Sunday, November 5, 2000

I was tired last nite so it was "early to bed & early to rise" & the house is quiet & I'm set for church except to get into my dress.

Got my Thanksgiving cards for "the sisters" & started writing notes.  4 on Carl's side & 2 on my side.

Kim is afraid the teachers will strike & to make up the days they will lose all their holidays & she doesn't like that.  I hope they ca work it out.  In my memory there has been at least one strike.

On Halloween 2 interesting things happened.  I cleaned the bathroom on Tues. & keep my bucket on the attic stairs.  When I went to fill the bucket there was another bat.  I dropped everything, closed the door & quit working.  No one was home so when Dale came for lunch he took care of it.

Just before lunch the doorbell rang (I was glad I had showered & was presentable) & when I answered there were 3 persons in costume & I only expected 2 so for a minute I was at a loss for words.  It was Sheila & Sue with Sue's boyfriend. (Don't know what happened to her husband.)   Their get up was so good.  Barb took pictures so yesterday when I walked over town I gave them each a picture.  They came out so good & clear.  It was the last picture on the film & that aft. we went to the Mall & she dropped them at KMart & they were ready on Fri.  The pictures at the Dam came out so clear & nice.  She only wished a couple were closer up but she wanted the background.  She plans to send some.  She, meaning Barb.

Yesterday I went into D&K to get some Christmas wrapping.  This one clerk recognizes me & I said I wanted wrap so when my soon comes at Thanksgiving they can take some gifts back.  She wondered if there were grandchildren & when I said yes, she said we have some nice clothes for children, trying to be helpful.  I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I said I'll look next time I'm in.  But I can't imagine Andy wanting anything from D&K to wear.  Or Eddie, either.

Saw Mrs. Africa recently & she raved about the driveway.  Thinks it's wonderful.

Now it's afternoon & I'm watching golf on TV.

Yesterday I had a turkey roast so today we're having left overs.  Easy meal.

Yesterday Dale went to Frewsburg to see his friend & on the way he got a flat tire.  On the El Camino.  He changed the tire himself.  Today he cleaned it up & back to the garage it goes.  So he'll drive the Blazer.  He'll get new tires..

The refrig. in the basement won't work so Dale plans to get rid of it.  In its place he'll put a new set of shelves he bought.  We have an attic & a basement & still the space is filled.  Lots of junk.

This aft. Kim was going to tag several Christmas trees.  She'll tag one of us so we'll have a real tree again.  Plan to put in the area by the L.R. mirror.  Reason:  when it was by the stairs I couldn't sit & watch TV & see the tree at the same tie.  Now when I sit in my chair I can see both.  Just have to move the rocking chair.  I like to see the lights.

Upstairs Barb is clapping so Buff must be doing OK.  Now it's a tie & overtime.  They won.

Warren Hollertz called last week.  The group will get together Mon. Nov 20 at noon.  Someplace outside of Youngsville & they'll pick me up.  They had visited their son in Hartford & just came home from a visit in Ohio to their middle daughter.  They get around.  He said their anniversary was great.  Will be nice to see everyone again.

We still plan to go to Erie next Fri.  On Sat. I'll get a permanent.  I really need one -- my hair is getting long & straggly.

Just had a nice visit with Gen on the telephone.  It was my turn to call.  Ed answered the phone & he wondered about the Mets.  He always has to tease me.  But I got him back telling him the Mets did better than Boston by reading the World Series.

We're suppose to have showers in Tues.  Hope they aren't bad ones.  I like to vote in the A.M. & walk to Calvary Baptist church to vote.  Then at 4 I see the Dr.

Guess I've covered all the news here.  Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving.

Friday, July 28, 2000

Your letter arrived yesterday & when I was reading the part ab out Boxer & your dramatic outburst, Paul, I started laughing.  Why, because I knew you could never leave your fine family.  But you shouldn't scare the boys like that.

Kim speaks of making a rice salad for a meal.  So I checked my recipe books & found a recipe for chicken-rice salad as I served a cool meal last nite.  It was good & they all like it.

Dale starts a week's vacation on Sat.  The weather reports say showers are possible every day next week.  Time will tell.  Dale hasn't had time to transfer the old dresser drawers to the new drawers.  When he gets that finished he'll put the l dresser in the attic for storage of his extra stuff.  In preparation he had to make room in the attic & so he had to clean it up a bit.  In the winter & the wind blows, the door would rattle & it would bother Barb so she put a pair of old jeans on the bottom to stop the noise.  All along I thot they were there to cover the floor & keep the draft out.  Anyway Dale decided to shake the dust out & lo & behold there was a dead bat.  I'm glad the jeans were there otherwise the bat would have gotten in the house.

Dale also plans to have his eyes examined.  The cost is included in his health insurance from work. He'll also  lay in the sun if it is out.

Now it's Sat. July 29.

Got a birthday card & note ready for Ruth's birthday Aug. 3rd.  DOn't hear much from her but then I don't write too often either.

I'm doing a lot more reading now that the library opens at 9 AM weekdays.  Can return books on Fri & get new one.  Saw in USA Today a review of a book by Kathy Reichs.  Her novels are similar to Patricia Cornwell only they are set in Canada.  Deadly Decision.  Forensics experts -- her Dr. is Dr. Temperance "Tempe" Brennan -- "such bloody-good beach reading" to quote the article.  I'll have to look as this isn't her first novel.  3 other books so maybe I can find one of them.

Sun. the 30th.

Roger Thelin preached today & John Check was liturgist.  Both do a fine job.  Roger is really a good preacher for a layman.

Kim is friends with a lady who goes to St. John's.  The 3 Luth. churches have a joint picnic in Aug. among other things.  This person said they are doing this as St. John's isn't growing & neither is St. Paul.  But I'm sure it will be a long time before St. Paul wants to be "Swallowed up" by First Luth.  I don't go to the picnics but she said our pastor doesn't mingle at all.  And that is true & he doesn't like to make calls for new members.  He talks of retirement & I sure hope our next pastor will have more going for him in a lot of way. The church in Kane has a new woman pastor & they really like her.

It seems to me that George was cremated & Signe will be as well.

Just finished talking to Ruth.  I will send a card to Carolyn & a check for a memorial.  We had a long talk & she asked if I'd heard about Joan.  She had mentioned it to me in a letter.  Allan has already remarried.  Someone in the congregation.  Joan found a note this woman had written in which she wrote "I love you."  The youngest daughter stayed with Allan & the older daughter isn't very nice to Joan.  The son had a heart attack a month or so ago, but he is back to work.  Ruth said when they visited them when they were in N. or  S. Carolina -- even then Allan acted funny & Joan was upset.  At least now Joan has control of the money she earns.  I hope she can find some happiness.

Tues. Aug 1 (already)

Have to write a note to Carolyn & send a card & check.  Forgot to do it yesterday.

Dale has showery weather for a vacation.  He wants to lay in the sun.  Meanwhile he has other jobs to keep him busy.