A day of opposites

This is the morning sun today. I woke it up rather than the other way around!

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Yesterday was a day without appointments or real deadlines but today begins early with an appointment. Not my own, though, but the granddaughter of one of our prospects at church. Sheila called to ask if I could take the little girl and her to the pediatrician today to check out A'Keila's earache. Of course, I can! There are other errands needing to be run today as well so it really helps to start early in the day.

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Today I am taking down the Luther display at church to make room for the bake sale this weekend and then the Fellowship Sunday events which follow. The flowers at the cemetery will need to come out as I am sure they are all done by now, so will stop on the way through to take care of this. When Linda was here we shopped at Steinmart and a couple tops I bought there failed me, so will take them back today. I wonder if their bathrooms are repaired yet....My closet needs to be gone through to get the stuff ready for Brenda N. to take with her to the Bahamas which must be finished before I leave Friday. Whew! I am very close to finishing the newsletter for church, waiting yet on a few things to be submitted but can take care of it from WI, if I want to. Otherwise it can just wait until I get back. The Palace Press cannot be finished until after the BOD meeting tonight, which I cannot attend since we have choir rehearsal tonight. Like I said above, the opposite day of yesterday!

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Last night I had a lovely dinner and drinks with Martie at Applebee's when she got done working. She had called earlier in the day to see if I wanted to attend a "Helping Bowls" fundraiser event nearby, where one can pay $20 to buy bowls made by local art students and then have a meal of soup and bread. Usually I like to go but chose to decline since I was so busy doing nothing. Instead, we met for dinner and spent several hours just hanging out and enjoying our meals, drinks and even shared a dessert. This will have to last us until I get back from WI. Thankfully, we both have Facebook and can stay in touch with that as well as telephone. Gotta fly!

A Tuesday of my own

This day brings zero appointments or real deadlines. This is extremely rare and I hope I make good use of the time, although, if you read the random list posted yesterday, you can see where sometimes you reach a certain point where you know you will accomplish nothing! I pray that will not happen to me today! Friday I depart for WI being driven to the airport by my chauffeur, Justin. He has promised to get up early enough to get over here, gather my things and me, and get to the plane on time. I asked him to sleep over on Thursday to ease my mind but he has something called "Trivia Night" that he is involved in at Atlantic Beach. He has no trouble waking in the morning, he claims, and I asked him if he had an internal alarm clock like Kramer does on "Seinfeld". Just don't hit the snooze button like Kramer did!

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Justin called me in the afternoon yesterday asking, in his sad voice, if I saw the space shuttle, Atlantis, launch. YES, I did! He missed it somehow, even though he was listening to the radio when it went up. The station he listens to on podcast (I think that is the word) evidently did not break away and he totally missed it. He asked if the vapor trail was still showing but it was well over half an hour after the launch, with the wind breaking up the trail quickly. My neighbor, Karen, and I were at our rails when it went up and had a nice, clear view of the shuttle. Justin made me chuckle a bit as he lamented about the contractors who were supposedly to show up for punch work on a house, and did not. "I hate these contractors!" It is particularly worse when it is crunch time and the work must be completed prior to closing (today) and they are no-shows. I reminded Justin how I told Jimmie, in the midst of my remodeling on the lake house, that if I ever, ever again consider being a general contractor, just shoot me!!! Shoot me and have it over with!

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In the morning I attended Bible study where we concluded our study of the Psalms. No more classes now until 2010 which seems like really long off! Pastor needs to concentrate on the Advent services coming up in December, ThanksLiving yet this month, as he serves both here and in Keystone Heights. His wife may be having breast cancer surgery in December at some point and he needs a fairly clear schedule for that as well. She is responding well to the chemo treatments, her final one taking place this Thursday. In December there will be no Tuesday evening classes either so I am basically "free" except for the Art Guild party on Tuesdays. What are we supposed to do now on Monday mornings and Tuesday nights????

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Monday afternoon when I got home after lunch with the ladies at Steak 'n Shake, I worked on the newsletter a bit and then tackled the bag labels for the children's goodie bags for their reception after the preschool and kindergarten program. The fine tuning of this event will take place after I return from WI but I still wanted to get a jump on it. I am also responsible for obtaining the halos for the little angels to wear in the Sunday school CHRISTmas Eve service but have to find out how many we are talking about. I offered to lend some of mine.....te he he!

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Verizon has an advertisement on TV where Elvis is singing "Blue Christmas" in the background. The first time I heard it, I thought, "Hmmm, that's nice..." but the 50th time, I was ready to throw a shoe at the television. Is it too frequent or am I done listening to his plaintive tones???? On the radio station I listen to, they have to play a certain number of PSAs during the day. The one series really annoys me as a haunting male voice counts down the minutes left in the day before the child has to go home and face an abuser, encouraging people to volunteer to be advocates for abused child. It sets my teeth on edge but it takes too many extra keystrokes (one is playing right now!!!!!!!!! AAAHHHHH!) to mute the computer. I need an advocate, too, I think.

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Last night our Ladies' Group went to eat at Mimi's Cafe at St. Johns TCM. Twila, Jean, and Kathy rode with me, since Kelly backed out at the last minute. Kathy was going to ride out alone but didn't have to after Kelly cancelled. We were short a couple ladies but we had a marvelous time and meal in such a lovely dining room. The light fixtures are just awesome, it makes me feel right at home! Mom used to judge a restaurant by the price of the coffee and I judge it by the charm of the light fixtures! My entree was the grilled meat loaf and mashed potatoes---really! I have leftover Japanese food to eat up and must freeze the balance of the chicken noodle soup too as I leave Friday.

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Joanne's daughter was supposed to deliver her baby in early December but the ultrasounds and other tests were showing the baby to be quite large, almost too large to deliver. The decision was made, after determining the lung maturity, to have the baby on Monday. Kimberly's labor was induced and after being run over by a Mack truck, she eventually delivered the little boy this early morning at 5:00 a.m. Evidently some scar tissue was inhibiting the launch of the baby and had to be "removed" in order to facilitate the birth. Instead of the estimated 11+ pounds the tests had determined, he was, in fact, "only" just over 8 pounds. We said a prayer for Kimberly at Bible study yesterday and afterward I commented that my guess was the baby was not nearly a huge as they thought it was. I wonder, though, what exactly looked like three more pounds than was there.....They will rest all day today, for sure, after that rough delivery, and so will Joanne, as she had little sleep all night, waiting to hear the news!

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There was another chuckle yesterday---while I was at lunch with the ladies, my neighbor, Hugh, called, wondering if I was out of town. No, just having lunch.....He said he happened to be in the lobby when the mailman was putting the mail in the boxes and he asked Hugh if I had moved out or something. It seems my box was overflowing and he had to use the parcel box next to the regular boxes to store my mail. Early in the month when I am expecting my check, I go to the mailbox daily, but after that, maybe once a week or so. It is catalog season, folks, the box is filling up fast! Of the mail pieces, 11 of them were catalogs or coupon books. I promise to be more faithful with getting the mail through at least the end of the year as cards and letters may be stuck between the catalogs and junk mail. I cherish my CHRISTmas cards and look forward to sending out mine, too, so please, go to your mailboxes!!!

Random thoughts sent by a friend...

There are some REALLY good ones in here

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. (Martie, have your finger on the trigger here!)

2. Nothing stinks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I regret all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a 'sarcasm font' on the keyboard.

5. How in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this garment -- ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Missed it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice-mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste!

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Mom what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How do I respond to that? (I would reply, "Go to the car wash...)

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. (Mine has one...)

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

What could be more perfect?

Other than being with my peeps in WI, that is! Watching football all afternoon, a short nap after 3rd quarter of the first game, and then another game. Right now it is halftime of a rather slow moving Packer/Cowboy game but earlier it was a nail-biter victory for the Jaguars. Next week I will be watching football in Manitowoc, hopefully with a sister or two, maybe even a niece thrown into the mix. But, today, besides the phone calls that came in, I am watching by myself. Joanne was going to come over to watch the Jags game with me but she had a client flying in to put an offer on a house so she had to do business instead of yell at the TV with me.

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Saturday came and went so quickly, ending with a lovely evening at Suzanne's house. I made a kettle of chicken noodle soup to take out there, plus the movie. Kathy came over here and we rode out together. Since my back was still weary from the vacuuming at church Friday and the kettle was too heavy for even Kathy to carry, I called Travis to come down to get the soup for us. He very nicely put it in my car for us. I love my neighbors! Yesterday morning I woke up to find a Diet Coke ornament hanging on the front door handle, with a note attached. It basically said that now I will not have to worry about running out of my precious Diet Coke....The little can even appears to be icy cold, and I was so touched to get this little token. It had to be one of my neighbors in the building....I have my suspicions!

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Late morning I got a phone call from Tracy, my downstairs nieghbor, asking if she could borrow a can of soda since her hubby accidentally brought home decaf Diet Coke and she needed the "real thing", in more ways than one! Tracy also asked me to serve as "vice-secretary" on the BOD for The Palace and might even change the night the Board meets to allow for me to be in attendance. I just do not want anything to interfere with the important stuff in my weekly or monthly schedule off-site, if you know what I mean. The other day I called Justin to see if I needed a password or anything to get on my WI-FI because my upstairs neighbor, Jessica, as Justin joked, "needed to borrow a cup of Internet" while theirs was being repaired. Justin is so funny but so right! She was able to tap into mine and do her work, patient evaluations for physical therapy, and not miss a beat in between service providers.

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Back to Suzanne's---Janet came after dinner since her plans had changed a bit from the original. She had dinner with her kids first and then came to watch the movie. Suzanne's neighbor, Jenny, with whom I have communicated via Internet in the past, also came over to watch. The kids watched the movie "Up" while the grown-ups watched "Freedom Writers". Kathy and Janet are both teachers so I hoped they would appreciate it from that aspect. It touched me that Janet was so moved by it, and she did not realize it was a true story until the very end, which made it moreso.

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This is a dull game---only three points so far, a field goal by the Packers in the 3rd quarter. At church today, continuing the End Times season of the church year, we sang some new hymns from the Supplement, including one penned by our own Peter Prange. I had wondered what the melody was and snooped around on the Internet until I found one with the same tune. Sure, I know this one! Made singing it today much more confident.

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We also sang "Jerusalem, the Golden" which most of the readers know moves me to tears, just listening to it, much less singing it. After the choir sang the psalm, I moved further up in the church to sit rather in back with the choir. I did this in part to help lead the liturgy singing with this less than familiar Divine Service 1, as well as to be closer to the front for communion time. I did not want to miss singing "Jerusalem...." which did end up being sung when the majority of the choir was in the aisle or at the rail. Since there were few people left behind me and the congregation not all that familiar with the hymn melody, I was singing seemingly alone, so HAD to hold myself together. A couple times I paused a bit to gather myself but had to press on with this hymn. (Justin sang this hymn at Victory two weeks ago and said many people, men and women, were wiping their eyes and noses, with the organist telling me she was among them!!) After worship this morning, Robbie, who played the entire service on the organ, told me he could hear me, that it sounded like I was the only one and was proud of me for hanging in there. Me, too, but that only happened through the Lord. The choir from Victory had invited me to come sing with them next week for Christ the King Sunday as they are having both the organ and piano playing "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name", but, sadly, or joyfully, I will be singing at First German!!! I can hail the power of Jesus' name up there, and look forward to doing so!

Waking to the sunshine

Now that's more like it! Clear skies and warm sunshine reflecting off the river of glass---oh, yes, a lovely fall morning! The Pioneers are waking up to the same thing, perhaps not the river of glass, but in tree houses instead, on their campout overnight. Even Kathy B. was along so she could play the guitar and lead music 'round the campfire. Hopefully she will be thawed by this evening as we venture out to Lake Asbury for movie night. Suzanne and the kids are alone this weekend and rather than have her try to keep them busy here at my house, we opted to take our "show" on the road, and my chicken noodle soup, to their house. Even Janet is going to come over, as they live in the same neighborhood. Suzanne requested "Freedom Writers" and I so look forward to seeing it once more, especially since two of us four ladies are teachers.

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My day was spent with friends yesterday, starting early with Brenda N. When I arrived at her house, she was still on the phone trying to get her authorization from the insurance company. It sure was a good thing she had already taken one of the Valiums because she was getting extremely frustrated with the insurance people. Once finally in the car, she apologized for her "temper tantrum" which was hardly that, but she just could not believe the powers that be would wait so long to make this happen. She had a fistful of notes and papers she shoved in her purse and as she took her second Valium, decided her attorney needed to get a phone call from her about all this foot dragging going on. Already many of our medical decisions are in someone elses control....just wait! The neurosurgeon sending her for the test was not the one who could prescribe the Valium, that had to come through her primary doctor, more fiddling around!

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She did just fine this time in the MRI machine, no panic attack or claustrophobic events. I waited until she had finally gone in to the room and then left to get my car filled up with Diet Coke at CVS. I dilly-dallied a bit in this fun store, so many interesting things to be found in a drug store besides my drug of choice. I only had to wait a few minutes for her when I got back, and she came out looking none the worse for the wear. We feared she would be too doped up, subdued, to have lunch but she was just fine. Off we went to Honey B's, and a wonderful, long-awaited visit. I saw a friend from Art Guild there who spotted me through my identifying laugh....her husband actually heard it first---busted!!! Carolyn was nursing a broken foot or toes, the result of leaping from her bed in the throes of a bad dream. She had landed flat on her back, too, and the doctors are still discussing the back problem, but for now, the foot gets the attention.

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The waitress went back and forth taking care of us and the other patrons, finally deciding to leave the soda pitcher on our table for us as we sat, chatting and drinking our sodas. I ate only a small portion of my meatloaf sandwich and cheesy potato soup, as we both left room for our dessert. Brenda had chocolate peanut butter pie and I had bread pudding. I brought some of that home, too, but Brenda ate every bit of hers!

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We made plans to meet next week before I take off for WI because Brenda is going to take my castoff clothes to the Bahamas with her at ThanksLiving. Our shared friend, Edda, is treating Brenda to a trip to her son-in-law's hometown in the Islands and is going to donate the much needed clothing to locals they have come to know. Nice! Now I must really get busy in the closet and start making decisions about my old clothes....

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After dropping Brenda at home, I headed over to church to vacuum. All by myself....very exhausting! Once into it I thought, "Hmmm....where's Patty when I need her???" As long as I do not race through the cleaning, I do alright but my nature is to fly around. My flying around days seem to be behind me as I was thoroughly wiped out by the time I got done. I never even touched the fellowship hall, just didn't have it in me. As I drove home, I was wishing I did not have to stop at the grocery store but my soup was going to need the veggies. Hobble hobble hobble into the Winn-Dixie store for the frozen veggies. It was not until later that it occurred to me fresh vegetables would have worked, too...A lotta good that Pampered Chef intervention did last weekend!

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Once finally home again, I worked on a few things for church, including bag labels for the goodie bags I am making up for the preschool and kindergarten kids. They have a little presentation on December 15th and the Ladies' Group is hosting their reception afterward, of which I am Chair. As I made some Prayer Chain calls, I also requested some homemade cookies to be made for this reception from the 'grandma ladies' of the congregation. Our friend, Gordy, is once again hospitalized so our prayers were requested on his behalf.

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Joanne stopped by late afternoon with some more envelopes for me plus an additional list of people to get a holiday card from her. All her cards are addressed now and the next mailing is ready to go except for the newsletter inserts which will come when I am gone to WI. (Lynn--I just noticed I have 'happiness' on my bedroom ceiling!) Kelly T. was bringing the CHRISTmas booklets over last night for us to work on but she forgot some of the pieces, leaving only enough for her to work on. Good! I finished the envelopes while talking with Kelly, as we brainstormed ideas for gift baskets she is making up for her Realtor/neighbor to give to recent home buyers. Now THAT was fun and almost made me want to go shopping!

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She finished her project and I mine, and then she asked me when we were going to watch the funeral video. I glanced at the clock and asked her if she had time right now. She did, so we did, both of us weeping as once more I heard that wonderful sermon, "Jesus Triumphs Over Tragedy". When it was over, she commented that this was most powerful sermon she has ever heard. Amen, Kelly, amen!

Yes, once more, I am cold!

The A/C ran this morning in order to cool my house for the cleaning lady and tonight the heat is on for me! Baby, it is cold outside, thank you very much, Ida! Last night I drove home in heavy drizzle and in chilly temps and today more wind to go with the cold. Mid-50's around here is bitter, no matter what you say! Justin said it felt "nasty" (say it with a drawl) but said it would be a summer day in WI! We went to Bible study at Victory this a.m. and then had lunch at the Japanese place at the Mall. At the next table one of the former chefs from Koko's was cooking and we were so happy to see each other.

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My fingers are icy and have been all day. When Patty was cleaning today, I saw she had opened the patio doors which explained why my feet and hands were so cold. This must be my day for former waitresses or chefs! Patty used to work at Longhorn but since she lost her job is cleaning houses to make some money. She took good care of all my precious glass, making it all shine nice 'n clean. Mostly she cleaned my wood blinds and French doors which still wore some of the dust from the remodeling done in my bathroom and closet! The lady I used in those days was less than thorough but now I am totally confident in the work done today. I actually did go around and wipe my hand along the shelves and such to make sure all was gotten and did, in fact, find a missed section of shelves.

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Frustration of frustrations! Justin was going to swing by yesterday to get my ladder out of the storage cubby for us to use today but after at least 9 trips forth and back trying to find the key for the closet, I had to call him back and tell him not to come. Where is that key??? It has been forever since we did anything in that cubby area so cannot say what has happened to the key. In my opinion, if the keys I ran back and forth do not open the church door or my doors, I do not need them. I should trash the whole works! Those are the only doors for which I need access, plus my car, of course. Hugh, my neighbor, opened the door this morning and brought Patty a ladder, though not my own. For his troubles, I left him two bags of cheese curds. Later he came by with a new key of my very own for the storage closet door, saying it was "a key for curds" program!

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Patty was too cheap for all the work she did for me but I told her that I would tell others about her services so she can keep busy until she finds another job. Her daughter might be able to get her in at the bank where she works but Patty wants something where she can be on her feet and running, not sitting at a desk. That woman! She is a ball of fire, that is for sure. So, any of the readers of this site from OP and Jax, have I got a cleaner for you!

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My dear friend, Brenda, just called to ask for a ride to a medical procedure in the morning. It will be my privilege to make sure she gets there safely and home again. She will have to be doped up and I have never seen her subdued, so this will truly be a treat! While she is being MRI'd, I will go to the pharmacy stores to take advantage of the soda deals my friends told me about via Facebook. I had a 24 pack in the back of my car which I had broken into, and as I drove today, I could hear the cans escaping and rolling madly about in the back. I feared all would be loose but only about eight found their way out of the opened box. Can't wait to pop one open and see what happens! I might have to have Patty come back to rewash the cabinets and touch up the ceiling, too, while she is at it!

Happy Veterans Day!

Oh, it feels so wonderful to have the sun back again! It has been gone since Sunday afternoon when we enjoyed our lunch el fresco at Aron's after church. Oops, I spoke too soon---the clouds have regained their strength and covered the sun again. That is what I get for dilly-dallying! My rhythm was interrupted because Justin sent me a text message to report he had water eyes listening to a tribute to the Veteran's on Neal's program. Then Justin called me while driving to tell me about his full day in front of him, readying a home for closing. Good, love to hear about those closings! He was also a bit upset because he got a chip in his windshield and is concerned about it breaking. Evidently he has huge speed bumps in his parking lot at home and is afraid it will shatter. I assured him the insurance will cover replacement or repair....that is what I pay for, anyway!

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I read him the menu for the ThanksLiving Feast at The Club and he thought that Jesse and he should come over here to eat that day. Both the moms have memberships there so they could certainly enjoy this marvelous menu. Almost made me want to cancel my trip to WI---NOT! I would miss too much by staying here, but I also have lots to do before I go. Thankfully Mom has Internet at her house so I can work on a few things from her house. I also look forward to seeing Judy R. in Winona when I up north, as well as hanging with my sisters and Mom. And Linda! We will enjoy the Ladies' Advent Service on the 29th at First German, and a couple days later, another one back here in Florida. Victory is hosting ours this year, and hopefully we can return the favor next year!

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I woke up to a JAG this morning, not on a jag, but to one! I had never seen this episode before and almost wonder if it might have been an episode made after the series went off the air. I will have to ask Jill if she knows. It has been forever since I last saw an episode so it took me a while to get my thoughts together when I first awakened.

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Last night at Bible study, it was only Mike and me at first, as Debbie had forgotten about the class. She arrived a bit late but in the meantime, Mike and I reviewed some of the information the Long-range Planning group is putting together. Oh, goody, more committees! 'Running in quicksand', I liken it to. Anyway, he showed me what they have so far, with some fine-tuning going on yet. Hopefully it will not take too long to get it ready for presentation. He did tell me that the meeting I had planned for Sunday was postponed to January since we might garner more Greeters through the Time and Talent sheets. Okay, then. I was also waiting to hear about the banner for Christmas 4 Kids but it was suggested to get a changeable date sign so we do not have the expense every year. The banner people already told me that they cannot recycle the banners so I am not sure how to do this....Maybe I need a committee!