Good-bye, my friend

Justin made us dinner at home last night, even though we could eat for almost a week on leftovers stored in the fridge. He makes a chicken recipe using broccoli, Alfredo sauce, and bread/cheese mixture for coating the chicken to make this dish. For the side dish he made an entire box of rotini pasta, which we can eat all week as well!

                                         

A couple weeks ago he made a couple meals which were pre-assembled at Publix, requiring baking for our consumption. He followed the preparation directions but yet the meat was still a bit raw when he tried to serve it. Thankfully we have a microwave oven to zap the food into doneness! Last night's meal he baked longer than the recipe indicated in order to ensure the chicken was cooked through and through. And it was!

Since he did the hard part of cooking the meal, I told him I would handle the kitchen clean up. Because the TV show he likes was a rerun, he joined me in the kitchen as I loaded the machine, and wiped the counters, etc. The dishwasher was filled, soap packet in place, door shut, and buttons pushed. 

It made the right noises while we were in there but then my sensitive nose caught a whiff of something hot. What the ??? I opened the door of the machine and Justin thought he saw steam coming out. Nope, it was smoke! Immediately I dashed down the hall to the circuit box and looked for the right breaker to flip. While my nose and hearing are keen, my eyes are less so. He came to help me find the markings on the box, stamped into the metal frame. Off it went. No water was pumping into the machine and even though he wanted to try it one more time, it was a no go. Shoot!

                                         

A couple months ago when the renters above me had dishwasher troubles, filling the apartment with smoke and stench, I got to go look at it. Yech!!! The plastic stuff melted onto the coil on the floor of the machine, and the plastic coatings on the racks was hanging down in strings. I am just so glad they were at home when this happened, busily mopping up water from the leak above them, during one of the tropical storms. Yikes! So so glad I was right there to catch mine before anything untoward happened with it.

Now, I was washing the dishes by hand, and not happily so. At this writing there are still some pieces to be put away, thinking that a good 12 hours is long enough for them to air dry. It is mainly the flatware left to deal with, with the majority of the eating and cooking items washed, air dried, and put away. Websites are showing me replacement models to choose from. The purchase, however, bothers me less than the procedure for replacement, due to there being water involved. 

I have already checked with the downstairs neighbor to find out which days he will be home, 'just in case'....I will also have Gus on notice to hit the 'kill switch' in his unit which controls the water to this stack of condos. It's like trying to shut down a nuclear reactor or something to change out a dishwasher!!!!

A Paul Ryan day

Last night my blog entry did not post---must have been floating about in space or something. This time I am going to keep an eye on it to make sure all goes well. 

I was sad to miss my friend, Ellen, at the Reformation Festival yesterday. Her husband, Pastor S., was guest preacher for the service and I did expect to see her. She had a function to attend with her granddaughter. Pastor and I talked about my going down to Palm Coast for a visit some Monday, but I must go after lunch, as Judy C. insists I be there. She told him how I 'ditched' them two Mondays in a row this month already!!!

Rich and Audrey were back at Victory after spending the summer in WI at their cottage. It was sooo good to see them again! In all the busyness of the event, I didn't get a chance to talk to Audrey about "Dave", the shuttle bus driver who took me from MKE to Manty one night. He bought a giant display mouse, a collector's item, from Audrey's shop outside of Milwaukee when she closed the store. What a coincidence and what a small world!!

*****

Today, Justin dropped me off at GS for Bible study and then headed to Fernandina Beach to await a Paul Ryan Victory Event. Yes, we are optimists!!! I depended upon the kindness of friends to get me to the restaurant and then home again, Judy C. taking me under her wing. 

The speeches began well in advance of the candidate arriving and Justin was early enough to get a ring-side position close to the stage. When Paul came walking out, he spotted Justin in his cheese head and pointed at him, giving him the thumbs' up signal. Cool!!!!

Later, as part of the speech, Paul referenced the other battleground states, and once more gestured at Justin as one of those with family in a swing state. Right at him! Justin told me that he had his picture taken more than Paul Ryan did today---even a photographer from the AP asked to take his picture. Before Ryan left, he autographed Justin's cheese head. He was thrilled about today, simply thrilled!

Justin in his happy place...

Reformation celebration

Some congregations are not celebrating the Festival of Reformation until next weekend but our area congregations did. My day began with Bible study at GS and then worship, with Sterling on the MIDI. He did a 'sterling' job of it, too! (Ha,ha...) It was Fellowship Sunday but Justin and I went to Panera Bread for a quick lunch instead.

I ordered the small mac 'n cheese while Justin had a sandwich and soup. Originally I was going to get gas at the station across the street but they seemed to be out of gas! Only diesel fuel available. I was heading to Stephanie's house first to watch the Packer/Jaguar game so my new plan was to get gas on Baymeadows Road, either going or coming back.

Stephanie was still busy in her kitchen when I arrived but she was able to converse through her pass-through. Victory was hosting the dinner after the Festival service and there was concern about having enough food since GS was sending a large contingent. Stephanie was making additional food to feed us all! At first the network showing 'our' game had a game from London on, freaked us out!! I sent Justin a text message to see which network we needed and we were right. I guess CBS just wanted to give us a fit.

Stephanie and I are both WI people and Packer fans, as well as Jaguar fans, so it was a win-win either way for us. Mostly we were rooting for the Packers but I cheered for the Jags as well when they did something cheer-worthy. The best part was just being at Stephanie's and that's it!

Right after halftime, I had to leave to go rehearse our choir anthems. Only a couple people were there, GS choir members, ready to go. Some of the ladies were in the kitchen making things ready but they were not choir members. We had a small choir but sounded like more in number. Rachel was able to bring out the best in us with the church acoustics helping greatly.

As the people began to arrive, it was interesting to see how many more GS folks came than did Victory members. I tallied 33 of us from GS, and had reserved for 39. We had the privilege of hearing interesting sermonettes based upon the stanzas of Luther's hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Reformation: "A Mighty Fortress". Pastor Schleicher, serving Christ, Keystone Heights, was the guest preacher. 

When I arrived at Victory, the eating area was set up outside on the patio. As we readied to rehearse, tables and chairs were being carried in and set up in the back of the church as the temps were already dropping. I am so glad they did that for us leakers who cannot bear the cold! Plus the food was inside! Such wonderful German recipes were prepared...oh my! I even got to bring home some spaetzel which appeared to be home-made. Much much was leftover but I did my share to the dishes.

It felt so good to be there for worship and fellowship, and so good to get home to relax. I was away from home for nearly 12 hours and was ready to get my feet up and revel in the Packer victory!!

All this pumpkin talk!

Many of my friends, both 'live' and on Facebook (as though they are not live!?) have been raving about their pumpkin coffees, candles, and other flavored or scented pumpkin delights. This got me thinking about a delicious pumpkin treat we used to serve at Shady Lane Home called Harvest Loaf. It so happens the recipe was in my dark pine recipe box---all I needed were the ingredients. 

Justin and I decided to have dinner at Nishiki last night even though I was making a version of Swedish meatballs. Somehow I was not in the mood for them but could choke down some fried rice at the former Koko's. 

                                              

After dinner we stopped at Publix and picked up items needed for the next week. He has been wishing to make his chicken and broccoli dish again, made the first time for Lynn and Grandma K., and then again for Linda. Next, for us! Also, got the stuff needed for making a harvest loaf.

Today I decided to mix up the recipe and was doing well until it came time to put in it the pan....no loaf pan to be found! Justin did a room to room search, even looking in the cabinet above the refrigerator, where no one ever looks! By the way---there is nothing up there but dust. 

                                               

This made me sort of sad because it was a pan I'd likely had since getting married, a Mirro pan, and now, it's gone. He wondered if I gave it away like I had the bundt pan, but I am sure I'd keep my loaf pan at least for making meat loaf, or breakfast bread. It's a mystery! I wonder how long it has been gone....Guess I need to attend a Pampered Chef party to replace my vintage pan.

We are having a gloomy day today, no sunshine but very little effects of the passing storm. The 'sea' is mostly calm, not like yesterday, and the wind barely moving the palms. No rain thus far, with a brief passing shower yesterday afternoon. 

My sister, Kerry, reported that a large number of AT&T trucks from WI were heading to the upper east coast to be ready to help restore service after the storm. I hope the storm swerves away and does not pound them like Hurricane Irene did last year.

Speaking of Kerry, she has submitted her vacation request for next year in hopes of getting the weeks she wants to come down for a visit again. That was the finest time ever when she came and stayed for a week. Oh my...great time! I had so much fun watching her have fun. Everything, things I take for granted, were such a delight for her. I hope to do that again next summer if she can arrange it. 

That was in 2010, and only a couple days after I took Kerry to the airport and cried my eyes out saying good-bye (as I cry right now!), I went back to get Lynn and Linda! That was another great week.

When they left, I wrote on Facebook how I'd never had such a wonderful September, reveling in the great times we had had. And two days later, my life changed dramatically---the Great Flood! But, that is enough of that, let's revel in Harvest Loaf made in a square Mirro cake pan instead!

More Bucket List stuff

The other night at Bible study Pastor H. told one of the class members how learning to surf was on his bucket list. Today would be a good one for trying his hand, or his feet!, at surfing, with the wickedness of the waves with this passing storm. But, I simply cannot picture this grandpa on a surf board! 

A couple days ago my neighbor, Gus, came up for a visit. At first he came with Connie to see a large sea creature floating on its side in the river. She determined it was a large red (red what??) but it could have easily have been a small dolphin. The fish is presently being bashed against the rocks by the wild river we are experiencing today. Gus was just coming back from lunch with his friend and decided to hang out up here for a bit. 

He kept telling me how he's been in my home before but never really looked around very much---likely when I am having a flood! Gus insists I get the paints out again, trash my river room with the supplies (my words, not his), and start cranking out some work. I would sooner do that in my room than in there, because I can close the doors to this room!

He enjoyed the art work, the glass, the collections, and my stories of where the various pieces came from. I enjoyed his company! Gus promised to come back some time to look at my scrapbooks, as he is Greek and would like to see the photos. 

Gus mentioned how getting some Chihuly glass was on his 'bucket list'. He told me how he came close to buying some expensive pieces of glass a couple years ago. He passed up the opportunity then and is glad now he did, due to the market falling apart. I hope someday Gus can get a nice piece of glass and not too far off, as he is in his mid-70's already!

Sweet Gus---sadly he told me he has trouble remembering the dates on his parents' grave markers, and that of his wife, but he remembers the 'dash' in between. He was happy that I knew of the poem about the 'dash'. 

The Dash

By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who love her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile…

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Part of my 'dash' was spent with Gus, and with various lady friends this past week. And, of course, with Justin. He is likely going to be moving next month and I am adjusting my mindset to that fact. I can swallow the larger electric bill and eating home cooked meals for a bit longer.....

My new burger

Last night I went to The Club for tapas during Happy Hour(s) to try the new and improved Lahaie Day Slider. As per my request, Chef changed it up to these, pictured below, and made me extremely happy. The sirloin burgers came topped with a dollop of spinach, spread with corn butter, and embellished with onion straws. That's good eatin'! I took these photos before eating but a few moments later, Chef came out and also took my picture! Suitable for framing....

The accompanying side dish was the onion straws, and oh, my!, they are amazing! As you can see in the shot, Justin's meal is already packed in the to-go box on my table into which I piled more than half the straws and poured the dipping sauce into one of the recesses in the box. He declared them as being amazing plus the dipping sauce was the best he ever had! Chef will receive now a follow-up e-mail from me telling him how much I appreciate their efforts and the great honor!

No wonder I couldn't sleep the other night!

The news (you 'new' I'd get to it!) is all about the information being released regarding the terror attack at Benghazi. Perhaps Mitt was right in letting the opportunity pass to clobber PresBO with the facts and let the media do it. Nearly 6 weeks after the event, it comes out only now that there was LIVE footage being streamed to the White House and other points taken from the unmanned drone. In addition to that footage are the communications from the compound reporting being in fear of attack, actually under attack, and who was eating dinner with the ambassador just prior to the attack. NO youtube video was mentioned in any of the communiques---how about that??? 

Who stayed up to watch the footage and carnage unfold, and who went to bed instead? Who failed to order the military to scramble to the rescue as this scene unfolded? With US bases located just across this narrow portion of the Mediterranean Sea, less than 500 miles from Benghazi, help could have been rapidly dispatched. 

Who still has their positions? And who lost their lives while others sat on their hands, or actually watched!, to protect the pontification that we have 'Al qaeda on the run'? That phrase has been pulled from the stump speeches, in case anyone has not noticed. Oops! Presidential race or not, this is serious business, folks, and our attention must be directed to this fiasco.

At least one war has somewhat come to a close, that being the fallacious 'war on women'. This past week the now infamous spokeswoman for nationally funded birth control managed to gather 10 people in a parking lot in NV to hear her speech about this subject. 

Her parents must be so proud of their 30+ year old daughter on the public forum begging for birth control---first before Congressional committees, then at the DNC, and now parking lots in NV. The war is actually evidenced at the gas pump, grocery store, and utility bills. People in the real world realize this, I pray.