A rapidly passing Sunday

The above photo was taken today at the cemetery when I placed the flowers into the vase. The balloon, tied to the bench since the 14th, danced its way into the shot just as I snapped it!

The afternoon went by so quickly I nearly ran out of day! It probably all started this very early morning when I found myself awake before 7:00 a.m., without benefit of the alarm on my phone. I had to ready myself for the car ride across the bridge to Victory for the 9:00 o'clock service, having to stop for gas on the way. When I pulled in at church, Justin was already there, pulled face forward into a stall nearest the street. He came over to my car and explained he parked that way so no one would see the crack in his windshield. The insurance would pay for a replacement of his windshield but he is afraid the company would deny him, and then he would have to pay out-of-pocket. Oh, the things he worries about! Sure don't want anyone to see the cracks, right?

Justin looked very nice for church today, a step up from last week's attire, which means even though I sort of nagged at him, the message was taken. His thought was that 'everyone else is casual', motioning, but then I pointed out enough other nicely dressed folks, not necessarily 3-piece suits, but outfits such as his today. He looked very nice for church today!

Early service was less occupied than is the regular service, but I did get to see many of my friends and acquaintances either at the service or waiting for the next one. Only a half hour between the services makes for overlap! Justin had a bag of clothes for me to give Penny for Quigley House so he transferred them to my car and away I went to Good Shepherd for my next service! I arrived a few minutes late, during the readings, and sat with Larry R., the brother of a couple of my classmates from MLHS. He lives on a boat in Green Cove in the winter time, a nice retirement...At one point I was singing the liturgy and Terri T. turned around, hearing my voice. Hello! She had almost given up hope on me and was glad I came. Robbie was the pianist today and was joined on the liturgy by our newest member, Sterling, on the bassoon. It sounds fine to have them play together, and I guess he will play now instead of Suzanne on the viola.

It was good to see everyone again, those whom I did not see at Monday Bible study or on Wednesday night. Gretchen gave me a hug and a smooch, and that was with me yet in the pew! I had not been to GS since the 12th of December so it was great to catch up with folks. Once I had gathered my bouquet from the altar, I met Paul and Emily in the parking lot and rode with them to the Red Elephant for lunch. After a short wait, we were seated and the fun began. This restaurant, in Mandarin, used to house a Bono's BBQ but now serves pizza, pasta, and burgers, and wonderful loaded fries! Paul had a coupon for free appetizer so chose the fries. He kept coaxing me to have more but I explained if I ate them, then my dinner would not get eaten. And I was right! I ordered the individual-sized meat lovers pizza, which comes on a thin crust but was just perfect. Before I ordered my food, I made the remark about ordering something that would look good when spilled on my front....but it turned out to be Diet Coke all down my front! My nice white turtleneck was dribbled full for some reason, yet to be determined. I blame the glass, Paul blames my control of the glass. I assured him that I really had soda drinking down to an art but evidently not!

Paul took Sarah to the little game room off the dining room where she 'won' two mini-Super Balls. Not one of us could eat our entire portion so the waitress brought us to-go boxes and gave me an elephant ear, as my prize for being a first-time visitor! I brought half of that home, too! The customer service there was exquisite and I cannot wait to take some of my friends there some time for them to experience it. What I said to Paul when we pulled up was, "I am glad I didn't wear my red sweater...." to the Red Elephant! He has been doing lots of reading and researching these days, and told me about one night standing at his kitchen counter with a Concordia book and other materials until nearly 1:00 a.m., standing there for an hour and a half! My feet would have required a break about 20 minutes into that research, but he was oblivious. Good for him, crackin' the books!

Emily was telling me about Boots, our former cat, who lives with them over three years now. She said he follows her wherever she goes, and when she combs her hair, Boots lies down, waiting to be brushed as well, complete with legs in the air! So funny! I am just delighted they are giving a good home to him, our Middleburg cat, born under a shed in JD's backyard. When Boots was little, Justin could walk around with Boots on his neck or shoulder but now, Boots can tip over the recliner at Emily's house! He's a big ole cat and loves the good life over there.

After they dropped me off at church to get my car, I went to the cemetery with the bouquet, and noticed a local TV station's truck set up down the road a bit. I could see the reporter taping in front of a camera man but had no clue as to what the 'story' was. Perhaps it was about Somer Thompson whose gravesite is down that direction, but in checking the website later, I determined it must have been Scott Speicher's gravesite, since it is the anniversary of his being shot down during the first Gulf War. Wow, where do the years go? Am I asking this question? Silly me!

This afternoon, what was left of it, I spent watching football, talking on the phone with Linda and then chatting with Suzanne. Later, I gave Mom a call, just to check in. All of a sudden, the day was gone and now, my eyes are going to sleep without me. Busy day tomorrow, with Bible study, lunch, and then dinner with Martie. Carol wants to get together this week sometime, so nice of her to remember me. Wednesday Justin and I are going to Sweet Tomatoes for Timmy's birthday and Ellen asked me to join her for the buffet at Happy Hour that same day. I tentatively agreed and am sure I will, but not THAT sure....

I am getting so nervous....

....waiting for the football game to begin. It is almost like the Super Bowl for me tonight and I only hope the Packers show up to play. Fortunately the weather is cooler is here (or shall I say up there in Atlanta?) so the team will feel somewhat comfortable playing in the dome. Go Pack Go!

This afternoon was spent at home, watching a movie, "Kramer vs. Kramer" which was groundbreaking for its time in regard to child custody, and at this moment, the TV showing of "Freedom Writers", edited for time and content, I imagine, to squeeze in the commercials. I am reading "The Freedom Writers Diary", making slow progress getting through it. How much better to have seen the movie first (many many times!!!) as I wade my way. I can put some names to the numbers (the students are given numbers in the book, to protect their identity) and I can figure out who is who simply from reading their stories. Unlike my 'reading friends', I am not one to tear through a book, the not being able to put it down-type. Perhaps it is my choice of material, but I doubt that since Linda and I have occasion to be reading the same book at times. In fact, the book Mary Lew gave me on Tuesday night is one Linda bought just before Christmas. She proposes reading it together from far apart but I think that will not work as she reads more quickly than do I.

This portion of the movie is so incredible---after these misfit kids visited a Holocaust Museum, they went to dinner at the Marriott, where they dined with surviving victims from the camps. It changed their lives, and mine! I had read "The Diary of Anne Frank" a long, long time ago but should again, especially since this movie came out. That is what encouraged the students to keep their own diaries and change their outcomes in the world. Wonder how many have stayed 'above the fray' as it were....

This a.m. I met my friend, Terri T., at Grumpy's. Her dad and family used to congregate there several times a month and I would see them on occasion. It is now our place to meet for breakfast--ours, and about a hundred other people with the same idea. We sat and talked for almost two hours, then realized that people were lined out the door, waiting for our little 2 top table. We surrendered our seats to others but could have talked much longer. I could not promise to see her tomorrow as there was a change in the plans regarding the presentation after church tomorrow. I may go to early service at Victory and then stop by GS to pick up the flowers from the altar---say 'hi' to those I had not seen since services on the 12th of December. That was the first Advent Song Service, when we had the break-out of "In Christ Alone" after the service.

Oh, what to do, what to do....????

Go Pack Go!

A look back to January 14, 2001

Ten years ago today, about this time, my family was at church, likely listening to the sermon by Pete Prange (10:22 a.m.) Before Sunday school began, which was at 9:00 a.m., Timmy would have given Pastor the pretty picture he painted the night before (lots of P’s in that sentence!). He painted one for me and one for Pastor, announcing he would give it to him at church. I have a photo copy of that painting in my dresser drawer; saw it yesterday when Justin was looking for my headphones. Several years ago I had the picture framed for Pete and it hangs in his office in Morton Grove.

Yes, it is sort of ‘fun’, though that’s not the right word, trying to retrace every step of that dreadful night when Timmy died, but that gets one very very close to dangerous territory of doing the ‘what if’s’ and ‘if only’s’. We do not want to go there, it is of no value and battles against our knowledge that nothing takes place out of God’s handling. Many blessings have occurred in our lives and the lives of others since this happened to us. I say it happened to ‘us’ rather than Timmy because it is our loss that we mourn, we do not mourn Timmy’s gain. He shared the Good News faster than I did, and in a different manner in 5 years than I have in my 55. Psalm 31 says it so well, ‘my times are in your hands’. Sometimes I am broken pottery, as is the Psalmist, but the Lord promises to be the glue to hold me together.

One thing I am so glad about is that my friend, Frank, made DVD copies of the funeral service for me, as I no longer have a working VHS player. I believe the ‘old’ TV in the back bedroom does have a working player so if I really need to play something on VHS, I will have to sit in there on the old desk chair to watch it! That particular TV is too heavy to carry (except when Justin and Mark carried it from my bedroom up to the game room about 10 years ago…..) into this room or any other room. Frank re-did the funeral video as well as Lisa’s wedding for me. There is a business down the street from me who does conversion of VHS to DVD and while it does cost a moderate amount, it is less costly, I think, than buying the machinery and then doing it myself. What happens to the machine after all the tapes are converted? Craigslist, I guess. There is no cable in that back bedroom so I cannot record anything, only play back.

Overnight the temps fell to the low 20’s but are expected to climb back up to the mid-50’s today. By next Tuesday, we will have highs around 70 again---yay!!! I love the 70’s, but truth be told, the 80’s would be better yet! As I recall, on the day of Timmy’s funeral service, his 5^th birthday, the weather was lovely for January but the next day was horrid, windy and nasty. We were so blessed with good weather that week, all who traveled from distances arrived and departed safely and on time, with Rosalie often being the transportation from and to the airport. She has called me already this a.m. and sent several Facebook comments. I love it, love her, love my family and friends, and miss my boy like crazy!

Bracing for the cold

...yet in my house, snug and warm. Too warm for Justin, at least this was so in my room when he was here vacuuming. I have been waiting for him to come and vacuum ever since I got back from WI. Even though he is currently not working regularly, it is hard to book him! Of course, because he is not working regularly, he is not over on this side of town as often either. We attended Bible study this a.m., finishing the interesting study of trials and tribulations in the lives of believers, of all people, really. Our faith in the Lord and His promises are what help us deal with what life brings our way. The closing passage today was from Rev. 21: " 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” That one always gets me, and today was not different.

Yesterday one of my friends was talking about having bbq which made me want some, so I proposed to Justin that we have that for lunch. On the way to Fleming Island he said, "I was really hungry for some Koko's....." which also works with me, so that is where we went! The little waiter is usually working at dinner or on weekends but got called in today, and was so excited that he saw us at lunch. Wow! Who knew? He took good care of us, and told us twice how he really was not supposed to be there but was after all and was so glad he came in....I gave him a nice tip for all his fussing. Due to a time crunch, we did not go into Great Hang Ups---boo hoo hoo!

Justin was coming to do the vacuuming and other things for me but had to leave about half way through his chores to help his father with something. In the meanwhile, Connie, our maintenance lady, came up to use the bathroom and warm up at bit. I had told her that any time she wants to use my house she is free to. After she was done in the bathroom, Connie took the garbage bags down for Justin, and me. It was in the low 40's today, starting out below freezing and I wanted Connie to know she can come inside to have her lunch and go potty instead of using the bathroom at the pool. Talk about cold!

When Justin came back, it was almost getting dark and he flew through the house carrying the canister vacuum, which he prefers to do rather than pull it behind him. Earlier I asked him if he saw the dust bunnies in my room and he said he had not because he was not "anal retentive". Oh, I wonder if that's what he really wanted to say to his mama....it might have slipped out. Later, he asked me if my sweaters were making the dust bunnies because he found a big one in the guest room. Laughing, I asked the question which needed to be asked about being a.r., and said the blanket in the guest room might have made the dust bunnies in there. Cotton blankets do this, but in my room, I am not sure of the cause. The bunnies have been herded together now and vacuumed up, all clear. He had to hurry 'home' for dinner as the mistress of the house where he stays was cooking. Great excitement! I gave him my container of pasta fagioli as his contribution to the dinner, since I had leftovers from Koko's, Cracker Barrel, and Aron's in the fridge. Also he took the remainder of the vegetable soup with him, so now my refrigerator is bit emptier and recognizable as mine!

When leaving, Justin did a fancy balancing act carrying his laundry hamper, a box from his room, plus the food boxes. I talked him into using the elevator instead of the stairs so he would not take a tumble. Evidently he made it home safe and sound, because a little while ago he sent me a text message reminding me that "Selling New York"'s premier is on tonight. Yay!!! I do 'wait' for a TV show in my old age, and this is it! Justin has been hinting about going to New York to see "Spiderman" on Broadway. That would really not be my thing but he says the theaters are walking distance apart if we split up...he knew without my saying which show I would go to see----again. On the way to Koko's he told me he had an earworm of "Masquerade" running through his head since I sang it to him on Sunday. Only part of it, but enough to stick in his brain! I guess if push came to shove, I could sit through Spiderman but might be wishing I was at "The Phantom..."!

Tonight we are expecting record cold temperatures again, not seen at this time of year in over 20 years. I would likely go to the cemetery tomorrow and hope that it is not too chilly when I do. Sunday I will have flowers for the cemetery after church and the meeting. Not sure if Justin will be around much these coming days but will join me at Sweet Tomatoes for Timmy's birthday. He reminded me about spending the night at the Dohner's after we left the hospital the night Timmy died, something I had somewhat forgotten about over the years. Only recently did they reach out to me again via Facebook and I rejoice over that. In the waiting room that night, when the doctors came in to tell us Timmy was dead, Amanda D. flew into Mom's lap and just hugged and hugged her, crying her heart out. Never before and never since had Amanda demonstrated her feelings for Mom but that night, they all poured out. Amanda asked me for my mailing address because she wants to send me something and I will now watch the mailbox to see what it brings me!

Something’s rotten in Denmark

There she goes again---quoting from Shakespeare! The quote is modified from “in the state of Denmark” and I cannot say if I ever heard it said on “Seinfeld”. Ever since I have gotten home from WI and worked at this desk, I can smell something funky. Perhaps my trash can had something icky in it? Nope, changed the bag and such and I can yet smell it. My keyboard is free of trapped food items as is the sliding tray upon which it sits. Maybe my slippers need washing? Yesterday after my shower and an entirely fresh suit of clothes, I still smelled it. Under the desk is my footstool and a cloth bag and at this writing am blaming the footstool. The shawl Justin gave me for CHRISTmas is odorless, so I am accusing my footstool. Guess I will need some Febreze sprayed on the stool to see if that helps, or I could set it outside to become refreshed. It is ancient, being made my former spouse’s grandmother, using large juice cans and upholstery fabric for assembly.

Earlier today I enjoyed some of the yummy dehydrated vegetables picked up from Fresh Market by Ellen, who was shopping last night. Even though I tried to pay her for getting this for me, she would not accept my money (your money is no good here, she told me!). Ellen did not want to stand in the way of my eating vegetables, even if they are dehydrated.

When she brought them by, I gave her the candy which I had bagged up for her, the angel food and the non-pariels which I had picked up from the convenience store in Manty Rapids. Last year I had found the homemade candies there and hoped against hope they would again this season---and they did!! Ellen absolutely LOVED the angel food (fairy food or sponge candy) as it stirred memories of her youth in Boston. She said they did not sell it with chocolate on the outside, though; they bought only the sponge portion. It puzzled me how one could take hold of the candy and she admitted quickly that it was sticky. I am going to see if I can score some ‘good stuff’ from Beernsten’s in Manitowoc. It comes in a mixture of milk and dark chocolate which is grand because I like the dark and she likes milk chocolate, as a rule. This is going to be fun!

Tonight is Bible study, or rather, a class, at Good Shepherd which Judy J. and I are going to attend, after first having dinner at Cracker Barrel. Her idea, not mine, but who cares, right? I had a dinner roll with butter today, plus some of my veggies, and this late afternoon, a bowl of sherbet, to cleanse my palate for dinner! I may have had a cookie or two for breakfast, or brunch, rather, with my usually early-in-the-day vitamins and other good stuff in green bottles.

As much as I hated to do it, I ventured out to the bank to make a deposit and fortunately, did not freeze my buns off. Guess that should really be ‘unfortunately’! In fact, while in my car, I got too warm with the heated seat on so turned that off and dialed the temperature cooler. However, everywhere I went, the bushes and plants are wrapped or covered, bracing for the below freezing temperatures expected tonight. I offered to drive Judy and me tonight but she refused, even though I have heated seats! She assured me her car would be nicely warmed when she picks me up and I hope they have a log on the fire at Cracker Barrel!

Last night, in response to being summoned by my friend, Mary Lew, I attended The Club’s member’s meeting. Mary Lew is the one who loaned me books and video tapes during the summer, my 'reading mentor'. She lured with me free appetizers and wine. She could have the wine, but I liked the appetizers just fine. Plus she had a gift for me! Having never attended such a meeting, I was not sure what to expect but it was somewhat informal, with the Board asking for comments or complaints from the floor. Hugh gave his appreciation of looking out over the beautified grounds and freshly painted Club, complimenting the care given in recent years. When it seemed as though no one else was going to speak, I raised my hand and leapt to my feet. I went on and on about how much I enjoyed the cabana and pool area in the summer, the extended hours, the variety on the menu (even though I have the same thing all the time!), the special events at the pool, the water aerobics, and so on. Many folks chuckled because they know how much I enjoy that area of the property and I was thanked for my comments. Others mentioned the Happy Hour events, and tonight, though I will miss it, is a mini-buffet included in the fun. We only wish more folks would come for these events!

Mary Lew gave me my present, and I was so glad she told me she had one for me, so I had one for her as well. Thankfully I bought these lovely book marks at Great Hang Ups with jewels hanging off of them. Since she is a book reader, on the order of Linda J., she appreciated her book mark. She gave me a book, by Nora Ephron, as a follow-up to “I Feel Bad About My Neck”, called “I Remember Nothing”, also about the effects of aging gracefully. We shall see how gracefully. Linda and I had talked about this when I was in WI and now I have it!!! The book is so apropos because today when Mary Lew called me, she asked me if I was much of a reader…….oh my…..

Insert me into this music video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Z3YrHJ1sU

For those of you able to access this video, please watch it for the scenery and disregard the people in swim wear. At first when you see it, there will be a white box over the video but it goes away. I have photos of many of these same sights, and watching this video fills me with longing to see Mykonos again, but will simply use my photos and scrapbooks for my traveling! Oh, and this video! As always, you can click on the photograph to enlarge it....

Here I am in my element, enjoying the cafe as I look out over the harbor. Off to my left is the blue domed church seen in the video, right on the shore. It is seen, somewhat small, at 3:56 on the counter of the video.

This photo speaks for itself........

This is the photo I used for my customized mouse pad and address labels. That is my house up there on the hill....see it?

Gorgeous!

Does this date mean anything to anyone?

It does to my sister-in-law, Mona, whose birthday is today: 1/11/11. For her, she is another year older on a cool line up of numbers. Her daughter, Allie, enjoyed her 18th birthday yesterday. Allie posted on Facebook that everyone should watch CNN (ew!) on Sunday because her brother, JR, who called from Afghanistan to wish her a happy birthday, reported that something BIG was happening in Afg. and he would be on TV Sunday. He could not release any information but this a.m. on Fox and Friends, I saw that Biden was in Afghanistan visiting the training centers and the troops, which is what JR does, so..............let's put the pieces of this puzzle together!

When the group was at lunch yesterday, Olive Garden, I mentioned about the preschool being closed for a few days due to the water supply line breaking. No one, except Michael, knew about the pipe problem and who came to fix it. Jackie, sitting next to me, said, "You were gone for two weeks and know more about what was going on than we do, and we were here!" When in WI, I saw a FB posting from Cindy S. that she had an extra day off during the week because of the water pipe breaking. WHAT??? I jumped all over that and when she did not immediately post back to me, I called her to find out what was going on. Broken water pipes get my attention, believe me. It turns out the break, likely from the cold, was near the street, and once determined it was not the County's responsibility, although they did shut it off, it was on the church to make the repair.

GS has a "resident plumber" normally used for repairs but he was not going to be available until Saturday....it would not work for the building, for the preschool or church office, to have no water for several days. Another plumber was called to make the repair and I understand water was back on in a day or two. How that affects the finances and such of the preschool I am not sure but it certainly caused a great inconvenience for the families who used the preschool for their holiday childcare. Yikes! As I talked to Cindy, she suddenly realized that I thought the water pipe had broken inside and that stuff was damaged, etc. Whew! She apologized for not making that immediately clear and scaring me. Can you even imagine all the stuff which could be damaged by sitting in water in that classroom? To say nothing of the church office??? Oh my!

On Monday I was grinding because I was weary of the wind whipping the trees and making white caps on the river, but today, I cannot even see the water for all the fog. As Gabe would say, "It is as thick as mushroom soup out there"! The trees are not even moving right now, so I got my wish. Justin has to go clean out a model home today, postponed from yesterday because of the terrible weather. I am not sure if the fog affects areas other than the along the water. My friend, Stephanie, has her parents here from WI, in the photo posted yesterday, and they had to delay their departure due to the terrible weather north of here. Friends in NC, TN, and GA are off because of having snow days again this week, and Kerry, in Oshkosh, reported inches of snow on her car already this a.m. I suggested that Stephanie bring her folks over here for a visit and maybe now she will have time to do just that!

Like others, I am following the shooting incident which took place in AZ on Saturday. How terrible that a crazy young man cut loose on these people, killing several including a child and a Federal Judge. The others killed, aside from the Congresswoman's aide, Gabe Zimmerman, have either not been named or the families have asked to remain anonymous. Hopefully that is the case and not that they are ignored, over shadowed by the more well-known folks. I think about that every time there are discussions about 9/11's terror attacks because not only New York was hit, so was the Pentagon in Washington, DC, plus the folks who took down the plane in PA. It is as if the other two planes and the lost lives do not matter, but they sure do to the families and friends of those who died or were seriously injured that day.

On a cruise once, I read a book from the ship's library about a woman who survived but was seriously injured when the one of the WTC towers came down, the story written by her spouse in letter form. "Love, Greg and Lauren" was the book, and I did hear later that she had been on "Oprah" some time after her recovery from the burns she suffered. Let us not forget the wounded folks, those not mentioned in the news reports from AZ, and the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy. It makes one wonder who among us is ready to bust, like that shooter did. Whether he used a gun or a bomb or a knife or his car, he was a young man seriously in need of some help, and it was missed or overlooked.

Last night, after changing my plans to have dinner with Martie, I was enjoying a bowl of my homemade vegetable soup with a dinner roll. The doorbell rang, and as best I could without hurting my knee, I ambulated to the kitchen to see who was there. It was Cassidy, my downstairs neighbor, standing there with a container from the Olive Garden. Her mom and she had ordered food to go from there and when they got home, found they had gotten the pasta fagioli soup rather than the vegetarian choice they preferred. So, she gave it to me! The Olive Garden gave her the correct soup, after she had to run back over to get it, but I also sent along a portion of my veggie soup for them. Now I have a partial kettle of my soup, plus a container from O.G., a few slices of Pizza Hut meat lovers, and my stromboli from Aron's, enjoyed with Jessica and Beckham. Cassidy said they had no food in their house, and it seems for a change, I do! Judy J. took home the leftover pizza that Jessica had brought by on Saturday night or I'd have more food yet. I even bagged up some cookies for Cassidy and her mom to enjoy, they being left from Judy C.'s tray of treats on Saturday. How fun to be able to reciprocate once in a while!