A Day at the Movies

More like an afternoon at the movies. My local lady friends with whom I usually watch movies and dine were unavailable this weekend so I was on my own. Or so I thought…When working at my desk, I sent Linda a text message reporting I was watching “Nights in Rodanthe”. She wrote right back to report she was also watching it, on Lifetime, the network forbidden in my house!, and was also boo hooing. I love it! We were watching movies together, but 1200 miles apart! How cool is that?

Linda had planned a dinner and movie day with her sister, Georgia, since Tommy is out of town, planning to watch the movie, “Courageous”. I had bought the movie, too, with plans to show it on a Dinner and Movie night. Last weekend Anne H. sent me a message saying she watched it and cried almost the entire time. She said she thought of me, and the family from Victory who lost a child to cancer a year or so ago, and cried her eyes out. Anne recommended I watch it first by myself, which was wise advice.

Well, I sort of took her advice but not entirely. Linda, Georgia, and I all watched together, or, should I say, at the same time, with me here and them, in Manty! In my “picture eyes”, as Justin used to say, I could see them sitting in Linda’s family room with a box of tissues between them. We kept up with each other via text message on the cell phone, with the sisters being a few seconds ahead of me in the movie.

Not to give too much away, (you may have gotten the gist of it from the previews shown on TV) the story involves policemen who vow to be better fathers, become men of honor. One man lost his young daughter and begins a journey toward being a more dedicated parent to his son, a better husband to his wife, a better man all around. Others get on board and then reflect their vow in their workplaces, etc. This movie is done by the same Baptist group in Albany, GA that did “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants”. It is nicely done, has a healthy dose of decision theology in it, but the movie as a whole, was great.

In between the “…Rodanthe” movie which stars Diane Lane, and the other movie, I popped in “Under the Tuscan Sun”, also with Lane as the star. I remember when Justin and I were at Blockbuster after “Tuscan…” came out, looking for movies to rent. I read the description aloud: “Recently divorced author with writer’s block takes a Tuscan vacation and never goes back…” Justin did not want to get it because of that, and I said, “I don’t have writer’s block!” We were planning a cruise that summer and he was worried I would stay behind. It was very tempting, believe me! But he would not let me stay there without him and that wasn’t possible. As Katherine says in the movie: Terrible ideas----they are always the best ones! It turned out that he fell in love with the movie and the scenery as well, and to this day occasionally calls me ‘Francis’, the character in the movie, which is, in fact, a true story! I have since read another book written by Francis Mays about her life and cooking in the Mediterranean region.

Here is a girl truly outstanding her field! In Tuscany!

Prior to watching the movies, I was watching on TV and reading on-line the various speeches from CPAC, taking place in Washington, DC. The keynote address, always the highlight of the conference, is being delivered by Sarah Palin. Should be a good one! Last year was Alan West, a powerful man with a powerful message. I wish he would consider running for president, perhaps in 2016 if things don’t work out for GOP, or the country, in 2012. At one point, one of the websites was shut down by having too many viewers so I had to go elsewhere for information. So glad to know others care or are interested in this event!

Justin was home all day and I had him vacuum my floor, the hallway and the kitchen. I just went through the hallway to the kitchen and couldn’t help but notice more dust under the decorative table below Timmy’s portrait. I think I need the dust mop for jobs like this. It never ends! My books on the end of the bed are coated in white dust, clearly visible from my seat here. Only last weekend all was dusted, and now, all is dusty!

For dinner I am making country-style ribs bathed in golden mushroom soup, plus buttered noodles, and peas. We are dining-in! Earlier I told Justin that if he went anywhere, I would give him some money to pick up a bottle of Jack Daniels from the store, so I could make myself the delicious drink which I had enjoyed poolside this past summer. I had the other ingredients on hand, since Lynn and Linda were here in August, but not the alcohol. He turned on his heel and I could hear him clanging around in his room, moving boxes and such, banging bottles together, etc. Soon he came out with a half bottle of Jack, moved with him from his bungalow. I teased him about having a secret stash in there and he said, “I even forgot I brought it with me until you asked for some!” I might make myself a nice summery drink tonight, when the temps are dropping into the 20’s!

A day of superb proportions!

Today was such a nice day, the first part especially.  At first I was torn about climbing out of bed to go to breakfast at The Club but decided I would. It made me very sad to see the moving truck parked downstairs and seeing my dear neighbor’s belongings being carried around. A tear or two sneaked out as I talked to Connie and to Gus about their moving out. This brought back memories of my own moves, making me not a little bit envious. Not that I am in a big hurry to get out of here, especially when nothing is leaking, but the prospect of redecorating and such is appealing to me. Right now, here to stay!

When I got to The Club, Randy and Carol were already there at ‘our’ table. After a few moments, Mary joined us. It had been a couple weeks since I saw her and I was so glad she came! Poor Randy was a bit out of the circle with our ‘girl’ talk since Mary was telling about an upcoming wedding to which she is invited. It takes place on St. Valentine’s Day in St. Augustine (that’s a lot of saints!) and all are encouraged to wear red.

Mary is a whole head taller than I am and has trouble finding appropriately sized garments, much less formal wear. In red, no less! Her feet wear size 10 ½ which gives her grief as well. Today she was sporting her new sandals in order to wear them in a bit before the wedding. It was interesting to listen to her lament about being a big, tall, Swede with giant feet!

When I first met her, she mentioned wanting to write a book describing the sorrows of being a woman like her. I told her it’s not a picnic being my height either but I can get stuff easily from the lower shelves in the grocery store. Mary can get the high up stuff! She was the lady who made me laugh so hard at water aerobics, when discussing buoyancy, claiming she could never pick up the penny from the bottom of the pool! That just tickled me!

Carol mentioned that she had an old photo of her father that needed framing and after a bit of planning, off we three ladies went to Great Hangs Ups. Carol first went home to get her photo and came back to get Mary. I drove over myself because of needing to go to Publix. I warned Julia we were coming and asked her if she needed anything to eat. Since Dee retired, Julia often cannot get away, not wishing to close for lunch. She was fine, though, so I went over. Justin’s Packer stock certificate was framed and ready to go, looks fantastic!

The ladies and I had a great visit with Julia, selected the frame and matting for Carol’s picture, and Mary even bought some jewelry and ceramic plate. She thanked me for introducing her to my friends, and I am so glad for us all! We ladies thought about going to see “The Artist” this afternoon but it was no longer showing in our area. We guess it might come back again after the Academy Award show, when it will likely win a couple Oscars. There was nothing else we wanted to see without watching the trailers first so scratched the movie watching. Instead, I just went to Publix and came home.

Justin was going to make chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles for MamMa’s birthday but when I saw that the Decadance cake was on sale…well….I snapped it up! No muss, no fuss, and MamMa’s wish for chocolate will be granted! 

It’s a Bible study day!

This morning, Justin went to work early to get a couple hours’ work done at the office, reformatting computers and such. He has to initiate the process and then wait until the cleansing is completed. Together we went to Bible study at Victory and then I took him back to do work for the rest of the day.

He was planning to use his father’s car tonight to bring home his bookcase, at long last.  Having the bookcase will go a long way to helping him get organized, as would having his bed here. For some reason he did not bring the bookcase to my house after work, as originally thought. Justin has to stay at his father’s house overnight to keep an eye on his younger step-sister while the parents are out-of- town.

We began a new study today but right now, I cannot recall the name of the booklet. Pastor H. gets them from another synod’s publishing house. The turnout was fantastic, with a dozen of us around the tables. On the ride home, Justin remarked that he knew something about everything that was discussed in relation to the topic, and said his mind was so busy with what he knows. In the booklet, the example was given that physical maladies formerly were treated with a topical medication. This would be before the discovery of antibiotics and similar oral medicines, relating how Jesus works internally, etc. Justin gave me the run-down on the how’s/when’s of sterilization of hands and equipment in the ‘dark ages’, which helped save many lives. And that, my friends, is why I like my hands clean!

Pastor H. knows someone who works at Mayo in MN who called this morning to report a new research program being started. The research is to find a cure for death. WHAT???  Wouldn’t all medical research be to that end? Perhaps not a cure for death, but a cure of the illnesses which cause death? I declared I want this research to stop, because, when I die finally, I will wake up in the presence of the Lord. All agreed, our destination, or hope, is to have an end to our sojourn here and go home.

As part of that discussion, Justin told the story of how in his younger days, Prince Phillip of England, as an environmentalist, used to pray for viruses to come and reduce the population of the earth. The conversation had evolved to how some people more or less worship the Earth, the created, and scorn the Creator. Making their heaven on earth and wanting to control the things they can, or think they can, here.

Pastor H. told about a recent discovery, under the permafrost in Siberia, of a fresh-water lake, two miles deep. Scientists are busily ‘harvesting’ life from the water to see what type of amoeba or living creatures exist. Harold, of course, said two miles down was ‘not that deep…’ to which Justin said, “Yeah, only 10,000 feet!” Oh, honestly! I wonder what prompted anyone to even explore to see what is under that layer of ice. That must be what makes people become scientists, the curiosity. So, all in all, a good class with interesting discussion and a great way to spend the morning.

Tonight is Bible Information Class and I am sort of wishing I was not going. Most of me wants to stay right here but that’s not as beneficial as attending. It is especially good for Amber to have Judy and me there along side her. And it is never bad to have this periodic refresher of what we know! Judy J. had called me Wednesday to go to Aron’s for Stromboli and discuss the recent caucuses and primaries, but Justin and I were eating at home (what is this world coming to?) since I made a kettle of chili for us to enjoy. Judy declined my offer of a bowl of chili, however. We actually ate dinner after I got home from choir rehearsal, which is more my schedule anyway. I make good chili, I am not afraid to admit it!

A new Word for me

Not the Scriptures, but Microsoft Office which includes Word. When I got my new laptop last year, I took it to the computer guy who had tried to fix my gas powered desk top machine. He, then, transferred all the data from the big one to this new one, including an upgraded version of Office. I was quite pleased when young Steven delivered my freshly loaded laptop and hooked everything back into it. Justin was not called upon to do any of this for me, I had a paid professional on the job! I explained to Steven that I needed the new computer to write my newsletter and such since I did not have any word processing capabilities on the little laptop. Steven reached in his pocket and pulled out a jump drive, and proceeded to load Office on the other computer. Wow! I was ecstatic to be able to do it all, just about, from my bed!


Well, recently, when I opened Word on the bigger computer a warning came up, saying I had only 30 days left on my trial use of Office. Oh no! There was a box for me to enter my 'code' (not another code!!!!) which, of course, I do not have. Yes, I could have contacted Steven to see if he would give me the code, but I suspect this was not, um, the right thing to do. 


In discussing this with Justin, I had looked on-line to see how much it cost to buy my own copy and wondered how I would get it loaded on the little one without buying the downloadable version. I know, I know, too much to think about. He suggested I purchase the software at the store so I would have the back-up disc for installing, and figured if I ever had to update the little laptop, I could simply enter the 100 character code. Okay, I exaggerate the length of the code, but the little laptop has no place to insert a disc to download it so would be updated via the code---we think!


I went yesterday to Office Max, as I had only one day remaining on my 'trial basis'. When Justin came home from helping his father, he wanted to take a rest but I coaxed him into loading it for me. He HATED to do because it seems I had the top-of-the-line version in place and the one I bought was closer to the bottom. My needs are really simple in that regard. 


Justin had to uninstall what was yet in place, and install the lesser-quality version, which totally galled him! "But, Mom, on Publisher you could make origami swans and write stuff on their wings...." Yeah, I am all about that...and he is all about the bells 'n whistles. I so appreciate his help, believe me, and have to understand his passion for the upgrades! And he did get his rest before Trivia!
                                          
Monday Justin asked me to force him along when I left for Ladies' Group and drop him at the gym. I can wrestle him into the car, right? I said I would and told him I'd be at church at least an hour and a half, plenty of time for a work out. When he came home, he said I did not have to force him after all. He spent part of the day 'weight lifting' at the office, apparently stacking desks in the extra space. Why stack desks? There is going to be yet another 'yard sale' at the end of the month, selling the remaining office equipment and furniture. He stacked the desks by himself, so, yes, that was quite a workout!


At Ladies' Group, we had two extra ladies who came in response to an effort to get more interest in our group. I had made invitations (not origami ones!) with a Valentine-theme to hand to those not normally coming. It was also noted in the Flock Talk. Michelle used to be a member of GS years ago, had moved with the Navy, and then got orders back to Jax. Terri T. was the other 'guest' which was also nice. Judy C. made heart-shaped cookies, formed in a deep-dish cookie mold. Oh, my! Were they ever delicious!!??


Jean brought a lovely plant to offer as a door prize, which was won by Ellen, who had announced how she murders plants, prior to the drawing. Jean almost wouldn't let her take it home! I had to leave sort of quickly as Justin was making our dinner and didn't want to have him wait too long, but Judy packed up some cookies to-go. Justin got none of them!


He entertains himself nicely with his video games and declines my offers to help him put his clothes and such away. Hint, hint! His friends on the other side of the river are busy on weeknights with work, classes, or other activities. Weekends he generally does stuff with them but this past one he went over on Sunday after church for movies and football.


Saturday he shuffled some stuff around in the other guest room but much remains to be done to make it habitable. I have some house-guests coming next month and though they have been made aware of the now tight quarters, we should still make every effort to make sure they are comfortable. 


A choir is coming down from WI Lutheran College next month also, appearing at Victory on a Thursday night. Guess Judy C. and I will be missing BIC. I suspect Pastor will wish to go as well. The secretary there gave me 10 tickets to distribute to our members at GS but already I am out of them! Hopefully she give me a few more tomorrow when I go for Bible study. Love to know so many from GS are interested in this event. It's been a long time since we've had anyone come down this way, I guess it costs too much to venture so far from home!

An en'light'ning conversation

“..they will try anything to push their secular agenda down the throats of the religious community..” Boy, this made me sit up and take notice! I was ‘watching’ my radio show and heard this horrific declaration made by a guest on the program, the spokesman for the Catholic League. He was speaking in regard to the battle being waged against the edict from HHS requiring religious hospitals and medical facilities to provide “services” contrary to their doctrine. Nancy Pelosi, herself an R.C., said, “But we have to pass the Bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of controversy…” Controversy about contraception, and also abortion. Um, yeah, that’s a good idea, Nancy, and, now, according to Rev. Wright, “the chickens are coming home to roost!”

A letter was composed at ‘headquarters’ for all priests, bishops, chaplains, etc. of the Roman Catholic faith to read to their parishioners explaining the church’s position on this matter. That’s fine, except that the Dept. of Defense stepped in and forbade the chaplains to read the letter. Oh oh! Might that be construed as government interference in the church? Who ever saw THAT coming?? All the soldiers swear to protect and defend the Constitution which speaks to religious freedom, and yet, the chaplains are barred from reading the letter. Hmmm…A variation on the famous Niemoller quote from the late 1930’s: “When they came for the Jews, I said nothing because I am not a Jew. When they came for the Catholics, I said nothing because I am not a Catholic; but when they came for other Christians, there was no one left to speak for me.”

*******

My breakfast this late morning consisted of two leftover mini-subs from the Super Bowl party. Judy had made them and left a couple for Justin to take for lunch. He forgot them twice so now, they are mine! Monday at Bible study, one of the ladies asked how the party went, wondering if it was standing room only. Judy and I laughed, reporting that only 4 people were there. The ladies were stunned, and said they didn’t come because they thought it would be too crowded!!! I should have posted a sign-up sheet, I guess. 


Monday night the same remarks were made. Though it was not how I planned it to be, I am quite happy with those who did come and the great food we enjoyed! Amber, our prospect/friend, came over after Judy called to tell her there was plenty of room for her. Amber doesn’t like crowds, so no worries!

While Amber was here, her first visit, she kept saying, “You could have some mean parties here…” I assured her that usually I do have a larger crowd and have plenty of room for entertaining. She said she remembered ‘my’ parties in the past and I told her I was glad she back in my realm again. I hated it that we lost track of each other when her spouse stopped working for us. So glad that Judy told me that she worked with her at Moosehaven, and now, we go to church and BIC together!

After the Tea on Saturday, Justin and I cleaned the chandelier which badly needed attention. First I tried using the compressed air to push the dust out but that did no good. Simply wiping the cups on the fixture would not do it either, so Justin must dissemble it in part for me to wash the cups in the sink. We have a fairly good system, having done this about twice a year since 2007. However, this time, it was different---when it came to rotating the fixture to remove the bowls, the yellow one tipped right off the bracket!

It seems some Super Glue might be needed to secure the clear ring which supports the cup to the clear ring, attached to the arm. He had not touched it yet, but it tipped off anyway. Now, it would seem to me it was already detached, which leads me to think one of the housekeepers might have had an encounter with this and knocked it loose. The cleaners I ‘bought’ from Groupon used a vacuum cleaner for much of its dusting of fans, etc. and I am guessing this might have loosened the part. Oops!

Not having time to make the long-term repair, he asked me if I had anything in my scrapbooking supplies to hold the cup in place for now. YES! I had some blue tack which he applied between the cup and clear ring, hardly noticeable, and it held! Boy, that was pretty upsetting because I don’t know how ‘we’ would get that repaired otherwise, short (ha, ha, electrical humor!) of taking the fixture down and having it repaired by a glass artist, I guess. Such an artist repaired one of the flowers which serve as a center-piece on the dining room table. The repair is not visible at all! Perhaps the blue tack will stay in place for the rest of my days!

Before I left for the Tea event, I told Justin we would take care of that chandelier when I got home. He muttered, “That thing is more trouble than its worth…” and I corrected him immediately. It is of great value, if nothing else, it warms my heart! To remind you all---I had seen this chandelier hanging in a Murano glass shop in Florence, Italy when on a cruise with the Nichols’ ladies and fell in love with it. However, there was no place for such a fixture at the lake house, so I left it behind.

In 2006, after moving to this home, I took Justin on a cruise for his graduation, and we went to Florence. Instead of touring the Santa Croce and seeing those famous graves of Michaelangelo and Rossini, we went in search of the shop. In my mind’s eye, I knew exactly where it was, but in reality, I did not. He was relentless and eventually found the shop. And there it was!!! I am sure we surprised the shop clerk by being so decisive when it came to buying it. The price was less than I remembered and I was happier than I ever imagined!  

I have been on a little trip

When I became Queen of the Ladies’ Group this year, Twila delivered the presidential L.G. records to me in a plastic shopping bag. Actually two shopping bags, doubled, so the folders would not poke through the sides. One folder is a ring binder and the rest are the pocketed folders, some with the clasps down the middle for holding the pages in place.  At Wal*Mart the other day, I bought new ring binders to somewhat consolidate the records.

The first folder transferred quickly into the ring binder as it was the most recent of the records. There was nothing all that intriguing contained on those pages. The second folder, however, was quite a different story. The first page affixed to the clasps was dated “January 8, 2001”. Oh, wow! I was the president then also, and this was the Monday prior to my surgery which was the 11th. Less than a week after this meeting, my son died.

The next month’s meeting was conducted by VP Louise B. and in March, I was back again. For some reason, this seems odd now, but I know how it was for me then---the busier, the better. As I tell others since who are grieving, there are no rules, and I am thankful that I had the outlets to keep me busy and involved, both at church and in my business. And the friends and trusted ones to help me out!

Other interesting things found in that folder were the obtaining the new banners for Lent; making our presently used Chrismons; establishing the church library; planning and implementing regular game nights; having a House Warming for the new preschool teacher; obtaining the Paschal candle for use at Easter; and being invited to join Victory at their store front worship center for an Ascension service. Boy, I would like to have Game Nights again!!!

I’m baacckk!

This morning I woke to find an e-mail awaiting me from Google, informing me there was one more step to restoring my e-mail account. Yay! All I had to do was click the link, enter a new passcode/password and I was good to go. Such joy! It was like someone wheeled a cart of gold into my room, bringing my e-mail back to me. When he came into my room this a.m., I asked Justin if he’s ever seen a happier mama. He said that he had, but that did not deflate me one bit!

Yesterday’s Old Testament reading was from Job when he lamented his miserable state, even his boils had worms, and all that…I told Justin I knew how Job felt. Well, not quite, actually, not by a long shot, but I was sorely distressed about the terrible problems I would have fixing everything if I needed a new account. Whew! I know some people are disturbed that football players and fans offer supplications to the Lord on behalf of the game, but I am not above asking Him to help me remember my password or find another way to solve. “Another way” is how it worked out! Thank the Lord and Google for restoring my ability to communicate.