SO-SO DAY

I did not enjoy breakfast very much.  They got my order wrong, even though I was the only one there..  They were out of whole wheat bread so I took a biscuit even though I know it is bad for my sugar and I ordered  sausage and got bacon. I just did not feel like sending it back.  I was anxious to leave anyway.  Joseph, the kind maintenance man,  was in there early doing some touch up painting  I  guess it is hard to fine a good time for that.  I am sure he had started very early.  It was not too pleasant so I was in a hurry to finish.  Hey the coffee was good!! So I found something good to say about breakfast and as usual it is always good to have someone prepare it.

Now lunch was better.  In the dinning room, I ate with three others that I did not know very well and that was interesting.  I went because they had fried shrimp and oysters.  Yes I know, I do not eat much fried food, but just once is o. k.  I will walk this afternoon in hopes it will not cause me much trouble.  I feel like I am such a lot of trouble.  I have to think too much about what I eat. 

I spent time in the Bubble this morning writing.  An essay and some poetry.  I get inspired when I write there.  Well that is about it so far.  Hope the rest is good too.

Betty Boop

GOOD DAY

Exercise Class was good,  I needed it.  I headed over to Amy's house.  She invited me to lunch and  a movie she thought I would like.  I did and it was good.  M. G. was off work today and came too.  Ryan happened to call her and he wanted to come also.  We do love a little party.  M. G. brought her dogs and they were delighted to see Amy's dogs.  They call them the cousins , so funny how they love to play and they get along so well. 

Amy can make veg. soup better than her mom and her pimento chees was so very good too.  Later during the movie she served us sugar free ice cream.  Yummy.  I really enjoyed it all.  So nice to see young people for a change.  Just kidding. I plan to be happy and content any place I find myself. but with family is the best.

Betty Boop

WASH DAY

I am so glad I can walk down the hall and wash and dry so easy.  Changed the sheets and a shampoo.  Do you see a pattern here?  It happens every Tuesday,  I had a lovely breakfast by myself in the Cyber.  Ham and eggs toast (whole wheat) and coffee.  Got a hug from one special employee and stopped and looked for the resident rabbit in the rose garden.  He was sighted yesterday, but I missed him (or her.)  We had a useless conversation one day in the hall, about how you tell a male from a female rabbit.  I meant to ask Mr. Google but got distracted,  that happens a lot. 

Just talked to Amy.  I am so jealous of her dreams.  She can remember them so well.  She dreamed of Truman and it was so real to her.  It is strange how I have been having a sense of his presence a lot lately.  Such a comfort-whatever it means. 

Well I must go check the laundry and put some in the dryer.  Some I hang to dry in my apartment.  Busy day doing ordinary task.  That is a comfort too.

Betty Boop

DID IT AGAIN !!

Why do I get a thrill from killing a wasp?  He was crawling under my doorway into my apartment.  I grabbed the spray and forgot to shake it so a lot of wet came out.  No worry he got a real shower of poison.  Keeled over and wiggles once and he was gone.   I came in and out the sliding door to the balcony a few time today and I guess he came in then. I hate to think he came down the  hall from the Bubble after me. 

Oatmeal and banana started my day (cooked by me) for a change.  Then exercise class.  Coffee before and someone had made doughnuts.  Yes it blew my resolve to eat better.  Ray Hansen made them.  His wife said he made them from Pillsbury biscuits and rolled them in sugar.  I only had one but maybe it did not do too much damage.  They were so good and it started the day for everyone. 

Lunch after Church on Sunday with Amy, M. G. and Ryan was so good.  We ate at Beagle Bagel on 463.  Amy and I had the salad sampler. They make such good chicken salad.  Too hot outside to do anything but stay inside.  So I did just that.  And today also.  I still have dinner with my three lady friends to look forward to.  Life is good. I made a friend know I cared today.  She just lost her husband of 65 years and is a sweet friend.  I made a small arrangement of paper flowers in a small jar and wrote a note, telling her about my Memory Bank and I illustrated the note with a stick figure picture of me going to the Memory Bank,  It turned out kind  of cute (I think.)  Just a small act of kindness.  That is all it takes.

Betty Boop

SATURDAY

You know, I have been staying away from pancakes, thinking they raise my blood sugar.  They do, but I thought I would try just one and an egg with it.  It didn't work.  I guess I will have to get over it.  Too much flour in the pancake.  Oh well, it is not too bad but enough to tell me to eat something else. 

I just spent a little time in the bubble.  We have an abundance of Canada geese and Mallard ducks.  Whole families I guess by the sizes of the groups.  They stay in their own groups and don't bother each other.  It was a pretty sight to watch.  The Lake is ringed by Cyprus, Willow. and Crepe Myrtle.  Perfect trees for water.  A golf cart rolled around on the path around the Lake and the birds hurried to the center of the water.  Some Canada geese jumped out and headed to the grass down the lake to graze a bit.  I hear we have plenty of large bass and other fish in the Lake.  Too hot to fish just now. 

Jan is not coming today.  She has the pleasure of fixing birthday dinner for Cherry and Peggy.  I remember how much fun it was to prepare for my family to come to Riverwood.  Lot of work, but happy work.  I can.t believe what I just did.  Went to my cage and looked through my craft box, thinking what I can make for my friends here for Christmas.  Be here before we know it. Sounds like I have time on my hands today,
Amy brought me goodies and I am having a wonderful lunch with meatloaf.  Lucky me.

Betty Boop

TRIMMED AND DARKER

Amazing how a haircut can make me feel.  Better-Better.  It was worth driving to Jackson to get it done.  I guess I should explore someplace closer but my stylist knows my quirky hair and I would not trust anybody here to cut it.  So it keeps me alert and on my toes to drive, even on the Frontage road.  No interstate for me anymore. 

I have a new neighbor across the hall.  He is (I've been told)  some high brow retired Professor from Delta State.  He seems down to earth and a nice neighbor.  It is funny how tall he is, since I come about up to his middle.  Oh well, hope he stays quite and to himself.  To me, that is a good neighbor. 

I can't believe it is Friday and another week is ending.  I must clean my balcony.  My flowers are in a sad place.  The heat has been bad on them, no matter how I watered, they still look half dead.  It has been too hot to do much about the way they look.  It is getting to me an I might pull them all up.  Soon, or not.  I would much rather read in the cool apartment. 

Betty Boop

DARK HAIRED CUTIE

Oh good.  The day is here for me to get a hair cut (much needed) and then do a little magic from hair dye.  I do love the change when I do this.  I really am a good before and after picture when this happens.  It also boosts my outlook and my attitude is better. 

It is a beautiful, but hot day and the trip will go smooth, I hope.

Betty Boop

BRAGGING?

Of course I brag.  Someone asked if I bragged about Pizza Shack and their owners?  That's what I do.  It's my job.  Breakfast this morning was (wish I had a phone camera sometime)  ham, scrambled egg whole wheat toast and coffee.  It looked and tasted so good.  If I had a camera  on the phone, I would probably run you off.  It is  hard enough just reading this nonsense, but the pictures I would take would just probably be things you could do without seeing.  Like Bobbie and her worker this morning had on cute little chef type hats.  She looked embarrassed ,  I thought they looked cute with their new black and white stripped aprons. 

Exercise this morning, then a little ironing(which I love to do.)  See I told you I am weird.  Ironing takes be back to my childhood, when my Mother would let me iron,  I felt real "big", which was a hard thing for me.

Betty Boop

BREAKING OUT

Yes, I know it is hot outside but I need to get out.  Going to the Madison Library.  I have found  something else besides WalMart and Kroger that I can do for myself.  Important!!  I had breakfast in the Cyber and Bobbie was bragging about Ryan giving her a card for a pizza at the Shack,  Overheard by the assistant to our CEO and she said she had been and it was great.  While she was telling it was better than Dominos or Pizza Hut and was so good, a resident who was eating inquired where this place was.  And another was listening.  I don't know if he wants old people like us creping in or not but here we come.  Customers are customers, whatever shape they are in.

Betty Boop

BREAKFAST !!!!

Breakfast, another lovely word.  I have always liked it.  Not the word but the food.  I have been eating it lately to use up excess money on my card.  There is this one employee who is a cook in the dinning room kitchen, who comes in every morning to the Cyber,  She comes straight to me and gives me a hug and a kind word.  I am usually the only one that early eating .  Now that is a good way to start the day.  Then at my door was a sweet note, a peach, and a small  hula girl for my beach mermaid that I lost.  I have not talked much about that little theft but I have a clue to who and know it was an  over medicated thing. Mystery solved and put to bed.  So be it.

Sunday should be more helpful than it is.  Many try to help, but I still get "blue" 

  I miss Irene more on Sunday.  I put some paper in the recycle bin and there was my Sunday comic paper all folded as If she put it there.  My My it is not even 9AM but look what all has happened.  Thank you Lord---how can I be blue today.  Yesterday  is over with its problems and I have a new one.  Please help me not to mess it up.

Betty Boop

INDULDGE ME

                                                               HAIKU


                                                                    BALOONS

                                                      




















































































                                                             HAIKU

                                                            BALOON

                                          Blue balloon rising in the sky.
                                          filled with hope,
                                          only floating down, deflated in strange places.

                                                           CLOUDS

                                           I see the sky filled to capacity,
                                           oh so beautiful,
                                           to me clouds hold mystery, hope.

                                                        LAKE
  
                                            The Lake moves with ripples up stream,
                                            powered by wind,
                                            but sometime smooth as glass, no wind.

                                                             VIEW

                                             The view from the Lake is interesting,
                                             always something new.
                                             today half sunshine--half clouds--I smile.

                                            I seem to be creative of late.  I know they are not much, but they keep coming--and I write,     
Dot
                               

GOOD START

Well, I did my duty and helped the GOOD THINGS BETTER COMMITTEE this morning.  We sorted flags and folded and put them in the right boxes (I hope) since Terry is about as scattered as I am.  She is a sweetie and I like her, but sometime she gets it wrong.  Me too, so we make a "pair." Anyway we got it done and then I joined a group of girls and drank coffee.  I came back to the Bubble to finish my coffee and saw a beautiful sight.
Grass Cutting

I know the man must have gotten up real early because he was about finished with the vast hill to the North of the Lake.  With a giant mower pulled by a tractor, he can cover a lot fast.  In his wake were many white birds.  Don't know what they are, but they were following him close behind and on both sides.  I guess he was turning up bugs and seed a- plenty.  They seemed happy.  Over in the distance I say a gaggle of Canada geese moving toward the other Lake.  Shade seemed to be their thoughts.  They would stop and graze as they moved on.  Back to the tractor, he finished and pulled and stopped under the only tree on the hill,  I assume he was cooling and drinking water.  Back at the waters edge, the white birds were in the edge drinking too.  Now this seems like a simple story, but to me, I was moved by the beauty of it and was glad to see it.  Another good thing about retirement and getting older,  You have time to appreciate what you see.

Betty Boop

I AM BACK

Here I am back like I promised.  Wal-Mart went good.  When I got back, Amy called and said she and Lucy could come to lunch.  I said great I like company.  Then A knock on the door, and Ryan   appeared too.  Double great.  I like parading good looking people to lunch.  We had a very good  time and after a short nap===here I am to send you a funny little poem.  
                                                             RABBIT SIGHTING
                                                               BY DOT ELLIS

A small crowd gathered in the Hall,
Excitingly peering outside.
Look, Look, was the call,
Quick, before he hides.

A small brown bunny,
Looking back at us.
He thinks we look funny,
Wondering why all the fuss.

I've found such a good home.
Please don't bother me.
I care not to roam,
Please, let me be!!

With pretty flowers to eat,
And cool water to drink,
This home can not be beat!!
Then he hopped away with a WINK.

Betty Boop








                                

WAL-MART

I  am off to buy paper goods.  Wal-Mart off course.  When I get back I will send you my latest poem that I wrote yesterday.  Betty Boop

GUEST

Tommy joined me yesterday for the History Club.  The speaker had a program  I thought Tommy would enjoy. He said he did enjoy it and wanted to come again.  Of course he is welcome but I bet he also enjoyed being the youngest there.  We are an interesting group. This age gets to say pretty much what they want.  I guess I am not there yet because I still am a little afraid to speak out too loud.  Any way, I was happy to have him visit.

After lunch with friends and a prospective new resident, I did my laundry.  In the middle of everything, it goes on and on.  Hey, I am glad I can still do it all.  Being older, I realize how important the little things I do are not taken for granted anymore.

Still thinking about the art class.

Betty Boop

MONDAY

Monday started out good.  Breakfast in Cyber.  I was the first customer.  When I finished there still was no more customers.  I don't understand.  I like breakfast there.  Maybe I go a little early.  I like not having to converse that early, so it is good with me. 

Someone mentioned Willie Nelson's book.  Yes it is real good.  The title is  IT"S A LONG STORY:MY LIFE.  I am reading it on my Nook from Barnes and Noble.  It is amazing what a life he has lived and how hard it has been.  He was and is still determined to do it his way.  It is a good read, I think.  At the same time, I have his new CD too, with Merle Haggard.  He has written so many songs.  Not much to look at, but he can really sing.  And yes, you don't really think of him as a country music singer.    At dinner tonight, I could not get a conversation going about him.. I guess he is not for every ones taste.  I like many kinds of music and have something playing most of the time.  I don't care for some of the country music of today.

Betty Boop

SUNDAY

Sunday was a little different since Amy was out of town.  So I went to church service here.  Good to sing the old songs I remember as a child in church.  Had lunch with three friends and enjoyed the company.  I got to brag about my Knook, but I could not tell them about my book I am reading about "Willie."  You know he had quite a life, and he was a rascal too.  His language is something else in his book about his life.  I am really enjoying it.  In a way it was a lonely day. With Irene gone, I missed my visit with her.  I went every Sunday afternoon.  My Memory Bank was open all day.  I must lock it for a while and live today.  Some day I will draw you a picture of my bank.  I can see it in my mind but putting it on paper is not easy for me.  I am still toying with the idea of joining  the new Art class that starts soon. It really intimidates me to start it.  But maybe I need it.  I am told that anyone can learn to draw.  You think?

Betty Boop

COMPUTER SAVVY

All you computer geniuses may get a laugh out of a poor struggling dummy like me, but I learned a lot Saturday.  It all started with Linda getting a new NOOK and wanting me to have her old one.  She tried two times before I bravely took it.  Jan loved the idea (I think) when she took me to Barnes and Noble a couple of weeks ago.  I think I mentioned our trip.  It was successful!!  I could now read books and went right to work.  Read one and am in the middle of another.  I have navigated surprisingly well.  But another wonderful thing has happened.  She took me to the Madison County Library to get a new card.  That went smooth.  They have very capable and friendly people.  I feel very proud of my new card.  I cut my old one up when I moved from Jackson 4 and a half years ago.  I loved and used that card a lot.  But wait--that is not all.  We knew I could check out books on my Nook from there.  A very knowledgeable and kind lady hooked me up and taught Jan how to use it.  St. Catherine's is a go between for our residents.  You can check out books from them and someone here will bring them back and forth.  Beautiful arrangement.  So we had to come back and get on an Adobe account.  Jan had all the instructions.  She jumped on it and did not give up till I had checked out a book from the library sitting right here in my little office right on my Nook.  It goes back all by itself after three weeks.  Amazing .  But the real Hero is Jan.  She would not give up till she got it right.  I checked out a book at the library the old fashioned way before we left.  I have plenty to read.  Two residents here will take it back if I choose.  Now I know I sound behind the times, but I am catching up fast. (I took a nap while she struggled.)

We also did several more stops and got things done.     GOOD JOB JAN.  You are so good to me and I am glad to call you my friend as well as a wonderful daughter..

Betty Boop

SAD DAY--YET HAPPY

Yes as you all know, the last of this generation of the George Ellis family has one left standing---ME  How scary is that?  Of course they called me the "baby", being the youngest.  Right now 88 does not seem so young.  Irene was my favorite.  She was like a sister I never had.  Sometime she seemed like my mother because she took me under her wing many times and taught me plenty.  I was so young and inexperienced when we married, and she was my "go to" for information from cooking to just every day married life.  I am sure she got tired of me almost every day, when we would meet riding the bus home.  Her from the hospital and me from the Bank.  No car for us and only one for them.  We would have coffee at her house.  T. and I lived across the street in our first apartment( found by her).  I would talk and listen too while she washed her nurse stockings she wore that day.  I thought she was so clean and thorough!!Over the years she was my friend and I will miss her greatly.   I did not know it would hit me this way, as over the years I learned to stand on my own,  but we had so many good memories of traveling together and much, much more.  Rest in peace and don't you all have too many parties before I get there.

Betty Boop

DELAYED TREAT

What is the 4th without a hot dog?  Incomplete!!  I had other traditional foods but not a hot dog.  And I do love a good hot dog   I took my long "put off" trip to Wal=Mart till today.  I used to love to go but I dread it now.  Oh well I bought among lots of needed stuff, Oscar Mayer turkey hot dogs and whole wheat buns.  By the time I had spent $84. 22 I was ready to head home.  Hungry too. My hot dog was good, with slaw on it and the other good stuff.  The 4th is now officially celebrated by me. 


Betty Boop

JULY 4th

I started off the 4th by sleeping late (for me).  I woke at 7 pm.  Wow, and good for me.  The  Cyber being closed for the 4th, I fixed my own breakfast and took my time.  Felt good.  I need more days when I don't have to go somewhere.  I had lunch in the dinning room with the traditional type food.  Barbecue chicken, baked beans, corn on cob (frozen) slaw.  They had much more but that is what I chose.  Good but not the best.  I said to someone that I would not complain and she said--"you just did"  I guess she was right. 

Last night I was invited to a party on a friends terrace on the first floor and right on the Lake.  She has such a pretty apartment.  About 12 of us sat on her terrace there and ate watermelon and watched the fireworks from Liberty Park.  We had a wonderful view and it was really good .  I had just watched a Capitol 4th on TV and I think Madison was just as good as Washington.  It was nice and I enjoyed it.  Haven't been to a small party like that in a while.  Good to go  where there was no wine or any alcohol served.  That gets old for me. 

Betty Boop

SCV SUNSHINE CHOIR SUMMER CONCERT

Yes, finally it got here.  Our Choir singing I mean.  45 minutes we sang.  Sound of Music songs. gospel. WWII songs and patriotic  and more.  It was very good I think.  And right here I must give thanks to Tommy, Jan, Cary. Brody, Amy and Mary Grace for coming.  It does mean a lot to me for my family to be interested in my activities.  Little Brody especially, because he sat and listened throughout the performance.  He seemed to be enjoying it and later wanted to be on stage too.  Way to go Brody.  Jan, Cary and Brody stayed for lunch.  Brody was interested in the little green lizards who find their home in the court yard Rose garden.  Everyone greeted him and he was so sweet to say hello and goodbye too.  Of course the elevator ride to my apartment was fun. Next comes a new play.  They are working on it now.  I hope I get a part, because it is fun.  Never thought I would like being on stage--but I do.

I received in the mail from Jan Willie Nelson's newest CD.  I have played half of it and he has still got an amazing voice.  I know I will play it often.  Also thanks to Linda for the gift of a   Nook.  and to Jan for going to Barnes and Noble with me to set it up and learn to read it.  I really like it.  I have finished the latest Jeffery Archer book and am starting Willie Nelson's new book.(a gift from Jan.)  So all in all, I am doing O. K.

Betty Boop
P. S. I got my A1C readings from my Dr.  I am doing a great job with my blood sugar.  Hoo Ray!!!!