Terrific Fun Day

Did the neighborhood walk, had breakfast, and changed before Carolyn, Betty, and Claire picked  me up at noon. Off we went to Ojai, first to Ellen's to pick her up, then to The Farmer and the Cook for lunch.
The F. and the C., which is vegetarian, isn't my favorite place for a variety of reasons: It's always jammed (with the well-off former flower children, now middle-aged, who live in Ojai); it's pricey; and it's one of those places where you have to stand in line to order. We sat on the patio, with its rickety, mis-matched furniture (I swear, they do that on purpose, to show solidarity with the poor or something), and it took an age for Carolyn and Claire to get their burritos. However, I had a delicious salad, which included an excellent seasoned tofu and we all enjoyed our meals, so I'm now revising my opinion on The F. and The C.
We picked up Steve, Robyn, and Dex, who were staying at a friends' house not far away. Boy, we all loved the house, which up high and has incredible views. Then it was off to Carolyn's friends' house, James and his wife, which is only a short walk (but we drove, in deference to Betty's inability/refusal to walk more than a few yards) from Ellen's for the first stop on the Ojai Art Tour. His stuff is okay, I guess, but abstract and I'm sick of the genre. We chatted for a bit, and James recommended another artist, a sculptor named Ted Gall.
We went there and what a place! This guy isn't just some amateur; he has a huge estate up in the hills, with a museum quality exhibit building, as well as statuary outside.  We all loved his work, especially the smaller pieces that open up and reveal tiny figures. The big figures were spectacular, too--If only I had an idle $65,000, I would have bought one.
Steve, Robyn, Dex, Betty, and Claire went back to the friends' place, while Carolyn, El, and I toured a third place--a couple's, he painting "wheels," she shiny squares, both very abstract, and pretty damn boring, we three agreed.
We dropped El off so she could get her clothes out of the dryer and do some other chores, then went back to join the others. Had wine and good talk, El joining in an hour or so. We sat and chatted and, somehow, started talking about Shirley Temple. At that point, Steve put on a old"Biography" segment about her on the T.V. and we watched much of it. That sounds boring, but it wasn't--it was a lot of fun.
El and I went out to get salad fixings and ice cream to accompany Robyn's delicious (made-from-scratch, of course) chili. We got back to see some of our companions playing a game called "Brokus." El played the next time and it looked like so much fun, I'm going to buy one and bring it to Jersey, so we can play there.
Dinner, then more good talk and discussion on everything under the sun. El and I finally left at 8:00 or so, she drove me home, and--even though I didn't get as much exercise in as usual, I slept like a log and didn't get up until after 6:00.
It was one of the most enjoyable days I've had in months.

Walking

Well, I've sure been getting my exercise. Walked the uphill one, then Cheryl picked me up for T.O.P.S. I weighed in at 128.3, up a fraction from last week, but fine by me. As usual, didn't get home until after 10:00, so had breakfast two and a half hours later than usual.
I opened the DMV thing and it was a five-page medical report for my doctor fill out. I had told the idiots at Primary Medical I was going to bring it in when I got it, so I prepared to do so. Suzanne was just leaving (for lunch with friends) as I was, said she was going my way, so offered to drop me. Sure thing, and I got in. However, I didn't realize she was going right past the place and she let me off at Telephone and Johnson Avenues, which meant I had an almost two mile walk. That was okay, though, and I got there with no problem.
The problem arose when I was told Dr. Jennings wasn't in until Monday and "I don't know if she does this," to quote the office manager. They'll call me, she said, and at this point, I'm actually considering switching doctors.
I was able to get a bus to Victoria Avenue, then another to Telegraph Road. Had lunch, then took my little cart and got yet another bus back to Victoria, and one more to Office Depot and, across the street, Winco. I got the things I wanted, then reversed the bus process, of course. This entailed considerable walking, as every excursion does if you don't have a car. It occurred to me that it's very liberating realize I can, indeed, walk to many places I may not have thought I could.
A sick joke: I got my new license plates in the mail. I guess I'm not going to break my neck trying to find somebody to put them on.

Around And About

Did the uphill mile and some, had breakfast, then signed a document for the DMV.  I was about to mail it off when I noticed somebody from AAA was supposed to sign, too, but they hadn't. I decided to walk to the office on Victoria Avenue and ask them about it.  Looked it up later and saw that it's 1.6 miles, a robust, but not exhausting walk. Got there and after talking to several people, an official named Carlotta took it, gave me a copy, and said she'd follow up. Went from there to Ralph's for blackberries and raspberries, then to another store for grapes; took the bus home.
After lunch, bused to town and did something I've been wanting to: became a member of the museum. Forty bucks, but I get into exhibits free and they even gave me a tee shirt. On the way home, brother Jim called. He had sent me our father's diary, but to my old address. Luckily, it was sent back, I gave him the new one, and will get it soon.
Just as I walked into the apartment complex, niece Carolyn called to see if I wanted to go to Ojai with her and Betty to an "Art Walk."  One of her friends is an artist who lives only a block from Ellen and his paintings are on the tour. Carolyn had already called Ellen, who's on board, and of course, so am I.  Incidentally, Betty moves into her new apartment on November 1, a big step we're  all happy about.
For some reason, I had difficulty sleeping last night. Got up for the usual twice and kept taking a long time falling back. This seem to happen every few months; not sure why. 

Hair And Happy Hour

Walked the new usual, breakfasted, then caught the bus for Telephone Road and Fantastic Sam's. There were three people ahead of me and only two hairdressers, but I didn't have anything scheduled until Happy Hour at 4:00, so that was okay.

My operator was "Sunshine." Well, obviously, that's a nickname, but it's the only one she uses. She's a chubby 55-year-old who has worked there for 32 years, is a native Californian, has a daughter who's getting her masters at UCLA, a son who's in construction, and she and and her husband have sex six times a week--.

Okay, I made that last part up. Yes, Sunshine is a non-stop talker, but she's pleasant and cheerful and knows her way around a pair of scissors. I had her darken 'way down, almost to the brunette I used to be (but it will lighten, I know) and cut about three inches off.  Looks pretty good and, compared to Mary at Penney's, Sunshine is nicer to be around and--bingo!--the process cost me twenty dollars less than at Penney's.

Home, had lunch, then left for town. Did the library to promenade thing, stopped at the museum to ask about a program they're having on Sunday to which I might go, then walked around the corner to the Blue Agave. I staked out a table on the patio and waited for the other three.  

Diane came in soon after, then Carolyn and Nancy, and we had our weekly good time. Lots of talk and laughs, ranging over a multitude of topics, including our late husbands' burials--or rather, non-burials, as both Nancy's and Carolyn's were cremated and scattered. (Diane was not widowed, but is divorced). We stayed more than an hour, then said goodbye until next week.

I thought I'd go to the library, which is open until 7:00, so walked down Main with Diane. We went past The Grapes and Hops, stopped to ask if they had Happy Hour, they do, and we agreed on the spot to suggest that for next time. 

Diane went across to her place and by that time, it was dusk. Decided not to go to the library, after all, and caught a bus home. I didn't get in until after 7:00, but that was okay.    

Routine

Pretty routine day. I cut my morning walk short--maybe a mile--as I was on the laptop longer than usual. Besides, I walked  to the post office after breakfast to mail off some Halloween gifts to my little grandson. Did a load of wash, which all that entails, then actually galvanized myself to clean out several "paper" drawers. My bedside tables, desk, and living room table all have drawers and they all had various things in them I was saving. I threw away lots and that felt good.
After lunch, I went out to take the bus to town and found some pretty autumn leaves in an envelope at my door from Suzanne. She left a note saying she thought I might like them for my decorations. I did and scattered them on the coffee table with the other fall things.
Took the bus to town,, did the library to Promenade to Surfers Point, back to the library thing--about two miles. I read for an hour or so, then took out two books in which I'm interested. When I got home, I rang Suzanne's bell to thank her for the leaves and was amazed that they're not artificial, but actual leaves from an actual tree in the courtyard. We sat and chatted for a bit, then I left and made my dinner of white fish, fresh spinach, sauted mushrooms, and half an acorn squash.

Here And There

Walked the new normal--about one and a half, partially uphill. That's a challenge, but I always feel pleased when I do it. After breakfast, I left a message for my T.O.P.S. friend, Lora, who's a travel agent, to ask her to find me a flight to Jersey in November.  Did this and that, then made up my lunch salad and ate earlier than usual.
As I was leaving to get the bus for town, Florida brother Larry called. He said our bro, Frank, had told him he wanted to attend the Florida family's annual Christmas gathering at (ugh!) Disney World.  Now Frank hasn't been answering the phone, his message box is full, and he didn't respond to e-mail. Larry even sent him a regular letter, but that didn't elicit any response, either. I told Larry I couldn't imagine Frank could travel to Florida alone and advised him to contact one of Frank's children. Boy, was that depressing
Stella had called me several times and I thought I should get back to her, so while on the bus to town. She hadn't had lunch and I agreed to meet her at Aloha; she had a sandwich and I had a beer. After, we walked down to Surfer's Point, then the bike path, and back up to Main.
To be perfectly honest, I can take only so much of Stella. She tends to prattle on and on and her voice  is very hard to hear at The Promenade with waves rolling in, and on the bustling avenues, too. The question  is, do I really want to hear her? 
Lora called back while we were walking to say she was on her way to Vegas, but will be back tomorrow and will look up reservations. I had a suggestion from someone else to try an Air BnB for accommodations. I looked up some and was pleased to find several in the area where I'm going that look good. This is new to me and opens up a whole new world, so I'll definitely pursue it.

Fun Day

What a good, fun day! Reverted back to my usual get-up time of 5:15, had my coffee, did my laptop thing, then walked the neighborhood for maybe a bit more than a mile. Home for breakfast and the crossword, then a few minor chores.
Ellen got here about 12:30 and Suzanne came in with her. I showed them the silly "talking tree head" I needed like a hole in the cranium, plus my light-up Halloween pillow, not to mention the girl scarecrow on my door and the big pumpkin next to it. Suzanne had put a little pumpkin out, plus an autumn saying on the door and we laughed about having a seasonal competition. She came to chat  with El and me for a bit and we discussed the new DMV "I.D."  As of 2020, people will have to have to board a plane. Ominous, if you ask me, but El thinks I should get that, which will serve as a driver license, too. We'll see.
She and I went off the lunch and it was so good to be with her. Couldn't decide where, as we knew the better places would be jammed, so went to poky old Marie Callendar's. Actually, it wasn't bad (although the service was, as always, lousy), and we had a good time talking. After, we went to The Avenue, where El bought a pair of jeans and an attractive jacket, then she took me to WinCo and I was able to lay in the supplies I badly needed.
She also--happy day!--quickly fixed my printer so it would copy full pages instead of 4" by 6." It was annoyingly un-obvious, as you have to press "okay" to get rid of what you don't want.  Something like that, which makes no sense, anyway.
I'm planning out my day (mentally) and want to get my hair cut and colored, plus go to the P.O., plus go through a few more papers to see what I can throw out. Hope I can get a lot of that done.