Playing the waiting game

Today there is time to catch up on a few things blog-wise. At this writing, my sister, Jill, is on her way to collect my other sister, Kerry, from the Park ‘n Ride. Kerry comes part way with her car with someone from here collecting her at that halfway point.

Mom, Lynn, and I went to Manitowoc Coffee for ‘breakfast’ this morning, in keeping with their Saturday ritual of ‘going for coffee’. I like the sugar cookies at this downtown establishment, located where Kresge’s used to be. Kresge’s was part of the K-Mart corporation, which would make it now Sears. Interesting! I bought my first album from Kresge’s, “The Sounds of Silence” when I was a young teenager. Imagine that…what a trip down memory lane, all before breakfast!

My days have been busy and quiet at the same time. Perch has been eaten, poppyseed-filled doughnuts enjoyed, sugar cookies consumed, Diet Coke sipped (or gulped, if you ask my mom!), and visits made. Lori left here on Thursday late morning, driving her rented car to Holmen. Kerry, as I mentioned, is on her way here. Lisa and family shared Mother’s Day with us, both at Mom’s house and at Luigi’s for dinner that evening.

Last night I had dinner with Rick and Laura S., those nice folks who visited me in April. Laura had left her sleeping shirt behind at my home so I was able to return it to her at Time Out Grille. We had WONDERFUL beer-batter dipped perch dinners, oh my!, so delicious! I could not even finish the entire portion of perch…had to leave one half of the butterfly behind.

Yesterday I visited Clara and Harvey, both now residing under the same roof but in separate health care facilities. This place is where I used to work but has changed so very dramatically, I can barely recognize it! Clara needs the nursing home care, while Harvey resides on the assisted living end of the building. They still spend their days together but retire to their own rooms and beds at night. Hard to see Clara like this, being the same age as Mom, who still does so well.

I found Clara in the beauty shop and drove her back to her room with her wheel chair. She looked so pretty, hair all fixed up. She called Harvey to let him know she was done and back in the room, but didn’t tell him I was there. We surprised him! He looks really good, I think assisted living agrees with him.

Tomorrow I will spend some time with the other side of the family, at least some of them. Harv, Barb, and Sharon are going to the cemetery to plant some hostas and we will catch a bite afterward. Sharon likes brats and I loved that perch so perhaps I will steer them back to Time Out for another go at the beer battered perch!

This evening we are going with a bunch from church to enjoy a dinner at the Charcoal Grille. I am quite excited about this as I love the group (at least, those whom I know!) and I love their steak sandwiches at the Grille! There are five in our party alone, counting Kerry. So ‘cited about this evening!

Linda J. and I have had some time together, including her treat of a pedicure at Rose Colored Glasses Salon. Linda got her nails touched-up/painted while I had my toes done. Not a moment too soon either, as they were looking and feeling wretched. We have such a good time at the salon, and I look forward to visiting there with Linda when I am ‘home’.

Speaking of ‘home’, I saw my old friend and former co-worker, Theresa, yesterday when at Shady Lane. She is now director of admissions, and has worked at SLH all her life, to date. Theresa started there when age 16, working part-time as a receptionist when the place was yet an ‘old folks’ home’. She is now there for nearly 4 decades! I had gone to grade school and high school with her former spouse, but he’s been out of the picture for years and years now. She is a grandma six times already! Wow! When she introduced me to her co-worker, she described me as a moldy oldie of Shady Lane. I said I was there to pick out my room!

More updates next week, as time and the Internet permit!

The silence is broken!

Greetings from WI! Outside my window are the sounds of traffic mixed with dog and bird conversations. Not the same as waking up to helicopters and leaf blowers but that is just fine with me. My sister, Lori, is still asleep, in the Presidential Suite here, known as Mom’s bedroom. Lori likes to have it cooler when sleeping---no TV on and darkness, so sleeping in there suits her needs much better. Mom does her best sleeping on the sofa anyway, she claims, so that’s how it worked out.

The flight up here was without delay, but not without incident. I made the mistake in Atlanta of misreading the board, thinking my departure was Gate B3. I took a ride from A3 to the center of the airport, told by the electric car operator it was a half mile from the gate I arrived to the escalator to the trains. Once I got off the train and up to Concourse B, I headed on foot toward B3. “Something” made me look once more at the board to confirm my departure gate, and sure enough, it was B33, not 3!!

Back I went, the half mile back to the center of the concourse, and then further down the hallway (I think it starts with 19 from the center…) and down the other direction to B33. Oh, my hips! I was sweating from the brow by the time I got there, with no sitting down once at the gate. Loading was underway already but it was not urgent. I had hoped to get an order of Aunt Annie’s Cinnamon Stick pretzels or even go potty but nope---instead, I got a hike of nearly a mile!

My shuttle driver, referred to by another as Gabby, was fantastic company for the ride to Manitowoc. The other passenger was Grumpy Gus, sort of reminded me of my bro-in-law, Biff, in both appearance and demeanor. He was dropped off in Sheboygan and then Gabby (Dave) took me on a scenic tour of the town, just so we could check out if the pathway to Johnston’s Bakery was open or not. Mom had said it was not, but Dave was fairly certain we could get there if we wanted to. Besides driving around some barricades, it was proved to be accessible if we decided to come down to have breakfast some morning.

Jill was waiting for me at Mom’s house, having made some sloppy joe’s for our dinner. Dave had mentioned stopping on occasion with his wife for an ice cream at Cedar Crest which is where Jill works. We had talked about that in the van during the ride, him telling me about the New York Cherry being his favorite. When Dave saw Jill, he recognized her and said he was going to stop at the parlor on his ride back to Sheboygan. She called ahead of him and told the young man working there to give Dave his cone for free. And he did! Gabby got a nice tip for his troubles, and I had a nice ride home to Mom’s! Love when that happens!

The play on Friday night was FANTASTIC! There was nothing amateur about it, so very well done. Christin did an amazing job as Maria in “The Sound of Music”, and First German was well represented in the play, both on and off stage. IF I had a complaint, it was not about the proximity of our seats to the stage, being in the 4^th row from the front, center stage, but the tightness of the seats. As Tommy said, they felt like airline seats! He recollected coming to this theater as a kid to watch movies and the seats were much roomier in those days! I think everything was! But the production was extremely well done and I am so very glad I came up to enjoy it, and share with my family!

It's going to be quiet around here

Yes, folks, once more I am heading to my hometown and visiting my mom, family, and friends. Posting daily to my blog is not always easy so if there are some days you hear nothing from here, sorry! Mom's computer, for which I am most grateful, uses dial-up service which ties her telephone line when on-line. I won't be able to be on the Internet for the longer periods of time I am normally. Not for the blog, anyway. Fortunately, my cell phone allows me to access the Internet for my other purposes, so I can continue to communicate via text messages, Facebook, e-mail, and yes, even telephone! Just not the ideal device for typing a blog posting!

Justin was downright giddy this evening when he was coming home from work. He asked what plans were made for dinner, and I told him he can make whatever he wished. He made reservations! Justin treated me to dinner tonight at Aron's Pizza. What a sweetheart! I had been chiseling away at the leftover ham from Sunday's event but some stromboli would be a welcome change from ham! Earlier in the week he had wanted to do something together before I left, and we had several opportunities to do so.

On the way home from dinner, he asked me to stop at Winn Dixie so he could run in for some dessert pops. For a long while Justin has told me about these Weight Watchers raspberry pops coated with dark chocolate. In fact, he was so enthusiastic about my having one, he wanted to watch my reaction when I tasted it. This treat was quite good, and he wondered if it reminded me of the dessert we used to get at Sarnelli's. A frozen raspberry ball coated with chocolate shell. Very close to that taste!

As excited as he was about treating me to dinner and the treat, he was not excited about helping me get the laptop back up and running. Since it had been purged, many of the 'programs' or whatever needed to be brought back up. I am not familiar with doing this, usually that is done for me. He had to help me (i.e. do it for me) reload Google Chrome and follow the prompts. As I said, usually this is done for me so I was not familiar with what was supposed to be happening.

I needed to print off my 'bus pass' for the ride from MKE to Manty but the computer did not recognize my printer. "Justin...I need your help again..." He clicked, moved, troubleshot, etc., and got my computer to recognize the driver of the printer. Right! I figure I should learn how to do this but it hardly ever happens so I don't need to worry my pretty little head about it. 

I am no stranger to frustration, either, and was quite so when looking at my Documents files. With the upgraded Word program, things look different and are moved around from how they are normally ordered. This sort of freaked me out because I could not tell immediately if everything was put back after the 'exorcism'. This will require some effort on my part, to move things around and put them where they belong. It might have to wait until I get back from WI.

At last, I have found a place where our family can eat in Manty on Mother's Day! Luigi's Italian Restaurant said we can come there to dine for dinner. Hopefully we can have the small room off to the side but if not, we will be in proximity to each other for talking purposes. I didn't want to eat too late as the little boys have school the next day but we still have to wait for Lori and David to get there from across the state. Most of the dinner clubs stop serving their Mother's Day meals at 3:00 pm to allow their staff to have the rest of the day off. 

Justin got my suitcase out for me this evening after dinner, and I threw some stuff into it. I am ready! He thought I could get by with a smaller bag but because stuff comes back with me in the form of cheeses and other treats, the larger bag is needed. Jill, my sister, told me it was chilly up there, so I threw in a pullover top to wear in the van for the trip to Manty. She will admit me into the building once I arrive, and get me set up in Mom's apartment. Mom and Lynn will be at a banquet when I arrive. I have an 'old' car coat I gave Mom years ago that I can wear once I get there. Hope it's clean!

A couple years ago Justin and I each got a jacket in New York, mine being a wind breaker-style by a well-known designer. Just because it's a designer jacket does not make it warm! Of course, as soon as bought the jackets, the rain let up. I could stick that in the suitcase but as I said, it provides little actual warmth. I wonder where his NY jacket is...Good thing they were on sale, at Macy's, or I never would have bought them.

My purse is purged of excess papers and such, making it lighter for me to carry, and making room for my book. Justin was trying to get me to take the little laptop along but I chose not to stick it in the suitcase. Other than the blog, and the church newsletter, I won't have a need really, since I can do most of my communicating on my phone. Without Internet access, it wouldn't do me much good. 

The ham is cut from the bone, at least much of it was, with the bone now in the freezer. Justin thinks he will make a kettle of soup for the night of my return. We shall see...I suspect we can stop at Longhorn on the airport road to have dinner that night just as well! I hope he remembers to munch on the ham, make some sandwiches or something with what I cut off. Too delicious and expensive to allow it to waste!

Judy J. is picking me up for the airport ride. My originals travel plans were made with Justin being available to take me, but then his boss changed the schedule. Rats! We will say our 'good-byes' in the morning and Judy will get her good-bye at the curb. It will be whirlwind when I get back from WI, with Pentecost the next day, Confirmation Day with party, and then Installation Day for the retirement pastor serving Keystone Heights, Richard Schleicher. His wife, Ellen, is my friend, whom I met and fell in love with last summer. And now they are here!!! The service is at 4:00 pm, with an hour drive from OP, so will have to allow plenty of time for the party and then, the drive. Maybe someone will be my chauffeur to Keystone....I hope so!

I am gorgeous!

Or at least, I will be! Tonight for dinner, meeting my friend, Belinda (a.k.a. Mary Kay), at Johnny Angels Diner, I got my order. My food order and my MK order. Belinda brought me my lipstick, eye shadow, and foundation, plus gave me a free compact to carry the foundation and lipstick tube. Cool !
                       
I had called my mom on the ride to Johnny Angels, and she noticed how early it was for me to be eating. We had to, though, in order for me to get to Victory for the new BIC starting tonight. It turned out we ate later than 5:00 pm, finishing our meals by 6:15, in plenty of time for me to drive to church.


Belinda got a bit lost at first but eventually found the place, which is set back from the street in a plaza. I had sent  the address via text message but she did not see the message. No worries, we had plenty of time to eat and chat. 


It was fun to see the staff at Johnny's again, since it's been weeks between visits. Also delicious to have one of their cheeseburgers again! Belinda was searching the menu for just the right thing, as all the names of the items are from 50's and 60's stuff, not necessarily a simple path. I asked her if she was a fan of Reuben sandwiches and she said she was, so that is what I recommended. She was able to eat half and took the other half home with her, plus half of my fries.
***
A burger was a welcome meal after the pungent lunch Justin and I had at the former Koko's restaurant, now named Nishiki. We met the new owner afterward but I did not mention the overuse of garlic in the food preparation. I should have just leaned in and breathed in his face! Holy cow!!! Phew!!


The service was slow, which was unfortunate for the attorneys sitting at our table who were on their lunch. It seemed there was only one chef on duty but only two or three tables with people at them. He put on the whole show with juggling his utensils and food products, usually reserved for dinner diners. He wore a straw cowboy hat and a bandana but was obviously Chinese, which was sort of funny.
                      
As he cooked for us, he would use his spatula to slice off a slab of butter to fry with and then returned to the cart to slice offf a strip or gob of garlic to add to the food. At first I thought it was also butter but Justin whispered, "That's garlic!" As we ate our fried rice, it had a bite to it, and I thought at first it was pepper, perhaps white pepper. Justin said it was the garlic, and as he said that, the man next to me was sort of coughing as he ate his rice. Yup! Whoo! We stunk all afternoon!


The remainder of my chicken was taken with us over to Great Hang Ups where Caesar, the dog, was waiting for me. Julia wondered what the food was like, since they have only been open a couple days. As I opened the to-go box, the smell of garlic leapt out and she said, "Oh, my!" as she put her finger under her nose.
                         
Caesar was going to have dog breath now after eating bits of this garlic teriyaki chicken. (When I got a soda a few moments ago, the smell hit me as I opened the fridge, from my chicken!) I brushed my teeth, rinsed with mouth wash, and had a bowl of sherbet in attempts to salvage my breath for this evening!


After lunch and our stop at Hang Ups, Justin and I went to Kohl's where I made a return. While I stood in line, Justin went looking for t-shirts and found four of them in no time at all. They were two for $14 which is a great buy for summer shirts, all of them patriotic in nature. Nice! And he paid for them himself, how about that??


We had also planned on going to Wal*Mart to get a desk chair but then he decided he'd already spent enough money. My left knee was acting up and I think he was having mercy on me but he also didn't want to spend the money. He most certainly can use my desk chair since my laptop is still at the shop (YES, still at the shop!!!) and I am not at my desk. I leave on Thursday so he can use mine the rest of the month, nearly. I must get my laptop back in order to print some stuff off. So frustrating!


When I got home this a.m. from the groomers, he was busily vacuuming in his bedroom. His room looked great, the floor visible, but sadly, his bed was not! Everything was piled up there but the room itself looked great! If only he'd keep going until the room was straightened away, start to finish. My sister, Lori, remembers that I couldn't go to bed, back in the days when we shared a room, until everything was put in order. And, the same as now, I could slip out of my bed and the blankets would look like no one slept there!


The evening, then, was spent at Victory for the BIC class. I was the first one there, and was concerned no one else was coming. Pastor H. was sure there were more coming, and through the door came Erica and her boyfriend, Justin! Plus another couple taking the class for the first time. 


It was Justin's idea to take the class with Erica, and she was surprised and pleased. The married couple, Brian and Kim, found Victory due to its proximity to their home, and have a desire to make it their church home. Pastor was helpful when Kim was looking for a job, just happened to have a business card on his desk for someone looking to fill a position. I said, "Oh, how divine!" Yes, it was, and is!

"The sea was angry that day, my friends..."

"...like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli..." What? Never mind. What a storm we had this afternoon! The rain was hitting my windows like tiny fists, and the wind was whistling like mad.


At one point, my lanterns and sun catchers were moving in the breeze, which somehow got past my closed windows. There is only so much a seal on a window can do, and I am more than pleased the water stayed out. Oh, except for the river room window---again! The last time that happened, a repair to the roof took care of the problem. It also comes in from the unit above me, so once more the tenant, Misty, is mopping up water. She is going to get really good at water mopping!

My window leaking is of little consequence since the walls are formerly exterior walls and the floor has ceramic tiles. I do have paintings and such standing on the floor near that area so might move them away for 'just in case' purposes. It's a slow leak when it occurs, and besides that, the winds were almost directly from the east which liking blew the rain right under the roof edge. We, as a building, have a warranty for this newer roof, so it's not a big deal to have them come out and repair once more.


My day began as usual on Monday mornings with Bible study. I dilly-dallied leaving home so didn't have time to redeem my coupon for the .99 Sonic drink that Justin gave me. Rats! The cost for soda at church went up to .75 a can, with the proceeds being used to support our LWMS missions. It's a win-win! I got my sodas there, then. We had only 8 ladies yesterday with Pastor leading the class this time. 


Toward the end of the class, or before we left the table, I should say, I mentioned a woman interviewed on Fox and Friends that morning. She had been swamped in her kayak upside down in the water, and reports her soul leaving her body. She was not scared, she said, and saw the Lord waiting for her soul. And then, He spoke to her, saying it was not her time, and she lived. The woman said He told her to go back and share the story, so she wrote a book and tells everyone about the hope she has. No bright light for her, just the face of the Lord waiting for her. 


At first I was going to turn it off because of the underwater thing, but am glad I listened. She did not come off as hokey or sensational, but peaceful and calm about her hopes of being with the Lord for eternity. The author said she is not afraid of dying, it was just not her time, she has work to do. Love that! Now, whether that is true or not, I doubt, because the Lord does not tell us this could happen (except for Lazarus being raised again) but I still like the picture of what is waiting for us.


This lead to a discussion somehow of there being animals in heaven. I dismissed it out of hand, as is my custom, declaring boldly that I was out if there are animals there. They have no souls, not formed with Gods' hands the way Adam and Eve were, the whole thing. The animal lovers are sure their pets will be there, and I suggested if that's the case, all animals will be there, not just the normal household pets. Even snakes and reptiles and other horrid creatures...if their theory holds true. 


Nowhere does it say Christ died for nature, He died for those created in His likeness, to save their souls. And how do we know if the animals are believers or not? Have they been instructed, reached by the Holy Spirit and moved to believe?  
                             
Pastor said there are passages in Romans 8 which might support animals being in heaven, but when I read it in the NIV, the passages talk about creation. That could also mean trees, sun, stars, rocks, everything prior to and up to, the creation of Adam. Yikes! I suppose some building materials would be helpful to make my mansion! I shouldn't sweat it too much because we are promised no tears in heaven.


Five of us went to lunch, with a young lady named Amber now being our waitress. Jason would hardly look at us, so I think he is mad we are not his table any more. Judy C. liked Amber's 'service' for years but since we used to arrive before her shift began, settled for someone else. It seemed we were served faster and more accurately than when Jason took care of us, but we might be tainted now since the 'added tip' experience. I had the burger for lunch, not wanting any leftovers since I have the ham to chisel away for the next couple days.


I distributed my hugs to those I won't be seeing for several weeks and then headed to the collision center. No need for me to be concerned I wouldn't find it. It was right where the guy told me it would be! Silly me, I should have used the restroom at Longhorn, but instead, asked to use the  one at the collision center. Before I came back, the guy had gone out and looked at my car. Wow! He was already typing up the estimate. 


The man sent his worker to my car to get the wounded tire and wheel apron (it's official name) from my car. He determined it was not salvageable and would have to be replaced. Rats! I told the man I want to keep the steel rod for my scrapbook but he could keep the tire and the apron. They must think I am crackers!


The rod, he said, was likely from the back of a trailer, used to secure the gate from opening. I figured that, after the one guy said it was part of my car. The wrecker man, Mike, said it was not part of my car with his theory also being part of a trailer. A faulty trailer, mind you!


The actual repair will take a couple of days so I will have a rental car, paid by my insurer, for use when I get back from WI. I could leave it there for when I am gone but suspect Justin will use it for his running around. Maybe I should think about this a bit....


My haircut was scheduled for the late afternoon but when the storm began to brew, I called Barb to change the appointment to tomorrow morning instead. I was wise to do so, because it was wretched out there. Not all areas got the storm either which is so weird. My friend, Rita, in Baymeadows, got nothing. Justin was safe at 'the farm' where the equipment is stored, doing busy work until the storm let up for his drive home. We are having a quiet evening at home tonight, munching on ham sandwiches and watching our respective TV programs. I am going to be so sorry to have HOUSE go off the air, but also, sort of relieved. He is so stressful to me!

"It's a blessed day!"

No, I didn't find something that was lost. Nope, but God did! This morning was Amber's baptism day with Judy C. and I standing with her as witnesses, along with the others in the congregation. She was incredibly nervous but very bravely and boldly made her confession of belief in what was about to be bestowed on her. I ought to get a medal for holding myself together at the font but had to, I felt, in order to be supportive of Amber.

Before the service began, I saw Amber and her family file in, but I was on the far side at my podium. Amber whispered to Frank, her husband, "There's Kim..." and he turned around to wave at me. I went up there to put my hand on her shoulder and to greet Frank, after all these years. I told him we'd catch up at my house this afternoon. Amber's daughter and two granddaughters also came to witness the baptism.

                                                   

Not only was it a blessed day for Amber, but the congregation heard good news about Bonnie S. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered on her behalf, as her recent PET scan indicated she was cancer-free. I am almost crying now, thinking about this, as she was diagnosed at Stage Four and is now cancer-free. It was audible in the congregation when Pastor announced this prayer was going to be offered on her behalf, and I am sure more people than just me were dabbing their eyes. She first lost her son around Labor Day, and then was found to have this cancer. It's a blessed day!

***

I got to church in time for Bible study, and since there was no Sunday school opening, arrived just barely in time! Usually I allow a few minutes for the opening to take place, some wiggle room, but if I want to sit with my friends, have to get there on time.

We were having a one-time stewardship class again, not unlike the one the congregation went through last fall. It was held over and over again, even at people's homes, to reach as many members as possible. The sheets from today's class were made up from 'slides' which were also shown on the wall. 

On the first 'square' of the page, we were asked to draw a picture of ourselves or of something that showed how we felt when writing the check for the offering. The looks on people's faces at my table were priceless, like, "WHAT??? Draw a picture?" Oh my! Mike S. was sitting across from me, and he drew a rainbow, a sun in the sky, and a stick man with his arms raised up, in thanksgiving. Jackie drew a smiley face on her page. The other four of us left it blank, like our faces.

Pastor said visual learners would like to draw, but one man, a newer member from Christ, Keystone, from across the room said, "Well, I'm not!" I think some people attempted to draw a picture but most were not. Paul was behind me making copies for Sunday school and I asked him to bring me some crayons. He was glad he had to make more copies because they had 5 kids today. One of the kids brought a friend, whoo hoo!

We look forward to the day of getting the Fellowship Hall finished, as we hold the Sunday class in the church office. Three conference tables set up fan-styled, tight quarters, with 5 kids using the large classroom next door. Though suggested more than once, for some reason it was not feasible to swap rooms for these months of renovation. People have to keep going in and out of the classroom to get their coffee or soda, which is disruptive to both classes taking place. Maybe by the time I get back from WI, the work will be done. I hope so, as we have need of that building for VBS in early July.

***

After church was the reception for Amber's baptism, but I decided to head for home to get things ready for this reception. I was delayed in leaving though, as I had some good-byes to hand out. Robbie was showing Sterling how to do the MIDI as he will sit in when Robbie is gone to the mountains with his family. I got to give Robbie a big hug before leaving for WI. And said, "Good bye" to Sterling, too!

Carol and Cliff had attended a conference this past week in Atlanta and she brought me an extra packet of the information. After church they excitedly told me about what they saw and heard those couple of days. Also, they got to spend some time with our former pastor, Schuppe, and hear marvelous papers presented. Pastor Huebner from Palm Coast was there, also, but he did not present a paper. Carol was one of two ladies in attendance but she was fine, she said. I wish I had known this was coming up and that anyone could go, because I might have gone along with them. Shoot! But, as Carol said, now I have stuff to read on the plane!

When I got home, Justin was there waiting for me. This was unexpected as he had not planned on coming by. He helped me get some stuff together, his job being to break up the ice for putting in the bucket. Much had been readied the night before, and just needed to be put on the table, but I waited to slice the buns until people were coming in the door. We had a nice group for this reception, including the two Mike's, Terri T., Judy J., and Amber's family who had been in church. 

Judy C. made sugar-free cookies, an assortment, for the dessert, in consideration of those who were diabetic. I had plenty of food, and though Terri offered to leave the remainder of the veggie tray for me, I respectively declined. She knew that before asking! Judy J. came in a bit later, having had to count the offering alone, but she caught up nicely.

                     

I had a chance to visit with Amber's husband, Frank. It's been over 11 years since we have spoken, so I could have talked for hours! He looked at all the photos and memorabilia around the house, saying, "You keep Timmy close to you..." I reminded him that Timmy is with the Lord, that these are only reminders of him. You just never know where some people are in their thinking, and why waste an opportunity to share the 'reason for the hope you have'? When they left, I told Frank that I would save a seat for him in church, so we'll see....

By 2:30 everyone was ready to go, which is the saddest time of the party for me. The ladies had been busy getting dishes cleared away, rinsed plates for the dishwasher, and all that. So helpful! We got stuff carried into the kitchen and in no time, no evidence of a party remained except full tummies and happy hearts! And tired feet!

***

At Happy Hour the other night, the gang was discussing our upcoming assessment for replacing/repairing the sun deck. It is going to be extremely expensive, or has the potential to be, with the Owners share being divided, based on square footage of the Units. Get that? There is a great variation of thought on just how much needs to be done to rectify the situation, cause by rain water leaking through the deck onto the ceiling of the garage, rusting the support bars. That's the layman's explanation of what is going on. 

Because the underside is compromised, supposedly, the cars parked beneath this ceiling get dripped on during rains, a white chalky material which is damaging the finish on the cars. An engineer or two have looked it over and found the supports not being in good condition, so it must be torn up starting from the bottom. 

                      

One of the tenants in the building worked at the time for the company which installed this roof/deck in the first place and thinks what is being done is overkill. But he has no influence other than his opinion and expertise. Yikes! I got my bill for the first of the three equal payments, which I knew was coming, but still....yikes again!

Not much to do today

It will be a slow day today after I pick up the ham from the Honey Baked Company for tomorrow. I wish they were open on Sunday mornings so I could pick it up on the way home from church, but that's okay. It won't hurt me to get up, dressed, and out the door for that today. Except that I will encounter some Mall traffic...Hey, I could have had Justin get it for me since he'll be at the Mall for the movies!!!! 

There is a good deal of honking going on outside my home, but not from the parking lot this time. It's geese! Now, what are they doing here at the same time as the manatees? This is all quite confusing. One week begins with temps in the 40's and ends in the high 80's. Justin came home from work yesterday and was just miserable from the heat. He very kindly informed me he cannot wait for me to leave for WI so he can turn the A/C down at night for sleeping. Yeah, thanks, I love you too! But I love my low electric bill more...

                        

He has lovely hands.....he could be a hand model, like George Costanza!

My A/C just kicked in, speaking of that, so it must be warmer than 80 in the house. If my door was closed to the hallway, it might not run because the thermostat is directly outside my door. The sun pours into my room through my uncovered windows and keeps it nice 'n cozy in here for me. My ceiling fan is on which moves the air around for me and keeps the room comfortable.


Last night was enjoyable, spent the evening with friends at a graduation celebration. The young lady is the same one who is attending The Citadel next fall. I rode with Carol and Randy to her co-worker's home and were greeted in the driveway by the young lady, Rachel. The dining table was covered in blue with white, dishes and bowls laden with sweets. It was a sugar delight! And these ladies work in a dental office!!!

After a brief 'thank you' from mom and daughter, we were served cake with blue frosting, the colors of The Citadel. Everyone who had cake had blue teeth, lips, and tongues, just like when I have the blue cotton candy at the ball park! To top it off, she had blueberry flavored licorice sticks (is it still licorice if it's blueberry?), cotton candy, blue and white M & M's which were minty, all sorts of white/blue treats. 


Also, Yvonne made Fruity Pebbles crispy treats which were just delicious. She offered to get me a bag to take stuff home, as she wanted nothing leftover, but I put the licorice in my pocket instead, and popped the cotton candy into my mouth, as we left! Very nice party!