Had a very nice lunch yesterday with Mary H. and her SIL, Jane M. I was pleased to see Jane; she, Mary, and I have known each other for well over half a century, as we were in the same class at Holy Spirit. We ate at Downbeach Deli and after, I went to Boscov's. Bought myself a hat and gloves, and will run down to Kohl's to get a pair of those new-fangled (probably came out 5 years ago) earmuffs today.
My last Netflix movie is "The Constant Gardener," which I have now. Pat and I watched the first half before I went to bed. It's really good, very intense, and I'm anxious to see the rest of it. The reason I'm dropping Netflix is because I don't watch much television--don't want to and I never watch in the daytime, which seems to me sad and depressing (not the shows, I guess, but the idea of watching T.V. in the daytime because there's nothing else to do).
There's another reason: Movies no longer fill the T.V. screen, and watching a little, scrunched-up picture is an entirely different experience than seeing it in a theatre. It sometimes seems to even subtly change the whole concept behind a movie. Does anyone remember Marshall McLuhan's book The Medium is the Message? Guess it's about 40 years old.
Related to that, but not exactly the same thing, I think we're being manipulated by companies in ways large and small to be consumers first and foremost and to hell with our needs. (Well, duh...)

Layin' low and feelin' low. The damn cold's got me down and I had trouble sleeping last night. Did get more of the garage cleaned up yesterday while Pat tied up the newspapers. The house looks nice, I must say; cleaners did a good job again.
Didn't feel like making dinner last night, so called out for chicken and had it delivered. Pat thought it was good, but mine was overcooked.
One bright spot is that I'm meeting Mary H. for lunch today to return the port-a-crib. After that, I just want to stay home and try to get out of this slump.

Got still more stuff taken to the thrift shop yesterday and finally, the Christmas tree was picked up, along with three other big items I've had out at the curb for days.
The damn cold continues, but so far, it's not an extreme one, just kind of medium. Walked with Susan yesterday, but skipped the Curves session with Leslie. Susan's daughter and granddaughter are here, so we won't be exercising until Monday and I think I'll just lay low and nurse my cold until then.
Cleaners come today. It's always a bummer until they leave, then it's nice to have a clean house.

Aagh! I've got a full-fledged cold again! It's unbelievable after the three I've had since November. It just seems to be a constant--I don't understand it, as I've tried to be very conscientious about washing hands, staying away from people with colds, and so on. Oh well, guess it'll go away eventually.
Am carrying on a very interesting and absorbing e-mail exchange with friend Pat McH. R. about weighty topics such as the war, politics, and religion. It's a pleasure to learn her ideas and thoughts, many of which are so similar to mine. Hmm...would it be such a pleasure if they were opposed to mine? Probably not, which is why I'm so skeptical about "open discussions" ever changing anyone's mind.
Just got back from my walk with Susan. Not sure if I'll got to Curves with Leslie at 9:30. It's good to increase my exercise, but maybe I'll skip today, considering my cold. Susan's daughter and granddaughter are coming to visit her today, so we won't be exercising until Monday.
This lousy spell checker isn't working, so readers will just have to stumble (mentally) over the text, as I know there are some misspelled words.
Did you know that St. Augustine was the first person to be able to read without moving his lips? Well, now you know.

Yet more garage clearing out--it's a great feeling to get rid of stuff. I'm going to continue today, even to the extent of throwing out containers and flimsy carts I keep thinking will come in handy someday.
Went to Curves again with Leslie after Susan's and my walk and, I guess, will continue, although I have another cold. It's unbelievable how often I get them. However, this one is mild so far--hope it doesn't excellerate (I don't know how to spell it, but this lousy spell check isn't working).
Went in to bed at 8:30 last night, hoping to get a good night's sleep. Put my book down about 9:00 and entered Slumberland easily--until the phone rang at quarter to ten! It was my cousin, Bob F., from California, who innocently asked if this was a good time to call. He's such a neat guy, I hated to tell him he woke me up, so I sidestepped the question and we talked for about 20 minutes. Then, of course, I couldn't get back to sleep and I'm tired. Damn!

We went to the hemotologist yesterday and Pat's blood now seems okay. We don't have to see him for 6 months. (But if it's okay, why do we have to see him in 6 months?)
Had a nice talk with Muckie yesterday. She enjoyed her stay with son Matthew for 12 days over Christmas (and meeting her new grandson, Fisher), but is glad to be home. She has a sty-like growth on her eyelid that she'll have removed shortly at Wills Eye in Philly. Two friends, including Margie O., whom I remember from high school, are going with her.
Continued my foray into the garage, getting a lot of crap--uh, beautiful and valuable stuff--into my car to take to Habitat thrift store. Also consolidated some of the higher shelves in the kitchen so I have more room for things I use every day.
Susan and Walter are having a "Mexican Valentine's Day party" next month, which I'll certainly attend and hope and trust Pat can.
Just got back from our walk. Will get Pat's breakfast and morning medication, then accompany Leslie to Curves at 9:30. I'm just jump-starting my exercise routine, I guess, but still don't want to join as a regular member for the reasons I listed yesterday.

One of the advantages of alternating walking with the "Walk Away..." tape is that the "walk days" seem like a piece of cake. We walked yesterday and today will do the tape.
Went to the Women's Club meeting yesterday and, although I find it annoying that the meetings are on Sundays at 1:30 (which means the whole day is filled), I enjoyed it. I was pleased to see Marge there. She had said she might join and she did. Also chatted with Mary Ann Van O., whose husband is in about the same stage of emphysema as Pat. We'll meet for lunch next week.
The program at the club was on Bass River State Park; Leslie and I had seen it a few months ago elsewhere, but I enjoyed it. I also won one of the 50-50 raffles for $20--yay! (There's nothing like money to make people happy.)
Got home about 3:30. Pat was at the bay and I suddenly galvanized myself to clear up some of the garage, throwing away stuff (my stuff, that is--I wouldn't touch Pat's until I ask him), separating some to donate to the thrift shop, and rearranging others. I even swept the floor and was very pleased with myself. I had put barbequed ribs in the crockpot for dinner and added some sausage. Boy, was that good.
Talked to darling daughter Ellen last night in our usual Sunday evening phone call. She said her feet feel better, but she still has to get a number of more shots.
Saw the lunatic-in-chief on 60 Minutes, proudly displaying his arrogance and ignorance for the camera. He essentially boasted that, although he recognizes that his idiocies are heavily out of favor with the American people, he just doesn't care. In the meantime, children are torn limb from limb. (One of the blogs I read imagined him--ala Hitler--asking his staff, "Is Baghdad burning"?)
Today, Pat has a hemotologist appointment--I have no idea why--at 11:00 and after that, I hope to actually go through some of the cabinets in the kitchen to discard and rearrange. I'm on a roll!