I turn off the news, TV or Radio, when his mug or voice turn up. Or when he's the subject of the conversation, and these days he seems to be the ONLY subject being discussed. And I am disgusted.

Errands finished today after I went out of my way to deliver several requested packages of samoon bread to the ex. Our daughter put it succinctly over the holidays when we were debating who was going to drive him home: "he lives in the wrong direction" - for everything. There is no other reason I drive south except once every six months to go to the dentist and occasionally to a grocery half-way between us. He really does need to get his knee fixed.

I tallied quite a few good conversations today, including old friends in the grocery store and at the library (I finally dropped off the e-waste).

The trash bins were delivered - they're immense green things for twice-weekly pickup. We have no recycling pickup; if we did, they would be this size and trash would be smaller. We still have to lug recycling down to bins behind city hall, and I discussed that with a neighbor today. We both overflowing with stuff to take but haven't known their schedule for emptying those. I try to go down on the day after pickup so there is room for my stuff.