I've been without internet service since

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
I've been without internet service since
8
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 8:47am
Sunday, so I have a lot to catch up on with the boards and 71 new emails.

Went to the beach briefly Sunday, but the currents were pretty bad and the waves got blown out from the afternoon wind. We had a really nice birthday dinner at Clark's Fish Camp, and the grouper was as good as ever. We had a table near the picture windows, so we could see boats and skiers going up and down the creek. The kids like to feed crackers to the fish. It's illegal to feed gators.

Monday, we wound up going to Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island instead of St. Simon's Island, which I was glad about because they're half an hour closer. Walked in the historic Victorian district, looked in neat shops, and had a very good lunch at a place called Brett's Waterway Cafe out on the intercoastal.

Yesterday, I had to meet mom and my sister's MIL at the mall again to take her back down to Edgewater. I got there early and found a pair of pretty black heel's for 75% off!! I grabbed those up. Think I'm going to return the red heels. As pretty as they are, they're just higher than I'm comfortable with. Still searching for the perfect navy heels. Even people in the shoe business say how exasperatingly scarce they are. Supposedly, the big things for spring are the very round "baby doll" toed shoes. I think they're too trendy to invest much in.

Anyway, we took the MIL by John's grave. She had not been there since the funeral in March, and it was pretty emotional for her. She is 83, and her was her first child. We drove down A1A, so she could see the multi-million dollar mansions along there and had lunch at a neat place just north of St. Augustine on the intercoastal waterway called Cap's. We ate on the deck with the waves lapping at the shore and under some big oak trees. There was a nice breeze blowing, so it was very relaxing. Headed through St. Augustine for a quick run through of the sights and over to I-95 for the rest of the trip. Still wound up stopping in a book store, a Russell Stover candy outlet, and a really neat gift shop. It was almost 5 before we started heading back to Jacksonville, but it was a very enjoyable day. Tim left for CA yesterday afternoon and won't be back until Sunday night.

With being gone so much since last Thursday, I have a ton of little errands and tasks to catch up on. Got a call last night and have been invited to Republican Headquarters for a premininary meeting/lunch with a potential candidate for Bob Graham's Senate seat. He's the Dem. from FL who is running for Pres. and constantly bashing Pres. Bush. He wasn't like that when he was governor. I'd love to see him replaced!

Other than a lot of walking, I've spent most of my time in the car the last several days. I think I'm pretty much a washout on this challenge, so maybe I can do better in Oct.

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


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Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 10:08am
Busy, busy you are! Your celebrations sounded like fun - I really like the picture I had in my head of dining by the windows at Clark's and on the deck at Cap's. I guess I do like the beach - more being in an air-conditioned place around it than out ON it.

I'm wondering if everyone else is also on the go or if there are internet access problems all around - the board seems quiet the last couple of days. Work has been brutally slow; will pick up tomorrow and next week.

I visited a website for a place called Southern Winds Inn in St. Augustine - looks like my kind of place. I'll be dropping hints at DH about a short visit in the spring, if it doesn't affect the budget too badly and or could cancel out my attending the FOF gala get-together in the fall. Hoping he'll take the bait on a spring trip AND that I can make the fall fete.

Have a good one!

Donna

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 10:21am
Our area of town had internet problems, but I don't think they were far-reaching. I guess a lot of the Middle Atlantic people are battening down the hatches. I have a lot of family members in MD, so I've been concerned about them. My niece IM'd me this morning and said they were taking precautions. Their town was hit so hard by a class 5 tornado April of 2002 that they haven't totally recovered from that.

If you come to St. Augustine, I would love it if we could get together! I know that area well and would be happy to show you around or suggest sights, shopping, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, galleries, etc.

I am definitely an outdoor person unless it's cold. I tend to shrivel up and hibernate then. I was happy to take Edie (my sister's MIL) out and about and my mom too. Since my Dad's health has been declining the last couple of years, Mom is confined at home so much, and she was used to being at meetings, traveling, and on the go pretty frequently. She is 78, but you'd never know it, and she'd be furious if she knew I told anyone. LOL!

I hope to be able to make the chat tonight.

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


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Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 10:37am
My mom is 78 today; she celebrated this milestone by having her second and final cataract removed Monday. The nursing staff good-naturedly accused her of lying about her age - they thought 60-65! She's "got all her marbles", as she likes to say (although I think her hearing in her left ear has taken leave and she speaks at a high decibel level), loves to dance, and has a gorgeous complexion. Hoping to benefit from the good genes. She has a basket of vivid-color late summer/early fall flowers on the way from DH and me today, and dinner at a cool restaurant as soon as she feels up to it (good timing for me, too - probably as I'm entering Ph II of SBD).

Your mom is lucky to have you nearby. With her role as your dad's caretaker and how active and involved she used to be, I imagine she feels a little confined sometimes. My mom is a city dweller, doesn't drive anymore, and loves long car rides in beautiful places.







iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 11:15am
Wow, you have been busy. Sounds like fun.

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 11:40am
WB, Rhonda! You sure have been busy. I haven't been on much since AOL keeps bumping me. I also don't like to sit too long with my leg hanging down. I get a lot of pressure in my foot if I do.

Nice find with the shoes. Just love to get bargains like that.

Grace

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 3:48pm
I wondered where you were. Good to see you back.

Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 6:09pm
Sheesh! I thought it was kinda quiet around here. ;-)

Sounds like you have been a busy bee and had a good time of it for the most part. It's a good thing you can be there for your sister's MIL.

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-18-2003 - 12:25am
How are your feet doing? Does the dr. seem to think you're on schedule with the healing? Sure hope so.

Take care,

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


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