"...and in other news..."

The photos posted over the weekend sort of took the place of text for me, as they truly have the worth of a 1000 words. 

Let's see if I can catch myself up a bit:

On Friday we had a break in the rain, enough so it was not unpleasant to meet my friend, Diane, for lunch at The Outback Restaurant. Yes, they are now open at lunch time! 

                            

We so enjoy our time together when it happens, discussing matters of faith and catching up on each other's family news, etc. And yes, we eventually went over my investments which she helps manage. She also presented me with a great calendar from Mercury One which is loaded with American historical information, besides the months and days. She also had one to give to Justin, of whom she is a huge fan. That's my boy!

During the rainy weekend, I called my upstairs neighbor, Debbie, periodically to see how she was doing. We did have a few breaks between downpours which gave her a chance to do other things than vacuum up water from the river room floor. Like unpack her boxes from the move-in! She works in the 'old' courthouse in Green Cove and reports being no stranger to leaking. She had this!!! 

Debbie and I made plans to meet at The Club on Wednesday evening to enjoy Happy Hour with the group which normally gathers there. Hugh and Maureen were finally back from their travels to the Mediterranean, but in their absence, the group said they MUST push two of the round tables together to allow for more folks. Maureen, whom I described to Debbie as being our house-mother, doesn't like that. She also doesn't like people to not sit around one table. The group went over her head on this, and did the two-table set up, and, she got over it.

It meant so much to me having Debbie miss her weekend away in order to keep up with the water. As my thanks, I treated her to a light dinner from the mini-menu offered during Happy Hour. We each had the roast beef sliders which were fantastic. She got to meet many of her neighbors, some for the first time, and they made her feel most welcome. We could have talked for hours as we have much in common. Betty's daughter, Kathy, was part of our conversations as well, having the same ideology as Debbie's and mine. This is going to be a blast!

This morning was Bible study at Victory. As I was getting onto the freeway and talking with Mom, I noticed the traffic at a stand-still on the overpass. Too late to turn back now---I was committed to getting on the interstate. When I got to the top of the ramp, traffic was okay, and I noticed the bottle-neck was caused by an overturned pick-up truck just a bit behind where I was entering. I HATE to see that, especially the underside of a vehicle, blocking the two left lanes. 

It seemed as though no one was seriously hurt, and three young men were walking around, kicking the truck parts which were scattered in the area. A State Patrol car and motorcycle were already on the scene but no rescue vehicles were present yet. As I talked with Mom on my way to church, I saw a child's coaster wagon in the lane to the left of me, upside down, which would make a huge problem for anyone hitting that. Oh, my goodness, people!

Upon my arrival at Victory, I helped with the assembly of the service folders for Sunday, my portion being the insert for Mother's Day. Instead of reading  it, I was simply sliding it between the folded pages Marilyn handed over. At one point I caught up and took a second to glance at it. It was a two-sided page of acknowledgements written by members of the congregation in regard to the influence of their mothers on their lives as Christians. 

Needless to say, tears fell, particularly when I read the one written by my friend, Stephanie, for her mom, Jean. And the one written by Erica, for her mom, Stephanie. Rita told me this was her idea  but never got around to writing anything up about her mom, who went home to the Lord about a year ago. It was so touching and a marvelous idea to include for this coming Sunday. 

                                 

Tonight we have worship for Ascension Day and I have sent out a reminder e-mail so folks remember to come. Hoping for a good turn-out so this service doesn't go away. "...why do you stand and look into the sky? He will come again just the way He left and take us with Him..."

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

All steamed up

Much of the day today I was attentive to the pending and present testimony on Capital Hill in regard to the killing of our representatives in Benghazi. I did this while also listening to my radio programs, as best I could. The programs also were tracking the hearings and would add outtakes or soundbites from the hearings as part of their show. The testimony was riveting, reinforcing what many already supposed to have happened. 

Then, something occurred which dumbfounded me---Fox News Channel (FNC) which was airing the hearings, switched its coverage to a local news story in AZ. Yes, the Jody Arias trial. Unbelievable! The jury was coming back with a verdict and FNC wanted to be first on the scene or wanted to join the rabble about this gruesome yet tantalizing case. Like the Casey Anthony story here in FL, the eyes of the hungry were on this trial, while no one was watching the other hand, as it were. The media's version of cakes and circuses. Ugh!

The verdict wasn't expected for another couple of hours but coverage went wall to wall, showing old photographs of the young couple, footage recorded in the courtroom, and so on, as 'we' waited with bated breath for the pending miscarriage of justice. (It does seem justice was served but at the time, I was blinded with rage!)

Meanwhile, on the Hill, another miscarriage was taking place. The commitee members questioned the brave folks who came forward to tell their side of the story, the seemingly true side of the story, as to what actually took place "a long time ago" according to Jay Carney, those 8 months ago in Libya. Who knew what and when did they know it? Why was it covered up (as if we didn't know!), and what could have been done differently?

I was able to listen to LIVE coverage on The Blaze radio but found out later that C-SPAN had full coverage. Shoot! I never thought of that, and would not have been subjected to cut-aways for ads or commentary. The whole process might be re-run at a later date to catch what may have been missed. 

When Gregory Hicks, the highest ranking official in Libya, was asked what he thought when he heard Ambassador Rice appearing on "the Sunday shows" a few days later blaming a youtube video for causing this 'spontaneous' protest (complete with rocket propelled grenades!), he said, "I was shocked. My jaw dropped. I was embarrassed." "Have you ever been interviewed about this matter?" "Never." "Never?" "No, sir, never." That the highest ranking official on the ground after Amb. Stevens was killed in Libya was never interviewed by his superiors or anyone else is simply appalling. The poor guy who is blamed for this, the video maker, is the only one in jail, for a lesser offense. This is so telling!

Emotional today

The last painting Timmy was working on when he died. His classmates put the finishing touches on it, and signed it. A treasured possession...

This morning one of my FB friends wrote about encouraging children to learn to play an instrument. Joy was a music teacher at St. Johns and is now touring periodically with my neighbor, Donna, doing lyceums in State of Florida schools, using music to teach history. 

Anyway, Joy used a quote from Dr. Suzuki that encouraged parents to get their kids into music, how their minds will be aided by learning an instrument, and so on. I could not help but remember Timmy, at 4 1/2 years old, taking his piano lessons at the Suzuki Studio, with Tatiana as his teacher. Oh my, that was brutal! 

He liked making faces at himself in the shiny black piano and kicking his feet against the piano while seated on the bench. In fact, at one point, she fired him, saying, "You don't come back here!" in her Eastern European accent.
                                                
The owner of the place disagreed and said he could come back, but it didn't go well. "I play it the way I want it!" I told Joy this story and she said, "I wasn't his teacher", meaning she would have been able to harness his free-spiritedness. We will always wonder, won't we?

He did learn a little song to play using "the black set keys", as Tatiana called them. He would start on the left end and walk his fingers up the black keys singing, "Mommy, I love you", all the way to the other end. My favorite song of all time....

Getting the 'all clear'

This afternoon I had an appointment to have my 'wounds' checked over after my skin tags and beauty marks were removed a week ago. Two of the six removed were being biopsied and I awaited, more calmly this time, the results. I could hear Betsy bopping around in the hallway outside the exam room where I was sitting, checking in on patients. She has to be seen to be appreciated. And I do appreciate her telling me both the biopsies showed benign. That is my new favorite word!

Last week she was greatly concerned about her own little girl, as she awaited test results for the preschooler. Before she gave me my news, I asked her how her daughter was, telling Betsy I had her daughter in prayer (I truthfully did pray for her), and she said her little one was just fine. Betsy said, "You have to pray for me", and I looked puzzled, thinking something was going on with her, too. She said, "I tell everyone else that 'common is common', but I don't tell myself that!", meaning she'd made herself sick thinking something was wrong with her daughter. This is what happens when you know too much---you fear all the more.

On my ride back home after the doctor visit I called Mom right away to let her know the good news. She was glad to hear this report. We talked about the weekend's church family events, as she had seen the pictures I posted in this blog. Our friend, Ethel, is undergoing more tests for her mysterious malady, having to consume hot tea while the rest of us dined on Italian food at The Pasta Market Sunday. I will call her tomorrow to see how she is doing after all that rigmarole.

This a.m. we had the pleasure of David's company at Bible study, coming with Judy C. to the class conducted by his uncle Mike. His car is in the repair shop, getting work done on a bumper damaged by catching on a landscape timber in a parking lot. Pulled his spoiler thingy right off. Once his car is fixed, he is heading up to North Carolina for his sister's graduation from college. Judy and Michael are leaving later in the week so she will be gone for Mother's Day. David went to lunch with us as well, a good sport dining with the seven ladies. 

Saturday morning when getting out of the car at Honey B's, I noticed my back was not up to snuff. Must have wrenched it when pulling the rug out from under the TV stand plus the tension of the potential leaking into my living room catching up with me. I used my ice pack all afternoon Saturday and the heat pad in the evening, plus ice Sunday morning before church. It is much better but still gives me reminder twinges to take it easy and to not make any sudden moves. 

                    

The good news is that I am able to sleep comfortably which goes a long way toward healing the tender muscles. Thanking God that the roasters and towels in the living room are all dry, thanks to the efforts of Deborah, my new upstairs neighbor, keeping up with the pooled water using the wet vac. Seemed to make all the difference. If all this rain were snow, we would have three feet of it since Thursday! So glad the sun came back Sunday afternoon!!!!

A weekend of picture taking!

Somehow I messed up and failed to snap a photo capturing Michael's actual installation even though the camera was right next to me. I was off my game and that's my excuse. Here's some other photos which might make up for it...

Here is the Chappell family before we headed over to the luncheon. Back to front: David, Suzanne, John, Michael, Dave, Victoria, Leslie, Judy, Lynn, Carter, Julia, Hanna, Daniel, and Morgan

Room shot of John's back, Julia and Daniel, Michael, David, and Mike

 Terri T., Kristin, Sue, Jim and Janet, the preschool staff, the back of my head, and Dave (click photo to see Dave). 

 Me, Suzanne, John, Hanna, Julia, Daniel, the head table, and Jacob

Mike S. made a special lunch just for Michael, as a joke, liver 'n onions. Michael had expressed his strong dislike for it a couple weeks ago so Mike had to take it and run with it. And ended up eating it himself!

Mother/Daughter Event

Today our church ladies and friends joined together to celebrate moms and daughters and even granddaughters at Honey B's Cafe. Janet and her team did a marvelous job putting the event together, one of our largest with over 35 ladies signed up at attend plus four kids. Three of the girls, including my goddaughter, Sarah, sang two little ditties Janet taught them, about loving their moms. Cuteness!

       

The theme of this event was "Pretty Flowers All in a Row" which the table decor nicely represents. In the foreground is Emily, granddaughter to Gayle, sitting right behind her. Betty is behind Gayle. 

I see Bonnie, Twila, Susan, her mom, Ethel, Terri H.(also Ethel's daughter), and Lindsey, who is Terri T.'s stepdaughter. Gayle and Emily are across from them, out of the frame. 

My friend, Judy C., with her daughter, Lynn, and granddaughter, Victoria, in town to help celebrate Lynn's brother's installation as Director/Teacher of Precious Lambs Preschool tomorrow.

Group shot of the room, more ladies than can even fit in the picture!

Laurie sent me a text message this a.m. asking me to be her 'surrogate mother' today, a role I am more than pleased to have. While those are mighty big shoes to fill as Laurie's mom, it was sure fun to pretend! Judy is on my left. I won a flowery prize for having the most flowers on my blouse!

..and it's leaking!

Here we go again...water coming down the walls in the river room, mine, plus the one above me and the one below mine. At least Tracy's is an exterior wall. Mine would be if it weren't glassed in. As of this writing, the water has stayed in the river rooms and not gotten into my living room---yet.

I had called my upstairs neighbor last night and left him a message to call me about the leaks. The fellow on the 5th floor, Herve, let me know he was concerned and offered to come help move the furniture and such. At that time all was well in that room so I thanked him for his offer. This a.m. I went up to knock on the door at 404, but no one was home, thinking it odd that Dick did not call me back.

Shortly after getting back in my unit my doorbell rang. There stood Deborah, wondering if I had water coming in. I told her I did, and she said Dick was in Ireland, golfing, which is why he didn't call me back. She came home from work and went right to bed, not even thinking about the river room. They were aware of the past problems with their river room floor but she never gave it a thought.

She went out there this a.m. to check on the geese who had a nest in the basin, and discovered the water standing in the river room. Hence, her visit to my door. We exchanged phone numbers so we can keep in touch. I told her about the towel duty I used to have when the place was empty and suggested she do the same. Connie brought up the wet vacuum for her to use to suck up the standing water. So thankful for Connie and the vacuum cleaner!

Deborah had made plans to go out of town with the other "golf widows" but decided she had better stay here to keep up with this water business. They might think the water is coming in from above and puddling on the floor, but I think we had enough evidence from last season that it's coming under the door and tiles. AJ, the handyman, assured me absolutely that he made the appropriate repairs to the door, caulking and sealing the tile wherever he could. I am sure he thought it was good...but, it wasn't enough!

A little bit later Connie and Heather came here to help me pull the rug back and move the TV away from the wall. I took the stuff up from the floor and out of the way in case I do have to position my roasters and pans to collect the dripping water, if it happens to escape Deborah and her towels and vacuum. I should sleep now in case I cannot tonight. 

***

Presently 7:00 pm and no significant rain here at my house. Thank you, Lord Jesus! The weather reports were the worst of it was coming between 4:00 pm and 8:00, and that time is nearly up. I am going to hold the weather folks to it! 

We are due for a thunderstorm tonight and again tomorrow but more intermittant showers tomorrow. We have a breakfast function for church tomorrow at Honey B's but the owner called Janet to warn her that her road might be flooded, and not able to get to the restaurant in the morning. What???? 

I told Janet that if this was my restaurant and I had over 35 people planning to come, I would stay in town in a hotel to make sure I had my place open for them! She is calling Janet around 7:00 a.m. to let her know if she is going to be open, and if she is not, Janet and I have to get busy making phone calls to folks. Such a business!