As I walked back to my bed from a bathroom trip just now, (I know, TMI!!), I felt something poking my foot. Sitting on my bed, I looked at my foot and discovered a tiny black 'stone' inbedded in my sole. Ugh! Now, where did that come from? Well, it is likely from the freshly-filled potholes in the parking lot which are still soft and pliable due to the incredible heat we have had lately. Connie filled them in earlier in the week, and I was so thankful because it was hard on my tires, especially if the holes are filled with rainwater, hitting the holes. She said she had to fill them in because Rose, one of our neighbors, was back from vacation and, according to Connie, comes flying into the parking lot. What a reputation to have! But, if that is what it takes to fill the holes, good for Rose! And for Connie! So, the good news is that the holes are filled but the less-than-good news is that the little stones stick to the shoes and find their way into my closet, and then my feet!
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Thursday on my way to the seminar and luncheon, I called Brenda's cell phone, which went immediately to voice mail. I figured she had it shut off while at work so I left her a message. After leaving my message about having dinner that night, my phone rang right back to me, and there was Brenda! I assumed she saw I had called her, but, no! She was calling me as I was calling her, to see about getting together that night. Don't you love it when that happens? She wanted to return some borrowed movies and so we decided to have dinner. Brenda does not like driving at night so I picked her up at home and we went to the newly redecorated Longhorn on Fleming Island. It has a nice clean look but still in keeping with the western theme.
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It was great to see her again, after her vacation to the Bahamas and such. In between dog sitting for her daughter, she squeezed in a trip to the Freeport area with her friend, Edda and her daughter, staying at a home belonging to a family member there. They have friends, both native and foreign, that they hang out with and Brenda once more was able to ride horseback on a deserted beach. Cannot wait to see her photos...where they stay and hang out is not on the tourist path at all, since their family member lived there year 'round, like a resident. The home they stay in has all the niceties of home but that is rare for the natives. Brenda said it really makes a person appreciate what they have when they get back to Orange Park! Other than just being thankful to have windows and doors, running water and electricity are blessings we take for granted as well.
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Yesterday I was invited to join Tracy, Cassidy, and MamMa for lunch at La Nop, my third week in a row sharing Friday lunch with them. While I felt like I was a crasher at their party, Cassidy assured me that they have plenty of alone time with MamMa during the week, that I would be the icing on the cake for them. To prove that, Cassidy brought me lovely home-baked orange cupcakes, with chocolate 'icing'! She gave me two in case Justin came over but I have my doubts that I will see him this weekend, so I ate mine with hopes of eating the second one today. It has pieces of orange in it, amazingly good! We saw Judy C. there with her two Moosehaven ladies that she lunches with on Fridays. That was fun, too, as I called out loud across the dining room but she did not hear me. Cassidy went up to pay the bill and told Judy I was hollaring at her, so she came to our table to say hi. They won't ask me to go to lunch with them next week after that sad display of poor manners!
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When I got back home I immediately dressed for the pool to get out there before the clouds rolled in. There was only a few folks using it which was fine with me, the cabana was open and music playing. I was singing along to whatever was playing on the CD and one gentleman joined in. We remarked at how great the music was and he said it was rockin' since they got there. He told me that earlier there was Bob Dylan music and how much he enjoyed that. I said I was a fan too except I don't care for the politics. The guy said he does not pay attention to the message, just likes to sing along, which is sort of fine.
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On the radio show I 'watch' on the Internet, the two guys were talking about just this thing, how popular music often has a message, subliminal or not, that folks find themselves singing along to with out even realizing it. They went through old songs of the Eagles (after a lengthy dispute over whether or not Eagles was the BEST American band of all time...). One of the hosts on yesterday's show pointed out how many songs undercut the government, even one of 'our' favorites, "American Woman", which is strongly an anti-war sentiment from back in the 70's. When my dentist, Peggy, and I went to the Tax Rally at The Landing, there was a musical group singing a variety of "patriotic songs" before the event got underway, including one written by Woody Guthrie, a well-known Communist. I think people really believe this is a patriotic song but what it is really talks about is communal ownership or anti-capitalist thinking. I mentioned that to Peggy when they started singing, being so surprised to hear that being sung at a patriotic event!
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The other host on the radio show, Stu, mentioned how as a teen he bought a CD because it had a certain cover of a song he really liked and played over and over again. Like teens do. Years later now, he pulled the CD out again and looked it over, realizing that it came out in 1973, and was titled, "Year of Choice". Oh no!! He figured out this CD was issued in recognition of the Roe V Wade decision and his buying the CD sort of indicated he was in support of abortion. He was just a kid who loved this song, and he is now adamantly a pro-life guy who would never have given money to this cause. It was a great great segment to listen to, as the older host was a top 40 guy in his early years and played all this music he now decries. Pat told the story of how much his wife and he loved the movie "Grease" and they wanted to share it with their kids. Upon sitting down to watch it with them, Mom and Dad were horrified to realize exactly what they were exposing their kids to----"It was all about sex!!!!!" When you are a parent, you see things through different eyes. The entire point of their program!!!
