A contribution from my friend, Linda M.

Food for thought from the 
Redneck Book of Manners:

1.Never take a beer to a job interview.

2.Always identify people in your yard before 
shooting at them.

3. It's considered poor taste to take a cooler
to church.

4. If you have to vacuum the bed, it is time to 
change the sheets.

5. Even if you're certain that you are included in 
the will, it is still considered tacky to drive a 
U-Haul to the funeral home.

Dining Out

1. If drinking directly from the bottle, always
 hold it with your fingers covering the label.

2. Avoid throwing bones and food scraps on 
the floor as the restaurant may not have dogs.

Entertaining In Your Home

1. A centerpiece for the table should never be 
anything prepared by a taxidermist.

2. Do not allow the dog to eat at the table no
matter how good his manners are.

Personal Hygiene

1. While ears need to be cleaned regularly, 
this is a job that should be done in private using
one's OWN truck keys

2. Proper use of toiletries can forestall bathing 
for several days. However, if you live alone, 
deodorant is a waste of good money.

3. Dirt and grease under the fingernails is a social 
no-no, as they tend to detract from a woman's 
jewelry and alter the taste of finger foods.

Dating (outside the family)

1. Always offer to bait your date's hook, especially
on the first date.

2. Be assertive. Let her know you're interested: 
'I've been wanting to go out with you since I read
that stuff on the bathroom wall two years ago.'

3. Establish with her parents what time she is 
expected back. Some will say 10:00 PM; others might
say 'Monday.' If the latter is the answer, it is the 
man's responsibility to get her to school on time.

Weddings

1. Livestock, usually, is a poor choice for a wedding
gift.

2. Kissing the bride for more than 5 seconds may get
you shot.

3. For the groom, at least, rent a tux. A leisure suit
with a cummerbund and a clean bowling shirt can 
create too sporty an appearance.

4. Though uncomfortable, say 'yes' to socks and 
shoes for this special occasion.

Driving Etiquette

1. Dim your headlights for approaching vehicles, 
even if the gun is loaded, and the deer is in sight.

2. When approaching a four-way stop, the vehicle
with the largest tires always has the right of way.

3. Never tow another car using panty hose and duct
tape.

4. When sending your wife/girlfriend down the road
with a gas can, it is impolite to ask her to bring back
beer.

5. Never relieve yourself from a moving vehicle, 
especially when driving.

6. Do not lay rubber while traveling in a funeral 
procession.

Two Reasons why it is hard to solve a Redneck 
Murder:

1. All the DNA is the same.

2. There are no dental records

Some of these are questionable but others I found
quite amusing!! I must be a redneck because of the 
crumbs in my bed!

So glad to see the sun!

What a glorious thing to wake up to! Justin came in my room after I was awake and said, "What is that on your wall?" in an alarmed voice. It was the sun! Hopefully my sun catching jar will be fully loaded for me to enjoy tonight!

Justin feared he woke me up when engaging in a wrestling match with the laundry baskets this a.m. I was already awake, though I had a really good, sound nights' sleep last night. Felt wonderful too! The sound of the water in the pipes will be addressed today and as long as it is not running out across anyone's floors or ceilings....He left about 6:30 a.m. and came back about 12 hours later. 

We were going to go shopping but since he was late getting in and sort of exhausted, we postponed the trip until tomorrow. He asked for spaghetti for dinner and got everything ready for me to use to make it. Strangely, I made us a very nice dinner without incident, but had to turn on the kitchen ceiling fan this afternoon after making toast!

Together we watched Jeopardy! while eating our dinner, of which there will be a couple meals leftover. We got things all cleared away and retired to our rooms for the night. Justin was enthralled with listening to and watching some sort of 'cast' from Microsoft describing the latest development for computers. Who could even stand more resolution? He could, that's for sure!

                                             

Here is Lee, when she collected her 'door prize' from Great Hang Ups. The day of the drawing, I had stopped in and mentioned Lee's name in passing. Both ladies got amazed looks on their faces and said, "That's the lady who won the dragonfly painting!" I got the privilege of making the call letting her know she won!!

***************

Because the sun was out this morning, the air temp responded nicely. Eventually it soared to 92 above zero, which might be why Justin was so tired. I went out to the pool for a couple hours where I was delighted to find my newer friend, Lee. She had done her water exercises already so could hang around the edge of the pool to chat. From all the rain on Sunday, the water was cooler than I like, but gradually I adapted to it and rode my imaginary bike under water.

The last time I had seen Lee was at Dee's show at the Thrasher Horne last fall and I hate that. It's not for my lack of trying to get together. She is back up and running now, so to speak, and we made plans to attend the Ladies' Night Out event at The Club on Tuesday night. My Tuesday night is open since Victory is having VBS this week. This month's presentation for the ladies is a dessert event. We shall see!

I had to go in just after noon because I was desperately hungry and needed some lunch. For the future, I should take a sandwich or such with me, since the cabana is not open during the week. Connie, the maintenance lady, told me she would come up and listen to the water dripping situation as soon as the upstairs neighbor got home. Instead of going back out, I waited for the knock at the door.

When Connie did come in, she was amazed at how well she could hear the water, which I described was like a shower running. Off she went in pursuit of an answer and determined, contrary to what Misty's daughter's reported, the toilet in the bathroom above Justin's was running running running. Connie, being Connie, showed the teen-aged girl the water going into the toilet bowl and said, "That is not supposed to be happening!" Kids! What a relief to not hear that...been going on since last Friday! Besides making me half nuts, it's expensive for the building to pay for wasted water.

Storms remain in our forecast so I am hesitant to take up the towels for soaking up the drips. Perhaps I will leave the one in the river room and have Justin put things back in place in the living room. I hate to entertain when the place is pulled apart, you know? Some reporting stations showed up to 20" of accumulated rain this past week. The retention pond, known as "Lake Victory", is full and gleaming, according to my friend, Ed, who does yard work at church. 

"Lake Good Shepherd" also doubles as our parking lot and is likely NOT gleaming from all this rain. We heard at the church meeting Sunday that it is cost prohibitive to repair the parking lot so we just have to put up with it. Most times on rainy days, people park on the grass or dirt areas rather than on that portion of the paved lot due to the high water accumulation. It's a drainage problem which I declare was NOT always there, but has no simple (i.e. cheap) resolution.

There is a remodeling project planned for incorporating the breezeway area into a narthex and then sprucing up the sanctuary. That's as far as our borrowed money will go. Our congregation is slated to host the LWMS Fall Rally next year and it seems now that we will have to ask to switch with another congregation, as we won't be ready. It's a tough job when no construction is going on, and would be tougher yet to be good hosts during renovations. Our hopes will be the fellowship hall is completed by the beginning of July when VBS takes place!!! That is still tentative....

Feeling all snuggly on a rainy day

The other day as I delivered The Palace Press to those without computers, I met my neighbors, Hugh and Maureen. She was cradling a plaster creature in her arms, and then asked me, "Do you have a use for a lamb?" Immediately I answered, "Yes, I do!" and explained the memorial garden in the front flower bed at church. Happily she said it was now mine, and had Hugh put it in the back of my car for me. (She could carry it but thought it was too heavy for me!). The reason they were so glad it had a new home rather than going to the Salvation Army store was they had it in memory of their daughter, Molly. For some reason she was getting rid of it, perhaps moving on a bit or something, and was just so pleased her Molly Lamb has a new home at Good Shepherd in Timmy's garden!                                                                    

                                

When checking my text messages this afternoon, I found this one from Linda at the FG church picnic. She said she thought of me when she saw the little ones running around with the cotton candy---blue, my favorite!!!! She made my heart go pitter-pat by sending this to me---she enjoying lovely summer weather and me in the dark, endless rain! Ugh! Some cotton candy would have fixed me right up!

                             

Later this afternoon, I got a notice on Facebook from my young friend, Christie, who is an au pair in France. She saw this country cottage in Giverny and said it made her think of me. I asked Christie if she'd ever seen the movie "The Holiday" and she said it's one of her favorites. That movie features a country cottage set in the countryside on the outskirts of London, and resembles the setting as the one above.


At church today, we had a guest from the Synod (yes, another guest from the Synod!) who spoke briefly on planned giving. After he spoke, those staying went back to the classroom building for a Congregational/Voter's meeting. Before it got underway, I saw him standing in the doorway, as though he was looking for someone. Then, he came my direction, like he was on a mission. Sure enough, he came right up to me, extended his hand and asked, "Are you Kim Day?" Instead of correcting him with my entire name, I admitted being me. He said, "I just wanted to meet you" even though I had greeted him at the door before church. I never met him before but he seemed like he knew me. He made a concerted effort to come and re-introduce himself to me. Very nice! I hope his feelings won't be hurt if I don't make it to his presentation in two weeks, as I will be in Palm Coast!

I am having quite the day today!!! 

Rain again!!

Not rain first thing in the morning but not long afterward it rained some more. Enough already! One lady on the Southside reported on Facebook that in the past week, they had 17" of rain. If Judy J. was in town, she would keep me up to date on how much rain she's had, betting her rain gauge would be overflowing. Concerned friends have been asking how the leaks are going but since the tropical storm, the leaks have been reduced substantially.

Thursday a roofer was here to see my damage and the areas which drip. Nancy, from the Board, accompanied him, determined to get to the bottom of this problem. They also visited the unit above mine which gets wet first, and then down this way. His theory is it is not the roof causing the situation but perhaps the balcony/porch on what used to be Randy's unit two floors up. It had been worked on in the past, prior to the new roof going on but something might need attention again.

Now, that is quite the bottle of beer! It's a Sam Addam's brew, only 11 casks made annually. Brass and ceramic bottle---nice!

Justin had plans to go to the Beach for a mini-golf event put on by the same people from whom he won the valuable bottle of beer. I was hoping the rain would end long enough for him to go, and it did, but it was not a nice day out there at all. Cooler by over 10 degrees than my hometown was today!! Overcast and gloomy which really gets old. 


When I heard kids playing outside in the pool, I decided to go and check it out. I wrestled myself into my suit and trotted over. No one was at the adult end of the pools but there were two families with kids on this end. Just as I climbed the stairs, I felt sprinkles. Shoot! A man was watching his kids play and said it had been doing that off and on all afternoon but the kids didn't mind. I found it too chilly for swimming as the air temp was about 81 and the water cooled from all the rain we'd had. 


At least the cabana was open, had been for only an hour due to the weather. Two of the pool staff had been sent home but the cabana boy, Julius, who now calls me "Trouble", got to stay as he also helped for the wedding reception. He made me a lovely burger with a side-dish of red potato salad. I asked for and got a dab of it. How funny it was to have this today, as only this morning I had told Linda J. that this was the only type of cold potato salad I really liked! And there it was, on my plate!
                                            
A hotel guest came out and asked me if the water was warm. I had to tell her I had not been in. She stuck her toe in the water before ordering her meal. Instead of getting dressed and going somewhere off-property to get something to eat after checking in, she came out there! As I went upstairs again, I asked how she liked her burger and she said it was great. I agree, they are so tasty, and remind me of being on a cruise ship whenever I smell them cooking. Mine had red onions on it, plus onions in the potato salad, so again with the dog breath!!


Speaking of Linda, she had the heart-breaking task of saying 'farewell' to one of their cats today. There was little else to be done for Trudy so Tom and she were going to the vet's office to say good-bye one more time before she was put down. They had decided not to use extraordinary measures to save Trudy, since she was 10 years old already, and let her suffering end. Later on, Linda let me know they were enjoying a lovely lunch, which made me feel better for her. Those people love their cats and if she's sad, I am sad, too...

Losing track of time

Oh, what a lazy bones I was this morning! Got myself situated with a soda and then caught up on some of my radio/Internet programs. Before I knew it, because of the falling rain, I was yet in my nightie at 11:30 a.m.!! Despite having nowhere I had to be, I made myself get up and dressed for the day. My original plans had been to put on my swimsuit and enjoy the day but the weather would not allow it. 

Since there would be no cabana today due to the rain, I had to fend for myself. Even though there was leftovers from Longhorn to consume, I opted for some of last night's tater tot casserole for lunch. So delicious and so oniony! Again, a good thing for not having anywhere to be...

I checked the towels spread out to soak up the drips, finding only one soaked through and through. It was swapped out with a dry one from the living room floor, with the wet one put in the washer. Certainly Justin would have a load to wash when he got home so he could take care of it. Which he did!

Justin apologized to me for the stench left behind by his work boots. THAT'S what that smell was!! Something was funky in the house but I never thought about his boots. As soon as these rains end, this house is being opened and aired! He cannot help how his boots smell after being wet, and there is no really good place to put them to dry. Except in the river room where it's already wet!

                                             

After beginning my day, I opted to move my laptop and such to the living room rather than sit in my room. When Justin came home, he headed straight to my room and then circled around through the river room to find me. He was soaked again but not as badly as Tuesday. It was misting much of the day, more annoying almost than pouring rain, he claimed. 

                                                

Justin asked what we were having for dinner and I said, "Leftover tater tot casserole." "Oh...." I asked for ideas and he said he was hungry for sloppy joes. I could go for some too, but he had used up the tomato soup (which I did not realize) so that was out. Later, we decided to go to Koko's, which is now named Nishiki, to have some fried rice. And garlic. Lots and lots of garlic! Yikes! Talk about dog breath!

At dinner, Justin and I were talking about some of the recent events  such as graduations, confirmations, and a wedding. Somehow or another I had overlooked an entire stack of mail which included invitations and announcements! Oh, how embarrassing and how horrid I felt knowing I failed to acknowledge these events. Shoot!! When we got home, I sent apologies to those I snubbed. I feel horrible about this!

My friend, Linda J., is having a tough time facing saying 'farewell' to one of her bosses who is leaving. I so wish I was there to give her a squeeze but had to settle for virtual reassuring hugs via e-mail. I know how that feels and am sad for her, and for her boss. 

Not only that, but she has sick pets in her house which is giving Tom and her something else to deal with. They do so love their cats, Tommy even makes video tapes of them and their antics. He has a system in place for feeding one its medication, hiding the pill in a tiny piece of ham, as a disguise. On the bright side, she is making a rhubarb pie for the church picnic---the Church Lady rides again!!!

Quack quack quack

This morning we woke to rain again. When I went out to the kitchen to get a soda, Justin was still home. He said, "I didn't think you would sleep when it's raining!" knowing the concern there is for leaking. So far, so good in that regard. 

He had to go to work in the pouring rain though and did have extra clothes along for changing later on. Last week when Justin got soaked, all he had in the car were his swim trunks! Even his belt was soaked through and through. I am willing to bet he wishes he'd tried harder getting used to the contact lenses I bought him after graduation. It's hard enough to do yard work and then in the rain wearing glasses...

                         

Justin said the rain was expected to end in a couple hours, which it did. I headed to Bible study at Victory and then stopped. Along Hwy. 17 we creeped and crawled, barely moving. From the radio traffic alert I learned there were two wrecks on 295---one on the Buckmann with two lanes blocked, plus one further south. I could see the traffic basically standing still on the overpass in front of me, and I made the decision then to turn around and go home. Rats!

Instead of going straight home I went to Publix for a few things, including shampoo. A bottle lasts me so long that I was surprised when it was empty! In the BO/GO bins was bread loaves, not the same ones Justin had to cut the crusts from. I hope he likes them for his sandwiches, because they are pretty fancy flavors. Nuts 'n twigs are some of the ingredients listed...

Besides my other purchases, I had two boxes of Cheerios with me, from the bin, which Justin likes for breakfast and in-between meals. (Elevensies, as they called them in "Lord of the Rings".) The cereal boxes made it look like I had a huge load, so Gus to the rescue! Gus, my downstairs neighbor, helped me carry my purchases upstairs, grabbing the 12 pack of soda for me. He is such a good guy.

As much as I hated missing Bible study, I enjoyed being able to attend the birthday gathering at the pool for my friend, Mary. Marlena knew I was iffy about making it back in time for the lunch service but there I was! It was overcast and threatening but we managed to enjoy our lunch and visit before the rain came again. 

I had the sirloin skewer which was absolutely delicious, served with baby reds and mixed veggies. I ate the cauliflower out of the mix but left the zucchini. One of the other ladies who could not make it today had made Mary's cake, which we enjoyed. Orange flavored cake, interesting....

After lunch, I came back upstairs to work at my computer. The Outreach newsletters go out about now and for the life of me, it was hard to find them in my computer!! Since I had it in the shop last month, the files are a jumbled up mess and I have to search in the C drive to find them. This gives me such a fright, fearing the files are lost or something. I did find what I was looking for though and got them printed off.

Recently I had been getting repeated warnings that my Windows program might be counterfeit. What the heck? The other day, Sunday I think it was, the computer tried to update some files and they failed to load. I got these notices that it was configuring and returning the files back to where they were...okay. For hours!! My friend, Randy, advised me to let me it run and not shut it down, as the screen advised me also. But I was sooo tempted to shut it down to make it stop. Made no noise or anything, but I just didn't like it.

I contacted the fellow who repaired the laptop and told him what was going on. He said to bring it in and he would fix it. Later on, his son called me, the actual technician who worked on it, and said he could fix it from his office. And he did! All I had to do was read for him the product code, all 45 numbers and letters, more than once!

This code was located on the bottom of the laptop, so I had to tip it up on its side and read these teeny tiny alpha numeric digits. The second time, when the first one was not right, we realized that one digit I thought was an 8 was actually a letter B, and then, away he went! Since I had to leave to meet Judy C., he just went to work without me. A bit unsettling, knowing he has access to my machinery and files from his office...but, it got the job done. This is an example of sacrificing liberty for security! Or for convenience!

Stephen was also going to see if he could regroup my files for me, which he might have done but I have not verified. I guess it may be a situation of doing each one individually. Ugh! I should just be thankful they upgraded my program and shut up about the extra work on my part. Or, bat my eyes over the virtual network and get him to do it for me!

Originally, Justin was going to drop me off at Steak 'n Shake to meet Judy, so he could use my car. First of all, he was in a drawing to win a rare bottle of beer but had to go to a certain emporium to collect the first of the prize packages. I know, complicated, right? His group of friends would not have to pay the cover charge and would get other perks, but he could not get the gang together for it. This made Justin sad, so he made alternative plans to be on a calling tree with the Young Republicans instead.

Well, he let me know he was working late, again in the pouring rain, so I should just go ahead to Bible study. PLUS, he had locked his keys in the car back at the farm where they store the yard equipment. Yikes! I wondered if there was a spare key in his room but he could not tell me where it was. He was sure his boss and he would get them out, so I should just go on and not worry about it. How can I not?

                           

Judy and I met up and she announced that class was cancelled. We were still going to have dinner so she didn't call me. Due to the great amounts of rain we have been having, Amber's dirt road was nearly impassible, so she was not coming into town for class. Judy was prepared to take me home, our original plan, but since Justin used his own car, I was able to take myself home. 

After class on Thursdays, Judy goes to her other daughter's house. She stays the night, and then cleans for them. Not sure if that will be true when school is out since her daughter is a teacher, but Judy likes the extra money and the time with her grands. They live at the World Golf Village so it's a distance away. Judy runs circles around me, and we just celebrated her 71st birthday!

So, I was two for two as far as Bible study goes today, but not  for lack of trying. Some of my other friends were stuck in that mess on the freeway and told me I was wise to go back home. I did successfully enjoy a birthday luncheon for Mary and dinner via coupons at Steak 'n Shake with Judy. 


Oooh, while at S 'n S, I saw water dripping from a recessed light fixture over their bar, and the waitress said they had a pan catching the drips. But the light was still on! I mentioned that the bulb can burst if it gets wet, and sure enough, the manager came out and removed the bulb. You're welcome!!!!


P.S. Justin was able to get to the emporium to collect his prizes, and did actually win the unique bottle of beer! If it was me, I'd sell it and use the money to repair my car, but then again, I am not 25!

A welcome sunshine

Last night, even though Justin and I were up late watching the election returns, we were roused by my upstairs neighbor with her report of leaking. Rats! Justin had just reset the living room furniture, got the rug properly aligned (that's the "Sheldon" in me!), and vacuumed the floor in there to make it look like it did pre-tropical storm. Undone! Not all the way undone, but we did pull out the TV again, get his Xbox up off the floor and got towels laid out to catch the potential drips from above. 

Misty, the upstairs tenant, had let me know she had water coming in so Justin and I leaped into ready-mode. The only area I saw water in my house was coming down the river room wall, slowly. Fortunately, the storm did not last much longer once the towels were put in place but it does get the heart racing once more in expectation of more damage. 

Jessica, the owner of  the unit above mine, sent me a text message this a.m. to find out if we had leaks and sadly, my report was in the affirmative. She is frustrated too and I told her I was alerting the Board to this recurrence. Nancy, who is on the Board, came to look the situation over on Sunday afternoon, and was going to contact the roofing contractor with whom we have a warranty in place. Hopefully Nancy will see to it the repairs are made pronto!

                                               

Yesterday I thought the adult pool seemed a little low water-wise, even after I got in, but the rains overnight likely raised it up. And cooled it off! It is windy right now and the temperature has not yet reached 80 above zero. That means Kim will not be outside for water exercises today, but will subject myself to the jeers of those more hearty than I am. Twila called this morning to see if I want to meet for lunch at the new Greek Restaurant in Orange Park before the Ladies' Group goes there in July. I can do that, fully clothed!

Last evening I went to Bible Information Class at Victory, where we did a review of the previous week's homework. Not a review then, but a homework check. One of the ladies who came was Kristen, who had transferred to Victory from GS when they moved to that side of town. She is expecting her fourth child. It was great! I sat in BIC at GS with her husband and her when they were becoming members, and Kristen even mentioned that my mom came sometimes, too. How fun is that???

Being a newer member, she is not entirely familiar with all the Bible stories and asked questions regarding the Passover and its application to the Lord's Supper. We stopped reading in Matthew and went back to Exodus to read the story of the first Passover. After a certain point, Kristen mentioned 'this seems familiar' which is a good thing. We discussed her question as to why was "God anti-yeast", which made us chuckle. Pastor Hoyer did a great job explaining all that and it never gets old revisiting these Bible history stories.