I could do worse!

I could do worse than attend the opera with my son! After all, we've done it before----last year, Justin, Robbie, and I attended a live performance at the Times-Union Center of "La Traviatta". Before the opera, the three of us had dinner at the Omni, right across the street, and we saw a cast of characters NOT part of the opera. Oddly dressed middle-aged adults were lining the bar area as we ate our pre-show meals, specially designed for the time crunch between eating and show-going. We saw men in tail coats and t-shirts, top hats and blue jeans, and one man dressed totally in leather, but not motorcycle leather------suede, cowboy-style with fringes everywhere. What was going on that brought out the characters? We heard later that a Van Halen concert was taking place in the same structure that held the Opera House. Is that a culture clash or what????

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Today might be the same scenario, although pre-theater we are having lunch at 5 Guys (remember: the mighty have fallen!!!) before going into the AMC Theater to watch a live broadcast of "La Rondine" by Puccini being sent from The Met in New York City!!!!! Justin asked me earlier in the week if I wanted to go, and I said, "SURE!!!" Oh, we are excited about this. I already got the tickets so we won't have to wait in line and are encouraged to be in the theater 30 minutes prior as it's first come, first served. I wonder if there will be the rope lines up like when a new movie comes out...............Later in the day, a cast of characters like to "linger" around the theater-area but the police have stepped up their presence in order to reduce the amount of loitering and scaring the regular folks. Top hats and fringed leather is not the order of the day for this group, however.

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Well, Linda has a new-born, healthy granddaughter, Amanda, with both mom and baby doing great. Linda reported that when she called Tommy at work to let him know about the birth, he broke down and wept. Me, too!

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Fox and Friends had so much to offer this a.m., which made me chuckle. The primary thing that got me was the one anchor referring to "Blago" as "the gift that keeps on giving." Blago gave this amazing speech yesterday, parading all these so-called accomplishments across the stage (or radio dial, as the case may be) and declaring that these accomplishments were what got him impeached. Really? Does he really believe that? They showed footage of him jogging down the middle of a snow covered street as photographers tried to keep up with him, and it was ridiculous, just ridiculous to watch.

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From that story they rolled into Madoff and that debacle, speculating why oh why that man is not behind bars, even after violating his bail agreement by attempting to shift assets around right under every one's noses. Millions in jewellery and cash being shuffled and no one will notice? One of our members at church has a niece who lost her entire family investment business, $8 million in assets, as a hedge fund manager due to her involvement with Bernie Madoff, while he's still living the high life in a penthouse in Manhattan (which Fox and Friends calls "Weekend at Bernie's!!). Only in America! Now they also showed a line of hot sauces named after Madoff, described by the creator as being "as hot as the hell fires that should consume Bernie Madoff"! Well, I guess we know who got "burned" by him and who did not!

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Justin just arrived to start taking down the decorations so I'd better go and supervise him. I hate the taking down of the decor because it makes me happy to see it there, but as I told Judy R., it's great to see it up and looking gorgeous, but then it's nice to return to "normal", too. Like the great joy one has when company comes, and then the quiet that settles after they are gone. Both are excellent!

Speaking of Linda.........

.............she is awaiting the birth, via c-section, of her newest grandchild in northern IL this morning! Her daughter-in-law had a rough go of it pregnancy-wise so prayers for safe delivery and health for mom and baby will be greatly appreciated!

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Yesterday I received an e-mailed invitation to go visit my newest great-niece, born Dec. 31st in Palm Coast, an hour south of here. I am considering going next week and wonder if Justin wants to join me to meet Rayna, which means "Queen". He'd have to miss some work but Tina prefers visitors on the weekdays when her older daughter, Maya, is at daycare because she's a bit hard to deal with when the new baby is center of attention. Really? Hard to believe! They now have two queens in their household, besides their mother, that is!

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My attorney's office totally freaked me out yesterday, although they've calmed me since, when the assistant sent an e-mail insisting I approve a document she'd sent December 9th. I'd done it immediately and sent it back via e-mail the very same day, but evidently she'd not gotten it, and must have only noticed yesterday!!!!! Ahhh! Truly I was on the ball, and I don't want to think it was them who dropped it, but..........I had Internet connection in WI if they needed to get something else from me, so we can't blame my traveling for this not being taken care of. They have assured me that it does not compromise my case in any way but still, I'm a bit concerned about how it makes "us" appear.

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My friend, Dolly, saw the sister of our classmate in church recently and mentioned that we're reconnecting with folks via facebook. We are sort of kicking around the idea of having a mini-reunion when I am up in WI in May. It will be 35 years since we graduated from MLHS, and also from when I got married. My nephew, Dusty, graduates from high school on Memorial Day weekend but his folks are having the party the following weekend. My nephew, JR, is graduating from West Point Academy the same weekend, something Justin and I don't plan to miss. I'll have to save my nickels and dimes for this trip as we'll need a hotel in The City as well as air fare. I don't know if Justin will come to WI or not but he is adamant about getting to see JR march with his class. Plus going to New York City!

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The dryer just stopped humming after bouncing my sheets around. Like Suzanne, I'll be sleeping on clean sheets tonight when I get home from scrapbooking. She lamented in her blog that she never remembers about re-dressing the bed until she is ready to fall into it. Glad it's not just me, but really, how can I avoid noticing when I am in the same room with the bed all stinkin' day? This morning I put on a sweater which was dried flat on the "passenger side" of my bed. Joanne didn't realize it was not a dryer top, so we made it wet again, and tried to re-shape it on my bed. It worked, I guess, it's presentable, but only if you don't mind the handsful of cat hair that cover it. Lynx found it to be quite comfortable for lying on, so now it's an angora sweater, I guess! Every once and again I pluck a hair or two off my tongue as it floats off my sweater and into my mouth.....yech!

I am writing about Timmy in this posting.....just so you know

The font chosen for today is again "Georgia" which reminds me of my friend, Linda, whose sister is named after this font. God morning, dear friend! I've also been thinking about my friend, Judy R., who recommended, that rascal, another book for me to read, "Grandma Speaks". It wasn't available at Barnes and Noble, as she feared would be the case, nor did the NPH have it in their store any longer, but I did manage to find a 3-book series by this author which I ordered on-line. Once I am finished reading, I can put them in the church library for others to enjoy. Only one in the series was considered "new" with the other two "used". What have we come to? Buying "used" books??

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I just hung up after talking with the church secretary, going over the list of e-mail addresses. Evidently someone has a new address since the revised Directory came out in December and I didn't change it in my records, prompting her call to me. She seemed to think she'd be better at sending off the newsletter than am I (ahem, ahem)..........I entered the one e-mail address I was missing (in fact, it was changed, not missing!) and kept custody of my mass mailing ability. We also have another person to add to the two already on the Prayer Chain for this week, two with heart troubles, including my friend, Gordy, and one lady with blood clots. Pastor is going to have a full day of hospital runs but at least two of the men are in the same facility!

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Before getting out of bed today I finished reading the "Forward in Christ" for January. This periodical is published by my church body's publishing house and is most excellent reading. Many of the articles in this issue touched my heart, their subject matter being just right for what I am experiencing this month.

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Have you ever noticed, and I guess this is quite well known, that once you decide to buy a new car, you see more and more of that model on the streets than you ever did before? When I was in Manitowoc and missing my son, I'll bet every 10th car was his model, different colors and such, but still were Calibers. Once he was there, I didn't notice the cars as much, or it didn't matter as much perhaps. Well, that's the type of thing that is happening this month for me. First reading how the 9 year old child drown in Mandarin over New Year, and before that meeting the new head of the Building Dept. who thinks about my family whenever speaking about pool safety. Now, the "Forward...." is jam-packed with important articles that are just what helps in soothing my heart as I remember Timmy, and my loss. Not his loss, mine. "For me to live is Jesus, to die is gain for me. So when my Savior pleases, I meet death willingly.....", from our hymnal.

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"Forward...." has an article about a family whose teenage son was killed in a car accident on his way home from a friend's home, in a car driven by the friend. The story told how the family immediately reached out to the driver and offered forgiveness which wasn't even needed because it was only an accident; how they regretted any harsh words or exchanges they'd had with their son in the past; and how the joy that they'll see their son again in heaven is the greatest comfort of all. Another article is written by a former pastor of a Manitowoc congregation who tells about the chaos he finds in an ER as family members and others struggled with the terrible tragedy they just experienced. They were frantically asking the question of how God allowed this to happen and why. I've witnessed this chaos, but I don't think so in OUR waiting room at Shands.

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On the closing pages of this issue is an article about "wiping our glasses", pondering the financial messes around us and remembering that we are not the ones in control of what happens in this world. Similar message to the one shared by Pastor Hoyer yesterday in Bible class. Another professor writes about sending his young son off to Iraq, leaving him in God's care. The underlying message in all these articles is that we are but strangers here, heaven is our home!

What an awesome class today!

It's so great to be back at my desk working on my blog rather than "worrying" about the financial paperwork! The top of my desk is visible although some of my peripheral areas have gotten some junque stacked on them. It is a simple matter now to get those things put away, or sorted, as the case might be. For example, the box with the church papers in needs to be sorted, filed, disposed of, or whatever they require, but for now, they are "organized" into a box and off my desk!

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Twila called early this a.m. to tell me that Mark called from Orlando last night, reporting that the parent of a couple St. Johns kids had had a house fire recently, In searching the Internet, area newspapers and TV stations, I find nothing at all about this fire. I wish I could ask Mark myself where this information came from, if it's something he saw on facebook or myspace or whatever. This woman is a photographer and I'd hate to think she lost her home and her livelihood in one fell swoop. Later I call Twila and ask her if she can find out more from her grandson and get him to name his sources.

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With the New Year comes the return to Bible study at Victory, sans Justin as he has a class on Thursday mornings. Kelly T. came from Good Shepherd, too, and we should have called each other about this last night to ride share, right? I'd spoken with Justin on the ride over to Victory but had to leave him with an unfinished conversation as I had another call coming in which I had to take. After I got to Bible class, I quickly sent a text message to him saying I'd meet him at the restaurant at the Town Center Mall. I sat there awhile at the Mall, snug and warm in my car, with the sun shining brightly on me, waiting for him to show up. Judy R. had recommended a wonderful book to me which I thought I'd get at Barnes and Noble but she told me it was most likely only available through the Synod publishing house. Oh well, she probably saved me a bunch of money by not going into the bookstore!!! Justin sent me a text saying he didn't see my message until after he was home and we decided I'd just head to my house and not have lunch after all. He said he was taking care of laundry, but he also let slip that his two newest editions of "Smallville" had some yesterday and I suspect he'd rather have stayed home until his next class to watch "Smallville", rather than making small talk!!!

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Wow, though, did he miss a fantastic Bible class this morning! I wish I'd had my laptop with me there as I'd have written about it as it was happening. The subject today as we study "Heroes and Heroines of the Bible" was David. The lesson began just after Saul killed himself and David asked the Lord where he should go and what he should do when he gets there. The application was making sure we remember to go straight to the Lord when we have decisions and questions in our lives, how we should maintain our focus, keeping the Lord and His Word foremost.

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We also discussed the influences around us that attempt to keep us from God, and even God from us, the distractions the world throws in our way, etc. Who are those we consider to be heroes these days? People in uniform, of course. But are they soldier uniforms? Police uniforms? Fireman uniforms? Nope, they are sports people very often, whom people will describe as being their hero, or to whom they look up. This affects the amounts of money these people earn, when wwaayy back when, the professional teams were first catching on, the players earned about the same as common laborers. Now, crowds part when a famous person (actor, sports figures, celebrity) comes through, people tearing their clothes off in response to seeing their heroes, their idols.

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Pastor Hoyer mentioned, as I have often (ahem, ahem), how our nation is becoming more and more like ancient Rome, an empire that had it all, and yet, from the outside in, was destroyed by the very successes it celebrated. The Goths were able to march right in and take Rome down while the citizens were being "entertained" in the arena by the gladiators. Interesting. Of course, I personally enjoy watching football on Sundays, but, again of course, after church. Sports were only one example used as a "diversion", but was helpful in making the point today because of the BIG game tonight between the Gators and Sooners. I truly enjoy hearing Pastor make the appropriate comparisons between the foolishness of the Israelites and the foolishness of our present day society. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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We were encouraged to not sit around wringing our hands, but make a more profound effort to live in accordance to what is God-pleasing, watching over our families to make sure they remain faithful and diligent, especially when it comes to what's going to take place in our nation in the near future. Nationalised medicine, removing personal responsibility for our lives, becoming people, like the Israelites, waiting for their Bread King. Pastor recently completed a personal study that talked about how in the 1850's, when evolution was "accepted" as a science, situational ethics was coming to the forefront, and continues now to permeate our thinking, through the media and our government schools, medicine, and so on. Wow, powerful stuff, good food for thought! Justin would have loved being in this class today, except for the part about "worshipping" the football stars!!!!

I'm 100 pounds lighter!

Well, at least it feels that way! Whew, what a relief it is to have this meeting at the attorney's office over with. I had all my paperwork in order, save for one piece of paper which Kimberly can get off the Internet.

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Last night was Art Guild and I was so looking forward to seeing Martie again, since I hadn't seen her in person since before my trip. She had to buy groceries and such for an office meeting the next morning but was going to be finished in time for the meeting. I sat in the family room for a bit, while my TV was recording "Oprah" for Joanne. My Packer blanket was wrapped around me to keep me toasty, even though it was nearly 80 degrees outside, and actually I fell asleep for a few minutes, as I'd not slept well the night before. Before I knew it, the clock said it was time to get ready for Art Guild!

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"We were sitting there, drinking coffee, without a piece of cake! We looked like idiots!" (I'm listening to "Seinfeld" as I write.....)

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Art Guild was fun, because I'd not seen these people since the CHRISTmas party on the 2nd of December. Sadly, Martie only popped in for a minute to say "hi" and tell me she was heading home because she had a brain-buster headache. In fact, her face was red around the eyes, which means she probably had a sinus headache going on. Too bad, because I've really missed her!

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Our presenter was a lady from the watercolor society in Jacksonville, painting a portrait of a live model. While it was so interesting to watch this process, when it got to be 8:30 and I was freezing half to death, I decided to head out. Dee took pictures of the finished piece so I'll get a chance to see how it turned out. Joanne came home about 9:00 pm, exhausted as well, but made herself the most wonderfully smelling meal in the oven using veggies and a turkey burger, bathed in garlic oil. Oh, my goodness, it smelled divine! I told her I was going to have a drink and go to bed! So, I did! Mixed myself a glass of lemonade and my tea-flavored vodka, sipped it and went to bed. Ah, there is nothing like a good night's sleep, no matter how it comes!

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I rose and shined just before 7:00 a.m. to the wind whipping the palm trees again. The river is blown back away from the shore, exposing the yukky sand, coated in green algae-looking stuff. I hope the winds let up soon and that the tide comes back in quickly. It's hideous, I have to look away!!

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As my meeting was scheduled for 10:00, I decided to leave home around 9:00 in order to avoid any traffic or weather problems. So much for THAT idea! I no sooner left than did the heavens open, pouring huge rain drops onto the cars and trucks. I followed a semi down Highway 17 and eventually the rain let up so I could see my way toward town. Right across from the office building I was able to pull "nose first" (another "Seinfeld" reference) into a parking stall with 20 minutes to spare. The meter was fed two quarters and I was on my way in! My friend, Judy R., had given me a great canvas bag as a gift when I was at her house in April, and it held my binder and files perfectly. It's brightly colored, as were my flowered folders, also given me by Judy, which were stuffed into the bag.

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A lady was coming down the sidewalk going the same direction as was I, so I moved over to allow her pass, as she pulled a suitcase behind her. She turned to me and said, "You look so beautiful!". I thanked her, telling how she raised me up and made me feel good. She said, "That's what we're supposed to do, raise each other up!" On our short walk together, she told me she's an artist, is a licensed tailor and does costume design in the theatre. I asked if she was taking part in the Art Walk which was happening that night, and she asked me how far they walked...........................Well, I'll take that as a "no". But she was very very nice and really put the icing on my day today!

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When I got up to my floor, cruising at 50 miles an hour in this high-speed elevator, I decided there was time before my meeting to stop at the rest room. As I walked through the door of the bathroom, a woman was coming out. She threw her arms around me and told me how nice it was so see me again.....it was Kimberly, the person with whom I was meeting! I can't believe she remembered me from four years ago, and she was happy to see me besides that!

*

We spent the first part of our meeting catching up on news, and she showed me pictures of her darling grandson, although she certainly doesn't look old enough to be anyone's grandmother! Her son is the same age as Justin. Kimberly has a gentleman friend with whom she loves to travel so we discussed the places I've been and such. One day we are going to have lunch together because she wants to look at my albums from the Mediterranean. Now, I'm excited!!!! As I mentioned earlier, I had all the paperwork I needed except the one accessable via the Internet! She assuaged my fears about the rest of the information, saying it might not be necessary to even have to complete it all, depending upon how far this goes. I told her that I'll continue to gather my information so I'm not caught off-guard, having made such great headway on my filing. Talk about being proud of ones' self!

Some heart lifting took place

Last night at our Ladies' Group meeting, Janet presented a wonderful list of events and plans for the coming year, intended to instill a bit of excitement into the congregation. Our group numbers only a few regular attendees these days and the question has been raised as to whether or not we should muddle along or throw in the towel. Janet came up with some great "group tightening" plans for us, and we all felt much better about the future.

*

After the meeting, I suggested we recess to the church and begin the process of taking down the tree and putting away the decorations. Yes, I know, we were a day early but I felt that since we had people there and had to wait for Pastor to come anyway, we should just make hay while the sun shined! Pastor had out-of-town company last night and they were delayed in arriving, so he saved his pastoral report to the end of our meeting. We sat down in church while he gave his presentation, after he very kindly went to the garage and hauled in the giant ladder for us to finish our downtaking. It seems we don't have enough men in the congregation willing to take an Elder position, sadly, so we find ourselves without a Fellowship Elder. Brian had mentioned to me about taking it on, but I told him I could not because I am not an Elder, and cannot be an Elder. Well, guess what! The Ladies' have been asked to assume the role of Fellowship leaders (really???) and guess who the go-to person is...........

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After Pastor's report, we sat around chatting a bit and I remarked to him how profound the portion of the sermon was Sunday, the part about how the soul is smiling even when the heart is not. I shared what Suzanne said, that she was tempted to turn and smile at me when she heard this phrase, but I was busy digging in my purse so I could write it down! While at Wal-Mart I met some of our members and we discussed the sermon and that particular portion while standing in the aisle! Bill said the entire sermon theme was about being cheerful and keeping a smile on your face (not sure I heard it the same way....) and he said that that was me! Wow, what a compliment, and even when I'm feeling weighed down by this financial junque. So, anyway, Pastor smiled and then said, "I think I stole that line from you", going on to say it probably wasn't word for word, but he said I was the source for that phrase. Somehow or another, my soul and my heart both feel happy now, even as I face this desk again today!!!! May yours as well!!!!

I am punishing myself in the wee hours

The thing about finding oneself awake before an appropriate hour is that the television sometimes offers little besides infomercials and autopsy shows. At first I was fortunate to wake to an old Monk episode which is just fine for falling back to sleep. However, I didn't. As I listened to the clock chime, I lost track of the number of hours it struck so didn't really know what time it was. Since it's still quite dark, I figured it was too early to wake up for good. Yet, here I am.

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Yesterday afternoon, when at Wal-Mart, the first order of business was to use the bathroom. Since the restroom at the booty shop opens directly into the shop itself, I decided to take my business elsewhere----'nuff said. I'd experienced some cramping on the right side and remembered thinking, "Well, it can't be my appendix because I had that removed already", but that is the feeling I had. This same "pain" was there when I awoke this morning, and helped me decide to get up to stay. I can't be sick now, not with all this nonsense to go through before tomorrow morning, I can't!!!!

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Since I was up, it seemed like a good time to do some quiet things in my room and the house in general, because I don't want to wake my house mate prematurely. The dirty wash on my closet floor is sorted and ready to go once the sun comes up, and my emptied pieces of luggage are tucked away in the closet until the next time. Joanne teased me about having the purple suitcase lie across the foot of my bed since I got home, but I told her it doesn't bother me in the least, as my feet barely touch it when I'm in bed! Portions of my desk have re-appeared, and I am surprised to see my desk is white! Who knew? It's not easy to work on anything paperwork-wise until I have some natural light in here because the bedroom light simply doesn't throw enough this way to help. As I've said before, thanks to my typing teacher in high school, Miss Liese, I can touch type and don't have to wait for the sun to come up to work on the keyboard and screen!

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A couple ladies from church met to have lunch yesterday even though we didn't have Bible study because Jackie was hungry for the fried chicken salad she always orders at Longhorn. Believe me, I get hungry for the chicken fingers, too, and didn't mind getting away from the desk to meet them. I had to go to Wal-Mart anyway to pick up the printout of prescriptions for the year, as I must itemize my monthly expenditures, including any over-the-counter things I take. While waiting for the printout, I went to the OTC counter and wrote down the prices of the pills I take so I could figure out how much per month those items cost me. Now that I think of it, I should have gone to the pet area to price litter and food for Lynx. I can't help but chuckle when I consider the fact that if I didn't feed her, I wouldn't have to clean the cat box. This was true for the babies as well----we usually bought formula and diapers at the same time, jokingly making our own trouble!!!

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This early morning, I tortured myself by turning on a TV program called "Cold Case" with a lovely blond investigative officer who revisits supposedly closed murder cases or those suspicious in nature, like was this mornings' offering. Only this episode was about suspicious infant death, originally declared SIDS but re-opened by their office for some reason. I missed that part of the development, why someone felt it important to look again at this file. The couple had divorced shortly after the loss of the baby, and after much forth and back regarding who saw the baby last, who spent time with the baby, the little brother, etc., 24 years later it came to light that the mother had drown the baby due to post-partum depression. I never saw that coming, I was sure it was the father who didn't really want this bothersome premature infant in the first place. That's what happens when you wake up before you're supposed to---you end up punishing yourself by not changing the channel.

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Because I have this crampy feeling in my side, I was motivated to print off my insurance cards, just in case, for this year. The insurance I have is quite "efficient", allowing me to download my policy and manually print off the claim cards to put in my wallet. No fancy laminated ID cards for me, no siree, just print 'em off all day long if I wish! I really should find a different company with more benefits but this one is less expensive on a monthly basis, although I do have a $2500 deductible for out-of-pocket expenses. Rarely do I meet that number but in 2007 when I had troubles with sciatica, I came dangerously close. It's no wonder folks give greater regard to health benefits from an employer than to the salary sometimes.

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Today is Epiphany, the day in which we recognize the Wise Men from the East, the Magi, coming to find the king of the Jews, led by the star. Jesus was most likely about two years old by the time the Magi showed up, so it is historically inaccurate to have them kneeling at the manger next to the shepherds. That is the reason King Herod had the boys aged two and under killed, hoping to rid his kingdom of any "king of the Jews" that could threaten his reign. An angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect the Savior, which fulfilled a prophecy which told of the Savior coming up out of Egypt, which they did once Herod was out of the picture. Not only is it Epiphany, it is also my sister's birthday! Happy birthday, Kerry!!!!