Serenity Now!!!!

Oh boy, the roofers are hard at it already this morning! The entire north end of our parking area, under roof on both sides of the parking lot is roped off to allow for the massive crane to maneuver, hauling the old roof debris away and depositing into dumpsters. A little boy's dream! Our hope is that the rain holds off so the guys can get their work done and move the crane sooner rather than later. When I came home last night, I saw a couple cars still parked behind "enemy lines" so I hope they got their vehicles out before the crane moved in, because I'll bet the operator wouldn't be in a big hurry to move it for them!

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I neglected to mention last night about our pastor being on vacation for a couple weeks, so one of our Elders and the church President are filling in for him. Rick served us yesterday for the first portion of the service, up to the communion liturgy, when Mike stepped in to finish. Both guys did a good job, knowing it's nerve-rattling for them to step into Pastor's shoes. It looks so easy from where we sit! We had a good laugh though after worship. Rick was supposed to read some announcements but somehow in the shuffle of papers, he couldn't lay his hands on them. All of a sudden he came up with a sheet of paper and proceeded to announce the name of the new office administrator, Lynne, and thanked the retiring secretary, and then me, for my service filling in during the vacancy. Okay, that was over a year ago...but, you're welcome! And, make a note, don't keep announcements from year to year, throw them out once in awhile!

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Due to Judy C.'s being away at the LWMS national convention, others had the dubious honor of making the coffee and preparing the lemonade for our Sunday social. The lady who was up to do it this week, Ethel, ended up in the hospital and wasn't sure she'd be available, so her daughter asked me. Yes, I can do that, especially to help out Ethel. It's been a long time since I've made a pot of coffee at church and it was a roll of the dice how it would turn out. Clara and I were the first ones to arrive and I went around unlocking the doors while Clara turned on the lights. I told her I was making the coffee and hoped that it wouldn't be so strong that everyones hair ended up looking like mine......At one point I stepped back into the Fellowship Hall for something and I heard one lady saying: "Adding water doesn't even help!" and another saying: "Maybe the other pot is better." I tried to run but they came at me with pitchforks and torches. Not really, but I explained it was my fault for making it awful and the one complaining the loudest told me later it was hot and not that bad.....whew! They have good senses of humor! Ethel, come back soon!

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So starts the week. Tonight is Ladies' Group, with I'm sure a skeleton assembly, figuratively speaking, due to vacations and such. Since pastor is gone, we won't be having our "People Close to God" class on Tuesday. The other ladies have decided to come over here for a video about evangelism, a brief one, and then we're going to watch "Pirates 3" which I have not yet seen. Justin doesn't imagine I'll like it much, not my type of movie but Linda H. seems to think it's awesome, so whatever, I'll be with my church ladies! I am going to take the VHS tape to have it converted to DVD so we can watch in the family room, or we'll all end up sitting on my bed watching in here, since my VHS quit working for some reason. Lucas had to watch the "Buzz Lightyear" movie in here with me, which turned out to be pretty cool for us. It was cool for me, he was wrapped up in his movie! "Pirates" is on DVD and that works in the family room, oddly, the same machine but different portions of the same equipment. Justin and Paul both told me it's nearly impossible to buy a VHS player any longer so I may be sunk!

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Wednesday is open but Thursday brings a building committee meeting which I'll attend instead of going to see/hear the Rod Stewart impersonator. To prepare for that meeting I must get three colors of paint mixed to help make decisions for siding color. We still don't have all the siding applied to the building, having had numerous delays or failure of folks to show up on work days, etc. I am also putting together three scenarios for the interior decor, as a color board or what have you, but have to search out my original selections which was done months and months ago! There was a sense of urgency when I first put them together and they've sat back in the building ever since then, barely even looked at. Frustrating? Yes! But this isn't the Blue Mosque going up and I shouldn't expect it to be going any differently. Wishing doesn't make it so.

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Friday morning I am going to have my very first facial with my new friend, Sharon, doing the honors. She was so grateful to have her business noted in The Palace Press. She said she can't really afford to buy advertising so every mention and referral helps. Just another service I offer! Olivia told me she'd had a facial once and ended up with a red face the rest of the day. She is mighty white to start with which may make a difference and I've never seen a blemish on her skin. My skin is not so white and has some rough terrain to work on. It won't matter anyway since the only other thing on the calendar that day is cropping at church. No one there will mind looking at a red faced Kim---wouldn't be the first time!!!

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Sunday Justin and I have another debutante event, at OP Country Club, no black-tie this time---resort casual! Yes, can do! The most recent event Justin decided at the last moment not to attend and went to Tallahassee with his friends instead. He ended up missing his former best bud and Magic Card player, Ryan, who attended the fancy event with his girlfriend, who was a deb a few years back. Maybe they'll be at this event Sunday and they can catch up. Last week Saturday when we were out shopping, I'd just asked Justin if he ever heard from Ryan, and he said they sort of lost touch. And two days later I heard he was at the event he missed. Ryan used to have a one track mind, Magic Cards, and was nearly impossible to engage in ordinary conversation. It was a fun challenge for me to try changing the subject. Mom and I drove them to Orlando once for one of their card tournaments and our heads were spinning from all their card banter. We should know everything about every card after that weekend!

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Martie has been feeling poorly ever since the Friday night at Stamp Camp. Jen and I both noticed she was slow on the uptake, couldn't seem to get her rhythm going on the projects and not cracking jokes about sitting at the remedial table. That night after she drove home, she had a piece of watermelon and went through the roof with an abscessed tooth! Not only did she have this infection but it caused her to have vomiting and nausea, and of course the terrible toothache pain. She was trying to ease off the pain meds after the antibiotic took hold, because she couldn't drive while taking the pills. Unfortunately she had to miss the dinner on Thursday night but did have her son take her to work on Saturday. It's well over week since I've seen her so hopefully she'll be okay to come paint and/or crop on Wednesday like usual. We can always go to her house to do our "work" so she won't have to drive, especially since she also needs car repairs done. That poor girl! When you're sick, even at 55, you're still a girl!

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Jennifer P. is doing very well after seeing my favorite massage lady, Carol, last week. Her mom wants to try it too, so I gave Jennifer another referral card for Rose to use, and then I'll be eligible for another complimentary massage. We live by referral!

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The place where I am going to have the facial is called "Serentity", which brings to mind another "Seinfeld" reference.......seems I live by referral, too! Serenity Now!!!!!!!

I'm so happy Judy's home!!!

....and all's right with the world!

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I feel so much better now that we will be back in regular contact. Judy R. wrote to report the great fun they had on their trip to Alaska, traveling with friends--some old friends and some new. One of the new friends she mentioned turned out to be the pastor and his wife from Ocala, FL! She said he's a real hoot, and I already know that to be true. He served Judy J. and her husband when they worshipped in Ocala and became quite close friends with them. Now, two of the Judys in my life are tied together from their association with Paul and his wife, Chris. Cool beans!

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Last night I met my former classmate, Marcy, and her hubby, Mark, at Salt Water Cowboy (bet Mom's mouth is watering already!) and I knew her immediately. She closely resembles her mom, plus I saw a recent picture. She said I looked just like me! What can I say? We had a lovely dinner, played some catch-up, and talked about, what else, church! Her husband and she are quite involved with their church, which is in the CLC synod, with Mark filling in since late winter for their ailing pastor. They enjoyed their time in St. Augustine but the time got away from them. A return trip is expected in the fall when it's cooler to catch the missed places. We sort of take it for granted since we live here, but when you come in fresh, yeah, there's lots to see and do!

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Marcy, besides working as a nurse, is dabbling in some free lance writing, focusing mainly on technical manuals and such right now. Perhaps at some point she'll try her hand at writing a book but isn't sure she's up to the challenge and demands of such a task. I wish her well, and told her what I've learned at Writer's Conferences: write about what you know. Go for it! It's only paper and ink..........or, in this day and age, it's only space taken up your computer memory!

Kim and Marcy in St. Augustine

Cindy just called and told me that she was thinking about me today, knowing about the cemetery clean-up Justin and I were going to do. She always offers great comfort, often reminds me about something Timmy said or did in the preschool. She also encouraged me to bring some of those memory pieces to the church/preschool for the front flower bed. She works there every day and will get to enjoy them more frequently up there. What a great perspective that lends me! Yes, I will do just that!

At the cemetery, Justin helped me get things gathered together and secured in the plastic garbage bag to suffocate any hiding spiders----don't want to introduce any more black widow spiders into my car! He returned my giant-sized wash basket which served us well for transporting the items. I did leave the marker that indicates the tree was dedicated, etc. and we'll see if the guys allow it to stay or not. Cindy feels like going over tomorrow to snag it and return it another time when no one is looking.....I don't know 'bout that, I'm willing to take my chances on them allowing it to stay. You know, I trust everybody, my downfall!

The lady at church who orders the flowers and Carol, the Altar Guild leader, very nicely arranged with the florist to put the Sunday flowers into the type of vase which will allow me to transfer them into the grave marker vase. Usually the bouquets came in a foil "bread pan" container which I simply stood on the marker, but that's a no-no, now, too. I appreciate it greatly that the ladies made this happen for me, starting today. I really want to be in compliance and not a problem for these fellas who've been so wonderful to me all these years. Really, I could thank them for forcing me over this hump, and I know Cindy is probably grinding her teeth having me say that. As I was leaving church today, Carol called my name and then said she had no words for offer, just to tell me she would be thinking of me, and so was Cindy! And my family. Thanks, guys!

After the clean up, Justin and I came home, changed our clothes, and went out to the pool. We ordered our meals, me getting my hot dog and Justin the chicken blt. He let me taste his and wow, it was good! I don't know if I'd not order the hot dog, but if for some reason I had to, a chicken blt would work!

Soon the ladies started to come down stairs and had reserved a table for us. Justin and I moved our belonging over there and I introduced him to my lady friends. He didn't have much to offer as far as conversation but was certainly polite and spoke up when he had something to say. Of course, it began to thunder and then lightning so we excused ourselves to change our clothes. We were going to a movie, and ended up seeing "WALL-E". Well, I'm glad it was only $5.00 each for us because that movie was so not worth it. Almost immediately, before any sound or dialog was introduced, Justin remarked that they hadn't even tried to mask the political implications. Just jam it down our throats, would you!!!???!!! My downstairs neighbors, Tracy and Jeff, were also there and had the same sentiment. Tracy said she didn't think a 6 year old would even get a movie like this, so I hope Lisa doesn't waste her time and money on this one. Ugh! The popcorn and soda was good, though.......

Of course, as always happens when I'm at the movies, we could hear the thunder and heard rain pounding on the roof of the theater. It was still raining when we came out so went to Fridays to have a snack. TGIF has "lite portions" perfect for Justin while I had my sesame Jack chicken appetiser. I was only able to eat half of them, though, this time. I also ate the cheese from his caprese salad which was part of his meal.

After dinner/snack we walked four and a half miles to where he parked the car. We came upstairs for a bit afterward and talked some more before he headed for home. Oh, I just thought of something----I told him his secret about seeing WALL-E was safe with me.......he didn't want his friends to know he saw a kids movie! We should have gone to Get Smart instead, but I'd heard there was a lot of innuendo in it, so wasn't in a big hurry to see it. My skin is getting thinner and thinner......

So, here it is, late on Sunday evening and I am ready for bed. I slept very nicely last night and will again tonight, I'm sure. Jill tried to send some pictures of her grandson but I couldn't view them. I hope she will try again, I want to see how Bryson has changed since I saw him in April!

Until tomorrow..........

I can't sleep!

Too much the night before or something, I guess, but sleep eludes me right now.

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I am so anxious to hear from my friend, Judy R., who is on a trip to Alaska at this time. We are coming up on our first "anniversary" of meeting, although I do believe that we've been friends forever, but were only recently introduced, as it were, a year ago! It feels that way to me, anyway. Kindred spirits and boy, do I need her "shoulder" right about now.............

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Judy has wise things to say, like my friend, Carol, does here at church. Maybe I should go see Carol tomorrow, since Sundays are simply wwaayy too busy to have a conversation. Justin is coming to church with me this week and then we're going to the cemetery to collect all our personal items from the grave site and from under the tree. John, the man in charge, said I can leave the "Dedicated to Timmy Day" plaque under the tree but all else has to be removed. Mainly I'd like help with the bigger statue that Carol and Cliff donated and think I'll remove it to the memory garden at church. It better suits an outdoor placement and where better than at church, or the preschool where he attended!

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The boys did show up at the picnic tonight and had great fun blowing off fireworks on the deck. I was greatly concerned that the loud booms, nearly in their faces, could cause harm to Justin's good ear, but he "comforted" me by saying he turned his head. Right, good, turn your head, that makes all the difference in the world...All right, just go ahead but don't come crying to me when you can't hear from either side! Oh, what a heartless beast I am!

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Joan and Paul came to watch the fireworks, too, and it was so wonderful to see her again. She is the lady who had the blood clots in her lungs and dangerously close to her heart a few weeks ago. She got home from VA last week and is coming along nicely in her treatment and recovery. It winded her to walk all the way to the back of the house and then back out to their car, but that's bound to happen until all the clots have gone away.

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More than once in my life I've looked at people or situations and not really seen what I should have been seeing or ignoring what I am seeing....vague enough for you? Sometimes, though, decisions have to be made, lines drawn in the sand, about some things, and I guess that decision occurred to me today. One person I met at the pool, whose table I crashed so I could sit and eat my lunch, sort of set the stage, and it was downhill from there. I do not have to tolerate filthy or vulgar language (or perhaps I do when I invite myself to sit at their table....) or surround myself with those who take great pleasure in, shall we say, more "wordly" activities. I need to tippy toe around here a bit to protect the guilty, I meant innocent, but let's just say, I feel quite betrayed and not the tiniest bit foolish. When I am not so tender, I may say more about this, but for now, I'll leave it at that. What I will remind myself on a daily basis from this time forward is that my church and other Christian friends are the ones with whom I should be spending my time, in order to avoid such circumstances and revelations as today's. I am safe in my church, safe with my church family, and truly safe in the arms of the Lord!

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Lynnie, I apologize if this makes you cry, I wish you didn't have to read it at work. Thanks to all my sisters and niece who called today to find out what the poor people were doing! Jill especially had a wonderful surprise of having her son and his family show up at the door....I even got to hear Bryson coo into the telephone. Wish I was there.......

Happy Independence Day!!!!

and Merry Christmas! We truly enjoyed our themed dinner last night, having turkey and dressing, ham, sweet potato souffle, green bean casserole, mac and cheese (a Southern thing!), baby carrots, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cranberries. What? No Jell-o???

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The ladies are always so quick to clear away the dishes and get the dishwasher loaded and it's useless to fight against it. But getting the mess off the table makes room for the next course, the desserts! Joanne, our resident chef, had a great deal of trouble with her white caramel cheesecake so at 11:00 pm the night before decided she was going to buy a cake at Edgewood and be done with it!!! It was an absolutely decadent chocolate layer cake, plus some tarts and cannoli. Sandi brought a pumpkin pie, which reminds me.........I'll be right back!

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Yummy, pumpkin pie for breakfast! Only, it's closer to lunch than breakfast though!!! See, Pam stayed long after the others had gone home and we chatted until nearly midnight. She has lots on her plate and it was good she could discuss things with someone outside her enterprise, as her "consultant". I went to bed, taking a little bit to fall asleep, listened to "Cheers" until I dropped off.

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When I wake up enough in the morning to realize what's on TV, it's usually just before JAG comes on. The program runs back to back until 9:00 a.m. So, as I started to come to this a.m., JAG was already on, which made me think I slept later. No worries, I don't punch a clock anymore. But, when another episode started, after an ad for the JAG/NCIS Marathon today, I took another look. In clicking over to the Preview Channel, I saw it was nearly 11:00 a.m.!!!!! I have no clocks in my bedroom and grandfather clock needs to be re-wound. The sun seemed to be in the right place---I wonder what happened that I slept so long today!?!?

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Maybe I slept later because I was heartbroken yesterday.......when the writing ladies and I left to go have lunch together, a notice was posted in the lobby announcing our Poverty Party was cancelled due to the roofers!!!!!!! Apparently materials had been stacked on the roof just below Nancy's terrace, blocking the view of the harbor and making for an unappealing thing to look at while picnicking on her patio. Oh, it was like I was punched in the stomach! I feel badly for the Powell's, too, because this was going to be their first chance to attend the annual bash, since Billy is still recovering after his hip surgery and not touring. Rats!

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In the meantime, two other offers for 4th of July celebrations came in so I decided to go to Pam's house, on the river to the south, and picnic with her. She's having a fry out and later a bonfire (that's all I had to hear!!) and then watching the fireworks from Orange Park and Green Cove Springs, a great vantage point. My boy might even be there, if he can find the time.......ahem, ahem.....

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Nope, I guess I won't see my boy tonight. He just called and didn't know the first thing about attending the picnic tonight. Pam must be wishful thinking they'd come to home to her house after the events at the beach. He's really getting into that "scene", likes hanging out with Jesse's step-sister and her gang from the radio station, rubbing shoulders with the elite, and so on.

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I will have to go to the grocery store to buy some lettuce and extras to make the taco salad for tonight. I have the meat and taco seasoning and salad dressing on hand. I can taste it already! But sunshine is wasting so outside I must go!

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Again, Happy Independence Day all!

A potpourri of photos....

Manny and Noah on the train at the zoo

A wall Lisa painted in the boys' room

Lisa and Gabe on the train at the zoo

A gathering of my peeps at Time Out. Sorry 'bout Gabe's face being so bright!

Gabe, Noah, Manny, Lisa, Lynn, Danny, Alayna, Justin, Kerry, Kim, Jill, and Grandma K. The blue names are sisters, only two missing......

Noah, Gabe, and Manny under a tree

Light dancing on the ceiling......

It took me a while to fall asleep last night, due in part to being involved in a Law and Order episode I'd not seen before. Morning came a bit more abruptly than the usual sunrising on my face---instead it came with a good deal of hammering and pounding on the roof. Guess I can be thankful I don't live up any higher in this building! Lynx was lying at the foot of my bed and when the pounding began, her head went up first and then she looked at me quizzically, wondering what I was doing!

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I feel badly for the roofers as they have a sort of deadline with this job of mid-July but the rains have been keeping them off the roof so much these past few weeks. From experience we know we don't want the roof exposed when it's raining; therefore, the earlier in the day they begin, the less likely they'll get caught in the rain when it comes in the afternoon.

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Even though I found myself awake early, I opted to not attend the breakfast meeting today. I hate to miss it because I love seeing everybody but I have to get ready for the housekeepers to come. Doesn't that sound funny? Cleaning up before the cleaners get here? What I try to do is have my end tables and such free of "stuff" so the ladies can clean freely (and not just around my stuff), I remove the stumbling blocks which might prevent them from doing a thorough job. This also means I'll have to put the A/C on when it gets closer to their being here. Martie has an abscessed tooth and I am not sure if Chris and Margaret will come today, but I hope they do! I could call Twila to see if she'd like to come but want to make sure we're not in the way of the cleaners. They clean once a month, just before my Themed Dinner.

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The worst area in the house, besides my bedroom/office, is the kitchen floor. The roofers make an awful mess up there which leaves a great deal of residue on the common areas and promenades. Sometimes their guys will come along with a broom and sweep it off, or the owners will do it. But, Dave the Doorman, makes his rounds with the leaf blower (I miss my leaf blower!!!) and gets all the mess taken care of nicely. One problem with his method however: the dirt and dust blows right in under my kitchen door! Guess this means I need a new threshold or something. Glad it's not snow coming in.....but snow would eventually melt and not hurt when walking on it!!!

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I'm thinking of Lynn today. As I lay on my bed, the sun was reflecting off the river and making dancing images on the ceilings. I refer to this as "happiness". Once, when Lynn and Lisa were visiting us at The Preserve, before Gabe was born, some troubling things took place that sort of put a damper on the festivities. Lynn hugged me one morning and said, tearfully, "I just want you to be happy." Of course, that meant everything to me, but to ease Lynn's heart, I explained my thoughts on happiness and joy. On the catwalk above our heads we could see the dancing light reflected from the pool. I said, "Up there, that's happiness. I could get a ladder, climb up to try and grab it, but there's nothing to grab. When the sun moves around, happiness is gone, it's elusive and depends on other things to make it happen. (I wax philosophical.....) On the other hand, joy is with us always, it's inside, and comes not from others or things, but from the Lord." This may not be word for word, but in essence, what I believe. So, whenever I see the light dancing on the ceiling, I think about Lynn!

Lynn and Kim--Florida style!!!!!

Hang on to your hats..................

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.

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They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

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One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together", to which, his father said 'Yes'. For those who didn't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together.

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View this: (Jami: check out what else is featured on the page...look familiar?)

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4e7679f8a731d6cce58a