Morning has broken...

...and I am all mixed up on what day it is! Normally when I wake up, I changed the station from USA to Fox without looking, to Fox and Friends. What? Isn't it Friday today? Let's see, last night was choir, so yes, this should be Friday......The weekend crew was working today which really threw me off for a second. The weekday anchors all had off so the second string team was on deck. Love that baseball lingo! Like I know what I am talking about.......

*

Already mentioning choir, we are having a couple rehearsals thrown into our summer off because Pastor wants to introduce one of the new liturgies from the Supplement on the 12th. Kathy B., whose mom was gravely ill, still came to lead us in our practice, holding up nicely. She would love for her mom's suffering to end and may I be so brave when the time comes that we have to say " 'til we meet again" to my mom. Anyway, there are some complicated melodies for the liturgy so we went through them this week, and will once more next week so we are ready to go on the 12th.

*

Finally I managed to get my toes done, and they look just like brats with ketchup on the tips again. Lisa trims and files them so nicely and as long as I do not chip and scrape the polish off in the pool, they should last at least 6 weeks before my next visit. Of course, I WILL chip and scrape them, particularly in water aerobics, but I cannot see wearing shoes in the pool, although I do own water shoes. Even the mesh inside the shoes is hard on my polish, and on my toes themselves. The instructor suggested wearing socks with the shoes and I draw the line right there!!!!

*

We are expecting temperatures around 97 today so guess what I will be doing....poolside! I have a newsletter to finish up and print off for our members away from the congregation plus some finishing touches on The Palace Press, which gets e-mailed. I was waiting on information on our newest resident, who has moved into the apartment where the builder who killed himself used to live. This man is a doctor which is a nice addition to our building. We like to make all our Owners and tenants feel welcome, that is my job!

*

Our family has great news on the home front: Mom has decided that she definitely will be moving! Lynn and she went to see a 55+ apartment building about four blocks from church and both of them fell in love with the place. Nice and neat and clean, well-maintained, and not a police car in sight! No one getting hauled out in shackles. In fact, the literature touts that the building is sound-proofed, which really was a problem in Mom's present building. She is looking at moving around Labor Day and I have already alerted the Holmen people to this so they can be there. The complication might be that it is Labor Day weekend and it might be difficult to find movers. We would need to pack her up on Friday, move on Saturday, unpack Saturday and Sunday, and then have a picnic on Monday! The place she is looking at has a picnic area with charcoal grille built in right on the property!!!

*

Mom says she has time now to start going through things, deciding what needs to go to Repeat Performance and what can go in the dumpster, etc. I do not want her stressing about this stuff and overdoing it. I hope she has the gift of patience (you see this, Mom??!!) and waits for help to arrive. Send in the cavalry! When I moved into this place, this was my 27th move, so I think I have it down pat!! There is a storage room, probably, in the new apartment (she cannot quite remember all the details of the four units she looked at Wednesday) but Lynn might remember some of it. The only thing I wish was different was the shower situation, all in a bathtub vs. a walk-in shower so she will still have climb in for her showers. It surprises me that more places like this do not have the walk-in showers particularly since they are catering to the older generations.

*

My Fruit Loops are all wilted, and I believe they were prior to the milk being added. It tends to be a bit humid in my house, since I do not use the A/C all day long, so much so that I have troubles shutting my kitchen door due to the swelling of the wood. My neighbors said I should call Butch, the little handyman, to come and adjust it for me, but he is so booked right now. That is good news, that he is so busy that he cannot come immediately when summoned.

*

After water aerobics yesterday, I rushed upstairs, as much as I can rush, changed my clothes and trundled off to meet Janet for lunch on the Island. Kathy B. had to cancel due to her mom's situation so it was only the two of us. Just as lovely with my friend, Janet, who treated me to a junior taco salad and a strawberry margarita! I cautioned her ahead of time that I eat my salad upside down, from the bottom up, so she would not jump when I flipped it over. Some people were leaving the restaurant, and they stopped at our table, asking what it was I ordered, because it looked like a pot pie to them. They laughed when I told them what it was, just upside down! The meat and good stuff is at the bottom of those salad bowls and that is what I am after, not all that green stuff and the lettuce.....

*

The painters are really going to town on the building, rolling layers of paint onto the stucco and putting primer on the railings on the 3rd floor. I bet they will get as far as my unit today. When I went down for class yesterday, I exchanged greetings with nice guys doing the work, and as we chatted, the one guy remarked that his co-worker talks too much. It was so funny because I was talking their arms off, which makes it really hard to work! We are expecting the painters on the river side of the building, too, as they raise and lower themselves in their movable scaffolding. It looks like the window washer equipment you see in New York City on the skyscrapers. The first morning Ellen was back in the building, her dogs woke her, barking in the river room, and that was when Ellen found men looking back at her!!! Surprise!!! Talk about paparazzi! After that event, she decided to buy a nightie and robe to wear for just such occasions!

*

This begins a full weekend of outdoor activities around these parts, including a major celebration at The Club. The Town of Orange Park has a wonderful firework show from a barge in the river, just down from our building. Ellen is having a little get-together so I might watch from on high, or simply lean over my railing to watch. In the past, Brenda N. and her friend, Carey, would take their boat over but it is a really long ride to go right outside my house, you know? The Club is having extra food available from the cabana as well as a dinner buffet with outdoor seating on Saturday, when normally they have weddings. Fireworks would be too distracting during a wedding reception, I guess.

*

Joanne has plans to move to the condo at the beaches which was offered to her, but her moving date is not yet set. She said she has to get her 'rear in gear' first. Funny girl! First order of business for her is to make sure her parents' home in MI goes to closing without any hang ups and then she can take care of her own business. She will be gone before Christmas so the Day's Inn in The Palace will have rooms when the family comes down in December!!!!