Quack quack quack

This morning we woke to rain again. When I went out to the kitchen to get a soda, Justin was still home. He said, "I didn't think you would sleep when it's raining!" knowing the concern there is for leaking. So far, so good in that regard. 

He had to go to work in the pouring rain though and did have extra clothes along for changing later on. Last week when Justin got soaked, all he had in the car were his swim trunks! Even his belt was soaked through and through. I am willing to bet he wishes he'd tried harder getting used to the contact lenses I bought him after graduation. It's hard enough to do yard work and then in the rain wearing glasses...

                         

Justin said the rain was expected to end in a couple hours, which it did. I headed to Bible study at Victory and then stopped. Along Hwy. 17 we creeped and crawled, barely moving. From the radio traffic alert I learned there were two wrecks on 295---one on the Buckmann with two lanes blocked, plus one further south. I could see the traffic basically standing still on the overpass in front of me, and I made the decision then to turn around and go home. Rats!

Instead of going straight home I went to Publix for a few things, including shampoo. A bottle lasts me so long that I was surprised when it was empty! In the BO/GO bins was bread loaves, not the same ones Justin had to cut the crusts from. I hope he likes them for his sandwiches, because they are pretty fancy flavors. Nuts 'n twigs are some of the ingredients listed...

Besides my other purchases, I had two boxes of Cheerios with me, from the bin, which Justin likes for breakfast and in-between meals. (Elevensies, as they called them in "Lord of the Rings".) The cereal boxes made it look like I had a huge load, so Gus to the rescue! Gus, my downstairs neighbor, helped me carry my purchases upstairs, grabbing the 12 pack of soda for me. He is such a good guy.

As much as I hated missing Bible study, I enjoyed being able to attend the birthday gathering at the pool for my friend, Mary. Marlena knew I was iffy about making it back in time for the lunch service but there I was! It was overcast and threatening but we managed to enjoy our lunch and visit before the rain came again. 

I had the sirloin skewer which was absolutely delicious, served with baby reds and mixed veggies. I ate the cauliflower out of the mix but left the zucchini. One of the other ladies who could not make it today had made Mary's cake, which we enjoyed. Orange flavored cake, interesting....

After lunch, I came back upstairs to work at my computer. The Outreach newsletters go out about now and for the life of me, it was hard to find them in my computer!! Since I had it in the shop last month, the files are a jumbled up mess and I have to search in the C drive to find them. This gives me such a fright, fearing the files are lost or something. I did find what I was looking for though and got them printed off.

Recently I had been getting repeated warnings that my Windows program might be counterfeit. What the heck? The other day, Sunday I think it was, the computer tried to update some files and they failed to load. I got these notices that it was configuring and returning the files back to where they were...okay. For hours!! My friend, Randy, advised me to let me it run and not shut it down, as the screen advised me also. But I was sooo tempted to shut it down to make it stop. Made no noise or anything, but I just didn't like it.

I contacted the fellow who repaired the laptop and told him what was going on. He said to bring it in and he would fix it. Later on, his son called me, the actual technician who worked on it, and said he could fix it from his office. And he did! All I had to do was read for him the product code, all 45 numbers and letters, more than once!

This code was located on the bottom of the laptop, so I had to tip it up on its side and read these teeny tiny alpha numeric digits. The second time, when the first one was not right, we realized that one digit I thought was an 8 was actually a letter B, and then, away he went! Since I had to leave to meet Judy C., he just went to work without me. A bit unsettling, knowing he has access to my machinery and files from his office...but, it got the job done. This is an example of sacrificing liberty for security! Or for convenience!

Stephen was also going to see if he could regroup my files for me, which he might have done but I have not verified. I guess it may be a situation of doing each one individually. Ugh! I should just be thankful they upgraded my program and shut up about the extra work on my part. Or, bat my eyes over the virtual network and get him to do it for me!

Originally, Justin was going to drop me off at Steak 'n Shake to meet Judy, so he could use my car. First of all, he was in a drawing to win a rare bottle of beer but had to go to a certain emporium to collect the first of the prize packages. I know, complicated, right? His group of friends would not have to pay the cover charge and would get other perks, but he could not get the gang together for it. This made Justin sad, so he made alternative plans to be on a calling tree with the Young Republicans instead.

Well, he let me know he was working late, again in the pouring rain, so I should just go ahead to Bible study. PLUS, he had locked his keys in the car back at the farm where they store the yard equipment. Yikes! I wondered if there was a spare key in his room but he could not tell me where it was. He was sure his boss and he would get them out, so I should just go on and not worry about it. How can I not?

                           

Judy and I met up and she announced that class was cancelled. We were still going to have dinner so she didn't call me. Due to the great amounts of rain we have been having, Amber's dirt road was nearly impassible, so she was not coming into town for class. Judy was prepared to take me home, our original plan, but since Justin used his own car, I was able to take myself home. 

After class on Thursdays, Judy goes to her other daughter's house. She stays the night, and then cleans for them. Not sure if that will be true when school is out since her daughter is a teacher, but Judy likes the extra money and the time with her grands. They live at the World Golf Village so it's a distance away. Judy runs circles around me, and we just celebrated her 71st birthday!

So, I was two for two as far as Bible study goes today, but not  for lack of trying. Some of my other friends were stuck in that mess on the freeway and told me I was wise to go back home. I did successfully enjoy a birthday luncheon for Mary and dinner via coupons at Steak 'n Shake with Judy. 


Oooh, while at S 'n S, I saw water dripping from a recessed light fixture over their bar, and the waitress said they had a pan catching the drips. But the light was still on! I mentioned that the bulb can burst if it gets wet, and sure enough, the manager came out and removed the bulb. You're welcome!!!!


P.S. Justin was able to get to the emporium to collect his prizes, and did actually win the unique bottle of beer! If it was me, I'd sell it and use the money to repair my car, but then again, I am not 25!

A welcome sunshine

Last night, even though Justin and I were up late watching the election returns, we were roused by my upstairs neighbor with her report of leaking. Rats! Justin had just reset the living room furniture, got the rug properly aligned (that's the "Sheldon" in me!), and vacuumed the floor in there to make it look like it did pre-tropical storm. Undone! Not all the way undone, but we did pull out the TV again, get his Xbox up off the floor and got towels laid out to catch the potential drips from above. 

Misty, the upstairs tenant, had let me know she had water coming in so Justin and I leaped into ready-mode. The only area I saw water in my house was coming down the river room wall, slowly. Fortunately, the storm did not last much longer once the towels were put in place but it does get the heart racing once more in expectation of more damage. 

Jessica, the owner of  the unit above mine, sent me a text message this a.m. to find out if we had leaks and sadly, my report was in the affirmative. She is frustrated too and I told her I was alerting the Board to this recurrence. Nancy, who is on the Board, came to look the situation over on Sunday afternoon, and was going to contact the roofing contractor with whom we have a warranty in place. Hopefully Nancy will see to it the repairs are made pronto!

                                               

Yesterday I thought the adult pool seemed a little low water-wise, even after I got in, but the rains overnight likely raised it up. And cooled it off! It is windy right now and the temperature has not yet reached 80 above zero. That means Kim will not be outside for water exercises today, but will subject myself to the jeers of those more hearty than I am. Twila called this morning to see if I want to meet for lunch at the new Greek Restaurant in Orange Park before the Ladies' Group goes there in July. I can do that, fully clothed!

Last evening I went to Bible Information Class at Victory, where we did a review of the previous week's homework. Not a review then, but a homework check. One of the ladies who came was Kristen, who had transferred to Victory from GS when they moved to that side of town. She is expecting her fourth child. It was great! I sat in BIC at GS with her husband and her when they were becoming members, and Kristen even mentioned that my mom came sometimes, too. How fun is that???

Being a newer member, she is not entirely familiar with all the Bible stories and asked questions regarding the Passover and its application to the Lord's Supper. We stopped reading in Matthew and went back to Exodus to read the story of the first Passover. After a certain point, Kristen mentioned 'this seems familiar' which is a good thing. We discussed her question as to why was "God anti-yeast", which made us chuckle. Pastor Hoyer did a great job explaining all that and it never gets old revisiting these Bible history stories.

I tested positive today

Yes, once again, I tested positive for being "Desirable" on my Life Line Screening blood work! Yay for me, and thanks be to God for His mercy on me! What made it extra nice was the fact the lady taking care of me remembered me from last time. Oh, I am sure she did!

                    

This enemy of mine is a stinking liar!!!

The nurse had to take my blood pressure measurement twice, as the first time there was beeping and a code showed up. She had to reference the book to see what the code meant and I expected the rescue squad to pull up at any second. The code indicated there was too much noise!!! I was quiet as could be and yet, somehow I made noise. Or she did!! The second time it worked and showed a very attractive bp reading although she found my heart rate to be a bit high. We chalked it up to the shock of being on the scale and coding on the bp machine!

When having the ultrasound on my carotid artery done, another lady was also doing my abdominal aneurysm check. There was a lot of that 'heart beat' sound made by their equipment. The one young lady was a bit new and sort of frightened me by having a tough time getting readings on my left side.  

When the first lady was finished with my tummy, she came over to advise the other girl. They got the reading, and then, the younger one left the room. The first one did the Doppler thing on the right side of the neck 1-2-3. I said, "That's more like it!" and she said she can do these in her sleep because of doing it so long. That's all it was---inexperience. Whew! She told me she saw no immediate causes for concern but the results will be mailed to me in less than three weeks. Whew!, and thanks be to God, again!

Good thing I had not looked at my electric bill which comes via e-mail before going to my appointment. Yikes! It must have been a walk-in freezer in here when I was gone! The kilowatts used last May as compared to this May is more than 3 times higher. This will not happen again 'cause I'm the boss around here! 

When I got back from the Screening, Justin had taken care of putting everything back in the living room, straightened the carpets out, even vacuumed them. The glass is replaced but he discovered the shelf was put back upside down, which exposed white paint from the columns on the topside of the glass. I got him a razor blade to remove the residue and then he had to polish again. It might have been easier to remove the shelf and flip it over...

His bathroom is looking much better, still some stains around the rim which might need a squirt of bleach water. The mat in the tub needs cleaning up as well, which I suggested putting in the washer. He can also spray it down with foaming bubbles and see if that helps. This must not happen again---I am the boss around here!

Looks like I tested positive for being bossy today, too!

I just came in from the pool after exercising my knees for over an hour. Perhaps the water level was too low or something but it seemed the pool skimmers were not working. Lots of debris from the trees floated on top, plus suicidal insects---yech! I mentioned it to Laura, the life guard and she said she would tell the maintenance man about it. 

                          

When I hung on the side of the pool to 'ride my bike', I took my book along to the edge to read as I peddled. A couple times I laughed right out loud and drew glances from the young couple sunning further down the pool. 


The stories about the presidents and White House staffers are often sad and even maddening, while others warm the heart. My next read for at the pool will be "Rawhide Down" which my neighbors have borrowed and now returned. A great follow-up read to this book, the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. Not much to laugh about in that book, I am sure!

A different Monday than last week!!!

What should have been a shorter meeting tonight ended up going until nearly 9:00 pm,and even after the meeting was adjourned, we ladies just sat around talking for a bit. No one really seemed in a big hurry to leave, for no apparent reason other than to visit. The agenda was short, little business to address and yet we managed. Pastor was in the Council/Elders meeting next door so was unavailable for our opening devotion or to give his report. 

It did not occur to me that he would not be there, though I should have known. On such occasions I have a devotions book designed for women to use, but did not have anything prepared. On the fly, I grabbed a flyer/handout lying on the video cart, provided by the WELS Connection which I thought I would read to the group. Instead, though, the conversation started on its own in regard to the appreciation of The Athenasian Creed we read in full Sunday as well as some of  the questions it stirred. This was not my idea, it sort of evolved. 


Judy C. sneaked into the men's meeting to nab a hymnal for us to read aloud one of the areas of the Creed in discussion. I think a Bible study or catechism visit is in order and will request such. It only just occurred to me now that not one person mentioned our former pastor being there yesterday....

Our Elder left his meeting and came into ours to present to us. Cliff brought along a proposed 'addition' between the fellowship hall and the chapel, enclosing the breezeway, enlarging the space, and so on. Very nice! So we won't have a choir loft---I can live with that, just so we can have the drywall repaired and painted, roof leaks repaired, and some landscaping done. 

A Bible study this a.m., Twila gave me a menu she found under her windshield wiper the other day for a newly opened Greek restaurant in Orange Park. The menu showed traditional Greek food items as well as American fare such as Belguim waffles and French fries! The ladies decided to hold our summer 'picnic' at this restaurant, pending my finding out if they can seat a larger group. Larger in number, I mean.

Justin worked a long day today, coming in shortly before I left for Ladies' Group. He wanted to chat but I was in the midst of an e-mail I was trying to get out before having to leave. I did remind him that his bathroom and its fixtures needed cleaning, which he acknowledged. When I came home, I could smell the cleanser and asked how it was coming (he was seated at his desk, playing video games). "Well, it's sprayed..." meaning the bathtub. He is going to finish it off tomorrow. He'd better!

                                                 

Linda J. and I had a nice phone conversation this afternoon which is always a good thing. We could have talked even longer but my phone battery was going. It's hard for me to talk when tethered as the charger is plugged in behind my nightstand. Because I neglected to charge the phone overnight, I did not have a full battery for the day. Shoot! We had words left over!

This morning was Bible study, the conclusion of "Bearing Each Others' Burdens". We will be on recess now until nearly August due to VBS and then Pastor's vacation. We will starve, in more ways than one. Sundays will have shortened Bible study due to our earlier service time. Thankfully Victory's class goes through the summer, plus the BIC on Tuesday nights  there. We are soon wrapped up at GS with BIC with only a few more lessons to go through. Amber is concerned about the confirmation process after seeing the young people's confirmation. Judy and I assured her the adult version of this is much simpler, with her answers much like her baptism. She wonders what comes after confirmation and both Judy and I said, "Bible study!"

Pastor asked me at Bible study this a.m. if I had ever lead one, as part of the lesson. He said it is not impossible for a woman to lead a ladies study, that  I could have lead many of the classes on Mondays if we knew in advance that Joseph would not be there. He has been absent much of the year, having had some health problems. Not that I would do it, but that I could, or any of the ladies could. The last part of the lesson was about Called workers and what the lay people can do to assist them or assist the congregation. 

At lunch, Judy said she would host the ladies for a Bible study if I would lead it, and many said, "Yeah, we'd come!" Oh, oh! As I said to Linda J., I would have no problem setting up the laptop and playing back the Prof. Deutschlander retreat lecture on "The Theology of the Cross". The Ladies' Bible study group that meets in Mishicot, WI is going to cover this as well, and I believe Kathy W., who leads it, said there are study guides available as well for this. Hmmmm.....

Things that make you go...hmmmm....

After a short night's sleep, I got up, showered, and ready for church. My eyes were asking for more rest but it was not to be. (Heard water running late last night. Turned out to be a toilet running in the unit above me. She made it stop, but I was unsettled after that!) 

I found my 'gang' in the church office, assembled for Bible study. There were no handouts this week for the study, a look at Job. Bill B. likes me to sit near him so I can help him figure out what page we are in the Bible. We had blank half-sheets for taking notes if we wanted to, plus we had to write a statement, in breakout sessions, about what we could say to someone suffering a terminal illness, based on Job 19. Of course, that made me cry just a bit, as it's the "I know that my redeemer lives..." portion of Job. "How my heart yearns within me..." Our break-out group consisted of Bill, Sterling, and me. Because I am the one who lived in FL the longest, it fell to me write the statement of comfort we could offer some one who was suffering. After I read ours, Bill said, "That was nice!" Thanks, Bill....It's good text, not too hard to work with.

There was an abbreviated Holy Trinity service today, with Holy Communion, of which I am glad we all were able to partake this week. Last week, only the confirmands and their families were invited to the Lord's table. Hmmm...The original pastor of GS was here to speak to us at the close of the shortened service, called upon to "mentor us" for three years. Hmmm.....

Judy C. was joining her son at our sister church this afternoon as they were having confirmation today, so I was on my own for lunch. Terri T. was in Tampa (as was Justin) for the Kenny Chesney and friends concert. No worries, I had 'friends' of my own at the pool. The water was cold at first, and many oohed and aahed that "Miss Kim got in the water before July!". My left leg cramped up when doing my version of laps so I parked myself in the shallow end and did my bicycle moves from the side of the pool. Kept moving for nearly an hour, until I just had to warm up out of the water. 

I sat with my neighbor, Pat, for a while but she was quite busy with real estate calls and never did get into the water. We had a nice visit between phone calls and we were both reading our books, too. She had the hot dog for lunch, which I had tried yesterday, and I had the hamburger which was actually a double patty burger. Just delicious! It surprised me when it came with two patties but the new cabana boy, Julius, told me it is faster to cook two smaller patties than one thick burger, which makes sense to me. I could order the kids' size burger, single patty, but this was so delicious and did not shut me down. I ate every bite of it. I guess I did not realize last season's burger patties were so large! The side dish was orzo salad of which I asked for only a smidgen. Delicious too! 

Justin had left right after work Friday for a weekend in Tampa. Jesse and he were driving down in a car belonging Jesse's mom's gentleman friend. They were meeting others down there, classmates of Jesse's and Ron's, and having the privilege of using a condo to stay in. They were going to see/hear a concert of country singers and Justin is a huge fan of Kenny Chesney's music. I was a little 'aware' of the fun boys this age can have but tried not to lose sleep over it, and trust at least one of them (mine!) to use his head in all things.

While sitting at the pool, my phone rang, and the number showing was Jesse's mom. Oh my goodness! I almost hated to answer it, for fear of what I she had to tell me. No worries, though. Her answering service had given her a message with someone else's name, but my cell phone number. She knew the name and number didn't match but called anyway to find out if I knew this other person. I did not, and expressed my concern about seeing her number come up on the phone. Her son ended up with a broke hand at their last party, 'wrasslin' with a guy, which now has him unable to work or even ride his transportation, which is a motorcycle. When in your mid-20's, one does NOT need to practice the wrestling moves one had in high school! It affects ones livelihood and mobility, all for being a hot dog! Was relieved, however, that this call was not about something wretched happening with our sons!

Justin came home after dinner, having stopped with Jesse in St. Augustine for wings on the way home. He filled me in on their weekend, told me about the good night's sleep he'd had, being able to sprawl all over a king-sized bed with a Tempurpedic mattress. He sleeps on a day bed here, not sprawling at all! I told him how the former pastor had asked me "how's Lamby doing?" which Justin wishes he could live down. Oh no, he will always be Lamby to those who knew him then!! He went from being my precious lamb to Lamby, and now, in the words of "Lord of the Rings"---My Precious!

Summer has returned

This morning, I heard voices and noises from the river side of the house. I looked out the sliders and there was a boat directly below my windows. The two fishers were casting nets over and over into the water but I could not see them remove anything from the nets. I think they were gathering bait fish, according to Suzanne, my friend who fishes. Later in the day, I heard more noise, and saw this scene, people walking with nets, seemingly from the boat anchored in the basin area. Not sure they got off this boat though as it appeared not big enough to accommodate yet more people!             

 At long last, I made it out to the pool yesterday afternoon and enjoying my first cabana hot dog of the season. Chef is using a different brand this year and told Marlena (in red top on left in photo) to 'run one past Miss Kim' to see if it is as good. It is! It is an all-beef tube steak and I liked it just fine! Two new people work in the cabana and as life guards for me to break in. The cabana boy, Julius, will have to learn my likes and dislikes but he said Danny trained him so he might already be aware of my being special needs in the cabana! The water is not quite warm enough yet for me to take a dip but I might give it try on Sunday after church. My knees are begging for it!

As I sat outdoors and watched people go by, I also read several chapters in a book removed from my stack on the dresser titled, "In The President's Secret Service". I have owned this for about a year now and wanted to take a soft-covered book outside rather a hard-covered (i.e. more expensive) book in case it got wet. What an interesting, and, at times, sickening, read this is! After I read about what a creep LBJ was and how he behaved publicly and privately, I nearly tore the pages from the binding and into the pool! CLASS: you either have it, or you don't! Titles or office make no difference, it seems. 

As I delivered The Palace Press Friday to Gus, it was still raining a tiny bit after a shower. These peace lilies just glistened in joy from the rain washing them, and I could not help but photograph this scene outside Gus and Mike's units on the first floor courtyard!

My kind of Friday!

Up at 'em early this morning as the window repair guys showed up before noon, just as promised. Right after 8:30 a.m. they called to let me know they were on the way so I had to get myself up and dressed. This was WELL before noon! Just as I finished, the doorbell rang. That is prompt!

These fellows have been here a couple times in the past, being the only ones I know of with parts for this brand of window, no longer in production. I was glad they still had the part needed for my window and I am sealed back up again should another storm develop. 

They had to remove the glass shelf from in front of the window and then try to put it back in again. I wish Justin and I had remembered to pull it out the night before but that would not have made it easier to put back in. The one fellow, older of the two, said the shelf should have been cut 1/4" shorter for ease of handling and I told him that a man did the measuring and ordering for me...in case there was any doubt...

The Windex will be made busy as I remove the hand prints and marks from the repair, and from the glass. Then the job will be to put the decorative pieces back in place, once they are cleaned up again too. Dust, you know?

My friend, Stephanie, has an eye emergency, as suddenly she experienced retina problems while sitting at her desk at work. This was Wednesday, saw the eye doctor on Thursday, and was scheduled for surgical repair on Friday. Now she just needed a ride from Southside to Orange Park and back again. Facebook (and Friends!) to the rescue. I offered to be her helper, with her other friend/neighbor who is also from Victory, to bring her over. Emily will drop Stephanie off, and I will pick her up when she is finished. It might take a couple hours, Stephanie thinks, as she has had this procedure in the past on the other eye. This time she has four tears, something considered hereditary. Pretty scary stuff!

                                      

I figure I will estimate the time of her drop off and then go to Walgreens before picking her up. It is so hard to find confirmation cards and before I head to the Hallmark Store at Fleming Island, I will check at Walgreens. Plus, they have Diet Coke on special this week. Woo hoo!

Today marks the 38th anniversary of my high school graduation. I remember when my uncle was going to attend his 50th class reunion and being astounded that he was still alive for it! Now, it's not so astounding!