I stink as a friend!

I totally missed Tarren's birthday on the 9th! Ugh! How did I do that? These things happen now that we are dependent upon facebook for keeping track of dates so our minds do not have to...and not visiting fb much on busy days! My excuse and I am sticking to it!

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So much to say and so little time! Whew! What a day yesterday....Very early in the morning, I was awake and showered, dressed for the day, with plans to do some sprucing up 'round here before I went to get my sis and bro-in-law for their visit here. Wanting to put my best foot forward as they see my home for the first time and all that. The computer used my time badly (I am starting to sound like the men in my current and former family---someone or something else's fault) so when my phone rang at 8:23, I was not ready!

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I did not expect Marian and Biff to be raring to go at this early hour and my household certainly was not. Joanne had to leave to take her dad for blood work, leaving her daughter and grand here to sleep longer. Marian called to say she was ready for me to come get them, but since my other guests were still asleep, I thought I would take the in-laws for breakfast instead of coming straight back here. My bed was hastily thrown together and papers re-stacked on the desk, the extent of my room cleaning, and then off I went to Fleming Island to fetch them.

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Although Marian had already had a muffin, she thought she could stand some more breakfast so we ate at Honey B's. I had a short stack with crispy bacon, done to perfection, plus I bought a piece of bread pudding for Justin. He loves their bread pudding, the Sister's Tea Room recipe, whose relatives now run Honey B's. Marian ate a sausage eggs "benefit", as Lisa used to call it, and had home fries, but only Biff munched on them. He has coffee for breakfast and not food normally, but liked the pots.

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Once home, the houseguests were up and dressed, so I made the introductions and gave the tour to M & B. Christina, Jo's daughter, was going out for a walk, taking her camera along for photos. Her daughter stayed in the bedroom, chatting with friends back in OH via her computer. M & B settled in the river room and we visited, with few conversational lapses. Biff was participatory, moreso than in the past, which helps, and I can pretty well hold my own. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please, ha ha!) Marian was getting drowsy so I encouraged her to sit at the table with me and we enjoyed a couple scrapbooks, one of my trips and one about Justin.

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When I picked them up from her brother's house, Marian informed me that she needed to be back there by 1:00 pm which totally surprised me because I was wondering what we do to pass the time all day long....good to know we had an end time for the visit, which sounds mean on my part, but I had some other offers for my time Friday which were enticing me. It could not have worked out any better for us, really. Marian said they were going to Disney on Ice that evening, which really surprised me, because usually that is geared more for kids, but she assured me that she wants to see it. I am sure she does and had a great time. Justin was not going along, but did plan to stop in to say "hi" to his aunt and uncle, although he will see them later in the day on Easter Sunday.

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Suzanne had suggested I join the kids and her for a kite flying adventure Friday but when I explained about the in-laws coming over, she threatened with a three and out. Twice before she has asked me to things and I declined, so I sure did not want to blow this opportunity!!!! If they were coming to Green Cove for the kite flying, I offered to make sandwiches and bring my in-laws along to watch, but Suzanne's schedule Friday did not include kite flying. I am still in her good graces and have not struck out as far as offers go!

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After dropping M & B back at her brother's McMansion, I stopped at Judy J.'s house so she could measure, pin and make adjustments to a top I bought at Coldwater Creek Thursday. She nicely offered to shorten the straps on an under top which is part of a layered look. The straps, once shortened, will not allow my bra to show, which is a good thing. Judy was outside cutting her lawn when I got there but welcomed the break to have a drink and pin the adjustments. She thought she might have it ready to bring along to church that night but I assured her there was no rush for it, being a heavier knit top. Might be useful in New York for dressier events, though. Before I left her house, we made plans to have dinner either before or after worship, at Aron's.

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Walgreens was having a sale on Diet Coke so I stopped there, too, and loaded up. Much to my dismay, however, there was not one single dark chocolate coconut egg to be had! I got a couple more things for the Easter baskets and then put all my soda cases in the back of the car. Hopefully Justin will help me tote them upstairs when he comes over today. The soda was 5 for $13, quite the deal! I am thinking I should go back and get more, stock up at that price!

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With what was left of my afternoon, I offered my car to Christina, since Joanne had to go to work, her staff feeling quite overwhelmed with work. Instead, Jo was going to give them her car, so they could go to the beach. I printed off directions, checking them over to make sure mapquest.com didn't mess them up! Google maps offered such goofy directions that I totally ignored their site for a trip to the beach. Wow, they were wacky! The two houseguests headed off to the beach, after I declined their invitation to come along (oh, oh, I am on my third strike with them too!!!) and took to my room the rest of the day. Kathy B. called to ask about dinner plans and it was then decided to go to Aron's after worship, when there would be no rush to get to church on time, etc. More on that later!