Saturday

After breakfast, I spent four hours taking down, hauling out, and sorting Christmas decorations--keep or toss! Now WHY I had so many and WHY I kept buying more is beyond me.  It's just unbelievable how much I have. I separated out about half of it to donate, but I know I should get rid of more. I'd love to sell some of it, but I guess this isn't the time of year to do it. 

Texted Mike to see if he was available yesterday. After back and forth with him and other family, we decided to meet today. We'll drive up there and see what kind of fun we can have. Ran into Mike Upstairs (these Mikes are taking over the world!), thanked him for the papaya and avocados, and had a nice chat. He and Lisa had been back east for Christmas where they have family.

My far-off friend and sister blogger, Pat R., was kind enough to discuss some aspects of communal living with me and we talked for an hour on the phone. I'm still exploring other options, of course, and I'm not wildly enthusiastic about The Townehouse (as I emailed to Pat, especially that  "e"), but it's a possible destination--the next being the grave, I guess.

The Townehouse has been in existence for many years (fifty? sixty?) and is privately owned by a guy named Jay Issacs. I met him when I took Diane to their Poseidon Adventure event (with wine and nibbles, of course) last year. I found an article, with picture, about that event. Incidentally, it's written in a truly idiotic, wide-eyed teeny-bopper style I haven't seen since high school. Also, the headline reads that it was a "smashing hit," but the correct expression is "smash hit." Okay, I'm a nitpicker, but anyways (that's a joke!), the evening was great fun:      

https://venturabreeze.com/2023/06/14/ventura-townehouse-movie-night-is-a-smashing-hit/

Note to self: Leah will be away in St. Lucia from Jan 8 to 15. Her 31st birthday is Jan 10.

Friday

As mentioned on Thursday, I was sure I had gained, but wonder of wonders, not only did I not gain, but at T.O.P.S. I was the biggest loser! I went down 3.7 pounds to 125.7 there and at home, lost 2.8, to 124.6. I can't explain it, as I thought I was eating as many calories as usual, but I guess I was moving around a lot. The meeting, if you can call it that, was the usual meandering, mostly personnel, non-weight stuff, but since I hadn't been there for three weeks, I mostly enjoyed it. Stopped in to see Vickie on my way home, so didn't actually eat breakfast until quarter to eleven.  

I decided to bus to town, although it was a bit chilly and very windy. I hadn't been there in weeks and  enjoyed it. Did the Main Street stroll and picked up a few small items, including Tide. 

Home, I had lunch at--get this--4:15. Just ate the rest of the sea bass I hadn't finished in Santa Barbara, plus some leftover salad. I was just finishing when Suzanne stopped in and we brought ourselves up to date on our lives. She's attending two Bible-study courses at St. Bonaventure's and is planning a trip in February to see her brother in San Diego. 

Julie texted me, asking if I wanted to go to Finney's with BCNN's lunch group and Prime with the dinner group on the twenty-fifth. I said yes to both, but now realize I have the Dudley House potluck on the tenth. Must check for the Finney date.

Today, I must take down and off the Christmas decorations; more important, I need to separate them into "keep" and "donate." That ain't gonna be easy...

Thursday--A Long, But Good, Day And A Long, But Not So Sure It's Good, Post

Picked up by my two companions and we drove the less than two miles to meet Harvey at The Townehouse.  We were shown the studio (no) and the one bedroom (maybe), then, of course, the amenities. I've seen much of it many times before, but hadn't known there's a fitness center with, surprisingly, a full-time fitness director. He personally devises and directs individual programs for residents and conducts group exercises several times a week. Of course, there lots of other activities, such as excursions (the casinos up north, various shows, religious services), both on and off campus, as well as transportation, and so on, I think most are standard for a certain level of independent living. We had lunch there, of course, and there's an extensive menu. Actually, you can get anything you want in the kitchen at any time and can also have it delivered to your room; can't remember if there's a charge for this, but it so, it's slight. I was amused when Harvey pointed out that alcohol isn't served with meals until dinnertime. There was lots and lots more, naturally, but I won't go on about them here; I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of the items are standard for a certain level of "independent living," as they call it. After the tour, we sat down with Harvey to discuss the questions we had, including the useful ones provided by my friend, Pat. I'm going to wait for another time to discuss them and also, my feelings and ideas about the whole topic of moving there.

We left about 2:00 and drove directly to Santa Barbara to meet up with Mike and family at the palatial house they're renting. This is owned by a member of The Four King Cousins, who evolved from The King Sisters, both big on the Lawrence Welk show years ago: 

The house is up in the hills, rather secluded, and is surrounded by a large property. The entrance area and front door: 

Ellen surveying one of the several garden areas:

Part of one of the large front rooms after the foyer; Vivian in front of fireplace and Paula:

After chatting in front of the fire (me with a glass of wine) and touring the house, two of us (not me) went for a long walk and the rest of us played Blokus. The girls and I then went out on the spacious back deck to chat and toss around (not me!) Violet's volley ball. Here, you can barely see it with Vivian:

We then drove to town for dinner at one of Santa Barbara's outrageously overpriced restaurants, but hey, Mike picked up the tab, so what's to complain about? I had sea bass, which was good, and I was with those I love most, including these two darling girls:

We left from there to drive back to Ventura; got home at 9:00 and, unusually for me, I didn't watch my forty-five or so of T.V, but immediately got into my jammies, fell into bed, and slept soundly. It had been a good, good day, but strangely, it tired me out. T.O.P.S. today and I know I've gained, but I'll get back on the straight and narrow shortly.        

Wednesday

Wrapped grandson Joel's birthday present and walked to the p.o. to mail. Stopped at Von's on the way back for fish cakes, veggies, and blueberries. Home, I sorted and filed the piles of paper I constantly accumulate and otherwise did this and that. Got a call to the effect that we'll go to Santa Barbara after The Townehouse today to be with Mike and family--yay!   

Guess I idled away the rest of the day. (That could be a song--"I idled away/The rest of the day?And all I can say/Is...oh, the hell with it.) As proof of idling, I present this jigsaw--ho hum: 

In truth, I wasn't exactly idle: I spent a lot of time compiling a list of questions and concern to discuss with Harvey at The Townehouse today. I am so grateful to my pal, fellow HSHS-er, and fellow blogger, Pat Rodgers, who suggested some excellent topics to discuss with Harvey at The Townehouse. Several important ones never would have entered my head and I added them to my list. Will report back here the salient points of our meeting. 

Ellen called and we had a good talk. She's going to a "Law Of Attraction" conference in San Diego on Saturday. I looked it up on YouTube, saw a video on it, found it interesting. I'll ask her about it when she gets back.

Tuesday

Kind of a draggy day. I had almost forgotten I had an endocrinologist appointment at 11:30, but got ready. For the first time, I used the Uber pickup from my new supplementary insurance, SCAN. It was great and completely free (I gave Sergio a tip, but that was my choice), and I get 32 rides a year--great. I decided I'd take the bus when I came out, as I wanted to go to Wal-Mart.

Got there, showed my I.D.s from SCAN and sat down to wait--until I was called to the desk. There I was told I couldn't be seen, as the new info had to be authorized by SCAN and that would take about an hour. I was furious and said I'd make a new appointment. However, I did, indeed, get to Wal-Mart for stuff, plus Trader Joe's for three of their big grapefruit, so it was okay.

Had a big salad for lunch, then called Harvey at The Townehouse; he said he remembered me from when I took Jim there--and made a date for tomorrow for my daughters and me. We'll have lunch there, see the apartments, and talk finances.

Called Noreen and we had a long talk. Niece Carolyn called and ditto. She said Vivian and her Claire had spent the day together, while Violet visited with a friend from camp.

Julie called to ask if I wanted to go to the BCNN meeting today. Actually, I had meant to call her to say, no, I wasn't really interested. She isn't either, so good.

Grandson Joel will be 43 next week, so I wrapped his gift and card, added a check, and will walk to the P.O. to mail today. 

Monday--New Year's Day-2024

I'm writing this at 5:31 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Lots of good times yesterday, but I'm going to rely mostly on pictures. I was picked up at 10:30, then we got Jim, then were whisked over to Ellen's in Ojai. Singapore crew arrived shortly after and we had a good, good day, which included:

Three-quarters of the Singapore contingent...

Greg and Jim...

A good lunch, which included Greg's yummy vegetable soup...

Games, which were hilarious; here are Violet and Vivian acting out whatever...

...the girls, with Mom Paula watching, comparing heights,;Violet, 15, is now taller than Vivian, at 19...

Mike and either Gwennie or Cessy...

...hostess, Ellen, with Greg, on porch...

...and there was lots, lots more, including our walk (minus Greg and Jim, who stayed back to watch a documentary on Marie Callas) on the Ojai Meadow Preserve. That was pretty rugged in a few areas, as it had recently rained, creating gullies and mud, but it was enjoyable. I forgot to bring my camera there, but Mike took pics, which will be shared, I hope, and I'll post when I receive them.

Later, several of us went to Bart's Books. On the way, we saw a hang glider who touched down at the high school:   

After a terrifically enjoyable day, El took Jim and me home. When I got up just now, I realized I have an 11:30 appointment with Dr. Ficks (love that name for a doc!), the osteoporosis person. I'll jump in the shower now and hope I make it. 

Sunday

I was reading a few of my early blog entries--we're talking 18 years ago here, the first posted on September 26, 2005. I noticed that I just mentioned activities, not the boring stuff about changing the bedclothes and having salmon for dinner. Now I'm going to try to go back to that. It's an experiment--I said I'd try--no promises, though.

Correction: The picture I posted yesterday is, indeed, of Bill Molloy's widow, Regina, but with her is  their son, not his brother, Mike's. Mike Molloy (who died years before Pat, although he was three years younger), had a son named Mike, also, as we did. Confusion, anyone? Anyway, I heard back from those of the clan I Messaged and I hope to receive copies of family pictures from them.    

As for activities, I took my cart and my lunch and bused to Target at the mall. Very crowded, of course, but that was okay. Bought what I wanted (prominently grapefruit and tilapia), ate, and bused home. Walked over to Von's for milk and tilapia later. 

Carolyn Bowman texted to see if I was going to the Soaring Spirits lunch today, but no, because I'll be with Mike and family at Ellen's--yay!  I've been preparing for that and think I have everything done. . Can't wait to see everybody, especially the young ladies pictured below. Their Auntie Ellen called after dinner, just to wish me a happy new year and she's another gift from the gods 

Here's granddaughter Vivian ice skating yesterday in Union Square Ice Rink, San Francisco. Isn't she gorgeous? Nineteen years old and she's got the world by the tail. Do I envy her? Yes.

And here's Violet, the little scamp winking. Where did they get those beautiful teeth? Not from their Dad's side of the family, that's a cinch: 

Their Auntie Ellen called me after dinner, just to wish me a happy new year and we chatted. Talk about lucky me--she's another gift from the gods.