FRIDAY

Breakfast with Keith, but had barely started when Mary Ann texted me that she had arrived. This was only 8:13, so she was early, but that was okay, as I had already delivered my coffee things to the clubhouse. Mary Ann waited at the entrance for the others, while I went to check that the place was set up all right. It was, and the others came in, with the exception of Lennie, our leader, who's usually late.

The T.O.P.S. group consisted of Mary Ann, Cheryl, Katherine, Sharon, and Curleen, who had been slated to give the program. However, she brought her husband, Wally, along and he actually was the one who spoke. He is a retired doctor and he talked about diet, weight loss, and so on...talked and talked and talked and talked, in fact. He believes you should not eat anything after 4:00 p.m. because your liver and pancreas and all the other guys need to rest. My Orchard friend, Kathie, came as a guest and intends to join, so she'll be there next week at Trinity Lutheran, too.  Sharon wore an Asian dragon outfit... 

...along with earrings she had made herself: 

However, the weight news for me was grim: At home, I was up .08 to 138.4 and at T.O.P.S. up .09 to 139.9, on the brink of 140. Oh, me, oh, my, I MUST reform!

Lunch with Keith and Kathie and I restrained myself with simply a salad. After, I sat outside the clubhouse with my book and read for a time, then went back upstairs to prepare for Happy Hour. It featured three Irish dancers and was very engaging:

Back at my place, I did this and that before going down to dinner. Ate with Keith and Kathie, and Ursula joined us. Today, Mary Ann will pick me up at 9:15 and we'll join the "No Kings" rally at the county complex. 

THURSDAY

Before breakfast (with Keith, as Kathie had the best intentions, but didn't get there), I put in a white wash, retrieving it after. At 10:00, I went to a kind a info meeting with chef Michael and director Tiffany.  It was milding informative: we were apprised that new silverware (there didn't seem anything wrong with the old ones) were coming, plus luncheon salads would get more varied, plus other little nuances would be added. Actually, I'm mostly satisfied with the food and certainly, with food service. 

Lunch with Keith and Kathie, then I prepared the T.O.P.S. items to take to the clubhouse. They included coffee, cups, sugar, sweetener creamer, napkins, and a T.O.P.S. magazine. This morning, I'll take over the coffee maker; luckily, it's the individual serving kind, so is light. Mindy unlocked the clubhouse for us and we spent twenty minutes or so assembling the set up. I just followed how we have things at our usual meeting, then we put some chairs in a row for our audience.

Back at my apartment, I got instructions for charging the heart monitor and I think I'm pretty okay with it. I think some members will come to see my place, so I emptied the large box that was in the living room and dusted a bit. Took the box and trash to the laundry room to discard and the place looks reasonably neat.  

Dinner with Keith, but Kathie didn't show, not sure why. We had some good conversation, both amusing and insightful, so that was enjoyable. 

Slept well and got up at 5:00, which is all right with me; I'll nap after the meeting.

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast over, I frittered away the hour until it was time for the Balance With Jackie class at 10:00. Took a short walk around the complex after that, then joined Keith and Nancy for lunch. At 2:00, I went to Bingo, during which players could "buy" (for a dime apiece) up to four cards, which I did. I won a game and had a good time. 

Directly after, there was entertainment. Mindy had a Black guy named Aron in and he sang a number of songs, including many of good old Nat King Cole's. That naughty Mindy, our activities director, made Harvey Wallbangers, in which I indulged. Because I did, I skipped bringing my IPA to dinner. Had pulled pork, beans, and salad and a no-sugar ice cream for dessert, then went back up to assembly my dimes and quarters and straighten up a bit. Aron, the entertainer, had mentioned he was in a movie with Antonio Bandaris and I looked it up on Netflix. I just watched the first fifteen minutes or so and there was a Black man in a diner reading a newspaper--an extra with no lines, but that may have been him, not sure. 

I was so pleased that Mindy volunteered to make the flyer for tomorrow's T.O.P.S. meeting, which I'm organizing: 

She then had it put at every door, so we may have a fair amount of guests at the meeting. Both my meal companions, Keith and Kathie, are planning to come. 

Incredibly, this year there are three different graduations in my family: Mr. K., in Tokyo, is graduating from the equivalent of what we called grammar school, i.e., eighth grade; his mother videoed the ceremony, which I watched last night.  Then granddaughter Violet, in Singapore, is graduating from the equivalent of high school; and her sister, Vivian, is graduating from the University of Hawaii. I'm going to give each a token gift, plus money, the amounts calculated on their level of schooling, I guess.

Well, it's now 5:15 am on Thursday. I woke up a half hour ago because the heart monitor I'm wearing was flashing light--AAGH, what was this?! I had no idea what that meant and rushed to get the explanatory paper that came with the device. There was a number to call with questions and I did, with little hope it would be answered that early. It was, though--I think in Minnesota--and I was told it just needed to be charged. However, I'm not going to do that until I have better information on it, so I'm letting it flash.

Note on anger at the Cabrillo Cardiology Group: They switched the date I was to get fitted for the monitor several times, but I decided it was stupid and self-destructive to elaborate on it, so will just forget it.  

TUESDAY

 After breakfast, I again took a short nap, as I've been doing most days. I'm cautiously optimistic that this won't interfere with my sleep, as I've been sleeping well lately. 

Just fooled around with this and that until it was time to go down to lunch.  I was looking forward to it--shrimp and crab--and, actually, it was pretty good. Kathie didn't show, but I sat with Keith, as I've been doing regularly.

After, I just played some computer games until I was picked up at 3:15 and taken to the cardiologist. Appointment was for 4:00 and we were a half-hour early, but didn't get in until almost 4:30. I got the heat  monitor put on, with instructions, but it was all Greek to me and I'll have somebody else interpret it and show me what to do.* We finally left and went directly to Suzanne's for Vickie's retirement party. 

I had a wonderful time! It was so good to be with old friends and although Kay is a relatively new one, I like her, too. Suzanne had a good spread of veggies and dip, cranberry meatballs, and assorted other things, and Kay brought deviled eggs. As we always do, we brought our own drinks, Suzanne and Kay having non-alcoholic beer, Vickie and I red wine and IPA. We all talked and talked, of course, and laughed a lot, and didn't break up until after 8:00. These aren't very good pictures, but here we are last night: 

Kay

Suzanne and Vickie

Vickie took me home and on the way, offered to take me to see Jim some day; I'll certainly take her up on that. 

I found my new printer ink at my door; since it's a re-make or whatever they call it, I hope it works. 

* We were so angry with this outfit, Cabrillo Cardiology Group. Tomorrow, I'll list here the reasons for that. 

MONDAY

After breakfast with Keith (I had an omelet for a change), I straightened up a bit, then went down to the balance class. I'm getting to think it's beneficial for me--it certainly doesn't hurt. 

I was surprised when Kathie knocked on my door before lunch. She wanted to tell me about her problems with some other residents, whom I know, too. I don't want to go into detail, but we decided she, Keith, and I would be meal companions and let the two others follow their own path. Suits me fine.

Lunch was tilapia, which was pretty good, after which I was picked up at 1:30 to go to Second Wave Physical Therapy.  Was greeted and treated by Stacy, whom I really liked, and went through my paces. I have five other sessions scheduled and will continue balance and bone builders classes.  

Stopped at Office Depot, but was so annoyed at the price of printer ink ($72.95 plus tax) that I decided to look around. Home at 4:00 and ordered ink on-line (Epson 222XL) via credit card 2485. 

Ate dinner with Keith and Kathie, skipping the main offering in favor of a turkey burger and pickled beets. When I got back to my apartment, I found a text from Suzanne, changing the retirement party for Vickie to 5:30 because I probably wouldn't be able to get there by 5:00. So nice of her.

After dinner, I took my skirt and knitted coat to the laundry room and put them in a cold wash. When U retreived them, they looked okay and I hung them to dry in the shower.

Slept well, all the way to 6:15, which is good for me. 

SUNDAY

 After breakfast--with Keith, of course--I was going to start on the tax stuff, but lazy me, I took a nap instead. I did, at least, do a large load of clothes--put them in before lunch. That I had with Keith only, as our other usual companions were at another table. Frankly, that's all right with me; to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of two of them and as for the other, she kind of amuses me, but maybe not enough to want to eat with her every day. 

I did almost nothing worth reporting until dinner, which I ate with Keith and we had a long, long talk. I learned all about his earlier life--two wives, two divorces, no children--and his two brothers, one of whom died from injuries after a car crash. The other lives in an RV in Arizona. Anyway, it was interesting to learn more about him. 

Finally found a graduation gift for Violet on-line and sent for it. I'll inclufe some dough in a check or gift certificate; must find something for Vivian now. 

I Messaged Mike to ask him to send me some pictures of him and his family at the Taj Mahal. I want to print them and show Mindy, as she's planning an India-themed day soon, but damn, I'm out of black. Sent to Epson for some and it should come soon. 

The shower head holder had fallen, but I was able to reattach it and get my shower. Happily, I slept well, even though I had napped yesterday; awoke at 6:00. 

Physical therapy today, to which I'm not looking forward. 

SATURDAY

Morning: Breakfast with Keith, took a short nap, then went to the salon upstairs and got a manicure. Did some laptop stuff and looked on-line for graduation gifts for both granddaughters. I'll give them checks, too, but want to add some little extras. Got picked up at 2:00 and off we went to town. 

We were early, so stopped at GoodWill where one of us got a top. Then it was off to the cinema to see Project Hail Mary.  We had a very peculiar time: The movie was listed as starting at 3:00, but we were a little late and it had already started when we got there. Incredibly, the credits were showing a half-hour later--what? what? why? It turned out there were two theatres and they were both showing it--we were in the other one. The upshot was, we then went the theatre showing the 3:30 one and saw almost the whole thing. With all that annoying confusion, we'd think we'd hate the movie, but the fact is...

...we both 💓LOVED💓 it! The story line was sort of goofy, but appealing, the effects were spectacular, and if Ryan Gosling isn't the most darling young man ever, I don't know who is. Anyway, it was terrific:

                                                            

The town was jammed and swingin', of course--it was a warm, but comfortable Saturday night--and we considered several restaurants before deciding on good old Lure Fish House. We had to wait 35 minutes to be seated, but there were places to sit, so that was okay. I was still stuffed from lunch (a good-sized burrito), so just had a bowl of New England clam chowder and an IPA. 

It was 8:00 before I was dropped off--latest I've been out in an age, but that was okay, too.  I got in my jammies right away and settled down for the night after a wonderful evening.