HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

I am still amazed that I have reach 87.  Lord I am old as dirt as they say.  I don't feel that old.  Well maybe when I first get up and nothing works well, But I am grateful every morning for a new day.  I do not want to brag but I have already received 20 birthday cards and a few hugs and greetings and even a birthday song in Polish sung to me.  All this is proof that I had the courage to step out of my comfort zone and try to make friends.  I give all the glory to God, who nurtured me and gave me the courage to live again.  I sometime used to wonder why he wants me here when I so wanted to leave when Truman left, now I realize more every day that He has a purpose for my life and I seek it every day.  I am blessed.         Enough of that.  I am looking forward to this day and what it holds for me.  I challenge each of you to do the same.  

Betty Boop

PROCRASTATION PAID OFF

Not wanting to start a task that I had started, I went in search of coffee and company.  Found the free coffee but people had gone.  I sat there and drank it and enjoyed my own company.  I wandered into the Café to check what's for lunch and ran into sweet Estelle.  The Polish lady who laughs all the time.  She had sent me a very nice card yesterday.  I thanked and hugged her for it.  She said she knew my birthday was not till tomorrow  and just in case she did not see me then. she would sing Happy Birthday to me in Polish.  Soooooo right there in the middle of the Café she sang to me and then said STO LAT.  In polish that means 100 years.  So I have that wish too,  She said she remembered singing to me last year and I sent her a thank you note.  I did not remember the note but she said it was recorded in her diary.  Nice to know other people like to write for memory too.  And it is only 10:30.  What else will happen today? Can't wait.

Betty Boop

STILL COLD

Still cold but the sun is out and things are looking up.  I had lunch with my neighbor, Mary, and two other "girls:?  They were funny but you had to be there.  At exercise class all the talk was about the Super Bowl.  Can you imagine sitting in the cold in N. Y. to watch it?  We are having a big Super Bowl party here, complete with food brought by everybody and BYOB.  To me my blue chair and popcorn sounds good. 

I have received 8 Birthday cards from friends here and my birthday is not till Friday.  It goes with the turf I guess.  Any way I get excited to open the door or mail box and find a sweet message and card. 
Betty Boop

RATHER CALM

Rather mundane day.  Not much to write about that would be of interest.  Everybody does laundry and picks up the mail ,read books, and visit in the hall with friends.  Funny thing about this place that surprises me and I like it.  Very few people invite others into  their apartments.  Funny?  I guess it is good.  Some are a little too friendly.  I just wrote an  essay about  "HUGS",  Wonder what that will bring as I still have one lady who winks at me from my essay on "WINKS" a while ago.  Am I inviting hugs from her.  I saw her yesterday and she gave me a big wink.  I told her to look for my newest on hugs.  She had a fit and just gave me a big hug right then.  I may have to get some protection!!!!!!  What will happen today?  We will see.

Betty Boop

NORMAL MONDAY ???

Exercise, coffee group. lunch with my usual dinner group instead of dinner tonight.  Nap, Choir practice and then Methodist service.  I got a birthday present from Linda and Joseph.  A beautiful hand crafted leather journal.  I intend to (Linda's suggestion) copy all my poems and essays I have written since I have been here and write something about why each was written.  I hope to have a record of my thoughts since I have been living at St. Catherine's.  Or something like that.  It is a beautiful gift. hope I don't mess it up.  I received three B. day cards today.  Birthday is Friday.  O yes, M. G. and  Ryan took me to lunch Sunday/  McAlister's.  I really thought that was sweet of them.  I enjoyed it a lot.  Sophie sent me a quart of sweet potato and kale soup that she bought at Broadmeadow Neighborhood Association soup sale.  I can't wait to try it.  Am I blessed?  Yes!!!.  The weather man says we can expect snow and we are all so excited..

Betty Boop

O HAPPY DAY !!!!!

I have been absolutely lost for about two weeks.  I did not know how much I love this computer.  Between the computer man here and Jan and Amy and the main man Ed, I am up and running again.  I just know you are all glad for that????  I felt like I was really out of the loop.  Man did I have the stuff to delete.  That builds up.  Any way, I will be back on track tomorrow. 

Betty Boop

Saturday & Sunday

Due to computer error, I have been lost for two days.  I understand you guys with texting now.  You would be lost without your life line.  Oh, I remember in the "good old days" when you had to wait till you could find a telephone (usually at home)  to communicate.  Good old days?  I think not.  Some ways, yes and some not to good.  We deal with what we have been presented.

Jan came Saturday.  She brought lunch and we had it in the apartment.  Hot dogs with taco sauce on top.  Coke and chips and fruit.  Fit for a Queen.  We enjoyed our visit and she shared pictures of Brody.  That is one cute kid.  I don't get to see him much, but I understand it is hard to do.    Paul, Ryan and I have  January birthdays.  So does Linda.  If she were here she would enjoy the party we are having, courtesy of M. G.  On the 25th.  Should be fun.  We always look for a reason  to party.  Church was very good today.  Lunch with Bev and Amy, My Amy's friends. M.G. and Ryan.  We ate at Bravo's in Highland Village.    I just got back from a visit with Irene.  She is doing better and was watching football.  She really worries about "her" Manning boys.  I remember when we "middle" Ellis's had a Super Bowl party every year.  We would make bets.  Have food and fun.  Usually at our house.  I really loved that.  Now that was the GOOD OLD DAYS".  What would I do without my Memory Bank.? 

Betty Boop

STRANGE DAY

Is it Friday already?  Exercise was good. I then returned an item to WalMart and decided to check out Stein-Mart and see if they were giving stuff away yet.  Yes they almost paid me to take away four items-not related to each other.  In fact some of the items were for spring and summer.  O well I will be ready when the time comes.  I thought I got a bargain.  Back here and too hungry to fix a lunch, I ate in the dinning room.  I must have been the last one to come because I had to sit at a table alone.  O well I am good company to myself.  The baked catfish and cabbage and pinto beans with a little coleslaw was all on my diet.  Back for a short nap and Barbra came to clean my apartment.  Picked up a book in the Library and I do believe I have read it before.  O well--no problem--just get on the elevator, go downstairs-and check out another.  I will have some tuna fish salad that I made for supper.  Come join me,  I really do "live the life of Riley"  (whoever he was)  He must have had it good. 

Betty Boop

CABIN FEVER

No not really cabin fever.  I have not been outside since Sunday but I can truthfully say I am glad I did not have to.  It feels good to know I did not have to worry about busted pipes and everything else that goes with a house.  Truman and I did out stint on that one. Of course I still miss having a house at times.  Maybe I will go out tomorrow.  Still don't have to but I might just for the heck of it. 

We did not get to have Creative Writers Group today.  One got sick and another had something else to keep her from coming.  We hope Doris Jones will be with us for our next meeting.  I am still writing on something that just wont come together.  Maybe I need to get another subject.  I will think about it.  I cooked all my meals today.  I really enjoyed it.  Made split pea soup this morning and cornbread.  Maybe tomorrow I will eat in the dinning room or the Cafe.  This freedom of choice is kind of neat.  I guess I sound kind of boring today, but really it is anything but boring around here--just different from my past.  Change can be good. 

Betty Boop

COLD COLD COLD

I am staying inside today for sure.  But it is so pretty outside--from the inside.  I did laundry and delivered a paper flower on a Birthday Card to Hazel.  I think the flower makes it special.  It looked pretty.  Made it the colors of the card.  I had hopping john  from Amy for lunch.  Yummy, it was good.  I did an interview with a new resident who wanted to do it on the phone.  That was a first for me.  Not as much fun but I guess it will have to do.  I am working on a poem that just wont "jell".  Maybe I have lost my creative touch?  I hope not.  I do like to write.  Anyway, I have something to read for tomorrow's group.  Since we are having a guest speaker, Doris Jones, I may not need to read.  What is for dinner.  I do not know yet.  Something will come up I guess.  There is always peanut butter. 

Betty Boop

I promised you the poem about our Lake

                                                                         THE LAKE

I am happy to have a view of the Lake.
I've lived on one before.
Now new memories I must make.
New sights and much, much more.

Sometimes the waves look very large.
Like they could really push a barge.
And look, could that be a Pirate ship?
Up and down, it seems to dip.

When the wind blows just right,
I look and a sailboat is in sight.
As it rolls and yields to the wind.
A veiled message to me sends.

When the wind churns the water just right.
And the sun shines very bright,
I see a most lovely sight.
Diamonds sparkling in the light.

Dot Ellis  2013

SUNDAY MORNING

The highlight of Saturday was Jan and a visit with lunch.  She is always a calming effect and never in a hurry.  Always listens to my chatter with interest.  Thank you Jan,  I am so blessed with my family.  Here we are --another week has gone by.  We have the promise of cold rain and then cold (shiver me tembers0 weather too for tonight.  As I sit here and type, I am looking out the window at the Lake.  What a beautiful view.  I don't think I would be as happy without it.  I loved Riverwood Lake and the view out back.  So now I enjoy a new one.  Later I will send you my latest poem on this lake.  It was just published in the Villager.  It helps to get things published when you are on the staff of the publication we put out every month.  I do enjoy that job.  Hope they don't fire me for my quirky stuff. Must go and get ready for Church.

Betty Boop

DARK HAIRED CUTIE (again)

Whew!! I can't tell you what a load has been lifted.  I got a haircut and colored it myself.  I got a surprise, yet I don't know why it surprised me.  Haircut went up $5.00.  That is a lot to go up.  So I thought I needed to up my tip too.  I spend less than anyone I know on my hair.  I shampoo and style it myself and that saves a lot.  I don't like being a slave to the beauty shop.  I am very liberated when it comes to some things.  How is that for patting yourself on the back? 

I had four things in the new VILLAGER Even my neighbor, Joe, said I was the star this month.  He is a real writer.  Sometime I don't quiet get his stuff.  It is so cold here today.  Real Winter.  Not like Bryan and Ashley, where they are having real blizzards.  Hope they are O. K.  Too cold here to take down the outside decorations.  They put if off till later notice.  I was glad to get that notice.  I was trying to think up an excuse to not do it.  Now  that was a bad thing to think.  I did take down my own balcony decorations and got real cold. 

See You Later
Betty Boop

PIG-IN-A-POKE???

Is this what we call egg in a toast hole>  Enlighten me please.  It  just did not sound right.  But it really did taste right.  A lovley whole wheat piece of bread with a hole cut out in the middle, butter it and put it in a skillet to begin to brown. Crack the egg in the middle, cook a short while and turn it over to finish cooking. Oh yes do not forget to also toast the circle you cut out with a cutter.  That is the best part.  With orange juice and turkey bacon and a nice cup of tea made from the tea Bryan and Ashley gave to me for Christmas, makes a breakfast fit for a queen.  Try it if you haven't had one lately. Life is good.

Betty Boop