My First Two Activities Here at THD- Happy Juneteenth Holiday

Happy Juneteenth HolidayBefore I start this blog, do you know why today is called Junteenth. Here's what Wikipedia says:Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865In the Philippines it is also the Birthday of Jose Rizal, Philippines Popular National  HeroNorman, Marsha and I enjoying our Sunday Brunch, June 18, 2023, Norman was my coworker in Stauffer in the early 1980's and Marsha was my Greeter. THD has Greeter volunteers who welcome new comers and show them around and make them feel at home right away.   

The other day I attended my first activity here at THD besides the Happy Hour Event every Friday Afternoon. It was a Bingo Game. I played for 7 rounds and did not win anything, just lost $7 but had fun and will play again. It was held at the Library and my only complain was the seat I had was hard and my butt hurt after seating for an hour. 

The second activity that I attended was the Father's Day live Music at 3PM held at the Lobby. WE enjoyed the music and we turned some songs into a sing along activity. Jeff Wessman and his guitar sang old classic, country and broadway melodies. He sang also a couple of requested songs. I requested Moon River and he sang it perfectly and nostalgia slightly overwhelmed me. Moon River is one of Macrine's Favorite songs. 

Another requested song was New York, New York. His last song was Frank Sinatra's " I did it My Way". There were some songs with a Cha Cha beat. Marsha and I danced for a few minutes only because I tired so easily. This is an activity that should be repeated frequently perhaps every Friday during The Happy Hour Event. It is just too bad that only about 20 residents were present during Wessman performance. Here are some photos I took during the Father's Day Brunch in case you have not seen them.

They called it tuxedo cake, but it taste like Tirimasu

It is Indeed A Small World Here at THD-Happy Father's Day

Let me start this posting by wishing all Father's of the World -Happiness and Peace of Mind.

1. In my previous posting, I mentioned that during my first day here at THD, I met another resident(NN) who was my coworker during the early 1980's at the Deguine Technical Center ( Stauffer Chemicals) in Richmond, California. We were in the same Chemistry Department with the same supervisor but in a different section. He was in Process/Organic Chemistry Section and I was in the Pesticides Residues Analytical Method Development Group.  

He stayed for a while with the company, but I moved to Chevron Chemical Company Ortho Division after 12 years with Stauffer.  Chevron Agricultural Research was also located in Richmond, CA.  He is younger than me by 12 years. I recognize his name and he said he also remembered me quite well. I have describe in my autobiography my Stauffer years and other professional work experience as follows:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2019/06/my-formula-for-success.html

2. The other day while eating breakfast, I met another person( RW) whose husband was also my coworker at the Shell Development Company, Agricultural Research Center in Modesto, Ca. Her husband stayed with Shell when it moved to Wilmington, Delaware when it was purchased by Dupont. I was then hired by Stauffer Chemicals. RW was telling our table the wide difference of lifestyle in rural Modesto, California compared to urban Wilmington, Delaware. So speaking about our lifestyle in Modesto, allow me to cite my blog of our Modesto, California years from 1969 to 1974 as follows;   

 https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2021/07/our-modesto-california-years-for.html

Who would ever thought that after several decades one encounters 2 persons who had the same work experience in their younger years in this Independent Living Facility with only around 110 residents  AGING GRACEFULLY( hopefully).  It is indeed a small world after all. I hope you all have a Fantastic Father's Day. 

Remember- "You have really lived if you have touched the life of others".

The Third Week of MY Life Here at THD in Walnut Creek

Yesterday was my second time to attend the Happy Hour( HH).  I almost forgot the weekly activity until I saw Joseph moving table and chairs after Alix and Brendan visit. Alix is my grand daughter, oldest daughter of my son, Dodie ( Diosdado). Alix and Brendan wedding is scheduled this Fall in Berkeley, CA.   

The HH was well organized.  The music was great and the quiche and Dimsum was delicious. Thank you Joseph for your  efforts. This HH is a good way to know the residents besides getting free alcohol. Again I had 2 margaritas, two mini Quiche and three Dumplings. Speaking of Dumplings Alix and Brendan brought me a variety of Dimsum from San Francisco during their visit. ( see photo above). We had lunch courtesy of Jenny. Thanks Jenny for the lunch.   

In my table at the HH were a younger couple, a Royal Lady with her visiting son from Mexico City and another gentleman whose name I forgot. Our conversations range from aging gracefully, my blogging and the Royal Lady's son writing as his profession.  The Ladies and the visiting son were the leaders in our conversations. The husband of the Lady couple was very quiet. 

However after I informed the group that I have been blogging since 2008 and my current interest and subject now is my life here at THD, he asked me why he should read my blogs. I told him I might write about him and the current HH conversations. He did not respond. However after we parted, he mention that he will read my blogs if there are naked ladies in my postings.

The son of the Lady who is a writer by profession informed us he has written three novels, Poetry and many articles. But the one that made money was his poem that was converted to a song. He is still getting Royalty every time the song is played. Our table had a lively conversation. We were the last one to leave.  Again, thank you Joseph, Estefanita and Emilia for a very happy " Happy Hour" Event. 

     

Meanwhile I am still unpacking and getting ready for a 4-day trip to Portland, Oregon to attend my grand daughter, Elaine King wedding. Ditas my youngest daughter  from the Washington DC area will be my traveling companion. I am lucky I found someone here at THD to take care of Batman & Robin while I am away.  I have not participated in bridge, mahjong or Mexican train games yet. May be in the beginning of July if not earlier.  Thanks again to all the THD employees and fellow residents who made me feel welcome and at home. Have a Beautiful and Restful Weekend to All. 

Remember- "You have really lived if you have touched the life of others".

 

   

A Few Observations of Activities/Residents/Employees Here at THD, Walnut Creek

Today will be my 16th day of residing in this beautiful and well managed Independent/Assisted Living Facility. I have met most of the Managers from Barbara the Big Boss down to the low level cleaning ladies and I am impressed of their work ethics, friendly and welcoming demeanor of my presence. In todays blog I will list the various observations I have have experienced during this brief period of only 16 days.

1. The Dining Room during Dinner Time is usually cold. You will need a sweater if you do not want to freeze.

2. There are groups of residents who enjoyed dining together during Meal Times.

3. There a couple of male residents who seat alone by themselves in the same table at the Restaurant

4. Almost all the servers, cooks, cleaning crew are Spanish-Speaking. I found this place conducive to practice my knowledge in  conversational Spanish. They know every one names and anticipate your needs.  

5. There are several ways going from my Building (Fairmont) to Newtons Restaurant. The nearest and convenient way if you are using a Walker is Via The Garage. I learned 2 other ways just recently, via the Exercise Room and/or Library (more scenic views than the garage but require opening doors/elevators and with steps in some areas.   

6. The Food and Service at the Newtons is excellent and indeed worthy of its Five Star Rating, not only in taste, presentation but the amounts of food served. You can have wine ( either red or white) every Dinner time. What I really love about Newton's is the flexibility of eating your meals in your apartment as well as bringing left over of your meals to your apartment for future consumption at your leisure.      

The servers anticipate what you want and they remember what you like. For example during breakfast besides the orange juice/coffee you have a fruit variety as a starter. Instead of this fruit variety (melon, pineapple, water melon and an orange slice) I ask my server ( Emilia) yesterday for just slices of oranges. This morning Emilia remembered it and I had my slices of oranges before I even had a chance to tell her. Today, I learned they have yogurt. I ask Emilia for  one to take to my apartment. I have feeling she will give me my yogurt before I have chance to ask her tomorrow.    

Last but not least is that all the employees in the Front Desk, Managers and Servers in the Restaurant makes you feel at home and that is worth more than gold.      

Here are some more recent photos of my patio:

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Dumping and Cleaning Up My Household Mess in Fair Oaks Completed

I am very thankful that my oldest son, Dodie is getting my household Goods and Furniture either donated or sent to the Dumpster in Fair Oaks. We have a few problems with 1-800- Junk removal people, so Dodie is hiring a Dumpster instead. There are a lot of furniture the new owners do not want so one or two dumpster trucks may be not adequate. My numerous books and clothing have been DONATED to Goodwill and Salvation Army, but hundreds of decades of accumulation are still to be disposed. 

One of the items, I can not find is my Apple I-pod. I believe it is still in one of the boxes in Fair Oaks and hope it has not been to the Dumps. If am lucky, it may be in one of the 20 boxes stored here in my Bin at THD.  Another item I almost forgot was the  terrarium, I created on Memorial Day. Dodie was able to bring it here at THD the other day.  Here's the photo of my creation along with my ginger plant and Rooster decor.  

Dodie was able to transport one of my three pineapple plant, also. I got the one in the middle.

Here is a photo of my first pineapple harvest in Fair Oaks last year-the sweetest pineapple I ever tasted.

Dumping and Cleaning Up the Mess I left behind is also traumatic and costly. Again with the help of Dodie it was done before the official date ( end of June) of the new owners taking possession of 8167 Treecrest Ave, Fair Oaks, Ca- my former home for the last 21 years. 

News Alert! The new owners took possession of the house on the afternoon of June 14, 2023, sixteen days earlier as in indicated in the Contract. Good Bye, Fair Oaks!! All utilities (electricity, gas, water and garbage collections) are schedule to terminate on June 16. The lawn mower guy is paid until the end of the month.  Thanks a million again, Dodie, Love You, Dad

Enjoying The Amenities Offered by THD

Today, two housekeeping ladies came to my apartment to clean-up. As I am writing this, they are in my kitchen, master bedroom and I am here in my 2nd BR/computer room. My apartment is not that dirty, but my patio has a lot of dead leaves. They told me the Patio Clean-up will be on Tuesday. 

I have not participted in any scheduled activity (film programs, excersizes, bridge or mahjong) yet. I have not also used the van service, but have been told during meal times, the driver is great for doctor appointments and shopping around the downtwon Walnut Creek neighborhood. I have not been to the Cinema as my Comcast TV Amazon Prime Video subscription had been transfered. Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights musical is scheduled for June 23 at the nearby Lesher Auditorium for $32 ( special discount for THD residents).

Walking tours and shopping trips to nearby Malls are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. I was able to get my prescription shipping privelege from Fair Oaks to a nearby CVS branch. My first prescription arrived by mail yesterday. I have already used Instacart to purchase cat litter on line. Delivery was quick and delivered right in my front door in less than 20 minutes. 

I have not used DoorDash or Grubhub as I have plenty of leftover food and dessert in my fridge. I am glad I moved here at THD. If I have known of this place, I would have move here last year after David E death. Again, the cleaning ladies were terrific. They even clean-up my patio of dead leaves. After finishing this blog, the Activities Director Called me and we will talk what activity I like to do this afternoon. At 2PM will I have my first haircut at the In-House Hair Saloon by Cathy ( free coupon for the first time and $30 afterwards). Looking forward for the several amenities offerred by THD in the near future soon.

A Major Decision In My Life -Moving to THD in Walnut Creek, CA

I have made several major decisions in my life, but the recent and most important event is my current move and downsizing ( from a 4BR, 3B single home to a 2B,2B apartment) to the Heritage Downtown, (THD) in Walnut Creek, California. 

My moving and downsizing was not easy. Parting with household goods and personal possessions one has accumulated for several decades is still haunting me with guilt. For example just thinking of just dumping my China and Curio Cabinets and some of its contents makes me feel wasteful. But one must faced the realities of life. In a way, I am lucky that my oldest son has been helping me with the transitions taking care that all my possessions are donated to Charity and properly disposed so the new owners of my house can officially take possession before the end of this month.      

My decision to rent a 2-BR 2B apartment instead of just a 1 BR was my most important action. When my son and I were looking for places, he questioned my wish, and that I only need a 1BR since I am alone. I insisted I WILL pay an extra 1K per month to have more space.  Here at THD, I talked to a resident about her 2-moves in a week. At first she moved to a 1B apartment. After a few days, she was unhappy and decided to rent a 2B apartment in the same building costing her to pay the movers twice.   I would probably do the same thing if I rented a 1B instead of a 2B apartment.

The one amenity I love in my apartment is the Full Patio so that my 2 cats( Batman & Robin) can play and enjoy the outdoors once in a while. There are only a few apartments with this amenity. In my building there are 4 apartments with patio like mine, I believe. There are entrances and exits from the Living Room, Master Bedroom and Guest Bedroom to the Patio.  

Batman and Robin can still climb the 10-ft wall. I am afraid, that someday they decide to jump in the neighboring houses. I decided to ask THD management to help me installed a Chicken wire Block at my own expense to prevent my 2 cats catting around the other apartments and the neighborhood.  Hopefully this will be completed soon. In the meantime, B & R appears very contented inside.

Here are detailed photos my patio decor.

AAgain, I am thanking all the Staff of THD as well as the efficient Servers at the Newtons Restaurants who have made my 2-weeks stay here so far very pleasant and delightful. May you all have a Happy Father's Day Holiday.  Personal Note: One of My Facebook readers asked me if I moved into a Nursing Home. My answer is definitely that the Heritage Downtown is not a Nursing Home. For details visit their website atwww.theheritagedowntown.com  

Some Photos of My New Home-The Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek

My Living Room with Robin enjoying his afternoon nap

I have finally opened all my boxes labeled Garden Statuaries and Decor. I have found a place for all of them in my Patio here at THD. Here are some photos.

My Patio Set and Fruit Decor

Solar Lights, Statuaries, Plaques and Wind Chimes in Place 

My Hall way Decor-from  David E Antique Oriental Photo Collection 

My Dinner for Tonite-June 12,2023 plus a Glass of Wine and Blueberry cake for dessert

One of the many paintings decorating the Hall Ways at THD