Thursday

Although I hadn't slept well, I galvanized myself after breakfast. Deadheaded, then tied up my pretty daisies on the patio. Also washed, trimmed, and cut two pounds of carrots, added "cuties" (the small tangerines I like) and cinnamon, and set to low in the slow cooker.

I then walked to the post office to mail off to my tenants the quarterly brochure from the Little Egg water company. Just before I got there, Stella called to see about prospects for lunch and walking. We tentatively decided on today and The Himalayan, which Stella had suggested before. I don't remember ever having Tibetan food, but assuming I can get some that isn't spicy, I want to try it.  

Met neighbor Michelle on the way in and we walked together. She asked to see my apartment--she has a two-bedroom on the second (top) floor in another building. She liked the fact that I have hard floors in the dining area, kitchen, and hall; she just got them. We talked about meeting for a drink (that sounds so sophisticated!) one of these days, but we've been talking about that for about two years now.  

To town after lunch to drop the Stephen King book back at the library. I hadn't been to town, just to stroll, for two weeks, and I enjoyed doing it. Got home about 5:00, then went over to Von's for various. I had a big problem with their "Fab 5" promotion--I just don't want to go into details--which was finally settled. For my trouble the manager gave me a huge pile of Monopoly "tokens," with which I could win $25,000, a trip to Disneyland, or a role of aluminum file and--I WON! (Well, I need the foil.) 

Called Stella and suggested we meet at noon at the library, then walk to the mile or so to The Himalayan. We'll do that, after I get past T.O.P.S., breakfast, and busing there. 

Unfortunately, I again had a restless night. I hope my magic elixir, of which I'm about to take the first gulp, will energize me. 

Wednesday

Much as I loved being at Ellen's, it was good to be home, too. Slept well and got up at my usual 6:30 and change. After breakfast, I found it oddly satisfying to do some food prep: i.e. chopping up my tomatoes and onions, adding oil, vinegar and seasonings, then roasting for forty or so. That will provide my salad with its veggie assist to the lettuce).

Then, an annoying incident: My sworn enemy, Bank of America, had not posted my tenant's rent check, which (I thought) I had scanned. In a huff, I walked there for the second day in a row. After some this and that, it seems I didn't actually scan the damn thing, though you couldn't prove it by me. Anyway, it got deposited and I'm going to have to be more diligent about it.  

After lunch, I walked to Smart 'n' Final for more provisions, including more veggies. I had a vegan dinner, then El called and we chatted. She taught from home yesterday, but resumes at school today.

With both treks yesterday, I had walked five, so I can't understand why I was so wakeful last night. (Wednesday to today, Thursday, that is). I got up for the usual at 2:25 (I probably shouldn't have looked at the time) and it took what seemed like hours to fall back asleep. I just got up at 7:30; maybe I'll take a nap today.  

Back

Ellen and I had a leisurely breakfast together, then packed the car and set off for Ventura. We stopped first at my place, so we could put away the trunk-full of what I had taken to her house. Then it was off to Wal-Mart, as we both needed quite a bit after sojourning in places away from home.  I got broccoli, rice cakes, and a few other things and El bought whole bunch of paper goods, as well as two kinds of kitty litter, and much more.

We then unloaded my things at my place, visited for a bit, and said goodbye. I made my big salad lunch, then scanned with my phone the rent check my tenant had sent from the bank. It seemed to work, but when I went into my account, it hadn't been added. I wanted to got some walking in, anyway, so I took my cart and went to the bank, where I found it would take until midnight to post. The bank's near the market, so I went there, too, for tomatoes, onions, carrots, and rice cakes. Today, I'll get some food prep done. 

I sent the Zoom virtual Happy Hour link to Nancy and Carolyn, and we chatted for  the forty free minutes they allow. Nothing new with either one of them. Had tilapia for dinner, showered and washed my hair, and started watching the DVD of Deepwater Horizon. It's a disaster movie about an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. So far, it's semi-interesting, but I think Mark Wahlberg and everybody else drowns in the end.    

Monday

 I didn't do a whole heck of a lot in the early part of the day; just cleaned up a bit after breakfast. I had finished Later over breakfast; after, I looked over El's and Greg's bookcases and selected Lolita, which I haven't read for decades. I sat out in Ellen's backyard/patio reading it, in the glorious sunshine. Nabokov was just the best, the top of the line, when it came to writing. 

Had the rest of my salad for lunch, then was kind of at loose ends. I actually turned on the television and saw an hour of Vertigo. It's 63 years old and boy, does it show it. Jimmy Stewart is pretty good in it and Barbara Del  Geddes excellent. I don't know who Kim Novak was sleeping with (certainly not Hitchcock, if I understand his orientation), but her performance was so-o-o wooden, her gestures so exaggerated, and her accent so contrived, it was a chore to witness her performance. The real star was San Francisco, which I loved seeing. 

My girl, Ellen, blew in about 4:30 and it was so good to see her. She settled back in, putting things away nd doing a wash, then off we went to dinner. El treated me at Sea Fresh, where we sat outside and  enjoyed Margaritas and mango shrimp, plus a shared brownie/ice cream dessert. Home, I watched the rest of Vertigo. Novak's acting improved when she played the second character, but the story line itself, especially the ending, was full of holes. 

My last day in Ojai--I've had a good time and enjoyed it as a little semi-vacation.    

Lunch With Noreen

A pleasant and interesting day. I called Noreen and asked if she was available for lunch. Yes, indeed, and she'll pick me up. (She lives in west Ventura, which isn't far from Ojai.)

After breakfast, I decided to walk to Von's for a few things I needed wanted. On the way, I passed The Artesian, an independent living place, which is quite new. In fact, only a few years ago, shortly after I moved here, I attended a free "learn about the facility and we hope you move here when it's built" luncheon. These come-ons are pretty common and I've been to many, but why not? I always enjoy eating out and the presentations aren't too tedious.

Anyway, a resident standing near the gate and I said "good morning." She replied, then asked if she could ask me a question. She wanted to know what had replaced some store or other nearby. Of course, I didn't know, don't live in Ojai, and we struck up a conversation. Clara (I think she said her last name was Didwitty or Dunwiddy) then proceeded to tell me her life's history: arranged marriage, later divorced, second husband was an intellectual giant, she's 92, got a million and a half for her house in Ojai, she loves the Artesian, and so on and on. Anyway, it occurred to me that this might an "in" to renew my acting course. We talked and she said she'd love to have me visit. Okay, and I gave her my card. She said she's going to call me. 

Noreen picked me up at 1:00 and I told her I'd leave it to her where we'd eat. She took me to something that started with a "C," but it was jammed, inside and out, and there was a 40-minute wait. We then tried M'Marco's, where I've eaten before and like a lot. It was closed, I hope not for good. So how about Sea Fresh, one of my favorites? We  didn't even park, it was so crowded. Japanese, maybe? That was closed, too. We finally settled on a small Mexican place and it was really good. We sat outside, had enchiladas, rice and beans, Noreen a glass of wine, me a Corona. We had a great time talking, then she dropped me off about 3:30.

I did some sweeping of the porch and back patio, just for a little help to El. She called and we talked for a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing them back here about 4:00 or so.    

Lunch With Jim

 Did the usual morning stuff. Mary Hoffman called about 10:00 and we had a good talk. I then checked the bus schedule; decided on the 11:21, which got me to the transit center at 12:17, where Jim was waiting to pick me up. I asked if he'd take me to my apartment first, as I wanted to get a few more items. He did, then we headed to Jasmine Thai, where I treated Jim to a birthday lunch.

I had the pad Thai, Jim the curry something and brown rice. He had a glass of wine and I was sorely tempted. However, I resisted and got the good Thai Singha beer. I have avoided wine for some time now, as I tend to drink it too fast and then it's all gone. So I have another. And then that's all gone. So I have...yeah.

Anyhow, it was good. Jim wanted to see the little lending library I often mention, so we did. I got a book to add to the ten or so I haven't read yet and Jim took a bio of Tennessee Williams. I was amused, then he was, when I told him I had donated it myself a few months ago. Jim wanted to show me another L.L.L. in the park on Foothill Road, the one with prominently posted  "Beware of Rattlesnakes" signs--aagh! We drove in, but library doesn't seem to be there anymore. 

Friend Jim then surprised me no end by driving to his place. I've known him for roughly four years and we've seen each other virtually every week for the past two, but he has never invited me there. This time, he didn't "invite me," either--just drove there. For  the last several years, when we had lunch together, we always met at my apartment complex and ate either in the open or in my apartment, so this was a first.      

Anyway, the basic apartment is one I'd love to have myself, a major point being that it has two bedrooms. I'd kill for another bedroom, where I'd keep my laptop, printer, and filing cabinet. I didn't ask to see them, but maybe eventually, I will. As for décor, it was typical old bachelor: a retro mess.

I had mentioned to Jim how much I like the Sunday crossword in the Ventura Star and he said the free paper has one, too. He actually picked it up and started asking me to answer the clues. I did most of them, as it was on a third-grade level, it seemed to me. 

When we were almost finished, I asked Jim what time it was, he looked at his watch (yes, he still wears one) and said, "3:50," he said. Oh, no--the Ojai bus left at 3:54 and I'd have to wait an hour for the next one! I grabbed my things, we rushed out to his car, and he got me there just as the 16 was pulling away. Happily, the driver stopped and let me board. Got to Ojai in time for the Ojai Trolley to take me most of the way to El's, so I didn't have to walk. 

Talked to El and Greg later and am looking forward to seeing them tomorrow.

Friday

 Another active day. Taking my cart and a bag of dirty clothes, I walked to the bus stop and got the 9:23. It was still incredibly hot, but much cooler in Ventura--very pleasant, in fact. Got in about 11:00, just as Suzanne was coming back from the laundry place. We sat outside and chatted for a bit. Unfortunately, she's been having trouble with pain in her leg when she walks and had been to to the doctor earlier. She has had fibro neuralgia for years, but this seems not to be related. She'll get an MRI soon.

I put in a load of wash, then put myself in. Okay, I didn't join in the sloshing and spinning, but I showered and washed my hair. While the clothes were drying, I walked over to Von's for heads of romaine and green leaf lettuce. Made my lunch salad with the former and packed the latter in the cooker to take to Ojai. Before I left, I put in cottage cheese and a seasoned chicken thigh from the freezer. With trepidation (would they melt on the way?), I added some sugar-free popsicles, which I like to have  in the evening after my pretzels and peanuts.

Ellen called. They were at the French Press, a coffee place Greg likes. She said Greg goes back to the doctor on Monday and they'd probably come home after that. I said I'd stay over then, too, so we can visit for awhile. 

Left  my place about 2:30 and got to Ojai at 4:00. I missed the Ojai "trolley" (really just a little, partly open, bus) and wasn't about to wait 35 minutes for the next one. So I walked again and by the time I got to El's, it was as if I had never showered. Oh, well, maybe I'll be brave and use one of hers today.

Called Jim and we talked, then made a date for lunch today--I'm treating for his birthday. That was two days ago, but somebody else took him to lunch then. We decided on Jasmine Thail and he'll pick me up at the transit center.