After a late breakfast we came back here and got ready for Church. I drove us to the church in Oceanside, because I want to practice for my driving test sometime next month. I find I haven't forgotten very much, although I do confuse some locations of things like light switches, etc., confusing them with the Buick I had for a while, before Karen bought it and gave it to Danya. But I'll have them well in mind before signing up for the test. Karen had told us that she was have in a luncheon for me on the 26th to celebrate my birthday. When we went into the chapel, three different ladies spoke to me and said something about my being 90, and then Karen showed me the card she had given Relief Society friends, telling them that I would have my 90th birthday, and inviting them to come to Lunch on the 26th. So, I guess we will have a nice party that day. As far as celebrating, Chris' party when he turned 90 was to be for both of us, since it might be hard to get the family down here again. Kaye and Carla agreed to that then, and now they still do. I talked to both of them today, and they don't plan to come. Corina, the Maitre'd in the dining room, also knows about my birthday, I don't know how. But she may announce it on the 27th. I'm not sure I really want that!

It has been drizzling rain almost all day, so we haven't been outside much. We went to the harder exercise class, but we stayed only half an hour, and then we were both tired anyway. We came back to the apartment, and I read in Patricia Briggs' last book to be published, in case she uses the same characters in the book coming out next month. Well, I talked to Kaye, and she told me that the new one would be one of the "Mercy" books instead. But I was already caught up in this last book, and I really have to finish it now. I have forgotten how it ends, and that would bother me. Maybe I can finish it tonight. Kaye sent us pictures of the flooring on their new house, and she is very pleased with it. I'm sure it will be much better than what she has had in the old house. She and Kyle deserve to have a good house to live in now, since they have spent so much time in the old house. Karen seems to think her purchase of the Arroyo Grande house will go through OK. She and Terry don't plan to move for a year or more, so I guess we will stay where we are until they go. That's logical. We had an E-mail from Kendra Gillian, and I answered it today. She said they have about 2 feet of snow there, and I told her about the rain here, and how I walked in the rain after we moved back to California after those three years in Denver and the snow. But I don't walk in the rain now, I just wait for it to go away.

After breakfast we read the paper, and then we went to the Gentle Yoga exercise class. I can do these exercises, which last only half and hour. We came back to the apartment, and we stayed here until a man came to clean the carpet. We left while he worked, and afterward he left a dryer blowing over the carpet to dry it. A good idea. (But tonight the spots have come right back!) We picked up sandwiches and drinks at the dining room, and then we went down stairs and waited for Karen to come pick us up, for a picnic at the beach. She called that she would be a little late, because the group she was taking on a tour of the Gemology Institute of America insisted on asking questions after the tour was officially over. But she did get here only 15 minutes later than usual. We had a nice visit as we had our lunch and watched the waves coming and going. There were only two surfers in our view, I guess because the tide was out and the waves small. Back at the apartment I tried to reach our dentist to make some appointments for next month, but all I could get on his phone was a message that they couldn't answer just now, and would I please leave a message and a phone number, which I did. And I have not received a call back, so maybe he is no longer practicing in this area. Karen and Terry have been going to him, also, I will check with them in the morning. My visiting teacher called, and I invited her to come over, and she said she would bring her husband. We had a nice visit, and they told us the orchid plants we had given them were covered with blossoms. That was nice to know, since they are dead at our house now.

Today was the Stress Exercise class, and I didn't think we would go. But Chris decided he would go after all. So, I followed him down to the 2nd floor, and joined him in the exercise room. I didn't pick up any of the weights or stretch straps, I just did the exercises without them. I did get a a little tired anyway. But when we got back to the apartment, I rested a while, and then I went down to the front desk and asked for help to put the screen back on the window, and to have the spots in the almost white carpet in the living room cleaned. That is the way you get things done here, not though the workmen themselves. From there I went to Building C, where Verla Reece is now. She has her own furnishings in the room, but nobody has put up the pictures or put away the other things. They seem to be just dumped in there. I visited a little while with her, but she seemed very tired, so I left and went to talk to the girl at the desk in the hall, and she said she was there only one day a week, but she would try to get help for putting things away. I certainly hope someone does go there and clean the place up. It's a shame. I'll go back at the beginning of next week and see if they have done anything for her. It was a nice day, so after lunch we went for a walk. The wind came up, so we finally ended up going down the street just one block and back, and then we walked on the walks between the buildings, where the wind didn't come. Tonight we watched the Olympic Games and now it's bed time.

We hadn't planned anything special to do today, so I was surprised to see Chris outside on the balcony, when I came back from my shower. He had the screen off the windows in the bedroom, and he was washing the windows. I watched, and pointed out skipped places on the glass, at his suggestion of course. I do tell him what to do, sometimes, even though I try not to. He was a boss of other people too long, to not feel he is in charge of things, I guess. He wasn't able to put the screen back on, so I suppose we won't open that window tonight. We both forgot to get a repairman up here to put it back, and now it's too late. We did have breakfast and read the paper one of the workmen slid under our door. Then we went to the Gentle Yoga class. I was careful not to overdo, so my leg has been quite good all day. I rested it when we got back here, and then Chris tried to get me interested in looking up things on the computer. I did get some information on books available on the computer, but when I tried listening to a short story read by a famous actor, I couldn't understand what he was saying; talked too fast, and didn't enunciate so I couldn't understand him. After that I tried shopping on line for things from department stores. I found things, but somehow it seemed a lot of trouble. Why not just go to a department store and really look at what you are buying. I will admit, though, that Kaye, and also Karen lately, are both successful in doing it. I need new towels, and eventually sheets, but I want to go to a store and really look at them, and feel the quality, before buying. This afternoon I did the washing, and it is easier for me now. I take a book along and read while the clothes wash and dry. And I'm accustomed now to the facilities on the 2nd floor here. And sometimes people stop by and chat a bit.

uesday, February 23, 2010

My leg started hurting again last night. This phlebitis thing is a problem, I thought it was over with, gone, but here it is again. I guess I'll just have to put up with it. I went to the stress-exercise this morning, hoping to maybe get rid of it. I spent half and hour with the exercises, and it did seem to help. Maybe that's the answer, just more activity. I shall proceed cautiously, though. It turned out to be a clear day, so Karen came over and drove us down to the the ocean to watch the waves while we had our lunch. I brought our sandwiches from the dining room here, and she brought hers. We enjoyed the visit, especially since she had good news about the house she and Terry want to buy in Arroyo Grande. She hasn't actually put money down on it, but a walk-through is scheduled, and the two banks that hold loans on it now are agreeable to the sale. Karen has an agent up there who will go on the walk through, so she won't have to drive up there again now. We came back to the apartment, and my leg has been better, so I guess I just got excited about it when I didn't need to. I did go to get my perm at the beauty shop on the 2nd floor, and while the operator was just starting, a workman came in the shop and said they were going turn off the water for about 20 minutes. So the operator rush around and filled 4 big dishpan-size pans with water, so she could finish with my perm. In fact, it turned out to be a good perm, not painful at all, and she had to use all the water she had so fortunately saved for it. The water came back on, just as I was ready to leave, after having been off for almost 2 hours. It was a successful afternoon after all.

We almost didn't get up for breakfast this morning, then we remembered that the cleaning lady would be coming to our apartment in just a little while, so we got up. The breakfast was about the same as usual, but since I didn't have to prepare it, I enjoyed it. We then read the paper, until it was time to go to the Gentle Yoga class. It lasts only 1\2 an hour, so we get along fine in there, and we go every time it's offered. The weather was iffy, so we didn't plan to go anywhere. We had a nap after the exercise class, and we did manage to wake up and go to lunch. After that, the sun had come out, so we went for a walk. We went down Laguna as far as Jefferson street, and then we came back, and circled around the compound here. That was enough walking. We came back to the apartment, and I tried to clear up my desk. I did get some things taken care of, but without a good chair to sit on, my back began to hurt. I hope I can go back to the house and see if my desk chair is in storage. I could certainly use it now. Maybe tomorrow we can go over there. Karen called, and she had heard from the agent on the house in Arroyo Grande, and the other bank holding paper on it has agreed to the sale, and she was quite happy about it. She and Terry are tired of the crowds of people in So. Calf, and they want to get away eventually. But they plan to stay here for another year and maybe a half. We will have to wait and see what they finally do. This evening I went to a sing-along downstairs, sponsored by a church near here. I wasn't familiar with any of the songs, so I didn't enjoy it as I did last month when I went to it, and they had songs I knew. I may skip it after this.

Today we were a little late for breakfast, but it was good. After that we read the paper, and then got busy in the apartment, Chris on the computer, and I was reading the handbook where we study for a driving test. We forgot to watch the time and we were late for Church. I drove us there and back, to get practice driving. I haven't done much for over a year. Back here we had a small lunch in the dining room and then came back to the apartment, and worked until it was time to go to Karen and Terry's for the dinner they had invited us to. I did the driving again, and it is good for me to do it. I do need the practice before I take the test at the DMV. The dinner was good, Terry on the barbeque and Karen in the kitchen. I brought half of my strawberry shortcake back here to finish., I just couldn't finish it there, everything was so good I really ate a lot. While we were at Karen's she gave me a Hawaiian dress my Mother had worn. And she showed us a velvet jacket she had bought on the internet, marked $90 and she got it for $15. It's too small, and so she thinks Brittany or Bianca would like it. So, when we got back to the apartment Chris called Brittany and told her about it. She said she would try to come down sometime next month for a visit and to try it on. So we will have a visit with her, too! And maybe Bianca, if it doesn't fit Brittany!

This morning we made it to breakfast as usual. Then we read the paper which was conveniently slid under our door. We decided to go to the exercise class. But was the more strenuous exercise class, but we went to it anyway. After half an hour we came back to the apartment. we did a little paper work, and then we went back to the dining room for lunch. It was a sandwich day for us, so that didn't take long. Then we went to put the new sticker on the car, so it is officially registered for another year. But I do have to take my driving test before my birthday, or I can't drive anymore. So, I studied the booklet for that a while. Tiring of that I started reading a Scientific American Magazine and soon fell asleep. I woke up and started another article, but I went to sleep again! It was awful, really. I finally woke up when it was getting too dark to read anymore. We went back to the dining room, and there were only about four other people there. We ordered soup and dessert and a drink, and that was all. We got back here in time to see our British shows that come on every Saturday. Now is time for another one of those, so I'll close for now. We did talk to Karen and Kaye. We'll call Carla tomorrow. There's really no more news for today.

This morning it was a day to wear red, white and blue, so I wore red slacks, red shoes, white long-sleeved tee and my new navy blue jacket. It worked fine, and I even got a complement on it when we went to breakfast. We saw that there are several new people here, that have evidently moved in. Tonight we had dinner at the same table as a new couple, coming from Maine. They came here because their children have all come to the west coast states. He is an engineer, so the men had something to talk about right away. After breakfast I intended to do something useful, but I didn't. I read a little in one of Patricia Briggs' books, that I have two copies of in paperback. I don't need two, I'll have to remember to ask Kaye if she has it, and I will keep my autographed copy. She can always get Pattie to autograph it, since they see each other every week at their meeting on Wednesdays. I had a little nap, and then it was time to go to lunch. After that, we went for a walk, only three blocks and then back to Las Villas, but that was far enough for me. There were clouds in the sky, and a brisk wind blowing. I guess we will have rain again next week. We talked to Karen and to Kaye today, but not to Carla, but we did talk to her yesterday. Karen said she will be going away for a couple of weeks, but she didn't elaborate. Kaye and Kyle were at home, and she didn't go to see the new house today, so I guess she will tomorrow or the next day. She keeps track of the progress, and I will be so glad when they can move there.

We were a little late getting to breakfast this morning. Afterward I intended to go to the more advanced exercise class, and leave after 30 minutes. But I spent too much time reading the paper, and I didn't get there for the milder part of it. So, I skipped it. Instead I went back to the dining room and ordered two sandwiches and two drinks to go. Karen came to pick us up to go to the beach, where we parked at Tamarack Beach and watched the surfers while we had our lunch. Afterward we were going for a short walk, but we saw a new installation, a pay machine that said that parking would now cost $2 an hour, or $10 for all day parking there. We just looked at it, and then we went back to the car, and drove back to the apartment. I think that is a horrendous price to pay for parking there. Last year we only paid 25cents an hour to park at Oceanside Beach. Karen went home, and then I discovered I had medication that was almost out, that I forgot about renewing the other day. So, we drove down to the Carlsbad Kaiser Pharmacy, and I got a refill. From there we went to Plaza Drive in Oceanside and picked up our new glasses, three pair for each of us - one regular vision, one dark glasses, and one for computer use. They seem to fit quite well, but Chris is going to have to get used to his new regular ones. For some reason, the two eyes don't quite focus the same. I hope he gets used to them, or perhaps he'll have to take them back to be replaced. It was almost time for dinner when we got back here, so we didn't do much, just rested a while, and then went to dinner. We sat with a new couple that have just moved in, and they are still getting used to the place. He is in a wheel chair, and she uses a cane to walk. So I guess we are better off than most of the people here. Back at the apartment we watched the Olympics on TV. Now to bed.

It was still nice this morning, blue sky and sunshine. We went to breakfast, and then after that we decided to go to Wal-Mart and buy a pot for the plant with the large red blooms that Carla give Chris for his birthday. Neither of us can remember the name of it. Anyway, we got the new pot and some large saucers to go under the other plants. He transplanted the one, and it immediately looked better, the blooms perked up, and new potting mix helped out with it, and the other plants, too. I went with him to the store, but I didn't buy anything. I'll have to go shopping sometime, though. Which reminds me, we just skyped with Karen, and she has ordered some black shoes like hers, from the Propet company, for me. I have a pair of beige ones, and I like them, and they are quite a bit cheaper than SAS, by about $40 less. I hope they wear as well, though. While Chris was repotting the plant, I took the laundry down to wash on the 2nd floor. The place was vacant, and I got both loads in and washing at the same time. I took Patricia Briggs' book "Dragon Bones" with me, because I was wearing the "Dragon Bones" shirt Kaye gave me, and people had asked about it at breakfast and lunch. I forgot to say that we went to Simple Yoga class, just after breakfast, but nobody could see my shirt, because I was cold and had a beige sweater zipped up over it. Tonight we watched a little TV, and talked to Kaye just as she was on her way to her Writers' group meeting. We will talk to her about it later. Carla called, too, and we had a good visit.

We just looked at a picture of Kaye's new house, and it does look almost done. She said they still have to finish the one bedroom and install the floors. She sounds thrilled with it, and I'm sure she is, after living in the older house these last few years. I asked how long it would be until they could move in, and she said it was now just a matter of weeks. That's so good to hear. Today we left here as was planned about 9:3o to go to San Diego. It was a nice day, and the roadsides and hills are now green with the new grass that has come up in response to the good rains we have had. California is now at it's best. I'm glad we live here instead of somewhere there's snow still on the ground. And Karen told us that she just had an e-mail from the real estate agent she has in Orroyo Grande, and he said the matter of the sale of the house she and Terry want to buy is still progressing well. I do wonder how long it will take to finish this "Short Sale" they are counting on. Of course they will not move into it even if the sale goes through, until at least a year and probably more. Anyway, we got to San Diego in good time, so we went to the hospital to check on my date of March 9 for my bladder search. I hope I have plenty of anesthetic before they start it! From there we went to the Vandever Kaizer Clinic, and Chris had his eyes checked, by some kind of eye photography. I was there watching it, but I couldn't see anything except a round pupil in each eye. Of course Dr. Dick will look at them, and decide if any more injections will help. Now Chris can see well enough to read the news on the computer, but not on the newspaper. The print is just too fine for him. When we got back here we had a call from Lenon Bezzant, and she told us that Harriette Long has passed away. She outlived her husband by just a few weeks. That is a good way for it to happen, so one is not left alone for long. We will go to the funeral if the weather isn't bad.

Today we had breakfast as usual, although neither of us was hungry. Since I started this reduced liquid diet, I find it affects also my hunger. We came back here and then we went to the Simple Yoga class. Then we worked worked a little while on our papers, and then we went back for lunch. It seemed a waste of a beautiful day, so we stopped our work after lunch and I drove us down to the beach for a walk. I drove, because I haven't driven for a while, and I must take a driving test before my birthday next month. I got along OK with the driving, but I didn't do so well with the walking. I didn't seem to have to the strength I used to have. Maybe I worked too hard at the Yoga class this morning. I'll watch that after this. Karen called after we got back to the apartment, wanting to know what time we have to leave for the Kaiser Clinic in San Diego, for Chris' eye appointment. tomorrow. It will be at 11:15, so she said she would pick us up at 9:30. That should give us plenty of time to get down there. So far, I haven't been able to get through to Dr. Donahoe's office, to cancel my appointment for March 9 in San Diego. I hate to ask Karen to take us down there again. But Chris has already talked to her about going, and she said she would talk to Dr. Donahoe about it. That may be in vain, because he has already made up his mind that I need these tests. But we will see what happens. We talked briefly to Kaye, and she enjoyed the Literary Con that she and Kyle just went to. I'm glad she can go to those, it really cheers her up to converse with other writers. Also, she says their new house is almost built, except for one bedroom, because they ran out of lumber and had to wait for more. Kyle went over there, and he said it looked like a really good house.

We went through our usual routine this morning, up, shower, go to breakfast, back to the apartment to read the paper. Then, for a good change, we went to Church at the Oceanside 4th ward. That means driving there, but I'd rather do that than start going to the Carlsbad ward nearer here, that the driver at Las Villas would drive us to. We have friends in Oceanside, and that's where Karen goes, so we don't want to change. We came back here after the first session, but sometime I'd like to stay again to all three meetings. But so far, Chris doesn't want to. Maybe I can get a ride back here with a member who lives across the street from us now, and stay for all three meetings. I don't know if that would be a good idea or not. I don't want to make any problems between me and my dear husband. I want to stay close to him always. Anyway, we came back here and had lunch and then came back to the apartment. After that, we went for a short walk around the grounds here, and then meant to come back. here afterward. In our walk we tried to visit the building A, and we found Verla Reece's name on a door there. We knocked, but there was no answer. I inquired at the nurses' station there, and Verla's furniture had arrived, but she was still in the health center, but at a different room. I went to see her, while Chris came back to building B to get our mail. I went to see Verla, and she had been up for lunch, and had just been put back to bed, so I didn't stay long. She was tired. I came back to the apartment, and Chris and I both had a little nap, while watching TV. Later we went to dinner, and then back here. I should work on the rest of the medical records, but I guess I won't tonight. Tomorrow is another day.

It was a little warmer last night, so I slept right through till morning. We went to breakfast as usual, then came back here to read the paper which had been kindly slipped under our door. Then it was The Stretch and Flex exercise class, but we went anyway, with the idea of staying only 1\2 an hour. Even though it was only that short time, I was quite exhausted when we left and came back to the apartment. I meant to just rest a little while in my chair, but I went to sleep for an hour! Then I got up and worked a while on recording our medical expenses of the last few months of last year, and what we have so far this year. I didn't get very far along, but after lunch I tackled it again. I managed to to get Chris's all caught up, and got started on mine, but I still didn't get it very far at all. I went back to watch TV for the Rick Steves program, and then we went to dinner. It was John White's 98th birthday, and they passed a piece of the birthday cake all around to all of us in the dining room. It was later than usual, so the cake got to everybody there, including of course his family who had come to celebrate with him. It was nice that he wanted to share with everybody. He is healthy looking, for all of the years he has spent, and walks without a cane or anything, taking care of his wife., and driving his car occasionally. He once told me he lost his first wife and married again to have someone to take care of him. But it didn't work out that way. It's his present wife, Jane, that he is taking care of now. After dinner we watched our usual Brit TV shows, one is in a complete re-run, so we have seen most of it once before. But we missed some, so there are a few surprises.

I skipped writing yesterday, I don't know why. but I will try to remember what happened. We had breakfast, and then we went to the Gentle Yoga class. Sometimes I think it's too gentle, but then I can't really keep up with the Stretch and Flex class. Both classes work with the upper body, but somehow my knees never get the strength to go with the rest. I guess I need more walking. Today Karen came over, and had dinner with us. It was a special dinner, to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The food was good, and the decorations and the music added to the enjoyment of the evening. Karen reported there was some more action on her buying the house in Orroyo Grande, but nothing definite yet. She said she quite sure it would go through, because the agent up there is not showing the house to anyone else now. Even if it does finally go through, She and Terry will rent it out, for at least a year and perhaps more, before they will move up there. So, we don't need to worry about our going up there for a while yet. We have thought about moving back into our house in the meantime, but that seems such an effort. The renters would like to buy it, but they don't have the capital to do it. Maybe they will in a year or two. Now, that it is Friday, I will write what we did today. For some reason I didn't sleep well last night, so I was glad to get up when the radio came on at 7a.m. I had my shower, and we went to breakfast. Afterward we came back to the apartment and read the paper, which one of the workers here brings to us when he is on duty. Then we drove to the Kaiser Pharmacy here in Carlsbad, and we picked up 4 medications for Chris and two for me. I meant to do the driving on the way back, to practice for my driving test I have to take before my birthday. But we both forgot that. Instead Chris drove, and we stopped at Tamarack Beach and went for a walk. We went as far as the next stairway, and turned around and walked back to the car. The sun was out, but there was a stiff breeze all the way. I was glad for my warm coat. When we got back here we had a short rest, and then went to lunch. We sat with friends we have made here, that we often sit with, but that's the sole contact we have with them. They don't go to the exercise classes, and we don't play Bridge or other card games. I guess we should, but somehow we have never got started at it. Our time seems to be involved with keeping up our records, napping sometimes, and doing laundry, etc., and talking to our daughters and grandchildren, and occasionally to Church friends. It is a good relaxed life for us older people.

We went to breakfast as usual this morning. After that we went to the mild exercise class. And then we came back to the apartment and I got ready to go to the Alpha Chi Omega luncheon at a Winery in Rancho Bernardo. Linda Shelden picked me up, and she had another member with her. When we got there, the cafe was in an old building with a concrete floor, and I was cold the whole time I was there. Now my nose is running constantly, and I just hope I am not getting a bad cold. While I was gone Chris worked on our income tax, and I think he has almost got it done. When I got back here I offered to help, but he couldn't find anything for me to do. I worked a while on our medical history, and gave up on it. We went to dinner, and when we came back we watched the news on TV. He is busy again on the taxes, I guess. But he did give me this computer to do my blog, and I can't see what he is doing on the other computer. I don't want to get up and look, because that might upset him, and me too. We talked to Kaye, and she got to skype with Stellan and Caden, and she said it looked like Caden was trying to get into the computer and talk to her. That must have been a cute thing. I am so glad Caden is getting better all the time. He is such a miracle child, having that heart transplant and doing so well now. I sincerely hope nothing happens to slow him up. When we moved here, we decided to try it for a year, and then decide whether or not we wanted to stay. It has been ten months, and we are still trying to decide what we will do after the year is up. Should we stay here, or move back to our house until Karen and Terry have made their move to Orroyo Grande? That isn't yet a sure thing, either. Decisions, decisions!

This morning when I was showering I washed my hair, too. So I had to set it, and it turned out mostly OK. I think from now on I will do it myself every other week, and have the girl here do it the remaining weeks. I'll have to do my nails, too, because I have been neglecting them. At noon we went to the beach and met Karen there. We brought our sandwiches and she brought hers, and we all had sodas. The waves were not high, but I like to look at them anyway. The people in the next car were feeding the seagulls, and that was sort of a mess of birds, until the people ran out of food. We came back here afterward, and had a short nap, as usual. Chris is working on the income tax, and I help when I can. Otherwise, I have been lazy, reading one of the French books by Pattie Briggs and also reading in Tom Brokaw's book. We had dinner in the dining room, and now there are some news shows, and then a special about relics found in the Bahamas that I think will be interesting. That's one good thing about public TV, they do find occasional science programs related to the understanding abilities of people like us. We know a little, but not much knowledge in depth. It is interesting to watch these programs.

Now we'll go to Monday, which is today. We did go to breakfast today, and then came back to the apartment. Karen called and said she would come over for a visit. We were happy to see her, and she brought me a rose quartz bracelet, which I am now wearing. She said they had a good trip, and Terry seemed to do well. But she did most of the driving, so I guess that rested him. We talked about her offer to buy a house in Oroyo Grande, and she had to send more information to the agent, but so far no one else is bidding on it. And if the county appraiser approves the price and bid, then then the sale should go though. A "Short Sale" seems to be anything but. We also talked about the place for seniors up there, and she said the rooms are a little smaller than we have here, but the housing market there isn't as expensive as here. So that is a plus in favor of our following her and Terry when they move up there. That may be more than a year from now. There is no point in our being concerned about it now. We are settled in here, and we have made friends of a group of people.

We got watching TV last night, and I didn't get my blog written. So here it is. We skipped breakfast, because it was a fast day in our church. We got there just in time for the first service at 11. I had to write our tithing check in the car on the way, because I forgot to do it before we left here. We stayed for only the one session. Back here we sat downstairs and read the Sunday paper, and then came upstairs. We went to a late lunch, thus ending our fast a little early. But at our age, does it really matter? I guess most people would say yes, because we are nearer to our demise than other people. I guess I should take that into consideration next fast time. Back at the apartment we had a call from Bianca. She and a girl friend had been to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and would come to see us on their way back to their medical school. I invited them to have dinner here, and they joined us in a nice visit and dinner. They left soon after, because they have early morning classes. But it was really nice to have them here. We also got a call from Karen, and she and Terry are back safely from their trip to Tucson to the Gem Show. I'm glad Karen is keeping up with the jewelry, even though she doesn't have a shop now. It gives her something special to do, especially when she conducts tours at the Gemology Institute. We stayed up late, watching a movie on TV, that was interrupted constantly with ads.

Now we are up to Saturday. It rained most of the night, and was still raining this morning. We had intended to go to Don Long's funeral in Fallbrook, about 20 miles from here. However, we talked about it, and really intended to go in spite of the rain, but there is only one road, Highway 76, and there is roadwork going on there, that we didn't trust. So, we stayed here instead. I was very upset, but I called Harriette, but all she could say was Hello, and then the care taker took over. It was 11 a.m., and the funeral was at 1p.m., and the caretaker said she didn't think Harriette could make it. I told Harriette that we would see her later, that we had sent a bouquet of flowers, to represent us. I hope the people got it there OK. It was a new florist to us. Alene, Lenon Bezzant's daughter, isn't doing flowers anymore. I finally got control of myself, after we got back up here. We went to lunch, and came back to the apartment, and I started reading Tom Brokaw's book, "Boom", about the 1960's, until it was time to go to dinner. We had dinner, and then came back here, talked to Kaye, then watched our Saturday night TV shows.

I missed writing last night so, I will do that now. We had our breakfast as usual, read the paper, and then went to the Oceanside Kaiser Clinic for Chris to get his blood checked. We forgot about that yesterday, when I went to the clinic in Carlsbad. Then we went to Walmart and bought the things we missed yesterday. I like my new black house slippers, but they are a little big; I prefer to wear the lavendar ones Carla gave me. I used the wave-set on the little curls at my neckline that refused to stay curled, and it works. We got back here barely in time for lunch. After that Chris worked at the computer and I did the washing. I took the French edition of Pattie Brigg's first Mercy book with me. And I read into the 4th chapter. I stopped just before Mercy finds Adam badly hurt, and Jesse missing. I will read again tomorrow.

We had a lot to do today, so we had breakfast and then got ready for it. First of all, we went shopping for some supplies, and forgot to bring our list. I did get a new pair of house slippers, and then we bought a box of Cheerios and forgot a Christmas present for Charles and Mabel, which we didn't get, because we were ill at the time.. Other things forgotten were a thermometer, and a box for my sweaters. Those will have to wait for another time. We got back here in time for lunch, and then we went to the Kaiser Clinic in Carlsbad for my appointment with Dr. Donahoe. I am in good shape, except I don't have enough sodium in my body. So, I am still on my low liquids diet, darn. When we got back to the apartment house, there was a new activity going on, and so few people at it, I stayed to see what it was about. Well, it wasn't much, really, just Music, Movement and Laughter. We sat in a circle, and a woman led us in some old songs with waving your arms around, and pretending to laugh. I will do the other exercise classes, and miss this one. The only problem was they have the names of all the women, and one man, that were there, and will look us up if we don't come. Oh well, I can find something else to be doing on those days. We talked to Carla, and she and Rex are looking forward to a trip to Hawaii next month, and they will stay in a condo that is on Karen's time share. That's a great idea. Karen was feeling that she wasn't going to keep the time share thing, but she may after all. We just talked to Kaye, and she said Stellan and Sara and Caden are coming back to live in the Tri-Cities area.

This morning we had breakfast and then intended to go to Mild Yoga exercise class. But the elevator was not working. So we walked down one flight to the exercise room, exercised, then had to climb up the steps to the 3rd floor. It's a good thing we had been practicing walking up and down the 4 steps in the lobby! We were able to climb the steps to the 3rd floor. Then at 10:30 we walked down 2 flights to the main floor, to meet Joe, the bus driver, who would take us to the Kaiser Clinic in Vista. We left a little earlier than we planned, because Joe had some other people who needed to go that way. At the clinic we waited until Chris could see Dr. White, and get prescriptions for new glasses. We are hoping they will work to get rid of his double vision. Back at the Villas the elevator had been fixed, and we had lunch and then came back to the apartment. We had a nap, both of us, and then Chris worked at the computer, and I fussed around trying to make a little progress on those dern medical files. We went to dinner, and then came back here to watch the news. Karen called, and she and Terry had reached Tucson, where they are going to the gem show. They will be back here Sunday afternoon or evening, depending on how soon they leave. We talked to Kaye, and she is sending us new pictures of their new house. It looks like a lovely place to live. I hope they will be able to move in soon. Kaye also Skyped with us, and that is always nice.

This morning Karen called, and she said she would pick us up at noon, and we would drive down to the beach and we'd have lunch there. The sun was shining then, and of course we said, yes. About 11 we ordered two sandwiches, and I had brought two sweet things from breakfast to take, and we still had two tangerines left from those that my visiting teacher brought me, that I put in with the sandwiches and drinks. There's a notice near the elevator that says coke isn't good for ladies over 6o; it will cause osteoporosis. So, I limit my use of it for occasions like this. We put the cokes in jugs with lids, so they wouldn't spill, and it worked. The sun even came out again a little, so we could enjoy the color of the ocean. There were some porpoises swimming just out from the breaking surf. They were beautiful to see when they arched over the water! We got back to Las Villas about 1:30, and we came up to the apartment. We had a short nap, and then we watched an episode of "Dr. Who" on TV. I don't really care for it, but it was the best on at that time. Then Chris worked at the computer and I worked on keeping up my list of our medical expenses. If and when we move to Arroyo Grande we will need a different medical provider. There's no Kaiser Clinics up there. We'd have to drive to the Fresno area to find one. So, I was looking at alternate medical services just in case. We had our dinner and came back to the apartment. I'll stop writing for now, there's the one -hour news we like on TV. That is over now, but there's really nothing more to do except working a little more on our medical records. That could go on for hours, but I'll work at it only about an hour and a half.

This is the first of February, and I can't believe it. Time has just lost it's meaning, I guess. We do many of the usual things, like eating three meals a day, and we go to other activities here at Las Villas de Carlsbad. And thank goodness for our church connections. That breaks up the monopoly of it all. Karen is coming over tomorrow, and we will go to the beach with her, and that is a real break in the routine, thank goodness. After our breakfast today we went for a short walk, down Laguna to Jefferson St. but we turned around and came back before we reached Jefferson. I got too tired. We came back in to the coffee shop and read the paper, and then practiced walking up and down the 4 steps from the lobby to the corridor near the elevator. After lunch I tried to get some bills paid, but I didn't get them all done. Carla is taking care of the rental of our house, but I still had to pay the taxes, but she said she would change all that; she would take care of it all. We tried to find Kaye's new house on the maps on the computer, but we didn't quite get it. She said she would sent us the right coordinates to get it. I'm looking forward to that. I just hit a d that went half way across the page. I can't imagine what I was going to say. I guess it's time to stop writing and go to bed. I'll write again tomorrow.