It’s been dark for an hour and yet, no full moon visible on the river. Rats! Last night afforded no moon view either as the clouds took precedence. This was unfortunate since Judy J. was here last night and so enjoys seeing the reflection on the water. We had dinner together before watching “Sarah’s Key”.
What a wild ride that movie turned out to be. Some of my friends in book clubs had read it already, as had Judy J., but Judy C. and I had not. Avoiding giving away the story, we ladies agreed that we had not ever heard about this going on in France during the war. OR, it has been blocked from our brains, but I do suspect we were never taught. This story seemed almost too outrageous to be true, which means it likely was. In one scene in the movie, when the magazine staff was sitting around a table discussing what took place, a writer expressed her dismay that no one did anything to help the 1942 Jews. The main character asked her co-workers, in 2009, “What would you have done?”…very similar to what is taking place now in regard the Jewish people.
We so enjoyed, besides the movie, delicious lasagna and garlic bread. Justin was going to be in for the night so he shared dinner with us and took care of the clean up thereafter. He busied himself in his room, supposedly getting things straightened away. It seems he is making some forward progress but also some not forward at all. Before we went to bed last night he put some stuff in the washer on the rinse cycle and was then drying them in order to avoid ironing. It works better when they are pulled out immediately rather than the next day.
Tuesday, Justin went shopping with his friend, Sarah, and bought my CHRISTmas present. He is chomping at the bit to give it to me but I think we have to wait. He goes through this all the time, he just cannot wait! But he must. What he did give me was a wonderfully thoughtful present of hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works, in my favorite scent of Warm Vanilla Sugar. Oh yum! Not only does it sanitize, but instead of drying my hands the way regular stuff does, it leaves my hands nicely softened and great smelling. What a sweetheart he is!
Today, Justin was my driver, making sure I got to Great Hang Ups in time for the Open House. Julia was still busily making things ready so we pitched in to help get the shop situated. He used wires to attach the ceramic mugs to the lattice wall while I smoothed wrapping paper and cut up the entry forms for people to use for the door prize drawing. Also I helped Julia price a few things and dressed a table which the jewelry designer would use when demo-ing her jewel creations. Janet wraps gems and cameos in wire and then attaches them to necklaces or chains. They are amazingly gorgeous pieces and it is quite something to watch her work. In a couple hours’ time, she has a piece ready for sale. While the doors were not banged down, or pulled open, as the case might be, the Open House did generate some sales and framing orders, which is good!
Justin used my car to run errands and I gave him my debit card in order to fill the gas tank for me. At noon he was coming back to have lunch with me at Koko’s but we forgot they are not open on Saturday’s for lunch. When he came for me, we had to decide where to go instead. I suggested Mojo’s for some brisket and he said he knew that was where he thought I would want to go. We ordered onion rings for an appetizer and shared the lunch size brisket meal. It was perfect for us, no leftovers!
When he took me back to the shop, I reminded him to please get gas but that stinker went all the way back home and then gassed up on his way to collect me again. Ugh! He claims I still had two gallons to spare but my poor nerves cannot tolerate having that little light come on…which he knows well. Such a provocateur he is!
Once back home, he hooked up the Roku which was delivered via USPS and then got ready for a CHRISTmas party he is attending at Jesse’s mom’s house. He rattled off to me what his schedule is going to be for the next couple days, including getting up early in the morning tomorrow to sauté onions for their tailgate adventure before the football game. He has burgers, brats, tomato, onions, cole slaw, and buns ready to go, plus picked up his grille. He will miss church for the game and will miss again Wednesday evening as he uses his father’s car to finish his moving from the beach house. Time is of the essence now, it seems. He expects to be here with me until April sometime so I had better get used to it!
Justin has offered to repair or replace my switches and outlets for me as some are unsightly or won’t hold onto a plug. I am not sure I trust his skills in this regard as electricity is nothing to mess with, but would not mind some fresh switch covers or clean ones, at least. He wants other projects to tackle as well, and I can certainly come up a sizable list for him. I may as well make things better for myself as long as I am likely staying here for a while.
Today I talked with a lady who lives in one of my former neighborhoods in EH. She told about homes in one of the nicer areas of EH that formerly sold in the 700’s now going for about half that amount. Folks get a lot of house for much less money with the neighborhoods looking weary because of it. This is certainly nothing new but interesting to hear about my old stomping grounds. And sad to hear, as well.
On another note, Wednesday night, Justin joined me for church. Before we left though, we had to stop up at Nancy’s condo on the 5th floor where she was hosting a party. I had let her know I could not participate in the party due to church and choir but could chip in for the charity collection. Most of my neighbors were there and it was nice to see them again, as well as my friend, Penny, whom I’ve not seen for months. Oh how I wish I could have stayed and enjoyed the fun. Oh well! Miss Chardonnay said she was planning to have a party at her house on a night different than Wednesday so that I can come. This would be the opposite of discrimination and I like it!
Justin was quite warmly welcomed both at the party and at church, with some of the ladies hugging him. It must have been Easter when he was there the last time and he was not home during the Ladies’ Group party, so they didn’t see him then. That must have made him feel quite good, at least, I hope it did. I was outside on the sidewalk waiting for him to come out behind me, but Julaine informed me he was inside ‘still hugging people’!
