January 1
The first day of the New Year. We got up at 5:30 and it was clear and
chilly. Niki spent the night at Valerie’s and Jenny had gone to a party
at Pat Loweri’s with Debby so we were alone. Don went to bed early and I
went at 10:30. I have my deepest sleep at the beginning of the night so
I didn’t wake up at 12 but Don did and he said there were horns blowing
and guns went off and shouting and lots of loud noise and I missed it
all. Well so it goes. We had breakfast and then I got ready to go to my
aerobics class. I wore my new black tights but since it was cold I wore
a pair of sweats over them. The walk was pleasant and everyone seemed to
be still asleep cause there was no traffic and when we got to class there
were only 6 of us but it was a good work out. Luann was as good as
usual. Walked home. Jenny was still asleep. She woke up with a terrible
headache and that is a shame… She took some pills and went back to sleep
and then was ok. I did the salad greens, baked squash, made an angel
food cake from scratch, sifted the flour and sugar 3 times and when it
came out of the oven it was not as high as when I had put it in! Well, I
will never bother with that again. It doesn’t taste bad but not as good
as Duncan Hines and a whole lot less work. Then I put the dressing in
the turkey and put it in the oven. We had lunch and later Niki and David
arrived. Niki is studying for her permit on the way to getting her
driving license. She takes the test again tomorrow afternoon. I went to
the south yard and cut back the rest of the roses and I took one out (the
sterling silver) and I have 3 to put in so I still have a lot to do in
the south yard. Niki called and didn’t come home for dinner so it was
the 3 of us but my it was so good they all ate too much. I cleaned
everything up right after dinner so things are put away and no pans are
soaking. There was no news tonight cause football was everywhere.
Northwestern played USC and they got beat. NW had not played in the
Super Bowl since 1949 and then with such a good team this year and such
high hopes it was too bad they got beat. Niki spent the evening doing
homework and Jenny went out to visit Cathy. Don is resting and I am
going to read for a while. I felt good most of the day. I took a
Naprosyn this morning and again at dinner and I took a muscle relaxer
(1/2) this morning but I don’t have to take another one till I go to bed
and my head hurts and for some reason my ears hurt by night as well.
Still I have to function so I am going to read for a while.
January 2
I am the town crier of the wake up queen. Note from Jenny to get up at 8
and one from Niki to make coffee for her to put in a thermos. I did my
exercises and had 2 prunes and some bread. Made a muffin for Jenny. I
got out the ironing board and pressed some slacks to wear to Hospice.
They are rather old and they wrinkle very easily. So by 8:30, I was off
to Hospice. The walk was ok but I didn’t feel too jaunty and even less so
on the way back. I typed envelopes by computer and then filled folders
the rest of the time. When I got home, I was very hungry and ate too
much even though it was fruit and cottage cheese. I must get rid of the
extra 5# of Christmas overindulgence. Then on to the Discovery Shop. We
made only $48 but it was a pleasant afternoon. I brought home a wool
sweater but it is too small so I will take it back next time. I was
starved when Don picked me up and I sampled everything I put on the table
and then ate at the table as well! There was sliced turkey, gravy and
squash (I skipped those things) an orange salad and dressing! How I
loved it. Then there was still angel food cake left. I didn’t put
anything on it but still. Watched the news – no settlement on the budget
and people are getting very disgusted with justification. Daisy went for
her check up today and she is fine and she has some teeth that don’t look
so good. The vet was surprised that given her age she was doing so well.
Linda called and she now has ideas about what I am to take on our trip.
She is bringing silk blouses. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but
their taste and mine differ. I like things plain and they want things
different. Well, I will end up taking what I will feel the most
comfortable with. I called Priss and I got her to laughing when I told
her about my making the angel food cake from scratch and the fact that it
was not as high after it was cooked as it had been before. Niki passed
the written test for her driver’s license and now she has to take the
behind the wheel part. I don’t have any idea how good a driver she will
be. She went to her mother’s and that was good. Don’s war wounds are
hurting again and tonight I got really angry. I can’t be sympathetic any
more. He tries something for one night but refuses to take something on
a long-term basis. No one is saying that he will be cured but it could
help to make life better for him. I was very blunt and it probably won’t
do any good. I hate these narrow lines. I want to write in a notebook!
I really don’t want to go to Mexico or Scottsdale. Sometime I would like
to go somewhere that I would like to go to and not visit anyone!
January 3
Well tomorrow morning Don will go to have breakfast with Carl so I will
not eat much here. Carl still can’t play tennis so it is nice that they
can get together to eat. This morning Don and I acted as if nothing had
been said last night about his not being willing to try to relieve his
pain. Well I guess he will just have to suffer. I have tried. I did my
exercises and tried to eat as late as possible cause I want to get rid of
those extra X-mas pounds but I am so hungry all the time! By 8:30 I had
on my tights and sweatshirt and was on my way to aerobics. It was not as
cold as I had expected. I was a bit late so I really walked fast and
made it in time. We had a terrific work out. Luann was at her best and we
all enjoyed it. Then there was the walk home. Don had planted all 3 of
the roses and they look great. I now have 19 rose bushes. I suppose I
should work in one more and then I would have 20. A good round number.
In the afternoon, I raked all the dead leaves around the bottom of each
plant and so now they should start putting out little shoots. When I did
get home this morning, I was starving so I ate my lunch and drove to the
library right after 11. I took back all the books I had not read. I
worked on the drawers and now they are all neat but probably won’t stay
that way. Lorna gave me 2 boxes of paper bags to give Linda to get to
the prisoners. I must remember to tell her. I went to Lucky and got
fresh bread and bananas and to Holiday and got chicken breasts. For
dinner, I baked a meat loaf and potatoes. Made a carrot salad and opened
a can of Italian beans. They were not great, but ok I guess. Jenny
called to say she was working till 7 and Dave came and so Niki left with
him so it was just Don and I for dinner. We watched the news and there
wasn’t much in the way of anything good. The President and Congress
still haven’t come to an agreement. There was a nice long letter from
Donna yesterday and I forgot to mention it. I will write to her when we
get back. Don got the right area code and I called Telluride this
morning and talked to Pauline. She still speaks very slowly and she still
sounds confused or something. I find it upsetting. She said she was
leaving this weekend and Paul planned to be there when she got in Omaha.
He wants her to go to Washington but she doesn’t want to go. I think she
has to have time to grieve but maybe I am wrong. I think they are all
worried about her driving in the snow. Well tomorrow night Linda and
Craig will be here but she said we should not expect them till 9 or
after. I talked to Priss tonight. She finally talked to David and
although it wasn’t great, she seemed to feel good about it. He plans to
come up for her birthday on the 1st of March. Tomorrow I must do the
washing for what I plan to take and check my hosiery and walk around in
my new black flats to break them in and water plants. Well I have a lot
to do!
January 4
It is 9:30 p.m. and Craig and Linda arrived about 1/2 an hour ago. Linda
had brought a lot of clothes for me to wear. Some I rejected out of hand
but I did go along with a green silk blouse and a batik jacket I can wear
with a black skirt and slacks. Jenny had also had a lot of advice but I
realize they do it cause they love me and want me to look nice. And it
has been a productive day. The things I hate I did early on. I cleaned
both bathrooms. I did a load of whites and a load of darks. I sorted
out and washed all my nylons and knee-highs. I am not going to take them
all but it will be nice to have them sorted and clean. I made pumpkin
bread. Don and I walked to Walgreen’s and got things like shower caps, a
small shaving cream, etc., then we went to the mall and I tried on navy
blue shoes but didn’t get any. I called Priss and we had a good talk. I
watered and fed the plants. I tried hard not to eat too much. I think I
am about down to 100# again. I hope before the year is out that I will
be used to these narrower lines. Tonight we had clam chowder from the
things that Priss gave us from Norm Thompson. So that was pretty much my
day. My head was really pretty good. Maybe I am getting better in that
area. I still itch but it is not as bad. Linda is going to be tested
tomorrow morning for her breathing at 8:15 and then she has Dr. Brookes
at 10:15. Well today Ruth Berry called from Sacramento and when Don told
her we were going to Mexico City she said, “well don’t breathe”. And
suddenly I began to wonder how well I am going to breathe at 9,000 feet.
Then Jenny and I decided that I should see Dr. Brooker cause I haven’t
been tested since 1990 and I just keep using the inhalator but I keep
using the same one. Now I wish I had done it this last month cause it
would have gone on my 1995 deal and I had already met the deductible but
each year we have to match it again so I guess it really doesn’t matter.
Don has been trying to quit smoking yet again and today he was talking
about it and Jenny said “you mean you are trying to quit when you are
going on a trip. Are you out of your mind.” “Who wants to be around
someone who is jumpy and cranky?” So he went out and bought cigarettes.
I have mixed emotions but I certainly understand. Well tomorrow is our
wedding anniversary. Mike asked me when it was and I told him and they
had no idea so he will send a card. Then he asked about my birthday and
I asked about his and he didn’t want anything so we decided to send cards
again so that is that. Now I am going to quit for today. I just hope we
don’t get the flu. Niki came home sick and Craig feels lousy.
hope for the best.
We all
January 5
Well, today we have been married for 53 years. That is a long time
indeed. We got up and had our breakfast. Afterwards, Niki went off to
school. She had not felt well last night and I worried about her going
but she said she felt better. Jenny went off to pick up Linda at the
Matador Motel for her breathing test before going to see Dr. Brooker at
10:15. They came back here afterwards and she was very pleased cause she
has asthma but her lungs are not damaged and he is giving her a new Rx
and in a month’s time she should be feeling much better. Jenny talked to
him about me and he said I should come in to be checked. I tried to make
an appointment today but the woman doing the scheduling was not there so
I will call when we get back from Mexico. I made gingersnaps in the
morning. They turned out very well. We had lunch and the 3 girls went
out to lunch together. Then Don and I walked to Safeway and back. It was
a nice afternoon and great for walking. Mike called and wished us a
happy anniversary and said something would be coming for us and sure
enough at about 5 p.m. a beautiful bouquet was delivered for us. The
girls came home and the 3 of them sang (off key) Happy Anniversary and
gave us a fancy card saying we should order 2 instead of just one video
to celebrate and inside was a coupon for 2 videos at All the Best Videos.
I made a potato salad, sliced cold turkey, heated the gravy and dressing
and we had green beans and I made brownies. We watched the news and then
Linda and Jenny stopped again but Cathy went home to her family. Don
went to bed early cause tomorrow he flies to LA cause Miss Hammond, his
3rd grade teacher, is celebrating her 100th birthday and her nephew is
giving her a party at a restaurant and Don was invited so he will drive
to Sacramento and fly down, fog permitting, and then fly back and then on
Sunday, Jenny will drive us to Sacramento and we will stay the night and
fly out the next morning for Mexico City. I am going to pack a lunch or
snack and we are eating at the motel. Niki went out with Sandi tonight
and will stay the night. She has not been with her for a long time. I
don’t know where David is tonight. Helen Roseman called today. Jenny
answered the phone. George has the flu and she didn’t want me to come
cause she was worried that I would get it. Jenny works tomorrow and I
will have to drive her to work cause I need her car to take grocery
shopping. I am nervous about driving her car but with Don’s car in
Sacramento I will have to do it. I hope it works out ok. I tried to
call Priss many times tonight but the line was always busy so I just hope
everything is ok. So now it is after 10 p.m. and I guess I will get
ready for bed. It has been a quiet anniversary but I guess that is ok.
January 6
All today I have thought it was Sunday so when I opened this tonight I
thought I had missed a day. But I had not. We got up at 4 so Don could
leave for Sacramento to catch the plane to Long Beach for Miss Hammond’s
100-year birthday lunch. I got Jenny up at 10 to 6 cause she was working
at the hospital. When we went out to the car at 10 to 7, the fog was so
thick I could not believe it and I had to drive the car home in soup! I
was so scared but I did it! Thank goodness there was very little traffic
and Don got back in mid morning cause all the planes were grounded. So he
missed the lunch but I think he was glad cause it would have been such a
long day for him. Linda and Craig came over right after he came and
Linda had breakfast. Craig was still not feeling great but he was better.
They left cause they wanted to get home. When I saw the fog I called Mary
and told her we would have to wait to shop but about 8 I looked outside
and it was gone! So I called Mary back and picked her up right away. I
just bought mandarins at the F. Mkt. and not too much at Food for Less or
the Cannery. I had just finished putting the groceries away when Linda
and Craig arrived. Niki worked on her Plato paper and English. She had
stayed the night at Sandi’s but came early cause of her term paper. I
started to pack and I shall have plenty of room for everything I am
taking. Jenny called to say she would be working till 7 so she did a 12hour shift. I washed some things out by hand and then I got everything
ironed. I finally attacked the turkey and I have a lot of white meat left
plus a container of chopped for turkey hot dish and some bits and pieces
for Daisy. So tonight we had turkey sandwiches yet again and a green
salad. I called Omaha and got Paul. George put Pauline on the train but
it was running late so she wouldn’t get into Omaha until the middle of
the day but I will call her before I leave tomorrow. He said he thought
she was doing better. I made a list of things concerning the house, the
plants and the dog. Niki and David went to the movies so she did not eat
with us. Priss brought some books over and I read one of them. They are
novellas and the first one was not very good. I am taking Hawaii to read
on the plane. I haven’t read it for a long time so I think I will enjoy
it again. I called Mary and told her we would not be going to church
tomorrow. Don and I had a good walk in mid afternoon. We went to the Jr.
High and walked around the back. I like doing that cause there is no
traffic as it is when one is walking on the streets. I have had a
headache since before noon and I still have it now at 9:30. I am doing a
lot of yawning so I must get ready to go to bed. Had a good visit with
Priss tonight. I think I will make pancakes tomorrow morning.
January 7
I am writing this on Monday. We got up at the usual time and since we
were not going to church, I had time to read all the papers right
straight through for a change. Then I took a shower and washed and set
my hair. Jenny was working 7 – 3 so I had to get her up at 10 to 6 and
Niki had left a note to get her up at 8. Don brought out all his shirts
to be folded (his suit jacket, slacks, etc.). Pretty soon it was noon
and then I had lunch before walking to Walgreen’s to get a few last
things. On the way back, David and Niki stopped so Niki could give me a
hug and told me to have a good day. She had finished her term paper on
Plato and they were going to a movie. I got the things I needed and then
it was time to get dinner. I wore my new black slacks, a black wool
sweater and my black and teal sweater. I called my sister who was back
in Omaha and Paul was still there cause there is a terrible snowstorm in
the East and Washington airport was closed down so he was going to wait
till the weather was better. Pauline was not in a good mood. She asked
me why I had not gone to the funeral for Phil. Here I was going to see
Selma in Scottsdale and I don’t go to my own sister’s. She said she
thought I didn’t really like Sel anyway. I was very upset. Maybe I
should have gone to the funeral. Frankly I don’t think it would occur to
Pauline to come here if Don dies. Well, I am just going to let it go.
It is too late to do anything about it now and I am sorry if she thought
I should come. At 3:30, Jenny arrived from the hospital and we set out
for Sacramento with two big suitcases and two carry ons. As we
approached Sacramento, the fog got thicker and thicker and I keep
thinking about when we went to Australia and had to say over. Don had
made a reservation at the hotel where we had stayed last time so we went
there and Jenny drove off cause she was eager to get back to Chico. The
room was much like the one last time. Dull, with nothing attractive about
it. By then it was dinnertime and Don had suggested I pack a dinner so I
made sandwiches and chips, mandarins, etc. Nothing tasted great but we
ate it and then Don went over to the airport right across from where we
were staying and talked to the people there and they said they didn’t
think any planes would be going out in the morning or even all day. So we
talked it over and decided that we couldn’t stay in this motel at $90 a
night until the fog lifted and they were saying it might last all week so
Don called Jenny and then he called Teri in Mexico City and naturally she
was very upset cause they had made a lot of plans for our coming but they
said maybe in the spring and they might be in San Diego in May and we
could go over. Naturally I was disappointed. I really had not wanted to
go all that much to begin with but after all the planning and packing it
was a blow. Well we watched TV and the snow and wind in the east was
terrible in some cases blocking all roads. On channel 9, we watched Part
I of The Politician’s Wife. Very good. Then we had a drink and went to
bed and nothing happened. I guess Don was too tired and upset and by
that time I wanted to throw in the towel and howl! But naturally I
didn’t. So we tried to sleep but things were noisy and we did not have a
good night.
January 8
We didn’t sleep well but it is hard to sleep in a new bed in a motel that
is noisy so I was glad to get up. We made Suka with hot tap water and I
ate a few little rice cakes that have very little flavor. We watched
local Sacramento TV and saw all the terrible storms in the east with
snow, wind, etc., and then the local fog. From 7 – 8, we watched Good
Morning America and then Don went over to check on the bus to Chico. It
was just a van but it costs $30 each. It was leaving at 8:30 so Don
dashed in and grabbed the big bags and I got the little ones and right
outside the door was the van waiting. So we drove through fog and by the
time we got to Maryville it was just cloudy. Another couple was on the
bus and they lived in Paradise so we stopped there and they got out and
then she drove us to our door. Daisy just went crazy. She dashed form
one to the other tripping over the suitcases and so happy to see us that
one would think we had been gone a month instead of 1 day. First I
cooked bacon (for Don) and eggs and toast and then we both unpacked. I
took longer cause I had taken all the vitamins and extras that we use
every day but are a nuisance to pack and unpack. Don lay down to take a
nap and I finally got everything put back. Fed the dog and then Jenny
came home. She does not feel well and Don isn’t feeling great either.
Jenny had gone to see Richard the acupuncture man and he said to eat
bland food. So I made macaroni and cheese, a plate of kiwi, orange and
persimmon and canned green beans. Then we watched the news local and
national. The main part was about the storm in the east. So now it is
8:30 and I would love to go to bed but it is too early. I would wake up
at 3 and not be able to go back to sleep. I made an appointment with Dr.
Brooker to check my emphysema. I called Priss and she was happy to have
me back but sorry that we could not go. I think if we had used our heads
we could have gone but the mistake was not checking the night before from
here to find out what the weather was. If we had gone to S.F. we
probably would have been able to get to Phoenix. I never really was all
that enthusiastic about going in the first place and maybe deep down, Don
wasn’t either. I just don’t know. I feel cheated out of a week’s
vacation and I hated having to think about what to cook right away when I
thought I was going to have a reprieve. Well, we will work it out
somehow.
January 9
Fog; rain
Well back to the routine. Since I didn’t do much shopping before we
left, there was no papaya for Don’s breakfast but I cut up a persimmon
(we both start with that) and Don had that this morning. I was going to
shower but by the time Don, Niki and Jenny all took showers, there was
not hot water so I took a spit bath. Walked to Hospice in the fog and
did dull things. Don came to get me cause it was raining by the time I
was ready to go so I got just 1/2 my walk. Jenny needed our car cause
hers was at Lance’s getting the brakes fixed. She took Niki to the
Female Center for some deal that she gets every 3 – 4 months. I am not
quite sure what it is but she is not supposed to get pregnant. Then Jenny
took her out to lunch before she went back to school. I had a healthy
lunch and while Don was taking his nap, David Alaways came to give us a
time estimate on trimming all the bushes $4-500! Well, Don feels we
should do it so he said to go ahead. He says he will start tomorrow.
Daisy went into a tissy barking like mad. The man raises golden labs and
gets $400 - $500 for the puppies. He says they raises them through the
winter one female had 9 pups and another one just had 8 so he has a good
job. I made a French stew and then Don and I hit the stores for papayas,
apples, cottage cheese, etc. I looked nice today. I wore my bright
green slacks and matching T-neck and the off white sweater that has a
long neck and with white athletic shoes I looked pretty good. I will
decide tomorrow morning whether to go to aerobics or not and whether to
go to work in the library in the afternoon. Don wanted to do neither but
should do both. There are too many shoulds in my life. There really
isn’t much fun at least that I can see right now. Maybe when the weather
gets more springlike I will feel different. I had cleared up the eczema
on my left hand but now it is back again. I made a good French stew that
turned out well and did salad greens and then I made corn bread but I
don’t have enough so I mixed some scone mix in with it and it turned out
ok. So we had a good dinner. I am trying to eat smaller helpings and it
is going to take some practice. I think I will read now. Had a good
visit with Priss tonight. Jenny is going to S.F. tomorrow with Cathy and
they will come back the same day. She was going to Genevieve’s and
planned to stay all night and come back on Friday. She was going to go on
Thursday but G is going to be out of town so she had to change her plans.
She is seeing a woman who helps people with their thesis. David has gone
to Seattle so Niki is at Ben’s tonight. Now to my rather dull book.
January 10
Beautiful clear day
We didn’t get up till 5:30 and we both slept well for a change. I still
didn’t want to get up but I did. Had cornbread leftover from last night
so I toasted some for Don’s breakfast and I made muffins for Jenny. Had
a note to wake Jenny at 6 but she was up as I went to tell her. She left
early to pick up Cathy and go to Berkeley to talk to a woman who is a
thesis consultant. She said they planned to eat dinner in the city so
they will be home late. After exercise and breakfast I got out the
vacuum and did the kitchen floor and then got ready to go to aerobics. I
called Mike to thank him for the flowers he sent for our wedding
anniversary. I had tried to reach him before but got no answer. So I
walked to the club. It was chilly but so bright and clear. Why couldn’t
it have been like this on Monday morning in Sacramento? We had a huge
class today of 25 women and it was a good work out. Back home I looked
at the vacuum and decided I was not up to doing the length of the house
so I put it away. Maybe tomorrow. I fixed my lunch, ate quickly and was
off to the library by 11:15. I asked Linda Thompson, the librarian if
Niki could work at the library for 32 hours to earn 2 credits for
graduation but it didn’t sound promising. I worked on ribbons today but
I get so tired standing up and not moving. I was home by 1:30. The man
came to start trimming the bushes in the back yard. They seemed to be
doing a good job but then I found out that they were carrying everything
to the south yard and trampling down all my new things I had put in. I
wanted to weep. Things haven’t been going well for me this week and it
is only Wednesday. I heated up yesterday’s stew and made a fruit salad.
Niki’s friend David is in Seattle so tonight she had dinner with us! She
doesn’t like stew so she had a grilled sandwich and chicken noodle soup.
Don took her after school to go to Richard cause she has been having
headaches and he does acupuncture. She went over to Ben’s but didn’t stay
long. She went to bed early. The news tonight was about the budget yet
again. The stock market went down 90+, which is not good. And Hillary
Clinton is in trouble cause of Whitewater. The Republicans claim she is
lying. They will carry this whole thing on till next November if they
can so once the news was over, I called Priss and we talked for a very
long time. Then I have been reading since then. Don is going to bed. He
says his head still feels funny and he doesn’t know if it is the flu or
not. Well, tomorrow I don’t have to go anywhere so I suppose I had
better clean the house. Will try to get some walking in.
January 11
I seem to have a sudden malaise about my life right now. We slept ok and
got up at 5. After the papers and my breakfast of 2 prunes, 1/2 a banana
and some bread, I did my exercises. Then I got very busy and vacuumed
the TV room, switched some lamps around and ran a load of clothes. Then
suddenly I stopped working. A little later I swept the driveway and
picked up camellias that dropped and tried to clean up a border but then
I lost interest and came in the house. All day long the noise of the
chain saw filled the air as 4 men trimmed, chopped, raked, etc., back and
forth and by late afternoon everything was done north, east and west and
we look bare but it is good that we did it cause everything is cleaned
out down below and neatly trimmed on top. Julie stopped by with 2 little
girls she was babysitting and they had cookies and milk. Niki came home
from school and had a snack and then stayed in her room to listen to
music. I tried a new chicken recipe for chicken breasts and it turned
out well. Chicken soup, chicken pieces dipped in flour, then the chicken
soup, lemon juice and spices and then seasoned crumbs and baking for 20
minutes. So easy and yet very tasty. Made a yellow pudding, green salad
and coucous Indian curry style. Jenny went to work at 3 and got home
after 7 and she ate when she got home. Niki ate with us again tonight.
David is still in Seattle and won’t be home till late tomorrow night. I
called Helen Roseman – George feels better but now she has the flu so she
said she didn’t want me to come tomorrow and that is ok. I will shampoo
my hair, probably make bread and maybe I can do some more cleaning. It
was a beautiful day, clear and warm. I wanted to go for a walk but just
never got around to it. I must do so tomorrow. I came up with an ok
dinner tonight but somehow I resent having to cook. Jenny is going to an
overnight party at Vickie Lindeman. A club of ladies have been doing
this for years. How I wish I had some women friends that I liked being
with. I have Priss but she is more of a burden then anything. I don’t
mind the nightly call but I don’t want to go anywhere with her cause she
is too apt to get mad and that is not my idea of fun. No word from any
of our children away from home. Now Linda calls Jenny so we don’t talk
to her so much. I miss that. I guess I am really rather unhappy but I
don’t see any hope for change so I must just make the best of things.
Any chances of making new friends are pretty slim at this stage of my
life.
January 12
Fog
I guess you could say that today was accomplishment day. I got so much
done. I made oatmeal today so Don and I had a good breakfast. Then while
Jenny went to the club, I showered, shampooed and set my hair. I decided
to make bread even though the house was cool. I washed Don’s sweater and
my off white wool sweater. Since Jenny is in the apartment now I lay the
sweater out in the guestroom and they should be dry by tomorrow. I ate
lunch and then I ironed shirts and slacks. While the bread was baking, I
washed the top of the stove and it looks much better.
So I kept busy
till 3 p.m. and then decided I would go for a walk, fog or not and Don
said he would go with me. I wanted to walk on the bike path cause it is
quiet and there is no air pollution so we went down the way to the
airport instead of on the way to the sports club. But when we got to a
cross street I wanted to go back the same way but Don wanted to go down
Cohasset so of course we did it his way and the result was traffic
instead of the peace of the bike walk. Why do I always give in? It
makes me so angry inside. I guess it’s that I always give in, but still
it bothers me. We got home after an hour of walking and I made our meal
a fridge night. There was a little bit of everything: stew, coucous,
two small pieces of chicken, cheese, pickles, olives, fresh bread, ham
salad and even some yams just plain boiled and I forgot to list but I had
made his cheesecake this morning. So we had that for dessert. Then the
news and I found myself falling asleep about 3 times but then it had been
a busy day. Well, Don is still not feeling well so that means no
lovemaking tonight. I suppose it is just as well cause I am not much in
the mood. This morning when I was making bread I couldn’t remember if I
had put the 6-T. of sugar in or not. I find this rather frightening. I
guess I must have the recipe out and I will try to check it as I go
along. I wrote to Pauline this afternoon. I find it difficult to write
to her since she was so angry that I had not gone to Omaha for the
funeral. I can’t decide whether I feel guilty or not. I was never very
fond of Phil and that probably had something to do with it. I can’t
imagine Pauline coming out here for Don’s. I called Priss after dinner
and she was pleased that she had called Ginnios about the man who came
out about the washing machine and didn’t do anything and when she called
he hung up on her. She loves confrontation and I try to hide from it.
Who is right? Well I am starting a book by Anne Rivers Siddon and I
think I will read for a while. Grocery shopping tomorrow morning at 7:30.
January 13
Woke up to fog and it was cold! Jenny wanted to be wakened at 10 to 6
and since we had slept in till 5:30 there was a rush in the kitchen for
coffee making, etc. Niki’s drinking coffee now too and I can visualize a
future with 3 more coffees lined up on the wall with different kinds of
coffee brewing. Jenny went off to work and I left at 7:20 to pick up
Mary to go shopping. We skipped the F. Mkt. today Thank Goodness cause
this time of year they have very little of anything I want. But we did
our usual Food for Less and the Cannery. Got home a little after 9.
David called and when Niki got out of the shower she called him. He had
gone to Seattle driving an RV for his father. After we put the groceries
away we went to Safeway to get papayas and milk. I wasn’t hungry for
lunch but Don ate and I spent most of the afternoon reading Fault Lines
by Anne Rivers Siddon. I got so involved with the plot and the Dr.
husband made me so mad that I put on my jacket and took the clippers and
cut down a bush in the north yard that I have wanted to take care of for
some time. I was so frustrated with his treatment of his wife I just had
to quit reading and expend some energy and it worked. I made cream sauce
with eggs and cheese on toast for dinner. If I could just remember not
to snack between meals I would be fine cause I really don’t eat so much
at meals. Then the phone rang and it was Joan and Peter in NZ but it was
Jason calling and he sounded as if he were in the living room right with
us. He was staying there and then going back up the Island to Ankland
and then on to Hawaii. It was great talking to him.
We talked briefly
with Joan and then said hello to Peter who didn’t sound well at all. I
forgot to mention that in late afternoon we walked to Lucky and I got
some romaine lettuce and then we walked back through the mall and we
found birthday cards for Tyler and Mike since their birthdays are coming
up. Suddenly about 1 p.m. the sun came out and it was very pleasant to
walk but I didn’t do my exercising this morning and I feel guilty when I
don’t do them. Niki called and she and Valerie are spending the night at
Amy’s and Jenny worked a 12 hour shift and just got home a short time ago
and she is on her way to Vicki Lindeman’s where all the ladies plan to
eat Chinese take out and then visit and spent the night and have a brunch
tomorrow and then home by afternoon. I envy her that. How I wish I had
friends that I could do that with. Talked to Priss and it is getting so
boring hearing her that I want to scream but won’t. I asked for wine
tonight instead of a regular drink and I had quite a few glasses. We
went to bed and made love very, very well indeed. As I told Don
afterwards, it’s wine from now on!
January 14
I just finished reading Fault Line by Anne Rivers Siddon and I cried and
cried cause I was so moved by the last part of it. The earthquake, Meritt
the wife Pam her Dr. husband and T.C. her lover in the tower in the
Redwoods. Plus daughter Glynn and Merritt’s sister Laura. I won’t
forget this one for a while. How was my day? Well it was ok I guess. We
got up at 5:30 and then there was breakfast and two Sunday papers. I did
all my exercising before reading the papers. It was cold and foggy and I
really didn’t want to go but we had not gone last Sunday so I thought we
should go today. Very short sermon and then Don drove to Safeway and got
himself a doughnut and I said no I didn’t want one. Well I did want one
but knew I shouldn’t have one. Came home and decided I wanted to cook a
really good dinner today. I planned to roast a chicken, make a carrot
soufflé, mashed potatoes and gravy and a grapefruit and kiwi salad. I
thought it would be nice to have all 4 of us eat together. Well, Jenny
got home at about 12 and she was to go to work the 3 – 11 shift. Well,
that took care of that. Then Niki said yes she would eat with us but
then Sandi called and wanted to go bowling so at the last minute she
begged out so it was just Don and I. The food was delicious and the ones
who weren’t there missed a good meal. I understand Jenny, but Niki could
have told her friend she would come at 5:30. She is very thoughtless.
Maybe some day she will cook a nice meal and the invited people will beg
out at the last minute. After Don and I had lunch I went for a walk in
the cold and the fog. I went to Lucky to buy more carrots and did the
whole trip, that one and the 2 mile one. I realize I have not walked
enough this winter and from now on I am going to try to do better. When
I got back I decided to make cookies and did chocolate chocolate chip.
They are always good. Julie stopped by to get Jenny’s chains cause she
was leaving for Tahoe to visit Linda at 2 p.m. She had a girlfriend to
go with her. Today was the day for the play offs in football. I know
Dallas won over the Green Bay Packers but I am not sure about the other
two teams. Well at least we will not be having a Super bowl party and
that is fine with me. Well that was pretty much my day. I plan to watch
the Politician’s Wife, Part II at 9 on Channel 9. There is no school
tomorrow cause it is M. Luther King holiday. Niki just called and she is
going to the movie with Sandi. I called Priss and got no answer and then
I remembered that she was going to eat dinner at the Holiday Inn with
Mrs. Coveny – her neighbor and new widow. I will not try to call her
later.
January 15
It was cold when I woke up in the night and so this morning I didn’t want
to get out of a warm bed and in fact we stayed till 6. Unusual for us.
Made muffins for Jenny but I had a leftover roll from last night. I did
my exercises but without enthusiasm. It is just January but I am already
tired of the dark, cold winter and I long for spring, I walked to
aerobics but wore sweat pants over my tights and my jacket with the hood
up. Had a good work out. When I got home, I took a shower to warm up
and then it was time for lunch. I had the usual fruit and cottage
cheese. After lunch Don wanted to go to Dalton’s to get a new day by day
calendar cause he didn’t like the one he had gotten for Christmas.
Luckily they were 50% off. Then we went to Lucky and I bought a very nice
plant for $3.33. There was no school today cause it was a holiday and I
had set aside $3 for Monday not thinking so I figured it should be ok to
spent the $3 on the plant. Mike called. He said he and Karen were going
to Italy for 4 – 5 days in February. Karen’s mother and the lady next
door are going to take care of Emmie. I was lazy and really didn’t do
much of anything for the rest of the day. I did cut up the leftover
chicken and made a chicken salad and I heated the carrot soufflé and
mashed potatoes for dinner. Don’s stomach is not doing well so he ate the
leftover carrot soufflé and the potatoes and I made him some chicken
noodle soup. I looked at our book on N. Zealand that the Vasies had
given us when we were there in 1981. I am eager for Jason to see it and
he can tell us if he has been to any of the places pictured in the book.
I sat in my chair and watched the birds come to the feeder on the patio.
Rain is predicted for tonight and most of the rest of the week. I called
Linda but she was at work and Julie answered. She and her girlfriend had
made good time getting there yesterday and she sounded happy. It had
snowed but it was raining when she talked to me. Jenny washed one of her
mini blinds from the kitchen cause it was so dirty and then she did mine
in the dining area and kitchen. That should make me do the rest of them.
Well tomorrow it is back to hospice and Trudi called from the Discovery
Shop scheduling asking if I would be willing to work 3 times in February
and March. I said yes. I don’t like working on Saturdays but she was
desperate. Talked to Priss and she was in good spirits. Tomorrow I will
try to write to my sister. Mary Wyle left for France today. In fact,
she is flying there as I write this. I hope things turn out ok for her
and that her dog makes it cause she loves it so much.
January 16
Rain; wind
We woke up at 4:30 but stayed till 5 in our bed. I have been going to
bed earlier and I think that is why I wake up earlier. But I am tired
and chilly and bed seemed more appealing in the dark winter. It was
raining hard so Don took me to Hospice this morning at 8:30 cause he had
to take Valerie and Niki to school at 9. This is exam week and so class
times are different. I alphabetized for a woman in a different area
today and then pulled files for another lady. Don picked me up at 10:30
and by then it had stopped raining but there was a nasty wind. So we had
lunch and then I drove over to Walgreen’s and Long’s to buy vitamins and
then to Lucky for fresh bread. When I got back, Don was up from his nap
and we went for a walk and by then it was rather pleasant and I wasn’t
too cold. When I got back, I did salad greens, thawed spaghetti sauce
and we were in business. First Niki came with David but they did not
stay. Then Jenny remembered that she was to eat dinner with Lisa so it
ended up with just Don and me. We had wine with our spaghetti and it was
pleasant being by ourselves. The news (local) was about the weather. It
is supposed to rain really hard on Thursday and to continue till Sunday.
Well I guess we should be glad we are getting our rain. I wrote to
Pauline this afternoon. I have not heard from her since she told me that
I should have gone when Phil died. She has made me feel very guilty. I
talked about it to Don and although we didn’t come to any conclusions, I
felt better for having talked to him. In the mail today we heard from
our insurance company and with the accident Don had that banged up his
car and adding Jenny’s car we are paying a much higher premium. I think
we will sell the car once she goes back to her home in A. We just can’t
afford to spend all this money. At least that is the way I feel about
it. Don saw Carl this morning. Lois had a very complicated operation on
her arm at the hospital in S.F. and she also got a staff infection while
there and so there are a lot of new problems now. And Carl is having
problems physically too so that is a lot on his plate. I haven’t started
reading anything new. I am not in the mood at the moment. Talked to
Priss and she had gone shopping today and she told me about that. Also
she seems to be getting along better with David and that is a good thing
cause she was so upset about Christmas. Well I suppose I should go wash
my face, brush my teeth and go to bed.
January 17
No rain today
Woke up to a clear but cold morning. I did all my exercising today and
then got dressed to go to my class. Wore my black stirrup slacks there
and a black top and looked nice. I realize that I had better buy a new
pair of those cause these are getting pretty tacky. I wore an old jacket
of Don’s, dark brown, heavy wool with a hood and it felt good. Got a
good work out and walked home but by then it had warmed up a little bit.
Made lunch earlier cause I was so hungry and then picked up the library
books and drove to the library. I spent some time trying to organize
things that are used to carry out themes in the library in holidays, good
moments, etc. but it seemed to be a hopeless cause so I decided to ask
Lorna if I could help her and she put me to work. I will tell Bill, the
man in charge of volunteers next time. Came home and Don was talking to
Jenny. She is very discouraged about her thesis and I think she wishes
she had never started on this. I don’t know what the answer is. At 3 she
went off to do the p.m. shift so she won’t be home till 11. There was a
card waiting for me on the dining room table and it said “I had planned
to make you a marvelous dinner for your birthday and then you opened it
up and it said “but I don’t cook”. So we are taking you out for dinner
tomorrow night. So that will be nice. I read for a while and then I put
together this dinner made up of left overs. Since Jenny was at work
there was Don, Niki and me. I made grilled cheese sandwiches and I cooked
the leftover spaghetti and there was some chicken noodle soup and I
heated that up for the other two. There was a bit of green salad left and
Niki ate that so I got rid of a lot of “little things”. Then there was
the news and then Don got a movie that Jenny had recommended about a shoe
factory in Australia but their language was so hard to understand that we
finally gave up on it. Then Don found a bead that Daisy had been chewing
on and when Don went to Niki’s bedroom he found she had chewed up a
bracelet she had made. I think it was for her art class. I called her
cause she was at David’s and she was very upset. But the good thing is
that she got a B+ on her paper on Plato for English so that will help her
grade there. Talked to Priss and she was upset cause she had sent a
letter to her grandson Peter with a $100 check in it and it was delivered
to another Peter Scott at a nearby address. This was before Christmas
and the man sent it to her much later. Well she was so angry and frankly
she seems to over react to everything these days. I have come to dread
these evening calls. Well I am going to read for a while.
January 18
It is 9:30 p.m. Don has been in bed for a long time. Jenny has gone to
the apartment for the night and Niki is with David Sterling. There is no
school tomorrow cause it is the end of the 1st semester and all her exams
are over so she won’t be home till 12. Well, it has been a very nice
birthday. Mike sent flowers, Linda and Jenny gave me the new Kingsolver
book of essays High Tide in Tuscany, Cathy gave me a copy of “Amazing
Grace” in a lovely dark blue frame, Priss gave me chocolate covered
ginger and little special cheese crax and a vase and a silver basket and
I got cards. All funny ones. So it was a pleasant day. The rain and
wind predicted came through for the rain but there was little wind. I
didn’t go anywhere today. No walking at all. I did do my exercising
this morning. I ran two loads of clothes and I ironed shirts, napkins,
etc., but for the most part the day just moved along quietly. Don went
to Dale’s for the lunch group. I showered, shampooed and set my hair.
The man came to fix the drapes in the living room and our bedroom. The
cord broke in the bedroom and the lining stuck in the living room. To go
out for dinner I wore my black skirt, black turtleneck and Linda’s print
jacket from Bali that Jenny had brought her. I love it and would like to
steal it. She said they would cost about $3.00 American and I have seen
some in the catalogues for over $100.00. I didn’t hear from my sister
and either she forgot or a card or letter are in the mail or she is still
angry cause I didn’t come to Omaha when Phil died. Suddenly I am sad and
I think I will go to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
January 19
It is 10 to 10 p.m. and I have just finished making a chocolate Mayo pie
for Don. About 7:45 he said he wished he could have a piece of pie and
when I was foolish enough to ask what kind he said chocolate Mayo – as
Jenny said he couldn’t ask for chocolate chess or pecan that were very
easy to make. Well anyway we got a piecrust out of the freezer and I
oiled it out and now it is in the fridge and tomorrow I can eat it. So
how was my day? Well, it was ok. Better in some ways than yesterday. We
got up at 5:30 and the big storm that was supposed to come skipped Chico
and went to Redding where they had 2 feet of snow! I did my exercising
and read the papers and then Don and I walked to Safeway to get bananas
and Don got a doughnut and a papaya. When we got back, I cleaned the
bathrooms and then it was lunchtime. Jenny took Niki to the airport
where she could practice driving. At 10 after 1 Jenny in her car took me
over to Dr. Brooker’s. They took down all the usual information and he
examined me listening to my lungs and then I went to another room and
took the breath test and I could watch it on the computer screen. I did
it 3 times and each time it was better. When I went back to talk to the
doctor, he said it was much better than when I did it in 1990. There is
damage, but it is not getting any worse so I am to keep doing the
exercising, walking, keeping my weight down and not smoking. I dashed
home and checked on the ribs I had cooked in the oven and then went to
the Roseman’s for an hour. They were both feeling better and that was
good news. Got home and the ribs were overcooked but they still tasted
good. I made a green salad, cooked broccoli with cheese sauce and heated
bread. I felt as if I had been running all day. Well, I guess I had in
a way. Bill Davenport called from Washington D.C. to tell Don how much he
had enjoyed the book and they talked for a long time. Then a bit later
Mike called to wish me a happy birthday and he wanted to know about the
place we had eaten last night. I asked about Emmie and he said I will
have her say Hi but when she came to the phone in a sweet little voice
she said “Happy Birthday”. I was so pleased. We watched the news and
then Jenny came home from work and we visited. She made up a rice and
lentil dish to take to work tomorrow. I will be shopping and then I have
the Discovery Shop. I just hope next week isn’t quite as busy. Now I am
going to bed!
January 20
Rain; Wind
We got up rather late and I had to wake Jenny at 5:50 but I made it and
did my exercises as well but I knew when I looked outside that I probably
wouldn’t be doing my walk today even if I had time. Then I took the cover
off the lounge, the one we put on every night where Daisy sleeps and it
was wet! I was very upset cause the cushion was also wet. Don kind of
poo pooed the whole thing but I couldn’t buy that. I have no intention
of having a smelly stained piece of furniture in my living room and we
finally settled on putting a plastic cover on at night and then putting
all the rest over. I never wanted her on the lounge to begin with. But
she probably would have done it on the floor. Oh dear, what is in store
for us? Well I rushed around and got out of the house at 7:25 to pick up
Mary for our grocery shopping. After the two stores, I asked her if she
wanted to go to the Mkt. and she said yes so by the time I got home and
the groceries were put away, I had 5 minutes to get ready to go to the
Discovery Shop at 10 to 10! But Don got me there and I went to work with
Alice Danterman and I like her very much so we had a good time together.
We made $140! I brought home a lot of stuff but nothing looked good on
me. Those extra 5# that I can’t seem to get rid of make a difference! I
did find a velvet cap with braid and jewels for $5.00 for Niki and she
likes it. I had to wash clothes, put the clean sheets on Jenny’s bed,
made a very good pasta dish with broccoli and mushrooms and I added last
night’s leftovers and it was great. Opened a can of red salmon and with
hot French bread. It was a great dinner. I had made the chocolate Mayo
pie last night so we had that for dessert. Jenny got home at 7:30 and I
warmed things up for her and I heard about her day. She did a 12-hour
shift and was pretty tired and she does the same tomorrow. I was glad I
had time to make up her bed. Niki went off with Valerie to go listen to
David on his musical gig. She says he is not very good. Tomorrow I must
write to my sister. No time today. We have had a very dark day and
there has been a lot of wind but I guess tonight it is finally raining as
well. Sine we need the rain I hope we get a lot. I have now taken a
shower and Don has opened some wine so we are going to have some. We did
and then made love and it was great.
January 21
We didn’t get up till 5:30 and since I had to wake Jenny at 5:50 I had to
rush around so by the time I had checked the paper and got everyone’s
breakfast, I decided I just wouldn’t do my exercising today. Well, I cut
out the Sunday coupons and I read a bit of the paper and then I got
dressed and decided I would call Pauline. That was a mistake. She was
very angry, screamed at me. She didn’t want letters talking about my
losing or trying to lose 5#, talking about the Discovery Shop, etc.
Don’t I realize that she was eating her dinner every night alone and that
she missed Phil and why had I not come, etc., etc. I sat there stunned.
Finally, I said she had not come when Mom and Dad died. She said that was
not true that she had come to a memorial service for them. As I hung up
I checked my journals and she had not come and there had been no memorial
service. She is leaving tomorrow for W. DC to stay with David and to see
the famous Dutch paintings. Well I dressed up warm and walked for an
hour and that helped a little bit. When I got back, Don and I talked
about it and then I called Linda and she was very understanding. She
suggested that I write down how I feel about all this and say anything I
want to say. Lay it aside and look at it in a day or two and keep doing
that until I feel that it is what I want to say and then send it. I will
think about it. I am very hurt and at the moment have little or no
sympathy for her but I realize that is wrong. Well, we had lunch and I
keep reading How to Make an American Quilt and then Don suggested a walk
so I suggested we go to the park and walk there and it was really good.
There were no clouds right then and so it was beautiful walking there.
Came back and made candied yams, put a ham in the oven, got out green
beans and made a canned apricot and cottage cheese salad and there was
pie. Niki and David went to Chucky Cheese to eat cause Valerie starts
working there cause she is going to Spain during spring break and she
needs money for that. Jenny did a 12-hour shift so she didn’t get home
till 7:30. I had saved dinner for her but she had eaten and so I put
everything away. I called Priss and we had a good visit. Her spirits
have been up of late and that makes it much easier.
After talking to Pauline, I feel like I have been kicked in the stomach.
She implied that my letters are of such trivial things that I have no
idea what I will ever say in a letter again. I am truly hurt, wounded
would be a better word.
January 22
It is 9 p.m. and I fell asleep reading about George Washington in the new
Atlantic and I am cold cause it is cold outside with a nasty north wind.
I think I will write in this and then go to bed. My day – well, it
wasn’t bad. I slept well and we got up at 5:30 a.m. Made oatmeal and
that pleased Don. I did all my exercising this morning instead of doing
just a few. I have been lazy lately. I dressed very warm to go to
aerobics. I shall be so glad when it starts to be spring. When I came
home, I fixed lunch for myself and for Don and then worked at the fridge.
I decided to do some cooking. I made Mayo cause I wanted to make potato
salad. When the mail came, there was a long letter from Pauline written
early on in January + all the obituary articles in the Omaha, Onawa
papers. Very good picture of him and the articles were long and very
complimentary. In this letter she was not angry or nasty. I don’t know
how to explain the two phone calls in relation to this letter. Of course
on the phone she said she was sending a very unpleasant letter so that is
yet to come. I think I will send money in his honor to the American
Friends. The more I thought about it, the more I realize that perhaps we
should have done more. I realize my family is very defensive on my
behalf but I must be honest. It is going to take a lot of thinking. For
dinner, I put out a lot of leftovers and got rid of most of them. Niki
went for a walk shortly before dinner so did not eat with us but when she
came back she made herself a salad. Watched the news and got mad cause
this is the 23d Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. They interviewed 4 people
and 3 of them were men. Why in the hell they should act mean I can never
understand. When are women everywhere going to be able to have control
over their own bodies? Jenny took Niki to practice her driving again
after school. After dinner, David came over and they left. She called a
little while ago to say they were watching a movie and she might be later
than 10. Jenny just came over for a bit and said she might go to Tahoe
tomorrow and come back on Friday. Linda will be starting school again
and she won’t have much time and her bosses are on vacation this week so
she has Tuesday and Wednesday off. Tomorrow I have Hospice in the
morning and the Discovery Shop in the afternoon so I thought it wise to
make potato soup today so when I get back at 4 tomorrow I will have
something ready for dinner. I washed and set my hair late in the
afternoon. It is supposed to snow tonight yet it was clear all day.
Still our weatherman tonight said there was a storm coming so we will
just have to wait and see.
January 23
Cold; windy; some rain
It is 8:30 p.m. and Don is watching Rob Roy. I sat in for a while but
they talk so strangely that I can’t understand them. I have had a
headache since about 10:30 this morning and maybe that is why I have
trouble concentrating on their accents. We slept in till after 6 this
morning. It is hard to get out of bed when it is cold and dark. I did
my exercising and watered the plants before leaving for Hospice. Jenny
told me that she was going to Tahoe and would probably be gone before I
got home and she was right. Don came at 11 to pick me up cause it was
raining and she had already left. I had forgotten to buy cottage cheese
on Saturday so I made myself a cheese sandwich instead of my usual fruit
and cottage cheese. Then I read before getting ready to go to the
Discovery Shop. Don drove me down there. Ann Brusie was working in the
back and a lady I had not met before was cashier. We made over $70 that
was good. It was rather a dull afternoon. I brought home a number of
things but haven’t decided whether I want them or not. They are mostly
culottes for summer cause I don’t look good in shorts any more. I will
have to think about them. When I got home, I had the soup I had made
yesterday to heat up and I put out some cheese and pickles and I made
cornbread but it wasn’t great. It was a package mix. There must be a
better brand. I had thought once I ate dinner my headache would go away
but no way. President Clinton gave his State of the Union speech tonight
and he did a very good job. He certainly got a lot of applause.
Interesting article on Whitewater in U.S. News and Review. The public
investigator, U.S. Republican attorney, says there was absolutely no
wrongdoing but the Rep. just can’t leave it alone and are asking for
still more money to investigate. Will it never end? This man blamed not
only the Republicans but the media for continuing to stir it up. The
“unpleasant” letter from Pauline has not arrived yet. Maybe tomorrow. I
am almost past caring. Don is now talking about going to Mexico toward
the end of March or the end of April. I really don’t care much about
that either. Niki was going to try to get into the health class tonight
at Butte. She said she would be home by 10 p.m. Hopefully she did get
in. She failed the computer test but she can take it again. Maybe if we
could open the doors and windows and we could see sunshine and warm days
I would feel better but right now I am very low indeed. Well maybe
tomorrow will be better. I hope so.
January 24
Cold and windy; damp
I woke up this morning at a little after 5 and did the breakfast routine
as usual and did my exercising and then suddenly I just didn’t feel great
so I went back into the bed room and since Don had not made the bed I
went back and even slept some more. When I woke up and went to the
bathroom I found that I was bleeding a little again. This has been now
and then. I am going to keep track and if it continues I will go see Dr.
Heath but I panic inside and I am very frightened. But I decided not to
go to my aerobic class. It was cold, windy, dark and gloomy, but we
didn’t seem to get any rain. It sprinkles but all around us they are
getting more. Well I ran a load of clothes and got all the ironing done
and by then it was time to eat lunch so I had milk toast, which tasted
good but nothing more. I drove to the library and I worked for Lorna and
it was fun. I tracked down missing magazines and got all the
correspondence she gave me done. Then I came home and the mail had come
with the letter from Pauline. It was not as nasty as I had expected but
there were some digs. I also sense that she is angry at the world that
Phil is gone. She has to strike out at someone and you can’t act like
that to your friends or you won’t have them any more and I don’t think
she did act that way to her sons so she does it to me. I try to keep
that in mind. I decided to make a simple dinner of scrambled eggs.
There was a little potato soup left and I heated that for Don and there
was a small amount of green beans and I ate them but I did make a
chocolate cake with fluffy frosting and that was a great hit with Don.
Then we watched the news and Clinton seems to be getting a good press
after his speech last night. Then MJ and Cathy arrived. MJ was doing a
paper on the Renaissance and was to interview someone who knew about them
and so naturally Don was the one and Cathy and I visited. I was going to
call Priss when they left at 7:15 but she called me and we did not talk
cause she is coming over tomorrow morning with a book she wants me to
read. Well then I decided to write a letter to Pauline. I did it in
short and long hand first and then did a rough draft on the typewriter
and had Don read it and he thought it was ok so I will write it neatly
tomorrow and sent it off. No word from Jenny or Linda. It is supposed
to be snowing up there but Jenny doesn’t plan to come back till Friday so
it may be ok by them.
January 25
Sunny and chilly
It is a bit after 9 p.m. Don has been feeling under the weather all day
so he has gone to bed. Jenny is still in Tahoe and Niki has taken her
snow board and is staying the night with David cause 4 of them are going
to the snow and leaving at 6 a.m. How was my day? Well, I did all my
exercising this morning. I neatened things up around the house. Priss
brought me a book to read and stayed for a cup of coffee. After she
left, I walked to the mall to check on the garage sale cause I had seen a
pair of black stirrup pants I wanted but they were gone. They had navy
blue but that was not what I wanted. I walked through the mall and it
was like going through a ghost place. There are so many empty places and
so few people. Mainly there were little old ladies like me and not many
of them. I wrote my letter to Pauline. Rough copy at the front of this
book. When the mail came, there was a letter from Pauline and in part
she apologized. Then I worried if I should have sent the one I did but
Don said he thought I had done the right thing. Time will tell. There
was tennis on TV this morning. The Australian Open is coming to a close
and Monica Seles won today but it was a close call. Don went to the
travel agent and got information on two different flights, one the end of
March and one the end of April. I called Mexico but Terry and family
were not there. He will try again later. I had brought home New Yorkers
and I read the October 16 one from start to finish. There were many
interesting articles. I am lucky to be working at the library cause I get
all the ones I want for free. True they are late but that doesn’t
matter. I made bread in the early afternoon. Cause Jenny likes dark
bread I had bought whole-wheat flour Saturday so I made it 1/2 white and
1/2 whole wheat. It turned out very well. Once it was out of the oven,
Don and I went for a walk and when we got back, we each ate 2 slices. We
were greedy. Dinner was a matter of some chili, leftover potato salad,
sliced oranges, some sliced ham. A strange combination but ok. Then the
news. There is a new cream out that will help smooth out wrinkles caused
by the sun and if used early will keep from getting wrinkles. I think I
was born to sun. What if I had learned on a computer instead of a manual
typewriter? And had no wrinkles! Took a shower, put on eczema medicine
and now I am going to read before I go to bed.
January 26
I woke at 4:30 and got up at 5:30 so I resorted to eye exercising and
feet and legs, etc., and finally Don woke up and we got up. Made
breakfast and ate a muffin and 2 prunes and I have had gas all day.
Tomorrow I will not eat either one. I hate to feel uncomfortable. At 8,
I set out for Safeway and I was dressed very warm so although it was cold
I was not. I didn’t buy anything. Looked around but came back emptyhanded. That took an hour. Then I got out the ironing board and pressed
some of my slacks and Jenny’s hospital gear. Then Don and I moved the
furniture in our bedroom and Don vacuumed the areas and I dusted
everything. We just never move the pieces of furniture and I know we
should. Well today we got a good start. By then, it was lunchtime.
Afterwards, I read a little. Skimmed Postcards from The Edge and didn’t
like it much. Written by Carrie Fischer. It describes being in a drug
rehab. Clever and funny to begin with but it wears thin. Went to see
Helen at 3 and stayed for an hour. She looked good today and said she
felt good. I forgot to mention that I made a cheesecake after lunch.
When I got back from Roseman’s, Jenny had arrived. She had a good trip
back and had had fun at Linda’s. Don got Carmen in Mexico City this
afternoon and told her that we could come down at the end of April and
she is going to check with Terry who isn’t home right now. I told Don I
would rather not fly to Scottsdale but didn’t want to drive through the
LA area. I would prefer to go back ways and see interesting things
instead of city freeways and he seemed willing to do it. While eating
dinner tonight (hot dish, green salad, hot rolls) Jenny said she expects
and hopes Barry can come for a week in February. Then she would like to
go back to Australia for 3 weeks and then come back here until after Niki
graduates. We said that would be fine and we could work around that. I
suggested that it might be expensive to go back and forth but she said
Barry would pay for it. I must also check with Amtrak cause I want to
suggest to Pauline that we meet in Denver or somewhere and visit or she
could come here. Don said I should take the initiative on that and that
is probably wise. I am tired tonight and I didn’t sit in my chair this
afternoon to have a little snooze. Tomorrow is grocery day and then
Sunday is church and then Monday starts another week. Monica Seles won
the Australia Open. We watched it tonight. She beat a young German
girl. Good tennis. Mike called and talked to his father. He was not
here. He was fine. I think I will read for a while.
January 27
Rain a little; but wind terrible at times
We got up about 5:20 and I quick put muffins in the toaster oven for
Jenny who wanted to be gotten up at 5:55. She went off to work at 7 and
I read the papers and then got ready to go grocery shopping at 7:30. It
wasn’t raining but it was dark and cold and very windy. There was
nothing exciting or interesting at the stores and we did not go to the F.
Mkt. When I got home, I put things away and then went out again to
Holiday for a roast beef. I am hungry for a beef roast with browned
potatoes and carrots. Then I went to Lucky and got two chickens for 57
cents each cause I like to have some in the freezer. By then, it was
time for lunch and then I went for a walk. It wasn’t too cold and I
checked in the mall first cause I wanted to check with the travel agency
there about how much it would cost to go to Denver: By Amtrak it would
be about $170 round trip and by air direct over $400 but less if one went
to Phoenix and then on. Then I went on around and about and got home.
About 3/4 of an hour. Yesterday I told Don that I would like to go to
see Sabrina in the afternoon and then we would go to Swensons for a
hamburger or whatever for dinner. He said ok. I didn’t mention it today
and I am sure he decided not to mention it if I didn’t. We both had
headaches today and I think one reason is that we are inside so much and
we are bored, bored, bored! We never do anything and we never go
anywhere. I know I should be thankful that we are both alive and in
fairly good health but I don’t think we are enjoying life. Well anyway
life does go on but not with joy or fun. Niki didn’t go snow boarding
today. She vacuumed the bedroom wing and the apartment and she washed
clothes. David was in and out and then they left at about 15 to 5 and she
was to stay the night at David’s along with the other kids and then they
plan to go snow boarding in the morning. Jenny called to say she would
pick up Niki at 3 and they would go driving for an hour and then she
would go back to work and would I make her a sandwich so I fixed a tuna
sandwich, made gingersnaps, and put in some relishes and she ate while
Niki practiced. Niki said she did better today. For dinner I heated
last night’s turkey dish and made a fruit salad. We watched the news, all
about Hillary Clinton and her with the grand jury. I called Priss. She
had gone back to Convenient Care about her finger that she cut last
night. She was in her “I have lived beyond my time” mood. I guess I
should have called during the day. That was the implication. No one had
called her all day. She made me think of Pauline. It seems like
everyone is trying to make me feel guilty about something. I think if it
were spring we would all be better off. Maybe tomorrow will be a better
day but right now I feel fat and ugly and I have had a headache all day
and that has not helped my mood.
January 28
Well, pretty soon we will have to start going to church on Sunday. We
stayed home again today. Jenny had to get up at 6 so after I woke her I
did my exercising and read the papers. Then I showered and shampooed and
set my hair and got dressed. I really had very little to show for my
day. I went to S & S and got apples, Suka, and crystallized ginger.
Stopped at Walgreen’s and got Vitamin E and some white out on sale and
then home. I meant to go for a walk but never got around to it. I put my
expensive roast beef in the oven at 2:30 and added some wine and
seasoning and later carrots and potatoes. Washed salad greens and so
dinner was the meat and the salad and bread and there was still enough
cheesecake for dessert for Don and Jenny. I ate some gingersnaps. The
weather is fairly pleasant. Dark and gloomy in the morning but it cleared
and was sunny in the afternoon. Don went out to clean up the ground under
the bushes that were pruned. I checked the south yard and there are some
little red shoots on the roses. The white quince is starting to bloom. I
tried tying up the lavender trumpet vine but didn’t do a very good job of
it. Jenny got home at 3:30 after working almost right straight through
from Friday. She says she is going down to Berkley again on Thursday to
talk to the consultant about her thesis. I wrote a short letter to
Pauline telling her about my checking on train and plane fares and asking
for suggestions about where we might meet. I really don’t want to go to
Omaha or anywhere else to meet her. It would be fine for her to come
here but I don’t know what she wants to do and of course she has not had
time to respond to my letter where I told her how I felt about not going
to the funeral. For all I know, she may not ever write or talk to me
again. I talked to Priss tonight and Thank Goodness she was in a better
mood. I am getting very weary about these phone calls but I realize I
can’t stop now after all this time. Oh well. It is just one more thing.
I am not a happy camper these days.
January 29
It is 9:40 p.m. and I was falling asleep in my chair and had decided to
go to bed and then I realized I had not done this. We got up late this
morning at about 6 a.m. and even then I didn’t want to leave the nice
warm bed. Did my exercising after I had fixed Don’s breakfast. Read the
paper and got ready to go to my aerobics class. It was cloudy but not as
cold as I had expected. Today we had a yoga class to see if we like it.
I loved it! I decided I wanted to work at least one class a week in. I
think I will come on Fridays cause I don’t want to have the regular class
without Luann. I got home and decided that one reason I have not been
able to lose my 5# since Christmas is that I eat between meals so
starting today I tried very hard not to do that and it was very hard but
I think I did a little better. After lunch, I got busy and worked. I
cut up the roast from yesterday, cooked more potatoes and carrots and
made hash! We have not had it for years and I have always loved it. Then
I made brownies and with the last of the chocolate sauce I made frosting
for them. Then I made more chocolate sauce, fixed broccoli and did
cheese sauce. I separated a grapefruit and an orange and made a salad.
So I got a lot of things done and I tried hard not to taste, lick the
bowl, etc. and did pretty well. Dinner was really good. We watched the
news and then I called Priss and she is interested in taking yoga too. We
had a good talk and she was in a good mood. Jenny drives to Berkley
tomorrow to see her thesis consultant. The weatherman tonight said there
is a big storm coming with a lot of wind. I think she will take our car
cause it is heavier and safer. No word from Linda today. Cathy is still
working at the desk at work cause she hurt her back and she called and
asked Jenny to bring her a lunch so I made roast beef sandwiches and took
gingersnaps and went to Rehab and ate with Cathy. I am still reading The
Messiah Stories but I am not sure I like it as well as I did yesterday.
Don and I went for a walk this afternoon so that + the walk to and from
the sports club was a good amount. I have not taken a pain pill or a
muscle relaxer pill for 2 days. I hope I can continue like that. Well
January is almost over and maybe February will be more pleasant with
fewer dark days. But all in all it wasn’t a bad day today. Now at 10 to
10 I think I will go to bed. Alice called and I am going over there for
a chat Thursday morning. I called Kathleen Muldoon and invited her and
Barbara to lunch on the 8th of February. Don goes to lunch with his
group on that day.
January 30
It is 9 p.m. and it is raining. I can hear it clearly. Don has gone to
bed. I have been dozing in my chair while reading The Messiah Stories.
How was my day? Well not bad really. We got up late again and I had to
hurry cause I had to wake Jenny at 6 since she was driving to Berkley to
see this lady consultant about her thesis. I set up Don’s breakfast and
then woke Jenny at 6:30. She went in to tell Niki it was time to get up
to find that she was sick so she stayed home today. I did my exercising
and I tried to remember some of the things we did in yoga yesterday but
it is hard to remember especially after doing it only once. After I had
read the papers and had eaten I got dressed, watered the plants like I
always do on Tuesday and then it was time to go to Hospice. It was
raining just a little then so I took my umbrella but on the way back I
didn’t need to use it and just carried it. The time went fast there.
Colleen said she couldn’t use Niki in a volunteer public service role so
that is out. When I walked home, it seemed like a very long way. At the
present it doesn’t seem like much fun working there but I really don’t
want to quit either. I ate my lunch and then made a macaroni salad.
Niki went over to the apartment and watched TV. I called the school and
reported her absence. Later, David came and they were in the apartment.
I had ironing to do so I brought everything over here. I ironed 5 shirts,
jeans, etc., and then I ironed Jenny’s uniform cause I knew she worked
tomorrow. I thought about going for a walk but the insides of my thighs
are red with rash from the cold. I haven’t had that problem since I
worked at Paradise during the winter months. What next? So I read and
then I heated up all the things in the fridge for dinner. It was all
very good but what will I make for dinner? Jenny arrived just before 5.
Perfect timing. The good news today came in the mail. Niki’s report
card was great. She had a B average and she got a C in Biology but an Afor the quarter in that class and an A- in Econ. We were so pleased and
she was so glad that she had done well. We added up credits and with the
class 1st semester at Butte and one again this time she will be 3 credits
short so now we have to work that out. Talked to Linda after dinner.
The applications for the nursing program are out but she is very worried
about her chances for getting in. The application part closes the 1st of
March and she doesn’t know when they will announce. So now I have to go
brush my teeth and do all the dull things one does at night and then go
to bed. Had a good chat with Priss tonight. She is up at the moment.
No word from Pauline. Tomorrow is aerobics and the library. Also
tomorrow is the last day of January. The time has gone by fast!
January 31
It is after 9 p.m. and I am yawning so best that I write in this and get
to bed. We woke up this morning to a misty, misty morning. I went off
to exercising at the club for my aerobics class. I was about 2 blocks
from home when it started to rain. I decided to keep on going and it
didn’t rain hard so I was ok without the umbrella. We had a good class
and I worked hard. When I started for home it started to rain. It was
as if it had been waiting for me to be outside. But it was warm rain
with no wind and I enjoyed it. When I got home, Jenny wanted to go to
the natural food store. I have a 15% discount card cause I am over 65 so
she gets what she wants, gives me the money, I buy and then when we get
outside I give her the change and the stuff. When we got home I was
starved so I ate some cottage cheese, some leftover broccoli and then
bread with peanut butter and jam and then 2 gingersnaps. Too much stuff
but it tasted wonderful. Then Don took me to the library and I worked on
children’s magazines and the time flew by. Don picked me up and once we
got home I realized we were out of bananas, carrots and we needed one
more papaya before I shop on Saturday. So since it was a sunny
afternoon, I walked to Lucky and got what was needed. Dinner was a
sketchy affair. I fixed stewed tomatoes, there was gravy and the last of
the roast beef on toast for Don and a very small amount of macaroni salad
and the last of the brownies. Then there was the news and Peter Jennings
had a segment about keeping the brain and the body stimulated which in
turn stimulated the brain and made the body stronger. They had
experimented with mice and found this to be true. Well Don jumped up
saying he was going to walk with me on Fridays to take yoga and he was
going to take a class at Butte. Jenny is working at the hospital today
from 3 – 11 and they needed her and called her early. She told Don she
thinks she will go back to Berkley to a work shop at the university where
the consultant will be talking and then will stay to see Genevieve and
Joseph and then fly back from there to Australia and stay a few weeks and
then come back here. She did get Niki’s grade from her Butte college
class first semester and she got a C in Sociology so that means she
earned 10 credits in that class last semester. I talked to Priss tonight
and although she was having trouble with the plumbing in her kitchen we
got to laughing and she was in a good mood. So it was a pretty good day.
The stock market keeps going up even though they keep saying the economy
is in bad shape. They dropped the interest rates to help things along.
Time will tell.
February 1
It is 9:30 p.m. and I have just finished The Messiah Stories by Irving
Benig. I have mixed emotions about it. Priss had wanted me to read it
and so I will discuss it with her. My day: Up at the usual time. Did
my exercises and woke Niki. Read the paper and was trying to decide what
I was going to do with my day when Don looking at the calendar said I had
written that I was going to Alice’s this morning. Boy, I whipped into
the bathroom and put on my make up and got dressed and was walking to he
house at 20 to 8 and I made it on time. She had a lovely repast: a
fruit cup, blueberry muffins and Suka. I stayed till 9:30 and had a
wonderful time. We talked about everything and I told her about Pauline
and about Niki and her grades this year, etc., etc. She is the only
person outside the family that I ever confide in. I used to do that with
Lolly long ago. Well, I got home and cleaned the 2 bathrooms and then I
made a lemon pie and it turned out beautifully and we had it for dinner
and it tasted as well as it looked. For dinner I took out a hot dish
from the freezer, found some fresh bread and made a green salad. Jenny
took Niki to practice her driving. Don signed up for a Spanish class at
Butte. I called Rita to cut my hair and asked how much it would cost to
have a perm and a hair cut and was told it would be $55 for the perm and
$25 for the hair cut so I will go to the Beauty College for the perm and
then for the $25 hair cut. In mid-afternoon, I walked to Safeway and got
cottage cheese, carrots and some grapes. But before that after lunch I
sat out on the deck on the chaise planning to stay for 15 minutes and
fell asleep and stayed 40 minutes. When I came inside I looked like a
ripe tomato but fortunately I have now faded. Don bought 100 shares of
apple computer since it is way down but he thinks it will go back up.
Well tomorrow morning we plan to go to yoga. Don also rejoined at the
club. So I had a busy day and I enjoyed my visit with Alice and the sun.
Talked to Priss as usual.
February 2
It is 10 p.m. and I have been reading and dozing in my chair. Right now I
am not very sleepy so I suppose I will read some more before going to
bed. What about my day? Well, it was ok. After my morning exercising
and breakfast Don and I set out at 7:30 walking to go to the club for our
first yoga class at 8 a.m. It was a nice morning to walk. Not too cold
and it was a rather fun time together. Well, the yoga was more difficult
then what I had done on Monday. It hurt my shoulders more and when we
were done I decided that maybe I could not do it but then when we got
home Jenny found out that there was a class at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and
Thursday called “Gentle Yoga” so on Thursday I am going to try that.
Came home and went to Holiday and Safeway to buy needed things and then
by the time that was done it was lunchtime. Afterwards, I cut up a
chicken, skinned the pieces and cut out the fat and then made Packy
Tyler’s chicken recipe and it turned out just great. I got up my courage
and called Pauline. It went better than last time but was not great. She
is still going on at length about my not coming to the funeral and she
still insists that she came out to Mother’s funeral or rather the mass
that was had and that is just not true. I didn’t argue cause she was so
positive and frankly I dread the thought of going to Omaha or meeting her
in Denver. She is not going to let up on this whole thing. And I am
tired of saying I am sorry when I am not. I really don’t know what to do
about it but I can’t see myself going a long way by plane or train to be
chastised for 2 or 3 days. No way. Well, Bob Rankin stopped by to see
us and since I was on my way to Helen Roseman’s I was able to get away
without too much fuss. We had a wonderful time talking. George, Helen
and I. I look forward to that hour with them on Friday afternoon. Then
we had dinner: my chicken stew over noodles, bread and butter and a
fruit salad. Jenny had had lunch with Bessie and Don Marquis but she was
here for dinner. Naturally Niki was off with her friends. Then we
watched the news: 3 boys all 13 planned to blow up the jr. Hi School and
had planned how to do it on the internet. Gene Kelly died at 83 and a
Korean adopted as a child and living in the U.S. has leukemia and people
in S. Korea are offering their bone marrow if there is a match. The good
and bad of the news. Talked to Priss and then I have spent the evening
reading as usual. Now at 10 p.m. I heard geese flying overhead and there
is a full moon that caught their wings and turned them to silver and I
looked up and there was a huge circle around the moon. A beautiful
sight! Rosalie was a princess at homecoming. Jenny went to a basketball
game in Durham.
February 3
Rain day and night
This was one busy but good day. I was at Mary’s house at 7:20 and we
were off to do the shopping. To begin with it was just dark and not wet
but soon it started to rain. For some reason I wasn’t interested in
buying much so I came away without buying much and the same for the
Cannery. Once home I had to rush cause I had to be at the Discovery Shop
at 10 to 10. Alice Daerteman worked with me again and I like her so much.
I had taken the gray top to get the sleeves shortened that were too long
and neither Jenny and Cathy were interested in fixing them. I can’t use
the sewing machine here since it doesn’t work so I was stuck. Alice said
she used to sew professionally and she could fix it so I tried it on and
she measured. How great! I found some good things to buy today too:
black and white striped cotton over blouse, a navy and white long top
that will match my full navy skit and it was from Nordstroms! And a light
but new top that I thought would look good with my white skirt for
summer. We made $76 and we had fun. Came home and since I had thawed
ground beef and sausage, I made 3 little meat loaves to freeze and folded
clean clothes. Then it was time to make dinner. Jenny stayed on to work
a 12 hour shift and Niki went off with David so I fixed grilled cheese
sandwiches and a new Campbell soup called corn potage which was good.
Then there was the news and then I read. Jenny came home and later came
over to visit. Don had just asked me if I wanted a drink and I said I
would like some wine so Jenny said she would stay and drink some of the
port like wine that Barry had sent her. So we talked for a long time.
It was very pleasant and relaxed. I forgot to say I talked to Priss
earlier and she was in good spirits. She had worked at the museum in the
afternoon and had found it interesting. So anyway Don and I went to bed
and made love and it was great. He had suggested that I take my time
getting ready to go to bed and that would give him more time to prepare
himself and maybe it would be more satisfying for him and I was certainly
willing to do that and it certainly worked well for both of us tonight.
And all this time it was raining and I have a feeling we are going to
catch up to last year if this continues.
February 4
Rain
I really didn’t want to get up this morning but knowing I had to wake
Jenny at 6 so she could be ready to go to work I couldn’t stay in bed.
Once up it was ok. It rained hard all night and we woke up to it as
well. I cooked muffins for Jenny and fixed Don a fried egg and toast
plus his usual. Then I read the paper and suddenly it was time to go to
church and I had to rush to get dressed and I had not done my exercising
and I suppose I could miss one morning and nothing too bad would happen.
We went to Safeway after mass and got milk, 2 doughnuts, loaf of French
bread, 2 papayas. I got out my white long skirt and tried it on with the
blue top. Then the navy skirt and the blue and white striped top and
then the black slacks and the black and white top. I modeled all these
for Don and he was most impressed. I had to do a little mending on some
of the tops and then I tried to shrink a pair of cotton slacks I had
leftover from the last Discovery Shop time. Had lunch and then washed my
new purchase by hand. I think I will do more and more of that type of
thing cause it is hard on clothes to use the washing machine when they
are really not dirty. I talked to Don about making a dessert for dinner
and he was up a few #’s and we decided we would do without. At 3:30
Jenny got home from work and told us about her day at the hospital. Niki
had cleaned the apartment so she came home to a clean apartment. She
went to dinner and the movie with Hoppe. Don and I had dinner to
ourselves cause naturally Niki was off with her friends. I heated up the
chicken stew, made green salads and we had French bread. I did the
ironing afterwards. So since I had hand washed my new tops it was rather
fun to iron them. I won’t be wearing them right away but that is ok.
And throughout the day the rain came down. At times it was very heavy and
then it was just misty. Val is staying the night here. She checked and
the roads are flooded out where she lives so best that she stay in town.
After all she gives Niki a ride to school every single day so I like it
when we can do something for her. So then I took a shower and read. I
had talked to Priss earlier and she was fine. Lots of talk about Cindy
which always bores me but that is ok too. I forgot to mention that I
used Endust to dust everything in the living room. I must be more
diligent about housework. One of these days it will be spring and the sun
will come out and I will see just how dirty the windows are and prove as
well how dusty and grimy everything is. Yuk!
February 5
Sunny and warm
This was a good day. I got up at 5 and everything ran smoothly. Both
papers came and we got 3+” in the last few days so that makes things
better for the rain fall. I woke Val and Niki at 6:30 and they were gone
by 7:30. Jenny didn’t go to work today so she went to the club and Don
went too and they did the machines. I left at 8:30 and it was so warm
and balmy it made me think of the Chinook winds that used to come in
February in the Midwest when I was young. Well, class went well and I
talked to the yoga teacher and told her we would be going to the Tuesday
and Thursday class of gentle yoga and she thought that was a good idea.
I came home and we went to Walgreen’s to buy bird seed and chicken noodle
soup. Interesting combination. Then it was lunchtime and afterwards Don
went down for his nap and I started reading Montana 1948. When I got up,
I fed the dog and then I went out and cleaned up all the camellias that
have fallen on the ground and then I put my new calla lily in a spot in
the border in the front yard. Julie stopped by so she talked to me
outside and then we went inside and she fixed herself a sandwich. She
was going babysitting from 2:30 – 8:30. While she was here, Rose called
wanting Julie to come get her cause she had a very bad headache, wanted
to go home and her mother was not there so Don went to get her and take
her home. Then Niki and Val arrived and Mike had talked to Mr. Wakefield
and he said she could make up the tardies and get her 5 credits so she
doesn’t have to do public service. She was so happy and so was I. I
made snickerdoodles and we all ate a lot of them. For dinner, I made
waffles, links and a fruit and cheese plate. Don went to check on his
Spanish class at Butte but the teacher said it was too late to get in but
since he was at Chico State anyway, he checked into the history
department and found out that Chico State was offering a Spanish I class
from 6 – 8 on Monday and Wednesday. So now he is for going to that. He
will decide if he likes it or not. Jenny and Niki have gone off to look
for fabric cause she is going to make an outfit for her sewing class. It
is so great that she is learning to sew and she has learned to knit and
crochet.
February 6
At first it looked as if it were going to be cloudy but then the sun came
out and it was beautiful today. Jenny wanted to be awakened at 6 and she
went off to the club shortly afterwards. Val called to say she has
pneumonia and wouldn’t be coming to school and her mother was bringing an
English paper that Niki was to take to class. Don took Niki to school.
He had an appointment with Dr. Schwartz so he left early and I walked to
Hospice and it was a very pleasant walk. I worked all morning on putting
bereavement folders together and then I helped Colleen set up for the
luncheon. Don came at 12 and we stayed till 1:30 but it was a long deal
and very dull. Came home and I had to go for a walk cause I had been
sitting so long. Don took a nap. I had thawed a meat loaf and I fixed
boiled parsleyed potatoes and a green salad. It all tasted good. Cathy
and Julie stopped by and we had a good visit. Julie brought her Spanish
I book to use since they are out of them at the bookstore. Jenny went to
work at 3:30 so she won’t be back till 11:30. Niki is off with David and
will be home at 10. I asked Colleen if I could take some of the papers
about bereavement and I wrote to Pauline and I included them in the
letter. She may resent this or it may help. It was a chance I had to
take.
Then I got to thinking again about Pauline insisting that she had
been here for the funeral of Mom so I got out my journal for 1974 and I
went back a month before her death at the beginning of April and I read
it all. The things that amazed me the most was that the 3 girls were so
wonderful about Mom. They went to the hospital 3 and 4 times a day.
They were so concerned. Jenny was married to Skip Cheek or at least was
going with him and Linda and David had Jason cause he was just being
toilet trained. So I read the whole thing and about her death and the
mass said afterwards and the people who came to the house and then I read
on and a letter came from Pauline and they had had a mass said in Sailax
and it was on a weekday and the children’s choir sang and all the
relatives attended. So I was vindicated about that. I wrote to her
tonight but I read the journal afterwards. I haven’t decided whether or
not I will ever mention it to her. I probably will. Well I have
showered. I have finished Montana 1948. I will probably go to bed now
or I may read for a bit.
February 7
Up at 5. At first it looked as if it would be cloudy but then after a
gorgeous sunrise it was clear the rest of the day. Still at 105# and I
munched all day. I did all my exercises and then got dressed and walked
to the club. At first as I was walking along I didn’t feel quite right
and I almost turned around and came home but then I decided to keep going
and if I didn’t feel well when I got there I would call Don to come get
me. Things picked up as I went along and by the time I got there I was
ok. There were 31 in the class today. It is getting too big really. But
we had a good work out and I walked home with my jacket tied around my
waist. Don had an appointment at 11:00 with Dr. Taylor to have his toe
operated on. So he went off and I ate my lunch. Jenny went off to have
lunch with Bessie and tomorrow she has lunch with Mike Sterling. She is
certainly into lunches. I puttered around waiting for Don to come back
and he came shortly before 12. I made his lunch before leaving for the
library. He wasn’t in pain yet so I didn’t mind leaving him. I worked
on children’s magazines again today and the time went fast. I stopped at
the S & S for apples and bananas. I sliced the meat loaf, made a small
fruit salad, had green beans and a package of pasta mix that wasn’t
great. Jenny said that Linda called and was very discouraged about
getting into the nursing program. She is going to be so disappointed.
Cathy and Rose stopped by and they had pictures of Rose at the homecoming
where she was one of the princesses at the homecoming basketball game.
She looked just lovely. She is a very pretty girl and she still looks
like Sally Fields only taller. Don left to go to his Spanish class. I
walked right after dinner and it was the first time I have walked after
dinner since the time changed in the fall and it felt so good. When I
got back the bandage came off and Jenny had to go to Walgreen’s to buy
new stuff to wrap it. He is now asleep. Well tomorrow the counselors
from Bidwell come for lunch and now I am not so thrilled about having
them but I can’t call them now and say don’t come. Don goes to his
luncheon club at Lisa’s so he won’t be here. I had better go to bed.
February 8
I woke up at about 4. Don had gone to sleep in the TV room. I couldn’t
go back to sleep so I got up and made the bed and then pinned up my hair.
I went to the kitchen and started breakfast and by then, Don was awake
and took Daisy for a walk. His foot is very painful and the bandage had
come off but Jenny re-did it. Well I did my exercises and ate a little
and then I got to work. I dusted the living room and found out the
camellias in the back yard have started to bloom so I did 3 vases with
them. After I neatened up the living room I vacuumed and then I washed
the kitchen floor and it looked just great. Next I made the lemon
soufflé which turned out very well. Did some lettuce for the grapefruit
and avocado salad, got the 2 containers of soup from the freezer and then
I set the table with the golden mats using white linen napkins and it
looked very nice. Jenny was having lunch with Mike Sterling and Don was
going to Lisa’s for the club luncheon so she took him to Lisa’s before
meeting Mike. Our Mike called and we had a good visit and then he talked
to Jenny and she asked him about Karen and he said there should be some
kind of settlement in the next few months. She is talking about going
into the house they rent in the old area of Tampa. The ladies were due
at 11:30. Kathleen got here about then but Barbara was late. They
enjoyed the food but Barbara talks about sleeping with this person and
that person and she makes me uncomfortable. Her former husband, Roy, is
going to marry someone about 25 who wants children so he had a vasectomy
reversed and is willing to have children and he had told Barbara he did
not want any more children. So she is bitter and one cannot blame her.
Well they left and I made gingersnaps. I went down to the Discovery Shop
and picked up my gray top that Alice Danterman had taken home to shorten
the sleeves and I paid my bill and then I came back home and fixed
dinner. We had the left overs from the luncheon. I wore my read 2-piece
dress with my red shoes and I thought I looked very nice. I will take
the wine and cookies to Alice D. tomorrow. Niki and Valerie are working
on a paper about Bosnia but they have the whole thing to do yet. Val is
still not feeling well and coughs all the time and Niki went to bed early
not feeling well so they won’t be done tomorrow. Well, I am very tired
so I am going to bed. It was an ok day I guess. I don’t have to cook
dinner. There was enough leftovers so I just used that.
February 9
So this was Friday. Don slept all night in our bed. That was good. But
his toe is still very painful. We got up and I had made the oatmeal last
night along with the coffee so I plugged in the one and cooked the other.
I did my exercises and had some oatmeal, juice and Suka. Made the bed
and neatened things up. Then I took a shower after Niki left for school.
Both she and Val are still coughing but they said they felt better. At a
little before 9, I went for a walk. I checked in at Mervyn’s cause they
were having a sale and had opened early. I didn’t see anything I wanted
so I walked over to Lucky. I was going to buy chicken breasts but then I
saw leg of lamb and it was $10 so I bought it. I carried it home and I
told Don it was my valentine to him cause he had been in such pain and he
needed a present. We both love lamb so much. Since it is so expensive, I
haven’t had one in years. I hope I still remember how to do it. Jenny
went off to S.F. Don and I had lunch and then I finished my Kingsolver
Book of Essays, fed the dog and then Don got up and we went to Home Base
and I bought a battery run light for the closet-pantry. It looks very
complicated so we are going to wait for Jenny to get back and she will
help us put it together. Then we went to the new grocery store but it
was a mad house and I couldn’t say that it was all that great or that
things were all that cheap. So we came home and then it was time to go
to see Helen and Don asked if he could go along cause the time drags so
when he just sits here and reads. Helen was looking much better and we
spent a pleasant hour. When I got home I made muffins, sausage and
scrambled eggs. Niki ate with us. Then Linda called and we had a good
visit. We were discussing Fault Line by Siddons. Then I called Priss
and we also had a good visit. Then it was time for “True Lies” with
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. It was incredible and the
amount of shooting and special effects boggled the mind. Don took Daisy
for her little nightly walk and now Don has gone to bed and I suppose I
must go too but I am not all that sleepy. Well, tomorrow is grocery day.
I called Mary to let her know we would be leaving at 7:30. Niki went out
with Sandi. I don’t know where David was tonight.
February 10
Pleasant day; not all that clear but not chilly
I vowed that today I would do certain things and would you believe that I
did them all! I did. We got up at about 5 and I did my morning routine.
I went a bit light on the exercising and I didn’t go for a walk today. I
shall try to do more of that tomorrow. After I read the papers I got
ready to go shopping with Mary. Got just about everything on my list
except spices. I can’t understand why they have become so expensive. I
needed ginger but it was $2 for a little tiny amount. I will check
tomorrow at Safeway. Then to the Cannery and got some things there but
nothing too exciting. Came home and put everything away and started in
on my list. I watered all the plants. I did two loads of wash and got
everything folded and put away except for the things that had to be
ironed. I made bread and this time I did it 1/2 white and 1/2 whole
wheat. Had a simple lunch of cottage cheese and an apple. I have cancer
sores on my tongue and I think I have been eating too many oranges. I
did all the ironing some 5 out of 7 shirts that were white, two linen
napkins, etc. I got out two containers of liver and cooked up 7
containers of Daisy’s food: liver, carrots, Top Ramen. Now I won’t have
to worry about that for a while. I cooked up mashed potatoes with cream
cheese and sour cream so tomorrow when I cook the leg of lamb the
potatoes will be done. I cooked up the green beans I bought today. I
made a simple dinner of cream sauce with eggs and cheese on toast. There
was a lot left but I bought both cauliflower and broccoli so I can use
the leftovers on that. I made the spinach dip and we can use that this
week. So most of the day was spent in cooking but a lot of it was long
range. On the news tonight everything is about the Iowa caucus on
Monday. They keep interviewing the people in Iowa and they keep talking
about family values as if the people in Iowa are the only ones who have
them. They talked to one man about the book The Bridges of Madison
County. He said it was ok cause she stayed with her husband after the
affair. I thought that was interesting. What was implied was that it
was ok to have an affair as long as you went back to your husband and
children. I talked to Priss and she was in a good mood and we had a
pleasant chat. Niki worked on homework during the day once she got up.
She has a cough and says her ears are bothering her so I suppose we will
end up going to Convenient Care before she is done. She is so much more
pleasant to be around these days I just can’t get over it. So now it is
9:15 p.m. and I think I will read for a while and then go to bed. I feel
good about all I got done today. I even had a small glass of wine and a
cigarette. Both tasted great.
February 11
Beautiful day; like summer!
So how was my day? Well, I didn’t do all that much. I think I did so
much yesterday that I just couldn’t compete today. We got up at 6! That
in itself was difficult. Then we took our time about everything. I read
the paper and did some exercising and cut out coupons and drank Suka and
finally got dressed. At 9 I did my walk going around the mall walk and
ended up at Walgreen’s where I got some air spray but nothing else. So I
spent less than $1 and that was good. When I got home I made a white cake
added coconut and tinted the frosting pink. I started reading From
Potter’s Field by Patricia Cornwell. It is very good. Niki and Valerie
had trouble getting together today. They had to do a paper on Bosnia and
first Val couldn’t get Niki and then Niki couldn't reach Val but finally
Val came and they worked on the north patio till just before dinner and
then Val went to work and Niki ate with us. After dinner we put the paper
on the computer and then David came to get her and they left to stay the
night at their house along with the rest of the kids and they will go
snow boarding tomorrow. It is a school holiday. I had looked forward so
much to the leg of lamb + the fancy mashed potatoes, green beans, tossed
salad, hot rolls and the cake. Well, the lamb after slow cooking ended
up tough and I keep thinking of my $10 that it cost and what a
disappointment it was. Well we won’t have that again for a long time. I
cut all the meat off the bone and will make a stew with it later in the
week. I should have stayed with the boneless chicken breasts that I went
there for in the first place. Enough about food! I walked my mile after
dinner and it is so nice to be able to do that again. I realize we will
have more cold weather but at least today was a promise of spring. I cut
a jonquil day from the circle in the north yard. Geese are flying
overhead so those are both good signs. The news tonight was about
nothing but the Iowa caucus. I shall be glad when it is over. But then
next comes NH. Don has gone to bed. He wanted to make love tonight
since no one is here but I worry so about hurting his foot and it was so
sore yet that it would be a risk. He understood. I should try to make
an appointment to get a perm next week. Friday is the only day I can do
it. Will check on Tuesday. Today I would have loved to go on a drive
either in the country or just around town but Don’s foot is such that he
would not have enjoyed it so I did not suggest it. I will read for a
while and then bed.
February 12
77 degrees but I think it is higher than that
We woke up this morning to a clear day. Same routine as in the last week.
I make Don’s breakfast, fold up the cover on the lounge where Daisy has
slept, make the bed so Don won’t have to do it and did my exercising and
ate some breakfast. Then I read the paper. I got dressed and walked to
the club at 8:30. I was dressed too warm cause already it was warming
up. Had a good work out. When I got home, Don was out sun bathing. He
had gone to check in with Dr. Taylor who found that the stitches had come
out and that was why it was bleeding and painful. He has to go back next
Tuesday. We had lunch and then I cut up the remains of the lamb and I did
carrots, potatoes, peas and little onions and made a stew. Tomorrow I
work at the Discovery Shop and so I thought it would be wise to make
dinner today. Then I will do biscuits and a green salad tomorrow. Then
the phone rang and it was Mike. He said Donna and Tyler were at
Guerulivelle cause Mr. Neeley is dying. So I called and Donna answered
the phone and she started to cry cause she is so upset. Her brother and
sister in law were not giving him any water cause he is in diapers and
she didn’t want to change him. The cat was put in the basement but Donna
let him out and he went right to Mr. Neeley and that made him happy. She
is staying till Saturday and Tyler is going back on Friday. She sounded
so upset and frustrated but she is going to check about a “social worker”
and I told her to call any time, day or night. She hopes he will die
before she has to go back to Florida. I can see her point. I made a
simple dinner of chili, fruit and French bread. I walked to Safeway to
get sour cream, cheese, etc. and bought cottage cheese instead! How
stupid! But the walk was nice although I got very warm and this is
February! Jenny got home at about 3:30. She had had a good time, visited
with Joseph and then stayed Sunday night with Genevieve. Don left at 5:20
to get ready for his Spanish class. He got back a little after 8 and he
is very discouraged. It is very hard for him and I think everyone else
in the class took Spanish in High School so it wasn’t so hard for them.
I think he should drop out and take French in the fall or something else.
But naturally it is up to him. I called Priss and she was fine. Well I
guess this is about it for today. I guess tomorrow is going to be much
like today.
February 13
Not quite so warm today and hazy all day – not quite fog but close. I
now have a morning routine. Make the bed, fold up Daisy’s things that
cover the lounge at night, brush Daisy, make the breakfast for Don and
something for myself, do my exercises and then I read the paper. This
morning I was to go to yoga at 10 so I worked around the house and read
both papers. Ran 2 loads of clothes and then walked to the club. As I
arrived, Priss was just walking up so we met. She sat and watched for an
hour and decided she wanted to do it. I found it not much less difficult
than the regular yoga I did last week although this is supposed to be the
gentle kind. Walked home and ate lunch and then put the stew in a
smaller container and froze the rest cause Jenny was going to work from 3
– 11 and Niki did not want to eat here tonight. So then I drove to the
Discovery Shop and worked from 1 – 4:20. We were taking things with the
oldest tags either to be re-priced or put on the 1/2 price area so I kept
busy all afternoon. We made $78 and that was good. I brought some
things and I think I will keep the black stirrup pants and a pair of
culottes in a pinky color. Don had gone to Dr. Taylor and found that more
stitches were coming out so the doctor re-did the whole thing.
Well, it
was much more painful this time cause it was tender and swollen. Don has
been in agony all day and I am afraid that this will continue for some
time. He and I ate dinner of the stew, cabbage salad and hot bread.
Then the news. Then Niki had her first yoga class tonight at Butte
College. It was to be held at Loma Vista and rather than have Don take
her I took her. I hate driving at night and East Avenue is as busy as
during the day. We got to Loma Vista to be told that the class has been
changed to the Congregational Church on 1st Avenue. So I took her there
and came on home. Called Priss and had a good talk. In the news tonight,
Peter Jennings gave figures on volunteer work and organizations. League
of Women Voters enrollment down 50%. 5 women went to the PTA in Denver
and they can’t get anyone else interested. Our children and
grandchildren do not belong to any organization that I am aware of. Our
Cathy is active in things at school so I should not say all the children
but look at Jason. He doesn’t have any interest in doing anything of a
volunteer nature and I am sure that is true of Tyler, Matt, etc. What do
Linda or Jenny or Mike get involved in? Nothing as far as I know. Well,
it is something to think about. Now I think I had better think about
bed. Tomorrow is another busy day.
February 14
We woke up a lot in the night. I had pinned up my hair and that always
causes problems but it looked great this morning. But then there was fog
so it didn’t last very long. When I got up I noticed an envelope at my
place at the table and it was a very pretty valentine + $100 gift
certificate to get my hair cut by Rita. What a wonderful surprise! I
went to Safeway to get sour cream, milk and doughnuts for everyone. It
was very foggy driving there. I realize as I walk so much I drive less
and less and I am more nervous about doing it. Not good. I walked to
the club and the aerobics class was good as always. Came home and
showered and got dressed in my red dress, red shoes and purse. I put a
big red bow on my silver platter and then in the white oriental dishes I
put: chopped onions (just the green part), bacon bits, grated cheese,
sour cream, spinach dip. The platter looked lovely. But I felt out of
place. I don’t know any of these people very well and everyone else
seemed to be with someone they knew. I sat down at a table where no one
was. But eventually others sat there but it wasn’t much fun. I was glad
to come home. I changed my clothes and got out of piece of ham, made a
potato salad and a chocolate pudding. Don was feeling lousy and I really
couldn’t explain to him quite how I felt. Well it wasn’t too
embarrassing, I guess. I picked the jonquils in bloom, changed the mats
and candles to matching yellow, put the yellow and green napkins out and
the table looked so pretty. I wrote a letter to Pauline trying to think
of nice things to say. Niki went to the dentist to have her teeth
cleaned and was told she would have to wait 1/2 an hour afterwards to
have the dentist check her. She said no and walked out. Good for her.
Why do doctors think they can do that type of things especially to a kid?
I hope they call to make an appointment. I will be happy to tell them
how I feel about it. Dinner was fine. Jenny didn’t eat the meat or
dessert but that is ok. Watched the news. At one point, they said that
men did cut down on health problems if they ate more bran so I told Don
he would have to eat more of that type of cereal and he said ok. Jenny
went to the Marquis to watch a movie. I called Priss and we had a good
talk. I think she is a bit nervous about going to yoga. Then later she
called and said she had fallen going up the steps from the garage to the
kitchen and cut both knees so she probably will not be going tomorrow.
Tomorrow afternoon I go to hospice. I hope Friday is completely free and
I won’t have to go anywhere! Unless I want to. Now I am going to bed.
Thank Goodness I showered before going to the luncheon so I can just go
to bed.
February 15
It is 9:15 and I have been dozing in my chair while trying to read Amy
Tang’s book that I got for Christmas. So far I am not impressed. Well
this has been another long day. It was nice today and sunny although
when Don took Daisy for her walk before going to bed he said it was
cloudy and rain is due tomorrow or the next day. We got up this morning
at about 5:20. Each day I want to stay in bed but I get up anyway. I
still make the bed every morning plus my usual tasks cause I don’t want
Don doing too much with his sore foot that seems to get no better and he
is so discouraged. After breakfast and the exercising, etc., I cleaned
the two bathrooms and then got dressed to go to yoga. The walk there was
pleasant and the yoga is very difficult for me cause I am not flexible
enough to keep doing some of the things she wants us to do but at the end
I am very relaxed but now I am beginning to think that I am doing too
much. I may just go on Friday and skip the Tuesday and Thursdays. I
will see how it goes. I have a feeling that once it is really spring I
won’t want to be going all the time to the club. Well anyway I got home
at 11:30 and ate lunch. Don was lying down. Then I had to get dressed to
go to Hospice. I wore navy slacks and the dark blue and white top I got
at the Discovery Shop a few weeks ago. I picked a lot of camellias and
took them to Colleen, etc. in the office. I did some dull but
complicated things until 3:30 and then Don picked me up. I decided 4 1/2
miles was enough for today. Then when I got home I had to think about
dinner. I made bacon and tomato sandwiches for Don and Jenny and I made
a ham sandwich for me and I cooked cauliflower and made a green salad.
Next came the news both local and ABC and then I called Priss and heard
all over again about her fall and hurting her knees and then I sat in my
chair and read and dozed. So it was a day that was ok but one I wasn’t
happy with. I am restless and unhappy in a way and I don’t know what I
want to make it better. Well tomorrow I don’t have to go to any special
place or do some special thing. I keep asking myself: “When are we going
to have fun?” But I am afraid I will never really have fun any more.
February 16
Rained some but not very much moisture;
Just a drizzle now and then
I woke up tired. Well I had a lot of dreams where I kept looking for
people and not finding them and it was all very scary. I didn’t do much
in the way of exercising. In fact, I would have liked to just go back to
bed but somehow that didn’t seem feasible. So after breakfast and the
papers I got out the vacuum and did the kitchen and living room and I did
2 loads of clothes and then I started to run errands. First I took a
book over to Priss and the yoga schedule. Went to Payless and got cashews
that were on sale. Went to Holiday to get their ad and bought some
beautiful Harris Ranch filets. Then to Safeway to get doughnuts and some
ground round on sale. Went home and we all had the doughnuts and then I
went to Walgreen’s and got Oil of Olay night cream and the lotion with
sun screen 15. Went to the beauty college and made an appointment for a
perm next Friday at 9:30. Then home and it was time for lunch. Well, by
then I really wasn’t all that tired. I ate lunch and folded the clothes
and then read for a little while before feeding Daisy. Niki came home
from school and cleaned the apartment for her Mom and then she did the
bed wing over here. I made a tuna salad and stewed tomatoes and dressed.
In the late afternoon I made a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies. I
fixed a small tin of cookies to go with the wine that I will take to
Alice Danterman for fixing my gray top (she shortened the sleeves). After
dinner, we watched the news and then I talked to Priss for a short time.
Made a gorgeous bouquet for the coffee table. I got a brass vase at the
church rummage sale some time ago. It was dented on one side but with
the brass candles beside it the dent doesn’t show and I put long branches
of camellias and the result was stunning. Well tomorrow is grocery
shopping today with Mary and then I have a huge ironing. Jenny works
tomorrow so I will do it over in the apartment since the ironing board
doesn’t set well on a rug. Don and I started watching a movie “The Usual
Suspects” but I got bored. Poor Don, his foot still hurts a lot. I
shampooed my hair in mid afternoon. Too bad I have to sleep on it now
cause it looks great. Will be glad to get my perm. Talked to Linda on
the phone.
February 17
chilly, windy, rainy
We got up at about 5:30 and there was a note to wake Jenny at 6:00 so I
set the timer as I got Don’s breakfast. I did my exercising and got
Jenny up and then read the papers. Nothing much of interest. Picked up
Mary at 7:30. I didn’t buy all that much it seemed but it came to $42.
This was at Food for Less. At the Cannery I paid $12 and so it goes. It
was raining off and on as we went in and out of stores. Mary had heard
from Jason and he plans to come home at the end of the month. He also
wants to visit the other islands so he may decide to stay longer. I keep
wondering what his plans will be when he does get back. He will be able
to get a job this summer working in a bar and restaurant but what about
his over all plans? That is what I wonder about. Well, I got home and
put the groceries away and then I took the bottle of wine and cookies to
Alice Danterman for fixing my gray top and I paid my bill. Then I went
to the shop put on by the Cancer Society. They were having a 1/2 price
sale. I got a pair of navy slacks (these have to be shortened) and I
came home. I ate lunch and then at 15 to 12 I went to the apartment and
started to iron. I did all Don’s shirts and then some of my things I had
washed but I got it all done in an hour. The afternoon was quiet. I
read an old P.D. James Mystery written in 1977. Niki was here all day
cause David’s birthday is Monday and his family was having a gathering at
his sister’s place in Paradise. She seemed happy to be here and later
Valerie came and they visited. For dinner, I made hero sandwiches. I
set out sliced ham, cheese, tomato, pickle and lettuce and I fixed corn
potage and that was our dinner. I did break down and make a graham crax
pie for tomorrow. I will try to make a very nice dinner since we have
had some pretty sketchy meals this week. I took a shower and was reading
in my red housecoat when Don suggested a drink! I opted for wine and
while we were drinking, Jenny came home from work. She had worked till 7
and then gone to Mike Sterling’s for salad and bread. She was very tried
so she went off to bed and Don and I went to bed and made love and damn
the torpedoes – full speed ahead and the foot didn’t seem to suffer and
it was great!
February 18
I overslept so I leaped out of bed at 25 to 6 knowing I had to wake Jenny
at 6. She is going back to Australia next Sunday for about 3 or 4 weeks
so things will be a little calmer I guess. I have mixed emotions about
all this. I never seem to know who will be here for dinner. I know that
is not important to the young, but it troubles me cause I guess I am too
set in my ways. We went to church today. I had bought the gray flannel
slacks yesterday so this morning I put on patterned hose and the slacks
plus a gray turtle neck and the pewter flats. Well, I am not sure I can
wear the slacks again. They are so itchy that I couldn’t wait to take
them off. Later in the morning, I went to S & S and got oranges and
apples. I stopped at Walgreen’s cause I am having a problem with my
mouth. Cancer sores, sore gums, they hurt and they worry me. I got some
stuff that cost $6+ and I am using it but have had no relief so far. I
suppose I will have to end up going to the doctor or the dentist. Damn!
It rained off and on all day. So I didn’t go for a walk at all. In fact,
I didn’t yesterday as well and that is not typical so tomorrow rain or
shine I must walk! I finished the old P.D. James written in 1977. It
was well written and really wasn’t too different from the ones she has
written recently. At the moment, I don’t have anything much to read.
There are books here I could read I suppose but nothing appeals at the
moment. I don’t work at the library Wednesday so I have used up my
reserve. The week coming up: Tomorrow will be aerobics, Tuesday yoga
and Discovery Shop, Wednesday aerobics and library Thursday, yoga and
Hospice and Friday morning a perm. I think I may end up doing the chair
yoga on Friday and not doing the yoga during the week. Pretty soon it
will be spring and there will be windows to wash, blinds to clean, yard
work to be done and walking. I can’t neglect that. Linda called. She
is still stewing about her application to get into the nursing program.
Since she has handed it in she can stop thinking about it and get on with
the class she is taking now. Made a delicious dinner: chicken breasts,
breaded and baked. Those specials mashed potatoes, a little bit of
cauliflower, green salad and the graham crax pie. Niki ate at the
Sterling’s tonight and Jenny went out to dinner with Hoppe and then to a
movie. Don has spent the evening watching TV and I called Priss and then
I have been reading the current magazines and I am bored.
February 19
Rain!
It is 10 p.m. and we have been watching TV tonight. From 8 – 9 we
watched a program on the birth and raising of animals that was very
appealing and from 9 – 10 we saw the stock market crash of ’29. It made
me a bit nervous since we have most of our savings in stocks. Pretty
scary! Now about my day. Well, first about my night before the day. I
felt just terrible. I took 2 Excedrin PM’s and my mouth hurt and I was
miserable most of the night and had to go to the bathroom repeatedly. We
got up at 5:30 and I felt terrible so I didn’t eat any breakfast. In
fact, I ate very little throughout the day. But tonight I am better. I
didn’t cook at all and that in itself was most unusual. I didn’t go out
of the house and in that respect I chose a good day for staying in cause
it rained most of the day and at times the rain was torrential. Jenny &
Niki left at 8:30 for Grass Valley where Niki bought a black hat for
David whose birthday was today. Then Niki found an adorable black chapeau
for herself and she got a new sweater and a little figurine. They had
lunch there and came back here in mid afternoon. Jenny said they had a
very nice time. I sat in my chair in the living room most of the day and
I re-read Turtle Moon. I always find that book a comfort. Cathy stopped
by in the morning and as usual she is involved in many things. This time
she is in charge of the yearbook for the Durham Jr. Hi and we heard about
the new baby goats that were born this week. Then in the afternoon,
Julie stopped by and had a snack and visited with us. I think my mouth
is better but it still isn’t great. Well with nothing else to report I
think I will go to bed and hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.
February 20
Rain, wind! Hail!
Well I slept better last night and my stomach seems to be ok today.
Thank Goodness. So I did my exercises and I planned to walk but it was
cold and rainy so another day went by without my doing any walking and
that bothers me and the district called and asked me to substitute
Wednesday & Friday at PV for Jim Byrnes. Well I said yes bit it means I
had to change my appointment for a perm from Friday to Thursday morning
and I can’t go to aerobics tomorrow and I will have to call the library
to say I can’t work tomorrow. This is a problem when one volunteers.
But getting back to this morning. I did my exercising and after both
Jenny & Niki had left for the club and for school I set my hair and then
I watered and fed the indoor plants. I decided to wear my black stirrup
pants and my green and black striped top to go to the Discovery Shop.
Don had gone to see Dr. Taylor and he took the stitches out and then at
12 he went to Hospice for a noon meeting. So Jenny took me to the
Discovery Shop. We had a pleasant afternoon. I got Don a good wool
sweater and a gray sweatshirt. I got a pair of beige stirrup pants and a
white cotton jacket, a T-shirt and I guess that was it. I had chopped up
the veggies for a stir fry plus I then sliced some chicken breasts and I
chopped the cabbage for salad. So when I got home, I put the dressing on
the salad, did the stir fry, cooked instant rice and served cheeses and
grapes for dessert. Then we watched the news and the weather man Anthony
described and showed pictures of the wind, rain and hail and it is still
going on and it is getting colder. I am afraid this storm has done great
damage to the almond trees, especially the hail and wind. Well much to
everyone’s surprise Buchanan won over Dole in N. Hampshire. Buchanan is
an ass – he is racist and everything I disapprove of. I feel sorry for
the Republicans. It is 9:30 and I still have to pin up my hair and get
ready for bed and decide what I am going to wear to school tomorrow. I
really don’t want to go but I am committed.
February 21
I slept so well last night that I can’t remember any of the dreams and I
didn’t even wake up to go to the bathroom. I did wake up at 4:30 and did
quiet exercising etc. till 10 to 5 and then I got up. So I did my
regular exercises, fixed Don’s breakfast and did my make up, etc., before
6:30 cause Niki has the bathroom in the mornings till 7:30 and I was
supposed to be there at 7:30. PV has changed so much I did not known
where to go. It is beautiful. All of the A wing is different. I was
most embarrassed. I had worn my black dress the one with the insert of
colors across the front of the top. But I was not dressed warm enough
and I was chilly all day. I go back on Friday and I will wear warmer
clothes. I spent the day helping to get tests to the 11th graders in
Miss Pittman’s class. It was not difficult. The kids were noisy but
nice. Almost all of the boys wore caps and crummy clothes and the girls
were not well groomed and their clothes were equally grubby. In fact, by
comparison, Niki looks pretty good and her outfits are more interesting.
I am supposed to learn to use the computer. Two people tried to teach me
and they were both good so that didn’t help. But everyone was so nice to
me and the teachers who were there when I was there were just great. But
there are a lot of new ones and of course I don’t mean a thing to them.
Don picked me up at 3:15 and I came home to a house that was cold. I
checked and the heat had never been turned on so I certainly turned that
up in a hurry. We had a good dinner. I got a leftover stew in the
freezer and I got that in the oven. Then I made a cottage cheese &
pineapple salad and I had gotten a loaf of Pepperidge Farm French Bread
with jack cheese and jalapano peppers. That one heats in the oven and it
was delicious. Jenny & Niki were going out to dinner with Lisa Van
Rossum, Nicole and V. Lindeman & Kasey but they both had two pieces as
did David so we ate the whole loaf. Then the news – all about the
Republican
next. Now
to walk to
I must get
Wednesday.
problems with Buchanan winning at NH and what will happen
I am going to take a shower and then read some more. I want
get my perm tomorrow morning. I haven’t walked for so long.
back to my routine. Missed aerobics both Monday and
February 22
It is 8:30 and I am so weary I would like to go to bed right now but I
know I would not make it till morning and so I would toss and turn and
look at the clock so I will read instead. Got up this morning and did all
my exercises. I got Charlie horses in both legs during the night and I
just know I haven’t been walking enough so I started out the day with all
my different things like sit ups, weights, etc., made oatmeal and it
tasted good. Jenny went off to the club and Niki to school so I vacuumed
the kitchen and then got dressed and walked to the Beauty College. There
was a cold wind and it really wasn’t very pleasant walking but the creek
was high and there is interesting cloud formations. I got a little girl
called Shawna who was ok but still not too experienced. My appointment
was for 9:30 and I got out just a little before 12. Don picked me up
since my hair was still wet. I ate lunch and changed my clothes and Don
drove me to Hospice. Jenny left for Oakland. She will stay with
Genevieve tonight, going to a meeting in Berkley tomorrow and will get
home around 7 tomorrow night. Hospice was fine. I worked on folders and
the time went fast. Don picked me up and when I got home I put the
potatoes in the oven, made brownies and some stew to be heated yet again.
Made a green salad and then I sat out bacon bits, onions, sour cream and
cheese and so I baked the potatoes and put all this on top. They were
good. Then the news and that I called and talked to Priss. Wrote a
letter to my sister and one to Sel thanking her for the dates and
cashews. I find it very hard to write to Pauline when she was so angry
and sent many letters talking about her not wanting to hear about my news
cause she was hurting so from losing Phil, etc. Well, I think she has
thought all along my letters were boring and in her anger and grief she
struck out. I understand cause I feel much the same about her letters.
She spends the time telling me about the paintings that she discusses at
the museum and that is just as foreign to me as my dull letters to her.
I worry about all this cause I think we’re drifting apart and since we
two are all that is left of our family, that is sad indeed. But I really
don’t know what to do about it. I shall keep trying. I pinned up my
hair cause it is pretty frizzy. I will have to have the cut next week.
Don has gone to bed and I am going to read for a while.
February 23
Up at 5. I had set my hair and it looked much better today after the
perm. Maybe next week I will have it cut by Rita. I did all my
exercises. Had some rice cakes with p. butter & jam and my Suka and then
I went to the b.r. and put on my make up etc., cause Niki is there from
6:45 until 7:30 and that was when I was due at PV. I wore black hose &
shoes, putty colored long skirt, black top and the scarf Cathy gave me
for Christmas. Cause I was so cold on Wednesday I wore the famous wool
jacket that the girls gave me for Christmas and it was beautiful. The
new principal at PV stopped and introduced himself and we had a chat. I
thought it was very nice of him to do that. Today was makeup day for
people who missed part of the testing and it was in a class room in the
library. I had not been in the library before and I was stunned by its
size and beauty. It is fantastic with computers everywhere, carpeting,
lovely color schemes. I was impressed. The day went very fast. The kids
were nice and polite and I felt comfortable. It was interesting. At the
end of the day, Kathy Theile said she was taking Thursday and Friday off
next week and asked if I would substitute. It will be a busy week but I
think I will do it. I must change Hospice time and Don is having his
luncheon on that day but I think I will do it. When I got home, I had a
cup of tea. It was so cold, windy and raw outside it tasted good. There
was a letter from Pauline and it was very upsetting. David had been
there and people were wonderful to her so that made me feel better. I
suggested to Don that we go out to dinner so we went to the Red Lobster
and it was very pleasant and we had asked Niki but she didn’t want to go
but we brought back food and she ate it. Big News – Don called while I
was in the library and when I got to the phone he said, “Hi, Great
Grandma”. Lisa and Matt now have a baby girl born C-section last night.
18”, 6# very dainty and very beautiful. Jill called Don. He called Mike
who said Mr. Neeley died at about the same time. We tried to call Donna
but got no answer so we will call tomorrow. We called Matt who sounds
just like Mike. And he was so thrilled and we talked to Lisa as well.
So now we are great grandparents. So now I think I will go to bed even
though it is still early. I had diarrhea when we got back from eating
and I feel rather worn out. But I will be alright. I had a good visit
with Priss.
February 24
100#
Woke up to a chilly and cloudy morning. Where is spring? Read the
papers and then off to pick up Mary. I thought I didn’t need much at the
stores but once I get there I find that I buy about the same amount every
week. This time at the Cannery I got 3 loaves of the Pepperidge Farm
French Bread with the cheese filling that you heat in the bag. Stopped
at the F. Mkt. but the only thing I bought there was a bag of apples and
then home. Niki has lost interest in bagels and wanted some kind of
nutrition bars so I walked to Safeway and got a package for her and got
my mile walk in at the same time. It cleared up and although there was a
sharp little wind it was really ok. I changed all the flowers in the
living room, I polished the two brass vases and they look lovely. Long’s
had some good buys so I drove over there and got vitamins, etc. I called
Donna cause I wanted to mention her father who died the same day that
Kathleen was born to Matt and Lisa. We had a very good visit. She said
each of the grandchildren got $10,000 but Jim’s son got 80 acres of land
as well. She won’t be coming out again till July and she hopes to come
here at that time. She says her brother isn’t speaking to her and he and
his wife are being very greedy about everything. But we had a good talk
and she raved about the new people and how beautiful it is. I think
Donna has become a strong woman as a result of her divorce and having to
do it alone. In fact, Jenny is much the same way. I don’t think women
realize how strong they can be until they have to. I made what I thought
would be a good dinner but it was rather a dud. I made salmon loaf with
cheese sauce, hot French bread and a relish plate with dip. Niki wasn’t
here. It was just Jenny, Don and I and no one seemed very interested or
enthusiastic and I understand since I wasn’t either. Jenny went to work
at 7 – 11 and Niki left in the afternoon and just called in now and then.
So I called Priss after the news and then I hunted around but really
couldn’t find anything to read. I suggested Don light the fire and Daisy
lay in front of it and loved it. Don asked if I wanted a drink and I said
yes – wine and we sat and talked and then went to bed and made love and
it was so good!! How lucky we are that we can still do it and love it.
February 25
We got up at 5 but the papers didn’t come till 7! Don kept checking and
checking so finally he went in and showered, shaved, etc., and then they
came. I wore black slacks and top and my jacket again. It is so warm I
am going to wear it and not worry about the big shoulders. We got
doughnuts afterwards. Niki had asked to be awakened at 7:40 so I got her
up before we left for church. Thank Goodness it was the little Vietnamese
priest this morning and since I cannot understand him I can’t get upset
by what he may be saying. Since Jenny was leaving this afternoon at 5,
she was washing clothes like mad and packing and neatening things up.
When we asked her why Niki had wanted to get up so early on a Sunday she
said that Niki said that she and David just wanted to spend some time
together! We laughed and laughed at that since they spend so much time
together every day. Well, anyway I too washed things and I decided my
pants were a miss so I bleached them and then washed them and they turned
out just great. I will have a huge ironing and will try to do that
tomorrow. This is going to be a really hectic week so it will take a lot
of planning and exercising. Made Mayo today cause Don will be wanting
potato salad for his club on Thursday. We bought ground sirloin this
morning at Safeway and I made up the hamburgers cause he is serving them
too. I also went to Mervyn’s after lunch cause they had a cotton sweater
set for $25 and I was interested. Well when I finally found them they
were so cheap and sleazy that I put them back on the rack and came home.
Our dinner was simple: canned tomato soup, salmon spread on French
bread, and broccoli. Jenny and I decided there was no use for tears
about her leaving since she will be back on the 19th of March. We will
save our tears till June cause then she will probably be gone for 6
months. It was a cold day and cloudy at times with a nasty little
breeze. Don did sit out for a while but I really couldn’t get up any
enthusiasm for waking. Don called Mary Wyle in France today and she got
the apartment she wanted. Her friends who have been helping her had gone
skiing so she will have to wait till they get back to help her buy things
for the apartment, appliances, some furniture, etc. But at least she now
has a place in the center of the court and things should get easier. I
called Priss and we had our nightly chat. So that about wraps it up for
today. A busy day tomorrow and all week long!
February 26
It is 9:40 p.m. and I have been reading but I have also been dozing. Don
is already in bed. He takes a nap after the news at night and then he
gets up for a little while and takes the dog out the last time and he
goes back to bed. We got up this morning to a very chilly day. There
was frost everywhere. I did all my exercises and made a list of things I
had to make. I called PV counseling to say I would work on Thursday and
Friday. I called Hospice. I would not be able to work on Thursday.
Later I called Rita (she does not work on Monday) to get a hair
appointment and will get my hair cut on Tuesday afternoon at 3. I called
the Rosemans and I will see them on Wednesday afternoon at 3 after the
library. So my week is pretty well settled now. All I have to do is get
everything done that is required for each day. We read the papers and
then I neatened up the living room, etc., before going to the club. I
dressed very warm but by the time I started out it had begun to warm up
so I was not cold. It was good to be doing the aerobics again but I
noticed on the way home I was pretty tired. I fixed my lunch and
afterwards I did the ironing. There were 8 shirts plus I had run a load
of darks so I ironed those things as well. Then I was in the mood for
cookies so I made oatmeal ones and the recipe makes about 72 cookies so I
was in the kitchen for a long time. I fixed dinner that Don loves: meat
loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and a lovely fruit salad. Niki came
home from school and asked to go to a concert at the S.$ fair grounds
that would last till 11. I did not think she should go. If she went I
thought she should be home by 10 since it was a school night but Don gave
in. I shall be glad when she goes to Australia and we will not have to
have the responsibility that we have now. Well, it will be better when
her Mom gets back on the 19th of March. She can make the decisions.
Jenny called at 7 p.m. to say she was in Melbourne and all is well.
After dinner, we watched the news. Problems with Cuba cause they shot
down planes sponsored by Cubans in the U.S. to help people escape from
Cuba. I don’t think we should do those kind of things and now Clinton
has to deal with this. I called Priss at 7:15. She had played bridge
today as usual on Monday and then her friends had taken her out to dinner
cause her birthday is Friday and she will be 89. I am giving her a plant
that she said she wanted. David, her son, will be here on Thursday. So
now it is about 10 p.m. so I had better go to bed. Busy days ahead. It
won’t let up till after Sunday.
February 27
Cold, rain, clouds; weighed 100#
Woke up at the usual time. It had been a cold night cause I had put a
long top over my gown and still I was cold. When we got up we found it
was raining. I keep thinking of those bees that won’t come out when it
is cold and rainy and all the almond blossoms that won’t be pollinated.
Did all my exercises again today but didn’t really consider going to
yoga. Don had errands to run and after I had neatened things up and
washed a sweater I decided to walk to Safeway. I took my umbrella and my
cloth deal to carry things and off I went and I really wasn’t cold. I
had had a short talk with Linda and she thought David, Marilyn & Jason
would be coming down on Wednesday but probably would not be there in town
for dinner. Well, this makes it a bit difficult to plan and I always
want to know times so I can plan my menus. I will have to think about
this cause tomorrow night I want to make the chocolate mousse and think
about Don’s luncheon, flowers, etc. Too many things going on at once for
me sometimes. Anyway, I did get the whipped cream and yams in case I
want to cook the ham on Wednesday or Thursday. Got back home and was
already thinking about my lunch. Then Don was back and we ate and Don
napped and I read or started to re-read Gone to Soldiers last night and
this time I can skip over the parts that I don’t care so much about. At
20 to 3 I drove downtown and went in to have Rita cut my hair. I used
the first of the $25 on the $100 Don had given me in the gift
certificate. By this time she did a lot of special combing and the
curling iron and I didn’t like the result quite so much but the cut was
good. Next time I am going to tell her to just cut it and let it go at
that. Got home and I had some leftover chili and some spaghetti and I
had made a green salad and Niki ate dinner with us and she talked about
the electoral college, etc., cause she is taking government this
semester. It is so nice when she eats with us and is willing to talk.
The news was mainly about the Cuban crisis brought on by the Cubans
living in Miami flying rescue planes to Cuba and flying inside the Cuban
air space. That little country has caused more trouble off and on than
one can believe. Dole won N. & S. Dakota and we still don’t know about
Arizona yet. We got our sample ballot today cause our primary is the end
of March and I don’t know how California will do for Dole, Buchanan &
Forbes. Now I guess I will read for a bit and go to bed. Talked to
Priss and asked her and David to come for a drink Saturday night.
February 28
Rain
Woke up to rain yet again. But it is cold also which makes it really
miserable. I had done the coffee and the oatmeal so I just had to cook
them. Did a few exercises but not the whole routine. I had things to do
so I did not go to the club. At 9 Don went to John Powell’s to turn in
all the things for our taxes. I went out in the rain to pick camellias
for 5 different vases. Brought them to the laundry room and put them on
the freezer and then did the ironing. Took them to the north patio
hoping they will last till tomorrow for the luncheon. Made the chocolate
mousse and I think it turned out very well. Then I got dressed and ready
to go to the library. Made macaroni and cheese to cook when I got home.
Then I had my lunch and left before 12. I found some books and then
worked for Lorna for 3 hours. All very dull and unchallenging but I
really didn’t mind. Since I had not gone for the last 2 Wednesdays I
felt I owed them. From there I went to the Roseman’s and stayed an hour
as usual. We talked much of dying and funerals but Helen does it all so
calmly that it is not uncomfortable. Their children had given them a
wonderful combined birthday weekend and they had had a wonderful time.
So I rushed home to see Jason’s car when I drove up. Thank goodness Don
had put the macaroni in the oven. I then got out grapefruit and made
segments and I had an avocado and lettuce so that was the salad and
canned peas go over great with both Niki and Jason. We had those and
bread and they ate very well, both of them. There was some chocolate
sauce and there is always ice cream so that was dessert. Jason left for
Baba’s and I made more chocolate sauce. The news tonight was about
Forbes winning in Arizona and a long segment on homosexuals and the
various church’s attitude towards them. It would seem to me better not
to discuss it cause I think it makes the situation worse. Talked to
Priss and we settled on 5 p.m. on Saturday for cocktails. I told her I
did not call her Thursday or Friday nights. She wants to talk to David
about why the grandchildren don’t ever write to her or call her. She
says her Grandmother was adored by all and she can’t see why she is not
treated the same way. What could I say? I have no answer for her. I
just hope she doesn’t push David too far cause I don’t think he will sit
back and say nothing. Our day was hectic. Now I just have to get up
early and make a potato salad and get everything set up for the luncheon,
make my lunch and get to school which I worry about going well. I long
for Saturday night after the Scott’s leave. Surely next week will be
better.
February 29
Rain!
Such a crazy morning. I woke so many times in the night afraid I would
oversleep and at 3:30 I kept checking and finally at 4 I got up! Well
that was just an hour earlier than usual. So I put the eggs on to boil
and the potatoes and got Don’s breakfast set out and by the time it was
7:30 I was dressed in my red 2 piece dress and the red shoes and I even
got out a big red purse I used last in about 1967! Now I am glad I
didn’t throw it away or take it to the Discovery Shop. Well when I got
to school there were no other counselors and Kathie had not left anything
for me to do so I asked the people working at the main desk and so I
stamped envelopes. Then the counselors came. They had been to a
breakfast meeting and I filled out call slips to try to get the last of
the records of who had not finished the SAT test. So that was how I
spent my day. Still the time did not drag too much. The main problem is
that it is so cold there. Tomorrow I am really going to dress warm. Don
picked me up at 3:15. He said his luncheon had gone very well. Menu:
smoked ham, the potato salad, a big platter of raw veggies, cheese, etc.,
hot French bread and chocolate mousse. I write this so next time I won’t
serve the same thing. Naturally Don wasn’t hungry for dinner and Niki
went off with David and Jason ate at Baba’s since D. & Marilyn are here.
I fixed Don some soup and I had a ham sandwich and some potato salad and
the mousse for dessert. Then the news and Don had to drive out to Durham
to meet with Rosalie and her committee about the club report on the
Pacific. I guess Don is going to talk about Tarawa and Susan about how
the New Zealanders reacted to the French nuclear testing. Don got the
feeling that the little club was not too well organized. So now I have
one more day at PV and then on Saturday it is grocery time and the
Discovery Shop and then David & Priss for drinks. I must get some
goodies to offer. Must also check on buying almonds at the F. Mkt. Now
I will read for awhile and then go to bed. We met a lady today asking us
to attend a meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at PV to honor students who
have improved their GPA and Niki is one. How about that!
March 1
Sun!
It is 9 p.m. Friday night. Don is in bed feeling wretched; Niki is with
David and Jason has gone out to see a high school friend. Today I didn’t
get up till about 10 to 5. I didn’t want to get up but Don was taking
Daisy so I thought I should get up to make breakfast. When I checked the
sky I saw stars, a welcome sight. Did my exercises, made my lunch, ate a
slice of bread with peanut butter and jam - my latest favorite - and then
I got dressed for school: black slacks and top and the jacket of Linda’s
from Bali. Don took me and I spent the day going over test booklets and
checking them for errors and omissions.
I also had a good talk with
Susan Bruce and with Sue Minske who I had never talked to before and I
decided I liked her much more than I expected to. It was a quiet day and
not one student came in to see Mrs. Theile. I don’t quite understand
that but it was ok with me. Don picked me up at 3:15. He and Jason had
gone to Durham for Rose’s project on the S. Pacific. Don said that Rose
was not really prepared to ask good questions and he felt he did very
badly. She giggled a lot, etc. I guess Jason had better luck cause he
was asking specific questions. I was starved and ate a lot of potato
salad when I got home. Changed my clothes and pulled out all the
leftovers from the fridge to heat. Niki went with Mrs. Sterling to check
out a place for antique clothes. Niki came home with a suit and hat for
David (did she pay or did Mrs. Sterling?) and a long cream colored
petticoat and a collar like deal with beading that was very pretty. She
went off with David so Don, Jason and I ate dinner. Then there was the
news and then Jason just talked. I think his trip has matured him a
great deal. He is very funny and very sharp but now there is a certain
assurance that he didn’t have before and I think it was a very good
experience for him. He plans to go to SF to look for a job and he is
going to Santa Cruz as well. He speaks so well of his mother and Craig
and I like that in him too. Well, the busy week is just about over and I
hope that next week will be a little less hectic. I want to go all 3
days to the club, walk a lot, eat less and enjoy life. And I hope that
Don feels better, too.
March 2
Woke at 5. Did all my exercises this morning. Had my present favorite:
piece of bread with peanut butter & jam + my Suka and then got dressed to
go shopping. It was clear and that meant sun in my eyes all the way. I
don’t think I had bought all that much at Food for Less: 3 different
cheeses, coffee, papayas, veggies, etc., but it came to $39. I was
shocked. Interesting too that now that the new grocery store is in town
there were hardly any people there. Got some things at the Cannery but
not much and then dropped Mary off at the F. Mkt. cause she was meeting a
friend there. Rushed home and put everything away and then off to the
Discovery Shop. Alice Danterman was working with me but she was late and
I was beginning to wonder what I should do and who I should call when she
drove up. She brought me some lemons. Things started out slowly. Then
Betty Pyle arrived and she started opening up things that had been left
in the back room. She called me back and wondered if I would be
interested in a bedspread. She thought it was king size but it is
regular. White background with peach green and turquoise design but very
delicate and then 3 throw pillows in the pink, green and turquoise. She
offered me the whole thing for $10. Then there were green towels, 2
small and 2 large and she said I could have those for $3. We got busy up
front and we ended up making $423! We couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t
wait to get home and once Jason leaves I will wash the sheets and put on
the new bed spread, etc. I am so pleased!! I did 3 loads of clothes and
will have a lot of ironing to do. Then I made the refried bean dip and
got out all the other things for cocktails and at 5, Priss and David
arrived. It went ok. At the end when they were leaving, Priss said she
was terribly upset and would let me know tomorrow about it. I had a
yearning for a vodka tonic so I had one and it tasted perfect. I asked
for a second one and had just started it when they had to leave and Don
when neatening up dumped mine out. I was really ticked off. I called
the W.F.K. B. when Father Knows Best. He is the one who must get the
mail and decides what ought to be thrown out, etc., and never asks no one
else. I know it is a little thing but it makes me mad. I fixed him
bacon and eggs and then he went to bed and I stayed up and read. I
checked my watch at 10 and decided to read a bit more. Fell asleep and
woke at 11:30 and went to bed.
March 3
We got up this morning planning to go to church so I got dressed and was
all ready when Mary called to say that she had walked too much yesterday,
that her legs hurt and she was staying at home so I took off my going to
meeting clothes and put on work things. I finished reading the paper,
got Niki up at 9 cause she had left a note asking that. Then I started
in on Don’s bathroom. I cleaned the fixtures and then I scrubbed the
walls up to the window and I did a thorough job on the floor. Then I
cleaned the other bathroom but did not do anything about the walls but I
must do that later. By then, it was lunchtime. Jason came back. He had
been at a friend’s house overnight and he said he was going to eat at
Cathy’s for dinner. In the afternoon, I wrote to Pauline. I am finding
it harder and harder to write to her. Before I felt I could talk about
anything but now everything sounds stilted and unnatural. She implied
earlier that she doesn’t want to hear about the kind of things I wrote so
I am at a loss. I put a chicken in the oven, fixed potatoes for mashing,
opened a can of stewed tomatoes, made dressing from a package and it
turned out to be pretty good and I made a salad with packaged greens.
This is a new thing from the store and it has its appeal cause you don’t
have to wash all that lettuce. There was still some chocolate mousse for
dessert so it was a good meal. Niki had been with David but then she
came home and heated up some of the food and ate it. Later, David came
and they went to Ben’s. I didn’t watch the news tonight but there was
another bombing in Israel. Another bus blown up and 19 people killed.
The Hamos were the ones or at least they claimed they were. I don’t
think peace looks too promising between the Israelis and the
Palestinians. At 6:45, I called Priss and she talked for 45 minutes
about David’s visit. She asked him what was wrong and why they did not
want her to come at Christmas and he, I am guessing, really laid it on
the line. His wife, Ann, and his daughter Megan are very angry with
Priss - she is negative, she is this, she is that and it just went on and
on. I can see that it was terrible for Priss. The point made was that
they do not want to see her. They hate her. Well, it goes on and on. I
could only listen. I felt sorry for her. She is critical and impatient
and tactless at times but she is also 89 years old and all alone and I
think they could put up with her for the time she has left. She says she
is not going to talk about this to anyone but me but maybe to Lynn Burch.
I did advise not to talk to anyone about it but that is up to her. I
feel very sorry for her. So now Don is in bed. Niki and David are at
Ben’s and Jason is at Cathy’s and I will read for a while and then go to
bed.
March 4
Here it is 8:30 p.m. and I am falling asleep in my chair. What is wrong
with me? Am I bored, tired, or what? This morning it was raining so
hard when I got ready to go to aerobics that I put on the light blue
plastic pants over my tights and I wore the navy jacket Jason had brought
for the Good Will. Well going I felt like a pilot of an airplane with a
good tail wind but coming back I faced a hard wind. But on the way back,
it wasn’t raining so I was too warm. I ate lunch and then I made bread
wanting to please Don and Niki. I used only white flour. It turned out
very well. It rained off and on all afternoon. At 4 I went to see Dr.
Murrill. I have been having cold sores in my mouth and I keep biting my
inside lower lip and so I should check with him. He said what I was
using was the right thing and that I may have had herpes. I know that
Niki has used my toothbrush and so that may explain. He also filed both
my upper and bottom front teeth and he doesn’t think I will be biting my
lip again. We had a strange dinner: I cooked a piece of ham, heated up
the stewed tomatoes, had candied yams and I melted bread with cheese on
top. Nothing green, no salad but we cleaned our plates. There was
another bombing in Israel this morning. 13 people killed and over 100
wounded. The Homas are responsible. He doesn’t want the peace plan.
Talked to Linda. There is a blizzard up there at Tahoe. She is as tired
of the weather as we are. I had planned to wash my hair today but didn’t
get around to it. Maybe tomorrow. Alice is coming at 8 and we will have
coffee, etc., and talk. Called Priss tonight and really she wasn’t too
bad. I had expected worse. Last night I woke up wondering what would
happen to one of us if the other died. Would we stay in this house?
Would we get someone in to live with us? Would we sell the house? Well
sometimes things like that worry me. I am so sleepy I think I will take a
little nap.
March 5
Last night on the news they were talking about thyroid and they gave the
symptoms of not enough so this morning I decided to take 2 of my thyroid
pills. Wow! What a day. First of all Alice was coming for coffee at 8
so I sent Don to buy croissants and then I went out and picked fresh
camellias. I had made a fruit cup last night so I served that plus the
roll and coffee. We had a wonderful talk as we always do. I always feel
so comfortable with her. After she left, I ran a load of clothes and
then I went over to the apartment and saw the bathtub and was furious.
Jason is leaving it so dirty. I cleaned it and decided to wash the
shower curtain and lining. I hung the plastic one on the line and washed
and dried the cotton one in the dryer. I cleaned the sink and toilet and
then vacuumed the bathroom and bedroom and kitchen. I took the things
for the rummage sale over to the church but everything was locking up so
I will have to go back tomorrow. I made a chicken stew. I had cut up
the chicken earlier so I had frozen peas, carrots and tiny onions and set
it aside to cook at dinner time. I took a shower and washed and set my
hair. I went to Lucky and bought a beautiful plant for $10 and it is now
in the corner near the dining room and I put the one that was there over
in the apartment. Our TV went out at 5:30 and Don tried to get a repair
man but he did not call back so he will have to try again tomorrow. I
made biscuits and a green salad to go with the stew and I made a
chocolate cake for dessert. I finally got in touch with Donna at 6 p.m.
Lisa is still in the hospital with a bad bacterial infection. Donna
stayed home two days and + the 2 days over the weekend taking care of the
paperwork there, doing fine, but Lisa is very ill and everyone is
concerned. The baby is now with the other grandparents. Lisa’s mother
is a nurse so that helps. Fortunately, they have insurance cause the
whole thing is terribly expensive. Then Linda called and told me what
she was doing about the curtains in the living room and then she wanted
to talk to Niki cause for one of her classes she had to interview a
teenager. Then Niki went off to her yoga class and Linda called back and
told Don that she had asked one question about family and Niki said when
asked, Yes, she had a mother but she doesn’t have a father but her
grandfather was really like her father. So it was alright. Don started
to cry when he told me that. Linda called later or rather I called her
to tell her about Matt & Lisa and she said one of the questions was how
do you get along with your family. Niki said the problem with her mother
was just too complicated and she doesn’t want to discuss it, but she
lives with her grandparents so everything was ok. So it has been quite a
day. I keep thinking boy if I took 2 thyroid pills every day think what
I could get done.
March 6
Well, this was a day for walking. Got up after 5. Cold but clear. Did
all my exercises and read a little of the paper. Word was that some of
the Republican hopefuls would bow out today cause of Dole winning so many
primaries and that was true but Forbes decided to stay on until after
N.Y. I walked to the club but today there were over 30+ women and it
just isn’t as much fun so I don’t know what I am going to do. I walked
home and by then it had warmed up and I was dressed too warm. I fixed my
lunch and decided to walk to the library. It was a bit rough going cause
I have not done as much this winter but I made it. I stamped forms and
put magazines in the proper order. Don picked me up and told me he had
bought a TV. The man came to look at the one in the TV room that was on
the blink. The TV, not the room naturally. He charged $50 to tell Don
that it would cost at least $200 to fix it and he advised getting a new
one so Don went over to Filco and bought one. I told him he bought TV’s
like he bought cars. He didn’t think that was very funny. So I did a
lot of things when I got home. I worked outside checking for poop cause
Don suddenly had one of his back attacks and the man is coming to mow
tomorrow. I raked up dead blossoms. I came in the house and called up
at him for sandwiches and deviled eggs. Made soup out of leftover mashed
potatoes. When Niki came home from school, she said she didn’t want to
go to the Rotary deal honoring students who had improved their grades.
We said ok. We didn’t want to go ourselves and we felt she might find it
embarrassing so we were relieved. Niki and Don got the TV onto the floor
and I got out as much dust as possible but it is hard to reach back
behind the bookcases. Priss called while we were watching the news and
told me about her problems with Lynn Burch who is sick all the time but
won’t stop smoking and Priss can’t understand why she can’t. Then I read
for the rest of the evening. Gone to Soldiers is pretty heavy reading.
Linda called to say she had talked to Don and they think that Lisa has
turned the corner but she will have to stay in the hospital for at least
another week. I hope the sweet little baby will be ok. Now I will read
a bit more and then go to bed. I have walked over 4 miles today and that
is more than usual.
March 7
It is 8 p.m. I have been watching Victor Borge along with a famous
violinist on Channel 9. It has been a rather hectic day. We got up at
5+ and it looked like a cloudy day but there was a beautiful sunrise.
Had breakfast and did a few exercises and then I went early to Safeway by
car and got a papaya, bananas, oranges and a doughnut for Don. When I
got back, I planned to go to Chico Hi to the plant sale but I also wanted
to go to the mall to try to find some material for a pillow for the
bedroom chair. I took a towel with me that matches the throw pillow and
at the Craft Warehouse I found just the right color and I got 1/2 a yard.
Wanted to find more towels in the green color but nothing inside matched
so I came on home. The people from Filco were to call to tell us when
they were coming with the TV at about 8:30, but they didn’t call till
9:30 and said they would be here between 12 - 1. Don went to Home Base
to look for a new vanity sink for his bathroom. He thought he had found
something but we will check it out together later. Then Cathy came cause
today was Rose’s birthday and tomorrow is MJ’s. We had the cards and the
$10 each in them so she took them and she stayed to visit for a while.
Rose is going to take karate and she has gone out for track. I got ready
to go to Hospice so I took a shower and pinned up my hair a little bit
and then at 1:00 I left wearing my navy slacks and blue and white striped
top. I had an easy job today. I stuffed and addressed envelopes. I
also told Colleen I would rather work on Tuesday morning. I find I am
tired in the afternoon. It was an effort to walk to and from there and
since the weather gets hot it will be much harder to walk in the middle
of the afternoon. When I got home, the TV was in place and it seems to
be fine. I had pork steaks that I fixed on top of the stove, some
delicious broccoli and I made a fruit salad. It seems that Niki had a
fight with David and left school for a few periods but did go back but
she has been so good this year it is too bad that she cut. I think Don
will try to write a note that will cover things. I hope it works.
Tomorrow I go to work at the rummage sale. Now I will read for a while.
March 8
Woke up at the usual time. When Niki went off to school I couldn’t tell
whether she was up or down. I really worry if she were to break up with
David cause I think she would go to pieces for a while and might not make
it to graduation. I hope I am wrong cause she has made such progress
this year. Well I did my exercises and changed flowers, etc., and then
got dressed and walked to the church rummage sale. I dressed warm cause
it is always cold in that hall. I got there at 5 to 9 and lots of people
were waiting to get in. I didn’t do much but then there isn’t much to do
unless you are one who buys or takes the money. I picked up a few
things. I found two brassieres that fasten in front and looked brand
new. Got two more brass candlesticks, a summer dress with a dropped
waist and no sleeves to wear around the house, a pretty little basket and
a white knit top. I had Don pick me up at 11. I will go back tomorrow.
I washed clothes dark and lights. Don and I put the new bedspread on the
line to air cause it had been dry cleaned. At 15 to 3 I went over to
Helen Roseman’s and spent an hour with her and we had great fun talking
as usual. Made dinner with a package pasta and had some broccoli and
leftover pork steak cut in strips. It was very good and I had a green
salad and bread. Niki appeared with David and all is well. She called
in the evening and said she was supposed to spend the night with Val.
Jenny called and we had a good chat. She was thrilled that her computer
had arrived and glad that finally it has stopped raining in Melbourne and
it was sunny and warm. I called Priss and she had spent most of the day
with Lynn Burch who was enjoying ill health. I read for a bit and then
Don said there was a good program on Channel 9 so I went out to watch and
it was simply great. Opera, songs from musicals - 2 opera stars female
and 2 male and then a chorus and Lynn Doby as the MC. We loved it. I
had wine and Don had a drink as we watched and then we went to bed and
made love and that was just as lovely so it was a pretty good day all
around even though the stock market dropped way over 100 points.
March 9
I didn’t want to get up this morning and I kept my exercises at a
minimum. Read the paper briefly and then got dressed to go grocery
shopping. Wore my navy slacks and navy sweater with white big dots.
Food for Less was having a huge sale and I got lots of bargains. When I
got home there was a note from Don and he was having coffee with Carl.
When I got home I had my lunch and then he took me to the church where I
stayed till 2:15. I did not get much from the stuff there. Don had to
get 2 new tires for the car so he just dropped me off and I went in and
tried on what I had picked out. I ended up keeping a striped top and two
blue skirts for summer. The rest I will take to the Discovery Shop. I
called Priss to ask her if she wanted me to come this afternoon (it was
3:30 then) or tomorrow afternoon and she said she would prefer tomorrow
and that was fine with me. For dinner I heated up leftovers. There was
still some chicken stew left + the pasta from last night. I made a green
salad + a vanilla pudding for Don. We ate our dinner and I said how I
was going to go for a walk. Don said he wished he could go too but his
foot is still too sensitive for a shoe. I should say his toe is still
too swollen so I went alone. I decided to walk behind the Jr. Hi and I
tripped and fell and hurt my right knee. I got up and walked home
although it hurt very much. I washed the knee and Don helped me bandage
it. The think that really ticked me off was that it tore my blue slacks
and I am very fond of that pair. Well I will survive. Ann Morgan sent a
letter today saying she is having a 75th birthday party and invited us to
come on the 6th of April. Don says we should go. She offered for us to
stay with them. We shall see. Linda called and she was upset. MJ had a
fight with her mother and she kicked her and Alex out. She asked if she
could stay with L & Craig. Linda said yes but is worried that she will
want to stay on. First Kathy was going to drive her to Auburn and Linda
was going to drive down to pick her up but she was worried about the
weather so I suggested she tell her to take a train to Trukee and Linda
could more easily get there. What a mess. I think I will go to bed
early tonight.
March 10
We woke up to a dark gloomy day and it really didn’t ever improve very
much. In fact, it rained off and on till about 2:00. We went to church
and when we got home I showered and shampooed in the apartment bedroom
cause Niki didn’t feel well and got up earlier than usual for the weekend
so she stayed home all day and coughed and sneezed and she did her
homework. I washed the things I had gotten at the rummage sale yesterday
at the church and then I ironed everything. Then I decided to put the
new bedspread on and the pillows, etc., and it all looks great but since
it was dry cleaned I think I will try to have it washed at the Laundromat
on East Ave. near McManns. Don wanted their lemon dessert which means
lemon pie filling on meringues so I made both. Then to S & S where I got
very good Fiji apples for 44 cents per #. When I got back, I called
Priss and went over to see her. She was invited out to dinner for
tonight and was thrilled to not have to cook so visiting was fine. She
had bought two beautiful plant stands from Gumps and she wanted me to see
them. We had a most pleasant visit. Then home and I made dinner:
veggie plate with dip, chips and I fried hamburgers cause it was too damp
to barbecue and they turned out very well and green beans + the dessert.
Then David called having come from snowboarding and they went off to his
house for the evening. I just hope she feels well enough to go to school
tomorrow. She doesn’t want to miss. Her attitude is so different from
last year. Well now Don has gone to bed. His wounds are very painful
today and he took a strong pill. I am sleepy but would like to stay up a
little longer cause then I will sleep better. I have a book that is
short and simple so I will turn to that for a while.
March 11
Woke to cloudy skies. I had heard rain in the night. I got Niki up at
the usual time and she left for school with Valerie as usual. At about 8
we had an electrical storm and poor Daisy got very upset. She crawled
under the desk while Don was working there. Then followed me around
right by my side. I decided to walk to the club so put on the blue
plastic pants that Priss had given me and Jason’s jacket + the umbrella.
It rained hard all the way but it wasn’t cold and I didn’t get wet. Had
a good work out and on the way home no rain. I stopped at the Laundromat
and found out it would cost $6.50 to have the spread washed and dried and
it would be ready tomorrow at 12. When I got home, I picked it up and
took it over. I hope it shrinks just a bit but mainly I just wanted it
to smell fresh instead of dry cleaning fluid. In the afternoon, I made a
carrot soufflé and I thawed chicken breasts. Linda called just as I was
leaving this morning to say that MJ decided not to come up to Tahoe. She
is staying with Katy, her sister, but hopes to stay with her aunt until
she can get a job. I guess the main news in the day is that David and
Niki have parted company. At first I thought she was not upset. She
came home with Val and they stayed in her room and she seemed ok. They
even went shopping for a while but then David called and came over and
brought back some of her things and she cried and after he left she said
to me that he could not care about her as much as she did about him. I
did not pursue the subject. Jenny called in the afternoon and was very
casual about the break up. Fine for her. She doesn’t have to be here
when Niki is hurting and by the time she comes I suppose Niki will have
adjusted in part. Linda was more sympathetic. I can remember being
rejected and I can remember having to move and having to leave someone I
cared about and it is pure hell. I just wish I could comfort Niki. But
Don and I have told her how much we love her but that doesn’t help much
at the moment. Got a letter from Pauline today and she seems a little
better I thought and then she sent just a note saying how nice it was
that we were great Grandparents. After David left tonight, Niki went out
with Sandi and now at 9:20 Niki just got home. Don got a movie for us to
watch tonight but he couldn’t get the VCR to work with the new TV so he
has to go tomorrow and have it explained. We read the instructions but
couldn’t figure out how to make it work. Tomorrow I work at the
Discovery Shop.
March 12
It rained again in the night and was raining a bit when we got up. I got
busy, heated the oatmeal up and fixed Don’s breakfast before doing my
exercises, having my graham crax with p. butter and jam, 2 prunes, glass
of juice and my Suka and then the paper. Niki got up and went off to
school and I got busy. First I braved the rain and cut camellias. Lots
of them to fill 6 vases: coffee table, chest drawers and small table in
the living room, one for the shelf in front hall, one for Don’s study,
dining room table and coffee table in the apartment. Then I dusted and
neatened things up. Then I showered and pinned up my hair. Don went
over to Filco and found out about the VCR for our new TV and I watched
Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer about a young school teacher
teaching kids from the ghetto and I liked it very much. Then lunch and
at 12 Don went over and picked up my new spread that I had washed. It
looked great and no longer smelled of dry cleaning fluid. So I put it on
the bed and put the 3 pretty pillows and loved the result. I had gone
through cupboards and gave some more stuff to the Discovery Shop. Don
took me and I paid my bill and worked the afternoon. We made over $100
but I don’t know how much. The cashier told me I could go when Don came.
I worked hard all afternoon and Betty Pyle came in and I told her how
thrilled I was about the bed spread, pillows and towels and she just
beamed so I gave her a hug. Came home and came up with a good dinner.
Heated the chicken breasts from yesterday, cooked broccoli and I had
leftover cheese sauce that I heated. Had segmented a grapefruit this
morning and added orange slices and fresh pineapple for a salad, had one
yam and I candied it and Don had the last of the lemon pie filing on a
meringue. When we were coming home from the shop, Don told me that Stan
Rolnick had called to tell him that Curti had died. He was 99 years old.
And the other thing was that Ben had come and Niki had gone with him.
She called later and said she would be home by 6 and when she came she
seemed in good spirits. Who knows what that means! We watched the news
and then I called Priss who was very depressed today and then I read.
Don took a rest. He had taken Niki to her yoga class and he just now
went to pick her up. So it was a good day. I brought some things home
to try on and 2 things didn’t work but a pair of stone colored cotton
slacks for $2 worked and I will keep them. So now it is just about time
for bed.
March 13
This was a rather uneventful day. We got up earlier than usual cause
Daisy came in and seemed to want to go out so naturally Don got up and
then I did too. Did all the usual tasks and at 8:30 set out for the
club. It was a bright morning with a nippy north wind but really very
pleasant. On the way back, I stopped at K-Mart and bought a pair of
black nylons. Niki borrowed a pair of mine to wear with a red sleeveless
dress, short with black fringes all over it. It was adorable but very
inappropriate for school. Neither of us said anything but we both would
rather she had not worn it. If she had cut her hair and put a cloche hat
on she could have been doing the Charleston right out of the 20’s. When
we came home she seemed very upset and we did not dare ask what people
had thought of the dress. Then later David showed up and they went off
to get a frozen yogurt and then he brought her back and later she went to
Sandi’s who came to pick her up. So I don’t know what the scoop is about
all this. Well back to me. I had a good lunch of fresh pineapple and
grapefruit, chopped dates, oranges sand vanilla a yogurt. Delicious!
Then I drove to the library and put in my 2 hours sorting magazines and
alphabetizing cards. When I got home I thawed a turkey hot dish, made a
green salad, had hot fresh bread and that was it. The news tonight was
terrible. A man in a little town in Scotland went into a school and
killed 16 children and wounded a couple of the others and killed the
teacher. The children were all 5 - 6 year olds! Who is safe these days?
It was a small town of 7,000 and everyone was in shock. Forbes is going
to make a statement tomorrow withdrawing from the race for President. He
spent 50 million of his own money. So it is Dole now for sure. Buchanan
is staying in but that is just to cause trouble. Don is not feeling very
well tonight so he went to bed early. Talked to Priss and told her that
I was leaving on the 22nd to drive to Arizona. She said she thought that
was a wonderful idea for us to get away. I was glad she was not too
upset about me going. She counts so much on the nightly calls. I think
I will read for a while and then go to bed.
March 14
Beautiful day; like spring
Up at 5 - dreamt again. At least this time it was a nice one. I was in
high school and I went to a new school and I had a letter of
recommendation form Hillary Clinton and another girl came and she had
lived in some exotic country and we made quite a hit. But I woke up and
got up. Made breakfast and then did my exercises and read the paper. I
changed the flowers and fed the plants in and out. Then I took a shower
and got dressed for the day. Got out my Chinese coolie jacket and it was
so warm and sunny that I wore that when I walked to Walgreen’s to buy
calcium. Then went next door to the 98 Cent Store and got 2 boxes of
candles (4 to each box), one pink and one peach. Then I walked home. I
also made a pumpkin pie today and pumpkin bread. I walked to Hospice and
worked for 2 hours addressing envelopes and folding them. Walked home
and it was almost too warm. I found myself perspiring! At least for
today it was spring! Well by this time it was 4 p.m. so I made grilled
cheese sandwiches, cooked an artichoke, warmed up the carrot soufflé,
sliced oranges, added fresh pineapple and some dates and that was dinner.
Then there was the pie for dessert. I had thawed 2 containers of liver
so I made up Daisy’s food with carrots, top Raman, & the liver. I want
to get this done cause we will be leaving a week from Friday and Friday
is tomorrow. I haven’t decided yet about what I am going to take to
wear. We have not heard from Terri in Mexico and I will be just as
happy if we don’t have to go. I suppose that is too much to hope for.
There was no local news tonight but I listened to the national with Diane
Sawyer while I was fixing Daisy’s food supplement. Talked to Priss and
then I read. Don is watching Braveheart. Niki has gone to bed. No
going out tonight. I guess David is not going to be a part of her life
any more. Don went through little scraps of paper that he had kept about
things the grandchildren had sent through the years and they were so
funny and precious. I called Lisa in the hospital in Florida. She
sounded cheerful and she hopes to go home soon. Matt was there and we
talked to him too.
March 15
Woke at the usual time. Did all my exercises, read the paper, got Niki
up and then got ready to go to yoga - chair yoga. That is only on Friday
instead of the regular aerobic class on Monday & Wednesday. I loved it.
I think for me it is much better than the regular yoga on the mat on the
floor. It was a beautiful morning and the walk there and back was great.
I got home and looked through a knot hole in the fence. I saw that Don
was sunbathing so I came in that way and was talking to him when the
phone rang and it was the district office asking if I would go to PV from
12 - 4. Kathie Theile had gone home ill and 2 other counselors were not
there and so it was decided someone should come in. So I said yes and
went to the closet and tried on a lot of clothes and finally settled on
my off white longer skirt, that beautiful cream colored sweater and the
light hose and shoes, with a silk scarf. I looked great. So I ate lunch
and Don dropped me off. It was a fun afternoon. No students came but I
did work for both Karen Olbeg and for Ruth the secretary and for Susan
Bruce. It was the kind of work I do at Hospice but I was getting paid
for it. We all had a good time and Don picked me up at 4. I dashed
around and in less than an hour I produced a tuna salad, broccoli au
gratin, heated up carrot soufflé and hot bread and there was even some
pumpkin pie left. Not bad! Then we watched Peter Jennings and then I
called Priss who continues to be depressed about her treatment by her
family. Niki worked in the study till after 8 and then another David
picked her up and she went to a concert with him. I wish I knew who it
was. I will be glad to be gone for a week and maybe Jenny can do
something about the break up with David Sterling and how she feels about
it. So then Don asked if I wanted a drink and we had one and then we
went to bed and made love and it was great so that was the end of the
day. Had to call Helen Roseman and say I wasn’t coming at 3 today and
would not be there next week.
March 16
Beautiful day
I was on the road by 7:15 to pick up Mary and to do our shopping. There
was nothing interesting or good at either store this morning so I just
bought the usual things. Took Mary to the F. Mkt. and walked around
myself to see if there was anything of interest. I bought 5# of almonds
for $15. I think they will be more expensive this fall cause of the rain
during the pollination period this spring. Came home and put everything
away. I have set aside a brown bag of things we will take on the trip to
Phoenix. I think we will probably eat breakfast and lunch from our
cache’ of food and then just eat dinner at a restaurant. So then I went
to the box in the back back with my summer clothes and got everything
out. I ate lunch and then decided to try things on to see if I wanted to
wear this stuff or not. To my horror, things were tight around the hips
and the waist. I was really upset. Well I keep weighing 105# and 5# with
my height can really make a difference so I decided I simply have to lose
some weight. Tonight I had a poached egg on a piece of bread and that
was it. Now the question is can I keep doing that or will I chicken out
and stuff myself. I walked over to the Mall area and to Lucky and got
another blow. They are not carrying saccharin any more at Lucky and that
was the only place I have been able to get it. Now what will I do? Well
I will have to work something out. Talked to Linda this morning and
Jason is supposed to come tomorrow or Monday with Jenny coming on
Thursday. That will be cutting it close. Niki spent a restless day. She
worked on school work, went for a walk, borrowed a bike from Sandi and
went riding. I worked outside in the north yard. Moved the wood that
was on the patio for the fireplace back to the pile, raked up clutter and
did some pruning. It really felt like spring today. It is 9 p.m. and
Don has gone to bed not feeling well and I am sleepy so may follow him.
Talked to Priss and she was better tonight. I didn’t hear so much about
her family that has forsaken her, etc. Don keeps changing his mind about
how we are going to go to the Nizels, etc., and he keeps adding people he
wants to see and I am weary of the whole thing. It is just a little too
much S. D. for me.
March 17
Beautiful day!
Daisy got Don up at 4:30 and he got dressed and took her to the Jr. Hi
but then Thank Goodness he came back to bed and we stayed until 5:30.
Made breakfast and did my exercises and then tried to eat less. Had my 2
prunes, smaller glass of juice, a piece of thin whole wheat bread with
some no fat creamed cheese and my Suka. Wore black slacks and top and my
teal and black knit sweater. When we got home from Mass I changed to my
grubbies and I fed all the roses with Systemic. In fact, I had just
enough. Then I also sprinkled some Epsom salts on them cause I had read
that that helped make them beautiful. We shall see. Cleaned up some
weeds, etc., and then came in and had lunch. Found two pieces of beef
that looked very tough so I cut them in strips, put lots of tenderizer on
them and then made a sauce of wine, beef bouillon, brown sugar, soy sauce
and water + a sliced onion and baked this from 1 - 5. It turned out to
be delicious. I fixed the fancy mashed potatoes, made a cabbage slaw,
green beans and strawberry shortcake for dessert. I was certainly glad I
had gone to all this work cause Jason arrived at about 3:30 and he is a
good eater! I forgot. I had hot rolls too. There were no leftovers
tonight. Niki is a lost soul at the moment. She goes for walks, she
borrowed a bike and went riding by herself and she watched a movie on TV
but finally Val and Ben came over and she went off with them. Now she
just called to say that Sandi wants her to spend the night cause her
parents are out of town and she doesn’t want to stay alone. So she is
coming to pick up her clothes and then will go with Sandi. I would
rather they stayed here but they didn’t want to. I took a shower and
pinned up my hair and called Priss and had a brief chat and now I am
going to read. The weather was like summer today. I went to S & S to
buy apples and oranges and the strawberries and I had the windows down in
the car and was still perspiring. I guess we are not going to have
spring, we are going right into summer.
March 18
Beautiful Day - Spring!
Up at 5 cause there was so much to do. It is 7:30 p.m. and I am very,
very weary but I did get a lot done. After my breakfast and my exercises
and a little bit of the paper I decided to wash the long or rather the
wide windows in the TV room but first I cleaned the blind. Then the
screens and the windows and it all looks so much better. Then I did the
2 bathrooms and then I did the blind, window and screen in Don’s bath but
that blind was terribly dirty and I could not figure out how to take it
off and Don couldn’t either so I had to do it one piece at a time. By
then it was time to get dressed to go to aerobics class so I got ready
and the walk was great cause it was such a lovely morning. There is one
part of the bike path that on one fence is just solid honeysuckle and I
can’t wait for it to bloom. The class keeps getting bigger and bigger
and although we moved to bigger quarters, next week I think it will still
be crowded. When I got home, I took a shower and had my lunch. I read a
little, got out chili from the freezer and a loaf of Pepperidge Farm
bread that has a cheese filing and when heated is delicious. I made a
fruit plate and shredded cheese for the chili. Then at 3:30, I went to
see Dr. Faltz cause I needed an anti-anxiety pill for the driving part of
the trip and I talked her into upping my thyroid cause I seem to be tired
all the time. She gave me enough for 6 weeks and then we will reevaluate the situation. She was very nice and agreed about what I
wanted. Came home and put the meal together.
Niki was off with Sandi
and Jason was late in getting home but I refuse to wait for people so Don
and I finished by the time Jason arrived. I did some nice flower
arrangements for the coffee table. I have forsythia from the plant in
the south yard in my brass base and yellow candles to match in brass
candlesticks. Then in the dining room I put out yellow place mats and a
greenish yellow foliage plant cuttings with candles that are not a bright
yellow but are just right with the arrangements. After dinner and the
news, I vacuumed the apartment bedroom and bathroom, washed and dried the
sheets and remade the bed and Jason is going to sleep on the lounge. He
says he is leaving tomorrow. Now I think I have done enough for one day.
Called Priss and she was so boring that I wanted to scream but naturally
I didn’t. It will be nice to get away for a while!
March 19
This was a day of coming and going. I woke Jason at 8:30 to tell him
that Jenny had called and she was catching an earlier plane to Chico and
would be here at 9:30 so he had to get up and get moving. So he did get
up and showered, etc., packed his things and then came over for
breakfast. He decided instead of going to Tahoe he would go to Reno to
be with his Dad. Don went to pick up Jenny and by the time he came back
with her, Jason was ready to leave. But he got to see Jenny. He stayed
there in Australia last summer. So then here was Jenny but she was
evidently tired and jet lagged and one piece of her luggage was not put
on the plane. She was very cross indeed. This upset Don and so he came
over here and stayed away from her. I walked to Lucky to get my Rx’s
filled. I had to wait cause they were busy so I walked over to Long’s
and they were just getting a truckload of plants in and they were all so
fresh and beautiful that I wanted to buy them all but this was not the
time since we will be gone for about a week and that is not the time to
set out plants. So I went back to Lucky and got my Rx’s. So now I have
anxiety relief pills and a stronger thyroid pill. We shall see. I made
a potato salad when I got home since I had to go to the Discovery Shop at
1. I also made stuff for the blueberry crumble and so when I got home I
just had to spread it on the berries and pop it in the oven. Well the
Discovery Shop was not very exciting. We made $37.50. I got a navy blue
cardigan, cashmere, for $4.50 so that was a good buy. I seem to have
trouble in reading numbers. I make a mess of it. Well I got home and
put the dessert in the oven. Made a relish dish, fixed a cheese sandwich
for Jenny and we had hot dogs plus there were leftover green beans and
carrot soufflé so everyone had enough to eat. With Jason gone, we went
back to putting things in little containers that are left. I watched
part of the local news and then went for a walk so I didn’t watch Peter
Jennings. Don said I didn’t miss much tonight. Then I called Priss and
we went through the usual about her family and that no one loves her. I
guess Alice must have said something to her cause she was upset about
that. I think maybe Alice tried to say that sometimes she says things
about people that are unkind but her answer would be that she was just
telling the truth. Oh well, she is hard to understand. I have mixed
feelings about this trip. Today Don’s back was terribly painful and
maybe we should not be driving but flying. Right now I just wish we were
not going anywhere!
March 20
Up a little after 5. Nothing very exciting in the papers. I did my
exercises but my station didn’t come on and a religious program was on
and a cowboy western station on the other set so I didn’t work out hard
as usual. I was to wake Jenny at 7:30 but she got up early. She was in a
much better mood, Thank Goodness and that helped. Got Niki up and then I
started to sort out the day. Jenny was going to Cathy’s so I asked her
to sew the hem in the top of my blue printed skirt I planned to take with
me on the trip. I washed some clothes, helped Don choose shirts and
folded them and then started to iron. Jenny came back to say that
Cathy’s machine would not work so that meant I had to change my plans on
what to take. I don’t think this trip is going too well. Maybe things
will be better tomorrow. I ate my lunch and walked to the library since
I didn’t go to aerobics so had not gotten my walking in. I worked hard
at the library cleaning a shelf full of junk and all dusty and useless.
There are too many bosses here. One says throw it away and one says we
may need it. Edna and I threw a box in the dumpster and then Lorna said
we had to retrieve it. Finally we had to call on Bill who got it out.
Crazy! Don picked me up. He managed to cut one more salad out of my bag
of greens and I thawed some chopped chicken and made a really good pasta
dish with broccoli and carrots. Niki ate with us and cleaned up the
dishes and that was nice too. We watched the news.
Nothing of much
interest there and then Don took Niki and a girl called Mary who had both
won 3 meetings at Kangaroo Court cause of the Rotary Program about their
grades being much improved. I polished all the shoes I am going to take
and ironed more things and then read. Jenny went over to Lindeman’s to
have Jack help her on the computer. I called Priss and heard about her
day and she asked about mine the last 2 minutes. Typical. Well tomorrow
I will actually pack and as always I am sure I will take way too much.
At least we will have the car and that makes it easier to overindulge in
taking everything that is not nailed down. I still have chores to do in
the morning like showering, shaving my legs, shampooing and setting my
hair, doing my nails and decide what I am going to wear when I leave. I
just hope it goes fairly well.
March 21
Up at 5 and I was to wake Jenny at 6. She was working at Community. Then
at 6:30 I got up Niki and at 15 to 7 one more reminder and she was in the
shower. I kept busy all morning. Don changed our bed and I washed the
sheets and when dry put them away. I made Ranch dip for Niki and I made
bran muffins for Jenny. I watered the plants. I showered, shaved my
legs and shampooed and set my hair. Don went off at 11:30 to Jackie’s
for the luncheon club. I ran the dishwasher and emptied it.
So
gradually I got everything done that I thought I should do. I then put
everything into the suitcase and as always, I am sure I brought too much
but so what. Don got home at 1 and I took my anti-anxiety pill and we
loaded the car. I had fed Daisy and she cleaned her plate but she knew
something was up cause she followed us around everywhere we went. The
man came to mow the lawn. Jenny wanted the house all locked up cause she
has her expensive computer in it and doesn’t want it stolen. Finally we
found keys to the front door and the back door to the house that will
just keep the apartment locked at all times. So off we went having said
Good Bye to Daisy since no one else was home. It was a beautiful
afternoon so the drive was fine. We went to Sacramento and from there to
I5 for the rest of the afternoon. My pill seemed to work cause I wasn’t
nervous at all. We were not in a city and that helped I realize. But I
didn’t worry and I didn’t get tired. I wore my red stirrup pants, a
white top, white Reeboks and my coolie jacket. I didn’t wear the jacket
very long cause it was warm to begin with but by 5:30 when we arrived at
Shiloh Inn it had cooled off. We are on the ground floor. Price $57 and
it is clean but definitely utilitarian but ok. We walked over to the
restaurant after Peter Jennings. Don had a hamburger and I had a chef
salad with enough lettuce to serve 6. But it was ok and I ate some of
it. Then back to our room where we checked the map and decided about
tomorrow. I still have to wash my face and get ready for bed but it is
too early and I want to read for a while. So the first day was ok.
Shiloh Inn $39.
March 22
Well, we slept well at the Shiloh Inn and this morning we went over to
have coffee (D) and Suka (Flo) and got sweet rolls. We were packed up
and on our way at 6. It was cloudy to begin with and it really never did
get terribly clear throughout the day. It was a strange landscape,
colors of bronze and gray.
Strange rock formations. The speed limit
was 70 and in some places it was 75 and people were going 90. Trucks
were not much slower and there were a lot of them. My anti-anxiety pill
is working beautifully and I am just not nervous. It is miraculous. We
stopped in Mojave and ate our snacks in the car and that worked out ok
too. I loved the windmills on the sides of the roads and some I had not
seen before. It was amazing that in the desert areas there was a call
box every mile cause I guess when it was hot one can’t stay for very long
without help. There were so many trucks and they want to keep passing
each other so it is a bit nerve wracking but I wasn’t bothered. We got
to Kingman at 3 p.m. and got a room at Best Western which turned out to
be very nice. The wind was blowing like crazy. I wonder if this happens
all the time? We had tea and then we watched TV with Peter Jennings and
Money Live, etc., and then we walked to a restaurant called J. B’s, a
family one that was very crowded. I ordered a small steak, shrimp with a
hot Cajun sauce and pasta and salad.
It was very good. Don had shrimp
with mashed potatoes and gravy. All very ordinary but everything was hot
and delicious and we were very hungry and really enjoyed it. Came back
to our room and I took a shower and then we watched ice skating. Then we
had one drink and went to bed and made love and it was great.
March 23
We woke up a little later this morning. Don went for coffee and brought
me hot water. I had two prunes (dried ones are not very good) and a
graham crax with peanut butter and jam. We packed and were on our way at
8:00. It was a strange morning, very chilly and windy. We also had
clouds that were on and off all day. We drove toward Phoenix but we
wanted to go to Sedona so we went back there before.
Well it got colder
and windier and then there was snow that blew across the highway. We got
here and got out of the car but it was very crowded and the place made up
of little shops really had pretty much the kind of things at any
specialty area. Don was bored. He went to a pancake place and he had a
huge breakfast but I wasn’t hungry then so I didn’t have anything and I
didn’t eat again till after we got to Tuscany late in the afternoon.
Then I had a piece of cheese and a crax. Later we went to a restaurant
and I had 3/4 of a sandwich, one of those triple deckers. The idea was
that we were to arrive in Scottsdale on Sunday morning so we left Sedona
and drove to Phoenix but it was too early and so he suggested we go on to
Tuscany to see a cousin of Doris’ that I planned to drive to see on
Monday. I had not even known about that. My ideal holiday would be if
Don and I went somewhere and didn’t have to visit any of his relatives or
friends of mine. We would go to the ocean (warm part) for a good time on
the beach walking & bathing and then have a good place to stay. Have
good meals, read, make love day after day. Wouldn’t that be great! Well
that is not to be. Well I tried hard not to show just how mad I was but
I probably didn’t succeed. I got out what I plan to wear tomorrow when
we go to Sel’s. I am tired tonight and not very thrilled about this
whole thing. I just hope tomorrow may be better. Don called home and
talked to Niki and she said things were fine and she was taking good care
of Daisy.
I forgot to mention the rock formations everywhere - you are driving
along on the flat and suddenly there is a huge rock formation, hill?
mountain? Right beside the road. In some cases, they are huge and look
like medieval fortresses!
March 24
We got up early and were able to get hot water and coffee and add from
our supply of food and then packed up and left. This place cost $59 and
it wasn’t anywhere near as nice as the one for $39. I suppose cause it
was in Tuscany, not a smaller place. Anyway, the trip was totally
uneventful and we found Sel’s place easily. We cleared through the gate
and there she was waiting for us. She looks fine, much as always. Her
house is almost beyond trying to describe. I have never been in such a
lovely house and probably never will again. The whole house is tiled in
a pale pinky beige. There are rugs with very short nap covering much of
the floors. Everything is white, wall paint, wooden blinds, a huge
living room a family room with a kitake island to one side, 2 guest rooms
and the master bedroom huge, a study, pool, Jacuzzi, paintings, white
fans in every room, a laundry room, huge, insulated garage, etc., etc.
We had a simple lunch. Don napped and I read. Then we had some of the
same things for dinner: soup, boiled carrots, potatoes, veggies, fruit,
etc. Then we got dressed and went to a piano concert. I wore my black
slacks, T neck and teal and black sweater. It was in a huge auditorium
and the man who is in his 70’s plays popular hits from shows like Hello,
Dolly, Sound of Music, the King & I, etc. It was very nice. The man who
introduced him said that Jeff Siegel (I think the name is right) will be
coming in April and May and everyone clapped and clapped and he is the
Migells son-in-law, married to Laura. We came back home (Don drove us)
and we had cake and went to bed. Our bedroom has a huge closet with
sliding doors, a built in affair with a sink, cupboard and bottom doors
with shelves, a bathroom with a white tile floor with a bit of green huge mirror. Well nothing is forgotten. There is a door and window to
the outside with the white blinds.
March 25
Academy Awards
We woke up at the usual time and I decided to take a walk cause it was a
beautiful morning. I started out following the sidewalk around the
complex. And I walked and walked enjoying myself cause it is such a
beautiful area and then I realized I was lost! I kept walking for an
hour and then I saw Don across the street taking pictures of the house so
I wasn’t scared. Then we decided or rather Sel decided to take us to a
museum. She is great for going to concerts, art museums, etc. And we
drove and drove and finally got there. It was all about Indian art and
it was very interesting but it went on and on. Finally, we were done.
We went to eat in a very fancy building, a cafeteria where I had a lousy
fruit salad and then we drove way, way out to a botanical garden
Sel said she would take a nap in the car and we went to check in but we
decided to go back home and I was hoping we would go out to dinner but
Sel invited a couple over and we had nuts, jicama & Cokes and they had an
interesting story to tell about the foreign orphans who were sent out to
the middle west. Then Sel decided we should eat at home so we had
leftovers from the night before and she is a lousy cook. She has never
heard of salt, spices or condiments and the result was less than good.
Then it was the Academy Awards – they are always fun. Don called Linda
and she said not to come cause there was snow and it would not be wise to
come. I was devastated. Well the awards were basically good.
Christopher Reeves came and talked, Kirk Douglas got a special award but
he had had a stroke and that was sad. Braveheart won best picture and
best director. Nicolas Cage, for best actor in Leaving Las Vegas. Susan
Sarandon for Dead Man Walking and the song from Pocahontas won and I love
that song. Don left and went to bed early. We are to leave tomorrow for
home he said before he left for bed. Somehow all the fancy plans we had
talked so much about and it has not turned out that way at all. I cried
and cried. We had been staying at home for 5 1/2 years and ending up not
having any
Mexico. I
hopes. At
good thing
fun at all. I decided I will not go to Santa Monica or
worked so hard getting all my clothes ready and had such high
1:30 I still wasn’t able to sleep and was so angry. It was a
that Don slept through it all.
March 26
We got up at 5 and Thank Goodness I felt better than last night. So I
stripped the bed, had a shower and then started all over and re-packed my
big bag and got everything lined up. Then I had a cup of Suka and ate a
graham crax. I had hoped that we wouldn’t wake Sel but she did get up
and saw us off. We left at 6:15. I was very quiet a long time but I am
sure Don knew I was upset. We did finally talk about it and I told him I
didn’t think I wanted to go to Santa Monica or Mexico. I told him he was
welcome to go by himself. We will see what happens. We made good time
and then Don wanted to stop at a rest stop for a Coke and I thought he
would eat something. So I got the sack out with all the food and got out
of the car and started over to where he was and didn’t realize there was
a step up and I fell down yet again and landed on the same knee. It was
agony. Well I got helped up and got back in the car. Fortunately, it
did not break the skin or tear my slacks but oh the pain! And I cried!
I was still a bit teary from last night and that didn’t help. Well we
drove on and kept going till we got to Mojave. We got here at about 4.
Don figures out that we had driven between 500 – 600 miles. With the new
speed limit that is a lot. Don called Linda and she said so far the
weather is ok but we will check again tomorrow when we get to Sacramento.
If it is too cold, we will drive to Chico on Thursday. I might suggest
that we stop in Sacramento for shoes (navy flats and a black top for
summer and maybe some ivory shoes). We will see. If all goes well on
the weather we will drive on to Tahoe. So back to the Scotch Inns. The
name of the motel for tonight. We watched the news and then we walked
over to a Denny’s. It was bitter cold outside and very windy. I ordered
the prime beef roast and it was very good. I ate all of it. Don had a
burger and then we walked back and had some cookies from our supply. Now
we are going to watch TV and then we will go to bed early. So who knows
what tomorrow will bring.
March 27
So I am writing this in the Red Lion in Sacramento on a cloudy, rainy
morning. Yesterday we left Mojave at 6:15 on another windy cold morning
but it was clear at least. My anti-anxiety pill keeps working so it was a
dull but safe drive to Sacramento. We got here quite early so we got our
room which was very nice but on the 3rd floor which meant carrying heavy
things a long way. We got finally all unpacked and ate some of our food.
Still have some Carlsberg cheese, crax & cookies and Sel had sent apples.
Then since we were across the street from a huge mall, Don was wanting to
walk across with me so I could shop. We started at Nordstrom’s. I had
wanted a long cotton top in black. Well I tried some on but nothing was
really what I wanted so the clerk suggested I go to the 3rd floor where
there were things and though she didn’t say, they were on sale, so I
found exactly what I wanted for $24 – 1/2 price and I love it. Then we
went to Eddie Bauer and I got a pair of navy flats and Don wanted to pay
for them and they were $40 and that was that. We came back to the room
and we got dressed up and I wore the new black top and we went down to
the fancy dining room and we had a drink and I ordered chicken breast in
a kind of crust and it was delicious and I had a glass of wine and we
shared a Caesar salad and a gorgeous dessert. So then we went up to our
room and I took off all my finery and sat in a big chair to read while
Don watched TV and I fell fast asleep. Don told me he had to keep
shaking me to wake me up enough to go to bed. So much for plans that we
had made earlier. Sorry about that! Fortunately, there will be other
nights.
March 28
We got up fairly early and got packed and then went down to the
complimentary breakfast which was nice and then we started home. It was
rather difficult getting out of the area and onto the right highway but
we made it and were home by mid morning. Niki was in school but Jenny
was here and of course Daisy who was certainly glad to see us but more
excited about Don than about me. So then everything had to be unpacked
and put in the wash or hung up. So I did 2 loads of clothes and then
washed sweaters by hand. Jenny seemed rather distant so I don’t know
what gives with her. She is almost like a Niki grown up. She went out to
dinner and a movie with Hoppe and Niki has fallen asleep on top of her
bed. Jenny told me that she had given Niki permission to go snowboarding
tomorrow so that is that. I am glad she made the decision and we didn’t
have to. Niki passed the computer competency so that is out of the way.
I ironed 10 shirts, slacks and 3 skirts plus my coolie jacket and slacks
that got wrinkled in my suitcase. I fixed a noodle dish and had a green
salad tonight plus a chocolate sundae for Don. Sel called a few minutes
ago to see if we had gotten home ok which was sweet of her. The trip was
2500 miles long and we both had to say that it really wasn’t much fun but
maybe if it helped Sel it was worth it. I hope so. Then this afternoon
Don took out the lawn furniture and so we sat outside and he said he
thought the whole trip was a “blue lake” going back to that fiasco so
long ago in the 1950’s. Well it really wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t
much fun really. He said I never say what I would like to do and so he
makes the decisions and he doesn’t think that is right. Well maybe from
now on I will say what I like to do but I rather doubt it. I am not good
at doing that. I worry about how much it is going to cost, etc., and
lose my courage. I did say that he should go alone to the Ann Morgan
party. I think he will do that. He still wants us to go to Mexico and I
still don’t want to. I am weepy and sad tonight.
March 29
Now at 10 to 8 p.m. I can sit down and catch my breath. It has been a
busy day. So I will start at the beginning. We got up at the old regular
time at about 5, made breakfast and Don went off to play tennis with
Carl. I covered my arm with a plastic bag (where I had fallen at the
rest stop in California) and showered and then shampooed. When I got
out, I set my hair and vacuumed the kitchen and living room then I
decided to move the chair near the bookcase in the living room. It needs
re-caning and I don’t want to spend the money on it now. I moved my new
plant over and it looks nice. When Don got back, I combed out my hair
and walked to Lucky to get bananas for breakfast tomorrow. By the time I
got back, it was lunchtime and we ate and then sat out on the patio and
talked at length about going to Santa Monica and Mexico. I really can’t
understand myself. To begin, how come when Don suggests we do something
or go somewhere I say ok and then I begin to have reservations and I have
to back down. I would like to know why I do this. Do I say yes to
begin with to please Don? I am beginning to wonder. It worries me.
Anyway, we talked and Don was very kind about the whole thing. I took
down the wrought iron deal in the dining room that I have a plant on and
got out the wall plant and got the first coat on that and will give it a
second coat tomorrow. Then at a little before 3, I went to see Helen
Roseman and we had a good talk as usual. I always feel so comfortable
with her. Came home and made brownies, opened a small can of salmon,
made a fruit salad, had some mashed potatoes fixed so I heated them and
fixed stewed tomatoes. Niki is off snowboarding with Ben and his family
so there was just the 3 of us. Don cut his hand shortly before dinner so
Jenny fixed him up and later re-bandaged my elbow where I had cut it when
I fell on the trip. It is a good thing we have a nurse in the family and
on the scene right now. We ate dinner and watched the news. Linda
called and interviewed me for her class. That was fun and we had a good
visit as well. I had counted so much on seeing her this week and I know
it will be a long time before she can get down or we can get up there.
After the news, I called Priss and we talked for almost an hour! I
washed my face, put a band aid on the right thumb where there is a crack
from wet hands all the time and on my middle finger on the right hand
from eczema. I called Mary Y. to say that we would go shopping tomorrow.
So it has been a busy day and not too bad. I just wish I were braver
about going places.
March 30
It has been a rather no nothing day. I woke up peppy enough and made
breakfast and read a bit of the paper but I didn’t do my exercises and I
didn’t walk any time during the day. I got to Mary’s at 7:20 and we went
to the F. Mkt. I bought some sugar peas and some leaf lettuce but
nothing else was of interest. Then onto Food for Less. I got
strawberries, Munster cheese and the usual things and the same at the
Cannery. Mary bought me an Easter lily there and paid $5 for it and I
hate that kind of lily and this was a tall ungainly one but I thanked her
and will get her something for Easter. Came home and Don was not back
from tennis so I put everything away. I gave the plant holder by the
mirror in the dining room another coat of paint to match the wall in the
dining room and when it was dry I put it back and it looks great. Why
didn’t I think of that before? And then the day just sort of petered
out. I did make a macaroni salad but other than that I have nothing to
show. I read Paresky’s little book but it was so complicated with too
many characters to keep track of but I did finally finish it. I should
be washing windows, dusting, sweeping, cleaning blinds, etc., but I never
seem to get around to it. I keep wondering about my thyroid. I asked
Dr. F. to up the dose and now I wonder if my feeling kind of shaky and
nervous all the time could be this. I will stay with it for the time
allotted and we will see. I was to go 6 weeks. That would be the end of
April. Don says he is going to quit smoking. I hope so since I have
been smoking one or two a day and I don’t want to get in the habit again.
Niki slept in late and then got up and made coffee and then cleaned the
apartment. I washed the sheets Jenny had left before going to do a 12
hour shift so I made up her bed once they were dry. I rather thought she
would thank me but she didn’t mention it. The news tonight was
depressing as usual. The freemen in Montana are holding out against the
FBI and it will probably end up with blood shed. I called Priss and
talked briefly to her but I had nothing much to say and neither did she.
Don barbecued hamburgers tonight and they tasted great. I think I will
take an Excedrin P.M. tonight and try to get a good night’s sleep and I
hope to be better tomorrow.
March 31
Well, this was a pretty good day. I actually did some of the things I
said I was going to do. We got up at 5 and I did all my exercises before
having my Suka and Graham crax. Got dressed for church and we picked up
Mary. F. DeLeon gave a very poor sermon and the passion was read mainly
by a man who didn’t do a good job and mispronounced a lot of words.
Well, anyway we went to Safeway after and got doughnuts, etc. Then home
and I changed my clothes and went outside with Daisy – that certainly
made her happy and I fed the camellias and the gardenias, pulled out the
rosemary from the wooden planter and put it in the ground, cleaned up the
dead camellias, etc. I ended up working outside till lunchtime. Niki is
going to have quite a week. Tomorrow she goes to the mountains with
Ben’s family to snowboard till Tuesday night. Then Wednesday and Thursday
she and Jenny are going over to the coast for one of those mud bath deals
and then at the weekend, she and Julie are going up to Linda’s and will
be back late Sunday or early Monday. I told Don that I had decided to go
to both Santa Monica and Mexico and I am not going to change my mind and
I am going to keep any fears or gripes to myself! I took a shower after
lunch and Jenny looked at my arms and said I would not need a bandage any
more and I am glad since I react to the tape. I made a very good dinner:
chicken thighs baked in a good sauce, candied yams, green salad, sugar
peas and I made a yellow cake and had strawberries and whipped cream for
dessert. Niki ate with us and she did the dishes. She has been so nice
of late. While she was gone this afternoon to see Rachel, there was a
knock at the door and Don went and it was David Sterling returning the
knit cap she had made. I can’t remember if it had been for David or she
wore it. Don said he looked pretty sad. Jenny left in mid afternoon to
go up to Bessie’s and she was invited to dinner. We watched the news at
6 and there may be a break through in the Montana militia affair. I
certainly hope so. I called Priss at 15 to 7 and talked till 7:30 and
since then I have been reading a Scottie Malone mystery. I like Jan
Cleary so much. Now it is after 9. Ben has picked up Niki and she will
spend the night there so they can get an early start. So now I am going
back to my book.
April 1
Rain
What a way to begin April! It was pouring rain all night and still at it
when we woke up. In fact, it rained off and on all day. I went out and
cut all my calla lilies, all 5 of them before they were revived by the
rain. When I got ready to go to aerobics, I wore the plastic pants that
Priss gave me, the jacket that Jenny gave me and my umbrella. I had not
been to aerobics for 2 weeks and I found it very trying today and I
really was pooped on the walk home but once I got back I was ok. It
certainly proves that you can’t stop going for very long. Yesterday we
had talked about flying to South Monica but when Don went over to the
travel agency today he was told that cause it was Easter it would be very
difficult to get a reservation and it would be very expensive so now we
are going to drive which means we will leave on Friday and come back on
Monday. I really don’t want to be gone that long but I promised myself
that I wasn’t going to complain and back out so that is that. Ann called
tonight and wanted us to stay longer but we are driving down on Friday
and stay at somewhere along the way so it won’t be as expensive as in SB
and then maybe we can leave late on Sunday but Monday morning at the
latest. But back to today. I had thawed 1# of ground beef and 1# of
ground turkey so I got busy and I made a pot of chili and then I made
spaghetti sauce and then I made 2 small loaves so I have quite a bit in
the freezer. I finished my book Murder Song by Jon Cleary. I like
Scoliree Malone as the detective in Sydney, Australia. We listened to
the weather report tonight and it will probably rain some tomorrow but
then it is supposed to clear and Wednesday & Thursday will be fine. I
hope so cause Jenny & Niki are going to Calistaga to the mud baths and it
would help if the weather was good. We had a simple dinner tonight with
leftover chicken and yams from yesterday plus a fruit plate, hot rolls
and cheese. Well, tomorrow I go to Hospice in the morning and I get a
hair cut in the afternoon. Don took me to the Discovery Shop and I
picked up my jacket yet again. Then we drove out to Target and I bought
two little outfits for Kaitlin our new great granddaughter. I must wrap
them and Don will mail them tomorrow. I also wrote a letter to Sel.
April 2
Woke up to a chilly dark morning. But one good thing. I weighed 100#
again. Now if I can just continue to be careful about my eating. I did
all the usual things - prunes, juice, sit-ups, reading the paper and then
I showered, got dressed and cleaned both bathrooms before going to
Hospice. I took an umbrella and wore a jacket. It rained on the way so
I was wise to be prepared but on the way home I carried the umbrella and
the jacket. Ate lunch and then went over to the mall and looked and then
went to Long’s and bought two plants to give to Mary for Easter. Then
off to Rita for a hair cut. She does a good job but I don’t like the way
she fiddles with my hair after she cuts it. When I got home, Don was in
agony with his war wounds and he took a pill and went to lie down. If he
were to take 2 pills when he first gets the pain he would be much better
off but he refuses to do it that way. I find it hard to be patient.
Mike called this morning and was in a good mood. He will be coming
toward the end of the month. That will be great. We called Donna
tonight and all is well there. Matt loves his job. Lisa is out of the
hospital but weak and is now there back in her own house with the baby
and all are doing fine. Donna says she will be out in July and will come
to see us. I made a simple dinner of spaghetti, green salad and French
bread. Jenny ate with us but went to work shortly after and will be
working till 11:30. Niki got home at about 6:30. She says she had a
great time. Then she showered and Ben picked her up and she said she
would be home at 12. Don got a video of a Denzel Washington movie about
life in LA in 1948. But it was not good so I watched for just a little
while and Don stuck it out longer but he didn’t like it either. Called
Priss and she was lonesome for Scotty and very upset that we were going
to be gone this weekend cause she had wanted to take us out for dinner.
I feel bad about that. So now it is 9:20 and I should think about going
to bed. Tomorrow is aerobics and the library. Jenny & Niki will be going
to Calistaga for the mud baths. They plan to leave after lunch.
April 3
Woke up to a rather dark day but it cleared and was fine all day. I
didn’t do my exercises first but instead I ate my 2 prunes, orange juice,
vitamins, Suka and a graham crax. Read most of the paper and then I did
my exercises and it is good to break the routine sometimes. Cathy
stopped by to say that Rose had passed her driver’s test. Cathy took my
blue print skirt to sew the top. She acted a little distant today. I
had told Jenny that I had not seen her new bathroom and today she said I
should come to see it. She has had her lounger re-upholstered and it is
coming on Friday. She was excited about that. So then I got dressed and
walked to my exercise class. By then, it had warmed up and was a
beautiful day. It is good to walk on such a morning. And the class went
very well. Luann has some good music and it makes one want to dance. Got
home and had lunch. Don went off to see Dr. Moffett about his heart valve
and the Dr. said everything was just fine but that his cholesterol was
high and he should watch it so we are going to try to be more careful
about eggs, etc. Then he was going to have his lunch and I drove to the
library to do my 2-hour stint. That Lorna Thom really makes me work. I
don’t like climbing on a chair moving heavy bales but then I sorted U.S.
News and World Report and that was fine. Came home and sat down and
wrote a letter to Pauline. It is strange. Now it is hard to write to
her. I worry about what to say. She was so nasty about my letter after
Phil died and I realize she was angry cause Phil had died and left her.
I just wish she had not taken it out on me. But I got one written. I
didn’t even mention that we had gone to see Sel. I would say we were
going to S. Monica and later to Mexico. I fixed a simple dinner of tuna
sandwiches and soup. Jenny & Niki were gone to the mud in Calistaga. I
didn’t worry about having something fancy. The news was very bad. Ron
Brown, a Secretary of Commerce, was killed in a plane crash in Bosnia
along with a lot of important public men and a big crew. Then they think
they have caught the Unabomber and he was in Montana and the deal with
the FBI and the freemen in Montana stand off has not been settled yet.
Talked to Linda and she had me in hysterics talking about her interview
with a 3-year-old with his brother looking on. She is so delightfully
funny. Talked to Priss then. Have decided to have a cocktail party while
Mike is here. We had had manhattans and made love very successfully
indeed.
April 4
All day I thought it was Saturday and instead it is Thursday. It is 9:15
p.m. and after I write this I think I will go to bed. I didn’t sleep
very well last night so I am going to take an Excedrin PM and hope for
the best. We got up early this morning, read the paper and Don went off
to tennis with Carl and I went grocery shopping. I didn’t buy a lot at
Food for Less but I did get some things. Then I went to the Cannery and
got a gallon of Yoplait, frozen chocolate for $7.99 and it was delicious.
I guess we are going to try to eat less fat so Don’s cholesterol will
come down and mine too so he was careful today about what he ate. When I
got home, I washed and set my hair and I like it better than when Rita
fixes it. I like the way she cuts it but I don’t go for the curling iron
and the blow dry. When my hair was dry I ran errands. I went to Safeway
and got things and then to Walgreen’s and then to Mary Y. I took her the
2 plants I had bought in a white & a yellow margarita. She wasn’t very
thrilled and asked me where she should plant it. And I said in the sun
and left. I had not wanted an Easter lily so we are even. Came back and
started to lay out the clothes I should take. It is warm down south so I
am confused on what would be best to wear. I will decide when I get
there. I found some potato soup frozen and I thawed that and we had it
with fresh bread and a fruit plate with some frozen yogurt. Afterwards
the news. Tonight was all about the over 30 people killed in the plane
crash in Bosnia and then there was a lot about the Unabomber who has been
caught. I had ironed shirts in the late afternoon so now I guess we are
ready to go tomorrow. I am nervous about it and I think Don is too. I
think now he wishes he had not said yes to the whole thing. Maybe he
hoped I would back out but I decided to go cause he wanted to and I am
sticking with it. I just hope and pray I can carry it off. I really
don’t like these people all that much but I am doing it for Don. Matt
called to say they had gotten the present for the baby and he said
everything was going fine. So now it is bedtime and tomorrow starts the
trip to S. Ca.
April 5
Well here we are in Carpinteria at 7:45 p.m. I have taken a shower and
managed to foul up the deal that turns the shower on and flooded 1/2 the
bathroom plus my gown and outer deal so I wiped up the floor and hung my
wet clothes on hangers. We left Chico at 6 this morning and got here at
3 p.m. This town is South of Santa Barbara and we are about 1 1/2 hours
from the Morgans in Santa Monica. I took my anti-anxiety pill at 5:30
a.m. and I didn’t have to take another one. Don drove very carefully and
well so I was not nervous. We stopped for lunch and I had the salad bar
and Don had French toast. It was a beautiful day. Clear and warm and the
scenery as we got closer to the coast was beautiful. I caught glimpses
of the ocean but could not see close. How I would love to live by it at
last part of the year. A woman in Chico won $7 million on the lottery
this week. If I won I would have a house in Hawaii and down here in S.
California. I think the chances of that are very slim. I didn’t do any
reading in the car although since my shower I am reading Mrs. Pollifax
and the Second Thief. We went out to dinner at a place within walking
distance. We had salads, a glass of wine, Don had fish and I had beef.
Don just remembered earlier that we had lunch in Goingolis. The one
tonight was called Clementine’s, very attractive décor.
I wore my new
black tunic and my black slacks and felt well dressed. I am sure I will
be too warm tomorrow but I will just have to suffer since I didn’t bring
anything cooler. So here I sit with my hair in curlers in my damp
nightgown writing in this. We are both tired so I think we will go to
bed early. But I will read for a while. I keep wondering how tomorrow
will go. It would be so nice if it went well but I am not counting on it.
April 6
We got up early in our lovely motel and I got dressed in my putty colored
skirt and black top, etc. Don went upstairs to breakfast and met the
lovely lady we had talked to last night and she told him she was a
physicist who had worked on the bomb at Los Alamos before the war. She
is really fascinating. So then at 9 we were on our way going to LA and
for some reason the anti-anxiety pill didn’t work as well this time but I
did make it and Don found the house at about 11:15. There were balloons
out front and so we knew this must be it. I immediately realized that I
was dressed too warm and that I would look like winter so I changed into
a cream colored skirt and hose and the red sweater and shoes. Nothing
much happened for a while but then people started to come at around 2.
There were tables on the lawn in back with bright colored clothes &
umbrellas and there were tables on the back terrace as well. The food
was served in the dining room and there was a chicken salad, a pasta
dish, a salad of shredded cabbage, carrots, etc. All looked very pretty
but nothing tasted all that great. There was a firm heavy coconut cake
and a very good kind of chocolate fudge cake and wine. And people seemed
to have a very good time and they stayed till about 4. Monroe’s sister
was here with her daughter and Ann’s daughter who designs costumes for
plays and movies was here. She worked very hard on getting things ready
when we first came. I was not uncomfortable exactly but I didn’t talk
very much to anyone. Don did much better cause some of the S.D. people
were here and they had read the book and remembered him when he was in
school so I was glad for him. Then when people left there was the offer
of a nap but I was not interested in that. Don and I went for a walk and
then at about 7 p.m. we ate leftovers and his sister and her daughter
came back and that was a much more relaxed and pleasant time. We changed
our watches so I went to bed at about 10 new time. I am going to
describe the living room: 2 chairs and 2 lounges in off white linen all
face a glass top coffee table with a banquet in the middle , a low table
with musicians playing instruments, 2 other little figures lying down and
two other little objects. The fireplace had 6 puppets on the mantle, a
heron standing beside and a puppet in French 15th Century costume hanging
from the end. In front was a low chair with 3 puppets setting on the
cushion and a donkey’s head across the back. On the other side a low
chair with a puppet sitting in it. And behind about 6 small puppets.
Near the window is a very small man in complete armor hanging from the
ceiling and about 20 masks high up on the walls. There are 5 very modern
pictures. The one I like best in a white sheet of paper and the open
corner a hand is turning the page. This is all in white. On a low
bookcase there are 112 small figures, angels, donkeys, a child sitting in
the chair. There is a small chair with a cloth duck sitting on the table
besides the lounge. There are about 15 small objects from a windmill to a
small foot with a hand on top and a marble in it. It would take all day
to describe just what is in this room and the whole house is the same
way. There are 6 rocking horses in the front hall starting out big and
each one smaller. The house is a magic museum.
April 7
Well this was an Easter Sunday with no mass. I wanted to go but the
Morgans did not get up till late and the church was too far for walking
and we didn’t know where it was. Well we did get up and I had 1/2 a
grapefruit and a graham crax and Suka. We read the paper and I neatened
up our stuff. Well finally the Morgans got up and we visited and finally
it was time to go to visit Mrs. Hammond. It was an hour ride and Thank
Goodness Monica drove cause it is rather complicated and there was a lot
of traffic. I had not taken my pill so I was very nervous even though in
the back seat. When we got back we set out right away. Monica had made
us a lunch and we took off. Miss Hammond had made us some cinnamon
rolls. She was very nice and very sharp. Ann, who remembers everything
about Mitchell, did most of the talking but that was fine. So we drove
up I5 and went over the grapevine and then we switched to 99. We stopped
and ate the lunch at Gorman and the sandwiches were not great but we ate
them anyway. Then on to Tulare getting here at about 5:30. We went to a
Best Western Town and Country Lodge. I was hot and tired but after a
shower and change of clothes I was ready to go to eat. There was a
cafeteria very close and I had grilled chicken breast + the salad bar and
Don had a hamburger. Then we came back to our room and watched a program
on nature where everyone is running away from everyone else and most of
the time someone gets killed and eaten. Not a very pleasant thing to
watch. Well I will be home tomorrow and glad to get there. The sad part
of this is that I did not have a good time. It cost a lot of money and
time and effort and for my money it wasn’t worth it. The next time Don
gets something of this type of idea in his head he can go alone but not
with me. Now we still have Mexico.
April 8
We got home at 12 p.m. and everything was fine. Daisy was certainly glad
to see me. We left Tulare at about 7 and once on the freeway it was
really quite an easy thing. I wasn’t nervous at all. I tried to read but
my book wasn’t all that interesting so I just sat and watched the miles
go by. It was a bright sunny day and very pleasant. Jenny was here when
we got home. She said Julie had come home but Niki had ended up at
another skiing place where Ben was and she was coming home with him.
She did get home at about 6:30 with a beautiful tan. She seemed very
happy and had had a wonderful time with Linda and later with Ben. She
and her Mom went to Calistaga to the mud baths and had had a very good
time. Jenny told us that Niki doesn’t want to leave when her Mom goes
but would rather go later in the summer. I had thought they were going
together and Don and I would have the summer to ourselves but I guess
that is not to be. I really don’t look forward to her sleeping every day
till noon and then being out until 12 every night. She will have to get
a job or do something in the way of volunteer work. I will probably
disagree with Don on this. I made a simple dinner of chili and a fruit
plate and hot fresh bread. I am very tired. I napped for a while this
afternoon but I must go to bed early cause tomorrow I start back on my
regular life and there is always something to do. What I would like to
do is go on a vacation with Don and we would not have to see anyone. But
I am afraid that won’t work cause Jenny will be leaving in June and then
there is the problem of Daisy again.
thinking about anything tonight.
Well enough.
I am too tired to be
April 9
We got up at 5 so we are back on schedule. Jenny was going to work a 12hour shift so I made her a lunch to take. Then I decided I would rather
go to work at Hospice at 8:30 instead of 9 so I set out early. It turned
out ok cause Colleen was not there and Nina had plenty waiting for me to
do so I made up packets again. I told her I would be there at 8:30 from
now on. With hot weather coming that makes sense. Niki went off to
school this morning in a long white skirt and a white top. She looked
very fetching if not quite like a high school student. When I got home I
fixed my lunch and then I shampooed and set my hair. Next I did the
ironing. I had run 3 loads of clothes when we got home yesterday so I
wanted to get everything ironed and put away. We had a lot of overripe
bananas so I made a banana bread. Priss called while I was eating lunch
to say there was some deal about the orchard and a balloon payment, none
of which I understood or cared about but I listened. She was sad that
her friend Lynn Burch was ill and couldn’t go to the Discovery Shop on
Thursday. I told her (Priss) that I would go in her place but she said
no, that Lynn was going to call Trudy who is in charge of scheduling and
she would take care of it. Then the phone rang and it was Trudy asking
me to do it. I said I would. I cooked a piece of turkey ham, made a
green salad, and a pasta dish. Niki came home and went to bed at about
6:30 and is still asleep. Jenny called to say that she was staying an
extra 4 hours cause the nurse coming to take her place was having
problems. We watched the news and then we read. So it was a quiet day.
We watered the lawn and I watered all the indoor plants. We both seem
kind of dopey. I think all that driving wore us out. I called Linda today
cause tomorrow is her birthday and I figured maybe she and Craig would be
going out for dinner. While we were talking, Jason arrived with friends
he had met in Australia so I cut short the call. So now it is 9:15 and I
suppose I will read a bit more and then go to bed. I will have to get to
the grocery store cause I seem to be out of everything.
April 10
Well, today was a pretty good day. Suddenly in the night I itched! Most
of all my knees itched. Finally, I got up and took a Benadryl and I was
able to go back to sleep. This morning I seemed to be ok. Don snores
and wheezes a lot in the night and that doesn’t help me sleep. We got up
at 5:30 and when I went to wake Niki at 6:30, she said she wasn’t going
to go to school. Her period was beginning I figure so I told Jenny to
call the school and say that she was ill. She called right away. I
walked to my aerobics class and it was a lovely morning and I enjoyed
walking both ways. I got a good work out there and so I felt good when I
got home. I made my lunch and then Niki informed us that she was going
to school to meet Sandi and go out for lunch. I pointed out that we had
called to say she was ill but she just went ahead anyway and walked
there. I never asked if she had gone to her afternoon class or not. It
would seem that she is regressing. She didn’t go to her yoga class
yesterday and that bothers me also but Jenny doesn’t seem concerned and I
worry I am. There are 40 more days of school. 40 more days of getting
Niki up in the morning. I can’t wait to be done with this burden. Don
took me to the library. I worked hard and learned more about checking in
books. I do something different each week so that is kind of fun. Don
picked me up and I first had a glass of iced Suka and then I went to S &
S and got oranges and apples and then to Lucky to get things. Since I
didn’t shop last weekend, I seem to be out of a lot of things. I made a
good dinner. This morning I had made cranberry Jell-O salad. I get so
tired of green salad even though I know it is good for me. I peeled 4
potatoes and rolled them in olive oil and then in Progresso crumbs and
baked them along with a meat loaf and fixed peas & carrots. Everything
tasted good. Then there was the local and national news. Called Linda
since it was her birthday but she had gone to Reno to pick up Craig but
we talked to Jason who has a job interview on Friday and another one next
week. He seemed fine. Then I called Priss and Thank Goodness she was in
a better mood today. Then I shaved my legs, took a shower, pinned up my
hair and now I am going to do my nails and then I am going to read the
new P.D. Sainres novel Original Sin. Now the evening is mine.
April 11
This was a busy day. I did my breakfast chores and then put on my cream
colored long skirt, hose and turtleneck and then wore my red sweater over
and the red shoes and was at Bidwell at 8:30. Read them the test
materials and started the tests for 7th & 8th Grade students who want to
get into GATE. I brought my timer from home and it really helped in
timing the tests. I had 18 students and we were done shortly after 11.
Came home and changed to navy slacks, sweater and sneakers. Ate my lunch
and Don took me to the Discovery Shop to work the afternoon shift for
Lynn Burch who had a tooth problem and could not work. Fortunately
before I left for Bidwell this morning I made a potato salad and I had
cooked green beans yesterday and there was ham leftover so I just heated
a Pepperidge Farm frozen bread with filling and so dinner was no problem.
We made over $90 at the shop and I brought home some things to try on.
One sweater and a pair of shorts were not good but I got a pair of
stirrup slacks in a wine color and I have a top in a paisley print that
has the wine color in it plus there was a sweater that looked good with
it so I think I will keep those 2 things. I also bought some towels that
are bright green but they were cheap. There were some sad things in the
news today. A 7-year old girl was trying to fly a plane across the
country. Her father dreamt up this folly with her + her flight
instructor. They hit a storm over Wyoming in fact should not have tried
going up in it and the plane crashed and all 3 were killed. Why was a 7year old flying a plane when you can’t drive a car until you are 16?
Then the Israelis are bombing Beirut again and so the world continues to
have problems big and small. Linda called and we had a good visit. She
sounded happy and she had a great birthday. Today was cloudy most of the
time and very chilly. It is snowing in the M. West. This is April.
Where is spring?
April 12
My day was great until I got the mail. We woke up early and I made
pancakes for Don and muffins for Jenny and then after exercises and
breakfast, and the paper, I got to work. First I got the ironing out of
the way and then I tackled the tile in the big bathroom. I used Tilex
and it really worked and I cleaned the tub as well. I have decided if it
is feasible I will have the shower doors taken off and get a shower
curtain. It will be easier to clean the tub and safer. I made bread, I
cleaned both bathrooms and did Don’s shower walls too. I cleaned under
the sink in our kitchen and all this before lunch. So then we had lunch
and then the mail came and I got a letter from my sister. This was the
worst one so far. She said she drove the freeways and couldn’t understand
why I was nervous about riding in a car. She said since I didn’t come to
Phil’s funeral she was inviting me now to hers cause I had to have an
invitation. Well it was one nasty thing after another. I was so hurt
and upset and when Don read it he felt the same way. Then Mike called
and I asked him what I should do. Frankly what I want to do is just not
write to her any more. I thought I would call and have it out with her
but I told him I just couldn’t do that or I would cry and wouldn’t be
effective at all so then he said I should ask her why she is so angry.
Well, I think she is angry cause Phil died and left her and Don is still
alive. Then Don suggested I call Linda and she was very mad about the
whole thing. She is going to write something and send it to me. Jenny
is going up tomorrow and so will bring it back when she comes back.
So
at least my family is being kind about it. We had leftovers for dinner
and then the news and then I called Priss and tonight I will read. I
have decided from now on I am going to do what I want and go where I want
and not feel guilty cause my sister can’t do the things she has done in
the past.
April 13
Up early to make breakfast, read the paper and get ready to go grocery
shopping. Picked up Mary and we were off. I didn’t buy much that was
exciting. Got some good ice cream from Knotts Berry Farm from the
Cannery. Bought asparagus, mangoes, grapefruit, etc., and papaya. When
I got home, I put all the groceries away and changed my clothes and
started working. The study window has been water marked and I used two
different remedies but it still isn’t quite right. Then I washed it and
the screen. Went around to the north side of the house and washed the
living room and bedroom windows on the outside and let down the blinds.
We still have to get a new blind for the study window and Niki’s south
window. Jenny left for Tahoe while I was shopping, so I didn’t say Good
Bye to her. Although her birthday is tomorrow, she is not coming back
till Monday so I will make a nice dinner for her return. I ran 2 loads
of clothes and folded and put away but will wait a few days to iron when
I have more things. Called people to come to the cocktails on Sunday the
28th. So far the Heins, Boyles, Roseman's, Priss have said yes.
Naturally Mike, J.C. & D. Don and I are coming but haven’t heard from
Jackie and Mito. I showered and changed my clothes. Don told me that
Mary Wyle is miserable in France and wants to come back to the U.S. He
is very concerned and so he called her. I decided to go for a walk since
I have not done it for a number of days. I walked for 45 minutes and
when I came back, Don had called his sister and Mary. He is going to
call her best friend tomorrow morning and see if anything can be done to
make things better. I made a simple dinner of grilled ham and cheese
sandwiches, a good relish dish and chips and some of that good ice cream
for dessert. We watched the news and Don watched a program on C-Span
while I read. Then we had a drink. I had wine this time. We went to
bed and made love and it is great when no one is here. Niki had gone
snowboarding and then she was at Ben’s watching movies and called saying
that his mother had said she could sleep in the guestroom. Things are
different these days. So then we went to bed to sleep. I felt I got a
lot done today.
April 14
It is 9:20 and when I finish this I am going to bed. Both Don and I woke
up at 3 and couldn’t go back to sleep. Finally, we got up a little after
4 and I have had a busy day so I will welcome the bed. I fixed breakfast
and did not do my exercises this morning. After all it is Sunday. I
read the papers and then got dressed to go to church. We picked up Mary
and it is true that F. DeLeon is gone but I don’t know when they will be
getting another priest. I dropped Don off at the house and went to
Safeway. I got doughnuts and other things and then to S & S for apples
and oranges and then to Lucky for coffee and dog food and then home. Oh
yes, I also got bedding plants to put in the wooden deals on the north
patio. So when I got home, I had my doughnut, changed my clothes and
planted my little plants. Then I washed the bedroom windows on the
outside with the hose and it turned out so well that I don’t have to
actually wash it so I just did the inside and Don let down the blinds on
the east side of the house. Then I did the same thing on the west and
south side so I have found an easy way to wash windows on the outside at
last! By then, it was lunchtime. Afterwards, I made a veal stew. I
found a recipe and it sounded good so I went ahead. Also found an
interesting recipe for salad dressing so I made that. I had bought salad
greens already cleaned at Safeway. They sell it in the bulk so dinner
was easy: the stew, the green salad and bread. Don’s war wounds started
bothering him in mid afternoon and he was in pain. He is in bed now so
hopefully he will be better in the morning. Don wanted me to call Selma
Mizel so I did that in late afternoon and we had a good talk. She says
she is better. I have learned to like her and I felt comfortable calling
her. Cathy stopped by in the evening and brought Rose & MJ. Niki is
making her dress for the prom and she needed help. We talked to the girls
and had a good time. Mike called and he had taken Emmie to see Matt and
Lisa and the new baby and they had also gone to Gainesville to see Jill.
We called Jenny and sang Happy Birthday. She and Linda had been having a
good time. She will be home tomorrow. I called Priss and she was ok.
So it has been a pretty good day and I have accomplished quite a bit.
Now I must pin up my hair and get ready for bed. I hope I sleep better
tonight.
April 15
A new weekend and how did it start out? With a dark cloudy sky and a
cold wind and here we are 1/2 way through April. Crazy. I did my usual
morning routine and then walked to my aerobic class. I love the bike
path so well I wish it were the whole way cause I feel much as if I am
not walking on sidewalks. I don’t have to fear again! The class went
well and I got home in good time. I would like to find a navy tunic like
the black one I found at Nordstrom’s. I checked Mervyn’s on the way home
but didn’t find anything I liked. So after my lunch I did the ironing
and then I ironed. Long skirt of Niki’s with a ruffle at the bottom.
This skirt and cream colored taffeta with the lace in a darker shade.
Very handsome. I told her this afternoon that she should think about
going into some area of design. She has a flare for clothes. Right now
she is a bit bizarre in her taste but that is due to her youth I am sure.
She was pleased with my suggestion and said she had thought of it too.
Jenny got back from Tahoe and since her birthday was yesterday I had
planned a really good dinner for her today. I wanted to make a pecan pie
and I tried a new recipe that was just about the same as my old one.
Well first of all the filling didn’t all set into the crust and it
dribbled over and I had to cook it much longer than usual but it did
taste ok. What went wrong? I just don’t know. But I had fresh
asparagus and a good green salad and chicken breasts and homemade bread
so it was ok. I have been sewing! But by hand! I shortened a pair of
light blue slacks and a purple skort was too long so I shortened it and
my white knit skirt was too long and it seems to be yards around but I
will do that one tomorrow and then iron them all. I keep thinking that
it must be spring pretty soon and then I can wear these things. Mike
called at the airport waiting to go to Dallas wanting Linda’s number but
I couldn’t find it. Jenny got a call from a nurse in Perth who is
writing her thesis and came across an article Jenny had written and
tracked her down and they are going to correspond by E-mail. It is a
small world. Priss was in one of her (Why am I alive?) moods but she did
do some laughing. We have added the Marquis and Alice to our list for
the 28th so I think that will be all now. I think I am going to read for
a while. I slept ok last night but felt groggy when I got up so I am not
going to take an Excedrin P.M. tonight.
April 16
It was one of those days that could not make up its mind. It rained, the
sun shone, it was cloudy – back and forth all day. Jenny went to her
softball game and they won. She was catcher. They seldom win. Niki went
to her yoga class. I made an appointment to have a perm on Friday. I
will have to call Helen R. to explain that I will probably not make it.
But getting back to my day. I walked to Hospice and got there at 8:30.
Nina had to organize things so I could make up folders but finally we got
started. The walk back and forth was very pleasant. I ate my lunch and
then finished hemming the long white skirt and then I ironed everything I
had hemmed and now I have to wait for warmer weather. I just don’t know
when that will be. Don and I took the sewing machine to Cathy’s Vacuum
and Sewing Machine Place and they will call to tell me how much it will
cost to service it. We looked at the German vacuum that costs $800 and
Don thought it was great but I still think it is a lot of money. There
was much talk about Mary Wyle all day. Don called her this morning and
she cried for 20 minutes and wants to leave France and come back to the
U.S. He talks to her friend Maria and to the other couple that were fond
of her, the Hilmers and I guess they are going to all have a meeting to
figure out what to do about Mary. Dinner was a snap cause I had some
leftover veal stew and 2 pieces of chicken, plus asparagus and I made a
pasta and an orange salad and there was still pie so that was easy. I
re-read Pauline’s letter and got upset all over again. I must stop this.
I just hope she doesn’t call cause I would have trouble talking to her on
the phone. I don’t know how all this is going to end. Priss had had a
good day and so I just listened and that was easy. Then we spent the
evening watching a marvelous program about highlights of all the Olympic
games and it was superb. It just now ended and it started at 8 and it is
now 11. I showered at just the beginning so I saw almost all of it.
Well it is time to go to bed. I hope I sleep better tonight. I hate to
wake up at 3:30 a.m. and can’t go back to sleep.
April 17
It is 8:45 p.m. and I was reading a book while Don took Daisy out for the
last time tonight and when Don got back I was falling asleep in my chair.
I don’t know if it was the weather or what but we both have been sleepy
since dinnertime. Speaking of dinner, I had a nice one. I made macaroni
and cheese, green beans, sweet snappers, a green salad. Everyone was
hungry and we ate well. But I am getting ahead of myself. Up this
morning and it was clear and chilly but a heavy storm had been predicted
and there was no rain. I walked to the Sport club but by then there was
a nasty little wind and it was chilly. Worked hard at my aerobics and
walked home to gathering clouds. Had lunch and then I drove to the
library cause Don was on the phone to Mary Wyle. He is going down to
Palo Alto on Tuesday to meet with 2 couples who are friends of Mary and
want to help her. Now Mary’s sure she wants to leave there. Don got an
e-mail from the man in Geneva who, with his wife, have been very good
friends of Mary but now she claims they are not. It is hard to work it
all out and I don’t try.
Had a nice time at the library tracking down
the value of old books that had been turned in for the book sale. When I
got home, Don had gotten the mail and I had a nice letter from Selma M.
and pictures from the birthday part of the Morgans. I had washed two
huge loads of clothes so I folded things and have a huge stack of
ironing. Jenny spent the day at a Diabetic Conference and told us about
it at dinner. I got a call late in the afternoon from the District
Office asking me to work at PV on Friday. I had made an appointment to
have a perm at 1 p.m. on Friday so I called and changed it to tomorrow at
1. I must remember to call Helen Roseman to tell her I can’t come on
Friday. Linda called to say she is sending the letter suggesting what I
might say to Pauline and suggested that I send a copy to George just in
case but since I don’t have an address for him, I am going to check
through the phone company. I will have to think about all this. Now
tonight Niki has gone to a movie with Rachel. Her Mom said she could.
Why on a school night I can’t understand and Jenny has gone out to see
Cathy. I hear that Cathy plans to go to Australia in the fall. There is
a conference there and then she will stay with Jenny. That would be nice
for her. Now I will read for a while and the go to bed myself.
April 18
It is night time and I just got out of the shower. I work at PV tomorrow
and I wanted to be clean. Well it was an ok day. I took a Benadryl last
night and it really worked. I slept though till 4:30 and woke then cause
Daisy woke me. Don took her early and came back to bed but that never
works so we got up. Made breakfast and did my exercises and then went to
have my blood taken to see how my thyroid is. I go a week from today to
see Dr. F. so then I came home and ate my breakfast and took my vitamins.
There are a few roses out but nothing like they should be. I hope they
will start to bloom more. The first part of the day was sunny although
it was cool. I decided to walk to Safeway to get cottage cheese and a
bell pepper. For once I didn’t have a heavy load to carry home. By the
time I got home, it was time to eat lunch so I ate and then made a 3-bean
salad. Then I ironed to get Don’s shirts out of the way. I decided to
walk to the Beauty College so I started out at 12:30 and I was there by
1. I got a girl named Christi I think. I must check tomorrow. I think
she did a good job on my hair and she will be there till July so I can
have her again. Don picked me up and we went to Safeway or rather near
Safeway at the coffee shop and I got coffee for Jenny & Niki. Jenny got
home later and she said she would eat later cause she had to take the car
to have Lance check it. Niki decided to go over to Ben’s to sew on her
prom dress so Don and I ate dinner alone. We had the 3-bean salad,
scrambled eggs and stewed tomatoes + bread. I had made chocolate chip
chocolate cookies just before dinner so we had those too. I made just
1/2 a recipe. Then there was the news. Then Israelis and still bombing
Lebanon and today they hit a place where refugees were and killed over
100 people. This is getting very serious. I am afraid the Israelis are
going to lose the sympathy of the people of the U.S. and the world in
general. Then in Egypt 12 tourists were killed. So the news tonight was
pretty grim. Then just before Jenny got home, Lynn Hooten called to say
that she was at Enloe and her 15-year old daughter was there cause of
diabetes. Don took the call and he wasn’t sure just what she meant.
When Jenny got home, she called and then said she was going to the
hospital and now 3 hours later she still isn’t back. I took some books
over to Priss after the news and I walked around her garden with her and
then stayed and talked. That way I don’t have to call and it was easier
somehow. So now I will do my nails and maybe read for a little while and
then go to bed. I would like to wait up for Jenny.
April 19
We were up at 5 and at that time it was clear but chilly, but by the time
I was ready to go to PV it was cloudy. I wore black slacks and my new
black cotton tunic from Nordstrom’s and Thank Goodness I had the sense to
wear my trench coat. I should have worn my new pink winter jacket. When
I got there, I found that not only was J. Byrne gone but Karen Olberg.
Mrs. Minsky and Mrs. Nichols were also absent and Kathie Theile was late!
Today was the day to check and collect next year’s schedule for the 10th
graders. Well I went to the first classroom and then Kathie came and for
the rest of the day except 5th period, we worked with students. I liked
it cause the time went fast and Kathie introduced me and was most kind in
what she said about me. At lunch, Donna Greenwold talked about Niki and
she seems to like her very much and said nice things about her. I
checked on her report card and she got B’s in every class except
government where she was getting a C and an A- in clothing so she has a
solid B average. Very good. When we got home, Don told me he was in
agony with his back again. I worry more and more about it wondering if
eventually this will become crippling for him. The letter that Linda
composed to send to Pauline was here and it is very good. We are going
to send it off tomorrow. I haven’t decided yet whether or not to contact
George and tell him about this and send him a copy of the letter. I will
have to decide. I must also buy the Kingsolver book for Pauline for her
birthday. Jenny made the dinner tonight. Lance had given her some
freshly caught bass and she got a recipe from Linda about how to cook it
and so she and Don had that and I had some leftover noodles, 3-bean salad
and a combination of cauliflower and broccoli. Niki told me she is no
longer friendly with Ben which really surprised me. What next? Well Don
is in bed and Jenny works tomorrow so she has gone to the apartment.
Niki went to a concert and I have been reading but I am going to bed too
since shopping and then the Discovery Shop tomorrow.
April 20
I am stiff and sore and I can’t remember anything I have done - old age I
suppose. Today I sent the letter to Pauline and now I wonder what will
happen next. We got up at 5 and I fixed Don’s breakfast and then put
muffins in for Jenny. She works today and tomorrow. I did my exercises
and then got dressed and read the paper till 7:15 and then I went to pick
up Mary. We didn’t go to the F. Mkt. cause I had to go to the Discovery
Shop at 10 and it cuts it rather close. So to Food for Less and then the
Cannery and I was home in plenty of time and got everything put away
before leaving again for the shop. We ended up making $63+ but it seemed
slow going for most of the time. I did see 2 pairs of slacks in the back
room that had not been marked yet so I took them to try at home and left
a note. I work again Monday afternoon and I can check then. The red
ones I like and want to keep but I am not sure about the other pair. I
will try them on for Jenny tomorrow. Don picked me up at 1 and I was
hungry and eager to get home. We stopped at Jackie’s and asked her to
come for waffles with us and she said yes. So we set the time for 5:30.
After I ate lunch I tried on the slacks and then I puttered around. I
read for a bit and I picked some roses and neatened things up. Talked to
Niki. I asked her about Ben, how she felt about David, etc. She said she
likes Ben but she found she was seeing him every day and it was beginning
to be like with David and she was not ready for that and had told him so.
She wants time to be with her girlfriends and was not ready for another
serious relationship. She sounded very sensible. Jackie came at 5:30
and the 4 of us had a good time and everyone ate well. Niki did not join
us. I had the usual fruit plate and cheese and pickle plate. Jackie left
at 10 to 7 so I called Priss. She had followed up on my idea of seeing
the psychiatrist that she had seen before Scotty died and she will call
this week for an appointment. But tonight she was irritable and touchy
and I was glad to be done with it. She was getting nasty like Pauline
has been. Don went to bed early as did Pauline(?) and Niki is out for the
evening. I wonder if I did the right thing to send the letter. I have
not contacted George yet and I may not do so. I have a very busy week
ahead and I hope I can manage ok.
April 21
I sleep till about 3:30 a.m. I got to the bathroom and then I can’t get
back to sleep and I think all kinds of worrisome things. Don didn’t feel
well last night and went to bed early and I got to thinking what would
happen if I lost him. How would I cope with life? Maybe I am being too
critical of Priss, Pauline, etc. Then today when I got up he took the
dog and when he came back he said he felt nauseated and didn’t want any
breakfast so he went back to bed but he did get up later and felt better.
Mary called and wasn’t going to church and since Don didn’t feel well I
decided to stay home too. At 7, I washed and set my hair and at 9 it was
dry so I did some shopping, going to Safeway, S & S, Long’s and
Walgreen’s. Then I got to work in the kitchen. I made up some more
liver, etc., for Daisy. I mashed potatoes and fixed them with sour cream
and cream cheese. I did the salad greens and the sugar peas. I was in
the kitchen for a long time. I got lunch in there somewhere along the
way. Then I read my current book. Niki left at about noon to go to Earth
Day out at Butte College. Julie stopped by and borrowed Niki’s snow
board. I washed 3 sweaters, I watered the plants and I kept busy all day
and ended up making a marvelous dinner: baked chicken with potatoes and
gravy, the sugar peas, a green salad and strawberry short cake. It was
cloudy and chilly and even rained a bit now and then but nothing big this
time. Tomorrow I go to aerobics and the Discovery Shop. I will have to
start thinking about what I am going to take to Mexico. I keep hoping
that something will come up so that we can cancel and never go. I know
that is ridiculous but that is the way I feel. Well, we ended up going
to Arizona and LA and I survived although I didn’t much like any of it.
So I will do this trip and that will be it. I have to think about what I
am going to serve Saturday night when Mike is here and what I am going to
serve Sunday night for the party. I must do a good job on this. So now
I am going to read for a while and then go to bed.
April 22
I am one weary lady tonight. It has been a long day. Up this morning as
usual and then after breakfast and the papers I got dressed to go to the
club. Wore gray stirrups and gray and white striped top. Very good work
out but very tiring. Walked back home and had lunch and read and dozed
in my chair for a while and then Don took me to the Discovery Shop where
I had a very dull afternoon. Very little business. I did buy a pair of
red knit slacks for $1.50 and a greenish gray pant for $2.50. Then I
found a sweater that Don liked that was for $2.50 and he gave me a $5 and
I paid the $2.50 and I came out ahead. Then home. I ground up the rest
of the ham and made part of it into spread for our sandwiches tonight
along with a can of minestrone soup. The rest I froze and I think I will
make small open-faced sandwiches out of it for Sunday night. Jenny and
Niki went out to Cathy’s to have Cathy fit Niki’s prom dress. The affair
is this Friday and I hope she can get it done and will be happy with it.
When I got home there was a letter to Pauline. I had just sent off the
now famous letter to her yesterday and the letter she wrote today was all
sweet and light so I don’t know what happens next. I have come to dread
her letter cause they have been so unpleasant and now one comes that is
very good. What am I to think. I don’t have to call Priss tonight cause
she was going to the museum dinner. There is really nothing much else to
say except tonight tired as I was I got the ironing done. Don leaves
tomorrow morning at 8 to drive to S.F. to meet with Mary’s close friends
and they will try to come up with an answer to her problem about living
in France. She is unhappy and has lost 16# and the dog is ailing and it
is unhappy too so I guess she wants to come home but she has spent
thousands of $’s getting the place set up and if she comes back she will
have to settle for a lot less money and then ship the rest back here.
What a sad problem it is. Well, tomorrow is Hospice and then I must make
bread, etc.
April 23
We slept in till 5:30 so it was a bit of a rush to get Niki up and then
get myself ready to go to Hospice. Don left for S.F. or rather Palo Alto
a little before 8 and I had to leave at 8 to get there by my new time of
8:30. I worked steadily for 2 hours putting together folders and ended
up doing 85 of them but the time went fast. It was too warm for my
jacket but it looked like rain when I left and I ended up carrying it
both ways. Had a good chat with Colleen whom I had not seen the last two
weeks. When I got home, I had my lunch and then I made bread. I kept
adding more whole-wheat flour and more molasses and this time it was
better than last time. I also made more dog food with the liver, carrots
and ramen so I think I have enough now to last till we get back from
Mexico. Then I took all the meat off Sunday’s chicken and used 1/2 to
make a stew. There was gravy and sugar peas left and I cooked up some of
the baby carrots and it turned out very well. I segmented a grapefruit
and made salads. Now Jenny and Niki were going to be here for dinner so
I fixed just enough with things for 2. I also made a vanilla pudding Don
likes that. Jenny went to her softball game at 5 and Niki said she had a
ride to her yoga class so they were both taken care of. Don arrived at
5:30 and he felt the meeting with Marie and the Hillmans was valuable.
They all agreed that Mary should stay in France for 3 months and then if
things still don’t work out, they will have to come up with something
here but they all agreed that it would not be wise for her to come back
for a month and then go back. We had dinner and by then, it was too late
for the regular news so Don turned on CNN and I called Priss. It was not
a very good night. She went into great detail about the museum dinner
last night and then got testy when I finally said something about making
bread and she said I had just made it last week and when I said cause we
were going to Mexico, she implied I had never mentioned it. I reminded
her that we had tried to go earlier but didn’t make it cause of the fog
and then she remembered. She is so touchy that one has to be careful
about saying anything. Between her and Pauline I am getting uneasy about
saying anything.
April 24
It is evening and I have just come back from a walk after dinner. We had
chili and fresh bread, cheese, pickles and fruit and I ate too much and
felt stuffed so I felt a walk would help. Finally today it is moderate.
There were dark clouds and some wind but by mid afternoon it was just
great and the weather man promises that it will get better each day so
hopefully when Mike comes for the week end trip. When I walked to
aerobics this morning, it looked so dark and gloomy that I dressed for
rain or chill and of course was too hot so I carried part of it on the
way home. Had a good work out and I love the bike path part of the walk.
Everything is now green on each side and when one looks ahead it looks as
if it went on forever and there are no cars or trucks, or buses and I
feel as if I am on a country road almost. I realize this is fantasy but
it is most pleasant. When I got home, it was eat my lunch and be on my
way since it was library day. I helped Edna get the books out of the book
drop and put them on the counter and then the rest of the time I pulled
the cards out of their plastic sheets. Dull but not difficult and I
could do it sitting down and that helped. When I got home, Don and I sat
on the patio and I pulled dead branches out of the bushes in the border
and then Niki came home and Don took her picture in her prom dress that
she designed and made with the help of Cathy. It is something. Black
satin with black and silver lace insets and she got a black feather boa
with silver and silver platform shoes and she is wearing a black stovepipe hat. What a gal. She and her friend Valerie are having their
problems. Ben had gone with Val last year and then they broke up. Since
then, Niki has been friends with him and has spent a lot of time at his
house. Now suddenly Val is mad at Niki for going with him and said if
she took him to the prom she would never speak to her again so Niki asked
someone else but Val is still mad and now Niki is fed up so today Sandi
was over here with her. I have always liked Val so I feel bad about this
but there is nothing I can do about it. Jenny is in Redding tonight at
some nurse’s association giving a speech on her dissertation and she will
be home late. So Don and I will be reading. I am going to take a shower
and go to bed early tonight. Some people are coming over for a drink
tomorrow and then on Friday Mike will be here. I also have to go to the
doctor tomorrow.
April 25
I went to bed early and didn’t write in this so I will be writing on
Friday morning at 9:35. My life must be pretty dull cause right now I
can’t remember much that happened. I know I got up and made breakfast
and did my exercises and got Niki up at 6:30 – all the things I do every
morning. I remember dusting all the furniture throughout the regular
house. The apartment I do nothing there but water the plants. Jenny has
her things laid out all over the living room and she has moved furniture
and it doesn’t look like the regular apartment at all so I keep out and
try not to get uptight about it. That and Niki’s room are out of bounds
for me right now. Closed doors help. I remember that I talked to Linda –
that was good cause lately she is either going out the door or cooking
dinner or something and we had a good chat. I think she talks to Jenny
and Cathy so much that she keeps up on what is going on and doesn’t need
to talk to me. I remember that I talked to Priss in the evening and she
got a coughing spell and so had to hang up early. A man called Gordon
Gregg called to order 3 books from Don and Don invited him and his wife
to come for drinks so that explains the dusting and fresh flowers
everywhere and I got out cheeses and nuts and crax, etc. They were real
dull. The man did most of the talking and his wife said little. After
they left, we had a chicken salad I had made earlier and green beans and
hot bread. Now I remember I did some cooking. I made a cheesecake and a
chocolate mousse. The cheesecake was a bit too soft yet in the evening
but we each had a small piece. There was nothing on TV and I wasn’t
interested in the book I was reading so I went to bed early. I did wash
my hair and shower in the morning and now I remember I went to see Dr. F.
at 3 and she thinks I should stay on the higher thyroid. Well, I guess I
have remembered just about everything.
April 26
I did not do much sleeping after a little after 2. I hope once we are
back from Mexico and things with Pauline are settled, I can sleep better.
Jenny informed us at breakfast that Niki was not here and that she had
gone snowboarding. I really think that is a mistake but since her mother
gave the ok there is nothing I can do about it. Don went off to play
tennis and I washed the blinds in the “music” room and the big bathroom.
They were filthy and very hard to do but finally I got them done. I
realize that I tire very easily when I do physical labor for any length
of time. Then I cleaned the two bathrooms and after that I stopped and
had a cup of Suka and two small slices of pumpkin bread. Jenny worked
today so she took her lunch – the rest of the chicken salad, … It is now
10 p.m. Don went to Sacramento to pick up Mike only to discover that the
plane was over 1 hour late. He called to tell me and they probably won’t
get here till about 12. Poor Don is going to be so tired that it worries
me. Going back to the day. I decided to walk to S & S to get Suka cause
I was just about out. When I got back, it was time for lunch so I had the
usual cottage cheese, orange, raisin routine and then I read for a while.
I did the salad greens and chilled the canned salmon and got out the
mashed potatoes to heat. Then it was time to go see Helen. We had a good
visit but not quite as good as sometimes, but ok. Came home and we ate
dinner and it was good. Then the news – all the killing, shooting,
robbing, etc. Then Don decided it was time to go. I called Priss and I
worry about her cause she seems to anger so easily. Someone is always
annoying her and so she ends up telling them off. I hope Dr. Z decides to
see her cause I think she needs someone to talk to who is more capable
than I am to advise and help her. I got out more clothes and tried
things on and Jenny came home and helped me decide what might look best.
She brought me a bouquet and that was certainly sweet of her. My roses
are not doing well. I will need fresh flowers for Sunday night. Since I
am up I decided to wash clothes so the lights are now in the dryer and
the darks are in the machine. It is 10 p.m. and I will read for a while
and fold clothes.
April 27
Well, Don and Mike arrived at about 12:15 and by the time we were in bed
it was after 12:30. We slept till 5:30 but to my surprise I haven’t been
tired today. The wind has blown all day and I find it very upsetting and
annoying and the lawn is covered with leaves and debris from our
neighbor's trees and bushes. I picked up Mary at 7:20 and we went first
to the F. Mkt. where I bought snap peas. Then on to Food for Less and
the Cannery. When I got home no one came to help me and finally Don came
right at the end. He had been talking to Mary Wyle in France yet again.
After I put everything away I went out to the patio and he told me that
she was in a very bad way and he thinks maybe he will go over there to
bring her back here. She should get psychological help and then maybe
she can go back cause she likes her apartment and the town. Well then
Don said he might go over to France and bring her back. Then he said he
wouldn’t do it unless I approved. I was furious. He gave me this line
that he had promised her mother he would take care of her. Sure, like
having an affair with her in Italy. Was that part of taking care of her.
I wanted to say that but didn’t. Sometime I just may. Well maybe by
tomorrow I will have calmed down a bit but Mary has been jerking people
around for help and will continue to do it. I don’t think she does it
intentionally but still that is the way it is. Then I got a letter from
my sister re: my letter that I sent her. Her answer was to start by
telling me about her first funeral and then described a lot of others and
that was the letter. I just can’t figure her out. Well, from now on I
will write a chatty little letter now and then and that will be it. I am
not going to spend any more time worrying about her. Mike talked to
Cathy and now he is on a new kick about food. We had a good dinner:
fresh asparagus, corn, snap peas, potato salad, French bread and Don had
a turkey sandwich and we had the chocolate mousse for dessert and it was
great. Well finally at about 8:30 Mike with Sharon and Sandi with her
boyfriend arrived and Mike took pictures of them all. They looked very
nice and then they left for the dance. Don had already gone to bed. Then
Jenny left and then I took a shower and now I am going to bed.
April 28
We got up at 5 and it was hard. But there was no wind and the sun came
out bright – we went to church even though Mary had called and wasn’t
going. On the way home, we stopped at Safeway and got doughnuts. Jenny
went to work at 7 and Niki was supposed to spend the night with Sandy but
when she came home she said after the prom at 4. Then went to Sandi’s
boyfriend’s house and the parents had set up tents and they stayed very
late and then the parents cooked them breakfast. Niki had a wonderful
time at the prom – Everyone loved her dress and she was so pleased. And
we were all so happy for her. I got busy getting ready for the party. I
cut up then sliced bread into circles and squares. I made ham salad and
egg salad and I put little hot dogs in a sauce and cooked them in the
oven. I made the bean dip and cucumber sandwiches. Had nuts and a big
slab of cheese. The people who came: Boyles, Heins, Marquis, Alice,
Priss, Jackie, Dale, Rosemans, Jenny, Cathy, Mike and with us – 17 all
together. Everyone seemed to have a good time and I gave all the
leftovers to Cathy to take home. The house looked nice and there were
enough roses to make a nice bouquet for the dining room table. Don was
in great pain and so afterwards he wanted to take us to dinner but I knew
he didn’t feel well and I was tired and had no wish to go so Jenny took
Mike and they went for take out and brought it back. Now I am going to
bed cause it is 10 p.m. and I am very tired.
How could I forget. In the morning while we were at church, Mike took the
shower doors off the tub in the big bathroom and scraped all the stuff
off the side of the tub. Then we cleaned it all up and then he and I
went to the mall and found the bar, the loops, a cotton liner and then I
found a clear curtain with white sea scrolls. Beautiful. Everything was
white and Mike said he would pay for all of it. Then the $17.95 curtain
was the last one so we got a cut in price and then she found a little
tear so it ended up costing only $5 and he paid for all of it. We came
home and put it all together and it looks just lovely.
April 29
My right hand is causing trouble. I have eczema on my middle finger and
cracks on the thumb. I have bandaged them so hope that will be better
tomorrow. I didn’t go to the club today cause Mike was leaving. The men
played tennis and then Mike showered, ate many strange things and then
got dressed and left at 10:15. It is fun having him here and hated to
say good bye when he leaves. Jenny and I went to the Chico Mall after
lunch. I had walked to K-Mart and Lucky to look for towel racks and to
pick up an Rx at Lucky. No towel racks so when we went to the Chico mall
I found two at Target and later Don put them on the closet doors in the
big bathroom and they are working fine. I looked at clothes at
Gottchalk’s and Troutman’s and didn’t find what I wanted so gave up. I
think I am a second hand Rose. I got so many clothes at the Discovery
Shop that nothing looks right when I shop at stores. Crazy. Tonight
after dinner and the news and talking to Priss, I tried on about 10
different outfits and nothing seemed right. I will be glad when this
Mexican trip is over and I can just settle down here with a trip to Tahoe
and that will be it! I bought Kingsolver’s High Tide in Tuscany for
Pauline’s birthday - $22 + tax and Don sent it off. Her birthday is
about the 12th of May but I wanted to be sure she got it on time. I will
try to write a note to her tomorrow but there are so many things to get
done. I am going to Hospice for my 2 hours but then I will have Don pick
me up cause I have to iron and plan what to take and then pack it! Made
stir-fry tonight and chicken and an orange salad and there was still
chocolate mousse for dessert. Niki ate with us and it was all very
pleasant. It got really hot today and I haven’t quite adjusted yet. Don
and Jenny put up the blinds. The new ones for the TV room and Niki’s
south window. Well, I have showered in the “new” bathtub. I love it
without that thing one has to step over and it certainly looks nice with
the new shower curtain.
April 30
I was ready to go to bed and realized I had not written in this. Went to
Hospice but had Don pick me up. It was a busy day getting packed and I
ironed and decided what I was going to take. Probably all the wrong
things but I hope it will be ok. Got a letter from Pauline in which she
spent the whole letter talking about funerals. I get so depressed.
Jenny & Cathy went downtown for lunch and we asked them to try to find
something to take as gifts and they came up with Orient & Flame and so
they went back and bought a pear and an apple both beautifully wrapped
and I think they will be nice gifts. Cathy had not heard about Pauline
and she thinks maybe she has Parkinson’s and maybe that is why she is
acting so strangely. Linda called and thinks we should contact George
and she is willing to do the calling. We will decide when we get home.
I wrote to Pauline and told her that I had sent the Kingsolver book and
that we were going to Mexico. I am going to try not to get upset about
her letters. Jenny offered to read them first and if they are unpleasant
I am not to read them. It will be good to get away for a while. Don can
forget about Mary and I can forget about Pauline. I made a good dinner.
Made a chef salad with all kinds of veggies, had boiled eggs and then I
made a sauce for last night’s chicken, cut it in thin slices and put them
in the salad and it was delicious. So tomorrow is the big day. I hope
and pray it will be good.
May 1
We were up by 4 and were able to leave the house by 6. The drive to
Sacramento was fine. Very light traffic and I had taken my pill. We
flew from Sacramento to LA and the wait is also not bad and then from LA
to Mexico City was smooth as glass except a little rocky right at the end
with huge white billowy clouds. We had cold drinks first and then drinks
again. Then dinner. I had chicken salad, veggie, roll, and a good cake
deal. We arrived in Mexico City, went through customs and they opened
our bags and then we were out and there were Terry & Carmen and they both
looked just lovely. They were so glad to see us and we got in the car
with Terry driving and Don in front and C & I in back and we drove for a
very long time and came to Terry’s house. It is built on lava rock and
old rock and it is beautiful beyond belief. They took us through the
whole house and it is almost like a museum. I have never seen so many
lovely things. Plants and furniture and glass and figurines. The floors
are over different black rock but some are carpeted and then have
gorgeous oriental rugs over. In the lawn, there is a huge pavilion-type
thing that is roofed and that was the swimming pool but is covered over
and underneath they have storage rooms. The things were designed by
Terry who took a class in outdoor architecture. Well I really can’t do
justice to their house or garden. We ate dinner at 8:30. They have two
full time servants and so we were served. There was a squash soup, then
rare beef with tiny potatoes and carrots and then for dessert a lemon
fluffy thing. All very good and with wine. Augie, the husband, is as
charming as the two sisters and there is a dog Brandy who has a smaller
dog as a companion but she is at the vet’s so this big English setter
cries a lot but has fallen in love with Don. We gave them our gifts from
Orient & Flame and it was the right gift. Both girls loved them so that
was good. Conversation was easy. We reminisced about our time in Paris
and they remembered things we did not. Our bedroom is huge as is the
bath. There is a small table by each bed with a flashlight – the
bathroom has gold fixtures with the faucet handle shaped like a rose,
huge cupboards in dark wood in both bed and bathroom. Bookcases
everywhere and I could go on and on but the people are all so kind and
friendly. I realize I didn’t bring the right clothes but I will have to
manage.
May 2
This morning we got up as late as possible and had breakfast out on the
patio. We had grapefruit and eggs with chopped tomatoes scrambled and
rolls and I had my Suka but the water was not very hot. Then at 9:15 we
all got in the car and drove to the museum.
This was about 10 a.m. and
the man who is way on top of a pole – 4 of them and then there is the man
with the flute playing and then the ones swing out and are flying way out
with just one foot attached and gradually they come down to earth. Very
effective. Many school children were visiting the museum in buses
everywhere.
Building is very impressive, upside down fountain. We saw
the Mayan & Aztec. Beautifully displayed. From there we went to a
restaurant on a lake and had cold drinks. You could have orange,
grapefruit or carrot. I had the grapefruit but couldn’t drink much of
it. Then we went to see M. Rasch in her apartment. She has 2 live in
servants and she has broken both hips and cannot walk at all. She
doesn’t want to do physical therapy so she is bedridden although she has
a wheelchair. I would never have recognized her. We talked of our time
in Paris when we all lived together. Again we had a sweet drink and
little cookies. The servant dropped one of the glasses spilling the
drink on one of the oriental rugs – but it was taken care of without a
fuss. From there we went to Carmen’s for lunch which means dinner. First
we had frozen daiquiris which were delicious. There was another couple
who came. They lived in Mexico – he is a pathologist born in Buffalo New
York and she is Mexican. We did not like him. This dinner was chicken,
beef and mutton with carrots, potatoes, squash, onions, little chunks of
corn on the cob and rolls and for dessert, a lemon ice with watermelon
balls. Then coffee and brandy. I didn’t have the last 2. They don’t
serve salads and they don’t use salt. We finished dinner at about 4:30
and then drove back to Terri’s and I suggested that we should all take a
nap. Augie has had a heart attack and has a pacemaker I think but any
way I thought he was very tired and driving in the city is a real
challenge! So when we got back I lay down and read and Don slept. At
6:30 we went out of our room and Peter Jennings was on but I just saw the
end of it. Then at about 8:30, we had artichoke soup (I didn’t like it)
and then 3 kinds of cheese and Wheel of Fortune! But then they had a
copy of “Babe” so we watched that. Augie left early and Don a little
later but Terri and I stayed till the end and then I went to bed.
Must not forget all the little VW taxis painted green and white that are
everywhere. The city is made up of skyscrapers and shanties and they are
all mixed in together. The city has grown so much that it has not been
able to handle the increased traffic so everywhere there are traffic
jams.
May 3
Today was the best day so far. We ate outside and had papaya, o.j. and
toast with jam and my Suka. Then Carmen came and we all got in the car
and drove to Chapultepee Park. First we went to see the flowers and the
vendors each have their stall and every plant conceivable is there. C &
T bought plants and they are much cheaper than at home. Then we went to
the Canal and here are flat bottom barge type things painted in bright
colors with chairs on each side and a long table in the middle. There
are 100’s of these and they are all close together at the bottom of a
stairway that really scared me to go down but I held onto Don and made
it. A young man or boy really with a long pole got us out into the open
water and poled us all around. Wild flowers and grasses grew along the
banks, nostrums, calla lilies, etc. People came by in small boats. Hot
corn on the cob, cokes, jewelry (I bought a silver ring for $10) and
there are bands playing and singers all on barges passing by us. It was
really something. And cause there are no cars, motors, etc., one feels
as if one is in another world and naturally you move slowly when the boy
is just poling! We got back to the starting part and then left for home.
Terri says on Sunday whole families come out and the water is crowded
with barges. When we got back to the house, we changed clothes. Don
wore his black slacks and silk jacket and I wore the black and white
print skirt and black top. Then we drove again to a San Angel Inn which
had been a hacienda back in the past when it was out in the country with
surrounding land. The place is huge and beautiful with white walls, high
ceilings with black beams and tall windows. Beautiful gardens with
flowers, plants and trees and room after room all filled with well
dressed people eating fancy food. I had salad and then pork-orange
sauce, rolls and wine.
The rest all had swordfish which they said was
delicious. Don and Carmen had dessert – strawberries and floating
island. Afterwards, we walked around the grounds. Now this is a part of
Mexico City but at one time it was in the country far, far from the
central city. We got back at about 4:30. Our reservation was for 2:30.
You see feeding time is very different here. We all went for a siesta.
Don napped and I read. Then at 6:30, Don went to watch the news. At 8:30
we had a light supper of delicious and delicate little tortillas filled
with cheese and sliced tomatoes and avocado spread with ice cream and
thin cookies for dessert. Then Terri got out one of her photo albums and
we looked at many pictures of the family from ancestors to the present.
For example, for their 45 wedding anniversary, they took all their
children and grandchildren to Acapulco for a week of celebration! Their
life style, their travels, their house boggles the mind. And so to bed
but first I pinned up my hair.
May 4
Well, it is 9 p.m. and our last day is over at the Rosalies’. We had
another lovely breakfast this time inside in a little alcove off the
dining room. Then Terry and Augie went to a first communion and at 10:25
our taxi came for us to go to the market. He drove us off and then
stayed there while we checked out the market and then when we were ready
to go home he was right there.
And it was a long way. Don gave him $29
and he was very pleased. So we walked through the market and looked at
everything and ended up buying T-shirts for the 3 girls and for our
children, we bought squares with embroidery and I got one for myself + a
picture of a little Indian girl that I liked and I spent a little less
than $50. So then we found our man and came home. Everyone was busy
cause the family was coming for lunch, which is like our dinner. It was
under the roofed patio and they had a table for 16 people. And they
started coming in early afternoon. The dinner was a chicken dish, a green
salad and rice and a flambé for dessert. There were about 10
grandchildren and most of their parents.
Pauline, one of the daughters
who works for the government, was really interesting and she made us
think of our Linda. The husbands and wives were all very kind and
attractive. The custom of everyone kissing everyone else hello and
goodbye and it is men as well as little children and older children as
well. And naturally we got kissed as well. But everyone was so kind and
interested in us. It was most flattering. They left about 4:30 and then
Carmen said she wanted to take us for a drive into the city cause we had
not done that. I was very exhausted but we could see that she meant it so
Don got in front and I in back and Carmen drove us downtown and we saw
all the grand buildings and the cathedral but they are working on it
cause it is sinking. She insisted that we go inside and we did and the
altar is incredible. So much gold, so huge and it is all very dramatic.
Then she drove us through the University rounds and it is huge again.
This is a very, very large city with way too many people and cars so the
traffic is incredible. Carmen is very nice and intelligent. Terri looked
tired and worn out by the end of the day. Don suggested that we take a
taxi to the airport and so we will say goodbye to them here and I think
that will be better. So tomorrow morning we will be on the plane for
home.
May 5
We woke many times in the night checking on the time and finally got up
at about 6:30. Don cleaned up first and then went out to pet the dogs
who really love him. Then I got dressed and took the sheets off the beds,
etc., before going to breakfast. Had fresh mango, juice, toast and
coffee. Then the taxi came and drove us to the airport. Since it was
Sunday there was little traffic and it took only 20 minutes. We checked
in and waited for our plane. We had to turn our clocks 2 hours once we
were in the air. We had cokes and then a meal that was not at all good. I
ate very little. Then we were in LA and it is a nightmare. Finally we
found where we should be and sat down and waited. We waited for a long
time and then we were on the plane to Sacramento. And that flight was
quick and we were there. Got our luggage and Don had parked the car
close in so we got out and although we had to pay $62.50 for the time, it
wasn’t too bad: $60 for things we bought to bring home: $20 for the
cabs, $20 for the girls in the kitchen, and $62.50 for the rent on the
car. Well once we were in the car we set out for Willows and the Best
Western and the Golden Pheasant. We had a drink, ate filets, potatoes
and salad and then shared a delicious piece of pie. Came back to our
room and I took a shower. Don bought some shots of bourbon in the bar so
we had a drink when I had finished my shower and then we went to bed and
made love and it was lovely. It had been a long time. So then because
we were really tired, we just went to sleep. The trip is over and it was
worth it.
May 6
We woke at 5 a.m.! Back in California and back to our old waking habit!
Well went back to sleep for a while but then Don got up at 6 and shaved
and showered and I re-packed what we had used yesterday and then we went
over to the restaurant for our complementary breakfast. There was juice,
fruit, rolls, etc. So we had enough and then we packed up the car and
were on our way. Since we were at Willows and it was a bright morning and
there was very little traffic at that time of day, it was a lovely last
leg to our trip. We got here at about 7:30. Niki had spent the night
with Nicole Val Rossman so there was just Jenny & Daisy. I immediately
unpacked and started washing clothes. It took 3 loads but I did it all
and then I ironed in the evening and got everything put away. I have a
busy week so I thought it best to take care of everything now. Both
Jenny & Cathy liked the printed squares I had brought and Niki liked the
T-shirt. The house looked ok and the roses were blooming like crazy.
Linda called to say she would be down on Thursday and that she had broken
her glasses and had to get new ones. That John Barry had visited and was
particularly obnoxious this time and since she was studying for exams it
made it difficult. I talked to Alice who said Marian Austral was here
and she wondered about a morning coffee but I have a very busy week and
Marian I find less than exciting so I bowed out. I wasn’t up to cooking
a dinner so I made grilled cheese sandwiches. No one seemed to mind.
Tomorrow I will have to do better I realize. Now I am going to read for
a while and get to bed early. I guess I am glad to be home but it would
be easier if it were just Don and me. Talked almost an hour to Priss or
rather she talked to me. She had gone to see Dr. Z and found him very
helpful. That is a good sign.
May 7
So now I am back to the life before I went to Mexico City. It was chilly
in the night and I woke up cold and went over to Don’s warmth but finally
we got up at 5:30. I made breakfast and then went back to my exercises.
I weigh 100# this morning and that was good. Niki spent the night at
Nicole Van Rossman’s so she was not here this morning. Don went off to
play tennis and I walked to Hospice and it was good to walk again since I
did so little while we were gone. The workday was very dull but I had to
concentrate so the time went fast and at the end Colleen came to hear
about my trip and then I walked home. Don had been running errands and
Jenny had been working on her dissertation. She is very concerned about
Lynn Hooten Strang. Their son who is 15 stepped in front of a car and
was badly injured and he had been taking drugs and it appeared in all the
papers in the area and poor Lynn is distraught. I find that I really
don’t want to get back to cooking but I must. Linda is coming Thursday
afternoon and I work at Bidwell that day so I must plan ahead. Tomorrow I
go to the coffee at Ann Brusie’s for the Discovery
Shop so I called at the library to say that I might be late but I will be
there. I will miss the coffee at the library on Thursday cause of
Bidwell and I would have liked to be there. Ah well. The money will come
in handy. I found yellow paint and was going to cover the paint over the
wall in the bedroom where the shower door was fastened to the wall but it
was too bright. Not sure what to do now. I did put nails in and now my 2
angels are inside the wreath over the fireplace. Don is in pain again
tonight and finally Jenny has convinced him to have Dr. Faltz request he
go to the pain clinic at Stanford. Maybe they can help him. I spotted
today but I think it was a change in altitude.
Still I will make a note
of it. So I continue to read In This House of Brede. I do love that
book. I wish I had some very attractive outfit to wear tomorrow but I
don’t so that is that. Now it is going on 10 so I had better go to bed.
What am I going to cook for dinner? How wonderful it was to have a few
days when I didn’t have to worry about what I was to cook. I made
chocolate chocolate chip cookies and then Niki wanted regular chocolate
chip cookies so I made those too, but both were 1/2 recipes. We should
not eat so many sweets.
May 8
I have become so immersed in In This House of Brede yet again that I want
to keep reading but it is past 9:30 and I have to work at Bidwell
tomorrow so I must stop for tonight. We woke up to a chilly morning. In
fact, I didn’t want to get out of bed but I did. Then after I fixed Don’s
breakfast I did my exercises, read the paper a bit and then changed the
flowers. Tomorrow Linda comes and I wish I did not have to go to Bidwell
but I am committed. After I had neatened up the house, I tried on things
trying to decide what to wear to the morning coffee at Ann Brusie’s. I
finally wore my cream colored skirt and the sweater in the same color
with red pumps, purse and silk scarf. About then Cathy stopped by and we
had a wonderful visit. She is always so funny and has such stories to
tell. Then Jenny came home from the club and Don had to take me to Priss’
to go to the coffee. Lynn Birch drove the two of us. Ann lives in a
lovely house and the meeting was nice but I had forgotten to wear dark
glasses and I was sitting facing the sun so it was not great but still I
was glad I went. Got home. Don was taking a nap so I changed my clothes
and drove to the library and worked sorting magazines for Lorna. Then
home but I was tired and I couldn’t think of what to cook for dinner so I
suggested we go to the Olive Garden for dinner. Niki didn’t want to go,
but Jenny, Don and I went. It was ok but not great. I never know what
to order in that kind of place. We stopped at Food for Less so I could
get some things to serve tomorrow. Then home. We had thought that Jenny &
Niki would be going to Australia at the same time but now Jenny says that
she is leaving on the 9th but Niki wants to stay till the end of the
month. I am very dubious about her going at all. We had had her for 3
years and I had hoped that she would go with her mother, find a job or go
to school there or both, and that we could have some time to ourselves
without the responsibility. I am upset. I think Jenny is kidding herself
when she says she will be willing to go at the end of June. Well anyway
when we got home I started reading my book and I have been doing it all
evening. I did take a shower, pinned up my hair, laid out what I am
going to wear tomorrow but other than that, this is it. Don and Jenny
have both gone to bed and Niki is still out.
May 9
It was so chilly that Don got up and put on the blanket at about 4:30 and
it was hard to get up when it was time. Jenny had expected to work but
was called off so she went to the club early. Don went off to play
tennis and Niki went with him to be dropped off at school. I got ready
to go to Bidwell. I wore my dark navy blue skirt and my navy and white
striped top from Nordstrom’s via the Discovery Shop. I walked over at
7:45. Barbara A. had left a list of students to call in and then to call
in ones with F’s. I have a very sore right thumb and my writing is worse
than usual. It was mid morning when Don called wanting to know where the
heating pad was cause Jenny was in terrible pain in her right shoulder. I
couldn’t remember seeing it lately but I told him places to look. Then I
called back to tell Jenny about the muscle relaxer I had and she said Don
had gone to buy a heating pad. I came home for lunch and she was still
in bad pain alternating hot and cold. I went back to school and the day
dragged on. It was ok and I saw quite a few students. When I got home,
Linda & had gone to Dr. Brooken for L’s asthma so I went right to work.
I made potato salad and brownies, buttered buns, sliced onions, washed
lettuce, etc. The girls had bought veggie burgers and we had regular
hamburgers. Dinner was good and then we visited. First with Linda and
then Jenny came over and we talked some more. Now it is 9:20 and the
girls are in the apartment and Don is in bed and Niki is across the
street and will be home at 10:30. Daisy is also asleep. Talked to Priss
and she was tired. Her house is being painted and things are upset. I
am going to read for a while.
May 10
It is just 9:20 but I am so tired that I am going to bed as soon as I get
this written. We didn’t get up till 5:30 and I planned to walk to
Safeway after school had started but first I decided to get up all the
leaves that David had cut off of the bushes out front. Before Don left
for tennis, I asked him to bring the garbage can around to the front and
I went to work. Well I had no idea just how much debris was left + the
leaves that were already on the ground around the bushes so it took 1 1/2
hours to get everything up and I filled two bags + a lot in the can too.
And I was so weary! I went in the house and had a coke and rested. Then
I poached two chicken breasts. I had never done it before and they
turned out just beautiful. I did all the chopping for my chicken salad
and had everything all fixed. Finally Don found a man who is going to
come to fix all the little things that need fixing and he will come
Thursday or Friday. He will also charge $200, which I think is a lot but
no one else seems to think so. When Don got home, he went out and
cleaned all the stuff in the bushes in the back yard so now we are in
good shape. I changed all the flowers and when Priss stopped by to bring
some things for Linda the living room looked nice. In the afternoon, we
went over to Cathy’s Sewing & Vacuum Place cause Don wants to buy that
vacuum from Germany that costs $800. I had hoped they would take the
sewing machine and 2 vacuums but they said no so Linda is taking the
Hoover and eventually we will give the Oreck to Julie I guess if we buy
this one. My dinner was good. I had a platter with the salad in the
middle and then lettuce around and sliced: avocado, carrots, green and
red pepper slices, cuke slices, etc. Then I had leftover spaghetti, rice
and some noodles and I mixed them all together and heated them with that
good Pepperidge Farm loaf that you heat in the oven in the bag. Came in
and there were brownies for dessert. Jenny was going to a nurse’s dinner
and Niki ate ahead of time so it was just the 3 of us and after Peter
Jennings, Linda & I went for a walk and then I finished In This House of
Brede, played and won a game of solitaire, had Linda trim my hair and now
to bed! Mike called and was fine.
May 11
Hot!
It is 8:45 p.m. and I am weary. My work outside yesterday did not hamper
my walking but to bend over and bend my knees is sheer agony. I hope I am
better tomorrow so how was my day. Well I didn’t have to pick up Mary to
go shopping and I did not stop at the F. Mkt. so I was home well before 9
and that was nice cause Linda was getting read to leave for Tahoe and I
got to say goodbye. She had not slept well and was very tired and groggy.
I assumed she made it ok. After I put everything away, I walked to
Safeway to pick up some things. The walk was fine but it was already
getting warm and I was glad to get back home. Niki said she was going to
a barbecue and she was to bring chips and dip and a salad. Ashley
(pregnant but not married) was giving the party so Niki had Don take her
to the store for salad greens, etc., etc., and she needed a big salad
bowl so I gave her my really big one but she did not bring it back. She
said that Ashley was having a shower and she would pick it up then. It
had better come back cause it is precious to me. I did 3 loads of
clothes, washed and set my hair and made a simple supper by setting out
the remains of last night’s chicken salad and by heating last night’s
bread. Mike sent a huge bouquet of flowers and with all the roses in
bloom it was like bringing coals to Newcastle but still it was nice.
Tonight Niki went off to a birthday party. I suppose until she goes to
Australia this will be the pattern once school is out. That is if she
goes to Australia and if she doesn’t, I don’t know what will happen.
Well I guess summer has come. Another year of very little spring. But
the lawn and garden look beautiful so I don’t mind. Tomorrow is Mother’s
Day and I wish my Mom were here so I could do something special for her.
She was always so appreciative and I loved her very, very much. Jenny
worked a 12 hour shift from 7 – 7. She works again tomorrow. Well,
later we decided to have a drink and I had wine over ice and we sat
outside where it was cool and then we went to bed and made love and it
was lovely.
May 12
1st day no cigarette
It is 8:30 p.m. and it has been a long day but we got so much done! The
first part was standard. Got up and fixed breakfast and did my exercises
and I am not quite so stiff this morning Thank Goodness. And then I got
dressed for church and today I wore white slacks and a navy and white
top. Afterwards, we went to Safeway and Don got a doughnut. Mary had
not gone to church today. She had teeth pulled and she has had a bad
week. We took her the Sunday paper and magazines. We came home and I
changed to grubbies and using the stuff we had bought at K-Mart. I fed
the roses with systemic and rose fertilizer. I ran out of the systemic.
I took a shower and changed all my clothes cause I was drenched with
sweat. Had my lunch and then I went to S & S for apples and to K-Mart
for more systemic and to Dalton’s to track down a book but they did not
have it. Then home and I wrote a letter to my sister and a letter to
Terry and Carmen, as did Don. I couldn’t believe it but we had done all
the things we were supposed to do today. I didn’t do the ironing but I
will do that tomorrow. I had gone to Long’s where I bought tanning
lotion and I put on the first coat at 1 and the second at 4. From now
on, I am to use it once a day. I had bought pork cubes so I sautéed
that, added chicken broth, carrots, onions, green and red peppers and
peas. It was very good. With that, I made a grapefruit salad, hot bread
and for dessert yellow cake pieces (from the freezer) fresh strawberries
& cream. We also had washed potatoes. It was a very good meal. Jenny
worked a 12 hour shift and Niki had eaten earlier so there was just Don
and me. I am falling asleep. Got very funny cards from the girls. One
was of 3 lion cubs with their names on and one was of 3 bears. Then they
gave me a dream catcher made by the Indians in Tahoe. It is beautiful
with a brown feather, etc. I was thrilled. Niki’s card was priceless.
On the front is a garbage truck emptying the contents into the landfill
and it says Gram, I am almost finished with cleaning my room. Linda
called to say she and Craig will be coming down in June to get the
entertainment center in Niki’s room and they will also take up to 6 boxes
of things that can be stored at their house. I think it will make it
much easier if Linda helps her. Mike called and Emmie got on the phone
and said Happy Mother’s Day Grandma and then she said: “I love you”.
When I said goodbye, Mike said she waved. So I have had a lovely day.
But I am weary. Talked to Priss and she was sad.
May 13
No cigarette again today; second day
Got up this morning to do the Monday morning tasks but it isn’t just for
Monday but every day. Don had 1/2 a grapefruit cause he doesn’t like the
Mexican papaya. I read the papers, did my exercises and then went to the
south yard and put systemic on the rest of the roses. Then I cleaned
both bathrooms and by then it was 8:30 and I was due at the club at 9. I
wore my navy knit slacks and matching top cause it was not all that cool.
And it was cloudy too. Strange! Well I got through the aerobics but I
was appalled at how out of shape I was. I wasn’t sure I could stick it
out, but I did and then I had to walk home which wasn’t easy. I stopped
at Long’s and got white Roux for my hair. When I got home I was ready
for lunch. Then afterwards I sat in my chair and dozed. Daisy lay on the
floor and dozed and Don lay on the bed and dozed. Then we all got up and
at 1:10 I started to iron. I did all the regular things and then I did
all my summer clothes that I had taken out: slacks and tops. I made a
green salad for dinner and we had the leftover stew from yesterday. Niki
was not here to eat and Jenny ate only the green salad and the bread. It
is hard to cook when people won’t eat meat. I am not very good on
vegetarian food. Afterwards, we watched the news. Peter Jennings is
doing a series on what people are thinking in the U.S. He had some very
good ones on this first night. The plumber came today and fixed the
drains in both bathtubs so I took a shower and then Niki said Linda had
called so I called back. She said she had used the vacuum we had given
her and it works just great so I was glad to hear that. Jenny talked to
us about Niki’s going to Australia. She thinks there will be no problem
and I hope she is right. I am not so sure but then I tend toward
pessimism. It is hard to know how Jenny feels about Niki and how Niki
feels about Jenny. All I hope is that things will work out.
May 14
3rd day; cool, windy and cloudy
We got up a little after 5 and when I turned the coffee maker on it
leaked out. Tonight Don set it up for tomorrow morning so we shall see
what happens. Yesterday the bathtubs didn’t drain till the plumber came
and today it was the coffee maker. What will it be tomorrow? I wore my
green top and slacks, picked a lot of lovely roses and walked to Hospice
with my flowers in a jar. I could hook my fingers inside and it really
wasn’t a problem. The work was dull but I got a little done in my 2
hours and then walked home. Sometimes I think I will not make it all the
way but I always do. I ate my lunch and then I sat in my chair in the
living room and read a bit and rested and before long it was time to feed
the dog. Daisy doesn’t like it when the wind blows and it blew a lot
today so she followed me everywhere. Poor Daisy. It must upset her
somehow. Since I can’t serve meat to Jenny & Niki, I made macaroni and
cheese, green string beans, Waldorf salad, with pecans, not walnuts and a
chocolate cake for Don. I watered all the plants today and Don watered
the lawn and it may rain tonight. Don got Unstrung Heroes video and
after the news and after I talked to Priss, we watched it. Well, Don for
a while and I for the whole thing. I cried a lot cause it was sad and
touching but it was funny too. Niki got the pictures from the Senior
Prom and I think she looks just great but naturally she doesn’t like her
pictures but she thinks Sean looks great. That figures. I got a very
elaborate & expensive Mother’s Day card from Mike today. He sent a
bouquet and the poor dear doesn’t have to send a card too but I must
remember to thank him the next time he calls. I really didn’t do much
today so I don’t have much to write tonight.
May 15
4th Day; rain
Woke up to a chilly, cloudy morning. This is May? I got out my wine
stirrup pants and a white top to wear and wore my nylon jacket to
aerobics. We had a tough workout but it wasn’t as hard to take as on
Monday so I am getting back in shape. Walked home and was so hungry I
ate some fat free pretzels and then decided I had better have lunch cause
I go to the library. So both Don and I had lunch and then he went to lie
down and I drove to the library. Lorna wasn’t there yet so Edna and I
got the books out of the book drop and took them to the library counters
and then I shelved a whole cart of non-fiction. Finally, Lorna came and
I finished up the Christmas magazines for her and it was time to go home.
I decided to forget about fat tonight. Jenny planned to eat with Lynne
Strang and Niki is not usually around at dinner time. I decided to have
hot dogs, made a green salad and with the leftover mashed potatoes, I
added onions and flour and fried it and it turned out great. Everything
tasted good and the last piece of chocolate cake I cut across, added
chocolate sauce to some cool whip and spread it on top and put the other
on top and frosted it and we split it. Good dinner and it was nice to eat
by ourselves. Then we watched the news. Dole is going to resign from
the Senate to run their campaign. I don’t know if that will help him or
not. Knowing that Alice Wipf was coming to coffee tomorrow morning, I
decided to make things up tonight so I dusted the living room and then
vacuumed it and then I washed the kitchen floors so tomorrow morning I
will make muffins and I will have juice and coffee. Now I am sleepy and
it is time to go to bed. No letter from Pauline saying she received the
book I sent her for her birthday.
May 16
5th day and no smoking – rain!
When I got up in the night to go to the bathroom I could hear the rain
pelting down and it rained almost all day. I felt so confined somehow.
Today was my free day but I did very little and nothing for fun. Alice
came a little before 8 and I had grapefruit juice, bran muffins and
coffee. We had a good visit and we talked about Priss. Alice is worried
about her cause she has become so irritable all the time. She has long
been critical of others but it has become worse but we agreed that there
was no solution. Sometimes old age becomes a real problem. After she
left, I puttered around and then I made tuna salad, cheese sauce for the
broccoli I planned to serve and I also made a lemon pudding cake. I
sliced fresh bread and had it ready to heat and that was going to be
dinner. Since we had vacuumed last night and I had washed the kitchen
floor and dusted the living room there was little to do. I ran two loads
of clothes and there will be ironing for later. Jenny goes to S.F.
tomorrow and will be back on Monday. Linda called to say she was off to
Lake Mead and would be back on Monday to Tahoe. She was worried that it
was going to snow. Snow! And this is the 16th of April (?). I did go to
Lucky to get Miracle Whip and some vanilla soda that Don and Jenny like.
I didn’t walk. I didn’t do anything special and the day dragged on.
Niki came home from school early. She said she had a bad headache. I
don’t know if she just left or not. She says very little these days. I
think she is very unhappy Since she has no longer any contact with
Valerie or with David or Ben she has been at loose ends and I feel very
sorry for her but she is so uncommunicative it is hard to let her know
how I feel. Jenny went out to Cathy’s in mid morning and wasn’t back
till after we had eaten dinner. So now it is 9:15. I talked to Priss
after dinner. Well, no, I listened to Priss. The paint is over both on
the outside and the inside of her house but she had so many complaints
that it took up over 1/2 an hour. She is one unhappy lady.
Don talked
to Mary Wyle this morning and she is definitely coming home or rather
back to the U.S. She has sold all her furniture + her car and what
happens next? What a mess. Well tomorrow I go to the Discovery Shop in
the morning at 10 and to see Helen Roseman at 3. What will I have for
dinner? I will come up with something. Pauline wrote thanking me for
the book and everyone in the family had called her on her birthday. That
was nice. At least she didn’t attack me today.
May 17
Rain still; 6th day no smoking
Woke up to another rainy day and now it is supposed to last through next
week!! We are all tired of it. But we are now caught up to our average
for the year and that is good. Since I was going to work at the Discovery
Shop starting at 10, I showered at 7:30 and also pinned up my hair a
little in front so I did look ok. Since it was damp and chilly I wore a
long sleeved rose sweater and gray stirrup pants. I had a banana and a
rice cake before Don took me at 9:50. Jenny left for S.F. later in the
morning. She was going to stay with Joseph tonight and then tomorrow she
will be going to Oakland to stay with Genevieve and maybe back on Monday
morning. There was very little business at the shop. I think we made
something like $35 but I found some things. I brought a lot home but
kept only a little. One is a light beige knit skirt, fairly long like
all of mine that I like so much and my sleeveless beige sweater matches
it perfectly. I also kept a pair of black knit pants that will be fine
for aerobics. I took down a lot of things that Linda had brought down
last weekend and I found some Danielle Steele books for Mary. I called
her this afternoon and she will be going shopping with me tomorrow. Don
had suggested that we go out to dinner and I said I would think about it.
Went to see Helen Roseman at 3 and we had a good time talking and I came
home at 4 and suggested that we have bacon, eggs and pancakes and so Don
said that was fine and it was good I did cause all of a sudden his back
began to pain and he could hardly stand. So I fixed the dinner and then
I watched the news in the TV room and he lay down and watched in bed. I
certainly hope the people at Stanford take him in their pain clinic.
Niki was in and out and finally left saying she was going to spend the
night at Sandy’s. Here was a wonderful opportunity for us to have a
drink, make love and to feel free but with Don not feeling well all of
that is out. Ah well! Talked to Priss and she didn’t want to talk at all
but finally we did talk about things and she did not talk about herself
as much as usual. I am tired and will probably go to bed early. Oh, I
forgot for $30 bought a clock in an oak frame and I put it in the living
room on the wall between the buffet and the fireplace. It looks great.
May 18
7th Day
It is 9:15 p.m. and things are not great around here. Don has gone to bed
in agony yet again with no relief in sight. Niki is here alone on a
Saturday night and she is unhappy. She just took a shower and I presume
will be going to bed. In desperation amidst all this gloom, I made
myself a drink. In fact, I may have more than one. I have a canker sore
on the side of my tongue that is very painful and I am counting on
alcohol curing it. We shall see. My day. Well, it was ok I guess. It
was cold and cloudy but not actually raining. I read the papers and did
some exercises and then got dressed and picked up Mary. We stopped at the
F. Mkt. and I got sugar peas and some radishes and a weed stick plant for
$1.50. Then on to Food for Less where I spent $41 and then to the
Cannery where I spent $13. And then home. Mary gave me some bing
cherries from her tree and as usual there are too many for us so after
lunch I went over to Priss to take back books I had borrowed so I took
her cherries as well. I got Judith Krantz’ new book and I have been
reading it tonight. Too early to decide if it is going to be good.
After dinner tonight, I walked to the end of North Avenue at Lupin and
back. Usually I go the other way so this was a change of sorts. I
realize I have been walking less and less in recent months. I do ok on
M, T, & W. but then I slack off and that has to change. I made hero
sandwiches tonight: cheese, pickles, tomato slices, turkey thinly sliced,
avocados & lettuce. They were great and I told Don next time he has his
club we should plan on having those. I served soup with them and
chocolate sundaes. Watched the news. Nothing much new or interesting
there so that was my day. When I was walking I went by a house where
they were having a party and people were leaving and talking and I
thought back to when we were young and Saturday night was something
special each week. We either went somewhere or we had something at our
house or at least we had a drink and had our own personal fun. Ah well,
I guess when you are 77 you can’t expect to have the same kind of life.
I should not complain. Things for the most part are ok.
May 19
Starting 2nd week without cigarettes
Well we planned to go to church and I had my clothes set out and then
Mary called to say she was not going so we decided to do the same. Read
the paper fairly carefully. Then I took the paper + the books she forgot
in the car yesterday to Mary and I went to Long’s for snail killer and
V.C and to S & S for apples. Came home and put those things away and
then walked to Safeway to get mangoes cause they were 3 for $1. By the
time I got back from there it was 11 so I ate lunch. I ran a lot of
lights and one of darks and cause the day today was predicted to be windy
with rain turned out to be just lovely. I hung the towels outside. To my
relief and surprise, Niki decided to start sorting over her clothes. She
made one pile to go to the Discovery Shop and one pile to go to the
Salvation Army and I think one pile she is going to sell to a store
downtown that takes things. At least it is a start on all the clothes
she has in her room. Linda & Craig are coming down about the 15th of
June and by that time, she should have things in boxes to be stored and
the entertainment center that Linda wants back should be stripped of all
the things in it. Poor Niki still has a long way to go. All the posters
and pictures must come down too. That should keep her busy once school
is out. I made a good dinner: turkey ham, candied yams, broccoli au
gratin, cucumber salad, sour dough fresh bread and strawberry shortcake.
Not bad! Afterwards I did a mile to the end of N. Ave. and back and then
watched the news. Later I showered, set my hair and now in my housecoat
I am reading Spring Collection by Judith Krantz. It is 9:20 so I
probably won’t last long. Talked to Priss and she was in pretty good
spirits.
May 20
Still ok
It is after 12 and I should be in bed. I just finished Spring Collection
by Judith Krantz and I have washed and creamed my face, taped my right
thumb that is always cracked. Have taken a Benadryl so hopefully I won’t
scratch my eczema in my sleep and hopefully that I will sleep! I had a
good day work wise. Before I went to aerobics I fed all my plants. Then
I went to the club and had a good workout and then I walked to Dr.
Merrill cause I wanted him to look at my mouth cause he had told me to
come even without an appointment when it was broken out. I looked at it
and said it didn’t look great. Told me to continue taking the Rx that
Niki takes for her herpes and also rinse my mouth with peroxide and
water. Then I walked home and had my lunch. I planted my weed stick in
the south yard and plan to buy another one next Saturday. I cleaned our
2 bathrooms and then I made bread. Jenny got back from SF and Oakland
and Julie arrived at the same time. They both had something to eat before
Julie went off to baby-sit. Niki came home and she too had a snack. Mike
called this morning and he was funny. They are still without water for
drinking but the well is supposed to be done by Thursday. Karen wants to
have her teeth straightened and was at the dentist. Then in late
afternoon, Jenny saw water by the water heater and thought there was a
leak so we called Thrifty Rooter and the man who we like so much came and
said it was the washing machine leaking from a rotten hose and he fixed
it. Made a good dinner: baked potatoes, ham, sugar peas, fresh bread and
a green salad. There were some strawberries leftover and I fixed things
for Don. Then the news and then I went for a walk. Priss was on the
phone with David and I think something may be going better there. So
then I read and Don went to bed and now I am going too.
May 21
I didn’t want to get up this morning cause it was raining. Yes, rain
again. But I dressed for it and walked to and from Hospice. I wore the
plastic pants over my slacks and the jacket that Jenny brought from
Australia and my faithful see-through umbrella though at times the wind
was so strong that I thought I would end up Mary Poppins. I did 72
folders so I was busy for my 2 hours. Then I walked home and true I was
later than usual and Don went looking for me, missed me and finally we
connected a block from home. He tends to overreact if I don’t show up on
the dot. Well, anyway, I ate lunch and then I made meringues and lemon
pie for dessert. Made a cucumber salad and heated the rest of the
broccoli and cheese sauce and did a rice-a-roni Spanish rice dish for
dinner. We called Linda cause we planned to go to see her house next
week but she says Craig is still working at Lake Meade and she wants him
to be there when we come. So now I don’t see how we will go cause Jenny
leaves on the 10th and then who will watch the dog? I wanted so much to
say it but it will have to be postponed. Well I have wanted to see
Cathy’s new bathroom, her sofa and I can’t even get to Durham so why
should I expect to go to Tahoe. There are certainly disadvantages in
having a dog. Then after dinner, I went for a walk and by then the rain
was over and it was still windy but mild. I enjoyed it. Talked to Priss
and she seemed better tonight. That was a nice change. Then Niki went to
her yoga class and didn’t feel well and came home and Jenny took her to
Convenient Care and they had to wait and wait but finally she was
diagnosed with a bladder infection so she has an Rx and pain pills. Don
took Mary Yakich to the dentist and she gave him a huge amount of
cherries. We all ate some and I took a basket of them to the young people
living in the corner house on N & Cottage and I have one more basket that
I will take to Luann tomorrow. Now I guess I will read cause Don has
gone to bed and Niki will be going and Jenny has gone to the apartment.
May 22
It is 8:15 but still light. After dinner, Don and I went for a short walk
and it was most pleasant. When we got up this morning it was fairly clear
but very cold and very windy. I was really cold when I walked to
aerobics. I took the last of the cherries to Luann at the club and she
was pleased. We got to talking about her family and her problems. Her
son is Niki’s age and he dropped out of PV and is at Fairview but he is
into drugs and won’t try to get a job or go to school. Then she said she
and her husband are separating. She is a really great person and she has
too much on her plate right now. I came home and ate my lunch and was
off to the library at 11:30. Helped Edna in the backroom work on new
books and then I checked on old books for Lorna to see if any of them had
value cause of age or content. Done at 1:30 and I dashed home and got to
work in the kitchen. I made the dressing for the turkey, I boiled
potatoes and mashed them and added sour cream and cream cheese and baking
powder so they will just have to heat tomorrow. I don’t know why I chose
Thursday to cook the turkey cause I have to work at the Discovery Shop in
the afternoon from 1 – 4. I told Don and Jenny they would just have to
do the work of the turkey. They both look appalled at the thought. I
made waffles for dinner. Had a pretty fruit plate with canned pear 1/2’s
with a cherry in each one and Jenny cut up a mango in strips to go
between and I added jack cheese. The waffles were great. Then it was
time for the news: the freemen in Montana refuse to give up and there
are over 100 FBI’s waiting them out. Yeltsin is promising the Russians
anything they ask for so he will be re-elected and on P. Jennings
“Looking at America” was about civility tonight and we know it is lacking
in today’s society. So now I will read for a while. Talked to Priss and
she was pretty much ok. Tomorrow is another day.
May 23
I just woke up and I was sitting in my chair in the living room and I had
been reading but it was dark so I must have slept for a long time. It
was a busy day. I showered and shampooed since Niki and Don had gone.
One to school and one to the Racquet Club. I set my hair and worked in
the kitchen. I had made the dressing for the turkey yesterday so today I
stuffed it ready for the oven. I made the topping for the blueberry
crumbs. I did the celery, etc., for the veggie plate, etc., cause I had
to go to the Discovery Shop in the afternoon and Jenny & Don were in
charge of cooking the turkey. Things at the Discovery Shop were slow.
We made $54.32 but the time doesn’t drag too much. I brought home a top
for Jenny but it was too big. I did find a cover for my main frying pan
that I think will fit. I have all these fancy pans that Jenny gave me at
one time or another but they are without covers. So I got home at 4:20
and the turkey looked just great and was done. I put the blueberry
cobbler in the oven along with the mashed potato dish, made the gravy,
cleaned up on the pans and when Hoppe arrived at 5:30, dinner was ready
and it was very good but I ate too much. I can’t understand why when one
has turkey there is a tendency to eat too much as if it were
Thanksgiving. Hoppe is always amusing and he is always so much at home
that it is nice having him. He was hilarious when he described scenes
with his mother and father. His mother is very deaf and he told of a
time in the car when his father in the back seat said he had left his hat
at home and his mother thought he said “comb” and started looking for one
in her purse. It was like a Nichols and May scene and we had just heard
them last night on TV on Channel 9. Well anyway Jenny & Hoppe went off
to see “Mission Impossible” with Tom Cruise and I called Priss who had
taken John Ayres out to lunch and had had a good time. The sun was
shining all day but the wind was here all day also and it was not
pleasant to be out. Well, I guess I will wash my face and go to bed.
May 24
This was a good day. I got a lot done and although the wind still blew,
it was warm and sunny. We got up at the usual time and I woke Jenny at 6
cause she was going today. Since it was Sr. cut day I didn’t wake Niki
but the funny thing was that she didn’t go anywhere till long after
school would be out so she might as well have gone to school. Well I just
hope there aren’t any negative repercussions. Don went off to play
tennis and I ran a load of clothes, changed flowers and neatened things
up. When he got back, I went to Hubbard’s to buy plants. I got a pack of
lavender and then got 3 new plants. I want to fill in all the empty
spaces in the south border so that there will be low maintenance and the
roses will fill the rest of the spaces.
It cost $21 which I thought was
too high but I wanted them so that was that. Came home and had lunch and
then I ironed. There was a lot of everything so it took about 1 1/2 hours
to get it all done. I read a little and then I put all of last night’s
dinner in small containers: mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sliced
turkey, made a salad of raw veggies and even put the dessert in a small
pan to put all but the salad in the oven later on. Then I was ready to go
to Helen’s and Don wanted to go too. Well I rather like going alone but
I said ok and it turned out to be the right thing. We had a most
enjoyable hour with them. Matt and Lisa had sent a picture of Katie and
she is very pretty. So I took that and Niki’s prom picture. We got home
at a little after 4 and Don went off to get the book What Flower is That.
A man in town searches for books and he had found a copy. So while
things were heating he got the book. Then we ate and we were both hungry
so we cleaned our plates. Then Jason called and we had a good visit with
him. He wants to find another job but he can have the one he has full
time with a high raise if he wants to stay but they will help him get
something else. Jenny got home at about 7:30 and I fixed our food for
her. A patient had vomited all over her uniform so we worked on that
getting the stains out. So now I have taken a shower and I plan to read
for a while.
May 25
A busy and satisfactory day. Up at the usual time. Worried cause the
lights were still on and no Niki. She had called her mother and Jenny
didn’t want to disturb us. We pointed out that it is better to wake us up
than for us worrying all night. After breakfast, I went for a walk and it
was very pleasant indeed so early in the morning. Then I went to pick up
Mary and we went shopping, got everything on my list and spent a lot of
money but I had expected that. I rushed home and got all the groceries
put away. Ate one of those big bran muffins and then had Don take me to
the Discovery Shop. It was a very slow day with very few people. I
think we made about $17 but I worked in the back room putting clothes
that had come in on hangers ready to be priced. One of the women who
works in the back room came by and I asked her about some of the things I
was interested in and she said they didn’t look great and said I could
have them for 50 cents each so I took 3 + a pair of cute slacks in a wild
black and white print. Don picked me up and I had a snack, changed my
clothes and went to the south yard to set out the plants I had bought
yesterday. Then I came in and washed the 3 sweaters and found that one
was 100% wool and another was 100% cashmere and one was acrylic. I
changed the buttons on one, washed them all and they are now drying on
the floor. Then I made a very simple dinner and then the news. Jenny
came home and ate a little. Don asked if I wanted a drink and I said I
wanted a Manhattan. The 3 of us went outside cause it was such a nice
evening and we talked for awhile and I asked for a second drink and Jenny
went over to the apartment and Don and I finally went to bed and we made
love in such a frenzy that I can’t describe it but it was wonderful.
May 26
We got up a little after 5 and there were the papers to read and I didn’t
do much in the way of exercises but I did a little. When I got dressed
for church I thought I looked great. I wore the long beige skirt with
shoes and hose to match, the beige sweater and a silk scarf in the same
colors. After mass, Don got a special coffee and then we came home. I
changed my clothes and went out to water my new plants. Then I walked to
Walgreen’s for vitamins and at the 98-Cent Store I got some bargains.
Walked on to K-Mart and looked at their plants and came walking on home.
Ate my lunch and then worked outside. I found fertilizer in the shed and
fed the privet plants. I cleaned the wheelbarrow and will spray on
something to keep the rust at bay. I came in and made a pound cake.
Wrote to Pauline and also a note to Terry & Carmen about the flower book
and the pictures. I cooked the green beans and the sugar peas I had
gotten at the F. Mkt. I made turkey hot dish and divided it, freezing
1/2 and cooking 1/2 for our dinner. Did the salad greens. Niki cleaned
the apartment for her Mom and then started working on her room. She
cleaned out a lot of stuff and even said she wanted to give away her
stuffed animals. We had dinner, watched the news and then I called
Priss. I invited her to dinner for tomorrow. She accepted. Jenny came
home and I had served her salad and she had the turkey dish and the pound
cake. I spent the evening reading Trail of Secrets. It is very good.
Now it is 10:30 and I had better go to bed.
May 27
We woke up at the usual time. It was all cloudy to begin with but then
the sun came out. I walked to the club. Luann was not teaching the
class and I don’t much like Michelle and her teaching methods but I stuck
it out. Walked home, stopped in at Mervyn’s cause they were having a sale
but couldn’t see anything that I liked. It is strange. I get so many
things from the Discovery Shop that it is rare indeed if I actually buy
clothes at a store. So when I got home, I finished the book I was reading
before I had my lunch. I had invited Priss for dinner tonight so I got
busy once I had eaten and made a potato salad. Got out lunch of hot dog
for Priss and a hamburger for Don and a veggie burger for me. I had
cooked green beans yesterday and I went to Lucky and got corn on the cob.
I also had chocolate mousse left so really there wasn’t all that much to
prepare. Finally there were enough roses in bloom to make a bouquet for
the coffee table and the 3 bud vases. For the dining room table I had 3
yellow day lilies and yellow candles & place mats so the table looked
pretty. I put on my black top and black and white pint skirt. She came
at 5:30 and we had a drink and then ate and she went home at 7. It went
well and it was all very pleasant and she ate! She doesn’t eat enough
when she is by herself. Jenny went to work at 3 – 11. I had the potato
salad and added some other veggies for her dinner. She gets time and 1/2
on a holiday so she will make about $240. Don was watching TV this
afternoon and they were showing the ceremonies at Arlington and they were
talking about the wars, etc., and he came into the kitchen and started to
cry. He told me that he was also missing Ed Mizel a lot lately. I feel
bad for him on both counts cause I don’t know how to comfort him. Cathy
called. She and MJ had gone to see “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” and
they liked it very much. She said she had spent some of her birthday
money on a pair of shorts she had liked. So tomorrow is Tuesday but the
kids don’t have to go back to school until Wednesday so I don’t have to
wake Niki again tomorrow. But I must go to Hospice. Now I will read for
a while.
May 28
It is 10 p.m. Don has long been asleep and Jenny as well. She played
softball again tonight and her team won but she struck out. She will be
playing next week and then that will be the last one cause she is leaving
on the 10th. I had a fairly busy day. I got up this morning and hustled
around getting ready to go to Hospice. I wore my turquoise slacks,
turquoise and white striped top and turquoise and white polka dot scarf.
It was cool and breezy and the walk was wonderful. When I got there I
worked on charts the whole time and then saw Colleen and she told me
about her daughter’s getting her wedding dress. As she described the
plans for the wedding I realize how different it is going to be from my
experience. Ah well. That was war time. I walked home and had my lunch.
Don went off to his luncheon club. I walked to the mall to buy elastic to
fix a skirt. By the time I got back, I was really tired and I lay down to
read but I had to keep getting up to change the sprinklers. Don came home
saying he had felt depressed all day and he is thinking about quitting
the luncheon club cause he feels out of touch with their lives. Dinner
was strange. I heated up all the stuff leftover and it was a weird
combination but we got rid of a lot of stuff. I have no idea what I will
come up with tomorrow. The Whitewater Affair gets worse and worse. A
number of people were found guilty and the Republicans will use this as
fodder in the campaign against Clinton. Took a shower and then called
Priss. She had seen Dr. Z and so she talked about her family and what
should be done. Then when that was over I set my hair. I think it looks
terrible at the moment and I am very discouraged. It is getting very
thin and I got a bad perm this time and that didn’t help. So since then
I have been reading The Track of Real Desires by Beverly Lowry. She is
southern and all the people are strange so I guess one can say it is a
typical southern novel. My eczema is driving me crazy and I must see
someone about it. Well I guess I had better go to bed.
May 29
It is only 7:30 p.m. but I don’t think anything very important is going
to happen after I write this. We got up at 5 this morning shivering. The
nights have been so chilly and we keep all the windows open. I had
pinned up my hair cause it looked so terrible and so I spent a restless
night trying to find a comfortable spot. But my hair looked great when I
combed it out this morning. Don went off to tennis + taking Niki to
school and then Cathy came so we had an hour together before she had to
leave and I had to go to my class. We had a good talk. She and Jenny are
going to Berkeley tomorrow to look for fabrics and I hope they have a day
together. I can understand that between them. Don who feels our children
should be here with us but I remember Yvonne and I wanting to go places
and Mom wanting us to stay with her and Dad. So I understand the girls.
We did not have our regular class this morning but instead we had chair
aerobics cause they were having an all day health fair so there were a
lot of other people there. It was very strenuous but I learned a lot and
I can do things at home for variety. I came home and had lunch and went
to the library to work for 2 hours and then came home and finished my
book and then made squaw corn and a bacon & tomato sandwich for Don and a
cheese & tomato one for me + chips. Then there was the news and the
Israeli election is too close to call and they may not know until the
absentee ballots are counted and there was a terrible tornado in
Lexington, K. and although no one was killed, a thousand houses were
terribly damaged. And the Whitewater scandal is going to get press every
day. I wonder what this will do to Clinton? Niki came home and fell
asleep but she is awake now and doing her homework. I called Priss.
Jenny went out to Cathy’s and said she might be a little late. It is a
good thing we went ahead cause she is not back yet. Although I will miss
her and Niki it will be rather nice to make dinner for just the two of us
and not worry about when the others will be wanting to eat. So now I
think I will read for a while. I ran a load of clothes today and I have
a lot of ironing to do.
May 30
It is 10 after 9 p.m. and I am one weary lady. We didn’t sleep all that
well last night. The people living on the corner had a party and there
was loud music and loud talk but it didn’t last all that late. Even so I
didn’t do much better later on. I made pancakes for Don for breakfast
and Jenny left early to pick up Cathy and then they were going to
Berkeley for the day and they are not back yet but she said they would be
late. I did my exercises and read the paper and at 7:15 I was in the
back yard with clippers cutting down the 2 Carolina jasmine + the
*jasmine plant. They were all woven into the lattice deal outside the
apartment door. I had just finished when Don got home an hour later. Then
we managed to pull the framework out of the ground. I suggested that we
move it to the south yard and put it against the west fence where my vine
is lying on the ground. Somehow we got it against the fence and Don
nailed it to the fence and then with string I tied it up and it looks
great. I planted the 3 uprooted bushes and hopefully they will live.
Then I picked roses and redid my bouquets and by then it was time to eat
lunch. Next I had a big ironing so I got that done. I worked in the
kitchen. There was still some white turkey meat left so I cut that up
and made a salad. I read a little and Don rested. Helen Roseman called
to say that I was not to come cause George was leaving on Amtrak and she
had to take him to the depot. So then I decided to make rolls. I
haven’t made any for a long time. I ended up putting them in the trunk
of the car so they would be ready for dinner. I made it. So we had the
salad with sliced tomatoes and lettuce, sugar peas, rolls and I had some
lemon ice in the freeze so we had that for dessert. I made graham crax
sandwiches this afternoon. Everyone loves them so much. Well it looks
as if Perez lost the election in Israel and the man who won is a hard
liner so things don’t look bright for peace in the Middle East. After
the news, I called Priss and listened to her and she was particularly
boring tonight. Sandy, Niki’s friend was in dance recital being held at
Bidwell but it was a PV class. I had told her I would go so I did go and
it was ok. Not great but I was glad I went cause I like Sandy. Well it
is 9:30 and I am very tired so to bed to bed.
May 31
The last day of May! I wonder what June will bring? Don went off to
tennis and I went out to pick roses and decided to water that whole area
since I had transplanted the jasmine there. Then Don got back and he
started working on fixing the lock on the gate from the north to the east
yard and he finally did it! I raked and dug up the area where the
trellis had been and found compost in the shed and grass seed in the back
back and so I planted and watered and now I must keep it moist so its
seeds will come up. We both worked hard and I was glad to come in and
shower and shampoo and set my hair and then I read and dozed for a bit.
Suddenly I remember that I was going to clean the 2 bathrooms and this
time I even washed the floors so they really looked nice. Jenny got
ready to go to work: 3 – 11 shift and Niki came home from school and
started to make plans for the evening. I fixed scrambled eggs and
biscuits for Don and me. Alice walked with her dog and brought me
raspberries and Logan berries. I ate just a few for the taste but then
later I started to break out and I don’t know if it was the berries or
wearing the rubber gloves when I was cleaning. Watched the news: Timothy
Leary is dead, D. Spock was the man of the week, Perez has definitely
lost the election in Israel and so it goes. Niki went to the concert and
then there was a party and she called to say she was spending the night
with Tasha who lives off Lupin. I watched Making an American Quilt.
That might not be quite the right name but it was marvelous. I wept.
Don asked if I wanted a drink tonight or tomorrow night and opted for
Saturday. I don’t feel all that great and I will be careful tomorrow not
to eat anything that might make me itch or make my stomach upset. I work
at the Discovery Shop tomorrow from 10 – 1 and I have to go shopping.
Busy day. Talked to Priss. Pauline wrote and it was a good letter. We
sent a card to Matt for his birthday on June 3rd.
June 1
96o
Didn’t write in this on Saturday so now I am doing it on Sunday morning.
Got up at the usual time on Saturday and picked Mary up at 7:15. We got
to the F. Mkt. right at 7:30 and I saw cucumbers! So I bought a lot of
them. They are the little ones I really like. Then I saw daisies in pots
for $2 each and I got 3. They were very healthy looking plants. Then on
to Food for Less and the Cannery. Prices have gone up on groceries.
Bread flour went from $1.58 to $1.80 and there were other things that had
gone up. Rushed home and put everything away. Made a cheese sandwich
and was off to the Discovery Shop. I went back over to the F. Mkt. and
bought one more daisy and will put them in tomorrow. We did very well at
the shop and made $148+ and that was great. I brought things home but on
reflection I decided to keep only one striped top. Jenny did not go to
work. She pulled a muscle or did something to her right shoulder and she
was in such pain that she finally went to Convenient Care but all she got
were muscle relaxers like they gave me when I had the problem. I made a
good dinner. I cut mock crabmeat and made a salad. Heated some of my
rolls and had green beans. For dessert, Jenny & Don had ice cream with
berries but I had a small dish of plain ice cream. I don’t want to risk
eating the berries. Afraid I might have a reaction on my skin. Then we
watched the news and then I called Priss. I am weary of hearing about
her family troubles and she is so irritable. She admits it but seems to
think it is ok under the circumstances. I have come to dread those
nightly calls. Jenny came over and we talked for a while and then I
suggested that maybe a drink would help her relax so she asked Don for a
Manhattan and I had a bourbon and water as did Don but then we (the
ladies) had seconds and then we went to bed and made love and it was
great. So although it was a hot day it was an ok one. I guess summer is
here.
June 2
Hot
We woke at 5 and now there is light when we woke up so the days are
getting longer and longer. So there was breakfast and then 2 papers to
read before church. Today I wore my plaid sleeveless dress with a white
top underneath. When we got to church, there was F. Dover, our new
priest and I think I am going to like him. He is 41, very open and
friendly and I have high hopes for him. We went to Safeway to get
doughnuts for Don and Jenny. I didn’t want anything. I changed my
clothes and went outside and dug 4 holes and planted my daisies. Then I
watered them all and then decided that there was a bare spot and dug up a
lily from the front yard. And now I think I am done. We just have to
even out the edge of the border. I will work on that next. Then I
watered the area where I planted the grass and I hope it will grow. Jenny
felt better today and so she went to work at 3 and will not be back till
midnight. Niki worked some more on her room throwing things way and
setting some aside to go to the Discovery Shop. She also did some
studying for her tests that start tomorrow. I feel guilty cause I have
not walked since Wednesday. I must do better this week. I made a good
dinner. I had a small amount of chicken and I cooked it in strips and
then I blanched some carrot strips, had leftover green beans and I sliced
onions and celery. I cooked rice and then made a salad of cukes,
radishes, onions & avocado. It was a good dinner. Well the big week is
coming up. Niki will graduate (I hope) and Jenny drives to Nevada City
to eat lunch with Linda and then there are the usual things aerobics,
hospice, library and Helen Roseman. Called Priss and she is so unhappy
and depressed and there is little I can do to help. She keeps repeating
everything and now she has decided that Ann is to blame. I am about
ready to give up. So now I am going to read before going to bed.
June 3
102o
It is 10:15 and we just finished watching “The American President” with
Michael Douglas and it was marvelous! It was a hot day. It was warm
when we got up and it kept getting more so as the day progressed. I
walked to my aerobics class and got a good workout and when I got home it
was a relief to take off just about everything and get into something
cooler. Don watered the borders and then we did the lawn. My grass has
not come up yet. I re-read Snow in April by Pilcher and liked it just as
much as the first time. I was reading when Mary Yakich called saying her
cat was sick and needed to go to the vet. Don left at 15 to 3 and went
over to take her. Then he called to say that they could not get the cat
into the carrier and it had scratched both Mary and Don and finally Don
said the cat had to be put away and Mary agreed so he called a Mobile
Unit to come out and take care of it. He got home at 15 to 6. Mary was
very upset. They had to call David to find out when it had had a rabies
shot and Mary screamed to him on the phone and Don just took it away from
her. Well anyway it is finally over and it should have been done years
ago. Don deserves a lot of credit for his patience and doing the right
thing. I made a huge green salad and had spaghetti and fresh bread. Don
had a drink before dinner and we just didn’t bother with the news. I
called Linda and told her about the cat situation and she said they would
not be coming down on the 15th. He has to stay at Lake Mead till at
least July and probably longer. Now I wish we had gone to see her house
cause I don’t know when we will ever get up there. Jenny is going
Thursday to Nevada City and she will come down to meet her and they will
have breakfast or lunch. I am not sure which and Cathy and Julie are
there and MJ will be going up soon. I called Priss and it was the same
story. Problems, problems. She stepped out of her car and got tar on her
shoes and it was the first time she had worn them. David and the problem
of family and I am so weary of all that. I am going to suggest that she
use her VCR and see some good movies. I suppose she will be angry with
me. I made a marvelous dessert: vanilla pudding, then whipped cream and
then I cooked the raspberries and Logan berries and poured some of the
berry sauce on top. It looked beautiful but I didn’t have any cause I am
afraid I might react. Now to bed.
June 4
Another hot day. I think it was about 101o today. I wore my turquoise
skort to Hospice. Doing the walk was pleasant cause it was not very hot
but coming home it wasn’t quite so great. Nina was not there today and I
was put in another part of the office and had a very complicated set of
folders that took the whole time. Sometimes I wonder why I am doing this.
What I really can’t understand is how people could to this as a job all
day long and there are so many of them doing dull things. Well I got home
and ate my cottage cheese, orange, date pieces and raisins. Then I
started to read and dozed and read till 1 when Daisy wanted to be fed so
I did that. Don called the pain clinic at Stanford and they had not
received the fax or if they had they couldn’t find it so Don asked Dr.
Foltz’ office to send another one and Stanford called back saying they
had received it and Don called back Sally’s office and told her it had
been received. He is hoping to hear rather quickly whether or not they
will take him. I read a recipe about avocado soup so I made it and it
was good. It was chilled and I went all out and chilled the dishes and
the spoons! I made tuna sandwiches and Don had the same dessert as last
night. I have been very good and I have cut back on cheese and dessert.
I wrote to my sister and it wasn’t a bad letter. I realize it probably
isn’t what she would like to hear but it was ok. I watched some of the
news but when they got on Whitewater I lost interest. I called Linda and
asked her to write a Thank You note to Priss for the deal she gave her.
Linda is right. It was something Priss had never used and wanted to get
rid of. I showered and then we watched the beginning of a Month by the
Lake. It was with Vanessa Redgrave and the man who played the lead in
the Day of the Jackal. It was too hard to understand the English
speaking and we gave up. Jenny’s softball team won and then Cathy, Jenny
& Niki went to Sierra Brewery and had dinner and they got home just when
we had given up on the movie. I called Priss and heard the same story
about how unhappy she is and I told her to use her VCR and she should
watch The American President. I am afraid I am getting tired of hearing
all her troubles.
June 5
101
Up at 5 and after getting Don’s breakfast and reading part of the paper,
I went in and pinned up my hair. I am not sure I can wait till the 15th
of June to get a perm. But I want to look good in July when Mike and
family come. Niki wanted to be woken at 8. I got ready before she woke
up and wore my purple skort and the white top with the purple grapes to
aerobic. It was already very warm when I walked to aerobics. On the way
back, the F. Mkt. had their first Wednesday 10 – 2 at the N. Valley Mall.
I stopped and got little cukes, green beans and tomatoes even though they
were $2 a #. Then on home where I had lunch and then drove to the
library. When I signed up for housekeeping I didn’t realize they meant
it so literally. I washed shelves and organized for the first hour and
in the second hour I organized Christmas magazines and there were a lot
of them. At the end of 2 hours, I came home to find out that the Pain
Clinic at Stanford will be taking Don next week. I think that is when it
is. Monday Jenny leaves and Tuesday morning he will drive her car down
to sell to Mary Wyle and for lunch with Jason cause he called him and
worked it out with him. Then he will take the next flight out and he will
be here at about 11 and I will drive out to pick him up. That worries me
cause I don’t usually drive at night and I haven’t driven to the airport
for years but I must not let on. Jenny had lunch with A. Silvone and
Mike Sterling and then she went out to Cathy’s for dinner and she was
going to the 8th grade promotion cause MJ is the president of her class
and is going to make a speech. I wrote a letter to Donna cause I had
heard some information about kidney stones and Donna has had them and
Matt has too so I just dropped her a note about them. I also had found a
very small book that my sister Yvonne had with the psalms and I also had
a leather bound book in white in a mass missal so I wrote her a note and
Jenny took them out. Niki just came by to say that there is going to be
a pre-graduation party in the park and she will be home at 12. That
doesn’t sound good to me but I suppose we should hope for the best.
Called Priss and she started out well but then ended up talking about
David and the problem she has with her family. Will this ever end? Don
is watching a James Bond movie. Need I say more? Jenny came home and
said that MJ was chosen outstanding girl student and her speech was very
good too. She liked the little books. I told Jenny about Niki and she
said if she gets into trouble she will just have to take the
consequences.
June 6
Another hot day
We woke at 5 and today I did all my exercises, read the papers and had a
slice of bread, 2 prunes and a glass of juice. I got out the vacuum and
did the kitchen and living room and the TV room and even ran a wet mop
over the kitchen floor. Then I got dressed and Don and I went to Lucky.
It was Bidwell Promotion so there were girls all around the cul de sac
and 1/2 way across their driveway. Lucky was having a $1 sale on good
buys. Then we went to S & S and got a lot of Fiji apples and then home.
Mary Yakich planned to walk to Dr. Godden’s and then she did call and I
did pick her up so she could come see the yard and Don had to go to
Edwards about something and so he said he would stop by to pick her up.
Well at 11:30 when her appointment also was at 10:40 she had not come
with Don so I called and finally they arrived. Poor Don has been taking
care of Mary all week what with the cat earlier. I showed Mary around and
then took her home. She gave me all the leftover cat food and Don took it
over to the Kelly’s cause they have a lot of cats. I re-read Incident at
Badamya yet again. Every once in a while I have an urge to read it. For
dinner, I made a huge green salad and I heated chili and heated one of
those loaves of Pepperidge Farm French bread with jack cheese inside with
spices. I made Don a chocolate sundae. Jenny drove to Grass Valley to
meet Linda. They had lunch together and then later Linda called to say
that she had gotten home safely. Her car was causing trouble. So then
after dinner I showered, shampooed and pinned up my hair. Niki had to be
at PV at 7:15 in her cap and gown and then Cathy and David came and we
all went to see Niki graduate. We took 2 cars and brought chairs. But
we found a place in the bleachers so we didn’t need the chairs but it was
very far away from the stage. Paul Carras gave a good speech. He had
been the principal when this class was in Jr. Hi and so he knew most of
them and he said all the right things. We left shortly after Niki got
her diploma. We sat next to Mrs. Mitchell and her new husband and we
cheered for Valerie too. Had iced Suka and now I am going to bed. So
after 3 years we pulled it off and she is now a high school graduate.
June 7
Up at 5 and I slept well. Do you suppose it is cause Niki actually
graduated from PV? It was a warm night and I checked and Daisy did not
sleep on the lounge cause the cover we put over the lounge was
undisturbed. I fixed Don’s breakfast and looked at the paper and later I
realized I had not done any of my exercises this morning and I did not
walk either, so health-wise it was not a good day. From Thursday on till
Monday I have no definite place to walk to so I didn’t get in my miles
and with this heat I cop out. But come to think about it I did go to
Long’s and got too much stuff and had to carry it home so it wasn’t quite
as bad as I thought. I also went over to Mervyn’s and looked at a silver
chain 18” long for $26 but I really didn’t need it and then later I had
Jenny order a dress from Victoria Secret for me for $29 so it was good I
didn’t buy the necklace. When I got home, I got ready to go to the
luncheon at the club for Osteoporosis. I enjoyed visiting with the other
ladies and the man who talked was informative and I learned a lot. It
was from 12:15 – 1:30 and so I called Don and he picked me up. We
thought Niki was at the all night party and she was but I found out this
morning that her bladder infection was back and she was in such pain that
she called her Mom at 11:30 and Jenny got her. So this morning at 11:45
she went to see Dr. Kagda cause Julie Archer could not take her and she
is on medicine again. I went to see Helen at 3 and she seemed fine. She
had been to a luncheon and I noticed that she was smoking. This was the
first time in the house but maybe it was cause it was so hot outside. We
turned on the air at 10 a.m. Jenny went swimming at Pat Lion’s and then
had dinner with Lynn Hoot Strong. I made a bacon and tomato sandwich for
Don and I had cheese, tomato and pickle. We watched the news – now Dole
is saying that they’re keeping off the abortion issue as a plant at the
convention. Sure – I just bet he would stick to that. Then I listened
to Priss for 3/4 of an hour. She has become so negative that it is hard
to cope with it. Then Don and I went to Mervyn’s and he got 3 knit shirts
that are 100% cotton and thin so they should be cool. Niki left at 6:15
telling us that she was going to party all night since she missed last
night. She is going to be somewhere on Floral but she didn’t know or at
least didn’t give the name of where she would be. That really worries me
and is she going to be doing this every night till the 26th? I am not
sure I can handle 12 more days of this!
June 8
Woke up early and in fact was able to get in a walk before picking up
Mary. It was still cool then and it is a beautiful time of day to be
out. I thought I was buying less at Food for Less but the bill came to
over $41 – so much for that. At the F. Mkt. I got leaf lettuce, green
beans and sugar peas and cucumber. I didn’t see any tomatoes today. I
got quite a bit of things at the Cannery and then it was home. Got
everything put away and then Don wanted to go to Safeway to get milk so I
went along and we got 2 containers of grape soda and Mary wants to pay
for them cause of what Don did on Monday in putting Taylor away. Once I
got back home I did all the chopping of veggies and the first part of the
summer soup. Dinner turned out to be just great. There was the summer
soup which was great and I made egg salad and we had that on fresh bread
and there were cheese and pickles and 2 of 3 ate with great gusto. Then
there was the news and then Priss with her “I have no family” routine.
We keep going over the same scenario every night and I worry that one of
these times I am going to get cross. Then I went in to take a shower and
Jenny came over and said she wanted a Manhattan so once I was out I
ordered a vodka tonic and Don had a bourbon and water. We sat out on the
patio and it was all very pleasant. Both Jenny and I had seconds. Then
Don and I went to bed and we made love but he did not come and so this is
the second time and I know how upset he becomes when this happens. I
would much rather I was the one who didn’t cause I can handle it better.
Ah well. I love him so I don’t want him to feel inadequate.
June 9
I haven’t been sleeping very well and I woke up again at about 3:30 and
knowing I was going to church I decided to get up and pin up my hair.
And I did it all around and so when I lay down again it was agony and I
spent the rest of the time in bed trying to get comfortable so we were up
before 5 on Sunday. There are so many ads and then there are coupons to
clip and then there is the news of course so it keeps one busy. I wore
my navy print skirt and navy top and shoes. We picked up Mary. She had
not gone to the potluck for the new priest last night and we didn’t
either. Part of me wanted to go but then we knew so few people and I
always feel on the outside somehow. Anyway, with Jenny here I hated to
be away. She went out to breakfast with Ken Pierce, Niki’s father. When
I came home, I changed my clothes and walked to K-Mart to buy Miracle
Whip and a can of chocolate covered cashews. I have been wanting to try
them. When I got back, I dug up the rosemary that I had planted in the
north yard and brought it to the south yard near the quince. I had to
cut a lot of the roses off cause the heat really burned them. Finally
Niki got up and then the bombshell came. Niki doesn’t want to go to
Australia. I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. The ticket
is bought and paid for and she is to leave on the 26th and she talks
about getting a job and moving out. She wants to stay here till then but
she wanted to move into the apartment while she is looking. When I told
Don he was as stunned as I was. Well, Jenny did a lot of talking and
there were tears and slammed doors and I felt sick but didn’t know what
to do about it all. I made a good dinner: green beans and sugar peas and
a lovely green salad and Don barbecued hamburgers for us and a veggie
burger for Jenny. Niki asked Don for $3 and went somewhere to eat but
not with us. I didn’t watch the news but when it was over I talked to
Priss and she was in one of her low moods and I felt like saying you have
trouble wait till you hear what we have but I didn’t mention it.
Finally, Don talked to her and she agreed that if she didn’t have a job
by the 26th she would have to go so who knows what the next 17 days will
bring. I told Don Niki is 17 and I am 77. She will probably have at
least 60 more years to live but I will probably have just a few and I
think I need a break from helping take care of a teenager. Well I am
going to bed and hope that tomorrow will be better.
June 10
Cooler
We got up early and it was much cooler although later in the day it did
get hot but not like last week. Read the paper and did my exercises but
I didn’t feel very peppy. Jenny came over and she looked as if she had
not slept and had cried a lot. I feel sorry for all of us. I couldn’t
decide whether I should go to aerobics or not but finally went. I
stopped and got 2 bananas. Cause of the heat, you can’t buy more than 1
or 2 at a time. At home, Niki was still asleep. Jenny and I talked but
there really isn’t much to say. Obviously Niki does not want to go to
Australia and her mother wants her to. Impasse. So the day dragged on.
We had lunch and I read for a while, worked outside, pulled a few weeds,
moved some plants and gave some the acid fertilizer. Then it was time for
Jenny to go and she asked me not to come to the airport. She went to say
goodbye to Niki but Niki didn’t even look at her. Just walked into her
room and closed the door. It breaks my heart. Got one of those nasty
letters from Pauline. She said all I can write about is cooking and the
garden. She suggested I write cookbooks or gardening books. I had told
about Mike fixing the shower a long time ago and she said men should take
showers and women should take baths and she cited paintings by Degas of
women in bathtubs. What next? I want to just not ever write to her again
but Linda says I should wait two weeks and then write a very short letter
about something in the Atlantic Monthly and that would be it. Nothing
about children, grandchildren or anything personal. I made a simple
dinner and then started work on the apartment. I put the things back on
the shelves over the little dining table and I started cleaning the
bathroom, etc. Washed the sheets and will make up the bed tomorrow
morning after I get back from Hospice. I wish I did not have to go. Don
drives down to Palo Alto tomorrow to take Mary the car that Don sold her.
The one Jenny used while she was here. I just wish that things could be
worked out for everyone but I don’t see that happening. As I told Don, I
want to know “when will we go to have fun?” Niki, who slept all day,
just got back from Taco Bell and is going to watch a movie and probably
spend the night at Sabrina’s, whomever that is.
June 11
What a day! Don left for Palo Alto at 7:30 and I was just ready to walk
to Hospice when the phone rang and it was Jenny who was still in S.F.
The flight last night was canceled and they had put 50 people up at a
hotel + gave them money for food and it was to go out tonight. They also
gave each of them one International call so she called Barry and he
wasn’t in the office but he called back. So after I hung up, I looked for
the hotel where Mary Wyle was staying but couldn’t find it so I called
the Hillmers and asked them to call Mary and tell Don to call home after
11. Then I walked to Hospice, worked hard and asked to leave early so I
would be sure to be there when Don called. When I got the call, I
suggested that he call Jenny and I had her phone number. Then I called
Dr. Schwartz and got an appointment for Niki at 2:30. When Niki came
home, I told her and she stayed here. I worked all the rest of the time
till 2:30 on the apartment and by then, it was all done. Vacuumed,
dusted, and back the way it used to look. Then we went to the doctor and
he said the big swelling on her right buttock was probably poison oak and
gave an Rx for a cream. He said she should continue with the medicine
for the herpes so when we got home I called Pers in Nevada and they will
send it. Linda called and this was her first day of her freshman English
class and she has to write a term paper, 6 essays, pop quiz at the
beginning of each class. We laughed a lot. Cathy came by and I gave her
the T-shirts that Craig had sent and the chains from Jenny’s car for
Julie’s car. Made myself a wonderful dinner: It was Niki’s idea: boil
new potatoes, cut in large pieces, grate cheese, put sour cream and ch.
onions – delicious and I made a green salad of leftovers. It all tasted
great. Niki went off or rather I took her downtown and I left her off.
Her friend, Matt, called but she was not here. Then Don called from the
airport and I had to call the cab co. but they can’t and Don asked me for
$10 to pay. Fortunately, I had it. Talked to Priss. She is low. The
apartment looks lovely. I trimmed the sides of the bedspread and sewed
it by hand and it looks much better. Don told me all about the day.
Jason had eaten lunch with Mary and Don in the hotel room and they had
dinner with Jenny at her hotel. So it was a big day for all of us.
the stay at homes and those driving and flying.
For
June 12
We both needed more sleep but Daisy was all ready to go at 5 so we got
up. I did all the usual and then with 1/2 an hour left I read Family
Affair by Catherine Goskin – I have read it before 3 times already. Then
at 8:30 I left for my class. It was a nice morning and not too hot. Good
class and I didn’t get too winded. Stopped on the way home at the F.
Mkt. at the W.V. mall but no one had tomatoes and peaches and apricots
were very hard so I came home without buying anything. Had a bit of
lunch and then Don took me to the library. Things are not so good there.
There is some in fighting among the volunteers who work a 6 – 8 hour day
many times during the week. That makes me 2 hours a week look pretty
small. Anyway, now I am to work on current magazines and not for Lorna
any more. In a way, I would like to quit but I don’t feel I should. We
will see how it goes. Don picked me up and when I got home, I drove to
the Beauty College to make an appointment to have my hair permed tomorrow
at 1. I called Linda who regaled me with people on welfare who wrote
letters to get help and they were hilarious. Don left a note saying what
he wanted for dinner: 1 piece of toast, a poached egg and some raisins!
How strange – well I put a lot of veggies together, oh yes, he also
wanted 1/2 an avocado. So I also had bought some apricots at Holiday so
we had a very simple meal but it certainly tasted good. I watered all
the plants in and outdoors and tomorrow I will do the ironing in the
morning and then I will have to decide something about dinner. Jenny just
called at 8:30 p.m. our time. The trip had been just terrible with fog
and problems getting into Sydney and into Melbourne. She sounded very
tired. She talked just a minute. I have showered and I think we will go
to bed early tonight. We did not turn on the air at all today. Maybe we
will for a little while tonight. I feel rather restless. Niki has been
in good spirits today. She is off swimming at the moment.
June 13
I didn’t have to get up this morning but I did anyway and I did my
exercises but did very little reading of the paper. I am getting worse
and worse about that. Sometimes I miss the evening news as well. Well
then I did a note of thanks. I watered all the plants in and outside. I
sprayed the little deal that Don has in his bathroom. It is wicker and
it looked dusty and tacky. I have a spray can of wood color and it
turned out great. I cleaned the stove and then I did the ironing. All
of this before Don got back from tennis. He then sprayed Round Up on the
edge of the border where the Bermuda has moved in. I got dressed and
went for a walk. Stopped at Walgreen’s and ordered some eye drops. Then
went to Mervyn’s looking for a white short sleeved T-shirt but I couldn’t
find one I liked. Got home and Niki refused to go to the dentist cause a
friend, Jeanine, was moving out of town and they were all going to lunch
and Valerie came to pick her up. It was so good to see her. She and Niki
had a falling out and since we were so fond of Val I am glad they have
made up. Then at 12:30 I walked to the Beauty College and I got Carolyn
who proved to be fun and was very good and Morrison and Mrs. Gee, etc.,
all came to check on me and I told them my last perm had not lasted and
so they worked very hard to make this one a good one. Then I had Don
pick me up and I made cucumber sandwiches, took a shower and got dressed
in my beige skirt and cotton sweater with the silk scarf that matches and
we went to the Langes to a Friends of Chico Schools Affair. I saw Fred
Mertz and met his wife and Paul Carras and the Supt., Jane Dolan, Barbara
Conklin, etc. and we stayed for an hour and came home and had cold
cereal. Niki was writing Thank You letters and she wrote one to us and
it was very sweet. Julie called and she got 3 A’s and 2 B’s. She did
very well her freshman year. Then I talked to Linda and she kept me
laughing describing her English class. Then I talked to Priss and she
had gone to see Dr. Zadra again and she is going to write a letter to
David. Now Don is going to make a drink and then we are going to take
advantage of Niki’s staying the night at Rachel’s. We had a drink and
made love. Better than last time.
June 14
Miele
Woke up to a bright chilly morning. If only it would not get so hot
later on. After my exercises and the paper, I felt very good and so I did
a lot of little things. I sanded a part of the tabletop in the apartment.
That is going to be a long process and since I worked only 15 minutes I
may be working on this for years. Then I got out the vacuum and the
little one and really cleaned the TV room going around the edges and
moving chairs, etc. When Don got back from tennis, I was just finishing.
I picked and arranged flowers and the roses are coming back with new
blooms. Don got a fertilizer spreader and he will do that tomorrow and
get a lot of that stuff out of the shed. Then he went to Cathy’s Sewing
Machine and Vacuum and bought the Miele vacuum. It was very expensive.
He took the sewing machine over to give to them but they gave him $30 for
it and I put the fan that didn’t work in the recycle container so we got
rid of both of the things that didn’t work. We tried to put the vacuum
together but it was too complicated so Don went back and brought the man
out and he did it all and explained it all. I may not have time tomorrow
but I will do another room Monday at the latest. I think we have been
very careless about cleaning of late. Niki woke up and started packing
and she filled 3 boxes. I made her two poached eggs on toast and she was
cheerful and talkative. I wrote a letter to Jenny and I hope I said the
right things. Since my experience with my sister, I get nervous about
writing and I used to look forward to writing to her. It is all so
strange. For dinner I made cream sauce with eggs and cheese and a little
salad. Niki did not eat with us. She was going to the concert downtown.
Someone called Matt seems to be in the picture at the moment. I tried to
make an appointment with Dr. Archer for her but she could not see her
before July so I decided she will see Jenny’s gynecologist when she gets
to Melbourne. She is having a period every 2 weeks and that is not
normal. Don got another F. Day card from Mike. He didn’t call this
week. It is now 9:30 and it is still pretty hot. Don turned on the air
just to cool things off a bit. I went to the Roseman's at 3 but they were
napping so George came out and I told him I would not be coming next
Friday cause Don goes down to Stanford for the pain clinic. He doesn’t
want to go cause he doesn’t think they can help.
June 15
This was a busy and productive day. We got up rather late at least for
us. I had a lot of strange dreams so I woke up many times and then went
back to sleep. So I did little in the way of exercises cause I wanted to
leave early to go to the market and then did the rest of my shopping.
Got green and yellow beans, cherry tomatoes, cukes, nectarines, etc., and
the Food for Less strawberries and grapes + papayas and all the other
things + dog food dry and canned. It came to $41 again. I can’t seem to
get it down and I don’t buy any meat. Got home, put things away and got
ready to go to the Discovery Shop but the lady who was going to open up
called to say that she forgot to get the key. So I decided to go for a
walk and was going to change my clothes when Betty Pyle called to say
that she was there and I was to come so I got in the car and was there.
We made about $67 and I got a pair of rayon slacks black with a white
pattern and they fit for $3. The other things I tried on when I came
home were not right. But I got a nice basket for Linda and 4 place mats
in a lovely coral color so I was happy. By one I was hungry and tired so
when I got home I had lunch. Don had fertilized the whole yard and got
rid of all that stuff in the shed. I read and dozed for a bit and then I
got out of my chair and made a potato salad for dinner. I fixed green
beans, the salad and I made us sandwiches with ham, avocado, lettuce and
pickles and we had strawberries dipped in sugar for dessert. Then we
watched the news and the big thing at the moment is will Yeltsin win in
Russia’s election. We should have a pretty good idea by tomorrow night.
When that was over, I called Priss and she told me about the party she
had been to today from 12 – 2 and I realize if she got to go to things
more she would not be so depressed about her family. I had run a load of
clothes so then I ironed 3 shirts, my new pants, shorts, etc. So I am
all caught up. We watched Nature from 8 – 9 and it was about courtship
and reproduction among animals, birds and creatures in the sea,
fascinating. Then a shower, shaved my legs, brushed my teeth and rinsed
with 1/2 peroxide and water. I have been doing that and so far my mouth
is ok. So now I will read for a while and then to bed.
June 16
Well, here it is Sunday night and another week has gone by. 10 days and
if all goes well, Niki will be on her way to Australia. I so hope she
goes willing cause it is hard for both her and us to say goodbye and if
there is trouble it will be very difficult indeed. I slept in to almost
6 and then rushed around to put the rolls in the oven, etc., and I didn’t
do any of my exercises. We went to mass and I wore my new (?) black and
white slacks but they are more harem pants. I didn’t realize they are so
full. I wore my black short sleeved sweater and it looks very nice.
Cathy stopped by with cards for Don and a book about bed and breakfasts.
We really don’t care much for them but the thought was nice. She did say
that Julie was willing to stay if we decided to go some place and that
was nice. We went to Mass and I continue to like the new priest. He is a
simple man. Seems very sincere and down to earth. Came home and changed
my clothes. Got the lilies for the day. Yellow for the apartment table
and orange for our dining room table. Then I went for a walk and it was
lovely and cool and I enjoyed it very much. Came home and made lunch,
then I read for a bit, made meringues that turned out beautifully and
lemon pie filling. Then I marinated our Harris Ranch fillets, did the
salad greens and got the corn ready. Got rolls from the freezer and got
them ready to heat. So now the menu is complete. Don watched golf in the
afternoon and I read and cleaned the bathroom in the apartment. I hate
cleaning toilets. There should be some way to do it that would be easier
and quicker. Niki ate dinner with us. No meat of course and no dessert
but at least she sat down with us. It was just about a perfect day. We
didn’t have to turn any fans or the air on and I went for a walk after
dinner and there was a lovely cool breeze. The news tonight as much as
says that there will have to be a run off in the Russian election.
Yeltsin is not going to win a majority so it will have to be a run off
next month. Mike called at 8:45 p.m. They had been to Disney World and
had just gotten home. I didn’t call Priss tonight cause she was having
Karen Lemke to dinner and I didn’t know how long her guest would stay. I
will call her tomorrow night. So now I have put a second coat of tanning
on my legs and I am going to finish my book by Ruth Randell Kissing the
Gunner’s Daughter.
June 17
Very cool morning, nice all day
Up at around 5. Rather a restless night but not too bad. I decided to
wash sheets so I stripped the bed and put the sheets in the wash and hung
them outside and put another in the bed. I did 20 minutes of exercise,
had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and then read a bit of the paper
before feeding all the houseplants indoors and out. By then it was time
to get dressed to go to aerobics and I decided to be cold on the way
cause coming home it would be warmer and that was how it turned out. I
wore a white T-shirt and that white pleated short skirt with the blue
stars. Had a good workout and pleasant walk home. Saw Hoppe and we
stopped to visit. Don took Daisy for her bath and vacuumed the house and
I did the apartment, going on the assumption that if she had fleas, we
would be sure to clean everything and hopefully take care of the fleas.
The new vacuum works great. Had lunch and finished my book by Ruth
Randall. I cut up the last piece of steak and heated it for Don along
with making mashed potatoes. I had a sandwich. I ate a lot of things
from the fridge between meals so I ate a small amount at dinner. Mary
Wyle can’t drive the car, claims the dog can’t get in, Blue Book marked
it way down, etc. Jenny was furious when told by e-mail about it. She
said it was marked at $3,000 when she checked. Mary continues to be a
pain in the neck. How I wish that Don had never gotten involved in the
trustee deal. She has spent $15,000 on the French fiasco and she is still
living in the fancy hotel cause she can’t find a place in Palo Alto and
refuses to go anywhere else. So on Friday, Don will fly down SF and go
to the pain clinic and then drive the car back and next week he has to
take Niki to the city as well. He is going to wear himself out. I
called Priss tonight and she was in a fairly good mood. I am tired and am
going to bed. I cleaned the hall closet and neatened it up. I hope to
do a little bit each day and throw away and give away things. We have
too much stuff! I have to write to Pauline one of these days too.
June 18
It is 9:20 p.m. and I have showered and put tanning lotion on my legs. I
am running a load of clothes so I will stay up till I can put them in the
dryer. This was a good day for the most part. After breakfast, I managed
to do the dusting before getting dressed and go to Hospice. That was the
disappointment in the day. Nina was not there and no one had much for me
to do and I sat around till 10:15 and then went home. I had wanted to
hear Dr. Stove but I had forgotten about it and did not bring a lunch so
I just walked home and ate here. Don was going to Lisa’s for lunch so I
left at 12:15. He changed his air line ticket from Friday morning to
Tuesday afternoon cause he is to be at Stanford at 9:00 and the travel
agency said that sometimes the planes in the morning don’t always get
there on time. In the afternoon, I did a lot of things. I transplanted
the gold dust plant that can’t take the sun and the off shoots from the
main plant and took them to the area near the shed cause it is shady
there. And I raked up all the debris in the area and put it in a garbage
bag and cleaned up the shed. Then I decided to make chocolate chip
cookies and Niki helped me and they turned out very well. Mary Wyle
doesn’t want the car that Don had driven down so he is taking the plane
and will drive it back and we will try to sell it. When I think of all
the money that Mary Wyle has cost us: 2 plane tickets, hundreds of long
distance calls, some of them to France. Don has spent at least $1,000 of
our money. When I think of all the things I could buy with that amount of
money I grow angry. I certainly wish he had never agreed to be trustee
and I wish he could get out of it cause it never ends. Since Don had had
a big lunch we had a very simple dinner of squaw corn, fresh bread and a
cucumber salad. Then the news and the Whitewater situation just keeps on
getting worse. I called Priss and she was in a fairly good mood for a
change and she didn’t mention David once. Then Don and I walked to Long’s
to get suntan lotion for my legs, to the Craft Store where I got good
looking frames for the pictures of Mike and Linda + glue and some yellow
paint I hope will match the bathroom for touch up and then to Walgreen’s
for eye drops and home. Now I have taken a shower and put the tanning
stuff on my legs and Niki came home at 9:20! Very unusual. She got her
report card: printmaking A-, Eng. –B, Biology-NG(?). We have to check on
that. Gov’t-C+; Clothing-A; TA.P. Great.
June 19
It was so chilly this morning I didn’t want to get out of bed but of
course I did. Since it was cold, I read the ads but there was nothing
much of interest. I wore shorts and a shirt tucked in to go to aerobics
and we had a good workout. Then I stopped at the F. Mkt. here in the
NH.Valley mall area. I took $3.70 with me and I got cukes, 2 peaches,
some nectarines and some tomatoes and I had a few pennies left. When I
got home I fixed my lunch and Don took me to the library. Today I started
my new job. I am to work on the magazines separating current from back
issues and putting them in chronological order. Tedious but seems there
is no need for typing with the new computer so I really had no choice.
I liked working in the back room better cause there were people to talk
to but I will stick with this for a while and see what happens. When Don
picked me up we went to S & S and got apples and oranges and then Don
said we needed milk so we went to the PV first and there we ran into
complications. Niki had gotten a NG in biology and she said the teacher
had told her that she had a B so it was possible that the teacher had not
filled in the bubble heavy enough. So Mary Sterling tried to reach the
teacher without success and finally after looking over her grade book
they decided to give her a B and Kroner and the principal signed it. But
the school thing took about 3/4 of an hour. Then we picked up the milk
and went home for dinner. I fixed chicken breasts with a little gravy,
heated another casserole of mashed potatoes, opened a can of peas and
made a big fruit salad. Don had a meringue with lemon sauce for dessert.
Then the news and the situation for the Clinton's gets worse and worse.
Dole does not seem to have any agenda at all to offer. He just talks
about honesty and family values and his people keep accusing the
Clinton's of lying and being dishonest and Whitewater goes on and on.
And it is just June!! Mary Sterling took Niki to lunch and they had a
good time but something went wrong in the afternoon cause Niki is very
angry and sullen and no one has called and I don’t know what happened and
she is not talking. I called Linda and she is feeling very badly. The
dress I ordered from Victoria Secret arrived. It was black and very
simple but it did not look good on me and was too short so I will be
sending it back. I don’t think the one that Cathy ordered is much better
but Cathy is coming on Friday and she will decided if she thinks Jenny
would like it. So tomorrow Don goes to S.F. on the afternoon plane. And
Priss called and invited me to lunch and I couldn’t think of any reason
for not going. Damn!
June 20
This was a different kind of day. Again a very cool almost chilly
morning. Would have liked to stay in bed but got up. Did a few
exercises. Papers didn’t have much to say. Changed the flowers then
showered and washed and set my hair. Priss had invited me to lunch so I
wore my beige shirt, sweater, shoes and scarf. We went to the new
Country Club in town that is way out on the way to Forest Ranch. It is
very attractive and there are very attractive huge houses around it.
Lunch was ok but not great but then I am not fond of eating lunch out.
Got home at 1:30 and later I went with Don to the airport for him to
catch his plane to Palo Alto. I drove back and went to Mervyn’s and
bought a white T-shirt. Came home and changed my clothes and read for a
while and then made my dinner. I had made a macaroni salad in the morning
so I sliced the last piece of cooked chicken and heated it with soy
sauce, had a slice of bread and it was a good dinner. Niki was in and
out. I cleaned out the b.r. cupboard, threw things away and put some
things in different places and it looks better. Then I checked the lefthand cupboard in the kitchen and did the same thing. I think if Don were
gone a week I would have painted the house. I never do this kind of
thing when he is here. Niki was in and out. It is after 9 and she just
called saying she was at Natasha’s and would be home at 12. So I am
alone till then. I have been putting off writing to my sister but I must
do it tomorrow. I called Cathy and she said she would be in tomorrow if
she remembers, that is, and with the truck so we can go to Jackie’s and
get the glider. It is on her front porch. She said it wasn’t all that
heavy. So here I am alone with Daisy. I hate to have the house unlocked
till 12 but I guess I have no choice. Tomorrow morning I must water the
borders and then the lawn. I may even wash the car. Who knows.
June 21
Lovely day, bright and breezy in the high 80’s
Well I was alone till after 12 and I made it ok I guess. The true test
will be Wednesday night when Don takes Niki to SF to catch the night
plane to Sydney. Then I will be alone all night but I think Daisy will
take care of me. I had a busy day. First off I went out to water the
borders. But I decided in the front yard not to do it. Those bushes grow
so fast and if we water them less maybe they won't grow so fast but I did
the rest of the borders, especially the new privets. Then I fed the
roses their systemic and I will feed them all fertilizer next week. It
took a long time. Then I started the watering of the lawn. At about 11,
Cathy and David arrived with the truck and we went over to Jackie's and
got the glider. It is black wrought iron with cushions in white and
colors. I think I will spray the white or should I paint it with a
brush? I am not sure yet. Then Cathy tried on the black dress that I
ordered from Victoria Secret I didn’t like and she decided to keep it so
now I don’t have to send anything back cause she said the dress that
Jenny wanted was the right one. Now the question is will I get paid for
all this or will we be stuck with the $103 bill? I hope not. After they
left, I had lunch and read for a while. I had run a load of clothes and
I folded them and will iron them tomorrow. Priss called completely
distraught. She was writing a letter to David and she was worried about
it. She read it to me and I thought it was very well done and I told her
so. I suggested that she call Dr. Z to get something to take to calm
herself down but he is out of town. I offered to call David but she
decided not to have me do that. Well later I called her and she was much
better and I called tonight and she had gone out to dinner with Lynn
Burch and she seemed more like herself. Niki was here most of the day
and she seemed glum and unhappy. She doesn’t want to go to Australia
that’s for sure so I wonder how it will go. Rosalie got a job at
McDonald's and is thrilled to have it. I am pleased for her. I wrote to
Pauline and was very careful to write about things that I hope will not
annoy her. Article in Atlantic Monthly about the Christian far right and
about the Catholic Church. Don got home at 3:15, hot and tired. The pain
clinic at Stanford had gone well. He liked the young doctor very much.
He agreed that there was nothing to be done about him except maybe
different medication and maybe some physical therapy. He also got to
call Dr. Foltz and also will write to Don about it all. He asked what he
had done in retirement and when Don told him about the book, he said he
has a friend whose mother lived in SW.D., so Don is going to send her the
book. Don seemed to feel good about the experience there. I made him
and Niki milk shakes and for dinner we had cold salmon with cukes,
tomatoes and avocados around it and a pasta dish. It was good. We
watched the news and went for a short walk and now it is 9:30. Don is in
bed and I will read for a while and then go myself.
June 22
I slept better last night but still didn’t want to get up but once I am
up it was ok. Did all my exercises this morning. Nothing much of
interest in the papers. I got dressed, grabbed my grocery list and my
bag + my purse and was on my way to pick up Mary. I paid $3 for tomatoes
at the F. Mkt. but they hardly taste like they should. I got some
nectarines but that was about all. Then on to Food for Less and the
Cannery. Nothing different or interesting there but I didn’t spend quite
so much money today. $31 at Food for Less and $9 at the Cannery. Then I
took Mary home and got home myself. Put the groceries away. Don told me
that Jackie had called and we had picked up the wrong thing on her front
porch. It wasn’t the glider but the exercise machine so we had to call
Cathy and ask her to come back tomorrow to exchange. I am disappointed
cause I liked the glider and I had cleaned it all up. Ah well. I picked
roses and re-did bouquets and then it was lunchtime. Afterwards, I sat
down to read and dozed in my chair. So it was a typical Saturday really.
I ran two loads of clothes and got them sorted and folded. Dinner was
easy. I sliced ham, tomatoes, cukes, cheese, washed lettuce, sliced
avocado, put out macaroni salad and we made our own sandwiches. Just as
we sat down, Don said he should call Mary and he was gone a long time. I
saw it as poor timing. Anyway she still has not found anything and is
still staying in an expensive hotel and frankly I am getting very tired
of Mary but then I have been feeling that way all along. After we ate, I
went over to the apartment and did the ironing. I got it done in time to
listen to the news and then I called Priss and listened to her for a long
time. Afterwards, I shaved my legs and showered. I started a big project
today. Don and Niki moved the dining room table that Yvonne had bought at
Sloans when she lived in S.F. I have already re-finished it once but
Linda had Bonnie use it and there are cigarette burns + stains, etc. and
I can see myself working on this for a long time. I didn’t mind but my
hands are so broken out with eczema and I have to wear gloves and that
makes them worse. But it must be done. Now Don is saying that maybe we
should not fix up the room that Niki has been in cause she may be coming
back. Am I being too selfish cause I don’t want her living with us any
more knowing that she really doesn’t want to be here and has never her
pulled her weight as she promised when she wanted to come back 3 years
ago. I am very, very tired.
June 23
A little tiny bit of rain
We got up at 5 and it wasn’t as cool as the last few mornings but it
didn’t get all that hot really. We went to church. I wore my long white
skirt and the white top with the grapes on it. Mary gave me a check for
$50 to spend on Don cause he does so much for her. I am at a loss to
know what to do about that. We went to Safeway and I bought doughnuts
and did get his special coffee. I changed my clothes and got the
electric sander and worked on the table. I still have a long way to go
and I need more supplies so I will have to wait till tomorrow to get
them. I picked a lot of roses, many of them were in too full a bloom to
use in the house so they just had to be discarded. I watered my new
grass and it is hanging in there but just barely. Then we had lunch. I
still had one casserole of mashed potatoes. I thawed a little meat loaf.
I made big green salads and there was one meringue left and I had gotten
strawberries so we had that with ice cream for desert. We were just
eating when David came with the Cherokee and MJ and a friend who had been
to the movie and we got the glider back in the car and Don drove their
car to Jackie’s and they put the glider back on the porch and took the
exercise glider and Don told them to take it to Cathy’s. Well, I wanted
to try it at least but it was done and what could I do about it? Damn!
Niki was in and out all day. She seems to be seeing more of someone
called Natasha then anyone. Sometimes I find it hard to figure her out.
We watched the news and now we hear that Hillary Clinton had some kind of
meeting with a psychic and talked to Mrs. Roosevelt, etc. What next! I
called Priss and she talked at length about a book she was reading, but
she wasn’t in a bad mood really so that helped. After that at 8 we
started watching a nature program on channel 9. This one is about the
beginning of man and what it is like today. The phone rang and it was
Pauline and we had a good talk and she didn’t say one nasty thing. Thank
Goodness. Went back to the program and then Linda called saying that
there was a fire at Tahoe but they were not close to it and not to worry.
They had driven home and hopefully Craig will not have to go back but
they are not sure. Then the phone rang again and this time it was George
McGovern so Don talked to him. Now at 9:15, I think most of the calls
and programs are over and I will read for awhile and then go to bed. It
is supposed to rain tomorrow. I wonder if it actually will. There was a
gorgeous sunset with lots of orange and purple cause of the clouds in the
west.
June 24
Up at 5 and it was a very cool morning. The eczema on my middle finger on
my right hand makes it very difficult to write tonight. I did my
exercises and at least some of them and read the papers and then watered
the plants in and outside (I counted and there are 25) and then I got
ready to go to aerobics. I wore my white skort and lavender top and by
the time I went it had warmed up so I was comfortable. Class was fine
and then I walked on to the Chico Med. and went to Dr. Schwarts' office.
She couldn’t take me but I got a young man who works there called KayOh
or some such name and he was very good and helpful and gave me samples
for my eczema and the name of an over the counter salve for my canker
sore so I didn’t get home till after 11 but it was worth going. I ate
lunch and then went to K-Mart and Sherwin-Williams but couldn’t get the
things I wanted so I came home and worked on the table. I finished the
remover I had on hand and sanded and finally washed the table and maybe
tomorrow if the weather is ok I can stain it. However, rain is predicted
so maybe I will have to wait. Got a letter from Pauline saying much of
what she had said last night. But there was no anger this time.
I made
a good dinner: cold sliced meat loaf, green and waxed beans, cuke and
tomato salad, and then a new recipe with new potatoes cut in 1/4’s and
dipped in olive oil and rosemary and baked in the oven with cheese
sprinkled over the last minute. Made a chocolate cake too and we both
enjoyed dinner. Julie stopped by this afternoon and she talked much about
moving out. I found a lamp base and gave it to her and she took an
electric mixer I had saved for her. She hopes to move out the 1st of
September. Talked to Linda and thought there is a forest fire in Nevada
at Tahoe but she and Craig are ok. I showered and pinned up my hair and
I am very sleepy so I think I will go to bed.
June 25
This has been a rather unsatisfactory day in many respects. It started
out ok but very chilly. Did my exercises, read the papers and then got
dressed to go to Hospice. I had pinned up my hair last night so it
looked fine and I wore my light blue jump suit. Had a dull 2 hours at
Hospice after a lovely walk on such a cool morning. Came home and Niki
still had not come back from Natasha’s where she spent the night. We had
lunch and with the weatherman predicting rain, I decided not to take the
table out again to work on it. Now I will have to wait till Thursday or
Friday. So I changed all the flowers and went out to pick some and
tripped over a peg pounded in one of the roses and fell down on my rear
and snapped the rose off at the ground and it was one of my favorites.
Well I should be glad I didn’t really hurt myself. I took the sandpaper
back to K-Mart and went to Lucky to buy onions. I decided to get a Lucky
card cause they do have good buys using it. I looked at a cream colored
top at K-Mart and I may go back tomorrow to see if it matches my skirt.
Mike called to say he would be coming in the first of August and would
stay 3 days but Karen & Emmie are not coming. She is afraid of flying.
Niki came home in one of her nastiest moods where she doesn’t answer you
when you talk to her. What a way to leave us. She seems to want to stay
here but it is certainly not cause of us by the way she treats us. I
feel very bad about all this but don’t know what to do. I would like to
tell her what a spoiled unpleasant person she is but what would that do?
Nothing would change. I wonder how all of this is going to end? For
dinner, I heated some leftover stew from the freezer and made a salad and
biscuits. Talked to Linda and she is getting A’s in all her papers in
her English class. She still isn’t feeling very well. It is 9:20 and I
am doing 2 loads of clothes so Niki can pack some last minute things.
Don is cross. I think he dreads tomorrow. I dread till 2 when they
leave but he has her till 10:30 tomorrow night and then he goes back to
the hotel and comes back here on Thursday morning. I hope that is the
last trip he has to make to the Bay area for a long time. If Niki were
to act in a nice way this last night and tomorrow could be a precious
time but instead it is one of slammed doors and sadness. Were the 3
years we put in all a waste? Probably. I am very disillusioned and hurt
tonight.
June 26
It is 9:45 p.m. and I have just fixed myself a drink made up of vodka,
o.j. and a pina colada soft drink. Tastes mighty fine. Well, the day
finally came when Niki left for Australia. We got up at the usual time.
Niki had spent yet another night at Natasha’s. It was cold, windy and
rainy so I dressed for winter and took an umbrella. It rained for a
short time and then I had to carry it the rest of the way to my aerobics
class. I wasn’t all that perky today but I made it through and then
stopped on the way home at the Mkt. and got tomatoes and 3 little red
onions. Niki was home but asleep when I got back. Then she got up and
she asked for me to go for breakfast. I offered to make it but she said
no. Kasey stopped by with a graduation gift for her and Valerie called
but she was not here for that. I didn’t know if she called her or not.
Then she went downtown with Natasha to buy a deal for her tapes and it
cost more than expected so I gave her $5 more. That was the last time
for now at least. They were to leave at 2 but she didn’t get back till
2:45 and then they left. I had mixed feelings. Don is all down cause she
is going but I am ready for her to go. I hope she will be back but she
will have to have something specific in mind. I won’t have her here
staying out every night till 12 or not coming home at all. Those days
are over. After they left, I went into her room and stripped the bed and
washed sheets and blankets. I tried to get the scotch tape off walls and
doors but without much success. I wanted to clean out the closet but the
doors went off their track so I will have to wait for Don. I did fill
the holes in the wall as far up as I could raise but will have to use the
stepladder for the ones way up high. Watched the local news but not the
national. Called and talked to Priss. She is still waiting to hear from
David. Tried to call Linda but got no answer. Jackie called to say that
the 1st Olympics was on the Disney Channel at 9. She thought Don was
home. A man from Piedmont called who had read Don’s book and liked it
and we had a nice visit. I typed it up for Don. Then at 9:30, Don
called and he was in tears having left Niki. He could not go beyond a
certain barrier so he felt bad leaving her. I told him about the man
from Piedmont and about the 1st Olympics so he felt a little better and
was going to check on the TV. He said he would leave early in the
morning. So now we are without Niki. It will seem strange certainly.
Yes, I will miss her and Yes, I will enjoy the freedom from worrying
about her so I guess I am ambivalent.
June 27
Well today was another day of work but tonight the bedroom where Niki
slept the last 3 years is back to where it was before she came. I got up
this morning at 5:15. I was very proud that I had spent the night by
myself and was not afraid. Since we have lived in this house the times I
have been in it alone at night just doesn’t exist. Isn’t that strange?
I went to bed at about 10 and the wind was blowing so hard that I put up
the blinds and closed all the windows. Daisy missed Don but she didn’t
spend much time in the bedroom during the night. I got up and read the
papers briefly. Did my exercises and then first thing I showered,
shampooed and set my hair. Then I got back to work on the room. There
was a little bit of ironing to be done so I did that and while doing that
Don arrived. I had expected him around 10 and he got here at 9! I was
surprised. Well, I finished the ironing and then went back to the
bedroom. I vacuumed, scrubbed the marks on the walls and the closet
doors. Don called Carl and since he was playing tennis with John Boyle,
he went to the courts and asked if they would help him move the
entertainment center to the shed. By then, I had pretty well finished
with the walls so they moved the deal and then I could vacuum the whole
thing. I switched the mattress, put the pillows out to air and I had
washed the sheets so I made up the bed and got out the bedspread that had
been packed away and washed and brushed the little red table, the wicker
chairs, etc. and suddenly it all looked like it used to. I was pleased.
Then I went outside and picked lots of roses and did all the flowers in
the living room and dining room, etc. Everything is in bloom right now.
Priss came to bring me a book and to also give me the Evita tape. Since
the movie is coming out in December I am eager to hear the tape. That
was made when the play was so popular about 18 years ago. We visited and
then we left. I then went over to K-Mart looking for a summer cotton top
in a cream color to match my skirt that color. I tried on 6 different
ones and finally found one that looked good on me and how nice it was the
cheapest $6.99. Then to the Paint Store to get heavy gloves and paint
and varnish remover. So now the apartment and the bedroom are back to
normal and I don’t think we will have to paint after all and Thank
Goodness for that. I made Don a bacon and tomato sandwich, chips and the
carrot salad I had seen in Gourmet and for dessert broke up chocolate
chip cookies, put ice cream ad chocolate sauce on and good result! Then
the news. Talked to Priss again cause she had heard from David and she
feels a little better. Don is very tired and has gone to bed and I plan
to read for a while and then I too will go.
June 28
Woke up to summer again. At first today it was quite warm. I decided I
can’t just walk the first 3 days of the week so after Don went for
tennis, I walked the circle around the mall and through the Almond
Orchard Mall so it was about 2 miles. Then I changed the flowers and had
a snack and went off to the Discovery Shop. It wasn’t as much fun today.
I didn’t know the lady who was cashier and she talked very little. I
don’t know the name of the lady in the back but she is nice but deaf. I
worked hard and found that I was very tired by 1 p.m. I bought a
necklace of tiny cream colored seed pearls and a black sleeveless sweater
that I can wear with turtlenecks and black slacks. Sweater $1.50,
necklace 75 cents. So there was no big spending day. We made $93 and
that was ok. I came home and had a bite to eat and a coke and then I cut
some off the bottom of the cream colored T-shirt I got yesterday and
hemmed it and ironed it and the skirt that it matches. By then, it was
after 2:30 so I got ready and went to the Roseman’s. Helen has still
another thing wrong with her that is causing her pain and I sensed that
she is discouraged. She smoked 3 cigarettes while I was there and that
is a sign certainly. When I got home, I dusted everywhere cause I forgot
to do it this morning when I watered the plants. Everyone said that the
Enloe picnic was so large that though serving started at 6 one should get
there early. I told Don this but he wanted to watch the local news so we
didn’t start out until after 6 and when we arrived at the Ellas club.
People were already eating and the line was very long. He had not been
very thrilled about going and I could see that he didn’t want to be there
so we left. Then he asked where we should eat and I said we could go home
and have a sandwich. I was angry. He was out of gas so he said he just
had to go get it and as I got out of the car he said don’t fix anything
for me. Well, that really did it. It made me think about the time at
Albany, NY, when I was pregnant and we were leaving that apartment on a
Sunday something came up and rather than talk about it he just left for
the day not saying where he was going and when he was coming back and I
was left with 2 children who didn’t understand why he had gone. Well I
am older and wiser now and I say to hell with him and his childish
behavior. I ate bread, cheese, pickles and then a slice of bread with
peanut butter and jam and a cup of Suka. I read and showered and now I
will read some more and go to bed. I have worked so hard W. Th & today
and probably my fatigue doesn’t help my attitude at this time.
June 29
We got up at the usual time and I did some exercises but not much. Then
it was time to go grocery shopping. Mary was fine. I spent $31+ at Food
for Less and $13 at the Cannery. Got some good ice cream called chocolate
mousse. Came home and put everything away and then the rest of the day I
worked on the dining room table from the apartment. It is a long,
tedious job. Don went to Sherwin Williams and got me more sandpaper and
steel wool. In fact, late in the evening he even helped sand and that
was a big help. So far, I have not used the second can of remover but I
still have the top of the bureau to do. I cleaned the blinds in the room
that was Niki’s. Didn’t take them down but I did a fairly good job and
they work so much better. Now once the table is done I have to do the
top of the chest of drawers in that room and I also want to get glass to
cover that + the book case that I plan to paint tomorrow + the top of the
chest in the apartment bedroom. It would be so much easier and I would
not have to redo them all the time. I didn’t go anywhere or do anything
else all day and by dinnertime, I was tired and had no plans for dinner.
I suggested a pizza or K.F. chicken and the third was going to the deli
at Safeway. Don decided on that one and came back with Cole slaw for him
and potato salad for me and pastrami for him and ham for me and I did
cukes and tomatoes and I had bought rhubarb and I cooked that in the oven
in the afternoon and we had ice cream with rhubarb on top and it was
delicious. Later in the evening, I took a shower and then we had drinks
on the patio and then we went to bed and made love so the day ended just
fine and all the anger and frustration from last night were gone. Thank
Goodness. I did get a letter off to my sister. She had written me about
my comment on religion and had sent an article from the Omaha W. Herald
so I sent her one about AB Quinn from the Cleron.
June 30
We did not go to church today cause they were signing petitions against
abortion and I would not have signed so we just didn’t go. Instead, I
started work on the table again. I sanded it very carefully and then put
the stain on. Color-wise, it looked great. Then I got the little cabinet
from the shed. The sliding doors are no longer there so I am going to
use it as an open cabinet. It has been in many places and looked pretty
dirty having been in the shed but I washed it carefully and found paint
like the wall in the room where I plan to put it in the far bedroom and I
gave it the first coat of paint. Don came out to look and said I would
have to do a second coat so in mid afternoon I did the second and now it
is in the apartment and tomorrow morning I will put it in the room. After
lunch, I drove to Home Base and got tung oil to put on after the stain.
So I put that on earlier. Then just before dinner I sanded it and put a
second coat on. So tomorrow I will wax it and bring it back in. I will
be glad to be done with it. But I think it is going to look very nice.
In spite of working so hard outside, I made a marvelous dinner: chicken
breasts cooked in the oven and I also heated rolls from the freezer.
Broccoli with cheese sauce, fresh corn on the cob and a great green
salad. Then for dessert, Don had fresh raspberries on ice cream (Alice
had bought me some on her way to church) and I had a last minute dessert.
Then there was the news and then I called Priss and she was in a good
mood and invited us to dinner at the Red Lobster on Wednesday night.
Tomorrow I must finish the table, wash the window in the bedroom, iron
and write to Jenny and Niki.
July 1
Hot
Up at 5:30 and had a good night’s sleep and didn’t have to take anything.
Did all my exercises and before I went to aerobics I put the second coat
of tung oil finish on the table and off I went. It was very warm walking
but I made it. For some reason, it has been hard to enjoy my class at
the Sport Club. Maybe it is the weather?? When I got back I quickly
changed my clothes and did Don’s little phone table in his study and I
had Don help me to move the big table right out in the sun. Then I had
lunch. I called N. Valley disposal about old cans of paint and they said
you take off the lids and let them dry in the sun and once they are dry,
they can go into the garbage so I worked in the back back and put out
about 5 – 6 cans and some are already ready to put in the garbage can.
It makes for a little more room in the cupboards when I had Don help me
move the table back on the patio and I waxed it after I had sanded with
steel wool one more time and then we moved it inside and it looks just
beautiful. I am so pleased. Tomorrow I start working on the top of the
chest of drawers. I called 4 places about the price of glass for the two
chest drawers, the oak chest and the little bookcase that I painted and
it will come to $34 + tax. Millers was the cheapest and I am going for
that one. I will call tomorrow. I must make bread tomorrow too. I
planned to write to Jenny but didn’t make it. Maybe tomorrow. I ran a
load of whites and will do the colored ones tomorrow. I even ironed.
Then I got ready to go to Lisa Emerick’s house. Her family spent 10 days
in Hawaii and then came here. Tomorrow they go to S.F. We went at about
4:15 and there were a lot of people there eventually. I liked her plants
very much so I enjoyed talking to her mother. Don had a huge martini and
when we got home he made another one. Interesting. Talked to Linda.
They had had fun in Seattle and she has to have insurance and it is
complicated cause at first they would not pay for her estrogen or her
inhalers, which are very expensive. When Carla and Chris talked about it
they offered to keep her on their insurance for a year and then her new
insurance will take over. They are so wonderful to her. Now I am going
to read for a while and then go to bed.
July 2
Very hot
It is 8:30 p.m. and I am bone weary. I would like to go to bed right now
but it is still light and I would probably wake up at 2 a.m. and would
not go back to sleep. I pushed the chest of drawers from the South
bedroom to the north patio before I left for Hospice and when I got back,
I ate lunch and then started in on that table. It wasn’t all that bad
and it is such a small area after that huge table.
So now tonight it is
sanded, stained and with one coat of tung oil finish and tomorrow morning
and I will put the next coat on and sand again and wax it and it will be
done. I ordered the glass today for the two painted dressers + this one
+ the little bookcase top and I think they will be ready tomorrow. And
then I will be done with decorating. I worked at Hospice this morning
stapling and organizing. All very dull but the time went fast. But it
is hot walking these days and I can’t get up any speed. Came home and
had lunch. I am eating my cottage cheese with nectarines cause they are
good right now. Dinner tonight was a repeat of Sunday. It works out
very well. I make enough so that I just have to make a salad and it
makes it much easier for me. After dinner, I went over to Mervyn’s and
took back a shirt that was too big for Don even though even though it was
his size and they were very nice and let me get another shirt and gave me
$6 back. Don just wanted to give it to the Discovery Shop but I balked
at that. I called Priss and she had seen Dr. Z and felt good about the
result of their talk. She says she doesn’t need to go back and she is
hopeful that she can get along with David and she is going to stop
worrying about the grandchildren. Priss has invited us to the Red
Lobster tomorrow and I must wash my hair, etc. I haven’t decided what to
wear yet. I have an appointment to get my hair cut on Friday. I feel
like I have a mop on my head and it looks like that too. Don just talked
to Jenny and Niki and they sounded as if they were in the living room he
said. Niki had put in applications for jobs and she was reading a book.
They had gotten a lot of movies to watch. It sounded as if things were
going well.
July 3
We got up late this morning. Later, Don said he could not sleep in the
night and went outside for about an hour. I slept right through that.
Well anyway I got breakfast and read a little bit of the papers and then
went to do my exercises but somehow I seemed very tired and I finally
decided not to go to aerobics this morning and that is a shame since I go
just two times a week. I put the last coat of tung oil on the top of the
chest of drawers and then I walked over to Sherwin William and returned
the can of varnish remover cause I had enough on hand and didn’t need it
so I got back $6.80. That can help pay for the glass for the top. When
I got back, Don wanted me to go over to Mervyn’s with him to find another
pair of shorts so we went over and he tried on a lot of them and chose
one. I went to the craft place and got a container of pins and it cost
$2.39! I remember getting a paper with the pins lined up and it was 10
cents. I am getting old when I can remember something that far back I
guess. We came home and had lunch and then I showered, shampooed and set
my hair. Then I went out and put the wax on the chest of drawers and
after I had polished it, Don and I took it back to the bedroom at the end
of the hall and it looks great. Now I need a lamp by the bed and we will
be set. At 3, I ironed all the things that had been washed and I decided
to iron Don’s new shorts and found a spot in the back so he took them
back and got another pair. We were going out to dinner with Priss at the
Red Lobster so I wore my white blouse, the plaid gingham dropped yoke
long dress, white shoes and purse. Don wore the new silk shirt that is a
green blue figure on a cream ground and he has slacks that match and he
looked very nice. We picked up Priss at 5:30 and went to the Red Lobster
and we all had good things to eat and Priss was in a good mood and so it
was a most pleasant time. Then today Don got the report back from the
doctor in the pain company done but he does suggest some medicines. Dr.
Foltz will have to follow through on that. So that was my day. Really a
good one all told. Bessie Marquis came to pick up some papers that were
Jenny’s and should go to the library. She was pleased that Jenny can now
start writing her thesis. We had a good visit. I showed her the table.
July 4
We got up at 6:30. Don had a bad night. After all these years, his
navel is again bothering him. He went to play tennis but came back early
and went to Convenient Care. In the meantime, I got dressed and went for
a walk. I took the T-Gel shampoo I had promised Mary Y. and walked over
to give it to her and then went around to K-Mart, looked at lamps and
then came home. It was over an hour walk but it was cool and breezy and
I enjoyed it. When Don got back, he was in agony cause they had gone in
and cleaned out the area and it really hurt. He has an Rx and he spent
the rest of the day taking it easy. When I got back from my walk, I
worked in the south yard till lunchtime. I tried to thin out some of the
rose bushes, pulled weeds, etc. Took everything to the garbage since they
didn’t come on a holiday. Then I went to the north yard and one of the
jasmine plants by the shed was dead so I cut it all up and put it in the
garbage as well. Finally, it was time to eat lunch so I fixed Don’s and
then had my own. I have felt ok today thank goodness. I felt so lousy
after that dinner at the Red Lobster. After lunch, I made potato salad
and Don thought he would like brownies. So I made them and frosted 1/2
cause he likes that and I don’t. I even had frosting left and I made
graham crax sandwiches. Then I went to the Roseman’s from 3 – 4. We
talked about WWII and our lives at that time. It is always fun to go
over there. Came home and sliced the tomatoes & cukes, had the salad –
hot dogs and green beans. Typical 4th of July dinner. Then the news.
Then called Priss and then Don had gotten 2 movies so we sat down to
watch and the VCR went on the blink so then I asked Don to put on Evita
on the little tape deal. Priss had given it to me and I listened for
over an hour. I love the music and I want to know all about it before
the movie comes out in December. Don is sleeping in the TV Room cause he
doesn’t want to sleep on his stomach and if he lies in the lounge he
knows he won’t. So I will be in the bed alone tonight.
July 5
Well this turned out to be a very nice day. Got up at 5:30 and after
breakfast, I watered all the plants in and outside and then I cleaned all
3 bathrooms. At 10, Don went off to buy a new VCR cause ours didn’t work
last night and I walked to the mall and ordered a book for Don for his
birthday. The Statement by Brian Moore. When I got home, I ate my lunch
and then Cathy arrived at 15 to 12 and we went to Bidwell Avenue to the
Grace Jr. family were they used to have their store. They had foods and
drinks but we did not partake but we looked at all their things and they
were fantastic. The owner also works in the circus every year and so
there were a lot of circus things. She had collected everything you
could ever imagine and we took our time looking. Then Cathy took me to
her house and I saw the newly upholstered lounge and chair and the
beautiful bathroom. The whole house looked just great and we checked the
garden as well and then she brought me home. Next time we are going to
look at the antique store on 8th & Broadway. We had such a good time and
I was so pleased that she took me. When we got home, I then went to get
my hair cut. First of all, they said haircuts have always been $4.00 and
for years I paid $2.60. Then I was to have Carolyn and she had been
overbooked and so she could not take me and instead they gave me Allison.
Poor little waif who has been ill so much that she is 1/2 blind and she
was so nervous she made me nervous and I was angry cause they did not
even bother to tell me I was not getting who I had asked for. Well Ron
Morrison the owner sensed just how mad I was and he really ended up
cutting my hair. It turned out ok but it took a very long time. I
forgot to say that this morning we went to get the glass I had ordered at
Lash on Park Avenue. We got all 4 pieces home safely and everything
looks great. I got glass for the two white dressers and for the oak one
in the guestroom and for the bookcase I painted to match the walls in
that room. It just improves each piece as well as protects them. It was
worth the $40.79. For dinner, we had tuna sandwiches, corn potage soup,
tomato slices, with guacamole on top and brownies for dessert.
Everything tasted good. Then the news and talked with Priss. Mary Wyle
problems again and Don called and called and Mary refuses any
suggestions. It is 9:30 and I am going to read for a while.
July 6
It is 9:30 p.m. Don is in bed. We had planned to have a drink and make
love tonight but about an hour ago he said he didn’t feel well. He felt
uneasy and queasy and finally lay down and then took an anti anxiety pill
and hopefully now he is asleep. I just hope and pray he is ok. About my
day. I slept well and got up at 5:30. Made breakfast but did a very
sketchy exercise routine and then got dressed. White skorts, navy and
white striped top. Picked up Mary at 7:15 and we went to the F. Mkt. I
got cukes, tomatoes and some apricots. Then on to Food for Less were I
spent $41 without much to show for it. And I got 3 papayas, coffee, Spray
and Wash, Resolve and canned and dry dog food. Very little there to put
on the trip. Right? Right! Didn’t do much better at the Cannery but I did
get a quart of pink lemonade sherbet and it was delicious so Don went
back and got 3 more. But that made me late for the Discovery Shop cause
he didn’t take the other car but it turned out ok. Well we didn’t have
any big sales but we were busy and we made $123. I worked very hard
bringing out stuff and just generally neatening things up so the time
went fast. I didn’t buy anything for myself. I got 6 good-looking place
mats, plaid in peaches, greens and beige and a replica of a Sears’s
catalogue and will be a conversation piece. We are putting it on the
coffee table. And 2 necklace type things that are attractive. So I
didn’t spend much money. Got home very thirsty and hot cause it was a hot
day. Had a cold drink and ate a little. People came to look at the car
cause Don put ads in the E-R and News and Review but no takers. We may
drop the price and sell it to Julie. Dinner was a simple matter of cukes
and tomatoes, fresh bread and I cooked some sausages for Don and leftover
potato salad and last night’s tuna. Maybe Don should not have had the
sausages. Well anyway, I got bored with the news and left. Called Priss
but she didn’t talk long Thank Goodness. I also finished The Color of
Blood by Brian Moore. Very good and thoughtful book. About a Cardinal,
problems in Poland and the problems of church and state. I forgot I went
to Wards when I got back from the Discovery Shop and I bought a wine
colored lamp with a wine shade at Wards on sale from $19.99 to $9.99 for
the southwest bedroom. It looks very nice.
July 7
Well Don slept well and felt ok when he woke up this morning. I did
bring up my concern if something happened to one of us what should we do.
Don said we should call 911 and be sure to put the dog in the back yard.
Or just call Enloe cause they have their own paramedics. I know nothing
is going to happen at the moment but I think it is wise to be prepared.
Well we got ready and went to Mass. I wore my beige slacks and sweater.
When I got home, I washed my hair and set it and washed the load of
whites and then some rugs. When my hair was dry, I went to S & S to get
apples for Don and then to Mervyn’s to get a pillow for the chair in the
apartment bedroom. It was the right color of green. Then I told Don that
we should close up the house. I just couldn’t take another day of a
house so hot. So we closed up and then a man came who was interested in
the car and decided to buy it and Don sold it for $2,000. We lost $500 on
the deal and then Don lost money by selling it to Mary W. and then she
decided she didn’t want it and that cost $250 but all that is over now
and so we will have to accept the loss. I wrote a long letter to J & N.
I was in the mood and it was a good letter. Had lunch and then did some
cooking. I cooked prunes. Then did the rhubarb I had gotten yesterday.
Baked a whole chicken, made mashed potatoes and green salad, made an
apple rhubarb crisp that wasn’t great but was ok. My mouth is bothering
me and I must go see Dr. Schwartz. It is now 8:30 p.m. and the air is
still on and Don just went out for a cigarette and says it is still too
hot. I think we will have a drink.
July 8
Hot
We woke to a cool, cloudy morning. It was lovely. But as time went on
it cleared up and then it got warmer. Before I went to aerobics I washed
two sections of the living room windows on the inside. Then I got dressed
and went to the club. It was very pleasant walking. The class went ok.
I seem to be tired these days but I made it ok. Got home and changed my
clothes and had lunch and then I went to work on the outside living room
windows. First I sprayed them with the hose, then I used soap and water
with my mop. Then I rinsed and then I used the squeegee or whatever it
is called and they looked great. When that was done, I took all the meat
off the chicken carcass and put together a fruit salad and mixed up the
mashed potatoes for potato cakes. Then I ironed and after that, I
showered and got ready to go to see Dr. Schwartz at 3:45. He didn’t see
me till about 4:20 but that was ok cause I got in on a cancellation. He
said my cold sores in my mouth were cause my immune system was down. He
wrote out 4 Rx’s and Don will send them in tomorrow morning. He said my
skin was too fair and I probably did the sun damage before I was 20. Got
home and Don made chicken sandwiches and I fried the potato patties and
we put out the salad and had brownies for dessert. Linda called and said
she had gotten Don’s letter from the doctor at the pain clinic and she
understands it all. I watched the local news but the national news was
mostly repeats of the local so I read instead. Called Priss and she did
not feel well. Doesn’t eat good, itinerary from David about the Maine
trip but that doesn’t seem to satisfy her. She doesn’t want to accept
anything he offers it seems to me. I must admit I feel like telling her
she expects too much. Well Don is fixing me a drink and I want about 5!
Well I had the vodka tonic and we made love but not great for either of
us. Better luck next time.
July 9
Hot
Got up a lot in the night but still I got enough sleep. There was stale
French bread so I made Don French toast this morning and I had not made
that in a long time. Did my exercises and was on the road to Hospice by
10 to 8 so I could take my time. I worked for Marilynn today and I like
it much better when I am in the Hospice area. What I did was easy and the
time went fast. Then I walked home and it was not too hot. I was thirsty
and hungry so I had a cold drink of Suka and then my usual fruit and
cottage cheese. I read for a while but then I got restless so went
outside and pulled weeds until Don came out and told me it was too hot to
be working out in the sun and he was probably right so I quit. Came in
and got a little container with lamb leftover from a leg of lamb I had
cooked in the spring. I added a little salt and let it simmer and then I
added frozen peas, carrots, mushrooms and little tiny onions and the
gravy from Sunday’s chicken and it turned out to be just delicious. I
cooked it very slowly in the apartment oven and made a green salad,
heated some rolls and everything tasted wonderful. We turned on the air
in the apartment. So we ate over there and watched the news there as
well. I called Priss and she was sort of ok. Then we watched the movie
Forget Paris with Billy Crystal and Debra Winger and we love it. I am a
bit worried. I seem to have to go to the bathroom all the time. It
isn’t exactly diarrhea but it is close. Probably too much fruit and
veggies. I will see how it goes the next few days. No mail today. Don
sent off my Rx’s to Nevada.
July 10
We woke up at about 5:30. Already it was warm so it could do nothing but
get more so. I wore my purple skort and the white top with the purple
grapes and I was not too warm. Walking was still pleasant. On the way
back, I stopped at the F. Mkt. and got some cherry tomatoes and some
small little onions. We had lunch and then I drove to the library. Today
I had a different job and I began to put the Christmas magazines in
containers. Lorna had wanted us to have two copies of things but the
lady who I work for said one of each was enough. It is rather difficult
to work there cause I keep getting different signals from different
people. Came home and Don and I then went to the Big 5 looking for
athletic shoes. The ones I wanted were not in my size but Don found a
pair. Then home and we had a movie The Brothers Macmillan. I watched it
off and on while I made a chicken salad, and cooked small squash that I
stuffed. It was an experiment and I won’t bother making it again. There
is also the news. All pretty dull and then I tried to reach Priss but she
was not at home. Must have gone out to eat dinner with one of her
friends. Getting back to the movie, it was about 3 brothers who live in
NY. They were Catholic and they all were having trouble with their
women. It was not very good. I decided to do something drastic so my
jumpsuit that is a faded blue with a little white flower pattern makes me
look washed out cause of the color. I had thought I had some charcoal
gray dye but come to find out it was bright red. Well, I went ahead and
tinted it anyhow. Not great but I will see how it looks when it is dry.
It is hanging on the line. Talked to Linda. She and Craig liked Julie’s
boyfriend. They came up Monday and left today. Mita Markland called and
invited me to lunch along with Lois Hein on Friday at 12:30. That should
be fun. So now I think I will read.
July 11
I woke many times in the night not feeling very well and finally at about
4:50 a.m. I woke yet again feeling ghastly. I got up and had a bad case
of diarrhea. I went back to bed for a while and told Don he had to get
his breakfast. I stayed in bed for about an hour and then got up and had
a cup of strong tea, not instant but the real thing. I had a soda crax
and read a bit of the paper. There is a hurricane on the east coast. It
seems to be skipping Florida but Georgia and the Carolinas are in danger.
As the morning progressed, I felt a little better. I ran a load of darks
and then ironed everything including my new red jump suit. It really
turned out quite well. For lunch, I ate a poached egg on toast and more
toast and more tea. The man came to mow today thank goodness cause they
missed last week and it looks great. David said he fertilized as well.
Don found out he had to have a smog test on the car that he had just had
down in Palo Alto so there went another $32.50. Will we ever be done
with that deal? I read the S.D. Magazine and I decided that next summer
we should go back to S.D. I am sure Don would be willing. He talked to
his sister and she says if she doesn’t find a place the first of August,
she will visit all her relatives. Don blanched with fear! I am reading A
Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf written in 1919 and it is marvelous.
It is about society’s treatment of women and it is so sarcastic and yet
so true! I loved it. Unfortunately, things are not all that much better
for women today. For dinner, I made Don a milk shake and a peanut butter
sandwich and I made a cheese sandwich and we both had pink lemonade
sherbet. I think I am ok now. I want to be feeling well tomorrow so I
can go to lunch with Mita Morkland. I shaved my legs, showered, filed my
nails, put on tanning lotion and now I am going to read. I called Priss
and all she did was tell me all the terrible things that happened to her
since the last call. She didn’t even bother to ask about me. Sometimes I
would like to interrupt to tell her that talking about Cinders all the
time is so boring I could scream! Then I realize she has to talk to
someone and I am the one. Ah well.
July 12
Woke up to a cool breezy morning and I walked to Safeway at about 6:45 to
get a papaya for Don for tomorrow morning + 1 banana + ground beef. It
made for a great walk and when I got home, I shampooed my hair and set it
and then I made pie crusts for the freezer + I made up the hamburgers
from the beef. Don played tennis and then watered the borders and I
worked outside for about 1/2 an hour pulling weeds and pruning. Came in
and got dressed to go to lunch. I wore my beige skirt and matching
sweater and I wore that black metal deal with the silver and gold. I
thought I looked nice. We went to the Hacienda (Mita, Lois & I) and it
was very nice. When I got home, it wasn’t too long and it was time to go
to the Roseman’s and Don wanted to go too and we had a good time as we do
with Helen & George. Then back home and I made a green salad and heated
up the lamb stew for our dinner. We were both really tired. I think the
heat hits us harder cause we are older. Peter Jennings had just come on
when Linda called. She wanted the measurements of the Entertainment
Center and she wanted some kind of lotion and wanted me to check to see
if I could find it at any of the stores here. I called: Roley’s, S & S,
Natural Foods, Gottchalks, Long’s & Walgreen’s with no luck. Then we
watched Sense & Sensibility and it was good but it was hard to follow
cause I missed so many lines. So now it is time to go to bed. Tomorrow
morning it will be shopping for food. I just wish it would cool off a
bit. I must write to Pauline and J. & N. The young man came and paid
the rest of the money on the car and so now the Toyota is gone and the
money is in the bank.
July 13
Woke up this morning not very rested: too much talking, swimming and
music at the corner house till after 3. Hate to complain – they are not
bad young people just noisy. Got up to find that there was no milk so I
finally used Hazelnut 1/2 & 1/2 and water on my cereal. Picked up Mary
and it was cloudy and humid. At F. Mkt.: green beans, tomatoes, cukes,
and apples. Spent only $28 at Food for Less and less than $10 at Cannery
but then I didn’t have much to show either. When I got home, I called
Linda and told her measurements for the deal they will be taking back + I
must tell her about the boxes of Niki’s. Went to the bathroom 3 times by
noon. What is wrong with me. Both Don and I seem to lack energy, etc. I
think the heat is getting to us. I picked some roses, lay down and read
for a while and then I wrote a letter to J. & N. and then I got up my
courage and wrote to Pauline. I suppose she will write back something
nasty cause I didn’t fly back to the Menard cousin brunch in Sioux City.
Made Don a milk shake in mid afternoon and then read some more of Room of
One’s Own by V. Woolf. I wrote the above earlier and it is 9:15 p.m.
now. Dinner was easy. B.T.L. sandwich for Don and cheese T & L for me.
Corn on the cob and nectarine with cottage cheese and chocolate cake from
the freezer for Don. Watched the news. Hurricane seems to be over and
now they’re out to see the damage; not as bad as expected. Then I called
Priss and for once it was a good talk and not about Cinders or David and
her trip. Then I showered and put tanning on my legs and I am reading
Cold Heaven by Brian Moore. I was all ready for a romp in the bed
tonight but Don had a headache so that is out and I will read for a while
and then got to bed myself.
July 14
I slept well but still it was hard to get up this morning. In fact, by
the time I did Don had already fixed his papaya, o.j. and banana. Well, I
got going and fixed the vitamins and sliced the bread for toast and then
there were 2 Sunday papers to look at. I wore my black print skirt and
black top to church. We picked up Mary and listened to F. Dover. I seem
always to be critical but he is just a bit too much somehow. Well maybe
I will like him better with time. When I got home, I decided to be lazy
so I got my book and read till lunchtime and afterwards, I lay on the
lounge in the apartment and fell asleep for 45 minutes. I am so tired
these days! Then I decided to make an apple pie and I also decided to
use that strong pie plate Priss gave me years ago. I had gotten 3 kinds
of apples at the F. Mkt. so I used all kinds and thank goodness it turned
out fine cause Don had a piece at 2. I also went to the S & S hoping
they were going to have Gravenstein’s but they said they were not going
to have them this year. I wanted to make a lot of sauce. … Didn’t
finish this in the later part of the day as usual so this is the next
morning. I insisted that we turn on the air early instead of having just
a little before we got to bed and it certainly makes a difference cause
the house is cool. I find the heat too much otherwise. Well anyway, we
had an ok dinner: turkey ham, broccoli with cheese sauce, cukes &
tomatoes, candied yams & the pie. We watched the news. I called Priss.
She was fine. Then I read a bit and watched Book Notes with Don and then
I showered and we both had vodka tonics and I didn’t stop at one or even
two but had 1/2 of a third. We went to bed and we tried but no luck. I
have decided I am going to stick to one drink from now on.
the way I feel the next morning.
I don’t like
July 15
Well this was a pretty good day. For one thing, it was cooler! We woke
at 5 and already it is getting darker so now it takes time for the sun to
appear. I did my exercises, read the paper and then did some dusting and
changed the flowers. Walked to aerobics and enjoyed the class. Luann is
going to Florida on Wednesday so I am not going to go that day. When I
got home, I fed the roses, not systemic, but rose food. The heat has
been cruel to them so I hope this will help. By the time I was done it
was 11:30 so I came in and had my lunch and then I went to M. Ward and
found a white lampshade so I bought it. Checked on the book for Don for
his birthday but it is not in yet. Came home and Priss called to bring me
a book. When she left, she was going to take Cinders for a walk. Then she
came back and asked for some water cause Cinders was hot. I brought it
out and then she came back again saying she had left her glasses. I went
to give them to her and forgot to close the door to the back back and
Daisy appeared and when I opened the door she charged out at Cinders. I
grabbed her and Priss yanked Cinders away. I called later and she said
she had hurt herself turning too fast. Oh dear! Well, then I made ham
sandwiches, the fruit salad, chips and we had pie that I heated up.
Watched the news and then Don went over to Walgreen’s to buy some Epsom
salts cause my toe on my left foot is infected. I cut the nail too
short. I soaked it and then showered and bandaged it. I read The
Whiteness of Bones about a girl living in Hawaii who ends up in NY and
then her sister comes too and what happens to them. Now it is 20 to 11
and I had better get to bed. It was really a nice day. I totaled up
what I spent on my re-decorating and it is about $85 to $90. Not too
bad. Further summing it is about $100. Still that is not bad.
July 16
I read till well after 11. Had a lot of strange dreams and got up at
4:44 so I pretty much dragged around all day. I got breakfast and did all
my exercises, changed the flowers, and ran a load of clothes leaving a
note for Don who had gone to play tennis to put them in the dryer. But
when I walked to Hospice, I felt rather strange. I didn’t seem to be
coordinated right and I feel unstable but once I got there I did the same
thing as last week and the time went fast. I wore my dyed jumpsuit and I
have decided the color is between coral and burnt orange. The walk back
was better. I did take some soda crax with me and I ate them and that
helped too. When I got home I ate lunch and did the 2nd load of clothes.
Then I made bread and in this weather it rises just beautifully. I even
added an egg this time. We will see if it makes a difference. I did the
salad greens, thawed chicken breasts and made pasta, heated leftover
broccoli. It was a good dinner. I made enough so that we can have the
same thing tomorrow and Thursday night Lisa and her friend are coming for
dinner and Friday Linda & Craig will be here although late and Saturday
will be Don’s birthday so things will happen fast starting tomorrow. We
plan to dig weeds in the early morning and then I must go to the F. Mkt.
Luan will be in Florida for the rest of the week so I will not go to
aerobics but in the afternoon I do have to go to the library. Got a good
letter from Pauline. For once no nasty remarks. I am going to write
right back cause now our letters keep crossing and it is better when you
get one then you can answer. It is early but I am going to read just for
a little while and then get to bed early tonight. Did my ironing after
dinner and won’t do it again till early next week. Too much going on.
July 17
87o
What a lovely day. It was so cool this morning I put on a sweater when I
made breakfast. Don went off to play tennis and Daisy and I went out to
the back yard to pull weeds. I worked on the edge in front of the new
privet getting the Bermuda in control if that is possible. Well anyway,
it was a beautiful morning and Daisy and I got a lot done. Then Don came
home and he watered the borders and then he pulled weeds so I went in and
got dressed and went first to Walgreen’s. Retina A would be about $32! I
decided to think about it. Then on to the F. Mkt. where I got tomatoes,
cukes and the apple man was there so I got 4# of the different kinds and
I will make sauce and another pie. Then to Lucky where I got chicken
breasts for 99 cents a # but they were with bone and skin but that is ok.
Came home and had lunch and then drove to the library. I picked out
books for Priss and some for me and then worked on Christmas magazines
for 2 hours. Dropped books off for Priss and then drove home. For dinner,
I decided to heat the chicken from last night with some salsa to give it
some zip. Heated the pasta, sliced tomatoes and for dessert I had gotten
some peaches fresh at the library so I made scones and we had them with
peaches and cream. Delicious. Don got busy at the computer and there was
word from Linda & Jenny. J. says it is cold there. Niki is going to the
gym; they are going to the dentist. J. is thrilled about her job. She
wants to finish the thesis by her birthday. She sounded as if things were
going well. We watched the news. I talked to Priss and then we went for a
walk. Now I have taken a shower and I am going to read for a while.
July 18
I planned to walk today but then I got busy and didn’t. Bad! Don
vacuumed the whole house except for the apartment and then I dusted,
neatened things up and changed the flowers. I got out the hamburgers to
thaw, made a potato salad and brownies, fixed cukes and tomatoes. Had
already cooked green string beans so I just had to heat them in the
evening. I had slivered almonds. I served ice cream and chocolate sauce
on the brownies – so now there is the menu for the dinner. I got a thing
in the mail advertising tub repair so I called and made an appointment
for tomorrow at 11:20. Don after vacuuming our long hall said that it
had been a nightmare of ripples and so I called Ray who did our living
room, etc., rug and they are coming at 9:30 tomorrow. How I wish that
one of us was making a little extra money so I could do both projects and
not worry about the cost. I am afraid those days are over. On TV the
day was spent talking about the plane crash last night after take off
from NY to Paris and everyone was killed. There is a lot of a lot of
talk about the explosion in the air and with the crash into the ocean.
Was it a bomb? Was there something wrong with the plane? Well it goes on
and on and with the Olympics starting tomorrow this is just one more
thing to worry about. Certainly so far no one has made claim of doing
it. Well Lisa and Steve arrived at 6 and it was a most successful
evening. I liked Lisa much more this time and I admit I had never given
her much of a chance before so that was good and I liked Steve as well.
He is a WWII Marine buff so of course that pleased Don. Everything went
smoothly and they stayed quite late. We cleaned up and were just about
ready to go to bed when the phone rang and it was Lisa. She had checked
her answering machine and Dale had called to say that Jackie was in the
hospital with an infection, dehydration and lots of pain. Don will go to
see her tomorrow. End of the day.
July 19
Got up at 5:30. Didn’t do my exercises and didn’t walk today and when I
got on the scales this morning I weighed 102#. So that means I must work
now to get back to 100 where I have been for weeks. Damn! Don went off
to play tennis and I went to work on the apartment. First I cleaned the
bathroom and scrubbed the tub. It all looked good. Then I got out the
new vacuum and vacuumed the regular area and the linoleum and then I
washed the bathroom bed, bedroom and kitchen area. Dusted, arranged the
flowers so now everything is ready for Linda & Craig. At 9:30 the man
came to check on shampooing the rugs in the bedroom wing. The hall carpet
must go and the man said his son would call to come and check that out.
The bedrooms will cost $70 and I thought that was just treat. At 11:15,
the man came about the bathtub and that would cost $435 and I think that
is quite a bit so I don’t think we will do that. At least that is my
feeling on the subject. Then I ate lunch and listened to the FBI talking
about the plane crash. Then I went into the bathroom, shaved my legs,
showered and shampooed and set my hair Mike called. Tyler has broken up
with his girl Nancy and so the wedding is off. Mike will be arriving on
the 31st of July. He says Jill was very upset about her boyfriend
breaking up with her. She thought she was going to marry this fellow but
Mike says she feels better about it now.
Doesn’t look like the L’s are
doing too well. But I guess Matt and Lisa are ok. Well in the afternoon I
went tot see Helen & George and we had a good visit and then I came home
and fixed a very simple meal. Made a huge fruit salad and Don ate the
hamburger leftover from last night and I fixed an egg scrambled for me.
Then we waited and waited for the beginning of the Olympic games.
Finally it started and we sat through every country but first there was
the most spectacular show I have ever seen. It was so beautiful I
couldn’t believe it and somehow it made me cry as well. And finally
after all the speeches, etc., the man came with the torch and he gave it
to a male athlete and the first Greek woman to win a gold medal and then
the swimmer from Stanford, a girl who had won 3 gold medals and then she
handed it to Mohammed Ali who has Parkinson’s disease and was shaking but
he put the torch to another deal and it caught fire and then went way u
in the air to the place where it caught fire and the flame was lit. They
also had a picture of Martin L. King and he gave his “Share a Dream”. It
was just all so great I couldn’t believe it. Donna called and she is
coming tomorrow morning. Linda called and they will arrive late tonight.
July 20
Up at 5 and I did all my exercises this morning and then I got ready to
go grocery shopping. I had so hoped that Linda would wake up before I
left and she did! I showed here the south bedroom and she thought it was
great. She also thought the table looked good so then I was willing to go
off happy. Did the shopping and it seems that I keep spending more money
and I am not even buying things for Niki any more. Can’t understand it.
I guess prices are going up. Got home and we put the groceries away and
then Don and Craig went off to get the blocks for the area by the south
gate that always gets muddy in the rainy season. Then Donna arrived and
she had horror stories to tell about her brother Jim and his wife. I
think she feels safe here and no one is bothering her. Don played tennis
and Carl took him to breakfast. Mary Bocks called and Mary Wyle and
Nancy Riley send a card and Linda & Craig had cards + they gave him a
pair of shorts. I spent the day more or less in the kitchen. Made a big
tuna salad, fixed cukes and tomatoes, cooked the green beans and the
rolls are ready to be heated and the pie is made. But I find I get tired
so easily these days. I sent Linda to Mervyn’s and she found the green
ruffle for the bed in the south bedroom and tomorrow I am going to have
Craig put the legs on the bed so it will be off the floor. … Well now
Craig has finished the deal outside and it looks just great and Linda &
Donna insisted that they could put the legs on the bed while I ironed the
ruffle and then they put everything back together ad it looks much better
and I love it. Dinner was fine and everyone ate a lot. Linda had bought
a bottle of wine and we all had some and afterwards we talked about the
past and everyone told stories and we laughed a lot. Don heard from Jenny
and I talked too and later when Niki got up she talked to Don, Linda and
me so that was lovely and Mary Wyle called and Mary Bock and Nancy Riley
sent a card so he got a lot of items but he was in a lot of pain so he
really didn’t enjoy it all that much. Now it is 9:45 and I am very
tired. Everyone has gone to bed or at least to their rooms so I too am
going to go. It has been a very nice day indeed.
July 21
It is 6:30 p.m. and I am going to write in this now and if anything
interesting comes up I will add to it but I don’t think that is going to
happen. We slept in this morning and didn’t get up till 6! When we got
to the kitchen, Donna came in and I think she had probably been awake
waiting or us to get up. We ate and fixed her coffee and fruit. We had
decided not to go to church so when Linda got up she and Donna went for a
walk and then a bit later I too went for a walk but in a different
direction. It was still fairly cool so it was not bad. A it later, Craig
got up and then they began to pack up. They got the entertainment center
+ 5 boxes of Niki’s things + other odds and ends. I couldn’t believe it
was possible. All this fitting down in the red convertible.
They had
on their baseball caps and they looked like hillbillies. As Linda said,
we look funky but we are nice. After they left, Donna and I visited
until she left at 2:30! She is interesting but I got rather weary I must
admit. Still, I like her very much and she has done a good job raising
those 3 children and she had done well by herself. She bought a house,
has 2 horses, a truck and she has all kinds of projects. I admire her and
we can talk so easily. After she left, I starting rolling up clothes,
bedding etc. and started washing clothes. I will have a big ironing
tomorrow and will have to make up the two beds. I am very tired. It has
been very hot today and that didn’t help. I wrote to J & N. For dinner,
I fixed hot dogs (Oscar Meyer non-fat) and I thought they were very good
and I made a veggie salad. I would have liked Linda & Craig to stay
longer but I guess I should be thankful that they came at all cause it
has been a long time. We have watched some of the Olympics. Our girl
came in 2nd in swimming and the men’s relay team got a gold in swimming
so we are doing ok.
July 22
100
Well, this was not such a bad day. We got up at a little after 5. I did
the breakfast thing and then did my exercises, also pinned up the top of
my hair and it turned out well cause I went the sides and they lay flat.
Don took Mary Bock to breakfast at 9 but he got home from tennis and
watered the borders first. I went off to aerobics and it wasn’t all that
bad walking. At 8:30 it had not really gotten hot yet. It was a little
bit worse on the way home but ok. We changed the sheets on our bed this
morning so when I got home I ran the washer and hung the sheets outside.
I forgot to mention that before I wen tot aerobics I made apple sauce. It
turned out ok. I miss having Gravensteins. I made a mixture at the F
Mkt. but the green are not all that great there. Then after I ate lunch,
I put in an hour + at the ironing board. So now every bed has clean
sheets and all the shirts are ironed. My dinner was not great. I had
broccoli with cheese sauce, that was ok as was the green salad but then I
oiled potatoes and Don mashed them and they were practically soup and I
cut a chicken breast in strips and added mushroom and it ranked with the
potatoes, not great. We had apple sauce sundaes for dessert. Then the
news and they said there were tornado warnings at Nebraska and especially
the Omaha area so I called Pauline. She was getting ready to leave for
Telluride at 12:30 on Amtrak and we had a good visit. She is hung up on
funerals. She couldn’t understand why mother didn’t go to her father or
mother’s funerals and since she is dead I can’t ask her and I know she
didn’t go but don’t know the reason. She went on and on and I think it is
rather strange to be thinking that much about it after al this time. We
watched the Olympics. I called Priss and she was in a tizzy but she
calmed down talking about her trip in August to see her grandson Peter.
I called the company that uses what we wanted on the clean rugs. Donna
said that was the best. Well they never called back. Maybe they will
call tomorrow. It is 9:25 so I am going to read for a while.
July 23
It is 9:30 p.m. and the Americans have just won the gold medal for women
gymnastics. I think it is the first time that the whole team won. One
little girl sprained or broke her ankle but finished anyway so it was all
very exciting and dramatic. Well it has been a rather ordinary day. We
didn’t get up till 6 and by 8 I was on my way to Hospice. I wore my white
skort and the white with grapes top. I like working in the Hospice office
and I got all the tasks done before I left at 10:30. It was cloudy but
humid but certainly not as hot as predicted. When I got home, I had
cottage cheese with broccoli and tomatoes. I am a bit tired of fruit. By
then, I ate something sweet. I just wish I had my will power. Maybe
tomorrow? I was very tired one minute and then would get a sprint of
energy and I washed both my winter stoles. The cream one for the living
room and the dark green one for the TV room. I took the box with winter
clothes from the back back cabinet and brought it into the closet in the
south bedroom. Then I sorted out the stuff there for the rummage sale at
the church come October. I made bacon and tomato sandwiches, fixed
potatoes in a new way, cut up and covered with a shake and bake type
thing. Made a fruit plate and then made a new recipe! Berry dessert but
my blueberries were old and tired. They had been frozen too long and it
wasn’t all that great. I threw the last out. Matt called. We could hear
Katie in the background cooing. He has another kidney stone but he
sounded cheerful enough. He wanted to know if his mother had been here.
I told him we would like some more pictures. No mail today. I called
Priss and she was watching the Olympics so we didn’t talk long. Don went
to see D. Foltz but we don’t know if D. Moore will decide to take him or
not. Don called Cathy and asked her to talk to Dr. Moore about his case.
Julie is having problems about moving out. She wants to live near the
campus and April doesn’t want to. Problems, problems. Tomorrow is
aerobics and the library and then comes Thursday, the day I don’t have to
go anywhere!
July 24
We are getting lazy. We slept in again today. I took an Excedrin PM and
slept beautifully. I wore my white skort and the grape printed top to
aerobics and the class was ok but I really don’t look forward to it as
much as I did to begin with. I will have to think about this. I stopped
at the F. Mkt. on the way home and I had taken my money with me but it
was hot and people were everywhere and I decided I would wait till
Saturday morning to do my shopping there. So I got 50 cents worth of
green string beans and came home. Had lunch and then went to the library
where I worked on the magazines and got some books. When I got home
Cathy and Julie were here and they were going to look for apartments for
Julie. So we visited for a while and then they left. It was hot! We
didn’t turn on the air and so I put on my white terry one piece with
nothing underneath it. I made chili of all things; cooking and hot chili
but it tasted good. I made green salads and chocolate pudding. Then
Julie turned up and so we asked her to dinner and made another salad for
her. She left after she had eaten and we watched the news. I called
Linda and asked her if she had gone or had called her at the end and she
said no she had not. But she said she would call. I was asking when it
would be right to go see their new house. Priss is going to be gone in
August and I don’t want to go while she is gone cause I want the luxury
of not having to phone for a few nights. So Linda is going to let us
know. So then I took a shower and then I read Practical Magic by Alice
Hoffman which was good. I didn’t like it as well as Turtle Moon but it
was good. I really want to make love but Don didn’t suggest it so I said
nothing. The Olympics go on but I don’t watch all that much. Tomorrow is
a free day!
July 25
Hot!
This has been quite a day! From morning to night I worked and I got so
much done! After breakfast, I washed and set my hair and then I cleaned
all 3 bathrooms. I picked and arranged flowers and neatened up the
house. Washed clothes but will have to wait till tomorrow to iron. Had
lunch and then made apple sauce and ginger snaps. Then the man came from
Host Cleaners and gave an estimate on the bedrooms. It will be about
$65. He has a G. Shepherd so he fell in love with Daisy and she felt the
same way. He was a policeman in Washington State and a shepherd was shot
and then they found 6 pups and he took them all and fed them and sold all
but one. Well after he left we drove to Home Base and I got paste wax and
then we went to Town Carpet and they gave us a price of $465 to carpet
the hall. Well we can’t afford that! So the woman suggested we check
with people who lay carpets and maybe ours could be saved with new
backing.
I called Ed Strong but got an answering machine. Then I made
dinner, which was scrambled eggs, sliced tomatoes and hot biscuits with
applesauce and cookies for dessert. We listened to the news. They have
found the black boxes but they still don’t know what happened to the
plane bound for Paris. They have found more bodies but only about 1/2
are now accounted for. Dole made a speech and promised a huge tax cut!
He is desperate. Then the gymnastics came on so I called Priss and said
I would call her tomorrow. She was watching too and agreed. So then Don
and I started to move furniture. I took all the glass tops off things.
We moved lamps, small tables, plants, etc. and then I got out my paste
wax! Cause of the heat, it is very soft and I just couldn’t stop. I did
the chests of drawers, the table tops, plant stands, mirror frames,
chairs.
Finally I had to quit cause with furniture stacked in front of
furniture I will have to wait till those are back in place before I do
any more. So now at 15 to 9 I am done for tonight. We have the air on
but pretty soon we will have to turn it off. It is perfectly still
outside without any breeze. As I sit herein the living room there are
still some touches of pink in the north sky but soon it will be dark.
What a day! If only I would work this hard every day.
July 26
Very hot; turned on the air
Up at 5. Dreamt a lot in the night about moving to Washington or Oregon
and it was with my folks both Mom and Dad involved but then our girls
were in it too. Strange. I suppose it was cause we moved everything,
chests, tables, etc., to get ready for the man to clean the bedroom rugs.
He arrived a little before 8 and left about 15 to 11. He had not
expected to stay that long but it took longer than he realized but he
said he charged by the footage, not the time so it was still $55 but Don
gave him $65. Everything looks just great.
Now we still have to do
something about the hall. While he was doing his job, I got out the wax
and did most of the furniture in the living room and TV room. I am into
waxing at the moment. Then we had lunch. I read a bit and dozed a bit
and then it was time to go to Rosemans. Enjoyed the hour with them as
usual. I forgot somewhere in the morning I got the clothes ironed that I
had washed yesterday and it was good to put the rooms back together when
the young man was done. I asked Don to put my typewriter and little desk
over at the apartment and he took the sewing machine stand and put it in
his study with the other typewriter on it. I moved the hanging lamp from
its position by the big window over where the sewing machine had been and
I think it will be more comfortable for me to write letters there. I
hated being in that corner of his study. Somehow I felt like an
intruder. Made a simple dinner of canned salmon, leftover broccoli and a
fruit salad. I took applesauce to the Rosemans and after the news I took
applesauce and cookies to Priss and stayed to visit. Later we had drinks
and talk. We got to thinking about movies and we decided to make a list
of the 10 best movies in our opinion. It was fun: Dr. Zhavago, The
Bridge Over the River Kwai, Gone with the Wind, Hamlet/Henry V, Zulu, To
Kill A Mockingbird, All Quiet on the Western Front, Lime Light with
Charlie Chaplin, Guns of Navarrone, High Noon, My Fair Lady, Schindler’s
List, Wind and the Lion, The Untouchables. No particular order and I
realize more than 10 but it was fun doing it. Later the time in bed was
not so much fun. Don is having trouble. But still it was nice.
July 27
Up at a little after 5 and we turned on CNN to find that a pipe bomb had
gone off at the Olympics Games in Atlanta. 2 people were killed and 111
were injured. It was in the park not in the area where the athletes were
living. A band was playing at the time and young people were dancing and
listening. Someone called 911 and said a bomb was going to go off. A
young white male was seen with a backpack and he may have been the one.
Well we listened to that till it was time to go shopping. I got things
at the F. Mkt.: cukes, tomatoes, apples & green beans. Then on to Food
for Less and the Cannery. Not much that was exciting. I did get lime
sherbet but it was not as good as the pink lemonade one. Came home and
stripped down cause I was hot and I waxed the coffee table. The buffet
and chest of drawers in the living room. Had lunch and read a bit and
dozed a bit, pinned up my hair, put tanning lotion on my legs, wrote a
long letter to J & N. For dinner, I made a big green salad and found a
frozen pizza in the freezer and cooked that. It was really pretty good
and it had been there for a long time. I must buy it again.
I walked a
mile this morning at 6:30 but that was all for today. I will be glad when
it is not so hot cause I will feel more like walking. Watched the news
tonight and then called Priss. Alan Darling’s son died in S.F. and Priss
went to the funeral. She goes to funerals all the time it seems. She
should team up with Pauline. So now it is 8:30 and it seems hotter than
it was this afternoon. No breeze I guess. Don just turned on the air.
We got along fine with fans the rest of the day. Quiet but pleasant day.
July 28
We woke up to a cloudy, humid morning. Yuk! But I did all my exercises
and I got dressed up for church. Wore my cream colored long skirt, Tshirt to match and braided bead necklace same color and with off white
shoes. I looked great if only for 45 minutes. Came home and immediately
took all the finery off and got out my rug cutter and pieces of the
living room rug and cut pieces to go behind the lounge where Daisy loves
to lie. I got out a meat loaf for dinner tonight. I did a load of
clothes and dried and ironed them. I wrote a letter to Sel Mizel. I
read and watched the Olympics. Dinner was good. I had bought some
special potatoes at the F. Mkt. in Finnish with a sort of creamy yellow
in color and they turned out to be very mealy and good. Had the meat
loaf, green beans, tomato, cucumber, avocado salad and for dessert,
chocolate mousse. Good dinner. Then the news is all grim, still about
the plane crash and then the bomb in Atlanta. We watched a lot of
Olympics today. In the morning girls gymnastics and men on the vaulting
horse and then on the rings. Some of it interesting and some of it rather
boring. I started a book but couldn’t get into it. Called Priss and
talked to her. She had had a pretty good day. No calls today from
children and no e-mail. Very hot. I hope tomorrow will be better. The
next 3 days are my busy days: aerobics on Monday, Hospice on Tuesday and
aerobics and Discover Shop on Wednesday. Then Thursday I get ready for
Mike and then the weekend with him here. I must do some cooking before
he comes.
July 29
Hot!
104o
We woke to a day not quite as hot as yesterday but it got that way later.
I did my exercises took my vitamins, ate my shredded wheat cubes and
drank my Suka. I picked roses and changed all the flowers. Then it was
time to get dressed to go to the club. I wore my white with blue stars
knit skort with a white top. Worked hard at my aerobics and then had to
walk home and by then it was getting hot. Had a snack and then drove to
the mall with my light gray long skirt to try to match with a top. Found
one the right color but way too big. Then went to Hallmark and got a
50th Wedding Anniversary card for RoseMarie Marky and her husband who
will have been married 50 years in September and they are having a big
deal for them. I found one that cost $5 with tax and will send it off.
Then to K-Mart where I found a small hammer. I have been looking for one
and found one at Home Base but it cost $15. This one cost $4 with tax.
Came home and changed my clothes. By then, it was really getting hot. I
read a bit and then decided to make rolls. I was already kneading the
dough when I realized I had not put in the eggs! I worked them in
somehow and was that a slimy mess but eventually I did it. The
buttermilk was old and I worried about that but they turned out just
great. Thank goodness. For dinner I chopped yesterday’s potatoes and
fried and then sliced the meat loaf, opened a small can of pears and put
cottage cheese with them and there were the rolls and the chocolate
mousse so we had a good dinner. Watched the news – dull – I called Priss
and we agreed that cause of gymnastics we would talk tomorrow night. The
US girls won in gymnastics and that was good. Finally, Don turned the air
on but he promised we would turn it on early tomorrow. And Ed Strong
called and he will come tomorrow afternoon to check on the rug in the
hall. I was in the shower but Don talked to him. I talked to Linda. She
has her test tomorrow and then she will b e done We discussed the poems
and we had a good conversation. I plan to go to bed early.
July 30
We slept in a bit. I had pinned up the top of my hair last night and
with my neck collar I slept quite well. I did just a few exercises this
morning. Was not in the mood for more. Wore my turquoise skort and
striped top to Hospice. It was rather hot walking but I go there ok and
worked the whole 2 hours for MaryLynn, the Hospice secretary. The time
went fast. Walked home and there was a bit of a breeze so I was not too
warm and when I got home, the house was cool cause Don had turned on the
air early. What a relief. In fact, it makes all the difference about
how one feels. I had lunch and while Don took his nap, I made macaroni
salad, scalded and skinned the tomatoes and then sliced liver and fixed
Daisy’s extra food. Then I lay down and while I was dozing, Ed Strong
came and checked on the carpet in the hall and he said it just had to go
so now we have to decide about carpeting. Or bare wood or leaving it as
it is. I fixed hot dogs for dinner and now that Oscar Meyer has fat free
40 calorie ones, I am going to serve them more often and I like them
better than the original. Then the news. Now they are accusing one of
the security people of planting the bomb at Atlanta and then I called
Priss who was down and depressed. Then Don suggested that we have a
drink and I decided it would be better tomorrow night. I worry so about
making love cause Don is so upset when he can’t do it. I wish I knew
what to do to help. He did get his appointment for the 20th of August.
So will Don want to do anything about that any more. Linda sent a copy
of the Naming of Parts by e-mail. I am so glad she did.
July 31
Slept quite well. I think wearing the collar helps. Still it was pretty
warm and started out being warm on to hot! When I got the paper at 6
a.m. the moon was sitting behind the trees in the west and it was
gorgeous and we keep getting e-mail from Jenny saying it was terrible
there with rain, wind and cold weather. I watered plants and then got
dressed to go to aerobics. I wore my white skort and white top with the
grape pattern. We had quite a work out but I left before the chair part.
Don picked me up at 20 to 10 and I went to the Discovery Shop. I worked
hard and after walking to aerobics, participating – 3 hours. That was a
bit much but I got some interesting things. Betty Pyle was there and she
was in a “get rid of things” mood so I took 3 pictures frames cause she
was going to throw them away. I also got a good looking cotton sweater
for winter in a dark blue and white weave and a pair of cotton slacks in
a bright pattern. All clothes were 1/2 price so I didn’t spend much.
Don picked me up and I came home and had my lunch and then we went to
Safeway where I got things with the coupons they give out once a month in
a booklet. I saved money but I also spent a lot but that was ok. There
are 5 Saturdays in August, which means I will have to have more money for
groceries this next month. I went over to the mall area and bought 2
plate hangers at Michael’s and I put up the plate from Copenhagen that
Teri gave us and the one from Sweden that the writer sent us some years
ago. I put them in the west bedroom and they look nice. Then I bought a
can of wine colored spray paint to redo the pieces in the south bedroom.
I will try to get to that tomorrow. Fortunately did not want a big dinner
so had poached egg on toast with tomatoes and macaroni salad. I had the
same but without the egg. We watched the news. The Welfare bill passed
and Clinton won’t veto it but he would have been overridden anyway. It
will be interesting to see what happens when the states take over. We
turned on the air when we got back at 1:15 so after a couple of hours
things cooled down. Tomorrow I must vacuum and get things lined up for
Mike’s being here.
August 1
Cooler, Thank Goodness!
This was the day Mike was to come. So up at the usual time. Did all my
exercises. I have gotten interested in them again Thank Goodness. Ate
my spoon size shredded wheat and my Suka. Don went off to play tennis
and I got out my paste wax and did the long deal that has the TV on it in
our bedrooms. That was the one thing I had not waxed last week. When Don
came home, I vacuumed the main part of the house. Certainly the bedrooms
didn’t need it after having been cleaned such a short time ago. Then I
dusted the whole house. Went out and picked roses and there were a lot
of them again. I must remember to feed them too as they are due. I did
a load of clothes. We had lunch and I finished my book Sleeping Beauties
that I liked very much. We did not turn on the air cause it was much
cooler than yesterday. We watched quite a bit of the Olympics and some of
that was exciting. When it came time to think about dinner, I couldn’t
come up with anything, so I found a turkey pie and a Stouffer chicken
breast dinner. Both of them had been a long time but I decided we would
have them anyway. I made a huge green salad and that was it.
Watched
the news and then Don left for Sacramento to pick up Mike hopefully at
8:55. I ironed the clothes I had washed. Then I shaved my legs,
showered, shampooed and set my hair and then I went out to the TV and
turned on channel 9 and it was a mystery from a book by a N. Marsh and I
used to read her books. It was fun and it ended at 11 and I got up and
heard a car door slam and there was Don and Mike. As usual Mike came in
talking and went to the fridge just like he always did and had some
prunes and some toast and some green beans cold and we talked for a few
minutes and then I was off to bed.
My little office in the apartment is getting better and better. Now I
have a little basket with scissors, paper clips, white out and pencils
and pens. I love it.
August 2
Well it was a short night but I slept right through and woke up rested.
We got up and I did all my exercises but without the radio since Mike was
asleep in the apartment living room. Cause of his back, he does not sleep
on the bed and that is fine with me. Don and I had breakfast, red the
paper and then Don went off to tennis and I got dressed to go to Safeway
to get a papaya for Don’s breakfast tomorrow. Mike had started out on a
walk while we were reading. On the way to Safeway, I met him and he
decided to go to the store with me so off we went together. He does all
the talking so I didn’t get winded. When we got back, he decided to walk
a little longer but I had had enough. Later when Mike got back he made
his bean dish. It is no work, bran and beans. Well he stays with the
“B’s”. We had lunch and Mike talked about Emmie. He really loves her and
he seems to be getting along better with Karen. I think his attitude is
now that if they don’t make it, it won’t be the end of the world for him
and I think that rather startled her and they are not bickering so much
lately and MJ came in the afternoon. Cathy is going to Canada for a week
with friends from work. One has a house there. Then she is going to
Australia for 2 weeks in November to go to a conference and stay with
Jenny. So she was filling out the form for a passport. Mike had gone for
another walk and so he missed them. She did bring the picture of her and
Jenny so I will take it over tomorrow and have it framed. Since we were
going out to dinner with Priss, I pinned up my hair and did my nails and
then I decided to wear my black and white printed skirt, black top and
shoes and purse and I wore black jet beads and I thought I looked nice.
Don suddenly got a bad spell and was in great pain so he was jittery,
impatient and since he is not smoking that posted still another problem
but he carried out the dinner very well. The food was lousy but we kept
the conversation going and Priss likes Mike so much that helped. He is
always so nice to her. Well, the two men are in bed so I suppose I should
go too although I am not all that sleepy. I think I will read for a
while.
August 3
I didn’t write in this on Saturday. I am hard put to remember what
happened. Isn’t that strange? Well, we got up at 5:30 and it was cool.
I did my exercises and after I had eaten, I got dressed and walked to the
end of N. Ave. and back and it was very pleasant. I picked up Mary and
we went first to the market where I got beans, cukes, tomatoes, and
peaches. Then off to Food for Less. I spent about $35 there and didn’t
get anything that was very exciting. At the Cannery, I got lime and
raspberry sherbet but the really good buy was the big sack of dry dog
food for Daisy. It was about the same price as a small one at the
regular stores. So then home and Mike wanted to go to the Mkt. to get
almonds and other things. So he bought Asian pears and some other things
but there were no almonds. Last year’s crop is gone and the new crop is
not out yet so I will have to send him some I guess. Back home and we had
lunch. I started a letter to J & N but then I was interrupted. I made a
potato salad, we had hamburgers and the standard summer thing cukes and
tomatoes. For dessert, I made up a plate of cantaloupe wedges, fresh
strawberries and grapes and it looked lovely. Still I ate too much and I
didn’t feel all that great afterwards. The trouble with company is I
tend to cook more and to eat more. Not good. We watched the Olympics and
saw the much touted men’s relay team lost the gold to Canada but they did
get the silver. The women seem to be doing better than the men in many
areas. I was supposed to go over to Priss’ to look at some materials
that Vivian Show had and wanted to give away so she gave them to Priss to
give away. I forgot all about it and didn’t go but promised to go
tomorrow. Then Don and I watched “Love in the Afternoon” with Audrey
Hepburn and Gary Cooper who was certainly miscast but Mauricio Chevalier
was good as her father and it was a sweet movie made in the 50’s. And
then to bed.
August 4
We slept in until almost 6 but we had decided not to go to church since
Mary Y. was invited to go to Reno with friends. I took out the piecrusts
to make an apple pie and since the crusts were frozen I set them outside
on the sun on the chaise. Then Priss called saying she was going to work
at the museum in the afternoon today I had better go over before she
leaves. I had eaten lunch so I drove over and on the way I realized that
the crusts were still outside. I called home but the line was busy each
time I tried. There were some beautiful pieces of material I would like
the red or the gray plaid. Well I called Cathy when I got back and told
her about it. When I got back, the crusts were way too soft so I had to
chill them some. They were really very hard to roll out but I finally
got a pie but not my best. I made up another batch of crusts and froze
them. Went to Walgreen’s to get rubber gloves on sale and to Long’s for
strawberry spread and Vitamin E. Then home and I fixed chicken thighs in
sauce and rice, a big green salad and green beans. Mike planned to go
over to Jeff Days for an hour cause it was his birthday but had said we
should go ahead and eat. I think Don wanted to wait but I told him Mike
had said to go ahead so we did. He got home at 9! I called Priss at 7
to say I would be late cause I wanted to take her some pie. It will have
to wait till tomorrow. Damn! I find it incredible the amount he eats.
He said he would like to bring the family out for a month. We would have
to go on welfare to feed them or at least Mike. But I think in a way he
doesn’t have enough to do to keep busy so he walks and eats. Linda
wanted him to come up there but he didn’t want to go. The closing of the
Olympics was nice. 160 people on motor bikes and there were skateboards
and gymnastics. It was all very colorful. It is just 9:15 but I am very
tired so I am going to bed early.
August 5
Cooler
I took a Benadryl and slept well + it was lovely and cool. In fact,
today was great with a brick breeze all day. Naturally Mike went for a
long walk and then he and Don went off to tennis and I walked to
aerobics. It was a good session today. I walked home and then went out
to pick roses and changed all the flowers. I checked with Mike and he
needed clothes washed so with ours there was enough for a light and a
dark load. We had lunch and by then, I was folding clothes and then
ironed. I got everything done and then shampooed and set my hair and
when it was dry, I asked Don to trim the back and he did a great job.
Dinner was a strange concoction of things. There were two hard-boiled
eggs so I made deviled eggs. I heated the rice from last night, there
were potato chips. I cooked wieners and buns. There was a lot of green
salad leftover and Don and Mike ate that. There were 3 chicken thighs
left and they were eaten. There were green beans left over and they were
eaten. I tell you if Mike were here all the time we would never have any
leftovers. I did have to cook a lot more too. Karen called and I heard
Emmie. She said Hi Grandma. We watched the news and then I called Priss.
She had finally called David this morning and he said he would call her
back but he didn’t. At least not up to 7:00 but she walked the dog in
the morning and the she was at bridge all afternoon so maybe he called
back and she wasn’t at home. I told her that he still might call. After
that, since the men were watching a movie, I walked to the mall to get a
birthday card for Alice and I took the picture of Jenny & Cathy sitting
in Cathy’s crib and at the craft place they had to cut a special deal to
fit it and it cost $8.00! I didn’t realize it would be so much. Well
anyway now I am done with all that. Don has decided that for now we are
not going to do anything about the hall carpet. It is 9:15 and I am
going to read for a while. Mike leaves tomorrow at 10:30.
August 6
Very cool night and it was hard to get up but we made it. It was the
last morning with Mike. He didn’t realize that I was going to Hospice so
he had to say Good Bye before he went to play tennis. Then I watered the
plants and got dressed to go. I wore my slacks from the Discovery Shop.
They are in a very bright print but nice. I wore a green top. The walk
was pleasant and I did the monthly mileage report for the nurses and that
took the whole time. Walked home and Daisy was glad to see me. I made my
lunch and then very shortly Don got back. He had stopped at a fruit
store and got tomatoes, peaches, lies and a cantaloupe. Priss called and
she had talked to David on the phone and things seem to be good but she
always has to make demands. I am not the one involved. Alice called
wanting to have a brunch for Priss before she leaves. I have my eye
appointment that day so had to say no but I did invite her and Priss to
lunch a week from Friday. They can both come and I will invite Cassie
later. Dinner was simple. I made a salad of my veggies. Don had a bacon
and tomato sandwich and I had the same without the bacon and with cheese.
He had also gotten corn on the cob and it was very good too. So then Don
had gotten the movies and after I took a shower we watched Limelight with
Charlie Chaplin. Very long and very dull. Now it is time for bed.
August 7
I keep having all these fancy dreams about huge houses, people I don’t
know in these houses and interesting things going on that I can’t
remember when I get up for the day. Did all my exercises this morning.
Cleaned all 3 bathrooms before I went to the sports club. It wasn’t hot
on the way but it was getting warm on the way back. I didn’t stop at the
F. Mkt. or the N.V. Mall cause we had enough stuff on hand. So I came
home and ate some leftover raw veggies and then had my usual cottage
cheese, nectarine, raisins and dates. Then I got ready to go to the
library. I took back a whole lot of books but I brought home even more.
It never ends. I finished up cataloguing all the magazines dealing with
Christmas and then I looked up old books in the reference book to see if
any of them had any value. When I got home, I checked in, read a very
nice letter from Carl Peterson re: Don’s book and he was so kind about
it. It pleased Don. Then I went to Long’s to get tanning lotion and
bronzing gel makeup. I went back to the picture place and got a thing to
hang it on the wall and came home and put it up so now we have all 4 of
our children in pictures as children and they look great. We had talked
about eating out so we went to the Red Lobster. I hope next time we go
to the Olive Garden cause I am a bit tired of the other restaurant but I
didn’t have to cook and that was nice. Don had a drink before and wine
with dinner and he wanted the dessert that we shared and it was terrible!
Then home and to the news with Peter Jennings. Not right now but
hopefully before too long they will have a pill which will help men with
impotency. They are now saying that the plane that went down in the
Everglades had canisters that were full rather than empty and that they
exploded and started the fire that caused the plane to crash and they are
also claiming that they have evidence that there is life on Mars. Took a
shower and put on sun tan lotion and then we watched Ruthless People with
Bette Midler and Danny DeVito. It is so funny. Called Priss at 9 but
she was tired. She had gone out to dinner when I tried to reach her
earlier. So now I plan to read for a bit and then go to bed. Tomorrow I
have my eyes checked.
August 8
101o
We got up at a little after 5. Thank Goodness at that hour it was still
cool. After I got Don’s breakfast I washed and set my hair and then I
read the paper and had my shredded wheat bits and Suka. At present it
looks as if Kerry may be Dale’s running mate. Well he is the most
appealing so far and the best one. I guess Dole will answer it tomorrow.
I neatened things up, cut roses, arranged flowers, etc., and then got
ready to get ready to go get my eyes examined. I walked to the sports
club and then crossed the street and there was the Eye Center. Dr.
Hagelhurst seems very busy and business-like but he is ok. Wouldn’t you
know. My eyes haven’t changed so at least I don’t need new glasses and
he told me to take some special vitamins that are supposed to help them.
I will go get them tomorrow morning. I called Don and he came to get me.
He planned to work on the Curti article but he got too nervous to start
so he wrote letters instead and then his wounds started to hurt and he
was out for the day. He lay down most of the time and took pain pills.
I ran a load of clothes and folded them but didn’t do any ironing. It
was very hard and I refuse to go without the air for another day. I told
Don that too. And by the weekend it is supposed to keep getting hotter
so we are in for a bad time. I called Cassie Kelly but she can’t some on
Friday and I really don’t know who else to ask. Well if we just have 3
it won’t be too bad. I fixed chicken patty salad. I had had the chicken
in the freezer for a very long time so they were a bit dry but it was ok
and I cooked broccoli and sliced tomatoes and cukes and had apple crisp
for dessert. It was a good dinner. Got a letter from Donna today + a
very pretty dishtowel, hot pad and dish rag in a daisy pattern. Things
did not go well in Guerneville and she is giving her brother 6 months to
settle things and then she will get a lawyer. Watched the local news but
read rather than watched the national. Called Priss and she gave me a
long story about getting gas and waited for her to lose her temper. She
is getting very angry at the world. She did say that the Discovery Shop
is giving $10,000 to the library and the same amount to the Esplanade
House and those were the ones I voted for. Finally at 8:15 Don turned on
the air. A little late I would say. Nothing on the schedule tomorrow
but the Roseman’s at 3.
August 9
Very hot
Had bad dreams again. Why? I was in a strange place working in a dark
and gloomy factory and then I got lost coming home and did not know my
address and it was very scary. Glad when I woke up and it was morning.
After my exercises, breakfast and the paper, I walked to Safeway to get
some grapes and one papaya. The man charged me too much and when I told
him he checked and I was right so I got a papaya ($1.69) for free!
Walked home. Cut flowers, re-arranged bouquets, etc. and then it was
lunchtime. Afterwards, I walked to Walgreen’s and bought my vitamins that
may help my eyes. Stopped at the 98 cent store and got a very pretty
china - white of a swan. I am going to use it to put my toothbrush in.
Read for a while and then it was time to go see the Roseman’s. They were
fun as usual. We always seem to have a lot to talk about. Got home at
4:15. Made noodles with cream and Parmesan sliced tomatoes and cucumbers
(again!), had green beans and a small can of salmon and we had fresh
peach sundaes for dessert. Then there was the news. Kemp is going to be
Dole’s running mate. That will help the ticket and if Dole wins and dies
in office, better to have Kemp than some of the others he had been
thinking about. I decided to defrost the freezer. That much hated job and
at the end Don helps get the frost off the bottom because I am too short
to reach so far in. When I put everything back, and there were 5# of
almonds I had not cured so I did them. I showered and then we watched
City Lights, another famous Charlie Chaplin movie made in the early 30’s.
He is funny but a little goes a long way. I really don’t want to watch
any more of him for a while if ever. Talked to Priss. She had worked at
the Discovery Shop and was in a good mood. We had a drink and I had a
Manhattan and we made love and finally Don was able to come but he had to
do it alone. It was still beautiful and satisfying.
August 10
We got up at 5:15 and it was already too warm. I skipped almost all of
my exercises cause I wanted to leave early to go shopping and I wanted to
read the paper beforehand. I picked up Mary and we got there early but I
had to go to a different parking place but I found a good one. I bought
apples, a few peaches, green beans and cukes. Then on to the Food for
Less and the Cannery. I didn’t get much at the first store, just $20 but
I also bought $22 at the Cannery. I decided to buy some frozen dinners.
If this heat continues I don’t want to do much work.. We will see how it
goes. I ran a load of clothes and we had the air on early. Don suddenly
got his pain and was really out of it for the rest of the day. He took
his pills and lay in the bedroom and watched TV and dozed a lot of the
time. I worry about him cause the pain seems to come much more
frequently now. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. I made a
cheesecake. Then I made chocolate sauce and mayonnaise. I read for a
while and then at about 4 p.m., Don went to turn on the TV and it didn’t
work. Finally we found out that there had been a massive power outage
from Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho - our electricity was ok
the whole time but a lot of people were without that. So we were lucky.
I made an interesting little dinner: layer sandwiches with sliced
turkey, cheese, ham, pickles and lettuce & corn portage soup and lots of
different fruits mixed with vanilla yogurt. Well we didn’t get any news
so we both read. I called Priss and told her she and Cinders could stay
in the apartment if her lights didn’t come on and I called Mary Y. but
hers was back on. Then we watched Strangers in Good Company. Canadian
Ladies on a bus and it goes kerplunk and how they cope with being in the
wilderness. It was very good and sweet and sad and we both loved it and
cried too. And so the day ended. I still have ironing to do tomorrow and
I want to write to Donna and if it is not too hot I should feed the
roses.
August 11
We got up at the usual time and did the usual morning things but he
papers didn’t come for a long time. E-R was first but the Chron didn’t
come until just before we left for church. I wore my white and black
polka dot cotton dress. It was going to be hot but it was cloudy at that
time so I was ok. We went to Safeway and using Priss’ coupon book we got
5 more cans of dog food and 2 more 5# packages of sugar. Then I went to S
& S for apples for Don and to Long’s for still more Kleenex TP’s and
tissues and then home. Changed my clothes and watered and fed my
houseplants and then I did the ironing. By then, it was lunchtime and
afterwards I read and dozed. For dinner, I fixed chicken breasts, mashed
potatoes, a green salad and the cheesecake I made yesterday. The air has
been on all day. Our bill is going to be big this month. While waiting
for the paper this morning, I wrote to Donna so now I am in the clear all
the way around. I was checking on the cupboards in the apartment and
found an old fashioned white vase that is great for roses, more than a
bud vase, but not huge. Well tomorrow is the beginning of the Republican
Convention in San Diego with Dole and Kemp at the helm and tomorrow I
start a busy week. I shall be glad when it is over.
August 12
105
Up at 5. In fact, Don slept on while I got breakfast ready. Read the
papers but today I did all my exercises and I felt good about that. I
walked to aerobics and it was already getting warm but it wasn’t too bad.
I did well there. I felt like doing everything and I did. Walked home.
It was getting pretty hot but I still made it ok. I fed all my plants
yesterday so today I got brave, took the clippers and cut back some of
the roses that really look sick. I think the heat was too much for them.
One I simply pulled out. I think I will have to replace a number of
them. Then it was lunchtime and then I wanted to wash the wall in the
corner of the dining room where Daisy spends a lot of time. Spic and
Span really works there. I suddenly got carried away and I washed the
blind with a damp cloth, moved on to the kitchen, washed the windows in
and out and the blind and the screen and then washed the screen over the
front door, the back back door and the apartment door. Thinking I had
done enough, I quit and read for a while. We had a good dinner. I made
cakes out of the potatoes leftover and fried them. Sliced the leftover
chicken, had green beans and fresh peach halves with cottage cheese and
grapes and then there was the cheesecake. It was 108 degrees today and
so we had the air on from 2 p.m. till 9. It is supposed to be hotter
tomorrow. The national news was all about the convention so I just
walked away from it and turned to my book but then Priss called me which
is not usual but she was very depressed and so I listened to all of her
problems and she finally seemed to cheer up. Then I took a shower and we
watched Miracles with Tom Conti and Terri Garr and although we had seen
it before it was just as funny as last time. I got brave and cut about 1
½” off the front and the sides of my hair and since I can’t see the back,
it doesn’t matter to me. It looks a lot better but of course there won’t
be much perm left. I got the last one on the 13th of June. Linda called
and suggested we come up to Tahoe after Labor Day and that appeals to me
a lot more than going now. I must call Julie and tell her. Well, it is
10 after 9 so I will read for awhile and then pin up my hair and go to
bed.
August 13
I forgot to write in this last night. I am sitting here Wednesday
morning. Well it wasn’t all that exciting as days go. Somehow it wasn’t
as good as Monday. Very hot. I walked to Hospice wearing my white
coulotte and the grape printed top. I finished up on the doing the
monthly transportation cards and when I was done with that I started
filing this month’s cards. The time went fast and I had no complaints.
The walk home was not great cause it was 2 hours hotter and after all
this talk about elderly people succumbing to heat waves, I was a bit
nervous but it was ok. Had lunch and napped a bit and then I cleaned the
3 bathrooms but hastily and dusted the rest of the mini blinds. When we
win the lottery I plan to have wooden louvered blinds throughout the
house. I made a simple dinner: the rest of the chicken breasts into
sandwiches and the cukes and tomatoes. Don had a piece of the cheesecake
and we threw the rest away. I must learn to make smaller pies somehow.
Don had a headache so he lay down and I went over to the 98 cent Store
and bought 2 more white porcelain swans to use on the table filling them
with flowers and on to Long’s to buy more Klennex and TP on sale and then
home. We watched Saving Grace with Lou Conti as the pope who brings a
village back to life by repairing the water wheel that pumps water into
the village. It got 4 stars and deserved them. After that we went to
bed. The prediction was for another hot day!
August 14
I am tired of summer. I am tired of hot weather. I can’t remember a time
in recent years when we have been hot for so long. The nights are warm so
it isn’t even cool when we get up in the morning. Yuk! This morning I
read the papers and made a grocery list since Wednesday papers have the
ads. Ah Hah! Gravenstein’s were on sale at Safeway and Holiday. I got
them at Holiday since at 69 cents a # they were 10 cents cheaper.
Tomorrow morning I must make a pie for Don’s luncheon club. We went
tonight after dinner to get the cold cuts and I started the gazpacho
(sp?) and will finish that in the morning. I also will serve cukes,
tomatoes and onion slices. Then when that is over, I will start working
on the luncheon the next day for Priss and Alice. Priss is leaving
Sunday for Indianapolis to visit her grandson, Peter, and his family. I
walked the bike path to and from aerobics and stopped at the market in
the N. Valley mall area and got tomatoes but I didn’t feel up to carrying
anything else the rest of the way home. I fixed my lunch and waited for
Don to get home from Dr. Foltz. He has felt very tired lately and he
wanted to know if she had any answers. She thinks he should see Dr.
Moffett the heart man about that valve in his heart so he has an
appointment with him next week. I then went to the library and worked on
Roger Rick Cricket and other children’s magazines sorting them by year
and month to see what was missing. It made the time go fast and I had no
complaints and anyway, it was cool. Stopped for the apples and a man
came to the car and said my right front tire was low. He had an accent
and I asked him if he was from Australia and he said yes. I told him we
had a daughter living there and thanked him. Don took it to the tire
place and there was a screw embedded in it and they fixed it for free
cause he buys his tires there. Dinner was simple. I cooked veggie
burgers, which I thought were mushy and tasteless, chips, and fresh
veggies. Don had peaches and cream and I had some frozen yogurt. Then we
went to Safeway for cold cuts, lemons, cheese, etc. I called Priss and
chatted with her and then I started reading Messages From My Father by
Calvin Trillin. It is a little book but nice. Laura Mizel suggested it
to Don. It is 9:20 and my head is wet with sweat and though we did
finally turn on the air at about 7:30, the house did not cool down. I
think it will be a miserable night.
August 15
Woke up to a not so cool morning. By 8 a.m. I had read the papers. Then
my exercises, washed and set my hair and then I got to work. First I did
all the chopping, etc. for the summer soup. Then I made the apple pie,
then it was slice the tomatoes and cukes and onions. Then I set the
table. I had bought those very nice white swans in china and made in
china by the way and I used eucalyptus and short stemmed roses and some
lavender flowers. I had coral place mats and candles and the table
looked lovely. So I sliced pickles, put out condiments and then got
dressed and combed out my hair. Jackie, Dale, Emily and Don. I took
Daisy over to the apartment and first I sewed by hand a deeper seam in my
gray knit shorts cause they were too wide in the legs and then I read and
fell asleep and Daisy woke me at 1 just as Don walked in the doorway.
They had left. So I fed Daisy and we put the food away. The rest of the
afternoon we read and then we made a simple dinner with the leftover cold
cuts and the rest of the luncheon fare. Watched the local news but
skipped Dole’s acceptance speech. Don got Romancing the Stone and we
watched that. It is ok but we have seen it many times and I would have
preferred something else but Don wanted it and he seems to be on a movie
kick at the moment. We had bourbon and water while we watched and then we
went to bed and tried to make love but it didn’t seem to work for either
of us. We talked about the whole situation for a long time. I think Don
is worried about his health right now and that contributes to the
problem. Well we will work it out somehow. I forgot to mention that I
made the meringues for tomorrow’s lunch and chatted with Priss who is
getting ready to go on her trip on Sunday. I also called in an order for
Don for a jacket from Eddie Bauer.
August 16
It is pitch dark now at 5 a.m. I loved waking up to the light but that
is over for another year. I did all my exercises this morning. On the
days that I don’t walk I feel I can’t skip any. After a brief look at
the papers, I got to work I made tuna salad and the lemon pie filling. I
had made the meringues last night. Then I redid the flower arrangements
from yesterday with fresh roses. Cut the cucumbers and tomatoes ready to
put on the platter with the tuna. By 10, it was time to turn on the air.
It had been so cool this morning that I thought maybe we wouldn’t need it
on but on the sun was up it promised another hot day. I put on my make
up and my LL Bean blue dress with the white trim. Alice and Priss arrived
at 11:30. I had put the French bread with the cheese in the oven before
they came so by the time I gave them wine and we talked the bread was hot
and I put the summer soup in the soup bowls and then there was the tuna,
tomatoes and cukes + a fruit dish + the meringue with lemon sauce. Priss
was difficult with her talk of getting ready for the trip and doing most
of the talking and I found her unusually annoying. It will be good to
have her gone for a few days to Indianapolis. I welcome the reprieve.
Alice was fine. So then I cleaned up the kitchen. There was a letter from
Pauline and she has gone back to being unpleasant and unkind. I suppose
I will get over it but right now I would be perfectly happy to never hear
from her again. I suppose that is a terrible thing to say but I really
felt that way. I got ready to go to see Helen and it was a nice escape.
She is fun to be with and we laugh and visit and the hour goes fast. When
I got home making dinner was a snap. I had a 1/2 sandwich with the cold
cuts from yesterday and a little bowl of soup. Don had the leftover tuna
salad with all the things we had this noon and then I had last night’s
apple pie. Now it is time for bed. It has cooled off nicely. We
watched Red again and like it very much. In fact, we had forgotten most
of it. Well so I will say goodnight and I hope tomorrow is a nice day
for everyone.
August 17
Woke to a cool morning. What a relief. It got hot later in the day but we
did not have to turn on the air. I had my breakfast and read the paper
in haste and then got dressed and went for a walk before picking up Mary.
At the F. Mkt. I got tomatoes, beans, cukes & Asian pears and then off to
Food for Less where I realized I had not brought my list. That always
throws me.
Somehow I spent $29 at that store and then went to the
Cannery where I spent $19. Rushed home after dropping Mary off and put
the groceries away and then Don drove me downtown to the Discovery Shop
where I worked with Alice Danterman. It was a dull morning really. I
found a very good-looking dark navy sweater that I liked and a top that I
rather liked and a pair of navy knit pants. We made $72, which was not
bad. When I got home, I ate lunch and then tried on the clothes. The
sweater looks great with the navy skirt but it is too big. If it were
wool or cotton, I could try to shrink it but I don’t think it will work
cause it is acrylic. So I will have to take just about everything back.
Well, at least I will save money. Then there was the letter from
Pauline. I hate to open them cause there will be something nasty and
today was no exception. She said I could not name 10 operas cause my
taste was much plainer. I had about a list of 10 movies, I was stunned.
Well I have written a rough draft of a letter back to her. I will work on
it tomorrow. I am very discouraged about our relationship. Don said he
wanted mashed potatoes for dinner so I fixed them and made a green salad
and there was some of that bread with the jack cheese inside left that I
heated and then I had gotten a frozen lasagna and that turned out to be
very good so that was our dinner and there was a little bit of frozen
yogurt left and I had that. Then I made a tour of the yard and did a
little pruning and then called Priss who is leaving tomorrow for
Indianapolis so I have a break there for a few days. Linda called and
wants us to come on the 16th of September. So I must get a perm before
then. I hope it is cooler too cause I have fall clothes that would be
better than summer ones. Don got a couple of clunkers for movies and I
just wasn’t interested in watching so I read a little but I didn’t much
like what I am reading either. It takes time to get over Pauline’s
letter.
August 18
Woke to a dark world at 5 and a cool one. We got up and I fixed breakfast
and did my exercises and then I read the paper. It is strange now that
Don has quit smoking. He doesn’t go out side to read the paper and if he
can keep going with it then he will not have to go out in the rain in the
winter shivering on the north patio. I have passed the 3 month mark
without one but I still want one. I wore my beige slacks and cotton
sweater to church. We had the little priest this morning who is so hard
to understand. Then on to Safeway for papayas, chicken breasts and milk
and Don got a croissant. I am trying to eat less. I found an article in
the paper about a woman who has written a book that I think might be good
for me to read and for Pauline to read. I was very restless and unhappy
today too. We drove out to Food for Less and got 3 papayas and then to S
& S for apples. Then home for lunch. Afterwards, I went outside to find
something to do and I ended up getting all the old wood pieces that have
been by the shed for years and put them in the wheel barrow and taking
them underneath the palm tree by the fence in the north yard. It took 4
loads but I cleared it all out and then I started to rake up all the
leaves and dried stuff left behind but Don came out and took over and
raked all the leaves up to the oak tree so it looks much better there and
I told him we were going to have fires this year! I have been very upset
about Pauline’s latest letter so I decided to work on a reply and I
worked on it off and on for the rest of the day and tomorrow I will read
it again and retype it and send it off. I will try to make a copy so I
will have one here. I made a good dinner. I got some country style beef
ribs, boneless and I put them in the oven at 1:30 at 300 degrees and
cooked them all afternoon in barbecue sauce and chicken bouillon. Made
potato cakes to fry, green beans and a beautiful fruit salad. It was a
good dinner and we were both hungry and for dessert I made Don a meringue
with ice cream and chocolate sauce on it. The plane with 9 people aboard
following the President’s plane plowed into a mountain after take off in
Idaho and everyone was killed. I went for a walk cause it was cool
enough to be enjoyable. Then I showered and then we watched Goodbye New
York about the woman who wanted to go to Paris, ends up in Israel with no
luggage or money and worse on a kibbutz. We have seen it many times
before but it is funny. I got a bite on the bottom of my foot. Have
soaked it in Epsom salts and Don put Neosporin and a band aid on it. I
guess I will read for a while and then go to bed.
August 19
I am glad to sit down. This has been a busy day. Up at 5 after a lovely
cool night and good sleeping weather. Fixed Don’s breakfast and then I
did all my exercises and I really worked at this. But then it was Monday
and I always start out the week great. Read the paper and then watered
various plants. Don went off to tennis and I worked on my letter to
Pauline. I had a rough draft to work with and I finished it right at
8:30 so I could go off to aerobics. I wore my mid blue top and matching
slacks and I didn’t get too warm. Had a good workout there and then
walked home. Don was at Dr. Moffett’s so I started my lunch just as he
got home. They had done a 40-minute test where they take pictures of the
heart from every angle. He won’t know the results until he sees Dr.
Foltz. I think he is worried. After lunch, I ran 2 loads of clothes and
I also made bread. I baked it in the apartment oven but I don’t think
that was such a good idea. I also cleaned out and straightened up the
top part of the little desk in the living room and we laughed at some of
the pictures I found and I found a paper I had written about the children
27 years ago. I think I had been pretty accurate. Threw a lot of things
away that were out of date and then I put dinner together which was easy.
From the freezer, some leftover corn bread, a piece of turkey ham, and
some squash so I just had to heat those things and slice a cuke and
tomato and there was dinner. We watched the local news and Don went to
the bedroom to see the National cause his back was bothering him so much.
The forest fires all over the west are just terrible. Thousands upon
thousands of acres have been burned and it keeps getting worse. I went
for a walk and it was so nice cause it wasn’t too hot but the sun was a
fiery and angry red cause of all the smoke in the air. When I got home, I
emptied the dishwasher and put the bread in the freezer. Somewhere in
there I shampooed and set my hair. I was going to iron tonight but that
will have to wait cause I am tired. Somehow I am relieved that I sent the
letter off to Pauline. I suggested that we not write for a while and I
also suggested that she go into a retirement place so she will be so mad
I may never hear from her again.
August 20
86o today
Very cool this morning. I heard that it was 20 degrees cooler at 6 a.m.
today than it was a week ago at that time. I believe it. I wore slacks
and a cotton sweater to Hospice and it was very pleasant walking there
this morning. I worked till 15 to 10 and then there was noting else to
do so Colleen said I could go home and that pleased me so off I went.
When I got home, I changed my clothes and went out and fed the roses with
systemic and some rose food. I don’t have quite enough of either but by
mixing them it went around. Came in and had lunch and Don went off to see
Dr. Moore. His appointment was at 11:30. He was gone for over an hour
but when he got back he said he liked her very much. He decided not to
try any of the Rx’s she suggested until he had the results from Dr.
Moffott and I could see the point of that. After he ate he went to lie
down and I went to the apartment and did the ironing, which took an hour.
My Black and Decker steam iron is just not steaming very much. I don’t
remember if I sent in a warranty or not. Probably not damn it. When the
mail came I got a letter from Pauline. She was talking about Memorial Day
and in her other letter she had talked about it but I had not realized
she was complaining cause I did not call her on that day. This is so
strange that I don’t know what to think and since I sent off a letter to
her saying that I don’t want to write for a while, I don’t know what kind
of a reaction I will get. Made a very simple dinner. Ground up the ham
from yesterday and made sandwiches and used the rest of Sunday’s mashed
potatoes by making soup. Don had peaches and cream for dessert and I had
a few bites of frozen yogurt. We watched the news both local and
national and when Don called Cathy to tell her about his visit to Dr.
Moore and then she wanted to talk to me and I heard about the fact that
Julie can’t find a bed in her price range and Rose doesn’t want chemistry
this year but that is what she got on her schedule and there are to be no
changes according to the principal and MJ wants to be on the volleyball
team but may not make it. After listening for 1/2 an hour I was glad that
I no longer have teenagers to worry about. Then I took my shower and now
I am going to read for a while before going to bed.
August 21
It was not as cool last night as the night before but ok. I got up at 5
planning to pin up my hair before going off for the day but when I combed
it, it looked ok so I didn’t bother. Read the papers and looked at the
ads. Nothing interesting there. Then I cleaned all 3 bathrooms before
getting ready for my class. Don took the car over to Nissan for its
service check and he called from there to say they would not be done by
11 and was that ok. I said yes cause I didn’t think there was water at
the spillway under the freeway. I walked to aerobics but I found it
rather hard going and I found aerobics the same. I just couldn’t get
with it today. I walked home and went to the bathroom and found that I
was spotting again so this time I will have to make an appointment. Damn.
Worries me a lot. So anyway, I made my lunch and then I started out for
the library. I got to the creek and there was a huge backhoe right where
I wanted to cross and he was moving rocks. I asked if I could get
through and the nice man moved his heavy machine and I got by but there
was water at the spillway so I got water in my shoes but they dried quite
soon. Worked at dull things but the time went fast and Don picked me up
at 1:30. Came home and I had thawed the good old hot dish so we had
that, fresh bread and a big green salad and I asked Don what he wanted
for dessert and he wanted a chocolate cake so that was easy to do. Good
old Duncan-Heins came through again. We had a good dinner, watched the
news and then I took a shower to get ready for another movie. This time
it was City Hall with Al Pacino and he was fantastic! It was a very good
movie. Don wanted to give Julie $300 for a bed for her apartment. He
asked me what I thought and I told him to give her $100 cause later Rose
and MJ will need things and we can’t afford that much for each. So he
called Cathy and told her and she said “I love you”. I wish sometimes
that I felt as generous as Don. I just hope we will have enough when we
need it. Talked to Linda tonight and she is nervous about school. As she
said, she was always good in school but she never really had a goal and
now at 49 she has one and she wants so much to be a nurse. It is an
interesting and strange world. Did I say that Don’s jacket came from
Eddie Bauer and he loves it and it fits!
August 22
Don and I were watching True Lies but it got a little too violent for me
so I decided to take a break. Now about my day. Well let’s see. We got
up at 5 and Don checked my pulse for 10 seconds and it was 8. I will
have to check with Luann to decide if that is good or not. Got
everything ready for breakfast. I decided to fix Daisy’s liver and ramen
mix so I made up 3 containers of that. I have it down to a science now
and it was much more efficient. I got out the vacuum cause I decided it
was time to clean and Don walked in and said he planned to do it and I
certainly let him. Then I dusted and neatened everything up and changed
the flowers. Went out and picked the roses that were ready to come into
the house. We had lunch and then I decided to go to the mall. What a
disaster that was. I went first to Mervyn’s to buy a bra. I haven’t
bought one for years cause I have 3 of one kind and two of another but
they are getting rather worn. Well I picked out about 6 to try on. They
all looked and felt terrible and they cost anywhere from $10 - $25. I
couldn’t but it. So I gave up on that. Then I took my stitchery I got
in Mexico to the framing place but there were two people ahead of me and
no clerk in sight so I went to Dalton’s and got the book I had ordered
Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Renew. Came home and started reading and
I loved it. Didn’t do anything interesting in the afternoon. At about 3,
I put things together for dinner. I made a Waldorf salad, got the
leftover hot dish and the boneless ribs from early in the week ready for
heating plus the fresh bread and some green beans so dinner was a snap
and there was chocolate cake leftover for Don. I had some frozen yogurt.
We watched the local news. I have decided that both candidates are doing
it wrong. They spent all of their time denouncing the other fellow.
Well Dole does it himself and Clinton has ads showing what he has done so
he is better in that regard but I think they will turn more people off
than they will convince. It is a long way to November. We went over to
see Bidwell cause they have painted it and it looks great. White with
blue doors. I have decided that it is so long since I have actually
shopped for clothes that I don’t know how to do it any more. I get
everything secondhand from the Discovery Shop. Strange! Don called Jenny
and she was fine.
August 23
Hot again
It is 8 p.m. and very warm. In fact, it has been a hot day. We got up at
5 and I made breakfast. Did my exercises and read the paper. Don decided
not to play tennis today but rather to work in the yard. He trimmed back
the star jasmine by the study down and then he attacked the bushes in the
front yard. He took apart the butterfly plant altogether and when I came
back from my walk I changed my clothes and joined him. I dug up the huge
leafed plant that has pink flowers in the early spring. There was just
one huge one left so I divided into about 5 pieces but it has a tubular
so like an iris and I put all of them by the shed in the north yard. I
watered them and I must remember to water them tomorrow as well. Then we
came in the house and Don went to get doughnuts as a reward. I would
rather have had a cigarette but I ate the doughnut. After that, I shaved
my legs, showered, shampooed and set my hair and then went to have lunch.
I won’t get a perm till the 3rd of September so I will have to set it
many times before that. Afterwards, I ran a load of clothes, read a
little and then made a macaroni salad, fixed cukes and tomatoes and got
out hot dogs and buns. Combed out my hair and went to see Helen at 3.
George fell down yesterday and got a cut over his eye and he plans to do
a railroad trip tomorrow around Shasta and eat a gourmet dinner and stay
at a bed and breakfast and be back on Sunday. Interesting. The trouble
is that it is expensive $75 for the train, $75 for the bed and breakfast
plus the bus fare. Still I think it would be fun. Got back and we had
inner and then we watched the news, went for a walk and then we watched
White. Very strange indeed. Now I am going to have a drink. I had
vodka tonics and they tasted wonderful. We had a good talk while we drank
and then we went to bed and made love and it was wonderful - just
wonderful. I was so happy for Don especially.
August 24
1st day without my Naprosyn
Up at 5 to a cool, cloudy morning. After the brief look at the papers, I
went for a walk and it was great cause it was still cool. Picked up Mary
at 7:10 and we checked out the Mkt. Didn’t buy anything exciting - just
tomatoes, cukes and green beans. Then to Food for Less where I spent just
$30.
Again nothing special. At the Cannery I spent $10. Got Don some
frozen waffles he wanted to try and a yogurt dessert we had seen
advertised. I put everything away and then called Priss and she told me
all about her trip to Indianapolis. She had a very good time. She
thought Peter and Mary Ann were too child-oriented and she missed orange
juice and desserts but other than that she was pleased. But the
limousine did not pick her up and so although she got into Sacramento at
7 she didn’t get home till 12! After talking to her I came to the
kitchen and had my lunch. I am so hungry these days. Afterwards, I sat
in the living room and started to read and woke up when Don went to pick
up the mail. Then it was 1 p.m. and time to feed Daisy. It also started
to get really warm. I had a dinner all planned and Don suggested that we
go to the Olive Garden tonight. I was certainly willing. Too often I
say no I have something planned but I am not going to do that any more.
So I read some more but at the moment novels don’t seem to appeal to me.
I put on my white coulotte and black and white striped top and we left at
10 to 5. I ordered lasagna with chicken and Don did the same but with
shrimp. He had a drink and wine and I had neither. It was pretty good
and it was nice to eat out. We came home and had the dessert advertised
on TV. Frozen yogurt with strawberries and chocolate and I thought it
was terrible. I ran a load of whites, showered and put on my nightgown
and skimmed another book that I didn’t like much. Now it is 9:30 and I
will fold the clothes and go to bed.
August 25
Well, this was a do nothing day for sure but that was ok. We got up at
5:30 and Don took my pulse again and this time it was 9 not 8 but I sat
up and that might have made a difference. I will tell Luann tomorrow. I
made breakfast and my exercises came net and then there were the papers.
I didn’t read them all that carefully but I did cut out some coupons.
Then I got ready for church. I wore my pale beige slacks, the stirrup
ones and the cotton sweater that matches plus the flats that I got in
Palm Springs years ago. Don was funny in church. First in the epistle
Jesus said he was the rock and here he did build their church. Don said
he wondered if his disciples called him Rocky. Then after the sermon he
said that the priest from Vietnam who has such trouble with English that
Don said the mass is now in English but the sermon might as well be in
Latin. We stopped at Walgreen’s for Vit. E on sale and then home. I made
lemon pie filling 1/3 of the recipe and I cooked the raspberries Alice
brought me and strained them and that was our dessert tonight on
meringues. After I got that done, I went out and watered plants that
needed it and put the little sprinkler on the north yard to try to
encourage the grass. It looks pretty bare. Got brave and cut back all
the creeping Charlie’s and put the cuttings in water as starters. The
plants had gotten sloppy; they were not pretty. Ate lunch and then dozed
over my book. When I woke up I got out the stuff that we brought home
from the Olive Garden. I cut the bread sticks in 1/2 and spread Mayo and
parmesan on top to be heated. I got out the lasagna, cut it up, added
tomato juice and heated it in the oven, cooked an ear of corn for Don and
made a green salad. I cut up 1/2 a chicken breast and cut it in strips
and sautéed it for Don. So we had a good dinner. Started to watch the
news but it was all about the convention so I went for a walk instead and
got in a mile. Called Priss after my shower and she talked for about 1
hour. She has much to tell about Indianapolis so now I am reading Romance
by Ed McBain and it is good. Second day without a Naprosyn. I am ok.
My left hand hurts a little but not a lot.
August 26
87o!
Up at 5. We went to bed at a little after 9 and I was afraid I would wake
up and not go back to sleep but I was ok. I was so tired last night that
I just couldn’t make it till 10. Did my exercises and read the papers or
at least part of them. Did my exercises and then got dressed for
aerobics. It was very pleasant walking this morning. Much cooler. I
seem to try lately at my class. I guess I should walk more and build up
some reserve. Came home and changed my clothes, got the clippers and a
leaf bag and then went to the place between our place and the house on
the corner. There are weeds and junk and everything messy and it looks
like our property since the fences are the same. I know the young people
renting the house are never going to do anything about it so I raked,
pulled weeds, etc. and got a whole bag of junk. Then this afternoon I
went out and again with the clippers cut back the eucalyptus bush in our
front yard and then tied up the cutters so I felt good about what I
accomplished. Got a note back from Jenny saying that their cooking was
not all that great and wanted ideas about why so I wrote a lot of
suggestions and typed it and Don put it on e-mail. In the mail, we got a
Father’s Day card for Don cause it is Father’s Day in Australia. As they
pointed out, he gets two cards a year but the mother just gets one. I
got a letter from Pauline, nasty as usual, so I told Don this one I just
won’t answer. I am weary of the whole thing. I feel I have really tried
but she is so angry and has decided that I am a safe person to vent her
anger but I have had enough. I made chocolate chip cookies just to be
sure that the recipe was a good one and they were so good that I ate way
too many. Don went off to his class that started at 4:30 – 6:20 and then
he had to buy the books that cost $95! I had everything ready so when he
came home, I just had to put it together. He had bacon T & L sandwich.
I had cheese T & L sandwich and then we had chips and some of the
macaroni salad and he had the last of the lemon filling on a meringue.
The Democratic Convention started. Clinton will be there on Wednesday.
He is coming by train and the last time that happened was when Roosevelt
was running. I don’t watch much of it but I did hear the news and then
turned to channel 9 and listened to that till Don got here. This is going
to be a busy week. I talked to Linda for a while and heard about Julie
and the waterbed that caught fire but there wasn’t any water in it and
she had forgotten to turn off the electricity and she wasn’t home. So
that was my day.
August 27
85o
We woke to a clear, cool morning. I walked to Hospice and since school
has started suddenly the traffic is horrendous. I guess I forgot over the
summer each year so it comes as a shock in the fall. I don’t have enough
to do and left at 10 instead of 10:30. I made arrangements with Marylyn
for next Tuesday and will come in at 7:30 so I can leave at 9:30 to be
downtown at 10 for my perm and I can’t wait cause my hair looks like
hell. Don went to his creative writing class today. Yesterday their
French kit cost $95 and today his book for creative writing cost $35
(used!). Pretty soon the books are going to cost more than the tuition.
Don is very depressed at the moment. I think he feels that maybe he has
bitten off too much taking these two classes and he doesn’t feel great
although today he found out that the heart test said everything was ok
there. He says he misses Ed and we are both in the same boat that we
don’t have a friend to confide in. I haven’t had one like that since
Lolly died and Don had Ed until he died so though we have each other,
sometimes one wants a friend of the same sex to talk to and that is what
we need and do not have. I did accomplish something in that I shortened
3 knit tops. They are all too long and it was tedious to hem them by
hand but with no machine I had no choice and I don’t have anything else
urgent to do. Made a nice dinner: meat loaf, twice baked potatoes, green
beans and meringues with ice cream and chocolate sauce. We went for a
little walk after dinner but Don was not feeling very well so we didn’t
go far. Priss called and Don answered. She was going out to dinner and so
I didn’t call her later. I showered, pinned up my miserable hair and put
suntan lotion on my legs. I have been reading Newsweek which is mostly
about Clinton now. I wish I did not have to have the luncheon on Friday.
It is cool now and my menu isn’t as appealing. Well I am stuck so I jut
hope for the best.
August 28
It was really chilly this morning. Got warm and then hot by late
afternoon but it is cooling off now at 9 p.m. Full moon tonight and it
is simply beautiful. Since Don doesn’t smoke any more we never sit
outside and I miss it. He says being out there is so much associated
with smoking that it makes it hard for him and naturally I understand. I
still want to smoke. It isn’t so hard for me cause I did quit for 5
years but I could start in tonight if I dared. Well getting back to my
day. Before I went to my exercise class, I cleaned all 3 bathrooms. Last
night I pinned up my hair so I looked better today. I can’t wait for
next Tuesday when I get my perm. I just hope it will be worth the extra
$25 since I am having Rita from Devine do it rather than the beauty
college where it costs $24.50. Don got me a $100 gift certificate for 4
hair cuts but I can’t see that much difference in the cutting part so I
decided to get a perm which costs $50 there. We shall see. I walked to
and from class. I seem to tire more these days during class. Hopefully
when the weather cools off I will have more energy. I go to the doctor
tomorrow and maybe she will have some ideas. Mike called today and Don
talked to him. Karen found a lump in her breast and they should know
Friday or Monday if it is something serious or not. He said he would let
us know. Well, I have been spotting and I guess I must tell Dr. Foltz
about it. I don’t look forward to that. Got back home I ate my lunch and
then I drove to the library to find that the card catalogue for all books
is out and computers are in. I followed directions and printed Don’s
name and it came up and had The Innocent Years with all the information
about it. It was exciting. I worked hard for 2 hours and then came on
home. Don was working on his French cause he had class from 4:20 – 6:30.
While he was gone, I made up waffle batter, sliced fruit for a fruit
plate and did a cheese and pickle plate and then I read and then watched
the news. Priss called wanting me to go to lunch with her but I have the
Discovery Shop tomorrow so I could say no. Thank Goodness. I watched
the local and national news. Since the Democratic Convention is on they
talked about that a lot. Clinton who will be coming by train will arrive
tomorrow and give his acceptance speech tomorrow and then it will be
over. So that is about all for today.
August
29
Hot
It is 10:30 p.m. and Don is watching the Godfather – he has all 3 movies
for the weekend so we still have a long way to go cause each of the 3 is
in 2 parts. Well we got up at the usual time and did the usual things. I
had to be at the Discovery Shop at 10 to 10 so I rushed around took a
shower, shampooed, set my hair, made meringues and neatened things up
around the house. Had a snack and off I went. I worked with a Dusty
Reeves who was ok but rather distant and so it wasn’t all that much fun.
I couldn’t find anything that I really wanted. I did bring 2 sweaters
home and I am keeping one of them since it was 1/2 price at $7.50. I
found a vase that I thought Linda would like so I will take it to her
when we go to Tahoe. We started out with no one in the store for the
first hour but then it picked up and we ended up with $116 so that was
good. I drove home, ate my late lunch and Don had to be at his class at 2
so then I drove home and before long it was time for me to go to Dr.
Foltz. She said she didn’t think taking the stuff for my eyes could have
anything to do with my spotting. She sent me for a blood test and while
I was there, Don had walked to Dr. F. and they called the lab so when I
came out he was just coming so Thank Goodness I did not have to go pick
him up. We got home and I was hot and tired and so I cooked a very simple
dinner: cheese sandwiches, cukes and tomatoes, chips, and a milk shake
for Don and I had some frozen yogurt. Watched some of the news, called
Priss and then got busy. I made the first part of gazpacho, dusted
everything, watered all the plants and then watched the movie with Don.
Mike called to say that the cyst of Karen’s in her breast is benign. I
talked to her too and told her out glad we were that she was ok and that
we were so worried. I realize that we are not all that nice to her and
we should do better. I will be glad when my luncheon is over tomorrow. I
keep thinking that it will not go well and I must not forget to go see
Helen and I have to come up with something to eat at night. But then
once the day is over I don’t have anything very pressing except I will
have to go see Dr. Heath probably and actually I am worried about that
cause what if I have cancer? I am writing this in the study and there is
a full moon outside my door and it is gorgeous. Whatever happens to me I
just hope I will be able to handle it with grace and courage.
August 30
This was a busy day and I worked hard. I am glad it is over and that the
lunch went well. Up at 5 and did all the usual things. By a little
before 7, I was ready to get to work. Why do I choose menus that take so
much chopping, cooking, etc.? First I made the lemon pie filling. Once
that was in the fridge, I chopped and chopped to put all the veggies in
the gazpacho. Thank Goodness I did the first part last night. Then I
boiled the eggs and I did the tuna salad. Fixed the fruit plate and then
I was ready to go pick the roses and arrange all the vases and the 2
swans for the table. By the time I vacuumed the living room and dining
and kitchen and mopped the linoleum it was 11. I put on my beige stirrup
slacks and matching sweater and then it was time to put the cheese bread
in the oven. Mita and Lois were a bit late but everything was ok. They
both had a glass of wine but I was not in the mood. It went well and
they seemed pleased with the food especially the meringues with the lemon
sauce, whipped cream and raspberry swirl. I rinsed the dishes as I
changed courses so when they left at about 2:30 it was a snap to put them
in the dishwasher. Then I went to my living room chair to read and fell
asleep waking up at about 3:15 and realized I was supposed to be at
Helen’s at 3. So I got in the car and dashed over and so I stayed till
4:30. We had a good visit. Dr. Foltz office called to say my blood test
was fine so I should continue with the same amount of thyroid Rx but
should also make an appointment with Dr. Heath. I called but the office
was closed till Tuesday. I got two letters from Pauline. I really don’t
know what to do about all this. I had told her I was not going to write
for a while and asked her not to write but she has. She said she was not
going to move out of her house, etc., etc. I had suggested that but only
cause she said the stairs worried her and I saw it as a problem. Well,
no more suggestions. I will wait a while to write. Dinner was a snap. I
had a little of everything left from the lunch and I wasn’t hungry so I
fixed all of it for Don. Then there was the news and Clinton leads in the
polls by over 15%. That was good news. Don put the Godfather Part 1 in
tonight. We watched Godfather III last night and didn’t get to bed till
after 11. I called Priss and she was in a good mood. Now I will go back
to the Godfather.
August 31
The last day of August! And I am happy to see the month gone. What will
September bring I wonder. It was cool when we got up this morning and
after I read the paper I walked my mile down N. Avenue and back before
picking up Mary to go shopping. There was really nothing of interest at
the stores. I got the usual things that I get every week. At the F.
Mkt. I got only cukes and tomatoes. I got home at about 9:20 and put
away the groceries with the idea of going to some of the stores to buy
things that I wanted but then I decided I wasn’t in the mood so I didn’t
go. I ran a small load of clothes and then I made lunch. Afterwards, I
did the ironing and then on this hot day I got out a wool skirt that was
too tight in the waist and ripped the waist band off and hemmed it and
with a sweater over it will be fine when fall comes. Nothing interesting
in the mail. I keep looking forward to Tuesday when I hope I get a good
perm. I think we will have chicken tomorrow and then Monday we will have
hamburgers and potato salad. I feel better tonight but during the day I
huffed and puffed. I just hope my emphysema isn’t getting worse. For
dinner, we had scrambled eggs. Then we watched the news. Things have
flared up in N. Iraq against the Kurds and there is a hurricane off the
east coast of the U.S. The fires are still raging in the west. So what
is next? Somehow today I have been disoriented. I keep thinking about
should I write to my sister and if so, what should I say and I would
rather not write but maybe I am being difficult. I would like to talk to
someone about this but would rather work it out by myself. I do look
forward to seeing Linda a week from tomorrow. I have showered and I was
watching the Godfather III but it is complicated and involved with the
Vatican. In his older state, Mike wants to be legitimate but his past
keeps cropping up. I suppose I had better go back to watching it with
Don.
September 1
Well this was a quiet but satisfactory day. We got up at 5:30 and I did
my exercises, ate my breakfast and read the paper very hastily. Since
this was the 1st of September, I wore black slacks, a long slim black top
and purse and shoes to match. I guess I was the only one at church in
black but I liked it. It made me think of going to USD the first day of
school and everyone was in fall clothes no matter what the temperature.
When I got home, I changed my clothes and walked to K-Mart where I got a
white-silverware divider to use in my drawer in the bathroom. Then went
on to Mervyn’s to look at toothbrush holders but couldn’t find anything
that suited. Came home and changed again and went out to cut back the
pyra and I came to a big decision. Take the whole thing out!! I came in
and told Don and he went along. We will put in low pretty bushes or just
plant grass. Then I looked at the front border and I think I will take
some things out there as well. Came in and had lunch and then started
reading L is for Lawless but fell asleep. Later I made dinner: chicken
breasts in a mushroom sauce, corn on the cob, green salad and last of the
lemon sauce on meringues. I didn’t have the dessert. Then the news.
Then I called Priss and we had a good visit and then Book Notes which was
very interesting cause it was about women in the south during the Civil
War. That is a very good program. Don started out the day ok but then he
got the back pain so he lay down most of the time and finally had to take
a pill. Jason sent us an E-mail and he included a recipe for a pasta
sauce. He is such a dear. I was going to take a shower tonight but have
decided to do it in the morning and I will wash my hair but won’t bother
to pin it up. Tuesday I get my perm!
September 2
Cooler
Don wanted to watch football so I went to the bedroom and I was just
going up and down the dial and I heard channel 21 and it was made up of
music, dance, opera, plays, etc., and I spent the evening listening and
watching – wonderful. Did all my exercises this morning and then got
dressed in my white culottes and a short sleeved green T-shirt and walked
to my aerobics class. Since it was a holiday there were just about 12 of
us but it was a good class and I enjoyed it. Came home and washed our
sheets and hung them out to dry. Then we had lunch and Don lay down for a
nap. When he got up, we went to the Chico Mall that was very crowded. He
wanted a pair of canvas tennis shoes but he could not find what he
wanted. Then I went to Victoria Secret and got 2 brassieres, 1 black and
1 white and 3 pairs of white and 1 black undy. And it cost $70. I think
the brassieres are fine but I think I got the pants in haste and they may
have been a mistake. We shall see. Came home and made potato salad, hot
dogs in green beans and cukes and tomatoes for dinner. Iraq has been
disobeying the rules set down internationally and Clinton has said they
must be punished. It looks like the other countries don’t want to go into
this bad business. Priss called to say she fell down and bumped her head
and bruised her right wrist. She has always said that she never fell
cause of her PE training. She had to admit that this was not good but she
is ok. No mail cause it was a holiday. Don has not been feeling good
today. He was supposed to work on his French and read a book for his
writing class and he did not do any of that. He came home from tennis and
worked 1 1/2 hours in the yard. He must not do so much. I worry about
him. Now I must go to bed. Tomorrow I get my perm. I hope I like it.
September 3
Much cooler in the 80’s
It is 8 p.m. We just got back from walking over to the Jr. High to see
how the re-surfacing over the tennis courts was coming and it is looking
good. They are over 1/2 done. But I had to come home cause I forgot to
use my puffer and I was short of breath. It has been a busy day. Up a
little after 5 and did a shorter version of exercise cause I had to be on
my way by 7 a.m. Since my appointment for my perm with Rita was at 10
a.m. and that is in the Garden Walk I had to be at Hospice by 7:30 so I
could leave at 9:30. I wore my cream colored slacks, cream top and a
sweater and it felt good. I was busy right when I got there and continued
that way so the time went fast. Don picked me up and took me downtown.
Rita cut my hair and then permed it. Right in the midst Don arrived to
say that Priss had had an accident and was in the hospital. He had gone
but she was in X-ray and so he didn’t know how bad it was. I was done at
about 12:15 and he came so I didn’t have to call. He had taken her home
and she was going to be ok. I wet in to see here for just a minute cause
Don had some papers that they had given him at the hospital. She was up
and though there were some bruises she was looking pretty good. So we
came home and had lunch and then Don went to his class and I worked out
something for dinner. It was really rather yucky, a mixed veggie salad,
an Uncle Ben rice dish that I didn’t much like and hot rolls (they were
ok) and some chicken leftover from Sunday. I was not thrilled. We
watched the news and Clinton ordered a missile strike against Iraq and
they deployed 27 of them. I don’t know how the public is going to re-act
to this and who knows what Sudan will do. I like my hair very much.
Just wish I could set it like Rita does once the perm is done. She uses a
comb and curling iron and then a pick. Ah well. Don called Linda and I
visited with her too and she is so funny talking about taking a blood
pressure, etc. She has taken Craig’s about 30 times + a lot of people who
work there. Now I think I will read for a while.
September 4
Ooh! It was chilly in the night. I didn’t want to get up in the dark and
have to put on my clothes. I guess fall is here or will be soon. But I
got breakfast and did my exercises cause I knew Cathy was stopping by
after work and since I had to go to aerobics I wanted to be dressed and
ready so we could spend the whole time together. Don went off to play
tennis just as Cathy arrived. We had a good visit. As usual, she is so
funny and she acts out everything. She talked about their two dogs:
Maggy and Chloe. And she talked about Rose who is a junior and being
obnoxious but then she remembered that Julie was like that when she was a
junior. She decided she would just have to put up with it. She also told
me that Jenny had told her that some of the women at the college had
gotten hold of a Victoria Secret catalogue, called long distance from
Australia and ended up ordering $2,000 worth of lingerie. We left
together. Cathy to go home and I to go to aerobics. I had not taken my
money with me so I didn’t stop at the F. Mkt. and I wish I had. When I
got home, I fixed my lunch and then Don got back from his physical
therapy and he had liked the girl but isn’t for a couple of the exercises
and is going to do them at home. Or so he says. He took me to the
library where I sorted children’s magazines for 2 hours and then he
picked me up. We stopped at the fruit stand for bananas and apples.
When I got home, I made brownies and frosted them and sent 1/2 the batch
over to Priss with Don. Julie came and made herself a sandwich and ate
brownies. She and her boyfriend will be staying here while we are gone.
I had an appointment with D. Heath at 4:30 so I went to that. They were
very busy and had an emergency. Pers will pay for a physical only once a
year and it was a few days short of a year so we agreed that I should
come back on the 19th and have my check up then. Came home and made Don
a bacon and tomato sandwich and we had chips, potato salad and brownies.
Then the news. A short walk to the Junior High and then I started putting
away some summer clothes before starting a new book by Ruth Rendell. I
am sleepy so will go to bed early tonight.
September 5
It was quite chilly in the night and finally Don put on the blanket so
the night at least but today was very pleasant as well. Did my exercises
this morning and read the paper. Don didn’t play tennis cause Carl has
gone on a walking trip with Warren Olson. He dropped the French but is
continuing with the writing class. In mid-morning, I walked to Mervyn’s
cause they were having a sale and there was a dress that was marked down
that I wanted to try on. It was a cute dress in denim but it didn’t look
good on me. If only I could get rid of my stomach! I came home and by
that time it was lunchtime. Then I made an apple pie. Did twice-baked
potatoes, did the salad greens and was ready. I used the plaid place
mats and had a peach rose in a white bud vase so the table looked nice.
Don went off to his writing class that meets from 5 – 7. I watched the
news both local and national. Hurricane Fran is now off shore for N.
Carolina and they expect a lot of damage from rain as well as wind.
Yeltsin is now admitting that he will have to have a heart operation at
the end of September. Dole’s team in charge of his campaign has resigned
and now he has to get a 3rd group. Jackie got here and by then Don was
home. I had cleaned the barbecue so it was ready to go. I also pinned up
my hair this afternoon and it looks very nice. I was worried that there
wasn’t enough curl but I think it is going to be ok. I called Priss
after the 6:30 news and she is fine although she tires easily. David is
here and things are going well. It is going to cost $7,000 to have the
car repaired but she doesn’t seem to mind. Jackie told us that Lisa and
her boyfriend whose last name is Steve Sherlock are engaged wanting to
marry in June. We had them for dinner and we liked them very much so I
am happy for them. Jackie was in good spirits and she is having her
kitchen re-done so I think that is a good sign. Well it was a nice day.
Tomorrow I must iron and then in the afternoon I go to the Discovery
Shop.
September 21
Boy what a day this was! It started out quietly. It was very warm in
the night and not cold this morning either. Read the papers and the got
ready to go shopping. Picked up Mary. At the F. Mkt. I bought 3 plants at
$2 each to put in the front border. Then on to the other two stores and
nothing interesting or exciting there. Got home and the sod had arrived.
I put the groceries away and changed my clothes and we started in. Don
would give a roll of sod and then we would roll it out and fit it in
right in front of the house where the pyracantra had been. I got my rug
cutter knife and we cut to have it all fit. We had some extra so we
filled in at the end of the border by the driveway and put it there.
Then it had to be watered down. We were both really bushed. It was very
hard work. We had lunch and then Don lay down. I read a bit and fed the
dog and had then I went to K-Mart and bought 4 more plants for the front
border. They are on 1-gallon cans and they all promised not to grow
tall! I must go back tomorrow to get more cause I have a lot of space to
cover. But I have the money so I am going for broke. Somehow I managed
to make chili, fold clothes and water our sod. I had left a note or
rather a message for Bessie Marquis asking them to come to dinner and I
gave possible dates. She called back this morning to say they could come
next Saturday which is fine and that she had gotten an e-mail from Jenny
and Niki got a job! She was interviewed by a man and he was fascinated
that she had taken a class of yoga at the Jr. College! I told Bessie
that she had not gotten a job so far cause she had been interviewed by
women but when a man does it she gets the job. We called J. and she said
she had not called or sent an e-mail cause Niki wanted to call and tell
us. Since she sleeps in she has not called back yet and there is a great
difference in the time of course too. It is warm again tonight. I just
got out of the shower so I feel a little bit cooler. Tried Priss but no
answer but I think she was going out for dinner with Virginia Langdon who
is moving to Rossmoor. It is 7:30 p.m. and I really can’t go to bed yet
so I will read. Oh, I forgot. I bought dark green dye and dyed that ugly
bright yellow rug in the TV room + the orange one on the step to the TV
room and they turned out just the way I wanted. But it was a chore since
then I had to clean the washer but it was worth it. I have had my perm
for 18 days and I already need a haircut. Damn! Well Niki called and she
sounded so happy and we laughed and told he how pleased we were and now
it is going on 10 and I am going to bed.
September 24
Didn’t sleep too well but better than the night before. Up at 5 and I did
a few exercises but not very many. Just wasn’t in the mood. Read the
paper and then Don went to the study to work on the Curti article and I
got dressed to go to Hospice. I wore my navy slacks and the long sleeved
navy & white knit top. The time went fast. I typed envelopes on the
electric typewriter for Colleen and then I went to the office around the
corner in the building and did folders for Nina. Don picked me up at
10:30 and I was at Dr. Heath’s at 10:45 and he didn’t see me until 11:30
and then he said that 4 pathologists had studied my samples and they
could not agree but thought that there were enough abnormal cells to
warrant a D & C and preferably a hysterectomy. He felt I should not wait
very long. We talked about recuperation – 2 weeks and then about 6 – 8
weeks before I felt like myself again. All this was rather sudden and I
said I would think about it and would call to make an appointment. I got
home and told Don and he was very upset and frightened. I told him I
wanted to eat lunch and he should take his nap. I called at 2 and
tentatively the operation is set for Monday October 7th. I will go ahead
with the flu shot Monday and that will give me enough time to absorb it.
Anyway, I want to do the Discovery Shop the Friday before cause they will
have to get someone for the other two days of this month or rather I mean
October. I was just thinking the other day what would it be like to not
do any volunteer work for a while and now I guess I will find out Don
wanted to call everyone at once but I feel that would very foolish. They
will all be upset and why tell them almost two weeks before it is going
to happen. Linda is so concerned about her classes and I have no
intention of getting her upset until I have to. So for now I am going to
act as if nothing were wrong. After lunch I went out in the front yard
and set out the last 5 plants and watered everything. I would like to
just keep on buying plants but I know I must stop. Came in and took a
shower. I picked roses and they are gorgeous right now since the nights
are cool and the days are shorter. Made a good dinner. Fresh pears and
cottage cheese, corn portage, a plate with tomato slices, roast beef and
turkey, cheese & pickles and lettuce and hamburger buns. Delicious and I
made a chocolate cake. Watched the local news and then we went for a
walk. So what will happen next?
September 25
Had a rather restless night with dreams throw in but I can’t remember
them. Probably all to the good. Got up and read a little and then did my
exercises but was not too enthusiastic about them. I swept the driveway
before going to my aerobics class. Then I put on my navy neat pants and a
blue and white striped top and off I went. It was warmer this morning
cause I was comfortable without a jacket. Worked out hard. Walked home
stopping at the F. Mkt. But I didn’t see anything I really wanted. Came
home and had lunch and was off to the library. With Lorna no longer
there it is chaos. Everyone keeps telling us something different so I
sorted through magazines but had no idea just what I was doing so mainly
I just kept busy but didn’t feel that I had accomplished anything. In a
way, it will be a relief to not go once I have the operation. But I will
have to line up a lot of books to read or re-read ones that are here.
When I got home, Don said he thought I should tell the kids so I tried J.
& C. but got no answer and at 8:20 I still haven’t gotten them. Left a
message on Mike’s answering machine but he did not cal back. I did get
Linda and she was very calm and sensible about it. She offered to come
down but I told her that would not be necessary. She had had both her
tests and was very confused about the set up. They thought the class
they were going to test on certain things and then didn’t ask them at
all. I fixed a nice dinner: ham, yams, broccoli, cukes and tomatoes and
there was chocolate cake but I didn’t have any of that. Then the news and
then I called Priss. She gave me a play by play of everything she did all
day and sometimes I just want to hang up but of course I never would
really. So now I think I will read for a while and then I will try again
with J. & C. Bad news in Israel today. The Palestinians and Israelis
opened fire on each other and I think things are going to get worse.
September 26
Didn’t sleep too badly. We got up around 5. Made breakfast and read the
papers. Did my exercises but without enthusiasm. I should work hard on
them till the 7th cause then I won’t be able to do them for a while. I
decided to clean bathrooms and this time I washed the floors as well.
Then I finally got Cathy on the phone and told her about my operation.
She was very helpful. Then Jenny called and I had her hang up and I
called her and we had a good talk. She had taken Niki to the plane to go
up north for a week. She had found the new job very tiring. It is an 8hour day and that is quite a change. She was crying when we hung up. It
is hard to be so far away at such a time. Then Linda called to say they
would be at a race next weekend and they would stop by and stay till
after the operation. Then Dr. Brooker’s office called to say that I have
an appointment next Wednesday at 11:15 so I will have to call the library
saying I may be late. I shampooed and bathed and set my hair early on so
by 9 I was ready to get dressed for the day. I walked to Safeway to pick
up coffee filters, 2 bananas and dry mustard. Don went off to Dale’s to
be with the luncheon club and I ate my lunch, did a wash and read a bit.
He came back and we went into town to the U. where he got out to go to
the class. I went back home and at 10 to 3 I left to go see Helen. Don
walked from his class to Helen’s and we left at 4 to come home. Then he
went back for the other part of the class and I set the table, got out
the spaghetti and the corn potage and made a cabbage salad. I watched
the 5:30 news. Things are a mess in Israel and there was a fight at
Chico Hi and one boy was stabbed. Don got home at 6 and we ate dinner and
then Priss called and I talked to her and then I ironed and we went out
twice to look at the eclipse of the moon but it was real hazy so it
wasn’t too easy to see. Don has gone to bed and I read for a while and
then go myself. Tomorrow I work at PV.
September 27
Well, this was a good kind of day. We got up at the usual time. When I
went out to look for the paper the moon was so bright that one could read
by it. I guess it was making up for the eclipse last night. I did my
exercises and the got ready to go to school cause I had to be there by
7:45. I wore my long navy skirt and the long sleeved striped navy and
white striped top. Dark hose and navy heel. I made my lunch and Don
took em on his way to tennis. They had told me that I was working for
Kathy Thiele but all of the counselors had gone to an out of town
conference so I was the whole show. Fortunately, I dealt with only 4
people so I should not complain but I am not used to just sitting doing
nothing for long periods of time so it was a long day. Still there are
people there to remember me and they stopped by to visit and that was
pleasant. Bob Theile and Dan Beadle and Pete Kroner and Marge Willis,
etc. and Mr. Jones so it was ok and I was getting paid after all. Then I
came home and shortly afterwards we drove to the Red Lobster with our $4
discount and I ordered prime rib and Don got 2 or 3 kinds of shrimp as
well as a salad and the biscuits were the best part. We came home and Don
watched the news and I changed my clothes. I wish I had not eaten quite
so much. Mary Y. called to say she was going to Tahoe and would not be
going shopping tomorrow. So I will be going alone. I wish the Marquis
were not coming but they will so I will have to come up with a dinner. I
just hope I am not quite so tired tomorrow. Well it will be over and
then I am not involved in any more entertaining for a while.
September 28
Well, this was a long and busy day. We got up to a warm clear morning.
Did my exercises, read the papers, had bread, juice and Suka and then got
dressed to go shopping. At the market, I got 4# of almond, cukes,
tomatoes, green beans and then on to Food for Less where I spent $40 and
$7 at the Cannery. Since Mary went to Tahoe with friends from Durham, I
go things done in a hurry. I stopped at Home Base and got two 6 packs of
Dusty Miller and an old fashioned rake. Then home where I put everything
away. From then on it was work. First I made a potato salad, then I
made lemon pie filling. Then I made meringue. Then I cooked green beans.
Then I ate lunch. Then I fixed chicken boneless thighs in the oven.
Then I went to Safeway and got the tender inner Romaine leaves and
croutons. Came home and made a special dressing for the greens. Cut up
French bread and got it ready to heat. Picked flowers and using the 2
swans I used peach colored roses and matching candles and place mats.
Set the table and then I showered and set my hair. Don vacuumed the house
but then his back bothered him so he lay down most of the rest of the
day. The Marquis came at 6 and as always we had a wonderful time with
them.
I like them so much. They both ate a lot as did we and we laughed
and just had fun. Then Don went to bed and I finished my book Alley Kat
Blues by Karen Kyewski and I liked it very much. It is 10 after so I
think I had best go to bed. Thank Goodness there is enough food leftover
so I won’t have to cook tomorrow.
September 29
We got up and went to church this morning mainly cause there was a second
collection for the Jesus Center. All the churches in Chico were supposed
to have one and they want to raise $125,000. Well, we gave $25 and the
collection basket looked very full. Came home and I changed my clothes,
called Priss and asked if I could pick up the material that Vivian Shaw
gave her to give to anyone who wanted it. I suggested getting it to the
sewing department at PV for some girls who could not afford to pay much
in the way of material. So I stayed to visit and I told her about the
operation. She was very upset about it. Then I went on to Hubbard’s
Nursery looking for a vine that was fast growing and stayed green all
winter. Well I finally settled on another trumpet vine. I took out the
forsythia I had moved cause it didn’t survive the transplant and anyway
it would be losing its leaves pretty soon and I didn’t want that in the
front yard. So I came home and changed my clothes again and set out the
dusty miller plants I had bought yesterday. I watered them again tonight
and they look very perky. So now once I get the vine in I will be done.
Lot of open ground but I hope to put flowers around in the spring. I
have had such pleasure doing this. How I love to have a project and have
it turn out well. While I was gone some friends of Linda dropped off
some things for the Marquis to take to Jenny. I will try to send some
things too. Of course I don’t know how much they will be taking and I
don’t want to impose. The 49ers won today beating Atlanta even though
Steve Young got no play cause of injuries. Dinner was just a lot of
little leftovers and Don had the dessert again from last night. I ended
up not being all that hungry so I had the potato salad and made some
little open-faced sandwiches with feta cheese, cukes and cherry tomatoes.
Did a load of clothes and got them folded and put away and I will do
ironing tomorrow. I secretly worry cause I seem to be having trouble
breathing and this scares me about having the operation. I will mention
it to Brooker on Wednesday.
September 30
This was one busy day! We got up at the usual time and after I had fixed
Don’s breakfast I pinned up my hair before doing my exercises and then I
had my breakfast and read the paper. Don went off to tennis and I figured
I had time to do the ironing before leaving for my exercise class. Luann
worked us hard and I was ready to quit at 15 to 10. Don was there to back
me up and we went to Dr. Foltz to get our flu shots. Don was also going
to see Dr. F. but after waiting for 35 minutes he gave up and we came
home. I ate lunch and then it was time to go to the Discovery Shop.
Fortunately Peggy Sever was there and so I told her I would not be able
to work the 2 later days. She suggested we make a note saying that I was
having surgery and listing the dates and hopefully someone will
volunteer. I brought home a lot of clothes to try on. Some of them were
really nice but evidently there is someone even shorter than I am cause
except for one skirt they were all too short! So I will take them back
on Friday when I work again at the Discovery Shop. I had driven to the
shop so I rushed home and got busy cooking broccoli, angel hair pasta
with herbs (from a box) and I made corn bread and put a little container
of leftover cheese sauce in the oven along with leftover chicken from
Saturday night. When I went to take things out of the oven, I found that
the cheese had bubbled over the top of the container and spilled all over
the front of the oven, the rack, down into the broiler and even below
that. After dinner, I spent an hour getting it all cleaned up.
Afterwards, I realized I could have sprayed oven cleaner on it and left
it till morning and it would have been a simple task. Dumb! I called
Priss and visited with her and then I started a letter to J. & N. Alice
called and I told her about the operation and we talked about AAUW. So
now it is 9:30 and I am very tired so I think I had better get to bed.
Tomorrow is another busy day.
October 1
Up at 5. And this time I rushed through breakfast preparation and then
took a shower, shampooed and set my hair. Then I did a few exercises and
had a piece of cornbread toasted with syrup. I got dressed in navy
slacks, navy top and used my little navy & white scarf from the Discovery
Shop (50 cents). At 10 to 8, I was just about ready to leave when Cathy
arrived. I wanted so much to stay and visit but had to go to Hospice but
she managed to tell me about MJ who is going to be the 7th Grade
Homecoming Princess, about Rose who was very upset bout school but the
new counselor will help her and her parents will help her with her home
work and Julie who now that she has joined a sorority wants to make more
than minimum wage and is unhappy cause she has too much to do. Well life
is like that sometimes. I heard a lot in 10 minutes. I was a little
late for work but I got busy right away on the fines. When Colleen came
I told her about my surgery and then asked her about the wedding and
somehow her descriptions were so elaborate about the whole affair, her
dress, and the pictures to be taken I was rather repulsed by so much
grandeur. Is she doing all this cause she has a very unattractive
daughter and she wants to make up with pomp and display for her very
plain daughter? I walked home. Don was driving a cancer parent and he
got home shortly after I did I had lunch and then I went to PV and took
the material Vivian Show had given to Priss to give tot hose who wanted
it. I took it to Donna Grienwold the sewing teacher. Came back home and
Don left for class. I folded clothes I had washed and then did all the
ironing. Then I repaired my trumpet vine and nailed nails and connected
them with cord for the plant to climb. I also put out snail bait. Came
home and looked at catalogues that came in the mail. Also got a letter
from Pers saying that the surgery was going to be abdominal. I am upset
about that. That means a slower recovery period. Made a good dinner and
then we watched the news. Some hope on Israel & the Palestinians. I hope
Clinton can pull this off. I wrote a letter to my sister. Not a good
one but I tried. It is so hard to write to her but I had promised that I
would tell her what the tests said. Then Linda called and she had gotten
A’s on both her first two tests and she was so thrilled. Next week she
will start clinical and her 1/2 of the class will go to a convalescent
hospital and 1/2 to a regular and then they will switch. She is scared
but excited. We watched a fascinating program on Nova about the life and
work of Einstein. Now it is after 10 and I must go to bed.
October 2
Walked to aerobics and back. My heart wasn’t really into it but I stuck
with it. Got home and next I had to go to Dr. Brooker. I was much more
friendly this time and much more thorough. So I found out that I should
have been using the green and white puffer 3 times a day. 3 puffs. Not
the orange that I had been using 3 times a day and 2 puffs! I was just
about where I had been last time and he said not to worry. I would do
ok. Came home and ate lunch and then finally went to the rummage sale.
There was so much stuff! And most of it looked pretty terrible. I got to
work after talking to Jeanne who is in charge. I explained that I would
not be able to work very much and told her about my surgery. She said it
took a year for her to feel right again after hers. Boy that didn’t
help! What I hate most about the rummage sale is that these good ladies
who go to communion every Sunday and belong to all the women’s church
classes, spent most of the time being catty about who ever is not there.
Not much charity here. I didn’t stay too long and came on home. I will
go back on Friday. For dinner, I had ham salad sandwiches, cukes and
tomatoes, chips and minestrone soup. Everything tasted good. Priss
called to say that she wanted us to go out to dinner on Friday and I said
yes! since I have the rummage sale in the morning and the Discovery Shop
in the afternoon. Had a good visit with Linda. They will be here for
lunchtime on Sunday and will go home on Tuesday morning. I watered all
the plants but there are still so many things I would like to do before
Monday morning. Don had a great deal of pain today so he went to bed
early. I went shortly after. The stock market keeps climbing for what
that is worth.
October 3
What a day. Got up at 5. Set my hair, did my exercises and then after Don
went for tennis I started in on the living room windows. Did the inside
and then got the hose with the fancy nozzle. I washed the living room TV
and apartment windows and doors on the east side, rolled up the blinds on
the north side, washed those windows on the outside only but everything
looks so clean. I just wish I had time to wash all of the windows before
I go on Monday. At 10:30, I was sitting in Dr. Heath’s office and my
blood pressure was 121/80. Much better than usual in that office. At
Dr. Brooker’s yesterday it was 119/80 so I guess that is about where I
stand. I filled out a lot of forms and signed my name a lot and gave Dr.
H my list about questions I had and he answered them to my satisfaction I
guess. He is taking out the uterus, ovaries and the cervix and maybe the
appendicitis. What is going to be left?
Then I left and was eating my
lunch when they called saying that I had not picked up the papers to go
to the hospital. So I drove back and found out that they were expecting
me at Enloe. Got in the car again and drove to Enloe. Had a terrible
time finding a parking place. Then had to see the business office. Then a
nurse told me what to expect about pain, etc. Then they took me to get
my blood sample and an EKG and chest X-ray, urine sample. Don’s class
started at 2 and I had arrived at 12:45. I called to tell him that it was
going to take a long time and it was after 2 when I got home. So he went
to the last part of the class but not the first part. Helen Roseman
called to get my potato soup recipe and we had a long chat. I am going
to miss seeing her on Friday afternoons. Then Don went to his class and I
fixed dinner: scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, sliced tomatoes and hot
biscuits. I now listen to N.P. Radio on all our radios except in the TV
room where I do my exercises. I really like it and one gets a more
complete picture of how things really are. Don got back at a little after
6 and all I had to do was put the biscuits in the oven, heat the bacon
and cook the eggs. Very easy. Then I called Priss and she decided to
take us to Larry’s Steak House tomorrow night and John Ayers is going too
so that should be pleasant. And best of all, I don’t have to cook. When
I got back from all those tests this afternoon Cathy was here and we had
a wonderful visit. She filled me in on the 3 girls and she is so funny
and sensible and astute about things. I think she is the most practical
of the children. So I guess that is about it for me today.
October 4
Well this was one busy day. We got up at the usual. I did just a few
exercises, planned to pin up my hair but when I looked at it I decided I
could get by without doing anything. Two wonderful things happened this
morning early. Don went to get the paper and called me out and there was
the moon at least in part and there were many stars and then there was a
huge circle around it and it was just stunning. Then after it got light
there was the most beautiful sunrise with a sky so coral in color it
looked as if it were on fire.
How glad to see two such things so early
in the day. Don went off to tennis and I dusted and neatened things up
and then put on my navy slacks and top and walked to the church arriving
just a little before 9. I lasted till 10:20 and then called Don. I have
never seen so much stuff but most of it was pretty grim and the ladies
who work there are pretty grim too. They tend to talk about the ones who
are not there and yet they talk so much about religion. I am not
impressed pressed. I came home with very little: Some tiny baskets of
various colors and sizes, a short sleeve olive green wool sweater, a vest
from Nordstrom’s that maybe one of the girls would like and a navy and
white striped top. I made sandwiches for Don and me. 1/2 ham salad and
1/2 egg salad from left over scrambled eggs last night. Then Don napped
and I washed, dried and folded clothes, fed the dog and was ready to have
Don take me at 15 to 1 to the Discovery Shop. I worked with a nice lady
I have worked with before and Peggy was there the whole time. The time
went fast and we did ok. We sold 2 pictures for $35 and a lady bought
$31 worth of clothes for her daughter and herself. So I think we made
over $100 but Peggy said I could leave early and they wold close up shop.
I took on approval a wire hanging of a girl dressed in a costume of maybe
a Mongolian, white Muslim background and the girl in beige and grays and
browns. I loved it and if L like it I will give it to her. I changed my
clothes and put on my putty colored long full skirt, black short sleeved
sweater, black hose and shoes and that scarf that is black and putty
colored. We picked up Priss at 5:30 and then picked up John Ayres and we
went to Pat & Larry’s. Priss and I had a drink and I had lamb, Don fish,
Priss lamb and John had beef something or other. It was ok but I don’t
think I would order it again. Too dry and overcooked. It was a pleasant
evening and it was very sweet of her to ask us out especially when I had
such a busy day. Came home and Don went to bed and I started curing
almonds. I bought 6# last Saturday and forgot to cure them. It is just
8:30 but I am very tired and probably won’t do them all tonight.
October 5
We got up at 5 to a clear morning. Did my exercises, read the paper and
got dressed to go shopping. Mary told me about her trip to Tahoe, loved
L’s house, loved going on the Dixie. Then I told her about Monday and
she felt terrible that she was talking about good times and I had bad
news. I pointed out that I was not dying and I was thrilled that she had
a good time. Got home and put away the groceries. I had finished curing
almonds before I left for shopping so that was done. I ate my lunch and
then ironed the clothes I washed yesterday and fed the dog and then went
to Walgreen’s for vitamins, fleet enemas, etc., getting ready to go to
the hospital and the on to the church rummage sale. They had made $900
yesterday so by the time today is good up I am sure they will have done
well. This time I just couldn’t find anything I liked. I did find a
heavy yellow sweatshirt and a red top. The top is not all that big and
if Linda likes it she can have it. I left at 2:30 cause J was supposed
to call but she didn’t call so I made a tuna salad and fixed open faced
sandwiches with sliced tomato & feta cheese and some with muenster cheese
and pickles. Don was watching football most of the day. Priss brought
over her chocolate kahlua cake and we had that for dessert. It was very
good. In fact, we both had 2nd pieces! I took a shower and was just
drying off when the call came from Australia. I first talked to Niki who
told me about her job. Her uniform is blue and it will be like her old
uniform that she wore when she was going to school there. She makes a
little over $200 a week after taxes, etc., are taken out. It is a 40minute walk or a 10-minute drive from home. She works 8 hours a day and
so far has found it tiring but she feels she will get used to it. She
had a wonderful time on her week in Queensland. Then we talked to Jenny
and she talked about all the things she is planting in her garden and it
sounds to me that she is going to be staying in Australia. So after
that, I dried off and got into my nightgown and read a little book by
Rosamund Pilcher called The End of Summer that I liked. It was very
light but sweet and a lot about the beauties of Scotland. Don asked if I
wanted a drink and he would be willing to make love but he was honest and
said he didn’t think it would be very successful cause he is worried bout
Monday. I guess sooner or later I am going to worry about it but I
haven’t so far. I wonder what time Linda will come tomorrow? I will try
to make a good dinner and then I will be free from cooking for a while.
October 6
Well, this has been quite a day. Up as usual, did all my exercises, had a
bowl of cereal, prunes, juice and vitamins. Then I read the paper and I
felt like dressing up so I wore black hose & black heels, my black dress
with the top with the coral pattern. I felt I looked nice. Then to the
store to get some things and then home. Changed my clothes, picked roses
and arranged all the flowers. Did a small wash and ironed everything.
Don watched football and I washed the apartment linoleum, ran the vacuum
and washed our kitchen floor. Then we had lunch and Linda and Craig came
shortly after 1. I showed Linda all my new plantings and we checked out
the roses, etc. I made brownies, fixed potatoes cut in quarters and
baked with a coating of seasoning and crumbs, fixed chicken breasts and
made a Caesar salad. My sister called. Her voice sounded different.
She was nice though and told me she loved me. She had gone through this
15 years ago. Mary Wyle called! Clem McSwanson’s wife called. Clem is
Mary’s brother. Maria, Mary’s friend from Palo Alto called. Alice
called. I called Priss as usual and she was very concerned. Mike
called. Well, it got to be rather strange in a way. The only bad part is
that I was supposed to give myself an enema 2 times, 2 hours apart this
evening. I did the first one without any success and my hemorrhoids began
to act up. I hate to think I still have another one to do and then
tomorrow morning I think I get another one. That may be the worst part.
I am really not so worried about the operation itself though maybe I
should be but I hate to think about the time afterwards when I can’t do
much of anything and Don will get impatient with the whole thing. Right
now he is very worried about the whole thing but that will wear off and
then who knows how we will fare. We would not watch the debate between
Dole and Clinton but I did listen to the commentary on channel 9
afterwards and it looked like it might be a tie. Well, it is almost 9
and I suppose I should try to do the other enema. Yuk! Linda cut my
hair and it looks much better.
October 7
We got here at 5:30 and there were already a lot of people checking in
but they took us pretty quickly. I wore my blue and white LL Bean dress
but I soon had to take that off and I talked to the anesthesiologist, a
woman, who was very nice and then I really don’t remember anything at all
after that, the recovery room and anything until I was back in Bed in
315A with a Mexican woman who cold not speak English and who left before
the day was out so I had the room to myself for a while. Don and Linda
were here when I arrived. I was dazed and hurt a lot but I guess that
was to be expected. I find this hospital much different from Community.
For one thing, it is very big and impersonal. Then too there are so many
people working here and they change it seems hourly so one never really
has much rapport with anyone. After they realized it was ok, Donna and
Linda left and Don called everyone. Mike, Priss, Alice, Helen and some
people called the Boyles and Mita and Alice sent a book that is from the
book club this month at UAUW. I am supposed to use my puffer 3 puffs, 3
times a day and I have been doing that and then there is another thing
here that is supposed to help too. I wanted to go home right away cause
the bed is uncomfortable, the blankets are stiff and thin and hence I am
cold all the time and most of all I hate that thing you have to push
around with the bottle dripping all kinds of things into your system. I
have to pee all the time and that means dragging that thing around to get
to the bathroom. By late afternoon, a woman came in with gall bladder
trouble and so everyone was checking on her. She was in a lot of pain
too. Jenny called and I talked to her and she said Niki was making
chocolate chip cookies for her tea break at work. Well, Don came again
at night and he says Craig got all the jobs done. I am anxious to see
them. I did get some sleep but they take pulse, blood pressure and
temperatures about every hour. I guess that helps keep everyone busy.
October 8
This day was just a repeat of yesterday. I have been having liquids only
at every meal and it is all icy cold and is not great so I ate very, very
little. Finally, Dr. Heath came before the evening meal and I got some
soup that was hot and not too bad and some ice cream. Craig & Linda left
for Tahoe and Cathy and MJ came in the evening. MJ and her Mom shaved 3
sheep and made $100 and she (MJ) sold her goats and made over a hundred
$$ so that is good. She has also been chosen Freshman Princess for the
Homecoming and they said they found a beautiful green dress that sounds
very pretty. Don came by in the evening for a short time. I want to go
home. The night was simply terrible. People came in just about every hour
and it was cold and I must have gone to the bathroom about every 20
minutes and finally I lost my temper and jut ripped the deal off the pole
that I have to drag around like an albatross and of course I tore open my
arm and it bled and bled. When the lady came in on Wednesday, she asked
what happened and I said I had tripped over it and it came out and I was
going to talk to Dr. Heath before having it put back in. I hate this
place with a passion.
October 9
Well, when Dr. Heath arrived at 9:30 I told him how I felt. The bed was
hard and the blankets were stiff and then the food was awful. I couldn’t
walk with the IV pole. I had taken it out and walked very well without
it. I asked if he had every used one of those poles and he said no. I
told him I would hate him forever if he doesn’t let me go home. Well he
said in that case since we have known each other for 25 years and he has
treated all the girls he would let me go and I told him I would love him
forever and he laughed and laughed. So I called Don and got all my stuff
together and I was home by noon. I still have no appetite so I ate very
little lunch and even less dinner. Cathy came by and we had a long
discussion about nurse care and how it has changed. We decided that we
have become distant from each other in a way that was not true in the
50’s. I keep thinking of when the children were young and we knew Mrs.
Hawk and the Dolan’s and the Garsts and the Morrises and in many ways we
just know them every day. We certainly have no kind of a relationship
with them. Then Jackie called and then Julie arrived and had a good visit
+ a sandwich and a coke. I called and left a message on the answering
machine for Alice. I called Priss and she was so pleased to have me home
and will stop by tomorrow. I got a call from Helen Roseman who couldn’t
believe I was home. Vikki Topaz sent some wonderful pictures of Linda and
Craig and I found a frame for the one I liked the best and will put it
with the rest of our pictures in the bedroom. I had bought some TV deals
at the Cannery and we had that for dinner and it was just terrible. I
could not eat it. I will have to come up with something better than
that. My sister, Pauline, called and this is the first time we have been
able to talk and it was natural and she didn’t get mad and we laughed and
laughed. Even Stan and Ginny sent a funny E-mail as only Rolnick can.
So for a day that started out so terrible ended on a very happy note.
Kemp and Gore were debating tonight and I turned them on for a short time
but then I said no, I really don’t want to listen to that! So I think I
will go to bed very early tonight and I think I had better sleep in the
west bedroom cause I tried lying down in the water bed and it was very
difficult to get out of the bed and who knows how many times I will have
to get up in the night.
October 10
It is Friday night and I didn’t write in this on Tuesday. Now I find it
is hard to remember everything but I will try. I slept much better in the
bed across the hall from our room and really the night was ok. I had to
get up once but I made it ok to the bathroom. We left the light on there
so it was not a problem. I got up at the usual time and made breakfast.
I have trouble eating cause nothing tastes good and yet I am not losing
weight. Pretty soon I will have to face having a b.m. but I am taking the
veggie powder now and I think that will start things moving. Why they
don’t start people on that in the hospital I can’t understand. Don went
off to play tennis and I took advantage of his absence by first stripping
the kitchen floor and I used the sponge mop and washed it. It looks much
better. I made macaroni and cheese and set it aside to cook later. I
made extra pasta so I made a salad with peas, onions, cheese, etc. I did
salad greens with the idea that if I was too tired later I would at least
have dinner made. I shampooed and set my hair. I lay down for a while
and rested. People called thinking that they would ask Don how I was
and were stunned when I answered. I didn’t eat much dinner but that was
ok. We read in the evening and then we watched a British WhoDoneIt on
Channel 9. Alan Bates was in it and he is past his prime. There were
some funny lines and there was a delightful love scene. Something about
a woman having nothing on but her stockings was delightful and a man with
nothing but his stockings on looks frightful and the camera handled it
very well but the humor was too “precious” somehow and I think we will
skip the conclusion. So at 10 p.m. we went to bed. I did fix oatmeal
for Don for his breakfast tomorrow morning.
October 11
Up at 5 and I put on the oatmeal, made the coffee and fixed the papaya,
banana and the toast. Don enjoyed his meal. I wasn’t at all hungry so I
just had a cup of Suka and read the papers and then I went to the
bathroom and had a perfectly normal B.M. and without any particular
difficulty. Thank Goodness that is over. Don went off to tennis and
today I must swept the kitchen floor and then I swept the area where the
new plant will go. I will miss that one cause it was so graceful and
attractive. I made a long list of things that I want to do today and so
when Don came home I was reading. Mary Wyle called and was amazed I was
home and she was warm and funny and we had such a good conversation and I
felt so natural about it all. Well anyway off Don and I went. First to
K-Mart to look at plants but I didn’t see one I liked. Then to Lucky for
pineapple and orange juice cause you could get 3 for 99 cents each with a
coupon. Then to Long’s where I got eggs, vitamins, chopped olives, etc.
Then to both stores that sell stuff to make decorations, etc., but none
had any brown spray paint. Then out to Home Base where I got a plant.
Not an exciting one but it looks durable and it does bloom in the spring.
Also found dark brown spray paint and sweet pea seeds. Finally, home and
it was going on 12. I ate a little lunch and then rested. The mail
brought a cute card from Donna telling about each child and wishing me
well. Then there was one form Edna at the library and it was very cute
and then a card from the people at aerobics and they all wished me well.
So that was kind. I fixed dinner. Chicken breasts and some of the
macaroni salad, sliced tomatoes, leftover potatoes and that was that.
Bessie came and brought me a beautiful azalea plant and I will put it in
my front border. We had a good talk. I like her so much. I got the
container for the new plant sprayed brown. Should be darker but it is ok.
So then dinner and the news and my teeth brushed, the puffer and a long
talk with Priss. I called Helen and we had a 40-minute phone visit. I
still have to pin up my hair and then I am going to bed early. I will
try not to do so much tomorrow. I don’t want to do too much. It was a
nice and productive day.
October 12
I woke at 20 to 4. Went to the bathroom and went back to bed and the next
time I woke up it was 7:30 so I am doing ok on sleeping. I came out and
finished breakfast prep and then sat down to read the paper. Before I
knew it the clock said 10 to 7 so I got dressed and we were on our way by
7:10. I was in the back seat and Mary got in the back and Don was the
chauffeur and we felt like two rich old ladies going out for a ride. At
the F. Mkt. we got tomatoes and apples and then on to Food for Less where
I spent only $22. At the Cannery, I got less than $10 and then home. We
put the groceries away and then we planted the new plant by the mailbox.
It looks awfully small after the lovely one that was there but hopefully
it will grow fast. We came in and the red light was on the answering
machine and first it was Alice saying she was coming with raspberries and
then it was Joe Epstein from the American Scholar and he said that Don’s
article on Curti had been accepted. Don was so thrilled the look on his
face was a sight to behold and I was so glad for him. Cathy was here and
so we both just hugged and kissed him. What a thrill! The rest of the day
was an anticlimax. I made a chocolate Mayo pie and a salmon loaf and Cole
slaw. Cathy went home and came back and then the truck wouldn’t start so
she had Don take her to McDonald’s to get Rose’s car but forget to leave
the keys so when David came naturally he could not start it. Well it all
worked out. Alice came over and she was pleased for Don and we had a good
visit. I gave Cathy a creeping Charlie plant and a lot of frozen dinners
that we had not liked but Cathy said the girls would like them. I asked
Alice if she wanted one (a plant I mean) and so she took one too. We ate
our dinner and then when it was time for the news, Linda called and we
talked about the nursing situation today. So I had a busy day and a good
one. My incision hurts but other than that, I am fine. I wrote to J & N.
October 13
It is evening now and getting cool again. This time of year one changes
clothes about 3 times. We both woke up at about 5. I didn’t quite make
it to the bathroom cause I had not gone in the night and I dripped a bit
on the way. I read that after this operation one may be incontinent
temporarily or permanently. I hope mine is the former. I will be so
relieved once I have my appointment at 2 p.m. tomorrow and if the path
report is back, I just pray it is negative. So my day. Well in some ways
it was ok but I didn’t do as much as yesterday but I didn’t feel all that
great either. Still my taste seems a little better today. So what all did
I do. I made a French stew and it was superb. That was nice. I watered
all the plants in and out. I cleaned up the top of the filing cabinet and
the other little cabinet on the north patio and now I can move some
plants in cause I have given many of them away and now there is room. We
went to Safeway and got things and I made a green salad with those lovely
little romaine leaves. I have spoiled myself and now I don’t want to deal
with the big bunch romaine. And we went for a walk and we went behind
the Jr. Hi and all around the back. I didn’t’ seem to get too tired. I
just hope I can sleep well tonight. I was going to write later to people
who had sent cards but decided to wait till I had seen the doctor
tomorrow. Mita Markland came by and brought some little cakes made with
anise. Mary Y makes them too. I don’t like that flavor but it was sweet
of her to think of me. We had a good visit. I read Silla Caster’s
novella My Mortal Enemy. Don has to discuss this on Thursday for his
writing class. I do not like the story. Once he reads it we will talk
about it. I have made oatmeal for tomorrow morning and fixed the coffee
maker. Linda called and she had taken the day off from studying and
cleaned her house, washed 5 loads of clothes and she had even made
brownies. Then I called Priss and we had a good chat. Mike called this
morning and they were on their way to church and Emmie loves it. He says
they hold hands before they eat dinner and she says the grace and
sometimes she sings it as well. I wish that Karen would agree to tell
Emmie that she is adopted. The longer she puts it off the harder it will
be. So the day is just about over and I am glad cause I want 2 p.m.
tomorrow to come.
October 14
This has been a rather no action day. I was expecting to see Dr. Heath
today at 2 p.m. With that in mind, right after breakfast I showered for
the first time since 10 - 6 and then Don helped me put a new bandage on.
Then I shampooed and set my hair. Then I watered the indoor plants and
went out and got roses. Changed the flowers in the house. Then I sat down
in my chair and read Good Housekeeping and didn’t get up until Don got
home from tennis. Then I sat around waiting for it to be 2 p.m. So after
we had lunch we went out to Home Base to get a short hose. While we were
in that area, I suggested we go to Barnes and Noble Book Store that has
just opened. It was simply gorgeous. What a great addition to Chico. I
bought a book that I have wanted to read. Came home and the phone rang
again and it was Dr. Heath’s and he was sick and would not be at his
office today or tomorrow so I have an appointment for Wednesday at 4.
Then of course Cathy, Linda and Mike all called and had to be told we had
nothing to report and I had Don send an e-mail to Jenny about it. So I am
still in limbo. Jenny sent an e-mail saying that she wanted some things
from Home Health so I called the order in. She said we could give it to
her for Christmas and since it came to over $30 that is what we will do.
I made a rather nice dinner: I cut up the leftover chicken breasts from
Sunday and put them in a sweet-sour sauce to heat. Heated the mashed
potatoes. Had green beans and made a salad of canned peach slices and
cottage cheese on lettuce. It was good. Don said he felt depressed and
didn’t feel very well so he lay down after dinner. We went for a walk
before dinner and tomorrow I plan to walk a mile. I hope to do it while
Don is at tennis. So now I think I will read for a while. And I have so
many letters to write but I had hoped to have news to report. Damn.
October 15
Well this was really a rather dull day. Nothing much happened. I had a
bad night having to get up 4 times to pee and didn’t make it a couple of
times so had to wash up and clean up the area. I checked my Rx’s and
found one from Dr. Hagewood in 1990 and so I checked my journal for that
date and it was to help this situation so I took one tonight and we shall
see if it helps. I washed clothes and tomorrow I will try to get the
ironing done. The bedspread in the west guestroom is pretty beat up and
so I got out a white quilted one that Mother had. That one was supposed
to be dry cleaned and I stuck it in the washer and dryer and it came out
ok. It is too cream colored and I would prefer white but it is ok for
now. Colleen Hope called and wanted to hear about everything and I forgot
to ask about the wedding. I must do that tomorrow. Don went to his class
today and when he got home we went to S & S and I got jack cheese,
bananas, and Fuji apples that were 25 cents a #! I paid $1 a # last
Saturday at the market. Cathy stopped by and we had a good visit. She
had never read Kingsolver so I set out the Bean Trees but she forgot to
take it. My incision bothers me today. I don’t have a bandage on it and
that may be part of the problem. I just hope that Dr. Heath will be back
tomorrow so I can get these staples out of my body and find out about the
report. Linda called and she was very discouraged about the test they had
today which she feels everyone flunked. She was almost in tears. Oh dear.
We had a lovely dinner: waffles, kippers, a fruit plate and a cheese and
pickle plate. Dale called. He had been in Washington DC at a guidance
conference and he had won an award. He had taken Jackie to the hospital
in a state of collapse for a blood transfusion. He was very concerned.
Priss worked at the Discovery Shop and everything is 1/2 price. I wish I
were working this weekend instead of sitting home. I know I would be able
to find some bargains. Nothing of anything else that has happened that is
worth mentioning.
October 16
Woke up at the usual time. Did better on going to the bathroom in the
night. Went 2 times and made it both times. So we got up and it seems
strange not to do my exercises. I certainly have much more time to read
the papers. Don went off to have coffee with Carl and I went to the
apartment to iron. There was a lot of it so it took more than an hour and
afterwards, I admit that I was tired so I sat down and rested for a while
and then Daisy and I went out and picked roses. I got a small glass vase
and arranged roses and those lavender flowers that are in bloom now and
it really looked pretty. After lunch, Don returned our books at the
library and took the flowers to Edna who had sent a nice note about my
getting well. I like her and since she lives in a mobile home court I
knew that she did not have flowers there at least not very many. I
started the book I bought at Barnes & Noble Woman of the Inner Sea and I
dozed on the lounge after lunch and then I went in and had a shower. I
had set my hair earlier so I got dressed in gray stretch slacks and a
blue and gray cotton sweater and put on my make up, etc. Then I made
ginger snaps and finally at 15 to 4 we got ready to go to Dr. Heath’s.
We were coming down North Avenue when a man in a pick up came out of a
driveway and ran into us. The hubcap on the back wheel came off. We both
stopped and the tire looked like it might go flat but Don thought it
would be ok. We didn’t get the man’s name or anything and we drove on.
Later Don said there was a scrape on the side of the car and he will
check tomorrow morning to see if the tire has gone down. So we got there
at 4 and it was almost 5 before I went in. Taking out the stitches was
painful but quick and he checked my uterus. Said everything was ok. I
am to go back in 3 weeks. I can drive the car right away. I think the
incontinence will pass as things heal. Also the strange taste in food
will get better and no lovemaking from 4 - 6 weeks. And he gave me an Rx
for the estrogen. So I came home and heated the stew. I had made the
salad and cut the French bread. Called Mike, Linda called, called Cathy
and Don sent an e-mail to Jenny but it didn’t go through so we called her
so now I just have to be patient for a few more weeks. I am very
relieved and happy about all this.
October 17
Well now that I know that I am going to be ok I suddenly realize that I
am already stir crazy and I have 3 more weeks before I go back to the
doctor. In fact, the election will be over since its set for the 7th and
the election will be on the 5th. We woke up to a very chilly morning.
Don turned the heat up and I did the same in the apartment. Made
breakfast and read the papers and then I read some from my book. At 10 I
drove downtown and went to the Discovery Shop. There had been a rosy
pink sweater that I wanted and everything is 1/2 price this week so I
went in to check but it was gone. I did take on approval a sort of thigh
length muumuu but couldn’t find anything else I really wanted. Stopped on
the way home at Holiday and bought 3 packages of meat on sale. Two of
ground beef and one roast. Then we had lunch and watched CNN. Don went
off to his class and I read for a while and then I started making hot
dish and I decided to make a lot so I ended up with 5 containers of it.
One we will have tomorrow. I lay down then and read and dozed. I am a
bit concerned about a pain on the left side of my scar. It has bothered
me all day. I hope I haven’t done something I shouldn’t have and that
scares me. I guess I will have to be more careful. I just hope I don’t do
something bad. On Thursday, Don doesn’t get home till after 6 so I got
everything ready. Opened a can of soup, got out bacon to make Don a bacon
and tomato sandwich, and I made a very nice fruit salad. By dinnertime,
I really wasn’t very hungry so I had a small bowl of soup and the salad.
Talked to Priss and will try to stop over tomorrow. I also would like to
see Helen tomorrow. I will see how I feel. I can always talk to her on
the phone. It is 9 p.m. and too early to go to bed so I guess I will look
at the new Good Housekeeping.
October 18
Rain
Up at 10 to 5. Dark and cloudy and then it began to rain! I guess fall
is on its way at last. I read the papers and then took a shower. I was
going to set my hair but decided it looked ok. Don went off to breakfast
with Carl at Denny’s. When he got back I did my errands. Went to Safeway
and got one banana and some hearts of romaine. Then to Mervyn’s for a
pair of navy tights. They were $6 and I thought that was quite a lot but
Cathy keeps telling me I am now living in the 90’s, not the 50’s. Then I
went to Long’s and got fingernail polish, some canned salmon and some
Bonnie Bell bronzing gel. Came home and ate a little lunch and then went
over to Priss so she could go through her catalogues to show me what she
was interested in. A very dull time but she wants someone to talk about
clothes with her cause they are very important for her. I called Helen
Roseman to see if she wanted me to come over and she was all for my
coming so I went there from 3 to 4. I had not frozen one of the hot
dishes I had made up yesterday so when I got home I heated one of those.
Put a green salad together and heated French bread. I made lemon sauce
since there were still some meringues left. That was for Don. Watched
some of the news and then I ironed shirts, slacks, etc. I had washed the
purple top and slacks and I like the outfit but the pants were too small.
I needed a small but this is a medium if I basted all 4 leg seams and
then tried them on and they looked much better so then I had to go over
them with a small stitch. Oh for a sewing machine. Got a card from Mike
and family and one from the people at the library. I am weary tonight
and my stomach area hurts. I think I will go to bed early.
October 19
So today was satisfying. I got up first and then Don did and took Daisy
for her morning walk. It was really chilly this morning and I don’t
think it got above 70 degrees all day. I wore my purple slacks and top
with a heavy turtleneck underneath and was still chilly. Didn’t buy much
at the F. Mkt. Got green beans, tomatoes, small read onions and green
and red peppers. Then on to the other 2 stores but there was nothing much
of interest at either store. I have little interest in food but I do try
to eat. Today I tried hard to be careful about following the rules. I
went for a mile walk and after dinner, Don and I did the back of the Jr.
Hi so that part was good. I took a nap in the afternoon and I think that
helped. My incision was not quite so sensitive today so best that I
continue doing the right thing. Don spent most of the day watching
football and that will continue through the Super Bowl. I feel restless
and blah! I don’t know what the solution is. I made a potato salad,
fixed baked beans and a hot dog for Don. I also made two little pizzas
that I freeze and then serve as appetizers. I had one of those tonight
along with the salad but skipped the other things. I called Cathy and
heard about the homecoming today and how MJ looked as a princess. Cathy
said she looked beautiful. They won their homecoming game and in fact
all the area teams won last night: PV, Chico, Durham, H. City,
Aronville, etc. Mary bought me two lily plants in bloom so tomorrow we
will plant them. I called Hubbards and they said we can put them in now.
I plan to make a really nice dinner tomorrow. I bought a chicken and will
have gravy, mashed potatoes and may make a coconut cake. I am reading
The Statement by Brian Moore. Don read my book Woman of the Inner Sea and
didn’t like it as well as I did. Well, that is not surprising. I am
going to read for a while and then go to bed. A rather dull day.
October 20
It is just 7:30 and I am ready to go to bed. I realize if I would I
would be awake from about 2 a.m. on so I will stay up. The time is
dragging and I have 18 more days before I see Dr. Heath and he will still
probably have some restrictions for me. I know I am not well enough to
stop being careful but the time drags so much. We got up at 5. I went
back to the water bed cause I miss Don and the mattress is cold and hard
in the west bed room. So I made breakfast and read part of the papers. I
couldn’t decide what to wear for church. I started out with navy slacks
but they seemed too long and so I changed to black and then ended up with
a slate blue skirt and a blue and black cotton sweater. I thought I
looked nice. We had the little Vietnamese priest and the service was
short. Came home and got out a lot of winter clothes that I tried on.
Some I will not wear but some I will. Finally I got dressed for the day.
I went to S & S to buy my Suka cause they said it would be in by
Saturday. Well, it didn’t come so I looked around and ended up buying 2
baskets of strawberries for 39 cents each. They looked good but they are
too firm and not very sweet. I don’t think one should have to chew
strawberries. I roasted a chicken, made those special mashed potatoes
Don likes. Made gravy, cooked carrots and had sliced tomatoes +
strawberry shortcake so it was a good meal. After lunch I slept for an
hour. I seem to need that. Don and I had gone to Mervyn’s to check on
jeans for him and we found the right kind finally. But as I stood
waiting for him to come out of the dressing room I realized how much I
wanted to sit down and better yet lie down so I am not ready to go back
to full activities yet. I wrote a letter to J & N. Jenny says that Niki
is determined to come back to Chico for Christmas. I don’t want her to
come cause we will end up having to have her here and I have enjoyed so
much living without her after 3 years. We are getting old and tired and
it is just too much to have her here but if she is in Chico we will be
responsible. Now at 10 to 8 I will read for a while and then I can go to
bed.
October 21
Another day. Not too bad a night but not great. Up at the usual time.
Weighed in at 95# but once my appetite is back I will go back to 100 but
it would certainly be nice to stay at 95. The day held little in the way
of interest. I went out and picked roses and found frost in the south
yard so I brought in the plants on the east patio. Moved the big
creeping Charlie to the south bedroom and moved the spider plant to the
apartment. Put the haya on top of the TV in our room. I still have 2
more plants to worry about and I will work on them tomorrow. I made bread
today cause we were down to the last loaf. They turned out to be winter
bread that just doesn’t rise as usual. But they will taste ok I am sure.
I watered all the plants. After lunch, I lay down for about an hour
reading and finished The Statement by Brian Moore but didn’t like it as
well as some of his writing. I think I will go to the library tomorrow
and find some new books. After Don fed Daisy I said I would go for a
walk and Don wanted to go along.
First I said no and then I said he
could come but I was not going to talk cause when I talk while walking I
get out of breath and I hate that. So off we went without a word and it
was very strange indeed. I thought it strange. I have heard about
people who did not ever talk to each other and when we got home, we
admitted we had both thought of it and how spooky it would be. Tonight we
had nothing but leftovers. I did cook a squash and that was fresh but we
had leftover potato salad and leftover baked beans and I sliced a wiener
in it that was leftover and all these things were heated in the oven
except the salad. Cathy called to say that she was reading Animal Dreams
and was loving it. I knew she would be still I was very happy that she
liked it so much since it is a favorite of mine. We watched Peter
Jennings at 5 cause of Monday night football and then the local at 5:30
and then I read the Atlantic Monthly till it was time to call Priss and
we chatted for about 1/2 an hour and then I put the bread in the freezer
and now I am going to get ready for bed and then I will read some more.
October 22
Well, today wasn’t too bad. We got up before 5 and I think I ate my last
peanut butter and jam sandwich. I am tired of them. Don went off to
play tennis just as Cathy arrived and we had a wonderful visit. We talked
about everything: children, Catholicism, birth control, abortion, books.
Well we went on and on. She made one very good point:
We were talking about the husband and wife dying and how hard it is for
the one left behind. She said when you love someone and have many good
years with them you have to pay your dues and death of the mate is hard
to take but then you had all those good years. She has grown into a very
understanding woman of wisdom. After she left, I changed the flowers,
made a stew with carrots, peas, leftover chicken and gravy. Then I did
the salad greens and got out some cornbread that was frozen and
everything was set for dinner. When Don came home from his class he took
me to the library and I got a lot of books. When we got back home I cut a
silk scarf in 1/2 and sewed the raw edge by hand. I still wish I had a
sewing machine. We ate at 5 and oh yes I forgot I made a coconut cake
and that pleased Don. I also took a nap this afternoon. I still tire
easily and my area where the stitches were still bothers me. Watched the
news – nothing much of interest there. Then I called Priss but since we
are going to the luncheon tomorrow we did not talk long. Then I took a
shower. Tomorrow morning I will wash and set my hair. On Thursday, I am
going to have a hair cut at 9:30 a.m. Nothing else important to add to
this day.
October 23
I slept well last night. Benadryl is great and I would like to take it
every night but won’t. We were up a little before 5 and I put the oatmeal
on to cook while Don took Daisy for a walk. After I had read the papers
and finished my breakfast I shampooed my hair and set it. I set out my
clothes: black skirt with pleats in front, black sleeveless top and
cashmere sweater buttoned down the front, black hose and shoes and black
and white silk scarf. I went out to pick roses, changed the flowers.
Don went off to tennis and I read for a while and then when Don got back
I started to think about getting ready to go to the Discovery Shop
luncheon. Don took me at 11:05 and at Priss’ we got into Denise Kaveny’s
car along with Mrs. Millis so there were 4 of us. We got to the Country
Club and waited in line to sign our names and get tags and we sat down
with the 4 of us, another lady I didn’t know and Mrs. Keenili, Carl K’s
second wife. I had both the boys as counselees and talked many times to
their mother who died of cancer. So the second Mrs. K and I talked and
it was pleasant enough. The luncheon was mediocre and then the lady from
the Esplanade House gave a long talk about their program and what they
were going to do with the $10,000 we gave them. It dragged on far too
long and I was very bored. Went back to Priss’ and I called Don and he
picked me up. The mail had come and the Roseman’s sent me a check for
Hubbards for $20. I was thrilled and touched. Made scrambled eggs,
sliced tomatoes and leftover cornbread for dinner. Watched the local
news. Tried to call Linda but no one was home. So I spent the evening
reading and trying hard not to fall asleep. I wanted to go to bed at 8
but fought it off till 9. I get tired so easily and I am so bored.
October 24
We woke up to a dark and gloomy day and it never changed. I prefer rain
to this. So I had breakfast and read the papers and then Don went off to
play tennis. I played solitaire for a while and then did a load of
darks. When Don came home, I got dressed and went to have my hair cut.
The girl who cut it was black, pregnant, finished in December and there
was a student at Chico State. Interesting combination. It wasn’t a great
haircut but it was ok I guess. I saw Helen Roseman there and another lady
who works at the Discovery Shop. When I got home, I set my hair and when
I combed it out it was ok. I fixed Don a chicken sandwich and then we
both took naps. He got up first and fed Daisy and then he went off to
class. I got the things out for dinner. I cooked broccoli and then fixed
it with cheese sauce to heat in the oven. I got out the leftover squash
for Don and fixed a sweet potato for me. I got a small meat loaf from
the freezer and I made a fruit salad. Then I read and listened to the
radio. Dole asked Perot to throw his votes to him and Perot said
absolutely not. Dole is getting desperate. He got angry at the press
and Clinton. At just about everyone. Don came home between his class
times but then went back. I called Pauline who is leaving tomorrow for W.
D.C. and will be there till November 10th. Then I called Linda who had
reacted to her flu shot but was feeling better. Cathy had called in the
morning saying that she and David were taking advantage of some club’s
promotion deal. For $60 they got a room, meals and will be able to get
into a show free so they left. Don then came home and we ate dinner and
then I called Priss and listened to her and then since then I have been
reading. I am bored!
October 25
Another day and tomorrow the time changes. Had a problem again about
going to the bathroom in the night and though taking a Benadryl is
wonderful for sleeping it is not so good about waking up in time so I
must not take them any more. I put a load of lights and whites in when I
got up so when breakfast was over, they were in the dryer and when Don
left for tennis I started ironing. It took about an hour to do it all
but it is done. I had also pinned up my hair. It looks great but it
means pinning it up every day for it to look right until I can get a
perm. I decided since we were going to the malls I would dress up so I
put on black slacks, a white turtleneck and my black tunic and with hose
and black flats I looked very nice. When Don got home he cleaned up and
we were off. We went first to Victoria’s Secret and got the brassiere
that J wanted for $32 and then we came back to the N.V. Mall and I bought
a pair of Reebok’s on sale and that was another $32 so I got rid of some
money fast. Came home and by then it was lunchtime. Then we started
watering the lawn and I napped a bit between changing the water. And in
the midst of that, it rained off and on. But we finished watering anyway.
I made a cabbage salad, got out the leftover chicken stew, some hot dish
and the mashed potatoes that you heat up for dinner. Then at a little
before 3 I went to see Helen and we had our usual pleasant hour together.
I look forward to that. Came home and put things in the oven and then we
ate at 5. At 5:30, it was local news and at 6 the national. We have all
our radios set at National Public Radio and I have come to enjoy it. I
find out all kinds of interesting things. Well my sister Pauline must be
in Washington by now and I am sure she must be happy cause she had a lot
of things planned for her. She has certainly become the traveler.
Talked to Priss so heard about bridge and who drove her up the wall
today. She is critical of so many people these days. I called Mary to
alert her that we were going shopping tomorrow morning and Don will be
going again too. Now I think I will read for a while.
October 26
Still at 95#
Today was a day to break rules and I did just that. We got up at the
usual time, read the papers and got ready to go grocery shopping. It was
very windy and very chilly. We just bought tomatoes, 1# of almonds and I
found some cucumbers at the F. Mkt. We spent $35 at Food for Less but
nothing that was interesting and even less than usual at the Cannery.
Somehow shopping with Don inhibits me and he has been very nice about the
whole deal. But I just don’t do as well. But no problem really. When we
got home I put everything away and then cleaned all 3 bathrooms. Then I
said I was going for a walk and was gone about 40 minutes. I didn’t
hurry and I really enjoyed it. I like to walk by myself. Then I made
myself a sandwich with jack cheese and sliced tomatoes and it tasted
pretty good. My taste buds are still not back to normal but they are
better. Don went to lie down and I made the first fudge of the season.
It tasted very good. I did not lie down today but instead I went out with
my hoe and worked the ground in the front border and then went to the
north yard and cut back things around the shed and raked up leaves and
guck around that area. When Don came out later, he brought the garbage
can and put everything in it. So I felt good and I got a lot done. I am
just fed up with doing nothing so from now on I am going to do more.
Julie stopped by and we had a good visit. She had fudge and then she
made herself a cheese sandwich. After she left, I fixed salad greens and
I heated some leftover stew and some leftover mashed potatoes and then it
was time for the news. I washed some darks and hung them in the
apartment closet to dry. Don changed all the clocks. I called Priss and
listened to her chatter for 45 minutes and now I am going to read for a
while. I have already showered and am dressed for bed so I can just pop
in. We decided not to go to church tomorrow.
October 27
The first day of regular time and it wasn’t all that great a day. I was
not hungry today for one thing and that seems to make a difference in my
mood. We had decided yesterday to stay home from church. Don wanted
those Pillsbury rolls and so I fixed them this morning. I ate part of
one but it didn’t taste good so I threw the rest of it away. We read the
papers and then I walked over to Walgreen’s and finally got my Retina A
cream for my face. It cost $32 so I hope it helps with the wrinkles. I
came home and drove to S & S cause my Suka was supposed to be in and it
was. Then I had to get Gingko Biloxi or something like that. It is
supposed to help one’s memory. It cost $13 and when I got home I checked
the Home Health catalog and it cost $20 for twice as much so I took it
back and got my money back. I ate a sandwich for lunch. I called Alice
and asked her to come to coffee tomorrow morning. In preparation for
that I segmented a grapefruit and will add another fruit tomorrow morning
for a fruit cup and then I made a small recipe of muffins and I will
serve them with coffee. She is coming at 8. Mike called and he will be
out on the 21st of November on the Thursday and will leave on Monday.
Too bad he can’t stay for Thanksgiving. The 49ers played the Houston
Oilers this afternoon and on the very first play Steve Young was sacked
and got a concussion and was taken out of the game.
But the 49ers won
10 – 9. I felt restless and depressed all day. I didn’t want to cook a
regular dinner so I fixed Don bacon, 2 eggs, fried tomatoes and pancakes.
He loved it and I ended up frying two eggs for me and I had a slice of
bread. I bought cottage cheese Saturday but when I tried it today I just
about gagged.
It is strange the way I have reacted to food since my
surgery. Well it certainly got dark early with the new time. I talked
to Priss at 15 to 7 and we did not have much to say to each other. I
wish I didn’t have to call every night but I can’t change it now. It is
10 after 8 and I would like to go to bed right now but I have to hang in
there. At least for a while.
October 28
We aren’t getting used to the new time. So at 4 I was awake and dozed but
didn’t really sleep after that. Daisy was awake too but with time we
will adjust. After we had our usual routine of vitamins, juice, prunes
for me and Don his papaya and banana and the papers I made up a fruit
compote. I had segmented a pink grapefruit yesterday so I added pear,
persimmon, pineapples, dates and since I had made the muffin mix, I made
4 muffins and then set up the coffee maker, etc. Alice came at 8 and as
always we had a lot to talk about. I always feel so comfortable with
her. She stayed an hour and after she left, I cleaned up the kitchen. It
was chilly today and windy and as the day moved onward it clouded up. We
had lunch and then Betty Pyle called saying there was a very nice red
coat at the Discovery Shop and she wanted me to come see it. I certainly
do not need a red coat but Don and I went down and fortunately it was too
small. So then we went out to the Chico Mall looking for another big
bath mat. Went first to Gottchalk’s but theirs was not thick enough so
then we went to Penney’s and found one big one and one a little smaller
but a better color. So we got both. Came home and I made a potato salad
and thawed hamburgers. Had some green beans and then by late afternoon
it was too windy to cook outside so I fried the burgers. It really
didn’t matter cause I couldn’t taste them anyway so I left most of mine.
Watched the news and then I showered and tomorrow morning I will wash and
set my hair cause I am going for lunch tomorrow with Priss. I really
don’t want to go but I am stuck. Don told me in mid-afternoon that he
was very sad and felt like crying. Well it was a dark gloomy feeling day
and I could understand how he felt. He called Linda tonight and had a
visit with her and that helped and then I talked to her and she is always
fun to talk to. It is 20 to 9 and I am falling asleep. But I had better
stay up for a while longer.
October 29
Rain
We woke up to rain in the night and it rained off and on all day. So now
we know that fall is really here. We got up and since Don was going to
have breakfast with Nancy Riley he didn’t have much to eat here. I was
going out for lunch so right after breakfast I shampooed and set my hair.
I had ironed slacks, etc., yesterday so I knew what I was going to wear.
I finished a book by Brian Moore about the IRA, which was very good but
depressing. I put on my black slacks, white turtleneck and black cotton
knit tunic. Priss picked me up at about 20 to 12 and we drove downtown in
the rain. Her driving makes me very nervous cause she drives too slowly
but she weaves and I think she should not be driving. I just don’t feel
safe in the car with her. We went to the Phoenix Building at the
restaurant on the second floor. I hate going out to lunch and it never
seems like there is anything that I like to eat. I ordered a chicken
sandwich and salad. It cost $7.50. When it came, the bread was about an
inch thick with a chicken breast inside plus lettuce, etc. My appetite
is not great at the moment and I ate about 1/2 of one of the halves and
we brought the rest home. By the time I paid for the parking meter, 1/2
the tip, etc., it cost $10 just about and it wasn’t worth it. Damn! We
stopped at her house on the way back to see a picture in the catalogue of
something she wanted me to see. When I got home, Don had gone to his
class. I quickly changed my clothes and read for a while. Dinner was a
hodgepodge of leftovers, including the sandwich. Tomorrow I must make a
decent dinner. Then there was the news and it kept on raining. I found
it a totally unsatisfactory day. Cathy called and while she is in
Australia M.J. and her friends are going to be eating dinner at the
York’s and Cathy needed chairs, silverware and a tablecloth so I wrote
everything down and will have things ready on the day needed. Cathy
dropped by this morning on her way home from work and we had a good
visit. I have a pain tonight in front low on the left side. Can’t
figure out what would be causing it. I hope it will be gone tomorrow
when I wake up. I found this a depressing day. I just hope tomorrow is
better.
October 30
It is 8:15 p.m. and I have just had a really hot shower and it felt
wonderful. I would have liked to stay till the water ran cold but
naturally I didn’t. Well what kind of day was today? Dull, but I did
get out a little bit this morning. I first ran two loads of clothes and
while the first one was in the dryer I walked to Lucky to get bananas
cause last night on the medical report on the news they said potassium
was very important and bananas are a great source. Don has been eating a
banana every morning as long as I can remember so he should be in great
shape. Then I stopped at K-Mart and got 100 suckers for $2 for trick or
treat. Came home and folded the first batch and put the second part in
and I got everything ironed before lunch. Then I drove to the library
and took back books and got some new ones but I couldn’t find too many.
I read in the afternoon and made a simple dinner, mainly of leftovers. I
had mashed potatoes to eat and broccoli that I fixed au gratin. Opened a
can of salmon and served it cold with egg slices and beets. There was a
green salad and hot rolls. I ate a little of everything. Watched the
news, local and national. More of the same for campaign ads. Five more
days and then it will be Tuesday and Election Day. Linda called and
Thursday is Nevada Day and that is a state holiday so she has Thursday
through noon off. She has a lot of studying to do but there will be time
to relax as well. I started a letter to Australia and will finish it
tomorrow morning. Called Priss and she chatted away for 1/2 an hour and
I listened. Now I guess I will read till bedtime.
October 31
Finally it is the last day of October and Halloween. I bought $2 worth
of suckers and I don’t have too many left. I would say that 25 kids came
to the door and I turned out the lights at 7 p.m. and nothing has
happened since. They are expecting about 10,000 downtown but these are
mainly adults. I was awake at 4:30 and finally at 5:30 I got up but Daisy
and Don were still asleep. I went ahead and started breakfast and then
they both got up. It had rained a little in the night so there was no
tennis for Don. At 8:15 I went to Safeway with my coupon book and got all
kinds of goodies. I spent $20 but it was worth it cause there were many
things I wanted. Served canned cranberry sauce, canned milk, pd & b.
sugar, orange juice, etc., etc. I also bought doughnuts and I even ate
one this time and it tasted pretty good. Don went off to his class after
we had lunch and I went to Sherwin Williams to get brown stain and
tomorrow I must check my samples against the house to see if any match.
Then I went to Walgreen’s to pick up my Rx. I called Dr Foltz this
morning for an appointment and they had a cancellation at 10:30 and I
went in. I have been having trouble at night cause I can’t get to the
bathroom on time and then I have to change my clothes, etc. Well she
finally agreed to give me an Rx and I picked it up at Walgreen’s this
afternoon. We had a rather strange dinner. I made a fresh fruit salad,
tomato soup, had cream sauce with hard-boiled egg on toast and I had the
soup and a salmon salad sandwich. I watched some of the news and Dole is
so angry and ugly and I just can’t wait to have the election over. I
talked to Priss and she had not had very many trick or treat children and
I guess the little ones are not going out much. I wrote to J & N and Don
got that off. I will read for a while and then take a shower and go to
bed. I am tired tonight.
November 1
I took the pill Dr. Foltz prescribed and I didn’t have an accident. I
hope that continues. So I slept quite well and we got up at 5. I read
both papers and then got dressed. Still haven’t done any of my exercises
yet. I guess I will wait till after the 7th when I see Dr. Heath. After
Don went for tennis, Daisy and I went outside and I started cutting back
the lavender flowers in the south yard. I want those plants dug up and
then I will plant my sweet pea seeds there. When Don got home he wanted
to sit in the sun so I got dressed and walked down N. Ave toward Lupin
till it turned into 3 different cul de sac on the left side so I was gone
almost an hour. When got back it was time to make lunch. Then I made
tartar sauce, set out the mashed potatoes to be heated, fixed a tomato
and soaked the cucumber and then I made a chocolate pudding cake. I had
pinned up my hair when I got back frock my walk so I combed it out and
then at 3 I drove to visit Helen. She wasn’t quite so chipper today. We
talked about the election coming up on Tuesday. When I got home I got out
the fish sticks and the rest of the diner was pretty much done.
We ate
and then watched the local and national news. Don called Jenny and come
to find out she had gone to lunch yesterday with Bessie and Don. She
reacted to something she ate and got red in the face and broken out in a
rash and had trouble breathing so they rushed her to the Dr. and he gave
her an adrenaline shot. She still doesn’t feel great but she sees a
specialist on Monday. She felt bad that B & D spent the whole evening in
the emergency with her and she didn’t feel well enough to go with them.
This worries me and it is at times like this that I worry about her being
so far away. I called Priss and then we watched Four Weddings and a
Funeral. It is a very good movie but it is certainly hard to understand
the lines since they seem to mumble them all the time. Now it is 10 to
10 and time to go to bed.
November 2
It is just 10 after 6 p.m. but the news is so political that I just
walked away. Dole is going to the White House and Perot is screaming
about values and Clinton says the deficit is down and jobs are up. I
can’t wait for Tuesday. Well today Mary and I went shopping without Don
and I did ok. But there wasn’t anything particularly interesting to buy
so it wasn’t much fun. Came home and put everything away. Don got back
all those lavender flowers behind the rose bushes in the south yard. Now
Don has to dig up the roots and that won’t be easy and his back is
hurting so I certainly don’t want him to do too much. I decided to make
minestrone soup from a recipe in the Chronicle. I spent a lot of time,
used a lot of ingredients and the result wasn’t all that great. And it
made so much! Well, I think I may just throw it away. We had it tonight
with French bread and parmesan cheese on top. Don and I went for a walk
this afternoon. I wanted to go alone so I cold walk further but he
wanted to go so I said ok. Finished a book by Nancy Pickard 27
Ingredients Chili Con Cane Murders. It was pretty good. There is a
recipe in it for a bread pudding. Now should I try it? Maybe it would
end up like the soup recipe. At 3 p.m. I went out to the north patio and
cracked walnuts. Cathy had brought in two brown sacks of them. I worked
for an hour and got quite a lot but there are a lot more to go. We are
going to watch Der Zigano tonight. I remember when I saw it before. Don
and I went to S.F. and it was August. We went in the afternoon and I
will never forget when we came outside and it was still light and we were
stunned cause it was so good. When we got back to Chico, we went first to
a record store and got the music for it cause it was so good. I told
Mary we would go to church tomorrow morning. It was a sunny day and the
trees are getting more and more colorful especially the pistachios.
November 3
The papers were late in coming this morning so we got dressed, etc.,
right after breakfast so when the papers did come we read right up till
the time to go to church. I wore my black slacks and black sweater with
the orange embroidery. Then we went to Safeway for coffee filters and a
doughnut for Don. Got home and changed my clothes, ran 2 loads of wash
and I will be ironing tomorrow morning. I had seen a recipe for a
Mexican bread pudding so I decided to make it for dinner tonight. I
called for 1/2 a loaf of raisin bread and made a syrup to pour over the
cubes and you add 2 kinds of grated cheese, nuts & raisins. I walked to
Walgreen’s and got Vitamin E on sale for $3.00. Then Don called Jackie
to see how she was doing and asked her to dinner. Her son Mike was here
so Don invited him too. I had made a French stew for Don got romaine
leaves and so I did a green salad, hot crescent rolls, boiled potatoes
and the pudding which was too dry for me and I did the dishes afterwards
and I threw out the rest of it. I seem to be wasting a lot of food
lately. But we really enjoyed Jackie and Mike. I didn’t call Priss
tonight cause she was going to a dinner at her church with Alice. Linda
called and she was very excited cause she had bought a new computer from
a place in Washington and it will be here on Thursday. Well, we are now
at Sunday night cause there will be all day tomorrow and then Tuesday
will be the election. I can’t believe that it is finally just about here.
Don has gone to bed and I want to go too. I am having great trouble with
my BM’s. I do fine one day and then the next day I just can’t go but
need and want to desperately. This is an important week coming up.
Besides the election I see D. Heath on Thursday. Mary Y. has her
cataract operation on Thursday too and then Tuesday I hope to go back to
Hospice. Now I am going to bed.
November 4
Well tomorrow at this time we will know who won the presidency. I just
hope it is Clinton! I had a busy day today. Right after breakfast, I
decided to clean the fridge. First I worked on the freezer part and I
threw some things away I combined some things so I ended up with a lot of
empty jars and containers. Then I neatened up the regular part and I
felt good about what I had done. Next, I did the ironing and then I
organized Don’s slacks and I re-did my sweaters, etc., to a better
advantage. We had lunch and then I started re-reading Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stegner. I have decided there are a lot of books here that I
could be reading instead of going to the library all the time. I was
going to go back to Hospice tomorrow but since it is election day I want
to listen to TV all day so I will start next week. For dinner, I cooked
chicken thighs, baked potatoes, a pear and grapefruit salad and green
beans. Tomorrow we will have bacon and eggs for dinner cause by then we
will be watching TV. We keep getting E-mail from J. and now from N.
about things we are to have Cathy bring. I keep looking through those
boxes and I can’t find what they describe. I talked to Linda and she is
thinking of taking the test for LVN in May and then she could work if she
wanted but will continue to go to school to be a licensed registered
nurse. Jason called and we talked to him. I really didn’t feel all that
great today and now at 9:10 p.m. I went to the bathroom and still my
stomach feels queasy. I think I will read for awhile and then go to bed.
Talked to Priss and she is just as eager as we are to be done with this
election business.
November 5
It is 8:20 and Clinton has won big but it looks as if the Senate and
house will go Republican. Well you can’t win them all. The day started
out clear and chilly. We walked over to the Bidwell library and Don was
1st to vote and I was 2nd. Then he went away to play tennis and I
showered, shampooed and set my hair. I wasn’t going anywhere today but I
decided to dress up a little so I put on my black match plaid wool skirt
that I bought at Oser’s 20 – 30 years ago and it fit fine. Then I found
a navy blue cashmere sweater and navy tights, a white turtle neck and I
looked great. So then I read a lot and had lunch and went to the library
to pick up two more Stegne books cause I finished Crossing to Safety.
Stopped at Priss’ to return two books to her. Don went off to his class
and I made chocolate cookies and frosted them to please Don. When he got
home, he felt so good cause the students had read his first chapter of
the Herculean Quest and had given him all kinds of ideas. He loves that
class and it is great for his ego cause they have all accepted him. Cathy
stopped by to pick up Jenny’s lap top computer. She leaves tomorrow for
Australia. I made a simple dinner: sausages, eggs, corn meal muffin, and
then we went to the TV, first the local news and then it was CNN with all
the projections. They think that the marijuana prop. will pass in
California but I am writing this at 8:30 p.m. so since the polls closed
only 30 minutes ago, it is too early to know what is going to happen. I
am so glad that Clinton won. At least we won’t have Dole. So now I will
read for a while and then go to bed.
November 6
Today was the day after the election and somehow I felt let down. The
people on TV were already talking about Clinton being a lame duck
president and they were talking about the Congress controlled by the
Republicans and only 46% of the people voted and I keep feeling more and
more discouraged about my country. This morning I walked to and from
Safeway. That is the longest walk so far and tomorrow I see Dr. Heath
and I wonder what he is going to say. I hope I will be free to do what I
want. What else did I do today? I cracked out a lot of walnuts. I have
decided to give some to Alice cause she is always bring berries, etc.,
here. I read a Town Like Alice again and I liked it as much as always. I
made a Good Luck for Don this noon. I found some chicken pieces in the
freezer and made him a sandwich and I fixed myself a little salad.
Tonight I made a good dinner: ham, candied yams, peas and carrots and a
green salad. Don got a movie that Cathy had recommended but we didn’t
like it. Don’s war wounds got very bad so he went to bed but I stayed up
and watched a movie about a rough high school and a new principal that
turned it around. But it is 10:15 and I think I should go to bed
although I would like to know how it ends. I think I will go without the
pill tonight that keeps me from going to pee in the night. Before I
couldn’t always make it and I am taking a risk but I don’t want to be
taking the pill every night. I go to Dr. Heath tomorrow at 9. I must
shower early and pin up my hair. I made an appointment to get a perm
next Tuesday. Well I think I will check on the news again and then I had
better go to bed.
November 7
I didn’t get to bed till 11 cause I watched a movie about a principal in
N. Hampshire that cleaned up a high school that was in a bad way. Very
good and it was a true story. So when 5 a.m. rolled around this morning
it was a bit difficult to get out of bed but I did it. I read the papers
and then took a hot shower and set my hair. Don went off to have
breakfast with Mary Bock at the Tree on Cohasset so he walked and I took
the car and went to Dr. Heath’s. I arrived before 9 but didn’t see the
Dr. till 9:45. I am in great shape but I have to wait another 2 weeks
before I am really able to do anything I want. But I am setting that time
as 2 weeks from last Monday or the 18th of November. That night I am
going to have a drink and I just hope Don is ready for lovin’ cause I
sure am. Came home and had lunch and then Don went off to his class and
after I fed Daisy, I went for a walk. It was a beautiful afternoon and
the leaves are all changing color and they are beautiful. When I came
back, I read and then I made salad dressing and got out a can of soup,
boiled eggs and made egg salad. We watered cause the man came to mow and
got up all the leaves. I fixed egg salad for a sandwich and Don wanted
grilled cheese and I opened a can of minestrone soup and that was our
dinner. Don had his class from 5 – 6 so we ate after that. Linda called
to say one of the women that she took care of at the convalescent place
had a sock monkey and she remembered that she and Bonnie had taken things
to that place so she had made it. She was very touched. Then Jenny called
saying that Cathy had arrived and although she had quite a long time in
customs she made it. The news tonight was about Christopher resigning as
Secretary of State and there is a big army scandal with drill sergeants
and officers making advances towards the women in the army. Bad scene.
I talked to Priss and then we watched a movie called Power with Richard
Gere and Julie Christie. It was about people who manage candidates and
get them elected. It is 9:30 and I am ready to go to bed.
November 8
This was a rather boring day. We got up at 5 and I made oatmeal for Don
and then I read both papers and opened drapes and neatened things up.
Don went off to play tennis and I played 2 games of solitaire. I can’t
ever remember playing cards in the morning but since the surgery I have
so much time cause there are so many things I can’t do – yuk! Well then
I cleaned the 3 bathrooms and by that time Don got home. He had errands
to run and I read some more of my Stegner book Recapitulation. I really
didn’t like it all that much. He comes back to the town of his youth
after being a very successful diplomat and re-lives his unhappy
childhood. I think I will hunt up a mystery for tonight. I ate lunch
and then I walked to the mall. I would like to find a really good pair
of black slacks that fit well and can be washed. Grenages had one pair
of petite and I didn’t much like them and Mervyns’s did not have any
either. I think I will have to go to Sacramento to Macy’s or go without.
I looked in the other stores but didn’t see anything interesting. I came
home and made a tuna salad, thawed some rolls ready to heat. Got out the
leftover veggies and candied yams and then went off to see Helen. We had
a good visit. Got back a little after 4 and put the dinner together and
then I cheated and fixed myself a chocolate sundae, nuts and all. If I
want to stay at 95# I will have to be more careful. So then we watched
the news - big fuss cause Pierre Salaugh in Paris claims he got
information about the plane crash a few minutes ago and claims it was a
missile. The FBI, etc., are up in arms about it and so now we will have
to wait to see what happens next. Don went to take a nap and I changed to
my nightclothes and went to call Priss. Someone came to the house so our
visit was cut short and that was fine with me. So now I am going to
read.
November 9
We got up at our usual time and we did the usual routine. When I go back
to my exercise routine, it is going to seem strange cause I haven’t done
a sit up since the 6th of October or have I done any of my other
exercises. I wonder how it will feel after all this time. Mary and I
were at the Mkt. by 7:25. I bought some mandarins and some tomatoes and
a butternut squash. At Food for Less, I bought only $21 worth and
certainly nothing very interesting. At the Cannery, I bought $12+ and
then home. Plus I had to go to S & S for apples for Don and then to
Safeway to get salad stuff, broccoli, celery, etc. I cracked walnuts and
Don also did some and that was a big help. He vacuumed while I was
shopping. For dinner, I made spaghetti and a green salad and fresh bread
and I made a pumpkin pie for dessert. We went for a walk at 3 and that
was pleasant. Got an e-mail from J. saying that she is not going to
argue with Niki any more about coming back to Chico after she is 18.
Linda called and she was studying as usual. I told her about Niki and
naturally she doesn’t think she should stay here. Sometimes I worry about
her cause when she broke up with David she arrived with Jason and we
didn’t turn her away. And Jenny stayed here for a while too. Do they
just forget about things like that? Well I was not at my best today. I
was really very depressed. I got to thinking what is there to look
forward to? Do we just go on day after day doing the same things? I
feel empty and sad and I really can’t see the worth of it all. Maybe
when I start doing things again I will feel better but right now tomorrow
holds out no promise for me at all. I get impatient with Priss when she
says she has lived too long but right now I wonder if maybe I have lived
too long. I hope this feeling is temporary.
November 10
Well today was better than yesterday. I didn’t feel as down. We had
decided not to go to church so I ran two loads of clothes early on. I had
read the papers carefully and I cut out quite a few coupons. Don said he
would crack walnuts so he did that while I ironed. When I was done I went
out to the north patio and picked out the walnut meats. I took them in
the house and put them in the oven for about 20 minutes. I decided to
use my salad shooter to chop some up so now I have 2 coffee cans of
chopped ones. I decided to have a fancy dinner today. I thawed 2 large
chicken breasts. No skin but bone in which I cooked in the oven with
wine + sour cream added in the end. Made mashed potatoes for Don, fixed
a grapefruit + mandarin orange segment salad, green beans, hot rolls and
pumpkin pie for dessert. I planned some solitaire and won once. It was
one of those days where I keep busy and it was all rather pleasant. The
49ers lost in a close game with the Dallas Cowboys. Poor Steve Young got
another mild concussion – I hate the way they all go after the
quarterback. Talked to Linda briefly. Got an E-mail from J. and they seem
to be having a good time. Had gone to a place that sold vintage clothes
and both Cathy and Niki had bought something. She said the weather was
very cold. That must be disappointing to Cathy. My appetite is better so
now I must be careful not to eat too much. I like myself at 95# and I
would like to stay that way. I don’t know if I can do it. I look forward
to net Monday a week from tomorrow. I am afraid that we will both expect
too much. Six weeks is a long time and Don has been wonderful about it
but still it has been hard I know. Well we have waited this long so I
guess we can handle another week. At least this week I have things to
do: Hospice, a perm & the Discovery Shop. That will help.
November 11
Well the first day of a new week and Veterans Day as well. We read the
papers and then at 8:15 Don went off to play tennis with John Boyle since
Carl is in Ohio helping his sister pack up to move to Chico and then he
will driver her back in her car but when we turned on the news during the
day they said there was a terrible snow storm in Ohio with more to come.
They have to delay leaving there. While Don was gone, I watered all the
plants and I moved some of them around. The fichus has gotten so big it
belongs in a bigger setting but I don’t want to give it up. We ate lunch
and then Don went to lie down and I went for a 30-minute walk. It was a
beautiful day and I enjoyed being out without a jacket since it was so
warm. When I got back, I fed Daisy and Don got up from his nap. I had
errands to run so we walked fast to Walgreen’s where I bought
suppositories. Then on to Mervyn’s where I bought 2 pairs of underoos as
Niki used to call them and then to Long’s where I got Ultra White Manila
Roux for my hair and then home. On the way, Don said that sometimes he
would like to leave Chico and move to Vermilion if it were not for the
cold winters. When we got home we sat on the north patio and talked
about the fact that we really don’t have many friends here that we are
close to and we both admit that if one were gone it would be very hard
for the other one to carry on. It is something I think about often and
can’t do anything about it. So then I came in the house and made potato
soup for Don made from the left mashed potatoes from yesterday and I
heated the spaghetti leftover from Saturday and made a green salad. Don
had the last piece of pumpkin pie. I made meringues and tomorrow I will
make the lemon pudding from my lemon pie recipe for dessert for tomorrow.
Watched the news and read The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner. Called
Priss and then took a shower, shampooed and set my hair. I probably
won’t sleep well tonight what with curlers in my hair. Oh well I will
survive and now to bed.
November 12
We got up a little after 5. Some clouds but no rain. I read the papers
and then got busy getting ready to go to Hospice. I had pinned up my
hair after washing it last night so I had not slept all that well but it
looked nice this morning so it was worth it. I wore my bright print
slacks, a white turtleneck and a cream top. I walked to Hospice and it
felt good. When I arrived, the job they wanted me to do didn’t work out
cause they could not get the typewriter working so I went to find Nina
and she gave me a job filling folders which is dull but easy. Then
Colleen came and I heard all about her daughter’s wedding which sounded
fabulous. I had told Don if I were tired I would call him to pick me up
but I felt fine and walked home. We had lunch and mine was good: a
sandwich with jack cheese and thin sliced tomatoes + a mandarin and a
kiwi. Then at 10 to 1 Don took me to the Beauty College and Stephanie
gave me a perm. She was very good and she was interesting to talk to so I
enjoyed my time with her and I liked my hair. Tomorrow morning I will pin
it up but I am too tired tonight to do it. I made dinner when I got
home. I sliced the leftover chicken from Sunday. Put it in a frying
pan, heated some 1/2 & 1/2 and heated it. Made a cabbage salad and opened
a can of cream style corn. This morning I had made meringues – no, I did
that last night so this morning I made the lemon pie filling to put on
the top and then have whipped cream on top. Don had that for dessert. Two
planes crashed in the air in India. One plane had over 300 people in it
and the other had 39 and there were no survivors. It was on CNN all day.
Then there was a story about a baby kangaroo whose mother died and a
woman who works in the Animal Place in Florida put the Joey in a backpack
and she carries it around with her all day. They showed it on TV and he
was so cute. There has been a terrible blizzard in Ohio and poor Carl
Hein is there with his sister helping her move and then they will drive
her car out here. So now I have told about my day. I talked to Priss and
heard about hers. She never gives me a chance to tell about mine. But
that is ok.
November 13
Had an accident again in the night. I must remember to take my pill
earlier rather than later before go to bed. I hope this incontinence
tapers off soon. Right after I got Don’s breakfast I went in and had a
shower and set my hair and pinned it up and now it looks ok and like I
had just had a perm. I neatened up the house and changed the flowers and
then walked over to the N.V. Mall. First, I checked on Grenages cause
they are having a going out of business sale. The place was packed but I
didn’t see anything that I could not live without and anyway they had not
marked down things very much. I will check back later. The F. Mkt. has
moved inside the mall on Wednesday so I checked that out and I got some
kiwis and some of the wrong tomatoes. I can never remember their name Romas? Maybe that is it. Anyway, I came home and fixed my lunch and then
we watched CNN. I read for a while and then left to go to the Discovery
Shop. It was a very slow afternoon and we made only $52. I got some
things on approval but I may not keep any of them. I have a week to think
about it. I had fixed butternut squash this morning so when I got home, I
just re-heated that and I made a pasta dish and a fruit salad and the
rest of the ham sliced very thin and heated. We were both hungry and
everything tasted good. There was no mail today just catalogues. They
seem to come now about 4 or 5 a day. No word from Jenny or Linda. Mike
called and he will be here a week from tomorrow. It will be late but I
will probably stay up. I think Cathy gets back on Wednesday of next week
but I am not sure about that. So I guess that is about it for today. I
talked to Priss and she was in better spirits then she was yesterday.
November 14
It is 9:30 and I have been asleep in my chair. I read a little and then
dozed off. I just wish I could fall asleep so easily in my bed. It was
a quiet day. Up at the usual time. When will I start to do my exercise
again, before I have my Suka and the paper? Maybe I will do a bit
tomorrow morning. I got dressed for the day and first I made pie crusts
and so now I can make 5 pies in all. I will have to make at least 3 if
not 4 for Thanksgiving. Then I made bread and this time instead of 5
small loaves and 2 medium size I made 8 small ones. I had to bake two in
the apartment stove but they all turned out so nice I am going to do that
from now on. By then, it was time to make my lunch and watch CNN with
Bobbie Batista and her partner. We are both fond of them. In the
afternoon, Don went off to his class and I read and played solitaire. For
dinner, I fixed scrambled eggs and kippers, corn bread and sliced
tomatoes. The leaves are coming down now in a steady stream. The man
came to mow and Thank Goodness they take up leaves with the mowers. Then
we watered the lawn cause there has been no rain for a long time. It is
predicted to rain by Saturday. So now it really looks like fall and
pretty soon all the bright colors will be coming. It was a quiet day. An
e-mail from Jenny said that Cathy and Niki were doing a lot of sewing and
at least the weather was turning warmer. Tomorrow I go to see Helen
Roseman. I did not all Priss tonight cause Jo Alright was going to be
visiting her for dinner and the evening. Now I am going to bed.
November 15
Well today was another dull day. I made breakfast and read the papers
and then Don said he wanted to talk about something and I thought it
would be something about us but no it was about having Niki stay here
when she comes back. He wanted to know how I felt about it. I love Niki
but I am not sure I could put up with her again like she was when she was
in high school. I think Don without realizing it wants to be able to
control people. Not in a bad way but he wants to be in charge. I have
always felt that is why he took on being in charge of Mary Wyle with all
her problems. I think I am probably the only one that he really can’t
control. Ok I know I have given in a lot of ways but still I am not as
dependent on him as he thinks I am. Well this is all rather upsetting and
I will write no more about it. Anyway I was angry and it didn’t make for
a good day for me at least. I walked over to Walgreen’s to ask about the
medicine I had bought cause it said not to take it if one had emphysema
but the pharmacist thought it would be ok and I took just 1/2 a tsp. of
it. I made a potato salad in the early afternoon and thawed hot dogs and
then I went to see Helen. We had a rather quiet time. Came back and
finished the dinner preparations, read a little and then we ate. We
watched the news. I talked to Priss. She worked at the Discovery Shop
this afternoon and they made over $72 so that was great. She had taken a
piece of white rug down and I told her I would buy it and they are
charging $3 for it. Don watched the Pelican Brief with Julia Roberts. We
called Australia and Don talked to Niki. She says she is going to quit
smoking on her birthday. I am so torn about her. I love her so much but I
am getting old and tired and it would be hard for me to have her stay
here again but if it ends up that way I will go along. I am upset and I
don’t know what I think about anything right now. I am bored and unhappy.
Every day is just like every other day. And I don’t see it changing.
November 16
Rain in the evening
Up at 5. Starting on Monday, I am going back to exercising in the morning
and I won’t be able to spend so much time on the papers. I can’t decide
if that is good or bad. Anyway, I was on my way to pick up Mary at a
little after 7 and it was cloudy so I didn’t have to face the sun while
driving. At the F. Mkt. I bought 10# of mandarins, some green beans and
some Fiji apples for Don. Then on to Food for Less where I spent $33 and
at the Cannery $13 and then took Mary home and arrived next at our home.
After I had everything put away, I went to Lucky and bought chicken
breasts but I seem to have lost my Lucky card so I didn’t get it the best
price. Came home and Priss had stopped by with the rug for the bathroom
but it was the wrong color so I will have to take it back on Tuesday when
I work at the Discovery Shop. Finally after lunch I got around to
shampooing and setting my hair and now my perm looks great. If only I
could say to my hair (“don’t grow”)! But it grows all too fast. I took
Daisy out into the north yard and raked leaves for about an hour. The oak
tree and then the trees from next door so there will be a lot more coming
down before we are done. Don came out and helped put them in the garbage
can and then we came into the house. I made a salad of grapefruit
segments, kiwi and mandarins. It looked beautiful. Then I heated up the
pasta that we had had 2 days ago and the squash and then there was
lasagna that I had gotten at the Cannery and so we had a very good
dinner. I didn’t watch the news. I am not that fond of Paula Zahn. I
called Priss and then we watched Educating Rita which was very good. We
had seen it before but I had forgotten it entirely. Don checked our book
and it got 4 1/2 *’s. It had a lot to say about education and what it
did to Rita, to her marriage to her tutor and to herself. It is now 9:45
and I am going to read for a while.
November 17
It was a “misty moistly morning and cloudy was the weather.” It rained
in the night and it was misting when we went to church. I think there is
fog now so it is really November today. After church, we went to Safeway
to pack up things and when we got home I changed my clothes and got busy.
I wrote a letter to J & N and then I did the ironing. There were 6 shirts
and they take longer than the knit ones Don wears in the summer. Don was
fine when he woke up but then all of a sudden the pain in his wounds came
and at one time he was crying it hurt so much. I worry about this cause
he is certainly getting the pain more and more often and it is much more
painful than in the past. I thawed some ground turkey and sausage and
then the main thing was ground beef. I made two containers of meat loaf.
For dinner today I cooked roast with potatoes and carrots, made a Caesar
salad and made a chocolate cake for dessert. I read a little, played
solitaire, and went for a walk in the rain. I did all my exercises today.
Even the 100 sit ups and tomorrow I go back to aerobics. So it will be a
busy week. Monday & Wednesday in aerobics, Tuesday will be Hospice in
the morning and the Discovery Shop in the afternoon and then dinner at
Hospice at 6. Wednesday aerobics in the morning and the library in the
afternoon. Thursday I will cook and clean cause Mike is coming Thursday
night. Don will pick him up in Sacramento. Friday morning I work at PV
and Saturday morning I shop. I think Mike will probably want to go to
the F. Mkt. to get things to take back to Florida so it will be a busy
week and then after Mike leaves on Monday, I will have to start to
thinking about Thanksgiving. So it will be a busy time. I think I will
read for a while. I want to stay at 95#. My clothes fit so much better.
Now if I can just conquer going to the bathroom in the night without
having an accident.
November 18
I am writing this on Tuesday morning cause I didn’t get to it last night.
Woke up at the usual time and today I did all my exercises. 100 pushups,
lifted the weights, etc. and it seemed to go just as always. I got
dressed and walked to the Sports club and that was ok too. It was windy
but not cold and it was rather misty but I wore the rose colored jacket
that Jenny left here. When I arrived there were hardly any ladies there
and then someone pointed out that this was the week of the Caribbean
Cruise and a lot of the ladies were along with Luann! I felt cheated
somehow and then Michelle arrived to teach the class and I didn’t like
her. She treats us as if we were all helpless so I left at 9:30 and I
won’t go on Wednesday. Damn! So the rest of the day was rather an anticlimax. I really didn’t do much of anything. I didn’t have any bright
ideas about dinner. I did grind up part of the roast for sandwich spread
and chopped the rest + potato and carrots for hash. So the day dragged
on. I played some solitaire. I read a good mystery by Gosling, I dozed
in my chair, etc., etc. I guess what I was waiting for was the time when
Don would ask me if I wanted a drink and after more than 6 weeks we would
make love. We had dinner and watched Peter Jennings at 5 cause of
football on Monday night and then we watched the local news and then I
called Priss and Don watched the game and finally the time came. I had a
Manhattan and felt nothing so I had another one and then we went to bed
and we tried and it didn’t go as it should. Had it been too long? Did
we try too hard? I just don’t know but right now I feel I really don’t
want to try again. And I know that Don must be very upset cause he can’t
do it. Sometimes it is hard to be old. Sometimes? Well all the time
really.
November 19
Wind, rain
Today was better. We woke to wind, wind, wind! The leaves are coming
down now. After breakfast, I got dressed to go to Hospice. I wore my
black stirrup pants and wool sweater and then a sleeveless black top over
it. I walked and was dry till about 2 blocks from Hospice so I didn’t
get too wet. I sat for my two hours at the electric typewriter pushing
the right keys to fill out forms. The time went fast and I didn’t mind
what I was doing. Don picked me up which was good cause it was raining
hard by 10:30. So we got home and ate lunch and after reading for a
while it was time to go to the Discovery Shop. Peggy Sever was there and
she and another lady moved things around so I worked hard but I got two
really nice things. One was a black cotton long sleeved jacket that cost
$3 and the other was a pair of printed slacks navy black ground and with
flowers in bright colors. It was s. 14 children’s and I tried it on when
I got home and they fit perfect and they were free! So Don picked me up
and we went over to Jackie’s. Her kitchen is done and it is just
beautiful and she is so thrilled. She won’t have any more chemo till
after Thanksgiving. Thank Goodness. She was in good spirits. So we came
home again and I put on dark hose, black pumps, a cream colored blouse
that I have not worn for years and my new black top that I got this
afternoon and I felt that I looked nice. So we watched the news and then
we left for the Hospice dinner. We met Val’s mother and her new husband.
Ellis is the last name. I keep thinking of her as Mrs. Mitchell. We
chatted with them and then sat with them for dinner. There was all kinds
of pasta, not very good, green salad and cake which I did not take and
then there were speeches and it was over at about 8:30. It was all very
nice and the dinner was in honor of the Hospice volunteers. So now I have
put my clothes away and I must brush my teeth, wash my face, and get
ready for bed. I am using a very large sanitary napkin at night so if I
can’t quite make it to the bathroom I won’t have to change my clothes. I
hope this is temporary. I do not want to take the medicine that would
keep me from needing to go to he bathroom at night. It works but I don’t
want to use it every night. I shall see how it goes.
November 20
It is 10 p.m. and I should be getting ready for bed. We got up at 5 this
morning and it was so mile that it felt like spring instead of November.
I did the usual although I wasn’t too keen on exercising. Then I cleaned
the 3 bathrooms, changed the flowers, fed the indoor plants and then went
outside and pulled some weeds and neatened things up with Daisy helping
me. Don sat out in the sun and it was so warm I couldn’t believe it. Came
in and got dressed in my new pants from the Discovery Shop, navy top and
a pretty top that matched some of the figures in the pants. Had lunch
and drove to the library to put in my 2 hours. But it is not the same
since Lorna Thom left. True the back room is neat and efficient but she
knew so much about everything and it was fun and now it is not. I worked
the whole time on the children magazines and it was so dull! On the way
home, I stopped at S & S and got apples. I also got a lot of books to
read. Then the mail came and I got a letter from my sister. It is hard
to explain how I felt about her letter. She told all about what she did
in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Virginia. Her children and
grandchildren are so different from the way we live and what we do that
it is hard to believe we are related. She is so condescending. She tells
me things assuming that I know nothing about anything. She talked about
Evita and about the new fashions the movie has spawned as if I knew
nothing about it. And then there are the museums and galleries, etc.,
etc. I ended up filling so inferior I could weep. I hope I never have
to see her again. I know that is a terrible thing to say but that is the
way I feel. We had a simple dinner of hot dogs and chili and a green
salad. Don does not like to drive after dark so he is going down to
Sacramento in the afternoon, eat dinner and then pick up Mike. He won’t
mind if he is with Mike on the way home in the dark. I hope he does it
that way. Carl called while I was at the library and he and his sister
are back in Chico after a long drive from Cleveland through snow and
sleet and rain. If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, they will be playing
tennis. So now I had better go to bed cause I have a lot to do tomorrow
to get ready for Mike and Thanksgiving will be just a week away.
November 21
This was one busy day. Up at the usual time. I got busy about the house,
washed light and darks and Don went off to play tennis. When he got back
he vacuumed the main house and I vacuumed the apartment. Then I dusted
and I mean dusted. I did all the things in the bookcase in the living
room and then went from room to room including all the stuff in the long
hall. I didn’t do that sort of thing very often. Then I got dressed and
went first to Holiday to check on Mrs. Mitchell turkeys that are $1.59 a
#. Well he brought one out to show me what a 16#er would look like and I
realized that I would be buying something that had been passed over a
week before Thanksgiving and so I went to Safeway and got a frozen one
for 49 cents a # for 6.90 and I want to buy a ham as well and so decided
to hell with Mrs. Mitchell. Came home and had lunch and then I ironed
all the things I had washed. Don went off to class and when he came back
Julie and he boyfriend arrived wanting something to eat so I fixed
grilled cheese sandwiches with pickles and chips and there were still
some meringues so they had those with ice cream and chocolate sauce. I
liked her young man. Well about 4 Don set off for Sacramento. It was
raining and he didn’t want to have to drive too much after dark so I told
him to eat dinner in Sacramento. Mike’s plane was to arrive at 8:30 so he
took a book along. I fixed myself a grilled cheese sandwich and a
mandarin and then I watched the news. I called Linda and a little boy
answered saying “This is Craig’s House”. I asked if I could speak to
Linda and he said no that she was studying. So I waited for an hour and
called back and by that time the couple with the two little boys had left
so we had a good visit. Then I read and I must have dozed cause it was
10:30 and Mike and Don arrived. Mike immediately went to the fridge and
drank orange juice then he had about 3 slices of bread. Then he found
the prunes and then he found the chocolate sauce and put that on bread!
And he says his stomach bothers him! Ah well no problem. I forgot to
write that I called Priss and she was in a better mood tonight. To bed
November 22
As I was checking the calendar this morning at breakfast to see if it was
an aspirin day I realized that it said PV 8-12 on Friday and I had
forgotten all about it! I was so glad that I had shampooed and set my
hair yesterday so I looked ok. I decided to wear my black match plaid
skirt and my navy cashmere cardigan with a white turtleneck. It was
pouring rain when Don took me. All the counselors were going to a seminar
on grieving held at the Enloe building across from the hospital. Kathie
Th. gave me a list of progress reports and I was to call the students
with F’s. Well I wrote up some of the ones with the lowest grades and
wrote up call slips and I saw 11 of them and I liked talking to them and
I think I did a good job. Then I saw Susan Bruce and Marge Willis and
Larry Jones. So really it was a most pleasant morning. Don picked me up
and Mike had bought Chinese food at Safeway so Mike and I ate that for
lunch. Mike and I had a good talk. He is getting along well with Karen
and that is good news. During the day he talked to Linda and then we all
talked to Jenny. She is having a tough time. She has a bad cough +
headache and she is reacting to a lot of things so she is on a terribly
limited diet for a week and then gradually things will be added till they
find out just what she is allergic to. Mold spores is one for sure but
there are others as well. I think it is a very hard time for her right
now. She says there is so much expense getting all the things that she is
spending too much money and so that will not go to have any kind of
Christmas this year and I think that is going to be hard for both of
them. We will have to think about that. I am writing this at 20 to 8 and
both of the men are sound asleep. I have just finished talking to Priss
and we decided to invite her to dinner tomorrow night cause we are going
to eat out probably at the Red Lobster. Then I will try to have a nice
dinner on Sunday here at home. Tonight I had all kinds of different
things. Made a pasta dish with broccoli. We had green beans, a lettuce
salad, a gorgeous fruit salad and cold salmon and the graham crax pie for
desert. I am tired tonight. Tomorrow I will take Mary grocery shopping
and then I will take Mike to the F. Mkt. and then I must shower and get
ready to eat out tomorrow night.
November 23
It is 10:20 p.m. and I have been falling asleep in my chair as I read a
very strange book called King’s Oak about a couple that was next to a
beautiful place and there was some kind of run off that was poisonous and
what happened to the people. Well this has been a fairly good day. We got
up and I fixed breakfast and then it was time to go shopping. I asked
Mary if she wanted to come to dinner on Thanksgiving and she said yes. I
bought a 10# turkey for 29 cents a # and it cost $2.90. It seems
ridiculous. That is one we will be eating later not on the special day.
I really didn’t buy all that much really. Will finish up at Safeway and
Lucky. Came home and put things away and then Mike went down and bought
5# of nuts and I dry salted them for him in the oven later in the day.
After lunch, I went for a long walk and it was a beautiful day and very
nice to be outside and I enjoyed being by myself. I tried to reach Cathy
but no one answered when I called. Talked to Linda briefly. She was
studying. We decided to eat out and Mike said he would take us. I had
invited Priss and we made arrangements to go to the Albatross. I wore my
black skirt, white blouse and my new black jacket I got at the Discovery
Shop. We went at 6. The food was lousy. I felt bad that Mike paid so
much for something that was not good and yet the place was packed. Well
we will not go there again. Priss looked very nice and it went ok but
rather dull. I find myself nervous about Thursday coming up. I keep
making lists and I have now decided to make 4 pies – 2 pumpkin, one pecan
and one chocolate chess. I have decided what I am going to do each day
to get ready. Now I had better go to bed.
November 24
We decided not to go to church this morning. Mary was not feeling well
and she didn’t want to go and it was fine with me. Today I did all of my
exercises and I timed it and it takes at least 20 minutes if not more.
Mike is always up about when we are if not before cause he is still on
Florida time so he went for a walk. He needed to have some clothes
washed so I ran a load of lights and one of darks and late in the
afternoon, I ironed everything. I decided to have a good dinner so I
made a lemon soufflé in the morning and it turned out just perfect. Then
I fixed candied sweet potatoes, made cheese sauce for the rest of the
broccoli and I made scalloped corn plus the boneless pork chops that I
cooked in the oven with mushroom soup and onions + a beautiful fruit
plate with fresh pineapple, kiwi and mandarins and persimmons. Everything
tasted good and we all ate too much. After lunch, I walked to Safeway to
get cream cheese and sour cream cause I have made a list and each day I
am going to make something for the Thanksgiving dinner so it won’t be too
hectic at the end. For the men it was a day of football. The 49ers were
the first concern and they would not do well although they did win in
overtime. Still they are really not playing very well. But after that was
done it was just one game after another. I looked in now and then but I
am not really a fan. Late in the afternoon, Cathy and MJ came and Cathy
told us about her trip and she really had had a good time. She looked
great and I was so pleased for her. MJ was fine and she brought pictures
of the dinner they had at her house and she looked very pretty in the
pictures. She had a short black dress and it was very attractive. Don was
cross today but his wounds were bothering him and so I should not mind
but it is hard sometimes. Mike Mizel called him and they had a long talk
and that pleased him. I know he misses Ed a lot. Don called both Gail
and Mary Wyle today. He tries to keep in touch with both of them. It is
clear tonight so probably tomorrow it will be cold. At least in the
morning. I am sending Mike home with persimmons and he has his 5# of
almonds and Asian pears. I talked to Priss and she was in good spirits
so it was really a good day.
November 25
I did too much today and my body is really hurting tonight. I woke in the
night and got to thinking about Thanksgiving. I thought the turkey was
not big enough and I felt I should have bought a canned ham and it went
on and on. But finally it was almost 5 and we got up. Mike went for his
hour walk and then came back and showered and had breakfast. I got ready
to go to aerobics so I bid him goodbye at 8:30 and was on my way. Luann
still wasn’t back but the girl who came today was really good and I
enjoyed her but I used the heavier weights on the way down part and I
think I overdid it. Got home and went over to the fridge in the
apartment and looked in the fridge and realized that I had not defrosted
in a long, long time and so I got to work and got it done. It took me
till after 12 and Don got home right after that. I took out 4 pie shells
to thaw and then I rolled them out and now they are in the freezer. I
next did 3 containers of liver, ramen, and canned carrots. I fixed that
so I won’t have to worry about it before Thanksgiving. I called Cathy and
suggested that she cook a turkey and then she offered to make green beans
and potatoes. Rose’s boyfriend has been more or less kicked out of their
house cause his parents are very strict about his religion and he is not
going along with it. Well Cathy says he has an older brother and she
wondered if he could come and naturally I said yes. So she gets a free
ham out of this + a pair of Victoria Secret pants that I bought but I
didn’t like it high cut and so I am giving them away. Her doing this
will help a great deal. I rolled out 4 pie shells and froze them and
then I will just have to make the filling. For dinner, we had hot dish
and a green salad and Don had the rest of the lemon soufflé. I did so
much sneezing that I finally took a Benadryl and I think it helped. I
washed clothes doing up a sheet, towels, etc. Don seems very angry of
late. He is short-tempered and impatient and hard to live with. I am
falling asleep so I must end this.
November 26
I woke at 4 worrying about cooking the Thanksgiving meal. Well I have 2
more nights and then Thursday the day will be here. There was frost in
the night and when I walked to Hospice in Jenny’s evening jacket I felt
good but on the way home I carried it. The time went fast. I folded
sheets and put them in envelopes first and then put a gold star on sheets
after folding them. These were for Colleen and then I did some pamphlets
for Nina. I walked home and was glad to make and eat my lunch. I was
hungry. Afterwards, Don and I went out to Food for Less and I got another
turkey to put in the freezer and a canned ham plus a few other things.
Traffic was horrendous and the store was so busy. When I got home, I
started in on potatoes. Peeled 10, boiled them, mashed them and added
sour cream and cream cheese. Did this twice so now I have 3 containers
of them. Dinner was leftovers from Sunday. I wasn’t very hungry but ate.
Later we were watching the news when Linda called. I told her I was
worried about having just 1 turkey for 16 people and she said she would
call Cathy and tell her to cook another one and sure enough pretty soon
she called back and said Cathy would cook the other one. My left eye that
has been blood shot for a couple of weeks really beginning to bother me
so I called Dr. Shaw’s office and they will see me tomorrow at 9:15.
Well I have to be fitted in so it will probably be later than that. Now
tonight it seems to be a film over it and it bothers me when I read so it
is a good thing I am going. Also tomorrow I must make the turkey
stuffing, do the rolls + iron the tablecloth, etc. I talked to Priss and
she was in a good mood. I think I will go to bed early.
November 27
Well this has been a busy day but a productive one. I woke at 4 again and
worried about what all I had to do till 5 and then we got up. Clear and
cold. I did all my exercises and by then, I had limbered up but I am
stiff and sore in the morning. Getting old I guess. I made that sweet
hot sauce for the ham and then I got dressed and picked camellias and
arranged them + roses. But the roses are looking pretty tonight and I am
bored with them since it is the end of November. At 8:40 I set out for
Dr. Shaw. I walked the bike path and then cut through at the Sports Club
cross the street and there I was. He said I had a virus infection in my
left eye and he gave me an Rx for it. I am to use it 3 times a day for a
week. When I left I stopped at the F. Mkt. and picked up some pretty
peppers, etc. for my centerpiece for the table tomorrow. I was starved
so I ate lunch and called the library to say I would not be there cause
of my eye. It really bothers me but hopefully it will get well soon. I
ironed the brown tablecloth and then I made the rolls and baked them so I
will just have to heat them tomorrow. For dinner, I thawed a package of
shrimp for cocktail, heated the rest of the hot dish and made a green
salad. Since Linda was coming, I made and frosted brownies and we had
some for dessert. Then we watched the news and then I called Priss. Then
I made the dressing for the turkey and I made a lot. At 8, we watched a
fascinating program about the White House through the many years and the
scenes and the people were wonderful. At 9:15, Linda & Craig arrived and
so Linda ate a lot of brownies. She looks wonderful and she had a very
handsome long wool coat. Her hair is very attractive as well. I gave
her the fichus plant cause it is just too big for that living room in the
apartment.
a big day!
It is now after 10 and I had better get to bed.
Tomorrow is
November 28
Up at 5 just as always. I did my exercises and had my breakfast. Much to
my surprise Linda came over early. But then cause of her nursing classes
she gets up early now. I started in on the pumpkin pie. But with Linda
talking to me I didn’t turn the oven down after the first 10 minutes and
didn’t remember until it was a little too brown but it was ok. Then I
made the pecan using Abbey’s recipe and it turned out perfectly. Then I
made the chocolate chess but I still had the recipe in front of me and I
put in 3 eggs instead of two and it spilled out all over the oven! Then
I made another one doing everything right and it didn’t turn out very
well at all and then I made another pumpkin and it was ok. But what a
time I had and it was so much work! The rest of the dinner went fine. The
ham, the potatoes, relish dish cranberry sauce, rolls, green bean dish
all were fine. Cathy came with her turkey, beans, squash and took it all
home. Well she won’t have to cook for quite a while since I sent a lot of
other things home for her too. Viki, Jean Pierre and Jason didn’t get
here till about 4. Vicki brought two bottles of wine and a lovely basket
with truffles, etc., which was very sweet. Priss called and said she just
couldn’t come cause she had talked to David and he is not going to be
home for Christmas and he was mad and nasty but we talked and talked and
finally she said she would come and once she was here she seemed to be ok
and everyone was very nice to her and that helped too. Mary also came.
Jason went to get her and I told Don she liked Manhattans so he made one
for her and she had a glass of wine as well and so Thank Goodness that
went well. The table looked pretty. I found some lovely colored leaves
from the oak tree and then using the big flat basket we put mandarins,
persimmons and pretty colored peppers, onions, etc., and I had the wooden
candle sticks and brown candles. I did the dinner all by myself but Don
did all the clean up and that is a big job too. It is 10 to 9 and I am
very, very, very tired so I think I will go to bed early. My eye is
better today. Thank Goodness.
November 29
It is 9:15 p.m. and I feel lousy. My vision is blurred. I realize part
of it is the medicine I have to put in my left eye 3 times a day. I hope
it is temporary. I took a Benadryl cause I sneeze and blow my nose all
day long and my back aches. In fact, I seem to ache all over. Great!
Well hopefully tomorrow I will be better. Don is in bad shape too. He
left at 10:30 to drive Jason to S.F. and then drove home getting here at
about 6:20. He could hardly walk he was in such bad shape. He is
getting old as I am getting old and we have to face the fact that we
can’t do the same things we did 50 years ago. Well to go back to the
morning. We got up and I did my exercises and felt better for them.
Linda got up and pretty soon Jason also got up. Linda & Craig wanted to
leave early cause she wanted to go shopping and he had to go to work but
they waited for Vicki and Jean Pierre to arrive so they could take the
fichus I was giving Linda. They have a van type that can handle a big
plant. Well after everyone had left I got to work. I stripped Jason’s bed
and washed the sheets + other clothes. I had two loads. I moved the
pant in our living room back to the apartment living room and brought in
the corn plant to our living room. I know it sounds confusing but I know
what I am doing. I worked hard outside for a while cause it was pleasant
and sunny although very chilly in the early morning. I picked a lot of
persimmons. Sent some with Jason and Linda + mandarins. I took the meat
off the turkey and called Mary and asked if she wanted the carcass for
soup and she said yes. I wrote a letter to my sister. Very dull letter
but at least I got it written. I must write to Jenny tomorrow. I called
Priss and heard her woes about David, Christmas, etc. With Don gone all
day, I realized how lonely it wold be to live alone. I shall try to be
more tolerant of my widow friends and relatives. So I am tired tonight
and will go to bed and hope for the best. Tomorrow is grocery day.
November 30
I woke up stiff and sore. I worry about a pain in my back on the left
side. Maybe I have been carrying heavy things and I may have pulled
something from now on I am going to be more careful. I did my exercises
but didn’t have much of a chance to read the paper. I got dressed and
picked up Mary. She spent the whole time coming and going about the
leaves in her yard and that the man who mows her yard has not come for 3
weeks. She did say it all and then repeated it all over again. I realize
she is alone and doesn’t have anyone to talk to but I find it hard to be
patient. I didn’t buy very much today. $25 at Food for Less and $7
something at the Cannery. Came home and put things away and I had told
Don I wanted to go to Target to get a snake light by Black and Decker and
then I wanted to go to Ross to see if I could find a pair of good looking
black slacks. Well when I got home he was watching a football game and
it was very special game and so I said we would not have to go. But I
was upset. I should never have asked him to go with me. Form now on I
will go alone and if I am scared driving out there with all the traffic I
will just grit my teeth and do it. So I walked over to the N.V. Mall and
I looked at lamps at Wards cause the pole light in the apartment bedroom
just doesn’t work at all. I got the wire cutters and I cut out of the
stuff and I turned the 3 light things up and I am going to be of them and
plant plants and I think it will be attractive and I saw a better one at
Wards for $25+ a warranty guarantee. Went to Mervyn’s and bought some
hose and came home and ate lunch and then I ironed shirts, etc., and go
that done and then I drove over to get the lamp and some deodorant for
Niki and came home and put the lamp together all by myself. From now on I
am going to try to be more independent!! I then went to see Helen, took
her some persimmons and we had a great time talking. I enjoy and admire
her so much! I came home at 4 and put leftover mashed potatoes,
dressing, gravy and rolls in the oven and I sliced an orange and a
persimmons, sliced turkey, pickles and carrots, and cranberry sauce.
Everything tasted great. I washed 2 turtlenecks, then I showered, called
Priss and now I am going to read for a while. Later Don asked me if I
wanted a drink and I said yes so I had a vodka tonic and we visited and
then I had another one and then we went to bed and we tried with some
success and it was better than it has been so I guess we will keep on
trying.
December 1
Woke to a misty, moistly morning. Read the papers, did my exercises and
then got dressed for church. Mary didn’t go but we dropped the paper off
for her. The priest this morning said we could not meet our monthly bills
and this came as a shock. Don said he would send a check this week. We
wonder if F. DeLione who seemed to spend a lot of money may have left the
church in the lurch (?). We got doughnuts and came home. I thought it
would be a good idea to ask Jackie for dinner since she goes in tomorrow
for another chemo session and this is going to be a big one. She said she
would come. I worked outside cause by 10 it was sunny. Daisy and I had a
good time. She loves to sit outside in the sun as long as someone is out
there with her. I cut roses and then went to the north yard and raked up
a lot of leaves and put them in the garbage can. Came in to have lunch.
We talked to Jenny and she is sick of eating brown rice and millet. It
sounds as if Niki is pretty unhappy. I guess she just goes to work and
comes home and doesn’t have any social life. If only she would meet
someone who was fun and nice it would be such a help. And right now when
Jenny feels so lousy it must be hard to get along. Jenny goes to the Dr.
today (Monday their time) and maybe he will let her eat a little more. I
went for a long walk in the afternoon and then I made a potato salad and
for the rest of the dinner I put out dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes,
leftover from Thursday, turkey and ham, rolls and have dessert –
truffles. It is always so easy to talk to Jackie and we talked about
Israel and Bernie Richter and Gescheter and Lisa and her boyfriend – well
it was just nice catching up on what is going on in the academic world.
She didn’t stay long and then we cleaned up the kitchen, watched the news
and then Don lie down for a rest and I did my eye treatment and my puffer
and brushed my teeth and washed my face. Put on my housecoat and now I
will read for a while and then go to bed. I shampooed my hair early on
so I don’t have to worry about that. Do watched a lot of football.
December 2
Up at 5. Felt stiff and sore. Why I don’t know but once I limber up I am
ok. Frost white on the grass so I guess winter is here. Rain predicted
off and on for the rest of the week. Walked to aerobics and Luann was so
glad to see me. I gathered that the cruise so many went on was not all
that great. The big ship with too many people. Well all went well to
begin with and I felt I was doing so well and then my shoe caught and I
fell landing on my back and fanny and hard! Well, Luann dashed out and
got two men and she told everyone to go get a drink and they helped me up
and one lady kindly offered to drive me home. It hurt a lot but I went
ahead and made the potato soup I had planned to make and in the afternoon
I went out and put all those damned roots from the butterfly plant into
bags and then I dug up the space, put in fertilizer and plants, my sweet
pea seeds. It wasn’t easy but I had to do it cause I had soaked them for
24 hours and I figured tomorrow would not be any better. Don called Donna
to get the addresses of all the grandchildren and then I talked to her
and things are not going well with her brother and she is going to have
to get a lawyer which she should have done at the beginning. Kaitlain
was baptized and Mike and Emmie came and all the rest of the L’s and it
went very well. Linda called and I told her about my fall but tried to
make it funny and she was concerned. Then Don immediately sent word to
Jenny about this and she sent a long letter back also concerned. So I
made him write back to tell her that I was going to be all right. After
our soup for dinner and the news and my talk to Priss and after the 49ers
were way ahead at the 1/2 I took a hot shower and turned and let the hot
water hit my back and did that feel good! Colleen called and asked me if
I would work in a booth tomorrow cause they are having a fair and I said
I would and I will go at 7:30. So then I pinned up my hair and I will do
my nails and then I will go to bed and hope that tomorrow I can function
normally.
December 3
This was a different sort of day. I woke up feeling terrible. I was so
stiff and sore I wondered if I could do anything but then I got Don’s
breakfast and I tried a few exercises and I survived but I didn’t push
too hard. I was supposed to be at Hospice at 7:30 so I got ready. I had
pinned up my hair last night so it looked fine. I wore that lighter blue
long skirt with a sweater the same color, nylons and blue heels and I
looked nice. I had a little booth and offered free drinks like Ensure,
etc., at a program about kinds of health things, breast cancer, fire
extinguishers, intravenous pain control, etc. I was there for two hours
and people came to try the drinks and stayed and talked. A woman called
Bonnie Peterson recalled all kinds of fascinating stories and I really
enjoyed my 2 hours. Don picked me up and we came home and I keep reading
From Potters’ Field by Patricia Cornwell which is very good. We ate lunch
and Don lay down and I read some more and then I fed Daisy and then Don
was ready to go to class so he dropped me off at Priss’ cause she needed
help to put the ironing board pad on and then we pruned a plant and then
I looked at her new clothes and then we just sat down and talked. It was
pleasant. Don picked me up and I put the meat loaf in and got out the
last of the mashed potatoes and made a green salad. We ate and then
watched the news. Then Don and I started to watch Independence Day but I
got bored but I may go see the end. I don’t feel great but I think in
time I will be ok.
December 4
I had a very bad night. I had to get up to go to the bathroom and it held
so to get out of bed and then when I got back I could not be comfortable
so finally I got up and lay on the lounge in the TV room but every time I
moved I hurt terribly. Finally when it was time to get up Don came out
and he helped me get up. At breakfast we agreed that I should see someone
so we went to Convenient Care at 8 when it opens and it took an hour to
be seen and X-rayed. There is no break but I am badly bruised. I am not
to go back to aerobics for at least 2 weeks and she gave me pain pills
and pills to help me sleep. Naturally taking all these pills makes it
difficult for me to have BM’s so that is an added problem. I just wish I
felt better. When we got back, I walked over to Walgreen’s and got the 2
Rx’s and there went $20 and then I bought some things and that was $10
more! We have decided that this year we are not going to give presents
but we are going to give money. So we added everyone up and we came to
the decision that between $575 and $625 would just about do it. So I got
out the money we have been putting away and gave it to Don and he put it
in the bank and then we will write checks or put the cash in Christmas
cards and that will be it. It is a lazy man’s way of doing it but I think
it will be the best way. So I ate my lunch and then Don drove me to the
library. I had put the Foreign Affairs magazines + the Prevention ones
in the ones to be taken + the books I had checked out. I was given a task
where you put thick around manila folders to be used to check out
magazines. So I was able to sit down and didn’t have to lift anything and
the time went by ok. Came home and lay down and had a nap and that was
good cause I certainly did not sleep much last night. Then I made a
vanilla pudding for Don and I had some potato soup left and we had that
and meat loaf sandwiches and sliced oranges with cranberry sauce. Then
there was the news, chatted with Linda for a while and later with Priss
and then I took a hot shower. Now Don has gone to bed and I am going to
read for a while.
December 5
A better night than last night but it is still very difficult to get out
of bed in the morning and to get going. I wonder how long all this will
last. I am very weary tonight and discouraged. But first about my day.
I made bread and now that I make 8 equal sized loaves they look so nice.
Then I made pumpkin bread cause I had some canned pumpkin leftover from
Thanksgiving. I did two loads of clothes and folded and put away and
ironed the rest. There were 6 shirts. Don had his class today so he left
at 1:30 for the 2 p.m. one and then came home after 3 and left again at
4:30 and was home at 6. This is the last week he will be doing this
cause he will not take the test. At about 3:30 I suddenly got a terrible
backache and I still have it. I really don’t know what pills to take and
I dread going to bed. Tomorrow I will wash my hair in the morning and
then I work at the Discovery Shop in the afternoon. I will have to come
up with something for dinner. Luann called to see how I was. I told her
and then she said that they were having a Christmas party. There would be
ham and then people would all bring things and each was to bring a $10
gift to exchange. Well I am not going. I don’t know any of those people
well enough to warrant all of that. The District Office called and I am
going to work at Chico Jr. on Tuesday the 17th. So I will make a full
day’s pay and I still have one 1/2 a day from November at PV. Don is
watching Braveheart but it is too violent for me. I am going to read my
book Crows Over the Wheat Field by Paula Sharp. Interesting. I wrote a
long letter to Jenny. Talked about mid life crises and about the fact
that women live longer than men cause of their lifestyle.
December 6
Getting out of bed is so painful it is hard to breathe. Tonight there was
an e-mail from Jenny and she said I should see a physical therapist so if
I am not better by Monday I will call Dr. Foltz. So I got up and fixed
Breakfast for Don and read a little of the paper and then I showered and
shampooed my hair and pinned it up. Don went out to breakfast with Carl.
I read and played some solitaire. Talked to Cathy on the phone and she
said her test in Sacramento was very hard and she didn’t know whether she
passed or not but she thought not. I told her I was taking an old suit
of Don’s to the Discovery Shop and asked her if she were interested. She
said yes she was into brown this year so I didn’t take it with me. We
ate lunch and I read for awhile and then fed the dog and Don then took me
downtown and there I was in the shop. I worked with Gerda Lydon and it
was a pleasant afternoon. Peggy was there and later Ann Brusie. I kept
busy but I didn’t lift anything even or reach up to put things away. I
found a pair of red shoes in the children’s section that were petite and
I took 2 sweaters, one green and one red and 3 napkins and a very
colorful tiered skirt. All on approval. I think we did quite well. They
all insisted I not stay and since Don had come I left. The 2 sweaters did
not fit, the red painted skirt was perfect and so were the red slacks so
I will take the rest back. I was not hungry for dinner so I cooked a
poached egg and had a piece of fresh bread. Fortunately there was
macaroni and cheese leftover and some green salad so Don had that. I
watched the local news but not the national so I read my book – see
another page. Then I called Priss and she had had a good day so she was
in a good mood. Don is watching Eraser with Schwarzenegger but I feel it
is so violent that it really doesn’t appeal. I just wish I felt better.
December 7
It is 7:30 p.m. and I am in such pain that it is hard to concentrate to
write. I woke up this morning too early and I was hurting then and I
have continued to hurt all day. I know I have to wait till Monday to see
the doctor but it is going to be hard. Jenny wrote today in e-mail that
maybe I should have physical therapy and I am going to suggest that to
Dr. Foltz. Well it was raining when Mary and I went grocery shopping
this morning. I just couldn’t think of anything to buy. I ended up
spending about $18 at Food for Less and less than $10 at the Cannery.
And tomorrow is Sunday and I have no idea what I am going to have for
dinner. And what’s more I could care less. I came home and put
everything away and then I read for a bit. Linda called and I talked to
her. Ate lunch and then came in the living room to read and fell asleep.
Got up and made a coconut cake with coconut frosting. Also made a
macaroni salad. Then off to Helen’s for an hour. When I got back I
heated the leftover meat loaf with some stewed tomatoes and that with the
salad and cake was dinner. Didn’t watch the news but read and finished
the book by Paula Sharp which I liked very much. Must get some more by
her.
I didn’t feel like reading but then I don’t feel like anything. I
just hope tomorrow is better.
December 8
Another day of pain. I function but not with joy. We got up at 5. Dark
and wet but then it really didn’t rain during the day. We didn’t go to
church. I limped around and tried desperately to go to the bathroom. I
decided to take no more pain pills cause of my difficulty. So I used
suppositories, etc., off and on all day and finally in mid-afternoon I
was able to go. But I just hope I can see Dr. Foltz tomorrow and she can
recommend something. I hate to go on like this. Don went to the store
to get a doughnut so I had him get my salad greens and buttermilk and
canned soup. I made a good turkey stew with some frozen soup veggies,
some turkey, chicken soup canned and it turned out to be quite good. And
I made a salad with the greens and there was coconut cake left so that
was our dinner. But long before that I washed by hand two pairs of
slacks and some yellow linen napkins I got at the Discovery Shop. I have
decided that I am going to wash more things by hand cause I think the
colors will last longer. Later in the day, I ironed them. So you see I
got things done but the joy is not there. I hurt! I went to Long’s and
got some B complex, more canned salmon & paper towels. Then I went to KMart and got some bedroom slippers that were cheap and are ok but just
barely. Also got what I thought was a bath mat but it turned out to be
just a towel. I didn’t check it carefully. I will return it tomorrow.
Damn! I am torn. I look at the Christmas trees and all the fancy things
on display and I wonder am I wrong to be saying no to Christmas this
year? We are giving everyone in the family money and that will be over
$500 so it is not that we are not giving anything but it will be
different. Will we decide afterwards whether we did the right thing or
not. Right now I just want to be able to feel well again. I find it
hard to function. I tried to reach Priss but no answer.
December 9
Rain
Woke to a very wet day. It rained off and on all day. I feel lousy but
I guess that is going on for a while and I had better accept it. Didn’t
do much around the house. I did water the plants. Don went to breakfast
with F. Dover and he liked him and they had a good talk. We were right
about F. DeLeone. He wasted a lot of money and that is one reason we are
in the red as a parish. So I read a little, had a hot shower, got
dressed in appropriate clothes and at 2 I went to see Dr. Foltz. She
insists that the pain pills would not bother me as far as my B.M.’s were
concerned. But the fact remains that it happens so I am going to try
very hard not to take them. But she did think that physical therapy
would help so I am to go 3 times a week for a month. My first day is on
Thursday. I go at 2 p.m. We will see what happens. When I got home I
decided to make chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting. Don loves
them so. I did that and I made him a bacon and tomato sandwich and I
fixed broccoli with cheese sauce. I have grown very fond of that veggie.
Mary Y. went to Dr. Mendoza and she has chicken pox! At 84 and she has a
childhood disease. Don took her and brought her home. I called her
tonight and she seems to be doing ok. The FBI is now offering a 1/2 a
million dollars for anything that will help them catch the bomber at the
Olympic games in Atlanta this summer. I called Linda who is frantically
studying for her tests to tell her about Mary and I called Cathy and told
her about Mary and I also told her about my project on the pole lamp in
the apartment. That went kaput! I cut out all the electric wiring,
turned the lamp parts up, put cans in each one and cuttings from the
Creeping Charlie and it looks just great. Now we don’t have to throw it
away. The one I got at Ward’s to replace it is much better quality and
will last longer. Well now I am going to read for a while and then go to
bed. I guess I will have to pin up my hair so I can go to Hospice
tomorrow.
December 10
Heavy rain
It is 8 p.m. and I have just finished talking to Priss and Don is
watching Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. This morning I made oatmeal
and at 8:30 I was dressed in my plaid skirt, navy tights & sweater and
Don took me to Hospice where I sat at a machine for 2 hours and pressed
buttons and that typed forms. It was good cause I could just sit and
really the time went fast. Don picked me up at 10:30 and we came home
and had lunch. I changed clothes and Don went off to his class with the
plan that he would stay for just a little while and then we would run
errands. I made a salmon loaf, made Cole slaw, fixed stewed tomatoes to
heat and got out baking potatoes but then he stayed for the whole class
so by the time he got home it was too late to run all the errands so we
just went to S & S where we got apples, bananas, and tomatoes. Our
dinner was good but by the time it was ready to eat I hurt so much that I
did not enjoy it. I worry that this pain is going on for a long time.
What about Friday night when people come to dinner. I just hope I can
pull it off. Cathy called on cloud 9. She had gotten a check for $3,000
cause the lawyer who handled the lawsuit about the Duncan Shield deal had
kept too much of the money in the settlement and so now she has $3,000 to
play with. She can get a heater for her truck, she can pay for Julie’s
wisdom teeth extraction. Then get Rose’s car fixed and maybe have a
little money left over. Talked for just a minute to Linda about a new
book by Amy Tan. So that was my day. I finally went out with the
clippers and cut off the roses that were in bloom. They looked so
forlorn in the wind and the rain I couldn’t handle it. Got a letter from
Pauline and George and Susan are separating. He has his office now in a
town at a lower altitude cause he has breathing problems. She said he
has gotten fat and he is losing his hair and is always rather sad. She
is very fond of Susan and feels bad about it all. I must write to her.
December 11
It is 7:45 p.m. I have talked to Priss. Don is watching a movie called
The Arrival. I was not interested. I am very discouraged tonight. My
back and especially my back on the right side has hurt all day and I find
every time I have to get up out of a chair it is so painful I want to
cry. This is the 9th day and I think I am worse rather than better.
Tomorrow at 4 I go to the physical therapy and we will see what happens
there. I haven’t been able to go to the bathroom for 2 days and that
didn’t help. Starting tomorrow I have to start getting ready for the
dinner party on Friday night and if I feel like I do right now it is
going to be a disaster. Well I will make the chocolate mousse and the
first part of the carrot soufflé tomorrow and then work on the chicken
breasts and the salad on Friday. But the house has to be cleaned and
flower arrangements, etc., and I will survive but it won’t be easy.
Today I washed clothes then I made Don’s lunch and then drove to the
library and worked for 2 hours. Came home and Don and I went to K-Mart
and exchanged the bathroom mat for the real thing. Then to Mervyn’s and
got birthday cards for Niki, Jason. Then to Chico Mall and took back the
brassiere that I had bought for Jenny and that Cathy had taken her but
she didn’t want so I have $30 and I want to order a dress from the
catalogue but am not sure of the size and when would I wear it? I called
Linda and talked to her about it. She has one more exam tomorrow and
then she will be done and will have a month off. She says Jason wants to
go to Europe to visit the girl he met in NZ in Paris and then he has a
friend in London. I made waffles for dinner and they were good. Now I
am going to read.
December 12
Well, when I woke up this morning, I felt better somehow. Maybe there is
hope that I will be feeling better. So I made a chocolate mousse and the
first part of the carrot soufflé. Tomorrow I will do a green salad and
fix the chicken breasts. Then when that was done, we had lunch. I had
also gone to Safeway and bought $44 worth of stuff. I bought Kahlua and
that alone was $13 + crax + jerlsburg cheese and then the stuff in the
coupon book. Did something else that was pretty daring. I ordered a
dress from Eddie Bauer, long and black and I hope and pray it fits! It
was $49 + shipping. Well I figure if I spend $44 on groceries it is time
I got a new dress. I can’t even remember when I actually bought a new
dress. Then I called Bessie Marquis and she said they were having a New
Year’s party so I hope I can wear the new dress. Had a good chat with
her and also called Mary Y. and for having chicken pox she was really
quite cheerful. In the afternoon, I ironed 7 shirts and things and I
washed 3 sweaters of Don’s that he no longer wants. Got them dried and
then Cathy & David stopped by and we talked at length about my back and
should I or shouldn’t I start at the physical therapy or should I talk to
Dr. Moore first. We talked about a lot of things the movies, Cathy’s
$3,000 that she got from Duncan Shield. They were both so helpful. So
then Don got back from his class for the last time and he had told the
other students how much he had enjoyed the class and he said his mouth
got dry and his hands were shaking. We both have found that we are a lot
more emotional now than when we were young. We laugh about the fact that
we cry so easily even at commercials. Well anyway we got ready and went
to my physical therapy and it was much better than I could have hoped
for. Not that I am suddenly well but now I think I will be. Came home
and put two TV dinner lasagnas in the oven, made a green salad and we
watched the news, ate our dinner and then I called Cathy to thank her &
David for their advice and called Linda and her exams are over and she
was just dozing on the lounge and very happy to be done. Don is watching
another movie and I am ready to fall asleep. I talked to Priss and she
will be coming for dinner on Christmas Day. I think I will go to bed
early tonight.
December 13
This was a very busy day. It was good that I did not have any
commitments outside the house today. Don vacuumed the whole house Thank
Goodness so that was a big help. I told him not to do the apartment and
he was very relieved. Thank Goodness I fixed the chocolate mousse and
found it was too firm. I had used only a 1/2 of a pint and so I beat the
other part and scooped out the mousse and beat it all together and it was
ok. What if I had not checked on it? Wow. I skinned and boned 6
chicken breasts and that is a job I do not want to have to do often. We
put a leaf in the table and turned it around and I put on the dark blue
place mats and using the pale pink camellias I put them in the blue and
white basket that Ann Morgan gave me. With the sterling, etc., the table
looked beautiful. I felt good about that. I went to Safeway and got
salad greens and made the green salad, finished up the soufflé (carrot)
and heated the rolls I had made that were in the freezer and that was the
dinner. I showered, shampooed and set my hair and I ironed the red 2piece knit dress and took out the shoulder pads, had light gray nylons
and my red pumps. The Clark Browns (Noel) came as did the Boyles and I
had a lot of goodies out to have with their drinks and then we ate
dinner. It was a very pleasant evening. The conversation never lagged.
When they left at about 9:30 we quickly put the table back to normal
size. Don did all the dishes and I put everything away. We work well as
a team after parties. I was very weary so the bed certainly felt good.
December 14
We have been listening to a program on Channel 9 about the musicals in
the past and it brings back all kinds of memories: Fred Astaire, Gene
Kelly, Syd S., Judy Garland, Andy Rooney, etc. What a delight. A busy
day. Went shopping by myself since Mary has chicken pox so I went over
and got her list from her mail box and got her things as well as my
things. I wasn’t very inspired and didn’t get anything very interesting.
Talked to Linda and she got A’s in her classes. She is coming down
Thursday and will stay till Thursday unless it snows. Don has had a
terrible day. His back has bothered him all day and mine has not been
too great + the fact that I have had great trouble going to the bathroom.
So I use a combination of glycerin suppositories + aerosols. What a
mess. Went to see Helen and we had our usual good time. I washed two
loads of clothes and will be ironing tomorrow. Don’t know what to have
for Sunday dinner. Had tuna salad and leftovers for dinner tonight. It
is going to be cold tonight. I had better wear something warm to church
tomorrow and I must write to my sister. I am trying to read Paula by
Isabel Allende but can’t seem to get into it. Talked to Priss – I am
going to bed.
December 15
It is 10 after 9:00 p.m. and I have had an hour going back and forth
between President Clinton on Book Notes and the Celtic dancers on Channel
9. I just wish they had been separate so I could have seen and heard
both of them completely. Well it hasn’t been too bad a day. Very chilly
this morning with ice on the car. Went to church and the little
Vietnamese man gave the sermon. Couldn’t understand it as usual. Wish I
felt more at church and about my religion in general but I just don’t.
When I got home, I wrote to my sister and will try to call her on
Christmas. I had to do the ironing so I got that done. Don wanted to go
for a walk in the afternoon and so we did. I found it rather trying and
we didn’t really go all that far but it was good to be out and I must do
it every day and for a longer time. Made a nice dinner with a pasta
dish, cooked little carrots in a sweet sauce, orange and black olive
salad and the rest of the mousse. The 49’ers won big today and that was
a nice change. No word from any of our children but I didn’t expect it.
2-hour program on the Discovery Channel about WWII in Europe. Very well
done. I tried to read Paula by Isabel Allende but just can’t get with
it. So I skipped and skimmed. Watered the plants. Took a shower. I
guess that was about it. Just wish I felt better and I keep hoping but
so far not very good. Tomorrow I go back to physical therapy and to a
tea in the afternoon for the library volunteers. I guess I will file my
nails and then go to bed. I wish something exciting would happen but I
really can’t think what.
December 16
Well today is the 16th. Niki is 18 today though now in Australia it is
the 17th. My the month is going fast. I go to work at Chico Jr.
tomorrow and I just wish I felt better. Somehow I will get through the
day but it won’t be easy. I had a miserable night. I went to bed at 10
and by 12 I still wasn’t asleep so finally I got up and took my pillow
and went to the apartment. I got a blanket and lay on the lounge and
finally I got to sleep although I got up 2 times to go to the bathroom.
Then I thought it was morning but it was only 4:30. So I read till after
5 and then I got up to stay. After breakfast I swept the kitchen floor,
shampooed and set my hair and best of all I removed a white rug like deal
that Neva had when she was in the hospital. I got it out and cut a deal
to put around the toilet in the big bathroom cause the dark green one
looks terrible. It worked out just fine. I was so pleased. I kept busy
till time to go to the physical therapy and thank goodness Don took me.
My appointment was at 11:30. This time I started with a man and then
another girl but not the one I had on Thursday. I would rather have the
same one all the time. They gave me a lot of exercises to do at home.
When I got back, I went for a walk for 1/2 an hour and then I got ready
to go to the tea at the library. I wore my skirt with white background
and red and blue and green flower print and a red top and red shoes. I
got there at 3:30. We each introduced ourselves and told what we did,
etc. I didn’t want the cake or the punch so I came home at 4. We had a
lousy dinner. I warmed up last night’s pasta and made green salad and
heated some cornbread. Nothing tasted good and so I ate little. We
watched the news and then I called Priss and heard about her day at
bridge. I think I will go to bed early tonight and hope and pray I can
sleep. I did the exercises they had given me and one hurt so much I am
not going to do that. My back is killing me and it is going to be a
long, long day tomorrow. Martha Menard sent a Christmas card and she
said their first born girl died at the age of 57. She was Mongoloid and
the last 3 years she had been fed a special way cause she had had a
stroke. She had always lived in a catholic institution. The end sounded
barbaric. I was appalled and when Don read it he felt the same way.
Well I just hope I can do ok tomorrow at Chico, Jr. Hi.
December 17
Up at 5. Slept better last night but I feel so terrible when I get up
that I got better but it gets better as time goes on. I got ready to go
to Chico Jr. Hi. I wore my blue flecked long skirt, navy pumps and a
slate blue sweater. I looked ok. Got there at 8. There wasn’t much for
me to do. I filed report cards for one of the other counselors, watched
a video on grief with two students who had lost loved ones and then we
talked about it. Saw a few students for various things but that was all.
It was a long dull day. I figured it out that I was being paid about $8+
an hour. That is what Niki is now getting with a high school education.
Rather ironical. Don came to pick me up and he asked me if I wanted to
go out to dinner and I leaped at it. We went to the Olive Garden. I had
a $4 coupon for there. I ordered lasagna and he ordered cannelloni. It
was ok but just ok not great but I didn’t have to cook it. My dress came
from Eddie Bauer. The long black one. It was ok but I am not exactly
thrilled with it. It was petite small and the size is ok. Linda was
planning to come down on Thursday and I want her to give me her opinion
but she is not coming. The weather is unstable and she hasn’t done any
of the cooking for the baskets she gives everyone and they want to give
them on Sunday. I realized that I didn’t sneeze or blow my nose once
today and here at home I do it all the time. There must be something
that I am allergic to in this house. I will have to think about that.
Did I mention yesterday that Selma sent a box with the dates I love and
with coconut cashew brittle that Don likes, so we are both happy. I
still have not decided what to have for the Christmas Evening buffet and
I haven’t started in on the candy cookie bit to give to Mary, Alice,
Priss & the Rosemans and us!
December 18
It is 8 p.m. and I have just finished listening to Priss. I had to call
her later than usual cause she had someone there when I called earlier.
Poor dear. She ribs herself so much it makes it hard. We woke to a very
chilly morning. There was frost for sure. After breakfast, I decided to
call Pauline and we had a nice, long talk. She had said in her letter
that she would be alone for Christmas but today she said David had called
and said she was to come to Washington D.C. so she is leaving on Sunday
and will be flying. I was very relieved cause it is pretty grim to be
alone on Christmas and it is very cold in Omaha. Don went off to play
tennis and then came back to take me to physical therapy. I was very
upset about what had happened last time so I just told them frankly about
how I felt and they were very cooperative and I had a good one this time
and I asked to have her every time. I canceled on Friday but made
appointment for Monday and the Friday after Christmas. Came home and had
lunch and then dashed off to the library but I won’t have to go for the
next two weeks and that will be a nice break. When I got home, I was
very tired so I didn’t do anything more. I heated up potato soup and
last night’s lasagna from the Olive Garden and some fruit but I did make
a lemon soufflé so we had dessert. Then we watched the local news and
Peter Jennings. The big news is in Peru where a big social event there
at the Japanese Embassy was attacked by a couple of criminals that have
caused trouble for years and they are holding over 400 people as
hostages. Talked to Cathy and she said she would be in either tonight
with Rosalie or tomorrow morning with Julie. Well she has not come
tonight so maybe it will be tomorrow. I want her to see the black dress
from Eddie Bauer that I ordered to see if she thinks I should keep it.
Enough for tonight. Well later we had drinks and went to bed and made
love and it was great especially for Don and he was the one who needed it
the most.
December 19
Stephanie suggested Vicki to do my hair
If only it were easier to get up in the morning. I wonder when the time
will come that I am not stiff and sore and it is painful and difficult to
get out of bed. After I have walked around the house and I have
stretched a little and I have taken my vitamins I can move a little
better but I am never hungry in the morning or at noon. In the evening
it is a bit better. I am discouraged. I did walk this morning to the
end of N. Avenue and back which is a mile and I did the same thing this
afternoon so I am trying but I tire easily. Cathy and Julie were supposed
to stop by this morning but they didn’t come. This noon Don went to
Lisa’s for the club luncheon. I watched CNN and played a little
solitaire. Don got back at about 2 and then at 2:15 he dropped me off at
the Beauty College and Stephanie cut my hair and she did a good job. She
is done in mid January and I wish she were not going so soon. Then we
got back - Don had gone to Dr. Murrow who told him that the pain in his
jaw was caused by stress – Don said with my operation and then my fall he
has felt very stressed so he is having a deal made that he will wear at
night to keep him from grinding his teeth. I hope it works. When we got
home, Julie and Cathy were here and I put on my black dress from Eddie
Bauer and they liked it and thought I should keep it. So I guess I will.
I made a good dinner: smoked ham, green beans, baked potato and a fruit
salad but when we sat down Don wasn’t hungry. We were late eating cause
he was waiting for a woman to come to fix our computer. She was due at
4:30 but didn’t make it till 5:15. We got a beautiful bouquet from the
L’s from Zephyr Hills + Matt and Lisa, Jill and Tyler and Donna. It was
very sweet of them and I must write and thank them. So we watched the
news and then Pauline called. She had not mentioned my fall and back
problem yesterday when we talked but she got my letter today and so she
called to see how I was and we had another long visit. Things are much
better between us. So now Don is pacing waiting for me to finish. We
are going to watch Gigi.
December 20
Fog
Another morning. Both of us with bad backs. It is crazy but it didn’t
take quite as long this morning to get limbered up. Then I made brownies
and frosted them to take to AAUW Book Club. Then I had a long hot shower
and washed my hair. I wore my black stirrup slacks and turtleneck and a
black and white striped knit top. I should have worn something warmer.
Alice picked me up at 10 to 10 and we went out to a mobile home but a
very elaborate one. The man of the house was retired and at 68 took up
planting and he is very good and his sculpture is really good. We talked
about Paula by Isabel Allende and there were about 14 people there and
they served lunch and there was a cookie exchange and we didn’t get home
till about 12:30. Don spent time looking for a new lamp for his desk and
finally found one at J & J Electric and that one didn’t work and he had
to go back to get another one but finally he is set. Then at 10 to 3 I
went to see Helen R. and we had a good hour together. When I got home, I
got out potato soup and I made grilled cheese and ham sandwiches with
pickles and chips and I wasn’t very hungry so I ate just a little. Had a
wonderful long talk with Linda this morning. She told me about her
friend’s celebrating the end of the first semester and they went out on
the Dixie, drank and had lunch and then went to one of the girl’s house
to lay in the hot tub. She is so funny. I wish we lived closer. In the
late afternoon, Matt L. called and we had a good chat. He hopes to send
in video. So we ate and watched the news and then I called Priss and she
was so angry and negative about everything and tonight I called her on
some of it and she doesn’t like that so she hung up mad. Ah well – my
back hurts and I am going to read and then I guess go to bed.
December 21
I slept through the night and didn’t even get up to go to the bathroom
but when I woke up this morning, every part of me hurt! My shoulders,
knees, hands, everything. I couldn’t hardly get out of bed and when I
went to the kitchen I broke out in a sweat and almost felt faint. What
next? Well in time I started to walk around and by 6:30 I was much
better. There was a very heavy fog and Don insisted that he drive Mary
and me to the stores. That was ok by me cause I hate the fog. At the F.
Mkt. I got broccoli, apples, oranges and mandarins. Nothing exciting at
Food for Less or the Cannery. We got back home and I put the groceries
away and decided to make the persimmon pudding. Helen gave me the recipe
yesterday. I made it, put it in two small cans and the put it to sit for
2 hours. I think it is going to be pretty good. I bought cottage cheese
today and had it for lunch. It doesn’t taste great but I can handle it
and I was getting tired of jack cheese sandwiches. In the afternoon, I
ironed although I got very tired. I made powdered sugar balls and later
– magic cookie bars – gr. crax, coconut, chips, nuts and condensed milk.
After dinner, I made fudge so finally I am starting on my Christmas
sweets. We decided we are going to take dinner over to Mary on Christmas
day since David isn’t coming. I made Don promise he would even make her
a Manhattan. For dinner, we had Stouffer’s chicken breast with pasta.
Not great but edible. Made a green salad to go with it. Watched the
news. Don tried a Japanese movie but he quit cause it is boring. Now he
is in bed. Not going to church tomorrow. Mary called and she had fallen
while standing on a stool getting something from a high cupboard. We are
going to be the walking wounded around here.
December 22
Sunday morning. Wind, rain, dark, gloomy day. Really all I did all day
was cook. I made penuche and thumbprints and finally divinity but right
now at 8:30 it still isn’t hard. I should have cooked it longer. I read
too. It was an English story about a house that had been haunted for
centuries and finally the problem was resolved but it took a longer time
and it was a thick book. Don watched some football and in mid afternoon
he suggested we go for a walk. I thought it was rather chilly but he
said he was not even going to put on a jacket so I didn’t dress very warm
either and when we got out we both just froze to death so we cut it
really short. I didn’t do my exercises either. I don’t feel great but a
lot better than yesterday morning. For one thing, I stayed up till
almost 11 and then I went to bed and slept well and got up only once to
go to the bathroom and this morning I was not all that stiff. Daisy and
I walked back and forth in the house till I limbered up. I made up
mashed potatoes for Christmas day and a small amount for tonight and I
found lamb chops that the York’s had given us a long time ago. They were
very small, bite size, but good and I cooked broccoli with cheese sauce
and we had a cottage cheese and apricot (canned) salad. Watched the
news. The hostages are still being held in Peru. Nothing much else of
importance. Tomorrow I must press my new long black cotton dress from
Eddie Bauer and the green tablecloth. I have things to cook tomorrow too
so there won’t be everything to do on Tuesday. Called Priss and she was
ok. Cathy stopped by and she was fine. Nice E-mail from Niki. Said she
wished she were here.
December 23
Well it won’t be long and it will be Christmas. So what did I do with my
day. At least I didn’t make cookies and candy. I woke at 4:30 and I was
stiff and sore and my left knee hurt. Why I do not know. I tried to do
some stretches, etc., in bed, before getting up and that helped a little.
I did some of my exercises but getting on the floor to do them is very
hard on my back but right now everything is hard on my back. Linda
called to say that they had had a huge amount of snow there. In fact,
people couldn’t get in or out. That will be hard on resort people. I
fixed the little hot dogs so they are ready to put in the oven tomorrow
(grape jelly and ketchup) and I made the refried bean dip and that will
just have to be heated. Tomorrow I will make the ham spread and then
using the meat grinder I will make the dressing. So that will be done
for Wednesday. I also made pie crust to make into pies later. I had
thought I would make a pie for Christmas but then Don suggested chocolate
mousse so I made that instead. I fixed goodies for Alice, Mary, the
Roseman’s & Priss and some persimmons for Marilyn at Hospice and Don took
all of them but for Priss. She stopped by with her presents and took
hers back with her. She gave me candied ginger and chocolate powder to
make hot chocolate but Mary gave me a $70 gift certificate, Sees candy,
some cookies and a plate. That was quite a present that she wanted me to
have. I called to thank her and I told her that I would be sure that
Linda got it eventually with the promise that she would give it to Jason
so it would stay in the family. I talked to Linda a number of times
today. Her penuche did not take so she wanted to know what to do. While
we were talking, I could tell she was eating it so I told her to stop.
She was amazed that I could tell over the phone. When they were little I
could be in the living room and I could tell when they were eating
something in the kitchen they were not supposed to. She laughed and
laughed. We got two pictures from the Matt L’s of Kristen and in one she
is in a tub with no hair. She looks like a boy. The other one is much
cuter but she still looks just like Matt. I must write to thank them.
Priss came over and she is always so tired and harried. As Don says she
is beginning to show her age. But then so am I. Since I hurt so much I
feel and look old. I ironed my new black dress and the green tablecloth.
The physical therapy went well but I wonder if it does any good. Jenny
called for a recipe for seafood sauce. She had bought shrimp and oysters
and they had no sauce so I read the ingredients on my bottle. She was
fine. So it was a busy day. Tomorrow will be the same I know. Then
Christmas and then there will be a lull.
December 24
It is 7 p.m. Don is watching A Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery.
He saw it but it was a long time ago. I have just changed into my gown
and house coat and bedroom slippers and when I finish this I will
continue to read M is For Malice by Sera Grafton. I am weary and I feel
terrible. I ache all over and each day it seems to get worse instead of
better. I am most discouraged.
I didn’t go anywhere today. Not even
for a walk. Instead, I worked in the house. Don vacuumed and then we set
up the table against the wall and put on the beautiful green tablecloth
that Lolly gave me so many years ago. I still miss her so much. She was
a true friend. I put out the beautiful bouquet from the Florida L’s –
Donna, Tyler, Matt, Jill. Today in the mail we got a package from Mike
and Karen: 2 pictures, Emmie’s in a beautiful wicker frame and a book
for Don about doing your own publishing and a little jewel box for me
from V. Secret. All very nice. I cooked and deviled 12 eggs and ground
the leftover ham and made a spread. When I made dressing for the turkey
I will cook tomorrow. I fixed the platter for the cookies and the glassfooted dish with the candy. I dusted and watered the plants. The York’s
arrived at 5. David was working so I sent some of everything home for
him. They brought apples and such nice ones: for me there was brie
cheese, 2 powdered dips to make, the new Tony Hillernon book, some
cookies from Australia and MJ made me some beautiful candles, wine
colored. Don got fresh coffee and some toffee and some other things.
The girls seemed pleased with their $25 checks and Cathy and David got
$50 each. They ate all the things I had: tiny hot dogs in a sauce cooked
in the oven, a re-fried bean dip, spinach dip, deviled eggs, 3 kinds of
candy and my cookies. They left early cause Cathy works tonight. Don
feels terrible. He limps around with a painful back as I do. Well I am
happy with what I got and since Don and I had decided not to exchange
presents. That was ok too. Now I will read for a while. When am I
going to feel like myself again. Is that ever going to happen?
December 25
So this is Christmas? I don’t ever remember one feeling so terrible. I
slept badly on the lounge in the TV room and that helped a little but I
ache everywhere and my joints hurt so much I could cry. We got up and I
looked a little at the papers and then I got dressed to go to church but
I sat the whole time and after communion, we left, came home, made a
cranberry Jell-O salad. The stores were closed but I told Don to try 7–
11 and sure enough they had what I wanted for the salad. I had done the
dressing and the potatoes yesterday so I stuffed the turkey, put the
salad in molds, made scalloped corn, heated bread and made gravy.
Nothing tasted good to me but I just hope that was just me. I ate lunch
and decided to take 2 Tylenol Extra Strength PM’s and fell sound asleep
in the lounge but Don woke me up cause Jason was on the phone. Linda
called and Craig had gotten her a gold bracelet & gold loop earrings.
Then Mike called and Tyler and Jill were there and they both called.
Tyler may move out to Oregon if his boss decides to move their business
out here. That would be nice. Jill loves her work at school and is
planning to go for a Masters. Then Niki called and we talked to both her
and her Mom. They had had Christmas yesterday and had eaten with friends
and had shrimp, oysters and crab on the barbie. I guess this is
traditional for Christmas. So there was a lot of phoning for sure.
Priss came for dinner and she was in a fairly good mood and she had been
out late last night so she was tired and didn’t stay very long.
Walgreen’s was open so Don got me some more Tylenol and I will read for a
while and then try going to bed. I just hope tomorrow will be better.
December 26
Rained all day
I slept on the lounge in the apartment last night and I got more sleep
but it wasn’t easy and I had to get up 3 times to go to the bathroom.
When morning came, I finally got up and took a shower, hot, hot, and that
helped. Don had a lot of errands to run for he stops by Dr. Foltz to
make an appointment for me at Dr. Moore but Foltz was out of her office
and they suggested I go to Emergency. So finally Cathy came in and that
was just what we did. We went to Community and David had called ahead
and talked to people there and filled them in. I had a Dr. Bramdee and I
liked him very much. We got there at about 10:45 and I got home at 4!
They checked me and I had a cat scan and I got two shots and the rest of
the time I just sat around and read a little or dozed. But tomorrow I
can call Dr. Moore’s office and hopefully I will get in. Cathy stayed
with me most of the time and everyone was very nice. When I got home, I
called Priss cause she had called earlier and was very upset when she
found out where I was. Then I filled little dishes with various
leftovers and Don cut some turkey and that was dinner. We watched the
news and now I can’t wait to go to bed.
December 27
With Christmas in the middle of the week I am all mixed up on my days. I
keep thinking it is about Monday night or Friday. We all slept in this
morning even Daisy. I was on the lounge in the back room again and I
didn’t get up once in the night. If only that were every night. I
called Dr. Moore’s office at 9 a.m. and the secretary said I had an
appointment at 10 a.m. on Monday so that is very good. I go that morning
early to have my blood test for my physical on the 7th, then to Dr. Moore
and at 4:30 that afternoon we have our pictures taken for the church
directory. Another busy week. Well that is ok. I just hope and pray I
feel better. Today was a quiet day. I ran a load of clothes and now at
8:40 p.m. I have finished ironing what needed it. I also decided the
buttons on my black knit dress were ugly so I hunted till I found 3 black
jet ones that fit it. When I go through those button boxes I always
think of my Mom and then I think of the granddaughters who loved to play
with them and tried to match like with like. Exactly what did I do
today? I can’t think of much of anything. I talked to Mary Yakich and
the pain in her back is really terrible. I will be buying groceries for
her tomorrow. I called off and on during the afternoon but got no answer
but finally she did answer and someone in the neighborhood had taken her
to the Emergency at Community. She has pills but like me it is going to
take a long time. I worry so about her living alone. I tried to get
Linda tonight but got no answer so I will call her in the morning cause I
think David should know about this and at least call to check on her. I
took the meat off the bones of the turkey and put the carcass in the
freezer and will give them to Mary when she is feeling better. Tonight I
cooked peas, carrots, and tiny onions for the veggies, made a green salad
and then a piece of toast with turkey slices on top and gravy. I just
had the turkey without the other. I am just not hungry these days and
that is something. Well back to the lounge in the back room again
tonight.
December 28
Well this was really a dull day. Slept on the lounge again last night
and didn’t wake up till about 4, went to the bathroom and went back to
sleep but terrible stiff and sore when I got up. Didn’t improve all that
much either as the day went on. But I ate a little at breakfast and at
7:15 I was on my way to the F. Mkt. I bought 10# of mandarins and some
for Mary as well. Then on to Food for Less and the Cannery. Nothing
interesting or exciting but I did buy filets for New Year’s Day. Also
bought a calendar with cats for Mary cause she loves them so. It cost $4
but after all she gave me - $70 for Food for Less, etc. Finally got
everything and took the things Mary needed over to her house and then
came back to have lunch. Afterwards, I read a little more of M is for
Malice by Sue Grafton and then dozed the evening away. Don’s back hurt
too so we are quite a pair. Talked to Linda and she was fine. Dinner
was canned tomato soup and cheese and crax. I will try to do better
tomorrow. This morning before I did anything else I showered and
shampooed (this was after shopping) so I am clean and won’t have to do
any of that tonight. We agreed no church tomorrow and Wednesday and then
we will decide about next Sunday. I should write some letters but
everything seems to be too much effort. There is supposed to be a big
storm coming in tonight. We shall see. I hope I can sleep. I feel
terrible.
December 29
We both woke up early so finally we got up. I slept in the TV room and
Don in our bedroom.
For some reason Daisy got him up not me. It was
very windy and rainy and it stayed that way all day. But we didn’t get
as much moisture as I had expected and had decided not to go to church so
that was not a problem. It has been a hard day for me. I didn’t feel
well and I keep wanting to cry. In fact, I did cry. I guess I am tired
of feeling so lousy. Tomorrow will be a busy day. First of all I go
early to get my blood taken for Dr. Foltz’s exam. Then I come home and
eat, shower and at 10 I go to see Dr. Moore about my back pain. I typed
up a detailed information sheet for her. Then at 4:30, we go to the
church to have our picture taken for the church directory. Since I feel
so lousy these days I also look lousy so it won’t be a good picture.
This morning I went over to Priss’s to see her Christmas presents. She
got a lovely outfit from David and Ann that I would certainly like to
have. I have to write letters to the Fisks, to Martha Menard, Pauline
and more. And I don’t feel like doing any of that. I am depressed at
the moment. We were invited to the Marquis for dinner, but have never
heard anything more and I guess I may call after my appointment tomorrow
and say we will not be coming. I made a dinner of pork steaks, mashed
potatoes, broccoli, grapefruit and persimmon salad and chocolate mousse.
I was not hungry. Maybe tomorrow will be better but I am not counting on
it.
December 30
Wind, rain
Woke up at about 4 to go to the bathroom and then went in to lay with
Don. I don’t like sleeping alone and that lounge is not all that great.
So tonight I go back to my regular place. The wind has roared and howled
all day. There is a lot of flooding already in low places and 2 – 4 more
storms are predicted. 1996 is going out with a bang weather-wise. After
breakfast, I took a long hot shower that felt wonderful and then I pinned
up my hair cause I had an appointment at 10 with Dr. Moore about my pain.
Don had errands to run so I got all ready and then we went together to
her office. I was very impressed with her. She was so thorough I
couldn’t believe it. I had typed up a case history, which she kept and
finally at the end she had Don come in and she talked over the whole
situation. I am to walk but not any great distance to begin with. I am
to do mild exercising and am to take the Naprosyn + 1 pain pill 2 times a
day and the pain deal 3 times. Don is taking the same thing. He made an
appointment to see her in January. Then I talked to Linda and she thinks
we should change to Dr. Lentz and Don seemed to really want to also so he
called and we have an appointment to meet him next week and then we will
decide. I want to leave Dr. Foltz but I don’t know how to do it
gracefully. I must think about that. I called Jenny and told her what
we had decided and about Dr. Moore and she was relieved. I napped in the
afternoon as did Don and then at 4:30 we went to have our pictures taken
for the church roster. We didn’t want any for ourselves. I know I don’t
look great and neither did Don. I warmed up last night’s dinner and it
was edible but my appetite is still lacking so I didn’t eat much. It is
8:30 as I write this and it is still raining. Talked to Cathy and she
and a friend have started a balloon business for weddings and other
celebrations. They have done 2 and made $200. I don’t know exactly
where this project is going to go. I should go to Hospice tomorrow but I
may call and beg off for another week. I called Bessie to tell her we
were not coming for dinner tomorrow night. I would love to go but with
the weather so bad and both of us feeling lousy I just couldn’t see
driving up there in the dark and rain. Now I wish I had never ordered
the dress but maybe I will get a chance to wear it sometime. I will read
for a while and then I am going to bed.
December 31
Wind, rain
Up at about 5. Slept rather well and was not too stiff when I got up.
Don got the heating pad and I lay on it for a while. I wanted to stay
there forever it felt so good but I knew I couldn’t do that. I told him
to do his exercising and then I would get up and make breakfast so that
is what we did. It was raining and it has been doing the same thing off
and on all day. There are storm warnings all the time on radio and TV
and I guess it is supposed to continue for at least two more days. I
decided to set up a pain clinic in the apartment bedroom so I got the
heating pad plugged in there and after lunch I lay down for 15 minutes
with it on my back and then 15 minutes with it on my neck and shoulders
and then I dozed. I will do my exercises on my back on the bed too and
Dr. Moore said not to do the ones on my hands and knees. I called Dr.
Foltz office and canceled my physical. It was just the girl in the
office and she asked if I wanted to schedule it later and I said not now.
I showered late in the afternoon and put on that long flowered hostess
gown with a black turtleneck and it looked very nice. Don didn’t notice.
We went to Safeway in the afternoon and I spent $4 on fancy shrimp that
tasted like rubber. I am going to check. Was I supposed to cook them or
what? So we had canned minestrone soup and shrimp and fresh bread for
dinner. We didn’t get the local news cause there was a football game on
that channel and at 6 Dianne Sawyer was on and Peter Jennings and I
didn’t like her any more, so I called Cathy worried that she had to go to
work tonight but she didn’t want to. Visited with Linda. I would like
to talk to her every day but that is just too expensive. Wrote a letter
to the Florida grandchildren and Donna. Don wrote a lot of Christmas
letters. I don’t have the sharp pains any more just a dull ache so I
guess the pain pills after each meal and the 2 Naprosyns were helping.
Called Mary Yakich and she is still hurting from her fall. So this is
the last day of the year 1996. We didn’t go to the Marquis for dinner
but I suppose given the bad weather it was just as well. I would like to
stay up for New Year’s Eve but that is not to be either. So the year is
done and I am winding down. I hope 1997 turns out to be a better year.
But Clinton was re-elected. That was one good thing and we got our fist
great-grandchild. That was nice. I just wish I had not fallen and felt
better. But life goes on.
Diary of Florence Belson Lillibridge, 1996
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