Thursday

I was horrified when I went to open Apache Office,  and found it wouldn't. I spent an hour or more looking up the "community resources" answers as to why.  Couldn't follow the solutions, so I got my cart, packed up my laptop, and walked to Telephone Road, then bused to Office Max. 

It's just incredible to me that their techs will fix problems at no cost--and they do it quickly and cheerfully. The tech guy was occupied, so "Albert"--I think he's the manager--got it going again for me. He said I had a lot of stuff on it, so of which should probably be removed. I'll do that as soon as I figure out how. Also bought an ink cartilage, which cost me two bucks and change, as I had a "reward" of $13,00.

Stopped at Aldi for lettuce, broccoli, and cheese and broccoli manicotti. I've had that last stuffed with chicken; it's frozen, but really good. Bused home, had lunch, then spent an hour on food prep. That included chopping three big red onions; microwaving and seasoning a bag of spinach, and washing, paring, and roasting two large tubers: a yam and a sweet potato. I read that they're supposed to be good if you have an ulcer and I think I do.

Speaking of...I got a call from a nurse with Blue Shield, asking if I had an health problems, questions, and concerns. Jeez, if I do, I'll ask my doctor, but I talked to her for a bit. Julie called and will pick me up this morning for T.O.P.S. I must ask when she leaves for two months in Austria (she was born there), as I want to get her a little gift--she's been so nice. Also want to get Ken something--maybe a succulent--since he takes me home from the show. 

Called the Access Van and will be picked up for tonight's performance at five something. I hope T.O.P.S. doesn't drag on too long, as I asked Jim to get here at 11:30, since I have to shower and wash my hair and otherwise prepare for tonight.

I'm working on a little name rhyme for our director, Shannon, and it's a rather difficult one, as hers has has three of the letter "n." I want to give it to her at the cast party on the fourth, along with the Irish Cream I'll make.

 Took a one-hour nap, since I had gotten so little sleep and just got up at 6:30--yay!

Thursday

Walked down Victoria to IHOP to meet LaVonne for breakfast at 10:00. I had an omelet with hash browns and good grief, although it was two hours after my usual breakfast time, it was so big I could eat only half.  I asked for a container (reheat an omelet--why not?) and put it in the handy nylon bag I keep in my purse. LaVonne and I then walked to Power Storage, where her granddaughter is manager. I met Dominique, a very nice young woman, and we chatted a bit, then walked on. Got the bus and LaVonne went on into town, while I got off near my stop--but darn, I didn't have my bag; I must have left it somewhere, but no great loss.

Got home, showered, dressed, and walked to the oral surgeon's office. This is near the Hill Street Cafe, which LaVonne and I will try for lunch next time. I was there early and was taken early; the upshot is that I'll have the extraction on May 25. That means I can go to my cousin's in San Diego on the fifteenth--I'll call her today.

From there, I bused to town to a small shop LaVonne had mentioned and bought some nice small potatoes and fresh eggs. Home and stopped at Vickie's to say hello. We talked for a bit and she asked if I wanted a pretty kind of wood arch with purple flowers in it. Sure, and I took it home. We had again failed to get the paper and right now, at 5:56 am, I went out to check and no, it ain't there. I'm beginning to wonder if I should just give up and cancel the print edition. 

I had just put the potatoes and some onions in the oven when Suzanne came over. She had emailed me an article on Sisters in Sea Isle and it's a wonderful overview. Maybe a certain fellow-blogger I know would like to see it, too:

https://seaislenews.com/spotlight-history-nuns-beach/

I've been trying to think of the nun's retreat house in another shore town, that's very well known. I just can't remember the name of the town; will have to ask somebody. But wait--it's Spring Lake. I can't recall whether it was the Mercies or another order--maybe the diocese, I'll look it up.

BCNN And Sister Paterna

Julie picked me up at 9:00 and we went to the BCNN meeting. This time it was held at the Ventura Yacht Club and, boy, I could get used to that. Wonderful views on all sides of both the harbor and the ocean.

The program was a snooze fest. One of the members who had been a marriage counselor talked about enhancing one's senior years, with all the old cliches and bromides--keep active, love yourself, think positive thoughts, and so on. How anybody can take that stuff seriously is beyond me. However, lunch afterward at the Bay Pub nearby was pretty good. Julie and I sat across from each other and when two other women sat next to us, one of them--Iris--said she remembered me from the Maritime Museum. I had a good time talking with her and her friend, Anne.

Julie and I stopped into some of the shops after, then went home. I immediately changed clothes and walked to the P.O. to send the condolence letters to my sister-in-law and niece, then bused to town. Stopped at the library to get Dancing Man, a new book by a Broadway choreographer (I eat that kind of thing up) and bought a blouse.

Home at 5:00 and I was delighted to get another email from Sister Helen; she sent me a picture of, and the obituary on, Sister Paterna,which I'll share with Suzanne.

Got a call from the office saying my May rent payment hadn't been received. I couldn't understand that, as I have it sent automatically. Looked it up and for some reason, it isn't scheduled until May 11--I have no idea why, but will fix it.   (Also have no idea why this part of the text is now centered, instead of left-aligned, and won't move.) 

Tuesday

Jim picked me up at noon and we went to Jasmine Thai for his birthday lunch. I had pad Thai, which I had forgotten I liked so much, and it was good. I picked up the tab, of course, then we went to my place and chatted for an hour or so.  He left about 4:00 and I started a stir-fry for dinner. I varied it a bit by adding tomatoes (fresh), shaved onions, and the sauce Suzanne had given me. It turned out pretty good, actually.

While it was simmering, the doorbell rang and it was Vickie. She came to ask when I had been missing the Ventura Star and we compared notes. Yes, she and I hadn't gotten it on three days. We're probably the only two people in the apartment complex--or in the universe--who subscribe to the rag, anyway. I asked her to sit down and we talked for fifteen or so. She still having a dreadful time with Mary's condition and is distraught over the facility she's in. Also, she had some kind of treatment for the breast cancer (to keep it at bay, I hope) and has had a difficult reaction. To top it off, her work, which she says has tripled, has been difficult for her to complete. She said she just hopes she can hold out until June, when she'll be 65 and get social security.

I've been writing condolence letters to my sister-in-law and niece.  Will also write a note to Dana, my niece, Carolyn's, husband, on the loss of his mother. Julie called--she's back from two weeks in Mali--and will pick me up at 9:00 today for the Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers meeting, with lunch after. LaVonne texted me to remind me of our breakfast date tomorrow at 10; then at 2:00, I go to the oral surgeon--AAGH! But also, YAY! For what? Because I just got this, sent electronically:    

Your Latest Results

April 25, 2022

MAMMO, screening, tomosynthesis, bilateral

The results of your recent tests are within normal limits. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.

Monday

The start of a busy week: I did a wash and showered before breakfast at 8:00. Left about 10 and walked to Telephone Road, then bused to Portola. I was, of course, very early for the Soaring Spirits lunch at noon, but thought I'd go first to Barnes & Noble. When I had been there with with Mike on Sunday. I had seen some things I might get for upcoming birthdays and so on. But...

...as I was about to cross the street to get to B & N, I impulsively turned and went the other way. What was there? Colony Parc, where I lived when I moved to Ventura in 2015. I thought I'd just stroll around the complex and look at my old apartment. Actually, I had had two there: When I first moved, I had a two bedroom, two bath. However, about a year later, the rent went up and besides, although I would have like a second room (I still would), I really didn't need two bathrooms. I think the only one who ever used the second one was my niece, Carolyn, when she visited me.

Darn, I couldn't find either apartment. I was on foot and I didn't want to wander, so I stopped into the office. Curious, I asked how much the two-bedrooms units are now and almost collapsed on the spot when I was casually told "three thousand ten dollars." What?!  Good grief, you'd think you'd get a mansion for that. As for the one bed, one bath, the 520 sq. ft. one goes for $2295; for an extra hundred a month, you got 530 feet. As I was leaving, I ran into Israel, a maintenance man there who actually remembered me. When I expressed amazement about the high rents, he said a lot of people from L.A. had moved here because of COVID and, I guess, other problems. Wowee, I still can't get over the rents.

Got to Stonefire Grille a little early and found Vera there. Shortly after, Susan, Gayle, Renee, and Pat came and we had our usual congenial lunch. Vera said she'd like to arrange an outing to the Comedy Club in Oxnard and, of course, I immediately said, "I'm in." Left after a plate of pesto pasta, a Blue Moon, and lots of good talk.

Walked to the Dollar Tree on Telephone, then bused to Victoria and walked to Wal-Mart for light bulbs and the sleep aid I take. Home and stopped at CVS for cream sherry, then did some food prep. Before dinner, I went out to get the mail; on the way back, I stopped in to chat with Suzanne next door. While we were talking, I thought I heard my door open, but dismissed it, thinking it must have been Leah or Andy upstairs. When I went home, though, I found this:

Ellen had called (I didn't have my phone with me), then used her key to get in, so I missed her. I read her note inside the card, cried a few tears, then called her. We had a long talk, just about this and that, and it was so good. Later, I actually had to call her again, as the laptop froze. She guided me through what to do and it's up again. 

Today I'm taking Jim to lunch at Jasmine Thai for his birthday. He'll pick me up out front at noon.

Note: I changed my method of payment from automatic re my bank account to a credit card. The paper arrived on Sunday, but not, of course, on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (they no longer publish on Saturday, so they owe me two). Today, Monday?  No. And I'm beginning to think it isn't worth subscribing to the print edition. I should add a note on how to unfreeze this thing, but now I'm not sure I remember the steps! 😣

And Another...

One more wonderful day:

The Access Van got me to Ellen's, as requested, at 8:30. Mike, who was the only one up, was juicing tangerines and mentioned that he had already run that morning. Ellen and Greg emerged soon after and we decided that, after all, we'd have breakfast first, then go to the river walk. Greg had some things to do before he drove to work at 1:00, so didn't go with us.  

Off we went to the Ventura River Preserve and what a neat day! We parked, then took the trail to the water. It was somewhat hazardous--for me, anyway--since there were rocks, stones, and gravel mixed in with the sandy soil. It was more than a mile before we got to the water, but both my kiddies helped when I needed it, and I had no problem. These pictures don't show them, but there were lots of other walkers, runners, dogs, and  horses there, too:

  

The water hole:

Here are Mike and Ellen, El in her glamor pose:

And the old lady:

And the--AAGH!--horses:

Since E. and M. thought we shouldn't walk back (but I was game!), El and I stayed in the area while Mike went to get the car, which was, of course, more than a mile away. He seemed to take quite a while and later, we laughed over the fact that he had taken a wrong turn and got to Ellen's house. Greg took him back to the car and he picked us up. Back at El's, we had lunch, Greg left for work, then Mike packed up and said goodbye to Ellen (I'm looking forward to seeing her next Sunday on Mothers' Day), and he and I left for Ventura.

Earlier, I had admired a wooden book holder Greg had gotten at Barnes & Noble and Mike suggested he'd get me one for Mothers Day. Great idea and we drove to B & N immediately. Mike bought three book holders, along with a number of books and magazines. 

Got home and I had to say goodbye to my boy. Happily, he'll be back in July with Violet, who will be going to summer camp in Ojai. I had such a wonderful time over the two weekends with my youngest. I need to remember more often how lucky I really am.

   

Another Delightful Day

Mike picked me up at 9:30, after his shopping spree at various stores in Ventura. He had been given a list--mostly makeup and shampoo--from his three girls (wife and daughters) for certain brands not available in Singapore, so he had plenty of bags and boxes.  While at Ellen's, friend Pat called to say she had watched some of the funeral mass for Jim; we discussed that for a bit. 

El, Greg, Mike, and I then had a wonderful excursion to the Kristamurdi Center up in the hills of Ojai. I've been there several times before and was always thrilled with the scenery and peaceful ambiance of the place. We stopped first at the central building, formerly the philosopher's home, and met with Michael, director of the center. He and Greg are good friends and meet for coffee every week or so. Michael is an interesting person; he had been joined the Kristamurdi adherents four or five decades ago and eventually became his cook. In fact, he wrote a book called The Kitchen Chronicles," which Mike immediately bought. Michael wrote a very kind and warm inscription in it.  We sat in his office for about twenty minutes and conversed with Michael, then wandered around the grounds.  

After several hours there, we headed to The Hip Vegan for lunch. I had a tofu "hamburger" and boy, was that good. Back to Ellen's and Greg left for work, then my two little kiddies and I headed out to town. Walked on the main drag--lots of tourists, but a lovely day--and went to the Japanese tea place--Full Moon or whatever it's called--where incredibly, Mike bought sixty-six dollars worth of tea. Next door, we saw an odd little curio shop called "Violet's Pink Thrift." It had (secondhand) merchandise out front and I saw and immediately knew I had to have a lamp with a camel on it. I tried to get in the shop to buy it, but the door was locked. What to do? I hit on the idea of calling her; looked up the number on my phone, did so, and she answered. In a few minutes, a very old woman in a smock came out, too my money, and I carried the lamp to the car.

After that, we stopped for an hour at Nordhoff Cemetery, surely the most unusual I've seen. It's very remote and rather wild, but somehow, serene and beautiful.   

Back at El's and the three of us sat in the side yard with big glasses of iced tea (it was 80 degrees) under the shade of her huge tree. We decided on a plan for today: I would come via the Access Van (I arranged for pickup at 7:19, so an hour from now); we'd hike and observe the wildlife in "the meadows near El's; she'd make us breakfast after, then Mike would drop me off his way back to L.A. We talked a bit more, then El drove me to the bus stop, I caught the 16, and was home before 6:00. 

Set the alarm for 5:30 and slept like a stone.