{"id":93423,"date":"2026-01-28T08:50:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=93423"},"modified":"2026-01-29T00:16:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T07:16:01","slug":"down-and-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=93423","title":{"rendered":"Down And Out!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mama doesn’t feel good!<\/p><\/div>\n

Even after resting yesterday after watercolor class, Mary’s back was still on the fritz.<\/p>\n

In slang, “fritz” almost always appears in the phrase “on the fritz,” meaning something is broken, not working correctly, malfunctioning, or out of order, like a faulty appliance.\u00a0 While its exact origin is debated, it likely comes from the German nickname “Fritz” (for Friedrich), possibly linked to early German imports before WWI.<\/div>\n

At 7:00 am, I contacted Peak Performance via the Enigma Machine to cancel our performance.\u00a0 The receptionist told us that the audience that usually gathers outside the gym, peering into the facility while Mary and I do our workout, will be disappointed.\u00a0 I asked the receptionists to explain the circumstances and to offer rainchecks for our next “performance”.<\/p>\n

After the cancellation call, I went to the office to begin the day.\u00a0 Translation: Doing the Daily Diary!\u00a0 Without Mary, I made coffee and cleaned up the kitchen from last night’s dinner.\u00a0 Observing a bag of oranges on the kitchen island, I decided to make myself some fresh orange juice.\u00a0 Was I surprised when the inside of the oranges was blood red!\u00a0 Then I remembered picking up a bag of oranges from Ralph’s a few days ago.\u00a0 I squeezed the oranges and drank the results, feeling like a vampire.<\/p>\n

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These puppies were REALLY red!<\/p><\/div>\n

Blood oranges are distinct for their crimson flesh, caused by anthocyanin pigments that develop only when nights are cold.\u00a0 Originating in 17th-century Sicily, these sweet-tart fruits are a natural mutation believed to be a cross between a pomelo and a tangerine.\u00a0 They are prized for their raspberry-like flavor and, in Italy, are protected for quality.<\/div>\n

By 11:30 am, we were in the Silver Fox, zooming toward a new hair parlor in Huntington Beach like two flamingos on roller skates.\u00a0 Thank goodness for GPS\u2014without it, we’d probably have ended up in a taco truck asking for a haircut!\u00a0 I mean, who knew “turn left at the giant inflatable cactus” was an actual direction?<\/p>\n

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Do not laugh, she was practicing on a rather large bowling ball!<\/p><\/div>\n

From Huntington Beach, we headed south to Linda’s new salon, where we both got coiffured!\u00a0 After some serious effort on Linda’s behalf, we walked out looking like $1,000,000 in counterfeit bills.\u00a0 \u00a0While Mary was getting her last operation, I went to Starbucks and got her a latte and some egg bites because she skipped breakfast!<\/p>\n

Mary chowed down her breakfast as the Silver Fox winged its way to Dr. Tong’s office in Irvine, where Mary was to get a back treatment.\u00a0 \u00a0She got an acupuncture treatment in addition to some painkillers.<\/p>\n

We finally returned home around 5:00 pm, taking the side streets to avoid the afternoon traffic on the 55.\u00a0 I assisted Mary into her jammies and onto the La-Z-Boy couch.\u00a0 After assessing our hunger, we decided some cottage cheese (for protein) and peach halves (for dessert) would be just right.<\/p>\n

At Becky’s recommendation, we began watching Ted Lasso.\u00a0 Ted Lasso is the Apple TV+ series about an American football coach, played by Jason Sudeikis, who moves to England to manage a professional soccer team (AFC Richmond) despite having no experience with the sport.\u00a0 The show focuses on his optimistic, “good-guy” approach to winning over the skeptics, players, and British public.<\/p>\n