Today I went to the Veterans Theater (at the North Clubhouse). We were introduced to plans for a new Moffitt Center facility which will be constructed about 3 miles west from Kings Point (on SR674). It will be located less than a mile from the I-75 ramps. The property has been purchased and is located at the intersection of East College Avenue and 27th Street South.

While listening to their information I couldn’t help but think of how my late husband John would have been helped rather than having to drive to Moffitt in Tampa frequently. As his disease progressed I had to take over driving and I was scared to death but I did it. We were almost killed on I-75 after coming back from Moffit and I never took I-75 again. True, he didn’t have cancer, but he had frequent CT scans and even some biopsys. I can see friends and neighbors needing to go for those services.

My friend, Connie, who died in January, also had to drive to Moffitt.

The 75,000-square-foot outpatient center will offer these services:

Screening and diagnostics
Advanced imaging
Clinical lab services
Blood draw
Biopsies
Medical oncology
Radiation oncology
Infusion
Pharmacy
Clinical trials

As I listened, I became totally convinced that this facility is going to be a great addition to the area. I took out my checkbook and wrote a generous check to Moffitt. I hand-carried the check to my good friend Matt Permuth who haa vested interest in this project since his sister died less than a year ago after fighting valently with Moffitt’s resources trying to help. Had she been diagnosed earlier, she might have survived.

(Matt is also the General Manager and regional Vice President of Vesta (Kings Point’s management company). Matt hugged me and cried. He introduced me to his father who will match my contribution doubling it.

I did the right thing. Moffitt is becoming recognized as one of the best cancer treatment facilities in the nation. (I wish I could get my brother, Denny, to come down for treatment.)

I haven’t had any dates or interaction with any men since Gene ghosted me in early February. (I know the date because we were supposed to have a Valentine’s date but he was gone by then.)

I have met a couple nice guys (Bill who was at two Michigan Club activities and I danced with him) and a couple on-line guys who sounded interested but haven’t responded to me yet.

I really don’t want a “steady” or “demanding” guy, but I miss male interaction. I talk to Pat a lot and to Linda Conklin about every week. Of course daughter Kelly and I talk, but that’s it. My circle of friends has shrunk because I rarely go out. I’ll be glad when the pool is open and weather is right because meeting folks there will be possible.

According to her vet, Sophie’s overweight. (Guess she takes after her mom.) I bought several large orders of Farmer’s Dog food that is advertised as being very good for your pet. She doesn’t like it. I still have about 40 meals of it but she sticks her nose up at it.

I’ve found she really loves chicken. I’ve fed her rotisserie chicken which she loves but I don’t know if she’s getting all the nutrition she needs.

So I went shopping and found CESAR WHOLESOME BOWLS Adult Soft Wet Dog Food Chicken Recipe. It breaks down to a cost of $2.94 per meal with two or three meals suggested a day. (It’s $15.78 a pound!!) That’s a lot less than Farmer’s Dog. But then I looked further.

Iams, Nature’s Recipe, and Pedigree have similar dinner’s. Pedigree’s is only $4.43 a pound, Nature’s Recipe is 45 cents per meal (two or three suggested), $1.92 per pound for Pedigree, $2.77 per pound for Iams.

No wonder Sophie likes the Cesar. Next I’ll try Nature’s Recipe. It appears to be mostly chicken with some vegetables (like sweet potatoes and carrots).

When you open the meal and it smells good, you can be sure that it’s probably tasty. I really like the smell of the Cesar’s. I can see why folks eat dog food, but at the price of that kind, it’s a pricey meal!!!

This morning I headed for a 9:30 Federation meeting at the North Clubhouse. The description of the Federation says that the membership meetings are on the third Friday of the month. That would be today, but I missed a comment at the bottom of the list of meeting dates: “Per the Federation Bylaws the Annual Membership & Election Meeting and the Organizational Meeting is held on the last Friday in March.”

There was no meeting. The room wasn’t ready for the Federation members. I will try again on the last Friday (the 31st).

It’s been a while since I’ve felt I needed to turn on the heat to take the chill off. We have had daily highs in the mid 80’s. I think it’ll cool down some this coming week.

Since I stay in most of the time, I really don’t pay much attention to the outside temp but at a gathering of neighbors they were complaining.

I do want to go to the pool but right now it’s spring break time so there are probably no chairs available. I am becoming a regular hermit. I must change my ways!!

I wouldn’t mind playing cards face-to-face with live people.

I have lots to do anyway: the trust, paperwork for Nantucket V, organizing closets, laundry, etc. I really need to structure my life better. Glad I don’t have a guy in my life to distract me.

I vow to work harder.

The notary came today to get my trust notarized and things resolved. I sadly discovered everything’s a mess.

Example, I thought one annuity was worth about $50,000 but I was double counting it. I’ll feel better when everything has been reviewed and I know the numbers are right.

I can’t pass this mess on to Kelly. I need to be certain all the accounts are correctly identified and the trust is funded. As it stands now, I am still comfortable, but things are a mess.

My plan to celebrate my birthday was to go to the North Clubhouse garage sale in the morning, and eventually end at the South Clubhouse bar. Then I decided maybe the Saturday evening bingo would be fun. But as the day progressed I decided I would just as soon stay home and binge-watch movies alone.

Kelly’s birthday gifts to me were fun. She had a whole box of individually wrapped small items. It took over 30 minutes to unwrap everything. She also sent me a freezer container to put stuff into four cup sized portions. Perfect for a single lady.

I don’t mind being 80 but 81 sounds MUCH older. Tomorrow when I wake up I’ll have crossed into that new designation. I guess it’s better than the alternative.

Problem is, I know that every year older takes you closer to the end.

I talked to a lady yesterday. Her mother had at 105,5. Maybe I’ll beat her life-span. I can hope.

My plan was to go to the annual garage sale in the North Clubhouse at 4pm, but it was really windy and the more I thought about buying more clutter, the less I wanted to do it so I skipped the sale.

I’m watching TV after a chicken pot pie.

I’m sure feeling better this week!!

Most of the time, my memory is just ok, but today I surprised myself.

I couldn’t find my car’s key (you know, the fob kind that is expensive to replace). I have two. I went through my whole purse and pockets. I knew the last time I used a key was last Wednesday and that it was probably the other one.

As I was about to give up, I looked in the back storage compartment. It just seemed that I very faintly (a couple of weeks ago) remembered taking it out of a pocket and putting it in there rather than risk losing it. Yup, there it was.

At my age, I realize most folks would be able to rack their brain and come up with the location, but I did it.