It's so dry

The other day I mentioned to Judy C. how I hesitated to say something for risk of ruining it, but my knees seemed less bothersome. They are still stiff, but not angry at me. Strange, I know. My thinking is that perhaps the humidity being less (barometric pressure changes) is having a positive affect on my joints. One negative effect (I am having a dilemma with the "a" and the "e" proper usage...) with dryer, heated air is the dry skin. I seriously need some moisturizing lotion!

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Justin came into my room this morning, looking all disheveled from sleeping, with a dour look on his face, and making growling noises. At first I wondered if someone outside or upstairs woke him up. I asked him why he looked so surly, to which he replied, "...another synonym...". Ahhh, I get it! I said, "Why do you look so grumpy?" and off we went to Grumpy's for breakfast. My sly and clever boy!!!

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Justin and his friends went to the late morning showing of "Red Dawn", newly released re-made version of the movie by the same name. I never saw the original, at least I don't think so, and I am glad his pals could go and I  don't have to! At Judy's the other day, Mike S. remarked that it has been 15 years since he has been inside a movie theater. How does that happen? 

                                   

He only recently bought a DVD player in order to watch a political DVD he ordered. Good for him catching up to technology. Now all he needs is a gas line hooked up to his range and he'll be able to bake. He doesn't like microwave ovens either...What a character! At least he has a cell phone and knows how to use the text feature.

****

Yesterday the mailman delivered to my door a box with my Advent cards in it, and two catalogs. As he handed them to Justin he said, "Sorry, no checks today---only catalogs." By this time I had come to the door and greeted him as he was walking off. I laughed and said, "He gets a hug and kiss when he brings me a check!" I thanked him for delivering the box to my door for me. I think he is not afraid of me anymore! 

                                                  

Now I could get busy and work on the Advent cards for the kids at church. Sadly, it didn't take very long for me to complete my task. Not enough kiddos at church anymore....We have one guy who is six years old, and the next one in line will be a one-year-old soon. Eli would not  yet appreciate an Advent card so he will have to wait a couple years for his.

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I made an executive decision, with which Justin is okay as long as I am. No Christmas tree is being put up and decorated this season. Wow! Instead, I will put up the table-top tree and perhaps a few other pieces to make the house festive. Since I am leaving so early in the month for WI and not coming back until after New Year---well, I just decided not to do it. He is a teeny bit relieved, as he is the guy to put up the tree and then take it down. Recently Justin has been looking at the catalogs which come at some regularity, finding trees that go up more easily, store more readily, and so on. This time he won't have to mess with it at all. 

                                     

The reason I am going 'home' so early in the month is to be in town for the major cultural event---the Lutheran High sacred concert at the Capital Civic Center. Not only is the concert marvelous, but it's a great opportunity to see folks I haven't seen since the year before. Old classmates, my former teachers, other people from the various congregations. 

                                 

Last year I had the chance to meet at this concert one of my Facebook friends, in the flesh, instead of only via the Internet! Love it! It is a great way to kick off the Christmas season, even if it's more than two weeks before Christmas! Messing with my schedule there, guys!

It must be the weekend

Justin and I were talking about this yesterday---how we are mixed up about what day it is. Besides having church two of the days, having the big dinners and 'holiday' feeling, it just felt like a Sunday afternoon to us. The only thing was---no football! That was our give-away. 

I got upset because the network where I usually catch my early evening dose of "Seinfeld" had a movie playing instead. Wait just a minute there!!! Justin said, "Oh, if only you had a giant box of DVD's in the family room to watch...." and offered to grab a disc or two of "Seinfeld" for me. Thanks anyway, Sweets, I will be okay. 

                                   

                                   This episode is called "The Subway"

Justin said he was messed up, too, so it is not just an 'old lady' thing here. He had to chuckle, getting things lined up for work even though that wouldn't happen for a couple more days! Originally he'd had plans to go with his friends for the evening, but people got tuckered out so scratched the outing planned. His boss swung by to pick up some games to play on his newly purchased XBox but didn't want to come up for a visit. Wanted to get home to play!

                                        

One of my favorite things about the feast days are the classic green bean casserole and real mashed potatoes. I did have potatoes at Judy's and at The Club, but did not have the casserole. Fortunately, I had the ingredients to make my own batch, as well as potatoes. At Judy's Thursday, she was telling me how she doesn't care for mashed potatoes with the skins on. I do, however, and rather appreciate some lumps. "Sticky, but good.." was how my little niece, Lisa, described my mashed potatoes as a child. Sticky but good is right! Made for a good dinner last night, too, with the leftover Wimpy meat to compliment the beans and mashed potatoes.

My day began quite early as I made the jaunt down the street to Sun Tire to have the car checked. The guy I spoke to said to bring it right in before they got busy so I was in their door before 8:00 a.m.! Nick was at the counter when I walked in and said, "We just saw you the other day..." so I explained to him what the deal was. 

A fellow walked in and Nick handed him my keys. Just like that! I asked, "Does he know what he's looking for?" Nick answered, "He does if you tell him..." This was confusing to me, and I asked, "Must I go out there and talk to him?" Nick told me that was the guy I spoke to on the phone so he already knew what to look for. I know it was early but really, that was confusing! How should I know that only Nick and Ray are the ones who answer the phone. And who is Ray???

Anyway, I got situated in the wait area, again with the History Network on, and began to read my book. In less than 20 minutes, Ray came in and handed me the keys, saying, "There you go...." I got him to explain to me what was going on, why I was smelling exhaust in the car. It seems some overspray or overfill got on the engine cover (nodding and looking like I understand...) and he did his best to clean things off. Ray said I might smell it a little bit as it works out of the systems but "it won't start a fire or anything..." I hadn't even considered that!! Thanks very much, Ray!!

                                   

By shortly after 8:00 a.m. I was back home and watching the rest of the news. Should have gotten Justin up to go have breakfast but instead enjoyed a lovely ham sandwich on a home-baked roll. He brought these goodies home with him the night before from his father's house. I should have shared my pumpkin pie with him but didn't. Perhaps today I should make him a pie, spreading out our holiday feast for the entire weekend!

Facebook replaces the newspaper!

The local paper from my hometown, the Herald-Times-Reporter, most of the time blocks my viewing of articles, wanting me to become a subscriber to this on-line 'newspaper'. It is barely that, but I do visit the website regularly to see what's going on, check the weather and see if anyone I know has died. Yes, I am at THAT age now! Often times the Green Bay paper carries the same articles, so I can sneak a peak on their pages. 

Someone posted this photo on Facebook of the First German Lutheran Pioneer's float entered in the Thanksgiving parade. I thought that parade was held at night in the past but this time it appears to be light outside. Or else they have a really good camera! 

In yesterday's paper was a very nice article written about the Thanksgiving Day meal prepared and served at First German. One of their members posted the link on FG's Facebook page. The article featured Ralph and Jean Schwark who do the majority of the meal prep, with a team of helpers to set-up, serve, and take down. Ralph cooked when in the military so knows what he's doing in the kitchen. 

Both his wife and he use canes for getting around which can't be easy when working on one's feet all day like that. Oh my! Open to the public and to their own members, it's a wonderful service to the community. FG has a great PR service going for it, somehow or another, and part of that is thanks to Facebook!

A day of living thanks

I am full! Not so full that I can't walk but enough so that I could not eat the slice of pumpkin pie sent home with me from Judy's feast. She made the pie from scratch, including her own crust! Wow! 

Justin and I attended worship last night at Victory. What a lovely service it was! We sat with Erica and her friend, Zach, and enjoyed the pie 'n ice cream social afterward. Justin pitched in to help Rachel put up tables for the bell choir in preparation for Sunday worship. 

On the ride home, we stopped at Publix at Town Center Mall to get more Diet Coke (such a good price!) and few more items. We both noticed the smell of exhaust in the car when operating the A/C or heat. This is new since my oil change Tuesday so I have to take the car back to have them check it over. It seems the smell stayed on me, in my hair or something. Not good! What did they do???

This morning I got up far too early and even tried to go back to sleep, to no avail. Church was at 10:00 am and at 9:00 Justin came tapping at the door, wondering if I was watching the parade or "The Godfather". I told him I was still watching the news but had better get moving. He opted to stay home today to watch the parade, having worshiped the night before. 

GS had a good number of folks attending, and those not there missed a nice service. It tracked through the church year in readings and hymns to help us give thanks for what we enjoy today---salvation. (Last year I made a full turkey dinner, served around 2:00 pm, and still was able to attend worship...I'm just saying...) To me, the holidays are incomplete without the worship. 

Got to see the pastor's daughter home from Luther Prep, a newly licensed driver! Anna is only three months younger than Timmy would be so this gives me pause...Glad to have missed out on having him be a licensed driver! At Victory Wednesday night, Amanda reminded me that her son, DJ, will be 17 next month, born a month before Timmy. He does not have a license as the insurance is far too expensive!

Justin and I went to The Club to have our ThanksLiving feast at noon. We went early to allow for him to be hungry enough to eat again later at his father's house. I was going to Judy's after the first feast, so we both paced ourselves nicely at our first feast! 

Justin enjoyed the variety, and I enjoyed the basics at the buffet. He had lobster bisque (that always makes me think "Seinfeld"!), shrimp, smoked salmon, and other less traditional food items for ThanksLiving. 

                                                 

I had the sirloin, a slice of deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, a fresh-baked roll, and a cup of Waldorf salad. Oh, that was delicious! Our waiter was Julius, from the cabana, which was very nice. He made sure my soda glass was kept full at all times! For dessert I had a champagne glass with creme brule while Justin had pumpkin pie and a fruit with cream delight. 

The best part was seeing people I knew and greeting them. Many I will see next week again as we resume our Friday morning Breakfast Club. They were waiting for a signal from me, and I gave it to them. And then I am leaving so I hope they gang keeps meeting once I am gone.

When I got to Judy's, I grabbed a 12 pack of Diet Coke from the back of my car as my dish to share. She was still hard at it in the kitchen, with the two Mike's in the living room watching football. David, Judy's grandson, was in the family room on Skype with his parents. I am so glad he was getting a nice feast for the holiday, as he is a law student at UF and away from home. But not THAT far from Grandma's!

Judy began to carve the bird and realized that it was not quite done baking. The meat was pink even though the thermometer showed it was done. Back into the oven it went to finish baking. 

She made mashed potatoes, stuffing in the bird, green beans with mushrooms, corn, rolls, and served canned cranberry sauce. Perfection! I went bonkers with the potatoes and corn. She said, "It's just frozen corn..." but it hit the spot for me. There was also home-made pumpkin pie but both Mike S. and I took ours to go. Too full to eat it!

Together we watched The Five, which was so great to do, and then I headed for home. They were going to her daughter's house yet that night and I was ready to watch some of the "Godfather" on AMC. It is my holiday tradition, and you don't mess with the family---EVER!!! Like David mentioned before I left, everything you need to know in life, you can learn from the Godfather movies. Simple things like how to make good spaghetti sauce, to leave the gun but take the cannoli's, to say the days of the week, and never, ever say anything against family, ever! Very funny! 

It's all about food...

....but food for thought.

Yesterday I met a lady while visiting Julia and Dee. She wanted to have a photo retouched---a picture of her dad, in his military uniform, dated in the 1940's. The finish was cracked but Dee has a way to 'repair' such things, restore them, for folks.

The client came in with shorts on and knee socks, with a brace on her left knee. She also sported a big white v-neck cardigan sweater over her clothes. Interesting...Well, as she chatted, it was explained that her husband with dementia was waiting in the car, but was fine. 

Her swollen hands ached, and she showed us how one finger sort of locks in the bent position making it impossible to do simple things. She seemed sad, but then not really, just glad to have someone to tell her troubles to. "D" had breast cancer, lost both her breasts but could not have implants since she would not survive the surgery. 

There was a heart attack, some auto-immune disease we ladies were unfamiliar with, and her bad knee. She was thankful for the brace which allowed her to stand!!! Otherwise, she would have been in a wheelchair, like her mom was before she died.

"D" pointed out her bloated stomach which was the result of her medication after the mastectomies. She said she wished she got a little baby from her 'pregnant' tummy! Funny and yet, tragic. Evidently the hormones make her body 'protect' the remaining fat and bloat her. The choice of clothing, then, is limited due to no breasts (but extra flesh remaining from where the implants were intended), the bloated tummy, and the knee brace.

One heart-rending thing she told us was how much she misses her husband, even though he was waiting in the car. Not the shell of a man he's become, but her dearly beloved. I could barely swallow...

He shines, though, in the company of his granddaughters, especially when they practice their reading in front of him. Somehow that connects for him and he with them. "See Jane run. Run, Jane, run..." she told us. 

Her facial appearance reminded me very much of my friend, Joanne, so I really must remember to call her! More than once this lady reached out to grasp my arm or hand, and across the desk to reach Dee's hand. I guess not only her husband flourishes from the touch of others....

Before she left the shop, Dee gave her a warm hug, a long one, as Dee has a way of repairing these things...restoring folks.

Stuff like this has a way of sticking with you!

Thought gathering

Today I broke out a pair of red fuzzy slippers purchased two years ago from a resale shop, when my sister, Kerry, was here for a visit. She loves to shop those stores and I was glad to take her there. I came upon this pair of slippers, still in the wrapper and held together with the plastic ties to keep them as a pair. A cardboard sleeve fit over the toe, also secured. In order to wear them, I had to use a giant nail clipper that had belonged to my father to clip those plastic thingies. I had a small pile of thingies to dispose of before slipping my feet into the red fuzziness.

                                            

These slippers were higher and more difficult to put my foot into, more like a boot with a ribbon around it. That ribbon might need to clipped away, too! Anyway, once I got my foot in and stepped down, it sounded like I was cracking the floor. Oh my!!! Apparently the soles are a bit brittle and make a huge crunching sound as I walk. Can't sneak up on my boy with these on! And they are slick on the bottom which means I must wear them outside to rough up the soles. This has become a monumental task...breaking in new slippers!

****

Yesterday I had an appointment to get my oil changed and tires rotated after Bible study and lunch. When I pulled in, I could see every bay was full, but I had an appointment. Well, when I got inside, I was greeted warmly and then the fellow said, "Miss Kim, I know you're usually very patient but we are running about 2 hours behind today. We have a technician out..." I am very patient but can wait much better from my home, so made a new appointment for this a.m., bright and early for 9:00. 

Today there was no waiting, and was out the door in less than an hour! I didn't mind terribly having to go back, and do appreciate them being honest with me about the timing. Car systems all checked out good, as well.

                                        

When I first got to the shop, the History Channel was playing in the wait area. Usually I watch Fox News there so I asked Nick if he could change the station for me.  Nick said that had to keep the TV off the news since in recent months folks were getting into arguments over it. There was only one man in the wait area with me, on the phone. Nick told me once the other guy was gone, he would change the channel for me. 

Two seconds after the guy left, Nick came in and handed me the remote control. Since I don't know the DISH networks' channels, another technician who simply came for a cup of coffee helped me out. Ahhh....that's better! I was going to put the remote back on the soda machine when I left, but a lady who came in asked me to let her have it, and she put on the Today show. NewsLite!

*****

                                               

It is so nice to have the sun back again! The one good thing about not having the sun shining across my floors is one doesn't see the hair/dust/cruddlies accumulated on the floor. Much to Justin's chagrin, I DO see it when the sun is out!!! Instead of waiting for Justin to get home to address it, I got busy with the microfiber sweeper thingy. The kitchen got it, as did the hallway he just vacuum cleaned and Swiffer Wet mopped. In my room, I used the handy dandy device he got me (himself) and it seems to have done an okay job. When I had these floors put in, my upstairs neighbor remarked, "Now you have to vacuum every day..." and I scoffed. No scoffing any more, unless I grow to appreciate cruddlies on my floors! 

****

I am so sleepy again this morning, having awakened around 5:30 and not going back to sleep. Whether something is waking me up or it's a natural thing, I am not sure, but now I am sleepy. No time for a nap, though, as I am leaving shortly for a visit to Great Hang Ups and to meet my friend, Jacquie, for lunch. She is having her nails done first and then we dine! No Bible history class today so this worked out great time-wise. Can rest my eyes this afternoon after I get home again. 

I did a load of wash this a.m. and had to handle a foul smelling dishcloth which had been placed in the laundry on Sunday night. Phew! I was tempted to throw it away but the washing machine took care of it. What is up with that??? I am getting so particular in my old age, it seems. Just wait until Justin and I start cleaning out the cabinets!

Sunday night I was putting stuff in the fridge and Justin peeked over the door at me. I said I wished I could do that, see over the top of the door, and he said, "You wouldn't want to..." I asked why and he rubbed his finger across the top of the fridge, removing a layer of dust. I looked at him and asked, "You know what you just did there, don't you???" and he said he did. Yup, get the stool, boy!

Chilled to the bone

Yes, I know it is only in the low 50's but the grey skies this past week and the drizzly air make it seem much colder outside. And inside! This morning Justin sent me a text message reporting he was getting colder and colder the longer he was working outside. Usually when a person is working like that, a sweat is built up. Not so today for my boy! The sun did come out yesterday after church but it is hiding again, not be seen at all today. My friend, Emily, wrote this a.m. that she is sick and tired of the gloomy days and I told her it felt like Seattle around here!

At Bible study Pastor asked me if I was okay when I had my hands on my face, but I explained it was trying to warm up my ice cold nose. Fran's hands were icy, too, and she was sporting a fleece turtleneck sweater and a jacket over the top of it. 

Judy C. reported she dressed her two grandkids in t-shirts and jeans, but was thankful they had sweatshirts to keep them warm. Clay Cty. school is out this entire week so she went to get them from home this a.m. and dropped them at her house for Uncle Mike to watch during Bible study. They joined us for lunch at Longhorn later on. 

                                           

Right now I am snuggling with my microwavable heat cylinder and have the space heater going in my closed up room. The heat for the house is set at 74 and has not run since it reached that temp this early afternoon. Justin has my 'old' office space heater in his room to take the chill out. The oven is roasting some beef and pork to make Wimpy sandwiches with later on. Fresh Publix dinner rolls will host the meat mixture when we eat around 7:30. Smells great in here!

Yesterday afternoon Justin and I watched the good Jaguar game together, 'til he got too hot. He came and went as the game went on, even into overtime yet again. It could have gone either way, but sadly, the Jags lost to Houston. I think that's the 3rd time the Jags have gone into OT this season, and the 3rd time they lost it. But still, it was a great game for a change. 

                                            

While watching the game, I also went shopping and did the majority of my CHRISTmas shopping from one store. The presents are already on their way to my mom's house where I will wrap them once I get there. I am proud of not spending too much money while buying for 6 little boys! I ordered from a store they have access to in case exchanges need to be made.

Justin so kindly preheated my room for me Sunday so I would be more comfortable after getting home from lunch. Nice! I had a chore for him to take care of, that being the vacuuming of the hallway floors and the washing thereof. He got frustrated trying to use the clever floor tool he bought me (himself!) and resorted to the big vacuum cleaner. Justin expressed his dismay that the dust just gets into little bales and won't clean up, not even with the Swiffer wet mop. He had to go back and vacuum up the little bales once done mopping. Not his favorite job, as you might guess. Perhaps now he understands my frustration with having to look at it, right after he's done vacuuming!