Lunch with Miss Brenda

Yesterday I had lunch with Nancy W. at The Club for fried chicken day, and last night Justin and I had dinner with Judy and Michael at Metro Diner. I was so glad to have the invitation and we very much enjoyed our meal and the time together. 

Because of my dance card being full yesterday, I had to decline an invitation to meet Brenda for lunch. Today, though, was going to work for us to meet up. I drove over to Steak 'n Shake, arriving about the same time as she did. Brenda is such a good friend, a long time friend, and I cherish her. She tried to arrange for Jimmie to join us if he got back to the office in time but sadly, he did not make it. I would have loved to see him!  

Yesterday I got many many contacts from people extending their thoughts, prayers, and words of comfort on this anniversary. They mean more than I can express, I am so thankful for all the kind words, and the memories people shared. Brings a smile to my heart and to my face, thinking about them all!

Some of the remembrances were about Timmy wearing his heavy winter coat, even when it was warm out (just like his mama!), and how one of the teachers at Precious Lambs would sit and rock him to sleep, telling him secrets. These are the things which bring comfort, and I appreciate everyone's sharing of them.

A wonderful sentiment

Today I had lunch with my friend, Nancy W., at The Club. It was fried chicken day so we HAD to partake of the mini-buffet. I was glad to have something planned for part of my day, besides Bible study. She presented me with a gift, saying she simply could not hang it back on the rack after seeing. It's a black top, 3/4 length sleeves, with gold figures on the front. The best part is the flared bottom, which matches mine! What a nice thought for her to get that for me! 

Later this afternoon when I was chatting online with Linda, Nancy forwarded a poem she found for me---perfect for the day I am acknowledging today. It speaks for itself and I am thankful for her thoughtfulness in sending it to me: 

Just a few remembrances

Tonight I changed my Facebook profile picture to one of Timmy sitting in the car, on the seat rather than in his car seat. We were crowding people in, his uncle and auntie from WI were visiting and it was tight with his big seat in the car. Obviously Timmy felt 'put out' or funny about not being in his seat plus was a bit intimidated by his uncle, Harvey. He had sneezed a giant sneeze and scared Timmy, making him cry. The rest of us were accustomed to his big sneezes but it startled little Timmy. 

After I posted the photo, I started hearing from folks. One lady was his teacher at Precious Lambs and would take the time to soothe him and rock Timmy to sleep in the afternoons. She told me that besides her husband, Timmy was the only one she told about being pregnant and he was excited for her. I never knew this story and it warmed my heart. Amanda said it was their little secret!  

Another lady, Robin C., who was at my birthday party a couple weeks ago, used to work at Hallmark before working for Rosewood. She told me the story of being swamped by people in our neighborhood coming in for sympathy cards. She wondered then what was going on, and later found out. Robin said we were connected even before she knew me!  

Another lady who sent a message was the branch manager of the bank we used for our business and personal banking. She knew Timmy before he was born! And knew him after as he went everywhere I went. He was quite popular with the ladies. In that same branch was a teller named Melody. She attended the visitation for Timmy and later would tell me how her daughter and she would swing by the cemetery periodically to visit his grave. Do you know how special that makes me feel?

These photos make Timmy look so solemn but he was a joyful little guy overall. 

Today on Facebook I read how a mom was practicing the Lord's Prayer with her little son, thinking he wasn't getting anything out of it. Later, when the dad got home, he was asked what he learned that day. The seemingly too busy little guy reported God was his father, lived in heaven, and loved him. Mom and Dad were stunned! When we'd put the boys to bed, Justin being 9 years older than Timmy, we'd ask which prayer we should pray that night. Among the choices were singing "Now the Light Has Gone Away", the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep which sometimes went on and on with people to bless, and the one Timmy called "The Big One"---the Lord's Prayer.  My sister donated an art piece with The Big One on a plaque attached to the Lord's Prayer, in his memory. That prayer is one of the first things the students at Precious Lambs learn every year. 

In both photos above, Timmy is wearing outfits made by his Grandma K. So darn cute!

More birthday celebrations

Today I had the joy and privilege of having a birthday lunch with my friend, Rick and Fran, who were not able to attend my party. Originally planned for the 4th, we had to reschedule because The Club was closed for an annual cleaning following Christmas and New Year. Having it today allowed for Rick to join Fran and me, he at last getting a day off!  

Fran and I both ordered the special of the day---beef pot pie, made while we waited. It looks like a giant hamburger but it's the crust pouring over the edges of the bowl. And it was piping hot!

Rick ordered something else that came with a house salad and Angelica is offering him some ground pepper to top it off.

Miss Fran was supposed to be coming in her tennis gear so I was surprised to see her dressed in 'regular' clothes. They got rained out so no tennis game before lunch for her. Look at the size of that pot pie!

Rick took a picture of us together while we waited for our dessert. The waitress offered us the standard fare for dessert, none of which appealed to us, but when I asked if they had any frozen choices, she came back with that list. We three had a scoop of berry gelato, Fran and Rick sharing theirs. It was just right after that very hot pot pie!!

RIP laptop

Oh, how I hope I don't make too many boo boos in my typing tonight!!  I have had to resort to using the nice iPad Mini that Justin gave me for posting because it seems my little laptop has quit. Not entirely DOA but for some reason it will not connect to the Internet any longer. All day long it was doing this, which was VERY frustrating!!  Because it's cold over by the windows where my desk is located, I am more comfortable on the bed. I am most grateful for the Ipad, please understand this, but I am so much more comfortable with my laptop. 

My IT guy, Justin, has told me the rule of thumb for computer life is approximately one year for each $100 spent on it. My research shows me this one, which was already a refurbished machine, is about three and half years old, so it's right there to be fading. Justin bought me a snap-on keyboard for this iPad to make typing much easier. There are some features on the iPad which I cannot do but that might be a training issue. What I might be able to do now is print using blue-tooth from my iPad which for some odd reason I can't do from the laptop. According to Justin's tech experts, it's a crap shoot as to whether or not that feature will work or not. In this case, the answer was no. Perhaps it will be yes from the iPad, a newer device. 

This morning when I went to Bible study at Victory, I arrived in the parking lot to find Pastor H. kneeling next to a car, changing the tire. He was wearing a suit and didn't get a speck of dirt on himself, amazingly. Rita had given him a cloth shopping bag to kneel on to protect his slacks. Later I learned the car belonged to a mom of a student in the pre-k. She was glad for the help since her husband is out of town at this time. Victory is a full-service church, that's for sure!

In other news, my hometown is all over the news, nationally, after being featured on a so-called documentary. A convicted murderer from over a decade ago is painted with a brush which makes the case look as though he is innocent. I know from family and friends that the County is tired of this case, and I am sure the family of the murdered young woman is just sick about this sympathetic look at this salacious case. They have my sympathies, as does the County and the officials yet in office. Reportedly some of them have had death threats and such after folks have seen the series on NetFlix, which is incredible and awful. I am usually proud of my hometown and hate to see it being maligned on a national level. Hope it is short-lived. 

p.s.  As of January 8th, the little laptop is alive and kickin', able to once again connect to the Internet! It's a blessed day!!! 

From the Quakers

Live beneath your means. 

Return everything you borrow. 

Stop blaming other people. 

Admit it when you make a mistake. 

Give clothes not worn in 3 years to charity. 

Do something nice and try not to get caught. 

Listen more talk less. 

Every day take a 30 minute walk. 

Strive for excellence, not perfection. 

Be on time.

Don't make excuses. 

Don't argue. 

Get organized. Be kind to people. 

Be kind to unkind people. 

Let someone go ahead of you in line. 

Take time to be alone. 

Reread your favorite book. 

Cultivate good manners. 

Be humble. 

Realize and accept that life isn't fair. 

Know when to keep your mouth shut. 

Go an entire day without criticizing anyone. 

Learn from the past. 

Plan for the future. 

Live in the present. 

Don't sweat the small stuff. 

It's all small stuff.

-from a Quaker newsletter

Epiphany today

It seems my electronics have recovered from whatever it was vexing them much of yesterday. Can't help but think it was weather/wind related. Or they just needed a good rest, perhaps. Whatever the case, I am so glad we are up and running here again. Today is the day of Epiphany, remembering when the Magi traveled from the East to see the Christ-child. It's a special day in the church year and it's also a special day for my sister, Kerry. Her birthday!!!  

Kerry posed with a cut out of Aaron Rodgers at Festival

The other day Mom asked me for a picture of Justin and Dustin together. Oh, oh! I realized I had not taken any photos of our guests but thankfully my friend, Terri, had. She sent me a couple shots taken at Chili's when we went after church on Sunday. Lori accused me of milking my birthday but I was not the one who informed our waitress that I had just celebrated. And yes, I will milk this landmark birthday, perhaps for the entire year!  

I posted this photo of Lori and me as my profile picture on Facebook today. 

Poor Justin got soaked through and through today out in the nasty weather. He sent me a message early in his day to report that his so-called weather resistant jacket has failed him. It lost its super powers. I wonder if there is a way to restore its qualities. A sporting goods store might have what is needed. Certainly I feel badly for them having to work in this weather. Being that it is cool out, in the low 50's,  makes it that much more miserable for working outdoors. 

I was horrified to see/hear my hometown on The Five tonight. NetFlix has put out a so-called documentary from the view of the convicted murderer. The series apparently makes it look like a set-up or at the very least, a poorly put together case. The nation is abuzz about the series, and some are putting out a petition to free the convicted killer who basically butchered a young woman and burned her body in a fire pit. I don't know how or even why the county sheriff's department could pull something off like that and not be found out, but it brings great shame and embarrassment to my home county and the area. I am so not proud of some of the people interviewed or featured, not the cream of the crop of Manitowocians. I feel so badly for the young lady's family, having to relive the horror of that whole terrible mess. Hope it blows over quickly.