November 26, 2017 - Msg 108611: RIP Rance Howard..Well Its Auburn and My Bulldogs for the SEC Championship !..ready to head home for some sleep..its about 4 am here on the south end...breakfast at Waffel House on Boo and Possum..They owe it to me and certain other porchster from FB pranks ..lol...prayers to all SPOT
November 26, 2017 - Msg 108612: cough...cough...SPOT
November 26, 2017 - Msg 108613: Yes SPOT, this was a good college football weekend. A lot of surprises and good games!. But many of the teams are a bit beat up going into the playoffs...Best Wishes to all of them and we shall see how it all shakes out after next weekend won’t we?...It’s been good watching them instead of those high priced whiney prima donnas, But That’s a whole other story I don’t care to get into today, because it makes me angry!..

G-F
November 26, 2017 - Msg 108614: Ok, Spotty,Boo & I will pay,but just watch out over there on FB! Ha ha

RIP Rance Howard.

possum again
November 27, 2017 - Msg 108615: Yea! Boo and Possum are buying!! (I hear ya SPOT!) ha
MDC
November 27, 2017 - Msg 108616: Good sweep!!
November 27, 2017 - Msg 108617: Very strange college ball weekend here.
First, on Sat my ASU beat the UofA, but today
our coach was fired. He has been pretty inconsistent during his six years here however,
so we shall see how it all pans out.
MDC
November 27, 2017 - Msg 108618: Yeah, Boo & I paid for Waffle House,but Spot & MDC are gonna pay over on FB-just y'all wait & see! Bahahaha

possum once more
November 27, 2017 - Msg 108619: Ok Asa I really mean it Know, my yard is Done & Done!..It was a nice day here so I HAD to run over it one last time.
But on the other hand as a Maintenance Guy are we EVER done?...When we retire we just change Bosses...lol

G-F
November 28, 2017 - Msg 108620: Will be watching on FB Ladys !..Breakfast this fine morning will be I-HOP on me..eat alot...SPOT
November 28, 2017 - Msg 108621: That's right GF, when are us Maintenance guys ever "off duty"? lol I actually felt bad yesterday when I got home. We had a storm roll in during the day with some pretty good winds. I am way behind on my leaf collection duties because of my back, so I still had a lot to do. But Mother Nature tended to much of it I reckon. I hope my neighbors are not to upset with me. But a feller can only do what he can do. I missed seeing you last night at TCNW GF. Allan was wondering where you were too. I didn't do any chatting, but really enjoyed Allan's tribute to Rance Howard.

I hope Romeena is ok. She hasn't posted for a bit. Check in when you can Ro, and let us know you are well.

Well MDC, I guess yesterday could be called the Black Monday of college football. There were a lot of coaches got chopped.

Thanks for the breakfast invite Spot. You're gonna regret it though buddy. I can really pack it away.

Prayers for all for a safe and sane day.

Asa
November 28, 2017 - Msg 108622: Good morning, porch!! It's good to be back in my rocker again, and Spotty, thanks for dusting it off for me. It's good to be home.

I've been in Fredericksburg since Wednesday, came home yesterday afternoon. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both of my daughters and all but one of the grandkids from those two families. He has moved to Seattle, and it was just a bit far to come home, I guess, since he and his bride are just getting settled in up there.

I had a special treat while there in the 'burg - my grandson Travis (Heather's son) was in a musical production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Zach Theater in Austin, and we got to see it on Sunday afternoon. He played Fred, Scrooge's nephew. He had three solos, and was in several ensemble songs. He has such a beautiful voice, has perfect pitch, can dance, and he's a terrific actor, and just waay better-looking than he has to be. Very natural, very comfortable on stage. (Can you tell I'm proud of him?) He graduates in the spring from college with a degree in the performing arts, with a major in music and a minor in acting. This role in the Zach theater's "A Christmas Carol" is his first role in a professional theater. Up until now it's all been in community playhouse things, though some of them are pretty big theaters, like the Zilker theater in Austin. This was his first paid role, in a professional Equity theater, and he's pretty excited. The play runs through the end of December, so he's getting a lot of experience.

David and Brittney had gone to Alabama with Eloise and their family, and spent a week in a beach house there. I kept Diesel while they were gone, and took him with me to the 'burg. I stayed at Heather's house, and Diesel stayed at Robbi's, to play with her little dog, Bexar. Heather has Max (very dignified and polite) and Teenie - not so dignified and is something of a wild child. He's sweet and loving, and tries to be a good boy, but he's young, boisterous, and has huge feet! Get him and Diesel together, add Toye Starr and their cat, Kitty Mama, and conversation becomes difficult. Diesel and Teenie gallop through the house, rolling and tumbling and playing, Toye Starr pleads to sit in my lap, Kitty Mama slaps them a couple of times then goes under a bed, and Max just sits off to one side, with a disapproving look on his face. We call him the English Schoolmaster! So, we separated Diesel and Teenie most of the time, and a good time was had by all!

Well, gotta get moving. My Christmas tree is standing in the living room, waiting for me to decorate it. David and the boys came over last night and took me to dinner, then came back here and got the tree out its closet, set it up, all the lights work and it's on its rolling stand in the middle of the room, where I can work around it easily. When done, I'll just push it back into its corner. I love that stand! It's eight inches high, which makes for more room under the tree, and it has big six-inch swiveling wheels, so I can roll it easily on the carpet and turn it when I need to. My handy-man friend, Ted, built it for me and it sure does make tree-decorating easy. I've had it for about four years now. Before that, decorating and moving the tree was very difficult and awkward at times. As my German grandma used to say, "Ve get too soon old, und too late schmart!"

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
November 29, 2017 - Msg 108623: "Dat est a gut saying" RO! Good to see you back on the porch too,
it sounds like you had a great Thankgiving weekend! Thanks for the update.
ASA, SPOT, and GF--yes indeed, many coaches fired this past week. They will probably all end up at schools who fired the others! "Musical coaches." haha
I had to take Cecile to a surgicenter today for a pre-planned procedure in the female realm.
She is doing fine now. A biopsy was taken, but this was NOT a hysterectomy, just had to check out a few things.
I hope to finish getting my decorations up on Wed. if all goes according to Hoyle.
"God bless us everyone" :)
MDC
November 29, 2017 - Msg 108624: Wow, where is everyone today?
RO--did you ever get the compact Inogen oxygen maker? It looks pretty convenient in the commercials.
Didnt quite get the decs done today, so hopefully by Friday evening!
Sleep well,
MDC
November 29, 2017 - Msg 108625: Oh, and any ME-TV yet?
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108626: Lunch: Fried Bologna sandwiches and dill pickel chips and those small cans of pork-n-beans! Fanta Grape Pop...SPOT
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108627: Good morning, porch. MDC, I didn't get the small O2 maker yet, and I probably won't. Medicare doesn't pay for that little 2.8 lb unit, and knowing that it's available makes me not want the 4.5 lb one that Medicare will pay for. (Picky, picky!) However, after the change in my Atenolol dose, I feel so much better that I don't think I need that unit. I still sleep with O2 on at night, because of sleep apnea - I figure if I'm going to stop breathing now and then, it's better if I'm fully oxygenated when it happens. With the change in my med, my resting heart rate has gone back to where it used to be, around 90, and my O2sat is 93-94% at rest, instead of the 88-90% it used to be. It has made a tremendous difference in how I feel, and my activity level. I was having to stop and catch my breath when I'd walk out to get the paper off the driveway, and that's ridiculous. With the change in the med - I walked about 250 yards, from the theater to where my SIL had parked the car. He offered to go get the car and pick me up, but I wanted to see if I could walk it. I did, and wasn't even breathing hard when we got to the car. So, maybe I don't even need that mobile O2 unit.

As for the ME-TV, that's another story. I got my Dish box replaced and I think I want my old one back. This new Hopper 3 doesn't work as well as the old one did. Rewind is slow and jerky, fast forward is worse, the picture will pixillate for no reason at all. I had the OTA antenna added and it gets ME-TV, but it's so choppy and breaks up so much that you can't even follow a story. I've got to call them. I think the box they installed is faulty, and I think the cheapie little OTA they installed is junk. We're going to have a pleasant, friendly little meeting and get this figured out.

Well, better get moving. My beloved pet car is sick, got to take it to the car doctor. I drove it to Fredericksburg last week, and it performed beautifully. Then about thirty miles from home, I noticed a "clunk" when I took off from a traffic light. Each gear change produced that clunk. It's usually so smooth you don't even feel the gear changes. So, something is wrong, and I'll take it to Rick's, a car shop that I really trust and depend upon. If they have to go into the transmission, this will be the first major repair work that car has required, at 93,500 miles. I guess my baby's getting old.

Blessings, porch. --Romeena
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108628: SPOT, You made me laugh about thr fried bologna. My StepSon years ago when I was making a fried bologna sandwich, he asked...What are you making? I said a fried bologna sandwich. What’s that? So I made him one, he said THIS IS AWESOME...Guess sometimes simple things are still best...With a nice slice of tomato....

G-F
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108629: Y'all, Jim Nabors has passed away. This one really hurts.

*************
possum u.a.r.
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108630: Oh Possum, That is very sad to read. :(

Asa
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108631: R.I.P. GOMER....Gome?.. Sad Day in Mayberry Indeed!...G-F
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108632: I know,Asa. Feels like I've lost a close family member. I think most of y'all would say the same.

possum again
November 30, 2017 - Msg 108633: Hello
This is a old run down old man that thing has nut going right! Like lusting the aie in the tank and down wiht the tank so I start it git up and down the tand I wiht.

TOM

November 30, 2017 - Msg 108634: So sad to hear about Jim Nabors today.
Frankie

December 01, 2017 - Msg 108635: ME-TV is doing a special tribute to Jim Nabors with various shows that he was in. May he rest in peace, as he was a heck of a nice guy! :(
RO--sorry to hear of your car problem. When was the last time you had the tranny fluid changed? You should do that about every 30 thousand miles or so. That may be all it is, or maybe just low.
Ask them about that first.
As to me-tv, yes it sounds like a real el cheapo antenna, probably with very little range. But you can also try to 'move it around' like in the 'old days'.
TOM--my prayers are with you buddy. Not sure exactly what's ailing you, but may you feel better soon.
Prayers also for ASA and for his cough to go away!
I got a nice Christmas card from PappaBear today. He is still at the same
address as last year. He now has a 3 wheel scooter to help him get around.
Since my new decorations feature Peanuts characters, here's a little music for ya... The scene is almost done!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LUXQWzCno

MDC
December 01, 2017 - Msg 108636: Good evening, porch. Oh, so sorry to hear about Jim Nabors. He was one of my all-time favorites. In fact, I just put his Christmas CD in my car's changer yesterday. He had such a beautiful voice. I really believe he was a genuinely nice guy. He apparently tried to live quietly, peacefully and privately. I wish more of the other famous personalities would do the same.

The news on the car wasn't good. The whole transmission needs to be pulled and replaced, to the tune of $3800. That's a lot of money. I picked the car up, my son is going to put a band-aid on it with some product he has used, called "stop slip" or something like that. He has a Tahoe with 450,000 miles on it, the original tranny, (yep, original) started doing the same thing mine is doing about 20k back, he put that stuff in, and it's been fine ever since. I told Rick (mechanic) I will have to budget for that repair and am going to try to buy some time by using that product. He agreed, said it might work, and he understood. I think he's right, that it will have to be replaced eventually, but maybe this will give me time to save up for the cost. It's a lot of money, but it's a far sight cheaper than setting myself up for car payments for years. If I didn't like the car so much, I might trade it in, but I do like it, and I don't care for the new ones, or anything that has been made for the last eight years or so. I'm still determined to hold onto my car as long as I can.

TOM, you sound as though you're having a bad week. I will pray that things improve for you, and soon!

Well, guess I'd better turn in. Got to make a major grocery store run tomorrow, and will play bunco tomorrow night. My Christmas tree is still standing, in all its un-decorated un-glory, in the middle of my living room, and there are no twinkle lights in my shrubbery as yet. At least David and the boys got the roof lights and icicles out! Rest well, Mayberry. I hope those truckers don't come roaring through town tonight, trying to avoid Turner's Grade. --Romeena
December 01, 2017 - Msg 108637: TOM..Sorry your not feeling well Buddy, but know your Porch friends know and understand how difficult the Holidays can be this time of the year. But please keep checking in the best you can and we all will be here to lift you up in prayers.

Like Possum said, losing Gomer does feel like we lost a family member. But we are fortunate to be able to watch his Great work on TV and DVD’s most anytime...Amen?..

Romeena, Sorry for your car problems, they can sure tax your patience and pocket book...Just Remember....Wally don’t work on Sundays!....

Good College games this weekend, I guess we will see how it will all shake out after this weekend. May the teams who scores the most points be The Winners!....Lol..

So Asa are you and your back ready for the the Winter?..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x84GKqcpY4E

G-F
December 02, 2017 - Msg 108638: Cute clip GF, but I can't relate. haha
RO--just be sure he doesnt put any sawdust in the transmission. lol That's Mrs lesh's old trick, ya know. Hope the fix works.
ALL--tonight on Perry Mason was Mrs. Otis Campbell, (who was guilty as sin), Dr. Breen, and that college student reporter! Funny to see them on another show.
Well, my decorations were lit up tonight! I will post a pic on facebook in the next few days. Just go right to my "wall" if you miss it in your scrolling.
It has been a tough year for many, so it is nice to do something positive and uplifting.
Peace to men of goodwill. :)
MDC
December 02, 2017 - Msg 108639: Just checking in from work. Its slow as usual these days.

Get well wishes for those who need them, and hope Cecile is doing well.

Romeena, brag all you want. I saw the photo Heather posted on facebook of the family at the performance. Good looking kid and I wish I could have seen him perform..I just love that story so much. By the way, I thought you looked so pretty in the photo. I also loved the beautiful pics that Brittany posted of the beach. Glad everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Not alot of news here, other than the christmas prep has certainly ramped up around here. I have been working on the decorations at home and am about 95% there. I was getting alot done when ERin called me from school because her shoulder was hurting. She reinjured it in a basketball game the other day and will need an MRI this time. Really unfortunate since she has been doing so well and loves playing. Today she is helping the coach during a tournament and I will take her to the sports med doc on MOnday morning. Poor kid just seems to get injured easily.

I have my first christmas party to host on Friday so lots to do this week. I am looking forward to it, though. It is the deacon's gathering that i have been hosting for years now and we always have fun. I dont think I have hosted it since 2012. After the death of my parents, I just didnt have it in me to do much but I am finally back. :)

I am still doing well with the healthy lifestyle change but need to exercise more. I find myself so busy this time of year that it is a real stretch to think of exercising, too (no pun intended).

Well, I should go do something work-related. Oh..some good news is I found out that for christmas, Bruce is getting me a new computer since the last one crashed a year ago. So, I will be set up in my office with new computer and monitor. I am quite certain, I will be able to grab my coffee and sit at the computer again most mornings and chat.

Better git!

Boo

Move quote: "The nuts...I can't see the nuts"..or something like that.
December 02, 2017 - Msg 108640: One other thing, concerning christmas cards this year..my mailing address changed a little..to a county road number. I will send the change to Romeena. I assume we are doing cards as usual?

Boo
December 04, 2017 - Msg 108641: HI GANG!
Looks like it has been slow on the porch lately.
Everyone must be either out shopping, or is too exhausted to type! ha
All goes well here, it will FINALLY get down into the 70s this week. I can hardly wait for this cooler weather to be upon us!
Well, I'm hitting the hay!
Prayers,
MDC
December 04, 2017 - Msg 108642: Good morning gang...gona turn cold here..got to get tractor and trailer down to wood pile and get some loaded and on porch !...Lunch will be at McDonalds !..on possum and Boo !..ha ha...back in just a bit after chores...SPOT
December 04, 2017 - Msg 108643: Good morning, porch. Cloudy and dreary here today. Looks like we could get some rain, which would be just fine with me. Actually, the day looks like I feel. I think I've got that miserable pneumonia again - I feel like two miles of bad road. Light-headed, weak, coughing my head off - at least it's productive and I'm getting some of the junk out. I was supposed to see my pulmonologist today, but the office called to reschedule as he had a family emergency. So I've got a call in for his assistant so I can get an antibiotic. He had given me an Rx for one a while back, to just fill and take wben I needed it, but I can't find it.

There are nine squirrels in my back yard right now, just chasing each other everywhere. It's cool at 68° and windy, with a thick layer of leaves on the ground. The squirrels love to just go barreling through those leaves, scattering them everywhere. They're so funny to watch, but I think I'm going back to bed. I need a little more sleep. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
December 04, 2017 - Msg 108644: I was thinking, Romeena, about that Stop Slip stuff. Your mechanic said it might work. Well, it might not.

Billy Ray the Postman
December 04, 2017 - Msg 108645: ....But it Might!
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108646: Well goodness, Ro! I certainly hope you get that antibiotic and knock this thing in a hurry. Bothers me to think of you getting it again...also bugs me that I don't live closer so I could do more for you. I know you have your amazing son and daughter in law nearby, but I still wish I could be more of a support. We love you around here, Ro.

My Sean is sick with a bad cold bug right now. He told me today, "Mom, try and act like a mom instead of griping about how I need to stay out of the kitchen and stop getting my germs on everything. Try saying that you are sorry I feel bad instead of talking about how I won't be able to help you this week and how I better not give it to Erin"..lol..so true. I am not usually the type to be extremely sympathetic when people are sick around here, especially around the holidays. I am trying to be nicer, though. :)

I think I got the decorating finished..may just a few small things to do, and got the boxes back upstairs. I would be more in the spirit of things if it were not in the 80's with very high humidity. I just took the trash can out to the road tonight and it was so humid it looked like it had rained. I am so ready for cooler weather.

I had a busy night at work last night so didn't check in with you all. I was working alone and had a couple of kids get in a bad fight and had lots to deal with. The time flew by, though.

I took Erin to the sports med doctor today about her shoulder and it is doing better..she has some inflamed tendons and has to wear a sling and do certain exercises for 2 weeks and then be checked again. She doesn't like not playing basketball but she is still going to practice and doing what she can. She is tough, plays hard, and gets injured...what can you do?

Well, been a long busy day. I went shopping with Susan today to get some gifts for the kids at the facility, which was not on my agenda. It was fun, though. There is no one I would rather hang with than my sister. She is a hoot, for sure.

Well, goodnight to all. Hope tomorrow is a good day. Prayers for you, Ro.

Boo

Movie quote: "Is Rusty still in the navy??"

December 05, 2017 - Msg 108647: BOO--please don't tell me you mean "alone, alone" at work! Werent there any other staff on duty?
I sure hope so, and that it was just my misunderstanding.
Ha, that was funny quoting Sean like that!
I can just picture him saying that too. :)
Prayers for Erin and Sean, and also for ROMEENA!
My goodness, I hope the antibio does the trick this time.
Could you have picked something up on a home visit? hope not.
MDC
"Bert, do ya really know me?"
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108648: Happy Tuesday porch. checking in to see how things are going with everyone.

turning colder and raining today on my end of the porch. going from the 60's straight to the 30's with possible snow flurries is not my idea of a slow transition from fall to winter.

Romeena: when you get a chance would you please
e mail me the porch Christmas card list. I would really appreciate it.

I better get to work.
lets meet at the Snappy Lunch for lunch today. My treat.
prayers and blessings to all
Big Maude
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108649: Good morning, porch! Thanks for the prayers and kind words. I love you all, too. No, I didn't get this from somebody on a home visit, because I haven't been doing that for a while now. I had to stop it when I was so short of breath all the time. It doesn't inspire confidence when your nurse clings to the door facing to catch her breath after climbing up just four front porch steps. That's greatly improved now, with the reduction in the dosage of the atenolol, and is even still better with whatever I've got now. Feels like pneumonia, but I can still hear breath sounds in my lungs with my stethoscope, and I don't hear any rales, so I don't think it's too bad.

Boo, I have the same question. Surely you had someone there with you?? I don't think it's even legal to leave one staffer alone with multiple patients, especially a volatile patient population like you work with.

Poor Sean! I don't care how old they get, they still want a little babying from Mom when they feel bad. I think that's sweet.

I've got to get started on the Christmas tree today. David and the boys got it out Saturday night and stood it in the living room. It's still standing there, in all its nakedness. (Sorry, Aunt Bee.) I've got a good, safe ladder for getting to the top part, it even has handrails. I'll get that top done this morning, get the ladder out of the way, and then I can just get the rest done as I feel like it.

Well, guess I'd better go feed my tiny roommate, and myself as well. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108650: I got to looking at Jim Nabors' Wikipedia page and that led me to the Gomer Pyle page, and then I saw this quote from the show that I'd forgotten all about:

Gomer: I'm gonna be a fighting fool, you'll see.
Sergeant Carter: Well, you're halfway there.

There used to be some mighty talented TV writers back then. I'm not so sure about today.

Billy Ray the Postman
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108651: Thanks for lunch Maude !..hey any leftovers from supper?..we have been RE-Doing some of my cross lights in the misting rain...got them right now ..SPOT
December 05, 2017 - Msg 108652: Billy Ray, that is a funny line, thanks! :)
Maudie, same happened here, but we went from 80s right to 50s! ha It was very cloudy today with those
dark, low clouds like RO mentions sometimes. Some bits
of rain in parts of Phoenix.
Our tree goes up on Wed. We got a new one, with led lites that can be all white or colored, so should be fun.
Spot, and others on FB, I posted photos of my new Peanuts decorations.
The whole gang makes up the nativity scene. Hope Spot gets his crosses done.
ASA? you doing OK?
Take care all,
MDC
December 06, 2017 - Msg 108653: Hello and you all have a great Mayberry Day.
Frankie
December 06, 2017 - Msg 108654: MDC...Your talk about your Peanut characters got me to remembering a family at my church who had the whole gang mounted on the street side of their house for years!.. They were always the talk of the town. When their kids grew up and moved away, and the parents passed away and sold the house they were taken down by the new owners. Everyone missed seeing them especially around Christmas when they decorated them.

Well years later after a couple of different owners the current owners found the 6’ plywood cutouts atop the beams in the garage. As a tribute to the family, they restored them and mounted them back on the house like they were 40 years ago.

They always made me smile 😊 every time I passed them...Thanks MDC for the Memory Blast!...

G-F
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108655: Have the Christmas tree up and put lights in the window today. Merry Christmas Porch.
Frankie

December 07, 2017 - Msg 108656: Hi ya Frankie Flint! Good to see you, and merry Christmas!
GF--that is a really neat story. My characters are only about 3 feet high, but hopefully made with the same love that those others were made of. :)
One story I really like each year is the Dragnet episode where the baby Jesus is taken from a church nativity scene. Here is a link, and cue it up
to 21:50 to see the neat ending. (Also have a tissue ready)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKRO4rxDA3c
Our new tree is up and decorated. Simple, yet
'modern' with the led lites.
I am going to try the prison ministry again this Saturday. I am feeling good enough these days to give it a go. Please say a prayer that the message of Christmas will be received by these men, for as you know, we are "right in there" with them.
May the joy of the Christmas season be with you all,
MDC
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108657:
Today is the 76th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) attack that officially signaled America's entry in World War 2. Please don't forget the thousands of men and women who died on that day and the millions who died in the four years of war afterwards. Thank you.

From Poor Horatio
U.S. Navy and U.S. Army National Guard veteran
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108658: HI.
The loving hand of God.When life with all its struggles
Just seems to pass you by,
True happiness is gone from life,
you only sit and sigh.
the joy is gone from living,
the tears run down your face
the world is full of sorrow;
which time cannot erase.
the only way to ease the pain
is to take hold of God:s hand.
it will uplift and guide you.
through the barren lonely land
God will plant your feet upon a rock
give you peace and courage too
and you will never feel alone-
he will always be with you.


TOM(:


December 07, 2017 - Msg 108659: PH Check this out on the subject...
http://www.businessinsider.com/pearl-harbor-then-and-now-2017-12

Thank You TOM....

G-F
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108660: It's supposed to snow here in South Texas tonight. Can you believe that?!

Boo
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108661: I hope Romeena is doing ok and got started on that antibiotic. Check in when you can, Ro.

We were supposed to host the deacon's Christmas gathering here tomorrow evening but now Bruce is sick with the awful bug Sean had. I always love hosting it and it has been 5 years since I did it. Oh well, that's life...maybe next year.

All the decorating is done and everything is clean and shiny around here. It has been cold and rainy (and windy) today, so I have had a fire going this evening with the last of the dry wood. I lost some wood during the hurricane and what I have left is soaking wet. We never fixed the heater in the house because we need a whole new system and it will really cost. As infrequently as we need heat, I just haven't wanted to spend the money. The sprinkler system had to come first and I'm glad it did. The grass really looks nice.

I am planning on being up late to watch for snowflakes tonight...wish me luck. :)

Boo
December 07, 2017 - Msg 108662: By the way, in case anyone is wondering..I took a drive around town to look for people in tents and couldn't find any so things are getting better. I know the city has opened the civic center so people can stay there and be warm tonight.

I don't think I told you all that the first lady and second later visited my neighborhood yesterday to see how everyone is faring since the hurricane. I didn't see them, of course, but they were just down the street visiting the school. Kind of neat.

Boo
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108663: Boo, plus you forgot to mention that they stopped at WhataBurger! :) So sorry to hear that bruce is ailing. Prayers for a speedy recovery.
TOM--thank you for the beautiful poem! Very much needed at this time of year.
ROMEENA--are u doing OK? Hope the antibiotics are helping.
ASA--how are you doing buddy?
I did a bit of shopping today. Not much to get these days as our fam elected a few years ago to give such gift money to the Salvation Army instead.
GF and PH, thanks for the Pearl Harbor reminder.
Take care and prayers for all!
MDC
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108664: Good morning, porch! I'm up early, and feeling much better. Still have that miserable cough, which will probably hang on for weeks, but I feel good. Maybe I'll get my tree done today. I have spent this week either in bed or in my recliner, getting absolutely nothing done. That pneumonia stuff will whip your tail, for sure. I've just been useless. Back on the 5th, I said I'd get the top of the tree done first. Well, I climbed the ladder with six ornaments in my hand, managed to get them hung, got down, and that was the end of it. So my tree has exactly six ornaments on it. I plan to remedy that today. I'm never this late getting my tree up! I bailed on the Deacon's and Wives Christmas party, I didn't teach ESL this week, I even canceled an appointment with the DISH repairman. I've done nothing but sleep and cough and occasionally eat a little bit. Today feels like it will be much better.

TOM, that's a beautiful poem, and it's so true. God is always there, but we have to invite Him in.

MDC, thanks for that link to a "Dragnet" episode. I always enjoyed that show, but don't recall seeing that one. It's a winner!

Folks, I'd like to ask for your prayers for my brother. He has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He became aware of a lump, a hard spot, at the base of his tongue, far back in his throat, so he went to an ENT, a good one, fortunately. I've known this doc for 40 years. He took a biopsy, but told them before he even sent it off that he thought it was lymphoma. It was, and they're setting him up for treatment already. He has a medication port in place, and they're waiting on the results of a full-body scan to plan the next move. If it's localized in that one spot, they'll use proton-beam treatment, which has a very high success rate. If it has spread, treatment will be different. Needless to say, both my brother and my SIL are terrified, but they're handling it sensibly. Prayers, please.

Well, guess I'll get moving around here. Would like to finish that tree today, but that's a pretty big wish. One thing I know for sure, I won't get it done sitting here! Blessings, folks. --Romeena
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108665: Boo...Snow in Texas?...Crazy!...Glad to hear your town is finding their new normal and trying to get things put back together...Hope everyone is doing as good as they can today, sometimes that the best we can hope for.....”The Best We Can Do”...

G-F

December 08, 2017 - Msg 108666: Hi here.
I think Texas can have my snow.
Just gave me back the Wrame sun
:( COLD AS ICE.

TOM
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108667: TOM, isn't your furnace working? --Romeena
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108668: Hi Ro
Yes the Furnace work!
it just cold out door?
and that bad for the bond or it well be time For
the heater.


:>( brrrrr
ICE TOM


December 08, 2017 - Msg 108669: Hey SPOT the powers out over in Woodstock can ya help them out?....G-F
December 08, 2017 - Msg 108670: Not much happening over here. You all have a great weekend! Frankie
December 09, 2017 - Msg 108671: What an incredible day! Dec 8, 2017 isn't a date we will soon forget around here. It started snowing at 1am this morning..big flakes drifting down and the kids and I went nuts. We were out in it nearly the entire night. I posted a ton of pics and videos to facebook but wish I could share some of it with all of you. It was such a surreal experience. Just like a winter wonderland. We drove around while it was snowing and it was just like being in Colorado again, and to my surprise the snow accumulated. I thought it would because it began to fall much faster and thicker. It was ALOT of snow, so by morning we had about 4 inches. Not as much as the snow we had in 2004, but even more beautiful. We were up most of the night and then I was up early by 6am. We didn't want to miss a thing because the weatherman said it would all melt off by noon. He was mostly right, but it is still 34 degrees and there are a few patches left. What a great time. Finally feels like Christmas. I honestly never saw Erin have so much fun. They had a snowball fight this morning at the football field and then got to go home for the day. She had a friend over and they played outside for hours, throwing snowballs and making snowmen. What a time!

Well, I am pretty well exhausted so going to bed. Bruce is still sick, poor guy. He didn't get to go out and enjoy the snow this time.

So glad you are doing better, Romeena, and hope you get that tree done.

Boo
December 09, 2017 - Msg 108672: Wow, Boo, I am so jealous! Here we are several hundred miles north of you, and no snow. Not much chance of any, either. The sky is blue and clear, and the temp is 39° right now, expected to be 60° this afternoon. Doesn't sound like snow to me. Glad you had fun, though. Sounds wonderful. Hope Bruce gets better soon. This stuff is really vicious.

I'm about halfway on the tree. The top is all done, so the ladder is now out of the way. The back is mostly done, and part of the front. A little more and I can roll it back into its corner, and concentrate on the sides and front. I'm just filling everything up with ornaments, then will get the "special" ones out of the closet. They're all individually stored in tins, coffee cans and such, and I'll move things around to make room where I need to for those special ones. I'd say I've got another 6 or 8 hours to go before it's finished. Then I need David over here to get some things down from some very high shelves, and to hang the wreath over the fireplace, and stand my precious snowman in the wreath. That's his job every year, among other things, and when I leave this planet, the snowman is his. It's 80 years old. My mother bought it before I was born.

Well, off I go. On top of everything else, I have to get my hair cut today. I look like a shaggy dog. An old, wrinkled, stiff-kneed, coughing shaggy dog. Charming, huh? Blessings, all. --Romeena
December 09, 2017 - Msg 108673: Snowed in. Over 45k ouT just on our system. Help from out of state in way. Worst power outage I have seen in my 36 yrs. prayers. SPOT
December 09, 2017 - Msg 108674: Oh Ro, you have always been beautiful..when I saw that pic of you with your family at Thanksgiving, I just thought you were so pretty.

Wish you could have had snow, too. Brittany already commented on one of my pics that she was disappointed that you all didn't get any. Maybe next year..if we can, anyone can, although I must say we have had some strange and unexpected weather here on the coast in recent years. First the giant hurricane, and now a snow storm 3 months later. Weird.

So, I don't remember hearing about the 80 year old snowman you mentioned but I suppose I saw a picture of it when you posted Christmas pics several years ago. What is he made of?

Since we didn't get to attend our deacons party this year due to illness, I am going to go to my sister's church's party tonight. I know a lot of the folks there and it should be fun. Better go get myself ready.

Have a terrific evening.

Boo

PS-most all the snow is melted but the bottom half of the snowman is still standing in the yard...a sad reminder. lol
December 09, 2017 - Msg 108675: Just noticed your post, SPOT! Wow...tough situation...praying for you.

Boo
December 10, 2017 - Msg 108676: BOO--I saw ALL your pics on FB. WOW! how neat that must have been to be 'right out there in it' with Ernest T (AKA--Erin) ha. Glad you had a chance to have a good time!
ALL--I 'survived' the prison ministry today. Thanks for your prayers. All went well, and the Christmas message was delivered. I hope some of the men will take it to heart.
SPOT--prayers for you buddy, that's a lot of folks without power.
I am concerned about ASA. Please check in if you see this.
Good Sabbath to all!
MDC
December 10, 2017 - Msg 108677: Good Sabbath all.

Thanks for your concern MDC. All is well. Just very busy. We are in the middle of a massive expansion at one of our facilities and it is a mad house. This past week we poured almost 800 yards of concrete and will be doing another 400 yards starting at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. Although we have outside contractors doing the actual work (thank goodness), I have to be there to assure that things are being done to our engineering specs. That along with a couple of existing equipment failures that have been a major pain, I have been very busy. I'm glad your prison visit went well and that your health allowed you to make it. Good on you for your efforts to reach out to those who need it most.

Good to see you posting Boo. I can't believe you got snow. We had our first measurable snow last Monday, but that has been it. But I am good with that. With everything else I have going on, I don't need to add snow removal to it. Last night I watched "Angels with even filthier souls". You ever seen it? :)

Romeena, Your illness sounds like what I had a while back. It took residence in my chest for a good 6 weeks. Bad bad cough. In fact I still am dealing with it a bit. I hope you get feeling better soon.

Well I better go hit the shower before preaching. I have not been for almost 2 months. Between my back and my cough, it has been a long two months. I wonder if they got that pool table installed in the basement while I was gone. :)

Asa