March 4th - 10th, 2024

Monday: I did feel accomplished today, most days I don’t get things crossed off my to-do list. I worked this morning as usual, and then took Ford to his Parkinson exercises at the Catholic Church. While he was there, I went to Walmart, picked up his prescription and a few groceries, then drove back to his parking lot and listened in on my work 10 AM meeting. After Ford got out of his exercises, we went to the VyStar bank and had Alyzabeth's VyStar Visa card opened for Germany, Greece and Italy for her spring trip. We then went to Sweet Sensations in Green Cove Springs for our lunch and enjoyed our half sandwich of Outlaw chicken salad. We always take half home so Alyzabeth can have it for an afterschool snack or we eat it the next day. I can’t believe that we used to eat a whole sandwich each a few years ago. There is no way we can do that now and we feel very full after half a sandwich.  Back home, we did the usual with Ginger, gave her a good walk, where she pees and poops every day. Once Alyzabeth was home from school, we visited a while and talked about her schedule for the week. We decided to go to Larry’s to pick up a few things that I still needed to add to a box that I am mailing to his sister Laurel in Massachusetts.  After leaving Larry‘s house we stopped at the River House. It was a beautiful day even though with the breeze it felt at a cool 50°. We enjoyed wine and actually saw Paul C. who was there. 

We had not seen Paul in a long time, and he spoke to Ford alone about his medical challenges which includes his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s; he still has his usual bladder and kidney problems. He told Ford that he did not want to be a burden to his wife, Chris, who is a couple years younger than me. He decided to stop his treatments for his bladder and kidney issues because he did not want to live with Alzheimer's, he would rather die from his other medical conditions, so as to not burden his wife. He does look sicker than the last time we saw him but he is very upbeat and always talks about we are his heroes, and we say he is a wonderful person and hero for us. FOr dinner, we defrosted the honey-baked turkey, it was a Christmas gift from Bill and Joan and the scallop potatoes casserole. I cooked some fresh green beans for the side dish. We watched the PBS show, World On Fire which we had seen that episode, and it is not a great show to watch while we are eating dinner. I took my shower and Alyzabeth continued studying and we finished the evening fairly quiet and normal. 
Tuesday: I worked, then picked up the house, my routine on days that Donna comes to clean the house. I stripped the beds and did a few loads of wash. Out the door a little after 9:00 a.m. for Ford's PT on Kingsley. I dropped him off and bought a Starbucks coffee (I didn't even get a chance to finish my first cup at home); while talking to Terri on the phone, catching up on her news. She is getting Autumn and Anthony on their half day, baking muffins and going to visit Jamie and kids (Jamie's birthday today). 

I walked Ginger, talked with Donna, then back to Larry's to take out the trash. Then back to our house, cut up some cheese for our RH happy hour. We enjoyed two hours of chatting. I gave Kathy another MardiGras medallion/doubloon - very unusual - an invitation to a 1978 party. 

Found more money from Ree:

Dinner was leftover chili, still very good.

AA's Mastercard arrived and we activated it. Now to call and have it "opened" for her Europe trip. Ford's tomato plant - still producing cherry tomatoes all winter long - this week had seven ripe ones.

Wednesday: AA's green Subaru was cleaned in our driveway by Willie Stewart. The paint on the back hatch somehow is worse (failing) so that area did not improve with cleaning. The interior looks new.

Went to Larry's house to make sure all the trash was picked up - it was (except one box - my error putting it out - had chemicals/paints in it)! 

I went through some letters, then mailed a box to Terri (Charlotte/family wood handled kitchen utensils) and to Laurel - letters and personal items of Larry's. 

I met with the Blunk's (Jeff and Teresa) and they now have the contract and will hopefully review and sign within a day.

Dinner was alfredo sauce with sautéed veggies and salad.

I sent Laurel an email telling her about the box, this was her reply:

Thanks so much for your letter. We will be looking out for it. Thank you Thank you Thank you for all the work the three of you have put into this.  We worked on Gramma and Grandpa's, house, Aunt Jeane's and mom and dad's and our friend Marion's house and we know how much work there is to it So we hope you can find useful things that you can use. I imagine there are many things still in the house that you can use and of course the $ from the house. I hope you get alot for it. YOU DESERVE IT!!

Butters is doing fine still purring away. She had no desire to go outside but is starting to explore the porch. We have so many items on the porch she is having trouble walking around much. We still have many of Marions things around and most ended on the porch. Well God bless you guys and we will write when we get the package. (oh those 2 tee shirts that Larry had fit me just right. It might be morbid but I love to wear them). It makes me think of him. He was a 1 in a million brother.  Talk to you later. Love Bob and Laurel

Thursday: Still usual morning, AA off to school - last day before spring break! I drove Ford to his Parkinson exercises, I chatted with Mom and walked a little. A quick stop at Publix then leftovers for lunch back home, started laundry. I worked some more after taking Ginger for her walk. AA came home with a runny nose, hoping just allergies, really bad pollen index right now. I washed/rinsed the pollen off her green car, getting it ready for her this weekend and found a crack on the windshield - so the earliest I could get a mobile unit to replace it, was Monday - so no driving it this weekend!

I made my "corny" cornbread muffins to go along with our leftover chili (third dinner eating it - the rest will be frozen).

Friday: No school. Made a double batch of sausage balls to take to the Parkinson BINGO fundraiser tomorrow while Ford went to PT. 

We drove to Ground Zero, 5800 France Street (off I-10/Lane Ave), the motorcycle shop that will restore/repair Larry's Yamaha 650 motorcycle - disliked their sign to their office "F....." Office. We now call it the Fluffy Office. The men were very nice, we retold the story of why their tow guy couldn't deliver the bike to them (rear drum brake wouldn't release), so they will schedule another truck and dispatch two mechanics to pick it up the week after our spring break.

We then drove directly to Hawkers for lunch. Delish food - AA's and Ford's were especially spicy today - they loved it (too hot for me). 

We drove home, took a break (AA still has runny nose - took a Clairton), I walked Ginger. AA needed to use her new LL Bean Mastercard for the first time, so off to Maggie's Ice Cream shop for a sweet treat. AA had her usual mint chocolate chip, Ford had three scoops!! Butterscotch swirl, Special Praline and Butter Pecan. I had a scoop of mint chocolate chip and one scoop of double chocolate fudge with hot fudge sauce - all YUM! 

Got word that the Blunk's signed the contract - will take to the Lawyers office on Monday. The house is sold!

AA tried to get Hugh's VR goggles to work, unsuccessful. AA did her packing for her Athens/Rome trip. Itinerary:

Quiet night watched a couple of movies, switching between Moana and Pirates of the Caribbean (just found out Rolling Stones Keith Richards played Captain Sparrow's dad in two movies and Paul McCartney had a cameo part). Quiet night!

Saturday: Saturday morning, we tried to sleep in, but we’re unsuccessful. We both got up a little after 5 AM. I worked on my APTIM emails for a bit then made the bread dip (Charlotte’s recipe that needed the Beau Monde spice to make it). I use Terri’s dried onions and chopped them for the cup and a quarter needed, plus fresh parsley (home grown), dried parsley and dillweed. I hope they all like it at our River House happy hour. 

I went to Publix to get the food for our bruschetta dinner tonight and looked for the round pumpernickel bread loaves. Publix didn’t have any and said they weren’t planning on baking any today.  I came home and prepared the bruschetta by slicing up the tomatoes slicing the bread and chopping the garlic. Ford and I drove to the Parkinson’s fundraiser bingo at the Highpoint church (Knight Boxx Rd). We brought sausage balls as one of the snacks for the bingo attendees. There was also Chex mix, popcorn and cheese and crackers, grapes, coffee, water, and Nancy brought her strawberry shortcake, which was the kind that you poked holes in and poured strawberry Jell-O over the cake with Cool Whip. It was very good. Ford and I along with Nancy and her two guest Deborah and Cheryl thought we all had unlucky bingo cards. Eventually though Ford won a gift certificate, five dollars then a $10 one and also a four pack of very inexpensive mini bottles of red wine. When we left, we gave our bingo cards to the three of them and Nancy won on Ford's bingo card: a basket with two bottles of wine which she brought to us at the house. Of course, we insisted she should keep it, but she let us know it was our winning card and wanted us to have it.

Once home, we had a very eclectic lunch with Ford eating a piece of reheated pizza. Alyzabeth had popcorn and some bread and tomatoes. I had her leftover lunch soup. After a nice rest, we got ready to go to the River House for our happy hour with our dip and pumpernickel bread.

I have walked Ginger yesterday and today, but had to cut most of our time outside short as there is a college golf tournament going on called the high the Sacred heart University spring invitational that was normally played near Daytona Beach, but got moved to Eagle Harbor. Not sure why possibly because it is Motorcycle week at Daytona right now. 

River House Happy Hour, stopped at Kathy's condo to give her an unopened bottle of vodka from Larry's bar. She "rescued" a nine year old cat named Pippen (and has since taken her back due to the cat's health issues; and was able to find another cat, 8 years old female but not declawed).

We had drinks, Hugh brought shrimp ring, Kathy brought cheese, nice weather but with storm approaching. Karrie joined us. Back home, made bruschetta for dinner. 

Sunday: Sprung forward! Church was fine, message leading up to Easter, today was about "Good Friday" and continued theme of unanswered prayers (God is always with us, but prayers can't go against His creation - order of things (such as prayer for no rain on a wedding day), His will or His world (there is evil in our world).

AA reviewed her packed items, toiletries, her passport, money, etc.....checking the list. Only need to add toiletries, her phone charging cords and her eye contacts containers in the morning. 

We went to Woodpeckers for lunch - always the best BBQ. 

Back home, we did chores and got ready to watch the Oscars. We were disappointed that the Barbie movie was not nominated for a few of the big awards and did not win any for acting. I don't know if the voting members really understood the message, it was worthy of more awards. Oppenheimer won for best movie.

Got message that flight was cancelled between Chicago and Frankfort! What a night waiting for the new flights - all good, we won't be going to the airport as early, no need to muster at 1:00 p.m.