Blessings

Just about have my office packed up for the carpeting/painting on Wednesday. Can barely walk through there ... just a path to get to my chair. Looked through a set of pages for the Deeper Still project and left it in Jon's chair while he was at lunch. I bet he had a cow when he came back and saw all the yellow stickies.

Stopped by B&R to pick up Chris's birthday ice cream cake. White cake with chocolate chip ice cream. Same thing he wants every year. While the girl was packing it, I made a BIG mistake by looking at all of their current 31 flavors. When I spotted Maui Brownie Madness, my saliva glands kicked into overdrive. I looked like a big ol' wet-mouthed and rabid St. Bernard just drooling like a fool. My head told me, "You don't need that. You'll have this ice cream cake tonight." But my taste buds won out and I indulged. It was low-fat yogurt, so I kept telling myself it wasn't that bad of a choice. Yeh, right. All of that chocolate and the brownie bits canceled out the yogurt part, but it was FABULOUS and worth every calorie, fat gram, and grain of sugar. Just had one dip, but I could have eaten myself into oblivion and a larger pair of pants.

That reminds me. When we were in the pottery yesterday, what do you think were the first decorations to greet us when we walked in the door? Fourth of July? Nope. Summer? Nope. Not even back-to-school. HALLOWEEN! Retail folks, I must protest. It's FOUR MONTHS AWAY and 90+ degrees outside. Yet there were lots of scarecrows, goblins, witches, and pumpkins. Rows and rows. Go figure. Please, let me enjoy the summer before you shove another season down my throat.

I feel a nap coming on. I dozed a little bit out on the deck, but I was sweating like a pig. Now in the comfy cool air, I could snoozzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I took that salad to Michelle's birthday party last night, per Sandy's request. A whole bunch of people there I didn't know and who apparently hadn't eaten that salad before. Rave reviews. I think at least a dozen people spoke to me about it and at least 2 asked for the recipe. One lady said, "But I've never made cornbread." I nearly hyperventilated AND passed out. She quickly explained, "Not a Southerner! Not a Southerner!" So I have my doubts she can make the salad. We'll see.

Did our patriotic music today at church. The first service was a huge BUST. I knew it would be. Sound problems out the wazoo. Speakers not on. DVD not working right. Lights turned off. You name it; I swear it happened. The second service was better, but still not perfect. I hope it was a pleasant offering to God. I'm afraid it was lukewarm and that He spat it out. It's my feeling that most people don't see the music as an offering, but to me it is. And if we don't give our best, how can we expect God to be pleased with it?

Our poor minister of music was running on empty today. He was with the youth choir in Orlando all last week for a conference. Just north of Atlanta they had a blow out. Took 3 hours to get a tire and get it changed. He didn't get home until 3 a.m. and then had to just about turn around and come straight back to church. Then there's the picnic later this afternoon that he's in charge of. We're skipping the picnic. I'm over the big crowd thing. I've already looked at the paper and I'm headed to the deck to catch some rays and maybe a nap.

Oh, and Penny was in RARE form this morning. She hit the door with that mouth running at full force. And she has one volume: Extra Loud. She kept on and on and on until I thought I would scream. Finally I told her she needed to calm down. And our organist even spoke up and said, "Penny, you are wound tight today. You need to be quiet." Of course Penny is yelling that she's trying. I very calmly (to my credit because it wasn't easy OR natural) said, "Penny, you need to start NOW. Just be quiet." She finally settled down somewhat, but I don't think she ever completely shut up. She needs medication. Sandy mentioned that this afternoon, in fact. I told her I'd suggested that more than once to Penny's mom, but Gail isn't going to listen to a word from me. She hates me. No exaggeration. So Sandy's going to talk to a couple of medical folks at church and get some feedback from them. After her stroke nearly 6 years ago, Penny was on some kind of medication that mellowed her out. It was fabulous. Gail said it made her "zombie-like." No, it made her normal and tolerable. I guess she's used to her bouncing off the walls. I repeat: She needs medication ... or else the rest of the church does in order to survive her.

After church we ate lunch at Rafferty's. Kathy, a girl who plays handbells with us, was there waiting for friends who were an hour late. So she joined us until her friends finally showed up. Nice visit with Kathy, who desperately wants to come back to Grace but feel she is needed more at her church. Also ran into Craig and Nancy, another couple who used to go to our church but with whom we still socialize on occasion. Reunion lunch!

That's the Sunday recap. Headed outside!

So today the weather person was calling for clear and sunny this morning and storms to blow in here this afternoon. We were all set to spend the morning at the Y basking in the Tennessee sunshine. Fixed us a quick breakfast and we ate out on the screened porch ... and watched the dark clouds roll in and the wind whip the tree limbs around like popcorn kernels in a popper.

Plan B: Spend money. We went to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart. Bought a new light fixture and globes for Ed's bathroom and he's up there installing it now ... that or he's tearing the house down. From the racket I'm not sure which. And for the downstairs half-bath we bought a new light fixture and globes. And because I went with the brushed nickel, that meant the mirror, towel rack, and tp holder have to be changed too.

About halfway through the spending spree, the clouds moved on to bigger and better places and out came the sunshine! Dashed home to unload our purchases and change into swimsuits. Got to the Y and it was almost deserted. YEH! So we swam and stretched out on the pool chairs for nearly 2 hours. Then BOOM! Thunder. Lightning. Whistles blowing to get everyone out of the pool. They command a 30-minute time period of no thunder before allowing anyone back in the water, so we packed it up and caame home. And Mr. Fix-It is installing light fixtures.

We have a surprise 40th birthday party to go to tonight. And I want to stop at Old-Time Pottery before we go. No spending this time. Just window shopping without the windows!

We immediately set out traps loaded with peanut butter. I understand that is a delicacy for the rodent palate. Anyway, every morning this week Ed has checked all 4 traps (I was SERIOUS about catching this critter) and nothing. Checked every afternoon when I got home from work. Nothing.

But today ... SUCCESS! When Ed came upstairs to wake me this morning, he was bursting at the seams. "The Big Game Hunter was successful again!" he reported. Yippee! Caught one under the sink. But just in case his little brother was tagging along behind him, as little bros and sisses like to do, we left the other traps.

We live in a semi-rural area. We're used to seeing all kinds of critters and all kinds of roadkill. But I saw a first this morning: a coyote had been run over. I've seen deer, foxes, rabbits, snakes, squirrels, possums, groundhogs, skunks, dogs, cats, birds, but NEVER a coyote. I knew we had them. Back before so much of this building began, there was one that sat at our exit lots of afternoons. I guess he liked to watch traffic. But all this expansion has invaded their dens and I haven't seen one in a while. Kinda sad. That's what "they" call progress, I suppose. Kelly calls it "paving over my childhood."

At lunchtime today 4 of us made the drive out to M'boro to see John. He looks incredible, especially since he had 10 hours of surgery 9 days ago. He's lost a lot of weight in the last year too and even more since his surgery. Looked like a family of 5 had moved out of the seat of his pants ... and John had a badonkadonk that a 747 could have made a clean landing on. (Linda, if you repeat that I'll die!) Anyway, we had sub sandwiches and I'd made a couple of fudge pies yesterday for them, so we had that for dessert. I ran out of vanilla flavoring and substituted a little hazelnut, and it was fabulous, even if I did make it. We were gone 3 hours, and I thought, "The day is shot. I ain't hanging out here waiting to see what happens next." So by 1:20 I was on the road and by 2 o'clock I was at the pool. I figured it would be overrun with kids, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Not crowded at all. Wish I'd remembered to take something to read. I read a good book last week by Liza Palmer, "Seeing Me Naked." No, it isn't what you think. It's about letting people see us as we really are. The real us. The naked us. What's underneath the facade. A piece of fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Will read more of her stuff.

OK, tonight is clean out the fridge night for supper. One piece of leftover baked chicken. Some boiled shrimp. Tomatoes. Cantaloupe. Peaches. And I made some pasta salad: just spaghetti, tomatoes, red pepper, diced yellow squash, diced zucchini, julienned carrots, and a little Italian dressing. Yum!

NO WHOLE CHICKENS! What IS this world coming to? Paula Deen, my hero, where are you when I NEED you? Kroger had these ginormous baking hens that could almost pass for turkeys for about $12, but those are for baking, not frying. I WANT/NEED/GOTTA HAVE a couple of fryers. You know, the 79 cents a pound kind. I'm stunned. Amazed. Appalled. Even Confused. Am I the last of a dying breed who buys whole chickens, cuts them up myself, and then lets them soak for 24 hours in cold salt water as God intended? Has the whole world turned to chicken nuggets? And by the way, just where on a chicken is the nugget? I've cut up thousands of chickens in the 34 years we've been married. Seen nary a chicken with a body part I'd identify as a nugget. Not sure I'd wanna eat it if I did.

But I digress. I suppose I'll either have to (a) stop at Aldi's or the Dollar Market or Publics or (b) build a coop and raise my own yard birds.

While I'm ranting and raving about whole chickens: a true story. A few years ago whole chickens were on sale for something outrageous like 49 cents a pound. I was so excited. One of my coworkers (older than me) asked in all seriousness, "What do you do with whole chickens?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? Stew 'em for chicken and dumplings, chicken salad, casseroles, soup. Cut 'em up and fry 'em like your mama used to do and I still do. Baked chicken is a gift from God as well. Whaddya mean, "What do you do with with whole chickens?" This same woman has NEVER fixed pork chops. NEVER. And she claims to be a Southerner ... sorta. I think she grew up in Texas, but she's lived in Middle TN long enough to know pork is a staple. Pork chops, pork loin, bacon, sausage, ground pork, cracklings, butts ... to name a few delights. Praise God and pass the meat platter!

My last chicken story, and if you're easily offended by stories regarding horrific odors emitted by all men AND all members of my family, stop here. If you're brave enough, continue on. 

In his old age, my dad has toned down considerably. His pooter has puttered out. All bark and no bite is what he claims. But up until a few years ago that man could make a glass eye water when he passed gas. No lie. I've seen it done. I've seen my brother have dry heaves. Truth.

Anyway, he and Sandra were at the grocery store and he let a SBD (silent but deadly) one loose while Sandra was looking at the WHOLE CHICKENS (God love her). She was convinced there was a bad chicken in the bunch. So she began picking up those chickens one at a time and sniffing them to find the bad one. Couldn't find it. In the meantime, my dad is about to explode while he tries not to laugh outloud. HE was the bad chicken Sandra was smelling. Just as she said, "I'm calling the meat manager. There's a bad chicken in here somewhere," Daddy confessed. Oh, but that woman was mad! It's a wonder Daddy got out of there alive. It's a great family story ... one that we bring up and laugh over on a regular basis ... especially when we walk into a room and smell a bad chicken (if you know what I mean)!

Sometime later ... as in 3 a.m. ... I heard him up prowling around.

"What are you doing?"

"I smell something."

"Uh huh. I TOLD you!"

We walked the entire house. Nothing. And the funk was definitely stronger upstairs. I thought maybe the original stink/stank/stunk was outside and the ac was pulling it in. So we opened doors and walked out on the deck and on the front porch. Nothing.

So we don't know what it is. And I say is because it is STILL stinking this morning.

I had my hair done at least 6 weeks ago and told the girl to make the highlights not quite so light because with summer coming up, my hair will do its own thing. And she did. But after last week at the beach and in the sun and chlorine ... voila! I've sorta become a blonde. Several people at church mentioned it last Sunday. Nope ... just look at these 1 1/2-inch roots and you'll know it is time for a touch-up. I haven't done a thing except enjoy the great outdoors.

Then today at work someone else asked. A man, of all people. No, David, I did NOT color my hair again recently. But at least he was complimentary. I think. Kinda hard to tell with David.

Joyce came for lunch today. Dale had invited us, and then the scamp stood us up. Another meeting. And he ended up eating yucky cafeteria food. Nobody's fault but his own. We enjoyed yummy 5 Guys burgers. Joyce has been out all month following surgery for breast cancer. Just finished her radiation. She said she's OK, but she just wasn't herself today. I hope she was just tired. I asked more than once if she was OK; she insisted she was. 

One thing she shared with me the other day has just stuck in my craw. Although her SS class has ministered to her during this time, not one single staff person has as much picked up the phone and called her much less paid her a visit. I asked if she were on the prayer list (how could she NOT be?) and she said yes. 

Sorry, but that is inexcusable in my opinion. Yes, she is a very active member in a large church. I'm pretty sure there is more than one staff person. Someone should have called. Someone should have been at the hospital during the surgery. Someone should have visited her at home. Someone besides her immediate family, SS class, and coworkers. I know one thing ... I'd be church shopping. Our pastor called yesterday to let us know he'd heard about Eddie's uncle and that he'd be praying for us. A five-minute call, but he cared enough to do that for us. And every single surgery I've had in the last 10 years (and there have been several), our minister of music has been there when I woke up. He must have a thing for sedated, wild-haired, hospital-gowned attired women! At least I know they care.

Moving on. When I first came to work at this company, I was always one of if not the youngest person around. Ha. Those days are long gone. Now I'm one of if not the oldest person around. Seems like younger and younger babies are being hired. We have several on our team who are about the ages of our kids and younger! Try that hat on for size and see how it fits. It's snug ... I can tell you. Had a conversation about that today too ... involving the words "old and scary." That's me.

Speaking of work, the carpeting and painting has begun. Looks like a war zone on the 9th floor of the Ivory Tower (as Linda calls it). The good news is there are no fumes, which is incredible. I figured it would stink to high heaven. Nope, and I have an excellent sense of smell. I started packing a few things yesterday. Only got as far as emptying my bookcase and that filled 5 storage bins. Still have a file cabinet, credenza, desk, and computer table to go. Plus junk on the walls and photos sitting around. Then I'll have to turn around and put it all back in place. Somebody please tell me it's worth it because I'm not convinced.

One more random thought and then I'm moving on (time for church): Someone broke into our parking garage and damaged something like 16 cars. Threw a brick through the windows and apparently were after electronic devices. Most cars belonged to employees who are out of town and I'm sure left their cars on the premises thinking they were safe. Drivers have to have a company ID in order to enter/exit the garage, but it seems someone cut through some fencing or something and got in and got away.

So a little while I ago I heard the doorbell ring. I was in the middle of fixing supper ... Daddy and Sandra are coming over for shrimp ... and I was peeling fresh peaches for shortcake. But I rinsed my hands, shook them dry, and peeked around the corner to see 3 little boys. How could I pass that up?

One was Michael, from next door, and his friend, Alexander. No clue who the other straggler was. But Alexander, the spokesman for the group, held a paper cup and about 1/4 of a pitcher of lemonade without any lemons. Only 60 cents a cup. What a bargain! But I didn't need the sugar (and it looked like a pitcher of water anyway), so I declined, BUT I made a donation ... toward the treehouse fund. I only had $2 on me and they were fortunate I had that much, but they were ecstatic with the $2. As they turned away and headed down the steps, I heard one of the boys exclaim, "Wow! That's the most we made all day!"

Update on Bobby: He had three bypasses today. Cheryl and I went out to the hospital at lunch and the surgeon walked in right behind us. Bobby did great, was in recovery, and Susan would be able to see him later in the afternoon. She was so relieved ... and so tired. She hasn't left the hospital in several days. On a happier note, their daughter Sara is carrying their first grandbaby, and today they found out it is a girl! God is good.

Still hobbling around like Grandpa McCoy (anyone under 40 won't have a clue who that is) because of this last injection.I called this morning and left a message for his nurse. She finally called back about 30 minutes ago. Said to keep icing it and keep it elevated. Yeh, just how do I do that and work all day? I'll just keep loading up on anti-inflammatories and Aleve. It'll be better eventually.

Thanks for prayers for Eddie's uncle. Looks like we may be making a trip to Mississippi tomorrow after work. It'll put us there late, but it is the best we can do. We'll have to come back as soon as the service is over.

Oh, I nearly forgot to share what stupid thing I did this afternoon. Stopped to get gas. My new car gets fabulous gas mileage, by the way. Somewhere in the process of getting in and out of the car, I hit the button that turned on the flashers. And for the life of me I could NOT find the button to turn it off! I finally pulled away from the pump and around the corner to Kroger. Had to go in there anyway. Pulled out the manual and STILL could not figure out where the button was. I was so frustrated I didn't know what to do. Such an idiot! Finally I called Eddie, and he, of course, knew EXACTLY where it was. And how could I miss that big RED triangle right above the ac control? I dunno.  But I did. Sometimes I am absolutely USELESS.