Tuesday, July 14, 2026

MONDAY

Went to balance class at 10:00; (the other) Kathie was there, along with a larger group than usual--maybe fifteen or so. Keith came in an dI introduced him to Kathie.

Had lunch with Kathie and LaVerne, then Ursula joined us. After that, I didn't do a heck of a lot except play Block Champ. This is a game where you piece together items that look like sections of a brick wall, maybe. I've gotten to alternate that with my matching games.

Did the stationary bike for about ten minutes before going down to dinner.  Sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Denise. Virtuous me, I skipped the salmon burger (although I've had it before and like it) and had fruit and cottage cheese. We had some good, superficial talk; I often don't feel like discussing preofundtries with dinner companians, so that was good. 

Later: Ordered coffee from Amazon--very convenient, as ever, and it should arrive today. 

Monday, July 13, 2026

SUNDAY

 I've developed what may not be a good sleeping habit: I get to bed about 10:00, read for a bit, then sleep until 2:00 or 3:00. I then feel wide awake and get up and play a game on the laptop. Sometimes I repeat this, then get up at 7:30 or so--late for me. I want to change this and will make an effort.

Took sheets to the laundry, changed the bed, and otherwise spruced up the place. Played some more games, then went down to lunch. Ate with Kathie, Denise, and Bea; ordered the main entree, Jambalaya, but it proved too spicy for me and I sent it back in favor of fresh fruit and cottage cheese. Denise is a talker, but is often interesting and she asks others about their ideas. I was surprised, though, that she believes in astrology, fortune tellers, and so on. However, each to her own...

After lunch, I finally got around to filing the pile of papers I've accumulated over the weeks. That took an hour and I have a few pieces I'm still trying to decide whether to file or toss. I attended to a few other bookkeeping items, too, and it feels good to have done it.  

Went down to dinner and found a new resident at the table with Kathie, Denise, and LaVerne. Her name is also Kathie and we had a long getting-to-know-you talk. Her real first name is "Waverly," she said, which, incredibly, her mother didn't tell her until she was an adult. She's has a variety of physical problems, I'm afraid, and she lost a son through suicide; has another son and a daughter, but no grandchildren. After dinner, she took the other Kathie and me to see her apartment--a studio, but nicely arranged.

In the shower, I finally devised a way to conveniently stow the showerhead so it's more convenient to use. Watched a bit more of royal family doings, but I think my interest is waning. Slept okay, although I did wake up at 2:00 am for the usual, but went back and got up at 5:30, an okay time for  me. 

Sunday, July 12, 2026

SATURDAY

Excluding the temporary lapse of my laptop, it was a fun day. I took the bus to Danny's Deli to meet Noreen for lunch, but before that, stopped at The Bargain Box and bought two nice tops and some drinking glasses. 

As always, I enjoyed Noreen's company, but her obsession with Trump--and what a horror he is--is  a little unnerving. Noreen is 91 and says she sees no reason to go on living because of him. However, I steeered the conversation away from D.C. and its problems and we talked about other things. Lunch was good, as usual--I had a vegetarian buritto and Noreem a salmon bowl--we also endulged in an IPA for me and champagne for her.

Said goodbye about 2:00 and bused home. Got in for the last half hour of dime Bingo and borrowed money to play. Luckily, I won one, so was able to repay from that.

Called Ellen and that dear girl walked me through getting the laptop back in working order. I don't know what I'd do without her and I never want to find out. 

Dinner with Kathie, LaVerne, and Denise, with whom I had a lively discussion about the Internet and our difficulty (in some instances) in handling computer-related things. Surprisingly, Denise, although at 79 she's younger than the three others at the table, was most bothered by it. 

I didn't sleep well last night, but after getting up twice was able to go back; just got up at 7:30. 

Saturday, July 11, 2026

FRIDAY

The scales registered plus .04 at home and plus .08 at T.O.P.S. for respective weights of 140.2 and 141.2. That isn't good, but what is, is that I'm am determined to take off the damn weight or die trying. To that end when I had lunch with Kathie and Keith, I specified a half order of the chicken Tinga and that was plenty enough for me.

Went to Happy Hour at 2:00 to see the Dynatmic Duo, one--rather, two--of my favorites. Sat with Denise and greatly enjoyed it. Back to my place after, I turned on the AC and played some games on the laptop. Productive activities? No, but so what? 

Dinner with LaVerne and Denise, then Ray joined us. He's quite a character and I don't know how much of his confusion is put on and how much legit. We have a running joke--or it could be factual--that he doesn't remember my name from one day to the next--calls me everything from "Ruth" to "Mary Rose" to "Rosemarie." In retaliation, I call him "Ferdinand" or "Fernando." He's fun to be with, though, and the four of us enjoyed each other.

Finally, thanks to Ellen, I got this laptop running again and now, almost 4:00 pm on Saturday, willl publish this entry.

Friday, July 10, 2026

THURSDAY AND GOOD NEWS

 Slept wonderfully well and didn't get up until 7:15. Did my usual morning activities--this blog, Wordle, Connections, and Blossom--then took two loads of wash to the laundry room. I guess I could have put them all in one, but decided not to chance a wetter. Once I transferred them to the dryer, I decided to go for broke, and put in a white wash. 

I then went to Bone Builders at 10:15. After the hour-long session, I retrieved the dry load and put the washed load in the dryer; then it was lunchtime. Ate with Kathie and LaVerne, later going to dime Bingo at 2:00. After late, I went to retreive my white wash and found that it was not in the dryer, but somebody's sheets were! My wash was nowhere to be seen and I reported that to the office. Later, I checked again and there was my wash in the dryer! Sonebody must have removed it, dried his or her sheets, then replaced mine. Weird, but I have the whites, so will just forget it.*

Dinner with Kathie, Denise, and Carol. We had had beef Stroganoff for lunch and this was turkey salad on a croissant and it was delicious.  

*Good grief, except for what I have on, every item of clothing and cloth I have is clean!

😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

The good news? Ellen sent me an email, which included these words: 

Hi mom,   I just got a call from Cabrillo Cardiology. They said that yesterday's tests were "fine" and that "there was nothing to worry about." But they do still want us to go see Dr. Fong on Friday, July 17.

YAY, YAY, AND HAPPY DAY!

😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

Thursday, July 09, 2026

WEDNESDAY AND BE STILL, MY HEART...

Okay, the stress test wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although it was no walk in the park, either. Ellen picked me up at 9:00 and we got there early for the ten o'clock appointment. Taken in by medical technician (I think) Mike, I was given a series of tests and shots and so on, plus I was seated on a big kind of recliiner, which took pictures of my heart. All that took a few hours and I was then released for a time, told I could now eat anything I wanted, and we went to the Wood Ranch for lunch. I had a hamburger and a yummy IPA, then we went to Wal-Mart. I stayed in the car while Ellen got what we needed--paper products in my case--and I tried to nap, but couldn't.

We were to return to Cabrillo Cardiology at 2:10, which we did, then I was subjected to several more procedures. They didn't include the treadmill; instead, they went to the alternative, a "five minutre infusion of Adenosine." I wouldn't have minded the treadmill, but the other was okay.

I was finally discharged about 3:30 and we got home at 4:00. El stayed to chat for just a bit, then we said goodbye and I went down to dinner.  I didn't see any of those with whom I sit most often, so joined Julie. Denise sat with us, also, and we had some fun conversation.

Lorraine, my old friend from So-Fi called after dinner and we caught up with each other's lives. She and her husband moved to Camarillo a year or so ago and I haven't seen her since, but we keep in touch. 

After, I stopped in to see Mindy and she said a meeting in the multi-purpose room had been cancelled, so she'd have a session of dime Bingo today at 1:30--yay!  I had taken this from the Veritas Theatre when we did the tribute for Carol and think I'll take it with me just to amuse my fellow Bingo fanatics:

I have no idea how this could possibly be staged 😜! 

Wednesday, July 08, 2026

TUESDAY

Went to Bone Builders at 10:15; p.t. Marilyn wasn't there, but Elaine and Raoul led the group. Went almost directly to lunch after and ate with Kathie, LaVerne, and Bea. I left at 1:00, in order to "attend" the Second Act Players Zoom meeting arranged last week. Six of the ten founding  members were there and Suzy and Bob acted as leaders. They'll probably be the movers and shakers of the group, which is just fine with me. Both have had more than local experience--Suzy with her trio on paid gigs nd Bob in movies, television, and stage appearences.  I want to send them some of my plays to see what might be staged by our group. Went from there to dime Bingo and, incredibly, won three games; now I've replenished my dimes. 

I read over the instructions from Cabrillo Cardiology Medical Group where--AAGH!--I'll get a "Myocardial Perfusion Scan," which I guess is a stress test, in a few hours. Ellen's picking me up at 9:00 and the appointment's at 10:00. I can't have caffeine for 24 hours, which is the worse news for me.

Had dinner with Kathie and Denise; Keith joined us late. Back home, I washed my hair with my shower, then thought I'd simply sleep soundly....

I didn't. I awoke at 1:45 and couldn't get back. I did stay in bed until now, 6:00 am, and will try taking an hour or so nap before Ellen picks me up at 9:00. I think my sleeplessness is due to worry over the damn stress test I'm facing in a few hours. 

MONDAY

Went to balance class at 10:00; (the other) Kathie was there, along with a larger group than usual--maybe fifteen or so. Keith came in an dI...