Planet Fitness | A Sagittarian Seeker

August 3, 2015, Prescott- This is the week that school resumes in Yavapai County, so this morning, I went over to Prescott High School and made an appearance at the Faculty and Staff Convocation Breakfast, loading up on light pastries and fruit, saying hello to a few teachers I recognized and just observing the overall mood of the group, from my solo seat at an empty table. Most everyone was chirpy and cheerful, within their little groups, though a few of those whom I know to be loners, who live for their kids and their jobs, looked wan and drained from the heat.

I went from there to a weekly coffee klatsch at a Seniors Apartment Complex, in Prescott Valley. There were more goodies and coffee, of which I took a small portion. The conversation was quickly dominated by a wheelchair-bound man, of about 80, who complains there is little for him to do, since he can no longer drive. This is a considerable problem for those who choose to live in such places, or have such places chosen for them, by “loved ones”. I sat and let him pontificate, nonstop, for about 45 minutes. Then it was time for him to go pay his rent, so I also went about my business, which today consisted of trying to contact a friend who doesn’t want to be contacted, but is at risk, and of shuffling some money around, so as to pay a person who needed his balance due, a day early.

Dog Days are handled, one day at a time. It is hot here (91), though nowhere near as hot as in Phoenix (110, at Sky Harbor Airport) or southeast Iran (135). I took a conference call, at 6 PM. By 7, it had cooled down enough, so that I went to Planet Fitness, and gave my physical frame a 45-minute workout. As I exercised, Castle was trying to find out whether, and how, James Brolin’s character was being framed for a murder that it looked like he committed, but maybe didn’t. When I got home, I tried to find an old episode of Criminal Minds, in which Tim Curry plays a serial killer, who abducts a 9-year-old girl, after killing her father in cold blood. The girl gives Curry’s character the slip, after a fashion, and he is killed by the police, while pursuing her. Nasty stuff, this, and it turns out that CBS doesn’t want us watching old episodes of its shows, unless we pay up front. This is odd, since I can view current shows online, the day after they are aired.

Dog Days are slow, but they are still full. Tomorrow, I will be busy with a conference call about Native American Boarding Schools in the morning, Red Cross stuff in the afternoon, and get ready for whatever job assignments come my way, later this week, when school resumes.

October 7, 2014, Prescott- Yes, I have caught up with all my travel and hiking posts, for a few days at least. I have a few days with no work, due to Fall Break in the schools, so I am mostly listening to “imperative” podcasts that are “vital” to my well-being, shoring up various aspects of my essential oils training, working in my back yard and exercising at Planet Fitness.

Sometime on Friday, I will head out to San Diego, find a safe place for my vehicle on Saturday, fly to Honolulu on Sunday and next Tuesday will be on my son’s ship, joining the crew headed back to San Diego. This will put me more or less incommunicado for six days or so. That will be something of a relief to some of my extended family, who have been sick of me for a good long time. Ditto for most of the American Legion post members, but after this Thursday night, the latter may be a moot point; we’ll see.

The bloom has been off my rose, to these people, for reasons I have yet to figure, for several weeks now. My father told us kids, years ago, that when people don’t like us, it’s their problem, not ours, and as long as we come from a place of truth, we don’t need our detractors and critics, no matter how “close” they are. So, I will continue on, with the love I get from “those who care, and matter”, as one of my better friends here reminded me on FB recently. I have support from my Baha’i community, from a handful of friends here in town and online, and from most of my family, including my son.

Once I get back from California, on Oct. 25, there won’t be much taking me out of the Southwest, until next May- barring any more deaths in the family. 2014 has been quite a clearing out process, for both family and friends. I hope it’ll tone down a bit. My main concern during that time period will be replenishing my coffers, with my own effort, thank you. Hope all my well-wishers are doing okay this Fall.