Warming myself with the laptop

My new secret weapon for keeping warm---the laptop computer! It throws off a great deal of heat which sometimes isn't all that comfortable, but today, oh yeah, it's wonderful!

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I just got back from meeting with the CPA making it necessary for me to brave the elements. Otherwise, my room stayed nice and warm today, holding the heat from the morning/early afternoon sun for some time. The part of my house not getting sun felt quite chilly. My slippers kept me comfy and snug, even when I had to go down and meet Justin by the elevator. He was cleaning out our little house in Brookstone (no longer mine) for some new renters and asked me if I wanted my little gnomes and pitcher/bowl sets that were left there. I used to collect those type items but wasn't sure if I really wanted them back. They had been gifts way back when I lived in WI so that will tell you how old they are. Will I put them out anywhere for display? Not likely. Now they are up here in my house, but will they stay? We'll see....Victory is having a Yard Sale in a couple weeks so perhaps I'll donate this small collection to their sale...I am truly torn!

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I've discovered another new feature on the computer---USA Network has full episodes of several of their programs available for my listening and dancing pleasure. I can't help but be interested in "The Starter Wife", not so much for its quality but more because it's based on a true story of a Hollywood ex-wife who is starting a career in writing. Sort of fun to see how she is going from a journal keeper to perhaps a mini-series writer, based upon her day to day life. Gotta love it!

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Once I get all warmed up from my laptop I'll have to venture out once more for choir rehearsal in a little while. I did accomplish something this a.m. by getting my church newsletter sent off to the secretary for printing. The majority of members get it on the Internet but for those who don't, a hard copy is made available. It sure saves on paper costs to use the air waves or whatever it is that moves my words around instead of everyone getting a printed copy. I just have the condo newsletter to get out this month, also done on e-mail except for one!

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This afternoon I spent nearly two hours on the phone with my sister-in-law, Mona, as she filled me in on the health status of Arno. He's getting his strength back but is not even close to being back to what he was before going in for the surgery, now sporting a catheter to help handle the excess output from taking water pills. He was brought home by therapists on Monday to see how he could manage the home environment such as getting out of chair on his own, in and out of the bathtub, basic things. They felt he did okay, but Mona was quite distressed at how sadly he did. There is no way he was doing well, and she would recognize that since she has the baseline measurement, as it were, where the "pros" did not. That sort of freaked her out, because seeing the way he shuffled along and such could hardly imagine being able to leave him alone even the short while it would be to take her daughter to school. Nope, not a good plan. They live right across the road from the Health Care Center where he can stay during rehab which would be incredibly convenient. We'll have to see what happens now, what the Social Worker from the hospital is able to determine. Changing the catheter collection bag and such would not be in Mona's job description.

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I am watching the Cash Cab as I write, loving to see the streets of New York going by. It is nerve wracking for me for those folks struggling to answer the questions before getting to their destinations. If they get three wrong, the Cab stops and the passengers have to get out. What is also fun is to see what kind of folks he picks up, how they interact with each other, what their relationships are, etc. Today I even saw a child for the first time, but she was a total dud, didn't react to the action at all.

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Time to leave for choir now so am bracing myself for the cold temperatures out there. Our last rehearsal before the Reformation service on Sunday so I am a bit excited!

Sittin' in the sunshine and it's freezing outside!

I just stepped outside to grab Justin's visor from my plant stand and nearly froze my toes off! In that short time.....the thermometer reads 34 above zero! What is going on around here? Only two weeks ago we were facing record high temps and now my toes are freezing! I am wearing his visor because the sun shines right into my eyes at this time of the day and I had the brainstorm to put it on. In about an hour the sun will have moved around and up a bit more and then it's not a problem. And it's not really a 'problem'---only I can't read when it's in my eyes, can still write (type) but not read what I've written!

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Yesterday I heard from one of the ladies at church, one of the game players who was here to play "Seinfeld" Trivia with me. She has some great ideas for finding a facility for the Ladies' Advent Service other than our classroom building or Fellowship Hall. I love having someone show initiative in these matters, a spirit renewer! Her name is Kathy and is a wonderful pianist and strong alto.

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I got all choked up Tuesday when Lisa sent the invitation to Gabe's birthday party. It's his 5th and that just hit a button with me, as I remembered making the plans for Timmy's 5th birthday party. Instead that day ended up being his funeral day. Timmy wanted to have a pajama party but only those who actually wore pajamas were invited! Since I wore night gowns instead, I was not on the list! Betty from our office was going to be able to come since she wore jammies and Pete Prange was also invited. I wore gowns and his father slept in his undies so NO party for you!!! To circumvent the rules, I went to the store and bought a pair of jammies, and I still have them, never worn.

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I also have the birthday gifts, unwrapped, that I'd bought for his birthday, purchased ahead of time since I knew I'd be home-bound after my surgery. His father was going to take Timmy, Justin, and our employees' little kids to the Ringling Bros. Circus as part of the celebration. Oh well. We also had received birthday presents, wrapped, with the CHRISTmas shipment from family in WI, which I never opened, but sent them to his father's house instead. I "toyed" with opening the presents and seeing if the preschool could use them but opted to leave that decision to his father. Probably trucks or Thomas the Tank Engine stuff.

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Gabe has chosen a dragon theme for his birthday and Lisa made up the cutest invitations. He is getting to be such a big boy, has sung in church twice already this year with his Sunday school and/or preschool class. I am so looking forward to seeing him in the CHRISTmas service at Calvary Lutheran in Sheboygan on the 21st. Lisa told me in e-mail yesterday about Manny asking to pray "Come, Lord Jesus" at bedtime and Gabe saying that was the supper prayer and not bedtime. Lisa cleared it up for them explaining asking Jesus to sleep with us is okay, too, which they accepted. She said Gabe "preaches" to Manny, especially when he's doing something naughty, telling Manny if he doesn't behave, Jesus is going to come and give him back all his sins! That kid needs a pulpit! Talk about a Law Deliverer!!! Lisa straightened out this doctrinal matter, too, but I sure did have a good laugh about that, just imagining Gabe preaching at Manny!

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After the Packer/Jaguar Game, Lynn and I are going to fly together from JAX to MKE attempting to get her back in time for choir rehearsal on Wednesday. That way she'll only have to fly alone one direction. Glad I have my entertainment tickets purchased well in advance because I'll have to cut back on that type of expenditure for the time being.....rats!

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Not too long ago we were talking, Kim and Justin, with someone about Timmy's pj party plans and what a turn of events it was to have his funeral on his birthday. Justin piped up with the profound comment, "Timmy did have a pajama party, only he wasn't there!", because our entire upstairs was made into a dormitory for our houseguests, mattresses all over the place in the media room and game room, and people in their pajamas!