MONDAY

Put sheets in the wash when I got up, then got in myself--to the shower, that is, not the washer. Before breakfast, all was pristine, so I ate, then strolled over to Von's for a few items. The important ones to me were eight "C" batteries for my candles in the windows. I like these so much: They look so attractive and understated and they're light-activated, so at dusk, they turn on; you don't have to use a switch.

Got home and put in a white wash, then realized I had accidentally bought half "D" batteries, so had to rush over and exchange them. Home, I put them in, but damned if one doesn't seem to work; I don't know if it's the new batteries or something else. 

Lunch, then did this and that until Ellen came at 3:00. We piled all my donations in her car, then drove to GoodWill to drop it off. From there, we went to Peet's Coffee to pick up Greg, then drove in to town.

Greg had suggested Steven's for dinner, which was okay with me, but he later suggested Lure's, which I like a lot better. We went there--by that time, it was dark--and got a parting place on the street. Greg suggested The Calico Cat bookstore first, and we went there and browsed. 

Before we walked down the street to Lure, I persuaded E. and G. to pose for a picture in front of the Christmas tree:

And below, Ell and her decrepit Mum--good grief, that washboard forehead!

At Lure (pricey, but worth it), we had good seafood dinners: Ellen, trout almondine; Greg, sea bass; and I rockfish, with various sides. Had a good time talking, of course, although I was sorry to hear Greg's mother, who is 92, is in the hospital with pneumonia. She lives with her other son, Frank, who is a cardiologist/oncologist at the Mayo Clinic. Hope she recovers okay.

Home at 7:00, had a Frasier session (I'll get over it), then slept pretty well.