Happy New Year

Well here I am at home on New Year's Eve. We had a devo at church and a finger food party afterwards. Tom and I were at home by 7:00. Our son has been in CA and he is due home anytime. Our GA son was hoping to come with his family this Friday but since they fly standby the chances aren't real good. It was so much easier for them to visit us in CA because there were more flights from Atlanta to Orange County - or they could fly into Los Angeles. Of course living close to Disneyland was a better incentive than flying to Tucson. Tom Jr just got home so I will go visit with him. Happy New Year to all

Merry Christmas

Tonight I sang at an outdoor mall with some of our chorus. This is our Christmas outfit. Some members of our group have sung there every Friday and Saturday night since Thanksgving. We sing for an hour in between the snow falling. Yes, its fake, but the kids really like it - actually so do I. Since this was the last night of the singing we had a little party at one of the members houses. Tom came too and we didn't stay too long, but it was nice.

I finally decided on our Christmas dinner. We are having Honey Baked Ham and I waited in line for about 50 minutes to buy a quarter of a ham - for $25. It better be good.

I actually am finished buying Christmas gifts for Tom and son, Tom - it's not even Christmas Eve. It seems every year we are buying something on Christmas Eve. There are actually some good mark downs at this time.

Yesterday Tom and I took the three next door neighbor's kids (ages 5, 7 & 10) to the Mall. We ate at evry kid's favorite place, McDonald's and then went to see Happy Feet. We are so happy to have neighbors with kids. When we moved here Tom said he didn't want to live in a retirement community - he wanted to see kids in the neighborhood. He got his wish.

Merry Christmas to each one of you. I don't plan to post anything the next two days.

Christmas is Coming

When I was little all Christmases were at my house because my mother and I lived with my grandparents. I was an only child but my mother was the youngest of seven and all her brothers and sisters and my cousins would come home to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Los Angeles - my Texas aunt and uncle came some years. Anyway we would open one present on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning Santa Claus would leave unwrapped presents - all for me of course. We were not wealthy, my mother worked for Bank of America (she became one of the first women officers in the late 60's - before that only men could be a bank officer).The point is that we didn't have a lot of money, but I always made out real good at Christmas. Several years ago one of my aunt's told me the story how her daughters (my age) wondered why Santa always left me more toys than he did them. She told them it was because I didn't have a brother or sister to play with, unlike them who had each other. I think that is a neat thing to have said - although I'm not sure they bought it.

I am now the oldest living member of my blood relatives so I guess that makes me the Matriarch of the Davis Clan (My mother's maiden name). It wouldn't be much of a clan if my cousins hadn't had children - and grandchildren and great granchildren. I have one cousin in San Antonio and one cousin's grandaughter and her three sons live in Maryland, but the rest live in Southern CA. One of my sons and daughter-in-law and grandson live in GA and the other one is with us. I say all that to say that we will not all be together at Christmas and that makes me sad. The majority of them will be together in Orange County CA and will be eating at my cousin's house who is a caterer and a wonderful one. Everyone chips in with the food, but Rhonda's house will be decorated to the nth degree and the presentation is always beautiful. We didn't go to CA last Christmas either but we went to New York and we did see the cousin with the three kids (only the twins last year) in MD but Tom was sick and we didn't even go to Church on Christmas Day. Of course going to NYC over Christmas time was special.

So what am I doing Christmas Day? Probably cooking something for 3 people. I am NOT going to do turkey. Do you have any suggestions? I am posting a picture of my pathetic tree - top doesn't show - with Murphy. He wore that Christmas T-shirt for about two hours and thought it was in a restraint and wouldn't walk in it. We put it on him to take the picture and our Monday afternoon LIFE group got to see him in it. Don't forget to give me suggestions for Christmas Dinner.

Good News

Just before 3:00 PM today we got the results of Tom's MRA. It showed that he does not have to have surgery at this time. We are giving praises to God and we thank you for your prayers. Some how any other news seems trivial so I will not say anything else.

Changing Colors

When I logged on to Blogger today it said I had to switch to the new Blogger, so after having to change my password because I couldn't remember what I used, I played around with it for awhile and all I changed was my profile and the color of my blog.

We had a chorus Christmas party at a restaurant last night and I changed my order from ribs to prime rib and that was a mistake. I originally wanted prime rib but thought since it was a large group I wouldn't get it like I wanted - which is rare. So I signed up for ribs. I figured they wouldn't mess that up. Then I got to the restaurant and switched with someone. When the waiter came he told us the only choice for steak or prime rib was medium and so I was stuck. I should have stayed with the ribs. I just don't understand why anyone would eat steak or prime rib any other way than rare or maybe medium-rare. I did order cheesecake, which of course was not included in the overpriced meal, and that was good.

Remember last month we went to GA- to Savannah, Augusta and Atlanta. Well when we got home my camera said there were no pictures. My son recovered them on his PC and then burned them to a CD and now I have them - or at least most of them - some were damaged. Anyway I am posting a couple.


A tree in Savannah with Spanish Moss


Cotton fields in Georgia


Me in Augusta at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame and Botannical Gardens

I Am Tired

This has been a busy week. I had a treadmill stress test - and did fine. Tom had two different doctor appointments and he has to have an MRA next Tuesday. He has had an aneurism in the abdominal area for some while and they said it hadn't grown (they had checked that last month, but they want him to have the MRA to check the aorta something and then he might have to have surgery. So please keep him in your prayers. I substituted two days last week, for a third grade class and for the librarian. I also sang twice with some of my chorus. Since we have so many performances around Christmas usually about 20-25 sing at one time - instead of the 75 member chorus. This morning we went to a funeral for the mother of one of our friends from church and then to Famous Daves BBQ after with another couple from church. Then we went by a rehab center to visit another member from church. He is 90 and fell and broke his hip last week. His name is Jack and he and his wife, June can also use your prayers. Now I am going to take a nap but I was told by my friend, Sandy that I needed to post on my blog. If you haven't read Sandy you should check it out. She is a much better writer than I. Night night

And the Preacher is.....

It is official. The new preacher is Bobby Valentine. Tom and I went and looked at a couple of houses this afternoon that they are considering to rent. I have my preference, but we'll see what Pamella decides. I had been reading Bobby's blog for sometime and when I heard he was coming to try out I was so excited. My very own blogging preacher. I believe he has so much to offer our congregation. We have been without a pulpit minister since June and we love it when Clay Utley, our youth minister preaches, but he hasn't preached every week. He is happy being the youth minister. We are fortunate to have heard some excellent men from our own congregation - some of our elders, plus we have two chaplains who are stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. One of them is in Iraq right now and due back next month. But there is nothing like a full time pulpit minister. Welcome Bobby, Pamella, Rachael and Talya.

Just checking in

I'm waiting on my hot artichoke dip to be ready. We ate lunch late today and we are going to have dip and french bread for dinner. I went to the Y this afternoon and walked 30 minutes, while listening to Randy Harris on my iPOD. I feel a little silly laughing outloud while on the treadmill, but sometimes I can't help it. I love my iPOD and I especially like listening to Randy and Mike Cope and Don McLaughlin and Max Lucado. Podcasts are wonderful. Tomorrow I am going to look at a couple of houses that might be possibilities for our new minister to rent. Maybe after tomorrow I will be able to reveal the "mystery man".

Weather

We just got home from IHOP - our usual meal Wed nights after church. It is so cold tonight, I just put a blanket on my bed. I usually just sleep with a comforter, and not a very warm one. Yes, winter has come to Tucson. At least for the next few days. I think it is supposed to be in the 30's tonight. Of course next week it might be warm again. I kind of like being able to wear a sweater - or tonight, a jacket.

Yesterday I subbed for a resource teacher - which is the job I held for the last fifteen years of my teaching career. At this particular elementary school - which is the only one I sub at - I saw a total of about 15 students, ranging from 2nd grade to 5th. I saw them in groups of two to one group of 6. When I retired I had about 30 students in my program and had 3 large groups in the morning and a group a little smaller after lunch. Our school went through sixth grade. The resource program is a part of special education. It is for students with learning disabilities that are not so severe that they need a full day or self-contained classroom program. The goal of the program is to try to get the student's skills up enough to not need the program - so general education teachers work hard to get a student qualified for special education then it was my job to get them out. Some students will always need that extra help, but some don't. We had a teacher once that had been in a resource program when she was in elementary school - but both of her parents were teachers. One of my former students is now a department manager in a Target store. The stories do not all have happy endings - one student that I had had from 3rd to 6th grade was killed when he was in high school by a gang member - he was taking a date home and was in the wrong part of town. Another student who I only had one year- the one year I wanted to teach in high school (big mistake)- was arrested for killing a boy who had supposedly stolen his girlfriend. This happened after he had graduated from high school. I don't know what the outcome was. I do know that he was very hard to like. He was surly and I always felt he was capable of more. Yesterday for the first time I really missed teaching - but not enough to go back full time.

Tomorrow is dentist day - only a cleaning, thank goodness. I have crooked teeth, but they are strong. Well I think I will read a few blogs and go to sleep.

After Thanksgiving

I had a great Thanksgiving. The couple from church that we invited seemed to enjoy it - they ate everything on their plate. Somehow after cooking for so long I am never as hungry. On Friday I even watched UT vs Texas A&M. I don't usually watch football but it just seemed like the thing to do on the day after Thanksgiving. I NEVER go shopping on that day. I did it once a long time ago and said never again! Anyway, I rooted for Univ of Texas and they LOST. I didn't get dressed until evening and then it was so I could go and get McDonald's. I was tired of turkey. I think next year we will go to Mississippi and have ribs with Dee and Tom. Or maybe Dina will have that great place in Hawaii and I'll go there.

We've Got A Preacher!

I am so excited. I still can't tell you who it is because I don't know if he is ready to tell yet. Maybe he will reveal it on my blog - or his. Welcome and I couldn't be happier.

Sick Day

I woke up in the night thinking I had heartburn - we had gone out for Mexican food last night. Then this morning I had stomach cramps and diareah (I don't think that is spelled right but I don't feel like looking it up). I haven't eaten anything today and it is noon. I have chorus rehearsal tonight and we are getting ready for several Christmas performances so I need to be there. Maybe I will feel better by tonight. No news yet on our new preacher.

The Weekend

I just got home from singing at a Senior Center about 2 hours from here. We sang from 3 - 4:15, then some of us went to a guest ranch and had dinner and listened to a country singer and a guy who played guiltar and keyboard. We even sang for the people in saloon/restaurant. Now I am tired, but felt like I needed to check in. Yesterday Tom went to a clean-up day at a church camp and I went to see Stranger than Fiction with Will Farrell. I liked it. End of review. Last night we went to a small group gathering to visit with the "visiting preacher". It was great to meet him in person after reading his blog. I wish I could tell you who it is but I guess we won't know until after tomorrow night when the elders meet. If he is our man I'll tell you as soon as I know, If he isn't our man I won't tell you because you would wonder why we let him get away. I am really praying that he is the one. I like him and his family. Pray about it please.

Greetings from California

Well, we took a little detour coming home from Atlanta. We fly standby and the seats to Tucson were full, but there were seats on the flight to Orange County, so here we are. Our son is driving up from Imperial where he has been working since last Wed and we will drive back to Tucson this afternoon. When we were leaving Atlanta going to Savannah last Tuesday night there were seats on a Delta flight to Paris and if I had had my passport we could have been in Paris. I lost it when we went to Mexico City a year ago in March. I didn't lose it in Mexico but in the taxi in Tucson. I never got a new one but I have the paper work at home and first thing tomorrow I am going to get that filled out and mailed in.

I got some good pictures in GA, but I forgot to bring my USB attachment for the computer so you will have to wait until I get home to see some of those. I will write more about our trip when I have the pictures.

Now for the exciting news. A fellow blogger will be preaching at Palo Verde Church of Christ this Sunday. We hope he will be the minister that we have been praying for. I will just say it is not Scott - nor Mike Cope, but there a lot of other ministers out there who blog, so its your guess. Please pray for us.

Off We Go

Yes, we are taking off tomorrow. We are flying to Atlanta, changing planes and going on to Savannah. We are renting a car there and will spend three nights. We are driving to Augusta from there, spending the night then driving to Atlanta on Saturday. We are planning to worship at North Atlanta Church of Christ on Sunday. We are hoping Don will be preaching. We are hoping to fly home on Sunday night. I just noticed I started every sentence, except the first one with "we". I know that is poor writing, but "oh, well".

Friday

I subbed today for Kindergarten. I had 14 students and I had a good day. One little boy had to have his card turned to red. They start with green, then first turn is to yellow, then to red. This partiular boy could have had "triple red". He just always seemed to be doing something he wasn't supposed to do - or was someplace he shouldn't have been. One little girl didn't make it to the bathroom in time, so she had to go to the office where they keep extra clothes for such emergencies. I really think K teachers have a special place in heaven - Bev, I'm thinking of you.

We were supposed to go the Y when I got home but Tom said he could pass it up and I needed to sit down and put my feet up. For some strange reason I couldn't see my ankles. You don't sit down much in Kindergarten. I am getting hungry so I better figure out if I'm going to cook or go out to eat. Decisions - decisions!

Halloween - the Day After

I have just finished reading several blogs about Halloween and I didn't read of one that shared our experience - we had our Halloween candy stolen right from our front porch. We have a security door and a little entry and Tom had put a little table out there with the candy in a bowl, then he sat at the kitchen table and played on his computer waiting for the kids. I was in the bedroom keeping Murphy from barking at the trick or treaters. He had seen several cuties when our next door neighbors came over. When he got to the door he discovered we had been robbed- no candy and NO BOWL! At least they left the table. Can you believe that?

The Show is Over

Boy, am I tired. My knee hurts, my feet are swollen, but we had two good shows today. Last night we had a dress rehearsal and we were at the theater until 10:00PM and had to be back this morning at 10:00 AM. The shows were at 2:00 and 7:00. My husband and son came to the evening performance and we went out to eat after the show. I have rubbed down with old lady cream - icy/hot. I am too tired to sleep but tomorrow afternoon I will try to catch up with my sleep.

BTW I got a new iPod video with a recording attachment and a lapel mike for my birthday. It is so cool. I even downloaded PacMan from the iTunes store. Before we have a show or competition we have to tape ourselves singing in the chorus. With my new iPod I can record and then email it to my section leader to review. No more buying tapes and batteries. I am so high tech. :)

Birthdays

October 26th is a special day. It's my birthday. Tom has been treating me all week and I'm not sure what we are doing tomorrow, but he's been leaving me notes with #'s on them and telling me to choose. So far I've picked #'s 1,2 and 4. We have eaten at three of my favorite restaurants so far, Claim Jumper, Red Lobster - where I had jumbo shrimp cocktail, and On the Border. I am hoping a movie is part of tomorrow's plans. Tom only goes to the movies on special occasions, where I could go every week - and sometimes do. I think I've mentioned my age before but since some of you may have missed it - I will be 64. I am not sure how that happened, I don't feel 64. The only age I remember not wanting to be was 30. I was in graduate school at Chapman College (now University) and most of the students were going straight through so they were younger than me. So at 29 I was the "old" one. Now I am proud to be my age and would not want to be 29 again. so, was there an age you didn't want to be and/or do you tell your age? Now if we were talking weight - that's totally different.

Saturday

I am sitting outside on my patio in this great weather. I just finished balancing my checkbook, or rather making sure I have written down all my checks and ATM withdrawals. The bank had $201 more than me, and I found a $100 sub error, in my favor, but I can't find the other $100. I don't add it in to my checkbook I just note it, then usually it works itself out eventually.I am such a great accountant. At least there is money in the account. YEA!

Acappella is performing this afternoon at our church. I am looking forward to that. Our show is one week from today and this morning as I was going over my music I found a couple of mistakes I have been making. It is so hard to unlearn wrong notes. I think I will be glad when the show is over. We have several smaller performances between now and Christmas, but they shouldn't be as stressful as this show has been. I don't know why I get stressed - I have been doing this (singing with Sweet Adelines) for over 20 years. I have taken a couple of breaks over this time period. I am afraid if I take another break I won't go back, so I will keep singing a while longer.