Thursday

My nephew, Wes, from Chicago, plus Ellen and I, went back and forth on Message, trying to see if we could get together this weekend. Wes is visiting his brother in L.A. and drove to Santa Barbara to Carolyn's last night. The complication is that Ellen will pick up Violet today and will be taking her to camp on Sunday. Tomorrow, El has to get a number of things V. will need for camp, including a sleeping bag, so she can't very well drive me to SB. I don't want to ask Wes to drive here an back, so am thinking about the possibility of taking the bus there and back on Sunday. 

I met Stella in front of City Hall at 11:00 and we went off to the Botanic Gardens. It was pretty strenuous and I wish I hadn't turned down Stella's offer of one of her walking sticks. It was lovely, of course, and it felt good. Here's Stella and some of the terrain: 

We spent about an hour and a half hiking up, then down, then went to Aloha for lunch. Sat on the patio on the ocean side--very pleasant. We then strolled to the pier, finally open after several years of repairs, which was nice to walk. We saw a huge crab somebody had brought up and that a little boy wanted to take home. Hope he made it:

We saw a young woman with twin boys and stopped to chap with her. The little ones, eighteen months old, look different here, but are actually identical, which was evident in real life:

 

We were on the pier for an hour or so, then Stella asked if I wanted to go to the Odd Lots store. We did and she got covers for her outdoor furniture, then dropped me off at the transit center and I bused home. 

Wednesday

I did, indeed, change the bed. Finished that up, then filed some of the never-ending paper work. Called SCAN to complain about the wrong pickup place problem and left a message. Ordered turmeric and calcium citrate from Amazon. Called Groendyke home insurance to ask why Orchid (their subsidiary or something) said wouldn't be renew my home owners insurance after July 31. Talked to account rep Maureen M., with whom I've dealt before and found that the inspector had put down the house was owner occupied.  What? I haven't lived there for eight years; policy should sat it's tenant occupied, as it has been. Maureen will take care of it and, incidentally, I've always found Maureen to be the epitome of courtesy and professional know-how, unlike the idiot at SCAN. 

I called her--"Evelyn"--as I have several times before, as her grandiose title is "Grievance and Appeals Coordinator." After one of the complaints from yours truly, I received two almost identical two-page letters, one on May 10 and one on June 10. The letters were semi-literate and almost incomprehensible.  I assume the point of both was that the problem was resolved, but obviously, it wasn't and hasn't. When I called, I got a recording from Evelyn herself to leave a message and frankly, she sounds like an incompetent ninny.    

Stella texted, asking if I could go to the botanic gardens either today or tomorrow. Yes, today--the gardens are above city hall, which is where we'll meet at 11:00, then do a little hike up the hills, then go to what she calls "brunch." (For me, it will be lunch, but she always gets breakfast at noon or after.)

My darling granddaughter, Violet is 16 today.  She'll be here tomorrow, as I've mentioned before; Ellen will pick her up at LAX and we'll take her to dinner for her birthday on Saturday. I Messaged her mother, Paula, for a suggestion for a gift and she mentioned jewelry, so I bused to town after lunch and picked up a pretty necklace:

And here's the birthday girl, all cleaned up after Mongolia: 

Can't wait to see her!

Tuesday

I debated with myself whether to change the bed or not, but decided to wait. After I showered and had breakfast, I scrubbed the counter tops in the kitchen, something I've been putting off for too long. After, I called Muckie--I hadn't spoken to her for two months or so--and we had a long talk. Her grandsons will be visiting for a week from Michigan, so she's looking forward to that. She gets the pancreatic cancer check every few months and that's coming up before too long. 

Packed my lunch and readied myself for Uber (courtesy of my SCAN insurance) to pick me up. When I called to schedule the ride, I emphasized the pickup being in the front, since I've had problems with having them go to a different entrance in the past. Went out to wait about 12:15, as the pickup was for 1:00 and, incredibly, the same thing happened! I had to call the guy, David, to tell him he was at the wrong location--AAGH! I'm definitely going to make a lot of noise about this.

Got to HEARUSA, gave Amanda my hearing aids (only the right one wasn't receiving) and was embarrassed to find the problem was wax. You can't really see it--at least, I can't--and I guess I got careless about brushing it anyway. Also, I had lost the tiny brush that comes with the aids and was using a toothbrush. It's working fine now and Amanda cleaned it and  gave me a new brush.  

From there, I bused to town and had a late (about 2:30) lunch in my spot across from the mission. It was very quiet, but pleasant. I looked in a few shops, then bused home. 

My pal, Vickie, had left four very long cucumbers from her friend's garden and I also had the cauliflower I had bought the other day. Feeling energetic, I then spent a fair amount of time on food prep. Decided to make crystal pickles with the cukes, but realized I had no onions except those in the freezer I had already diced. Ran over to Von's to get some, then used the mandolin to thin-slice them and the cukes. (I managed to slice my little finger on the device, too (bled like crazy), but I think I'll live.) I then prepared the cauliflower using my usual recipe: boil for four minutes, cover with a parm/mayo rub, sprinkle with garlic salt, and back for twenty minutes. 

Suzanne rang my bell (she still has her piggy-back COVID, so stood back) and gave me four small, but ready to eat, avocados. The pickle preparation has to be refrigerated for two hours before the sugar and vinegar are added, so I put that in, then had one of my peculiar dinners: About half the cauliflower and one of the avocados--vegan and good. 

El called later and we chatted. She's still in the process of getting her new insurance settled, so her bad knee, too. She and Greg had gone to the beach in Santa Barbara--not to swim, but to contemplate nature, it seems. Their relationship is on a different footing than it had been, but I'm glad they're still friends.   

I forgot to mention that when I was in town on Saturday, there was a kind of street fair and I saw this apron:

That's funny, but kind of gross, but I thought the tee-shirts in the back would be a cute thing to give Greg. Unfortunately, I don't know how to find it now. Maybe I'll look on line.

Monday

Just a this and that day. I did two loads of wash--bleach and colors--and a few other chores I don't remember. After lunch, I set off for Smart 'n' Final and The Dollar Tree. I got about a quarter mile, but found the wind blowing my hat so annoying, I turned back and took the 10 bus there. At The Dollar Tree (now a dollar twenty-five, of course), I got a number of small items and at S & F yummy Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. I did walk home and after that, roasted the sprouts with olive oil and seasonings. Had them for dinner with salmon.

Called the audiologist about my right hearing aid and got an appointment for today at 1:30. Called SCAN Transportation and will be picked up at 1:00. As I usually do, I'll bus from there to town or whatever, as I really don't need door-to-door when I leave.

The picture below appeared on Facebook, which amused me, as it's right on the side of my lunch spot across from the mission.  You'd think the photographer could get a better shot than somebody's rear end. For that matter, considering the sign, maybe somebody's belly? 😅 

Sunday

As usual, I followed the Sunday routine; crossword pretty good.

Unfortunately, Suzanne texted Vickie and me that she had started feeling ill again, took the C test and found herself once more positive for COVID. V. and I both expressed our condolences. Vickie then called me and we had a long talk. She said she had already known she was number 41 on the list to be a resident of Seacrest, but asked me to thank Diane for checking it out. She also said a friend of hers would like to see the apartments--would I ask Diane if she would allow her? I suggested that Vickie ask Diane herself; I don't really want to act as a go-between and Vickie understood.

Met Diane at the library at noon and we were there talking until three! Lots to discuss, new and old, so we talked and talked. Said goodbye and we both headed for the 11 bus--two different ones, though, as we were going in opposite directions. I had the idea I'd go to WinCo for a few items, but changed my mind and decided on the mall. However, two buses passed me before I got to the stop, so I just continued on walking until I reached the general area. At that point, I had walked about two and a half miles, and didn't want to go further. Got the 11 bus to the transit center, then took the 10 home.  

I'm still having a problem with my right hearing aid and will call the audiologist today.

Saturday

Lots of annoyances early on, but things improved later. No newspaper, so I had to have my oatmeal and cereal with just the cryptograms. Then my laptop screen suddenly went black and the whole computer would do nothing. After trying the few--very few--remedies I could think of, I put it in the carrying case and walked over to Asurion ("UbreakIfix") right across the street in the Von's shopping center. The guy there thought it was the charger, tried his and it worked, but I hadn't brought mine, so needed to walk  back to my place, got my it, and return. Yup, it worked and I'm sure the darn plug had fallen out of the wall. When I got home, I put it in another outlet and it works fine. 

I know it's weird, but I'm interested in the Laci Peterson murder, so went off to the library to get the book by Amber Frey, who was the murdering Scott Peterson's illicit romance. Prepared my lunch and walked out to get the bus to town and just missed the 6 and the 21, so had to wait fifteen for the 10. Got the the library and found the book was out, although that wasn't indicted when I looked it up on-line. Took out Laci-'s mother's book, instead.

A major annoyance: My right hearing aid suddenly seems not to work; this may be something I did, but am not sure. Audiologist and HEARX isn't open on Saturday, so I called and left a message that I'll come in tomorrow. 

Things improved after that. I ate at my usual across from the mission place and it was very pleasant. Lots of people in town, but not oppressively, just enough to be festive. Took the 6 bus home, stopping at Von's first to add to my IPA supply. 

Lib lunch (lunch at the library) today with Diane.

Friday

Well, I'm back at my place. Yesterday, I packed up all my stuff--it's remarkable how much I used while staying over only two night--after straightening up the guest room a bit. El went out to get burritos at the Hip Vegan for our breakfast and boy, were they good. We said goodbye and the Access Van came about 11:00.

Home, I unpacked, disassembled, and put things away, which took a surprising amount of time. Went over to Von's for salmon, plant milk, blueberries, and several other items. In the late afternoon, I  indulged myself: poured a small glass of wine and took it and some pretzels to the patio, where I sat and read my book for 45 or so. 

My brother, Larry, had called when I was at Ellen's to say he'd like to come visit in September. One, or possibly more, of his daughters will come with him. I told him that would be great, but I'm going to Jersey in September, also. Called him back yesterday to discuss and we set a tentative time of a few days during the first two weeks of the month. He wants to see Betty, too, of course.

Violet is coming in next Friday and El will pick her up at LAX. She'll stay over that night, then go to camp for a month. Her sixteenth birthday is on the tenth when she'll be in the air, so El and I will take her out to dinner on Saturday. And that very same granddaughter is back from two weeks roughing it in Mongolia. They weren't allowed to bring their phones, but one of the girls (or boys) brought a regular camera and my daughter-in-law posted some great pictures:

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Violet is the tall and beautiful girl on the right; she'll be sixteen next week. I can't imagine what it's like to be tall, but I've always wanted to be, as being short is a real pain in the you-know-what. 

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