Jury and BP

I woke up a little late--7:00--so didn't get back from my walk until after 8:00.* I was having a leisurely breakfast when I realized I had forgotten to call the jury duty number. Did so and--yoicks! I was supposed to have reported in at 8:00 am! I rushed out the door, drove to the Hall of Justice (grandiose name) and threw myself on the mercy of the young woman at the window. She was very pleasant and nice and simply said I should report today at 8:00. Whew! I thought they'd throw me in jail or something.
With the Bona equipment, I cleaned the hard floor, then took the area rugs in bath and hall to the laundry. Washed, then put them out on the patio to dry. Tried to prepare half of the huge zucchini Suzanne gave me, but now I think it's not a zucchini. I sliced it and added some garlic and olive oil, then put in the microwave. I found that I should have pared it first, as the skin really doesn't seem edible.
Drove to town and did the walk, then got my beautiful blue baby washed, inside and out. She's so clean, she sparkles. El called when I got home and we had a good talk. On Wednesday, Greg's mother and brother and his family came to see the house and stayed for dinner. El has some large pieces of art work to hang and asked for a phone number for Ryan, the picture hanger who expertly hung my large A.C. pictures.
* The nurse who comes to the park on Tuesdays and Thursdays took my BP and it was again low: 93/64 and 92 (pulse). Nurse advised me to call my doctor's office and ask for my numbers the last two times I was there. I did and the physician's assistant said they had been 118/80 and 64 on June 20 and 114/78 and 89 on March 8. She said they did seem low and suggested I keep track. Since I don't have the apparatus to do so, guess I'll have to use Wal-Mart.

Mishmash

Walked the walk, did a wash with the usual back and forth, went to WinCo for rock fish, later to Smart 'n' Final for cherries and grapes. Got an email from Lynn, of Dudley House, telling me they have some black skirts and white blouses and I'm welcome to stop in to see if they suit me. She also invited me to do a "shadow tour" on August 6th (it's only open the first Sunday of each month) to get a feel for the spiel, I guess. She sent the book and packet for docents, so I'm looking forward to getting them.
After lunch, I reversed my usual town walk and parked at the library, then walked the opposite way. Stopped into The Coalition and found a nice wooden box, painted yellow, just right to hold the overflow of garden things on the patio. Bought it, left it there, and picked it up after I got my car.
When I got home about 5:00, I found outside my door a big zucchini--I knew who had left it, so rang Suzanne's bell to thank her. I'll prepare it in the slow cooker, I guess, with onion, garlic, and seasonings. I returned the favor by giving her a bowl of the luscious cherries I just bought.
Aside from all that, I took a drive after dinner. I must remember to drop some donations off at Goodwill--should have thought of donating to The Coalition--so I can clear my trunk and finally get my car washed.

A Visit to Ojai

Walked Kimball, then after breakfast, spent a fair amount of time on the patio/garden. It's really shaping up nicely, but I want to add a few plants.
I wasn't about to go to town to get my second mile in, considering the crowds I knew were gathering for the parade. Instead, I drove back to Kimball after lunch. Rather than take my usual, I went on a different path around the pool and playing fields, and enjoyed it. I was again on the patio when Suzanne came out on hers. She had spent a few days in Pasadena and I glad to see her back. I asked her to come over, she did, and she admired what I had done with the plants and so on. We had a good talk, as ever.
Jumped in the shower, washed my hair, dressed, and left for Ojai about 2:30. I was pleasantly surprised that I seemed to have avoided the heavy traffic, so no prob. When I got to El's, she went over my smart phone and we contacted a few people. I still have a way to go, but I think I'm more comfortable with it. Greg made a delicious dinner featuring his own recipe of tomato sauce over pasta. El made the salad, also very good, and we had fresh ears of corn. After, we took a walk around their neighborhood and what an interesting one it is. No two houses are alike, some are very old, many are newly renovated, some need to be, and overall, it's a good place to live. We saw a number of people who greeted us--very friendly and warm.
I left about 7:00 and got home in good time. A nice, nice day, and I enjoyed it.

Check List

I got up earlier than usual--a little after 5 am. Did the usual computer stuff, then left for Kimball. I was so early, I was home at 7:15. After breakfast, I made up a list of what I wanted to do and wrote it down. Got most of it done, to wit:
Got birthday card for Violet, gift to follow--check.
Stopped at bank for register booklets--check.
Called AT & T to end my landline "service." I was told they'd end it on July 5 and I squawked; she then said she'd back date it--check.
Went to the P.O. to send Violet's card--check.
Went to Marie Calender's to meet my widder group pals for lunch--check. There were only five of us this time, but it was good as ever; they're some of my favorite people. I told them about Jack's death and they reacted with quiet sympathy--check.
Ordered a cover and other accessories for my smart phone on-line--check.
Went to SCAN to sign up for a smart phone course with Marty--check (although he has no opening until the 18th).
Aside from all that, I took my usual museum to library walk. While in town, I found a large, covered picnic basket for six bucks (at The Coalition thrift store). It will be perfect to contain a number of my gardening supplies on the patio.
After dinner, I went up Foothills Road to a church where the Ventura Philatelic Society meets. I have several old stamps--six with Hitler's portrait on them--and wanted to see if they're worth anything.
They're not. However, I met and chatting with some people, including Sheree, who happens to be is the "head of the docents at Dudley House." She was thrilled to hear I had volunteered for being one and I'm sure I'll see more of her later.

Terrible News

The terrible news came via a call from my brother, Larry: Jack Bihlmier died yesterday morning. What a blow to our family, but especially to Larry. He and Jack had been best friends for, incredibly, more than eighty years. They met as toddlers on Newport Avenue in Ventnor, went to St. James and graduated together, did the same at Holy Spirit, joined the military at the same time (Larry, army, Jack, navy), and graduated from Villanova together. We knew Jack was in the hospital and very ill, but--to have him gone. Losing him is like losing a or parent or sibling--you understand that they're gone, but you can't grasp that they're gone forever. Betty called after Larry; he'll fly up from Florida for the funeral and stay with her.
As for my ordinary day: I walked Kimball, then did some chores, then went to Dudley House, which is an historic house here. I wanted to donate some needlepoint, which I gave the woman who seems to run the place. I also filled out a form to be a docent--seems like fun, as you have to dress in costume and impersonate one of the 1890's residents of the house.
Went from there to town and got my other walk in. Sidewalks and stores were jammed, of course, being it was the weekend before the fourth. I enjoy that; it seems so much more festive.
Got my new patio chairs in, thanks to my neighbor, Gil, Dad of adorable six-month-old Ethan. He, Danielle, and baby live across from me and I was grateful he offered to carry them for me. I also met the wife of my upstairs neighbor, Janna (pronounced "Yahnna"; he's from Finland). Her name sounds like "Ayn-ya" and boy, what a gorgeous couple they are. He's about 6'2", blond and handsome, and she's a tall and slender, very pretty brunette.

Jewelry and Cell

Walked Kimball. Put my jewelry in my new armoire--ooh, it looks good! Got to Ellen's a bit before noon; I had thought there'd be a lot of traffic, but except for a short stretch, it was pretty light.
We had our lunches, then El looked at my new smart phone, but couldn't get it to either call or receive; nor was the Internet working on it. She put it on the charger, then we did some yard work. El used her new leaf blower to blow off the yard, while I deadheaded her two rose bushes and watered them. We then left to go to a few shops in town (Ojai, that is). Got back to her place and I left about 4:00 after we made a date for me to spend some time with her and Greg on the fourth.
I drove directly to the Cricket store and was pretty vocal in complaining about the non-service of the phone. However, it was re-programmed (or something) and when I got it home, it worked. Since then, I've been putting in contacts and other stuff and trying to get used to it. I'm actually starting to like it. I'm going to have to start contacting people to tell them my cell number will be my only one. Must call AT & T and tell them what they can do with their landline--ha!

Busier Day

Walked Kimball, then went to T.O.P.S. Happily, I'm now in the next "decade"--the 150s--and have lost a total of 25 pounds.
The rest of the day was a blur, as so much went on. I won't even go into the ins and outs, except to chronicle my activities:
1. I finally stepped into the twenty-first century and got a smart phone; I'll be able to keep my cell phone number.
2. I looked at outdoor chairs at Target--on sale, half price, for ten bucks. However, I went over to Lowe's and got ones I like better (red seats, white frames) for twice that, but oh, well.
3. Jim, the assistant manager here, was nice enough to carry my wonderful new jewelry armoire from the car to my place. He wouldn't take any money, but said I could pay him with my homemade applesauce.
4. Suzanne's rent has been raised by 80 dollars a month--ouch! She and her fellow nuns have their salary sent to headquarters, then each is given what she needs. (El said it sounds like communism and damned if it doesn't--certainly a kinder, gentler system than capitism). She's looking into Cypress Meadows, which is a lower-income apartment place and very nice, too. She brought me a brochure and info, but I don't qualify financially.
5. Although it was almost 5:00, I drove to town and walked the walk, although the library was closed. Ran into Tony M., of SCAN, who was on his way to meet friends for dinner.
6. Called El and told her all the above news. I'll go over to her place today for lunch and possibly, antique storing or whatever.
Didn't have dinner until after 7:00. I had eaten lunch a tad early while I waited for Jim, yet I wasn't as hungry as I could have been. Keeping busy is the best appetite suppressor for me.