MONDAY

 Finally, I seem to have gotten some control over the laptop. However, it's now 1:37 am on Tuesday morning: I woke up an hour ago and can't seem to get back.

 As for yesterday, I had breakfast with Keith and Ray, then napped, and Susan picked me up at 11:15 for Soaring Spririts lunch at the Stone Fire Grille. Gayle, Renees, Glenda, and Grendall came and we had a good time. We were delighted to be told that Vera will be here on April 24, coming in from Oregon.    Susan is a dog lover; her license: 

                                                

And here she is in her doggy sweat shirt:

 It's hard to believe she's 66 years old. 

Dinner with Keith, Kathie, and LaVerne. Called the Access Van to take me to and from Ellen's today. I'm looking forward to it, but wish I had been able to get more sleep. Also requested The Ochard van for tomorrow and will have Rick drive met to Asuion to get this damn laptop checked. 

SUNDAY

Breakfast, as ever, with Keith. Took my nap after, then cleaned up a bit until time for lunch. Had that with Kathie, Keith, and Leila; the main dish was jambalya and it was pretty good. Leila is a champion talker--there are so many here--and we heard all about her late husband, children, and grandchildren. 

Futzed around after, then went down to Bingo; I won two, but this wasn't dime Bingo; I just got some funny money for my wins. I stayed around for Yahtzee. Volunteer Cindy is somehwhat of a bossy type, but okay; only Beverly, Mary, Keith, Carol, and I particiated.

Back upstairs, I got a call from my brother, Larry, asking about the medic alert device I wear. It seems he again fell, couldn't get up, and didn'thave his phone nearby. Luckily, he wasn't badly hurt, plus one of his children came over, but he was on the floor for about an hour. I told him the particulars---name of the company (Connect America), and so on--and his daughter will look into getting onne for him. 

Dinner with Keith, Kathie, and LaVerne. I was meatloaf and pretty good and we had some enjoyable conversation. K dan something wrong eith the keyboard must check,

Neice Carolyn called and we had a good long talk. We made plans for her to pick me up on Thursday, April 14, then take me to see Betty. Ellen called and we confirmed out plans to meet tomorrow. 

SATURDAY

Before breakfast, I stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry room.  Transferred them to the dryer before eating with Keith and Ray, then retreived them and remade the bed; took a short nap. Assembled my medications in preparation for setting them up for the week.

Kathie called to say she was skipping lunch, so I sat with Trudie, Carl, Carol and Stan. Had the turkey burger, as the main dish with beef didn't appeal to me. I heard--once again--the saga of Trudie's and Carol's children. Interestingly, Carol's son married a Japanese woman, with whom had two sons; they lived in Tokyo, where he was an electrical engineer. Unfortunately, he died at forty of cancer.

Set up my medications for the week after lunch, then went down to dime Bingo. I had my usual four cards and won two games. I stayed after to hear Frederick, the pianist, play a variety of stage and movie tunes--very enjoyable until his "tribute to the armed forces," with the traditional war propagandistic songs. I simply sat there silently and didn't react at the end. Of course, the rest of the audience showed their support for killing with enthusiastic applause...okay, lecture over.  Here's Frederick: 

Got an email from Suzy about our upcoming show (June 28), still very much in the planning stages. I hope she calls a meeting soon, so players can nail down the stucture and decide what to include.

Dinner with Kathie and Keith, before which I put in a wash of just regular clothes. Put them in dryer after and got them later. My former neighbor, Lorraine, called and we caught up with each other. She moved to Camarillo about the same time I moved here. 

Mike Face-timed me and we had a good chat. Violet is studying for exams which should lead to her reception of an "International Baccalaureate." This is a a program that King Charles once had something to do with--not sure what.  

I put down the new non-slip shower mat and it works wonderfully. It looks like a large square of steel wool, but is soft and actually feels good. Ellen has been worried about me falling in the shower, but this is a 100 percent improvement. I'm still very careful about holding on and so on, but am so glad I got this.

FRIDAY

Weight: 139.6 at home, so no change; 140.6 at T.O.P.S, so up .05. Not too bad, as I had expected worse. Meeting was rambling, as ever, but okay. Maryann left early, as planned, and Cheryl took me to CVS to pick up my meds. I was annoyed that the Ramipril was sent to the other CVS, but the pharmacist at this one made me up another. Home a little after 10:00 and I decided I'd wait until lunch to eat. 

Did so and sat with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne. After, there was a "celebrations meeting" where residents suggested new activities and themes. I suggested the servers be introduced by Chef Michael when he gives daily talk at dinner and Mindy liked the idea. We talked about a few other ideas and suggestions and it was a good meeting.

On-line, I ordered from BevMo some of the IPAs I enjoy; incredibly, they were delivered forty-five minutes later. There's a ten dollar fee, plus tip, but considering the hassle it is for me to get there and get the buy home, it's well worth it. 

At 3:00, I went upstairs to the salon to get a manicure. Elika did a great job on my often-breaking nails, plus I have fun talking with her. She had her eleven-year-old son with her and showed me pictures of her two daughters--beautiful girls aged 18 and 15 and we had a long talk about the fun--and frustrations--of child raising. I was tickled when she show me the flyer circulating at The Orchard:

Those are my hands and that's the last manicure Elika gave me! I've greatly enjoyed showing it to my fellow--and sister--residents. 

I didn't see either Kathie or Keith, so had dinner with Barbara, Trudie and Carl, Carol and Stan. As usual, we had some good conversation and laughs. 

I slept well and just got up at 6:30. Stripped the bed and took the sheets to the laundry room where they're now sloshing around. 

                                      💥💥💥💥💥💥SPECIAL   NOTE💥💥💥💥💥💥 

I do Wordle, Connections, and Blossom every single day and yesterday, for the first time in almost three years (December 11, 2023), I got Wordle on my first word. It was "plume"; the earlier one was "chain." 

                                   💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

THURSDAY

 Breakfast with Keith and Rambling On Ray sat down with us. After, I took my hour nap, then went down to wait for Rick to drive me to Von's and CVS. He did and I got--almost--everything I needed, including B12, Ny-Quill, cream sherry, and Mother's Day cards for my daughters and DILs. I called to be picked back up at noon, but somehow, the message didn't get through and I had to wait for about a half-hour. That meant I was late for lunch, but no prob, as I had plenty of good leftovers from The Lazy Dog and I ate that in my apartment. I then realized I had forgotten to pick up my meds at CVS--damn! 

Filled out and mailed the cards for my daughter-in-law in Japan and ex-DIL in Singapore. I don't even recall what all I did after that except play Jewel Royale Match. I dd call Maryann to be sure she's pick me up for T.O.PS. this morning--sure, but she has to leave early, so I called Cheryl to ask if she'd take me home and stop on the way to get my meds. Yes, she will, and I'm lucky to have such friends.

Called manicurist Elika and she'll do my manicure at 3:00 today. 

Dinner with Keith, Kathie, and Dyan and we had some interesting talk. Keith, of course, takes piano lessons and Dyan mentioned that Brian Wilson, of Beach Boy fame, had given her his white piano to hold for him--I don't remember the circumstances. She also said her mother had been the pianist at a silent film theatre. I asked when her mother was born and she said 1917. Later, I looked up infor on when the silent movies faded out in favor of talkies: 1930, so her mother would have been 13. Of course, there were still a few playing, I guess, until the last which I read was in 1936, so I suppose it's possible. 

T.O.P.S this morning and I'm not looking forward to getting weighed, but I'll take my medicine.

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast with Keith and Dyan, then Ray joined us. After, I straightened up the apartment a bit, as we had been notified the annual inspection would be conducted that day. I lay down for a nap, but before I fell asleep, my friend, Lora, called from Arizona. We had a good talk and caught up with each other. I hope to see her when she comes here in August.

Vickie picked me up at 10:30 and off we went to Oxnard. We asked the aide to bring Jim and and he did. Jim was washed, clean-shaven, and well dressed, and I was pleased to see a Happy Birthday balloon:                                                    

...plus a birthday cake had been provided: 

Jim had already eaten and I passed on a piece, but Vickie indulged. I gave Jim his present (the book on opera), which he seemed to appreciate:

We stayed until noon, then said goodbye. We assured Jim we'd be back and next time, I'll bring lunch for the three of us.

Vickie and I then went to The Lazy Dog for our lunch, and sat outside. I had a yummy Loco Moco Hawaiian dish, which, coincidently, had been on the menu at The Orchard for lunch. V. dropped me off about 2:30, after a very enjoyable outing.

Went down to the new residentt rceception at 3:00 and "met" LaVerne and Michael, plus ondulged in a strawberry Margarita. Back upstairs at 4:00 and fooled around on the laptop. Dinner with David and Lisa, and just hung out after. Slept fairly well and just got up at 5:30. 

TUESDAY

 I was surprised to see Cheryl sitting with Keith for breakfast, but sat down with them. However, the table was the one that got direct sunlight, which bothered my eyes, so I moved and sat with Trudie and Carl. Carol was also there, back from her trip, and she regaled us with travel notes.

Took my after-breakfast nap, futz around, then had lunch with Kathy, LaVerne, and Dyan. After, six of us boadered The Orchard van went off to Bart's Books in Ojai. We were there for about two hours and--I must be nuts--I bought fifty-two dollars work of books--six of them, ranging from murder to philosophy. For Jim's birthday, which is today, I included for him a book called Opera, The Impossible Art, which I hope he'll like. 

Vickie called to confirm our visit to Jim today; she'll pick me up at 10:30, we'll visit for a bit, then go out to lunch. I'm going to try to make it a fairly short visit. 

Dinner with Kathie and Keith, which was pleasant, as ever. Upstairs, I found a notice at my door that inspection would be conducted today between 10:00 and 4:00; I won't be here during some of that time and that's fine by me. 

Had a difficult time sleeping, so will nap after breakfast and before Vickie picks me up.