Assorted Thoughts

This might be an untidy posting but my head has been busy with info and news, some of it worthy of note. 

Thursday as I drove back from Bible study, I heard an author on Laura Ingraham's show talking about what the secular university system is doing to our society, and in particular the students who enter the university as Christians. Some study showed that about 50% of those who believed in God as first year students graduated as doubters or outright deniers.  This hurt my heart as I've seen this occur with people near and dear to me, and I hate it. A friend from church, now deceased, told me this one time: "The only thing you can hope to take with you to heaven are your children."  Lord, may it be so!

Yesterday my child, my tiny baby boy, had to miss church due to having a dead battery on his truck. Before church began he sent me a text politely asking if he could borrow my car to get a new one.  Of course he may! When I got home after lunch I suggested to him that he call AAA instead as they will install it for him plus check the alternator to make sure it is healthy. My new battery last summer was $135 and came with a three-year warranty. Since it was pouring rain at the time, he agreed to my idea. The guy came and had a hard time getting a pulse (ha ha) on it, even thought the blasted thing started for Justin the 2nd time he tried it. Nuts!  Anyway, as the guy finally got the clamps fixed to the terminals, he told Justin what type of battery it was. Immediately Justin Googled it and found AAA's quoted price to be almost right on as from Sears or others. This extra service of having the battery installed and doing the other checks makes it more valuable. Now it's done and hopefully all that will behind him. 

My friend, Judy's, back went out last Monday while she was doing some regular cleaning on her porch. She bent over to do something and then could not really stand up again. She got herself into the house and onto her bed with the heat pad. Michael let me know the next day what happened and asked me to call her in the afternoon to see how she was doing. Of course, I can do that, knowing what she's going through.  She was doing better but was far from okay. After her surgery in late winter she had gotten some pain pills which she never really did require. Thankfully Judy kept them and they have been helpful to her in managing the pain.

I suggested she see my massage lady, Carol, who has been such a great blessing to me, and most recently to Justin. Judy did make an appointment but couldn't get in until Friday. I took her to the appointment and because I referred her, was able to recognize a nice discount. Carol took her time with Judy and, as of yesterday, (Sunday) Judy was standing up straight. Michael drove her to church and lunch, dropping her at the door to save her steps. It's hard for Judy to be limited by this as she runs circles around us (me) otherwise.  A couple weeks ago she rode horses with her son on his farm in NC. Amazing lady!

Thermostat wars

On the news recently I saw a segment or two about how one more thing in this world is considered sexist---the temperature in a room, or building. Yes, it was sexist because the men wanted it cooler and the women in the office (or place of business) wanted it warmer. The battle over the thermostat!

When my former spouse and I built our office building, our suite of offices, my office did not have a ceiling fan in it. Not necessary, thanks very much. The others did have fans. I would freeze in my office, the north facing side of the building while the ladies in the front offices were roasting. They would lower the temperature and I would bump it back up. Those ladies were being baked in the sun that came in their south facing windows. One year for Christmas they got me a space heater for under my desk. I still have it, it was a blessing to me, and to them. Somehow those ladies were not doing this to be sexist, nor was I. I simply wanted to be warm.

At Shady Lane it was so hot all the time and we were hustling for extended periods of time. The dish washing room was particularly steamy. The elderly residents needed to be warm. I was not always cold in those days. But at Sprint---yikes! Working in that place forever changed me, reset my personal thermostat. When I first started there we wore attire for business, which meant dresses, skirts, nicer clothes. Layers upon layers, even when wearing pantyhose. At times I even wore my spouse's t-shirts under my clothes just to add another layer. The management's explanation for keeping the rooms so cold was for the good of the machinery. The computers, hundreds of them all running at once, had to be kept cool to keep them healthy. Meanwhile, the employees would freeze, men and women alike. The men at least wore suits, most did, anyway, which helped them. And yet, some of the females wore sleeveless tops, which was unbelievable. But not necessarily sexist. 
                                 

I remember one time my family picked me up after work and we went to Sam's Club. It was summer and there I was, all bundled up. I looked and felt ridiculous. Sort of like Amy Farah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory"!  Again, not sexist at all keeping the rooms so cold at work, it was for the good of the equipment and kept us awake in the wee hours of the morning! 

On this day in history....

...I started working at Shady Lane Home!  Back in 1976, I was hired by Mabel, who would be my supervisor. We hit it off immediately for a number of reasons, including both being Lutherans! Her daughter had attended college at DMLC with my sister-in-law, Judy. Very cool to have those connections when trying to land a job. We'd moved back to Manty from Milwaukee after selling our 4-family home there, a year after our wedding, almost to the day. At first, I worked at Northern Lab with my mom, not necessarily on the same line as she, as a temporary worker. When that job ended, I had to find something else, which was Shady Lane. I don't remember how I knew there was an opening but there I was!

On this date also, same year, my other sister-in-law, Marian, started working at Manitowoc Health Care Center. Her husband, Biff, and she moved up from Milwaukee after we did, and moved into the apartment my spouse and I were vacating when we moved into the big house we were going to remodel. In MKE, they had lived a block away from us, and then they moved into our apartment, and she started work the same day I did. Pretty cool!

My first day of work I also had to go to the farm, my in-law's farm, and shuck corn which had been harvested. At least my memory tells me it was the same day. I must have trained in the day time my first week or something to make me available for corn shucking. Otherwise, my usual shift was 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, with every other weekend on duty. I would be there for two meals a day, included and paid time for meals, which was pretty cool. Boy, we ate good!  In fact, I think I am still carrying around some of that good eatin'!

My 'retirement' party from SLH in 1986, with some of my co-workers. Peggy, Lori, me, and my best friend at the time, Karen. My best friend was skinny as a rail and ran circles around me, and was 12 years older than me! Just like Judy C. does now!

When my sister, Kerry, was in high school she worked the evening shift at SLH which was lots of fun. We had so many friends there over the years, our group was called the Shady Ladies, and included a couple of guys, as well. I was the old lady in the group and one of the only married ones, except for Teresa and Paul. We had some great fun, all of us. Bowling, movies, parties at people's homes, going out to eat, and a couple of times to bars. Not everyone was old enough which was a problem. 

Besides Kerry still being in my life, I have contact with a couple of the ladies via Facebook, including my good friend, Annette, who helped to train me. When I visit SLH when in WI, nothing is like it was in 1986 when I left. Only Teresa remains on duty, the only place she's worked since she was 16 years old, and is now a grandma! She has really moved up the ranks from evening receptionist to admissions director. 39 years ago today....

A day for the books

This morning began with a lovely chat between Linda and I before we each had to get ready for church. She has worship at 8:00 central time and then Bible study. Here I have Bible study first at 9:00 for about 45 minutes and then worship at 10:00, at least for a couple more weeks. On the 30th we return to our 10:30 worship start. Then we might possibly begin on time. 

We sang one of my favorite hymns (there are only a few which are not!) today and was glad my friend, Ann, was seated a row or two behind me. She sings harmony and it was so lovely. The hymn was "My Faith Looks Up to Thee", and I whispered to Justin that stanza 4 was my favorite one. After church I sought Ann to tell her I'd sing that hymn with her every Sunday if we could. She laughed and said, "When we get to the 4th verse, I don't do so well..." and I told her the same thing was true for me. When her dad, a pastor (later prof. at MLC) would visit the nursing homes on Sunday, she'd go along and they would often sing this hymn. As we said, those folks were likely closer to the end of the 'life's transient dream...' She was wiping her eyes yet when we parted company. Love that girl!

Our group met up at Chili's for lunch, them seating us the BIG table, which is actually two larger ones pushed together. We were quite spread out which is okay compared to being seated on each other's laps. Some of us are people of size and need a bit of elbow room, as it were. It is, however, less intimate. We had one of our familiar waitresses so she was on top of our orders and soda refills. It was a great time with our friends two weeks in a row. 

Today I had flowers in the chancel in remembrance of Justin's baptism. I asked him if he wanted them at home and he said no, so I took them to the cemetery after lunch. 

After I dropped off the flowers, I came home and got changed for the pool. Justin had originally scheduled an computer appointment after lunch, but the client postponed. He was cool with that because he appreciated having nothing else to do today except rest up. It has been a long week for him, getting rained out and then playing catch-up on the days they worked, including yesterday. He said, "You go and do what you like for relaxation, and I will do what I like to do---lie on my bed and watch MASH." Sounds good to me, and it was!

Most of the usuals were out there and the fun began. Mo and Ro were getting ready to leave (Ro joked that Mo always wants to leave as soon as I get there!) but we made plans to get together on Tuesday. She wants to thank Nancy and me for the school supplies we got for her classroom. Nancy and I had a ball shopping for the items, as much joy for us as they will be for the students. 

People came and went most of the afternoon, which was the first one all summer, just about anyway, where we didn't get rained out, or clouded out. Patty treated some of us to an ice cream sandwich toward the end of the afternoon. I didn't eat anything today from the cabana other than the ice cream. Marlena was working alone in the cabana, doing the cooking and serving herself, since Bob V. called in sick. 

Besides handling all that, she also had to jump in the hole to open the valve for the artesian well to re-fill the pool. It was down about 6" both Saturday and Sunday, something Marlena attributes to the pool cleaners possibly leaving a valve open in the pump room. It is not for us to worry about unless the pool is compromised in some way. Then it's a big deal! In no time at all the pool is full enough again, and quite a bit cooler, which many appreciate. The maintenance man, Mitch, will check it tomorrow and the pool cleaners return on Mondays as well. 

When I came in from the pool around 5:30, Justin mentioned that he was hungry for Ming Moon (2nd time this week!) and I'd be okay with that for dinner. OR, we could put clothes on and go see our friends at Koko's. Justin said YES to that so we both got ourselves ready to go and off we went. Justin had a sushi appetizer and we shared an order of crabmeat wontons, both of which were on special. Two couples joined our table so the chef didn't have to cook only for us. Much of our meals came home, which is genius for us. Tomorrow will be leftovers for dinner for us both, and on Tuesday he can have more leftovers as I will be with Maureen, wherever she wishes to go! 

As I wrote this, it occurred to me that Justin and I each had the exact same meals for lunch, and again for dinner, except for the appetizer. Our tastes just seem to run the same, at least so on Sundays!

A double birthday

On the way to Bible study this morning I stopped at the 'new' Dunkin Donuts and got myself a Diet Coke and bought doughnuts for the class. The bottle I got had the name Abraham on it which made me laugh. I'd expect something more common like Steven or Brian but I suppose in order to be inclusive, we have to throw in a different one once in a while. We are studying Isaiah so that would have been funnier yet if it said "Isaiah" on it!

Pastor Huebner did a good job with leading our class, filling in for Pastor Hoyer. Since he is not a usual participant in the class, he was not aware of the dynamic so really did his level best keeping us on track. When Harold and Lucy came in, they also had doughnuts. We had a mess of them and many in our group do not partake. I don't mind taking some home and sometimes Lucy sends goodies home with me. Today, though, she took me to the side and suggested I mark my calendar....on the first Thursday of the month she brings the doughnuts. It was all I could do to not smile because she was so serious about it. Of course, I promised to mark the calendar so I didn't overlap with them. They get their monthly check at the beginning of the month which allows them to treat us for Bible study. Sure don't want to take that away from them. She is so precious, that Lucy!

Because of going to dinner tonight I didn't go out to the pool after getting home. I hate to miss it but time was better spent indoors. Tonight I gathered with friends for two birthday celebrations. Maggie O., Pat G., Ellen P., Marissa, and I enjoyed casual grille night. Ellen had a birthday in July and Marissa's is this week. She is Maggie O.'s daughter, who is a former teacher and now an attorney in family law. Marissa and Ellen's daughter were good friends in school so these ladies have known each other for a long, long time. I am the newbie to the group but am the one to make the arrangements for our gatherings.  And, I am glad to do it! Not only did I bring home more than half of my meal but also half of Ellen's steak! It was a lovely evening and the leftovers will feed me at least twice more. I am so glad to have them!!

This was my view as I walked home tonight. Cotton candy clouds behind The Palace

Laughing with my boy

Pastor Hoyer sent me an e-mail to tell me which chapter of Isaiah we are studying tomorrow and that we are having a substitute teacher. This time it's not Cary but a retired pastor who is part of their congregation----Pastor Huebner. Phil and Anne are going to Sarasota to be with her parents as her dad is having a pace maker put in. Dolly no longer drives so Anne and Phil will be there to drive her back and forth plus be with Jim for his procedure. I am sure Pastor Huebner will do just fine trying to keep us reined in!

This morning I had an interesting conversation via FB with a friend who summers in Manty and lives the other 9 months here in FL. She was telling me how the local radio station reported Lake Michigan's water to be 68 degrees. She said she'd love to see me swimming in water that cold temperature. I related to her how Mom and I had just talked about how we kids would swim in that cold water and not worry about it. My mom also grew up living right on the lakeshore and swam in the ice cold lake. I am wondering if the water is colder now than it was back then or if people were tougher....

My pool water is nice and warm, at least high 80's, as was the air temp for our water exercise class. Clear sunny skies really make a difference for keeping the pool warmer and it feels so good on our shoulders which are out of the water during class. Some of us sat and visited poolside after class but others had places to be so headed on out. It's hard to go inside on so lovely a day, particularly since so many have ended abruptly with those goofy rain storms. 

Justin and I ate dinner at home tonight, polishing off some leftovers. I decided to not go over to The Club for Happy Hour, since my friend, Kathy H., is gone to Chicago. My poor guy is dead on his feet these days, the heat and trying to beat the rain really takes its toll on the guys. Anyway, while watching Jeopardy!, Justin looked up and said, "Oh, your boyfriends are here to watch you change clothes again..." Sure enough, there was the boat that pulls up around this time regularly. Justin thinks that is so darn funny and I think it's funny that he does. Pretty soon these guys should realize they are too early---I don't get ready for bed until much later and they have already headed for home. Their loss! 

Good 'scents'

This morning it was gloomy and overcast, not a good day for going out to the pool for class. Instead of suiting up, I went instead to the closet for real clothes. I had to go to the Island to drop off items off at a real estate office. When I walked into the office with my donations, I was met by the smell of drywall dust and compound, as remodeling was going on. It brought back all kinds of memories for me including being in business for all those years up to the repairs made in my unit after The Great Flood.

When I got back, I met my neighbors, Kathy, and her mom, Betty, waiting for Gary to pick them up to go shopping.  I got into the elevator, smelling their perfume on my face as we'd embraced in the lobby. Betty still wears Jean Nate and I only know this because Kathy told me. It is a distinctive scent, and it lingers. Unless I would wash my face, their combined fragrances would stay with me for hours, which is not a terrible thing.

Because it was a gloomy day, I guessed no one would show up for water exercise class. When I came back from my errand run, I saw a couple ladies standing in the parking lot. Pat A. had sent me a text message asking if I'd heard from Marlena as apparently the participants were there but no leader. I hope she did show up for these braver ladies and gentleman. 

For his birthday, Justin had requested a batch of Chex party mix, with no nuts. A little after the fact, I got busy in the kitchen today and made a couple batches---one for him, no nuts, and one for me with mixed nuts. Our upstairs neighbor, Debbie, had given us a lovely gift box of nuts for Christmas and this was the end of them. I am surprised at how much I loved the macadamias in the mix. Less pleased with the almonds, because they put up a fight when eating them. In the process of making these batches, our cabinets are now freed of three cereal boxes and the fridge free of the nuts. 

My batch is on the left and Justin's in on the right

When I got done with this project, not all that time consuming, my rooms smelled wonderfully from the aromas used in making the mix. The Worcestershire sauce and the seasonings blended together and filled my nose and memories as well. On Facebook I wrote that my house now smelled like Christmas. It did not smell of chestnuts roasting or of pine trees, but it did have the memory-bearing aroma of party mix. When Justin got home from work, he announced immediately that the house did indeed smell like Christmas. Being such a gloomy day, you'd have sworn it was winter! And now it smelled that way, too.