“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
Are you a worrier? I used to be, but learned to just give it to God. I really don't worry anymore. I don't. It is wasted emotion. The time spent worrying about something could be better spent moving on to fix whatever you are worrying about. Not to say I don't get anxious or stressed now and then, but I really don't worry about stuff anymore. It is freeing.
Back to work, after a very lazy weekend. Looking forward to a fun July 4th weekend and celebration. Do you have any special plans? Wishing you a blessed day and week!!
If you are a regular reader, you know we go to the Saturday evening Vigil Mass at our church. We like it, and feel "at home" with the folks who also attend that Mass regularly. Our church has 2,500 families and five Masses. Most people tend toward one service and stick with it, and those are the folks we get to know.
After church we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. I changed from my "usual" and ordered a dish called roadkill. LOL It was a cubed steak, smothered in peppers, onion, and mushrooms. It was delicious! I got in the pool for a little while, when we got home, before we settled down for some TV.
Got up this morning, and got the laundry started. We walked up the street to call on Sheila. She is doing okay. I'm glad her friend is with her, and the boys are staying close. They still don't have all the arrangements worked out, but the obituary was in today's paper. (It you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to see yesterday's post.) They are keeping the funeral small and intimate, which was Al's wish. Rather than taking food, we took her a gift card for the grocery store. No sense having tons of food around that no one will eat. This way, she can get what she needs, when she needs it. There aren't a lot of people coming in.
My blogging friend, Judy, mentioned a British TV show in her blog yesterday. Joe and I love the British TV shows, especially the detective and mystery shows. 'Endeavour' is a show that has season 2 starting tonight on Masterpiece (on PBS). We found season 1 on Amazon Prime, so are watching it this afternoon. Vegetative slugs. We just sit and watch TV. We are really enjoying it, and thank Judy for the referral!!
We, in the USA, have a short week ahead, with the July 4th holiday on Friday. Our son, Joey, is coming down from Georgia, and we are hoping Tristan will drive up from Naples. Lauren has weekend plans, but is tentatively planning to bring a friend of hers up to spend a night with us next week. We will look forward to meeting Chelsea and seeing Lauren again. Planning a typical cookout, and have invited Helen and Cheryl to join us.
That's all the news I have for right now. Thanks for stopping by!! Blessings!
I love starting my Saturdays without an alarm clock buzzing! I actually think I sleep better, knowing I don't have to get up until I want to. Awesome.
We had some excitement in the neighborhood yesterday morning, that turned out to be sad news. When I left the house, for work, there were three police cars at our neighbor's house, across the street and at the corner. I called Joe from the car, and told him to see if he could find out what is going on.
We have known Al & Sheila since before they moved into the neighborhood. As I expected, Al had died. Their son, Al Jr., is a good friend of ours, too, and called Joe to let us know his dad had died. Al Jr. was a Sheriff's deputy at one time, and well known in the law enforcement circles. The three police cars arrived at the house, when they heard the call, because they all know the family.
I talked with Sheila on the phone last night. She said Al got up at his usual 3:30ish and went to the kitchen. She stayed in bed. The dog came in and woke her up around 5:00, whimpering. She got up to let the dog out, and Al was sitting at the kitchen table, slumped over. She called 911 and it all went from there. He was 86 years old and had not been doing well lately. Sheila seems to be doing okay. She is 20 years younger than Al, and in good health. She said the officers all hugged her and one gave her his cell phone number, in case she needed something. She has a good friend staying with her, and their two sons are going with her, today, to get funeral arrangements made. Always a sad time.
So, after a sad morning, I took yesterday afternoon off, from work, and Joe and I went to the movies. I felt like I was playing hookey. We saw "Jersey Boys" and loved it. The Four Seasons made some beautiful music and the story of how they came to be is very interesting, even though a bit sad, too. The music was great. We've not been able to afford tickets for the stage production, so I was happy to get to see the movie.
Afterwards, we stopped at PDQ for some chicken tenders and waited out a rain storm before going to Publix for some groceries.
Now, I am into my vegetative mode, looking at all I need to do and not doing it. It's Saturday. I'll need to get moving, to get to church, at 4:00.
My sister sent this to me! Loved it!!
Wishing you a good weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!
I keep reading my blogging friends who join this meme, every week, but have never joined in. I remembered to look for it, so here are my answers to this week's questions. You can join in, and read more about this meme at Everyday Ruralty. She listed a wonderful party menu, to start this weeks questions....
What do you think you would have liked most from my menu?I think the entire menu sounds absolutely delicious! Seriously. I want recipes, please, especially for the zucchini boats.
Have you ever had an interesting experience with serving dinner guests?I don't know if I've had any experience especially interesting, but I love to cook for a crowd! I guess one year, at Thanksgiving time, I had about 14 people scheduled for the holiday dinner, and had my left arm in a cast. I did it all, and it turned out great (if I do say so). I went down in family history as being able to cook Thanksgiving dinner one-handed. LOL
What's your favorite beverage, this summer?I drink water. Just plain water. Cold.
Do you ever have bouquets of fresh flowers in your home? No. Flowers tend to give me headaches, and if the scent doesn't kill me, keeping our cats out of the flowers does. I just don't appreciate fresh flowers anymore, in our house. They are lovely to look at, from a distance.
Tell me something interesting. Please.See #2, above. That's about as interesting as I can get this week! I did find a photo of me with that cast. I had seven fractures in my wrist. Fell and tried to catch myself. I don't do that anymore...now I let my well-padded backside take the fall!!
TGIF!! This has been a very long week, and I am looking forward to the weekend!! Wishing you a good one! Thanks for stopping by today! Be blessed!
Well, here are a few more old photos that I've recently digitized. No rhyme or reason....
May 11, 1985. Our wedding photo. The boys stood up with Joe, and my two good friends, from work, stood up with me. St. Michael's Catholic Church, Annandale, Virginia
My dear folks, on their 40th wedding anniversary. This was in October 1989 and my dad died of cancer in December, just two months later. So happy we had a good celebration on their 40th.
Me, in 1952. This was hand-colored. No color film back then!
So, there you have my throw-backs for this week. Thanks for stopping by!! I appreciate your comments! Happy Thursday! Have a blessed day!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 179
Welcome to another summertime edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back HERE tomorrow to link up with all your friends and neighbors. See you there!
1. What summer activity most takes you back to your own childhood?
A pontoon boat ride on Buckeye Lake, and the swimming pool (chlorine smells)
2. What's your favorite summer smell?
Since it is always summer in Florida, and I've been here 25 years, that's a hard one to answer. I'll say steak or burgers, cooking on the grill (but we can grill all year).
3. It's beach season in the US of A...so how do you feel about sand?
See my answer to #2, since it is always beach season here, too. I love the white powder sand on the Gulf coast much better than the brown pebble-like sand on the Atlantic side. We don't go to the Atlantic beaches. We are two hours from the Atlantic beaches and one hour from the Gulf beaches.
4. Sun tea, SunChips, sunflower seeds, Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Sun-Maid raisins, sun-dried tomatoes...your favorite food or beverage with sun in its name?
Of that list, I'll go with sun-dried tomatoes. I don't make sun tea anymore, don't care for raisins, and why have Sunny Delight when you can have real orange juice? Sunflower seeds... I don't go out of my way for them.
5. What's your favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day?
Stay inside, where it is air conditioned!! We also have a pool, so swimming is easy for us to do.
6. Share a favorite song with the word sun or sunshine in it's title. John Denver, of course....
7. Tell us about a time you had an exceedingly good or truly awful customer service experience. If it was awful, did you report it? Ever go back there again?
You know, I really can't think of a truly awful customer service experience. If I had one, you can bet I would report it. Guess I'm lucky. I get good service most of the time, I think. I am quick to be polite and try to respect the person who is serving me. I say please and thank you and smile. I feel bad for those who have to serve us and put up with nasty people. I always try to be nice.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Good golly, my random thoughts are all over the place. Our oldest son called last night. Their offer was accepted on the house they want, in Brunswick, Georgia, and they are waiting on the appraisal. Hope it all goes okay. He comes down at the end of the week, to start work on the 30th. Hoping he can come down to our house for the 4th of July. Maybe Lauren and Tristan can drive up. That would be fun! You know I'll keep you posted!
Thanks to Joyce for another great Hodgepodge! Thanks to you for stopping by. I enjoy your comments! Happy Wednesday! Blessings!
My Monday alarm went off way too early, but I got up and went to work. I thanked God for a job to go to, actually. A car to travel in, co-workers I care about. Praise God. I'm still ready to win the Lotto and retire, however. In a heartbeat.
After such a busy and full weekend, my Monday had nothing exciting going on to report, so I'm doubling up on a Monday and Tuesday post. There is nothing scheduled for Tuesday, either, other than an alarm that will go off before I really want to get up, but I will. I'll be thankful for a job and a vehicle, and co-workers I care about. The Lotto drawing is Wednesday night. Wish me luck!!
Some happenings in history, on June 24th:
1717 - 1st Free Masons' grand lodge founded in London (My dad was a Mason.) 1884 - John Lynch is 1st black elected chairman of Republican convention (A Republican freed the slaves, too.) 1901 - 1st exhibition by Pablo Picasso, 19, opens in Paris (Picaso said "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.")
Thanks for stopping by. Maybe my Wednesday post will be more exciting!
It has been a crazy busy, but great weekend!! It started Friday night, with our Innoskate 2014 kick-off party. I worked until 10:00 p.m. (so did all the Museum staff, and many worked a lot harder than I did!). It made for a long day, though, since I arrived at work, at 7:00 a.m. Friday night, we had over 570 people come into the Museum. Three times that many were outside, at any given time. Joe came and we had dinner from one of the food trucks (see below).
Saturday morning, I was back at the Museum by 9:00 a.m. and worked until shortly after noon. The big Innoskate 2014 event took place on Saturday, starting at Lakeland's award-winning skateboard park, and ending at the Museum. Here are some photos and a video about Innoskate 2014. We are so proud that we were chosen by the Smithsonian to participate in this year's event, and we are proud that the Smithsonian folks, who came down for the event, were very impressed with the awesome job we did to pull this all off. Our wonderful City of Lakeland worked with us, for police protection, and for trash clean up. The police and the Parks & Rec guys are great to work with.
Joe, at the Palace Pizza food truck. We know the owner, and enjoyed checking in with him. The pizza slices were delicious!
Lauren was supposed to come on Friday afternoon, but she is still moving in, and found out Thursday that the last of her new furniture could be delivered on Friday, between 4:00 and 6:00. Of course, we told her to come Saturday morning, rather than drive in the dark. So she arrived early afternoon on Saturday. I was done with my shift at the Museum, so it worked out great.
We visited awhile, then went to Lakeside Village for dinner, at Fish City Grill, and some "spoiling". Had a great dinner, then went to Versona for some baubles, and a quick run, through Bed Bath and Beyond, where we got her a house warming gift - a Kuerig coffee maker and a carousel to hold the k-cups. She was quite pleased, I think. It was fun spoiling her a bit.
The 'spoiling' thing is a family joke, from when Lauren was about five years old. We went to New Jersey, and were bringing her back to Florida with us, for a couple of weeks. We all went over to Atlantic City, and were on the Board Walk. We went into a little beach store, and she was looking at the shell necklaces. I told her I would get one for her. She looked up at me with a smile and said..."Let the spoiling begin!". We have had fun with that ever since, and it transferred over to Tristan, too.
We got home and visited awhile, then got out a favorite board game. We all won one game, then went to bed around 11:30.
Lauren got in the pool this afternoon, and got some sun, before we had lunch and she had head home.
Such a pretty young woman. I'm not prejudiced at all (wink).
Lauren has a cat, named Catherine. She spent some time today photographing our cats. She got some very nice poses of them!!
Our Lilly. Protects her borders - small but mighty.
Our Lucy - the diva kitty.
Our Vinny - the very lovable, but clumsy 'teenager'.
Our Onyx - the wise old man and peace keeper.
So, there you have our weekend. Whew! Lauren headed home at a little before 4:00. I have the last load of laundry in, and we will pick at whatever, for dinner, since we had burgers and hotdogs on the grill for a late lunch, before Lauren left. I wish you a good week ahead!! Thanks for your time and comments!
My day in Tampa, yesterday, was great! It was an all-day seminar on non-profit accounting, and is done by the accounting firm we hire for our annual audit. This year, it was at the Tampa Bay History Center, which I had never visited before. I want to go back on a Saturday, with time to explore!! It is a great location, at the Port of Tampa Bay. We got three 10-minute breaks and an hour for lunch (free, catered by the Columbia Restaurant - Tampa's oldest restaurant, with great Cuban food). I had time for some photos, but not enough time to go through the museum. Must go back!!
Someone mentioned, yesterday, that this sounds boring... it was very interesting to me! LOL
That is the Carnival Paradise cruise ship, docked in the Port of Tampa Bay. I wanted to get on and go!
Inside the atrium level of the History Center. This is a little cafe area for the Columbia Restaurant.
Looking up, from the first floor level of the atrium, in the History Center.
Outdoor dining area for the Columbia Restaurant, which is on the ground floor of the History Center.
Just another lovely view from the balcony area of the History Center.
Looking across at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the Lightening play Hockey.
Joe and I were there a couple of months ago, when the Lightening played the Flyers.
A gator sculpture in the courtyard of the History Center.
Lauren arrives this afternoon, and Joe will bring her to the Museum for our event tonight (Innoskate 2014 - Rodney Mullen will be here!!). I also have to work in the morning, but will have the afternoon and evening with her. It will be a good weekend!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you a blessed weekend!
Throw back Thursday! And guess who just digitized over 300 old photos?!! You will get so tired of my throw-back posts! LOL
This is my great-uncle, Jim. He is my grandma's brother. Uncle Jim was a very talented artist, though he worked in a factory to support his family. Before he was married, he was in the military. When he was discharged, he worked his way across the United States, painting advertising on barns. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the advertisement below. There is a good chance that if you see one faded on an old barn, he may have painted it back in the late 1940s.
This 'shed' was in my cousin's backyard. Uncle Jim painted it for him. So glad we got this photo, because Uncle Jim is gone, now, and my cousin and his family moved away from this home.
This is Uncle Jim and my grandmother (my mom's mother). I've mentioned before that one of my cousins is Justin Chambers, movie & TV star. Uncle Jim is his grandpa. I haven't seen Justin in person, since 1993.
I will be at an accounting seminar, all day today, in Tampa. It is an annual educational opportunity for clients of our (the Museum's) accounting firm. It is free and includes breakfast and lunch! When I get home, I need to get the guest room made up and get some cleaning done. Lauren will be here tomorrow afternoon!
We are SO looking forward to having Lauren with us this weekend! There is an event at the Museum, and I have to work, but she and Joe will come and enjoy being there, while I work. I'm so excited that she is coming to see us!
From Joyce: So happy I scheduled a little break last week. I needed it, and now feel ready to get back to our regular Wednesday happening here on this side of the pond. Answer the questions on your own blog, then come backHEREtomorrow and add your link to the party. See you there!
1. Since you weren't Hodgepodging last Wednesday, how did you pass the time?
I made up and posted a Wacky Wednesday post of a few tidbits.
2. What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? Yes, one word.
Trust.
3. Summer officially arrives in the Northern hemishpere later this week. Does it feel like summer where you live? Describe your idea of the perfect summer day.
Since I live in Florida, it is always summer (having grown up in Ohio, Florida winters are still like summer to me). I love early summer, before the humidity hits (and hurricane season starts). A nice, non-humid 75° is perfect.
4. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."(Sam Keen) Is laziness ever respectable? Do you have a lazy summer planned, or something semi-ambitious?
My whole life is pretty lazy! LOL I think there is a difference between being lazy and being slovenly. Lazy can be respectable, now and then, but don't let it turn into being slovenly. My summer will be on the lazy side, rather than the ambitious side. No special plans on the horizon.
5. Past or present, who's your favorite television dad? Why is he a favorite? Is he anything like your own dad?
Bill Cosby. He portrayed a patient and gentle disciplinarian. He was wise (I guess the writers were wise) and he made us laugh. My dad was not the most patient person (I get that naturally), nor was he the most gentle disciplinarian, but he loved us and we knew it. He could also make us laugh.
6. June 18th is International Picnic Day...share a favorite picnic memory.
I have written about our family reunion picnics numerous times. I don't know that Joe and I have ever gone on a picnic! Family reunion's at Serpent Mound, in Peebles, Ohio, are my favorite picnic memories.
7. The travel site Trip Advisor lists the top five islands in the world for 2014 as- Ambergris Caye in Belize Cayes, Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Marco Island Florida, and Lewis and Harris in The Outer Hebrides (Scotland). Have you been to any of these? Of those listed (and if price were not a factor) which would you most like to book for a holiday?
I have been to Marco Island a couple of times. I would book a trip to Scotland in a minute, if money was no object.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm feeling time rushing by. It is going so fast, I can almost feel my hair blowing as it passes! It is mid-June already, and I'm not sure where the year has gone. It is so important to connect with those we love. Don't put things off!!
Thanks for reading my Hodgepodge this week! I love your comments and appreciate that you took time to peek in!! Blessings!
The week is chugging along. Happy Tuesday! Joe feels better each day, thank goodness. Last night, we went out to dinner at Saigon Bistro. We really like how fresh the food is at this little Vietnamese restaurant, at our Lakeside Village shopping area. Bed Bath and Beyond (in my top 5 favorite stores!) is also there, and we needed a few things. They have a HUGE variety of Keurig K-Cups, and we were out of Earl Gray tea. Joe used it all while he was fighting his cold upper respiratory infection. Of course, that isn't all we ended up buying, but we got the Earl Gray and also some English Breakfast tea, which is my favorite. I'm not a big tea drinker, but do enjoy it now and then.
I spent a few hours on Sunday, scanning photos - my big project that keeps dragging on. I'm actually not scanning them. I'm taking a digital photo of them, and it works best outside. I photographed over 300 and have just scratched the surface. Some made me smile at the memory, some brought tears to my eyes because all the folks in the picture have passed on. It feels good to be sorting them out, though.
I realized that I talk about grandson Tristan all the time, and not much about granddaughter Lauren. She has been away, at school (in New Jersey), for the last five years and we only got to see her at Christmas - once or sometimes twice a year. Now that she is in Florida, we hope to see her a lot more often!! I have some cute pictures of her to share.
Lauren was four years old when our son married her mom (Kathy - our daughter-in-love). Lauren's dad had never seen her. He was out of the picture before she was born. It was not a good marriage and Kathy left him when she got pregnant. When Kathy and our Joey married, Joey adopted Lauren, and she became ours! We love her as if we share the same blood. It is one reason I always say '...love lines are often stronger than blood lines...' and it is true!
Lauren was the flower girl at Joey & Kathy's wedding.
Lauren, at the age when we first met her. Who wouldn't fall in love with that girl?!
Joe, Lauren, and me holding Tristan (his first Christmas).
Halloween costume.
Ready for her first Communion. Kathy made her dress & veil.
Our lovely Lauren, just last year.
So there you have my Tuesday Tidbits, in photos! I wish you a blessed day! Thanks for peeking in!
I decided to do the MQAM today. Our weekend was a slug-fest. I did as little as possible. Happily, Joe is doing better, though the coughing is frustrating (for both of us!). Bless his heart, he has had a rough couple of weeks with that crud. So far, I have been able to avoid the bug. Here is the Meme of the day....
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Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Heather & Wayne from Acting Balanced. We are continuing to answer questions together. A special shout out this week to Judy from Retired-not-Tired for getting Heather off her butt and getting the questions up!
Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!
Here are the Questions:
1. It was Father's Day in North America this weekend, share something special about a dad in your life:
I posted a Father's Day blog about my dad, so won't go into it again here. You can check my archive for Saturday/Sunday to learn about my amazing dad, who I lost much too soon, to cancer.
2. Today is Fresh Veggies day - what is your favorite veggie to have fresh - raw or cooked?
The only vegetable I refuse to eat is okra. I can't stand okra. I love all other veggies and can eat them raw (most) or cooked. I especially like some of them drenched in butter and/or cheese. I know - takes away from the healthy aspect, but oh my goodness - melted butter on most any veggie!!!
3. Wednesday is National Splurge Day - if money was no object, what would you splurge on?
A new kitchen and an upgrade to our two bathrooms.
4. Do you like to walk? Where is your favorite place to walk?
I love to walk, but my bad knees have put a stop to it. Right now, anyplace would be a favorite place, if it didn't hurt so bad. Sigh.
So for my #5, just answer one of the above in your comments, if you would like to.
I wish you a good Monday. Mine is starting out with a funeral, I'm sad to say. A long-time supporter of the Museum (where I work) has died and the service is this morning, at 10:00. It is always sad to see the 'old guard' slipping away. Younger folks aren't as quick to support the arts, unfortunately. Philanthropy is not dead, but times are changing.
Another rainy (actually stormy) day in Lakeland, Florida. We have had rain all week. We need it. Not complaining, but just saying....it is raining AGAIN!
We don't have any plans for Father's Day. The boys live too far away, and Tristan and his mom are in Scandinavia for a vacation. Of course, I will make sure Joe gets a nice meal and I do have a card for him. Fortunately, he is feeling much better. Not 100%, but much better.
Speaking of Father's Day.... a little tribute to celebrate my dad. I lost him to lung cancer, in 1989. He was only 63 years old. It feels so different, now that I am in my 63rd year, to think of him at my age, suffering like he did for a year and a half.
He was so much fun. He made great pancakes for breakfast on weekends. He had a great recipe for hot peppers that would make your eyes water, but being in the kitchen while they were cooking could cook your sinuses. He cared about us 'kids' and our friends. Our home was always open to friends and neighbors. He was raised on a farm, he was a pilot (single-engine planes) and met my mom because she wanted to take a plane ride (set up by Dad's brother, with whom she worked). He only went through 11th grade, quitting school to join the Army, right at the end of WWII. He never served because the war ended and he was discharged. He worked for the Federal Government, at a job he didn't really like, but he rose to a GS11 and supported his family. We didn't have everything we might have wanted, but we did have everything we needed, and all the love and support anyone could desire.
Dad was a do-it-yourselfer, and we grew up learning to pound a nail, take small appliances apart to fix them, building, puttering, gardening... I miss his huge garden. I miss him. He would be so proud of his grandchildren today. Anyway, here are a few photos I posted on Facebook, and probably here at some time. If you've seen them already, sorry to make you look again!
Wishing you all a good weekend!! Happy Father's Day to all the dads & grandpas (and single moms, who have to be a dad, too). Count your blessings! I know you do.
That word in my title is the name of people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th. I am happy to say I am not one of them. It has never bothered me in the least. After all....it's a Friday!! But I understand that this phobia is the most widespread phobia in the United States. Who knew?
Are you superstitious about Fridays that fall on the 13th of the month? Are you superstitious about something else? Black cats, walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror? How about just the number 13?
From the Urban Legends website: LEGEND HAS IT: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven.
Well, I just never think about it. So - happy Friday!!
Joe is a little better, but is still up all night coughing. He told me this morning that the doctor said it would take three days for the medicine to work and for him to start feeling better. That means he should start feeling human again tomorrow! Please!!
I received my custom knee brace and got it fitted yesterday. This is to put off having knee replacement for a couple more years, hopefully. It is bulky and not very comfortable, but I know I have to get used to it, and getting it placed properly and strapping it on will take some practice. My hope is that I will be able to walk again, and start exercising with it. If it gives me time, I'll take it. My doctor (both I have gone to) say I am too young for my first knee replacement, if I can stand to put it off for at least a couple more years. I don't have the kind of job that will allow me to be off for a long rehabilitation. I can manage two weeks away, but not six or eight. The staff here is small, and I'm the only one who can do the accounting and payroll. I could figure out how to do some of it from home, but if I can wait until I can retire (and medicare kicks in), I will be in a better place for knee replacement. I also need to lose weight - will make recovery easier on me. Walking will help.
The auditor is in, yesterday and again today, for preliminary audit work. We got a lot done yesterday, so maybe she will only be here part of the day, today. It isn't worrisome for me, it is just time consuming to be pulling the information she wants. Everything is digital these days, so if I have hard copy (like contracts) they have to be scanned in for her. It just takes away from my regular work, but it must be done.
My mission for the weekend - clean the floors (which I didn't get to last weekend) and get Joe over his upper respiratory infection (he reminds me that it isn't a cold). Prayers continue for blogging friend, Sandie. Has anyone heard from her?
I wish you a good Friday and weekend ahead! Thanks for stopping in! Blessings!
I mentioned in my Tuesday post that Joe's family owned and operated a meat market, when Joe was growing up. Here is my picture of the photo hanging in Joe's office. I should have taken it out of the frame, but didn't want to take a chance on damaging it. Excuse the flash mark.
The people in the photo are Joe's parents, and the dog is their dalmatian, Jack. Joe has so many stories about life with this meat market in their back yard, and it really was in their back yard. The house is in front of the market, with the parking lot between.
They went to the cattle auctions on Mondays, and had to slaughter on Tuesdays. Yes, Joe can slaughter a cow, pig or goat, skin it and cut it up. Kind of scary, and I'm not really sure he could do it now. The business sold when Joe was in college. It was not an easy life, but the boys all played sports and their grades were good enough to get them into college.
Joe's dad came here from Italy in 1924. He only had a 3rd grade education, in Italy. He worked hard, became as US citizen (came here legally, through Ellis Island) and raised three boys. All three sons graduated from college and held professional jobs. Dad was very proud of that and always stressed the importance of education, though he could not read or write English and could never get his driver's license (unlike today!) because of that.
The meat market changed hands, and is still standing today. It is empty, as is the house, and we heard both were to be torn down to make way for something new. I'm glad Joe was able to take me there, back when we were dating, and it was still open. The owners knew Joe (of course) and let him give me a tour. It was great to see where his stories took place.
I hope you enjoyed my throw-back story. Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Thursday!
Never too old for the Cartoon Network games & cartoons! Click HERE
Pickles is my absolute favorite newspaper cartoon! Click HERE for some chuckles!
Click HERE to find comfort in Bible verses for most any situation!
And not so wacky is my request for prayers, for our blogging friend, Sandie, who is having cancer surgery today. She knows we are praying for her!
James 5:13-16
New International Version (NIV)
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Wishing you a good (and wacky) Wednesday!! Please offer a prayer for Sandie today!
June 1st was my sister, Patti's, birthday. I won't talk age, except to say she is six years younger than me. She went to Ohio University and has been teaching elementary school since she graduated. She and her husband, Greg, have one daughter who is just completing her first year of college.
My sister, Tammy, celebrated her birthday on June 5th. She is nine years younger than me, and went to Ohio State University. Also a teacher, she decided teaching high school English wasn't for her. She prefers teaching adults and GED classes, but is now in Georgia, with her husband, Bruce, and hasn't applied for her Georgia certificate yet. She is currently working for Nabisco.
Our son, Jeff, is celebrating his birthday TODAY!! Happy birthday to Jeff! Jeff has worked for Safeway since he was 16 years old. Pretty amazing, in this day and age, to stay with the same company for over 30 years! He as been a deli manager and a meat manager... sort of the family business, since his grandpa owned a meat market, and his dad (my Joe) grew up also working in the meat market.
(I am sorry I don't have better photos, but my laptop is down and I'm trying to pull photos from the cloud. I have better ones in my laptop, but the processor is going - I need a new one before it is gone completely.)
My step-grandma's birthday is June 12th. She will be 94 years old, and is an amazing woman. She is still living at home, she is still mentally sharp, she has a great sense of humor, and always tells us how much she loves us, and loved my mom. My mom's folks divorced when she was 11 years old, so I was lucky to grow up with three sets of grandparents, and we were all blessed that mom's folks got along so we could all be together for holidays and there was no nastiness. Grandma was a good bit younger than my grandpa, which is why I am 62 years old and still blessed with a living grandmother!
June 30th will be my niece, Sara's, birthday. Sara is my brother's oldest. She was 15 when he died of cancer. She went on to graduate from Ohio University and is a pre-school teacher for Head Start. My brother would be so proud of her!! We all are proud of her. She is a lovely girl, inside & out.
We also have several friends celebrating June birthdays, but this post is about family. Thanks for stopping by my blog!! Have a blessed Tuesday!
