Friday

Weird weight: At home, I was 128.4 for a loss of 1.6 pounds; at T.O.P.S., I was 129 for a gain of .09. That's insignificant, I know, but I had never seen such a wide gap before. Well, no matter, I'm within my zone.

My dear friend, Pat, called while Lora and I were about to go into the meeting and I caught up with her later. There were only four of us--Sharon showed up, full of talky-talk-talk, as ever, about anything but weight loss. We did break up after an hour, though, and I was able to call Pat back. She expressed condolences about about my brother, which I appreciated so much. She reminded me that Jim and her brother, Frank, had been the same age. Coincidentally, her other brother, Frank, was in school with my brother, Jim. She lost both her big brothers a few years ago, so we have that bond. Nobody would ask for it manifested this way, but it's so comforting to know she understands. 

I called my cousin, Sally, but her message machine was on. Annoyingly, she doesn't always return calls because she has both a mobile and a land line and she doesn't always listen to messages. I wanted to tell her about Jim--not sure if she remembers him--and also discuss my upcoming visit to see her in San Diego. I have the consultation with the oral surgeon on the fifth and I don't know what will happen with that.

Also called Jim--my friend, Jim, that is--to wish him happy birthday (yesterday, Friday, was his seventy-ninth) and to invite him to lunch on Tuesday. I asked where he'd like to go and he suggested Jasmine Thai. I was pleased, as I like the place, plus the connection with my brother pleases me.

Mike got here about 2:30, down from L.A., and we went first to Target where he bought yet another suitcase (he's taking back more than he brought), then to a sporting goods store, where he bought a pair of sneaks, and finally to Von's where he bought chips and various kinds of salsa. We then drove to Ellen's to sit out in her lovely side yard and chat.

El came home sometime after 5:00 and Greg shortly after. We conferred on where to have dinner and decided on Papa Lemon's, a fairly casual place nearby. Drove there and saw another restaurant, a new one called Meiners Heritage Table (Meiners Oaks is the section of Ojai where Ellen lives).  We decided to go there, instead, and sat out in the pleasant side area. 

The service was pokey, the food so-so, and the prices sky-high, but I had a wonderful time with my two youngest: 

After, back at El's, we chatted and mosied around. The Access Van came, as requested, at 8:00 and I was home 45 minutes later.  We had planned for me to bus back to El's today, but I just got a Message from Mike, saying he wanted to come to Ventura to buy a few other things today, so would pick me up and take me back to El's. Good idea.

Unfortunately, I had very poor sleep last night. It may be because I missed a call from the doctor's office yesterday--don't know why I didn't hear the phone--and was asked to call Dr. Jennings. In view of my mammogram on Tuesday, this making is me nervous--and now I have to wait until tomorrow to get back to the office.