Enjoyed lunch and the Bass River hundreth anniversary lecture with Leslie on Monday afternoon. We went to Perkins House in the Holiday Inn, then to the Mill Creek Community Center for the talk. Dennis had been a mail carrier and Les met somebody at the talk (sponsored by an "active and retired mail carriers" association) who knew him from up north.
Yesterday, we had a lovely visit with Bill and Regina. The more I see Regina, the more I like her, although we couldn't be more opposite in our political, social, and religious views. R. is very conservative, not to say reactionary. A few years ago, I invariably reacted with high indignation and came out swinging when people expressed what I saw as mindless prejudice. Now, though, I seem to have mellowed and I try (and usually, although not always, succeed) to look past such differences and see what I appreciate in the person. R. and I were able to laugh together about our opposing beliefs and enjoy each other and the day.
I insisted on bringing lunch (last time, they served up the meal), and used the attractive straw picnic basket I had brought at a yard sale last year. I made ham and cheese, roast beef, and turkey breast sandwiches on sourdough and rye bread, a big green salad, and my crystal pickles, with the chocolate "pirouette" (?--I'm too lazy to go in the pantry and look at the tin) cookies Mary Ann V. had brought as a hostess gift last week. Lunch turned out to be pretty good, but even better, of course, was the talking and laughter we shared.
When we drove up at home about 4:00, Ray and Barb were coming down the street, having just gotten back from Rhode Island to see son John, and we chatted with them in the driveway. Frank came over, then Dennis and Bill, and we all stood around catching up on each other's doings.
Today is the first meeting of the Sunrise Bay Players, with our directors' meeting a half hour before. I have one skit partly done and another I'm mulling over in my head--hope Marge, Dennis, or Amy have more material to contribute.

I did indeed generally veg out yesterday, but also carried on several battles with the medical establishment (may they all develop jungle rot and stew in their own juices). Horizon Medicare Blue still hadn't allowed Rite-Aid to fill my Cerebrex prescription, so I'll go back today to see what's happening. I was able to use the three-capsule sample Mary Ann gave me and alternatives are to a.) order a few days worth and pay it myself to tide me over until approval comes; b.) stop at the doctor's office and ask for samples, if they have any; c.) or simply hope the pain and stiffness stays away until the damn thing is "approved"--if ever.
Also called Apria again because the regulator for Pat's portable oxygen tank didn't come Saturday, as we were promised. The guy--"Tom"--I talked to in the Lakewood branch said, "You're not going to believe this..." and I'm not so sure I do, although I guess I should be more trusting--ha! He said he called UPS to track the package (which he assured me he had put on the truck "with my own hands") and they said it was delayed because of bad weather in KENTUCKY! Yes, it started out 40 miles from here, but had to be routed several hundred away, then sent back...idiots, morons, and nincompoops! Anyway, I was interrupted in typing this by the UPS guy delivering the package. Poor Pat, of course, has been stuck inside since Thursday, so he's the only one who really had to suffer.
Good old Tom also said he was also sending a regulator with the usual delivery today, so we'll have to give the other one to the guy to take back, and blah, blah, blah...
My other current dealing with Apria came with two phone calls I had to make to straighten out the mess consisting of bills that we don't owe, a refund check we got last month, and secondary insurance AARP tossed in the mix.
How did life get so complicated?!?

The weather cleared and we had a terrific time at the baseball game last night. Leslie and Dennis, Frank and Barbara, and I cheered on the Atlantic City Surf, helping them win 12 to 4. Had a hot dog and beer--absolutely mandatory in a ball park--and we all greatly enjoyed the fireworks that followed. We didn't get home until 11, unbelievably late for me, and I even stayed up for a while. Unfortunately, I ate peanut butter and crackers and strawberry wafers--a big mistake, as I feel bloated and uncomfortable this morning.
Luckily, the Cerebrex helped my leg enormously. I was able to walk up the many and long flights of stairs at the ballpark and my knee felt only slightly stiff and barely sore. I HOPE the damn insurance company (may they drown in a vat of cough syrup) allows me to get the prescription filled tomorrow.
Nothing at all scheduled for today, I'm happy to say. This coming week, though, is filled every day, with two doctors' appointments for Pat, and other, but more enjoyable events. Think I'll just veg out and tidy up the house, plus plan something good for dinner.

Nice lunch and pleasant visit with the Van O's yesterday; however, the rest was all downhill. (Or is it "uphill," meaning hard to navigate? On the other hand, "downhill" suggests "downward," that is, low and depressed. Hmmm...I've never been sure about that, but "downhill" sounds more descriptive. What weightly topics one can find on my blog!)
Again, back to the narrative: I dropped off my prescription for Celebrex at Rite-Aid on Thursday and when I went back in two hours, was told my doctor had to call my insurance company, Horizon Medicare Blue, to justify the prescription!
What?!? Yes, this is a new wrinkle by the monstous sons of bitches so they can keep every dime possible of the $2500 a year I pay them! I had to call and give the doctor's office the number to call, then call Horizon to chew them out, and was then blandly told it might take 72 hours for this "prior authorization"!! In the meantime, I'm in pain. I went back this morning before my x-ray (on the knee) and of course, they hadn't authorized it and now it surely won't be okayed until Monday.
When I told this to Mary Ann Van O. yesterday, she was kind enough to offer me three Celebrex capsules (samples) her doctor had given her and she hadn't used. I took two a few minutes ago, although I'm spooked by the dire warnings on it that it could cause heart attack, stroke (and who knows, maybe insanity), that could lead to death.
Yoicks, this modern life! Anyway, I'm going to the Atlantic City Surf baseball game at 5:00 today with Leslie and Dennis, so I gotta be able to climb those steps. Wouldn't you know, it's drizzling a bit; it was postponed the last time because of water on the field, and I hope this won't be a repeat.

The Van O's are coming for lunch today, so I have to neaten up a little. It's nice to have the house all clean and shiny--especially when it's done by other people.
As a lingering ghost to the theme of my past blog, I'll list what I'm serving: a green salad, cold cuts, a variety of breads (rye, sourdough, multi-grain), fruit salad, the "crystal pickles" I made a few weeks ago, and iced tea. I don't have anything for dessert unless I use the fruit salad for that--dunno.
Tomorrow, I'm going to an Atlantic Surf baseball game with Leslie, Dennis, and their church group. It's Leslie's birthday, too, so I'll send her a card.
Next week is shaping up as a busy one; we have something scheduled each day, unless I skip the Bass River lecture. I'll see if anyone else is going.

Well, today was kind of a downer. My knee started bothering me yesterday--not when I'm sitting or lying down, but when I walk or move it much. I got an appointment with the doctor right away and she believes it's arthritis. I have to get an x-ray and she prescribed Cerebrex. I took the "script," as medical people call it, to the drug store and will pick it up in a few minutes.
In the meantime, the cleaners were here this morning and the place looks pretty good. I did a LARGE number of washes--I always wash the throw rugs in both bathrooms and the laundry room, plus the lid covers, before they get here. That way, they can clean more easily and the rugs get washed at least twice a month.
Little Suzy Homemaker, that's me!

Went back to St. James yesterday to tidy up the archives and meet Celeste. I did, she's a nice young woman, but the whole deal with the anniversary year seems so disorganized, I'm leaning toward skipping the gala. Anyway, I also visited the Ventnor Historical Society and was pleased to see it was open and that its president, Dr. M. was there. I contributed some of the items we had used for Pat's birthday--hope they can use them.
Got home to find Pat gone to the bay. Had lunch, then settled down on the couch to read, but took a nap. I was awakened by a phone call from Sonya D. and was delighted to hear from her. She said it was fine to use her and her parents' real names in the other blog I maintain--"Uncle Frank's Farm," my uncle's memoirs.
Saw Mc Greevey on T.V. and was mildly interested. Geez, Jersey is getting to be Bizarro State, what with the former gov's doings, shutting down operation because of the budget dispute, and so on.
To paraphrase John Wilkes B., "'Twas ever thus" in good old Joisey, I guess.