Day Two
Last night when I got back from Sun City, I spent several hours typing on the blog and sipping Buds. The suite is nice, two rooms, two bigs TVs (I haven't switched one of them on), and very, very, almost, 'spooky' quiet.
Today I got up early, at 6am. I hit the free breakfast bar for about eight cups of coffee, and was listening to the early morning talk shows on WMAY. I even was in the 'chat' for a bit, and gearing up for the 9am encounter at Pineaire Drive.
I arrived at 835am, and all of the plans which we had laboriously hashed out were all scrapped. Last night we agreed to eat some meals at his house, and he would do the cooking. The first thing that he said to me was, "I will never cook in this house for you. We will go out for as long as you are here". I said, "what about the plans that we made last night"? He said that he didn't care, and that was that. Then, we had said that today I would follow his 'helper' to the fitness center in my car, and then they would leave, and I would stay on to do an extended workout. This was all changed, and he insisted that I go with them in the 'helpers' car. Instead of justifiable homicide, I agreed.
Abbie (Abdul) arrived about 910am, and he is a remarkable man. He seems very devoted to his job, and thinks the world of Mr. Worden. He is an African from Tanzania, is married to a nurse, and has three young children. And, he is an expert in dealing with the elderly.
We arrived at LA Fitness, and talked to a manager, and he arranged my pass for the next several days. Last night he insisted that he spends three hours in the pool, whirlpool, and steam room each visit. I asked Abdul, and he assured me that they are there for about an hour and a half, but he also insists that they leave at 1pm. So, I told Abbie that I would do an abbreviated workout, and tomorrow they could continue with their regular schedule, and I would arrive and leave as I see fit.
I did 45" on the treadmill at about a 5.0 pace. I was able to charge the Ipod on the laptop, and it worked just fine. And, I did about 25" on a cross trainer, when I noticed Abbie coming up the stairs. He told me that the workout was just about over, and he was getting ready to leave. I talked with Abbie for about ten minutes, and he seems to think that Janny and I should take a more active role in his living arrangement. He can only do so much, because the client pays the bills, and he can legally do as he pleases. However, I told Abbie that I also can only do so much, and he does not see me as a credible individual who could tell him anything. And, that my sister, Janny, has an edge over me, but she is in the same boat.
Then, I went downstairs to the lockerroom and spent about five minutes in the steam room, and swam a lap in the pool, and a few moments in the whirlpool. They were sitting in the lobby, and from there we went just down the street to the Italian restaurant, Tagliani's. It's really only a couple of parking lots West from LA Fitness.
Luckily, few people were in the restaurant, because we made the usual 'scene'. He knew the waitrees, and much embarrassment was shared. I had a big salad (I was not in the least hungry, I had drunk a gallon of coffee, and not enough of a workout to produce an appitite), he had several items including soup, salad, and veal, and Abbie had veal parmasen. The bill was about $45, and he made a big (loud) deal about "a five dollar tip'. Abbie and I bumped it up to ten, and as we walked out, he made it known to one and all, that we had left a ten dollar tip. Abdul seemed to take it all in stride, and I needed about nine or ten more Buds.
Abbie drove us back to his house, and he pretty much dismissed me. He said that he was working on his camera/computer hookup, and I could 'head on down the road'.
I went to the Dollar Store in Surprise, and bought some mouthwash, pretzels, and a new combination lock. My lock fell apart when I removed it this morning. And, I also stopped into The Goodwill Store and bought a 'gently used' belt for six bucks.
Back to the motel for pool, whirlpool, and ice cold Buds. In for the night, and maybe I'll fire up the TV, and hike down the road to Wendy's for dinner.
Today I got up early, at 6am. I hit the free breakfast bar for about eight cups of coffee, and was listening to the early morning talk shows on WMAY. I even was in the 'chat' for a bit, and gearing up for the 9am encounter at Pineaire Drive.
I arrived at 835am, and all of the plans which we had laboriously hashed out were all scrapped. Last night we agreed to eat some meals at his house, and he would do the cooking. The first thing that he said to me was, "I will never cook in this house for you. We will go out for as long as you are here". I said, "what about the plans that we made last night"? He said that he didn't care, and that was that. Then, we had said that today I would follow his 'helper' to the fitness center in my car, and then they would leave, and I would stay on to do an extended workout. This was all changed, and he insisted that I go with them in the 'helpers' car. Instead of justifiable homicide, I agreed.
Abbie (Abdul) arrived about 910am, and he is a remarkable man. He seems very devoted to his job, and thinks the world of Mr. Worden. He is an African from Tanzania, is married to a nurse, and has three young children. And, he is an expert in dealing with the elderly.
We arrived at LA Fitness, and talked to a manager, and he arranged my pass for the next several days. Last night he insisted that he spends three hours in the pool, whirlpool, and steam room each visit. I asked Abdul, and he assured me that they are there for about an hour and a half, but he also insists that they leave at 1pm. So, I told Abbie that I would do an abbreviated workout, and tomorrow they could continue with their regular schedule, and I would arrive and leave as I see fit.
I did 45" on the treadmill at about a 5.0 pace. I was able to charge the Ipod on the laptop, and it worked just fine. And, I did about 25" on a cross trainer, when I noticed Abbie coming up the stairs. He told me that the workout was just about over, and he was getting ready to leave. I talked with Abbie for about ten minutes, and he seems to think that Janny and I should take a more active role in his living arrangement. He can only do so much, because the client pays the bills, and he can legally do as he pleases. However, I told Abbie that I also can only do so much, and he does not see me as a credible individual who could tell him anything. And, that my sister, Janny, has an edge over me, but she is in the same boat.
Then, I went downstairs to the lockerroom and spent about five minutes in the steam room, and swam a lap in the pool, and a few moments in the whirlpool. They were sitting in the lobby, and from there we went just down the street to the Italian restaurant, Tagliani's. It's really only a couple of parking lots West from LA Fitness.
Luckily, few people were in the restaurant, because we made the usual 'scene'. He knew the waitrees, and much embarrassment was shared. I had a big salad (I was not in the least hungry, I had drunk a gallon of coffee, and not enough of a workout to produce an appitite), he had several items including soup, salad, and veal, and Abbie had veal parmasen. The bill was about $45, and he made a big (loud) deal about "a five dollar tip'. Abbie and I bumped it up to ten, and as we walked out, he made it known to one and all, that we had left a ten dollar tip. Abdul seemed to take it all in stride, and I needed about nine or ten more Buds.
Abbie drove us back to his house, and he pretty much dismissed me. He said that he was working on his camera/computer hookup, and I could 'head on down the road'.
I went to the Dollar Store in Surprise, and bought some mouthwash, pretzels, and a new combination lock. My lock fell apart when I removed it this morning. And, I also stopped into The Goodwill Store and bought a 'gently used' belt for six bucks.
Back to the motel for pool, whirlpool, and ice cold Buds. In for the night, and maybe I'll fire up the TV, and hike down the road to Wendy's for dinner.
posted by valis1949 at 4:03 PM
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