My brain needs a break

The world has gone mad and me right along with it---at least I feel that way sometimes. The 'panic' being generated by the news reports of the scattered cases of Ebola in our country have many people in a state of distress. It is not easy to keep up with the reports because with the deluge of information, it's difficult to sort out what is hyperbole and what is fact. 

This late morning I met Judy C. and Terri T. at church to help set-up the Fellowship Hall for a funeral reception which will be tomorrow. Judy's daughter lost her father-in-law, and Michael offered to prepared the food for the after service meal and gathering. As soon as I read that the reception was to be at church, I called Judy to offer my assistance, as did Terri. We three ladies made quick work to getting the tables set and chairs put around them, and basically have the room ready for guests. We are set up for 80 adults and even a kids' table for the littler ones.

Judy suggested we go have some lunch and we ladies were more than ready to do so. She chose Pengrees as she and I both enjoy their country fried steak. Instead, though, all three of us had the pot roast special, just like eating at home! When we were leaving church we met up with Twila and Jean who were coming to set things for a different meal---the Lord's Supper. Then, as Judy, Terri and I sat at our table eating, we looked up to see Twila and Jean coming across the parking lot! That was funny! We'd not said a thing to them about going to lunch and there they were. Love those two ladies!

Oddly enough, I came home empty handed, no to-go box with me, as I ate all the beef and the green beans, and my roll. I left some of the mashed potatoes behind, no need to haul them home. I remarked to the ladies that Justin would be puzzled with me not having a box in hand! I have several lined up in the fridge from various venues this week, including one from last night's meal at The Club. It was Pat G.'s birthday so Maggie O. and Ellen plus me were invited to help her celebrate. The Club gives a free meal to the birthday girl, and I was glad to be again included in the fun. So half my Delmonico steak and baked potato came home with me, plus my appetizer which Justin might like. Grits with a sauce and lobster on top---ewww!

My neighbor, Sharon, captured the storm which came through on Tuesday afternoon. It became as dark as night for a while and windy as blazes with sideways rain. Batten down the hatches!

We had some cooler temperatures overnight lately but nice and warm during the day. The manatees are back in the basin, seemingly enjoying the warm sun on their backs. The light catches them which then catches my eye. Today is in the low 80's and the sky is cloudless. On the weekend we shall see mid-80's yet only the hardy among us will dive into the freshly cleaned pools. We had a terrible storm roll through on Tuesday afternoon which made a mess of things outdoors, including in the pools. Not appetizing at all for going for a dip!

Oh, my aching back!

Ever since Saturday afternoon, my back has been bothering me. I didn't lift anything or wrestle garments from the washer or anything physical to make it act up. All I can figure out is that I stood for a good deal of time at the Sprint store, getting Justin's new cell phone. After we got home, I noticed my back felt a bit goofy and got the heat pad out. It hasn't helped much, nor has the ice pack. Justin had used the ice pack last and couldn't find it in his room so while I was gone to dinner with Nancy W., he made me a new one, using salt and water in a Ziploc bag. Clever boy! 

I must feel better by the weekend because Justin and I are hosting the speaker for the LWMS rally here, and her husband, plus the Rally is on Saturday. I need to be up and running again. My nice massage lady, Carol, can see me tomorrow at her home instead of at the shop. Works for me, I just need to be able to get around. So strange what sets it off sometimes...

I mentioned Nancy and I going to dinner. I had been hungry for TX Roadhouse and she was game. Since my back was aching, I asked if she would drive us. We stopped at Ross so she could run in to get something she'd passed up the previous day but I waited in the car. Sure didn't feel like running around in a store, and in two minutes or so, she was back again. We were so surprised to see a couple dozen or more people milling around outside the restaurant, and it wasn't even 6:00 pm yet. We decided to not even try getting in and went to Sonny's BBQ instead. Close enough, and our meals were wonderful, with plenty of leftovers, at least I did!

Besides my back troubles, I also had a dental appointment today. It was supposed to be a cleaning and check-up but just like last year, Peggy found something amiss. Again!!!??? There was a spot on the gum in the area around the bridge on the lower left, the bridge pre-dating Justin's birth by a year or more. There was no pain or anything, and I thought we could just ignore it. Of course, that is not wise, but the x-rays were inconclusive. Peggy could see some clouding but it was not specific to the root canaled teeth holding the bridge. An appointment was made for me to see a specialist next week, in Mandarin, for a consultation. Great....just great. It might be a simple thing like lancing it for cleaning out, or worse case, loose the bridge. Ugh!

Nancy sent me a text message this a.m. wondering if I thought it would be okay for me to house the speaker for the Rally, since she's from Africa. I explained to her that the lady was coming from WI and had not been anywhere near where Ebola has been running rampant. I was touched that Nancy was concerned about me this way. Truthfully speaking, it had not occurred to me that exposure would be a problem. But, I did hear that the CAMM rep was coming from WI so I was fairly certain she'd be Ebola-free. This is such a scary situation we are facing with this potential pandemic. Hope the medical folks know what they are doing. Like my dentist does!

It's a wrap!

Today our Flying Noodles group officially wrapped up the season with a tea party at Basketique. Yes, I was just there last week with Linda, Betty, Terri, and Judy but this is something our water exercise class has done now for 4 years. Can't pass it up!

The room set up for our group

Here's me and my friend, Nancy W. 

Our hostess, Pat, is talking with my neighbor, Kay, who is wearing her 'going away hat' from her wedding in the early 1960's. Fashioned after Jackie Kennedy's pill box hats. She won 2nd place in the hat contest.

A group of us posed for this photo, many wearing their hats. Some of us chose not to participate in the hat contest (Nancy and me among them) 

My friend, Gretchen, had a big day!

Photo courtesy of Rick WilsonJaguars fan Gretchen Harrington gives coach Gus Bradley a hug just before breaking the team down at the end of Thursday's practice.

This article was written about Gretchen's visit to the Jaguar practice field by ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/8493/longtime-jags-fan-makes-first-visit) after calling Gretchen for an interview. The previous Thursday Gretchen along with our friends from church, Sue and her daughter, Kristin, were able to enjoy the practice session as guests of the Jaguar coach, Gus Bradley. Pretty cool!

This all started 20 years ago when Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise, our very own professional team!  Gretchen was on board right from the start and has been a supporter for this long. Last season, just before the team was to depart for London for their 'international series' game, Gus Bradley's father passed away. Dear Gretchen, the queen of card sending, sent him a sympathy card and included a separate note telling Coach how much she enjoyed the team and telling him he had her support. Surprisingly, and much to her delight, he wrote her a note back again, thanking her for the kindness. I know the note exists because she brought it to church for us all to see. I has a prominent place in her living room now as I understand it.

Earlier this season, our friend, Terri, got a sneak peek at the stadium with its improvements including vast screens in one end zone and swimming pools added for other attractions in the stadium. She got to speak with the Coach and asked him if he remembered the lady who wrote the note to him when his father died, and he said he did. Cool!

Then, another church friend, Sue, decided to make some phone calls and see what could be worked out for the Jaguars' #1 Fan. They worked it out, without Gretchen's knowledge, that she would get a VIP visit to the practice session, accompanied by Sue and Kristin. They were picked up at their car in the lot, driven to the practice field in a golf cart by a man who used to be a member of our congregation---Richard! How fun was that??  He deposited them on the field sideline where chairs were awaiting them. The ladies watched the practice, Kristin taking pictures, and enjoying the sights. 

Then, the Coach came over to them, gave Gretchen a big hug, and then had her join them on the field to break up the practice. All the guys formed a circle around her and Gretchen had to yell, "3-2-1 Jaguars!!", and broke up the huddle. In the article you can read all about it, but she was beyond thrilled. She told us today that she was not going to wash her arms because she had QB Blake Bortle's sweat all over them!! Oh, Gretchen!  What a marvelous adventure for her, for them. And, right after church, Kristin and Sue presented Gretchen with a Jaguar frame with her photo taken with the Coach, and a scrapbook Kristin had put together of their day on the practice field. Gretchen kept saying she didn't know why people went out of their way for her like this, but I explained it for her---she is loved. And that's it!!

An anniversary

Today is another anniversary I remember, quite different than the one on September 23, the Great Flood date. That one still sends chills down my spine and has me breaking into a sweat at the same time, remembering how people in my building were all rushing about in the three units affected by my pipe breaking. Gulp! I will never be the same, I fear, still horrified of something similar happening again. It has a couple of times to me from others units but not quite the same scale of damage. 

But, today's anniversary is different because it means nothing to so many people, except for her fans. On this date in 1970, when I was 14 and a freshman in high school, Janis Joplin died. I heard a collective "ugh!" go up from some of my readers, but those who knew me then also knew what a big deal that was for me. 

People remember where they were when they heard President Kennedy was shot, and I remember where I was when I heard that Janis had died. One of my neighbors who rode the school bus with me told me. I was sure he was wrong, or just being mean to me, or something, but nope, she had died. Little Girl Blue had died of a drug overdose, and she had just been clean. How did this happen? That still bothers me!  The bus stopped at Lincoln High School where we all got off and those of us going on to another school waited for the transfer bus. My friend, Suzy, met me there and together we mourned on the bus to MLHS, and as the day went on, though I was more of a fan than was she. That's what friends do. 

Every year thereafter I would play my Janis Joplin albums, cassettes, CDs, or iTunes during the month of October. My sister, Lori, would get a phone call from me and she'd know what day it was. I'd tell her I was wearing my black arm band and was listening to my music. In fact, back to the Great Flood remembrance, my neighbor, Ellen, in an effort to comfort me, presented me with a 3-disc collection of Janis' music!! So, there you go! 

I'd love to talk some more but I have to go listen to my bluesy jazz lady, my lonely little girl blue....

Back out to the pool

Ahhhh....it felt so good to be back out at the pool. It's been about a week since we could sit outside and soak up the rays of that thing we used to know as "the sun". Some of my friends were out there as well and it was business as usual for us. Bob was one of those with me at the pool and we recapped the fun had at our Oktoberfest gathering from last Saturday. Man, that was a blast!

My neighbor, Sharon, took this photo of our sunrise this a.m. It is full of promise!!

Because the exercise class had been rained out all week long, Marlena held a make-up class. It was my job to send out the e-mail alert to those who usually come, and she had about 6 people show up. Plus me, who didn't get into the cold water. After the class the group chatted a while with three of us staying to have lunch. Judee, Nancy W., and I enjoyed lunch in the sun. This month's Club menu has WI cheese soup offered and I had some with my ham and Swiss sandwich. Oh my, it was good! Half of the sandwich came home with me, of course. Nancy took Judee over to see her dad's house which she wants to sell to see if would suit a client Judee has in mind. I am hoping that went well. 

We were outside for a good portion of the afternoon with folks coming and going. Bill and Nancy M. came by and said they were going to look at some counter tops but if they got back in time, they'd come over to the pool. They are getting some company from MN so are in a rush to get their house ready for them. It's been a year-long project for them, renovating and fixing up, and great strides are being made.

Well, before Bill and Nancy could get out to the pool, it began to rain---SURPRISE!!! Big, fat fist-sized drops that were cold and painful when they hit. Yes, it was back into the house for me. I sent Bill and Nancy a text explaining my hasty retreat in case they came looking for me. It was fun while it lasted, though. 

I am still enjoying leftovers from Saturday, today being the last day. Such a shame, but I just couldn't eat them all! Justin was not a fan of the sauerkraut or the red cabbage. I had polished off the remainder of the Geman potato salad already. We tossed the balance of the cupcakes as well, as neither of us liked them. Such a shame as over a dozen went into the trash. Justin is at Whitey's with his boss, his wife, and Jesse having appetizers so I am on my own. Guess I'll enjoy the evening and be done with it!

In recovery mode...

Last night, rather, late afternoon, Linda and I drove to the airport in intermittent rain. It was misty if nothing else...just plain unpleasant, the way the weather was for most of Linda's visit. This is quite disappointing but entirely out of our hands. After she was deposited at the airport and I had regained control of myself, I called my mom. As I drove and talked, I was in sunshine. That is just wrong! Sunshine? Are you kidding me???  We did have a nice pseudo-sunrise yesterday morning, and below is the sky that greeted me today.

This morning I went over to Victory for Bible study, again talking with Mom on the phone. We always seem to have something to talk about. As I arrived at church and hung up with Mom, I saw a text message had arrived from my friend, Kathy H., who stays in my building. She had wanted to get together with Linda (Kathy had been out of town until last night), but I reported that Linda had already gone home. No worries, though, because we can still have lunch even if Linda has left. So, we met up at Pengrees to catch up with each other's news and just hang out. She keeps her mom company most days but Betty takes a nice rest around lunch time so Kathy is free to go! Loved seeing her again and having something to do so I wouldn't feel too sorry for myself this 'day after'...

Tonight Justin and I are having pizza from Papa Johns, the official pizza for the Jaguars. He gets coupons and special offers because of being a season ticket holder. We will be enjoying the Jaguar's pizza while watching the Packer game which comes on at 8:30. Justin already knows he won't be able to stay up to see the end of the game due to its late end time but we are excited to see as much as we can before bedtime. I am prepared for some 'smack talk' from my friends who are, sadly, MN Viking fans. I do have something good to say about that team, which annoys Mike S. when I pay the compliment: they sure do have pretty outfits!  Go Pack, Go!!!!