Sunday, August 5: Got to Santori's and really stocked up on veggies and fruit, bought a few plants at Lowe's, and went to Acme for more provisions. Pat asked me to get a new battery for his watch, and what a drag, as the back has to be removed to replace it. I went to 3 different places (Radio Shack, where the guy told me they weren't allowed to open watches; K-Mart, which has a jewellery area and sells watches, but of course, the clerk had no idea how to do it; and--finally--a little jewelery store in Manahawkin where I should have gone in the first place). Battery replaced and problem solved.
The preceding sounds like a mere nothing, but took almost all day. Watered the outside after dinner, having interspersed the new plants (still in their pots and I've performed this trick before) among the old, and it looks fair, but far from as attractive as it's been other years.
Brother Larry called. His Helen needs a little fix-up on the eye that had the--successfully removed--growth under it, so they'll travel to Jacksonville soon. They were going to see a new community near them which surrounds "Santa Maria College," a very conservative school established by the founder of Domino's Pizza. I believe it will promote the same ultra-Catholic beliefs. Hey, to each his own.
After dinner, was happy to hear from Ellen and we discussed her art project, as well as an upcoming "retreat" for the faculty at her school in the Napa Valley. The district will pay for it, as it's a professional conference, designed to enhance skills and exchange information. When I was at Rider, I attended several such conferences for higher education/human resource people, including a weekend at Annapolis, and an over-nighter in Philly. There, you could talk with colleagues from other colleges and universities, attend workshops, and--the hope and theory was--come back to work refreshed and recharged with new ideas. You also got to party.
Looking forward to having Pat's brother, SIL, two nieces, and great-nephew here for lunch today.