Why does this feel funny to me?

Not ha-ha funny but weird funny, having Justin gone from home. He has only been here a week and already I am accustomed to his being around. At this moment he is visiting New York City, likely at the Empire State Building, as I write. They were picked up from the airport around 3:30 pm and he said he would post photos as soon as he gets somewhere he can plug in his computer.

Last night he came into my room to report good news for him/bad news for me---they were having a hotel change. Why is that bad for me? Well, when he and I were there the last time, I had tried booking us into this same hotel where he is staying tonight, only it was the wrong one! That’s what I get for using a travel agency to help with the arrangements! Both hotels had the same name, only one was a “Marquis”, and the one we were booked into incorrectly was not. Two cab rides and two tired, sad people later, we had to settle for less luxurious. I had somewhat forgotten about this until he brought it up again last night!!!

Justin is supposedly in charge of setting the itinerary, which I hope is true, and with their tight schedule, they will see much in a short period of time. He told me not long ago that while he enjoys our more relaxed-pace vacationing we do, he sort of looks forward to the break-neck schedule he is having this weekend. When orchestrating five people, two of whom are female, things just may not go according to plan. He is so lucky to have me, so low maintenance, at least when it comes to getting out the door. I may not be able to canter down the street, but I am at the door at the appointed hour….

At the time when Justin was to be picked up, I was to head to The Club for breakfast with the gang. Justin walked out the end of the parking lot to wait for his ride. Jessica was getting her car unloaded from a quick trip to the store, wrestling with bags, Beckham, and two cups of coffee, so I helped get the stuff upstairs. When I came back downstairs again, Justin was still waiting. It made me too nervous so I went to breakfast, that always helps! Poor guy! He was supposed to be picked up at 8:15 but it was closer to 8:45 when he sent me a message saying he was finally collected.

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Linda has contacted me via text message both last night and again this a.m. letting me know she is doing well. We discussed the news of the day this morning so it’s like nothing happened. The doctor had been in to see her and said the vitals were all what they should be, which is wonderful news. I wonder though how the rest of her day went, if therapy has begun or even just walking. Yikes!

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Last night I went into the family room where Justin was watching TV. The “Seinfeld” episode coming on was not a favorite so we opted to watch “Jeopardy!” instead. We had not seen it for a long time, at least together, and he made me laugh, saying, “I keep expecting there to be Menards commercials!” At my mom’s house, where this program is a staple, there are Menard commercials. He had last been at my mom’s spring of 2010 for my niece’s graduation and we look forward to his longer visit this Christmas. And plenty of time to dazzle the ladies with his “Jeopardy!” skills!

My neighbor, Jeff, just returned the video they borrowed over the holiday weekend, “Atlas Shrugged”. I have not viewed it yet but Jeff, who had read the book when in high school, said it was really good, and close to the book. He urged me to read the book but I balk because it is quite an intense read. Jeff said he tried to read it again not long ago but it made his blood pressure rise, seeing how prophetic Rand was in her writing. The same type of things she wrote about are taking place now. I should earn some sort of prize if I manage to get through that book!

Tomorrow I will get the outreach newsletters out in the mail, as today I finished The Palace Press and sent it off. When I was home from breakfast (no games today), my friend, Rita, invited me out to lunch. She wanted to try a new café she spotted in Mandarin so we met at the plaza where the Steinmart is located. We used to get our electrical fixtures in that same plaza and leave Mom and Justin at Steinmart while we did our thing. I knew right where to go! Half my burger came home with me for another time, although it was a bit too well done for me. The waitress said they cannot do medium doneness, only well done burgers. Ugh! So dry! But the company was good, and that is what matters.

The last time the Board met for The Palace, I had offered my home for a meeting sometime. Nancy took me up on the offer, asking if Sunday night would be good for meeting. I agreed, fully forgetting the Packer game that night as well as the Ladies’ Advent Service at Victory. No worries! I would leave the door unlocked, lights on, water and cookies on the table, and boxing gloves, in case they were needed!! Nancy wrote me later to say there was a Board member schedule conflict so would not be coming by. Whew! I will be able to see the first hour or so of the game before having to head to Victory.

Janet B. is riding with me to the service, so I might ask her to come over to see part of the game with me. She will be at church for a Families Connect event which starts right after worship, and likely will be tired. She was recently in the hospital due to being low on blood. After several transfusions, her levels are back up and a hiatal hernia being treated. No more Aleve for her, according to her doctor and her spouse said, “No more peppermint schnapps either…” which Janet pooh-poohed. She had tried getting a prescription for it a couple years ago so they could write it off. That rascal!