I'm at the clubhouse using the computer. My own is with Don S., as I did something incredibly stupid and I may have actually wrecked the thing. It's just too long and involved to go into and I feel terribly about it. Hope to get the computer back by Saturday, but I may have lost all my data, including this blog and my documents. I'll try to get to a computer tomorrow or maybe later today.

Ohboyohboy--for the first time in an age, I missed our walk not-of-necessity. Overslept to the tune of 7:10, incredibly enough. Unfortunately, I again had trouble sleeping last night. Woke when Pat came in about 11:30, then again at 3:00. Did go back to sleep after a half hour or so, but then--see above. Hope and assume this isn't a pattern.
The hike was so good yesterday. As it was last week, the weather was perfect: cold, but with brilliant sun and blue skies. We realized it was windy the few times we walked into a clearing, but for most of it, we were in the woods, so the wind didn't penetrate.
I was pleased to to be greeted by many I've hiked with before: Joan, Marilyn, Pat, and several of the men. There were about 30 of us, and we went 5.2 miles. The terrain and scenery were great. It was over mostly broad, pine-needle-strewn or sandy paths (which makes for easy walking), and part of the route bordered unused cranberry bogs that were a deep royal blue. All along the edges there were cranberries caught in the rushes and we joked there was no need to buy them, we could just gather them here.
I got home exactly at 1:00 and pulled in the driveway just as Connie drove up to drop off her son's resume. Ran in the house, shoved some broccoli in the microwave, ate that and a little yogurt for lunch, got Pat in the car, and made it to the dermatologist's for his appointment at 2:00. The nurse took out some of the stitches, but unfortunately, pointed out that the doctor had identified yet another squamous cell behind his ear. We go to the radiation center at SOCH at 11:00 today to have the earlier stuff checked, so will have to discuss how to treat the new one. Pat also has a podiatrist appointment today at 9:45, so I hope that gets over before we have to go to SOCH
After I dropped Pat off at home yesterday, I went to my own doctor's to straighten out a mix-up in appointments, stopped at Acme to replenish the larder, took books back to the library, and did a few other errands.
Talked to Alison after dinner and we discussed Easter. I'll suggested I bring devilled eggs, a green salad, and a cake. With a ham and a few more side dishes, that will be plenty. She said the table (which they had stained at the shop) came in. She said it looks great, but doesn't really match the chairs she had stained, although she had brought one to them so it would. I have a hell of a lot more on the agenda, such as getting Pat's pulmonologist to write a letter to Ocean County, requesting that he be removed from the juror lists (yes, he was called); contacting Atlantic Imaging, which wants to charge me $690 for my recent mammo and bone density test; and many more of the minutiae that seems to fill my life. And oh yes, I have to pull together the income tax stuff and try to get that done before April 15, which is coming right up.
On the bright and neighborly side, Susan gave me a piece of (green) pistachio cake for Pat and we got St. Pat's Day cards from bro and SIL, Jim and Terese, and neighbor, Anne Mary H.

This will be a quickie, as I just got up--at 6:35, for heaven's sake! Ironically, I watched 60 Minutes last night and they had a double segment on the importance of sleep. Wouldn't you know, I woke up at 3:00 and couldn't get back, then did, and overslept.
The opera session yesterday was really good. I was completely confused in yesterday's blog and mixed two operas. Actually, we saw Cavalleto Rustiana first, then had an intermission, then saw Il Pagliaccio. (I know the spelling for both is mangled, but don't have time to look them up.) Both concerned love, spurned love, hate, increased hate, heartbreak, and tragedy. They sound silly, but were magnificent. Can't wait for next week.
Friend Connie W. called last night to ask if I would go over her son's resume. He worked at Peterson's Guides--don't know in what capacity--and was laid off at the age of 42. Of course, I said I would and she'll bring the resume over this afternoon.
I'm going on another hike today, at Pakim Pond in Brendan Byrne Park, and it starts at 10:00. Must take Pat to get his stitches out at 2:00, so hope I'll be here when Connie arrives.
Must go pick up Susan now. Chaio!

Various and sundry yesterday. Talked/saw both Ellen and Mike on the web cam and we discussed my up-coming trip to California. Mike had e-mailed the itinerary of his gang's California trip to "kinfolk," as he called them, including his west coast cousins, whom he'd like to see. He'll be in Santa Barbara/Ventura starting on May 10 and I'll plan my trip around that.
Went to Acme, SOCH thrift store, and Rite-Aid for different items. Fulfilled my housewifely duties, taking care of laundry, cleaning, and cooking.
Got a call from Mary Ann Van O., whose husband, Bart, has the same lousy disease Pat does. Bart was in the hospital with pneumonia and is now in Seacrest Rehab, where Pat was more than a year ago.
I'll be attending Mary Ann's "Opera Class" again this afternoon. Can't remember the name of the opera we'll see, but she said it includes "Pagliacci." She was excited to be asked to do her program at the library (that's where she gets the tapes we view).
Pat's been going to the bay everyday--that's a given, just as my morning walk is--but said many of his buddies haven't been down the last few, even John. He stopped outside Old George's on the way home and G.'s SIL, Bea, came out of the house to talk to him; George will be out of rehab on Thursday.
So things are limping along here in southern Ocean...

After WW yesterday, I packed and sent the Easter packages (cocoanut eggs and Peeps) to Singapore and Tokyo. After, did mostly domestic chores. I had bought a "Nature's Way" (or something) whole chicken, without antibiotics or hormones added, and I decided to just stick it in the crock pot. I did, it cooked all day, and was delicious at dinner.
Barb H. came over to ask if I wanted to sit at her table for the fashion show in May and I do. Earlier, Susan had invited me to go with her to a tea in June at Georgian Court , and I accepted with pleasure.
Got Easter decorations out, including the hand-painted wooden eggs from Poland I bought years ago from somebody at Rider. Cleaned the master bath and caught up on the wash.
Last night, Susan and Walter picked me up and we went to a "sing-a-long" at the clubhouse. It featured our Sunrise Bay Singers with songs from the fifties and sixties, and was good fun. However, somebody sang "Danny Boy" and it made me melancholy to think of Pat sitting home alone, so I left and walked home during the intermission.

Met former colleague, Helen C., for lunch at Simply Radishing, one of my old haunts in Lawrenceville. As ever, it was great to see her. She told me she had recently passed her 20-year milestone at Rider, prompting me to realize that I started there in 1975 and have been retired now for almost six years--yoicks!
We had a leisurely lunch, catching up on each other's news. I was tempted by the fabulous corn chowder, but cream soups are notoriously calorie-laden, so ordered mushroom barley--also delicious--and a small Caesar salad, Helen, who was widowed two years ago, is going to Paris in May to visit friends who have an apartment there. (How do you find such friends?)
We parted and drove back to Rider separately. Boy-oh-boy, how the campus has changed! It looks beautiful and the new buildings are so impressive. Went into the new "Rec Center," an absolute palace, with a huge circular reception area in the middle (mostly glass, soaring ceiling, and--incredibly--a fully-equipped Starbucks in the lounge). Ran into Joan P. and Crista M., both of whom I had hired years ago, as they pointed out. Turned around to see the director, Mike R., whom I've known for ages, and we hugged and fell back into our old bantering. Unbelievably and incredibly, he told me his oldest son is fifteen! This can't be true, as I clearly remember when Mike and his wife were anticipating this kid. Boy, does time do that thing...
Dropped in on HR and was greeted with welcomes and hugs all around. Talked to my old boss, Ellen L., darling David, and others; nodded to the successor to my successor (he left after 4 years), and stopped a few other places. Said a final goodbye to Helen, and drove off.
I debated whether to go to the old neighborhood (Ewing), but decided I had had enough looking back, and drove home. The Forest Service was conducting "prescribed burns" on the pine barrens that line most of the 30 miles I drive down Route 539, so I was detoured to Manahawkin. Called Pat to tell him I'd be late and went down to Elaine's, a wonderful candy store, to get Easter items for the Asia contingent. Didn't get home until 5:30, but that was all right.
Greatly enjoyed the day, but as I wrote before: The past is a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
Later: Went to WW and found I'm down another pound. That's a total of 61.4 and a current weight of 138.2. Not bad, Roe, not bad at all.

Got up to Alison's at 9 on the dot and was delighted to find Jen there doing her wash. (A. gave her a key and she's welcome anytime.) Even more delightful was the little guy she brought with her: Tristan. He's such a sweetie-pie, happily barreling along the floor and cramming everything possible in his mouth. Lulu stays in the laundry room while Alison and Mike are at work, but she has a dog door, so can go in and out (they have a large fenced-in yard). We wouldn't let her in the upper part of the house and she barked and pawed furiously at the sliding glass door off the kitchen. Well, "T" scooted in there, hauled himself up to the door, and was absorbed for a good 10 minutes (a long time for a 7-month-old) with the phenomenon of doggie jumping and barking, but no contact.
The couch came about 11:00 and is in place in the addition. It's so good-looking, big and plushy in a deep chocolate fabric; feels something like suede. After that, Jen and I took T. for a walk in his coach--he immediately fell asleep--and I left for home about 1:00.
Such a nice baby day!