Winding down

Not long ago I got home from church and choir rehearsal. Yes, I got to practice with the choir again! The Maestro, Robbie, has been so busy with his classes (had his juries today and thinks he did well) but is too busy to serve as full-time director. Besides that, he is worshiping now at Victory since he moved away from home. He is in the bell choir at Victory and loves that. He was accepted to MLC but has decided not to go just yet. Some of his classes here would not transfer so he will take more at UNF and then go to MLC later---we hope!

Okay, where was I? Oh, yes---choir rehearsal. We had a couple new people sit in, a mom/daughter team, long time members. Since we are simply singing a hymn from the CW Supplement on Sunday, it was not a long-term commitment. That will be the only time the choir can sing since one of us is leaving for WI. Kristi is going to sing alone on Christmas Eve, to support the children's service since they have so few kids. 

Earlier in the day today, I made an appointment to go to the groomer, since my lunch date fell apart. Rita had gotten a call from her 'hair guy' to remind her of an appointment she had this a.m. so we rescheduled for tomorrow. I had gotten my papers together for the DMV but wanted a hair cut first. Must look our best for our mug shots! Barb could take me at 12:30 so I stopped at Publix first to get needed supplies, not food items, but the taxables. Most important on the list was dishwasher soap. Seems we have been going through alot of that lately.

Before heading out, I wrapped some of Justin's CHRISTmas presents. I used gift bags instead of actually wrapping them, since one bag was quite handy from my night at Judy's with the Ladies' Group. I regifted the gift bag! At the party, Jean traded me her present for the one I got---bath and body products. I LOVED her claret colored glass reed difuser thingy and she loved the bath/shower stuff. Win-Win!

                                            

After I got my hair cut, I decided not to go get in line at DMV (they told me on the phone that this office does not take appointments!) and stopped at McDonald's for lunch. I had a coupon for Big Mac's, a BO/GO deal. What a mess that was! It's been a while since I had one and I remember now that you can't put it down in between bites. My boss at Shady Lane nearly 30 years ago used to say she wouldn't eat them because she likes her salad separate from her burger. I see her point! It still tastes delicious, but is a slippery little devil...

The cards are coming! The cards are coming!

A couple days ago I got my first 'real' CHRISTmas card from one of the ladies at church. She included a letter telling about the past year and its events, not the least being the passing of her husband of 60 years. She is a delightful woman and an excellent Christian example. I love just her!

People seem to be extra frantic about getting their 'holiday' stuff done, thinking they are short of time. Part of that reason is having ThanksLiving come so early in the month this time. Folks feel pressured to leap into activity when the starting pistol of 'Black Friday' is fired, but actually had an extra week, nearly, to prepare for Christmas. More than once I suggested to people that they calm down, there's plenty of time!

***

The other day at Bible study, a couple of the guys in attendance were in fine form. Jean, Stephanie's mom, was there for the class and knows the fellas a bit from previous visits. Both men prior to as well as during class had the opportunity to make crass, general statements about women being gossips or claiming "Did you ever see those Facepages or whatever? That's nothing but a bunch of gossip!" 

                                

First of all, gossip would involve maliciously maligning someone. Oh yes, that's what all the businesses and even the churches do on Facebook---gossip! For that last remark I sort of gasped in exasperation but Pastor addressed it immediately urging fairness and kindness. Granted, some may use this communication tool for less than noble reasons, but certainly not all of us!! I do get defensive when someone provokes me or accuses me falsely. I won't stand for it! And besides, gentlemen, we have a guest at the table so behave yourselves!

***

I think I am at the point where I must get a haircut. By the end of the day it starts to tip over and lay down flat, which is not good if I am not laying down flat. Usually I go the week of the full moon but have been holding off to extend the life of my haircut into my visit to WI. Perhaps Thursday afternoon will work for me. 

***

I also MUST get my drivers' license renewed as well as my plates renewed before I leave. Suddenly, time is going away from me! I have to assemble all my documents including my divorce papers to take along to the DMV to prove I am who I claim to be. 

                                          

I had to retrieve my marriage certificate from the safe, and came upon Justin's and Timmy's baptismal certificates. Timmy's had the linen napkin in it and you can only guess what happened then....Yes, it was the same thing that happened when I saw Suzanne at church later, wearing the pretty pin Timmy had given his Sunday school teacher only weeks before he died....It was one of those days!

Ladies' Group Christmas Party

These photos were sent to me via Terri T.'s iPhone so control over size and lighting was not mine. Not everyone at the party is shown in the photos---I believe there were 21 of us all told, some first-timers. Betty thanked me for insisting she come!

 Suzanne Chappell, Kristi Husted, and Jayne Shannahan

 In the kitchen is Terri Hallenbeck and her mom, Ethel, Judy Chappell, Jean Nichols, and Gretchen Harrington

 Julaine Lieske Colon and Judy Chappell 

 Sue Kreisher and her daughter, Kristin Norris

 Betty Starkweather, Twila Nichols, and Donna Wilson

 Lynn Kuske and Janet Batkoski

Me and Martie Dorner!!

I love being freaked out....NOT!

Last night after I got home from the Ladies' Advent service which was held at Victory, I went into my room and turned on the lamp next to my bed. Justin had followed me and I remarked to him that the light was far brighter than usual. I turned it off and started over again (3-way bulb) and again, it was brilliant. He suggested just putting it on the lowest setting if it bothered me. Obviously he did not "see" the problem with this. 

About an hour later, as I was getting ready to settle in for the night, the lamp/bulb made a SNAP sound and off went all the lights and the TV in my room. I was frozen in my bed for a second, wondering "what in the world???", and then made my way to the bedroom door in the dark. I opened my door and flipped on the light in the hall. Whew! That worked! 

                                             

I called to Justin and he came out of his door at the end of the hallway. He heard the circuit pop, but thought the sound had come from upstairs, as if they dropped something. He flipped the circuit back on, and the TV came back and the printers started to crank up. I was too afraid to plug in the lamp again (I had pulled the plugs from my phone and the lamp) so he did it after changing the bulb. It was a 40 watt bulb rather than a three-way one and it seemed okay but I was entirely freaked that now I was going to have electrical problems here too. Light bulbs have burned out before but never with such fanfare or drama, and never tripping the circuit! Just stop it!!!

Happy New Year!

Today is New Year's Day, at least it is on the church calendar---the first Sunday in Advent kicks off the new liturgical year. Love the blue of Advent! It is a "Prepare the royal highway, the King of kings is near..."-type of day. We did not sing that hymn but rather some others such as "Behold a Branch Is Growing". 
                                 
Before the service actually began, the Sunday school kids were joined by some from the preschool to sing, "Go, Tell It on the Mountain". Once they were finished, back to their seats or out the door, order was restored so the service could begin. 

When the congregation was ready to sing "Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness" I, as always, pointed to the second stanza and said to Justin, "This is for my funeral...". He took the hymnal, closed it, then let it fall open saying, "This is for your funeral..." His point was there is hardly a hymn in the hymnal not on my list! I will request that "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" not be sung at mine!

This week I did not forget my camera and was ready to take photos of anyone wishing a new picture be taken for the Flock Board. I did take a couple more, some of which were retakes. Before Bible study, one of the prospective members, Tim, came around with his camera and asked if we ladies minded his taking a picture of us. He wanted some photos to put up on the empty photo board. HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, BUDDY!!!! Judy C. as patiently as she could explained to him that this was not a board to be done with cameo shots of people but folks were posing for pictures and will be placed on the board. He makes a few of us just a teeny bit nervous...

                             

After church five of us went to Chili's, minus Terri T., and got to watch part of the Packer/Vikings game. Mike S. is a Vikings' fan and Justin was sporting his Packer polo shirt...all in good fun. The Packers ended up winning, but the Jaguars did not fare as well. That game was grueling once more, with Justin listening in his room and me watching in my room. On the computer I could track the Packer game but it's not the same as watching it at Chili's!!!

Tonight Judy and I are going to Victory as guests of their Ladies'  Advent Service. Suzanne called her yesterday and invited her, as both Hanna and she had roles to play in the service. Suzanne will play the viola, of course, and Hanna is helping with the candle lighting. I know it will be lovely, it always is! I am a guest at Stephanie's table and look forward to seeing my sisters-in-faith at my 'other' church! Happy New Year everyone!

It might be raining....

...at least it looks like it across the river. Or, very heavy mist, or fog. Anyway, definitely not sunshine. "They" keep teasing me with the weather reports---I should simply disregard!

                                          

The house has an interesting aroma going on right now. Justin fried some burgers in a pan which has seen better days, and they sort of got away from him. My problem when cooking is that I walk away from the stove, and his problem is that he stays! Part of this is the non-stick pan no longer being non-stick, and using too hot a burner. Add to that the lesser-cut burgers his mother insisted we buy instead of the better-cut burgers...ahem...

                                       

The other delicate aroma, once the smoke cleared, is the pretzel torte crust being baked and then cooled. Justin used a different method for chopping the pretzels and then took a slotted scoop to sift out the 'dust' from them. He is going to divvy the crust, once cooled, into small cups to make individual portions. Always trying to perfect the process!

                        

He is making this dessert for me to serve to my dinner guests tonight, when Stephanie and her mom join me at the table. I have been trying to decide which table to serve at, and might stick with the glass-topped table in the family room. It's a bit more cozy in there and more suitable for the casserole I intend to serve. I am not sure if Justin will be here for dinner or not, that might help with my decision making. 

When I went to close the door which had been opened to allow the smoke to go out, I found an invitation to a Christmas party stuck in the metal door. Yay! This year I can actually attend because it is NOT on Wednesday. Last year Justin and I could only do a pop-by on our way to church. Now I must come up with a small hors d'oeurve to share. It specifies 'small'. I can do small!

                                            

I get GroupOn offers in my e-mail every day, some which I take advantage of and most I disregard entirely. The most recent one that made me laugh was for beautifying my pet. Oh, for heaven's sake! While I will buy services such as housekeeping  or similar, others can buy Botox parties and pet beautification services. Laser treatment for toe fungus as well as body hair removal. They like to gross me out very early in the morning. Who told them about my toes!???

All fixed up...

Much to my dismay, my 'big' laptop at my desk was having problems playing back my podcasts, or making any type of sound at all. I listen to the radio shows here as well as play back podcasts or watch video clips or news items, all with sound. When I expressed this problem on Facebook, my former neighbor, Randy, advised 'us' to uninstall the audio driver and then do a reset, and the driver would re-install itself, hopefully resolving the problem. Justin tried that this a.m.,  to no avail. 

                                             

Then, he wondered if perhaps the problem was not with the sound card device but rather with the hardware. He went into the back bedroom and came out with my 'old' external speakers which he plugged into my computer. I had used them with the Big Blue gas powered machine which had no speakers of its own. I must have burned out the ones in my laptop and now use the external ones again. Hey, if it allows me to continue as 'normal', I am okay with them!

                                      

He was also checking into what was needed for making my little laptop Internet ready, which was part of the charm when I purchased it. Evidently we must take the laptop somewhere to have it made ready to receive the Verizon wireless capabilities, at a cost. In my mind, I am thinking I might just muddle through as I have in the past when visiting my mom, and go to the coffee shop to access the Internet. 

                               

             Jenn's Java in Manitowoc, WI. 

I don't drink coffee but do eat their delicious treats!

I can download my podcasts there, or at Linda's house, plus work on my newsletter and send it off from my sister, Jill's, computer. She is good about letting me use her machine during my visits, very handy as she is living in the same building as my mom.

Justin had to run an errand to his boss's house and is stopping at Publix on the way back. He is getting the ingredients needed to make the famous Strawberry Pretzel Torte for me to serve to Stephanie and Jean for dessert on Saturday evening. Yay! Jean has an open-ended ticket for her return to WI but I didn't want to waste a minute before having them come over for dinner! The meal will be less than impressive as my plans are for a casserole. The dessert will save me face!

                              

According to the weatherman on the radio, it is supposed to be a 10 on the scale of good days. Justin and I have been waking up early this entire week to listen to the morning radio show in case our names are called as winners of an iPad and a mini-iPad. He seems to think that if either of us win, he gets the full-size one and his mom gets 'stuck' with the mini. It seems he would get more use from the full-size iPad (he already has one and has dropped it, cracking its face) than I would ever use! I just want to prove him wrong. But first, I must win!

Neither of us won anything on the recent lottery drawing either (we partook in the 'Stupid Tax', as the lottery is considered by some) on the off-chance of being winners. Since he was a little boy, Justin would dream of what he'd do with the money if he won. Some of his ideas were quite grand, like buying a pipe organ for Good Shepherd. Pete told him he would have to buy someone to play it, too! 

In later years, when Noah still worked at night, Justin wanted to install a security system and put central air conditioning in their home. Plus take care of others in his family who are in need. Now, as he told me last night, he wants to establish scholarships for the six little boys in our family to make sure they are properly educated.  Love that about him, just love it! But, one must win first, to do all that!