Rooftop Rendezvous

I went with my brother and nieces to lunch yesterday in downtown Jacksonville, and my sister-in-law (who was working nearby) met up with us. There's a new Mexican restaurant on the roof of the VyStar building, and I thought it might be cool to see the city from a new perspective. Apparently the restaurant isn't fully open yet, but I guess we looked pathetic and hungry, because they seated us and we enjoyed it. I'm guessing it'll be very popular with the after-work crowd.

The view above shows the Wells Fargo (formerly Modus) building in the foreground, with one of the bridges leading over the St. Johns River. That Modus building, originally known as the Independent Life building, built in 1974, is probably the best-known structure on the Jacksonville skyline.

Here's a view of the rooftop patio, although we ate indoors. (View plus air conditioning!)

In the background of that second picture you can see these buildings. My brother says they're in the process of being turned into a single, interlinked hotel. I thought the Carling sign behind them was a beer advertisement, but no -- apparently it's the name of an apartment building.

We walked around afterwards just enough to get hot, and then headed home. I went in the afternoon for another visit with Mom, and we had a great time. I told her about the day and about lunch, and then we looked at some old photos. It was a good way to spend the time, because she didn't have to try to speak -- I could just keep up a running commentary on certain pictures or events and she could laugh or respond with a word or two. (Usually, of course, "Oh, God," although sometimes "Oh, God, no!")

Once again it's hard to tell what she's thinking, but there's no question in my mind that she knows what she's looking at. She definitely reacts to certain images. For example...

...she laughed really hard at this picture, of me and my brother at Christmas in 1970. I think my brother capsized just before the shutter clicked, and maybe I'm reacting? Anyway, she got such a kick out of him rolling around on the floor.

Just outside my mom's retirement community there are some expensive houses along Julington Creek. One of them had this in the yard:

But then next door, there was this:

I've seen this in a couple of places, where neighbors seem to be in a dialogue (to put it nicely).

Last night's movie entertainment was "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which I liked, but I'm not sure how closely I followed the plot. It was kind of a salad of words and explosions. (The three or four glasses of wine I consumed while watching it probably didn't help.) Am I the only one who thinks Captain America's shield is a total cop-out? It basically allows him to do anything. It's like an automatic get-out-of-jail-free card.