SUNDAY--THE END OF AN ERA

I skipped lunch in favor of taking the Access Van to the farewell bash for Luminal Church and Fractured Actors. It was nothing like I expected, as there were only a handful of F.A. alums there besides me: Jonathan, Meredith, Bryan, Kathy, Alphonse, Lindsay, Ken, Amy, and Matt. The rest of the attendees--a hundred or so people--were all church members. They are now going to be moving to a new location and F.A. is effectively finished. The fact that Jeff and Shannon are now divorced and the site will no longer be available combined to end it. 

The party was held indoors and out and hamburgers and chips were provided, as well as water to drink (I was hoping for a cold beer), and a few games for the kids. I spoke to Jonathan, who has bleached his hair blond and looks like a model (he's in this twenties). He told me he and his husband are moving to Dallas and we had a good chat. Erica was a kind of M.C. and asked others to say a few words. I told of performing in Welcome Home when I first moved to California and discovered Fractured Actors; Erica was in it, too. Here are some pics of the bash: 

The Access Van picked me up a bit after 2:00 and, just as I was leaving, Shannon was coming. We hugged and she'll call me for lunch. 

As soon as I got back to The Orchard , I joined the Bingo crowd and actually won a game, although I was only there for two. After, I played Yahzee with volunteeer Cindy and Keith, Frances, and Beverly. Unfortunately, Beverly was obnoxious, directing everybody. Ha--I threw the dice and got Yahzee and won the game. Dined with Trudie, Carl, Carol, Stan, and Barbara. It was pork loin, but pretty tough, so I gave half of mine to Dyan for Della (her pup). 

Son Mike Facetimed me at 7:00 and we had a good talk. Vivian is in London and Violet was asleep (it was early morning there). Mike will be moving in July, as after the divorce, he had taken his present apartment because it was close to Violet's school. In September, she'll be at Savannah College of Art and Design and Mike will get a place more to his liking. 

Katherine texted me, asking if I wanted her to pick me up for the BCNN meeting on Wednesday. Sure, why not, and she will.

SATURDAY

 Lunch with Keith and LaVerne--none of us knew where Kathie was. After, I enjoyed winning a game in dime Bingo, then going upstairs to the salon for my manicure. Elika did a great job, as usual, and I'll be having her give me a pedicure next.

I just don't understand the electronic world: As I recorded here, I had been unable to use neither my unattached keyboard or my mouse, so had to make do with the laptop keyboard. However, after a day of this, the mouse suddenly started working and now--so has the keyboard I favor! Hey, if it lasts, I'm okay with it.

I saw neither Kathie not Keith at dinner (Keith came later), so ate with Allan, Beverly, and Frances. The entree was rice curry and meatballs, which didn't appeal to me, so I had a bagel with salmon. After dinner, I called Kathie and found that she has a burst blood vessel in her left eye and also has been feeling sluggish; she had blood work done and will see the doctor today.'

I ordored some IPA from Whole Foods and they had it delivered at 9:45 pm. That's really late for me, but I I just went to bed a little later. Slept well and got up at 6:15.

Today is the Fractured Actors farewell party Access Van will pick me up at 11:45.

FRIDAY

Stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry. I fooled around with this and that until time for the balance class at 10:00. After that, I stuck around to sit and chat with Mindy and Elaine. Dried the sheets, remade the bed, then went to lunch with Keith and LaVerne. We wondered where Kathie was, as she wasn't in the dining room for dinner Thursday night, either. I called her and   left a message.

I called the Access Van to schedule a pick up and drop off for tomorrow when I go to the Fractured Actors' final gathering, That's a melonchony prospect, but at least Second Act Players is in the works.

Went down to the singalong at 3:00; our resident pianist, Carol, played a lot of the old favorites and we sang along, with various mixed drinks to make it merry. 

Had dinner with Trudie, Carl, and Barbara, then went up to shower and get ready for bed. I've been sleeping well lately, I'm glad to say,  I'm debating with myself whether to go to Nails L'Elegance to get a pedicure. I have an appointment this afternoon with Elita for a manicure, so maybe I should just have her do it. Dunno...

THURSDAY

A quiet day.  I went to Bone Builders class at 10:30, then lunch directly after. Sat with Kathie, LaVerne and Bee and had a tasty bagel and lox. I then did nuthin' much aside from playing Jewel Match Royale and orderiing international stamps on-line.

I finally bestirred myself to go to the exercise room and ride the bike. I was pleased that I rode for a whole half-hour and felt good to do it. 

Dinner with Keith and LaVerne--don't know where Kathie was--and had some pleasant conversation, as usual. I skipped the main entree of quiche Lorraine and had the Asian salad. Took home the dessert--no sugar ice cream--but will return the dish.

 Damn, this laptop is acting up again. Now the unattached keyboard isn't working again and it'sso hard for me to use the attached one. Must consult Ellen.

WEDNESDAY

I went to the balance class at 10:00 and when it was over just did this and that, including my favorite Jewel Match Royale. Had lunch with Allan, Beverly, and Frances.

Mary Ann had told me she'll be out of town tomorrow, so won't be able to pick me up for T.O.P.S.; Cheryl then volunteered to do so. However, she called yesterday to say she wasn't going, as she had just gotten out of the hospital with pneumonia. I was alarmed to hear that, as she said she had fainted the other day. She has fainted before and that's pretty worrisome. I told her I wasn't too enthusiastic about going myself and she said she'd call Sharon to tell her. She did so and Sharon called me to say Lennie had decided to cancel the meeting. Fine by me.

I went to the new resident greeting meeting at 3:00. There was a good singer for entertainment, as well as various drinks. There were two newbies, Judy and Al (no related or connected) whom Mindy asked to say a few words. Judy, to whom I've spoken before, went on and on, saying she's an artist and a singer. Hmm...to say she's peculiar doesn't cut it.  I sat next to her at the Sabbatt on Saturday and she told me she had asked Jesus to give her permission to have a glass of wine; he complied. Also, at the gathering, Dyan told me Judy had said she was married to Jesus. Okay... As for the other newbie, Al, he had played in trumpet in the Hollywood Bowl when he was a kid. 

Back in my apartment at almost 5:00 and I wasn't the slightest bit hungry for dinner. However, I went down, sat with Keith, LaVerne, and Pat and enjoyed the crab salad.

Note: I received my Werther's no-sugar candy from Amazon and ordered a top on-line, which should be here in a few days.   

Note Two: I've been sleeping well and my BP has mostly been normal lately.

SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND TUESDAY

 FINALLY, my laptop is operational. I don't want to go into detail about what happened (which was my fault, no question) but my darling daughter, Ellen, fixed it. Anyway, here's a quick rundown  of the last three days:

SUNDAY: Lunch with Noreen and Gary at Danny's Deli, to which I took the city bus. Went to Target first and bought something, but I don't remember what. Also can't recall what I did the rest of the day.

MONDAY:  Susan picked me up and we went off to meet Vera and the rest of the former Soaring Spirits gang at The Greek, a restaurant overlooking the harbor. Had a great time both seeing Vera and celebrating her birthday, which had been the day before: 

She's forty-eight years and a day old!

From left, Frances, Gayle, Glenda, yours truly, Dinna, Vera, and Susan.

It was great seeing Vera, someone who's very close to my heart. It doesn't matter that she's considerably younger than my youngest child; we're soulmates.

TUESDAY:  Dear Ellen came at 11:30 and fixed this machine. Can't remember exactly what I had done to it, but I was all set to take it to Axion. Luckily, there was no need. We then went to BOA for  me to get dimes for dime Bingo, and topped the day off with Jasmine Thai for lunch. 

When I got home, I immediately went to the multi-purpose room for my Bingo fix. I actually won two games and now am swimming in dimes. El came after, bringing me the Miracle-Gro for tomatoes and graduation cards for Vivian and Violet. She fed the tomatoes and they're already bearing fruit--still small and green, but they'll be wonderful when ripe. 

Dinner with Kathie, Keith, and Pat. It was meat loaf and not bad. Slept reasonably well, but it's now 3:45 am and what am I doing up?  I just got up for the usual and felt like playing my match game  on the laptop. Hey, I have no plans for today, so I can nap later, so what's the prob with that? 

SATURDAY

An active day: I skipped breakfast, as is now my habit, but went downstairs at 11:00 to participate in "the brunch bunch." I had thought it meant a buffet of some kind, but actually, residents cooked or baked the food themselves  Activities director Mindy was supervising and she gave me the task of mixing, kneading, and rolling out the dough for "Dutch pancakes." They're a kind of crust in which strawberries and blueberries are placed, then are sprinkled with powered sugar and topped with whipped cream. While the dough rose, I went to lunch (with Kathie and LaVerne), then went back to sample the goody. It was delicious and Mindy insisted it was all to my credit because my handling of the dough was so good. Ha--I used to make pies and cakes without even thinking twice. 

Right after we finished off the treat, we sat down for dime Bingo. I won one, but still ran out of dimes and Mindy staked me to a dollar's worth. She said she would insititute quarter Bingo in June and I'm looking forward to that.   

Jusat as I was about to call Noreen, she called me. We chatted then make a date for lunch today at Danny's Deli.

Bingo was no sooner over than Trivia started and I stayed for that. There were the usual inane questions, but it was sort of fun. Went back to my place to get my lemon chunks for iced tea, then down to dinner with Kathie and Keith. As I told them, I'm going out for lunch the next three days: tomorrow, Sunday, at Danny's with Noreen; tomorrow, Monday, to The Greek to see dear Vera, back from Oregon; and Tuesday, lunch and other good things with Ellen.

I also completed some necessary chores: did a white wash, took trash to the place, and set up my medications for the week.