fossilfreak

 

293 recordings of 52 types. 32% clear.

 

August  2 I wasn't going to leave the house at all, but I found some books of McClellan history in Hoarder Central and thought I'd try donating them to the air museum. They were delighted. While I was out I finally took the coffee I've been carrying around to Ann, who takes care of the donations for Sharing God's Bounty.

 

I called Carol to find out how her colonoscopy went. Better than mine, it appears.

 

 

The 3rd was Bonnie's birthday so I called her, which was fun. She was quite amused with Joanna's plans for Boxcar Children camp when SHE is a grandmother!! We discussed falls, too.

 

I was at Bernadette's from 10-1, helping sort through books, old board books out, slightly more grownup children's books to the living room (including some I took over which Padreic enjoyed), Joanna's books to her bookcases, Gareth's books to his. You can sure tell this is a family of readers!

 

Then I took some books to the library. (MY books, not hers, which she wanted to take to Little Free Libraries.)

 

Day 4 of a jigsaw puzzle I was trying to do before I go to Crater Lake. It was going fast, but it was obvious there were lots of pieces of another puzzle, as well. So I had no idea if I had enough pieces of the real puzzle. I would only know by finishing it.

 

I love watching Safari Live, and I also went onto the computer for an extra hour after the tv show was over. I just love it. I really want to go with Benson next year, but Zimbabwe is still roiling, and South Africa is looking a  bit odd too. 

 

On Saturday the 4th I got a free breakfast at the WPAC breakfast, so I left a tip and went out full and flush. One of the ladies had her daughter die of cancer. I feel, sometimes, like i've been dancing between the raindrops.

 

Willie (Bill) is going to be homeless at the end of August so will be coming to live with me for awhile. This will have some advantages... he can clean out the rain gutters which are full of driy leaves and palm seeds, and will be here if I want to take off for an overnight or two. 

 

I was a bit appalled in the morning because Pharaoh ran into the kitchen with his rat-chasing look. Didn't spy any long tails, though, and the dog relaxed. 

 

Sunday the 5th I went to Mass and Father asked us to pray for him. Apparently he's been the subject of some gossip, which isn't true, but he got a "canonical warning" (in other words a wrist slap) by the Bishop.

While in church I had a bad pain in the gall bladder area. I really don't need to add that, do I?  However, it's gone now, so it was probably gas.

 

I kept thinking there was something I wanted to do this afternoon at 2, but of course I didn't remember what till 4:30, so I missed the Knights of Columbus ice cream social.

 

Charles Spinks, my friend whom I never met, the guy who went on the Camino 5 days ahead of me, died. :(

 

So. The doctor told me to come in to his office on the 6th, so I thought maybe I could do an end run around Kayla the unhelpful receptionist by calling the doctor's office directly. Michelle, his receptionist, didn't call back till the afternoon, and told me the doctor is not in his office on Mondays. Why did he tell me this? I will see this through, with the Nurse Practitioner Svetlana, on Monday the 13th, and get my operation, but I am definitely going to deal with some other group next time. I liked Svetlana, I liked the doctor, and the nurses were fine, but I can't take the stress.

 

I was trying to remember who I gave the baby gate to. I guess it was Pagan.

 

On Tuesday the 7th I went to breakfast and updated the ladies on my medical frustrations. First off, though, I listened to Jackie's stories, and it was something like having a MadLibs read to me, without any of the blanks filled in. I had to use a lot of imagination!

 

Then I went down to Elk Grove and read to Padreic and played with him while she worked on Joanna's stuff. She's going to have that room all cleaned up so Joan can trash it.  Apparently J. complains that they don't have a decent guest room (and I've stayed at Joan's, so this is a bit hypocritical.) Anyway, I helped a bit, but mostly by keeping Padreic busy. I took a box of "food" and dishes (tiny Tupperware) to him and he was thrilled. I took the dehydrator to Bernadette. (When I dug it out I found a box, kind of a shelf which used to hold vinyl records, apparently, in the bar area and now it has scrapbooks in it)

 

Because of the smoke, it was possible that Vince would cancel Crater Lake, but now, a few days later, it seems like it'll be OK. I decided I would go anyway.

 

The 8th I apparently lost my Tac glasses, no idea how or where. Early in the morning, I removed some trumpet vine from the side yard. 

 

Then I walked over to see the doctor. I was waiting in the room and he tapped on the door and opened it and said "sorry!" and backed out! That was puzzling. When he finally got back I teased him about being afraid of me and we had a good laugh. What had happened was he wasn't quite through with the other patient and just opened the wrong door. 

 

He also took his time with me. He updated my shot records (though I'll have to correct one next time. I told him I'd had an injection for Typhoid but it was actually Yellow Fever.) He checked on the colonoscopy stuff and I told him how frustrated they are making me. He listened to my heart and lungs and felt my neck for lumps and, woe, looked at my feet. The prescription is to put Vicks Vapo-Rub on my toenails three times a day for one or two years! OK then. He said I was mildly depressed and I argued the point. It's because I don't sleep well.

 

Still, it was a satisfactory visit.

 

Once I got home again I went to the commissary for a big re-stocking (and of course, I already have two more items on the next list (oatmeal and RealLime)). It was over $220, so I'm sure glad I don't do this monthly. In fact, the last BIG one was in September, with a medium one in March, and I go pick up this and that approximately once a month. For the big ones, I go through the checkout and tip the baggers ($10 this time. Rich would have a cow.)

When I was putting the food away I heard the back toilet gurgling. Has that been happening since the cleaners were here?  And if so, why didn't I hear it when I was putting papers in the back? 


The temperature was back at triple digits.

 

 

On the 9th, I slept 9:30-2:40 and then went right back to sleep till 4:30.

 

I watched Gordon Ramsay's new show. He's doing a Sacto Restaurant next week. The post-show reviews don't look good. I believe I'll skip it.

 

I took the car in for its 122+K mile check-up. All it needed was a tune up and a replaced third brake light. (I hadn't even known I HAD a third brake light!) I took a long shuttle ride home, through downtown and East Sacramento, but that's nothing, he was in Rancho Cordova when I called him back so it took more than an hour. It's OK, though. At least I got to spend some time at home.

 

And THAT was interesting. Because it's Thursday, I took the dog poop bag out to the trash. While I was puttering back there, I decided to lop some of the lowest branches on the mulberry, so I opened the shed door to get the pole lopper. Like a flash, Pharaoh jumped into the shed and trapped and killed a squirrel right before my eyes. He was so proud of himself!  He strutted out of the shed (thank goodness. I really didn't want to try to get the corpse with all the junk all over the floor and shelves) and brought his trophy to the porch, where I was waiting with a plastic bag. Then, as I took it to the trash, in front, I could hear him back in the shed. He then presented me with a dead young rat. So back into the house I went for another plastic bag (AFTER shutting the shed door!) and took THAT body to the trash! At least it's trash night!

 

And yes, I lopped the branches, and when I put the pole lopper away, I had the dog shut in the house.

 

I got new TacGlasses when I drove home. I see Sprouts has come into the grocery store that used to be SaveMart! If my food storage wasn't so chock-a-block full, I'd have checked it out, but maybe in a week or two.

 

That night, Pharaoh was still full of himself and wouldn't come in when I called him. I got the flashlight, which is usually the magic tool, and he still wouldn't come in. So I got a newspaper and whapped him when he came in. The next day again he didn't come in and I left him out for a couple of hours. Since then he's remembered to come when I tell him. (Which was something I taught him after Rich died. He needed to know who was boss, and it isn't him.)

 

The 10th, I was weeding the zinnia garden, one foot in my garden, one in the neighbor's yard, and I tripped over my little wire fence. Fortunately I didn't fall, but I sure got a big, painful, bruise.

 

I went back to Bernadette's, and again helped mostly by letting Padreic show me stuff. "Look!" every little thing he does. That and he starts every sentence with "no." "Are you going to put that in the dollhouse?" "No, I'm putting it in the dollhouse."  Bernadette says he inherited it from Rich, who was very contradictory. "Why do you contradict everything?" "I don't contradict all the time!" he would say, contradicting me.

 

I finished the puzzle, 9 days, 995 pieces. There were 5 missing, but they didn't really ruin the picture.  There were 31(!) pieces that didn't belong to this puzzle. No, I didn't pack them up with the puzzle!

 

My driver's license renewal came. I can't get an appointment until I know when my surgery will be. This is so frustrating. I did spend some time looking for my social security card, which I'm sure I used when I got my TSA pre-check number. Oh, well. I did find a piece of paper in my tax papers with the full number in it. And today I talked to Joan M. who didn't have an appointment but went at 0630 in the morning and got it taken care of and home by 9. So I'll do that.

 

I was invited to the Sharing God's Bounty board meeting, which was at a pizza place. I was amazed at how this ministry has grown. When it came time for me to speak I talked about the start, 35 years ago, and how Rich and I were in on the planning. How he did security/parking for something like 20 years. How I don't do much since he died except provide coffee.  (Ann said there was more, but I didn't want to brag up my donations in his name.) I sat with Peter Mithin and talked to Bill Durborough.

 

I really pigged out on the pizza. And on the way home, my jaw hurt. I'm thinking imminent heart attack (no, if I get a heart attack, I want to do it in Svetlana's office!) It stopped when I got home, though I had it happen a little the next morning.

 

I was too late to see most of Safari Live live on the TV, but I managed to get to it overtime on the computer while I was finishing the puzzle. And it was exciting. There was a leopard (Hosana) stalking prey (and not getting it) and a hyena baby!

 

The next morning was the second Saturday breakfast, and I saw many of my friends. Mostly I talked to Marty.

Afterwards I went to Raley's for my prescription, and to Lazy Boy to look around (lots of pretty stuff, but I actually don't want any more overstuffed furniture in my living room. Something more like Bernadette's gliding chair which was initially Roni's.  I don't like the new covers Joan put on that chair and stool so I've told her I don't want it. I got 4 glasses. 

 

354 recordings of 72 types, 14 old CPD (one was mislabeled and I had to order the right one from Netflix, and I accidentally let two get deleted). 21% clear.

 

On June 10 I went on a WPAC tour to see Frankie Avalon! We took a bus down to Modesto and then went to Surla's Restaurant  where we had a fantastic brunch buffet. I tried to get as few carbs as possible, but I certainly overate!

 

Thence to the Gallo Center (and there's a virtual cache right outside but I hadn't even bothered to check!) Frankie has aged well. He's gorgeous. It was a fun show.

 

I had planned to sit with Gary T., Darlene's friend, but he was in the hospital having cancer surgery. So my seatmate was Bobbie, and we got along well. She's from Connecticut and couldn't believe that I knew the name of the Peabody museum. So I told her about the Bone Wars.

I also found out that the other lady from the Tuesday breakfasts who I want to be when I grow up had died (at 93).

 

Coming home from the WPAC office I passed a two car accident with a demolished car on each side of 4-lane and a divider El Camino, and they'd knocked out a power pole, so the lights were flashing red.

 

On Monday, while I was digging and setting up the watering, I found a dead rat partly under the cedar tree. Must be Monday!

 

Tristan, the neighbor's baby, has arrived. I decided to wait a few days before I go admire him.

 

Tuesday I realized my little food chopper, which does work, is missing the metal spindle to put the blade on. So I ordered a new one.

 

Vince called. The Saturday Bernadette was there they had family game night. My sister came so she got to see Bernadette and Padreic. P. and AJ got along pretty well. Padreic thinks the construction toys should only look like the box.

My computer uploaded itself again. After a couple of hours the day before. Annoying.

 

June 13th. 17 years since I found David's body.

 

I am SO TIRED of Cryin' Chuck!! The "resist at all costs, no matter who gets hurt" is old, and I sure hope it backfires. But he was funny today complaining about the North Korea summit.. "all cattle, no hat."

 

I went to the Commissary, as I was low on kitty litter, and of course had a list of other stuff to get. (Cayenne pepper and nutmeg, for instance.)  I forgot the TP but made a quick trip the next day after Mass at the Retreat House, in and out in 5 minutes with a huge pack of toilet paper.

 

I also got dishwasher cleaner. When I used it, I almost forgot to take the lid off. In any case, the dishwasher got so clean I didn't want to put dirty dishes into it.

 

I got a palm frond off the roof using a rake and my stepstool.

 

My scratchoff map fell, so I guess I'll have to countersink screws to hang it.

 

June 14, Father Giltus is back! I listed Charles in the prayers.

 

I ordered a hose tap adapter for the front, which will be a lot easier than the current plastic one.

I also ordered a Great Courses on Japan.

 

I went to dinner at Appleby's. That's quite early, and the chicken won ton tacos, which are delicious and cheap, aren't quite as filling as I would like, so later I just splurged on ice cream and cookies. My blood test is going to be a disaster.

 

June 15 I was sweeping up oleander blossoms with a really tired broom, turns out i do have a better one in the carport (which is the 4th best broom, there are three in the house)

 

The microwave door was acting up a little but is now back to normal.

 

I took 3-rail track electric train set, which the original owner of this house left, so it's at least 50 years old and probably worth a bit if I felt like taking the trouble, and the oven pan, and the Instant Pot yogurt cups, to St, Vincent de Paul. Then, oh so exciting, I had the car washed!

 

I signed up for Lifeline screening at the Retreat House for the next Monday.

 

I took two days to catch up with the Union Bank checkbook (since September) I had a number of little math mistakes, but the biggie was that I deleted $400 twice, so I have more money in that account than I'd realized. In total, I was $400.10 off.

 

On Saturday, playing Mirrors of Albion, I got a note "dropping you" and got all paranoid. Wait, it's a game, nobody knows who I am, and I didn't do anything.

 

I ordered tulips, at last.

 

The gardeners put he cut roots and wood stakes into the green bin so I had to get those out, the county won't take them. I can possibly use the stakes, and the other stuff the hauler can take, but not just yet.

 

I'm thinking about a Mississippi cruise next April. I called Jean to begin to talk about Iceland.

 

I was sad on Father's Day. I got a phone call, "Is Richard there?" A bit odd, that.

 

I finally made it to my normal Mass, and Gerrie was disappointed with the Bertie books. I'm going to try her on Miss Read.

 

On June 18 I spent 90 minutes or so on Fishdom and got the Fairy Tale aquarium finished and I'm really happy with it.

 

I went to the retreat house for the Lifeline screening. While on my 4 hour fast I got the hypoglycemic sweats, so I ate a piece of candy. Tsk. The screening was quick and they said there are no life-threatening issues.

 

Afterwards, I dropped off a brass joint or whatever at America's Plumbing.

 

The lady at the corner, Mary, 97, died. She never spent a night alone in the house since her husband died. And when I went to Newcomer's I found out another guy died.

 Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 595

28.1 miles

sunny (!)

 

331 recordings of 31 types. 2 old SVU, 71 CPD, 5 LMS. 24% clear.

 

When I woke up on Friday, the 23rd, there was a hard frost all over everything.

 

At Renaissance, they seem to have fallen apart. The woman's bathroom in the Tahoe Building (which used to be business) was blocked off for
cleaning, though nothing happened and we finally ducked under the rail and used it. It was still blocked hours later.

 

The documentary was from HBORomainia, 1985, Chuck Norris v. Communism. It's about how videotapes of western movies led to the downfall of the dictatorship of Ceaucescu. Then I went to get my tuna banh mi and tea, dropped it off in Benicia and walked to the car for my pillow. Then the time travel movie was Twelve Monkeys. As it's basically the same movie as La Jetee, I knew how it would end. OK, but not great.

 

I removed the babyproof knob cover from the bathroom door. It's been there almost 10 years, time to go.

 

The garbage recycling truck is white!

 

I had to restart my solitaire game so lost all the data. Then I soon got a two win streak which hadn't happened to me in the last couple of years, but a 2% win percentage as opposed to the former 3%. 

 

The play was "Beer for Breakfast" which was quite funny and very well done indeed. I was worried because Bill wasn't there and I was afraid he'd gotten worse, but it turns out they came last week and were on vacation and it was fine.

 

Saturday I was remembering that I left for Africa a year ago. I wish I were there again.  I got started on serious planning for the Pittsburgh trip. I cleaned the kitchen, ordered Bernadette's birthday present and added a year to my NRA membership.

 

It turns out calling  Canada just like calling the US!

 

Sunday I went to Mass and gave 2 books to Gerrie and coffee to Ann for Sharing God's Bounty. 

Then I stayed close to home again. I worked a bit more on the nanoblock dinosaur. And fixed steak and green beans for dinner.

 

I've been watching old movies from TCM while they get ready for the Oscars. Great fun. 

 

Monday was another stay at home day. I sorted out the paper basket in back. It had some of the play booklets from Rich's high school, and I thought I'd take them to the family to show them with the old ads and stuff. Now the basket has my will and trust papers and cremation and burial papers. I will add some immediate information, like who to notify, and then Bernadette and I am in agreement that we hope she doesn't need this stuff for 20 more years!

 

The cleaners came, too.

 

Tuesday the water company came by and started digging up our street. The new main is going down the other side of the street. When I went out to see a movie, I asked if I'd be able to come home, and they said I would. When they start digging my yard for my water meter, they'll dig up the beautiful display of daffodils. I'm going to try to save them by getting some good soil and then putting the flowers in with as much of the soil they are in as I can, on top, then replacing them when the crew is done. I'm more concerned about the mulberry. The two crews (the water company, and the local plumbers who are going to replace my pipes) will likely destroy most of the roots of the mulberry. I imagine it may need to be taken out, and when the neighbors take down their oak, I'll have no shade at all in back. 

 

The movie was Game Night, which was fun.

 

Eric is going to be a page at the Washington State Capitol the first week in March!

 

348 recordings of 32 types. 1 old SVU, 71 old CPD, 33 LMS. 23% clear.

 

 

Friday was OW day!

I woke with a terrible back pain and took an Ibuprofen, which worked, but I forgot to take another to Renaissance. The morning was a documentary, For the Love of Spock. The newsletter had said it was in a room at the library at 10 but it turned out to be in a room in Tahoe Hall (which used to be the business building) at 9:30 so I barely made it. I sat next to Gerry, my former Shakespeare teacher. He won't be going to Ashland this year... their casting of a woman as Hotspur last year was a bridge too far for him. As is the making Oklahoma! all about gay couples is for me, but I can just not go to it.  The Oregon Shakespeare people keep trying to push boundaries, and sometimes it's just ridiculous. As was the feud with the bookstore, which nearly pushed me out.

 

I love this documentary couple, and they're moving to Boise! NOOOOO! They didn't have closed captioning on this one and the sound was low, and Gerry couldn't hear it and left early. Too bad. It was really good.

 

Then I went for my tea and tuna banh mi and took it to Time Travel, as usual. Chip had "invented a time machine", an animation, over the break.  It was a pipe at the top, and two openings on a "box" underneath. It worked in that a ball dropped from the top into the left opening, then came up out of the right opening and disappeared at the top. Turn the machine on, and the ball came out before it dropped in. Then if you warp the box, the ball comes out and hits itself coming down, so it doesn't go into the box (the grandfather paradox.) But if you warp the box just right, into a shallow U shape, the ball emerging from the right side hits the ball dropping and caroms it into the left side. This is the ontological paradox (where does the ball come from?) Then he showed a short from the Netherlands, A Single Life, which was sad... and so to the feature film, the Terminator, which I saw with GoE back when it came out, and didn't like it, too noisy and violent.  I was prepared to give it a second chance, but my back pain came back with a vengeance, and I reached the point I just had to leave. 

 

I called Bernadette to cancel having Joanna, which was a disappointment. I'd made sure I had the ingredients for her science kit, I had brought out 5 VCR films so she could have her choice (I was hoping for Lady and the Tramp, in fact) and I had a macaroni and cheese dinner ready to go, since I didn't want t a repeat of the fried chicken disaster of last time. I'd also hidden the Boxcar Children books. Rats. But I thought I was lucky just to get home.

 

Saturday I went to Lyon's for the WPAC breakfast. It was disappointing this month. Apparently they were short a cook, and the meals came out 3 at a time. My bacon was limp and the eggs cold.  And then the waiter took FOREVER to get our checks to us. 

 

At home I went through a box of old papers. I found a letter from Nelda in 1964 when she was working at Glacier National Park and flirting with guys, and it was flooding. I was at the Indian Reservation and we went to see her after Mom picked me up. There was also a letter from my sister saying she wouldn't come be my matron of honor.  It wasn't, as I remembered, because it would be hard to travel with my 5-month-old niece, but because she was so much in love with her husband she couldn't picture leaving him for a week... (didn't we invite him? Oh, well.) It's interesting how time changes things!  Nelda's now a nun, and Chris divorced for upwards of 30 years.

 

Because moving is the best thing for my back, I had an ambitious plan to walk to a nearby park, but only got to the corner when I realized I wasn't up to it. So I did a shorter, 2 mile walk, and passed the museum where I admired the crowds for Free Museum Day.  Rich and I volunteered for that a few years.

 

 

Sunday at Mass I saw a friend was there with his girlfriend. I'm glad for him. His wife left him in 2012 and decided to write me a letter explaining why, and the upshot was it was no way his fault, she just needed to find herself. I found (find) it hard not to resent this: there were times with Rich I felt this way but I stuck it out, and I lost him and had no choice.  She moved away and is now in Redding with her boyfriend (second husband? I don't know).  I'm glad to see he's finally found someone, himself. (And, she (the ex-wife) was in a car accident Sunday afternoon but is fortunately only shaken up.)

 

Laurie has moved in with her daughter! No longer in the neighborhood. THAT was fast. I missed the garage sale... maybe it was last week while I was at the retreat.

 

LazyBoy had another VIP sale, so I went over and looked at everything and got 6 nice drinking glasses, this time not in a LazyBoy box. I really liked a Blue Agate table. There was also a bird made of sticks, and since the last few days I've been picking up twigs because the magpies are building a nest in my palm tree, this seemed appropriate.

 

In the afternoon I drove up to Citrus Heights to see A Shot in the Dark. I managed to get a front row seat (I really have to get these tickets ahead of time) and they did an adequate job. It was quite a talky performance, with quite a few laughs. The two principal actors were really good. 

 

351 recordings of 65 types, 3 old SVU and 45 old CPD. (I got suspicious at the constant 373 recordings and 22%, and know for sure some CPDs were erased. So I took off a number of "Love it or List It" episodes. Once I get past all the Big Cat Week recordings, I'll be fine.) 26% clear.

 

Last Sunday, the 10th, at Mass, Father forgot to light the Advent Wreath. But he did go on and on and ON about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 

After Mass, while I was waiting to help with giving out Communion at the home, I called Carol, but no answer. I tried again when I got home, and the second time she answered. She had called back, as well as trying the cell phone, but I wanted to use some of my time, since I had almost 400 minutes. When we did finally connect, it was a 50 minute call, which is nice. I got my travel dates lined up. The brothers are always wanting to know "where in the world is Jan Yarnot?" Heh.

 

Rich's next older brother broke his shoulder just before their 50th anniversary. I have such a mixed reaction to this anniversary... I'm happy for them. And so jealous.

 

To my utter delight, I was invited to a caroling party tonight!

 

Monday I was babysitting. Padreic was commenting on "coca dots" (polka dots). He was fine with the dog after initial dismay at the licking, but then the dog barked. I had to spend quite a while getting them used to each other, and then he was playing and the dog was asleep on the other side of the room. Padreic was lying down on the Big Book and hitting the button for the "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" over, and over, and over... and suddenly he burst into tears. "What's wrong?" "AGAIN!" I have no idea, but I suggested he have a nap, and he did lie down for about 5 minutes.

 

Then he fell asleep on the way home, and when I went to get him out of the car and he woke up. Crying and saying "NO Phawaoh!" over and over. So I guess he had a nightmare. He's been a little under the weather.

 

We went to get the kids. Joanna got to work on her homework and Gareth kept getting sidetracked. He seems to have trouble staying on task.

 

I stopped at Petsmart for dog and cat food, and got a new elk antler for Pharaoh. I have no idea what happened to the nub of the old one he had. I handed him a bone and noted he was beginning to splinter it, so I took it away. The antlers are a lot better.

 

Tuesday I went to the widow's breakfast. Back at home I did some digging, and worked a little on the puzzle, and called Wind Country baskets to be sure both orders were in, since I only saw one on the credit card bill.

 

And Fishdom kept crashing on me. I reset the iPad, following the "settings" area, and that didn't help. So I deleted Fishdom but then when I tried to get it back, the iPad wouldn't talk to the Internet. Finally I went to the laptop and found an easier reset, that actually worked. So I was re-loading the game when Vince called and so distracted. Not much of a conversationalist!

 

The reset gave me back the Facebook link and thus the games people have been sending me, and apparently they were saved up!

 Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol 1 p. 560

 

372 recordings of 29 types, 8 old SVU, 32 old CPD, 23% clear.

 

Friday (the 18th) was, of course, Renaissance. I decided I was interested in the travel seminar about Panama. So many places I would like to see, so little time. 

 

I got there early and picked a good seat along the wall, so I could see the screen and wasn't blocking any one else. About 15 minutes before the class started, a woman sat next to me, said "Jan? I'm Jean N."  I remember her from years ago, at St. Philomene and in the neighborhood where she still lives. But it has been years. A quick catch-up says that she was widowed a couple of years ago. She wanted to know if it gets easier. Her future trips, with friends, will be to Greece and Portugal. It was great to see her and I'd like to get her into WPAC. I had some thought of asking her to the Newcomer's Dinner, but in the end, just as well I didn't, because I didn't feel like going on Monday.

 

After the interesting presentation, I had my usual tuna bahn mi for lunch at the movie place. The seats are so awful, I really need to remember to bring a seat cushion. The movie was "The Edge of Tomorrow." An alien war movie. Tom Cruise was great. I enjoyed the whole thing, except for the seating!

 

At the discussion, I misquoted Shakespeare, "the coward dies a thousand deaths, the valient only taste of death but once."  The teacher had never heard it! (Later, when I corrected the quote in email, he thanked me for raising the level of the discussion above his stupid jokes.)

 

In the evening I wanted to see the new tiny theater so drove 10 miles out to the wilds of Citrus Heights to see if I could get in. I drove back and forth looking for it, but it was dark and I couldn't see the sign for it. There was a homeless man sleeping right next to an alleyway I drove down looking, and others here and there, and I finally gave up and came home. To a spirited argument about "You should have used a smartphone, you should have used Google Maps." I did use Google Maps, but I still don't see what a smartphone would have done to help me see the sign!

 

Saturday was fairly calm. I did a little digging and picked three oranges.  I started polishing a three-candle candlestick and it turns out to be a lot harder than I had realized. I plan to take it to Roni and if Monica wants one, I have another one. (How come I have two? Were they my grandparents'? )

 

I got about 12 pieces into the puzzle, by sheer perseverance, trying every piece in every place.

 

I was using the picture frame on a 2014-15 picture disc that ends just before my Camino. I decided to go through the pictures on the computer and get rid of some of the fuzzy ones. Lots of good memories. I'd also hoped to rotate some but that doesn't work. 

 

Sunday at Mass I saw Laurie and invited her to go to see "Lady Bird" with me. This is a movie set in Sacramento, semi-autobiographical by the Sacramento native who wrote it. Laurie really liked it, I thought it was good (but I'm not actually a big "coming-of-age" fan.) Nice to see all the local sights.

 

Then in the afternoon I did go to the Citrus Heights theater who did "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)" It wasn't the one I saw on the 1st with the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and the seats in the still-under-construction theater are uncomfortable, but I enjoyed it up till close to the end, when they were supposed to do Hamlet but instead started a very dull stretch so they could have an intermission. I left then. However, I do want to see their December play, and some of the ones next year (except for Twelth Night. I am SO DONE with that play!) 

 

Monday I made a quick trip to the Commissary before the cleaners came. I also had a chance to talk to the neighbor, and it turns out my neighbor on the corner (who never lives there any more) also has a backyard leak.  On that topic, the plumber called to check on my job, and yes, I'm still happy.

 

I won all the decorations I could with Fishdom so am going to not play for awhile until they make the new aquarium. (A resolution that has been tested a bit... I can play Herman because there are rewards... I lose slowly, but I get goodies, too. Leo, I'm not playing until I get lots more diamonds.)

 

I had filled out a form to be on a mock jury, and they want me! So I'll be doing that on Sunday December 3rd. Nice!  There's $125 in it for me!

 

131 recordings of 29 types, 6 old SVU and 29 old CPD. 23% clear.

 

Saturday, Veteran's Day, I only put out the little flag as it was cloudy and possibly would rain. I really have to label my Granddaddy's coffin flag and take it to the veteran's cemetery. (Maybe Thanksgiving if I remember, since I'll be driving down that way.)  They have a bin and will properly dispose of the now-faded flag. 

 

The widowed person's breakfast was good, though it took a long time to get food. I was hungry even though I knew there was a luncheon in my future so had a skillet. Yum. 

 

There was just about an hour afterwards and the next stop was only a few blocks away, so I thought I could muddle about and read my book in the parking lot. After, that is, I stopped to get a card for Genevieve. I did that, and looked at the pet store, but then realized I had to go to the bathroom and decided I'd rather do that at home. I explored a couple of ways to get to the church, coming and going.

 

I was greeted by the Knights of Columbus, including the guy who hadn't known my name. I saw some other people I actually knew. The big surprise was another WPAC woman, who was widowed in 1991! We sat together for the Mass, which was nice. They gave each of us a long-stemmed red rose to remember our husbands with.  We had a wonderful luncheon, roast beef and green beans and mashed potatoes, with ice cream for dessert. St. John the Evangelist 7th graders did the serving and they were great. I chased down the woman who was watching them and asked "are you in charge of the wait staff?" and she rather warily said she was, and I complimented them. And, as I left, a guy who used to sell fireworks with Rich accosted me in the parking lot and said he was supposed to watch out for me (but he was late) and he had enjoyed talking to Rich and arguing with him. "Rich?? ARGUE??" Heh.

 

At home, I sure didn't eat much for dinner. I had bad foot and leg cramps, in the evening and then later they woke me up. (Bananas seem to have fixed it.)

 

366 recordings of 28 types, 60 old SVU. 19% clear.

 

Saturday morning I went to breakfast with WPAC. Some other group was sitting at our tables so we went into surrounding booths to wait.  I sat with a Michael, who is new. I asked how long he'd been with WPAC and he said he was starting because his Match.com lady and he had ended their relationship, so he was looking for others. Ick. I know the guys are more likely to hook up immediately, but WPAC is not a dating service.  And, as it turned out, his wife only died about a year ago, so he's been on the prowl far too soon. When we got over to the table he was talking to others about Match.com and other dating services. I started conversing with a couple of ladies, one of whom, sadly, is moving to Southern California on Wednesday. 

 

Home to veg out until I decided to go to Mass to leave me time to water properly on Sunday.

 

Which I did, also a totally fruitless session with the jigsaw puzzle.  SO frustrating!

 

Monday I walked down to deposit a check and look for a geocache. The walk-up ATM was out of order. I went on a little farther to look for a geocache. It's tricky, one with lots of keys. I thought I'd figured one lock out but it only turned a quarter turn. I thought maybe the lock was broken, but now the cache owner assures me the key I chose was NOT the right one. OK then, I'll try again soon.

 

So the walk was fruitless except for being a walk. I drove back to the area for a WPAC Newcomers' Dinner, and deposited the check along the way. The receipt indicated I had less money in there than I'd thought. I checked today and yes indeed, I'd somehow had 6+5 = 13. Oops. At the dinner I sat with a number of new people. One lives about 3 blocks away, so I'll likely see him around the neighborhood.