Chocolate Chex And Other Stuff

Un-friggin'-believable!
After doing my Wednesday white wash,* I wrapped the cereal I had bought at Target...oh, I didn't mention that before? Here's the back story:
When I was Facetiming with one of my favorite daughters the other day, she said she couldn't find Chex Chocolate cereal,* which she likes as a snack. At Target, I saw they had it, so I bought a box, intending to send it to her as kind of a joke Mothers' Day gift. Wrapped it, walked to the P.O., and found it would cost TEN DOLLARS AND NINETY CENTS, priority mail, and wouldn't get there until Monday. AAGH! How much would it be for regular mail? Ten dollars and seventy-fivc cents and, I'll bet, wouldn't get there until Christmas. We're talking New Mexico here, not New Zealand, so what gives? I just couldn't see paying the kind of money, so brought it home and I'll take it with me next month when I see her.
Ran into my neighbor, Gordon, and we had a nice talk. Got home and--guess what?--the "community director," formerly "manager," Bianca called to tell me--surprise!--that no, no, the "utilities bill" was not a a double charge because blah, blah, blah. I knew exactly what she would say and she said it--the former owners had never charged for utilities. It's my contention that they certainly must have, and it was factored into the rent. Now I'll wait and see if corporate contacts me, which I heartily doubt--then I'll get in touch with legals.
My niece, Joan, called again and we had a long talk re McHugh's essay she had sent me. She also said she had something to tell me in a few days whether good or bad. Damn, I hope that doesn't mean somebody is waiting for medical results.
Took a bus to the transit center, then the 16, which goes to Ojai. I actually considered going there, but decided against it, as I'll see Ellen--I hope--on Sunday, anyway. So I got off in town, intending to walk The Promenade, but it was so hot--up to 80--I decided against it, as there's little shade there. Instead, I walked Main, but boy, it was demoralizing. I used to go in the shops, meet friends for lunch, and enjoy the crowds. Now, of course, nothing was open, there were few cars, and almost nobody on the streets--sigh.
Got home about 5:00 and decided to make pasta, which I almost never eat. Did so and it was good, but I had a lot left, so froze some and will eat the rest tonight and tomorrow.
Maggie was not at the corner either yesterday or the day before. I hope that means she found shelter and help somewhere, but I doubt it.
*Yay--alliteration times two!

Joan And Jigsaws

The usual this and that in the morning. I called my niece, Joan, just to chat and we talked a bit about the weirdly immediate acquiescence of so many to the mandates that have become, it seems, mandatory. She pointed out that these "law" are not valid unless and until they've been voted on by legislatures. Yes, but a lot of people are happy to trash the Constitution, it seems. Anyway, she sent me an email on this topic by a guy named Robert McHugh and I found it very much like a lot of those I read on-line, both right and left.
I finished the last jigsaw puzzle, which I added below AND--big news--I found that the same site will let you make any picture a jigsaw puzzle, too! I immediately picked one of my birth family and me at the Hotel Morton, where I had my wedding reception. (Except for Betty, we all look like we're at a funeral, I'm afraid.) I added that one below, too. The date? June 21, 1958.
After lunch, I wanted to try a different excursion, so I took the bus to Oxnard and Whole Foods. Just before I walked in, Gail called and we had a good talk. I was surprised to hear she had tripped and broken a rib last week. However, I understand it will heal quickly and she hasn't needed pain medication. Gail is a mere kid of 69 and is tall, slim, and very active. When I told her where I had gone on the bus, she said admiringly that I'm "intrepid." I've mentioned before that I don't really like Gail's often-expressed comments about my life style, although she means them to be complimentary.  I've spent my whole life trying to fit in and be like other people. Now I can walk the walk and talk the talk and I don't want to blow my cover.
It turned out Greg was off, so I just looked around, then went over to Target for blueberries. Incredibly, they didn't have any, so I picked up some blackberries. However, when I got to the checkout line, about thirty people were ahead of me, so I put them back.
Instead, I got the bus back to Ventura, stayed on to the transit center/mall, and went to the Target there. Got my berries and while I was there, Betty called to tell me what she had gotten in the mail.
Here are the two new jigsaw puzzles:

Monday

Didn't get up until 7:15, late for me.  Had breakfast, then  called Nancy and we had our usual meandering, but okay, talk. How in the world she can stay in--really in, all the time--is beyond me. She has a car, but doesn't even go out for drives. She's content, though, so that's good. Different strokes and all that.
I took the footpath to the park, bringing two books for the "Little Library." When I got there, I was dismayed to see it was damaged.  It's like a little cupboard up on a post, the door glass surrounded by wood. The door was on the ground and the glass split. I don't see how that could be an accident, but why in the world would anybody do that? I hope it gets repaired, but what vandalism!
When I got home, I finally formulated the letter to FPI Management to protest the new "utility bill." I want to look it over before I send it and I'll bring a copy over to Bianca, formerly complex manager, now "community director." Where in the hell they get these trumped-up titles, such as "administrative assistant" instead of "secretary" deserves a special place in Hell.
After lunch, I was determined not to mope around like Sunday, so I set off on the bus for town. Walked to The Promenade on a glorious day--75 degrees with a gentle breeze--but decided to head the other way instead of my usual. This was a find, as it boasted enormous fields of daisies, one of my favorite flowers.

Ventura is not laid out the way a town is supposed to be--like Absecon Island, on a grid--but streets curve around sometimes, blocks widen and narrow, which is what happened when I took the different route. I must have gone a good three miles just to get to Main Street, but finally did. While I waited for the bus, I called Betty. She seemed a lot more focused and with it than she has lately and I was pleased about that.

Home and Ellen called. We discussed plans for Mothers' Day and will firm them up shortly. I told her not to get me anything, but if she insisted, make it a pot of daisies I can plant. I finished this puzzle,  although it was difficult, for obvious reasons--lots of water and rocks:

There's only one puzzle left and it's a lulu, but I started it, anyway.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE SPACING IS SO WEIRD, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO FIX IT! Sorry!

Draggy And Maggie

After the Sunday routine, I walked to the market for lettuce, blueberries, apples, and tangerines. Walked back, rather than taking the bus, so I got about three in. Quartered my cabbage, wedged two apples, and put them to slowly cook in the--what else?--slow cooker. Had lunch, then fooled around on the laptop. At that point, I just didn't feel like going to town on to the park.
In fact, I was a little draggy. I spent a lot of time on this laptop, doing more of these *@!%$ puzzles--when am I going to get over this?--and looking up various topics of interest. Finally, after a big salad lunch, I took a short (maybe a mile) walk around the neighborhood. Saw Steve and chatted with him for a bit.
And there was Maggie on the corner. I again asked her if I could get her anything--a sandwich, some lotion?--and she again politely refused. Her legs are so very, very swollen and bright red--they must be terribly painful. When I left her, I stopped a half-block away and called the police again to see if somebody could come and persuade her accept help. But after I described the situation, the dispatcher said they had already gone to talk to her, but she refuses to go to the shelter--"God will take care of me." (Well, he's not doing such a hot job of it.)
I'm mulling over what to do now. I think I'll see if the priest in this parish--I'll ask Suzanne if she knows him--would come and maybe persuade her to get the help she needs. I don't know myself what's available; I think there's a newly built shelter for homeless, but I'll have to find out.
Betty called to tell me about a new puzzle Carolyn concocted for her, crowing over her success: "I got every one!" Talk about depressing--they were about on a second grade level.
Just had a sketchy dinner and that's okay. I'm just glad the weekend's over.

Puzzles And Poco

I don't think Mother's Day cards are being sold--they weren't at the stores I visited--so I chose some note cards, of which I have many and just wrote out personal thoughts for the three mothers in the family. Walked to the P.O. to mail the ones for Asia. 

On the way there and back, I saw Maggie, back at her place on the corner. I asked if I could get her anything and she said, "No, thank you." I again made an attempt to have her take her edema and other problems seriously, but she assured me her legs weren't as swollen. But they were. 

I have NO IDEA why the type above refuses to align to the left, but the hell with it.

Later, I was about to enter Von's when I got a Messenger video call from New Mexico and we had a good talk. I then went into the store to find that their butter spray supply is again gone. I did buy a cabbage and a large apple, for which I thought the sign said "99 cents lb." I paid, got home and found that I had been charged $3.47 for the one apple. Darn, I should  have checked the tape at the register. I went back to the store in great indignation--only to find that it had been rung up correctly: The apple was priced at $3,99 a pound! I took it back--maybe foolishly, but that's just ridiculous! What kind of a world is it where an apple costs $3.47 and Maggie is living on the streets? Oh, yes, I think there's a connection. 

My latest creations--or busy work: 

I also have no idea why I can't fix the spacing and alignment here, but I'm just going to give up and concede that some mysterious power is in control. Incidentally, the bottom one was shaped that way--long rectangle. It's the Ventura beach, where I go frequently, but the picture from the late eighteen-eighties. Okay, this whole damn thing is screwed up, but I can't help it.

Later than usual--about 4:00--I left for the footpath and park. (In truth, I was hung up in finishing the puzzle above!) Took two books to put in the little library, but didn't borrow any. I have about five books now I haven't read yet.

On my way, I ran into the guy who lives in the complex whom I saw the other day with his little dog. I was somewhat unpleasant, telling him I wasn't a dog person, and I apologized. Actually, it's a very friendly dog and very small, so I kind of like it, believe it or not. We exchanged names and I immediately forgot his, bur remembered the dog's: Poco. I looked it up and it seems the perfect name for this pup: "Little."

Friday

I was a terrible slug-a-bed yesterday and didn't get up until 7:00. After breakfast, I walked to the market. On my way, I saw Michelle, who lives in another building in the complex.  I told her I was formulating a letter to management about the new "utilities" bill and she went on and on with complaints, most of which management either has a right to do legally or wasn't relevant to the conversation. Michelle is such a loose cannon, rolling all over the deck, it's tiresome talking to her. I finally got away and continued to the market. Got carrots, blueberries, bananas, and lettuce, plus rice cakes and tissues. Took a bus back.
At home, scrubbed and cut the carrots for the slow cooker, sliced the bananas and put them in the freezer, then prepared the lettuce for lunch. Knowing I'd probably have a vegan dinner, I added a hard-boiled egg to my salad besides the chicken. Before I ate, I fed my compulsion and did another:

Hopped a bus to town and walked The Promenade, then bused back. I'm pretty sure I got my five miles in--no chore, as it was another beautiful day.
Now as my faithful readers know--all one or two of them--I usually start my entries the day of, then add to them the next morning before I publish. So-o-o, last evening, I was typing merrily along, when suddenly, the screen went back and the whole laptop went dead. AAGH! What do I do? Of course, I called my electronic advisor, Ellen, and she walked me through the solution, though it took about twenty minutes. (It's too embarassing to record how I caused the problem.) No wonder she's such a great third-grade teacher; her patience with me was phenomenal.
Anyway, onward and upward to new triumphs on the Internet--HA! I went and had dinner.

Out And About

Another glorious day in Paradise: warm with a breeze, sunny and clear.

Early on, I stripped the bed and washed the sheets, adding white stuff (I bleach). At the same time, used the Bona method to dust and mop the hard floor. Took bath mats and rugs to the communal laundry place to wash (I'm not sure my apartment utilities are big enough, although they probably are). Remade the bed, got the big stuff from the laundry place, and folded and put away. Everything was done by 11:00 am, when I went over to Von's for something or other.

Incredibly, before lunch, I completed two more virtual jigsaw puzzles after lunch, a third! I get into these obsessive moods when I'm all agog over some activity or other. I'm sure I'll get over it.

I just love he prize-winning biggest carrot one in the middle!

Took the footbridge to the park. On the way, I met a man on a bike and had a conversation with him. He wants to take me to lunch. I actually gave him my phone number, but I may or may not want to pursue an acquaintance.

Stopped at the little library again and picked up a bio of John Wayne. I know it's fairly new because I read it a few years ago when it was on the new shelf at the main library. I often read books again if I like them and this is well done'

On the way home, I was pleased to meet up with Diane again and we had a good talk. Boy, would I love to go out lunch with her again. Suzanne texted me, asking if I'd like to go with her to WinCo today. I'm really pretty well stocked up and I thanked her, but no.

I got my income tax return from Michele, who has been doing my taxes since I moved to California five years ago. She's very professional and sends back a packet with everything in it, plus has me sign the returns (I have to file federal, plus New Jersey and California). Do I check it over? No. I trust her explicitly and I hardly know what the hell I'm looking at, anyway. I'm getting dough back from the feds and Paradise, but not Joisey. 

Betty called me twice, both times seeming more confused than usual. She wanted to know if I live at the Ventura Townhomes, which is an independent living facility. I've told her many times I live in a regular apartment, not an age-restricted one, or with any other caveats. Sigh...

My niece-in-law, Robyn, sent me an article from the NYTimes about mile-long lines for food in Atlantic and other counties. I wrote back, "and this is just the beginning."