Sunday

As I had told her I would, I called Hazel at 9 am my time, noon hers. It really wasn't a very satisfactory conversation. First of all, I probably should have picked a different time, as she was having lunch. With most people, I would have just said I'd call her back in a hour or so, but Hazel is pretty fuzzy and I didn't want to do that. We talked for maybe five minutes, if that, while I asked her how she was doing and so on. She responded, but somewhat mechanically, in a sort of gasping monotone. She kept saying she was sorry--about what, I'm not sure. I said I'd call her another time and I will, but probably no sooner than a few weeks. I called Betty after to tell her I had spoken to Hazel. Betty showed little interest, which is now characteristic of her, and started telling me what she was watching on television.

These two incidents really wore on me and I got pretty down. I did do a little work on my project, then got out some Christmas decorations. I can't reach some, though, and thought I'd just have to leave them, but see later. I got out the door decoration and added the little Santa Claus figure I had been given in New Mexico:

It's hard to see, but Santa is holding a tiny roll of toilet paper. 

Went to town after lunch and while I was walking up Chestnut Street, Jim called to ask if I  could upload his driver license to a site. Sure, and I invited him to come today. We'll meet outside for lunch, as usual first. I asked if he'd get down the box of Christmas items I want and he said he would.

I picked up three more DVDs in town. I now have a high stack I haven't watched yet and it will probably take me six months to see them all, but that's okay.

A Call And A Cut

I was pleased to get a call in the morning from Charles Pfrommer, son of my old friend, Hazel, nee Gibson, whom I haven't seen for a good ten years. She, Betty, and I had been friends since we were 7  years old; she lived on Wyoming Avenue, the street next to Rosborough. Anyway, I had put her name in my search engine and got her son's phone number. We had a long talk and he told me Hazel has been in Wesley Manor (which Charles said costs $12,000 a month--hard to  believe) for a few years. He said there had been several cases of COVID among residents and staff and now Hazel is in quarantine and can't leave her room. Anyway, he gave me the number and I called several times through, but there was answer. Finally, I called the main number, told the receptionist, he put me through to the nurse, and she said she'd go to Hazel's room and answer the phone. (Hazel had been there all the time, but just doesn't answer.) I called, nurse answered and gave the phone to Hazel, who sounded more confused and dotty than Betty does. She said it was wonderful to hear from me, but it wasn't a good time to talk, so I said I'd call her today about noon. Jeez, what is it with all these barely-functioning contemporaries? 

In between phone calls, I walked to the market for the things I can't live without, such as romaine. That was after breakfast, then I worked on my little project, which I won't reveal, for a time. After lunch, I was going to bus to town, but just lost interest. I did walk over to Von's for beef jerky, which I barely know what is, let alone what to do with it, but unbelievably, it's for a Christmas present. 

Great Clips is next door to Von's and I impulsively went in and asked for a cut. Incredibly, because they're usually very crowded, it was during a lull and I was taken right away. I'm not thrilled about the choppy cut, but at least I don't quite as much like Gravel  Gertie.

Ellen called from Wal-Mart about 4:30, then came over with the diet soda I asked for. She stopped in for a few minutes to chat, which is always enjoyable. She also brought me a pulse-ox, so I check my oxygen  level.  I going to leave that sentence right there.

Same Weight And Singapore

Foreword (ha!): I tried to substitute Violet on the beach for the picture of her below and have NO IDEA why I can't seem to remove the first one or why it showed up here. Well, I'm just going to leave them as is. Also don't know why I can't revert back to the usual print size, but the hell with that, too.

Weighed in at home at 125.4, a .04 loss. At T.O.P.S, I was 126.4; that's interesting because it's exactly the same as two weeks ago. Usually, I vary up or down a pound or two, which I think is normal. I'm fine with it, as long as it stays within my self-prescribed comfort zone. 

Note: I tried to put this picture of Violet below in place of the one there. I have NO IDEA why I can't do it and why it ended up here! 

Had breakfast (late, as usual on T.O.P.S. day), then put the books from the little lending library that I've already read in my cart and walked to Kimball. I still have at home at least four I haven't gotten to and now I chose two more to add to the stack. I'm afraid I have a clear case of 

                                                   tsundoku

-- a Japanese term used to describe a person who owns a lot of unread literature. Hey, it's better than stock-piling chocolate-covered grasshoppers, isn't it? (Or maybe it isn't.) 

Walked back from Kimball, so got three in. After lunch, I started out to bus to town, but saw the 10  going the opposite way. I impulsively jumped on, thinking I'd take a little excursion, then stay on when it turned around and went to the transit center. When it got to Wells Center, which is its final stop on that run, I was, of course, the only one left on. The bus driver, a woman, asked if I was getting off. I said, "Oh, I'm just going for a ride; I'll stay on back to the transit center." I was amazed when she lambasted me with "you're not allowed to do that, you can only use the bus for essential trips," and so on. I was even more amazed at myself that I didn't tell her kiss my ass. I saw the 11 bus parked in front, so I told her I'd take that back, which I did. Of course, while riding and fuming, I thought of a lot I should have said, such as "is that a law now?", "do you question every bus rider as to where they're going?", of "who decides what's essential?"  

Anyway, this having put me in a combative mood and it was getting later, instead of going into town, I went to Johnson Dental to again see Angie. I told her I hadn't gotten an acknowledgement of my email to her boss, at headquarter, but I was there to ask a question. When I saw her the other day and said I was concerned that I'd have to pay interest on the $4780, she had said I wouldn't have to. I didn't pick up on it then, but then it occurred to me she may have thought I had used Smile Central, which allows no interest for six months. No, I told her, I put it on my Mastercard, because I get rewards with that. She assured me refunds are paid on Tuesdays and it would be done then. In that case, I think I can simply pay the rest (I charge everything on it) and avoid interest or fees. Let's hope so, anyway, but if not, I assured Angie Johnson Dental would damn well pay it. 

Better later: Ellen called and said she had a teachers' conference. We discussed the changes in her job, still on-line, of  course, and now it will continue that way in January, too. Notably, instead of having nine children in three sessions, she'll split them and have two. That seemed more problematic to me, but she prefers it.

Video-called my boy, Mike, whose birthday is today here and was yesterday there. I had a wonderful time talking to, and seeing him, Vivian, Violet, and Paula (just a glimpse of her, as she was making brunch). Those girls are so adorable and I miss them and their Dad so much. 

  

 

COVID And Jim

I left about 9:00 to get my COVID test. Took a bus to the transit center, then walked to the hospital, a mile and a bit. I had to be in-between the cars, of course--it's a drive-up and seemed to throw them into a tizzy when I walked up. The other three times I tried to get tested, I put the swab up myself; this time, the attendant did it, after first telling me to cough and blow my nose. It took only a fraction of a second, but ouch! Something tells me I wasn't getting it up high enough when I did it  myself, so I hope fourth time's the charm.

Stopped at the nearby market after to get blueberries and veggies, then bused home. Made my sandwich for lunch and looked forward to seeing Jim. He came at our usual--1:00--and we sat down for lunch and dialogue.

Jim had been disturbed that the Internet revealed his phone number and address (plus his last three earlier addresses) when I put his name in my search engine. He said he's been so careful about revealing anything, as he didn't want his students to look him up. It was hard to explain the process, so I took him to my place to show him. I got the laptop, we sat at the kitchen table and I typing in his name. Up came all the info on a site called "Cyber Background Check" and, of course, others. I put my own name in and it included everything his did, plus the names of my children and their spouses.

Of course, there are lots of other sites that do the same--White Pages, for one. If you want to pay money, you'll also get arrest reports and other information. We discussed this for a bit and I printed out his "report" for him. He left at 4:30 and I walked him out. It's amazing to me that he seems so surprised about this. 

Wednesday

I was amused to get a call before 7 am from Leanne at Prime Management. I know not everybody would be amused, but I had been up for more than an hour; she didn't realize I was in California. I had sent a note about not being able to register in the Sunrise Bay portal, but we straightened that out.

Did a wash, cleaned the tub, and emailed the accountant at Johnson Dental headquarters to tell the corporation I'm getting impatient for my $4780 refund. I said I'd bill them if my credit card charged interest. 

After that, I got my cart and walked to the Market, then Ralph's. Walked part way home, then caught a bus, so I went about two, I guess. 

I had every intention of walking/busing somewhere after lunch, but I didn't. Instead, I foolishly sat down at the laptop, watched some things on YouTube, and played Royale Match, 

The fact is, I'm a little down in the dumps. I'm lonely, that's the problem. I miss both family and friends. Yes, I can and do talk on the phone and correspond by text and email, but that's not the same. I'm active, but a lot of the things I do, I conjure up because I know it's unhealthy to sit for long periods. I did yesterday, in the afternoon, though. Didn't go out after lunch except to walk to Von's for salmon and beer.

That reminds me, Jim is coming over today, so that will be enjoyable. First I have to go to the hospital for the CO-VID test which the dermatologist office requires. Let's hope they can get a reading, unlike the other three times I was tested.

 

Tuesday

I disallowed myself from going out in the morning so I could tackle the paperwork on my desk. First order of business was to write to my brother and sister-in-law in Bangkok. I did that--two pages with pictures--then walked to the P.O. to mail it. (I don't count that as "going out.")

I then delved into the Christmas presents I had bought in Arizona and New Mexico and simply ignored for a full month. I typed up a list, as I do every year, and filled in what--if anything--I had gotten for the person. There are five men, six women, two male and one female teen, plus a twelve-year-old girl, for whom I get gifts. Oh, and the four grandcats need to be remembered, too. That's just my immediate family, so doesn't count Betty (we exchange only for our joint birthday) or whatever small item I want to get for Suzanne. I used to get a little something for Nancy and Carolyn B., too, but since we haven't seen each other for so long, I'll skip that. I also want to pick up something for Greg's granddaughter, but I guess I can do that after she's born in January. Actually, I'm surprised I'm as far along as I am with Christmas--that's unusual for me.

Later, I did go out. I was on a mission to find ink for the large ink pad I have, to use with decorative stamps. I had already gone to Target, Wal-Mart, and Hallmark, none of which carries it. Okay, I was reconciled to going to Michael's, which I did after lunch. Walked to Telephone, bused to B & N shopping center, and--

Michael's didn't have any, either! On the off chance Barnes & Nobel did, I walked down there and, no. However, the sales clerk suggested the Learning Center in the WinCo center, so I walked there, too. Before I got to it, though, I realized I was near Office Max, went in and yes, indeed, there it was--yay! 

Home and I continued my paperwork/computer chores. Prime Management, which manages my house, changed its bank a few weeks ago. Since I pay the mortgage automatically from my bank account, that all need to be changed. They also send information on a new "owner's portal," which I got into. However, it wouldn't let me register. Not sure if that has something to do with my email change or not; I'll have to call them.

The Usual

My days go on with more or less the same, or very similar, activities, such as they are. Walked to Smart 'n' Final and back (three mi.) to get salmon, body wash, cottage cheese, and a card for Greg's upcoming birthday. I also got some pretend crab meat (it's really Alaskan pollock, cut up and with some additions), just to vary the chicken I usually have in my salad.

Lunched, then fooled around on the laptop. I tired of that and decided to go to Michael's to get ink for my ink pad (I have a project in mind). Caught the 6 bus to Telephone Road, then the 11, which would take me there. However, contrary that I am, I decided to continue on to the transit center (at the mall) and go to Target, instead. Did so and found they had none. I stopped at Johnson Family Dental, which is nearby, and demanded contact information for Angie's boss. She gave me an email address and I'll write them about getting my $4780 back. I had told them I wasn't going to have the work there and wanted a refund. This was on November 18 and it still hasn't been refunded to my Visa card.

Bused back and stopped into the Hallmark store (remember when cards used to cost so much less than gifts? Now halfway decent ones are up to five and six bucks), but they had no ink, either. Guess I'll get to Michael's one of these days. 

Home, I halved my two pounds of the big white mushrooms I always get at Von's, added olive oil and garlic, and popped them in to roast for fifteen or so. Had them with my chicken and veggies for dinner.

Other than that: nada. Just looking forward to more dreariness, I'm afraid. At least, though, here the weather's nice. Sunny the last many days and that helps.