Getting settled in

My lunch yesterday at Perkins was the full portion of potato pancakes, when I usually order the 'senior' serving. Wow, what a plateful it was! My first to-go box came home to Mom's with me. Last night for dinner, Lynn, Jill, Danny, and I went to The Green Street for dinner. There, I had my favorite perch plate, leaving the broasted potatoes and the balance of the cheese curds to come home with me in a foam box. Yes, less than one day and already two foam boxes in Mom's frig!

Linda picked me up late morning as we were having lunch before attending Bible study. She let me pick the place, with me at first suggesting The Charcoal Grille, which is always delicious. But then, I saw an ad for The Courthouse Pub and made that suggestion. Linda was all about it and the choice was a good one. I had a very tasty steak sandwich there, not as good as those at Charcoal Grille, but good nonetheless.

It was wonderful to be together with Linda again. Though we talk with other almost every day in one form or another, face to face is always best. People ask me what we do when I am in WI and my answer is "church and perch". We did that today! Ladies Bible class was held in FG's Heritage Hall, with our subject matter being II Samuel. It is an extremely thorough look at the book, beginning with the death of King Saul. Looking forward to next week's class already! 

I have Internet!

Your brief break from me is over! Thanks to Justin's idea, I was able to tap into my sister, Jill's, Uverse from her apartment to my mom's. Imagine that! Justin and I can't do that even laterally in our concrete block constructed condo but in this frame structure, no problem! Thanks, Jill! This changes everything! No need now to go to church to work on the newsletter and send it off, can do that right from this kitchen table. I haven't tried the connection yet from the bedroom...

I arrived with no complications into MKE, landing right about 10:30 and collected by my mom and sister, Lynn. We stopped to have an early lunch/late breakfast at Perkins, very near the airport. Gave the two ladies a chance to stretch their legs and use the restroom, as well having our meals. I was hungry since Justin had taken me to the airport at 5:30 in the morning! Only a package of cookies on the plane to hold me over!

As we flew between Chicago and MKE, I took this photo from my plane window. It was a sight like I've never seen before and found it amazing. I even stirred the man next to me (I'm sure he appreciated that!) to look at this amazing view. On the local news tonight I heard a report that 93% of the lake had been iced over which is not typical, but in some areas the ships are at last finally to get back out on the water and working. What a winter! And what a blessing the weather was when I got here, highs in the 40's...you're welcome, Manitowoc!

I'll be baaacckk!

My end of week was just a mess time-wise and I lost one entire day (Saturday) with the LWMS Rally and then not feeling well in the afternoon and upon getting home. To head off the struggles of the time change, at least I think I can, I went to bed extremely early last night. 

When getting home from the Rally, I went to sleep for about an hour and then woke up for a bit when Justin came home from work. He worked almost 11 hours to make up for the rained out Thursday. He left to go play board games with his friends, though he was quite worn from the long day's work, and I got myself ready for bed. First, I reset the clocks in the kitchen to make sure they were ready for the lost hour.

We had Bible study and worship this a.m., Justin riding with me and going for coffee while I was in Bible class. After church was a quarterly voters/congregational meeting which went a bit long, looking at the proposal from the vision task force. We got to Chili's late, only 5 of us today due to the meeting. Guess Justin will enjoy my leftovers...

Tonight, Justin made a little dinner for us, not wanting our last meal together for a few weeks to be leftovers. I would not have minded but it meant something to him, and who am I to disagree? We watched the 2nd half of a documentary together as we ate, which made me sad to watch. 

I will be less able to update the blog being in WI unless I get access to my sister's WiFi from her apartment in Mom's building. Otherwise, it's a bit of a challenge for me to post. You might remember from my Christmas visit that I would write the blog on Word, e-mail it to myself and then post it from the e-mail to the blog on my cell phone. It's doable, just not a simple process. Hope I can do it, though, otherwise, look for me on Facebook!  I will be at a hotel in Oshkosh for the retreat with Linda which might have Internet available so I can post from there possibly, or from Linda's house. See you around, y'all!

I can swallow again!

The new dryer is in place, taking care of a load of clothes for Justin, clanging the zippers and other attachments on his garments as it rolls around. A whole week we were without a working dryer and it now has some catching up to do. My laundry can wait, but Justin's cannot as he needs them for work, and they NEED washing. I was given the time frame of delivery of Wednesday between the hours of 4 and 8 pm. Nuts! It's Ash Wednesday and I never miss church that night...except this year. I had to be here for it, though, as I would never be able to calmly be away from home when my washer was involved. 

As it turned out, Justin was home and cleaned up before the truck ever pulled in, the driver needing those pesky added directions that the GPS never shows to find The Palace. Justin had thought that once the washer was pulled out, the guys could hook up the dryer while he changed the hoses on the washer. BUT, the guys could not loosen the hose from the faucet on the hot water side, nor would the faucet turn. Oh, that's not good....

Justin shut off the water supply using our 2010 valve which had been replaced the day of the Great Flood. Yikes! He could replace one of the hoses, though the installer found that they were still in very good condition.  He did say the stainless steel ones are more sure to last, so I have at least one with staying power. The hot water one will have to stay and since we don't use the hot, we will simply hope nothing happens with it EVER!

All the while they were working on the installation and shuffling the machinery around, my mouth was so dry I couldn't even swallow. Justin kept himself busy sweeping up the mess under the machines while also staying out of their way. The guy, Nick, was amused at how Justin could go in one door and come out another. Every room in our house allows that except for the back bedroom. Nick also opted to not switch out the vent, finding it also in excellent condition. I was told I had to replace it to validate the warranty but Nick, a GE installer, said that was not true. He used my dusting wand to clean out the vent and we were good to go.

I gave them each a tip, which was warmly accepted, since they had to mess around extra with my machines, moving them in, out, and around. Nick said that rarely happened and then asked me if we, by chance, had anything cold to drink. I had 30 cases of soda!  I told him I was going to offer them a drink, telling Nick that this was a "Seinfeld" episode---always offer the delivery men a drink! I know I needed one! They left my house about 7:30 pm, with one more stop yet before their night was over. That's a long day for them, and I was glad it was over for me!

People pictures

 These are the pictures taken after the concert, before the kids were sent home with their assigned families.

When I walked into the narthex and Naomi spotted me coming, she ran up to hug me, saying, "I just knew you'd wear red!"

 David and I posed together. At first he had his robe off but put it back on for the photo, saying, "You'd probably like that...." Already he knows me so well! Love chatting with him via Facebook. He played the organ at First German a couple week ago and I understand that he blew the dust out of the pipes!

 This young lady, Kimberly, with Naomi, is the daughter of a classmate of mine, Greg, who had come down here several years ago to help us determine our readiness to open a grade school. I am also friends with her auntie, who is a travel agent in Manitowoc. Love the small world of the WELS!

 David, Kim, and Naomi at Christ the King, Palm Coast

These two lovely lovely young ladies, Megan and Anna, are sisters (no kidding!!!) who are also daughters of FG (as is Naomi). Both their parents work as teachers at MLHS. These girls are the oldest of the 6 children in the family, quite the musical folks. Joel and Carrie can be so proud at the fine example these two girls are, representing their college so favorably, and their other alma maters as well.

Photos of the MLC concert and people

This was a picture taken by the photographer with some of the choir, as they enjoyed a winter beach in FL. "Enjoyed" might be a bit of a stretch! In the center front of the picture are the Ungemach girls from my home congregation.

They had a brief stop at the St. Augustine lighthouse before heading a bit further south to Palm Coast

 There are 60 choir members and I couldn't get them all into one picture!

Of the one hymn the congregation joins in, students from Christ the King sang two stanzas, learning them 'by heart'---singing out confidently!

 Here are two young ladies from my home congregation, Naomi on the left, and Anna on the right

 This is an MLC photo of Naomi, taken on the tour

Judy and I were pleased to get the seats we did, right near the accompanists. Naomi is with her trombone, and her gentleman friend, David, is at the keyboard. 

MLC Concert

At last--the day of the concert!! I had been giddy all day which helped me get through putting my tax info together. Now to drop it off at the CPA and I am good to go! Just knowing I had this wonderful concert and the anticipation of seeing my Manitowoc friends kept me from stressing too much. I make myself a promise every year to do things right along but don't do it! Ugh!

It was gloomy and drizzly most of the day and I dreaded the ride to the concert, but it wasn't that bad once Judy and I hit I-95. There were 6 of us there from Good Shepherd, 7 from Keystone Heights, and two from Victory, that I was aware of. Pastor Schleicher and Ellen had 5 Keystone members over for dinner (he lives in Palm Coast) and told me he kicked himself for not including me in this dinner. He promised to invite me 'next time'!

It was wonderful to reconnect with the Palm Coast folks again, especially Bonnie, formerly of Victory, who was keeping all the balls in the air with organizing things. She arranged the families to take choir members home, got the meal prepared to serve (pulled pork with cole slaw!), and all the other details the host church takes on when company comes to town. Tim and she were taking 5 choir members home with them including the two Ungemach girls, from my home church. Unfortunately, the Schleichers did not get any kids (I guess they weren't 'remembered' since he serves another congregation) but again, that can happen, 'next time'!

One person I had to find to hug and photograph was a young lady named Emily, who is a friend of a friend of Michael's. Kari is the teacher who would bring the kids from CO to help with VBS until leaving her job to pursue her extended degree in education. Kari asked me to seek her out and administer a squishy hug, in her honor. So, I did it! At first the young lady was wondering what this was all about, but once I explained it came from Kari, she hugged me right back. I took her photo and sent it to Kari when I got home. 

Judy kept going to the door when it was time to leave and then I'd find someone else I needed to talk to! She is used to me, and was patient. Our drive home was better with the mist letting up and fewer cars on the road. Never a good idea to head out for a road trip at rush hour, but there was no way around that! Leaving the church around 9:15 was far quieter on the freeway.

In keeping with the recent recognition of Transfiguration Sunday, I had to say, more than once, "'tis good, Lord, to be here"! Thanking God also for the safe trip down and back from the concert, and for the traveling safety of the choir as the continue their mission of "The Gospel in Song".