Oh, goody! I just got a job!

Nah, it's not what you are thinking---it hasn't come to that yet! Although, one day at church when talking with Cliff, I told him that I gotten a job. He said, "Oh, Kim, I didn't think you were looking for work", sort of sadly, until I declared I was going to be an aerobics instructor!!!! Whew, that was close!

*

This job is one I asked for, however: I am going to be a bag stuffer for Travis' campaign! On the same order as the bags I do up for church to give the first-time visitors. My dining room table is now dressed in every sized boxes containing labels, bags, pens, emory boards, note cards, and so on to stuff into the bags. Since I am not about to run the streets shaking hands and knocking on doors, I'll do my work behind the scenes, thank you very much!

*

This morning was water aerobics, led by an instructor who has a shape very similar to mine--hmmm. Makes me wonder if its worth getting up early and freezing....oh, of course it is! It's about cardiac and muscle fitness, not weight loss. Today we worked with styrofoam weights and noodles, what a hoot! Dave the Doorman described us as "eye candy" and I said it must have been a lloonngg time since he's had candy!!!! That man should not be allowed to drive if his vision is so skewed!

*

Dave showed me where to find the loppers so I can trim the dead branches from the lemon tree, much easier to do now that new growth has appeared. He said the tools are mine anyway since the Association owns them so I can just help myself anytime I'm ready. He's offered to help me re-pot the tree if I decide to do that, another option suggested by Fausto if it doesn't come around. I love living here in The Palace! Everyone is so nice to me!

*

Last night our group started out on the sundeck but it quickly became the rain deck so we were invited into Hugh and Maureen's unit to enjoy their river room. Oh, my, what a lovely home they have! It could appear in Cottage Magazine, looks quite Cape Cod-ish, complete with beamed ceilings and nautical accoutrements.

*

They demonstated their newly installed hurricane shutters, explaining they use them daily, or rather, nightly, to make the rooms totally dark, as well as holding the morning heat and light out. I don't get keeping the light out but can see where they'd like it cooler in those rooms. They have exposure on two sides since they are on a corner. It seems to me that Joanne showed this unit to Justin and me when it was available, but I prefer my floor plan to that one. This suits me just fine!

*

While enjoying the company of my neighbors, conversation turned to colonoscopies and such. With Tony Snow dying over the weekend, it was a natural discussion. To lighten the moment, Tracy said that whenever someone has something dreadful to report in their househould, they will preface it with "guardez-l'eau" which is what medieval folks would shout prior to throwing the contents of their chamber pots out the windows........quite the picture, isn't it? That is from where the Brits got the word "loo" when describing the bathroom. So, there you go!

*

Patty, who lives on the other end of our promenade, said she tried to call me Saturday to report spotting two roseate spoonbills out on the breakwater. She said she took a picture but isn't sure how it turned out. Joanne would have been beside herself if she saw those birds out there, since she knows them all by name. I really miss her and wish she'd get finished with what she's doing in MI and get back here! She might have to move back in for a bit when she does come back since she had to give up her rental house. Seems her landlord neglected to pay his mortgage payments......at least she got her stuff out before the sheriff locked it up!!!

*

I got together later in the evening with Jessica to plan some social events for the coming months. We're pretty well planned through February, and hopefully, these aren't the best laid plans.............Travis was out knocking on doors but came home just as I was about to leave. Jessica, being quite the spirit of the kitchen, whipped up a caprese salad for me sans tomatoes, which I enjoyed before heading down to my house. Yummmmmmy! Love that mozzarella and balsamic vinegar!

*

The Rosses are down in Orlando enjoying some family time while Rick is training software users. When he's not in the classroom, they get to go play at the parks and at the hotel. They'll be nice and brown when I see them again, expecting them home on Thursday. I had to pass, again, on the invitation to join them for some or all of the fun. Having them gone makes for fewer dinner or lunch invites so I've been keeping pretty close to home this week. I spent a whole lotta money today without even leaving my place, with my quarterly tax deposit AND last roof assessment due on the same day!!!!! Could you hear me howling???

*

Tonight is "People Close to God" class, first one in a couple weeks...I hope I remember where we were. Last week we met here instead to watch a video about evangelism and eat pizza. Love having the group here, no matter the reason.

Another weekend come and gone

Not like there's much difference between week days and the end of the week, except for worship taking place to start it off. Technically speaking, Friday and Saturday would constitute the "weekend" since Sunday is the beginning. Or, who says a weekend is comprised of two days and is not Saturday only? Why do I care? I wonder if this topic is ever kicked around on "Seinfeld"....it easily could have been! What's happening to me??

I've noticed tons of bee-like creatures hanging on the seedy branches of the palm tree outside my window. I think berries form at some point with the bees perhaps doing their share of the work. I wish birds would come to devour the bees because they bother me being so close to my window. When I came home from church yesterday, there was a mystery stain on the carpet in my bedroom. It does not appear to be cat urine but more like spit up. I am sad it's in my bedroom right where I walk but rejoice that she spared the turkish carpets from her annointing. My regular carpet cleaning guy gave me a bottle of patented spot cleaner made by his father which I've placed on the stain. I guess I'll have to actually get down there to scrub at it--ugh! Tell me again why we HAD to have pets?!?!?!?

Mike C. did a fabulous job conducting worship yesterday, with Robbie being called upon to play the entire service on the piano and organ due to a problem with the MIDI. We are so blessed to have him there, able to step in to rescue us in a pinch. Following worship I went out to Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription and a few other items (of course!) and then went home to get down to the pool. As expected, I was the only one of our group of ladies to show up. One lady is traveling Out West with her mom and sister; one has her elderly parent staying for a couple weeks and mom can't take the heat; one lady is at her boyfriends' farm in Live Oak; and Sharon didn't come. I enjoyed myself regardless, swam a bit, ate my hot dog, and was not chased in by a rainstorm!

*

Since Justin had a flat tire on his car due to his little mishap Saturday, I had to pick him up for the debutante event. I had to go to the door to get Justin, since he was shaving and didn't feel his phone vibrating in his cargo pants. Both Jesse and Ron were sitting in the darkened living room, each with a laptop in front of them, watching "Family Guy" on TV. When I rang the doorbell, Jesse just yelled to come in. Justin's tire had gone flat so the guys put the spare one on and still had it on the jack, apparently because it's easier on the spare to not have it on the ground until absolutely necessary. Whatever.

The party at OPCC was quite nice. Justin was pleased to see so many of his classmates there, boys included, so he wasn't stuck "talking about purses" with the girls. Certainly they discuss other things than purses, don't they? The guy playing keyboard with the trio was the same one who used to play at Buzzy's when we'd go for the wine tasting and appetizer Thursdays back in the day....which was a Thursday. He remembered us. The father of two of the debs is the same man who delivered Timmy, and Justin's been in school with his daughter since pre-k. Rick and I had a nice chat before all the festivities got underway, and he had to be "Host" for the big event.

The Hilchey's arrived a short while after we did, and later Olivia told us why they were "late". It seems that the ladies hadn't finished their shopping on Saturday when we left them at Kingsley Lake, so had to go back out Sunday to find outfits to wear that evening!!!! Brings back memories of running to the store just before a big meeting or event to buy dress shirts, pulling out the pins and smoothing the front enough so the wrinkles wouldn't show. Not my shirt, I usually wore my same old, same old outfits. Even Owen had a new shirt on, since he had been told nothing he owned was right for the "resort casual" look we needed to sport. I wore a top from my closet which looks like a sheer poncho over a tank (shown on my home page, having a drink with Judy R.), and a pair of new denim capris. Justin wore khaki-colored cargoes and a blue plaid shirt---not over done and not too casual.

*

The food was good, the entertainment good (but a bit hard to talk over the top of) and the company fantastic! I felt badly for Justin because he was sitting in a poor place with the music coming in from the right, his good ear, with the family and conversation on his left. He and I should have changed seats.

*

After leaving the party, we stopped at the Publix where Robbie was working and we got to see him for a bit. I'd told Justin how Robbie rescued our liturgy and hymns today. Justin got a few items he needed as did I, but my stuff all fit into one bag!

*

Saturday evening I'd made a cherry pie from scratch, except for the crust, of course, using some of my frozen Door County cherries. I didn't have any Ritz crackers to crush up with the fruit so used oyster crackers instead. I used only the ones that hadn't dumped all over the kitchen floor and counter when the bag broke open...........mumble, mumble......After getting home last night, I thought I'd try a piece of that pie-----yech! It was so incredibly dry, almost zero flavor at all. Evidently the crackers were too many and soaked up all the taste from the fruit. What a waste of good cherries! I dumped the whole works down the garbage disposal. I am so disappointed to have wasted my good cherries by overdosing on oyster crackers!!!!

*

I should just stick to making cherry crunch and be done with it. Speaking of which, I forgot to mention the lengthy conversation I had a couple days ago with my nephew, Tommy, who serves in the Army. His mom, Judy, died from cancer on Christmas Eve 2002. The last time I spoke with Tommy was after the Alaska cruise last year after he'd checked his e-mail and saw that his grandmother had died. Since that point I had a phone number for him and he called to give me his new one in Kansas, where he's stationed. Tommy asked me if I had a recipe for hamburger corn pone which I did. He was hungry for it but couldn't remember how it was made and all that. The funny thing was--I knew right where to find my recipe box, so unexpected! He's planning to get married again, this time to a woman with two children but has no date in mind. I asked how long he'd known her and when he said, "three months or so", I 'suggested' he wait a year before getting married. No sense rushing into things, especially when there are children involved.

*

Justin's car is currently in the shop being worked on, with hopes of the repairs to be around $50 or so. I doubt that but this is what he is thinking. There has to be reason the tire went flat, unless it came loose from the rim or something, but nothing is ever fixed for $50 or less at the repair shop! He send a text message reporting that he didn't go to work today but don't know why he's not saying much to me about the car. He was still quite "nervous" last night yet, his stomach behaving badly and such. I hope that's not what kept him from working today, he can't really afford to be.

*

Tonight I am meeting with Jessica from upstairs to discuss some plans for social activities (I am NOT the Fellowship lady!!!) for the condo group. We are going to put together a schedule of events and activities for the next few months, which I'll publish in the newsletter. As far as newsletters go, I ran out of envelopes for the Outreach newsletter for church so will have to venture out for some plus stamps before the heavens open again today. I might go 'postal' without them!!!

That was such a stupid thing to ask!!!!

"How much more can I take?" How stupid! Never mind, I take it back. That is the worst question to ever ask, whether it's rhetorical or not. The question should be instead, "How many more times will God watch over His people?", with the answer already known---until He takes us home to Himself in heaven! And then the answer is "eternity!". Justin's narrowly avoiding disaster yesterday is merely a reminder of how quickly our lives can change, whether good or bad, often outside our control.

*

The Saturday a couple weeks ago when Justin and I spent the day shopping, we drove down Blanding, bumper to bumper, of course, in the blazing heat. We saw a man walking along the side of the road, with his shirt wrapped around his neck, mopping his face periodically with the sleeve. Justin made the comment he often wished he had bottles of water in the car with him when seeing folks stranded on the side of the road, to offer while they wait for help, particularly if they have kids with them. Oh, my heart! I don't believe he was simply saying that because it would warm my heart, it was pretty spontaneous. Oh, I remember now: we saw someone's car window open and the passenger handed a cup with a straw to the man. That's what started the conversation, the witness of a moment!

*

Friday morning I experienced my first facial treatment and I loved it!

Sharon asked me a few questions before we began, things about skin care, allergies, and such problem areas as chin whiskers and stray eyebrows. Oh yes, it's an age thing, nothing to be ashamed about. As I got into my terry cloth beach cover thing, Sharon told me that some people like to lie quietly during the procedure/treatment while some like to chat, it was up to me. I said I was a talker and she said she figured that about me.......

*

Since I'd never had one before, I expected that I'd sit with my face in the basin with steam saturating my face, but not so! Sharon has a steam thing that stood alongside the table as a wand, making the air moist around my face. She used scrubs, masks, lotions, massaged my neck and shoulders---ah! She also removed my stray hairs by the roots, which I survived nicely. We came up with a possible cause of the "pimples" on my forehead and along my hair line, something which I hadn't considered being the problem---it's possible my hair gel stuff is causing the skin reaction. My astringent, used by teens for acne, is not the right thing for this reaction, as it has alcohol in it, causing the skin to dry and prompting the glands to send some oil to the rescue.......etc. Oops, who knew??? This is what we pay the big money for---wisdom!

*

And I thought, when this problem first began, it came from sleeping in Dusty's bed last April when I stayed with my sister in Holmen. Thought I picked up some adolescent malady through his pillow, when it was my own goop causing it. Probably going into the pool and getting my hair wet and then having the wetness run over my face from my head down.....of course, just our guess, but a reasonable one, I must say. Sharon says, though, this is not acne, they are not zits and didn't need to be treated as such. That's good, I suppose.

*

On my way over to the salon I was telling Justin I hoped Sharon had the "Hickey Off Pimple Pads with Plastic Filler" I'd heard so much about on the old Cheech and Chung Big Bambu album. On someone else that may have been wasted but Justin's heard us talk about this before. It's funny how many references from that album are still used in conversation today, like the current "Seinfeld" catch-phrases. My sister, Lori, is still "Ella" every now and again because of the Sister Mary Elle Phant routine. Not that Lori's an elephant, but she is a sister....it goes, believe me, it goes. We'd seldom sign paperwork or documents for our business without thinking or actually saying, "Sign zee papers, old man (lady), sign zee papers!" Even my neighbor, Billy, said that to his wife one night at a condo meeting! How we laughed, having that memory, from about 1972, in common. Ellen had to sit between us to break it up!!!!!

*

Sharon had no Hickey Off pimple pads but some funky mud mask and cool patch things to put on my eyes to reduce morning puffiness. Excuse me, but I didn't even know I had puffy eyes in the morning........

I don't know how much more I can take!

Justin arrived to collect me a bit early but we headed off to Middleburg anyway. Being ahead of schedule, Justin went into Winn Dixie to buy some Tylenol plus bought me a case of Diet Coke. Mmmm! We took our seats in the restaurant, a larger booth to accommodate our group. To make it simpler, he and I took the inside seats, bouncing and dragging ourselves along the waterbed-style bench. Whew! I was nearly motion sick from all the maneuvering. When our group arrived, they were minus one person thereby making this large a booth unnecessary. Oh well, we were in to stay! Speaking of booths, we saw Timmy's teacher from St. Johns in the restaurant, Mrs. Booth, and got to exchange some hugs.

*

My sandwich didn't taste too good, should have known better than to order a prime rib philly, I am never pleased with them. The others enjoyed their food just fine and I like the company so it was perfect! Off we went to the foot repair shop while the Hilcheys went to Kingsley Lake to their store. We made plans to meet them there afterward. Lisa was just about to eat her lunch so she got Justin's feet soaking in the foot bath while she enjoyed her Big Mac. He turned on the massage feature on the chair and reveled in the moment. Lisa got his rough feet smoothed off nicely and away we went to meet the Hilcheys.

*

It was raining, both while we were in the restaurant and at the foot place but we drove out anyway. Owen gave us the tour of his remodeled gas station/restaurant soon to re-open and then we headed back to Orange Park. Then it really started to pour. Justin was the driver today and I had to trust him to handle this ride safely. We made it back to Great Hang Ups and were thoroughly soaked going from the car to the store. Talk about chilly and wet! We picked out three handmade coffee mugs to give to the debs tomorrow, to which we'll be adding a Starbucks card. Good thing I asked Sandi what the protocol was for these parties, or we'd have shown up sans gifts!

*

Justin's friend called to report that he needed a ride home from the car dealer so he dropped me off at home and headed to get Ron. But wait!!!!!!!! My case of soda was still in the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He turned around and brought it back for me---whew, that was a close one.

*

I confess I was not only a little concerned about Justin driving home in that pouring rain but we had made it safely back from Kingsley Lake and so forth. Right around 5:00 p.m. my phone rang. It was Justin on the other end, asking me what I was doing. I told him I wasn't doing anything, which was absolutely true. He then said, "Well, let me first tell you that I am fine and my car is pretty much fine......" What???? Why are you telling me how fine you are?

*

It seems he had a sort of mishap after dropping me off. Again, he assured me he was fine (it might have been my sobs which prompted his mentioning it again). I regrouped and allowed him to explain what happened. Apparently he hydroplaned on I-95 between Phillips Hwy. and Baymeadows Road, spun around from the inside lane, and found himself facing the wrong way in the median. One moment please while I collect myself again.............okay, I'm back. He hit nothing but was shaken, and shaking. After putting his four-ways on, he had to manuever his car back onto the road and facing the correct direction, all the while traffic kept going past him. No one stopped to help him, but he was okay with that, he said.

*

He got turned around and exited as soon as he could on Baymeadows. He pulled into a gas station to check his car over and could see nothing unusual going on. Justin noticed that he couldn't go faster than 40 miles an hour without the rear end of the car shaking like nuts, so he added air to the tires just to make sure they were okay. None were flat, which was good. In the meantime, Ron no longer needed the ride home.....Justin's roomie, Mike, and he took the car out to check it over for damage and he, too, noticed the vibration. None of the car dealers were open anymore today so he'll have to wait until Monday to have it checked out.

*

At first, he told the guys he didn't want to tell me because I'd "freak out" but felt he needed to talk to me. That's great! It's in his best interest to not keep things from me, it would have been tragic for me to find out from someone else or by "accident", so to speak. I simply told him over and over again that I thanked the Lord he was okay and that we'd get the car checked over Monday. Justin assured me he was absolutely NOT speeding, he respected the rain, and so on. I hope he wasn't protesting too much!

*

He's not sure how we'll handle our events tomorrow, such as church and the party, but I told him I'd be glad to be his driver. He's going to ask his roomies about a ride to church, which would be awesome if they'd actually attend with him.........always workin'......hey, I'm in promotions!

*

Justin told me, as we spoke, that he was still shaking, and since they had time before heading over to Dave and Busters with the guys, he might go take a quick nap. I suggested he have a good cry into his pillow and he thought this was a capital idea. After all, we did already buy some Tylenol this morning.........He also said, earlier in the conversation, he didn't know if he ever wanted to drive again, but hopefully he gets over that. I don't know if I want to become his chauffeur again!!

*

So, I rejoice that Justin was not hurt in this event, he hurt no one else, and hopefully his car merely needs some sort of adjustment. If it does, I already told him, "Happy Birthday!", which he says he'd be okay with. Not the gift I had in mind, but is much easier to wrap! Thanks be to God for watching over Justin and the other drivers on the roads today!!!!!

Heavy heart this a.m.

What a story woke me this morning.....Tony Snow died in the early morning hours. Wow! George H. W. said it best, that we knew it was coming but not this quickly. Part of what is so tragic is this man was religious with his colonoscopies, starting as a very young man because his own mom died of colon cancer when he was a teen. How does this happen, even when being vigilant? Most of those being interviewed are quick to mention that Tony was a man of faith in the Lord, and George W. said it best: Tony is now awake in the arms of his Creator. Amen!

*

I first came to know of Tony when he would fill in for Rush many years ago, before he even got to Fox News. I think he wrote for the Detroit Press plus other political columns besides a radio show of his own. These young news people dying, first Russert from the Left, and now Tony from the Right.......certainly takes Jesse Jackson off the hot seat for awhile.

*

I am waiting here for Justin to arrive. We are heading out to have a late breakfast/early lunch with the Hilchey's in Middleburg before heading over to get Justin's toe nails done by Lisa W. Originally our plans were to dine at the Black Creek Cafe but Owen likes Aeriels better and since we didn't care, fine, Aeriels it is! A couple young men are strolling out to the breakwater with nets, as though they are fishing but they have nothing in which to collect their catch. The water level is low right now so they can walk out from our bulkhead area in quite shallow water. I wouldn't want to do it but if they don't mind.....I'd just be a bit concerned about the alligator who swims around out there!

Busy, busy, busy!

What a day it was yesterday! I'll bet you were already aware of that since there was no posting for Wednesday. My original plans at first were to sort of lie low but once the phone started ringing, all bets were off! Justin and I had discussed picking up sandwiches from Publix and having lunch at Hang Ups with the ladies. Dee was going to be at church for a concert/luncheon/art show for an hour but we could come anyway.....Well, Justin let me know he had to be in the office for a meeting so couldn't meet for lunch. Julia excused me, but reminded me to join Dee over at church (Grace) for the sandwich concert and to see her art pieces.

*

Normally Wednesday is our painting and cropping day here but none of the ladies called to say they were coming. Finally, Martie called to ask me to lunch and shopping at Joann's Etc. Oh yes, I'm there! We had a lovely lunch at Longhorn by my church, sat a long time talking before heading over to the store. I got a few items for cropping but she was looking specifically for materials to do a project for her grandkids in England. Many components to the project and decisions to be made. Around 5:00 pm I returned home and got my shoes off, settled onto the loveseat. Ah!!! My phone rang again, this time its the Hilchey's, asking me to join them at Sarnelli's for dinner. Sure!!! What time? "Oh, we just pulled into their parking lot." Okay, then. Slip the shoes back on and go wait for the elevator. I told them I wasn't too hungry but loved the company anyway, and explained I didn't look like much. It was okay since hardly anyone was in there at this time of day!

*

And that Sandi grabbed the meal bill before I even walked in the door, which she has the habit of doing, that stinker! I had the wonderful fettuccine alla tony, named for the owner. The other two ladies ate the majority of their meals but still had some left to take home to Owen. I had picked up a gift for Olivia when I was out shopping but told her she couldn't have it until I wrapped it properly. They are always giving me gifts, perfectly wrapped and embellished, so I wasn't going to let her see mine from a store bag!!!

*

After that whirlwind day with my friends, I headed back home, as they left to attend a zoning meeting in Middleburg. Sounds like fun! Voices and laughter were coming from the sundeck so I went into my house to grab a soda and go potty (yes, I had to say it!) and joined the fun with my neighbors. It was wonderfully comfortable for me, but one lady was just a wash of perspiration. I think because she was drinking wine and wearing black. Every now again a nice breeze wafted and it was perfect! We sat outside until the others had to go in to eat dinner, about 8:00 or so, and then I went upstairs to finally sit on my loveseat! I am still catching up on the What Not to Wear marathon shows from the weekend. Almost always I end up crying at the very end when the family and friends get to see their make-overs. Hopefully I am not the only one who finds themselves moved by this............

*

Linda called me the other day, after she read that Judy had called me by "mistake". She offered words of consolation about the cemetery clean-up and just hearing her voice was another reason to rejoice! When Linda and I first started e-mailing between Manty and here, Tommy said it was fine to do that, but he didn't want us forgetting the sound of each other's voices.....He is sage, that man! Many times we'll call each other just to see "what the poor people are doing"! She called me last fall as Georgia and she were driving to Door County to pick cherries---that's it---rub it in! Or I'll call from the beach to find her huddling by the fireplace to keep warm. And we laugh.............

*

Justin and I are going to Middleburg on Saturday to have his toe nails done by Lisa, our friend's daughter-in-law. He wanted me to arrange for a breakfast get-together with the Woodruff's and Fife's but they are all busy that day. Nuts! He needs to keep his toes nicely done to avoid having the return of the ingrown nail problem and Lisa is just the one to take care of that for him. Sunday we have another debutante event at OPCC, resort casual attire. Yes, I can certainly do casual! I'll just wear what I wore to Sarnelli's last night!!!!!!

What a cool way to start the morning!

My kitty cat was snuggling by my head this a.m. as I lay watching the end of JAG, before starting the day. All of a sudden my cell phone began jumping all over the dresser as Lynx leaped about nine feet into the air. When I grabbed the phone, the name showing said "Judy in Winona" so I shrieked "Hi!!!!!". She said "hi" back and started to explain about being back in town, wondering if we could get together for lunch or if she could bring lunch........Oh, oh, she is not talking to this Kim. I interrupted and said, "This is Kim, did you know that?" and she said she was Judy and then paused. Oops, she realized she'd called a different Kim with whom she wanted to have lunch. We both laughed and agreed there's no such thing as an accident, we were meant to talk to each other today! If not on-line, then over the line! I hope she finds the other Kim and they have a wonderful lunch together.............and I'm jealous!!!!

*

It's overcast right now and am wondering if the rain will hold off long enough for the roofers to do their thing. After Ladies' Group last night I stopped off on the sun deck to visit with the "sitters", and the man in charge of the project said they'd discovered and repaired the leak going into Travis' unit, which means my problem will also be solved. Talk about trickle down, right? Such great news!

*

I also got to hug on a lady I've known for many years, at least 8, for whom we built a home that long ago. She's best friends with one of my upstairs neighbors and I've seen her visiting before. Merry asked me if I liked living here and I told her I did very much, and she said, "Good, you deserve it!" as she walked off. I don't know about the "deserve" part but love the sentiment and love my home. My fondest memory of her was the Valentine's Day after Timmy died, a month after, Merry and Tammi, who worked in the tennis center, brought me flowers plus a room fragrance gizmo from Bath and Body Works. I can't remember what it's called but this was pre-wall socket room fresheners. The fragrance was vanilla sugar cookie or something like that and was wonderful. But the expression of their care was the nicest gift of all. Did you ever think about something you've done for another which may seem insignificant to you, but means the world to them? That's why a smile is seldom wasted!

*

I just heard on the news about a car accident south of here where a mom and her teen-aged son were killed in a chain reaction wreck. The report said he was her adult son, but he was 17. If you ask me, he's still a child, or at best, a teenager. Adult son would be 25, in my opinion. And why do I care about this? My own child is coming up on his 21st birthday soon and I'm alive with trepidation over this. What's going to happen when he's turned loose? What influences will he be exposed to and who will be watching over him like he watches over his friends, like a "mom"? God will be, but as his Father! What's all the hand-wringing about? It always comes down to a First Commandment issue, not trusting the Lord enough.......ugh, I hate to be defused!

*

Bertha is shaking her fist at us as she passes Cuba and I am so happy to know the forecast has her going north and east. No more will Jacksonville shrug its shoulders when a storm is coming this way, a lesson or two or three was learned in 2004! At Pam's the other day I noticed how nicely her yard came back in after being underwater and wondered if I did the right thing back then having all that work done. Of course, my yard was hamburger after having all those trees topple over, pulling the sod and soil up with them. Yeah, it was a mess, and then the repairs to the dock and boat house----and make no mistake, home owner insurance does not cover this type of damage. Everything came out of pocket, and only a month or two after moving there, too! I can only be thankful my home itself was undamaged because the deductible on that would have been a huge sum, too!

*

So glad I don't have to concern myself with those type of things any longer and hopefully won't have more huge assessments for a long while here. We are planning on having the building caulked and painted next year, including all the windows being caulked, which will also help with preventing or stopping leaking, too. And the repairs to the sundeck.....We are playing catch-up here with regular repairs and maintenance which hadn't been planned for over the years, the "newer" owners now paying the price. I guess that wouldn't happen anymore in modern condo associations, as funds for capital improvements and maintenance costs are put in reserve accounts for situations such as these. As I mentioned to the group a couple nights ago, if we had a private home with a 33 year old roof, we'd have had to replace it almost 20 years ago already. Why are we surprised that we have to replace this roof which has had nothing but band aid repairs all along?

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Travis, my neighbor running for public office, and I were talking about some of the issues coming up. I told him I was opposed to adding more impact fees on the developers and builders, as one man said, it might be just enough more per home to price someone out of the market. There can be no more obstacles put in the way of building, with the hurricane standards and more fees....... He agrees about this, and said the county failed to plan or anticipate the rapid growth and is playing catch up now. I said, "Just like our building!" and he said, "You are right, young lady!" Love it when he calls me that! And I love to be right!

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I wonder if I can get Judy R. to call every morning as my jubilant wake up call????? What a great way to start the day!!