Yesterday is really, really hard to remember--I guess because it didn't distinguish itself with anything at all. Continued to get my boxes of photo in order--hey, this will take weeks--then lay on the couch and re-watched "Sideways" while Pat was at the bay. Took two pork chops out of the freezer, baked them and served with scalloped potatoes and corn. The chops were very tasty--even Pat remarked on them--and I remembered reading that a few years ago, the meat people had removed a lot of fat from pork (maybe didn't feed the porkers as much or did something after they had sacrificed their porky little lives) so they could call it "the other white meat." However, that made the meat dry and tough, if you ask me and even if nobody did, this is my blog and I can write what I want. Well, I understand the meat people have noted this (dry, tough) and gone back to more fatty pork so it tastes better and blah, blah, blah...
Okay, wake up, Rosemary. It's time to go into the sub-zero cold and knock on Susan's door to tell her it's exercise time, I'm up for it, and it's back to the vigorous life!

Pat and I enjoyed the Super Bowl party at the H.'s last night. There were about 8 couples, plus two singles, and of course, the food was plentiful and good. I was indifferent about who won, but finally decided to root for the Bears because 1. my nephew (twin's son, Wes) lives in Chicago and 2. I was mad at the Colts for abandoning Baltimore (when did that happen?) where, incidentally, my other nephew (brother Frank's son, Patrick) lives. NATURALLY, my rooting for them put the kibosh on the Bears and they lost. Do I really care? Naw.
Finally saw "Sideways" and it was great! Daughter Ellen has been urging me to rent it for ages, but I never bothered, as I really didn't think I'd like it, but wow--terrific. For one thing, the very low-key humour, bordering on non-humour, appeals to me and for another, the locations where it was shot (two men are on a short road trip through southern California the week before one gets married) are places Ellen and I visited. I think I was actually in the restaurant that plays a significant role in the story. I also enjoyed the "wine angle"--too long and involved to go into--but none of these things would make it a great movie if it didn't also include incredibly deft character portrayals--and it does. Well, it just struck me as a great movie. As is my wont (can't help it, I used to read a lot of Dickens, etc.), I'll look up "Sideways" and see what's going on with the main actors--they're not familiar to me. One thing to note: There are two pretty raunchy sex scenes, but they're brief and do add to the story. Anyway, what a good movie and it didn't cost a dime, as I borrowed it from the library.
Incredibly, neither Pat nor I have anything scheduled this week except for Susan and Walter's "Mexican Valentine Party" on Saturday. Okey dokey, I'll continue to nurse my cold/flu/whatever and venture out when I feel up to it. I definitely want to resume my morning exercise regime with Susan which I've skipped for several days, then I'll feel back to normal.

Pat and I enjoyed the Super Bowl party at the H.'s last night. There were about 8 couples, plus two singles, and of course, the food was plentiful and good. I was indifferent about who won, but finally decided to root for the Bears because 1. my nephew (twin's son, Wes) lives in Chicago and 2. I was mad at the Colts for abandoning Baltimore (when did that happen?) where, incidentally, my other nephew (brother Frank's son, Patrick) lives. NATURALLY, my rooting for them put the kibosh on the Bears and they lost. Do I really care? Naw.
Finally saw "Sideways" and it was great! Daughter Ellen has been urging me to rent it for ages, but I never bothered, as I really didn't think I'd like it, but wow--terrific. For one thing, the very low-key humour, bordering on non-humour, appeals to me and for another, the locations where it was shot (two men are on a short road trip through southern California the week before one gets married) are places Ellen and I visited. I think I was actually in the restaurant that plays a significant role in the story. I also enjoyed the "wine angle"--too long and involved to go into--and, well, it just struck me as a great movie. As is my wont (can't help it, I used to read a lot of Dickens, etc.), I'll look up "Sideways" and see what's going on with the main actors--they're not familiar to me. One thing to note: There are two pretty raunchy sex scenes, but they're brief and do add to the story. Anyway, what a good movie and it didn't cost a dime, as I borrowed it from the library.
Incredibly, neither Pat nor I have anything scheduled this week except for Susan and Walter's "Mexican Valentine Party" on Saturday. Okey dokey, I'll continue to nurse my cold/flu/whatever and venture out when I feel up to it. I definitely want to resume my morning exercise regime with Susan which I've skipped for several days, then I'll feel back to normal.

Feeling much better today, I'm happy to say. I got a full night's sleep, probably because I took Ny-Quil, which knocks me for a loop, and have no dizziness or inbalance this morning. I do have a slight ache in the back of my neck; guess it's part of the whole illness.
Yesterday morning, I drove over to beautiful Port Republic to a house sale--bought a few mugs--then laid low, only going to the library to get some CDs. Watched "The Forgotten," a horror story whose only virtue is that it stars Julianne Moore--fairly interesting at first, but the rest--well, easily forgotten. Also took out "Sideways," the Oscar-winning movie a few years old that Ellen's been urging me to see. I understand it's set in the Napa Valley where El and I have been several times. May not get a chance to see it today, but will soon.
Made a quick dinner last night--what I call "a pick-up meal"--of tomato soup and grilled cheese for Pat, and just had leftover spaghetti myself. Tonight is the H's Super Bowl party, so I won't have to think about what's for dinner.

Had a lousy night, continually waking up with hard coughing. However, I got up this morning feeling much better than yesterday. The dizziness is almost all gone (I'm careful not to move my head too quickly). It has dawned on me that I don't cough nearly as much during the day as at night when I lie down--hmm, wonder why.
The cleaners came yesterday and Pat and I skulked around to keep out of their way. Other than that, just puttered, tried to rest, and generally laid low. I called Susan to say I wouldn't meet her this morning for exercise, but I hope I can tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also the Super Bowl party at the H.'s, but that's at 5:30; hope Pat and I are both able to go. Around here, it's customary for everybody to bring something to parties. Barb suggested either an appetizer or dessert, so I'm going to make cookies and here's why: For my birthday, I got a lovely basket from Barb D. next door, with peppermint tea, some bon-bons and a Mason jar with the dry makings of "Million Dollar Cookies" (I add the butter, egg, and vanilla). Will make them up for the party and, as the D.'s will be there, I'll be able to credit Barb with how good they are (I'm assuming here).
Incidentally, although for Sunrise Bay this is a short street, no fewer than four women named Barbara live in the 12 homes on our (even-numbered) side. (Being a math whiz, I figured out that's one-third.) Barbara D. lives next door to us on one side, Barbara M. on the other, Barbara H. two doors down toward Center Street, and Barbara K. three doors "up." We're very close with Barbaras D. and H., and friendly, but less close, with the other two. I assume the name thing has to do with the fact that this is an over-55 community and "Barbara" was the trendy name during the time period of say, the '40s and '50s--there are lots of other "Barbaras" here, too.

Had a nice chat with sister Betty yesterday morning, then went to Manahawkin and bought lots of stuff too mundane to mention. Had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner--aside from all those exciting events, it was a pretty slow day. Cleaners are due in a few hours--ugh!
Alison e-mailed to ask if we wanted her to come down this weekend. I wrote back that it would be great if she could come tomorrow and help a little more with the garage clearing, moving boxes and so on. Also, Pat likes to see his daughter; maybe we could go out to lunch again. I hate to monopolize her time, but Mike is helping his brother move tomorrow and she said they don't need her to help.
I'm going to see if I can get to the doctor's today. This morning, I was dizzy and unsteady on my feet when I got up. I just looked this up and saw it can be caused by an ear infection, which I think I may have. (When I blew my nose, I could "feel it" in my ear.) Will call the doctor when they get in at 9:00.
Later: Luckily, the doctor had a cancellation at 9:30, so I was able to get in right away. She said I don't have an ear infection, but that I have fluid in (behind?) my ear and that's causing the dizziness and unbalance. We also discussed again my continual colds. She said some people have "slow" immune systems and can't fight off colds as well as others; also said the stress in my life probably contributes (as Alison says, "stress? what stress?"--she's kidding, gang). She wrote me out three prescriptions, for an antibiotic, a nasal spray, and a decongestant. I dropped them off at Rite-Aid, asked them to let me know who much they'd cost, then will decide if I want all of them. I'll take the antibiotic, but if I can get the others OTC, I will, or I'll skip them if they're just for symptomatic use.
While we're on the subject: I'm always amazed by the number of prescriptions doctors tend to write. For heaven's sake, I don't know why I need a nasal spray and, as for a decongestant, Pat takes on OTC (Rite-Aid brand), which would be fine for me if I wanted to take it and I don't. If I need medicine, okay, but things that will get better anyway, I just ignore or treat with this or that--from lemon juice to OTC crap (always store brand, if possible), to sleep therapy if I can swing it.

As of yesterday, I picked up an interesting and satisfying new project: I accepted the invitation of friends Leslie and Dennis R. to walk 5 miles on April 29 in Atlantic City for the March of Dimes and to try to get sponsors. Their adorable little grandson, Leo, now 3, was born prematurely and has some developmental delays and the M. of D. does a lot of work and research on that problem.
In the electronic age, this is a sophistocated procedure--they set you up with a web site and those you e-mail can apply their donations through the Internet. Participants are asked to set a "goal" and, not being used to this kind of thing, I said mine was $100. I got the ball rolling by kicking in some dough myself, then sent an appeal to 29 people. (I excluded the Sweetwater Drive neighbors I thought the R.'s would contact themselves.) To my amazement and gratification, I'm already up to $170 and I think more will be coming in. Yay for the March of Dimes, hip, hip, hurray for little Leo, and thank you, thank you, thank you to my so-generous family and friends!
Other than that, an okay day. Rented "Road to Perdition" and watched it in the afternoon, trying to rest to treat the perpetual cold. It was a dog, unfortunately, notwithstanding Tom Hanks with a mustache. Went to Acme to restock my meat locker (the freezer) with pork chops, chicken, and store-made meatballs (I like them better than mine). Had stuffed pork chops for dinner and made baked apples to go with them--a nice winter meal.