Monday

I got a call yesterday from "Tonya," of the Little Egg Harbor Municipal Authority, to tell me the water bill for my house was in arrears and if it isn't paid by next Monday, the house would be put on the sheriff's sale list. W-H-A-TT?? I immediately called my tenant, Susan, and we straightened it out. It seems she pays via her account in TD bank and it was scheduled for the tenth. Susan sent me pictures of the documents that show that and I'll call Tonya back today. 

Incidentally, when I called Susan, she was on a boat in Florida with her grandchildren. It boggles the mind that we now take for granted, situations like this: three different states, miles apart, were involved in this exchange. Of course, I regularly see and hear my son, Mike, in Singapore, and now we're talking more than eight thousand miles. 

Left for the Stone Fire Grille and walked most of the two miles there. Only six of my Soaring Spirits pals were there, but we had a good time. Vera, Renee, and I sat together and had some interesting conversations. Vera and the others then left and Renee and I sat talking for a good two hours, mostly about religion, capitalism, and the alarming tendency of so many to simply accept what's presented by the media and the government. 

We said goodbye and I walked over to Barnes & Noble. Bought another puzzle book, then took Ralston Street to walk to the market, another mile or more, so I got in some good exercisetey. Bought tissues, sweet potatoes, and a few other things. then bused home. Took an hour's nap, then pared, cut and roasted the two pounds of sweet potatoes. Had them and the rest of the cauliflower for a vegan dinner. 

Note: This is what Ellen made for The Day of The Dead. She asked the children in her third grade class to name someone who meant a lot to them and who had died. I think it's wonderfully imaginative and I was touched that she included her own Dad. 

Sunday: Lots Going On

I completed forgot about daylight saving time, but no matter; my electronic devises change on their own and I fixed the stove, microwave, and two clocks by hand. Carolyn called about 9:00 (8:00? 10:00?) and we had a good talk. I was delighted to hear she'd like to come to the show on Thursday and we plan to go to Jasmine Thai beforehand. Show starts at 8:00, so it'll be late when she gets home, but I guess she's okay with that. I had invited Jim for lunch on Thursday, but will call him and ask if he'll change to Friday. 

Got dressed in my Dudley House costume...

                                                           

...and went outside to wait for the Access Van. I got there early, of course, but Lynne came soon after. She told me they had had twenty "visitors" in October, which she considered a good group. Incredibly, yesterday, we had forty-five. The routine is for the first docent (yesterday, that was me) to conduct the tour in the downstairs, and another to do the upstairs. I was kept plenty busy, that's a cinch--hardly had time to sit down, but that's a lot better than the opposite. 

A young woman named Katy, whom I hadn't met before, acted as greeter and her mother, Laura, did the upstairs tour. I greatly enjoyed talking to Katy, partly because she's a producer in television who been involved in many shows. Now, you might think a producer is some kind of big mahoff and maybe some are in Hollywood, but in fact, I have the strong impression that "producer" means "general factotum" who does anything that needs doing. Anyway, we had a good time talking.

Suzanne came to pick me up at 4:00 and boy, did it feel good to get the damn costume off. As soon as possible, I'm going to take it--along with a dress I have--to the dry cleaners down on Victoria and get them both hemmed. 

Called Ellen and we had a good chat. She made a wonderful and touching poster for her third-grade class, a picture of which I'll add here tomorrow.

I had left my program from Red in Vickie's car and she texted me to tell me. I invited her over, she came at 7:30 and we sat--she with non-alcoholic beer, I with satisfyingly alcoholic sherry--and talked for three hours! I liked her when I first met her and I do more and more as I get to know her. As my daughters and many of my other friends do, I feel she provides some of the sisterly intimacy I've lost. The fact that she's almost exactly twenty years younger than I am, is of little significance; that age difference is true of most of my friends here.

Soaring Spirits lunch today and it will be good to have a nice, relaxed day.  I'll take my cart and go somewhere else after.

Saturday And Show Biz

Changed the bed linens after breakfast and remade. Gathered together my docent outfit for today: long, heavy black skirt, black and white striped shirt, velvet belt, cameo pin, velvet handbag, lace gloves, old fashion eye glasses, and fan. I'm hoping against hope it won't be hot today.

Had just a bite for lunch, then showered, washed my hair, and dressed. Walked over to Vickie's at 12:45 and off we went to pick up Diane. We got to the theatre early and I greatly enjoyed seeing Ken, Lisa, Bryan, and especially, Karen, who was directing and who directed me in After All This Time. Alphonse and Lindsay came in, too, and there were hugs all around.  Then we went in to the interesting and stylized set and sat in the front row. 

This was a very different show and play from the usual short, locally written ones we've usually done. It had been on Broadway and depicted the ideas of a well-known artist, Mark Rothko, and his assistant, Ken, also an artist. Only those two players performed, there was no curtain or intermission, and the set was minimal. After, the actors, director, and set designer/prop person, all of whom I know well, sat with the autiest for an impromptu question and answer session with the audience. 

From left: director Karen, Ben and Mike, who performed, set designer Christina, and Katherine, who led the after-play session. 

How was the show? Fabulous. I called and left a message for my niece, Carolyn, who is an amateur artist herself (and a really good one). The Red run is short--over next week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and I'll see if Carolyn might want to go. I want to see it again, so I hope she does.   

We went for dinner to the Chinese restaurant next to Trader Joe's  and that was good. Just got up at 4:30, and found a text from Carolyn that she was out at a show last night and would call me this morning. Took my weekly bone pill and, since you have to wait a half-hour after, am counting the seconds until I can have my coffee.

Friday

T.O.P.S.: I tied with Sharon for the biggest loser title--lost 1.8 at home (to 128.6) ad 1.7 at the meeting (to 127.8. There were six of us, so wow, I got three bucks. (Personally, I think the whole idea of paying out a jackpot for losing weight is idiotic and stupid--of course, if it it was ten thou or so, then maybe not.) 

Didn't get breakfast until 10:30, after which I got a bunch of appointments made: Quest Diagnostics for blood, Pacific Therapy for balance, and--a fun one--the BCNN Happy Hour. I also straightened out some credit card stuff and a few other "business"--if you want to call it that--matters.

Went over to Von's for salmon and cauliflower and, walking through the middle garden of our complex, saw Lorraine there, as I often do, so stopped to chat. Didn't get lunch until 3:00 and after that, I did what I  should have days ago: Stowed the Halloween decorations and otherwise did some straightening up and putting away. Found the Thanksgiving tapestry and put it on the front door. Darn, it got a little creased from being rolled up all year, but Mr. Turkey's still there: 

I got my Dudley House costume out for my docent stint tomorrow. Boy, I hope the heat goes away, as my outfit is very warm--long, heavy black skirt, knitted black shawl, and long-sleeved, high-necked top. Well, I carry a fan, too, and I'll probably use it. What I need to quickly shore up is my spiel--must refresh my memory, as I haven't done it for six months or so. 

I seasoned the salmon and cauliflower and roasted them together in a 375 degree oven. Had them for dinner and boy, was that good. I have enough for two more meals, so divided it up and put one portion is the fridge and the others in the freezer. I know I'll be eating out tonight after the play, but will have some tomorrow and the rest later.

Mike messaged me at 7:00 and we talked. He has COVID again, which is making itself known with a bac cough, but he said it isn't any worse than a cold.  

Thursday

I left for Diane's at 10:20, walked to Telephone, then took the 11 bus to Petit. Diane and I had a good time, as ever, although I'm concerned about her condition. Maybe because her CMT neuropany is advancing, she said she's had a great increase of fatigue lately. So sorry to hear that.

We were there talking for our usual three hours or so, then parted. I'll see her again tomorrow when she, Vickie and I attend Red. I stopped at the supermarket near Diane's for broccoli and peaches, then took several buses home.  Due to temporarily closed stops and a mixup on my part, it took almost an hour, but I got to the post office to mail off an item to Mike. Stopped at Vickie's and we decided we'd leave here at 12:45 on Saturday, pick up Diane, and get to the play early. We'll also go to dinner after; I'll ask Diane to pick a place.

Did some household stuff, then stopped in on Suzanne to ask if she'd pick me up after docent duties on Sunday. She agreed and we had a good visit. She has a wonderful lemon tree on her patio and gave me a lemon, but I don't think they're ready yet.

I don't know why, but I can't seem to eliminate the white space below, so to fill in, here's a photo of me in Japan, eleven years ago:

Wednesday

Julie picked me up at 9:00, then stopped for Brigette, and we zipped over to the BCNN meeting. It was a gorgeous, warm, sunny day at the yacht club and there was real cream out with the coffee. After remarks by president Dusty, the program went on. It was presented by the owner of a health club in Simi Valley which specializes in older people. There was the usual pitch, then volunteers were requested to do the "ball drumming" exercise. I was tempted, but didn't participate. Actually, it was fun to watch, with jazzy music playing and various movements by the drummers:

I signed up for a Lake Casitas boat trip on the sixteenth, along with Julie. She, Brigette, and I opted out of lunch with the group yesterday and instead ate at The Graven Raven, where we went last month. I had their yummy chicken pot pie and a Topa Topa brew. 

I had barely gotten home when Suzanne Haydon, from American Legacy Solutions, came for her appointment to fill me in on new supplementary insurance. Incredibly, not only did she find me one as good as what I have, but this, SCAN, is even better. She was here about an hour explaining options, and was very helpful. She's a friend of Lora's, whom I texted after to tell her how much I liked Suzanne. Interestingly, in a different life, she had been a makeup artist. 

After she left, I put in a load of wash, then got a call from my niece, Nancy Byrne (aka Kathy Baker). This is another of my brother, Larry's seven children and the sister of Jeanne, who called me on Tuesday about the DNR/ambulance person question. Nancy is an R.N. in the management end of a very busy hospital in Fort Lauderdale and she knows the ropes. I was interested to learn that in Florida, people can get a "yellow paper" which disallows resuscitation in an ambulance if they have a DNR. Presumably, if they don't have this--in addition to the DNR--they will be intubated or otherwise revived. Nancy said that the two places a DNR is invalid is insurgery and "in transport."  After that, we had a fine time chatting and catching up with each other's lives. Here we are in Florida when I visited two years ago. L. to R., Nancy, Larry, niece Joan, me, and Joan's husband, Jim:

Okay, it's now 4:01 AM. I foolishly got up a few minutes ago, having awakened before 3:00.  I can ascribe this annoyance to the fact that I didn't walk yesterday. I've been sleeping so well lately--to 5:15 or so, which for me is ideal--I'm convinced as the result of enough exercise. I'm meeting Diane for lunch across from her place, so may take a hour's nap before I have to leave.

Tuesday

Busy day: I often plan what I'll do in a day--tentatively and it's always subject to change if something better comes along. For yesterday, I wanted to get grapefruit, bird food, some goodies for the little Halloweeners,* a 2024 desk calendar, and a few other items. I planned to walk to Telephone, get the 11 to Office Max, walk from there to the shopping center for Target and Wild Birds Unlimited, then eat my packed lunch at the mall. I actually accomplished all that, but it took four hours, five buses, and roughly three miles of walking. I didn't get lunch until 3:00 or home until 5:00, but that was okay. 

I went back and forth with Verizon and now I'm vacillating as to whether I want to switch over from Yandoo or not. Seems to me there must be a catch to it, but I haven't yet found it. Called Ellen when I got home, but she was still at work and said she'd call me later.  Did so and we had a long talk. Had a annoying time with Quest Diagnostics in trying to set up an appointment for blood work.

My niece in Florida, Jeanne, and her husband, Dr. Vic, called me in response to my question about the ambulance person who intubated Diane when she had stopped breathing. We kind of went back and forth as to whether it was legit for a non-MD to do that if the existence of a DNR is or isn't known. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer, but Jeanne is going to ask her sister, Nancy, an R.N. in a high-traffic hospital. We also enjoyed talking over some family affairs.

I started reading Flying High and am enjoying it. Joan mentioned that I had provided an anecdote she recorded, but didn't credit me for the several pages of pictures of my father's family. Must call her today and compliment her; so far, it's pretty absorbing. However, I haven't yet gotten to the narrative about when she and my brother-in-law meet. 

Looked into what used to be a laundry room (separate building) and saw it's now a doggy wash. The other side is a comfy tub and grooming area--nothing too good for our little fur babies! (In the contest for moranic cliches, that one is right up there with "thoughts and prayers.") 

Julie will pick me up at 9:00 for the BCNN meeting and lunch today; may meet Diane for lunch tomorrow; T.O.P.S. on Friday; the Fractured Actors play on Saturday; docent duty on Sunday; and Soaring Spirits lunch on Monday. Well, I don't like to sit around...

* But I didn't get a single Halloweener, although other years I have. Damn, not what am I going to do with these?