I'm having a great trip down memory lane!

For those of you who are not Rush fans, you will probably not appreciate this post so much, but for me, it's a hoot!

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Rush is celebrating his 20th anniversary in syndication and we are being treated to highlights of shows over the years. On the way home from lunch with Justin, I even got tears in my eyes when he mentioned and then re-played the show which started "Dan's Bake Sale" back in 1993. Dan had called in to sort of ask for a free subscription to the newsletter since his wife wouldn't allow him to purchase it himself. His friend photocopied his newsletter and then mailed it to Dan, which is really not lawful, copy write-wise. At this time in our nation's life, it was all the rage to have a bake sale, especially kids, and then send the money in to Pres. Clinton to help pay down the national debt. A real "feel good" movement. So, when Rush heard this poor man's lament about not having money to buy his own subscription, he encouraged Dan to have his own bake sale!

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Well, this opened a wellspring of calls, supporting the bake sale in Fort Collins, CO, including printers in NJ offering to make posters and T-shirts for the event, a billboard company in CO donated a billboard, a famous restaurant in New Orleans offered the services of their chef to go to the bake sale and make his delicious foods. It simply mushroomed and became a huge success, with folks from all over the USA and other countries showing up for his bake sale. Estimates were upwards of 80,000 people and Rush even flew out there to make an appearance. Dan sold out his personal baked goods in less than 5 minutes but there was plenty available to purchase, being donated from all over the place. Rush presented Dan with his very first legitimately obtained issue of the newsletter. It was awesome at the time, to hear the reports about it and such, and it was stirring to hear it replayed today.

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The part which actually brought tears to my eyes was when "Mick from the hills in New Mexico" a regular caller, called in to report he was going to the Bake Sale and taking roasted poodles, 2 cats, 3 goats, and a small pony. Of course, he was only fooling around, but he did offer "mother" to make some Indian bread to sell at the sale. I remember when Mick died and how moved Rush was when someone from his family called to let him know Mick wouldn't be calling anymore....but told Rush how important his program was to Mick.

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He is also playing clips of when Calypso Louis had his so-called "Million Man March" in Washington and ended up far fewer than a million. The clips flash back to when Farrakhan was going on and on about everything adding up to 19 (I can't help but chuckle even thinking about it!!!) and the faces of the audience wondering what in the world was he talking about??? 19??? What is the connection with anything? How tall are the presidents' statues? 19 feet tall. If you add the third president's number to the 16th president, you get 19! What????? It was so weird, so very out there, and no one really understood the significance of his speech. Supposedly Obama was there for the speech--I wonder if he knew what it was about?????

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This is so fun to listen to the accolades pouring in from different folks, some dignitaries, some are from politics, many are sports people who have been friends of his for many years, all sorts of connections. I wonder if Benjamin Netanyahu called in with a greeting. He was given a personal tour in Jerusalem by him several years ago.

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Oh, oh, oh, President Bush is on the phone right now, live, calling with Bush #41 and Jeb Bush, "fixin' to have some lunch" and decided to call in and say congrats to Rush!! #41 just gave him some advice---slow down your back swing! Always good advice! They are up in Maine for the weekend, hanging out with "Mom and Dad" before heading over to China. #41 just said the whole family is lined up to speak with Rush and give him their best, fans all! Rush was just blown away by this phone call!

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I remember when my former spouse came home one day and said, "You just have to listen to this guy on the radio. He's a bit arrogant, but is right on." This was from the same man who commented, when WISN in Milwaukee was going to an "all talk" format, that it would never last. We started listening to Rush during the start of the first Gulf War and I've been a fan ever since. One day our lumber salesman called me at home to ask if I'd heard Rush's announcement about his hearing loss, and I said I was listening with "half an ear", no pun intended. This was in 2001 when I was no longer in the office every day but listened at home over the surround sound system, even outside.

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This makes me think about Justin and his sudden hearing loss, which is nearly a year old now. Every now and again we'll hear about someone else who's experienced this same thing as Justin, including a friend of Julia's who is a band instructor! Man!

A friend of mine, not in the ice cream business!

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/slideshows/072908/310639750/slide2.shtml

The above link is to an article in local paper which was discussing the use of more fuel efficient police cruisers in the JSO. The photo, although not really his very best "side", is of Mark Dorner, son of my dear friend, Martie. His son is Little Mark, whom I've pictured in my blog in recent weeks. It's just fun to see people I know in the newspaper, which I get on-line instead of in paper form, in a positive light. Mark used to be partners with our church member, Brad, for many years, but they've since been "repositioned" due to the increase in crime and task forces being established. They miss each other and it was comforting to us knowing they were covering each other's backs.

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In the mail today I found a lovely, hand-made card from my friend, Linda. She sent me two articles of particular insight she knew I'd enjoy, cut from periodicals. The first article is about a chaplain who in a weeks' time experienced numerous, numerous events and tragedies in his own family and extendeds. Sickness, crime, surgeries, eviction, failed business, problems were mounting all around him.

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As he was preparing himself for a worship service, he sat in the front row of church, realizing he wasn't "all there" for this. He states in reading his prepared text that the words seemed to ring hollow and held no meaning. Ordinarily he'd pray for guidance, support, comfort, praise to the Lord, but that day, nothing. He was blank. A parishioner noticed the chaplain was struggling with something and sat next to him, encouraging the chaplain to pray. Later, as the chaplain preached, starting at first choppily, and then more smoothly, he was considering a passage from Isaiah 40 where it speaks about the believers will soar like eagles, will have their strength renewed by Him, will run without getting tired and walk without feeling faint. Perfect!

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This man goes on to write about how some times we are better suited than other times to deal with crisis, facing it head on, running straight through it, or flying over the top of it on eagle's wings. The chaplain reports that he was relieved, under all these circumstances, simply that he did not faint! Sometimes, that's all we can ask for!!! Awesome story, Linda, thanks for sending it!

It's nearly time for me to leave but....

....a few lines before I exit the building! Just before I sat down here I went door to door with the The Palace Press newsletter, hot off the printer. Well, only some of them were, since I'd printed the majority yesterday. I stapled and folded them when Twila and I scrapbooked, of course, while it was pouring rain again! Every time she comes to crop, it rains like the dickens!

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I was still short a few copies of the newsletter so had to run some more and those are the ones I'll deliver before heading over to church for a meeting. It is also my opportunity to serve, this week as the church cleaner. It makes sense to do this when I'm already there rather than make another trip over just to vacuum. The meeting is about establishing a Christian elementary school with plans for a representative from the Synod coming down to speak to us this fall. He's a guy I went to grade school and high school with, and have offered to let him stay here if he wishes to.

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Oh, there goes a red boat just like mine, zooming past the breakwater! Man! I am not sad to have sold the boat but do miss being out on the water. One of my neighbors has a pair of jet skis stored just down the river from here but hasn't had them out in ages. He's recovering from a knee damaging accident so is not about to go scrambling around trying to get them running. I never rode on the river with ours, always in the lake. On a night like this one, it's as calm as can be.

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There's a bit of a pall over the building/real estate community this week, with the death of an area builder. I've wondered aloud sometimes if the Lord ever grows weary of hearing from me about real estate and the building industry, and I pray the answer to that question is "NO!!". The market affects people we don't even realize being affected, as one lady told me today, families make the decision between having their kids' teeth straightened or take their pets to the vet. Hopefully, they take the kids over the pets, but you can see where this is going. At some point these same people may have to decide between the braces and perhaps education or medical expenses.......On the bright side, there is some indication that the market is picking up a bit so I think I'll continue speaking to God about the housing market and related industries, okay?

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More later.......

I'm falling down on the job here....

I've heard from a couple people remarking about the lack of a newsy post the past few days. Sorry 'bout that! Is it because there is no news? No news is good news.....Or is because I've been doing other things which kept me from my machine?

I've had some lengthy e-mail communications with peoples around the USA plus finished the writing of the newsletter for The Palace. It's sitting here in front of me, awaiting staples. I'll do that as soon as the ladies get here for scrap booking. I usually have some busy work to do when I am not in the midst of an album. My recent project, after adding the pages to Justin's album, is the trip to Greece and Turkey from last year. That reminds me, I need to print off some more pictures....

I purchased this carpet in Istanbul, simply because I loved it! I thought I'd use it in my bedroom since the colors worked but after I decided to move my studio junque into a spare room, the carpet works perfectly in the river room!!!

Twila just called to ask me about bringing sandwiches or something to nosh on while we "work". Yummy! Jen called to report she couldn't make it because she had too many children today, since her stepson's mom hadn't called yet about picking him up. It's too hard to work on a project like this with kids running around and getting into things, and she realized that. Jen did say it was thundering pretty good out Middleburg way so I hope Twila gets here before the heavens open!

Too late! It's pouring rain. I hope Justin isn't out driving in this, he is really hesitant about driving in the rain since he did his spin out. Yesterday he took his car in for detailing and it looks so very nice, almost like new! The good news was the cleaners found his missing set of keys so now he can get into my house on his own and into his mailbox. He thought they were lost in his messy bedroom and not in the car! He said he upgraded the oil change I bought him, having his fuel injector cleaned, too. They showed him the filthy smoke pouring out of the tail pipe when they put the additive into his car. It was black and then eventually became clear, so I guess that's a good thing.

He came after work, got showered and dressed. We met some church family at Cracker Barrel where he was able to have some grilled chicken fingers in keeping with his weight loss program. I got his green beans to bring home, love those beans! Half of my food came home too. Justin joined us at Bible study which was lovely and when it was over, he left to meet the guys for bowling. Busy, busy, busy! The first thing he says to me when I speak with him is that he's tired......why would that be??

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Pastor asked me to help write and distribute a letter to our VBS families inviting them to Sunday school when it begins in late August. He's going to get me the information and then I can go to work. Next Wednesday Leeane and I are going door knocking to some of the families of the VBS kids, encouraging them to come to worship, etc. This is exciting work to do!

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My poor niece, Lisa, took another tumble on her stairs recently and is doctoring for a bruised and swollen lower back and sit down area. I hope she's feeling better by the time they get here in August. Yesterday I was on the phone and e-mail with folks, making plans for a get-together of people that Lisa wants to spend time with and introduce her hubby. Over the years Lisa would come for visits both before and since she was married as well as for Timmy's funeral, and grew quite fond of our friends. Many of them worked for us at the time but are now simply heart friends. Lisa is so much like me, it's scary---no, it's not!!!!

We are planning on this being a pool party and hopefully the weather agrees.

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Tuesday I am going to Middleburg to have lunch with Brenda W. and then get my toe nails worked on by her daughter-in-law. They look terrible but I've been holding off on repairs until after our water aerobics class is wrapped up. The class is very hard on our polish, even with water shoes on!

Here's a link to see my sister dishing ice cream!!!!

http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=U0&Date=20080728&Category=MAN01&ArtNo=807280801&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=32


Jami, if you look at the picture numbered #5 in the slide series, you'll see them making our favorite----mint chocolate chip!!!!!!!

Some photos from the weekend

In the foyer of the Club, Olivia posted this sign to welcome her guests. Many of the other debs had their parties in more elegant settings and she felt this best spoke of her choice of halls for the Low Country Boil. Many of the guests have visited this Camp or the surrounding lake, including my new best friend, Ms. Huntley, who spent much time at this O Club when her husband was in the Army. She was saying the Army was secondary to the Navy in this area so this was a good place to spend time, loaded with memories for her!

This is a photo of the celebratory cake, again using the theme of "Redneck". The meal was absolutely delicious, especially for those who eat the fish/seafood that is in the boil. I had wanted an ear of corn but by the time I got into line to eat, the corn was gone. There were red potatoes in the mix so I had one of those, some white rice, plus the meat ball appetizer and little hot dogs in a wrap. One of the best parts was the machine which makes margaritas. Too bad they are so expensive to rent or I'd have one for my parties some time! Linda J. told me she won a margarita machine at a silent auction so she'll have to demonstrate for me when I come up to Manty for a visit!

All the debs have been introduced, minus one who couldn't make it to the party. I believe this first girl in line is attending the Air Force Academy, following in the footsteps of both her parents and an older brother. I wish the pictures had turned out brighter but this is the best I could get this one. I worked on the photos much of the afternoon yesterday, and my "mouse" finger was so stiff from manipulating the pictures. When it came time to type something later on, my pointer finger was uncooperative! Who'd have thought?

Olivia was visiting with her many guests, including her dear friend, Elise. Coming up to say "hi" was Ms. Booth, who was Timmy's teacher, followed by her daughter, Caitlyn, who was in his class. How can she be such a grown up looking young lady, when in my mind she should be only 5? Many of the guests were from the St. Johns family because their daughters graduated together, or they were teachers of these debs. I can really get used to attending these parties every weekend, but wonder if the debs will weary of it. Owen was happy to see some of his old friends, one whom he introduced to me as his "dad". I fell for it, too. Only old friends can yuk around like that, isn't that lovely??? Some of the co-workers from Sandy's nursing days were present, too, plus a good representation of family members, the "real" kind, not like Owen's!

This is a sample of the table and hall decorations the Hilchey's used in getting ready for the Low Country Boil. The tables were dressed with fishnets and little stars which I found stuck to my arms. Those at my table had good fun making the stars stick to their faces, started by Ms. Huntley! I got mine to stay by putting a little spit on it....gross! Don't you just love the blue eyes on this crab? He doesn't look so crabby to me!!!!

As often happens at these gatherings, the dancing is slow in getting started. Owen begged and begged me to come dance with him, as he saw me doing my famous hip shimmying (or was I just walking???). I refused, but eventually he got Ms. Huntley to dance with him, as well as Sandy and Olivia. The disc jockey led some of the dancers through a line-dance routine, which I consider countrified disco, and that got more folks to their feet. Just before we left, a couple took the floor who really knew what they were doing and it was very neat. They even looked the part, wearing their cowboy-style clothing and perhaps even boots, but I was too far away to see. It was a great, great party and I am thrilled to have played even a small part in it!

"Look away, I'm hideous!"

I just applied my daily tar and feather, actually only the tar, for my skin condition and feeling like Justin's reference to "leather faces"! Only, fortunately, mine washes off! At first I applied my mud a bit thicker because it came in a foil packet and I figured I had to use it all at once. This little dab goes a long way so I can still smile and laugh without it chipping away. I enjoy getting compliments on my skin, the lack of wrinkles on my face, to be precise, but am not crazy about the raised dots that might be a complete paragraph in Braille! This treatment really seems to be doing the trick, though, so I can stand looking "hideous" for 5-15 minutes a day!

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The other night as I arrived at Publix on the Island, a car was pulling out of a stall near where I parked. The lady rolled down her window to shout, "I love your hair and your earrings!" Good thing it was dusk and she couldn't see my forehead! I thanked her and skipped into the store...The earrings were from Dee and Julia for my birthday, not any that Lori or Linda had made for me, unfortunately.

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Saturday night was the Redneck Yacht Club Debutante Party for Olivia. I picked up Mrs. Huntley and off we went, with me leaving the directions on my kitchen counter. We two ladies just gabbed and gabbed all the way to Middleburg, getting to know each other better and such. I was fairly certain of where we were going since Justin and I were out that way two weeks ago, but my passenger had me turn on 218 instead of 215. Since I didn't have the directions to reference, Ms. Huntley had me pull into the Waffle House lot from where I called Sandy for verification. Once back on Blanding we drove a bit further to the correct road and then drove right up to the gate. We each did have the proper ID to get onto the base and got further directions from the guard. It was simple to find though by following the signs Hilchey's posted.

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We were about the first to arrive and I got Mrs. Huntley settled before starting to take pictures. I got some shots of the cake, the decorated hall, the buffet set up, the introduction of all the debs in attendance, and then some. Olivia gave me a lovely art glass necklace as a thank you for taking the pictures, but I won't open it until I know she likes the photos!

This is the table set up in the lobby of the Officers' Club. Justin and I both appear in her collage of photos in the left hand frame.