FRIDAY AND MORE COLUMBIA

Unfortunately, I slept badly and felt tired when I got up. However, I perservered and Mary Ann picked me up 8:00 for T.O.P.S. Happily, we left at 9:30, so I got back in time for the balance class. As for my weight, at home, it was the same as three weeks ago when I last weighed in: 138.6. At T.O.P.S., I actually lost a miniscule .02, as it was 139.6. Of course, that's still more than nine pounds over my ideal range, but not as bad as I had feared.

I had time to change, then go to balance class at 10:00. Had lunch after with LaVerne and Keith, then I toyed with the idea of rearranging some things in my apartment.  I didn't, though; just tidied up a bit. Ellen called and we made a date for Tuesday--lunch and errands. 

At 3:00, I went down to happy hour and greatly enjoyed the Columbian dancers. In fact, I told Mindy it was The Orchard's best show ever since I've lived there:

At one point, members of the audiance were asked to form a circle and follow the steps of a dance. I joined and it was great fun. I also--which I probably shouldn't have--had a Columbian coffee with rum--yum!

After, went to the dining room and had dinner with Kathie, Keith, Bee, and Carol. The latter plays the piano and also knits. She's nice enough, although conventional in her ideas, but that's okay. 

Dime Bingo today--yay!

THURSDAY AND COLUMBIA

Before going to bone builders class, I sliced up a lemon to take for my iced tea at lunch. I must have cut myself without realizing it because when I got to the clubhouse, my finger was bleeding. I guess the blood thinners I take makes me bleed a lot; luckily, one of the other participants had bandaids and bandaged me up.

Lunch after that with Kathie and LaVerne. It was Columbia day and a beef dish was served, along with Columbian beer and cocktails. It was good, but for some reason, I was a little out of sorts. Back in my apartment, I napped for a short time, then did a few household chores.

I texted Mary Ann and she'll pick me up for T.O.P.S. this morning. I'm not looking forward to it, as I just haven't been following my better habits. Besides, I missed T.O.P.S. for the last three  weeks and I dread what the scale will show. 

Dinner with Keith and LaVerne--not sure where Kathie was. 

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Speaking of the Columbia theme, here are chef Michael, secretary Frances, and assitant Maria:

More of the Columbia motifs:

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WEDNESDAY

Not much going on yesteday. I went to balance class at 10:00, then went home to clean up a few things. Lunch with Kathie, Mary G. and LaVerne; when Kathie left to get her hair done, Keith joined us. 

After, I did this and that around the apartment, then went to dime Bingo at 1:30. We played for two hours and I won twice, replenishing my dime supply. 

I got a text and this pic from Jeanne Painter: 

It's her ninetieth birthday party with family; Jeanne's in the middle of the second row. 

LaVerne didn't show up for dinner--she often eats in her apartment--and Keith sat elsewhere, so Kathie and I sat together, just the of us. She had had her hair cut, shaped, and lightened and boy, does it look good. It's kind of layered in color, but subtly, so it looks very natural. Lots of residents stopped by our table to compliment her.

Back upstairs at 6:30 and I played some Jewel Match Two before showering and sitting down to watch T.V. I've been sleeping well, so staying up later--last night I didn't turn in until 10:00!--seems to have done the trick.

TUESDAY

I went to Bone Builders at 10:30 and endured the exercises; by the time it was finished, it was time for lunch. Sat with Trish, Ralph, and Jerry and chatted with the first two, but Jerry spent the whole tiime reading things on his phone. 

Stopped to show Mindy the program for our show, but I tole her not to set up a bus trip, as there are only 64 seats available and I don't think there'd be room. Ellen called to say Dr. Chui's office (dermatology) had called and the biopsy came back postitive. Luckily, they don't want to do surgery, but will have a lotion filled at CVS which I should use every day. I have a follow-up appointment in September. 

At 1:30, I went up to the beauty salon and Elika did first, my pedicure, then my manicure. They both look good, but it took a long time and I didn't get home until 3:00, which meant I missed dime Bingo. Oh, well, they have another today.

Had dinner with LaVerne and Keith. LaVerne left before dessert, but Keith and I had the no-sugar ice cream. I then questioned Keith about his background: Pentacostal upbringing, two marriages, two divorces, and so on. I found it interesting, even more so than the stories of other residents.

MONDAY

 I had been notified that the Access Van would pick me up for reheasal at 11:45, but at 11:07, I got a text that it was on its way. No, that would make it much too early, so I called, but was on hold for almost a half hour, so hung up and went downstairs. It got here about 11:30 and to say I was annoyed is putting it mildly.

When we got to Ojai, we had a big problem trying to find the Veritas Theatre. Oddly enough, there are no signs and the entrance isn't evident--I don't know why. However, Bob was there and we got in and the rest of the cast showed up shortly.It's a very small venue; Suzy said they managed to get 64 seats in there, but that's very few. I'm not going to suggest that Mindy schedule a bus trip there for Orchard resident, as that would probably be too many. 

Anyway, rehearsal went okay. Oddly, there are more men in the cast than women, seven or so (three of them named Steve!) to five women. I recited my verse with no problem and my smallpart in "the green scene" was perfectly okay. It took only two hours or so, then Suzy drove me to Ellens's, who gave me lunch, then drove me home.  

I called Elika and will get a pedicure today at 1:30. She said she'll give me a "complementary" manicure, too; I'm not sure why and will try to pay her for it. Dinner with Kathie, Bee, and LaVerne.

SUNDAY

Fulfilled my weekly obligations before lunch, namely: Took my every-Sunday med; washed, dried, folded, and put away a load of clothes; set up my weekly multitude of pills, capsules and so on, for both morning and night. I interspersed this with playing my favorite "jewel match" game. Talked to Ellen and she'll pick me up after rehearsal this afternoon. That's a load off my mind.

Lunched with Trudy, Carl, Carol, and Barbara; Stan came later. Followed that with more laptop games--I can't help myself!--then went downstairs to game with others at Bingo. It hadn't originally been dime Bingo, but we decided together it would be and, hey--I won a game and replenished my dimes!

After that, I almost immediately went up to the card room to play Yahtzee. Voluneer Cindy wasn't there, so resident Elaine brought the materials and she, Keith, Beverly, and I played. I didn't win, but I did get Yahtzee twice.

Dinner with LaVerne and Keith--Kathie sat elsewhere. Back at my place, I cut up several lemons, preparing for iced tea; also put some in the freezer, along with a whole, incut one. Yes, you can freeze citrus fruit--I do it often and they come out fine. 

SATURDAY

As mentioned yesterday, I slept late--'til 8:30--then did this and that before I left at 10:00 to get the city bus to the mall. Went to Target, but got nothing; I had my walker and just didn't feel like getting things to carry on it. I had packed my lunch--a tuna sandwich and a non-alcohlic IPA--and ate it in the middle. Went across the street to the shop I like there and bought two tops.

Bused home and went immediately into dime bingo. Ha--I hadn't had time to go up and get my dimes, so I put in a few dollars and got them. I didn't win a single game and damn--Dyan won four of them!  It was fun, though.

After, I went back up to start this entry and was horrified to find the laptop displaying only the "ASUS In Search of Excellence" logo and it wouddn't do anything else. Called my darling Ellen and she walked me through the fix. She also will meet me after reheasal on Monday and we'll go to dinner, then she'll take me home. I'll have to let Suzy know. 

Had dinner with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne. After, on my way home, I introduced myself to a new resident couple, Sharon and Ray. 

Son Mike Messaged me about 8:00 and we chatted. It was Sunday morning for him in Singapore and he had just gotten in from a sixty-mile bike trip. We had a good talk.