What a race!

My lady friends just left after "Dinner and a Movie" night, watching "Secretariat" and I am enjoying the last piece of my breakfast casserole which I made for our meal. Judy J. was unable to make it because she ran late taking her friend to the doctor. I promised her that I would show it again so she is not out of luck. It is worth watching over and over again, the acting is wonderful, the cast is great....wow! Two good movies in one week with good friends---who could ask for more? And a good dinner tonight, complete with pear halves topped with cottage cheese. I outdid myself!

Twila and Judy C. were here, driving in the fog to make their way to my house. Twila thought she should have brought her nightgown in case she had to stay overnight but it seems to have lifted. Judy had gotten some pork chops out to make dinner for Mike and her, but put them away as soon as I called. That's my girl! After the movie was over, Judy said, "Well, Kim, you sure pick good movies!" What a compliment, since again tonight she informed us that "I am not much of a movie person...", yet comes every time I ask her to Dinner and a Movie. Maybe she is more of a 'movie person' than she thought she was! She really loved "Cinderella Man" from last time and also "Freedom Writers". Twila and Jean are planning to go to see "The King's Speech" on Sunday after church, which Twila saw with me on Wednesday, and Judy might go too. I would like to see it again but Sunday is not good for me with the Packer game later in the day. I need to be chewing on my finger nails well in advance of kick-off. The shows are at 1:00 pm and 4:00, with the later one not working out for my 'schedule'.

My fridge and pantry are restocked with Diet Coke (is there a snow storm coming???) and for lunch, I ordered a pizza from Papa John's. They are $10 for a large any topping pie until the Super Bowl. It seemed odd to be ordering pizza after Justin and I left Winn Dixie, he with two frozen pizzas as part of their special. WD has these marvelous deals every so often, this time serving two frozen pizzas, Red Barons, plus frozen appetizers, frozen bread sticks, a bottle of Pepsi, AND a carton of Breyer's ice cream. I got the ice cream, he took the rest. We stopped for soda and came out with a cartfull, somehow or another....hmmmm....I did want some ice cream and was glad it was part of the deal.

He got everything carried up stairs that was coming up with us, and the rest he put in his car. Then Justin moved the exercise bike from my room to the back bedroom and got the 'old' TV set up so I could watch VHS tapes if and when I peddle the bike. He went to the cubby in the elevator lobby storage area and brought back the closet doors for the guest room. He had taken them off years ago when he used that room and had the 'old' TV in the built-in shelves, hence, no doors. They put up a fight being reinstalled but he managed, although they look quite tired and old-fashioned. Very 60's or 70's looking.

I think I will ask Jimmie about replacing them, when he comes for the special gathering on the 12th. He might have some free time now that the Extreme Home Makeover thing is done. Jimmie works for the builder involved plus he was doing trim work during the night. Whew! Jimmie would certainly take the measurements and such to make sure I got the right thing and then come to install them. He is quite the craftsman, came to work for our building company, when we hired him away from our trim guy, Joe. I hope Joe will come to the gathering, I invited him. Perhaps I should mail him an invitation to make sure he got it. (This is me, thinking out loud...)

When Judy arrived tonight for dinner, I was wiping my eyes from watching an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond". The entire family had gone on a trip to Italy to visit family, and at first Raymond was a grumpy Gus. He didn't want to do anything, did not enjoy the fantastic view, missed out on the 'romance' of Rome. Then, he suddenly gets it, starts to absorb the atmosphere of living in Italy, falls in love with the idea of it, and then hates to go home. It was the scenery and the romance of the program that got to me, and I was wishing Twila had gotten there earlier to watch with me, since we had been to Italy in 2005. She was with me when I spotted my chandelier, although I did not buy it until the next year!

Twila brought a package of frosted brownies for our dessert but no one was hungry enough to have any. She told me to enjoy them during the Super Bowl but I broke into the package to have one as my bedtime snack. Perhaps a scoop of that mint chocolate chip ice cream would be good with the brownie....

Mom, I edited the blog posting where I told about my dream and tried to highlight it better so you can tell where the dream ended and real life began. Sometimes, in my life, it's hard to tell the difference!

What a cruddy day!

In the night I awoke to rain and lightning, but cannot remember hearing any thunder. What time this was, I am not sure, but had the feeling it was not going to let up. Nope, it did not, and in fact, we have had nearly steady rain since that time. At one point, there was such a crack of thunder that it sounded like a cannon going off! Thankfully there was a roll of thunder right behind it or I would have dived under the bed. Or tried to!

My bed is stripped and the sheets in the dryer, waiting to be grabbed for redressing my sleeping space. Earlier Connie, the maintenance lady, called to ask if she could use my bathroom since it was pouring rain. Of course she can! I have told her that more than once, since she has to walk over to the cabana to use the bathroom otherwise. No fun to do that on a good day much less in the pouring rain.

This a.m. I put together a small breakfast casserole, something I would have made for Monday morning if we had not gone to Grumpy’s. I want to warm the house by using the oven so I am going to bake that casserole and perhaps something else this afternoon. The recipe recommends keeping the casserole overnight in the fridge but I am hoping Betty Crocker does not show up at the door and give me grief if I do not comply.

Since the weather was so wretched and Justin not available for Bible study today, I opted to stay home under my covers instead of climbing out. There were some plans in place for me to meet the granddaughter of my friends Ed and Judy at Victory as she has a book to gift me, but I let her know I was staying in today. She also decided to forego venturing out as she has two little ones to deal with. Judy attends the Bible study, at least I hope she was able to go. Rachel and I will try for next week to get together. I am so touched that she wishes to give me her special book!

Yesterday I went to Wal*Mart for my prescription refills and found two movies to buy as well. They get me right at the door! I bought “Social Network” and “Secretariat”, which I have asked the ladies to come watch on Friday evening. They are going to let me know, since it was short notice. Twila, Judy J., Justin and I met for lunch at Mojo’s before we ladies went to see “The King’s Speech”. What an awesome story it is! The vulgar language is ‘tolerable’ (I cannot believe I am saying that!!) in the course of the movie, and it was over in no time. When the Duke would shout or get upset, he did not stammer. Also when he sang, like Mel Tillis, the country western singer, the stammer disappeared.

While the story is not entirely true historically, it is yet a wonderful tale of victory over life and what was dealt to this young man. At one point, the Duke confesses to the linguistics teacher that he had never had a conversation with a ‘common man’ nor had he ever had a real friend. It was so moving, and I reached out to take Twila’s hand and gave it a squeeze. We must cherish our friends and let them know it! It is THAT important!

Justin had to go back to work after our lunch, and could not join us. He has already seen the movie and loved it, and knew I would as well. Justin had told me that several parts of the movie were emotionally stirring and he was right. He called me later in the afternoon to ask me about it, wondering how many times I cried. I told him that I cried in several places, including in one of the previews. He chuckled at that and asked which one it was. There is a James Cameron movie coming out about some folks (spelunkers) climbing down into a cave, and it floods. Not a good movie for me to see, even though it is based on a true story.

Here comes the rain again. I guess this is north Florida’s share of what many parts of the country are experiencing in other forms, like the ice in Texas and such. Justin is helping his friend with some work up in GA today and I am a tiny bit concerned about them driving in the cruddy weather. He has already sent me a message today, telling me he loves me and yes, he will be careful. I have turned that concern over to the Lord and I will simply busy myself with bed making and baking something to warm my kitchen.

Tomorrow Justin is coming here to put my exercise bike in the back bedroom and reinstall the closet doors in his former bedroom. We are going to go shopping for a Packer jersey for him to wear to the Super Bowl gathering he is attending, as well as cash in a coupon he has for a free Jaguar polo shirt. He saw Travis’s when he was upstairs getting ice from Jessica and it is a quality shirt. Justin offered me the free Jaguar shirt but I declined, since I am not really a polo shirt wearer. Go Jags! Go Pack Go!!!

Dead whale washes up in St. Augustine

I know it’s not supposed to be funny, but I cannot help but laugh, thinking of George Castanza riding atop a whale while pretending to be a marine biologist, extricating one of Kramer’s golf balls from the blow hole. “Was it a Titlist?” Kramer asks, sheepishly. George nods in the affirmative, to which Kramer quietly replies, “…a hole in one…” Classic!!! Like Justin texted me one day, “Everything is “Seinfeld”!”

A late start this a.m.

It was after 8:00 when I awoke this time, having gotten up in the early morning hours for a walk, changed the station on the TV from an infomercial to Fox News and fell back to sleep. Then the dreams began! One left me rattled, and I believe it started because of a story Erica told me at Trivia last night. She is a high school senior, a truly delightful young lady, who suffered a rug burn when chasing around the house with her dog. Their floor plan is conducive to such races and she slipped on a blanket, skinning her knee on the carpeting. So, in picturing the running around and around leads me to my dream:

Last night when going to visit Willie Mae (a.k.s. MamMa) I saw a big red car like the one I used to drive, and waxed nostalgic for a bit. Earlier in the day I had gotten an e-mail advertisement for Garber Auto Nation, including a Dodge Durango like mine. That comes into play a bit into the dream where Justin was chasing a kitten around the parking lot at my building. He started out on foot, having a good time trying to capture the cat. A young man arrived with a pizza for delivery but then he opened the box and began to eat the slices. He headed up the steps toward Jeff and Tracy's house so I thought he was going to visit them. (MamMa was eating pizza when I arrived, and she is Tracy's grandmother) The dream changed to Justin tearing around the parking lot, in the now pouring rain, with my big red car! Still chasing the kitten but using the car to do so, not in his character at all. Suddenly he skidded out of control and zoomed through the lobby area and crashed. As I made my way toward the site, I was praying he didn't wreck the mailboxes, which are newer, like a typical mother, I am more worried about the mailboxes than my son...ugh!

As I came through the doorway, I saw the car was up against the fountains, stopped against a long cardboard box that could have possibly housed a patio door sized screeen or something. Jeff came to see and I apologized for the damages. I remember him saying, "Well, we'll see...." not sure if he meant my apology or the assessment of the damage. For some reason, Justin and I went up in the elevator, spared from the crash, and when the doors opened, we found ourselves on a rooftop garden, as though we had gotten on the wrong elevator. Folks were sitting around tables and having lunch, so we sat down and ate with Louise B., who was at my house on Sunday. I signed the ticket like I do at The Club (worked on The Palace newsletter yesterday and wrote about the events coming up at The Club) and argued with Louise about her paying for her meal.

Justin and I went back down the mysterious elevator to the lobby and found that someone had nicely moved the car. I had the insurance adjuster's number in my phone (from the Great Flood) and was going to call him but someone else had moved the car from the scene of the crime. Not sure who or what, but there was no mess or anything to clear up. Oh, and we saw Maggie in the parking lot with the young man and the pizza, and I remember thinking, "Of course, he was looking for Maggie!" (End of the dream)

When Justin was a newer driver, he was driving on I-95 in the rain, and did a spin out due to hydroplaning. He ended up facing the wrong direction in the median, not hitting the guard rail or anyone else, but did end up later having troubles with one of his tires, which I later replaced for him. Justin was totally freaked out and had his buddy drive when it was rainy because of it.

I think this came to mind when he was talking to me on the phone yesterday, for an hour, and at one point expressed that he did not understand my apprehension about water leaking. He described it to me as like when lightning strikes, it only happens once. Well, this is sooo not like lightning, especially in our building. Gus has been leaked on about 5 times, this one possibly the worst time but I really cannot say for sure. And the people from whom I bought this unit told me a couple weeks ago at The Club that they had been flooded by the people above them (where Travis and Jessica now live) so seriously that they had to replace their beds and some furniture at the time. Leaks happen and water seeks the lowest point, sometimes seeping into our belongings on its way down.

It bothers him that I am so nervous about it happening again, but I explained it to him using his bungalow with the bad roof. What would it be like for him to come home after work to find that the roof had leaked in last Tuesday's heavy rains? His precious electronics ruined, all his clothes and bed soaked, everything in his 'home' which belonged to him was lost. THAT'S the feeling, the vulnerability of it all. Add to that if he owned the house and someone else's belongings were ruined. In the case that he is the tenant,he could 'blame' the homeowners for the bad roof but that does not replace the items nor quell the fear of having it occur again. He owns stuff, much of which he has not actually earned and paid for, but gotten as gifts or otherwise. It is entirely different, I believe, when I am the owner of the unit, live above other units, and our 'stuff' was damaged, some so seriously that folks had to vacate the premises for four months. THAT is going to make anyone apprehensive because it could happen again. In fact, it did happen on a minute level to me during the summer when Jessica's ice machine over flowed and water ran from my bathroom fan and from my kitchen cabinets. Thankfully Owen came and shut off her water under the machine and helped me clean up the water mess. Insignificant now, horrible then!

I think I made my point to Justin, and now think I should have reminded him how apprehensive he was/is about driving in the rain, fearful that he might spin out again. I guess that might be more likely to happen to him again than for us to have so horrendous a flood here. Justin was down in the lower units that day, helping to drag out the soaked rugs and carpets, putting items up out of the water, using a squeegee on Gus's kitchen floor to clean up the fallen ceiling tiles which had turned into pulp. Yech! I pray that I am as a good neighbor, and as good a sport, if that type of disaster ever happens to me from above, so to speak.

I was talking to my sister, Jill, one day about it and asked if she has renter's insurance. She said she did, and also knows that something like what happened here could happen at her place as well. She is on the 2nd floor of the same building where Mom lives. Someone could over flow their bathtub, have a pipe break or a hose pop off the dishwasher above her. Not long after Mom or Jill moved in, both of them in the same year, there was a problem with the sprinkler system and soaked the carpet, but at least it was in the hall and not in a unit. The same type of problems can evolve, though, because with water comes damage and mold. Yikes!

What else is going on besides my being haunted by dreams and water terror? There is the terrible mess in Egypt, the horrible snow storms and bad winter weather over much of our country, and grey skies here. At least it's warmer here than in WI, yesterday nearing 70 or even better. My friend, Rita, was outside raking leaves while her family in MI was shoveling snow. We enjoyed our Trivia Night at Johnny Angels, had a chance to be winners but blew it in the final round. We had three cities in the US to put in order according to total population numbers and mis-guessed, so we did not win even 3rd place. We all had a chance to shine, and sometimes my answers were correct but not used. We got messed up with naming four presidents whose first names start with W. Woodrow Wilson (I hate that guy!!!) is actually named Thomas---did you know this? We were robbed!

Today is lunch with my Justin, Judy J., and Twila at MoJo's and then we ladies are going to the movies. We are finally going to see "The King's Speech" which I had declined to see at first, given it's R-rating. Many have told me it is really okay to see it, but when Carol encouraged me to go and see it, having already done so, I figured I could. Justin has seen the movie and said it is quite good, "moving" in parts, according to him. I will let you know what I think. We have to go to the early showing because of its length. If we went at 4:00 pm, I would not get out in time to make it to choir rehearsal. Or just barely in time, I guess, to be more accurate. This will work and I will wear layers to keep myself warm in the theater. The Orange Park Mall AMC 24 Theater was shut down not too long ago by the Health Department due to unclean conditions in the food service area, including 'vermin droppings' and such. This would also mean that vermin could be in the theaters, enjoying the popcorn and discarded snack items on the floor. But that's a whole 'nother set of bad dreams----we are going to the Carmike instead!!!!

I am getting a fever!

Super Bowl Fever! This a.m. I watched a video, an amateur video, of the Packer team and staff returning from the playoff game on the 23rd of January. As they got off their plane and walked through Austin Straubel Airport, the assembled crowd just roared in support, at times yelling the familiar chant: Go Pack Go! What did surprise me was that the players were not wearing their suits, but in street clothes for travel. I thought it was customary to wear suits when traveling. When I was in WI over the holidays, one of the teams, the Giants, I think, were stuck in Appleton for a couple days because the airports out east were shut down by a storm on December 26th. When the TV cameras showed the players out in public, they were in suits and looked so nice. I prefer that to the scruffy look some sported (ha, get it?) when coming from the plane. Anyway, I found myself getting emotional, caught up in the passion of the fans. This is so darn exciting!!

How scary it all is, in the real world, with the rioting and taking to the streets in various regions. Even some in our own country are calling for revolution, not those urging a return to the Constitution but those who wish to throw out this representative republic for something else. The country currently making the news is Egypt where some are attempting to over throw their leadership. The US is going forth and back in trying to choose up sides, due to the relations with Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the need to keep the canal open and safe for trade and travel. Egypt has about 80 million people, with not all portions of the country rioting, 'only' about an eighth of the population which is not the majority. This does not mean that others are not upset, they might just not be in the streets---yet.

I have heard the 'charms' of democracy described like this: two men and a woman are marooned on an island. After time passes, the guys start getting frisky and want to have relations with the female. She refuses their advances but then they take a vote on it, and guess what---the majority ruled. Rule by majority is not always a good idea, not always...Nor is being ruled by a dictator, so representative republic, the way our nation was established, seems to work best for us. I only hope and pray none of the czars in our country decide to install the national 'kill switch' for the Internet, it would be the end of us! Without the Internet and my cell phone, I might be in the streets rioting as well!

So, anyway, I heard from Rosalie this a.m., contacting me from Rayne, LA, which is a very accurate description of their driving circumstances. She said that Houston is not in much better condition in regard to weather. They are about four hours from home, which makes for a shorter day of travel for them. I saw on the news that DFW was closed due to an ice storm, which will not affect the Packer players as they arrived yesterday in advance of the bad weather. We have our own 'bad' conditions here, again with the fog!! I cannot see the river at all from my bed and certainly not Mandarin. Later today I am going across the Buckmann, first to visit MamMa and then to play Trivia with Stephanie and Erica. It had better clear before then, that's all I have to say! We might have some more players from Victory as word of our great fun gets out. I hope Rita does not mind losing, as that happens more often than not. But the food and company are wonderful!

Yesterday Hal and Rosalie took me to Grumpy's for breakfast which they found quite charming. In looking over the list of specials, handwritten in ink on a little wire-bound notebook, Hal discovered SOS. He was delighted to see this, and enjoyed the creamed chip beef on toast, with the home-fries as his side dish. On the other hand, Rosalie spotted a round of beef, just pulled from the oven, sitting out on the counter, for some reason. She asked the waitress if it would be possible to have that for breakfast, with an egg. The waitress came back and said she could, so Rosalie even specified that she wished for the end of the roast. Not only the beef, but an egg, potatoes, and toast, and then she spotted generous sized muffins coming out of the oven, which she snagged also. Hal jokingly teased her to make sure she ate everything, as she scraped her plate clean. However, I ate my crispy bacon slices and most of my single pancake. He calls Rosalie a lumberjack, but she is as thin as a rail!

Before we left for breakfast, Rosalie and I were sitting in the river room. Hal came in with his Meditation booklet and sat at the table. I asked him if he minded doing the devotion out loud and Hal was glad to do so. He read first the Morning Prayer, then the prayer for Monday, followed by the designated reading, for us. Rosalie and I snuggled together, listening to him share the Word and article with us, and then closed with prayer. Very nice!

Hal wanted to get stuff carried out so got up, leaving us two ladies to our own devices. Rosalie was looking at the artwork stacked around on the floor and asked me what I do with the finished pieces. I told her that I gave some away at CHRISTmas to my family, and asked her to select one to take home with her. She was so tickled and immediately chose one with lots of blue/green in it, with the moon reflecting on the water. We put it in a garbage bag for safe travel and Hal took it to the truck for her. I am honored that she liked my work, and honored that she took one home for her walls!

Photos from the weekend

Our guests enjoyed seeing Justin again. Some of the ladies had not seen him in ages, and he was glad to see them again, too. He is wearing his Packer shirt for which Hal mocked him---Hal's a Cowboy's fan!

Our Sunday began with Bible study, where Hal opted to sit with Carol and Cliff. Rosalie sat at the table with me

After church we greeted guests at my house, where Justin was waiting for us. He had a few minutes to visit with Hal and Rosalie alone before getting busy putting the snacks and beverages out for our other guests.

Linda O., on the right, is chatting with Louise B.

Rosalie is leaning in to better hear the conversation

Judy C. and Louise chat at the table while Joe Z. and Rosalie catch up with each other

My dear friend, Rosalie!

Louise is making a point in her conversation, as Hal listens in. Fred, Louise's spouse, had been there earlier and had a chance to catch up with Hal. They had worked together at Cecil Field years ago when it was an active base

Linda O. and Judy J. visiting in the river room. More folks had been there but I was tardy grabbing the camera. Others were not able to come but did see the Brazee's at church for a bit.

The Sunday recap

It felt almost like normal around here for me, more than normal, having a houseful of people, smiling and laughing and talking and munching. It was a wonderful feeling. Let's begin before church, though. I left home around 8:00 a.m., riding down in the elevator with Jeff as he was already hard at it, moving stuff between the unit they were renting from our neighbor, Donna, on the 5th floor, and their own condo. He said he was tired since they had been unpacking and getting settled until midnight and were up again at 6:00 a.m. Jeff will look forward to going to work to rest, flying his freight around the USA or around the world!

The reason I left home so early was I needed to stop at the store, wanting Publix hot dog buns, plus some plastic cups for serving the refreshments. The preschool at church likes to have Apple Jax or Cheerios for their snacks and I was delighted to find a Buy One/Get One offer on this cereal, right as I came in the door. As I told the check-out lady, I am glad I don't have to buy cereal and milk every week like families with kids must do, because the box of cereal was over $4. I cannot even tell you how much a gallon of milk costs, I have no clue, but know it is not cheap. Once checked out, I headed over to church where Judy C. was the only one on the site besides Pastor. It was Fellowship Sunday so she was busily setting up her trays of sandwiches for after church. I kept running to the door to look out to see if Hal and Rosalie were there yet. Finally, I saw their red truck coming down Argyle Forest and was waving like nuts as Rosalie waved back. The Douglas's got to them first as they were getting out of their van just as Hal pulled in. Rosalie came walking up toward the church, then, where I was chatting with Ethel and we just hugged and hugged, and one of us cried, I know for sure one of us did. Of course, Hal got hugged, too, but it's not the same as my friend and me.

We went inside where I introduced them to Pastor K. and got settled for the opening devotion. Only 7 kids were there for Sunday school yesterday, sad to report. The adults went to the Fellowship Hall for Bible study, a cursory look at Acts, with the use of a slide-show done sort of cartoon-style, with a smattering of satellite images of the Mediterranean region and scenes of blue water with cliffs. That really made me smile, to see the blue sea, especially since talking with Sabin about his condo in Turkey the day before. Anyway, after class Hal and Rosalie got a chance to visit with many of the folks they knew and even with some who knew them but Rosalie did not remember! Some had come to GS after Brazee's had left so were not at all familiar. As always, they sat in the back pew, saving me a seat for when I was ready to sit down after singing with the choir. Our little choir sang a song from the Supplement, an African spiritual called "I Will Sing", which tied in with the theme about the Lord being our light. At rehearsal Wednesday night, I offered to wear my caftan for Sunday's service.....But, 'we' can't complain because it IS in the Supplement and that is what we want to use. It was well sung and well received, telling everyone that the Lord is our light!

After church for the Fellowship time, my friends were able to reacquaint themselves with folks, with Hal wandering over to the piano to speak with Robbie, who was our musician of the day. Hal and Rosalie were impressed with his playing, how he has grown up!, and Hal asked Robbie to play a hymn for him. Hal calls it "Isaiah" but I am not sure of the whole title, with the 'surely it is God who saves me, I will trust in Him and not be afraid..." running through it. We toured the classroom building before heading for home where Justin was already waiting for us. Rosalie rode over with me and Hal followed with the truck. Justin had a little while to greet and chat with them before folks began arrive. Then, my guests enjoyed the view while Justin and I got the refreshments ready. Justin was a big help in the kitchen, wanting to make everything look nice. He located the maroon dinner napkins his grandma had made years ago when he was into napkin folding, and he used them in the chip baskets and as a placemat for the beverages.

Gradually folks began to come and it was absolutely wonderful! When Linda O. came in, she carried a bouquet of flowers for me, as the hostess, and I was just delighted! Later, as I walked through the rooms, Linda said to Judy J., "Look at her face! Even her eyes are shining!" because I was so happy to have my friends in the rooms again. Louise and Fred came, former members, and Fred worked with Hal at Cecil Field years ago. Louise housed Rosalie during the funeral week as they lived in the same community we did. She goes to St. Peter LCMS now and said she seldom sees anyone out and about, even though Twila and Judy J. live on the Island. And me, right here in The Palace, where she comes to play bridge with Rosemary, my upstairs neighbor!! Now she will pop in when around here, I made her promise! The Phillips were a no-show unfortunately and I was unable to reach the Gould's. Rosalie gave me a phone number for them, and when I called, left a long message extending my invitation. Later, I did a reverse phone number check and found that number belongs to someone else now, who lives on Fleming Island, so I expected some strangers to show up at my door. But, whoever it was I called, they didn't come either. At first I was afraid I didn't have enough snacks but it worked out perfectly and was glad Justin suggested making the sugar cookies. As the three of us sat at the dinner table last night, my two houseguests polished off the cookies, after enjoying their bowl of beef vegetable soup! We sat and talked until 10:00 pm, at least Rosalie and I did, as Hal fell asleep in the chair after a certain point. What an AWESOME day it was!

This a.m. we are going to have breakfast at Grumpy's before I head to Bible study and they to see their former neighbor on Red Oak. Hal wants to ride out past the former base where he was stationed from, Cecil Field, and then head for home. He is the Head Elder for his church, and is training some men for service in the church. Just like old times, just like old times......