another weekend

I just wrote my blog and then lost it.Darn.
Saturday was a basketball game. Blair's team won. Then back to Guissepes for an Italian lunch.Across the street was the produce market. Produce is so cheap there.One vendor gave us some very ripe bananas. Janice has made banane bread. I still have to do so.I stayed home Saturday night and picked up my house and worked out back.
Sunday I had a "date". His name is Mel Jacobs from Orange City. He works nights and delivers papers from Daytona to Ormond, Palm Coast, and Flagler.He brought me a dozen beautiful roses. He took me to the Blue, the restaurant in the Topaz.Remember the Topaz Leslie and Mel.Then we went to the art show in thre Hammock Dunes garden on A1A.I went to the dance Sunday night and it was just okay.My nose has started to "drip".
Monday I still have cold symptoms but go with Janice and Don to the European Village for breakfast. We meet Mr.Murray there. Annette is our server. That afternoon is Kayla's softball game at Mainland HS. They won by about 19 points.We use a coupon at Ruby Tuesday's and split a steak dinner.I see a billboard on Nova Rd. with Haleigh's picture and MISSING.She is the 5 yr. old from Satsuma.
Three big weekends are coming up. This weekend Hetricks are supposed to come over for bike week.March 7th we have a pizza party in New Smyerna Beach and the 14th is the Viking barbeque in Englewood. I will drive to Pat Carr's home in Webster and we will then go to the barbeque.I may stay and we'll go to the flea markeet in Webster on Monday and then I'll come home.
Yesterday was Eric's Birthday. I still haven't put his card in the mail. Anyways Happy Birthday Eric!!!!!

A good day!!

This is Friday and it was good.I went to a couple of sales but didn't find much.I went to Bulow camping area next to me to check out rentals for a couple who want something for next year. They have a couple of campers that they rent. It really is quite nice there.Greg and Judy would like it if they ever come down..
Don and Janice picked me up at 6pm and we went to a little Italian restaurant (Guissepes) in downtown Flagler Beach.They were very busy so we ordered the quickest thing we could. Janice and I had spaghetti and Don had lasagna. It was excellent food and we'll go there again probably for the Italian buffet at lunchtime.This little Flagler Beach town is wonderful.We had to hurry because we had tickets for the Salute to the Eagles at the Flagler auditorium.We made it in time Wow,I guess these guys really looked and sounded like the original Eagles.They were all thin with long hair that kept blowing with the wind.Oh to be 40 again. It was a good concert and I was surprised at how many songs I knew. Zach had given me The Very Best Of Eagles (2 CD's) for Christmas so I have been listening to that.The finale of course was Hotel California. It was absolutely positively marvelous and loud. I placed a call to Mike so he could hear it. Of course I couldn't talk to him because of the noise. I figured that was payback for all the times his band played it in our basement. I heard it over and over and over. But in reality I grew to love that song and thought he should hear it from this group.It may be his answering machine that heard it.After the show we took pictures of us and the group.The drummer,Phil Roland,is from Watertown, NY. Annette was going to come but couldn't make it.I know she would have loved it.
I had a nice note from Greg Mohr. He and Judy are reading my blogs. He said he didn't know anyone in the Continental crash but they were busy because of it. I didn't know anyone personally but know about some of them.The off duty pilot had an apartment in Jamestown. A couple was from Westfield.A cookie salesman had his obit. in the Jamestown paper. I assume he delivered to Jamestown stores. I wonder if Bill knew him? A Mason that George knows from Gowanda lost his sister.George's family haven't told him about the crash. He doesn't need to know.
I will go again with Don and Janice tomorrow and see Blair's basketball game in Palm Coast. He gives the game his all and makes lots of baskets.His sisters are getting so big.

New "Stuff"

Another beautiful day (high 70's)but it's supposed to get colder after today.I will leave this afternoon and take my cell phone back to Verizon near the Speedway. I'm sure it is the battery again acting up and not the phone itself. They sent me a new phone but the same thing happened..it gets hot and sometimes just shuts off. Then I'll drive back to Ormond and go to the Single's dance at the Eagles. Tonight is pot luck dinner so it will start at 7:15 pm. I need to go as I've been here alone for two days and I'm lonely. I've tried to use this time to get caught up and work on taxes.I've watched a couple of old movies also.John and Shirley Watson were supposed to come over today but she called and cancelled.They are doing craft shows in Tampa and Strawberry festival in Plant City.I could have gone with the Orange Park Garden club to Blue Springs to see the Manatees but didn't because of John and Shirley.
Disney is offering a free ticket to one of the theme parks on one's Birthday. I signed in on-line and have my confirmation. Now if I can find someone to go with me I'll spend my Birthday there.I have to decide which theme park I want to go to.This is when I envy Ron and Laura. They always have someone to go places with and go they do..
I have talked with Tom and Helga. He is doing pretty well. He developed an ulcer so was treated for that.I want to get up to Orange Park and see them.
I was asked to ride with my friend Elaine from Orange Park to Raleigh on the 25th. However the Hetricks are supposed to come over and stay the weekend for bike week. Rick and Julie will trailer their bikes here. I hope the weather will be good so Mickie and I can get to the beach.
Now my sad news: George has not been answering his cell phone so today I called his brother-in-law. They have transferred him to Buffalo VA. He has very bad sores in his mouth which is why he has difficulty talking.They are running tests and have him sedated.Bill and Jodie go to see him every day from Gowanda. Bill's mother died yesterday and the funeral is tomorrow. Their plate is full right now.

Bitter Sweet

Thursday evening was wonderful. I went with Don and Janice to Kayla's softball game. She is a sophomore playing for the Palm Coast/Flagler High school Varsity. The game was played under lights. Kayla plays center field and pitcher and played the whole game. She is getting very tall and is a lovely young woman. After the game Don, Janice and I went to Denny's for Grand Slam meals.Laura had given us coupons.
I awoke Friday morning to the news of a Continental plane going down in Clarence Center last night at 10:30pm. That's the exact time I went to bed. Derek and Liza and my classmate Jane Mihalko live there.50 people were killed. 49 in the plane and 1 in the house that it hit.The plane departed from Newark, NJ. This was the same as my plane when I came home from the Baltic Sea Cruise.I was upset and very sad all day Friday. I got ready and went to a Valentine dinner dance at the Eagles. I met my dancing partner Lester O'Hara there.He lives in Port Orange so we met at the dance.They had it decorated beautifully. It was $10 each and we got a nice dinner, a rose, country music and a chance to win some prizes.I was surprised at how many people smoked at this dance. It wouldn't be allowed in NY.The profits were given to the Heart Assoc. Somehow it seemed strange that they would smoke and support the heart assoc.

The plane crash was the bitter and the dance was the sweet.

Saturday am I looked at the partial list of the victims of the crash. There were a lot of talented people on that plane. One off duty pilot was from Jamestown and one couple were from Westfield. This is too close to home.
I was going to go to Palatka to the Bluegrass Festival today (Saturday) but didn't want to make the long ride home at night.Ron and Laura were going to do the garbage can turkey for dinner there. I stayed here and went to my friend Patti's home where we played hand and foot card game. We took a walk on the beach. We met janice and family at Alfies. Melissa and Remy were there. Remy is getting so big and walking.Chad will be coming and he and Melissa are going to the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
After Alfies we went back to Patti's and sat in her hot tub. It was a quiet night with no dancing. Sunday is the Singles Valentine dance at the Elks club in Ormond Beach. That will end the 4 Valentine dances.








.Back to patti's for 2 more hand of the card game and then we went into her hot tub.Finally I came home.

Family news

Time is going by too fast. I only have a few tidbits at this time.
My bank (Suntrust) was robbed last week. It is in Ormond Beach but on the Flagler line.(1.7 miles from me). They showed a full front picture of the robber in the paper. He is a very good looking man and will make a good looking prisoner.
There is a 5 year old girl missing in Satsuma.She lives in the next development to Ron and Laura.The TV said the back door of the trailer was open when the father came home from work at 3am. His girlfriend was staying with the child.They are near the St. John's river.I was on the West Coast when all the publicity was going on with Jessica Lundsford.I hate to think the worst for this little girl in Satsuma.
Now for ther good news:
I had a phone call from Christina a couple of weeks ago. She has been accepted and will be going to Jamestown business college next fall. She graduates from Southwestern this June.
Zach is going to University of Florida in Gainesvile, Fl. He has made the Dean's list. He will be participating in a Dance Marathon with his fraternity at the University.It's a 26.2 hr. event to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network at Shands Children's Hospital.Pediatric patients from all the United States and foreign countries have benefited from Shands Hospital. This is a student run philanthropy in the southeastern United States.Last year more than $435,000 was raised from the Dance Marathon.I don't have the date but will find out.
Speaking of dancing, I have four (yes four) Valentine dances this week.Two down and two to go. I love it!!!!
The northern family have been busy raising funds for the Viking children's parties.The theme was "freezing for a reason". There was a write up in the Post-Journal about the "crazy swedes". They made a hole in the ice in front of the Vikings for the polar bears to go in. The air temperature was 34 degrees and the water temperature was 32 degrees. David and Jessica went in. I made a late donation and am anxious to find out how much money they raised.
Julie Hetrick had said that their family was going to come stay with me a few days during bike week. They would trailer their bikes. I hope they do this. You know I love company.
John and Shirley Watson are supposed to be here Feb. 18th. They have craft shows in Plant city at the Strawberry Festival and the Tampa fair and plan to come to my house in betweeen the two.I saw Jim and Gale some time ago. She had just had surgery for breast cancer and was just starting her radiation treatments.
I went to the beach today for a short time.I read a little bit and just watched the people. On the way to the dance I saw a few guys parasailing.I think that's what it is. They are on surfboards holding onto a sail and riding the waves. Oh to be young and adventurous! I have 2 very brown plants. I hope they didn't die from the freeze.I didn't know which ones to cover.
I have started working on my taxes.I sure miss Bill at this time.(All the time really)

Palm trees

PS I said it has been very cold here. The paper had a picture of a Palm tree in Ormond with icicles. I don't know if this cold has ruined my grapefruit. I'm glad I have given away most of them.

It's cold in Florida

This has been such a cold week.I don't want to have high electric bills so I turn the heat down low at night, put on my flannel pj's and the electric blanket and sleep away.My friend Patti and I have been out the last 8 evenings going to dances, shows, etc. That has helped also as I turn the heat way down when I'm not here.I know we're better off than other areas but my bones still plead for heat.
I went to the dentist for my tooth.. She has a state of the art office and I paid dearly for that.Each room has a big TV. A cooking show was on when I was there. My tooth was not broken but I had lost a filling. It was one that Dr. Kudla in Jamestown put in in July. This cost me $280 for the x-ray, exam and the new filling. I don't have dental insurance.I believe I will send the bill to Dr. Kudla and see what happens.
Today I went with Barb Scroxton (lives here and Bemus Point in the summer) to a Red Hat Society luncheon at the clubhouse.I have never belonged to one of these and refuse to wear the typical red and purple getup. I might buy a big red floppy hat if I find one.Barb is having a lot of trouble with her eyes. She has some kind of a conjunctivitis and the Dr. has put her on several kinds of eye drops.It's taking a long time and may be a severe allergy.
Tonight I met Don and Janice at Alfies for a fish fry.They make an excellent clam chowder.Tomorrow I'll go with them to Blair's basketball game and then maybe to the Harley Place on US1 where they're having lots of stuff going on.
I check George's MSN e-mails for him and tell him if there is anything of interest. In the latest one was a note from the Masons that Victor Mohr has had triple by-pass surgery at Hammot in Erie and is now recuperating at the Westfield nursing home.Also George is in the Gowanda nursing home and only weighs #125.This makes me very sad.

this week

I was going to go to Sanford to stay with Janice while she took care of baby Remy last week. After Bill and Loretta left on Tuesday I changed linens ,washed etc. and just didn't make it.I was tired and had a 2 hr. nap that afternoon. The same with Wednesday. I just couldn't get the energy to get ready.I was dissappointed as I thought this would be fun. The little guy took his first steps while Janice was there. I'm sure Mommy would have liked to have been there for that.Anyways, Mel went over from Orlando on Wednesday and both Greg and Mel stopped again before coming back here late Thursday night.
Friday Greg spent considerable time trying to figure out my printer. It has never worked well. We left late morning and took the next road from Plantation Oaks to Sugar Mill ruins.It is a dirt road down to Bulow creek. There are the remains of an old Sugar Mill Plantation.It was owned by a father and son named Bulow. The slaves that lived on the Plantation were given a plot of land so they could grow their own food and be self suficient. There were about 200 slaves and 40 small houses that they lived in. The Seminole Indians burned the Mill down in the 1800's. Much of it remains in charred ruins. There is a lovely display of pictures and artifacts and one can see it must have been a magniificent building. Mel remembers standing on the cement ramp on the creek when she was a child. I remember going there with Jane and Mary and standing on the creek bank clapping our hands and the alligtors would swim over for their marshmallow treat. This is illegal now. I don't remember seeing the ruins ever before. Then we went to the European Village for luch. Our favorite waitress served us. (Annette)
Greg and Mel left late pm to go to Orange Park to stay with Mike and Leslie before heading back to N.C. on Saturday. I decided to go to the Singles' dance at the Moose because why stay home alone? While flossing my teeth that night I broke a tooth. Now I have to find a dentist.There are so many things I want to show Mel and everyone here. She'll have to come and stay longer.
Saturday I went to the Home Show at the Flagler/Palm Coast high school. There were lots of freebies there. That night Patti and I went to the Black Cloud in Bunnell for an Elvis show. Chris would have been disappointed. Elvis-- he wasn't!!
I want to thank Greg and Mel for all the help. He cleaned out my eaves (also Jane's and Leslie's) with his new remote cleaner. He fixed my dining room table, my printer, and put new seats on my toilets. They look very nice but are cold in the mornings.
Sunday I went back to the home show. The lady from Colonial bank says she can get me a much lower interest rate on my loan. We'll see. It would be nice.I learned that a new theatre is to be built behind the High School. 13 acreas have been donated for this cause. They say Flagler needs some cultural events. The plans are also for a new movie theatre and also to build homes with runways at the Flagler airport. This has been a fun and educational week. Now I'll see if I can stay awake to watch the Superbowl.