Not a whole heck of a lot going on today, which is fine by me. We're waiting for the visiting nurse and I then want to run over to Boscov's to get a few things. Got a nice e-mail from brother Jim and have been reading the narrative he got from niece Joan, who got it from her mother, my sister, who got it from our mutual mother. However, as I mentioned, I don't think our father wrote it. The handwriting seems too fancy, for one thing, and I kinda doubt if he had cousins named William and Henry. I'm just listening to Bush justifying sending more troops to Iraq by saying it will facilitate "a lasting peace." Yes, yes, he's absolutely right: Send more Americans over to kill and be killed and that will bring peace. War is peace. Oh, Eric Blair--not Tony--where are you now that we need you?

Enjoyed my cousin Tom's 80th birthday party yesterday. Brother Jim and SIL Therese were there, as well as cousin John, and Tom's DIL Pattie, whom I had met for lunch several times when I worked at Rider. It took more than two hours to drive there--much longer trip than when we lived in Ewing--but I made it fine. Terrific food, two beautiful cakes, and lots of fun talking to relatives, trying to figure out who was who in our large extended family. Jim said he had sent me a copy of something that may have been written by our father when he was quite young--but I have reservations that he actually wrote it. Will elaborate more in another entry.
To cover while I was gone, Alison came down again. She took her Dad to his eye doctor appointment and I'm happy to write the eye is improving, but he has to bathe it four times a day with ointment and baby shampoo. She took him to the bay, then bought flounder and cooked it for him--she's so good! And she does all this so cheerfully and offers to do more. It's such a relief for me to be able to get away and not worry. Luckily, I'm able to run errands, meet people for lunch, and so on in the afternoon, as Pat is okay by himself then. As I said to Alison, it isn't so much the time I'm away, but the distance. If I'm just tooling around the area, up to Manahawkin, say, I don't see any problem. I just don't like to go too far (such as Ambler yesterday) without having somebody with Pat.
Have decided to update this blog in the morning, rather than the afternoon, as I never seem to get back to it.

Went to Hamilton Mall yesterday to get my new glasses fixed. As it turned out, they just needed to be adjusted and I can see fine now. Had lunch there--Chinese--and looked around at various stores, including those with children's clothes. I was just stunned at the prices, especially at the specialty shops. Wow, these young parents must have to go into hock to clothe their children nowadays--right, Anon?
When I got home, Pat was at the bay so I spent a pleasant hour just reading, tidying up, and so on. Served chicken pot pie for dinner, which was good.
This morning, I washed the bathroom and laundry room rugs, changed our bed, and did a bit more housework. Called Sister Betty at work and home to see if her new little granddaughter had arrived in Chicago, but wasn't able to get her. Will call back.
Am now awaiting the cleaning people, who will clean the floors and bathrooms, then see "An Inconvenient Truth" with Leslie.
Well, ha, ha: The cleaning people won't see "An inconvenient Truth," I will!
Planning spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and blah, blah, blah, and so on.
Later: Just got back from "An Inconvenient Truth"--wow! That is one thought-provoking movie. It shows very strongly and clearly the truth of global warming, as well as the rapidity with which it's advancing AND--very important--the consequences we and our children are going to suffer if we don't do something about it, and soon. I was intrigued by lots of it, including the part about the articles by scientists written and published in the last ten years and how many disagreed with the threat of global warming: 0%. That was compared with information in the popular press, overwhelmingly by non-scientists. How many suggested doubt? 53%!!! Seems to me this reflects the "intelligent design" so-called "controversy"--as if there were any possible way to dispute evolution.

Pat and I both had a great time visiting Bill and Regina on Tuesday. For lunch, Bill served up club sandwiches, cole slaw, and dessert of baked peach halves topped with vanilla ice cream and raspberries. We then sat at the table for an hour examining the pictures and other artifacts I had brought that had been displayed at Pat's birthday party. Bill in particular got a great kick out of identifying family members, friends, and old Ventnorites. He and Regina exclaimed over the "blow-ups" Alison had had done of newspaper articles and so on featuring her Dad, and we left for them to watch the wonderful CD she had composed of Pat's life. We had a fine time and to top it off, Bill insisted we take some of the sandwiches home and we had them for dinner, too--I didn't have to cook.
I did cook yesterday: barbecued ribs in the crockpot, which turned out to be delicious. We had gone to Pat's primary doctor at the V.A.in the early afternoon; not much else is new with his health. There is an improvement, which is slight, but definite. This time, I didn't have to get a wheelchair for him to get into the building--he was able to walk in with the walker.
Today I have a rare free day--after the morning chores and before the dinner duties, that is. I'm going back to see if my new glasses can be fixed, as the "close" part seems too high. I have to put my head down to see at a distance.
Anonymous will be relieved to know that after tomorrow, I'll no longer be writing how much I want to see "An Inconvenient Truth," as Leslie and I are going to see it then.

Saw "The Devil Wears Prada" with Susan yesterday, and boy, did I enjoy it. I'm still interested in career-type movies, plus I love scenes of New York and Paris, and this had some wonderful ones. Of course, Meryl Streep is just stunning, no matter what character she plays. When she's on screen, even in a group shot, your eyes are just riveted on her alone. Anyway, loved it and hope to see "An Inconvenient Truth" before too long.
Going to Bill and Regina's today, and will take artifacts from Pat's birthday party, plus the pictures of London Bill asked me to bring (I'll go easy on them). Primary doc tomorrow at Fort Dix, but--for once--I think I have everything in order to give him.
Pat is actually feeling better and is noticeably improved. I hope we can expand his horizons a little more before too long. Am cautious about getting too optimistic, but he's certainly better than he was last month.
Got the income tax forms back from our accountant, Bill D., and we'll get some dough back, which is good. There's nothing like money to make people happy, I always say.
All in all, things are on the upswing and I'm feeling good.

Had a great time in Ventnor yesterday visiting with Frank and Marybeth, Patrick and Susan. We went down to walk on the beach, had fried chicken and potato salad for lunch that Lee, Susan's mother, had brought down, and just generally hung out. Saw pictures of their honeymoon that Patrick had on his computer and discovered they had stayed at the Peninsula in Bangkok, as Mike, Paula, and I did last year.
Later, Lee and Susan's father, Charlie, came down and we were pleased to have Lois and Carol, George W.'s sisters, stop over. I hadn't known that Lois actually introduced Frank and Marybeth so many years ago in California. It got a lot cooler, so was very comfortable. I called Pat 3 times, and he was fine. He said that John, Ray and Barbara's son, had stopped in, and he enjoyed seeing him. Pat also went to the bay--his every afternoon jaunt--and saw a boat race that a little disorganized, he said, but fun to watch.
Was glad to get our usual Sunday call from Ellen and we discussed the heat in California. She said she couldn't even remember it hotter in Ventura and, of course, there's little A.C. there. Could this be part of the global warming thing? Hope to see "An Inconvenient Truth" soon.
Must get dressed and ready for exercise. Susan and I are going to see "The Devil Wears Prada" today; tomorrow, Pat and I are planning to visit Bill and Regina.

It rained early on yesterday, but Susan stopped to see if I wanted to go to the clubhouse for exercise. Yes, I would and I did. Later, Alison came down and did most of the work in actually detailing Pat's car. She used tar and bug remover to get all the black gonk off the bottom, silicone for the leather, chrome cleaner to shine up the metal, window cleaner for the windows, and so on. Before that, of course, she took out all the junk Pat tends to keep in the car. I washed the two jackets, shirt, and various other articles of clothing we found, and Pat himself used the dry vac to vacuum out the back, front, and trunk. Boy, does it look good--but I can see why people charge $75 or so to do it. Alison then pulled out the weeds that have been springing up in the flower beds (I helped), and that took care of most of the day. I was able to get to Manahawkin to buy presents for upcoming parties (my cousin's birthday and a baby shower), and even had time to take a nap. For dinner, I ordered out from Brother's: flounder and french fries for Pat, a sausage sub for me.
Talked to sister Betty. She's letting friends from the East take over her apartment for a week, and said she'll find another place to sleep--she wasn't sure where, but said she had until that night to find a place! She'll ask a friend if she can stay there, otherwise, I guess she'll be homeless.
Brother Frank called last night to ask if I could come down to Ventnor today and we'd have lunch and just hang out. Will be glad to--looking forward to seeing him and Marybeth again, plus Patrick and Susan.