No jog today

This morning I answered my alarm set on my phone, as a precaution to make sure Justin did not oversleep again for work. He had had his alarm set yesterday but the phone was set on silent, which does not help one little bit. When I told him I was setting my alarm last night, he asked me if I was using my mental alarm clock, like "Kramer" used. Ha ha! Justin was already up and about, wallet in custody, so no need for me to go out jogging.

Instead, I went out to water exercise class and was so glad to see the ladies again. I had not been out for class on Tuesday or Wednesday last week, and Thursday is Bible study day, so I had missed seeing them. Pat A. greeted me as her long, lost friend! I just love her!! 

Nancy W., who was in class last week, had not come to the pool on the long weekend at all, but had gone shopping to look for items and furnishings for her new home. Besides finding stuff for her townhouse, she must to go through things at her father's home so she doesn't move anything she does not want to keep. What a big job! (She and I had had dinner together on Thursday night at The Club, both of us enjoying our delicious steaks on Casual Grille Night. She came up for a few minutes to see my place, but did not stay to watch the football game with Justin and me.) 

When I came in again after class and chatting, I hung up my suit and cover, put on my lounging gown, and got busy at my desk. Before long, I was getting drowsy and did something I rarely do---took a rest during Rush! Not just a rest, but an actual nap, waking up almost three hours later. That NEVER happens and makes me wonder if I am going to come down with Justin's malady now, too. I do hope not!

He had a better day at work, his boss on the job with him today. William asked Justin to join his wife and him for trivia at a wing place in Lake Asbury but Justin was still feeling too punk to accept. There is your proof, ladies and gentlemen, otherwise, he'd be gone! His boss decided, too, that it was too long a ride for a deal on wings. 

Justin got new phone service on Sunday, signing on with T-Mobile. He thought he gave his new phone number to all his friends but somehow missed Michael. Michael was sending him text messages tonight too, asking him to dinner, but he missed them. That's two invites in one night he passed on. 

He made us a creation with pizza dough, brie, and raspberry jelly, of which I had one before going to the sundeck for a Board of Director's meeting. Oh my, so delicious! Last night he made it with crescent roll dough. It is a wonderful tasting treat but sort of expensive, as the cheese alone is $6.00. We are both appalled at the cost of the jelly, which is our favorite!

The lovely sky tonight before our meeting

Chairs were moved up to the 2nd floor sundeck for our meeting, and it was absolutely lovely out there. It did drag on and on, and before the meeting adjourned, I came upstairs. The BOD was sort of tabling lesser important matters for another meeting due to the onset of darkness so I doubt I missed too much. 

My friend, Judy C., called, wondering if I was going to church tomorrow night. A brand-new thing is to have a 30 minute Bible study recap of Sunday's service, for those who were unable to attend on Sunday. The second half hour would be hymns and Holy Communion offered to those who missed it. She has a tough time getting from her son's home to church by 7:00 pm, but it can be done. I am going to attend to see what it's all about, and then let her know if it is worth her efforts and schedule juggling to get there. We both feel as though we could use more Bible study but she is not sure if this is going to be what we are looking for, since she was there on Sunday, etc. 

Justin went to bed very early again tonight, and I am trying to be quiet. Good thing tonight's Seinfeld episode is not one which makes me laugh my head off. The re-runs of "Frasier" are those from the end of the series, and had lost much of their charm, which means they will soon be starting over again in a week or so. Good! I need some new material to laugh at!

Labor Day fun

Here is the giant-sized slide The Club put up for the Labor Day events. Folks with kids told me this was the best thing yet, and I shared that info with the folks who run things there. This slide scored a home run with the kids and their parents! I had a great time with my friends at the pool before the rains came.

*

My poor boy had a rough, rough start to his day today. For the first time since he's moved back home, I stuck my nose in his room at 6:35 to see if he'd left yet. Nope, he was wrapped in his sheet, fast asleep. Even on this holiday he had to work and was about 20 minutes late picking up his co-worker, who had no phone or other communication device. In 5 minutes he was out the door---amazing!

I went back to my room and was getting settled with my laptop when he called me. Justin asked me to go look in his room for his wallet, telling me it should be on the foot of his bed. Nope, no where to be found. He then asked me very nicely to go outside to see if it was lying on the ground near his car. I told him I would go and look after getting my caftan on.

Sure enough, I rode the elevator down with my neighbor (at this hour of the morning???) so explained my situation. He helped me look, as did my other neighbor who was leaving for work. No wallet. On the way back up, I called Justin to report my sorrow, being quite upset about this. He does not travel light in his wallet---besides cash, he has a debit card and ID. 

Justin's thought was he put it on top of his car and it toppled off when he was still on the property. I offered to go and look which gave him some relief. I took my purse, thinking I might drive it, but instead went up the battle-field driveway on foot. Wearing my Jamaican caftan, red shoes, and my purple purse, I hiked up the hill toward Astor Street. What a sight I must have been!!! Should have left the purse in the car, in hindsight.

As I neared the top of the hill, to the tennis courts, Justin called me to report he located the wallet in his work bag. He dropped it in a 'different' pocket on the bag when he put his cough drops into it. I was so very glad to hear that, and he was thankful to me for going on an early morning jog, carrying my full-pack, like a soldier would do!

He is suffering with a sore throat, itching ears, and other 'cold' ailments, like strangling on stuff in his throat. He stocked up on remedies at the store after getting home from work, to knock this thing down. 

I offered to make dinner for us, since I bought some chicken at Winn-Dixie the other day when we stopped to shop. He requested my 'Lazy Ass Chicken', which makes me roar with laughter whenever he calls it that. The actual name is Busy Day Chicken but he likes me to roar! I had all the ingredients I needed, only using brown rice instead of white.

It bakes for about an hour so I began the process of putting it together right away, before The Five came on. I measured out the rice and water in the steamer, plugged it in, and waited to hear the wailing it usually makes when at work. The red light did not turn on...hmmm....now what??? It was dead!! NOOOO! 

                           

This is only the 2nd steamer 'we' have had, this particular being one we replaced after the 1st one quit. Lynn, my sister, had given one to us many, many years ago, and when it quit, we immediately had to replace it. Now, this type of steamer is no longer available new, only used on e-bay. Shoot!

What is going on with my small appliances around here? First, Linda and I had to go to Wal*Mart for a new coffee maker. When I had gotten it out to clean it for her visit, the on/off button popped right out of the machine! I have never bought a coffee pot before, so that's how old this machine was...pre-dates my singleness. It only gets used when company is here so not like it's worn out or anything. Only $9 for a new maker and it worked just fine for Linda. And now the rice/veggie steamer quits. Are they trying to tell me something???

An awesome weekend

Without going back to check to see if I've said this before, Linda left too soon, or came here a week too early, this summer. Ever since she left here, the weather has been glorious with hot days and the pool water getting warmer day by day. Today was almost perfect temperature-wise for me, both in the water and out. 

As the day progressed, so did the shadows from the trees, leaving only the far corner of the pool in the sunlight. I got cold so came out to warm up, and I think I singed myself a bit before getting back in to cool off. No sooner did Dick and I get into the pool than did giant-sized cold rain drops start coming down. Fairly steady at that. Soon, everyone was gathering up their stuff and heading inside, Dick and Debbie right beside me as we made our way back to The Palace. 

When I had first come out to the pool, some of my newer neighbors were there, whom I had met the day before. Bill and Nancy bought a home just down the street from The Club property and are in the process of renovating it. A sizable challenge...They wonder how the older man and his daughter managed to live in there under those circumstances. Yeah, it was time for new owners, for sure! Bob, the man who calls me The Ambassador, introduced me to them, and now we are all old friends already. They hail originally from South Dakota, stopping in NC, before moving down here.

Before long we had a nice bunch of folks out there, pretty good for a Sunday afternoon. Just about every table had folks at it, not all swimming, but sitting around enjoying the great weather. 

I was later getting out there as Justin and I had gone to lunch at St. Johns Town Center after church. We worshiped at Victory today since our friend, Tarren, was going to be there and asked to see us. She was visiting her friend from high school who is ill, plus wanted to spend time with her goddaughter, Hanna. Her goddaughter's family now goes to Victory, so it all worked out. It was absolutely grand to see everyone again!

I saw Stephanie and Erica, Rita, Anne and her parents, Dolly 'n Jim (Dolly always asks me how my mom is!), the Koch's visiting from NC, plus many others. 

                   

The icing on the cake, besides Tarren, of course, was being there for the baptism of the daughter of Jeff, my former 'pool boy'. He used to clean my pool at the lake house, and is a co-worker of Anne's. Pastor H. has baptized both of Jeff's daughters now. I wish his wife and he would take the membership class which starts next week Tuesday....

Tarren was going off with Suzanne and family so Justin and I dined by ourselves at PF Chang, where he could have some nice 'hot' soup. He is having a tender throat, no, a sore throat, and needed hot stuff to comfort it. Hopefully he gets some relief by taking all the medicines and such he's stocked up on. Tonight he told me he couldn't help but sing in church today because the hymns were so good...Gaelic melody for the baptism hymn, etc. That's my boy!

Sent by my friend, Pat A.

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. (I am thinking this is not good advice-Kim)

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don't save it for a special occasion. Today IS special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

I highlighted those which were most significant in my mind, or my heart, and bolded ones which were extra important to me. I hope you find these to be as 'inspiring' as I did!

Where was this weather?

Where was this weather when Linda was here??? Today was a lovely mid-90's day (I guess it depends on just how lovely when you are a yard man....) The pool water did not reflect the heat of the day however; just a bit on the coolish side. When my friend, Fran, put her toes in, she winced at the temperature. I was okay as long as the sun shined on me, but once the clouds took over, I had to get out.

People came and went most of the afternoon, including Lee, Nancy, Cynthia, Fran and Rick. I had my lunch poolside, eating with Fran and Rick. Lee had eaten a bit ahead of me, having the shrimp special. I had my standard cheese burger and Fran had a big, fat hot dog. She just got good news from her blood work so it was time to celebrate!! 

This is a picture of Fran and I in the pool, but her hat hides her cute, little face...

Loved the politics talk, the book discussions, and other banter around and in the water. I sure do miss Maureen and those folks who are back in their classrooms because I enjoy the school discussions as well. The day before the topic was about real estate and best times to buy/sell. Nancy recently got an offer accepted to purchase a townhouse on our property, and she closes on it November 1st. She will be my neighbor soon!

*

Wednesday night I had gone to Happy Hour. I found Nancy sitting in the bar area with her Realtor, to whom I had directed her, having a celebratory margarita for the accepted offer. Nancy then came in to join us at the tables in the garden room. She left before I did, and I later walked home with my other neighbor, Kathy M. She and I both wanted to be home for O'Reilly. Betty and Kathy stayed a bit longer, with Kathy H. planning to watch O'Reilly later at 11:00 pm.

Well, I was settled in for the night, watching TV while under my covers. I am not able to recall what I was watching but likely it was "Frasier". All of a sudden, I heard something, like someone yelling. I leaped from my bed to hear better and sue enough, someone was yelling for help. I grabbed my phone and went outside. 

From all around me I heard footsteps, folks running to see who needed help. I went toward the voices and there, between 1st and 2nd floor, was a lady on the steps. I knew who it was...Miss Chardonnay had taken a tumble trying to get up to her unit. She had called for Kathy H. to help her, and when she could not get her upright, Kathy began yelling for help.

Justin, in the meanwhile, already sleeping, heard the sound of feet running, thought it was knocking at the door. He heard me open the door and then leave, not closing the door behind me. So, he had to come to see where his mama went, thinking a bad guy came to the door and I opened it up, and was taken!!! Oh yes, that's going to happen...He came around the corner and could see me standing at the rail, and figured out what happened. I assured him I was fine and he could go back to bed.

I asked Kathy if I should call for the rescue squad and she shook her head no, as Miss C. had already said not to. Since I was in my gown, I didn't go all the way down there, but plenty of other folks, including a cardiologist and his wife, had come to the rescue. About 7 men and ladies from as far up as the 5th floor had come down, but one lady was especially helpful in getting Miss Chardonnay scooted up the steps on her butt, and then to standing. Nothing broken and nothing bleeding, but boy, were our hearts pounding!!! Good thing we have a cardiologist in the building...

I am told Rosemary got her into the condo, and situated in the bed. When I got back to my own bed, it took me a while to settle down. Kathy was so shaken that she stayed awake until after 1:00 a.m. And Miss Chardonnay slept like a baby! But, boy, do we have wonderful neighbors here or what???

A different Martin Luther King, Jr. speech excerpt

Martin Luther King, Jr. speech given at Barrett Jr. High, in Philadelphia, in 1967 

"What I'm saying to you this morning, my

friends: Even if it falls your lot to be a

street sweeper, go out and sweep streets 

like Michelangelo painted pictures! Sweep

streets like Handel and Beethoven

composed music. Sweep streets like 

Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets

so well that all the host of heaven and

earth will have to pause and say, "Here 

lived a great street sweeper who swept 

his job well!"  

If you can't be a pine on the top of a hill, 

be a scrub in the valley, but be the best 

little scrub on the side of the rill.  Be a 

bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't 

be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't 

be a sun, be a star.  It isn't by size that 

you win or you fail; be the best at 

whatever that you are!"

Where did the time go?

Today I got a message from one of my friends, Kathy, wanting to get together with Linda before she left. Oops, too late! My upstairs neighbor, too, wondered if we could spend some time together but it was not to be. Linda has returned to her home and to her desk, running the show at FG. Or running her legs off, getting the bulletin printed, folded and stuffed for Thursday night's worship and for Sunday. Whew!

Several folks asked me at Happy Hour what Linda and I did while she was here, and as I ticked things off, we sounded quite busy. We were, and we were not, if that makes sense at all. Linda and I have skills that way---easily entertained.

First of all, Thursday, was Bible study and then our lunch at The Club. When we were about to leave Victory, it was pouring so hard that one of the men, Wayne, took our keys and went to get our umbrellas from the cars for us ladies. He is a true gentleman! 

Because Linda and I are wide loads, we could only protect our heads from the rain, while the rest of us got wet, including my booklet and Bible. We ate our lunch at The Club still a bit damp, and had to go out in the rain again to leave. Yech!

That night I made some of my delicious (I am proud of them!) sloppy Joe's for our dinner, and we spent the evening sitting around and talking. Justin was working in the kitchen prepping his beer cheese and bratwurst soup, making the house smell wonderful. 

In the morning on Friday, we were expecting a visit from Dee but Julia came instead. She brought a matte sample to match against Timmy's hug but we chose a different one for Justin's, which will hang on a different wall. She left the sample with me because 'it is your blue...'. We all went upstairs to Debbie's to look things over, as Julia was going to do an assessment of her wall space and room colors, etc. Debbie is looking for FL art and Julia can help her out!

Linda fell in love with the paint colors in the kitchen/dining area. She had brought her sample along for her new counter tops and we were going to look at colors for her. She found them upstairs! It's great to see them applied and how they work.

                

     Linda, Lee, Jacquie, and me (under the hat)

Friday was also our tea at Basketique with Lee and Jacquie. Linda had not met Jacquie before that day but had only heard about her. I am so glad when my friends can meet each other and put faces/personalities to their names. Linda bought a gift for her friend, Angie, at the store, for watching over the cats while Tom and she are gone.

We watched our radio show together and then The Five, with no hopes of going to the pool that day due to weather. Nuts! Justin served us our beer cheese soup while we watched the Packer game together. Stayed up late for that!!!

Saturday Linda and I went to breakfast at Honey B's and then snooped in the scrapbook store a bit. Since we were already dressed, we went to Beall's. Linda found some place mats for her new kitchen and a mat for by the sink, also in the new colors not yet painted. It's all about the accessories!

She helped me find a new purse, too, after I gave her my parameters. Since 2004 I have carried a red purse, my first being purchased in Florence from a street vendor. I also told Linda if we cannot find a suitable red one, a colored one would do, just not black or brown, and not fabric. Linda found me a perfect purple purse, and it was the same brand as the one I was carrying. Half price on top of all that!!! Now my check book fits, and my pocket Constitution, too!