Glad to be home again!

Under the covers after a hot shower, I am enjoying the warmth of my comforter and heat pad. It is cold by my standards and I am not alone in this thinking, although my family and friends in the north would likely find it quite pleasant out there. The good news is that the wind has died down but the bad news was that it is starting to rain! Many at Ladies' Group tonight were commenting about how long it has been cold, sometimes forgetting we recently had some days with temps in the 70's. The chilliness overshadows the pleasant days, to be sure!

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This morning was Bible study, based on The Theology of the Cross. We were missing a few key people but attribute that to a mistake in the service folder omitting the study from the upcoming events. Ooops! Five of us went to lunch at Longhorn and I am so happy to be back on track for this restaurant. Yummy, love those chicken tenders! On the way home I swung through the cemetery to check on the bouquets and found the two glass vases lying down plus the one in the attached vase had pretty well had it. I transferred one from the glass to the attached vase and threw the other one out.

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Once home I got myself all snug and warm again with my fuzzy slippers, heat pad, space heater fired up, and afghan on my legs. Ooooh, it felt so good to be warm. Justin came by after work to carry up my flat of water from the back of the car for me. I need to have room in the trunk for Lynn and Linda's suitcases when I pick them up Wednesday. I must check through my e-mails to see what time they land. Anyway, Justin could not stay long as he had to get to the gym before watching "24" tonight.

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Saturday night Justin, Grove, his girlfriend, and I were at the theater for the Bold, Fresh Tour. Unfortunately, what was to have been a live broadcast from VA ended up being a recorded show from the night before because the Tour was cancelled in VA due to inclement weather. At first the sound did not come through but soon the problem was resolved and we enjoyed a great show! It was fun to see the interaction between these two. O' Reilly turned out to be quite funny and of course, Glenn already is, if you listen to his radio show. In fact today when Justin came, he had me listen to the podcast on his phone about an amusing exchange from last week. It was one I had already heard and had told him about and it just tore him up to hear it himself. I guess you had to be there......Pat, on Glenn's staff, imitating an "idling" Arlyn Spector. Hilarious! There is an encore showing tomorrow night for those who missed it Saturday and I recommend those interested to go.

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Tonight at Ladies' Group I had to serve as secretary since Kelly T. was absent. It seems they are going to be taking in a friend of their sons who lives in CO so she was getting his room ready. What a challenge and an opportunity for them, and for the young man. Saturday is our breakfast meeting at church so we went over the proposed menu and such. I am getting so excited about it and the fact that my two guests will be with us! Judy C. is making sausage gravy and my mouth is watering already....Thursday night is the Julia Child dinner and plans are falling into place for that right along. And, of course, Sunday night is the Super Bowl! Like Larry the Cable Guy said on Fox and Friends the other morning, I don't care who is in the game, because it is not the Green Bay Packers! I think, though, that I will root for the Saints because they are the best market for my bro-in-law's company!

Looking forward to February!

I think that once the calendar changes pages that the bad weather will be over. That is just unreasonable, to be sure, but I am ever hopeful! Once more we are being slammed with inclement weather with high winds and low temperatures, by Florida standards, and little sunshine where I live. The moon is playing pee-a-boo behind the clouds and since it is so dark, the wind makes it seem colder still. Waves are crashing into the bulkhead and breakwater.....and I am so glad to be snug and warm in the house!

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It was 39 above zero when I went to church this a.m. so I grabbed my coat before heading out the door. And I am so glad I did have it because once I hit the parking lot, whew!, it was extremely windy down there! My seat warmer was a blessing, to be sure. When I got to church Bible study had already begun, a video series done by the Kingdom Workers as a sort of intro to the Bible program. It was interesting and fast-paced. The receptacle was in place for the donations for the mower and I hope many took a moment after Bible study and following worship to look over the things posted on the walls and bulletin boards. I handed out the invitations to the ladies after church and encouraged many to come have breakfast with us!

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We had Favorite Hymn Sunday today and one of my requests made the cut. I chose "From All That Dwell Below the Skies", and others chose "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art", which were sung recently at Gordy's funeral. I knew Terri would have a rough time with them so after taking attendance, I went to sit with her, taking a few tissues with me. It is time for me to return the favor! Wendy came to church today bringing her two sons and a friend of theirs with them. Very nice to have them all back in the flock again, at least for today!

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Larry R. came to church today, bringing his bride with him. He is the brother of two of my classmates from MLHS and lives on his boat part-time in Green Cove Springs. He married since last year, as his sisters filled me in, so I was not surprised to hear his news. Hopefully Caroline will come back for the Ladies' breakfast on Saturday...wonder if they left a phone number in the friendship register....

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After church Twila and Elaine invited me to lunch at Ruby Tuesday's, with plans to eat lite because we were going to the movie this afternoon and then to dinner afterwards. Twila and I had the quesadilas, each of us taking half home. They were especially delicious today, too, crispy edges and flavorful meat filling. Yummy! Twila said this is her new favorite food! Only moments after I got home, though, Twila called to say we were not going today but on Tuesday instead, due to a problem with Madeline. It seems her debit card info was 'shared' with the world (time to sign up for LifeLock!!) so she was a bit upset and needed to collect herself. I understand that and am not the slightest bit upset about getting to stay inside the rest of this wretched day!

Watching movies in the rain

What a gloomy day it is today! It was raining almost from the break of day and has been off and on. I was trying to use my laptop as I normally do from my bed but the stupid mouse was uncooperative, only working sporadically. I have the other kind of mouse built into the keyboard but I like the external one better, as I lack the coordination of using the thumb-driven flat one. I decided I needed to go to Office Max and get a new one, where I ended up coming home with a bit more than intended but---no paper!

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Before I went to the store though I needed to finish watching a movie called "Unfaithful" with Alayna's look-alike, Diane Lane, and Richard Gere. She cheats on her perfectly good husband with a man she basically met on the street. He gets suspicious and hires a private detective to find out. Photos don't lie and the husband is quite upset but does not allow his wife to know he knows. Meanwhile she is trying to end the affair with the stranger but the husband went to see the guy for some reason. He gets all upset when visiting the young man and ends up killing him. Now to dispose of the body.....It is complicated and involved, but one of the wife's friends, when speaking of herself, made the comment over coffee, "Affairs always end badly, everyone gets hurt..." And that is so true, and came true in the movie...I have seen this movie before but it is so good, I can't pass it up. Love those two actors together, as they regrouped for "Nights at Rodanthe" a couple years ago.

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After the quick trip to the store, I got comfy again to install my new mouse, a wireless one this time, but I cannot get it to work. Prior to hooking it up, though, I read through my Facebook notices and saw that Suzanne sent me a message, suggesting that the batteries might be dead in my other mouse. What? Batteries??? Oh, man! I guess I should check this out as my new one is giving me a fit too! It will not sync even though I seemed to have followed the directions. I wish Justin was here!!!

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While at the store, I snooped in the discount DVD bin and found a movie I had never seen before but heard much about. "The Bridges of Madison County", yet another story based on forbidden love and broken covenants. At least I think it is, the movie is just getting started. So far nothing has happened between the couple, Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

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Speaking of Justin, he just sent me a message saying he will not be available for dinner tonight before the show. That is really fine, I might eat by myself or get something at the concession stand like a hot dog. Or get a hot dog at 5 Guys! Linda J. is having a gathering at her home tonight with the staff and faculty from church/school and I am so wishing I was there. What a hoot it will be, although the 'star' of the party will be absent. Tommy is traveling on business, something with cranes, so will miss the fun. This party is considered their "Christmas" gathering, waiting until all the hubbub is over before getting together. A wise idea! Her son called it a Groundhog Day Party....wonder if he will see his shadow! In fact, I think Tommy might be in PA, and we hope he does not see his shadow because that would mean a longer winter, right?

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While I watch the movie, I will be affixing labels to envelopes for the fund raiser for the mower. Luann is going to have a colorful receptacle for the envelopes in the morning and I offered my extra John Deere paper plates if she wants to incorporate them onto her can. The next big project for me will be the scholarship poster needed for the son of our congregation, Christ Lutheran, who is a freshman at Luther Prep. We are trying to help the family raise money for his tuition for the coming years, yes, years, throughout our circuit. The boy is already on the honor roll and tutors other kids, so he is a natural. Also I have the newsletter for The Palace to do but that is a quick job usually. But, for now, watching romantic movies about unfaithfulness and labeling envelopes!

Kinda late at night for this....

...and I am writing with tears in my eyes! Only a few minutes ago I watched the final Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and it was an awesome show! Not only was it funny, it was, of course, bittersweet. He gave a closing monologue thanking NBC for allowing him to work for them over 20 years, more than half of his adult life! Quite sweet and humble, and especially grateful to those who have supported him over the years, and these past few weeks. The final segment was Will Ferrell dressed up to look like the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, with the Tonight Show band and a few others making up a group, with Conan joining in on guitar. They played and sang "Freebird", the trademark finale song of Skynyrd's with a melancholy theme: "...if I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me....." Will Farrell did a fabulous job and it was hard to tell the difference between him and the 'real thing'. This made me think of Ellen, my friend and neighbor, who lost her hubby, Billy, just a year ago right now. She had written to me earlier asking if I wanted to go to a play with her and some of our mutual friends but I have plans already with Justin. Nuts!!! Otherwise I would drop everything to go with them tomorrow, but I need to be with Justin at the "Bold, Fresh Tour"!! Tough one!

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After Conan's show was done (I watched it on hulu.com) I went to youtube.com to listen to a live version of "Freebird" and watched a 1975-era Billy, etal, sing and play. Yes, in answer to the question, I will remember you and do, Billy, this being your first anniversary of being called home. From his testimony to me, I am sure he is with the Lord and pray that Ellen could be comforted knowing this.

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Okay, Kim, shake it off.....I had a bit of excitement today. First order of business was to go to church to put up the fund raiser display and other items for the bulletin boards. Just when I thought I was done, I checked my mailbox and found two mailings from the Synod schools to put up. The boards are pretty full already so I had to take down a couple 'aged' pieces. My friend, Pete, appointed me the unofficial Synod school cheerleader a couple years ago so that is how I get the job of putting up the posters for the schools.

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Very easily I did the vacuum cleaning and did not wear myself out the tiniest bit. Judy R. advised me to pace, pace, pace and that is exactly what I did. The hymnals and Bibles were already neat and orderly in the pews so that saved me some work. In no time at all, I was on my way toward the Island to visit my friends at Great Hang Ups. I stopped to get myself a Route 44 Diet Coke and an unsweet tea for Julia. As I got onto the access road to the shop, my phone went off so I had to put my soda down to answer. It was Justin's voice asking me if that big cup had water in it....Busted!!!! He was on the property at our 'old' office building making a repair on the building, at our dentist's office, and spotted me going through. I told him it was soda but that I was hot from vacuuming....blah, blah, blah....

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As I was getting out of the car, phone to my ear, and two soda cups in my hands, and thinking my keys were in my pocket................................................Rats again! As the door slammed shut, I realized I had just locked my keys in the car, in my purse on the seat next to where I was sitting. Immediately I called Justin back again and asked him to swing by with his AAA card so I could call for help. He did bring it over to me and the ladies were so very happy to see him. I was told the service man would be there in 45 minutes so I was prepared to visit with my friends for that long. It was longer than that it seems but I got busy dusting while I waited and got caught up on news. We talked about being stuck in our homes (except for them working!) during the cold spell and how high the electric bills were getting this year. I hope that is over by the way! Usually the AAA guy calls to let me know where he is and to pinpoint my location but I got no such call. Instead, as I was dusting and chatting, a handsome young man came into the shop. We greeted him as though he was a client but then he asked if someone had called for a locksmith. Wow, no call from AAA and no noisy AAA truck to announce him! In about two seconds he had my door unlocked and I had my purse in my hand, complete with keys! He did not even ask me for ID or my card but I showed it to him anyway, as is protocol for AAA.

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I left very shortly after being freed, but not before Julia and Dee told me the good news about their missing cousin/nephew from a couple weeks ago. It seems, with the limited information given by the immediate family, that Camden had gone on a 'walk-about' of some sort and had finally gotten in touch with his family to let them know he was alright. After that phone call to home, the parents left immediately to get him, 5 hours each way, and dragged his sorry butt home...their words! But, our prayers were answered that Camden was found safe and well, and returned home!

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Justin was here at home waiting for me, watching Fox News with his feet up. Nice! His job was to vacuum, repair/tighten my dining room chairs and place them around the table, make the beds, and ready the rooms for the guests. He did all that and then some as we talked some more. We were not quite done yesterday, I guess. We have more time tomorrow evening, if he is not too late getting over there. He is going to a gun and knife show in the morning with his buddies (so redneck, if you ask me!) and then to use some coupons from Dave and Busters before they expire on Sunday. What a great life he has! Justin hopes to get to the theater in plenty of time, hopefully leaving some space to grab a bite at 5 Guys beforehand. I can always get something from concessions if Grove and he run late.

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Well, time for bed so I will say good night to everyone. I will be sleeping by moonlight, and I hope you all are able to do the same!

A quiet night at home

The moon is sparkling on the river tonight and the sky is busy busy busy with helicopter traffic up and down the river. My guess is that a squadron came in or another group is doing practice runs. What a perfect night for it, too! As I sit here, I am laughing my head off at "Seinfeld", even though I know the episodes so well already. It is still funny to me! "The Pez Dispenser"....'I can't have an intervention here....my furniture is very non-confrontational!" Ha!

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Justin and I went to Bible study at Victory today, and we had a great class. Much discussion including conversation about the Tim Tebow controversy. This University of Florida football player is expected to be in an advertisement during the Super Bowl regarding his stance against abortion. Many have been quite upset with CBS for allowing this discussion but now, more is being talked about it NOT being allowed. The message is getting out whether proponents of abortion like it or not. If Tebow was endorsing saving animals or sending money to Haiti, all kinds of positive support would be thrown behind him, but certainly NOT for speaking on behalf of the unborn. I made that statement on my Facebook status before class this a.m. and made the point again in the Bible study. Pastor thinks that football is the last bastion of maleness and is glad when the players make a positive, Christian stance. Hopefully influencing the lives of those watching the games. I don't know about that, but I do admire this young man for sticking by his principles and belief. And I am not even a fan of college ball!

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After class Justin and I went to lunch, this time at Mimi's where he got his usual jumbalaya (another Seinfeld reference...) and I had the meatloaf sandwich, of which I ate half. We shared some fried dill pickles but ate only half of that order. Justin took the leftovers home with him because he had to brush his teeth after having his spicy lunch. I used to beg him to brush his teeth when he was younger and now he says, somewhat sadly, that he brushes his teeth three times a day! Before he went home though, we went to Publix for a few things, including water. Yes, indeed, I bought water, soda, and a bag of apples! What's happening to me???!!! Justin chose fruit in cans, but mine is fresh, hmmmm.....

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He finished a house for closing so might be coming over here earlier in the day tomorrow after he checks in with his boss. He has a few jobs to take care of here to get ready for the company coming next Wednesday including vacuuming, bed making, and putting the chairs back around the table. I took two of them for Chris and me yesterday but he can do the rest. Some of them need tightening up but I am not sure I will get him long enough for that. Saturday evening Justin and I are going to the AMC Theater to see "The Bold, Fresh Tour" being simulcast, O'Reilly and Beck as the 'stars'. I guess PresBO wanted to use the theater in Tampa from where they will broadcast, but it was already reserved for Bold, Fresh! How funny is that?!

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Next Thursday is the themed dinner based on recipes from Julia Child. A whole slew of people have been invited and I hope most of them come, I hope all of them come. Somehow or another folks are asked to make a dish although that might be a problem for those who work during the day. I hope they can be creative or innovative coming up with something to bring, even if it is a dessert! We can never have too many desserts or breads, and Julia says to never apologize for a messed up recipe, thankfully!

Ending the day

....and ready to get back into my sleeping clothes! It turned cold here rather abruptly, only in the 40's tonight. The moon was splashed across the floor in my room when I came in from choir rehearsal----it seemed like it should be warm in here! Earlier in the day I enjoyed the sun shining on me but sadly the moon does not have the same effect. I am thinking of my friends in WI and MN with whom I share this moon....

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Chris came this afternoon and we shared a pizza, tackling nearly the entire thing between us. One slice remains and I put it in a baggie for Justin in case he came by after work. Silly me, though, I forgot he has a class/lab on Wednesdays. Chris worked on watercolors, using a type where she had to grind ink in order to mix with water and apply. Reading the directions alone was time consuming and then actually getting some mixed up came much later. It was good for us to be together and plan to do so again in two weeks, since next week I will be at the airport collecting my sis and friend!!!

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The news today told that there will likely be a shuttle launch on the 7th of February and hopefully it will be later in the day or even at night for a more dramatic display. In the morning we will be at church for our "Sisters in Christ" event, a breakfast meeting and kitchen shower. If time allows we could possibly drive down the coast some to watch the shuttle more closely, perhaps to Twila's beach house. Weather permitting, that is!

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After Chris went home I came back in my room to take a rest before meeting Suzanne for dinner. While I was resting, I was listening to the radio over the Internet on my laptop as I worked on my computer. My eyes were getting so heavy that I set the computer off to the side so I could close my eyes, waking up at 5:00 pm! Just in time to head to Panera Bread to meet Suzanne, although I did arrive a bit earlier than she did. When I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a man and woman arguing between two cars, so I waited before getting out. They were screaming and hollering, calling each other horrible names and things, played some tug-of-war with a cell phone, some pushing and shoving. Finally, the man got into his SUV and started backing away, but the woman ran up to his window, still yelling that she didn't want him anymore. I saw the man reach down beside him and I thought, "Oh, oh......" but he grabbed a jug of water and threw some in her face. And then he drove off. I went inside the restaurant to wait for Suzanne, and the lady came in a bit later, calm as can be, chatting on her phone, drinking a cup of coffee. I was the one shook up!

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Yesterday I made my travel arrangements for my trip to MN and WI in March, booking with Travelocity. For some reason, the reservation flagged me that I could not make my seat selections until after I had received my confirmation via e-mail, and then I had to call the airline. I looked up the number for the airline, AirTran, and finally got through to a live person to make the seat assignments. He told me I could make them for free 24 hours prior to the travel date or pay $6 each way to do them on-line now. Because I prefer window seats and wanted to secure them, I paid the $12 for the sure thing. The last situation I would want is to end up in a middle seat in a row of three! So, whether there are three seats across or not, I don't know, but did not want to take a chance. A woman of size needs her room, you know? Is there a bag fee on top of that? I am only guessing.....

Starting the day...

....but yet in my nightie! Every couple minutes I am checking my phone, trying to reach Mom to sing 'happy birthday' to her. The line is busy, so I must be in queue for getting hold of her! I sent her an e-mail greeting already which she will hopefully get. She reads the newspaper on-line which ties up the telephone line so I just keep trying. Guess I could get dressed in the meantime. It feels wonderful here in the sun, at the 'big computer' now, as I have some work on the newsletter to complete plus want to print off something for my church project. Martie had to cancel as she forgot all about her son leaving the country tomorrow. She is going to spend time with him today before he goes to London to pack up their household for the move. They are moving to AZ where his next duty station will be. His wife was already here in Jax, having to travel before she was in her 7th month, the rules for international travel. Her folks live here so they stayed with them. Their baby is now two weeks old, daughter Marilyn, to go with their little boys! Tammy will certainly have her hands full for many years to come!

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More later!