The week of Dec 12-16 menus also revised after being published. I've removed the main dish list for December 6 - 9, 2005 at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center because this week it wasn't possible for the staff to follow the meal plan.

On December 2 the vendor failed to deliver the turkey drumsticks in a timely fashion, so they were served on December 5. My impression is that vendors are not penalized for late deliveries because this happens on average once a week.

Highlights for December, Van Cortlandt Sr. Center

Dec 2, 10 a.m. Yoga with Neem Dec 5, Monday, 10:30 a.m. exercise with Dorianna Dec 6, 9:45, exercise with Caroline Grant: 10:30 a.m. Art with Alisha Saltzman Dec 7, 9:45 a.m. exercise with Jon Rigai Dec 9, 10 a.m. Yoga with Neem Dec 12, 10:30 a.m. Richard Simmons exercise video Dec 14, 10 a.m. exercise with Jon Rigai Dec 16, 10 a.m. Yoga with Trudy Bacon Dec 19, 10:30 a.m. exercise with Dorianna
The subway strike has caused the following programs to be cancelled.

Dec 20, 9:45 a.m. exercise with Caroline Grant, 10:30 a.m. Art with Alisha Saltzman

Mailed to City Councilman Oliver Koppell on November 28, 2005, koppell@council.nyc.ny.us this question: Who are the City Council Bronx appointed members of the Senior Advisory Council? How can they be contacted?

November 30, 2005 called Councilman Koppell's office, 718 549 7300. I failed to get the name of the person who answered the phone. I asked who the Bronx members of the Senior Advisory Council are. The person I spoke to promised to get back to me.

2:50 pm received a call and I now know their names are Doris Colon and Edith Baldwin

I sent this message today to the NYC Department of Aging. It's a holiday weekend, so I'll start counting the days to a reply on Monday. *****************start of message************************* I belong to the Van Cortlandt Village Senior Center. I would like to know what the definition of Group Worker is. What are the qualifications for the job? ****************end of message***************************

Sunday, November 13, I went to the Ethical Culture Society in Riverdale to eat Indian food and hear a concert of classical Indian music. The musicians were from the Kalavant Center. Good food and wonderful music.

Today at the senior center I went to an exercise class led by Dorianna. I found out I'm not the only one who has complained to the Executive Director about the cutback of exercise instructors. The money is there, the priorities are elsewhere.

Tuesday, I worked on a paperclip necklace in Alisha Saltzman's class. Lunch was good, baked fish, baked potato, tomatoes and squash.

I've been working on shaker cards for a swap I'm participating in. You can see one on the left. Wednesday I was in Manhattan, I considered eating at Bereket, changed my mind and did a long walk to Fulton Street where I ate at Country Kabob. Strand bookstore is diagonally across from this kabob place and I then browsed there. They no longer have a craft section, those books are mixed up with the art books. Thursday evening I went to a moderate yoga class led by Trudy Bacon. Friday I went a yoga class at the Van Cortlandt Senior Center that this week, also was led by Trudy.

Warm weather helped make this a special weekend. Saturday night I went to the International Dinner at the co-op where I live. This is a potluck dinner that has been held for about the last twelve years. I made a spicy chicken and potato dish. A neighbor and I went together, the amount of food was overwhelming. One thing that could have been managed better was the entertainment, there were lots of cooperators who wanted to do their thing and everyone should have been limited to one number. Friday evening there was a virtual baby shower on one of my yahoo groups. This was the real card I made and sent to the mother to be. Monday, Doryanna was back to lead the aerobic class at VC Senior Center Tuesday, Carol Grant did her more gentle routine, most done in a chair with many ballet motions as part of the program.

The last two days I've practiced yoga. Yesterday I went to a class led by Trudy Bacon, today I was at the V.C. Senior Center and took a class with Neem. I worked some on some shaker boxes for an exchange I'm on in a scrapbooking group.

Today, Tuesday November 1, I took an art class with Alisha Saltzman at the V.C. Senior Center. She is terrific, her emphasis is on unleashing the creative spirit not technique. Today we created faces on foam ovals that we attached magnets to. We developed the faces with the themes happy or mischievous.

This morning I went to the Van Cortlandt Senior Center, I saw Doryanna and other belly dancers put on a show. Tomorrow I'll see Doryanna again, she teaches the exercise class on Monday mornings.