BEEN AWHILE....

It has been a while since I've written.  First of all the weather has been so hot and muggy it is not conducive to doing anything.  Life has been really busy and yet not.  The usual dinners out with girlfriends, Elks and a few interesting phone calls and emails

Bruno sent me a picture of his newest biological grandson.  He was almost 10 pounds, 22" and he has a ton of black hair. His oldest son and his wife, who live in Houston, are the proud parents.  It is their third child.

I had lunch yesterday at Nieuport 17 with Vet man.  We had a great talk.  He said his girlfriend is moving in with him this weekend.  Big step for him.  Probably bigger one for her.  It is nice to communicate with a man that isn't trying to get in your panties. Vet man isn't immune, he just knows there is no way.

I decided to go out for Monday night football last night.  There were a lot of lawyers at the restaurant and since several of them were from Ohio, my home State, we had a great talk about football and Canton.  The NFL started there. There was an older Japanese man there that had taken his daughter to interview with Kenyon college for the swim team when she was going to college.  She had been accepted at Yale and chose Kenyon.  What was she thinking? He played at USC and new my husband and his cronies. Way to small of a world.

It is always nice to go to a place where you feel safe and non threatened by the idiots out there. On the way back home I decided to stop and get a bite to eat, again at Nieuport 17....just their bar food.  I know most of the staff there and we too had a great conversation about a little bit of everything.The place isn't far from my house so it always calls to me.

The Canadian man that has been contacting me won his big contract in Dubai.  He owns the company and has been doing structural engineering for thirty three years.  He said this contract was the biggest he has ever had and since he is thinking about retiring and only staying on as a consultant in his own company, it is a huge going out with a bang.S ince Bruno says I need a supplemental, I"m looking.  I swear I think I found Bruno's long lost brother.  Canadian man travels as much if not more then Bruno.  I guess when you own the company like they both do you have to keep things in the air to be successful. We are talking about men that make millions.  Now if I could only get one of them to share.  LOL

Tonight is a women's dinner at the Elks for the State Presidents wife.  I wasn't going to go but a friend of mine talked me into it and then called and wants me to check people in. I wish they'd get others involved.

I also went to Mexican night with a good friend of mine who is going through a divorce.  So, that is about it from this end right now.  I'll try to be better about posting

SATURDAY....

I had a unsolicited email from some man that had been on Match.  I no longer am on any dating site, hence the boredom of my Posts.  This man said he had read my profile, that took him a while to digest, and thought we had the same interests.  Of course, no picture, don't know where he is located, how old or how tall.  I'm not really looking for anyone but it was a little surprised that he contacted me after all this time off the site.

Bruno is always accusing me of having another boyfriend, but I think he is covering his ass because he sees someone else.  Although I swear with his schedule I don't know how he could.  I just figure it is what it is.

I had a wake up call yesterday morning at 7:30 a.m. from my ex-sister in law.  My first thought was something was wrong but no, she called to thank me for a sympathy card I had sent her when I found out her Mother, who was almost one hundred, had died,.  I sent my Nephew one too.  Both cards went to his address because I have no idea what her address is where she lives.

She talked to me for almost two hours. It was basically general and nothing about my brother, except to say he had sent a nice card, which to me was a decent thing to do. She is taking care of her special needs grandchild, my brother's grand child too, but that is another story.  The poor little guy has to have another operation on his hips.

Things are going along fine with my eyes and I've been in contact with my doctor about a little problem I had with an ointment.  I see him on Monday to get the stitches out and should be good to go with a little makeup.

My friend called today and wanted me to go with her to a birthday party but of course that isn't possible. I'm cleaning house today and just staying in to recoup.

POST OP....

Yesterday went a whole lot better then I thought.  He did everything under a local which made it so much easier not to mention cheaper.  This doctor is in Irvine and not the same one I went to in Newport Beach. Nothing he did hurt or was uncomfortable...yea !  Except for some swelling from the laser he used under my eyes, everything looks great and absolutely no pain. The laser was less then a five minute procedure. He was recommended by a female doctor I know that said he was an artist.  His name is Dr. Altman.

I have to go back today so he can check me and I still need a driver, but that is because of the medication.  I actually didn't take much due to the fact I didn't need it. I've resumed all normal activities...of course can't go out anywhere without sunglasses and wouldn't anyway until the swelling and redness goes away under my eyes. Truthfully it doesn't look all that bad.  Stitches out on my upper eyelids on Monday.

So I'm waiting for my ex neighbor from the old neighborhood to pick me up.  I have such great people in my life and they are there to help should I need them.  Since I'm out here alone, no family, I thank heavens for my friends.

Everyone has said that having children makes it easier for one to get help, but I have found that is not the case.  I know a lot of people who are estranged from their children and they could drop dead and the kids wouldn't care. There are no guarantees in this world. These kids are their own flesh and blood too.  You know they say you can pick your friends but not your family, how true. I have never found it a detriment not having children and maybe I make that statement because I don't. If  you never had something you don't miss it.  I do enjoy my peripheral grand kids but we make no demands on each other and when we see each other there are no issues and it is because we want to.

So, off to get looked at and then back home.

TOUCH UP...

I decided after looking in the mirror and realizing I had probably not had anything done to my eyes since 1997and  it was time for a pick me up since I thought I looked droopy and tired.  Ah the laws of gravity and age.

The procedure  is going to be minimal, but still entails someone driving you to the Doctor's office.  It will only take and hour and a half with a return tomorrow for him to check his work.  I have been through this before with no problems and I'm hoping this will be the same.

Since I live in the State of plastic surgery everyone, just about, that I know has had procedures done.  Most are very satisfactory.  Getting older is not fun but it sure beats the alternative.  I think if it makes you feel better and happy with the way you look,  you should do what you can to maintain your appearance. Not that I don't get enough attention the way I look now, but this one is for me.

You can go over the top with things, but the doctors I go to are very conservative and that is what  you want.  God forbid you get the "wind tunnel" look.  This has nothing to do with my face so I'm not worried about that.

So in about a week or so I'll be good to go. I'll post more to tell everyone how things went.

BUSY...

Actually things worked out on Sunday.  Bruno drove up from La Quinta in the late morning on Sunday.  He looked so handsome in his yellow shorts and red top.  He had a beard trim and hair cut and was very spiffy. We went out to lunch...he had breakfast at 6:00 am. The place was my choice and since there aren't to many places that serve breakfast we went to Quinn's.  Seems to always be a restaurant of choice.  The food is great and we both enjoyed it.  We had a really nice time together and when he left he emailed me to say he really enjoyed being with me.  Dido!

When Bruno left and I got ready to drive to pick up my friend and go to Laguna Beach for a BBQ at a condo on the beach.  My NYC friend's nephew, his girlfriend, parents, and girlfriend's parents along with a couple others were there.  We had such a great time.

My friend had set everything up in the BBQ area of the condo that looks over the ocean.  I'm so very lucky to have wealthy friends that want to include me in there lives and family.  The mother of the graduate, who I had met in Connecticut years ago and had seen approximately five years ago for dinner when she came out for a Getty Museum Conference, she is an art restorer for the Smithsonian and others, she is  kick and we had a great conversation.  It was the first time I met her husband and he was very nice, not to mention helpful.

My other good friend should be home today from Hawaii.  She took her grand kids there for a week and we said we would get together when she returned.  Although she and her husband are headed to the San Juans to their yacht before the weather gets bad.

Monday I had lunch with Vet man...only an hour.  It was a catch up conversation.  His daughter is coming from the East and his girlfriend, who is a nurse, will finally meet her

Today is Tuesday and I'm home getting some things done.

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ALWAYS A SURPRISE...

I stayed home all day Friday and played catch up.  About five o'clock my younger friend, that lives in Orange, called and asked me to come to her Orange Elks with she and another girlfriend for a Prime Rib dinner.  I was going to stay home, but I thought why?

I picked them up and we spent about two hours having dinner.  I always feel a disconnect at some of these affairs.  Everyone is very friendly and they do go out of there way to talk to me but I feel like a fish out of water most of the time.  It was nice, but I decided to leave and return home. I was in bed by nine.

My lone wolf Bruno has been in the desert wheeling and dealing.  He was suppose to call me when the new baby that his oldest son and his wife are having, but I hadn't heard anything from him,  He can have a touch of Alzheimer's, so I just chocked it up to that.  He can be bad about saying he'll call and then not.

He did call today and there is no baby. Seems the doctor's in Texas changed their mind about inducing labor and wanted to wait. Baby is messing up everyone's schedule.

Bruno was going to try and come see me today, Saturday, but he has a dinner meeting with a couple men that he is in negotiations with regarding property.  The baby is putting a chink into his schedule and everyone else's. He called to see if I was going to be home tomorrow and said he would drive to see me I will be until five fifteen.  We'll see if he makes it. I've learned not to be to upset when things get screwed up.

I ran errands today, birthday cards etc. So, that is the extent of what is going on.

FUN NIGHT...

Last night, Thursday, I went to Houston's to meet my good friend and her ex husband for dinner. Yes, ex husband.  He had come in from New York City to attend his nephews graduation from film school.

I arrived early due to the fact that the parking is almost non existent if you arrive a little later in the evening.  Since I had about forty five minutes to wait I sat at the bar and ordered a club soda. I thought I'd wait to have a drink at the table.

While I was sitting there this man walked in and asked if he could sit at the seat next to me.  Be my guest, I don't own the stools.  He was a salesman from Chicago and after chatting with him for a while I found out he was in the restaurant supply business for Corporate offices and was in California for the restaurant show being held in L.A.

The other interesting thing was he had a son that had just graduated from Purdue and had completed an Internship at Timken Roller Bearing in Canton, Ohio, my home town in marketing. He said his son actually liked Canton and that there still was a Timken on the board of the company. I went to Timken High School .....small world.

I told him I was waiting for friends but he said if my friends didn't come he would like me to join him for dinner.  If they did come and my friends and I had dinner would I come back to the bar and join him for a drink.  Another lonely salesman...not going to happen. I did have dinner with my friends and I did NOT join him for a drink, although he was still sitting there after two hours.

My NY friend came in and we waited a little while for his wife to find parking.  It was great seeing him. He was kidding me about not leaving me alone for a minute because there was always some guy around hitting on me.

 I've stayed with him and my girlfriend in his condo in NY.  The condo is on the upper Westside close to Central Park and located on the Hudson.  The building was originally a Trump building but had been sold to someone else. I can't imagine what the rent is as I know that a small two bedroom is $10,000. a month in NYC  His place is big, two bedrooms, two baths, prior to that he was in a Brownstone that I visited previously. He is quite the man about town in NYC and is well known all over the city.

Anyway, it was a fun reunion and they issued an invitation to me and another friend to come to the beach house in Laguna on Sunday for a BBQ to celebrate the graduation.

My life certainly has its ups and downs.  One never knows what a week will bring.

IT'S ONLY WEDNESDAY....

Sunday night the girls came for dinner at 5:00. I made Annabelle's to drink, which were shades of the seventies. They are frozen pink lemonade, half and half cream, and vodka put in a blender, equal amounts. Very pretty and of course low caloric. Since several of the gals are vegetarians I made mac and cheese with a salad. Everyone brought an appetizer and one brought this wonderful dessert we use to make in the seventies called "sex in a pan. Whipped cream, chocolate mousse, angel food cake on a baked almond crust. Good heavens we will all have to diet for the next month if not longer. We caught up with everyone's goings on. These women have been in my life since the early seventies when we all lived in the same neighborhood. It is always nice to keep long time friends and know they will always be there for you. Now on to Bruno....I bet everyone is sick to death of hearing about him. He returned from China on Saturday, emailed me Monday and came over to see me after an appointment in Dana Point that did't go well. He said he felt the China trip was a waste of time and would remain to be seen if things moved forward. I don't know why there is such a connection but since we have been dating going on four years it certainly hasn't waned. He made the statement that it was more then like and it hadn't been casual since we met. Of course his actions speak louder then his words and I'm taking it all with a huge grain of salt. He is having a birthday soon and since he has been looking for another car to add to his collection he purchased, before he left for China, an Aston Martin.. he didn't want to tell me what it was but finally admitted what type, convertible of course. I told him he was going through his mid-life crisis and he said that had happened when he was twenty eight and bought a Carrera...boys and their toys. I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to get him for his birthday and he said he wanted a car cover. Monday night my ex neighbor and I went to dinner at Quinn's. That place is so much fun and has good food. Since it seems to have changed ownership I'm hoping that it remains good. Older crowd and everyone knows everyone. Like a Cheers bar. My friend and I caught up. She and her husband had just gotten back from a river cruise in France and enjoyed it Yesterday I went to the Aston Martin dealership in Newport Beachto see about the car cover As with everything, nothing is easy. I don't know if I can get one, they have to be made and this Aston is older and of course the cover may no longer be available. We'll see. I met the salesman and the parts manager and one of them is suppose to call me today to let me know about the cover. After I left the dealership it was lunch time. Before that I had gone to the doctors for a consultation and thought since I was in the area I'd have lunch at The Ritz at the bar. I had a great Ceasar with steak medallions. Of course the place always has these various men that can't mind their own business. This one man sat down close to me and was waiting for his date He rather resembled a pig and never in a million years would I be interested. He said he was some big real estate development firm in Arizona and had his brochures and card to prove it was his company. He had a girlfriend but was meeting someone he picked up at the Ferragamo store. All men are really dogs aren't they? His actual girlfriend was shopping. This man thought he should introduce me to some of his friends because I needed to have someone spoil me....not that isn't a bad idea but since I didn't want to give this guy my phone number it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever. It seems I'm always fending off advances. One would think at my age the boys would leave me alone. After I returned home I changed clothes and headed for the Elks to pack boxes for Afghanistan and vote for a new ER. So that is this week so far. This morning I had an email from Vet man asking me to lunch next week on Monday. I haven't answered him yet...I'm not sure what his deal is. He has a girlfriend, although the last time I saw him his comment was, "one can't always have what they really want." True. Keeping my fingers crossed that things stay normal the rest of the week.

GETTING READY...*t

Yesterday was a fairly busy day.  I had a lot of errands to do, lunch with Vet Man to catch up. It was the first time he had asked me to join him for a very long time.  Don't know what made him do so. We chatted about mundane things, including Bruno and Vet mans girlfriend.  I left the yacht club and headed for Orange to get Bruno a birthday card.

The only place that had a card I wanted for him was Watson's drugs and since I had a lot of time between lunch and meeting the girls for the movie at Fashion Island',s Island movie house was at least four hours.

The Island movies is one of those where you have assigned seats, if you choose to have a glass of wine or something to eat they deliver it to you.  The seats are super comfortable and it is more of an experience, of course you pay for that experience.

When I met the girls the movie time had changed from 4:00 to 5:00 so we went to the Yard House for a drink and a snack until the movie, The Millers, started.  The movie by the way was funny although like every movie now a days the "f" word was rampant. I think the writers  todayare verbally challenged.

After the movie let out we took the escalator down and Muttopolis, a dog apparel store, was having a doggie fashion show.  The pups were so cute.  Some were dressed up in cowboy hats, Chihuahuas and some others in dresses and boy clothes, mostly little dogs.  They looked like they were having a good time except for one that was not very happy about the whole thing.  God, only in California.

After the above I headed home as did the gals and spent the night trying to get my act organized for the Kona girls coming on Sunday evening.

Today is getting my bathrom and the back patio ready for Sunday night.


T

CELL PHONE...

I can't believe it, but I have either misplaced or lost my cell phone.  It  really is a problem since I use it for everything.  All appointments, grocery lists, contacts, etc.  I stopped service on it after calling the three places I went today.  I swear I had it next to me on the sofa, but the gremlins have appeared out of no where and hidden it somewhere.  The ringer is off since I was at a doctor's office and I muted it.  That's what I get for being considerate.

I have looked in the trash, cupboards, car and every available area  I thought the thing may be hiding but to no avail.  I'm giving myself a couple of days before I purchase a new one.  There goes another couple hundred dollars.

To go to other things. I have pretty much been home. Bruno is still in China and I have heard from him several times, he is suppose to return this coming Saturday.   I was a little concerned about the  terrorist alert, mostly in the middle East I guess, but with Embassies closing and all the crazies out there one can't be to careful..

I did get invited by Vet man to go to lunch tomorrow at the yacht club.  I haven't seen or been near him for over a year so I don't know where that invite came from totally out of the blue.  I'm suppose to be on the Marine Corp Ball Committee but I quit...I think he wants to talk me into coming back.

Actually Vet man stopped texting and calling me after he met Bruno at a function.  No chance for him once he saw who I was with. He does have a girlfriend so we will see.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm meeting two girlfriends to go to the movies to see The Millers...should be fun.

Back to looking for the phone.

REINCARNATED CHAR WOMEN...

I swear I am a reincarnated Char women.  This house of mine because backs up to the hills and avocado groves gets so dusty.  So much for double paned windows. The building of nineteen hundred homes a mile or so away doesn't help either.

I spent my day cleaning, washing clothes, ironing, polishing, cleaning floors and I'm still not done.  Some little things need done that no one in the world would even know I had done, but with my up bringing and coming from two neat freaks it is inbred.

Other then that and communicating with a girlfriend who was on a cleaning binge too that it about it for today.

My life!

BUSY THIS WEEKEND....

It was a good weekend.  Saturday I did go to the Crab Fest with my girlfriend.  I stopped at her house to pick her up and we sat on her porch and had a drink with her four little dogs. We had a phone text from a friend that said the Orange Elks was filling up fast.  We left shortly after and the place was hopping.

It was a great feast.  All the crab legs with butter all you could eat, chili,baked chicken breasts, rolls, butter, cole slaw and cake for desert  There were never ending crab legs. The event was all volunteer and the guys said they had bought 140 pounds of crab legs. They were very good as was the whole meal. The best part was it was only $25.00.

Of course the usual drinks and people at the bar.  The trouble with the Elks is that drinks are cheap and there is no end to the men that want to buy you a drink.  I had promised myself that I would have no more then three for the whole evening and pretty much stayed to that promise. 

As we were standing at the bar for our first drink a little Mexican man wanted to buy us a drink.  As he was doing that this six foot four, black curly haired man with a black beard came up and to say hello.  He too wanted to buy a drink, but that had been taken care of so we declined.  He kept looking my way and finally came over and said he couldn't believe he had met someone at the Elks. Ditto!

Black Beard said he had to leave with his buddies to pick up someone that was at Huntington Beach but he wanted to come back and meet me somewhere other then the Elks.  The crowd was starting to thin out so my girlfriend and another friend decided that Citrus City Grille would be close so we could walk there.  

We were sitting talking to a group of people and Black Beard walked in.  Now, you would think that would be a good thing but it ended up not being so.  I swear to God that the men are either idiots, self absorbed, or you name it. I found out he had been homeless due to the downturn in real estate and a bad leg accident.  He was climbing out, but living in one room on Workman's Comp, Vet benefits etc.  Then I found out he was only fifty four.  He was suing for a big settlement that he thought he had in the bag, but I know how that goes...good luck to him.  Good Lord I'm old enough to be his mother. He thought I was in my early sixties and I didn't tell him any different.  That put an end to that.  Bruno may be a lot of things but at least he isn't on the dole and whatever it is between us it takes precedent over others, at least for me.

I drove my girlfriend back to her house and we sat on her porch and talked for a bit and I went home.

Sunday I met my other long time girlfriend in Newport Beach at Fashion Island to see a movie, The Way Back, and we had dinner after the movie at a French restaurant.

Monday was the Balboa Bay Club for lunch on my other good girlfriend and a little shopping.  For me it was just looking.  I'm trying not to spend money and it is hard.  I saw several things I would have bought in the past.  I don't need it, but...its hard to gear down, but I have to.

So the weekend was interesting and good.  More adventures to come.

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MUSEUMS AND FRIENDS...

The visit to the local Bowers Museum to see the Medici Jewels and to have lunch with two of my girlfriends was a very nice day.  The information regarding the cameos and intaglios that were so beautiful made one wonder about the talent that created them. It is amazing that the workmanship could be so concise when the tools were so primitive.

The Medici's fortune spurred the patronage of the arts and although collectively these people where one homely group they certainly knew about art. It is something that so many of these items survived in total. from the early 1400's.

Lunch was great and as always Tangata was filled with people visiting the museum.  We were there about three hours with lunch and the museum tour.  Bowers is such a gem in the middle of Santa Ana.

I stayed home afterward and got up this morning, Friday, to meet my grandson for breakfast.  He is such a delightful young man.  He just graduated from high school and is working and planning on going to school. It is very refreshing to see young people that are nice.

I had given him, as a gift, a portrait of my husband, his grandfather.  He was so very close to his grandfather and I couldn't think of anyone that would appreciate it more then he.  He said when he opened it he cried.  Behind the portrait was a 30 year pin from Elks.  I also gave him a card with money.  I think he was pleased with the picture and I'm so glad.

Bruno left for China last night.  I don't envy that flight over there.  I did it in the nineties and if I recall it was seventeen hours leaving from San Francisco.  He left from LAX and I believe it is between fifteen to nineteen hours depending on if China Air is non stop.  He was in such a state the day before he left.  I received a few emails from him and they were short and sweet.  He said he would call me.

I was leaving the house on Wednesday  so I thought I'd leave a voice mail telling him to call me on my Cell.  I got a text back that said he was in the middle of a meeting for big dollars and don't bother him.  Alrighty then!!  I didn't think a voice mail was a bother.

Bruno called before he left and did apologize for his text but he said that the last several days had been brutal.  I know he is dealing with millions of dollars and things aren't easy, so I understood and didn't make an issue of it, although I could have. Dealings here are tough for that much money and I can't imagine how hard China will be,especially Mainland China.

I met my girlfriend Wednesday night for dinner at the Elks in Orange and I'm meeting her again on Saturday for a Crab Fest dinner at the same place. Sunday is a movie in Newport Beach and Monday is lunch at the Balboa Bay Club.  Do you see a theme here.  Eat, eat, eat.

I also had a phone call from a man that I hadn't heard from for over a year or so.  He just called to say hello. I've never been out with him, but have had conversations with him at various times the last several years.  It is funny how they come out of the woodwork.

It isn't a problem meeting men, it is a problem meeting someone that you like and the right one. If Bruno would stop traveling he would be the right one....or not!

QUIET.....

I haven't posted anything due to the fact things are fairly quiet.  Bruno finally got his dates to travel to China.  From six days to seventeen, which is way better for the body. His traveling sojourn the next two or three months are set.

I went to the Jam Session on Sunday at the Elks.  I was home all weekend and was going to stay home Sunday, however, I had a text from a friend that I work with on the Veterans committee and I finally capitulated and drove up. The music is always good.

Tomorrow is the Bowers Museum for lunch and to see the Medici Jewels. Saturday the Crab Fest with my girlfriend.

Have just been tired and staying home mostly.  If there is anything interesting to report I'll do so. In the meantime its quiet around here.

ANOTHER DAY...

Last night I went out for a little while.  I thought I'd go to the Elks, which I did,  I was greeted like a long lost relative.  I hadn't been there for about three weeks and you would have thought I had been gone for months. Nice to be missed.

I sat at the bar with a gal that is a lawyer and another one that booked bands. The lawyer is in my book club and had just gotten back from her vacation.  The band booker was someone new and we had a lot of things in common. It is always good to meet new people.She and I exchanged phone numbers and will try to get together in the future.

I left the Elks after a couple of hours and went to Quinn's to get something to eat.  It was early and the baseball game had every one's attention.  There was a group of men and women sitting behind me and they invited me to join them which I did.  Quinn's is like Cheers, everyone is friendly and you don't feel threatened.  It was fun.  I had a great chicken tacos and greater conversation.  Left there and went home. It was only 8:30 so it was good to get home at a decent hour.

Bruno went to  his appointment and stopped to see me.  His China trip is still up in the air as the man that is the client is still climbing on Mt. McKinley. Bruno looked like the walking wounded.  He had so many scrapes and scratches from his fall last week.  He was covered in band aids.  We both like each other so much it is silly.  Not ideal for sure for either of us

Tonight is my book club meeting, and dinner with the girls. Tomorrow I'm headed out to see my friends condo she is moving into... then a doctor's appointment in South County.  Depending on what Bruno hears regarding his China trip we may or may not go out this weekend.  Nothing ever for sure.  Makes me crazy.

FRIENDS...

Yesterday was Sunday and a movie day with friends.  Everyone seems to be in the middle of change.  Two pending divorces, one traveling, me bored.  We decided we need to keep doing things of interest that will at least keep some normality in our lives.

The movie, "The Heat" was fun and at least made everyone laugh.  We saw it at the Irvine Spectrum which was teeming with people Sunday.  There were five of us, including the brother of a good friend.  He is such a nice guy and was at lose ends like the rest of us.

After the movie three of we five went to Enotica a restaurant across from the theater. The food is good, mostly Italian, but light and upscale.  Afterward I drove my friend to her husband's plumbing company office to drop off work for their employee who was returning from her vacation today.

Bruno called this morning and is still in a state of flux regarding his trips.  There is unrest in China and he thinks that is why things are on hold right now.  He does have his South African trip scheduled in August. He said he will be down to see me Wednesday as he has an appointment that he has to be in Lake Forest which is a close by city.

I haven't been sleeping as of late.  I look at the clock and it is three a.m.or later.  This is about the norm so I'm use to it, but still don't like it.

Today is a house cleaning day.  It is so humid and hot outside it is a good day to stay in with the air running.

Not much else new.

BROAD APPEAL...

Broad Appeal was the name of the book that was talked about at last nights dinner and program.  The woman who wrote it had interviewed seventy two women regarding their lives after sixty.  There really weren't to many things new, but it was nice to have verification that most women have found that after a certain age, other then physical changes, it was a great time.  We no longer are our mothers or grandmothers. The chance to have a great life and do things with more knowledge then you had in your youth was something that the women she had interviewed all had in common.  You just have to find that thing.

The dinner was held at the Center Club at the Preforming Arts Center and is a lovely place, not to mention the food was extremely good.  For $30.00 it included vichyssoise, chicken corden bleu with roasted rosemary potatoes and steamed veggies.  Dessert was apple crisp with ice cream. I've had meals that cost a lot more and weren't half as good.

My friends that joined me last night had a nice time and found that there are things to do in Orange County other then going out to eat and drink.  This organization also does a lot to empower middle class women who have fallen on hard times due to the economy, death, divorce or other circumstances beyond their control.

The premise is that the poor are taken care of, the rich have money to do what is needed and the middle class women fall in between the cracks. Women helping women get their lives together with jobs, clothes and education.

I have a free day today and am going to try to do a few things around this house. Planning on a movie on Sunday and then Bowers museum next week to see the Medici jewels. 

FRUSTRATED...

I swear that Bruno and I need an interpreter for some of our conversations.  He swore I said one thing when I know I said another.  It was a difference of one word that changed the meaning.  I ended up texting him that he could walk away without looking back and I know what I said. He came back saying NO....I want to see you but things are really up in the air with the trips and travel. This isn't the first time we've had a mis-communication. I think he needs hearing aids.

The billionaire that is hiring his company in China is on Mt. McKinley and can't get off because of a blizzard. Bruno's plane trip has three reservations due to that plus Visa's are forthcoming for his trip from China to South Africa.  I don't know all the details, and don't want to, but when things get finaled Bruno said I'd be the third to know. I have just trying to keep busy and get on with my life.  One of the things I told him was, "Loree needs to get a life," which started the whole thing.

He is in San Diego today until Thursday having meetings with the County. Ifl the guy gets off the mountain in time he will be back in California by Friday.  I know one thing, the only thing about Bruno, the only thing for sure is nothing is for sure. He told me when he talked to me that he had tripped over a handicapped curb at the car wash and just about did himself in..He was off to buy a new pair of pants since the ones he was wearing got ripped .My Humpty Dumpty.

My girlfriend and I did go to the movies yesterday and saw "Mud."  It was a fair movie about a young boy coming of age.  Well written and well acted.

Off tonight for dinner and the lecture at the Center Club.  It sounds like it is going to be interesting and I hope it is.

More later.

ALWAYS CHANGES...

Things changed around with Bruno, as always.  The meeting was called late Wednesday afternoon to final his China and South Africa trip but didn't get finaled.  From two weeks in South Africa first, to two weeks in China after coming home, to six days in China first and then back and then South Africa.  I swear to God this man doesn't know if he is coming or going half the time. After all these meetings screwing up any time we might have together, I'm waiting for him to let me know after they conference call to China today, Sunday.  There is a fifteen hour difference and it is Monday, today. So my "special friend" as he calls us, which when I Googled it pissed me off, it is what it is.  If I want him in my life, which I do, I will just roll with it. No choice.  Our connection is really strong for whatever reason.  I swear we were together in a past life. We have been dating for three years this Bastille Day.

Thank heaven for my girlfriends. I met one of my good friends yesterday at the Home Consignment store.  I have been looking for a black leather chair, small, with an ottoman.  My white sofa is getting all the abuse and I got rid of my husbands ugly lift chair a long time ago. I actually found a Lane that was brand new for a good price. The chair is being delivered tomorrow.

I have a movie date scheduled after the chair delivery tomorrow with my girlfriend.  We will see Mud.  Tuesday night there is a speaker from Women's Sage at the Center Club at Segerstrom Center which includes dinner. It is about women after the age of sixty and seventy empowering themselves and how that is the best time of life since you have come into your own. Everyone gets a little side tracked and God knows I sure lost myself for a long time.

Although things haven't been easy in a lot of ways since my husband died. Both financially and trying to find my footing.  We didn't end up like we should have after almost forty years, but you can't predict what happens.  You can only go forward, as you can't change the past  My one girlfriend says there is nothing worse then a bitter women and the could have, would have, should have, does one no good. I agree.

My husband and I  did have some really nice times together.  He was a nice man, although weak, but then I probably wouldn't have put up with a strong man.  He had a way of getting even,  Mr. Passive Aggressive. He said so many times that he loved me more then he had loved anyone or thing in his life and he said it over and over. For me, actions speak louder then words so all the verbage in the world means nothing.  Enough of that.  Just was thinking this morning about things.

I'm doing good and again the best revenge is living well and I do that without a problem.  I have so many good friends and relatives all over the country that keep in touch and love me.  I'm very blessed.

Have a good week will post again when I have something of interest.

ROCK BAND....

After Bruno left on Sunday I received a call from a friend that asked me to go to a rock concert, of all places, at the nearby cemetery. I've never attended a concert and wouldn't pay a dime to do so, but she said this one was free.  I did go and finally found her.  I texted Bruno and his answer was "freaky," and I guess they won't have to worry about playing too loud.

Actually the band was great.  They played everything from Lady GaGa, Jim Morrison, Frank Sinatra and a few new and old songs thrown in the mix.  It was a very pretty setting with all the trees and grass even though it was a cemetery. People were dancing and had brought their chairs and food.  Kids were running around having a good time.  I stayed for about two and a half hours and headed home. It was kind of fun and beat sitting home. I did not visit any graves...

Monday was an errand day with a ton of things to do including shopping for Shred for the center pieces I want to do.  I also ran over to the Elks went into the attic and brought down sand that I wanted to use to anchor the bases.  We had used the sand for the Casino night in buckets. Also ironed, washed the floors etc. when I returned home.

Bruno was coming back on Tuesday around noon to see me and of course after he made arrangements it changed.  He will be in the I.E. (Inland Empire) and headed another direction.  He is coming down on Wednesday, tomorrow. I'm actually glad it worked out a day later.  I wanted to get my mani/pedi and finish cleaning the house .  I got all of that accompolished and then some.

Tonight I guess I will go to the Elks meeting.  I'm not as irritated as I was and I really do need to go to pick up a few other things. I truly want to ween myself away from the place.  There has to be more to do then that.  I'm looking.

It has been beastly hot and humid.  No global warming right?