Another newsy day

What in the world is going on? Or is that the problem---the world?? We know that to be true, and we also know to be "in the world and not of it". BUT, we are also to be faithful stewards of our treasures and therefore, must be aware of what is going on around us.

The morning radio commentator is discussing on his call-in program the laws already in place as well as those being introduced in WI regarding the farms. Policy is being suggested forbidding young people from working on the family farm under a certain age and requiring an inordinate amount of 'training hours' (90!) for using the farm equipment. I guess having your father or uncle teach via hands-on experience is no longer lawful. This reform is likely from those who wish to buy-out the family farms and absorb them into the ‘industry’ or ‘union’ of farming. Limiting the competition, managing (limiting) food distribution, price fixing, all that good stuff. The “Occupiers” might have to relocate outside the city limits in support of the family farms!

The national news was discussing the serious financial mess overseas in the Eurozone, with several countries in the union desperately close to collapse. Our own anonymous Fed members have been propping up our bonds as well as those overseas by printing money which is without backing (like Monopoly money!), causing our financial markets to soar. I am trying not to look but they keep reporting the information over the radio. Presently the DOW is up over 400 points. Normally I would be ecstatic but knowing it’s not real money sort of turns my tummy in sadness. One of the more well-known financial commentators with his own TV show went on record recently saying the world is two stages (steps) away from collapse. Yikes! http://www.cnbc.com/id/45464181.

If all that was not enough, when I tried to call Mom this a.m., her telephone was acting up, not allowing her to answer, or when she did, a huge racket was on the line so we could not communicate. I asked my sister, Jill, to go upstairs to disconnect the answering machine to see if that was culprit. She did that and let me know it was fine to try again. Two minutes into the call, the racket began again and even on her corded phone the noise persisted. Hmmmm…I told her I would send an e-mail and hope that gets through. She is on dial-up, connected to her phone line! Hopefully my sisters will take care of the problem with the phone company so I can talk with my mommy!

Mom wanted to know why I did not go to Trivia last night, since I did not call her on my ride over, which I normally do. We did indeed go to Trivia, despite my not calling Mom. Justin rode with me forth and back, and at home later, showed me fun stuff on the computer, so I did not call Mom. Somehow I forgot to mention in the blog that Justin is staying here with me for a while, thinking everyone knew this already (Facebook!).

“Nothing Tips Like a Cow” won first place last night, in spite of me marking the wrong point amount on a wrong answer about sports. I gave it a 4 when it should have been a 2. And yet, we won!!! Rita came and joined the Milks and us for a winning team. As we were getting started, Justin looked up and saw a man coming in a Packer shirt. He pointed it out to me and it turned out to be members from Victory, Wally and Geri! They were not playing but came to eat, so sat behind us. What fun that would have been! Next week Stephanie will be back and all shall be right with the world!

Yesterday morning's sunrise

This sky brought with it much cooler temperatures, with this morning's low being 41 degrees where I live. It will be mid-50's today and into the 60's for tomorrow. Already I miss the 80's of earlier this week!!

Another football upset

The morning news brought not surprising but still startling reports that the head coach of the Jaguars, Jack Del Rio, was let go. As I stated, not an unexpected development, with some thinking it should have happened much earlier in the season. This 2011-12 season is being ‘excused’ as one of rebuilding this ‘young team’ and so on, and now we can look forward to probably more of the same.

Rita and I chatted about this today, she thinking Jacksonville truly missed the boat with not drafting the Florida Gator’s/Jax native quarterback, Tim Tebow, to play for the Jags. That would have certainly ended the blackout fears as he can really draw in this college ball city’s fans. And now, he is tearing up the field in Denver, bringing that team victories. He is declared to be a humble victor. I would settle from some humble victories here in Jacksonville. Hopefully the team is not cutting off its nose to spite its face with this firing. The rumor mill also suggests that the team is being sold but we must wait for the press conference to hear the information about this matter.

Still I have not heard from the Amazon.com people in regard to the return of the merchandise not mine, so I will drop the box off at the UPS store using the labels and information they have already provided. Hopefully they will know what to do with it once it’s sent back. Also must go to Publix for a few things, as our needs will be a bit different having Justin back home. More laundry to be done which means more soap for the machine. And soda, of course!

Justin made me laugh last night, when reviewing the sales flyer on-line from Publix. He reported that squash, zucchini, and green beans were on sale for a dollar a pound (?). Upon seeing my face, he said, “I really like squash and bet I could get you to eat it, if I held you down with my knee!” Somehow, the picture is quite amusing to me---him chasing me around the house with a spoonful of squash. Green beans I do like, have that on my menu list for the funeral, when the time comes, and perhaps they will still be a dollar a pound!

Well, it was just revealed on a local TV station where Suzanne works that the Jaguars were sold! http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/228975/483/Report-Jaguars-Have-Been-Sold-to-Shahid-Khan

It’s beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas!

My tree is up and decorated, the lights plugged in and illuminated, as is the garland on the mantle. It looks like CHRISTmas and feels like it outside. The weather took a nasty turn this late afternoon as clouds filled the sky and rain fell. The temperature dropped about 20 degrees between noon and 4:30 pm. Connie asked me if she could use my bathroom when the rain was heaviest, so she would not have to walk over to the pool bathrooms in the rain. Often I have offered her my facilities when the weather is rotten and am glad she accepts.

Last night at bedtime I heard the sound of water again, this time later determined from the drain pipe that runs in the wall between my hall bath and the guest bathroom. I was filled with apprehension, imagining any moment having water dripping through the ceiling vent. Twice before it’s happened to me from above and since, at first, I couldn’t tell where it was coming from, could not relax. Eventually I did drop off to sleep but first thing this morning, I heard it. Jessica jiggled the handles on their toilets and by the time Jeff came upstairs to listen for the sound, it was gone. I was hoping he would hear it and declare me not crazy, but he was not able to do that!!! One thing I am not and that is deaf!

Bible study was interesting this a.m. as we continued our study Nehemiah. Right off the bat this morning, Pastor mentioned that he was having troubles hearing as his right ear was plugged. He was getting it looked at later but in the meanwhile, we had to speak up for him. Class went smoothly in regard to hearing and all that, until we were ready to close. Pastor asked if anyone had a prayer request and I mentioned that Linda was getting a new knee this week, that we should ask the Lord to guide the hands of the surgeons and for healing. Some of the ladies asked if she was having the other leg done, etc. so they knew I said ‘knee’. 

Well, Pastor said his preliminary prayer before the intercessory ones, and then he began to pray for Linda, and the baby….Safe delivery of the baby, new life through baptism, and so on. I was not going to say anything about it, but Ethel did. She said, “Kim, I think Pastor did not hear you correctly…” and he wondered what was going on. Then I mentioned that Linda was getting a new knee but he thought I said ‘niece’. He felt a bit silly but I said not to worry about it, the Lord knew what was needed for Linda. But it was sort of funny, to think about Linda and a baby, instead of her knee. Pastor remarked, “I got through the class without any troubles….”

Twila joined us today, the first time since her heart surgery. She had to endure 12 weeks of cardiac rehab during the week which interfered with Bible study. Plus she had a couple rentals to deal with before settling back into routine. It was good to have the whole group together again, except for Bonnie, who is undergoing chemo therapy. We sure do miss her in the class and in church. She is in for a long haul, and some prayers for her would be appreciated.

Well, since I did not sleep well last night I shall try tonight for a better rest. Rooting for the Saints to win the football game tonight. My friend who bets prefers it so!

"Unseasonably warm"

One must love a report such as this. It was in the mid-70’s today at kick-off of the Jaguar game, and the announcers reported it being a warm one. That was all that was warm about this game, unless flaring tempers count. My friend in IL is fairly convinced the coach will be leaving the team very soon, perhaps even before the season is complete. The team has no hopes for playoffs and the game today was supposed to be played for pride. Well, that didn’t happen! The only thing to be proud of was the military presence both on the field during the pre-game and halftime, as well as in the stands. It was Military Appreciation Day and I envy those who were able to witness this portion of the festivities.

I am unsure if it’s still warm out but the winds have picked up substantially since the sun went down. It sounds much colder than it is, my guess. The oven is reheating my leftovers to have for dinner, a juicy steak and potato skins. The steak is from dinner last night and the skins from today’s lunch. My neighbor asked me up for steak and to watch the Badger game last evening, and who can refuse steak on the grille? It sooo reminded me of the lake house when Justin and I cooked (or Rick did) the beef bought ‘on the hoof’, from the County Fair. Talk about delicious! And last night’s steak was quite good, too, and will be again tonight.

The Badger game was such a blow-out against Penn State that we did not watch the end of it. Only once have a seen a Badger game all the way through, that being the Rose Bowl game with Lynn. Twice now I have seen portions of games---once with Stephanie at Bahama Breeze and this one yesterday. When I left, Randy said I brought him bad luck on his bets, so perhaps I will live without steak for a while! My friends who are Florida/Florida State fans had a game to watch in the evening but that was not for me, not when no steak is involved!

Tracy, my downstairs neighbor, brought me a piece of the wonderful cake Cassidy had made for their feast. Chocolate bundt cake, iced, with assorted berries adorning it. The fruit had been soaked in Kahlua and tasted extraordinary. Perhaps I would simply starve if not for my church friends and my neighbors….Nah!

In all my life I had never seen the movie, any version, of “Death of a Salesman” so Randy loaded it on my laptop via a jump drive. It was in two parts, for some reason, so I watched Part One on Friday evening and the rest Saturday morning. What a grueling yet interesting venture that turned out to be! It was a trip through one man’s life via flashbacks and his own struggles with holding onto reality. Willy talked often with people no one else could see, usually his brother, the play being laden with soliloquies. He lived a life of quiet desperation, my description borrowed from Thoreau, and it turned out, one of lies and unmet dreams. Now, I can chalk it up to having seen the play/movie, this time with Dustin Hoffman playing Willy, and appreciate the references made to this play.

Today was Bible study and church, the first Sunday of the church year. It felt as though one should have a new outfit to wear or something. The mystery of the lost banners solved, the church looked just lovely, resplendent in blue. Part of Bible study was spent finishing our study of Advent and then we recessed to the church where The Maestro, Robbie, put us through our paces in rehearsing the singing parts of The Compline service being used this Wednesday.

Personally, I believe the congregation did not really need two weeks of rehearsal, especially since only a handful of folks were there for it, and half won’t come on Wednesday night. It is wise, though, to make sure nothing is ‘sprung’ on folks, which is why we are going through this process. Last week I wrote an article, which was printed both weeks in the service folder, explaining what to expect that first Wednesday. Robbie is an excellent teacher and explained the service just beautifully. He used this service in his class at school and wowed his fellow students with it, many of whom struggled singing the psalm. Because ‘we’ are accustomed to it, it is a piece of cake, but the music majors struggled---go figure!

When I arrived at church, there were a couple men in the front yard near the sign, apparently looking for something in the ground. Once I got inside the Fellowship Hall I was informed we had no water. Oh, oh! That was a problem not only for us worshipers and for making coffee but also the preschool which cannot operate without running water. As men began to arrive, the able-bodied and skilled got busy trying to figure out what was going on, and the maintenance chairman was reportedly on his way. One of our members is a plumber so Darwin called him to come early to church to help out. Unfortunately the men were dressed in their church clothes but none seemed to be muddy from head to toe. New pipe was being installed, a repair to a connection it seems, and flow restored not long after church began. Judy stepped out before the sermon to brew the coffee and all was again right with the world!

At the opening of the service, Robbie served as cantor as we sang “Come, Come Emmanuel” antiphonally, something we have done in the past. It reminded me, as always, of my former pastor, Pete, and made my heart smile. It was a good service today!

Being Fellowship Sunday, we recessed to have some refreshments and add our monetary support to the scholarship funds we have for two students at LPS. One, Anna, is the pastor’s daughter, and the other, a young man from Christ, Keystone Heights. Judy makes wonderful little sandwiches and has cookies besides. Since there were sandwiches leftover, she sent them home with Mike S., who is a single guy. He said it forces him to stop for lunch, now, instead of working straight through. He is such a nice young man and was the first one busy with the shovel this a.m.

After getting things cleaned up, Judy and Terri T. and I went to Chili’s for lunch, as Terri had a coupon for free appetizers. My entrée is the appetizer but did not use her coupon for it. Judy and she shared one plus another appetizer as their meal. It was good to be out with Terri again and catch up on what’s going with her. Judy and I get to see each other regularly but not always is Terri available. Loved it, perfect way to conclude the holiday weekend! Too bad the Jaguars lost though….

A special gift from David

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tAiC7nfht0E

On ThanksLiving Day, I was here in Florida, celebrating with my son plus some church family and other friends. I was missing all the fun, though, with the biological family who were gathered at my niece's home in Sheboygan. My bro-in-law, David, my favorite one at that, was gracious enough to make a video of the gathered family wishing me a happy Thanksgiving. Later, he found out the sound was not turned on to record their voices, so he put a musical number behind the video and added captions which were really funny. Yes, I am motion sensitive but I still loved it. I told David that I have to take a Dramamine before watching our home videos of when the kids were little and of our cruise to the Mediterranean in 2000. Wheeeee!

In watching David's recording, I held myself together well until Lynn and Lisa popped into the frame and together wished me a happy Thanksgiving, and then tears began to flow. Mom is the first one to extend greetings and the video ends with Gabe opening his birthday presents from those not able to be with him on the 14th. He is 8 years old now, unbelievable! Manny, his 6 year old brother, was lying on the sofa, sleeping, as he was not feeling well. Angelo was on his other grandma's lap, and did not appreciate being parted from his cuppy for the video!

I got to see three of my sisters as well as my mom, my nieces and nephews, and my great-nephews via this video, plus my bro-in-law, who made the recording. Imagine what a great feature this is for our military and others who are away from home during the holidays and other times, to be nearly instantly, almost live, connected with their families at home. Thanks, David! You are my favorite, too!