new one. If I'm stopped or ticketed I should be alright with the documentation.
WEATHER: 54°/49° Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of very light drizzle. North winds 10 to 15 mph become Northeast around 5 mph.
CANASTA/MEXICAN: Steve, Ann, Ella, and I played canasta tonight. Maureen and Fran started playing canasta but then went to play Mexican Train with Sandy.
HEALTH: BP 135/86💓Pulse 86, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (07:40 PM to 07:15 AM, Total 07h 20m, 91% of goal, REM👀 00h 40m, deep😴 02h 03m, light🥱 04h 37m, awake⏰ 04h 15m), 3.2 Events*/hr, Weight 266.6 lb, 1358 eSteps. INR 2.2🩸
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 26 Sunday in Leander 
OUR DAY: Ella was sick overnight so we did not go to church this morning. Because we didn't need to get up it was after nine o'clock when I got out of bed. Ella was still sleeping.
Rather than cooking breakfast I started our lunch. I browned some ground beef in the Instapot. Once the meat was browned I seasoned it with seasoning salt, garlic salt, and fresh ground pepper. I then added one can each of diced potatoes, diced tomatoes, peas, corn, and green beans. Then I added a 12 ounce bottle of V8 juice and a tablespoon of beef soup starter.
The Instapot was switched to the soup setting and I went back to lie next to my bride. By this time it was ten o'clock so we attended Cross Tracks Church worship live on Facebook.
After worship we got out of bed and ate lunch. Afterwhich Ella went back to bed while I cleaned up the leftovers and dishes.
I soon joined her on the bed where we watched shows and videos and played games on our phones. You'll notice our proof of life photo for today is taken with us on the bed. Whenever I lie down for any extended time I wear my CPAP pillows. After a day of rest Ella is better.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
❌8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
❌9:00 a Sunday school📚
✔️10:00 a Worship💒 online
MON January 27 tomorrow
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p Canasta ♦️♣️♠️❤️
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WEATHER: 52°/44° Cloudy with 70% chance of rain 70%. Winds will be 5 mph from the North.
AI FUN: I told an artificial intelligence graphic program to use my face on a North Pole sleigh driver's licence. These two are what it gave me. It filled in the form with non-words of random letters. I'll claim it to be Elvish.
HEALTH: BP 157/84💓Pulse 81, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (12:43 AM to 08:03 AM, Total 07h 11m, 89% of goal, REM👀 00h 36m, deep😴 01h 44m, light🥱 04h 51m, awake⏰ 00h 09m), 1.1 Events/hr*, Weight 266.4 lb, 857 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 25 Saturday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Andrea, Sandy, Tom, Dianna, Joan, Ella, Fran, and Maureen
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
SUN January 26 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse
8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church
9:00 a Sunday school
10:00 a Worship
LEISURE TIME: I was asked what I like to do in my leisure time. That's a hard question to answer. I'm seventy-eight years old and have been retired since I was sixty-two so technically I have had sixteen years of leisure time. Somehow every day had been filled up, used, or wasted. My wife and I have regular social activities everyday.
We gather together for “coffee” six days a week with folks who live in our apartment complex. This involves sitting and drinking coffee, tea, soft drinks, water, et cetera. We discuss the latest news or gossip and do wellness checks on ourselves and others. We avoid discussions of politics because that always leads to arguing and hurt feelings.
There are meals shared with others on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Games are regularly played on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Sunday's and Wednesdays involve gathering for Bible study, worship, and fellowship.
Doctor's visits are fairly regular.
Shopping and household chores full some time.
The rest of my time is taken by television (on my phone) and naps.
What do you like to do with your leisure time?
BRUNCH: fresh baked biscuits with country gravy, scrambled eggs, and bacon is what we had for brunch.
WEATHER: 54°/49° Partly cloudy in the morning then cloudy with a 20% chance of rain showers in the afternoon. South winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph becoming Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of rain 60 percent.
HEALTH: BP 134/79💓Pulse 89, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (12:28 AM to 07:56 AM, Total 07h 17m, 91% of goal, REM👀 00h 07m, deep😴 02h 10m, light🥱 05h 00m, awake⏰ 00h 11m), 1.4 Events/hr*, Weight 266.4 lb, 1570 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 24 Friday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Sandy, Fran, Val, Suzie, Andrea, Muriel, Joan, Tom, Ella, Ricky, Donna, and Diane today had coffee and conversation. Donna brought a couple of coffee cakes.
BREAKFAST: Egg, bacon, and toast got us on our way for the day.
DOCTOR: We went to Kamal’s office to get our medications verified and a prescription for cough medicine for Ella.
INSPECTION: Seven minutes and twelve dollars is all it took to get our car recertified as having emissions within acceptable guidelines. Now I can get the car's license tag renewed for another year.
GIVE AND TAKE: We stopped at Hill Country Community Ministries food pantry to give them empty boxes and shopping bags. We took home a pie for tonight's Happy Hour potluck.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️Stevie H’s bday 🎂
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️1:00 p Nw diagnostic Tom and Ella🩺
✔️6:00 p Happy Hour🎉
SAT January 25 tomorrow
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
HAPPY HOUR: I believe I counted 30 at HH this evening.
WEATHER: 56°/35° Clear. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south winds 10 to 15 mph.
HEALTH: BP 134/79💓Pulse 89, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (12:56 AM to 07:37 AM, Total 06h 11m, 77% of goal, REM👀 00h 11m, deep😴 01h 54m, light🥱 04h 06m, awake⏰ 00h 30m), 1.7 Events/hr*, Weight 265.6 lb, 1570 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025Thomas E Williams
2025 January 23 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
BREAKFAST:
COFFEE KLATSCH: Suzie, Sandy, Michelle, Muriel, Grace, Joan, Ella, and I at coffee. Heidi was there for a little bit
AGENDA
✔️Tom Williams's birthday (Turns 78)🎂
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Grab and go lunch
✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
6:00 p Supper with Heather
FRI January 24 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse
Stevie H’s bday
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
1:00 p Nw diagnostic Tom and Ella
6:00 p Happy Hour
OVER THE HILL GANG: When we first arrived at OTHG there were only a few people there. I was afraid that the cold weather was keeping people away. However, 35 people were there for lunch. Our chief cook was out sick so we had a good no-hassle lunch of baked potatoes, salads, and desserts. Later multiple games were played. Nathan, Joy, Gwen, and I played 5 Crowns while Ella and others played bingo.
WEATHER: 50°/28° Mostly clear. North winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph Wind chill readings as low as 18°
SUPPER: Heather and Austin took Ella and I out to an Italian restaurant for supper to celebrate my birthday. We ate and talked for about two and a half hours. It was a good time.
HEALTH: BP 138/85💓Pulse 81, oxygen🫁99%, Sleep 💤 (12:05 AM to 08:16 AM, Total 08h 09m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 01h 49m, deep😴 03h 43m, light🥱 04h 58m, awake⏰ 00h 02m), 1.1 Events/hr*, Weight 264.4 lb, 3157 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 22 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
AGENDA
✔️Lynn L's birthday🎂
✔️Tom's Heart Ablation Turns 9💔
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️PAY RENT💲
❌9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♣️♠️❤️
❌5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽
7:30 p Hump day🐪
THU January 23 (Tomorrow)
Tom Williams's birthday (Turns 78)
Love your spouse
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
10:00 a Grab and go lunch
11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
6:00 p Supper with Heather
6:00p Bingo (Hills Great Room)
CANASTA at OTHG: Anne, Sandy, Ella, and I played cards in Liberty Hill.
LUNCH: Salisbury steak with gravy, baked potato, and collard greens for lunch
WEATHER: Leander, Texas
COLD WEATHER ADVISORY Very cold wind chills as low as 8 above
48°/30° Clear. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph becoming north after midnight.
HEALTH: BP 156/98💓Pulse 84, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 (12:20 AM to 07:33 AM, Total 08h 02m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 53m, deep😴 02h 11m, light🥱 04h 58m, awake⏰ 00h 11m), 1.9 Events/hr*, Weight 263.8 lb, 1651 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 21 Tuesday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Lucille, Dianne, Fran, Sandi, Donna, Ricky, Val, Suzie, Grace, Michelle, Ella, and I were at coffee. Not much conversation. Too cold I guess.
SNOW: We received a skift of snow overnight. Too cold to make snowballs and not enough for skiing. It also disappeared during the day even though it only became slightly above freezing
BREAKFAST: Ella made cream of wheat. I made a mess in the microwave during an attempt to make the cream of wheat thicker. It boiled over.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
❌10:00 a Fresh Produce Life church,🥦🍅🥕🥔
✔️1:30 p Food Church Of Christ🛍️
✔️5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WED January 22 (Tomorrow)
Lynn L's birthday🎂
Tom's Heart Ablation Turns 9💔
Love your spouse❤️
PAY RENT💲
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♣️♠️❤️
5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽
7:30 p Hump day🐪
WEATHER: 39°/25° Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow showers in the morning then mostly sunny. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 9 above.
The cold weather kept us from going to the LIFE Church for fresh produce. 2 would have had to get out and stand in line, if they held the event at all. We did go to the Church of Christ in the afternoon for food. There it is a drive up and they bring the food out to the car. We were second in line today. As far as I know we were also last in line. There was no one behind us and no others came before we left.
FIVE CROWNS: Jane, Fran, Lucille, Cindy, and I grabbed the chill in the community room to play 5 Crowns.
MEXICAN TRAIN: Ella, Sandy, and Maggie played dominoes tonight also.
HEALTH: BP 153/87💓Pulse 87, oxygen🫁99%, Sleep 💤 (01:27 AM to 07:59 AM, Total 06h 32m, 76% of goal, REM👀 n/a, deep😴 n/a light🥱 n/a, awake⏰ n/a), 1.9 Events/hr*, Weight 265.6 lb, 2302 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 20 Monday in Leander and Georgetown
CHARLOTTE: This morning we attended the Viewing and Funeral of our friends Charlotte West. Katy Major did a wonderful job with the eulogy. There were a lot of photos showing on a loop on the digital screens. We did not attend the burial. We are thankful that the expected winter storm didn't arrive until after it was over. Though there was no storm it was plenty cold at 24° with a wind chill of 15°.
AGENDA
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
9:00 a Charlotte West funeral
5:00 p Canasta & Mexican Train
TUE January 21 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
10:00 a Fresh Produce (Life church,
1:30 p Food Pantry Church Of Christ
5:00 p 5 Crowns
5:00 p Mexican Train
CANASTA at the Hills: Jane, Sandy, Steve, Ann, Ella, and I played canasta from 5 to 9. We didn't play to the end because … well … because we're old and it was past our bed time. 😁
WEATHER: 36°/26° Mostly clear then becoming mostly cloudy. East winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 10 above in the morning. At night cloudy with a 70% chance of freezing and rain/snow/sleet. Snow and sleet accumulation around an inch. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph
Snow! Radar indicated that it was snowing when we went to bed. However there was no visual confirmation by us.
LUNCH: I fixed BBQ chicken drumsticks, baked potato, and roasted Brussels sprouts for lunch with applesauce for dessert.
HEALTH: BP 148/86💓Pulse 79, oxygen🫁99%, Sleep 💤 (01:17 AM to 07:47 AM, Total 06h 04m, 75% of goal, REM👀 00h 40m, deep😴 02h 28m, light🥱 02h 56m, awake⏰ 00h 26m), 11 Events/hr*, Weight 268.6 lb, 2168 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 19 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
✔️9:00 a Sunday school📚
✔️10:00 a Worship💒
MON January 20 (tomorrow)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
9:00 a Charlotte West funeral
5:00 p Canasta & Mexican Train
SUNDAY SCHOOL: We continued our study of “Acts Catching Up with the Spirit”. We discussed session 2.
WORSHIP:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DUHtSkmsM/
WEATHER: 41°/24° Clear. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph becoming Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 11
WINTER STORM WATCH Sun 2:24 AM to Tue 6:00 PM. Very cold night and morning wind chills as low 7 to 10 degrees. Heavy mixed precipitation possible Hill Country. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to two inches and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
It was dang cold this morning at 24° with lots of wind gusts slamming into the sides of our little car on the way to church. I don't mind the forecast for a couple inches of snow. I don't like the idea of ice accumulation. We may not attend our friends funeral if that ice nonsense is happening tomorrow. We've started the faucets dripping again because it's dropping below freezing and staying there for quite a while. Since water lines are buried close to the surface in this area the possibility of them freezing and rupturing is very real
QUIET: After returning home from church we laid down and slept for an hour before fixing and eating lunch. It was an uneventful day.
HEALTH: BP 144/84💓Pulse 73, oxygen🫁94%, Sleep 💤 (12:06 AM to 06:22 AM, Total 05h 54m, 73% of goal, REM👀 00h 17m, deep😴 01h 48m, light🥱 03h 49m, awake⏰ 00h 22m), 0.8 Events/hr*, Weight 269.0 lb, 2000 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 18 Saturday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianne, Fran, Val, Suzie, Joan, Andrea, Ella, and I were at coffee. We recently added a fourth table because the morning coffee group had grown so large. However, since changing the configuration of numbers have decreased. “If you build it, they will come” doesn't seem to be working.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
SUN January 19 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
9:00 a Sunday school📚
10:00 a Worship💒
DAY OFF: This was one of those rare days when we had nowhere to go and nothing was required of us. We both took the opportunity to refill our pill sorters for the next few weeks. Ella also dug into all of our unfiled paperwork. It has gotten out of hand. Have you ever let something go so long that you are overwhelmed and don't know where to start? That is where we're at. Our normal division of household responsibilities has been, I'm responsible for paying the bills and Ella does the filing. I'll try to help with that as soon as she explains her system.
WEATHER: Leander, Texas
ALERTS COLD WEATHER ADVISORY
Sat 2:49 AM to Sun 9:00 AM Cold weather advisory in effect from midnight tonight to 9 am cst sunday edwards plateau, hill country, 1-35 corridor, and coastal plains. Very cold wind chills 10 degrees or lower over the Edwards Plateau and Hill Country. Wind chills 10 to 20 degrees 58°/29° Clear. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 13° after midnight. We will be dripping our faucets again tonight.
HEALTH: BP 144/84💓Pulse 73, oxygen🫁94%, Sleep 💤 (02:08 AM to 07:48 AM, Total 05h 34m, 69% of goal, REM👀 00h 13m, deep😴 01h 40m, light🥱 03h 14m, awake⏰ 00h 06m), 13.1 Events/hr*, Weight 268.0 lb, 3183 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 17 Friday in Leander
RENT RENEWAL: Today was when we went to the apartment complex office to renew our lease. It's all done. However, we still need to give them documentation of my monthly pension pay. Ella had been sorting through papers looking for them. I hate to admit it but our filing system is nearly non existent. Oh yeah, the good news… no rent increase this year.
LUNCH: While we were waiting for the phone repair we had our lunch in the food court. Ella had a pizza and I had Chinese.
HAPPY HOUR: We received a rack of ribs with our latest food order. That is too much for the two of us. So, I slow cooked them for about six hours and will take them to H.H. tonight. I also made some BBQ sauce to go with them. Personally I didn't like the ribs with that Kansas City rub. However, with my homemade BBQ sauce they were tasty enough. None came home at the end of the night. We played trivia tonight. I had 18 out of thirty right. That was the best score. The next closest was 16. There were three that I had wrong because I didn't answer them. I knew I knew but couldn't bring the answer to the front of my mind.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️Tom's Right eye's birthday (Turns 1)
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
✔️6:00 p Happy Hour
SAT January 18 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
6:00 p Happy Hour 🎉
WEATHER: 66°/48° Cloudy. South winds 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest winds 10 to 15 mph then becoming west after midnight.
HEALTH: BP123/80💓Pulse 78, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (11:32 PM to 8:57 AM, Total 09h 08m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 44m, deep😴 03h 15m, light🥱 05h 10m, awake⏰ 00h 16m), 1.4 Events/hr*, Weight 268.0 lb, 3183 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 16 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
COFFEE KLATSCH: Andrea, Donna, Ricky Fran, Muriel, Tom, Ella, Sandy, Avis, Michelle Vall,d Suzie, and Dianne were all at coffee this morning. The tables were moved into a new configuration plus a fourth table added. In
AGENDA
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:00 a OTHG⛰️
3:15 p HCCM 🛒🛍️
6:00 p Bingo At The Hills🅱️ℹ️NG🅾️
FRI January 17(tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
Tom's Right eye's birthday (Turns 1)
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
6:00 p Happy Hour
OVER THE HILL GANG: Today there were 35 folks at OTHG for lunch. That included Bob on his first visit. He's originally from California. For lunch we had chili, salads, deviled eggs, chips, and lots of dessert choices.
HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITY MINISTRY: At 3:15 we had an appointment with HCCM to pick up our monthly food order.
WEATHER: 58°/45° Partly cloudy. West winds around 5 mph becoming, south at 5 to 10 mph.
HEALTH: BP123/80💓Pulse 78, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (01:59 AM to 8:26 AM, Total 06h 24m, 80% of goal, REM👀 00h 34m, deep😴 03h 00m, light🥱 03h 50m, awake⏰ 00h 03m), 1.4 Events/hr*, Weight 265.8 lb, 2510 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing”
HISTORY: Starship test flight seven was spectacular. Six and a half minutes after taking off the Super Heavy first stage of the rocket returned to the launch site where it was spectacularly caught by the launch tower. This is only the second time in history for this to happen. The Starship also had a spectacular ending. Within a minute or two of separation from the booster the upper stage disintegrated. In the Space X jargon, the ship experienced a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" which occurred after the upper stage suc- cessfully separated from Starship's Super Heavy booster and started its "ascent burn" to space. .
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 15 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
I love this woman
AGENDA
Love your spouse❤️
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♠️❤️♣️♦️
5:00 p Refuel⛽
7:30 p Hump Day🐪
THU January 16 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:00 a OTHG⛰️
3:15 p HCCM 🛒🛍️
6:00 p Bingo At The Hills🅱️ℹ️NG🅾️
COFFEE KLATSCH: There were lots of treats on the table today. Ella, Fran, Dianne, Sandy, Donna, Ricky, Michelle and I were at coffee. Ella and I left at 9:30 and headed to Liberty Hill and Over The Hill Gang.
GAMES AT OTHG: We played canasta. I left the game because I needed to protect my attitude from the dump truck full of negative talk. I tried to turn the conversation to positive thoughts but failed. I left.
BIBLE STUDY: Woman's Bible study led by pastor Steve at Over The Hill Gang every Wednesday morning.
WALLY WORLD: We stopped Y Walmart to return a cane. We ordered it for someone at the same time I ordered Ella's. The other person decided that they didn't want it after all so I returned it for the refund
ICE CREAM: Because it was so close we drove through Andy's for hot fudge sundaes. Sorry DQ but these are so much better.
REFUEL: We are still learning about and discussing where our Christmas traditions (right and wrong) come from. We had a soup supper before the learning began.
HEALTH: BP128/75💓Pulse 73, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (12:31 AM to 8:36 AM, Total 07h 57m, 99% of goal, REM👀 00h 50m, deep😴 01h 53m, light🥱 05h 14m, awake⏰ 00h 08m), 2.1 Events/hr*, Weight 265.0 lb, 2546 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 14 Tuesday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH:
AGENDA
Emery W's birthday
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WED January 15 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♠️❤️♣️♦️
5:00 p Refuel⛽
7:30 p Hump Day🐪
BREAKFAST: These are blintzes filled with raspberry jam. Ella ate them unfilled and unrolled with syrup. Technically she had crepes.
WEATHER: 56°/47° Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Northeast winds around 5 mph.
LUNCH: Hamburger steak, pork and beans, cabbage/carrot salad, Cheetos, banana peppers, and cake for dessert.
FIVE CROWNS: There were seven of us to play 5 Crowns until Dave left in the middle of the game. He was tied and his eyes hurt.
MEXICAN TRAIN: Three played dominoes.
HEALTH: BP136/85💓Pulse 98, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 (01:03 AM to 7:33 AM, Total 06h 29m, 81% of goal, REM👀 00h 26m, deep😴 02h 09m, light🥱 03h 54m, awake⏰ 00h 01m), 5.2 Events/hr*, Weight 265.6 lb, 1565 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 13 Monday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH PLUS: Our normally scheduled coffee was attended by the usual gang. Tagged to the end of coffee was a “plus” meeting.
This is the plus: We had a short townhall meeting with Nubia. Currently she is the only management person in the office. One is recovering from surgery and one permanently works from home.
BREAKFAST: For breakfast we had sausage, egg, smashed potato, and English muffins.
AGENDA
Love your spouse❤️
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p Canasta ♠️❤️♣️♦️
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
TUE January 14 (tomorrow)
Emery W's birthday
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
LUNCH: Our noon meal consisted of spaghetti noodles with sauce. Alfredo for Ella and meaty marinara for me.
EMS: As we were eating our lunch Ella said, “Firetruck.” I looked out the patio door in time to see the emergency medical services ambulance go by. Ella left the table and went to the lobby to see what was going on. I finished my lunch and then went looking for my bride. She was in the lobby talking with Sandy. While we were there the EMS folks wheeled a man from the second floor game room on a gurney. We didn't recognize him.
WEATHER: 52°/31° Partly cloudy. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Decreasing to North winds around 5 mph.
This is a comparison of my old home town to my new home town’s weather forecast for the next ten days.
CANASTA: This evening Ann, Ella, Jo, and I played one game of canasta. Because there were four of us we played partners. Ann and Jo won.
HEALTH: BP 136/85💓Pulse 96, 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (11:53 PM to 8:23 AM, Total 08h 28m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 34m, deep😴 02h 50m, light🥱 05h 04m, awake⏰ 00h 02m), 1.5 Events/hr*, Weight 265.6 lb, 1068 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 12 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill
TACO SUNDAY: nearly every month the second Sunday is designated as Taco Sunday. One couple in our congregation, with the help of a volunteer or two, prepare hot fresh breakfast tacos for us. That is in addition to the fruits and pastries that we always have at h the coffee bar. Generally it is Ella's job to make the coffee, turn on lights, unlock the church doors, and set up the coffee bar. Today and on most Taco Sundays others do that before we arrive.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 10 or 11 people in our Sunday school class today. We are beginning a study of the book of Acts. It looks to be an interesting study.
WORSHIP: Maybe another ten came in after I took these photos. Kinda slim pickin’s today.
AGENDA
✔️Aron G's birthday🎂
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
✔️9:00 a Sunday school📚
✔️Taco Sunday🌮
✔️10:00 a Worship💒
MON January 13 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p Canasta ♠️❤️♣️♦️
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
HEALTH: BP 133/80💓Pulse 85, 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (12:12 AM to 8:32 AM, Total 07h 33m, 94% of goal, REM👀 00h 32m, deep😴 01h 54m, light🥱 05h 07m, awake⏰ 00h 47m), 1.9 Events/hr*, Weight 264.8 lb, 2373 Steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 11 Saturday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Joan, Michelle, Muriel, Val, Suzie, Ella, Dianne, Fran, and I were there for coffee. Steve, wife, Andrea
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️1:00 pp Secondhand Saturday👐
SUN January 12 (tomorrow)
Aron G's birthday🎂
Love your spouse❤️
8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
9:00 a Sunday school📚
Taco Sunday🌮
10:00 a Worship💒
SECONDHAND SATURDAY: Secondhand Saturday is a monthly event that promotes sustainable living and encourages the community to reduce waste by participating in a rummage exchange. The concept is simple: bring any items that you no longer want or need and take home anything that catches your eye. The best part? No money is involved. This event not only allows people to declutter their homes and pass on unwanted items to someone who may find them useful, but it also promotes the idea of reusing and repurposing instead of constantly buying new things. 
WEATHER: 54°/34° Clear. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south winds 5 to 10 mph
Looking back a few years to see what the weather was like
GAMES: We played a couple of games at home, just Ella and I. It has been a while since we’ve done this. November through December there was just no time. And since the first of the year I've been sick. As a matter of fact, half way through it game of 5 Crowns, I stopped and took a two hour nap. I'm still not healed
HEALTH: BP 133/80💓Pulse 85, 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (12:12 AM to 8:32 AM, Total 07h 33m, 94% of goal, REM👀 00h 32m, deep😴 01h 54m, light🥱 05h 07m, awake⏰ 00h 47m), 1.9 Events/hr*, Weight 264.8 lb, 1293 Steps.
Body Composition
BMI 34.9
Body Fat 38.1%
Skeletal Muscle 39.8%
Fat-Free Mass 163.8 lb
Subcutaneous Fat 32.9%
Visceral Fat 17
Body Water 44.7%
Muscle Mass 155.6 lb
Bone Mass 8.2 lb
Protein 14.1%
BMR 1976 kcal
Metabolic Age 83
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 10 Friday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Muriel, Dianne, Sandy, Donna, Ricky, Dana, Suzie, Val, Joan, Michelle, Fran, me, and Ella were at coffee this morning.
BREAKFAST: smashed potato, sausage, egg, English muffin which I made into a sandwich with cheese. Ella ate her's not as a sandwich.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
❌11:30 a LUMC 50+ Luncheon🍱
6:00 p Happy Hour in media room🎉📺
SAT January 11 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
1:00 pp Secondhand Saturday👐
NO 50 PLUS: I received an email stating that the 50+ luncheon was going on as usual. I'm still not feeling well and didn't want to go out in the cold. Ella agreed.
LUNCH: One can of Campbell's Steak and Potato soup (not condensed) to which I added more steak and potato. Ella's leftover steak cut into quarter inch pieces and one russet potato peaked and quarter inch diced was pressure cooked for ten minutes to super tenderize the steak for my bride. Mixed to the canned soup and heated.
WEATHER: 41°/ 27° Mostly cloudy. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
SUPPER: We had oatmeal for supper.
ILL: Still have the creeping crud. Coughing up mucus, nose dripping like faucet
HEALTH: BP 145/81💓Pulse 86, 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (11:42 PM to 8:07 AM, Total 07h 29m, 93% of goal, REM👀 00h 10m, deep😴 02h 08m, light🥱 05h 11m, awake⏰ 00h 56m), 7.8- g inh Events/hr*, Weight 265.2 lb, 1464 Steps
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 09 Thursday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: myself, Ella, Muriel, Jo, Joan, Michelle, Donna, Ricky, Sandy, and Dianne were at coffee. Dianne arrived after the photos were taken.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
Cancelled11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
✔️6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)
FRI January 10 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:30 a LUMC Leander 50+ Luncheon🍱
6:00 p Happy Hour in media room🎉📺
LUNCH: Fried rice with peas, carrots, cabbage, egg, and Spam was or noon meal today. Quite tasty even though I splashed little too much you sauce into the mix.
WEATHER: 39°/31° 100% Rain chance. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts 25 mph with a slight chance of snow showers after 5pm.
Rained all day and into the night. If it turned to snow I missed it. We let the faucets drip again even though the forecast is for the temperature to remain slightly above freezing.
BINGO: Ella hosted bingo as usual tonight. I played one round and came home.
HEALTH:
I took three blood pressure readings this morning because it was high.
BP 166/100💓Pulse 94,
BP 169/98💓Pulse 89
BP 157/92💓Pulse 88
It was slowly getting better.
🫁97, Sleep 💤 (12:18 AM to 7:44 AM, Total 07h 25m, 92% of goal, REM👀 00h 43m, deep😴 02h 27m, light🥱 04h 15m, awake⏰ 00h 01m), 2.5 Events/hr*, Weight 266.0 lb, 1464 Steps
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 08 Wednesday in Leander
GOOD NEWS: I received the following email from the photo company for which I work as a mall Santa. ”We will begin the process of contracting Santas at the end of January. Please look for information from our team. Happy New Year!” It will be nice to have that locked in early. That way I can plan around it.
COFFEE KLATSCH: Muriel, Fran, Dianne, Ella, Val, Suzie, Joan, Michelle, Andrea, Cindy, Donna, Ricky, and I were at coffee. Not a lot of conversation. Too cold I suppose.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
Cancelled10:00 a Canasta at OTHG
Cancelled5:00 p Cross Tracks Refuel⛽
Cancelled7:30 p Hump day🐪
THU January 9 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
Cancelled11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)
WEATHER: 44°/37° Mostly cloudy then becoming partly cloudy. North winds around 10 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 18 in the morning. Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy with a slight chance of rain showers after midnight. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
DELIVERY: One positive thing that came out of the horrid year of pandemic, home delivery of almost everything. We needed a few things and really didn't feel well enough to go out in the cold. So we had someone younger and hopefully better fit bring them to us. They are paid by the store for the delivery and we tip pretty well. If we see them we also thank them for the service.
HEALTH: BP 151/86💓Pulse 77, Oxygen 🫁99, Sleep 💤 (12:19 AM to 7:27 AM, Total 07h 02m, 87% of goal, REM👀 00h 25m, deep😴 02h 31m, light🥱 04h 06m, awake⏰ 00h 06m), 2.9 Events/hr*, Weight 266.8 lb, 1,456 steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 07 Tuesday in Leander
AGENDA
INR Check (Home)🩸
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
❌5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WED January 8 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♣️❤️♠️
5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽
7:30 p Hump day🐪
LUNCH: I was in a hurry to eat and almost didn't get a photo. I fixed strip steak, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Umm and it tasted oh so good.
WEATHER: 45°/32° Clear. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 17. becoming partly cloudy with north winds 5 to 10 mph.
The day started in the upper 20s. Under a clear sky it warmed to 35° by noon. That's plenty cold enough however still much better than my birthplace in Iowa.
Additional weather note: We received notices posted to our doors that, due to the freezing temperatures over the next several days, we are to let the faucets drip. Also cabinet doors under the sinks are to be left open. Our thermostats are to be set at 70° or above. This is mandated by the apartment management.
FIVE CROWNS: Ella, Fran, Steve, and I played a game of 5 Crowns. I'm proud to say that I had the high score😁. For those not in the know - high score loses. FR☹️WNING. Steve was the winner with the lowest score.
CANCELLATIONS: Our normal Wednesday and Thursday activities (canasta at OTHG, Refuel at church, and Over The Hill Gang) have been cancelled. I've seen no notification about the Friday 50 Plus Luncheon.
HEALTH: BP 137/84💓Pulse 95, Oxygen 🫁99, Sleep 💤 (12:09 AM to 8:24 AM, Total 06h 43m, 83% of goal, REM👀 00h 37m, deep😴 03h 18m, light🥱 03h 48m, awake⏰ 01h 32m), 2.9 Events/hr*, Weight 264.8 lb
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 06 Monday in Leander and Georgetown
26° this morning with 13° wind-chill.
COFFEE KLATSCH: CANCELLED too cold in the community room. 56°
💨WIND DAMAGE: As reported yesterday the wind tore the front door partially from its hinges. I've heard that a gentleman from the LIFE Church arrived yesterday evening with cans of soup. When he saw the door hanging from the hinges he disconnected the automatic closer so that it wouldn't burn out its motor. Today our maintenance man is working on the door.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
❌INR Check (Home)🩸
❌9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️11:15 a Connect hearing 👂👂
✔️5:00 p Canasta ♠️❤️♣️♦️
TUE January 7 (Tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
5:00 p 5 Crowns👑
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
WEATHER: 44°/24° Clear. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 13 this morning. Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 18.
WHAT? It is official, I can't hear. Without the hearing aids my comprehension was at 14%. With the aids it's 68%. Huh?
LUNCH: Ella wanted tacos so we went to Long John Silver's. And then she wouldn't eat a fish taco! What's up with that? Try and give her what she asks for and what do I get? Fish and shrimp with malt vinegar - that's what I get. And it was good. (Don't get upset - it's a joke)
CANASTA: Steve, Jane, Ella, and I played canasta tonight. We played teams. Steve and Ella beat us. We had fun.
HEALTH: BP n/a💓Pulse 95, Oxygen 🫁98, Sleep 💤 (09:56 PM to 8:47 AM, Total 10h 38m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 55m, deep😴 03h 06m, light🥱 06h 37m, awake⏰ 00h 13m), 2.9 Events/hr*, Weight 264.8 lb
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 05 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill 
AGENDA
Love your spouse❤️
❌8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕
❌9:00 a Sunday school📚
✔️10:00 a Worship💒 online
MON January 6 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
INR Check (Home)🩸
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:15 a Connect hearing 👂👂
5:00 p Canasta ♠️❤️♣️♦️
5:00 p Mexican Train🚂
NO GO: We started off toward church. I told Ella I wasn't feeling well. She called someone to tell them she wouldn't be there to make coffee. We came home. I went back to bed. We slept for a while. I watched worship live online. Slept for a while again. Got up. Fixed lunch. Ate . Went back to bed. Slept most of the day.
LUNCH: I thickened the leftover stew and served it over rice.
WEATHER:🥶69°/32° Wind chill readings as low as 16°. Partly cloudy then clearing. Less humid. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest with gusts up to 30 mph.
HIGH WIND: The wind broke the main door to the building. It has pulled the hinges loose and broken it loose from the automatic open and close mechanism. Ella called the emergency maintenance number and sent an email to the office. The hallways and community room are very cold. No one came to fix it.
HEALTH: BP 148/84💓Pulse 95, Oxygen 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (10:49 PM to 6:03 AM, Total 07h 00m, 87% of goal, REM👀 00h 34m, deep😴 02h 24m, light🥱 04h 02m, awake⏰ 00h 14m), 2.4 Events/hr*, Weight 267.0 lb
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 04 Saturday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Ella, Fran, Cindy, Donna, Andrea, Dianne, Ricky, Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle and I were at coffee. A lot of the discussion centered around the calendars for this month. They are printed on cardstock for a change and bright yellow. .
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
SUN January 5 (Tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church
9:00 a Sunday school
10:00 a Worship
WEATHER: 68°/50° Patchy fog this morning. Cloudy. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Becoming 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
HEALTH: BP 123/79💓Pulse 81, Oxygen 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (12:34 AM to 8:02 AM, Total 07h 24m, 92% of goal, REM👀 00h 20m, deep😴 03h 17m, light🥱 03h 47m, awake⏰ 00h 04m), 2.4 Events/hr *, Weight 266.6 lb, 2,239 steps.
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 03 Friday in Leander was in
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️6:00 p Happy Hour🎉
SAT January 04 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
HAPPY HOUR: Ella made a cobbler to take to the potluck tonight. It was a much quieter group tonight. Maybe New Years Eve was enough revelry for one week.
WEATHER: 63°/54°Patchy dense fog this morning. Mostly cloudy. East winds around 5 mph. Becoming southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
HEALTH: BP 147/87💓Pulse 85, Oxygen 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (12:21 AM to 8:26 AM, Total 07h 41m, 96% of goal, REM👀 00h 28m, deep😴 02h 38m, light🥱 04h 35m, awake⏰ 00h 24m), 2.3 Events/hr **, Weight 267.2 lb
*Bakers dozen. The term "baker's dozen" originated in medieval England; bread prices were regulated by law and had to be based on the price of the wheat used to make it. Bakers who sold underweight bread or overcharged for it could be fined, beaten, or even jailed. To avoid punishment, bakers would add an extra loaf to a dozen, creating a baker's dozen.
**Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 . January 02 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
COFFEE KLATSCH: Ella, Fran, Cindy, Donna, Andrea, Dianne, Ricky, Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle and I were at coffee.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
✔️6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)
FRI January 03 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
6:00 p Happy Hour🎉
ILLEGAL: We got up this morning and looked it out window. We saw that someone with a residence parking sticker had parked in the no parking spot between two handicap spaces. I wrote a note and placed it on their windshield. “For future reference, this is not a parking space. Please do not park here again.”
WEATHER: 64°/32° Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph becoming south this afternoon.
lMostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Not as cool with lows in the mid 40s. South winds around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
OVER THE HILL GANG: It was nice to be back in the groove of Thursday with the gang. Lunch and games, that's what it sells about. There was about half of last week's crowd. It must be the holidays.
FROG; Ella came home with this frog. Peggy and Mike were in trader Joe's or somewhere and thought of Ella and her frog collection. It is a silvery metal-looking frog on a ceramic stump.
BINGO: With the holidays over, Ella hosted bingo at the Hills tonight. Attendance was down here also.
HEALTH: BP 132/85💓Pulse 95l, Oxygen 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (01:59 PM to 8:37 AM, Total 06h 30m, 81% of goal, REM👀 00h 25m, deep😴 02h 12m, light🥱 03h 53m, awake⏰ 00h 08m), 4.3 Events/hr *, Weight 265.6 lb
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 January 01 New Year's Day Wednesday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Ricky, Andrea, Sandy, Ella, and I were there for coffee this morning. The tables were still setup from last night's party. Ricky, Ella, Donna and I (mostly Ricky) got things moved back into their more or less usual places.
AGENDA
✔️Love your spouse❤️
✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
✔️Adam & Leigha Visit
THU January 02 (tomorrow)
Love your spouse❤️
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕
11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)
WEATHER: 60°/45° Mostly clear. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Then becoming partly cloudy. East winds around 5 mph.
NOT HOPPIN' JOHN: Counter to the southern tradition of having black-eyed peas, rice, and bacon or ham hocks, commonly called hoppin’ john, for New Years dinner, Ella and I are having lentils and kielbasa for supper. This is a tradition handed down from my mother. Lentils and Sausage is an Italian New Years tradition. Why my (mostly German) mother adopted this tradition I don't know and it's far too late to ask her. Both traditions are to bring good luck in the new year. So, best of luck in this year to you and yours, whatever your tradition.
PHOTOS: Adam and Leigha came over today. While they were here they updated a picture frame that tracks their kids Tate and Emery from first grade to 2024.
They also helped to alleviate some of our overstock of canned goods. That's a good thing. Maybe now I can return the cupboard to an order that doesn't trouble my OCD.
HEALTH: BP 153/95💓Pulse 84, Oxygen 🫁97, Sleep 💤 (01:59 PM to 8:37 AM, Total 06h 30m, 81% of goal, REM👀 00h 25m, deep😴 02h 12m, light🥱 03h 53m, awake⏰ 00h 08m), 4.3 Events/hr *,
Body Composition
Weight 265.6 lb
BMI 35.1
Body Fat 38.2%
Skeletal Muscle 39.7%
Fat-Free Mass 164.2 lb
Subcutaneous Fat 33.0%
Visceral Fat 17
Body Water 44.6%
Muscle Mass 156.0 lb
Bone Mass 8.2 lb
Protein 14.1%
BMR 1984 kcal
Metabolic Age 83
*Events means “quit breathing
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2024 in review
January
Tom began the year with a bronchial infection …as usual. Two months of those lovely little carriers of viruses and germs. Disease carrying children can take a toll on your health. And it invariably hits just before Christmas and lasts through the new year. He went to the doctor on the 2nd. They checked blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels. She also checked for COVID and influenza. Those came up negative. Prescriptions were called in.
Tom purchased two new hearing aids
In mid January Tom had lasar surgery to remove his cataracts. What a difference in color, depth, and clarity. Wow! Now he can hear and see.
Ella celebrated 18 years cancer free in January.
We both had our senior annual heart exams …and passed them.
In January we resumed our normal weekly routine of Monday and Tuesday evening games at the apartments. Wednesday canasta at Over The Hill. Thursday lunch and games at OTHG. Friday evening Happy Hour pot luck at the apartments.
February
On the 12 the we celebrated our 3rd year in the apartment. And remembered the snow and ice Apocalypse of that year.
On the 21st we had a long over due appointment with Dr Wang, a sleep specialist. First step in getting new CPAP machines.
26th was the annual Texas fire inspection of the apartments and the building in general.
March
The 2nd is Texas Independence Day from Mexico in 1836.
The 7th marked year 2 of owning the Chevy HHR.
On the11th Granddaughter Audrie and kids were here for her birthday.
21st Tom to a pulmonologist. Still trying to find why he's so short of breath. Results were good. No problems with his lungs.
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and resurrection Sunday were celebrated with our church family.
April
April began with the normal trips to the urologists. We also had our yearly Wellness check for Medicare.
The 8th presented us with a total solar eclipse. Many residents gathered around the pool area with special sun viewing glasses. Then we had a light brunch. Sorry about the pun.
On the 16th apartment management hosted a Residents Appreciation Party
May
On the 2nd Tom had an EKG. His heart is fine.
On the 15th Ella had an appointment with Marion Harris Oral surgeon to plan her total teeth extraction.
The 29th her teeth were pulled and she went the the dentist to have her dentures fitted. Over The next days and weeks she returned for adjustments.
We purchased a new tire and rim for the HHR.
June
In June we began dog and house sitting for Adam and Leigha. About every 4 to 6 weeks we would continue a week of dog watching that ended in December.
The end of June was pastor Michelle's last service at Cross Tracks Church. She was moved to Corpus Christi
July
The 7th we welcomed Reverend Doctor Brad King to Cross Tracks with a potluck.
Our grandson Nathan & Meganne were Wedded on the 8th.
August
The 27th was a great day for me as I drove into Austin to visit my radiology oncologist's office. As I stepped out of the car, I could feel an amount of nervousness. I was handed a clipboard with some forms to fill out. Updating my medications list was needed. As I entered his office, my doctor greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake. He then proceeded to read through some information on his computer, and to my relief, he declared that everything looked good. I was relieved and felt grateful for the positive update. My doctor then shook my hand again, his reassuring gesture filling me with hope and optimism. It was truly a moment worth celebrating and as I left his office, I couldn't help but think - yay! Today was a good day.
September
Ella began the process of getting pain relief
23rd Well the good ol’ Chevy HHR is a lot quieter now with new brakes. Rotors, shoes, and pads plus cleaning and lubrication.
October
Four new tires and three new rims. Now they all match. The new rims are 17” while the old were 16”
We celebrated 12 years of Texas life.
On the12th-13th we were looking forward to Cross Track’s 2nd Annual Camping & Outdoor Worship. The highly anticipated church campout finally arrived, and we eagerly set out to the church's camping area. However, our excitement was short-lived as Montezuma's revenge struck me, causing us to abandon our partially set-up campsite and hastily pack everything back into the car. Frustrated and disappointed, we stopped at a convenience store for a bathroom break on our way back home. I couldn't help but feel disappointed and angry as I had been looking forward to this event for an entire year, even purchasing a new tent for the occasion. Exhausted from the activity, we both collapsed on the bed. Later I got up and had back spasms, forcing me to question if I was too old for this type of camping trip.
Ella began physical therapy for pain relief.
26th we participated in Trunk or Treat at church. It was a whole lot of fun. So many cute costumes. I was able to identify all but maybe 3 of them. I was proud of myself for spotting both Marty McFly and Sailor Moon. My bride and I dressed in frontier fashion. She wrote a long dress, apron, and bonnet. I blackened my beard and dressed as a cowboy complete with a red bandana.
November
8th through December 24th Tom was Santa at Lakeline Mall. The only day off was Thanksgiving Day. Until Nov. 23rd I was the only Santa and put in some long days. On the 23rd Santa David began working the evening shift. He and his wife were invited to join our family Thanksgiving and they did.
Linnea had endoscopy heart valve surgery. It went well.
Ella and I were interviewed about our alter ego, Mr and Mrs Claus. It became the cover story for the December edition of The Independence, a local newspaper.
Thanksgiving was at Arik and Jenny's this year.
John and Dawn drove down from Iowa to visit Ella and me. We met at the Cracker Barrel restaurant near Adam and Leigh's house on the day after Thanksgiving. We arrived at seven when it opened. We sat and visited until about a quarter of nine. We then moved to Adam's home. We visited another hour before I left for work. Shortly after I left they drove to the Marriott where John and Dawn were staying. They had brought some real Italian sausage with them from Graziano Brothers in Des Moines. They picked it up at the hotel and drove to our apartment to put it in the freezer. While they were there they got a tour of the complex and it's accommodations. They were impressed. Later John, Dawn, and Ella went to Liberty Hill and the Jardin Corona Mexican restaurant for lunch. After I was off work at seven I drove back to Adam and Leigh's. John and Dawn were there with Ella. They ordered Whataburgers delivered for supper. It was closing in on ten o'clock when we got our final goodbyes said
December
On the morning of the 8th Mrs. Claus and I arrived at Lakeline Mall shortly after eight o'clock. That gave us plenty of time to get ready for hosting our special needs friends early that morning before the stores opened. We've found that less noise and lights makes it easier for guests. We had around 40 photos taken during this special event. The photographer, Mike did an excellent job keeping everything moving even though he was working alone for most of it. Zach was there for a part of it but left before Mike had finished his shift at 11:00. Santa recognized many that he has seen through the years.
Still on the 8th. After our day at the mall Santa changed into Street clothes to leave the mall. However, having found a secluded spot of the mall parking lot, Santa changed into another Santa suit. Then we went to Hidden Glen for an outdoor venue. We were there from quarter to four until quarter after five. There weren't a lot of kids but we had fun with them. There were a lot of crafts and activities for the children. It was very well organized.
14th after Santa was finished at the mall he once again switched from one Santa suit to another. Mrs Claus and I were at the Alamo Coffee House in Round Rock from four to seven o'clock. We saw very few children. The exception was five boys 11-13 years old that just came to be smartalexy. The coffee house proprietor told them to take it outside. We left about ten of seven.
On the 21st Santa and Mrs Claus went to Alamo Coffee House in Lampasas after his day at the mall. There we made a new friend, Lori, who is a photographer among other things.
Christmas Eve Tom was done at the mall at 12:45. That evening the Williamses (not the Clauses) attended a candle light service at Cross Tracks Church.
Christmas Day we had a family meal with Adam and Leigha and most of the local family. Heather and Austin were at his folks. Amber and family were in Colorado.
26th was our Anniversary At Ella's request we went to Jardin Corona in Liberty Hill for our anniversary lunch. She ordered her favorite Enchilada Blanco. She was happy. Because of my onion allergy I have to be very careful what I order. I had a cheese stuffed fajita steak on rice. I was unable to eat the sides because they contained onions.
Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all got a year older. As did we.
One each of our nieces, nephews, and great nephews did NOT get older. We lost Krista, Kirk, and Shawn this year.
This year SpaceX launched three test flights of the largest space craft ever. Flights, 4, 5, & 6 provided valuable information about control, durability, and returnability. Flight five was a historic first when the returning booster was caught by the megazilla tower.
What were our highlights for 2024? We like that Audrey and the kids were able to come down in April and spend time with us. Also John and Dawn's visit over Thanksgiving was a wonderful gift if their time.
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