SATURDAY AND OUR ESTEEMED PRESIDENT

In the morning, Diane emailed me, saying she was going to the "Dump Trump" rally on the corner of Victoria and Telephone, and would I meet her there before our noon lunch date at the library? I wrote back I'd think about it, decided I would, so left about 11:00 and walked the mile to the site. I hadn't realized this was a kind of national rally.

Lots of what I call "groups with gripes" get licenses to demonstrate for or against something at this site, but the participants almost always total a handful--ten to fifteen people with hard-to-read signs, maybe. That was hardly the case here:

I got a kick out of this one. 

These pictures really it justice; there were certainly seven or eight hundred people there. Lots and lots of cars going by blew their horns in agreement and it was actually pretty interesting.

This was a national event and here's my girl at the rally in her town of Ojai. 

As it turned out, I never did find Diane at the Ventura rally. When I called her, I found she had already left--having neuropathy and using a walker, she had gotten very fatigued and was outside the library. I met her there, we had our lunches, then settled down for one of our marathon talk sessions. Diane is just about as fervent a Trump hater as are, as far as I know, all my other friends.  

What's odd is I don't know a single person who favors Trump. I wish I did, because I'd like to ask them why. I don't mean I want to argue or tell them how stupid they are, or anything except I really want to know from a living person. The thing is, people at the rally emphasized they want "our democracy back," but isn't an example of democracy one person, one vote? And more people voted for Trump than anybody else, so--isn't that democracy, whether you agree with the choice or not?

By the way, Diane is fervently hoping Cory Booker will run for president, as she wants to help on his campaign. A Jersey guy--sure, why not? 

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Vickie texted Suzanne and me about the following and I want to be able to read it more carefully, so am adding it here. We're all very hopeful for a good outlook. This is the medical [art of her text:

Anyway, here is a summary of what the Oncologist at UCLA recommended and my local Oncologist and I have agreed upon to this point:

1. Stop chemotherapy (iBrance) treatments for 3 to 4 months (hooray!), while awaiting UCLA’s results of blood testing done yesterday called Signatera Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), which looks for cancer cells in the blood and helps UCLA detect cancer recurrence earlier than it may be seen on a scan.  This test is amazing and entails comparing my previous cancer cells with my blood today.  The cells within the cancerous tumors from the past surgeries are actually reviewed and studied.  This is why it takes a while for the results and is a somewhat new testing procedure / study which I am feeling blessed to be a part of.
2. If there is any evidence of cancer cells in the blood when the testing is completed around July or August, then restarting chemotherapy (iBrance) or an alternative CDK4/6 inhibitor will need to be considered.
3. Continue endocrine therapy for 10 more years and the Zometa infusions every 6 months.

FRIDAY AND A FUN DAY

Had a neat day with Ellen. She came over about 9:30 after dropping Cessy off at the cat doctor's. El said the poor baby cried and cried to protest the carrier and the whole trip. Luckily, she was sedated before the doc cleaned her teeth.

As for us, we first went to the other CVS by the Ralph's shopping center and happy day, found the Vision Shield eye supplement the doctor recommended. It was even a BOGO deal, so I got two. We then took off for la petite cafe, a French restaurant at the harbor. It was a lovely day, just a tad too breezy to sit outside, we thought, but we were near the wide open wall-length doors over-looking the harbor. I had a "Croque Monsieur"--ham and cheese open-faced sandwich on a croissant--with a side of potatoes au gratin and El a quiche with a big salad. Yum and I took some home.

After, we walked the harbor--maybe three-quarters of a mile--and here's an idea of what it looks like: 

Got to the museum at the end, went in and surveyed the exhibits: 

We saw signs that said they don't take cash, only cards. I thought that was curious, as I had always heard sellers had to accept U.S. money--after all, it's called "legal tender," isn't it? However, she said that was true only in some states and she mentioned Jersey. Hmm...I'll look it up. We spend some time looking for sea lions (ugh!), but saw only one far off in the water. Walked back to the car, but not before

we took this for posterity: 

                                       

Home, we played one of our cutthroat gin rummy games. (Ellen beat me by a wide margin--I swear, she set up the cards!), but we had a good time. The vet assistant called about 3:30 to report that Cessy was awake and had done well. El left, but I'm happy to say I'll see her again on Tuesday when she'll repeat the teeth-cleaning process with Gwennie.  

I had just put my leftovers in the microwave when Jim Downes called. He once again said he thought I had died. I laughed and said, "Well, if I had, I wouldn't have answered the phone." We talked for a few minutes--he repeating the same comments several times. I finally told him the truth, that my dinner was ready and I had to go. I'll have to remember to call him one of these days.

Lib lunch with Diane today.

THURSDAY

 Ye gads and little fishes--I worked my tail off yesterday! Before breakfast, I put in a large color wash, ate, then did a white wash. I followed that by retrieving my chopped onions, sweet peppers, and ground turkey from the freezer and preparing stir-fry--four portions, which should last me a while. Then I walked to CVS to try to get the vision eyedrops I hadn't on Wednesday. They didn't have them, so I may have to go to a different CVS or maybe send away. From there, I stopped at Von's for mandarins and the 15-calorie popsicles I like. Made lunch and took it and my book (I'm re-reading Sue Klebold's A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy) to the middle and enjoyed being there so much. Happily, the fierce wind had settled down and it was sunny and reasonably warm. 

Home, I tackled getting the patio back in shape. I had moved everything from there out front onto Suzanne's and my entrance. Took some things to the trash place, washed almost everything else, and rearranged a lot. It took me until 4:00 to do everything, but it looks pretty good now. Here it was on Wednesday before they started: 

                                      

Although the info from management said to clear everything from patios because things might get wet, I didn't see even a drop. However, I'm just as glad I did because now it looks a lot neater.

Ellen called to see if I were available today. For her? Always. She's taking Cessy to get her teeth done. "Braces?" I asked. No, just a cleaning--well, yeah, Cessy's a cat. She'll drop Cessy off at the cat doctor, then come pick me up at 9:30 and we'll go to the harbor for lunch and then a good walk along the waterfront. 

I outdid myself with the laundry detail: put in a third load after dinner. That included my big, fluffy bathrobe and a few other heavier items and by the time I was out of the shower, they were finished.    

WEDNESDAY

 I got up too early--5:30--and while I was having breakfast and getting dressed, I kept thinking I really didn't want to go to the BCNN meeting; I felt a little sleepy and really wasn't interested in hearing what the sheriff of Ventura County at to say. However, Julie was to pick me up at 9:00 and I didn't want to beg off, so I went...

...and I was glad I did. It was actually pretty interesting and Sheriff Fryhoff was a darn good talker--not to mention a good lookin' guy. He's about six three and has a real presence:  

After the meeting, a group of us went to Topper's for lunch. I hadn't realized there was one in Oxnard and this was close to the yacht club, where we meet. I had a small--but very yummy--pizza and a good hazy IPA, natch. Regina met us there--I'm not sure why she skipped the meeting--and she, Julie, and I had a great time. I was invited to go to lunch on Monday to celebrate Regina's birthday and was pleased to accept. I'll skip Soaring Spirits, but that's okay.

Home about 2:00 and I braved the wind, which is still blustering. to go to CVS to take advantage of my OTC benefit from SCAN, my insurance. I needed iron, D3 and B12, plus teeth stuff and a few other items. I couldn't find the iron and forgot to get the vision vitamins, but I'll walk over there again today.

My niece-in-law, Robyn (wife of Betty's son, Steve), who's a costumer in Hollywood, had put on Facebook a picture and mention of her button collection (formerly my Aunt Maggie's) and coincidentally, Suzanne asked me if I wanted a bag of buttons. I Messaged Robyn and yes, she'd be happy to add to her store, so I'll send them to her today. 

TUESDAY

Suzanne and I got to WinCo about 10:00 and I proceeded to stock up on lots of good things. For me, that included oatmeal, frozen blueberries, and a plethora of fresh veggies. Home, I spent an hour or so on the following: washing and trimming the Brussels sprouts; washing and chopping the broccoli; and washing and halving the mushrooms. I also washed and quartered the tomatoes, added chopped onions (which I had in the freezer), garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and seasoning, and popped it in the oven, along with the mushrooms. Guess I have a bonanza of veggies.

My chores were interrupted by a phone call from, of all people, Jimmy Downes, Betty's old boyfriend. Clearly, he's rapidly sinking into the depths of dementia. He told me several times that he had tried to call me before and I didn't answer, so "I thought you had croaked." He then asked where I was--"in Jersey, right?" I told him no, that I was in Ventura. He then asked where I was several other times. He then repeated--at least ten times during our conversation (if you can call it that)--that he thought I had kicked off, bought the farm, bit the dust, was pushing up daisies--well, you get the picture. Actually, I found him more appealing in this sad persona than I ever did his real self.  I told him I'd keep in touch and I will.

Incrediby, I have yet another laptop problem: I'm trying to type up the T.O.P.S. agenda and still, the heavy line across keeps coming up. I know it's because of something I hit accidently, but have no clue how to fix it. Guess I'll have to take it across to Asurion.

About 4:30, I thought I'd go to CVS to buy a variety of OTC items, since I get $150 every quarter via my supplemental insurance. I started out and didn't even get to the middle of the complex before I turned back; although it was sunny and fairly warm, the wind was so strong I thought it would be foolhardy to brave it. Had a vegan dinner: plant-based sausage, Brussel sprouts, and roasted mushrooms and carrots--it was yum.

Julie's picking me up at 9:00 for the BCNN meeting. I'm somewhat bored with the group, but lunch will follow after at Topper's, a restaurant I like a lot, so I'm going. 

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I came across this picture  of Mom, Betty, Sister Peturna, and me, circa 1941 and posted it on Facebook: 

I think I actually remember that occasion--clearly. Betty and I were not enamored of the grown-ups' conversation. 

MONDAY

I'm beginning to think the electronic world has it in for me. I spent a nightmarish hour on the phone with Cricket, my phone carrier, and Bank of America, to straighten out my automatic payment problem.  I and won't go into the details, but I hope--hope, hope, HOPE!--it's settled. And then there was this:

Leader Lennie asked me to come up with different "Thought for the Day" and "Quotes" on our agenda. No prob at all, but I tried re-typing and I keep getting heavy underlining that goes on automatically. I must have pressed something to make it happen, but I don't know how to change it. 

I did, at least, get a few things done that had been hanging fire.* That includes cleaning out at least one of the undersink cabinets in the bathroom; I have one more go, plus the medicine cabinet.  I also washed, trimmed, and chopped the sweet peppers I had bought the other day. Stowed them in the freezer and, since I already have the onions and ground turkey, I now have the basics for stir-fry.

Went over to Von's for the wrinkled mandarins I like so much. I actually prefer them to Sumo oranges, as they're smaller and, I think, sweeter. I got only three, but will pick up more citrus when I go to WinCo with Suzanne today.

Note: It takes a shade under seven minutes for my coffee to brew once I turned it on. Why did I bother to time it? Because I take a certain medication once a week and can't eat or drink anything for a half-hour after. I need--need, need, NEED!--my coffee as soon as I brush my teeth, so now I can set my phone for 23 minutes, instead of 30, and I'll know when to start the coffee. Sound idiotic? Yeah, it does, even to me.

Note 2: I transferred $1000 from checking to savings--no sense in having it sit there. Maybe I should add it to Vanguard--will ask my financial advisor (son Mike).

*I wondered where that expression came from and here's the answer: 

hang fire

 delay or be delayed in taking action or progressing.

In the late 18th century, hang fire was used to refer to the action of a firearm that was slow in communicating the fire through the vent to the charge and so did not go off immediately.

See also: fire, hang

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

SUNDAY

Ellen got here at noon and after sitting to chat for a bit, we got my donations into her car and my throw-aways to the trash area. We decided on Wood Ranch for lunch and it was good. El got a big salad and I a veggie burger, plus of course, a local IPA. After, we drove to Goodwill to drop off the donations, then went next door to Grocery Outlet. They have some of the best frozen fish around, plus a good array of fresh and frozen veggies, of which I got quite a few. El also picked me up some new batteries, as I had been bemoaning the problem with the T.V. remote. 

While at the supermarket, I ran into Anthony Contreras, a great guy with whom I've been on stage with Fractured Actors several times. We greeted each other with hugs and Anthony told me he'll be appearing at the Santa Paula Theatre in "The Cottage"; there he is on the lower left: 

And there's my buddy, Alphonse, just under him! It's running for a month and I'm looking forward to it.

Suzanne called and asked if I wanted to go to WinCo on Tuesday after her doctor's appointment. Sure thing, I can always stock up, so I accepted her nice offer. 

Rain predicted for today. That means I'll have to stay in and maybe get some things done I should have been doing before--darn! 😜