What a nice day it was today!

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

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

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

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

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

The doors are open!

Ah….nice breeze from the river moving through the rooms, making the ceiling fan in the river room move without electricity. Nothing wild going on outside, only a gentle breeze. Only a few moments ago I got home from the Cracker Barrel where I had dinner with Judy J. and Terri T. A couple months ago I was with Judy when we saw Cliff and Carol there for their date night. Sure enough, Terri looked up and saw them coming up to the restaurant! We just had to chuckle about that and told them when they came over to our table how we talked about them. Tomorrow they have to run to their house in the mountains to meet someone, so will be away for the weekend. I will be minus one meeting this week then as I was planning one with Carol. It can wait, just so we don’t forget our subject matter!

The Jaguar game is on right now, no score at this moment. Justin sent me an excited text message to report that our host from Trivia is seated in their row at the game. Justin popped in here for a few minutes this evening to take a quick shower, change his clothes, and put on the new shoes I picked up for him today at Payless. They had a BO/GO deal going on so in addition to my shoes, I got some for him. He loved them!

I had no success in getting Justin's special Jaguar shirt I was looking for but the store manager gave me a card so I can call there tomorrow when the next shipment comes in, and they will put one on the side for me. It is special for the opening game on September 11. He can get one game day but hates to wait and possibly miss out or not get one in his size. Justin is quite excited about attending that game, besides the football portion, he is quite interested in the special events planned to commemorate the anniversary of the terror attacks. Glad to know he feels so strongly about it!

This afternoon I talked on the phone with my sis-in-law until Justin came in. As I hung up with Mona, tucking the phone away, he got his phone out to look up something. We could hear talking and wondered where it was coming from. I thought it was his phone but he said it was not so I checked mine, hearing Tommy J. asking if I butt dialed him. Oh no! Accidentally, when putting my phone away, I must have pushed the button to dial Linda's cell phone. Laughing, I told Linda I would call her back after Justin left again, which I did, and finished our laugh. She is back at her busy busy life, today having the ladies come in for assembling the church newsletter, running errands, and even time for her afternoon nap! Mom told me earlier that Pastor R. had to repair her walker so she could get home again---seems she blew a hubcap or something when getting it from the trunk of the car when Jill dropped her off. Thanks, Pastor!!

Wah, wah, wah!!!

One of my favorite “Seinfeld” episodes is on and I am already laughing in anticipation. And it is so naughty that I love it but what can I say??? “You’ll be out before we get the check…” (Jerry to Kramer). Yeah, you know the one….

I made myself a nice sandwich for my dinner a few minutes ago, instead of having the planned Koko’s leftovers as I really was not hungry enough for them. My lunch today was enjoyed poolside, a special treat on Maggie, in order for her to reach her monthly minimum. I do not have that problem in the summer time, especially with the cabana open, but they close this year right after Labor Day. Last year they stayed open through the end of the month, on the weekends, so folks could sit out there and watch the football games while enjoying some refreshment with food. Guess the management thought better of it this year. Rats for me, so to speak. I even considered having Sylvia make me a bunch of burgers so I could fill my freezer for the winter months, like a squirrel storing up nuts!

By the look of the branches moving outside, it seems like it must be windy tonight. Not the kind of wind one could hear but enough to move the palms. Earlier I turned on the A/C just to make sure it was working as my neighbor, Rose, called to ask if mine was working okay. As of yesterday it did but I turned it on again tonight to verify that is fine. Hers is on the fritz, so I offered her my spare bed in case her hubby and she needed to stay in air conditioning. Yes, I could do it one more night….But she said they would be okay, but appreciated my offer. She seemed surprised that I did not have mine in the “ON” position but it was only 81 in here tonight and I was just fine.

The first part of my day included laundering the towels and bed clothes from my guests before going out to the pool. Since the sun was not coming out this a.m., I was thinking of skipping the water exercises but the sun did peek out, so I did too! What I figured I would do, if missing the class, was make sure I was there for lunch with Maggie. Priorities! My choice was a cheeseburger with fruit and cottage cheese as my side dish, since I am not a fan of the fries, and ate all my fruit and all my burger. Last night at Trivia I ate every bit of my burger, as though it was my last meal. I am quite the nut for burgers (see two paragraphs above!)

When I came in from the pool, I loaded my soda cans into a lovely bag that Marlena sent upstairs with me, cleaning off my stove top. The bag will work well for me to take the cans and water bottles to the recycling area in the garbage closet downstairs. How incredibly annoying it is to do this but I succumbed to the pressure of worshipping at that altar. But I promised Connie I would do it under the guise of having less expense with the dumpster fees. Hopefully someone is tracking the actual savings and will let me know. I suspect nothing will change as far as weekly pick-ups go, as the smell would get to be quite something if it sat longer than week!

The lady who is taking Connie’s place while she is off for a knee procedure, Jane, was being trained today. Jane is the same lady who, the other day, asked how the pool was for us ladies. Lynn and Linda said it was good but, I, of course, said it was a bit cool for my tastes. Jane nicely replied, “Oh, wah, wah, wah!” which made us all laugh. Yup, that’s my mantra, “wah, wah, wah!”

Normal, as I know it!

This morning's sunrise on the river....

Things are back to normal around here, and that is not because my sister and my friend have left my home. No, it is that the news program I watch in the morning has the ‘normal’ crew sitting on the ‘curvy couch’ for a change. For weeks now, there have been substitute hosts, anchors, and the weekend crew working during the week. As a person who does not have a clock in my room and half the time am not truly aware of the day of the week upon waking, it is confusing to open my eyes and see weekend faces during the week! At least today I know it is Wednesday and the ‘right’ faces are on the couch!

Just now I paid a visit to the fridge and took notice of a few things that won’t be staying in there much longer. There is some fruit in a plastic tub, already turning color, from age. Good thing Justin suggested not getting the fruit until the ladies were in town, because it looks pretty tired already. I do have a bottle of sangria which might enjoy some fruit in it, but I think sangria is better with fresh fruit. A small amount of Boston butt remains but I have had enough of that to last me for a bit so the disposal can eat the balance. Some sliced tomatoes leftover from our BLTs will go out as well, even though they are nice and red now. A slice of fried bacon or two in a baggie, plus a fried egg with some sausage remain which might still be edible. Normally not a formal breakfast eater, I guess I could have those leftovers for lunch. But instead of breakfast for dinner, I have a foam box of Koko’s food for then. Today, I am having lunch on Maggie O. after water exercises.

Yesterday our congregation got some sad news---a son of our congregation died suddenly at the age of 37 due to diabetes complications. Chris lives now in northern IL and was driving back from a business trip in WI when he felt ill. He called his lady friend to report his feeling poorly and she suggested he find an ER to get checked out. Instead, he pulled into a rest area near the border, where he apparently rested and never woke up. Shocking news. His parents and sister are driving up there this week and with the help of our pastor and one up there, making the necessary arrangements for Chris’s funeral and such. His parents are not in the best shape health-wise, themselves, and this will be a terrible strain on them. The suddenness and unexpectedness takes ones breath away, well, almost, and makes one want to hug their son quite hard. And I did!

Ready for my 'big nap'!

Why in the world am I so sleepy tonight? No naps in the afternoon might be part of it but somehow or another I am sleeping later in the mornings than normally I do. Hopefully I can sleep okay when I decide to go to sleep!

Linda went to bed already, too, but Lynn is up and watching TV in the living room. She did not wish to select our evening’s viewing so I chose, of course, “Frasier” for our listening and dancing pleasure. Love to laugh at that program, but can do that in here so she can watch what she enjoys. My tummy is happy from dining on Papa Murphy’s pizza, a treat by Linda, which we picked up while waiting for Lynn to get her facial. My friend, Sharon, has her own shop from where she performs this service, and has given Lynn a facial treatment in the past. Lynn’s skin is now nice and smooth, so freshly plucked and treated, I barely recognized her when I picked her up afterward! Happy birthday, Lynn!

This morning we went to Bible study where we are studying the book of Ezra, where he tells about the Israelites returning to the Promised Land from Babylon after their captivity ended. Quite interesting to learn about the history and such of this area. After the class a bunch of us went to Longhorn for lunch, and were joined there by Twila, who came from her cardiac rehab appointment. The ladies got to say ‘good-bye’ to Lynn and Linda and sent hugs home for Mom, too.

When we got back home after lunch, we had time before Lynn’s appointment to enjoy some pool time. It was lovely this afternoon, not too cold in the water and not too hot, for some of us, outside of the water. Poor Linda does not like the heat very much, but the cool pool water makes things much more tolerable. We are going to attend aqua aerobics in the morning and then we are planning to have lunch at Koko’s and visit my other lady friends at Great Hang Ups. Lynn and Linda will have their bags packed and loaded in the car so we can go straight to the airport after lunch to save time. I am going to hate that….was sort of hoping their flight was delayed and they could stay one more day----or two!

Justin came by after work tonight and had dinner with us, our home-baked pizza. He is so entertaining and the ladies loved his being here. We were together yesterday for lunch, too, and then again this evening. It will be sad to have the house to myself again but the fun holiday weekend might take care of the empty spot in my life. Can’t believe it’s the end of the pool season already…where did that summer go????

More photos!

Linda was suffering something fierce from the heat but did not wish to go inside by herself. The rest of us endured the heat for the pleasure of dining alfresco. Justin had jumbayla which was spicy while Lynn and Linda had shrimp entrees. Mine was simpler than theirs: cheesy potatoes and an order of onion strings. We three ladies had adult beverages but Justin had Diet Coke. Poor Linda.....so hot!

Lynn enjoying her coconut shrimp and sweating as she goes! She loved her margarita so much, she wished for another but thought better of it. Instead, a nice square of Key Lime Pie was presented, but her eyes were bigger than her tummy, so she brought it home to eat later on when she was less full.

At church today, the Sunday school teachers were installed in their roles.

The kitchen crew making our delicious Mexican Fiesta dinner at church last night. Oh my, what a feast!

The chef team of Mike 'n Mike posed nicely for a photo, something rarely done. Thanks, guys, for taking such good care of my special needs (i.e. seafood-free cream cheese wontons!)

Days Two and Three combined!

Wrapping up another day of enjoyment with Lynn and Linda, with an edge-of-our-seat football game! Not playing football, but watching it on TV. Last night the Packers won in a nail-biter in the last seconds of the game and the Jaguars lost tonight in overtime, the tie-breaker being a field goal by the Bills. Rats! It was a good, fun game to watch, that’s for sure!

Our dinner was at church, Mexican Fiesta fare, prepared by our congregation’s resident chefs, Mike ‘n Mike. While normally I do not eat much from the menu, I did try a few things and came away full. Starting with the nacho chips, which were good, and others ate with corn salsa, and finishing with Snickers Pie! No, you are right, that pie is not Mexican at all but truly was delicious.

The appetizer was a cream cheese, shrimp, and crabmeat wonton, with Mexican seasoning. I was going to give Lynn mine since I don’t eat shrimp, but Judy C. served me wontons made especially for me, with no seafood in them! In fact, I got three when the others got only two! Yes, I am spoiled, make no mistake about that! The rest of the entrees were dirty rice (delicious!), burritos, refried beans, and empanadas. I tried all the items as coaxed by Lynn, and even liked the beans. All the rice was eaten by me, some of the beans, and a bit of the burrito. One of the empanadas was enough for me, but not because it tasted badly, but because I was stuffed!

We had several guests from Christ, Keystone Heights, but none from Victory because Pastor H. told me he dropped the ball on posting the notice or including it in the service folder. They were in the process of losing their Staff Minister/Secretary and this notice fell through the cracks. We had seats for them, in case they came! Even the children had a special meal just for them, with cheese quesadillas and apple-filled empanadas. I would have loved to see all the seats filled but loved to see the folks we did have!

The first part of the day was spent watching the news, tracking Hurricane Irene’s movement and the preparations being made for her arrival. I am so thankful to the Lord for sparing us in Florida and pray that those up north remain safe as well. For about five hours, we ladies enjoyed outdoor time, in the pool or around it. Linda, who is an avid reader, read much of the time, and I stayed much of the time in the water, although I do find the water quite chilly for my taste. The air temp was around 100 degrees above zero so I kept my body as exposed to the warm air as I could.

Usually I paddle around the circumference of the pool with my arms and shoulders above water but yesterday I rested on the edge of the pool with my legs and back catching rays as well. We had our lunch alfresco with Sylvia working alone in the cabana. She handled the situation well, no big rushes, but nice steady business most of the time we were out there.

Friday, as I mentioned, we watched the Packer game on TV but earlier, as the photos attest, was the picnic dinner. Earlier in the afternoon, Judy C. joined us ladies at the theater to watch “The Help”. I was in tears during the previews already so it was that kind of day for me! What a good movie it is! Might consider going again, as this was Judy’s second viewing of it. Linda pushed and pushed to finish the book before we left for the movies, and she did it! I will continue reading it as well, since they say much is omitted from the movie version. So sad that people were treated that way during my lifetime, but I guess it’s true in every lifetime. There was none of that in my hometown, to my knowledge, other than the ‘differences’ between the northsiders and southsiders! Martie tells me about the people from the other side of the tracks where she grew up…same race, but different economic background. From what she reported to me, she was the one from the other side! Interesting!