JuneNYsAdventuresPart2

I decided to go to the Y for AQUA STRETCH this morning.  Both the online schedule and the calendar I got at the Y said it is from ten a.m. until ten thirty a.m.  I arrived early and went upstairs and used a couple of the cardio machines and walked a bit and then went down and got ready to go into the water.  I figured I was early so I walked and swam in the walking lane in the lap pool. I couldn't figure out why people were not leaving the pool in order to make space for AQUA STRETCH...…………..well it was because it had already started at 9:45.    Anyways, I joined in, but had missed the first part of it due to being in the lap pool.  WELL, now I know. I showered and washed my hair and headed upstairs for my eleven a.m. appointment with Ed. I was early, so I walked the track a bit and did a few minutes on one of the cardio machines.  At eleven I went over to the trainers area and found Ed, who told me he was running late.  I waited and we started ...

I put a roast beef in the crockpot this morning before going out.  Betty and I met up at the Y for two half hour exercise classes for ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS (I  guess it is different from Silver Sneakers)   First we went to BOOM *Muscle and then to BOOM*Mind.   It was a bit hard to keep up during the first class, but it was fun.  The second class was not as much fun, but perhaps easier. After that we walked about ten minutes on the track  and then went to Wendy's for a baked potato.  Then I went home and rested, and rewatched the recent episode of THIS IS US.  I must have dozed off in the middle of it. Peggy's LIFE GROUP was this afternoon.  Present were Peggy, myself, Velma, Betty and Dee.  It went very well.  Betty announced the date for the Christmas dinner at the hospital. December 13th. When I got home, I called Elaine to tell her the date and she offered to pick Betty and  I up so we can all three go together (for lunc...

I really wanted to go to SILVER SNEAKERS SPLASH today but we had a few inches of snow during last night and the plows had not been down my street when Betty called me at eight a.m. to tell me that she was did not think we should go.  The plow was just coming down my street when I was getting ready to pull out at 11:15 a.m. to go to SEAN PATRICKS for lunch with several girls I graduated from high school with.  It had gone down one side of the street when I backed out. Lunch at SEAN PATRICKS was very nice.  There were eight of us, Lynette, Carol, Darlene, Barb, myself, Bonnie Burnett, Liz and Janice.  I had the open faced reuben with coleslaw. MaryAnne did not make it because she could not get out of her driveway.  We all brought  small Christmas gifts.  I gave everyone a gift bag with several pieces of candy and a Christmas kitchen towel that can be hung over a drawer handle.  I took pictures of everyone opening their gifts.  Unfortunately, ...

I got to the Y early, so I went upstairs and did six or seven minutes on one of the machines where you sit down and kind of pedal something.  Then I got ready to go into the pool for SILVER SNEAKERS SPLASH.  I was early so I swam around and made up some exercises to do (to warm myself up for the actual class).  Elaine came in and at the last minute Betty came. The class went well.  Betty and I decided to leave a few minutes early in order to shower and get to the SILVER SNEAKERS YOGA.  It was Betty's first time and she did not like it, so she left early, but I stuck it out until the end.  Then we went to Wendy's for a baked potato and free senior drink.  I invited Betty over to my house for supper and she agreed.  We both went to the library to read the current newspapers. When I got home, I put together the turkey/stuffing/gravy casserole, worked on laundry and wrote a couple of letters (one to President Trump and one to Judy).  I asked DJ...

Leslie left early this morning to go back to Oneonta.  I am so glad she came, we had a good time together. Betty turned 75 two days ago (the day after Thanksgiving).  Peggy and I wanted to do something special for her, so we asked her where she would like to go for a birthday lunch and set the date as today, right after church.  She chose Denny's.  I also invited Pam and Becky to join us and they agreed. We had a great time.  Betty liked her presents:   she got gift cards to the SHAMUS and TIM HORTONS from Peggy and Pam.  Becky gave her this coffee cup, and she didn't even know that Betty LOVES snowmen!  I gave her a small suncatcher that I purchased at TREES OF MYSTERY in California. In the evening, Betty picked me up and we went to the Y to walk the track.  We ran into Mike and Mike Pillot.  After we were done, we drove down Maple Street to see a house that is very lit up for Christmas.

Leslie seemed to want to go to LIGHT UP LOCKPORT, so we planned on going.  Pam called last night wondering what I was doing today, so I invited her to accompany Leslie and I.  Unfortunately, we woke up to a drizzling rain. Leslie and I met up with Pam at the YMCA so we could walk the track.  We ran into Mike there and chatted with him a bit. Our first stop for LIGHT UP LOCKPORT was WINDSOR VILLAGE.  There were quite a few people there.  We had refreshments and Leslie took this picture of  Pam and I. and walked around looking at the gift items and Christmas decorations. .Then we went to Papa Leos where they were giving out free slices of pizza.  We decided to leave our cars at Papa Leo's and walk down Main Street to the old post office.  At the old post office they had a table set up where they offered refreshments, a few free items and free SHOP SMALL bags. From there we went down to Emmanuel Methodist Church for the nativity co...

Leslie arrived early Wednesday evening, in time for supper with Carrie and I (meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and peas). On Thanksgiving Day it was  Becky, Betty, Marlene, Leslie, Carrie and I for dinner Betty prepared the turkey, stuffing and gravy and I went over to her place to help her bring those items over to my house.  Our menu, besides the above:  Mashed potatoes with cream cheese and butter, butternut squash, cranberry sauce, devilled egg, creamed onions (that Leslie made) banana bread.  Becky brought two pies (mincemeat and cherry) and Leslie brought an apple pie. She also prepared creamed onions. I put candles in the pies and lit them and we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Betty, who turns 75 tomorrow. Becky left early because she does not like to drive after dark.  Marlene, Leslie, Betty and I played one game of Scrabble.

I met up with Pam at the pool for SILVER SNEAKERS SPLASH.   The group was smaller than usual today, which was kind of nice.  I snuck out five minutes early in order to find a free shower.  I washed my hair, so I am all set for the holiday.  I went to Wendy's for a baked potato for lunch and then returned to the Y for the STABILITY exercise class.  There was a medical emergency at the end of the previous class (a woman must have fainted) which caused my class to start late. I walked around the track and I found my trainer (Ed) and changed next weeks appointment to Friday the 30th at ll:00 a.m.   By the time the EMT's left the gym, most everyone who was planning on going to the stability class had left, but there were five of us and the class did take place. I was surprised at how poor my balance is...………...I guess I really need this class...…….every Wednesday at noon!

After taking care of Petra and picking up a few items at TOPS, and getting some cash from Citizens Bank (so I can get eggnog, etc. from Hoovers tomorrow), I went to the Y for Silver Sneakers Splash.  Both Betty  and Elaine arrived after I was in the pool.  SSS went well.  I got out of the pool seven minutes early for two reasons   1.  I had to go to the bathroom                                                    2.  I wanted to get a shower before everyone else exited the pool My timing was perfect.  I was finishing up getting dressed when Betty came into the locker room.  I told her I was going to go find something else to do.  I saw that an exercise class was just starting up in the gym so I went in.  I asked someone what kind of class it was and was told YOGA.  I decided to try it.  At fir...

This morning, after taking care of Petra,  I went to the Y for my nine a.m. appointment with Ed.  He taught me how to "warm up" using three machines. It was very helpful.  After that, I started to walk the track but I noticed a class starting up in the gym, so I decided to join it.  I had to leave after twenty minutes in order to have time to pick up something for lunch and get to PEPBOYS in time for my eleven a.m. appointment. At PEPBOYS, they found that the "heat shield" was loose and they replaced two bolts for the price of twelve dollars.  I am so glad to get rid of that awful rattle.  When I got home, I went upstairs and cleaned the apartment and made the bed because Leslie will sleep up there when she comes for Thanksgiving.  Then I took a nap.   At about five thirty, Elaine picked me up and then we got Betty and went to FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH for their Thanksgiving Dinner.  This was my fourth year attending this dinner....

A few days ago, I found out that THE BREAD MAN was going to do a presentation at the History Center.  I recruited Elaine, Betty and Dee to go to this event. This morning I went over and took care of Petra, then I stopped at PEPBOYS and made an appointment to take my car in tomorrow to have the rattling sound checked.  Then I went to Clarence for my annual dermatology skin check.  After that, I went to BILL GRAYS and had a burger. By time I got home, it was pretty close to time to leave for the History Center.  Elaine picked me up and we met Betty and Dee there.  The presentation was very good.   Bread Time Stories and More is a project initiated by Chet Fery, an amateur bread baker, showing how random acts of kindness can change our lives and create a world community that is caring, supportive and secure. Chet Fery has given away over 10,000 loaves of bread to family, friends, colleagues and strangers.  Through this effort he has created hundred...

I went over to Peggy's house and took care of Petra.  Everything went smoothly, including giving her her medication. Then I went to the YMCA where I was going to meet up with Elaine and Betty for SILVER SNEAKERS SPLASH.    I saw Elaine go in the front door as I walked towards it, but she ran into someone and started talking, so I just went in past her (she tends to talk forever, and she would have insisted on introducing that person to me, and I may have been caught up in a long conversation). Betty was already in the locker room when I arrived.   She was bemoaning the fact that she forgot to bring a pair of underpants to put on later, after swimming.  She lucked out in that I had an extra pair with me, which I gave her.   Betty cannot swim, so she was a bit nervous. She started out in the shallowest corner, but she moved out a bit.  The interesting thing is that Kathy, our instructor, was also Betty's swim teacher about thirty years ago, at the ...

I took Peggy and David to the airport this morning.  I stopped at PAULA'S DONUTS in Clarence on the way home and treated myself to a donut.  A delivery guy was loading up huge boxes of donut holes to take somewhere and he offered me on, so I took a glazed donut hole and thanked him. I ran a couple of errands (bank, TOPS, and Niagara Produce, and also went to Pegs house to take their garbage out since they forgot to do that. I felt like cooking today so I cut up a boneless chicken breast and vegetables (yellow squash, onion, green pepper and mushrooms) and put them on skewers and marinated them in an Italian dressing and I sprinkled on some Trader Joes everyday seasoning.    I baked them for about 25 minutes at 300 degrees and then put them under broiler for a few minutes.  They were delicious!  I served them to myself with pierogies. When I make these again, I will use more yellow squash. 

Marlene picked me up and we went to the Y.  We participated in the Silver Sneakers Water Exercises.  After that we went up and walked the track.  We ran into Pam there.  While we were walking the track, we saw that there was a chair exercise class going on in the gym. (Silversneakers Yoga). I suggested that we go down and join the group since there were some empty chairs.  Pam and Marlene agreed and we joined in, probably for the last twenty minutes of the class.  After the class, we ran into Elaine in the hallway.  We were standing there talking when Ellie came along.  I stopped her and introduced myself and the others.  Ellie is the daughter of Delores Zinck, and she moved to Lockport to take care of her mother and she is a trainer at the Y. Marlene, Pam and I went to Wendy's for lunch.  I came home and took a nap.

We had our final MOTION meeting this morning.  We were supposed to choose an area in which we can work in the future.  I chose the MEALS MINISTRY.  Laura Viglioti explained this ministry to us.   There were only a few of us there, and it sounds like a HUGE commitment, and I am not sure I am up to it since I already participate in a lot of helpful activities at Faith Tab, as well as at CARENET...……….and I just volunteered to do "visitation" with seniors...…………..sigh...……………….plus I just joined the Y and I feel that is a necessity...…………….I will talk it over with Peggy.  She heads up the MEALS ministry ! MOTION ended early, so I made it a point to connect with some of the seniors.  Delores Zinck, Bens great grandma and a woman named Loretta that I don't think I have ever met before, even though she has been going to Faith Tab for over thirty years!!!   I encouraged her to come to the next CONNECT luncheon. Pam called me yesterday and asked me to come...

I called Peggy this morning and asked her if she wanted to go to Lewiston with me to visit Carrie.  We came up with a plan to visit Carrie, and also two "shut ins" who go to Faith Tabernacle.  Our planned time to leave changed a couple of times, but we finally got them straight and we left my house at one p.m. and headed to Lewiston where we spent some time with Carrie at her residence. Then we headed back to Lockport, where we visited someone I had never met.  I cannot recall her name, but her niece called her Aunt Patty, and her brother gave her the nickname Spider years ago.  She is recovering from a stay in the ICU which had something to do with a heart condition she has had since her mid thirties. Then we visited Myrna.  We had a nice visit. Then we went to TOPS, where I got the MEAL DEAL and a few other items.  Got home to several phone messages and I returned the calls.

This morning Peggy held a meeting for a committee she formed regarding her ministry to seniors which is known as CONNECT.  Gary Ruddy, Elaine______, Dee McDonnel and I are on the committee. We discussed several things.  I presented the idea of our cousin Becky giving her presentation at one of the CONNECT luncheons.  It went over well.  I asked Peggy if she needs help with "visitation" and she more or less said that she was hoping I would offer.  We set up a tentative schedule of every other month events for next year, and talked about the upcoming Christmas luncheon. After the meeting I went to the Y and walked the track for a while, did the recumbent bike for a while, and then tried out a couple machines.  I saw my "trainer" Dominic and talked with him a bit, and asked if I could start over and have two training sessions instead of the four shorter meetings with a trainer that he and I started last week.  He agreed and set me up with Ed for next ...

Betty and I drove out to Newfane because Becky was giving a presentation about SMOKEY CAMERON and the most interesting day of her childhood to the Newfane Seniors, who meet at the Village Hall. We arrived at the appointed time, but things were running behind schedule so the seniors had not had their lunch yet.  It was "dish to pass" but Betty and I did not bring anything because we expected to arrive after lunch.  At any rate, we did have lunch with the seniors, and it was very good.   Jim Christie's Aunt Gloria recognized me from the time we had Chiavetta's chicken at Faith Tab, so we chatted for a while. Becky gave her presentation and it was very good  Here she is being introduced:  And here she is giving the presentation. I dropped Betty off at her house at three p.m.  We met up again at Peggy's house in time for the Life Group, which was very well attended and also very good.

This morning I met Elaine and Pam at the Y, for the senior aerobics class.  It went very well.  After it was over, Elaine and I moved over to the other pool and walked and swam in the walking lane. Tonight was the Thanksgiving Dinner at Faith Tab.  We used to do it two nights in a row, but cut back to one night this year. I picked Lydia up and we both delivered hot food to the kitchen when we arrived.   I had invited several people, but some cancelled.  My guests were Bonnie Burnett and Crystal Cleri. Pam and Betty sat with us at a table with a young girl named Nikki, who was saving seats for Amber and Pam Campanini who arrived late.  I am not sure why but Nels Ross stopped by our table before we got our plates (but he already had his) and chatted with us a bit. The meal was delicious as were the deserts.   After the meal, we all went into the sanctuary for a comedy/juggling act done by NELS ROSS.  The show was really good.  Here ...

When I got up at 7:30 a.m., I immediately turned the oven on and started preparing a turkey to cook.  While it was cooking, I prepared the squash that I cooked last night.  Then I went out to vote. I took the fully cooked turkey over to church.  They needed electric mixers, so I went home and got the old Mixmaster that must have been Martha's.  It has not been used in over 20 years, so I cleaned it up and took it back to the church.  I was able to get it set up and working!!! I wrapped plastic silverware in napkins along with Jaelle and her daughter, Emma.  We wrapped 170! I went home and took a nap and had an early supper and returned to church at seven p.m. to help set up and decorate.  I found out that the mixer broke, but someone is going to try to get a replacement part. There were several of us there doing set up tasks, and we finished up at eight p.m.

I met up with Elaine at the Y this morning so we could participate in SILVERSNEAKERS SPLASH, in the pool.  There were a  LOT of people there.  It turned out to be quite a workout, lasting about 45 minutes.  Some of us stayed in the pool for a while after the class ended, hoping that the others who just left would be finished using the showers. I showered and dressed and then went to Wendy's for a crispy chicken sandwich which is a pretty good deal for about $1.49, and senior drinks are free.  Also, I went  to the Dollar Tree.   Then I returned to the Y to meet with Dominic, for my first personal fitness training.  I felt it was very inadequate and I did not learn much...……...after Dominic went back to whatever he had to do, I basically fooled around with several pieces of equipment.  Some of them I could not figure out.  I guess I DID work out some. Then I went to WalMart and then home where I napped.  In the evening, Elaine c...

This morning was the third session of MOTION.  It was very good.  Church was very good, also.  After church, I asked Pam if she wanted to go to Wendy's for a cheap lunch and she agreed.  Then when I ran into Marlene in the lobby, I asked her to join us.  She agreed, and she showed me a flier about a volunteer appreciation dinner for COMPEER that is coming up and she asked me to go with her, and I agreed.  Before leaving church, I picked up the turkey which I will prepare on Tuesday morning. While Pam, Marlene and I were having lunch we saw Dee and Jim come in.  I motioned for them to join us.  Sitting at the table next to us was Joe Fotia who is a Eucharistic Pastor at All Saints. (I hope he did not hear the bulk of our conversation about the pedophile scandal in the R.C. Church).  He introduced himself and we all chatted for a while.  He is a neighbor of Vicky and Ron Grout. Peg and David had invited me over for Sunday dinner at fou...

This morning, Elaine picked me up and then we went to get Nancy and we drove out to Gasport in order to attend the CRAFT BAZAAR at Covenant United Methodist Church.  It is an annual event that we go to every November.  Elaine purchased this decorated and lighted Christmas tree. I purchased several kitchen towels (the kind that have a snap or button handle that can be put on a drawer handle), a bib and a pair of booties (for Karra's new baby) and a wooden snowman for Betty's birthday. Then we went to the hardware store for their ALWAYS CHRISTMAS open house. The entire upper floor of this ACE hardware store is devoted to Christmas and it is open all year, but they have this open house with refreshments once a year. I did not purchase anything, but Elaine and Nancy did.   We returned to Lockport, but a few hours later, I picked Elaine up and we went back for the turkey dinner at the same church.  It was delicious!

I went to the Y yesterday, and I took Betty as my guest.  We walked the track for a while.  Last night Betty called me to tell me that she got her information from Univera (her new Medicare Advantage Plan) so she can get her own membership!   Today, I picked Elaine up and we went to the Y to walk the track.  We met up with her pool guy  (Dennis) and he showed us some of the machines that he uses. I met with one of the trainers (Dominick) and he did an assessment on me, which is the first step in the process...…………...he showed me how to use one of the machines (but I forget which one).  We set.  We set 12:30 this coming Monday for me to have my first of four sessions.  I can't recall what they are called.   Then I joined Elaine who was pumping away on a machine that is kind of like a stationary bike (but different).  We both watched part of AMERICAN PICKERS while we exercised. Then we went to Wendy's for lunch.