Bits 'n Pieces

My mind is ragged this morning, bouncing all over with ideas and thoughts and annoyances. I get irked when the 'news' is a re-run on Saturday of what happened during the week, although I realize that little newsworthy happened overnight. Guess the heavy snowfall in Washington is making for the slow news day!

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It must be okay to mention that my friend, Rick, is starting a new job after New Year, having given his notice yesterday. He wanted to do the right thing by giving a good two weeks' notice to his present employer and so far has gone well. Rick had started with our building company at the tender age of 20 as a draftsman. He was a single dad, living with his folks who helped with the toddler, whom he brought to the same day care where Timmy was kept. That is where we met. Rick worked at a doctor's office in the daytime and went to ITT at night to learn drafting. I told him we were looking for a drafter so the next day he showed up without making an appointment, was hired, and the rest is history. He married Jennifer, who worked in the day care, and now they have a daughter together plus Christopher. I am just delighted about his new job and wish him all the best!

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Andrea Bocelli is going to be on Fox and Friends this morning to sing a song from his new CHRISTmas CD. The sample they play is "White Christmas" but about half of the songs are true hymns or anthems that talk about Jesus' birthday, not the secular celebration.

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My downstairs neighbor, Jeff, is a pilot and home for a while before heading off again. Tracy said they were going to watch a movie last night but their daughters had pilfered their collection! I am going down there shortly with my basket of movies, should wear my red coat so I can be disguised as the Red Box like outside of McDonald's, only free for the borrowing!

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Twila and I watched "Julie and Julia" last night while eating our delicious Papa Murphy's pizza. Judy J. was coming to watch, too, but decided to sit by the phone to hear the report about Pastor's wife, Lynn. Judy was with their kids during the day but the grandparents came to relieve Judy before Lynn was out of surgery. All went well, the lumpectomy was performed without problem, and there was still some question as to whether she would be allowed to stay overnight or be sent home. The call came at 7:30 last night and she still had an hour of recovery to enjoy before the medical people would decide. I hope they let her stay where she was and just sleep! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for sparing our sister, Lynn K.!!!

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Twila had the idea to have a Julia Child Dinner here and I love that idea! The young lady who cooked her way through the cookbook made a beef dish that sounded wonderful as well as a fluffy raspberry dessert which appealed to me. After the holidays are over, we will pursue these plans. I will have to find my pearl necklace to wear when cooking and eating!

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I would like to wrap my presents but have no gift boxes. Normally I am at Mom's this time of the year and know exactly where the boxes, wrap, tape, bows, and name tags are up there, even in her new apartment. But, I got nothing here except for tissue paper. I do have wrap but no boxes so might pick some up when out shopping today. Remember when the stores used to offer them at the check-out? Rats!

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The other day I was talking with Justin over lunch about some "cheap" condos Joanne told me about in St. Johns county. I told Justin about the unit on the second floor in my building that recently sold after 18 months on the market for about $115,000 less than the original asking price. While I am glad they finally found a buyer, I am horrified at what will happen to the values on the rest of the units. Yes, it is a buyer's market, which is why I could get 2000 sq. ft. at Palencia for $150,000, marked down from $400,000, a brand-new unit, first owner. Imagine that!!! Of course, I would have to change churches and go to Victory but my friends would find that too far to come and visit me. BUT, my point was, in discussing this with Justin, was that the unit which sold was the same size and basic floor plan as mine, needing freshening up. He said to me, "Yours doesn't need any freshening up---it looks so homey already!" What a lovely thing to hear and for him to say. He warmed my heart!