St. Patrick's Day Party

 Oh my.  First party at the new center and again I went home with a headache.  And I'm not alone.  Several of my friends are feeling much the same.  The new place is too stressful.  It's not fun.  Four friends told me yesterday they won't be attending anymore of the parties because they just didn't feel comfortable.  Parties are supposed to be fun, and you just can't have fun if you are packed in like sardines.  My friend said she almost broke her neck trying to get through to go to the potty. The are crowding too many people in.  It's loud and disorganized.  

I am willing to give it a chance, though.  As much as I dislike it, I feel they are still working things out, and that there will probably be some dropouts as the weeks go on.  It's the newness that is drawing people in.  Maybe, too, it's just my age.  I'll be 77 in a couple weeks and in my youth I loved going to those underground clubs in the village where the music was loud and we were packed in like sardines.  But, the older I get, the less I like it.  

The lady with the hat on in my friend, Mary, an Irish woman with a real brogue. She has battled cancer twice and beat it.  Next to her and holding her arms up is my friend, Yvette.  She's been deaf from birth.

One thing we do is pig out at our parties.  Plenty of snacks.

The corned beef and cabbage lunch they served.  Have to say it, too, was a big disappointment.  The cabbage was obviously made from packaged cole slaw mix and the potatoes were canned.  Neither had any taste whatsoever.  I sure could have used some mustard.

Another section of the room.

That's me with the ponytail and green sweater.

The Grand Opening

 For the center it was great, but for me, it was the day from hell.  Winds were 50 MPH when I left the house.  Was going to take a cab but then figured 'why waste $12' when I can take the bus?'  So I braved the wind.  Fortunately I had enough weight on me that I wasn't blown over.

The center was crazy.  So many people.  So much noise.  I don't do well in crowds.  Never did.  Don't know if it can be considered an anxiety attack but I get real stressed and end up with a headache.  The lunch room was unreal.  The picture below is from when they started with bingo.  There had been plenty more who had lunch and then left. I couldn't wait to get out of there, wind or not.

The room for my jewelry class was very nice.  Large and new smelling.  

Sati is so talented. 

My friend Carmen.  Will be my co-facilitator from now on.  So many new members.  It's hard for me to set up, put away, teach the newcomers, etc.  So I asked if she would do it.

My jewelry class was the first class ever at the new center.

Tomorrow is the St. Patrick's Day party.  Let's see how that goes.

Have a good one.

A Time of Change

 April showers bring May flowers....only it's only March, and it rains more than the skies are clear.  Another storm last night, and more gray skies today.  I do love going to bed and listening to the rain as it hits the AC.  But, I don't like having to go out in it, especially since these are cool rains.

Gosh, I really don't do well with these time changes.  Wish they'd just stop it.  I don't see any reason to set clocks back and forwards.  Rose today at 7:30 but it was actually 6:30.  Breakfast was late, lunch will be late, and dinner will probably be late, too.  It usually takes me about a week for my body to get back on schedule, and I do hope for a good night's sleep tomorrow and and earlier rising.  

It's the first day at the new center.  Not only do I have my jewelry class, but we're also expecting 250 new members who joined and were waiting for the new center to open.  I'm expecting some newcomers to the jewelry class, and they also asked if I could sit downstairs before class to welcome newcomers and orient them since I am on the senior council.  Going to be a rather hectic day tomorrow.  Just going to go with the flow.  

Last coloring class in the old center.  We didn't color because everything had already been moved to the new center.  But we did have our own little party to say good bye.  

Lots of changes this week.

Memories

 Some pretty nasty weather around here lately. Rain almost everyday.  Got caught in it yesterday.  Was heading to our monthly senior council meeting and the sky opened and the rain came down in torrents...right after I had closed my umbrella.  Almost turned around and went home, but I wanted to see what was said about the new center.

Our new center is set to open this upcoming Monday and while part of me is looking forward to new beginnings, the other part is finding it hard to say good-bye to the center that I have enjoyed for over 6 years now.  Many good memories.

Valentine's Day 2023

Silly sock party 2020

Halloween party 2019

Cooking class 2019

Dewali party 2023

Easter party 2022

St. Patrick's Day party 2023

St Patrick's Day 2023

Final Dancersize class 2022

Good bye party for a dear friend who was moving away.  2022

Halloween party 2022

And that's only a few of the memories.  Every day there brought some joy to my life.  Meeting new friends, trying new activities, learning to dance, Marshall Arts training. Laughter, tears.  Loss of good friends.  Will never forget my days at the old Bay Ridge Center.  Now onto the new.

Sunday Morning

 Was fit to be tied yesterday.  Super had promised me he would be here at 10 am to fix the leak and the faucet drips so I put off food shopping.  Was planning on going this morning, but tummy issues so I'll just call my order in, and the store will shop for me and deliver.  All for $5.  Not bad when you need things but can't get out due to illness or poor weather conditions. 

So the super didn't come.  At 11:30 I sent him a message.  At 12 I got the response that he had an emergency in his other building and could he come on Sunday.  After I thanked him (sarcastically) for calling me to let me know, I informed him that I changed my plans due to his promise and thus was going to busy on Sunday.  Reluctantly he said he would come.  

Got here at about 1:10, put some tape on the pipe to stop the leak, announced that the water from the leak had destroyed the wood at the bottom of the cabinet, and he was going to have to put in a new cabinet.  I advised him that I first notified him of the leak in September, but he ignored it. Didn't bother with the drips in the kitchen or the bathroom.  Now we'll have to see if he keeps to his word, but I'm going to stay on top of him.  This is his pattern.  He puts bandaids on repairs and then promises all this great stuff he is going to do for you, but that's all it is...empty promises. 

Last night's dinner.  Veggie Lo Mein.

Another Saturday

 Happy Saturday everyone.  Another rainy one.  Waiting now for the super to come and finally repair my faucet drips and a leak under my kitchen sink  which I first notified him of in September when it was just a wee little leak.  Some plumbing tape would have done the trip, but as with everything else since he took the job, he waits until everything becomes major. Worst super ever.  

Yesterday's party was a huge disappointment for me.  Much too crowded and noisy. The show was good, but the food? Only got what we all called in an 'appetizer' and it wasn't that good. Only thing I liked was the chicken and broccoli and of that I only got about 3 little peices of brocolli and 4 little slices of chicken. The rice was okay, but kind of tasteless in my book. The dumpling was nothing but a grease ball. Took one bite and had a mouth full of oil. Nasty. Couldn't eat it. The egg roll was so tiny, the kind you buy in the frozen food department, and only got a mouthful and the egg tart was not my cup of tea. Came home starving.

Only got a few pictures because I was so far away.

This is my friend Sati. Isn't she a beautiful 82 year old. She tap dances, exercises, is a wonderful artist, has been around the world. I'm so blessed to have met her.

Party Day

 Yesterday we celebrated February birthdays at the center.    

The towels, the plan, and all the other little items on the table were raffled off.  I didn't win anything, but that's okay.  I was happy to see my friends win something.

The DJ was extra good and we all hope he comes back again. Lots of music and dancing. 

You can't see me but I am at that far table by the window, the one where my friend is standing with a mask on.

Food was delicious.  

Started with a table full of snacks.

Brunch at about 11.  Fruit, cheese, and various pastries and croissants.

Butternut squash soup.  First time I ever had it, and it was delicious. 

Lunch was Chicken Cordon Bleu and salad.  I brought mine home for dinner as I had overdone it with the snacks.

And dessert was this delicious cake.  Chocolate with cream icing.  Yum. 

And we all got this little gift as we left.  It's one of those squeezers for your hands and fingers.

And another party on the agenda today.  A little late, but it's our Chinese New Year party.