Since this was Sunday, we got dressed for Church. First, we had breakfast, and then we went almost half an hour earlier than usual, because the Ward had not given us credit for a check we had given them in November. We have a new Bishop and councilors, so that may be the reason. Anyway, the papers Chris had, convinced the Bishop that they had received the check. After Sacrament Meeting we came back to the Villas, and we had our lunch. Then back at the apartment I had a rest. At 4 o'clock Brother Lafrano, our home teach came to visit. He stayed and talked for 50 minutes, a little long for a home teaching visit. But he is a friend, whom we can call anytime we need him, like the time I was in the hospital, and the attendants there couldn't stop my broken nose from bleeding. Then Karen called Jean Odou, and she called Bishop Lafrano , who gave me a blessing, and the bleeding stopped! It was a real miracle for me. But now back to our day; After Bro Lafrano left, we went to dinner. We came back here and watched a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Carla and Rex skyped us, over the computer. I think the skyping is the best thing that has been invented since the computer. I really enjoy seeing the family on it. We also talked to Kaye, and also to Karen. Kaye had a shot today, so it has been miserable for her. Karen and Terry had gotten back from taking Terry's daughter to the airport, so she could go back to Illinois, where she and her new husband live. By the way, the pictures we saw a while ago on TV showed a very deteriorated Detroit. I liked this city when we were there Dec.7, 1942, and for the month more that we were there.

This is a different kind of day. Nothing much happened. We got up, went to breakfast, came back here to read the paper and then go downstairs to give the paper to the clerk in the office. I decided to go visit a friend in the health care center, Verla Reece, and I walked over to that building. Verla was in the very first room in the building, so she isn't hard to find. But there was someone in her room reading a paper of regulations of some kind. So, I waited in the hall. Soon a nurse came by and asked what I wanted, and when I told her, she smiled and led me into the room. The woman reading turned out to be Verla's daughter, and we got acquainted. I didn't stay long, because I knew that the daughter was more important than me there. I went back to the apartment, and Karen had called. Terry's daughter is visiting, and Karen just called to see how we were. I asked Chris if he wanted to go for a walk. And he said yes, and we started out. The sun was out, but there was a cool breeze blowing, and I soon wanted to go back inside. It was lunch time, so we went in and had some. There was strawberry shortcake for dessert, but it turned out to be frozen berries. I guess it is a little early for the new crop. We came back to the apartment and called Kaye. She said she wasn't doing much, she feels better when she has her shot coming up the next day if she takes it easy the day before, too. We rested a while and then watched some TV, and went to supper. Back to the apartment we watched more TV. Now Chris is going for a walk around the corridors, because we didn't walk very far outside. I guess I'll just stay here; I am ready for bed, almost, so I'll go finish that, and get an early start on the night.

I just talked to Kaye, and I reviewed our day. So, I should be able to put it down here. After breakfast I took our white batch of clothes down to the second floor laundry and put them in to wash. I read in one of Patricia Briggs' French books, and I got a little way along. It has been may years since I studied French, so I have to look up words now and then. And of course I have the English version I can compare if necessary. But I didn't take it with me today- just a small dictionary. And this small one didn't have some of the words I looked up. After putting the clothes in the dryer, I went to the elevator to go back up to our apartment, but it wasn't working! But there was one of the workman right there, and he offered to help me climb the stairs, and we made it up. I went to the apartment, and Chris came with me to the dining room for lunch. After that I found the elevator was working again, and went down and got the laundry and brought it back with me. I was tired, so I didn't put it away, but instead I sat in the recliner and went to sleep, until it was time to get my hair done. I was about 15 minutes late, so the one operator had started on someone else, and I had to wait a while. but that was OK. I rested again while I waited. When the hair was done I went back to the apartment and found I had missed the birthday party for the oldest resident-- a lady who turned 101 today! Anyway, we went to dinner and then came back to our apartment. We had phone calls from Brittany an Bianca both! It was so nice to talk to them. They both seem to be doing well with their schoolwork. Bianca had just assisted in the C-section of a new mother, and took care of the baby afterward. And Brittany is working at Disneyland, as well as going to college. Later we talked to Kaye. She said the electric lights were installed in their new house today, and that she had them in the old house, and took them over to the new house in two loads. And the first load was already installed by the time she got back to the new house with the rest of them. I''m so glad the new house is progressing so well.

Today we went to breakfast as usual, and then we came back to the apartment and read the paper. Chris didn't want to go to the more advanced exercise class, so I went alone. I overdid myself, and I've been exhausted all day since. From now on, it's the milder exercise for me, too! Karen invited us to go to lunch down at the beach, so we got sandwiches and drinks from the dining room here, and she picked us up about 12. She found a good place to park along the shore above the beach near Tamarack St., where we like to go. We enjoyed it, it was a beautiful day, and the waves high. We saw lots of people out walking with their dogs, and that was fun to watch, too. When we got back here, I sat down and went to sleep for an hour. I was rested, and ready to watch the computer screen when Stellan called that he would show us Caden. But it didn't work out, because Caden had something to eat and fell asleep right afterwards. Stellan said he would call again, when Caden wakes up, so we are waiting for that. Karen hasn't heard any more about the house she wants to buy in Orroyo Grande. These short sales are a long time to come to the end, it seems. She is still counting on it, though. I hope it turns out the way she wants. That means a lot of changes for her and Terry, and also for us, because we agreed to go, too. I looked at the booklet she brought us about the senior housing she found up there, and we could fit into one, I think. r

This morning we had our breakfast,and then we went with Joe in the Las Villas small bus to San Marcos Kaiser Clinic. Joe made two stops along the way to drop off two other people looking for different health facilities. We got to Chris' appointment about an hour early. He checked in, and the receptionist told him it would be about 45 minutes until he could see the doctor for his appointment to have his nose bleeding condition checked.

With that much time available, we went to the laboratory where I had blood drawn for tests Dr. Donahoe ordered, and that saved us a trip to the Kaiser Clinic in Carlsbad. I'm glad Kaiser has this computer connection with all the different offices. I hope , though, that the general public cannot get all this information . But there's not much I can do about that.

The doctor Chris saw, didn't do much about his nose, except put a lot of different things in it, and said he wanted another doctor to look at him. So, we had to make another appointment to go back to San Marcos. If we can't get a ride to there, we will cancel the appointment.

We got back here for the last 25 minutes of lunch. I had a sandwich and two drinks, hot cocoa and a glass of water. I just assumed my 1000cc of liquids drinking was lifted, since the week was over, and the Dr. had ordered the new blood tests. But when we got back to the apartment, Dr. Donahoe's nurse called and made an appointment for me with Dr. Donahoe. She also said I was to continue limiting the liquids! I had already drunk at least 32 oz.today, so I took most of my pills with my dinner. There was one big one that wouldn't go down, so I did have a swallow of water . I'll have another little drink before I go to bed.

This morning we hurried to breakfast and then hurried to the Vista Kaiser Clinic to see Dr. Schannon. One reason we hurried, was to get there before the rain started. Actually, it didn't start till much later. Anyway, my visit with Dr. Schannon was OK. I told him I was feeling a lot better, but that I did have some worries about our maybe going back to the house. But I don't think Chris wants to do that anymore, after we went there later to get some window washing materials. The front yard looks a little better than last time, but all the family had gone somewhere, and the gates were locked. Chris managed to get the front iron gates open and went around the house to get to the storage units. He found the door to the patio room open, and the room full of junk, and the dog was loose in the yard, which also had some junk, and where the dog could get to anywhere in the house. It was pretty discouraging. We came back to the Villas and had our lunch, and then we got the mail, and there was the Turbo Tax program. He started to get ready to use it, and I read the rest of the mail, and then returned a call on the phone. That was from my visiting teacher who wanted to come over. I called her, and she came over. She visited a while and also brought me the booklets for studying for the Sunday School classes and the Relief Society meetings this year. I read the first few lessons, and then gave up. We went to dinner, and then came back here. We talked talked a while to Carla and to Kaye, and later to Karen.

This morning we had our breakfast and then read the paper, and then waited for Tom and Joan Christensen to arrive. They did, and right on time. It seems they have the direction finder called a GPS in their car, so they were able to find their way here without any trouble. We had a nice visit with them, and they had lunch with us in the dining room here at Las Villas de Carlsbad. Tom is 70 now, but he is still going strong, as is Joan. they have 6 children and I think it is 25 grandchildren and one great grandchild, like us. I mean we have only 3 children and six grandchildren, and one great grandchild. We just talked to Kaye, and her cold is not any worse, and she is still excited about the house they are having built. I hope it's finished soon, so they can move in. I'm sure she will enjoy it more than the old house, and besides being new, it is close to the tri-cities. We haven't heard from Carla, but it's already 9.p.m. and I hate to call her so late. I'll try tomorrow morning, before going to my appointment at Vista Kaiser Clinic. We are wondering if we should move back to our house in Oceanside. But that would mean another move when Karen and Terry go to Orroyo Grande. We told her we would go up there, too. She even brought us information about a community living place up there near the house they want to buy. We have moved a lot, but it always is an effort. We will see what happens.

Chris couldn't sleep last night, so this morning he didn't feel like going to breakfast. So I went alone, had my breakfast, and took some to him in the apartment. He ate it, and he was still feeling tired, so he went back to bed. I read the paper, and he went to sleep. I decided we wouldn't go to Church, so I didn't wake him for that, and he finally woke up about 1.p.m. We had lunch of some sandwiches and fries in the apartment, and then he went back to sleep. I read a while in the Bible, and then I had a rest, too. I woke Chris at about 4, since we were to be at Karen's for dinner. He was feeling a lot better, and we drove to Karen and Terry's house and had a very nice dinner. We didn't stay to visit much afterward. We had to get home before dark. Neither of us drive well at night. We made it back here just as the darkness began. Luckily we don't have to go on freeways to get to and from Karen's house. Tonight Tom Christensen called, and he and Joan will come to see us about 10 in the morning and then stay for lunch. I called Karen to see if she could come over for a visit, but she is busy tomorrow and can't make it. She conducts tours at the Gemological Society. We talked to Kaye, and she has a cold and spent the day in bed. I hope she recovers soon, with no ill effects. Her good health is very important, so she won't have more trouble with the M.S. It's late to call Carla now, so I will put it off until tomorrow morning.

We were a little late getting up, but were in time for breakfast. After that we read the paper, and then we went to the stress- exercise class. It was hard for us, but we managed most of it. After that we got sandwiches from the kitchen and we drove down to the beach. We parked and ate our lunch in the car, because the tables were full. Then we went for a walk, as far as between two life guard stations. Then back to the car. It was a nice day, except for a cool wind and a few clouds. The surf was high, and we saw only two surfers in all that time. And they were having trouble catching waves, there were so many and so high. When we got back to the apartment, I started to read in the French edition of one of Pattie's books, and I fell asleep. I woke up about two hours later, and tried to watch a little T.V. but I couldn't find anything I wanted to see. After dinner, we came back here, and I went looking for the program for tomorrow's classes at Church. But I couldn't find them, but I did manage to clear out a dresser drawer while I was looking. So, the time wasn't entirely lost. Then I came looking for Chris and found him at the computer. Then he got Karen on the skype system, and we had a nice talk with her. She invited us to dinner tomorrow, so we will certainly have a nice dinner; she is such a good cook, and we enjoy our visits with her and Terry.

We went to breakfast as usual, and then we came back to the apartment and read the morning paper, that one of the staff graciously put under our door. Then we went downstairs and left the paper at the front desk and then we went for a walk. It wasn't a long walk, because it was cold and cloudy and looked as though it might rain any time. We came back in for lunch, and then while we were just finishing that, one of the staff came into the dining room and told us we had a visitor, Mr. Oddou. Gary Oddou is a friend from Church, and he had been in Carlsbad to look at a surf board to buy. He is an avid surfer. He said he had been over here a couple of times, but he didn't know exactly where we lived. But I guess he found our from Karen and Terry, he is their home teacher. Anyway, we brought him up to the apartment, and we had a nice visit. He has family in F rance, and he talks to me at church sometimes in French, and I've forgotten so much I sometimes miss it. So now I am reading one of Pattie Briggs' books in French to brush up on the language. We evidently missed a call about Caden, so I'll close here and see if we can connect there.

This day was another rainy one. It started out just clouded over, but about 10a.m. the rain started again. Our phones are still out, although we had a man here this afternoon to fix them. Thank goodness we have the cell phones to keep in touch with the outside world. Karen called about 10, just as we were about to drive to the Kaiser Clinic to get a prescription for Chris, and I wanted to talk in person to Dr. Donahoe's nurse, to try to find out why I am now on the fluid restricted diet. Karen said she would be over about 11 and take us down there, and then we all would go to Margie Rempel's house for lunch. Well, it all worked out OK, except the nurses all three I talked to couldn't tell me why I was on the fluid restriction. They said they couldn't tell me, but the last one would ask the Dr. and then call me , on my cell phone, and I gave her the number. But she hasn't called, and it's now 8:30p.m. It was still pouring rain when we got to Margie's for the lunch. It was a nice lunch, and we enjoyed it. She took us a tour of her house, and pointed out the improvements she had made. It was nice, the house. When we left there the sun was shining. But tonight it is raining again. I guess we are in for a real rain. Los Angeles area is quite swamped now, so it may continue down here, too. We talked to Kaye today, and she was off shopping, so we didn't talk very long. we tried to get Carla on both her house telephone and her cell phone, but we couldn't reach her. I will just assume everything is all right, and that she will call us back soon.

It didn't turn out that I did what I planned for today. Instead, we had breakfast and then Karen came over. She told us about her trip, and that she and Danya went to Arroyo Grande and saw the house she wants, and they also went to the senior community near there. She looked at the apartments, which are a little smaller than here, and only 50 of them. She also brought back a brochure with all the info. about them. They are smaller and cheaper than the ones here. But then even if we did follow her and Terry up there, it wouldn't be for a year and a half or more. After Karen left we read the paper, and then we went to lunch. After that I did the washing, to catch up on the things that got blood on them from Chris' nose, and all the socks that I forgot to wash last week. While they washed, I read in the new book, "The Firm". For some reason all three phones in the apartment aren't working. It's late now to call a repair man, but we will tomorrow. It's good we have cell phones. However, I still couldn't connect with Dr. Donahoe's office. But tomorrow we have to go down to the clinic to get a prescription for Chris, and I can go over to the office and talk to Dr. Donahoe's nurse about why I'm not to drink more than 1000cc. of fluids each day for a week. If I know, perhaps I can change my diet to overcome what's wrong.

The electric power was off briefly last evening, and that threw our electric clocks off. We slept a little later, but that didn't matter because we made it to breakfast the last half hour. After that we went to get the car serviced and the smog control checked, so we can get new license plates. We got back in time for lunch, and then we went downstairs to read the newspaper, since we don't take it ourselves anymore. There are always copies to be read, at the front desk, and the people here can read them in the coffee shop and then give them back. I just talked to Kaye, and she told me to call Dr Donahoe's office to find out why I am to restrict my fluids to 1000cc a day. I should know why, and then alter my diet to include power drinks. I hate to be in the dark of why I should do things, and Kaye is right. I will call first thing in the morning. I don't know if I told him I am cold all the time, and I sleep a lot. I did try this afternoon to clean up my desk, but I will have to work on it again tomorrow. We don't have anything special on our schedule, so I have a lot of time to do it. I mailed my letter to Claudia, so now I should be able to collect our Christmas cards we received, and throw away last year's, and put the new ones in the file I keep for cards. And then there are a lot of medical files I must check over, and record them in my little book I keep for that. Those things will keep me busy tomorrow.

This morning the rain which was forcast finally got here. After breakfast we got ready to go to the Carlsbad Kaiser Clinic to pick up some prescriptions and take in a sample to the lab there. As we got to the front desk here at Las Villas, Chris asked if Joe could take us in the limo. The receptionist called Joe, and he said yes, he could do it right now. So, we had a ride down and back and didn't have to drive ourselves over the rain-soaked roads. As I went into the lab at Kaiser, I saw the Professor, a man we had just seen at breakfast. I didn't know anyone here besides us, and Joe, were members of Kaiser. After we got back here it started to rain in earnest. We were worried about Karen driving all the way down from Porterville. But that dear daughter called us, to report that she was on her way, in the rain which fell all the way down. Then she called again when she had crossed the Grapevine (the road over the mountains north of Las Angeles), to report in, and then she called again when she was near Disneyland, and again when she reached her home in Oceanside. By then it was late afternoon, and the rain and wind were coming down hard here. We were so glad she was back safely. The weather report says it will rain the rest of the week, and probably we will get about 6 inches. That's hard to say, but at least it has finally come to revive the dry plants all over the area. We also talked to Kaye, and she told us their house is progressing very well. Now she said she will start looking at her furniture, some of it stored, to see if has to be replaced, after their 8- year stay in the little house in the village of Burbank.

After a quick breakfast we headed to the Church here in Carlsbad, because it was a stake meeting of all the wards. Usually they have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but this time we all met at 10 a.m. and saw and heard a message from Salt Lake City by three general authorities. The first two were quite general, but the last one was one to remember. He is second Counselor to Pres. Monson, Dieter Uchtdorf. He was very explicit, saying that the youth of the church need to be well educated in all the principals of the religion, and how parents can help them, with daily prayer and scripture study. I cetainly agree with what he said, but it's sometimes hard to accomplish. We got back here in time for lunch, which is really dinner here, with a little lighter meal at night. We went downstairs to the Coffee Shop and read the Sunday paper, and then came back to the apartment. I sat down and relaxed utterly, and I slept for about two hours! I didn't realize I was so tired. It was time for dinner, so we went to the dining room. I had French toast and then a small piece of pumkin pie. It was dripping a little rain, so we didn't go outside for our walk, but instead we went back and forth along the halls of this building. That included the first floor, where we picked up our mail. Back here we read it, and that was about the extent of our day.

Today we went rather late to breakfast; Chris wasn't feeling so well, but when we had the meal, he felt a little better. We went back to the apartment and rested a little while, and soon he was feeling better. We didn't go to the exercise class, since it was the harder one. We just read the paper and then he went to the computer and I meant to write to Claudia and answer her late Christmas card, but I procrastinated and didn't get to it by lunch time. Before going there, though, we went down to the laundry, and the two washers were empty. So we went back to the apartment and gathered up the dirty clothes, and went back and put them in to wash. Then, we went to lunch. Afterward I went to the laundry room and put everything into the dryers, and read in "The Firm" book. Later Chris came down with the hangers, and we brought the dry things back to the apartment. While I was still the laundry room, Lenon Bezzant called, and she said that Don Long had passed away. We had known he was quite ill, because he told us he had dropped from 160 lbs. to 115! I called Lenon back, and she said she was going to call Harriette, and she would call me back. She said Harriette would like to talk to me, so then I called her. She had difficulty talking, but she did tell me there would not be a memorial service right away. I guess that means they will wait for the family to gather. They have two children and their families, who live in Las Vegas and in a place near Nevada, I gathered. So, we will wait to hear. Lenon said that Harriette has a comstant companion living there, a nice lady who stayed with another old friend, who died at age 100. Karen called, and said she had sent us plans of the retirement place she had found. We called Kaye, who was at a party, and will call us later.

Today was an active one. We had our breakfast as usual, then we went back to the apartment to get ready to go to see Dr. Donahoe. We got there just in time for my appointment, and then Chris' followed mine. After seeing him, we went to the lab for tests, and then we came back here. We had lunch, and then we read the paper in our apartment. I dozed off, and Chris woke me, to remind me of my hairdo appointment. I got there as quickly as I could, but I was late. I had my hair done, though, and came back here just in time to go with Chris back to the Kaiser clinic and pharmacy again, to pick up new medication for Chris for an infection, and I have to have a new test for a posssible blood leak. Darn. I guess getting old isn't just a relaxation of household duties, but a fight for health from now on. Karen called to tell us she had reached Danya's house OK, and we also talked to Kaye a while. She seems cheerful, and hopeful about the new house being done soon. I have a new book, new to me, "The Firm" by John Grisham. I started it the other day, when I was already tired, and I can't remember much of what I read. I'll have to start over with it, I guess. I did get that the Firm, is a law firm, and that the hero has just been accepted as one of the lawyers. The reviews are good, but then aren't they always, so people will buy the book?

Today we had breakfast as usual, and then we read the paper that one of the employees slipped under our door, so we didn't have to go down to the coffee shop to read one. Then we went to the Stretch and Flex exercise class. Neither of us could really keep up but we did about three-fourths of them. We came back here, and straightened up the apartment, and then we went to an early lunch. Then about 1;45 Karen came to pick us up. I had an appointment in the Vista Kaiser building to have my eyes checked, prior to getting new glasses. The Doctor who did it told me my vision is now 20-20 in one eye and 20-40 in the other. He gave me two prescriptions to be filled for new glasses. Chris stopped at the 2nd floor office to see what it would cost to have the prescriptions filled there, and they told him $250. So, we will go back to the cheaper place, on Plaza Drive, where we had been before, to have them filled. Karen didn't stay when she brought us back here. She is leaving tomorrow to go see Danya, and to take her with her to see the houses available in Orroyo Grande, where they intend to move in a year or so. She will be back here on Sunday night. I guess I already wrote that she asked us to go up there, too. She had already located a senior community there for us. Of course we said yes. It's shorter there to go to Carla's or Kaye's, if we want to, or if they want to come see us. When we got back here, we had an early dinner, and after that I was chilling, so I wrapped up and sat in a recliner, sleeping a little, and watching some TV. Now I'm no longer chilling, so I guess I'm OK.

Today has been a little different. We went to breakfast as usual, and then downstairs to take a quick look at a newspaper, and the back up to the 2nd floor for the Gentle Yoga class. Then we came back to the apartment, where I picked up my coat and purse. Then at 10:30 Linda Sheldon came to pick me up. We drove to San Bernardo to the Alpha Chi Omega alumnae meeting. The meeting was at a member's house, and we each brought a sandwich for lunch, and the hostess provided a drink and dessert. The business meeting was the first thing, and all the committees reported on their activities, and outlined what was in the near future. The main thing was the next meeting, which was to be a lunch at a restaurant that is in connection with a winery. If I am well next month, I will go with Linda again, but I will not do any of the wine tasting! It was nice to see the old friends that were at this meeting, but our numbers are getting fewer all the time. The group is going to merge with some more recent graduates, who meet at night now, because they work in the daytime. I wonder if that means they will come in the daytime, or our group will come at night. If it's the latter, I'm afraid our older group won't want to drive to a meeting at night. When I got home later Chris and I had a little nap and then went to dinner. After that I refilled my medical tablets for the week, and then Chris called in the refills we need; we each were out of one tablet.

We went to breakfast as usual, only a little earlier. That didn't make much difference in the day, though. I resolved to read Pattie Briggs' book, "Moon Called" which I had started reading in the French edition a week ago. I was now on page 39, and I couldn't get the meaning of some of the words, where Mercy has Mac in almost wolf-form in the garage. So I got out the English version and read that, and I didn't stop after getting that read, and I kept reading in the English version, instead of the French, dummy me! Later we went to lunch at the beach with Karen. We had gotten sandwiches and drinks from the dining room here, and Karen had brought hers. We were able to park along the Coast Highway near Tamarack beach, where we could see the ocean. There were only two surfers in our range of view, and they didn't catch many waves while we watched and ate our lunch. But they tried; the waves were as high or higher than they were, so it could have been hard to catch a ride on them. We came back here, and I was so tired I couldn't stay awake when I sat in our leather recliner. I slept the afternoon away, and Chris left his chair and the TV about a half hour into my nap, I guess. He worked at the computer, until I finally woke up about 5 p.m. I had asked him to wake me about 3, but he was busy and forgot. After we had our dinner, I went for a walk along the 3rd floor and went from end to end twice, and came back to the apartment. Chris then took the walk, while I was writing this. Tomorrow I'm going to the Alpha Chi Omega alumnae meeting, and I may learn something important to report here. Who knows?

Today we did all the usual things. After breakfast we went downstairs to read the paper, and then at 9:30 we went to Gentle yoga. It seems that it is just an exercise class for those of us who are too tired to take the usual exercise class. I still get tired in this one! Anyway, we came back to the apartment and worked on our projects, Chris to keep up the books that Kaye doesn't do for us, and me to read the mail and decide what to do with it. We went to lunch, and later we talked to Karen, and she suggested we meet and have lunch at the beach tomorrow. We always enjoy that. We take our sandwiches which are made in the kitchen here, and we pick them up before we go, and Karen brings hers. On the way to the beach we buy whatever drinks we want. Today, though, we just went for a walk from here, by Highway 5, down Laguna to Jefferson and then back. We came back here and just worked a while and then had a short nap. We went to dinner and then came back here and talked to Brittany on the phone. It was good to talk to her; it has been a while since we did. Then we watched the news on TV. Now we will watch a movie until bedtime.

Our Ward at Church now meets at 11 instead of 9 a.m. So, we took our time getting ready. I had a shower and then dressed and we went to breakfast. After that I went down to the coffee shop to read the newspaper. There wasn't a lot of news, so I soon went back upstairs. The paper was missing some sections that I usually read, but I really didn't care. I read the Sunday School lesson for today, and then it was time to go. We drove to the church, and we met Karen outside. Her friend Margie Rempel, who had invited all of us to lunch on Monday, had her plumbing spring a leak, and she had to postpone the lunch. We went in to the service, and with the help of a hearing aid, provided by the Church library, I was able to hear the speakers. I had worn my own hearing aid when I went to have my hair done on Thursday, and it got soaked. Now it blasts in my ear when I try to wear it. I'll have to have it repaired, but that means a trip to Vista to the only hearing place that is connected to Kaiser, our medical insurer. They charge only $100 to get one repaired, while the others charge $250 or $300 for that service. We got back to the apartment after that first meeting at the church, and we were just in time to get lunch. After having that, we came back to the apartment and I felt cold, so I wrapped up in my robe, and with two blankets over my legs, I sat in the recliner to read a magazine. The last time I looked at the clock it was 2:00p.m. When I woke up, it was after 6! We went to dinner, and then came back here with cookies for dessert, and watched the Sherlock Holmes episode on PBS. The other programs didn't interest me, so I picked up a few things around the apartment, and then came to write my blog. As you can see, I didn't accomplish much today. Maybe tomorrow I'll do more.

This morning we went to Gentle Yoga class after breakfast. We worked hard at it, and as a result, I went to sleep while I was reading the newspaper. We stopped taking it, but the nice maintenance man here brought one to us anyway. I slept for a little while, then I woke up, thank goodness. I didn't want to sleep away a whole day! I went downstairs and got our mail from our little box there. In it were two more Christmas cards, one from Karen's college friend, Claudia, who has written to us every year since Karen's heart surgery when she was 19 years old. She came down to see Karen then, and it was was a really nice thing. And so are her Christmas cards and letters every year. Also, there was a disk from Kaye, with pictures of Caden at Christmas and other times recently. We really enjoyed them. We haven't been able to reach Kaye to thank her, but we will keep trying. After lunch we went for a walk, it was such a nice day outside, that we just couldn't stay in the apartment all day. Then I wrote to Claudia, and then we had dinner. Now we are back in the apartment, and will watch our usual Brit shows on TV tonight. We talked to Karen, and we will see her at church tomorrow. I'll try again now to reach Kaye. She doesn't answer. I also tried her home phone, and couldn't reach her. I hope there is nothing wrong. I will try again tomorrow morning. Kaye just called back (10 p.m.). She and Kyle had been at Ann's party, and the noise was too high for her to hear the cell phone, until they were in the car going home. So everything is fine.

We thought that today we were going to see Dr. Donahoe, but while I was in the shower this morning the Kaiser office in Carlsbad called to say that Dr. Donahoe is sick, and we could see him next week on Wednesday. Well, that is the day I hoped to go to the Alpha Chi Omega meeting in Rancho Bernardo. So, when Chris went down to the clinic to get some medication, I went along and talked to the receptionist at Dr. Donahoe's offfice and changed our appointments to a week from today. Back at the apartment I changed the calendar to show the new appointments. I noticed, too, that Chris doesn't have an appointment with Dr. White to have a new prescription for glasses when I do. So, tomorrow we will have to see that he does. We had called Karen, who had invited us to go down to the beach for lunch today, and told her. So, she came to pick us up here, and we went together in her car. We had ordered sandwiches from the dining room here, and we picked them up before we left. Unfortunately, Chris had a short nose bleed while we were waiting for her. But he had it stopped up with gauze, and we enjoyed our lunch with Karen, as we watched the ocean and the surfers. Back here later, I had my hair done by a substitute operator. The regular woman was off on leave; I found out from the new woman, that the regular operator's mother is very ill, and she wasn't sure when she would be back to work. The new operator gave me a very big set, but I'm sure it will settle down when I sleep on it tonight.

Today we didn't have a schedule of anything important, so we went shopping after our late breakfast. First of all we went shopping for shoes for Chris. We went to Famous Shoes and couldn't find what he wanted, which was a comfortable pair with velcro closing instead of laces. We couldn't find anything in his size that he wanted, so we left there. We were both a little tired, so we stopped at Burger King for a drink. As we sat there we saw so many stores empty, and shut down. It was really shocking to see. We haven't been out shopping for a long time, and we didn't realize the extent of the problems. From there we went to the big Wal-Mart south of there. I had forgotten how big that store is. But there weren't a lot of people shopping, even in there. We finally found the shoe section and looked at all the mens shoes. Of course there weren't any Rockport shoes he was looking for, but he did find a pair of Dr. Scholles shoes with the Velcro straps instead of laces (Since he broke his hip he hasn't been able to tie shoes). He bought those, and then we drove back to the Villas. We were almost late for lunch; it was 1 p.m. But we were able to get the food prepared for lunch. We came back to the apartment, and we were tired and sat down in the recliners. Of course we dropped off to sleep, being more tired than usual. I slept longer than Chris, but when I did wake up, I picked up a few things spread around the apartment, and then we went to dinner. I was wearing my white sweat shirt with Bonjour written on it, and I spilled the tomato sauce from the veal Parmesan on it. Darn, I sponged it off when I I got back to the apartment, and I hope I got all of it. Then we watched the news on TV and talked to Kaye and Karen, and now it's bedtime again.

Today I had one thing I was determined to do, the washing. After breakfast I hurried to gather up all the clothes and take them to the laundry room on the second floor of our building here at Las Villas de Carlsbad. I found two washers not in use, and Chris (Who had come with me) and I filled them and put in the soap and spotted clothes. While they washed, we went to the Gentle Yoga exercise class. When that was over, Chris went back upstairs, and I put the clothes in dryers, and I read the newspaper while they dried. Chris came back, carrying hangers for the dry things. but they weren't dry, so there was another wait while they dried again, in the slow dryers. Finally it was lunch time, and so we took all the clothes, dry or not, back to the apartment, and we put them out around the rooms to finish drying, while we had lunch. Then we came back to segregate the clothes and put them away. That was all except the socks, that still were a little damp. I talked to Kaye later, and she suggested I take the clothes to Karen's house, and play with the kitty while the clothes dried. I demurred, and then she suggested I mention the slow dryers to the staff here, and they would replace them. That's a good idea. After dinner we watched a couple of TV shows, and now we will watch a movie, and that will be our day.

This morning we were getting ready to go to San Diego with Karen, where Chris had two appointments at the Vandever Kaiser Clinic. We had our breakfast, and then I went downstairs to read the newspaper in the coffee shop. After that, I went to visit Verla Reese in the Care Center. She is looking a little better, and she talked about coming back to her apartment. I doubt that will be very soon; she still looks ill. Back at our apartment we got ready to go to San Diego. Karen came at 11:45, and we drove to the Vandever Clinic. area. First of all, we stopped at a Carl's Jr. restaurant for lunch, then on to the Clinic. Both Karen and her Dad had blood drawn for tests, and then we went into the Pharmacy, where Chris got a refill on a prescription for an inhaler, because he had become breathless, and he had not brought along one. He keeps one in our car, but we had come down in Karen's car. From there we went to the fifth floor, and Chris had the first appointment with an attendant who took what looked like little x-ray pictures of his eyes, and then we went out to the waiting room. After a while, Chris knocked on the door to the doctors' exam rooms, and an attendant took us to a room to wait for Dr. Dick. We waited a total of an hour, and Chris got more upset, and he got up to leave, and he almost bumped into the doctor coming in. Chris blew his top, so to speak, but the doctor remained calm, and said he was sorry and proceeded with his exam. It was soon over, and we left for Carlsbad. It was after 4, and I thought we would held up in the traffic. But Karen drove to Escondido first, then west to Carlsbad, and missed the worst of it. After we got here, we had our dinner, and since then we have watched TV, until now. It's bedtime, so I'll close here.

I didn't write Sunday's blog, so I will try to catch it up now. We went to church at the new time for this year, 11 a.m. We couldn't find a parking place, because the other ward was still in session. Finally we found a place completely around the church building, and we got inside the chapel while they congregation was singing the first hymn. Karen was already there, and we sat with her and a friend of hers, Margerie Rempel. It was fast and testimony day, and there were several very good testimonies given. Afterward we came back here, and were in time for a late lunch. On the first of each month's Sunday, they serve lunch, and also banana splits, which are very good. We didn't eat much of the lunch, but we did have the banana splits. We were glad that Carla and Rex had got home OK. They must have really driven fast, to cover the almost 9oo miles in one day! They said that the roads were all clear, even over the mountains , although there was snow off the sides, over the hills. Now for Mondays activities. While we were at breakfast, we thought the apartment would be cleaned and usual. But the lady was slow, so we went downstairs and read the paper, and then went to the easy exercise class. Then we went back to the apartment and decided to drive over to the house and take the Christmas tree and wreaths we had used over Christmas and put them in the storage rooms. After that we drove back to the apartment, had lunch in the dining room and then went back to the apartment and had a short nap. Then I started to review the books we had brought over here, and of course I had to read some. We went to dinner, and then watched the news. We talked to Kaye, and she seems to be OK, had just exercised and then she was going to have dinner. She didn't say anything about Kyle, but I guess he was late getting home.

Chris is doing better today. His nose is just barely dripping, and a small piece of gauze has kept it under control all day. We went to breakfast as usual, and then we came back here. Carla and Rex soon came over. However, they didn't stay long. They want to visit their daughters in the L.A. area today, and then they will leave just before daylight the next morning to start the drive back to Eugene, Ore. We have enjoyed their visit here. I hope that sometime this summer or fall we can fly up there to visit them. After they left here, we drove down to the beach and went for a walk. It was quite warm, and there were a lot of people there, and even some swimming or surfing in the water. I was walking with the walker, and we went quite a way, but a block less than all the way along the path bordered by grass. It was pleasant, and I had to take off the heavy leather coat I had been wearing. When we got back here, we went to lunch, and then I sat down in my chair in the sunshine and went to sleep. Chris didn't do that, he went into the other room and worked at the computer. Later we went to dinner, and I didn't care much for the food, so we came back here and we each had a piece of the great fruitcake Carla had sent to us, as part of the Christmas gifts she brought, which were note papers with pictures of all the holes on their golf course they have built in Bandon, Ore. and a calendar with more pictures, mostly of their family. Very nice.