A funny from my sister, Lynn

COLD IS A RELATIVE THING. . . . . . .

65 above zero: Floridians turn on the heat. People in Wisconsin plant gardens.

60 above zero: Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Wisconsin sunbathe.

50 above zero: Italian & English cars won't start. People in Wisconsin drive with the windows down.

40 above zero: Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats. People in Wisconsin throw on a flannel shirt.

35 above zero: New York landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Wisconsin have the last cookout before it gets cold.

20 above Zero People in Miami all die. Wisconsinites close the windows.

Zero: Californians fly away to Mexico . People in Wisconsin get out their winter coats.

10 below zero: Hollywood disintegrates. The Girl Scouts in Wisconsin are selling cookies door to door.

20 below zero: Washington DC runs out of hot air. People in Wisconsin let the dogs sleep indoors.

30 below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Wisconsinites get upset because they can't start the Snowmobile.

40 below zero: ALL atomic motion stops. People in Wisconsin start asking...'Cold enough for you?'

50 below zero: Hell freezes over. Wisconsin public schools will open 2 hours late

One more thing.....

.....before I head to Koko's yet again this week.......

*

Last evening as Justin and I chatted in the restaurant before Hilchey's arrived, he told me that he caught part of an episode of "Seinfeld" while getting dressed. It was the episode when George and Jerry went to Atlantic City where Jerry was going to perform and he took George along. Elaine couldn't go because she had just started a new job and had to find just the perfect white socks for her boss, Mr. Pitt. She got the job with him because she reminded Mr. Pitt of his old friend, Jackie O. Justin said he couldn't help but laugh at it, but not because he found it all that funny----no, he was laughing because he knew I found it funny! I love that kid!

What happened after the pedicure?

Once my home was empty, around 4:30 p.m., I got dressed and fixed my face for the evening outing. Justin sent me an IM during the pedicure and I happened to come into my room for something and saw it. He asked me to call him when I got close to the Mall so he could meet me there and we could chat before the Hilchey's arrived. Cool!

*

I had less than an hour of down time between activities so I sat in the family room to watch the news. Earlier I had turned on the TV for Memrie and discovered the recently crashed airliner in the river in NYC. Praise be to God for sparing the lives of all these people! As the events unfolded, it was evident that nothing besides the grace of God and the skill of the crew on the plane saved those folks. It was amazing and fascinating to watch, the first three or four hours anyway.

*

Before long I had to throw off my Packer blanket and head out into the elements to meet Justin at Mimi's Cafe at the Town Center Mall. Twice in one day I made the trip over there! Olivia heads back to college on the 31st and we wanted to make sure we got together once more before they leave. Her mom goes with her to college, and has ever since Olivia moved to TN. Justin and I sat in the bar area to wait for our group, who called to say they were running just a bit behind schedule, having to come all the way from Middleburg to the Mall. That is a hike, believe me! The reason I wanted to sit on the high chairs in the bar was because the cold air blew on us when we sat in the regular waiting area and being up a bit higher kept the wind off our legs. Even Justin had the chills but wore a short sleeved polo, so he deserved it!

*

We were given complimentary soft drinks while we waited and the bar tender, Jason, stood and talked with us a bit, comparing notes on cold weather. If we have nothing else in this world to talk about, there is always the weather! Our friends arrived without much delay and we were seated immediately. Owen and I each ordered the meat loaf and mashed potatoes, of which I brought half home. We also shared an order of fried dill pickles. Sneaky Sandy grabbed the bill before we had a chance, even after I told the waiter that Justin and I were to be billed together. She is so good at that, grabbing the bill. Owen said it was for my birthday, so we accept! I'd gotten a bag of grapefruit from Pastor Hoyer's tree and offered them to Hilchey's. First I took out two for Joanne to eat and gave the rest to Owen. I got to see my big red car again last night, too, as Olivia drives it now. It's still beautiful!

*

While sitting in the restaurant, Lisa sent me a text message asking me to send her a photo of Timmy. I told her I would when I got home, but it was so late by the time I got into the house again that I opted to send some this a.m. instead. Joanne was still up when I got home from Mimi's so I sat in with the family room with her for a bit before heading to bed. I just longed to get under my covers and warm up! She was watching some of the coverage of the plane crash, and we just marveled at the Lord's hand over those people.

*

Without much delay, I found myself asleep, snug and warm in my bed. Suddenly I was jarred awake by loud talking in my house and realized Joanne was on the phone with somebody having an intense conversation. My eyes told me it was still night time as the sun wasn't peeking over the edge of the sky yet, so I decided to go see what was happening. Since her dad is in an assisted-living facility on Fleming Island, I wondered if perhaps there had been an incident or something. At 3:00 a.m.! I flipped on the light in the hallway, partly to help me find my way and partly to let her know I was coming. She was in the family room on the phone, and I asked her if everything was okay. She said she was okay so I simply turned and came back to my room. Joanne has complications in her family all the time and this must have been one of those events.

*

I anticipated having troubles falling back to sleep but somehow I managed to sleep until nearly 8:00 a.m.! Must have needed the rest or it wouldn't have happened! Fortunately I woke up just in time because I was in the throes of a horrible dream where my friend, Cindy's hubby, was trying to help me account for my expenditures as I prepared to face my former spouse concerning our finances. I can spend money on decorations for church and let the paint chip on the walls in my house, thank you very much! Dreams!, I tell you what!

Tears are flowing and it's only 8:30 in the morning!

I have some nerve, don't I? Earlier this week I was fussing because I hadn't had any comments from anyone, and then am richly rewarded with them, thank you! And then I don't post anything at all yesterday!!! Judy R. wanted to know what was up, as she hadn't gotten an e-mail or read a new posting yesterday, experiencing withdrawal. As I told her in an e-mail today, I had such a jam-packed day on Thursday, the only one who got an e-mail was my mom! Sorry 'bout that, readers!

*

While we northern Floridians suffer through a cold snap here, my family and friends in the upper Midwest are suffering something fierce in dangerously frigid temperatures. In speaking with Mom on the phone Thursday, she reported that schools were closed, many businesses, Bible classes, etc. cancelled because it simply was not safe to venture out. I wondered if Lynn had gone out to hang her clothes on the wash line or not..................I hope not! Today was to be colder yet making for a long weekend for the kids, and longer yet for their parents! I don't think the schools up north celebrate MLK Day as a day off, I hardly think so. Maybe Martin Luther's birthday should be a day off instead! "Thank God for Luther", as one of our elderly members used to say....

*

The flowing tears this a.m. came from watching/listening to a video attachment Suzanne put on her blog, as Daniel, her four-year-old said his bed time prayers. He is praying what Timmy referred to as "the big one"--our Lord's prayer, and it is absolutely beautiful! Thank you, Suzanne, thank you thank you thank you!

*

Speaking of postings, Lisa finally updated her family blog and added six months' worth of news and information to her site. She wrote about coming down here and getting to see the "good" Rosewood family and friends, going to Disney during TS Faye, and so on. Then she had the nerve to declare her favorite vacation spot is Las Vegas, which she adds, "sorry, Kim!". Humpfff! http://lisamellison.blogspot.com/

*

Okay, so where was I yesterday? I will tell---Joanne and I got up at our usual times, I think, but often I stay in my room until I am good and ready to interact. This is true when I live alone or with someone else so it is no reflection on Joanne or my houseguests at all. We started talking about all sorts of things when suddenly I realized it was nearly 9:00 a.m. and I was not dressed! Bible study started at 10:00 and I had a long ride to Victory in front of me. Whoosh around my room and bathroom to get dressed and then off I went. I did arrive with plenty of time to spare but hadn't eaten or picked up a large soda at all. However, I did manage to make lunch plans with Brenda W. for after Bible study which was a good thing!

*

Our class topic was David and Bathsheba, which should not have been that difficult for me. After all, it dealt with adultery, deception, falls from grace, repentance, forgiveness, followed by the death of a child. At one point Pastor asked me if I would read and I simply said, "No", so he moved to the next man. I did not say "no, not right now" or "no thanks", or "I'd rather not", just "No". After class Bonnie came and hugged me, knowing and understanding the reason for my choosing not to read. Pastor had to leave class immediately as he had an appointment coming in, so we didn't get to chat either. What I didn't realize was both Pastor and Brent celebrated birthdays this week, as they did 8 years ago, during what we call "the funeral week". They both were present for us, with Phil coming to the hospital to be with us, and all week long afterward in one way or another. Phil had served as counselor for my former spouse and me in 2000 when the problems started and we felt close, as I still do, to him.

*

So, okay, let us move on to Koko's! I arrived a few moments ahead of Brenda W. so poked my nose in at Great Hang Ups, as though I could resist! Brenda was bringing two friends of hers from church to talk about art and such with me, and I offered to introduce them to Dee and Julia. Unfortunately, after lunch, I had to get back home because Dee's daughter, Helen, was coming to do my pedicure, and Jennifer's. Helen is a recent grad of beauty college, her second career, and is waiting to be hired by a salon. In the meantime, she makes house calls which worked perfectly for Jennifer. She could sit in a regular chair with her feet in a Dr. Scholl's Foot Fixer and not be concerned about slipping, sliding, or maneuvering in a salon.

*

Time flew by and it was time for them all to leave, "all" meaning Helen, Jen, and Memrie, the Girl Scout cookie-selling maniac that she is! Jen had her wear her official apron for Brownies or whatever group she is in, and give me her sales pitch about ordering cookies. The sheet has the pre-printed prices for the cookies, up to 12 boxes, which Memrie nicely told me, "You can order more than 12"! I had to laugh, as though I would do such a thing in the first place, but she was assuring me I didn't have to limit myself to 12 boxes!

*