Really? It's October?

It is hard to believe we have reached October already. The older 'we' get, the faster the days seem to fly past us. Not necessarily more productive, because it is hard to produce when hanging on for dear life! I changed the calendar page which Linda has made for me, stamped with acorns and fall leaves, in the appropriate autumn colors. I think it is autumn up north but here, it is still quite nice. Oh, I know, that is a relative thing, what is considered 'nice' weather. Many of my friends around here really enjoy the cooler temperatures. 

                        

Justin and I were just talking about the days which are coming where we will no longer be running the A/C, when it drops down to cool enough temps overnight so Justin can sleep with his windows opened and get by with his fans going. When it becomes winter, we might be able to get by without running the heat, except in my room with the space heater. That will help to keep the bills lower, for sure!

There have been tears

The other day I was looking at Facebook and saw that one of Timmy's classmates from St. Johns was celebrating his 18th birthday. He is the grandson of my downstairs neighbor, Judee, on whose FB page I saw the pictures. A couple times a year I get to see Brooks, and did just see his dad within the past couple of weeks. I believe I mentioned it here in this blog, how Justin and I rode upstairs in silence after speaking with him, each of us 'afraid' to say anything, thinking about Timmy. Therefore, my seeing Brooks' birthday photos was bittersweet.

In my memory box on the hall table is the wooden train whistle that Timmy got as a souvenir from the first and only kids' birthday party Timmy attended. It was a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed party, hence, the whistle. That day the boys had two parties to attend and since Brooks' house was closer to the office, my former spouse chose that party. It was only later that he realized that parents generally stayed with their kids for the parties. I had taken Justin to a party off of Camp Johnson Road, where there was a magician performing for the birthday boy.

Brooks' name is on the lower left border of this piece of artwork, and has been here in the past few years to see it, forgetting about doing this those many years ago. Merrick's name is next to Brooks'---his dad is mentioned below.

Friday I went to the groomers and got my haircut, stopping at Publix on the way back home. As I was getting my cart, I met the dad of one of Timmy's classmates from Child Time and from St. Johns. Their family were our neighbors in The Preserve, plus my friend, Jen, used to be the nanny to Terry's sons, so I knew them fairly well. It was good to see him again, and he reported his boys are doing well. 

Here are Christopher and Merrick jumping into my pool at the lake house

Inside the store, I encountered Justin's pre-k teacher, a dear lady who is always so sweet and kind to me. We had a great visit, shared some tears, and it was so very nice to chat with her. She misses her grandkids, none of whom live in this area, but her husband is not ready yet to retire. Two of her daughters live in the same town in NJ, totally by 'accident', with the cousins attending school together. Another of her kids lives in AL, not too far away. She told me how wonderful it was for me to have Justin right under my roof!

The reason I was at the store in the first place was to pick up some steaks for Justin to make for our dinner. He had sent me a text message asking me to pick up something good and he would cook it for our dinner. I chose steak and baked potatoes, the steaks he would pan fry. Sure wish we had a grille!

Before dinner, however, I joined my neighbors and friends around the pool for our final cabana happy hour of the season. We had a good turnout, but Betty and Kathy were not there, which was odd. (Heard later they came out after I had gone in). Justin sent me a text message saying he was ready to begin the meal so I said 'good night' to my tablemates and headed toward The Palace. At the gate to the stairs I met Judee, whose grandson's birthday was posted on FB. She told me she had been thinking about me and gave me a big hug. Of course, a few more tears found their way out. I love that others still remember and think about us after all these years. Warms my heart....and wets my cheeks.

I am trainable

After getting home from our adventure at the Sprint store yesterday, Justin got busy training me on the phone and doing all the additional set-up necessary for the operation of the phone, or adding the extra features for the full use of this device. I have help sheets handy, fold-out instructions, and him to help me if I get stuck. He was in his glory, so to speak. I tried to pay attention and not get distracted. I made sure he showed me how to answer a call and how to make one---priorities One and Two!

Instead of going to Panera, though, I treated him at Koko's for lunch, stopped in quickly at Great Hang Ups, and then headed toward Wells Road to the only Sprint store in OP. I wanted to get some plants for my outdoor planter from Home Depot so we went there first before heading to our intended stop. We found some shade tolerant plants, in reds 'n greens, almost Christmas-y looking. My sister, Kerry, laughed when I told her about our purchases because I am planting when others are taking theirs out (up north). It's different here! Justin wants to buy a gardenia plant for in the house but wants to find the right planter (i.e. blue!) so he waited to get his.

                                

Once home, Justin intended to hook up his Apple TV in the family room to show me how to use the phone, but instead he just sat beside me on the bed to do so. He 'synched' my laptops with the phone so my contact list from gmail merged into my phone, and then, vice versa. I actually DO understand what this is about!

He was able to open my old phone, remove the card, and transfer the data. Amazing child! At one point he crashed my little laptop and then his in an effort to use the card reader to draw the information from one device to the other. Somehow, though, he figured it out and got the data transferred. He said, "You can go through all your contacts and delete the ones you don't need, but don't do that until you have your desk cleaned off..." What??? I would so rather do that cleaning (the contacts) than actually cleaning off my desk!

                                    

This afternoon I was at the pool for a bit with Bob, Nancy and Bill, staying for about an hour. This is the last day for the cabana so I had one final meal for the season. Cheeseburger in paradise, as Jimmy Buffett would say. Nancy gave me her phone number but that was one thing Justin did not train me on!!! But, with perseverance, and no help from anyone else, I figured it out! And, I was supposed to be deleting contacts, not adding more!!

Oh, there's no living with me now!

For months, even years, my son has been after me to join the dark side with him and become an iPhone user. This, despite my protests and insistence that my working Android 'Smart phone' was serving me just fine. Perhaps if something were to happen to my existing phone would I consider switching to another brand or (gasp!) leave Sprint. I have been with Sprint both as a customer (since the divestiture in the 80's) and as an employee for 5 years. It turns out a person can get the newest and best while keeping their phone number and staying with their original carrier while using an iPhone. I know this because I now have one!

                         

For months Justin has been researching and experimenting with the carriers to find the least expensive plan for a couple of reasons, not the least being he is now responsible for his own cell phone plan. And, always looking out for his mother, he wanted to find the best deal for me. In order for him to get the plan he uses, Justin switched his service to T-Mobile which has limited reception 'down here at the bottom of the hill', as he describes it. At the gates he has perfect reception, but as he progresses down toward the condo, the signal diminishes. Not a good thing for him, and certainly no deal for his mama who does much of her talking from home.

His age group talks less (uses less talk time on the phone) than any other features of the communication devices such as text messaging, iMessage, streaming, and web-browsing. On the other hand, I still talk to folks on the phone in addition to text messaging and the only occasional Googling to look up something. When I am at home, I have my laptops to do that, so I needed less gigabyte service in my plan. 

Last night Justin proposed he would take me to breakfast at Panera Bread and then we could go to the Sprint Store to check out the 5C phone, "which comes in colors!" He thought he could wave pretty things in my face and I would be a knock over. While he knows I am not prone to the attraction of the 'newest and best', he can sure sell! And he can buy---he treated me to the new phone while at the same time I got a cheaper plan which allowed me to keep my phone number and save money each month. Win-Win!

                                              

He created a monster by showing me the features of the better camera on this phone and posed for this "Seinfeld"-esque picture for me! "Was it a pick or a scratch?"

I told the lady taking care of us that Justin should work there because he certainly knows his stuff, knows all the features of every device, and can sell like nuts. Or to nuts! Smile for the camera, everybody!

Sorting photos and memories

The other day I posted a photo of the former drapery tie-backs I got at the resale store a couple weeks ago when shopping with Nancy W. Originally my thought was to suspend them in the bedroom windows but Anne H. suggested hanging them from my door handles. I love it, and took a photo of one in my dining room. Very nice! Well, one of my newer connections on Facebook is my former classmate, Linda, from MLHS days. She commented that my home seems bright and clean. I don't know about the clean part (me and my dust issue!) but it is bright! 

                      

Of course, I invited Linda to come down for a visit and give the place her own 'white glove test' some day. I also sent her some photos from when our mutual classmate, Rick, and his wife, Laura, were here last year for a visit. I hope they tantalize her to come down...

I also 'tagged' my friend, Brenda N., in a photo which stimulated all sorts of attention on my page, even though the photo has been posted for ages. The journaling of the picture states how this was one of the finest days of my life as Brenda N., Brenda W., Carey (Brenda's friend and our captain), and I went boating. We sailed from St. Augustine on this lovely day, went up the Matanzas River to the intracoastal, stopping to eat at a 'fish camp', whose name I do not know. It was just an awesome, carefree day, and I loved spending this time with my friends. 

It was so carefree that I took the liberty of locking my keys in the car, so Brenda W. and I had to wait for Pop-A-Lock to come free us! This was really a first for Brenda W., having a day like this, and I am so glad I got her to come along. On our ride back to OP she told me how Jimmie and she rarely did anything until he came to work for/with us. Then, doors were opened for them, figuratively AND literally (ha, ha) to travel and be entertained. So glad to be of service!!!

Time with friends well spent

This a.m. was Bible study at Victory, as we began the look at Isaiah. Only two of us had done the homework, the youngest two ladies in the room. A newer member, Katherine, and I were teased for being brown-nosers while the couple to my right reported "we don't do homework!". I told Pastor I was scooting over as to not associate with them, but he told me to move closer to be a positive influence. Such fun we have in our in-depth look at how history repeats itself!

Rita asked me to take copious notes for her since she was having a medical procedure causing her to miss class. I believe my homework answers plus the notes from today should catch her up, if she can read my teeny writing. Pastor read to us from a book their congregation provides to the confirmation students which gives an informative outline about each book of the Bible. He feels that the young folks don't have enough information about the Bible going in to their confirmation classes, which focus primarily on the Lutheran Catechism. I like his thinking on these matters of instruction.

From Bible study I headed back to OP to meet my neighbor/friend, Kathy, for lunch at Pengree's. I am so glad to be able enjoy a delicious meal with this lovely lady and lend her an ear and shoulder. Of course she had a salad plate while I had my usual of country fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans. Half of the meat 'n potatoes came home with me, but I snarfed up my beans. Those are on my list, along with real mashed potatoes, to be served at my funeral meal!

From lunch I came home to work at my desk, the piles of papers getting taller every day. I must stay away from that mail box and that's all there is to it! Besides the mail stacks, I have notes taken at the building committee meeting, the Ladies' Group binder and notes for typing the Minutes, plus the paperwork from the LWMS Convention. The latter stuff is needed for the church newsletter. I am unlike my mom in that regard---not fond of getting the mail unless I am expecting a check!

                             

Tonight for dinner Justin and I were joining Michael and Judy for dinner at Sonny's where our young member recently starting working. We were under the impression Caitlyn was going to be there tonight but sadly, she was not. I am so not sorry we went there, though, as I ate every bit of my beef brisket. Judy is going up to Charleston to visit her daughter and family, taking them two bottles of the spicy sweet sauce from Sonny's. I cannot wait to go back again to have more brisket! 

Justin had to work late, making up for Tuesday off and a sick mower, so was not able to make it. I brought home some pulled pork for him, and corn nuggets! He was so happy. Michael was feeling a bit under the weather, having tonight as the only one this week he has not spent at church for meetings. I suggested strongly he get a good night's sleep but he said he had something to type up yet before he went to bed. I asked if it was something I could do to help him and he laughed, saying, "It's for you!" Ha, didn't think of that---he is working on his submission for the newsletter! Okay, yes, he can finish that and THEN go to bed!

This is riveting!

Justin went reluctantly to work this a.m., sure that the heavens would open again and make today a wash-out. At nearly noon, it is yet dry here, but extremely overcast. Yesterday afternoon the rains had let up but they knew the yards would be nothing but standing water or mud, so it didn't pay to go out and dig up people's yards with their equipment. I hope today is better working conditions for them.

I am watching the ongoing speech/filibuster by Senator Ted Cruz before the Senate, having gone on since 2:41 pm yesterday. I did go to sleep but woke up when the station went off the air during the night. I don't know what that's all about with Comcast, but I had a tough time finding a station that was not off the air. This normally happens in my room, not in the family room. Is it my receiver box or a connection outside, I wonder...

...and it's over. The Senate leader has taken the podium from Ted, and now more discussion and conversation will take place before the vote. Reid said Ted just wasted a bunch of time--by listening to the voice of the people these bills will affect? That speaks volumes about those elected folks so wildly out of touch with the citizens. May the Lord guide their deliberations and decisions today.

Yvonne and me reconnecting after decades of not seeing each other. Photo taken at First German right outside Linda's office door, by my cousin, Sandy. We were communicating for months via Facebook, but were able to touch each other after she moved back to Manty and I came up for my Christmas visit (note the red coat!)

My family experienced the sudden loss of my oldest cousin over the weekend. My friend/cousin, Yvonne, let me know late Saturday morning that her father-in-law did not wake up that morning. At least, Ronnie did not wake up in his bed, but rather, in heaven. Only the night before his wife and he dropped off a bucket of plums at the pastor's house and some at his mother's house, before going to dinner. He got up to use the bathroom around midnight, and then, woke up in heaven. 

While this is very hard on the survivors, especially his 92-year-old mother, I can't think of a better way to go. His wake is tonight, and his service tomorrow, at First German. I wish I was there to throw my arms around my auntie and my mom as they mourn this loss. And, of course, to offer comfort to his widow, Sandy. Ronnie was such a character and easy to be around---he will be missed by so many.

                                      

This morning I was awake quite early, due in part to that goofy TV going in and out, so I watched a Compline service from MLC, recorded on Monday evening. Oh my...It really sets the tone for the day, besides the 'filibuster', as I consider my family and their dealing with this funeral and its build-up. Through my head goes the refrain again and again: "Into thy hands I commend my spirit...."