Thanks, Michael!

Jim presented Michael, former Staff Minister, with a certificate of appreciation and a monetary gift on behalf of the congregation. Mike S. made the meal which was baked penne pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread. The ladies provided the desserts.  

  A group shot of the room as Mike accepted his gifts 

The line forms to the left! 

Robbie, Emily, and Kurt waiting for dessert time!

Midweek Advent Service

This photo was taken on Wednesday evening for our first Advent service of the season. When I entered the sanctuary, I remembered the frantic atmosphere of last year when we were searching and searching for our Advent banners. The Altar Guild leader was at her vacation home and was contacting folks here to look for them. 

Many of us took turns going into the sacristy in search of the blue banners. I even went so far as to call the dry cleaners to see if perhaps they were taken in for cleaning and forgotten. Nope, no sign of our banners. Then, suddenly, it occurred to one of us (might have been Carol) that we do not actually have any blue banners after all. Only the paraments and the stole are blue. How we laughed at ourselves over this! Now we have a photo to refer to for next year!

Ordinarily the baptismal font is located next to the Christ candle in the aisle but was moved over Sunday when the children sang before worship. It was forgotten to be moved back over, I guess. Also, the left side of the church is sort of roped off so folks would sit on one side only, due to only one or two ushers being there, but some like to sit in their place no matter what. It looks kind of funny, like someone didn't shower or something!

I did it!

I passed the test and got my driver's license renewed yesterday! Whew! I was filled with apprehension about not having the right paperwork along or not passing the eye test. It has been more than 12 years since my LASIK surgery and it is obvious age is catching up with me. 

My paperwork was all in order, fortunately, and I even had the paper needed to renew my license plates while I was at it. For the eye exam, the lady had to scoot the machine closer to the edge but I had to stand on my tippy toes to look into the machine and press the bar at the top with my forehead. "Read Line 5", which I did, or thought I had, but then she said to read the rest of it. 

                                             

What? Oops! There was another group of letters off to the right side which I did not see. Back up on my toes to read them off, and how close I got to correct I don't know. But, she gave me a license and out the door I went--only about 15 minutes start to finish, with no waiting. So glad that is behind me! Now I just have to put all the documents back in the safe again.

***

As I walked to The Club for breakfast this a.m., Chef was coming out the door and down the path toward me. He wondered if I was going for a dip this morning. Oh, how I miss the pool! He walked me the rest of the way into the building, and I did wonder where he was going when I met him. He was just coming to greet me. Yes, I was flattered and touched!

Unfortunately, Breakfast Club had only three of us this time. This weekend Carol and Randy are leaving on another cruise, a reunion of sorts, with folks they cruised with in spring. They sailed across the Atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona, and then flew back. On a cruise that long, it was impossible to not become well acquainted with some folks. A group of them decided to cruise again this fall as a reunion with plans to hear the same piano player from the spring trip, only this time to the western Caribbean. Talk about groupies! 

As I was leaving The Club, the owner, Karrie, stopped me to ask if I would be there next Wednesday night for the Member Mixer. I cannot attend as I have Advent worship. She wanted me to be the leader of the singing for this event. Shoot! Of course it would be a nice evening but it would also be my last night this year with my church family. I choose my church family!

Time to clean off my desk! Must get all my documents and such dealt with before I leave!

O, Christmas Tree

Here are two of the decorated areas at The Club. This room above is referred to as the 'living room' of what was the original home, and is where Happy Hour was enjoyed a week ago Wednesday. You can see why it was so cozy and festive that night. There is a fire going in the fireplace in this photo but not a roaring one, which is why it does not show up. 

This is the room off the main dining room but I am not sure how it is referred when being described. It might have been the original dining room, given that there is a door to the kitchen, no longer used, in one corner. This fireplace is also large but not enough for me to stand up in. The living room fireplace opening is high enough for me to stand in if I so desire. This room is elegant and also is cozy.

Cliff diving

As much as I hate to do it, I have to use the media/government's word for our pending financial disaster, the fiscal cliff. One of the reporters from Fox hit the streets of NYC, Times Square in fact, to ask folks what they think the cliff is all about. Of the ones shown, not many knew much about it, but most knew it was not a good thing. It is not!

As I browse my catalogs from the various mail-order people and see the lovely things for decorating my home or someone elses, I cannot help but feel sad. Where I used to just purchase whatever suited my fancy without much consideration I now do exercise restraint. Nothing is the same as it used to be, and I think nothing ever will. My neighbors just had an appraisal done on their unit for a refinance and it came back quite favorable. Quite. However, that appraisal was done before our other neighbors lowered their sales price to below "the mark"---less than half of what they have into it. Rats!

                                          

Justin is researching more economical phone plans for himself, and for me, as I am presently out from under the contract on my cell phone. Now a month to month customer. He found a lesser-known reseller, MetroPCS, which he thinks would serve us well and save about me $80 a month on my bill. Wow! If it sounds too good to be true, it might be! We are going to check that out when I get back from WI. We are also going to look for what I need to add the Internet to my little laptop for when in WI, this after I had sort of decided not to do that. He is quite the salesman!

***

Years ago 'we' had a friend and business partner in my hometown, who was also our neighbor. He was the first millionaire we'd ever encountered. He was somewhat off-putting, a strictly business-type of guy, but once you got to know him, he was fine. He told me something once which I ponder to this day: "There is nothing worse than a former smoker or someone who has lost weight..." Think about it!

One of my friends has lost weight this year. I am glad for her but now her every conversation or comments have something to do with cardio workouts or similar. Enough already! She claims it is not obsession to exercise and lose weight, but if it isn't, I don't know what is! When someone quits smoking successfully, they are all over everyone else who smokes, trying to get them to quit, too. It is misery loves company, but in reverse, kind of....

Winding down

Not long ago I got home from church and choir rehearsal. Yes, I got to practice with the choir again! The Maestro, Robbie, has been so busy with his classes (had his juries today and thinks he did well) but is too busy to serve as full-time director. Besides that, he is worshiping now at Victory since he moved away from home. He is in the bell choir at Victory and loves that. He was accepted to MLC but has decided not to go just yet. Some of his classes here would not transfer so he will take more at UNF and then go to MLC later---we hope!

Okay, where was I? Oh, yes---choir rehearsal. We had a couple new people sit in, a mom/daughter team, long time members. Since we are simply singing a hymn from the CW Supplement on Sunday, it was not a long-term commitment. That will be the only time the choir can sing since one of us is leaving for WI. Kristi is going to sing alone on Christmas Eve, to support the children's service since they have so few kids. 

Earlier in the day today, I made an appointment to go to the groomer, since my lunch date fell apart. Rita had gotten a call from her 'hair guy' to remind her of an appointment she had this a.m. so we rescheduled for tomorrow. I had gotten my papers together for the DMV but wanted a hair cut first. Must look our best for our mug shots! Barb could take me at 12:30 so I stopped at Publix first to get needed supplies, not food items, but the taxables. Most important on the list was dishwasher soap. Seems we have been going through alot of that lately.

Before heading out, I wrapped some of Justin's CHRISTmas presents. I used gift bags instead of actually wrapping them, since one bag was quite handy from my night at Judy's with the Ladies' Group. I regifted the gift bag! At the party, Jean traded me her present for the one I got---bath and body products. I LOVED her claret colored glass reed difuser thingy and she loved the bath/shower stuff. Win-Win!

                                            

After I got my hair cut, I decided not to go get in line at DMV (they told me on the phone that this office does not take appointments!) and stopped at McDonald's for lunch. I had a coupon for Big Mac's, a BO/GO deal. What a mess that was! It's been a while since I had one and I remember now that you can't put it down in between bites. My boss at Shady Lane nearly 30 years ago used to say she wouldn't eat them because she likes her salad separate from her burger. I see her point! It still tastes delicious, but is a slippery little devil...

The cards are coming! The cards are coming!

A couple days ago I got my first 'real' CHRISTmas card from one of the ladies at church. She included a letter telling about the past year and its events, not the least being the passing of her husband of 60 years. She is a delightful woman and an excellent Christian example. I love just her!

People seem to be extra frantic about getting their 'holiday' stuff done, thinking they are short of time. Part of that reason is having ThanksLiving come so early in the month this time. Folks feel pressured to leap into activity when the starting pistol of 'Black Friday' is fired, but actually had an extra week, nearly, to prepare for Christmas. More than once I suggested to people that they calm down, there's plenty of time!

***

The other day at Bible study, a couple of the guys in attendance were in fine form. Jean, Stephanie's mom, was there for the class and knows the fellas a bit from previous visits. Both men prior to as well as during class had the opportunity to make crass, general statements about women being gossips or claiming "Did you ever see those Facepages or whatever? That's nothing but a bunch of gossip!" 

                                

First of all, gossip would involve maliciously maligning someone. Oh yes, that's what all the businesses and even the churches do on Facebook---gossip! For that last remark I sort of gasped in exasperation but Pastor addressed it immediately urging fairness and kindness. Granted, some may use this communication tool for less than noble reasons, but certainly not all of us!! I do get defensive when someone provokes me or accuses me falsely. I won't stand for it! And besides, gentlemen, we have a guest at the table so behave yourselves!

***

I think I am at the point where I must get a haircut. By the end of the day it starts to tip over and lay down flat, which is not good if I am not laying down flat. Usually I go the week of the full moon but have been holding off to extend the life of my haircut into my visit to WI. Perhaps Thursday afternoon will work for me. 

***

I also MUST get my drivers' license renewed as well as my plates renewed before I leave. Suddenly, time is going away from me! I have to assemble all my documents including my divorce papers to take along to the DMV to prove I am who I claim to be. 

                                          

I had to retrieve my marriage certificate from the safe, and came upon Justin's and Timmy's baptismal certificates. Timmy's had the linen napkin in it and you can only guess what happened then....Yes, it was the same thing that happened when I saw Suzanne at church later, wearing the pretty pin Timmy had given his Sunday school teacher only weeks before he died....It was one of those days!