Sunday, February 23, 2025

SATURDAY WITH TWO FADING JIMS

I was pleased when Jimmy D. called me about 10 am (presumably, his helper got him the connection). To an extent, he was the same old Blowhard Jim; he boasted that he was in excellent health. He meant physically, clearly, because his mental capacity has deteriorated, which I'm not sure he realizes. When I mentioned our trip to see Betty at Villa Alamar two years ago, he had no recollection of it at all, but here's proof he was there:

In fact, I'm not sure he remembered Betty--or me, for that matter. He didn't call me "Arty," Betty's and his nickname for me in the olden days, and while he seemed engaged, he asked no questions. Anyway, we spoke for just five minutes or so, and I said to keep in touch and I'll do the same. After, I texted his daughter to tell her of the call and to thank her again. She responded that Jim also has what she called "a home phone" (a landline, that is) and he might answer that if I called. She gave me the number and I'll use it in a few weeks to touch base with Jim again. 

As for the other Jim: The Access Van picked me up and I got to his residence before noon. I gave Celeste the girl scout cookies I had bought, thinking her charges would enjoy them. Jim had already ad lunch and was in bed when I came in, although he assured me he wasn't about to nap; said he "wasn't allowed" to walk, although I doubt if that's so. However, he was in pretty good shape mentally; we had a conversation that was intelligible, ranging over his experiences, present-day and as a child, when he went to New York with his mother. He said his friend, Roy, had been to see him and also his friend, George. I asked Jim about his weight and was happy to hear he had gained some. At one point, Victor, the proprietor, came in and gave me a cold bottle of Lipton iced tea--so nice of him. 

So I stayed about forty minutes, but by then, I was hungry, plus there wasn't too much else to talk about, so I said goodbye, assuring Jim I'd come back. I knew the Access Van wouldn't be back to pick up for at least 45 minutes, so I asked Victor if I could eat my lunch. Sure, and he showed me to the atrium, a very nice area with a table and chairs. I ate my sandwich and drank my IPA (I took the iced tea home) and greatly enjoyed it. After that, I waited out front where there's a covered veranda and a comfortable bench. Talked to the helper, Marvin, who was watering the lawn. He's from the Philippines--speaks accented, but good English.  The more I see of Granny's Care Center, the more I like it (aside from the odious name). 

Got home after 2:00 and called Lorraine to meet me so I could give her the lemon she had asked me for. Did so, then went over to Von's for plant milk and peas. Later, Mike called/facetimed me; he got back from Vietnam late Thursday. He said my great-nephew, Cameron, was over for dinner the other night and he and Violet got along fine. Cameron is now visiting a friend in Thailand. (Hmm...when I was twenty, I was lucky to get to Malvern, Pa.) 

Lunch with Noreen today and I'm looking forward to that. 

Saturday, February 22, 2025

FRIDAY

Weight: I was up 1.2 at home and 1.4 at T.O.P.S., to 127.6 and 128.4, respectively--no prob, I'm still within my comfort zone. The "meeting" consisted of Cheryl bringing in the current issue of T.O.P.S. magazine and we all read some. This kills me: we all get the magazine at home; if we were interested, why wouldn't we just read it there?  However, I almost never even open it. It's loaded with all kinds of "inspirational" messages, third-grade level, that are supposed to "inspire" us to lose weight and quit raiding the cookie jar. Okay, I'm a cynic and sometimes I just have to blow off steam.

Anyhoo, home and breakfast, then did food prep with the rest of my produce: Washed, cored, and sliced the huge apples, added cinnamon, Stevia, and butter spray to three and popped them in the oven. The other four I sliced, cored, seasoned, and put them on "low" in the slow cooker. 

I got a text from someone I had found on Facebook who is a friend of Jimmy Downes' daughter, Christina. The friend gave me Chris'es phone number and I immediately called her. Chris said her Dad was having short-term memory problems and he no longer knows how to operate his phone. He still lives where he had been, but now has a helper who seems to do everything. His children took his car away (good! I was nervous when I was in it with him at the wheel), but he has a golf cart to get around. He's still smoking like a chimney, but I guess by now, it seems a moot point. Jim is just a few months younger than I am, so getting up there. I called Carolyn to fill her in about it and we had a nice talk. We vowed to get together one of these days when our schedules both permit. 

Made and packed lunch, then set off for Ralph's Supermarket. I've been concerned that I haven't been getting enough walking in, so I was glad to do thw mile and a quarter. The weather was just ideal: sunny and hovering around seventy, with a very light breeze, so it was good.

Got bread, tomatoes, and some gorgeous grapefruit--half a dozen and they're bigger and better than Target's--yay! After, I sat in the round area nearby, as I have before, and ate my lunch. The seagulls were loving the fountain:

                                      

I called the Access Van to take me back and forth to Oxnard today to see Jim. I'm a little apprehensive about this because I asked to get there at noon and be picked up an hour later. Do I really want to spend an hour there? I may cancel--still considering. Maybe I'll take my lunch and see if I can eat it there.

Friday, February 21, 2025

THURSDAY

I spent most of the day on food prep, just as I'd planned. It took me several hours to do the cabbage fritters, as I had more cabbage than I needed, so made a recipe and a half. After that, I made my signature turkey stir-fry: onions (chopped), green peppers (chopped), and roasted tomatoes (made them a few day ago), ground turkey, garlic, and my favorite Italian seasoning. I reserved a good portion for my dinner last night and froze the rest for later. 

It wasn't until late afternoon that I did the roasted cauliflower. Boiled for six minutes first, then spread on mayo and parm cheese, sprinkled with garlic sauce, and roasted for twenty minutes. So for dinner, I had a portion each of the three items I had made. Did I prepare the three pounds of large apples? No. Why? Because lazy me, I just. didn't. feel. like. it--so shoot me.  

Got a call from Jeanne Painter and we had a good chat. She tells me that her John, 95, still drinks a lot of V.O. daily, which he has since he was 17. Hey, maybe that's the secret to longevity.

After that, it was almost 2:00 and I made my lunch and took it to the middle to eat, along with a bio of Ted Kennedy by Joe McGinnis. I had read this years ago, but I like the way McGinnis writes (or wrote--he may be dead, for all I know), so am dipping into it again. 

Home, I took a short nap and was awakened by Lorraine, calling me back after I had left a message that I had a lemon for her. I'll see her one of these days.

I called Jim Downes again and again, the answering machine. Haven't heard from his daughter, either--think I'll research further.   

Thursday, February 20, 2025

WEDNESDAY

Access van picked me up about 10 of 11:00, which meant I got to Diane's a full hour early. Rather than descend on her then (although she told me later she would have been fine with it), I sat on the bench outside. It was no problem, as it was warm and sunny and I chatted with a few of the residents coming and going. Rang Diane's bell at 11:30 and she ushered me in.

I was mistaken that Diane's new apartment is a two-bedroom. She still has only one, but it's considerably larger than her other one. It's nicely furnished--she's a talented decorator--and I'm happy for her. She opened the little presents I brought her, then we sat and talked for a half hour or so with glasses of wine. Lunch followed: I had a pad Thai she made herself, accompanied with a  mustard/honey sauce. It was delish and I was sure to tell her that. We had tiny little cupcakes for dessert, then talked and talked. Before I knew it, it was 3:00 and I had to wait outside for the Access Van, which was supposed to come between 3:00 and 3:30...

...well, it didn't get there until 4:00, although I didn't really mind. Driver had to pick up another person, this time at Victoria Care Centre, where Jim used to be, so I didn't get home until 4:30, but I was in no rush, so really didn't mind.

Today, I plan to do a lot of food prep and to that end, I got out the ingredients for my cabbage fritters and turkey stir-fry. I'll probably also make some applesauce and baked apples. Come to think of it, I have that cauliflower, too, which I'll season and bake. 

Luckily, aside from the usual bathroom trip, I slept well. Got up at 6:45, which is about how I like it.


Wednesday, February 19, 2025

TUESDAY

Washed the linens during breakfast and changed the bed after. Even after all this time, I'm still grateful for the washer and dryer in my apartment. 

I called Jimmy D. once again and again got his answering machine. I looked him up on Facebook and saw that he hasn't posted anything for five years. However, I saw his daughter listed as a "friend" and Messaged her asking about Jim; haven't heard back yet.  Called Noreen and left a message. 

El texted, saying she was running late, so how about lunching out? Don't have to ask me twice and we went to the Hill Street Cafe. From there, we went to the P.O. and I finally mailed the damn pretzels for Violet. Postage was $50.15, but Mike will, of course, reimburse me. After, we drove to Wal-Crap, surely a more accurate name than Wal-Mart, to pick up some items El  needed. I got detergent and crackers. 

More productive was our next stop at Grocery Outlet; they have some great fish and those huge apples I like to bake and/or use for applesauce. Got those and a slew of other veggies, plus various stuff. Back at my place, El helped me with this and that and we discussed next week. Instead of getting together on Sunday, I'll stay over her place on Tuesday, then meet Stella for our bus trip to Solvang; El will take me home after. Noreen returned my call and, since I'm not seeing El on Sunday, we made a date for lunch then at Danny's Deli.

I found a package Canon at my door--another container of black ink. I had called last week because I had gotten an email advising me the ink I ordered had been delivered, but it hadn't. I called and they sent a replacement a few days ago. Now another one has come; I'll call them, but I suspect they'll tell me to keep it without charge, since I didn't order or pay for two. Annoying.

Decided to take the Access Van to Diane's today and scheduled it for both there and back. Possibly, I'll cancel the return ride; I'll see how energetic I feel. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

MONDAY WITH NANCY, VERA, VICKIE, AND ESMERALDA

It's been a long time since I talked to my friend, Nancy, so I called her yesterday. I was sorry to hear she had been in the hospital with pneumonia for six days in November, although she recovered. She's had knee problems and some kind of blood problem for many years, but is holding her own, as the saying goes. We both vowed to keep in closer touch now.

I tackled the two bags of pretzels that must go to Singapore and spent a fair amount of time wrapping them. Put them in my cart and started for the post office. Got about halfway there when I realized it was Presidents' Day and the P.O. was closed. Okay, El will be here today and I'll ask her to take me. Messaged Mike to ask what his limit is on postage (he'll reimburse me). I know he mentioned fifty bucks, but if it's more, I want to let him know. 

Left about 4:30 to get the first of two buses to Stone Fire Grille for dinner with the Soaring Spirits gang. As I rounded the curve in the complex, I ran into Vickie, who insisted she wanted to take me there. I acquiesced and, as there was now plenty of time, I also accepted her invitation to stop into her place to visit. Did so and she offered me a beer; accepted that, also. We chatted happily for 45 or so, then took off. I wish I had thought to ask if she wanted to choice us (those who have lost life partners are also welcome in S.S.), but I didn't. Later, Vera gave me an printed invitation card, which I'll give Vickie. 

Went in to find  my friends--there were eleven of us, including, of course, dear Vera (no guys, though, which was unusual). I, of course, didn't have an IPA, as I had had beer at Vickie's and I never drink more than one. We had our nicely convivial time and, as ever, Vera took me home; got in at 7:30.

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Amused at some back-and-forth with my friend, Pat R., I looked up a particular person--a saint, no less and found Esmeralda's corpse on the Internet:                                                               

                                                          

I'm intrigued by the website, the proprietor being a real, old-fashioned Catholic. In earlier days, I would have believed this one hundred percent myself: 

https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/20/saint-of-the-day-20-january-st-eustochia-smeraldo-calafato-osc-1434-1485/

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Monday, February 17, 2025

SUNDAY

Crossword fair to middlin', but I got  most. Left at 10:15 to bus to Ellen's and she picked mu up at noon. We had lunch, then took a hike on the Meadow Preserve near her. It was a lovely day--sunny and in the low seventies, my fav--and a lovely walk. Here are a few pics from there:

El took videos of a soaring eagle--which I couldn't see at all.

We walked a bit more than a mile, I think, than it was back to El's and games of Blockus (I lost abysmally) and gin rummy. The final score isn't in yet, as the Access Van was due and we hadn't figured it. El said she'd total it up, but can I trust her to give credit where it's due??? I'm not so sure!*

Just kidding, of course. Anyway, I was delighted when El asked if I wanted to get together with her on Tuesday to go to Grocery Outlet, plus take me to GoodWill to donate more items. Sure thing and we'll have lunch here beforehand. 

Access Van picked me up shortly after 5:00; the driver was Eric, whom I've had before and like a lot. He's a non-traditional student, as I was (he's in his thirties) and goes to Ventura College. In the fall he'll enter another college to work toward his bachelor' degree; major is computer science. It was fun talking to him.

*Oh, yeah, sure, naturally: El texted later to say she had won by a hundred or so. Wrote back I'd be gunning for her next time.




SATURDAY WITH TWO FADING JIMS

I was pleased when Jimmy D. called me about 10 am (presumably, his helper got him the connection). To an extent, he was the same old Blowhar...