Kimball, then breakfasts, then John, the Gardener, came. He and his helper, Richard, did a quick and efficient job of planting my ficus tree and cleaning up the patio. I was very pleased.
Nancy called and we had a long talk, mostly about our concern for our friend, Carolyn, who had decided not to join us for Happy Hour yesterday because she thought it might rain. Nancy wasn't coming, either. Nance and I talked for almost an hour about Carolyn and a range of other topics. We'll look at what's playing at the Regency on Tuesday, too, and then raise a glass at The Cave.
I spent quite some time consulting the Ventura County, the Ventura to Santa Barbara,and the Santa Barbara City bus books to figure out where and when to arrange the Betty visit. First bus leaves at 9:20 this morning..
Spent time re-memorizing my Art Comes Alive talk and other things I can't even remember. Lunched and did more things (I know I did something, but what?) until it was time to get the bus for town and Happy Hour.
Met Diane at 4:00 at Pacific by noru and "Ru," the part-owner and chef came out to talk to us. Diane and I love the place and we had a great time. We stayed, incredibly, until 6:00, also talking over the situation with Carolyn. Didn't get home until 7:30. Stopped at Von's and got some blueberries and bananas, as it occurred to me I'm supposed to bring something to Toastmasters tonight; decided on fruit salad. Bringing Betty, too.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Silvercrest And Connie
Walked Kimball early, so I'd have time to shower before breakfast. Did so, ate, then left for Diane's at Silvercrest. I'm more and more impressed with this over-62 complex. It's very nicely kept and, while the apartments are small, they're adequate and maintained well.
I had been with Diane when she bought a bedspread (burgundy or dark red, and gold), a table runner (brown and burnished gold), and several wall hangings (gold shading into both burgundy and brown). That decor may sound garish, but it isn't--it's beautifully tasteful. I had acquired a lamp I have no use for and brought it to see if Diane could use it. She could and it fit perfectly in her bedroom; she was ecstatic.
At 10, we went downstairs to the balance exercise class and and I thought I recognized the instructor. I asked if she had worked at SCAN and, yes, it was Camille, whom I had met there. We chatted and both expressed regret about SCAN's closure.
The class, which included a stretchy band and weights, was pretty good. I thought I might be sore today, especially in the shoulders, but I wasn't. I'm considering going every week. Went back up to Diane's for a bit after, then left about noon.
Lunched, then went to meet Connie on Ralston Avenue. She got there with the costume, which I haven't tried on yet. I'm not so sure I like it, as it looks more like a bar maid's outfit than a fisher wife's, but we'll see how it looks.
As soon as I got home, I started preparing the patio for "John," who will be here at 10 this morning. I got rid of the multitude of pots I had collected and tidied it up a bit.
Went out for mushrooms, paper towels, and Parmesan cheese. Niece Carolyn called and we had a long talk. Betty called, asking if I was picking her up today; no, it's tomorrow. Had tuna steak, mushrooms, spinach, and carrots for a yummy din-din.
I had been with Diane when she bought a bedspread (burgundy or dark red, and gold), a table runner (brown and burnished gold), and several wall hangings (gold shading into both burgundy and brown). That decor may sound garish, but it isn't--it's beautifully tasteful. I had acquired a lamp I have no use for and brought it to see if Diane could use it. She could and it fit perfectly in her bedroom; she was ecstatic.
At 10, we went downstairs to the balance exercise class and and I thought I recognized the instructor. I asked if she had worked at SCAN and, yes, it was Camille, whom I had met there. We chatted and both expressed regret about SCAN's closure.
The class, which included a stretchy band and weights, was pretty good. I thought I might be sore today, especially in the shoulders, but I wasn't. I'm considering going every week. Went back up to Diane's for a bit after, then left about noon.
Lunched, then went to meet Connie on Ralston Avenue. She got there with the costume, which I haven't tried on yet. I'm not so sure I like it, as it looks more like a bar maid's outfit than a fisher wife's, but we'll see how it looks.
As soon as I got home, I started preparing the patio for "John," who will be here at 10 this morning. I got rid of the multitude of pots I had collected and tidied it up a bit.
Went out for mushrooms, paper towels, and Parmesan cheese. Niece Carolyn called and we had a long talk. Betty called, asking if I was picking her up today; no, it's tomorrow. Had tuna steak, mushrooms, spinach, and carrots for a yummy din-din.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Happily Busy
Walked Kimball and I was pleased to see many of the regulars. Also delighted that it was warmer. After breakfast, I did a load of wash, then looked on Craig's List for a gardener to plant my ficus and clean up the patio garden. "John" gave me a reasonable price (I had taken a picture of the patio and texted it to him) and will be here at 10 tomorrow.
I scrubbed and trimmed two pounds of carrots and put them in the slow cooker with pieces of tangerine, skin and all. Went to WinCo and Sprouts for lots of fruits and veggies. After lunch, the carrots were finished; I removed them and put in the rest of a roast chicken I had.
Took the bus to town and did the loop. Stopped at the library for a bit, then home. Carolyn called and we discussed Betty's visit here and mine back to Santa Barbara with her. I'll get her on Thursday, as planned.
I had defrosted a tuna steak for dinner, but instead had some of the chicken--it came out very tender--plus carrots and fresh Brussels sprouts. I'm holding the steak over for tonight; must get some mushrooms to go with it. Sliced and froze the rest of the chicken.
I go to Diane's for exercise class today at 10, then will meet Connie at 1:20 to look at a costume she has for the Art Comes Alive thing. Not sure if I'll wear that or the one I wore last year.
I scrubbed and trimmed two pounds of carrots and put them in the slow cooker with pieces of tangerine, skin and all. Went to WinCo and Sprouts for lots of fruits and veggies. After lunch, the carrots were finished; I removed them and put in the rest of a roast chicken I had.
Took the bus to town and did the loop. Stopped at the library for a bit, then home. Carolyn called and we discussed Betty's visit here and mine back to Santa Barbara with her. I'll get her on Thursday, as planned.
I had defrosted a tuna steak for dinner, but instead had some of the chicken--it came out very tender--plus carrots and fresh Brussels sprouts. I'm holding the steak over for tonight; must get some mushrooms to go with it. Sliced and froze the rest of the chicken.
I go to Diane's for exercise class today at 10, then will meet Connie at 1:20 to look at a costume she has for the Art Comes Alive thing. Not sure if I'll wear that or the one I wore last year.
Lunch At Ellen's
Well, I'm just a slug-a-bed. I stayed up so late watching that damn 20/20, I slept until 7:00 and did not walk Kimball--so shoot me.
Had breakfast, did the crossword, then packed up the leftovers from Saturday and took off for Ellen's (driving). We ate and I told her I had the movie Green Book and would like to see it at her place. Okay, and we watched it; I thought it was terrific. By the time it was over, it was close to 4:00. El wanted to trim her bougainvillea bushes, which seem to have fallen on bad times. Her clippers weren't up to the job, so she decided to go buy more serious ones. We said goodbye and off we both went. Stopped at Von's for more blueberries, then went home to saute some wonderful jumbo shrimp. Connie e-mailed me, asking if we could meet so she could lend me a costume for the Art Comes Alive thing and we decided on tomorrow. I left a message for Diane thanking her for lending me the movie. So I didn't get any real walking in yesterday. I'm not worried about it, though, as I'll resume my usual today.
It wasn't that long ago that this was taken for granted:
Had breakfast, did the crossword, then packed up the leftovers from Saturday and took off for Ellen's (driving). We ate and I told her I had the movie Green Book and would like to see it at her place. Okay, and we watched it; I thought it was terrific. By the time it was over, it was close to 4:00. El wanted to trim her bougainvillea bushes, which seem to have fallen on bad times. Her clippers weren't up to the job, so she decided to go buy more serious ones. We said goodbye and off we both went. Stopped at Von's for more blueberries, then went home to saute some wonderful jumbo shrimp. Connie e-mailed me, asking if we could meet so she could lend me a costume for the Art Comes Alive thing and we decided on tomorrow. I left a message for Diane thanking her for lending me the movie. So I didn't get any real walking in yesterday. I'm not worried about it, though, as I'll resume my usual today.
It wasn't that long ago that this was taken for granted:
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Diane And A Man
Warning: This is a long one.
Saturday was interesting, to say the least.
Walked Kimball, then went to Von's, WinCo, and the 99-Cent Store for lunch fixings. I had decided on a salad with red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, chopped eggs, and grapes, in addition to sandwiches of sour dough bread and two kinds of cheese. Of course, I had Chardonnay for Diane and Blue Moon for me.
Diane got here, as arranged, by 1:00, and we had an absolute ball. D. is very attractive, slender and youthful looking (well, she is youthful, only 76, and she's "had work" on her face). She ate heartily and loved the lunch, modest though it was. We talked and talked over so many topics, including our cockamamie president, our backgrounds, and world affairs. She seems to me a contrast between intelligent, knowledgeable adult and hard-to-fathom adherent of superstition. For instance, neither she nor her siblings will open an old trunk left by her deceased mother because they think Dracula' body might be in it. (Geez, if it was, they could make a mint.)
Anyway, it was great fun. Diane was delighted with the clothes I gave her--and she looks a lot better in them than I do--and stayed until 3:15, when she was picked up by the van.
After that, I whisked the dishes into the dishwasher, tidied up otherwise, then left for town. That was about 4:00 and I thought I'd just walk a bit and get home in an hour and some. Little did I know I wouldn't be back until almost 8:00.
As I was walking to the bus stop, I impulsively decided to skip town and go to Oxnard to pop in on Greg, Ellen's fiance, at Whole Foods. Got the bus and asked if it stopped at The Collection. No, but you can get another bus in Oxnard that does. Okay, I got on. When we stopped, the drive pointed out the stop for the other bus and I crossed the street to wait. There was a man at the stop, who introduced himself as Bill.
Introduced himself? Just an overly friendly person, I thought. He asked my name and I said it was Marion. Thinking nothing of it, I asked if the next bus went to The Collection. Yes, he said, and he was going to The Collection, too. I wasn't suspicious, as The Collection is a huge, very heavily frequented, shopping center with all the usual suspects as stores and tenants.
Anyway, off we went on the bus, which stopped next to the Target Parking lot. Strangely, "Bill" wrote his name and number on a scrap of paper and said to call him if I ever needed anything. Weird, but I'd blend into the crowd at The Collection. I asked the driver to tell me where to get the bus back and he pointed out the stop across the wide and busy Rose Avenue. Okay, fine. I got off and so did "Bill."
However, I quickly walked away from him and to Whole Foods, where I surprised Greg--I'm always pleased to see him--and we had a nice, ten-minute visit. Walked back to Rose Avenue, crossed to the bus stop, and waited and waited for the bus to come. In about fifteen minutes, who should come walking up, but--?
Yep. He asked where I was going and I said Ventura, he said he was going there, too. At this point, I was furious and asked where he was going in Ventura. He said the Starbucks. I said there was a Starbucks right across the street. Yes, but he likes the one in Ventura better. It turned out that this wasn't even the direct bus to Ventura, but one that stopped where you could get the Ventrura one.
By the time the bus came, I was not only angry, but slightly disturbed. There was no way in the world I was going to let him ride to Ventura on the same bus with me. The cross street two blocks from me and where I get off, is Victoria Avenue, one of the major arteries in Ventura. I knew he would say--seemingly plausibly--that he was getting off where I did to go to the Starbucks there.
We were the only ones on the bus. When it stopped, "Bill" got off; I knew he would be waiting for me when the bus pulled away and I told the driver he was following me. The driver got out and saw him across the street and came back to tell me. At this point, I decided to call the police and did. I was across from a busy restaurant and they told me to wait there for officers to come. I was there about ten minutes when the Ventura bus came and stopped a few yards away.
I saw several people get on, including "Bill." I rushed over--I wasn't about to let it get away without me--and asked the driver to wait, as the man was following me, and I didn't want to go back to Ventura with him on the same bus. Driver called his supervisor, who came in a few minutes, asked
what was going on. He was very nice and while we were talking, "Bill," who had sat near the back (the bus was crowded) and had his head down, got up, walked toward the front where I was, and grinning said, "Oh, it's okay." He then sat back down!
At point, being tired and in an absolute rage, I yelled loudly at him to leave me alone, you've been following me, I called the police, and you are NOT going to be on any bus with me! Still grinning, he finally exited by the back door. I guess the poor bus driver (and the poor passengers) were as relieved as I was.
Called Ellen to tell her about it and she asked me to call again when she got home. I did, then realized I had forgotten to tell the police about the phone number he had given me. I called them from home and gave it to an officer.
Anyway, this was an incident I wouldn't want to repeat, but I honestly don't think it was evidence of some kind of mental lapse on my part. I certainly didn't show the slightest inclination that I invited his "friendliness" and at least had the presence of mind not to allow him to ride to Ventura with me. Betty had called earlier and I called her back. By that time, it was after 8:00 and I settled down to watch 20/20 about the gruesome 1983 murder of a whole family in Chino Hills, which is ninety minutes from here--yoicks! I actually stayed up until 10:30, but couldn't last for the end of it, went to bed, and slept soundly though the night.
Saturday was interesting, to say the least.
Walked Kimball, then went to Von's, WinCo, and the 99-Cent Store for lunch fixings. I had decided on a salad with red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, chopped eggs, and grapes, in addition to sandwiches of sour dough bread and two kinds of cheese. Of course, I had Chardonnay for Diane and Blue Moon for me.
Diane got here, as arranged, by 1:00, and we had an absolute ball. D. is very attractive, slender and youthful looking (well, she is youthful, only 76, and she's "had work" on her face). She ate heartily and loved the lunch, modest though it was. We talked and talked over so many topics, including our cockamamie president, our backgrounds, and world affairs. She seems to me a contrast between intelligent, knowledgeable adult and hard-to-fathom adherent of superstition. For instance, neither she nor her siblings will open an old trunk left by her deceased mother because they think Dracula' body might be in it. (Geez, if it was, they could make a mint.)
Anyway, it was great fun. Diane was delighted with the clothes I gave her--and she looks a lot better in them than I do--and stayed until 3:15, when she was picked up by the van.
After that, I whisked the dishes into the dishwasher, tidied up otherwise, then left for town. That was about 4:00 and I thought I'd just walk a bit and get home in an hour and some. Little did I know I wouldn't be back until almost 8:00.
As I was walking to the bus stop, I impulsively decided to skip town and go to Oxnard to pop in on Greg, Ellen's fiance, at Whole Foods. Got the bus and asked if it stopped at The Collection. No, but you can get another bus in Oxnard that does. Okay, I got on. When we stopped, the drive pointed out the stop for the other bus and I crossed the street to wait. There was a man at the stop, who introduced himself as Bill.
Introduced himself? Just an overly friendly person, I thought. He asked my name and I said it was Marion. Thinking nothing of it, I asked if the next bus went to The Collection. Yes, he said, and he was going to The Collection, too. I wasn't suspicious, as The Collection is a huge, very heavily frequented, shopping center with all the usual suspects as stores and tenants.
Anyway, off we went on the bus, which stopped next to the Target Parking lot. Strangely, "Bill" wrote his name and number on a scrap of paper and said to call him if I ever needed anything. Weird, but I'd blend into the crowd at The Collection. I asked the driver to tell me where to get the bus back and he pointed out the stop across the wide and busy Rose Avenue. Okay, fine. I got off and so did "Bill."
However, I quickly walked away from him and to Whole Foods, where I surprised Greg--I'm always pleased to see him--and we had a nice, ten-minute visit. Walked back to Rose Avenue, crossed to the bus stop, and waited and waited for the bus to come. In about fifteen minutes, who should come walking up, but--?
Yep. He asked where I was going and I said Ventura, he said he was going there, too. At this point, I was furious and asked where he was going in Ventura. He said the Starbucks. I said there was a Starbucks right across the street. Yes, but he likes the one in Ventura better. It turned out that this wasn't even the direct bus to Ventura, but one that stopped where you could get the Ventrura one.
By the time the bus came, I was not only angry, but slightly disturbed. There was no way in the world I was going to let him ride to Ventura on the same bus with me. The cross street two blocks from me and where I get off, is Victoria Avenue, one of the major arteries in Ventura. I knew he would say--seemingly plausibly--that he was getting off where I did to go to the Starbucks there.
We were the only ones on the bus. When it stopped, "Bill" got off; I knew he would be waiting for me when the bus pulled away and I told the driver he was following me. The driver got out and saw him across the street and came back to tell me. At this point, I decided to call the police and did. I was across from a busy restaurant and they told me to wait there for officers to come. I was there about ten minutes when the Ventura bus came and stopped a few yards away.
I saw several people get on, including "Bill." I rushed over--I wasn't about to let it get away without me--and asked the driver to wait, as the man was following me, and I didn't want to go back to Ventura with him on the same bus. Driver called his supervisor, who came in a few minutes, asked
what was going on. He was very nice and while we were talking, "Bill," who had sat near the back (the bus was crowded) and had his head down, got up, walked toward the front where I was, and grinning said, "Oh, it's okay." He then sat back down!
At point, being tired and in an absolute rage, I yelled loudly at him to leave me alone, you've been following me, I called the police, and you are NOT going to be on any bus with me! Still grinning, he finally exited by the back door. I guess the poor bus driver (and the poor passengers) were as relieved as I was.
Called Ellen to tell her about it and she asked me to call again when she got home. I did, then realized I had forgotten to tell the police about the phone number he had given me. I called them from home and gave it to an officer.
Anyway, this was an incident I wouldn't want to repeat, but I honestly don't think it was evidence of some kind of mental lapse on my part. I certainly didn't show the slightest inclination that I invited his "friendliness" and at least had the presence of mind not to allow him to ride to Ventura with me. Betty had called earlier and I called her back. By that time, it was after 8:00 and I settled down to watch 20/20 about the gruesome 1983 murder of a whole family in Chino Hills, which is ninety minutes from here--yoicks! I actually stayed up until 10:30, but couldn't last for the end of it, went to bed, and slept soundly though the night.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
In The Groove
I'm back in the groove! I walked Kimball, then went to T.O.P.S. and incredibly, I was the big loser, having lost 3.4 pounds. That was a booster, all right.
After lunch, I vacuumed and cleaned up a little, then happily took the bus and walked the usual. Niece Carolyn called while I was there to find out how I'm doing. I invited Diane, who has nephropathy, for lunch today. She'll take the city van, which is free for her, then I'll meet her at the entrance. I'm still not sure what I'll serve--have to go to WinCo and Von's to buy something. Diane asked if I'd like to go to her place yesterday to see The Green Room with her and Nancy. I'd like to see it, but she and Nancy were going here and thee first, so it just seemed too complicated and I passed.
Ellen called and asked if I'd like to go to lunch in Ojai tomorrow. Sure do, so I'll meet her over there. When I got home from town, Suzanne took my blood pressure. She thought it seemed okay at 131/77, since I had just come in from walking. We then had a discussion surrounding a book she just finished about the Holocaust and another on the same topic she just started. These are fiction and she said she hadn't read any factual accounts. I have--many--but that was years ago and I'm not sure if I want to get back into that genre.
Had leftover chicken, then showered and slept well.
After lunch, I vacuumed and cleaned up a little, then happily took the bus and walked the usual. Niece Carolyn called while I was there to find out how I'm doing. I invited Diane, who has nephropathy, for lunch today. She'll take the city van, which is free for her, then I'll meet her at the entrance. I'm still not sure what I'll serve--have to go to WinCo and Von's to buy something. Diane asked if I'd like to go to her place yesterday to see The Green Room with her and Nancy. I'd like to see it, but she and Nancy were going here and thee first, so it just seemed too complicated and I passed.
Ellen called and asked if I'd like to go to lunch in Ojai tomorrow. Sure do, so I'll meet her over there. When I got home from town, Suzanne took my blood pressure. She thought it seemed okay at 131/77, since I had just come in from walking. We then had a discussion surrounding a book she just finished about the Holocaust and another on the same topic she just started. These are fiction and she said she hadn't read any factual accounts. I have--many--but that was years ago and I'm not sure if I want to get back into that genre.
Had leftover chicken, then showered and slept well.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Yesterday
Damn, yesterday wasn't the greatest. Upshot of all the tests and so on is I don't have a brain tumor or a stroke, but for some reason, my blood pressure had gone up. They brought it down at the hospital and all seems okay. In fact, Suzanne brought her B.P. machine over after I got home and after I had slept for four hours, and it's at its usual rather low again. Suzanne also got my medication (one for pain, one for nausea) and called she had Ellen, who came over immediately after I got up.
What a pleasure that was! We chatted for an hour or so, then El went across to Von's and got salad, a roast chicken, and a pint of ice cream. We ate, then I napped on the couch while she sat at the kitchen table and did some of the class work she would have done at home. She left about 7:00 and I resumed my normal routine: Jewel Match Royal, a computer game, then Frazier until 9:00 and bed. Slept like a stone all night and feel fine today. I'll report all this to my doctor today and maybe dropped off some of the reams of paper work.
Dr. R.: What's your take on this, i.e. why would this sudden high b.p. have happened, do you think? BTW, Suzanne is going to bring her machine over today to check it again.
What a pleasure that was! We chatted for an hour or so, then El went across to Von's and got salad, a roast chicken, and a pint of ice cream. We ate, then I napped on the couch while she sat at the kitchen table and did some of the class work she would have done at home. She left about 7:00 and I resumed my normal routine: Jewel Match Royal, a computer game, then Frazier until 9:00 and bed. Slept like a stone all night and feel fine today. I'll report all this to my doctor today and maybe dropped off some of the reams of paper work.
Dr. R.: What's your take on this, i.e. why would this sudden high b.p. have happened, do you think? BTW, Suzanne is going to bring her machine over today to check it again.
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TUESDAY
Slept okay and got up at 7:30. I dressed, got my coffee, then took 45-minute nap until it was time for Bone Builders at 10:15. After, I s...
