Saturday, December 10, 2011

2011 December 7-10


Wednesday, December 7 2011
            I did the normal Wednesday morning thing by attending our Men’s Bible Study.  This is always a rewarding experience and well worth the drive across town. 

Shortly after returning home, we went to our grandson, Nathan’s to babysit Lorelie.  Granddaughter, Audrie has been watching the great-granddaughters lately.  However she has a new job and was going in for training.  Lorelie does not have preschool on Wednesdays so we got to spend time with her all afternoon.  Charlotte was in school until about three o’clock when Ella picked her up.  Beth came home from school in the early afternoon.  She was not feeling well and decided to not go to work.

Thursday, December 8
            Most of the morning I worked on the Sermon and Bulletin for Saturday’s Praise Service.  Nathan came out and took Ella in to babysit while he and Beth had a doctor’s appointment for the first ultrasound of the new baby bump.

I held my first Bible study at Emeritus Bible Study from 1:30 – 2.  I really didn’t know what to expect since it is a care facility specializing in Alzheimer and dementia patients.  I was told to keep it to a half hour and to schedule it after lunch because that was when people were most alert.  I had a DVD presentation that took about fifteen minutes and then I had Christmas Carols (printed in large clear type) and had planed to have music to accompany the singing.  That didn’t work out so well because I did not have internet connection that I needed for the music.  We sang a couple verses of three old standards without accompaniment.  We aren’t going to start a choir but we had fun with the hymns anyway.
Before I left Emeritus I called to find out if I needed to go to the grandson’s to get Ella.  But she was a home sitting in MY recliner.  She said she couldn’t sit in HER’s because SOMEBODY had left his stuff in it.  Yep! It was my stuff.  Books and Bible and CDs plus the laptop and the printer that I had out when I was working on the sermon and the Bible study.  I, generally, am the person who puts everything away as soon as I’m done with it.  However, I just plain ran out of time.  Good thing she was only pretending to be mad.

Since she was home, I told her to get ready and I’d pick her up and we’d go to Sam’s Club and WalMart for groceries and gas.  I felt lucky that we not out of both Sam’s and Wally World with spending only a little of fifty at each.  Not so luck with the gasoline – a little over $80.  My pickemup truck was thirsty.

Friday, December 9
            I got up and got a picture of the sunrise today – complete with an inch or so of fresh snow.  The first snow that we had this year was very wet and heavy.  This snow is dry and light.  Instead of shoveling, I just swept it off the steps and patio. 

I had written earlier about the unpleasant surprise we had when we went to move our Road Ranger fifth wheel and how that was causing us to rethink our plans.  Since that time we have been looking (mostly online) at fifth wheels and travel trailers.  A couple days ago, while online, Ella found an older Excel at Plaza RV in Bondurant.  There were lots of photos of the trailer and it looks like it is very similar to the Road Ranger in size and layout.  The biggest difference is the placement of the entrance door.  The Excel’s is near the rear of the trailer (like the Hitch Hiker’s) instead of in the middle like the Road Ranger’s.  Today, being a bright sunny day, we decided to drive over an take a look at it in real life.  The battery was down and the slide out was in and the baggage door locks were frozen shut, so we didn’t see it quite as completely as we’d hoped.
I told the salesman that we were not ready to buy and that we’d check back in the spring.  If it is still there, we’d be interested.  The salesman said that if we’d take it now, he’d knock $1,500 of the price.  I said I did not want to have to store it until spring.  He said he’d store it for us.  Darn!  Now we have to decide what to do.
Insert passage of time here.
Later that same day.  We decided that we needed to take another look at the trailer.  I called the dealership and told them that we would like another look with the slide out and with the baggage doors open.  Dave, the salesman, said to give him an hour to ninety minutes and he’d take the trailer inside to thaw out.
So for an additional hour, we did some praying, soul searching, some considering “what ifs” and then went back to take another look.

            I got up and got a picture of the sunrise today – complete with an inch or so of fresh snow.  The first snow that we had this year was very wet and heavy.  This snow is dry and light.  Instead of shoveling, I just swept it off the steps and patio. 

I had written earlier about the unpleasant surprise we had when we went to move our Road Ranger fifth wheel and how that was causing us to rethink our plans.  Since that time we have been looking (mostly online) at fifth wheels and travel trailers.  A couple days ago, while online, Ella found an older Excel at Plaza RV in Bondurant.   There were lots of photos of the trailer and it looks like it is very similar to the Road Ranger in size and layout.  The biggest difference is the placement of the entrance door.  The Excel’s is near the rear of the trailer (like the Hitch Hiker’s) instead of in the middle like the Road Ranger’s.  Today, being a bright sunny day, we decided to drive over an take a look at it in real life.  The battery was down and the slide out was in and the baggage door locks were frozen shut, so we didn’t see it quite as completely as we’d hoped.
I told the salesman that we were not ready to buy and that we’d check back in the spring.  If it is still there, we’d be interested.  The salesman said that if we’d take it now, he’d knock $1,500 of the price.  I said I did not want to have to store it until spring.  He said he’d store it for us.  Darn!  Now we have to decide what to do.
Insert passage of time here.
Later that same day.  We decided that we needed to take another look at the trailer.  I called the dealership and told them that we would like another look with the slide out and with the baggage doors open.  Dave, the salesman, said to give him an hour to ninety minutes and he’d take the trailer inside to thaw out.
So for an additional hour, we did some praying, soul searching, some considering “what ifs” and then went back to take another look.
We looked it over very carefully, looking for bowed or warped walls, soft spots in the floor, rust, damage, excessive wear etc.  We opened every door and drawer, tried every light and inspected all appliances.  The only thing I could not check was the roof, because there is no roof ladder.
We really liked it, partially I think because it is so much like our Road Ranger, which we really have enjoyed.  The only part that I’m not thrilled about is the ceiling height in the living room area.  The ceiling is only about 6’6”.  I’m 6’1” and a lot of my family are taller than that.  Well, I guess we just won’t be doing any jumping around it it.  Dave gave us a lot of ‘alone time’ to discuss it and we decided to buy it.  We’ll go Monday to get the money out of Ella’s retirement account.

            We got home from the RV dealership with just enough time to get cleaned up and dressed for our Sunday school’s Friendship Class’ Christmas Party.  For years and years we have had the party at a local restaurant.  And over the years it has become more expensive while our aging class members’ incomes have been decreasing.  This year one of our members, Nita Brower, volunteered the use of their home for the party.  We had food catered from another local restaurant and served ourselves buffet style.  It was very enjoyable and much more relaxing than the restaurant.  Nita had several games for us to play and we had time to visit and just chat.  Pastor Lee brought his guitar and we sang some Christmas hymns.

            Oh, I almost forgot, sometime during the day, I got a call about being Santa at another party on Sunday.  That makes two partys on Sunday, one at one o’clock and one at six-thirty.

Saturday, December 10, 2011
            We awoke this morning to the lowest temperature so far this season, five degrees.  I took another ‘sunrise’ photo plus some of the frozen and snow covered lake.
            Ella works 8-2 today and I preach this evening at 5:30.  We will have our monthly pot luck after the service.  I have a meatloaf mixed up and will get it in the oven later this afternoon.  So far today the meatloaf and doing dishes is all I have accomplished outside of getting this blog caught up to date.There were lots of photos of the trailer and it looks like it is very similar to the Road Ranger in size and layout.  The biggest difference is the placement of the entrance door.  The Excel’s is near the rear of the trailer (like the Hitch Hiker’s) instead of in the middle like the Road Ranger’s.  Today, being a bright sunny day, we decided to drive over an take a look at it in real life.  The battery was down and the slide out was in and the baggage door locks were frozen shut, so we didn’t see it quite as completely as we’d hoped.
I told the salesman that we were not ready to buy and that we’d check back in the spring.  If it is still there, we’d be interested.  The salesman said that if we’d take it now, he’d knock $1,500 of the price.  I said I did not want to have to store it until spring.  He said he’d store it for us.  Darn!  Now we have to decide what to do.
Insert passage of time here.
Later that same day.  We decided that we needed to take another look at the trailer.  I called the dealership and told them that we would like another look with the slide out and with the baggage doors open.  Dave, the salesman, said to give him an hour to ninety minutes and he’d take the trailer inside to thaw out.
So for an additional hour, we did some praying, soul searching, some considering “what ifs” and then went back to take another look.
We looked it over very carefully, looking for bowed or warped walls, soft spots in the floor, rust, damage, excessive wear etc.  We opened every door and drawer, tried every light and inspected all appliances.  The only thing I could not check was the roof, because there is no roof ladder.
We really liked it, partially I think because it is so much like our Road Ranger, which we really have enjoyed.  The only part that I’m not thrilled about is the ceiling height in the living room area.  The ceiling is only about 6’6”.  I’m 6’1” and a lot of my family are taller than that.  Well, I guess we just won’t be doing any jumping around it it.  Dave gave us a lot of ‘alone time’ to discuss it and we decided to buy it.  We’ll go Monday to get the money out of Ella’s retirement account.

            We got home from the RV dealership with just enough time to get cleaned up and dressed for our Sunday school’s Friendship Class’ Christmas Party.  For years and years we have had the party at a local restaurant.  And over the years it has become more expensive while our aging class members’ incomes have been decreasing.  This year one of our members, Nita Brower, volunteered the use of their home for the party.  We had food catered from another local restaurant and served ourselves buffet style.  It was very enjoyable and much more relaxing than the restaurant.  Nita had several games for us to play and we had time to visit and just chat.  Pastor Lee brought his guitar and we sang some Christmas hymns.

            Oh, I almost forgot, sometime during the day, I got a call about being Santa at another party on Sunday.  That makes two partys on Sunday, one at one o’clock and one at six-thirty.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

            We awoke this morning to the lowest temperature so far this season, five degrees.  I took another ‘sunrise’ photo plus some of the frozen and snow covered lake.



            Ella works 8-2 today and I preach this evening at 5:30.  We will have our monthly pot luck after the service.  I have a meatloaf mixed up and will get it in the oven later this afternoon.  So far today the meatloaf and doing dishes is all I have accomplished outside of getting this blog caught up to date.


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Card

Merry Christmas to All!

2011 December 06


Here is my agenda for the day.  Soon, I will fix breakfast (one egg, one crisp bacon slice, one slice of white bread toast, and as many cups of coffee as Ella and I can get out of the 10 cup carafe), we will make a trip to Home Depot to purchase Quake Hold museum putty, and then around five p.m. we’ll be Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the “Voices to be Heard” Christmas Party.

Sunrise 7:27 a.m.   What?  You don’t see the sun?  But I have it on the authority of the National Weather Bureau that this is sunrise.  Who are we to argue with such and august organization as they?
My stomach is growling and telling me that it is time for breakfast.  Ella will probably be awakened by the smell of the maple bacon cooking – although the smell of coffee brewing did not rouse her.  I’ll write more later.
----- Time Passes -----
It is later, I'll be getting in the red suit soon.
we did go to Home Depot.  However, this Home Depot does not carry the museum putty.  I can order it online and have it shipped to the store for pickup, which I may do.
From Home Depot we made the very short trip to Super Target.  Ella wanted some sewing supplies to repair one of her winter coats.
When we came home, I cooked a ham steak and then made a thin red-eye gravy.  I thinly sliced a couple of Yukon Gold potatoes and cooked them in the gravey.  Then I diced the ham steak and threw it back in the pan with some shredded cheddar.  That along with some microwaved frozen asparagus was our lunch.

Monday, December 5, 2011

2011 December 05


            Another cold and gray morning.  It is now eleven a.m. and the temp has climbed all the way to twenty!  This is Monday and the forecast is to stay below freezing until Saturday’s predicted high of thirty-three.  The good news is, it is supposed to be bright and sunny all week.  That means lots of passive solar heat streaming through the windows.  Not today though which is to remain cloudy.
            I’ve had breakfast, done dishes and written a story titled “How To Name A Cat” which you can read at www.StoriesByThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com.  
(insert passage of time here)
           I’ve now called Pastor Lee about sermon prep for this coming Saturday’s service, we’ve picked up Ella’s paycheck and taken it to the credit union for deposit.
            On the way home, we stopped in Johnston at the Senior Center.  We had not seen it since it was remodeled earlier this year.  We arrived just in time to get signed up for lunch.  You are actually supposed to call ahead and make reservations if you are going to eat.  They did, however, let us eat.  It was Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and cooked carrots.  There was also lemon bars and stewed plums of which I ate neither and Ella ate both.
            After lunch we visited with the site director and filled out all the paper work to be registered at the site.  After all the paperwork was taken care of, she asked me if I could be Santa on the fifteenth for a day care group.  Unfortunately that is a Thursday and I’ve just agreed to conduct a Bible study at Emeritus in Urbandale every Thursday at 1:30.  Here is a video about Emeritus.  
            We did sign up to come on Wednesday the fourteenth for liver and onions.  Ella really likes live and onions.  I can’t eat onions.  I have an allergic reaction (throat swells shut and I get a ‘nearly’ migraine headache) when I eat onions.  That is a real shame because I love onions.  Now, about the liver.  I don’t know.  It’s been a long time since I had beef liver.  At one time I really liked liver.  However, when I was in my teens, I was anemic and mom fixed a LOT of liver for me to eat.  When you’ve been ‘force feed’ most anything, it tends to lose its appeal.
            We had a little flurry of snow (that was not in the forecast) around lunch time but has quit now.  The wind however is howling around the trailer and making me shiver even though it is plenty warm inside.
            I’ve spent enough time on this post and I’ve got to work on Bible study material as well as prepare a sermon for Saturday.  So, gotta go.  I’ll write at ya later. 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

2011 December 04



            Ella worked Saturday evening at the clubhouse and I did laundry.  We seem to have developed this routine.  That way we can still spend time together (sort of) while she works.
Sunday, the Lord’s day, I went to Sunday school and church this morning while Ella worked at the clubhouse. 
Yesterday evening, Cathy, the Pastor’s wife, left a message on Facebook that Lee wanted to talk to me about a preaching opportunity.  I replied that I would talk to him on Sunday unless it was urgent, in which case he could call me.  He didn’t call so I was curious as to what he wanted.
Between Sunday school and church, Pastor and I had a chance to talk.  He has an opportunity to be with family on Saturday the tenth.  He wanted me to fill in for him for that Saturday Praise service.  I said that I was sorry but I had an appointment to be Santa at Lake Robbins Ballroom that evening.
On the way home, it troubled me that I had turned him down.  I knew that I wasn’t choosing Santa over Jesus.  It is not an either or situation.  The Santa gig was a paying job and we are in need of the money.  Before I had driven very far, I called my friend Lynn and asked her how important Santa was to the party.  There are not going to be any children at the party, just adults.  I explained why I was asking and she said I should preach.  I quickly called Lee and told him that I will be able to preach on Saturday.
After church, there was a fellowship meal.  We have these fellowship meals nearly every month of the year.  Because Ella was working, I got two to-go boxes and took them to the clubhouse. 
Ella and I were able to have lunch together.  Then we had a meeting with Cutty’s Activity Committee.  This was the second meeting to plan events for the 2012 camping season.  We will have another in February to finalize the plans.  Cutty’s has  weekly activities throughout the camping season.  This year we will have several activities planned both before and after the ‘official’ camping season.
By the time the meeting was over, it was only an hour and half until Ella was off duty.  So, I just waited at the clubhouse.  While I was waiting, I watched a PPS special about Victor Borgia.