Capri Pants And Caroline

After Kimball, I went directly to Wal-Mart (it was only 7:05 when I finished my walk), to see if they had any mediums in the Capri pants I like. They didn't, of course, but I bought different ones, plus a top. Took my BP while there and it's still low--94/67, with a 65 pulse--but I guess it's okay, as I feel fine. Home for breakfast, then I got serious about researching the Dudley thing. Worked on that until 11:30, when I left to meet Ellen for lunch at the new Stone Fire Grille. Our widder group now meets there, but I never had, as I was away for the last two gatherings.
Unfortunately, we weren't too happy with it. It was jammed, of course, being new. And it's one of those, like Sizzler, where you stand in line to order, then get an electronic gizmo, which gets your server, with food, to your location. 
Dammit, I don't want to stand in line to order. I want the server to come to my table, record my choices, then bring them to me. What annoys me no end is the fact that, presumably, you're expected to tip, even though the server only does half a serving job. I was also annoyed to see that there was also a tip jar where you put in your order. Well, the food was better than at Sizzler, anyway; I had a chopped salad, very fresh and tasty, and a really good local beer called "Chief Peak."
After, I asked El to come back to the apartment to take my picture with my Caroline outfit on, which  she did. I may need her to accompany me on the seventh, also, just to help me dress.
Betty called to ask if she can come from Friday to Sunday because Steve and family are camping. Sure, but I had to tell her I'm going to be preoccupied with prep and she understands. El left and I drove to Wal-Mart to exchange the top I had bought in the morning (medium, plum) for a larger one in navy. Went from there to town for the usual. Heard from Connie and I'll go to her place at 1:00 on Thursday.
The picture's fuzzy, but here I am in my Caroline Dudley outfit.

Sunday And Vivian

The usual Sunday morning--mundane, but it suits me--Kimball, breakfast, crossword.  Went to WinCo for onions and peppers; cut them up when I got home to have ready for a turkey stir-fry dinner.  Got the turkey at Ralph's.
I went through my Dudley info, as I must, finally and at long last, write my script and memorize it. Had my salad for lunch, then took off for town. At the library, read for an hour Melissa Rivers' book on her mother, Joan. I always liked Joan Rivers and her sassy, verging on outrageous (and sometimes, not just verging) humor. Anyway, I'll continue reading it next time. Ellen texted she'll be in Ventura today and we'll meet for lunch--yay!

Yesterday was the birthday of my oldest granddaughter, Vivian. She is fourteen years old and what a complicated darling she's turned out to be--so much like the rest of us. I both deplore and applaud the family traits almost all of my parents' descendants seem to exhibit: a nagging sense of never being good enough along with a touch of arrogance, laziness and great energy, sweet naturalness and irritating artifice, plus an infuriating sense of privilege that co-exists with a well of self-doubt.
She's her grandmother's girl, all right.

Robyn And Her Magic

Walked Kimball, then straightened up a bit after breakfast.  I made up a salad, plus thin-sliced turkey sandwiches and put them in the fridge.
Steve, Robyn, and Dex got here about 12:30, we had lunch, then the guys went to the pool while Robyn and I attended to the costume renovations.  I put the outfit on and we decided the petticoat and blouse, while too big, could be tucked in, tightened, and otherwise adjusted.  The skirt was the problem. It was too big around the waist and much too long. The belt, also, needed attention, as that was a bit tight.
Boy, after Robyn performed her magic, the outfit looked great. I added the grey wig and a few other embellishments and when Steve and Dex came in, greeted them as Caroline Dudley--they were wowed. They stayed for a bit and left about 3:30, after which I immediately drove to town and walked my walk.
Steve said Betty was coming to visit them "for a few weeks" (?), but they were going camping next weekend in Santa Barbara and could she stay with me? Well, sure, but I can't devote much time to entertaining her, as my country fair thing was the following Tuesday. Anyway, she may or may not come. Either way, my focus is going to be on the Dudley thing.
Connie called as I was walking on Main Street and we agreed that I'd come to her house in Oxnard on Thursday to show her my costume, return hers, and do my talk. Until then, I'm clearing the decks to concentrate on the presentation.

T.O.P.S. And Various

Kimballed, then went to T.O.P.S.  I was amazed to discover I'm another 2.5 pounds down--now at 126.3.  That was, of course, after two weeks, but I was on vacation and careless of what I ate. I'm toying with the idea of getting to 125, as I had originally intended (until 128 seemed to be where my body wanted to be).
Anyway, it was gratifying. What wasn't, so much, was the typically boring meeting. This time, leader Lennie had us read this and that from Consumer Reports, about half of which had nothing to do with weight loss. The other was marginally valid at best, such as the crapola about how much water to drink. If I'm not mistaken, that eight glasses a day thing has been in scientific dispute for some time and, under normal conditions, thirst should dictate when to drink.
Anyhoo, I finally got home and after my two-hours-late breakfast, I called Bill Galway, my Sweetwater Drive neighbor in Sunrise Bay, He's also the general handyman who cleans my gutters, replaces my furnace and AC filters, and does other annual chores. We had a long talk and he filled me in on the buzz re who died, who moved, and who looks like a walking corpse (our mutual neighbor, Anne Mary H.). Before I could forget, I made out a check and sent it to  him for this year's work.
I wasn't sure if Robyn, et al, would stay for lunch today, but I went out and got sliced turkey, salad fixings, and Greek yogurt.  She texted later, I asked her, and yes, she, Steve, and Dex, will get here between 11 and 12, go the pool, and have lunch. Ellen might come, too--I invited her, but she wasn't sure.
After lunch, went to town as usual; lots of people strolling the streets, and it was very festive. 

Costume

It was good to resume my park walk; I met Irene (Diane is hiking in Canada), Carolyn and Bob, but didn't see Ed. Home by 7:15.
I tried on the costume from Hell and it's a lousy fit. I can more or less adjust the blouse (big), the petticoat (very big, but with a drawstring), and the belt (tight). As for the skirt, if I was six foot two and weighed 400 pounds, it would fit. It's enormous and I was discouraged.
However, I called Robyn and she said she'd come here tomorrow with her sewing machine and alter it for me. She'll bring her boy, Dex, who can go in the pool, plus maybe Betty, who's in Santa Barbara, but Dana can drop her here on his way to his mother's, and so on and so forth.
Went to town and did the usual. I stopped into the furniture part of Goodwill and saw an elephant that I knew was made for me. It's of plaster, I think, and is about two feet high, very unusual, so I bought it.  Do I need it? Yeah, like a hole in the head.
Connie called about getting together re costume and script. Her doggie is sick, so she isn't sure when she's available, but will let me know. I called Nancy, who I'll take to lunch for her eightieth sometime next week. Ellen called, coming back from SB; she may come tomorrow for the pool, too.

First Day Back

As it always is, my first day back was a settling-in one.  Unpacked, put away, did a full load of wash with all it entails, got my mail from Suzanne, and checked the fridge and cabinet for what I needed. Ellen had been kind enough to lay in blueberries and cottage cheese--my staples--and I went to WinCo for chicken, veggies, and grapes.
Suzanne stopped in to give me my mail. I'll return the favor, as she leaves on a two-week (or longer, she's not sure) trip this morning. Called my cousin, Sally, back; she had left a text message, asking about Marybeth's death and we had a long talk. Sal is just two weeks younger than Frank, so she's 85 and she had been a marathon runner until she was 80. She then had a hip replacement and now she has some kind of surgery scheduled because of a respiratory problem. She tells me it's no big deal, but--hmm.
Called Connie K. to discuss getting together re the Carrie Dudley thing; she'll get back to me. Unpacked my costume and it looks huge. I'll try it on, but doubt if it will serve. If it doesn't, I'll have to think of some kind of alternative avenue.
Made my standard huge salad for lunch, then took off for town. Did the usual park-and-walk, and got home at 5:00 for a shrimp and cauliflower dinner.

Wednesday And Home

The 181-mile, three-hour trip to Albuquerque was, as ever, through some of the most beautiful, typically southwestern I've even seen. Said goodbye, me only a little tearful, after arriving at the airport about an hour and a half before the 1:25 flight time.
Only the flight had been delayed. As it turned out, I didn't take off until 3:00, which meant I missed the 3:30 shuttle at LAX, which meant I didn't get the next one until 6:16, which meant I didn't get back to the Sheraton Ventura until after 8:30, when I fell into the arms of one of my favorite daughters. 
However, all was forgotten when we went Jasmine Thai for a late dinner of spring rolls and chicken satay. Back to my place*, I kissed Ellen goodbye, unpacked the bare essentials, took a quick shower, and fell into bed.
And I just got up! At 8:35!

*Unfortuntely, my homecoming was marred by a letter from management informing me my rent will go up by EIGHTY DOLLARS A MONTH on September 1. Now to decide how to--or if to--1. dispute this somehow; 2. raise my tenant's rent to compensate; or 3. move.