Friday And The ChannelAire Chorus

Weight report: Stayed the same at 129 at home, which was fine, and was at 128.2 at T.O.P.S., for a loss of 1.07, even better. Meeting was reasonably short, as leader Lennie had to go somewhere. Home by 10:00, breakfast, putzed around, then showered, washed my hair, and dressed for the Townehouse.

I bused there and was early, but Diane was already there. She was talking with a resident named Jackie, who proved to be interesting, if somewhat of a "look at me, see how great I am" type. She's the music director of the "ChannelAire Chorus," and gave each of us her card: 

                               

It seems odd, to say the least, that her name isn't on it. I'm not quite sure what the outfit is all about, but clearly, they hire themselves out. Looked up their website and saw no mention of Jackie, but did on their Facebook page; she's third from left, looking considerably more glamourous than she did yesterday: 

Jackie tried to persuade both of us to join the chorus--geez, if she ever heard me sing, she'd rue the day. She's a recent resident of The Townehouse--moved in just a month ago after fifty years in Ojai. She lives in one of the cottages on the back expanse, which means she must have big bucks. Said she hasn't eaten in the dining room, yet, but prefers to make her own. That also seems odd--you'd think she'd want to meet others and mingle, considering her talky-talky, but no. We three went into the large gathering room, sat down at a table, and were served wine and hors d'oeuvres. The entertainer was an older guy who sang a medley of mostly Beatles songs--very enjoyable. 

After, we started talking to a woman whose husband had died just three weeks ago. I actually remember seeing his obituary in the Ventura Star, as he was the harbor master at nearby Port Hueneme. Diane and I then repaired to the pleasant, treed patio where we ate what we had brought ourselves--rather, Diane did, but I was so stuffed, I just had the beer I had brought. We sat and talked for more than an hour, Diane into one of her supernatural lectures. She keeps insisting I don't subscribe to her other-worldly ideas because I haven't researched it enough. Nope, don't think so. Access Van picked us up at 5:30 and off we went.

Diane wants us to go again next Friday, but I'm not enthusiastic about it. I like the place and as I've repeated several times to my children and others, if I ever move to a facility like that, The Townehouse is where I'd want to go (although I find that stupid added "e" hard to forgive 😬). However, I don't really want to go as a regular thing, so I told Diane I thought I had something on the agenda. Actually, I don't, but I'll try to arrange to do that.

Note: My friend, Pat, mentioned my careless proofreading of this blog and I plead guilty. Will be more conscientious in the future.

Thursday And Virtuous Mimi

I'm so goody-goody: Aside from a quick trip to Von's, I stayed in all day and got done what needed to be done: 

a. Printed out my Blue Shield of California brochure. They're leaving California and I'll take it to the info meetings on other insurance at the Black Bear Diner on the 28th. Made a reservation; 

b. Revised my business cards ("Acting for Amateurs") changing the wording to add Fractured Actors info.; ordered new from Vista Print. I must say, they're one of the most courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable of all the outfits I deal with ("with which I deal," that is--HA!). Here's the old one, front and back: 

I also changed the picture, figuring it was about time:

Of course, this is the one with the wrinkles smoothed out by Photo Restoration. 

c. Gathered a lot of the T.O.P.S./weight loss material, including my original program quiz and program material, most of which I had printed out. Called Noreen to see if she wants it. She does and she'll call me back to arrange for lunch; 

d. Called Primary Medical for an appointment with the endocrinologist only to find I already have one for January;

e.  Went back and forth between Bank of America and SO-FI Bank to set up a transfer system between the two. I have most of my income automatically depositing at BOA, but I opened a smallish account at the other and want to be able to move funds, as needed:

f. Arranged with Diane for our excursion today to the wine and music affair at The Townehouse. I'll bus there, she'll take the Access Van, and we'll both take it home. She suggested we bring dinner and eat on the grounds after the hour-long gathering. Great idea, so that's what we'll do. 

g. Bernice, my new friend from BCNN, called to see if I could go to lunch (is the pope...? does a bear...?) and we'll go on Tuesday to Hill Street Cafe. Good, I want to get to know her better.*

h. Went over to Von's for spinach and cauliflower. Just have a hankerin' for scrambled eggs with veggies, so will make that for dinner tonight or tomorrow;

i. Dusted and otherwise titled up the bedroom--not really a deep clean, but it's an improvement.

😀😀😀😀😀

As for late afternoon, I spent it in L.A.--with Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Chinatown. Watching any kind a media in the daytime is the height of decadence, it seems to me (oh, get off your high horse, Mimi!), but this is one of my favorite movies of all time and I greatly enjoyed it. It's included in my large collection of DVDs (I know that's old-hat technology) and the fact that this June will mark its  FIFTIETH year is simply mind-boggling. But yes: It was released on June 20, 1974, the day before my sixteenth wedding anniversary. 

*Hmm... next week is shaping up, lunch-wise. Besides Bernice on Tuesday, I have Soaring Spirits and dinner on Monday, and the Dudley House Covered Dish with Jim on Wednesday. 

Note to myself: I somehow overpaid SCE and have a credit balance of $24.33--big whoops, as we kids used to say.

Wednesday

Kind of a fiasco day, with snafus and changes of plans. Early on, I decided I'd go to Santa Barbara to see. It's been months since I did and, although I didn't actually want to see her, I felt I should want to. This time, I took my cart. Walked to the bus stop, knowing I had to be at the transit center at 9:43 for the SB bus, sat down, and took out my phone to check the local bus arrival time. Reached in for my glasses--wait a minute, where're my glasses?--and found I didn't have them. I rushed home, thinking I'd get one of my dozens of pairs, then realized I hd missed the earlier bus and would have to wait for the next at 12:50 and I didn't want to go that late. I decided I'd go to Ojai, instead, take my lunch, eat at the park there, and see if Greg was working. 

Made and packed my lunch and, as I was walking past Vickie's, she came out to her car. She was passing the transit center, so dropped me off there and we had a pleasant conversation on the way. Got on the 16 bus and a few stops later, a man with a very large push-vehicle got on. There wasn't room for both of us in the reserved area at the front and he seemed needy, so I said I'd get off and take the next bus. Once I did so, I realized the next bus was the 6, which doesn't go to Ojai and the next one that did wouldn't be coming for an hour. 

Okay, another change of plans: I scratched Ojai and went to my across-from-the-mission lunch spot and ate there. Wandered around Main Street stores for a bit, but didn't buy anything and took the 6 home. I was a bit concerned because besides experiencing another visual migraine, I got another headache. I took a pain killer, then napped for an hour. Felt better when I got up. I'm chalking that up to tension or something--I've been somewhat concerned about various things lately.

Tuesday

I spent an ridiculous amount on the phone with Bank of Annoying in the morning and the issue isn't resolved yet. Made an appointment with the audiologist for October 24th. Did a color wash and a few other mundane chores. Went to Von's to find they're--again--out of the Squirt grapefruit zero sugar soda I like. 

Had lunch, then did something unusual for me: I had a small glass of cream sherry while I played some games (Block Champ and Scramble) on the laptop. That made me sleepy, so I lay down and took a nap.

Up and at 'em by 3:30 and, late for me, I took my cart and bused to town. Took two books back to the library and got two out: A new bio of Jackie Kennedy, which concentrates on her early career as a camera person reporter and a Jonathan Kellerman. Stopped at Goodwill and got some decorative boxes I want to use for storing things in plain sight. 

Didn't get home until after 6:00 or have dinner (salmon and broccoli) until 7:00, late for me, but it was a pretty good day. 

The following picture showed up on Facebook and I find it haunting. It shows the Traymore Hotel in 1920 on a dark and troubled day. Portent of things to come?  

Monday

Monday, I woke up with a headache, incredibly enough. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a headache, but I know it was years ago; it may even have been when I live lived in Jersey. Of course, ever the alarmist, I thought it was a brain tumor, but no, I took some pain medication and it went away. 

I had ordered and paid for a anagram puzzle book from Penny Dell Press on October 2, and it hadn't come yet.  I called, was told it was mailed on Wednesday, the fourth, but would arrive for 4 to 6 weeks!  Un. Friggin'. Believable. Responded in the positive to BCNN dinner on the 26th. It's at Orozco's in town, a pretty pricey one, but that's fine by me. Cleaned up the patio and put the new bird feed out. However, when I got home, I saw the little rascals had spread some around, but not off the tray and not nearly as much as they had with the cheap stuff. 

Took my cart and walked over the footbridge. While waiting for the 11 bus, I passed a young woman putting up posters on Telephone Road. I asked about it and we fell into conversation. She told me she's in a contest to be named the Face of Horror--some theatrical thing. Her name is Ashley Van Kalsbeek and I told her I'd vote for her, which I did (you can vote every day). I scanned the info and this is her on the page; 

From there, I proceeded to Grocery Outlook and the shop next door. I wanted to get the IPA Diane had brought me the other day; found it and was amazed it was only five bucks for a six pack. At Stone Fire Grille, it's five for just one can and some other restaurants charge even more. I almost made a horrible mistake and first picked up non-alcoholic beer--AAGH!  Why would anyone want to drink it? Found my error in time and exchanged it. 

Had to add this apartment building in Singapore. Mike said Vivian has been there, as one of her friends lives in the place. Wonderfully fanciful and creative or pure crap? I can't decide. 

Stopped on the way home at the Hill Street Library. I'm reading two non-fiction books and I just felt like something that didn't require me to think. Sat and read for a hour, then took out Under The Midnight Sun.  An international best seller, it was translated from the Japanese and came out seven years ago. I'm deep into its 554 pages and find it riveting.  

To top off a good day, Ellen called on her way home. Her and Greg company from Germany left Friday and we exalted over the fact that when they come next year (she's already invited them), she'll be retired, so able to hang out more--YAY! 

Sunday

The Sunday Crossword was very enjoyable, since Frank (Longo, the author) seems to have abandoned his uninteresting and obscure references. I don't mean I prefer it to be easier, just more straightforward. Anyway, I got all but one. Changed the bed, re-made, and did a bleach wash, so followed my customary Sunday routine. The rest is, taking my once-a-week "bone pill," Alendronate Sodium, and shutting down my laptop. A creature of habit? You bet.

Virtuous me, after breakfast, I dry- and wet-mopped the hard floors and washed the bathroom rugs. Annoyingly, they didn't dry in the dryer, so I spread them outside on the patio chairs. As of last night, they were still damp, so I won't bring them in until later. 

Chirp Corner:  For the past six months or so, I've been feeding the birds. I put a plate of bird food and a bowl of water out for them and I do attract some. However, I've been annoyed to find they're eating only a certain kind of seed  and scattering the the bulk of it around. The result is a messy patio, even with the containers on a rubber tray; I had already swept up more:

                                     

I decided to put a stop to their nefarious doings and after breakfast, took my cart, walked to Telephone Road, then bused to Donlon Street, where Wild Birds Unlimited is located. A lovely young woman, Sonya, the manager, revealed the reason for my dilemma: I had bought inexpensive bird food at Von's and the manufacturer adds a lot of filler which the birds won't eat! Why, the dirty dogs! It's scum-of-the-earth capitalism, pure and simple! How dare they!  And so on...

Anyway, to my amazement, the young woman presented me with a bird life magazine:

                                                 AND, a two-pound bag of good bird food...

...incredibly, both free of charge! 

You can be absolutely sure I'll go back there to get my bird food--and all of my other bird needs (if I every have any). BTW, the owner spoke at our BCNN meeting a few months ago--loved his info on birds in the area.

Target is in the same shopping center, so I stopped there to get more grapefruit and a few other things. Bused to the mall and also stopped at the Target there and, then to Von's for low-calorie ice pops. Walking through the middle on the way to my place, I saw Lorraine, my neighbor, who often sits under the sun shades in that pleasant area. We chatted for twenty or so, then I went on my way.

Drano-ed the bathtub and otherwise busied myself with this and that. Showered, then settled down to watch the next episode of Suits. 

Saturday

I spent the morning fighting with Amazon about an erroneous charge of $39.67 that appeared on-line on my debit account. I think I won.

Walked over the footbridge to Diane's and my lunch place behind the library. We each brought our lunches, of course, and she provided the beer. She wanted my opinion on it--good, I said, although I prefer a citrus IPA. We proceeded to talk and talk and talk, until 3:30, in fact, when we said goodbye. I then walked the mile and a half to Wal-Mart for Drano, dryer balls, and a few other things. From there,I visited Trader Joe's and got two of their big grapefruits, plus a huge apple. I'm getting more and more enamoured with Trader Joe's--I fine their produce vastly superior to Von's and, in many cases, their prices are on a par or even lower. 

After dinner, I was pleased to get a Message video call from Mike. He had been cycling around the reservoir, a lovely wooded area with a broad walking and bike path around it. He also mentioned the monkeys that inhabit the area and actually had some bananas with him. AAGH--I just saw a piece about a woman who had her face torn off by a pet monkey!  🙊

For dinner, I finally finished the spaghetti squash and the barley. Boiled up most of the rest of the chicken liver, but still have enough for one meal. That means I've had the same thing three nights in a row, but that's okay once in a while.  

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Show-Bizzy Note:  I looked up Harvey's partner, Nancee Borgnine (I'm not sure if she's his life partner or just business partner, but they're the "sales and marketing team.") I added what's on the site that references her:

--Though having worked in senior living previously and now being given the opportunity to be a part of the team at the Townehouse, Nancee’s early career was a bit different from most. She grew up in the entertainment industry as the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor, Ernest Borgnine. Initially, she followed the family business and became a theatrical agent, film producer, and PR/marketing executive for a gifting suites company that catered to the various awards shows.--