TUESDAY

 Went to bone builders class at 10:30, which lasted an hour. After, I went back to my apartment and exchanged my walker for my cart. Vickie and Suzanne pickeed me up at noon and off we went to Casa Soria.(I undertand that means "House of Seriousness" or something similar.) I was amazed to see on the lunch menu that a courtesy Margarita was offered; of course, I got that with my tamale.

We had a great time talking and catching up. However, I was dismayed to learn from Suzanne that SO-FI management had her thirty-year old, thirty-feet- high ficus cut down. Worse, they had also cut down the ficus that Ellen gave me when I moved to SO-FI and had had planted in my patio then, eleven or so years ago. They didn't even alert Suzanne and the girl who is in my old apartment before they had it done.Aside from that, it was fun and so good to be back with Suzanne and Vickie. We promised to keep more in touch, although Suzanne will be at a family gathering for the next two weeks. I think I'll see  if Vickie and I can go see Jim then.

I got home in time to join the dime Bingo group and won the first game I played. That lasted until 3:30 and I stayed after for Trivia with Trudy, Keith, and Rick.  It was then time for dinner and I sat, as usual,  with Kathie, Keith, and LaVerne.   

Sent e-cards to son, Patrick, in Japan, who will be 67 on Sunday, June 28 and to great-grandson, Joel, Jr., who will be 24 on the same day. For Joel, I added a gift card; maybe I'll send a See's candy gift card to P. and family. 

Ellen's coming today and we'll go shopping, then to lunch. 

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.