Bribing the painters

Yes, I did it! I gave the painters a bribe this morning! Remembering these men were not necessarily English-as-a-first-language guys, I spoke the international language of Windex, rags, and cash. As long as they are hanging around my house, I am going to put them to work, right? When they pressure washed earlier this week, my sliding glass doors got really wet but not really washed. I gave them my Windex bottle and some rags, batted my eyes at them, and they agreed to wash my glass doors. Only they had a condition: I had to get fully dressed! Just teasing---I had already put on street clothes as I plan to go see my lady friends this a.m. "News flash---two house painters in Orange Park leap to their death upon sighting heavy-set woman in her swimsuit. Film at 11:00...."

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The fellows graciously accepted glasses of water from me as well as the gratuity for cleaning my sliding doors, which they said they will do when they apply the second coat of sealant/paint this afternoon. It is quite overcast today which is a delight for them, I am sure. One of them is quite fluent in the English language and assured me they would take care of it for me. I explained that I cannot access those doors and they understood my dilemma.

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Justin is getting a raise today! The minimum wage was increased today by 4 cents an hour which is killer for many employers. I hope McDonald's won't have to end their McDollar Menu offerings, or any of the others that offer discounted meals because of this. The State of Florida minimum wage is now $7.21, the equivalent of about two cups of something from Starbucks! When I would pick up Justin from school, living in The Preserve house yet, he would occasionally ask me to take him to Starbucks for a frothy drink. I would roll my eyes and heave great sighs of annoyance, and take him to get his coffee drink. My treat, of course!!!! He would explain, "It's "only" $3.51 for this big drink..." At that time I could get two large diet Cokes for that amount of money, but whatever....When he began working the jobsites with Jason Woodruff and earning his own money, it suddenly became quite clear to him how long/hard he had to work in an hour to pay for a cup of that coffee drink. Working just over a half hour, hauling trash or digging trenches for irrigation lines, to prance about with his Starbucks cup. That is true for most people, I think, that the true value or appreciation for things is not obvious until it is either taken away or paid for out of our own pockets!

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Justin is having a birthday celebration with friends his age at his father's house tonight. It is not good for my spirit to know the plans but expect there to be adult beverages and fire works involved. Tomorrow during the day he is going to the beach (yes, he goes to the beach now.....must be more fun than going with his mother!) to play volleyball and such. In the evening I am giving him a family-friendly party here with the "old" friends from work and his church family, those who have had an effect and impression when he was growing up, etc. Certainly I cannot compete with fire works and rough-housing but can offer hugs, heart-nurturing and, of course, good food to eat and good friends to spend time with when celebrating 22 years! Sunday he is coming to church with me again, and then we are going to have lunch together. Pastor Kuske is being Installed as pastor at the church in Keystone Heights so I am going there in the afternoon for the service and meal. I squeezed out time for him Saturday night and then for Sunday lunch, so he can feel that his mama sufficiently recognized and celebrated the date of his birth!

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The lady I like to use for special cakes seems to not be around anymore so I am going to have to use Publix for his cake. Not like that is a bad thing, though, because they have excellent cakes. Dena, however, makes a wonderful lemon pound cake with cheesecake layers----oh, my---to die from!!!! Justin loves it, if she does not add the coconut to it, but I struck out getting that for his party.

This is a picture of the same cake I wanted for Justin, the above being for my birthday in 2006. Mmmmmm...........Kindly note my beautiful cake plate!!

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In chatting lately with Maggie O., Ellen and her daughter, Ashley Rose, many times the conversation sways to the Food Network. All of them are fans and were relating their favorite episodes of dueling cake decorators and Italian bake-offs. "Throw downs" was an expression used on occasion when discussing the programs. Sorry, but really, I get nothing from the concept of these shows much less from watching them. As I told Judy R. once, I derive no pleasure from meal preparation and that is just the way it is! I do truly love having people around my table and will be pleased to prepare for them, but in no way make any kind of major impression, unless the accidental fire or something takes place!! When Justin went to Dena's to pick up a decorated cake for me, he was so amused that they were watching a cake decorating show on TV when he arrived!

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Well, I guess I am off to Publix to take care of a few birthday party preparations. What would we do without Publix, friends???? Also going over to see Dee and Julia for a few minutes---yeah, right!