This morning after breakfast we went downstairs and read the paper in the coffee shop and then the bus from here took us to the Kaiser Clinic in Vista. There my eyes were examined, and the Doctor recommended surgery to remove a cataract from my right eye. I have an appointment in two weeks to have my eye measurements taken, and then a date will be set for the surgery. It was after lunch when we got back to the apartments, but they did serve us. Then we went back to our rooms and I read in Pattie Briggs' book "Dragon Bones", so I could remember all of it when I wear the shirt Kaye brought me with those words and a dragon on the front. I'll wait until next week to wear it, when I have finished reading the book again. Then I can tell whoever is interested in the shirt about the book, and maybe loan it to them, or get another copy for that purpose. We both had a little nap, and then had dinner in the apartment, on food Karen had given us and dessert our home teacher had brought us. Later when I was clearing up this little kitchenette, I thought how lucky I am that I don't have to cook and clean now, and can read or anything else I want to do with my time!

This morning Chris had a stomach ache that wouldn't go away, so he skipped breakfast. I brought only a glass of milk back to him. He did get up and dressed, but still didn't feel very well. I made up the bed, but left off the lace spread, in case he wanted to go back to bed. He didn't., but he did have a little cereal with the milk. Later Harry from across the hall came over to see him and stayed a little while. After he left, Chris moved his clothes to the other closet by the computers, instead of behind the door, and he stored the things in that one behind the door. I didn't go to lunch had a piece of pizza Karen gave us and one of the stewed pears. We talked to Kaye, and she found the people who were to file the papers to buy the lot they wanted in Richland hadn't done so; there's a chance now that she won't get the lot. That's too bad, because she and the builder had planned the house to fit that lot. This afternoon we watched an old movie of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The sound track wasn't good, otherwise it was OK. Chris had soup and prune juice for dinner, and so far no problem.

This is Monday when the cleaning lady comes. We were at breakfast when she got here, but she knows where the sheets are, so she went ahead and changed the bed, and was working on the bathrooms when we got back. We went downstairs and read the paper there in the little coffee room. When we got back, she was gone, so we went inside got ready and went to the pool exercise class. I dreaded it, but the sun came out and I really enjoyed it. After we got out Karen came over and visited a while, and she brought two stewed pears that we like and some cereal Chris really likes. 'We asked her to come to lunch with us, but she said she had recently had breakfast , and left driving her Jaguar. She loves that car! We spent the afternoon clearing up some correspondence, had both lunch and dinner, and talked to Kaye. Now it's bedtime again.

We are back to our usual routine. It's Sunday, so after a quick breakfast, we went to Sacrament Meeting. Karen didn't go because she was so tired after the dinner for 300 people she prepared last night. I'm sorry she missed it, there were two good talks. We came home, and I read the Sunday paper, and then we went to lunch. Back at the apartment after this lunch, I straightened up the apartment. because our Home Teacher was coming over to visit us about 4 or 4:30. When it was almost 4:30 I remembered I had signed us out for church, and hadn't checked us back here, and there was a substitute at the desk in the front of the building. I went down to the first floor and signed us back in, (Chris hates signing in and out and won't do it!). The girl said she would send our visitor up when he got here. Ex-Bishop LoFrano came just a few minutes later, and he stayed quit a while and we talked about the church and other things. After he left we went to dinner, and Kaye called. She and Kyle were on their way home. So we didn't talk long. we finished our dinner and then Carla called, and then we watched a Sherlock Holmes show. Then we talked to Kaye again. That was our day. I'll call Karen, though.

I haven't written for three days, so here goes with what I remember. Chris and Kaye worked on the computer, and they managed to get part of it hooked up OK, but not all the way. After lunch with Karen we all drove to try to find a Radio Shack store, that Karen remembered seeing on Mission Drive in Oceanside, up past the police headquarters building. We found the area all right, but the store wasn't there anymore. So we drive back to the Mall on El Camino, and there we found a big Radio Shack. The others found the parts they needed to hook up all the computers to the internet, and I just looked around the store. They don't carry the small piano keyboards they used to have, before we bought our piano. I was interested, because if we have to move to a one-bedroom apartment next year, we won't have room for the big piano we now have. I guess I'd have to look further, if that is necessary to get a small one. Back at the apartment we had dinner, and it was amazing to me how many people remembered Kaye from when she was here last May. They are friendly people living here. I was pleased to see a man whom we know from our early days here, back again after having a hip replaced. He was one of those who remembered Kaye. On Friday morning I went to the pool exercise, and Chris and Kaye came along to watch. That was at 10:30 to 11:30, so by the time that was over and I had my shower, it was lunchtime again. After lunch Kaye called Al, and he had an appointment for dinner with other people, and he could not come with us to Karen's for dinner that night. So, we drove down to his place and visited just a little while before going to Karen's house. There we had a nice dinner and visit with Karen and Terry. It was arranged that Terry would take Kaye to San Diego to go to Seattle in the morning. Karen would be busy the next morning (Today, Saturday) . We came back here and Kaye got ready for the trip, with a last checkup on the computers. Terry arrived at 5:30 a.m. and picked up Kaye. She made the trip OK, and called us when she reached Seattle. Kyle will pick her up at the airport, and they will visit Race, Stellan, and baby Caden, and his mother until Sunday afternoon, when Kaye and Kyle will drive home. We have spent our usual day, except we miss Kaye and that's not fun.

Today we went to lunch at the beach with Karen. The day had started out clear and sunny, but as we drove down there, with our sandwiches and drinks with us, the fog rolled in. This is the first time I have seen it happen, just big wisps of fog sliding in between the houses and up the streets. By the time we got there, the fog was entirely in, and only the beach and a little way out in the ocean was visible. I missed the blue ocean we usually see, but I enjoyed the company of our daughters as we ate sandwiches. After enjoying that, we drove back to Oceanside, looking for a Radio Shack, and found one in the Mall, close to J..C. Penney. We bought equipment to hook the computer with the big TV screen in the living room. It works well. At home again we watched a movie Kaye had brought, had dinner, and then Chris and Kaye hooked up some more equipment, and I read in Patty Briggs' new book, and a few things in the local newspaper. Now it's bedtime, so I'll stop here. One more thing, though. Kaye showed us some more pictures of Caden, that were movies she had got from Seattle, showing Caden bouncing and playing around in the bouncer we gave him.

This will be a short blog. It's just to say that Karen picked up Kaye about 2:30p.m. at the San Diego airport, took her for some lunch, and then brought her here to us. Kaye had trouble with one plane being cancelled because of somthing not working on it. She had to run to get on another one from Pasco to Seattle, and then wait 2 hours for the one to San Diego. She started this trip at 5 a.m. Karen went home after a short visit, and Kaye, Chris and I watched part of a movie she had brought along. Then we went to dinner here in the dining room. Then we came back to the apartment and watched the rest of the movie. Now we are just visiting, and I filled my week's worth of tablets. I know it's time to stop writing, because I keep making typing mistakes.

We got up and went to breakfast as usual, and then we came back here to read the paper. And wonder of wonders, Chris could read the newsprint! The injection in his eye is working already, and he can see with both eyes without seeing double images. I put the four drops in the eye every day for five days, and that means that tomorrow is the last day to do it. Then he goes back to the doctor in San Diego on Oct. 26 for another injection in the same eye. At lunch today I made an appointment with Nancy Denov, the author of the book I just read, to talk about it. We met downstairs at 3 o'clock to discuss it. She gave me a couple of good ideas for writing . I didn't tell her I have already written some, but I will embellish it a little before I lend it to her. I forgot to write that we went to the Kaiser Clinic here in Carlsbad to pick up a prescription, and we stopped at Tamarack. we just sat in the car and admired the beautiful blue ocean. We didn't walk, because we were already tired from taking the water exercise this morning. But we enjoyed the stop.

This morning we slept in, and didn't get to breakfast. So, I went to the dining room and brought back 4 pieces of raisin bread toast to eat. Then we drove over to the Church for Sacrament Meeting. It was a good one, with intelligent and fine- speaking people, two of them from the Stake and one from the Seventies Counsel. Chris had insisted on driving over and back, because it made him keep both eyes open, which he says he needs to do to heal his eye. When we got home I put another drop in his right eye, and he went to sleep afterwards. I woke him him for lunch. Back at the rooms I read the newspaper, and he did something on the computer. We did watch one TV show. We talked to Kaye, Carla, Brittany and Bianca. the last time we talked to Kaye, they were back into Idaho, with only the rest of that and into Washington State to get home. She will call us when they stop, at a hotel on the way, or at home. Karen told us yesterday they would be home late on Monday. It will be nice when they are all four settled again.

Today we have done very little. We went to breakfast as usual, after I had given Chris' wounded eye a drop, one of four for each day for five days. After breakfast he convinced me that he should drive me to get my hair done, saying that driving would make him keep his eye open. And he needed to do that. I got my hair done, and we returned to the apartment. He had bought a few things at the dollar store and we put those things away, and then went to lunch. At all three meals we sat with friends we had made here. Two were going back to their homes, now that they were well enough, although one lady said she would be back sometime, when she couldn't take care of herself. The other was going to live with her daughter. A man who lives across the hall from us isn't sure just what he would be doing as soon as he gets hold of his health. His daughter and grandchildren come to see him. Tonight we watched and listened to "Les Miserables." That took all evening. Now we have to have our showers and go to bed. Tonight we talked to Karen and to Kaye, and they are doing well on their trips.

We are set now for the trip to San Diego tomorrow. That's what we did today, get it all ready. I didn't write in the blog, though, so I can't remember exactly what we did. Karen did call though, and suggested we go to the beach for lunch. So, we got the sandwiches from the dining room, and were waiting for her outside. It was cloudy at Tamarack and no parking, so we went on to where we could park at the side of the road and have a clear view of the ocean and surfers (only a few, one with an oar, who stood up and rode the waves, using the oar to steer the board. Now I will write what happened today, Friday. We had our breakfast and were waiting in our apartment for 9 a.m. to come. Then the desk downstairs called and said the "lift" was there waiting for us. He had had two cancellations and just came over. We drove to the Veterans Hospital in a nice limmo, and then a small bus arrived there immediately and took us to Kaiser Vandever. We were early, so we waited until after the appointment time, and then Chris went to the receptionist and we got in to see the Doctor . He and we decided to do the shots in Chris' right eye, and he got ready and did it. Then I got prescription for Chris, and we waited 35 minutes before the bus arrived to take us back to the Vet. Hospital. It wasn't a very good bus, and neither was the one that took us all round the area before we got home finally. We hadn't eaten since breakfast, so we went right to dinner. it was good, and we enjoyed it.

This morning after breakfast we got back to trying to get the "Lift" to take us to San Diego for Chris' appointment with the eye specialist. We couldn't get anyone, so finally Chris went down to the office to get the name and phone number of a woman living here who does use it to get to her doctor there. He got the number and called and left a message. Then we went out for a few minutes and she called back and left the number for us to call. Chris did call it, and was able to get the ride arranged for Friday morning at 9a.m. and a ride back at 2p.m. Later we went to lunch, and a lady in an electric wheel chair stopped by our table and asked if we were the people who wanted the "Lift" ride. It was she who had called us. We thanked her, and she left and went to join friends at another table. Karen was pleased, too, when we told her. She and Terry will be on their way to visit his daughter, Lisa, somewhere in the middle states on Friday. After lunch we drove down to the beach and walked along the top of the cliff at Tamarack Beach. It was perfectly warm, and the waves were high, a lovely sight. We missed a visit from Karen, but she left my new shoes she had ordered along with hers. They fit perfectly!

This morning Karen picked us up and we drove to the San Diego Temple. We got there in time for the 10 o'clock ssssession. On the way in I met Elynore Rogers, daughter-in-law. She remembered me. We talked briefly then went into the session. I got along fine, with the help of ladies near me, specially Karen. I had forgotten some of it, but it came back to me as we went on, during the service. Afterward we drove back to Carlsbad and stopped at a fast food place for lunch, since we were a little late for the lunch at Las Villas. At home here, we read the papers and napped a little, then went to dinner. I'm happy that we were able to go to the Temple, it's a wonderful experience. fI hope we will be able to go again soon. Tonight we listened to the news, and I read a little in Patty Briggs' latest book.

We had our usual breakfast in the dining room, and then came back to the apartment. Chris got an appointment with Dr. Dick, for Friday, and we spent most of the morning trying to get a ride from the service he registered for in Oceanside, who took us to San Diego last time he went to see Dr. Dick, the eye specialist. We gave up finally and went to lunch, and then tried again. Finally about 4:45 we got through to the organization, and they arranged for rides on 4 different carriers to get us down to San Diego. In the morning we will try to get the drivers from Las Villas to take us, even if it costs more, it won't be as confusing as the other people's rides. Karen came over with our Temple clothes that she had taken home for safe keeping when we moved. I was able to shorten Chris' white coveralls, but my newer dress just didn't fit my sloppy new figure. I went back to my older dress, that is gathered and full. I'll wear my shoes with heels, instead of my little slippers, and then I won't have to shorten it. I just didn't realize how much we have changed since we last went to the Temple.

We skipped breakfast this morning, and just had a few snacks we had here. Then we drove to the Church for Sacrament Meeting. I hoped to stay for all three meetings, if Karen could bring me back here afterward. But she was going to the Stake center to check on the kitchen there, because she is in charge of the dinner for 300 women, and she needs to know what the accommodations are. So, I went back to the apartment with Chris. He had been working on finding the papers about our income tax due to the state of Ca. We had searched everywhere yesterday for the proper papers, but couldn't find them. Today we had better luck, and were able to get the right amount with the proper papers, put in the envelope and stamped to go to the state. After that, we went for a short walk around the compound here. There are three residence halls and one medical facility, that one for people who need a lot of care. In the buildings designated A, B, and C the rest of us live, have our meals, have various programs and exercise classes, including the water exercise we have been going to, hoping to get stronger. In all, it's a good substitute for ordinary living. We have another six months to make up our minds.

After breakfast I went to get y hair done. Then when Chris came to pick me up, we went to WalMart to get a new battery for my watch and also some cosmetics for my face. I need to hide the spots until I can get them burned off. I keep forgetting to get an appointment for that. We got back here in time for lunch. I spoke briefly with Nancy Denov, the author of the book I've been reading. I want to talk to her again, but she is shy, and her husband is suffering mentally, and is a problem sometimes. The other day he really yelled at her in the dining room, but she got him quiet and out of the room. Back in the apartment I read the paper (I had forgotten my glasses when I went for my hair-do and couldn't do it earlier). Karen called , and she was back home after Lindy's wedding. We will hear about it after Church in the morning. Chris has been working on the state income tax, a deposit is due, and we can't find the records for it. He will go look in the storage sheds for them tomorrow.

After breakfast we drove to Kaiser Pharmacy, where Chris got a prescription refilled. We drove back along the ocean, and the sun was out, but the surf was small, and the surfers couldn't get much of a ride. We did stop, though, at Tamarack and parked on the low lot, and walked a little way along the sea wall. It was nice. We'll have to go back again soon. After lunch we watched TV, and napped again. Kaye had told me my cell phone's time is up and I should call and get more for the next year. I did try, but I couldn't remember my social security number. While I was looking it up, the man I was talking to, left me hanging there. He called Kaye, and she got it all done for me, and I'm set for another year. Our daughters are really great to take care of us when we run into problems. We are very fortunate to have them.

I thought I had written my blog on Thursday, but it's not here. I must not have done it. Anyway, I will do it now. We went to see Dr. White, for eye exams. As a result of the tests, I now have an appointment with Dr. Grossbeck, to discuss having my cataracts removed. And Chris is referred back to Dr. Dick in San Diego, for shots in his eye. We don't have that appointment yet. We got back here in time for lunch. After eating, I sat down to rest and watch TV and went to sleep. Later we went to a prime rib dinner with music along with it.

Last night I had forgotten I was supposed to bring a salad to the Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae meeting today. So we went quickly over to the grocery store in the neighborhood and bought a fresh fruit dish, since they didn't have any regular salads in a bowl. Then this morning Linda Sheldon came and picked me up to drive to the meeting in San Marcos. There were only 12 of us there; three members died this year, one of the ones I call each month. But it was a cordial lunch and meeting, and I enjoyed seeing those there. While I was gone Chris went for a long walk, so we were both tired when I got back, so we napped until it was time for the President's speech to Congress. I think he did well, not forcing a lot of stuff into his health care message. Then we went to dinner, came back and watched the news and talked to Kaye. Later Karen called, and she suggested we go to the Temple on Tuesday. Of course we agreed. However, my Temple clothes didn't make it in the move. Maybe I can go over to the storage sheds and look for them before Tuesday. Or, I can rent some at the Temple; that's what Karen does.

After our breakfast this morning, we got the laundry together. We put it in the nice folding cart that Karen had found for us, and I took it down to the second floor to the laundry room. There was only one washer and dryer available, so I knew I would have to wash only one batch at a time. I put the first one on to wash, and I sat in the easy chair in the lounge and read the rest of Nancy Denov's autobiography. I was interested, but unfortunately it ends in 2004. I'll have to ask her what has happened in the last five years. Maybe I don't want to know. Her husband evidently is off his rocker, and that wouldn't be very good reading or asking about. I gave the book back to her at noon and said we'd have to get together and talk about the book sometime. I'm not sure when that will be. Karen came over this afternoon, and she gave us a schedule of her trips this month. She will be back just before Kaye is coming down. Karen leaves this Thursday for Lindy's wedding.

It's a holiday, Labor Day, but things go on as usual here. So, I woke the girls about 7:30, because our cleaning lady would be coming soon, and they would have to pick up their things. They did a great job, and got everything packed in Bianca's car Then we all went to breakfast here at the apartment. After that was over, the girls went to Travis' house, and they went surfing again with him and his family. We didn't see them again until we met at Karen's house for dinner at 5:p.m. Karen and two other women had fixed a chicken salad, all kinds of colorful chips and some rolls, as a trial run for a Relief Society dinner Karen is chairwoman-cook for, in a couple of weeks. Dessert was ice cream coated with chocolate. We all thought it was a good way to feed the 300 women they are expecting to come to the Stake Center for the church annual broadcast to the women. After the dinner we said goodbye to Bianca and her friends. They are driving back to Pomona tonight, because they have to be at school in the morning. We enjoyed their visit here with us.

This is Sunday, and we went to Fast and Testimony meeting at 9 a.m. in Oceanside . We came home after that and later Bianca called from the church. She thought the meeting was to be at 11, like last year, but there was a meeting she could go to. Later she and the other two girls came back here after having dinner with Al at 5 p.m. They will stay with us, and then go home on Monday. I spent most of the day reading the paper and also reading again in Nancy's book. Nothing exciting for us, except dinner later. Then we all watched TV until 10:30, and then to bed. Bianca on the couch, and the two other girls on the floor.

Bianca and her two girlfriends arrived about 11 last night. I got up and met them, and then went back to bed. They took care of themselves, sleeping in the second bedroom which we call the computer room. In the morning we got up at the usual time, and Chris ( Russ) went to the dining room and brought back breakfast for the two of us. The three girls elected to sleep until lunch time. I had my hair done and Chris shopped. When we got back to the Villas de Carlsbad, Bianca and her friends were up, so we all went to lunch. After that, the girls went to the beach, and then they will go to spend the night at Travis' house. We came back here and I read most of the afternoon in Nancy Denov's book. But I also had a short nap, until it was dinner time. We went to dinner. Tomorrow is Fast Day, so we had a big dinner and dessert tonight. After that, we watched our Brit shows. The really big news of the day was that Caden stood up and walked! We have all been waiting for that. He is 17 months old now. And it's been 8 months since he had the heart transplant.

When we got up this morning, we didn't know when Bianca would be arriving, so we just went ahead with the usual things. However I was dizzy and weak, so I was slow at everything. After breakfast I tried to read the paper, but I fell asleep. Later when I woke up, it was already lunch time. I wasn't very hungry, in fact I didn't want to go to the dining room. But Russ (Chris) gave me a dose of Mylanta, and I felt better and went to lunch. I ate half a tuna melt and a cup of decaf tea. Back at the apartment I planned to read, but I went to sleep. I did get some reading done in her book the lady loaned me. I had to take a Meclazine pill before I went to dinner, and it worked well. Bianca called just as we got back to the apartment after dinner. She said she and two roommates would arrive about 9 or 10 tonight, so we settled down and watched a little TV, and I read a while, and Russ put his pills into their little boxes for the next week. We talked to Kaye, and she has bought a push toy for us to give to Caden, and she will get a little wooden riding toy, like one I had as a child.

We had our breakfast as usual, and then we came back to the apartment. We were to go to Karen's for lunch, so we didn't plan anything special to do the rest of the morning. That was a good thing, because we had a visitor. It was a new lady who just moved in the apartment at the end of the corridor. We met her a couple of days ago in the dining room, and she asked me to come knock on her door to visit. I didn't, so she came over and knocked on our door, and brought her San Diego newspaper, since we had only the local one delivered. She stayed a while, admired our view (She looks out on a cement wall, and the top of one car), and talked about her life. A little while after she left, we drove to Karen's; Terry wasn't there, because this is his day to tour-guide on the aircraft carrier in San Diego Bay. But Al was there, and it was good Terry wasn't, because they don't get along too well. Anyhow, Karen cooked a delicious meal, chicken sishkabobs,corn bread, fruit, carrot soup and ginger ice cream sandwiches. In the afternoon my visiting teache r and her husband came over.

This is Wednesday, so I'll tell you what we did. It was the usual, up early and to breakfast. I went to the pool again late, so I didn't get as tired as I did when I had the whole hour of water exercise. We had lunch, and then we noticed the walker was missing a screw that held one of the cross supports in place. Chris went to the maintenance men, but didn't find a screw. So we drove over to the Ace Hardware Store on Carlsbad Village Drive, and they had one. We bought four, just in case we need another one. We take the walker when it will be a long walk, because there's the seat when either of us needs a rest. Tonight we talked to both granddaughters, and Bianca will be down Friday, with friends, for a visit and beach time.

This is for Tuesday, and I forgot to do my blog until it was so late I couldn't think straight. We had our breakfast as usual, and then we drove to the Kaiser Clinic to pick up another prescription and then drove along the beach to Tamarack. We found a parking place down by the ocean, and we went for a walk along the seawall. We went only to the first stairs after the lifeguard station, it was so hot we really couldn't go farther. Back to the car, and we drove back to the apartment. We had lunch and then a short nap. We had to use both air conditioners, and that made it bearable in the apartment. Karen has invited us to lunch on Thursday, and she also invited Al. I think its good that the family keeps in touch with him. He is a lonely man,, I think.

Today was much like yesterday. We had breakfast, came back to the apartment, and spent time reading and talking to our daughters. Lunch was good, and then I napped a little more, and looked at pictures of the trim Kaye is looking at for their new house. It all looks elegant; I hope it's not expensive enough to discourage her. I know that has happened to me sometimes, when we were building houses years ago, and sometimes I had to cut back on my ideas. We went to dinner a little early, because Karen was coming over to pick us up at 6:30. Chris had to go back to the Stake High Counsel, to get a new Temple Recommend. He lost the one that the Bishop had filled out for him, and the Counsel had to approve. So, the Bishop filled out a new application last Sunday, and tonight the Counsel was interviewing again. Karen and I waited in the car while he went in the Stake House, and Chris soon came out with the new card. Just as we were leaving the parking lot, a member came out, and said that Pres. Perkins hadn't signed the card. So he took it back inside, and soon came out with it signed. We drove to a McDonald's store and got ice cream cones to celebrate.