WEDNESDAY AND THE BEES

Katherine picked me up at 9:00 for the BCNN meeting. We didn't go to lunch this time and that was fine with me--I lunch out too often as it is.  In fact, I hadn't been very enthusiastic about the meeting, either,  but later was glad I went. It was about bee-keeping and the life of bees--it had sounded boring, but was fascinating and very well done by Eddie, the bee-keeper: 

Chatted with Dusty, Diane, Cecilia, and others and, of course, my chauffer, Katherine . Speaking of, I'm enjoying getting to know her. She's a newbie to Ventura, having moved here only six months ago, and we seem to have a lot in common. Younger than I am (well, who isn't? 😄), she was widowed three years ago and has grandchildren nearby. She's pleasant and friendly, but no pushover and her sense of humor is similar to mine, which is always appealing.

Home at noon and, as I had skipped breakfast, I made a big salad for lunch. After that, I lay down for a much-needed lap, since I had gotten so little sleep and slept for about two hours. Happily, it worked and  I didn't wake up this morning until the alarm went off at 7:00. 

For dinner, I had a large bowl of mixed veggies (frozen); I've been lax about my diet lately, and want to get back on the straight and narrow. 

Ellen will be over about 2:00 to help finalize putting stuff back to order since the carpet cleaning. We're going to try spraying with the cleaner I have. 

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Note to myself: I paid Cricket's monthly charge, with a different credit card, but  must call to try to figure out why my debit auto-pay doesn't work for them anymore. Got my new debit card and will see if that works. Will try to follow up with Experian. Must also make an appointment with the BOA to be sure all is OK.  Geez, you'd think I was Mrs. J. Paul Getty!

TUESDAY

I had asked Noreen if we could meet a half-hour later, at 1:00,  rather than our usual 12:30. That was because I had put in a bleach wash load and wanted to get it in the dryer before I left. We had decided on Paradise Pantry, but when I got there (just in time), it was closed. Oh, damn I had told her I'd call to be sure they were open (I know they're closed on Mondays) and I forgot. I called her immediately and left a message, which I knew I'd have to do, as she doesn't have a cell phone nor a computer. Luckily, she called back in about ten minutes to say she had been there a little early, thought I wasn't coming and went home. However, she said she'd drive back, she did. and we went to the Himalayan Restaurant for good Nepalese meals. 

Of course, we had good, good talk, too--Noreen and I always do. I knew she had lost her son and for the first time, she told me about it. It was ten years ago, he was in his fifties, and he had colon cancer. It's amazing and heart-breaking that I know so many women who have lost sons, including, of course, both my sisters, My older sister, Gene, lost the two oldest of her six children, both in their thirties, both in accidents and my twin, her youngest, by his own hand. How can something like that be survived?  

Anyway, Noreen and I had a long, good, leisurely visit and will do it again soon.  Bused home and settled in to watch my current favorites, the royal family reels. As noted here before, I get these fads and devote myself to different genres, which have  included Forensic Files, Friends, real life murders, and now, the Brits. 

Katherine called to say she'll pick me up at 9:00 for the BCNN meeting. We didn't go to lunch this time and that's fine with me--I lunch out too often as it is.  In fact, wasn't too enthusiast about the meeting, either,  but later was glad I went. It was about bee-keeping and the life of bees--fascinating.  

BTW, besides lunching with Noreen yesterday, I stopped into Goodwill and found this lovely Halloween chapeau: 

Couldn't resist!

MONDAY--OFF AND ON

I was anticipating a kind of "off day," but it didn't really turn out that way, which was just as well.  I got a lot of the pictures, artifacts, and so on put back and held out some things to donate (but not enough). Called the office and was told the guy would come to fix the sink problem sometime during the day. 

Katherine called to see if I wanted her to pick me up for the BCNN meeting tomorrow. I had forgotten to call Ellen to ask if she could change, as she had planned to come tomorrow, also. Before I did, El called herself to say she had to see the contractor then, so she'd come on Thursday, but not until 2:00 or so. Fine by me, so I'll go to the meeting. Stella called to ask when I was available for an outing and we're still in the process of discussing it. 

I called Jeanne Painter and we had a long talk. Regarding John's death, she said, she felt puzzled and confused in addition to her grief. How could the world still be turning without him? I could totally relate to this and we discussed similar topics. 

The maintenance  guy came and put in a new garbage disposal. so that's done. Shortly after, Greg called to say he had to pick something up at CVS near me and did I want to go to Barnes & Noble with him? Sure thing, he picked me up about 5:00 and off we went. I got a book called A Grandmother's Life,  a kind of journal to be filled out with my doings from my early years. I'll complete and give it to Violet and Vivian (I put Violet first because she's the younger one and Viv usually gets named first). I think they'll enjoy it: 

I greatly enjoyed being with Greg and he, El, and I, will meet for lunch one of these days. Home about 6:30. I wasn't very hungry for dinner, so just heated up some cabbage fritters.  

Lunch with Noreen at Paradise Cove today, BCNN tomorrow, Ellen on Thursday, Soaring Spirits on Monday--did I say I was looking for an off-day😯?

SUNDAY, A SHOW AND A DRIP

Showered and washed my hair, then changed the bed and re-made. Wasn't hungry for a full breakfast, so just had a half-grapefruit, then  dressed, and went out front to wait for Rosa. She picked me up, as scheduled, at 11:45, and off we went to Santa Paula, We first stopped for lunch at Rabelais Bistro;  I hadn't been there before and oh, boy, was it good. I had a Monte Cristo sandwich, which included ham, a kind of sweet sauce with apples in it, and a few other things. The place was packed, as it was just about noon and Santa Paula gets a lot of visitors on weekends. Anyway, we managed to sit talking for two hours, then walked the two blocks to the theatre. 

As soon as I walked in, I was I was enveloped with a hug from Anthony C., my colleague at Fractured Actors. This was the final show and I was pleased to see an almost full house. The show itself was enthralling. I had thought it concerned a "son" of Mexican descent, but he was bi-racial, with a black mother and white father; he, Jamal, is the focus of the play, but never appears. The play was superb, the acting ever more so, and at the end, I was awash in tears. What drama can do to the human heart and mind is both thrilling and scary. Here's the program: 
                                                

Driving home, Rosa and I agreed we'll get together again soon. Got in about 5:00 and I immediately changed out of my dressier clothes and into shorts and a tee. I made myself dinner: fresh salmon and broccoli, ate, ran the garbage disposal to clear the scraps, but AAGH! I have double sinks and neither drained--it was about a cup of standing water in each. I looked under and yes, the pipe was dripping, so I figured it had clogged. Called the emergency number, but then realized the water would stop once the sinks were cleared, so I called back to tell them to come today. 

I had a terribly restless night--got up several times and now, I guess I should stay up until the maintenance guy comes. Damn, it's one thing after another, but at least, I don't have anything scheduled for today.

SATURDAY

I got a few long-neglected chores done: Was able to put back some of the items Ellen and I had moved off the tables, but I still have to replace others. I've just about decided I'm not going to cancel the check I gave the carpet cleaning guy. I feel so victimized, but think it's better for my emotional health to just move on. What really infuriates me is that I gave the guy a ten dollar tip. And hey, he told me to make it out to "YARA Home Services, which I did, but I saw no such listing on line. Oh, stop, Mimi, just drop it!

On the way over to Von's I ran into Suzanne. She had been up in Burlingame with the other sisters to celebrate the birthday of the Virgin Mary, which is actually observed on September 8. It's funny that I was born and brought up a Catholic, but don't remember observing that as a kid. Anyway, Suzanne will be leaving again on Monday, as her brother-in-law, who suffered with Alzheimer's, has died and she'll attend the funeral.  

Stocked up on this and that at Von's, including some nice wild-caught salmon; forgot eggs. Went from there to CVS for my medication, Ale-something, that I take once a week for my osteoporosis. I then sat down and visited Windsor, Frogmore, and other castles as, for some reason, I've gotten interested in the royals and U.K. history.  I'll get over it.

I slept well, I'm glad to say, even though I took a short nap. Tomorrow: American Son with Rosa at the Santa Paula Playhouse. 

FRIDAY

Finally and at long last, the carpets got cleaned. I'm not stark raving mad about the result but it's adequate, I guess. This apartment complex is about twenty-five (thirty?) years old and the carpeting is beige, so it shows every spot. I had told the guy I didn't want the sofa or the bed moved, but I expected him to move other items. He didn't, except for the rocking chair in the living room and I decided not to make an issue of it. It certainly looks better than it did and I'll live with it. Made my lunch and ate it, as usually, in the middle. 

Noreen called and we talked about the memorial yesterday for her longtime friend, Cecilia. I was startled to hear that the late friend's son and daughter-in-law are going to move in with Noreen. Considering they didn't discuss it at all--about rent (are they going to rent or is it gratis?), how long they'll stay (a month? a year? until they join Cecelia?), and so on. In addition, they have two cats and Noreen's two large dogs have never been exposed to cats, so how will that turn out?  I didn't express any reservations, though, and I'm sure Noreen will keep me informed. We made a date for lunch on Tuesday and I'll be happy to see her.

Speaking of cats, Ellen called and I was so happy to hear that my grandkitties, Gwennie and Cessy, are loving the new screened-in side porch. Chris, the contractor, is almost finished the work--can't wait to see it. We decided she'd come over on Wednesday to help put things pack after the not-very-satisfactory carpet cleaning, but I should have looked at my calendar first; as it's the first Wednesday, so I'm booked for Soaring Spirits lunch. (Oh, I know that's a run-on sentence, Sister Gabriel!)

THURSDAY AND LOSS

The less said about yesterday the better, so I'm not going to go into detail. The worst part was the loss of my dear cousin, Sally, whose ninetieth birthday I had attended in January (see this blog entry of January 22, 2025).  Along with a tribute, here's what her daughter posted on Facebook yesterday: 

I called her son, Duane, and he told me Sally had been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer three months ago and was in hospice, then stopped eating and just slipped away. I called niece Carolyn to tell her and, when Ellen came over, informed her, too, of course.  

Not a tragedy, but major annoyance: The carpet cleaners, a different company, but somehow connected

again didn't show. We made a new appointment for today between 10 and 11. 

Darling Daughter Ellen came over to pursue the credit errors and talk with the carpet people I fervently hope it's now over. It's just incredible that this could this could happen, considering my highest "exceptional" rating for years. That took most of the afternoon and I'm far from satisfied it's over. 

I skipped breakfast and lunch and just took a pizza out of the freezer and had some about 5:00. Sleep was again, sporadic, but I feel reasonably refreshed when I got up at my usual 7:00.

Tomorrow, lunch and American Son at the Santa Paula Theatre with Rosa. That should at least get my mind off  all the crapola above, but not my sorrow about Sally. That will ease, but never go away. Here's Sal at her birthday party in January. Acting silly with her is Ani, Duane's lady friend, and Ani's Dad. 

So long, Sal. 

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