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

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Travis won!!!!!!!

I just got home from Travis' celebration party at Holiday Inn and it truly was a celebration! He won handily over his Republican opponent and now has to gear up for the November elections. If he thought this battle was tough, well, it's going to get tougher yet! The Democrat running against him is a River Road dweller and most of those folks were rabidly against having the Poker Room added to the dog track, which Travis supported. This could be a problem and I hope "we" can overcome this arguement.
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In speaking with Jessica, his fiance this evening, I told her if the battle gets ugly and mud starts to fly, or get down and dirty, I was out. She said they'd (the election committee) already decided not to stoop low and lower the standards, that it wasn't worth it. And this is why I love Travis!

Tropical Storm Fay

Here's a view of the river looking south from my river room. I am surprised they left the dredging machinery in the basin area, but removed the much larger barge from the area beyond the basin. You can see the wind whipping the palms furiously, and I can almost hear the sound they make when this happens.

This photo immediately made me think "here's the calm during the storm". Noah is enjoying his book, being able to read two and a half books during his vacation time in Florida. Just like on a cruise! Manny is just lying back on the sofa, watching the storm throw water at my new patio doors. I wish the doors would have been more resistant to water infiltration but this was not to be. I'll call Jack, my window guy and one of my fans, to see what he can tell me about this door situation.

Jack gave me a lovely black and white photograph his friend took of a cross on a mountain top in Switzerland. One day last year, Mom and I came home to find this wrapped present on my kitchen counter---a thank you from Jack. It got a bit wet when the water (during Fay)came down the walls from the unit above me. This picture hangs just behind my TV. The photo is fine, only the black paper on the back was wet.

"The sea was angry, my friends" but no golf balls or whales to be seen. This shot is looking down from my river room to the bulkhead below, as the waves are being tossed toward the patio doors of the first floor units. Gus, in one of the lower units, was out of town, so various neighbors kept an eye on things in his house, as well as checking on Mike, next door to Gus. Mike is in a motorized chair and all were concerned about him sitting alone down there. Especially without electricity to charge him up! He did fine, and in fact, became a bit annoyed that everyone kept asking him if he was okay......Is there such a thing as too much love? I think not!
You might possibly be able to see the streaks of water which are running down the wall where my TV usually stands. I'm glad it didn't short out my wiring and such which was behind there. Lisa put a metal cooking pan, also known as a kettle, to catch the drips. When the rain and leaking ceased, we moved everything back into place and I noticed my wall was rippled where water had gotten between the drywall and the paint. That's okay, it's not obvious, and hopefully mold won't be cultivated in there. The blue light which you see hanging there was purchased in Santorini, Greece, from Justin's and my friend, Jeanne, in 2006. It's blown glass, cobalt blue. When I saw it in the shop window, I looked at Justin and said, "That's for me!" Ta-da!!!

This view is looking north toward the Buckmann Bridge. It had to be closed during the height of the storm, not only because of the high winds but also because a sail boat, a sizable one, had broken loose at the marina and was banging against the sides of the bridge supports. Not good, for either the bridge or the boat! Since I don't normally hang off my porch railing, I hadn't noticed my new neighbors had placed a grille on their patio......I told Ed at the "Insteada Dinner" party on the 5th floor that I was going to be his new best friend! He said anytime I want to, I can cook on his grille. What a guy! He doesn't realize (yet) that I come with about 20 people!


This is the tree which stands just outside my patio doors. It's the tallest of all the palms near my windows and faired the best. The shorter two look quite squished down, as though giant birds tried to sit on them. The palms along the basin don't seem any worse for the wear either. I'd hate to lose the palm trees as they add so much to my view and enjoyment of the river. Thanks to all who remembered us in their prayers, asking God to watch over us "weathering" the storm.

Just look at how the waves are splashing over the breakwater! The river isn't at its high point here which is why the flat barrier rocks are still visible. During high tide, no rocks and no grass was showing which made for a creepy look. And now, it's as peaceful and calm as can be, as though nothing's happened. At least it's this way here.....other areas around Jacksonville are still using boats and/or waiting for their power to be restored. I am so blessed!!!







Various and assorted photographs


Gabe and Manny look like cool dudes, waiting for our table at Clark's Fish Camp. We are so glad we went on the very first day they were here as conditions deteriorated quickly starting Sunday!
The boys and Noah really got a kick out of the decor of the fish camp, totally surprised by what they found once inside the doors. Not what you'd expect at all. We were able to enjoy our meal on the open porch (a.k.a. 'fetid' swamp, as Lori called it) and Manny took great pleasure in throwing food to the turtles and alligator. Noah enjoyed his meal, the stuffed flounder, which Mom said is the best meal in a restaurant she's ever had! He didn't care much for my fried dill pickles but did like his alligator nuggets. Some like pickles, some like pencil erasers......

Looking like he's about to go up in the Space Shuttle, Manny is strapped into his car seat, ready to head to the airport. Gabe was on the other side of the car, trying to climb up into his seat, when it tipped and he fell backward from the car. All we adults were busy hugging and kissing good-bye and didn't notice he was on the way up. Gabe was fine but his clothes were wet so Noah and Lisa rapidly stripped him down and changed him just inside the garage, with no one the wiser. Some day he'll appreciate the adage about patience being a virtue.

Here is a great shot of the boys watching the storm from my family room window. Lynn and I put the glass back into place after moving it a couple days earlier--just in case! My left hand window was wiggling in the wind because it's not fully latched and we couldn't get it to lock in. A trusty piece of packing tape prevented it from making the noise of metal against metal. The shelf needed dusting anyway.....We ended up putting one candle holder back on the glass shelf because Lynn would forget it was there and hit her face on it when trying to look out. The candle reminded her head the glass shelf was there!


Gabe looks pensive as he rests his head on my foot stool. I was so proud of how the boys entertained themselves during our basic "lock-down" existence. I'd apologized to Tracy in the house below mine, explaining the boys need to run their little legs every now again. She thought I had a dance machine going up here.....right! Well, I could probably do that dancing now that I have my new bra! Justin's bringing them the Play Doh was absolutely brilliant, and I don't care one little bit if there was a mess on my glass topped table. Having no electricity allowed the boys to play using imagination and crayons, like in the old days when we wrote with chalk on a slate......okay, that's a bit of a stretch, I admit it!

At Gabe's recent VBS, the kids were taught to clap their hands when the talking and noise level got too high. It seems the clapping catches on and the kids realize they are to be quiet and applaud. Lisa and the boys demonstrated this for us Saturday when the noise level got a bit higher than we'd like. It shut Justin right up!!






It's such a lovely day today!

I didn't mention this in previous postings but when we woke up on Saturday morning, it was quiet outside. This was in stark contrast to waking three days in row to the wind whipping the palms outside my windows and the roar of water crashing and splashing against the breakwater. It was quiet!! It was weird!!
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Saturday opened with clearer skies and some sun light but it didn't stay. By the time my family was about to board their plane, it was thundering and raining here at the condo. Lisa texted me to report all was dry at the airport and they were able to leave Jacksonville safely.
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Well, today began early, again with sunshine and clear skies, and a phone call. Justin wanted to let me know he was leaving home so I could gauge my getting ready for the day according to his drive time. He suggested I think about him being like Dominoes and he'd be here in 30 minutes or less! Funny boy! We were going over to the polls to vote for "ole Travis" and the rest on the list. My friend, Diane, was also running for an at-large seat on the Board of Commissioners. She handles some of my finances for me, and we've bonded with each other (go figure!!). Bonded, a little play on words there!!!! Don't put much stock in what I say.......we have a mutual admiration for each other.....enough with the investment puns already!!!
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So, back to Justin and me voting....there were no lines at the polls, sad to say. We marched right in, got scanned, voted, and then off we went, sporting our "I Voted" stickers. I saw one of the Art Guild members there voting also and we are both looking forward to Guild starting again next month. At least I think so now!
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Since he had time, before heading to the polls, I had Justin go around picking up toys and putting things away now that the boys are gone home. I was too lazy to do it yesterday and the house keepers were coming today. He disassembled the Rokenbok game and put it back in the box plus gathered the assorted cars, trucks, and Legos to store away in the bins for our next guests to play with. I hope Lucas is coming in the Spring before Lent. Oh, and Grace will be old enough to play with toys by then also. Lucas will be four years old in September, on the anniversary of Hurricane Jeanne----a day which shall live in infamy---for many reasons!!!
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Justin and I had breakfast at Grumpy's, where I received a hug from Mike Taylor, who is running for Sheriff. Lynn and I had seen his contingent and him there on Wednesday morning before I took her for the facial. This must be his headquarters, and I teased him that he'd have his victory celebration at Grumpy's!!! He did invite us to join his party at HoJo but I said I was going to Travis's party at Holiday Inn. I was also invited to Diane's party for tonight at Honey Bee's but I'm committed to "ole Travis"!! He gave me a thank you present last week, a gift card for Carrabba's. It burned a hole in my pocket so used it on Friday night already!!!
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Justin had to head back to his side of town because he has classes during the day on Tuesday and Thursday. I'm glad he took the time and gas to come back over here to vote--I'd have felt quite badly not having my kid vote for "ole Travis" after he'd told me about 6 times about Justin being able to vote early at the Tax Collector's office!
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I am also glad Justin is enthusiastic about his classes this semester, because he didn't do so hot on his summer class. He got a C which is just barely what he needs to keep his "scholarship" money, what his father and I pay for him to be a student. Of course, I'd love to see much higher grades instead of just making the grade, but........
Perhaps we should have stipulated his maintaining a solid B to keep his "scholarship"......It's a good thing he loves his subject matter so much, covering Romanesque and other types of art and history.
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The basin is active with boats and leaping fish this afternoon. The dredging folks have located the floating barriers much closer to my building, which makes me think they'll be coming this way soon. I do so enjoy watching the mullet leap for bugs, as they are much easier to see now that the river is smooth. It's difficult to remember how rough it was not even a week ago!
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Earlier I'd mentioned being lazy yesterday after I posted my blog. I answered all my e-mails and other communications and then went to the family room with my lap top in tow. Justin showed me how to "search" for non-secured Internet, floating in the air around my building. I watched a couple "What Not to Wear" episodes and then chatted for a bit with Mona, my sister-in-law in WI. Arno was home from the hospital as of that afternoon and was resting comfortably. He's not yet fully regained his strength after this hopsital stay and a physical therapist will be coming to their house to help him get stronger. So, I am still on schedule to go up and help out while Mona and John are gone to see JR at West Point!
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There were several splash and dash rain storms yesterday which prevented the roofing guys from working on the edge of the building. Understandably so. It did dry enough for us to gather on the shelf (sun deck) to enjoy happy hour and each other's company again. We had so many people, we ran out of chairs! I told Jack he was wise to bring his own (a wheelchair). The new neighbors, Ed and Karen, treated us to some delicious tea-flavored vodka made in South Carolina. Ed picked up a case on a recent trip there, to their home in Charleston. Wow, it was wonderful, served with fresh-squeezed lemonade over ice. Yummm! A couple of the folks bought bottles off Ed as we sat there. Some one is going to look around locally to see if it's available. I can see that going over very nicely at some of my social gatherings!!!!! Oh, yeah!