Thinking of Linda J. and Martie today

For about an hour and a half today I spent time reveling in one of my favorite movies, one which I actually own but chose to watch on TV. Only yesterday my blogging friend, Jami, sent me a message on Facebook, reporting she used "our" movie for instruction in her prison program, "The Bucket List". She emphasized to me the parts I love the best from the movie---the scene where Carter and Edward are sitting on top of a mountain, looking over at the pyramids at Giza (been there!!!). Carter tells Edward the myth of the two questions asked before being allowed into heaven. Edward says, "Okay, I'll bite..." Carter goes on to recite the questions, "Have you had joy in your life?" and "Have you brought joy to the lives of others?" Answering only in the affirmative, truthfully, gets one admitted to heaven.

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When I saw this movie the first time, I was with Justin, Martie, and Linda J., my best friends on earth. I cannot imagine seeing this movie with anyone other than these two ladies and getting as much from it. Oh, and of course, Justin, the good sport who put up nicely with all the weeping! I met Jami by clicking on a button on my profile page on blogspot.com where I had listed my favorite movies, and ta da!, a long-distance friendship was born!

I go on record as being the "laugher" in the middle....especially because of the glass of Diet Coke in front of me!

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This morning I did go down to the pool to exercise my knees and since the adult pool is still under repair, I went to the teen's pool, closest to the building. I climbed down the stairs into the water and yow!, it was cold! I thought perhaps the longer I was in the water the less it would chill me but not so. Back out I climbed, carrying my cell phone and soda can with me. The air temperature was about 87 or so at the time but the water, measured by Randy when he arrived, was "only" 82. He said it was 81 last Thursday, trying to make me think that made a difference---no dice! I was not going in and that was that!

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Dawn, the aerobics instructor and Lonnie, another lady who takes the class showed up. I got to hug Lonnie because she has been gone to VA to help her daughter move and then I was gone to help my mom move. Lonnie brought me a present, specially purchased for me on her travels in VA---a cobalt blue pedestal coffee mug! She had to clean it up as it was grubby from sitting in an antique mall, where she claimed it was calling my name--KIM, KIM, KIM......I love it, love the thought and the extra effort she made to get it for me, and I will cherish it!

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She asked if she could borrow my movie, "Lady Sings the Blues" and also relieved me of a button necklace that she is going to copy for herself. Lonnie makes jewelry using buttons, which is why she found herself in the antique mall, looking for materials. I had explained about my button necklace having been tangled with a "good" necklace and she is sure she can get them separated. The gold chain had been purchased on a cruise Justin and I took several years ago and the pendant has been in my jewelry box since the chain got tangled. It will be great to have it free of its tangled mess!

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Much of my pool time was spent on the phone, at least until my battery started to fail. While I was sitting out there, watching the others aerobicize, Connie, the maintenance lady, called to me. She was standing on the porch of The Palace with a pretty blonde lady with a big dog. The new lady is Barbara, renting a unit on the 5th floor and wanting to meet people. Connie knows what she is doing by introducing us! I got Barbara's info, e-mail and telephone numbers, plus a bit of biographical data to use in the newsletter. She mentioned that she joined The Club and looks forward to going over to have dinner sometime, which I took as an invitation. So, soon, we will be dining together and becoming better acquainted! Poor thing does not know what she is getting herself into!

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As I watched "The Bucket List", I went through a small bin of photos I had in the closet from when I did up Justin's graduation photo boards for the party. I found many "old" pictures of trips gone by, including some from a trip in summer of 1995 when my family (Timmy was in utero at this time!) met Lori, David, Dustin and Jamie Out West. We went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons together plus Dinosaur Nat'l. Monument and Craters of the Moon Park. I remember being ghastly tired on this trip, sleep would wash over me, as I was yet in my first trimester. Also in the bin were photos taken when my then-spouse and I went to Hawaii in 2000, a bittersweet trip which I am glad I was able to take, under the circumstances.

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Other photo envelopes include pictures of Justin with my dad at various times, photos of Alayna as a little girl with Justin brushing her hair and emptying the dishwasher with her at Grandma K's, and one of Justin getting a ride to school from Tommy!

Justin had to wear his bike helmet for his ride to school on Tommy and Linda's Honda GoldWing

I am singing a little "Creedence" this morning!

When I got up at one point this very early morning, the sunrise was absolutely spectacular, so much so that I decided not to grab the camera to capture it. Add another regret to my list....But my initial thought was, "What a lovely sunrise on Lynn's birthday!" Happy birthday to my sister, Lynn! I am wondering what tasty morsel she baked for her treat today....Gone are the days of Tootsie Roll Suckers as the birthday treat!

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When I did finally get up, the sky was cloudy and grey, the green algae moved in along the shore. Nothing like some good wave action to keep it flowing away from here, like we had on Saturday. But today is quite calm so it hangs like oil on a puddle outside our building. When the water is still as it is right now, the mullet entertain with their leaps from the river into the air in search of insects. If they would just move further out, the fishermen would treat them to a nice juicy worm!

Here is a shot taken this a.m. of the "Green River" outside my doors

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My neigbhors are out on the patio riverside this morning, as I guessed before opening my doors. They have surround-sound in the house and patio areas which plays Jimmy Buffett music or similar tunes for their listening and dancing pleasure. More like coffee and cigarette pleasure at this time of the day. Being so very still outside today, the smoke wafts up this way and I am glad to be able to pull the doors closed once more.

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Such a full day Monday was! Besides waking up tired after staying up late for the Packer game (Whoo! What a game!!!!) I had little time before having to leave for Bible study. There were several things I had to take care of prior to class including posting the revised Prayer Chain and stuffing the mailboxes with the updated versions for those on the Chain. We are meeting in the Fellowship Hall again, which is ideal now that Pastor won't have to put up tables and grab chairs first thing on Monday morning. All is ready to go! Gretchen was accustomed to sitting on the soft front pew with the table in front of her and last time we met she mentioned wishing she had a cushion to use on the metal chairs. When I got my Bible and folder out of the car, I grabbed my beach towel for her to sit on and she appreciated having the cushion against the chair.

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Our study in Psalms continues and it was enjoyable to look at all the ways in which the Lord showed mercy to His people and continues to do so. Mercy is a word not used enough outside of church circles, it seems to me, but it can certainly be practiced without mention at all times. Psalm 2:12 tells us: Blessed are all who take refuge in him. But we always want to fix things ourselves before turning to the Lord with our problems.

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Oddly enough, we went to lunch at Longhorn after Bible study, with nine of us total. Patti, our waitress, was in rare form, giving me a particularly difficult time of it. Never say you do not want the onion straws and change your order to "lettuce salad"!! Just say "salad" and be done with it....yikes! Little did I know there was such a big difference...She was just having fun with us but the rest were very careful with their phrasing of their orders! The ultimate customer service is knowing ahead of time what we are going to order to drink, and have it already on the tray when we are seated! She is that good!

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Originally my plans were to come home and jump in the pool because it seems my knees were complaining about the lack of work out, but the rest of me resisted. I ended up at the computer for a bit and then took care of some paper handling before my rest. I always rest midday and especially when I know I have a meeting that night. Just as I began snacking on my cheese corn, Twila called to see if I wanted to have dinner before the meeting. Heck, yeah! I put away the snack and geared myself for another visit to the China Buffet! Twice in two days and we go months without eating there! But, wait, it gets better-----after Ladies' Group last night, where we had a very long meeting, a bunch of us went back to Longhorn to have a drink! Twice to Longhorn in the same day! Friday night another bunch of us are going out to dinner again, just cannot get enough of the church family these days!

A present to me from Betty G.!!!

By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more":


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch

5.. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret,you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. (I feel this one in my chest.....)

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take "no" for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness (joy) but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business. (This one makes me smile!!!)

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36.Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. (Hmmm....I wonder if that is true.....)

37. Your children get only one childhood. (See Number 19!)

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

I am bug-eyed!

Not entirely all from watching football today either! Much of the afternoon was spent researching and then organizing the Ladies' Group Minutes ring binders, not the easiest task. Some of the Minutes were "filed" from back to front, where the ones I've put away are front to back. There must have been a reason to do it back to front at one time, but I do not think anyone will mind my changing them around. We have a meeting tomorrow night and I needed to have things in order, my order!

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Sorry for being so tardy with the posting today but between the football games (two in one day!) and working on the note books, I just had to keep at my tasks! I only hope I can stay awake to see the end of the Packer game tonight! The Jaguars fell short by two points in a fairly enjoyable game. Certainly some will claim it was poorly played, by both teams, but I just enjoy watching. Next week will be the home opener but I am afraid it will be blacked out due to low sales. It would have helped, perhaps, to have a victory for the Jags today.

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This morning I did not even log on as I had to head right out for Bible class and get some stuff posted on the bulletin board at church. Much time was spent in search of the wood easel for the portable board but it was no where to be found. I must remember to go to Lowe's for a nut and wing to repair the broken easel so we do not have to improvise, looks cheap to have to prop things haphazardly.

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We had a good "house" today for our Sunday school and Bible study opening, with us all going separate directions. In addition to the above items going on, Pastor was also offering a Parenting Class for people with young kids. So, the adult study was in the Fellowship Hall and the parenting class in the new building, with the older kids set up in church with Janet.

Here is Mike Chappell, our Staff Minister, leading the adult Bible study in the Fellowship Hall

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After worship I was heading for home to get set up for the football game in front of the TV, but my phone rang just in the knick of time.....It was Paul and Emily asking me to join them for lunch! Sure!! I wheeled right into the parking lot as they were crossing over to China Buffet so all arrived at the same time. I really miss our time together and greatly appreciated them calling me. Sarah was adorable as always but hardly ate enough to keep a bird alive, in my opinion. Instead of watching football this afternoon, the grown ups were going to watch a movie together while Sarah slept, and that was exactly what Paul's "fortune" said in his after-lunch cookie!!! Emily suggested they buy a lottery ticket too since that fortune was so right on!

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When I pulled onto the property just minutes before kickoff, I noticed that the cabana doors were open, which was not right. Normally the cabana closes after Labor Day so I could have had a hot dog yet today if I had not already eaten. Or a pina colada at half time except they close at 3:00 pm! Nuts! The adult pool is waterless so all folks have to use the teen's pool. A special cover has to be put on a drain in the other pool to prevent anyone from being sucked into it. Oooh, it sounds so terrible when you write it down.......

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Going through those books of "Minutes" for hours (that is just not right!!!) made me decide to work on my desk in the next couple days to get that mess cleared up. In the older of the binders, I found the invitation to the baby shower the Ladies' Group held for me when I was expecting Timmy. That was a bittersweet find. I remember Justin was there for the Shower and I think Mom was there, too.

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One of our members gave me a warm, fuzzy today during Bible study....Jackie mentioned that before she joined our church, she had never heard of WELS before, just went looking for a Lutheran church. John and she came one Sunday to check us out and were greeted by yours truly----the rest is history! She has shared that story with me in the past, but today told the class. The subject is "Our Church, Our Ministry" which is how it came up. As Linda J. and I talked about at some length yesterday, we never know when the smallest kindness results in getting an unexpected gift card to BoJangles!

It was a nice day after all!

Not all of September 11 was spent in front of the TV. Once I heard from Maggie O. that she was too pooped to party for lunch, I headed off to take care of some business and fun. I decided my tummy still wanted some Koko's and I needed to see my friends at Great Hang Ups after being gone several days, so away I went to the Island!

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There was a client at the desk when I arrived and I was introduced to a woman, a delightful one at that, who worked for Dee's hubby for years. She was getting some items framed and shared a story about a surly street artist in Rome from whom she bought a piece. She knew if she walked away from the art work she liked, the regrets would follow her home, so she sucked it up and dealt with the grumpy Italian man. He became quite pleasant when he realized she was an honest-to-goodness customer and not only a nosy 'tourista'. I shared my story of leaving my chandelier behind and having to go back the next year to fetch it home with me.....

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After posing and modeling some earings for Julia to post on their website and Facebook, I went next door to have my lunch. As I was being seated, I realized that I knew my table partner. After a long, dear embrace, I was introduced to Kelly's mom, who has moved here from midstate New York to be closer to her daughter. Kelly and family lived next door to us in Fiddlers Ridge, which is where we lived when Timmy was born. She served as his pediatrician for awhile, too, and we remembered the day he got shots in each leg at the same time. Nurse on one side, Kelly on the other---1,2,3, go! Last night I looked through the memorial book from Timmy's funeral and I did not see their names listed...I hate to ask the question because if they were there and I don't remember, I am embarrassed, oddly so, for not knowing.

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We had a wonderful, wonderful catch-up visit, discussing scrapbooking, her church (my favorite topics!!!) and our kids. Kelly now works as the peds doctor with Community Hospice so I told her that I had been involved with Hospice for a few years after my sister-in-law died. In fact, I began the training program the Monday after separating from my then spouse. Since Kelly does the peds care, I mentioned that I had a client on Old Middleburg Road and she asked, "Jessica?" YES! She knew Jessica and I told her about the movie premier we had for her in San Marco complete with red carpet and limosine ride. Jessica made a movie to tell others about her illness and as a keepsake for her family and did it up right! I must remember to send Kelly the photos I have of that event.....Jessica has been gone about a year now, according to Kelly. What a great time we had at lunch! We have since found each other on Facebook so the catching up will continue. Her hubby is a nurse practioner working in oncology so they both have heavy jobs. They worship where Joanne does so we have an additional connection there. Oh, how I love re-finding people, preferably in the flesh, but will settle for Facebook otherwise!

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Oooh, raindrops are falling on my windows! Glad I made the decision to finally get dressed in a garment other than nightwear. Justin just sent me a photo of a major slice of pizza he tackled in Tallahassee, promoted as being "as big your head"! Many years ago Julia at Hang Ups told us about the wonderful calzones from the Spaghetti House which were "as big as your head" and we never forgot that. He said he ate only half of the slice but certainly the rest will not be wasted. Last night he attended a Kenny Chesney concert and today is a football game with the FSU team playing against some other team. I do not follow college sports but he is learning to through his friends who are alum of those schools.

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My chicken has had the stuffings cooked out of it, including a hideous bag of gizzards which worked their way out of the bird as it boiled. My disposal ground it up and sent it away. Yech! Using tongs, I transferred the boiled meat onto a plate to chill before I start tearing at it for the pot pie. This is all very exciting for me. Linda M. asked me if I have been probed by aliens recently because I am cooking things in my kitchen....That just made me laugh! One would think this was true. Thursday I made the egg and cheese souffle with tonight's attempt at pot pie---yes, something is definitely up!

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Last night as I readied for bed, I was reading a book (oh, dear, perhaps Linda M. WAS right.....) and had planned to watch the special on Fox News about the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. Something prevented me from watching however---I just could not bare to watch this program so close to sleeping time. You all know me and my vivid dreams, it might have been to heavy for bedtime viewing, but that is why is scheduled for after kids are in bed. The part that bothered me most was when the security guards and officials encouraged the people to go back to their offices, that everything was okay. Hindsight is truly 20/20 but I could not help but wonder how many more lives would have been spared if folks just kept leaving the building, calling it a day.....What a day it turned out to be! I bought the book about the 911 Commission report findings but have not consumed the whole thing yet. Yet, being the working word there.

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While I settled in for rest, I watched the end of "The Holiday", a rather pleasant movie about two women who swap homes over the Christmas season, one a very successful movie trailer producer from L.A., the other a rather dull writer for a newspaper in England. They each meet people at their respective "winter" homes and the inevitable happens. No, I won't give it away. It is playing again this afternoon and is a great escape for a rainy afternoon. My ice cream last night, however, made quite the mess on my nightie which then transferred to my sheets, so the whole works went into the laundry this a.m. My room always looks quite messy with the unmade bed so must get the bed put back together in order to create the illusion of cleanliness!

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Oh, how I enjoyed talking on the phone for hours this morning with a couple of my lady friends, one from nearby and one from miles and miles away. It's not like I have not seen them lately either, but we always "have words left over", as Justin would say!

This memorable day

As I am watching TV and listening to a bell being rung in a field in rural PA, tears wet my cheeks as the commentators related the historic events of September 11, 2001. I was leaving Wal*Mart when I heard on the radio about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center tower, and stopped to tell Danny Roy about it. He was working outside in the nursery as I drove past, and as I was talking to him, the second plane hit the other tower. I said, "Oh, my God! Now the other tower was hit!" Danny paused a moment and then announced, "That was no accident....If they need me to come back in (the Navy), I am ready to go..." Just like that. He was ready to go. I think this was the sentiment many people had---tell us what we need to do and we will do it! People lined up at our local blood bank to donate in case they needed the blood in New York, Washington, or PA. Folks displayed American flags on their homes and autos and trucks, stores selling out of flags quickly, as the nation was again united against a yet undetermined enemy. We knew the enemy however---terrorism!!!

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My DVD collection includes some of the documentaries made about the terror attacks and I had meant to take one of those to my bro-in-law, John, in Manty but I totally forgot about grabbing it before we left. I will watch it myself and then send it up. I tried to find the History Channel on my TV but I think it is now outside my range of offerings. I have the most basic of packages provided by my condo and do not care or really need to add to it so will have to suffice with what is offered on the stations I do pick up. None of the stuff is really new, and since I own some of the DVDs already, I will get by.

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I always wanted the big photo book of the events of September 11, 2001, whether it was TIME or another publisher. Seems as though I cannot get enough. The Smithsonian Museum has a wonderful display about the terror attacks and if you get to Washington, DC, take the time to visit it. NYC has a nice memorial set up in the church near the site of the WTC which Brenda N. has toured. The fence with tiles affixed still stands near the site of the WTC which Justin and I saw when we were in NYC in late May. Twice I have been to the site of the WTC since the disaster, once meeting people from Eagle Harbor at the fire station across from the site.

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On another note, the breeze off the river is absolutely delightful, again ringing the chimes in my river room doorway. The sky is dotted with clouds but the sun manages to find its way through every now and again. Our dinner last night was actually breakfast and quite delicious. All went away with full tummies, mine being topped off with a special present from Martie---candy corn! My favorite vegetable! My egg and cheese souffle turned out wonderfully and I must add that to my arsenal of things to make for company. Joanne had to cancel at the last minute because of writing a contract for someone so we had no champagne/cranberry juice delights. Just the cranberry juice---aawww! Did you know that Campbell's makes sausage gravy in cans? It was good! Not quite as delicious as that made from scratch by Joanne but we can adjust. I enjoyed several glasses of a juice with peach, mango, and orange juice mixed together, so I had my fruit AND my 'corn' last night!

A day of giving and receiving

Last night I went to bed with some very troubling things on my heart, not personal problems, but related to people about whom I care and with whom I interact. Not meaning to be tauntingly vague, but confidentiality comes into play here. My dear friends, Linda J. and Judy R., both encouraged me to turn it over to the Lord for His handling and that is what I did. I slept well, almost through the night and did not climb out until after 8:30 a.m. My customary can of soda was on the night stand but I moved it to the very far side so I could not absently take a drink if I woke up. Because of blood work this a.m. I had to be NPO until after the blood was drawn.

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Wisely I had kept the "orders" in the car so I would not have to excavate my desk and headed down Kingsley Avenue to find the lab. NOT! Where the labs used to be, they were no longer! One lady came out of the place where Quest was formerly and said they moved next to Regions Bank on Kingsley Ave. Off we both went in search of it. I did not see the sign for Quest but did see LabCor next to Atlantic Bank so wheeled it in there. In the meanwhile, the little gas light lit up with a clanging bell sounding, totally freaks me out when that happens. It is a 'woman thing', I hear. The same lady was standing there in the lobby. Gloria asked me if I followed her or just ended up here and I said it was an accident. I think this place must get more patients by default than by referral!

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The lady checking us in asked me if I had anything to eat or drink after midnight and I very sadly told her I had not. I also told her we had better hurry up because my clothes were starting to get baggy! The other receptionist and she just laughed and laughed, saying they never heard that one before! And she called me "Babe" several times, and I hope she did not mean the pig....A nice lady relieved me of several vials of blood to be measured for heaven knows what. In no time I was in and out after having my blood let and wound my way back up Kingsley to the nearest gas station.

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Across from the hospital is a little "Jiffy" convenience store with gas pumps, rather than a mess of gas pumps with a store besides. The man in front of me was pulling away so I moved into his spot and got out. A lady pulled her van in behind me and I gestured to make sure she had enough room to pull in. She thanked me for pulling ahead and I just smiled as I pumped my gas. Her van was full before my car was, and the lady came up to me, handed me a gift card from BoJangles Chicken. She told me how yesterday she had to drive up and down Blanding Blvd. and no one was nice to her, but I was nice to her today so she gave a gift card as a "thank you"! Wow! Even if I never use the card, the gesture was tremendous.

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I talked to so many nice people today, even ran into an old friend at Winn Dixie, who "stalked" me as she saw my car drive into the parking lot. Cindy is going to be a grandmother around Christmas Day...how exciting! When I got home from the store and was carrying my bags upstairs, Connie, the maintenance lady for The Palace, gave me a scolding because she had offered to help me with my groceries yesterday. I explained this was a new batch since I had forgotten my yellow potatoes, plus needed eggs for my souffle for dinner tonight. Julia Child would be so proud!!!!