THURSDAY WITH BETTY AND CAROLYN

And a good day with my dear niece and twin sister:  I skipped breakfast, instead sleeping until 8:30.  Just cleaned up a bit, and worked on the laptop until Carolyn at 10:30. After visiting for a bit, we left for Santa Barbara. Carolyn had an appointment, fo w went first to house, where I stayed with Calvin, Tony, and Drizzle* until she returned. In the meantime, I managed take a nap on the couch, which was refreshing. Before we left to see Betty, Carolyn gave me this precious Mothers Day gift:

It's the trophy Betty and I won in the Ventnor Baby Parade of 1937.

For lunch, we went to Cody's Cafe, where I had a good salad. Then it was off to Villa Alamar to see Betty. She was, as I had seen before, confused and unable to clearly communicate, but she is not unhappy and that's what we must remember. Carolyn has had a mural painted on Betty's wall and it's so serene:

Here are the twinnies and their 88-year-old trophy;

We stayed about 45 minutes, then she drove me home.

Had dinner with Kathie and Keith and when I got home about 6:30, I was tired and actually fell on my bed and slept for two hours. Got up, watched T.V. for two hour, then slept through the night. I'm not sure why I felt so exhausted, but I suspect, emotional stress.  

T.O.P.S. this morning and I don't feel like going, but I will. 

WEDNESDAY

 I've decided to start anew, turn over a new leaf, and reform my life for the better--or something. As noted before, I skipped breakfast and went back to sleep after a wakeful night. Dressed and did some chores until Ellen picked me up at noon and off we went.

First we went to Lowe's where El got a number of items for her house--curtain rods and so on. She just bought a new T.V., too, and Greg will help her set that up. I looked for a kitchen towel rack, but didn't see anything I wanted, so will look again on-line.

After, we went to Wood Ranch for lunch. We both had big salads--El barbeque, I Asian--which were, as always excellent. I asked El to stop at the bank so I could get dimes for Bingo and she did. She dropped me off after a fun day and I went immediately to the multi-purpose room for dime Bingo. Didn't win a one.

Dinner with Keith, Kathy, and LaVerne. It was pizza and pretty good. I told them I may or may not be going down to breakfast and certainly won't be here for lunch today, as Carolyn is picking me up and we're going to go to Santa Barbara to see Betty, a melanchony prospect.

I had again been restless overnight, and just got up at eight something. Skipped breakfast, as Carolyn said we'll have lunch before Villa Alamar and Betty. I'll ask C. to stop at CVS first so I can pick up my medication.

TUESDAY

As soon as I dressed, I stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry. After I put them in the dryer, I did a load of regular clothes. Had the usual breakfast with Keith and a nap after. I can't even remember what I did until lunchtime, but when I went down, I didn't see Keith and Kathie had called to say she wouldn't be here for lunch. Sat with Trudie and Carol, Ruth and Stan. 

At 2:00, I went down to play dime Bingo; had my usual four cards, but again, didn't win a single game. Back in the apartment, I finally looked at papers to be filed--AAGH! There was such a stack of them, from receipts for co-pays and so on, to T.O.P.S. lists, to miscellaneous scraps--it was a daunting task. However, I got it done, although there are still a few things I have to go through.

Kathie didn't show for dinner, either, so Keith and I were on our own. We had some interesting discussions about murder, capital punishment, and the Readers' Digest. Back upstairs just after 6:00. 

Mike, now in Hawaii for Vivian's graduation ceremony, Messaged me this picture: 

How I wish I could be there. 

I had a terrible sleepimg again--was up periodically all night. My alarm rings at 6:30, but I'm almost never still asleep by that time. I was this morning and I promptly decided to skip breakfast and go back to sleep--which I did until 8:30. Now I feel good and may decide to make that my routine--dunno at this point.

MONDAY

 After breakfast, I took my hour nap, then went downstairs to the Balance Class with Jackie. It was good to be there, except that I get annoyed with Jackie, She spends the first ten minutes or so (it seems like ten hours) talking about her daughter and others in her family. Geez, she's as bad as some of our residents. 

After that, I went up to do various small chores in the apartment, then virtuously spent five minutes on the cardio bike. Lunch with Kathie, Keith, and La Verne, after which there was a fire drill and we assembled outside. Those who were unable to use the stairs, though, had been told to stay in place, which some did. Chef Michael was kind enough to carry my walker down and up the stairs; I can descend and ascend myself, so no prob. 

I fooled around with this and that until 4:00, when our Second Players Zoom meeting was held. It lasted an hour and we discussed a lot about the tribute to Carol show we're doing on June 28. Went down to dinner after with Keith and LaVerne; Kathie was nowhere to be found, which surprised me. The dinner entree was a turkey wrap and potato salad, both of which were very good. Of course, I had my reglar iced tea with it. 

Ellen called and we made plans for tomorrow when we'll have an outing. We'll probably go to Lowe's and get me a kitchen towel holder, then lunch out. 

SUNDAY: MOTHERS DAY...

...and it was a fun one. I went to the special brunch at 10:00 and had eggs Benedict, which were excellent. Sat with Lisa and David, as neither Keith nor Kathie were there. Ellen and Greg came at 11:30, Ellen bringing me a beautiful bouquet of roses and Greg, Diane Keaton's autobiography:

 After hanging out for a bit, we went to town for lunch at Lure Fish House. It was jammed, but we had only fifteen minutes to wait, then were seated. I was so full from brunch that I ordered only raw oysters and a cup of clam chowder. Of course, I had a frosty IPA with the meal.

After lunch, we strolled around town and stopped in a few shops before heading home. I had received phone calls and Mothers Day wishes from my other childen, along with a fun gift: a gift card for a wash, cut, and blow dry right here at the salon--tip included. My niece, Joan, called from Brooklyn with holiday wishes and it was fun to talk to her.

We got back to my place about 4:00 and Ellen and I proceeded to deal the cards for gin rummy while Greg napped on the sofa.  Ellen beat me miserably, but that's nothing new. While we were engaged in our battle, Mike called from Singapore and we enjoyed talking to him. Saw Violet for just a few minutes to say hello, as she was about to leave to take year-end exams.  

El and Greg left about 5:00 and I went downstairs to join Keith, Kathie, and LaVerne for dinner. It was fried shrimp along with sides and, being stuffed from lunch, opted for the shrimp only, which was pretty good.

Another poor sleeping night. I'm going to have to concentrate on increasing my exercise from here on in.

SATURDAY

 ...and an adventurous day: After breakfast with Keith, I napped, then about 10:30, took my courage in my hands, geared up my walker, and boarded the 10 bus to the transit center!  I've been apprehensive about it, since I had never ridden the bus with the walker, I had always usedmy cart. This went completely smoothly, though: The driver lowered the ramp, I strolled on, and off we went.

I bought a jacket and a set of sheets, along with some small pans at the Bargain Box, then ate the other half of my wrap and drank my water at the center of the mall. Went back to the bus depot, got the 10 back, and was home in time for dime Bingo. I didn't win, but stayed for Trivia, then had dinner with Kathie, Keith, and Diane.

Home, I set up my meds for the week; I was dismayed to find I was out of the one for my BP; texted Express Scripts to be sent more. Showered and washed my hair, then played games on the laptop, watched t.v. for a bit, and turned in.

It's Mothers Day, Ellen and Greg are coming at 11:30 and we're going to Lure for late lunch or early dinner--YAY!

FRIDAY

 Breakfast with Keith, but I had just a few bites of my scrambled eggs and toast before I excused myself and went up for my nap. I slept for two hours and felt a hundred percent better when I got up. Ellen called to say a crown she had had put in recently had slipped out, so she had to go to the dentist before she picked me up. She did, had it fixed, and still got here in time to be at Carillo Cardiology at noon.

The nurse did an EKG and it seemed okay. Other than that, there was good news and bad news. The good: I do have AFib and a murmer, but they seem stable. The bad: Alcohol, it seems, is not good news. I asked, "Well, nothing wrong with just one IPA a day, right?" "Wrong. drink no more than one a week." Darn. But I'm going to adhere to that. Ellen and Greg are taking me to Lure for breakfast and I'll have one there, then no more until Sunday next.

Besides a sweet Mothers Day card, Ellen brought me this tomato plant:

                                                       

                                                             

It's just what I wanted and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the lush red fruit.

El and I went to the Hill Street Cafe, where I had a turkey and veggie wrap and to drink, a diet coke. Back at my place, we chatted a bit, then El left and I went downstairs to have dinner with Keith, Kathie, and LaVerne. 

Happily, although I was wakeful for a time, I slept okay last night and just got up at 6:10; I hope this lasts.Tomorrow is Mothers Day and I'm looking forward to lunch--dinner?--with El and Greg at Lure.