September 15 2011

           Brrrr!  45 degrees this morning!  Welcome to the middle of September feeling like the middle of October.

            To add to the solar heating capacity of our east-facing windows, I took down the screen room and rolled up the awning over the patio.  When Ella wakes, I’ll have her help fold the screen room canvas before putting it into storage.  The sun is so bright this morning that it should keep us plenty warm without running the furnace or heater.  Before going to bed last night, I turned on the electric fireplace/heater.  It was a comfortable 74 degrees when I checked the inside thermometer.  Now that the sun is shining in, I’ve turned the heater off again.

            The coffee is done perking and I’m ready for breakfast now.  So, insert a mental pause here.

            It is now close to 6 p.m. and I am back to the computer.  We skipped supper tonight because we went to Ryan’s Steak House for lunch.  Between 1 and 3 p.m. the buffet with drinks for two seniors comes to a little over $11.00.  It is such a great value that we try to go for lunch at least once a month. (And NO I am not paid to say that – I’d take pay – but no one is offering)

            We did more cleaning and tidying our patio area today.  It was a great day to be outside and working.  We also spent time visiting with some of our neighbors.  Dave & Grace will be heading south in another month so we spent quite a bit of the late morning and early afternoon visiting with them.  Later in the afternoon, Mark saw me out working on the patio and stopped by for a visit.  He was wondering if we were moving.  I explained that “yes & no” we were preparing to switch trailers but staying on the same spot. 

            Today we picked up the mail from our box.  We tend to forget about it for a week or so at a time.  Sometimes the mail box is pretty tightly crammed.  I have several large envelopes from the Social Security people.  I haven’t opened them yet but I know what they are because Ella has already received her packets earlier.  They are information about getting set up for Medicare.  The more I read about the various plans, the more confused I get.  Ella had checked with the pharmacy at Walgreens and found that we can schedule a time for a councilor to do a one on one explanation of the various plans.  This sounds really good.  However, we have had some many things screwed up by this branch of Walgreens that I would not trust their advice.  I may check into some of the other Walgreens in the area for this service.

            We did some shopping at Home Depot today also.  We purchased several buckets of Damp Rid to put in the two trailers.  Condensation is a real factor to be considered when wintering over in an RV in Iowa.  Moisture can build up from cooking and just from breathing in such a small sealed space; much more so than in a sticks and bricks home.

            Ella has been saving empty boxes from work at the club house and brought some of them home.  I will spend some time this evening packing away part of our Santa knick knacks.  I might as well get started on that now.

Pockets: the Beginning of Greed.

           Imagine a world without pockets.  Imagine a world without purses, wallets, bags, boxes or luggage!  Imagine not being able to take your ‘stuff’ with you!  Does the thought make you uncomfortable or does it make you liberated?

            Very early one morning this week, I woke with this strange thought in my head, “pockets are an invention of the Devil!”  You see, if a person has no pockets and they find an interesting stone.  They may stop and admire it.  They may pick it up and examine it more closely.  They may drop it back to where it was or toss it away.  If a person with pockets sees and interesting stone, they may also do all of those things.  However, they may also put it into their pocket.

            Once it is in their pocket, it becomes “theirs”.  That which was accessible to everyone now becomes property.  Property needs to be protected, defended, cared for, added to, and admired.  From the simple step of putting into a pocket, all kinds of potential sins can arise: greed, lust, hate and more.

            The Devil is often so subtle with his temptations.  Perhaps pockets are an invention of his.

Matthew 6:19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

September 14 2011 part two

            Men’s Bible study was interesting this morning.  A clip from the last few minutes of the movie “Death Becomes Her” was played.  This led us into a discussion of our thoughts and feelings on aging, dying, and eternal life.  After the meeting several of us stayed behind to set up tables and chairs for the Wednesday after school program, UP Kids.

            Ella was instrumental in starting the UP Kids program several years ago.  It was meet with lots of questions and some resistance when it was first purposed.  It started with just a hand full of elementary age kids.  It has now grown to twenty-five elementary and middle school kids.  The older group has named themselves Accidental Angels.  Our church bus goes to the various schools in the area and picks up the children who participate.  We have a waiting list from parents who want their kids to be part of the group.  However, at this point, transportation time and adult volunteers has forced this cap of twenty-five.

            L. and I spent most of the morning watching Disney Junior TV.  She and I would do some of the things along with Mickey Mouse and gang. 

            Just before lunch, Great-grandma decided it was necessary for us to go to Wal-Mart.  She claimed it was because we needed to pick up furniture polish and bedding supplies for the Hitch Hiker.  However, I knew it was to pick up the two pound bag of Werthers candy.  We also purchased a frozen pizza and a package of ice cream sandwiches.  The pizza was for lunch and the ice cream for after school snacks.

            Grandson B. got out of DMACC early because he had a test which he finished early and was free to go.  When it was time, he and I went to school to bring C. home.  Shortly thereafter, Ella and I came home and she is now at work.

            After nine this evening we will be getting together at Village Inn for pie with friends.