The heat is on!

Or, rather, the A/C is on. All of a sudden I went from using my little space heater to using my ceiling fan. It was almost overnight, or so it seems. At the beginning of the month Justin resumed working full-time grooming people's yards and finds the heat already oppressive. His co-worker, Ray, had a bad cold last week which made it that much harder to work. Wednesday night Justin came in from work, too exhausted and sore to go to church. I excused him once I got a look at him, filthy from head to toe, clearly worn out. The temperature reached the mid-80's which took the wind from their sails. Our friend, Mike, who also does landscape work, is loving the return of the heat. 

A while back I mentioned to Justin about needing some help getting my closet switched over---winter clothes swapped with the summer clothes. It's hard for me to reach up and down like that without using the stool. He is opposed to me making use of that stool so he said he'd help me. I guess it's too late now. What does need to happen is have some weeding done in there, remove what hasn't seen the light of day. That job would be done with great reluctance because I have a tough time parting with most of my garments for sentimental reasons. Or I have the hope of wearing them again some day. And what to do with them once I decide to have them leave the closet...to a good home, I hope.

Right now my doors are open to the front and back, and the ceiling fans running to move the air around. It's cooler outside than in right now, but that is expected to change as the day progresses. When that happens, I will close the doors and let the A/C take over. It is warm in my room because of the sun shining on me but once the sun moves around the building, it might cool some. My friend, Nancy W., gave me a gift of an air purifier which should help me with the dust problem. So would keeping the doors closed, right? 

But I love Chili's!

We had a bad time of it today at Chili's, only four of us this time. Judy C. is in CO with her daughter's family for their spring break, and Terri had other plans. Betty had to stay after to clean up following the Lord's Supper. I was in the company of three handsome young men, and yes, I can stand it. 

Normally we are seated in one certain area with our choice, basically, of servers. Often the ladies ask to take care of us, knowing our orders by heart already. Today we sat on the other side (as if you can see that...!) and recognized no one. None of the wait staff nor the managers looked familiar, as if we were at an entirely different store. Hmmm....what's going on here?

We placed our orders with the young man and he entered them into the machine near our table. After a certain point a manager came to our table and asked if we had a question about the menu. We told him we were good, no thanks, and he stepped away. That was odd...but we figured he had the wrong table. Nope, he did not, we just didn't know there was a question. The waiter came to tell us that we could not order from the lunch menu any longer, the new General Manager was going to be a stickler for the rules. Those who had ordered from that menu had to choose differently, from the regular menu. Nuts!

That was going to be problem as some people preferred the lesser expensive items from the lunch menu or the choices there. As we ate, we discussed other options in the area for us to gather on Sundays. Pricing is always a consideration for our group so that somewhat narrows our selection of dining opportunities, as does space, as we need room to seat all us when our number swells. We shall have to see what the others care to do. 

Also, the place we go to must be able to seat us almost immediately which leaves out places like The Olive Garden or LongHorn which are closer to church. On occasion we have been known to dine at St. Johns Seafood but we have to time our arrival just right to allow us room to all sit together in their cozy dining room. 

We don't mean to be difficult, really, we don't. We've been dining at Chili's for several years now and would really dislike changing our place of choice. When the group is all together again, we will have to discuss the situation. Justin completed the survey on the table top kiosk when he paid our bill, spelling out our concerns. Mike S. thinks doing it such is the coward's way. He prefers face-to-face expression of dismay. I do not, and I wear my cowardice bravely!

A busy weekend

Last night Nancy W. and I joined our friend, Maureen, for dinner, to help her kick off spring break. Maureen (Mo) is a teacher in our County. We've been waiting a long time to get together and at last, we made it to Santioni's, on the Island. Mo was our driver. It was nice for us to get out, especially for her since she normally has a brood of kids around her, and not only in the classroom. Her husband, Ro, and she are parents to 8 children, only a few at home right now, plus an exchange student. They absolutely LOVE kids, those two!

Let me back up a little bit---I had also made plans to get together for dinner with Brenda on Friday. I was going to pick her up from work and we'd go to a nicer place than our quick lunch choice of Steak 'n Shake. All of a sudden I remembered that I had already made these other plans with Nancy and Mo. I felt just terrible about this. We communicated and she was just fine with the plan change, she said. Later, as I drove to the groomers, she called to report that she had also double booked, forgetting she had made an appointment at the hair salon for Friday night. Whew!, I felt so much better that it all was working out after all.

We three ladies had a wonderful meal complete with being serenaded by the Italian proprietor. While we ate, there was a keyboardist playing music in the background but when the owner came out to sing, it was no longer background. Such pipes he had! If we had not enjoyed a glass of sangria and dessert, we could have gotten out of there for less than $20 with each carrying a to-go box with us. A good deal, that's for sure.

Saturday was a full one as well, starting with a Mexican dinner at church, a fund raiser, prepared by Chefs Mike 'n Mike. Sadly, the turnout was dismal, and I felt so badly for all the effort they put into it. Normally we have a good showing for such special meals but tonight's was only 9 people including a child. The pastor's wife had her little niece with them, and the rest were adults. The guys had help in the kitchen provided by two young ladies, newer to the congregation. Their dad is stationed at Kings' Bay and he has been a member here for a year or so. His family would come and visit several times a year, living in New Ulm, and we got to know them. They recently moved down here to all live together, with the girls doing their education via the Internet. Nicer girls I've never met. Their mom wasn't with them tonight as she was back in MN helping her sister after surgery. 

The dinner was held early due to the fact that there was a concert being presented at Victory tonight by WI Lutheran College. Since it started at 7 pm, it was hoped folks would come early to eat and then carpool or caravan to Victory for the concert. Nope, it was only me who left from church, with the pastor and his family leaving from home, picking up his son who is home from Luther Prep on break. He did not join us for dinner. 

The ride over to Victory was nice, more quiet on a Saturday evening than on a work day. And it was hot out! Certainly the choir members enjoyed the beautiful weather, having sung last night at Christ the King, an hour south of us. My guess was right---a day at the beach! Some of the girls showed red shoulders and I hope they don't suffer on their long bus ride back to WI tomorrow. 

Another family from GS came to the concert, and I got to see my friend, Robbie, again. We had a representation of 11 people from GS attending the concert. I got to talk with 2 guys before the concert, prior to them getting their green velvet (warm!) choir robes on. I asked one of the guys if he was originally from WI or if he just went to school there and he said he was from AZ. No stranger to heat he. The other young man said he was from WI, and I asked where. Get this---he is from a small town named Manitowoc! He went to my alma mater and his family actually goes to the same church where my nephews attend school. This young man, Josh, even had for his teacher the same man teaching my nephew now! Love when this happens.

Overall it was a good concert, especially the sacred offerings. The less than sacred stuff was well done, but not my favorite choices. After the concert there was a cookie social and I had a chance to chat with the director. I told him how I remembered his directing the orchestra and choir at the Worship Conference last summer, in conjunction with a female conductor. He asked me if I was a musician (No) or was in a choir (No), and I explained I came to be filled up. I didn't tell him that I likely wouldn't be attending any more of the Conferences in the future though. Will just enjoy the concerts when they come to us!

Cultured and artistic you say?

A week or so ago at lunch with the church buddies, Michael was telling me how so far we have three kids coming from CO this summer, two boys and one girl. One girl, Noelle, was here last summer and will be joined by the brother of Jacob, who came two years in a row. I am not sure who the 3rd one is yet. I remarked that Noelle will once again have to sleep in the living room on the air bed and Michael assured me she was fine with that.

After we were home a bit, Justin came to my room and said, "It's possible that my room will be available for kids to sleep in...." What? What? Apparently Jesse's live-in is moving out and Justin is hoping to move in with Jesse. Not all the details have been worked out with Jesse and his step-dad, who owns the house, but Justin is once again psyched about moving out, and in, once more with Jesse. Those two have lived together almost since Justin started at UNF. He's always lived with St. Johns kids even at The District until Michael G. transferred to another college. 

I would be glad for Justin to be able to live with Jesse, basically on his own again, but sad that he is leaving me. The line from "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" is often used by Justin and me---"Why you want to leeaavve me?" But I know why, and do understand. Somehow I will manage, as I have in the past. Certainly I wouldn't mind having my rooms back again, and clean. I am all about the clean! When I told my friend, Nancy W., this bit of news, she was sad for me, and for herself. She said, "Oh, you're going to miss him....I'M going to miss him!" He is most popular around here. 

Justin has been busy in his room---purging, sorting, re-organizing, putting stuff in bins, and getting rid of stuff. I will not stand in the way of that! He took three bags of discarded clothes to the collection bin, which is a great start. (I should do the same even though I am not planning on going anywhere.) He has attachment to the boxes and containers some of his electronics came in or his collectibles, and he is prepared to part with them. Not being sure of how much room he'll have at Jesse's makes it easier to decide. 

We are having a used book sale at church after Easter and Justin has gone through his collection, bringing them to my room to either read or pass along. One such book is an autographed copy of Andrew Breitbart's last book, which I got signed for Justin when Judy C. and I were at a tea party event downtown, with my dentist/friend, Peggy. Justin does not want that book to leave our custody but also doesn't want to take it with him. Justin and I were together when we heard Andrew had died in 2012, one of those "I know where I was when I heard..." moments. 

Justin was taking inventory of his electronics, counting the number of computing devices in his room. Yes, more than two and less than 10, in various stages of operation. On a whim, he opened up the big blue gas-powered Alienware which used to be in my room. Justin brought me something he found inside the housing of the computer. It was a fortune from a cookie, and he was sure it was mine, based upon the message. "You will attract cultured and artistic people to your home". I just love that guy, and, yes, my fortune has come true!

Nothing but trouble

I am home and settled in after another marvelous Bible study at Victory this a.m. Our number varies from week to week, and I realized something rather interesting about this gathering---six of the regulars are married couples! The rest of us come as singles (no spouse along) but I just found that to be an interesting tidbit. One of the ladies who comes from St. Augustine gave me a gift recently, the new CD by Bob Dylan. She knows that I was a fan of his and that my brother-in-law plays his music. Dawn had stood in line in the FL cold to get tickets for Dylan's upcoming concert at the amphitheater next month. Now that is a fan! She also made a quilted book using some of Dylan's lyrics, a true work of art. 

This woman is extremely gifted when it comes to quilting. These pages are approximately 12" x 14". On the reverse side of the 'page' are the lyrics upon which the quilted page was made. She don't mess around!

Monday started out in a fog, literally so. The fog was as thick a mushroom soup, as my nephew would say. At first I could barely see the trees in the basin outside my window, and my concern went immediately to those I know who commute to work. I fear for my friends and others who have to battle the traffic under good conditions, and more so under these. Yikes!

Speaking of friends, Monday night was our Ladies' Group meeting at church, the same night the Council and Elders were meeting. Pastor was able to come into our meeting first for devotion and to give his report, and then went to the other building for the men's meeting. Some of the ladies rode to church with their spouses and since the ladies got done ahead of the menfolk, a group of us decided to venture over to LongHorn to wait. And have a nice drink, perhaps?

Judy, Terri, and I got there first and secured a table in the dining room. When Janet and Tina arrived, they wanted to sit in the bar but there wasn't enough room for us all at one table, thankfully. I have a tough time negotiating the high top stools. We'd ordered a couple of appetizers but hardly anyone touched them. Judy sent her leftovers home with me thinking Justin would eat them. I am not a fan of their onion peels. I had the loaded potatoes and afterward the waitress said I should have ordered the half-sized one. That would have been good advice if she'd offered it earlier. We had our adult beverages, except Judy, me drinking only about half of mine. It was strong and I had to drive home! It wasn't too long before the two husbands showed up to help with the appetizers. They weren't much help though!

Besides us there were only a couple tables of people eating. We got there just in time to close 'em up, I guess. Monday nights are slow anyway in the retail and restaurant business. We did our best to help them out. I got a couple meals out of my to-go box with those loaded fries. Next time, only the half order when we trouble makers from Ladies' Group darken their doorway!

I'm sure it wasn't the food...

...but no sooner did my guests leave my home after the luncheon last Friday did I hit my bed. Something came over me, not exhausted from the preparations or hosting the event. No, it was something different. My stomach was stuffed which is expected after this veritable feast we enjoyed, and I just wished to sleep. And I did, after getting one load of dishes into the machine. I went to sleep for a couple of hours, waking in time to chat with Linda when The Five came on. I told Justin that even if someone called to go have dinner, I would refuse, still feeling so very full.

I slept after The Five, getting up only to use the bathroom, all night. Still having the full feeling but not actually being sick, Justin was quite concerned that the food did this. Since no one else contacted me about not feeling well, I was not so quick to blame his food. I did eat far more than I would normally given the courses. AND, I ate more stuff I don't usually eat, such as fruit. We had the strawberry soup, fruit salad, and fruit in the chicken salad. I don't know, grasping at straws here as to what was going on. Eating fruit should not make someone drowsy, I wouldn't think.

Most of Saturday was spent sleeping away, or resting, hardly able to muster the strength to go to the kitchen for soda. I didn't care for the smell of the chicken salad when I opened the fridge. I simply attributed that to not feeling well. Justin loved it and ate it up, no bad effects. I had every intention of taking care of the clean up in the kitchen after the luncheon but had a tough time mustering the ambition to do so. Justin helped put away the dishes and I put the next batch into the machine. All but one serving bowl fit in the dishwasher which was pretty good for that number of pieces. 

Nancy W. had asked me to dinner on Saturday night as she was making spaghetti but I had to decline, even though I was feeling somewhat better by dinner time. Still not up to eating and I didn't want to make a scene or anything at her house. It was best for me to just stay close to home and do more resting. 

By Sunday morning I was back on my feet and able to attend Bible study, worship, and go to lunch, like nothing happened. It was such an odd thing, probably a 24 hour bug of some kind that simply corresponded with the luncheon. I didn't feel bad prior to the ladies coming or when they were here, but less than 30 minutes after the door closed, I hit my bed. Wow, that was weird! Glad I was able to sleep it off and resume normal activities by Sunday. Hate to miss church and time with my friends, you know!

The ladies' luncheon

Justin's desire to prepare a luncheon has been fulfilled! On Friday we together hosted seven of my lady friends, three of whom are named Nancy, where Justin demonstrated his culinary skills. I was able to make use of several of my serving pieces, some used for food the first time! More than just a pretty decoration, this soup tureen held his strawberry soup. What great presentation this was!

This soup tureen was a gift to me from Martie about a decade ago, and this is the first time it's held soup!  It was served with angel food cake croutons and was wonderful 

Justin's glazed fresh fruit salad served in a bowl which was a gift to me from Ellen Schleicher. Justin even had a recipe for water---sprigs of rosemary and sliced cucumbers in the water

Our appetizer was brie bites, presented in phyllo cups. A dab of raspberry jelly on the brie made this dish wonderful. This cake plate was purchased by me at the Cummer Museum. Beside this you can see the kalamata olive salad, served in a dish which was a wedding present

I got many compliments on my dishset and the matching tablecloth. This serving plate holds the pastry cups of Justin's chicken salad which contained dried cranberries, grapes, sliced almonds, and red onions. Oh, my!

Three of my guests: Nancy L, Kay, and Maureen. All of them are my neighbors with the first two listed being in the water exercise class with me. Between Kay and Maureen is a dish of mixed nuts, the bowl a gift from my sister, Lori. The pedestal bowl with chicken salad in it is a Princess House bowl I got when my friend, Jennifer, was selling this product line.

Here is another view of the table: Susie, Justin (caught walking through), Nancy W., Nancy L. and Kay

Maureen getting a glass of tea poured by Nancy M. Missing from the photos is my friend, Pat, who arrived a bit late. The pitcher was a gift to me from Nancy W., who said, "Merry Christmas, Happy birthday, and Happy New Year!"