Spectacular Saturday

Friday we picked up Cassie, Ally and Sheetal at the airport before joining Larry's aunt and sister for dinner.  The girls stayed with us while Kristin and Sheetal stayed at Larry's.   Saturday was busy getting everyone ready, all the gifts and prizes to Aunt Maureen's and helping get things set up for the shower. Eileen drove us and Tom rode with Ted to pick up the catering a bit later so it would arrive for lunch.  Kara and Bill flew in that morning and met up with us.   The men sat on the patio watching football while the shower went on.

Attendees minus Laura and Gisele who had to leave early.

The Bride and Maid of Honor

The Bride and Groom

Kara, Kristin, me, Cassie and Ally

Lovely home on a beautiful lake.  

Paintings by Larry's aunt

It was a huge success and I was so blessed to have two sisters, two daughters and two granddaughters in attendance.  Larry's family could not have been more  gracious and we are so grateful to them for opening their home.

But we had all of Saturday evening to continue celebrating.  We went to River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans Riverside at Disney to see the Bob Jackson show.  I need to download some photos so I will leave you with our group photo with Bob and you'll have to wait to see the rest next time! 

Busy, busy Week!

We had a terrific flight on Southwest to Orlando.  This airline knows how to do it right.  No charge for the first bag so no one is dragging the kitchen sink aboard.  Orderly boarding in increments.  Up, up and away on time.  We had a real salesman at Hertz who woukd have doubled our costs if we would have let him.  Did we want to rent a Sun Pass, GPS, car seat, pay for gas, take out insurance, etc.  Nope!  We are good to go.  It was 8:00 by the time we made it to Kristin's.

Wednesday we had our laundry list of errands.  I needed to buy prizes for the shower games and lots of wrapping paper.  I had 10 gifts that had been delivered to Larry's to wrap and then 8 prizes to wrap once they were purchased.  Meanwhile we were pulling anchors out of the walls and patching them where Kristin has moved things from here to Larry's.  For dinner we met up at Terra Mia for dinner.  The shower was being catered from there so they wanted us to try it.  We were pretty tired when we got home but we watched the DVR of Survivor before hitting the hay.

We were out of the house by 8:15 Thursday to deliver the cats to the groomer.  They are long hair Persians so cat hair is a nightmare.  They also had been hacking the proverbial hairballs so they were going to get the lion cut.  

We proceeded to Larry's and took off with another list of errands.  We dropped off fake pearls for the waist decoration on the wedding dress cupcakes for the shower.  I had emailed a photo to Larry who took it to Publix to see if they could duplicate it.  They asked for a decoration for the waist.  I found an  old  Mardi Gras necklace, cut it apart and tied the ends to keep the pearls on.  After a washing, they were ready to go.  They finished it off with shimmery sprinkles and it was a hit!

Next we had to deliver witness statements, baptismal certificates and pre-Cana documentation to St. Stephen's Church.  That was a quick visit but productive in that our questions concerning what they need to do regarding readings, songs, participants, etc. were answered.  They seem to be on course with all of that.

Next up was tuxedo measurement time for Ted and Larry.  It was fun sitting back and watching men pick and  choose while getting measured.  Usually men are sitting watching women model what they are trying on.  

We stopped at Terra Mia's larger restaurant to order the food for Saturday.  They told us we would have to pick it up at the one we ate at because they don't open until 5:00 on Saturdays.  Kristin thought only the larger one did the catering.  Whatever!  They called and made all arrangements for us.

Finally we went to pick up the cats.  Oh my!  We didn't know if we should laugh or cry.   Mango was growling at Maisy because he didn't recognize her.  Good thing he doesn't have a mirror!

I must say that the cat hair flying around has diminished considerably.

We ate dinner at the restaurant where the rehearsal dinner will be.  It is a sports bar in downtown Orlando on a trendy street near the Church Street Station area frequented by the younger set.  With 60 expected, we chose to keep it casual and fun.  The food was really good so we thought so far, so good.

Friday was the big day for food tasting at The Citrus Club.  It is as lovely as we remembered it and the service was impeccable.  We chose 5 appetizers to try and settled on 3.  We had 2 salads and chose our favorite.  We each had a different entrée and chose 2 of  those plus one that was not available that day.  We were 3 for 3 on restaurant choices. 

We went to Larry's and eventually met up with his Aunt Irene and sister Maureen.  They are such a wonderful family.   They think the world of Larry and are quite taken with Kristin.  They both are bringing lots of support to this marriage.  Saturday was the big day and I will share that next time.

To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on the miraculous.

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Free Time

We came home Monday after an enjoyable and productive week out in the RV.  We love spending time with Tommy and Susan.  It has been since The National in Nashville in 2012 that we have been with the Dallas folks.  And to add to that, the rig was washed and waxed, the rugs were cleaned and my cabinets were rearranged so hopefully no more broken dishes.  We are ready to roll.

We had planned a trip to Florida awhile back and since I didn't know if we were traveling in the RV which takes the most time, by car which takes a bit less or flying, I kept this past week open.  That gave me Monday and Tuesday to put away what we brought home, to go through the mail and do "paperwork."  Wednesday I did laundry all day.  I swear somone puts their clothes in with ours.  Two people shouldn't produce so much dirty laundry.  I think it's the same guy who alters our clothes while they are hanging in the closet and makes mine smaller and Ted's bigger!

Today I worked at the Children's Festival here where we live.  Over 3000 children are bussed in to see the programs and visit the exhibits.  It is like herding cats.  The teachers and chaporones do a great job of keeping their classes together but we had 5 buses from one school for a total of a couple hundred kids we were responsible for.  Each school is different and volunteers are assigned accordingly.  We lucked out in that our children remained in the same spot for all activities including lunch.  This may have been because we had an additional mini busload of special needs children including wheelchairs.

Once we got them settled, handled bathroom and first aid directions, determined where to send the special needs for diaper changes, and brought chairs into the handicapped area for those teachers, we were able to sit back and enjoy the shows.  At lunch we distributed trash bags and gathered that up.  After the final show one of our group took the special needs to their bus while the remaining three of us kept almost 300 people together, out of their seats and funneled to the same aisle, down the steps, across the plaza, out the gate and around the corner to the 5 waiting buses.  All the time walking next to another school and keeping them in their correct line.  I was doing the middle and did a lot of back and forth along the line to accomplish tnis.

My last two duties were to hold up a bus so a special needs bus could get into the correct school district bus line and take a jacket back to first aid that we got for a Down's Syndrome little girl who was cold.  I have to mention the patience and dedication of the special ed teachers as well as all of the teachers.  I know I would have been a terrible teacher.  I just don't have the patience.  They seem to take all that exuberance and noise in stride.  God bless them.

We have turned one of our guest rooms over to Chris.  He now has the closet and chest of drawers in one guest room so he can move in and out easily.  He even has a hamper.  We have a very aggressive travel schedule in 2014 and we all agreed this will work best. 

Hair, nails, church, cards, more cards and packing will occupy my weekend and Monday.   We fly to Orlando on Tuesday for Kristin's wedding shower.  We also are tasting rehearsal and reception food, meeting Larry's family, getting Ted's tux, getting my dress hemmed, etc.  My two granddaughters are flying in and another daughter is coming also.  We are taking them all to a show at Port Orleans at Disney on Saturday night.  They are only there for two days so we want to see they have a good time in that short window.

Next time I will have some photos from Florida!

A Week's Vacation

We knew we would be coming and going this week but that didn't detract from our week with Tommy and Susan and the Dallas HitchHikers.  The ladies were attending classes at the quilt show and Susan was working so there was plenty of time to do whatever. 

I made chicken soup for dinner on Wednesday while Ted was gone and we shared it with Tommy and Susan.  We ate inside because everything outside was wet from the rain.  Ted was tired after getting up two days in a row at 5 am so it was an early night.

Thursday was the start of the rally and we had breakfast in the rally room at 9.  It was my day to play Shanghai so at noon I headed there.  And I won, coming in second.  I hurried home because there was a potluck at 5:30 and I had sweet potatoes to bake.  There is always too much food but it is always really good.  The gals taught me a new card game, 2500.  Now I will have to teach the others I play cards with.  I don't know how I did that first time playing but I know I didn't win.

Friday we attended church after spending 45 minutes in traffic for a 10 minute trip.  Apparently there was a wreck at the interchange we had to go through.  Ted made a pulled pork shoulder and we ate lunch outside with Tommy and Susan.  At 5:30 we had to meet the other group at the Mexican restaurant.  I wasn't the least bit hungry but they sent one of the fellows to tell us they had arrived from downtown and to come over, so we went.  I ordered a half quesadilla from the appetizer menu and managed to eat that.  We gathered in the rally room afterwards until it started to rain again when everyone headed home.  

Today we were invited to lunch at Tommy and Susan's for taco soup.  Our friends Dee and Ricky came by and ate with us but couldn't stay long.  Then Tommy decided we needed to go look at motorhomes!  They certainly are beautiful but just don't have the warmth and coziness of our 5th wheel.  I think we have one more unit in our future but I'm not sure just when or what it will be.

We tried to see Rita and Jim's new Mobile Suites but they were out and about somewhere.  So we stopped at Judy and Warren's to talk to them about the Mobile Suites they are picking up in February.  HitchHiker is out of production and Mobile Suites or Excel top our list.  But like I said, we have no timetable for replacing our 2008 HitchHiker.

We returned and watched college football until 6 pm when we met the group again at a local historic restaurant.  We came back and played cards. This time I came in second.  Not bad for only my second time.

We went to church at 7:30 Sunday morning since our bodies believed it was 8:30.  Fall back is a lot easier than spring forward.  We decided to stay one extra day because Ted had the RV washed and waxed by a company.  Also there was a Welcome Back Winter Texans party in the afternoon.  Once the washing was underway, Ted left to shoot and I called the kids and then took a nap.

We attended the gathering to welcome back all those who call this place home during the winter.  Of course we are friends with many of them.  We had an opportunity to talk with Gwen the owner.  It seems she was given the impression we were going to buy a motorhome!   That Tommy!!

We did get to see Rita and Jim's rig.  We toured the Mobile Suites factory in Howe, IN in 2009.  Ted was impressed with the fit and finish at that time.  I guess you'll know when we know if we are going to bite the bullet one more time.  I at least wrote the check for this one without getting a sick migraine!

We head home tomorrow.  I think the RV will stay put until December but then who knows what could come up?

The Green, Green Grass of Home

We have had an inordinate amount of rain since our return and it is as green as springtime around here.  I usually stop my grass cutting every week around the first of November but I may need to continue it a bit longer.  We have it cut every other week over the winter.  The grass isn't really growing but it can get messy with pine needles and such so it is nice to get the yard tidied up at least every other week.

Friday we decided to vote early and then ride to the campground to change our reservation to Monday from Wednesday.  Gwen and Melissa in the office were delighted to see us, and us them!  It has been awhile since we've camped here.  Afterwards we stopped by Tommy and Susan's site and ended up visiting so long we ate supper at Red Robin because it was too late to fire up the grill at home.

When I checked my email that evening I had an email from the county court clerk saying my service was not needed and thanked me!  Now it was easier to plan for our week.

Saturday we went to church at 5:00 and then came home to put on our costumes for the party we were invited to.  We were going to be Amish farmers but I never found suspenders so we opted to go as Hawaiian tourists.  Ted wore yellow shorts with a yellow and blue Aloha shirt with a lei.  I wore a white caftan with pink and lavender flowers, a lei and a flower in my hair.  It wasn't too original since Dick and Jeanette had on their Aloha outfits too!

Here are some of the ladies and gents.

We had Cleopatra.

And Davy Crockett.

The winners of the costume contest.

Ted

Me

We had a fun time with our friends.  Jeanette's kids came as Scooby Doo and the teens who ran with him as well as a butterfly and a tiger.  Great costumes.

Sunday I went to the grocery to prepare for our week out in the RV and Ted went shooting.  On Monday we split up and he went for fuel and to hook up while I drove my car over to the campground.  We arrived together (great timing!) and got set up.  Tommy was there to meet us as well as Harley from the Dallas group.

We visited some, had dinner and watched Dancing With The Stars later that evening.  Tuesday Ted had to go to the Chronicle and I went to Junior Forum to help prepare the Holiday Party invitations for bulk mailing.  I arrived back way before Ted and visited with Tommy, Nick and Fallon for the afternoon.

When Ted returned he said he had to get dressed, turned around and went back down to dinner with his fellow employees who were in town.  And he had to go back down this morning and has just returned at 4:30.  He is not used to putting in such long two day periods.

Today I cleaned the carpets and rearranged my cabinets to avoid the disaster we had when all my corning ware flew out and broke.  I made chicken soup and we are having Tommy and Susan over for dinner after eveyrone has their nap.

Tomorrow Ted is home and we have a rally breakfast at 9:00, I play cards at noon and then a potluck at 5:30.  I hope I get back in time to get my sweet potatoes peeled and baked in time for dinner!  Our week is going by quickly.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Happy HallowThankMas

Well I have seen the first Christmas commercial from Pet Smart, Halloween decorations are all over the place and we have an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner (woohoo!).  I ordered my first two Christmas presents on Amazon this morning.  So the season of HallowThankMas has officially begun.

We have been going to church on Sunday mornings the past few weeks.  On occasion it is because we have to be somewhere before we would get out on Saturday and sometimes we just don't feel like stopping what we are doing. Ted likes college football on Saturday and if we go at 9 am on Sunday he can see the professional football games too.  Yippee!  (I really need a sarcasm font.)

So this past weekend we went to church Sunday morning, watched football and then joined the Dining Out group for dinner at a local restaurant.  Even though it was Mexican I ordered talapia and it was excellent.  

We had a huge funeral at our church on Monday for a doctor killed on his bicycle when a truck backed out and hit him.  He was a department head at a very big hospital here and we knew many would attend.  I had my bunco group meeting so I got up early, made 24 chicken salad sandwiches and delivered them along with two gallons of iced tea for the reception.  I offered to return after bunco to help with clean up but they said they had plenty of help.  There is another memorial funeral Monday, 11/4, so I will try to keep my calendar clear and be available.

I did learn that I could get a job as a barmaid at the Hofbrau Haus because I carried two gallons of tea (16 lbs.) with one hand and the sandwiches with the other from my car to the kitchen at church.  Those beer steins would be no problem.

Tuesday was laundry day and Tucker was picked up to go home.  He was so excited when they came for him.  Wouldn't it be great if all our friends and family would be so excited to see us each and every time and show it with such enthusiasm?

Yesterday I worked the senior luncheon for Northwest Assistance Ministries.  It was another early morning wake up to be ready to leave at 7:45.   I arrived right at 8:30 as instructed and lo and behold the seniors were already showing up.  Some were already seated!  They were dressed in costumes but I never did hear who won the contest.  Global Warming was the most unique and I was the first to figure it out.  Believe me, that wasn't easy!

I had an appointment to get my hair cut, colored and highlighted.  It has been touch ups since last June so it was time for an overhaul.  This morning I got my nails done.  These are thought to be "lady of leisure" activities but I don't have much leisure and find it hard to work these appointments in.  It's a good thing I don't have lots of doctor appointments.  I just don't have time for that.

I met Gerre for lunch today to celebrate our birthdays.  They both were almost three weeks ago but she is as busy as I am.  She had Bible Study this morning and a doctor's appointment this afternoon so we had exactly one hour, 15 minutes for lunch.  I was able to go right from my nail appointment.

We had a nice visit and were joined by a lady I met last week at the Newcomers luncheon.  She was meeting someone but I think they had their times crossed.  I saw a lady waiting when I arrived but she left by the time Marie arrived.  At least I am not the only one who does stuff like that.

Ted went to Beaumont for work yesterday, came home while I was gone this morning, and left again to work an outing at the gun club before I got back from lunch.  Two ships passing in the night.

Tomorrow I have to call to see if I must report for jury duty on Monday.  Our whole week hinges on that answer.  We'll work it out.

In the End We Were Mudded Out

I played Canasta on Monday afternoon.  We only had 8 players but Michele had food for an army!  She has her hands so full with a husband with Alzheimers and a mother in Assisted Living.  And she was over helping her neighbor who had a flood under her kitchen sink.  There are definitely saints among us!  I ended up scoring in the middle again.  I don't think I have ever won in this group.  But it is always fun!

I was signed up for work at the Thrift Shop for four hours on Tuesday.  We all worked very hard and emptied two huge bins of donations while others sorted, tagged and hung clothes.  I also cut off buttons and went through all the baby onesies, sleepers, bibs and caps by size.  They get thrown together out in the store and need sorting periodically.  Some of the stuff we receive is mind boggling.  We had size 24 month brand new True Religion jeans and 2T Ralph Lauren shirts with $60 tags still attached.  There are some great deals to be had.

I stayed home on Wednesday to get some things done because I was going to be gone most of Thursday.  I agreed to attend the Newcomers luncheon to speak about my bunco group to new people coming in.  I didn't know how to dress like three dice so I just wore my Halloween sweater.  We had assigned seating so I met two new ladies.  I know fewer and fewer folks because people move through Newcomers and eventually come out the other side.  Some groups break off and go their separate way and a new activity group takes its place with new people.  Bunco has stood the test of time because it is such an ice breaker game where you can meet and talk to 11 ladies for a few hours.  Great friendships are started and nurtured.  I can't even guess how many ladies have moved through my group over the last 12 years.  The food was okay but I think they needed a side salad with the pasta.

At 3:30 Peg picked me up and we headed to Jeanne's for the Junior Forum Wine Extravaganza.  Pat, who I work funerals with at church, has agreed to take a look at Forum and planned to attend but she came down with a sinus infection.  Because we are hosting next year's Convention, there will be no Gala fundraiser next year.  A program has been developed to raise our funds and this Wine Party was the kick off.  There was a good turnout and $16,000 was raised.  We are hoping our commercial sponsors will step up after the first of the year to donate in the tax year they planned for.

I had a headache Friday morning and skipped a Forum meeting.  (I only had ONE glass of wine!).  Imagine my surprise when I got two messages telling me I was nominated for Volunteer of the Month!  I was shocked but honored.

By 5:30 my head was fine and we went with Sherida and John to dinner and to see Bus Stop as part of our play series.  They did a terrific job with the set and everyone did a superb job with their lines and acting.  We really enjoyed the performance.

Jennifer and I were signed up to do the CASA 5K run through Jones Forest Saturday morning.  We had our shirts on with our numbers pinned.  However, it has rained a lot and the roads and trails were a muddy mess.  We got stuck in the mud in the car twice and had to be pushed out and we hadn't even seen the start tent.  We made a decision that we had made a donation, got our shirt and we cut our losses and came home.  I can't even imagine how the parked cars made it out on a rutted one lane road with water standing on either side with nowhere to turn around.  To us, it just wasn't worth it.

So I stayed home the rest of Saturday and made dinner.  We attended church this morning.  Tucker has been here visiting since Thursday.  He will go home on Tuesday.  He is such a cuddler.

This morning our middle daughter ran the Detroit Newspapers half marathon from downtown Detroit, across the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Canada, along their riverfront and then through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel under the Detroit River back to the USA, a total of 13.1 miles.  Way to go.  We are so proud of her.

“The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” 
― John Bingham

 

Home Again, For Awhile Anyway

I was really whipped when I arrived home Monday evening.  All that partying and eating did me in.  Not to mention the marathons at the airports.  I feel for folks who have difficulty walking.  There are carts but sometimes they are hard to come by and they can only go gate to gate.  I noticed they have signs now that say Handicapped Only on them.  Getting through security or to a rental car bus entails lots of walking.  

Having forgotten my phone at home left me lots to get caught up on once I had my calendar available. Ted tracked it down once he got home and it was in my jeans pocket hanging in my closet.  He said it was like playing hide and seek with the phone!

Alison brought my new computer back all ready to go.  She loaded what was on the back-up flash drive but some more recent stuff hadn't been saved.  That made me use attachments from emails to get some documents current but I did all that.  The 27 inch monitor is big but because it contains everything, I was able get rid of the tower, speakers and microphone.  The keyboard and mouse are wireless.  It allowed me to take the fax machine off my desk and put it where the tower had been.  I like the new arrangement.  The resolution is phenominal.

I had lots of mail to handle including about two dozen birthday cards. This was a fun birthday!  My new motto is Every Day Above Ground Is A Good One, stolen from the Spring Funeral Museum.

I begged off Shanghai on Wednesday evening and was asleep before the 10 o'clock news came on.  By Thursday I was caught up and rested.  I had our neighborhood ladies luncheon to attend.  Ted had met the fellows the day before.  Eleven ladies came and there were four of us celebrating birthdays this month.  Jeanette made Halloween cupcakes and placed them in a spiral holder that created a cupcake tree.  Everyone liked the private room and food so much that Merry booked it for our Christmas luncheon in December.

Friday we decided to use two BIGIF coupons we had to eat a late lunch/early dinner at the mall.  We first ate at Jerry's Build A Burger then had a Blizzard at Dairy Queen.  I found the burgers too juicy (translation "greasy") and despite my burger being free and drinking water, our bill was almost $15 for Ted's burger, one order of french fries and his drink.  I doubt we'll go back there with or without coupons.  DQ is an occasional treat and I enjoyed my Butterfinger blizzard.

Saturday was rainy and a good day to stay in, watch some football and make a pot of chicken soup.  We played Shanghai at 6:30 and it was a nice break from the dreary weather.  There were just two tables of five.  Ted won at our table but I did have a Shanghai!  This game is so unpredictable.  I went out twice (0 points), got a Shanghai (0 points plus catching everyone with a whole hand), had 6 and 4 points in two other hands, but got caught not going down on one hand for 125 points and I ended up third out of five players!

We were up early Sunday to go to church at 9:00.  It was still raining so we watched football and ate the chicken soup I made for dinner.

Today starts another week.  Where does the time go?

“One of the greatest titles we can have is "old friend". We never appreciate how important old friends are until we are older. The problem is we need to start our old friendships when we are young. We then have to nurture and grow those friendships over our middle age when a busy life and changing geographies can cause us to neglect those friends. Today is the day to invest in those people we hope will call us 'old friend" in the years to come.” ~ Grant Fairley

Dual Road Trips

While Ted traveled to San Antonio, I attended an Activity Chair get together for our Newcomers Club.  I have been a member for so long that I no longer do much with the club but I do still have my Bunco group.  I didn't know at least half of the other Chairs.  It was a nice gathering and I enjoyed meeting the new ladies.

When the government shut down on Tuesday I decided I was non-essential and took the day off.  After all, I do get a government check each month in the form of Social Security even if it is my own money coming back to me.

I was up very early on Wednesday to make my 9:15 am flight to Cincinnati.  I parked off site, rode to the terminal, made it through security and had plenty of time before boarding.  I had to change planes in Dallas.  With one of their trains down it was necessary to ride in only one direction rather than the closest way around.  Soon after I got to my gate they changed it.  So I took my bag and hoofed it to the new gate!

I arrived in Cincinnati on time and had another long walk to the Hertz bus stop to go to the rental lot but that all went well and I was on my way.  I arrived at Karen's around 4:00 and was soon eating turtle soup and a pickle loaf sandwich, two of my favorites not easily available in Texas.

While I was traveling to Cincinnati, Ted was busy winning the World Championship 20 gauge Class C shoot snaring a trophy belt buckle and a 100 pin.  It almost always takes a perfect score to win because the competition is so tough.   Congratulations to Ted!

My friend Karen picked me up Thursday morning for what turned into a 4 hour breakfast.  I also ran into Ted's best man Joe at Bob Evans while eating.  Small town west Cincinnati!  

That evening my friend Donna picked me up for dinner with the St. Bonaventure group.  Ten people were in attendance and we had a great evening.  Donna brought a birthday cake and they all celebrated with me.   

Karen and I went shopping on Friday before Donna once again picked me up and we traveled to Mason OH to Mother of Mercy, Class of 1963, 50th reunion.  We had a class of 220 and about 80 were in attendance.  We learned 18 of our classmates are deceased and that really was a sobering event.  They left us all too soon.

Joe's wife, Judy, my Maid of Honor was there, as well as Carol who was also in my wedding and is my middle daughter's godmother.  I didn't get a photo of the three of us however.  I guess we were just all too busy talking.

The third Donna met us there and I did get a photo of the three of us.  We matched the record for length of friendship at 63 years since we started kindergarten together in 1950.  Most children was 8, most grandchildren 16, most great grandchildren 5.  Two other girls were there from Texas.  It was four hours of cocktails, dinner, great conversation and reminiscing.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

 

On Saturday we took it easy and went to church at 5 o'clock where I got to say hello to my sister-in-law's mother who was in attendance.  Then we went to the Bier House for dinner and we met our nephew and niece Joe and Debbie.  I was able to get hot bacon slaw, potato pancake and a pretzel bread stick.  Yum!  Yum!  Now this is Octoberfest food.

After a good night's sleep I met my niece Jill for a 3-hour lunch at LaRosa's Pizza, our gold standard for pizza.  It was so good.  But the company was better.  We had a real nice visit and discussed her attendance at Kristin's wedding.  We are excited she and her immediate family intend to attend.  They will bring my Dad health permitting.

Today I traveled home without incident.  I got the car back to Hertz, made it through security and was at my gate in plenty of time.  I had two hours between flights in Dallas so I used the time to eat dinner.  Good thing too because my flight was delayed, the bus for the parking lot took forever to arrive and it was close to 8:00 before I got home.

My new computer will be brought back today without any rescued info.  The hard drive will not work.  I have a few flash drives that have some stuff so Alison will work with them and some CDs with photos.  There was very little that was terribly important but reconstructing what I need will take some time.  Such is life.

The essence of nostalgia is an awareness that what has been will never be again.

 ~ Milton S. Eisenhower

The Octoberfest That Wasn't

I played Shanghai on Friday which happened to be Ted's 69th birthday.  He was working the Texas First Responders annual shooting competition at the gun club.  It is good to have separate interests so you have new things to talk about when you come together again.  Anyway, I was in second place in Shanghai until the last hand and I was a card short of going down.  Any 1 of 7 cards would have done it for me but it just didn't happen.  Easy come, easy go.

Ted grilled filets that Terry and Carol sent him as a birthday gift and we spent a quiet evening at home.  He had to work again at the gun club on Saturday.  We have had a fair amount of rain and he has come down with a cold.  I get flu shots, he doesn't.  He gets colds frequently, I hardly ever get one.  Is it the shot?  I really don't know but if I was him I would take advantage of the free shot to see if it helps.

Saturday night we joined 7 other couples to attend an Octoberfest at a local brewery.  Tickets were with and without beer so we had two Designated Driver bracelets.  Food was advertised as being available.  We were given a great stein made in Germany on the way in.  We found two round tables and put out the snacks and some drinks some had brought.  When the music started it was that loud, "who knows what they are saying" kind of noise.  There was some Oom Pah recorded music in one area but it was totally enclosed and stuffy with tall tables for standing so we sat outside where there was a nice breeze but had to listen to the loud music.  Food available was BBQ and Mexican!  They need to look to Cincinnati, Munich, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels to find out how an Octoberfest is run.  They did have a photo booth and that was fun!  We enjoyed the company and chalked it up to experience.

We had to go to church on Sunday morning since we had left for the Octoberfest at 5:00.  It was the Sunday where those seeking to be baptized into the Catholic Church and baptized Christians seeking Confirmation in the Catholic Church are welcomed and start their journey.   I was impressed there were about 45 people.  They will study each week until Easter when they will receive the sacraments and join us in full Communion.  However, it made church a bit longer.  We had a nice breakfast at home and literally whiled the day away while it rained.

Ted left this morning for San Antonio to participate in the World Skeet Shoot.  He and several friends will be there most of the week.  Their return depends on how well they do and any shoot offs they have to stay for.  I hope the rain doesn't ruin their competition.

We did get an excited call from our middle daughter who got engaged to Bill on Saturday.  Now I have two weddings in 2014!  I am busy until 9/2 of next year, literally!!

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be - Robert Browning

Tucker Comes To Visit

Monday morning Tucker came with his food and leash to spend the week with us.  He is so easy to care for and we enjoy having him.

I was busy making two dozen deviled eggs for the funeral lunch and left Ted to doggy sit.  It was a big funeral and a local burial so it was after 3:00 before I got home.  I brought a half dozen tablecloths home to launder.   They are very big and only three fit in the washer at a time.

Tuesday was my first day back at the thrift shop since June and I learned they are going to build on.  Workmen were there most of the day doing some measuring.  We really do need more room because the contributions come in non-stop.  When I left there I dropped off the clean tablecloths at church and arrived home around 3:00 once again.

By Wednesday I decided to take a break and go to Happy Hour.  It has been a really long time since I've done that.  I didn't think I would stay long but it was 8:30 before I made it home.  Girl talk you know!  Several gals that I normally don't see attended and we had a good time.  I even ran into two Forum members that I didn't know belonged to the country club.  Maybe they are like me and don't belong but attend as someone's guest.  I just took time to say hello and didn't pursue that question.

Today is Shanghai and I hope I remember how to play.  At least I haven't played Canasta recently to screw up my mind more than it already is.

The wedding plans continue and this week was choosing the table linens.  My daughter does not like the polyester tablebloths normally used by the Citrus Club so we are renting different ones and purple runners for the tables.  I can't remember if she said we are using chair covers or not.   And to think I griped  about the $3.75 per glass rental fee for a champagne toast back in 1992 at Kara's wedding.  And that didn't include the champagne!  $850 to rent 225 glasses just rubbed me wrong.

“Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them everything.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

Time Keeps Flying

I started Tuesday off heading to the doctor for my six month blood work.  I take one pill a day for cholesterol and religiously have the bloodwork done to check liver enzymes.  So far so good.  My doctor calls me himself the next day to talk to me about the numbers.   He said my cholesterol was 185, my blood pressure was 122/82 and all my other numbers were terrific.  He will see me in 6 months and I should add a calcium pill to my daily routine just because of my sex and age.  I hate taking pills, especially huge ones, so I am going to get the chew ones.  I will tell myself it is candy!

Afterwards I met Gerre for lunch.  It is the first time I have seen her since returning home.  We are going to watch Tucker next week and are looking forward to that.  Ted really enjoys having him around and taking him for walks.  He is no trouble at all and never barks so I only know he is around because he climbs up on the couch and into bed with me.

I told the kids I had Wednesday off.  They don't understand how you can be retired and need down time.  I changed and laundered sheets and did other little things.  I went to the grocery because I needed to make a breakfast casserole for Friday, an appetizer for Friday night and I will be making 24 deviled eggs for a funeral on Monday.

Ted was working two outings at the gun club on Thursday and Friday.  The first was for a political campaign; the other was a company outing - Boots and Coots.  They are the company that put out the oil wells that were set on fire in Kuwait during Desert Storm.  He enjoys giving Mike a hand and gets some free rounds for himself.  It is good for men to have something of interest to do in retirement.  

While Ted was gone Thursday, I took Judy and Peg to lunch for their help with my Forum schedule.  It would  be almost impossible for me to manage sign up for my hours without their efforts.  We had a nice lunch and it rained the whole time we were eating,  i believe we brought the rain home as requested by so many.

Friday was an early day.  I fixed my casserole Thursday night so I could pop it in the oven as I got ready.  I picked up Judy and traveled to the Forum office together.  It was the awards meeting and I, along  with many others, were congratulated on completing over 100 hours of service and support hours.  It went up from there with one lady receiving a pin for 17 years of service.  The top hourly gal at close to 400 hours was Donna that I work with at the thrift shop.

When I arrived back home I had some time before I needed to get my appetizer ready for Wind Down Friday night.  Usually September is a huge crowd but this year it was smaller.  The rain may have kept people away.  When it was pouring I even thought about skipping but it stopped long enough for us to get there.  We had a good time but I was tired when we got home.

We have a quiet weekend planned.  I have things I could do if my new computer would ever arrive.  Apparently it is on backorder.  Alison is in Serbia so until she gets home I wouldn't be doing anything with it anyway.  I may have to choose something else because I can't wait forever for Dell to get it here from Austin!  

 Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice ~ George Jackson.

Larry Carpenter Photography

Here are some family photos taken by our son-in-law-to-be, Larry, of Larry Carpenter Photography.  These are from a visit to Disney World and a Michigan visit to celebrate the 40th birthday of the Maid of Honor, Sheetal.  She has been Kristin's best friend since age 8.

Bill, Sam, Goofy, Larry.  It was Red Shirt Day at Disney.

I would guess Kristin is the photographer here since Larry is doing his version of the story of Jonah with a shark instead of a whale.

While in Florida, a trip to see Grandpa, my Dad, was on the agenda.  He shared with Larry his favorite photo that he had taken.  Looks pretty spectacular.  Grandpa is 87.

This is Sheetal in the yellow dress and her family.  Both she and her mother are doctors.

Larry and Kristin, but I don't know if there is another photographer or a timer for this one.

Kelly, my oldest and her husband of 25 years, Patrick.  They attended the birthday celebration too.

Last, but certainly not least, our middle daughter and her Significant Other, Bill.

Just Enjoying Being Home

We had our neighborhood ladies' luncheon on Thursday with a nice showing of the group.  Our good friend is taking chemo again and was unable to attend.  We are all very concerned about her.  There are so many sick people on my prayer list that I had to turn the bookkeeping over to the Lord.  When I offer to pray for someone, I really do, but people move up and down the list as their needs warrant but I never take anyone off.  We can all use healing in mind, body or spirit.

I met Irene Friday morning at her house and we went shopping.  Her house is so lovely I am just in awe when I go there.  Taking care of all that house and yard is off my radar but it is very nice to look at and enjoy.

In the evening we were invited to Terry & Carol's for dinner.  Some of their kids were in from Alabama for the Texas A&M/Alabama game on Saturday.  Our friends Dave & Jody were also invited so the 10 of us had a nice pulled pork dinner.  All I had to do was make cole slaw.  It was really nice seeing our nieces and nephews even if their team beat ours.

We watched half the game on Saturday afternoon and then recorded the rest while we went to church.  When we got home I checked on the computer and saw the results so I just made dinner while Ted watched the rest of the game.  It was a great game with a disappointing, but not unexpected, result.

Ted worked a sporting clay event at the gun club all day yesterday.  He was gone for about eight hours.  Despite it being clear and sunny here, he got caught in a downpour and was wet through to his  underwear.  He came home in time to dress for our Dining Out group that was meeting at 6:00.   While he was gone I was busy setting up tables and preparing food for my bunco group that met here today. 

We met our friends at Macaroni Grill and since our tables at home were all set for bunco, it worked out well.  We sat with Cathy and Rich, something we have never had the opportunity to do before and ended up sitting and talkng after the others had left.  It was so nice getting to know them better.

Today all my culinary efforts were rewarded with lots of compliments.  I had made two quiches, summer sausage and crackers, a cinnamon coffee cake, a raspberry trifle and pumpkin dip served with graham crackers and apple slices. There was coffee, OJ, iced tea, water and soft drinks.  It takes some doing to host bunco but I only have to do it once a year.  The other months I am the guest.

I have.a little breathing room the next few days but something always comes up it seems.

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. ” ~ Lao Tzu

Back in the Swing of Things

Last Friday was the first play of the season at our community theater.  We had dinner with John and Sherida then saw South Pacific and it was terrific, the best one I have seen there.  The gal playing Nelly Forbush teaches singing, acting and dance.  And she can do all three wonderfully.  It was an enjoyable evening and we were all humming the tunes on the way out.  Next up will be Bus Stop in October.   I don't remember that story line, only that Marilyn Monroe starred in the movie.

Saturday after church we took Terry and Carol out to dinner to get caught up after our long absence.  Of course they were gone most of August also.  I shared some family photos I had taken over the summer and we had a good visit.

Ted went shooting on Sunday as usual.  When I asked if he was a bit rusty he said he ran the first 50 so I guess the time off didn't hurt him.  He and his friends are busy registering and getting reservations in San Antonio for the National Skeet Shoot.  This is a big deal in their world.  I have gone with him before but am more than happy to let him have his Boys Road Trip.

Monday was Canasta with one of my groups.  I didn't have bad cards, just not good enough to win.  At $1 to play, does it really matter?  It is the camaraderie of the girls that is the important thing.  I was happy to see them all again.

I was up bright and early Tuesday because Judy was picking me up at 8:00 to go to the Senior Center.  It was our Forum day to serve lunch to the seniors and play bingo with them.  We both had to make a watermelon cake!  Turns out that is a strawberry cake with mini chocolate chips throughout (the seeds) with green icing (the rind).  That was the theme for the day so the paper goods and centerpieces were all watermelon/picnic items.  My donated bingo prize was a set of hand soap and hand lotion.

I was hostess at one of the 25 tables.  This means I welcome them, record their participation, check on birthdays, get them drinks, serve them lunch and help them with their bingo cards if they need it.  One lady had one arm and another was on a motorized scooter using oxygen.  I praise the Lord each month for still being on what I call "the right side of the bingo card."   I love my days at the senior lunches and work as many as my crazy schedule allows.  

Last night we played Shanghai with the couples group that meets at the country club.  My problem was I was still playing Canasta!  I was first to deal and dealt out 4 hands for the 5 of us because we play 4 to a table in Canasta.  Whoops, had to start over.  When my turn came I took two cards instead of one.  Charles asked me if I took two and I realized I had done so automatically.  I said I did, apologized, buried those two and took just one.  After that first go round my head got in gear with the proper card game and things went OK.  They are probably checking out Alzheimer facilities for me today!  The two men at our table won, shutting out us three women.

I think I have zeroed in on the rehearsal dinner location for Kristin.  With Larry's folks both deceased there is no groom's family to do this so it too is falling to them.  I offered to do the legwork for it.  The Save the Date cards will be going out by next weekend.

Another friend has died after battling ovarian cancer for a few years.  She requested no funeral but a Celebration of Life party later on when her husband and family are up to it.

If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year...Today should always be our most wonderful day ~ Thomas Dreier

 

Funerals, Friends, Firemen and Ambulances

We had a very quiet Labor Day.  Ted went shooting and smoked some ribs and I just finished up loose ends.  With my computer not available, it took some maneuvering but I think I have all the info where it needs to be.

Tuesday we attended the funeral of our friends' 49 year old daughter.  This is one of those events that just shouldn't happen.  The day after we got home last week I made sandwiches for the funeral of a 50 year old woman from our church.  Not a great week in the scheme of things.

With that under control I went to get my nails done.  I hate when they get too long.  It makes it hard to use the I-Pad and phone.  My friend Irene offered to have me look at her jewelry to see if there was something I would like to wear with my mother of the bride dress.  So I took what I had, we looked at it all together and came up with my own earrings and bracelet and one of her necklaces.  I have never been so well decked out so far in advance of an occasion!

Yesterday I went to help my friend Judy put together a list for her book club.  I have worked on computers in a word processing capacity since 1980.  I just know stuff from some lessons on the job, trial and error, sharing "finds" with co-workers and even once in awhile, reading a manual.  She was so cute trying to write down the things I did as I created a table, turned it sideways, added more lines to it, extended columns, etc.  Once I had it set up she only needed to fill in her information.  I was happy to have helped her and taught her somethings along the way.  She loved learning about the Control keys with a letter to complete a function.  She was a great student.

She and I then met her book club ladies for lunch.  What a nice group of ladies!  Just as we were finishing up a young boy pulled the fire alarm.  It was waist high and had no cover!  The alarm was so loud we took our drinks out to the patio and watched as the fire department arrived.  When I got home Ted said he was at the barber and the fellow in the next chair had what may have been a TIA, transient ischemic attack.  He went ashen, started to shake and was non-responsive.  Ted called 911 and soon the EMTs and then an ambulance arrived.  By then he was responding but did not remember what happened.  They put him in the ambulance and Ted came home.

All I can say about this week is "you just never know."

Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater our vital resources are than we had supposed.

William James

On The Mend

I didn't make Happy Hour on Wednesday because we were still knee deep in what we had brought home from the trailer but we got it all put away so Thursday dawned a little less hectic.  First up was getting my hair cut and colored.  I shudder to think what it looks like naturally.  That one inch of new growth was telling wild tales.  But I missed Shanghai because of it.

In the time we were gone, the first and second class mail forwarded to us was averagely three pieces a week!  The first delivery back here at home was all ads including one for Hand and Stone Spa.  It jogged my memory that I had a gift card for there that Kristin had given me for Mother's Day.  So Friday morning I had a facial to have a fresh start after 10 weeks of not a great regiment of skincare.  It was so relaxing and I was glad I took the time to get it done.

As soon as I returned home Alison arrived.  She has worked on our desktop since we bought it and she set it up some years ago.  She shook her head and seemed relieved when I said I intended to replace it.  She approved my choice of the 27 inch all in one with a 1TB hard drive and i5 processor.  I can't wait to get that rat's nest of cords out from behind the desk.  She pulled the USB port for Ted to use for printing and said she will come back and transfer everything when the new one arrives.  My files are there, the operating system is bad and she can do this. Great!

We received a call from Tommy and Susan Friday night asking us to meet them at Salt Grass around 3:00 on Saturday.  We said yes of course and had a nice meal and great visit.  We hope to spend some time camping with them around Halloween.  They are scheduled into the campground one weekend, us the next.  So if they stay longer and we come early, it will work.  They are headed to Colorado for a few weeks' vacation. There was the normal "who gets the check" but Ted had talked to the waiter before they even arrived.  Tommy has done so much photography and printing work for me and never let's me pay him.  Then he wants to take us to dinner!!

We were too late for Mass at our church at 5:00 so we stopped at a church on the way home that we have attended with our friends Rick and Brenda.  It began at 5:30.  Of course I had to call them in Memphis to get the correct exit off the interstate!  Imagine our surprise when a priest from our church was saying Mass.  He was filling in for one of the three priests who died this past week in our diocese. I didn't know one of them was associated with this church.  Another of the three was buried from our church because theirs is under renovation and the congregation meets in a school for now.  May they all rest in peace.

We have no plans for this Labor Day weekend.  Our camping club is in Corsicana.  If we had come home on I-20 or I-40 we would have met up with them but we came home I-10.  Terry and Carol just returned from time in Cancun with Tom and Jeanne.  They have been gone most of August and I imagine they are getting caught up just like us.

My calendar is filling in and Kristin's wedding plans are gearing up so I don't see a lot of down time anytime soon.

Slow down and enjoy life.  It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” ~ Eddie Cantor