At Kimball, I ran into Carolyn S. and she and I raved over Crazy Rich Asians. Home, breakfast, crossword, then some chores so mundane I barely remember what they were. I tried to find the CDs of some of my performances, plus family stuff, but couldn't. I know they're all together, but they must be in the closet and it's daunting to even think about digging into it.
Went out to get wrapping paper for Ellen's present plus grilled chicken for my usual salad. Had that for lunch, then went to town.
I parked at Surfers' Point and walked roughly two mile on the bike path, enjoying the gorgeous views. I stopped into the county fair office to say hello to my friend, CEO Barbara Q., but she wasn't in. Drove home and fiddled around until I left for Humor & Drama Toastmasters at 6:45.
The meeting was the usual mixed-up mess; Celina gave the same ice-breaker talk she had at Poinsettia, Fern toasted Dick (a retired radiologist, who's been in Toastmasters for 24 years) and his wife, and John, the egomaniac, talked about his early years in Illinois.
Note: I just got up at almost 7:00. I have T.O.P.S. today, so I may just defer Kimball until later. I'm pretty sure I've gained, but will keep my nose clean from here on in.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Happy Hour Wednesday
Walked Kimball very early and was home by 7:05. I don't eat breakfast until 8:00, so I did this and that on the laptop until then. After, I continued the this and that stuff. In truth, I don't quite remember what I did, so it must not have been of much interest, even for me. After lunch, I took off for town. Parked at the museum, walked to the library, read for a bit, then met Diane at Casa Bella at 4:00. Nancy and Carolyn came soon after and we commenced our Happy Hour.
We had a good time, as ever. I stuck to beer, Nancy and Diane had Chardonnay, and Carolyn just sparkling water "because I'm driving." (Frankly, I can never understand this. If I'm eating and have a single glass of wine or beer, I have no problem driving home. I think people have been programmed to believe a mere sip of booze is going to send them into an alcoholic coma or something. That strikes me of symptomatic of the "be afraid, be very afraid" syndrome that seems to have gripped the whole country since 9/11.)
Anyway, I proposed that next Wednesday, we meet at Limon y sal* for Happy Hour instead--it's less expensive and the appetizers are better. We left about 5:30, I walked back to the car, then drove to the thrift store down my end of town. Bought a beautiful ceramic fruit compote, plus two baskets (I'm a sucker for baskets), all at the fifty percent off sale. Okay, I need them like a hole in the head, but they won't break the bank, so what's the harm?
*I misspelled the name of the restaurant yesterday; it's "Limon y sal," in Spanish, with an accent mark over the "o." Means "lemon and salt."
We had a good time, as ever. I stuck to beer, Nancy and Diane had Chardonnay, and Carolyn just sparkling water "because I'm driving." (Frankly, I can never understand this. If I'm eating and have a single glass of wine or beer, I have no problem driving home. I think people have been programmed to believe a mere sip of booze is going to send them into an alcoholic coma or something. That strikes me of symptomatic of the "be afraid, be very afraid" syndrome that seems to have gripped the whole country since 9/11.)
Anyway, I proposed that next Wednesday, we meet at Limon y sal* for Happy Hour instead--it's less expensive and the appetizers are better. We left about 5:30, I walked back to the car, then drove to the thrift store down my end of town. Bought a beautiful ceramic fruit compote, plus two baskets (I'm a sucker for baskets), all at the fifty percent off sale. Okay, I need them like a hole in the head, but they won't break the bank, so what's the harm?
*I misspelled the name of the restaurant yesterday; it's "Limon y sal," in Spanish, with an accent mark over the "o." Means "lemon and salt."
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
"Crazy Rich Asians" and Lemon y Sal
Had a fun day. Walked Kimball and saw my park pals. After breakfast, I galvanized myself to clean the large vanity and sink, plus finally categorize and file the reams of paper I had accumulated. I put this off for months and it feels good to have it done--until the next onslaught.
After lunch, I drove to town, parked at the museum and walked to the library. Saw branch manager, Tori, and chatted with her for a bit. She's been out for several months after surgery and will retire as of September 7. Went from there down the street to meet Nancy at the Midtown.
We saw Crazy Rich Asians and loved it. Much of the movie takes place in Singapore and I've been to many of the venues, so that was a thrill. I also loved the clothes, the love story, and every damn else thing about it.
Instead of Casa Bella after, I suggested Lemon y Sal ("Lemon and Salt") and we went there for Happy Hour. It was built in 1920 and is beautiful; wonderfully art deco, with a carved wood ceiling, tile, colorful murals, church-like lighting fixtures and so on, just the kind of decor I like.
We sat upstairs on a kind of outside balcony overlooking Main, and it was great. I stuck to beer, Nancy had Chardonnay, and we enjoyed appetizers. It was so fine to look over the city and the hills and the interesting buildings we could see from an angle different from the usual.
Talked up a storm, as ever, and didn't leave until after 5:00. Today, I'll meet Diane and Carolyn at Casa Bella, but hope to pursue D. to switch to Lemon y Sal next time.
After lunch, I drove to town, parked at the museum and walked to the library. Saw branch manager, Tori, and chatted with her for a bit. She's been out for several months after surgery and will retire as of September 7. Went from there down the street to meet Nancy at the Midtown.
We saw Crazy Rich Asians and loved it. Much of the movie takes place in Singapore and I've been to many of the venues, so that was a thrill. I also loved the clothes, the love story, and every damn else thing about it.
Instead of Casa Bella after, I suggested Lemon y Sal ("Lemon and Salt") and we went there for Happy Hour. It was built in 1920 and is beautiful; wonderfully art deco, with a carved wood ceiling, tile, colorful murals, church-like lighting fixtures and so on, just the kind of decor I like.
We sat upstairs on a kind of outside balcony overlooking Main, and it was great. I stuck to beer, Nancy had Chardonnay, and we enjoyed appetizers. It was so fine to look over the city and the hills and the interesting buildings we could see from an angle different from the usual.
Talked up a storm, as ever, and didn't leave until after 5:00. Today, I'll meet Diane and Carolyn at Casa Bella, but hope to pursue D. to switch to Lemon y Sal next time.
Poinsettia Toastmasters
Kimballed, breakfasted, washed clothes, and got a few other chores done. Took my car for an oil change to Pep Boys, another in the long list of companies from Hell that are determined to drive me bananas. Appointment was at 10:00 and it was after 11:00 when I got outta there. The careless, indifferent person on the counter assured me an oil change always took an hour and that my annoyance was the result of me "making a big thing of it." So much for customer service in Ventura. I called Nancy while I was waiting and we made a date for a movie and Happy Hour today. I said I'd call Diane to invite her; did and left a message.
Lunched and drove to town. This time, I explored "Surfers' Point," a beautiful area in which to walk and bike right next to the ocean, with an estuary, extravagant foliage, and a great variety of birds. I'll make it a point to walk here frequently.
Home, shower, off to Dudley House at 5:30 to open up for Toastmasters. I took back and left in the storage room the props I had used for Caroline Dudley. I'll be back on Sunday when I conduct the tour for CC and her church group. The aforementioned came in about 6:00 and we set up for the meeting.
I had been asked at the last minute to be "ah counter." Yes, these things are noted at Toastmasters, the idea being it's distracting for the audience to hear "ahs" and filler words. We had only two speakers this time--there are usually three--Celina and Denise. Both were pretty good, but Denise was far superior, yet Celina won the "best speaker" award. I suspect the newness and cuteness of the speaker sways the voters (the other members).
Sat next to Ken Smith, who is one of those Toastmasters, like Fern, whose whole life seems to revolve around the club. He's won all kinds of awards and has held all kinds of offices. Unfortunately, last year or so, he suddenly had a seizure, and was hospitalized for some time before a cause and a cure could be found. I don't think they ever were, but with medication he hasn't had one for six months and had actually gotten his driver license back.
The meeting broke up at 8:00, but as usual, people lingered to chat until I hustled them out and locked up.
Lunched and drove to town. This time, I explored "Surfers' Point," a beautiful area in which to walk and bike right next to the ocean, with an estuary, extravagant foliage, and a great variety of birds. I'll make it a point to walk here frequently.
Home, shower, off to Dudley House at 5:30 to open up for Toastmasters. I took back and left in the storage room the props I had used for Caroline Dudley. I'll be back on Sunday when I conduct the tour for CC and her church group. The aforementioned came in about 6:00 and we set up for the meeting.
I had been asked at the last minute to be "ah counter." Yes, these things are noted at Toastmasters, the idea being it's distracting for the audience to hear "ahs" and filler words. We had only two speakers this time--there are usually three--Celina and Denise. Both were pretty good, but Denise was far superior, yet Celina won the "best speaker" award. I suspect the newness and cuteness of the speaker sways the voters (the other members).
Sat next to Ken Smith, who is one of those Toastmasters, like Fern, whose whole life seems to revolve around the club. He's won all kinds of awards and has held all kinds of offices. Unfortunately, last year or so, he suddenly had a seizure, and was hospitalized for some time before a cause and a cure could be found. I don't think they ever were, but with medication he hasn't had one for six months and had actually gotten his driver license back.
The meeting broke up at 8:00, but as usual, people lingered to chat until I hustled them out and locked up.
Monday, August 27, 2018
The Routine
Back to the routine and it feels good. Walked Kimball a bit late, but ran into Ed and Lola (woof!) and Carolyn, Bob, and Hazel (woof, woof!), but not Sue, Irene, or Diane.
Home, breakfast and crossword, then Suzanne stopped in to give me my mail and to talk about the dementia problem. She pointed out--and I guess this could have been predicted--that many sisters she knows have developed it. They have an aging population.
To WinCo for fruit, veggies, and so on. Betty called while I was there to tell me about a funny e-mail Carolyn had received from her cousin and Frank's daughter. It was something her 10-year-old boy said and was very cute. We laughed over it together and oh, she sounded so like her old self, maybe all this dementia business is just silly.
After lunch, I went to town. Parked at the museum and walked down Main, then to the Promenade. I enjoyed the ocean, the beach, and the people walking, biking, swimming, and, for all I know, conducting nefarious business behind the dunes.
Stopped for tomatoes and made my roasted tomatoes/onions/garlic mix for the next few days' salads.
Home, breakfast and crossword, then Suzanne stopped in to give me my mail and to talk about the dementia problem. She pointed out--and I guess this could have been predicted--that many sisters she knows have developed it. They have an aging population.
To WinCo for fruit, veggies, and so on. Betty called while I was there to tell me about a funny e-mail Carolyn had received from her cousin and Frank's daughter. It was something her 10-year-old boy said and was very cute. We laughed over it together and oh, she sounded so like her old self, maybe all this dementia business is just silly.
After lunch, I went to town. Parked at the museum and walked down Main, then to the Promenade. I enjoyed the ocean, the beach, and the people walking, biking, swimming, and, for all I know, conducting nefarious business behind the dunes.
Stopped for tomatoes and made my roasted tomatoes/onions/garlic mix for the next few days' salads.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Funeral
We got back from Salinas and points north about 5:00. (I missed the 4:40 train and got the 7:02.) Rather than recording chapter and verse, I'll just quickly run over events of the last few days: Got to Santa Barbara about noon and was picked up by Carolyn and Betty. C. dropped us on a trafficked cross street and B. and I had lunch at a cafe. We didn't get started for Salinas until about 4:00, C., B., Finn, and I in one car, Dana, Claire--and Calvin!--in another. We stopped at the Madonna Inn for dinner (I love the place and hadn't been there for years), which was great fun.
After a four-hour drive, we got to Gilroy ("the garlic capital of the world" and about 30 miles from Salinas) to the Best Western. Why so far away? Because Carolyn had researched it and the accommodations in Salinas were all 300 and up a night--yoicks!) We ran into Patrick (Frank's son, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins) at the hotel and saw him and wife, Susan, later. The next day, we drove back to Salinas for the high mass funeral.
What can I say about that? It was well thought out and carefully planned, and included personal touches. Marybeth's ashes and picture were on a podium and the two priests who conducted had been close friends of the family for years. Their two sons each addressed the audience with Marybeth's writings (I'm not sure why the Maureen and Francine, the two daughters, didn't) The church was almost full, although Frank and Marybeth had moved from Salinas at least fifteen years ago. Certainly, the service was meant to be a tribute to Marybeth and to have her remembered. And yet...and yet...
It's been almost two months since she died. I know it's silly, but a "funeral" that long after the demise just doesn't seem to mean much. Marybeth seemed to have receded into the past, unlike those who funerals are held within a week or so of death. Call me a dopey recovering Catholic, but I favor the ritual of viewing, then ceremony, then burial. The deceased seem somehow to be "there"--or at least, hovering around close by--rather than statically contained in an urn. Anyway, it was much too long--almost two hours.
The reception after, though, was ideal. It was at the John Steinbeck House (where he had actually grown up) and was just a short stroll up the street. There was a wonderful buffet (no booze, though, interestingly) and we all, of course, mingled and talked and laughed and forgot about why we had gathered. Several hours later, we drove back to Gilroy and the hotel to change, relax, then gather at the house out of town that Francine had rented. We had a good time there, what with the wine, the leftover food, the eight kids running around, and the ten or so of us laughing with relief that we were not yet ready to be eulogized.
Back in Gilroy, our party, plus Patrick and Susan gathered at the Black Bear diner for a light dinner, then to bed. Slept soundly, unlike the night before when Betty's sleep apnea machine whined and screeched incessantly and kept me awake.
In the morning, we met again after breakfast, then said goodbye to all. As before, the four of us went in one car, Dana, Claire, and Calvin in another. Broke up the four-hour plus trip for lunch at a Chinese buffet, hung out for a bit, then Carolyn and Betty took me to the station. Car was still in the parking lot intact, I stopped to get blueberries, stayed up until 9:00, then fell into bed and slept soundly.
As for my big brother and twin sister, I didn't see them the whole time and I'm sick with grief and rage at the doppelgangers who took their places.
After a four-hour drive, we got to Gilroy ("the garlic capital of the world" and about 30 miles from Salinas) to the Best Western. Why so far away? Because Carolyn had researched it and the accommodations in Salinas were all 300 and up a night--yoicks!) We ran into Patrick (Frank's son, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins) at the hotel and saw him and wife, Susan, later. The next day, we drove back to Salinas for the high mass funeral.
What can I say about that? It was well thought out and carefully planned, and included personal touches. Marybeth's ashes and picture were on a podium and the two priests who conducted had been close friends of the family for years. Their two sons each addressed the audience with Marybeth's writings (I'm not sure why the Maureen and Francine, the two daughters, didn't) The church was almost full, although Frank and Marybeth had moved from Salinas at least fifteen years ago. Certainly, the service was meant to be a tribute to Marybeth and to have her remembered. And yet...and yet...
It's been almost two months since she died. I know it's silly, but a "funeral" that long after the demise just doesn't seem to mean much. Marybeth seemed to have receded into the past, unlike those who funerals are held within a week or so of death. Call me a dopey recovering Catholic, but I favor the ritual of viewing, then ceremony, then burial. The deceased seem somehow to be "there"--or at least, hovering around close by--rather than statically contained in an urn. Anyway, it was much too long--almost two hours.
The reception after, though, was ideal. It was at the John Steinbeck House (where he had actually grown up) and was just a short stroll up the street. There was a wonderful buffet (no booze, though, interestingly) and we all, of course, mingled and talked and laughed and forgot about why we had gathered. Several hours later, we drove back to Gilroy and the hotel to change, relax, then gather at the house out of town that Francine had rented. We had a good time there, what with the wine, the leftover food, the eight kids running around, and the ten or so of us laughing with relief that we were not yet ready to be eulogized.
Back in Gilroy, our party, plus Patrick and Susan gathered at the Black Bear diner for a light dinner, then to bed. Slept soundly, unlike the night before when Betty's sleep apnea machine whined and screeched incessantly and kept me awake.
In the morning, we met again after breakfast, then said goodbye to all. As before, the four of us went in one car, Dana, Claire, and Calvin in another. Broke up the four-hour plus trip for lunch at a Chinese buffet, hung out for a bit, then Carolyn and Betty took me to the station. Car was still in the parking lot intact, I stopped to get blueberries, stayed up until 9:00, then fell into bed and slept soundly.
As for my big brother and twin sister, I didn't see them the whole time and I'm sick with grief and rage at the doppelgangers who took their places.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Casa Bella
Yoicks, quite a busy day. Walked Kimball, the usual after, then I went to Target and bought a suitcase. When I got to checkout, I discovered it was $130.00! Good grief. Later, I found I have a similar sized one, so I took it back.
Packed for the trip to Santa Barbara, then Salinas and Marybeth's funeral. After lunch, drove to town, parked at the museum, walked to the library, read for a bit, then stopped in a shop and bought a blouse. Walked back to the museum to put it in the car, then to Casa Bella, where Nancy had already arrived.
Diane joined us shortly and we had a good Happy Hour talk, fueled by Chardonnay and salmon tacos. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. I knew Nance and Diane would like each other, and they did. I had invited Carolyn B., also, but she couldn't get there; will join us next week. Skipped dinner, figuring Happy Hour was enough, and just had berries and rice cakes later.
I've decided not to take my laptop on the trip, so will be incommunicado here until late Saturday. I do hope the world will keep turning when it's deprived of my continuing saga...
Packed for the trip to Santa Barbara, then Salinas and Marybeth's funeral. After lunch, drove to town, parked at the museum, walked to the library, read for a bit, then stopped in a shop and bought a blouse. Walked back to the museum to put it in the car, then to Casa Bella, where Nancy had already arrived.
Diane joined us shortly and we had a good Happy Hour talk, fueled by Chardonnay and salmon tacos. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. I knew Nance and Diane would like each other, and they did. I had invited Carolyn B., also, but she couldn't get there; will join us next week. Skipped dinner, figuring Happy Hour was enough, and just had berries and rice cakes later.
I've decided not to take my laptop on the trip, so will be incommunicado here until late Saturday. I do hope the world will keep turning when it's deprived of my continuing saga...
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