Yes, the upgrade to the iPhone 16e is complete and done, but WOW was it a real nightmare, gang.

Thank God for online chat on my laptop, because at one point, both iPhones were blocked and I couldn’t call or text customer service (or anyone).

But, finally, it all got figured out and now I am officially on the new iPhone. (And I MIGHT at least CONSIDER upgrading more often, to avoid these little techno nightmares…)

Yes!! The AC window unit did NOT arrive!!

It is delayed!

But no less than FOUR really good-looking but alas really youthful Customer Service guys at Best Buy assured me that FedEx had it, it was enroute, and I should have it on Tuesday — my birthday. And, thank goodness, the break in the weather at night is still holding, and me and the little furry maniacs are sleeping just fine.

AND!!!!

Best news of all, gang!

I got a really lovely birthday card from my birth mom yesterday, so I called her after all the iPhone madness had settled down.

And in the course of the conversation, I asked her how she would feel about taking care of so many cats because I really, really need her here when I go back to NYC….

SHE: “Of course, I’ll take care of your cats!! I was wondering when you were going to ask me!”

ME: “I was just afraid it was too many cats for you.”

SHE: “Marilyn, when I had the house in Jackson, I had 13 cats! I have no problem with all the cats.”

So — wow. What a relief! We had such a great conversation about it and now my entire being can relax about having to go to NYC again. If I go anywhere for 1 or 2 nights, it is no problem having the day sitter come in, but having my mom here is always so much better. She takes really good care of my cats and the house.

So. Yay. I suddenly felt like my future was wide open again. (And I also feel like having all these cats now isn’t my fault — it’s genetics!!!!)

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Okay, today is the day I have my late afternoon shift with the retired Minister and his lovely wife. So Sundays have become good days again — I make a little money, I work for some nice people while watching a lot of TV, and I still have most of the day & evening to myself.

It not only reminds me of when I used to take care of the adorable Molly and her wonderful husband, late afternoons on Sundays — before she died back in February. But, also, this new couple only lives about 5 blocks from where Molly lived. So everything about the drive there and back has really good memories for me. It is so much easier on me than the usual emotions I have on my shifts.

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The nice guy on eHarmony continues to be really nice and continues to write. But another very interesting guy started writing to me yesterday. And he only lives 10 minutes from me! We’ll see if it develops.

But I don’t want more than 2 guys writing. That’s enough for now. And they live close by. Other guys are writing to me, but they live much farther away, and I really want to find someone I can hang out with, go out to eat with, go hiking with at Black Hand Gorge!

Which reminds me…

It wasn’t entirely legal to do it, but my long-time childhood friend, Steve, and I sprinkled some of Kent’s ashes over at Black Hand Gorge. And the anniversary of Kent’s death is on Saturday.

Our mutual friend Kent — my last photo of him, when we had dinner at the Granville Inn when he was visiting from Houston:

Kent, holding one of Steve’s babies:

And I heard from Steve yesterday — he’s at a music festival and was seeing Hot Tuna (!!). He sent me a short video from the show and the band actually sounded great. (Steve has always been a huge Jorma Koukonen fan — originally of Jefferson Airplane fame.)

Hot Tuna then:

Hot Tuna now:

Steve and I have been friends since 1971, when we were in the 6th grade. So we have some very, very interesting memories in common. And Steve and I had known Kent since the 7th grade.

Kent was truly one of my favorite people of all time.

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Okay!!

This is what they mean by SOLD OUT!

Look at that crowd at Nick Cave’s Pompeii show last night!

And here are a couple other photos I liked from last night!

Monday and Tuesday nights, they will be playing in Rome, but the shows are sold out.

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And I think that’s it for now.

Have a terrific Sunday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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All righty!

How about this really cool old one?? A hit by Ringo, but written by Ringo and George Harrison. Here, George is singing it to the same tracks Ringo did. 1971. (Back when I first met Steve… I can hardly grasp that, gang!)

Anyway. Enjoy!!