Father's Day

Here I am, back in the house after the thunder came and shooed us out of the pool. Big fat rain drops were hitting the pool water, sending people celebrating Father's Day there scattering for shelter. Nuts!  The Club is busy today, not as busy though as Mother's Day. I feel rather badly about that.

Justin and I went to lunch with our usual group, no one having plans with a dad. Mike's lives in MN so doesn't see him often. We went to Chili's and didn't have to worry about not getting a table, since church gets out a half hour earlier during the summer worship times. While we were there the clouds started to roll in, but I figured there would be enough time to get changed and out to the pool. And there was!

About Father's Day---last month for Mother's Day, we had an abbreviated Bible study and then a special breakfast was served to the moms and others by the new fellowship people. We had a piece of paper on the tables to write something about our mothers and something about being a mother, as it applied. Then we were to share what we wrote with those at the table, before we could go and get our food. Pastor was in charge of this event. When some ladies were resistant he did allow them to get some food without sharing. It was a bit uncomfortable, for some. 

The moms, then, were presented a rose by their children, if they were there, and then the other moms got theirs. Terri nicely took care of the ladies at our table, since we had no kids present to wait on us. And then we had to get into church for worship, carrying our roses with us. Years ago we got carnations from someone, might have been the pastor, but that was after church. The sermon was about mothers and all that, hymns about the family which are so good. And when it's Father's Day, it is no muss, no fuss. We did have a hymn about the Christian family but no flowers or special breakfast for the dads. Sorry, guys!

Shockingly good time

Oh, what an awesome day it was today!!  Almost all the afternoon was spent at the pool with friends. Mark and Jacquie were there, Mo and Ro, plus others coming and going during the day. Even Burney came out later on which meant that he and I would be having an ice cream treat, because that is what we do!

It was the official re-opening of the cabana so Chef Sheldon was around with his camera, capturing the moments. A new sous chef, Charles, was doing on-the-job training for Bob, teaching him the fine art of flipping burgers. There were several helpers in the newly renovated 'kitchen' of the cabana to make sure people got what they ordered and in a timely manner. 

There was a bit of excitement besides the cabana being re-opened. At one point, Mark reached over to the drain along the edge of the pool, while standing in the water, and jerked his hand back quickly. I noticed he did this, figuring there was a stinging bug or something in the drain. He put his hand back again, and withdrew it quickly. There was a slight current in the water flowing along the lip of the pool, and we know this because each of us in our little group had to go and try it. Yup, there it was---we all felt it. Chef was gone already so we got a guy from the cabana come out to put his hand in but he felt nothing. Hmmm...

It wasn't all the time either, the current came and went. We wisely (ha ha) moved across the pool to the other side because certainly water does not conduct electricity. It came and went, and we all speculated on what was going on. Later in the afternoon when most of the others had gone, my neighbor, Dick, came down for a swim. I told him our story and he was interested in what I was telling him, but perhaps not convinced. He put his hand on the rail to walk down in to the water and sure enough---he could feel it, too. As did my friend, Bob, who at first thought we were loony. It seems one had to be in the water or barefooted to detect the current, as the guy from the cabana determined. 

Later as I sat poolside with Mark S. and his wife, Patty, I noticed that the exterior lights on the cabana were going off and on. I experimented and found that the feeling of current in the water was evident only when the lights were on, on the south side of the pool. Marlena said the lights were on a sensor, meant to come on only at night, but there was tape over it. When I explained my discovery to her, Bob and she went to the circuit box to shut off the switch for the lights. They thought they had the right circuit but the lights kept coming on. Either they did it wrong or....gulp!  The maintenance man was on vacation so would not be available to consult until the next week. I offered to make myself available to him if there were questions. We shall see if there are any calls for my consultation on this matter. Never a dull moment at the pool!

Here is a video put together by Chef Sheldon for the Facebook page, starring yours truly! Copy and paste the link into your browser to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEuUXYxy3yk&feature=em-share_video_user

It's all about the timing

I have been thinking about timing, time, a lot lately. One Sunday as I drove to church I hit every green light. Like in baseball when a pitcher is in a no-hitter situation, I didn't want to think about it. I simply appreciated the breeze with which I drove to church. On the ride to the restaurant later, it was not to be the case. Had to stop for every light, it seemed. Funny how that works. My friend, Mo, was telling a story at the pool yesterday and noted how a recent ride had given her all green lights. It is noteworthy when it happens.

One of my Victory friends noted her recent brush with danger or accident. A couple vehicles in front of her were pulling trailers. When one moved over to change lanes, its trailer detached and struck the other truck. How does that happen? And why on the freeway? She saw it happening and was able to avoid the accident. Fortuately no one was hurt but the vehicles and trailer were damaged. She wrote, "If I had been going any faster....", and you know the rest. Whew! I feel so badly for the commuters who face that traffic day upon day. My nerves don't care for that one bit.

The other day Nancy came out to meet me at the pool. She no sooner got into the water and it began to thunder. Nuts!  Even if no storm materializes, we still have to sit out until there is no thunder for 30 minutes. The thunder kept on so we parted company to try another time. If only we'd gone out earlier....

Watching the traffic flow is interesting, too. The cars are in a dance of sorts, passing within inches of each other, seemingly held apart by paint on the pavement. The lights change and another line of cars proceed. On Sunday mornings, more than once I've experienced having to sit through the red light twice before leaving Blanding for Argyle Forest Blvd. The first time it happened I thought the lights must be messed up. After about four minutes, we at last got the arrow to turn. I was thinking we should go around on the red since no cars were coming. The second Sunday it happened made me think the lights must be timed this way for whatever reason. During the week it is set to cycle the usual way, but at this time of morning on Sunday, apparently we heading up the hill into Argyle can wait. We've got time!

Birthday's galore!

What an action packed day today!  It started out with a ride over to Victory for Bible study. Of course, it was a great class, missing Dawn this week though I don't know how come. Often she'll tell me if she is going to be missing but she didn't say anything last week when we parted company. She brings much to the class, it is noticeable when she is absent.

Today I couldn't stick around after Bible study as I had to get back to help celebrate our friend, Randy's, birthday at the pool. He is 80 this year, and has been in the water exercise class since it began, except for last year as he was recovering from some injuries due to a fall in his home. His wife, Carol, treated us to cake, a giant sheet cake, which was quite delicious. Others were ordering food from the dining room of The Club but we had our cake first, since the food wouldn't come out until later. Life is short (or 80 years!) so eat dessert first!

Here is Randy in 2013 at our end-of-season outing, wearing the fancy hat the Tea Room provides. Marlena is helping him get it balanced on his head.

It was a gorgeous day at the pool, and I was glad to have changed into my suit before coming out so I could get into the water to cool off. It was about 100 degrees today for the high (my poor Justin!) which made the pool water all the more inviting. Nancy W came over to help Randy celebrate, though Carol and he, plus some other friends, stayed in the cabana where it was cooler. Nancy and I split a Po' Boy sandwich which was messy but good. We are also saying 'good-bye' to our friend, Susie, who is having a home built in a neighboring county and won't be with us at class much longer. Boo hoo hoo!

Then, tonight, out of my swimwear and into other clothes for me as I joined some friends for yet another birthday celebration at The Club. It was Maggie O's party but she asked me to make the arrangements for it. One friend who joined us, Josh, is a vegetarian (another salad eater!!!) so I had to let The Club know to prepare something else for his meal, while the rest enjoyed steaks. Yum!  

Maggie is blowing out the candles on her banana split dessert

When some of us first arrived at The Club, we were seated at the largest table in the room. Our number decreased from when the reservation was made, losing two people from the original plans. A larger group came in that needed a high chair and a booster plus seats for the adults. I offered to switch tables so they could have the larger one and we did just that. Our group of five fit perfectly at the new table nearer to the door (the cat bird seat!). Ellen was unable to eat all her steak so sent it home with me, about 3/4 of hers and half of mine, which will make a wonderful meal for Justin and me. Maggie enjoyed her special dessert, a banana split. I tried some at Maggie's urging, but stayed away from the banana, though!

We are the champions!

I just came home from Happy Hour and Trivia where the team I sat with took 1st Place. Wow, I sure can pick 'em! Actually, I was with my neighbors, Palmer and Joe, who invited me to join their team. Nancy W. was with the team from her neighborhood at the next table. Good thing it's a friendly game! We had about 8 people on our team and we all seemed to have something to add. It was so much fun. 

My building doesn't have a team anymore. Someone got upset about something so a whole group of players quit coming. Justin, who is our ringer, doesn't come to Happy Hour anymore, especially not in the summer time, and I can't carry the team by myself. Nancy L. used to come to play and we'd sit in on other's teams but the way they played was so ponderous, I couldn't take it. She is presently away for a month so I joined Joe and Palmer. 

My dinner was a delicious shaved beef sandwich with home-made chips from the HH tapas menu. It is just the right size, but I still took part home to share with Justin. He had eaten already so he can have it for breakfast or later for dinner. Ming Moon found their way to our house while I was at Trivia so he enjoyed some lo mein. He just loves their food, as do I, but not as much as I liked winning at Trivia! 

A little elbow room

This morning for exercise class, our group had to assemble in the teen's end of the pool as the maintenance man, Mitch, was applying non-skid strips to the slippery steps on the other end's adult pool. Good! That will help to prevent people from slipping and sliding into the water, or falling on the way back out again. We watched out for each other, always cautioning as folks came to the railing to come in. After today, we can come and go with less concern. 

We had about 15 of us in the narrower pool, trying not to hit each other or clunk one another with our noodles! For this shot, some kept on exercising while the rest posed for my photo.

I have mentioned how we have new participants in the class and they are such fun ladies. A couple of them have kids at Grace Episcopal or they work there themselves. Whatever the connection is, it brings them together here at the pool. One lady used to live next door to my friend, Dee, and knows her from church as well. I usually try to talk people into visiting Great Hang Ups, as though I get a commission or something from them! I just think everyone needs to visit this shop and that's it!

The good news is that Marlena has assured Chef that our class size allows for adding the extra day to the schedule so now we'll have class three days a week again. That means twice for me since I have Bible study on Thursdays and have to miss. Marlena asked me to send Chef the photo I took this a.m. so I did, proof positive that we have enough people to support another day!  

Now nicely groomed

This morning began with Bible study, continuing a study begun in May of last year which looks at the women in Jesus' life, using the book of Luke. We have only one more class before we break for summer, and I am not sure we'll finish "The Heart of Jesus" before we recess. After the class we ladies went to eat at our stand-by, Longhorn, for lunch. I am so going to miss the class and these get-togethers each week. 

My grooming schedule is way out of whack ever since I went to WI. I waited until just before I left for my trip to be sure my hair would be decent for the wedding and the length of my time away. Normally it gets cut around the time of the full moon, to fly in the face of superstition surrounding hair cuts and the moon. Now, I am beyond shaggy and badly needed to see Barb. But, she had to take a vacation too so I had to wait for her to get back to make an appointment. At last, we got together and I am neatly groomed and ready for the pool season to begin in earnest!

After Bible study and lunch, I went to see Barb for my grooming and then stopped at Publix to pick up a few things. I am always concerned about being seen in public (or Publix!!) after being at the groomer because of the little whiskers which often remain on my face and in my ears afterward. Barb brushes me off and wipes with a towel but still some whiskers remain. No one screamed when they saw me so it must have been all cleaned off. I did check in the mirror and looked half-way decent. 

Nancy and I went to have dinner this evening at 4Rivers where I thoroughly enjoyed my brisket. I brought home my side dishes and a biscuit for Justin. Nancy likes the pulled pork there and does a better job on her meal than do I but also has leftovers to enjoy tomorrow. I just love the brisket at 4Rivers and will have my side dishes at some point during the week. Surely Justin will have his biscuit tonight or for breakfast tomorrow. 4Rivers has the best biscuits!