Tired to the bone!

But I didn't do anything to make me this tired....unless you count the five hour plus car ride, 'round trip, for the LWMS Rally today. Whew! It was a great day, loved the ride as a passenger and back-seat navigator as Judy C. drove Gretchen and me to The Villages area. We were greeted by our shared friends, Ruth and Barb. They have a lovely, new church building with the narthex/fellowship hall packed full of tables and chairs for their guests. We were told that 170 had indicated they were coming, woman and men, which is the largest ever. I understand that fewer than the 170 came but still it was extremely well attended. My friend, Jennifer, is going to be next president of the group, starting right now! We were supposed to have a fourth member in our group but last night she called Judy to cancel.

Part of the reason I am sleepy is because normally I do not set an alarm clock as I wake up on my own and usually have no tight schedule to keep. But this a.m. I HAD to be sure to be up early in order to be ready to go for the day, and had a rough time going to sleep and then staying asleep. It seemed every little while I would find myself awake, and checking the time. If I was up once, I was up three times! It seems in my sleep I remember hearing that the NFL players were on strike...will have to go on-line and check that out for sure. Tonight for sure I will sleep well...and am ready to get started right now! Good night, all!

Another wacky dream

I have to write quickly while the dream remains in my head, is not replaced by the current terrible news on TV. I wish the earthquake was only a dream.

In my dream, I was in this house (which will make this dream quite unrealistic). When I woke up one morning, my brother-in-law, David, had pulled out the furniture from the walls and patched holes. He did not move the bed because I was in it, nice! He was looking in the game closet in my room for his tool boxes, where he told me he kept a kept a trashy romance novel he read as a 'guilty pleasure'.

Okay, so as I started to get up and move around, Timmy came into my room. (He was already gone before I moved to this house, you know). He needed a dry diaper, so he went to get one, plus some wipers, while I got dressed. I had clothes to wear, except no tops. Where were they??? I put one on that I found in the closet and it was skin tight, evidently not mine, but it did the trick.

In the meanwhile, I went down the hall toward voices, and it was Justin and his father re-arranging furniture in the guest room, trying to find room for Timmy's crib. (the dream changes forth and back from David to Roger.) Timmy was sitting in the hallway, in his highchair, and I was trying to find something to feed him.

Then, suddenly, we were back in my room, and I was horsing around with him, trying to wrestle him onto the bed for the diaper change. He got himself wedged under a drawer, which was pulled out, and was shivering. The wet diaper likely made him cold and I asked him if he wanted to get dressed. He was still a baby, or more a toddler, but apparently went to preschool. As I changed him, he told me about Tony, his friend at school, whom, he said, was "an acquired taste..." Wait! Is that a preschooler's description or an adult's?????

David was telling about signing football players and I asked if the strike was not going to happen. I was assured by the menfolk that a deal had been struck and the NFL was business as usual. What a wacky dream!!!!

*********************

Now that I am awake, I will try to figure out where the dream came from----Justin was here, painting and patching on Tuesday. Where Timmy figures in does not matter, he is welcome anytime, looking just the way I remember him! Justin and I talked about straightening the closets, including the game closet. He also told me he has a 'guilty pleasure' watching "Jersey Shores" on TV (UGH!!!!) That must equal a trashy novel, which must be kept hidden....But, I am curious who Tony is and why he is an 'acquired taste'!!

This morning on Facebook I posted Psalm 121 in full, instead of only a verse or two, in reaction to the earthquake and its resulting devastation. Some of my friends from Victory had lived in Japan and I thought of them first when I heard this news, wondering about their friends and adopted 'family' still over there. I understand from the news reports that all the military folk are present and accounted for, in Japan, as well as the islands and Guam. One of the young men from church recently was stationed to Guam. David was evacuated to safety, grabbing his laptop, iPod, and cigarettes for the trip. At this writing, Hawaii, Alaska, and CA are waiting to see if the tsunamis will hit their coasts or not.

Ethel called a few minutes ago to get the news about Twila. She has no computer, no Internet access or interest, for that matter. The rest of the folks get an e-mail follow-up but hers has to come the old-fashioned way, telephone! Last week I told her I could write her a letter and mail it to let her know what's going on. Which reminds me---I got an e-mail from my Elder and the Council about the upcoming Listening Sunday, which is great. But then yesterday, I got a paper letter in the mail from church as well, about the same topic. My thoughts would be to snail mail to those who do not get e-mails or did not receive the hand-out on Sunday, which is why I sent Mike the attendance sheets after church. Duplication of services, as it were, just like the federal government.

Yesterday, of course, was Bible study at Victory, still reviewing human reason vs. the Scriptures in regard to baptism, reading various Christian theologians' words on the subject. The fastest hour of the week! Justin grabbed a service folder which were being assembled as we left and was sad to see that "In Christ Alone" is one of the hymns for Sunday. When he showed me the page printed out in the folder, Pastor Hoyer asked what we were looking at. I told him Justin was sad he was going to miss singing that new favorite hymn. Then I told Pastor how I sent it to Judy J. in MI for her brother's pending funeral.

As we left church, I asked Justin if he wanted to have lunch, since we had not had lunch together since the day before. (We had met my friend, Robin C., at Koko's. Robin and Justin had worked together for our company so knew each other fairly well.) Justin said he would like to have lunch (it is a formality for me to ask him) and then asked if he could turn on the tap one more time (does that sound just like him???) I gave him a very sad face, of course, and asked him what he wanted now. It seems he cannot locate the dress shirt I got him last year for his grandpa's funeral so asked for a new shirt to wear for their buddy's wedding this weekend. With the obligatory eye-roll and exasperated sigh, I said I would get him a shirt. He has to look nice, it's a reflection on his mama!!!

We rode together to St. Johns Town Center Mall, going first to Old Navy, where he wanted to get a vest and shirt combo. (I am a sucker!) Sadly, this is not the season for sweater vests, or any other kind it seems, so we went to Dillard to check. Fortunately, we did eventually find a button-front navy blue vest and a couple shirts to mix and match with it, which will also work well with his sport coat. Love the sales at Dillard! The wedding is at Disney, complete with carriage ride for the bride and groom, with the reception being at the Grande Floridian Hotel. He has to look nice. The other guys will be in tuxedoes, and I offered to rent him one, too, if he wanted!

For lunch we chose Libretto's Italian where he had a spinach calzone, and I had a regular one. He took half of mine home with him as I have two more meals of Koko's in my fridge to eat yet.

Justin sure wishes I was a fan of "American Idol" but that does not stop him from telling me all about it. He tries to sell me on it but I am so stubborn, refusing to succomb to the 'cakes and circuses' of American Idol...

Justin also borrowed my big camera for the wedding which I took along for him yesterday, plus his insurance card. He is all set for his big weekend. Last night he asked me if he could come by to get one of our long-term passes for Epcot. Sure! I asked him to stop at Winn Dixie to get me some raspberry sherbet and he was going to do that. In my fridge is a partially consumed mint chocolate chip ice cream, which I bought last month some time when shopping with Justin. It seems to be sort of gritty feeling in my mouth, as though it has melted and refrozen. He told me it tasted fine on Tuesday when he had a spoonful of it...rascal!

So, anyway, he called back in a few minutes to say his plans had since changed and would not need the pass to Epcot. But he still would have come over to get me sherbet. No, that would not be necessary, I am fine without it, but wasn't that nice? The guys have some time between their tuxedo fittings and the rehearsal today, thinking they would go to Epcot for a few hours. He said, "We aren't sure what we are going to do. It stinks to be in Orlando with no money...." Like they didn't know this wedding was coming up? Or, to spend less on the bachelor party activities and save the money for this weekend instead.

They went bowling last weekend, out to dinner, to a beer place that serves fruit flavored beers in tiny glasses (reminds me of a "Happy Days" episode!), and also to an ice bar. The entire tavern is made of ice, I guess. This would not be on my list of things to do. He told me about two of the groom's cousins, groomsmen, who got up for Mass on Sunday morning. Justin told me, "I like them. They are like adults!", though the same approximate ages as the guys. That's a pretty telling remark!

Oh, another place they went was called "Howlin' at the Wind" which is dueling pianos and a sing-along venue. He said I would probably love going there. So, all that fun and activity last week used up their money for this week. The good news was that one of Justin's friends who is in the wedding, with a degree in civil engineering, finally got a job in Jacksonville. He will be working with my friend, Ricky, who is a draftsman. On his way to becoming an adult as well! This young man and his mom and grandma joined us for Easter dinner last year.

Besides writing this posting I am watching the news from Japan and the destruction. I hope and pray that the coastline of the US is braced for the tsunami heading their way. Makes me wonder what we would do here, on this side of the country if a tsunami was aimed for Jacksonville. Am I up high enough? Would the supports of the building hold? How far inland would the waves wash and would the river rise? I cannot recall any tsunamis forming when Haiti had its earthquake. Is that a Pacific Ocean thing or just not a Gulf of Mexico thing? Hmmmm.......

There was so much more I wanted to write about today but the earthquake replaced it. Forget the madness in Madison and the craziness of Charlie Sheen---the Lord has once again grabbed our attention and said, "Be still! and know that I am God!"

Yawning when it is yet early

For some reason, I feel quite ready to go to bed but it is hardly time for sleeping. If I did, certainly then I would be awake far too early in the morning tomorrow, and throw off my entire schedule. I have none, but that's besides the point. The river is busy with helicopter traffic tonight, looking at me as they go by. Close enough to look in the windows, it seems. Last night and this morning there was a good deal of rain, with Pastor Hoyer reporting eight tenths of an inch in his rain gauge. At least it's not snow!

It was pouring rain when we were in church last night and some of the members had to wade through the deep puddles around their cars in order to home. We had an intimate gathering for Ash Wednesday, two tables were served Holy Communion. Sterling, our newest member, was absent although he was expected to play the bassoon for the service. Later I heard that he'd been in a bicycle accident on his way to church and got banged up a bit. When I asked him once about riding his bike all that way, and his reply was, "Only about 35 minutes..." He comes from around the Roosevelt Mall area, using Blanding Blvd. as his corridor, which is where his fall occurred. When I communicated with him later via Facebook, he told me he hit a reflector on the pavement which caused him to flip right over, basically end for end. A passerby stopped to assist him, offered a lift home, but Sterling thought he'd continue on to church. The driver said, "You had better look in a mirror, first...." and at that point, seeing the bleeding and abrasions, etc., decided to just accept the ride and go home. He had to make a repair to the bike, but his bassoon was none the worse for the wear. Yikes! Sterling could have been run over by a car or something. What a trouper he is!

We did not have choir rehearsal either as Robbie had to rush off to babysit his little nephews so his sister, Laurie, could go to the hospital to watch "American Idol" with their mom, Carol. Whew! There were not enough of the members there to actually practice anyway so it's okay.

Carol had knee surgery and was expecting to go home but since she ran a fever, had to stay longer. Twila had her surgery this a.m. and I was getting updates via e-mail most of the morning, plus Jean, her sis-in-law, called me once Twila was in CCU again. All went well, as expected, and we breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this for sure! We have a good and gracious God!!

I am in this state of mind.....indulge me!

This is a bell tower from one of the many Orthodox churches in Greece, this one being in Mykonos. *sigh* Look at that lovely sky...

Taking photos of doors, windows, and hardware was one my favorite things to do when traveling. This window caught my fancy, on the sidestreet in Mykonos, I think. Either there, or in Santorini.

This beautiful set of windows are in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. We had to take our photos without benefit of flash so not all of them turned out this well.

The Temple of Maidens near the Parthenon. It was a hot day the last time I was there and a young lady nearly passed out. I stopped a passerby to get them to share their water with her. I did not have anything to offer to her but these folks did!

Looking down from the acropolis at some of the ruins surrounding it

Tuesday in the bag

Love waking up to sunshine and blue skies, much different than what my WI family and friends woke to this a.m. Almost a half-foot of snow covering their cars and roads. I read on Facebook that my sister, Lynn, made it safely to work but cautioned her son-in-law to use utmost caution if he had to venture to school, as the roads are quite treacherous. It seems his class is not until this evening but the traveler’s advisory lasts that long, too!

Today we are anticipating the return of the space shuttle ‘workhorse’ Discovery to return to earth. We might experience a sonic boom but from the maps, it appears the re-entry path is from the south. Which means we very likely will not hear it this far north.

Yesterday morning I got up, showered, and dressed in order to get my tax packet delivered to the CPA’s office bright and early. Every year it is getting less complicated to do my taxes, especially since this is now the only real estate I own. They are going to figure Justin’s taxes as well, so his W-2 was included in my packet.

It seemed I rushed off for no big reason as Justin did not come until I was back at home for some time. He was all set to paint the trim in my kitchen and mostly it looks very nice. In one area, where he had applied the blue tape, the paint did bleed through or around it, or when removed, the tape took wall paint with it! So, he had to get out the yellow paint to touch-up where the boo-boos occurred. When I came home last night, I could see the spot over the doorway still looks bad and will need more attention next time he comes.

He also had time to vacuum my bedroom floor but I still see dust bunnies swishing around. One of his projects in the kitchen was to dust the glass plates that hang on the soffits, plus the cabinet doors. I would have liked them washed with hot, sudsy water but was not specific when I asked him to do this job. Justin grumbled that everything gets dusty, “because you open those doors all the time and dirt blows in!” Yes, dear…..Not all the time, only when the weather gets nice!

As a good supervisor, I mentioned that I can see some handprints on the cove high up near ceiling level, where someone might have put their hands when changing the tube lights. He asked me where it was, and I pointed and directed, but he could not see them. Justin had THAT look on face and was amused: “of course, you can see them…” He often accuses me, jokingly for the most part, of being too, using a nicer word than he does, “particular” about this type of thing. Some day when this kingdom is his, he will be thankful that I was so particular! By the way, he climbed up and wiped the entire length of the cove in order to remove any and all hand-marks left behind!

Our original plan was to also weed out the no longer needed paint cans from the closet and cabinet in the laundry room. We pulled some out but did not have time to dedicate to sorting and deciding. He asked me, “Why did you keep them anyway, since none of the walls stayed the same?” Good question, but inaccurate since the trim was left pretty much as is, or as was. It is common courtesy for the previous owners to leave the paint for the next occupant, for matching or touching up. I have no problem with that, except now, most are dried up or just plain old. Justin and I plan to tackle the closets and cabinets as our next projects, as he works off his indentured servant status to his mother! Like I told Gus yesterday, he would come anyway, but this way, he feels a bit more obligated to perform!

As always happens, one project leads to another and I do look forward to tackling them and having a sense of calm when they are nice and straightened out. I have my untidy game closet which also has linens in it to be organized, plus my pantry, and front hall closet. With help, it will be great to tackle and knock ‘em out. Just need the time and muscle to take care of it.

While Justin was slaving away for his mama, I was heading down the road toward Shands Hospital to see Twila. The only time I was ever there was under horrible circumstances and have no idea on this earth how we got there, other than that Pete P. was driving. So, between google.maps and my navigation cell phone, I found my way down to the hospital, and after asking a few directions, found Twila’s room. It was great to see her and she welcomed the break in her day. Before lunchtime, Mike C. from church had been in to see her and hopefully someone was coming in the evening. Twila was hungry for some M & M’s…if only I’d known!

I must have done something wrong, though, because when I went into the hospital, I just waltzed in and roamed around, following the directional signs, etc. On the way out, though, I followed signs which led me to a metal detector and security guard. I had to go through, raise my arms for the wanding, and so on. I told the guy I didn’t come in this way and wondered where my car was….He said, “Oh, you’re not checking in?” NO!!!!! He directed me to a different door, the one I actually entered through, unguarded. What is up with that??

Once back in my car, I punched in the information for Johnny Angels Diner so the navigation system could lead me there. When on the road, the voice told me which way to go, and not once did we get into an argument about it. The directions walked me right up to the door of the restaurant, and directed me to a booth!!! With plenty of time to spare, I went across the street to fill my gas tank.

We had six people for Trivia, including Justin, Jesse, and Erica’s friend who is here on Spring Break. Somehow we managed to win the second place—whoo hoo! My dinner was absolutely exquisite, a steak sandwich with the meat cut up into pieces and on a grilled roll. I ate the meat with my fork, and Justin ate half the roll. That is the best meal I have had in a long, long time. I hope they offer it again as a special on Tuesday night because it is my new favorite!

Heart tender moments

Last night before Ladies' Group, I ventured to Wal*Mart to pick up a prescription and to restock my low-dose aspirins. No time to dilly-dally, time was short, as I scurried across the parking lot toward the doors. Before I had crossed the driveway, a young voice, or perhaps two, were offering to sell me candy bars. Wow, aggressive sales pitchmen! These two young boys had a table set-up off to the side of the main doors, and sitting on a stack of mulch was their daddy, all dressed in his suit and such from work. I nicely told them no thank you and went on into the store.

My transaction was swiftly handled and out I went. Again the pleas to buy their candy bars. The one little guy was having a ball, swinging on the handle of the shopping cart they were using as their display. He would swing and holler to passersby about his candy bars, while his brother was less enthusiastic. Not unenthusiastic, just lesser so. Seeing the little guy having so much fun with the cart, acting very much the way I imagine someone else I know would have behaved, I was lured over. The older of the two boys, probably 8 or so, explained the different types of bars, and the little guy told me about the coupons on the back. "Save your wrapper" was his suggestion to me. I chose the dark chocolate almond, although I am not that 'nuts' about almonds! I asked what I was supporting by buying their $2 candy bar, and the older boy stuck out his chest to show the name of their school, the area Berean Baptist school, just down the street. We used to buy our Christmas trees from them in the old days, sold by the teens to fund a trip to New York. It was hard to picture these rather demure looking young people gobbling up NYC but I may be way off on this....

I walked back to my car, a bit misty-eyed from my encounter with a little rascal-looking boy. In as few words as possible, I admonished the daddy of those boys to cherish his sons, that I used to have a little one like his, but that he was in heaven now....."Yes, ma'am, I sure will"...I hope he will!

The Ladies' Group meeting was poorly attended and even pastor was absent. Apparently his car broke down so he was going to miss the Sunday school teacher's meeting as well as ours. Since Twila was in the hospital, her sis-in-law, Jean, was running the meeting for which I had made up the agenda. We were not sure Carol would be there but she was, and gave her reports. We had four ladies and Cliff, our Elder. Those few people and a brief agenda still led to an hour and a half long meeting, especially when it came to discussing the renovations planned to the Fellowship Hall and the loss of storage areas!

The national LWMS rally is being held in Milwaukee this year and Judy C. is planning to attend. I would go also but I will already be up north at the end of May/beginning of June for graduations in the families. I am yet considering the national Worship Conference in July, plus Lori's 60th birthday, but much depends upon airfares and such. Plus, I am not sure what the living conditions and such are at the conference, if I must rent a car or what. No one I am 'friends' with lives near enough to the venue for me to stay with them, but Judy R. said she was going to attend the closing service of the conference. Guess I had better get some answers and make a decision sooner rather than later on this! Hate to be away from FL during the summer months---the pool, you know?

Carol is having knee surgery today, which is why we were not sure if she would come to the meeting or not. She is quite private and did not tell folks about this surgery. Joe, her dad, blabbed to me when Rosalie was here. Why she did not want folks to know I am not sure---she would never let me get away with that! She did tell some of the ladies on Altar Guild because she will be unable to do the paraments and such during her recovery period.

Yesterday, Cliff and she were at church when we arrived for Bible study, intending to put up the cross on the front of the property, where the black cloth will be draped on Ash Wednesday. Only, they could not find the cross! It was not where they put it, or where they were told it was placed, nor in the garage...nowhere to be found. They called Lonnie, our maintenance chairman, and by the time we left after Bible study, the new cross was planted in the front yard! He had gotten a 10' 4 x4 that morning, fashioned the cross (told his nosy neighbor he was building an ark!) and drove from Villages of Fireside to church to erect it. Just a bit more than two hours from phone call to being done! That's what I like!

Today Justin is supposedly coming to do some work for me, claiming I can have him all day. Good! I went to Home Depot on the way to church Monday a.m. to buy paint brushes as he is going to paint the trim in my kitchen, among other things. I am taking our taxes in today before it's too late for them to work on. He gave me his W-2 on Thursday and I forgot about taking the packet to the CPA's office. Even yesterday, I just forgot! This might be a mental block when it comes to paying taxes. Today it is---'render unto Caesar that which is Caersar's...."

This afternoon, much later, I am going to visit Twila at the hospital before I go to Trivia on the Southside. Hopefully it will still be daylight when I leave Shands since I will be in unfamiliar territory over there. Good thing I have the GPS on my phone to help me find the way. We were going to have a larger group tonight but Rita wrote me a note this a.m. saying they have Victory Kids tonight instead of on Wednesday, because of Lent. Her son attends that, and they are building rockets tonight. Good choice, Rita! Her older son is home from college so we'd have a fresh brain to help us take first place again. Now, we are on our own!

Yesterday I mentioned watching "The Way We Were" for the umpteenth time. In the story, the spouse, played by Redford, finds himself facing being blacklisted because a classmate friend of Katie's (Streisand) exposed her involvement with communist groups in college. (Again, that being careful who you stand with thing...). If he wants to continue working in Hollywood, where he is enjoying the dream, she was going to have to divorce him, or vice versa. She was already a fish out of water living in Hollywood, trying her darnedest not to get into the politics there. She wanted to be with him more than she wanted to stand her ground, or take a stand, I guess, would be the right words. But, eventually, that changed as he got a bit caught up in the life out there and she got involved in the politics of the time. As they sat eating dinner in their beach bungalow, she being 8 months pregnant, and still in love with each other, she dramatically leaned back against the sofa and said, sadly, "Funny how these decisions are forced on us willy-nilly..." She then asked Hubbell to stay with her until the baby is born. Decisions are forced on us sometimes willy-nilly, not always our doing. In my situation, it worked out great---I pray the same for all others who find themselves in this position.

Thinking about some things

Ugh, had a crazy dream again this early a.m. which involved someone taking shots at my upstairs neighbor, Travis. Strangely, it took place at my family homestead in Manty, where he has never been. I remember being upset about it because the person doing the pot shots was not located, and it concerned me that my mom was at home all day with her doors unlocked. I ran around the house, locking the doors, both the screen doors and wood ones, but someone would go behind me and leave them unlocked. Hmmmm.....what does THAT mean?

Another part of the dream, in the living room, my niece had set up the old stereo on a coffee table in the middle of the room, and was trying to figure out how it worked. I remember looking at my desk, in the former family home where I had no desk in real life, and realized the calendar was out of date. Instead of taking it down, I was looking for scissors to cut the bottom off of it....then I woke up. Unfinished project in my dream!

It is not sunshiny here yet but it is also not windy like it was yesterday. In fact, the fronds on the trees are scarcely moving. When I went to the kitchen for a soda, I spotted the delicious looking chocolate cupcake in the fridge, topped with whipped cream and a raspberry. Travis had brought it down to me after Beckham's birthday party yesterday. I saw the grand- and great-grandparents leaving when I got home from church, and the young folk must have stayed. They were making the scrapbook pages I mentioned last week and I am excited to see what they have so far. Jessica wants to do more cropping and I am right there to do it with her!

Judy C., Mike, and I went to Sam's St. Johns Seafood for lunch after church yesterday. Believe it or not, I really like their fried pollack. My portion was so large, I could not eat it all. Judy ordered the same thing, only hers was broiled, but the same number of fillets. My side dishes were green beans, of which I ate about half, plus the fries, which I barely touched. I was full until about 6:00 or so when I had some cottage cheese with pears. Just not hungry hungry these days.

We are having a Listening Sunday coming up soon and after church Jim B. and Mike K. were discussing it. I heard my name mentioned, and said, "Oh, oh...." I can't help it---I listen every Sunday!! Later Mike came and asked me about the attendance sheets that I use each week I am there, wondering how he could get a copy of the one from yesterday. The leaders want to mail the notice about the Listening Sunday to those members not there Sunday to get the official hand-out about the upcoming event. I made a copy of the attendance sheets for Mike but he left before I got back up front with it. Instead, I took the copies home and scanned them for e-mailing. He got the sheets, almost instantly. E-mail is faster than me walking from the church office to the parking lot!

One of the things I have been thinking about lately is how important it is to know with whom you are standing on an issue. The mess overseas, the local and national upsets, how does one sort it all out? Many years ago, when my sister-in-law and I were both taking classes at the technical college, I was able to help her with her English composition class. She, being more capable, was able to help me with my bookkeeping class. Somehow, that did not work out! Helping cannot make me learn it, you know?? Whether my helping Marian taught her English comp. or not, I cannot say either. Anyway, she had to write paper on a certain topic, and she chose smoking. At this time, she yet smoked, as she did not have her first heart attack until years later. I asked her what exactly she was going to say in her paper. She told me it would be a pro-smoking piece, and when I was surprised, she said, "Well, I have to! I smoke!"

So, there you go! Because she was directly involved in the action of smoking, she had to defend it, in order to justify her behavior. Like the way I defend my lifestyle, because I like it so well. Of course, I could still enjoy the social aspect of dining out and simply order differently.....Or I could acquire a 'taste' for my own cooking, learn to tolerate standing at the stove and making myself food to eat. If I made enough portion-wise, it can feed me for several days! Perhaps gruel!

Another remembrance I have came to mind in looking through Timmy's scrapbook a week or so ago with Betty and Robin. There is a photo of him attempting to open the pantry door, which he dearly loved to get into and ransack. The lever-style handles allowed him ready access. When he figured out how to climb up the shelves like a ladder and pull stuff down, something had to be done. He was invited to help with a project. His father took him along upstairs to find a door with a locking door handle, using the electric drill to remove the hardware. Timmy was right there, enjoying being a helper.

Then they came downstairs and repeated the process on the pantry door, taking off the handle and replacing it with the locking one. This duo put the pantry handle on the door upstairs, working side by side, on this project. Oh, Timmy was so happy to be helping his daddy with the project. That is, until, he tried to open the pantry door which now had the locking handle on it! The project he helped with turned out to be his undoing! He didn't foresee the ramifications of his 'work', until later when the dust had settled. Sadly, sometimes we don't see the ramifications if we are too close to it, or are even participating in it. Sometimes there are none.....