You Win Some, You lose some...

And happily, I seem to be on a winning streak. After the successful session with Miramar on Tuesday,   things went well yesterday at the dentist's. I headed there in fear and trembling, of course, although it was just to get my teeth cleaned (well, bad enough!). I like Dave, the hygienist, who's very warm and talkative. I already knew he lives in Thousand Oaks, his wife went to UCLA, and he has two stepsons, one mentally challenged, plus lots of other minutiae. This time he told me he was building an outdoor cocktail area and has informed his wife he wants to be buried there. Funny guy and I enjoy his patter. The "win" part: I told him I have some sensitivity in two teeth and he called Dr. Babbitt in to check, but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Dave said I should use Sensodyne toothpaste and get a Water Pik. Will do.

Got out of there in an hour and walked over to a branch of The Market. Got a few items, including a small jar of instant coffee for the Molloy's Irish Cream I'm bringing to T.O.P.S. tomorrow. Walked back to the transit center for a bus home, so I put in about two.

After lunch, I added another mile and a half by walking to Smart 'n' Final and The Dollar Tree for apples, veggies, and stuff. Bused home, then went over to Von's for the rest of what I need.  (Damn, I forgot the heavy cream, but will go back and get that after breakfast.)  Ellen called while I was there on her way home from work and we had a good talk. 

I continue to treat myself to an episode of Doc Martin before bed and I no longer watch anything else on television. I do still have Full Metal Jacket on the laptop, but haven't look at it for a few days. As for reading--incredibly, I'm indulging myself with Mo: A Woman's View Of Watergate. It's by Maureen Dean, wife of John, one of the major figures in that long ago mess. Book came out forty seven years ago and it's written (with a ghost) in a truly bizarre style that comes across as a mix of gal-around-town-no-better-than- she-had-to be/innocent victim/teeny bopper style that's truly bizarre. For some reason, though, I'm reasonably engaged and will continue it.   

Tuesday

Busy day. I got to Miramar about 11:30 and met with "manager"--or something--Rocio. I was all set to light into her, but to my surprise, she couldn't have been more understanding and courteous. Then and there, she measured my eyes to ascertain where the new lenses and I'll be getting them soon. They will be free of charge, of course, and I walked out of there satisfied and feeling better about Miramar. I'm going to write a letter of appreciation about her to the outfit.

From there, I caught the bus into town. I was early for my 1:00 o'clock lunch date with Noreen, so stopped at the library. I started talking to the director, Karen, and discussed the possibility of my doing my Dionne Quintuplet presentation there. She was encouraging, so I'll see if I can pull it together again.

Got to Dargan's, met Noreen and we had a good Irish lunch, shepherd's pie and Irish beer for me, Cobb salad and wine for her. We talked and talked about our various good and bad times since we met last. Stayed for two hours and finally said goodbye.

After I got home, I texted Suzanne to see if she wanted to come over for one of our chat sessions. She did and we convened at 5:00. We had some an interesting conversation about family, she discussing her nephew and his wife, who are divorcing. I was surprised at her candor, considering the topic; Sister Gabriel and Sister Leo must have been spinning in their graves. 

A few minutes after Suzanne left, cousin Sally called. Just back from Florida where she visited her youngest daughters (she has six children from two marriages), we talked about me visiting her in San Diego. She mentioned that at the end of May, she'll be attending the college graduation of her grandson--formerly her granddaughter--in San Jose. Yes, the granddaughter has changed to male hood which, it seems to me, may be more difficult than the opposite, but hey, each to his own.

This morning, I have to go to the dentist for teeth-cleaning--UGH! 

Monday

 A strange phenomena was happening when I got up: Water was falling from the sky. Yes, it was raining and it lasted most of the morning. That gave me plenty of inside time to get things done, including the making the multitude of phone calls and Internet contacts I needed to do. I also found the tax return items for Michelle and emailed them to her. I was able to cancel my April 22nd appointments--dropped Miramar altogether and got a mammogram appointment in Ventura for April 26. 

Speaking of Miramar, the "manager" (or whatever she is, maybe the cleaning woman) of the optical department called and we made a date for me to see her today about 11:00. I'm also meeting Noreen for lunch at Dargan's Irish Pub in town, so that should work. I hope the rain will have gone away by the time I have to leave.  

I've had a hankering for lentils, so I put some in the slow cooker, shredded an onion to add, plus some chicken broth and Italian seasoning, and let it simmer for several hours. Reserved some for dinner and froze the rest. 

After lunch, I thought I'd bus to town, but although the rain had stopped, it was chilly, dull and overcast, so I skipped that idea. Just went over to Von's for blueberries, milk, and mushrooms. Home and I stir-fried the latter with herb and garlic marinade and, along with the lentil soup/stew, had a tasty dinner.

Sunday

I'm not sure why, but I didn't do well on the Sunday crossword: left a number unsolved. After, I cleaned up a bit, had lunch, then got my cart and set off for Michelle's with my tax info. It took me an age to find her apartment, as Cypress Point is a fairly large complex and the building numbers seem just at random. Anyway, I got there about 2:00 and Michelle invited me to come in while she worked up my form on the laptop, so I could sign it then and there. I wasn't able to, however, because there were two documents (from Vanguard and Chase re my investments and my mortgage interest) I had neglected to include. Michelle said I could call her with the numbers, which I will today.

But, as it always is with Michelle, it was a pleasant encounter. She's a personal trainer on the side, plus an accountant for taxes and other things, and is self-employed in both areas. I enjoy talking to her, as she's smart, articulate, and full of life. I'm Facebook friends with her and know she's an outdoor person inside and out--long hikes up in the hills, sky-diving, trips to Hawaii for snorkeling, and so on. I like to read about and hear of, her adventures.

So I was there about an hour, then walked to The Market and Wal-Mart for lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a few other items. Bused home, after getting in about three, maybe more. 

I've decided--somewhat impulsively--to sell my sofa, which I've posted on several sites on FB:

It's in good shape, but is not a sleep sofa, which I want. Why? Well, for one thing, son Mike is going to be here on a business trip and will arrive in Ventura on April 22. (I have appointments at both Miramar Eye and Rolling Oaks for the mammogram, but I'll jettison them without a qualm.) He'll then go to Utah, but come back here after. He could stay with Ellen, but I'd like to have him here, at least on one of the nights, so I want to get a sleep sofa. 

Ran into Vickie when I neared home and we chatted. I got the latest on Mary--not good--but was glad to see Vickie. Home and I had a vegan dinner of rice, Brussel sprouts, and homemade applesauce. 

Saturday

It was foggy and cool, but turned out to be an enjoyable day overall. For one thing, although I woke up at 2:00 for the usual, I fell back asleep and got up at 6:30. That's downright late for me and I felt well rested.

Prepared for "Jimlunch" by cleaning up a bit and getting out the Viola casserole from the freezer. I just served that with rye bread--no extras--and of course, wine for Jim, beer for me. Had some lemon cake in the freezer and I pureed a pint of blueberries to cover it, added some strawberry yogurt, and it was tasty. 

After, we sat and had some good conversation. I have some art books on the lower level of the coffee table and we discussed which we like most (impressionists for me). Jim talked about the relationship he sees between art and philosophy, such as, say, Monet and Renoir being active in the age of enlightenment. That was interesting. 

Jim stayed until almost 4:00, then I walked him out, cleaned up, and walked over to Von's for paper towels. Naturally, I saw more things I needed/wanted, so had to leave my paid-for goods, come home and get my cart, then go back to get them. That was all right with me, as I hadn't had any walk in the morning.

I made the happy discovery that I can watch DVDs on this laptop--I hadn't realized that before. That means I can see Doc Martin for an hour every night, then a movie at my leisure--nice to know.  I actually put in Full Metal Jacket, an anti-war classic I've never seen, and will look at it in segments.  

Friday

Lora picked me up for T.O.P.S. at 8:30, as Julie was about to go on a trip. Besides Lora and me, only Lennie The Leader and Bobbi were there. As ever, we hardly mentioned weight or weight loss--just ranged over a variety of topics. Lennie said something about Bailey's Irish Cream and I told them that I often make it and have given it as gifts. What? Make it? How? The upshot is that I promised to bring some in next week for them to sample; also volunteered to do the program.

As for the weight report: I came in at 126.4 at home for a loss of .06 from last Saturday. The T.O.P.S. scale had me at 126.8, a gain of a whopping 2.1. But the last time I was weighed at the meeting was three weeks ago, so who knows what the interim levels were? Anyway, I'm okay with it, as it's well within my comfort zone of 125 to 130.

During the meeting, I got a call from the woman at Miramar I was supposed to see at 2:00 yesterday, to say she had an "emergency" at home and had to leave. I said okay, call me Monday. 

Home, late breakfast as ever, then I took my cart and walked over the footbridge to the park at Kimball. Got two books and a National Geographic on Picasso at the Little Lending Library. I often loop around to Telephone Road and take the bus part way back, but instead, I walked the long way, so got in about four. Napped for an hour--I'm not sure if I want this to be a habit--and got up to put in a wash.

Got a text from cousin Duane asking if it was okay with everybody if he put our pictures from last week on Facebook. We all said yes and I'll be anxious to see them, especially those I haven't seen with my brother, Frank.

Ellen called on her way home from work and we had a long--and rather heated--discussion about my problem with Miramar. I'll let her know the outcome after I talk to the woman there. 

After dinner, I debated with myself whether to call Jim. Our routine had been that I call him on Friday at 7:00 (creatures of habit? Oh, no, not us), but we had "had words" last week and I didn't know if he'd be receptive. For that matter, I was feeling conflicted myself about the relationship. However, at about ten after, he called me. I greeted him warmly, we talked for some time, and I extended the invitation, which he immediately accepted. So our little spat is over and I'm glad of that. 

Note to myself because I've asked him a million times and keep forgetting: Jim doesn't resume his classes at the college until the summer semester.

Thursday

Have aliens taken over the medical profession or what? After all my travail with Miramar--and it isn't over yet--I got a voice mail call from Rolling Oaks about my mammogram appointment. It had been scheduled for next Monday for more than a month, but I was informed yesterday that "we do not have a technologist to do the exam," so I need to have it done on April 22 in Oxnard. What, they didn't know this beforehand? This means I'll have to get the Access Van to take me, but oh, all right, I'll do it.

Speaking of practices from hell, I called Miramar Optical and said I wanted to speak to the  manager--in person, NOT on the phone.  This is in reference to my worthless glasses--or rather, they're worth a dollar, which is what I pay for all my reading glasses, since the second part of the prescription wasn't filled. I was surprised that the person who called (not the manager, because the manager has left and she's filling in--AAGH!) said I could come in today (Friday) at 2:00.  To soothe my jangled nerves, I walked to Smart 'n' Final and The Dollar Tree before lunch; there and back is three miles and by the time I got home, I was laughing it off. 

After lunch, I didn't feel like going into town or much else, and took a short nap. That one-hour helped, and when I got up, I started several hours of food prep. I had bought several pounds of chicken thighs (dark meat is much more flavorful than white) and had a recipe that included rice, chicken broth, and seasonings, so I made that. Since that didn't use all the chicken, I also put some in the oven with Italian dressing. Cooked up the fresh spinach I had bought the other day with my usual olive oil/vinegar/garlic dressing. I also partly prepared the butternut squash I had. By the time I was finished, it was 6:00 and I had some of the aforementioned. 

Just got an email from son, Mike, saying that my granddaughter, Vivian, will attend the University of Hawaii to study marine biology. (However, if she gets into USC, who haven't announced yet, she'll go there.) I'm disappointed she didn't get into UCSB, where her parents went, but Hawaii sounds good, too. Her sister, Violet, will again attend the Ojai camp in July, plus Mike will be here on a business trip in a few weeks. Can't wait to see him.

Unfortunately, I had difficulty sleeping. Woke up at 2:00 am and only dozed on and off--I think, not sure--until I got up at 6:00. I have T.O.P.S. this morning and the optician at 2:00, but maybe I can nap in between.