MONDAY

 I slept well--until 7:30, in fact--did my morning routine, then went down to balance class. I had forgotten that leader Jackie wouldn't be there, but resident Elaine led reasonably well. After, I saw Beverly in the dining room, just sitting there all by herself, so I sat with her and we chatted for twenty or so. During her working life, she had been a psyhologist, and specialized in teenagers. She's well over ninety now and seems to be failing a bit; however, we had a good talk. As I was heading for the elevator, I saw my other older friend--Anita will be 96 in December--waiting for her hair dresser to pick her up. Anita, whom I like a lot, and I chatted for a bit. 

Lunch with the regulars, sans Denise, who had said she was going to veg out at home for the day. It was pasta with a side of squash medley--very good. After, Paula invited Kathie and me to her place, saying she had something to give us. Her apartment is a studio and nicely decorated with a lot of old family pictures. What she wanted to give us were some little wrapped candies; she had a lot of them. I avoid sugar, but took a few to be polite and stowed them in the freezer.  

Nothing much going on elsewise. I had dinner with Kathie and Paula and was treated to toothpick ice cream after (well, it was the regular dessert). 

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Yep, it was a hundred degrees yesterday, Monday, October 5, here in Ventura, California.

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SUNDAY

Lunch with the usuals, aside from LaVerne, who didn't show. Entree was shrimp, which was good, as was the salad, rice, and asparagus. After we ate, I put together my RX meds for the week, both morning and night, plus the vitamens and supplements.  

At 2:00, we gathered in the dining room for Chef Michael's olive oil presentation. He had a display of, and explained a lot about,various olives and olive oils. The spread was delicous, especially the coarse bread dipped in balsamic, also the olives of various kinds. We all enjoyed it and I brought some home to eat as a T.V. snack.

Chef Michael setting up.

There was considerably more than this once he finished.

While I was there, Ellen called to see if I was available tomorrow, Tuesday, to go to Santa Barbara, meet niece Carolyn for lunch, then go see Betty. Yes, indeed, and I'll call the Access Van to take me to Ellen's; she'll take me home.

I got a text and pictures from Susan, my Soaring Spirits friend. She's in San Diego at a dog show and  here she is:

Susan's the one on the right with her adorable little Gismo. I'm going to skip Soaring Spirits lunch this time, as Susan's out of town and I  have outings the next two days, anyway. 

Had dinner with Paula and LaVerne; Kathie didn't show, which isn't unusual. I skipped the so-called Philly cheese steak for a large vegetable salad (well, I guess all salad's are vegetable, but this had additions). 

SATURDAY

 Noreen called me at 7:00 am  to say she had picked up some Halloween-y things for me--what a sweetheart. I want to see her soon for lunch. Sat with Paula and Denise for lunch here, then went to the "store," where I used funny money to buy a packet of nuts and hangers. Signed and dropped off  my rent raise notice, which starts November 1.

Down to quarter Bingo at 2:00 and I played my usual four cards. I won twice and replenished my supply. We then switched to dime Bingo and I won one there, too. 

Nothing much else going on today, except I straightened up the apartment a bit. Went downstairs to take my artifacts out of the showcase, since it's now October and the new theme is Octoberfest. Did a few other little chores, which are too boring to mention except they included dusting and so on. 

I was pleased when my friend, Kathryn, texted me to ask if I wanted to go the BCNN meeting on Wednesday. Yes, indeed, and she'll pick me up at 8:15.

Had dinner with the usuals, five of us at a table for four, but that's okay. Chef Michael had a new banner put up:

I know they're promoting the Mediterranean diet, in which I'm interested and today, Chef Mike will do a seminar and tasting on olives and olive oil; I'm looking forward to it. 

FRIDAY AND MEMORIES OF KEITH

When Mary Ann picked me up for T.O.P.S., I told her I preferred not to go to breakfast after all. I was tired and just didn't feel up to it. She was okay with that and maybe we'll go next week. At home, I was down four tenths of a pound to 141 even; at the meeting, down .5 to 141. Big whoops, but at least it wasn't up. Sharon had one of her snappy outfits on, this one including a matching hat:

Home, I changed, then napped for an hour before going down to lunch. Only Paula was there, then Bea joined us. I knew Denise was on the thrift store and lunch trip, but Kathie wasn't there, either. I was stunned when LaVonne came up to me and gave me this card: 

* See below.

LaVonne said she had found it in a book in our library. Presumably, Keith as taken the book out and used the card as as bookmark. Re the note on the card, which mentions it was for his thirty-fifth birthday--that was forty-four years ago. I'm amazed LaVonne gave it to me and I greatly appreciate it; I'll cherish it.

After lunch, I stopped in to see Mindy and she apolozied profusely that she hadn't called me: It seems the group that pedals the "bike" couldn't find anyone able to get here, so it was cancelled. Hey, that was okay with me. Although I enjoyed it when I went before, I was pretty sure Kathie had forgotten. I called her and yes, she had. It turned out okay, but if it had gone as planned and Kathie didn't show, I would have been very much annoyed.

Went to Happy Hour at 3:00 and enjoyed the violinest/singer, who first played classical music...

...then turned into Elvis:

It was great fun and I had a Margarita and popcorn, too. Although that was shortly before dinner, I ate the chicken bowl and it was pretty good. Sat with Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Denise and we had our usual free-ranging talk, peppered with laughs and a few appropriate naughty words.

I was pleased to get a Facetime call from son Mike and we had a good chat. He said Violet was doing well at SCAD and he sent me some pictures and a video she had taken. 

* On the card:  "You're 35 now and for 15 years, it's been a friendship and I am looking forward to another 50 more. Best wishes on your birthday!  Boris (?) & Shelly" 

Thursday

 I had every intention of going to Bone Builders, but didn't get there, due to a nap that ran over. 

Had lunch with Kathie, LaVerne, and Paula and skipped the pork chop entree for my yummy bagels and lox (salmon). After, Jeanne Painter called and we had a good, long conversation. She had attended George Wimberg's ninetieth birthday in July and told me about it, also the fact that George's wife is in hosptice with Alzheimer's and other problems. The three Wimberg sisters, Lois, Carole, and Joan had jointly bought a house in Hawaii and invited Jeanne to come visit--she may or may not. Anyway, it was fun to hear again from the prettiest girl in our graduating class.

At 3;30, I attended the final "Japan Month" presentation, by a woman named Leanette, who is of Japanese decent. She was born here, but lived in Sapporo, Japan with her military husband and family:

Leanette and I posed with the Japanese display I provided. 

Leanette was accompanied by another Japanese woman. In front of them is the Kota, a Japanese instrument Leanette played.

 She also shared scrapbooks and other items with the audience.

I spoke to Leanette after and learned that she comes to the "Hawaian Meeting" at our clubhouse every Saturday. I may go over and join them sometime.

Directly after the presentation we had dinner; I sat with Kathie, Paula, and Denise. Unfortuantely, Paula, with whom I had scheduled the "rickshaw" type ride for this afternoon, told me she was unable to go. I asked Kathie if she'd like to and she will. T.O.P.S. first, of course. Mary Ann will pick me up and no, I'm not optimistic, but who knows what? I don't.  

After dinner, I put in a white wash, retrieving it later just before I changed into my jammies. I've seen a resident now and then--once in a while, not often--got get their laundry while dressed in robe and slippers. I'm not going to be doing that.  

WEDNESDAY

Slow day. Had lunch with Paula and LaVerne--Kathie was out with her daughter. I did little else except some minor financial stuff, nap, and play dime Bingo. My friend, Beverly, wants to give me a pillow that goes on the walker--she's getting a new one. It should be useful, especially when I go out to eat and can barely see over the table, at Sea Fresh, in porticular.

Napped after lunch, then did a few household chores, but mostly played games on the laptop. Had dinner with Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Denise. After, I rode the stationary bike for twenty minutes--that was about the only sustained exercise I got yesterday.

I stayed up until after 10:00, unusual for me, but slept well and just got up at 7:30. 

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This came up on One Drive. That's my father, reclining and looking impish on the second row right and my mother, two away from his right, on a picnic before they were married. Circa 1923.

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TUESDAY

 Slept okay and got up at 7:30. I dressed, got my coffee, then took  45-minute nap until it was time for 
Bone Builders at 10:15. After, I stopped into to Mindy's place to sign Paula and me up for the "bike" rider on Friday. Sat with the regulars, Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Denise, for lunch.  

At 2:00, I went down to dime Bingo. I won a game although, because there only six of us there, it was a miniscule amount, but I didn't care, I enjoyed it. 

What I did next, I didn't enjoy: I checked the mail. In it, there was a notice from management that my rent will increase by $323 a month starting November 1. What I find most infuriating is not that the rent was increased--I expect\ that every year--but I still have to pay $55 a month or $660 a year for the damn medic alert pendent that I've never taken out of the box. My insurance provides me one free of charge, but of course, managment will never allow me to skip the payment.  

Okay, enough of that boring money stuff. Ellen came at 5:30, bringing my paper towels, medication, and so on, then we left for the Dudley House covered dish, pot luck dinner. It was fun and interesting, as ever, and it was good to see my old D. House friends. However, I think my days of docent-hood, i.e. leading tours, are over, as my memory isn't what it used to be. The speaker, whose name I forget, impersonated Benjamin Dudley and talked about his experiences fighting in the War Between the States:                                                   

                                                   

Here, he's showing some of the reins of the horse he rode in battle. 

The buffet--brought by the guests--was good and I had several pasta dishes. I was surprised--and mildly disappointed--that there was no wine. At every other potluck, several people had brought some, but last night, it was simply water and Sprite; I had the latter.

It was after 8:00 when I got home--the middle of the night!--and I settled in to play Jeopardy on the tube. No plans for today, but there's balance class at 10:00 and dime Bingo at 3:00 and I want to go to them.