Hit the town running

Well, not really running, especially on the slippery pavement! Mom, Jill, and I ventured out in the bitter cold to have a late breakfast at Perkin's. Jill has vacation the next two weeks which is just awesome for us, especially for her. I ordered my usual potato pancakes and managed to polish them all off, sharing my applesauce with Mom. My bacon was done to perfection! 

After breakfast Jill dropped me off at Hobby Lobby where I was meeting Linda. She had some last minute shopping to take care of there, and also at Kohl's. Lynn finished up what she was doing that morning so we met her at Kohl's, too. Linda found a cute outfit for her little granddaughter plus was able to pick up a couple things for a person on the church's Sharing Tree. I bought a pair of jeans there, my favorite place to purchase them, and got a new top as well. Also picked up two scented candles, one for me and one for Kerry. 

At some point I lost the bottom button from my coat. Looked in both cars but it was not be found. Nuts! Since it was now beyond lunch time and the other two ladies were hungry, we all went to Culver's for a treat. They had meals while I had an order of fries with my soda. At Culver's I saw my classmate, Rick Habeck, now retired from the police dept. How cool it is to see folks I know!

 

After we were done at Culver's, I went home with Lynn to my mom's house, forgetting my purchases from Kohl's were in Linda's car. No problem, I'll get along fine until I see her again. Lynn went on home with plans in place to dine at The Green Street Tavern for dinner. Yay!  Linda gave me a gift certificate she had been carrying around for almost two years to use there. Since they are on a diet now, she knew we could use it. Every little bit helps! When it was time for dinner, Mom already saying she was staying home, Lynn was still too full from lunch. Jill and I dined alone, and it was nice! While we were eating our perch, I got a text message from my sister-in-law, Barb, asking if I'd like to ride with them to Green Bay to help celebrate their son, my godson's, birthday on Wednesday. NUTS! I have plans that day with Linda but I would have so enjoyed going with them. Kevin is 40 this year---wow!!!

After dinner we found two of my cousins seated at the bar, both of whom having been informed about our plans to dine together as a family next week Monday. I had set things up with Barbie, their sister, the night I arrived in Manty. Hopefully Lori will be able to stay in town long enough to have lunch with us. My cousins assured us we'd see them plus their older brother on Monday. This is going to be fun!

Mom had said to not bring anything home for her but I disobeyed and got her a nice big piece of poppyseed torte, which she loves. Of course, it's not as good as what she gets from a church friend, Larry, but it will do. I put it in the fridge for her to enjoy tomorrow. We watched TV tonight until I was ready to shower and headed to my room. 

Justin had me subscribe to DirectTV on my phone so I can watch some programs in my room including "Law & Order". That helps for falling asleep, if I don't use my "Seinfeld" recordings. For some reason the signal gets interrupted and I wake up to restart the program so that might not work for bedtime. But it is nice for "Fox & Friends" in the mornings when Mom is listening intently to her local radio station. We won't bother each other this way. Pleasant dreams! 

It's freezing up here!!

I have arrived safely and at long last in Manitowoc. My sister, Jill, was able to admit me to the apartment as she had not been feeling well and skipped the boy's Christmas program. Oh, if only Lynn would have had room for my luggage in her car---the shuttle driver could have dropped me off in Howard's Grove instead and I could have seen their program. Nuts!  Anyway, it's -12 here and bitingly cold. 

While going through security, I saw the Kelley family heading back to IL after Fran's funeral service. Later Dennis came looking for me saying his brother, Mike, wanted a picture of us together for him to show around at church later that same day. I loved it! A man in the gate area offered to take it for us.

My original travel plan, once changed to Sunday from Saturday's departure, was to arrive in Manty around noon and have plenty of time to ready myself for the Christmas program. Sadly, the flight was delayed out of JAX which made me miss my connection in Charlotte. At one point Jill had texted me as I waited for hours at Charlotte, asking me if I was bored. Never! There were many people around to talk with, flights being delayed or eventually cancelled entirely all over the place. 

For those who were delayed for a half day already the airline had sandwiches, chips, and water brought in. The nice young man seated next me didn't want the sandwich so he got one for me. That was a blessing because I'd been waiting at the gate for about three hours and there was limited food options on our end. (Why does it seem my gates are always the furthest ones?) 

When it time to baord, mine was the last name called to be seated. The plane was parked on the tarmac rather than at a jetway so we had to walk out to the plane and climb a steep set of steps to get up into the plane. Yikes!  I told the man behind me to go first but he insisted I go ahead of him, saying he'd help me. Not sure how, but he did help me by making me keep going due to not wanting to hold up the show. That was a job!

Once I got to MKE, I made my way to the baggage claim area, fully expecting my bag to have not made it on the stand-by flight. But, it had! Went across the way to the GoShuttle desk and got fixed up with my driver. I was the only passenger going up that direction, and he asked me if I wanted to ride up front. I was shot-gun! It was warmer up front anyway, since it was bitter cold outside. We talked all the way, listened a bit to the post-game show (I missed a VERY exciting Packer game, too!). He is Lutheran, goes to church in Sheboygan, pointed out his family's farmland as we drove past it, had a great visit. 

Jill and I took it upon ourselves to order pizza and garlic knots for dinner which arrived after Mom and Lynn got home. Lynn took hers to-go as she had to leave to help her daughter with something. I just love the Personal Pan Pizzas but was not crazy about the garlic knots. Note to self---stick with Papa Johns for those!  After Jill went home, Mom and I just watched some TV before I came to my room, exhausted from a day of travel and sitting. Imagine that! I am thanking God for the safe travel. Now I'll rest up for tomorrow's activities. 

Change in Plans

Thursday I was talking with my neighbor, Rosemary, regarding my pending trip to WI, planned for today. The way the weather forecasts looked like my arrival and then transport to Manty could be risky so I was getting figurative cold feet about leaving on Saturday. She suggested that I call the airline to see what was going on with the flights for my pending travel.I did just that!

At first I got a recorded answer and I was able to put in my phone number for a call back in 10-15 minutes. That worked great. A nice lady named Julie said that yes, they are changing people's flights for free due to the weather situation so I booked for travel on Sunday rather than Saturday, which is when it was predicted to be the worst for driving. The thing is, I'd arrive in MKE at 10:19 so whoever would come to pick me up would miss Bible study. Of course, I am willing to wait, I am a very good waiter, but Mom insisted on paying the shuttle to take me home. At last, I relented, because she was scared about anyone driving on 'those roads' when they are so elderly. I'm sure Lynn and/or Linda appreciated that!  

Having my travel changed gave me an extra day at home and allowed me to attend a funeral service at church for a very dear lady, Fran Kelley. She put up a valiant battle until she at last succumbed. The hymns we sang were beautifully chosen and I was glad to sit a few rows behind the family to sing out for them. My friend, Carol, told me once how important that is, so I do it. The sermon was good, too, as I mentioned to the pastor. He said such sermons are easy when they are about such folks as Fran, almost write themselves. Of course, it wasn't about Fran but about her Savior, whom she dearly loved and served. 

Tomorrow morning it's up and at 'em early as Justin will deliver me to the airport and then he's off to DisneyWorld with his friend, Jesse. They have the annual passes to use and wants to make sure they get their money's worth right out of the gate. I'm so glad for them getting to do this. Last night, Terri gave Justin a Disney gift card so his costs will be even less now, due to that. He gets food outside the park so he doesn't spend so much inside. That guy loves his theme parks now, which makes me happy for him!