FRIDAY

 Weight: I was up 2.2 at home to 130.8 and up 2.7 at T.O.P.S. to 131.3--AAGH! That means I'm out of my comfort zone of 125 to 130 and not by just a few ounces. However, I have a plan, which I instituted today; if I stick to it, I'll elaborate on it another day. 

I was disturbed to be told that my friend, Lora, also in T.O.P.S. had an accident a few days ago. She was starting off to her newly-built house in Arizona, where her husband already is, when her car actually flipped. I don't know all the circumstances, but she was taken to the hospital and, incredibly, had only a bruised leg. I contacted her my concern and we went back and forth. She flies to Arizona tomorrow. 

As for yesterday, I didn't get home from T.O.P.S. until almost 10:30 and didn't finish breakfast until after 11:00. At that point, I decided to go to Target and CVS to follow up respectively on my "reward" of $11:08 (which expired yesterday) and my OTC health insurance benefit of $150.00 every three months. At Target, I just got grapefruit and diet Coke, but it was a big hassle trying to get the amount taken off. I talked to several different clerks, department managers, and others; finally asked to see the store manager. She said I had to go to the Target app on my phone and so on and I just got harried. However, she was very nice--they all were courteous--and finally, as neither one of us were able to do it, gave me a gift card for ten bucks. Okay, I was fine with that, but shop often at Target and will follow through on using the app.

Went across the street to another shop I like. Thought I'd just look around, but saw neat slacks and a top I liked. They were both on sale and so cheap, I bought them without trying them on. From there, I went to CVS and replenished my full supply of vitamins. The SCAN benefit meant I paid not one cent for them and I have plenty left on the card (it's a debit card, but they pay it). 

Home at 4:00 and I finally had lunch. Just had salad and one piece of bread. That was good as I'm riting this part of the blog now at 5:30 on Friday and won't want dinner until 7:00 or so. That should keep me from indulging at night. 

Later, I did two color loads of wash before dinner.  I have plenty of clothes, but for some reason, I like to have most washed, folded, and put away before the hamper is very full. 

Yoicks, when I got up at 6:30, the temperature was 46 degrees! What is this, Antarctica?

THURSDAY

Called Muckie in the morning and we had one of our hour-long talks. How much I like and admire her and how sorry I am of her illness. She seems to feel pretty well--but not completely; said she's feeling more tired lately. However, she was thrilled at the Lucy Christmas card I sent; said her son actually has a number of keepsakes from "her." Of course, we talked about Betty, as ever, and I described Ellen/s and my visit to her the day after her birthday. 

El came at 1:00 and off we went to The Lazy Dog for lunch. I'm afraid I was short with the young hostess, who seemed indifferent and even snide. El mentioned that and I'm sorry I reacted that way. I guess I'm so used to the friendly, courteous, and "up" young servers at Stone Fire Grille, I get impatient if they're not. Anyway, I'm going to practice more patience. 

I had a delicious platter of fish and chips, much better than I've had in other restaurants. After a leisurely meal, we went to WinCo and both stocked up on essentials and other items. It was almost 4:00 before we got home and Ellen went to work trying to hook up my new DVD player. However, it just wasn't happening and I think I'll take the damn thing back.

I'm still struggling with getting into this blog--that is, being able to add to it, but finally did. The problem is, I then forget how I did it. I don't want to add the address here, for obvious reasons, but will send it to my email.

Back to T.O.P.S. today and I'm expecting, I'm afraid, a big gain. Okay, I have a plan and see if it works.

WEDNESDAY, 2025

I'm finding it harder and harder to understand the problem with this blog. I spent at least an hour yesterday trying to be able to make an entry, with no luck. I even "chatted" with an expert on some site, which led to nothing and seems to be a scam, as I looked on my bank account site and they charged me $55.00! It was still "processing,"  so I couldn't refuse it, but will now. As for the blog address, I sent it to myself in email.

Anyway, as for the first day of 2025, it was so-so. El and I were going to go to lunch and so on, but unfortunately, she came down with something--tummy--and called to tell me. She had had friends over for NY eve, and seems to have eaten something that didn't agree with her. We'll go today if she's well enough.  

Lorraine had called me at 7:00 am, as she often does. Wished me a happy new year and chatted. After El called, I decided to eat out in the middle again and called Lorraine back to see if she wanted to join me. She did and we had a reasonably nice time chatting in the sunshine.

After, I was on the mission about my blog until almost 5:00 and, finally, getting in, will try to find the way again--so frustrating. Later: I did, but who knows for how long.

Other than the above, I did very little except play games on the laptop. I'm hoping Ellen will feel better today and we'll do our thing.

TUESDAY

Yoicks, what a day! The last day of 2024 started off calmly enough: I continued cleaning up some things, i.e., sending my darling little grandson an Amazon gift card for his January 7 birthday. No, this isn't the eleven-year old in Tokyo, it's the will-be-forty-three in Jersey. Anyway, after I sent it, for some reason, the screen I always bring up first went away and I couldn't get into this blog at all. 

One of my problems is I don't know all the common terms for Internet things. The screen that changed is not the pretty picture ones, but the one that had the entrance (or something) to my email, bank account, Facebook, and several other sites I use daily. Now I'm finally in Mimi's Musings, but I just don't quite remember how I got in, except it was through my old email, rosemarymolloy7@email.com. All right, I'll keep working on it.

Again, I took my lunch and my book out to the middle and enjoyed the sunshine and quiet while I ate. Later, Jose came to look at my kitchen sink faucet. I had called the office to say the water was running out very thinly. Jose fixed it quickly--it seems the filter head had gotten somewhat clogged, due to the iron in the water.

I'm proud of myself because I actually took down and put away all the Christmas decorations. I'm ready to move on into the new year--good thing, because I ain't getting a choice!

Looking forward to lunch and shopping with Ellen today. 

MONDAY

I spent the morning on various chores, including changing the bed, washing sheets, doing a bleach wash and checking various financial matters. I'm getting ninety-two more dollars a month nore from Social Security in 2025, or $1,104. per year. Big whoops, as the kids say, as my rent will surely go up considerably more than that, however, I'm financially secure, so can't complain. 

As he had requested, I sent Jim my phone number along with a get-well note, then walked the rent + utilities check to the office. Made a turkey stir-fry, which I haven't done in a while. I always make them with mostly vegetables and only about a quarter of the dish ground turkey. I made enough for three servings, two of which I stowed in the freezer, and I enjoyed one for dinner.

After that, I figured I deserved a respite, so packed my lunch and strolled out to the middle to eat it and continue reading my Joe DiMaggio book. I didn't get to that, though, because Lorraine saw me and sat down to chat. She's a little wifty--ten years younger than I am, but seems older; uses a lot of cliches; thinks management is out to get her; reveres the military, and so on, but I enjoy her company in small doses. 

Ellen called to chat and then asked if I wanted to meet for lunch tomorrow, New Year's day. Nah, I told her I don't wanna, I'd rather sit at home and contemplate my lost youth--NOT!  Of course, I enthusiastically agreed, and suggested The Lazy Dog in Oxnard, so it's a go. We'll also stop at WinCo and maybe a shop nearby I like.

Well, it's Christmas all over again. The device Mike sent came and here it is:

Now I have two canes, one for each leg, I guess. Mike suggested I keep both and maybe leave one at Ellen's. Hmm...mayb

SUNDAY, DIANE, JIM, AND A CERTAIN DEVICE

Had a terrible time sleeping; woke at 2:30 for the usual, then couldn't get back for several hours. Finally did, got up, and jumped in the shower to start my day. I was pleased to complete the entire Sunday crossword--not one fill-in missing. 

I left for the Hill Street Cafe in time to meet Diane for my birthday lunch at noon. Because I don't eat red meat at home, I had a hamburger and a good Pacifico IPA. (Virtuous me, I ordered only a 9 ounce, not a 20.) We sat on the patio and had a great time, as ever, talking and laughing for quite a while.  We then left to spend another 45 or so at our place outside the library. 

I gave Diane a little Christmas gift--body cream and and some subtle incense device, which she particularly liked, as she'll use it on during her twice daily meditation. When it started to get a little chilly, we hugged goodbye and I walked home, so got a good three miles in, there and back.

I called VCH and talked to Jim's nurse. He's still in the ICU, but I was pleased to hear he's improved and may be released today, back to Victoria Care Center. I asked if I could speak to him and the very pleasant and courteous nurse switched me over. Talked to Jim for a few minutes--he sounded fairly good--and he asked if I'd send him my phone number--to his P.O. box. Of course, he's called me many times over the years, but he has only a landline and presumably, no address book or any way to get it. Anyway, I'll do that today and will visit him as soon as feasible. 

Note: This lovely gift was at my door yesterday: 

Yeah, I'm sure that forty or so year-old model on the box needs a cane.

Okay, that's from the kid in Japan, but when I sent the pics to all four of the conspirators via Messenger, Mike wrote back that he had sent one, too! UPS said they had tried to deliver it at 4:30 yesterday, but were unable. Well, why not? I was home, so will just wait for the damn thing.  I hope I can return one of them. 

SATURDAY, JEANNE, AND VIVIAN

Got a funny video from my high school chum, Jeanne Painter. I called her and we had a nice chat. Her paramour, John, is now 95 and they live together, as they have for decades. He seems to be slowing down a bit, although he said he wanted to go to a New Years Eve party where they live--wants to wear his tuxedo. Here they are at some affair recently:

Jeanne will be 89 in May.

Since we didn't have T.O.P.S. this week, I weighed myself at home yesterday and the not-too-bad result was 128.6, a gain of .08. That's okay, though, as I'm sure I'll be whittling down when festivities are over. 

Walked to Wal-Mart about 10:00 to look for an apple slicer (or "wedger," as it's fancily called by some) and found one, plus a few other items. Bused home and had a big salad lunch, then spent some time tidying up the bedroom. 

Thrilled by my acquisition (the apple device), I used it on four apples and these are the biggest I've ever seen--almost the size of grapefruit--which I then put in the slow cooker with some quartered tangerines and some cinnamon. A few hours later, I had a nice applesauce, some of which I'll freeze for later.

Got some interesting news from Singapore: son Mike Messaged me to say that my great-nephew, Cameron, 20, is going to be an exchange student in Singapore and he's actually going to live in the same building Mike does.  Cameron is the son of my nephew, Jim, the son of my late brother, Frank (HSHS '52). Jim is "physician lead" (whatever that means), at three hospitals in San Jose.; he's a OB/GYN doc and actually delivered Cameron. That is, he was there in the birth room and the attending allowed him to actually receive the baby as he emerged. 

Went out to get the mail and ran into neighbor Lorraine and chatted a bit. I had promised I'd make her a lemon meringue pie, but with company coming and so on, I'm kind of sorry I did. Oh, well, I'll have her over one of these days and serve it for dessert. 

More family news: I keep urging my granddaughter, Vivian, to buckle down and get serious about her studies now that she's in her senior year. However, she just seems to want to laze around. Here are her latest grades at U. of Hawaii:                                                                                                                                             

Am I proud? You'd better believe it! And what's more, she's a kind, good person, and has a real sense of humor. That last seems to me as important as her intelligence.