Happiest of New Years to you all.
Tomorrow I will begin the regular daily blogs.
Love to you all, dear family, Val
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Blogs will resume in January. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and a very Happy New Year.
Love, Val
Love, Val
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Last night I went to a dance! I went 'stag' with a friend, and saw another friend there whose date asked me to dance! That was very courteous of him. She asked if I was going to Casino Night here on New Year's Eve, I think I might. Black Jack is my forte.
On Friday I went to the Town Hall Meeting, held every month. Residents are encouraged to attend by being given a raffle ticket at the door. Two prizes are awarded, this time candy (which I did not win). Grievances are aired, and staff present the latest happenings.
The usual people asked the usual picky questions, which were handled smoothly by the Director and his staff. I learned something however! They had a problem with dog poop in the halls. Who was the culprit??? They found out!
Through the assistance of a local university lab which traced DNA samples! The erring dog was identified. Hi tech comes to retirement home! The owner was duly billed for the costs and presumably didn't do it again.
There were also complaints about rats eating the wiring in some models of automobiles. The Director pointed out that we had actually taken over the rats' ancestral home, the ravine, and we should try to live in harmony with our fellow creatures, or words to that effect. They have Orkin come on a regular basis to deal with the problem.
The high winds seem to have abated down here, so the fire danger has lessened. There is an emergency pack you can purchase through La Costa Glen with all sorts of clever things in it, like radio/flashlight. I think I will get one.
Today Andrew Mack comes for brunch, and after he leaves I am going on a Night Harbor Cruise in San Diego Bay. We should get back about 10:00PM. Fun.
Tomorrow Trevor comes. We will go to Balboa Park for his birthday, then to a party here. Then back on Wednesday to Manhattan Beach to meet with a new prospective trust lawyer on December 14.
Hope you are all well, love to all, Val
On Friday I went to the Town Hall Meeting, held every month. Residents are encouraged to attend by being given a raffle ticket at the door. Two prizes are awarded, this time candy (which I did not win). Grievances are aired, and staff present the latest happenings.
The usual people asked the usual picky questions, which were handled smoothly by the Director and his staff. I learned something however! They had a problem with dog poop in the halls. Who was the culprit??? They found out!
Through the assistance of a local university lab which traced DNA samples! The erring dog was identified. Hi tech comes to retirement home! The owner was duly billed for the costs and presumably didn't do it again.
There were also complaints about rats eating the wiring in some models of automobiles. The Director pointed out that we had actually taken over the rats' ancestral home, the ravine, and we should try to live in harmony with our fellow creatures, or words to that effect. They have Orkin come on a regular basis to deal with the problem.
The high winds seem to have abated down here, so the fire danger has lessened. There is an emergency pack you can purchase through La Costa Glen with all sorts of clever things in it, like radio/flashlight. I think I will get one.
Today Andrew Mack comes for brunch, and after he leaves I am going on a Night Harbor Cruise in San Diego Bay. We should get back about 10:00PM. Fun.
Tomorrow Trevor comes. We will go to Balboa Park for his birthday, then to a party here. Then back on Wednesday to Manhattan Beach to meet with a new prospective trust lawyer on December 14.
Hope you are all well, love to all, Val
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Does anyone remember Pearl Harbor?
Fires in California are dominating the news. We used to drive by Skirball and the Getty Center every time we went to and from Mammoth. The LA basin is something of a trap, and I am glad I don't live there any more.
All the residents of La Costa Glen are urged to wear devices that allow the safety and emergency staff to find you anywhere on the campus should you need help. You push the little button and they are there very fast. Last evening I was having a pleasant dinner with two new friends when a young man with a large bag came rushing up to our table. He asked if I was all right. I said yes. He said my button had somehow sounded the alarm. I can't imagine how it could have been pushed accidentally, but anyway, the system works! Sort of. Most people it seems carry it on their wrists. Mine is a necklace. I am learning. Also lost my name badge. A new one will be issued at a cost of $5.00.
A nice call from my brother last evening. Also from my Mammoth friend Barbara Hope. Have heard nothing from Trevor since he went to Utah on Monday. Wendy is in Montreal this week so will not call since Canadian phone costs are astronomical. Nothing from Jane in ages. Mack calls faithfully. Much appreciated.
Love to all, Val
Fires in California are dominating the news. We used to drive by Skirball and the Getty Center every time we went to and from Mammoth. The LA basin is something of a trap, and I am glad I don't live there any more.
All the residents of La Costa Glen are urged to wear devices that allow the safety and emergency staff to find you anywhere on the campus should you need help. You push the little button and they are there very fast. Last evening I was having a pleasant dinner with two new friends when a young man with a large bag came rushing up to our table. He asked if I was all right. I said yes. He said my button had somehow sounded the alarm. I can't imagine how it could have been pushed accidentally, but anyway, the system works! Sort of. Most people it seems carry it on their wrists. Mine is a necklace. I am learning. Also lost my name badge. A new one will be issued at a cost of $5.00.
A nice call from my brother last evening. Also from my Mammoth friend Barbara Hope. Have heard nothing from Trevor since he went to Utah on Monday. Wendy is in Montreal this week so will not call since Canadian phone costs are astronomical. Nothing from Jane in ages. Mack calls faithfully. Much appreciated.
Love to all, Val
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
December 6, 2017
At the end of November the residents of La Costa Glen collect money to tip the hourly paid staff, tipping here not being allowed at any other time. The money is counted and apportioned appropriately with sizable checks to the maintenance workers, the housekeepers, the kitchen staff, the dining room staff, and so on.
Yesterday we gathered in Catalina Hall to distribute the checks to these wonderful people. There were two podiums, with hospitality residents calling the names. There were two lines of La Costa Glenners who, as each was called up to the podiums, gave them their check and a big hug! It was fun to see 'cool' young men striding stonefaced up to receive their envelope, then suddenly breaking into a grin as the clapping swelled. Some received wild applause from their fellow workers. The staff here are carefully selected for their warmth and friendliness as well as their abilities. La Costa Glen takes good care of its employees. There are 600 of them to about 1,000 residents!
The Christmas decorations are amazing. The gingerbread scene is in place and my little house is there, with the red candy in the chimney! The village is done every year by a resident and her grandson. What would we do without grandsons!
Fully speed ahead to Christmas! Love to all, Val
Yesterday we gathered in Catalina Hall to distribute the checks to these wonderful people. There were two podiums, with hospitality residents calling the names. There were two lines of La Costa Glenners who, as each was called up to the podiums, gave them their check and a big hug! It was fun to see 'cool' young men striding stonefaced up to receive their envelope, then suddenly breaking into a grin as the clapping swelled. Some received wild applause from their fellow workers. The staff here are carefully selected for their warmth and friendliness as well as their abilities. La Costa Glen takes good care of its employees. There are 600 of them to about 1,000 residents!
The Christmas decorations are amazing. The gingerbread scene is in place and my little house is there, with the red candy in the chimney! The village is done every year by a resident and her grandson. What would we do without grandsons!
Fully speed ahead to Christmas! Love to all, Val
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Sunday, December 3. 2017
It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Carlsbad. I am feeling serene.
This place is really starting to feel like home.
Last evening I walked over to Catalina Hall at around 7:00pm for a youth concert performed by some gifted young musicians from the Balboa Park youth music program. They had performed last year in Beijing and Shanghai. They were very good. I asked one of the musicians if she had heard of the Sierra Academy of Music. She said she would look into it! She would be in their league.
Ethel Iverson came over and introduced me to her friends. You meet new people easily here, as everyone is very outgoing. A room full of people interested in classical music performed by young musicians has to be a kind of filter. After the concert I went up to trolly stop and waited until a charming young woman picked us up in an electric golf cart kind-of-thing that holds eight people. She was asked how she liked the night shift. She said it was working on Saturday that she didn't care for so much, but was very cheerful anyway. She dropped me off at the closest possible spot to "home". The residents are very interested in their staff, from the gardeners to the waiters to the bus drivers to the cleaning crew. The staff are hand picked and I have not yet seen a rude or surly worker here.
I have been enjoying a History of Scotland series by the BBC. It gives us a glimpse of history from the Scottish point of view. Coincidentally, they have a series playing here every Saturday morning on Medieval England. They mentioned the great masterpiece of the pre historical era of the northlands of Europe. Beowulf. I have read it four times. I will try to find the translation theyrecommend. Surprisingly, I learned that the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066 was from a territory in France that had been settled by men from the north. Scandinavians! By then they all spoke French, but genetically were not so different perhaps.
I have also been reading a glossy info-magazine "The Power of Exercise" which presents the latest findings on the subject. Turns out that running is NOT bad for your knees! And other encouraging new findings. I am motivated!
Hope you are all well and happy. Please let me know how you are if I haven't heard from you in awhile. Jane? Nancy? Ian?
Love to all, Val
This place is really starting to feel like home.
Last evening I walked over to Catalina Hall at around 7:00pm for a youth concert performed by some gifted young musicians from the Balboa Park youth music program. They had performed last year in Beijing and Shanghai. They were very good. I asked one of the musicians if she had heard of the Sierra Academy of Music. She said she would look into it! She would be in their league.
Ethel Iverson came over and introduced me to her friends. You meet new people easily here, as everyone is very outgoing. A room full of people interested in classical music performed by young musicians has to be a kind of filter. After the concert I went up to trolly stop and waited until a charming young woman picked us up in an electric golf cart kind-of-thing that holds eight people. She was asked how she liked the night shift. She said it was working on Saturday that she didn't care for so much, but was very cheerful anyway. She dropped me off at the closest possible spot to "home". The residents are very interested in their staff, from the gardeners to the waiters to the bus drivers to the cleaning crew. The staff are hand picked and I have not yet seen a rude or surly worker here.
I have been enjoying a History of Scotland series by the BBC. It gives us a glimpse of history from the Scottish point of view. Coincidentally, they have a series playing here every Saturday morning on Medieval England. They mentioned the great masterpiece of the pre historical era of the northlands of Europe. Beowulf. I have read it four times. I will try to find the translation theyrecommend. Surprisingly, I learned that the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066 was from a territory in France that had been settled by men from the north. Scandinavians! By then they all spoke French, but genetically were not so different perhaps.
I have also been reading a glossy info-magazine "The Power of Exercise" which presents the latest findings on the subject. Turns out that running is NOT bad for your knees! And other encouraging new findings. I am motivated!
Hope you are all well and happy. Please let me know how you are if I haven't heard from you in awhile. Jane? Nancy? Ian?
Love to all, Val
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