FRIDAY

A glimpse of hope re weight: At home, I was down 1.2 for 137.6; at T.O.P.S, not as good--down .08 for 139--but I was down, that's the important thing. At the meeting, I emphasized that some Orchard residents may come next Friday, and we need to have a regular program. Curleen volunteered, so that will be good. I'll bring my individual coffee maker--must get cream and sugar--and others will bring tea, snacks, and so on. 

As I always do on Fridays, I missed breakfast. At 10:00, I attended the Balance With Jackie class, so was famished by lunchtime. Sat with Keith, Kathie, and Cheryl and had corned beef and cabbage, which was yum, except I had asked for extra cabbage and didn't get it--oh, well. After, I sat out in the sun and read my book; Keith wants to borrow it when I'm finished.   

At 3:00, I went down to Happy Hour, which included a drink called a "Blue Lagoon"; I'm not sure what was it it, but it was pretty good. We played a kind of quasi-Pictionary, which was weird. Elaine draw a picture on a big white board and Mindy gave clues about it. I guessed the first one, which was the Taj Mahal and one of the others--Niagara Falls.  Mindy asked if I had ever done a newsletter, as she's going to start one, and, of course, I have, but I certainly won't be doing one free of charge here. I'll give her some ideas and suggestions, though.

My usual meal companions were already seated with a fourth for dinner , so I ate with David and Lisa, a nice change, actually. Rather than presenting with down-in-the-mouth negatively, they're chipper and intelligent, especially David, who's an attorney. Keith was also unable to sit with the usuals, so sat at the table next to ours.

Got some wonderful pictures from Ellen, showing a stop they made at Monkey Island. I'm getting my nails done at 10:00, then will be picked up at 2:00 and go to the 3:00 showing of Project Hail Mary, with Ryan Gosling. We'll got to dinner after, maybe to Dargan's or Immigrant Son.

THURSDAY

A fun time! I was picked at 10:00 and we drove to the ocean Promenade. It was an absolutely gorgeous day--not a cloud in the blue sky, about 75 degrees, and with a gentle breeze.  We started at the Crown Plaza Hotel and walked (I with my walker) almost to the end, about a mile--then back; Along the way, we stopped to admire some of the hundreds of--I guess you could call them "memorial stones":

The Aloha, one of  my favorite restaurants (right at the ocean) was our choice and we both had delicious lunches. My Caesar  salad with chicken was fabulous, not to mention the ice cold IPA, and next time, I'm going to order my companion's blackened orange roughy fish with sides.    

After, we went shopping, first to Wal-Mart for coffee and a few other items, then to Green Thumb nursery, where I got a plant and pretty holder to give Vickie at her retirement party next week. I was dropped off after that, but not until we made tentative plans for tomorrow. 

Dinner with Keith, Kathie, and Cheryl, then back to my apartment to shower and wash my hair. Mary Ann will pick me up for T.O.P.S. this morning--hope I've lost, but I'm not too confident. 

Note: I had forgotten to post this before--St. Pat's Day card from the Tokyo Trio:

WEDNESDAY

After breakfast, I went outside to sit in the sun and read my book. Went back in at 10:00 to participate in the Balance With Jackie class and before I knew it, it was lunch time. Ate with Keith, as the others were nowhere around.

At 2:00, there was dime Bingo and after that, a Happy Hour with a trio. They were pretty good and did songs from singers in the thirties through the eighties, including Elvis and The Beatles:  

Dinner after and I sat with Allan and Beverly, as my usual group were at a table for four and I was the fifth. I actually enjoyed being with other residents for a change and had a good time.

During my nightly hour of T.V. watching, at 8:30 pm, Jeanne Dollard Painter called me, just to chat. It's been six months since John died and, of course, she's still getting acclimated. We had a good chat and will keep in touch.  

I'll be picked up at 10:00 am today and we'll go to the promenade by the ocean, then have lunch  at Aloha. Must go shopping after as I need coffee and also, a gift for Vickie. I'm looking forward to all that, of course. 

TUESDAY

After breakfast with Keith, I took a short nap, then participated in the Bone Builders exercise class at 10:30. This lasts more than an hour, until 11:45, after which it was time for lunch, which I had with Keith, Kathie, and Cheryl. Suzy came about 1:30 and we went to inspect the clubhouse. She thinks it's certainly adequate for a place for the planning committee to meet. As for the venue for the actual performance, probably not.

After that,  we went up to my place and talked for several hours about the event we have in mind. It would be based on several older people talking about their experiences. Suzy had in mind each person sharing information about the inspirational people in their lives, but I suggested other topics could be included, such as incidents that changed the speaker's life. I also suggested it be laid out as a play, with the players gathered together somewhere and having an in-depth conversation, asking each other about their lives. Maybe the setting could be a kind of anteroom to heaven OR maybe people in some kind of situation in which they're in danger. I guess it could be people in an assisted living facility, but I'm not so sure they would be as effective. Anyway, Suzy is going to talk to others interested in taking part and, happily, we'll have our planning meeting here. 

Suzy had barely left when I had to go down to the dining room, as it was called for 4:00. Beer and champagne were served, then appetizers. I had some drinks, then some of the appetizers and at that point, I was so full, I decided not to stay for actual dinner. Too bad, as it was Irish stew and shepherd's  pie, but I was actually uncomfortable, so said goodbye to my tablemates and left. I did take time beforehand to take some pictures, though; see below.

☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT THE ORCHARD 

This display filled one end of the dining room.

The bar--green beer, champagne, and soda--was at the other. 

Chef Michael

Server Du-Lannie

Server Sally

Server Bianca

My friend, Cheryl

Cheryl and "Director of Celebrations" (activities director), Mindy

To top it off, a bagpiper strolled in. 

☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

MONDAY

The plan was that I'd be picked up at 8:15 and taken to Camarillo for the Echogram. That didn't happen, though; without going into detail, I'll just record that I won't get the procedure until March 31. 

Instead, we visited for a bit, then went t Wal-Mart, where I picked up a slew of staples--paper goods and so on--then went back to my apartment to put them away. From there, it was Two Trees for lunch--the patty melt on grilled rye, accompanied by potato salad was yum and I took half home. 

After that, it was an hour's nap, which I needed desperately, since I had hardly slept a wink. Why? Because I was so worried about the Echogram, which didn't happen anyway. 

I had completely forgotten I had accepted Susan's invitation for dinner last night with the Soaring Spirits gang at Stone Fire Grille. Luckily, she texted me about 3:00 to say she'd pick me up at 5:15. She got here early and I showed her my apartment, then we went off to dinner. With Renee and Grendall, there were only four of us, but we had a good, convivial time. 

I had some problem falling asleep last night, but finally did about 11:00 and slept through. Suzy will be here today to look at the clubhouse for a possible rehearsal place. I'm still not sure of the particulars of her new project, but will be interested to hear. 

SUNDAY

Breakfast with Keith, then put in white wash, and by the time I dealt with that and did this and that, it was time for lunch. Well, not quite--before that, I perused the offerings in the library--mostly "historical fiction"--UGH! As I mentioned to Keith, if it's fiction, it isn't historical. Anyway, I found a bio of Eva Marie ("Evita") Peron and took that. 

Ate with Cheryl, Kathie, and Keith; it was meat loaf and pretty good, then went out to first take a walk, then sit outside the Clubhouse to read. I started the Evita bio and was absorbed. I love "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" and the Evita show, so no wonder. Came in about 1:30 and a half hour later, went downstairs to play Bingo...

...what in the HELL is it with  me? A little, white-haired old lady playing Bingo! I'm a stereotype, no question, and nobody will even take me seriously again. However, I don't really care, because I like it. Keith has asked why I don't join the Yahtzee  group where he plays. Years ago, my kids and I played, but if I'm not mistaken, you have to think with Yahtzee. I don't want to think, I just want to find B-10 and win a funny money dollar. 

BP last night: 108/62--"Normal"--YAY! However, this morning wasn't so good. We'll see what it is when I'm at the cardiologist's this morning. 

SATURDAY

Mary joined Keith and me for breakfast, after which I went back to my place and set up my meds for the week. (Usually, Ellen does this.) That sounds simple, but it took me almost an hour to get the morning and night meds in line, plus the OTC supplements. That done, I took a short nap, then went down to lunch. It was good--salmon with a maple glaze, plus rice and veggies--and all five of us ordered it. 

After, I went outside to sit in the lovely sun and read my book: Journalists And Their Shadows, by Patrick Lawrence.  It chronicles the ways big money, big military, and big power are the driving forces of the "news" we're fed by big media. What they feed us is shaped and slanted and distorted so thoroughly, a large percentage of the public doesn't believe most of what they're told and so they shouldn't. 

Went inside at 2:00 for "Dime Bingo." I still don't know why I go, but for some reason, I enjoy it. Keith goes, too, and sat with me.  Activity Director Mindy usually serves only water and soda, but this time, she make some chocolate-tinis, a chocolate/vodka drink. Hey, it was pretty good. I didn't win any games, but that was okay. 

Ellen called and we had a good chat; now she's off to her cruise on the Caribbean and I know she'll have a wonderful time. 

Dinner with the usuals. After, I called Doris G. back and we talked and talked for almost an hour. By the time we hung up, it was almost 7:00 and I got my jammies on and settled down to watch my hour of daily T.V. No plans for today and that's fine by me.