Movin' Monday

I've been reflecting lately on why I've been going up in weight and it didn't take much reflection. I've been ignoring my insights and ideas about maintaining lately and without going into any more depth, I resolved to go back to them. Did so successfully yesterday. 

Called Nancy  in the  morning and we had a good talk. She still barely goes out and almost never on her own. She has a dermatologist appointment in Oxnard next month and her son will drive her there. I conceived the idea of having her, Diane, and Noreen over, maybe this Saturday, for Happy Hour. I have some cranberry meatballs left and the sangria is waiting. Both are in the freezer and I'll just add a few nibbles. This will be entirely separate from H.H. with Suzanne and Vickie. I like them both a lot, but their life experiences are so different from mine and my other friends. Besides, they don't drink and our social sessions are more like sweet little old ladies getting together for afternoon tea. Anyway, I'll contact the three who do.

To that end, I rigged my little cart and bused to town, then walked to the Market, about a mile. Bought a few things, then bused to Main Street, which I walked. It was very quiet, unlike when it gets near the weekend. Anyway, I stopped in a few places--bought some coasters and the following, which I desperately needed:

Yes, they're cupcake holders with feet. 

They're a necessity for every household, I believe, and the fact that we didn't have them when I was growing up explains my twisted personality. I bought six of them. I thought you actually baked the cupcakes in them, but now I'm not so sure. Would they really hold up in the oven? Or maybe they just hold completed cupcakes? I'll have to research the subject.

Had my lunch at my usual place next to Peirano's; it was cool, but the wind had died down and it was comfortable. Got the 10 home. Called Sharon. She's been released from rehab and therapists now work with her at home. However, she still can barely walk; uses a  wheelchair most of the time and still has pain in her legs. Ominously, she has gained two pounds back of the 58 she lost. I hope this won't continue, but fear it might.  

Distressing Sunday

Changed the bed and did a white wash, did the crossword (a goodie), cleaned up a bit, then ran over to Von's for a few things. Made turkey breast sandwiches, devilled eggs, and crystal pickles for lunch. Suzanne rang my bell and I went over to see the flowers her family sent for her 75th, which was yesterday (the day after my Pat's, who would have been 92). They're gorgeous:

And so are the flowers on her patio:

Jim got here at his usual 12:30. Before we are, I showed him the components of my 2021 tax return. I was surprised that he had brought the page of the letter my accountant, Michelle sends out and which I had forwarded to him. I don't want to go into detail, but he took exception to something she had written, I disagreed, and we had a big argument about it. Finally, I called Michelle and she explained, but boy, it was annoying.

However, we calmed down during lunch--the wine helped, I'm sure--and after we ate, incredibly, we played Taboo. This is the game where you use clues to make the other player or player guess what the word is. The hook is that you can't use certain words, i.e., if the word is "octopus," you can't use "tentacle," "ocean," and and so on. Anyway, it was hardly a barrel of laughs--it's a lot more fun with more people, but it was mildly amusing and Jim seemed to enjoy it as much as he does anything.

And now this:

I got disturbing news from Jersey. I had PMed two of my friends in the Little Egg Theater Company (LETCO), asking for information on the dinner theatres we used to do. Tara K. wrote back that they hadn't done them for some time, but she gave me some advice Fractured Actors might consider. Tara had directed me in Hedda Gabler and we had been in several shows together. I also got in touch with Trish O., with whom I had appeared in Listen to This! Trish is really good--lots of energy and humor in her performances. She's in her middle fifties, I guess, and I think she was a big asset to LETCO. 

That's where the disturbing news comes in: Trish wrote, "In January, 2022, auditions for the next show were announced. It was also announced that unvaccinated people could not participate in any way...this decision was made [by Jim and Mary H., who are president and vice of LETCO]...without the input of the board of trustees." Both Trish and Tara refused to be vaccinated, yet Tara was later permitted back into the company. 

I feel bad about this and I'm conflicted about it. I am thoroughly vaccinated and I find it hard to understand those who believe more in social media pronouncements than scientists. Certainly, the H.'es do, too: Jim is a doctor and Mary on the faculty of Weidner University, teaching nursing. So yes, they're invested in medicine. But I'm certain they wouldn't insist on vaccination if they thought it was anything but beneficial. I feel so sorry for Trish, though, as she wrote that "Tara and Julie have gone back to the group after a year of tears, confusion, anger, and hurt. I have chosen to cut ties. This personal betrayal cut deeply. No apology was attempted...."    

Damn, human interactions can be so hurtful. 

Saturday And Mimi, The Tax Expert

HA! That's what Jim seems to think I am. He called me about 9:30 (a.m., of course--nobody who values his life would call me at 9:30 p.m.) asking again what Michelle, my actual tax accountant, would charge to do his. I had no idea said I'd ask her, but in talking, I realized that Jim expected to take somebody a bunch of income documentation and have him or her assemble, categorize, and record the numbers. I had already sent him the 2022 instructions that Michelle sends out and that ain't the way it works, at least not with Michelle. I said I'd call her, I did, she said she'd do him--oops, his return 😜--for  a hundred and fifty bucks. She also said he could do it himself on the IRS website and that AARP also has a free service. I had already told him about the Agency on Aging, who does it free and he said "they don't know what they're doing." That was based on his having somebody do it there years ago. Anyway, I invited him for lunch today and got out some of my 2021 return to illustrate. 

Had a quick light lunch, then bused to the Regency to meet Diane at 1:00. We were both early, so had time to chat in the lobby (there are benches) beforehand. We made a date for Saturday, the 25th, to go to the museum for a talk and book discussion on early Ventura. Rincon is a well-know surfer's area; I've often walked The Promenade in front of it: 

The movie was The Whale, which was pretty intense. Brenden Fraser played an incredible role and Diane and I both enjoyed it--different, to say the least. Diane took Lyft home and I bused, although it was windy and when we got out of the movie after 3:00, it had gotten a lot cooler. However, I got the 10 home, so that was good.

Frightful Friday

 ...because bad news on the weight front: Home, I was up .06 to 131.2, but at T.O.P.S., I saw a horrendous increase of 2.1 pounds, to 132.1--AAGH! Okay, I'm going to work on it.

Didn't get breakfast until 10:30, after which I packed my lunch, took my cart, and walked to Telephone, then bused to Office Depot. Pourquoi? Because my thick black toner was low: I had bought a new one last week, so went to put it in. I opened the box, removed it from the plastic, and was puzzled to see the plastic stuff to be removed looked different. However, oblivious as a baby raccoon, I just assumed the shape was modified--until I glanced at the box and saw it was a 250, not 225, which my printer uses-- AAGH again! But Office Depot did, indeed, take it back and give me a full refund of $20.46. Once more, I had "rewards" on my account, so the new ink cost me only $2.79. 

After that, I didn't feel like going into town, so bused to the transit center/mall. Stopped at the store across the street and got a small thermos. At T.O.P.S., I had mentioned the potatoes ala Herbes de province I had made, so I decided I'd bring enough to next meeting so everybody could have a taste. Also bought a game (Taboo), thinking some of my guests might like to play. Ate my lunch at the mall, hardly a shady retreat, but I was hungry; bused home from there. 

I'm not sure I want to go to the succulent and other plant sale today. I'm meeting Diane for the movie at 1:30 and if I go to Dudley House and buy anything, I'll have to take it home first. I had given Suzanne notice of the sale, but she hasn't said if she wants to go or not. I don't want to ask because she might feel she should, so she can take me. Hmm...dunno...

Ellen called about 5:00 on her way home from work and we had a good talk. It's always a high point of any day to talk with her, so that "frightful" label is happily inaccurate.

Here And There Thursday

After breakfast, I knew I had a bunch of "paperwork" things to do, but champion procrastinator that I, I managed to overlook them and started polishing silver. I used to have more, including a coffee, sugar, and creamer, with large and ornate platter, but that I gave away. I also sold my mother's silverware set, which I now regret. However, it wasn't starling, just silver-plate and was getting worn.  Now I have only four small pieces and haven't used them for years--I think since I moved to California. Anyway, talking about new and old Dads (and Pat's prize as newest parent) lead me to get them out and polish them. The little dish from 62-years-ago came out very nicely: 

After that and a few other chores, I finally turned my attention to my lease. Good grief, there are 75 pages and I had to electronically initial and sign all. Had to call the office with questions, but finally got it done. I'm not even going to bother to print it out; I'll just leave it on the laptop.

After, I packed a lunch, took my cart, and walked to the post office to mail the Jersey boys' Valentines, then bused to town. Ate at my nice spot across from the mission and enjoyed it so much. The weather was wonderful--up to 75 and sunny, my favorite. I checked out a few stores and, at The Coalition, I bought four wine glasses and four placemats. Do I need them? No, and I'll donate the overabundance of both I already have, but I just wanted a new, springy look.

Home about 3:30 and I finally got in touch with Tonya N., of Little Egg Theatre Company, asking for some info on setting up dinner theatres LETCO has done (I was in two of them). I want to let Sharon know.

Made the roasted potatoes with herbes de provence, and had some, plus fresh salmon and spinach for dinner--a  delish-e-oso meal. 

Wild Wednesday

Okay, just as "Tame Tuesday" was an exaggeration, so is "Wild Wednesday"--however, it was pretty busy. Went with Suzanne to WinCo at 9:30 and was glad to get some of the bigger, heavier items that could be problematic if I was walking. Stowed things away, then took my cart over to Von's to first, see if the Hormel products for which I have a rain check were in--no.  Second, I wanted to take advantage of the beer promotion. Did so and bought 24 cans of Michelob Ultra for twenty-some bucks. Annoyingly, when I got home, I discovered it's light (less alcohol and fewer calories) , which I usually don't drink. However, I had already opened the carton, so I'll switch to it now. 

By that time, it was almost noon and I had to rush to make my sandwich and pack my lunch container; set off after that. To the Urbane Café, then to the movie after?  No, because last night, I looked up the web site of the Regency and discovered it's not open on Wednesdays. Diane hadn't realized that and asked if we could meet instead for lunch at the little park-like area I had found near the Hill Street Café. I agreed, glad I was able to walk there--it's just a bit more than a mile--over the footbridge and down Hill Street.

We met, ate, and talked and talked and talked and didn't say goodbye until four o'clock. We decided to see The Whale on Saturday, but at the 1:45 matinee, which makes more sense. I'm going to the succulent sale at Dudley House first and gave Suzanne the information on it, in case she wants to go. If not, I can easily bus there (it's on from 8 to 2), then to the movie theatre. 

My friend, Pat, emailed me of John Schriener's death and sent me the obit. It seems members of the class of '54 are dropping like flies. There's a picture of John in the obit, but here's how I remember him:

And Connie Levinsky, his girlfriend in school, whom he married:

I had mistakenly thought he had married Ursula McNellis, but now I remember that she and John Brenner were an item. Not sure if either of them are still living--sigh...

Tame Tuesday

I spent most of the morning on food prep: Scrubbed and cut two pounds of carrots, quartered five "cuties" (baby tangerines), added a dash of cinnamon, and slow-cooked it over several hours. I had a bag of small sweet peppers in red, orange, and yellow; trimmed, de-seeded, and sliced them. Three big onions got chopped and six others julienned. I froze some--I always like to have a supply ready--then stir-fried the others with a ground turkey. Reserved some for dinner last night and the rest is waiting for another day in the freezer.

After the above, I called Blue Shield, as I want to get an eye exam and have mislaid (or thrown away) my benefits books. Got it--it's easier on line, anyway--called eye docs Miramar, that outfit from hell, which I've complained about here before.. Couldn't get an appointment until March 22. Oh, well, I guess.

Walked to the post office for stamps and to mail the rest of the Valentine cards. It then occurred to me it was a little early, so I'll send later. (Although what in the hell difference it will make to my grandson, his two boys, and his girlfriend, is beyond me, but yes, I'm the compulsive type.) Stopped at CVS on the way back for veggie straws to take for a snack at the movie today. Checked Von's to see if the Hormel things, for which I have a rain check, had come in. No.

Home and I just putzed around. Got this charming card from my nephew, Tim, in Vermont:

As in common in my extended family, Tim was an "older Dad," 51 when his first and only was born. (Little Declan, 4, shares a birthday with his mother, Erin, being born on her fortieth.) Tim, however, is not the oldest first Dad in the fam; to my knowledge, my son, Patrick is. He was 54 when his Koushin was born. Coincidently, just yesterday, I dug out some of my silver serving pieces. Among them was a little bowl Pat won when we attended his tenth Holy Spirit reunion in 1961. It's badly tarnished and the photo isn't good, but here it is:

The inscription reads "H.S.H.S./CLASS OF '51/10th Reunion/Newest Parent." So essentially, Pat and Patrick both won the Dadhood stakes, but on opposite tracks, so to speak. 

Suzanne texted to ask if I wanted to go to WinCo at 9:30 today and I do. I'm having lunch at Urbane with Diane, but not until 2:00, as we're going to the movie, The Whale, at 4:30.