MONDAY

 Went to balance class at 10:00 and afterward, met up with Paula. I accompanied her part way on her daily around building walk, then sat with her, Kathie, and LaVerne for lunch.

Talked to Ellen and she'll be over this afternoon to take me to Rolling Oaks for a knee X-Ray. Also, she'll copy the documents I need to send to the Little Egg Harbor tax collecter about my merchantile license.

Napped for a time after lunch. Worked on some financial crapola and other "paper" (electronic) items before dinner. Sat with Kathie and Paula at dinner, then Mary joined us. I skipped the ceiche (?) for a hot dog and onion fries.

Slept well, but the knee is still not completely better. Ellen's coming at 1:30 and we'll go to Rolling Oaks Radiology for the X-Ray.

SUNDAY

 Did my usual nothing much in the morning. Received a call from my former neighbor, Lorraine, and we chatted. One of these days, I'll have her over.

Lunch with Kathie, LaVerne, and Paula. The other Kathie had hailed me before hand to tell me Bingo would be going on at 2:00, although it wasn't on the schedule. Did I want to attend? Ha--didn't have to ask me twice.

Went downstairs at the appointed time and enjoyed dime Bingo., winning two. Right after, at 3:00, we had Yatzee, which I played with volunteer Cindy, Keith, Mary, and Pat, with Reggie watching from the sidelines.

By the time we finished, it was almost dinnertime, so I stayed downstairs. Sat with Keith, Paula, andyy Ray and had a good chicken salad; asked for and received a bagel with salmon to take home for a snack. 

Called Ellen about my problem with the mouse and keyboard and also, my knee. She's going to call Primary Medical about the latter and I'm going to change the battery on the former,

SATURDAY

 A slow morning with just my usual Block Champ, then hour nap. Sat down for lunch with Kathie and Paula, then Ray joined us. I get a kick out of him, but Kathie dislikes him--he does have a tendency to never shut up--but LaVerne didn't show, so the fourth chair was empty.

Back at my apartment, I stopped at the little store for T. paper and small bags; I really didn't need or want anything else they stock. At 2:00, I went down to quarter Bingo--won two and a jackpost of almost ten dollars. Okay, you don't get rich, but I enjoy it.

Shortly after Bingo, it was time for dinner. Sat with Paula and Mary T. The latter is the flower arranger and greeting card maker who always strikes me as having a sadness around her. It was interesting to hear, though, that her husband, who died just a few  years ago, had been a fundamentalist Baptist minister. They had lived in nine or ten different states, moving around a lot, as--I guess--conditions demanded.

We said goodbye, then I chatted a bit with Kathie and Mary G. Back in my place, I played Block Champ, but abour 7:00, my conscience prompted me to get some excerise, so I went to the exercise room (just two rooms down from my apartment) and did twenty minutes on the stationary bike. 

Darn, my mouse has stopped working and I don't like using the attached keyboard. Darn two, I slept poorly, but guess I'll live through it.

 

FRIDAY

 Again, I skipped T.O.P.S. because of the continuing discomfort in the knee. If it isn't noticably improved by Monday, I'm going to call Primary Medical again. I weighed myself at home, but wearing only my bedclothes and not the one I wear to get weighed in. I registered at 141.8, a loss of 1.2, but again, since I wasn't wearing what I do every week, not really accurate. It's certainly too much, but I'll work on it.  

Lunched with Kathie, LaVerne, and Paula. Entree was pork rosst, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans, the perfect meal for a cold and snowy evening. Oh, but wait--this was lunch, it's August twenty-eighth, and 91 degrees outside. So I ordered a hot dog, which was, as always, good.

At 2:00, I went downstairs to the gathering for new residents, of which there were five--four women and one man. They were seated at a table in the front and "interviewed" by Mindy. I was interested to hear that new resident, Dottie, had ancestors who lived in a house in Connecticut, where she was born, which had a "safe place" for escapted slaves. 

At 3:00, Happy Hour started in the same place. The singer, Kevin Gillmond, was terrific and he brought his girlfriend, who is half Caucasion and half Japanese. I talked to them after and found they had met in Osaka and are now engaged. It was so enjoyable and so was the Chardonay I sipped during it.

Went back to my place before ascending again for dinner. I sat with Denise and Paula, then Keith joined us and we had some pleasant conversation. Chicken for dinner, which was pretty good, but the no-sugar-added ice cream is still nowhere to be found. 

Mike Messaged/Facetimed me at 7:30 and we had our usual weekend chat. Saw Violet for a minute or two and he'll be taking her to the Savannah College of Art in Design (SCAD) in Georgia in two weeks. I think her mother, Paula, will be going, too. 

THURSDAY

 I went downstairs shortly before 11:00 to find Erica already there. We hugged and then I saw that Becky had also come. Becky had worked with Erick and me in Fractured Actors and just came to learn some financial tricks. About fifteen people came and they seemed to receive Erica's presentation with interest. Ellen came about 11:15 and also enjoyed it.  After, Erica spoke with Mindy and they decided she'd come periodically if anyone wanted to consult her on financial matters, especially as they relate to retiirement. El took this picture of Erica during her talk: 

Ellen, Erica, and I then went to The Little Lion for lunch and had a great time. I had a delicious hamburger alone with a big salad, which I took home. After, we said goodbye to Erica and El and I went to Walmart to stock up on various. When we came to The Orchard, we saw there was a Brazil-themed celebration in the multi-purpose room, so I stayed to watch it and El took my purchases upstairs.  

Brother Larry called and we had a good talk. He's doing okay at 94, but is slowing down a bit. We  chatted for a few, then said goodbye.

Shortly, it was time to go down for dinner; I did and sat with Denise and Paula. I like them both and we had a good time. Dinner was cod and sides, which was okay--I like seafood--but not anything special.

WEDNESDAY

My knee may be somewhat better, but it still isn't completely okay. I'll follow the N.P.'s advice to use heat and keep taking the pain-killer/anti-inflamatory. I mentioned at lunch that I didn't have a heating pad and my friend, Paula, immediately offered to lend me hers. I accepted with pleasure and will use it soon.

Stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry room. Before lunch, I transferred them to the dryer, and retreived them after lunch. I ate with Paula, Denise, LaVerne, and Mary; we had chicken corden bleu, which was very tasty. Denise mentioned that she wanted to put (artifitional) flowers on the top of her cabinets, so I told her I'd give her some of those I had just bought and decided against. I did so, kept some, but was glad somebody could use some of the others.

At three, I went down to the multi-purpose room to attend the Social Hour for new residents. To my surprise, a dime Bingo was going on instead. I quesitoned Mindy about it and found she had announced the change, but I hadn't heard it. I wish she wouldn't do this OR that the schedule would be posted on-line. All right, not all the residents use the Internet, but the schedule could still be printed. So I attended Bingo, of course, borrowed dimes from Mindy, paid them back, won two games, and had a Margarita.  

Had dinner with Trudie and Carl and enjoyed it. We were amused that on the menu, it said "Presto Pasta." (Would the server bring it  with a "Viola!" gesture?) It was just a misprint and should have been "pesto," of course. Actually, it was pretty good. 

I invited Ellen to come today to my friend, Erica's, talk on retirement planning and she will. After, we'll go to lunch and maybe I'll invite Erica. Here's the flyer Mindy sent out about her: 

Showered and washed my hair, then settled in to watch a bio on Queen Elizabeth. Slept well and am looking forward to seeing my old (well, she's 60 or so) colleague from Fractured Actors. Here are Erica and me on stage when we appeared together in Welcome  Home four years ago. She's standing second from left on my right, pouring a bottle of champagne to toast the arrival of the new baby, my granddaughter: 

TUESDAY

I debated washing my hair during my shower in the morning, but decided I'd better not, considering my knee. Sharon called to ask how I was doing and we chatted for fifteen or so.  

Went down to dime Bingo at 2:00, but had time for only two games before I had to go next door to Primary Medical. I saw the nurse practioner, Sharon, whom I liked a lot. She agreed that the knee problem was arthritis and that I should continue the Biofreeze (which I just received from Amazon). She said if it worsened or continued, she'd have me see a doctor. Okay, I'm satisfied.

Got back in time to see the Kevin (don't remember his last name), a fabulous musician and singer, who plays the violin with three different symphanies in the ares, but treated us to Elvis and Credence Clearwater pieces and similar ones. Our server, Blanca, came in and did an improptu dance, then was joined by resident Ada:

After the show, I couldn't resist taking a picture of Tom, who wears the most hilarious tee-shirts:

"If you don't want a sarcastic answer, don't ask stupid questons."

Tom is a great guy, who cares for his wife, Cherry, who's afflicted with both physical and, it seems, cognitive problems.

Anyway, the show was terrific and I was happy to hear Kevin will be back in November. I went from there to dinner and sat with LaVerne, Paula, and Mary T.; Kathie was out with her daughter. 

This morning, Wednesday, my knee feels a little better--I think--and I'm now going to apply the BioFreeze and I may try the knee wrap Ellen lent me.