January 02, 2024 - January 7th

Monday: New Year's Day!
Tuesday: Donna came and cleaned. We went to the bank and to Metro Diner for "brunch" with AA. Hugh and Maureen had colds so met with Kathy at the River House, cold weather kept us inside. AA began watching the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy - she finished all by Saturday evening. Lots of violence and ugly evil creatures - overall not quite as good as the Harry Potter movies.

Wednesday: Worked, cooked up a pound of bacon, then made sloppy joe in the crock pot. 

Began packing up Christmas decorations. AA helped taking off ornaments, and while she was at EHGC with Penny, I took off the lights and got the Christmas tree outside. We went to Talons, sat on the deck (64 degrees out!) and enjoyed a drink and chatting with Penny.

Thursday: Took Ford to his Parkinson exercises, AA and I walked the Black Creek Trail. I had a hair coloring done by Steve at 11:00 a.m. Lunch was leftover chicken panini grilled sandwiches.

AA met up with Siyan, twins, James and Joseph Fryman at the Spring Park Coffee shop from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Our usual blackened salmon (every other Thursday dinner).

Friday: Ford went to his back pain, Dr. Gill; got more shots in his back, this time his muscles only (shallow shots). 

AA golfed with Stephanie at 1:00 p.m. for an hour, chipping.

AA and I went to the Movie Boys in the Boat, we filled up on soda and popcorn (as usual). It was a great "feel good movie" but since I had not read the book, the movie seemed a bit disjoined so maybe a "7" overall.

At night, we went through all our gifts from Maine and St. Augustine, enjoying each one, putting them in their place, now to write some thank-you's. I couldn't sleep so watched "Miss Potter" with Renee Zellweger - not too bad of a movie, sweet.
Saturday: We went to Parlor Donuts (Pastries) for breakfast, had three different ones: Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies and Cream and Raspberry with Pistachios. We tried the breakfast items, Spinach, egg sandwich and Ford had the sausage biscuit. All was good, but not really anything was a favorite. Maybe try something different if there is a next time. We ran into David Bailey, there with a few of his exercise buddies.

We went home and got the ingredients in the crock pot for the spaghetti sauce (sans onion and garlic). 

We waited for AA to come back from FIGC - signing a poster for Coach Nedrich. We planned a "finale" lunch before AA goes back to school so decided to try the new Mexican restaurant Mr. Gordo's. It was barely passable - the chips and salsa were very good, AA's nachos were good but no spice. Our lunch specials were not special. 

River House Happy Hour!

Sunday: I went to church, was nice hearing from Rev. Brian Carr give the sermon on generosity and the Children's Home. I introduced myself to him and gave our condolences about Elisabeth Gadd's husband. AA and I drove to visit Carolyn, nice sunny day, had a good visit, she seemed well, always tired after her long work week (one day weekend). AA put gas in the Subaru - AA now will drive herself to school. 

Ford's back is still bothering him (although his hip seems better), we drove to Larry's home, picked up the mail and explored a little more. And the Jaguar game - what a huge disappointment - loss against Titans and no playoffs now. We went to Maggie D's for a last school vacation treat - mint chocolate chip for AA and me! Ford had plain vanilla.

We had leftovers for dinner, snuggles in bed while AA read to me her children's books that are in Spanish. We watched the new episodes of Miss Scarlet and the Duke plus All Creatures Great and Small.

And this with our daily barrage of unethical, evil, selfish news about Trump and this! Sad that we have so many Americans that think Trump is good for America.

"Justice Clarence Thomas has reportedly committed numerous ethical lapses over his years on the high court. He’s heard cases involving his wife, Ginni Thomas, and her political work; he’s taken lavish gifts from a billionaire benefactor with business before the court; he’s neglected to list those gifts on documents meant to provide much needed transparency to the judicial process. But there’s no question that refusing to recuse himself from any decision regarding the Colorado case would be the greatest betrayal of his oath to “faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent” upon him as a justice of the Supreme Court."