Friday, May 17, 2024 FIHS & Awards

Friday: I attended AA's Junior school awards, she received the Principal's Scholar Honor (grade ave over 3.75). Siyan and Noah received awards but didn't get a photo (I didn't stay until the end, got Ford to his Quest appointment).

Owen Kinder received an award for French:

Then I drove Ford to have his annual blood drawn at Quest, ran into Dave Buffin (FIUMC). Ford had his "dry run" for the radiation treatment, and we got the seven-week daily schedule.

We went to Time Out Deli for chicken salad sandwiches (brought half home for AA's after school snack). I worked on getting Larry's accounting sheet together, getting near the end of probate and finally closed the AT&T account. Ford chatted with Justin, he's been catching red fish.

One Good Ring was playing at Colonial Oak Park, but we decided not to drive back over to St. Augustine. Leaa sent pictures of Dylan's 8th Grade dance.

Mother Day's - Enjoyed the Day!

Morning began with Ford and I driving the Black 2015 Subaru Forester to Suburban, the Owner Greg is buying it to keep for a family a member. We are glad we sold it, one less car in our driveway.

I went to church, nice service, Bible verses about how church, worship should be fun. positive, not like a funeral. 

Church gave Mom's a flower:

We enjoyed a too sweet French toast casserole, the "crumble top" had too much sugar, so if make it again, remember to reduce it.

Justin gave me a blue daze plant and AA gave me two hanging baskets of it! Same plants as I already planted in the front yard. Too funny! I received cards from Nicole, Justin, Ford and AA. We were invited to the beach, to meet up with Leaa and family, but declined.

Lots of phone calls and texting about Melissa and her surgery from Friday - she was operated on again today. Mom, Terri and Andrew went to the hospital. Glad to hear it went "fine" but she will be in ICU and then a few days in a hospital room. Pretty serious health conditions which may need further surgery.

After doing the dishes and other chores, Ford and I went to Whitey's Fish Camp, sat at outside bar and had two beers each (I definitely likes the Sierra Nevada Haze over the Intuition I-10).

From our side yard:

We watched American Idol after having country ribs for dinner (new recipe from the TV show the Kitchen - cooked in the crock pot, then under the broiler with a apricot jam and pickled cherry pepper spread. We liked them okay, just not the BBQ flavor we usually have.

Called Mom for a final chat about her day and Melissa. Hopefully everyone gets some sleep and Melissa too!

Monday, May 6th - 12th

Monday: We drove the green Subaru to Suburban for new wiper blades (still need a new cabin air filter), then to Ford's Parkinson exercises. I walked for 35 minutes, then cooled off in the truck. We went to the Post office to mail a small box to Mom (Charlotte's souvenir spoons and an elephant brass claw bell). Laundry and dish washing, lunch of hotdog and my homemade pasta salad (leftover from Saturday picnic). I drove to Pat's nursery, bought five knock-out roses and 8 bags of brown mulch.

I did a small area with the mulch and got overheated - only 91 degrees out! Will work on it some mornings. I laid down for a bit to cool off (changed three times), then went to the SJRSC for AA's summer course books - turns out she gets a code for an online digital book. AA went to a biology test review.

Tuesday: Ford did not have his PT until 11:45 so we had a long relaxing morning. I had bought five knockout roses and planted them in the morning before it got hot. Spoke to Terri on the phone about my yard plans and about the Lawyer meeting she attended on Monday with mom (about the land dispute on the West Wood and Johnson Road).

Ford and I stopped and bought Ginger‘s hip treats and then to Ford’s PT. It was already in the mid 80s so I only walked a short time and then called mom. Mom and I spoke until Ford was finished with his PT. She explained the land deal and how she is giving up some land, but the person who abuts the property will pay plus will pay the back taxes on that portion. The lawyer and surveyor will put together the package to present to him.

Ford and I went to the Brick restaurant for lunch thinking we would do something different as everybody seems to like this restaurant and we had only been there once or twice a long time ago. Ford ordered the salmon poke bowl which was very plain and lacked any spiciness or sauce on it. I had the mahi fish tacos, which were pretty good and a side of a kale salad, which was also very good. 

On our drive home we stopped at Pat’s Nursery to check out more perennials to plant in front of the orange tree. There were a few selections, but we could not decide on what we liked so will try again another day. Alyzabeth came home from school after being at a National Honor Society meeting where they voted on their officers for next year and she walked Ginger. We got home about 3:30, I finished the deviled eggs that I took to the River House for our happy hour appetizer. 

We sat on the deck, even though it was quite warm, but the breeze helped. We didn’t talk about anything great and I feel we were a bit dull so we need to perk up our energy and have some topics ready to discuss next time (Karrie dropped in).  Once home, we cooked the spaghetti and had homemade spaghetti and meatballs with a salad kit/bag salad. Alyzabeth mixed up the salad and started the water for the spaghetti so we ate pretty quick after getting home from the River House. Alyzabeth continues to have a lot of studying and we watched a new episode of The Voice. Visitor on the black Subaru - a white frog.

Wednesday: 

David Gray HVAC technician Hamid came and gave us the same bad news as last year - the unit is old, moldy and rusting. Will ask Justin to give us a quote on a new unit.

Bug/Pest Control Service came and sprayed around the foundation.

We made sloppy joe in the slow cooker. AA came home and got to work on her college on-line class - quite the set up needed, web camera and mirror. Ford and I drove to Belk's to return two pairs of shoes I ordered on line for AA (didn't fit). Then shopping at Publix.

I didn't want to eat beef the night before I had my annual blood panel done, so AA and I had a poke bowl for dinner while Ford had the sloppy joe. We usually catch some of Jeopardy then AA goes back to schoolwork. Tonight, was SPECIAL - she completed her first assignment online - a quiz on the orientation and syllabus for her algebra class. We were in bed by 9:45 which was great!

Thursday: Ford and I got ready for our annual Quest blood panels - somehow when I signed up our two appointments, only mine registered (not sure how I goofed that up!). Will make a new appointment for Ford. I did get a treat - Starbucks coffee (and Ford had the lemonade - $11 for two drinks - that's why we drink coffee at home!!). Ford's appointment with Dr. Cassidy's office - CAT scan was rescheduled for next week.

We went to his Parkinson exercises, I walked and chatted with Mom for a short time. It is getting hot, plus I had "given" three tubes of blood, so will have to walk the Mall when it is really hot. We went to Pat's Nursery (again) and selected a small blue flowering perennial (12). Also bought six plants for the large planter in the front, will move nearer to the orange tree. 

Ford and I went to the Time Out Deli, then home. 

Once AA was home, we splurged and went to Maggie's for ice cream. A somewhat rare treat! EMPTY ice cream cups, didn't take a picture when full (haha)! Ford had butter pecan and a toffee ice cream (2 scoops), AA had mint chocolate chip and a scoop of triple chocolate; I ate a scoop of peanut cup ice cream with some hot fudge sauce. Yum!

Back home, I worked in the yard, planted the 12 blue flowering plants (hot!) and spread more brown dyed mulch. 

A brief storm moved through and dinner was left over sloppy joe. We watched Jeopardy, AA completed her first week's assignment in her College Algebra class. Ford spoke to Bill, found out that Mark and Anitra's 27-year-old son passed (suicide), Ford updated him on his radiation treatments, also trying to plan a visit.

Friday: I heard from Melissa, Terri and Mom (texting) before Melissa's surgery and after - all went well. 

Leaa texted - Liv's last day of high school:

Went to Arnold Law for the house closing documents, then home for lunch of leftovers, spaghetti and sauce.

Ford cooked the chicken for dinner and made the dumplings. 

All three of us went to the River House for a short time; the temperature had cooled, as low as 68 during the rainstorm. Later watched an old episode of Downton Abbey. 

Saturday: We had a slow morning, watched The Holdovers movie. Pretty good, lots of F-bombs. Justin came up and got the title to his truck and took the plant Cathy gave us years ago (has not thrived and we have no yard space to plant it). Justin gave me a blue daze plant - funny, that is the exact ground cover plant we just bought this past week for our front yard!

Terri texted about Melissa recovering but breathing hard due to back pain. Mom has been putting orange halves out for the birds:

George Strait concert - separate post.

Sunday: Mother's Day - separate post.

Chris Stapleton and George Strait Concert

We did not go to the very beginning of the concert, thought we would miss some of the traffic snarl by arriving after Little Big Town opens - wrong! Many others had the same thought. Ford didn't know how he would do if we arrived before LBT, sitting so long. All went well getting there if you had patience - I dropped him off on the West side of the stadium, which was where our tickets were (Section 205 Row Y). He did get a ride, a nice guy picked him up. I parked in Lot E reserved parking, nice area, just on the East side of the stadium.
Once at our seats, we enjoyed the view, and the weather was great! The sun set behind us and temperature dropped to 68 - 70 degrees, perfect day! I went to buy one beer to share, but could not find any local beers - only "tall boy" cans of major brands. So we drank water - no alcohol.

Chris Stapleton rocked the stadium, mind blowing loud! Everyone enjoyed singing along to his songs. After about a 40 minute break/set up, George Strait was on the stage, he tried to show energy, but I saw him as forcing his effort. He didn't sing as many hits as I would have liked, and he stopped the concert for about 15 minutes to present a home to a veteran and spouse; very nice, but the announcer took his time (probably planned to give George a break). All in all, glad we saw him, my opinion is that it is time for him to retire (note that he did have a farewell tour in 2014). He had a great concert with the other two bands, he played from 9:35 p.m. until 11:45 (we left at 11:20, listening to his songs as we slowly made our way to the parking lot). The Times-Union review (read below) was definitely glowing and respectful.

Caught the screen shot from Stephanie and Adam. We ran into Scott and Ruby Anderson as we were leaving - listened to the final 3 - 5 songs, left to beat the traffic - I think a third of the concert goers thought the same! We figure many came just for Chris Stapleton. 

Concert review: Strait, Stapleton turn Jacksonville into a honky tonk for stadium show by Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. If there is one guy who deserves to have his star behind the bar at the Honky Tonk Hall of Fame, it's gotta be George Strait.

"Honky Tonk Hall of Fame" is a new song Strait played Saturday night in front of 50,000 or so fans in Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium. It was written by Chris Stapleton, one of the openers for Saturday's show, and it's so new that Strait and Stapleton stared each other down as they sang it, as if each one was scared he'd forget a line. They pulled it off perfectly and it's clearly going to be another big hit for Strait. The guy has 40-something Number One hits in a career that stretches back to the early '80s.

There are players who have been in Strait's Ace in the Hole Band for decades and it shows. No one ever steps forward for a solo — some of them don't even stand up — but they know how to deliver the goods. If you wanted traditional Western, complete with fiddles and steel guitar, there was plenty to be had ("Amarillo by Morning," "I Can Still Make Cheyenne," "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls"). Big singalongs? "Ocean Front Property," "Check Yes or No" and "All My Exes Live in Texas" ought to qualify.

"Honky Tonk Hall of Fame" wasn't the only new song in Strait's set. He said he has a new album, "Cowboys and Dreamers," ready for release. Saturday night, he played "Three Drinks Behind," Waylon Jennings' "Waymore Blues" and "MIA in MIA," a salute to life in South Florida.

Stapleton, who also sang a verse of "Pancho & Lefty" and all of "You Don't Know What You're Missing" with Strait, might seem an unlikely pairing with the Texan. His opening set, which lasted for about 90 minutes, was much more bluesy than Strait's, opening with "White Horse," which he played a few weeks ago on "Saturday Night Live."

 "Second One to Know" and getting slow and bluesy on "I Think I'm in Love With You." Stapleton brought the house down twice with nods toward the Jacksonville music scene - when he stood center stage with his electric guitar and picked out a few verses of "Free Bird." the second was at the end of his show, as he introduced his crack band. He brought out Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks from Jacksonville's Tedeschi Trucks Band to join them on "Tennessee Whiskey."