April Mid-Month Fun! 15th - 21st

Monday: Ford did the usual school routine with getting Alyzabeth, her breakfast, her lunch packed and taking Ginger out for her first outside duty in the morning. Ford continues this morning routine and does the morning dishes before jumping in the shower. I spent my hour on my laptop just going through emails and the blog but didn’t do much with the blog I need to finish last weeks stories. I drove to Larry’s fairly early a little after eight in the morning and picked up a McDonald’s coffee on the way. My goal was to get boxes already for the movers for next Monday the 22nd and just generally get out any more trash put out any more free stuff on the curb and be organized the point where I had very little to do the rest of the week. The rest of the week is busy with Tuesday being for PT and then we’re going to look at a truck  For Justin. Donna comes on Tuesday and we have the River House plus planning dinner. Wednesday Ford has an MRI, which he needs to take pills to be almost knocked out for it. Friday he has his pet scan and CAT scan. I will work in our garage getting it a bit more organized so that the movers will have a place to put the about 40 boxes they are bringing. I am hoping Carolyn now wants the refrigerator in the garage to use while Kayla and Mike are renting at her house so that should be gone hopefully this coming weekend.  I found more pictures of Larry‘s Yamaha 650 to add to the photo album that will be made once the bike is restored. I put many items out on the curb and advertised on the Fleming Island group and one lady came and got everything took absolutely everything.  I did get more things ready to put out and just texted a lady I knew that might be interested and she stopped by with her husband and they took three or four boxes of more knickknacks, odds and ends glassware. They took a rake, street signs and some license plates. I was glad to have it gone and knowing that somebody else is going to use it or recycle it or cycle it.  Ford came over and brought a McDonald’s hamburger and soda and fries for lunch as I didn’t want to stop working. He had already gone to his Parkinson exercises and to Walmart to pick up prescription and some groceries and then came over to Larry‘s house. It’s pretty tiring for him but I’m glad he’s able to do it as he is feeling as good as he can, considering all his symptoms.  I put out many trash bags at Larry’s and then drove home at 4:30. Ford and Alyzabeth prepped for our homemade nachos for dinner by cutting peppers, tomatoes and onions. We had hamburger some black beans, some Rotel cheese, black olives, a good dinner. We watched the PBS show called the secrets of the Secret Service of Britain M16. Very interesting about spies from the 1930s to the 1980s.  We finished celebrating my birthday with cake and ice cream (didn't have yesterday as we had cheesecake for dessert) - plus the three cards that arrived today from my Mom, Mel and TC.

I took a shower and then we watched the Voice. I opened three birthday cards arrived today from Mom, Terri, and Melissa and now I have many thank you notes to write!

Tuesday: Morning routine is different as Donna comes to clean. We pick up clutter, clean off the kitchen counters, put away all our bathroom countertop bottles, strip beds, swifter floors (I know, have to do as we shed so much hair, I feel like a few "swifting" between when she comes is necessary). Ford did his usual morning routine for Alyzabeth including breakfast, making her lunch and taking Ginger out. I spent about an hour getting the house ready for Donna if she comes to clean today. I drove Ford to his physical therapy, but we were over a half hour late due to the Doctors Lake bridge inspection which made Highway 17 into a one lane road during morning rush-hour traffic. I did speak to Mom briefly, walked about 1200 steps; then Ford cut his PT short as we were going to Nimnicht Chevrolet to test drive a white Nissan truck. We decided against that truck as it seemed to have a vibration which the salesman later admitted he thought may be the engine mounts, the truck was OK but too many small things wrong with it. We decided to go to lunch at Time Out deli and Ford found another truck at the Ford AutoNation dealership on Blanding near I295. It was another white Nissan truck,  a 2015 and it looked pretty good. We did find a spot on the hood that seemed to be prepped to be painted but was not painted. The salesman and Manager both tried to tell me the price was not negotiable. I told them that we would pay less and that the truck has been on the lot since February. They essentially said they would keep in touch and let us know if they do a price drop on the truck. 

On the way to the dealer, we stopped at the cemetery and visited with Larry and Charlotte.

We went to Publix, picked up some groceries for bruschetta, dinner tonight. 

I made appetizers with pineapple, mozzarella cheese, and prosciutto ham for our River House happy hour. Enjoyed a piece of my birthday cake after dinner, then bedtime!

Wednesday: Usual morning, AA's breakfast, doing the dishes, etc. Ford was ready for his MRI, went to Cancer Specialists at 10:00 a,m, on Fleming Island. He was taken back at 10:20 to have an IV put in and then we waited until about five of 11 when he was taken back to the trailer that has the MRI equipment. His two pills seem to be working as he was relaxed even though he did say he didn’t think they worked but they did. He was very strong and was able to get through the whole procedure which ended up being about 35 minutes. While he was in there, I talked to mom on the phone and kind of paste outside on the sidewalk back-and-forth. Mom had sent video and photos of Chris, Andrew and Melissa cutting the downed pine trees in the backyard/hillside. Then a neighbor on Westwood road came and took away the tree logs.

Neighbor, last name Orcutt, lives on 54 Westwood Road:

Once we were on the road, we went to Publix and picked up a couple of sandwiches for our lunch. I took Ford home and he seemed to be fine the pills which were at Van ATIVAN seem to wear off pretty good.  After Alyzabeth got home from school and had a snack and started her homework for and I drove to Larry‘s house to make sure all the trash was picked up and then back to Publix to pick up a rotisserie chicken for dinner. 

I pulled some weeds in the yard put out the recyclable bin, walked Ginger. I took a shower and then finished making dinner which was baked potatoes and peas. Ford went over to visit neighbor Nancy she took her a piece of my birthday cake and a jar of honey we bought at the Clay County fair last week. I called mom back as she wanted to know how Ford did with the MRI. All went well and she told me about the guy who came and picked up the pine trees and even cut down the stumps and. It was amazing that Chris and Andrew and Melissa were able to take them down and this neighbor wanted the pine so it’s almost all cleaned up now. 

I did the dishes and generally goofed off the rest of the evening. 

Thursday: Due to Ford having a headache and feeling a little nauseous, he did not go to the "mix and mingle" at Pastor Faith's home/parsonage. I took a plant which was a mint and a rosemary plant in a pot I found Charlotte‘s garage. Pastor Faith had put on Facebook a few days ago that she kills plants, die all the time around her and she wanted a plant pot that said "The Next Victim". Pastor Faith had plenty of food chips, guacamole everything to make your own tacos plus fruit and veggies. It was nice to see Cathy Rangeo, Steve, Val and Julie. We played a game where you had to find other people with things in common. Example find someone is born in your same state, which I had Katie Perry who was born in Brunswick Maine when her mom and dad were stationed there. Other questions like somebody who is still a student, find somebody who likes the same food as you, likes the same sports team, etc. We had a good time chatting and doing that game. Julie told us how she first met Steve Hayes at church 24 years ago. Steve walked up to her and said girl you need to do something with that hair. Julie had a niece who was training to be a hairdresser so practiced on Julie. Steve also told her when she was singing beside him in the pews that she needed to be up there on the stage singing, she was that good. And of course she has been singing up there ever since. She is our lead worship singer now.

Julie also told me that after not seeing me for 10 or 12 years that I looked really good and had not changed, she was full of compliments and how she looked up to the women that had careers back in the church when she first met us all 24 years ago. On the way home I picked up to tropical smoothie, a mango and a blueberry bliss for their dinner.

Pastor Faith's Shepard-doodle Omega:

Friday: Friday morning started out well Alyzabeth takes her shower most mornings, has breakfast, then out the door. She’s going to stay after school at the library today, studying history for the AICE exam, with Siyan and others. I drove to Larry’s house to meet Carolyn, Alex and Kayla as they were picking up the garage refrigerator. After visiting for a few minutes and walking them to the house, they loaded up the refrigerator and we’re gone by 9:40. Alex did take a small toolbox and Kayla picked out a couple of small brandy sniffers.

Once back home, Ford took his pill and we drove to the cancer specialist office. He did very well, the pills made him relax (even though he didn't think so) - took about 1.5 hours. I talked to Mom while walking outside (had to wait 45 minutes for the "dye" to circulate before doing the two scans). We went to Sweet Sensations for lunch, brought back half our lunches, and the drove to Suburban to see if Justin's truck was ready - it was not as two of the new tires had to be sent back, will get on Monday.

AA arrived home with Siyan, they reminisced over the OPE yearbooks, had a few giggles before Mom Nasha arrived.

We had red beans and rice, AA had a rescheduled Spanish tutor session with Laureen, so Ford and I went to the River House for a drink - gorgeous weather on the deck! AA made a kite in Spanish class.

Red beans and rice - easy crock pot meal.

Saturday: April 20th: Saturday morning we got up and did our usual breakfast of leftovers Alyzabeth ate our outlaw chicken salad sandwich from Sweet Sensations. I went to the garage to make room for all the boxes that are coming on Monday from Larry and Charlotte‘s house. Ford and Alyzabeth helped me break down dozen or so boxes for the recycle bin. We rearranged things a bit so hopefully we have enough space now for the 40 or more boxes that are coming on Monday.

Ford went to the grocery store for me but could not find the fresh peaches and Belgium endive I needed for a new vegan appetizer. I did dishes and laundry and chores, then went to a couple grocery stores but could not find them either. For happy hour at the River House I made my usual, prosciutto ham with cantaloupe and mozzarella cheese and also a few tomato, cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese for our snack. I took a shower wash my hair. We had lunch of sushi and I ate New England clam chowder soup. I laid down for an hour or so as Ford and I both got up at four in the morning and we’re fading during the afternoon. Alyzabeth continued to work on her English and history assignments as she’s very good/self-motivated.  Ford and I went to the River House and met up with Kathy, Hugh and Maureen plus Erin and Al were up for the weekend. They only stayed until 5:30 as they went to Santioni’s for dinner. We came home had leftovers of red beans and rice and watched the Harry Potter movie Deathly Hallows Part two. 

Sunday: I went to Church, served communion. Good message today about some things are blessings, but too much can be bad (Proverbs - Too much honey can make you sick). Too much "technology" can separate you from the people you should be uplifting/be in a relationship. So turn off the phones/TV's/iPads/Headphones. Set boundaries/limits for those things that keep you from being with people. I made a salad for lunch (along with a Publix Cuban sandwich cut three ways): Mixed greens, blueberries, watermelon, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. 

Then to watch Liv's Play - Separate post.