Busy Bees

Still buzzing around, we got to Linda P.'s new digs in Santa Barbara about noon.  It's in a gated community right across from the ocean and hey Nellie, the whole complex is just quintessential California--on the high end.  The common areas are all fountains and palm trees and birds of paradise, groomed to perfection and all adobe-type material that I've always loved.
Linda showed us around her apartment (some of the units are condos, but she's renting), which is attractive enough, but really just basic: small living room and kitchen, smaller bedroom, and bath, plus small balcony.  In fact, it's remarkably similar to my friend, Bobbi's, who lives in Shalom House in Ventnor, which is controlled rent housing.  However, at Bobbi's, you can't walk a few yards to the Pacific Ocean, so I suspect Linda's is a tad pricier--maybe five times as much.
We ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant and had a fine time together, then said goodbye to Linda and visited Greg at his work.  Chatted for just a few minutes, then headed over to niece Carolyn's. I always love seeing her and Dana, plus their sweet Finn and Claire, and we reunited with pleasure. The children gave me a birthday card with notes they had written, plus pictures of both of them; they're wonderful kids.  Carolyn invited us and Greg over for Christmas dinner, but we're not sure, at this point, if we might be going to Greg's (whose brother and family will be in from Minnesota), so have to let her know.  
I expressed my sudden urgent desire to see that c. 1943 classic, Double Indemnity, and Ellen kindly stopped to get a DVD of it.  I actually stayed up late (to at least 9:30) to see Fred, Barbara, their illicit love affair, and that gem, Edward G. Robinson, and it was a treat.
Today is my birthday and it sure ain't the twenty-fifth.