Friday Roundup

As Friday rolls around I look back at another busy week for me.  On Monday we were back in the center.  They have painted it peach, but not a very pretty peach.  It's the kind of dull peach that you get when you don't use a primer and paint over blue...and left the window sills blue.  I shouldn't really complain.  It was done for free, and it will probably look a lot better when they get all the stuff hung back on the walls.  

 I made this month's Chatterbox, our monthly newsletter.  This was at the party last month.  Sorry the picture is dark, but it's printed on colored paper so it is hard to get.  I am second from the end.

Wellness Group had been canceled on Monday, but I understood why.  First day bag after the painting and lots to be done.  Staff was so busy.  No time to run a group...and no space either.  Everything was piled onto our group table.  Tuesday was better.  Had computer class and found a few great websites to look into.  See, I knew these classes would help me in some way.

Tuesday night dinner.  My own recipe-- small elbows, chop meat, mixed veggies, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, green pepper, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, beef bullion, and a wee bit of Harissa spice.

On Wednesday I had an appointment with the ENT.  I knew it was going to be a waste of time and money and I was right.  A wasted trip. A wasted $45. A good doctor, but a waste of time anyway. I know from research nothing can be done. He checked out my ears. Looks good. Checked out my sinuses. Looks good. Come back in November. I did get a RX for Claritin which keeps my sinusitis at bay. At least he is honest and not like some ENT's that have you running about for all kinds of tests and try to push $5,000 hearing aids on you. He was blunt and told me in my case it is most likely age related, that I have lost the ability to hear some higher frequencies and when the brain tries to adjust to the changes, it unwittingly causes tinnitus.

I felt really bad because a friend from WW called on Wednesday to see if I was coming on Thursday.  I felt bad because, to be honest, I've been so wrapped up in my new friends that I have forgotten my old friends.  Have to find ways to include both in my life.  In October computer classes will be over, and I will once again have my Thursdays  free for my WW workshops. 

I bought a bunch of these in different sizes and colors.  Going to try my hand at bracelets, but for now, I made these earrings.  Still waiting for the rest of the leaves and flowers to arrive.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Tuesday Ramble

Tuesday morning and the rain is about to fall.  Oh my, such a wet summer we have had here in Brooklyn.  Was the first day back at the center yesterday, and many of us were disappointed with the dull peach it had been painted.  Looks like they used no primer and just gobbed the paint on.  But, it was for free so who are we to complain?  Will have to get a picture of it to show you.

Don't know if I mentioned this.  A week or so ago I was taking a hot cup of water out of the microwave to make my tea and somehow my hand slipped and scalding hot water burnt my breast.  Healing now, but it sure hurt for awhile.  Second degree burns.  Now I am ultra careful taking anything hot from the microwave. 

There are four little kitties out back where we keep the garbage.  They are all different and all about four months old.  One is black, one is gray, one is black and white, and another is tabby.  Probably four different fathers, and I know who each is.  What I don't know is who the mother is.  I'm hoping that maybe it is my Scout.  She disappeared several months ago.  It's too soon for them to be Ms. Gray's kittens.   

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the ENT.  Not sure anything can be done for the tinnitus, but I do hope he can help me with my sinuses.  I keep getting painful bouts of sinusitis.  Only thing that stops them is my allergy medication.  Funny thing is I never had allergies until this year and then they knocked me for a loop. 

Here are a few photos I took on our Sunday outing.

 That's the famous Wonder Wheel of Coney Island in the distance.  

 A cruise ship on the Atlantic Ocean.

Never saw one of these on the road.  Hubby says he sees them often, usually at night.  Looks like fun.

Have a wonderful day.

Monday Morning This and That

Good Monday morning.  All is starting back to normal this week, but I must tell you about the wonderful time I had last week.  Volunteers were painting the senior center, the first time it had been done in years, so the parsonage offered the center their backyard.  The staff set up tables and tents.  I was a bit afraid it wouldn't work out because of the weather forecast, but each day the rain held off until we were all safely home.

I swear, they treated us like kings and queens.  Food was fantastic.  

 Cheers to the cooks.

On Tuesday we had BBQ chicken that was so tender it fell of the bone, a delicious homemade pasta salad, and a tossed salad.  Pineapple for dessert.

On Wednesday we had a hot dog and a hamburger, with buns, corn on the cob, and an awesome homemade coleslaw.  Haven't tasted coleslaw that good in a long time.

On Thursday they didn't grill.  We had roast beef, 3 bean salad, pasta salad, watermelon and ice cream.

On Friday we had 

And all during the day, staff and volunteers were walking about offering water, lemonade, or ice tea.  We even had live entertainment on Thursday.  I swear, the fresh air made me come alive last week.  I absolutely loved it.  Every day a picnic atmosphere.  Here's a few photos I took:

Took this one before everyone got there.  Other tables were set up to accommodate the 60 people who showed up.

One of the staff.  She works the desk and signs us in.  Was a nurse before retiring.

 Another staff.  Such a sweetheart.

 My friend Marie.  An ex-school teacher.

 Bingo under the tent.

 Calling bingo.

My friend Dorothy.  That's Ruth sitting next to her.  She always has to be near Dorothy.

Some of the other tables they set up.  In the rear table are two of my WW buddies.

Two of my other friends, Beatrice and Henry.  He is almost blind and sure does love to dance.

Went to Applebees and a movie for hubby's birthday yesterday.  Managed to surprise him with a Happy Birthday from staff and an ice cream.  

Southwestern Steak Salad and virgin Pina Collada.

So this week we are back to a normal schedule.  I'm going to suggest that we try to do this once in awhile.  It does all of us good to be out there in the fresh air.

Have a good one.

Staycation Time

Actually, it's more of a 'staycation'.  The center is being painted so it will be outdoor picnics under a tent.  Would love to attend, but now it seems that our cable service will be coming in to rewire our cable system so that it comes in from the back.  Sure hope it's not as messy as the last rewiring.  This, too, is the decision of building management and totally unnecessary.  Should be done on Wednesday and Thursday and if one isn't home to let them in, cable will be cut off.  Totally unfair.  

With that being said, I will be taking a week off from blogging.  I'll continue visiting blogs when I can, but so much going on this week  Will see you in a week. 

Saturday Quote

I find there is a quality to being alone that is incredibly precious.

Life rushes back into the void, richer, more vivid, fuller than before.
It is as if in parting one did actually lose an arm. And then,
like the starfish, one grows it anew; one is whole again, complete and
round--more whole, even, than before, when other people had pieces of one.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Friday Roundup

Ah, Friday has arrived.  Funny, you'd think now that I was retired that every day would be a Friday, but since I am busy from Monday through Friday, I still feel like I was going to work....even though I am having a LOT MORE FUN.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I like getting up in the morning and catching a bus just like I'm heading off to work.  

So, this was a strange week with most of my classes being cancelled for one reason or another.  The only class I had this week was Monday's Wellness class and that was cut short because a woman from the Department of Health came to talk to us about West Nile Virus...which has been found in the city.... and how to protect ourselves from the mosquitoes that carry the virus...much more important than our wellness topic of travel.  Totally bored with that topic as most of us no longer travel.

Tuesday I went all prepared for Arts and Crafts only to have it canceled at the last minute.  Grrr!!!  I'd wanted to finish my painting.  

The other half of this painting is supposed to be the sun.  Was hoping I could have finished it.  Was even more disturbed when I didn't see Arts and Crafts on the schedule for the month of August.  I went to the office and inquired about that one. I was informed that she couldn't find a time to fit it in in August....BUT SHE COULD FIND TIME TO FIT IN KARIOKI THAT ONLY 3 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN?  Not quite fair when I donated so much stuff for the class.  Of course, I didn't throw that in their face, but I did tell them how disappointed I was and how much we all looked forward to that class.  We'll see if they change their minds.

On Wednesday I discovered I'd forgotten to take my BP meds for not one, but two days.  Can't be doing that.  See, I have a regular schedule I follow in the morning, and if that's messed up, so am I.  Hubby had to get up early for a doctor's appointment on Monday and on Tuesday to take his car for a repair so I ended up taking my shower extra early, before anything else.  Totally forgot my meds.

Then, I was  heating water for my tea, and I don't know what happened, but it the cup started to slip and the hot water scalded my boob.  Turned red and started to blister.  I have a burn cream hubby's mother had brought from the Dominican Republic years ago that was still good.  I used the last of it before I went to the center, and by the time I came home it didn't even look like I had a burn.  I'd love to know what's in that stuff.

Thursday was kind of boring.  Computer class, but not one of the more exciting ones.  Then Chili Con Carne for lunch.  Good, but not as good as mine.  Not spicy enough for my taste, but I do understand.  They are cooking for seniors, and not everyone likes spicy foods.

Off to the center this morning.  Jewelry class in the afternoon.

Have a wonderful fun-filled weekend.

Thursday Odds and Ends

 My son and his girlfriend.  

Just a small part of my angel collection.  There are many more in my china closet.

0 point breakfast.  Spinach omelet and sliced tomatoes.

Nightmare times.  Had never expected it to be so bad.  Never thought we would get the house back to normal.

 My youngest son's 8th grade graduation.

Last year at Christmas in July.  It was held last weekend, but unfortunately I had no way of getting there.  My son's car is not working, my daughter was sick, and my goddaughter had to work.  There is always next year.

 My beautiful daughter.

 My sofrito--peppers, onions, pitted olives, pimentos, garlic, a wee bit of tomato sauce, salt, and pepper.  I use this when I roast a turkey or a pernil.  Punch holes and fill with this mixture.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. Last year it fell in the middle of the nightmare rewiring of my apartment but I had a couple of items handy to cheer myself up and put them on a window sill.  It was the only free area I had to set them up.