After getting the news of Arno's death yesterday, the activity, from my desk chair, increased exponentially. I am so thankful for the Internet, cell phones, text messaging, and so on used to make the plans. It would be safe to claim at least an hour and a half spent on hold with Travelocity trying to change the tickets I already had in place for my trip to MN and WI next month. At one point, I finally got an answer from Jack in Jakarta or somewhere, and when I tried to take the phone off of speaker to regular use, hit the wrong button and disconnected!!!! Ahhhh! Start the process over again, hearing about six times about the fees charged per change....I then made the decision to simply cancel the previous tickets, for a lesser fee, which I can then use for future travel, which will be June for Alayna's graduation. Perfect! Then, booking a new trip for my travel, since I had done Justin's while on-hold with mine. We are flying up together from Jax, leaving at the same time, so we can ride together to the airport. However, since his flights and mine were scheduled separately, I am arriving about two hours ahead of Justin in MKE. We split up in Atlanta I think. Guess I should check that out, since I looked at a thousand possibilities and got cross-eyed in the process. Justin's flight was arranged first and then I had to try to match them up as best I could.
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Now, Lynn is checking to see if she has a full schedule for work Tuesday so she can come pick us up or if Linda will be our ride! we will have to fly somewhat if the visitation is Tuesday night because Justin is bringing his father's suit with him. Justin was torn about going, not really wanting to go, but I did not pressure him about it one way or the other. I left the decision his. After about an hour he said he will go, saying he wants to see his cousin, JR, before he ships out for Germany. He is looking forward to seeing both his families, since he had not really been up for a visit since Mom's quick turn-around trip for moving over Labor Day. Then he did not see the other side of the family at all, there was simply not time for that. We did get to spend time with Tommy and Linda since we stayed at their house and they made supper for the movers at the end of the day. What great fun that was!
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Once all the arrangements were made, I was less tense and could make some more phone calls and answer e-mails. One of my friends wanted to have a chat but I never got back to her on-line later on, as she was off the computer by the time I was available. My two sisters-in-law called me in answer to my question much earlier regarding JR's plans, although the flights were arranged without knowing if he would be there or not. Lynn and I discussed the plans for getting from MKE, and then I called Mom to tell her know for sure that Justin will be coming with me. She was concerned about getting the daybed (Day Bed...ha!) made up but I told her not to worry about, Justin can make up his own trundle when we go to bed, and I sleep on top of the comforter on the daybed because otherwise it aches my back! I should get a quilted mattress pad for the bed...it's my fault because I bought the cheapest mattress!
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Kathy B., who just HATES it when I go somewhere, now has to face it sooner rather than later, and we regret not saying proper farewells after church. Brian and she were playing in a golf outing so had to dash away, missing the meeting. We chatted on-line later and then she wrote back, realizing that I was going to deliver the castoff clothes, shoes, and other donations to Victory on Thursday! Oh oh! I dashed off an e-mail to the powers that be at Victory asking if there was some way to have a pick-up done on our side of the river. We shall see! As I told Justin, it is a good thing I do not have a job, too, or I would never get everything done! The newsletter is nearly ready to go and I have e-mailed stuff to myself so I can work on things at Mom's. I won't take my laptop along with me, one less thing to carry, since Mom has a computer (no printer) and Lori has a couple laptops I can borrow if needed. What am I saying, if needed???? Of course, it's needed!
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Justin is also concerned about his suit not fitting anymore. I think we got it at Men's Warehouse and they would alter it for him at no cost, but do not think we have time before Tuesday night to do it. He did get some nice outfits for CHRISTmas that will pass for 'dress' clothes. Since he has lost so much weight, of course, the suit will not fit nicely. He does have a corduroy blazer but it is not dressy. What to do, what to do?
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Y'all would have been so proud of me last night. By lamplight, I managed, twice, to thread a needle to sew a button back on my red sweater, plus pull some threads together in the shoulder of one of my other sweaters. I tell you what, these CJ Banks sweaters are just not up to the task for me! Lori has one with her which she tried to return for me, due to premature pilling. The purple one sheds even as it hangs in the closet! I should really put a trash bag over it to prevent it from molting further....The red sweater lost a non-straining collar button, and the threads let lose on the raisin colored one. Whew! They sure got my number when I went sweater shopping in November! Lori is excited to go again when Lynn and I are with her in MN but I might not be so quick this time.
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Wisconsin requires warmer clothes which take up room in my suitcase but I am leaving room for my coat, so I won't have to mess with that on the airplane. Arrangements now are made with Lynn to pick us up in MKE and Linda will handle Mom and Danny that afternoon. Such details! Linda and Lynn each offered to have supper ready for us but there will be no time between getting from MKE and to the visitation. It will be food on the fly, as it were!
