Marvelous Monday

Maybe not marvelous, but an enjoyable day. I left early--about 10:00--and walked to the bank at Telephone and Victoria. Got some cash (walking around money, as we used to call it), then down to The Market when I got a Valentine card for my precious little grandson (who turned 41 last month😊). 

From there, I hopped the 11 bus to the Barnes & Noble shopping center. That's where the Stone Fire Grille is, but I was much too early for the Soaring Spirits lunch, so I browsed in B & N. Bought a little Jumble Puzzle book; I do these every day in the paper along with the crossword, so thought I'd enjoy more. 

I then stopped into Michael's and bought (I should be ashamed to admit this!) two silicon ice cube makers, in the shapes of Santa and Christmas trees. This,  after I donated a slew of Christmas crapola to the thrift store a month ago! But they're cute and they were on sale and I bought them--so there!

By that time, it was almost noon, so I went over to Stone Fire Grille. When I walked in, I was delighted to see my old friend, Barbara Quaid. She hadn't attended for at least two years and we fell on each other arms. Barb retired recently as CEO of the Ventura Fairgrounds and says she just doesn't know what to do with herself. Hmm... 

She and I sat together, along with Renee and Kim and did we have a great time talking. We ranged over pickleball, suicide, widowhood, militarism, pacifism, family, and the MIC. It was so refreshing and we were there for three hours. I finally said goodbye; decided to stop in to Lassen's to see if Greg was working and I walked the mile there. It turned out he was and I stayed to chat for ten or so. Bought a bottle of Herbes de Provence,* which I've been wanting to try, and will buy potatoes to roast with them. Bused to the transit center and from there home on the 10.

Ellen called on her way home just to chat and that was, as ever, a high point of the day.  

*For 0.6--not 6, but 0.6, not even an ounce, it was eight bucks. Oh, well, easy come, even easier go...

Social Sunday

I noted Pat R.'s comment of yesterday and I, too, am puzzled. She was still attending St. Nick's, being three years behind me in school, yet here's her inscription in my '54 yearbook:

'Tis a mystery.... And how peculiar to think that was almost 70 years ago--the mind reels...

But back to the present: After breakfast and the crossword (mediocre), I spent the early part of the day changing the bed, doing two washes, going over the hard floors with the Bona system, and taking out plates and silverware for my little soiree at 4:30. Made the cocktail meatballs--so simple and so good: frozen meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce in the slow cooker for a few hours and they're done. I also made a dip, which turned out pretty good, too. To a kind of garlic spread, I added a splash of vignette, plus some mayo, and served it with sweet pepper strips. 

Vickie got here just at 4:30, bringing a non-alcoholic beer for Suzanne and non-alcoholic wine for herself. Suzanne came soon after, bringing the same things, so each drank her own. As for me, I naturally had my IPA (and damn straight it wasn't a non-). V. and S. loved the meatballs and, of course, we had a good time talking. Vickie is still in deep mourning and I know it helps to have sympathetic friends. She feels guilty for so much--I know the feeling--and it's hard to get over that crippling emotional problem. 

But we had fun, too: Suzanne mentioned that her family tends to give her expensive gifts to help with her fibro neuralgia, but if she had a choice, she'd as soon have a gift card or just the money. (Why she doesn't just tell them that is beyond me.)  Anyway, she went next door and came back with a foot massager, that also heats, and lights up with moving red balls--bizarre. Here's Vickie about to test it:

Suzanne then went and got another family gift: a back and other body massager:

It was so funny to see that it looked like little hands digging its fingers into her back. I tried it, too:

                                                              I guess it startled me, huh?

Then the third member of our little trio tried it, too.

Anyway, we had a fun time. It was 6:00 before the party broke up, Suzanne leaving first, Then Vickie and I, realizing Suzanne's birthday is next Sunday, knocked on her door to see when we could take her to lunch to celebrate. Comparing our calendars--we all have commitments--we decided on Monday, the 20th. I have Soaring Spirits that day, but it's the dinner meeting, so I'll do both. I'm lucky to have such friends.

And lucky to have my dear boy, Mike. He wasn't able to video message me this time, as he and Paula were out in the morning. By the time I got to him, he was on the subway and unable to do it. I asked if he'd postpone to next weekend, so I'll be able to see Paula, too. He will and that's good. Soaring Spirits lunch at the Stone Fire Grille today.

A Long Post Re Saturday Because--Read On...

Busy day. After breakfast, I got something done I've been meaning to for years. I put my rosters of the members of various groups and organizations I'm in into a binder, including T.O.P.S., Fractured Actors, Dudley House docents, and others. I had had them all stuffed in the top drawer of the chest next to my desk and it was messy.

Packed my lunch, took my cart, walked to Telephone, then bused to Office Depot for toner. Went across to WinCo and got frozen meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce to make "cocktail meatballs" for our little social session at 4:30 today. It makes a fair amount, so I'll freeze some for later. Stopped nearby at The Dollar Tree for nail polish, then ate my lunch outside. 

From there, I bused to the transit center, but didn't board just then. Instead, I went across the street to a shop advertising "Gold Coast 1/2 off." Wow, I bought two blouses and a skirt for half price--my kinda place.

My final stop after got off at Victoria was to CVS, where I picked up my Atorvastatin prescription, plus an ever better something I prescribe for myself: a fresh bottle of cream sherry.  Home, I got the mail and was surprised to see a renewal of Ramipril from CVS Caremark. I have no idea why sometimes my medications comes in the mail and sometimes at the physical CVS. Well, no matter.

As soon as I got home, I started some food prep. I had picked up cauliflower and Brussel sprouts the other day and fixed the former my favorite way: blanched, then spread with half mayo and parm cheese and roasted--quick and easy and, oh, mama, is that good! I used the blanching water for the sprouts, added  some burgundy wine, and cooked until tender. Had some of both for dinner and skipped anything else.

I then wrote out my Valentine cards; I don't sent to the sons, do to the daughters, and to the grandchildren and great-grands. Which brings me to this: When Jim took me to lunch the other day, I saw this license plate in the parking lot and immediately took a picture:

Why? Because my precious little (okay, not so little; he's fifteen and getting on to six foot) great-grandson, Tristan, is nicknamed "T" and his dad often calls him "T-Bone."  I printed a picture of it and will send it off to Jersey in a few days.

Speaking of pictures: I accidentally came across the following today; incredibly, it was 16 years ago. I'm adding the entry describing this: 

Monday, August 13, 2007

Lunch with Pat R., Muckie, and Betty was the best fun I've had in ages! Pat arrived about 12:30 and what a gal! She's so full of life and energy--not to mention funny stories--that she kept us all laughing.

Pat is much more attractive in person than in her pictures. She has a strong--but feminine--face, thick hair she wears in a warm red shade, and a very pleasant, animated manner. For two years, decades ago, she worked for Muckie's ex-husband, who was an internist, so she and Muckie go way back. She and Betty go even further back , as they were both members of the Catholic Alumni Club (where Betty met her late husband, Wes). We were all amazed to find that Pat and I go back even longer than that: I pulled out my 1954 yearbook and there was a "wish you well" note from Pat McH., class of '57! As I don't remember ever seeing Pat before, this came as a fascinating surprise to all of us. (I took a picture of Pat with her entry but, unfortunately, it's too light to make out.)
Pat brought me a darling, hand-painted wine glass with "wine goddess" and a picture of a jazzy lady painted on it. She also brought Muckie, Betty, and me gifts of porcelain boxes with little round earrings inside. Muckie and Betty showed off their grandchildren's picture--well,l guess I did, too, but mine were framed in the study.
My Pat stayed home long enough to meet Pat R. and say hello to Muckie, then took off for the bay. I put lunch on the table--just a typical summer meal of cold cuts, several kinds of bread, a big green salad, fruit salad, devilled eggs, and crystal pickles--and we sat and talked, ate, and laughed for hours. It was just a terrific day, but of course, had to break up eventually.
Pat left late in the afternoon and I walked her outside. Before she drove off, she pulled out her baton and demonstrated her prowess--fifty years on!--with twirling. You go, girl!
Muckie went home soon after and Betty and I agreed it was a terrific day. She and I had leftovers for dinner (always a pleasant part of entertaining) and I got takeout for Pat. Today, we'll drive over to Sweetwater to have lunch with Betty M., a friend of Betty's, and tomorrow, I'll take Betty to Muckie's for her to stay with her for a time.
The only down note for my date yesterday was the realization that Pat R. and I don't live closer to each other. Hey, someday, I'll show up at her door in Virginia Beach!

**************************

Wow.

Fraternal Friday

Wonder of wonders, I stayed the same at home (130.6) at actually lost a smidgen (.07) at T.O.P.S. to 130 even. The meeting was visited by "county advocate" Kim, a young woman who is considerably overweight, but has lost twenty pounds in the last few months. She told us about the struggles of herself and her husband: His top weight had been 500 pounds. He lost close to three hundred of it, then gained much of it back, but is now losing again. I don't think anyone who hasn't gone on that all-too-common journey can quite understand that, but I can.  

Home, and I just had a half-grapefruit for breakfast, then took a brief nap. Up at noon, prepared, then went out to meet Jim at the parking lot. We drove to Jasmine Thai, I had pad Thai and a Sapporo, Jim  some kind of curry dish and brown rice; we both had plenty left to take home for dinner. 

We then drove to Jim's where he poured the Purple Moon wine I had brought and we sipped that while we conversed. He drove me back and shortly after, James C. called to tell me he had moved his brother, Benny, to an assisted living facility in L. A. Bennie had been my neighbor and Vickie and I went to his eightieth birthday party last year; here are Bennie (he always wears African robes) and James:

I went next door to tell Suzanne the news and we decided on a social session tomorrow. I said I'd host, as Suzanne did last time. Called Vickie to invite her and tell her about Bennie, which she appreciated. 

I was amazed to look at Facebook and see that my nephew, Dave Wessel, has written a "historical novel" featuring his father, Carl, my sister's husband. With his parents, Carl emigrated from Germany when he was (I think) a teenager. Here's Carl:

Here's Dave at his home in New Hampshire:

I wonder why a "historical novel" instead of the straight story. Maybe because shining a light on the actual past reveals too much? I know things and so does David. 

Thoroughly Enjoyable Thursday

True to my vow NOT,  under any circumstances, to go out--or at least not on one of my frequent all-afternoon jaunts--I got a lot accomplished. For one, I cleared out, wiped down, and rearranged the pantry. I sign when I think of the walk-in pantry in my house--this is essentially four short and shallow shelves next to the window. However, it took a while to finish and now it looks good. 

In addition, I made a batch of sangria, simply because I found a mix for it; you just add wine and water and freeze it slush. I can't even remember where I got it, but it was certainly when I lived in Jersey. I also found now fewer than three bottles of catsup--and this another in the fridge which I just bought to cut my cocktail sauce! This goes along with the four bottles of dishwashing detergent (not for the dishwasher) and the three olive oil spray containers. The problem is, I can't find the ones I already have, assume I need them, and buy more. Okay, not at least, I'll know.

I used the "patient portal" to nag Primary Medical about the directive telling me to "continue Calcium citrate," when I never did that that. Annoying. I put some paper work in order and will file today. I did a few other chores, then took my cart to Von's, where I got broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, as well as a few other things. Stopped at Lalo's to get takeout menus, as Diane and I will eat there before the show tonight. (I'm writing this at 4:15 pm on Thursday; will top it off tomorrow.)

Now it's Friday: Had a very good time last night. Walked over to Lalo's at 5:00 to find Diane already there. I just opted for basics--spaghetti and meatballs, plus a Blue Moon--and we had a leisurely meal, as the play didn't start until 7:30. Good thing we had that much time: The Lyft driver whom Diane had arranged to pick us up was very nice, but from from China and his English was so rudimentary he seemed to have just gotten off the boat. We got in--nice van--and started out. I thought it was odd that he turned left off Hill Street, since the collage is in the opposite direction. When he continued on, I asked him to pull into the upcoming Kimball Street Mall. He finally did and after a great deal of confusion, we discovered that Diane had provided the wrong address on Loma Vista. It was finally straightened out, we got to the show and had wonderful seats. Why? Because Diane's neuropathy requires that she uses a special walker, and found a special, elevated area for the disabled. I often have trouble seeing over people's heads and this was ideal.

The show was good. It was uneven in spots, as amateur shows often are (but not Fractured Actors productions, of course, they're always perfect😁). Gomez, the main male character, was just fantastically terrific and it was very entertaining. 

The Access Van took a while to pick us up--we knew it would--but that was okay; we were able to sit in the lobby and see some of the actors come out, get flowers, kiss and hug, and it was so good to be there. 

But good grief, I didn't get home until ALMOST ELEVEN and to bed after that! Dirty stay-out, that's what I am, and glad of it.

Wednesday And Historic Ventura County

Margarita picked me up at 9:15 for the BCNN meeting. With her was Ginny, whom I vaguely remember from Soaring Spirits. Got there for the usual coffee and schmoozing ahead of time. I was surprised when Sherry hailed me. I used to go to Dr. Woodle's talks with her, other places, and also to BCNN. When I joined BCNN the first time, I used to know Sherry well. Also saw Regina and Terry. The program was pretty goofy--a "haunted house" in Oxnard:

Huge--it has 18 rooms, it was built in 1914 by the Levy family, both of whom died there. A gay couple bought it a year or so ago and one of them was the speaker; he was actually pretty good and, maybe significantly, has some connections in show biz. The house was on a T.V. show I never heard of about ghosts and the guy showed video excerpts. It was mildly amusing, I guess, but I didn't buy it, as I'm just a hard-boiled cynic. 

Anyway, I was home by noon, packed a lunch, and walked to the Hill Street library branch to pick up the hike book. Went back to a nice area--grassy, shaded, nice chairs, tables, and umbrellas, ate my lunch, and looked over the book. I then walked to The Market for a few items. bused to the transit center, and caught the 10 home.   

Changed, packed up the crystal pickles, and went outside to wait for Jim. We got to Dudley House a little before the start time of 6:30, but had to wait until 7:00 to eat because president Shari and her husband, Ken, were late. While we were eating, niece Carolyn called just to chat; I told her I'd call her ack this morning. The program was entertaining: Richard Senate told us about ladies of the night and "victory girls" in historic Ventura--yes, prostitution flourished here and, no doubt, elsewhere. Here's Richard:

Connie K. brought Victorian hats and boas for ladies in the audience to wear and here, from left, are Carol, Connie, Deanna, and Lynne:

Didn't get home until after 9:00, shockingly late for me. Still stayed up to watch Netflix (the Windsor saga), but slept well and got up at 6:10, also shockingly late.

Today: dinner at 5:00 and the play at the college after with Diane. Tomorrow, Jasmine Thai, where-finally--Jim will treat me for my birthday. After, we'll go to his place and I'll bring the wine left over from former lunches. Does that sound provocative? Ha--that's a laugh and a half!

I know I'll have gained at T.O.P.S. tomorrow, considering my gadding about all week, but I'll take my lumps and if it kills me, I'll die happy.  

Tiptop Tuesday

Maybe not tiptop, but a pretty good day. 

I left early, about 10:30, for town. Took my little cart and went first to the library to pick up the book I had requested after Patrick suggested it for Ellen and me: 

However, it wasn't on the "hold" shelf and when the librarian and I investigated, we found I had requested it be held at the Hill Street branch. I apologized and will pick it up today. Today, that is, sandwiched in between the BCNN meeting and Dudley House. Rather than waste my trip, I took out the new bio of Ted Kennedy, just published two months ago. 

From there, I stopped into a shop and bought a decorative bowl in which I'll put my crystal pickles for the covered dish. I then enjoyed the lunch I had packed in my usual place across from the mission. Before going home, I stopped at the Ventura Street Von's for green peppers and Brussels sprouts. Home early, about 3:00, and I prepped both to add to my dinner, which was delish. Made a little sign for the pickles; I thought it was cute because the trim suggests crystal: 

Out to get the mail, I ran into my neighbor, Gordon, and we talked for twenty or so. What a nice guy, and I was thrilled to hear he's been accepted by Arizona as a kidney receiver. He's on the list in California, too, but he's looking at about ten years. In Phoenix, it will be much sooner, although not next week or anything. There is a very arduous preparation, for one thing, which includes all kinds of tests, diet, and other requirements and restrictions. Gordon is a recovering alcoholic; he ruined his liver and  got a transplant for that several years ago; he also has neuropathy, although his isn't as advanced as Diane's. Gordon is a good-looking guy--tall, slender, attractive face to which he recently added a mustache, but he does have a fair amount of wrinkles. I assumed he was in his early seventies, maybe, and when I asked, I had to cover my shock: He turned 60 last week--damn.

Speaking of the really elderly, I called Jim after dinner and we had one of our talks. I reminded him of Dudley House tonight and we also finally settled on my birthday lunch, his treat. I proposed we go to Jasmine Thai--it's far from cheap, but probably less expensive than many others--then to his place for a change and have a glass of wine. He said he didn't have any wine, so I said I'd bring the stuff I gave him when he was here with Diane last week. Okay, that's settled and we then discussed income tax and the IRS. 

Note: I misspoke--rather, miswrote--yesterday; the BCNN meeting and the Dudley House affair are today, Wednesday, not tomorrow. That's dinner and the show at the college with Diane.