What a nice day it was today!

Breezy and a bit cooler outside, more temperate weather this week than last was for Linda, I am afraid. Randy, the sole man from our water exercise class, reported that the water temperature has dropped two degrees since he checked it on the weekend. I knew that it was at least two degrees cooler for sure but the sun today was so lovely, it helped to keep me warm. Rick and Fran were at the pool as well, plus a few other folks that I knew, so it was just wonderful being with them all. Danny made me a very nice hot dog for lunch, with a most tasty potato salad. Yes, I had potato salad twice in a week! The one at lunch had bacon in it, which Danny told me was made by his frying the bacon and then sautéing the diced onion in the grease. Then, he added that to the rest of the potato salad mixings. Delicious!

Before I went out for Happy Hour at the pool this evening, I was working on the newsletter for The Palace. Only a day or two late but well worth the delay! I did a bit of research when I was writing about the antique shoppe owned by one of my neighbors. In so doing, I found a website dedicated to reuniting lost photos and documents with their owners. The items on the site were found by strangers after the tornado tore through part of Louisiana in the springtime. There were family photos, school pictures, and even an intact baptismal certificate, waiting to be claimed by their owners, or by anyone who could identify the people in the photos. What a wonderful service someone is offering for those separated from their special photos and papers. Some of the items were marked as being claimed, which was heartwarming to know. Others told where the artifacts were found, often counties away from where the tornado struck. So unreal what a storm such as that can do!

Yesterday I had a long visit my sister-in-law, Mona, catching up on the family news. My niece, Allie, is about to begin her first year of college, taking classes at the local ‘branch’ of UW to get her started. She also works two jobs so I wonder if one will have to go away when school begins, or if she can juggle the whole load. My nephew, JR, serving now in Afghanistan, was able to call them last week, not an easy thing to do from there. He can Skype, which is video chatting via the computer, but that has to be scheduled so both ends are available. And there is always Facebook! After his service time in Afghanistan is over, he will return to Germany again for a period of time. Mona could not remember how long that would be but did assure me she had no intention of flying over there to visit him or tour the area.

While I was talking with her, Justin came to the door so I had to let Mona go. Justin quickly took a shower and changed his clothes for attending the Jaguar game. He loved the new shoes I got him at Payless, coating them with baby powder to soothe his hot feet. Before he left for the game, I gave him some money so he could perhaps purchase the special Jaguar t-shirt for the September 11^th game, and he was able to find one there. Saved me another trip to the Mall, which I greatly appreciated!

Back to tonight---after sitting poolside with my friends and neighbors, I went to Winn Dixie to get some soda. At first, as I told Justin, I was just going to order pizza so I could get the soda delivered, but since I was dressed for Happy Hour, decided to go to the store. Penny, my friend, laughed at me when I told her my plan, and told me she wishes for a life like mine. A couple times a week I have to get fully clothed, but otherwise, I go from night gown to swim suit and back to night gown. Unless I need soda, that is!