I am bug-eyed!

Not entirely all from watching football today either! Much of the afternoon was spent researching and then organizing the Ladies' Group Minutes ring binders, not the easiest task. Some of the Minutes were "filed" from back to front, where the ones I've put away are front to back. There must have been a reason to do it back to front at one time, but I do not think anyone will mind my changing them around. We have a meeting tomorrow night and I needed to have things in order, my order!

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Sorry for being so tardy with the posting today but between the football games (two in one day!) and working on the note books, I just had to keep at my tasks! I only hope I can stay awake to see the end of the Packer game tonight! The Jaguars fell short by two points in a fairly enjoyable game. Certainly some will claim it was poorly played, by both teams, but I just enjoy watching. Next week will be the home opener but I am afraid it will be blacked out due to low sales. It would have helped, perhaps, to have a victory for the Jags today.

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This morning I did not even log on as I had to head right out for Bible class and get some stuff posted on the bulletin board at church. Much time was spent in search of the wood easel for the portable board but it was no where to be found. I must remember to go to Lowe's for a nut and wing to repair the broken easel so we do not have to improvise, looks cheap to have to prop things haphazardly.

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We had a good "house" today for our Sunday school and Bible study opening, with us all going separate directions. In addition to the above items going on, Pastor was also offering a Parenting Class for people with young kids. So, the adult study was in the Fellowship Hall and the parenting class in the new building, with the older kids set up in church with Janet.

Here is Mike Chappell, our Staff Minister, leading the adult Bible study in the Fellowship Hall

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After worship I was heading for home to get set up for the football game in front of the TV, but my phone rang just in the knick of time.....It was Paul and Emily asking me to join them for lunch! Sure!! I wheeled right into the parking lot as they were crossing over to China Buffet so all arrived at the same time. I really miss our time together and greatly appreciated them calling me. Sarah was adorable as always but hardly ate enough to keep a bird alive, in my opinion. Instead of watching football this afternoon, the grown ups were going to watch a movie together while Sarah slept, and that was exactly what Paul's "fortune" said in his after-lunch cookie!!! Emily suggested they buy a lottery ticket too since that fortune was so right on!

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When I pulled onto the property just minutes before kickoff, I noticed that the cabana doors were open, which was not right. Normally the cabana closes after Labor Day so I could have had a hot dog yet today if I had not already eaten. Or a pina colada at half time except they close at 3:00 pm! Nuts! The adult pool is waterless so all folks have to use the teen's pool. A special cover has to be put on a drain in the other pool to prevent anyone from being sucked into it. Oooh, it sounds so terrible when you write it down.......

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Going through those books of "Minutes" for hours (that is just not right!!!) made me decide to work on my desk in the next couple days to get that mess cleared up. In the older of the binders, I found the invitation to the baby shower the Ladies' Group held for me when I was expecting Timmy. That was a bittersweet find. I remember Justin was there for the Shower and I think Mom was there, too.

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One of our members gave me a warm, fuzzy today during Bible study....Jackie mentioned that before she joined our church, she had never heard of WELS before, just went looking for a Lutheran church. John and she came one Sunday to check us out and were greeted by yours truly----the rest is history! She has shared that story with me in the past, but today told the class. The subject is "Our Church, Our Ministry" which is how it came up. As Linda J. and I talked about at some length yesterday, we never know when the smallest kindness results in getting an unexpected gift card to BoJangles!

It was a nice day after all!

Not all of September 11 was spent in front of the TV. Once I heard from Maggie O. that she was too pooped to party for lunch, I headed off to take care of some business and fun. I decided my tummy still wanted some Koko's and I needed to see my friends at Great Hang Ups after being gone several days, so away I went to the Island!

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There was a client at the desk when I arrived and I was introduced to a woman, a delightful one at that, who worked for Dee's hubby for years. She was getting some items framed and shared a story about a surly street artist in Rome from whom she bought a piece. She knew if she walked away from the art work she liked, the regrets would follow her home, so she sucked it up and dealt with the grumpy Italian man. He became quite pleasant when he realized she was an honest-to-goodness customer and not only a nosy 'tourista'. I shared my story of leaving my chandelier behind and having to go back the next year to fetch it home with me.....

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After posing and modeling some earings for Julia to post on their website and Facebook, I went next door to have my lunch. As I was being seated, I realized that I knew my table partner. After a long, dear embrace, I was introduced to Kelly's mom, who has moved here from midstate New York to be closer to her daughter. Kelly and family lived next door to us in Fiddlers Ridge, which is where we lived when Timmy was born. She served as his pediatrician for awhile, too, and we remembered the day he got shots in each leg at the same time. Nurse on one side, Kelly on the other---1,2,3, go! Last night I looked through the memorial book from Timmy's funeral and I did not see their names listed...I hate to ask the question because if they were there and I don't remember, I am embarrassed, oddly so, for not knowing.

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We had a wonderful, wonderful catch-up visit, discussing scrapbooking, her church (my favorite topics!!!) and our kids. Kelly now works as the peds doctor with Community Hospice so I told her that I had been involved with Hospice for a few years after my sister-in-law died. In fact, I began the training program the Monday after separating from my then spouse. Since Kelly does the peds care, I mentioned that I had a client on Old Middleburg Road and she asked, "Jessica?" YES! She knew Jessica and I told her about the movie premier we had for her in San Marco complete with red carpet and limosine ride. Jessica made a movie to tell others about her illness and as a keepsake for her family and did it up right! I must remember to send Kelly the photos I have of that event.....Jessica has been gone about a year now, according to Kelly. What a great time we had at lunch! We have since found each other on Facebook so the catching up will continue. Her hubby is a nurse practioner working in oncology so they both have heavy jobs. They worship where Joanne does so we have an additional connection there. Oh, how I love re-finding people, preferably in the flesh, but will settle for Facebook otherwise!

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Oooh, raindrops are falling on my windows! Glad I made the decision to finally get dressed in a garment other than nightwear. Justin just sent me a photo of a major slice of pizza he tackled in Tallahassee, promoted as being "as big your head"! Many years ago Julia at Hang Ups told us about the wonderful calzones from the Spaghetti House which were "as big as your head" and we never forgot that. He said he ate only half of the slice but certainly the rest will not be wasted. Last night he attended a Kenny Chesney concert and today is a football game with the FSU team playing against some other team. I do not follow college sports but he is learning to through his friends who are alum of those schools.

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My chicken has had the stuffings cooked out of it, including a hideous bag of gizzards which worked their way out of the bird as it boiled. My disposal ground it up and sent it away. Yech! Using tongs, I transferred the boiled meat onto a plate to chill before I start tearing at it for the pot pie. This is all very exciting for me. Linda M. asked me if I have been probed by aliens recently because I am cooking things in my kitchen....That just made me laugh! One would think this was true. Thursday I made the egg and cheese souffle with tonight's attempt at pot pie---yes, something is definitely up!

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Last night as I readied for bed, I was reading a book (oh, dear, perhaps Linda M. WAS right.....) and had planned to watch the special on Fox News about the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. Something prevented me from watching however---I just could not bare to watch this program so close to sleeping time. You all know me and my vivid dreams, it might have been to heavy for bedtime viewing, but that is why is scheduled for after kids are in bed. The part that bothered me most was when the security guards and officials encouraged the people to go back to their offices, that everything was okay. Hindsight is truly 20/20 but I could not help but wonder how many more lives would have been spared if folks just kept leaving the building, calling it a day.....What a day it turned out to be! I bought the book about the 911 Commission report findings but have not consumed the whole thing yet. Yet, being the working word there.

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While I settled in for rest, I watched the end of "The Holiday", a rather pleasant movie about two women who swap homes over the Christmas season, one a very successful movie trailer producer from L.A., the other a rather dull writer for a newspaper in England. They each meet people at their respective "winter" homes and the inevitable happens. No, I won't give it away. It is playing again this afternoon and is a great escape for a rainy afternoon. My ice cream last night, however, made quite the mess on my nightie which then transferred to my sheets, so the whole works went into the laundry this a.m. My room always looks quite messy with the unmade bed so must get the bed put back together in order to create the illusion of cleanliness!

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Oh, how I enjoyed talking on the phone for hours this morning with a couple of my lady friends, one from nearby and one from miles and miles away. It's not like I have not seen them lately either, but we always "have words left over", as Justin would say!

This memorable day

As I am watching TV and listening to a bell being rung in a field in rural PA, tears wet my cheeks as the commentators related the historic events of September 11, 2001. I was leaving Wal*Mart when I heard on the radio about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center tower, and stopped to tell Danny Roy about it. He was working outside in the nursery as I drove past, and as I was talking to him, the second plane hit the other tower. I said, "Oh, my God! Now the other tower was hit!" Danny paused a moment and then announced, "That was no accident....If they need me to come back in (the Navy), I am ready to go..." Just like that. He was ready to go. I think this was the sentiment many people had---tell us what we need to do and we will do it! People lined up at our local blood bank to donate in case they needed the blood in New York, Washington, or PA. Folks displayed American flags on their homes and autos and trucks, stores selling out of flags quickly, as the nation was again united against a yet undetermined enemy. We knew the enemy however---terrorism!!!

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My DVD collection includes some of the documentaries made about the terror attacks and I had meant to take one of those to my bro-in-law, John, in Manty but I totally forgot about grabbing it before we left. I will watch it myself and then send it up. I tried to find the History Channel on my TV but I think it is now outside my range of offerings. I have the most basic of packages provided by my condo and do not care or really need to add to it so will have to suffice with what is offered on the stations I do pick up. None of the stuff is really new, and since I own some of the DVDs already, I will get by.

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I always wanted the big photo book of the events of September 11, 2001, whether it was TIME or another publisher. Seems as though I cannot get enough. The Smithsonian Museum has a wonderful display about the terror attacks and if you get to Washington, DC, take the time to visit it. NYC has a nice memorial set up in the church near the site of the WTC which Brenda N. has toured. The fence with tiles affixed still stands near the site of the WTC which Justin and I saw when we were in NYC in late May. Twice I have been to the site of the WTC since the disaster, once meeting people from Eagle Harbor at the fire station across from the site.

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On another note, the breeze off the river is absolutely delightful, again ringing the chimes in my river room doorway. The sky is dotted with clouds but the sun manages to find its way through every now and again. Our dinner last night was actually breakfast and quite delicious. All went away with full tummies, mine being topped off with a special present from Martie---candy corn! My favorite vegetable! My egg and cheese souffle turned out wonderfully and I must add that to my arsenal of things to make for company. Joanne had to cancel at the last minute because of writing a contract for someone so we had no champagne/cranberry juice delights. Just the cranberry juice---aawww! Did you know that Campbell's makes sausage gravy in cans? It was good! Not quite as delicious as that made from scratch by Joanne but we can adjust. I enjoyed several glasses of a juice with peach, mango, and orange juice mixed together, so I had my fruit AND my 'corn' last night!

A day of giving and receiving

Last night I went to bed with some very troubling things on my heart, not personal problems, but related to people about whom I care and with whom I interact. Not meaning to be tauntingly vague, but confidentiality comes into play here. My dear friends, Linda J. and Judy R., both encouraged me to turn it over to the Lord for His handling and that is what I did. I slept well, almost through the night and did not climb out until after 8:30 a.m. My customary can of soda was on the night stand but I moved it to the very far side so I could not absently take a drink if I woke up. Because of blood work this a.m. I had to be NPO until after the blood was drawn.

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Wisely I had kept the "orders" in the car so I would not have to excavate my desk and headed down Kingsley Avenue to find the lab. NOT! Where the labs used to be, they were no longer! One lady came out of the place where Quest was formerly and said they moved next to Regions Bank on Kingsley Ave. Off we both went in search of it. I did not see the sign for Quest but did see LabCor next to Atlantic Bank so wheeled it in there. In the meanwhile, the little gas light lit up with a clanging bell sounding, totally freaks me out when that happens. It is a 'woman thing', I hear. The same lady was standing there in the lobby. Gloria asked me if I followed her or just ended up here and I said it was an accident. I think this place must get more patients by default than by referral!

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The lady checking us in asked me if I had anything to eat or drink after midnight and I very sadly told her I had not. I also told her we had better hurry up because my clothes were starting to get baggy! The other receptionist and she just laughed and laughed, saying they never heard that one before! And she called me "Babe" several times, and I hope she did not mean the pig....A nice lady relieved me of several vials of blood to be measured for heaven knows what. In no time I was in and out after having my blood let and wound my way back up Kingsley to the nearest gas station.

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Across from the hospital is a little "Jiffy" convenience store with gas pumps, rather than a mess of gas pumps with a store besides. The man in front of me was pulling away so I moved into his spot and got out. A lady pulled her van in behind me and I gestured to make sure she had enough room to pull in. She thanked me for pulling ahead and I just smiled as I pumped my gas. Her van was full before my car was, and the lady came up to me, handed me a gift card from BoJangles Chicken. She told me how yesterday she had to drive up and down Blanding Blvd. and no one was nice to her, but I was nice to her today so she gave a gift card as a "thank you"! Wow! Even if I never use the card, the gesture was tremendous.

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I talked to so many nice people today, even ran into an old friend at Winn Dixie, who "stalked" me as she saw my car drive into the parking lot. Cindy is going to be a grandmother around Christmas Day...how exciting! When I got home from the store and was carrying my bags upstairs, Connie, the maintenance lady for The Palace, gave me a scolding because she had offered to help me with my groceries yesterday. I explained this was a new batch since I had forgotten my yellow potatoes, plus needed eggs for my souffle for dinner tonight. Julia Child would be so proud!!!!

Fully clothed and ready for the day!

This may seem like an odd way to begin a posting because who does not get dressed in the morning? Those of us who are trying to figure out what the day will bring, whether to put on the swimsuit and head down toward the pool or to put street clothes for grocery shopping. Yesterday I told Judy R. I was going grocery shopping yet that afternoon but somehow this did not happen. Instead, I made up the two boxes of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese from the pantry closet to have for supper. I had never used this type of mix before, where the cheese is in a foil packet and squeezed over the cooked macaroni. Yech! It tasted vile, in my opinion, sort of had a medicine-y aftertaste. The whole kettleful of calories went down the disposal as well as a container of some unidentified soup Joanne had frozen some time ago. Toast with peanut butter is no match for mac 'n cheese, but it will have to do!

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The morning brought a quiet river which is simply glistening in the sun which is doing battle with some cotton clouds. I am sure the fishermen bobbing in their boats appreciate the brief respites from the glare of the sun, as the air temperatures are predicted to have highs about 89 for today. This means I should be getting myself out the door to buy my groceries and get back so I can enjoy the rest of the day poolside. Last night there were lovely breezes which allowed me to have my doors open until bedtime. Linda J. has her windows open when the temperatures are barely 50 above zero but I can only do that when it is about 70 or greater here.....

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Let's talk a bit about "thorns in the flesh"---last week I had quite a fright with my sciatica 'rearing' its ugly head (I am so funny!!!) but through the move and afterward, I was none the worse for the wear. Yes, I was achy and moving slowly but have no after effects to speak of. My sisters have their share of physical maladies as well including arthritis of the knees, tendinitis in the wrist plus a goofy thumb, fading vision and hearing, etc. Many of these aches and pains can be attributed to age while some might be blamed on our physiques, since a few of us are "women of size". We look back on the things we used to be able to do without even thinking twice, such as bending over to pick something up from the floor. Now we must decide what else we can do as long as we are down there!! One observation I made when in the midst of four of my sisters is that we all have great skin. We have great skin for our ages!

Some photos from the "big move"! (click on the photos to enlarge)

Here I am, modeling my Christmas antlers found in a dresser drawer in Mom's guest room. Who could resist???

Once the truck was unloaded, it was time for repast! Gabe and Manny climbed up to the table to enjoy some fruit and doughnut holes, the breakfast of champions! Mom is on the left and Lori is sitting in the kitchen. David's guitar is waiting for him to play for us!

My bro-in-law, Randy, Alayna's dad, worked very hard for the move, and even got busy putting up the art work Justin and I purchased at Kohl's at their wonderful sale. He made sure the phone and answering machine were hooked up and is getting some wire to extend the bedroom phone for Mom to make it more convenient to her bed. Thanks, Randy!

This is a picture taken at Mom's "old" house. While it not very clear, the photo shows four of my sisters in one shot! Not the easiest thing to do and all quite by accident! Barely in the shot is Lynn, Lori over by the wall, Jill and Kerry in the foreground, as Kerry is tacking the back securely on Mom's hutch. I hope it held...every time she got one side secured, the opposite popped off, much like making a bed....

This is a gorgeous shot of Lynn carrying up a load of stuff at Mom's new home. You can see the pretty entrance and how some people have their private balconies decorated nicely with flowers.

Mom treated the whole gang to a late breakfast after church and Bible study on Sunday. We picked Perkin's and they nicely accomodated us. In this shot you see Lori, David, Alayna, part of Kerry's face and finally, Justin. Kerry and I shared a patty-melt which proved to be quite the perfect size for us! I also got to catch up with my high school friend, Mary Janke Wakeman and some of her family at the restaurant. Two of her family members have stayed with us here in Florida when the Synod school choirs tour.

Another angle of the same shot, this one including our "hostess", Mom, plus a better picture of Kerry.

Sunday afternoon was a bit quieter than Saturday's was, and Alayna spent some time trying to entertain the boys while the rest of us unpacked boxes or cleaned at Mom's old apartment. Here she is watching Gabe play a video game of some sort.

Manny gave his great grandma a great hug before leaving with Grandma Lynn. She was babysitting the boys while Lisa and Noah stayed at a haunted hotel in Kewaunee Sunday night.

Justin and Alayna took the boys across the street to play at Washington Park but Justin ended up having more than his hands full when they came back. Seems like a guy needed to ride up on those big shoulders back to Grandma K's house!

My expensive luggage tag

Oh, how wonderful to wake up in my own bed this morning with sun pouring across my face. My initial reaction was "ugh......." but then I remembered---this means morning!!!! "Rouse and shine", as Timmy used to say. When I came home from my trip just prior to midnight, I discovered clean laundry spread on my bed which means that Joanne must have been here doing some wash. Yup, that is what it means! She had spent some time cleaning in her former bathroom and washed the towels and cleaning rags, which meant my laundry had to move along.

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Monday morning we had a light breakfast with Tommy and Linda before saying our good-byes and thanking them for putting up with us---I mean, putting us up. We stopped at Lowe's to make our return of unused packing boxes and then headed to Copp's to pick up the poppyseed-filled doughnuts, hot dogs, and cheese curds to fill the empty spots purposely left in my suitcase. We arrived at Mom's to find Lynn and the little boys waiting for us as well as Kerry. After spending a few minutes with us, Kerry had to head back to Oshkosh to take care of things in her own apartment.

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Jill came up after she opened the ice cream parlor so we could say "good-bye" to her and Alayna popped in from her friend's sleep-over party, still wearing her pj's, to hug and kiss on us before we headed for the airport. Lori and David had left the day before so we had said "'bye" to them Sunday. Lisa and Noah had gone to Kewaunee on Sunday to stay in a "haunted hotel", historic in nature, so Lynn had the boys overnight. They are just darling, Gabe and Manny. While they love to eat and ask so sweetly for a "'nack", Manny is so thin that his ribs poke out! Gabe is more sturdy but not what I would call heavy, solid is the word. Manny is just the opposite, skinny and fine.

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Justin and I said our farewells to Mom, with promises to keep in touch and to have a safe trip home. She was grateful for all the help and the getting things organized for her. Now her job will be to locate where we put her treasures and stuff as we rather hurriedly unpacked the boxes. As Mom claims, she has all winter to unpack her stuff, and says she will do a little each day....I know how that goes, though---out of sight, out of mind! The family all likes the new apartment, feeling much more confident about this living situation than we did the last one, which the County was using as a "half-way house" or supervised living residence for people with social or mental problems. Not a good or safe place for Mom, especially since it was in such disrepair.

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Speaking of her lovely new home, I met an old friend at Copp's yesterday as he ran through the store. Nick was the man who actually built the apartment building where Mom now lives. We hugged on each other a couple times, plenty of history between us after years of friendly competition in Manitowoc building houses in the same neighborhoods and even living only a block or two apart at times. As Justin and I left the store, I told how Nick came to the hospital to see us when Justin was born, and reported that he donated blood to replace that which was used for me during and after the birth. That is Nick! Although he was in hurry, he called to me on the way out to tell me that he is no longer building homes, out of it for two years now, but is now working in the mission arm of his Free Church congregation in Manty. Still building, just that with a much longer warranty!

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Our rental car had XM radio which allowed for us to listen to Fox News all the way to the airport. I listened while Justin snoozed, which was no problem. He did not have to be a deer spotter for me during the summer months. After we returned the car, we made our way to the terminal to get our luggage checked through and get our tickets. My nice luggage tag had been torn from my suitcase once more so Justin told me to get the paper tag made out while he checked us in through the kiosk. He had to type in the confirmation code and such to get our tickets and I worked on getting my tag made out, expecting it would be torn off as well during the handling process.

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Justin turned and asked me if we should upgrade to Business Class because seats were available. He said, "It's only $49 each......" and I thought for two seconds, then said, "Sure, why not?", thinking that was quite the bargain!! Only once before, I think, I sat in First Class, now referred to as Business, which makes it more politically correct. We got our receipts as the man put the luggage gizmos on the handles to forward them between the planes and we dragged the bags to the security man for his handling. I cautioned the security agent not to let anything happen to my new luggage tag, which had just ended up costing me nearly $200!!!! What Justin told me and what I understood was two different things----while it WAS $49 each, it actually was $49 each ticket, each leg of the trip! Ooops! Talk about communicating! It was too late to undo so I chalked it up to the perfect end of the very busy weekend and a hard working boy. The good news was that we did not pay $15 each per bag checked through nor did we pay for the beverages enjoyed in Business Class. I have two tiny, partial bottles of rum on the kitchen counter, valued at $49 each!!!

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And, here is the good news----all four airplane rides allowed me to close the seat belt without having to use the extension! On the last ride, Justin helped me, but it went "click" without any discomfort or squishing and squeezing!!! Low and tight across the hips, just as the flight attendent informed us!