I smell funny!

After all that time in the pool and out of it, I still smell like sun screen. Sure did not need it as the sun barely made itself known today, and in fact, we were nearly rained out of our picnic at Rita's subdivision's community center. Very nice gathering, great folks and an excellent array of foods. I took my MI hot dogs, Koegel's, 'with a snap!', and even had a couple come home with me for another time. It was just a nice, nice time, even with the rain. Funny, but the ladies and children mainly ended up sitting in the room where the food was set up (the kitchen) while the men gathered across the patio in a fireplace room. It just got too cold for any of us to sit outside any longer and there was not enough seating in the meal room for all of us. At least the men folk were not sitting around, smoking cigars!

I was the only adult who had actually gotten into the pool, although it violated all my rules (water too cold and the sun not fully out) so I was extra chilly in my wet suit and now wet beach cover-up. It was thundering and lightning with brisk wind and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees. And then Rita came around with a box of ice cream sandwiches for us all! Sure, why not?

After a certain point, the rain let up but did not stop so I decided to pack up my stuff to go home. Rita's son went to bring my car up closer to the clubhouse for me, and they helped me carry my items to the car. My antique slow cooker for the hot dogs, the leftover buns, the hot dogs in Tupperware, my beach bag, and me! I had forgotten that my CD player was cranked and when Sumner got out, I apologized to him for the booming music. He said it did surprise him when he started the car, as I imagine "The Phantom of the Opera" might! While I waited for my car, I spoke to the security guard on the porch. I teased him about having to police this rowdy church picnic and he said this was nothing compared to parties at his other neighborhood---Chimney Lakes! Guess those Westsiders know how to party! And likely not a church picnic either...

On my ride home, I gave Mom a call to see what was happening in Manty. They were freezing, too, but were actually closer to that on their thermometers than ours were. The heater was on in my car and likely in Mom's home as well. I did not use my seat warmer for fear of electrocuting myself in my damp suit and cover-up. As I got on the ramp to exit from the freeway to Hwy. 17, I saw that the traffic signals were out. GREAT! Now what? Probably the lightning affected the lights but there were no police there to direct traffic so we had to gamble moving from the ramp into the lanes. Folks were nice enough to let some of us go across, but then when we got to the next signal, it was out too. We yielded to cars trying to get on from the ramp. The next signal was also out, three total, but Wells Road was working. Only one of the intersections had a traffic cop directing traffic, in the pouring rain. A brave soul, he was!

Once home, I was relieved to find the elevator in working condition. I had stopped at the mail box as instructed by my mom, and found another of my new books, the last one I was waiting to arrive. Also got two invitations to graduations and parties, both of which I had already RSVP'd my attendance on Facebook. After I got my stuff all put away, I put my nightie on, hung my suit in the shower, grabbed the Snuggie Lisa gave me for Christmas and tried to get warm. About three hours I later, I stopped shivering! If I had taken a hot shower right away, that would have helped, I am sure. At one point I took a little snooze and that renewed me nicely.

The rains ended for good about 5:00 pm or so and the sun came back out. It is breezy now and likely overcast but it's too dark to tell. One unfortunate thing about this much needed rain is that it is also time for TPC at Sawgrass, which got rained out for those hours. In checking the local station, it seems they resumed play when it was still light outside. Hard to imagine the ground being dry enough to play on but it must be. Time is money!

Summer has arrived

We had high temperatures here today soaring upwards toward 100 in some areas, with my friend, Carol, sending a photo of her car's thermometer showing 108! It probably was not really that hot but even I had to mop my brow after shopping at Wal*Mart. My arms ached, believe it if you will, from pushing my cart through the store, as it resisted me at every turn. It is a blessed day when a person gets the cart that actually doesn't mind moving through the store! I remember the first time I used a self-propelled lawn mower and was amazed at the difference....what a good idea for shopping carts! It was not that I had my cart laden with purchases, either, it was just one that had seen better days---I could not have steered with my elbows if I wanted to!!

Justin was in need of work shoes, canvas ones, so I picked some up for him as well as a package of socks to wear inside the shoes, the type we ladies used to call 'footies'. These shoes, inexpensive ones, work better for him doing the type of tasks he is doing right now than either flip flops or work boots. They are a compromise, I guess.

About 11:00 a.m. he called me from work and asked if I was coming to Fleming Island for lunch. He needed something for pain and a cold drink. I was going to lunch with my downstairs neighbors but I grabbed some cans of Arnold Palmer from the fridge and the ibuprofen to take him. Justin had loaded his father's car with 50 archive boxes full of papers and such from one office and got to the new 'old' office to unload them, only to find that the doors were locked! He was so frustrated, and the keys were with his father who was checking the jobsite at the beach. Justin had the wisdom to unload the boxes into the storage building on the property, but I asked him, "Aren't you going to have to move them again then?" He thought it would be a long while before that would happen since they really were archives and not immediately needed.

I had let my neighbors know I may be late and told Cassidy they should go ahead without me but it turned out we arrived at the same time. The strawberry margarita was just delicious but we all thought the chips were somehow different. We asked the young man waiting on us if the chips were different and he said they were exactly the same. Maybe it was just us....Tracy told funny stories about attending a book club for the first time with her friend, who is a lady with whom I used to crop at Cindy R.'s house. She was also my spouse's attorney! As they say in "The Godfather"--"It's business, it's not personal...." Sometimes it's both!!! Not sure if Tracy will be too excited about going back again, but she might surprise herself and get into it. She teases herself, saying she has the book and movie tastes of a 13 year old, loves the animated movies. A real Pixar fan, she is!

So, when done with lunch, I had to go back to Fleming Island to get my scrip from Wal*Mart plus a few other things which I had forgotten to get at Winn Dixie the other day. My friend, Julia, needed to borrow my swimsuit and a cover-up for a trip to Las Vegas with her hubby. They are celebrating their 20th anniversary while Mike is there on business which works out dandy all the way around. While we were chatting at Hang Ups, a very nice man came in with a piece of art which needed a repair. He told us his whole life's story in a short period of time, how he lost his wife two years ago, now moving to an apartment, what he does for his living (in retirement is still a church organist and choir director), where he used to work, how many cats he has......Whew! He's going to be okay, I have no doubt about this!

I had run some other errands as well before heading home. When I pulled onto the property, I was met by giant trucks and machinery, the place crawling with men. It's tree trimming time, as always, just prior to hurricane season starting. All the dead branches and such are removed so as not to become projectiles during a wind storm. Ellen stopped her car behind mine and pulled a branch out from under my car, which had gotten trapped on my way down the path. She excitedly told me about a huge sale at Beall's, having been once and was now going back for more! She was sporting a pair of khaki shorts she had gotten there and she rarely wears shorts! I am in the market for some denim capris so maybe I should check out the sale. My friend, Carol, from Mandarin, also sent me a note on e-mail reporting this same big sale at Beall's so I had better see what it's all about!

Earlier in the day I had turned on the A/C while I was yet home because my kitchen door is so swollen that it takes every once of my strength to pull it open. On Thursday, I had to leave via my front doors as I could not get the kitchen one to open. When I came home, I threw my hip against it to pop it open, hence, the A/C had to be turned on for a while. Even my laundry room door was swollen, as is my left ankle! I think all the water I am drinking these days is being stored in my ankle. Now that I have my prescription refilled, it should be fine. This getting old is not for sissies!

Justin stopped by on his way home from work to pick up his shoes and he carried up the purchases I had left in the car as he got his shoes and socks transferred to his car. He had to put some of the stuff back when he left because I meant to keep it down there for the picnic with Victory on Saturday but I sure appreciate his doing it. At least the soda got carried up and into the fridge. My other neighbor, Rose, helped me carry some of my store purchases as far as the 3rd floor when I had gotten home.

Have I mentioned lately how nice my neighbors are? They are! Hugh asked me to send out a notice to everyone about donating money to the Town of OP for the fireworks display this Independence Day. Last year we did not have one because of the terrible cost but this year businesses and groups are raising the funds, coming up a bit short. So, a fund raising effort is being made and Hugh asked me to let everyone know. I did it! I let everyone know about the need and reference the newspaper article so they can read it for themselves on-line. Travis, upstairs, gave Hugh the correct address for mailing the donations and we are good to go!

At WD the other day, I picked up a half-loaf of seeded rye bread, and for my dinner, I enjoyed a wonderful roast beef sandwich on rye. My dessert was a bowl of raspberry sherbet which I told Linda I am absolutely MAD about. I go after it like a wild woman and I rarely ever do that. Maybe because of the heat or the barometric pressure or something like this....At least it's relatively inexpensive and low-fat, besides being refreshingly delicious!

The end of an era…

…and there is much in the air! At one point today, I stood in the kitchen and wiped ashes from the top of the stove. Hmmmm…..okay, now, I had already cleaed up the ashes from the oven cleaning fiasco Saturday. Actually, the ashes were coming through the screening on my kitchen door as a result of the fires at work in the Okefenokee Swamp. Some report the fire size is the same as the city of Atlanta or Seattle in acres. Wow! It was started by a lightning strike, a naturally-caused disaster, bringing ashes and stench to the area. My car was full of ashes as well when I left for choir. We had a great total of 3 of us tonight, but the majority of the time it was Kristi and me only. Sort of hard to rehearse under those conditions…

But the thing that truly marks the end of an era was what I saw going on at the corner of Wells Road and Blanding Blvd.----bulldozers have torn down the majority of Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant!!!!! I could not believe my eyes! The Italian margaritas there were the absolute best, the best! and the Italian nachos yummy, too. Oh, my heart! Such fond fond memories were made there, Martie and I and Jennifer, and of course, my Justin. We had our own favorite waitress, Janet, who now works at O’Charley’s on Fleming Island. One time when my family came for a visit, maybe for Justin’s graduation, I took the entire group there to eat on the veranda. When I was at the stop light this evening, I sent Martie a text message reporting that Johnny’s was torn down. I told Robbie about it when I got to church, telling him it was the end of an era. As I was speaking, Martie sent me a text message that said, “The end of an era…” Our great minds think alike! And our hearts break alike as well.

Earlier today Connie came to the door, asking me about my surplus planters in the courtyard, displaced now that I have been gifted with a pair of topiaries from my neighbor, Michelle. I told Connie I no longer want them but am waiting until Justin is done with his father’s work to take care of them. He has lots of pressure on him right now so my goofy planters can certainly wait. Connie offered to take them away but the larger one in the corner is too large for just her to move. She is so good to me, she offered to reinstall my ceramic house numbers which were removed when the building was sealed and painted. Yay for me!

This morning, before my shower, I got busy with my new silver removing product from Nice ‘n Easy which comes in foam form. Foam form, that’s fun to say! It made almost no mess at all in application and the color came out quite nice, too. This will likely be the last time for the summer since it is nearly pool season and the sun tends to bleach out my hair, especially in the ‘lighter’ areas. So, I go on record, the Nice ‘n Easy Foam is the way to go! No drips, no mess, hardly any clean up required, and I rinsed it out in the shower. Nice! (‘n easy!)

On a roller coaster today….

...or at least I feel that way. Wheeeeeee! Yesterday after picking up some DVDs made from VHS tapes, I watched a couple of them once home, mostly to make sure they actually worked. One other that I had done a year ago had scratches or skips in it but too much time had gone by before it was noticed, to have it replaced. These were recordings done for the church and I wanted them preserved on DVD for posterity. And I know better than to watch this type of “home”-recorded videos without benefit of Dramamine but disregarded my better knowledge. After watching one that was smoothly recorded and not too wild with the camera play, I figured it was ‘safe’ to go on to the next one. Not so much. I had to turn it off because it made me feel quite woozy, requiring me to go and close my eyes for a bit.

This morning I watched two more, again, taking the risk of no Dramamine and now my head feels swirly inside. But the camera movement was not the only thing taking me on a roller coaster---it was seeing the people in the videos that took me on a wild ride. Since they were church recordings, they showed people who have since left our membership for whatever reason; some have had Calls to other congregations; another being installed as our pastor; and a great many who have changed their address to eternal bliss. Some of the people were children in the videos and now are adults serving in the congregation. And I simply cannot believe the types of services we had back in the old days….holy cow! Nope, no holy cows, but some would have a cow now if they saw these tapes. I do NOT want to go back to those days, that’s for sure!

Justin was just a little fella in those recordings, about 4 years old, wearing his bright green Company Store bib overalls and a precious polo underneath in some of the views. One scene shows my former spouse and Cliff, 20 years ago, lifting the TV on its stand, down the steps from in front of the altar after the congregation was shown a video during the ‘service’….boy, you don’t get those days back again. Thank heaven for that! It is also obvious why I do not wear dresses anymore either, because, as Grandma Sickles would say, “You look like two boys fighting under a blanket when you walk….” Not sure if wearing slacks solves that problem or not!

But, wow, what a trip that was! One of the boys who served as acolyte is now a pastor himself in Belle Plain, MN. Another young man, who, as acolyte, in one scene did so in cargo shorts and a polo shirt now wears a snappy airline pilot’s uniform for work. That would be Linda O’s son. Terri T. was Terri S. in those days and quite involved with the youth group which was always busy with some project at church. They had such fun in those days with youthful leaders and enthusiastic kids. I wonder if those kids stay in touch with each other now that they are big…The last group we had like that at GS was Robbie, Justin and Mark, plus Mike and David S. later on, and sadly, that was the end of it. Mark V. moved away and Paul got busy with his own family and there were no other leaders to run youth group. So much has changed since then. Not enough kids in that age group now to even consider a youth group, or so it would seem.

My back is feeling much better today, had been giving me somewhat of a fit since Sunday afternoon. It progressed as the day did and figured into our decision to attend the movie on Thursday after Bible study instead of Mother's Day. Besides doing my household chores on Saturday which included the vacuuming and Swiffer-washing my bedroom floor, I folded wash and put it away, wiped the ash residue from the bottom of my oven (stretch and reaching again!), and polished up my vanity and toilet area in the bathroom. And then, spent the rest of the day inclined on my bed with the laptop, reading. Which of the days’ activities were harder on my back is not easy to determine, perhaps a combination of them all. Sunday night I was able to sleep comfortably if I slept on my side with my knees together, and it seemed on Monday a.m. that I had not moved all night long. Wore the pillow marks in my face well into the morning, too, how about that?

Monday I avoided trying to lie on the bed with the laptop and stayed at my desktop or carried the laptop to the family room. My mouse did not work well in the family room oddly enough so I came back in here to my desk. Eventually I did go to my bed but stayed as upright as I could with the laptop, and found that I actually could sleep in my normal tummy position with no adverse affect on my back. During the day I kept the ice pack in place which certainly helped the ache, as did the ibuprofen. Rest with ice seems to be the best treatment and a fair amount of conversation with the Lord regarding my aching back!

After picking up the DVDs I went to Wal*Mart to get my prescriptions, where only one was ready. The recorded message from the pharmacy indicated all were ready so I was surprised. They were awaiting a phone call from my doctor in regard to one which was expired (rats!) which means I will have to go in for an appointment before I get it refilled. Rats again! I am due for my female check-up and after my scare last December, I am not hesitating to go. Will make the appointment today!

It is done! Next Tuesday is the soonest I can go in and the nice receptionist is checking on my missing prescription for me. These days I am drinking my 3 bottles of water, for a total of 60 ounces a day, which Linda O. claims is laudable. She likes to drink tea instead of soda, as does Judy J. The water for some reason is going down more easily than it used to despite the fact that I am out of ReaLemon to squirt into it. As long as it’s cold, it will go down! I also have lemonade to mix into the plain water if I so desire but I am not sure if it negates any of the healthful benefits of plain water. Anyone?

Picture this....

My neighbor, Hugh, saw fit to put up our giant flag on Monday in recognition of the take-down of OBL. It was a patriotic event worthy of such recognition.

Bruce, the window cleaner, supervises his helper from below as Steve climbed the 40' ladder to wash my sliding glass doors from outside. Bruce told me he is a student at FCCJ or whatever it's called now, studying flying. Eventually he would like to become what is considered a bush pilot for doing mission work.
Here Steve is making long-arms in order to scrub my doors, removing the baked-on insects and bird poop. I know he was so glad to be done with that job and come inside to wrestle with my tip-out windows, trying to get them to snap back in again!!

The baby ducks, also known as ducklings, are having a good training session with their mothers, as they learn the fine art of paddling like nuts under water while looking completely relaxed on the water. There are a total of 18 babies and they all seem to get along nicely.

Hanna had a birthday celebration at Koko's, one of my favorite places, and was joined by her family, and me! Here is Hanna with her auntie, Christine, with a little bit of Daniel's face behind the soy sauce.

To my left was Judy C., and then Hanna's uncle, Roger, with the three of us not pictured. In this shot is Daniel, his cousin, Caitlyn, then Michael C. and Suzanne. John, Hanna's daddy, arrived a bit later and sat next to Suzanne on the end of the table. The kids really enjoyed the 'show' of having the food prepared in front of them, and I enjoyed the company and my leftovers!

Happy Mother's Day

Or better yet, Happy 3^rd Sunday in Easter. Justin and I enjoyed worship this a.m. at Victory, following the Order of Service from the CW Supplement including Baptism. We sang a wonderful hymn, “This Joyful Eastertide” which Rachel also played during the recessional. As Pastor greeted us at the door, he said, “Thank you for adding your voice today”, I am sure not only for the hymns but the somewhat unfamiliar singing portions of the Supplement liturgy that Victory does not normally use. It was great to see Linda O. and Frieda again, and I asked Linda if she was getting sick of me. She said she never would but is storing up these now regular visits to last her while she is away. It spoils me to see her these days because I surely will miss her when she’s in CO.

Suzanne and family were at the second service as were Stephanie and Erica, and Rita and Jon. I got to see them all! At the door, my friend, Ed, directed me to the counter in the narthex where the moms could select a pin from three different styles. It seems Suzanne and I both chose the same one—the Christian fish with a tiny ‘diamond’ in the tail! I just love it and am glad to have it!

Justin and I came home after church where he presented me with a bouquet of ‘day’ lilies, a perfect card, perfect!, as well as carefully chosen gifts. He withdrew them from the bag for me as he had no tissue paper for his gift bag: first, he gave me a bag of Ghiridelli Dark Chocolate with Raspberry squares (“something without crumbs” he told me), and “if you DO have something with crumbs”, he handed me a can of pressurized air to clean my keyboards. Only yesterday I was wishing I had some because I exhausted my supply and my keyboards need attention. (How did he know this????) Next he pulled out a lovely bottle with an expression printed on it saying “Family: The ??? that bonds” (I cannot remember exactly what is printed under ‘Family’). Then he handed me a bottle of French vanilla oil and reeds to put into the oil, then, into the bottle. He suggested I put it on the shelves in the dining room but if it’s okay with him, I will keep it on the mantle in the family room. Oh, how I love the scent of vanilla, and I love that he knows this. And the final gift was small bottle of hand sanitizer! How funny is that?

My issue with ‘used books’ brought my mom great delight as she told me on the phone yesterday that she never heard anything so ridiculous as that. When we walked to The Club, I mentioned to Justin about Rachel and the yard sale books, etc. and he told me his Harry Potter Books get dirty and such too, splashed with soda and full of crumbs and dirt. His own books he is talking about, to say nothing about what happens to books in the library or bought at sales. Funny, but he didn’t think it was quirky at all, but proceeded to launch into ‘salesman mode’ on the values of a Kindle.

At lunch, we discussed Kindles, after I told him about the conversation I had with Linda O. about them. He feels I would be happy with one, the pages look like book pages but does not feel he would like the being read to part of the deal, thinking the voice might be too mechanical. He is accustomed to downloading books as read by the author or someone else with inflection and all that to make it less boring sounding. I will ask Lisa what she thinks about it, if the mechanical voice is a problem for her or not. If she gets through so many in a month’s time, I would say it is NOT a problem!

Oh, and another funny thing he said to me to, as we walked to the buffet table, was “You learned about being sanitary at Shady Lane…” which I confirmed with him, and was precisely how I ‘defended’ myself to my mom. Ask anyone who has been a guest in my home---it was not safe to leave a glass sit somewhere or a used tissue not immediately disposed. You would not want to see me in a hotel room with my Lysol can and wipes either. Justin mentioned something about using a black light in a hotel room and then said, “But I never would order room service again, when you see how germy the telephone is!” This conversation over our wonderful Mother’s Day lunch, all because he gave me hand sanitizer!

It was great to see so many people at The Club that I knew, including Jacob, the bartender/beverage manager, who stopped at the table to greet us. I introduced him to Justin, and Jacob told Justin I was a ‘sweetheart’. Aw, so nice! Since I have been back in the choir, I am not available for Happy Hour events so don’t see the staff very often. That will change once the cabana opens. Many of the waitstaff came over to say ‘hello’ and share hugs, most delightful! At the table adjoining ours was my friend, John, whose family owns and runs the cemetery. It was great to see him again, and he was blown away by how ‘big’ Justin has gotten. He said to Justin, ‘Lookin’ good my man!’ John suggested I stop by some time when he’s on the property, so we can talk like we used to do. Since I am not there every day anymore…..

Don 't forget to write!!!

Too late now....I failed to write a diatribe today, spent almost all of it reading. I am nearly bug-eyed and have the most tired peepers. Happy Mother's Day everyone who is a mom or has one!

I hope no one grows weary of seeing this adorable face, today wearing his breakfast of oatmeal with something else mixed in....can't remember what, but he likes it!