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May and June Recap (Not Work)

I sure have fallen out of the journaling habit.... Using the same headings and order as the last time:

Car
The dealership wants me to sell them my car (2021 Totoya Avalon Hybrid). I may answer them at some point, but they won't be happy. My terms are "Give me a similar 2026-model vehicle as its replacement, for only the cost of the trade-in plus whatever I still owe on the existing loan," which as of next week is just over $6,200. There's no way in hell they'll do it, so I'm comfortable making the offer... and if by some stroke of luck they do go for it because of their desperation, I get a new car for "nothing."

It had its semiannual maintenance visit last week. Took a little longer than I wanted but still ready by the time they promised and under the initial estimate (even after adding new wiper blades).

Food
The food I'm making is in the previous entry. I did have a trip to Texas de Brazil a week or so ago, and there's commentary in the "Vacations" section below about Chicago food.

Health
My health has been generally good. Itchy eyes from allergies, being careful in the heat (especially this past couple of weeks). Had some issues with billing from the physical therapy that finally got resolved. I'm supposed to be on the hook for the co-pay, but they screwed up and tried billing three or four of the 15 visits against worker's compensation (from the 2019 broken foot which I closed out in 2020) instead of my actual insurance, so when WC declined the hospital billed me the whole cost. I, as you might well understand, objected. They eventually fixed it but I had to call about it twice because their first fix didn't catch all of the misbilling.

Home
Nothing major to report. The new tree hasn't died yet, though a lot of the ivy in the front landscaping has (thanks in no small part to my applying poison semi-regularly). The garage door cable broke and I had to get it replaced. They're supposed to be power-washing the building this summer, and they're fixing the brickwork. The major road through here (the city's responsibility) got a chip seal. I think my own road (the association's responsibility) is gonna be completely redone next summer.

Vacations
Cleveland in April (CLAW) went well. Both of my workshops were well-received, though they were more lightly-attended than I'd've liked. We were in a new venue out by the airport (who were cold to us at the start, until they realized both that we drink a lot and that we tip well; they warmed up by the end of the weekend), but we may not be there next year because rumors are they'll stop being an event space and become a data center. We had multiple hotels out towards suburbia, which was problematic in and of itself; my hotel was pretty craptastic: the building was settling such that there was a noticeable deep crack in the ceiling and floor indicating imminent structural failure, it felt dirty, and after we left they were supposed to close for a major renovation... which it desperately needed. The off-site dungeon space was too small and had no parking or signage.

Chicago in May (IML) went well too. The hotel was as expected, my one volunteer shift went without any problems (though I got to shush some of the executive board who were being noisy in the quiet-for-contestant interviews area. Had fun in my trip up to Boystown. I ate well (including my annual visits to Girl and the Goat and Giordano's). I tried a new-to-me Chinese place near the hotel; the food was passable but the service was abysmal; I might give them another chance next year but haven't decided yet. The train rides in each direction were uneventful, though I don't care for the new Amtrak Siemens cars. The Amfleet were more comfortable and their café car more convenient.

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Food pr0n: Mastaccioli

Of late I haven't gotten too far out of my food rut. I've been making the maple-dijon chicken with rosemary a lot, the lemon-artichoke chicken less frequently, and the occasional precooked BBQ ribs or from-frozen chicken cordon bleu. I had a lot of fresh corn on the cob in late spring. Lunches have mostly been sandwiches of some sort at home, usually one of corned beef, ham, pastrami, or turkey with Swiss cheese, though sometimes it'll be PB&J or an open-faced tuna melt. Also, every week or two, including lunch yesterday, I'll grab takeout sushi from the nearby place who have a lunch special (three 8-piece rolls — California, spicy salmon, and spicy tuna — for $20 with tax and tip).

For dinner tonight I made mastaccioli again. I was in the mood for Italian, I had a jar of marinara open, and it wasn't too much trouble to add an onion, the penne rigate, bulk sausage, and ground beef to my grocery order. It's simmering on the stove as I type.

Ingredients

1 lb. bulk Italian hot sausage
1 lb. bulk Italian sweet sausage
1 lb. ground beef
¾ lb. white or Vidalia onion, chopped fine
8–10 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp. dried basil
½ tbsp. dried marjoram
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3¾ lb. marinara sauce
29 oz. diced fire roasted tomatoes (with their juice)
6 oz. tomato paste
¼ cup molasses
1 lb. penne rigate

Mise en place

Dice the onion and put it in a bowl.
Mince the garlic and add to the bowl with the onion.
Measure out all the herbs and spices and put them in another bowl.

Directions

In a 10- or 12-qt. stockpot, brown the sausage and ground beef.
Add the herbs and spices. Mix to combine.
Once the spices have started to toast a little, add the onion and garlic. Mix to combine.
Once the onions have started to soften, add the marinara sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, and molasses. Mix to combine.
Bring to a simmer.
Add the pasta. Mix to combine. Make sure all of the pasta is submerged in the sauce.
Reduce heat and simmer for at least an hour until the pasta is tender. Check every 15–20 minutes and thin the sauce out with more tomato sauce or beef stock if it's too thick or starting to char.

Serve once the pasta is al dente. I usually top mine with grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses.

Ups and downs and it's not even lunchtime yet

Volleyball was wild this morning. We had more players than we have had in a long time. One of our regulars who stopped coming about a year ago, was back. Apparently his doctor, in front of his wife, asked him if he was still playing volleyball and when they said 'no', his doctor told him to get back at it and his wife saw that he did. It was fun.

The on to Elbow Coffee. Not that much fun. Two of my favorite guys are not doing well medically. The daughter of one of my neighbors was there and she is a teacher with many many many complaints about how poorly teachers are paid and treated. Elbow Coffee, she thinks, is an appropriate place to share all of her feelings. (It's not.)

BUT now all of that is over. I got one of the three new pairs of shoes that I ordered and I think they might be good. I should have all three of them here before my appointment with the podiatrist and I'm taking them all with me. I want to find out which to keep and what I need to be looking for.

I have no reason to leave my apartment now today or tomorrow or really even Monday. I probably will but knowing I don't have to is luxurious.

And now they are on the road again

We had a lovely breakfast and a visit and a chat about their next trip here and then they got into the car and headed out.

It was really fun to have them here. They have a short list of places in the US they still want to see and those they want to revisit. And then I showed them, on the map, the route western from Charlotte through Asheville, over the mountains and then to Memphis and beyond. It's section of the country they have never seen that is very different from what they have seen. They think 2 years and that that might be their last trip.

It is 11:15 and the Pride parade is downstairs at 11:30 and I'm not going. Martha will shame me for it but I'm peopled out. I did my Pride bit for the year with the dolls.

I just want to put my feet up and knit and not talk to anyone for about a week. Or at least a day.

I do need to do a load of laundry.

Oh one interesting bit to note. Years ago, before Kripy Kreme donuts even had retail shops, you could get them in any grocery store always. Then they opened stores. I'm pretty sure, in the south, you could still get them at grocery stores, out here they have always been a shop only donut. Until now. We first found them at Walmart. I bought a box of 6. They were fabulously fresh! Then, yesterday, we were in a Target and they had them! I bought a box of 6. They were fabulously fresh! I told Scott and Julie that I have to buy a box everywhere I see them to let them know how much I approve of this third party retail scheme.

Also of note, TJ Max has some lovely clothes for fat girls. I did not know this until this week. I am now over clothed but not unhappy about it.

Julie pronounces Minneapolis Minini-apolis. It's very cute.

A good time was had by all - the dets

TL;DR My friends came. They loved Timber Ridge. We shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped. And had a great visit. My feet are broken. I have an appointment with a new (to me) podiatrist on Tuesday. The Pride monsters were a huge hit and now it's back to dolls. My new window shades have a fatal error. Regular life resumes this afternoon.

The details.

Julie and Scott live on the South Island of New Zealand in a beautiful tiny town. They have been all over the United States in all the big cities. This tour - two months - is driving around - first Canada and then the western United States (except California).

Even in the biggest town in New Zealand, they shopping opportunities are not what they are here in the US. They just don't have the selection and they have the add on of 'shipped to small island far away' tax. So here, particularly Julie, wallows in all the choices available. The last time they were here, two years ago, they wanted to shop and, for some reason, we ended up down in Federal Way where we discovered chain shop heaven. Lovely stores of Old Navy, Skeechers, Walmart, Target, etc.

This time they wanted to go back to all those places plus they found North Bend Outlets on Google and wanted to go there.

So we started at North Bend which is not too far up the road. And a lovely drive. But the outlet mall there is a bust and a half. The stores were sparse and empty. But, they drive was lovely. And we saw other stuff.

So we came back here and toured Timber Ridge and Issaquah. They are pretty impressed with Timber Ridge. and Issaquah always presents nicely.

Tuesday we went back to Federal Way and did not miss any stores. Julie had a ball and Scott got new shoes and it was a huge hit. Wednesday, there was more shopping and we found the Issaquah troll which was way more impressive than I expected.

Yesterday, Thursday, it was into Bellevue to that huge, lovely, downtown mall. And then to the conveyor belt sushi place for lunch. Fun and delicious.

In between, we've been enjoying Timber Ridge. We've eaten in all the dining rooms and tried all the various serving options except lunch. All have been pretty impressive.

Today they leave. They are taking the next few weeks to drive from here via Salt Lake City and Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore to Chicago where they will fly to San Francisco and then home. It's such a wonderful trip.

Meanwhile, my feet are just screaming at me. Finally, on Wednesday, I sent a note to my doctor asking for referral to a podiatrist or any other suggestion. She got right back to me with a couple of podiatrist options and I was able to get an appointment here in Issaquah for this coming Tuesday! Yeah.

Oh and it's window washing time at Timber Ridge. I have a panel of three windows. The middle one opens. They use it to hang out and wash the outside of all three panels. It's a good system. Except. When the shade guy designed and the installer guy installed, none of us realized that the scheme will completely bar me from ever opening that window again. So no cleaning. Ever. I have now sent him a note asking what he can do about it. I'm guessing nothing. And it's not fatal. But they should not have been installed that way. Weird and a little annoying.

Today is the Timber Ridge Pride parade which is just about the same time Scott and Julie were planning on leaving and will block in their car. I suspect it will be a short parade and not interrupt the leaving for long.

And now I think I'm caught up. I should get dressed and ready. They will text me when they are up and we'll meet in the dining room for breakfast.

Still having a grand time but

no time to post. I am collecting notes and will catch up. promise.

Good time being had by all

My company is keeping me busy but we are having a wonderful time. Recap to come.

New Zealand and feet

Feet first. No pain last night. Whew. I discovered that my Merrells, the clogs, are ok to walk in if I wear socks so that's what I did yesterday. We didn't walk a lot but some and it was fine. I didn't get the sharp pains in my feet. I have now bought what feels like a million pairs of shoes online. I will, likely, return most of them, but, hopefully, I'll find one or two that don't hurt and aren't butt ugly. I did find a couple of possibles that looked very promising but their return policy either sucked or looked suspicious, so, no. Oddly, Zappos had nothing.

Today we'll be going to at least two shoe stores, so that might yield something.

Scott and Julie arrived yesterday in fine form. The Timber Ridge guest suite situation worked fine. There are two guest rooms on this side of the complex. My brother stayed in one that was nice and roomy. The other one, turns out, is not and that's the one Scott and Julie are in. It's a small room that is perfectly adequate and, since they haven't seen the other one, they are quite happy there. But, note to self, get 1301 and not 1300 next time.

We went to downtown Issaquah last night and ate at Jak's Steak House. Reddit says that it is not nearly as good as it used to be and, to be fair, a lot of people never thought it was good but I sure did. And, judging by the crowds and our experience, it has not deteriorated one bit. We got a lovely table by the big windows so they could watch the goings on in town. Our food was really good and there was lots of it and there was not even the tiniest bit to take home as leftovers.

Then we walked two blocks over and took Julie to her first ever Dollar Tree visit. She was entranced. It was fun.

Today, they want to go to North Bend. I love how they now get on the internet and scope out their choices. Scott wants pants from Columbia, they both want shoes from Skechers and the ride to North Bend is so pretty. We'll be back here in time for dinner, if not earlier.

They are the easiest people in the world to be around. I love having them here. They brought me THREE jigsaw puzzles! And wonderful high end hand cream - 3 different kinds.

Now I need to pop into the shower. We're meeting for breakfast before our adventures.

(no subject)

Dr. Google says I have metatarsalgia. And that it's not fatal so, whew! But, ouch.

I've been fighting foot pain, cramps and toe issues for years and years and years. Periodically, I throw out all my shoes and try new ones. It never works but I have learned not to throw out shoes. I have one of those pop up mesh bins that lives in my storage unit and is full of shoes. Among them are the two pair of shoes I bought a couple of years ago at the orthopedic shoe store. I quit wearing them because they were clunky. One, a clog was hard to walk in for long distances and the other, a New Balance sneaker, was just like wearing a huge ugly boat. BUT I did not throw out either of those pair.

Yesterday, I dug out these two pair of not-at-all-acceptable shoes and put one on and OMG, my feet felt like 80% better instantly - just having them on my feet, not even walking! Fuck you, ugly shoes. I took all the shoes in my closet and put them into the old shoe bin in the storage unit. I was able to walk downstairs and get my dinner without pain so victory. Ugly but victorious.

Last night I only woke up once with foot pain. Big improvement.

I'll wear these two pair of horrible shoes until the new ones come in.

Also now I know for sure what good (for me) shoes feel like and if they don't feel like these two ugly pair, then they do not make the cut.

Scott and Julie arrive today. They are going out to the airport to pick up a rental car. When they leave here, they are driving to Oregon and Idaho and Salt Lake City in this rental car. They expect to be here about 2.

I went back to making dolls yesterday. It was like coming home to an old friend. I have a nice little inventory so my missing 4 days of making won't decimate the giving shelf's supply.

Ooops! I forgot her heart!! I need to fix that immediately.

Yesterday's Mariner game was an afternoon game in Chicago. I did not have video, of course, but even listening to it was hot. First they lost the home plate umpire. Then a Mariner pitcher was helped off the field. It was just too fucking hot. Today is more of the same. Ugh.

I saw a weather map yesterday of the United States. Not too many spots were habitable. Ours was one of them. Thank you, weather. It is cool and rainy this morning. Lovely.

Barking Dogs

I have vivid memories of my cousin falling into a big chair moaning 'my dogs are barkin'!! For some reason I thought that expression was just hilarious. Today my feet are not laughing. I've been wearing questionable shoes. Shoes that might not have enough support but a are cute (and cheap). And my feet are suffering. One of them kept me awake part of last night. There's a sharp pain in the middle of my feet near my toes. It was just constant last night. They were ok during volleyball but then mostly that are just lightly touching the ground during play. I'm held up by the water.

But I just walked downstairs to get the mail and I could barely get back home and I'm wearing my best shoes with arch supports and socks. And still they really hurt when I got up here.

At the mailbox, I got a check for $250 - the escrow from my condo closing. I sat down here, deposited the check, and then used Gemini to find shoes without laces for seniors with arch support and a big toe box. I have to say that Gemini did a good job. I proceeded to buy 3 pair - one from Orthofeet, one from Kuru and one from Vivonic. I may not keep any or I may keep all of them. I gotta do something. Cause my dogs are barkin'!

Saturday morning

Volleyball was excellent. We had 8 players, one new one who was excellent and the problem people were absent. A good time was had by the rest of us.

The poor Susan Dennis looking for a job, still has not figured out what her email address is. I guess the good news is that all these places responding to her are safe from hiring an idiot.

Today, after elbow coffee, there will be laundry. Somehow I missed a turn and there's so much I might need two loads! Scott and Julie have already said they need a load done when they get here so maybe I'll do most and toss in the rest with theirs.

For the first time this week, I do not have any items to take to UPS for return. Not only that, I do not have anything I've ordered yet to arrive. I'm all caught up!

I finished the pride robots/monsters. I ran out of the purple yarn after 50 of them so I figured that was a good place to stop. I used mini skeins that I bought at Hobby Lobby. While I hate shopping there because of their politics, I will if it's the only option for what I want which, in this case, it was. But it did tickle my fuck you bone to buy yarn to celebrate PRIDE there. $29 made 50 of them. Not too shabby.

Now it's back to dolls.

The menus for next week are good enough. Scott and Julie will be here for 3 dinners. And we have 3 dinner options - the buffet, the dining room and the cafe. We'll try them all. Breakfast is free with their guest room so we'll do that, too. And, lunch, if we need it. Tomorrow they will get here about 2ish and nothing will be open at Timber Ridge so we'll go out.

The first time Scott visited (long before he met Julie) it was 1995. I wanted to take him to an old fashioned small town 4th of July parade. So we went to Baimbridge Island on the ferry and saw their parade. It stuck on his brain like glue and he's talked about it ever since. We've thought of going back but just never worked it into one of their visits. Today, that gets fixed. He and Julie are headed over there today. No parade but they do have a farmers market and Julies LOVES American farmers markets. So excellent.

Time to get dressed. Ingrid often attends elbow coffee in her nightgown and robe but I, personally, think it's a little more respectful to get dressed before going.

Menu Day

This was Friday's entry.... which... again... I forgot to hit 'post'!

Today's menus are of greater importance than usual. There's the looming meal allowance. This week, they have a pork chop at dinner that is soooooo good. Ordinarily, I'd order a couple of extras for the freezer. BUT if next week's menu looks very good, then maybe not. Scott and Julie will arrive Sunday and stay until Thursday so we will be using up the meal allowance that way if the menu is good. If it sucks, then I might pile on the pork chops and the three of us will go out.

Of course, it does not matter one bit if I go over and (did I mention this last week) they now have a new thing where you can donate any spare meal money you have left over to the Issaquah Food Bank.

But, still, to me, menus matter and I want to see next week's. They put it out (in the mail room cubbies) about now so I can go get mine any time. They also put the menus online but, frustratingly, not until Sunday or next week.

Hazel came over last night to chat. When John is down or cabby about something, she really wants/needs conversation with other people. I know Joan always wants company so I'm not sure why I get picked. She's a lovely sweet person, Hazel but not at all interesting. 95% of the stuff she says, I have heard before and didn't care about them either. Anyway John did come home from the hospital Wednesday and now he has a back issue and they are going to the doctor tomorrow.

I listen politely and offer nothing, I learned my lesson on Myrna. I am not their care giver and they are not my responsibility.

I treated myself to a nice set of covered bowls last week. When they arrived, I loved them! Yesterday, I used several to make pickles and another salad. And then I popped them into the dishwasher. Now they are not so much bowls as sculptures. I went back to Amazon to carefully read the web page. It says nothing about dishwasher. Nothing - not in the reviews, not in the questions, not in the texts. Fuck. So. I found another set of nice, covered bowls which were clearly labeled safe for dishwasher. And now, it's back to UPS for the 4th time this week. Sigh.

But it is a lovely cloudy day so no fighting the sun and an easy trip.

I have yarn for about 4 more Pride monsters/robots and then it will be back to dolls. If the inventory holds up a bit, I might work up some Halloween prototypes. Martha is all over Halloween so she's agreed to judge. I'm aiming for one - like the bunnies - that I'll make a bunch of. But then for sure back to the dolls. I do have enough inventory to hold me over for the days Scott and Julie are here.

Ok, time to get dressed and get on with the day.

Taxi day??

I was wrong yesterday so today I'm not speculating. Hazel came in about 9 and asked if I'd take her to the hospital again. Turns out her son and his wife were not making her happy 'they are telling me what to do and it's not what I want'. It was fine. She told me to drop her off at the door and go. I quizzed her a million times about what she was going to do when she got inside the door and she had it figured out. Plus, she said, that with her walker and her visitor badge, if she stopped for so much as a second, someone swooped in and begged her to let them help her. She felt perfectly safe and unafraid so I left her at the door.

When I opened my apartment door to go pick up dinner, there was a sticky that said 'safely home. thank you!' I have no idea if it's just her or both of them. I know she'll come back if she needs anything so it's not on me to worry about what I should be doing for her. So I don't.

I stumbled on the perfect jacket on Women Within. Normally, when I find something there, I order it through Amazon but this jacket wasn't on Amazon and I wanted it and I had some coupons. It was $58 total (tax, shipping, dealer prep, whatever). For some reason, the order was invisible. It's still not listed on my order history. I never got an order number. They use caterpillars for shipping so it takes forfreakinever to get stuff. But it finally arrived yesterday and it's even better than I thought it would be. Love the look, love the weight, nice details... except. It's 2 sizes too big. I mean really really too big. It looks like I stole a lady linebacker's jacket. So I got onto their chat and after some frustrating back and forth, I finally was able to get them to find the order without the order number. They don't do exchanges. You send it back and they issue you a store credit and then you buy the size you want. EXCEPT the jacket is now listed for $95. The CSR said they would charge me the same as I paid before. We shall see. At least the return is Happy Returns which is easy peasy - my UPS store and a QR code. Happily, I have no use for the jacket until Fall which is probably when I will get it.

Meanwhile, I bet Google Maps would tell me but I'm guessing I've made more trips that UPS store in the year and a half that I've lived here than to the Timber Ridge mailroom. They are lovely people and do not mock me for being in there every day but still. I'll go back there today.

For about a month or more, both my ankles were swollen like a fat old lady (which, of course, I am). And, also, my feet got fatter. Not longer, just fatter. No reason. But, the other day, I noticed they were back to normal size. And they've stayed that way. So weird. Just a bout of swollen, I guess.

Oh and I got a letter yesterday. The last of my Seattle doctors has flown the coop. My doctors were part of a kind of medical coop called The Polyclinic. Which, in its heyday was fabulous. They were very patient oriented and it showed all over the place. One time they fucked up my flue shot and I sent a note to the head patient person explaining the issue and OMG, I finally had to tell them to stop calling to apologize. All was forgiven.

Then they got bought out by Big Medical and the walls started crumbling. My eye doctor went first. She was replaced by a guy who routinely pissed me off. Then my lung doctor went. But he left a nurse practitioner who was fabulous. Then she left. The next lung doctor was fine. My doctor of record was wonderful. I was quite fond of him for all of the dozen years we met annually. He left this past month. And now the new lung doctor has gone. Also, I think they are even changing the name. A new era. Without me.

Ok. Time to get dressed and hang a bit to see if Hazel needs me, then off to UPS for my now daily visit.

Maybe free

I spent most of yesterday assuming today I'd be Hazel's hospital taxi. This was not a good thought. I hate the drive and I'm not wild on her dependence on me. She has two grown sons and one grown daughter in law who live nearby... But, finally last night about 8, she came in to give me an update. They were still testing stuff with John but his spirits were good. Her son brought her home and her daughter in law escorted her up to her door. And they were going to be her hospital taxi today. So, whew.

She's kind of a mess. Not in a pearl clutching way but more in a confused and also severely diminished eyesight kind of way. This has also pointed that out to her. "I never used a cellphone because why? John's always there and he does it. Bad move." But, it is nice to know (for me, her sons, her husband and her) that she is in a place with options if she needs them.

So today is mine. Thank you. There is a Food and Beverage committee meeting this afternoon. The first since they fired the long time chef and hired a new one. Should be interesting.

I put in a work order the other day because the door to my apartment squeaks so loudly that I was afraid of complaints from downtown every time I opened the door. I had WD-40'd the hinges and nada. But, turns out, I just needed a professional. Yesterday, Jorge (who is one of the nicest guys) came and did just what I did but did it way better because now I can sneak out in the dead of night and no one will ever know. I love not owning my home!!

I think after Scott and Julie leave next week, I'll go back to dolls. I should be about out of Pride yarn by then anyway. And nearly out of Pride month.

Interuptus

Volleyball was really good this morning. We had a good crowd of fun players and lots of laughs. Then, home to breakfast and coffee. I was nearly finished with both when Hazel came in with a face that was in total distress. She said John and fallen in the shower and they had just taken him away and could I please take her to the hospital.

Turns out, thankfully, he had not fallen but had come close and nearly lost conciseness. The parametics said it was likely dehydration. She wasn't entirely sure which hospital and her son could not get to her until after 11 (this was 8:30). So we made a plan. We found out the hospital. I grabbed my shit, she grabbed hers, we got her and her walker into the car and off we went.

She was not frantic just worried to bits. I was really glad she had gotten me instead of trying to figure it out on her own, Plus, I had zippity on for this morning so not a problem.

The hospital was the same one that I took Myrna to all those times so at least not a black hole. It's an easy-ish trip until you get close and then it's a nightmare. But we made it And found easy parking and got right in to John who was awake and alert and not frantic. Now they were thinking heart. I stayed until Hazel had talked to their son to find out he was on the way. Then I came home. Now I am in the elbow while my house cleaner does her magic.

Hazel did call a few minutes ago to say that they were keeping John overnight and Keith (son) would get her home. (Whew on not having to go again. I'm over that drive.)

So that's my excitement du jour. I did remember, on my way home, to pop into UPS with my Amazon return. Go Me.

Monday

Friday night, Ethel asked me if I wanted wine or water 'or we have some tonic and lime' and pointed to glasses set up that looked delicious and refreshing so I opted for tonic and lime. And now, of course, I'm hooked. I do enjoy a good gin and tonics but I like most alcohol, while I enjoy the taste, I do not enjoy the effects. Plus who needs the extra calories anyway? For some reason it never occurred to me to just leave out the gin. So tonic and lime is my new, refreshing, Summer beverage.

I went out yesterday to buy some tonic and to make an Amazon return and then remembered, after I had left, that the UPS shop was closed for father's day. So I still have that errand to do. But, still no hurry.

There are workers out on the patio this morning but they are working very quietly :) There are several tables set up for eating so someone must be having a lunch or dinner out there today. Tis the season. My friend, Steve, gathers folks for dinners on Thursdays out there. I can watch from my table. I keep thinking I'll join them sometime but on Thursdays I usually find a million reasons why I'd rather not. Starting with... eating outside?? I've never understood the allure. It's way cooler and more pleasant in here and... no bugs.

I have nothing on the agenda today. So that's probably what I will do. More Clarksons Farm and more Pride dolls. I need to build up an inventory for when I'm not knitting next week. My New Zealand friends arrive on Sunday.

Even with nothing on the agenda, it would be good if I got dressed.

The Julio equivalent of watching paint dry

Sunday

Turns out that last night's dinner was kind of a tradition for the two couples. Ethel and Gary, who live here, have Seattle Symphony tickets with Jan and Dick, who don't live here... yet. Dick and Jan come over and have dinner as guests of Ethel and Gary and then Dick (the only one of the four who still drives at night), drives them to the concert.

So last night, they added me and Beth Box into the mix. Beth was another friend of Myrna's (and of both couples) who moved in here about six months after I did. So the six of us had a delightful dinner. They closed the dining room ('staffing shortage' again) so we all got dinners to go and had it in Ethel and Gary's apartment which was just lovely.

Dick and Jan did finally get their house on the market and had an offer in 3 days and are closing the first week in July so they will be moving into Myrna's apartment very soon.

Today is baseball, knitting, and laundry. I might go out. I have an Amazon return and I'd like a couple of things at the grocery BUT nothing really that can't wait so maybe not. Next week has plenty of opportunities for stuff like that.

Julio has this toy that he is addicted to. It needs to be charged and I forgot to charge it last night and it's just run out of juice and he's having a hard time dealing with it. For the last 5 minutes, he's just been lying there staring at it. He gets all anxious when I plug it into the charger. But, it looks like that's going to have to happen. Sorry, buddy.

Oh, good, he just went into the bedroom. Time to plug it in.