I can swallow again!

The new dryer is in place, taking care of a load of clothes for Justin, clanging the zippers and other attachments on his garments as it rolls around. A whole week we were without a working dryer and it now has some catching up to do. My laundry can wait, but Justin's cannot as he needs them for work, and they NEED washing. I was given the time frame of delivery of Wednesday between the hours of 4 and 8 pm. Nuts! It's Ash Wednesday and I never miss church that night...except this year. I had to be here for it, though, as I would never be able to calmly be away from home when my washer was involved. 

As it turned out, Justin was home and cleaned up before the truck ever pulled in, the driver needing those pesky added directions that the GPS never shows to find The Palace. Justin had thought that once the washer was pulled out, the guys could hook up the dryer while he changed the hoses on the washer. BUT, the guys could not loosen the hose from the faucet on the hot water side, nor would the faucet turn. Oh, that's not good....

Justin shut off the water supply using our 2010 valve which had been replaced the day of the Great Flood. Yikes! He could replace one of the hoses, though the installer found that they were still in very good condition.  He did say the stainless steel ones are more sure to last, so I have at least one with staying power. The hot water one will have to stay and since we don't use the hot, we will simply hope nothing happens with it EVER!

All the while they were working on the installation and shuffling the machinery around, my mouth was so dry I couldn't even swallow. Justin kept himself busy sweeping up the mess under the machines while also staying out of their way. The guy, Nick, was amused at how Justin could go in one door and come out another. Every room in our house allows that except for the back bedroom. Nick also opted to not switch out the vent, finding it also in excellent condition. I was told I had to replace it to validate the warranty but Nick, a GE installer, said that was not true. He used my dusting wand to clean out the vent and we were good to go.

I gave them each a tip, which was warmly accepted, since they had to mess around extra with my machines, moving them in, out, and around. Nick said that rarely happened and then asked me if we, by chance, had anything cold to drink. I had 30 cases of soda!  I told him I was going to offer them a drink, telling Nick that this was a "Seinfeld" episode---always offer the delivery men a drink! I know I needed one! They left my house about 7:30 pm, with one more stop yet before their night was over. That's a long day for them, and I was glad it was over for me!

People pictures

 These are the pictures taken after the concert, before the kids were sent home with their assigned families.

When I walked into the narthex and Naomi spotted me coming, she ran up to hug me, saying, "I just knew you'd wear red!"

 David and I posed together. At first he had his robe off but put it back on for the photo, saying, "You'd probably like that...." Already he knows me so well! Love chatting with him via Facebook. He played the organ at First German a couple week ago and I understand that he blew the dust out of the pipes!

 This young lady, Kimberly, with Naomi, is the daughter of a classmate of mine, Greg, who had come down here several years ago to help us determine our readiness to open a grade school. I am also friends with her auntie, who is a travel agent in Manitowoc. Love the small world of the WELS!

 David, Kim, and Naomi at Christ the King, Palm Coast

These two lovely lovely young ladies, Megan and Anna, are sisters (no kidding!!!) who are also daughters of FG (as is Naomi). Both their parents work as teachers at MLHS. These girls are the oldest of the 6 children in the family, quite the musical folks. Joel and Carrie can be so proud at the fine example these two girls are, representing their college so favorably, and their other alma maters as well.

Photos of the MLC concert and people

This was a picture taken by the photographer with some of the choir, as they enjoyed a winter beach in FL. "Enjoyed" might be a bit of a stretch! In the center front of the picture are the Ungemach girls from my home congregation.

They had a brief stop at the St. Augustine lighthouse before heading a bit further south to Palm Coast

 There are 60 choir members and I couldn't get them all into one picture!

Of the one hymn the congregation joins in, students from Christ the King sang two stanzas, learning them 'by heart'---singing out confidently!

 Here are two young ladies from my home congregation, Naomi on the left, and Anna on the right

 This is an MLC photo of Naomi, taken on the tour

Judy and I were pleased to get the seats we did, right near the accompanists. Naomi is with her trombone, and her gentleman friend, David, is at the keyboard. 

MLC Concert

At last--the day of the concert!! I had been giddy all day which helped me get through putting my tax info together. Now to drop it off at the CPA and I am good to go! Just knowing I had this wonderful concert and the anticipation of seeing my Manitowoc friends kept me from stressing too much. I make myself a promise every year to do things right along but don't do it! Ugh!

It was gloomy and drizzly most of the day and I dreaded the ride to the concert, but it wasn't that bad once Judy and I hit I-95. There were 6 of us there from Good Shepherd, 7 from Keystone Heights, and two from Victory, that I was aware of. Pastor Schleicher and Ellen had 5 Keystone members over for dinner (he lives in Palm Coast) and told me he kicked himself for not including me in this dinner. He promised to invite me 'next time'!

It was wonderful to reconnect with the Palm Coast folks again, especially Bonnie, formerly of Victory, who was keeping all the balls in the air with organizing things. She arranged the families to take choir members home, got the meal prepared to serve (pulled pork with cole slaw!), and all the other details the host church takes on when company comes to town. Tim and she were taking 5 choir members home with them including the two Ungemach girls, from my home church. Unfortunately, the Schleichers did not get any kids (I guess they weren't 'remembered' since he serves another congregation) but again, that can happen, 'next time'!

One person I had to find to hug and photograph was a young lady named Emily, who is a friend of a friend of Michael's. Kari is the teacher who would bring the kids from CO to help with VBS until leaving her job to pursue her extended degree in education. Kari asked me to seek her out and administer a squishy hug, in her honor. So, I did it! At first the young lady was wondering what this was all about, but once I explained it came from Kari, she hugged me right back. I took her photo and sent it to Kari when I got home. 

Judy kept going to the door when it was time to leave and then I'd find someone else I needed to talk to! She is used to me, and was patient. Our drive home was better with the mist letting up and fewer cars on the road. Never a good idea to head out for a road trip at rush hour, but there was no way around that! Leaving the church around 9:15 was far quieter on the freeway.

In keeping with the recent recognition of Transfiguration Sunday, I had to say, more than once, "'tis good, Lord, to be here"! Thanking God also for the safe trip down and back from the concert, and for the traveling safety of the choir as the continue their mission of "The Gospel in Song".

Transfiguration Sunday

More than one person remarked about just putting their Christmas stuff away and it's nearly Ash Wednesday. Today we remembered the transfiguration of the Lord, singing marvelous hymns for both this special Sunday and for communion. As Linda and I like to remind each other, "'tis good, Lord, to be here"!

We had a sizable group for lunch, swelling to 11 around the tables. Gretchen joined the group today, since Judy and Terri had to go back to church after lunch anyway. As long as Gretchen has only to drive forth and back from church, she is good. It was a treat for us to have her, especially since we don't have Bible study the next two weeks. 

The service was slow, not sure the reason why (perhaps we taxed the server?), and Justin was getting a bit nervous. He had a 3:00 pm appointment to help someone with some computer stuff. If he left directly from the restaurant he would have ample time, but he wanted to use my car, which meant we had to go home, switch cars, and then he'd backtrack some to get to his appointment. I suggested driving his car home, but he was afraid I would be repulsed by it. Yes, I would, and there is a way to fix that! A couple of trash bags and having it sit with the windows open for a while...

He was tired after a late night at the party for Jesse and thought he would make his ribeye steaks for our dinner, to be enjoyed on the dinner rolls from Grumpys. Thinking he was going to have an early night of it with this simple meal (I would have been content with leftovers!). Late afternoon while he was computer working, my upstairs neighbor, Debbie, called to invite us to dinner. He was all in! 

Dick and Debbie chose La Napolera which was perfectly fine with me. I hadn't been in ages since the Chappell's had gotten bad service the last couple of times, which removed it from our 'approved' list. We all four had bad service and very cold dining at Pasta Market the last time so I am hesitant to go there anymore. I should give them another chance and support the mom 'n pop enterprises---like Koko's!

We had a lovely dinner and evening with our neighbors/friends. And they treated us! I have missed them since getting back from the holiday trip, though we had Debbie over for dinner once since getting back. This is a busy time for her at work besides having been laid up with a sinus infection...so tonight was the night to reconnect!!  

What I like about going to eat with them is that they always drive, and their vehicles are so nice and clean. Not like my car which is stocked with soda, or like Justin's which is trashed and stinks! 

Too good to pass up!

This morning I got a phone call from Judy C. as she drove from her daughter's home in St. Augustine. She wondered if I felt "Grumpy" this a.m. and I did! After all, I had that generous gift certificate from Hal and Rosalie burning a hole in my purse. We even had to wait for a table for a bit---that place is a gold mine! I used part of my certificate to purchase dinner rolls which will be used for steak sandwiches at some point. Justin is going to cook rib eyes (gotten Valentine's week at WD!) to make the sandwiches. Yum!

When I was done with breakfast and my visit with Judy, I sent Justin a message telling him to get ready. I picked him up to go to Target. He had informed me on Friday night that he was getting me up at the butt-crack of dawn to hit that sale, but it was me who was up and at 'em!  

As we walked through Target to find the soda, I got a message from Terri T., informing me of this sale. When we got to the stack, Justin took this picture of me with the soda and sent it to Terri, saying, "We are here!". She had gotten 20 cases, having her husband go, too. Such a great deal!! Jokingly, she sent me the message AFTER she had gotten hers! Judy C. was also going to go for some, and stock up for the church refrigerator as well.

We had so much soda that we needed to put some in the backseat. I also replaced my deceased slow cooker with a new one, getting the one with the snap-tight lid which makes for safer transporting when going to potlucks, etc. 

While Justin was talking computers with my neighbor who was walking her dog, I snapped this shot of the back of my car. Besides the Diet Cokes, there are a couple cases of Diet Cola from Publix at the bottom of the stack. We will buy store brand when there are no better deals, as both Justin and I have found that we overdrink on the Pepsi and Dr. Pepper products. Seems we can pace ourselves a bit easier on the 'real' thing! I am going to gone for a couple weeks this month and Justin is back to working full-time now, so this stash might last us a good long time!

Good eatin'!

Oh, my tummy is so happy as is the back of my car. Well, not too sure about that last part but I am happy the back of my car has 10 more cases of Diet Coke in it! Justin and I drove Nancy W. and Bob, our neighbor, to Saigon Tokyo (Koko's) to help surprise Nancy M. for her birthday. Her hubby, Bill, asked me to put some people together to pull off the surprise and we did just that! Sadly, one couple cancelled this afternoon as Patty was under the weather, but we did fine with 6 of us around the table. 

Most delightfully, Koko's was busy, prayers are answered! Justin and I were at first concerned when they re-opened that it wouldn't get back to where it was before Mr. and Mrs. Koko retired, but it seems it has! The non-teppan cooking side does good business as well, as does the sushi bar. Love it! A full box of leftovers came home with us, for a future meal or two.

While we were still at the table, Bill happened to mention that Target has Cokes on sale for $2 a 12-pack. Wow! Justin excused himself, drove over to Target (one plaza down), got us 10 cases, which was the limit, and then came back to the table. In the blink of an eye, he was gone and came back again. We are going again in the morning for more, too good a deal to pass up!

On the way out of the restaurant, we met Jesse, Justin's friend, plus his brother, Raymond, who is now working with Justin. Their family was gathering there to celebrate Jesse's birthday. It was nice to see everyone again. When we got home, Justin found a delivery had come, the mask I am wearing in the photograph. He got it for Raymond's girlfriend to wear to Jesse's birthday party, a Mardi Gras theme. Just being a good guy to his friend and his girlfriend.

This morning we had breakfast at The Club with the ladies, including Nancy W., Pat, and Miss O. It was a gorgeous morning, blue and crisp, a red coat day, to start with. I so enjoy these weekly meetings no matter how many join the circle. Last week when I was at Grumpy's, no one else came except Nancy and she said she ate her breakfast in about 20 minutes. Goes much more quickly without all the conversations!!