MONDAY

 About 8:00,am, I stripped the bedclothes and put them in the wash; I had time before balance class to dry them and re-make the bed. Went to Balance With Jackie, of half-hour duration and when I got back, put in a load of clothes to wash. Before I went to lunch, I put them in the dryer.  

Had lunch with Kathie and LaVerne--Keith sat elsewhere--then retrieved the dry clothes, folded and hung them and now I'm set for five or six days, anyway.

I spent a lot of time on my laptop games, my fascination for which I can't seem to shake. However, I also rode the stationary bike for twenty minutes at a reasonably fast pace, so that was good. 

Had dinner with LaVerne and Keith; Kathie didn't show, but Ray joined us. He's kind of a funny duck, but I like him and we enjoyed him. 

Today, Suzanne and I are taking Vickie to lunch for her birthday and I'm looking forward to that. 

SUNDAY AND MY ANNIVERSARY

 Put a load of whites in the wash before lunch, then retreived them after. We had a cookout and it was fun to eat outside. Unlike last time, we didn't serve ourselves, the regular servers did. I had chicken, pasta salad, and watermelon and it was good. The hamburgers and Polish hot dogs looked good, too. I sat with a group at a longish table: LaVonne, Cheryl, Mary, LaVerne, Lois, Kathie, and a new person I haven't met.

After, I went up to assemble my meds--a boring every-Sunday chore. I then just more or less lazed around and played my Jewel Match 2 game on the laptop. Before dinner, I went to the exercise room and rode the stationary bike for twenty minutes.

Had dinner with Kathie, Keith, and the new guy, Ray, who's originally from Pittsburgh. It was sausage with pasta, plus veggies, and was pretty good. 

Below is a better picture of Pat on June 21, 1958,  although he doesn't look too thrilled to be a new husband:

And here are my beautiful bridesmaids; from left, Joan Welsh; my twin, Betty, and my older sister, Gene:

In front of Mom's house in Ventnor, on the way to St. James on June 21, 1958.

SATURDAY

 Lunch was BBQed ribs and, although I rarely eat red meat--or maybe because of that--I greatly enjoyed it; sat with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne. Futzed around with this and that after, then went down to dime Bingo. This was a marathon session--from 1:30 to 3:30--and I won twice. Stayed after that for Trivia, then it was time for dinner.

Ate with Keith and LaVerne, after which son Mike Messaged me and I talked to him, Vivian, and Violet for forty-five or so. 

Nothing much else went on, but that was okay. Today we're having a BBQ cookout which should be good--they'll serve beer with the chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and sides.

Slept well, I'm glad to record and woke up this morning on my sixty-eighth wedding anniversary:

June 21, 1958 💘

FRIDAY AND MORE COLUMBIA

Unfortunately, I slept badly and felt tired when I got up. However, I perservered and Mary Ann picked me up 8:00 for T.O.P.S. Happily, we left at 9:30, so I got back in time for the balance class. As for my weight, at home, it was the same as three weeks ago when I last weighed in: 138.6. At T.O.P.S., I actually lost a miniscule .02, as it was 139.6. Of course, that's still more than nine pounds over my ideal range, but not as bad as I had feared.

I had time to change, then go to balance class at 10:00. Had lunch after with LaVerne and Keith, then I toyed with the idea of rearranging some things in my apartment.  I didn't, though; just tidied up a bit. Ellen called and we made a date for Tuesday--lunch and errands. 

At 3:00, I went down to happy hour and greatly enjoyed the Columbian dancers. In fact, I told Mindy it was The Orchard's best show ever since I've lived there:

At one point, members of the audiance were asked to form a circle and follow the steps of a dance. I joined and it was great fun. I also--which I probably shouldn't have--had a Columbian coffee with rum--yum!

After, went to the dining room and had dinner with Kathie, Keith, Bee, and Carol. The latter plays the piano and also knits. She's nice enough, although conventional in her ideas, but that's okay. 

Dime Bingo today--yay!

THURSDAY AND COLUMBIA

Before going to bone builders class, I sliced up a lemon to take for my iced tea at lunch. I must have cut myself without realizing it because when I got to the clubhouse, my finger was bleeding. I guess the blood thinners I take makes me bleed a lot; luckily, one of the other participants had bandaids and bandaged me up.

Lunch after that with Kathie and LaVerne. It was Columbia day and a beef dish was served, along with Columbian beer and cocktails. It was good, but for some reason, I was a little out of sorts. Back in my apartment, I napped for a short time, then did a few household chores.

I texted Mary Ann and she'll pick me up for T.O.P.S. this morning. I'm not looking forward to it, as I just haven't been following my better habits. Besides, I missed T.O.P.S. for the last three  weeks and I dread what the scale will show. 

Dinner with Keith and LaVerne--not sure where Kathie was. 

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Speaking of the Columbia theme, here are chef Michael, secretary Frances, and assitant Maria:

More of the Columbia motifs:

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WEDNESDAY

Not much going on yesteday. I went to balance class at 10:00, then went home to clean up a few things. Lunch with Kathie, Mary G. and LaVerne; when Kathie left to get her hair done, Keith joined us. 

After, I did this and that around the apartment, then went to dime Bingo at 1:30. We played for two hours and I won twice, replenishing my dime supply. 

I got a text and this pic from Jeanne Painter: 

It's her ninetieth birthday party with family; Jeanne's in the middle of the second row. 

LaVerne didn't show up for dinner--she often eats in her apartment--and Keith sat elsewhere, so Kathie and I sat together, just the of us. She had had her hair cut, shaped, and lightened and boy, does it look good. It's kind of layered in color, but subtly, so it looks very natural. Lots of residents stopped by our table to compliment her.

Back upstairs at 6:30 and I played some Jewel Match Two before showering and sitting down to watch T.V. I've been sleeping well, so staying up later--last night I didn't turn in until 10:00!--seems to have done the trick.

TUESDAY

I went to Bone Builders at 10:30 and endured the exercises; by the time it was finished, it was time for lunch. Sat with Trish, Ralph, and Jerry and chatted with the first two, but Jerry spent the whole tiime reading things on his phone. 

Stopped to show Mindy the program for our show, but I tole her not to set up a bus trip, as there are only 64 seats available and I don't think there'd be room. Ellen called to say Dr. Chui's office (dermatology) had called and the biopsy came back postitive. Luckily, they don't want to do surgery, but will have a lotion filled at CVS which I should use every day. I have a follow-up appointment in September. 

At 1:30, I went up to the beauty salon and Elika did first, my pedicure, then my manicure. They both look good, but it took a long time and I didn't get home until 3:00, which meant I missed dime Bingo. Oh, well, they have another today.

Had dinner with LaVerne and Keith. LaVerne left before dessert, but Keith and I had the no-sugar ice cream. I then questioned Keith about his background: Pentacostal upbringing, two marriages, two divorces, and so on. I found it interesting, even more so than the stories of other residents.