Poor Kramer having problems with his rods and cones!

"Jerry, these are load-bearing walls, you can't take them down!!!" Poor Kramer is seeing nothing but red since the Kenny Rogers' Roasters moved in across the street from their apartment building. The neon light shines so brightly into Kramer's apartment, causing him to not be able to sleep and making him even more "vibrant" than usual. It's a funny episode, because Jerry ends up staying in Kramer's apartment and becomes as spastic as Kramer. Hard to tell them apart!!!!

*

This episode is loaded with jingles, like "it's the wood that makes it good" and singing "Costanza" to the tune of "Buy Mennan" to keep his name rattling around in his new girlfriend's brain.

*

So, anyway, it was a lovely time at the pool this afternoon. When I got down there none of the tables had umbrellas since there was no cabana boy on duty. The only table not in the direct sun was occupied but I made my way to join the two ladies sitting there. Cheryl remembered me, having met me on July 26th! Now, how did she remember the day and time? You got me! But she remembered me from the cabana for some reason. Her friend, Debbie, was with Cheryl and we had a wonderful visit. Evidently I came at just the right time because they were starving and thirsty, and I was bearing spinach dip, crackers and 2 sodas. Debbie was getting the shakes from being so hungry and Cheryl appreciated the soda. They said God sent me to them, and I joked about not bringing the fishes with me, only the loaves!

*

Cheryl was interested in renting a unit in one of the condos so I gave her Pat's name and phone numbers. While waiting for Pat to get back to her, the two ladies went for a walk around the property, checking out the Capri and the River Suites. In their research, it came to light that the Gate House was available for rent, so Cheryl snapped it up. Perfection! According to Debbie, she's renting it for next to nothing but they didn't specify to me what the rental was going to be. There is a renter in there presently with no set date to move out, as he's waiting for his boat to be repaired. It is all going to work out.

*

She wants to live here at the Club because she finds it good for her soul to be on the river, even though she won't have a view from the Gate House. As a tenant, she'll have the full rights of the Club, including use of the pool so she'll be just fine! Cheryl is looking to ease her mind over some things but didn't really require much from me as far as steering her "in the right direction" as I gathered from our conversation that she is a religious person. Her dad recently died and other losses of late are causing her to feel the need for a bit of a retreat. I am glad to be able to help the little bit I did.

*

It's Saturday morning now and I've already been to breakfast with a small group of ladies from church, up at Honey B's. My original plans were to go to the pool when I got home but it has been raining most of time since getting back here. It's noisy upstairs as Travis and Jessica seem to be hosting a party for the UF Football game--Gators vs. Hawaii.

*

Justin is home watching the game with his friends, having become quite the college football fan since Jesse and Ron rubbed off on him. Justin had thought he'd be able to go to a Kenny Chesney concert tonight but,sadly, his plans didn't work out. This was a relief to me, not because I didn't want him to go to the show, but didn't want him to miss church tonight. Last week he didn't go Saturday night and then Sunday morning he didn't feel well, assuring me it wasn't because of anything he drank the night before. He made a promise not to miss church this weekend because of illness or any other reason and I'll trust he's a man of his word. He did mention something about instead of the concert they'd go to the beach to watch volleyball......this burns my biscuits, of course, but again, I'm trusting him to keep his word about worship.

*

After our breakfast I went to the bank, having to actually go in because only the inside of the bank is open on Saturdays. Nuts! After the bank I went to Sonic to get my morning fix (although I'd had about seven at Honey B's!!!) and then stopped at ABC Liquor. I got two jars of the pretzel dip I like, so I can share with my neighbors at happy hour. The nice lady, who quite obviously has to shave her chins every day (and I'm not being ugly about it, just sayin') offered to help me find the tea flavored vodka. She said it's flying off the shelf, and I said it's the rage in my building. Sadly the liquor store doesn't sell any lemonade but another clerk offered me lemoncello, which of course isn't even close to lemonade. I had to tell her about my friend at church who makes his own and shared some with us ladies who were familiar with it. I saw Dee's hubby there, and had to tease him about seeing him at all the finest places. We'd run into him at Publix last week when Justin and I shopped after being in Orlando. Justin is a bit shy about seeing Blair out and about because he's the doctor who fitted him with contacts, which Justin is not wearing.

*

" A George divided against itself cannot stand!" "She eats her peas one at a time!" "She's a close talker." "He's a high talker." "She's deaf, she can't hear!" I'm watching a Seinfeld clip show and am bombarded with funny things, faster than I can even burst out laughing! So funny!!! I have a question for Pete, though----assuming that Costanza is Jewish, why would Frank belong to Knights of Columbus?? Are they perhaps a mixed marriage or are they really Italian? Hhmmmm.....I need answers, Jerry, answers!!!

*

Last night happy hour flowed into Pat's unit and a bunch of us ladies enjoyed her porch. We had quite the conversations, from politics to foreign movies to learning to play bridge. Pat offered me diet Pepsi which I appreciated and then produced some Captain Morgan. The others all drink wine but I'm not a wine drinker but don't mind the occasional rum and diet! Can't say I'm all that excited about learning to play bridge but I'm always in for sitting around, talking!

*

"Look away! I'm hideous!!!"

*

Okay, so now tears are rolling as I watched the last part of this program, where apparently it's the end of their run. Thank God for re-runs!

Such excellent periodicals from our Synod!

As I sit here watching reruns, of course, of W.N.T.W. and see another poorly dressed woman shamed before all the world, I am also reading the most recent "Forward in Christ". On the back cover is an article written by a mom sending her son off to college and tears rolled. My little one, Justin, just turned 21 years old and is beginning his third year of being a college student. Notice I didn't say he was a Junior, though, just in his 3rd year. Evidently he doesn't have enough credits accumulated to earn the "Junior" designation. On the bright side, again today he reiterated how much he is enjoying his classes!

The mentioned article could have been written by me, or by any other mums who have to say "good-bye" to their offspring, whether they are going away to college or off to boot camp or simply relocating for the sake of doing so. Most of you know my son lives in the next county over and passes my street many times each week, although less now that classes have resumed. It's not the same as sending a child several states away and seeing them only on holidays and vacations, and even then, not so much. My own friend "complains" about her grandson coming home from school on occasional weekends and hardly being around to have a conversation. He's more interested in seeing his friends and doing "boy things" than hanging with Grandmaw.

I rejoice that Justin is NOT hesitant to hug me and plant a smooch on me, remembers his manners, and I pray, behaves himself when he's not with me. Lynn made a remark to Gabe about how nice Justin is to his mama. I hope I appreciate what a nice boy I have and not take him for granted. It bothers me when things go badly or sadly for him, but then also remember he's a big boy and should be developing skills for handling things himself. In my mind I'll compare where his father and I were at his age and furrow my brow at how simple his "problems" are compared to what we dealt with between working and remodeling and moving......

When I was 21 I was working full time at the old folks home and been married for almost 3 years. And I was so homesick when I first moved an hour and a half away from home and my peoples!!!!! In a year's time we'd remodeled our 4 family in Milwaukee, sold it, and moved back to Manty. Some people never go home again, in their hearts or with their bodies. This F.I.C. articles really hit the nail on the head about the conglomeration of emotions swimming around in a mama's head, and what a blessing this author could spill them onto paper for the rest of us to share with her!

The recent Mission Connection was awesome, too! Monday at Bible study I encouraged the group to be sure to read through it, because there was so much to absorb in that paper. Mom wrote to tell me my dear friend, Pete, wrote some of the Meditations in the recent edition and this made me regret not subscribing. I'll check on-line to see if it's available. I shared the Jerusalem website address with some ladies from church so they can give an ear to his sermons. They were wishing archives were available in our church library of recorded messages but only written ones can be gotten. They want something to listen to on their commute, and I thought perhaps they could record off the computer so they can listen on their long drive to work. Electronics!!!!!