November 5, 2000, Sunday

I spent too much money yesterday. There was the expense of the new accessories for my new Trek 1000 bicycle: the mileage gauge, the tote bag, the battery powered light, the gloves, cleaning tools, and chain oil. I bought potting soil for the plants, a set of screwdrivers, food for the week, and ten more blank videotapes. There was little time to clean the house before Baum arrived at 6 p.m. He was very tired, as I ws, and we both took a nap which lasted till midnight. I woke then to find him already up, wearing my new green and purple plaid house robe, snuggled in the arm chair by the television. We had scrambled eggs and watched a bit of Bram Stokers Dracula film until he said it was stupid (I love that film) and at three in the morning, we both decided to go back to bed for more sleep.We later got up, got dressed and took a bike ride. First we followed Ridgemoor street to Murrieta street, down a mile to the intersection of Newport street. There on both corners were shopping centers. The center on the right had two drives opening off Murrietta: one led directly to the bike shop and the other led into the Chevron gas station. The morning air had a chill to it and the sky was autumn clear. It was a most remarkable day. We rode up the hill, further up Murrietta street, where there wer rolling fields on both sides, with natural grasses gently blown by the soft winds of fall. There were a few for sale signs, on bare acreage and also on a ranch of about 8 acres, called "Walking Horse Ranch". It looked enchanting. the ride was easier on the way back of course. It was downhill all the way and our speed went to 27 miles per hour without even pedalling. We rode back to the Albertson's market, which had wooden tables under the outside portico. I stayed with the bikes while Baum went inside to get us both a Starbucks coffee and the Sunday newspaper. WE sipped and read for some twenty minutes and then went off again to ride to the other end of Sun City, where the primary center was. That center contained the library, the post office, restaurants, coffee shops, real estate offices, travel agencies, a hardware store, drug stores, supermarkets, video rental stores, and other small offices. I enjoyed having this center so close to my home: it was just minutes away by car or bike, and about half an hour walking time. Our ride that morning was about 12.6 miles by the time we returned to my house. We then decided to plant the flower bulbs I had bought. After that, we showered and dressed. Baum turned on the grill and heated it, then cooked the steaks and vegetables. We had diet cola and ate the delicious late lunch. We wanted to leave in time to drive to Temecula to see the movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Once we arrived at the Promenade Mall, to the theater there, Baum spotted the Roda Vida Brazilian restaurant, which specializes in meat dishes. He said he wanted to try it next time. The movie was great, adn we got back home around 4 p.m. Baum had to return home very soon, so we put his paintings (that I had put onto stretcher bars for him) into his car and he took off for home after checking online for info about the trip to London and Paris planned for Christmas. It appeared the trip would cost about $1700 each, would include a ride through the Chunnel from London to Paris, a trop from Stonehenge from London and two plays (Cats and Chicago). I wanted a day or two to think about it before booking the trip. It was a great weekend in all, and when he got home he called to thank me. Around 9 pm I called him only to wake him up; he had fallen asleep in his chair.