Thursday TOTH and BOTH

[helia]

Restaurant has closed their rooftop seating due to the weather. However, everything has been moved inside (much better!) except for the largest ensembles - the jazz band and a brass quintet.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone. I have had a week from Hades. Here is how it went:
Last Thursday: DD11 gets diagnosis of autism.
Friday: Finished crocheted jacket, need to block it. Did some chores around the house. Not a bad day.
Saturday: Very late to cat adoption clinic, I think other worker was PO'd. Knit/crochet group went ok. DD came over.
Sunday: Toured a restaurant kitchen with DD's girl scout troop, ate there, tasty. Went by a multi-animal org yard sale. I got a gas grill and an office chair for $5!!! That was good, but while we were there, DD told me that XDH and the other woman are getting married in AL when she goes to Camp Granny. (I think they are getting married there because they know that a lot of our mutual friends will not be comfortable coming to their wedding or skipping it, they just can't win).
Monday: Bought propane and a regulator for the new grill and some groceries. Had newest foster kitten tested (healthy) and another foster vaccinated. Ended up with a migraine later.
Tuesday: 5th grade promotion ceremony. DD was allowed to participate even though she is staying. After that, her class was allowed to leave early, so I took her home. We watched videos, played Legos, played with kittens, other stuff. Again, not a bad day, kind of boring though.
Yesterday: This was supposed to be a great fun day. DD's girl scout group planned an indoor trampoline place followed by dinner. Had a grand time until DD broke her leg. We ended up in the ER with no dinner. Another migraine. This time it took 2 pills to help, it almost never takes 2. The only good thing that happened is that Destiny (newest foster kitten) decided that she would allow me to pet her without running away.
Today: I have art class tonight. Am I prepared? No. Do I have everything I need in my car? Maybe. I also have a list of things a mile long to do. I was planning on taking DD to the amusement park this Sunday. Not happening now. Right now, I need to set up a volunteer schedule, so that is what I will do. See you later.

[Lilac]

(((Elizabeth and Elizabeth's dd))) I actually gasped out loud when I read of the broken leg. I am so sorry than happened to her.

I have called S taples and I'm waiting for a return call.

[Sunny]

We've had a bright sunny day here; high was 88* with a light breeze and not a cloud in the sky! Sorry to hear the OKay's have had more hail! I had forgotten the fact that ddil#1 has a dbro and dsil living in Okla. City, but she has said that they are all right.

Nice to see that MT and dh are home again, and that Kathryn has heard from Ken! Lilac, hope you get your computer fixed soon.

Dh had a dr. apt. this morning and while he was gone I did my mid-week routine. When he came home we took a quick ride downtown to pay a utility bill.

I've never really timed my chores, but just work until whatever I have set out to do is done. I have certain things I do every day and mostly at the same times, then in between and after main things are done I look for extra tasks.

Ddil#1 had called yesterday to say they bought dgs9 and dgs7 bunk beds from IKEA and wanted to know if we had room to keep the one headboard from one of their twin beds. She was supposed to bring it this afternoon, but texted me that they could come tomorrow instead. However, we did get to see ds#2 as he stopped on his way home from work to mow the grass and edge the front lawn. We keep telling him we can do this, but he keeps saying "That's ok, I'll do it". So it was nice to see him!

Our church uses the screen in front for words to hymns and bible readings. They use mostly songs from the hymnal, the old favorites we all know. I like using the books to see the notes, too. I imagine the view from the front that the pastor and choir sees of the congregation is different when everyone is looking up at the screen instead of having their faces buried in a hymnal not looking up!

I think there was more I wanted to comment on --- but can't remember what it was.

Supper is over and kitchen cleaned up again. I'm going to put my feet up and read for a while.

(((Elizabeth))), your post popped up when I hit submit. I also gasped when I read your (((dd))) broke her leg. I'm so sorry. I hope she heals quickly without any problems.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I've been checking email compulsively and just got this from dh.

We have been in Cuzco for a half-day, at 3200m altitude. I felt challenged only once, and then decided to take the rest of the day very easy. I slept deeply when I napped.

We had a big lunch: Alpaca hamburger and potatoes.

We are thinking of skipping eating for dinner, just getting another cup of coca tea and heading to bed. None of us have an appetite and we were warned to have small dinners when at altitude. Right now I just want to sleep. We are keeping an eye on each other for anything getting serious (being tired the first day is *not* unexpected since it is harder to do anything).

The guys are hovering, so I guess I better wrap up. I'm trying to write down clues to stories from each day to relate when I get home.

BTW, this will be the last email until the 29th. I won't even have my phone with me ... just my camera. Ah, I might have time in the morning before I put the phone away, but it is expected to be busy morning.

So now the worrying begins....

The 29th seems a very long way away. (I just looked on the calendar and it is.)

I think I'll go to bed now. Or write a sermon. It is a toss-up!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Oh, and to weigh in on the hymn debate.... Dh wants notes and so do I. I feel so foolish when I don't know the rhythm or where the music is going. With notes, I have a clue even if I can't sight read. And the lyrics are usually not deep. We are using a lot of new things for our anthems and some of them are also in our newest hymnbook so it expands our hymnody but many of them are just for fun and won't become 'old favourites.'

On the other hand, we like to give them a good chance. "Here I am Lord" is now a real favourite but it is only about 40 years old and we've only been singing it for 15 years (wasn't in our hymnbook before then.)

When you mention repeating the same thing over and over, it reminds me of Holy Ground. Love it, love to sing it, but really, it says one thought, over and over and over. Doesn't compare well to so many of the old hymns where I find they speak to multiple themes so can be used throughout the year, once speaking about God being with us, once talking about trials, once talking about hope. Each verse speaking directly to the theme of three very different bible passages and sermon themes.

Our churches take singing so seriously, we have three hymnbooks, one is the standard for our denomination with a mixture from 1800 & 1900s, one is an addendum with only modern pieces, mostly 90's onwards, and one is Methodist and includes oldies as well as a lot of modern Gospel pieces (mainly Gaither.) It is nice to have a lot to choose from.

This conversation reminded me to check the third hymnbook since I couldn't find something for the after sermon hymn on June 2. Sure enough, Gaithers for the win!

[Lilac]

(((Kathryn))) I can't imagine not hearing from my dh for that long.

When dh came home today, I asked him if he had changed his mind. I told him that with it being a holiday weekend plus the uncertain weather, I just didn't have a good feeling about him going. He told me that I always worry and he would be fine. As he left I was struck with the feeling that I will never see him again. I just can't shake that feeling. We had this conversation and he wanted to know if he should take his pistol, he has a concealed weapon permit. We decided he shouldn't since he would not be alone. Well when he called me once he arrived, he told me they are splitting up until Saturday night. That couple is insistent on going to OKC. On thinking about it, dh now agrees with me that it is a ridiculous idea. So he has decided to head to eastern OK and take a scenic trail ride that will take him into western Arkansas. Now that he will be alone, I am wishing that he had taken his pistol, but too late now.

Sunny, you have such thoughtful sons and ddils.

MT, I am glad that you are home again.

I have something that I am posting in the MO section.

[Harriet]

Oh, Oh, (waving hand) I know trivia about Cuzco. It inspired the name of Emperor Kuzco, in Disney's Emperor's New Groove. It was chosen because Cuzco (the place) would have been the capital of the Inca Empire at the time of the story. But Cuzco or Cusco was never spelled with a K - Disney just thought that would be cool. It was Kuzco's peasant friend Pacha whose name actually came from the name of a historic ruler of the Incas, a very democratic twist. That movie was an animation turning point from Disney to Pixar, in a way, because all Sting's soundtrack was dropped after Disney changed the plot, and the whole thing became so difficult (with Sting furious) and the movie having to be rushed to theaters to make deadlines it wasn't ready for.

Thank you for a bit of communication from Ken in Canada in Peru. Keeping his well-being in prayer.

Still reading here, appreciate the thoughts about singing while guessing the music.

((((Elizabeth's dear daughter))))

[Lilac]

No one from S taples bothered to call, so guess I will pay them a visit in the morning.

[OKay]

((((Elizabeth DD)))) OUCH!

Lunch was tamales, chips/salsa and salad. Supper was spaghetti & meatballs with strawberry cake/fruit/whipped cream for dessert. Tomorrow is my first weigh in at WW. I've been counting points all week so hopefully the weigh in won't be a disaster.

I miss LucyLee.

LO is loving our new evening routine. He loves to help. I bought some battery powered glow lights that are attached to lanyard. He wears them to ensure he is very visible at all times. He stays right with me, but in a public place with moving vehicles I don't think safety can be excessive.