MONDAY

 Stripped the bed and put the sheets in the washer before breakfast. Ate that with Keith, during which we had a good literary discussion. He goes more for novels, I for non-fiction, but we sometimes cross over and had several books in common. After, I put the sheets in the dryer and took a short nap while they did their thing. Got up and remade the bed, then went down to attend Balance Class with Jackie.

Lunch with Keith and Kathie--chicken, which wasn't bad--then I sat at the clubhouse to read my book. I didn't get much read before another resident, Doris, came out and we talked. Doris was born the same year my late husband was, 1931, which makes her 95. At length, she told me all about her background: antecedents from Austria, an unmarried mother, brought up in an orphanage in Wisconsin, then lived on a "foster farm," was married, had four sons, and so on and on. I told her she should get her grandchildren to FaceTime or record her telling about her background. Leslie then joined us and we chatted for a bit before it got a little too breezy and we went in.

It occurred to me I should charge my heart monitor, so I followed directions and hooked it up. The directions said it would take about 90 minutes and that it would flash a steady green when it was charged. Then, I was to press the red button and feel a buzz. When it flashed a steady green, I changed the adhesive discs and put it back on my chest. However, when I pressed the red button, I felt no buzz, though I had when it was charged before. Called Cabrillo Cardiology, but had to leave a message for Dr. Wang's assistant and haven't heard back from her yet.  

Ate with Keith--Kathie decided to have soup in her apartment--and as ever, we had interesting conversation. I chatted with Beverly, Allan, and a few others before we all broke up to go back to our own domiciles. 

Took a shower and washed my hair, in preparation for my echogram today. 

SUNDAY

 Breakfast with Keith; he said he didn't see me yesterday at dinner, so sat with Cheryl and Mary. After, I sat outside in the sunshine and called Muckie. We had a good chat; she's still in rehab, but unfortunately, said she'll soon be in Hospice, which she'll enter when she's at home. It's good that we're able to openly talk about her condition, but damn, I hate to know it won't be long before I can no longer call her.

On a happier note, Ellen is back from her cruise and as I write this at 1:09 pm on Sunday, I'm thrilled to know I'll see her in twenty minutes or so. She'll pick me up, take me to Ventura Harbor, we'll walk there, then meet Greg for dinner at Lure. 

Lunch with Keith and Kathie, then yes, indeed, Ellen picked me up at 1:30 and off we went. First, though, she gave me a T-shirt from Aruba. Coincidentally, we're having T-shirt day on Wednesday, so I'll wear it then. 

What a good time we had! We walked along the harbor promenade, at least two miles all told. We took a few pictures on the way, but I'll post them once Ellen sends me hers. We stopped at the Channel Islands museum and I got a cap for the little (big) guy in Tokyo, who just graduated from the equivalent of eighth grade. Below are the cap, the T-shirt Ellen gave me, and the T-shirt day flyer:

After our waterfront stroll, we met Greg at Lure for dinner and had a great time. After a leisurely meal, we said goodbye to him and went back to my place, after stopping at Von's for me to stock up on a few things. It had been a fine day and I hope I never forget how lucky I am. 

SATURDAY AND A BUSY DAY

Mary Ann picked me up at 9:15 and off we went to the NO KINGS rally at the county offices. There were thousands of people gathered, all protesting Trump and his murderous policies. Here's just a small sampling of some of the protesters:

Above: One of my favorites.

Above: Just read it in reverse and you get the picture.

Above: Mary Ann's husband, Frank, a committed Catholic, pacifist, and former seminarian. 

Anyway, it was an invigorating time and excellent turnout. We left a little before noon, so I was in time for lunch; ate with Kathy and Keith. Unfortunately, one of our older residents, Rose, had fallen and when I got to the dining room, was being aided. The fire company personnel came soon after and took her away on a stretcher.

After lunch, I played a rollicking game of dime Bingo; I won one, but darn, somebody else did, too, and we had to split the $3.60 winnings, but at least, I got a generous $1.80--ha! After that, I stayed for Trivia, which Keith conducted, and then it was time for dinner. Kathy didn't show and I didn't see Keith later, either, so I sat at a table by myself, but was soon joined by Martha or "Marty." This women is an absolute champion talker who never shut up about her extremely successful children, her sterling background, and the wealth with which she's been surrounded all her life. How true her prattle was is questionable.

Back upstairs, I did a load of wash before T.V. time. Today, I have no plans, which is actually a relief, and I'm hoping Ellen will be back from her cruise, although I won't see her until tomorrow.

FRIDAY

Breakfast with Keith, but had barely started when Mary Ann texted me that she had arrived. This was only 8:13, so she was early, but that was okay, as I had already delivered my coffee things to the clubhouse. Mary Ann waited at the entrance for the others, while I went to check that the place was set up all right. It was, and the others came in, with the exception of Lennie, our leader, who's usually late.

The T.O.P.S. group consisted of Mary Ann, Cheryl, Katherine, Sharon, and Curleen, who had been slated to give the program. However, she brought her husband, Wally, along and he actually was the one who spoke. He is a retired doctor and he talked about diet, weight loss, and so on...talked and talked and talked and talked, in fact. He believes you should not eat anything after 4:00 p.m. because your liver and pancreas and all the other guys need to rest. My Orchard friend, Kathie, came as a guest and intends to join, so she'll be there next week at Trinity Lutheran, too.  Sharon wore an Asian dragon outfit... 

...along with earrings she had made herself: 

However, the weight news for me was grim: At home, I was up .08 to 138.4 and at T.O.P.S. up .09 to 139.9, on the brink of 140. Oh, me, oh, my, I MUST reform!

Lunch with Keith and Kathie and I restrained myself with simply a salad. After, I sat outside the clubhouse with my book and read for a time, then went back upstairs to prepare for Happy Hour. It featured three Irish dancers and was very engaging:

Back at my place, I did this and that before going down to dinner. Ate with Keith and Kathie, and Ursula joined us. Today, Mary Ann will pick me up at 9:15 and we'll join the "No Kings" rally at the county complex. 

THURSDAY

Before breakfast (with Keith, as Kathie had the best intentions, but didn't get there), I put in a white wash, retrieving it after. At 10:00, I went to a kind a info meeting with chef Michael and director Tiffany.  It was milding informative: we were apprised that new silverware (there didn't seem anything wrong with the old ones) were coming, plus luncheon salads would get more varied, plus other little nuances would be added. Actually, I'm mostly satisfied with the food and certainly, with food service. 

Lunch with Keith and Kathie, then I prepared the T.O.P.S. items to take to the clubhouse. They included coffee, cups, sugar, sweetener creamer, napkins, and a T.O.P.S. magazine. This morning, I'll take over the coffee maker; luckily, it's the individual serving kind, so is light. Mindy unlocked the clubhouse for us and we spent twenty minutes or so assembling the set up. I just followed how we have things at our usual meeting, then we put some chairs in a row for our audience.

Back at my apartment, I got instructions for charging the heart monitor and I think I'm pretty okay with it. I think some members will come to see my place, so I emptied the large box that was in the living room and dusted a bit. Took the box and trash to the laundry room to discard and the place looks reasonably neat.  

Dinner with Keith, but Kathie didn't show, not sure why. We had some good conversation, both amusing and insightful, so that was enjoyable. 

Slept well and got up at 5:00, which is all right with me; I'll nap after the meeting.

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast over, I frittered away the hour until it was time for the Balance With Jackie class at 10:00. Took a short walk around the complex after that, then joined Keith and Nancy for lunch. At 2:00, I went to Bingo, during which players could "buy" (for a dime apiece) up to four cards, which I did. I won a game and had a good time. 

Directly after, there was entertainment. Mindy had a Black guy named Aron in and he sang a number of songs, including many of good old Nat King Cole's. That naughty Mindy, our activities director, made Harvey Wallbangers, in which I indulged. Because I did, I skipped bringing my IPA to dinner. Had pulled pork, beans, and salad and a no-sugar ice cream for dessert, then went back up to assembly my dimes and quarters and straighten up a bit. Aron, the entertainer, had mentioned he was in a movie with Antonio Bandaris and I looked it up on Netflix. I just watched the first fifteen minutes or so and there was a Black man in a diner reading a newspaper--an extra with no lines, but that may have been him, not sure. 

I was so pleased that Mindy volunteered to make the flyer for tomorrow's T.O.P.S. meeting, which I'm organizing: 

She then had it put at every door, so we may have a fair amount of guests at the meeting. Both my meal companions, Keith and Kathie, are planning to come. 

Incredibly, this year there are three different graduations in my family: Mr. K., in Tokyo, is graduating from the equivalent of what we called grammar school, i.e., eighth grade; his mother videoed the ceremony, which I watched last night.  Then granddaughter Violet, in Singapore, is graduating from the equivalent of high school; and her sister, Vivian, is graduating from the University of Hawaii. I'm going to give each a token gift, plus money, the amounts calculated on their level of schooling, I guess.

Well, it's now 5:15 am on Thursday. I woke up a half hour ago because the heart monitor I'm wearing was flashing light--AAGH, what was this?! I had no idea what that meant and rushed to get the explanatory paper that came with the device. There was a number to call with questions and I did, with little hope it would be answered that early. It was, though--I think in Minnesota--and I was told it just needed to be charged. However, I'm not going to do that until I have better information on it, so I'm letting it flash.

Note on anger at the Cabrillo Cardiology Group: They switched the date I was to get fitted for the monitor several times, but I decided it was stupid and self-destructive to elaborate on it, so will just forget it.  

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.