Free at last!

This morning I had a dental appointment to have a small cavity taken care of. It was discovered on a previous visit when I had a complaint about a couple twinges experienced the night before. I like to immediately get those checked out, due to my history with teeth. She saw nothing on the x-ray which would give me a twinge but did discover this small cavity. I had previously declined the 'bat-wing' x-rays, which was my mistake. 

As I sat in the chair, before Peggy came in, the ladies were asking me about my band-aids on my neck. As I told them of my experience, I also told them how we could not get the necklace off. This was all Yvonne had to hear as she got busy with the dental tools to go to work on the threads. It took some doing but eventually she got the threads loose and the necklace was off. After over eight years in place, it was free!!! Then she put it in their cleaning machine to polish it up. Talk about a full-service dentist office!

Before I left the office, I had the needed bat-wing x-rays which showed no hidden problems or anything potentially goofy, which is comforting. It took about three hours for the full effects of the freezing to leave my lips and chin. This made quite a mess out of my nice shirt as I tried to drink from my soda can and water bottles, which gave me more than a few chuckles.

On my way home, I stopped at Publix for soda and a few other things. I had meant to get a pork loin and entirely forgot about it once in the store. I did get brats and some hamburger, but somehow bypassed the pork. Lisa, my niece, showed a picture of such a thing that they had had for dinner one night recently. The coating was bourbon brown sugar marinade which I picked up last week at Wal*Mart. I guess I could simply stop at Winn Dixie for that piece of meat, as WD has a good reputation for having quality meats. 

                                          Actual photo of my creation

At Publix I bought a package of fajita veggies to use with the brats (sausage) for my dinner tonight. I added an additional half an onion to this mixture. The last time I made this meal I had to share it with Justin and Martie, so this batch is mine----all mine!!

I am a de-marked woman

The next time I go to see my people and my friends in WI, I hope they will still recognize me. As of this afternoon, I am minus the lifelong 'vampire bite' beauty spots on the right-hand side of my neck. The doctor has been drooling over those marks for some time. When the medical assistant was getting things set up, she said, "I think she just likes to cut things off..." My younger sister has had some cancerous areas on her face, making me now more agreeable to having mine removed.

Betsy, the doctor, just went after me once I was in the office and removed 5 in my necklace area, and one from my back. She had trouble locating the one on the back after making a fuss about it during my check-up earlier this month. She chose one and zapped it off, the worse part being the freezing thereof. The rest--the snipping off and cauterizing---was a breeze. Two of those removed she is sending in, the rest were simply cosmetic (in her mind, they never bothered me!) improvements.

Many of the brown spots you see in this photo are no more. The necklace is covering one of the two vampire bites and one does not appear in this photo, the opposite side of my neck. 

I had mentioned Sunday that Justin was unable to loosen my 'good' necklace for me, due to the threads. The nurse and the medical assistant also tried their hands at getting the threads loose but gave up as well. The doctor was able to work around the necklace but fears it will rub on the treated areas. She suggested I go to the jewelery store to see if they have a tool to get it off. Now that I think of it, I bet her cauterizing tool would have worked great for getting those threads off the clasp. Wish I had thought of that when sitting there!

Next Monday I return for her to check over the treated areas and she will likely have the results back on the two sent in. I did not ask for special favors to expedite the results and am not worried about them. Not yet anyway! No shower for me tonight and when it seems the bleeding has stopped, I can remove the band-aids. I suppose I should cover my pillow again in case something seeps through the band-aids. And tomorrow? Off to the dentist to have a small filling taken care of. Too much of these type of appointments this year, and that's it!

The end of an era

Today Justin disconnected my old three-in-one-printer and moved the one he gave me for Christmas into its place. He could not recall how old it was, the one being replaced, but we did have it at the lake house which was in 2004. 

Oh, if that thing could only talk! All the newsletters and such spit out of that machine...It still works but the ink cartridges were getting so expensive, which is why Justin got me this new one. The salesman at Office Max told me they cost so much because fewer people use them anymore. Since I had recently replaced the ink I asked Justin to leave the old one hooked up until I used all the ink. Who would think the cartridges would last THIS long, since before Christmas? 

                                   

Of course, I used the new machine for printing my photos for the Flock Board, as the old one would no longer tolerate photo paper. Justin has already ordered new cartridges for me for the new machine, "high capacity cartridges" which should last longer than the originals did. A little 'cartridge' humor there....

Tomorrow is my appointment to have my skin tags (a.k.a. moles) removed, late afternoon. Wanting to make sure I was ready, I took off my heart necklace and asked Justin to open the latch on my 'good' necklace. There is a safety on it, and another latch. I never take it off and he said it seems to be jammed. He tried and tried to push the latch but he said there are threads in it which won't allow the release. Perhaps the doctor can get it off, or will have to work around it somehow.

More than once I snagged my decorative pillow or other pillows and now it comes back to bite me, sort of. One time I had to go to his room with the pillow attached to me, looking like Quasimodo with a hump on my back. I couldn't get loose of it on my own and didn't want to break the latch. Now it seems that might not have been an issue!

A fantastic day

This morning Judy and I drove to Victory to attend a seminar on Alzheimer's Disease. When Judy and I walked up to the church, we marveled at the amount of activity going on there, including the lawn mowing. Another team of guys, hired to paint the exterior of the church, were starting with the bell tower. A regular beehive of activity!

Pastor met us and seemed surprised that I did not have dough nuts with me. He asked, "Did I answer your lovely e-mail yesterday?" and I looked at him with a concerned look on my face. Oh no! Is my memory going? I had written to let him know Judy was coming along and asked if I could bring something, like dough nuts. Since I didn't hear back from him (really, I did not!) all we carried in were a couple of sodas.

He checked his e-mail and reported to me, "This is as far as I got: Dear Kim...." and he was distracted or something. He never did get back to me (so it wasn't my memory playing tricks on me!), it was his! He called Anne to bring the treats, saying she was not happy to do so. We made sure to thank her for them during the break.

The presenter was a pastor from The Lutheran Home in MN and did a fine job of it. He had printed materials, a power point presentation, and videos interwoven in the presentation. There were equal number of attendees from GS as from Victory. I sat next to Fran and was glad to do so. More than once she wished she knew this info two years ago when Andy got sick. 

Now, about the content of the seminar---as I told Linda later on, I could/can hardly express how much I took away from this four hour session. We were taught about the difference between dementia and actual Alzheimer's Disease, and the other illnesses which present with memory loss, short or long term. There were suggestions about what to say or not say to those suffering which might trigger a defensive reaction instead of a positive one.

He addressed the matters of establishing POA (powers of attorney) for financial reasons and for medical purposes, doing it ahead of time when people can still think straight and know what they want done, etc. The one part that choked me up was the discussion about the Christian preamble as part of ones Will. His booklet had verses to reference for that, as well as for helping to determine end of life decisions to be made. I can't help it---the tears just come.

One idea to help a sufferer 'remember' the good memories of the past was the use of a picture book using photographs of better times and loved ones. Anne mentioned the movie "The Notebook" where the husband read his wife's and his life story to her daily at the nursing home. She would 'open the curtain' every now and again to remember him, and fade away into her other place. Might have to get that movie out to watch tonight!

Pastor Hoyer mentioned how beneficial this class or session would be to have at the Seminary. The presenter, Curt, said he spoke at a Pastor's Conference recently and ended up with appointments to speak at 35 more congregations in the upper midwest. Later, Pastor said that GS should invite him down next year to have this session again, especially after those of us there talk it up.

                                                          

One of my longer time friends at Victory, Carol, was introduced to me years ago by Linda O. She brought us together because we were both writing. Carol was writing about her dad and his Parkinson's Disease. In 2008 when Linda was visiting, we arranged to meet up with Carol at The First Coast Writers group where the speaker was the author of the book "Mothering Mother", Carol O'Dell. "Victory Carol" had a chance then to talk with the other Carol, who suggested she wait a little while to work on her book because it was still so fresh for her, to give it some time to rest. So she did!

Today Carol said she is getting close now to wrapping it up. The stuff she learned in this class would go a long way to helping put the finishing touches on it. And then, she came to me afterward and asked me to proof her manuscript when she is done, prior to sending it to the editor. I would be honored to do so. What a privilege she is giving me. The icing on the day!

Waxing nostaligic

The line from "Karate Kid" comes to mind---wax on, wax off---when I think of waxing nostaligic. Another line from a movie is "Nostaglia is what you wish you had..." which I find to be quite accurate, and far better than the reality. 

Because my friend, Pat, has had foot surgery, we have been absent from Breakfast Club since before Easter. In speaking with Marlena last night, she reported Pat having been there this week with her hubby for dinner, which means she is now able to venture out. Just can't yet drive herself  with the goofy thing on her driving foot.

This a.m. I had the news on while at the same time listening to 'old' music from my past. Some Joan Baez and some Joni Mitchell, and even Kris 'n Rita when they were still married. I think I might watch "A Star is Born" this evening, for old times' sake! I sure do enjoy youtube for such trips to nostalgia, and back again.

This morning the sky was graced with this abundance of color. Yesterday was lovely as well, and I managed to snag a picture of magnolias in bloom at Victory. They have their parking lot lined with these trees and I almost cannot wait until they are fully blooming. I could smell the flowers even while yet in my car, which must really annoy those with allergies.

Speaking of which, I don't remember if I mentioned when at my 50,000 mile check-up a couple weeks ago, the doctor, Betsy, asked me how my allergies were doing. I told her I didn't have any allergies and she said, "Yes, you do..." and I said, "Well, I guess they are fine then", leaving it at that. I wonder to what I am allergic...Perhaps it is to her!

Since our lovely sunrise this morning, the sky has given way to grey clouds. If I were a weather watcher I would know what is in store for us here in N. Florida. Hopefully it will not rain us away since my upstairs neighbors are taking custody of their home today. One of my other neighbors told me the owner said to him, "I never ever thought I'd be able to live here..." I am glad for Richard and Deborah but sad because it was the falling market which allowed them to afford it. Their dream comes true while mine loses value. There is good and bad in everything, it seems.

Judy C. called this a.m. to ask me to lunch. YES! We are going to La Nopalera where we have not dined in a while. I got hung up on the country fried steak at Pengree's so that was where we were going most recently. Now that I have the go-ahead from the dentist to eat chips and sip through a straw, well, I am all about it! 

Tomorrow she and I are going to Victory for an Alzheimer seminar put on by a pastor from MN, from the Lutheran Home. Suzanne, Judy's daughter-in-law, will be there, too, as she is currently dealing with an aging parent. I hope the turn out is good for this seminar.

Now, before I leave for the day, I am listening to vintage Baez circa 1976. Marveling at the smoothness of her delivery. No one does Dylan better than she does, not even Dylan himself!

A night of reflection

It seems I can more easily capture the moon glow with the cell phone camera than can I with the real camera. Justin sent me a message from the Jaguar stadium simply stating: "How about that moon?" More of a statement than a question, as it was simply amazing, and grande.

Revising my routine

My ears and brain are struggling to accept my new listening routine. Since Neal retired earlier this year, my morning listening has been shuffled around a bit. While I am a fan of Herman Cain's, he is easier to take in smaller doses. I think he is where he needs to be right now, so it worked out well for him to drop out of the race for president. He has strong leadership skills, this few can deny. I simply choose not to listen to his program which filled Neal's spot. 

                                              

When I am in the car in the a.m., I listen to Laura Ingramm, but when I am home, I am now catching my Internet radio show LIVE in the a.m. vs. listening on the podcast later. At least the first three hours are caught live, with the next two hours caught up later on the SoundCloud. Whew! I know, right??? I still download the entire 5 hours worth of programs just in case I miss something. The podcasts are minus the advertisements so it goes by quickly. It is hard to listen and write at the same time.

This revised routine does 'free up' a couple hours in the afternoon, once Rush is done. I find myself often sitting at my desk longer, depending upon how the first part of the day went, instead of listening in my reclined position. Thus, it makes me seem more productive, with 'seem' being the key word here. Some adjustments are being made to my hearing schedule!

****

Yesterday I was going to take a rest in the afternoon as my eyes were quite tired but I no sooner laid down when the equipment outside started up. It sounded like an engine idling, sort of a hissing sound, similar to air brakes being released, and then more hissing. At last I went outside to see what was going on, but all I could actually see was a machine attached a truck. No workers, but every now and again, the compressor, or whatever it was, belched out puffs of black smoke. Hmmm....

My next door neighbor was just getting back and his nurse told me the double doors to the elevator lobby were closed off. The guys had to stop their work to let Jack, who is wheelchair bound, and Shirley, get to the elevator area. It seems it was sandblasting equipment being used in the garage, on the ceiling portion, removing the areas damaged from the above leaks. It was these leaks which were causing the problems in the first place, dripping white calcium stuff onto the cars below. Now, they are being patched and sealed. 

Saturday I got a peek at the ceramic tiles being suggested to replace those chiseled out, including decorative medalions which will be spaced out the length of the sundeck. It seems the price for the tile is coming in less than expected. We Owners have one more installment due to the Association from this most recent capital assessment---sigh.

                                               

Saturday I attended a clothing party downstairs in Tracy's house. I love fashion and had a nice visit with the other ladies, but did not order anything. The key colors for this season were poppy and lime, much like one sees in the stores, but in more classic styles. It was a nice break in the day which was otherwise rainy, dull and dreary--- filled it with color and company!

Delaying the task

I have a couple choices here---to write or to vacuum some floors. Yes, I will sit and write for a bit. The vacuum cleaner isn't going anywhere, nor is the 'girt', as Timmy used to say. This a.m. was spent doing much writing as I wrote and sent notes to three different addresses plus readied a birthday greeting for my friend, Gretchen. I cannot WAIT for her to open my card!!!

My lunch consisted of the last of my wonderful sloppy joes made on Sunday (I think it was Sunday....). Got three meals from a pound of hamburger. I make a mean sloppy joe, and that is it! I have another portion or two left of the chicken and dumplings which will serve me well for my dinner tonight. 

                                    

Tomorrow my plans are to have lunch with Lisa B., who used to attend GS with me and now goes to Victory. I am so looking forward to our first time having lunch together. She said I get to choose the place so I think I will suggest we go to Longhorn on Fleming Island. The county policemen are serving and I like to go when they are doing the table waiting. Went last year with Betty and Robin C. for this same type of event. 

This a.m. I found myself awake far to early so after checking in on Facebook, I managed to turn over and go back to sleep for about an hour. It seems that was not quite enough, or was not sound enough a sleep for me. Once I remake my bed after washing the sheets, a nice nap might be in order. 

When I went to the laundry room to put my laundered sheets into the dryer, I found a load yet in the dryer. It seems the dryer stopped before the items were entirely dry last week. I put them in the washer on the rinse cycle to freshen them again, for another ride in the dryer. If there is one thing I cannot stand, it's smelly towels!

Another thing I had trouble standing was the accumulation of insects in the webs on my windows. Fortunately, against what I expected to happen, the wind the last two days has removed much of the collection making my view less buggy. For that I am most thankful. See? It really takes little to make me happy---which brings me back to having to run the vacuum cleaner...

It's a dress up day!

Yesterday as I walked up to Chili's for our after worship lunch, I told the man holding the door how glad I was to not have worn a dress. Man, it was so windy! He laughed and said he was glad he wasn't wearing a dress either...Good thing he was not wearing a toupee or it would have gone flying. Whee!

                         This is what the parking lot looked like again today

Today it is just as windy, up to 30 mile an hour gusts, but fortunately, at this writing, the rains have ended. All the cars had to park on one side of the parking lot for Bible study as the lot was again flooded from all night's rain. Ethel picked up Gretchen which was nice as Gretchen doesn't care to drive in the rain. It was so very windy as well, which would have added even more excitement for coming across the bridge. 

****

Yesterday's worship was so emotional again, as we recognize Good Shepherd Sunday. I knew the hymns were coming, and we had rehearsed some of them in choir, but yet, they caught me. The reading from Revelation 7 has been known to put me away and then we sang a canticle with the choir based on this Scripture. I told Robbie I had to sing it without reading the words in order to get through it! Those pictures of heaven blow me away..."how my heart yearns within me".

In chatting later with Linda, and with Lisa, I was not alone with the waterworks. Linda remarked that their sermon was so good and the hymns were especially moving for her. The friend she was sitting with wondered if she was alright and Linda assured Joanie she was fine, just fine. Linda told me she couldn't wait to tell Pastor today how much she got from the sermon.

My niece, Lisa, wrote about sitting in church where her sons go to school, as Manny had to sing with his class that day. There was a guest musician and right off the bat sang, "I'm But A Stranger Here". This put Lisa away as she recalled hearing our friend, Pastor Prange, sing this hymn acapella at Timmy's burial. 

A few years after Timmy's death Lisa presented me with a counted cross-stitched piece showing Timmy in Jesus' arms. On the back she had attached the text for the hymn mentioned above. When I had it reframed a year or so ago, Dee made sure to attach the hymn to the back of the new framing. Yes, Good Shepherd Sunday was a day for mourning, and for rejoicing in what awaits us in heaven.

It's been this type of day....

From a friend:

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?" 

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. 

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

I wish you all 'enough'!

I need my windows washed!

Oh, I am so ready to have my windows washed!! UGH! As if the cobwebs were not bad enough, now the webs hold thousands of these dead, teeny bugs that were trying to get into my house. This is just so gross, right next to my head and in my view to the river. Not sure if even wind would move this web along. The rain has not even affected this drape of insects. What I need are some of those crazy birds which like to snack on just such tasty creatures, but the birds make me wacky too when they flap around my head!

This is not a picture of the river and grey skies but rather of the webs of bugs draping my windows! The insects are attracted to the lamp on my ledge, used when at the desk at night.

See the gob of bugs just below the horizon line? Gross!

A tense situation

For over 12 hours I have been glued to the set, figuratively speaking, or listening to the radio, following the news in Boston and surrounding areas. Starting early this a.m. Kerry and I were chatting about the events which had unfolded during the night regarding the two suspects in the bombings in Boston. Kerry, and as it turned out, two of my other sisters, were up well before me and watching this play out. That's what I get for sleeping!

It seemed that once their photos were flashed around, these two guys were easily identified. In the local paper here, a man from Jax Beach, who was in the race, actually provided one of the photos used in the press conference. He said it didn't occur to him at first how strange it was for that guy to drop that bag there until after it exploded. Just a few feet from the little boy who was blown to bits...

                          

People like this, these radical Islamists, if this proves to be true, have veils over their hearts, not allowing them to feel compassion or sensitivity for others. Their judgement is clouded by the mission, to kill the infidels (believers) or is clouded by the hatred they have for mankind. One thing about this event, the bombings, and the terrible fire in Texas, is that people are once again praying, hopefully to the one True God, who is our only hope and our only refuge!

Feels like summer today!

According to the radio website, it is 82 above zero here and no apparent wind chill to speak of. The palm tree branches are scarcely moving which means no breeze. I am a bit sticky while sitting here at the desk, wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I dressed for Bible study which is held in the normally chilly sanctuary. It doesn't pay to heat/cool that area along the rear of the room just for our hour+ class. 

On the way home from Bible study, I stopped at Winn Dixie to pick up a few things. There I met a friend from the pool who has been doctoring with her eyes since the end of pool season last fall. She had a macular hole repaired, and then a cataract removed. The doctor goofed and broke her lens so another surgery was required to remove the fragment which was drifting around in her eye ball. She hated to be suffering with this, but she said so many others have worse things with which they are dealing. She is quite right!

Having the messiest part of the sundeck project completed, I have my doors open again. But, I am hearing once more the sound of air hammers at work out there. Now what??? Did they goof, I wonder? I can't see where they are working or my questions would be answered. I was just in the kitchen, preparing my dinner for tonight. Yes, I am making a nice crock pot dinner for myself!

                             

My friend, Jennifer, posted a recipe on Facebook this week which looked delicious to me, and oh, so simple. At the store I picked up the needed ingredients of chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, chopped onions, and canned biscuits. It has to cook now for 5-6 hours.  At about 30 minutes before serving time, the biscuits are cut up and added to the mixture. The biscuits become the dumplings, which I think is a marvelous idea, if they go along with it!

Last week I made dinner when Martie was here---the sausage, peppers 'n onions. I messed up by not adding more onions than what came in the prepackaged veggies I bought. Next time I will! Yesterday I borrowed from my food storage and made a small bowl of tuna salad to have on crackers for my afternoon snack. Once again I am free to eat crackers, having been on restriction since the surgery. Dr. Smith gave me a clean bill of health when I saw him for the post-op. He said he couldn't even tell anything had gone on in there. The dental assistant laughed when I asked her if the scar would show when I wore my bikini this summer....I'm sure they hear that kind of thing all the time.

Probably I say this every year but it seems too early for the manatees to be back. But, they are! Connie reported that the Canadian geese seem to be settling in as they have laid an egg out in the basin area. I am not sure how common it is to lay only a single egg but certainly she will keep an eye on things and give me a report when it hatches. That is, if the cats or other animals don't get it first. I would hate to make those geese angry....

Tomorrow I am having a celebratory lunch with my friend, JM, going to the newly reopened Saigan-Tokyo Bistro (Koko's). My mouth waters in anticipation! I haven't seen her since before Christmas and look forward to spending some time face to face again after this long absence. Seeing my friend in the store today, having had lunch a few weeks ago with Lee, and now my lunch tomorrow makes me long even more for pool season when I get to see my friends again. 

I saw my neighbor, Betty, this a.m. as I was leaving for Bible study, and she said, "Oh, I forgot about you!" It's been so long since she's seen me, since before Lent when choir started again. She is on the 2nd floor and has kept a low profile due to the renovations both on the sundeck and in her unit. She is 82 so I give her a break! Summer--come quickly please!

Those rascals!

Earlier today I was talking to my mom, explaining the situation with the concrete being poured and how I had to move my car away from where the concrete truck was being stationed. She asked me about the 2nd floor dwellers, how they were able to come and go during all this. I told her they could not, for 24 hours they were house bound or else had to stay elsewhere. Later, I found out it was only the end two units who were housebound as the concrete was poured up to their doorways. The other units would still have access to the stairs if they needed to go out. 

This afternoon, I got these photos in my e-mail, showing two rascals who simply could not bear to be housebound all day long. As Hugh wrote, they were lucky to not end up on the front page of the paper with the headline: "Two people in their mid-70's too cheap to pay for a hotel room...."

At the bottom of the ladder I see Cathy and probably the legs of Miss Chardonnay waiting for Maureen to come down with the bottle of wine. Those rascals! They would have been the first ones all over me if I tried something like this but somehow they can pull it off. They eloped when they got married as teen-agers so I guess ladders are not foreign to them! They leave soon for an extended trip to Turkey and the Mediterranean. No fear!

The next step in the project

 The concrete truck is in place and the hoses are run to pump the concrete into the recesses of the sundeck

These fellows have the job of supporting the hoses as the concrete makes it way toward the courtyard near the elevator

This is the south end of the sundeck which will be poured tomorrow. See my red car down in the parking lot? Connie is down there giving the job boss his instructions for supervising this pour

This guy had to move the tools away for the area being worked on so the project could progress

The two men standing near the elevator are supervising the concrete being poured

...and here comes the concrete!

Ignoring the TV for a bit

Over and over again I have watched the footage taken during the explosions during the running of the Boston Marathon. The words that come to me are "mindless", a mindless, heartless act. The passage from St. Paul came to mind, about having fought the good fight and finishing the race. My prayers to our Sovereign Lord are for those who are suffering injury or who have lost loved ones. 

***

The glow of last night's concert presentation remains for me, not the music alone. Judy C. was going to go with me at first but then was gone for the weekend, or part of it, with her sister-in-law. Since the performance was not at UNF, I was less excited about going to Stockton Street alone, so hitched a ride with the Douglas's. 

Two of Laurie's boys rode in the rear seat, while Joe and I rode in the middle ones. Laurie followed in her truck with two more of her boys. So thankful to have a ride, good company, and not to have to drive in the rain! Cliff pointed out the location of his childhood home, where he went to school, where Carol and he first met, and so on, which was fascinating to me. 

Andy met us there at the church, walking over from the home where Robbie and he rent. Robbie had a nice contingent of fans, including Bruce and Kristi, the only others who came from church. I saw my neighbor, Sharon, there, a few rows ahead of us. I sometimes borrow her river photos to post if I fail to capture sunrise myself.

              

Afterward, Robbie found us around a table at Cracker Barrel in OP, the whole bunch of us minus Andy, who had already eaten dinner somehow or another. The concert was at 6:00 so he must have done the Early Bird Special. I treated Robbie just because I wanted to! We had driven in rain, heard rain during the concert, and left the restaurant in rain. Ugh! The good news is leftover meatloaf, potatoes, carrots, and corn for another meal!

Saturday I had an 'at home' day, and it was perfection. Did what I wanted to do and even what I didn't want to do, which was vacuum clean my floors. I could bear it not another moment! My doors were open to allow the flow of breezes, and the inevitable invasion of the noseeums, drawn by my lights. No sooner vacuumed and the floors are littered with these dead bodies!

Friday was spent with church family working on the pictorial archives, and lunching with some at the Olive Garden. That was such a nice, nice day! As it went on, the weather changed and storms brewed including tornado watches and winds. 

***

Today after Bible study and lunch, I went to get gas (my light came on when I was driving up Wells Road!!!!!) and then picked up my completed tax return. It was on my way to the Signet center where I was having my mammogram done. They just tear me up there----make sure you are there at least 15 minutes ahead of time do to the paperwork, etc. Hurry up, hurry up, and wait. 

My appointment was for 1:40 pm and it was after 2:00 before I was seen. At 2:45 I was at last on my way home. Glad to have that taken care of for another year. Tomorrow is the post-op appointment and I am done until the end of the month for my beauty mark removal. No more doctor visits for a while then, okay?

A glorious evening

The verse sung at the conclusion of tonight's UNF concert went like this:

Mercifully grant us peace,

Lord God, in our time.

There is no other

that could defend us 

but you, our God, alone!

The stained glass window in the rear of the sanctuary at the Church of the Good Shepherd where Robbie's concert was held. The boys were so well behaved---I believe they were the only little ones present for this event---and I was wildly impressed by them. And the music was "like paradise in heaven", as Wesley stated.

After the concert, Robbie carried Wesley on his shoulders as they all climbed the stairs to the balcony to get the birds' eye view of the place. Uncle Andy was there, too, but didn't get into the shot. Love these guys---(l. to r.) William, Douglas, Brant, Robbie, and Wesley

Living in the past

This morning there was a segment on Fox and Friends about earworms and how they show up on brain scans. In chatting with Linda this a.m., when posed with the question of where does music transport one, I recalled the first time Justin and I heard "Con Te Partiro" on a cruise. It's English name is "Time to Say Good-Bye".

                      

In 2004, as our ship left port, a late afternoon departure rather than the usual evening, this most amazing song played over the sound system. I was up on deck, watching the ancient ruins of Dubrovnik slowly go by as the ship was towed from port. Justin had gone below deck to watch something on his portable DVD player he'd brought along. Oh, how I wished he could hear this....And as I wished it, the doors slid open and there came Justin, rushing to my side, asking, "Mom, can you hear this song???" Justin and I stood there, watching the scenery and listening to this lilting melody, a fond memory for me.

We were both so moved by it, and at the dinner table that night, we asked if anyone knew who the singer was. We were told this song is played every night when we left port, only we were in the dining room at that time, and never heard it. Our tablemates told us it was Sarah Brightman and they had her albums, etc. Once we got back home, I went to Wal*Mart to look for this angel's CDs and bought one. 

When Justin got home from work, after texting me twice during the day about it, he asked me where was the CD . Since I was up in the office, I called down to him that the CD was in Grandma's room, now being used as my scrapbook room. I went down after a few minutes to listen with him, and I couldn't find him. Finally, the closet door opened, him in there with the boom box, listening to the song and sobbing his heart out. As best he could express himself between the sobs, he said, "It reminds me of our trip..." and we cried together. I love that about him, and that we share this fond memory of our first cruise together---just the two of us---nice and relaxing, liberating, peaceful, and moving!

Justin was able at one time to sing along using the Italian words, and he told me once that if we went again, I should be in a contest on the ship to see who sounded the most like Sarah Brightman. Not so sure about that but I thank him for the compliment. 

Come back with us to Dubrovnik: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr5fmZKNLaQ

A day in the archives

This morning a nice group of ladies got together at church to work on our project of preserving the congregation's pictorial archives. The goal originally was to get the old photos out of the sticky or magnetic paged albums onto archival-safe papers for the sake of posterity. That mission was accomplished as the last of the albums was finished up. 

About half the ladies had left already when Judy C. and I packed the stuffed away, consolidating into one plastic bin. As I moved stuffed around to get it  into the bin, I found a Creative Memories box of photos which had been set aside to be mounted. Oh nuts! The primary goal was met but now the secondary one must go on at least one more session.

Judy suggested we put the completed albums out for display the next few Sundays for folks to page through them. Some will see these photos for the first time, and for others, it will be trip down memory lane! The groundbreaking for the WEF unit where they originally worshipped, the building of the present day sanctuary, other projects requiring hammers, nails, and concrete pours, parties, LWMS events, and the list goes on.

Carol's mom was so good about keeping such records and much of her journaling remains in the albums, transferred from the old to the new. God bless good note taking! Today we shared our fond remembrances of the fine times we had with Shirley, the lady who told me once, "I love to clean the Lord's house..." Hopefully I never forget that!

                                        

After we finished the tidying up, we remaining three ladies went to have lunch at the Olive Garden. Judy and I hadn't been there since the time we went after church with Amber and her granddaughter and had rotten service. This time it was excellent service and great food. We all tried the new menu offering of calzones, which came with the house salad and bread sticks. As the waitress boxed up half my lunch, she also packed up the breadsticks for me to take along home. Nice! 

It was another wonderful day tripping down memory lane and making new memories with the church ladies!

Leaping for Joy!

As best I can as a little fat lady, I am leaping for joy after hearing from my endodontist yesterday afternoon. He called me himself to report the finding of the biopsy, the good news that it was benign, saying: "it's all good". Normally that expression makes me cringe but not yesterday. It took less than a week for the results to come through, including mailing the sample to the lab at UF. He anticipated it taking up to 3 weeks but told he pulled some strings because he knew I was concerned about the results. Yes, once more, I got the VIP treatment! 

As soon as I heard about it, I sent a text message to Justin and then called my mom. She too was glad to hear the good news, appreciating my letting her know as quickly as possible. Mom asked me if said 'thank you' to God and I assured her I was, plus said "thanks be to God" to the doctor as well. I also thanked him for calling me with this good news. Next week I must go in for a follow-up to the surgery and get the all-clear to resume normal activity (I say, why start "normal" now???) and then that's it for me. Praise be to God! 

At this writing I have 'heard' from over 100 folks via Facebook either in the form of a comment or simply a LIKE clicked under my status update reporting this good news. Even heard from Mexico City, from Rafa, my friend from the cruise in 2006. Love it! My sister, Kerry, thanked everyone who clicked in as she was impressed and awed by the response, most of whom commented thanking the Lord for this great news. I even got a lunch invitation out of it!

As I told my friend at choir last night, I am not liking seeing so many things on my calendar with the abbreviation "Dr." in front of them. Next up, after seeing my family doctor for the 50,000 mile check-up this past Tuesday is a mammogram this coming Monday, the post-op check at Dr. Smith's office, and at the end of the month, back to the family doctor to have some skin tags (beauty marks!) removed. She is also a dermatologist and always has her eyes on my tags. I surrendered to having them removed, she said it only takes a minute. BUT, I understand, they are examined under the microscope too, as a regular precaution. Hopefully I won't be all stressed out over that!

I hate to be a grinder...

...and am glad I am not a grinder! Those poor fellows out there attempting to smooth the rough edges of the concrete must be miserable. We got a late afternoon memo from the project manager indicating the preliminary work they are doing now should be wrapped up by the end of the week, so less noise will be experienced. And much less noise appreciated!

In speaking with the remodeler who is at work above me, they are in the final phases of the job. He informed me (gulp!) that the water has been turned back on for some time already. I would like to have known this, I guess, which means I missed a few weeks of hand-wringing! He is going to come down here on Thursday to check out the drain in my bathroom sink as it has been running slowly. AJ says he has all kinds of fun things to use to open the drain, short of taking the pipes apart, I pray!

                                         

Last night I was chatting with Linda via Facebook during The Five, as is our custom, and she told me how Tommy had an egg salad sandwich before leaving the hospital that afternoon. He had shoulder surgery in the morning and was allowed to go home around noon. Amazing! But, anyway, the sandwich sounded so good to me that I decided that I would make some egg salad for myself.

I grabbed a carton of eggs from the shelf, one of two, and cooked six eggs to start with. In addition to making egg salad I decided to mix up a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from a package purchased bo/go at Publix. It called for an egg so I grabbed one from the 2nd carton, and put the remaining three into the kettle with the others. Those new three floated on the top of the water, which can't be good. I checked the expiration date on that carton and sure enough, these eggs were from November!!! Using a spoon, I pulled them back out and put all four eggs down the disposal. That was close!

Next, to make the cookies, I needed a stick of soft butter which I did not have, so I took one out to soften. The recipe said not to melt it so I let nature take its course. The cookies would have to wait. I did place the plate with the butter on on the stove not too close to the kettle cooking the eggs, which is not nature taking its course. I like to give nature a hand!

Eventually I did make my egg salad and baked my cookies, both of which turned out great. In the meanwhile, I had planned to make sausage with onions and peppers for Justin's and my dinner. Since he called in sick (quite pathetic on the phone!) and rescheduled for Thursday, I made a bag of cauliflower and added cheese sauce to it. Yum! That was my dinner, followed by two fresh baked cookies for dessert. 

I will have the egg salad this morning for my breakfast, plus a cookie. There is really no problem with having a cookie for breakfast as it contains many of the usual breakfast ingredients in a different shape. A breakfast bar is rectangular, while my breakfast cookie is a perfectly shaped round, and much smaller than a breakfast bar. Washed down with some V8 Fusion and we will call it a meal!