Here it is the last day of March, and I can hardly believe it. I expected that life in this place would go by slowly, but it doesn't . There's always something to do, and if not we can always go for a walk, drive somewhere (As long as we can drive), or Karen comes over, or today it was my visiting teacher. Karen isn't well yet. I hope she takes good care of herself. Anyway, we had breakfast and then went to Gentle Yoga class. After that we decided to go for a walk, but the wind was blowing so hard it wasn't enjoyable, so we came back after walking only a block. By then it was time for lunch. When we got back from lunch, my visiting teacher called, and then she came over. she and her husband had been to the Temple this morning, and they were interviewed by the Temple President, and now they are Temple Workers. Chris and I did that for six months when we first moved to Oceanside, and it is a wonderful experience. I was sad that we had to quit, when Chris' nose started bleeding, and he would have blood on his white suit. He still has some trouble with it bleeding, even after medical treatments. Anyway, I'm happy for the Plylors. Their lives will be enriched by the experience. Kaye mailed me Patricia Briggs' new book, and I have already read the first 11 pages, standing there after opening the package! It's another story about my favorite character, Mercedes, the Volkswagen mechanic. This book is also another hardback copy. They hold up better than the paperback books. I called Kaye to thank her, and she was at the new house, "helping" the plumber! That way she will certainly get the house she wants, being there when things are going on.

This morning we were a little slow getting going , but we did make it to breakfast. On the way back from the dining room, I saw a newspaper on the floor in front of Verla Reece's former apartment. So I decided to take it to her, in the care center, where she is living now. I found her in her room in a wheelchair facing a TV, but not really looking at it. I knocked a couple of times and then called her name, and she realized I was there. She had put on weight, and wasn't as alert as the last time I saw her. I didn't stay long, especially when she bent over with a stomach ache. I called a nurse, who came to take care of her, and I left. She did say "Thank you for coming" as I left. On the way back to our apartment I met a woman who had just been to the exercise class which we had missed. I didn't think of going because Chris ' shoulder is still a problem, but she said you don't have to do more than you can, limit it to just what you know won't hurt you. I could have gone with that in mind, but I was thinking about Verla instead. We spent until lunch time in the apartment, and then went to lunch. I was hoping Karen and Danya would be over, but they didn't make it. Later Karen called and said she was sick with a cold, and just couldn't do it. Tomorrow Danya has to go back to Porterville, and Karen will put her on the train, and then go to her art class. I hope she isn't doing too much. We talked to Carla and to Kaye, and Kaye told us Stellan, Sara and Caden had gotten to Sara's mother's house, and Kaye visited them, and then showed them the new house she and Kyle are having built.

We had our breakfast as usual, and then we went downstairs to read the paper. The workman who usually delivers a paper to our apartment is on vacation, and I guess the other man who does it now doesn't do it for us. Anyway, we went to the mild Yoga class and then came back upstairs, and our granddaughter Danya called, and she said that she and her mother' Karen, are coming over here to pick us up to go down to the beach for a picnic lunch. We were of course glad to go, and to get a chance to visit with Danya. She will be here only a few days, before going back to Porterville, where she teaches school. They are on spring break now, so she came down to visit her mother, Karen ,and also to see us. She teaches disadvantaged children, and she had some interesting stories to tell us about a trip to the mountains that included two of her pupils. She went along, to make sure they would would be OK, and they were. After lunch Danya went to our dentist; she doesn't like the one available in Porterville, who wants to do a lot of work in her mouth, that she doesn't feel is necessary. After Karen and Danya left, we went for a walk down Laguna to Jefferson St. and back. I think if we do that every day it's not raining, I should get my strength back. I also walk the building B 3rd floor corridors every night before going to bed.

Dear Kaye, That is a beautiful poem you sent for my birthday, besides the gifts that I had already received from you. You always write the sweetest little poems! I love to get them. That makes my birthday perfect. The whole three days of partying, the luncheon Karen gave on Friday, where she had invited 15 friends from church, was the first day. Then on Saturday Karen came over and brought the balloons and took us out to lunch at the beach, and Bianca arrived, had dinner here and then stayed the night with us. Today we three went to Church, came home and had lunch, and enjoyed the rest of the birthday cake, and I got more cards, and people here wished me Happy Birthday. This 90th birthday was great! Bianca stayed until about 6p.m., then she left here, went to Karen's for a short visit with her and Danya who arrived there today, and tried to reach Uncle Al, but she was unable to do so when she left here. Maybe she did manage to see him. She had to get back to medical school for tomorrow's schedule, with new-born babies. She is evidently enjoying this part of her work; she has never been around newborns much before, and she finds them so lovable. (Although she didn't use that word, we could tell by her descriptions of them.) Most of my grandchildren called to wish me Happy Birthday, too, so it was a great celebration all around. The balloons Karen brought over here from the party she gave, joined the one that is still floating from the day of Chris' 90th birthday on Nov. 1. I hope at least some of these new ones stay up, too.

For Mom for her 90th Birthday

I throw pebbles into the sky to make a mountain, I try to match The weight, the volume, the mass of love, Tons of kindnesses from you. They tower, Tetons, to the flat plane of my efforts. My deeds are scattered unevenly...rocky ground, barely raised. Throwing pebbles up to make a mountain. It doesn't grow, but I am beloved enough to know it doesn't matter. by Kaye

Kaye was going to put something on my blog tonight, but she is going to wait until tomorrow. So, I will go ahead with mine. Today was different, because I went early to have my hair done. I got it finished just in time to meet Diane Vordeckers, and your Dad, and she took us to Karen's house for the birthday luncheon she was giving for me. It was a great group, of about 15 women I know from church, and really like. Karen served a delicious lunch, and we all enjoyed it. Also, I got a lot of lovely birthday cards, and also two flowering plants. One was from Diane across the street and the other from Donna Leake, who plays the piano for Relief Society meetings. Also, we came home with about 1\4 of the lovely chocolate cake! I'll have to write notes to all the women who gave me cards, too. That will be a good thing, so I will remember them all that way. After we got home, and visited a while with the Vordeckers, who came over to deliver the lovely hanging plant, which they will be able to see from our balcony, I sat down and went to sleep for a couple of hours. We went to dinner, but didn't eat very much. We have looked at the cake, but we have decided to wait until tomorrow to eat some. There's just no room inside us for it tonight. It will be OK in the refrigerator until we can have room inside.

Things have been going about as usual today. I had put off doing the laundry for two weeks, so it really piled up. I spent the time after breakfast until lunch time getting it done. I had only one washing machine when I started, so that of course slowed me up. But finally it was all done. Chris came down to help me bring it up. I didn't expect him, so I had it all done by the time he got there, but he helped put everything away when we got it all back to the apartment. After lunch I drove us to the Kaiser Pharmacy to pick up Chris' medications, and he looked at the ocean on the way down. He drove on the way back here, so I could have my chance to look at the beautiful blue water and white waves. We didn't stop, there was absolutely no parking, unless you wanted to pay the $2 an hour at Tamarack beach, which we didn't. It was warm, must have been up to 70 degrees, before the wind picked up later in the day. When we got back here we had lunch, and then we went for a little walk just around the area here. Another of our friends here has gone into the health center; we will have have to visit Verla Reece and the new one, the Professor, next time we go out, and it's not their lunch time or therapy sessions. Brittany called, to say that she was sick and wouldn't be down to the luncheon Karen is giving for me tomorrow. But she promised to come down when she was better. We talked to Kaye, and things are progressing up there. Stellan and Sara and Caden will be coming down to the Tri-cities next week. Their things will arrive, too, so Kyle is organizing his and Kaye's things,in their storage building, to fit their's in too, since they will be living in the old house as soon as Kaye and Kyle move into the new one in Richland.

We got up as usual, and then we went to breakfast. Afterward we read the paper that one of the staff had slid under our door. Then I went to the mild Yoga class, and then back to the apartment where Chris was. We watched some news, and then I went right to sleep! I dreamed I was on the road, near the railroad track, and people kept trying to get me to cross the tracks, so they could follow me through. But I was too scared that the train would hit me. It was a very nervous situation, and I was very glad to wake up from it. I guess I did hear train whistles, because we often hear them here. We went to lunch, and then came back to the apartment. I meant to go for a walk, and then get the clothes ready to wash, and take them downstairs to the laundry. But for some reason I fell asleep again! And the afternoon slipped away. I'll have to do the laundry tomorrow for sure, because we are running out of clean things. We really weren't hungry, but we did go to dinner. We were quite late, and so we sat at another table, and got better acquainted with Ruth, the pilot, and Laverne, an interesting woman of 96 years. Ruth is the one who just got back from Washington DC where she and 300 other women of the Wasps, got gold medals for their work in WW 2 , training the pilots that flew over Europe and the Pacific during the war, and testing the planes they flew. We have talked to Karen and to Kaye. Karen and Linda have set April 15 for our visit with Charles and Mabel and Linda. That will be the day after I take my drivers test. I hope I pass!

Today we had our breakfast as usual, read the paper (The San Diego Union instead of the North County Times.) and then came back to the apartment. Chris worked on the computer, and I pressed the new red outfits he and Kaye got for my birthday. I will wear them to the luncheon Karen is giving for me on Friday. After getting them all pressed (5 pieces!) I checked my finger nail polish for a match. I don't have one. I'll have to check with the hair dresser here, or the girl who paints nails for the people here once a month. And, oh yes, we had to go out again today, because Dr. Donahoe wanted Chris to get another blood draw. Karen called, and invited us to go to the beach for lunch. We got our sandwich and drinks and went with her. It was another beautiful day, and we enjoyed it. After the lunch, Karen drove us to the Kaiser Clinic, farther down the beach, where Chris gave the blood sample. For some reason it took a long time to do that, so when it was done, Karen drove us back here. We had a rest and then had dinner. We just talked to Kaye, and she was ready for bed, so we didn't talk long. We did talk about Karen's new computer, but neither of us knew what it is exactly. We will find out, and I put in down in one of these blogs. Karen and Terry are going to take turns going back to Arroyo Grande to check on the progress of cleaning up the house they are buying, and removing some of the palm trees. There are over 20 on the property, and Karen wants to have a garden instead.

Our main objective today was Chris' visit to Dr. Donahoe to have him look at his shoulder and check him out otherwise. So, we hurried through breakfast, read the paper, went to Gentle Yoga, and I thought he would hurt the shoulder more, but he said not. He didn't do any of the exercises that involved that arm, so I guess he didn't damage it anymore. We rested awhile and then I drove us down to the Kaiser Clinic. I'm driving for two reasons, first, to protect Chris' shoulder, and to practice my driving, for my test next month. We got down there half an hour early, so went outside and just sat in the car until it was time.to go in. Dr. Donahoe did a thorough exam, and then he sent him to the labs for Xrays and some other lab tests. We didn't get the results of the tests, but we did get a referral for therapy at San Marcos. Fortunately we can set that up with the driver here, and we won't have to drive over there. We will have to set that up for next week. When we got back here, Karen came over, and she told us about the house she an Terry have bought in Arroyo Grande. They plan to fix it up a little and rent it out for at least a year, maybe more, before moving up there. I'm glad they are waiting to move, that will give us a chance to get our house sold here, and then we can go up there, too. We skyped with Carla and Rex, and that was a nice change. They are going to buy a house on the beach in Bandon, to use for a rental, along with the two they already own there. We talked to Kaye, and she was feeling better today, after resting a day after her shot. She is still looking forward to moving into their new house next month.

We were late getting up, so we were late to breakfast. but soon that was over, and we went down to the coffee shop to read the morning paper. When we got back to the apartment, I started reading in the Bible the lesson for Sunday School, just in case we stayed for that. But we didn't, but came home after Sacrament Meeting. While I was there, though, one of the women Karen had invited to a birthday luncheon for me next Friday, gave me a card and a present; she and her husband are going to Hawaii for three weeks, and she won't be able to come to the luncheon. That was really nice of her, she really didn't have to do that. I was hoping Karen said "No gifts!" when she invited people. I will have to talk to Karen about that next time I see her. By the way, she called a while ago to tell us she and Terry had gotten home from Arroyo Grande. We will have to get together and find out more about the house up there, and what they intend to do with it. She, or Chris, hung up before I could ask any questions. But she did tell him they had done a lot, and she would tell us about it tomorrow. We just talked to Kaye, and this was her shot day. She said she had been too busy with the new house they are having built, that she didn't have time to rest as she must, after a shot, so she was doing it today instead. I hope she is OK, and can really enjoy the house when it's finished. It's hard to move, and I hope she will be all right. Chris just told me the Health Bill had passed, but there are amendments the Republicans want to add. We will have to see later how it ends.

In yesterday's blog I forgot to say that I had my hair done by the lady in the shop here. She charges a little more, but then I don't have to go somewhere else to have it done. Now for today, we didn't go anywhere or do anything very exciting. It was three meals here, a walk around the block, and I forgot to go to the exercise class! Oh well, there's always another time for that. The water to the toilet in the extra room has been leaking, and today the men finally got here to fix it. There has been a puddle in there for a couple of days. But they finally got it done this afternoon. Today I have been trying to shine up my fingernails, but it is a hopeless job. I'll just have to put some polish on them before going to Church tomorrow. Then I'll have to take it off later to go with my new red dress, my birthday present from my dear husband. I'll just have to find the right shade of red in a new polish, next time we go to a store that sells it. It was rather sad in the dining room tonight, a friend of most of the people, a doctor, who has lived here quite a while, passed away this morning. He will be missed. Some days we sat at the same table, but usually he was at the next one toward the center of the dining room.

Our Big news of today was that we got the federal income tax return in the mail, including Last year's that they said we hadn't sent in, although we had. It took all the computer printer paper we had, so we had to get some more, after we went to the Post Office and had the income tax things sent with a return receipt, so will will have proof that we sent them in. The paper was no problem and we were very soon back here. The Post Office is only a few blocks away. So we had plenty of time to have three meals, listen to some Irish music downstairs, and watch some TV here in the apartment. Oh yes, we also had to refill our week's medicines. in our little boxes, labeled for morning, noon, and night. I meant also to press my new suit, because the wrinkles haven't hung out, but I didn't get to that. Maybe tomorrow. We talked briefly to Kaye, and we looked at the pictures she had sent of the flooring in the new house. It looks great! We are so glad she and Kyle will have a nice place to live when they move in, probably next month sometime. We haven't heard from Karen but Terry was arriving up there today, and I guess they have been busy looking over the house that may need more work than they at first anticipated. Carla and Rex are going to Utah for Logan and his wife's graduation. He is going to do graduate work, maybe in Eugene. He has already been accepted there in the architectural program there he applied for. I don't know what Meret will do.

We talked to Karen today, and she has already gotten in touch with people to fix up the house in Arroyo Grande. She was having lunch at a little cafe overlooking the beach at Pismo, and she seemed really cheerful about the prospects for fixing up the house just as she wants it. Also, we talked to Kaye, and she was enthusiastic about their new house, where she was when she called. She was able to stop a mistake one of the workman was about to make, I didn't get what the mistake was, but it's cleared up now. The painting was going on, and the floors were mostly in, so they will probably be moving in the end of April. Now I'll get back to our more mundane life. After breakfast and reading the paper, I drove us the chiropractor, where Chris got his shoulder worked on again. And we do have an appointment with Dr. Donahoe on Monday to get him to look at it, and perhaps recommend some other treatment. We came back here in time for lunch, and then back to the apartment to get the income tax ready to mail, this time, and we hope that it is OK, for this year, and also last year, which the IRS said he didn't file. I know he did, but we are sending it in again with this year's returns. Tomorrow we will take them to the post office and send them, with a return receipt requested. After dinner tonight we watched an old movie of the Shootout at the OK Corral, It was fun to watch.

This was my day to go to the dentist, so we had breakfast, and I skipped the Yoga exercise class, just read the paper, until it was time to go. I drove us to Oceanside to the dentist, and while I was there, Chris took some things to the cleaners and shopped in that little shopping area, until I was done. It took 1 1\2 hours to do another root canal and fill another tooth. I was tired afterward, so we just came back to the apartment. Chris went to lunch, and brought me back a bowl of soup and a small salad. I ate the soup, but I skipped the salad. My jaw was beginning to wake up, and it wasn't too pleasant, so I didn't do anything. I did call Kaye, because I had promised to do it before she went to Writers' Group, and I told her about the dental experience. She had called there yesterday, and made sure of which tooth it was to get the root canal, and she talked to one of the girls on the staff, and evidently told her what I thought of their calling me by my first name! The doctor thought it was Karen who called, but I told him it was Kaye. I don't know whether that registered with him or not. Karen and Terry are both his patients. I'm sort of sorry I left the Packard Clinic, but I think it was the right thing to do, after the treatment I got from the last appointment there. Also, this new dentist is connected to Kaiser, and so he's cheaper than the Packard's clinic. Karen called, and she is back in Arroyo Grande, to check out her house up there. Terry will go up Friday, and they'll both come back here on Sunday. She is anxious to start the painting, etc. that she wants to have done.

It was the strenuous exercise day, so I didn't go, and of course Chris couldn't, with his shoulder problem. After that, I gathered up our personal laundry and took it to the laundry room on the second floor of this building. The washers were both empty, so I was able to get all of our washing in them. While they washed, I went down to the lobby, got a newspaper from the office, and read it while the clothes washed. Then I went back to the laundry room and put one batch in the drier that was available. I had to wait to put the second batch in, until this one was dry. In the meantime, I went to the dining room and ordered a sandwich and potato chips and a large diet drink to go. Karen was coming to pick us up for another lunch at the beach, so that's how I got us ready. It all worked out OK; the clothes dried, and we were able to meet Karen at the front entrance at 12. We drove to a spot near the electric plant, that we can see from the windows in our apartment, and we sat there and had our lunch. The ocean was calmer, and the eight surfers we could see still didn't catch many waves. I think the expert ones were all up the beach at Tamarack or maybe in Oceanside beach. It was so clear that we could see, from where we were, the pier in Oceanside, with the restaurant at the end of it. I couldn't recognize exactly what we were seeing to the south, but it was clearly visible. Karen brought us back here, and I finished putting away the clothes, and then I tried to do some altering on pair of black pants I have, but I never did get it finished , because I dropped off to sleep while I was picking out the stitches holding elastic at the waist. Karen came back for me at 5:45 to drive us both to the Relief Society Birthday dinner at the Church. We enjoyed meeting some people we hadn't seen for a while, and it was a nice dinner and social occasion. Karen brought me back here, and Chris had to come open the front door for me, because I had gone without my keys, and the place is locked up at 8 p.m.

It's still hard to get up an hour earlier, but we will get used to it soon. We both actually woke up at the right time, but we just didn't get right up. Instead we lay there and watched a pink sunrise on clouds in the sky. These clouds disappeared a little later.We had breakfast, and then I went to the exercise class. About half way through I remembered Karen was coming over, to check out her machine to report on her pace maker, which neither she nor Terry could get to work on their telephone line. We have a different one here, and sure enough, she was able to report in, and get the reply that all is well with her pacemaker. She left soon after she did this, and then she came back at noon, and took us to the beach to have lunch there. We found a place along the cliff to park, and we got out and sat on a bench there. The ocean was lovely, and the breeze warm, so it was very good all around us. Of course there were other people walking along, but that didn't bother us. Also we saw a dolphin swimming. Back at the apartment we got an appointment with the chiropractor we have used before, and I drove us over there. He said Chris' shoulder was dislocated, and he put it back where it belonged, but he wants to see him again on Thursday. I also got an appointment with Dr. Donahoe for March 22, to check it again. We stopped also at a bookstore and bought a Christmas gift for Charles and Mabel; the candy Karen made and I wrapped is probably too old to give them. We stopped at Burger King on the way home, and had a coke, and then came back here. Then Chris made sure our taxes had been accepted on the internet part of it, and the we had dinner. After that, I finished reading Karen's book on Ancient Egypt, and Chris checked up on our Visa Account. We talked to Kaye, and it will be another month before their new house is finished and they can move in.

We moved our clocks ahead last night, but it was hard to get up this morning. We did, though, and got ready to go to church. First of all, we went to breakfast, and then went downstairs and read the paper. We came back here, and I read the lesson for Sunday School, just in case Chris would want to stay at church that long. He was napping, but it wasn't enough to get him through any more meetings after the Sacrament Meeting. While we were there, our home teacher, the former Bishop, made an appointment to see us later in the afternoon. When we got back here we went to lunch, and then came back here. Karen had said she might come over, but instead she and Terry went to a movie, after calling us to tell us. Our home teacher came over about 3:30 and brought cookies. He stayed about an hour, and then we watched TV a while, and then I napped, until it was too late for dinner here . We did look into the dining room, but there was no one there, so we came back here and rounded up some things. But then the Maitre D came to the apartment, bringing two sandwiches for us! She had seen us at the door of the dining room, and so she got sandwiches and brought them to us. That was really sweet of her. We were acquainted, anyway, because her husband had to have blood transfusions when I did, and we have kept in touch. I just talked to Kaye, and discussed the family. And she is thinking about a wall bed for her extra room in the new house, so she can use the room for other things and yet have a guest room when they have guests. Some of the people here have them, and it seems like a good idea where space is limited.

This morning we went to breakfast, and we came back to the apartment and read the paper one of the employees had slipped under our door. My visiting teacher called, and she and her husband were on their way to the Temple and wanted to stop by our place on the way. I went down to the lobby to meet them. They brought a bough of the orchid plant we had given them before we moved, and he insisted on carrying it up to our apartment. We visited a little while and then they left for the Temple. A family in the ward were being sealed, and several people were going to be with them. After they left, Chris worked again on the income tax, and I read in the Egyptian book Karen had loaned me. I should have made a list of the characters and what they did, but I didn't. So, I get it mixed up sometimes. After this I will always make a list! Karen called about noon and invited us to go with her to Carl's Jr. for fish tacos, and of course we went! That sounded so much better than the lunch that was to be offered here. We were gone about an hour, and then she brought us back here. I picked up the book again, but I went to sleep reading it. When I woke up we went to dinner, and then I started on it again. There are still 100 pages to read, I'll be glad to give it back, and I hate to say it, but I have become so lazy I don't even care too much about reading. I am looking forward to Patricia Brigg's new book that comes out at the end of the month. I think I have all of her usual characters well in mind! We missed all of our Saturday shows on the Public Television station, because they are begging for money, and they show a little of old shows, then interrupt them to ask for money. Of course they will send you a CD if you donate, but I don't really care for the old shows. anyway. We have all the CDs and Tapes we want to move, in a year or two, when Karen and Terry leave.

We have had a good day. This morning we went to get a prescription at the Carlsbad Kaiser Pharmacy, and that was done very quickly. On the way back here we stopped at Tamarack Beach, and we even tried to pay our $2 to park for an hour. Well, the machine wouldn't take our money, so we tried the other machine at the other end of the parking, and couldn't get that one to work, either. So, we drove back south along the coast highway, until we came to a place that Karen had taken us to, south of Tamarack. There we parked the car, and we went for a walk, along the beach sidewalk. There was a stiff wind, but it was a lovely day otherwise, and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk. We found a place where there was a special seating area, complete with carpeting! We sat there a while and watched the blue water and white waves breaking on the shore, with a perfect view of the coast. We must have spent an hour at the beach altogether, although I didn't check the time. We got back to the Villas in time for lunch, and then I had my hair washed and set. I keep thinking I'll do it myself, but then I don't. But I will wait two weeks before having it done again. that will save $46 a month, to use for other expenses. At 3:30 we went to a "birthday party", for all the residences that have a birthday this month. The group cheered all 19 of us, and a musical group played songs, as we all ate chocolate cake and ice cream and drank our favorite soft drinks. We joined in the singing whenever we knew the songs. I enjoyed it all. Later Charles and Mabel returned my call of last night, and we will arrange to meet for lunch half way between Carlsbad and Downy., with our daughters doing the driving, as soon as they can set the time.

I talked to Chris about Al, and he said Al's main problem is low blood pressure. He gets up, works on his computer, and he goes to meals, but that is about all he has the energy to do. That sounds a little like us, but we do get out a little more than he does, to participate in the things available here, like exercise classes, and we intend to start on the music appreciation classes and others that are available. Also, we often are out somewhere with Karen, and that's helped us be more active than some of the people here. We had lunch today with a couple, and the husband wanted to go back to their house here in Carlsbad, but his wife is quite happy here, where the meals are all served, and there are other things to do than keeping house. Later I asked Chris is he would like to go back to our house, and he said sometimes he would, but he wasn't able anymore to do the things at the house that he had done before, and that would be a disappointment, he thought. Another factor in our decision, is that Karen and Terry are buying that house in Arroyo Grande, in fact I think she said tonight that it is in escrow now. They want to go back up there and get it ready, new paint inside and out, and the three palm trees in the back yard moved, and a garden planned for that area. She said they would measure everything, and come back here to make the final plans for it. She is going to wait to move, though, until she can get social security. So that gives us at least a year to figure out what we will do, move back in our house, or go up there, too. I am in favor of the latter. We had a nice dinner, here with Karen, and also a couple we have met here. I have read a book the wife wrote, so that's the connection. Terry didn't come, because he was guiding tours on the Carrier Midway, in San Diego harbor.

First of all today, Carla called last night to tell us they were back in Oregon. We appreciated it, and also talking to the other two daughters. These are important connections for us. Kaye is at Writers' Group tonight, but she called before the meeting started. Karen told us she has a tour to lead at GIA tomorrow, but she will be done in time to come to the Irish dinner with us tomorrow. Today we did the usual three meals, and I went to the Gentle Yoga exercise class. Chris didn't go because his right shoulder is still hurting, and he thinks that exercise is not good for it. I wanted to make an appointment with our doctor, but he didn't want that. We will see what happens in the next few days. If it doesn't improve, I will make a doctor's appointment for him. I have finished reading the DMV booklet for people taking a drivers license test, but I couldn't get an appointment to take the eye and written test until next month. By then my license will have expired, and I will have to take a driving test, too. I talked to someone at lunch who said he was in the same boat, but he drove to Escondido, and took the test over there. He passed, and didn't have to take a driving test. Uncle Al has been in the hospital, and we didn't know in time to visit him. He is back in his apartment now, and seems to be better. I'll have to ask Chris what Al said about it; they are talking right now, so I'll have to wait a while. I give up, I'll tell about Al in tomorrow's blog.

This is the day I have been dreading, an appointment in San Diego Kaiser Clinic for a Urology Test. I didn't know what it was for, but I found out there. Anyway, we got up as usual, had breakfast and then waited for Karen in the lobby, she was to take us down. I missed seeing her, but we soon got connected, and drove to San Diego. I found out what the test was for, but not until it was over, and the doctor said "You don't have bladder cancer! " It seems they have been suspecting that, for about 4 months, because I had blood in my urine test. Well, I'm glad that is settled! I still have a little discomfort from the test, but nothing serious. I think, however, I will not go to the Alpha Chi Meeting tomorrow, in case it gets worse. We got back early enough for lunch here, but instead we got fast food and drove down to the beach to eat it. The ocean was spectacular! The waves were high, and the whole ocean had little white caps all over it, and sand was blowing up on the few cars that were parked there. Chris said it looked like that all the time in the Aleutian Islands, except that the sun didn't shine, just appeared low on the horizon once in a while. Here there were some clouds that hovered around, but they didn't spoil the effect. The pay machine where we were supposed to deposit $2 to park didn't work, so we parked free. There was a man going around to collect the $2 just as we left, but he didn't get to our car. Back at the apartment I felt tired, so I napped for an hour, and then got up and got a little exercise walking the corridors. There was a cold wind outside, so we didn't want to go outside. The TV said it was 20 to 25 miles an hour, and that didn't help things. The rest of the day has been quiet. We talked briefly to Brittany, and she said she would come down sometime soon. We talked to Kaye, briefly, because she was just going to bed. We tried to called Carla, but she didn't answer, so I guess they are flying back from Hawaii.

We got up as usual, and then went to breakfast. From there we went downstairs and red the paper a while, and then went to Gentle Yoga class. The regular instructor wasn't there, but her sub is as good as she is. After that we came back to the apartment, and got ready to go shopping at K-Mart. I drove us to the Oceanside store, just across the freeway from Carlsbad. It's a short drive. While we were shopping there, we got help from one of the employees. We asked her where one thing was, and then she took us there, and she looked at my list, and took us to all the other places we needed to go. It's good we had her to direct us, because they are remodeling the store, to put more food things in, and we never would have found what we wanted so quickly. I drove us back here, parked the car, and we came in, and after taking our small purchases of stuff to the apartment, we went to lunch. After lunch we came back here and sat down in our recliners for a short rest. Mine wasn't short, I woke up about 2 1\2 hours later! I don't know why I slept so long. Anyway, we went to dinner as usual, and came back here. Chris watered the plants on the balcony off our apartment, and I got my purse ready to go tomorrow to San Diego with Karen and Chris, for my medical appointment. Then we sat down to watch a movie. We picked out a crazy one, that I didn't even want to watch past about half way through. I came in our extra room to write. I hope I don't have nightmares about "Minority Report". Don't watch it if you want to get a good night's sleep afterward!

Here I am again, without much to tell about. Since it is Sunday we slept in for a while, then got up. We took our pills, and then Chris went to breakfast, but I didn't. While he was gone I read in "Bones Crossed", which incidentally, I finished reading tonight. As I read, I gradually remembered what was coming next, but not in the right order. I look forward to the next book of Pattie's, which will come out at the end of the month. We went to Church, and Chris insisted on driving, in spite of his sore shoulder. We must take him to a doctor or somebody, to see if we can get it fixed. Anyway, it was Fast and Testimony day, and everyone who talked did a good job, I guess that includes a child of about 8 that I couldn't hear. I forgot to take my hearing aid again! When we got back here, we went to lunch, and we had a quite interesting conversation with a man, whose name I have forgotten already! I'm just not bright these days. I read again in Pattie's book. and again after dinner. I guess I'm just trying to not think about my doctor's appointment in San Diego on Tuesday. Karen is going to take me, and I can't see any reason for the test, but Dr. Donahoe ordered it, so since I have him for my primary care doctor, I have to do what he says. We watched part of the Academy Awards, and that was pretty good, but long.

There wasn't the Gentle Yoga class this morning, so after breakfast we came back to the apartment. We read the paper, and then I remembered I hadn't done the washing this week. So, we gathered it up and put it in our folding cart and took it down the laundry room. Someone was using the two driers, but the two washers were empty, so I started right away. While the clothes washed I read in "Bone Crossed", Pattie's book just before the new one coming out next month. I had to go back upstairs for hangers I had forgotten to bring down, and since it was lunch time, Chris suggested we have lunch, and then go get the clothes that would be dry by the time we got back there. So, we did that. After I had most of the things put away after we got them back to the apartment, Karen came over. She brought us frozen dinners from her freezer, so we could have them for our dinner. And we did, and they were very good. She also told us Uncle Al had been sick, and she took him to the hospital yesterday. She was said she would come back for him, today, but his girl friend and legal advisor called her, and said she was going to go bring him back to his apartment. He used to have Karen for his execator, until he met this girl and evidently fell for her. she has a regular boy friend, and evidently is just using Al for what she can get out of him. That's awful, but what can we do about it? Nothing. We talked to Carla and Rex from the Big Island of Hawaii, where they are vacationing at Karen's time-share there. They seem to be really enjoying it. Also, we talked to Kaye, about our maybe coming up to see them in their new house sometime this summer.

I have started to read Patricia Briggs' last book, again, so I can remember what happened in the last "Mercy" book, so I will be ready to read the new one that is coming out very soon. I'll read fast, so I'll be done, before the new one is on the book shelves. It's hard to believe they could be written by such a sweet looking woman! I met her only once, but during the next hour in her presence I got to know she is a normal woman and mother to her children. Today was like almost all days here, three meals in the dining room, and then exercise class, then not much else at least as far as we went. Back to the apartment, and then we did manage to go for a short walk down to the next corner and then back. On the way back we met our neighbor from across the street, Diane Vordeckers, a friend from our church. Her husband has been estranged from the church for some time, like Terry, but maybe he will come back. It doesn't seem that Terry will, though. And that is sad. We talked to all three daughters yesterday, but today only Kaye called, but it's only 6 p.m. and there's plenty of time yet tonight. Carla and Rex are still enjoying Hawaii I'm sure, and Kaye did call, to tell us she had sent pictures. We did get a cute one of Caden, but that was all. Maybe we just didn't look on the right place on the computer. I meant to get the washing done today, but I forgot all about it until we got back here after dinner. It's too late to start tonight, I'll write myself a note to do it tomorrow!

I just read Kaye's comment on my yesterday's blog. I feel better about the whole thing, and now I won't worry anymore about it. Kaye was right that those people have a lot of last names to remember, so using first names isn't really insulting. I guess I was just showing my age when I felt hurt by it. Today we did the usual, but we didn't go to the exercise class, because it was the harder one, and Chris wasn't feeling up to it today. Instead we just stayed here, and we tried to get my appointment for a driver's license test set up on the computer. We didn't get it done, so Karen said she would come over and help us, which she did in the middle of the afternoon. I now have an appointment for April 14 at 10 o'clock. That gives me plenty of time to study the book and practice on the roads around the DMV. I meant to go for a walk this afternoon, but I never did get it done. Maybe tomorrow, after the Gentle Yoga class. The weather has been good, and I could have gone to the pool for that exercise class, but I didn't think of it in time. I will walk the hall for a little while before going to bed, and maybe that will be enough exercise. The halls are almost entirely deserted this time of night, except for an occasional staff member. I think Chris is just tired today, and he should feel better after a good night's sleep. I'll make sure he gets to bed at a reasonable time. He likes to play games on the computer and sometimes forgets it's getting so late.

We had one objective today, and the rest of the time was centered around that, a visit to the dentist. This was the first time either of us has been since we moved here, and sometime before that, too. The girl who cleaned my teeth said I hadn't been in since 2007! I shouldn't have waited so long. If it was 2007, it was just before 2008 began. We have been busy since then. Since rain was forecast for this week, I made reservations for our being taken by the bus from here. It didn't rain today, but since it was all arranged, we went with "Joe" over and back to the address in Oceanside. We had our lunch early so we would be ready to go with him at 12:30, for our appointment at 1. We got there 15 minutes early, and then we waited for another 15. It went well, with the cleaning of my teeth, and then the dentist x-rayed my mouth and said I need a new crown and a small filling. I will go back on March 17 for that. Chris had his teeth cleaned, and he doesn't have to have anything else done, lucky for him. Now it comes to my reaction to the whole thing. I didn't appreciate everyone there calling me by my first name. As far as I am concerned, by my advanced age I should require some respect, even though the dentist has more education than I have. I wouldn't know these people if I saw them on the street, the masks they wear, and the remote chance that we may meet somewhere outside the office. I would appreciate comments from whomever reads this. Am I completely out of line?

There is no reason for my writing this every evening, most days are like all the others. Breakfast, and then usually exercise; but today Chris didn't feel up to it. So, we just went down to the lobby and read the newspaper. While we were doing that, Kaye called, and Chris asked her a question, and they talked about whatever it was for at least 20 minutes. I finally interrupted them, and she and I talked a while. She was still picking out things for their new house. I used to do that when we built a house, but I finally gave up and let the builders do what they thought best. I hope she and Kyle will be very happy when they are moved in and settled there, and everything is in its place. She also told us that Stellan and and Sara and Caden didn't have to go rescue her mother after all. A tow truck did the job, and the mother went to visit another daughter in that area while the car was being fixed. I'm glad they didn't have to take Caden, and his dad, who also had a cold, up on the mountain. Karen came and picked us up to drive down to the beach for our sandwich luncheon. It was nice down there, not so many people now, but interesting waves, and some people and dogs. I'm glad we don't have a pet to worry about now. After that we came home, me with a new book Karen had given me to read, and part of our lunch, which we "pieced on" as the afternoon went by. We went for a short walk before dinner, short because Chris wasn't feeling so well--the same reason we didn't go to the stress exercise this morning. He seems to be feeling better tonight. There's still a program on TV tonight, Victor Borge, we want to watch. I'm sure we have seen most of it while he was still alive, but I want to see it again anyway. He was always such a riot.

We have had a quite clear day. After breakfast we read the paper and then went to the Gentle Yoga exercise class. Then, since Chris had a rather sleepless night, we rested while. Chris needed a coumaden test so we were just leaving for the trip to the Carlsbad Kaiser Clinic, when Karen called. She said she was fed up with what she was doing, and she suggested we meet down at the beach on our way back from the Clinic. So, I drove us down to the clinic. However, things didn't go well there. After waiting about half and hour, Chris came out to the car and told me that there were still 3 people ahead of him in getting blood drawn, and no one had been called for over 15 minutes. So, I called Karen and told her, and we decided she had rested enough at the beach for today, so we planned to meet tomorrow instead for lunch at the beach. After Chris finally got his blood taken, we drove to Tamarak Beach, to park and walk, and we had to pay the $2 a hour to go for our walk. Well, we paid it, and walked for only 35 minutes, and then left. We stopped and got a coke at a 7-11 store, and then drove back here. Soon it was lunch time, so we went to that, and came back. Chris worked on the computer and I sat and read. Later we went back to the dining room for dinner, but it wasn't anything special, and we left part of it. Maybe tomorrow it will be better. We watched the news on TV, and looked in vain for another show to watch, but there wasn't anything we wanted to see. So, we will go to bed early, and hope for a better day tomorrow.