Thanksgiving 2017

Actually Thanksgiving came and went.  Wednesday the 22nd, KR and I drove down to Union Station and picked up Kurt.  Traffic was really weird.  We were pretty close to Downtown and Kurt text that the bus just left Burbank.  We thought we would have a lot of time to walk Gracie around, but no, it was just perfect timing, we only waited about two minutes.  It was nice having him home.

I had to rush over to the rental house to see the shower door installation.  Somehow the shower door would not close properly, and the glass was chipped too.  So I am meeting the installer on Monday to discuss what we can do about the problems. 

Thursday morning I got Kurt up for the race.  Will flaked out and did not go with us.  I ran the whole way and finished in 31 minutes.  Kurt beat me with 26 30.  That is pretty good for someone that does not actually run.  We got home and I put the turkey, with the stuffing, in the oven.  Our thanksgiving guests this year were mom, dad, Will, Kurt, Bryan, Grace, Rita and Eddie.  Ronnie went to his cousin's house and Rocky was in Japan.  We had pumpkin pie, cherry pie, apple pie, and pecan pie.  Stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, and sweet potatoes.  It was so much food.

Friday morning I went to Costco thinking that it would be packed.  NO ONE THERE at 9 am.  Lovely said the Costco in Taiwan had Black Friday sale and the line went around the building and all the items on sale for Black Friday were sold out the first day, so they had to cancel the next two days!!!!!!!!  I don't believe it. 

Saturday Will worked 8 - 11 30, and was suppose to work here.  He showed up at 12 45 and left at 3 15 with plenty of time in between taking breaks.  We got into an argument as he didn't want to do things he said were of no consequence.  I told him he didn't need to argue about that, as whatever we ask him to do he needs to do, whether he believed it or not.  We all went to church and had tacos after.  Jacqueline and Natalie Frances were there along with Tony and Joanne.  Will remember them both from high school group.  I spent a long time cleaning the garage, getting the car vac out to be given away.  We never use it.  Also the polisher too is going away. 

Sunday KR went paddling.  I rode around.  The hip was ok on Thursday after the run and it is hurting more and more.  Hopefully I didn't wreck anything.  Would love to run more but alas, maybe it is not to be.

Tuesday 11/21/17

Two days before Thanksgiving.  Went to work yesterday, and thought I was going to get out early, in came two kids that were one week early for their appointments.  I went to the 99 cent store on Manhattan Beach Blvd, but they didn't have the wines nor the guava juice.  Then it was directly to the other work, at Lori's office.  Mary Ashley was late, she forgot her phone, so her daughter's live in boyfriend Sean was trying to call me while I was on the phone with AAA trying to change kurt's auto insurance.  I brined the turkey and put it in the frig.  At dinner I called Kurt and discovered that I BOUGH THE TICKET FOR THE WRONG TIME !!!!!!  Thank GOD that I looked at the ticket and realized that I bought the 12 30 NOON time ticket for Tuesday instead of the 12 30 midnight ticket.  So back online to get another ticket and it went up in price.  Oh well.

Tuesday KR went to City of Hope in Duarte with Mars.  He started another round of chemo and he didn't get home til about 3.  I went to work and saw Patty and Mike Ackerman.  Then it was more 99 cent store and then Kangan Water.  Got Will to go to the farmer's market with me.  There was so much peppers and broccoli.  I cooked a whole batch.  Will be eating broccoli for a long time.

Going to go try to run the turkey trot on Thursday.  We shall see.........

Care Harbor and More MMA

Friday morning we got to the Reef downtown about 7 20 and promptly set up.  The materials level were way less this year, and there were many more assistants.  We worked til about 3 30.  My unit didn't have enough pressure and the suction went off twice during the day, but over all, there were lots of people that needed help.  There were not many surgeons and KR had trouble taking out an ankylosed #4 and this oral surgeon came and cranked it out and the poor guy was gonna be so sore after.  I hope he recovers well.  El Pollo Loco provided yummy food.

We got home early enough to set up for Bible Study.  Will came over after putting dad to bed.  Mike Gooch was so nice to include him in the discussion, and animated discussion it was.  We were talking about membership and how we can be more inclusive, etc. 

Saturday dawned too early.  We went to MMA again, this time at Harbor Church in Lomita.  There were four of us and we were so so busy.  Larry, Steve, KR and I worked ALL DAY, til about 3 30.  The x ray unit keep wonking out, and finally started working.  We saw lots of patients. 

Church at night, with Will.  Tacos of course.  I had a hard time staying asleep.

11/16/17 Thursday

All I can remember is that we worked MMA with Jeff Yamane, at Journey South Bay on 190th street.  Will worked for two hours this afternoon.  Left the front door unlocked.  Closed the side door when he was suppose to leave open for Gracie.  Didn't put the Bark Standup Board back when he played the piano.  Didn't share food with G-parents and Unique was like what do I give them for dinner.  I went to the 99 cent store for wine, beer.  Got the bedroom ready for bible study tomorrow.  Grace got us a very large turkey, from Costco, organic.  Will brine it on Monday.  Paid Shawn Felis for the last of the plumbing job.  Gotta get up early for Care Harbor tomorrow.  Had this really weird dream about trying to sign up for classes at Costa, why am I going to high school in Manhattan Beach is beyond me.

I give up

I dont' think I can remember to blog daily, so I give up.  Today is Wednesday, and I missed yesterday.  Can I even remember what happened?  I did go to the Wick mom dinner at Shade.  Met with Jennifer Chappel early for a little chat.  She had to go.  I think these are the women who went:  Diane K, Meg Knox's mom, Vince's mom, Linsey Waller's mom, Ellen Furgis' mom, i think, Julie Long, that is it.  I parked on the street, didn't want to pay 6 bucks to park there.

Had to work at 8, saw Kirk Crawford.  His teeth really need cleaning.  Got home, and went back to work and saw Brandon Bernstein.  He has tartar too. 

Today I cleaned out the book shelf downstairs.  Also picked up some diapers off of Crest.  Will came over and did 1 1/2 hour of work.  He has 5 1/2 more hours to go.  I cooked some curry pork chops.  KR went shopping at Buy Low, what a terrible name.  The pineapple was very good.  Will wants to go to West Hills to see Caitlin tomorrow.  He is so disorganized

Good Intensions

Well, it is bound to happen.  I meant to blog everyday, but the weekend just went by so quickly, that I didn't even THINK about it til now, which is Monday morning.  Saturday I spent the morning trying to get the garage squared away and the stuff I got for FREE at the 99 cent store, all kinds of Halloween stuff, put away and I just don't know how Lovely does it so quickly, it takes me so long.  I also dragged out all the stuff in the hall coat closet and mopped the floor and took out the stuff we don't use, and made everything neat.  So much dust, the bunnies are multiplying.

Early in the morning on Saturday I went over to mom's to get Will up and to help mom and dad.  As it is Veterans' Day, there were still a bunch of free food.  After breakfast I had Will drive mom and dad to Der Wienerschnitzel for free hot dog, fries and small coke, then to Handel's Ice Cream for free small scoop of ice cream.  When he came home, Unique was there, and he took off.  He was suppose to come over at 3-4 to work, but he didn't.  We all went to church and had tacos after.  I was so exhausted I went to bed about 8 15.

Sunday Will came over, FINALLY at 11 to work, and only worked three hours.  Kept taking breaks and eating and etc etc.  He dusted the living room, vacuumed and promptly left at 3 15, and we went over to mom and dad for dinner.  Cooked spinach squares and fish.  I stayed while KR went to the prayer meeting at church so I can put dad to bed.  Asked Will if he wanted to work for an hour, he said no, so I had to do it.

Monday I didn't have to work as it was GA day at the clinic, although I had Monica as a patient.  in the afternoon at 3 PM.  She is having surgery on Tuesday, shoulder.  Mary came over with Sancho, Sean's dog, who promptly peed in the living room.  KR went to see Genesis, the movie and I stayed home.  It was a 3D film, glad I didn't go.  Those movies make me dizzy.    KR took Gracie to the fire road, and she is limping badly.  I wish he would heed and not let her run around after squirrels.  He knows Gracie has a bad hip, and we had to give her meds.  Previcox seems to be helping only a little.  She cannot put any weight on her back right leg at all.  Poor baby.

I forgot Friday

Friday dawns clear and a little chili.  I go to mom's and get dad ready for Denny's.  FREE breakfast for vets.  Gina meet us there, and dad is hard to get up.  He gets the free grand slam and the place is very busy.  Mom gets the omelette and pancakes.  I go home after settling them.  ALL for a free meal.

I took the time to go to the 99 cent store and buy the stuff for Samaritan Purse.  Underwear, socks, coloring books, toothbrush, puzzles, etc.  I also included Jon's wooden puzzles that I never did try to put together.  I also rode to Anza to pick up food for the chickens, and drop off hats and a bunch of miscellaneous that I have been collecting to give away.  Too much stuff around here. 

In the evening we went to this event in Palos Verdes.  It was some kind of fund raiser for Chris Cannon.  So we could not figure out what this dinner is about.  I read something online about HomeWord, and I guess Chris is working for them, and HomeWord is not paying him, so he needs to solicit his friends to help pay his salary?  I will pray about it and ask others to show me what they have done, like Bill Johnson.

We then drove to Cindy and Tony's house.  What a blessing to have them all as our Bible Study group.  Only Mike, Carole, Tony, Joanne, and Tony and Cindy plus us were there.  Donna/John, Mike/Patty were not there.   We talked about asking other couples to join us, and we decided two more couples.  I hope the Beckman's say yes, and maybe those friends of the Francis. 

Of course Will did not come and work.  He was suppose to show up at 9, then was suppose to show up at 3, so we will see how he gets the 7 hours done between today and tomorrow.

No Work Thursday

Well, a day without any real "work".  So I took most of the things out of the hall linen closet and started to clean.  What a lot of dust and things that I just don't need anymore.  Also cleaned out some of Kurt's clothes, especially the stuff that is too small so Will can have a look.  His shoes came, the Nike Dart, the 10th on the best parkour shoes.

KR came home from paddling, surf is just coming up.  I go to the office to pick up my glasses, the loupes that were being repaired.  They are much better  It was 7 miles one way and when i got home my knees were sore.  KR took Gracie to Chuck's for a swim.  Chuck and Karin are in New Orleans celebrating their anniversary.  They are such funny couple.  We like them very much.  

I cooked the squash and brought some over to mom's.  Will seems to be making an effort to not eat in the room.  I went there early and didn't see anything suspicious in his room.  HOWEVER, he needs to shower more and not wear the socks til they stand up by themselves. 

I vacuumed the garage, and got the compressor working.  Going to see if I can hook up so that I can pump my bike quickly, or get a dental handpiece to work with it.  There are lots of stuff on the table for donation, including the feather boas that I have been saving for so long.

Tomorrow I will tackle another closet.  One of these days I will try my own closet too.

Senior Fair at Hawthorne Senior Center

I got to mom's bright and early, and found a can of salmon, half eaten, in the trash, and the egg carton in the trash, and sticky goo on the counter and floor.  I got breakfast ready, and Gina came at 8.  Dad really peed a lot and the diaper was really heavy.  I went to the office, as I left my light there, and stopped at Costco Hawthorne, and they had pork ribs on sale for 89 cents a pound, I bought a package.  The senior fair was pretty busy.  There were lots of seniors needing help, mostly with dentures that did not fit too well any more.  I could only offer denture adhesive.  On the way home, Mike from Dandoy called and said he was ready to meet and measure.  I didn't say, you were suppose to call yesterday and make appointment.  I went over to the rental house before I came home.

I wanted the door to meet the pony wall, right at the end, but the door would have been a little off center off the tile, but Mike said NO NO NO he would not do that.  Mark is looking at me side ways too and we finally agreed to do it his way.  Mark should have made the pony wall about an inch and a half shorter towards the back wall so the glass from both walls could meet with no part of the pony wall sticking out. 

Came home and cooked the pork ribs, and walk at the beach with KR and Gracie.  Took some food over to mom's for Will.  Told him
NO MORE EATING IN THE ROOM
RECYCLING IN THE RECYCLE CAN ONLY
DON"T WASTE FOOD EAT WHAT YOU OPEN (CAN)
WIPE UP YOUR SPILLS PROMPTLY

IF YOU DON"T LIKE THE RULES, MOVE OUT

So hopefully that would work and he will be more tidy and thoughtful, especially it is our house and our money.

The ribs turned out great, and will food for a day or two.  I went to the Y for a little workout.  No time to do that earlier today..........

Office Meeting

It is always the first Tuesday of the month, and the office meeting always start with some kind of group activity.  This morning it was Javier teaching us how to dance.  Many items on the agenda, and took solid two hours.  I picked up the Clark shoes, from Buy Nothing Torrance, and then to the 99 cent store, then to meet with Mark about the bathroom at the rental house.  The tiles are done, and the vanity should go in, Sean comes in to put in the fixtures, then paint.  I bought paint Sunday at Sherwin Williams on Crenshaw for 3 dollars and change.  The reject paint of beige color and a quart of brown.  Man it is so much cheaper to buy reject paint, instead of 20 bucks per gallon.

I then text Will about coming over to help.  KR and I decided between 8 - 10 hours a week, here, should be good for room, some board, and no utilities.  He thinks FOUR hours is enough  I DONT think so.  We shall see after KR gets back we will talk to him.  What is he thinking?  FREE everything?

I go to the bank and transfer more money.  Need to pay the property taxes, totaling about 14,000 big ones.  Also the homeowner insurances are due, and the rental bathroom is not cheap.  I also spoke to Brandon about transferring money between accounts.  It is all so time consuming.  KR wants to go to Puerto Escondido first week of December to see the Velasquez and that ticket went up 150 bucks between last night and this morning.  We shall see if it comes down tomorrow.

KR goes diving in the afternoon, but gets NOTHING, nada.  We go for a walk in the park, with Gracie, of course.  I feed Chuck's cat, and the pool is not too cold.  KR is going to take Gracie for a swim tomorrow after screening.  I go on the computer and do FIVE HOURS, five hours of caregiver training. FIVE more to go........

Day of Work

Monday is alway a day of work.  With day light savings, I was up at 6, of course it was 7 but will take a few days, and the body will say, let me sleep some more.  I was thinking of doing laundry, but KR was going to bible study and won't be back til late so I didnt' and he ended up doing it, and not doing it too well in my book as he did not recycle the second rinse, and probably didn't push the "deep water" setting, so oh well.  But he did sweep and mop the kitchen floor. 

Work looked easy til it was not.  The 17 year old with the full mouth decay took me forever to do #2, 3, 4, and 5.  I felt so bad that she needed either RCT or fill on EVERY tooth in the mouth, except the wisdom teeth, and they have to be extracted.  She looks part black and the mother is white, so I don't know what the issue is why her mouth is such a wreck. 

Will does not call me about going to Long Beach til around 10, and of course I cannot take his call during work.  He finally left for Long Beach about 2, and didn't make it back to work at Grandma's til 4 45, so I went over there and took care of them for over an hour.  G pa was pretty awake, and Will took them out for a walk, and then fed them, and clean teeth, etc.  I just hope it works out.  I told Will he needs to apply to Cal State Long Beach, and other schools in case he does not get into Thornton School of Music.

Howard G came over and picked up three lobster.  Nice to see him.  We had dinner at home, left over chicken, etc.  Tomorrow is another early day, office meeting at 8 and bible study for KR

Sunday, supposedly a day of rest

Day Light Saving - can't stand it.

Well last night or early this morning was daylight saving, so we are not getting less light at night and more light in the morning.  I go to mom's and the door is unlocked and Will no where to be found.  I get dad up so he does not leak all over and get them breakfast as it is too late to wait til 8 to get up as it would be really 9 am.  Dad leaked a little, not too bad no more poop and i had to change his PJ and the pad, but no sheet got wet.  Adeli comes and I go home.

I rode my bike to North Torrance to pick up some earrings.  Will text me a whole bunch of what I consider rude nonsense that he did lock the door and he didn't know he had to let me know that he was going to be out all night.  See, he got paid for working a few hours so he went out and spent some money.  He said at a pool hall and had some drinks, could not be cheap. That boy cannot hang on to any money.

KR tried to go diving but the conditions were not good so he came home and bought some red wood from Home Depot to build a planter.  I putter around the house, trying to clean my purse and get the billings straight and then went to my exercise class.  We brought food over to mom's and had dinner there. Will came out and joined us.  USMA web site has been down for hours, and finally came up.  Hope Will get his applications done on time.  Oh well, guess he will have to get a job if he does not go to school.

Well, three days in a row, not bad.

It rained a little last night and the grounds were pretty wet, but not enough to get any in the rain barrels.

I had tea with Adele.  It is so nice to see her and Neil, who is now working at South Carolina two days a week.  Max cooked some great brisket.  Told her all the stuff that has been going on. 

Saturday, November 4, 2017

I couldn't sleep and was up by 6 30 am.  Went to dad's to get Will to get up and work and see if he is blowing out a diaper again.  Will left two milk containers and two juice boxes in his room.  What does he not understand about NOT EATING in his room.  It is already smelling like his shoes.  I spent about an hour getting Will acquainted with what to do.  Dad went straight into the shower so that his rear end can be rinsed.  Gina had done the laundry again yesterday, and when I came last night, Will had bring some still damp stuff in, but he didn't spread it out to dry so I had done that last night.  They were of course completely dried this morning.

I came back and tried to continue cleaning the house.  KR started pruning the trees (fig first) and we went to the Farmer's Market.  Not much good stuff, but the chickens liked the lettuce.  I made a lot of smoothies with the guavas and the persimmons that are ripening.  Rita gave me several bags but they ripen so slowly, and only one at a time.

I rode to north Torrance to drop off a pair of sandals that I picked up yesterday.  They were a little tight so I gave to the lady down the list from me.  It was kind of windy, but got warmer as I rode.  I cooked some food for mom and KR brought over to Unique.  Will is going to church with us tonight and KR has to sell more tickets for the BARK board raffle.

We go and Will sees all kinds of people, and I introduce him to Pastor Mike.  There was all kinds of food after, five bucks a plate, and KR and Will ate al pastor, and shwarma, and I dropped him off at mom's.  Unique forgot she was suppose to work til 7 30.

It has been interesting to have Will there at mom and dad's.  On the one hand he is a mess, but on the other hand he can lift Dad as he has the strength.  I think I have to rely on him more and more.  I told him he should apply to Cal State Long Beach for music in case he does not get into USC.

Up to date report of November 3, Friday 2017

Well, first time.

I went over to dad's early this morning as he was leaking badly yesterday.  I went over last night about 10 and changed his diaper, there was poop everywhere, and Will had to lift his legs to help me change him.  I even threw out his pajamas, as it was full of poop and I didn't want to clean it.  This morning of course he was full of poop but Will was asleep so I tried to do everything myself and nearly wrecked my back again.  KR left for the Senior Fair in Gardena and I had to meet with Mark about the tiles and picking the grout color.  He later called me and said that we were short (AGAIN) four of the floor tile.  I said he is the one that told me 8 square feet.  Well, we needed 12 square feet.  The tiles look great !!!!!!

I went to pick up the sandals from Buy Nothing Torrance.  They are a little small, but I am hoping to stretch them.  I rode my bike of course.  Gina came right on time to take care of mom and dad, and she is such a dear.  I spent a couple of hours cleaning the yard thinking that the rain is going to come Sunday.  Well, now they the all mighty weather forecasters, say there is no rain.  But it needed to be done anyway.  The rain barrels should be made ready etc.  KR came home and had lunch.

I spent almost half hour on the phone with the health insurance agent.  My premium is going up from around 1300 a month for me and KR to about 1700 a month.  Kurt's is going from 173 a month to 271 a month, an 84.9% increase.  So we picked another plan, hoping that he can get on SHIP.

Will is making a mess at Grandma's.  He left dishes in the sink and broke the bathroom drawer, and his room is starting to smell.......  I text him a note saying that he needs to keep things CLEAN CLEAN AND CLEAN.  He said he did not eat the choco pie, and dripped all over the kitchen floor so I guess it is mom that ate and dropped.  Mom is liking that Will is there.

Tyler called this morning and says he still has his job and he is working tomorrow.  I told him to use his money to pay rent for the next 14 months, as we paid his bail and no more money is coming.  No more help of rent for 200 a month, as we had been doing. 

We went out to eat with Mike and Carole Gooch at Wahoo's fish.  It is such a joy to hang out with them.  We talked for over two hours.  On the way home, we stopped at the dumpster, and got a whole laundry basket full of stuff.  But we don't like Oreo's and other kinds of cookies.  And Alan won't be back this January for us to save for him.

I went over to check on dad and got him a new diaper.  He sometimes fights to be woken up. 

November 3, 2017

From September to November and nary a word in between.  Well, there were lots of thought of words, but somehow did not get on board.  I could, take the initiative and just write a few words each day, like Lovely, so as to remind myself what really happened through the course of my life.  

Mom's floor got done and the rental house shower remodel is still on going.  They started around September 26 Mark Dugas, a friend of Sean's, the plumber is doing the work.  I fired Sandra and got a new girl name Gina.  We like her very much.  On October 8, we did CicLAvia, this bike thing with Mike Gooch.  It was SO SO much fun.  He drove us down to Downtown LA and we did the whole root, Broadway to Echo Park, and Mariachi Plaza to Chinatown.  Took us almost three hours, but man, should have done this years ago.

KR and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary by going to the Depot for lunch.  It was so so good, and what a love he is married to me for all that time.  Although I think I am a saint sometimes.  Especially now that he is retired, he loves just playing all the time all day.  

We weren't going to go up to see Kurt at parent weekend, but he said he was in a funk and "wouldn't object if we came up".  I got an Airbnb at the border of Berkeley/Oakland and it was a really nice place.  Matias is a great host.  We eat at Harris' Ranch on Friday the 20th.  Saturday Rich and Nancy had invited us to kayak at their house, which is on Alameda Bay.  I wrecked my back on Thursday so I could not get in, but Kurt and KR went and had a great time.

THEN, we went back to school and they played JUGGERS, which is kind of like Quiddich, while I cleaned Kurt's kitchen, which was very greasy and dirty.  We had dinner at this Italian restaurant on College Ave.  

Sunday KR got really mad because Kurt wouldn't get up and be ready.  We went to Costco and bought him about 160 dollars worth of food.  Then it was a movie, Blade Runner in Emerville.  I was so confused.  Dinner was at Smokey J's on 3015 Shattuck, Berkeley.  The food was great.  We left him with a bunch of prayers and went back to Matias.

Monday morning we drove home.  The whole weekend was HOT HOT HOT, with Torrance weather at 102 on Tuesday, October 24.   Man oh man, would not sleep without the fan.  I had to work, seeing the Vargas girls and KR went to pick up Lovely, FROM THE AIRPORT.  She came for a 10 day visit.  SO SO SHORT !!!!

She cracked her tooth on the plane and I went into the office and made her a Cerec crown, took three hours.  After her cementation, I went back to cement Lori's crown.  So much work.  

Then it was MMA at Beacon Light in Wilmington.  We worked all day 8 30 - 3 and then I had to go to mom's as Lovely went down to see Mom B.  I fed them dinner, and put dad to bed.  Unique had the weekend off.  She wanted to go to San Diego with her family.  

Lovely came home Sunday afternoon.  Adeli worked the morning.  She has been with us for years and is so good to dad.  They all came over to eat dinner here as we had so much food.  Jesse and Abby came over for dinner too.

Monday Will came home from NYC.  He called on Friday and said that he just could not make it in New York anymore.  What happened is that the landlord found out he was living at Luis' and said he could not stay there, so I bought him a ticket and he is coming back.

Tuesday we go to USC and speak to the admission counselor about Will applying to Thornton School of Music.  Will likes the school very much and started the Common App right away.  But he is still very much a slob and I had to remind him to get everything put away when he is at Grandma's  Will and dad watch the World Series, and hand out candy to the Trick or Treaters.  There weren't that many.  Maybe because of World Series.  

Wednesday, November 1, I drive Lovely to the airport.  VERY SAD DAY.  AND then Dodgers lost to the Astros the last game of WS, 5-1.  Oh well.

Will moves over to Grandma's that night.  

Tonight, Friday, we will have Bible Study and Will is required to attend.  We shall see.