It's going to be quiet around here

Yes, folks, once more I am heading to my hometown and visiting my mom, family, and friends. Posting daily to my blog is not always easy so if there are some days you hear nothing from here, sorry! Mom's computer, for which I am most grateful, uses dial-up service which ties her telephone line when on-line. I won't be able to be on the Internet for the longer periods of time I am normally. Not for the blog, anyway. Fortunately, my cell phone allows me to access the Internet for my other purposes, so I can continue to communicate via text messages, Facebook, e-mail, and yes, even telephone! Just not the ideal device for typing a blog posting!

Justin was downright giddy this evening when he was coming home from work. He asked what plans were made for dinner, and I told him he can make whatever he wished. He made reservations! Justin treated me to dinner tonight at Aron's Pizza. What a sweetheart! I had been chiseling away at the leftover ham from Sunday's event but some stromboli would be a welcome change from ham! Earlier in the week he had wanted to do something together before I left, and we had several opportunities to do so.

On the way home from dinner, he asked me to stop at Winn Dixie so he could run in for some dessert pops. For a long while Justin has told me about these Weight Watchers raspberry pops coated with dark chocolate. In fact, he was so enthusiastic about my having one, he wanted to watch my reaction when I tasted it. This treat was quite good, and he wondered if it reminded me of the dessert we used to get at Sarnelli's. A frozen raspberry ball coated with chocolate shell. Very close to that taste!

As excited as he was about treating me to dinner and the treat, he was not excited about helping me get the laptop back up and running. Since it had been purged, many of the 'programs' or whatever needed to be brought back up. I am not familiar with doing this, usually that is done for me. He had to help me (i.e. do it for me) reload Google Chrome and follow the prompts. As I said, usually this is done for me so I was not familiar with what was supposed to be happening.

I needed to print off my 'bus pass' for the ride from MKE to Manty but the computer did not recognize my printer. "Justin...I need your help again..." He clicked, moved, troubleshot, etc., and got my computer to recognize the driver of the printer. Right! I figure I should learn how to do this but it hardly ever happens so I don't need to worry my pretty little head about it. 

I am no stranger to frustration, either, and was quite so when looking at my Documents files. With the upgraded Word program, things look different and are moved around from how they are normally ordered. This sort of freaked me out because I could not tell immediately if everything was put back after the 'exorcism'. This will require some effort on my part, to move things around and put them where they belong. It might have to wait until I get back from WI.

At last, I have found a place where our family can eat in Manty on Mother's Day! Luigi's Italian Restaurant said we can come there to dine for dinner. Hopefully we can have the small room off to the side but if not, we will be in proximity to each other for talking purposes. I didn't want to eat too late as the little boys have school the next day but we still have to wait for Lori and David to get there from across the state. Most of the dinner clubs stop serving their Mother's Day meals at 3:00 pm to allow their staff to have the rest of the day off. 

Justin got my suitcase out for me this evening after dinner, and I threw some stuff into it. I am ready! He thought I could get by with a smaller bag but because stuff comes back with me in the form of cheeses and other treats, the larger bag is needed. Jill, my sister, told me it was chilly up there, so I threw in a pullover top to wear in the van for the trip to Manty. She will admit me into the building once I arrive, and get me set up in Mom's apartment. Mom and Lynn will be at a banquet when I arrive. I have an 'old' car coat I gave Mom years ago that I can wear once I get there. Hope it's clean!

A couple years ago Justin and I each got a jacket in New York, mine being a wind breaker-style by a well-known designer. Just because it's a designer jacket does not make it warm! Of course, as soon as bought the jackets, the rain let up. I could stick that in the suitcase but as I said, it provides little actual warmth. I wonder where his NY jacket is...Good thing they were on sale, at Macy's, or I never would have bought them.

My purse is purged of excess papers and such, making it lighter for me to carry, and making room for my book. Justin was trying to get me to take the little laptop along but I chose not to stick it in the suitcase. Other than the blog, and the church newsletter, I won't have a need really, since I can do most of my communicating on my phone. Without Internet access, it wouldn't do me much good. 

The ham is cut from the bone, at least much of it was, with the bone now in the freezer. Justin thinks he will make a kettle of soup for the night of my return. We shall see...I suspect we can stop at Longhorn on the airport road to have dinner that night just as well! I hope he remembers to munch on the ham, make some sandwiches or something with what I cut off. Too delicious and expensive to allow it to waste!

Judy J. is picking me up for the airport ride. My originals travel plans were made with Justin being available to take me, but then his boss changed the schedule. Rats! We will say our 'good-byes' in the morning and Judy will get her good-bye at the curb. It will be whirlwind when I get back from WI, with Pentecost the next day, Confirmation Day with party, and then Installation Day for the retirement pastor serving Keystone Heights, Richard Schleicher. His wife, Ellen, is my friend, whom I met and fell in love with last summer. And now they are here!!! The service is at 4:00 pm, with an hour drive from OP, so will have to allow plenty of time for the party and then, the drive. Maybe someone will be my chauffeur to Keystone....I hope so!

I am gorgeous!

Or at least, I will be! Tonight for dinner, meeting my friend, Belinda (a.k.a. Mary Kay), at Johnny Angels Diner, I got my order. My food order and my MK order. Belinda brought me my lipstick, eye shadow, and foundation, plus gave me a free compact to carry the foundation and lipstick tube. Cool !
                       
I had called my mom on the ride to Johnny Angels, and she noticed how early it was for me to be eating. We had to, though, in order for me to get to Victory for the new BIC starting tonight. It turned out we ate later than 5:00 pm, finishing our meals by 6:15, in plenty of time for me to drive to church.


Belinda got a bit lost at first but eventually found the place, which is set back from the street in a plaza. I had sent  the address via text message but she did not see the message. No worries, we had plenty of time to eat and chat. 


It was fun to see the staff at Johnny's again, since it's been weeks between visits. Also delicious to have one of their cheeseburgers again! Belinda was searching the menu for just the right thing, as all the names of the items are from 50's and 60's stuff, not necessarily a simple path. I asked her if she was a fan of Reuben sandwiches and she said she was, so that is what I recommended. She was able to eat half and took the other half home with her, plus half of my fries.
***
A burger was a welcome meal after the pungent lunch Justin and I had at the former Koko's restaurant, now named Nishiki. We met the new owner afterward but I did not mention the overuse of garlic in the food preparation. I should have just leaned in and breathed in his face! Holy cow!!! Phew!!


The service was slow, which was unfortunate for the attorneys sitting at our table who were on their lunch. It seemed there was only one chef on duty but only two or three tables with people at them. He put on the whole show with juggling his utensils and food products, usually reserved for dinner diners. He wore a straw cowboy hat and a bandana but was obviously Chinese, which was sort of funny.
                      
As he cooked for us, he would use his spatula to slice off a slab of butter to fry with and then returned to the cart to slice offf a strip or gob of garlic to add to the food. At first I thought it was also butter but Justin whispered, "That's garlic!" As we ate our fried rice, it had a bite to it, and I thought at first it was pepper, perhaps white pepper. Justin said it was the garlic, and as he said that, the man next to me was sort of coughing as he ate his rice. Yup! Whoo! We stunk all afternoon!


The remainder of my chicken was taken with us over to Great Hang Ups where Caesar, the dog, was waiting for me. Julia wondered what the food was like, since they have only been open a couple days. As I opened the to-go box, the smell of garlic leapt out and she said, "Oh, my!" as she put her finger under her nose.
                         
Caesar was going to have dog breath now after eating bits of this garlic teriyaki chicken. (When I got a soda a few moments ago, the smell hit me as I opened the fridge, from my chicken!) I brushed my teeth, rinsed with mouth wash, and had a bowl of sherbet in attempts to salvage my breath for this evening!


After lunch and our stop at Hang Ups, Justin and I went to Kohl's where I made a return. While I stood in line, Justin went looking for t-shirts and found four of them in no time at all. They were two for $14 which is a great buy for summer shirts, all of them patriotic in nature. Nice! And he paid for them himself, how about that??


We had also planned on going to Wal*Mart to get a desk chair but then he decided he'd already spent enough money. My left knee was acting up and I think he was having mercy on me but he also didn't want to spend the money. He most certainly can use my desk chair since my laptop is still at the shop (YES, still at the shop!!!) and I am not at my desk. I leave on Thursday so he can use mine the rest of the month, nearly. I must get my laptop back in order to print some stuff off. So frustrating!


When I got home this a.m. from the groomers, he was busily vacuuming in his bedroom. His room looked great, the floor visible, but sadly, his bed was not! Everything was piled up there but the room itself looked great! If only he'd keep going until the room was straightened away, start to finish. My sister, Lori, remembers that I couldn't go to bed, back in the days when we shared a room, until everything was put in order. And, the same as now, I could slip out of my bed and the blankets would look like no one slept there!


The evening, then, was spent at Victory for the BIC class. I was the first one there, and was concerned no one else was coming. Pastor H. was sure there were more coming, and through the door came Erica and her boyfriend, Justin! Plus another couple taking the class for the first time. 


It was Justin's idea to take the class with Erica, and she was surprised and pleased. The married couple, Brian and Kim, found Victory due to its proximity to their home, and have a desire to make it their church home. Pastor was helpful when Kim was looking for a job, just happened to have a business card on his desk for someone looking to fill a position. I said, "Oh, how divine!" Yes, it was, and is!

"The sea was angry that day, my friends..."

"...like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli..." What? Never mind. What a storm we had this afternoon! The rain was hitting my windows like tiny fists, and the wind was whistling like mad.


At one point, my lanterns and sun catchers were moving in the breeze, which somehow got past my closed windows. There is only so much a seal on a window can do, and I am more than pleased the water stayed out. Oh, except for the river room window---again! The last time that happened, a repair to the roof took care of the problem. It also comes in from the unit above me, so once more the tenant, Misty, is mopping up water. She is going to get really good at water mopping!

My window leaking is of little consequence since the walls are formerly exterior walls and the floor has ceramic tiles. I do have paintings and such standing on the floor near that area so might move them away for 'just in case' purposes. It's a slow leak when it occurs, and besides that, the winds were almost directly from the east which liking blew the rain right under the roof edge. We, as a building, have a warranty for this newer roof, so it's not a big deal to have them come out and repair once more.


My day began as usual on Monday mornings with Bible study. I dilly-dallied leaving home so didn't have time to redeem my coupon for the .99 Sonic drink that Justin gave me. Rats! The cost for soda at church went up to .75 a can, with the proceeds being used to support our LWMS missions. It's a win-win! I got my sodas there, then. We had only 8 ladies yesterday with Pastor leading the class this time. 


Toward the end of the class, or before we left the table, I should say, I mentioned a woman interviewed on Fox and Friends that morning. She had been swamped in her kayak upside down in the water, and reports her soul leaving her body. She was not scared, she said, and saw the Lord waiting for her soul. And then, He spoke to her, saying it was not her time, and she lived. The woman said He told her to go back and share the story, so she wrote a book and tells everyone about the hope she has. No bright light for her, just the face of the Lord waiting for her. 


At first I was going to turn it off because of the underwater thing, but am glad I listened. She did not come off as hokey or sensational, but peaceful and calm about her hopes of being with the Lord for eternity. The author said she is not afraid of dying, it was just not her time, she has work to do. Love that! Now, whether that is true or not, I doubt, because the Lord does not tell us this could happen (except for Lazarus being raised again) but I still like the picture of what is waiting for us.


This lead to a discussion somehow of there being animals in heaven. I dismissed it out of hand, as is my custom, declaring boldly that I was out if there are animals there. They have no souls, not formed with Gods' hands the way Adam and Eve were, the whole thing. The animal lovers are sure their pets will be there, and I suggested if that's the case, all animals will be there, not just the normal household pets. Even snakes and reptiles and other horrid creatures...if their theory holds true. 


Nowhere does it say Christ died for nature, He died for those created in His likeness, to save their souls. And how do we know if the animals are believers or not? Have they been instructed, reached by the Holy Spirit and moved to believe?  
                             
Pastor said there are passages in Romans 8 which might support animals being in heaven, but when I read it in the NIV, the passages talk about creation. That could also mean trees, sun, stars, rocks, everything prior to and up to, the creation of Adam. Yikes! I suppose some building materials would be helpful to make my mansion! I shouldn't sweat it too much because we are promised no tears in heaven.


Five of us went to lunch, with a young lady named Amber now being our waitress. Jason would hardly look at us, so I think he is mad we are not his table any more. Judy C. liked Amber's 'service' for years but since we used to arrive before her shift began, settled for someone else. It seemed we were served faster and more accurately than when Jason took care of us, but we might be tainted now since the 'added tip' experience. I had the burger for lunch, not wanting any leftovers since I have the ham to chisel away for the next couple days.


I distributed my hugs to those I won't be seeing for several weeks and then headed to the collision center. No need for me to be concerned I wouldn't find it. It was right where the guy told me it would be! Silly me, I should have used the restroom at Longhorn, but instead, asked to use the  one at the collision center. Before I came back, the guy had gone out and looked at my car. Wow! He was already typing up the estimate. 


The man sent his worker to my car to get the wounded tire and wheel apron (it's official name) from my car. He determined it was not salvageable and would have to be replaced. Rats! I told the man I want to keep the steel rod for my scrapbook but he could keep the tire and the apron. They must think I am crackers!


The rod, he said, was likely from the back of a trailer, used to secure the gate from opening. I figured that, after the one guy said it was part of my car. The wrecker man, Mike, said it was not part of my car with his theory also being part of a trailer. A faulty trailer, mind you!


The actual repair will take a couple of days so I will have a rental car, paid by my insurer, for use when I get back from WI. I could leave it there for when I am gone but suspect Justin will use it for his running around. Maybe I should think about this a bit....


My haircut was scheduled for the late afternoon but when the storm began to brew, I called Barb to change the appointment to tomorrow morning instead. I was wise to do so, because it was wretched out there. Not all areas got the storm either which is so weird. My friend, Rita, in Baymeadows, got nothing. Justin was safe at 'the farm' where the equipment is stored, doing busy work until the storm let up for his drive home. We are having a quiet evening at home tonight, munching on ham sandwiches and watching our respective TV programs. I am going to be so sorry to have HOUSE go off the air, but also, sort of relieved. He is so stressful to me!

"It's a blessed day!"

No, I didn't find something that was lost. Nope, but God did! This morning was Amber's baptism day with Judy C. and I standing with her as witnesses, along with the others in the congregation. She was incredibly nervous but very bravely and boldly made her confession of belief in what was about to be bestowed on her. I ought to get a medal for holding myself together at the font but had to, I felt, in order to be supportive of Amber.

Before the service began, I saw Amber and her family file in, but I was on the far side at my podium. Amber whispered to Frank, her husband, "There's Kim..." and he turned around to wave at me. I went up there to put my hand on her shoulder and to greet Frank, after all these years. I told him we'd catch up at my house this afternoon. Amber's daughter and two granddaughters also came to witness the baptism.

                                                   

Not only was it a blessed day for Amber, but the congregation heard good news about Bonnie S. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered on her behalf, as her recent PET scan indicated she was cancer-free. I am almost crying now, thinking about this, as she was diagnosed at Stage Four and is now cancer-free. It was audible in the congregation when Pastor announced this prayer was going to be offered on her behalf, and I am sure more people than just me were dabbing their eyes. She first lost her son around Labor Day, and then was found to have this cancer. It's a blessed day!

***

I got to church in time for Bible study, and since there was no Sunday school opening, arrived just barely in time! Usually I allow a few minutes for the opening to take place, some wiggle room, but if I want to sit with my friends, have to get there on time.

We were having a one-time stewardship class again, not unlike the one the congregation went through last fall. It was held over and over again, even at people's homes, to reach as many members as possible. The sheets from today's class were made up from 'slides' which were also shown on the wall. 

On the first 'square' of the page, we were asked to draw a picture of ourselves or of something that showed how we felt when writing the check for the offering. The looks on people's faces at my table were priceless, like, "WHAT??? Draw a picture?" Oh my! Mike S. was sitting across from me, and he drew a rainbow, a sun in the sky, and a stick man with his arms raised up, in thanksgiving. Jackie drew a smiley face on her page. The other four of us left it blank, like our faces.

Pastor said visual learners would like to draw, but one man, a newer member from Christ, Keystone, from across the room said, "Well, I'm not!" I think some people attempted to draw a picture but most were not. Paul was behind me making copies for Sunday school and I asked him to bring me some crayons. He was glad he had to make more copies because they had 5 kids today. One of the kids brought a friend, whoo hoo!

We look forward to the day of getting the Fellowship Hall finished, as we hold the Sunday class in the church office. Three conference tables set up fan-styled, tight quarters, with 5 kids using the large classroom next door. Though suggested more than once, for some reason it was not feasible to swap rooms for these months of renovation. People have to keep going in and out of the classroom to get their coffee or soda, which is disruptive to both classes taking place. Maybe by the time I get back from WI, the work will be done. I hope so, as we have need of that building for VBS in early July.

***

After church was the reception for Amber's baptism, but I decided to head for home to get things ready for this reception. I was delayed in leaving though, as I had some good-byes to hand out. Robbie was showing Sterling how to do the MIDI as he will sit in when Robbie is gone to the mountains with his family. I got to give Robbie a big hug before leaving for WI. And said, "Good bye" to Sterling, too!

Carol and Cliff had attended a conference this past week in Atlanta and she brought me an extra packet of the information. After church they excitedly told me about what they saw and heard those couple of days. Also, they got to spend some time with our former pastor, Schuppe, and hear marvelous papers presented. Pastor Huebner from Palm Coast was there, also, but he did not present a paper. Carol was one of two ladies in attendance but she was fine, she said. I wish I had known this was coming up and that anyone could go, because I might have gone along with them. Shoot! But, as Carol said, now I have stuff to read on the plane!

When I got home, Justin was there waiting for me. This was unexpected as he had not planned on coming by. He helped me get some stuff together, his job being to break up the ice for putting in the bucket. Much had been readied the night before, and just needed to be put on the table, but I waited to slice the buns until people were coming in the door. We had a nice group for this reception, including the two Mike's, Terri T., Judy J., and Amber's family who had been in church. 

Judy C. made sugar-free cookies, an assortment, for the dessert, in consideration of those who were diabetic. I had plenty of food, and though Terri offered to leave the remainder of the veggie tray for me, I respectively declined. She knew that before asking! Judy J. came in a bit later, having had to count the offering alone, but she caught up nicely.

                     

I had a chance to visit with Amber's husband, Frank. It's been over 11 years since we have spoken, so I could have talked for hours! He looked at all the photos and memorabilia around the house, saying, "You keep Timmy close to you..." I reminded him that Timmy is with the Lord, that these are only reminders of him. You just never know where some people are in their thinking, and why waste an opportunity to share the 'reason for the hope you have'? When they left, I told Frank that I would save a seat for him in church, so we'll see....

By 2:30 everyone was ready to go, which is the saddest time of the party for me. The ladies had been busy getting dishes cleared away, rinsed plates for the dishwasher, and all that. So helpful! We got stuff carried into the kitchen and in no time, no evidence of a party remained except full tummies and happy hearts! And tired feet!

***

At Happy Hour the other night, the gang was discussing our upcoming assessment for replacing/repairing the sun deck. It is going to be extremely expensive, or has the potential to be, with the Owners share being divided, based on square footage of the Units. Get that? There is a great variation of thought on just how much needs to be done to rectify the situation, cause by rain water leaking through the deck onto the ceiling of the garage, rusting the support bars. That's the layman's explanation of what is going on. 

Because the underside is compromised, supposedly, the cars parked beneath this ceiling get dripped on during rains, a white chalky material which is damaging the finish on the cars. An engineer or two have looked it over and found the supports not being in good condition, so it must be torn up starting from the bottom. 

                      

One of the tenants in the building worked at the time for the company which installed this roof/deck in the first place and thinks what is being done is overkill. But he has no influence other than his opinion and expertise. Yikes! I got my bill for the first of the three equal payments, which I knew was coming, but still....yikes again!

Not much to do today

It will be a slow day today after I pick up the ham from the Honey Baked Company for tomorrow. I wish they were open on Sunday mornings so I could pick it up on the way home from church, but that's okay. It won't hurt me to get up, dressed, and out the door for that today. Except that I will encounter some Mall traffic...Hey, I could have had Justin get it for me since he'll be at the Mall for the movies!!!! 

There is a good deal of honking going on outside my home, but not from the parking lot this time. It's geese! Now, what are they doing here at the same time as the manatees? This is all quite confusing. One week begins with temps in the 40's and ends in the high 80's. Justin came home from work yesterday and was just miserable from the heat. He very kindly informed me he cannot wait for me to leave for WI so he can turn the A/C down at night for sleeping. Yeah, thanks, I love you too! But I love my low electric bill more...

                        

He has lovely hands.....he could be a hand model, like George Costanza!

My A/C just kicked in, speaking of that, so it must be warmer than 80 in the house. If my door was closed to the hallway, it might not run because the thermostat is directly outside my door. The sun pours into my room through my uncovered windows and keeps it nice 'n cozy in here for me. My ceiling fan is on which moves the air around for me and keeps the room comfortable.


Last night was enjoyable, spent the evening with friends at a graduation celebration. The young lady is the same one who is attending The Citadel next fall. I rode with Carol and Randy to her co-worker's home and were greeted in the driveway by the young lady, Rachel. The dining table was covered in blue with white, dishes and bowls laden with sweets. It was a sugar delight! And these ladies work in a dental office!!!

After a brief 'thank you' from mom and daughter, we were served cake with blue frosting, the colors of The Citadel. Everyone who had cake had blue teeth, lips, and tongues, just like when I have the blue cotton candy at the ball park! To top it off, she had blueberry flavored licorice sticks (is it still licorice if it's blueberry?), cotton candy, blue and white M & M's which were minty, all sorts of white/blue treats. 


Also, Yvonne made Fruity Pebbles crispy treats which were just delicious. She offered to get me a bag to take stuff home, as she wanted nothing leftover, but I put the licorice in my pocket instead, and popped the cotton candy into my mouth, as we left! Very nice party!

A tiny computer on a bigger desk

I keep messing up, trying to use the disconnected keyboard in my slide-out to type on this little laptop, as the other one is yet in the shop. It seems the repair/exorcism is taking longer than expected. I guess this was not Priority One for them, like it is for me. But, when I called today, the nice lady told me the diagnostic was run, and yes, multiple infections were found and now need to be scrubbed. This jargon, at least some of it, is above me, but I do understand treating something with an antibiotic which is what the scrubbing will do. I should have used the SpyBot like I was supposed to be doing periodically to corral and eliminate the spy ware. It is greatly unsettling knowing someone somewhere could actually be tracking my keystrokes and thereby being able to access my accounts and such. If they would do that and pay a bill or two, I wouldn't be upset. But if they invade and pilfer from me, I will lose my mind!

                     

Steven was going to need my copy of Microsoft Office which I had bought since New Year, I think, in order to reload it, so I took it up there late morning. His dad, the business owner, with whom I have done business a long time, was there when I walked in. I showed him what I brought in, and referred to it as the Kindergarten version. He laughed and I told him how mortified Justin was to be installing it. He wanted to know why I installed it, since the 'Pro' version was already loaded. I explained about getting the warning that the program was expiring in so many days, etc. but he said, "Oh, it would have kept on going anyway..." Ugh! I told him I didn't know that and he agreed that I likely would not, but if I'd called him, he could have saved me the money. No worries, though, he is going to reload the top notch program and I will be good to go once more with the professional program. Nice! And that's why I keep going back there!

As long as I was out and about, I stopped at Publix to get some soda and a bottle of Arnold Palmer Tea/Lemonade. It's a tasty drink and not too sugary, as I got the 'lite' version. Even I like it so might get some to have at Mom's next week. It also comes in cans but I bought the gallon size for the gathering here Sunday. It seems like the number will be fewer than Amber expected but that's fine, I just want to make sure the day is memorable for her. 

We are having Honey Baked Ham, rolls, a veggie tray, a 'lite' dessert, and some chips 'n dip. Amber, Judy, and one other guest are diabetic so I am using restraint on what I serve. Judy told me last night that she was asked to get a cake for Sunday after the service, to commemorate the baptism. Amber does not do well in large groups, (remember my Super Bowl party? She was able to come only because there were 4 people!), and is bashful so that might be a bit stressful for her. 

Yesterday I took care of some business which had been idling on my desk, including scheduling an appointment for having my car fixed. State Farm has a list of approved collision shops so I got those names from a nice lady at SF. This a.m. a guy from the shop called to let me know he had my paperwork so I am going there after lunch on Monday, since it's in the neighborhood.

I also scheduled my shuttle ride from the airport to my mom's house. It puzzled me a bit because I got receipts from two different places with different names. It turned out they are the same place, just using both names. As long as I have a ride, I am good! Mom and Lynn will be out that night at Lynn's retirement bash so Jill or her son will have to buzz me into the building. Making a mental note now to talk to Jill about that, in case she is not home. 

I mailed the tickets for the play we are seeing on Friday night to my mom, in case something would happen to delay me from getting there for some reason. I have the receipt here so I can use that in case anything would happen to the tickets in the mail. You just never know! Mom, Lynn, Jill, Tommy, Linda, and I are all together in the row, cheering for Christin, who is playing "Maria". Oh, and for Marty, also from church!

Online I checked around for available dining venues to have a nice dinner on Mother's Day. Several got back to me, reporting they stop serving around 3:00 pm that day. Lori and David won't get to Manty until late afternoon or early evening so we cannot plan differently. One place will accept my reservation but I must actually call them on the phone! Imagine that!?! It was my first choice place anyway so I will give them a call to make the reservation. Lisa and family will be coming up for that dinner so once more, I am excited!!!

The mail brought a reminder that I am due for my LifeLine Screening again so that is now scheduled for when I return from Manty. I get many of my blood tests done there, which means it will cost me less when I get the extra ones the doctor wants because of my medications. It's cheaper to do this with LifeLine than from a lab. 

This morning I enjoyed Breakfast Club with Carol, Mary Lew, and a young mom, Tina, with her daughter, Grace. We see them regularly at breakfast plus at the pool last summer, and since we had empty chairs, why not? It was nice! Last winter I had told Tina about the tea house where she went to get her hubby a tea strainer she'd been looking for, instead of having to drive to The Avenues. Just another service I offer....

After breakfast, Carol gave me a good-bye hug and wished me a nice trip, and we parted. As we went out our respective doors, it occurred to me that I was riding with them to a graduation party tonight! Randy and she will pick me up about 7:15 for the ride to Fleming Island. This is for the young lady who will be attending The Citadel and I am honored she asked me to come to her 'dessert party' tonight!

Justin and I went to Carrabba's for dinner on Monday...I forgot to mention that. The rest of the nights this week he has been with Jesse and now house sitting. I hope to see him at some point on Sunday, especially since the big party is now at Jesse's instead of at his father's house. No need to clean up..well, yes, they do, but it's not the same as for an open house.

                                  

Tuesday night was my Mary Kay make-over event here, with only Judy C. showing up. Donna was supposed to be there but somehow could not find my house. She was on the property, saw the tennis courts and pools, but couldn't find my house. She has been here before but as a passenger. I sent Belinda the same directions and she drove right up to the place. Hmmm....Donna said her phone would not work either so she just went back home. Judy and I were made over all by ourselves and were visions!!! We can possibly win $2500 if enough people vote for our remarkable improvements. If one of us wins, Belinda gets $500 donated to her favorite charity. I hope my winnings come directly to me, as I am my favorite charity!!!

Things don't always work out

My family in WI is experiencing some severe weather, first yesterday and again today. My sister in Oshkosh informed me about having her power out over night and when the power came back up, she discovered rain water coming into her apartment around the A/C unit and under her patio doors. Yikes! Not only that, but her bucket of minnows stored on the patio had overflowed from the heavy rain, leaving her bait to flip around on the concrete, like fish out of water. As I chatted with her via Facebook this a.m., I wondered if birds would come along to take care of the minnows and sure enough, a robin showed up. It seems, though, that robins don't care for fish, so I suggested to Kerry that she hold out for a crow, as they are not too fussy about what they pick at.

Further, the area streets were flooded, with some closings and she was concerned about how to get to work, using her spouse's truck as her friends' VW Beetle would not make it down her street. Some reports indicated that the highway she would take to work was also under water, so I am not sure how things worked out for her. 

                       

My niece, Lisa, reported to me that the storms shook their home in Sheboygan so hard, it felt like it was moving. The lightning was almost non-stop with the same being true of the thunder. This afternoon, the storms were brewing again, with Mom reporting black skies and a darkening apartment in Manty. OH and IN had tornadoes overnight which makes me wonder if these storms are related somehow.

Kerry also told me about the cherry crop in Door County being seriously damaged by early blooming and then freezing temperatures last month. This would be a blow to part of their tourist business this season, to say nothing of sales of cherries and their products. Oh, how I would love a pie from the stand along Hwy. 42 in Door County. The name started with a "K", I think. Koepsel's! Oh, my! I see they have an on-line store, which means I could actually order a couple jars of jelly/jam, including one I just mentioned the other day, Amaretto Cherry! Yummy!

                       

What didn't work out according to plan was Justin's party for this Saturday. His Cinco de Mayo event has been thwarted, as his father didn't want there to be a party at his home while they are away. When Justin came home last night, he was obviously bummed because of it, while I was under the impression that all were aware of these plans already. It seems not! He is going to ask Jesse if they can have it at his mom's house instead, with my offer of letting him host it here declined out of hand. Guess they would have to be too quiet to have it here. Whew!, I dodged that bullet!

My sister, Lori and her hubby, David, will be coming to Manty on Mother's Day, arriving in time to have dinner. I am going to call around to find a place that can serve a large numbered group. It might be somewhat out of town but on the outskirts will be fine with me. I am really looking forward to this! The church will be having an adults only dinner at The Charcoal Grille, too, while I am up there and I look forward to attending that, as well. I wonder if anyone else from my family wants to go, too....