Wednesday Finding Fun in New Hampshire

Wednesday was another full day in New Hampshire, and I stayed out of most people’s way as they worked this week. I bought dinner for Clint, Annika, Ryder, and Riley at Longhorn Streakhouse, as I find its food a bit better than Texas Roadhouse’s (but it costs a bit more, too). I had a New York Strip that was perfectly cooked, and favorival (but not much better than I can do). I used a supplied heavy, sharp knife that could also fit in a post-apocalyptic world, and if you need to fight that last battle against a Zombie, maybe holding out in a Longhorn Steakhouse is not a bad choice. I do remember being in New Orleans not too long ago, and the waiter at Arnaud’s explaining that if your steak cannot be cut with a butter knife, send it back—but that won’t happen at Arnaud’s, we were assured. I did use the heavy, sharp knife; it was needed. Still, dinner was nice, and only Ryder’s shrimp were not a success (they were too spicy). After that, I was tired (the Gin and Tonic might have helped) and returned the rental car to the hotel.

I soon was in my PJs and nodded off, reading the WW2 battleship game rules. Deborah woke me with a call; it was not that late. Deborah and I, now on the same time zone, chatted for a while until we were both sleepy, and then it was time to read and sleep. I again woke at 1ish, turned off the heat, and went back to sleep, and woke early.

Before this, I was at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. Again, retracing yesterday’s failed trek. This time, the place was open. I also have tickets to do their tour of two Frank Lloyd Wright houses on Saturday morning. I have never been to one of these famous houses. Their collection was less than Portland’s and eclectic. It was organized mainly by the time of the art, not by the artist’s location or style. There was an excellent Picasso and a barely noticeable Monet. There was a hall of Dutch painters, but I did not recognize the names. The lighting and information about the various artworks were perfect, and while the collection was unfocused, it was still relaxing to walk the halls. There was more modern art than classic. For $20, the Picasso was almost worth the price alone. There was a Matisse statue (excellent) and some Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ bronze works that looked Art Deco to me (yes, I know it is American Renaissance). Again, just a pleasure to walk through.

I should add that somewhere on Wednesday, Clint and I stopped by the local school shop, no surprise that Clint has access, and we planed some boards for a build he is doing at the house. I helped clean up, but also wore safety glasses for all the right reasons.

Returning to my story about the museum, the cafe closed at 3, and I got the last cup of coffee before they closed. I sat in the garden cafe, which is built out of the original entrance (now you enter through a glassed-in area on the other side by the parking lot). There are two mosaics, two stories tall, of the great times and great races in bright colored figures, all embarrassingly white and American-looking from 1930. There is no comment on them. Rightfully so. I grabbed easy-to-pack items at the gift store.

Before this, I met Clint at Spyglass Brewers for their special, a Reuben burger, and a beer. He was running late, and I was running early. My quest for another used book store failed; the place is gone. Still, it was, without the rain from yesterday and some hint of sun, a lovely drive near the rivers. Also, Navigation sent me on a backroad trip, which I accepted, and I saw that the highway was blocked by an accident. It had re-routed me. An excellent drive.

Before this, I rose late, close to 8, and did my usual: make coffee, read email, and try not to read too much news. I often focus on the newest recipes rather than what new idea from the Trump folks to distract me from the fact that the files are not released, the transcript of why a convicted sex offender was moved to an easy prison has not been released, and that the estimates for DOGE were a loss of over 100 million for the government and increasing loss as more data becomes available. Additionally, I am deeply saddened by the deaths of the National Guard members in DC. I am still waiting for the government to send me $2,000 from the excess taxes and tariffs collected, while the same government is reaching record levels of deficit spending, which would mean there is no excess. These are not political statements, though many want them to be, but a search for facts. I simply want to know these things, shine a bit of sunshine on them.

Instead of balancing the Federal Budget or getting facts, I balanced my own spending and income and checked that everything is working on Wednesday morning. It is. I also see that my unrealized loss in my IRA is down to $10K after another weird day on Wall Street. Soon I will be making lots of money again. Crazy!

Thanks for reading.