SATURDAY

A quiet day, but that's okay once in a while.

Went over to the flea market at the clubhouse in the morning, but I didn't see much I wanted--I have too much of everything as it is. I did buy a night light and some of Mary T.'s handmade birthday cards. 

Lunch with Kathie and Keith; presumably, LaVerne stayed in. At 1:30, I went down to quarter and dime Bingo and actually one two games. After, Mindy and I talked and I mentioned that Cheryl's son was appearing here on August 9. I was amazed to discover he's actually the third member of my friend, Suzy's, trio. Mindy called Suzy while I was there and I talked to her after. I told her I'd like her and Bob to read some of my scripts. Also, I'll tell Cheryl she can attend when the trio is here. I'll be introducing them and that should  be fun. 

Had dinner with Barbara, Trudie, and Carl;  it was turkey tortellini and pretty good. Today, I have to get all the stuff off my balcony and that's a chore I wish I had started sooner. 

FRIDAY AND A SAXOPHONE

 T.O.P.S. day--or I could call it "disaster day"; I gained 1.4 home to 142 and 1.7 at the meeting to 144--AAGH! That's the heaviest I've been in months and it has to stop. At the meeting were Cheryl, Lanie, Mary Ann, and Sharon. Maria didn't make it and texted me later she had been kept awake by mosquitos. Mosquitos in California? I didn't think there were any. I was pleased to hear form Cheryl that her son will be the Happy Hour person on August 9--I had forgotten that he has a band.

When I came down for lunch, I didn't see either Kathie or Keith. Julie sat at our usual table, then we were joined by Judy. I passed on the fried cod and had a Cobb salad; took half home. 

I had put a load of wash in before lunch, after transferred to the dryer on the third floor, as those on the second were in use. Got it later and now I have plenty of clean clothers to wear.I got a nice note back from nephew Wes, in response to my complimenting his daughter, Miranda. 

Went down to Happy Hour at 3:00 to have a Margarita and listen to a sax player. He was good, of course, but sax without song isn't exactly my cup of tea; however, I sat with Trudie and enjoyed it: 

Time for dinner was shortly after and I again sat with Trudie, along with Carl and Barbara. A newcomer joined us--Ada moved here just three days ago and she proved to be another champion talker, all about her three husbands and mentally ill mother and so on and so forth--AAGH!  

Son Mike Facdtimed me about 7:30 and we had a nice chat. He and his lady friend are just getting over the flu and he's leaving today for several days in Jakarta--work, of course.  I told him I was sending him, Vivian, and Violet the old letters from my mother and Betty, but he wants me t do it electronically and I'll have to figure out how. I'll ask Ellen, of course. 

THURSDAY: A DELIGHTFUL DAY

Why delightful? Because I saw some of my favorite people. Niece Carolyn and great-niece Miranda came over at 12:30 and we spent a half-hour or so seeing my family pictures--all their family, too. I somehow think of Carolyn and Miranda as contemporaries, but in truth, Carolyn, my twin sister's daughter, is over fifty and Miranda, my twin sister' granddaughter will be twenty on Tuesday. Time flies... Anyway, after the above mentioned, we took off for town and the Busy Bee Cafe, where Ellen was waiting. We sat outside and had a leisurely lunch and a good time. Naturally, we had a picture taken:

L. to R.: Yours Truly, Miranda, Carolyn, and Ellen--three generations of a big family.

Said goodbye and El drove me home. She didn't stay long and in a half-hour or so, it was time for dinner. Went down, didn't see Kathie, and sat with Julie, from the Phillipines, who was at "our" table. We were joined by the newbie, Judy, who wears wide-brimmed hats every day, and Keith. I just had the soup and took the chicken sandwich on a crossiant home to eat later.

T.O.P.S. here at the clubhouse today and once aain, I'm dreading getting on the scale. 

WEDNESDAY AND A PIZZA PARTY

Stripped the bed and took the linens to the laundry room, switched to the dryer when it was time, then joined Jackie's Balance Class at 10:00.

Lunch with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne and we all enjoyed a pizza party. Chef Michael had ordered from an outside pizza place--I'm not sure which one--and we had choices of every topping under the sun. I told him I wanted "everything" on mine and that's what I got. I asked for two pieces and that's what I got. After lunch, I wrapped the second one to heat up and eat during my television watching later.

Went to dime Bingo at 1:30 and finally, I actually won two games; that replenished my dime supply nicely and it was fun, anyway. Mindy asked if anyone wanted a Margarita and sure, I did, as did several others. After, I got  call from Sharon, who asked me to contact MaryAnn about T.O.P.S being here at our clubhouse tomorrow, which I did.

I called Ellen about plans for today with niece and great-niece Carolyn and Miranda. They texted back and forth with her and we'll go to the Busy Bee in town for lunch after C. and M. pick me up here; El will take me home.

Had dinner with Kathie and Keith. LaVerne didn't show and Beverlee joined us. Dinner was a roast beef sub and boy, was it good.  

TUESDAY AND LUCY THE ELEPHANT

 Had a great time at Two Trees for lunch with Catherine and Julie. I hadn't see Julie for some time and Kathryn (I'm not positive how to spell it!) is no longer going T.O.P.S., so I haven't seen her either. The latter offered to pick me up for the BCNN meeing a week from today, to that will be good.  Got home in time for dime Bingo, but didn't win a single one; I enjoyed it, though. 

I was delighted when niece Carolyn texted me to ask if she and my Chicago niece could see me on Thursday. Miranda is Betty's granddaughter, and daughter of her oldest son, Wes (attorney, divorced, remarried, with a blended family of five girls and a boy). Carolyn invited Ellen, too, and I just talked to her. She'll make arrangements for us to meet and go to lunch.

The dining room is back in operation and I sat with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne. After dinner, Trudie, who does the trivia thing, asked me about Lucy the elephant, as a question was "where is Lucy located?" I was amazed that neither she or those surrounding her had ever heard of Lucy! I explained what and where she is, some of her history, and so on. Later, I started asking random residents if they knew about Lucy--none of them did! To top it off, none of them had ever heard of Absecon Island, Ventnor, Margate, or Longport!  Boy, these Californians are provincial! 😁

After dinner, I finally got the letters my mother had sent to her children copied for Mike, Vivian, and Violet. I'll also send the letter Betty sent me when I stayed in Florida (1956) and the note Carolyn sent me along with the letters. Must get to the post office to send them.

MONDAY

Having had so little sleep, I took an hour nap after taking a white wash to the laundry room. Felt a little more chipper after, but could still use more sleep.  

The plumbing project in the dining room and kitchen was started yesterday, so residents will now have to go downstairs and pick up their meals to go. This is scheduled to last for a week. I usually don't go to breakfast--I have coffee and toast in my apartment--but I did, at about 8:15. It was surprisingly easy and fast: The servers were there with containers already filled (I got scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, and raisin bread) and what's more, the hot things were hot. It was pretty good, too. 

Retrieved my wash from the dryer before going to the "BBQ lunch." The kitchen staff was barbequing outside and included the usual--I had a hot dog and pasts salad--and Keith and I sat by ourselves in the multi-purpose room. Resident Elaine came in, as she was about to host a painting class.  

I had bought via Amazon, three tops and they came yesterday. They were very inexpensive, but I'm not sure I like one of them--may give it away. 

Picked up my boxed dinner (chicken salad sandwich) and ate in the multi-purpose room with Bea, Keith, and LaVonne. I was interested to hear that the latter two had originated in a certain area of Missouri and had mutual acquaintances. Small world. 

Talked to Katherine. She and Julie will pick me up noon and we'll lunch at Two Trees. 

SUNDAY

 Lunch with the regulars, i.e. Kathie, LaVerne, and Keith.  After, I took the city bus to Von's to get myself some lemons, eggs, and so on. Back home at 3:00 and I hooked up my hot plate, prepped my new pan with olive oil and butter, and fried my big bowl of onion slices. I divided them up, with a portion to Kathie, who had given me the onion and some for myself. 

Went down to dinner and sat with Kathie, Denise, and a long-timer at The Orchard named John. He seemed nice enough, but somewhat introverted. Kathie had brought a vodka cocktail and insisted I take several sips--well, she didn't have to insist too hard. Dinner was good--mushroom raviolli with marinara sauce--and after, Denise and I went to to Kathie's to see her apartment. She collects elephants and has twenty-some, many displayed on her bed: 

It's a studio apartment, but gives the impression of a larger space--although she has a lot of artifacts,  cutesy-poo articles, and so on taking up room. 

Darn, I had a terrible time sleeping last night. it's now 6:47 am and I don't think I got more than four hours last night. I'll definately have to take a nap, but that's okay, as I have no plans.