I’m back, baby, I’m back!

Spoken like George Costanza, it seems my good health is returning to me, at long last. Yesterday I coaxed myself to go outside and float around in the pool since it had been a couple days since my last ‘event’ and my bones were begging to be floating. It was nearly miraculous, the curative effect of the sun and warm water, and talking to people.

One negative was that the adults’ pool was on the fritz, in fact, they all were, but the handyman was busy cleaning it up. I was glad I was not out there the day before!!! What it turned out to be was the pumps have failed so no water was being filtered. The cabana lady came out to discover the water had turned almost brown since the day before (it does happen quickly) mostly from no filtering plus being littered with leaves and residue from the two late storms Friday and Saturday. He had shocked it and was using a device to vacuum the bottom of the pool. We used the teens’ pool instead, which was fine with me.

The cabana lady, Sylvia, wondered where I had been and when I explained, and ordered a Diet Coke in decaf, she said, “Now I know you’re sick!” I assured her I was probably better but would not be dining with her today. One of my newer acquaintances at the pool, Lee, came out after not being around for over a week. She is new to the area so we had lots to talk about. Lee is in need of a handyman at her place so I gave her some names and numbers, plus told her about my wonderful massage therapist and about where to get a pedicure on Fleming Island.

She is also an artist so I am going to make plans with her to go visit Great Hang Ups some day. Lee is a single lady, just bought a home not far from The Club, but off the property. Another artist friend, Melissa, came out to the pool, too, so we three ladies talked about art a bit, which intrigued Lee. It will be nice if she becomes involved and gets to know more people around Orange Park. Her sister lives in Mandarin which is whole ‘nother world so I accept the challenge of introducing her to goods and services around here, and Fleming Island!

Eventually we were able to move to the other pool as more and more folks came out to enjoy the day. Many were commenting about how terribly hot it was but you could not prove it by me. Or even Lee, for that matter. Being in the water made any excessive heat go away. For those who sat poolside, they were miserable from the heat but I was unaware. The lady to whom I loaned the DVD a few months ago, named Kay, returned it to me, saying she had been looking for me when she came but we missed each other. Her hubby is the one who reads while standing in the pool.

Kay, Lee, and I talked about books (yes, books again!) and how we are not on board yet with the Kindle or e-readers. Kay said she really likes the smell of new books (me, too!) but her kids gave her a Kindle as a gift so she is trying to learn to like it. We three ladies preferred new books, but Kay’s spouse gets his books at the Chamblain Book Mine, the place I took Lynn and Linda last time they were here. Kay was telling Lee about donating her used books, which she does not keep, generally speaking, to the women’s shelters in the area. I can fix Lee up with Penny from Quigley House for donating her books there rather than to Goodwill. Kay said that Goodwill will often sell books by the pound to the recyclers so no one gets to read them. I have to take her word on that, since I don’t know.

I made Lee laugh by telling her how Jessica, upstairs from me, calls my books “boring”. Lee reads fiction, has read “The Help”, the book which is all the rage, and went to see the movie already that weekend. Kay wants to see the movie, having grown up in that era and in that environment. She told us about how she had a black maid all her life, the same lady, Miss Maddie, I think she called her. Every meal she ate was prepared by Miss Maddie, but while they did not eat together, the maid was allowed to use the same dishes and the same bathroom, not like it was in the book. Miss Maddie was flown by Kay’s parents from Mississippi to attend Kay’s wedding, and was flown again to stay with Kay when she had her first baby! She was like family. I had never met anyone who was raised this way and it was amazing to hear this story from Kay. Makes reading the book and seeing the movie (hurry up, Lynn and Linda!!!) all the more enticing!

Sitting in the light of the laptop!

I might as well write while I have battery power on this new laptop. That fact slipped my mind until I saw it light up across the semi-darkened room. There is no electricity right now, as we just had a fierce thunderstorm complete with winds, rain, and hail. Hope my car is okay after the pummeling. I was afraid my windows would break in the river-facing rooms. Pretty scary, like the storm we had in WI that night when the sirens were going off. We don’t have sirens here; it’s every man for him, so to speak.

Dare I say it? I think I am feeling a bit better! After talking with the doctor’s office today and taking their advice about this virus, I am following the b.r.a.t. diet, with one exception: banana, rice, applesauce, and toast. My friend, Judy J., offered to get me anything I needed from the store and I took her up on the offer. The doctor also suggested an over-the-counter medication to take for the diarrhea with a probiotic in it (?) so Judy asked the pharmacist at Publix for it. And, I have to drink Gator Ade, which I never cared for. Judy got me a blue colored one, and I like just fine. This is doable!

The rice is boil in the bag instead of microwavable like my 90 second rice packages are so I had to get out a pan to heat the water. There is enough left for another time, as I did not wish to overdo it. I guess I could have a baked potato to make up for the banana which I don’t eat, but also the Gator Ade might help with that. I believe it’s the pills, however, making the difference in my life right now. Should have done that sooner, I guess!

My upstairs neighbor, Randy, and his lady friend, Denise, just came down to visit me because they knew I was feeling poorly and was  frightened from the storm. He brought a cribbage board along, sure that I would know how to play since I am from ‘up north’. He is originally from Ohio and said everyone there knows how to play. It’s not a problem though since Denise doesn’t play either. Oh, just now, the power was attempting to come back on, gave us a little flicker. I am sure it won’t be long before the electricity is back on. When Randy came, he was wearing some sort of head gear with blinking red lights and had a flashlight attached to it. He looked like a rescuer, so funny, peering in my kitchen window like that!

It’s getting light outside now, even as it is dusk. Denise and I heard water dripping in my river room as we sat there and sure enough, water was coming in through the top of my tiny window. Not sure if it was coming in from above my house or not, but it stopped. Randy mentioned he had water coming in around his sliding glass doors and since he lives two units above me, this might be from his leak. Or from Travis’s house. The rains were torrential and wind-driven so anything can happen, but not like it used to, thankfully.

Speaking of water dripping, I spoke with Greg from my insurance company and once more he assured me he had it under control. He did stop by to pick up the package I got in the mail but I did not see him, choosing to place the envelope outside the door, due to my illness. Hopefully this will all go away nicely or at minimum expense. Randy suggested I hire an attorney but I will wait until I hear from Greg about it, as they likely would provide the defense. At least I would hope so. My neighbor is an attorney but that might prove to be a conflict of interest for her to represent me.

Yay! The electricity is back on and all my machinery is now grinding and making starting up noises. The printers go through gyrations to reset and the fridge makes its own sounds. Life is good, now that there is again power, although it is still lightning across the river. The lights are out over there, too, except for one lone light on a dock. Justin reported his electricity was off, too, but I am not sure where he is tonight. Sometimes he stays at Jesse’s mom’s house on Fleming Island instead of going back to the beach. He has to work for his father tomorrow so might be on the Island tonight. Anyway, I need to make my bed and get myself settled in for the night. It feels good to be feeling better!

Still on the sick list

The sun is rising on the river, brilliant red in color this Friday morning. I have been wakeful since about two a.m., I think, unless I miscounted the chimes of the clock. A couple times I turned over in my bed to try to sleep some more, and I may have, but not fast asleep. Whatever is living inside my abdomen is roaring and gurgling, rolling and cramping at times. Sometimes I think it’s hunger, as that is the sensation it exhibits, as if I am wildly hungry, but I am not. Yesterday I finished off my raspberry sherbet and later in the day, ate the leftover green beans from Monday’s birthday dinner with Justin. It does not hurt all the time nor does the cramp last very long. If I were to call the doctor and manage to get an appointment today, I just wonder what she would be able to do for me. Likely she would listen to my tummy and try to figure out just what it’s trying to say!

Last night I tried to stay awake long enough to watch the Jaguar game, and was glad I had, at first. Right off the bat they were up by six points against the Patriots but that changed dramatically before long. When I quit watching, the score was 29-12, so I switched back to the debates until I fell asleep. When I woke this early morning, I got to watch them again, in full, and then the follow-up programming.

Besides my aching tummy, I am waiting to hear back from my condo insurance claims adjuster as I was met with a packet of paperwork in regard to the Great Flood last year. The insurer for the unit below mine wants to collect for the loss from Butch and from me. Butch has already given a deposition in regard to this but I did not know I had the same stuff waiting for me. I have 30 days to respond and since I was gone from home much of that time, I am running short of it! The adjuster, Greg, is so reassuring all the time (he’s the one who suggested I find something else to worry about the last time I got such a letter!) and is addressing this situation for me. Hopefully I will hear from him today. I have my liability insurance with this same company so we shall see how this all plays out. I really wish it were over, once and for all!

Justin offered to bring me some more sherbet today and I also asked for some diet Jello, already made, from the store. This week I had to run around to get him cold medicine and now he can return the favor. I would like to try some toast to see how that sits but hesitate in doing so. It’s nearly the weekend and time’s a wastin’ here!!!!! I haven’t been to the pool since Tuesday morning and the temps have been so amenable to swimming. Saturday I am supposed to be at a funeral for Iva, actually a memorial service, but the way it looks, I might have miss it, unless I feel dramatically better. Sure don’t wish to make anyone else sick, right?

Judy C. called me yesterday to see if I was going to the Worship Committee meeting last night. She did not know I was feeling poorly but said that Pastor had asked her to give a presentation about the Worship Conference. He had said the same thing to me but I didn’t think it was to be presented at this meeting. I had told him the two of us would put something together when we had a chance to get together. She told me she was going to use the keynote address booklet we received, highlighting various areas that were valuable. Not many people would be at last night’s meeting since the musician and head of the Altar Guild were away, and we have no head elder at present. Perhaps later I will work some more on my notes and such, which Judy yields to me in that regard any way. And I truly love doing it!

Let me give this a shot

“Kathrine, I have a sick girly here….” That was the call my grandma would make to Mom to let her know one of us girls showed up at her house (near the church/school) feeling poorly. Grandma would have us take our dress off and lie on her bed in our petticoats so as not to mess ourselves up. It was often me that was found vegging out at Grandma’s house, and today, it is me again. Beginning last night, I had a twisting, bloating feeling in my tummy, as though I had just pushed away from the ThanksLiving feast table. All night long, I struggled to find a comfy way to keep myself and manage to sleep. And sleep I did! First hot, then cold, sweating and freezing at the same time, weakness in my extremities, and so on. The only computer effort I could expend was to let my friend, Maggie O. know I was not coming to water aerobics this a.m., after I had assured her I would be there. Most of the day was spent in sleep, or rest, first with blankets on, and then only a sheet, and so on. Ugh!

I just enjoyed a small portion of raspberry sherbet at 7:00 pm, the first food item to pass my lips today. I have nursed one can of soda and one 20 ounce bottle which still has a slurp left in it. There! Now it’s gone. A shower might be in order and a fresh nightie which might help me feel better too. Depending upon how tonight goes, I might go to Bible study tomorrow but I am not sure about that yet. My eyes are like pokers so reading was pretty much out of the question for me, only able to listen to some of my shows as I dozed in and out.

Yesterday I drove to Palm Coast to see Marian on her birthday and was pleased to see Biff there, too. I gave Marian her gift but she was in a big hurry to get going, as it was bingo day. She let me play two of her cards, and she played two, with Biff’s help. Unfortunately, she kept falling asleep in the middle of laying her tokens down so Biff would keep stirring her to wake her up again. It seems the medication she takes for anxiety and for pain affect her that way. When we left bingo, she mentioned that she didn’t feel well, and could scarcely keep her eyes open, but she did not want me to leave. Biff reminded her that it was nap time and I excused myself and drove the hour back home again. Both legs of the trip were in the rain---nice! Christina was not able to come over because she had a bug, too, which makes me wonder if I picked up something at the nursing home….

Before heading south yesterday, I wrote an e-mail once more to the pastor in Palm Coast to see if he could go see Marian once in a while. He again assured me he would get there, or send the vicar to see her. Wow, he’s got a vicar already! Hopefully he does get over there one of these days, as I keep telling her he says he will come.

Well, I am still tired somehow or another so will close this and head to the shower to make myself feel fresh again. Hope that works!

Waiting for my house to smell good

Justin is coming over for dinner tonight, although he may not know that I am making dinner, and to celebrate his birthday. I have struck out purchasing a pumpkin pie, his favorite, so will opt for raspberry sherbet for dessert. In the meanwhile, I have country-style ribs cooking away in the oven, right next to a roaster with a single rib and sauerkraut for me. Justin won’t eat it but I will. All that was added to the kraut was maple syrup from Cracker Barrel plus some salt and pepper, oh, and a sprinkle of caraway seeds. This reminded me of my plan to clean out my spice cabinet, as I told Mom and Linda, some might even be from when I got married 37 years ago!

Listening the radio is no fun today as the reports regarding the falling markets make my stomach roll. I just wish someone with skill and ability would step in and grab this situation by the reins to get it under control. Calls for the resignation for Geithner are being made but that would merely pacify for a short while. The capitalist system and its management are under attack and I ‘fear the fear’ people have will allow the powers that be to step in and wrest yet another part of the private sector into government control. Or at least intervention. Yikes!

This morning I had a meeting with some folks to give a brief rundown on the WELS Worship Conference recently attended. It was exciting to again visit the seminars/workshops and special worship enjoyed, and the concerts. Wish I could put the enthusiasm in a bottle to spritz around the room on days when mine has dissipated. One of the members from GS was complaining yesterday about the music being too loud during the service, claiming her hearing aids either have to be turned off or removed in order for her to tolerate it. This is not unusual at all from this lady, it is the order of the day, unfortunately, but this time it was the organ being too loud. While others are rejoicing to have the organ operational again, some take issue with its presence during the singing. Spritz, spritz, spritz……

During my meeting with them, I had gotten a phone call from my friend, Brenda, asking me to lunch. YES! We have been having troubles getting together, and it does not help to have me gallivanting all over the upper Midwest half the summer. She is pleased to have her granddaughters for 8 weeks and is making good use of her time with them before they head back to their mother’s home in NC. Our service was incredibly slow at Steak n’ Shake as it seems the kitchen was short staffed (as I was standing at the register, saw a young man filling out an application! Give him an apron—now!!!) but we managed to get done in time for Brenda to get back to work almost on time.

Also I had gotten a text message on the way to the meeting from Justin, lamenting his sore throat and clogged airways, and he asked me to get him some medication to take to break it up. Originally I was going to take it to him on the job, now doing lawns three times a week, but he messaged me to say he will just take it when he comes over later. Poor guy! I hope it’s not allergies….we had both taken a pledge to not have allergies so that would really stink!

Last night I was on a lengthy phone call with a friend from church and while we talked, I hung up clothes and such from my luggage. It is getting there, folks, it is getting there!!! Most of what remains is stuff not requiring hangers but must be dealt with prior to the suitcase being put away. It should be retired for a few months now, God-willing, and my room returned to its normal untidiness. The only room in the house where I hang out, as a rule, and the only one allowed to be untidy. Go figure! Besides the luggage, I have two baskets of towels and other stuff to be dealt with, much of which is from when my houseguests were here!! There is just so many other things I would rather do than that!

A few moments ago I wandered into the kitchen to get ice in my glass (bought a bag at Winn Dixie the other day!) and the aroma of cooking sauerkraut wafted to my nostrils. It is starting to smell awesome in here, but I wonder if Justin will feel the same way. Perhaps his congested passages won’t acknowledge the kraut at all! I can barely see out my bedroom window right now as I have stacked my soda cans along the ledge next to my desk. Before I left for my trip, I had told Connie that I would make the effort to recycle my aluminum cans, and, being true to my word, I have them accumulated for disposal. Now I must find a way to get them down to the bin….plastic bags, perhaps? A couple months ago our building began recycling with the majority of it being glass bottles and newspapers/magazines. The cans will mostly be mine, it seems, but no wine bottles for me.

Bon appetite!

A few more photos

Angelo and his grandma Lynn, on this very warm afternoon. I know Justin would like this outfit on Angelo because of it being "Gator" colors

As warm as it was, Angelo stayed in a good mood, especially when his bottle was on the way!

"Thanks, that's better!"

Lisa with Angelo at breakfast the next morning. They were in for a long ride home since they had no air conditioning in the van (on the fritz) and Manny's tummy giving him troubles. They had to stop three times for him to go potty, poor little fella!

Now, this is more like it!

A short while ago I came in from the pool for no other reason than I was tired and wanted to rest. When I looked in the basin area, I spotted this eagle, also wishing to rest, on a stake outside my windows. Using the telephoto lens I was able to zoom in but was a bit unsteady when I snapped. Should have gotten out my gorilla to steady the camera but might have missed the shot!

Right now two smaller boats have pulled up outside the basin and people are walking around in the water, about waste deep where they are standing. Not really swimming but just wading, it seems. Maybe they simply needed to go potty. Tonight is a function at The Club, an event postponed from spring called the Island Bash, like a luau complete with a pig roast. I can hardly wait to dive into that feast waiting for us over there!

Last night Martie and I had dinner at the cabana, battling the miniature flies for our sirloin sliders. Oh, they were so pesty, like the gnats were in Holmen last weekend. And it was hot, hot, hot outside, which is why this evening’s event was moved indoors. Postponed from spring because of the unseasonably cold weather, we now have to move indoors because of the heat! I don’t care where I eat my roasted pork. Other meat offerings are chicken and fish (not really meat, I understand) plus salads and side dishes in tropical themes. And free rum punch. Many from my building are going as well as others who frequent the pool so it should be a blast. I need to rest for now so will post this and perhaps add more later.

Ahola!