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. 

SATURDAY, NAUGHTY WORDS, AND THE ONION

 I finally did what I've been meaning to for some time: took the city bus to Von's. I took the walker, of course, and picked up only a few things--I can't handle the cart-full order I used to. Got just four things and will have to leave the rest (notably the makings of tacos) for when I go on The Orchard bus or with Ellen.

For lunch, I sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Lila, the latter a non-stop talker from North Carolina, but it was fun. Kathie had brought me an enormous onon, which I will happily cook in my new frying pan on my new hot plater. While I was downstairs, I asked Thea if she was offended by naughty words--no, she said, and I brought down the anti-war sheet I shown here yesterday for her to copy. I want to give them to Barb, Mary, and maybe Trudie--they're as anti-militarists as I am. 

Went to dime Bingo at 1:30, but didn't win a single game. I asked about quarter Bingo and Mindy said next Saturday, we can spend the first hour on quarters, the rest on dimes. 

Saw LaVerne and little Julie sitting at our usual, but not Kathie and I just decided to branch out. Trudie had invited me to sit with her, Carl, and Barbara, so I did. I gave Barb the inflamatory anti-war paper and she loved it; so did Trudie, so maybe I'll gift one to her, too.

When I got back to my place, I wanted to slice the big onion, but damn, couldn't find my manderin, so had to thin-slice by hand. I put it in a big bowl, covered it with foil, and will deal with it today. Slept well, I'm glad to record.

FRIDAY AND PROPAGANDA

Dismal weight news, but I expected it: I was up 1.2 pounds (141.4) at home and up 1.4 at T.O.P.S. (142.3).  Cheryl picked me up. There were five of us (Lenmie, Curlean, and Mary Ann are out of town) and the meeting, if it could be called that, was the usual remandering, mournful, confessional expressions of frustration from most of us. Maria was the big loser and, unfortunatly, "loser" could apply to her life in general. If anyone ever needed therapy, it's her. However, since we're meeting at The Orchard clubhouse next week, she said she'd drive to it and she took me home.       

Had lunch with Kathie, LaVerne, and Dyan--cod, which was pretty good. Did this and that around the apartment after, then went to Happy Hour at 3:00. The entertainer was Kevin Gillmond, a local guy who had appeared on Broadway and other venues--he sang a lot of the old standards and it was fabulous. (So was the Margarita I accepted from helper Kathy.) Fabulous, that is, until he put in the odious, pro-war propaganda song, God Bless The U.S.A. Several of us, including Barbara, Mary, and yours truly sat on their hands after that one. 

Dinner with LaVerne and Keith, during which Mary came up to me to commiserate about the song mentioned above. I'm going to have the following copied and give it to her, Barbara, and others I know who are sympathetic to the cause: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

THURSDAY

Niece Carolyn called and we had nice chat. I told her about the letter from her mother from 1956 which I would send her. Did that after we said goodbye.

Went downstairs to the multi-purpose room to attend the session with director Tiffany and chef Michael. It was satisfying, if not particularly important. Lunch after, which I enoyed with Kathie, LaVerne, and Denise. Mailed the letter copy to Carolyn, then straightened up a bit in preparation for Ellen's and Greg's visit.  

They came just before 4:00 and Greg immediately put together my new desk chair--YAY! It's so good not to have to pile sofa pillows on it to be high enough to reach the keyboard. We then went to Steven's Greek for dinner; I had a lucious Greek burger with sides and a good beer. 

Home after that and Ellen and Greg came upstairs with me. On the way, we passed the library, which is right next to my room and contains a table a chairs. There, playing Rummicube (or whatever it's called) were Keith and Dyan and I introduced Ellen and Greg to them. 

A few minutes ago, I got a call from Groendyke Insurance--at 6:30 am. I guess, being in the dark ages of Jersey, that don't know about time zones. Okay, I'll call them back now. 

WEDNESDAY

Lunch with Kathie and LaVearne, then little* Julie sat down with us. Keith came, as usual, later and sat with others. Lunch, shrimp scampi, was good and so, of course, was the conversation. After, Kathie asked if I wanted to see two apartments near her on the third floor. These have recently been redone and the doors were open. One is a studio, but laid out better and more spacious than just a large room. The other is a two bedroom, two bath. I don't really like that layout, but it has wonderful views of the mountains.

Went to dime Bingo at 1:30 and won one. Back to my place at 3:30 and busied myself with looking at items to sell at the flea market. 

I want to send niece Carolyn a letter my twin sister had sent me seventy years ago when I stayed in Florida after visiting Pat, my later-to-be husband. I didn't want to send the original, so typed it on the laptop and will send a copy of that. It contains the reactions of family and friends--how strange to re-read it after so many years later. 

Dinner with Kathie, LaVerne, and Bea. It was spaghetti with meatballs and marinara sauce containing mushrooms and spinach--really good. After, as usual, I went back to my place and settled in for the niight. 

Ellen and Greg are to come about 4:00 today to put my new desk chair together; maybe we'll go to dinner after.

*Julie is probably about 4'10" and is of Filipino descent. 

TUESDAY

 Laundry day: stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry room about 9:30, then left for Bone Builders class at 10:15 in the clubhouse. That's an hour-long session, so it's always almost time for lunch when its' over.  After putting my sheets in the drier, I went downstairs; sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Keith. After, I retreived my linens and re-made the bed. By then, it was time for dime Bingo, so I went downstairs for that. Incredibly, I won three games--now I have so many dimes I can barely carry them.

At 2:30, I went over to the clubhouse to attend the FBI scammer program. It was about what you'd expect, but reasonably interesting. Back to my place, I played a few games, then lay down for a nap, but forgot to set the timer. Once more, I'm afraid, I slept through dinnertime. However, I was still pretty full from lunch and, in fact, there were refreshments at the FBI thing, so I wasn't hungry, anyway.

I spent some time going through some of my jewelry with an eye to selling it at the flea market here a week from Saturday. Called Ellen to tell her about same and invite her to bring some items; she might and I'll see her and Greg tomorrow. She asked me to send a picture of the box containing my new desk chair, so they'd know what tools to bring to put it together; I did so.