What you "Noah" won't hurt you

Today at Bible study, Pastor H. asked if any of us had seen the movie, "Noah". Most of us said we had not or would not, but one lady, Dawn, reported buying the ticket but ended up walking out. "I couldn't take it, I just couldn't take it..." she sighed. It wasn't even close to the Biblical account. The man who made the movie declared it would be as unbiblical as possible, and he was true to his word.

Pastor told us he did buy the ticket and stayed through the end, because he had to see what the hubbub was about. He took away several valuable things from it, including some of what the news articles and other reports indicated. One such thing was Noah's referring to the animals as the "innocents".  Supposedly Noah was to build the ark to save the animals rather than to save the remnant of believers from God's destruction. 

Pastor said the producers did very thoroughly picture the depravity of man, which is good, but sadly, that did not actually figure into the reason for the flood. The worship of the world and the animals is evident throughout the movie, which ties it into today. 

People love animals almost more than they do humans (picturing the infomercials for SPCA and other animal rescue stuff). The producers of the movie determined that God (or rather, Creator) was angry at man for killing and eating the animals, and depleting the earth of its resources, so he was sending the flood. This appeals to the animal folks and the environmentalists. "Gaia" worship rather than worship the True God who created it all! 

Those gathered for class talked about the animals on the ark, wondering how all those larger animals fit. Harold mentioned that they did not necessarily have to be full-grown ones, they could have been quite young when on the ark. Those we have no more among us might have died off after the flood, not being able to adapt to the change in the atmosphere and such post-flood. Lots of interesting discussion and speculation---I just love this class!

Pastor H. was glad he stayed through it, helping him get the perspective of the world and what's being thrown around out there. I still won't go see it but appreciated his take on it, and that of Dawn, before she walked out!

Love that Panda!

Justin and I just finished our dinner at this later hour (twice in one week!) which he picked up from Panda Express for us. After worship now, since our little choir is rehearsing, he runs over to Panda Express to pick up our dinner. He then comes back to church for me, usually timed about right for us to be done with rehearsal. Kristi said we'd be only about 20 minutes which works out fairly well for his trip over and back. Panda is located in the Target parking lot, close to the road for easy in and out.

Pastor H. was our guest preacher tonight and once more we heard a marvelous sermon. The theme tonight was about broken promises, with Pastor bringing up some of history's more well-known broken promises. Caesar being stabbed by his dear friend who promised he'd have his back, the famous 'read my lips--no new taxes' speech, and the one most everyone knows now: "if you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance..." Everyday we make promises to ourselves and to others and yet break them over and over. We were reminded how God keeps His promises, especially His sending a Savior for our sins. 

Behind Justin and I was seated Linda and her gentleman friend, Gordon. As we were being dismissed, I turned around to greet them and Linda complimented me on my smile. She said I am either so happy or up to something. Gordon found that quite amusing! When we greeted Pastor at the door, I heard Gordon, a non-member, tell him how much he got from that sermon. I like to hear this, very much! And just love that pastor!

I also 'love' the dinner rolls purchased this noon at Grumpy's. Nancy W. and I went over to have a bite, mostly because I was hungry for their delicious fries, and the rolls, of course. She was between projects so off we went. When we came back to her place, she showed me the swimming pool for her part of the property, hidden behind the bushes. Wow, it's so nice! They have a picnic area with a grille available, tables and chairs, picnic tables, very nice bathrooms, and a longer pool. She said she gets three more strokes in this pool than in The Club pool, but it is narrower, if that matters. She is quite a strong swimmer, like her father was. 

Bob, Bill, and Nancy M.

While we were out there, we heard a man holler that we were at the wrong pool---it was Bill, walking his dogs. Nancy's pool has a built-in thermometer in it, showing at 77 degrees. Bill would get in, I know he would, and it won't be long before Nancy W. dives in herself. They are both hardy folks!

Nancy's place is really taking shape, she is an amazing and innovative decorator. A couple of times we've talked about me borrowing her Roomba to see how I like it for vacuuming my floors. Justin is of the opinion that it would freak me out, moving around the house unescorted. Nancy said she sets hers free every time she leaves the house, and every day she empties the cup that collects the dust. She has no pets to put the blame on, either---just the what comes from the air and from feet, I guess. And the air conditioning.

Once I got back from Nancy's, I spotted Bob at the pool so I went out there to visit with him. He was telling me about his mother, about 92 years old, and quite forgetful. But she is not forgetful enough to put the guilt on her 70 year old son for putting her in a home. Or trying to, anyway. She now lives with Bob's sister and husband but they want to travel and such during retirement. Grandma doesn't want to go anymore, and can't be left alone so....Poor Bob would like to help out but is too far away and too old to do it. I felt so badly for him. Glad to lend an ear and enjoy the sunshine at the same time.

"Have a Kimmy Day"

Well, the storms didn't actually arrive until the wee hours of the morning, resulting in torrential rains falling in the area during the morning rush hour. Following Facebook, I read account upon account of slow moving traffic, overturned vehicles from hydroplaning, and basically a pain in the butt for those having to go to work in that weather. 

My son was NOT among those battling the weather and roads. His boss let him know early that today would be a washed out, so Justin posted a note for me on the microwave oven door letting me know. He had a feeling I'd come flying in to wake him up, thinking he'd overslept! He did manage to go back to sleep for a couple of hours after getting his call from the boss. Good for him, since he was still pooped from working all day Saturday and a long day (12 hours) on Monday. I guess he's tired!

When he got up, he came to my room to make some plans for the day. First order of business was going to Koko's for lunch. Sounds good to me! We also swung by Wal*Mart as a scrip was ready for me to pick up, and I also got a bag of Easter candy suitable to be stuffed in the plastic eggs for the hunt at church. It's a foreign type of candy, something from Sponge Bob, so neither of us is tempted to break that bag open. Hopefully kids like it, right?

We had a wonderful lunch at Koko's, Justin getting his favorite sushi to go with his meal. It was a bit early when we arrived, and I asked the owner, Tracy, if we were the first ones there. Nope, but there were other customers seated in the non-hibachi dining area. Tracy is the woman who told me once that I turned her face upside down. This time when we left the restaurant, she walked through and said, "Have a nice day...No, have a Kimmy Day!" Again Justin said to me, "...there's no living with you..." as he chuckled. He's just as bad as I am because people like to tell me what a nice boy he is and what a good job I've done with him. He, too, is insufferable--ha ha!

Whoo, what a busy day!

This morning was Bible study, our on-again/off-again class, now looking at how Christians deal with death and dying. I know the subject might not sound all that enjoyable but it actually is quite informative and allows for ready discussion. The fictional 'woman' whose illness we are following is Eunice, and she is presently facing the stage of depression. Next time we meet for class, sometime after Easter, she will hopefully be at acceptance. 

Only three of us ladies went to lunch afterward, with Betty, Judy, and I going to DQ for the $5 lunch special. More than I can eat, no matter what I order, including the drink and a small sundae. Nothing small about it, if you ask me! We had a most enjoyable meal and chat together before we parted company for a few hours before Ladies' Group tonight.

I stopped at Winn Dixie on the way home, plus picked up my completed tax packet. At WD I got some soda (we have less than 6 of the 12 packs left from our great purchase in March.) Don't like to get too low, like getting gas in the car before the gauge goes to 1/4 mark. WD had steaks on sale so I picked up two of them, plus some other items. One particular selection was a six-pack---not beer, but Russell Stover coconut eggs! Yum! 

As I stood looking down an aisle, deciding if I should move that way or not, a man from the meat department asked me if I was looking for something special. I told him I was listening to the birds on each shoulder, one saying 'yes!' to the ice cream aisle, and the other saying 'no' to it. He laughed and said he was sad I wasn't looking for something special because he was special. That he was! He showed me a 'good' buy on a Breyer's Lite vanilla that tastes as good as the real deal, he claimed, marked at half price. I took it as a favor to him (ahem, ahem).

Tonight was our Ladies' Group meeting, mentioned above. Justin came home from work exhausted and took a rest while I was gone. When I got home from the meeting, I was greeted with a dinner plate---roast beef shredded and my baked potato mashed, ready to go. Now, that's service! He had set the table already so all I needed to grab was some butter for the potato and the ketchup for my meat. Justin and I watched a sitcom while we ate, and then he retired to his room for the night. Storms are expected overnight and he hopes they are done by morning. Makes for a miserable day of yard work if it's raining!

Salad days!

Every year on Timmy's birthday, I go to eat at Sweet Tomatoes (Taste Tomatoes, as he referred to it). Sometimes a friend or two would join me, plus Justin, though he'd murmur about having to go twice in one day because of going with his father as well. That's alot of salad for one day! I One year I told him not to worry about it , that I could go by myself but he'd not hear of it. 

Thankfully, Sweet Tomatoes added more variety to their offerings including 6 types of soup, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, a pasta bar, bakery, and the ice cream bar. No one should leave there hungry! I know neither Justin nor I do.

This year, our regular church gang joined Justin and me, much to our delight. I didn't really get to ask Judy and Michael, as she asked me if we'd mind if they came along. Of course, I was thrilled that they'd consider it, and most of usual group joined us. Mike S. had never been there and in order to be sure to get enough to eat, took two plates of salads. His stomach paid for that the next day---too much green stuff! He didn't know about the soup and all the other foods available. He won't make that mistake again.

Not long ago, Justin brought it up again how nice it was to have the church family with us that day. It touched me deeply and him as well. And, he only had to eat salad once that day, which was also a win for him. 

This discussion came up because we got coupons in the mail for Sweet Tomatoes. Judy mentioned getting them, and Betty just loves this place, but rarely gets to go because she has no one else who wishes to dine there. Judy finds it a bit expensive but with the coupons, it was decent deal. We went again today, saving 20% per meal. Twice in one quarter I've eaten at "Taste Tomatoes", the 'rensarant' with the apple on the sign....

Love my sunflowers!

Friday evening, rather, late afternoon, Nancy W. came by to pick me up to help celebrate our friend, Bill's, birthday. His wife, Nancy M., not to be confused with the other Nancy, asked me to pick between two different venues for Bill's birthday celebration, and I chose La Nopalera. The other choice was Whitey's and while neither of these two places are easy to find parking on a given Friday night, Whitey's would be the worst! 

AND, she allowed me to set the time to meet at 5:30 pm, rather than later, due again to the difficult parking situation there. (Justin chuckles how I am the social director of this group!) I only have to get towed off once to learn my lesson about parking at La Nop!! 

Nancy called there to make a reservation for the 7 of us (Justin couldn't go because he was still working), and was told that they don't accept reservations. Coming at 5:30, though, should be no problem. Well, that didn't seem to be the case!

We found parking with all of us arriving about the same time. Phyl, Cynthia, Bob, Bill, Nancy, Nancy, and I went into the restaurant and expected to be seated. There were lots of tables available for our number, but it seemed that, yes, they were reserved!!!  This brought to mind a "Seinfeld" episode regarding making/keeping reservations, of course. Nancy told the 'hostess' that she had called Monday and was told no reservations were accepted but the hostess said, "Well, I didn't talk to you..." What difference does that make? 

With some cajoling and our perseverance, we were eventually seated at a table which had been saved for a party at 6:30. Now, if we were served and out of there in less than an hour, well, that's on them. We were squatters! Bob would like to have gone somewhere else but I don't know where we could have gone at this point and just sat down, unless we went to Manny's Italian, next door. Or Pasta Market, but this was Bill's preference so we stuck it out. 

I didn't care as much about the food as I did about having their yummy strawberry margaritas.  I did have my shredded beef quesidilla for dinner. It was so nice to be together, catching up on each other's news, a great meal and laughs besides. I had not seen Phyl and Cindy since before Christmas and we are all excited for the next pool season soon to begin so we can all be together again!

On the ride home again, Nancy asked if I minded stopping at her dad's house so she could pick up something. She ran in and came out in a minute carrying this lovely cobalt blue vase. She made it a gift to me. I guess when Nancy M. said "No Gifts" for Bill's birthday, it didn't mean I couldn't get one! 

I had told Nancy a week or so ago the story of Justin coming in one night to my room, carrying his laptop. He wanted to show me a scene from "Last Man Standing" where in the background was a blue vase with sunflowers in it. He knows I like both! So that's why she gave me this vase, and wished that she had some flowers to put in it. I assured her I had some, and as soon as I got upstairs, I stuck the sunflowers in the vase, snapped the picture, which was texted to her before she got in her driveway!  

God chooses to remain anonymous

My sister, Lynn, sent me this photo via text message, showing Angelo just hanging out 

This morning I enjoyed Breakfast Club, walking over in nearly summer weather. The sun was beaming brightly and reflecting so beautifully off the river. Thursday evening my neighbors and I watched a wedding taking place at The Club as we sat on the now completed sundeck. It was quite a dramatic setting and elegant to boot. They had this arbor/frame set up for the ceremony  and it was still here this a.m.

When I walked home from The Club, I found some ladies sunning themselves at the pool, while little boys splashed about in the kids' pool. The water was still quite cold by human standards, but somehow kids, and folks visiting on vacation, don't mind. On Wednesday I had gone to lunch with my friend, Kathy H., and when we got home, I saw Bob sitting at the pool. I had to take my to-go box upstairs and by the time I turned around, Bob was packing up to go inside. Missed him by 5 minutes!

Back to Wednesday's lunch---Kathy had much to speak with me about, and we managed to have our conversations despite sharing a 6 top table with another pair of diners. While we ate, I saw John come in with a lady and was seated just down from us. I excused myself to go greet him and we exchanged hugs. He is the owner/manager of the cemetery, one of my 'boyfriends' as we used to call them in my family. It was great to see him, and meet the new funeral director who was with him. 

Kathy told me where her father was buried, which sounds like not too far from Timmy's site. She told me how they allowed her to keep a FL Gator on a spike at his marker. I told her how I took all my stuff away in 2008 when asked to do so, aside from the marker for the tree the Douglas's donated. I also shared with her how dear the guys were there, having gotten to know them fairly well since I visited the site almost daily for 7 years!  She didn't remember who she worked with at Jax Memory Gardens funeral home, but I told her I had a good relationship with Damon, though I don't see him very often any longer.

As we went to the car to come back over here, I saw a blue truck pull in behind my car. I knew that truck! Here came Mike around the truck, plus Damon and Sue from the office at the Memory Gardens. Oh for goodness sake! Oh, my! More hugs and greetings were shared, with Mike telling me that the guys had been asking about me, wondering where "Miss Day" has been. Either Mike or Damon said they see me driving down the road, recognizing my tags (my license plates). When I got back in the car, I told Kathy who these people were and she was as surprised as I was. Timing was everything that day!!  And for the week, since only the day before I'd been working on the project for the event at St. Johns, well, it all sort of tied together. No such thing as coinicidence, only God choosing to remain anonymous!