An awesome story

This morning I went to the Breakfast Club gathering expecting, without knowing for sure, the others to join me. At first I was alone, but visited with a couple of ladies who were guests at the hotel. One lady complimented my hair, wishing she could wear hers this way, except she didn't think she could pull it off. Apparently, according to her, I have the face for it.

As it grew time for the buffet to be taken down, I decided to begin eating. Kathy, the breakfast lady, made sure I had the 'right sized' soda glass as suggested by Marlena, and she kept it full. The breakfast buffet is the same each week, the leftovers after the Rotarians are done. The bacon is done to perfection, and this time I was able to pick it up with the tongs and not have it crumble to pieces.

As I was about finished, Pat showed up! I was so glad to see her and after our hug, handed her the movie I brought along for her. A couple weeks ago we'd discussed the movie, "Freedom Writers". She said she will enjoy watching it at some point before next week's breakfast. I'd have loved to watch with her but oh well...

As we visited, I told her about a book I'd seen on-line the previous day that talked about paying attention to the stuff around you, taking pleasure in the sights and sounds we tend to rush past on the street. I described it as a "stop, and smell the roses" book, though I wished to avoid the cliche.

Pat smiled and told me a story about one of her students from years back. When teaching her second graders, she was presented with a very difficult student. Andi had spastic quadraplegia, which included un-controlled motions among other problems. The parents wanted her taught the same things the other kids were, despite the fact that Pat was not a special education teacher. Mom and Dad would take turns in the classroom until Pat was given an aide. Because of the spasticism, Andi could not use regular scissors so Pat found a pair of needle point scissors requiring a different motion than a regular pair. Andi mastered them. 

Pat felt badly that she couldn't actually teach this little girl the same way she taught the others, Andi being so different than the others. At recess, Pat and little Andi would sit on a mat while the others played. Well, one day the occupational therapist brought Andi back to the classroom, and put on a demonstration for the class. Andi got down on the floor and managed to 'inch worm' her way forward. A major accomplishment!

After this demonstration, Pat was writing something on the board, and then turned around to find her class on the floor, trying to do what their friend, Andi, did. They said, "Look, Ms. Pat, we can be like Andi!" It was a profound moment for Pat as a teacher, discovering that while she was trying to make Andi more like the other kids, they wanted to be more like Andi! She said that teaching Andi helped her to 'stop, and smell the roses', and gives it special meaning for her.
                              
I asked what happened to Andi later in school, and Pat said, "Her parents died when a train bridge broke in LA..." Oh my! It seems the three of them were traveling by train coming back from somewhere. When the bridge gave way, the dad was able to push Andi in her wheelchair up through a window, and then he dove back for the mom. The train car shifted, and both the parents died. Andi survived, in part, because her parents had insisted she be taught to swim like other kids were taught....and she lived through the accident.

The last Pat heard from her dear Andi was that she was getting married and lived in Ohio now. She had gotten a rather substantial settlement from the railroad and she was able to live 'like other kids' after the loss of her parents. 

Of course, I had tears in my eyes and the hair on my arms was standing up. I told Pat that I was so glad to know her and enjoyed her stories from the classroom, even those that involved teaching on the floor when hearing gunshots outside. Yikes! These are extraordinary people, these teacher friends of mine! 

What a day!

Today I had every intention of attending Bible study at Victory. Before I left home, I called my downstairs neighbor to let her know that the remodeling would begin today in the unit above mine. We need to know these things "in case" anything happens. They are remodeling two bathrooms, including the master bath plus the laundry room. That's lots of water pipes we are talking about! Tracy was glad to know the news, and was relieved to know the team hired to do the work, as they are the ones who put their unit back to right after The Great Flood. And they did the original work upstairs, so this job is in good hands. Mine are folded in prayer that nothing horrible happens!

After talking with Tracy I headed out the door for Bible study. Once I got to the lobby I met Connie and one of the workmen. AJ was going to come up and knock on the door, to tell me about the remodeling project and such. What a nice guy! He said if anything goes wrong in my home from the remodel, I am to tell him about it promptly. Even if something falls off the wall from the demo portion, I am supposed to let him know. I wonder if he will do my dusting for me after they are done...No, I won't abuse his offer.

                                    

                 This 'key' is almost as tall as I am!

When his partner walked up, Connie showed them both the big 'key' used to shut off the main water meter---gulp! Oh, I hope and pray they have no use for the giant key! It seems today they only made a little bit of racket but did let me know there will be a good deal of noise once they start the tear out, in case I have company or anything. I did mention Linda coming at the end of the month but hopefully, if all goes well, the project will be close to completion.

                                  

I drove up Hwy. 17, having called my mom from the parking lot. We talked for a length of time, with me barely making any progress toward the freeway. For some reason traffic was extremely congested. It was getting to be 20 minutes and I was not even to Wells Road yet. And, while talking to Mom, Tracy called me, so I hung up with Mom to take her call, thinking something might have already happened with the remodel. I got her answering machine, at which point I decided to just turn around and go home. 

I called Rita to let her know I wasn't coming to class, and had to leave a message. Then, I called Mom back to let her know what was going on, hanging up once home again. When I tried to call Victory to let someone know I wasn't coming, I got a fast busy signal. NOT my day! But I was glad to have stayed home and minded my shop, as it were. I never did find out what Tracy was calling me for, and I wonder if it was a butt-dialed call. I never would have made it on time for the class, so my decision was wise. I used the time the same way, working on filing and other desk-clearing business. It was a good day but what a day!

Trying not to be gloomy Gus

We may have had rain overnight, or at least it rained somewhere as I heard the local weather guy report rain was coming down in some parts of the viewing area. This was last night, but the remnants of that rain remain in the form of overcast skies. 

Earlier I saw one blue streak in the sky between the clouds but it could not hold its own against the greyness. Several people I spoke with today reported feeling quite groggy, as though not having gotten enough sleep or something. Glad it's not only me!

*****

Yesterday Connie told me about neighbors, Rose and Joe, having some bookcases they were giving away. I went up to look at them, and decided Justin and I would take the three items off their hands, and out of their foyer. Connie told me the hand truck was in the 2nd floor elevator cubby to help us move them. Justin had a very long work day Tuesday, so we decided to get them picked up this a.m. before he left for work.

I arranged with Rose to get them around 8:20 but Rose called shortly after 8:00 to report they were up, saying we could come any time we were ready. Good! I sure didn't want Justin to be late for helping his father today. We also returned the dehumidifier which belonged to them, had it here since last May when the tropical storms came through. I had tried to return it a couple times but they encouraged me to keep it---just in case. 

The one full-height bookcase is almost a perfect match to the one Justin already has in his room, and the shorter one, same color, will work, too. If he doesn't want that one, I might keep it for myself. Joe also gave him a piece of furniture which is actually a record cabinet, but more substantial than any I had seen. It might work as a coffee table in the house when they get settled. 

                                       

I was guiding the shorter shelves on the dolly as Justin carried the record cabinet, which was quite awkward, with no handles or anything. The elevator door opened and here came Connie to the rescue. She commandeered the dolly from me saying, "You don't need to be doing this, Miss Kim". So I tagged along behind as Justin and she got the rest of the stuff into the house. 

It's hard to remember the days when I did actual physical labor but I aver, I did it! Nailing floors, stuffing insulation, stringing wires, staining and varnishing the trim in the house and painting the walls...My family was there, too, they are witnesses---I used to do physical work. Plus worked at my full-time job whichever it was at the time. Later my time would be spent at the desk, when I wasn't packing boxes to move every few months or every year. Such was the nature of our business.

                                      

I told Connie how my sister said to me one time, "My furniture carrying days are over..." after she had struggled valiantly to help her husband carry a sofa from one level in her home to another. One day she could still do it, but after the sofa battle, no longer. Just.like.that! Yes, I reached that same point some time ago, too, but really, I had that dolly with balanced bookcase well under control. Connie loves to be a helper, though, so I won't take that away from her!

The yard sale saga

Oh, I am so cute sitting at my desk! That is my dinner in front of me. Justin got a new phone with the proceeds from the yard sale, which he used for this photo. He didn't waste one moment in turning that cash into a cell phone!

Justin put in a long day today getting the yard sale wrapped up, and all things put to right at the site of the sale. Jesse and he delivered some of the items to buyer's homes, then delivered some stuff for donation to the Quigley House.

When I got home from Ladies' Group, he presented me with the lovely ruby glass bowl I'd had my eye on since I saw it on the table. Yes! I am so thankful no one else bought it and that he gave it to his mama. Something was missing yet in my home, and the red bowl takes care of that!

This is some heavy-duty glass, but so gorgeous!

He also brought me, as a good son would, an emergency candle which will provide 35 hours of light. Justin seems to think that happens far too often here and wants me to have light when the power goes out. 

(Sunday we lost power while we were gone, due to a car striking a pole with a transformer on it, near the train tracks. When our gang was eating at Sam's St. Johns Seafood, the lights flickered. We were told this was the 3rd time it happened, and we diners hoped it was the last.)

Justin scored a few items from the house himself, including a marvelous book of Norman Rockwell pictures, marked suitable for framing. Tucked inside that book was what appears to be the immigration certificate for the man's father. ("The man" being the deceased person from whose home all this stuff came). It is really cool, but also somewhat difficult to read. Perhaps in daylight we can more readily make out the dates. 

Justin also took a coffee table book about WWII, which is made up of front pages of the New York Times. The headlines or main articles are about the war. Both Ron and he are fond of this type of thing. I wouldn't mind sitting down with it too some time. It does smell a bit like smoke, as the guy was a cigar smoker, but it wasn't awful.

While the two guys were thrilled with the proceeds from the sale, Justin was less than thrilled with the amount of time and effort involved. He was put off by the 'type' of people who came, not all of them, but "some people you can just tell..." 

Justin is the more 'personable' of the duo and loved to chit chat with the customers as well. As upset as he got with some portions of the sale saga, he said they might have another opportunity for someone else's estate sale, claiming their pricing was so right on. 

Justin goes from claiming he'd rather be doing yard work to 'we might get to do this again!' in one sentence. It is good networking for them both, though, with one being in real estate and the other a born salesman!

"Here am I, send me, send me"

Today's mail brought me a package from Linda containing the next couple months worth of calendars to go in the holder she gave me for Christmas. She makes the calendars using Stampin' Up equipment combined with her skills. Each month is a work of art! February is St. Valentine's Day themed, March has St. Patrick, and April has birds in a birdbath. Lots of saints and baths coming up!

In the packet was a lovely greeting card embellished with a peacock complete with jewels on his feathers. Inside a message is stamped "You are such a blessing in my life" and "Thinking of you!". What a nice card she made! She also included the service folder from the installation of their new pastor. The school children, the senior choir, and the Hmong ladies choir took part in the service as well. It must have been lovely and edifying. Part of the readings included the "hear am I, send me, send me...". Would love to have heard that sermon and been part of the service!

             Photos of the pelicans outside my windows

As I write this, a pair of pelicans are bobbing around in the very calm water outside my window. This is thrilling to me since rarely have I seen them this far inland. We also have ducks and the other day I heard geese honking again. When I hear sea gulls, at first I like them, but then get annoyed because they are so pesty. They poop all over people's cars!!!

Justin is thrilled to pieces over the success of his yard/estate sale. Jesse and he spent the first part of today delivering sofas and other larger pieces to folks, and arranging for donations to the Quigley House. He just popped back in for a second to check in with me and report his plans to go and count their booty from the three day sale. Bet he already knows the exact amount in his head!

            

Saturday night Justin informed me that the closing of the house is now scheduled to take place in two weeks. That remains to be seen, but I am optimistic for this finally taking place. After that time, the carpet will be replaced and some painting taking place to ready it for move-in. The way it looks, Justin might be gone before Linda arrives, with 'might' being the working word here. If he is gone, Linda will help ease my Empty Nest Syndrome. If not, we will have a great time with the three of us here while it lasts!

At a loss for words!

This afternoon, I was watching a movie on TBS after Fox News Sunday got done. It is a movie I actually own and Justin teased me that I like the commercials so much, which I why I watch on TV. I really don't mind too much and it was fun to have on while chatting with Linda. It was in English, which worked out nicely since I speak English, or a version of it, anyway. I would switch back and forth, in man-style, to a Law & Order episode on another network. 

                                  

What I noticed on TNT was added 'conversation' to the episode. At first I thought my ears were deceiving me, but no, there was 'help' going on in addition to the close captioning which is always in place. An example is, "Jack approaches the bench with evidence bag..." or "Adam crosses his arms in front of him...". This must be for non-sighted people, in addition to the captioning being for the deaf. 

                                       

Last night I was watching reruns of "Big Bang Theory" before going to sleep and all of a sudden, they changed to speaking Spanish! The captioning was still in English but the language was Spanish. That got old fast, so had to find something else to lull me to sleep. I wonder if I should try unplugging my cable box for a few minutes to allow it to refresh itself. One of us needs refreshing, that's for sure!

At the desk

After all my carousing was done yesterday, I spent some time at the desk, sorting through papers and such. I have resumed my role of secretary for the Ladies' Group. After sending the Minutes off to Terri T. for her perusal, I got my copy into the binder. It took some shuffling and regrouping of the items which had been added to the binder since I had handed it over last year, but now I've got it straightened away. How hard is chronological order anyway????

My next project, now that space has been cleared at the desk, is to mount the photos taken for church's Flock Board. When Lonnie constructed the board, beautifully done, the opening for the 4 x 6 photos was a smidge too large. I have to add a piece of cardstock behind each picture in order for it to fit snugly in the slots. An extra step not expected which is holding up the show of getting them in place. Today is the day for readying them for display!

As I moved papers and such around on the desk, I came upon a business card of a man I met at the airport a few years ago. I was seated in the wait area on my birthday, facing delays in departure. Justin was going to pick me at the airport and take me out to eat for my birthday. 

When I was talking to Justin on the phone, the guy seated across from me heard my lament about possibly missing my birthday dinner. After I hung up, he smiled at me, and asked where I lived. When I told him Jacksonville, he laughed and said he lived at the Beach. How fun is that! 

This handsome young fellow, a Black man, was an artist, having a shop at Jax Beach. I told him I was a member of the OP Art Guild and we chatted about art while we were delayed. When we stood to at last board the plane, he handed me a business card and told me to come to his shop. He was going to give me a painting for my birthday, to make up for missing my dinner with my son! Isn't that sweet? I never did collect on his offer, being more flattered by the offer than anything else.

Justin is having his yard sale today and again tomorrow. Jesse and he made some good money yesterday without selling much of the furniture. Their hopes are that today and tomorrow people will be beating down the doors, so to speak, for the used furniture. It is my opinion that the prices are high but the market will determine what the items go for. Justin did get to remake the acquaintence of a young man he'd met when working for the Romney campaign. The fellow nows works for a friend of ours, through Travis, my former neighbor, who is now a state Senator. Those are good connections for Justin to make, so he fixed the fellow up with a small table at a good price!

Panoramic view of some of the stuff

The guys are thinking that they will do this again in two weeks if there is stuff leftover Sunday. Gotta love their optimism! Many hours have gone into this project and they are now selling for profit, having made enough to cover the cost of the rental truck. The majority of items sold yesterday were chotchkies and books. He was amazed at the way the books went. And, on a sadder note, they got ripped off a few items, because their eyes could not be everywhere. I feel badly about that for them, but that is a consequence of such an open sale. The curio cabinet remains unsold....