Got my hair cut yesterday and it looks pretty good. Always hated my hair, which is Indian-straight and flyaway, but used to be thick. Now it's Indian-straight and flyaway, but a lot thinner. The color's about the same, though--medium brown--no thanks to Nature.
Finished a bunch of chores I've been putting off for a low-key, but okay day. Picked up some beef cubes and made beef stew for dinner. Have enough left over to freeze for a later meal. Made a big salad and put some in my traveling container to take for Alison's for lunch. I'll leave here in about an hour--8:00 am--as she said the sofa is scheduled to be delivered between 9 and 12.
Ellen sent pictures of her new townhouse--boy, is it nice. Has built-in shelving in the master bedroom, plus windows on either side and corner ones across the room. The setting is also lovely, with nicely-kept lawns, trees and shrubs, and wide streets. It's called "Riverview" and it actually has a view of the (dry; I think that's peculiar to California) river bed beyond rolling fields and with mountains in the background. It's just lovely and I can't wait to see it in person in May.

The hike on the Batona Trail* went 6.9 miles yesterday and it was perfect weather: very cold, but brilliantly sunny with little wind. As usual in the forest, the terrain was varied, from packed sand to asphalt roads to narrow tracks bumpy with roots and forest debris. There was some elevation, but it was easily negotiable. About 20 people and two dogs participated and I was happy to see several people I had met on other hikes; it was a nice, convivial group.
Didn't get home until 2:00, so was glad I had left Pat's sandwich for lunch. He was at the bay and I got caught up with wash and so on until dinnertime (steak for him, salmon for me).
Got calls from brothers Larry and Frank, both of whom hope to come for our anniversary in June. Frank asked me to e-mail our Patrick's phone number to his son, Patrick, who is in Tokyo this week, regarding a newly-opened head and neck surgery center there. He'll lecture or advise or something.
Getting my hair cut today and tomorrow, will drive up to Alison's to receive the new sofa they ordered, as they'll both be working. Thursday, I meet former colleague, Helen C., for lunch in Lawrenceville, so it will continue to be a pleasant week.
*The Batona Trail, in Brendan Byrne State Park, totals a full fifty miles, but its segments vary in length. It boggles the mind to know that my SIL, Mike, has hiked the entire fifty miles several times--at one go, that is, and with only short rest stops. Think I'll leave that particular outing alone.

Much as I like DSL, it can be a pain. Got up late--6:30--and had to rush a bit to pick up Susan at 7:00 (because I must have my coffee first). Back now, though, and ready for the hike today.
Nothing much went on yesterday. I skipped the Women's Club meeting; just wasn't interested in the program, somebody or other lecturing on how to stay healthy in one's later years. Ho-hum, everybody knows you need to rest a lot, watch t.v. as much as possible, eat a thoroughly-processed and high sugar diet, and be sure to follow everything you learn from Oprah and Dr. Phil.
Anyhoo--took a dry run to the trail head at Ong's Hat. It's 32 miles, but now I'll know for next time how to get there.
Got the pictures from Patrick of his and N.'s weekend in the mountains and greatly enjoyed them. Can't wait for their visit.
Talked to, and saw, Ellen on the web cam and that was fun. We discussed her new townhouse, school, and so on. The picture had been somewhat fuzzy before, but now is much clearer, which is nice.
Other than all that, just had a rather slow, but okay, day.

Rain or not, we had a pleasant day yesterday. (It sure as hell beat Friday.) Went to Manahawkin on various errands in the morning, then puttered around after lunch. Spoke to Betty several times and was happy to hear her good news. (I won't spoil it, as I'm sure she'll explain on her blog.)
Changed the bedclothes and did several loads of wash. Got some of my new books shelved and made a big salad. I regularly prepare the basics (typically, torn lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, kidney beans, and beets) and refrigerate covered with a damp paper towel. Then when I want a snack, I add feta cheese and no-cal dressing. Yesterday, I also sliced in a hard-boiled egg for extra protein. It was yummy and I had some for lunch along with butternut squash.
Pat's bay buddy, John, came over in the afternoon. John is a big talker and very nice guy. He and Pat called Old George, who's back in rehab after his most recent operation, and they plan to visit him today.
John lives in Cranberry Creek, a nearby sister community (over-55), by the same builder who did our development, Sunrise Bay. He and his wife have no children, and she dotes on their Schnauzer. John said they had their first cremated and keep its remains (or "cremains," a truly horrible recently invented word) in a lovely little box with doggie's name on a gold plaque--geesh, exactly like Aunt Claire's, only smaller, I guess. Wifie wants second dog processed the same and wants the ashes from both buried with her (I kid you not). I repeated my mantra "a good dog is a stuffed dog" and John took it in the joking spirit it was offered.
Later, Alison called and asked if I'd come up on Wednesday to receive a new sofa she and Mike bought for the addition (two chairs will come later). Of course, I will and I'm looking forward to it. I'll see if Pat wants to come, too.
In the evening, Patrick called and he, Pat, and I had a long, long talk. He and N. were expecting her parents for lunch and he was making pasta fug goul (I know that's misspelled, but Blogspot doesn't know how, either). He said he had sent pictures of their excursion mountain-climbing last weekend, but I didn't get them for some reason, so he'll re-send. We talked happily about what they'd like to do when they're here in August, which includes going to the zoo, hiking, and up to Ewing, to the environs where P. grew up.
I welcome Daylight Savings Time and changed all the clocks before I went to bed. Incredibly, counting our watches and the ones in our cars, we have thirteen timepieces. There may be some deep psychological significance to that, but damned if I know what it is.

Yesterday was an ordeal. When I went there Thursday (Accredited Dermatology's Northfield office), I did check out where Pat would be staying between excision and biopsy, and it seemed okay. One of the receptionists was nice enough to show me around, then suggest I call before we come to see if the doc was running late. I did, and she said to call again in a half hour. After that, she told us to come over. The appointment was originally at 11:15, but we got there, as instructed, at noon.
We were dismayed to see the waiting room packed. In fact, somebody got up to offer Pat a seat. However, we were told we could wait in the back waiting room and that was better...
...sort of. Not only was there a television set on, but "music"--noise--was blaring from a CD player. Except when we asked that it be turned off, it was on all day, and it was loud. Luckily, I'm re-reading my hero, Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, and brought that, so had some defense (excuse the pun).
Pat was taken into a treatment room fairly soon, and a nurse--or attendant, or the girl who comes in to mop up (who looked about 14; maybe she doing community service or something)--took some info, then injected him with something to numb the ear area.
Long, long delay, then the chatty doctor came in, did the excision, took a biopsy, and we waited and waited and waited. We knew this would take time, as the specimen had to be frozen, sliced, diced, fried, examined, or whatever. We were told we could go out and have lunch, as it would take about an hour and a half to see if he got it all.
Yeah, go out and get lunch. It's difficult for Pat to walk down the corridor, let alone "go out and get lunch," so I said I'd get him a sandwich. When I got to a deli, I realized I had left my wallet with money and debit card, back at the office. I did have some credit cards with me and found a Wawa which would take one. Got the stuff (ham and cheese for Pat, a drab made-up chef's salad for me, their excellent coffee for both of us), went to check out, and saw I had only store credit cards with me. Was about to ask if I could come back with the money, but incredibly, they let me put it on a Sears card!
We ate in the back waiting room where we had been all day and felt better after. Biopsy came back, doc took more off, then did a graft with skin from his chest. Long story short--oops, it's already long; sorry--we finally got out of there and home at 5:45. Quickly gave Pat his late afternoon pills and insulin, and made him dinner.
Okay, it's over and we just have to go to the Manahawkin office to get the stitches out.
Driving home--it was dark and rainy, of course, my least-favorite weather--we tried to figure out if this full day was better or worse than the 16 visits to the radiation oncology place at SOCH. They seem to be equally dreary and I hope we never have to decide that again.

After WW, was pleased to get a call from Marge asking if I wanted to go out for lunch. Yes, indeedy, and we went to Poseidon; hadn't been there for a while. I was going to order my usual, but in truth, am just a tad tired of the old C.S. Saw on the menu "The Waist Watcher," and recklessly ordered that.
Gawd, was it good! It consisted of a turkey burger (no bun), a big mound of luscious cottage cheese (I eat it every morning, but figured more wouldn't hurt), and a small, but delicious portion of fresh fruit salad. I like sweet with savory and often serve fruit salad or applesauce with meat and this was wonderful. Guess I've been in a rut and will try to be more creative with what I order out.
Marge came back to the house with me to see Patrick's and Natsue's wedding pictures and view some of the passing parade (mostly Vivian) on the digital frame. I dropped her off at home, then took a dry run over to the dermatologist's office in Northfield in preparation for today. Stopped at Santori's on the way home and stocked up on goodies, including broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and feta cheese.
Got an e-mail from Barb H. telling us Mary Ann Van O's husband, Bart, who also suffers from emphysema, is in the hospital. Will call her from the doctor's office.

Got my baby back yesterday--yay! Alison came before dinner and spent more than an hour installing it (with Mike's instructions). She had to call him a few times when glitches arose, but was able to get it up and running. For payment, I gave her foil-covered Linzt chocolate figures of Santa Claus and a reindeer left over from Christmas
Mike said he had been unable to fix the poor dear in the usual way (whatever that is), so had had to strip it (or something) and reinstall everything. It's working fine and I'm so pleased and grateful to both of them.
Earlier in the day, Barb D. and I went to The Grapevine for lunch. Had a wonderfully convivial time, talking away. Have I ever mentioned how much I like my neighbors? This was so good and it seems to have been an age since I've been out for lunch. Had my good ol' Caesar salad--natch--and took half home.
I received an e-mail last night from former Rider colleague Mary Jane H., telling me her husband had died of a heart attack. I called her immediately and we had a good talk. Mary Jane lives in Beach Haven West, 10 miles from here, and she and I meet for lunch periodically.
Weight Watchers today, and as ever, I'll be fine with whatever the weigh-in reveals.
Incidentally, I checked my BP yesterday and the day before at Acme and it was 136/81 and 127/76, with a pulse rate of 67 and 66, respectively.
Later: Good news--I lost another pound and a half, so passed the 60-pound-off mark. Am now 139.2 and pleased, of course, to have reached two more goals.