It was a nice day after all!

Not all of September 11 was spent in front of the TV. Once I heard from Maggie O. that she was too pooped to party for lunch, I headed off to take care of some business and fun. I decided my tummy still wanted some Koko's and I needed to see my friends at Great Hang Ups after being gone several days, so away I went to the Island!

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There was a client at the desk when I arrived and I was introduced to a woman, a delightful one at that, who worked for Dee's hubby for years. She was getting some items framed and shared a story about a surly street artist in Rome from whom she bought a piece. She knew if she walked away from the art work she liked, the regrets would follow her home, so she sucked it up and dealt with the grumpy Italian man. He became quite pleasant when he realized she was an honest-to-goodness customer and not only a nosy 'tourista'. I shared my story of leaving my chandelier behind and having to go back the next year to fetch it home with me.....

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After posing and modeling some earings for Julia to post on their website and Facebook, I went next door to have my lunch. As I was being seated, I realized that I knew my table partner. After a long, dear embrace, I was introduced to Kelly's mom, who has moved here from midstate New York to be closer to her daughter. Kelly and family lived next door to us in Fiddlers Ridge, which is where we lived when Timmy was born. She served as his pediatrician for awhile, too, and we remembered the day he got shots in each leg at the same time. Nurse on one side, Kelly on the other---1,2,3, go! Last night I looked through the memorial book from Timmy's funeral and I did not see their names listed...I hate to ask the question because if they were there and I don't remember, I am embarrassed, oddly so, for not knowing.

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We had a wonderful, wonderful catch-up visit, discussing scrapbooking, her church (my favorite topics!!!) and our kids. Kelly now works as the peds doctor with Community Hospice so I told her that I had been involved with Hospice for a few years after my sister-in-law died. In fact, I began the training program the Monday after separating from my then spouse. Since Kelly does the peds care, I mentioned that I had a client on Old Middleburg Road and she asked, "Jessica?" YES! She knew Jessica and I told her about the movie premier we had for her in San Marco complete with red carpet and limosine ride. Jessica made a movie to tell others about her illness and as a keepsake for her family and did it up right! I must remember to send Kelly the photos I have of that event.....Jessica has been gone about a year now, according to Kelly. What a great time we had at lunch! We have since found each other on Facebook so the catching up will continue. Her hubby is a nurse practioner working in oncology so they both have heavy jobs. They worship where Joanne does so we have an additional connection there. Oh, how I love re-finding people, preferably in the flesh, but will settle for Facebook otherwise!

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Oooh, raindrops are falling on my windows! Glad I made the decision to finally get dressed in a garment other than nightwear. Justin just sent me a photo of a major slice of pizza he tackled in Tallahassee, promoted as being "as big your head"! Many years ago Julia at Hang Ups told us about the wonderful calzones from the Spaghetti House which were "as big as your head" and we never forgot that. He said he ate only half of the slice but certainly the rest will not be wasted. Last night he attended a Kenny Chesney concert and today is a football game with the FSU team playing against some other team. I do not follow college sports but he is learning to through his friends who are alum of those schools.

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My chicken has had the stuffings cooked out of it, including a hideous bag of gizzards which worked their way out of the bird as it boiled. My disposal ground it up and sent it away. Yech! Using tongs, I transferred the boiled meat onto a plate to chill before I start tearing at it for the pot pie. This is all very exciting for me. Linda M. asked me if I have been probed by aliens recently because I am cooking things in my kitchen....That just made me laugh! One would think this was true. Thursday I made the egg and cheese souffle with tonight's attempt at pot pie---yes, something is definitely up!

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Last night as I readied for bed, I was reading a book (oh, dear, perhaps Linda M. WAS right.....) and had planned to watch the special on Fox News about the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. Something prevented me from watching however---I just could not bare to watch this program so close to sleeping time. You all know me and my vivid dreams, it might have been to heavy for bedtime viewing, but that is why is scheduled for after kids are in bed. The part that bothered me most was when the security guards and officials encouraged the people to go back to their offices, that everything was okay. Hindsight is truly 20/20 but I could not help but wonder how many more lives would have been spared if folks just kept leaving the building, calling it a day.....What a day it turned out to be! I bought the book about the 911 Commission report findings but have not consumed the whole thing yet. Yet, being the working word there.

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While I settled in for rest, I watched the end of "The Holiday", a rather pleasant movie about two women who swap homes over the Christmas season, one a very successful movie trailer producer from L.A., the other a rather dull writer for a newspaper in England. They each meet people at their respective "winter" homes and the inevitable happens. No, I won't give it away. It is playing again this afternoon and is a great escape for a rainy afternoon. My ice cream last night, however, made quite the mess on my nightie which then transferred to my sheets, so the whole works went into the laundry this a.m. My room always looks quite messy with the unmade bed so must get the bed put back together in order to create the illusion of cleanliness!

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Oh, how I enjoyed talking on the phone for hours this morning with a couple of my lady friends, one from nearby and one from miles and miles away. It's not like I have not seen them lately either, but we always "have words left over", as Justin would say!