There's nothing I believe less than the idiot cliche "Everything happens for a reason." The simple-minded often repeat it, thinking it sounds intelligent, clubby, and mysterious. Nope, just dumb and dumber.
And that's leading up to: I decided, lazy do-nothing that I am, to skip exercise yesterday. After our walk, I settled down to the "Blowin'..." piece on Donna T. When my usual 9:00 breakfast time came, I wasn't hungry yet, so decided to defer. Call from the doctor's office, informing me that I had overlooked one of the "scripts" (I'm still so new to that version of "prescriptions" I put it in quotes) I had been given, so didn't get all have blood work done. I have an appointment on Monday to discuss same, so thought I'd have to postpone. Well, maybe not. Did I eat? No. Have anything in my coffee besides sweetener? No. Okay, I could go over and have the rest done. I did, although it was 9:30 by then, was taken fairly quickly and am glad to know I can have my coffee first.
NOW--Wasn't it providential that I--oddly--skipped exercise and--oddly--deferred breakfast? Didn't all that happen for a...?
Nah, just a coincidence.
Got home and made a salad, then continued working on my article. Also finally was able to ferret out the Dionne picture I had scanned.
Leslie called, saying she was sitting in the sun on her front porch and would I like to come down and join her. I did, walking the three doors down, and found her friend, Mary (her informal quilting teacher) was there, too. Johanna H. from across the street came over and we had a pleasant chat. Les invited us in for tea, but I wanted to get to Shop-Rite, so begged off.
All I needed was softener sheets, but somehow managed to spend forty bucks--then realized I had forgotten the softener sheets. No prob.
Received one of my darling daughter-in-law, N.'s exquisite cards, this for Easter. E-mailed my thanks, then, in the evening got a Skype call from P. and she.
Good heavens, it'll be April tomorrow!

I should be skinny as a rail! Considering yesterday, I should be built like Twiggy or the man who owned he Chinese restaurant in Lawrenceville (oh,never mind).
After our usual walk and breakfast, I wrapped a large package I had been asked to send to the U.K.. Continued--tearing out my hair--to try to find the picture I had scanned, and worked on the Dionne Program description for the Stafford and Barnegat libraries.
In light of her ferocious allergies I called Marge to see if she was up to the visit we had planned yesterday. She was, and we had a good chat. She shared with me two memoirs she had written, both very interesting and one harrowing--Fred had been caught in a holdup at a motel down south. At this point, I'm trying to figure how to run them or parts of them in The Breeze. As they stand, they're just too long.
Sent off the package--to the tune of $52.40--and got home to realize I still hadn't pulled together the information I needed for the income tax. Got out my records and realized the last three years were all thrown together in one of the big covered woven boxes I have in the study. Started going through them, had to make some phone calls for information, then realized I had to work up some questions for Donna T., whom I was interviewing shortly.
Gobbled some salad from yesterday while pulling them together and got to Donna's in time. Spent time with her, then rushed home to finish compiling the tax stuff for my 3:30 appointment...
I must pause here to note that the denizens of Bank of America will surely rot in the same hell where the Comcast crowd is headed. Looked on BOA's site to get the LOCAL number for my LOCAL bank--I still have an account there--and they don't list it! You have to call the 800 number which, of course, is all a recording and assumes you wanted info on your account, but I just had a simple question, that's all,you idiots! Can't even remember how, but finally got it, called, got the answer, although not the one for which I had hoped, and finally finished up.
Got to H.R,Block on time, finished up the sorry business and am getting some dough back, so that's that, I'm happy to say. When I got home,I actually went through that huge box, threw away a lot of crap, and put all the 2012 records by themselves. Should have done that last year.
Whew! What a day! And today, I've got--hmm, nothing going on. Darn, that's going to be pretty dull...

Went to Maria at H.R Block at 11:00. She's been doing my taxes since I moved here and I like her a lot. However, I carelessly neglected to bring some of my deductible records with me, so have to go back this afternoon.
Spent a lot of time on the computer. Finally pulled together a synopsis of the Quints program for the Stafford and Barneget branches of the library. Unfortunately, after scanning a picture of three postcards, I couldn't find it anywhere on the computer. I wanted to add as an attachment, and it's just not there. Damn!
Finally got around to sending the Tootie skit to Ed S. and John P. of the Plays and Playwrights group. They haven't yet acknowledged.
Got a call from my cousin, Ton B., in Pennsy. His son, also Tom, has applied for a position at Rider and he asked if I might be able to put in a word. I called the younger and we had a long talk. I told him I'd e-mail Mike R. and Phil V., both of whom interviewed him. Did so and got an acknowledgement back from Mike.
Got out the Easter decoraions and put them around, including the big bunny on the front door. Still don't know what I'll be doing on Easter. Susan's daughter invited me over there for dinner, but I'm not sure if the northern dwellers might be having something.
Marge D. e-mailed me, saying she'd like to send a memoir to The Breeze. This is good news on several counts: 1. We're always looking for new residents to submit pieces; 2. I know Marge writes well, so the paper will be better for her work; 3. Best of all, it indicates Marge is feeling better than she has. I asked if I could stop in and she was agreeable. Said I'd call first and would probably be there about 11:00.
Am interviewing Donna T. at 1:30 and going back with the tax info at 3:30.

Arrived at Atlantic Imaging a little early, they took me early, and I was outta there at 7:45. After breakfast, I went over my Tootie play, which I'll submit to see if Plays and Playwrights will include it the June 3 performance. Renamed it Tootie Looks At Real Estate. (I think The Return Of Tootie suggests it's a sequel, which it is, but I can't find the first Tootie.) It took most of the morning to reformat it in the approved arrangement (character names in the middle, etc.).
Had a long list of errands to run and, remarkably, completed every one of them. These included buying a small battery clock, face scrub, cottage cheese, dryer balls, and gas, as well as going to the Barnegat Library to see if they want me to do my Quints program there. The manager--another young person who had never heard of the Dionne Quintuplets--was very nice and asked me to send her a description. Will do, and I have to send to the Stafford Library, too.
I was sorry to have finished both Emma and Life Itself* (CD). Took them back and got out Harold, an autobiography by Hal Holbrook. So far, it's pretty good.
Didn't get home until almost 4:00 and, because I had had only a small salad for lunch, was ravenous. Cut up Brussels sprouts, nuked and ate 'em, then did the same to a cauliflower and ate half. Made stir fry for dinner.
Getting the income taxes done today.
* I want to get the print version of Life and copy some passages in the last chapter. Roger Ebert's beliefs about religion and attitudes about death and an afterlife resonate strongly with me. He was raised Catholic--in fact, his mother had her heart set on him being a priest--but is no longer a believer in the supernatural. He objects, though, to being categorized as atheist or agnostic, not because he has some lingering belief, but because, among other reasons, he's "more interested in the questions than the answers."

Back to the dentist to get an impression, which I had been dreading, but really wasn't too bad. Was glad to hear I could get the partial back at 5:20.
Barb H. had mentioned at the Covered Dish that she wanted to make cranberry bread, but couldn't find cranberries at this time of year. I told her I had about two pounds in the freezer and wasn't going to save them until November. Did she want them? She did and I walked them down to her.
Went to B.J.'s and B & B (also known as Tucker Tom's) for cottage cheese, face scrub,and a farm load of veggies. Stopped at the library to change my Dionne Quintuplet presentation to June 5. I saw that May 16 is the day of the Women's Club luncheon, so I want to skip that.
Rosemarie M. stopped to tell me there's been another robbery in our community. Jack and Kathy D., whom I know well, lost jewelery and cash. This is the second in the last month. Well, I'm not going to get all paranoid about it.
Went back to get my partial and it now fits fine, but I made the decision not to go there for a regular dentist, so asked for my records from Dr. L.
Went to Odd Couple rehearsal last night and sat in on the reading. It's going to be terrific, I know.
Mammogram at 7:30, so must close.

Got an early cam call from the Tokyo Twosome. P. put a "speaking clock" on my compuer; it announces the time every thirty minutes.
Decided on the less calorie-laden version of the corn casserole to make for the covered dish. This simply calls for corn (whole and cream), eggs, flour, and sugar, as opposed to the other, which included Jiffy cornbread mix, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. I made a double recipe and it took considerably longer than an hour to cook, but turned out great. Got it to the clubhouse a bit after 5;00 (warming racks were provided to keep hot things hot), then went back home to dress.
Sat with Ray and Barb H., the other H.'s, Linda and Fred P., and Linda's cousin, Barbara Something, who also lives in Sunrise Bay. I brought a cooler with Blue Moon and Bud, and had one of each.
The food was terrific: ham, chicken, Swedish meatballs, Polish kielbasa, and a multitude of other entrees, as well as a vast variety of salads and sides, and here and there, a hot veggie. My corn casserole was completely gone by the end of the evening and two neighbors came up to tell me how much they liked it.
Of course, the desserts were fabulous, too. I had strawberry shortcake and a miniature cupcake--too stuffed for more. Coffee and tea were served, along with the good conversation and the enjoyment of being among 80 friends.
Music was provided by a singer--elderly, in fact--and the young fellow with him who played several instruments. By then it was after 8:00 and since dancing had started*, I said my goodbyes and left.
Got home for my usual Sunday night cam call from Ellen and we had a good talk. Also got a call from Betty and got to bed late, about 10:00.
WIDER: Here's good old Fred, telling it as he sees it. I'm getting more and more worried he could be telling as it is:
http://www.fredoneverything.net/RecedingTide.shtml

Attended the March Plays and Playwrights session, held yesterday at the Margate Library for some reason; it's usually in Ventnor. My play was read, but I was surprised when it elicited laughs, although it was meant to be serious. I wasn't upset by this, but it made me realize the material may just not be "serious." I was urged to work on it, but I don't think I will. I never was satisfied with it, anyway, so will junk it.
Our leader, Ed S., announced that we'd have an actual performance with audience on June 3 at Beth El Synagogue in Margate. Members can submit their works for consideration to be included. Think I'll send in The Return Of Tootie! May change the title.
After, as we had planned, I went to Betty's. Her new bathroom is shaping up very nicely--tub, toilet, floors and lower half of the walls done. Looks much bigger already. Betty made a delicious meal of salad, salmon, rice, mixed veggies, and brownies, which I enjoyed so much. Even better was our warm, sisterly talk.
Got home when it was just getting dark, driving through heavy rain. I was concerned that my porch furniture cushions would get wet, but they didn't.
Covered dish supper tonight.