I thought my sleep issue would have been corrected with getting my blood pressure in normal range. But that was not the case. On Wednesday after lunch with a friend, I came home feeling overwhelmed with exhaustion and laid down to rest. I woke up at ten in the evening and was able to go back to sleep and sleep through the night. Ugh! Later in the week I went to Mexicali's in the evening with my friend Janet. I suggested she call me about an hour before we meet in case I was asleep. I didn't know if that would help because my daughter Ronda called me before heading for the airport to go to Sweden with her boyfriend for a week. They have friends they will stay with and who will take them sightseeing. But my point was, I never heard the phone ring when Ronda called. I was awake when my friend Janet called.
Last Sunday I received a text message from a childhood friend, Zona who asked if we could get together and have dinner. She was on her way north to do a solo camping trip. That was a good experience for her. She got a hotel room here. I went to pick her up at the hotel and we had Chinese food. We had lots of catching up to do. She said she would be passing through on Wednesday and might spend the night, but she became ill and headed home.
While out to dinner, I got an email from Gary Hollingsead who was putting up a new retaining wall in my backyard. They wanted to start at 6:30 the next morning. I agreed.
They were prompt and knocked the bricks out one at a time. There were several men here so they moved quickly. They needed to cut some of the branches from the vine on the chain link fence above the block wall. It looked so raw and exposed with the block wall gone. They asked to come the next day at 6:00 am. The idea was to get the most done during the coolest hours. It is very hot here. The soil in front of the chain link fence had fallen a lot more. It is obvious that it was not packed down when they initially put in the chain link fence to the private neighborhood above me. It was done in 1959, so who do you hold responsible? My neighbors on my side of the street abutting this private community will face the same problem when they need to do this. My backyard is just a construction zone that I am trying to avoid looking at until it is done.
 |
| It looked so raw with the wall down! |
 |
| The workman were fast in getting the wall up. |
 |
The block wall is up.
The clean up will happen tomorrow. |
On the first day of the wall project, I had lunch with my friend Jo at the Chef's Choice Noodle Bar. It was enjoyable. We are both in the Red Hat group. Jo is hard of hearing which interferes when talking much in a group. So it was pleasant to talk with just us two. When we parted company and I was heading to my car, I was approached by a reporter and photographer from Lifestyle Magazine. They asked me what did I like most of Kern County. Of course, there is a lot I like, but since we were downtown, I said I liked the downtown area especially for First Friday ( the first Friday of each month in the evenings) which focuses on the arts. The art galleries, craft type stores and arts & craft tables outdoors with some musicians playing at street corners. The restaurants in the area do very well that night and you need a reservation to get in. I praised the push to raise money to be put toward making the downtown environment more appealing.
The following day I had my "private" lesson with Carol (it is supposed to be a class with at least one other student). I showed her what I had done on the drawing of the sunflower. I only did the one I was going to paint. I asked how she would paint this picture, etc. so I watched as she did one of her own and asked tons of questions. It really was very helpful. I'm also glad that I can ask any question I want. It helped me to understand the process. Now it was my turn. I felt much more confident about what I would do. Though I'm getting private lessons when I don't pay a private rate, I really appreciate it and I would fully understand if she couldn't continue this. She did say she would tell me when she reached this point. Right now she schedules appointments on the same day when coming into town. She lives around Lake Isabella (about an hours drive into the mountains).
 |
| Sunflowers by Rachel |
I had lunch with my buddy Victor. We used to work together. I mentioned that he is writing a book and that he wanted me to read it. We will get together once a month here in Bakersfield and he will bring sections of his book each time we meet for me to review by the next lunch.
My son Jeff and his wife Stephanie had an open house where they live now and a graduation celebration for their daughter Cassadie (my first grandchild to graduate from college). My grandchildren Crystal and Devin went with us. The weather was balmy in the mid-seventies. It was a wonderful break from the heat we have been experiencing at home. With their front door open, there was a wonderful breeze wafting through the house. Stephanie, who is a wonderful cook had lots of snacks that could be a meal for anyone who needed that. She sure has a knack for putting together an event. This home was built in the 1920's and very well maintained. Very stylish but much of it not to current code like a window on the second floor going down to the floor where there could be a possibility of someone falling to the ground (I can assure you it wouldn't be me! I stay away from open areas above the first floor).
 |
Cassadie with her boyfriend Bogart-
They both just graduated from different Universities. |
 |
Meghan Jerdin, Jeff and Stephanie's youngest takes acting classes-
I have a feeling we will be seeing her on the big screen or television in the future! |
 |
| Shelley, Crystal and Devin |
 |
| Jeff with a jaunty step in front of their duplex (what a lovely home) |
 |
| Cassadie with her Aunt Shelley |
Well, another full week, despite sleeping for hours at a time! More tests this next week to see if we can figure out what is going on with me. I hope you had a good week and I will see you next Sunday. Rachel
No comments:
Post a Comment