TUESDAY

 After breakfast, I again took a short nap, as I've been doing most days. I'm cautiously optimistic that this won't interfere with my sleep, as I've been sleeping well lately. 

Just fooled around with this and that until it was time to go down to lunch.  I was looking forward to it--shrimp and crab--and, actually, it was pretty good. Kathie didn't show, but I sat with Keith, as I've been doing regularly.

After, I just played some computer games until I was picked up at 3:15 and taken to the cardiologist. Appointment was for 4:00 and we were a half-hour early, but didn't get in until almost 4:30. I got the heat  monitor put on, with instructions, but it was all Greek to me and I'll have somebody else interpret it and show me what to do.* We finally left and went directly to Suzanne's for Vickie's retirement party. 

I had a wonderful time! It was so good to be with old friends and although Kay is a relatively new one, I like her, too. Suzanne had a good spread of veggies and dip, cranberry meatballs, and assorted other things, and Kay brought deviled eggs. As we always do, we brought our own drinks, Suzanne and Kay having non-alcoholic beer, Vickie and I red wine and IPA. We all talked and talked, of course, and laughed a lot, and didn't break up until after 8:00. These aren't very good pictures, but here we are last night: 

Kay

Suzanne and Vickie

Vickie took me home and on the way, offered to take me to see Jim some day; I'll certainly take her up on that. 

I found my new printer ink at my door; since it's a re-make or whatever they call it, I hope it works. 

* We were so angry with this outfit, Cabrillo Cardiology Group. Tomorrow, I'll list here the reasons for that. 

MONDAY

After breakfast with Keith (I had an omelet for a change), I straightened up a bit, then went down to the balance class. I'm getting to think it's beneficial for me--it certainly doesn't hurt. 

I was surprised when Kathie knocked on my door before lunch. She wanted to tell me about her problems with some other residents, whom I know, too. I don't want to go into detail, but we decided she, Keith, and I would be meal companions and let the two others follow their own path. Suits me fine.

Lunch was tilapia, which was pretty good, after which I was picked up at 1:30 to go to Second Wave Physical Therapy.  Was greeted and treated by Stacy, whom I really liked, and went through my paces. I have five other sessions scheduled and will continue balance and bone builders classes.  

Stopped at Office Depot, but was so annoyed at the price of printer ink ($72.95 plus tax) that I decided to look around. Home at 4:00 and ordered ink on-line (Epson 222XL) via credit card 2485. 

Ate dinner with Keith and Kathie, skipping the main offering in favor of a turkey burger and pickled beets. When I got back to my apartment, I found a text from Suzanne, changing the retirement party for Vickie to 5:30 because I probably wouldn't be able to get there by 5:00. So nice of her.

After dinner, I took my skirt and knitted coat to the laundry room and put them in a cold wash. When U retreived them, they looked okay and I hung them to dry in the shower.

Slept well, all the way to 6:15, which is good for me. 

SUNDAY

 After breakfast--with Keith, of course--I was going to start on the tax stuff, but lazy me, I took a nap instead. I did, at least, do a large load of clothes--put them in before lunch. That I had with Keith only, as our other usual companions were at another table. Frankly, that's all right with me; to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of two of them and as for the other, she kind of amuses me, but maybe not enough to want to eat with her every day. 

I did almost nothing worth reporting until dinner, which I ate with Keith and we had a long, long talk. I learned all about his earlier life--two wives, two divorces, no children--and his two brothers, one of whom died from injuries after a car crash. The other lives in an RV in Arizona. Anyway, it was interesting to learn more about him. 

Finally found a graduation gift for Violet on-line and sent for it. I'll inclufe some dough in a check or gift certificate; must find something for Vivian now. 

I Messaged Mike to ask him to send me some pictures of him and his family at the Taj Mahal. I want to print them and show Mindy, as she's planning an India-themed day soon, but damn, I'm out of black. Sent to Epson for some and it should come soon. 

The shower head holder had fallen, but I was able to reattach it and get my shower. Happily, I slept well, even though I had napped yesterday; awoke at 6:00. 

Physical therapy today, to which I'm not looking forward. 

SATURDAY

Morning: Breakfast with Keith, took a short nap, then went to the salon upstairs and got a manicure. Did some laptop stuff and looked on-line for graduation gifts for both granddaughters. I'll give them checks, too, but want to add some little extras. Got picked up at 2:00 and off we went to town. 

We were early, so stopped at GoodWill where one of us got a top. Then it was off to the cinema to see Project Hail Mary.  We had a very peculiar time: The movie was listed as starting at 3:00, but we were a little late and it had already started when we got there. Incredibly, the credits were showing a half-hour later--what? what? why? It turned out there were two theatres and they were both showing it--we were in the other one. The upshot was, we then went the theatre showing the 3:30 one and saw almost the whole thing. With all that annoying confusion, we'd think we'd hate the movie, but the fact is...

...we both 💓LOVED💓 it! The story line was sort of goofy, but appealing, the effects were spectacular, and if Ryan Gosling isn't the most darling young man ever, I don't know who is. Anyway, it was terrific:

                                                            

The town was jammed and swingin', of course--it was a warm, but comfortable Saturday night--and we considered several restaurants before deciding on good old Lure Fish House. We had to wait 35 minutes to be seated, but there were places to sit, so that was okay. I was still stuffed from lunch (a good-sized burrito), so just had a bowl of New England clam chowder and an IPA. 

It was 8:00 before I was dropped off--latest I've been out in an age, but that was okay, too.  I got in my jammies right away and settled down for the night after a wonderful evening. 

FRIDAY

A glimpse of hope re weight: At home, I was down 1.2 for 137.6; at T.O.P.S, not as good--down .08 for 139--but I was down, that's the important thing. At the meeting, I emphasized that some Orchard residents may come next Friday, and we need to have a regular program. Curleen volunteered, so that will be good. I'll bring my individual coffee maker--must get cream and sugar--and others will bring tea, snacks, and so on. 

As I always do on Fridays, I missed breakfast. At 10:00, I attended the Balance With Jackie class, so was famished by lunchtime. Sat with Keith, Kathie, and Cheryl and had corned beef and cabbage, which was yum, except I had asked for extra cabbage and didn't get it--oh, well. After, I sat out in the sun and read my book; Keith wants to borrow it when I'm finished.   

At 3:00, I went down to Happy Hour, which included a drink called a "Blue Lagoon"; I'm not sure what was it it, but it was pretty good. We played a kind of quasi-Pictionary, which was weird. Elaine draw a picture on a big white board and Mindy gave clues about it. I guessed the first one, which was the Taj Mahal and one of the others--Niagara Falls.  Mindy asked if I had ever done a newsletter, as she's going to start one, and, of course, I have, but I certainly won't be doing one free of charge here. I'll give her some ideas and suggestions, though.

My usual meal companions were already seated with a fourth for dinner , so I ate with David and Lisa, a nice change, actually. Rather than presenting with down-in-the-mouth negatively, they're chipper and intelligent, especially David, who's an attorney. Keith was also unable to sit with the usuals, so sat at the table next to ours.

Got some wonderful pictures from Ellen, showing a stop they made at Monkey Island. I'm getting my nails done at 10:00, then will be picked up at 2:00 and go to the 3:00 showing of Project Hail Mary, with Ryan Gosling. We'll got to dinner after, maybe to Dargan's or Immigrant Son.

THURSDAY

A fun time! I was picked at 10:00 and we drove to the ocean Promenade. It was an absolutely gorgeous day--not a cloud in the blue sky, about 75 degrees, and with a gentle breeze.  We started at the Crown Plaza Hotel and walked (I with my walker) almost to the end, about a mile--then back; Along the way, we stopped to admire some of the hundreds of--I guess you could call them "memorial stones":

The Aloha, one of  my favorite restaurants (right at the ocean) was our choice and we both had delicious lunches. My Caesar  salad with chicken was fabulous, not to mention the ice cold IPA, and next time, I'm going to order my companion's blackened orange roughy fish with sides.    

After, we went shopping, first to Wal-Mart for coffee and a few other items, then to Green Thumb nursery, where I got a plant and pretty holder to give Vickie at her retirement party next week. I was dropped off after that, but not until we made tentative plans for tomorrow. 

Dinner with Keith, Kathie, and Cheryl, then back to my apartment to shower and wash my hair. Mary Ann will pick me up for T.O.P.S. this morning--hope I've lost, but I'm not too confident. 

Note: I had forgotten to post this before--St. Pat's Day card from the Tokyo Trio:

WEDNESDAY

After breakfast, I went outside to sit in the sun and read my book. Went back in at 10:00 to participate in the Balance With Jackie class and before I knew it, it was lunch time. Ate with Keith, as the others were nowhere around.

At 2:00, there was dime Bingo and after that, a Happy Hour with a trio. They were pretty good and did songs from singers in the thirties through the eighties, including Elvis and The Beatles:  

Dinner after and I sat with Allan and Beverly, as my usual group were at a table for four and I was the fifth. I actually enjoyed being with other residents for a change and had a good time.

During my nightly hour of T.V. watching, at 8:30 pm, Jeanne Dollard Painter called me, just to chat. It's been six months since John died and, of course, she's still getting acclimated. We had a good chat and will keep in touch.  

I'll be picked up at 10:00 am today and we'll go to the promenade by the ocean, then have lunch  at Aloha. Must go shopping after as I need coffee and also, a gift for Vickie. I'm looking forward to all that, of course.