Friday With Friends

The first group of friends was at T.O.P.S. Cheryl picked me up at 8:30, bringing her sister, Bonnie, who lives in San Luis Obispo, as a guest. There were six of us, but that didn't include Sharon; presumably, she's still in rehab--I must call her. According to my home scale, I was down a pound (130.6), but at T.O.P.S., was up the same amount a 131.6. No, I don't understand it, but I don't really care. It was an okay meeting--leader Lennie is still in Asia--but I still didn't get home and have breakfast until after 10. Foolishly, I ate my oatmeal and grapefruit--should have just had the latter because it was 11:00 by the time I finished and I had to leave for lunch with my friend, Diane.

Walked to Telephone Road and got the 11 bus to the Urbane Café. Diane was already there and we settled in to lunch and for a long, long talk session. Diane is going to some other-worldly function today with our mutual friend, Stella, whose only child, son Joshua, is visiting from Spain.  She asked if I'd like to go or meet them after for lunch, but I begged off. I'm going to be having lunch with Noreen this coming week and will have Jim over a day, of course, plus I still have to let him know about my birthday lunch (he's taking me). I'll be going to the play tomorrow with Lora and Julie and we'll probably lunch first. Even for me, it just seems a lot. Anyway, talky-talk-talk, and Diane and I didn't say goodbye until 2:30.   

After we did, I walked to WinCo, then The Dollar Tree, then bused to the Transit Center and from there, home after stopping at Von's for paper towels. Shortly after I got home, Ellen called on her way from work to tell me she had tested positive for COVID. She had had it in July, too; I hope this one isn't too bad.

I got an email from Lynne saying the Dudley House covered dish has been rescheduled for February 1. Called Jim and we talked for about 45 minutes. I asked if he was available to 1. finally take me for my birthday lunch on Tuesday; 2. come to lunch here with Diane and me; and 3. go to the covered dish. Yes to the third, dunno to the other two. That's because the plumber is coming to look at his kitchen sink, which seems to have been clogged for some time (plus the garbage disposal doesn't work) and he was told it would be either Tuesday or Thursday. It never seems to occur to Jim that he doesn't have to acquiesce when told it's convenient for the other party to come. Anyway, I asked him to let me know if the deed is done on Tuesday, in which case I'll have him and Diane  in for Thursday.

Jigsaw of the day:

                                           

Thursday And Town

Spent a lot of the morning on finances and paperwork; paid bills (electronically) and pulled up the info on my house and its tenants.  About 5 am on Wednesday, I had texted Dianne (she gets up at 4:00) to see what day she was available for lunch--today, so we'll meet at The Urbane Cafe at noon. After lunch, I did yet more jigsaws; see below. One is of my great-nephew, Vic Micalucci, the TV commentator on JAX (Jacksonville) and me when he was here 18 months ago. The other is, of course, Suzanne, when we visited St. John's where she used to work.

I then decided I had to get out, although the weather was iffy--chilly and with wind. Sunshine had been promised and it was there early on, but later, I could see gray clouds above the hills. Okay, if I got wet, I got wet, it wasn't going to kill me. As it turned out, by the time I got to town, it was sunny again. I just strolled around--it was very quiet--stopped at a few shops, but bought only a gift holder for wine (woman to a candle she's lighting: "Somebody else is going to get lit tonight.") Hardy, har, har.

Bused home and cooked up some great shrimp for dinner. Along with spinach and the chicken pasta left over from Tuesday, it was yum.

Wednesday With Women and Howard

I took off for The Market at 10:30; and got lettuce and a few other things there. At Wal-Mart, I bought eggs (six bucks a dozen!) and oatmeal. Bused home and stopped at Von's for spinach and the item I couldn't find at either of the other stores: onions (what, is there and onion flu now?). 

Did some food prep when I got home, combining three pounds of tomatoes and two big onions, adding olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings, and into the oven to roast they went. Also boiled some eggs, as I want to pack lunch and eat outside, if the weather allows. Showered and prepared to go to the BCNN Happy Hour, then got disturbing news from son, Patrick: His wife, N., was hit be a car when she was bicycling. She was taken to the hospital, thoroughly examined, and x-rayed and there's nothing broken, but she's sore and bruised on the left side. Tokyo is very congested, of course, and the driver hadn't come to a full stop, so his insurance will pay for a new bike. As for N.'s care, they have universal health care, so there's no expense there. 

Julie picked me up at 3:30 and we drove to Oxnard, picked up Regina, and went to The Waterview. There were about 20 attendees and it was enjoyable, now that I'm getting to know more members. I had a mushroom bruschetta and a blackberry Margarita. The latter was good, but was served in a jar, not a fluted glass; was rimmed with sugar, not salt; and tasted nothing like a Margarita. 

Got home about 6:30--it was full dark!--and watched a bio about a (now deceased) Hollywood producer named Alan Carr. Happily, I slept well and just got up at 5:30. Couldn't resist jigsawing this hundred-year-old picture of my Aunt Marie's husband, Howard Reifsnyder, on a ship. Second from left, he was so handsome; unfortunately, he died in 1932, of typhoid.

Tolerable Tuesday *

Slept okay, although was wakeful for a time. After breakfast, I dusted and otherwise cleaned up. Set the table with the round, lime-green placements and the sun plates. Just for fun, I put the (cloth, of course, I don't use paper, even for every day) napkins in the fish holders, so it was kind of a nature theme--or something. On the coffee table, I put the paper cocktail napkins that read "Good girls go to heaven/Bad girls go everywhere" that I picked up somewhere or other.

Jim called about 10:00 to react to the jigsaw I did of him and to check that he was coming today. I could have swore I had asked him, but he said I had said I would ask Noreen, but I hadn't made it definite. Hmm...that could be, or one or both of us are losing it. Anyway, we had an interesting conversation about suicide. I think Jim finds it much easier to talk on the phone than face to face. In fact, I'm sure of it. That's okay, I like having him be more open and frank than he generally is in person.  

In any event, it was a nice little luncheon. I served wine and appetizers first, then the pasta/chicken/veggie casserole with sides of just crystal pickles and rolls. The ice cream for dessert went over big, of course, as it always does. (I swear Jim doesn't eat at home; he had two helpings each of the main dish and ice cream.) After, we sat over my Irish cream and read scripts. I doubt if Meryl Streep is quaking in her shoes, but both were okay and they enjoyed it, as I did. Here are Noreen and Jim, after emoting, while we were having our Irish cream:

Noreen left about 3:00, Jim forty-five minutes later. I walked him out to get the mail, glad of the sunshine, but not so glad at the coolness. Luckily, though, the wind had died down. Cleaned up, then lay down for a short nap. It was a good day and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. 

* Actually, it was considerably more than tolerable, it was very pleasant. I just couldn't think of another "T" word.  😊

My Monday

Donning my virtuous little housewife guise, I dry- and wet-mopped the hard floors, vacuumed the soft, and cleaned the bathroom, having washed the throw rugs on Monday. Before that, I made a batch of my signature ice cream, adding chocolate syrup to one half, caramel to the other. I had a terrible time trying to fit the (loaf) pan in the freezer; had to take out a few things, which will have to be in the fridge until I get around to eating them. 

Took my cart and went over to Von's for laundry detergent and, after much travail, a "carbonated mixture"--actually flavored Selzer water. I hate the stuff, but it was free, because I'm such a valued customer, so I took it, thinking Jim or Noreen might want it. Later, I thought I'd walk to The Market, but when I started out, the wind was so fierce, I changed my mind and went back to Von's for laundry detergent.  

Home, I did some other getting-ready-for-company chores. It occurred to me that, as Jim has more or less indicated he enjoyed reading scripts, that maybe Noreen would, too. I looked over the outlander ones (those I hadn't written myself) and decided they were either too complicated, had too many characters, or would have required me to copy a lot. The only one for which I have several copies of scripts is Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest, which first hit theaters in 1895. I'm familiar with it, and in the right hands--right players, that is--it can be fun, but in my living room, with Jim and Noreen? Oh, no, no, no, no.......

So I dug up some of my old plays and chose two comedies, The Potato Family and Tootie Looks at Real Estate, and a drama, Telephone. All went over big in Little Egg Harbor and Big California, so I think it'll be enjoyable for the three of us. 

On the social side, Leslie PMed me that she misses me and so on and I wrote back. I fear she's in some kind of depression; wish she lived closer. Julie called to ask if I want to go to the BCNN Happy Hour tomorrow and hell, yes, I do. She'll pick me up at 3:30. LaVonne called to say she had moved from her daughter's place here in Ventura to Oxnard. We'll get together soon.  

One more: the passport pic I took of Jim last year, and I emailed it to him:

Sunday And Margarita (But Not the Liquid Kind)

Crossword okay, but I didn't get all. I called Noreen to invite her for lunch with Jim and me tomorrow and she accepted with pleasure. 

Left at 10:40 for my 11:30 lunch date with new friend, Margarita. I had planned to take the bus, but decided to walk, instead. I had gone a short way when Ellen called just to chat. We talked for 20 minutes or so, until I actually reached Jasmine Thai; I enjoyed it so much I didn't even register I was walking. El had said they had closed for a time, because of a "family tragedy." However, I waited around until they opened (at 11:30, actually), then said goodbye to Ellen.

Margarita arrived about the same time and we settled down to get to know each other better. Boy, did we---we were there for almost three hours. Margarita is 74 (I thought she was younger), was married twice, no children, first husband abusive, second died 5 years ago, is interested in Unitarianism, had been a hippie in her youth, and has two cats whom she adores. She suggested we might attend the Santa Paula Theatre sometime, as she has season tickets. Sure, I'd love to and we had an enjoyable time. She asked if she could take me home when we finally left, but I preferred to walk--I need to walk--and she didn't press. Luckily, the rain (yes, more rain!) held off until I got home, as I had no rain gear on.

When I got home, it occurred to me I didn't have anything in for lunch company, so I put on my boots, grabbed my umbrella and went over to Von's. Got a family-sized Viola! garlic chicken and heavy cream; I'll make ice cream for dessert. 

Did more jigsaws, including one of grandson Joel, Assumption Church, and the one below from ten years ago: Betty, me, Helen, and Larry at the big December gathering in Florida. Helen's gone, Betty's as good as gone, and that leaves Larry, 90, and yours truly, still alive and, if not kickin', at least our hearts are still tickin.' (Boy, was I tubby!)

Saturday Sadness For Some

Suzanne and I left at 9:40 for Church of the Assumption through the driving rain. The funeral was at 10:00 and turned out to be quite interesting. There were more there than I had expected, but then, Mary was one of 13 children and had four of her own, plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Suzanne had told me she had to leave early, as she was scheduled to do her eucharistic minister rounds. 

Assumption is a beautiful church. The windows, in particular, are striking; I wish I had gotten a picture of them. The altar itself was lovely and I snuck as picture:

Next to the priest is the copper urn holding Mary's ashes and, circled by roses, is a picture of her holding the trophy she won for golf? billiards? tennis? Not sure. Vickie is in right front pew next to the aisle.

Before the mass, there were some primary prayers, songs, ceremonies, family members speaking, the priest orating, and so on. At the mass, he also announced that those who wanted communion could go up, those who simply wanted a blessing could, too, and those not of the faith were included. I was amazed. Did that mean they could receive communion? I have no idea. 

Anyway, Suzanne left and I went with Vickie to what was called "the reception." This was at a large, non-fancy Mexican restaurant and I'd say at least 150 people were there. I decided not to sit with Vickie, as I didn't want her to think she had to take care of the old lady. Instead, I sat with Mary's sister, her husband. their two sons, and their daughter-in-law and enjoyed talking to them. One of the sons, Vincent, is an R.N. in the operating room at Community Memorial. The food--buffet--included chicken and cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, tacos, and Mexican sweetbreads for dessert. I'm not a big fan of Mexican food, but this wasn't spicy, so it was good. 

Got home at 3:00 and it was still pouring, as it had all day. I quickly changed clothes, put on my boots, and went over to Von's for cucumbers (the ones I had had gotten soft) and vinegar. Made crystal pickles, then put dried beans, onions, and broth in the slow cooker; had some for dinner. 

Son Mike PMed me, asking if I was available for a chat. Sure thing and he, Paula, and I talked face to face for almost an hour. I was so pleased that Paula stayed, too; we had a good rapport. After that, I went out in the wet (it had stopped raining--finally--but lots of water, of course) to get the  mail. Luckily, my once-a-week medication came in (I take it on Sunday mornings and just did), so I'm set with that.