High point of Wednesday was the final word that Pat has only one more radiation treatment, so today is the last.
I went over to the candy shop at Smithville and finally found the Atomic Fireballs Patrick had requested. Stopped at Smithville Inn to get info on the anniversary party. Prices, of course, are astronomical. I've checked Ram's Head Inn (priciest of all) and I'll visit SeaOaks today. Will go to Creevey's, where we had Pat's 75th, but I'm hoping for a more elegant venue, if possible.
Wrapped and took to the P.O. the items for Patrick; postage was about twice what they cost, of course. Took my BP at Acme and it was 131/73.
Cousin John called to say Aunt Claire has been moved to hospice care at the assisted living facility where she lives. I'm going up there (Ambler, Pa.) tomorrow for what I assume will be a final visit. Aunt C. is the last of my aunts and uncles living. (She's not a blood relative, but married my Uncle Frank, who died a few years ago at 95.)
It was a gorgeous, spring-like, day, and when we got home from SOCH, I took another walk, following the same mile and a half route Susan and I take every morning. Stopped in at Marge's to chat awhile.
When Alison called, I was dismayed to realize that I had screwed up my calendar. I had in my head that Pat's birthday party would be next Sunday, but of course, it's this one. That means I'll have to miss Susan's party unless we can have Pat's on Saturday, and Alison thinks J., J., J., and T. have Joel's stepsister's birthday party then. Damn--I was really looking forward to both, but will have to skip Susan's.
Called Barb H., who's in the hospital, Ray told us. They thought it was her gall bladder, but it isn't. She thinks she'll be discharged today.
Later: Got weighed in at Weight Watchers, but didn't stay for the meeting. I'm down another 1.6 for a total of an even 58 pounds off and a current weight of 141.6. Because I'm within 2 pounds of my goal weight (which is, somewhat arbitrarily, 141), I no longer have to pay. In fact, I want to lose a bit more, so don't intend to follow the WW version of "maintenance."

Breaking News! This just in:
Mike and Paula will be giving little Vivian a baby sister! According to the ultra sound, she has "extra long" legs like Vivi and looks lively and healthy. Due date? The fourth of July. Just heard, via e-mail--a nice way to start the day.
The news is not so good about my poor computer. Don was here for two and a half hours yesterday and after all kinds of manuvering, came to the conclusion it has a virus. Said he's going to have to take it home, strip it down, and search it--uh, no, that's cop talk, isn't it? Well, he'll strip it and rebuild or something. Right now, I still have to put in my I.D. and password each time I open e-mail, this blog, and anything else. It seems the damn thing doesn't recognize me anymore, even when I tell it "remember me."
Sitting with Don, then taking Pat to radiation pretty much filled the day. Susan and I had stopped to vote in the primary (two different parties, of course), conveniently at our clubhouse that we pass each day on our walk.
Other than that, ain't no news from Mimi.

Susan gave me one of the "football cakes" for Pat she had made for the H.'s party. She said they had a great time. So did Leslie, who sent me a lovely e-mail message. They're such good friends, but hearing about the fun still makes me feel on the outside looking in. Oh, well, I am going to Susan's "Mexican valentine" party on Sunday; will bring Pat back a platter.
Ran over to Santori's yesterday to stock the larder. Got butternut, spahetti, and acorn squash, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, tangerines, and lots of lucious broccoli. Stopped at Shop-Rite for a few other items.
I called Don S., who lives here in Sunrise Bay (and is the husband of a friend), and asked him to come over and take a look at my computer. It's been getting sulky and balky lately and I have several issues I want him to resolve. Of course, I expect to pay him. He and Mary, incidentally, are soon taking a cruise to Austrailia--lucky them!*
Other than that, nothing much went on except Pat's usual radiation at 3:00. At least we found out that he goes only until Friday, then it's over. However, the new leison on his ear has to be seen and I made an appointment at the dermatologist for Monday.
Today we vote in the primary; polls are at the clubhouse. I'll suggest to Susan that we stop in on our walk, as we go right by it. Of course, we'll be voting for different candidates. She likes Romney and I'm not crazy about anybody. Will just vote for the party, I guess.
Note: Just got back from having my BP checked at the doctor's. It was 122/78, which, medically challenged though I am, I realize is good.
*One of the things that have gone wrong is the spell check on this blog.

After a chat with Betty in the morning, nothing much went on yesterday. Did wash, tidied up, and blah, blah, blah. Went to three drugstores to look for the few items Patrick asked me to send, but found only one. Will look later.
Served up the beef stew in front of the T.V. and watched part of the first half in between taking a shower. Called Ellen on the web cam but, for some reason, it didn't work. Said there was a problem with the recording device. Will see if I can find something unhooked.
JUST got up at 6:40, so must now get over to Susan's for our walk. Nothing in the least bit interesting to report, aside from the Giants upsetting the Patriots, and that's pretty ho-hum, too.

Went to Tucker Tom's, then Acme, to replenish the larder. Acme was having a "big game party," with free food, decorations, a loud speaker, and other hoopla. They were actually serving not just finger food, but full lunches. Buffet tables were set up in various locations with hot dogs, soda, and sides on some; cold cuts on others; potato and macaroni salads, chips and dips; soda and other drinks on ice; plentiful desserts--all, of course, with the appropriate tableware.
I must be hopelessly serious-minded, or a big grouch, or something, as I found this obscurely disturbing. Everybody was buying into Super Bowl frenzy, which grows and grows every year. It's no longer a mildly interesting athletic contest among young millionaires capping off the football season. Don't these grocery shoppers know that the sole purpose is to enrich the bottom line of the mega-corporations that run the country?
The SuperBowl has become some kind of ritual--you're practically unpatriotic if it doesn't excite you--that diverts attention from the horrors we're still inflicting on people in other countries. It competes for notice of the good works for which so many Americans are responsible and which so seldom come to the fore in the media. The carnival atmosphere seems designed to entice people to put aside concerns about the tanking economy, the plight of inner-cities, and the abasement of our culture in favor of pursuing a trivial event.
There's a painting, or novel, or story--can't remember which--concerning members of the highest level, most elegant, German society at a summer ball just before World War I. The women are adorned with fabulous jewels and the men are suave, handsome, and knowing. The hall blazes with light, the band plays loudly, and the dancers dance and dance and dance long into the night...while their whole society is crumbling and the guns of August boom in the distance.
But nobody hears because the band is so loud.

Susan and I were lucky yesterday in that we had just finished our walk when the rain started. It continued all day, varying from just misty to a heavy downpour.
I've had a hankering for lentil soup and decided it was a good day to make a big pot. Modified a recipe and put together half a pound of dried lentils in 3 cups of FF chicken broth, a cup of diced tomatoes, and 1/3 cup each of onions, celery, and carrots, plus minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Simmered it for about an hour and added about a cup of chopped spinach near the end. Oh, it was goo-oo-d. I had talked to sister Betty in the morning for a nice long time--and how I wish I could have asked her over for a bowl of soup!
I walked over to Marge's under an umbrella for my BP "appointment." She took it twice with the wrist monitor, twice with Fred's upper-arm cuff. Here are the numbers: 132/80, 120/80, 125/88, and 134/83. My pulse rate was 66, 66, 68, and 67.
Marge then gave me a cup of tea and we had a nice visit. Had to get Pat to SOCH after that for the radiation. I asked how many more visits and was a little chagrinned to hear we still have to go SIX more times. That's through next week, then another day. Okay, if we have to, we have to--(sigh). At least we get a day off today and tomorrow.
Nothing much else going on aside from the ever-present domestic chores. (JC is supposed to have said, "The poor we have always with us," but he was misquoted. He was actually referring to laundry.)

Picked up Mary Ann Van O. for lunch and we went to the re-opened little restaurant in the strip mall behind Rite-Aid. M.A. had soup and a half-sandwich and I had "Greek salad." It's in quotes because the Greeks would never recognize it. Essentially, it consisted of iceberg (ugh!) lettuce, ordinary canned black olives, a few cubes of feta, and oil and vinegar dressing. That's about as Greek as Al Pacino. Reminded me of restaurants who give you "Caesar salad" with tomatoes in it.
To add i. to i., I asked for decaf hazelnut coffee, and they don't carry it. The name of the place, which I can't recall, includes the word, "ground" and strongly suggests coffee. Gee, you can get decaf hazelnut at any Wawa--it's not that exotic. (Oh, quit yer bitchin' Rosemary, and get on with it.)
Mary Ann and I caught up with one another's COPD-ridden lives. Her Bart is about the same, as is Pat, and we're both just hangin' in. Pat H. and her son came in and we chatted with them for a time. Her husband just had stents put in and was coming home shortly.
Dropped Mary Ann off about 2:15, then took Pat up to SOCH for his radiation. He was taken right away and we were out by 3:00.
Got a nice e-mail message from new library friend, Janice. She has dystonia, a neuro-muscular disease, but still manages to have a pretty full life. Has a determinedly cheery attitude, too. She told me that Rose's breed is actually spelled "Tonkinese." For all you Absecon Islanders: I want to mention that Janice was born and brought up in the Inlet and went to Massachusetts Avenue School and ACHS.
Checked the Outdoor Club hiking schedule again. The problem is, so many are pretty far away and, because of Pat's condition, I'm uneasy straying beyond a certain distance. I have my eye on Monday, February 11, at Brenden Byrne Park, only about 20 minutes away. That's Pat's birthday, but I assume we'll celebrate it the day before, so think I'll go on that one.
Note: The spell check on this damn site hasn't been working, which I noticed yesterday, too. And after all I pay for this blog! Oh, that's right, I don't pay anything--guess I'll just have to live with it and so will you, gentle reader.