WEDNESDAY

The rain came down in torrents most of the day and we stayed in. As mentioned yesterday, I slept late, made coffee (El sets everything up), and topped off my blog.  Up later, El made breakfast, we had that, dressed, then watched some of "A Man on the Inside." 

Several times, we got flood warnings on both my phone and my medic alert. However, they didn't seem to come to fruition, at least not yet. El had planned to make ground turkey meatloaf for dinner, but had some leftover beef meatloaf and did I want it for lunch? Sure--I don't mind having meatloaf for both meals, so we did. 

We just mostly hung out after that, until El brought out a big box of baskets, fancy boxes, and other containers. I then performed the chore of movers the world over: which to keep, which to donate, and which to toss. Ellen, the prosecutor, argues that every item is guilty of uselessness and should be discarded or at least donated. I throw myself on mercy of the court and plead for the life of all. Well, you win some and you lose some and here are the survivors:

Now to find a use for them and a location!

Greg came about 7:00 and, while he and I sat in the living room catching up with each other, Ellen slaved in the kitchen creating a delicious meal. It included turkey meatloaf; roasted Brussels sprouts; a roots combination of potatoes, carrots and onions; and homemade banana bread. This was followed by slices of the yummy chocolate mocha cake El had made for my birthday and accompanied by Margaritas for El and me (Greg doesn't drink). Here are we three on Christmas eve: 

When we finished, our hostess got out the cards and we turned to the serious business on hand: gin rummy. I think El padded her score, but she lost, Greg won, and I did neither, so 'nuff said.

Greg didn't leave until almost 11:00=good grief, I don't think I've been up that late since high school!--but he'll be back today bringing the ingredients for his self-designed vegetable soup, and will make it here. I'm sure it will be great as he's a suburb cook.

So now here I am in Ojai, California at 4:05 in the morning of Christmas day, settling into the ninetieth year of my birth. The only quote that comes to mind is one I'll never know is factual or not: "God's in his heaven--all's right with world."