Happy Birthday, Valda!

Looking forward to introducing you to P.f. Chang's tomorrow!

We'll have to try one of those lettuce wraps . . .

No, seriously. We'll have to!

Making the best of it

One thing yours truly has learned in recent years is this: If you have to do something you'd rather not do, then try to balance it out with doing something fun that you wouldn't normally do.

Today, as I had to head up to Apopka to deal with the pending vacancy at ye olde rental property, I decided to make the journey more palatable with a sidetrip to Renninger's Flea Market in Mount Dora.

Said sidetrip was made all the better by undertaking it with some good friends and eating way too much Mexican food afterwards!

To make things better, I found the house in great condition and got to show it to some great people, too. In fact, I'm hopeful that it may not go unrented for too long after all!

Don't let anyone tell you that flea markets, friends, and food can't cure what ails you!

Catfish!!

I only felt slightly guilty about this, so will share it with ye socks in today's post.

In making preparations for a friend's birthday observance today, I successfully steered the debate in favor of The Catfish Place in Apopka.

The table in the foreground of the picture posted here was quickly surrounded by the eager beneficiaries of my debating skills.

We enjoyed all that bad stuff your cardiologist warns you about: onion rings, fried catfish, creamy cole slaw, cheese grits, etc., etc.

And, while we were at it, we tossed back way too much ice tea. The caffeine-induced hyper conversation that followed meant we had to leave a little extra table rent for the poor waitress who had to keep filling our glasses.

Oh, yeah, and couldn't leave until we had some Key Lime pie for dessert.

Anybody else got a birthday coming up that they want to use for a convenient excuse?!?

When good things happen to good people

So, I got home from work today to find the regular bunch of junk mail waiting my perusal.

One item very nearly ended up in the trash can, because it was clearly a mass mailing addressed to "College Park Homeowner."

I don't know what made me open it, but I did. Here's some of what it said:

Thank you so much for opening your home for the historic homes tour last November . . . During the tour, I met a lovely young woman who was a docent in one of the houses. I don't remember the address . . . but, it had an enclosed porch to the left of the front door, and there was a beautiful Duncan Phyfe sofa . . . When I laughlingly commented that I had a sofa just like it, the docent exclaimed that she had been trying to get the homeowner to sell her that couch. I gave the young woman my telephone number and asked her to call me about my sofa, but she never called.

If any of you know this young woman, please ask her to call me. [I] need to find a good home for my Duncan Phyfe sofa. I know this young woman will love this sofa, and she will not be able to beat the price . . . I am willing to give it to her for free, because I know she appreciates the history and quality of this type of furniture.

Of course, the letter writer was referring to my house, and my sofa. And, the "young woman" she mentioned was a very good friend who I had suckered into helping me out that day. She really *has* been trying to get me to part with my Duncan Phyfe for years. Now, it looks like she will soon have one of her own as a result of her generosity!

Flea market finds

Today's agenda included a quick drop by Jenks Manor to pick up the lord and lady for breakfast at a new greasy spoon.

Somehow we survived the oddly-shiny pancakes to get back on 441 and head up to Mount Dora to visit one of our favorite haunts: Renninger's Flea Market.

I loaded up on some fresh produce, a couple of books (of course!), a t-shirt, and a video game . . . all for $20!

I guess you could say I was out there doing my part for the economy, even if it was on a hobo budget!

Cinnamon makes my eyes burn . . .

Well, ye socks, today was Jeremy Mixer's last full day as a civilian. Tomorrow he gets on a bus for Tampa, and will fly from there to his Air Force basic training in San Antonio.

Valda and Howard of Jenks Manor thought the occasion warranted a barbecue and, of course, no one objected to that.

I hate to show up empty-handed to events like this, so thought I'd pick up one of those cinnamon brooms they started selling in our local Winn Dixies this week.

If the heat and humidity keep it from feeling like autumn in this little corner of heaven, at least we can make it smell like the right season!

Anyway, while I was there, I picked up two brooms for myself, to be strategically positioned at the front and back doors back at home.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to leave the window down during the 4 hours I spent at the BBQ. So, when I got back in ye olde Blazer to head home, the thick cinnamon air was unbearable--literally brought tears to my eyes!

Silver lining: My ride smells as autumnal as my abode.

Things could be worse . . . I could be going to boot camp!

Good luck, Jeremy!

The $35 couch

Actually, it's a sleeper sofa.

But, that price is right: just $35!

And, it is now proudly owned by Valda & Howard of Jenks Manor.

We picked it up at yet another of Cece's Estate Sales today. (This one was at the Escondido condos across SR 436 from The Altamonte Mall.)

And, when I say, "picked it up," I mean that. It was HEAVY!!

Did I mention the condo in question was on the 2nd floor?

Yeah, that had to be a sight, me struggling to hold up on end of a couch to keep from scuffing-up the upholstery as we negotiated our way down two flights of stairs.

But, the Jenkses assure me it was worth the effort.

And, I did find a little souvenir myself: a baseball program from the 1984 LA Olympics that features a photo of my cousin Pat Pacillo. (Not to mention his team mate Mark McGwire.)

If you're not checking out these estate sales, ye socks, you're missing out on a lot of neat stuff (and exercise)!

Football & Housewarming Party

Well, today was the big day at the Jenks Mansion with Howard and Valda hosting throngs of their closest friends in a fashion that would have made P-Diddy jealous.

Of course, it's still Fall Football season here in the South, so there was much pigskin discussed over Lil Smokey's & BBQ sauce. Yeah, we ARE that fancy.

The big news was Apopka's win over Spruce Creek last night, which catapults them into a state semi-final against the highly-overated Boone Braves this Friday.

One of the outstanding young varsity men in Darter Blue was on hand to give us all the inside scoop. The Braves should be quaking in their mocassins, according to what he tells us.

Sidelight entertainment was provided by LSU whooping-up on the Vols in the SEC championship game up in Atlanta; Pitt surprising the West Virginia Mountaineers in the backyard brawl; and Oklahoma beating up on "number one" Mizzou.

I love this time of year, and the mansion proved an awesome venue for a lot of folks down here to indulge the twin southern passions of sports and grub.

Congrats to the Jenkses, and thanks for playing host!

Just another day at the flea market

Yep, that's all that was on the agenda today. No college football worth staying home to watch since the Gators had a bye week and the Noles already got beaten on Thursday.

Well, the Tech v A&M game WOULD have been worth watching, but they're broadcasting it on ESPN-U . . . like that's a real channel. So, I'll have better luck finding an article about it in the paper tomorrow . . .

Anyway, Valda and Howard are struggling to fill their new 4,200 square foot mansion with the proper decor, so a trip up to Renniger's Flea Market in Mount Dora was arranged.

The weather co-operated fully. But, we still only found ONE of the items on our list.

I did manage to pick up quite a few things that were NOT on the list, including a pound of the sugar-coated blackberry/raspberry mix at my favorite candy vendor's booth.

For you socks who do not frequent flea markets, you have got to go at least once a year. It is definitely a unique subculture. And, it's ALMOST as entertaining as a college football game.

Moving day

I got back up to my nice, cool home in Apopka this afternoon after an absence of 4 months.

Some good things and some not-so-good things to deal with.

The good things included my stuff, my space, my bed, etc.

The not-so-good things include a mold issue on the front of the house, evidently caused by all the recent rain and my big oak trees that block-out the afternoon sun that would normally dry things out before things like this could happen.

Also, the "tenants" managed to rip a towel rack off the wall of my upstairs guest bathroom.

But, if that's all I have to worry about, I'm doing better than most, I suppose . . . and, hey, at least the AC works, right?!?

Current thermostat reading = 75 degrees.

Don't mess with the Jenkses!

That's the lesson Cash America Pawn Shop in Apopka learned today.

Last Thursday, while they were attending an orientation at Apopka High School, some piece of human debris decided to steal a bike I had loaned them.

They immediately went to the pawn shop in question, described the bike, and asked the staff if someone had brought anything matching the description within the last hour.

That's when things STARTED to get nasty.

The idiot behind the counter was completely uncooperative, dismissing them with a recommendation to go file a report with Apopka Police Department.

Well, they did that.

And, lo and behold, APD found the bike in Cash America Pawn Shop's inventory.

But, when the Jenkses went up there for the second time to claim the stolen property, the bozos working there insisted they pay the $35 in cash that they had foolishly given to the aforementioned piece of human debris.

Since when do you have to pay somebody for dealing in stolen goods?!

Now $35 is not a great deal of money in the grand scheme of things. But, as Aaron Tippin would point out, you have to stand for something.

So, the Jenkses called Central Florida's News Channel 13. Got a reporter with a camera to interview them at my house and take a look at the police report, the pawn shop receipt, etc.

Then, the reporter went over to the pawn shop and put a camera in their face.

Long story just a little bit longer: the Jenkses got a phone call this evening. Miraculously, Cash America Pawn Shop in Apopka has finally seen the error of their ways. They're going to give them a full refund.

But, if they really want to mend their ways, perhaps they could just stop giving money to obvious thieves . . . not to mention trying to take advantage of the victims of crime.

I love it when people get what they deserve. Good or bad!

1/3 of the way there!

In case you're wondering why I'm renting out my house in Apopka and taking up temporary quarters in Orlando, I can now show you photographic evidence.

That's Duran (aka "the tenant") standing in what will be the doorway of his new mansion.

Sorry, Casey!

Couldn't make it to my cousin Casey's high school graduation party today, as I am frantically trying to get "it" together.

I have to vacate these premises tomorrow so the Jenks clan can move in for a few months.

And, as the time to move gets frighteningly closer, I find I still have a lot of loose ends . . . ARGGHHH!

Procrastination is just way too easy, and it got me again.

Anyway, sorry I couldn't be there, Casey! But, I think you know I'm proud of your achievement(s)!!

El sicko de Mayo

Well, I had all kinds of good intentions to celebrate el Cinco de Mayo today.

You know, that's the Mexican holiday that only non-Mexicans seem to care about.

Anyway, I went out yesterday and got all the fixings for a really awesome Mexican feast.

But, I woke up this morning sick as a dog.

Thanks to Valda for the Claritin. Never tried it before, and it doesn't seem to be working just yet. But, I'm keeping my fingers crossed . . .

USF Day

No, USF doesn't stand for University of South Florida.

At least not today it doesn't.

Today, it stood for Universal Studios Florida.

In the ongoing effort to keep our minds off recent events, old Valda and Howard trotted us out to the theme parks for the day.

Had a great time, and couldn't ask for better weather. Hopefully, I'll get some copies of the numerous digipics to post here.

Letting go

We have spent Dad's final hours giving him as joyous a good-bye as we can muster.

It started about 3:30 this morning, when we thought the end was near. My mom, sister, and I gathered around his bed as we played one of his favorite Randy Travis CD's. Great old songs like "I'll Fly Away" and "The Old Rugged Cross." We sang when we could remember the words, and hummed along when we didn't.

But, Dad was an old Cold Warrior, and he battled back. In fact, we've been thru a lot of peaks and valleys today and the last week and a half. Actually, the last five years.

Anyway, we had a few kind visitors stop by including his parents, and his Uncle Richard (who sang him "He Walks With Me" and "Amazing Grace."

Thanks to LeeAnn and Kelly for re-stocking the refrigerator and pantry.

Thanks to Bill. Thanks to Ellen. Thanks to Dwight. Thanks to Deloise. Thanks to Sally. Thanks to Margarita, and everyone at Vitas. And, thanks to everyone whose names are not coming to me now, but whose visits, phone calls, and emails have meant so much to us.

Shedding some new light

Again, I have to thank the good friends who have been helping us thru our trying times.

Today, it is Duran and LeeAnn Jenks, who came by to help install a new overhead light in the old diningroom where Dad is now. (The old chandelier just wasn't functional, much less appropriate for the situation.)

But, it was more than the handyman know-how that we appreciated. The visit was nice, too. And, I think even Dad can pick up on the "good vibes" at some level.

Mom is at about 80% right now, and really picking-up some nursing skills. She is already quite adept at administering medication, and I'm taking lessons.