TUESDAY

The workers continued to bang away on my patio/porch/balcony, but it didn't bother me. Had lunch with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne; happily, bagels and lox are now served again and I had one--it was yum. Shortly after came dime Bingo; of course, I attended and won three games! Keith won two and my friend, Anita, one, so we all got our coins replenished. 

Home, I called Suzy, who will be appearing with her trio her on Sunday--can't wait. I'll be introducing her, and asked her to send me some info on the trio. She did and now I'll have to work up an intro. Told Mindy I had gotten it and she asked me to give her a copy, which I emailed to her.

I knew LaVerne wouldn't be coming to dinner and didn't see Kathie or Keith, so sat with Trudie and Carl, Mary Ann and Babara; Keith joined us shortly. We had some good conversation, but Trudie told us she had gone for a lung biopsy and yes, it's a malignant. I'm hoping--we all are--it can be treated, but Trudie doesn't yet have that information. 

I'm going for a blood test this morning via uber and remember I can  have my coffee, but with nothing in it. This afternoon, Ellen's coming over to send the letters to Mike and the girls, then--I hope--we'll go out for lunch.  

MONDAY

 I slept okay, didn't eat breakfast, and Susan picked me up at 11:15 for lunch at--where else?--the Stone Fire Grille. Gayle came and had a quick lunch, but had to leave before Renee, Nardall, and Nordall arrived. I had a two-pasta "tonesto" and an IPA, very tasty. We five talked and talked and talked, mostly about suicide, as Susan' husband had committed that act and so had Nardall's. Didn't leave until amost 3:00 and on the way home, Susan, at my request, stopped at CVS so I could get my two meds. 

Once home, I opened my Amazon box (unmentionables), washed some dishes and stowed my leftover lunch in the fridge. I then took a short nap before diinner...

...which I had with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne. I got a turkey burger, as the main entree, beef something or other, didn't appeal to me. After a leisurily meal and conversation, I went back upstairs to play Block Champ on this laptop and otherwise amuse myself.  

They've started redoing my patio/porch; good thing I got everything inside, as instructed, before hand. The renovation should take another four days or so, then I'll replace the plants and so on. Just now, I've got the living room pretty jammed up:

Today is cleaning day and I must remember to tell Do-Lannie to skip the living room this time.

SUNDAY

 I was dreading having to move my plants, statuary, chairrs, and table off the porch, but the fact was it didn't take long, they all fit in the living room, and it was no big deal at all. I did some of it, then proud of myself, I had lunch with Kathie, Mary, and Cheryl and finished the job after. 

This tribute to Randy Mantooth is displayed in the multi-purpose room:

My friend, Truidie, wrote the little piece about him and the smaller picture is of Randy and Trudie's daughter. 

After finishing the patio/porch move, I really just fooled around after lunch until I joined the Yatzee gang (Keith, Elaine, Beverly, Ada, and Pat) at 3:00. I didn't win any of the three games, but it was reasonably enjoyable.

Had dinner with Keith, Kathie, and LaVerne and the conversation turned to astrology, which the latter two take seriously. How any normal person can do that is beyond me, but I guess it takes all kinds.

After dinner I called Ellen and we made plans to come over Wednesday to get the letters I mentioned here before sent to Mike and the girls electronically. I just don't know how to do it, but El does and I'm glad to know that. 

SATURDAY

A quiet day, but that's okay once in a while.

Went over to the flea market at the clubhouse in the morning, but I didn't see much I wanted--I have too much of everything as it is. I did buy a night light and some of Mary T.'s handmade birthday cards. 

Lunch with Kathie and Keith; presumably, LaVerne stayed in. At 1:30, I went down to quarter and dime Bingo and actually one two games. After, Mindy and I talked and I mentioned that Cheryl's son was appearing here on August 9. I was amazed to discover he's actually the third member of my friend, Suzy's, trio. Mindy called Suzy while I was there and I talked to her after. I told her I'd like her and Bob to read some of my scripts. Also, I'll tell Cheryl she can attend when the trio is here. I'll be introducing them and that should  be fun. 

Had dinner with Barbara, Trudie, and Carl;  it was turkey tortellini and pretty good. Today, I have to get all the stuff off my balcony and that's a chore I wish I had started sooner. 

FRIDAY AND A SAXOPHONE

 T.O.P.S. day--or I could call it "disaster day"; I gained 1.4 home to 142 and 1.7 at the meeting to 144--AAGH! That's the heaviest I've been in months and it has to stop. At the meeting were Cheryl, Lanie, Mary Ann, and Sharon. Maria didn't make it and texted me later she had been kept awake by mosquitos. Mosquitos in California? I didn't think there were any. I was pleased to hear form Cheryl that her son will be the Happy Hour person on August 9--I had forgotten that he has a band.

When I came down for lunch, I didn't see either Kathie or Keith. Julie sat at our usual table, then we were joined by Judy. I passed on the fried cod and had a Cobb salad; took half home. 

I had put a load of wash in before lunch, after transferred to the dryer on the third floor, as those on the second were in use. Got it later and now I have plenty of clean clothers to wear.I got a nice note back from nephew Wes, in response to my complimenting his daughter, Miranda. 

Went down to Happy Hour at 3:00 to have a Margarita and listen to a sax player. He was good, of course, but sax without song isn't exactly my cup of tea; however, I sat with Trudie and enjoyed it: 

Time for dinner was shortly after and I again sat with Trudie, along with Carl and Barbara. A newcomer joined us--Ada moved here just three days ago and she proved to be another champion talker, all about her three husbands and mentally ill mother and so on and so forth--AAGH!  

Son Mike Facdtimed me about 7:30 and we had a nice chat. He and his lady friend are just getting over the flu and he's leaving today for several days in Jakarta--work, of course.  I told him I was sending him, Vivian, and Violet the old letters from my mother and Betty, but he wants me t do it electronically and I'll have to figure out how. I'll ask Ellen, of course. 

THURSDAY: A DELIGHTFUL DAY

Why delightful? Because I saw some of my favorite people. Niece Carolyn and great-niece Miranda came over at 12:30 and we spent a half-hour or so seeing my family pictures--all their family, too. I somehow think of Carolyn and Miranda as contemporaries, but in truth, Carolyn, my twin sister's daughter, is over fifty and Miranda, my twin sister' granddaughter will be twenty on Tuesday. Time flies... Anyway, after the above mentioned, we took off for town and the Busy Bee Cafe, where Ellen was waiting. We sat outside and had a leisurely lunch and a good time. Naturally, we had a picture taken:

L. to R.: Yours Truly, Miranda, Carolyn, and Ellen--three generations of a big family.

Said goodbye and El drove me home. She didn't stay long and in a half-hour or so, it was time for dinner. Went down, didn't see Kathie, and sat with Julie, from the Phillipines, who was at "our" table. We were joined by the newbie, Judy, who wears wide-brimmed hats every day, and Keith. I just had the soup and took the chicken sandwich on a crossiant home to eat later.

T.O.P.S. here at the clubhouse today and once aain, I'm dreading getting on the scale. 

WEDNESDAY AND A PIZZA PARTY

Stripped the bed and took the linens to the laundry room, switched to the dryer when it was time, then joined Jackie's Balance Class at 10:00.

Lunch with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne and we all enjoyed a pizza party. Chef Michael had ordered from an outside pizza place--I'm not sure which one--and we had choices of every topping under the sun. I told him I wanted "everything" on mine and that's what I got. I asked for two pieces and that's what I got. After lunch, I wrapped the second one to heat up and eat during my television watching later.

Went to dime Bingo at 1:30 and finally, I actually won two games; that replenished my dime supply nicely and it was fun, anyway. Mindy asked if anyone wanted a Margarita and sure, I did, as did several others. After, I got  call from Sharon, who asked me to contact MaryAnn about T.O.P.S being here at our clubhouse tomorrow, which I did.

I called Ellen about plans for today with niece and great-niece Carolyn and Miranda. They texted back and forth with her and we'll go to the Busy Bee in town for lunch after C. and M. pick me up here; El will take me home.

Had dinner with Kathie and Keith. LaVerne didn't show and Beverlee joined us. Dinner was a roast beef sub and boy, was it good.