FRIDAY

I had a terrible time sleeping and had little energy when I got up. I just couldn't face going to T.O.P.S. and called Cheryl to say I was skipping. I napped for a very short time, then made myself get dressed and go downstairs for balance class with Jackie. I'm so glad I did, as I felt much more energetic after and, to my surprise, it turned out to be a fun day.

Lunched with Kathie and Paula and we had a reasonably good one. The pork with peaches diidn't appeal to me, so I had a turkey burger, which I always enjoy. I went back to my place after to prepare for the "bike" (think "rickshaw") ride at 1:30. The biker, Michael came, and Anita and I climbed in, I didn't expect too much, but it turned out to be very enjoyable. He took us through thereby neighborhoods, which are mostly composed of large, well-made single homes, certainly selling for two million and up. Anyway, it was great fun to be out there in the California sun with the abundance of plants, trees, and flowers, and soaring mountains on the horizon. 

We were out for about forty-five minutes, then got back in time to see and hear Tatiana, who is 65 and one of the best entertainers I've ever seen. I was pleased to have Paula join me and we both enjoyed it so much:

Her high kicks are what kill me--I couldn't do that when was fifteen, let alone sixty-five!

Shortly, it was time for dinner and I sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Paula. The entree was fish and chips, which didn't interest me, so I had my favorite, bagels with salmon and cream cheese. We discussed proposing to Mindy that regular "lunch outs" be scheduled and I said I'd work up a proposal and submit it to her. Did so later and I'll top it off and print it today.

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 Here's another picture from Thursday's "Japan Day"; it's resident Elaine as a geisha girl:  

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THURSDAY

Lunched with Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Mary in the decorated dining room. It was "Japan Day" and my Samuri warrior graced the fireplace. Mindy put him on the fireplace mantel and residents had their pictures taken with him. Lunch consisted of Japanese--or quasi-Japanese--food, which was good and included salmon, chicken, mixed veggies, and, of course, rice. There was also a bar set up; I had good Sappora beer and plum wine. Here I am with the warrior:

Nothing much very interesting went on the rest of the day. I played around on the laptop and did some time on the stationary bike. Other than that, it was a slow afternoon. 

Dinner was enjoyable with just Denise and Paula, two of my favorites. Both are somewhat younger than I am--early eighties, as a lot of my friends are--and I enjoy their talk and their attitudes. 

I called Noreen after dinner to see if she would like to meet for lunch on Saturday. Yes, indeed, and we'll meet at our favorite, Danny's Deli, at 12:30. 

Mary Ann is too jammed unpacking and organizing their new place to got to T.O.P.S. today. Called Cheryl and she'll pick me up at 8:10 or so. 

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I asked Mike if I could put his pic here and and on Facebook and he agreed. I think he looks like either a captain of industry or a Mafia chieftan: 

                                                        

As for the setting, he's in Mancester, England, accompanying older daughter, Vivian, to graduate school. 

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WEDNESDAY

 As mentioned, I was awakened at 6:00 by a call from Little Egg Harbor Township regarding my failure to pay the water/sewage bill for my house in Little Egg. That was because they had sent the bill to my old address and the post office had failed to forward it. Anyway, long story short, after involving someone to represent me, the problem is solved.

Rick drove me to CVS to pick up my medications. On the way, he asked if I wanted to do other shopping  or would I prefer he simply wait for me. I had intended to go to Vons, but decided I really didn't need anything there urgently, so I opted to have him wait. I got the meds and was back home within the hour. As I disembarked, I ran into resident Katherine, who had lived in SO-FI and moved here shortly after I did. She had on a shirt with the name of her adorable little dog on it and I had to take a picture: 

Had lunch with Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Denise, fivc of us at a table for four, but that was okay. After that, I played around on this laptop for a bit, then went downstairs to have my BP taken. It was good, 119/66 (55), so maybe the fact that I had to wait for the nurse for fifteen or so made a difference.I stayed downstairs because I was almost time to play dime Bingo. I did and won three games.   

One of the other residents--I think she has a screw loose--is constantly talking about her distant relatives, the Clossens, who founded the pickle company. She showed me an article her cousin or somebody had sent her, then asked if I would look for more on the Internet. I did when I got home--there are dozens--and printed them out for her. She was ecstatic.

Dined with Paula, LaVerne, and one of the Carols--there are several here--a somewhat somber personality who has a tendency to preach and tell you what to think, a trait I particularly dislike. However, she suffers from depression and I guess I should give her a pass. While we were eating, Mindy came over to ask if it was all right with me for her to move my Samuri warrior into the dining room  in the place of distinction on the fireplace. Sure, why not. 

Today is "Japan Day" and lunch will include Japanese--or at least, Asian--food, as well as good Japanese beer, Sapparo and plum wine. Saki will also be available, but I certainly will skip that as it's about the most disgusingly horrible beverage I've ever tasted. 

I slept fairly well and will try to skip a nap today. 

TUESDAY

I didn't sleep well again, but got up at 6:30. Did my morning routine, then put in a large load of wash. I took my hour nap before going to the Clubhouser for Bone Builders Class.  It was good to be back there, although I kept remembering and missing Keith, as he had attended regularly.  

Went to lunch after and darn, I forgot my hearing aid, so dropped my lemon wedges and salt at our table--LaVerne was already there--and went up to get it. Kathie and Paula joined us and we had a tasty enchilada platter. Retrieved the wash from the dryer, and folded and put it away.

Beverly gave me a page from a flyer advertising a pillow designed for walkers. I guess I had admied hers, although truthfully, I don't know if I really want one, although chairs in resturants are often too low for me. 

Went down to dime Bingo at 2:00 and was surprised there were only seven players; usually, we have many more. However, we played and although I didn't win any, it was reasonably enjoyable. Activities Director Mindy had brought her adorable little kitten to visit and what a sweetie: 

I stayed after to chat for a bit with Mindy, then went back to my apartment to tidy up. Shortly, it was time for dinner and I sat with Paula, Denise, and Mary; neither Kathie nor LaVerne showed up, which is not unusual for them. 

I'll elaborate on this in tomorrow's entry: I was awakened at 6:00 am by a call from Little Egg Harbor Township Water Company. It's too long and involved to go into here, but boy, I guess they didn't get the message that I live in California and it's three hours earlier here--AAGH! 

MONDAY

Slept okay and got up at 6:30. After my coffee and my morning puzzles, I dressed and, as I've been doing, lay down at 9:00 and took an hour's nap. I was annoyed with  myself for not getting up earlier, but still went  down to balance class and participated in the remaining fifteen minutes. 

I scheduled a "Rick ride" (The Orchard van) for tomorrow to CVS to get my medication. I'll also stop at Von's and possibly, will call to see if Noreen can meet me for lunch at The Little Lion.

Kathie called to ask if I had a pill-splitter and could she borrow it. I do, in fact, I have two, so I brought them down to lunch.  Ate with her, Denise, and Mary and we discussed, of all things, our childhood experiences. Lunch was, again, appropriate for a November's cold night in Jersey (pork roast and mashed), so I ordered two bagels with lox (salmon); ate one and took the other home for an evening T.V. snack.

Rode the stationary bike for twenty minutes and will go to Bone Builders today--I need to get my exercising up to par. 

Had dinner with Kathie, LaVerne, Paula, and Mary. The entree was sloppy joe and Tater Tots, which I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, so I ordered a tuna Caesar salad, which I've had many times and is pretty good. 

Son Mike, on his way from Savannah to London, posted on Facebook that he had a seven-hour layover in Newark, as his flight was delayed. Hope he finally makes it to meet Vivian at her university there. 

I finally heard back from the head of the Tokyo contingent. My grandson, Mr. K., I'm told, is visiting high schools to see which one to choose. It seems the system is more like our college--students pick the school on the basis of what their interests are. Unfortunately, I was told none of the cards I sent, two hard copy and two electronic, were yet received, nor was the gift card I sent to the thirteen-year-old--damn! Now I'm going to try to figure out some way to compensate. 

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I just came across this photo, circa 1922. My Mom is the rider and her sister-in-law, my Aunt Gertrude, is standing on the left. I don't know who the other girls are. I captioned the pic "Horsing Around."

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SUNDAY AND REMEMBERING KEITH

 It went this way: sleep until 7:00, take my once a week pill, wait a half-hour before coffee, then take a 45-minute nap before heading to the dining room for lunch. Sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Mary; Paula didn't show and I'm not sure why. I had salmon for the second day in a row, and it was okay, but not as good as at Stephen's Greek. Went back upstairs until 2:00 Bingo with Sandy. 

That was fun and I won a game. By the time we finished up, it was 3:00 and time for Yatzee. Just Cindy, Beverly,  and I played and I won two out of three (no credit to my skill or anaything, it was just dumb luck that I got Yatzee twice). When we finished, it was time for dinner and I invited Cindy to eat here and sit with us, which she did. It was cranberry chicken salad and very good. When we were almost finished, Keith's brother, Kelly, came over and sat with us, as I had invited him to do the other day. He had brought family pictures and we all enjoyed seeing Keith as a two-year-old, a ten-year-old, a teenager, and older. 

I had wanted to introduce him to Dyan, who had been so friendly with Keith and he asked me to, so I took him over to her table. It happened that LaVonne was sitting with her and I remembered that she was a distant cousin of Keith's. Kelly and I sat down with them, showed the pictures, which they loved, of course, then I called Denise over and she joined us. Naturally, she greatly enjoyed the pictures, too. I said good night in fifteen or so, and left them talking together.  

So-o-o, we remembered Keith with affection and sorrow, which suggested a viewing or a wake. Appropriate, I think, and to an extent, comforting. 

SATURDAY

 Slept well, did this and that, made scrambled eggs for breakfast, then took a short nap. It was then time to go down to lunch; did so and sat with Kathie, LaVerne, and Paula. They enjoyed my recounting of my talk with Keith's brother, then Mike called to Facetime, but I asked him to call after lunch. He did and we had a good talk. 

Mike is with Violet at the Savannah College and Design, and is staying at an historic house for "selected" guests. BTW, his ex, Paula, is staying across the hall. They met Violet's three roomates, as their apartments, brand new, contain two bedrooms with two beds, a living room, kitchenette, and two bathrooms. Hey, it's probably as nice or nicer than mine. Violet starts school tomorrow and Mike will than fly to London, where older sister Vivian will start her doctorate studies. 

Went down for quarter Bingo at 2:00 and stayed for dime Bingo starting at 3:00. Darn, I didn't win a single game, but it was fun, anyway.  

Ellen and Greg got here a bit after 4:00 and got to work hanging my towel rack. Finally, at long last, it's up, a nice kitchen towel on it and it looks good. El took a selfie-pic of the three of us: 

We chatted a bit for a while, I gave El her presents, then we left for Camarillo. It takes only about twenty minutes to get there, much of it through farm country.

Stephen's Grille has been opened only a month; it's owned by the same people who had Steven's Greek in Ventura, to which we went often. Unfortuantely, they had a dispute with the property owners, something about the lease, and left there. The new place is considerably larger, fancier, and oh, yes, a heckuva lot more expensive. El had a gimlet, I an IPA, Greg no alcohol and we each ordered a regular meal, plus El had dessert. I treated her for her birthday and it ran into quite a bit, but I didn't care. Here the the two lovelies: 

Service was pretty slow there and we didn't get back to my place until almost 9:00. The two kids came in just for a few minutes, then we said goodbye after a wonderfully enjoyable evening.