SATURDAY

Breakfast with Keith, then I got ready for my afternoon outing. Access Van picked me up at 11:30 and took me to the Bargain Box, where I bought sheets, beer glasses, and a decorative sofa pillow. I asked the associate if I could leave my purchases there, then pick them up after lunching with Noreen at Danny's Deli. Sure, I was told and I walked the short distance down to meet with her.

We had a good lunch and even better conversation, as ever. Said goodbye and walked back to the Bargain Box to wait for the van. It came about 2:30 and I piled in with my packages and was driven back to The Orchard. 

At 4:15, Shaun, the picture hanger (my third one) came and proceeded to hang the remaining pictures. Finally, almost all are up where I want them. There are one or two small ones I'll hang myself, but overall, the walls look good. Paid Shaun and went down to dinner.

I sat with Keith and Kathie and it was quite a relief, frankly, to realize Cheryl is in Mexico and Mary sat elsewhere. Kathie is more my type, so those absences were okay by me. Diane came over to say hello and we admired her imaginative top and what Kathie called her sparkly "Wizard of Oz shoes":

Believe me, Diane doesn't usually 

look--or act--as crazy as this!

 Home about 6:30 and I settled in to 1.) write up this blog entry and 2.) look for something good on T.V.

Today, Sunday, I have no appointments, outings, or other obligations planned and that suits me fine. 

FRIDAY

 AAGH! I usually write up most of my entries the day of, then just top them off the next morning and publish. I just didn't have a chance to do that yesterday, so here it is, Saturday morning, and I'm just getting to it. Okay, I'll plunge right into activities:

Ellen picked me up at 9:30 and we went to the neurologist's office to be seen by the P.A., Brittany.* I don't want to go into detail, but so far, it doesn't seem too concerning. After, we went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory; had big salads for a yummy lunch. 

Back at my place, El set up my meds for the next five days. I'll see her on Tuesday, when I have yet another doctor's appointment. Driving home, we enjoyed seeing the snow on the distant mountains:

Snow on Topa Topa and the range.

Dinner with Kathie, Keith, and Cheryl, then I deviated from my usual routine and went to see Crazy Rich Asians, which was shown not in the activities room, but in the library, which is right down the hall from my apartment. It's eight years old and I've seen it before, but still greatly enjoyed it, as it takes place and was shot in Singapore. I remember being in many of the settings, such as the Marina Bay Sands hotel at the harbor:

Yes, I was at the very top, where there's a pool and a spectacular view.

Back at my place at 8:00 and I finished up watching "Epstein: Filthy Rich," an apt title if I ever saw one, then slept soundly. Lunch with Noreen at Danny's Deli, today, and Shawn, the picture hanger, is coming at 4:00.  

*I'm beginning to line up with others who believe P.A.s are as knowledgeable--and certainly as personable, if not more so--as M.D.'s. Of course, I've never laid eyes on "my" doctor at this point, so I can't be sure.

THURSDAY

Breakfast, as usual, with Keith. Upstairs later to answer some emails, pay some bills, and otherwise address everyday chores. Took a load of wash to the laundry room, got that done, and cleaned up a bit. Did my morning set of exercises. 

Went down to lunch and sat with Cheryl and Catherine; Keith joined us later. Catherine had lived in SO-FI for several years and I had known her slightly, but got to know her better yesterday. She's had some difficult years, her daughter having some kind of brain condition and her son dying of something else. 

I didn't do much else after lunch except call Noreen to see if she was available for lunch on Saturday. She was, I was glad to hear, so we'll meet at 12:30 at Danny's Deli; must call the Access Van. Called Shawn, yet another picture-hanger and he'll come at 6:00 pm this evening to finish up the ones in the bedroom. 

Instead of my usual, I had dinner with a group that included couples Peter and Patricia, Carol and Stan, and Trudie and Carl, the last two "Orchard Ambassadors." That means they do things gratis for which otherwise the organization would have to pay. I put that in the same category as "convenience fees," but it's voluntary, of course, so I guess I should butt out.

Trudie, a champion non-stop talker, told me all about her two daughters, both of whom have doctorates and aced the entrance exams to Stanford, etc., etc. and so on and on. Did she inquire about my family? Why, no, of course not, what sense would that make? I was amused when she told me she's Carl's fourth wife and that Carl is deaf as a post--self-defense maybe? 😄  

Neurologist this morning, to which I'm not looking forward.

WEDNESDAY

Early on, it was pretty much the same old, same old. Breakfast with Keith, tidied up a bit after, lunched with Keith, Cheryl, and Mary, then took a nap. 

The P.T., Alain, arrived at 3:00 and put me through my paces. He had me walk down the hall using my cane and showed me the proper way to handle it. He also corrected some of my posture in doing my exercises, as well as adding some new ones. These are all to address my balance, of course, and I'm determined not to let them slide.

Called Quest Diagnostics to make an appointment for blood work in August. Katherine texted me and said she'd like to go to "Women of the Night," the show at the Santa Paula Playhouse that my friend, Suzy, is in,  on Sunday, March1. That's perfect for me. Julie won't be going with us,  but that's okay. 

Ellen called and we talked over a few things. I had given her the pictures painted by my Uncle Frank of the farmhouse where he and my father were brought up. She hung them in the guest room, sent me a picture, and I like how they look: l'll see her on Friday, when she takes me to the neurologist. 

Dinner with all four of the group. I got the main entree, pulled pork and bourbon beans. We all thought that last was hysterically funny--there was no booze evident in the beans and it sounded weird, anyway.  

Slept well and got up a little after 5:00. 

TUESDAY

Up at 6:15, showered, then went down to breakfast with Keith. Upstairs after to work on the entranceway decorations. I put the slender shelving there, with a few artifacts--may alter  it later. 

Lunch, bur for a change with Allan and Beverly. Ellen came at 1:15 and we tried to figure out if I had been doing my BP measurement properly. Maybe not and I'm going to concentrate on that. We got to the cardiologist's office on schedule at 2:40, filled out some papers, and met Dr. Wang. I wished her a happy new year and she returned the sentiment.

As for the medical stuff, it seems I have a heart murmur which nobody else had recognized; however, it seems not to be of concern. She added a medication for, I think, the BP, but Ellen has all that stuff down. We went to CVS immediately to pick up the new meds, during which it started to rain. I waited in the car while El got my new meds, as well as the nice bottle of cream sherry I requested. (In addition, Express Scripts will be sending a refill of another of my medications.)

Back at my place, El started filling my pill boxes while I went down with dinner. I sat with Keith and we had a good talk-session; the others were at another table. Home about 6:30. 

Slept well again and didn't get up until the alarm rang at 6:15.

MONDAY

I awoke to the steady drum of rain on the window. I'm certainly not going out, but will get some ever-lasting work done--I think.  Had raisin bran instead of my usual poached eggs and I enjoyed it. Once I went back to my place, I gathered up whites and set them awash in the laundry room. I then fell into bed and was sound asleep within minutes. Got up an hour or so later and did something or other--don't  remember what. 

Ellen called and I found I do, indeed, have an appointment today--with a cardiologist, Dr. Wang, in Oxnard, at 2:40. Ellen will pick me up after lunch. Well, at least, I'll be here for the Chinese New Year celebration--a special lunch and something else I don't remember.

Lunch with Kathie and Keith. Cheryl was originally at the table, too, but moved to another with Mary. Tilapia for lunch, which was so-so.  After, I sat down to put my pills in the pill boxes. Ellen will check them when she comes.

Below: decorations for celebration of the Chinese New Year. There'll be a special Chinese-themed luncheon today.

   

 

Dinner with Kathie, Keith, and for a short time, Cheryl. This was called "Chuckwagon Sandwich," but was actually a kind of slider on a Hawaiian bun. It was really good and we're all going to compliment the chef. I napped after lunch, so was a little worried I wouldn't be able to sleep, but happy day, I just got up at 6:10.

Cardiologist appointment this afternoon. 

SUNDAY

David picked me up at 8:00 and off we went to Two Trees. It was busy, but not as crowded as I've seen it and we had a good time. David, being a bird scientist, said he was pleased at the trees on The Orchard grounds--they're full and vigorous, not trimmed heavily as the ones at SO-FI.

Got back about 10:30 and did a little cleaning up before Vickie and Kay picked me up at noon. We met Suzanne, who had been distributing communion, at Rincon and settled in to have a wonderful time. It was so good to be with old friends; much as I like many of the people I've met here, we have no common history, at this point, anyway, and that makes a difference. Vickie and I treated the birthday girls, Suzanne, 78 and Kay, 80. That last is hard to believe: Kay looks, to me, anyway, no older than in her sixties:

Vickie, Suzanne, Mimi, Kay

We had a wonderful time, thanks to my companions, and I'm looking forward to more outings. Got in about 2:30 and I promptly fell asleep (maybe I don't have as much stamina as I thought I did). I didn't wake up until 4:20, almost time to go to dinner!  I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a thing and brought a container. Drank an iced tea with Keith, Cheryl, and Mary, then excused myself and took my dinner upstairs. 

Just looked outside and ugh, it's raining. I understand that messiness will go on for several days, so I'm glad I had my outings yesterday. Had a terrible time sleeping last night and feel groggy right now at 8:45. That suggests a nap later today, which could lead to to bitter cycle--AAGH! But not, I'm not going to indulge in negativity, of which there's too much around here to begin with.