The Hale Family Weekly Update (8/17 – 8/23/26)
Daily Journal & Weekly Update August 17–23, 2026Monday, August 17, 2026
Rainy, 76° at 7:40 a.m., with a high of 94°. We received .2 inch of rain overnight—just enough to freshen things up without requiring an ark.
The big news was on my website: GoDaddy installed the chatbot I asked them to do. After all the planning and waiting, I now officially have a chatbot on the website—Yaaaa! Of course, getting something installed and getting it exactly the way you want it are two different adventures. I’ll be working on that all week.
We walked the Matteson Trail at 11:05, then drove to Rachel’s, where I got her Cub Cadet push mower to run. After lunch, I spent the afternoon adjusting chatbot settings. It turns out that artificial intelligence is quite capable, but it still needs a little supervision from an old-fashioned human being.
Mary Jane returned home from Riverside Hospital after falling and cutting her head badly the day before. She needed three staples, and Gayle is staying with her for a while. We are thankful she is home, but she has a difficult recovery ahead. I also practiced guitar, ending the day with something familiar and calming.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Sunny, 78° at 7:45 a.m., with a high of 88°. Happy birthday to our friend Wayne Watts.
I spent several hours continuing to work on the website chatbot, fine-tuning it until it better matched what I had in mind. It is amazing how quickly a “small adjustment” can become an all-morning project.
Later, I sharpened three knives for Madelene W, and she came by around 7:00 p.m. to pick them up. There is something satisfying about making a dull knife sharp again—especially when the rest of the day involves a computer that refuse to obey your orders without several hours of work.
After lunch, we went to yoga, then at 3:30, I went to the gym, lifted weights, and listened to Ann Patchett’s Whistler, which continues to be very good. Dinner with Jane and Joy was another reminder that good dining companions make an ordinary meal feel like an event.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Sunny, 75° at 7:25 a.m., with a high of 92°. We walked the Matteson Trail, then went into Poquoson to the Parrish Thrift Store.
Jerilyn found a few things, and afterward we drove by our old home to check for storm damage. We saw plenty of debris along other roads but very little in front of our old house. We stopped at Food Lion for two containers of cornbread and arrived home shortly after 1:30. Any trip that ends with cornbread has a strong chance of being considered successful. I love eating it with buttermilk. It always reminds me of home.
The chatbot is finally working like it should on my website, although the AI feature was still not cooperating. I am one step away from having it work exactly as intended—close enough to be encouraged, but not quite close enough to stop tinkering.
While we were out, Buildings and Grounds called. They wanted to take a picture of our bathroom so the electrician would know what was needed to install an outlet near the commode. The bidet project is moving ahead one wire at a time.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Partly sunny, 77° at 6:50 a.m., with a high of 92°. We took Jerilyn to see Dr. Odabasi at 8:00 a.m. as preparation for her upcoming Williamsburg appointment on September 30. As the date gets closer, the office will call with the arrival time. She will have an endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.
We came home for breakfast, and I did some work on my PC through the morning. After lunch, we went to yoga at 1:30, followed by the gym at 3:30. There is no shortage of ways to stay busy when retirement includes appointments, projects, and a determined effort to remain healthy.
Dinner was with Betty, Mary Stuart, and Steven and Margot. It was a wonderful evening with plenty of laughter and good conversation. We got home around 7:45, reminded once again that friendship is one of life’s best medicines.
Friday, August 21, 2026
Sunny, 70° at 8:00 a.m., with a high of 82°. Rachel joined us for a late-morning walk on the Kiln Creek Trail.
After the walk, we stopped at Ace Hardware for seed. We then went to Ken Matthews, where Jerilyn looked for grass clippers but wisely decided not to buy anything. From there, we went to Kroger’s. While she shopped, I recorded a Marco for “The Girls” and listened to more of the Whistler audiobook. We arrived home around 2:00 p.m.
The website chatbot and its AI feature finally came together exactly as I wanted. After all the adjustments, experimenting, and head-scratching, it should now work just fine. It felt good to see a project through to the finish line.
I called Mary Jane to see how she was doing, and unfortunately, she is still not well. As we grow older, recovery takes longer. We also learned that our friend Jane was very sick with COVID-19. Dinner with Marna Mayo and Mary Stuart provided a welcome evening of companionship.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Rainy, 74° at 7:25 a.m., with a high of 81°. I submitted a work order to Buildings and Grounds about a large discoloration on our master-bathroom ceiling. With any luck, it will be something simple. Home maintenance has a way of appearing just when you think the project list is under control.
I completed half of my Creative Writing Club homework. The assignment was a letter to my mother, written from the heart, telling her how much I loved her. She has been gone for 38 years, but some connections do not disappear with time. They simply become part of who we are. I have included it with this newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading it.
I talked with my daughter, Debby, on the phone for a while, and it was fun. I always enjoy hearing her voice. Later, I replaced printer cartridges, ordered replacements from Amazon, and ordered a window thermometer for the breakfast nook. Dinner was alone in the dining room with just Jerilyn and I—a quieter end to a thoughtful day.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Sunny, 70° at 7:25 a.m., with a high of 89°. We attended the early church service at 8:45, where our minister informed his congregation that we were “Robbing God of what he was due,” and we left vowing we would do better. After leaving there, we went to Taylor’s Do-It hardware store in Poquoson, and Jerilyn bought a pair of clippers to us in her flower garden and yard (for trimming). Tthen stopped by AutoBell so Sally could have her weekly bath. She came out looking like she had just rolled off the showroom floor, which is more than most of us can claim before lunchtime.
We had brunch with Stephanie, who is always a good dining companion. Dean and Tiffany came by around 1:30, and we sat and talked for a while. We enjoy seeing their smiling faces, and we appreciate every visit.
I worked on my second Creative Writing Club assignment from Stephanie (our leader), then practiced guitar. Best of all, the chatbot on my website is now working perfectly. After a week of adjustments, it is a wonderful feeling to say, “It works!”
Closing Message
This week was a reminder that life is made up of many kinds of work: helping a family member, checking in on a friend, learning new technology, caring for a home, and putting memories into words. Some projects come together quickly, while others require patience, persistence, and perhaps more than one cup of coffee. 😊
We continue to hold Mary Jane and Jane in our thoughts and prayers, hoping for strength, healing, and easier days ahead. We are also thankful for family visits, shared meals, church, walks, and all the small routines that keep life moving in a good direction.
Six Quips
I now have a chatbot on my website, which means I finally have someone available to answer questions at all hours—except when it decides it needs my help.
Retirement is when your calendar fills up with yoga, errands, repairs, doctor appointments—and somehow you are still busy.
I sharpen knives because life is too short to fight with dull silverware.
A good walk clears the mind, unless you are also trying to remember what you needed from the hardware store.
My computer and I have reached an understanding: it creates problems, and I develop character.
The older I get, the more I appreciate good friends, good food, and gadgets that actually work
Drop me a line when you have the time, I would enjoy hearing from you. Also, hop over to my website (here) and check out some of my missives and try my chatbot…..Tommy