If I don't have to, I will not...

....get out of this bed any time soon! It is so cold outside while delightfully pleasant in my room, especially under my covers. A few minutes ago I ventured to the kitchen for a soda and yummy cinnamon roll which I had made yesterday morning, and those rooms were tolerable. That might be because I had the heat on when having my meetings and failed to turn it down last night when I retired. There is no need to heat rooms I am not using, but I do step lively on the ceramic tile floor when I run to the kitchen! The registers in my bedroom and bathroom/closet are still closed since my company was here in September. As a gracious hostess, I will turn the A/C on for their comfort while keeping my registers closed for my own protection. However, having them yet closed does not help much when the heat is on!

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Friday two of my partners from the School of Worship Enrichment event came over to work some more on our report for the meeting which remains to be scheduled. We had pre-agreed to set a deadline for the meeting so that helped to move us right along. Now I must type up the expansions on comments and then we can meet to present it. For our breakfast, I made a cylinder of cinnamon biscuits mentioned above, which helped warm the kitchen and made it smell nice for a bit. Justin and I had lunch at Koko's, as he asked me if I could go. As it turned out, I could sneak away, but had to be back in time for my next meeting, with a young man from church. Love having my home being THE meeting place!

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Justin and I popped in a Great Hang Ups before and after our lunch, and I had a great conversation with Julia and Dee. They have some new items available for the holidays and some of them found their way home with me for my gift-giving. When I checked the time, it occurred to me that I had to run, and told Julia I would not have time to stop at Publix now. Julia asked what I was going to get, just curious, and when I said I needed butter....she excused herself and came back with a stick of butter for me! Talk about full service shops!

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Well, I guess I should sign-off here and start reading, as I have quite the stack of books waiting for me, with two started-but-not-yet-finished books to tackle, one titled "The Council of Dads" and the other "Not Unto Us". Looking forward to my time on vacation when I somehow manage to read when not eating out! Mama, I am getting to excited to see you!

Did you miss me?

Oops, do not answer that, please. What a whirlwind of activity these past two days...much to my delight. Thursday was the official "Justin Day" as we began our time together at Victory's Bible study. Before class began, I was able to help fold and assemble the service folders for Sunday's worship. Justin is glad to know that it will be Favorite Hymn Sunday this week, and thinks folks will likely choose CHRISTmas hymns this time. Maybe he will be bold enough to request "Of the Father's Love Begotten", one of his favorites.

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From Victory we headed to the Town Center Mall where he most politely dropped me at the door of Maggiano's so I would not have to walk so far. Oh, I have to back up a bit----after Bible study, we stopped at Old Navy because Justin did not have 'good clothes' yet at his bungalow, not thinking about going to the luncheon at Maggiano's. So, Justin's wonderful mama bought him a sweater and a t-shirt. This little side trip delayed us only a few minutes so this was why he dropped me down at the door and parked the car. I had to make my entrance, but waited for him anyway, serving as greeter at the back doors to the restaurant. It turned out some of the people I greeted were going to the same luncheon we were!

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Diane is a gracious hostess, and her bosses and co-workers in the financial investment firm were very very nice as well. They introduced themselves and then had one or two of their vendors say a few words as we ate. The menu consisted of chopped salad, calamari, stuffed mushrooms, and Italian bread. Then we were served chicken tortellini, meatballs with pasta, and crusted tilapia. I liked the tortellini and the meatball dish, plus ate some of the salad and a bit of calamari. Not nuts about the fish entree but Justin enjoyed it all very much. And he did not seem to mind to be the youngest and most handsome man at our table! For dessert we had tiramasu and an apple crostini, all foods served family-style. The lady to my right, I cannot recall her name, asked for permission, when most others had left our table, to clean off the spoon to the tiramasu! I like her! Justin used ice cream from the crostini for his coffee, most innovative.

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After thanking our hostess for her delicious luncheon treat, Justin and I went to the car and headed to Barnes and Noble. I had printed off a shopping list, as I had a discount coupon to use before the 5th. For the books we could not find, a nice young man helped us, seeming to know exactly which books were where. I am amazed that he could do that, and impressed. As often happens in a book store, keeping in mind that I stink as a reader, 'we' found more books to buy than were on my list! Linda, I got the "Freedom Writers' Diary" so I will be glad to share it with you at CHRISTmas time. Somehow or another I did not save as much as I thought I would even with the discount....funny how that happens!

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After the bookstore we headed back to my house where we each got comfy with our laptops, he on the loveseat for a snooze, and me on my bed, each of us also 'watching' the radio show we love so much. He actually did sleep but I merely rested my eyes. Justin had a load of wash going and when I heard the washer stop, went to check it. The load was HUGE, so I opted to re-rinse it so that all the soap would be gone. By the time he remembered about putting the load into the dryer, we knew it would not be dry in time for him to take along to the OP Mall, since we were going to have dinner before the show. He would have to come back here after the show to get his clothes. Justin and I ate at Fridays where he enjoyed his pasta dish, and me, the Jack Daniel's Chicken Fingers appetizer. The waitress thought I should have some fries, too, but I refused, knowing the portion was just right for me. Justin actually finished the last of the chicken when his meal was gone.

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We got our tickets but still had time to walk around in the Mall, where I had not been in years, it seems. He checked out the cell phone kiosks as I looked at the game kiosks. I saw many games I would like such as "Would You Rather...", which I hear advertised on the radio. This shop carried some strange or hard-to-find card games and board games which folks really love to see, according to the guy working there. Hopefully their business picks up, he claims it was rather slow so far....

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Anyway, Justin and I went to the theater and got our soda to share, seeing our friend, Cliff, getting his movie treats. Carol and he go on date night Thursdays, but we did not see her. (I asked her today if he told her that we were there and she said, "NO, he did not tell me!") We got situated in the theater and waited for the simulcast production to begin, billed as 'the largest town hall meeting ever'! Called "Broke", the host took us through the engine of our nation, the Constitution, using a vintage Mustang as the prop. Something worth keeping, worth the time and effort to restore, and not to be thrown into the dustbin of history, etc. Very good show, to a packed house in Orange Park and I hope, everywhere it was broadcast.

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It was obviously getting colder outside as we made our way to the car. Justin decided to stay at his dad's house overnight, since his belongings were yet there and he was working today. It felt good to be in my warm bed and all snuggled in after a wonderfully full day. No reading for me as I needed to just fall asleep. This a.m. when I awoke, it occurred to me that winter has arrived! Not only the extremely cold temperatures but the extremely itchy legs making for a snow storm in my bedroom. Yikes! Two layers of lotion and still little relief. Tonight as I prepare for sleep, I shall coat them once more with lotion and wear mittens so I don't scratch them in my sleep and bleed to death!

Waiting for the sun to peek through

…and here it comes, little by little. This a.m. I woke up early and immediately turned on the local news, the station where Suzanne works, to watch for my friend, Helen, to be on as a guest. Sadly, it seems I tuned in too late, and missed seeing the segment. Another artist, Donna, and Helen were expected to be featured in regard to the ArtWalk in downtown Jacksonville plus their involvement in other art endeavors in the area. Helen has a gallery at The Landing where she creates her art, fused glass and other similar pieces as well as having consignment space for artists to display. Like an art co-op. In checking the station’s website, I cannot find information about this segment at all but maybe someone recorded (Dee or Julia) so I can see it another time. So much for waking up early!!

Already I am showered and dressed for the day. Also have cleaned my old polish from the fingernails and trimmed them a bit. Needed more garbage inside my keyboard I guess—ha ha! My nails and their beds look awful and I had tried calling Lisa W. Monday for an appointment to have my feet and hands done. She called me back later to report that she’d been asked to vacate the space where she rented and was in the process of setting up elsewhere. In a week she should be ready for her first appointment, which will hopefully be me! She will stay in the same area of Middleburg, just a hair down the street from where she used to be. Normally my policy is to have Lisa (or someone else) do the areas I cannot reach, such as my feet, and I take care of the hands. But right now the nails are in need of some serious attention, having several hang nails and ridges in some of the nails. She has a tool to sand them smooth again, and have them looking nicer for the holidays.

Today is the day that the plumber is coming back to see why in the world there is not water coming from the faucet in the back bathroom. This was discovered by Mike when he was here Wednesday last week to grout the tile in that bathroom, and tried to rinse his sponge. No water? Only the day before Sherri had been here cleaning and she did not mention there being no water coming from the faucets. Since she was using a foaming cleanser she perhaps did not turn on the water??? The shower and toilet in that room operate, as does the water in every other room, except that particular sink. It might be simply a plugged aerator…oh, I hope I hope I hope!

My little breakfast today is a dinner roll with summer sausage on it. Not typical breakfast food but I am not typically a breakfast eater. Since Judy J. and I went to dinner sort of early last night, I am more hungry now. Plus, getting up earlier than I usually do allows for more time to consider eating. It is better to be sleeping it seems! We two ladies very much enjoyed our meal at Sonny’s BBQ, both in the mood for comfort foods. Instead of my standard beans ‘n franks there, beef brisket was my choice. We shared an order of corn nuggets, Judy’s first time having them. My meat came with beans and mac ‘n cheese. There was enough left over for me to bring home to have another meal from it. Whenever I eat at Sonny's, I think of Tarren and Pete, because Tarren just loves Sonny's food!

Monday at Longhorn I had a cheeseburger, well, half of it, with some fries, of which I ate none. The little box she brought me did not accommodate the half burger and the fries so I left many of them behind but Terri T. gave me some of her onion strings which I dearly love. Her as well as the onion strings!

Just a few moments ago I went outside to take Jessica’s robe back to her and Gus’s back to him, plus a bag of trash for the bin. Wow, it is cold out there! Jessica said she loved it and little Beckham was all snug in his fleece bibbed sleeping sack. Brrr….in my opinion. At midnight the temperature was 70 degrees, and today is dropping to 60 for the high, with freeze warnings for overnight. Yikes! Yesterday folks were at the beach, as shown on TV but not so much today, unless they are tourists! After all, 60 degrees is tank top weather to some folks!

Photos from Sunday

Following are some of the photos taken at the Ladies' Advent Service on Sunday, late afternoon. While we had 22 ladies signed up to come, we were a few short. Just in case, though, I had set a 'spare table' for overflow but did not need to use it. All my stress and concern regarding this event was wasted because it came off nicely, with many folks offering their compliments. One lady asked me if I could share the program for her to take to her 'next church'. Man, I really hate to see them go but they are Navy folks and move regularly. Of course, I will be happy to share what I have and will be honored if she remembers me after they are gone.

Judy is mixing up her delicious fruit punch, taste-testing to make sure it is just exactly right. She also decorated a table and did much of the leg-work involved in making this event work out properly.

Here is the dessert table, wearing my tablecloth plus the top from my CHRISTmas tree! The happy dish of candy corn is also mine while other ladies donated the sweet treats for all to enjoy. In the background is Suzanne, prepping for accompanying our singing on her viola. Janet had brought her keyboard but just did not feel comfortable enough to play the hymns so took the keyboard back to her car. Thank you, Suzanne, for carrying the load!

Some of the ladies floated after dressing their tables, helping others get things in order. Bonnie and Donna finished theirs and then stepped up to help Janet. Sandy was going to do a table as well, but had a fall at home, requiring her to be off her feet. Glad someone stepped up to take her place.

This table bears the 'presents' used in "Anticipating His Presence", our program for the day. The gifts are object lessons of the things in our lives---some which enhance, some which distract. To name a few items: the white luxurious robe (of righteousness); a knight in shining armor (put on God's armor); "call upon me in the day of trouble", a cell phone; also a Barbie doll which demonstrates unrealistic proportions, showing the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves. Jackie opened the cell phone box and held it up, thinking it was a clock. She had no idea it was a cell phone!

Suzanne gave Hanna her first Advent gift at the Ladies' Advent Service. She was given a children's adventure Bible, which has actual chapter and verse while also being a 'study Bible'. I think Hanna liked it!

The ladies are gathered, waiting the event to get underway. You can see from the windows that it was not yet dark out, but eventually I had a dilly of a time reading my text as the sun began to set. Thankfully I had a battery-operated candle to use to light my way!

Suzanne accompanied all our singing, playing beautifully, of course. I could listen to her play all day! And in fact, I nearly did hear her play all day!!!

Watching the news from my bed

Or, what I thought was the news. Besides the hostage situation resolved in Marinette, WI, sadly with the student trying to kill himself, there really is not much real news being discussed today. So far I have seen supermodels on two separate segments, some 'stars' of reality TV (I had heard of them but never saw them before---what makes them so famous???), plus multiple replays of a sassy losing quarterback walking out of a press conference. Yesterday there were dancers outside dressed as elves with the hosts trying to decide who would get to go outside to dance with them. Come on, guys, just report the news, okay, and leave the entertainment to the other networks. Man! We will all be fiddling while Rome burns here...

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One little byte of information that was shared today was that a report has come out saying that the medical information encouraging folks to take extra calcium and Vitamin D has been refuted. What? It seems now that taking these supplements can actually cause more problems than are helped. More information regarding this will have to be looked at because strangely enough, I take the supplements mentioned. Last night I was chatting on-line with a friend who reported that she has bone problems in her later life due to her calcium being depleted when she was bearing children. She said that she had to eat lots of red meat in those days to improve her iron but at the same time, the meat helped to deplete the calcium. Who knew? I had to follow high-iron diets when expecting, too, but fortunately I thus far do not have a calcium deficiency. My friend also had/has a dairy food problem which certainly does not help with bone building at all. Yikes!

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Okay, so now I am not as upset since the program is featuring a book with 50 years' worth of presidential photography. Now, that is a book I would read! Pictures! Linda called last night with an update for me regarding a book search she was doing on my behalf. She took her grands to The Read Apple in Two Rivers the other day and scoped out some books for my great nephews. Linda also told me about a book store she gets activity books from in Sheboygan which are nice for in church or in restaurants, and do not require batteries. The store is called Sonshine, in case anyone is familiar with it.

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When I woke up this a.m. I switched the channel to a local news station to see if my friends, Helen and Donna, would be looking back at me. I thought I missed their segment by not waking up soon enough, but then looked back at Helen's FB page to see that it is actually Wednesday they will be on First Coast News. Must set the alarm and remember to change the channel as soon as I awaken. Helen, who is Dee's daughter, and Donna, an artist, I am sure will be talking about the upcoming ArtWalk on Wednesday night, just my guess.

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This week, now that the church newsletter has gone out, I will focus on the report from the SoWE, if the other ladies are available to do so. Pastor has asked me again to set a date so we had better get our ducks in a row and be prepared before this coming month gets too busy or crazy schedule-wise. In peeking ahead at the weather page on-line, it shows up in red that a cold snap is coming, warning us all to take cover, with an expected 25 degree drop in temperatures overnight. Yikes again! At 9:00 am here is 69 degrees, with the high expected to be 83. By dinner time, strong storms may roll in and the lows in the 30's. With nowhere I need to be, besides under these covers, I am good!

“Frequent conversations will fill your heart with joy”

Gotta love those fortune cookies from Ming Moon! I was so busted because when talking on the phone with Justin, the delivery man arrived with my dinner. The guy stood at my door and I said, into the phone, “Just a minute, Sweetie…” and the delivery man, “Okay, okay”, thinking I was calling him 'sweetie'! Justin could hear him speaking to me and knew immediately it was Ming Moon. AND he knew exactly what was in the bag, that rascal! Seems I am quite predictable, too. Not long after I ate some of the dinner, Linda called me for the second time in a few days. While we were talking, I opened my fortune cookie and the above listed ‘fortune’ was tucked inside. Wow, even the Chinese know about Linda and me!

As long as I am sitting at the big desk, facing away from my room and into the river room, I do not have to look at the mess on my bed or the laundry basket filled to overflowing with stuff to be folded and/or put away. On the bed are some clothes for me to try on, bought ages ago on a shopping venture and it is now getting cool enough for me to wear them. IF they fit. But I am not sure how long I can look away so might have to address the mess, as it were.

Today before Bible study, Gretchen had me in stitches. It has been a while since I had a good belly laugh, not really been ‘feeling it’ much lately, but today, she got me going. After I had gotten settled into my seat next to her, Gretchen leaned over and asked me, serious as could be, “Have you started your baking yet?” I just lost it! She seemed surprised at how funny it struck me, and she added, “I haven’t started either…” which just made me laugh more. Once I had calmed back down again, she asked me if I had ever been a CHRISTmas baker. Hmmmm…..anyone? Can you answer that? Really, what is the matter with me? I simply cannot remember being much of a baker except for making the cookies with the Hershey kisses pressed into the middle. My favorite memory of that was when Lisa was a little girl, perched on a stool at my counter, unwrapping the foil from the chocolate. She heaved a great sigh and announced, “Whew, this is almost like working…” I can still hear her saying this and remember losing it that day too!

My mother-in-law was an incredible baker, her method of choice was baking as compared to meal prep. She would make pan upon pan of bars, treats, sweets, and cakes to serve over the holidays, plus making the caramel corn I loved so much, and Chex party mix. At my house, cut-out cookies, my all-time favorite, were made and frosted and decorated. Certainly cookies were made in my household, but I am guessing (remember, the memory of doing it myself has faded) my former spouse did it, with me as the helper. Yes,that I remember. And we would gather at the home of the Petskas, my in-law’s in-laws, to ‘color’ cut-out cookies with an egg white mixture. Those are fond memories but still, I laughed so darn hard today, and I thank Gretchen for that. Love it and love her!

Let me recap my day yesterday---after church, I came immediately home as Justin was coming from his service to help me haul my stuff to the car for delivery to church. It surprised me that he beat me home, having to drive about a half hour to get here. He said that Pastor Hoyer has to keep the two services pretty much the same, since the 9:00 a.m. one has to wrap up without going too long after 10:00 a.m. The next service begins at 10:30 with folks arriving early and socializing in their kitchen. Therefore, Justin got out promptly at 11:30 or earlier to make it to my house by noon. My neighbors were using a dolly to unload 1000 bins from Pat’s car, decorations galore. Her friend, Nathan, was taking a load upstairs so I had to wait for the elevator and as I talked to Pat, we heard a horrendous crash from above. Oops! The shattering glass we just heard was the top bin toppling from the dolly as Nathan tried to move from the elevator. Eventually the elevator came back for me with Nathan in it, and a sick look on his face. When I got up to the 3^rd floor, I looked down to the 2^nd and saw red and black ceramic-looking pieces lying around the landing. I felt badly for them both.

Jessica came out on the 4^th floor to ask me what happened, whispering, and I announced in my regular voice that Nathan had a spill with Pat’s CHRISTmas decorations. Evidently her baby was sleeping with the sound of shattered glass coming over his nursery monitor. Oops! Once in my house, I told Justin that we should wait just a couple minutes to allow them to finish getting this batch of bins from the lobby up to Pat’s unit. Good, we can sit for a minute. He was torn as to where to go to watch football and since I was going to be home until at least half time, it worked for him to stay here with me. We switched forth and back between the Packer game and the Jaguar game (both teams ended up losing!) until it was time for me to head back to church, and he headed to his father’s house.

Once at church, the great unloading began. And I worked up a powerful sweat carrying all my bins and boxes into the fellowship hall, hauling in the lectern from church, marking the presents with the corresponding numbers, and setting the spare table. I wanted to have an extra table in case more ladies came than signed up, because as it was, we might have only two seats to spare. Whew! The ladies were good about getting their tables ready, and the 'floating ladies', my favorite kind!, were able to step and fetch for things, including trying to get the battery candles to operate. I gave up with about a half dozen and suggested putting the rest away, not worth the frustration. I could have used a couple more on the lectern, however, as night fell and light faded. The booklets the ladies were using were printed in dark print to make it easier to read, but mine I did in blue, not very dark at all. Oops! Suzanne scooted over to me with an additional battery candle to cast some light on my page. It went well, and I am thankful for all the help and contributors to the event. And was thankful for my bed and nightgown when I got home!

My heart hurts this a.m.

Not actually like chest pains but the other kind. There is sorrow that Kerry, my sister, is again suffering with her excruciating back/leg pain. She was waiting for her spouse to get up and ready himself, wanting to wait until it was light out. I asked Kerry to make sure the doctor's knew how the cortisone injection helped her so greatly last time, so that she can get to work tomorrow. If she does not, Kerry would lose her holiday pay. This is policy, and I lived under those guidelines when I was working in the telephone company business.

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Today instead of Bible study we are again rehashing the experimental services we had at GS. Last week's session was difficult, to say the least, and was hoping this week we would move on to our study of Luther and the Confessions. Most of me wants to skip the 'class' but the other part thinks I should be there to witness, in more ways than one.

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Judy C. had told me that she was going to stay after church to set up for Ladies' Advent Service since she also has Fellowship Sunday today. I called her yesterday to let her know that I would be going home in between church letting out and come back about 2:30 or so because I would need to rest a bit. That would be too long a stay for me, starting at 9:00 a.m. and going home after 5:00....nah! Especially because the Packers are shown on local TV today as well as the Jaguars, and I will at least be able to see parts of the games before going back to church. Justin is coming here after his church service gets out to carry some of the items to the car for me, since he was not coming last night. The young lady with whom we ate lunch a couple weeks ago after Bible study, Sarah, had to suddenly move, so the guys were helping her last night instead. Makes no difference to me when my car gets loaded but I sure would like to have help carrying things into the Fellowship Hall later on! Either way, he would not have been available to do that for me. So, I need to store my strength for lifting and toting and standing later this afternoon. Does that actually work, though?

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The good news is that by mid-week we will see temperatures in the 80's again, but right now, there is frost on the pumpkin. Well, perhaps not THAT bad, but showing presently at 37 above zero. My understanding is that this cold front has affected 3/4 of the nation and I will appreciate it when it is over. Last night was pretty cold for those watching the boat parade downtown, the TV news showing folks wrapped in comforters, enjoying the boats and the fireworks. Two nights in a row with fireworks, first for the tree lighting on Friday night and then last night again. The Lawcock's stay downtown the night of the parade so will not be at church today. They are teaching Sunday school this year and I wonder who is taking their class. It is hard to plan for SS since sometimes a class will have three or four kids, and then the next week, none show up. Soon their class time will be taken up with preparations for the CHRISTmas Eve service, with CHRISTmas4Kids happening next Saturday. Where did the time go?

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After today, rather, late afternoon, the time will be more free for me. The church newsletter is nearly ready to go, so I might e-mail it tomorrow morning, or perhaps even tonight, depending upon how I feel. Pastor called me with the missing information regarding worship times and Bible studies. Next, the condo newsletter must be put together and sent out, requiring less from me than does the church letter. Monday will be Bible study and lunch, Wednesday evening is choir rehearsal. Justin and I will spend Thursday at Bible study, followed by lunch at Maggiano's being provided by one the investment folks, Diane; and seeing "Broke: The Movie" at the Orange Park AMC 24, also with Justin. Thursday is "Justin Day"!!!!! I am so darn funny! Saturday night is the "Messiah" downtown which I will attend with Suzanne plus the choir from Victory. Very nice!