All fixed up...

Much to my dismay, my 'big' laptop at my desk was having problems playing back my podcasts, or making any type of sound at all. I listen to the radio shows here as well as play back podcasts or watch video clips or news items, all with sound. When I expressed this problem on Facebook, my former neighbor, Randy, advised 'us' to uninstall the audio driver and then do a reset, and the driver would re-install itself, hopefully resolving the problem. Justin tried that this a.m.,  to no avail. 

                                             

Then, he wondered if perhaps the problem was not with the sound card device but rather with the hardware. He went into the back bedroom and came out with my 'old' external speakers which he plugged into my computer. I had used them with the Big Blue gas powered machine which had no speakers of its own. I must have burned out the ones in my laptop and now use the external ones again. Hey, if it allows me to continue as 'normal', I am okay with them!

                                      

He was also checking into what was needed for making my little laptop Internet ready, which was part of the charm when I purchased it. Evidently we must take the laptop somewhere to have it made ready to receive the Verizon wireless capabilities, at a cost. In my mind, I am thinking I might just muddle through as I have in the past when visiting my mom, and go to the coffee shop to access the Internet. 

                               

             Jenn's Java in Manitowoc, WI. 

I don't drink coffee but do eat their delicious treats!

I can download my podcasts there, or at Linda's house, plus work on my newsletter and send it off from my sister, Jill's, computer. She is good about letting me use her machine during my visits, very handy as she is living in the same building as my mom.

Justin had to run an errand to his boss's house and is stopping at Publix on the way back. He is getting the ingredients needed to make the famous Strawberry Pretzel Torte for me to serve to Stephanie and Jean for dessert on Saturday evening. Yay! Jean has an open-ended ticket for her return to WI but I didn't want to waste a minute before having them come over for dinner! The meal will be less than impressive as my plans are for a casserole. The dessert will save me face!

                              

According to the weatherman on the radio, it is supposed to be a 10 on the scale of good days. Justin and I have been waking up early this entire week to listen to the morning radio show in case our names are called as winners of an iPad and a mini-iPad. He seems to think that if either of us win, he gets the full-size one and his mom gets 'stuck' with the mini. It seems he would get more use from the full-size iPad (he already has one and has dropped it, cracking its face) than I would ever use! I just want to prove him wrong. But first, I must win!

Neither of us won anything on the recent lottery drawing either (we partook in the 'Stupid Tax', as the lottery is considered by some) on the off-chance of being winners. Since he was a little boy, Justin would dream of what he'd do with the money if he won. Some of his ideas were quite grand, like buying a pipe organ for Good Shepherd. Pete told him he would have to buy someone to play it, too! 

In later years, when Noah still worked at night, Justin wanted to install a security system and put central air conditioning in their home. Plus take care of others in his family who are in need. Now, as he told me last night, he wants to establish scholarships for the six little boys in our family to make sure they are properly educated.  Love that about him, just love it! But, one must win first, to do all that!

It's Italian!

Today at Bible study, we had full tables, welcoming back some who had been traveling and one young man who happened to have the day off from his landscaping job. It was so good to have everyone there, except Rita was missing. We did a study about Advent, beginning in the beginning, with the fall into sin and the reason a Savior was needed. I hope this study goes on for the few classes I will be in before leaving for WI!

                                          

Justin and I were planning to have lunch at Maggiano's and asked Erica and her grandma, Jean, to join us. They did! We took advantage of their special deal where if you buy a certain meal, another goes home with you. Sweet! Justin and I each got another meal, or in my case, at least three or four more, as I ate only half of my lunch! Erica and Jean took home a portion of ravioli to have another time, plus leftovers from their shared lunch. Great plenty and a great deal. 

Justin was able to find the perfect parking space for us, one we hated to give up (ala "Seinfeld") so we went into Barnes and Noble. We each bought something---yes, before Christmas---ignoring the rules about not buying stuff for yourself before Christmas. I got "The Joy of Hate" and he bought a board game to play with his buddies. His game has something to do with Wil Wheaton from Star Trek: The Next Generation fame. We had to hike to the very back of the store to the humor department to find my book. Whew!

                                          

As we were heading for the check-out, we stopped at a table of books where I found one about Italy. At lunch I had been telling Erica about "Under the Tuscan Sun" and the beauty of Tuscany, etc. This book just pushed me over the edge as we paged through it, as tears formed. Justin looked at the cover of the book and said, "Mom, you have this book at home...." Sure enough, I do! Now I can cry at home looking at my own book, or my scrapbooks!

Nice time with friends

This evening I enjoyed time spent with some of my neighbors and other friends at The Club. It is officially listed as being "Happy Hour" but for me, it's dinner! One of my newer friends from the pool, Pat, and her husband, David, were there, too. David plays tennis with one of my neighbors so they had more connection than only mine with the group. I had my Kim Burgers as did Pat and David. They shared an order plus had side salads to go with it. I had the onion straws, thank you!

We met in the 'living room' of The Club, with the giant fireplace going. Love that crackle and snap of logs on the fire, and the scent as well. There was a floor to just-shy-of-the-ceiling Christmas tree in the room as well, with twinkling lights. Not flashing ones, but twinkling, as though the fire was flickering off the ornaments. It was just so beautiful! We had about 18 of us around a table, with the circle being made bigger and bigger as folks arrived. In this room, the acoustics were more conducive to conversation, and it was just downright cozy!

When the food came out, Pat, David, and I moved to another table. Other folks were also leaving to go and eat out, with the lady asking me how to go about leaving without drawing notice. I told her I would cause a distraction so they could slip out! They were my upstairs neighbors and planned to leave this lovely event to go to dinner elsewhere. You almost need a note from the doctor for that to happen!!

This was my last blast likely for this year with Advent beginning this Sunday. We will have midweek worship on Wednesday nights followed by choir rehearsal. Sadly, I will only be here for one of the Sundays when we are scheduled to sing as a choir. I could use more than one rehearsal before singing but hopefully the anthem will be a familiar one for us. The Maestro knows our gifts, and knows our limits as well.

This morning I was printing off a newsletter when suddenly my printer was making beeping noises at me. Rats, I was out of ink! It was a cold, dreary day and I was forced out into the elements to fetch ink. It was shocking how much the refills cost and I told the nice man who helped me that I might be better off getting a new printer. He told I would be better off, because ink for my elderly printer is more expensive than for newer ones. I goofed! Should have spent the extra $30 and gotten the newer printer instead of walking away from it. Shoot!

                                              

Justin recently changed the cartridges in my photo printer (my secondary one) but I got an error message from it saying it was no longer able to print. Fine! Judy C. uses the same printer so I will give her my cartridges. The new printer will have a slot for downloading the photos from my SD card so I won't need to keep the photo machine around. Justin wonders how many printers wind up in the landfills because of the expensive ink to keep them running...Good question!

                                              

While at Office Max, I looked at the stationery (my weakness) to see if there was something I could use for my CHRISTmas letter but it was either 'holiday'- or winter-themed or one I had used in years past. I found something else to use and I like it! 
                                    
It felt so good to be back in my warm room again. The rest of my house was 74 above zero but my room was probably closer to 80. I told Justin I would like a thermometer for my room (hint, hint)...

I also got stamps at Office Max, saving another stop for me. I had printed off the prospect newsletters for next month and had them ready except for the postage. On the 'front' of that newsletter is the listing for our special services in December so I want to get them in the mail pronto. 

On my way out, I dropped the Advent calendar cards in the mail so the kids will get them before Sunday, the first day for opening the flaps. If I send them too early, the kids who don't know what to do open the flaps prematurely, so timing is essential! Plus, some of the cards have to make their way to Sheboygan, WI, which need extra travel time.

Oh, I can't wait to see those boys again!!!!

Oh, a late night...

It was so wonderful to see and hug Stephanie tonight! Her mom, Jean, and she just flew in from WI only a couple hours earlier, so I didn't expect them to show up at class. I should have! When they got up this a.m. it was 14 above zero, so the 64 they came 'home' to felt wonderful!

                                     

Our study tonight was on the Lord's Supper, with six of us in class. What can be a difficult lesson to understand by those not familiar with the practice of close communion, everyone, those going through the class for the first time, seemed to grasp it. And the great mystery of receiving the body and blood of the Lord---well, it was a great class!

I had gotten a phone message from my Elder while in class so I listened to that before driving home. When I called back, it went to voice mail on his end. It could wait, evidently. I was also waiting to hear from someone else from church, but he'd gone to the movies with his son, to see "Lincoln". I know it will be a while as it's a long movie. Can stay up late enough for him to call me back.

Today was the day for Bible history so on my long ride to Lake Asbury, I called Mom. She was surprised to hear from me in the morning on a Tuesday since normally I call in the evening. Shouldn't mess with my mama like that! Part of the road to where I was going is under construction, a good half of it. As I drove along and talked, it occurred to me that I must have missed my turn. I told Mom I had to hang up and drive, which I did, but it turned out I was on the right path all along! The road had been 'redirected' to eliminate the turn and just take me directly to where I was going. Imagine that!

                                          

Amber was late in arriving, by nearly 40 minutes, and I was thinking she was not coming. She was obviously upset and her state of mind was such that class was out of the question. Several tissues later, hers, not mine this time, she told us her troubles, the majority of which are financial ones. Breaks our hearts! Judy was going with her to help take care of some things and I went home to cook up some plans. Prayers are needed for our friend, please...

When I was talking with Justin about the situation a little bit ago, he started coming up with ideas, too, to help resolve the issue. I can't wait to hear what else he comes up with tomorrow when he's had more time to process the whole story. Gotta love a guy who is a problem solver. 

Another friend, a shirttail family member, is waiting and waiting for her house sale to go through. According to her Facebook communication to me this evening, Wednesday is going to be the day. Only about a week and half after it was planned to close, but hopefully now all the bugs are worked out and she is good to go. Her JEEP has been packed up with the remaining items, the POD with her household belongings in it already in WI, with a TV and sleeping bag left in the house. Can't wait to hear that it's finally a done deal and she is on her way. I will see her in December in our shared hometown and we will hug each other in person instead of virtually! Love that...

Still waiting for the phone call tonight...

That's it, folks!

This mornings' Bible study was the last of 2012 for us. Pastor said it gets too busy at this time of the year to have it so we reconvene January 7th, 2013. 2013? That does seem odd to write and then read, doesn't it? We will still have the class on Sunday mornings, and for me, I will have the two classes at Victory until it's time for me to leave for WI. I won't starve but some people at GS just might. They could always go to the class Pastor does at the neighboring apartment complex on Saturdays....

For the next couple of weeks I will still have Bible history class with Amber. She has not been able to attend worship very often but hopefully those gift cards for gas my other friend donated to her will make a difference. While they were intended to enable Amber to get to Bible history, she could stretch the gas to get to church, too. Midweek is good, too, with our little class, if that's all she can afford to do. We have time for three more classes before I leave for the holidays, including tomorrow's class.

Six of us ladies went to lunch at Longhorn and had a different waitress who takes much better care of us. Her name is Amber also, oddly enough, and is in the family way. She had been once before but suffered a miscarriage. This time she has more confidence in the pre-natal care she is under and is nearly 4 months along. Amber is a dear young lady, still has her wedding picture taped to her order taking book! I had a burger from the children's menu with fries, but left most of the fries behind. How a kid eats a burger that size is beyond me!

After lunch I went to Beall's to make a return and an exchange that had been pending for some time. The top was a simple return because I had the receipt, but the exchange of shoes was less easy to do. I had no receipt nor could the clerk track the purchase using my two bank cards. How odd that is! That was my only way of paying for things, why didn't they show up?

This is the shoe I was trying to exchange! Aren't they cute?

Twice the manager had to come up front to assist the clerk yet in training, for this simple exchange of one size shoe for another. Then, it occurred to me what happened, why I didn't have the receipt---my sister probably paid for the shoes! We had consolidated our purchases in order to make the most of the coupons I had. Now it made sense! And eventually I was able to exchange the shoes, same priced, just different sizes and was out the door. Wal-Mart and Kohl's have a great program for making returns and exchanges, and that is something to keep in mind.

Justin came in from work covered in dirt from head to toe. Even his feet were black, and he said, "I need new boots!" I would get him some for Christmas but I have to know exactly what to get so his feet and he are happy. At one point he had a brand that did not hold up well at all, and I don't want to do that to him again. Somehow I will have to sneak a peek. Could have done that when he had them parked outside the doors to "dry off", because he had cut residential lawns all day, and almost every home had a dog.....pheew! Thank you for leaving them outside, Justin!

                         

On the left side of the plate is the green bean casserole, then the pork strips, a sauce for the pork wtith Tostitos chopped up in it (he made it up himself), and a Publix dinner roll!
Tonight for dinner he wanted to make some gnocchi he bought at Publix the other day but instead we had leftovers, as I could barely fit my to-go box into the fridge the way it was. What we didn't finish off was placed into smaller containers for the sake of space. Sunday after he got home from the football game he made us breaded pork chops which he coated with crumbs and bathed in shredded cheese. He asked me to make another green bean casserole, since we had the ingredients on hand. It was a very nice meal to have when watching the Packer game. In fact, it was the only good thing about the Packer game. No worries, though, we will brush ourselves off again, come back strong next week!!! By "we" I mean, Justin and me, but I cannot speak for the Packers!!!

Some joy, some misery

The misery factor is high tonight as Justin and I watch men wearing Packer uniforms get trounced in New York. Oh, it's painful painful painful! 
                              
Such a contrast to the game played by the Jaguars today where they actually won! They beat the Titans by five points, making it the 2nd victory this season. Whoo hoo! As much as we looked forward to our Sunday night watching football, we are crushed. There are only so many crushing defeats that I can stand in one month, guys!

Changing it up

This morning we began a new study of the book of Galatians, a welcome change from the five weeks of stewardship classes. As I mentioned, the first two weeks were replays of last year's program and then the next three were the new program from Synod. I also went through the entire 2012 program start to finish in one hour's time at Victory so am good to go in regard to being a faithful steward! Sadly, I won't be able to keep up with the Galatians study because of leaving for WI. Linda assures me there are good studies going on up there which I will enjoy. 

                                 

On the way to church this a.m. it occurred to me that I had left my camera at home. Shoot! I was supposed to be taking photos of people for the Flock Board. I had a nice purse camera which would have worked only the camera won't tolerate its batteries. Guess I could take it somewhere for a check-up to see what is going on. 

It would not do me any good to call Justin to bring it with him as he spent the night at Ron's house and was leaving from there for the football game. Oh, I do hope he is dressed warmly because it got down to 33 above zero overnight and is only in the 60's today. It's a good Jaguar game, now in the 3rd quarter and they don't stink. Justin said they can't win or will lose their good position for draft picks. What do I do? Cheer or not???

After church was Fellowship Sunday for which Judy serves teeny sandwiches and cookies. An offering is taken for the scholarship fund for our two students at our prep Synod school. (One is a member at Christ, Keystone Heights.) At least it helps defray some of their costs for travel and such. Pastor forgot to mention it in the announcements so one of the ladies stood outside to remind people to come in. At first it looked as though there would be a lot of food leftover but then the flood gates opened! No sandwiches remained and only a few cookies. Judy wrapped some up to-go for Joe Z., that sweet loving man!

Somehow or another, as the result of the outcome of a college football game played Saturday, it was decided to eat at the Duval Chili's so that an adult beverage could be enjoyed with our meals. I have no dog in that fight but Mike C. and Terri T. did. Seven of us went up to OakLeaf's restaurant and had to wait for a table. Once seated the service was incredibly slow, and Mike didn't even have an adult beverage!!! What was this all about??? We decided to stick to our own Chili's from now on where everyone knows our names (well, sort of...)!

We were seated before the Jags game began and left during halftime. Wow! That restaurant was busier than the Wells Road one, it seemed, or else it is smaller. Anyway, the company was great and that counts, too!

                                               

Back in the Fellowship Hall, Gretchen was talking with me about my climbing the stairs at First German to sing with the choir on Christmas Day. Former choir members are encouraged to join the current ones in singing "The Hallelujah Chorus", which I did last year. I told Gretchen I had to start out early enough in the service to have caught my breath in order to sing at the appointed time. She finds that so amusing! Then, Gretchen said she wished she could hear it. I told her she can! Last year I had gotten a CD recording of the service and am taking it to her Monday so she can listen at home. "Oh, some good music..." she exclaimed when I told her the entire worship service was on the CD. Yay for Gretchen!

Besides the Chorus, she was talking to me about her great purchases at Publix this past week. Apparently she enjoys the BO/GO sales like Justin and I do, only she stocked her larder (crisper drawer in the fridge!) with Dove chocolate! She is such a hoot! I guess that is in keeping with the stewardship classes we have been going through---getting the most for your money!

Well, it seems the Jaguars are going to pull off a victory here against the Titans unless they do something wretched to mess it up. Justin will be so glad to leave the stadium not in tears for a change! Go Jags! And tonight, Go Pack Go!!!