The Princess and the Pea

I am that princess!  Today Nancy W. and I went back to Ross for Less to exchange or return items we bought last week. One of my new tops was not flattering on me, and something she bought did not work out, either. It's never an in and out deal with Nancy, as she is like a great white hunter, on the lookout for the good sales. Last year she picked up a new swimsuit for me at Ross, sending me photos of them and letting me choose which one I wanted. My personal shopper!  Now she is trying to convert me to a full-time Ross shopper.

Together we walked around the store and she found a black skirt for herself. Since I had gotten two tops last week, I was not really in the market for clothes. But when we got to the housewares stuff, I decided to purchase a new set of sheets. The price was so good, the color was right, and the thread count was high enough to give me hope that they'd hold up for me. And, they were 1/3 the original price! I had stripped my bed and washed the sheets this a.m. before we left so it was all ready for the new ones. I ran them through a short wash cycle, dried them, and got the new sheets on my bed. Now we'll see if this princess will feel the pea or if these sheets will do the trick for me. 

A few days ago Justin asked me how much pedicures were and I told him about $20 or so. He said, "That's cheaper than buying new sheets all the time..." Yeah, he is right about that! Then he went on to compare my rough feet to wearing ice skates to bed----no wonder my sheets pill!!  Oh, that guy is so funny!  I will give the old sheets (purchased in October when Linda was here, also at a discount place) to Connie. She can use them to cover plants when it gets cold or as drop cloths when she paints. You don't need a high thread count when painting or covering shrubs, and they don't mind the pills either!

A day of comfort and joy

Oh, it felt so good to sleep in my own bed last night! I'd made sure to wash my sheets before I left for WI, sleeping only one night on them before my departure. They are still pilled (ugh, I am such a princess and the pea!) but slept fine anyway. I just got these sheets in October when Linda was here from the new Home Goods store which is where Target used to be. They have not held up well for me. Anyway, it still felt good to be in my own bed again.

Early this a.m. Terri T. had messaged me that Marilyn, my friend from Victory, had passed away overnight. Only yesterday she was moved into Hospice care. She had told the nurse recently that she was done fighting which is what prompted the move to the facility. Only 64 years, five years older than I am, and she is enjoying bliss beyond compare on this Epiphany day. Marilyn and her twin sister, Kathryn, used to work for Terri at Bell South/ATT and Terri was with Marilyn on Monday. She is such a good friend, that girl. I'm glad Marilyn lived long enough for me to be able to attend her service. 

A couple hours after that I was contacted by my friend, Nancy W. She had taken Justin to the airport to get my car on Friday and for that I told her I would take her to dinner. Or lunch, whichever. She said she would pick me up in a few minutes and we'd go to Ross for Less first and then see if Texas Roadhouse was open. We struck out the last time we tried to eat there, the line was too long! Fortunately, I was already dressed and ready to go except for my shoes so I waited downstairs for her. Saw several of my neighbors and got to say 'hello' and Happy New Year to them before tearing off with Nancy. She is suffering from a bad break up with her gentleman friend, a cold break up, and she needed to talk. I can do that!

At Ross I found a trio of pretty tops, a fluted baking pan (foolishly gave my old one away after the Great Flood), and a purple lantern for my river room window. Mom had given me some money for Christmas and I spent it well, I think. Ross is a discount place, one of Nancy's favorite places to 'hunt'---ever the bargain hunter!  

Sadly, TX Roadhouse was not open for lunch so she picked 4Rivers as our lunch place. Because she was still fuming/mourning her break up (I should have driven!), Nancy might possibly get a nice letter in the mail for red light running on Kingsley Avenue. I told her as we shot through that I was smiling so I'll look nice in the picture they include with the fine. She also made a left turn on a red arrow into the parking lot of the restaurant, for which she apologized. She wouldn't have gone if cars were coming which thankfully and oddly enough there were none. This area of Hwy. 17 is quite busy and we were graced with an empty street for her fancy driving. 

Nothing some good brisket won't fix. I feel badly for her heartache which has since December 30th morphed into anger. I just listened, for the most part, and kept her company. She misses her gentleman friend and companionship. At dinner before I left for WI, Nancy had told me she loves me to death but does not want to snuggle with me on the sofa and watch movies. I get that, and appreciate that!

Another thing which I appreciate is that it's my sister, Kerry's, birthday today. Early this a.m. I sent her my good wishes on this special day via Facebook and later she wrote back to tell me how our mama had managed to pick out her phone number using her trac phone to sing "Happy Birthday" to Kerry. Almost 90 years old, with difficult vision and croaking voice was able yet to make the phone call and sing to her youngest daughter, now 55 years old. That is joy, folks, joy!

God welcoming me home

As my flight between Chicago and Jacksonville was making its way south, we passengers were treated to this marvelous show of light in the western sky. Not only was I snapping photos, but others around me as I could hear the sound of shutters from the seats in my area. Sadly, these photos don't do justice to the orange and pinks. My seat mate, Christopher, pointed out the moon rising as viewed from the opposite side of the plane, the same color as the sunset. Awesome!

  

Glad to be home again and seeing the full moon and its beams which light up my room!

A 'remark'able visit

I must write this stuff down while I think about it because now that I am 59 years old, my thoughts and memories get away from me!

Some comments, stories, quips, thoughts shared or experienced when on vacation in my hometown:

My sister, Lynn, attended a ladies' Bible study on Saturday morning which is titled "God is In The Laundry Room". The question was asked of the group, "Do you know anyone who is joyful all the time?" and Lynn said she thought of me. Oh, that it WAS true (all the time) but I certainly appreciated hearing that she thinks of me that way. I can be annoying to my people sometimes...

I was blessed and privileged to experience multiple worship services at First German. My appreciation for them increases as the years go by. The services were lovely, the music extraordinary, the sermons well done, and the time well-spent. "'tis good, Lord, to be here."

The Sunday after Christmas, Holy Innocents Sunday, we were able to sing a hymn which had been translated by a friend of mine, Pastor Pete Prange. As we left the church, I thanked Pastor Schaefer for including this hymn and he said, "Oh, yeah, I thought of you when I put that in there..." knowing that Pete is special to me. Aw, so nice of him!

One particular sermon struck me and others as Pastor Hoppe used a story in his. In a dream, a pastor was preaching to his congregation but no words came out; the members were singing but there was no sound; the organ was playing but no notes were heard. All this pastor could hear was the voice of a child singing "Amazing Grace". One voice. When he woke up, he wondered what in the world that meant and God answered him, basically, "You are all just going through the motions of serving me...." Ouch! Except for the child who loved Jesus with all her heart and let nothing get in the way of that. Oh, for the faith of a child and her expression of it! May our words and service not be only going through the motions...

Same sermon, different thought: "How far would you go to worship?"  Pastor read some statistics about how far most members travel to get to church, the majority less than 30 minutes to commute for worship. Part of his sermon had the words about how far would one go to find their joy, which put me in mind of Linda's and my experience several years ago watching The Bucket List in the movie theater here in FL. Oh my! I go 1200 miles for my joy!

While here at Mom's I got a couple of birthday cards in the mail. One came to Mom's attention with her apartment number on it, and one came addressed to me only at her address, no apt. number on it. Lynn handed it to me and said, "The mailman must know you..." How funny is that???

Also, Mom got a phone call from an attorney this afternoon (yes, weird, I know!) who is resolving the estate of someone who was formerly related to two of my sisters. That's a long story but the interesting part was that Jean had troubles finding the right spelling for Mom's last name. Her husband, a retired judge, told her, "Well, I know Kim Lahaie Day...." Jean wondered if we went to school together or something, which we did not, but somehow me knows me. I did not appear before him in court either so get that thought out of your head! It is likely from Facebook or we might have built their home many years ago---most likely it's Facebook. Love it!

This is an older remark, but it's still funny---Mom, Lynn, and Linda were dining at Harborside, one of Linda's and my favorite places to dine. The waiter came back with their credit cards and was trying to pronounce the names on the cards as he handed them back. Linda's caused him to stumble, he did okay saying Lynn's last name, and when he got to Mom's card he said, "Oh, are you Kim's mother?"  They all just laughed as Mom was hesitant to admit (as she usually is!) that yes, she is my mother. He told them he is the manager of the Facebook account at Harborside and knows I check in on their page every day and sometimes 'order' my meal for dinner. Their menu makes my mouth water!  My poor mom just can't get away from me, though she is 1200 miles away...I am like a tar baby you cannot shake!

Mom's birthday party

 Lynn looked on as Lori put up the decorations 

Mom and all the girls:  Carol Regeth, Lori Schipper, Kim Lahaie Day, Jill Schrimpf, Lynn Senovich, Kerry Gustin, and the lady of honor, Kathy Lahaie

This group of ladies are primarily those from Northern Laboratories where Mom worked plus some church ladies. David is in the background playing the guitar for our listening and dancing pleasure.

Centered in this photo are Pastor Ben and Anna Schaefer who are expecting their fourth daughter any moment now. 

This table shows the WI meat and cheese tray plus veggies and rolls

Here is the punch and some of the other food offerings at the party

My cousin, Sandy, tackled the job of cutting the cake while my sister, Carol, looked on

Carol is ever the cut up! I have a similar photo of her taken at Jamie's graduation, mouth wide open

A shot of the room. Man with back to the camera is Pastor Chris Hoppe. Marion Thiel, a friend from the old neighborhood and from church, faces the camera. Jill to the left. 

 Extended family enjoying the buffet and the company

My dear friend, Linda, who is also our adopted sister!, with her husband, Tommy, and her granddaughters, Cassidy and Madison

As the crowd thinned, my cousin, David, struck up a conversation with my nephew, Dusty. David had questions about technology and about Dusty's interest, architecture. Would have loved for David to sit and talk with Justin but sadly, Justin had gone home to FL before the date of the party.

At last some of the family had a chance to sit down and enjoy the company of those remaining as the party wound down. Tommy was telling a story to the ladies near his table as Mom listened in.

Here come the boys!

Today is my birthday and my treat was having Lynn bring the boys to Mom's house this afternoon to hang out for a bit. Lynn and Manny made some special treats, Rollo Pretzels, as Gabe played his game and Angelo played with toys. Lynn also spent time preparing dinner for us, as their dad was joining this fun after work. 

Manny is ready to place the pecans onto the softened Rollo's

Here is that little sweetheart, Angelo. He played all afternoon with toys Mom keeps in her storage room. Some of them were formerly Justin's, gotten as gifts from my friends, Karen and Jan Tuesburg when he was this age. It's hard to believe that Angelo can go to preschool already next fall. He is such a doll!

Go Pack, Go!

Today was the big day for Justin and for Lynn. They were able to go to the last Packer game of the regular season at Lambeau Field. Merry Christmas, my boy! We had many details, mostly minor ones, to figure for this major event and we got them all handled. Most important was what to wear so as not to freeze to pieces while visiting the Frozen Tundra. Linda, arranged for parking at her nephew's house, only a couple of blocks from the stadium, so that was all set.

Justin and Jill at Perkin's

Originally the game was at noon but the schedule was changed which put it at a 3:00 pm start time. This did allow them more time between church and departure for Green Bay than they would have had otherwise. After church a nice group of us went to Perkin's for breakfast where Mom treated us. Loved my potato pancakes! Our group consisted of Justin, Jill, Danny, Lynn, Alayna, Mom, and me. 

After breakfast the two game-goers got ready with their hats, scarves (Justin had his custom-made Packer scarf from Stephanie), mittens, the works. He was wearing layers under his jacket and I trust Lynn was as well. And they were off! I was so glad for both of them. Lynn and Justin wanted to tour the facility, check out the Pro Shop and perhaps see the trophies before going to their seats. I was concerned about Lynn having to climb too much but they were served by elevators and had only a few steps to their most comfortable seats. Yes, not bleachers where they were, but actual seats with cup holders! And they could see just fine.

I watched the game in Mom's living room while she hid in her room, saying she could not take the stress of the game, three minutes in. She had other shows to watch while I enjoyed the game. Justin had said to me that he was surprised that I didn't go along to Green Bay and watch with the Schroeders but it never even occurred to me to ask them. Just as well---I am fine watching from home. I had expected to hear from Justin during the game only to find out later that there was no signal from the stadium. Nuts!  I had my football snacks and watched the Lions loose to the Packers, but not without some drama including Aaron going down and out of the game at one point. Yikes! No worries, though, he came back and finished the game, even after being walked on by a bad guy Lion's player. Ugh!

On the ride home after the game Justin had a signal and was able to text me. He wanted to know what happened with Aaron and Suh (the bad guy). In the stadium, they couldn't see that Suh not once, but twice, walked on Aaron's leg while he was down on the ground. It was being discussed on the postgame radio show but it was news to Justin and Lynn. I hope the powers that be throw the book at him! Not his first offense and he is just a stinker!

Justin and Lynn finally got home and brought sub sandwiches with them to have for their dinner. I would have thought they'd eat at the game or on their ride home but did not. They told Mom and me all about the game, what they saw and did, etc. Justin did have a beer there, bragging rights and all that. I wanted him to try the horse collar sandwich (it's huge!) but he is not a fan of Polish sausage. And he bought a new cheese head, thanks to his auntie, Kerry.  

The two of them were warm for the most part but each remarked that their coldest part was their laps. I guess the jacket or coat isn't long enough to cover that part of the leg and was the most exposed. They were both glad to be back in the car and then at Grandma's where it's nice and warm. Hope they both have a good sleep after that exciting game, witnessing the Packers win a place in the playoffs---just as I knew they would. You're welcome, Justin!