Theater Day #1; Mamma Mia!

Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 by Paul

I woke up tired and had my coffee, but that didn’t even work.  I enjoyed the morning just sitting in the office, looking at the myriad of pill boxes Dr. Mary goes through to make the morning concoction for me.   Her medical expertise keeps my BP right on 120/80, which is good!

We talked about our morning walk and did an abbreviated version of it.  Mary wanted to try the trike, so she donned her black leather jacket, motorcycle boots, and motorcycle hat and was off.

I stayed well behind her because she was practicing making motorcycle sounds as she peddled along.  They were rather amusing and quite unexplainable!  The backfires were alarming.  All the dogs in the neighborhood were barking their heads off.

Hot Rod Mary is throwing caution to the wind!!

There she goes, leaving a trail of audible motorcycle sounds which should require ear protection for those within fifty feet. Note to self: Get Mary a flashing red light to add to the trike to warn the neighbors she is coming so they can cage their animals and protect the small children.

Wait until you see the skid marks!

Mary departed for watercolor school, and I got busy doing chores around the house.  Then came the call, that dreaded call: “Paul, sweetie, I forgot my _________.” Anyone can fill in the blank.  I dropped everything and went to her rescue.  This time,  it was her half-finished “Binx the Cat” watercolor.

I returned home after measuring the times to and from the Senior Center in Tustin; taking the side streets takes 15 minutes, and taking the freeway takes 12 minutes.  So, the choice does not seem to matter.

Mary made it home around 3:30 p.m., and I thought there was something fishy!  My well-honed instincts proved to be correct again!

When I confronted her with my suspicions, she became very coy!

We got ready to have dinner with the Capps at the Silver Trumpet in the afternoon.  They will see the play tomorrow evening, but wanted to dine with us tonight anyway.  We had a terrific meal and enjoyed the company!

Food and service fit for a king!!

We went to the theater, a one-block walk from the restaurant.  By the way, we bought next year’s Broadway Series 2025-26 subscription.  We will be seeing:

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Shucked
  • The Wiz
  • Some Like It Hot
  • Moulin Rouge!  The Musical
  • The Notebook
  • Monty Python’s Spamalot
  • SIX
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Phantom of the Opera

Tonight’s performance of Mamma Mia was terrific.  A mother.  A daughter,  3 possible dads and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA.  On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people worldwide have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA!  the ultimate feel-good show.  I have seen the show four times, and each time it gets better.  This was Mary’s first experience.    She can hardly wait for next season to begin!!

High energy and plenty of music!!

We walked back to the restaurant and did not stop for a drink as we had a gym class in the morning.  We crashed pretty quickly and are getting ready to return to the scene of the crime tomorrow; we are seeing “The Staircase” at Southcoast Repertory Theater and, of course, having dinner at the trumpet!

Our next visit to the Seagerstrom is to see “The Life of Pi”.  I originally thought it was “pie” and got all excited!!

Posted in Dining Out, Friends, Theater | Comments Off on Theater Day #1; Mamma Mia!

Monday Again? Oh No!

Posted on Monday, May 12, 2025 by Paul

Time to get up and start moving!!

We had an appointment with the bone crushers this morning, so we departed at 8:20 am, arriving at the gym six minutes later.  We jumped on the exercise bikes and took off like a scalded hound.   Those wheels were turning and velocities approaching the speed of light!  The smell of burnt rubber wafted through the parking lot!

From the gym, we went to see Dr. Bill, whose office is in Newport Beach.  He quickly treated my ingrown toenail with some very nice numbing juice.  He ripped out a piece of nail that was buried quite deeply, and it was 1/4″ x 1/8″ and sharp; no wonder it hurt.  My toe finally came back to life around 6:00 pm.

Getting fixed!

Since we were near Balboa Island, we decided to go to the American Legion for lunch.  They have an absolutely terrific turkey sandwich, which we shared.  Mary had her wine, and I filled up on Diet Coke.

Dr. Bill is a veteran, and we tried to have him join us, but he has a busy afternoon.  He makes many “house calls,” caring for the elderly who cannot make it into the office due to problems with their feet.  He is an unsung hero and a really nice man!

We talked to him about Becky’s visit (Dr. Bill took Becky’s Girl Scout Troop out for a navigation class years back).

We always feel welcome!  Sometimes, Mary wears her US Army cap, and we hear the Veterans say, “We never had a Captain look like that!”

The meal was so good that we asked the bartender to get the chef.  The chef was Spanish and probably in his late 20s.  He looked worried as he came to the door.  He was met with applause, and Mary spoke Spanish to him, telling him what a good job he was doing.  He seemed very pleased.

Balboa Island American Legion for lunch!

The Legion represents all the services!  The new Space Force emblem was placed alongside the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force.

Captain Mary, USA, has been a member for thirty years.

The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an organization of US war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It comprises state, US territory, and overseas departments, each made up of local posts.  The Legion was established in March 1919 in Paris, France, by officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.).  The 66th US Congress subsequently chartered it on September 16, 1919.

The Legion played a leading role in drafting and passing the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the “G.I. Bill.” In addition to organizing commemorative events, members assist at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics.  The Legion is active in issue-oriented US politics.  Its primary political activity is lobbying for veterans and service members, including benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Health Administration.

Everyone was represented.

Mary sat outside for a bit, observing all the boating activity.   The wind provided a bit of cooling, and we were happy to get inside a nice warm car.  The American Flag flies all over the Legion property, which is located on Balboa Island.  Newport Harbor Post 291 of the American Legion is one of the largest American Legion Posts in the United States and is the only Post with its own Yacht Club.

The day was cool but nice.

The view from the Post is amazing, no matter the weather.

The bay is always busy!

Returning home, we worked in the yard with Mary, trimming roses, and I cleaned up the pool pump area.  Mary made some cookies that will will take to Jeff tomorrow.

We talked to Colleen, and she sent some Mother’s Day pictures of her son and his wife, who came over and cooked a magnificent dinner for her.

Love the shirt, Jon!!!

Colleen, Jon, and Sarah

We went in the swim spa for almost an hour, which was very relaxing.  My toe finally woke up and was quite happy.

We watched TV until 10:30 pm and then crashed.  I’m not addicted to TV, we’re just in a committed relationship.

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2025 by Paul

I had my marching orders.  At 8:15 am, I was off to the flower store to get roses for all the ladies joining us today, thirteen, I think!  I succeeded in my assignment, and I rewarded myself with a donut from the bakery.  I shall not get close to the bathroom scale for two more days!  I hung a sign on the scale:

When it stops lying, I will remove the sign!

We were all getting ready to depart, and at 10:00 am, I unleashed The Silver Fox and with a mighty lurch, we sped forward to the 55 and down to the Lodge.   I dropped off the girls at the front door and carried the 14 vases of roses myself.  As I got them out of the car, I realized I bit off more than I could chew.  To the rescue came Zachary and Gary.  They grabbed the roses just before I would have dropped the whole shebang.

We have arrived, and the table was ready!

After supervising the delivery of the roses, courtesy of Dr. Mary, I had to sit down!

Excellent job, Elks!

Our table held thirty people, and it was interesting to see where they sat.  It was a very happy group!

Our table went on for miles.

We had five grandsons in this gaggle of humanity!  They are the funny ones!  We also have three great-grandchildren, but they are not babies anymore!  Lilly is almost eleven!

All of our family know each other and get along so well!

Mary’s roses went the length of the table, a veritable forest of red standing tall.

The bees were buzzing.

There was so much food available that several went for seconds.  Today, I stayed with the tried-and-true Mexican spicy.  The champagne was being poured into the bottomless glasses for all the mothers, so I settled for a bottle of wine.

The champagne flowed!

Michele, Irene, and Robin always make a party happen!

After all that champagne, and you are still standing???

Vicky is still spinning up about her recent European vacation, and Jim is taking it easy being the senior senior today!

Vicky and Jim are a fun couple.

Dianne joined us today, making it special for Dr. Mary.  Dianne and Becky haven’t seen each other for years, but they caught up quickly!

I like being surrounded!!

The boys are growing up quickly.  Charlie is driving cars, and Alex is driving everyone nuts—it seems fair!

Joe and the “boys”… young men!

Jow has a beautiful family, and thank goodness Amy is there to put the brakes on these three; otherwise, they would always be off the track!

Joe’s beautiful family!

Amy and her mother, Michele, are fun to be around!!

Amy and her mom, Michele.

Oh my, I still have a few pounds to go/  Poor Amy sees me in Alex, so she is terrified about the future.  Why, I wonder??

My Three Sons (OK, one son and two grandsons)

Miss Robin is always nearby to check that things are going well and is ready to make corrections if needed.  I love my oldest and wisest daughter.

We really missed Colleen today; it would have been perfect if she were here.

Robin came to check on the old man.

Some presents were exchanged, and Mary’s face lit up with the patriotic pin!

Presents were exchanged.

A friend and neighbor for 35 years, a party without Vicky is not a party.  She lights up the room!!!

Our dearest friend Vicky!!

Bob and Nick with Theo and Franklyn…a fun group.  Nick and Theo used to play computer games online for hours on end.

Son-in-Law with their young men.

Robin checks on Pops, ensuring my water glass is full and iced tea is topped off.

A pair to draw to!

Dang, what can I say?  Mary and Becky, along with Robin and Michele, surrounded me!  Am I a kept man?

Surrounded by a bevy of beauties.

We stayed at the Elks until about 2:30 pm as we needed to drop Becky off at the airport at 3:00 for her flight back to Phoenix.   Beck’s surprise was wonderful for Dr. Mary!

Everyone had a super time, and I am sure photos will be coming in for the next week!

We headed home, and after a short visit to Jeff’s, we attempted to watch TV, but I was done!  I barely made it to the bedroom before crashing and sleeping until 6:00 am he next morning.

Posted in Elks, Family, Fun | Comments Off on Happy Mother’s Day!

The Weekend Is Here In Full Force

Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2025 by Paul

What a magnificent day with an expected temperature of 97 degrees.   Our first piece of business was an appointment at UCI for some tests.  We departed the house at 7:30 am, arriving just 20 minutes later.  Mary got the tests done, and I stayed in the car and took a beauty nap, which was well needed!

After the appointment, we went home and cleaned up the house. Mary thought we had to go to the airport to pick up Cyndy, the Zaitz daughter! Little did she know that I had arranged for Mary’s daughter, Becky, to fly into Orange County from Phoenix and surprise her Mom for Mother’s Day!  Becky and I were in cahoots!

So we went to the airport with Mary, expecting to see Cyndy Zaitz.  As we pulled up in front of the Southwest Terminal and stopped, she saw Becky!  Shock!  I, of course, got the evil eye.

Mary knew I was up to no good!   Mary used some words that I had never heard of: I was aberrant, ambagious,  calculating, canny, circuitous, convoluted, cunning, deceitful, deceptive, dubious, duplicitous, fishy, fraudulent, furtive, guileful, insidious, , labyrinthian, misleading, multifarious, not kosher, plotting, questionable, scheming, secretive, shady, shameless, slick, slippery, sly, sneaky, surreptitious, tricky, unconscionable, unscrupulous, unstraightforward, without remorse, without shame, and a few others I could not spell!

In the end, I was allowed back in the house and did not have to share Scouts bed on the patio!

Mary was shocked and very pleased!!!

We drove to True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island for lunch!

Excellent food and a great visit!!

We had a load of fun and a lot of catching up to do.  I went off the wagon and had an Odessy Gin Martini with a whopping one large ice cube.  I nursed that drink for an entire hour!

We laughed and giggled for two hours!

The girls went for the health food while the old man went for the burger!

Delicious!!!

After lunch, we walked over to the bookstore and ambled looking for a book we could not do without.  Halfway through, I spotted an empty chair, and to save it from others, I plopped into it, planted my flag, and proceeded to fall asleep. When the girls were done shopping, they went on a search-and-rescue mission to find me.  They said I was easy to find, they just listened for a sound somewhere between a raging bull elephant and a backfiring lawnmower; they knew I would be there!

From Fashion Island, we drove home and visited for a while with Mary, showing off the garden and her “Loft”.

It had been two hours since we had eaten, so it was time to do it again. We departed for Verde, owned by one of Becky’s friends. Guests can look forward to a menu inspired by seasonally sourced ingredients, complemented by inventive cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere. This collaboration promises to bring a new level of excellence to Costa Mesa’s dining scene, creating a place where every visit becomes a cherished memory.

It was easy to keep Becky and Mary in stitches during dinner; I just told the truth about things!

What did I say???

We had a fantastic dinner that was so good I almost proposed to the chef, and then we kept chatting like we were trying to win a gold medal in conversation!

Becky and Mom, what a team!

The house provided us with a camera person, and she captured the event perfectly.  We are not sure who the old geezer is who photo bombed us on the lefthand side but at least it did not crack the lense!

Just us!

We headed home, bringing Scout a brand-new meatball dinner! He could smell the goodies, and he went after his dinner with a vengeance. Scout rewarded us with one of his witticisms: “Why did the cowboy adopt a dachshund? He always wanted to get a long little doggie.”

We have a long day tomorrow, beginning with Mother’s Day Brunch at the Elks at 10:30 am so we crashed.

Posted in Family, Food and Wine | Comments Off on The Weekend Is Here In Full Force

Mother’s Day Minus Two!

Posted on Friday, May 9, 2025 by Paul

I scared Mary!!!

The temperature is supposed to be 93 degrees, which is perfect for working in the garden, as we get an afternoon breeze every day around 2:00 p.m. We walked through the garden and noticed the boys were showing. Yes, the male part of the corn is just starting to form, meaning in two weeks or so, we ought to see the girls’ parts (the corn fruit) begin to form.

OK, boys, get ready!!!

Naps are vital at my age!!

Before leaving, Mary got tickets for the Father’s Day event at the Elks, which is coming soon!

My day started great!

We dawdled around for a while and then got ready to go to the Apple store. Looks like it’s time for our three Apple watches to get a little TLC! They’ve been ticking away, but I think they’ve developed a serious case of “watch burnout.” I mean, who knew a smartwatch could be so dramatic? So, we have an appointment at noon for their pampering session—because even watches need their spa day! Let’s hope they don’t start requesting cucumber slices for their faces!

One of my watches was reset and came out OK.  The newer one had to be sent to the Apple Doctor so it will not be back for a week.

When we showed Mary’s non-bright watch to the Genius, we punched the “Theater Mode Switch” off, and the watch was back to normal!  Mary finds the most interesting buttons to press.

Waiting at the Apple Store.

We returned home to recharge our batteries (a.k.a. take a nap) and tackle a few chores that had started their own rebellion. After a brief showdown with the laundry monster, we finally headed to the Tustin Senior Center for the grand unveiling of the artwork! I can’t wait to see if it’s Picasso or just a bunch of finger painting—either way, there is bound to be a masterpiece selected this evenong.

The gallery is ready for judging.

When they announced the winners, Mary almost fell off the chair. It was totally unexpected, but she got second place in the watercolor department. Not too bad for a first-time entry in the contest.

On the way home, she sat in the backseat and made me the chauffeur.   Her head was hard to get inside the car.

The prize!! Someone was happy!

She mentioned something about my adding this to the flagpole tomorrow so it could wave over the neighborhood.

Second place was pretty darn good!!!

Dianne knew Mary would win, so she brought flowers like those given to a prima ballerina after the dance.

Dianne even brought flowers!

Mary brought her own rooting sections.  The Ashes, long-time friends and fellow dancers, came all the way from La Habra to see her works!

The Ash’s came to root Mary on!!

Iris and Will came to the showing and Iris (turning 99 this year) enjoyed the show!

Iris got a kick out of the event!

Everyone brought something to eat.  Mary and I loved the wine and several of the homemade dishes.

It was a wonderful party!

We returned home about 8:00 pm and decided to go in the spa but alas, The Blacklist was too good this evening.

See you tomorrow.

 

Posted in Art, Friends, Fun | Comments Off on Mother’s Day Minus Two!

Spring Has Re-Sprung! It Was 82 Degrees Today!!

Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2025 by Paul

Robin departed early this morning, and we did not even hear her make her escape!  I took the baby out at 6:00 am and returned to bed only to get up at 8:00 am.   Mary adjusted my pills as the old BP was dropping into the 105s-110s.

Mary was full of energy, so we went whistling and skipping along the way on the morning walk.  Of course, I cannot whistle or skip, so Mary did the sound effects.  We had to sneak out, otherwise Scout would have decided to go, and that means:

“OK, Paul, no chasing cars or peeing on the fire hydrants!”

We got the Grey Ghost unwrapped, and I moved it to the curb so Scout could get in easily.  We headed to his beauty parlor just off Chapman, two miles from home.  He likes it there because everyone raves about his Doo. This was the first time we had driven it for over two months; the Ghost stayed with Joe while his truck was overhauled.

On our way to the sidewalk to start this morning’s walk, we visited the Hollyhock flower; they are almost ten feet tall!

Hollyhocks, known for their tall, vibrant flowers, are not just pretty; they have a rich history and various uses.  They are often called “outhouse flowers” due to their typical placement near outhouses for privacy, and their symbolism in the Victorian era included ambition and fecundity.  Hollyhocks are also edible, with their flowers adding a subtle flavor to salads and other dishes.

We stopped in the front yard to admire our Hollyhocks.  We checked, and there were no outhouses nearby!

We planted three red maples in the grass area two years ago, and two of the three are doing well; the third seems to have been a dwarf!

The Chinese Red Maple tree is coming out of its winter hibernation.

Our morning walk is about a mile long and goes up about 80 feet vertically, which is a bit of a challenge. We made it, although I stopped three times to rest. We shall continue this, as the heart doctor says it is good for us!  I thought about this new plan! Walking in circles means you’re well-rounded.

Around the corner from us is a family, like us,  that decorates for the holidays.  We noticed that Easter is now gone, and summer decorations are up.  Their peach tree is loaded with fruit, so we plan to visit quite often!

Around the corner, the peach tree is doing just fine!

Further down the road, the neighbor likes to put dinosaurs in his planters, and for three years, Mary and I have had a dinosaur to add to his collection.  Today, we did it!

Our neighbor places dinosaurs in his flower beds.

Our little guy is funny-looking, so we hope the owner will enjoy the addition.

We added to his collection.

Back on our street, we ran into a cactus that looked interesting.

Opuntia, known as the Prickly Pear Cactus, has distinctive flattened stems (pads) and prickly, edible fruits.  It is native to hot desert regions but can also tolerate cold temperatures.  Prickly pears are not only a food source but also have medicinal properties and are used in various cultural contexts.

Opuntia, commonly called the prickly pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, many of which are known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers.

Cacti are native to the Americas and well adapted to arid climates; however, they are still vulnerable to precipitation and temperature changes driven by climate change.  The plant has been introduced to parts of Australia, southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa

We visited a blossoming cactus.

We were careful because the thorns are sharp!  The little buds will be flowering for the next couple of months.

To prepare prickly pear pads for cooking, first remove the spines and glochids (small, hair-like spines) using a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife. After cleaning, trim the edges and base, then cut the pads into desired shapes or sizes. You can then sauté, boil, or grill the pads for dishes like tacos, salads, or scrambled eggs.

A few blossoms may disappear and become part of dinner in the next few days

I played with some old photos while Mary made a wonderful dinner salad. The photo below is from 1953. It is in black and white. Dad was celebrating twenty-five years with Ralph’s 5, 10, and 25 cent stores, the forerunner of the 99 Cent store.

Left-to-right: Claud and Edith Parchman (Dad’s sister, Jimmy and Opal Robinson (Dad’s oldest sister, Paul and Georgia (my folks), Kathryn Robinson (my cousin, and you, truly!

Fortunately, I had a fantastic set of parents; they were the cat’s meow!

They have both been gone for many years, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of them!

The Google Photos software notified me of the date, and we are about a week from the celebration of being in our home for four years.  We have done a lot of work, and because of Mary, she transformed the house into a home!

The day we got the keys to our new home was four years ago!

We did our Thursday chores, such as taking the trash cans out, and then came inside to have dinner and watch TV.  Scout blocked the door, so we had to look at him every time we exited or entered the backyard. He wanted to make sure we knew he was pretty!

He looked amazing, and he knew it!!!

He asked for one more close-up!

“Step back and admire!”

We watched TV until about 10:30 pm and then hit the sack.  We have an open calendar, except for attending Mary’s art show tomorrow evening.

Posted in Elks, Just Us, Walking | Comments Off on Spring Has Re-Sprung! It Was 82 Degrees Today!!

A Great Day Was Had By All!

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 by Paul

Just Us!

We were up at 7:00 am and getting ready for our morning trek to the gym.  I almost decided to stay home and then I heard this little voice say, “Suck it up and go to the gym.”

I’m not saying I’m Batman, but have you ever seen Batman and me in the same room together?

After our workout, which took about 90 minutes, we went to Ralph’s and picked up some necessities, including a four-pound hunk of corned beef, which happened to be on sale.  I see slow cooking in the near future.  We also got the usual items: milk, watermelon, and other goodies.

Arriving home, we unpacked and then strolled the garden quickly, as we had to eat and then clean the house because the house cleaners were coming in the afternoon!

The roses were spectacular.  In the seventeenth century, French explorer Samuel de Champlain brought the first cultivated roses to North America.  Roses are truly ageless.  Recently, archaeologists discovered the fossilized remains of wild roses over 40 million years old.  The people of ancient Greece used roses to accessorize.

An afternoon walk in the garden reveals amazing roses.

While Mary prepared lunch, I went upstairs and straightened up the Loft so the cleaning people could do their thing.  There was styrofoam all over since I had been putting together several tables for Mary’s art supplies.

She has a super view of the backyard from the Loft.

The view from the Loft is wonderful.

The close-up reveals the clippings we need to clean up before trash day on Friday.  We worked in the yard for an hour while Domilita and the staff cleaned the house

We shall attack the garden after lunch!

I got the latest beta-test copy of Photoshop, and it had some new features to help render old photographs.  I had one photo of my dad and me taken just before we departed for Europe in 1960.  The original was in black and white and had several scratches and stains.  I worked for about 45 minutes and got them mostly cleaned up.

Dad has been gone for fifty-five years, and I still miss him every day.  I wish he could have met Dr. Mary; they would have been best buds!

I used the latest Photoshop Beta release to fix up some old pictures of Dad and me circa 1960 (65 years ago)

Robin popped by around 4:00 pm and will be going with us to Disney Trivia at the Lodge.  On our way there, we stopped at the Tustin Senior Center, where some of Mary’s works are displayed for the next 30 days.

Before going to Disney Trivia, we took Robin to Mary’s art display at the local Senio Citizens Cente.

We then headed to the Lodge for trivia night.  We enjoyed dinner with Mary, having a salad and a chicken quesadilla, while I attacked a swordfish.  Between the three of us, we killed off a bottle of Chardonnay.

There were five rounds with six questions each, plus some bonus questions.  Our table had just us, while some tables had up to ten people.  We did OK coming in, not last but certainly not first place.

From the Lodge, we headed home so I could do my breathing exercise and crash.  Robin has to be up and moving before 7:00 am; she still works in Seal Beach, but from our house to Seal Beach is a lot closer than Corona!

Posted in Elks, Family, Gym | Comments Off on A Great Day Was Had By All!

Another “Clear Day” But It Is Cold Outside!

Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 by Paul

Our walking alarm clock went off this morning at 7:00 am.  Yes, Scout got up and proceeded to nudge the side of the bed, thus ensuring he would make it outside to do his business.  It was in the 50s when we asked Alexa about today’s forecast.  It was too cold to walk with Scout outside, so he went by himself.

What do you call a dog that’s playing outdoors in winter?  A chili dog.

While Mary took her shower, I roamed the internet and found a picture of Iguazu Falls, a place we will visit in January 2026.  It looked exciting and we could even see our hotel in the background.  Iguazú Falls or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Together, they make up the most extensive waterfall system in the world.  The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu.

We will see this around the 10th of January 2026, in Igazau Falls, Argentina.

Today was watercolor day, so we went early to see where Mary’s artwork was displayed.  Her three pieces, along with those of other members of her class, were in a long hallway.

Mary’s work is up and posted in the Senior Center

The “Walk In The Woods” was easily spotted on the north wall.

Looks great!

The other two entrances were on the hallway’s East (narrow) wall.

You can almost hear them buzz!

Stand up and salute!!

From the Senior Center, we went to the railway station, hoping to get tickets for our next adventure.  Alas, all they had was a kiosk.  We will have to call Amtrak to complete our reservations.

Going home, we decided to stop at Ace’s, where we had a glass of wine and I dove into the Ace’s Burger, which was really good.  With all the medications I am taking, it felt like I needed salt, but the doctor said to stay away from salt, so I did!

As we left, a new friend bought us a glass of wine.  He said he had been observing us while sitting at the bar, and it looked like we were in love (we didn’t know it showed), so he wanted to buy us a drink!

Siet?  What diet?

We got home around 4:00 pm, and it was cold outside.  We brought the house to 76 degrees, got into our jammies, and went to the TG room to watch The Blacklist for a couple of hours.

We crashed at 10:00 pm.  It was an active but boring day!

A cup of Sleepytime Tea was the last thing I remember!

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We Week Begins On The Run!

Posted on Monday, May 5, 2025 by Paul

This was especially hard to do in Arkansas!

We were up early as we had to be at the gym at 8:30 am so we could take a ride.  We did our exercises and lost 332.5 calories doing it.  After departing the gym, we headed to the bagel store and got a 333-calorie bagel, so we are up a net 0.5 calories.

“Holy guacamole, it’s Cinco de Mayo!”

We did not celebrate today!

We went directly to the dermatologist from the bagel store to have my face looked at.  Why he ran screaming out of the office still makes me wonder, but after regaining his composure, he returned.  He took some core samples and used the liquid nitrogen to burn some places off around the forehead.

We left his office at noon and went to The Fish Company to have lunch with Vicky. It was a 0.6-mile trip.

Time for lunch!

After a delightful lunch of Rainbow Trout and a lot of giggling and laughing, we set sail for home.

Rainbow trout are fascinating fish known for their vibrant colors, diverse habitats, and unique behaviors. They are native to North America but have been introduced to various parts of the world. There are two main forms: stream-dwelling rainbow trout and steelhead, which migrate between freshwater and saltwater.

After arriving home, we went to the garden and brought in some zucchini to make zoodles this evening. After washing them and trimming the ends, we put the zucchini in the zoodle preparation device.  This clever machine has seven separate blades and can make whimsical cuts into soft veggies.

The making of Zoodles!

With a few short cranks of the device, they were ready.  We squeezed the water from the zoodles and placed kosher salt on them to draw out the remaining water.  They went into the sauté pan, and four minutes later, Mary was ready to add her secret sauce.

Meet the zoodles, before the sauce is added.  Zoodles, known as zucchini noodles, offer a low-carb, gluten-free, and nutritious alternative to traditional pasta. They are made by spiralizing or julienning zucchini into thin, pasta-like strands.

Healthy food, our choice tonight!

Our text devices went off, and we received a picture of Bill and Sandy showing their marriage certificate!  Six weeks early, but it’s never too early.  We are so happy for them!!

The certificate is ready for the wedding!

After dinner, we went to Jeff’s to bring him some healthy food, and we visited for a while.

We returned and called Colleen to check out the latest on the East Coast, all is well!  We also called Robin to show her Mary’s rendition of Binx, which she did in watercolors.

Robin will verify the colors on Thursday, but she and Bob thought it was excellent when shown over the batphone!

Time for some episode of The Blacklist!  We settled in, and Scout was so happy he just smiled!

We do not understand shy!

At 10:00 pm, we hit the sack as tomorrow is another busy day!  Both of us were in and out of mini-naps!  The new TV adjustable couches are so relaxing.

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A Day Late And Six Inches Short!

Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2025 by Paul

After Mary’s coffee, she was doing better!

The day was cold, and we had mist in the air.  We turned on the heat, rolled over, and slept for another hour, as we had zero plans for the day.  We finally rose to meet the day at 7:30 am, plus Scout had a great desire to go outside!

We went into the office with our cups of coffee, needing to get our hearts started.  We worked for an hour until the mist stopped, and we decided to walk in the garden.

Yesterday was colder, so we decided to celebrate today!  The first Saturday in May is World Naked Gardening Day!  Being one day late will probably not have any deleterious effect on the country,

No!  It is a real thing!!!

According to Wikipedia:

So without much further ado, we joined the fun, although some of us had more fun than the others!

After my “short” visit to the garden, three tomatoes called 911 to report me, and two made appointments to see their shrink!  I guess I have that effect on “people”.  I will, however, say the zucchini was a bit envious!   It was a bit chilly, so I should have worn a hat!

I sprang into action first!

Mary acted like the girl in the song “Teeny Tiny Yellow Pokadot Bikini”  and would not come out of the bushes!  The sweetpeas did a great job of hiding her from the camera.  (I was hoping there might be a few bees in those flowers and we would see the world’s fastest streaker head for the house, breaking all current and future human on-foot speed limits!)

Someone was hiding!

OK, we will do a close-up!  I was ready because if I would have seen any bees, I would scare them, away by pointing at Mary and yelling “Boo Bees” really loud.  I am always thinking of Mary!

Well???  Are you coming out?

We worked for about an hour trimming and picking several beautiful zucchini, which we will turn into Zoodles tomorrow. Zoodles, or zucchini noodles, are significantly lower in carbs than traditional pasta. A 1-cup serving of zoodles contains approximately 7 grams of carbohydrates. In comparison, a similar serving of pasta can contain around 90 grams of carbs. Zoodles also offer a higher fiber content, with about 2-4 grams per serving.

They taste great and they are good for the old waistline!!

In the afternoon, we went to the Loft, and Mary worked on her Binx Cat painting while I figured out the newest storage table for the Loft.  We both watched one of the 1933 John Wayne westerns until the plots became identical.  In the film credits, we always saw  George Hayes, whom we did not know.  Finally, we picked up our portable encyclopedias (call them iPhones) and found out it was Gabby Hayes!

Mary fixed a nice lasagna dinner, and we watched some more TV before moving to the TV room until 10:00 p.m., when Sandman visited and we fell asleep. We then watched three additional episodes of The Darklist.

Today was a nice, restful day!  We need more of these.  By the way, this old man is now 197 pounds and dropping!

Posted in Just Us, Vegetable Garden, Working Around House | Comments Off on A Day Late And Six Inches Short!