Getting things ready for my company

Boy, is it ever busy around here! And that is not me being busy....there are workers on the patio just below mine installing new ceramic tile and the saws are making quite the racket. I imagine that little Beckham is not at home today as the noise might affect his napping. My poor kids had to put up with telephones ringing, and being loaded and unloaded from the car to run to the Court House for building permits, etc. Or spent time on job sites where it was noisy and a tad bit dangerous. Beckham would not last very long at all hangin' with Miss Kim! A few hours ago, when I was coming back upstairs from the mailbox, I saw Jeff outside his unit. I asked him if he was out riding his bicycle and he said he was trying to clean up from all the work going on inside his house. He apologized to me for the dust and I said, "There's dust?" I really had not noticed and it was too late now, since my doors had been opened all day!

*

Justin came over after work and got a few things ready for the ladies. He arrived as I was talking on the phone to Butch, the handyman, whom Justin often thinks is Connie. Ooops! I am not sure he's met Butch when he's been here doing work for me. A couple weeks ago I had spoken to Butch downstairs, as he was doing work for someone else in the building, and asked him to change another valve in my secondary bathroom vanity. His schedule was full at the time and told me it would be sometime in September before he could get to it.Well, that's now! I had gone into the bathroom to check on the towel situation and make sure all was good for whomever uses that bathroom, and discovered the towels were soaking wet. Yikes!!!! Sure enough, the valve I asked Butch to replace was dripping, and the floor of the vanity was sagging. Guess I will be replacing yet another bathroom vanity, not grudgingly, because it holds a dated sink style and faucet set. It will be my last updating of bathrooms, I think, as the other guest bath was redone last year. Lowe's sells the vanity and sink combo sets and I think the faucets might come with it. I cannot recall if I got them separately or not. I just have to pay for it and Butch will pick it up on his way to my house. He also has to saw a hole in the other bathroom's vanity floor to accommodate the shut off valve as he did not do that when he installed it. Found that out the day I had the leak from Jessica's ice machine a few months' back.

*

Justin helped me figure out something on my computer which I had accidentally 'moved' from where I wanted it. The fix was simple and I did it fine once he told me what to do, a cut/paste situation. He was not able to help me change the color of my text in this blog though so you all might have to get used to the blue that shows up. Since Saturday, I have been unable to coax the program into doing what I ask of it. Even the helpline was no good to me. Justin also helped me get the guest bed set up and dressed, pushed the boxes and such to the side to make the room look more presentable. Hopefully my guest will only spend a few hours of sleeping in there and it won't give them bad dreams. Justin also dusted the chandelier so it looks nice for the dinner on Thursday night. Whoo hoo!

*

Justin and I went to La Nopalera for dinner tonight and had a dilly of a time finding places to park. The parking lot was absolutely packed, with cars making spots where there were none. Around and around we went, waiting for people to leave and then, just as we had decided to go to the store on Hwy. 220, a couple places opened. The seating was immediate which is odd for the full parking lot, but Justin thought that most of the people were in the bar area. I thought maybe in the party room on the far end of the bar where the Ladies' Group sat last June. They were out of strawberry margarita mix so I had mango instead and Justin had a regular one, which was so tart it spun his head around. I am not a tartness fan which is why I like the fruit flavors better.

*

In my parking lot, I met an acquaintance who used to be part of our monthly dinners. It surprised me to see her and I hoped it was not me she was coming to see, as we were leaving. Nope, she was coming to see Randy, our newest resident in The Palace. He only moved in here last week when Kerry was here and already had met someone! How funny that it happens to be someone I know. Saturday Randy had come out to the pool and I introduced him to a few more folks. His cable was not hooked up yet so he said he was going to watch the football games elsewhere. I had told him that he was welcome to watch TV at my house and I would not bother him because I watch most of my TV in my room. Randy asked me I enjoyed a glass of wine and I had to tell him I did not but that was fine, I did not need wine to watch TV. He went to the River House to watch their flat screen TV for the college games, as he was wearing one of team's mascots on his shirt. It was a nut of some kind, but I cannot remember which team. Perhaps Ohio? I stink at this!

*

Speaking of stinking....last night as I took a potty stroll, I remembered stepping on something in my doorway to the bathroom---vaguely. This morning, I saw a chubby worm-looking slug on the floor, sort of squished. Ewww! As I got myself positioned back on my bed, I looked up at the crown moulding over my TV armoire and saw a dark spot that was not there yesterday. Sure enough, it looks like bug doo doo and I am guessing this squished one came from there. Justin will have to get the ladder in to reach up there with a stick to wipe that spot. There is no way I can reach that from down here, this ceiling is so high. But I really HATE stepping on things in the dark. Good news is that the pest control people are coming to spray our units next week Tuesday!!!

This program is kicking my butt!

I have tried and tried, once more this a.m., to change the font and colors in the previous posting and it just won't take! The writing under the photo of my shoes was supposed to be red so it would stand out and no matter how many times I tried, although it shows up the way I want on the page, will not post that way. The font was dark violet on the page, but posts as blue. Go figure!

*

At yesterday's church meeting, we heard reports about our pending 'service with variety' and there is going to be a prototype of the Order of Service available for us to view. Plans are now to have two such services, both at 9:00 a.m., in October and November, which would be during Bible study time, with preview classes a week prior to each of the planned 'early' services. Then a week after both of them have been held, there will be a class to complete a survey so we can express our likes and dislikes. Already I had planned to attend at least one of the 'blended worship' services so I like the idea of having a run through the week prior to the service being held so I can be fully informed.

*

What a great story on F & F this a.m. A group of men from one family were fishing when their boat sank. Seven males, including a 5 year old boy, were clinging to a floating cooler, wearing life vests, and the grandpa said it was faith in the Lord which saved them, not the cooler. The other grandpa said he asked the Lord to spare his boys. They testified that God saved them, kept the mouths of the sharks closed during the night as they awaited rescue. The Coast Guard was nearly ready to call off the search that night when they were spotted. The whole family is witnessing about their faith in the Lord, over and over and over. I hope all the listeners hear their story and expressions of belief.

*

A friend who is a Lutheran school teacher at F.G. has been 'talking' to me about ideas about how to remember her student, Yeupheng, who passed away after a lengthy illness the day of the church picnic. I told Karen about the memorial flower beds we had at first, the bench with the brass plate and tree dedicated at St. Johns, the little statues folks had given over the years, the artwork, etc. It was great that she felt comfortable enough to ask me about it and I was delighted to be able to share this information. And remind myself of all the ways people remembered Timmy with us.

*

Friday we came up from the pool and Kerry was putting something away in the fridge, or grabbing a soda. She said, "Kim, somebody was here and put a box in the fridge...." Sure enough, it was a box with two cupcakes in it, the note written on top of the box was from Ellen, saying one cupcake was creme brulee and the other Boston cream pie flavored. She had told me via text message that she had a special dessert for us but we were not at home. Later, Ellen saw us at the pool and knows I keep my door unlocked so she dropped it off. Kerry couldn't get over all the people coming and going, visiting us, sharing things, etc. On my kitchen counter are the cleaned dishes from foods folks have brought me, such as the large portion of homemade chicken noodle soup Jessica brought me and the plate which held the oatmeal scotchies from Shari. A good Lutheran would have something to put in the dishes when I return them, but I guess I fall short. Unless I could put a handful of potato chips in each one! Kerry bought two bags of them, BOGO from Publix, and we have the remainder of the first one yet.

*

Kerry told me that there was an elevated security level when she was going home on 9/11 and she had to check her carry-on bag through, without having to pay the extra fee. She had consolidated everything into the one bag, putting her duffel into the carry-on. This was not something I had considered happening and am glad they did not charge her for the bag. She has since reported that she wants to "go back by Kim" which means she wants to come back here, because reality has slapped her in the face. Kerry got home to a mess and when cleaning out the fridge and such, accidentally put the base from her slow cooker on the stove where the burner was yet hot. Oops! She uses her cooker lots and was a 'nice one' from Lisa a few years ago. That is the price we pay for cleaning!

All this football has worn me out!

Whew, what a day of game playing! I have been watching football since right after 1:00 pm until about 7:40 pm without ceasing. Even when the Jaguar game had a lightning delay, a different game was shown that I watched, not even remembering who it was playing! Now, that's bad! Or, good, as the case might be. Both teams I support won today which makes me quite happy. The Packer game got a bit too close for comfort there for a while but in the end, they won---whoo hoo! My butt is asleep for all this sitting.

See my pretty, new shoes? Maggie told me about seeing them at Dilliards at St. Johns Town Center Mall but did not have them in her size. She knew I would like them so Kerry and I went to our Mall to find them. I do like them, very much!!

*

All the sitting started this morning with Bible study and church, sitting for both of those events, and then the congregational/voter's meeting afterward. I even sat as I drove home from church, calling my order in to Danny in the cabana so my food would be ready when I arrived. And it was! Miss Chardonnay and Karrie were in the cabana watching the game but I excused myself to watch upstairs. It was just lovely out there today, too, but the games were on! 93 above zero and sunny but no pool for me on Game Day!

*

Justin sent me a couple text messages from the game, including a photo of the giant flag that extended the length of the field, in commemoration of the 9/11's terror attacks. It was quite impressive, particularly since his seat is in the rafters of the stadium, which affords a full view. Later he sent me a message that they were relieved to have clouds moving in to provide shade, as today was about the hottest game ever for the players and spectators, I guess. I told him the announcer of the game reported that some weather was on the way, about 5 minutes out. Justin said he did not see anything but in a few moments wrote again that the trees had disappeared....rain! The game was delayed due to lightning for about 35 minutes, which caused me to miss part of the Packer game. After the game resumed, the storm moved this way with such a robust thunderclap that my laptop nearly went airborne---again!

*

Last night was a quiet one especially with Kerry gone. My comfort is knowing it will be only a few more days before Lynn and Linda arrive. Hopefully the pool water will stay warm enough for my next guests to enjoy. We will have to be out there bright and early to bask in the sunshine before the shadows come across the water! Soon the fun resumes around here!!!

What a sad day for me

My sister went home. Yup, she did it, got on the plane and flew back to WI. Many of my friends and neighbors were encouraging her to stay here and transfer her employment to Jacksonville's ATT center. Who knows? Maybe some day, she will!

One of the ladies last night said Kerry would be surprised at how much cheaper it is to live here, but on the ride to the airport this a.m., Kerry said that is not true. She is basing this on the cost of rent and the price of pork steaks and hamburger at Winn-Dixie. Whether that is a fair measure or not, I do not know, but since we do not have to pay state taxes, we are miles ahead of the game that WI residents face, regardless of the meat prices. Our license plate fees are high but our weather is better. Cannot argue with that logic!

*

Right now I am flipping forth and back between "House" and Fox News where I am watching a special about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Two years ago at this time I was in WI helping to take care of my father-in-law while John and Mona were gone to West Point for a pinning ceremony for JR. All day, it seemed, on 9/11, I watched specials about the terror attacks while Arno dosed on and off in his chair. He had trouble keeping the present and the past separated, and as I recall, was counting the minutes until the Thrivent representative was coming to have him sign something. We were off by a day on the expected visit and Arno did not like that very well at all. Today, there did not seem to be as much coverage, and I am wondering if that is because it is a weekend rather than a week day this time. Too many sporting events to take up time and attention on a Saturday afternoon, I guess. Good thing I have some DVDs of the event to watch if I wish to. In a few moments, the lights will be turned on at the World Trade Center site when it gets dark enough and will shine heavenward through the night. God bless America!

*

Earlier there was the roll of thunder but thus far, no storm. I opted to remain in the house for the evening after coming in from the pool around 4:15 or so. The water was chilly, in some opinions, but the air temperature was in the low 90's, perhaps about 94. When the sun became low in the sky and cast shadows on the water, we got cold! Not only me, but some of the others as well. It felt good to come up here, put my nightie on and cover my legs with this light blanket. My doors are opened, the A/C back in the OFF position and yet, my feet are cold. There is a bit of a headache going on, too, but that might be from the crying I did today. Oh, I am so sad Kerry has left, she had such a good time and I am glad for her.

*

On the way back from the airport, I had to drive passed Orange Park and head the other direction to the Southside for the Pampered Chef party. Anne H. knew I was so sad about Kerry going home that she promised to go easy on me with the 'intervention' talk today. Fortunately, my friend, Kathy R., needed a certain dish and asked me to order it for her so I had something to put on my order blank. That is, besides the Cherry Almond sauce I ordered for putting over ice cream or pound cake. Does that not sound marvelous? The consultant remembered me from a previous party as the person who buys the product but does not cook. How funny is that?

*

After the party, I came back home and got my clothes changed immediately. I knew Penny was coming over to swim so I got down there to order my lunch from Danny. It was great to see the decent-sized crowd gathered there, with the TV in the cabana showing the Gator football game. I understand that Danny was telling everyone who came in about his little birthday party we threw for him last night. Maggie and Jessica baked and frosted cupcakes for his cake, Ellen brought a bouquet of balloons, plus several folks gave him cards. Kerry and I bought him a Gators t-shirt since he told me the Gators were 'his boys' last weekend. When we jammed into the cabana and started singing to him, it was obvious he was totally blown away. What a great feeling it was to make his day special! Kerry expressed regret that she did not say a better good-bye to him before she left. That only means she has to come back and do it again!

Kerry's visit continued but nearly over....

This tiny photo is Kerry floating in the pool, taken with my cell phone, which is why it is so dinky. She wanted me to make sure that The Club showed up in the background so I could not really zoom in on just her. Today I will take the 'real' camera down with me so we can take a decent-sized photo. She is camera-shy but with her body below water, she wanted a photo of herself in the pool to taunt her friends!!

*

When Kerry went down to fish in the a.m. yesterday, she had left her phone upstairs so did not call Nancy L. to join her. Too bad about that. Breakfast was at Grumpy's where she had a nice plateful of food courtesy of The Bad Mood Dude. She couldn't see anyone who looked Grumpy but I told her new folks have bought the restaurant so all are happy now! On the way to Victory I tried to call Mom, as is my custom, but her line was busy, which means she was on the computer. No worries, I called her on the way home instead.

*

The Bible study, with 10 of us present, is about sanctified living and how it ours by grace. Pastor Hoyer allowed Kerry to use their fax machine to send something to her work to secure her vacation choices for next year. Pastor also gave Kerry one of our workbooks and even though Harold H. said she had to pay for it, she was assured it was free for her. She said she really enjoyed that Bible study and especially how soothing Pastor's delivery is, and assuring.

*

From Victory we were on to Joe's Crab Shack where we dined el fresco and Kerry just loved it. In fact, twice she ventured off the deck to walk to the beach, on her second trip back, stepped off the path to cooler sand where her foot found a piece of cactus. About the size of a small pear, the pickers were stuck in her foot, and she had to tug mightily to get it loose. Justin and I were still on the deck and did not realize she had a problem until she got back up there, not able to put her foot down because pickers were still in the foot. The nice waiter came by and was able to pull one more obvious picker out and she worked on the rest herself. He got a sizable tip for that! Later that night, by the way, she was walking into the family room and stubbed a toe on her other foot and thinks she might have broken it! Yikes!

*

Originally our plans were to go to Twila's to fish in the afternoon but Twila was afraid it was too hot in the full sun of midafternoon and was still quite busy running errands so we opted to stay home and go swimming some more. She came a long way from thinking she would not swim to now swimming at every opportunity! And she got a chance later to do more fishing outside here, having a great time doing that. She made our dinner and we ate at home, watching the football game and talking. It was great, just great, and she stayed up until just before 10:00 pm which is late for her! I watched to the end of the game, although I did nod off during part of the 4th quarter. That old grandpa quarterback on the Vikings' team.....never mind....

More of Kerry's visit

She is outside fishing this a.m., and had instructions to call my upstairs neighbor, Nancy, to join her at the river's bank at 6:30 a.m. Nancy is 79 years old and wants to break in her new fishing rod given for her birthday. I just have to chuckle at the picture of Kerry and Nancy ("Thank you for inviting me to your baby shower...May I use your bathroom?") fishing side by side. It is making me sad knowing that in two mornings I will be taking her to the airport to go back home. I wish she would just stay....Today sometime she must complete her vacation selections for next year's schedule and fax it in to her job. We will have to find a place with a fax machine, I know my neighbors have fax machines, just have to find someone in when we are ready.

*

Our plans today include breakfast at Grumpy's before heading to Victory for Bible study with Justin and my other 'friends' there. After that we are going to have lunch at Joe's Crab Shack which is at the beach. We are thinking of going to Twila's to fish this afternoon or we can do that on Friday as there are no plans made thus far for Friday. At least, not that I can remember!

*

Wednesday was full of activity starting with her fishing in the early morning hours, feeding the fish her bait. They would grab her hook, eat the bait and swim away! So we went in search of better lures to keep them on the hook and not well fed. We did not go bait shopping, though, until later in the day, as we attended water aerobics. Kerry treated the gang with homemade cream cheese bars, which they did not recognize. Mary Lew asked her if she brought them chunks of cream cheese, not fooling around. I told Kerry that calling these little desserts 'bars' must be a northern thing because we had this happen before, when planning an event at church. Someone thought we wanted to serve candy bars for dessert at one of our functions. Bars? What are bars? Candy bars?? As Kerry asked, "What DO you call them then?" I guess, dessert!

*

After our little treat, we went upstairs to change our clothes to go to Whitey's. I rearranged our schedule so we ate first and then got Kerry's hair cut so that we would have sufficient time between events. Justin joined us for lunch on the deck at Whitey's which was fantastic. Barb cut Kerry's hair and then we went toward Great Hang Ups, with a quick stop at Wal*Mart to buy worms, of all things! Then we visited the ladies at Great Hang Ups for a while before coming back home to rest. We had a big night ahead of us attending Happy Hour at The Club. Maggie came over as did Jessica and the baby for a little while, but then it was time for bed for the baby. Nancy L. joined us and Ellen came to meet Kerry. She had been grocery shopping so Maggie had to meet Ellen at the car to carry the bags upstairs. At least Kerry finally got to meet the mystery friend I talk about. She has yet to meet Martie and I suspect that will not happen this visit. Kerry is making good use of Martie's swimsuit, however, and for that I am forever thankful!

I hate it when time flies sometimes

It makes me sad to think Kerry and I have only a couple more days left here. She loves it and I love that she loves it! Kerry wishes she could remember just who is who of the folks being met, here at The Palace and Club, at church, out and about. Last night we went over to near Beach Blvd. to play Trivia with some of my friends from Victory. They have invited me in the past but it conflicted with Bible study. Since that class finished up, I was free to go play. We did well the first half of the game but lost ground on the second half. No ribbons for us last night, but, as Stephanie posted on Facebook, we scored as winners in FUN category!

*

Tuesday morning Kerry went out fishing before I woke up but got no bites this time. The previous a.m. she caught a fish on her first cast. She is using her leftover shrimp from Clark's Fish Camp as bait. I hope she gets something on the line today. After fishing we went to water aerobics which she absolutely loved. The water was colder than I liked but I managed, it is so much nicer when the sun stays out! Kerry figured she would be sore today and I am anxious to hear if that is true. We sat and chatted a while as we dripped poolside before coming up to change our clothes for shopping. For our lunch I took her to a bbq place called Mojo's where I had some more beef brisquet and smoked corn but I cannot remember what she ordered. Oh, wait, she ordered the smoked chicken, the same lunches we had Labor Day at the cabana. We brought home her leftover mac 'n cheese and mashed potatoes plus half my sandwich.

*

From Mojo's we headed to the Salvation Army thrift store where she found several pieces for herself for work, plus a new purse, and one for Mom! The inside of the one chosen for Mom is absolutely perfect, as though nothing has ever been in it, no crumbs, no lint, nothing. Mom was looking for a bag for winter and I believe we found just the one. Kerry's new one has character and will serve her well, plus I am proud for finding it. And, I hope you are sitting down, I also bought myself something there----a brand new, still in the package never worn pair of red booty fuzzy slippers! They were about $8 which Kerry thought was too much for SA thrift but when she looked them over, she saw the packaging had the retail price of $20 on it, for DeerForms, so said I did good!

*

From the SA shop we drove over to Blanding, to the former Woodchuck's store, where Quigley House has a thrift shop. Quigley is a home for battered and abused mom's/kids, and this shop helps to support it. My friend, Penny, from St. Paul, MN is the chief fund raiser for this organization. My donations will go that direction to be sure. At this shop Kerry found yet some more items plus a pair of shoes, seemingly never worn. These purchases had another 25% off that day so we got her a mess of stuff for less than $40, plus my slippers!

*

Since it was after 2:00 pm, we could visit the Sonic for Happy Hour and she marveled at the huge cup of Diet Coke for $1.07. Thanks, Mom! She said you treated us on that purchase! You know how much we love our Diet Coke. We headed back home, then, and carried our purchases and to-go boxes upstairs. When we opened the door, BAM!---we were hit in the nose with a pungent smell, like paint thinner? At first I was thinking it was from my A/C which was getting a work out but after speaking with Owen, determined the smell would not be coming from there. We knew work is going on in the building somewhere because we could hear saws, etc. and later did find out Tracy was having doors stripped and sanded. Aha! Jessica stopped by on her way out to see/smell what we smelled and said she'd had a headache all day, so wondered if that was what it was. By this time the doors were opened the breezes blowing through so the odor was substantially less potent. She was going to see her mom so would be away for a while, hopefully clear her head and nasal passages over there.

*

After our rests, we watched an episode of "Cash Cab" before Kerry had to dash about getting herself ready for going to play Trivia. She told me it takes her a long time to get ready and marvels at how quickly I can throw myself together. Most of that is because of my hair, it is so maintenance free or maintenance lite! Before we watched Cash Cab though she had to finish watching a show on the Animal Channel where folks were trapped on an island where crocodiles were every 10 feet supposedly and a man had an injured arm which ants began gnawing on. NOT my cup of tea but certainly Kerry's!! She has always, since a little child, enjoyed this type of nature show and loves blood 'n guts programs.

*

We had to drive over to Southside to play Trivia with Stephanie and her daughter at Johnny Angels Diner, and Kerry remarked that it was a long way to go for a burger. We had chili cheese fries which Kerry did not care for, but she was still full from her lunch anyway. Not sure if she ate something when we got home or not. About 9:30 or so she was ready for bed so off she went. Because of going to bed so early she is also an early riser but I never hear a peep from that part of the house, never hear her leaving for fishing or anything.

*

Today is water aerobics again and then we are off to Whitey's for lunch before getting her hair cut in the shop which is in their parking lot. Perfect one-stop shopping!!! Kerry said she is looking forward to her haircut and I hope she lets Barb add some style to it for her. It won't matter though, as long as Kerry is happy with it. My hair is looking sad right now because it's been two months since the silver has been removed. Some say to leave it but I am not really crazy about this look. The front is nearly blond from sun and pool water which is cute but the rest, not so much, in my opinion. We shall see....

*

Tonight is Happy Hour at The Club and we are likely going to attend, as Kerry says it is no problem at all for her. In her words, "Let's go and mingle!" We are also invited as of last night, to join Tracy and her daughter and MamMa on Friday at La Nopalera but I had sort of thought we would not do that. Because time is running short already and I just cannot believe it is nearly time to take her to the airport again. NO!