Let the game begin!

It's quite breazy outside tonight, as I can hear the palms rustling against the wind. I just love that sound, it's so calming. It's totally dark already at this hour, as I wait for the Jaguar game to begin. This will be a late night in my household if they stay in the game against the Steelers. If it goes badly for the Jags, well, then, good night!

*

Worship was excellent today, many visitors and guests. There was holy communion with additional music plus Robbie sang the cantor part of Psalm 23 for us. Suzanne played the viola before, during and after worship which adds so much to our worship. When Carol was going up for communion and was standing next to me in the aisle, she leaned over as I was singing and said, "Thank you". Choked me up for a bit because I'd been recently remembering the lovely card she wrote me after her mom died, thanking me for carrying the hymn singing during the funeral service. And now, she did it again.

*

Since I was going to Palm Coast, I didn't stick around after church (Justin would have been so proud of me!) but went almost immediately to my car to head out. When I'd left home, I noticed my gas gauge was closer to a quarter tank than I'd like but figured I'd make it to the restaurant just fine. Well, sure enough, about three miles from my exit I heard the little "ding" sound indicating it was time to get gas. This absolutely freaks me out, any bells, whistles or lights on my dash that don't belong there throws me into a fit. I made it safely to the gas station at my exit and the tank took about the entire amount of gallons that it held. Taught me a lesson, because that was wwaayy too close for my comfort.

*

Even with stopping to fill up my tank, I arrived around the corner at Ruby Tuesday where I was meeting Tina, Keith, and Maya in plenty of time. I hadn't seen Keith in ages since usually he's working when we go down there. It's very hard on Tina to travel with Maya, just turning two, because she has no rest in her bones, always wanting to climb on or touch things. She asked my opinion on baby names and, of course, I like 'Hannah' but Tina is concerned the name is too popular right now with the Montana thing. She doesn't want her child to be one of six Hannah's in her class. Tina knows both my kids were supposed to be Hannah's, but that name never caught on for boys!

*

Once back at their home, I gave Maya her belated birthday presents from Justin and me. I'd found this great soft, soft throw with one corner shaped into a crown and has a light up heart shape on it. Two other corners have little pouches sewed in to put her hands in for warmth. It's all princesses all the time for Maya so it was perfect. Keith took great pictures of her wearing her royal robes and coloring with the triangular shaped crayons I found. We also gave her two coloring books, one good for restaurants and one good for driveway. It's huge! Almost didn't fit in the largest gift bag they sold!

*

I was not able to stay very long, though, because I had to turn myself around and head back to Jax to meet the 'family' at Clark's Fish Camp. Justin was planning to meet me at Lowe's so we could ride in together, as parking is difficult once at the camp. However, he said he didn't feel well again so opted to stay home. Thursday he said he wished we could go to Clark's and now, having a chance, decided to stay home. I think he was having more fun watching football at home with his buds and it felt good to not have to go somewhere. All were sad he wasn't there so I let him know he was missed at the table. There were 17 of us so were not short of people!

*

Bruce's sister, Julie, commented that she liked the color of my telephone and I showed her how it went with my earings. She said Sandy had told her about my house, all the glass and bright colors. Bruce piped up, "She's got a lot of color in her life!" which was a nice thing to say, but Rick and Jen's son paid me a terrific compliment, totally out of nowhere. Chris said, "if you were in a pitch dark room and Miss Kim walked in, the room would be bright, she has so much color!" This caused me to tear up a bit and I thanked him for saying such a nice thing. I reached in my purse and gave him a dollar as a token of my affection. Sandy was also telling Julie, who lives in Boston, that as far as I'm concerned, neither Rick nor Bruce can do any wrong in my book! And that's the truth! Julie said their mom feels the same way about Bruce!

*

I am halfway through the book, The Shack, and wow!, Judy R. was right! I do need to hang on for dear life. It's so good! Jami, of Cat's Meow, just finished reading it again and is writing about it on her blog as well. Paul and Emily are ready to play "Seinfeld" with me but Paul assures me that this will be HIS game, mop the floor with me. I can take it, Paul, I can take it!

Go Jaguars!

Oh my goodness! The FNC just announced there was snow fall in some part of the United States last night--evidently not outside my windows or doors. Whew! Must be a slow news day, which is good.

*

Yesterday was Kristen's wedding and it was quite lovely. My disappointment was that Bruce didn't wear his fancy Navy uniform to walk her down the aisle but he says he can't afford to keep going to buy new ones each time his girls get married! For some reason, since he wore it four years ago at Kristen's first walk down the aisle, it won't button!

*

It was a small but beautiful service, less than 12 minutes in length but the photos took nearly three times that long. Rick was the photographer but I stepped in for the family shots so he'd be in them this time. When he took pictures for a couple previous family weddings, he is missing from the family shots. Rick had asked Justin to do it, but he was afraid to be "blamed" if they didn't turn out, so I did it. I told Rick his camera must be loaded with testosterone because it was twice the weight of my camera! He's got lots of bells and whistles for taking wedding photos which makes mine look like a point and shoot!

*

The reception started sort of backward with the bride/groom dance and father/daughter/son/mom dances at the very beginning. Evidently the food wasn't ready or something. I know the mom of the bride was not a happy girl as regards the way the show was run---wrong colored table cloths (didn't match the chair covers and sashes which Sandy had rented for the wedding). Her contract showed how the tables were to be set, dressed, decorated, etc., and none of that was done. You don't mess with Sandy and she won't take it sitting down. The food and beverage lady made all sorts of promises and then wasn't even on-site to see them through. I'm so glad that when my turn comes, I'll be the mother of the groom and not have to manage the minutiae that troubles brides and their moms! Oh, the menu they chose also called for key lime pie for dessert but there was no dessert at all!

*

Justin came here to watch the football game before the wedding (Gators) but then got a phone call from his friend in need. It seems Josh was asked to leave his mom's home for some reason, of course, it was the mom's fault (I'd love to hear the entire story). Not being old enough to secure a hotel room on his own, he asked Justin to come to HoJO to get him a room. I don't like this idea one little bit, afraid Justin put himself at some financial risk, but what can I do, besides not bail him out of trouble if he gets into any. He offered Josh space at their condo but he refused and I asked him not to offer my spare rooms, either. Normally I throw my doors open for folks but Josh is different, and Justin assured me he never even thought to do that. Good!

*

While Justin was getting Josh checked-in, here comes Travis and his entourage through the halls of the HoJo. They were ordering wings from Harry's, the hotel restaurant, and watching the game before Travis' wedding. For some reason or another, there was a continous stream of photos of Travis and Jessica's courtship and such running on the flat screens at the Holiday Inn where Kristen's wedding was held, but Travis' wedding reception was down the road a bit. Hmmm...odd! So Justin got to extend good wishes to Travis once more before the wedding after all, even though he'd done so Wednesday when Travis brought me the envelopes and labels.

*

Just prior to my leaving for the wedding, Jennifer called. She had a favor to ask, for Kristen. Okay, I'm listening. It seems that when Kristen had gotten her hair and face done at the Mall, she'd left her cell phone lay, and they asked me to run to get it. Run indeed! I said I'd do it but they had to hold the wedding until I got there. Jen told me to go to Customer Service at Dillard's, upstairs, to get the phone but they didn't have it. Jen had mentioned she'd gotten her face done at Clinique so they called from CS to that counter and sure enough, that's where it was. Back downstairs I went, grabbed the phone, and out to the parking lot to work my way on Wells Road toward the hotel. The traffic wasn't too bad, even though the construction slows things a bit. I got there with minutes to spare and delivered the errant telephone. Justin beat me back to the hotel since he was coming from HoJo. Whew!

*

Justin had a bit of a disappointment, though, when talking with Trisha about renting a room in her house. Actually, she'd not discussed it with her newlywed hubby at all, and had to tell Justin that it just wasn't going to work out. He was sad, but also expected that answer since he knew she hadn't asked Randy about it first. He had looked forward to it, considered it being with "family" because we are close with the family but, I agree, it might not be so good to have another person to work around when starting your marriage. They were married at the end of February this year. Two weddings in one year for Sandy and Bruce!

*

Now, he'll look into a couple options, like finding a new roomie or another place to live. By the end of the month he's got to give notice so something will need to happen and keep happening before then. I made it clear I don't want to sign another lease for him, keeps me on the hook, as it were, so hopefully he'll have enough credit history to allow him to sign alone. Just between us, if I have to, I have to, but I sure don't want to put myself out there for anything. On one hand, we want to be all independent and do our own thing, but on the other, we still have our hand out to mom, asking for support (a.k.a. $$$) in order to sustain this alleged independence......."Mom, can you please get my glasses prescription for me, I don't have time?" "We went to Dave and Busters last night so I'm tired today." No time, eh?

*

More later as I must get ready for church. Going to Palm Coast right from church to meet my niece and family for lunch and then coming back to go to Clark's with the Taylor family at 5:00. Justin is coming for that, too, but not going to Palm Coast. Later!!!!