Bloggy Break

I am taking a break from blogging for the remainder of the year.  See you in 2018.

Happy New Year!

Thursday Nights This Fall

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I took a class at my church on Thursday nights this fall. The class, called "Engage Together," is offered by the Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice (AFRJ).

AFRJ's vision, as stated on its website:

End human trafficking and protect the vulnerable.

The class was eight weeks long. Our final session was dedicated to identifying how we will combat human trafficking in our local community. As defined by AFRJ, there are five areas that must be addressed simultaneously:

• Prevention
• Identification
• Rescue
• Restoration
• Reforms

Our ministry group came up with an idea for each of the five areas. We have a lot of work to do.

Before I took this class I really had no idea about the magnitude of human trafficking. (I had seen the movie "Taken," but that doesn't really qualify as an in-depth look at the subject!) I have been reading as much as I can handle (it's overwhelming) and I have watched a few documentaries.

I have yet to decide on my role in our church ministry group, but I know I will be involved somehow. There is a lot of work to do.

Dad 390: Lost, Found, Lost, Found

(Maybe men should carry purses. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Brutally cold right now. The experts tell us the next 8 to 10 days will be around 20° below normal. Our high today was around 17°. And it is also windy.

 

Had an interesting afternoon today.

 

Went to Rite Aid to pick up a prescription and some other stuff. Then I went to fill car with gas. Accomplished!

 

Then my world took a downward turn.

 

Walked into grocery store and checked for my debit card. Could not find it in any pocket. So I left my cart with shopping bags in store and walked back to car. Checked in Rite Aid bag and found nothing. Checked front seat and found card in beverage place. Back to store, loaded my cart, paid $109, and continued to car (17°). Nearing vehicle I looked for keys. Not to be found. Checked back in store and not found. Used store phone to call Lew to bring me a key from home. Then went and waited in the store until Lew arrived. Found keys that I had dropped beneath Rite Aid bag.

 

Very interesting afternoon. All is now well. All items found!

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Witty Cream Cheese

We had a lovely Christmas breakfast yesterday at Matt and Emily's house. Our assignment was to bring the bagels and cream cheese.

I called our local bagel establishment before church on Sunday and placed our order: a baker's dozen of bagels and the appropriate amount of plain cream cheese. The bagel shop recommended a full pound.

When Emily saw the cream cheese container she said, "Tracy, this isn't true...." 

Bless her.

Merry Christmas!

"The Holy Family"
(Willow Tree)

Christmas Eve Eve

After a night of snow and a morning of sleet, today was the perfect day to stay home.

I read a novel, Flags Out Front by Douglas Wilson.

I ellipticalized while starting to read said novel.

Lew and I worked on getting through my Christmas Movie Checklist. (After tonight we will have only one left — It's A Wonderful Life — which we will watch tomorrow.)

Dad made a Pat's Pizza run for supper, and I tried a new item (new for me, anyway): the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad pizza. It was delicious!

And now I am off to watch Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas!

Christmas Vacation, Day Two

On the second day of Christmas (vacation), my true love said to me:

Let's go out to breakfast,
then I'll get a haircut,
And after that we'll watch T.V. all day!

We went out to breakfast.
Lew got his haircut.
I did three loads of laundry. (Oops! That wasn't part of the song!)
Then we watched a couple shows on T.V.

A productive day!

😉

Wrapping Day

On this first day of my six-day Christmas vacation, Lew and I wrapped gifts.

Marilyn was a big help....

"Would you mind handing me some tape?"

We worked hard and long, but we finally finished....

The last gift. Phew!

And that's a wrap!

Dad 389: An Arrival In Illinois

(After his weekly weather report, Dad gets right to the point in his post today. Enjoy!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! Preparing for another small storm in a couple days that will have snow, freezing rain, and rain. Very messy. Then a prediction for snow on Christmas day. (Won't bother us. We are staying home.) Nice 40-degree day today!

For our family's excitement for the week, check yesterday's post on this blog.... BODE HAS ARRIVED!

Tune in next week for more!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

The Wait Is Over!

Yeah, Baby!

Still Waiting....

Niece Kelsey's due date started out as December 17th but then was revised to December 13th.

Both of those dates have now passed us by, and Bode has yet to make his grand entrance into the world.

Baby Bode, please come! I hear that your mom and dad are ready for you to be born. (Your mom is especially ready!)

I Saw Santa This Morning!

Lew and I had breakfast with Dick and Carole this morning.

As we were heading to our cars afterward I saw Santa Claus!

Santa drove by us in a red convertible. 

How do I know it was a convertible? 

The top was down!

It has been rather cold here, so I was somewhat surprised to see Santa driving in the open air.

But now that I've had a chance to think about it, I guess it really does make sense. 

After all, he does ride out in the open on his sleigh on Christmas Eve.

I can hardly believe it! I saw Santa Claus!

Christmas Movies Checklist

This post is a hint to my husband.  😉

There are some movies I'd like to watch before Christmas. I haven't seen any of these for a few years, and I think it would be fun to revisit them.

▢ National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  We used to watch this every year. There are so many funny scenes!

▢ Christmas With the Kranks.  This movie is based on the book Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. Maybe I'll re-read the book in addition to watching the movie.

▢ Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. I love the music, the story, the music, the characters, the music....

▢ It's A Wonderful Life.  This is probably my favorite movie ever. I really want to take the time to watch it this year.

Dad 388: Still Waiting

(Mom's new bed came last week, but Dad has another arrival on his mind. Enjoy his post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! After a couple snowstorms we have none coming until next week. The ski hills are going strong and we will definitely have a white Christmas! Temperatures are now real cold and it looks like they will be very cold for the next week or so.

Not a whole lot going on around here right now. We are waiting for news on the arrival of Bode. He will be our first great-grandchild. Due date is today. Kelsey is always a little late but we are wishing she will be close to the due time. Hope you will hear of this event within the week. Stay tuned.

Good news! March is only two and a half months away!

Enough for now. Sooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Secret Santa Sweets

Today was our Secret Santa gift exchange at work. Not only do we each secretly surprise a co-worker with a present, we also bring in sweets to share.

The goodies were all put out in the morning, and we feasted on them for the whole day. My office-mate got a bellyache, and I'm pretty sure I was on a sugar high for most of the afternoon.

At the end of the day, the leftover goodies were brought into our office. (I believe I have written in a prior post that our office is "where food comes to die.")

So tomorrow we will continue stuffing our faces, undoubtedly experiencing more bellyaches and sugar highs.

I can hardly wait!

Our Wall of Fruit

We just purchased a piece of artwork done by a friend of ours. Lew put it up on our dining room wall today. It is the first thing you see when you walk in our house.

Such a wonderful reminder. I love it!

(See Galatians 5:22-23.)

Lew's Logbook: Modern Medicine

(Lew writes today. Interesting!  ~  Tracy)

Modern medicine is quite amazing. Insurance mess aside, the procedures for injury repair keep getting better.  

A friend of mine ripped a muscle in his knee. It tore completely off his femur. A very serious and debilitating injury.  

I spent some time with him this week and he explained to me what they had to do to make a repair. First they had to grind a groove in the femur; this was to create a place where they could reattach the muscle. Then the muscle was wired into the groove. 

The leg needs to stay straight for four-to-six weeks after the surgery, and then a slow regimen of physical therapy begins. Eventually bone will grow, filling the groove, further securing the wiring job. In time he will regain as much as 90% of his knee's strength and use.  

Amazing!

Our Double-Date

Lew picked me up at work around 2:45 this afternoon so we could meet up with our breakfast buddies, Dick and Carole.

We went to see "Murder on the Orient Express" at a lovely movie theater that has wonderful seats that recline. Those seats are so comfortable you could take a nap in them! But I didn't fall asleep because I was interested in the movie... plus, I'd already had my annual nap earlier this week.

After the movie we went out to eat. Lew and I got meals that were so large that we both brought home enough for tomorrow night's dinner. Yummy!

The four of us decided that we should have a movie/dinner outing at least once a quarter. Now we are just hoping there will be movies coming out that all of us will want to see!

Dad 387: Awaiting Bed

(I got home late again tonight, but the blog must go on. Enjoy Dad's post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! The days of winter seem to be coming our way now. Perhaps some snow this weekend and next Wednesday. Spring is only a few months away. I'm already ready for Spring.

Busy day this Friday. Eye appointment at 8:30AM in Portland with my glaucoma doctor. Even at a new location. Possibly dilating my eyes. Possibly taking a field test. Then it is off to the doctor's office in Westbrook at 1:45PM for Spouse's appointment (every four weeks).

Ordered a new bed for Spouse last week that raises legs, raises head, and goes up and down. Would have received it yesterday if I had checked my phone for messages. Finally checked and it will be delivered tomorrow. Hope to get it set up tomorrow. Told it takes about one hour. Hope to accomplish the task in three hours. May even use the directions!

Tune in next week for an update. Hope the bed will be functioning then. Sooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

My Annual Nap

Today was my annual "woman checkup."

In the past I have waited several minutes for the doctor to come into the examination room. I got in the habit of pulling out the footrest, putting my feet up, and taking a little catnap while waiting.

Today was no exception.

When the doctor came in, I told her she was interrupting my nap. She laughed and commented on how many of her patients cherish those few minutes of peace and quiet. It really is an opportunity to slow down and catch one's breath.

Hey, Doctor S. — I'll see you next year! And I am already looking forward to my nap!

Toasty!

We purchased a new vehicle for me back in April. My favorite feature has been the blind-spot indicator in my side-view mirrors.

I now have another favorite feature: the heated seats! (It's okay to have two favorites, right?)

Lew's Logbook: Moving Leaves

(Lew writes today. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

I had a leaf blower but now I don’t and I don’t know what happened to it. So last Thursday I went out to move leaves away from the porch and garage. I used a rake and broom to pile them on a tarp and then dragged the tarp into the woods.

Things looked pretty good when I finished, but later in the afternoon Mother Nature’s leaf blower came to life. The wind picked up and was blowing pretty hard for a couple of hours. Guess where all the leaves went? It was almost as if I hadn’t done anything at all. (I did enjoy the exercise, fresh air, and sunshine.)

Later that evening, I ordered a leaf blower from Amazon, It should arrive tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll get another nice day next week and I can attack those leaves again.

I’m not complaining. I’d much rather move leaves than snow.

December Baseball

One of the radio stations Lew and I listen to does a terrible job reporting on sports news.

Today the reporter said that the Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox are all off today.

I don't really follow the Celtics and Bruins, but I was glad to learn the Red Sox wouldn't be playing. Otherwise, I might have tried to find their game on TV tonight.

😉