Slept wonderfully well and got up at 6:30. El was up an hour or so later and we had breakfast. then Greg came over and we went for a short walk on the trail to the river. It was chilly and we didn't go as long as we might have because the paved part ends and I didn't want to hazard the rocky path. Here we are on on the trail:
Back at El's, we chatted, then fussed around until two of my three other children Zoomed us. The time difference is so extreme--it was Friday, 4:45 am in Tokyo and Thursday in the U.S., 11:45 here, and 2:45 pm in Jersey. However, we had a lovely time, especially when the east coast trio Zoomed in. They were decorating cookies and having fun. Unfortunately, it was only an hour earlier in Singapore than Tokyo, so Mike was still asleep; We got to him later and enjoyed hearing about him and his girls:
Christmas Day, 2024: Vivian, 20; Violet, 17.
Also unfortunately, the Amazon gift card I sent for him, Vivian, and Violet (electronically) never got there. Why? I looked and damnit, I had mis-written Mike's email address, damnit. Well, I'll send again and it'll be a new year gift.
Dinner was casual, but good, with Ellen's chicken soup and enchilada casserole, both delicious and made from scratch. After that, we opened our presents. We had agreed not to go nuts with expensive ones, and nobody did, but we all enjoyed the holiday.
I'm afraid, though, that my friend, Jim, didn't. I got a call late in the day from Victorian Care Center to say Jim had problems breathing and that he had been taken to Ventura Community Hospital. Ellen and I thought we'd visit him there, but called first, and found he had been in the ICU with pneumonia. Later, though, he rallied somewhat and was then in what seems to be a step up--in the O (observation?) CU. Anyway, visitors are not encouraged; in fact, I think he may have the flu and be contagious, so I'll hold off trying to visit. I'll try to call him sometime today.
El asked if I wanted to go to the supermarket on my way home, and sure, why not? We drove to WinCo, but it looked terribly crowded, so we went off to Grocery Outlet. I didn't think I needed much, but couldn't resist several pounds of sea bass and halibut, so managed to spent forty bucks. Back at my place, El stayed for a few hours while we visited and looked over my newly-arrived cryptogram books. She had no clue as to how they work and was intrigued.
We said goodbye sometime after 4:00 and I cleaned up and put away at least some of the stuff I had needed--or thought I needed--for two nights at El's. Before dinner, I also sliced and cut up the several pounds of tomatoes I had bought at G.O.
Lorraine called to see if I might be able to meet in the middle today. However, I had emailed Diane to see if she was up for a lib lunch today, but haven't heard back from her. Will see.
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