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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Back from my "tea"...

Judy J. picked me up for the Orange Park Tea Party, which I had only just heard about this a.m. on the way back from the hospital. Originally the two of us were going downtown to the "big" Rally but with Justin being sick, I cancelled with her. As soon as I heard there was going to be one in Orange Park, I called her back and we made plans to stay closer to home. Like she said, it is good to support the local groups putting these things together, too!
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We got there a bit early and at first we had a seat at a picnic table. Then I heard the horns honking and saw the people lining both Kingsley and Hwy. 17, waving their signs and arms at the passing cars. In turn, the vehicles blew their horns in support, including one semi that sounded just like a cruise ship horn! That drew applause from the crowd, an impressive horn such as this! Most of the folks were older, mainly because it is a school day and younger people would be at work, but eventually the gathering did turn into a cross-section of ages, including babies in strollers and older people with walkers.
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The speakers, one representing Ander Crenshaw, our local representative, and the others all addressed the issue of the incredible over-spending, the social programs eroding liberties, and so on. One speaker in particular, a well-spoken man, discussed how our nation has become amoral, our schools not teaching about the American Revolution any longer or the documents, not learning about absolutes in life, and the type of things previous generations were brought up with. A very eloquent speaker, and a great, inspirational time.
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When it was time to leave, Judy took a turn at riding past the sign wavers on both the streets so we could honk and wave as we went past. She said to me, "Boy, you really get into this waving!" and I told her it reminded me of New York City! Horns are always being blown in NYC and various types of waving at all times. I like to wave whenever I hear them beeping, much to the chagrin of my son!
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Before Judy picked me up for the Tea Party, I could hear the sound of glass being swept somewhere outside. Oh, that is never good! In peering out my doors, I saw Tommy walking his dog downstairs and he was picking up pieces of metal, or aluminum. I looked to my left and saw Karen on her balcony, cleaning up glass. Their grille had tipped over on the balcony and I wondered if it hit the glass doors or something. Instead, it was the light fixture on the wall that blew off and broke. She asked me if I had seen the insulation flying past the window, in what were officially clocked at 71 mile per hour winds! I told her that I had not seen it but the insulation was getting wrapped around their railing! Tommy told us it came from the unit on the 5th floor, where the house concert was held a couple weeks ago. Their ceiling on the exposed balcony which runs from the front to the back of the building had blown out, which is where the metal and insulation came from.
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Early in the day Tuesday, when our maintenance lady came to work, she took all the chairs and the loose items, tucking them into the elevator cove on 2nd floor. The tables were flipped over to protect them from breaking, just like during tropical storms and hurricanes. Tommy said that these winds yesterday were actually hurricane-force so it is no wonder things went flying, except the sea cows!

I got a wake-up call today...

.....from Justin! Right at 6:00 a.m. he called to say he was not feeling very well and listed his complaints for me. He asked me to come to the ER with him, and to make it more convenient for me, he opted to drive to Orange Park to be checked out. So considerate of him, although I would have gone anywhere he needed me to be. Justin felt okay enough to drive so I was not concerned.
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As he was talking to me about his ailments, I was already brushing my teeth as I knew he wanted to go to the ER. Once he did actually ask me to come with him, I told him I already brushed my teeth and was getting dressed as we spoke! He would call me when he got onto Hwy. 17 so we arrived at the same time. Justin was already waiting in the chairs when I got there and before long at all, we were called in to triage. He answered all their questions and then back to wait some more. Before long we were called back to the exam area where he had to give them a specimen. I was prepared for a long sit but really, in no time at all, a doctor came in and checked him over, determining it most likely was not appendicitis but probably the "old" chicken he'd eaten. The nurse gave him something for his sore stomach and both the doc and nurrse suggested a mild diet for now, until things clear up for him.
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We went to Winn-Dixie to get the clear and soothing food items they suggested, plus juices and water for him to drink. I got a few items for myself as well and the whole bill came to over $75!!! Boy, it sure does not take long! This had better not been a ploy to get me to buy him groceries....just teasing! As I write he is napping peacefully but must favor his right side yet. It is tender to the touch. I am leaving in a few minutes to attend a Tea Party but will be back in a short while to check on him again. No matter how big they are, they like to have their mamas around when they feel badly! I love that!!!