Tuesday--To The Shops!

 ...starting with Winco with Suzanne at 9:30. I indulged my veggie addiction by getting fresh broccoli, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, spinach, and grapefruit, plus canned peas and string beans. Also bought a big favorite of mine, which I haven't eaten in  years: chicken livers. 

Home after, I put things away then did something I'm amazed was successful. I have a nice beige jacket or coat--not sure what you'd call it, because it comes to a little below my knees, but is slightly less casual than others I have. I've worn it a lot; it's very versatile, but looks good, too. The problem? It's supposed to be dry-cleaned only and it's a drag going back and forth (there are none close to here). What to do? I decided to defy the instructions and try washing it. I first treated the collar with spot remover, then put it in the washer with just a large towel. Set the water to cold and let it go. When it came out, it looked okay, but was pretty wrinkled. I had planned to hang it to dry, but then thought, "Nah, I've gone this far--I'll put it in the dryer." I set it to "wrinkle remover" and turned it on. Incredibly, it came out looking like new, so sometimes, it pays to take a chance.  Also did a load of color wash.

Had lunch, then took my cart and set off for The Market (where I got the three pounds of tomatoes I had forgotten at WinCo) and Wal-Mart, where I bought a new stapler (old had broken) and a desk tape dispenser. In both stores, I searched, then asked if they had ear muffs and they didn't.

Bused from there to the mall to find ear muffs or ear warmers, or whatever--it's been so windy lately and since I'm out a lot, my ears get cold. Incredibly, besides the two stores I mentioned before, I went to Target, Macy's, Penney's, two sports stores, and a kiosk. At the latter, I found knitted head warmers, but they're not really want I want. (Besides, when I tried one on, I looked like my Aunt Maggie in her black knitted hat.) I've come to the conclusion I'll have to go the Amazon route. 

Home, put in a load of wash, then prepared my big, beautiful cauliflower with the dressing I like so much: half mayo and half parm. Slathered it on, then popped it in the over while I took a quick shower. When I was finished, the cauliflower was, too, and I treated myself to a bowl before dinner. Yum.  The liver and onions were delicious, also; I had to restrain myself from eating all of it, but saved some for dinner tonight. 

Margarita hadn't yet gotten back in touch about picking me up for the BCNN meeting, so I texted. She wrote back she was just about to--was her response a little testy? I don't know, but she said she'd pick me up between 9:15 to 9:20.  Okay. Diane is coming, and I said I'd save her seat.

Happy day--I didn't get up until 6:15 and had awakened only a half hour or so before that! I think that confirms what I suspected: the last few days, I hadn't gotten as much exercise (walking) as I usually do and de body ain't gonna put up wif that, no way, no how. 

Monday: Meeting And Munching

Bused to the Stone Fire Grille got to the Soaring Spirits lunch early. Only Susan was there, so we chatted. We were a little concerned that Vera, our leader, wasn't there--she and Susan are always early. Renee came in, then who showed but Carolyn B.! I was so pleased to see her and we fell into each others arms. During COVID, she seemed to simply drop out of sight--she was very fearful and she's had a problem with depression, but seems in better shape now. She's just a month older than my daughter, Ellen, but seems a lot older. 

Soon Vera came--she has actually forgotten it was the first Monday; we all teased her about that, as she's our leader and usually will post it on Facebook. One more, Roy, showed up (an okay guy, I guess, but one of those middle-aged men who think he should hold forth at great length because people are just dying to hear his mundane pronouncements). Anyway, we had a good time over all. I stayed for two hours, then said goodbye. Bused into town and walked Main; bought myself a jacket.

Called Nancy P. and left her a message that I had seen Carolyn and I'd like to have our old quartet (her, Carolyn, Diane, and me) get together again for Happy Hour.  B.C., we used to meet weekly at different venues and enjoyed it. 

I had texted grandson Joel that I'd call him. Did so last night and I said I'd love to see him and the boys here in the summer. He liked the idea and we'll start planning.

Unfortunately, I've had a terrible time sleeping recently. I don't know if I haven't been getting enough exercise or what, but almost every night, I've awakened sometime between 130 and 3:00 and been unable to get back except after several hours. I'm going to work on the problem.  

Going to WinCo with Suzanne this morning at 9:30. 

Good Spirits On Sunday

Followed the Sunday routine--crossword was pretty good--then cleaned up a little and set the table for two. Showered and dressed in my docent costume; this picture is from last June, when I docented last: 

Yesterday, I realized the outfit needs to be altered.  For one thing, the underskirt has a drawstring and it was impossible to get it securely tied. It's also too long and the result was, I did without it. The skirt needs to be altered, too: the waist is too snug and I had to use a makeshift rubber band-to-button contraption to close it, not really satisfactory. However, I got it on, Julie picked me  up promptly at 12:30, and off we went. She told me Regina was coming, too, which didn't thrill me, but I didn't indicate that. 

We got there a little early, but Lynne, docent director, drove up shortly. I went in with her and Julie waited in the car. Got settled in, then Julie and Regina came in and I gave my part of the tour, the downstairs. It went well, then I directed them to the upstairs tour, which Lynne conducted. 

It actually was a pretty good day.  I had a group of ten come in and they were wonderfully receptive; after that, there was a grandmother, mother, and two little girls from Canada; then a man and his Asian wife. I had plenty to do and I enjoyed it. 

Jim came a few minutes before 4:00 and I gave him a little mini-tour of the downstairs, my bailiwick. which he enjoyed.  We then drove off to my place and I settled him on the couch with wine and Goldfish, while I changed. I went back to the living room dressed in a sheer negligee and...yeah, sure.

We sat and talked for a half hour, then I served din-din and we sat down and ate.  (I'm always amazed at how much Jim can eat: yesterday, it was three-quarters of the beef and pasta, several slices of French bread and butter, a large helping of applesauce and two large bowls of ice cream. He's six feet tall and can't weigh more than 160, if that.)  After, we sat and chatted, as usual, then I walked him out about  6:00. Said goodbye and went over to Von's for the Sumo citrus I like. 

I have Soaring Spirits lunch today, BCNN tomorrow, and lunch with LaVonne at Hill Street Cafe on Thursday. The weather's been wonderfully sunny and warm the last two days, and that buoys my spirits. 

Sleepy Saturday

Friday to Saturday, I had an unfortunate sleep night: Awoke too early, tossed and turned, and finally got up at 4:00.  And darn: just now, it's 437 and here I am at the laptop. I might consider a nap before Dudley House. 

Saturday; After breakfast, I took my address book and stamps and walked to Hallmark, which luckily is in the Von's shopping center. Got the cards and continued on to the post office, two blocks away. Filled out the Tokyo and Singapore ones, and sent them. Will send the others early next week.

Yoicks! When I sat down at my laptop yesterday morning, I found a message from Prime Management telling me I hadn't submitted a renewed lease for my house in Sunrise Bay. What? Of course, I did, I know I sent it. Nope--I looked it up and found it in "drafts"; I must have just wanted to check it over and neglected to actually "send." Damn, I should have contacted them when I didn't get an acknowledgement. Re-sent with an apology.  

Called Holy Family (my Dad's grammar school); got an answering service, left a message, and a guy called back. He took my info and said he'll pass it on to--somebody.

Studied my Dudley family info and when I did, I was glad to realize most of the info came back to me. I got out my costume and accessories and wow, I'm afraid it will be hot. Suddenly, the weather turned sunny and warm--it must have been over 70--which I love, but not when I'm wearing an 1890s outfit.

Made ice cream, half chocolate, half butterscotch. Galvanized, I also made applesauce. then took an hour nap. I felt much better when I got up. 

Got an interesting Easter card from the Tokyo trio (names obscured):

I was taken aback to see the question mark, but I understand. Those other years are past, for good or ill, and we'll have to wait and see if 2023 is happy. 

Friday: Annoying!

Weight: down both at home (1.6 pounds to 127.6) and T.O.P.S. (.03 to 128.7). Why the disparity? Damned if I know. Julie was there, heard I was doing docent duty at Dudley House and asked if she could pick me up, take me there, then stay for the tour. Sure, why not? It then occurred to me to ask Jim if, instead of coming for lunch today, he'd pick me up at 4:00 tomorrow at Dudley House, then we'd go back to my place for a light supper. I called him and yes, he will, so that's good.

What isn't so good is that it's been so long since I gave the tour that I don't remember a lot of the spiel, which is annoying. I dug out my info and will study it.   

After breakfast, I started the annoying part of the day. Went to the office to get a new remote for the gates, as mine had annoyingly conked out. Packed my lunch and bused to town. I took the 16 bus and it was annoyingly slow. Finally got there and was annoyed to realize I had asked the DVD of A Clockwork Orange to be held for me at the Hill Street Library, rather than the Main one, where I could have picked it up yesterday. Also, I was not just annoyed, but horrified to realize I hadn't yet bought Easter cards and now, the overseas ones will be late. Oh, well, I'll get them today, send, and hope they'll get there. 

Went over to Von's for coffee, French bread, and the ingredients for the yummy ice cream I make. If I have time, I'll make applesauce, too, but I'll play it by ear. Stopped at Miramar and picked up my new bifocals. They seem to be about the same prescription as the last ones, so why did I bother? Annoying.

I got an email from Wells Fargo, asking if I had actually charged $147 and sent it to a particular party. No, indeed, I hadn't and the fraud thing resulted in an annoying round of phone conversations. Of course, I won't have to pay it, but have to be sent a new card.

Now here's something that's been annoying me for years: I can't change my old email address on this blog to my correct one. Tried again yesterday and no luck; the old "...7..." stays on.

But not all occurrences were annoying: Yesterday, I came across this wonderful picture, taken at our house on Lower Ferry Road in Ewing. It's easy to date; the littlest baby, in his father's arms, is Joel, Jr., who is will be twenty-one in June. He looks barely a month old here, so it must be the summer of 2003.

                                                

Seated from left: Jen, Joel, Sr. with Joel, Jr., Me, Betty, Dana holding one-year-old Finn;

Standing: Alison, Pat, Mike, and Carolyn--

so four married couples, and a long-time widow...sigh.

NOTE: For my legion of readers (that means you, Patti), I decided to give up my wild ways and revert back to my boringly tame design. I just don't want to deal with--well, whatever it is I might have to deal with, because it's--ANNOYING!

Thursday

 Lora sent the pictures from Tuesday at Villa Alamar and here are three:       

Evident here, Betty has gained a startling amount of weight; in the atrium.                                                                              

                          Above, Betty is pointing to one of our baby pictures in the album I brought.

            More in the album.  

Lora had texted two other pictures, but unfortunately, when I tried to transfer, I accidentally deleted them. I'll see her today at T.O.P.S. and ask her to re-send.

I had trouble with the Internet connection--or something--and signed up for something called Restora. It seems to have remedied the situation--good thing, for forty-two bucks.

Left to meet Diane and found my remote wouldn't open the Hill Street gate. I went around to Woodland Avenue and the back gate, and that wouldn't open, either. Luckily, one of the  neighbors was driving out and she clicked it open. Hours later, when I came home, I couldn't open the front gate on Telegraph, either. After T.O.P.S. this morning, I'll stop into the office and get a new remote.

Diane and I, having brought our own lunches, sat, ate, and talked happily for--oh, three hours. When we finally parted, I bused to Michelle's, my tax accountant, at Cypress Place to pick up my concrete return (at my request, she had also sent me the digital version, which I immediately forwarded to Mike). I didn't stay, as I knew she was under the gun to finish up her clients' returns--just gave her a check for her fee, and said goodbye.

Walked to the Telegraph Road Von's (not the one near me) to get coffee they had advertised on sale, but that's not available until today, so I'll wait. Got the 11 bus to the transit center, then the 6 home, so I didn't get in until 5:30.    

NOTE: Good grief, after years of the bland, same-old, tame-old "theme" on this blog, I changed it. Not sure if I like it and, in fact, I thought I would have the beach scene I selected at the top, but it's not there. I'm sorry  I did it and may switch back or to something else.

Wednesday Without Much Going On

Kind of a dull day. I did a color wash in the morning while I trying to put a little organization on my father's memorabilia trove. I dug out some of the photos I have, but just a tiny percentage of the whole. Here are some from long before I was born:

My Mom and Dad at a picnic before they were married. The original is dated 1918, when my Dad would have just graduated from high school. He's on the front right, lounging. This is one of the few of him with a grin on his face. Mom is the third girl from the left.

The young Byrne family before the twinnies were born. They are on the Domino Lane farm, circa 1935, judging from baby Frankie in the front. Gene is on Mom's left, Larry and Jimmy in front of Dad.

Later, circa 1929, also on Domino Lane. Jimmy and Gene in front of Mom, with left, Uncles Ed and Frank, and Dad. I posted this one on Facebook and my cousin, Marifran, commented; she was actually embarrassed by what her Dad, Edmond (left), was wearing--94 years ago!  

When I went through some of my other family treasure trove, I came across pictures of Holy Family parish, in Manyunk, where Dad went to grammar school (I assume all or most of his siblings did, too). I emailed the contact there to ask if they had material from about 1913 or '14, and earlier, when Dad would have attended.   

I looked up from my absorbing labors and realized it was after one. Thought I'd take my lunch and bus to Montgomery Avenue, where Ellen used to live and enjoy it on a bench near the river. However, when I neared the bus stop, I realized I had forgotten my phone. Went back to get it, met up with Vickie on the way and we stopped to talk, at which point, I realized it was extremely windy, so I lost my enthusiasm for the trip. Instead, I headed over to Von's for broccoli, tuna, and a twelve-pack of 805 (beer).

Stopped to check my mail on the way back and ran into my pal, David, the ornithologist. He's now engaged in trying to persuade management to refrain from further trimming of the trees because the birds don't like it. Well, he didn't say that, of course; he reminded Manager Bianchi that trees are the birds' habitat and they need to build their nests on the branches. We must have stood there talking for forty-five minutes or so before we said goodbye.  Home and it was almost 3:00 before I finally had lunch. Just puttered around the rest if the day, except for...

...I can't decide if this is amusing or unsettling: Without going into detail, I've briefly been PMing with a man from Bucks County I "met" on Facebook. This is not one of those obviously scamming  communications (two have been directed at me), in which a stranger, whose FB page shows a handsome and clearly virile guy who "wants to get to know you better."  "Marc" (dollars to doughnuts he used to spell it with a "k") B. and I started commenting back and forth on a certain site, one thing led to another, and the situation starting going where I don't want to go. I looked him up and I think he is or was a car salesman in or around Philly, probably in his seventies. His communications were shading into the provocative and good grief, I need that like another grey hair, so I restricted him from my chat list--bye-bye, Marc!