Friday, Free Of Crapola

Above: son Mike sent a screenshot of our family Zoom meeting the day after Christmas. 

As promised, Ellen got here at 1:00, after her hair appointment. We loaded my precious and valuable possessions (aka crapola) into the car, then walked over to Lalo's for lunch. I hadn't been there before, as it's relatively new, and I liked it a lot. Interestingly, we saw that it's an Italian restaurant, but the other Lalos in the area feature Mexican cuisine. No matter, Ellen had a club sandwich, which was enormous, I a meatball (I thought I was back in Jersey); we chased them with a diet Coke and a beer (guess who). Delicious and we each brought home half. 

We then drove to Goodwill and unloaded the goods; you can be sure I got a receipt and will take the value off my income tax. Back home to chat for a bit until Ellen left and I was thrilled to realize I had been relieved of so much. 

I then played around with yet more digital jigsaws, including this one. Hmm...I recognize Betty, but who is that lovely lady seated at the table and looking through a Holy Spirit High School yearbook?    

Finally, I did the same to the ancestral home: 1155 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ., where we brought up our children and lived for 41 years:

I made the mistake of taking a nap after dinner--was just sleepy--but I paid for it, as it's now 4:08 am. Usually, I stay in bed when this happens and eventually go back to sleep. However, I was restless, so got up. I hope to get sleepy enough to go back to bed. 

NOTICE

Something has happened, as will be evident when yesterday's entry is seen below. When I try to get back in to correct or add a title, what comes up is the text, but with all kinds of symbols included. The actual blog seems to be okay, but I can't get back in to title it or to remove the blank space at the end. I have no idea how to fix it; will ask Ellen if she has any ideas when she gets here later.

It was raining again when I got up, but luckily, quit later and the sun came out. Called Great Clips to see if I could grab the first appointment with Maria--I could and I did, just for a trim. When I got home, I saw that Vickie had texted me Mary's obituary. It's a gem, really; made me sorry I had never met her real self, only the demented one. I wasn't sure how Mary's marriage and later change of orientation would be handled, but I think it was perfectly done. The emphasis was on Vickie's and her long relationship, but her ex is mentioned; he had been mayor of Ventura. Here's the link:

https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/272106

I added a few things to my Goodwill donations, had a quick lunch, then took the 6 bus to Telephone Road, so I could get the 11 to WinCo.  Got off and immediately ran into LaVonne, who was also on her way to WinCo, so we had a convivial time riding together. Got spinach, a bag of grapefruit, and other such goodies, then went out to the bus stop. When I looked at my phone, I was pleased to see a text from Margarita, the woman I had met at the BCNN meeting. Texted her back that I'd call her when I got home; did so, and we had a nice chat. Made a date to meet her at Jasmine Thai for lunch on Tuesday--my calendar is filling up pretty fast.   

Called Ellen and she'll be here today to take me to Goodwill, but we'll have lunch together, too--always a favorite activity of mine. 

Okay, I can't resist showing off more digital jigsaws, the first Betty and me after our First Communion. I'm glad Mom's wearing that hat. I remember it so well and yes, it was probably the most peculiar ladies' hat I've ever seen. Those circles were formed by feathers in varying shades of magenta and cream and they just kind of sat on the little yarmulke-like base. Who could have designed such a thing? 

Now here's Pat with his first grandchild, Joel. That baby's birthday is tomorrow and he will be forty-one  years old. Boggles the mind...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, Another Wet Day

Julie picked me up at 9:15 and off we went to the BCNN meeting. I paid my dues--a paltry thirty bucks--and got myself a cup of coffee. The meeting was just a kind of introduction to the new officers of the new year, plus compilations of the various side activities (dining out, furry friends, book clubs, etc.), and the like. The new president, Dusty Arcari, is full of personality--in a wonderfully unpretentious and upbeat way--and did a great job of emceeing. 

A woman named Margarita Cobelens sat next to me and and she and I had a great time talking. It turns out her late husband was Dutch and they had lived in the Netherlands for ten years. I mentioned The Serpent, which I've just finished watching on Netflix and she had heard about. This man killed twenty tourist, including several from The Netherlands. One of the main characters, who was instrumental in catching the killer, worked at the Dutch embassy and now Margarita is anxious to see it. I gave her my card and hope she gets in touch. 

Julie and I decided not to go to lunch after, as we usually do. We were both aware of over-doing it during the  holidays and that T.O.P.S. was only two days away. That was just as well, as I had told my friend, Leslie from Sunrise Bay that  I'd call her at 1:00, my time, 4:00, hers.

I did so and we talked a good long time. Leslie is lonely; she said the old, close-friends group we had enjoyed when Pat and I were both there, no longer exists. Pat and Anne Mary died, Frank and Barbara are no longer friendly, and others, including yours truly, have moved away. We vowed to keep in closer touch.

After spending an hour going through and separating out more of my stuff--the hardest part is paring down my book collection--I texted Suzanne to see if she was available for a chat. She was, asked me over, and we had an enjoyable tete a tete for a half hour or so.

Yet another jigsaw; me a few years ago in Arizona:

And I couldn't resist the philosophical gem below. I saw it at a shop in town, but didn't have the nerve to buy and display it.

Damn, it's 5:00 and I just got up to find it's raining again--or still raining. I'm beginning to feel like Sadie Thompson! I know it ended the the drought and we needed it and now the hills are green and the crops are safe, but I DON'T CARE! I'm sick of rain and I want it to go away!

Tuesday, Birds, Jigsaws, And Larry

Called Ellen and, since it's supposed to rain today, we decided to postpone our drop-offs to Goodwill until Friday. She'll get here about 1:00. I then called Julie and she'll pick me up at 9:15 this morning for the BCNN meeting. 

It was supposed to rain lightly yesterday, too, but happily, it held off, so I got my cart and walked to The Market, then Wal-Mart. Got all kinds of necessities, such as Stevia, face scrub, and tomatoes. I had packed my lunch although I wasn't sure the weather would allow an outdoor one. Turns out it was okay, although overcast, not too chilly, and I enjoyed it. I ate at the little mini-park on Victoria; I like the fountain there and so do the birdies: 

About 7:00, I got a call from my friend, Olivia, who used to live here. I know I've recorded her chronicle on the blog, so won't repeat it. We had a good talk, but she's still very fearful of COVID (and other things--she knows she has some emotional hang-ups). Anyway, I enjoyed talking to her.

Still indulging my current obsession, I completed a number of digital jigsaw puzzles with my own photos. Here's Mike and family in a temple in India last week:

The one below is of my brother, Larry's, first communion. Since he's now 90, it was a while ago. We are in the backyard on Newport Avenue in Ventnor, where we lived in an apartment for three years until my parents bought the house on Rosborough Avenue.  

The Byrne family, except for my father (maybe he took the picture), are all here. On left are my brother and sister, Jim and Gene; the center boy is Larry, then Rosemary, Betty, and Frank with Mom behind us. Jackie Bihlmier is next to Frank. The others are relatives and friends.  

Monday And More Rain

Left for the Soaring Spirits lunch at 11:00 and walked to Telephone Road.  I had just missed the 11 bus to take me the rest of the way, so walked and got in 2.1 miles. I had a good time with Vera, Dennis, and others, including two newbies. Debby's husband had been diagnosed with prostate cancer 17 years before he finally succumbed to it three months ago. Bill had a harrowing story of his wife. He and she were from Taiwan, but moved to the U.S. in 1986.  A year ago, the wife went back to visit relatives. While there, she was in a car accident and was killed. We had an enjoyable and convivial time, though, with the six others.

Dennis, whom I've mentioned before, just retired as an engineer at NASA and showed me his current toenails. I think they have a Christmas theme, but am not sure. He was getting them redone today, as it's his birthday and he wants a cactus motif. That doesn't make a lot of sense, but hey, they're his toenails and he has every right: 

 

Incredibly, it started to drizzle again before we left the Stone Fire Grille, but Vera took me home, so no prob. I no sooner got in until I rushed over to Von's for tangerines and spinach.  

Julie called and asked if I wanted to go to the BCNN meeting tomorrow, so now I have a dilemma. Ellen had said she'd take me and my growing pile of potential castoffs to Goodwill then, so which should I do? Maybe I'll call El and see if we might be able to postpone. Alternately, I'm not that anxious to go to the meeting, so maybe I'll blow it off. Decisions, decisions...

When I got up just now, it was again raining! And, according to the forecast, it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow, too! Damn, this is getting annoying--I may have to write to my congressperson to complain...  

Sunday, Jim, And The Patio Glow

Prepared for my perennial lunch guest by deciding which of the Viola! dinners I would serve. Decided on the something-or-other chicken and pasta. I cooked it first, then put it in a large ceramic bowl to heat up when he got her. I just had rolls otherwise--didn't have any other sides. I had thought I make chocolate pudding for dessert, but you have to cook it with whole milk and I only had 2 percent. Set off for Von's, but before I got to the gate, it occurred to me to simply serve what was left of the orange cake I had frozen.  

Jim got here at his usual 12:30 and while the meal was heating, I showed him the books I want to remove from my collection. He took about half of them, all either bios or "how to" manuals; says he "can't read" fiction. I felt that way until three or so years, when I discovered Kellerman. However, I mainly stick to non-fiction.

As usual, Jim had several two helpings of both the main dish and dessert; it was good to see him enjoy it. After, we adjourned to the couch and read scripts. I had prepared two, one from a book of "best plays of 1997," the other a work in progress of my own called Christmas At Delaney's. What I do is highlight all the male parts for Jim and I do the female ones. I'm glad I thought of doing this a few lunches ago, as it beats trying to keep up a conversation.

Jim didn't leave until 4:00 and, after I cleaned up, I looked out at the patio and saw a marvelous sight:

YAY, my beautiful, sun-fueled, solar patio ornament that Ellen gave me is working! (I took a video, but for some reason, it wouldn't transfer.) This picture shows just one phase, but it actually drips slowly, then speeds up, then "pours" in a steady stream, as it's doing here. I'm surprised it got enough sun yesterday, but obviously, it did. I love it! Interestingly, it only "worked" for a time. I assume it hasn't gotten its full quota of sun yet, considering the recent rainy/cloudy weather.