Me, Tea, And Marijuana

Did the Sunday thing; crossword was pretty good--challenging, but I got all but two. In fear and trembling, I took my first tablet of alendronate calcium, waited the thirty minutes, and didn't have any problem. Let's hope that continues to be the case when I continue the weekly dose.

I left about 10:10 to bus to the transit center, much too early, of course. I had looked at the schedule and knew the bus for Ojai from the center didn't leave until 11:00, but I can't seem to prevent my paranoia about being late. Anyway, I had about a twenty-minute wait, but got the 16 at the scheduled time. Got to Ojai in forty-five or so and Ellen picked me up at Von's shopping center. Freshened up at her house, then we left for Sea Fresh and lunch. It was pretty busy--all of Ojai was busy with vacationers and so on--but we were seated right away outside on the patio. It was a beautiful day--in the upper seventies and the sun was brilliant.

We both had tacos--El fish, I shrimp mango--and iced tea and "805" (local beer named for the area code) respectively. Had a leisurely lunch and a good time talking, then drove our next stop, Magic Hour, which is a Japanese tea shop. Ellen likes tea, I don't, but we were both given brewed samples and she bought two exotic flavors. They came in charming little gift bags (that should have been rimmed in gold, as they were so pricey). We then drove a few blocks to...

...a marijuana dispensary! I had never been there and have been curious about it. The "cigarette" Ellen gave me several years ago--really, marijuana oil in a tube that you "smoke"--simply had no effect on me. El takes CBD oil, which helps her arthritis and also uses "gummies" just for a lift. I've been wanting to try the latter and I bought a tin of Camino Gummies. Not sure when I'll take the first one, but I'm looking forward to the adventure.

Back to El's and I sat out and relaxed while she trimmed her roses. Stayed for another hour, then she took me to the bus after a lovely day with my dear girl. Didn't get home until almost six and had a quick vegan dinner of turnips and acorn squash. 

Today, Julie's coming to take me to Goodwill so I can donate the crapola I've gathered. I could probably add several bushels more. 

Saturday

It was quite a pleasant day. I called niece Carolyn and we had a good talk, with a few tears mixed in. I'll go see Betty one of these days, but for obvious reasons, I'm not really looking forward to it.  

With Jim coming, I decided to skip sandwiches in favor of a hot meal for lunch. I had some Voila pasta/chicken/vegetables in the freezer, so I cooked that and put out some crystal pickles and whole wheat bread. Jim liked it a lot and had two helpings with, of course, his usual red. For dessert, I gave him what I've been serving the last several times he was here: lemon cake topped with vanilla yogurt and blueberries. We both had small glasses of cream sherry as a kind of top-off.

After, we sat on the couch and chatted. I mentioned the two daily crossword puzzles from the Ventura Star. The one from the NYTimes gets progressively more difficult as the week goes on and I usually skip Thursday through Saturday.  The second is always annoyingly simple and I do that every day. I also gave Jim a small book of crosswords I had bought in town. I told him I find them too easy and he proceeded to quiz me with the clues for about an hour. I missed only a few and it was fun. He stayed until 4:00 and I walked him out.

The tangerines from Carolyn Mooney:

Medical note: I just took my first alendronate sodium tablet and am counting the seconds until I can get my coffee, which is banned for a half hour after.   

 

Friday

My Internet connection being down when I got up (ha--I was up, it was down) at 6:00, I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with Yandoo Communications, who belong in hell with Bank of America. It still wasn't resolved when I left for T.O.P.S., but was when I got home.  

As usual, my weight was a puzzle. At home, I was 125.2, for a loss of 2.6 pounds. At T.O.P.S., I was 126.2, for a loss of .04. I don't get it, but I'm okay with it, as it's within my 125 to 130 comfort zone.

Julie picked me up and besides us, only Lennie and Bobbi were there. (Sharon had called me to say she had a problem.) Because S. was supposed to do the program, I brought my 56-year-old Weight Watchers book (pub. 1966) and read some excerpts. All were amused. I brought the new membership list I had put on a spread sheet and asked members to see if okay. I had a few minor mistakes on it, so will do it over. We were surprised and pleased to see Carolyn Mooney come in. She had been in my Acting for Amateurs group and was a longtime member of T.O.P.S., but hadn't attended since COVID developed. She brought tangerines from her own tree and I happily took several. 

Didn't get home until 10:30. Had breakfast, then moved some of the décor in the living room. I had planned to walk to Wal-Mart, but the wind was so strong, I decided to wait. 

My children responded to my letter to my tenants about raising the rent. Son Mike reworded it a bit and I like his version; think I'll send it. 

Went to Von's and coming back, ran into David, who also lives here. We chatted for fifteen or so about our various real estate experiences. David owns three houses in Georgia, just sold another, and said he has had one tenant for ten years. He has never raised the rent on her, but his was just upped here by $148 a month, so he's probably going to do that. 

Said goodbye to David and as I was coming in the door, Suzanne walked up and invited me in for our "social hour" (but I never stay more than half) and of course, I accepted. Sat in her lovely, flower-bedecked patio, and had a good chat. Got home and Ellen called; we made a date for tomorrow to have lunch at Sea Fresh in Ojai. 

Ellen called as she was driving home from work and we made a date for tomorrow for lunch--happy day, I haven't seen her for more than a month. I called Jim after dinner and we had a long talk. Naturally, I invited him for lunch today and naturally, he'll be here. 

Medical note: My new medication, alendronate sodium, came in the mail. Good grief, there are pages of closely-typed warnings, counterindications, and who-knows-what. It's for osteoporosis and is to be taken only once a week.  You're supposed to take it on an empty stomach and not eat for a half-hour after. I'm going to ask the doc if I can have coffee, though. 

Good News All Around!

Best News: My eye situation. Suzanne dropped me off at Miramar, for my 8:45 eye doctor appointment. I was worried about the macular degeneration and, cheery optimist that I am, was sure the doctor would try to prepare me for blindness. No such thing! Yes, the condition is there, but is slow growing, isn't the more serious type,  and calls for  no treatment at this time. Dr. R. did tell me I should get examined every six months and I promptly made an appointment for August. 

Walked from there to the branch of The Market nearby (not the one I usually go to) and picked up a few things. I didn't want to get much because I decided to walk to the transit center for the bus, which I did. I guess that totaled about two miles.

It was only 11:00 when I got in, so I got my cart and walked to Smart 'n' Final for broccoli, acorn squash, and another root vegetable. Why am I being so coy about the name? Because I'm not sure if it's an turnip, a parsnip, or something else. No matter, I'll roast it and am sure I'll like it.

Good News Two:  I finally steeled myself to call realtor Kim. I talked over with her raising my tenants' rent, but I won't ask for as much as my own raise here ($120 a month). Kim told me that in all of Ocean County there are only five rentals and all but a very small house are over what I want to charge. I wrote out an email for Susan and Cliff (tenants) and, after I submit it to my four advisors, will send. I then need to get a new lease for the change to month-to-month and have it signed.

More Good, Although Anybody Else Would Think It Idiotic: I cleaned the stove, including the burners and drip pans, all of which were pretty crummy, due to my enthusiasm for stir-frying. Hey, it was a chore, but it looks good and gave me a sense of--well, I cleaned the stove, ain't I great?

Goody, Goody, Good: Now let me see, what else was good news? Okay, I totaled five miles walking, which is always an upper, especially since I have T.O.P.S. today and will get weighed in.

Wednesday And The Grave

Changed the bed and did a white wash. Early on, Suzanne texted me to ask if I wanted to go to WinCo this morning. I told her I had an 8:45 eye doctor appointment and asked if she'd take me. She will and we'll leave at 8:10.

I called Stella and we had a good chat. She's had some "challenges," as the saying goes, but is generally okay. She invited me to go to a free lunch next Wednesday at a restaurant in Ojai. Why free? Because it's one of those promotional things, in this case, cremation, which she wants, but I don't. I already have my tombstone with all info on it, except a certain date. I'll be moldering in the grave, I guess, rather than scattered, but whichever people prefer is fine by me. Here's my spot:

So, no, I don't favor cremation for myself, but I do favor a free lunch, so will see Stella next week. 

I took my cart and set out for Smart 'n' Final about 11:00, but the wind was so strong--chilly, too--that I turned back after a short time. Decided I'd go another day. 

After lunch, I bused to town. It had gotten a lot warmer and the wind had died down. Went to the library to put up the two Jonathan Kellerman books I had requested, the stopped at a few shops. Bought a DVD (used) of the full second season of Friends. I used to like that so much, and ditto, Will And Grace; I have several seasons of that show. 

Home and I pared and cut up the two big Idahoes I bought the other day.  I've had this hankering for real, old-fashioned mashed potatoes, so bought a masher from Wal-Mart last week, ready for action. Along with the potatoes, I had something called Quorn Meatless Roast, which I happened to see at Von's. It contains egg white, onion powder, milk protein, tapioca dextrin, yeast, and other ingredients. Anyway, I put it in the oven, then had it. It's surprisingly good--the texture is something like chicken breast, the the taste is more like red meat. I'll buy it again, I'm pretty sure.

Tuesday

I finally got around to something I've been meaning to do for months: I called my old friend, Nancy and we had a good, long talk. She still does not go out. At all. She's been vaccinated and boostered, but she does have some frailties, so I guess it's understandable. How it's livable, though, is beyond me.  

I want to call Stella, too--she'll meet for lunch--but oddly, her number isn't in my phone. I thought all in the old phone had transferred over, but I guess not. Incredibly, I can't remember her last name, either. (I know her late husband's name was Arthur--I met Stella at Soaring Spirits, the widow and widower club.) Messaged co-leader Susan to see if she could provide it. 

I then bused to the mall and Ross to get the containers I wanted. As for the set of two glass casseroles--it was gone! I went to ask about it and was told they don't keep stock! Great consternation and gnashing of teeth! That's what I get for deciding to wait for the Tuesday ten percent off thing--AAGH! 

It then occurred to me how stupid it was to even give it a passing thought; I just bought a different set and they're perfectly fine. Stopped at Target, also at the mall for five pounds of apples and a big navel orange. When I got home, I cleaned and quartered them and set them to simmer in the slow cooker. I love homemade apple sauce.

Lunch, then I walked over the footpath to the little lending library in the park. It's been a long time since I visited, but they didn't have much I wanted; I took one book and left two, plus seven DVDs. Walked home, so I got three in, which was good.

Monday

Walked to The Market after breakfast and got a number of necessary items. Walked home, too, rather than bused, so I got three miles in.

Had lunch, then walked to the P.O. to send the now fully-corrected deed to the Jersey attorney. I had written a cover letter and somehow, thought it was February 1, which is what I dated it. However, the deed itself is dated okay, so I guess it's no problem. Made it certified and signature required.

I went from there to Ross, meaning to pick up those small casseroles I had seen, plus some drawer dividers that looked useful. However, I saw a sign that on Tuesdays, people over 50 were given ten percent off. Now, I'm comfortable financially and I have few money worries, but does anyone seriously think I would buy those items on Monday when I'd get ten percent off of Tuesday???? When pigs...well, you know. So I'll go back today.

Other than that, not a whole lot going on.