FRIDAY

Good news on the weight front: 138.6 at home and 139.8 at T.O.P.S., for losses of 1.2 at both. In fact, I was the biggest loser, so got the jackpot of five bucks. Mary Ann had printed out copies of the minutes when Dr. Wally spoke a few weeks ago; I'm not interested. but took a copy to give Kathie.

Home at 10:00, after which I tried to get back on my Big Fish game--Royale Match--but didn't succeed. I called Kathie to see if she was coming to lunch, but she wasn't--her daughter was there and they were still working on the IRS crapola. Since I wasn't sure Keith was coming, either, I sat down with David and Lisa. Keith did come, though, and the four of us had good conversation.

Brother Larry called. I told him about Muckie and he'll call Carolyn. Larry's daughter, Karen, will be moving in with him shortly, so that will be good. He's now 94 and although in reasonably good shape, he does have some "issues," as the saying goes. He just had yet another great-grandchild, a little girl named Jane, courtesy of his grandson, Jimmy.

Went to Happy Hour at 2:00 and enjoyed the Dynamic Duo, whom I've seen several times before: 

One of our exhibitionist residents, Leslie, got up and danced (she always does) and this itme, the weird  Egyptian (too long and involved to explain) joineed her:

Anyway, it was a lot of fun. 

Mike texted to see if I was available for a Facetime chat after dinner and yes, indeed. He and his lady friend were about to take a walk and he leaves for Vietnam tomorrow. He called at 6:30 and we had a good talk. 

Dinner with Keith and we also had some interesting conversation which included talking over our scarlet youth and how we indulged in marijuana (Keith), nicotine (both of us), and alcohol (ditto). 

As I do morning and night, I just took my blood pressure. I'm puzzled and annoyed that it read 140/90, which I was told was my "goal," yet the machine pronounced it high, so what gives?  

THURSDAY

Yay, yay, yay, and happy day! My income tax is signed, sealed, and delivered! After breakfast with Keith, I tried to take an hour's nap, but the phone kept ringing with this and that, so I didn't sleep. Got the Orchard van at 10:00, as requested, and Rick took me to Michelle's place. 

Michelle has done my taxes every year in the ten I've lived in California and I trust her implicitly. I also like her a lot. She's over sixty, was born and brought up in Hawaii, divorced years ago, has a grown daughter, and is a dedicated skier. She has skied in about all the states that have mountains, plus in Switzerland, Greece, and other parts of Europe. In addition, she's a good person whom I like a lot. 

Ran into Kathie before lunch, but she wasn't eating here; said her daughter was coming with lunch. She saw her new little great-grandson and of course, raved over him. I decided not to eat with Keith, as I want to get a little variety, so I sat with Trudie, Carl, Carol, and Barbara, and enjoyed it.    

After lunch, I put in a load of wash, then paid some bills. Decided to go down to Trivia before dinner; did so, and stowed my IPA and glass in the fridge, as ever.  As I was puzzling with others over Trivia, Ellen called to say she was at the harbor and wanted to come look at my printer. She did and while she was working on it, I went down to dinner.

Ate dinmer with Keith and Kathie and El came down to tell me she had fixed my printer--another yay! After dinner, I got my clothes out of the dryer and put them away. 

It's now 6:11 am and Sharon just called to tell me she's not going to T.O.P.S., as she had a bad night with leg cramps. Did she wake me up? Nope, I wasn't out of bed, but already awake. 

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast with Keith, then I took a short nap. Suzanne texted to say she was coming to see Katherine's apartment (they had known each other before and Katherine had lived at So-Fi) and would like to stop in. She did, bringing pictures of her niece's wedding in San Diago--quite a lavish and beautiful affair. 

Lunch with Keith, but not Kathie, for a wonderful reason: Her granddaughter, who had had a number of miscarragies, was delivered of a health baby boy and Kathie was going to Lompoc to see the happy family.

 At 1:00, I boarded the Orchard bus and went to CVS, then to Von's. Got graduation cards and a new baby card for Kathie's great-grandson, plus white zinfandel and a few other goodies. I got in just in time for two games of dime Bingo and darned if I didn't win one. I stayed for the social hour; Carol played the piano and we sang along while enjoying Margaritas. I didn't stay for trivia after. 

Had dinner with Ray and Doris, as I saw that Keith was sitting with Cheryl and Mary. Hey, it was actually pretty refreshing; Ray is a big talker who worked on submarines for years and Doris is the one who was brought up in an orphanage, so both are pretty interesting.  

I signed up to have the Orchard bus take me to Michelle's place at 10:00 today--I hope I have all the material and info I need. Took the elevator to the third floor and left the congratulatory card at Kathie's door. Still not sleeping well and may take a nap after breakfast.  

TUESDAY AND SAD NEWS

Well, I'm finally free from the heart monitor; Ellen picked it up and took it back to Cabrillo Cartiology. I was so worried they might have wanted me to continue it, but they didn't. It was very unconventient to wear and care for, and I'm glad it's gone.

Breakfast with Keith, lunch with Kathie. After, I asked Executive Dirctor Tiffany to have my Vanguard tax statement printed, as my printer is still did. Assistant Tia did it and I was very grateful. I must call The Geek Squad or some other outfit to come fix the damn printer.

Uber picked me up at 1:45 to take me to my 2:30 appointment at Second Wave Physical Therapy and it's only fifteen minutes away, so I was very early. However, it was a good session and P.T. Laura praised my hip flexability. Home before 4:00 and I just hung out until dinnertime. 

Kathie knocked on my door to tell me she wouldn't be down for dinner, as her daughter had brought her a lot of good food and she'd have it at home. Ate with Keith; left a little early to be ready for the Zoom call at 6:00. This came about and we "Second Act Players"--six or seven of us--planned out the project for an hour and a half. I won't elaborate on it now, but it's to take place at the Veritas Theatre in June.

𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄

Just before the ZOOM call, at about quarter of six, I received a text from Matt Datesman, Muckie's son, saying he'd like to call me.  I immediately knew--yes, Muckie died yesterday. I called Carolyn to give her the sad news that her "Aunt Muckie" was gone and we cried together. I called Muckie last week and, as ever, we had an enjoyable talk session. We never glossed over or ignored the subject of her cancer--or her diagnoses--and also discussed the possibility--or not--of an afterlife and so on. We were both comfortable with simply recognizing that we didn't know. I do know I will miss talking to her terribly and will feel a void in my life. Rest in peace, Muckie, and hey, maybe I'll see you later--or not.

𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄𝕄

MONDAY

Breakfast with Keith and after, I finally, at long last, started listing the income tax stuff. I got some done before I was picked up by Susan for lunch. We went to the Stone Fire Grille and were joined by Renee, Glenda, -----------, and a newcomer named Pat. We had our usual congenial chatfest and I was able to show the pickleball players, Renee and Glenda, the video of my grandson showing pickleball moves.

Got home about 2:30 and continueed my IRS chores. Called accountant Michelle to say I'll try to get her the info this week. Soon, it was 4:45 and time to go down to dinner. Ate with Kathie and Keith and as usual, we had some good conversation. 

Darn, I again had a difficult time sleeping. As usual, I fell asleep immediately, but awoke at midnight, then at 3:00; it's now not quite 5:00. Ellen's coming at 9:00 to pick up the godawful heart monitor and I leave for the P.T. session at 1:50--I'll try to nap before that.

I have the Zoom meeting for the play group at 6:00 pm--hope I can get into it okay.  

SUNDAY

Breakfast with Keith and this time, Kathie got up early enough to join us. I was picked up by the Uber driver at 10:15 and we went off to Ojai. Greg was already there and we sat and talked for a bit, then went to the Meadow Preserve for a walk. It was a lovely day--very warm at 82, but not humid--and we enjoyed it immensely:

Back at El's, I took a nap while he and Ellen prepared dinner. Greg made a marvelous entree--a fresh, ocean-caught (he won't buy farm raised) salmon poached in a wonderful, herb-infused liquid; Ellen added roasted root vegetables, also very good. We ate about 4:00, then played--what else?--gin rummy. The Access Van was late, and I didn't get home until after 7:00, but that was okay.  

Got an invitation from Susan to go to Soaring Spririts lunch today, which I was pleased to accept and she'll pick me up at 11:10. Happily, I slept well--just got up at 6:15, late for  me.

SATURDAY

Breakfast with Keith, but before that, I found two eggs in the multi-purpose room. They were plastic, of course, and inside were wrapped chocolate candies. I laughed when Keith showed me he had also found two, these in the library. 

I just had prunes and raisin bran, then went upstairs and took a twenty-minute nap. I then made my way up to the third and top floor, where the salon is located. I always enjoy talking to Elika and she's an artiste when it comes to nails. She mentioned that she "serviced" men, too, and seemed genuinely surprised when I told her that term was originally used by ladies of the night to refer to...well, you know. We both laughed about that. Elika did a great job on my nails and she recommended a supplement called Biotin to strength them; I'm going to look into it. 

Lunch with Keith and Kathie and, again, it was really good--angel hair pasta and vegetables, along with a  chicken thigh.  After, I set up my medications and supplements for the week, then went to Dime Bingo (I'm obsessed!). I won the first game, but no others. 

Got a nice postcard from Ellen which she had mailed on February 25 from her cruise. It's a picture of the original Panama Canal; she wrote that her ship went through a newer, expanded set of locks. 

As for going to Ellen's for Easter, I called the Access Van and found there were no more vans available to get there, but I was able to book one to go home. Texted El and she got an Uber to pick me up--of course, that's about ten times as much money and I don't even like Ubers as much, but oh, well. 

Dinner with Keith--Kathie didn't show. We had some good talk, though, about our childhoods, later experiences, and so on. It was nice to know Keith has been to Singapore where Mike lives, as well as Japan where I have family, too. 

Took a shower, watched my daily ninety minutes of television, then turned in. Disappointingly, I didn't sleep well; woke up at midnight and had a problem getting back. Now it's not quite 5:00 and I've already washed and brushed. Okay, I'm not getting picked up until 11:30, so I'll nap after breakfast.