The Age of Tracy

I just watched President Trump nominate Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court of the United States.

I just learned that Neil Gorsuch is 49 years old.

I just realized that for the first time in my life there may be a Supreme Court Justice younger than I am.

I just admitted to Lew that I am indeed getting old.

HOW did this happen?!  (The getting old part, not the nomination....)

Smile!  😊

The 8th Commandment

I believe that a lie is told when you intentionally attempt to deceive someone by making a false statement.

Am I lying if I unknowingly make a false statement because I believe that statement is true? When this happens to me, I usually apologize for misspeaking.

But what if my misunderstanding of something is a result of negligence on my part? Perhaps I didn't put enough effort into getting the facts straight. If I share any misinformation in this case, then I must be culpable of something, yes?

Anyway, these are the questions I ask myself sometimes!

The definition of lying came up just last week at work. A couple of my female colleagues and I were discussing the information listed on our licenses. 

I can look anyone in the eye and admit that the weight listed on my driver's license is understated by many, many pounds. I do not feel guilty about this at all. But am I lying?

I will leave that answer up to you, my readers. And while you ponder this important question tonight, I will be sleeping soundly!

Lew's Logbook: New Church

(Lew writes today!  ~  Tracy)

The brother of a long-time dear friend is the general contractor for a new church building that is under construction in South Portland. Taking advantage of the relationship, I asked if I could get a tour of the project.

I believe I am safe in saying there has never been a church building of this size and scope in Maine. This building will have a 1,500- to 1,600-seat sanctuary, an indoor soccer field, a full-size basketball court, a very large children’s indoor play area with top of the line equipment, and a hospitality/food area. Add to all of this offices, A/V rooms, storage areas, and locker rooms. This place is huge!

The thinking behind all of this is to have a church building that is a seven-day-a-week facility which doubles as a community center. Maine is well outside the Bible Belt, so to see something of this size being built here is very exciting.

God is always at work.

A Bad Poem About A Good Dinner

After work today, Lew and I went to "the Mall area" (our term for going anywhere near the Maine Mall).

We stopped at one store to look for something we didn't find.

Then we decided to get dinner somewhere.

We tried one of the steak places first. The wait was 15-25 minutes.  We were too hungry to wait, so we left.

After a brief discussion, we ended up where I had originally contemplated going for dinner. I have composed a poem about it:

It was a 0-minute wait.
The food was great.
And what is the shop?
It's name is IHOP!

Talking and Training and Talking....

I have a new work colleague! She started yesterday.

 

Because she is taking on some of my responsibilities (I'm getting some new ones!), I have been the one working most closely with her these first couple days. She learns quickly and is doing great. :)

 

As for me, I am really exhausted! I feel like I have been talking non-stop for two days.... I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday.

 

Smile!

Dad 342: Doctor, Doctor

(I had a long day at work, so I'm glad Dad was scheduled to write today. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the Northeast. Temperature in the 40s. Yesterday was a "no school" day around here due to very little snow (didn't plow) but lots of ice and sleet. Today cleared up nicely after not so great a morning.

 

New England is a happy place since Sunday's Patriots-Steelers game. Now if they can slow down a very good Atlanta offense. Must admit it will be a tough task. So – GO PATS! More about records in this Super Bowl next week.

 

Tomorrow I must go back to my foot doctor. He thought I might have an infection in one foot last week during my six-week check-up. Been on antibiotics for a week. Hope all is well because next Tuesday afternoon I have my left eye cataracts removed. If all goes well my right eye will have the same operation a month later. Looking forward to completing the operations. Also hope to improve my vision close to 20/20. Stay tuned.

 

Well, Lew received his 35-pound snowblower today. He ordered it yesterday. I hope he has no use for it the rest of the year. He doesn't like to shovel!

 

That's it.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Sanctity of Human Life

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday could be recognized on either January 15th or January 22nd this year (it's usually the third Sunday in January). Our church chose to recognize it on the 22nd, the 44th anniversary of the fateful Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade.

Because of my involvement with our local crisis pregnancy center, I was asked to give a short talk toward the beginning of the service. By "short" my pastor meant 10 minutes! Fortunately I was asked ahead of time, so I was able to prepare.

I was quite nervous on Sunday morning, but when I started to speak I felt a great peace.... God's peace!

My talk was well-received by my church family. They particularly liked that I ended with a one-page excerpt from Dr. Seuss' classic, Horton Hears a Who. Horton is carrying the speck of dust on a clover, and his jungle-mates are becoming aware of what he's up to:

Through the high jungle tree tops, the news quickly spread:
"He talks to a dust speck! He's out of his head!
Just look at him walk with that speck on that flower!"
And Horton walked, worrying, almost an hour.
"Should I put this speck down?..." Horton thought with alarm.
"If I do, these small persons may come to great harm.
I can't put it down. And I won't! After all
A person's a person. No matter how small."

If there is a life-affirming crisis pregnancy center in your area, I encourage you to support it with your prayers and financial gifts. Thank you!

Tracy's Tax Tip

I believe I saw that the IRS is now processing 2016 income tax returns.

Once I have all of our information, I will be filing our return. I have already purchased my tax preparation software.

I am not counting on receiving refunds. Although we usually do receive federal and state refunds, these are never part of my mental budgeting process.

Over the past few weeks, I have talked with several people who said they are going to pay off certain obligations when they get their taxes back.

Huh?

What if they end up having to pay in? Sometimes there are surprises, unless someone is a tax planning guru.

My advice is to file early in case you have to come up with some cash by April 15th.  And if you end up with refunds, then you'll get your money back that much sooner.

Best wishes.

Lew's Logbook: Grandkids at Home

(Enjoy Lew's post! ~ Tracy, a.k.a. "Tia")

I’ve always heard that there are great advantages to being a grandparent because you get to enjoy the grandkids and then go home.

Today was a classic example.

Tia and I stopped by to see Matt, Em and the boys and were greeted with big hugs and smiles. Adam wanted Tia to play in his room with him and Eli sat with me on the couch. More playing and more conversation and then we had to be on our way.

As we got ready to leave, Adam and Eli began to pound on each other. Eli would push Adam and Adam would punch Eli and Eli would laugh. That would make Adam angry and he would punch more and Eli would push back and laugh and then Adam would do the angry crying thing. Mom and dad were trying to reign them in and there was chaos.

The whole event was so reminiscent of my childhood with my brother. I must admit, I was chuckling as we walked out the door.

Inauguration Day

I wanted to post the following on Facebook shortly after noon today, but Lew wouldn't let me. (LOL!)

 

But I'll say it here....

 

We made it!

 

God Bless America!

A Beautiful Morning Ride

Lew chauffeured me to work this morning.

As we rode along, I enjoyed viewing the winter wonderland!

Dad 341: An Eye and An Eye

(Dad's calendar is filling up. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Dealing with a 24-hour snow day. Still snowflakes falling. We are lucky the accumulation has not been too great. Maybe about five inches. Did plow once today and hope to clean up tomorrow.

 

Josh has gone back to Maine Maritime. Probably won't see him too much for the next year as he travels aboard the ship this summer for about three months. Will go to Italy, Spain and various other places.

 

Now know when I'll have my cataracts removed. The left eye will be done on January 31. The right eye will be done on February 28. Hoping to get vision up close to 20/20. We'll see how it goes.

 

The only other thing I'll say today is: GO PATS!! Soooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

OHIO

I love to stay organized. When I get something I need to act on (like a bill), I try to take care of it right away.

But — alas — it's not always possible to stay caught up.

My desk at home has been covered with paperwork for the past two or three weeks. But over the weekend I made a great dent in the piles. And last night I finished clearing the desk off!

So I am now going to stay caught up as I go. A friend told me this is the "OHIO" method.

Only Handle It Once.

Smile!

My Take on the Patriots Game

The New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans on Saturday night, 34-16.

The final score was not indicative of the nerve-wrackiness of the game. My reaction when it was over consisted of one word: "Phew!"

Later I told Lew how the result really should be portrayed:

Patriots, 34
Dumb stuff by the Patriots, 16

Please, Tom and company, do not do any dumb stuff while playing the Steelers this Sunday!

My nerves can't take it.

Lew's Logbook: Cat in the Lap

(Lew writes today. We love our kitties! ~ Tracy)

Cats really know how to relax.

If you have cats you know how often you have looked at them stretched out on some nice soft spot and thought “I wish I could relax like that.”

These fur balls also have a way of making us sit or lounge a little longer than we normally would when they get all comfy right up next to us.

We were having company for dinner tonight and I needed to get up and start cooking, but Jerry had other ideas.

Yes, I got up and did what I needed to do. But it wasn’t easy.

Weekend Plans

Lew and I have a couple social events planned for tomorrow. In the morning we are meeting up with our breakfast buddies. In the evening our neighbors are coming over for a spaghetti dinner.

On Sunday I am teaching children's church. The lesson is called "The Angel's Message." It is based on Luke 1:26-38,46-56. (I guess we aren't quite out of the Christmas theme yet!)

Laundry and other household chores are also on tap for the weekend.

Oh... and I plan on watching the Patriots WIN tomorrow night.... Did you hear me, Mr. Brady? Please don't let me down!

H2O... Go, Go, Go!

I spent the first 11 days of the year drinking mostly hot chocolate, chai latte tea, and sweet tea.

But on this 12th day of 2017 I began to drink more water.

Not only is water the best thirst quencher, it is also an excellent exercise motivator. I walked from my desk to the restroom several times today!

Dad 340: New Footwear

(I got a new hat today! A coworker made it. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another beautiful day here in the Northeast. We made it into the 50s today. Shirtsleeve weather. No storm predicted as we get halfway through January. We can handle that!

 

Well, our Christmas visitors have returned to their homes and are up to speed on their work at their chosen tasks.

 

I should add that I have received new boots and sneakers as my 30-year-old ones have now gone to the dump. I am happy to get rid of them and am back in style.

 

Tomorrow I go to my glaucoma doctor. Hopefully I'll get set up to operate on my cataracts. Spouse did hers a year ago. The results were very good. Hope mine are as good. Will keep you posted.

 

GO PATS!!

 

Done for today!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Starting the Day Over

Today I decided to wear a long winter coat that I've had for almost 30 years. (It's in wonderful condition and I got lots of compliments on it.) I made this decision right before leaving for work.

There were no gloves in the coat pockets, so I had to grab some out of the drawer. I then changed my mind about what scarf to wear, so I needed to run back upstairs to get the one I wanted.

It was pandemonium, but I finally made it out the door.

When I got to work I started my "I-just-got-to-work" routine. This consists of (among other things) taking my cell phone and my computer glasses out of my purse. I got the cell phone out and put it on its little stand. I got my computer glasses out....

Uh, wait....

I did not get the computer glasses out because I had left them at home. Bummer.

I tried to work on my computer anyway, but I made a silly mistake on the first thing I did. Fortunately it was not a crucial error.

Then I tried to change the details of a journal entry before I even made the journal entry. (Don't ask.)

Suffice it to say, I was very disoriented without the computer glasses.

After 30 minutes of suffering, I realized what I had to do. Fortunately my work and my home are not too far apart.

I've learned my lesson: Glasses before coats, gloves, and scarfs!

Reading The Book

I am reading through the Bible again this year. My sister Kim and I are both following a plan that is based on five days a week, which I like because it allows for some flexibility. I could tell you more, but Tim Challies (one of my favorite bloggers) has already written about it. Here's the link to his post: 

My Favorite Bible-Reading Plan for 2017.

I am also reading a wonderful book called Voices From The Past - Puritan Devotional Readings (edited by Richard Rushing). Granted I'm only nine days into it, but I highly recommend it if you're looking for a challenging devotional. 

So there you go... a couple ideas for 2017 if you are so inclined. It's not too late to get started!

Lew's Logbook: Dark Period

(Lew writes today. I can totally relate, except for the fishing! ~ Tracy)

The dark period is coming.... That is the time between the Super Bowl and March Madness.

It is the toughest part of the winter for me.

I have threatened to take up ice fishing again to help me get through this time, but it has not happened yet.

I’m looking out the window now and it is snowing. Blahhhh!

Still, God is good. 😊

Bakery Treats!

Tuesday night — while Kim and Joe were still here — Lew was describing the delectable goodies available at The Baker's Bench in Westbrook. He is especially fond of the creme horns.

Lew did such a wonderful job that Glen asked, "Are they open right now? Let's go!" Sorry, Glen, they close at 5:30pm (4:00pm on Saturdays).

I got the following text from Lew while I was at work today:

I told him there had better be a creme horn waiting for me! He assured me there was.

But imagine my delight when I was presented with this for dessert tonight:

Yes, I got part of a creme horn.  But the Chocolate Mousse Bomb is the best!  Yum.... Thank you, Lew!

Lew also made a creme horn delivery to Glen's house — enough of a delivery so Glen could share with Debbie, Josh, and Zack.

As for Kim and Joe? Well, they went home yesterday, so they missed out. But I think that maybe, just maybe, we could track down some creme horns during their next visit!

The Return to Normal

Kim and Joe left today, so our household occupancy is back to its normal state of four adults, two cats.

Now I must get back into a routine. By that, I mean I must start exercising again. (Ha ha!)

I also need to move on to the next phase of my tidying project.  I had taken a bit of a break in anticipation of household guests.

But first on my agenda:  Sleep!

Dad 339: Both Family and Time Fly

(We've had great family time these past several days. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! A very nice winter day indeed! Temperature reached mid-40s and the sun even shone bright in the sky. Oh, if this would only last another few weeks. It won't, though!

 

Well, the holiday season is winding down for us. Granddaughter Kaelen flew back to Chicago yesterday. Left Portland around noon to D.C. Then from D.C. to Chicago after a very short layover. Luckily the gates for her transfer in D.C. were right beside each other. Home early evening – back to work today.

 

Joe is about to return from his fourth visit to see his parents (George and Jackie) in Randolph, Maine.

 

It is tomorrow around noon that Joe and Kim will board the flying machine for their journey to Peoria, Illinois via Charlotte, South Carolina. Then home to Eureka, Illinois. Hope to be home before the following day.

 

Still have grandson Josh home for another two weeks from Maine Maritime. That's good. And of course we have grandson Zack in his sophomore year of high school. How time flies by when family is around!

 

Happy to see them – sad to see them leave! Spouse agrees!

 

One last comment. Enjoyed great meals, including Deb's five-pound meatloaf. Good use of Tracy and Lew's dining room.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

First Lunch

We had a big family gathering at our house for lunch on New Year's Day.

The main item on the menu was make-your-own Italian sandwiches.

Score one for Adam's sandwich!

Eli and Adam enjoyed drinking milk out of cups made of chocolate. (I wish I could take credit for the cups, but I can't.... Debbie made them.)

It was a wonderful way to start the new year!