A day spent together

My boy has off from work today and we are going to spend it together. In fact, we have already begun doing so. This morning, late morning, we went to Saigon-Tokyo (Koko's) for lunch. It had been raining all morning long, sometimes heavier than others, but we decided to not let it allay us. My teeth are just fine, no residual discomfort or anything from the work done yesterday so off we went to lunch. 

They are always happy to see us come in, and give us royal treatment. The chef we had today sliced the chicken nice and thin so it was quite tender. Oh my, so delicious! I like these slices better than the chunks of chicken, and told them this. AJ was our waitress and took good care of us. 

From Koko's we stopped in at Great Hang Ups and had a nice visit with Julia for a bit. She is hosting a show which opens on Sunday and she would like me to be hostess for it. I am going to see what the weather forecast is, because if it's nice, I will be at the pool. While I love being hostess, I can do the same thing at the pool!

Justin and I needed a few things from Publix and you can just imagine what our cart looked like on the way out. Granted, we did buy two 20 packs of Diet Coke which take up space. I got the things I need for events at church this week, including the preschool open house Thursday evening. Justin bought mini-muffin pans to make some for me if he has time before now and then. 

                                

Once we got home and carried the groceries up, Justin and I put everything away. We bought some coffee cake, buy one/get one, and he wondered if I wanted them left out of the fridge. I said I did and he remarked, "...but you don't like that..." I know I don't, but for now, they can stay on the counter. I have issues about having stuff out on the counter, like my new rice steamer which Nancy W. picked up for me at Ross!!!

This evening we are going over to The Club for trivia and dinner. I will order from the tapas menu but Justin is dining from the mini-buffet. I didn't think I would like the chicken but do like my sliders. Perhaps I will get my favorite onion strings, if the kitchen is not too busy to special make them for me....

Such nice ladies

I just came in from the pool, dressed out for swimming but never getting near the water. The exercise class was just finishing up (I told the ladies I lived in a different time zone!) and I had only come out to chat. 

No one was staying for lunch today, which is good as the weather is threatening. Not only a threat, as it is presently raining. Tomorrow more of the ladies will be able to stay, but today many had errands, etc. The dining room/kitchen does not actually open until 11:30 so it takes a long time for our meals to come out once Marlena gets them entered in the computer inside. 

                                

Some did sit around to drip dry before heading for home, most of them having to drive to get to class. We talked about what we are doing today and I mentioned my dental work. Several of the ladies offered to either go with me or take me home, and Maggie even offered to bring me soup from Panera Bread. Lynn insisted I take her phone number so in case I can't drive, she can come and get me. Aren't they just the nicest bunch? Now they have me nervous!

"Do you want to talk about something?"

"Let's talk about how things are made..." I wonder if my friend, Lee's, sons ever said such a thing to her when they were little. While sitting poolside the other day, some of us were talking about the funny things kids come out with. Two of those with me are teachers so they hear it all---often far more than they wish.

Lee has two sons, one who is quiet and keeps to himself, and one more talkative, but mainly only about the things which interest him. When my turn came, I shared the stories of Justin and his talking skills, including testing positive for 'verbal overflow' when being evaluated at St. Johns. My friends found it hard to believe that he was talker...yeah, right!

When we lived in Waterford Landing, Justin had a little friend who lived across the street, named Kyle. He was younger than Justin but they got along nicely. One day he told his grandma and me that he was going over to play with Kyle. After a while he came back, which surprised us. I asked where Kyle was and he answered, "Oh, he wasn't home." "Where were you so long then?" "His mom was in the garage and I talked with her. She can carry on a good conversation!" Mom and I lost it...Oh that guy!

One of my favorite stories of Justin and his talking include my sister, Lynn, who was riding in the backseat with him. I cannot remember where we were going but it seems like a longer car ride. They were quiet back there, Justin about 7 years old, I think, when he asked Lynn, "Do you want to talk about something?" "Sure---what should we talk about?" Justin suggested, "How about how things are made?", excitedly. Wow, now there's a topic for you!! His dad, Lynn, and I were chuckling a little bit, and Justin, still pondering said, "How about wood?" The idea of this still makes me laugh, but I cannot remember what Lynn and he came up with, but I am sure it was fascinating! And now there is TV show dedicated to "How Things Are Made". He was just ahead of his time...

Moving into the present, the other day as we drove home from Victory/lunch, I told Justin that I probably had to get a different car. It was time. Immediately he pulled out the phone to start searching for the perfect car for me. He knows pretty much what I like in a car (champagne taste/beer budget) but he also aims higher. I told him I wanted something around $20 thousand or less. With a deep sigh, he said, "Okay, grandmaw...." meaning I was being quite unrealistic, living in the past as far as car pricing goes. He asked me if I really wanted crank windows and no power steering. I know he was being dramatic and sarcastic. But he also made me laugh in the process of his mocking me. My sister got a nice car not long ago with lots of bells and whistles but at a decent price. 

                                     

A funny story about that now---when I was in Manty this summer, Kerry took Jill and I to Wal*Mart  in her new car. Still had that new car smell and all that. Nice! I rode in the front seat, but oddly enough, the head rest tipped way forward, causing my chin to be buried in my chest. That is a good way to shut me up! No matter what we tried, the three of us could not figure out how to tip that headrest up, the way the driver's side was set. It sure provided us a good deal of laughter in the process. I wonder if she ever got it figured out or if her passengers simply sit in the backseat in a full and upright position...

Let's try football again

Today is my sister, Lynn's, birthday. My mother now has a daughter aged 65. I can't believe it either. I remember when 65 used to be considered 'old'. When my friends who are older than I am can run circles around me, I am the old one, it seems. I called Mom a bit ago but she had to go because one of my other sisters and she were taking Lynn to dinner (actually a late lunch, if you ask me!) around 5:00 pm. Of course, "Seinfeld" springs to mind...

At church this a.m., Justin took advantage of the opportunity to sit in with the fellow running the MIDI, as he is scheduled for re-training on the last Sunday of the month. He won't be there that week due to a Jaguar home game taking place. The liturgy was played by Sterling on the piano so only the psalm and hymns were played via the MIDI. He had done this job in the past, before college and I am sure he will be a quick study for getting back on track again. To say I am pleased about this, taking place outside of my knowledge or influence, is an understatement, but I am staying very low-key about it, so as not to scare him off.

This photo is of my refrigerator door (yes, a magnet on my fridge door!!!) and a pretty picture made by Jacob, one of the young men who stayed with me this summer. He made it for me during VBS and dresses up my door nicely.

We had a larger group of us at lunch today, totaling 10. Justin had gotten away from the parking lot sooner than many of us, so reserved our table for us. Last week we were treated with a free dessert for the table as a 'thank you' for making the manager on duty laugh. I guess something had happened the previous visit when I was at Victory, when Mike S. got Diet Coke poured into his tea or something, and made a joke of it. Being good natured about a simple mistake goes a long way, including getting a free dessert!

                

On Fox and Friends this a.m. they had several segments featuring National Cheeseburger Day. My mouth was watering for a burger, so I did order the Big Mouth Burgers on my triple dipper entree, plus my potato skins and chicken crispers. Justin had a Smokehouse Burger. We are all about it!

When we got home, Justin found the Packer game on-line, via a program he is able to access after buying a video game. It is called Sunday Ticket or something like that, so I got to see a few plays which nearly persuaded me to stay in from the pool to watch. Knowing I can watch it later on, the game in entirety in 30 minutes, allowed me to go play with my friends. 

The days of poolside fun are limited, as it's going to be over far too soon. We had rain overnight which allowed for the water to cool even more. Nuts! The thunder storm during the night nearly shook me from my bed with the first ferocious crack. It made my lanterns rattle!! After I got used to it, back to sleep I went. 

The Packers played a marvelous game and won handily in celebration of Lynn's birthday. I hope the Jaguars will do the same thing for her birthday, but from what I see right now, this will NOT be their best showing. Hopefully something amazing happens during this halftime break and the coach can rally his men to at least execute if not win. 

This team really makes one work hard to be a fan, but I do know people can hang in behind a non-winning team, like baseball teams. I can do it, and I shall, until I can no longer!!! (How is that for a declaration of confidence???)

A great treasure!

The other day at the pool, my friend, Pat, mentioned a yard sale was going to take place on Fleming Island. It was a multi-family deal, one of the more well-known names in the area, where the families all live on the same property. She was thinking there would be the place for me to find the headboard for Justin's bed.

Nancy W. suggested we go together, as she has been in the antique business in the past and enjoys looking. She picked me up at 10:00 a.m. with plans for us to look for the headboard, have some lunch, and visit Dee and Julia. She has a big vehicle which would allow for a purchase of that size to fit in. 

Well, we rode up and down the street where the sale was to have taken place but did not find it. No signs, no cars, no people carrying things, nothing. Nuts! Did we have bad information or were we just looking in the wrong place? Nancy said, "Well, it's still too early for lunch...How about we drive to this place I know in Green Cove that has furniture?" Sure, why not?

I have seen this boat consignment place every time I drive this route, but never paid attention to the other store before. It proved to be a treasure-trove of wonderful things, perfect for those in the market for such. 

                    

Nancy knew the proprietor from her auction/antiquing days. It turned out he was good friends with my former neighbor, Billy, and shared some wonderful stories from the old days. Nancy and he had a mutual friend who had passed away the night before, so they shared that memory together.  

My phone battery had died, because I had neglected to charge the phone overnight, so I was not able to take a picture of the headboard he had. Nancy took a picture and tried to send it via e-mail to him, but somehow, Justin was not getting the pictures. Nuts! The man told us about his new store opening on the property next door and he showed us how to get over there. 

Nancy knew this man's wife, too, and we sure did like their new, spacious showroom. Wow, what treasures and excellent prices! Instead of finding a headboard for Justin, I found those gorgeous drapery tie-backs, which they'd had hanging in a door way to the 'boutique' section of the shop. I had big ideas to hang them in my bedroom window to catch the light.

To celebrate our fun time, Nancy and I went over to Great Hangs to show off my gaudy adornments before lunch.  We found both ladies in the shop, but Dee could not join us for lunch as she had to get back to feed her hubby. She did come in for a few minutes to chat with us, which was nice. The waitress, AJ, whom we knew when it was Koko's, was able to plug in my phone for me, got me charged up while I ate. Full service restaurant!!

Nancy and I enjoyed our lunches, with leftovers coming home with me. She dropped me at my door, so I could come upstairs to get changed. She had changed quickly when we stopped to see her dad's home where she lived. We agreed to meet at the pool on this lovely, hot day.

For several hours we enjoyed the pool and the cooler water with several of our friends. It seems we all arrived around the same time, like a plan was made. My newer friends, Nancy and Bill, who moved in down the street, were enjoying the pool until he had to go back home to work. Nancy starts her new job on Monday so this weekend is her last-blast on weekdays. I shared GroupOn information with her as she wants to have her air vents cleaned. "I'm Dutch! I can't stand the dust!" I wonder sometimes if I am Dutch...

Fried chicken anyone?

This morning was Bible study at Victory, with hardly any traffic of which to speak. This made it easy for me to drive and talk with Mom on the ride over. Justin had picked up my bottle of Diet Coke for Bible study the night before so I didn't have to take time to stop on the way to Victory. Mom was planning her day, the highlight of which would be Ladies' Aid. They meet in the daytime as most of the attendees are elderly. It is a nice outing for her, and for them all.

Normally before our class begins we sit around the tables taking care of the service folders and doing the inserts. Today, all the work was completed before we arrived, as Cary had come in yesterday and took care of it. Rita brought in two types of cookies she'd made: Key Lime and S'Mores. I had two of the S'Mores and found them wonderful both times. Lucy brought a box of Dunkin Donuts to share, so all were well fed.

In a couple weeks we will wrap up our study of repentance, using the booklets titled "Good News". Some have requested moving away from these and into a book of the Bible for a change. We have used the booklets for several years now so it will be interesting to move into something else. 

                              

Our first study, Isaiah, seems daunting in itself. Pastor feels as though we can zoom right through it, but the way this class likes to discuss, we might stretch it out a bit. I have ordered the two-part commentary books for Marilyn, Judy, and myself. To thank me for ordering the books, Judy brought me two crocheted hot pads and a dishcloth. Very nice!

From Bible study I headed straight to The Club where I found my friends sitting in the garden room. Those who came in from the pool were in their cover-ups and could partake in the buffet, just not in the dining room. I sat with them while waiting for the arrival of Jacquie. She was delayed due to her nail appointment taking longer than expected. I watched the other ladies while they ate, and cheered them on.

                                          

They stayed until Jacquie came, not wishing to leave me sitting alone, but really, I would have been just fine. They are gems! Oh, that chicken looked so very good, my mouth was watering. Jacquie and I were seated in the dining room, since we were fully clothed, after I bid farewell to the other ladies. 

We visited the buffet where I stepped outside my norm and had a bowl of mushroom soup, since everyone was raving about it. It was good! With the fried chicken was served homemade mashed potatoes and greens, with large carrot chunks in it. I don't mind the carrots. Our meals were delicious!

From The Club, Jacquie and I went over to the pool, with me stopping upstairs to change into my suit. Nancy and Bill were out there, and Bob. Jacquie didn't put on her swimsuit so we sat and visited before she had to leave. Her friend was coming over for wine and appetizers after work so she had some preparations to take care of before her neighbor arrived. We are such busy folks sometimes!

Bill had a funny story, explaining why he was able to be at the pool during the workday. Since he works from home, electricity is valuable. However, a squirrel evidently chewed through a wire on the outside of their home, and poof!, no power. 

JEA said it would take about four hours for them to be restored, so off to the pool they go. The poor squirrel was fried, not quite crispy, but definitely jarred. He went off to die somewhere, but Bill didn't see how far he got from the house. Their dogs might know...