Ten circuits of stairs today in the Bunker Hill Monument, which makes for over 500 since 3/11/26

Wednesday 7/29/26

Started work at three this morning, left around nine for Charlestown. Was raining--not hard--while I waited within the portico of the lodge for the Monument to open for the first time since Sunday. I was earlier than usual. I wanted to think. I watched a hawk circling the hill and thought, "Yes," as I kept my eye on him. Didn't go to bed until fairly late last night. More and more, when I do get up, I don't have to enter the log-in code with the computer because it hasn't been long enough.

Was quite humid today. Not that warm, but the humidity is the dominant factor this time of year. I ran ten circuits of stairs. Everyone was friendly today. Ought not to be some notable thing, but just how it is in a civil society. The problem is that there are so many unbalanced, broken people, as with the trio from the other day. The people who live for the opportunity to be that kind of way, even though it's really killing them. That's no way to live. People like that are constantly falling apart on the inside, without being able to do anything about it because so much is rotten away.

There was this mother today going up with her daughter who was maybe twelve, and a couple other of her kids. The twelve-year-old needed the railing both ways. Her mom was very clear about that when I was coming down and saw them for the first time coming up. She communicated it well. No problem. Maybe the girl had anxiety, I don't know. Hey, who doesn't, right?

When I was coming down for the last time, they were making their descent. They went to move, and I said, no, it's cool, take your time, I can wait. I didn't want to add to the child's stress, or whatever. But they were very nice and wanted me to pass. The mom asked me how many times I did it, and I said this was number ten and now I was done for the day, and as I passed the girl holding the rail I made sure to tell her that she did a great job.

A couple other times, one person said to the other person or people they were with, "Let's let this young man pass." Young man. That's nice. How old is this guy? It's very hard to tell. Do you know why? Bunch of reasons. One of them being that I run up and down a giant obelisk every day.

It was raining outside. The Monument had a watch tower feel. You know, like Colin Clive was somewhere in there. I like days of this nature in the Monument. They're more...introspective.

I came into the day at 493 circuits since March 11 of this year, and with the ten, I'm at 503. Halfway to the 1000 I'm supposed to do in the span of a year. Supposed to according to whom? According to me.

On the way back I called my mom. There were big thunderstorms in Chicago yesterday. Power was out all over the place, so I wanted to see how she was doing. The person who answered the phone did so by saying, "Hi, uncle Colin," to which I replied, "How are you, nephew Charlie?" Turns out the older kids had just been dropped off by my sister. She still doesn't have power, and I guess they're going to watch TV at Grammie's.

The Big A--Amelia--was over the house of two of her little friends, a set of twins. She has two sets of twin friends. At least two. But two I've heard a lot about. All girls.

As I was on the Bill Russell Bridge, it really started coming down, so I hung up. Windy, rain pouring, it was actually a little cold, but I didn't mind. Did my 100 push-ups.