Although I have been awake for just shy of an hour, I cannot convince myself to get ready for the day just yet. According the radio website, it is only 25 above zero outside and beyond my bedroom door I am sure it is about 68 since I do not hear the heat running. I do step lively when my bare feet hit the ceramic tile floor in the hall, which some would think is not really that cold. But it is! All relative....Judy R. wrote yesterday that they were having a January thaw but not according to the weather map. It shows a high temp of 28 for the Twin Cities and she is somewhat south of that. This Saturday I am invited to Linda O.'s condo for a gathering and bonfire so I do hope the temps do warm to the 60s as predicted.
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Today is Gordy's funeral service at 10:00 so I must get myself going around here soon. A stop at Publix is needed as I agreed to bring a dessert of some sort for the luncheon. My thought is to get a variety tray of cheesecake, always a popular treat, especially for Joe Z., who loves cheesecake! Last night I promised the girls that I would sing out for the funeral service so will plan to do just that, except for, likely, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". I get a break on this hymn. Kathy B. is taking off from work to play the piano, sharing those duties with Kurt who plays by ear. I think Suzanne is playing her viola, too, which means she will have to take off from work as well (I just thought of that). I heard we are having brats today, made by Mike C. as this was Gordy's favorite. Mike S. was at the funeral home last night, he is our member-chef who loved working with Gordy on the Fellowship Committee, firing up his smoker grille to make Boston butts and other creations under the direction of Gordy. I have a cool picture somewhere in my computer of Gordy and Mike S. and Mike C. at the grille for the church picnic---must look for that at some point.
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On the way home last night, I heard a news brief reporting that Miep Gies had died at the age of 100. This was the woman who sheltered the family of Anne Frank during WWII, made famous through "The Diary of Anne Frank". Immediately I called Linda J. to tell her, as she just got the movie, "Freedom Writers" for CHRISTmas, a movie which uses Anne's diary to get the students to write. In this true story, the students go from street thugs to somewhat decent citizens. The kids read the diary, write in their journals, visited a holocaust museum, and realized that they are not the only ones with a rough row to hoe. The students go from lives of crime and fighting to bake sales and fund raising to get enough to fly Miep Gies to come speak at their school. Sadly, now she has died but I hope her story does not.
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Once home, I stopped at the mailbox to see what it offered, and found a lovely card from Lynn. It offered support and comfort, letting me know she was thinking about me this time of year as they time grows closer. It came at just the right time, too, since I am feeling bad about Gordy. Nope, let me rephrase that----I rejoice for Gordy, feel bad for me, for those of us left here on earth. Kerry wrote a lovely poem which arrived via e-mail today and she gave me permission to use it on Thursday in my posting. This might get worn hearing, but when folks ask me how long it has been since Timmy died, I say the number of years, and then add, "Or it was yesterday.....". It is absolutely true. Yesterday was the anniversary of my abdominal surgery, a date I remember because I had my driver's license renewed the day before. Lynn had to wait in the car with the two boys while I went through the process of getting my license renewed----ugh! They were likely gouging each others eyes out while poor Lynn got rocked and rolled in the car! I always had a rule----if you pull someone's eyes or hair out, you had to put it back!
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Last night on Leno, I just had to laugh----every now and again, starting with Kevin, the band leader, a cell phone would go off during the monologue. Jay would act all annoyed that they would answer the phone during the show, but it was part of the bit. All the men whose phones went off were black men, supposedly getting apologies from Harry Reid for his insensitive remarks. It was so funny, as the guys would say, "No, man, no, we're good, we're good..." and then announce the call was from Reid. Brought the house down! Bill Cosby was the guest star last night and he is as funny as ever. He was promoting a CD made with some rappers about young black folks taking the better road than continuing the generational pattern of living in the projects, never making anything of themselves, turning to crime. One of the lines of the "song" they did was something like, "choosing a criminal career instead of career as a lawyer". In other words, he is encouraging young blacks to get over it, get out, and make something of themselves, not to keep have babies they cannot afford to feed, etc. I wish he were younger and could be around longer to be a roll model for young people. Cosby is a great advocate for young black people making something of themselves instead of wearing their gang colors and turned around hats, but he does it in a humorous 'fashion'. His face is so animated, he does not even need to speak!
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There is going to be a shake-up in the comedy shows on NBC which I will watch occasionally. Leno is being moved back to after the news at 11:30 pm, but, what will happen with Conan?? His show is in question, if he wants to move back to the after midnight time or move to another network. I guess his ratings were equal with Letterman's which was not what NBC was looking for. On Leno's show, he kept the feature of "Headlines" from his late night show, and is always good for a chuckle. Last night there was one from Oconto Falls but I cannot remember what it was about. And the stupid criminals he always finds, who use their own deposit tickets to write bank robbery notes on! Funny!
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My pastor's wife had more surgery performed yesterday and by some reports, was doing fine as of last evening. Her parents flew back in after having just returned to WI after CHRISTmas, to help with the kids while Lynn is in the hospital and through her recovery. Prayers for her are appreciated as are prayers for the surgery my friend, Jami, is having today in Amarillo. Sadly, her hubby had to come here to Florida for a business trip that he could not get out of but her parents and sister will be with Jami through her procedure. I hope all have good news from their surgeries, that's enough for this week already!
