Why am I still sitting here when my tummy is growling?

Well, because I do not want to make a big noise in the kitchen and wake my sleeping guests. The microwave oven backs up to the room where the Schippers are staying and makes a racket running besides the opening and closing of its door. I will have a spritz cookie instead, brought to me by Alayna and made by her daddy. Thanks, Randy! Not knowing a whole lot about spritz cookie making, I wonder if a drop or two of peppermint extract would taste good in a green cookie---or a pink one???

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Being up and about well before my company was allowed me the privilege of strolling the rooms, gathering belongings and trash, dirty dishes, etc. for removal. The pillows have been fluffed, the blanket refolded and draped over the wing chair, the chairs pushed up to the tables (I have three tables with chairs for our uses!) and even swept the kitchen floor this morning. There is more I could do in the kitchen but again, do not want to disturb anyone. I figure at 10:00 a.m., I should be able to resume normal activity without being considered a rude hostess! David is up, I just heard him sneeze really loudly and I about jumped out of my seat!

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Marian's gift to me, a massage pillow for my back, is working right now, humming away behind me. I asked for permission to use it before school started because I like it so much. Yesterday I gave her a call to tell her how much I am enjoying the pillow. She made the mistake of telling me that everyone else liked theirs too so that is why she bought them for others as gifts. Okay---who is everyone else? Oh, sure, the people in Arno's living facility! When she visited Arno this summer, she saw the pillows there and the people who were with her said they liked them. Oh that is just great! Me, and the people in supervised-living really like our massage pillows!

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Nancy, my sis-in-law, reported that her kids enjoyed their CHRISTmas presents, too, saying it was like when they were little and did not care what they got. What does that mean? Evidently, as they got older, the kids were more difficult to please or were less than grateful for what they got (i.e. the charm bracelets and subsequent charms from Auntie Kim!). But, now, this year when money was scarce in their household, the presents meant much more. Like someone hit the "reset" button on our lives, a new appreciation for what we have and perhaps less focus on what others have. This is a "hmmmmm.......moment" and I was glad when Nancy described it the way she did!

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Justin called to say he was on this way over here, after leaving the car wash. I gave David and Justin each a car wash certificate, with David using his yesterday and Justin this a.m. He did not want the kids to ride around in his filthy car, more inside mess than outside. Justin has to use his car to haul work supplies like gas-powered tools and lawn mowers, and often has bales of grass and clippings accumulated in the back of his car. Ew! His pride and joy doubles as a workshop! That is why I gave him his car wash gift certificate early, as he mentioned wanting to get it cleaned before driving the young folks around. I am an easy touch! David told Dusty that he would not recognize their car after having had it cleaned!

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Today our plans are to have lunch at Koko's and then I must pay my real estate taxes before the end of the year, of course. Justin is taking the young people off shopping and David thinks he might want to skip having lunch out and stay here to consume his leftovers from Clark's, our dinner last night. He so loved his meal but could not finish it all, does not want to let it go to waste. Lori would like to ride out to Coldwater Creek if we can find a parking place....Man it is busy out there! What recession????