It’s a waiting game for me

My little laptop is plugged in with the old power cord attempting to charge the new battery which arrived via the mail yesterday. Justin installed it for me and said it should have about a 10 hour lifespan when fully charged. We shall see! Twice now I have had to go restart the computer because for some reason it shuts down, even when the battery has some power in it. Hopefully that is not a really bad sign…am I falsely accusing my power cord of failing when in fact it could be something else? Wouldn’t that just figure?

Once charged and will hopefully stay in the ON position for me, I can then recline on my bed with the little laptop for my evening TV viewing. Justin told me about a new Roku, in purple, coming out in December for ‘only’ $50 which would then enable me to watch my Internet programs over the TV. Another feature, a subscription thing, would allow me to watch movies and such offered but I do not think I want that…I have plenty of stuff to watch, thanks!

Last night’s sleep was a short one for me, although, unlike my mom the night before, I did not go to bed angry. I think I dropped off before 11:00 pm but found myself awake with a very dry mouth (snoring??) and coughing before 4:00 am. Not good. Even though I tried, I was not able to fall back to sleep, so then got up to use this desktop computer. Poor me! Later, I went back to bed and slept about another couple hours, not soundly, but at least my eyes were closed. My mom had a bad night Wednesday because her favorite TV program, a syndicated one, was preempted by a baseball game. This happened twice in a week’s time and is really pushing her buttons!

Today I went errand running, my first stop being the bank to deposit my check. Then I went to Sonic to get my Happy Hour diet Coke for half price and then stopped in at Great Hang Ups. Helen, Julia’s sister, had made a red glass slump vase for me and left it at the shop for pick up.

As we talked, I mentioned my friend, Lee, and the ladies’ got excited. It seems that Lee won the drawing for receiving one of Dee’s paintings. They were going to have me do the drawing but Dee’s hubby did it instead, and pulled my friend’s name! Julia had me call Lee to let her know she was the winner. At first I got the answering machine and left her the news. Less than 10 minutes later she called back, and Julia let me answer the call. Instead of saying ‘hello’, Lee asked, “Are you teasing me???” By this time Kris had come into the shop and they all heard Lee ask this question, and laughed. No, it’s not a joke, you win, girlfriend! What great fun that was!

From Hang Ups I went to Publix as I needed soda and a few other items, and then headed out to Brenda N.’s house in Eagle Harbor to deliver her chili. When I pulled into the driveway, I could hear her wild beasts inside the house throwing themselves against the door and sidelights. Talk about scary! She has a houseful of dogs, all shapes and sizes. I left the chili on a table next to the door and was about to call her, when she pulled into the driveway. She was driving!!! Otherwise she does not drive but her son with her and they took back streets to Winn Dixie and her daughter’s house. Glad I caught her and the chili didn’t have to sit out too long.

My soda is restocked at least for a few days and I have plenty of food, since I have a diminished appetite with this stupid cough/cold situation going on. And those sugar cookies purchased at the bakery yesterday---just okay. Definitely NOT as good as Copp’s, which means I still need to go north for my favorite cookies!

Noah and Lisa's Anniversary today

Lisa's wedding 11 years ago today. On the left is Timmy, then Dustin, Alayna, Danny, Jamie, and Justin. The princess is on the floor, looking a bit like Cinderella! This was taken at First German, in the front of the church, but off to the side.

There’s the moon!`

Just as I sat down at my desk, I saw a glimmer of the moon rising. Two seconds later, or so, it is in full bloom! So bright it should almost make noise. Last night when I was in choir rehearsal, Lynnie left me a phone message from the lake shore in Manitowoc, reporting the amazing moon on the water there, wondering if I could see our ‘shared moon’. I did, once I got home and the clouds moved out of the way. We both had choir and we both had a full moon, nice!

Justin was here for dinner tonight for which I made a kettle of my chili. I am the biggest fan of my chili and Justin liked it too. He said if he had his way, he would make it thicker with more pasta so it would be more like spaghetti than soup. I held back on the pasta in order for it to be soupier, better for dipping the dinner rolls. By tomorrow, it will be quite thick, enough so that I could serve it over baked potatoes, like my friend, Brenda does. I think I will see if she wishes to come for dinner tomorrow!

She called tonight when Justin was here, giving her a chance to talk with him about a computer question. He installed my new battery which I ordered for the mini-laptop and it weighs more than the laptop itself! Not specifically designed for my machine, it works great and serves as a sort of kick-stand, holding the laptop up a bit in the back so it can breathe. He believes it will have a longer life when charged than did my original battery but I must remember to let it totally die before I recharge it, and unplug the laptop and actually use the battery to run the computer. Otherwise the battery quits charging and dies young, like mine did. Perhaps tomorrow my new power cord will arrive and I will be entirely good to go again from my bed! Got the new long-life battery and the power cord for less than $60 when Justin thought the new battery alone would be $100! I did it myself, too!

My cough is less active today, hoping it has about run its course. Also, I took a cold remedy, Dayquil tablet, this a.m. which helped quiet it some. At least I did not disrupt Bible study too much. Another really good class as we read further about the Ministry of the Keys. We discussed the qualifications of overseers and deacons (pastors, church leaders) and read what Martin Luther had to say about this matter. Good, interesting study!

Afterward many of us went to eat at Cinatti’s Deli and Bakery since Rita had two certificates to use. Even Pastor Hoyer joined us. I had a hot dog, the others having sandwiches like a BLT or pita-styled sandwich. One man had a Panini. And yes, it is a bakery and yes, six sugar cookies came home with me! Now, whether or not they are as good as Copp’s I will have to report another time as I have not tasted them yet! Such restraint! My tummy was full from my lunch that a cookie did not even appeal to me, and now I have had dinner…The unfortunate thing is---the cookies have a plastic spider adorning them. If I didn’t want the 1” thick frosting, I had to have spiders. I can deal with it…

When Justin was here, he installed my TV again in the family room with a new power strip and got the cable stuff hooked up. Everything seems to work just fine, for which I rejoice. Now, though, in addition to regularly hearing water dripping, I think I smell hot wires. Oh good, I was running short of things to over which to wring my hands!

Just to get you started....

The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Thinking about my grandma this morning

Lily Sickles, or, Silly Lickles as one of our vicars liked to call her, was my grandma. She lived near our church and school as long as I knew her, and she was elderly as long as I knew her. Silly Lickles was in her 70’s when I grew up, and lived to be just three months shy of 100 years old! She was German but I don’t think about her being the stern and stoic–type, at least, not around me. For ten years I worked at the old folks home where she lived so I got to see her daily. Grandma’s birthday was October 9^th, the same day that my niece, Alayna, has a birthday. Lily would have been 125, and Alayna just celebrated being 20.

Grandma has been on my mind for another reason besides her birthday, though. While she was pretty subdued, feeling like she was supposed to be that way, occasionally she would come out with something to make us laugh (we loved to laugh in our house, growing up…so much was funny!). Grandma used to talk about Coffer Dam, I can’t remember the whole thing, except the punch line of ‘cough her damn head off’. I am sure someone else in the family remembers the whole thing. But as I cough here at home, I think of Coffer Dam, and Grandma Sickles!

*

There are some advertisements on TV that really make me chuckle, at least the first 25 times I see it. One is run by the LaQuinta Inn chain, where the guy gets such a great night’s rest at the hotel that he can actually sell ice to an Eskimo! Another guy sleeps so well that he can go to work, kick some butt and take names, as he actually goes down the hall, kicking people and grabbing their name tags! I get it!!! On the other hand, I am tired of Susie’s lemonade machine being empty. Come on, Verizon, time for a new commercial, I grow quite weary of this one!

*

It sure is nice to have the sun back on my face at the desk, it seems like a week since the rain and clouds arrived. Yesterday a home inspector came to size up the damage and such from the leaks, in order to determine the source and the fix. Connie told me they think it’s a window in the 5^th floor unit now being rented out. It’s not such a great problem when the leaks are ‘only’ in the river rooms or the now-enclosed porches, but when the water gets into the actual rooms and makes our power strips smoke, hiss, and singe, well, something must be done!

The guy noted the buckling paint on the wall and ceiling, detected moisture remaining, of course, in the floor and wall. I might have some remaining boards from this floor (2005-06), installed before I moved in, but Justin will have to check the storage closet to see if it’s there, and if it’s usable. Repairs, if made, would have to be done quickly now, or after Christmas as I am hostess for the Ladies’ Group Christmas party at the beginning of December.

*

Justin came by after work last night to shower before we headed to Johnny Angels’ Diner for our weekly humiliation and good times. With a quick push of a button or two, he managed to get my blackened laptop monitor to illuminate again. He also showed me how to click and drag my Word document from one monitor to the other so now I have two active monitors in front of me! “Ground Control to Agent Tom….” Or, “Houston, we have a problem…”

A few recent photos

Suzanne, Jeri, and at the end of the table, Rita, helping people get registered for the Mission Rally on Saturday at Victory Lutheran

Since I apparently 'got the memo' to wear the red/white/black for the Rally, Anne, Cindy, and I posed with Dawn's lovely quilt to show off our coordinating outfits. My mouth is open because a lady was just about to walk into the shot and I squawked to ward her off!

Gretchen and I were seated across from each other at lunch time so I snapped a photo of her before she could protest.

The Ladies' Group social outing last night was at Whitey's Fish Camp. We had been hoping for nicer weather for al fresco dining but eventually the staff had to lower the rain shades to keep the rain off of us. Could have used more light for this shot but here it is!

Sunday’s wild ride

All the coughing has disturbed my sleep, and I do so like to sleep! After being up a couple times in the night, somehow I got a few more hours of rest before the official start of the day. Then the dreams came---this time I was in a bathroom in a home not recognized, with a toddling Timmy. It seemed like I was packing up to go somewhere but not sure of the specifics. All of a sudden, Timmy went over backward, straight back, and smacked his head on the tile floor and the baseboard. And then quiet….

I scooped him and was saying his name over and over, as he looked at me and sort of smiled, like he knew a secret. His eyes were rolling in his head as I ran toward the kitchen with him in my arms. (excuse me a moment here…..) yelling, “Call 9-1-1!” and handed Justin my cell phone. His father was on the regular phone on a business call so Justin was calling rescue from my cell. He was talking like he had a rubber band or something in his mouth, sort of goofing around, saying he was getting advertising, and I told him to keep trying. I screamed at his father, “Hang up that phone! Call 9-1-1!!!. Justin told me that we should not cover Timmy with a sheet so I started to pull his socks off and remove his pants to keep him cool, quite frantically. And thankfully, I woke up.

I hate those type of dreams! I am affected by them much of the day, and now I’ve done the same thing to you! They set the tone for the day sometimes as mine are quite vivid, and in some ways, are replays of actual events. Maybe it was because of yesterday being Hannah’s one year anniversary or that I was going to hear my own funeral sermon preached later. But no matter what, 5:15 a.m. was far too early for me to be up!

On the way back from Victory, I noticed the overhead sign along the freeway informing drivers to move to the right hand lane and exit. But why? It must have just happened because there was no back-up of traffic at the moment. But then there certainly was! All three lanes before the St. Augustine Road exit were blocked with rescue vehicles so everyone had to merge right, exit, and the police were directing drivers where to do a U-turn to get back on the freeway once exited. I decided to get gas right away, since I had time before the church meeting at GS. On the exit ramp, I noticed police cars and a wrecker below where the other wreck was, and there, half way up the hill toward the freeway, among the trees, was a car!

I thought at first it came over the side, but later I read that she had lost control on the ramp and drove up the hill. A fire truck was parked above her on the overpass, attempting to secure the car as the lady was afraid to get out. Pow! A pick-up truck slammed into the fire truck, injuring its three passengers, but not the firemen. So, no injuries in the first crash but three seriously in the second one.

There were so many red and blue lights, and even official vehicles, SUVs, with red lights but no other markings, going up the down ramp to the scene. It was pretty dramatic, from what I could see, and was glad to be back on the road to church.

While watching the wretched Jaguar game, my laptop shut off for no reason. Hmmmm….now what? Well, it seems the power cord is touchy and did not wish to be moved. Eventually I could get it to come back up but then it would quit again. This is not healthy for the laptop so I unplugged it. At the moment, I thought this was a just such a terrible situation----but it gets better!

Having to sit at my desk then, to use this computer, I was waiting for the Packer game to come on and watching something on TV. Suddenly, I heard this loud ‘snap’ from the hallway and went to check it out. (Oh, I should mention the torrential rains and extremely high winds we were experiencing.) As I walked into the hall, the powerful stench of hot wires met my nose. Of course, my smoke detector is on the table in the hallway, waiting for a new 9v battery, which I again forgot to pick up from the store yesterday. Okay, now what?, as I frantically went room to room, sniffing and searching for a fire. Also, I was calling Hugh, my neighbor and friend, who came up to help me figure it out. He could smell it outside, due in part to my having the door open waiting for him. I told him about the circuit breaker popping so he went to switch it back on, and was looking for where it affected.

Then I heard a hissing/sizzling sound and determined it was from the TV. I pulled it out and Hugh said, “You got smoke here, kiddo” and I grabbed that plug out of the outlet so quick. It seems water had run down the wall, or dripped down, and got into the surge protector power strip. The sizzling sound was likely the floor under the protector being singed.

I called Travis and Jessica’s house to see if they had water, and why, yes, they certainly did! They had been putting towels down all afternoon, had it coming in in buckets, figuratively speaking. I had water in the river room, backing up to the wall where the TV is located in the living room, as well as the small window where the leak was in August.

Hugh suggested I call Jeff, our maintenance chairman, thinking he was home, but actually, I reached him in Boise! I apologized for bothering him but he was glad to know what was going on and hoped I was okay.

At this point I was still quite shaky but decided to go upstairs to ask the 5^th floor family if they had a leak anywhere. They are in the process of moving in so had boxes everywhere, but she was able to check around the sliding doors and the master bedroom window. Nope, no water in the house. The permeation must happen outside and run down into our houses, as has occurred in the past. For several years now we have been free of these leaks but now, they are back!

As I came back to my place, my other neighbors were just getting home, so they checked out Jessica’s leaks first and then came to my house. They pulled my TV stand further out as I got towels to mop the water. Rosemary got behind it and laid them out for me. In the meanwhile, Tracy came upstairs to see what was going on as Jeff had called her to look for leaks. Sure enough, it was wet a bit in their unit too. Both Tracy and Rosemary offered their guest rooms to me if I was too upset to stay here, and as thankful as I was for their offers, declined. I needed to stay here to keep an eye on things, and watch the Packer game.

Have I mentioned lately what nice neighbors I have?