A 'friend'ly gathering!

Hal and Rosalie treated me for breakfast this morning at Grumpy's. We ate there the last time they visited me, and Hal was delighted to get his S.O.S., a real treat now that he's out of the Navy!  They served it to him, not on toast as is usually served, but at his request, on crumbed biscuits. After breakfast, they dropped me off at home, and went to go visit their former neighbor. 

While they were out and about a horrendous thunderstorm came up, causing tornadoes further to the south of us. It gave us lots and lots of rain. It was so bad that when they tried to come back home again, the street was blocked by a tree which had fallen across it. I gave them directions to go around and come into the property via a different route instead. I let my invited guests know of the fallen tree as well so they would know to come in on Milwaukee Avenue instead. 

This is one ominous looking sky!

The small group was assembled to spend some time with Rosalie and Hal, especially Joe, who was top on their list of folks to see. Gretchen was also invited but not expected once the rain began. We knew that going in!

                         

Hal and Joe talked over old times in the Navy and other stuff while the ladies chatted on the other side of the room. I did take pictures of them but they were too blurry to use---sorry!

This will do, though, with Rosalie, Carol, Joe, Judy, and me. I am standing just ahead of the chair where Joe was seated which is part of the reason why I look so much larger than the rest! It was a very nice gathering, if I do say so myself!

We won! We won!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, The Palace team won at trivia tonight!  Whoo hoo! We broke our three month long losing streak, losing by just a few points each time we lost. And this time we won by nearly 20 points. It seems like everyone had something to bring to the table, to help us win. I was of very little help with the finale since I didn't know the names of the cities which hosted winter Olympics the last ten years...um, um, um....But, I did get my "Lutheran" card back by knowing the right answer to the Bible question!! I lost my 'card' last time by messing up on the Bible question.

Justin and I had the tapas menu for dinner, each of us having an order of chicken sliders and shared onions straws. It was a perfect-sized meal for me, and I think Justin too. Next week is the mini-buffet instead of on trivia night which was a bit much. Nancy W. was there but had to leave part way into the game as she'd been awake since 1:30 in the morning. Still having troubles with her noisy neighbor. Poor thing!

The other day Nancy sent me a text message with a picture of a swimsuit on it. My 'personal shopper' found the perfect swimsuit for me on sale at Ross For Less. She picked it up for me and came by to drop it off. She has done this before when my rice steamer quit and found a new one for me, plus once she came upon a green glass candle holder at a resale shop. I am now all set for summer, suitwise. 

Nancy stayed to chat for a while, shedding a tear or two over the heartache of her troubled son and the mess he's made with his life. He is 45 and still can't get his life together. Nancy wanted to know how to block his text messages so Justin showed her how to do it. She is full of compliments to me on what a nice young man he is, and I have to just squeeze him for being the kind of man he is, especially to me. It's so sad, this situation between her son and her, but it's his own making. Glad she can come here and talk things over with me. I count my blessings...

Just a little late....

...but finally, got my oil changed!  I had toyed with taking care of it before I left for WI in December, and now, more than half way through February, it is done. Also I had my tires rotated and new wipers installed. A person needs good, workable wipers, especially these days of heavy pollen accumulation on the cars and windows. While the car was being tended to, I enjoyed a very nice lunch next door at Aron's Pizza, having a stromboli. Even ordering the small resulted in my taking half of it to-go, which is normally how this goes. Will be good for dinner tonight!

Justin will have the remaining chicken breasts and pasta from last night's dinner while I have my stromboli. No sense in making something else when we have such tasty leftovers. He is always quite tired when he gets home from work, and might not feel like cooking. And I am certainly okay with leftovers. 

Work progresses on getting the guest room ready for our company which arrive on Thursday afternoon. I offer my assistance (i.e. nagging) to help him toward the goal but it's really best for him to take care of this himself. Besides the making of the beds, he needs to remove his excess from sight, deal with his clothing and other items that have overflowed from his room. I had truly hoped that would not happen again, but yet, it has. I need to address my excess in that room too, but it's MY room!

We have the floors mostly vacuumed but the ktichen will need it once again because he carries stuff in on his shoes every day. That's okay, he cleans it up by sweeping it right out the door! I will take care of the dusting when it's closer to the Brazee's arrival as the jack hammering and pollen undo the dusting if done too far ahead. I am so excited for them to get here!

A welcome change

Last April, early in the month, work began on our sundeck/terrace here on the building. Plans were to have the project wrapped up by the 4th of July. As of today, the project yet continues. Ugh! Right now, we are all being seranaded by the sounds of hammer drills and grinders yet again, removing several dozen of the tiles laid only a few months ago. A problem with standing water remains after assurances that the situations would be resolved, so now, tear it up and adjust the slope. My sympathies to those who live on the second floor, having to go through this mess even longer.

The good news is that the weather is allowing for the workmen to remain on the task, not being run off by rain. The sun has returned, though our mornings start with cooler temps, it warms nicely by afternoon. As long as it stays dry, tile men and landscape crews can do their work!

My coat on the model in Kusadasi, Turkey

I had to chuckle at church yesterday, as I came with my coat on, the temps in the 40's that morning. A young girl of the congregation, not yet confirmation class age, was wearing a strapless dress, sort of like one would wear to a school dance, and me, all bundled up. I wore my ruby red blouse that my mom got me for Christmas several years ago in addition to my coat, and appreciated having the layers. I did see others dressed for summer too, including a man who came to church in shorts, sandals, and a floral shirt! Such is our Florida weather! 

Judy C. was in Charleston for the weekend so we went to Chili's without her. At first Betty thought she would miss it because she was asked to serve cake for the baptism reception after church. But, as Justin so kindly informed me, the mess was cleaned up and all put away, with everyone else waiting for me to finish up my meeting with Carol about the exterior paint colors. Well! These things take time!

Justin is planning to make our dinner tonight, using some chicken breasts we got at Winn Dixie the other day (I did go back to get another of those pork roasts). He is coating them with an egg, crumb, and cheese mixture, with a pasta 'n sauce side dish. 

Justin had off from work today and seems to be making some forward progress in his room, getting things straightened away. He half killed himself with the fumes from the foaming bubbles in his bathroom, as I "encouraged" him to spray it all down. Phew, what a strong smell! I asked him the other day how things were coming in the guest room, and he told me that he is 60% ready for our company to come. Oh, I would like that to be 100% ready, but he still has Wednesday to finish the job. Always by the skin of his teeth with these projects!!!

Lots of talking

I have a sore throat from all the talking. One conversation on the phone lasted nearly two hours while I mostly listened! My friend from church had much to discuss, as together we serve on the building committee. She is full of ideas and thoughts, bounced them off me. Boy, I sure do wish we had unlimited resources to do the things we have ideas for our project!

I have also been talking with family, often with my fingers instead of my voice, since my auntie died. There are details and such needing to be determined yet, but sadly, I won't be able to make it to her service. My schedule and pending house guests just don't allow for it, especially with my trip coming up in March. 

I don't actually have a sore throat but it is scratchy and I am clearing it regularly. Today in worship I had trouble singing, sounded rather croaky. We had a houseful of visitors, too, with a baptism. The highlight, other than having both sacraments today, was a couple visiting from WI with Manitowoc roots. The woman was in high school with my older sister and the husband was the son of the former pastor at Bethany Lutheran. Small world in the WELS! It was great chatting with them. They enjoyed our winter weather and were bracing for their drive back up to the Appleton area. "Pam" said they always to come to churches early when they travel because her husband likes to talk to people beforehand. Sounds familiar!! Such nice folks, I am glad to have had the time to visit with them before and after worship!

Sad news today

This evening Justin and I dined in, having pizza delivered from Papa Johns. He had a coupon for a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza and a cookie pizza for $15---a good deal!  We watched a couple episodes of "Last Man Standing" while we ate. One slice of pizza left and two wedges of chocolate chip cookie. I am stuffed!

While Justin and I cleared away the dishes and got the kitchen tidied up, I was telling him about my Auntie Marie. She was recently moved into Shady Lane Home after having a fall in her home. This morning I was contacted  by my cousin reporting that now Auntie had fluid on her lungs and didn't want any further intervention. She was done. 

While I was talking to him about it, my phone went off. It was my sister, Lynn, calling to let me know that my auntie had passed away. Fortunately Mom had gotten to Shady Lane in time to see her, and she passed away later in the day. I am so very sad. I had just this afternoon printed off a couple photos for Auntie and written a card to her. Still on my kitchen counter to be mailed...I loved my auntie and feel badly for her kids and for my mommy, who has lost her last sibling. Heaven is richer for it, but my heart is heavy at the loss.

These are the two pictures I printed off and enclosed in my card to Auntie. Now I will send them to Barbie (on the left in the lower photo), Auntie's only daughter. Top photo is 2008 and the lower one is 2011, both at Christmas.

A crazy busy month

I guess it's not a crazy busy month but more like the next couple of weeks. Dee invited me to attend an art reception at the Thrasher-Horne Center celebrating the local artists represented in the gallery over the past 25 years. Dee Roberts was one of those artists who had an entire show of her work, so she asked me to be part of her "plus two" group. It is an honor to be part of this event, with her. She is taking her little group to dinner at Koko's afterward and then to her house for dessert. I look forward to this tonight!

My friends, Hal and Rosalie, are coming to town next week and will be staying two nights with us. Their daughter is treating them to the Daytona 500 which is next weekend. They are flying into Orlando, driving up here to visit, and then driving down to Daytona on Saturday morning. They have a couple requests on their list of things to do: see Joe Z. and eat at Grumpy's!! Cool beans! I am having some people over on Friday afternoon to spend time with them, as I did a couple years ago when they were in town. Mainly they want to see Joe, and the rest will be icing on the cake.

Saturday morning, they are leaving here and I will be going to Park Avenue Bistro (formerly Honey B's which was owned by former owners of The Sister's Tea Room). Park Avenue is owned by the former owners of David's Restaurant, which is now Grumpy's. Get it??? I ate lunch there with Kathy H. on Wednesday and it was good. I hope the church ladies are all satisfied with their meals and such, as many of them will remember how David's was known for its salad plate. That starts at 11:00 a.m. 

THEN, from there, I am heading to Baymeadows area for a going away party for our friends who are moving back to Green Bay after 2 1/2 years in Jax. Suzanne just lost her mother this week, too, who was in Hospice care in Green Bay. I have not heard that the party is cancelled yet, as details are pending. I had offered to bring fruit on a stick to the party but then realized that it would be tight making it from one event to the other in time to get my fruit there, if they were eating right away. Rita, who is in charge and hostess for the party, told me to not worry about my fruit, just come to the party when I can, because Wayne and Suzanne want me there, not necessarily my fruit!

The next day, Sunday, is the anniversary of the first service at Victory. Justin and I were there for the first service as was my mom, former spouse who also ushered, and Timmy. I remember there being wheels on the chairs in the room in which we worshiped at UNF, and nothing says 'church' like a kid on wheels! Anyway, we are going for the worship and the meal afterward, being catered by Maggiano's Italian Restaurant. 

During the week I have a Republican Women's Meeting at The Club, a luncheon meeting. Then, on Friday, Justin and I are invited to a surprise birthday party for Nancy M. Her hubby, Bill, asked me to contact a few people to go to Koko's. One couple he asked me to invite are not able to make it so I will ask him if he would like me to invite someone else. Nancy W. and Bob will be there, too. There is only room for two more people at the hibachi table so he might be okay with just the six of us. I am so glad they like the place, as we dined there within the month for Bob's birthday and they loved it. Justin and I ate dinner there on Monday night, and I am going again tonight with Dee and Julia, which means I must love it, too!

March begins a flurry of activity as well with the Martin Luther College choir coming to sing at Christ the King, in Palm Coast. Judy C. and I are going for sure, and I am not sure who else is interested in attending. Guess I will drive for that event. The LWMS Spring Rally being held in Gainesville on the 8th. Judy is driving to that and it looks like we might have a nice size group going. 

On the 10th of March I am flying up to WI yet again to attend a women's retreat with Linda in Oshkosh. Two years ago we watched the recorded sessions of this retreat where Prof. Deutschlander presented on his book "The Theology of the Cross". We sat in Linda's living room with the laptop playing the session. Linda and I found ourselves making the exact same sounds at the same places as the ladies in the room, which was so funny to us. When she heard he was coming back this year, and told me, we just had to go! 

I will be in Manitowoc/Oshkosh for two weeks this time, a shorter visit, as I am returning in July at attend the Worship Conference. Judy C. will be accompanying me, or I her, to the Worship Conference, and we will likely travel together. My guess is we fly into Chicago and get transportation from there, or perhaps even to MKE. I will ask around to see if someone from Manty can give me a ride home to Manitowoc when the time comes. Much like I did in 2011 when the Conference was held in MN. I got a ride to Judy R.'s house in Winona and then my sister, Lori, who lived just across the river, came to pick me up!!

But, that is July, and I have time before then. I will have to rest up after my busy end of the month of February, and brace myself for traveling to frigid WI yet again. At least Mom's house is cozy warm and I will get to see her and my peeps again. My sister, Lori, mentioned she might come over to Manty when I am there,which will be awesome. Mom is still eating some of the meals I froze during my last visit, so I can make some more stuff when visiting in March. I will have to come up with some new recipes, though Mom really liked the stuff I made this last time. Perhaps that pork tenderloin Justin made for us this week would be good, but so good, we might eat it up right away!