A blogger is born!

My niece, Lisa, has begun her own blog, crediting me with being the inspiration. Aw, shucks! She calls hers: My life....I Love It! A girl after my own heart. When Lisa was younger, she spent many days with me, eventually was able to field telephone calls for our business. Lisa gets many compliments (or at least she used to!) concerning her phone manners, as does Justin. They were trained by the best! My name tag from Sprint claimed: We Are the Best at Serving Customers!! That's a lot to live up to! And my two prodigies are up to it! Visit Lisa's site, but remember she's 'in development'.

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Yesterday I watched an episode of "Seinfeld" where Elaine dumped a perfectly good boyfriend because when taking a phone message for her, he didn't add the appropriate exclamation point.......Later, at the publishing company, Elaine's boss scolded her for keeping or adding too many exclamation points to a manuscript she was editing. I have a thing for exclamation points, perhaps I use them frivolously, too, as Elaine was accused! In case you hadn't noticed....

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Last night was Bible Bites and choir rehearsal. I barely got to church on time but still had to set up tables and chairs when I got there. Debbie was wandering around, not knowing if she should set up the tables and chairs, etc. I grabbed the chairs and got them out so once she had the tables up, we made quick work of putting our food out and got ready for class. Pastor was meeting with someone in church so wasn't there right away. We had a "short" group last night but the lesson was still quite good. "How to Interpret the Bible" is our course of study....just when you think you've got it all figured out....

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At choir, we practiced our quite simple "Jesus' Little Lamb" for Mother's Day and then were given a new piece to be sung on Confirmation Day, June 1st. Robbie asked me to sing the first verse as a solo and I agreed. Gulp! At least it's not a weeping song, or I'd have never said "yes". The song is Psalm 63, which we've sung before, so I'm familiar. THIS will be our big finish for summer!

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It's so nice out today, a little bit hazy but still the sun warms me. I think by the weekend it will be in the 90's. Saturday might just be the perfect day for a ride to the beach! I think my schedule is clear that day. Have to see what Judy is doing, as she enjoys the beach, too. My other beach partner, Joanne, is out of town so not available to vegitate on the sand. Friday night is scrapbooking and I haven't put my stuff away from yesterday's cropping yet. Maybe I'll ask if the folks would rather come up here than all the way to church...good idea!

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Time to meet my boy and Dee for lunch so perhaps you'll see more from me later on! Ta Ta!

Boy, it's noisy around here today!

My ears are being treated to a variety of stimuli today, beginning early in the morning. First thing I could hear a heron honking at something unseen by me, perhaps just trying to get attention. Since it's so nice outside and no rain forecast, I can safely sleep with the river room doors open, which allows sound to travel easily into my bedroom.

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Earlier I was text messaging with Justin and told him about all the commotion going on around me. The barge holding the scoop shovel for dredging the harbor was being moved, causing lots of racket and water spray. At the same time, a red helicopter was circling round and round straight out from my window, apparently on some sort of maneuver. Upstairs has the sounds of kitchen and bathroom cabinets being torn out and hauled off, and ceramic tile being chiseled out. The wind is blowing quite hard, causing the trees to rustle madly. Besides the exterior noises I have my radio on and the printer printing so its downright cacophonous around here!

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But, it's not a bad racket, these are the sounds of activity and living. One of my neighbors asked me last night what the noise level was in my condo (regarding the demo work going on above me) and I said, "It's just the way I like it!" She nodded and said, "That's why we like you. No complaining!" Thanks, Mo, for the kind words. Hey, who hasn't gone through renovations and updating in their homes? Of course there's noise accompanying the improvement of our homes, and the good thing is, the dust mainly stays upstairs!

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I hadn't seen all my neighbors since getting back and yesterday discovered that the man at the end of my promenade was in a wheel chair! He must be in his 70's, married to a younger woman, a delightful lady (by younger, I mean she's probably my age.....). Jack had a brain tumor, diagnosed and operated on after I left for WI. His wife and the physical therapist were helping him learn to walk again, up and back on the promenade. He has to learn to use his left hand again, too, but I saw last night he was enjoying a glass of wine with the rest. When he saw me coming he called out, "Hi, Doll!" Nothing wrong with Jack!! The love between them is truly evident, you can see it when she looks at him and he pats her knee, saying "I love you" with a touch and glance, because he has troubles with his speech yet. I'm saddened to see him like this, but with the care he's getting, I'll bet he'll back on his feet in no time!

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We had a small gathering at Ladies' Group last night but had a spirited and delightful time with those who did make it. Janet adds so much to any event (I introduced you to her back in mid-January) and we had good laughs. The topper, though, was Renee bringing Twila, Jean and me each a bottle her husband's home-made lemoncello, made with fruit from their own tree. Wow! What a treat! He also makes some using oranges instead but I've never tried that one. Oh, yummy! It was sad to hear that his mother died recently so he's up in OH tending to her funeral and settling of her affairs. I'll get a card off to him as soon as I remember.

Renee is laughing so hard, I hope she's sitting on a towel! Janet has her eyes closed, but appears to be having a good time, too!!! These were taken at the CHRISTmas party held at my home. What a hoot!

You can't hear me yawning, I hope!

All of a sudden I am bone weary! Justin and I had a great day today, worshiping together at Victory, seeing many folks I hadn't seen in a while (probably since Lent!) and singing with an exquisite pianist. It was "Favorite Hymn Sunday" where we sang hymns chosen by members. Rachel played the entire service on the grand piano this week.

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I didn't have to raise my hand, because, guess what! My favorite, from the short list of "my favorites", was already printed in the service folder....."Be Still, My Soul". Justin knew this my favorite, also knew it would make me cry....but not until the 3rd stanza. BUT, I choked my way through:

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"Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears,Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay From His own fullness all He takes away."

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Not only the surrendering of Timmy to heaven, just, other things, other people, other situations, and the calming reminder about just who's in charge around here! This was also the theme of Phil's sermon today: Bring it On!!

Justin knows this hymn is one of 25 or 30 that I've chosen for my funeral, but is mostly likely #1 on my hit parade of hymns. You will need to set aside at least a half day for my funeral, as I've picked so many hymns and all of Philippians 4 for the readings......My downstairs neighbor plays piano and I can often hear her playing "Finlandia", the tune for this hymn. "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast"---not a simple task in this household!!!

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Years ago when we had a regular "live" organist at our church, I'd ALWAYS request "Be Still...." as my favorite. Kathy would usually play it for me either before worship or during, and when I'd turn to look at her, she'd smile the acknowledgement, knowing she knew it was my favorite...and she often played "Amazing Grace" for Bruce, again, knowing it was his favorite. I mean, really, can you go wrong playing either of those two hymns for worship?

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So, anyway, about our day.....we rode together to Joe's Crab Shack and had to wait only a short while before a table became open on the deck. It was well into 80 degrees and I was loving it! Ah, yes....Joe's in the sun---it's a beautiful thing!

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Justin ordered from the new menu and I had, of all things at a seafood restaurant, a cheeseburger! Yesterday I was dying for a cheeseburger but couldn't go out until late in the day, so today was the day! I didn't care for the fries, but did see a young lady with an ear of corn. Our waitress very nicely provided me with an ear at no charge-----she lent me an ear!!!! Oh, brother!! I wasn't ready to leave my table in the sun yet, so we ordered a dessert...for me, a root beer float and for Justin, key lime pie. He likes it so much better than the Publix version with nuts on top.

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On the way out, I ran into someone I knew, go figure! Judy J.'s grandson and his uncle, along with some of his uncles' concrete crew, enjoying a day at the beach! I didn't recognize Louis at first with his dark glasses on, but once I did, he got the stuffings hugged out of him! It was his sister and her husband who stayed here while I was in WI. Small world? Maybe....

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Once home, Lisa called to fill me in on Manny's party for his 3rd birthday. His pirate-themed decorations and cupcakes were a hit, and he loved his gift from me. It's supposed to be used for displaying or storing stuffed animals but he'd rather play with it his way. Okay! While talking with her, Gretchen beeped in so I spoke with her for a bit. She was wondering why I wasn't at Good Shepherd today---hoping I wasn't sick or something. Sweet Gretchen, checking in on me! She also complimented me on this month's newsletter which is being sent to her sister in CA as we speak.....Her compliments are sincere and much appreciated!

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Off to bed to watch the next video in the series of "Pirates of the Caribbean"...Linda H. loaned me #1 and #2 so I can catch up and when I am, Leanne and she are coming over here to watch #3 together. I finished the first one today, had the tiniest bit of trouble keeping the ships apart, and who was who in the sword fights, but in the end, I got the gist of it. Let me ask you this: "Why is the rum gone???"

The day begins and closes with tears!!!

...both times tears of joy!
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Yesterday Justin and I were talking about going down to visit Rafa in Mexico City, since I'm not taking a cruise this summer. And then this a.m. as I speculated inwardly if I should clean off the fridge for the repairman, I was looking at the picture of Rafa and family posted there. The thought went through my head that I should write a note to Rafa and say "hi!", but I didn't do it immediately....

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Well, when I got home from the grocery store, I came back in my room to work a bit. The first thing I saw was an e-mail from Rafael (the daddy)!!! He said they read my blog and he loves my painting "The Doors of Santorini"....I cannot even express how delighted I was to read his note! His wife and he are in Africa for a month, with the kids back at home with grandparents. Apparently they'd have to be 12 years old to go where Mom and Dad are in Africa. Wow, I love it, just love it!!!

This happened once before, not too long ago, when I was going through the process of transferring data from one computer to the other. I expressed to Justin my concern that I might lose Rafa's e-mail address and his other letters to me, and that very same night, I got an e-mail from him! The Lord is looking out for our friendship!

Here's the picture Rafael included in his e-mail, taken of Rafi in Acapulco....he's getting so big!

Thumbs down for the refrigerator...It seems that the freezer is not defrosting, hence not sending cold air up into the fridge portion. I don't need to understand it, only have patience since a part needed to be ordered, with them coming back on Wednesday to make the repair. On the bright side, of course there is one!, "Bob" lifted out the two shelf/drawers in the freezer portion to access the panel in back, making it possible for me to FINALLY clean up the mess from the spilled cookies, referenced in a previous posting. It's a good feeling to have the crumbs and sprinkles wiped away. It will cool now, as he defrosted the coils with a machine but suggested I not buy too much perishable stuff just yet. I already tossed most of the opened items such as mayo, Italian dressing, coffee creamer, and so on, and can live without those items at least until Wednesday!!!

Fausto would have had a field day today, if that's the correct expression, watching all the sailboats enjoy the river. It may have been part of some regatta but I couldn't find anything about it on-line. If there was 1, there were 100 boats out there at times, not obliviously racing but certainly much motion. All different colored sails and sized vessels, making my imposed captivity quite delightful today! I probably wouldn't have minded having to stay home all day if it were my idea instead of A & E Appliance Repairs'! It's different when it's your own idea, why is that?

Tomorrow Justin and I are attending Victory so don't look for me at Good Shepherd. We want to go to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch and spend some time at the beach enjoying the lovely 80+ temperatures. Twila was sick last Sunday and Monday, so I haven't seen her since getting back from WI. We'll have to see each other Monday at Bible study. Good thing we ladies were planning to crop here this Wednesday, since I have to wait--again--between 8 and 5 for the repairman to come back. Held hostage by an electronic panel, but at least I'll have co-hostages to keep me company!

I see now a good deal of grey/black smoke rising over Mandarin. Hopefully nothing terrible is going on. Lori called earlier this a.m. to report David and she heard something on NPR about Clarks' Fish Camp and an interview of the official alligator trapper in Duval and Clay Counties! How cool is that? It was on the program "Wait, Wait, I Know....." that I listened to with Judy and Jerry in Winona. By the time I got the message, the show had moved off onto another topic. Nuts! I don't know where I'd find a "public" radio station on my equipment, can't say I've ever listened to it on purpose! But, I would have loved to have heard my "community" discussed on a national radio program!!!! Especially Clarks'! When Judy comes down in October, we absolutely MUST go there to eat!

The ups and downs of refrigeration

Right off the bat this morning I am mopping up tears! Cindy sent some photos taken for Mike's and her 30th wedding anniversary. Tara's friend is a photographer and an amazing one at that. There is a slide show on the photographer's website and I simply adore the photo of Cindy laughing, head thrown back---ala Cindy-style! Love it! Great shots, great subject matter. Shiloh is Miss Photogenic, wearing her grandma's veil and posing on her gown!

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Well, the wait is on for the repairman to come and see what's wrong with my fridge. Yesterday morning when I went for a soda, it seemed to be nice and cold again. Great! I decided that something was still wrong with it because turning the temp up as high as it goes before it'd kick in......that's not right! So, today, between 8 and 5, I can expect company!

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I had good company yesterday afternoon as "Dr." Colon and his lovely wife, Marilyn Julaine, came over to look at the lemon tree. I had moved the tree outside by the front door since I knew chemicals and such would be sprayed on it. Fausto first used clear water to wash the leaves, picking off those destined to fall anyway, checked the soil acidity (which tested okay) and then sprayed it with a mixture of Dawn soap and veggie oil mixed with water. Under his microscope we could see "the little bastards", which are normally called 'mites', the guys wreaking all this havoc. The soap/oil mixture suffocates them as well as sealing the leaf from disease. He also left me printed materials and a book about Florida plants for my perusal. We shared a lovely lunch at The Club which brought back many memories for Fausto, as he used to keep a boat at the marina here and also held Club membership. His son and he made sure they had their "required" meal each month, never let the opportunity pass, something which I cannot claim.

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I told them how at first Justin and I ate at The Club frequently, loving the food and the whole idea of it, but gradually quit going more than once each month. Often when it's getting close to the end of the month, Pam will call and say, "I haven't eaten at The Club this month--wanna meet for lunch?" What's nice about summer is that our membership obligations can be fulfilled at the Cabana where I can have a nice cheeseburger and pina colada on the weekends without having to dress up! I can drip and order my food at the same time, and then rinse off in the pool!

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I've tried my hand at using the old-fashioned method of recording the "old" TV programs with VHS in my room. Skillfully I set the machine to record about 8 episodes of "Seinfeld"; however, when I tried to replay them this a.m., to see if it worked, I had several episodes of "Reba" and one of a show called "Still Standing". Ugh!!!! Please!!!! It's not a productive time for me to go sit in the family room and watch the DVR recorded programs so am ridding myself of the digital converter and HD thingy. Most of the time I'm in my room at the computer, during the day listening to talk radio, but I'd hate to miss my re-runs of Seinfeld and Frasier. As Justin said the other day, I'll probably get the DVDs anyway and can watch them at my leisure, sans commercials. I will keep trying my hand at mastering the remote control to record on VHS. Talk about living in the past!!

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Work has begun on the marina which is being re-built since the destructive Hurricane Jeanne took it out in 2004. The barge with the scoop shovel is idle today but during the week was busily pulling sand or silt from the basin area in preparation for the docks to be put in. I hope the manatees still come to do their thing out here by my window, as they put on quite a show for us. Pretty? No. Interesting? Oh, yes, they are! Here is a pile of manatees, doing whatever it is that manatees do......

The rumor mill claims the marina spaces will sell for $100,000.00 American money, which is wwaayy too rich for my blood! Let's say they are offered at that price---is this the price people will wish to pay? Having the marina will improve the property value, of this we're sure, but there is some question about the parking situation and so on. I'm not concerning my pretty little head about it, but do look forward to hearing the clang, clang, clang as the sailboats bob around in the water, the sail hardware hitting against the mast.....At my lake house, a friend, Alan, had his sailboat tied up at my dock and I loved hearing the clanging from his boat.....I grow nostalgic for the lake house, but not when I think about all the extra work there was to keeping a big house on the water like that. My condo on the river, as Fausto said repeatedly, is perfect for me!

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p.s.: My friend, Brenda, with whom I had drinks and chips at Whitey's, reports my "pool boy", Jeff, has broken up with her daughter and is no longer in the picture. This makes my heart heavy because I care about both of them. I used to say that Jeff woke me every Saturday morning, bright and early, when he came to clean my pool. My room was on the patio level and the bank of windows wore no curtains..... poor guy!

A rude awakening this morning

Only yesterday I was telling Martie and Chris about how much I enjoy having the sunshine wake me each morning, that I don't mind finding myself up early, and so on. Well, Lynx evidently caught wind of that and decided 5:20 a.m. is not too early to release a hairball while sitting at the foot of my bed....hack, hack, hack...Excuse me, Lynx? There is a huge difference between sunlight waking me and you coughing up a hairball, okay? Got that? Here's the bad news---I found no hairball, it was all an act!

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On the bright side, however, I was able to see the moon reflecting on the river at that hour. No, it was not full, but actually was a sliver, yet, it reflected quite nicely. That's the type of moon I used to ask, "I've lost my fingernail...does anyone know where it is?" And the answer would be, "It's up in the sky!" Those were the days!

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Well, I have a problem, folks---my fridge is ailing. Yesterday I noticed that my soda wasn't quite cold enough to suit me, but thought perhaps because it had been in the car for a while, it would take longer to get cold, like overnight?!?! As I was gone much of the day doing lunch and cropping, I wasn't around to check the fridge temp, and frankly, wasn't even thinking about it at all. Until after getting home from choir, when I went to get a drink, and sure 'nuff, it was still warm!

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Oh, brother! Immediately I checked my ice maker and it was fine, cranking out cubes like nobody's business. It seems only the upper portion was affected by solar flares or whatever is causing my fridge not to cool. Too much carbon in the air or something. I did make the futile attempt of turning the temperature up, just to see if that would affect it any, and, as of this a.m., no such luck. My butter is getting soft! At least the freezer is up and running at this point, and I put whatever I could in there for the time being. The milk went down the drain, as did some juice that Judy's family had left here. I think the beer and Smirnoff Ice will be okay, and I can put a can or two of soda in the freezer for my use during the time I'm home.

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The repairman is due to come on Saturday between 8 and 5--one of those deals. Which brings to mind a Seinfeld episode where Kramer and the cable company engage in a cat 'n mouse game of making appointments and then not keeping them. I hope the repairman won't chase me down the street like happened to Kramer--believe me, I'll be waiting for him with open arms! Some of my salad dressings and such might have to go away, too, sort of like back in 2004 when we had to dispose of the entire refrigerator contents TWICE when the hurricanes took out the electricity. Glad the freezer is okay, otherwise Justin and his roomies would be eating pretty good, or at least, storing my stuff in the meantime. I still have some meat left from the County Fair cow we bought and shared last year.....might want to sort of let that disappear, right?

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Tonight is the themed dinner and I am making the famous taco salad (I heard the ooohs and aaahhhs go up!). I'll have to wait until the last moment to prepare it as the fridge won't work to keep it chilled. Could ask my neighbor to keep it for me, or use the ice bucket to keep it cold. Justin and I are having lunch together at Great Hang Ups, as he wants to meet there and catch up with the ladies. He loves them, and they, he. I think he also has his art project to bring along for Show and Tell. Something about crash commercialism, I guess. He could major in that!

Two blessed days in one week---so far!!!

Just before 10:00 am Julia called me from the road to report that Dee got through her cardiac cath procedure with flying colors! Yes, she was scheduled for that yesterday but got bumped over and over by heart attacks in other folks....When she called me last night to tell me, she said she didn't know why they always came and got her doctor for this, and I said, "Because you wanted the best man, and evidently, he was it!!!" She agreed with that....guess you wouldn't want the least desirable man of medicine to do YOUR procedure, right?

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So, Dee was first on the list this morning, and with no muss, no fuss, came through with a perfectly clean bill of health. The doctor even commented that her arteries were so clear, she didn't even need to take cholesterol medication any longer! Wow! Makes me want to go have a cath just to make sure everything is okey-dokey...well, maybe not.....

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Dee will be home around noon today and might be laying low yet tomorrow. "Might" is the key word here, as she'll most likely be ready to jump right back into work. Our prayers were answered, God was with Dee and guided the hands of the medical folks and we can breathe a sigh of relief and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for my dear, dear friend's good report!!!

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Earlier I was invited to attend a breakfast at my friend, Pam's, office but sort of was a lazy bones and really didn't want to be far from the phone in case Julia called. It would have been nice to see the presentation from an area builder discussing the growth of Clay County and so on. Joanne had seen it before and said it was quite interesting but my heart and mind were elsewhere. I am meeting Martie and Chris for lunch in a few minutes and then going to Martie's to crop and work on cards. Yippee! It's great to be back in the swing of things again!

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Two blessed days so far this week---let's go for a record!!!