Barbara Thompson

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 Oh, Bruno and Manuel, where fore art thou? Our tour guide, Isabel, was not quite up to the standard we have gotten used to. Our “small group” Porto city tour was 20ish people, a group of 7 of which spoke Spanish. I have never been on a bilingual tour before, and […]

Tuesday, January 9, 2023 I have asked if it is Tuesday nine or ten times today, because I cannot imagine that we only arrived in Portugal two days ago. It feels like weeks. We have really enjoyed our hotel. The people have been very, very nice. Bruna at the desk has been very attentive and

Monday, January 8, 2023 We officially went to bed about 8pm last night, but I briefly fell asleep a number of times trying to type, then just zonked out on the keyboard at the end. We were both SOUNDLY sleeping when my alarm went off at 11:05 pm. AAUUUGGHH. Apparently, I set an alarm for

Sunday, January 7, 2023 We slept a couple times for 15-20 minutes. It was not a restful night flight, but it wasn’t expected to be. Our driver, Victor, picked us up and drove us to our rho===== Oh. I just fell asleep there and ended up with some equal signs. There were a bunch more,

Saturday, January 6, 2024 We set off at 10:15 for the airport. When we looked at our boarding passes we didn’t have TSA pre check. After a bit of an odyssey we learned we didn’t get the 6 month, 3 month, 2 month, 1 month or two week notification that it was expiring. We tried

Friday, January 5, 2023 Last year’s resolution was hard, but I accomplished it. I made my lunch every night before a scheduled work day. It actually feels pretty normal now. My streak will not end. Lunch-making got really easier after the diabetes diagnosis. At first, (when I was not able to think very clearly) I

Thursday, January 4, 2024 “Have you thought about getting eaten by a bear?” I asked him.“No.”“Never?”“No.”“Not even not just now, but never?”“No, never.” Silence for a while. “Have you thought about getting eaten by a bear?” he asked me. (He never asks me the questions back! I was very excited.)“Of course.”“Why?”“Why? I think it’s a

Wednesday, January 3, 2023 I drove to work this morning at an elementary school that has zero pull-through parking. All the spots are along the perimeter of the building. I have been there before and I knew that when I left, the whole school would be surrounded by the line of cars waiting to pick

Tuesday, January 2, 2023 Keith woke up to a message from Alexander that his car wouldn’t start and he needed help. Keith had a meeting until 9 and I had a virtual doctor appointment at 9. I assumed I would be able to get myself logged in (let’s be honest – there was no way

Monday, January 1, 2024 There is a competition in England called Brass in Concert. Brass bands have 30 minutes to play whatever they want to entertain the audience for 30 minutes. Because the goal is to entertain, it is very entertaining. Friends Mike and Mary came, and we watched and listened to the top six