Sunday With Stella--Sufferin' Succotash!

Where do I get these "friends"?  After I partly finished the so-so Sunday crossword, Stella texted me about 9:30, asking if we could meet. After a lot of back and forth, we decided on a late lunch on the patio at Pierano's, across from the mission. Met at 2:00, but a combo was playing there and it was very loud; I suggested we go to Paradise Café a few doors down instead, and we did. 

I had an unusual and really delicious grilled turkey/pesto sandwich and a terrific "Purple Rain" IPA. With the first sip, it became my new fav (although I'm not sure I can find it anywhere else). I liked their glasses a lot, too--small, slender, and comfortable to hold. They have a shop attached and actually sell them, but when I found they were ten bucks each--ha! They can keep their glasses, I have plenty of others. So the meal was delish, but...

...being with Stella can be an ordeal for a variety of reasons and what happened after we ate is an illustration. While we were still seated, she suddenly took out of her purse a case with one hearing aid in it. She wanted me to try it on (she was wearing the mate). At first, I refused--try on a damn hearing aid in a restaurant?--but she was so insistent, I finally took it to shut her up. Tried to fit it in my ear and just heard a kind of chirp (I'm sure I didn't have it in right). Stella took out a brochure about some freakin' hearing aid place and kept telling me I should go there--"it's not far from where you live," "look, it's only a hundred dollars," and on and on. 

Damn! If there's anything that infuriates me, it's somebody telling me I should do something they think I should do and they don't wait to be asked; they're going to guide me along because I'm too feeble-minded to do it myself. I already know plenty about hearing aids and I'll get one when I'm ready. Incidentally, Stella is one of the people I find difficult to hear because she speaks in a very soft voice and a droning monotone. I finally got her to take it back and shut up about the topic.

After, we went across to the Mission gift shop because Stella wanted to get a "golden rosary" for her sister--don't ask me why (she didn't find one), The shop seemed akin to the new-age-y one in Ojai. Both have all kinds of items to pay homage to benign supernatural beings and to protect buyers from evil spirits. Actually, they did have some lovely Christmas ornaments--not all religious--and I might go back and buy a few for next year's...(Mimi, are you nuts?  you don't need any more Christmas ornaments!)

We then went across the street to The Coalition and darned if Stella didn't find glasses almost identical the ones at Paradise Café and much less expensive; I bought two. She then went home and I stayed in town a bit longer. Home about 5:30, pleased to see it was still light out, thanks to DST.

Soggy Saturday And A "Sprint Marathon"

 Darn, it was overcast most of the day and rainy in spots. I took my cart to Von's for some necessities and some just-wanted-them-ties.  

Called Muckie and we had another good long talk--more than an hour. She's doing okay--still has pancreatic cancer, but the good (cancer stable) report last time was uplifting. Because she's electronically challenged (she doesn't use the Internet at all), I had sent her an actual post office letter last month, which included the pictures of her, Betty, Pat R., and me at my place from years ago. This time, I promised to send her some pics of when Betty's old boyfriend, Jim Downes, came to visit. I decided to just copy what I had written from my entry last September 22, which is when Jim was here. It took me a while to do that, but considering the lousy weather, I didn't feel like going out, anyway.

Son Mike video-messaged me at about 5:00, as he's been doing every Saturday afternoon. He had just driven Paula to the airport, as she's going to China for two weeks for business. Mike himself is gong to Sri Lanka next week on business. While we were talking, he got a text from daughter, Vivian, to say she and a friend are going to Europe for several weeks in the summer. Also, she'll spend a semester in the U.K. as part of her curricula at U. of Hawaii. Geez, when I was that age, I was excited to get to Philly!

--RACING NEWS--

My little Mikey participated last week. After what he has to say about it, I posted some pics:

From his Facebook entry: "Conditions were … horrible. Another year… another SPRINT (eg. “short”) triathlon. Hadn’t swum in a month but got 6 in age group. Cycling mediocre on a very wet course and run was … well I finished without stopping despite 5 pounds of mud on my trainers 👟 !!"

It was run in the mud...

...cycle several miles...

...and visit the fishies...

...my little Mikey! 💖

Flooded Friday

Maybe not flooded, but it rained all day! Cheryl picked me up for T.O.P.S. and only Lora and Bev showed up otherwise. I had worked  up a program, but suggested we skip it and just get weighed, then scram, to which all agreed. We just chatted for a bit, got weighed, then left. I stayed the same at home: 129.6 and lost a smidgen--.06--at the T.O.P.S. scale at 130.2. Got home, had breakfast, changed clothes, then readied myself for lunch at Diane's.

Luckily, I had called for the Access Van and it picked me up a bit after noon and got me to Diane's twenty or so minutes later. Even so, I was sorry I hadn't worn boots; in the time it took for me to  walk to the complex entrance, my ballerinas were soaked. 

Got to Diane's and was surprised to see her table set for only two, as I had thought her friends were coming, also. No, she had had them over on Thursday and they had left for Mexico (just a visit) that morning, so it was just us. As I hostess gift, I brought her a small decanter of the last of my Irish crème and she greatly appreciated it.

Diane served a truly delicious Italian style meal: bean stew, cannolis, peasant bread, and biscotti, accompanied by plenty of Chardonnay. (Yes, red is more traditional with Italian, but I like both.) We ate and talked and talked and talked--about our backgrounds, our children, other family, and more intimate stuff. 

The Access Van took me home about 3:30 and I stopped in at Vickie's on my way to my place (it was still steadily coming down). We chatted for a bit and she showed me the laptop Suzanne had given her, having received it, I think, from the mother house. Vickie told about her plan to have Mary's ashes mixed with others; it's considerably less expensive, it seems, then other methods. Personally, I don't have much interest in what happens to my remains. I intend to donate my body to science, then it will be cremated and the ashes buried in my husband's and my grave in Jersey. However, if my children want to do something else with them, that 's fine by me.      

Got my bill from the electric company, showing a credit of $22.41, incredible since I've had the heat on more the past month or so than I ever did before. I guess I overpaid.     

I hope I finally was able to shrink this enough for editor Carolee to use it for the BCNN "yearbook." Sent it to her and got back at reply about attaching instead of putting it in the body of the email. Did seo, sent it back, and if this doesn't work, I give up and will just omit my picture.

Things On Thursday

Stella texted me early to see if we could meet and after a barrage of texts back and forth, I said I'd bus to the Transit Center and she could pick me up there. She did and we drove to the beach at Seaward Avenue. It was chilly, breezy, and overcast, but picturesque: 

We went to a place called "Social Tap" with lots of craft beers and the usual type of food. We enjoyed it, but I was surprised at the cost; I had a hamburger and a beer and, with tip, the tab came to $32.48. I can remember when a fairly nice dinner would cost you that, but oh, well, easy come, easy...

On the wall was this collage made out of license plates:

Stella had some purple and white highlights put in her hair and I thought it looked very cute. Of course, she's just a kid; won't turn 80 until April:

We ate, then strolled around for just a bit, but it wasn't really good strolling weather. We left and went the The Market on Loma Vista. From there, I told Stella I'd walk to the Transit Center, which I did as  she drove home. While I was waiting for the 10, Ellen called and we had a good talk. I told her how very surprised and thrilled I was at what Greg wrote on my Instagram page (or whatever you call it).

Home at 5:00 and I finished up preparing for T.O.P.S. today. Damn, I had committed to do the program, otherwise, I would have skipped. As it was, I just dug out some old questionnaires I had devised two years ago; will have the group do, then use as jumping off points for discussion.  

Business Note: I revised the lease for my Jersey house to make it month-to-month and (electronically, of course) sent it to Susan and Cliff to initial; they did and sent it back. I forwarded to management and fervently hope they don't have a problem with it.

Social Note: Called the Access Van and will be picked up for lunch at Diane's today; also, will be driven home. Why not take the bus, as usual? Because rain all day is predicted. Speaking of--Bobbi just texted me that she won't be at T.O.P.S. this morning because she doesn't want to drive in it.

Physical Note: I've developed an annoying sleep pattern for the last week or so. I go to bed at my usual, between 9:00 and 9:30, read for fifteen or so, fall asleep right away, but then awaken sometime between 2 and 3. I get up for the usual, then find it hard to get back. I try to force myself to stay in bed until 4:30, but it's a bore. What's more, my arthritis has been bothering me, now more in my left knee. 

Philosophical Note: Things could be worse! 😁

Wednesday With Books

Heard back from tenant Susan and worked up a month-to-month lease. Sent it to son, Mike, to see if he thinks it's okay, and he does. I'll have Susan and Cliff initial, then I'll send to management and hope it's acceptable. Wrote out my St. Pat's day cards and sent off the ones to Singapore and Tokyo. 

I texted my granddaughter Vivian, at U. of Hi, asking her impressions of India (Mike and family went there for a weeks after Christmas) and she wrote back with a good, clear, few paragraphs. Mentioned the great disparity between upper and lower classes ("there is no middle class") and that people wanted to take pictures of her and her sister, as they hadn't seen girls with such fair skin. That's so depressing--the suggestion that Caucasian complexions are more desirable than darker ones. What's ironic is that V. and V. are a quarter Japanese. Anyway, I loved hearing from her. 

Finally finished and took back the 780-page bio of Ted Kennedy, which I found a real snooze-fest. It mostly chronicles the decades-old ins and outs of getting bills passed--or not--in congress during an era that seems as dead as the Kennedys themselves. Walked to the Hill Street branch of the library to return it and, still on a Kennedy kick, took out this one, by the G-man* who was with Jackie in Dallas:  

I had packed my lunch, meaning to eat it on the pleasant patio at the library. However, the wind was so chilly, I changed my mind and walked home to have it. 

I sent to Amazon for another book. Published in 2004 by political scientist Michael Parenti,* it shows the collaboration between government and mass media to maneuver the public into accepting the pain and carnage inflicted on others by our wars. 

Made one of my turkey stir-fries for dinner. I like to prepare the ingredients and freeze as much as possible beforehand, so I got out the ground turkey, chopped onions and peppers, and roasted tomatoes, stir-fried, added garlic, turmeric, and herbes de provence to finish. Boy, it was good and I have two more portions left.  

* Hill is 87, Parenti 89; add yours truly and I guess it adds up to a little intellectual gathering for octogenarians. 😄

Trifling Tuesday...

 ...because nothing much went on. I spent some of the morning hours on tedious "paperwork" and other crapola. Called Villanova's alumni office once again; I'm getting annoyed at what seems to be their indifference. After all, my Dad and two of my brothers are alums--doesn't that make me special?  😉

I decided to go back to Kohl's and find the two items I had seen on Monday, but didn't have time to try on; jeans with a partially elasticized waist and leisure pants. They were among a large number of clearance items and I stashed them together on one rack so I could find them later. Kohl's is in the B & N shopping center, as is Urban Cafe and the Vietnamese Noodle House, so I texted Diane to see if she wanted to meet me for lunch in either place. However, she responded she couldn't because "I'm cooking." She had told me about a couple she had just met at the off-brand church she sometimes attender. They had lived in Mexico as she had, and were coming for lunch on Friday. Did I want to join them? Well, sure.

Packed my lunch and took off. Walked to Victoria and Telephone and bused the rest of the way. I got to Kohl's, happily ready to try on my finds, and---they were both gone! Oh, darn, but the fact is, I don't need either one of them and I'm going to look for the jeans at Macy's, anyway. If I can't find them there, I'll look on-line. 

Ate lunch at the little area I had found some months ago, then just bused to the transit center and home; didn't feel like going to town or elsewhere, partly because it continues to be chilly. Met up with Suzanne coming in and we chatted a bit. She's going to San Diego today (?) to visit with some sisters and will be back Friday. Also saw Andy from upstairs; he's moving in with his girlfriend today and I'm sorry to see him go. He's about 25, I guess, and a nice young man. I hope we get another young person upstairs, also in Benny's apartment next to me.    

I had gotten a refund check from Citi Bank (I had doublepaid something) and had planned to take it to the bank to cash or deposit when I suddenly remembered I could do it via my phone. I did, it was quick and easy, and I was pleased at the convenience. 

Mixing Monday

Mixing with friends, that is: I left at 11:00 to get to Stone Fire Grille by noon. I was early, so stopped at Kohl's to look around. I found two nice pants, a workout type and blue jeans. Didn't have time to try them on, so decided to go back today. I emailed Diane to see if she was able to meet me at the Vietnamese Noodle House, which is in the same shopping center. So is Stone Fire Grille, which I got to next.

I was surprised to see only Vera and Renee--even Susan, who's always there, wasn't. Two more came, though, Amy* and--darn, I've blanked on her name. Anyway, I liked the latter a lot, as I do Renee, the pickleball player, so we had a good, convivial conversation. We didn't break up until 2:00, at which point I went directly into town. Had my cart with me and bought a few things. 

On the bus home (I didn't get in until 5:00), I fell into conversation with a woman named Laurie. She's  Ventura born and bred, three daughters, six grandchildren, widow for three years, and she has rheumatoid arthritis. That's very evident in her hands, which are badly distorted. Nice person and I hope to see her again.

As I went out to dump the trash and get the mail, David hailed me. He had contacted management about the resident letting his two cats romp outside. They're killing birds (yes, that's what cats do) and ornithologist David is incensed. He isn't sure if the owner has acquiesced or not, but it looks as he has.  

I topped off the day by making a jigsaw puzzle of my (colorized) wedding picture:

* For more info on Amy, see my post of October 12,  2021.