I hate to be a grinder...

...and am glad I am not a grinder! Those poor fellows out there attempting to smooth the rough edges of the concrete must be miserable. We got a late afternoon memo from the project manager indicating the preliminary work they are doing now should be wrapped up by the end of the week, so less noise will be experienced. And much less noise appreciated!

In speaking with the remodeler who is at work above me, they are in the final phases of the job. He informed me (gulp!) that the water has been turned back on for some time already. I would like to have known this, I guess, which means I missed a few weeks of hand-wringing! He is going to come down here on Thursday to check out the drain in my bathroom sink as it has been running slowly. AJ says he has all kinds of fun things to use to open the drain, short of taking the pipes apart, I pray!

                                         

Last night I was chatting with Linda via Facebook during The Five, as is our custom, and she told me how Tommy had an egg salad sandwich before leaving the hospital that afternoon. He had shoulder surgery in the morning and was allowed to go home around noon. Amazing! But, anyway, the sandwich sounded so good to me that I decided that I would make some egg salad for myself.

I grabbed a carton of eggs from the shelf, one of two, and cooked six eggs to start with. In addition to making egg salad I decided to mix up a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from a package purchased bo/go at Publix. It called for an egg so I grabbed one from the 2nd carton, and put the remaining three into the kettle with the others. Those new three floated on the top of the water, which can't be good. I checked the expiration date on that carton and sure enough, these eggs were from November!!! Using a spoon, I pulled them back out and put all four eggs down the disposal. That was close!

Next, to make the cookies, I needed a stick of soft butter which I did not have, so I took one out to soften. The recipe said not to melt it so I let nature take its course. The cookies would have to wait. I did place the plate with the butter on on the stove not too close to the kettle cooking the eggs, which is not nature taking its course. I like to give nature a hand!

Eventually I did make my egg salad and baked my cookies, both of which turned out great. In the meanwhile, I had planned to make sausage with onions and peppers for Justin's and my dinner. Since he called in sick (quite pathetic on the phone!) and rescheduled for Thursday, I made a bag of cauliflower and added cheese sauce to it. Yum! That was my dinner, followed by two fresh baked cookies for dessert. 

I will have the egg salad this morning for my breakfast, plus a cookie. There is really no problem with having a cookie for breakfast as it contains many of the usual breakfast ingredients in a different shape. A breakfast bar is rectangular, while my breakfast cookie is a perfectly shaped round, and much smaller than a breakfast bar. Washed down with some V8 Fusion and we will call it a meal!

From the church archives

At church, we ladies are working on preserving the pictorial archives which have accumulated over the years. Originally the photos were pressed into albums with sticky or magnetic pages, neither of which are good for preserving the integrity of the photos. We are using archival papers and adhesives to transfer the photos and memorabalia into new albums. Often we had duplicates of photos, which I brought home with me some time ago to scan, and did so last night. 

This photo was taken at the groundbreaking service for the 'new' parsonage which my company built in 1991. Justin is shown standing in front of his father, next to George S., while Pastor Adams conducts the service. Judy C. has her back to the camera.

Here is Justin in Sunday school, getting a special treat of cookies. He is on the left in his jaunty green bib shorts outfit and at the end of the table is his friend, Robbie. Looking at the camera is Brittany. Those serving are Joyce S., Paola, Karol, and bending over, a very youthful Michael C.!! 

This is a group shot of a dinner, with the Douglas's in the foreground on the right, and my friend, Judy J. and her hubby, Dick, opposite them, as well as LaMora. Karol is in the back, serving coffee.

There was an event at church where a clown came to entertain the kiddos, making balloon shapes for them. Justin is in front with his 'cheese' t-shirt on. I do recognize a few of the children but especially recognize Julie H. on the far right. In later years, Julie would teach Timmy in Sunday school and at VBS.

 This one tickled me, as it's Justin's butt showing here! He is leaning over to tell me something. This was at Pastor Schuppe's farewell luncheon. My sister saw this photo of me posted on Facebook and wrote that she thought it was Lori and not me! I think it's the big glasses.

It looks like Justin is standing on a snow pile but it's actually mason sand being used to brick the front of the parsonage. Since I worked on the jobsite, too, Justin had to come along to work with his dad and me. I would later clean myself up as best I could in order to go to work at Sprint on the night shift. Those were long days, long for trying to keep a kid entertained while trying to accomplish a project. It was not every day we were there, but often enough. That house is not used as a parsonage any longer, but is rented out at this time. 

Back in the day, we had a good-sized teen group at church. Here they are posing with Pastor Schuppe and Al Clausen, who was a classmate of Martin Luther's (ha, ha!) I will name as many as I can: from left is Amanda, Jennifer (tall girl), Vincent, and front row, besides Al, on the right are Troy and Johnnie (now a pastor). The other names do not come, but Amanda is working on remembering who they are and get back to me. 

An otherwise lovely day

Last week the workers on the sundeck got busy with removing the jack posts which were supporting the sundeck, indicating that the demo work was completed. What a relief! I mentioned Saturday how my shoe marks showed up so clearly in the powder residue stirred by the guys with their blowers. Silly me, I thought the dust was going to be done with!

Early this morning our building and its occupants were greeted by the constant drone (did I say drone???) of machinery, different than the sound made by jack hammers. It sounded to me like a grinder, the noise which could have been coming from upstairs but sounded like more than just that. Sure enough, when I went outside to leave for Bible study, I was met with a heavy cloud of dust. 

As you can see, it was belching out of the drain hole where water used to flow from the 2nd floor sundeck. Oh my! I wondered if they had taken a vote on the new pope or something. I did see the fellows using upright as well as surface grinders while another man, foolishly, was using a kitchen-style broom to sweep. Really? 

Here is another view of the dust hanging in the air, settling on the railings and doors and cars and everything else in the immediate vicinity. My neighbor, Rosemary, was heading toward her car under cover of an umbrella, thinking it would keep the dust from settling in her hair and on her suit as she headed to the office. I hope it helped! One of the ladies at church thought the dust accumulated on my car was from pollen. 

I guess the next step on the project will be to lay down the protective layer on the exposed concrete and then the tile is laid. I am sure once the grinding is completed, the rest won't be quite so messy. I feel badly for Connie, as she has her hands full trying to keep things looking nice. It is without fruit to even try on the common areas. It can wait. I might even suggest we 'adopt' a portion of the building when the work is done so she won't have to do it all herself. What am I saying??? Yes, I am willing to take one for the team!

No show Sunday

It was not as low attended as some years, for which I rejoice, but there were some availabe seats in the church today. The Sunday after Easter has traditionally the lowest attendance of the year. A long time ago the congregation had a 'dress down Sunday' the week after Easter and we were provided t-shirts to wear with an acronym of "FANSS"---Flock Against No Show Sunday. The picture on the shirt was a person in a bed, with the international NO line striking through it. Right now I can't recall if the event was successful or what, but Twila said she still has her shirt! We've come a long from that, baby!

                                                 

This morning I had a dream with my little nephews in it, but Angelo was often warped into being Timmy. He was doing such cute things, too, like lining up his drinking cups and bottles along the edge of his bed, under the dust ruffle. Evidently I had shopped at a big box store as my pantry was stocked with food items little kids enjoy. As I told Linda this afternoon, when I was telling her about my dream, "It was fun to see him again, as tears run down my cheeks..." She had asked how I was after the dream.

I had a pleasant surprise this a.m. at church as Justin walked in. I had fully expected him to go to Victory now that he moved over there and was so happy to see him. One of the hymns in particular was moving to me, "I Lay My Sins on Jesus", the stanza in particular which moves me says, "I long to be with Jesus amid the heavenly throng; to sing with saints His praises, to learn the angels' song." That line always gets me. 

In the sermon Pastor remarked about how full our church was last week for Easter Festival service (80) and I felt Justin's glance at me. My mind went immediately to a day we actually had a full church (I couldn't help but go there), so full in fact that folks were standing along the aisles or in the overflow seating in the building next door. That day those in hearing range heard about the Good News, the joy of salvation, and I hope, the angels' song, that I long to learn!

We had a touch of snow overnight...

...or did we?

Notice my shoe prints left behind in the dust? The railings and my doors are coated with this residue as well. It didn't pay to hose them off on Friday as the dust came right back that afternoon!

This morning I met Terri T. for breakfast at Grumpy's, early enough to allow us time to talk and eat before I had to be at my next appointment. We had not had breakfast together in ages and she won't be available for lunch after church so this worked out nicely for us. I like having something to do early in the morning, as it helps to motivate me to get up and dressed!

From Grumpy's I went to Argyle for a seminar at my financial planner's office. His new office is not too far from church. I saw my friend Pete's office just a couple doors down from Frank's. I tried to see through the glass door if he was in, but could not. Years ago I had bought a jet boat from Pete but it died in the storm, Jeanne, in 2004.  He was the one who described me as being an 'enigma', and it stuck!

Today the weather is 100% improved over yesterday's rain and gloom. The sun is shining and the wind is brisk, making it feel cooler than the 69 degrees the thermometer shows it to be. Justin and his housemates are busy with a community yard sale, selling items they no longer need or want. He has hopes of making a killing at this sale. Justin had gone through his things before moving, and sold stuff at the estate sale he had in January. Somehow he found some more things to be rid of. I hope they are not disappointed at the end of the sale...

I am not disappointed in my friends who have been attentive and checking on my healing progress, etc. When at the dentist yesterday, he removed my sutures, and remarked my healing is going very well. I told him how people all over the country are praying for good results from the biopsy, and he said he was praying, too. I like that, and I hope the Lord says everything is okay. Some of my friends have called me, others contacted via text message and Facebook. I truly do appreciate their concern for me. I can only hope I am as good a friend as they are to me!

No more T-shirts

Thursday I opted to stay home from Bible study at Victory for no particular reason other than it was pouring rain. My mouth felt just fine, no problems whatsoever, but I felt self-conscious about my puffy lip. I will use that as my excuse, rather than the rain. 

There was a load of laundry accumulated in my closet so I gathered it and went to the washing machine. Can't remember if I bent over properly or not, as instructed by the dentist to use my knees, and keep my head above my heart. Anyway, I pulled Justin's dried clothes from the machine and folded them. There were a couple more t-shirts in that load, plus some undies and jeans. 

                                              

I could not help but chuckle to myself about the t-shirts. These were not more t-shirts, but rather some he'd worn since I folded them. Since he got his new shirt folding device, he refolded all his shirts and stacked them nicely on his wire racks he uses in his room. I guess the device works! 

Monday night at Ladies' Group, Terri complimented me on my red top, asking me if I had been shopping. No, it was a shirt I have had for many years ("Oh, this old thing???") but thanked her just the same. Sometimes I have a feeling I wear my clothes too long, but then I have occasion to have folks ask me if something is new, so I am okay. The same happened to me at the Wounded Warriors event in early March, with my peacock poncho. Terri also asked me if I'd had highlights put into my hair. Nope again, this was just my usual hair, but makes me think it is time to remove the silver again!

                                                       

Here is the shirt I was wearing Monday which Terri thought was new. It is at least a couple years old, based on this photo taken at the Tea Party event in 2010. 

When Mom, Lynn, and Linda visited late last summer, I bought some new tops at Beall's. I had also gotten several when in Manty at ShopKo, some of which Mom paid for to treat me. Nice! When it gets warm enough, I will pull out those summer tops again. But for now, I wear my long sleeved shirts for extra warmth. 

One year for Christmas, before we moved to FL, my former spouse bought me a beautiful crepe-y feeling blouse for Christmas. He was prompted by either Mom or sisters, or all of the above, since I fell in love with it on the rack. It was my "go-to" top for every dressy occasion, including those we enjoyed here in FL. I never tired of wearing of it but once, when entering an event where our Realtor was also a guest, he made a remark something like, "I knew you were going to be wearing that..." which made me think I had to find something else to wear next time. I think it embarrassed my former spouse more than it did me, and really, how rude of Steve to say such a thing! Many years later we sang Christmas hymns at his summer funeral, and I should have dug out that fuscia top to wear, just for him!

The space heater is going now as it's cold and damp. Poor Justin is out working in the rain today---miserable! I noticed the rain had washed away the concrete dust from my car, and for that, I am grateful! 

Enjoying my leftovers

The other night before choir rehearsal I was talking with Laurie and Carol about what it was like for Laurie to nurse those three boys when they were infants. Laurie described it as the best weight loss program in the world because no matter how much she ate, it went right back out into her boys. I reflected on my time in the hospital after having Justin, the nurses constantly in and out with food for me to eat. Even Popsicles to keep my fluids up. It was too much, too much, I say!

Well, I am feeling that way these past two days, eating a little something every little while to speed my healing, including having a form of breakfast. To keep myself hydrated, I had some fruit juice pouches left from the lunches I packed for the choir girls. I poured them into a glass mixed with my bottle of Diet Sprite. Plus water. Justin had some bottles of Gatorade left here which I put in the fridge to tap into when the juice is gone. I am determined to regrow the bone which was lost with this goofy tooth thing!!      
                                                 

The other day I cut the ham from the bone, as best I could, and then froze the bone for future soup. The ham was portioned into baggies, some of it being kept out for ham salad. After a few attempts at assembling the meat grinder attachment for my Oster Kitchen Center, I got it together. A nice portion of ham salad was made which is ideal for a person whose had oral surgery. What was not frozen is in the fridge and reheated to eat with the remaining garlic red potatoes from Sunday's feast. Sorry about the garlic, Dr. Smith!

To cleanse my palate, a nice portion of raspberry sherbet will be enjoyed before bed tonight. I have leftover raspberry Jell-O in the fridge, too, but it has actual berries in it, complete with seeds, which would not be advisable right now. Might end up tossing the remainder of that salad. Nuts!

                                   

Justin had expected to come by today after working with his father but he sent me a text message saying he was not coming. His father was going to be able to help him move some of his belongings from storage to the new house, and he has to take advantage of the vehicle and the help. Better watch the tender backs through all this! 

Last night was a good night with no pain at all post-op. Only used two over-the-counter type of pain relievers, one immediately upon getting home per doctor's orders, and a Tylenol before bed last night. All that hassle with the prescription meds and I didn't even open the bottle! I am incredibly thankful about that, 'cause I sure did expect some discomfort after all that carving around he did in there. 

              Looking from my railing down to the 2nd floor

We had rain here during the night and into the morning, which seemingly prevented the workers from coming. About midday, Connie called to ask me if she should wash  my doors again. I gave her the go-ahead to try but it doesn't help very much. Washing the walkways sure does keep the dust down, less dragged into the houses. Those who have the darker wood floors must be pulling their hair out by this time! So glad my floors are lighter in color, except for the tile in the foyer. I used my mammy floor mop to clean the dust up before Easter but for now, it can wait until a good vacuuming can be done!