Just A Day

Drove to Kimball and found the gates closed. Drat, I think they're supposed to open at 7:00 and this was about five of. Guess I could have driven around and come back, but didn't. I went to get gas, then home for breakfast and my usual Sunday routine. I walked over to Vons for ground turkey and later, from Winco to the Dollar Tree, so I think I approximated the Kimball walk.
I've now gone to four stores looking for small paper bathroom cups. The only ones I found were kiddie ones with cartoon characters on them--I'd strangle on my toothpaste before I'd buy them.
To town after lunch and did the loop: library to Promenade to Main and back to library. Got home a little after five. Cooked my ground turkey and chopped onions and, with half an acorn squash and a bowl of mixed veggies, dinner was yummy.

El And Me

Walked Kimball under cloudy skies. After breakfast, I forced myself out of procrastination mode and started putting the Christmas decorations away. Good grief, it took me almost two hours just to get  gathered, boxed, and labelled. This year (unlike earlier ones), I was determined to be more systematic and neater than I had been.
It took me an age, though, and I think somebody must sneak in here at night and add to my collection! (Um...or could it be I'm a sucker for things that glitter and shine, especially Christmas things, and can't resist buying them?) I was glad I had gotten it done, but now I was confronted with this problem: The only storage place I have for these holiday items is high up over one of my long closets. I have a step stool, but I was afraid to try to put them in there myself; I would have had to use both hands to hoist them up. If I did that while on the step stool--even the first step--I was afraid I'd fall and--
Called Ellen to see if she could come over and help. After lunch, she could and she did. By that time, it was raining, a rarity in these parts, and she had had to deal with a huge tree in her front yard that had to come down. What a bummer that was, but my girl came over and 1.) quickly got all the Christmas decorations, including my  outdoor wreath, safely stored in the high closets; 2. got the coin counter working and now I've got neatly wrapped coins that total more than EIGHT DOLLARS--wowee!!; 3.) tackled the VCR and got it running after a great deal of pressing this and that on three remotes, then was able, after a struggle, to get back to the T.V.
However, we came across the CD from Steel Magnolias and she wanted to see my performance. We watched the second act and, yes, I had some good lines. Unfortunately, we went back to the T.V., then couldn't get back to the video. Oh, well, I'll bring the show over to her place some day.
I was so grateful for her help and besides, it's such fun just to hang out with her and chat. She goes back to work tomorrow, darn it, so I probably won't see much of  her after that. By the time El left, it was almost 5:00, getting dark, and drizzling again.
I called Char, who said she hadn't gotten Jim's and my email messages because she's hardly ever on the computer. (I sometimes wonder why people have one, then.) Anyway,she'll be delighted to join us for lunch next Sunday. Called Jim to tell him and we had a satisfying chat, veering into the political. We're on the same wave length there, which is always gratifying, of course.
For the first time in months, I didn't go out at all aside from my morning mile and a half, but that's okay once in a while. It was a good day.

Here And There

Kimball, then T.O.P.S., where I weighed in at 130.1, one-tenth of a pound over what I like, but all things considered, no biggie. I begged off the excursion to Carrow's for their mega-calorie breakfasts, had my usual at home.
Did a lot of wearisome stuff on-line, then called Jim C. and we made a date for Sunday, the 14th. We still haven't heard from Char, although we've both e-mailed and called her. Not sure why. Went to Wal-Mart, looking for little throw-away bathroom cups, and they didn't have any. Neither did either of the 99-cent stores or any of the other places I looked--darn! I also couldn't find a night receptacle for my bridgework until I hit the third store. The other day, nobody had simple little stickers--not that kind that say "My Name Is---," until I finally found them at Staples. I'm puzzled when these simple little things are so hard to find--why?
I found a nice bag of tangerines on my door when I got home, which. I was pretty sure were from Suzanne. After lunch, as usual, I took the bus to town, dropped a book at the library, then walked to The Promenade. I was surprised to see the tide was out, uncovering lots of large stones. Waves were almost nonexistent and I saw only three surfers.
Walked to Main and stopped at The Coalition. Saw a beautiful tapestry of an angel and it was half-price because it was a Christmas item, so I snapped it up. Got off the bus to go to the uptown 99 Cent store to get what I mentioned above, then hopped on another bus for home.
Got in about 5:00 and stopped at Suzanne's to thank her for the tangerines and show her my tapestry.  She liked it a lot and suggested I hang it year-round. I won't, though, as I'm not religious and it seems hypocritical to do so. Nothing scheduled for today or tomorrow, but lots going on next week.

Pompeii And Rosebuds

Fun day! Walked Kimball, had breakfast, and was ready when Suzanne rang my bell at 9:30. We drove (well, she drove) to Simi Valley on a beautiful, sunny day. The Reagan Library is set on a gorgeous hill, with lovely vistas all around; I've been there before, but never fail to be thrilled by it.
Happily, it wasn't terribly crowded, but just enough to be festive. We got in within five minutes, and started the Pompeii exhibit.
This is just fabulous. It's about the best I've ever seen and, unlike that joke of an exhibit, the Titanic one, which was more the movie than the actual event, all the artifacts there were authentic. And what artifacts: There were kitchen and other household items, jewelry, friezes, statues, and a wealth of other items, all displayed and presented in wonderfully absorbing detail. Near the middle, the preserved casts of the victims were on display, all caught in their various poses while being overcome by the fatal lava. We both enjoyed it so much, and after, we got lunch and sat on the veranda overlooking the beautiful landscape. Betty called while we were there and we chatted for a bit and I said I'd call her when I got home.
I did and said I'd visit her next Thursday, not to stay over, but just for lunch. Also talked to Carolyn.
Took the bus to town after that, but mistakenly thought it was warm enough for just a jacket.
It wasn't. I had planned to walk to The Promenade, but it was so chilly, I just went a few blocks and turned back. Stopped in the library and, with the help of one of the librarians (David), I found some books on Pompeii. I read there for a bit, then checked them out.
What a lesson we could learn from Pompeii!  I'm sure most of its thousands of citizens were going about their business--or pleasure--when they were stopped in their tracks by mighty Mount Vesuvius. Surely, most weren't dwelling on the end of their existence. They had their gods they were sure favored them--after all, didn't they pay homage?--and all their expectations of further life. Come to think of it, I don't know what that lesson is, except the necessity of amassing rosebuds.

Victoria Pub

Walked Kimball, then did the usual. After breakfast, I went out and bought three pounds of tomatoes, three large onions, and more blueberries. I've been eating, during my only snack time (8 pm), 16 ounces of blueberries and I can't seem to get along without them.
Cut up the tomatoes and onions, added garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, and put them in the oven, as usual. Put a healthy scoop of the finished article in my salad and I'll have enough for several more days.
Showered, washed my hair, and changed for Happy Hour at the Victoria Pub, a kind of pseudo-English place that actually turned out to be pretty nice. I walked there, as I knew it was only a mile and a half and I wouldn't be able to do my town walk.
Diane was already there and I was early, so we had a nice talk with just the two of us. Nancy and Carolyn came and we settled down to our beer (me), wine (Diane and Nancy), and soda (Carolyn). They had "small plates" and we all got one, mine a really delicious pasta with chicken. It was just enough and, since I don't eat pasta (or rice or potatoes) as a rule, it was a treat.
Diane invited us to her place next time to see a movie and I'll go early, at 1:00, to join her in her tai chi class. I'm not that anxious to practice it, but am interested because I've seen done in the park in Hong Kong.We had a great time, except that Diane didn't have a ride home, plus she had forgotten her phone. I didn't have my car and Carolyn didn't seem anxious to take her home, so I got Lyft on my phone and arranged or her to be picked up. I stayed with her until the guy came.
It was after 6:00 and dark out when we left and I considered getting a bus home, but decided to walk, which I did with no problem.

New Year's Day

Walked Kimball early and it was pretty much deserted, so I deviated to Telephone Road for some of it.  After breakfast, I did a big load of wash; while it was chugging away, I finished some odds and ends of housekeeping.
Drove to a few stores for a few things, had lunch, then took off for the bus. I was sitting on the bus bench for a good half hour until a man came along and said he didn't think they were running. I wasn't sure if that was so, but walked back home, got my car, and drove instead. I went to WinCo, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Staples, the 99-cent store, and Target. At the latter three, I was looking just for everyday labels, not even shipping labels. Could I find the kind I wanted? No, but I finally got something similar at Target. Betty called and we talked. I then called Carolyn and we had a long talk, also.
That's really pretty much all I did yesterday, the first day of the year two thousand and nineteen. May it be as good as the last one was.

Enjoyable Day

Walked Kimball, had breakfast (with the paper!), then drove to Pep Boys to meet Ellen. I was early, as ever, but she came at 10:00, found out how long the work would take on her car, then we left.
El drove--that was fine with me, in fact, I prefer it--and we went first to Kohl's for her to return the slippers I gave her. While browsing, we came across an electronic add-on called "Roku Ultra." As I understand it, it provides television service without odious outfits, such as Yandoo and Time Warner. I took a picture of it and will investigate further.
We then went to Target, where El bought a number of items and I found an interesting ceramic and wood piece I got for my coffee table. Went to The Avenue and Office Max, then, finished our errands, we had lunch at Poke U and Me.
This is a newly opened, kind of a Japanese (I guess) food place and boy, I thought it was great. You devise your own meal, having choices of ten or so items in five or six different groups. I chose spring mix with shrimp, tuna (raw), crab, onions, mango, and dozens of other things. You don't add them yourself, but tell the person behind the counter what  you want. The place was very clean and the service person was courteous and friendly; I did think it was somewhat high-priced,
We then went back to my place, where Ellen fixed my Apache Word, and the two of us looked  over some of the old family pictures, of which I have hundreds spanning more than that many years.
I took her back to Pep Boys, stopping on the way at the P.O. to send my 123 And Me box in, and we said goodbye. I drove to town, walked from the museum to The Promenade to Main Street, back to the car, and drove home.
I was pleased to get a call from my brother, Jim, wishing me a happy new year, and I called my dear friend, Aline B., for the same reason. We had a good talk and I hope to--if it works out--see her in May.