Did you miss me?

Oops, do not answer that, please. What a whirlwind of activity these past two days...much to my delight. Thursday was the official "Justin Day" as we began our time together at Victory's Bible study. Before class began, I was able to help fold and assemble the service folders for Sunday's worship. Justin is glad to know that it will be Favorite Hymn Sunday this week, and thinks folks will likely choose CHRISTmas hymns this time. Maybe he will be bold enough to request "Of the Father's Love Begotten", one of his favorites.

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From Victory we headed to the Town Center Mall where he most politely dropped me at the door of Maggiano's so I would not have to walk so far. Oh, I have to back up a bit----after Bible study, we stopped at Old Navy because Justin did not have 'good clothes' yet at his bungalow, not thinking about going to the luncheon at Maggiano's. So, Justin's wonderful mama bought him a sweater and a t-shirt. This little side trip delayed us only a few minutes so this was why he dropped me down at the door and parked the car. I had to make my entrance, but waited for him anyway, serving as greeter at the back doors to the restaurant. It turned out some of the people I greeted were going to the same luncheon we were!

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Diane is a gracious hostess, and her bosses and co-workers in the financial investment firm were very very nice as well. They introduced themselves and then had one or two of their vendors say a few words as we ate. The menu consisted of chopped salad, calamari, stuffed mushrooms, and Italian bread. Then we were served chicken tortellini, meatballs with pasta, and crusted tilapia. I liked the tortellini and the meatball dish, plus ate some of the salad and a bit of calamari. Not nuts about the fish entree but Justin enjoyed it all very much. And he did not seem to mind to be the youngest and most handsome man at our table! For dessert we had tiramasu and an apple crostini, all foods served family-style. The lady to my right, I cannot recall her name, asked for permission, when most others had left our table, to clean off the spoon to the tiramasu! I like her! Justin used ice cream from the crostini for his coffee, most innovative.

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After thanking our hostess for her delicious luncheon treat, Justin and I went to the car and headed to Barnes and Noble. I had printed off a shopping list, as I had a discount coupon to use before the 5th. For the books we could not find, a nice young man helped us, seeming to know exactly which books were where. I am amazed that he could do that, and impressed. As often happens in a book store, keeping in mind that I stink as a reader, 'we' found more books to buy than were on my list! Linda, I got the "Freedom Writers' Diary" so I will be glad to share it with you at CHRISTmas time. Somehow or another I did not save as much as I thought I would even with the discount....funny how that happens!

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After the bookstore we headed back to my house where we each got comfy with our laptops, he on the loveseat for a snooze, and me on my bed, each of us also 'watching' the radio show we love so much. He actually did sleep but I merely rested my eyes. Justin had a load of wash going and when I heard the washer stop, went to check it. The load was HUGE, so I opted to re-rinse it so that all the soap would be gone. By the time he remembered about putting the load into the dryer, we knew it would not be dry in time for him to take along to the OP Mall, since we were going to have dinner before the show. He would have to come back here after the show to get his clothes. Justin and I ate at Fridays where he enjoyed his pasta dish, and me, the Jack Daniel's Chicken Fingers appetizer. The waitress thought I should have some fries, too, but I refused, knowing the portion was just right for me. Justin actually finished the last of the chicken when his meal was gone.

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We got our tickets but still had time to walk around in the Mall, where I had not been in years, it seems. He checked out the cell phone kiosks as I looked at the game kiosks. I saw many games I would like such as "Would You Rather...", which I hear advertised on the radio. This shop carried some strange or hard-to-find card games and board games which folks really love to see, according to the guy working there. Hopefully their business picks up, he claims it was rather slow so far....

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Anyway, Justin and I went to the theater and got our soda to share, seeing our friend, Cliff, getting his movie treats. Carol and he go on date night Thursdays, but we did not see her. (I asked her today if he told her that we were there and she said, "NO, he did not tell me!") We got situated in the theater and waited for the simulcast production to begin, billed as 'the largest town hall meeting ever'! Called "Broke", the host took us through the engine of our nation, the Constitution, using a vintage Mustang as the prop. Something worth keeping, worth the time and effort to restore, and not to be thrown into the dustbin of history, etc. Very good show, to a packed house in Orange Park and I hope, everywhere it was broadcast.

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It was obviously getting colder outside as we made our way to the car. Justin decided to stay at his dad's house overnight, since his belongings were yet there and he was working today. It felt good to be in my warm bed and all snuggled in after a wonderfully full day. No reading for me as I needed to just fall asleep. This a.m. when I awoke, it occurred to me that winter has arrived! Not only the extremely cold temperatures but the extremely itchy legs making for a snow storm in my bedroom. Yikes! Two layers of lotion and still little relief. Tonight as I prepare for sleep, I shall coat them once more with lotion and wear mittens so I don't scratch them in my sleep and bleed to death!