Playing Catch Up

Lahmajoon (Armenian "Pizza") and Fruits

The beginning of the month is so full of "regularly scheduled" posts such as the monthly photo challenge finds and the monthly balanced life goals updates, and this week, with the weekly meal plan, as well, that I didn't have time to post my usual, daily updates of all the little mundane things that make up my day!  Maybe some of you might be saying to yourselves, "Well, thank goodness for that!"  LOL. 

This week went by quickly for me!  On Monday, there was the lunch with my cousins, which was very nice.  It has been four days since then and, I don't want to jinx it, but, so far, so good!  

On Tuesday, I decided to clean the family room.  I took the cushion covers off one of the sofas and washed them.  Then, dusted the furniture, vacuumed under the sofa cushions, and vacuumed the family room.  I also called the radiology center to see if they had a cancellation and could move my appointment up from July; they have had several cancellations and offered me my choice of appointments for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday!  I chose Thursday because I didn't want to go for medical tests on the first of the month!  

On Wednesday, I made milkrice for brunch, as usual.  I didn't pick any flowers for the altar because there weren't many flowers to be picked.  M came to tend to the garden in the late morning and we discussed what would be the best way to abide by the new outdoor watering restrictions that went into effect as of the first of the month.  Most of the watering restrictions apply to sprinklers, but, we are all required to reduce our water usage to conserve water due to our ongoing drought.  We are going to focus on the fruit and vegetable plants and the rose bushes.  I gave him a jar of the peach topping, to take home.  Later, I made some chicken broth, using chicken bones I had kept in the freezer for the purpose.  

On Thursday, I went for my abdominal scan.  My appointment was at noon, with a check-in time of 11:45 a.m.  I had to be fasting for at least 8 hours.  According to the online route map, the travel time was estimated to be 35 minutes.  But, from experience, I allowed myself one hour and I needed every single minute of that hour for the drive!  I had already decided, beforehand, that I would splurge and avail myself to their valet parking services, because I was already stressed about having to have this scan, I didn't need the additional stress of finding the parking lot for that building, etc.  (It's a large medical center complex.)  I'm glad I had decided on that, because if I had to park my car, first, I would have been late!  As it was, I was exactly on time!   By the way, parking there was very reasonable (by Los Angeles standards) and with the tip to the valet, came to all of $10.

You check in at an outdoor booth before you go into the building and get your medical bracelet and a complimentary disposable mask; then you go inside and check in at another station to show proof of identity and insurance.  Then, there was a short wait and I was called in to register and sign forms (all done electronically, although I requested and received paper copies of the forms I signed).  I was asked to verify the information they had on file for me and that was when I discovered that they still had all my information from 29 years ago when I went there to have my daughter!  That was the first, and until now, the only time I had been to that hospital!  I was amazed that they still had me on on file!  They had my mother and an uncle, both of whom have since died, as my emergency contacts!  Then, we updated my emergency contact and all the other information, as well.

There was another short wait before I was called in to be scanned.  The technician, a young woman named Ella, attended to me and she was very pleasant, kind, and competent.  I thanked her for her service, especially during these difficult times and she seemed really appreciative of that.  The scan, itself, took about 30 minutes and I was told that the results will be sent to my doctor in about 3 business days, so, early next week.  

Afterwards, I drove myself home, ate leftover milkrice for brunch, and relaxed.  Much later, I cooked dinner, did dishes, chatted on the phone with family and friends, and video chatted with my daughter.  

On Friday, neighbor S called me in the morning to ask if I would like to have some lahmajoon (Armenian "pizza").  I love lahmajoon, so I said, "Yes, please".  She brought me, not only lahmajoon, but, also, some watermelon, two types of red grapes, and blueberries!  Yum!  I had the lahmajoon and some of the watermelon for my brunch.  I told S that I was planning to make some chicken and vegetable soup, later, and asked if she would like to have some, but, she declined.  

In the afternoon, I made the chicken and vegetable soup.  

In the evening, M came to tend to the garden and he brought me a container of plain yogurt (I think he remembered me telling him that the peach topping could be stirred into plain yogurt!)  He planted out the two tomato seedlings I had growing, and watered the garden.  He also picked the rest of the peaches, some of which had been pecked at by the birds!  I was able to show him the split pits.  I gave him two good peaches, two samples of curry powder (one roasted and one unroasted as he wants to try making the beetroot curry), and a container of chicken and vegetable soup.  

This week, I am grateful for:
- Medical insurance
- Diagnostic medical procedures
- Pleasant, helpful staff and technicians
- Valet services and reasonable parking rates
- A safe drive to the medical center and back
- Water for the garden
- Working appliances
- The peach harvest
- M helping with the garden
- Neighbor S blessing me with some delicious food
- Phone calls, texts, and emails with family and friends
- Video chats with my daughter

Joyful activities have included participating in the food-go-round as Bushlady calls it! 

Plans for Saturday include making a batch of peach jam.

How was your week?  What are your plans for the weekend?