We have to go to Lowe’s today so H can get paint to finish painting the walls by the stairs to the garage. Since IKEA is next to Lowe’s we will run into there too. Later this afternoon we are going downtown to try and get rush tickets to The Sound of Music. If we don’t get tickets we will go to a spot by the bay for a drink before heading back home.
There was a big, loud parade of groups of people marching around Bergen today, with many drum corps—young children, men, women and elders.
We also went to fish market and had an expensive but tasty lunch there.
Today is a recovery day after physical therapy for my new knee yesterday, which is a version of torture with a nice young therapist. He has been very encouraging about me being ahead of the goals for someone 2 1/2 weeks out of surgery, but that doesn’t give me any more oomph in my day. I don’t have the physical or mental. bandwidth to do much right now, but I am seeing some small improvements. Thank goodness I have tennis to watch during the day between naps and Netflix re-watch of The West Wing in the evenings. I’m jealous of you people who are out doing active chores and walking and am living vicariously through your description of your days!
This evening (early) I’m invited to a Wine and Brine event (local oyster tasting–East Coast oysters–and wine pairings.) A local group is sponsoring the event, so we don’t have to drive very far. My daughters are here and they’ll be going. Their husbands are babysitting.
Most of my days don’t require flexible knees. 
I got up early to start the day. Doing some financial stuff while listening to a bunch of podcasts on my favorite topics – sports and politics. Will work out in a bit while watching tennis and later baseball.
Tonight, unbelievably, I am going to a goodbye dinner for a neighbor, part of my lunch and mahjong group. Why unbelievably? Because it conflicts with Game 7 of the Western Conference basketball playoffs! Thankfully, the person planning the dinner picked a place with a lot of TVs, and I’ll beg out in time to catch the second half at home.
I feel stressed today because of the game and impending cataract surgery, which is why I’m trying to get ahead on financial things.
Apparently still getting over a head cold. Slept really really well two nights ago and felt a lot better yesterday. Slept horribly last night and feel horrible again today. I’m not usually a napper but I see a long nap in my afternoon plans.
Well, I am wistfully remembering our more carefree travel days when I didn’t have to lug so much medical equipment around while traveling. Fortunately, I am able to bring what I need—just wish it was smaller, lighter & quieter (better yet if we didn’t need the equipment at all).
Another traveler said their party also needs to travel with medical equipment & supplies, including insulin that needs to have temperature strictly controlled. My friend had to bring her travel cpap, which is much smaller, lighter & quieter than my stuff. Oh well, counting my blessings we can still travel!
GD had her first dance recital this morning. Venues for dance recitals are difficult to secure compared to when my kids danced. We ended up having to drive to an area we rarely visit, but we are happy that it was in that area. After a fun recital, we went to lunch in a city known for its Arabic population. SIL’s mom (they are Middle Eastern) told us which restaurant to go to, and SIL ordered a bunch of different dishes for the table. It was so good! I can’t imagine either of my kids at 5 eating the things GD ate … she has quite the adventurous palate. I need to go walking, but right now I am too tired (maybe too full!) to move off the couch.
Today began after breakfast with a half hour live chat with Cox where I convinced them to increase our monthly cable/internet bill by only $10 instead of $30. We would cut the cord except husband watches tons of broadcast sports and news. I am mainly streaming nowadays.
Then out to the pool on this lovely sunny day, but instead of relaxing I decided it was time to trim the palm fronds hanging over the water. This is accomplished by floating on a noodle in garden gloves and using landscape shears to cut the fronds and drop them on a float. Part of it involves cautiously standing on the pool shelf to reach some of the fronds. Then floating the fronds to husband who takes them over. Sadly he is allergic to pool chemicals so doesn’t go in often. The pool looks much neater now and I won’t bump my head swimming.
I already washed sheets so have to make the bed. And wash my hair. Tonight we’re going to a favorite Italian restaurant in Liberty Station for dinner.
Landscaping tools:
Finished product:
Today we walked to the fortress of Bergen and on the way back to our hotel, heard a children’s choir festival singing. It was lovely! They even sang a song in English, “Wonderful World.”
Volunteering downtown here with an event where folks draw things on our sidewalks with chalk. It’s a fun day…music, food trucks, constant entertainment, and lots of people!
Usual weekend morning relaxing with tea and puzzles albeit in the kitchen and not the sunporch because it’s chilly this morning!
We are going for a long walk after breakfast and then working on a few things for H’s new car that was unexpectedly delivered yesterday. It’s been so long since we’ve had a new car that we are having a blast with all the new tech.
This afternoon we are going to an opera and then H offered to grill dinner (fish and asparagus).
Youngest son coming over after church for lunch (I’m making chicken fried rice w/ spring rolls) and he’ll hang for some college ball then he’s meeting friends for the Wierd Al concert closer to us than his house. But looks like there may be storms, he may be out of luck!
Went with friends to a farm in (very) rural Maine hosting its spring perennial and herbs sale. Had lunch in a charming, rustic carriage house restaurant and stopped at an alpaca farm on the way home. It’s still raining. Chicken soup for dinner.
It’s been an IDEAL weather weekend. From Friday, through the weekend and expected into the week, 
and those mild temps that allow you to do anything - want to wear jeans? Shorts? Your bathing suit? You can do it all!
Today is a stay at home and don’t-even-want-to-go-anywhere day. Exercised upon waking up, took the pup for our daily 1.5 mile walk. Made blueberry cottage cheese pancakes for breakfast (plain for plain Jane husband - no blueberries, no cottage cheese). Did some flower bed weeding and trimmed off some daffodils stems still sort of green but I don’t want to look at them anymore. Planted some more flower seed in some bare spots - miniature sunflower, a little zinnia, some native cosmos.
S and DIL and pup came over for a couple hours to sun/swim. Chit-chatted with them and made some homemade salsa for us to snack on. Will go back out and sit in the sun for a bit and take a swim.
Planned to grill last night but when I turned the grill on, the gas tank was empty. The good news is the last time we used it was last weekend for a big family party - so, glad it made it through that event! (We did have a spare canister). So tonight I’ll grill some chicken, read outside, water and feed some plants. Great day.
Happy to rinse and repeat this type of day over and over.
This morning I drove to our nearest Ikea (35 mins away) and had a delightful time browsing their goods. Wound up with several lovely ceramic planters for indoor use.
Then napped and just got back from my 2.5 mile walk with the dog. Sausages for dinner.
My mind read “snausages for dinner”! 
It’s been beautiful weather the last few days. In the spirit of the long weekend thread I decided to do a few things in parts of town that are more heavily visited by tourists. Friday was lunch sitting in a beautiful garden near the beach. Browsed in a few surf shops. Saturday we went to the mission and viewed the chalk paintings from the previous weekends chalk painting festival. People watched and took a walk through the adjacent rose gardens. Sat and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. Today we watched the 4 year old. We played a few rounds of CandyLand and Hungey, Hungry hippo. We heated the spa and he used it as a pool. I’m now recovering and thinking about a nap.