A full day on Saturday

At the end of the day, I am back at the computer. At the beginning of the day, I was able to say "good morning" to Christopher who carried a lovely table centerpiece up to my door. Jen was passing through the area and had it in her trunk ever since her sister's wedding. She had him run it up to me before it got wrecked. They were planning to attend the air show later today but had to run back home in between their errands. The centerpieces were so pretty on the tables and since Kristin didn't really need 8 of them and I'd complimented her on the lovely table decorations, she offered one to me! I accept!

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The bad part was I was still not dressed when he came, because I was being a lazy bones and watching some "Behind the Scenes" portions of the "Seinfeld" DVDs I bought. I really am enjoying finding out how the show was born, how many false starts they had, how the characters were chosen and the actors who auditioned, and so on. My company wasn't expected until later on so I was in no rush to get dressed. After I did get myself ready for the day, I got busy on my computer with my numerous projects. Two newsletters are due by the end of the month plus I've also agreed to re-type the by-laws of the Condo Association, as needed.

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Two of my lady friends came over to have a pow wow, to discuss the current state of their affairs. Betty just lost her job, laid off, as it were, and is going to live on unemployment benefits until she can find another position. She's not sure she'll find a job with enough salary to pay her bills and is concerned about losing her house. Brenda N. works for a different builder and has been cut back, too, but still has her job. We were putting our heads together, trying to think of options for each of them, one to sustain herself and the other to fill in the blank days. Brenda does cleaning for folks, is still fairly able-bodied although older than Betty.

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We came up with a plan for Brenda to move into an RV and park it on Betty's lot, bathe in her swimming pool, and pump the septic products into Betty's tank! Of course, this was in gest, but we get the idea about how things can possibly play out if the business doesn't turn around. Brenda's bosses, a family, would stand to lose everything since it's a Mom and Pop and Son organization, and having them all "employed" in the same place is bad when and if the bottom falls out for their company. Really gives us pause.....

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They were not impressed with my momentarily considering moving back to WI, didn't want to even hear about that. Some in my family agree that it wouldn't be the best idea either but it would be great for my mom to move out of that apartment building. This is all just speculation right now, and as Justin says, "You'd have to learn how to drive on ice again!!" As cold as I was in the restaurant tonight, it is quite difficult to imagine living in the cold and dark all the time. But, on the bright side, I'd have a newer condo and be closer to my family, and the, dare I say it?, boys!

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Anyway, Brenda had to leave in order to get cleaned up after doing some office cleaning, she came to my house all smelly (NOT!). She was attending a retirement event at her bosses' house tonight as one the superintendents was leaving the company. Not laid off or anything like that, but he has an illness that doesn't allow for him to work any longer. He's sort of a young man to be retiring but the illness just won't allow. I understand he has a balance disorder of some sort, which can be just miserable. Jimmie, my dear friend, will have to pick up the work the other fellow did but is just glad they have the work to keep him going.

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Just prior to the ladies coming, my upstairs neighbor called to report computer trouble and would be unable to type up and send off the Minutes from the Board meeting....Sure!, I can type them up and send them off for her! Justin, again, scolds me for not saying "No" to people but I feel like this is the least I can do since I am not out supervising the roofers or replacing the elevator. We are all volunteers here in running our building and I already refused the "opportunity" to serve on the personnel committee because I love our "door man" so much! I can't do it to him, which was often my problem in the business, always connecting with folks and then not being able to let go!

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No sooner had the ladies left when Justin called to ask me to go to church with him tonight. Since I had no other plans I said I would, and then we could use his Carrabba's gift card, a birthday present from Travis and Jessica. I got myself ready for church and drove over, arriving about 10 minutes before worship. Only 8 of us in church, about usual for Saturday evenings, but the service was wonderful. One of the hymns we sang was "In Christ Alone", Linda, just what I needed to hear/sing/read! The version was from the Supplement which has less fanfare than the choral version, but is still absolutely gorgeous to sing in a church with such accoustics as Victory's. The hymn made up for the 'strange' one we sang from the Worship and Praise hymnal they use, from CPH.

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Next Sunday afternoon our church and Victory are having a joint Reformation Service and German-style meal. Our choirs will unite to sing two anthems, including "In Christ Alone". Bonnie, the pianist tonight as well as the church secretary, asked me if I wanted to rehearse together next Thursday when we come for Bible study. She and I are two of the three sopranos singing our part, as this anthem has a second soprano part for those without the range to squeek like mice! I can sign up to bring a German dish but Pastor Hoyer told me I didn't have to bring anything as I will be a guest next week. We'll see, I might be so moved to make something anyway, but we'll have to be there so early for practice....

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Justin and I enjoyed our meal, although his favorite pasta fell short of expectations. He told the waitress it was missing an ingredient, and told me it tasted like they used Ragu! He loved his chicken trio, introduced to us by then Kelly Vance, who used to work at Carrabba's. It is his meal of choice there, and I had the sirloin marsala. Of course, I brought most of it home with me and perhaps I'll have it for supper tomorrow.

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Justin is coming over here to watch the football game tomorrow, his suggestion, and is going to tackle a project for me while we watch. I have stacks of CD's, DVDs, and VHS tapes scattered around, some of them not in the proper containers, and just messy. We are considering either getting rid of or packing away the Disney and kid videos since Prange's won't be coming any time soon, Lucas was the only one who has watched one in ages. We can't even sell those type tapes at the Yard Sale because no one uses the VHS players any longer. I am glad I have one that works in my bedroom TV because all our home movies are VHS yet. Guess I need to get them converted or buy the machine myself to get them onto DVDs for posterity. Paul told me that it's not even possible to buy a VHS player in the store anymore so I'd better get a move on. Not like I sit and watch the movies regularly, but I'd like to know I can watch them when I want to.

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Earlier I mentioned the Rosses' going to the air show.....Thursday I had a sneak preview of the Blue Angels practicing along the river, flying in low and close over my building and above the water. Very impressive, as any of you who been to the air show can attest. NASJAX is the home of the Blue Angels so it's a special time when they are in town. The ladies and I could see and hear the jets as they performed today but the sky was so overcast that the show lost something in translation, rather, visibility. It's too bad that it was cloudy because it's really quite spectacular to see these machines being maneuvered in the sky---inspirational!