The roar of the jet engines

As I sit in my window, waiting for Justin to arrive, I am being entertained once more by the Blue Angels going through their paces at the Navy base. Today is a glorious one complete with cloudless blue skies, perfect for watching planes zoom around. The river is alive with boats of all types as people get an excellent view of the show and avoid the street traffic complications when the show is over. Can get hairy trying to dump all those cars onto Hwy. 17 at one time. Of course, the Jaguar game is going to be taking place at 4:00 so traffic might be quite different due to that.

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After worship today we had a quick congregational/voters' meeting where it was discussed and decided to go ahead with the 2nd option regarding the financing of our building projects. Some were hesitant to stick our necks out for the amount of money needed, reasonable thinking at these questionable times. Others, the prevailing sentiment, was the rates are low now, favorably so, costs are down now, the need remains for the roof repairs, etc., etc. The vote passed but not without a few 'nays', again, due to the uncertainties we are facing.

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Immediately following our meeting, we recessed to the patio area for our Oktoberfest celebration, hosted by the Fellowship Committee. I brought nothing to share, what kind of Lutheran am I? Terri assured she brought plenty of food for both of us so I went ahead and ate. Our congregation president went from frying the brats to conducting the meeting and then got to enjoy the fruits of his grille.

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We had a good turnout for this event, complete with polka music, German singing CDs, and brew. Prior to my departure, I was coaxed into doing the "Dance Little Bird" a. k. a. The Chicken Dance. Whew, I got warm then! A group of folks joined me at sitting at a full-sun table but eventually had to ease their ways into the shade. I wasn't warm there but was quite hot when the dancing was over! Even skinny Pastor got worn out dancing the Chicken Dance!

Here is Pastor doing a dosey-do in the Dance Little Bird routine. No wonder we got hot! Nick Conroy is dancing with Pastor Kuske, with Kim Tyler and her nephew, Christopher behind them. On the edge of the dance floor is Terri Thompson with Nathan Kuske. A good time was had by all!

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Justin was coming over here to work on a project for me this afternoon while watching the football game, but there was a development......Emily called to ask us to dinner. Okay, I would love to come and my CD/DVD project isn't all that important, not more than going to Paul and Emily's for dinner! My next door neighbors are busily unpacking their moving boxes which I've rescued from the dumpster area and loaded into my car. I ran into Ed (the guy with the grille!) and told him I took some of their boxes and he offered more boxes and even packing paper! When Justin comes, we're going to go get more boxes from them as well as the packing paper for his move in about two weeks.

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In going through the documents for the lease at Melrose, it appears there is no loophole for us to use in order to get him out of the obligation. It will be the right thing for him to stay there, this I know, as I have pretty much taken over the room that used to be his, having to start the HD cable service again, and so on. It will save money to have him here, but it would be a huge pain in the neck and not a little nusance. On both our parts! He'd want to go out and have fun with his buddies, and I'd have to look the other way, or he'd want to mess up the family room and I would object to that as well. Sounds like I am unreasonable, which I am not, and neither is he. Justin understands and appreciates the situation, probably having a better picture since he works in the business and see the affects of the downturn. He is fairly sure he'll be able to adjust his lifestyle, saying he is "scared enough" by what's going to on to live more modestly.

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Back from dinner at the Lawcock's and already in my nightie. We had a wonderful meal, topped off my Dutch apple pie and ice cream Justin and I picked up at Publix. Before heading over there we stopped at the neighbors and got a load of cardboard boxes and wrapping paper for Justin's big move. That reminds me--I'd better get him on the schedule with my Turkish friends for moving day. After November 1st we'll know who his roomies are and whether or not to take the game table with him. I think if he moves in first, he gets dibs on the "kitchen" table/game table. But that will be for them to work out, I guess. There is no room here for those pieces of furniture so he'd better get there first!

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One thing is for sure, he'll have plenty of boxes and wrapping paper to protect his belongs!