The weather has turned springlike! Highs for the day reach mid 50s F / low 10s C. My walking buddy CJ and I meet up around 1:00pm for a return outing to the Ranelagh neighborhood toward the south. We walk down Grafton Street, then through St. Stephens Green. Lots of people and children are out. Flowers are blooming. The business district in Ranelagh is busy with people out and about enjoying the...

I don’t put much stake into Valentine’s Day, but it’s been a rather glum holiday this year given the circumstances. I had tentative plans to hang out with a friend, but those fell through, so I resign myself to a lackadaisical day alone in at least a physical sense. In consolation, I’ve been texting with friends both here in Dublin / Europe and in the U.S...

It’s been an uneventful day. I sleep in late and wake up with a really sore back. I try laying down on my back stretcher for 15 minutes, and that seems to help somewhat. However, I also notice that my leg/hip makes a sound when I lift it up off the floor… I’m pretty sure this is “snapping hip” from what I read online. There are some stretches that can help, but...