My tummy is grumbling!

Justin and I had a marvelous dinner at Stonewood Grille last night. Having the delicious chips with bleu cheese and balsamic vinegar rather ruined our appetite for dinner, but we still made dents in our meals. Justin's steak came a bit well-done so the waitress took it back and the manager came over to apologize, etc. Of course, we were extremely forgiving and gracious, not the types to go off on wait staff or others in this situation. The manager brought the new steak to our table, and watched as Justin cut into it--perfection! He also got all new sides and was able to enjoy a second serving of creamed spinach. My meal was excellent, too, a pork saltimbocca made with prosciutto ham and mozzarella cheese. It came with rice pilaf which was wonderful, too, and I'm sure Justin will enjoy my leftovers today or tomorrow, as well as his own!!

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On the way to Mandarin, I gave Mom a call to see how their time went riverside in Sheboygan. Apparently Gabe got sick while at the restaurant so Lisa had to take the boys home while Noah and the rest of our gang stayed at Highland House. Lisa thought the sun got to Gabe and as she rushed him to the bathroom to get sick, he didn't quite make it all the way in before.........ooops! How sad about Gabe and the rest having to leave but how wonderful for the rest of the family to enjoy some holiday fun dining el fresco riverside! Life is too short to pass up the opportunity to do these things!!! Saturday the gang had a fry-out at Jill's with Kerry serving as grille-mistress. I had grilled food, too, but cooked by Chris, the cabana boy, rather than my sister!

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Maybe I can use the grille when I'm at Arno's house next week! Mmm! I can't wait to have my perch dinners, brats on the grille, natural-casing hot dogs, and sugar cookies from Copp's! And Linda's already scoped out the new scrapbooking store on Menasha Avenue, and Lynn even mentioned getting out her recipe scrapbook to work on that when I'm "home". This could get vveerryy exciting! I'll miss the crop here at church on that Friday but hope the ladies will go ahead without me. I'll send out reminders to ensure folks remember it's coming up.

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Tonight is our first Art Guild meeting this fall, plus I have to take a piece of art to the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Art Guild display. We are back full-speed ahead! At least I can hand over the recording secretary books to my successor tonight. I didn't like that job at all! It cramped my style having extra meetings, not church related. I make no apology for that, if it's not about church, I don't have to be enthusiastic about doing it!!!

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Since yesterday was a holiday, our Ladies' Group meeting for September will be next week, when I am gone. Someone else will need to take the notes for me, and perhaps even type them up. I can work on my newsletters while away provided the Minutes from meetings are sent via e-mail. Otherwise, I'll have a busy week after I return from WI. Saturday's breakfast was scarcely attended, mostly because people simply forgot about it, in spite of my sending out the reminders. Those of us who did come enjoyed our time, our intimate group, and our meals greatly.

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In reading the home page of "my" radio station, I see that at Sunday's Jaguar game, there will be giant greeting card for folks to sign, in celebration of Rush's 20 years on WOKV. Evidently WOKV didn't pick him up immediately, must have waited a month or so to get on board. Ooops, I have re-read it and apparently I'm a day late and a dollar short, as this already took place on the last Saturday night pre-season game. What is available is a place to send a message through WOKV to Rush, so this is what I did.

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I woke up thanking the Lord for His mercy on the folks in the path of Hurricane Gustav as well as His directing, hopefully, TS Hanna away from my house. Sometimes it's all about the people in the Gulf, and sometimes it's all about me!!!! It bothered me to think I'd leave my home to be attended by my neighbors and friends instead of being here myself to run from window to window, mopping up drips. Now, it appears as though it's heading further north, simply brushing our area with bands of horrendous weather instead of us being the bull's eye of Hanna. Hopefully I will be all over by the time I leave on the 8th and head north to WI, where I won't be sitting poolside, I've been assured!

Some final thoughts for Monday, Labor Day`

Several of the TV channels are running marathon programming this weekend, including USA, upon which I like to watch my re-runs. All weekend, and week, too, probably, USA has been advertising a new program called "Raising the Bar". It's about attorneys and court cases, which I like to watch, but as you may know, usually I don't like to watch the programs when they first come out. See me in 10 years for some of them!!!!! That's why I am soooo far behind in my "Seinfeld" viewing! That program has been out of production since 1998!

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I hadn't really noticed it before but one of the characters on "Raising...." is a guy I remember from "NYPD Blue", one of my favorite "old" shows. Guess I hadn't paid close enough attention to the blurbs or what ever, but I think today is the first I heard his name mentioned, and I sat bolt upright in my bed! On NYPD Blue, his fellow actors referred to him as MPG: Mark-Paul Gosselear, or something like that. Cool beans! I'd wondered whatever became of him and now I know! My name is on the waitlist for the next seasons of NYPD to be released, I think Season 5 is the next one. Last night Paul and I were talking about the entire boxed set of "Seinfeld" being available (around $200!!) and he said he knew if they had the set, he'd never leave the house. That's an episode in itself!

A continuation of Sunday

I used my stove for making the sloppy joes and seemed to have caused a slight problem where some of the tomato soup spilled over the side onto the glass top. I can't for the life of me get it cleaned off the top of my stove! It seems to have fried tight. I placed a wet dish cloth over the top of it to see if the tomato rock will dissolve. That's what I get for cooking at home!

Well, the mystery is solved about Frank Costanza and his origins. As I write, I am watching a re-run, of course, and Elaine told Frank about a photo she took on a trip to Tuscany of a man in front of a shop with the name "Costanza" on the window. He just may be a cousin of Frank's, who stayed behind when the rest of the family left Italy. Timing is everything when questions like these need to be answered! Thanks, Pete's and Tarren, for your assistance in solving the mystery!

Paul also offered his input about the Costanzas last night so thanks to him, too. We had a nice time and offered them a welcome separation from Emily's sister and family who are staying with them. Maria and Barry sold their home and are waiting for the new one to be ready, and have been with Lawcocks for nearly a month now. It's getting a little close in their house these days, mostly because the little girls have become sparring partners, Sarah is sort of regressing into babyhood having Chloe around this much.

It was fun playing a game of Scrabble as it's been a while between games--most likely the last time I played was with Mom when in WI. Paul won with both Emily and me having high point tiles left on our racks. It was the Z for me, and V for Emily, which put Paul way ahead of us, by default. And that's all I'm going to say about that!!!!

Sarah amused herself with coloring a velvet Disney picture that I'd gotten for the boys which they did not use. She loved it, and while coloring, watched a Disney program on Comcast On Demand. she also enjoyed playing with the Rumikub game, sort of like dominoes but with numbers. Usually, she has such an active imagination, putting on dances and shows, even including my former pet, Boots, and their dog, Chewy.

It's been such a glorious day here today. After my short posting this a.m. I went downstairs to the pool and sat with Ellen and Maggie O, her friend who also attends water aerobics with E. and me. We had a great visit together and even took part in the holiday lunch offered from the cabana. Chris wasn't cooking today but the Club provided picnic food which we enjoyed. Maggie and I are both hot dog fans, much to our amusement! She says the first thing she does when arriving in NYC is head straight to the hot dog stand! We laughed because Justin and I love to do the same thing! As we ate, a nice young lady came around with a tray of Drumsticks. It was such great fun!

Ellen won't be at aerobics Tuesday because she has to "run" up to NYC to take Billy his blood pressure medicine, which he forgot to take along on the road. He couldn't have it overnighted because of today being a holiday so off she goes in the morning. She wants to be there anyway because the group is going to be on a program on CBS, something to do with fashion. I think it's next Monday or Tuesday night for the airing. I'll keep you updated on the when and other details.

After Ellen went upstairs, I moved to the other table to sit with Pat and Rose, who'd saved a seat for me. I saw a couple folks from Eagle Harbor, one being the lady who I often encounter at Great Hang Ups! Gail can set her watch on the fact we'll see each other at Hang Ups no matter how often or seldom she's there. Her hubby has a leadership position in E. H. and has few words. Gail says it's not easy for them to socialize, usually no one wants to chat with them, so I was glad I plunked myself at their table to monopolize the conversation--I mean, chat with them. I know they don't want to discuss anything E. H.- related so there was no need to bring anything from past into the conversation. She's actively involved with pet rescue which keeps her rather busy, loving animals more than people sometimes, being somewhat an introvert by nature. She said she appreciated my taking the liberty of crashing their party (they were alone), saying it hardly occurs without "business" being discussed. Just another service I provide. I asked her to come by some day "just to hang out"....Gail said, "I haven't hung out ever in 17 years of living here." I said that's what I do best so she agreed to come by, once her sick cat is taken care of.

After they left, I went back to the table where Pat and Rose plus Rose's intended were seated. Rose told me she's getting married to Joe sometime in the future, and is telling her family about it tonight. She's apprehensive, wondering what they'll think about it all. I gave her my congratulations and best wishes. They'll be moving in here at The Palace, into Rose's place. Joe says it's like living on a cruise ship here, eating on the patio high above the water....I agree! Especially when Chris is cooking hamburgers down in the cabana and smell wafts up here!

Speaking of wafting, Justin and I weren't able to go to the show today because the one we planned to see hasn't opened yet. Instead we are having dinner at Stonewood Grille. Yummy! I'd gone there nearly a year ago with Dee and Julia and fell in love with the home-made potato chips with bleu cheese and balsamic vinegar, broiled. Mmmm! Cain't wait!

Happy Labor Day

Before I head down to the pool, I'll jot a few lines about my Sunday. After church, I came back home and got changed into my trunks. For those who are squeamish, I do wear the entire swimsuit, I usually say trunks just for amusement purposes. Immediately I ordered my hot dog before the skies changed to rain, as often happens upon my ordering lunch! Chris, the cabana boy, was out of chips "for the year". Who gets only a year's worth of chips, I ask? He offered the pasta salad instead and although I'd never tried it, agreed to the substitution. Mmm, it was fabulous! What have I been missing?

I went to the table in the shade again, because it was far too windy to have the umbrellas out, and began reading and eating. As I finished the hot dog and had some pasta salad waiting for me, the wind tossed my plate to the other side of the pool area, depositing the salad onto my catalog!!! Manners forbade me from eating it off the table and catalog so I scraped it all onto the catalog just as Cheryl (from Friday) showed up. Her son took it to the trash for me, the gent that he was.

Cheryl and her 14 year old son sat with me and gabbed, although I nearly let the "beans out of the bag" talking about the Gate House. Evidently she can't tell him things too far ahead of time because he expects it to happen right now instead of sometime in the future. Okay, I'll keep my yap shut about it until she gives me the all-clear signal.

Before long the O'Connells and their visiting children joined us poolside and I got to meet and chat with them, as well. Denny, their son who is my age, had emergency kidney surgery while I was in WI, so the O'Connells had been in Chicago when I was up north. When introduced to Denny, I said, "Oh, nice to meet you! I prayed for you!!" and he thanked me. They are all devout Roman Catholics in this family so I knew the prayers meant something to him.

All the kids were in town to "surprise" their dad for his 70th birthday, only the adult kids, no grands along. They had originally planned to come the weekend before but Maureen convinced them to come this weekend instead due to the storm, Fay, being here, too. Then the surprise was ruined, because she had to tell Hugh what the plan was, and why no one had called him to wish happy birthday!!!! That's mighty suspicious behavior, when no one calls even though they like him!

I came upstairs to get my dinner ready for the Lawcock's, whom I'd invited over to beat me at Scrabble. I am nothing if not a wonderful hostess! I made sloppy joes and had chips with dip for our supper. Paul had called to report they would be a little late and of course, that's fine. After about 15 minutes passed, I heard the door open and a man's voice say, "It's me!". I came out, saying, "I didn't expect you until 5:30....." and here it was Justin!!!!! He so surprised me that I began to weep (really???). He'd had 'plans' to do something with his friends so I wasn't expecting him, so the surprise was genuine! He figured out a way for me to lock and unlock my front door since my kitchen lock is on the fritz. I need a locksmith! Anyway, he's got it fixed now so I can lock up when going away.

He had dinner with us and played a bit with his goddaughter, Sarah, before having to go meet his friends. The young man around whom their so-called plans were made was having dinner with his family (oh, really??) and Justin had to collect his father from the airport and take him home, which put Justin in proximity to me! It all works out.....and he did go to church on Saturday night, even leaving his wallet behind by mistake. Pastor H. called me to reach Justin about his wallet. All the numbers he had were mine and not Justin's! Justin managed to get his wallet back and go to the concert Saturday night after all. All that vitriol about not being able to go was wasted!!!!

Poor Kramer having problems with his rods and cones!

"Jerry, these are load-bearing walls, you can't take them down!!!" Poor Kramer is seeing nothing but red since the Kenny Rogers' Roasters moved in across the street from their apartment building. The neon light shines so brightly into Kramer's apartment, causing him to not be able to sleep and making him even more "vibrant" than usual. It's a funny episode, because Jerry ends up staying in Kramer's apartment and becomes as spastic as Kramer. Hard to tell them apart!!!!

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This episode is loaded with jingles, like "it's the wood that makes it good" and singing "Costanza" to the tune of "Buy Mennan" to keep his name rattling around in his new girlfriend's brain.

*

So, anyway, it was a lovely time at the pool this afternoon. When I got down there none of the tables had umbrellas since there was no cabana boy on duty. The only table not in the direct sun was occupied but I made my way to join the two ladies sitting there. Cheryl remembered me, having met me on July 26th! Now, how did she remember the day and time? You got me! But she remembered me from the cabana for some reason. Her friend, Debbie, was with Cheryl and we had a wonderful visit. Evidently I came at just the right time because they were starving and thirsty, and I was bearing spinach dip, crackers and 2 sodas. Debbie was getting the shakes from being so hungry and Cheryl appreciated the soda. They said God sent me to them, and I joked about not bringing the fishes with me, only the loaves!

*

Cheryl was interested in renting a unit in one of the condos so I gave her Pat's name and phone numbers. While waiting for Pat to get back to her, the two ladies went for a walk around the property, checking out the Capri and the River Suites. In their research, it came to light that the Gate House was available for rent, so Cheryl snapped it up. Perfection! According to Debbie, she's renting it for next to nothing but they didn't specify to me what the rental was going to be. There is a renter in there presently with no set date to move out, as he's waiting for his boat to be repaired. It is all going to work out.

*

She wants to live here at the Club because she finds it good for her soul to be on the river, even though she won't have a view from the Gate House. As a tenant, she'll have the full rights of the Club, including use of the pool so she'll be just fine! Cheryl is looking to ease her mind over some things but didn't really require much from me as far as steering her "in the right direction" as I gathered from our conversation that she is a religious person. Her dad recently died and other losses of late are causing her to feel the need for a bit of a retreat. I am glad to be able to help the little bit I did.

*

It's Saturday morning now and I've already been to breakfast with a small group of ladies from church, up at Honey B's. My original plans were to go to the pool when I got home but it has been raining most of time since getting back here. It's noisy upstairs as Travis and Jessica seem to be hosting a party for the UF Football game--Gators vs. Hawaii.

*

Justin is home watching the game with his friends, having become quite the college football fan since Jesse and Ron rubbed off on him. Justin had thought he'd be able to go to a Kenny Chesney concert tonight but,sadly, his plans didn't work out. This was a relief to me, not because I didn't want him to go to the show, but didn't want him to miss church tonight. Last week he didn't go Saturday night and then Sunday morning he didn't feel well, assuring me it wasn't because of anything he drank the night before. He made a promise not to miss church this weekend because of illness or any other reason and I'll trust he's a man of his word. He did mention something about instead of the concert they'd go to the beach to watch volleyball......this burns my biscuits, of course, but again, I'm trusting him to keep his word about worship.

*

After our breakfast I went to the bank, having to actually go in because only the inside of the bank is open on Saturdays. Nuts! After the bank I went to Sonic to get my morning fix (although I'd had about seven at Honey B's!!!) and then stopped at ABC Liquor. I got two jars of the pretzel dip I like, so I can share with my neighbors at happy hour. The nice lady, who quite obviously has to shave her chins every day (and I'm not being ugly about it, just sayin') offered to help me find the tea flavored vodka. She said it's flying off the shelf, and I said it's the rage in my building. Sadly the liquor store doesn't sell any lemonade but another clerk offered me lemoncello, which of course isn't even close to lemonade. I had to tell her about my friend at church who makes his own and shared some with us ladies who were familiar with it. I saw Dee's hubby there, and had to tease him about seeing him at all the finest places. We'd run into him at Publix last week when Justin and I shopped after being in Orlando. Justin is a bit shy about seeing Blair out and about because he's the doctor who fitted him with contacts, which Justin is not wearing.

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" A George divided against itself cannot stand!" "She eats her peas one at a time!" "She's a close talker." "He's a high talker." "She's deaf, she can't hear!" I'm watching a Seinfeld clip show and am bombarded with funny things, faster than I can even burst out laughing! So funny!!! I have a question for Pete, though----assuming that Costanza is Jewish, why would Frank belong to Knights of Columbus?? Are they perhaps a mixed marriage or are they really Italian? Hhmmmm.....I need answers, Jerry, answers!!!

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Last night happy hour flowed into Pat's unit and a bunch of us ladies enjoyed her porch. We had quite the conversations, from politics to foreign movies to learning to play bridge. Pat offered me diet Pepsi which I appreciated and then produced some Captain Morgan. The others all drink wine but I'm not a wine drinker but don't mind the occasional rum and diet! Can't say I'm all that excited about learning to play bridge but I'm always in for sitting around, talking!

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"Look away! I'm hideous!!!"

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Okay, so now tears are rolling as I watched the last part of this program, where apparently it's the end of their run. Thank God for re-runs!

Such excellent periodicals from our Synod!

As I sit here watching reruns, of course, of W.N.T.W. and see another poorly dressed woman shamed before all the world, I am also reading the most recent "Forward in Christ". On the back cover is an article written by a mom sending her son off to college and tears rolled. My little one, Justin, just turned 21 years old and is beginning his third year of being a college student. Notice I didn't say he was a Junior, though, just in his 3rd year. Evidently he doesn't have enough credits accumulated to earn the "Junior" designation. On the bright side, again today he reiterated how much he is enjoying his classes!

The mentioned article could have been written by me, or by any other mums who have to say "good-bye" to their offspring, whether they are going away to college or off to boot camp or simply relocating for the sake of doing so. Most of you know my son lives in the next county over and passes my street many times each week, although less now that classes have resumed. It's not the same as sending a child several states away and seeing them only on holidays and vacations, and even then, not so much. My own friend "complains" about her grandson coming home from school on occasional weekends and hardly being around to have a conversation. He's more interested in seeing his friends and doing "boy things" than hanging with Grandmaw.

I rejoice that Justin is NOT hesitant to hug me and plant a smooch on me, remembers his manners, and I pray, behaves himself when he's not with me. Lynn made a remark to Gabe about how nice Justin is to his mama. I hope I appreciate what a nice boy I have and not take him for granted. It bothers me when things go badly or sadly for him, but then also remember he's a big boy and should be developing skills for handling things himself. In my mind I'll compare where his father and I were at his age and furrow my brow at how simple his "problems" are compared to what we dealt with between working and remodeling and moving......

When I was 21 I was working full time at the old folks home and been married for almost 3 years. And I was so homesick when I first moved an hour and a half away from home and my peoples!!!!! In a year's time we'd remodeled our 4 family in Milwaukee, sold it, and moved back to Manty. Some people never go home again, in their hearts or with their bodies. This F.I.C. articles really hit the nail on the head about the conglomeration of emotions swimming around in a mama's head, and what a blessing this author could spill them onto paper for the rest of us to share with her!

The recent Mission Connection was awesome, too! Monday at Bible study I encouraged the group to be sure to read through it, because there was so much to absorb in that paper. Mom wrote to tell me my dear friend, Pete, wrote some of the Meditations in the recent edition and this made me regret not subscribing. I'll check on-line to see if it's available. I shared the Jerusalem website address with some ladies from church so they can give an ear to his sermons. They were wishing archives were available in our church library of recorded messages but only written ones can be gotten. They want something to listen to on their commute, and I thought perhaps they could record off the computer so they can listen on their long drive to work. Electronics!!!!!

For those who feel the same way I do about these things...........

"Given that his speech may resemble a scene from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” with retro Greek architecture as a backdrop, it may be more difficult for Obama to persuade Americans he is ready to be president than if he were to climb the steep hill to the Acropolis." Cal Thomas, 8-24-08

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple. 8-27-08 ABC News

"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - Barack Obama
Lebanon, New Hampshire January 7, 2008

"This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal."
-- Barack Obama

"We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."- Barack Obama, Super Tuesday

"This is bigger than Kennedy. . . . This is the New Testament." "I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often. No, seriously. It's a dramatic event."
-- Chris Matthews MSNBC
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Cue the theme music from "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding". I laughed my head off when I heard it yesterday!!!!

In that movie, Father Gus is upset because his naive daughter wants to go to city college....where? Chicago!! Go figure!! Gus says about his daughter, whom he thinks is too easily led: "Someone is going to give her a package and tells her to take it to the bus station......And she'll do it!!!!" Good for Tula for not being so swayed by those around her, swept up in the moment.