Not the Sunday I was expecting

I stayed in bed an hour late, thinking I needed a little more sleep because yesterday was so long. I unstacked the dishwasher, and read e-mail. Chris sent one in the middle of the night from the Narita airport. I started an interview but did not have time to finish it. I took a shower, and ate breakfast. I got dressed, and grabbed a blank card. I watered my plants, then went to church. I thought I was late but my watch was fast, I sat in my regular pew, wrote a check for Rachel's shower and put it in the card. I asked Mr. Cox what her fiance's name was, but he did not know. Heather and her family came in late and sat behind me. During the passing of the peace, she told me that the sleeping bag we gave her for her yard sale (on behalf of the youth) might be worth over $100 on Etsy. That was a surprise because it was old, worn, patched and who would want a Princess of Power sleeping bag nowadays? After church, I helped Art count the loose cash in the offering plate ($1). He said he couldn't count today so we plans for Tuesday. Then I made my way to the line for shaking hands. When I got to the fellowship hall, there was a basket for cards and a money tree. Rachel put out a nice photograph of her and her fiance. Cecelia's husband went home, so we sat together and talked. We also went through the food line. Several people talked to me there. We sat across from Mary. I suggested we do a musical piece together one more time before I moved. Cecelia had a piece that she thought would benefit from a trombone line. I was going to follow her home to see what she had in mind, but several more people stopped me to talk and Cecelia went home. So did Heather who I was going to give the sewing machine to. So I called Cecelia from the parking lot. She gave me directions to her house. When I got there, she got in my car and directed me to Heather's house. We dropped of the machine with her son who was outside since no one answered the door. Then we went back to her house. She invited me in and showed me pics of her daughters. Her house was beautiful. We sat at the piano and picked through the piece. I thought I could construct a counterpoint to the melody. So she got her husband to make a copy with their printer. She told me about her plans to get the church kids into a singing or ringing group. She indicated that I could help but I did not promise her anything. Then I went to Publix for groceries. I brought them home and put them away. I ate a piece of corned beef brisket. I read e-mail and listened to an audio that I started this morning that was full of information on depression. He said that all neurodegenerative diseases start with depression. So when a patient comes in with depression, he looks for signs of Parkinson's, alzheimer's, demenia, etc. I had to stop the video while I finished the last two number puzzles. I don't know where the compulsion comes from. tried to work on the counterpoint line for Cecelia's piece. I wrote some, but it was hard to see and keep track of what I had to work with. I did not finish. I made up a week's worth of supplements. I threw out bags and empty supplement containers in the kitchen. I saw that the outdoor thermometer read 110. I did not believe it, so I went outside for a bit. It was hot, but not that hot. I got some garbage bags and tried to bag the stuff Chris put in the trashcan. It was too deep for me. Some of it I put in recycling. Most went into two bags. I rolled it to the street. Then I went down to watch two episodes of X-Files. I wanted to start the next DVD, but it contained episodes we'd already seen. I brought it upstairs where I could read it and saw that the DVD's were out of order. It was after 10 anyway, so I put it aside for tomorrow. I opened the box for the nightguard. I followed the directions to put it in hot water, and mold it to my teeth. I did not get the fit right but don't know why. I wrote to my blog and went to bed.

Cutting it too close

Chris said he was going to get up at 5, but I suspect he got up earlier because I did not hear his alarm ring. I stayed in bed until he roused me at 5:30. Then I drank several glasses of water, and washed up. I listened to a short audio while he was getting ready. Then we took my car to the airport. We passed a yard sale and I said “Look! A yard sale.” He replied “Is there anything you need?” I said “Need is such a strong word.” We continued to the airport. It was light out and I wasn't as emotional as I thought I would be. My car was running hot and I had forgotten my cell phone. When we got to the airport, we hugged and he walked off with all his luggage. I did cry a little. Then I drove home, having to stare into the rising sun on the highway. I parked the car in the carport, and walked to the yard sale. I asked if he had a gas can to sell, and he did. He sold me a 5 gallon gas can with some gas in it for $2! What a deal! And he said if I needed any help, to let him know. When I got home, I called Chris for instructions on driving the mower He told me where to find the key and what the levers do. He said he had already checked the oil. I checked the tires and saw they were soft. I came in to put down the phone and write notes to my blog. I dug a splinter out of my thumb (or thought I did). I caught up on Sudoku puzzles while listening to audios. I put cards in the mail. I started another batch of sprouts. I poured gas in the mower, and pumped up the tires. I moved the grill, and started the mower. I backed it out, and drove to the front yard. I noticed that it wasn't cutting so I decreased the mowing height, and it still was not cuting. I tried pushing a lever forward and then it cut too short. Oh well. I mowed in big ovals, slowly. I did not know how to get to the higher gears since pushing in the clutch stopped the mower, and did not want to take off with a big jerk. I kept driving, this time to the back yard and ran through the wide ditch leading to the culvert, and then went through a shady wooded area where I don't usually mow (where the tent was). I put the grills at the back of the carport so I could park the mower easily at the front and would not have to back around anything next time. I juiced zucchini and a pepper. I meditated overly long, probably because I got up so early this morning. I went outside to water the plants, and then to sunbathe. I came in for breakfast and to clear e-mail. I did more number puzzles, thinking they were a waste of time, but unable to stop. I went downstairs to get out my least favorite sewing machine, and make sure it worked. Then I packed it in the case with the manual and accoutrements. I put it in my car for tomorrow. I will lend it to Heather so her son can learn to sew. I watered the far garden. I ate some fish and read e-mail. I picked a salad from what grows in the back yard and garden. I stacked and ran the dishwasher. Then I watched two episodes of X-Files. I checked e-mail again, and looked up some episode characters and a synopsis of the movie we watched last night. I guess Chris is on the plane to Narita right now. I hope to get an e-mail from him in the morning.

Fanning the flames

I tried to put in a Swansons order last night before the offer expired at midnight. But with the 15% off, my order was .06 short of the $50 needed for free shipping. So I did not bother and just went to bed. We were still in bed but not sleeping when the alarm went off the next morning. Much later we got up to start the day. I finished a video I started watching yesterday. It was about how to meditate in 15 minutes – but the video was way longer than that, and there was no slider on it so I could not tell how long it was going to be, or go back or skip ahead. I took time to swish. So much e-mail to read. I watered the plants. Then I juiced, and meditated, then cleaned up the juicer. I made breakfast, and worked puzzles until I couldn't stand it anymore. I watched Chris pack. I read the scale when he weighed the luggage. He put an umbrella and an espresso machine in his suitcase. The umbrella couldn't go in carryon because it is considered a weapon. He took boxes to the post office to mail ahead. I looked through panoramic pictures from The Quilt Show. I drank lots of water to avoid feeling dizzy like I did yesterday. I mowed in the back yard and then the front yard until the mower slowed down. Chris' car showed up in the carport between one row and the next so I must have missed him pulling in. I plugged in the mower and came in for water and some frozen strawberries.
I saw the thermometer in the sunshine – it read 103. Chris wanted to burn more paper. So he got out the grill and we toasted decades of documents. We separated out the pages that could be recycled. He started the riding mower. It did not run because there was no gas in it. Then I remembered that we did not have a gas can here. We each had some leftovers for supper. Then we went down to watch an X-Files movie – the one that came out right after season 5. We still have two DVD's from season 6 to watch that have to be returned to the post library a week from Tuesday. I started listening to an audio on menopause. He recommended geranium oil on the arches of the feet to relieve hot flashes. I paused the audio to go to bed when Chris did since this is our last night together. I will take him to the airport at 6 am tomorrow.

And away it goes

I got up soon after 8 to start my morning routine. In addition, I took out the recyclables, and showered. I juiced and then we went to a restaurant near Madison for a going-away party for Chris. After we all ordered, but before the food arrived, Chris' boss presented him with an honorary civilian award and certificates and a picture signed by most of his coworkers. Then Chris thanked every one, and we all had lunch. Several of them said I should let them know if I needed anything. Then when they'd all left, we went home. I drove Chris' car to quilting. I trimmed some blocks and put them in stacks of ten, while conversing with the group. Betty left blackberries in the freezer for anyone who wanted some. I packed up and took two packages since so few people were left. I drove home, and Chris had the boxed mattress out by my car. We pushed the back seats forward, and tried to get it in the back. It hung out. I called and then e-mailed the lady who was having the yardsale on behalf of the youth to see if she wanted it. I made breakfast while waiting for her reply. She said they'd try to sell it. I made notes for my blog while eating breakfast. Then we packed stuff on top of the mattress, including the foot locker, which we filled with games, puzzles and paints. We went through a tall box in the garage and found a bow and some lawn darts, and a jig saw. We packed my car full, tied the hatch down, and drove it to Heather's house. She and her husband welcomed us and helped us unload the car. We talked for a bit. She told us that a lady she knows who had a quilt shop will be selling off her fabric in two weeks. Oh, the temptation! We came home and Chris started supper. I started making a list of things we did not need. Then I started pulling things out and piling them in a corner of the garage. It felt pretty good. Speakers, DVD player, lamps with shades, baskets and foliage, puzzles and games, pictures. I did not want to quit, but Chris said supper was ready. He helped me carry two boxes to the garage and then we ate: brussels sprouts and catfish. After supper, Chris returned a battery charger to the neighbor next door. We loaded both of our cars. We drove over to Heather's house, but she wasn't there. I called, left a message, then sat in my car to wait. She called back and said it was ok to just leave the stuff by the garage. So we did. I took pictures so I could remember later what I gave away. Then I went home. I watered the plants and Chris arrived. We went downstairs to watch several episodes of X-Files. He asked me if I wanted to watch more episodes tomorrow night or the movie. I started to cry because it will be our last night before he goes to Korea. We came upstairs to read e-mail. I was going to just blog but felt the compulsion to do a few number puzzles to calm down. I drank a glass of water (hydration seems to help with emotional control). Then I wrote to my blog.

Out of my head

Chris got up early to listen in on a conference call. He turned my alarm off when it rang. About nine came back to use the bathroom and then I got up. It was a day for things not going as planned. I swished and exercised. I wanted to reprint my detox sheet because it got something spilled on it, but the desktop computer was running veeeeeeery sloooooooooowly. It took 10 minutes to do what should have taken 15 seconds. Then I discovered that I did not buy distilled water on Sunday. There was a water jug where I put it each Sunday but it was an empty one. Chris took a shower and ran to the store for a full one. I had to work from the soiled printout. I detoxed, juiced and meditated. I filled two water bottles with warm salt water. I decided I could sweat at home mowing the lawn, but then the sun went behind clouds and the temp dropped and raindrops fell while I was mowing. I mowed until the mower had quit 3 times. I drank all the salt water and turned to yard work. The sun came back out. I transplanted tomatoes and peppers. I dug up humus from under the grate by the carport. I used it to fill in around the marigolds and plants in the cement blocks. I was surprised how many worms I found in there. I was also surprised at the biting flies I encountered in the garden. I wondered why God created such annoying things. I guess horses wonder that, too. I came in to cool off. I got sidetracked doing number puzzles. It was not how I planned to spend my time, but it felt good to get out of my head for awhile. I ate some corned beef, and meditated. Though it seems rather odd, I then made breakfast. We looked for Chinhae on googlemaps, but couldn't find it. Perhaps the Navy doesn't wish it to be found? We went down to watch the “Battle of the Five Armies”, a hobbit/dwarf/elf movie. Then I blogged and went to bed.
* This plant I can't identify seems attractive to bees *

Stewardship meeting

Chris got up early although I don't know how since we went to bed so late. I stayed in bed until the alarm went off. Chris came back to make sure I was awake. And then...I got up to swish and exercise. There was no quilting today because they were on a field trip to a store in Mississippi and I elected not to go. I called the church to see if I could come by today to work on contributions but they were busy. For some reason I got hooked on a number puzzle. Chris had a group call to listen to. After doing a second puzzle I had to put it down. I took a shower and checked e-mail. When Chris' call was over, I juiced two zucchini. I drank that and cleaned up. Then I drove to the Asian store for kimbap. I waited until I got home to open the package. After eating all of it, and an apple, I went through a pile of books that Chris left for me. When that was done, I finished an audio. I went through my e-mail and unsubscribed to bunch of stuff. I listened to several Youtube videos of “100 questions no one asks”. On the one hand, it seemed like a total waste of time. But, the energy and spontaneity with which the ladies answered the questions was refreshing. I made breakfast and ate it. Chris packed the books in his car and went to post to run errands before taking the books to the book store. I watered my plants, and then went to the farmer's market. The first stand had peaches, so I got some of those. I also got a kidney from the Wagyu guy. He had three, but my freezer's getting full. I bought zucchini from the hydroponics man. I came home, sunbathed, then wiped off. I read e-mail, and did some tapping with Brad Yates newest videos. Chris came home and cooked “yellow name” which is a true yam. I took a visual acuity test online – it indicated a problem, possibly mold related. For supper, I ate some name with corned beef and sprouts. I listened to an audio that sounded somewhat familiar while working on a sumsum puzzle. At 6:45 I jumped up to brush my teeth and go to church for a stewardship meeting. But I was early because it did not start until 7:30. I sat in the fellowship hall and talked to Art. He told me about his cats. Then the other Art showed up and we talked about deer and racoons getting in the garden. Then Dave, the head of stewardship came and the meeting started. Rachel came too, and amazingly, the two Art's gave their reports briefly. We were done in half an hour. I reported that Linda and I were trying to get the contributions into the computer. Both Art's thought that was a good idea. Then I came home to find the garage door open and the light on. Chris was upstairs, but he came down with me and we went through stuff in the garage, separating stuff we wanted from what we could do without. He threw some stuff out, and we made a pile for freecycling in one corner. Some of it was Michele's stuff. Anyway, about 9:30 we quit. He told me that he got some money for some of the books, and the rest he took to the library. Then we watched an episode of X-Files. I checked e-mail one last time, and blogged. I could not resist doing several more puzzles before going to bed.
* These are the blooming 4 o'clocks *

Great scott, who wrote Ivanhoe?

I got up just before 8. I started cleaning up in the kitchen and turned off the alarm when it rang. Chris was nowhere to be found but his car was here so I figured he was out running. And by the looks of things, he had taken out the garbage and put Netflix in the mail. I swished and exercised. I washed the big pot we cook beef in. Chris came home and took a shower. I checked e-mail. I e-mailed a link to a video on lactose intolerance to Cecelia. I juiced, meditated, and made breakfast. After eating it, I got dressed and headed out to quilting. I noticed my plants needing water, so I took 15 minutes to water everything. It was almost 12:30 when I got to the church. Dinah was putting away lunch. I set up my machine in the back of the room. Not that many ladies were there, and most left after lunch. I suggested that I might go to a retreat and they said there was room in the July event for me. Finally it was just Lauri and I. I worked on my blue and white Renegades quilt and she worked on her jelly roll quilt and then a quilt top made from antique blocks. She did not like the jelly roll quilt after she finished it, so she gave it to me to turn in for Comfy Quilts. At 5 I ran out of the fabric for the side pieces. I packed up my stuff and came home. Chris was making burgers. I looked up more info on dairy intolerance for Cecelia. I came across several people that recommended food grade diatomaceous earth. Apparently it is good for a lot more than that. I ate my burger with spinach and some greens from the backyard, as well as some cheese. Then I had chocolate and dates for dessert. Eventually we went downstairs to watch an old movie called Runaway with Tom Selleck. Since it was only 9:30 and Runaway wasn't that great, we decided to watch Ivanhoe. It was a better movie, and more engrossing, but longer, too. By the time it was over, midnight had passed. I wrote to my blog and went to bed.
* This is the quilt top Lauri made *