THURSDAY

 --Breakfast with Keith, check; 

--lunch with Keith, Kathie, and Dyan (that's how she spells it), check;

--dinner with Keith and Kathie, check. 

--I did a load of wash, check. 

--In addition: Alain, the P.T., came at 11:00 and put me through my (exercise) paces. That was his last visit; I'll now start going to the Las Roblas facility near the Ventura government center.  

--Plus: After lunch, I went out to sit in the sunshine at the clubhouse. Chatted with Rick and later with Catherine and her cute little doggy. It had slipped my mind that a visiting nurse was coming, so she didn't find me home, but no prob; she came outside and checked my vitals. Incredibly, my BP was 120 over something. Considering it's been sky-high, I just don't understand it. Nurse's name was Jane Wang; don't know if she's any relation to the cardiologist, Dr. Wang, but unlikely, as I think that name is as common in China as Smith is here. 

--Also: Maintenance guy Joe came and got the heat lamp in the bathroom ceiling to turn off. He has to order a new something or other, which should be in on Monday. 

--Not only that, but TA-DAH: I took a shower, then slept well, I'm pleased to record. However, I have T.O.P.S. today and I'm sure I won't be pleased to record the numbers about that.   

My living room and patio/porch.

WEDNESDAY

Took a short nap after breakfast with Keith. I then decided to take fitness seriously and went downstairs to join the "Strength and Balance with Jackie" class.. This emphasizes stretching and is pretty intense; it meets three times a week and I want to attend regularly. 

After the session, I went back to get ready for lunch. Back down, I saw Mary, we waved and chatted for a bit and she sat with me. Keith came shortly and we had a good lunch together. Now what this is going to do to my relationship with Kathie, I don't know. Kathie believes Mary "doesn't like us," meaning Kathie and me, but that doesn't seem to be so. It will be further complicated when Cheryl comes back from Mexico, I'm afraid. She and Mary seem to be close friends, but if so, where does that leave Kathie? Oh, the hell with it--I'm new enough that I don't want to take sides, so am just hoping to stay out of it. 

The shower mat I ordered came, but damn, I didn't realize the flooring had to be smooth--my shower has a kind of rough finish, plus I have no-stick strips on it. Okay, I can send it back and when Ellen got here, she re-packaged it and will return it via Kohl's.

El first took me to the  dermatologist's office and Dr. Sui zapped my face lesions several times. This is the second time she did, as the last time seemed not to work. I have another appointment in June and let's hope they'll be gone. When we got back, El stayed for a bit and give me some advice about the shower fittings. She'll look for new bath rugs, too.    

Had dinner with Keith and Kathie, then Diane, my next-door neighbor, joined us, and we had some good conversation. Kathie left, then K., D., and I talked religion; we're all pretty much on the same page, K. a recovering Pentecostal, I a ditto RC, and D. a vaguely lapsed protestant. 

Back upstairs at close to 7:00 and damn, today, I have Jay, the P.T., coming at 11:00, and an R.N., nurse Wang, here between 1:00 and 1:30, then Natalie, at Primary Medical tomorrow afternoon.  I'm  also scheduled for and echogram later--When am I ever going to escape from the world of medicine!?! 

For that matter, when am  ever going to get a good night's sleep? The heat lamp in the bathroom was on all night, plus I'm on the new sleep aid regime and that kept me up. I'll try to nap after breakfast. 

TUESDAY

After breakfast with Keith, I got ready for Ellen, who came at 9:30 to take me to the neurologist. After a number of memory/mental test, I was declared in good shape, at least mentally, I guess. From there, we went to Von's to pick up a few essentials, then to Two Trees for lunch. We got home just in time to greet the P.T., Jay, who put me through the usual paces. 

Initially, there was only one more P.T. visit scheduled, but Ellen asked if it could be extended. It seems it might be able to, but I would have to travel to the location, rather than have them come here. I'm not crazy about that idea, but we'll see what Natalie, of Primary Medical, has to say when we see her on Friday.

Ellen stayed long enough to set up my pills for the week, then we said goodbye. I then  took my walker and a magazine and went to sit outside next to the clubhouse in the sunshine. Stayed a half hour or so, then went back to prepare for dinner...     

...where I was joined by Keith and Kathie. Had an enjoyable time and the food was good. Back upstairs, I switched some pictures and frames, including Mike and Paula's engagement portrait, which I've always loved and still do, although the romance--and the marriage--are over.  

Today, yet another doctor appointment, this time the dermatologist, but I guess I'll live through it. 

MONDAY

Breakfast with Keith--Kathie didn't show--and I had an omelet instead of poached. Back in my place, I straightened up a bit, then washed a few glasses and plates. Foolishly, I took a short nap after that; I don't want to get in the habit of napping. 

Lunch with Keith and Kathie and we were joined by Chris, a very talkative and outgoing guy. He's all right, I guess, but I found him a bit much. I then took a walk around he campus and down the street to a small park-like area.

I found this on Facebook:

                                       

This is the clubhouse in Sunrise Bay; my house is there, too, of course, and I have a number of family and friends in the snow area. I fervently hope they'll all be okay.  

Joe, the maintenance guy, came to fix my patio door so it wouldn't slam so hard. That went fine and he also improved the shower drain, which had run very slowly. After he left, I sat outside at the clubhouse in the lovely, 72-degree sunshine. Wish I could send some of that east. 

Dinner with Keith; I'm not sure where Kathie was, but frankly, Keith and I had some interesting literary conversation, which I doubt Kathie would like. It included the Ma Duncan murder cast (she was the last woman to be executed in California), Helter-Skelter, about the Manson murders, and others, which both of us had read.   

Back upstairs at 6:30. Ellen called to say she'll be here at 9:30 this morning and she'll pick me up for the neurologist's office in Camarillo today.  

SUNDAY

Kathie joined Keith and me for breakfast, which was nice. She's refreshingly honest, sometimes acid-tongued, but I prefer that to mealy-mouthed old people--or young people, for that matter.

Took a nap after, then set about my long-neglected organizing and filing the mountain of paperwork I've accumulated. Nothing much went on until lunch, but after that...

...nothing much went on. I must have done something, but can't remember what, aside from calling Jersey to check on the blizzard. Darn, I was told some predictions say up to thirty inches--I can't even imagine that.

Took a shower and washed my hair, using the newly positioned shower head. Happy day, it worked fine and I'm so grateful to Ellen for finding, buying, and installing it. I called to tell her that; will see her tomorrow for yet another doctor's appointment.

Slept well the last several nights, I'm glad to record.   

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.