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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Justin has a fresh outlook!

Justin and I had an understanding----until he no longer needed to be reminded to brush his teeth, he was not ready for contact lenses. It's as simple as that. Really now, could one be expected to know how to care for/maintain contacts while letting their teeth become as brown as their eyes? I think not! Well, now Justin flashes a dazzling smile, and has for sometime, so today we went to see my friend, Dee's, husband, for Justin to be fitted for contact lenses.
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Ta da! Justin looks great, has beautiful eyes, a bit red-rimmed now, but still gorgeous! Blair put the lenses in the first time, but then Justin had to work with a technician, practicing to remove one and then re-insert. Oooh, that took some doing! They worked and worked, getting him to calm down and not blink while inserting the lens. She was quite patient with her patient! Finally, he got the lens back in. When I got my first pair of hard lenses when I was 16 (I brushed my teeth without being told!), the eye doctor commented that it seemed like I had them all my life. I just took to them. This might not be the case for Justin but is something he has to work on himself. He knows how to get to "Carnegie Hall"! In a week we need to return for a follow-up check-up to see how he's coming along.
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On the way home we stopped at The Mall to buy a pair of American Eagle sunglasses, which delighted him almost as much as having contact lenses. He simply LOVES that American Eagle product line! Inexpensive clothing with a youthful style, a step-up from his usual Wal-Mart taste! Anyway, sporting his new shades and new "eyes" we came back here to my house where Jesse, his driver, was picking him up as they have classes this afternoon. By the way, Justin was accepted into a math class after being on a wait-list, so now he'll get caught up on his math credits....we hope.....
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Justin nicely carried a terribly heavy box of cat litter upstairs for me, got the litter changed out and floor cleaned up. Whew, what a mess a cat box is! He then played for me the hit parade from American Idol (American Eagle AND Idol---what's going on here?) on my computer so I could hear the ones he loves the best. He asked me to help him vote next week, which I really hate to do, get involved in the craze, but will for his sake. Oh, brother, this is really getting out hand. But, let's not get started on "reality TV"....which reminds me--Sunday morning I caught part of "The Truman Show", the original 'reality' show!
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I spoke on the phone with Dee yesterday to ask about the traffic and such for getting to Blair's office. We didn't want to get caught in a jam or anything. She asked me when I thought I'd be coming by for a visit so perhaps tomorrow I'll go over. Last week I only dropped off the art pieces and left because they were busy. The timing has to be just right for a visit, you know! Pam called earlier, asking me to go to dinner with Paul, Joan and her since Raymond was going with his father. Nuts! Tonight is so terribly busy with two church things and then the Condo Board meeting that I just can't make it. Nuts again! Tomorrow would be much better for me but they'll have to just go without me tonight.....I hate having to turn down dinner dates.
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I've been invited to a couple graduations this spring, one in Onalaska, WI, and one locally for a Jones' College graduate. The local one is for a lady who comes to our church, found us as she walked by one day. Now that school is out, Sheila may become more regular in her attendance and activities with us. I've sort of taken her under my wing and am thrilled to be invited to her ceremony. Unfortunately, that is the same day as our BIG JSO concert where they'll be playing the music of John Williams so only one trip downtown per day, and I choose the concert! We have a large group going with us (Justin and me) and we're still waiting to hear if Robbie can join us, has to check his work schedule.
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We saw this same concert last season and it knocked our socks off! Before playing the "Star Wars" music, the little robot, R-2D-2, came out on stage and delivered the sheet music to the conductor. Then, as the orchestra played, here come all these characters from the movies, some coming out right beside us. I leaned over and said to Justin, "His uniform is all dirty!" and he said, "It's supposed to be". Apparently some sort of warrior, wearing all white, metal-looking armor...Justin knows who it is. Anyway, the theater is ALIVE with creatures and characters from the Star Wars movies and it's fantastic! Rick is a huge Star Wars fan so they are coming with us, too. It's going to be a blast!

Photo taken with the cell phone after last year's "Star Wars" concert. I got Justin a two-end light saber for his birthday when he turned 20.


I have a guilty conscience...

Yesterday Judy J. called to ask if I ever got the bouquet of flowers her son sent me as 'thanks' for letting them stay here when I was in WI....Well, yes I did, but I never mentioned it in the blog, where Judy gets her information, nor did I mention it to her in person. What I meant to do was get their e-mail address and send them a thanks for their thanks....My mama brought me up better than that!! Sorry!
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Here's the deal: a couple days after I got back from WI, a lady from the Orange Park Florist called to ask when they could by with a delivery. I said I was home now, and she said the delivery person would come back as soon as he got back to the shop. The lady said a card should have been left telling me a delivery was attemted, but I saw no such card. A bit later, here comes a nice lady trudging up the stairs (still no elevator at this time) with this magnificent bouquet of flowers for me! At this point I had no idea who'd send ME flowers, and I was tickled to pieces. I asked the lady if she'd like to come in and sit down for a bit and catch her breath, but she refused, saying she was on her way home and would rest there. The good news was the someone else had attempted the delivery earlier that day, she didn't have to climb twice!
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So, yes, Jeff, the flowers came and were beautiful, lasting about two weeks until the daylilies started to drop their petals. The yellow roses left us earlier but the rest hung in a good, long time. Thank you both very, very much for brightening my day and my first weeks at home!