Dreaming again

This morning I had the pleasure of a rather frantic dream, nothing new about that. This time, I was evidently in charge of making up some treat bags at church. The odd part was, this was not my church! It would not be odd for me to take over someone else's project or to lend a hand. However, here, I had no idea when they were to be ready, how many, where to get the materials, and all those details. And they were needed NOW!

At one point I drove Kerry, my sister, to the store to get stickers for the outside of the bags but did not think of anything for inside the bags. I sent her back in and she came out with an enormous sack of candy, like dog food sized bag. That should do it!

Kids were busy coloring pieces of paper for gluing to the bags at the same time that they were in a program in the church. Let me think---Christmas? I will never know if I got the bags done in time or what they looked like, as thankfully, I woke up!

Something cool happened to me yesterday, a couple of things cool in nature. In mid-afternoon, I got a call from a lady at The Club. She mentioned the name of my friend, Helen, and was calling to talk about her. I was a reference! Well, I sang Helen's praises, told Patty about the website designing, her being a skilled artist, and an aesthetician. And, now, the newest employee at The Club!!!! How fun is that!?

I told Justin about it when he got home from work, how Patty had called me and now Helen has a job at The Club. He laughed a bit and said, "You're insufferable!" Yeah, I know...Later, I was on the sundeck with some of my neighbors and Maureen told me I should have come to Happy Hour Wednesday night. "They have a new tapas menu, and they named a sandwich after you!" Oh my! She said Chef walked around and made a point of showing people 'my' sandwich---the sirloin slider!!!

I AM insufferable!

Clark's pictures

Monday evening the ladies went to eat at Clark's Fish Camp. We have a social outing every other month (I know, it seems more often!) but this is the Ladies' Group for the dinner event. Plus two ladies who do not usually attend the monthly meetings but live in proximity to this restaurant. The place was all decked out for Halloween---NOT my favorite but oh, well. We had fun! Absent from the photos are Judy J. and Terri T.

 Here are Bonnie and Donna

 In the corner is me but the focus of the shot is Jayne, and her former mother-in-law, Julaine

 Two tables down from me sat Judy C. and Betty

 Across from Judy and Betty are sisters Sue and Terri H. (Terri T. is the photographer, by the way)

 In the darkened corner you will find Twila and Kim, at a table for two!

 Here are the exterior shots Terri T. took as she walked up to the restaurant. See my red car hiding there?

The entire walkway was draped with inflated, fierce-looking cats!

Brushing myself off

Well....what was that???  Quite a different tone than last week's debate ending. Many are scratching their heads wondering "What in the world just happened?" A meltdown? A raving lunatic? I am conducting my personal post-mortem, coming up with lists of things Paul Ryan could have done to defuse the hysterical VP. My, oh my! Talk about being over-coached!

The news outlets mostly show the debate as a draw, with some varying a few degrees either way. One site, CNBC, showed Ryan was the winner by 20 points, based upon style and substance. Another commentator, Krauthammer, declared it this way: "If you listened on the radio, Biden won. If you watched on TV, Ryan won." At one point I told Justin that I feared the VP would suddenly vanish, like a Cheshire Cat, with all the insipid grinning. On the other hand, it did not present well, to me, to have Ryan sipping from his glass so frequently. 

                                            

Hardly into the debate, the VP told a whopper of a lie, among others, claiming the government was never asked for additional security for the consulate in Libya, when only this week the testimony before the House reported otherwise. Does he think no one will notice this? 
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/biden-insinuates-he-didnt-vote-afghanistan-iraq-wars_654253.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/biden-adds-to-the-libya-lies/2012/10/12/b25227ae-145f-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_blog.html

On the radio today, I was listening to a type of game show one network does, where the guys call area convenience stores in the cities from where football teams play. Today it was Green Bay and Houston, as they have a match up on Sunday. The one question was "Where is Benghazi?", and the store clerk said, "I don't know....Wal-Mart?" She thought it was someone's name!!! And she votes!

                                

Justin and I had home-made apple pie at the culmination of the debate, but we felt less than celebratory. Shoot! The good news, according to the pundits, is this debate does little to affect the outcome of the race. What it does do is show the fellows in the light of being one heartbeat away from the Presidency. I think Paul Ryan would serve our nation well, without getting the giggles!

About the pie---Justin did stop after work Wednesday to get the ice cream for the pie. He called me from Publix to see if there was anything I needed (so thoughtful!) and was pleased to get his ice cream at BO/GO pricing. He was astonished that folks would pay over $6 for just one half gallon. This is one of those things which affect every 'class' of people in our nation. The cost of milk and bread is getting up there! And meat!

The pie is quite tasty, his apple peeler helicopter doing the work nicely. When he went to cut the pie, after cooling, it was still rather runny. He said, "Every piece is Lynn's piece!", a family joke. My sister, Lynn, always seemed to get the piece of dessert that was upside down or falling apart. The curse of the first born! Later he told me that he missed putting the flour in with the apples which would have thickened the contents. It matters not to me---tastes amazing!

My Friday night just opened up. The group working on the church archives was going to gather to work on the project but Judy C. called to say she wasn't going to make it, so I cancelled the whole thing. We can try again another Friday, next week being a good one! I am not a little bit sorry, won't mind having a nice evening at home.

Tuesdays and Thursdays....

...are my favorite days of the week! They have something in common, too----Bible study days. Monday is also a Bible study day followed by social time with the ladies, but it is dramatically different than the other two classes. The Bible Information Class (BIC) on Tuesday nights at Victory is so---oh, let me think of the word---exciting to be involved in. (Not grammatically correct but I could not figure another way to state this!) My second time through the class, with new folks in attendance, including my friend, Stephanie. Love it!

Just got home from my Thursday outing, again at Victory, where we are studying "Definitions" in the Good News program from LC-MS publishing house. This title is rather obscure but the subject matter is rich, with today's discussion about Lazarus being raised from the dead. I think that the word 'faith' was supposed to be our focus. Yes, I WAS paying attention! The conversation which followed was about Lazarus and his relationship with Jesus, with his sisters, and how it felt to see heaven but then come back to earth. That is the quickest hour in the week!

Next week we are going to be minus a bunch of ladies as they are attending The Southern Women's Show downtown. This group goes every year and very much enjoy it. Despite their invitations and coaxing, I have no desire to attend, and respectfully decline. In my mind, there is nothing there for me. But they really get a kick out of it, so more power to 'em! Class will not be conducted due to this many being absent, so I will have an empty heart and empty space in the calendar to fill....

This photo is of the aqua aerobics gang

Click the photo to enlarge

Standing: Pat, Pat, Ollivan, Kim, Susie, Maggie, Ina, Lynn, Rita, Lee, Sherry, and Helen. On bench: Mary Lew, Randy (our token man!), Marlena (our leader), Margie (her mom) and Helen (her mother-in-law), and Sistie

***

Monday at the Tea Party, some of the ladies who regularly enjoy The Club's Thursday mini-buffet asked me to join them, even though I am no longer 'in the water'. Too cold for me! I decided to meet the ladies in the Garden Room. "We" get a separate dining area due to the ladies having come in from the pool, which is dandy for me, because I can be noisy.

It was Fried Chicken Day, and the ladies have raved about it all summer long. I got into line and got a bowl of clam chowder first, then a piece of chicken and a scoop of mashed potatoes. I did not realize at first that they were 'real' potatoes so had some more for dessert! 

The chicken was divine, just as they said it was. Later, though, Marlena told us that due to a gas line problem, they could not make the chicken this a.m. So where did this chicken come from??? Publix!!!! Good ole stand by of Publix, and the ladies were right---this is good chicken!

On the ride back from Victory, I did hear on the radio that Grace Episcopal School had been evacuated due to a gas leak but they were able to go back in and finish the day. I wonder why the line to The Club was not repaired. And how did they make the mashed potatoes without gas to cook them? They were not from Publix! I sure wish I had asked for a to-go box for the mashed potatoes. 

***

The elevator was going to be out of service for a bit today for regular maintenance so it worked perfectly for me to not come straight home from Bible study. Connie was just finishing it up when I came home, so thankful not to have to climb the stairs. 

There are workers at Unit 504, making repairs to their long patio. This new floor/finish should take care of the leaks affecting the unit above mine, those caused by rain and not by plumbing. 

Here is some good news---yesterday, I took up the towel from the floor in the river room for the first time since the last tropical storm. I am ever the optimist, thinking the repairs to the sliding glass doors in 504 and the floor in the unit directly above mine will solve the leaks and allow me to remain dry. Please????

No news is good news

As I am seated at my desk, I am putting the finishing touches on the monthly outreach newsletter. All they need is a stamp and they are out the door. Yesterday I mailed the other newsletters which go to our members away from home. I consider it the 'fun newsletter'. It includes photos taken since the previous letter which help keep those away sort of 'in touch' from afar.

On the weekend I finished up The Palace Press and printed off the couple needed for those without computers. This makes me all out of news, or at least, the newsletters!

On the weekend, Justin went to the store for some things. Target had a good buy on the Diet Coke so he went there. He told me that, for the record, he never wants to buy groceries at Target again. The way the store is set up did not appeal to him, as things were not where he thought they would be. The frozen meatballs were in a freezer bin near the produce, which seemed quite goofy to him. 

                                     

He did, however, come home quite celebratory. Last week when he made his apple pie, he was wishing we had the 'helicopter' device for peeling apples. His father would use it at home for peeling apples with the two boys helping with the project, back in the day. I do not usually have a need for it so let it go to his father's home. Now, Justin wants it!

As he roamed the aisles at Target, what did he come upon but a helicopter!?! It was lighter-weight than the one we used to have but everything else looked the same. He bought it! And he bought everything he needed for making a pie except he forgot about ice cream. Therefore, he will not make a pie until we have some vanilla ice cream with flecks in it. Perhaps today he will stop for some on his way home from work!

He might be standing me up for the debate on Thursday night as he has been asked to work at a call center and then attend a watch party with the Young Republicans. One of his classmates asked him and he said he'd rather go with the young folks than the 'old ones' at the local call center here. Thanks a lot!!  I like it, though, if he gets together with his classmates for things like this.

                                   

My up-north friends and family will get a chuckle out of this---the weather man just described the temperature as being a 'crisp 75'! Gotta love it! My doors are open and the air is moving through the house. As long as my feet are warm, I will be okay. Tonight for dinner I am making a casserole like that which Linda made for a function last night. Meatballs, mushroom soup, and egg noodles. Mmmm....I can taste it already!

Deep deep sorrow....

Today I listened to a recorded 9-1-1 message in full, where a 17 year old boy called to report he'd just killed his mom and his sister. The 9-1-1 operator was so cool and calm, talking to him almost like a comforting mama. She did an amazing job keeping him calm as he told the horrific details of how he carried out this heinous crime. She asked him why he was so mad at them and he said, "I wasn't mad at them...I planned to kill somebody for a while..." in an almost weary fashion. He was concerned about ruining his future now. Really???? Ya think? Almost remorseless and without cause, 'just because', he took their lives. 

I thank society for this and acknowledge all evil comes from Satan. He uses so many seemingly harmless devices, and has made us consider life as being cheap and expendable. This young man will hate life as long as he is separated from the Lord. My prayer is that someone will serve him in prison with the Good News of his Savior.

In other news, an area man shot and killed his mother on their front lawn only a block or so off of Blanding Blvd. yesterday. One of Twila's friends called to ask it if was one of her tenants but it was not. Evidently it was a domestic abuse problem, so he might claim self-defense or something. 

I like to harp on people not having skills for handling every day life, these incidents triggered when some one does not get what they want and when they want it. Not sure how to turn that around except pray "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

Fuzzy slipper day!

Oooh, it's cold out there! The long projected cold front has made its way here to the First Coast, and into my house! It surprised me earlier this a.m. when I heard the A/C kick in when certainly the rooms were not warmer than 79 degrees. I took care of that forthwith!

Did we have some laughs last night! Bonnie was celebrating one-year since her surgery and had an Old-Fashioned, adult beverage. She started it!!! Pretty soon, more of the ladies, including me, had a nice adult beverage with our dinners, in a toast to Bonnie being cancer-free! Frankly, it was great to see her having such a good time, laughing and talking with us, when a year ago, things were bleak.

                                           

"My little Marine" was seated further down the stretch of tables and was in rare form. At one point, she bossing asking the waiter for something and he made a remark, "Boy, you sure do know what you want..." and Bonnie piped up, "You don't know the half of it!" Brought the house down!  From the far end of the table was Ethel's daughter, Sue, and she said, "My mom isn't going to let me come with you anymore, Miss Kim......" Why is this my fault??? Talk about funny!

***

The other day after a huge rain storm, Justin and I were crossing the parking lot to get to my car. The drain was entirely covered with leaves and pine needles, blocking the water flow. I took my shoe and pushed the junk to the side but Justin urged me to just leave it, the water would drain. I stepped over the drain and right into a giant puddle of water! He grabbed my arm as I danced around in the parking lot and scooted me to the car with one soaked and crud-filled shoe. Good thing they are machine washable!

***

On a similar note, Saturday night when we joined Mike and Judy for dinner at La Nap, the only available space to park happened to be an end place next to the curb. I failed to get close enough to the curb to avoid stepping over the puddle, sooooo...Justin came around to my side of the car and took my hand to help me step over, as I have promised the ortho doctor to never jump again (circa 2004-5 when I hurt my knee getting off my boat, swinging across on the rope). When we left the restaurant that night, he came around to help me once again, but, in deference to that same knee, put the wrong foot down first and got another soaker! Air dried that shoe!

***

Sunday night when I was talking with Mom on the phone, another call buzzed in, so I told Mom I'd call her back. It was my friend, Judy H., who lives in Knoxville, TN. I know her folks from Victory now, formerly Green Bay people. Anyway, Judy called to tell me that she was thinking of me, since they sang a "Timmy song" in church that morning. You have no idea how much that means to me! "These things are written that we may believe..."

***

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the passing of Hannah B., the 12 year old girl from Victory Lutheran who succumbed to brain cancer. I was so sick, I could not sing with the choir, though I was asked to help them out. My throat was all croaky but I did manage to sing one hymn, with all I had, in support of those around who were so deeply mourning. "Abide with Me"....a Hannah hymn, and a Kim hymn, and a Lynn hymn....

***

A couple weeks ago at Andy's committal service, I got myself into a pickle, getting into the backseat of Judy C's van. Somehow I got turned around, not addressing the seat properly, and in trying to protect my knee, I was on my knees between the front and back seats. Judy was trying to coach me but I was sort of stymied. 

At her suggestion, a wise one, I backed myself out of there without having to call a wrecker (although they did have heavy machinery there at the cemetery!), and simply addressed the seat like I was supposed to. I don't know what I was trying to do, but that was not the right way to get into the car! 

In my defense, ahem ahem, I think not being used to getting in on the passenger side and the seat being about 10" from the door to allow for folks to access the rear-most seat, I goofed! My friends are just the greatest and incredibly patient with me!