DAY FIVE

Sa 5/9/15

I had forgotten that the breakfast bar opens at 7am on weekends, so I just had a couple cups of room coffee before the morning's main event.

The weather at 530am was in the low sixties, and I used my jacket to walk to the lobby. A bowl of cereal and a bowl of instant oatmeal, toast, and three bagels for later. And, once again, it's warmer in Illinois than it is here. I heard on the radio that this is very unusual, and temps are actually fifteen degrees cooler than normal. Ninety is about the average for this time of year, and tomorrow the correction will begin.

At LA Fitness by 735 am and I did 45" on the cross trainer (Matrix/Reverse- balcony level). Then, outside for a 'clockwise' run around the neighborhood. East to 59th St. and I noticed that Tagliani's restaurant is in the parking lot adjacent to the fitness club. I think that the first time I ate (and drank beers) in that joint was almost fifteen years ago. North to Union Hills, and over to 55 and back to Bell. 45" (Aladdin Sane). 45" armchair bike. 30" Walk. 4.2 pace. 45" Cross (Reverse). The steam room was repaired and working like a champ. Seats seven or eight people comfortably, and since it's in the pool area, women are welcome. It was a bit disconcerting when I realized that I was in the 'heated mist' with a woman. Obviously women enjoy the steam as much as the men do.

At Elsie's by 1230pm and I was greeted by a brand new angel. She looked very young, and I just assumed that she was one of the weekend replacements, however Lannie told me much later in the afternoon that she was actually being tested for the job. Also, Cindy will be 'the house manager'. Lannie was giving the Old Man a bath when I arrived, and I waited with the tablet and chatted with Marilyn. Then, there was a brief fight about the wheelchairs. He didn't like the fact that Tony would be using his wheelchair while we were out. But he finally listened to reason once he was told that we would not go unless we could take the foldable wheelchair.... Elderly Day Care....

On the road to Sun Land and McD's by 130pm. An absolutely beautiful day. Temps in the upper 70's, breezy, and bright sun. No road construction on Thunderbird because it's Saturday. Spent about a half hour at the site, and I took a few shots. I filled him in on the history between him and Jennieve, and he seemed to appreciate the info.

Around 3pm we rolled into 'our' McD's on the corner of 43rd and Thunderbird for the usual order. Except today I ordered three dollar cheeseburgers. I wanted to take two back to the room, and when I looked in the bag, they had given me two cheeseburgers, but the third one was just the 'guts' (without the bun) in a clear plastic container. How the fuck could that have happened? To order such a specific cheeseburger variation would have required minutes of conversation.   "Yeah, I ordered the new Toyota Camry, and I somehow was given one without a steering wheel". Fucking nitwits, but the mis-order was rectified without too much of a problem. Today, he gobbled up his regular order, plus the cookie and sundae.

Back to Elsie's by 4pm and I spoke with Lannie for about a half hour and then headed out. I tried to use the tablet at the McD's to locate a local Dollar Store to get some new flip flops, but no signal at the store. At Lannie's' I learned of a Dollar Tree at 35th and Bell, but they only had women's. Took Rt. 17 south to the motel.

Sippin' Buds and the plan is to give the Natalie Portman Jean Reno picture another shot.......