My kind of day

This morning when I woke up, I thought to myself, "I wonder if anyone will want to do anything today..." as I made my way to the other room. When I came back, my phone went off with a text message from my friend and neighbor, Kathy H. She wondered if I was Grumpy today. I answered that of course I was, asking if she wanted lunch or breakfast. She said she wanted lunch today but also wanted a breakfast next week. I can do that! 

In the meantime, though, while going back and forth with Kathy, Terri beeped in and asked me about breakfast. I had to ask her to hold until finding out what Kathy decided. It worked better for Kathy to meet for lunch so breakfast it was with Terri. This is so doable!

Since Terri was working from home, she suggested we meet at Cracker Barrel so I hightailed it over there, making record time from my cozy bed to the table in the dining room. Because of my lunch plans, I chose carefully from the menu, ordering the biscuits with gravy which was perfectly sized. And so delicious! I brought home two and a half biscuits, one which was Terri's plus a container of gravy for another time. 

After Terri and I had an excellent talk, I was home again at 10:30. I just love days like this! Anyway, I got situated at my desk, thinking I had about an hour or so before leaving to meet Kathy. At 11:20, Kathy let me know she was done with errands and was ready whenever I was. I needed about 5 minutes as I was in the midst of sending out a mass e-mail for church and had to wrap it up. When I got downstairs, Kathy was pulling up with her car to drive us over to Grumpy's. Nice!  

She had her usual salad plate and I had my usual of a cheeseburger and fries. We had a great catching up conversation, post-wedding of her niece, so I got to hear all about it. I brought home half the burger, as is customary, and a nice soda to-go. 

Kathy dropped me off at home and from there I jumped into my car to head to the Island Wal-Mart to pick up my prescription. I'd been trying to get one changed to a lesser priced one. Somehow or another, the doctor's office was having a tough time making this happen, instead re-sending the original, with the price going up each time. What? 

I got a text message saying a script was ready for me at $9 which would be correct. Wonderful! Oops! The doctors' office sent them the script for my bp medication refill, so I took that, but then had to put the another incorrect cholesterol lowering medication back yet again. The lady I was working with was getting quite frustrated and said she'd keep trying for me. I had also contacted the MD's office about it earlier in the week, thinking I had explained it well enough, too. Nope!

A little while ago I got a phone call from Wal-Mart pharmacy again, saying that now the doctor's office had sent over a different medication again, this one priced at $89. Whoa, we were going the wrong way on the pricing. Brittany was frustrated and said she was going to try one more time to fax them to get it straightened out and urged me to call them on Monday to be sure. I promised I would and thanked her for her efforts. She felt so badly about this and the futile attempt to save some money, insisting the two medications were identical in 'family' so should not have stymied anyone. If need be, I will stop in at the doctor's office, as much as I don't wish to, to get it all straight. It is almost comical already. I wonder how high these prices can go??

Lunch with the Guys!

Stephanie's mom, Jean, had her last day with us at Bible study today. And what a great class it was, unrelated to her leaving us. We are studying Titus 3 which stimulated a good deal of conversation. Pastor H. just loves this, prompts our participation in discussion. He laughed as he gave us a mini-sermon about our role in society as Bible loving Christians. He comforted us also as we struggled to accept the apparent fate awaiting our nation with the pending elections, reminding us that our leaders are in place because God wants them to be. That doesn't sound correct, but you get the picture. We are to be Christ's ambassadors to the world, our most important job being to share Him with others. Love love love this class!

Jean got to pick where to go for lunch, and since they were going to the Town Center Mall, I joined them. At church we had hugged good-bye already, Jean sending one along for Justin, too. She is extremely fond of him, so impressed with his knowledge and his sweetness. Jean couldn't really decide where to go so Stephanie picked 5 Guys for her. We had 8 of us dining al fresco on the patio. It was a good time and marvelous fries! Stephanie is flying with her mama, getting her home safe and sound so I won't see her for a couple of weeks. Bye my friends!!!

This worked out perfectly because I needed to stop at Publix which is right down the line from 5 Guys. The bad part was not being able to some frozen items because of the long ride back to OP, but otherwise, it went well. Such a nice store it is, bright and clean. I bought two containers of strawberries, for $4, which is an excellent price. They looked lovely! I want Justin to make pretzel torte, getting the needed ingredients for it. Also picked up the items a new recipe we are trying called for, to make open faced meatball subs. Both the cashier and bagger had seen the recipe on-line, too, so were thinking of trying it. Nancy W. picked up some nice baking glassware for me at GoodWill, one of which would work nicely for this recipe. Can't wait to try it!

Just what I was thinking!

Today I had an episode of "Law & Order" on during my radio shows, as I multitasked. Sure enough, the episode I had been thinking about earlier this morning was one that came on late afternoon. 

A man of substantial means and influence, a close friend of the DA, Adam Schiff, travels in the same circles socially and politically. The man, Mr. Carl Anderton, is played by Robert Vaughan who can pull off rich, eccentric businessman easily. Anderton goes between a wise and good manager/controller of his family and business to being a caustic and biting paranoid bully to those who try to mess with it. 

This character reminds/reminded me of the front runner businessman presidential candidate. His 'stream of consciousness' speeches are often bizarre, overflowing with unsubstantiated bluster and assurances, and, like Anderton, no one dares to go against him. If you do point out the foibles or fables he espouses, you run the risk of being excoriated publicly, mocked and ridiculed based upon your physical appearance or attributes. In fact, Mr. Anderton approached the ADA, McCoy, and threatened to bring Jack down, snarling to 'expose him for the little man he is." Sound familiar? 

Mr. Anderton denied, even forbade, any mention at all about his needing to 'go away' for rests (hospitals), claiming everyone else is nuts, not him. I knew someone close to me who suffered with bipolar disorder, a condition which causes the removal of filters or limits, and allows for euphoria and exuberance where none is required. It is hard to witness in one's family and is equally difficult when you see the potential leader of the free world and the USA going down that road. Yikes! 

"...I'll expose you for the little man you are."

In the end, the ADA is able to get enough evidence to convict Anderton's grandson in the murder of his step-sister. The biggest job was to persuade Adam to let Jack go against his good friend. Jack talks with Carl's daughter who has little decision-making or handling in regard to her teenaged son, as Carl has guardianship over his grandson. Adam meets with Carl and others and exhibits his wildly erratic behavior in front of Adam, who saw enough to convince him that his friend needed help. The young grandson had confessed to the murder of his half-sister many years ago to his grandfather, but was told to never talk about it again. But, someone cracked the egg open and exposed the empire for what it was. 

How our real-life egg is going to work out remains to be seen and my hope is that his supporters realize and care that the emperor has no clothes. 

Flying Noodles luncheon

At the end of our water exercise season plans were made to meet for lunch on the 2nd Tuesday of the month so that we could remain connected. Love this idea! Our Breakfast Club sort of petered out as some of those ladies who attended became walkers instead of eating bacon. They walk the length of River Road several times a week and waiting until after breakfast just didn't work. I miss the gathering, though, as some of my favorite conversations happened around that table. Having our monthly lunches, though, sure does help. Last month we had so many people that another chair needed to be pulled in and people squished together to accommodate.  Marlena had dressed the table prettily for St. Valentine's Day, going all out for her class.

This month, however, was a different story. Today, we had only four of us show up, leaving 8 chairs empty at the table. I had heard from a couple people that they would be absent but don't know what happened to the rest of the gang. As it turned out, we ladies who did show up had a marvelous visit, able to converse with each other, which is usually more difficult in a larger group. The dining room manager had tied all our napkins to look like roses and placed malted milk balls on the napkins and on the table for decoration. We had a feast on them, eating our own, plus those around the table. 

After we ordered our food, we got to talking about good sales, as Nancy is the Great White Hunter. She jumped up from her seat and dashed home (something I'd never do!) to get something she'd picked up for me. Of course, not long after she left did our food arrive, but she was having a salad with shrimp so it didn't matter. In a bag she had a loaf pan, plus two 'cake' pans, clear glass Pyrex-styled set. All this for $6!! Talk about heavy, too. I don't know how she ran back to The Club carrying this bag with heavy glass dishes in it, but she did. I was looking for a loaf pan and now I have another whole set! 

Part of the table's conversation was about organizing and cleaning closets. I am always looking for items for PACE so now the ladies are on a mission to go through their stuff for me. Yay! Debbie said she just loves to organize closets and stuff, more for others than for herself. I guess that's true for me, too, because I like to dust and polish at Great Hang Ups but not so much here in my own home. 

Today's special for our lunch was bbq'd brisket on polenta with spinach. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, topped with crispy onion straws. Yum! I didn't really care for the polenta but ate every bit of my brisket and even some of the spinach. We all four had something different which was pretty cool as the presentation is something to behold. Nancy's was beautiful with various fruits served with the shrimp. She apologized for the shrimp but it didn't really bother me. Sometimes the smell gets to me but the bbq overruled the shrimp. We had malted milk balls for dessert, since they were out of the salted caramel truffle ice cream. That was good news to me, since I think they charge too much for it. But you've never tasted ice cream this good....the price we pay for deliciousness!

Sharing the love

This morning Terri messaged me to see if I had plans for lunch. I was wide open as we had to give up Bible study on Mondays for Lent. We agreed to meet at 11:00 at Metro Diner, which had been our plan on Saturday. People were lined up out the door so instead we chose Sonny's. Today, we had no trouble getting in and served. Judy joined us, as she was finished with her physical therapy treatment. I asked to be served by Mike, and we were seated in his section, in the farthest back corner of the place!

Saturday I had joked with Terri and Justin about having the Monte Cristo sandwich and needing to take my sweater off before eating to keep myself free of the powdered sugar. Since that didn't happen Saturday, I figured I'd have one today. Mike told me it didn't come in half portions so I was going to order it anyway and take half home with me. Terri offered to share it with me, which worked out perfectly!  And I didn't make a mess with my beloved Monte Cristo sandwich which I shared with my beloved friend! Judy had a chicken salad sandwich and salad, both generous in size. No to-go boxes for us, except a soda to take with me. It felt so odd, nothing in a box going out the door!

Justin worked all day and then met Jesse at the gym. Wow, I am impressed with his dedication to his membership there. His intent is three times a week, which includes getting up early on Saturdays to work out. After the gym they were grabbing a bite and then went to Jesse's to watch "The Walking Dead", I think. I was left to fend for myself and decided to finally steam the head of cauliflower which had been in the fridge for two weeks. It was still good, but I burned my mouth on my first bite. And that is why I don't usually eat veggies---injuries!  I had some medicinal sherbet later to cool things off. I do like cauliflower, though, and made a meal of it. Originally I figured to have some egg drop soup with the veggies but got too full. It will keep.

The three of us, taken at Reformation last year

Nancy W. and I had made some tentative plans to go for a pedicure tomorrow but then I remembered we have a Flying Noodles luncheon at The Club at noon. So much for that idea! Her friend, Toni, was going to join us and then perhaps take in a movie after the pedicures. I told Nancy I'd go with my own car in case there was no movie for me to see. She knows I limit my viewing so understood my request. I sure don't want to cramp their fun in any way. 

It's so nice for Nancy having her high school chums still in the area for her to hang out with at this point in her life. I reminded Nancy of the Flying Noodles lunch and she said she would be there so plans have been scuttled for our toes. Mine look wretched, not being attended to since I was in Manitowoc over ThanksLiving! Surely the technician will call me a butcher for the way I've chopped around at them. Yech!

Contentment!

I've been thinking of something Connie told me the other day, something not too many people are able to say. We should say it, should realize it, more often. Our building, our association, recently elected to hire a management company to handle the business of The Palace. There were not enough interested or able parties to serve as officers (I've declined a number of times!) so their hand was forced, so to speak. 

Many of us feared losing Connie and her valuable services provided us, but the numbers were figured in such a way to have both the management company and keep Connie. She negotiated her hours to fewer per week in order to stay on for us. The other day I was talking to her and she said, "This was a good thing for me----I'm content." I loved it, loved it. I was concerned it would be a financial strain for her but she is making the best of what could be an unfortunate situation. I love this for her, and for The Palace!

It's too bad that contentment alludes so many people. One of my favorite sections of Scripture comes from Philippians 4 where the Apostle Paul tells how he knows what it's like to be in need and to know plenty. In all things he was content. These passages were the text of a Thanksgiving sermon preached many years ago that struck a powerful chord for me. "...having food and raiment let us be therewith content" St. Paul wrote to his buddy, Timothy. It is a learned process, and our society does nothing to encourage contentment. We are daily pushed, pulled, cajoled to have more or better, to compare what we have with what others have, and so on. Americans really have so much 'stuff', especially this American!

Just before Christmas some of my neighbors on the north end of the building experienced a flood. Justin and I were able to pitch in to help them rescue their items from the wet. We were privileged to take in some of the more precious items including a vintage Christmas tree and other decorations from the neighbor on our floor for safe keeping during the recovery period. Ironic that our place was considered a sanctuary as often as we've been leaked upon! As Joe was carrying items from his unit to ours, he remarked, "You know, we really have a lot of stuff...." Yup, we do, and that comes to light when you have to pack it up to move, as they did eventually into a different building on the property. "We really have a lot of stuff" was inclusive of everyone in this building, in the town, in the State, and in this nation.

Sometimes we look beyond what we have, no longer having a full appreciation of the contents of our homes. Last fall when I hosted the breakfast for PACE Center for Girls, the young lady student who came to speak to our group, Tay Tay, was blown away by my home. In her talk, she mentioned how someday she wanted to live in a place like this. Here comes that comparison thing again. By other standards this place would be a dump. To this young lady who has had struggles all her life and is trying to better herself and her situation, this was a palace. Yes, it IS just that, and I do appreciate it. 

"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever"!

Dry conversation

The other day Linda and I were talking about what I witnessed at Cracker Barrel. We discussed how wonderful that gesture was of the younger man and his family toward the older couple, giving them some money toward their restaurant bill. I expressed to Linda how sad I was prior to this, seeing the aloneness in the lady's face as she warmed her hands on her coffee cup; how the man rested his face on his hand as if he was in misery. I wondered if they had had an argument or something that they weren't speaking or even looking at one another. And then it changed when the young man stopped at their table with his gift. Like a burden was lifted or something. I speculated to Linda that perhaps the young man told them they reminded him of his grandparents, maybe?? I'd love to think that's what he told them.

We wondered how that happens in relationships, in marriages. When did the words dry up? How could people not have anything to say? Both Linda and I are talkers which makes it that much more difficult to comprehend. There is lots to talk about, even if only about the menu, or how hot the coffee was. I remember an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" when Debra and Raymond finally went on a date and found they had nothing to talk about. Having watched the show on occasion I can certainly see why, but for the sake of this episode, it came as a surprise to them. Mostly to Debra, as Raymond is fairly unaware of things other than himself. All they could talk about was the butter. Now, I can hold my own talking about butter, but I am not limited to it! 

They struggled to think of anything they had in common to converse about other than their kids or families. It was supposed to be funny but it was also thought provoking. How did this happen to them? I would guess having three children including a set of twins is a distraction, as would the constant intrusion of Ray's parents. Without their family, they had nothing else to share. They tried to find a hobby to share including golfing but that didn't go well. Eventually they decided to just drop it, and leave things the way they were. Such a grey existence but then again, for them, it worked. I like to think grey is not my best color!