I am crushed, but not so much

Various things today have wounded my spirit, including now having the sun leave the sky and rain appear! At least in my part of the world, this is true. The manatees seem to enjoy the drizzle as do the shore birds. My neighbors were having their windows washed when it began to rain but the guys kept working. What else can you do, right?

The high temperature was 81 predicted but dropped when the sun went away and rain showed up. I closed my doors to the courtyard because it felt ‘cold’ to me. The patio sliders are yet open for some air movement. Such a hot-house flower I am!

My friend, Penny, invited me to lunch today at The Club and what a delight it was! We have missed seeing each other and spending time, due in part to it being ‘winter’ (i.e. no pool time) as well as me giving me up Happy Hour for Lent! We have worship and choir rehearsal on Wednesday nights so going to HH is out of the question. It is quite the gathering place for the folks who live on the compound (where Penny used to live) and other members of The Club, with twice a month featuring a mini-buffet which is quite lovely. Anyway, when I donated some items last week to the Quigley House for whom Penny works, she suggested we meet this week to have lunch. And we did! It was great to see everyone again, the “indoor staff” and all that.

So, that was good for my spirit….but stopping for my mail on the way back upstairs was torturous! Two of the pieces were for European cruises which would normally go straight into the trash, cannot bear to look at them! But just as I sat down at the desk, Justin called, so I looked at one while he talked. Oh my! The brochure was from Oceania which used to be Renaissance Cruise Lines, which I had traveled with in 2000 when I went to Egypt, etc. Way more money for their trips than what the lesser cruise lines charge for the same itinerary, but the quality of the brochure is fantastic. Very enticing! Ugh!

I was moaning and groaning to him as I read the ports of call and looking at the gorgeous photography, when he proposed this: “how about we go on an around-the-world tour?” He rattled off a list of the countries we should visit, even including Canada. I asked, “Canada?” and then when he suggested we take a boat ride in Mexico, I realized then he was referring to Epcot! Yes, we can do that, and it will be cheaper than an ocean view room on the Lido deck! He made me chuckle with that idea! Already have our admission tickets, just waiting to be used.

Earlier in the morning, after showering and dressing for the day, I sat at the big computer to sort through my photos in preparation for a project I am launching and tortured myself some more. Just looking at my ‘old’ photos of trips gone by make me wistful, plus one of Alayna’s friends posted a photo of Santorini on her page, as a place she longs to see some day. Of course, I offered to accompany her when the time comes---oooh, just what she wants---this old lady tagging along!

Justin’s phone call earlier was to let me know that Jesse and he were going to a function at the football stadium tonight where they can possibly win season tickets. Let’s hope there are games for them to attend come fall! They would then not be able to attend Trivia tonight. A few minutes later, Erica let me know that they might not be able to come either as they are going car shopping. I now have an unexpected free night and am glad I had a nice lunch to hold me over. We always enjoy our diner food at Johnny Angels but tonight I will have fend for myself. Dry bread and water, but at least, I am drinking the water! I had several glasses of water with my lunch along with my expensive Diet Cokes. The waitress told me she tried to give a ‘free’ refill but the hostess reminded her that this my third glass of soda….busted! Oh, well she tried, just looking out for me!