Fall Is In The Air!

Yes, we woke up this morning to 64 degrees and took our morning walk in longer sleeves! As I look at the forecast for the coming week, all temperatures begin with an 8 rather than a 9! All good news!

I've been trying to get to this for a week, but it wasn't meant to be. It's been a busy month of scheduled activities, further complicated by my volunteering to give a presentation on our African safari! I knew better than to volunteer, but I did it anyway, and now I'm getting anxious about it. I've spent time paring down the information that Tippy and I put together when we offered it as an OLLI class, in hopes of making it shorter and more concise. I'm doing it on Thursday and will be glad when it's over. Most of all, I hope folks enjoy it as much as we enjoyed the trip.

One of the high points since last writing was visiting friends in Bluffton. Maria (Felix and Hanry), my former neighbor across the street, was kind enough to invite us for a visit. Needless to say, Rosie was happy to visit with her friends, too. The first day there, we were fortunate to have an early dinner with Chris and Lynn before Lynn took off the next morning at 4:30 AM to pay a surprise visit to her granddaughter in Portland, OR, who was a brand-new mom! She was traveling with her son and DIL, whose visit was planned, but Sage didn't expect Lynn. I felt very excited for Lynn and knew it would be a good trip. The second morning, Maria had Ann, another neighbor, over for brunch, and we had a good natter. You can see from the photos that Rosie was happy to see her people, too! Tuesday evening, I went to Drinking Liberally and connected with David, Chris, Rhonda, Carmen and Dominick, and several new members since my move. As always, there was lots of good conversation and laughs. David followed that up with a visit to Maria's the next day to see Rosie! Katie also stopped by (and I neglected to get a photo - too much to talk about!) since she was unable to come for brunch. It was great to catch up with everyone! Wednesday lunch was our favorite standby, Olive and Fig for the F-word - Falafel! It was as good as ever, and I've really missed it! Chris, Rhonda, Maria, and I reserved a booth and put the world to rights! There's nothing better than great conversations with good friends! Due to the usual busyness of summer (travel, company, etc.) I was not able to connect with everyone, but I knew they were enjoying themselves. Maybe next time! It was a lovely visit, and I thank Maria for her hospitality. It was perfect!

We returned, and the following day, the Clinton Presbyterian Community Facebook page featured a little piece about Rosie!! I hope the link HERE will open to the correct article. If not, you may have to scroll a bit. Anyway, that was very sweet! Before we left, many of Rosie's regulars were wondering what they were going to do without her......little mention of me, mind you! I know my place in the overall scheme of things!

I've been on three outings organized by our Life Enrichment Coordinator. The first was to the newly renovated Laurens County Courthouse. We were provided a guided tour, and it really is beautifully done with top-of-the-line AV features, etc. There are photos of the earlier versions as well as a small museum. The main meeting room is beautiful, with several smaller meeting rooms also available. I'm sure it cost a pretty penny, and when asked about its usage, it seems that the county council meetings are about it! From there, we walked across the street for lunch at Roma, an Italian restaurant I'd been wanting to try. The food was very good, and I've added it to my list of places to take guests. 

We also visited the Greenville County Museum of Art, which is noted for its collection of Andrew Wyeth watercolors. We were given a guided tour, which was very informative. There were several sketches from which he worked, and I was especially taken by the partial paintings that showed how we painted from his sketches. Needless to say, his watercolors are impressive. I really loved the "Birding" section by Grainger McKoy from Sumter, SC. The detail of the work was magnificent, with the rooster being one of my favorites. I was also taken by the large, decorative floral pieces they had in various locations. When I asked about them, our guide said they were for the well-known international floral distributor, Temu! Even so, they were very pretty. I think another visit will be in order, as we did not have time to see all of The Southern Collection or Notable American Masters series. It was very enjoyable and followed by a nice lunch. I also enjoyed seeing parts of Greenville other than the motorways. It was in a lovely area with some interesting buildings. All in all, a very nice outing.

In addition to these outings, I've gone on two shopping trips to various shops or malls, one in Greenville and the other in Greenwood. While it probably would have been quicker to go on my own, it is an easy way to learn my way around better. There were definitely a few places I would revisit, now that I know where they are and what they offer.

I'll end with a glimmer, and Rosie updates. The little tree is from my front door, and at a certain time in the afternoon it looks like a spotlight is on it. It just glows a brilliant yellow-gold! The photo doesn't do it justice. 

Rosie is sniffing cars, as she likes to do. With some of the wheels, she can get her whole head in one section of the hubcap! And she obviously smelled something enticing in the hedges! 

The last two are of her being fully alert in anticipation of a squeaky toy being thrown! I'm so thankful she is doing well and enjoying her people!

I hope this finds YOU doing well also! Let me hear from you when you have a minute.  xoxo

Another Month Has Flown by in Record Speed!

Yes, if I don't start each post with that statement, I'm certainly thinking it! How does the time pass so quickly? I don't know if it's a byproduct of getting older or just a sign of the times, with things seeming to whirl out of control on so many levels! If you figure it out, please let me know!

While many activities are planned for residents here, my routine usually leaves Mondays and Tuesdays relatively free. I try to get exercise five days a week, alternating among the treadmill (2 days), the NuStep machine (2 days), and one day of Strength and Balance. I usually do that right after lunch before leaving the main building and having an opportunity to talk myself out of it! Thursdays, I participate in the Trivia Club, and on Fridays I play cornhole before happy hour. That doesn't sound like much, but there are always other things happening in between - concerts, monthly birthday celebrations, etc. It's certainly enough to keep me busy, and Rosie and I have to have our "at home" time!

One of the offerings this month was to City Scape Winery near Pelzer. You know I was there! It was pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but when we were there after lunch, they had a nice clientele. We tasted 8 wines and enjoyed the scenery. It was a very nice change of pace, and I think all attending enjoyed it. Pelzer also has the Mill Town Players and other things I've heard about, so it may be well worth another visit to check it out. 

One Saturday morning, I also joined the Laurens County Dem Women's Coffee & Chat. This is something I'd been meaning to do for months and finally got around to it. They had just changed meeting locations, and it was a small group, but (as Dems tend to be) it was a welcoming group. I had met or seen all of them either at the first Laurens County No Kings protest or at the monthly meeting. I like making connections outside of the Presbyterian community, and this is a good way to start.

It's difficult to believe it's time for school to start, but it is. Our Life Enrichment team put together a back-to-school event for children of our staff members. Everyone was eager to help. There was food and games in the parlor, then the kids picked up a lunch bag and filled it with goodies. I worked the table of goodies, and it was wonderful to see the kids with their parents and chat with them a bit. I hope the kids (and their parents) enjoyed it as much as we did. We have such a wonderful, caring staff, and it was great to be able to do something to show our appreciation.

I have to share these photos of Rosie! My friend David sent the regal one on a Sunday morning. I had only one cup of coffee at that time, and I emailed him back saying it was so cute and looked just like Rosie! Then, after walking Rosie and having a second cup of coffee, I looked at it again and said, "That IS Rosie!" So I emailed him back to confirm that it was her and marvel at how he had done it. All of her fans here have gotten a real charge out of it, and I've shared the second one (when she had a run-in with the law!) with a select group!  The kitty belongs to our local cat lady, who lives 2 doors down. Sally follows Erna like a doggie. One day Erna came over for a visit, and as we were chatting, I heard something at the door. It was Sally! She sat there patiently as we visited. Luckily, Rosie was on the sofa with Erna and didn't know of Sally's visit until Erna was ready to leave.

Once a month, we have the Chef's Table, usually mid-afternoon. It's kinda described as a cooking class, but Chef Mark usually just feeds us something decadent! This time it was truffles. I got a kick out of this story, and I hope you can read it. Anyway, he did chocolate, coconut, and pistachio truffles. They were delicious! I had one pistachio on the spot and brought a coconut and pistachio home for later!  He also does a Fine Dining night about once every month or so, which is as good as anything you would find in a nice restaurant.

I'm also happy to report that the dining room is now offering vegetarian options on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday consistently. It's taken a while, but it is moving forward, and I've been encouraged by the number of people who try various dishes. The interesting thing is that the vegetarian dishes look so much more appetizing that the meat and 2 veggies plates! The chef and dining room staff have been very supportive, sometimes even notifying that meat may be in something I don't expect. One of the servers and I have a running joke. On Sundays, lunch is a buffet. So, I have my meal, then I go back for meat for Rosie. He accuses me of being a fake vegetarian, using Rosie as an excuse!!

On that note, I'll close. As summer winds down, I hope everyone is in good health and spirits to enjoy it to the fullest. Love to all!💖

Summer Is Here!

Yes, summer is almost upon us, but I have to say we've had a wonderful June. Here, we are at the end of it, and I don't think we've been in the 90s yet (though 97 is projected for later in the week! That's how fast it arrives!)! We've had some warm days in the high 80s, but frequently with a breeze and a slightly overcast sky. Not heavy enough to be dark and depressing, just enough to deflect the harsh rays of the sun. Overall, for June, it has been very mild and balmy. We've appreciated every day of it!

The month began with a visit from Rhonda. She had planned to come on one of the weekends that turned out to be either snowy or icy, so we had to postpone. It then hit me that a good time to come would be for one of our monthly "Fine Dining" events. So, she came for a few days the first week of the month. This was the first time it was held outside on the patio, and it was a bit warm, but we didn't let that stop us. This time, the Chef had an outstanding charcuterie table. I could have made a whole meal off of it! He always does a vegetarian dish for me, and I think Rhonda had bass (and I forgot what the other meat option was since I don't eat it and never even look). Everything was farm-to-table and locally sourced, including the wine. It's always a nice treat, and everything is so nicely prepared and presented. I hope Rhonda enjoyed it. 

We had a very nice catch-up, and Rhonda is always ready to talk politics. She let me vent as much as I wanted.....and we covered a lot!! 

The next day, we were off to Newberry, which is a lovely little town. They've done a wonderful job of maintaining the buildings and making the Opera House a major attraction. It's also more of an artsy, hippie-ish town than I realized. We started at the Opera House and took a few photos outside, never even thinking it would be open. It was only after strolling the main street that we were told it was open and contained works by local artists. Before we left town, we circled back and went inside. They've done a great job of restoring it and offering entertainment to the wider community. 

Somehow, I learned of a Japanese Garden in Newberry, so we looked for it. The Wells Japanese Garden is a small delight in an ordinary neighborhood. It's lush and shaded, with the sound of a pond/stream. I really enjoyed it and would visit again. While we were there, we were told of the Newberry Arts Center, which we didn't have time to see. Since getting back, I've also learned of an orchid farm. So there's more to Newberry than originally meets the eye, and it definitely warrants more investigation.

After we returned from Newberry, we were visited by the CPC chaplain, Pastor Debby. In our conversation, she happened to mention that Greenwood was having its Festival of Flowers. I had heard about it, but had no idea when it happened. Rhonda has a green thumb and loves plants, and she would have loved it. Anyway, the following weekend Rosie and I rode over to see what we could see. They have large topiaries, which are beautifully done. I saw only a few of them in one particular area, and there were many more. I asked Rhonda to put it on her calendar for next year, and we can check it out.

Life moves quickly! Since my last post, I'm sad to report the passing of our friend, Tom. Lynn and Tom, along with Chris and me, made up the Pandemic Pals. All through COVID and after, we dined every Friday at one house or the other. It was practically the only socializing we did through the pandemic, and we continued it long after. Tom was brave and patient to put up with three opinionated women, but he always had a wry, witty response! He will be missed, and I send my love and condolences to Lynn.

Then, just like that, about a month ago, Tippy and Kieran announced they are moving from HHI to Alpharetta, Ga......and the move will take place on July 7! No messing around for them! I was hoping Alpharetta was closer, but it's still about a three-hour drive, so no luck there. Even though I'm still adjusting to the news, I wish them all the best. I think the move will give them a new lease on life.

This week has been difficult for Rosie. She seemed to be almost herself again after 3 visits to the vet and multiple medications. Then, this past week, she had low energy, wasn't eating much (only when coaxed), would wake me early to go out, and then only wanted to eat grass! So, it was back to the vet and more meds. I haven't seen much improvement yet, but she is eating (after an appetite stimulant), which means I can get her meds into her! I'm hoping to see improvement soon. Thanks to Mary and Jim for the thoughtful messages this week. You didn't know I needed them, which makes them even more appreciated. 

I will leave you with a sweet Rosie story. One day last week, we were on our morning walk, and Rosie was sniffing cars as she likes to do in the parking lot. A young lady drove up and parked, got out of the car, and was walking to another car when she stopped and said, "That wouldn't be Rosie, would it?" You can imagine my shock at hearing that from someone I'd never seen before! She turned out to be the wife of one of our maintenance men! He has a dog and told his family about Rosie, who often visits them if they're still in their office when we take out our morning walk. She has been known to stand outside their door and whine until invited in, and they all pet her when passing anywhere in the building. She really is a lucky little doggie, and that encounter made my day!💖

Sending love to all. 

My Baby Girl Has Not Been Well!

It has been a busy month (which has flown by!), but my main concern has been Rosie. I took her to the Vet about 2 weeks ago for the second time with very generalized symptoms - labored breathing, low energy, not wanting to go into the building (where all of her favorite people are!), hiding out in the bathroom, etc. Nothing specific, just things a pet mom would notice. Her previous bloodwork was fine, but the Vet took blood again to test for lymphoma. Thankfully, the lymphoma test came back negative. She also did another X-ray of her heart. She has a slightly enlarged heart and a heart murmur graded at 4/6. It also showed the bronchioles in the lungs, indicating inflammation in the lower airways. We left the office with 4 medications, not including the 2 she already takes. She is difficult to medicate, and I had no idea that I would get all of that into her, to say nothing of keeping it all straight! Thus, the spreadsheet! That's the only way I could keep it all straight! I'm pleased and shocked to say that she took it all, probably due to the steroid!! Anyway, she will finish the last bit of steroids over the weekend. We had a follow-up visit on Wednesday, just when she was beginning to act like she felt a tad better. After reviewing everything, the Vet felt the major issue was back and neck pain. She gave me a medication for arthritis, which I'm to begin 2 days after the last dose of the steroid. I'm hoping and praying that it does the trick. I'm not 100% satisfied with the labored breathing, but that's difficult to judge now that it's warmed up. I'm hoping I can get that girl feeling better. She's 13+, and something like this is very frightening to me, and I've had my share of weepy days! Like me, she's at the age that anything can happen, but that's still difficult to accept. She's such a sweet girl and deserves to feel better. Please keep us in your thoughts.💕

I may have mentioned this before, but every month we have a "fine dining" evening. Rather than the dining room, it's held in the Bistro, which our Executive Director decorates to the nines. It really is a nice evening, and the food is beautifully prepared and presented. It's always a nice evening. Our next one is June 4th, and I've invited a guest.

One morning, we were offered a tour of Lush Acres Farm, which is part of Thornwell Charter School. I've been meaning to take photos of the school as the campus is lovely. You can check it out HERE. Before being a charter school, it was an orphanage dating back to the post-Civil War period, which you can see HERE. We were just touring the farm associated with the school. It was a lovely morning and nice to be out and about - to see geese, highland cows, pigs, alpacas, and especially the cute baby goats!! There were about 6 newborns, and they were just adorable. You can see there was one that was just adorable and wanted to be social. So sweet! We also picked up gallons of strawberries that were to be used for our monthly birthday celebration the next day.

On the 20th, we had an all-day outing to Flat Rock, NC, to see Kate Hamill's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice at the Flat Rock Playhouse. I'd never been to Flat Rock and found it charming, and the playhouse area was very picturesque. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel (first time in years!), and relaxed in the rocking chairs before heading to the play. Everyone there was very welcoming and helpful. I went to take a photo of the statue, and a lady in black told me that the artist did it in one day, with a chainsaw, barefooted! I could almost picture it in my mind's eye!! The play was very cleverly done, and I enjoyed the whole day. Had I not already bought the ticket, I probably would not have gone with Rosie being ill. The cleaning ladies assured me they would stop in and take care of her, so I didn't feel too bad, and I am glad I went. We were also given the option to go up again in July to see Footloose, which is the one I really would have loved to see, but not enough people signed up for it.

You know me, I had to see Annie Andrews when she was in town. I saw her several times when she was running against Mace, and she has really come into her own. I told her that and thanked her for running against Graham! I'm hoping she wins the primary, and I feel sure she'll cover a lot of territory between then and the November election.🤞

In that same vein, as I'm researching for the midterms, I printed out my sample ballot. I happened to think the ladies at my lunchtime table might like a copy (as well as Peter, a former PC professor, the first liberal I met here, because he had a "Resist" bumper sticker on his car!). So, I distributed them, and they were so pleased. Then they started asking me for whom I was going to vote. I then went home and wrote up the info I had on those I would vote for - as well as the suggestion that if two unknowns were running for an office and one was a woman, vote for the woman!! We need more women in politics. I printed that on the right side of the sample ballot, and handed them out again! I wasn't qualified to tell people how to vote, but I was happy to provide the information. I've been fairly stunned by how uninformed many are leading up to the elections, and I wonder how you go in and vote without knowing anything about the candidates! Scary and sad! I think that's gotten us where we are today. Anyway, if you're wondering how to generate interest, sample ballots may be a start! Two days this week, the community has taken residents over for early voting, and I went on the first day of voting! It's nice that they do that for us.

I'll close with just a few glimmers from the past few weeks. We've had lots of rain lately, and a tiny snail, about the size of the end of my little finger, took up on the outside of my storm window. He was so tiny, but he could move around, and once in a while, he would tuck inside his little shell. By the end of the day, he was gone, but I loved watching him. We also have a couple of blueberry plants around the building, and I'm enjoying watching them mature. The hydrangeas are right outside my bathroom window, and I've been watching each head fill in over time. This is the first time I've been close enough to observe the process. 

I hope this finds you doing well and living life at a comfortable pace. Let me know what you've been up to. Hugs!💖

It's Been Busy!

I'm long overdue for updating the blog because it has been busy! The Presbyterian Communities Olympics were held on April 17th, and the month leading up to it was filled with practicing our events, pep rallies (not my thing!), send-off festivities, and anything you could think of related to a sporting event! I entered (was talked into) the women's speed walking, and Jimmy C entered the men's event. So, one to three times a week, we walked it, hoping to improve our time. 

On the day of the event, all 6 communities were represented. The smallest three, including Clinton, competed against each other, while the larger three competed in their division. We all got together in the chapel of the Columbia campus for a pep rally (still not my thing, but it was fun). Following the rally, we went off to our events. With the speed walking, I was the first on up....of all competitors! It didn't give me time to fret about it. I was up and off, followed by Jimmy. As soon as we finished, we were off to watch the other events, not knowing how we did. As it turned out, we both won in our division! Jimmy had the overall (of both divisions) best time (2.58 minutes), and my time (3.06) tied the winner of the ladies' larger communities division. I was totally surprised...and pleased that it was over! The Clinton Community tied with Columbia for the most wins, which had not happened before. So they will keep the trophy until October, when there will be some kind of event to pass it over to us for the remainder of the year. We were pleased for Jennifer, our Life Enrichment Coordinator, who had not had a showing like that before. All in all, it was a good day. Next year, I'm going to angle for something like cornhole!!

Before the Olympics, Anna (my lunchtime dining mate and friend), Betty (a fellow UNC-G graduate), and I met Pamela for dinner at Break on the Lake on Lake Greenwood. Pamela was the marketing person here when I visited, and she was SO helpful in making the timing work, which is no small thing. Unfortunately, she had been battling cancer for over a year and was let go. It was great to see her and catch up. She looked great, as she always did. Her hair had fallen out and grown back curly, which looked fabulous! It was a gab-fest, and we all enjoyed it. 

I also attended the No Kings protest. Previously, I had to find one nearby to attend, but this time, Laurens had their own. It reminded me of the old days in Bluffton, when only a few people would show up. Now, hundreds participate, and I miss that energy. My hope is that the same thing will happen here. About 75 people showed up, which surprised everyone. It was a good group, and the response was positive (with only the occasional A-hole).  Chris sent the photo of Mark, Maria, and their signs. It made me feel I was with Bluffton in spirit, knowing that my friends were representing well!

I'm going to resist a political rant, but I will tell you what I've been doing. I've regularly faxed Graham, Scott, and Biggs (our version of Mace, only possibly worse). I know it produces nothing, but to remain silent is to grant approval. With the SC abortion issue, I've added my state reps to my list. They are truly disgusting. I never thought I'd agree with Tom Davis on anything, or he with me, but he is showing sense and strength on this issue. Be proud, Beaufort County! I have found a lot of folks in this community who are liberal, but I've also been surprised and alarmed at those who are watching it all happen with no interest in doing anything. So, I made a contact sheet of our reps and passed it out to all the ladies at my dining table. At least one of them called Graham. It wasn't much, but it was better than doing nothing. I also attended the county Democratic meeting on Saturday, which included a candidate forum, and my tablemates (the ladies, not the male trumper) were interested in hearing about it. I was thrilled to learn that Annie Andrews will be here sometime in May. I'll offer rides to anyone who would like to attend with me. I'm doing what I can, but it's not enough.

These are just some photos of our happy hour group. Every Friday, we have a happy hour in the cafe. They've been doing some work in there, so Josh, our dining room coordinator, decided to have it outside. Things were just beginning to green or bloom, and the weather was perfect. I think we all enjoyed it. In one of the photos, you can see my little cottage (with the red car under the carport), so you can see how close I am to the main building. 

I'll tell you a funny southern story that happened to me at Food Lion. I walked into the store, and in the corner of my eye, I saw a women whom I thought lived at the Clinton. At that time, she waved to me, and I turned to face her....then we both realized that we didn't know each other!! She said, "I don't really know you!" I explained that I thought she was a friend from the Presbyterian Community, etc. Well, we stood there and talked for 10 minutes. She learned all about me, and I learned that she knew folks in our community and had put a deposit on a place there, but didn't feel ready. We knew a few people in common, etc. It just made my day that two people who didn't know each other could just stand there and chat that long!

Just a little Rosie news: This is her new favorite passtime on our walks. She loves to sniff cars! I think it's something she was never exposed to in Bluffton, with most cars being in garages. She'll start at a wheel, sniff it good, and sniff all the way to the next wheel! I can imagine that there are lots of exotic smells on those tires, and she's identifying all of them!

Below is the only photo I took at the Olympics! It was of a sweet, gentle therapy horse. He was just adorable, like a big doggie with hooves!!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying life. Take care, my friends, you're in my thoughts. Let me hear from you when you can.

Another Day, Another War!

Well, where to begin? Since my last post approximately a month ago, we are now at war with Iran - we being the aggressor, along with Israel. Both countries are controlled by two elderly criminals who will burn it all down to stay out of prison! I really underestimated trump as I didn't think even he would be foolish enough to ignite things in the Middle East. Silly me!  And I love how, when he feels it in his bones, he'll just put that genie right back in the bottle!! God help us.

I was reading The Sisterhood about women in the CIA, and there was a part about the first Gulf War and the bombing of Khobar Towers. I was there at that time, and we were awakened in the middle of the night by the explosion. We later saw the remains of the building. It brought back a lot of memories of being close to a war zone, hearing scuds fly by, flying out on a military plane, etc. And a week later, the Middle East is aflame again! It has really put me in a funk, and I feel sad for our country. When you think about it, we have no government! The republican controlled House, Senate, and Supreme Court have handed our republic over to a soulless madman. They have abdicated their oath to the Constitution and neglected their duty. We are rudderless....except for the madman! I hope I'm wrong, but it's difficult to see how we can ever recover if anything is left by the end of the trump era.

As though I wasn't in enough angst, I just finished Kamala Harris's book 107 Days! It was an audiobook, and she narrated it. It brought back the hope we had felt and clearly showed the contrast between her and what we wound up with. I think how (positively) different our nation would be if we had elected intelligent women when we had the opportunity! I'll stop there.

One very timely event I attended was a conversation with Ben Rhodes held at Presbyterian College. He was a speechwriter and National Security Advisor for President Obama, and is frequently seen on MS NOW. Needless to say, the first question was about Iran. He helped negotiate the agreement with Iran that trump trashed! His basic feeling was that the longer it goes on, the worse it will get, and the more we will feel it. I wouldn't argue with that! 

On a positive note, there are signs of Spring. In fact, this is the second go-around! Color was beginning to show very early when we had a weekend of ice, followed by a weekend of snow, which killed everything. We've had lovely temperatures and things are peaking out again, but there's still time for a cold wave. It is good to see the color and feel the warm temperatures. My hope is for a nice, long Spring!

Things have been pretty busy around here as we are preparing for the Presbyterian Communities' Olympics! In April, all 6 communities will get together in Columbia to compete in Bocce ball, miniature golf, cornhole, a quarter-mile speed walk, and a 3-dimensional puzzle. So, each week we get together and "train." I'm doing the walk. Every other day, the guy who is competing and I get together to do the walk to increase our speed. Bocce ball and cornhole would be much easier, but I've never played either, and my play is very erratic. They are fun, and I hope we continue playing them after the games are over.

We've also had a fine dining evening where our chef shows his stuff. He is excellent! We also welcomed newcomers with an Irish-themed dinner, and we'll have a special lunch for St. Patrick's.

I had to take my car to Greenville for servicing. It was time for a regular checkup, but there was also a recall to be corrected, which meant it would take longer. I was pleased when they offered a loaner, which allowed me to pursue my search for Indian food. Maria, Mark, and I had tried Persis, which was our favorite Indian restaurant in Savannah. The one here was good, but not quite up to our original. Since then, I've been to Saffron, which is a very attractive place, and the food was very good. This time, I found Hocco Indian Kitchen. It was more basic, with lots of people coming in for take-out. The food was also very tasty. So, now I feel I have a choice - if I want take-out, it will be Hocco. If I have company and want something nice, it will be Saffron. If anything else comes across my radar, I'm perfectly willing to give it a try, too. My next genre to explore will be Thai food.

The only other thing to report is that I've become addicted to Sudoku! I always had a book around, but would just do one every now and then, focusing mostly on crosswords. Since our two winter weekends of ice and snow, as well as the state of our nation, I've finished a complete book!! I've done them to the point of feeling I'm in a stupor! 

On that note, I'll close. I hope all is well with you, and that you're finding some silver linings!