And We Are Back

I should have posted that last blog before leaving but I never got around to it.  I want to post a few photos so it is just as well.  Hopefully this will publish.

Carol took us to the airport and we met up with 8 of our traveling companions.  We flew to Amsterdam and it took 1.5 hours to get through Passport Control and to the next gate.  On arrival in Rome we met up with two more of our final group of 16 travelers and our reserved cars were there to pick us up and took us to our hotel in Rome.  The accommodations were very nice and close to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.

Saturday we toured the excavation area under St. Peter's Basilica and it was awesome.  No photos allowed but here is an altar photo inside the current Basilica dedicated to St. Peter erected directly above his bones.  They are actually under the red marble strip several stories down.  

Then we attended Mass. 

Inside the main church area.  Knees and shoulders covered, trousers for men.

 

Our relatives Steve, Keith and Marge (age 85!) with us along with our friends.

Kristin and I filling our water bottles at an ancient fountain outside the Basilica.

On Sunday we took a tour to Tivoli outside Rome.  We visited both Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este.  The first was ruins, the second contains many things recycled from the ruins site.

Ruins at Hadrian's Villa.  

Mosaic flooring still intact.

There are 500 fountains at the Vill D'Este, all working off gravity, there are no pumps.  

This structure houses pipes that use water pressure to play music much like air is used in an organ.  It played three different songs for us.  It depends on water flow as to what if anything it will do.  We lucked out!

Views from the villa.

Artwork, frescoes and mosaics inside the villa.

Monday we took a tour again of the Vatican Museum.  Despite buying an early entrance 7:30 am tour, it was 8:15 before we entered.  Instead of visiting the Sistine Chapel first, they took us there last where the 9 am regular admissions had hurried to and it was already very crowded.  Our guide had given us a nice overview of the highlights and we were able to sit for 15 minutes and take it all in.  No photos allowed.  The halls are so crowded you really cannot take in what you are looking at.  I doubt if I am in Rome again I would bother visiting again.  Last time was an even more rushed experience so it is just the norm.  

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican Museum terrace.

Tuesday our cars returned and took us all to Civitavecchia to board our ship, Jewel of the Seas.

And We Are Off!

Not too much going on this week other than continuing preparations to leave.  

Nothing at all went on Sunday other than a trip to the grocery store.  On Monday I played Canasta and came out right in the middle as always.  

The tiler came Tuesday, removed the top tile and replaced it tipping in.  Then we had to wait until Wednesday for the glass to be reinstalled.  That was done so we are officially done!  I did have to rehang my pictures they took down to lean the glass against the wall and then touch up the paint where they were less than careful.   

I also went for my ultrasound results expecting to set a date for the vein collapse procedure.  But after looking at those results, my results from Dr. C's bloodwork and being advised of the discontinuation of both cholesterol and BP meds, she said she was in no hurry to do the procedure.  So I go back in January.  I was advised to wear my compression stockings on the plane and if I get swelling or pain while walking.  She is amazed I have never had neither.  I did pay extra for our seats so I have no one in front of me and Ted is behind me.  That way no one can lean back into him virtually trapping him, spread eagle, in his seat.  We are both on the aisle.  I can stretch my legs and get up easily to walk.  

Marleah came by to look over the dishes I have for the Continental Breakfast and left with enough stuff that it took both of us to carry it to her car.  This gathering will be about 50 people so much will be needed.  It reminds me of "it takes a village."

Nancy stopped by to run through things that will occur while we will be gone.  She is a Godsend for us since Chris has moved on.  

I went to weigh-in this morning at WW and was down about 1.8 lbs. and that gives me room to gain 3-4 lbs. without exceeding my 2+ lbs. over goal while gone.  They told me if I do exceed 2 lbs. over on my return I should not weigh in until I get back down to no more than 2 lbs. over.  Total loss is 37.8.  The doctor and I both feel this is a good weight and I should just maintain as they direct me.  

It Is Saturday!

Time is clearly slipping away from me!  I haven't had time to write anything.  I will have to look at my calendar to see what took up so much of my time.

Tuesday was spent getting things back in order.  Remove table leaves, put away pads, etc. plus put all the dishes away that only came out because of our large group.  I also did laundry and tackled some more of the packing.  

Wednesday I had another ultrasound on my left leg.  I will go next Tuesday for the results and learn what happens next and when.

That evening we met in Willis at Mike's to go over everyone's travel plans.  It seems everything is in place and all credit card notifications have been made, the Euros received, questions answered and we will all meet at the airport at 1:00 on Thursday.  Carol is taking us to the airport.

I went to WW Thursday and gained a pound!  She said that was fine, I am doing Maintenance and it is a learning thing to not lose or gain weight and I am still within range with 1.8 to spare.  We ate out twice, had a BBQ dinner for Labor Day and I ate dessert twice.  I learned I can't do all of that!

From there I left for the Thrift Shop to work a shift.  It has been awhile since I saw some of these folks and they were blown away by my weight loss.  When I explained that both my BP and cholesterol meds had been halved and then stopped they thought I should get a job as a WW instructor!  One thing I know I don't need is a job!

At the Newcomers Social I signed up to help at October's Continental Breakfast.  The planning meeting was Friday morning and when it was finished I was responsible for a pico de gallo breakfast quiche and a yogurt bar.  It will be very nice.  Marleah's house is so spacious and there is lots of talent involved in the planning, decorating and cooking.  

Ted started getting his clothes together and I did another load of laundry so he had what he wanted.  However, most of all of our clothes are new because of fit.  It appears we have no problem with making it all fit in our big suitcases and carry-ons.  

Last July I gave my niece 20+ T-shirts to make a quilt.  The shirts came from our family reunions, my 5k fun runs with Gerre, volunteer groups I have been involved with and a few special places and events that mean a lot to me.  I only asked that she put the Minnie and Mickey bride and groom that says 50 Golden Years in the middle.  It was our family T-shirt on our Disney cruise.

It arrived in the mail Friday and I am thrilled with the outcome.  I had no idea how she would use so many different size graphics but she did it!  

So many memories and accomplishments pulled together by needle and thread for posterity.  Thanks, Jill!

Church at 5:00 tonight and then we'll watch the recording of our Astros in Boston!  Ted will be watching college football all afternoon.  Some things never change.

Frustrating!

I finished my blog, checked to see it on my dashboard to be sure it was all there, posted it and voila! It was not!

I cannot figure out what causes this.  I have been writing this for years!  I didn't add any photos, just typing.  Saved it, checked it, posted it.  

I think I am going to start copying new writing so I don't lose it all but I don't know if that will help or if a second attempt would do the same.

Anyway, we had a very wet Labor Day but our guests hopefully enjoyed Ted's smoked pulled pork and smoked turkey dinner.  We played cards afterwards, men in the dining room, women in the kitchen.  I pulled off a Shanghai in the last round and tied for first with Carol.

The consensus on the bathroom is that it turned out beautiful, the "wrong" granite turned out to be the better choice of the two, Ornamental Light versus Dallas White.  We had been concerned about the yellow undertones in the OL and the purplish tones of the DW.  Everyone agreed those dark brown, purplish spots went right with our espresso cabinets and floor tiles.  The OL would have not given the room the "pop" that DW does.  I feel better now.

When everyone left, Barry took his two pliers in the bathroom and in no time had the sink stopper working.  I can't wait to tell our contractor that our jewelry salesman friend fixed it for free!  

We still are waiting for them to take down the glass, have their tile guy fix the shower dam and then have the glass reinstalled.  Until then, we will keep a towel at the shower door.  No word on when they plan to do this.

Next year while we are home, I need to address the flooring.  Maybe I should just move!

That Was Different!

Ted and I went shopping, really shopping!

First stop was Academy for water shoes and thongs to wear to the pool and beach on our two upcoming vacations.  We ran into Congressman Brady there.  We had a nice conversation on happenings at the Vatican, taxes and he asked Ted's advice on best bullets for practice shooting an AR-15 with his sons!  Scored one pair of thongs only. 

Next up Verizon.  Signed up for Travel Pass while we are in Europe.  You only pay for days you use it but everything triggers it unless the phone is off or in airplane mode.  I don't understand how we would get info with no Verizon towers or wifi unless we pay someone for that.  Maybe there are a few wifi restaurants around.  We will learn as we go I guess.  If it isn't proving it's worth, airplane mode it will be.

On to Macy's.  There we found a dark blue blazer/sports coat since he gave most everything away to Career Builder.  Great price on Ralph Lauren at 65% off.  He did take his favorite black suit to Men's Wearhouse and is having it altered.  

We left the mall and headed toward home.  Ted waited in the car at At Home while I bought three olive green candles to replace burgundy faded ones in our bedroom.  No escaping the Texas sun!  

Last stop was Walmart for my Eliquis but the pharmacy was closed for lunch.  We decided to get it in the next day or two.

We were hungry and thirsty when we got home.  We had a couple of hours to rest before church.  It is still very hot here and it saps your strength.

I Have Had It!

Our average stay at an address was a little less than four years until our move to Texas.  Remember the old joke about trading in your car because the ashtray was full?  We were like that with houses.  So 15 years in one house, new when we built it in 2003, has brought many mundane things to the forefront we never dealt with in the past.

We have had the flashings around vent pipes and the chimney on the roof changed and the roof cleaned (huge black gunky mess!). The entire house trim has been power washed and painted.  The landscape redone about three times.  A new AC and furnace unit, water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, kitchen sink, additional crown molding, glass shower doors added in guest bathroom, bedroom carpeting, plantation shutters, interior painted twice, etc., all new experiences for us.  

We custom built a 4/3 pool home in Florida in 1996 and didn't have as much trouble as this bathroom has been!  The first two weeks went great and then it went down hill.  My last post said it is done.  Well it was until we started using it.  The shower enclosure problem is a tile problem.  Instead of tilting the top of the step in slightly, it is tilted outwards.  The "sweep" under the door is not enough to hold that running water back so it comes out onto the bathroom floor.  Now they have to take the glass down, rework the tile and then the glass people reinstall the glass.  When Ted used his sink to shave, the stopper wouldn't work.  I tried moving the post into every hole and it didn't help.  They were to stop by yesterday to look at it, called instead to tell us that "next week" they will be over to take the glass down.  Then no one came. I guess that call negated their need to fix the sink in a timely manner!  

I think it looks very good but why can't people do things right the first time?  Of all the workers, why wouldn't someone on the tile crew or glass crew lay a level on that tile to see if it tilted correctly?  Why wasn't the sink stopper tested to be sure it held water?  I can only imagine what would have happened if I had to type a letter 3 or 4 times before it was correct and could be sent out!  I would have been looking for work in a heartbeat.  

A big problem down here is the language barrier.  People do not necessarily learn English.  "No me gusta" is one phrase I learned right after "donde esta el bano"?  "I don't like" and "where is the bathroom"!  "Dos Cervantes, por favor" is another biggy but I don't drink so have no need for two beers!  I remember a news story in Florida of a prescription marked take once a day.  Once in Spanish is 11!  The person ended up in the hospital!   I guess eventually we will have two languages but all the Ellis Island people were anxious to learn English.  We see on the news all the time someone using a translator and they have been here for 20 years!  The glass people and stopper installer were all native English speakers so that wasn't the problem in these two instances!  

In the meantime the carpet people stretched and cleaned our bedroom carpet.  It looks great so I hope there are no hidden surprises lurking.  

Enough of my rant!  We can use the shower for now by placing a heavy towel outside the shower and I will let Ted use my sink!  I need mirror time more than sink time!  

We attended a concert last night with Terry and Carol featuring the Houston Symphony and a Las Vegas headliner doing 50s and 60s music.  It was a very energetic show and had people up dancing in the aisles, including us!   All four of us agreed it was a great evening.

We have our Community Theater tonight so will meet Gerre and Barry for dinner beforehand.  I have their 50th anniversary gift to give them.  I don't want to drag it on the cruise and then have them drag it home!

We have invited four couples for Labor Day so my weekend will be church, cleaning, shopping, cooking.  Not too exciting!  

Done!

On Monday, Chris came and put the faucets on Ted's sink followed by the arrival of the painters who did all the caulking and prep work so they could start painting at 8 am on Tuesday.  In the meantime Ted and I filled about 8 bags with clothes and prepared other things to be picked up by Paralyzed Veterans of Texas.  It took quite some time to get it all out on the porch.

Bright and early Tuesday Greg and his crew arrived and got started right away.  Ted had to work an outing at the gun club so I stayed behind in case anyone needed anything.

By the time Ted came home they had finished up, left and I had everything back in place plus I hung the decorative things once the walls had dried.  

The glass people are coming AGAIN on Wednesday.  The seals aren't touching on the shower door and the fellow they sent last week made it worse!  He even had the audacity to say he didn't think he could help me.  For $2700 for 3 pieces of glass someone at that company better be able to.  They have done work for us before, have a great reputation and told Ted not to worry they will make it right.  We are still in the guest bathroom so one more day won't matter I guess.

The Shower recently had the addition of the grab bar.

Where the tub had been.

Ted's sink

My sink or as the painter called it, Donna's real estate!

The toilet room with the door in the front rather than on the side.

I understand the blog is posting even when it doesn't show so I will just post this now.

Home on Monday

We traveled Sunday from Florida starting at 8:30 to Moss Point, MS arriving around dinner time.  We had gained an hour traveling west.  There was a crash with standstill traffic in front of us so we hit Cracker Barrel.  (Thank you, Waze app!).   We then continued on to Slidell, LA and checked into a motel.  We both were asleep instantly I think.

We left refreshed the next morning and arrived home about 2 pm.  We didn't have a whole lot to put away and the mail was minimal so things were under control.  The next morning I worked on the numbers Sid had asked for.  Do you know how much you spend each year?  I had no idea!  Using the Yearly Total Summary from our credit cards, reviewing the few checks I write repeatedly and my "escrow" account where I accumulate tax and insurance money gave me a good idea.  Then I had to pull out numbers for discretionary spending.  RVG rent, our granddaughter's shower I hosted plus wedding present, trips by car and RV last summer, new furniture in the RV.  I hope he has enough info now for whatever spreadsheet he is preparing!

The window glass where the two seals had broken was replaced on Tuesday and the hairline cracks in the granite (veins they called them) were repaired perfectly on Wednesday.

I saw Dr. C Thursday morning and took my 3 week daily BP reading as requested.  Because my number always stayed in the teens without the pill, and sometimes even lower, he has removed it from my meds.  After a blood test, my cholesterol was 138 so the next 3 months he said no cholesterol pill to see how I do on my own.  He advised I stop the weight LOSS portion of WW and move to Maintenance.  A 4 lb. reprieve to Goal!  I had intended to ask for 3 lbs. because of the two artificial hips but I will take his 4!  

From there I went to my WW meeting and gave them my direction from Dr. C that he had written on a prescription pad.  She told me not to get on the scale until she adjusted my number.  I knew I had been 4-5 lbs. from goal so it would be close.  Lo and behold I had lost 2.2 lbs. and was .6 below goal!  

Now I have to stay in a 4 lb. range for six weeks, no more than 2 lbs. above or below goal.  Not too bad but two weeks of that six will be our cruise!  Wish me luck.

The last bathroom faucet will be installed Monday and in the afternoon the painters arrive.  Just maybe our bathroom will be done one day next week!

Wrapping Things Up

On Thursday we worked in the pool area.  The decking around the pool needs constant attention because water, humidity and dirt are a given here in Florida and mold and algae are right behind.  While Kristin did her volunteer work at Florida Hospital, the three of us worked on the decking, interspersed with some time in the pool.  

There was a beautiful butterfly in the screened pool area and we did all we could to get it out when it fell in the water and was just floating on its back.

When Ted tried to pick it up, it flew back up to the top.  Eventually Larry caught it in the pool net and when left outside, it flew way.

A little later a red hawk came to check us out.

We had "whatever you can find" for dinner so we all had something different from our previous meals.  Then it was on to more Downton Abbey.  I think we will not get through all six seasons!  

Since we missed WW on Thursday, we went Friday morning.  Larry and Ted were heading up the turnpike to a different sporting clay venue so we had lots of time to do our thing.  Kristin lost about 2.5 lbs. and I finally moved down to a new whole number after a month of "point this and that" going up and down.  These last 5 lbs. will take forever!  With the cruise coming up in 2.5 weeks, I will worry about reaching goal later.

We stopped in the salon next door and I availed myself of a little waxing.  By then it was lunchtime so we went home to eat and arrange for their mailbox to be painted and the house numbers reapplied.  It was time to head out again!  We returned a pair of shoes at Ross where Kristin bought shoes and slacks.  I got bath accessories at Bed, Bath and Beyond for our new bathroom and several travel toiletries for the trip.  Then on to Dillard's where I bought two bathing suits for both Greece and then later, Hawaii.  Kristin bought a few shirts,  eventually we made our way home where we found Ted in the pool and Larry sleeping.

Larry met friends for dinner at a Chinese buffet but we other three passed on that choice and went to 4 Rivers BBQ.  Great BBQ for not being in Texas!  Then it was more Downton Abbey.  I will have to renew my library card at home to get Season 6 and maybe even Season 5 if we don't get it finished.

Saturday I got my hair cut.  We all went to church then out to eat.  

We finished up Season 5 of Downton Abbey so I will have to borrow the final season from the library.  We were heading for home on Sunday.  

Shooting and Shopping

Larry and Ted went shooting but it was about 1.5 hours away.  So we knew they would be gone a good six hours.  

So we headed to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall to the Easy Spirit store.  Talk about traffic and parking difficulties!  Thankfully I used the Waze app that got us around the standstill traffic and we found a spot to park behind the stores at the very edge of the whole mall.  There were many visitors dragging their newly purchased suitcases behind them filled with their other purchases.  Lots of other languages were being spoken too.  And then we learned Easy Spirit has moved out!! 

Kristin, who has lost 30 lbs. on WW, bought lots of new things for the cruise.  I bought a shirt and dress plus new bras.  I needed them!  We ate lunch at Panera Bread but there was no room in the restaurant to eat.  It emptied out to the food court but it was no better.  I waited for the food while Kristin scouted around and finally found us a table just as our food was ready.  She said weekends and Christmas are even worse.  It was after 5:00 when we got home.  Shortly thereafter we headed to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.

We went to see Death of a Nation Saturday afternoon but I don't think my companions liked it all that much.  But I am a history nut and found it interesting and informative.  We had a bit of time before Mass so Larry rode us through his childhood neighborhood and showed us his house and schools.  It was his old church that we attended.  

Then we went to Outback for dinner and finally home to continue our Downton Abbey marathon.  We are up to the second season, the fourth episode.  It reminded me that the Outlander season is to start up in September!  

Sunday we stayed home and invited Larry's sister for dinner.  Ted and I went swimming and I noticed the screen door looked as if someone had spray painted yellow paint on it.  Kristin said whoever cleaned their screen enclosure last time sprayed a solution that caused it.  When she and Ted went out I told him to buy a can of flat black rustoleum and a piece of poster board.  I fixed the door appearance!  

Monday we returned to the mall (ugh!) to return some things and then headed to Disney Springs to see what had been added to Downtown Disney to create this new area.  We walked a good distance taking in the sights then rode a boat across the bay to minimize our time in the sun.  We ducked into a store to cool off and purchase a gift for Nancy who is keeping the home fires burning while we are gone.

We rode the boat all the way back instead of just half way as we headed for home.  We had to stop at The House of Blues to get cooled off.  They gave me a cold rag to help me cool down and Kristin brought me a cold drink.  In a bit I was fine to continue on.  

Tuesday we drove to our old hometown of DeBary to meet with our financial guy who is retiring soon and to meet the new guy.  After a good conversation with Charles, we met Syd and we all went to lunch.  When we returned, Syd showed us some new software and after asking several questions and using the info he has, he created a graph with three different scenarios.  Total meltdown of the market, average returns, and the market soaring.  He showed how adding and subtracting discretionary or non-discretionary amounts makes the graphs shift.  The green banner "On Track" never moved even when taking Ted to age 96 in a major market turndown. 

We talked about our big travel expenditures slowing down but medical costs and possible long term care having a big effect on finances.  We discussed our housing situation - one floor, accessible bathroom facilities, small yard being cared for by a service, cleaning lady when I feel the need for one, probably a new roof in the near future.  Even my Expedition and replacing it for an easier access vehicle was talked about.  He was very thorough.  We left feeling very good about where we are right now and optimistic for the future.

Instead of jumping right on I-4, we drove south to DeBary to see our old house.  It looks as nice as when we built it in 1996!

We attended a NAMI group meeting for families dealing with mental illness, mostly their children.  Larry's sister has paranoid schizophrenia and they facilitate these weekly meetings while she attends one for those suffering from a mental illness.  My heart went out to these people and what they go through each and every day.  Maureen has her own home and a paid companion in the same neighborhood as Kristin.  Larry administers her medications and except for some quirks, she gets along well.  On Sunday her dinner roll fell off her plate onto the table.  You or I would just pick it up and put it back or eat it.  She looked at me and said it fell.  I just took it away and gave her a new one.  You do what is necessary for them to feel safe no matter how silly it sounds.  I learned a lot that night.

Wednesday we drove to Tavares to visit a high school friend and her husband.  We met at their son's restaurant for lunch.  It is a beautiful venue on a lake with float planes going in and out and the food was delicious!  We had a great time visiting for over 3 hours!  

It Happened Again

I just added what we have done since arriving in Florida and posted a few photos.  When I posted what I wrote since our arrival, it all was just gone! 

We haven't done anything too exciting - nails, shopping, WW, swimming, etc.  Kristin volunteers at Florida hospital so Ted and I fill our time.  Larry has been getting new roof estimates and keeping some doctor appointments.  It is just family time.

So here are the photos Larry, our photographer, has added to the house.  I have never seen a collection of so many photos of myself anywhere else!  

Larry took the Rogers Family Reunion photo last summer.  Here it is blown up to 18 X 24.  These are all of Ted's siblings, Rogers grandchildren and great grandchildren.  About 125 people with a family or two missing.

A 40 X 30 collage of their portraits hanging over our bed!

An artwork rendition on several plates creating several layers.  I really like this one.

Now to see if this will post since it was just created and not added to.

Closing In

Sunday we tried to see Death of a Nation but it was sold out.  We will try to see it in Florida if we have time.  So we watched the Astros instead.

Monday the fellows showed up and put the plumbing together under the sinks and put my faucets in but not Ted's.  The toilet paper holder is missing a set screw so we have to get one of those.  The grab bar is up in the shower.  They touched up the nicks and bangs on the dark cabinets.  They were minor and they left the stain for me in case I need it.  Their only remaining job will be Ted's faucets once his granite is replaced.  

Ted went to the fabricators and brought home a piece of granite he thought was a remnant of our slab to compare it to what is installed.  It matches so we went back to check a bigger piece that will work.  In all this hullabaloo over granite, we still ended up with the wrong one.  I was worried about our first selection because of yellowish undertones.  When we rejected the brown one they sent and went to pick out our own slab, I saw another one called Dallas White.  It had a whiter back ground but upon closer inspection the dark brown spots were purplish.  We chose the Ornamental Light.  When all was said and done, they sent Dallas White.  That's what I get for sending a one eyed colorblind fellow who just had cataract surgery to check to be sure it was our selection.  It came to light because in looking for a scrap, some were looking for Ornamental Light and others Dallas White!  It is in, we like it but we will never know which one was the better choice.  I have learned this is quite common and people swear they didn't get what the picked out.  When we did Kristin's kitchen the same thing happened.  She had to rework her backsplash to tie the cabinets and granite together because the granite was too brownish for her cherry cabinets.  It was shades off of the sample.  

As soon as the contractors left we loaded up the car and headed to Florida.  We didn't leave until 1:30 but made it almost to the LA/MS line before stopping at a Hilton Garden Inn for the night,  After dinner at Cracker Barrel, we were ready to turn in.  

I Spoke Too Soon!

I started a new blog, commented on adding that installation photo to my last post, and it worked.  So I wrote another new blog with photos, posted it and all that posted was my bragging paragraph!  No photos!  So here goes again.

Shower is finished except for oiled bronze grab bar to be installed Monday.

Where the new toilet door is.  The tub was under this window.  Once the painting is done I can hang my "flowers" above the window.

New drywall where the old toilet door had been.  It is waiting for paint and then I can hang my two pictures above the towel rack. 

The faucets will be installed Monday.

We will get on Greg's paint schedule for when we return.  Once he is finished I can have the carpet in our bedroom stretched and all the carpets cleaned.  And we will be done with 2018 projects.  

Well I really spoke too soon!  Ted found two cracks in the granite in the strip between the edge and the sink where he will stand.  Now the search is on to find the remnants of our slab to match it up and hope there is a big enough piece to replace that piece around his sink.  Ted will deal with the fabricators tomorrow.  I think Pauline had perils easier than I have had doing this bathroom.  How do businesses stay in business doing everything twice?  And they banged my wall and said nothing about it!  We are past needing luck, we need prayers

,  

So we went to church and to Olive Garden for dinner.  God reminded me of his promises on our way there.