Just a few minutes....

....before I get ready to leave for Bible study. A few moments ago the sun was beating me in the face but now is hidden behind the clouds. We had a good soaking rain yesterday with little fanfare (i.e. lightning) which is good for knocking down the fires in the area. It has been a week or so since our plans were affected by smoke and for this I rejoice! Now, what I don't like is the low temps overnight as it takes too long, for my tastes, to warm the day. Speaking as a pool enjoyer, and not as a laborer in the heat.

Judy A. called me yesterday to let me know we do indeed have Bible study today at Victory as there was some question on Sunday as to whether or not we would. Pastor and Anne were gone to MN for a family wedding, plus other activities taking away time in June, there had been no classes. There are few offered between the two churches and I am so hungry for study. My plans had been to attend a Bible Information Class being offered on Tuesday at GS but it seems the couple going through it needs additional time as they deal with other things besides becoming familiar with the Word. It is best if they study with Pastor alone. Certainly I get that but I was looking forward to the class. Of course, I can study and read on my own but it's simply not the same without the group or at least, a leader.

Rita, from Victory, came over to meet me for lunch and to see my place on Wednesday. She had told me about the delicious coconut cake at Hurricane's so we went up to Fleming Island to enjoy a slice. First, in good order, we had regular food first, and then the cake. I had a slider burger, bringing the second one home with me, and I must say, it was quite delicious. Almost like a hand-pattied burger with a grilled bun. It won't reheat that way but my mouth waters in anticipation of the second sandwich. Half the yummy cake came home with me too and made a lovely breakfast morsel for me today. It had fruit, cake, and yes, coconut on it and was moist beyond belief. Justin wanted me to try the Parmesan fries but I only took the ones that came with my meal so he thinks we have to go again some day so I can try the garlicky/cheesy fries.

After lunch we came back home, changed clothes, and got into the pool, as it was sprinkling ever so lightly. The rain did not last, but the sun played peek-a-boo with us as we bobbed in the water. Another lady, a guest from the hotel, was in there with us, hoping to get some sun but eventually she gave up and went inside. We had the pool pretty much to ourselves. After a point Rita and I got out to sit at the table to talk, but when the wind threatened to lift the table off the ground, I closed the umbrella and we came upstairs. No sooner did we get indoors did the heavens open and the wind threw huge rain drops against the doors as we sat in the river room. Amazingly the time had flown by and it was time for Rita to head for home, in the pouring rain, and I readied myself for dinner with Judy C. Good thing I ate lightly for lunch!

Wow, can you believe it is already going to be July tomorrow! Where did that month get to? Next week the young people will be here to stay which means I must stock up on those grocery and snack items needed to make my houseguests feel welcome. My sister, Lynn, suggested bagels would make a good, solid breakfast, as toast, cereal, and even some frozen waffles or pancakes would also be tasty. I also meant to look into frozen breakfast entrees which I saw coupons for in my mom’s newspaper when I was in WI. Might have been Jimmy Dean or something like that. Since I am not a breakfast eater (at home) person, eating much later in the morning than first thing, I am a bit rusty when it comes to feeding young people in the a.m. It will come back to me, have no fear.

Brent was able to sit in with us for Bible study today since he had sufficient coverage in the preschool classroom. It was nice to have him and at the conclusion, he announced that Kristin and he have accepted the Call to W. Palm Beach to serve as Staff Minister there. This decision did not surprise me as I suspected he was leaning this direction. Someone told me that he was friends with the pastor serving there and understood fairly well the circumstances of this congregation. He will be a blessing to that church, as he was to Victory. I gave him a hug and my best wishes for his new endeavor, reminding him how far back we go…1998! He came when Pete Prange came, and attended GS before Victory was established. Brent was there for Timmy’s funeral and at Justin’s confirmation. *sigh* Boy, will he be missed at Victory but also greatly appreciated at Hope Lutheran about 5 hours south of here. Lord’s blessings, Brent and Kristin!

All fixed

Michael, the appliance repairman, has just left after replacing the computer in my refrigerator. I hope this does the trick and all my troubles will be solved. All that I lost besides the cost of the repair was my milk, which had only about enough in it for a bowl of cereal. The nice lady who schedules for them called me when I was at Trivia last night to let me know the part came in (already???) and that he was coming in the a.m. to reinstall. Cool beans!

We did well at Trivia but did not win. The second half kicked our butts, with either just not knowing the answers or guessing incorrectly. One question was regarding the first actress who ever earned $1 million dollars for a movie, in 1963. Most of us thought either Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn, but Rita mentioned Liz Taylor. Drat! We chose MM but it was Liz. The sports question in the 2^nd half was about pro football and yet, we got it wrong. The answer was not Peyton Manning but instead Curt Warner, for going three times to the Super Bowl and has the record for yards passed (or something like that). Too vague for me, we leave the sports questions to Jesse and sometimes Justin normally, but last night, Erica, the soccer player, knew a soccer answer!

I did manage my sleep somewhat on schedule overnight but yet this a.m. I feel sleepy. While Michael was here, I managed to get busy enough to dust some furniture and glass, even cleaned the toilet in the guest bathroom. One of the offers on Living Social was for cleaning service and I bought it for a greatly reduced price. When I called to schedule the housekeepers, the lady told me the week I wanted them was fully booked already. Rats! July rather sneaked up on me and I wanted the rooms cleaned before the young people come to stay with me, from Rocky Mountain High school.

Another reason for tidying is that Rita is coming today. We are going to lunch and then to the pool, weather permitting. She is home alone this week so is having a good time doing what she wishes, since her son is gone to Camp S.O.U.T.H. in GA. Her older son is at intern in Washington DC and her hubby works out of town. We shall enjoy our day!

A refrigerator update

Well, the nice man was here and gone, leaving me a clean freezer, and plans for a return visit by "Michael" when the part comes in. This repair is a bit more costly than the first time, but I am thinking the first repair, it may have yet been under warranty. I got a discount because I answered in the affirmative one of the series of questions he had for me before he hit the SEND key on his iPad. The only thing I could answer 'yes' to was the question regarding my age group. I told him honestly that I can get a discount at Beall's on Wednesdays and he was filled with disbelief. "Really? What do you eat? Wait, I can see right here what your menu is..." since the freezer drawers and their contents were on the counter. Pot pies, pizza, a package or two of frozen meat, other containers of food, and yes, some raspberry sherbet! No, Michael, I don't think my diet affects my hair color! Earlier, when I offered to help him unload the baskets from the freezer, he said, "I never refuse help from a pretty lady" to which I replied, "Is it okay if I help you instead?". He said, "Now come on, don't tell me you can't take a compliment..." and I graciously accepted. (Think he was sniffing the freon on the way over!)

But, anyway, he was a very nice man and insisted on cleaning out the bottom of the freezer for me, suggesting I was trying to take away his job. It is nearly impossible, well, make that extremely difficult, to get to the bottom of the freezer unless under these circumstances. I guess Justin could possibly lift the baskets out for me in order to wipe it the floor of the freezer, but instead, I choose to spend hundreds of dollars to have Michael do it for me! He had to manually defrost some vents at the back of the freezer, used a small wet vacuum to clean that up, and then put it all back together again, awaiting the replacement part. It is plenty cold now and will stay that way, he says, up to a couple of weeks, until it frosts up again.

You know what I love? When I posted the problem on Facebook, I got one e-mail asking if I needed cold soda, plus one text message asking the same question. That is so cool! I have great neighbors, have I mentioned this before? What I did do was put a can in the freezer, and set two timers to make sure it was not forgotten. When I took one out, I put in the next one, and set the timers once more. When this happened the first time, I bought a warranty for the year but never renewed it, figuring it was a waste of money. What could happen? The cost then was $60 a year, I think, and over the next three years, yes, it would have been money well spent!

Playing the waiting game

It seems this has happened before, but I am awaiting the arrival of the appliance repair man this a.m. When I got a soda after I woke up, it did not seem to be extraordinarily cold. I did not notice this until I also removed a stick of butter to soften and found it already started doing that! Now what????

Immediately I got on the computer to find an appliance repair shop in Orange Park, made the call, and got put on the list. The freezer seems to be just fine but the fan or something putting cold air in the fridge is not doing the trick. My neighbors, seeing my posting on Facebook, have offered to get me some cold Diet Coke but right now, it is okay. I can always put a can in the freezer if need be. But must not forget it or we will have yet another mess to clean up! The last time it was on the fritz was in 2008 but it seems more recent than that.

My nice pedicure gotten in Manitowoc is wearing off, the nail edges rough and the polish chipped. Yes, the pool is the culprit, and no, I don’t like to wear the pool shoes. Linda J. has a really nice pair that she likes but I have only worn mine, not as nice as Linda’s, when on the boat or jet skiing. I did try to use them for aerobics a couple times but they were unsatisfactory for me. Summer months equal bad toes and that’s just the way it is! Pool time is so worth it to me. The reason I mention the toes going to pot is that I noticed red flecks on the floor alongside my bed. I thought, “Now what??” but when I looked closely at my hand when wiping it up, realized it is chipped off polish.

Yesterday I took the video out to the pool, arriving just in time for the lifeguard to blow her whistle and get everyone out of the water. Yes, it was thundering! Timing was everything and I missed my chance. All covered in coconut sunscreen and nowhere to go! Kay was happy to get the movie, though, especially since their pool time was over, they only arrived about 45 minutes before the thunder did. I had put my address label inside the cover of the video (DVD) so she remembers where it came from.

Justin and I went to church at Victory on Sunday, even though I tried to get him to come to Good Shepherd instead, since we worship at 10:00 in the summer time. Nope, he was a hard sell on that point, even though my ‘argument’ was that Pastor and Anne were on vacation and we would likely have a video instead of sermon. He knows how I feel about that. Got to see Suzanne and family there and Daniel asked me to sign his new cast, Gator orange, of course. We sat with Rita on one side and Stephanie and Erica on the other side of us. Brent is deliberating a Call to a church in W. Palm Beach and was having a meeting after the service to discuss it with the congregation.

Justin and I did not stay for the meeting, heading together to St. Johns Town Center Mall for our lunch, then choosing Old Navy for his shopping. Grandma K. bestowed some money on him so he could buy suitable garments for job hunting. I had gotten him a nice pair of slacks last year, I think, but he got them dirty when stopping to do something on a job site, mud stains, I believe. Now, he has two pair of khakis and four polo shirts in a lightweight knit, removing the excuse for wearing jeans to church. (I have ulterior motives!). Yes, I am so glad and thankful that he goes to church, and yes, it should not matter if he wears jeans….but, if he has nice slacks to wear instead, especially when worshiping with his mama…Well, you know the rest of the sentence!

My choice for lunch was PF Chang, which I absolutely LOVE. My favorite is the crispy honey chicken with brown rice and Justin likes the beef and broccoli. The waiter suggested he try the Mongolian beef so Justin did, with the waiter incorporating broccoli back into it. It truly was delicious, almost had a sweetness to it. As did my honey chicken! Justin ate all his food and the waiter boxed mine up for me, except he did not take my brown rice. It was a tight squeeze to get the chicken in so that’s okay. The leftovers for dinner were simply delicious---again!

Our original shopping plan was to go to Kohl’s but he felt that it was handier and more economical to go to Old Navy. The polo shirts were only $10 each, and that is truly a good value. On the way back to get his car which was parked at church, Justin called his grandma to thank her for the clothes. Kohl’s on Southside is located on Atlantic Avenue, which, for him, would be quite handy but not so much as the Mall. And PF Chang! He has wanted me to try a restaurant at the Beach but that would not have worked out yesterday. Perhaps on a Thursday after Bible study we can do that!

One of the reasons we had a tiny time crunch was that I had promised Tracy that I would check in on MamMa mid-afternoon Sunday. Tracy’s cousins were staying with MamMa until early on Sunday when they left for Disneyworld. Friday we went to La Nopalera for lunch, as usual, and it was so nice. They treated me, which was extra nice, and also partook of margaritas with me. Nina, Steve, and their son, Juan, came in from Houston to see MamMa and stayed with her while Tracy and Cassidy were in Boulder, CO, apartment shopping. It all worked out, including my getting down there at 3:00 pm to visit Willie Mae. And then the thunder started!

I just can't get enough

This little guy is just so cute, all day long! His two brothers are standing at the mailbox awaiting the arrival of a special gift from their great-auntie. Justin used to own several series of 'chapter books' which I thought we still had here at home. Alas, they are not to be found so Amazon to the rescue! I love it that they can read!

Playing peek a boo with the sun

Am I ever enjoying my day today! At this moment I am chortling at a “Frasier” episode, how I do love their banter. The other night I sent my sister, Lori, a snippet from a script which had me, figuratively speaking, rolling on the floor. It was a description Niles was giving a bartender when Frasier and he were looking for Daphne. Something about 'skin like Devonshire cream and eyes that pierced the soul'…typical Niles. Lori and I would simply roar at these if we watched them together. Perhaps Lori and David will come down at Christmas this year and we can sit together and watch. Sitting on towels, of course!

Earlier in the day, as I waited for the sun to come out, I watched the news and then “You’ve Got Mail”, the second half of it anyway. What a sweet movie it is, gets me every time! The news program I was watching switched to coverage of the murder trial going on further down the state which I refuse to give a moment’s time. Ugh! So, I found this charming movie and visited New York with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks instead.

At long last, I gave up waiting for the sun and went out to swim. In fact, I broke my own rule about swimming when the sun is not out and got into the pool. It was much cooler than the last time I was in, likely because of the lack of sunshine to warm the exposed parts of my body. For an hour I did my laps and when not circling the pool, I kept my legs moving when I stopped to talk. This nice lady, Kay, was sitting on the edge of the pool and we got talking about movies. (Her hubby is the one who reads in the pool and acts like he doesn’t want other talking when he’s reading…) She mentioned that she would like to see “The Way We Were” again, had not seen it in years so I am going to let her borrow it. She has never seen “The Bucket List” either so I am lending that movie as well.

One of the older ladies at The Club named Caroline was at the pool, arriving after I did. She comes to walk in the water, parking her walker at the top of the steps for when she gets out. Back and forth, back and forth she goes and what a pistol she is! I can only imagine she was a spitfire in her day, working as a Realtor back in the ‘old days’ of Orange Park real estate. Oh, the stories she can tell! It is obvious that she resents having been laid up by her malady requiring the walker, wanting to be free of it, but the recent doctor visit reported no change after three years of using it. Caroline did mention dancing a bit the other night with a fellow strong enough to hold her up! She was complaining that Pasta Market charges too much for their wine, which might be why they don’t do good business for the dinner hour….I found that amusing!

Speaking of spitfires, last night was Happy Hour at the cabana (instead of Wednesdays) and only a handful of people were there, due to a turn in the weather just prior to 6:00 pm. Fortunately I have Danny’s phone number now so I could text him to make sure activities would take place. Penny was waiting for me, and it was just great to see her again. Mary Lew, the low talker, was there, announcing to all who entered that she was the first one there! Randy and his wife, Carol, came later and I am always so glad to see her. She is simply a delight, and told me she finally made it to Great Hang Ups---without me! Carol had been a client of theirs for years when they were on Kingsley Avenue but not in the 7 years since the shop moved to the Island. Penny told Carol, “Kim doesn’t like it when we go to Great Hang Ups without her….” and she was right!

A couple whom I did not know joined our group, members of The Club, who live in Ft. Lauderdale. What a fun couple they were! The man sort of reminded me of Jim B. from church, and she, Joan, was just a hoot. They are about to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary and she told us her life story as we sat there. Most of us were riveted to the love story but poor Mary Lew, on the end of the table, sort of missed out on it. She was talking to Betty’s daughter, Kathy, who was trying to listen to this other story as well. I felt badly for Kathy, as I doubt she could even hear what ML was saying to her, just smiling and nodding at her. Next time I see Kathy, she might be wearing a puffy shirt! “…but I don’t want to be a pirate!”

Joan told us about how her hubby and she lived on the same block in Brooklyn, NY…she was 13 and he was 14 when they fell in love. They got married when she was 19 years old, and he was in the Air Force. After the Air Force he went to work for IBM and continues to work with Microsoft as a consultant. They were fascinating folks and I enjoyed meeting them. They come up about once a month, having already met Penny a while ago at a Wednesday Happy Hour. Joan and her hubby have a big shindig planned for their anniversary and after that, taking their entire family on a cruise. Joan mentioned she might have to just get up and dance on the bar at the party, and I believe she can do it!

Since it was Happy Hour, the regular menu was not being offered, only some appetizers were served. Being such a spoiled brat, there was nothing I was interested in eating. Some kind of bean dip which was to be stuffed into a pita thing, plus homemade salsa and chips. I could have had some chips but I do not eat the rest of that. Later on I made myself a summer sausage sandwich on a dinner roll for my dinner…..so sad for me! Not really, it was wonderful!

The other night when Judy J. picked me up for dinner and Bible study, she remarked how much she liked my hair. It is bleaching out, as it does in the summer, some natural highlights especially where the silver usually is. She said it looked good against my tan and I thanked her. But I also told her I just bought silver remover that very day! At first I thought I could stand waiting for a few months to do it, but gave in, and removed the silver before getting dressed again after coming in from the pool this afternoon. When I mixed it up, the new foamy type of treatment, it looked quite red so I tested an area first to make sure it would not turn me into Lucille Ball. Nope, I am more like Desi! Using the lightest brown color seems to be the closest to the color the rest of my hair is, for some very strange reason. Lightest brown would not be the color I would use to describe my color but I leave that to Nice ‘n Easy to figure out!

Thinking about our trips....

He will be greatly displeased if he sees this posting, but this is Justin enjoying an expensive glass of soda on the piazza outside of the Santa Croce Cathedral, barely visible on the left of this photo.

Yesterday, I wrote how thankful Justin is about our visits to Rome and the Mediterranean region. Sometimes I forget that he was not with me every time I was there, but in my mind he was...hmmm. I do depend upon him to remember things that I have long erased from my memory banks. That's where the scrapbooks come in handy.

Here is the chandelier which Justin would not rest until he found, hanging from the ceiling in the shop--right where I saw it in 2005 when visiting Florence with Twila and Jean Nichols. Had to go back to get!

He mentioned the story of the guys moving the car. Here's more of the story: When the car was in our way, we were on our way to eat at an Italian restaurant, go figure it would be Italian, with a group from the cruise. Justin and I were seated with some ladies traveling together, a mom, her daughters, and perhaps a granddaughter, if memory serves. They took a liking to Justin, of course. After lunch was our walking tour of the ruins of ancient Rome, seeing the spot where Caesar was burned, the three arches, just magnificent sites.

We were up and down, climbing, standing, walking, climb some more, in the summer heat, and I was physically taxed. We got back on the bus for the late afternoon stop at the "St. Paul in Chains" historical site and I was too wiped out to go in. Today I regret it but at the time, it was right to sit it out. The nice ladies took charge of Justin and enjoyed it with him. I perched myself on a wall and watched the world go by, with Italy having won a huge soccer event at that moment. Oh my! What a parade of flag waving Vespa riders and horns blowing and excitement was I witness to!! We must go back so I can see "St. Paul in Chains" and the Santa Croce cathedral we missed in Florence when we were chandelier shopping.