I'M BACK!!

I sincerely hope that everyone had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday; I know the genius and I did. We spent it with my cousins at their lake house plus 45 of their nearest and dearest friends. This is a family tradition that dates back probably thirty years when my aunt and uncle hosted it. Now it has been taken over by the next generation and the numbers have really grown.

Brenda and I made it back Wednesday night from the Cape. Unfortunately, I had spent my last several days there in bed, sick with food poisoning that started on Saturday. At my age it takes a while to snap back from something like that, and I'm still feeling somewhat rocky. But I refuse to let the illness spoil my memories of a great few weeks at the Cape!!

The good news is I lost some weight!! The bad news is that I'm sure that it will come back easily as soon as my appetite is restored.

The genius told us a funny story that happened to him while I was gone. He went to the grocery and because he was hungry, he stopped by the deli and picked up a reuben sandwich, which he ate before checking out. He had decided to just give the empty container with the bar code on it to the checkout lady.

When he went to check out, there were long lines and he, never being one to wait in line for anything, decided to do the self check out thingy. So he meandered over and started scanning his items. He came to the empty carton and scanned it and put it in the bag, as the voice directed him. But because the weight was gone the "voice lady" couldn't pick it up. So he put his finger in the bag and pushed down what he thought a sandwich would weigh. That was fine, but when he removed his hand, the voice came back on -- "Put the item in the bag!"

So what was he to do? Keep one hand in the bag and try to check out and pay, etc. with it still there? He asked for help but they were busy and couldn't. Finally, I guess he timed out or whatever, but at last his purchase was accepted. But I can see him now trying to keep one finger pushed down and frantically doing all the other tasks with his other hand.

Wouldn't that make a great skit for Mr. Bean?!?

JIM'S LAST DAY

Well, here it us Wednesday. Jim leaves tomorrow and Brenda comes on Friday afternoon, so Rufus and I will have the place to ourselves for a couple of days and one night. As much as I enjoy company, I look forward to having some time to myself and doing just what I want when I want. Of course, I will have no car, so I have to make sure I have all the food I need.

Jim and I have had some great meals out and we are now hanging out in Cafe La Leche where they have wireless. We just had a great lunch at Papa Joe's Oyster Bar and tonight we will have one more seafood meal at an oyster bar up the street from us at the Cape. (Have I ever mentioned that Appalachicola is the oyster capitol of the South?)

Yesterday we found a Family Dollar store in Appalachicola that had the most incredible bargains. We bought a DVD player for $30, a toaster oven for $10, and an Ipod for $15.00. We also loaded up on ear phones, which were $2.00 each. We always seem to need them for trips with the kids so we don't have to listen to their music or movies.

Then we went to a Movie Gallery and rented 6 movies. Last night we watched two of them. And we'll probably watch 2 more tonight. I'm going to donate the oven to the house down here and probably the DVD player also. They knocked a bunch of money off of the rent for November because of our condo situation, so this is my way of thanking them.

And maybe they'll knock off some next year if I decide to come back to the same place!!

THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF GUESTS

Sooooo, Jim IV arrived today, BJ and Jerry are leaving early in the morning, and Brenda will come down on Friday. I hate to see BJ and Jerry leave; we have had a lot of fun. But they will be looking forward to getting home to their new puppy, Monty.

Jerry doesn't like sudden loud noises and he has had to put up with plenty of that down here. In the first place, jets go over from Tyndall Air Force Base all the time, sometimes breaking the sound barrier. The boom shakes the whole house and startles us all, but especially Jerry. Also, the other night we were eating dinner with Rufus under the table going for the crumbs. All of a sudden, he came forth with one of his loud shrill barks and Jerry's fork flew straight up in the air and landed on the floor. BJ and I laughed so hard we could hardly eat.

Changing the subject, remember when I talked the other day about Intruder in the Dust, the movie made from a book of William Faulkner's that featured our uncle's house in it? Well, I found a copy online and ordered it. I can hardly wait to watch it and relive those memories of when we used to visit Oxford and stay in that house.

I sincerely hope the movie is better than the book. Faulkner is not one of my favorite authors. I read Intruder at some point in my life and the main thing that stands out was that one sentence of his went on for seven pages!! I'm serious!!

That could be one reason I don't particularly like his books!

THE SEARCH FOR ICE CREAM

Well, MA and Chun left this morning; I hated to see them go because we had such a good time together.

Last night we had our last meal here. I'll have to say that I have really been pampered by my two sisters. They have planned and cooked every meal since we have been here except for the ones we ate out. Also, I did bring down a chicken casserole I had made and frozen, but other than that, that's the extent of the cooking I have done. I have cleaned up the dishes several times, but the kitchen is so close to the dining area that I almost feel like I'm still at the table with them while they sit around it and talk. Altogether, it's been very enjoyable.

Last night I was loading the dishwasher and I asked, "Who wants ice cream?"

Someone said we didn't have enough, and I answered, "I wasn't talking about here; I'm talking about going to the little store for some cones."

Well, we jumped into the car and drove over to the store only to arrive just as it was closing. So we turned around and started back. Then someone suggested we drive into Port St. Joe and get some at the Piggly Wiggly. So we all agreed this was a good idea and proceeded to drive the 10 miles over there, even though it was raining.

Of course, while we were in the store, we had to stock up on some other things (56.00 worth). And then we came back and had some great pralines and cream ice cream. What started out to be a little jaunt to get ice cream cones turned into a major shopping spree!

Oh, Well, it's little spur of the moment ideas that can be so much fun. We laughed and joked all the way over there and back.

And Rufus enjoyed the ride, too!

MEMORIES IN MISSISSIPPI

I mentioned yesterday that the sisters and I have been discussing a lot of memories and one of them that came up was the house that belonged to one of our uncles. Uncle Andrew (pronounced Andra, I don't know why) at one time lived in Oxford just off the square in a very interesting house. We three girls were fascinated because of its unusual qualities.

From the outside it looked like a two story mansion with columns and a front porch. Then when you walked inside there was a big hall that went all the way to the back. On each side of the hall were big rooms and as I recall the kitchen was at the back of the house. The house was nice and roomy and airy too with the breeze coming in the tall windows and blowing through the house.

It was the upstairs that was so unlike other houses because it housed the town jail. Enclosed steps led up off of the back porch up to the second level and there you could walk in and see the cells. I barely remember that, but the sisters both had more memories than I and could supply more details.

They remember when our aunt would take up plates full of food to the prisoners three times a day. Sometimes she would even let them help!! Virtually all of the prisoners were men and they were usually brought in for being drunk. MA also recalled playing in the yard and looking up and seeing faces at the window watching them. She said it was a creepy feeling.

We realized at the time what a novelty it was to visit someone who lived in a jailhouse, but amazingly we were never afraid. We probably realized that the prisoners were pretty harmless or Uncle Andrew wouldn't have let us stay.

In the fifties Hollywood made a movie from one of William Falkner's books entitled Intruder in the Dust. In it the house was featured because someone was arrested and brought to the jailhouse. We all went to see it, of course, and were enthralled to see our uncle's house shown off in such a prominent way. The movie also starred Nashville's own Claude Jarman when he was a teenager so that added to the excitement. As I recall, Intruder was not that big a hit and I don't remember being all that enthralled with the plot. But I do remember the thrill of seeing the familiar places that we knew so well in Oxford being shown on the big screen for all the world to see.

I've been trying and trying to imagine this sort of thing taking place today, but those were the fifties (before drugs came on the scene) and the worst crime in a small town like that was usually having one too many in a back alley.

MORE FROM THE CAPE

We're still having a great time down here. MA and Chun arrived about 5:00 on Saturday afternoon after an uneventful trip down. (Except in Dothan they got stuck in the Peanut Festival traffic.) I keep thinking I'll take a picture of the three of us and post it, but so far I've been too lazy.

We've had some good home cooked meals (by MA and BJ; I'm not into cooking on vacation). We've sunned and read books and talked a lot about old times. We have some good memories, I will say that.

Last night we went to our old favorite, Papa Joe's Oyster Bar in Appalachacola and it did not disappoint us. Their fried oysters were as good as ever. I even bought myself another one of their T shirts to sleep in. They are very soft and comfortable for wearing anytime.

Then we came back here and drove out to see some of the damage to the cape from the water surge from Ike. Even though Ike hit in Texas, the surge from it damaged both the road and some of the houses (including the condos where we were to stay). We could also look down the beach and see how close they are to said condos to pumping in more sand for the beach in front of them. We then bought some ice cream cones to finish off our meal.

This morning we went to Port St. Joe for breakfast at Sisters so MA and Chun could have that great experience. One of the owners is a Tennessee fan and one is a Florida State supporter, so I made sure to wear one of my many Gator shirts. I told Chun beforehand that the proprietor was for Tennessee and he said, "Don't tell her I am; I'm too embarassed this year."

We had a good breakfast and were back here in time for some good sunning on the deck. The wind was a little cool, but it felt good to me.

We're all getting brown as berries and soooo healthy looking!!

SUN TIME IS FUN TIME

We've settled into a regular schedule here at the Cape. We get up about 7:00 or 7:30(except for Jerry who arises much earlier and is usually walking the beach by the time we get up). Then we take it easy drinking coffee and lounging around planning our day. Everyone is on his/her own for breakfast unless we fix a big fattening one and then about 10:00 BJ and Jerry head for the beach.

I stay on the back deck because I can hear the phone and Rufus can stay with me. Of course, I am getting too much sun, but it sure feels good to soak it up. Think of all the endorphins and Vitamin D I am getting! There's usually a nice breeze and it is very comfortable. This is definitely the best time of year to come down here.

In the afternoon we read or go to the store in Port St. Joe. Then we have a delicious dinner that BJ has usually fixed for us.

At night it's in the fifties, so I just don my Gator windbreaker when I take Rufus outside for the nightly walk. And speaking of the Gators, the fans around here were very happy over the Georgia game. Everyone I talked to was ecstatic.

Jim IV told me that Jesse seems a little depressed without Rufus to play with. Now I feel bad that I didn't bring her too. But he is enjoying himself walking the beach, etc.

Tomorrow MA and Chun are coming down. There's no telling what we three sisters can get into!!

FUN IN THE SUN AT CAPE SAN BLAS

OK, folks, it's back to the Dark Ages!! We don't have wireless here at the beach house, so the other day BJ and I took our laptops to the parking lot of a real estate office and got on. That's how I was able to post a message the other day. Then we remembered DIAL UP!! Why didn't I think of that before? Anyway, BJ can get it on hers; I can't because the week before I came down my computer got a virus and in order to fix it, we had to erase the hard drive and start over. AOL, my dial up connection, wasn't put back on. So I'm using hers to check mail, obits, etc.

I had forgotten the awful sound the dial up connection makes. AND the long waits between web addresses, etc. I remember I used to read a book while I was on the computer when we had it on dial up and would read while I waited for things to load. Ah well, it's amazing how it all comes back and how appreciative I am to have any connection to the outside world via the internet.

We are still having great weather here. Today there was not a cloud anywhere and the temp was supposed to reach 80 degrees. It was certainly hot here on the front deck, where I get my vitamin D. I stay here rather than go to the beach with BJ and Jerry because that way I can have Rufus with me. I just block off the opening to the steps with some upended chairs and he stays right on the porch with me or when he gets too hot, he goes inside and watches me.

As usual, he is having a ball on his vacation, but I'm sure he misses Jesse. Maybe next time I can manage both.

Actually, BJ and Jerry have acquired a little dog themselves: one that is half shihtzu and half pomeranian. The little feller was too young to make the trip (only 6 weeks) so he is staying with one of her daughters until she returns. So next year Rufus can play with Monty (short for Montana).

MA and Chun are coming down this Saturday, so we will have the whole family here. What fun we will have!!

I just hope we can behave and not be called down by the restaurant personel for being too loud like we were once in Vicksburg, MS!! THREE TIMES!

AT THE CAPE

Well, we are here and loving it. The house is great -- one bedroom and bath on the main floor and 2 more of the same on the top floor. This place is actually much nicer than the condos where we stayed before but the location is not as good. It faces the beach, but is a little walk to it. The others were right on it, but that's also the reason they are not available anymore. They were washed away.

Jerry, BJ, Rufus and I made it down in record time. We only stopped for gas and at rest areas. At one of the rest areas we spread out a nice picnic lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, stuffed eggs, and fresh fruit salad. I had put it all together the day before and it tasted very good. But then picnic food always does.

I'll try to get a picture downloaded to my computer so you can see what the place looks like. Rufus has adjusted to it nicely.

On another subject, we had a ball at the luncheon on Friday and came up with a name for our group: Burro Babes. (The burro was our high school mascot.) We all had a great time telling funny stories, and finally one of the others said, "When did you all get so funny? I don't remember y'all being this way."

We laughed and decided that we were too uptight in high school to be witty. We were too busy trying to get dates and that was a serious business.

We're much more relaxed and happy now and can say what's on our minds.