Regrouping

Lew and I are truly blessed.  We are fortunate that I will be able to take some time to determine what my next step will be career-wise.  "Career" may be too strong a word!  Perhaps I should say "income-generating venture."

I was busy doing some necessary errands yesterday.  Today I took the opportunity to relax.  I may have even dozed off a little bit this afternoon.  I am rarely able to do that, as I'm not very good at napping!  So I must have really needed the rest.

Tomorrow will be "Day 1" of my new adventure.  Or at least it will represent the beginning of the planning phase.

Stay tuned!

Dad: Unedited XIII

(As I type in my Dad's post, I try to think of a good introduction.  For this one, I was going to address the number of phone calls and neighbors.  But now I've got nothing!  Enjoy.  -- Tracy)

Hi Ho Folks!  Derf here!

I'm sitting here watching the Texas Rangers beat up on the Tampa Bay Rays and listening to the wind and heavy rain as the weather pattern seems to have certainly changed to a fall-ish fiasco.  I'm not fond of what the weather is currently and especially what lies before us in the next few months.  Yuck!  Time to put the plow on.

Since "Mainely Tracy" posted Monday, my phone has been ringing off the hook as people are asking me about the "bloody sock."  Well, it happened this way....

Every Monday is trash day and I have my routine.  I must get a trash bag from the back stairs that lead to the second floor.  I opened the door and placed my foot on the bottom step.  My foot slipped.  I then banged against the opened door, slamming it into the door jamb of the bedroom.  Unfortunately on the door was a framed "Riding High" poster with a glass front.  A loud crash occurred causing the frame to crash to the floor.

In a moment several neighbors came running to see what had happened.  That's when I noticed my slipper had come off and my left foot was bloody on the outside of the ankle bone.  I still can't figure out how the cut was there as this was the furthest place from the crash.  I guess glass pieces travel in strange ways.

Subsequently I cleared the house of all the neighbors and cleared up the area, using the vacuum.

Then to the foot.  After getting blood all over the floor, we (spouse and Tracy) managed to get a bandage on the cut.  I had several comments that it needed stitches.  Being stubborn I didn't listen and toughed it out.

Upon putting on a sock, the blood seeped through and reminded us of the "Curt Schilling incident."  At that time I realized I'd never pitch in the World Series!

I now have a double band-aid on the cut with a neosporin base.  It looks as though survival is certain.

Before closing I must 'fess us.  I only received one phone call and the only neighbor that showed up was Tracy (same building).

We (spouse and I) are planning on a trip to Illinois next week and I hope to get my usual Wednesday blog done via e-mail.  This will require extensive help from others.

Until then.

Toodle Pip!  Derf.

Happy Days Are Here Again!

If you've read between the lines of some of my blog posts, you may have figured out that my job is not what makes me tick.  But I did enjoy it for the most part.

Yes...that is did.

Things have been unsettling for me at work recently. So, the resignation letter has been written and printed.  All 5 copies.  Make that 6 copies -- one for my own files.

And although I did shed some (well, quite a few) tears, I know that God has a plan for me.  Even at my age!

So, I am actually quite happy tonight.

Thanks, God.  I really like the day you made today.

(Postscript:  Super Model career, here I come!)

Another Bloody Sock

In the 2004 American League Championship series, Curt Schilling basically had his ankle stapled together in order to pitch in game 6 against the New York Yankees.  The blood seeped through his sock, and the TV cameras LOVED it.

The Red Sox went on to win that series in seven games.  They then won the World Series in four straight.  Curt Schilling pitched game 2......once again wearing a bloody sock.

While I was eating my breakfast this morning, I heard noises from my parents' apartment that I should not have been hearing.  Without going into great detail, I will tell you that the result of all the commotion was another bloody sock.

Dad likened himself to Curt Schilling.

I told Dad not to expect to pitch in the World Series!

Where? What? How?

For the first point of his sermon this morning, PD (our pastor) encouraged us to ask God the following three questions:

Where are YOU?
What are YOU doing?
How can I help?

I've wondered many times over the years if I'm where I'm "supposed" to be.  Then I remember that God is always present, so He's with me wherever I am.  As is often said, God does work in mysterious ways.  He presents opportunities in what may appear (to us) to be the craziest of places!  (PD mentioned an occasion where he shared the truth of God's faithfulness while he was standing around at a hockey rink.)

For a truly inspiring account of what can happen when we are willing to ask God the above questions (and follow where the answers lead us), please click on the link that I've called "suzy's testimony" on the right-hand side of my blog.  I "lifted" it from the blog that Suzy and her husband use to keep the world updated on her cancer.  So, perhaps you have read it already.

Read it again!

Pumpkin Muffins -- YUM!

Each fall our Saturday breakfast joint adds "pumpkin" to its list of muffin choices.

About a week and a half ago, our waitress announced (via Facebook) that pumpkin muffin season had finally arrived!  I was SO excited that I made it my Facebook status, and I wrote to her that my muffin choice will be PUMPKIN until further notice.  (She knew it would be!)

So, imagine my horror when I arrived last Saturday only to learn that the pumpkin muffins had gone fast that day.  I then found out, however, that my INCREDIBLE waitress had set one aside......for ME!

I love her.

Today there seemed to be plenty of pumpkin muffins to go around.  But I will always remember the one that was saved just for me.  (Smile.....)

Gearing Up

Yikes!  It's October 1st, so we are now in the last quarter of 2010.  And I have a lot to try to accomplish before the end of the year.

I have a pretty extensive "To Do" list for my position as church treasurer.

Our choir is going away in a couple weekends to do two concerts "up North."

Lew and I are going to participate in the ABBA walk.  (More about that in a later post.)

We usually host the family Thanksgiving Dinner.  (I coordinate who is bringing what.)

And before you know it, Christmas will be here.  (More lists!)

Not to mention working full time.....

This is all very do-able.  It's good to be busy -- although sometimes I do need to yell "Yikes!"