Snow is pouring down today!

Great! Snow day. Another new attitude. I used to get up and wonder how I could ever get to work. Now I get up and think --Lucky me! I don't care whether others can get up my hill or not. Suits me fine. So I turned on the fireplace, made coffee and went to my HG-TV for a long while. Yesterday Liz and I went to grocery store, gassed up the car, and I went to K-mart so I would be supplied well with food. I even got salt for the driveway but since it is still pouring down, I will not open it as yet.

I have my list made of stuff to do today. Far be it from me to sit here all day and veg out. If I do, I want to feel guilty about it. I am reading other blogs today also from people.

I will do some cooking -- Tom Harte has a new feature about cooking to lose weight and I am doing that--shrimp and grits today. I have all the ingredients. I finished the book, the Shell Seekers, last night at midnight and then could not sleep. I can't believe that I thought the Hallmark adaptation was good -- it paled in comparison to the book. Learning and reading are such wonderful commodities. I used to watch Daddy put his feet (socked) on the radiator in their bedroom during winter nights and watch him read--Life of Lincoln by Carl Sandburg. What a brain he had and a heart! Lucky me to have him in my life --even for such a short time. He alone made me know that I was something special--and that is masterful for any child.

Teen Challenge pick up

Today, I called Teen Challenge and asked them if they would pick up the six chairs I used to have in my dining room. Here they came with a truck and they did it. The man in charge of them came with them and he watched carefully over them. The four guys got out of the truck and began to lift the chairs in and they took my old trash can also. I was surprised how handsome they were--they could have been students, ad salesmen, the world was out there for them. But somewhere along the way, they met a demon that overtook them and they now are trying to get away from addictions.

It is not easy. I think of Greg and Lynn and Autry and all the rest of the family who have met these demons....these are named; some are not. The demon of wanting everything you want without counting the cost has a price, if not a name. I shall pray for these young guys, if not by name, then by the choices they are facing every day. I wish them inordinate strength to deal with their demons and I hope they find something to hold on to moment by moment.

I went out to the truck and wished them the best for the day. I hope that they understood my message. They have to have God to hold on to, moment by moment. I learned that in going through my divorce--sometimes I forget that lesson when all is going okay.

Waiting to hear about the appointment?

I started off today with two early phone calls -- first Greg Brune called me to ask if I had heard anything and five seconds later, Senator Jason Crowell called and asked me the same thing. Jason wanted me to make a call --and I did --to Al Sullivan who emailed me that he would check it out with his sources.

Just waiting. They have to name someone. In my opionion, it might as well be me.

Gloria came today to work. I am trying to get rid of stuff every day. Even called Teen Challenge to see if they would come get my old dining room chairs and then I will clean garage. Layne will be here at 4:00 to help set up my office upstairs. Hope she gets here but she has to take her sister to the doctor.

I keep myself rather busy -- doing things I never thought about while I was working. That's the point of retirement.

Funeral of Martha Bray

I went to the visitation and funeral service for Martha Bray today. I stayed for both and Annie came and joined me for the service. John Bierk also came for funeral and sat with us. It was good to see Alton and the children, Ellen, Mary and Jeff. Jeff did the eulogy and it was so funny--he had just had hip surgery and he was limping but he did it well.

I was happy to see all the church people from lst Baptist and to know that they were alive. Bob Reeves told me I changed Brian's life when he worked with me. It was nice to visit with everyone. Then Annie and I went to My Daddy's Cheesecake and ate lunch. We went to Coldwater Creek and I bought each of us a new outfit. Annie needs some new clothes since she is starting a new job. Liz is coming today so I am getting stuff done.

Rain is here. Sit by the fire and read for the rest of the day.

Sunday morning and I'm not energetic

I need to do all kinds of things today but I would rather sit here and work the crossword puzzle and drink coffee. My big accomplishment yesterday was that Jordan and I fixed the kitchen sink by ourselves and did not have to call a plumber and with my bills for that sink, that is a major accomplishment. The last time the plumber was here, I made him show me why I had to spend $60 service call visit for him to work 2 minutes. It worked.

I have this thing called I don't listen at the time someone tells me something if I don't think it will ever be of benefit. I am trying to do better. Today I plan to read, clean some, and do as little as possible. I have no appointments and I have a book to read and review. I am also reading The Shellseekers and it is hard to put down. I watched 2 Hallmark Hall of Fame shows yesterday and I would only work during the commercials. One was with Jack Lemmon and it was good and I never did know who was in the second. Retirement is wonderful in that when you have television and books and a computer, you have information and entertainment intact.

I am an information junkie. I used to read World Books from "kiver to kiver." This is so much easier.

Meals, more meals....etc

Today I went to lunch with Dean Loretta Prater, Dean of health and human services at the University. She was down-hearted. Her son, was shot down in Chattanooga a few years ago in January and she takes January hard. She is ready to retire, tired of this place. People kept coming up to me --Doc and his son, Cliff, wanted to know about the Regent's position and then David Erlbacher.

Then I came home and John Bierk called and we went out to supper at Panera's with Bill Prost. I got a bread bowl filled with tomato soup and was it good.

I love to have meals with friends and laugh and enjoy. It keeps me going and makes me feel real.

Building a family -birthday by birthday

Last night for the second time in two weeks, we went to Pasta House for Greg Lowry's birthday. Layne had said that she and Jordan were trying to pool their money to take him out to eat. I said I would pay for it, and they could get him a present. So the 7 of us went--Greg, Jordan, Sam, Annie, Layne, Holly and me. And we began to build a family together.

Greg was 52 and in bad health. His long-time view is very clouded so we must use every minute to help him feel good about himself. Layne even made him a cake and took him to get a hair cut. He has never been much of a father to her; but she is taking care of him well.

I don't know how some kids feel empathy and others don't. But Jordan and Layne both do.