SUNDAY AT ELLEN'S

 After the usual Sunday routine, I dressed, prepared my cart, and went out to wait for the Access Van. Driver was a little late, having gone to the Hill Street gate where, of course, I wasn't. He finally got to the main entrance, though, and off we went.

El and I had planned for me to be there about noon and I was early, but no prob.  She's done a lot to unpack, put away, and get things in order, but has a long way to go. However, the place looks lovely, and the fact that she has so many cabinets, drawers, and other storage space makes the task so much easier (and me green with envy). Happily, the HVAC work is done; that was a drag for her. She still has plans for things, but it's close to being finished.  In the living room is a large kind of wheel; it must be at least five feet high and wide, made of wood and lined with felt. This is a kind of big treadmill for the kitties, but neither Gwennie nor Cessy has yet ridden it. El plans to have the large side porch enclosed and will put it out there eventually.

El made a nice lunch of chicken salad, then she installed (herself! with an electric drill! And perfectly!) drapery holdbacks on the big side window. She had already done the front ones, along with the rods. We then walked to the community center, just a short distance away and looked around at the large gym, pool, spa, gathering room, and kitchen. The building is very spacious and well-kept; can't wait to go in the pool there.

It was very warm (84 degrees, but I understand the East Coast has been even warmer). Later, we sat on the porch and chatted. The Access Van picked me up about 6:15 and I was pleased to see the driver was Eric, whom I've had before and like a lot. Eric celebrated his 29th birthday last week and is full of good cheer, so it was enjoyable riding with him and we shared a lot of laughs.

As for today, I have our first get-together with cast and crew and "Studio J" from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. I scheduled the Access Van for this, too, but I'm hoping somebody--maybe Ken--will be in the group and will volunteer to take me home from subsequent meetings. We're scheduled for Wednesday, too, plus several dates a week until opening in August. 

I'm very curious to see how this will set up. Neither Jeff nor Shannon seem to be involved, which is unusual, but from what I've been told, understandable.  

Ugh, I had a terrible time sleeping last night. I seem to have some kind of itchy rash between some of my toes and it kept me up for hours. It finally subsided with anti-itch cream, and I hope doesn't recur.   

SATURDAY

I had toyed with the idea of walking to Wal-Mart, but changed my mind. Instead, I sat down with my list of things to do, which included paying July's rent (electronically, of course, I use Loft); ordering from Amazon Werther Sugar Free candy ($21) and printer ink ($35.56)* contacting management for info about their carpet cleaning company--my living room needs them badly; and calling the Access Ven to go to and from Ellen's today. After that, I made up my lunch and took it out to the middle to eat. Usually, I change the sheets on Sunday morning, but I decided to do it yesterday, so did. After I remade the bed, I took a 20-minute nap, then did a color wash.   

Ellen texted me, asking if I wanted to have lunch today at Sea Fresh or salad and chicken at her place. I've fallen out of love with Sea Fresh, but said the latter sounds great and I hope it isn't too hot to eat on the porch. 

I've been having a few problems with the photo part of my laptop, so took it over to Asurion. However, only one guy was there and there were two in front of me, so told him I'd come back tomorrow. Went to CVS, but stayed around home most of the day. 

I forgot to add this on Friday: Sharon in her fourth of July outfit:

And this 67-year-old still-to-motion pic, I put on Facebook. Family enjoyed it, but animated, our faces look utterly unlike us--really weird--or, as my nephew commented, "creepy."

*And the toner was at my door when I got up just now at 5:27 am--modern life is amazing.

FRIDAY--I'M IN AND SO IS THE GESTOPO

Hey, I gotta say, it wasn't a bad day. Home, I had lost 1.2  (to 129.4) and at T.O.P.S., I was down 1.1 to 130.2. Incredibly, I was the biggest loser, so was rewarded with a big three bucks. It seems our group has dwindled to four regulars: Lennie, Sharon, Cheryl, and me, so after weigh-ins, we more or less just chatted. Something of actual note was discussed, though, see WIDER below. 

Home at 10:00, had breakfast and did this and that before leaving to meet Noreen at Dargan's for lunch. We were both early, which was good and we sat in the outside area on a lovely, lightly warm, summer day. Of course, we talked and talked during and after, she with a pastrami sandwich and champagne, Mimi with Shepard's pie and a hazy IPA.

We were there for two hours talking and talking and baring our souls. Noreen turned 90 last week and when I asked how she was doing emotionally, she was honest about being down now and then, but I hope, not clinically depressed. Anyway, it was good to be with her, as ever. After we said goodbye, I stopped in a few shops, but didn't buy anything. Took the 6 bus back to the transit center and waited for the 10 to get home. 

Just as I was boarding, Erica, director of the upcoming Fractured Actors show with Brian, called to tell me I was in. Wow, I'm thrilled. I'm intrigued by the fact that the show isn't actually written yet because it involves is a kind of show within a show. As I understand it, it will involve the cast actually writing and staging a show. Erica will send an email listing rehearsal times and so on. I've been on stage with Erica and consider her one of the best in the troupe.   

Didn't get home until after 5:00 at which point I whipped up a turkey stir-fry. Ate half and will have the other half tonight. 

WIDER: Cheryl was at Wal-Mart when an ICE car and a number of officers descended on it and took several people into custody, including one or more cashiers. Nice that we have our own little Gestapo to show these brown people who's boss, right? Okay, they may be American citizens, but they're brown, aren't they? That means they're evil.

THURSDAY AND DENIZENS OF MISERACORDIA

Another day with morning phone calls. I heard from Ellen early on and we had a good long talk. She's finally nearing the end of the necessary fixing-ups to her new house, HVAC and so on. She invited me to come over on Sunday and, of course, I accepted with pleasure. 

I received an interesting--very interesting--call from a woman named Bobbi Murphy C.* She had been a classmate of Betty's, my twin sister, and was calling to let me know where the rumor that Betty had died had originated--it seems via a classmate named Mary Beth Gilbert G.* I vaguely remember her name from sixty-some years ago, when Betty and she were friends at Misericordia. I also remember Margo Conner G.* from the class, with whom Betty was friendly.  Anyway, Bobbi is quite a talker; we were on the phone for about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, she is blind, but seems reasonably cheerful (I'd kill myself and I mean that literally).  She told me she was born and brought up in Philly, at one time was in the military, later worked in the occupational therapy field, married in her forties, no children, and her husband died three years ago. She lives in The Villages, Florida, and has an aide. 

Bobbi gave me Mary Beth's number and being intrigued with the whole situation, I called her and left a  voice mail message. It seems doubtful I'll get a call back as she seems to be slow on the uptake, i.e. has dementia, but I'll try again. I find the situation intriguing and hope to hear back from here. Actually, I'll call Margo, too, and see what happens there. After, I called Sister Blogster (Blogaria? Blogmistress?), Pat McHale R.*, to tell her about the above, as it was thanks to her and one of her neighbors that I received the call from Bobbi. 

All that prompted me to call my brother, Larry, who also lives in Florida, to share the info. He was interested and we had a good long talk. He now uses a walker, and has some arthritis problems (who doesn't), but for 92, is in pretty good physical shape and mentally sharp. I'd love to get Ellen to go with me to their annual pre-Christmas gathering, which the family has had for years--attendees often total more than fifty. Think I'll ask when I see her Sunday. Anyway, it was so good talking to him.

After all that, I packed my lunch and took off for Burlington Co. to return my sneakers. I talked to the manager to see if I could have the damn security wire removed before trying on, so I could test them by walking normally. She said yes and one of these days, I'll go back.

From there, I went to WinCo for grapefruit and other items, then bussed home, still with my uneaten lunch. By that time, I was 3:00 and, rather than staying in town, I just took it out to the middle and enjoyed it there.  

T.O.P.S. today (ugh, I think I again gained), then lunch with Noreen at Dargan's. I printed out another article by Chris Hedges to give her as she enjoyed the last one so much.

*Married name, which I won't list. 

WEDNESDAY AND JIM

The Access Van picked me up at 10:30 and I paid--or didn't pay--for the first time with the free ticket sent by the Ventura Area on Agency. Used a second on the way back, so I have eight more. In July, I get ten. Actually, I doubt very much if I'll use that many. Much as I appreciate freebies, there are two major reasons I want to go slow on this: One, I need to walk and I don't want to get in the habit of being picked up. The walk to the bus stop is close to a half-mile, then when I return it's another half, so I walk a mile without even thinking about it. The second is because--ungrateful wretch that I am--it's kind of a hassle to get out there within the certain time period and I usually go early because I'm paranoid about being late. I'll certainly use the Van on occasion, just not for every little trip.

Jim was in bed, as usual, when I got there, but he perked up when he saw me. I sat down and we talked for about forty-five. I had called Victor earlier to be told it was okay to bring my lunch and eat with Jim on the patio. I waited there after the aide arrived to dress Jim and get him in his wheelchair. I had my tuna sandwich and illicit IPA and it was very enjoyable.*

When I told Jim about coming on the Access Van, he got excited about the possibility he could use the service, too. However, when I tried to explain how to apply, he got very confused. I gave him the number to call, but I just don't know if they'd want him to go somewhere to have his picture taken or submit proof of age or something. I just don't remember what I did, as it was several years ago.

Anyway, I was called to say the driver was on his way. He got there about 12;15 and I was surprised to see he was driving a brand new electric sedan, rather than a van. We chatted on the way home and he said they had another of those. I guess it's more practical, but only for certain riders; it wouldn't accommodate a wheel chair, for instance.  

Good grief, I was home before 1:00--that's about two hours before I usually head out. Went over to Von's for a few things, including some yummy cherries. 

I got the T.O.P.S. membership list typed and printed out five copies. Now, that's the end of my taking minutes and otherwise acting as recording secretary, which I'm not and don't want to be. Oddly, all day yesterday, I thought it was Thursday and that I had T.O.P.S. today. No, Mimi, today is Thursday, yesterday  was Wednesday, and tomorrow is...uh...Sunday, maybe?  AAGH😬!

*I actually had with me one of those little bottles of cabernet sauvignon, the red Jim always drank. However, I thought better of it. For one thing, if Victor found I had given it to Jim, it may have made me persona non grata at Granny's Home Center and/or have gotten Victor in trouble. More important, it could effect Jim's condition in some way. I'm glad I thought better of it. 

TUESDAY

Boy, I spent the entire morning on phone calls, including three times to Granny's Home Center. Why so? Because I'm going to see Jim today--I'm taking him some political articles (my printer is once again working--yay!), plus my lunch, because I want to eat with him on the patio there. To get the go-ahead, I called Celeste, one of the directors, and she said that was fine. However, I also tried to call Jim to tell him I was coming and got the message the call couldn't be completed as dialed. Called Celeste back and was told Jim doesn't have a phone. Since when? I had called him directly before on his own phone. Why would he no longer have one? I'll try to find out today. 

I had a balance on my account for the Access Van, so called to ask if I could donate it to the service now that I ride free; yes, and I'll get a receipt via w-mail. 

Also called Meticulous to ask what my tenant wanted to know--whether they check for any clogs or pipe problems. Was told no, as those are underground, so I e-mailed Lori to that effect. 

Did a bleach wash, and that was enough domesticity, so I packed a lunch and bused to town. I took a book back to the library, took out another, and bought two more at the little bookstore maintained by Friends of the Library. Am I nuts? I already have an alarmingly large mini-library of my own, both those that I've read, but want to keep:

                                                         

...and those I haven't read yet, but couldn't resist:

I've read the Joe Kennedy bio before, but decided I wanted to own it. As for War Made Invisible, I'll certainly re-read it in a few years. The rest is an eclectic mix of bio, history, and how-to. I'm not big on fiction, aside from Jonathan Kellerman's stuff. I borrowed from the library his Open Season, which I'm reading now. 

Wider: I accidentally just saw Trump talking to reporters about the current slaughter in the Middle East. I was amazed at what a buffoon he is, but I understand why. It's for the same reason Zelensky always dresses as if he's about to go out and mow the lawn. The handlers want to show what regular guys they are, so they appeal to the hoi polloi--geez, I'd like to go out for a beer with them! Then they vote for their pals...

MONDAY, STELLA, ALPHONSE, LAPTOP, AND THE U.S. MAIL

After doing my usual morning rituals--top off blog, do Wordle, Connections, and Blossom, see email, read Pat R.'s blog, and go into Facebook, I was horrified that the screen just suddenly froze. I thought it must be the mouse, so changed the battery, but still nada. By that time, I had to leave for the bus, as I was meeting Stella at 11:00 at the mall. Off I went, only to find that the lunch at Casa de Soria had been cancelled; fine by me, as I wasn't really interested in buying into ambulance insurance. 

Before Stella got there, I had time to search out Alphonse, my pal from Fractured Actors, who works at Whole Foods. I asked if he had auditioned for the monologue show, but he hadn't, as he has an audition coming up shortly for a show in Santa Paula. Hope he gets in and I hope I can see it. Here's Alphonse, a neat guy:

It's hard to believe he's in his middle forties. He and Lindsay, also in F.A., are an item and have been so since they met at the last show I was in there. I told him to give her a kiss for me. 

Met up with Stella and we went to a restaurant called "Art's" for lunch. I had never been there before and I liked the place, except that Stella insisted on sitting inside and it was very crowded and very noisy. I finally asked to move to the patio, which we did; that was better, but still it was kind of hard to hear. In fact, hearing Stella is always a challenge. She simply doesn't speak loud enough, not does she enunciate well, so a whole lot of the time, I look at her intently, smile, nod, and laugh when she does, all while not understanding two words out of ten. 

Anyhoo, we had a good lunch, then she dropped me off at the transit center and I took the 6 home. As soon as I got in, I packed up my poor, ailing little laptop and took it over to Asurion. One of the guys took it in hand immediately and had it all better very shortly. It seems I had accidently pressed the F6 key on the top row of the laptop; it has an icon of a rectangle with a little line at the bottom--representing the screen, I guess. But why wouldn't the mouse work? Because the new battery had been put in backward (now, what idiot would do that😕)?  Anyway, my little darlin' is chugging away again and all is well. Speaking of little darlings, I called Ellen and caught up with her doings. She's still dealing with the highs and lows of moving into a new house, of course, but overall, things are going well. 

Ominous note: I called the Agency On Aging to report that my free tickets for the Access Van had not arrived. I was assured they had been sent on June 13, but I would have to wait until July to get ten more. (Actually, I use the Access Van only rarely, but still, I didn't want to lose the tickets.) Later, when I went out for the mail, there were the tickets. It took nine day to get here? I can walk there in twenty minutes. Incredible and I'm beginning to wonder if the empire is finally going down.   

Wider: https://scheerpost.com/2025/06/22/chris-hedges-war-with-iran/

From the article listed above: War opens a Pandora’s box of evils that once unleashed are beyond anyone’s control. The warmongers who ordered the strikes by U.S. bombers on Iranian nuclear sites have no more of a plan for what comes next in Iran than they had in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya or Syria. European allies, whom Israel and Trump have alienated with these air assaults, are in no mood to cooperate with Washington.