I spent my days at work being distracted by my thoughts. In the evening, I’d get online (dratted dialup!) and start searching. Years before after DD was born, I went on a mostly vegan diet (I say “went on” because I also “went off”) that was low fat. I had quite a few lubs to lose and that was the only way I managed to do it. My energy levels went up along with the weight loss and I was a happy camper. DS1 had always been on the chubby size and he, too, dropped several sizes. With his chiseled good looks, he was a knockout. We were all feeling better but, obviously, it didn’t last. We’d fudge a little here and a little there until we were right back to our old ways. And the lubs, lonesome for us, returned.

It wasn’t a complete waste, though. I remembered the basic principles of that way of eating. No “free” fats and no refined foods. For its day and time, it was considered extreme.

When I started searching, I found a site maintained by Roger Haeske of Savory Veggie Stews fame. I was reading through all the malarkey about “You can eat anything you want as long as it’s raw” and thinking, “Yeah yeah yeah.” Then I came to a statement that brought me up short. “I don’t eat that way any more.” Then he started explaining that he hadn’t done well on the “anything you want” program. He started eating 80% carbs, 10% fat and 10% protein (the last two being maximum amounts). That matched the percentages of the low fat vegan diet I’d been on so many years before.

He had a forum (I don’t think it’s active any more) and I joined. In my discussions with him, I learned about a book, “The Raw Secrets” by Frederic Patenaude. It explained the way to go about putting raw vegan 80/10/10 into practice. I sat down and ordered it.

I still wasn’t completely sure I wanted to do this. What I knew was, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. AND obese. My BMI was around 33 and anything over 30 is considered obese. When I was in my teens, I was lucky if it got up to 18. Quite a change.

DD and merm were going to do a 30 day challenge. As I remember, they started on June 16, 2005. Four days later, I’d come to terms with the idea and figured I could do anything for 30 days. I was in. June 20, 2005. I was going to change my way of eating.

True to his techie ways, merm set up a blog to track their progress, complete with the grim-looking “before” pictures—front facing and side view. Ever the copycat, I did the same but the pictures didn’t come along right away. I could include a link to their blog but I won’t rat them out. I did learn that I needed to take my own mugshots wearing the same clothes every time. I’m baffled by why I didn’t take pictures as soon as or even before I started the challenge. The ones here were over a month later, July 30, 2005. I had already lost quite a bit of fat.

What started out to be a four-parter surely ended up a lot longer. And there’s one more chapter to cover in the story of my life up to now but that will have to wait.

I was all excited last week and couldn’t tell why. Now I can. Our church is going to do a “God in Shoes” June 29. It’s a program for less fortunate women in the area and lots of freebies will be offered including, but not limited to, a pair of shoes. New shoes are preferred but gently used will be accepted, too.

Well, you know me (or maybe you don’t). I like to shop on eBay. I’d been watching something on Tuesday that I’d planned to bid on. When the time came, the top bid was ‘way out of the reach of my budget so I didn’t win the auction. I’d gotten up from the computer and was going to do something else when something told me to go back and look for shoes.

I put in all the parameters I needed for the search–women’s running shoes, no size specified, new in box, etc., etc. Up popped a long list. I spied pair after pair after pair that were identical. The starting bid on each of 10 pairs of shoes from the same seller was $4.95. Shipping per pair was $9.95. I figured if I bid on eight pairs, I’d end up with at least a couple. My bids in, I got up again and decided I’d go to bed. I was already taking my shoes off when I felt I should go back and bid on the other two. That taken care of, I lay down and went to sleep.

Every time I woke up that night, I’d pray that I’d get some of the shoes for the program. I don’t know how long they had been posted but my bids were the only ones. I made up my mind that I wouldn’t outbid anyone. If someone came along and bid against me, they could have them. My limit was $4.95.

Next morning, there were two emails. I’d been outbid on two of the pairs of shoes. Okay. That still left eight. I had to go to town so I wasn’t sitting and breathlessly watching the minutes tick away. When I got home, there were eight emails. I’d won the rest of the auctions! Eight pairs of nice shoes for the program!

By the way, while I was in town, I went by Goodwill and bought four nice pairs of “gently used” shoes for less than $12. One pair sells for no less than $150 new.

Before I paid for the ones on eBay, I asked the seller if he would combine shipping. No problem. I told him what they were for and he was glad they were going to a good cause. Not only did he cut the shipping just about in half, he upgraded it from standard to expedited so they got here in two days.

We’ve been canvassing businesses and individuals for donations—either shoes or monetary. I set up a PayPal account and scanned the letter and donation form to a pdf so it can be emailed or downloaded. Tax deductible donations can be PayPal’ed to pikevillewomensministry@yahoo.com. Our church is quite small so any help we can get will be appreciated.

I emailed the letter to some of my relatives. A few days later, one of my sisters sent me a couple of pictures she’d found she thought I’d want—and a check for God in Shoes!

Here are the pictures. The first is when I was a junior in high school. The next is my sister who recently passed away and her son and yours truly holding DS1.

Sunday, DD and I had our usual visit. The prospect of her job turning into something more creative has fallen through. It’s too bad because she is very talented (and that’s not just Mom’s opinion). When we talked today, she said she’s getting busier and busier because the person she works with will be going on maternity leave soon. She and merm are in the process of buying furniture for the house they moved into almost a month ago.

Now, to the title of this post. There aren’t many things I miss, eating only vegan food. However, now and then I have had a longing for some whipped cream to go on some fruit. I know it isn’t a good combination and too much can make me fat but “moderation in all things”. I’d mentioned it to DD and, last week, I buckled down to do it. There are lots of recipes online for coconut “whipped cream”. I hunted one up and went through all the steps to make it. I had to start it the day before I planned to eat it because it had to chill overnight.

The next afternoon, I took it out of the fridge and carefully skimmed the “cream” off the top. My egg beater had given out years ago so I’d bought a strange-looking one with the best reviews on Amazon. It’s built to last and the others all had strikes against them.

I put the cream into my smallest mixing bowl and whipped it up. Like cream from a cow, there’s the “sweet spot” where it’s just right and the next second, it’s butter. That happened to me is how I know. I blended in a little more of the liquid and that helped. I mixed in a few drops of the vanilla DD made for me and some Coconut Crystals. Here’s the result and I must say, it was tasty.

By Wednesday, I’d about finished my berries but it was the neighbors to the rescue! I called the produce place and reserved a flat and my neighbor went down to pick it up. I’ve been feasting ever since. I’ll hate to see them go but peaches can’t be far behind.

Thursday, I called the credit union the hospital uses and closed my account. There wasn’t much in there but it was enough to go to my bank on Friday and open a savings account. I think the interest rate at the CU was .24%. At the bank, it’s .45%. The lady who helped me smiled and said, “You always look so pretty!” I could have asked her when she last had her eyes checked but I appreciated the compliment. Then she talked about how my hairstyle suited me. After the business was taken care of and I got up to leave, she came around the desk and hugged me. Now, when have you gotten that kind of treatment at YOUR bank?

Yesterday was a LONG DAY. Sabbath School, church, fellowship meal, Women’s Ministry meeting, a visit with Genese and then on to my cousin’s house for a family get-together. When I got home late yesterday afternoon, I put the food away and dropped. When it came time to do this post, I rebelled. It could wait.

The nominating committee meeting for today was canceled, I’m glad to say. It’s rained all day long. I’d thought I’d go to town and get some things I need but I decided against it. I’ll live.

All three of my children have wished me a Happy Mother’s Day by phone and merm did on Facebook. I haven’t gotten much done but DS2 said that was okay. I’ll trust he’s right.

I didn’t say much about it at work. I was enough of an oddball as it was. My vegetarian fare was scrutinized by my co-workers much more than the lunches brought by the carnivores. Once, I’d made a Peanut Butter Loaf by my mother-in-law’s recipe. When asked what it was, I made the mistake of calling it by its proper name. Even just before I retired from the hospital, people would talk about my “Peanut Butter Meatloaf”. It didn’t matter than I tried, valiantly, to correct them. There wasn’t any meat anywhere close to it. It was, laughingly, “meatloaf”.

DD and merm were still on their cruise. Nine days can be a long time when you really really want contact. Internet access on the ship was anywhere from sketchy to non-existent and it was extremely expensive to even try to get online. I waited. And waited. And waited.

Seemingly months later instead of days, they were back. A few days passed and merm sent out an email. They were going to try eating just raw food. The parents were planning to do the same. I still wasn’t completely sure. I did like my grits and eggs in the mornings and my fried potatoes when I got home from work.

I had to do a little more thinking and searching. I wasn’t quite ready to take the plunge.

My sister had asked me, the telephone hater, to call our brother-in-law and see how he was doing. My children are the exception when it comes to my ambivalence toward Alexander Graham Bell. I don’t call people to just talk. There has to be a burning reason for me to pick up the phone and call someone. I’d put it off long enough so I picked up the phone and called. One of the caregivers answered. I identified myself and so did she. She has the same name that my sister did. I asked to speak to my BIL. She got the phone to him and we sort of talked. He’s a retired physician and, as such, he’s totally non-compliant when it comes to taking care of himself. I asked, “If you were your patient, what would you tell you?” In a rather weak voice, he said, “You need to eat.” I called the caregiver by name and asked him if she were a good cook. He replied, “She was until she died.” I told him I enjoy the clock he made me and he figured he needed to start woodworking again. In his condition? I certainly hope not but I didn’t say what I thought.

Periodically, my neighbor/cousin has asked me for advice about her construction partner’s brother. I can’t answer all of her questions but I do know something about insurance since I made my living for a good part of my life battling with it. Maybe I was schooled that way for such a time as this.

There was some excitement that I’d love to be able to tell about but I can’t give it away quite yet. I thought I’d be able to but one of the principles wasn’t at church and I hate for her to find out about it this way. So…everyone will have to wait until NEXT week.

I’ve been back and forth with Walmart about Champagne mangos and I thought I’d made some headway getting them but it was not to be. I’m certain one of the people in the office told me that they were in the warehouse and all they needed was the UPC number to order them. Someone else said they WEREN’T in the warehouse. It all boils down to, they can’t get them.

Tuesday afternoon, I got the bright idea of calling the produce place in town and the manager said he’d see if he could get the mangos. I stressed that they are CHAMPAGNE mangos and the company is Ciruli Brothers. I even gave him the web site address—champagnemango.com. He’d find out and let me know.

I’d reserved a flat of strawberries and promised I’d be there before 4 (3 TT) to pick them up. While I was there, the manager told me again he’d check on Champagne mangos. He had my phone number and he’d call me when he found out.

That evening, he called. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he had good news for me. He could get the mangos!! Woohoo!!! Life was good. They’d be in either Friday or Monday.

Friday came and he called. They were there. I could pick them up at my convenience. I had a boatload of stuff to do but I jumped in the shower, got ready and set out.

My trips to town are meant to get the most out of my gas expenditure. I went to Wally World first and then to the produce place. As soon as I walked in, he headed to the back to get them. When he walked out, beaming, I just shook my head. They were Ataulfo to be sure but not Champagne. I agreed to take them at a lower price but I feel like I was ripped off because they came to $1.25 each and when I’ve gotten them at Walmart before, they’ve never been more than 88 cents each. My neighbor/cousin got them for me in Florida for 79 cents. My contact at on the Champagne mango facebook page is still trying to help me get them into Walmart.

Back home, I sped around and got done what I could and went to bed at a reasonable hour with my clock set for 5:31.

This morning, I prayed my hair would be reasonable so I could get to church on time. I got there at 9:05 and song service is scheduled for 9:15.

When I walked up to the organ, here’s what I saw:

This one is the long view showing where I spend most of my Sabbath morning. The little box to the right of the music rack is the notorious signal light.

I found out two of the ladies in the church were instrumental in getting the plant/flowers for me and I do so appreciate it. The flowers will die eventually but the plants should last if I can find my green thumb.

My adopted sister who is moving to Hawaii came up and sat on the organ bench with me while I played the postlude. She and my sister who lived in the Great Northwest were good friends in college. She expressed her sympathy and admired my arrangement.

The friend who went with me to see Genese challenged me to a Wordscraper game. At present, we are playing two but it’s slow going. I’m currently pretty much slaughtering her. She wanted the program I use to find words but it was no longer online. Everywhere I searched, the link was broken. Finally, I contacted the author. He was pleasantly surprised anyone still used it so he put it back up. People who play online word games should check it out. MrWordy is a free download and you can get it here. It works best with the UK word list on Wordscraper. I don’t know if any of the other word games have that option.

After church, the nominating committee members got together and it was decided we would meet tomorrow morning instead of the afternoon. I’ll have to get up before daylight AGAIN so I’d better hang this up and get ready for bed.

As they came in, I was able to put some more pictures on my PDA. When anyone would ask me how my trip was, I would whip it out and make them sorry they asked. I could store all sorts of files on it with my extra memory stick.

DD and merm’s honeymoon cruise would last nine days. They were talking more and more about doing a 30 day raw challenge but it would have to wait until after they got back from the cruise. They knew there would be lots of tasty cooked food on board the ship and they wanted to be able to enjoy it.

As for me, I was down a few more lubs but that wasn’t likely to last. Breakfast was the usual—OJ, fried taters and onions and scrambled eggs. On the weekend, the eggs would be in omelet form and filled with either shredded lettuce or sprouts, tomato, onion, avocado, ripe olives, cream cheese plus the necessary picante sauce. I’d found some really good (translate that “delicious”—not “good” as in “healthful”) fake sausage. The name was kind of a takeoff on Jimmy Dean sausage. It was Gimme Lean. It had soy and I didn’t indulge in soy but I made an exception.

With summer coming on, I would be increasing my fresh food eating, anyway. I was getting more and more interested in eating raw as I was stuffing my face with cooked food. I’d been doing a little research but what I found just didn’t seem right to me. That, coupled with DD telling me it would take days to fix a meal rather than minutes or hours at the most, left me a bit troubled.

There weren’t a lot of “uncook” books out there then. When I asked at the Adventist Book Center, they looked at me like I was crazy. I went to Books-A-Million and found one. Flipping through it, there wasn’t anything that interested me. Books Are Fun came to the nursing home periodically and set up in the dining room. Nothing there.

It looked as if whatever I found would have to be online. My connection was so slow, it took hours to find anything, let alone something as obscure as eating raw food. I decided I’d wait until DD and merm got back and confer with them. After all, there was no hurry. I could be patient.

Monday and Tuesday were unremarkable. Then Wednesday came. I was getting low on a couple of things so I’d planned a trip to town to restock. I got myself ready to go and was just about to pick up my list, my purse and grab my keys when the phone rang. It was my niece. I knew The Time Had Come and it had. My sister in the Great Northwest had finally been released from her battle with almost uninterrupted pain. Her going was peaceful. I couldn’t help but feel relieved for her. She had suffered so. Growing up, we had fought like cats and dogs but then we got to be best friends and we loved each other dearly.

It all started in July, 2008. “I have an ugly painful rash”, she wrote in an email. She added that her MD husband said it looked like shingles. Three days later, she emailed, “I have pain med on hand and that does help, but is the only thing that does. It is now an ugly red rash, about 1/4 inch thick according to my ‘resident physician’–it got weepy and wet in the night and ‘VERY’ painful. Also hurts inside my back, under my shoulder blade.” She added that it was unilateral—her husband said it was like someone had taken a ruler and marked it off at her spine. Of course, that’s the nature of shingles.

When she was found unresponsive on the floor not many days later, she was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with viral encephalitis. For awhile, it seemed to be touch and go but she finally responded to treatment. The struggle had taken its toll, though, so she was moved to a rehab center for therapy. For several months, she shuttled between hospital, rehab, and home and back again. It seemed a never ending cycle.

As time went on, the pain got worse and worse. She couldn’t stand anything touching her skin so she wore as few clothes as possible. She no longer went out except to the doctor. Once, she had managed to get dressed and go to the store. She hadn’t been anywhere for so long, it was a novel experience.

We were able to talk on the phone and, on good days, she could sit up and email. Her shingles pain was unrelenting. I did some research online and found that post-herpetic pain can be eliminated by a nerve block. I even talked to one of the doctors at the hospital about it. He was guarded in his opinion of it. Patients that had the surgery were numb on one side and some stated they would rather have the pain. She was getting desperate and her husband started trying to find a surgeon who would be willing to do it. There was no one.

In early February, 2010, she complained to me that her ears were hurting—that sounds seemed to be magnified. Then, one day, she couldn’t hear at all. She was totally, completely deaf. The phone calls were history.

When I visited DD and merm in June of the same year, we went to the house to see my sister. There was a note on the door that she had fallen and was being taken to the ER. There was no discussion—merm immediately headed to the hospital. When DD and I got to the room where she was, I was heartbroken. If I had seen my sister in another setting I probably wouldn’t have recognized her. She looked older than our other sisters. I’m the “baby” of the family and she was only seven years older than me.

When she saw me, she had no trouble recognizing me. She shouted to her husband, “Look! It’s Ta!” (That is what my oldest niece called me when she was little and it stuck.) Not being able to hear herself, she would talk much louder than necessary and he would sometimes motion for her to speak more quietly. He was holding her white board so I took it and wrote messages to her. She would read them and then respond. The writing had to be large because, by then, her eyesight was failing.

Since she had taken quite a spill, she’d been x-rayed. The results came back. On top of everything else, she had broken her hip. She was in the hospital several days and then was moved to rehab (again). That’s where she was the last time I saw her. Once when I was visiting, she remarked, “This is your fault, you know. I caught chicken pox from you.” When I was 3 and she was 10, I had chicken pox. I guess I was the first to get it and then she did. That has haunted me ever since. When DD, merm and I were leaving the facility, I told them I’d never see her alive again. Sadly, I was right.

She was either unwilling or unable to cooperate with physical therapy so she became, essentially, an invalid. Caregivers were hired to give her and my brother-in-law 24/7 care. Finally, it was decided to have hospice take over. That was mid-February of this year. A few weeks ago, they found she had glaucoma.

People are very solicitous of my losing my sister but, in all the months of not being able to communicate with her, I felt like I’d already lost her. A few of the caregivers would email and once in awhile, one of my sisters would call and talk to a caregiver. We would get updates from my niece and her husband and while I was glad to know what was going on, it wasn’t like direct access to her. It may have been the medication but she began to get more and more confused. The person she had been was no longer there. On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, her body died.

When I got off the phone with my niece, it rang again and it was my neighbor/cousin. I told her what had happened and she has since invited me over if I needed to talk or anything. I appreciated that but what I needed was to sit in Mother’s chair and just think and breathe. I tried to call DS1 and got voice mail. Same with DD. I knew DS2 wouldn’t be home at that hour. I picked up my purse and keys and the phone rang. It was DS1. I gave him the news then went on to town, got my hair cut (the strangest cut I’ve ever had—I’ve had to do a lot of evening up and snipping) and did my shopping. When I got home, I called DD and DS2.

When I came along there were five of us known as “Artie’s girls”. Mother hated her name but she was proud of all of us. We stayed the five until my oldest sister passed away November 22, 2010. Then there were four. Now there are three. I told DS1 I want to be next. He said since I am the youngest, I will probably be the last. However, there are no guarantees I’ll draw the next breath.

Thursday, Genese posted a distressed plea for prayer for her son-in-law. He’d been hit by a train early that morning and had lost one leg and the other was crushed beyond repair. He’d managed to call 911 on his cell phone which was a miracle in itself. He has had two surgeries so far and who knows how many will be down the road. All in all, he is doing better than expected. He’s already been moved out of trauma ICU into a regular room. Genese feels so useless during this time but she has been updating us on Facebook and encouraging us to pray. Her 14 year old grandson is taking it hard but, until tonight, the 3 year old granddaughter hadn’t been told anything except he’d been put in the hospital. The whole family needs prayer.

My niece called that day and was telling me about arrangements for the memorial. My sister had been cremated per her wishes. She had also left instructions for the service which promises to be unique.

The week hasn’t been all sadness, though. My strawberries are starting to produce. I’d had a bite or two here and there but yesterday, I was able to get enough to EAT!

I even sacrificed my last Champagne mango and mixed with them.

In the afternoon, I got an email from one of my friends that we were to have a Women’s Ministry meeting after the guest meal today and she hoped I’d stay. Yikes!! I flew around and got food ready.

This morning, I loaded the food and myself into the car and got to church a couple minutes late. On one of my bathroom breaks, I found a tick. It was just barely embedded so I pulled it off, head and all, and it was trying to get away. It wasn’t successful. I flushed it down the commode. (Mother would have said I made it a sailor.)

The church service was interesting with a Power Point presentation but it was when the pastor started speaking extemporaneously that it was much better. It was all about the feasts, new moons and sabbaths.

After church was over, I met a friend of our newly married couple. When the husband was introducing us, I got the idea the man was the bride’s father. Then the husband started laughing an embarrassed laugh. That went on for I don’t know how long and I finally figured out he had forgotten my name. I told him that was okay, that I forgot it myself sometimes. THEN it was MY turn. When the bride turned around from talking to someone else, I said she looked like her father. She gave me a puzzled stare. It wasn’t her father! It was a friend. Oh, well.

I took my leave and went to get my food taken care of.

There wasn’t much vegan fare at the lunch but I did okay. Then the meeting took probably the better part of an hour. After that, I gathered up my things and, on my way out, I called out to one of my friends, “Let’s go see Genese!” To my surprise, she agreed. She’d never met Genese but I’d talked about her so much she wanted to “put a face with a name.” The three of us visited for I don’t know how long, then she left. We were talking about calling long distance so I taught her to use her Google Voice number. She was surprised at how easy it was. She called me and left the message, “I learned something new today!” That’s what I’d promised. I stayed until almost 5 when supper was brought in. While I was there, I saw several other people I knew. It was like a family reunion.

I found two ticks today—one on a bathroom break at the church and the other here at home. The first was, as Mother would say, made a sailor and the second put on a piece of foil and baked on the stove until it was no more. Cruel, I know, but I can’t tolerate them.

The blackberries are in bloom. If they are to set fruit, they need a cold spell. When I was at Walmart, I got an assortment of plants. The weather is mild now but I’m still a bit reluctant to set them out. I have stuff to make some SIPs (Sub-Irrigated Planter) so I think I’ll do that tomorrow. If I’m really really motivated, I’ll take pictures and do a post about it. Until then…

I sank my fork into it and took a bite. Horrors! It was awful! The “crust” was okay. I think it would have been good by itself. However, the filling was like it had been liberally laced with sand. To say it was gritty would have been an understatement. I don’t remember if I finished mine (I’ve always been a member of the Clean Plate Club) or if I let DD have the rest. She was obviously enjoying hers but I had no idea how. The contrast between the “candy” and the “cheese” cake was huge.

Now, back to the future for a moment. When DD and I made the raw vegan “cheese” cake last summer, the filling was super creamy. We both liked that. However, I enjoyed the texture of the crust against the creaminess of the filling but DD didn’t. She thought, instead of being crunchy, it should have been smooth. So…to each her own.

Back in Queens (where the apartment was located), after the “cheese” cake disaster, I took to my room to start packing. I’d have to hie me to the airport the next morning. My vacation was almost over.

Morning came and a cab was called. The rental car had been turned back in. It would have cost a small fortune to keep it the additional days and none of us had the wherewithal that could be labeled riches. I wasn’t acquainted with the cab service in Astoria, Queens, New York. When it got there, it was an older car (if I remember correctly, it was a Lincoln Continental). It was deep maroon and didn’t look at all like a cab. Assured by DD that it was my ride, I reluctantly let the driver load my luggage in the trunk and I got in.

The trip to the airport was unremarkable. The driver didn’t spirit me away to some unknown location and rob me. In any case, I was glad to get there and take charge of my luggage.

Check-in went smoothly and the flight was eventually called. No potholes in the sky made for a non-bumpy ride. When the plane landed at my home airport, DIL1 and my granddaughter were there to meet me.

I was exhausted. Hauling around my personal extra weight and my luggage had worn me out. I asked my DIL to drive. She wasn’t terribly thrilled because she didn’t like to drive my car. I don’t know if it was because it was a straight shift or what but she agreed to suck it up and keep the wheel.

Back at their house, I dropped in my tracks. I’d taken Friday off so I didn’t have to go home until the next day. I needed to recuperate.

At the time, DS1 was working Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week. He was at work when we got to the house but he would have Friday off, too, and I’d get to spend a little time with him.

When he got home that evening, I passed out the little goodies I’d picked up for each of them in New York. I wouldn’t see DS2 and his until later on since no one would be home when I planned to leave.

With my usual stops the next day, I got home. Twinkle met me at the door loudly complaining about being left alone for more than a whole week! I unloaded the car and put the perishables away. Other than that, I didn’t bother to unpack. That could wait for another time. I was beat.

But I’m supposed to be chronicling my week. Last Saturday night, I got all wired trying to figure out how on earth I was going to fit everything in on Sunday. I dozed quite a bit but I didn’t really go to sleep for hours upon hours. I had the alarm set for 5:31 a.m. Tommie Time but I knew I wouldn’t be able to function if I got up and stayed up then so I turned the alarm off. After pleading with the Lord to let me sleep, I dropped off about 6 and slept until 7. That, along with my dozing, had me refreshed enough that I could get up and go.

I had my contribution to the picnic all ready so all I had to do was get myself breakfasted, showered and dressed. I’d given up leaving on time so I figured I’d get there when I got there and they’d just have to be happy that I was showing up at all.

First, I had to drop my prescription off at Walmart and then I was on the road. I’d gotten two sets of directions to the pavilion where the “do” was to be held but they contradicted each other. First, I turned where one set said to and wound up in a residential area. I knew that couldn’t be right so I turned around and headed toward the marina which the other set of directions said to do. No pavilion there. The place of business was closed but I finally spied a fellow walking along. He was carrying a clipboard so I thought he might be able to help me. Turns out he didn’t know there was a pavilion anywhere around but he spied a building on a hill and said that might be it.

I headed toward said hill and saw my pastor walking along. WOOHOO! Finally! I’d thought I might have to turn around and bring my food home to eat but there was the group! The fellow had been right after all.

When I walked toward the pavilion, my sister-in-law, DH’s sister, came out to greet me. I had a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I wasn’t lost.

The wind was blowing and the tablecloths were trying their best to become airborne. My SIL is a smart resourceful woman and she started around all the tables, tying knots in the corners of the cloths to hold them down. I got in on the action and helped her with several.

There wasn’t much there I cared to eat so, after visiting with friends and family for a while, I left.

I couldn’t go right by Aldi without stopping so I got my Aldi quarter out and went shopping. I didn’t have time for much but I grabbed the things that were good deals and checked out. Next, I went to Walmart, picked up my prescription and got the rest of the things on my list.

Home was on the way to the nominating committee meeting but there wasn’t going to be time to stop by. As it was, I was a few minutes late but the pastor was just getting out of his car so I was okay.

The meeting scheduled for an hour stretched to almost two and a half. On the plus side, we did get a lot done. I don’t know why I’m there, really. I listen and vote and that’s about it. I contribute once in awhile but it isn’t major.

Back home again, I unloaded everything and was eating—again—’way too late.

The rest of the week has been about average for me. Eating, sleeping, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning. Harassing the produce people about Champagne mangos. I did get word that they have the information to get them into the store. I do wish they’d hurry up. I’m down to two. I still have a few of the others left but they aren’t wonderful. As a matter of fact, when I cut one, here’s what it looked like.

What wasn’t out and out garbage didn’t have a good flavor.

I did have two strawberries off my plants which is two more than I had all last year. Looks like there might be more coming on!

Yesterday, I had a green smoothie with some fresh mint and I made some cashew mayo with dill out of what makes up my garden at the moment. I was hoping to expand my garden space this spring but that might not happen until next year, if then.

My niece called when I was in the midst of walking and told me my sister in the Great Northwest was unresponsive. She was going over later in the afternoon. It’s so sad to think of her in that way. When we were growing up, we were always at each other’s throats. I was enough younger that I was “the pest” but I was able to hold my own. Later, we got to be best friends. Now, I can’t call her. Along with her hearing loss, her eyesight is failing and she’s been unable to read anything but very large print for a long time. It’s like I’ve already lost her. There’s no communication except what I can learn from my nieces and caregivers. I gave orders for someone to call me, night or day, when the inevitable happens. I can’t pray for her to survive any longer. She’s suffered enough.

The church campout is out on top of a mountain where it is cooler than it is on my mountain. It got warm this afternoon so I sat in the sun but the clouds have moved in. Tonight, there’s a chance of showers with temps in the lower to mid-40s. Thanks, anyway, but I’ll be sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Today is DD’s 34th birthday. When I did my body test this morning with the Wii, it said, “If I’m not mistaken, today is DD’s birthday.” Then it went on to say that birthdays only come once a year (DUH!) and I should do something special. Well, I would if I could. Her present is on the way (it’s from a seller on Etsy so it was made to order) and I sent her a Jacquie Lawson card. Under the circumstances, that’s the best I can do besides call her and sing “Happy Birthday!” She told me merm was making her a strawberry shortcake—a tradition since she was a little girl. I’m glad the tradition still lives on.

I have a project. My cousin/neighbor has been helping her construction partner’s 84 year old brother with his finances. He has a healthcare plan she thinks might not be the best fit so I’ve been asked to help him find something more suitable. She was surprised that there are so many different plans but, when I worked at the hospital (I love that word worked), there was a binder listing hundreds of companies across the US who administer Medicare Advantage plans. So…I shall pull up the links I sent her and proceed to try to sort things out.

Until next week…

DD had said the curtain was getting shabby and she wanted to replace it. I told her when she did, I wanted it but I don’t think she believed I was serious. They’d actually bought it so the interns who used to share the living quarters could learn their way around. Now, the interns were no longer living there.

One place I’d settled on was the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. When we got inside, we were greeted by a giant Spiderman.

Here he is from a little different perspective showing just how big he is.

The entrance was quite dramatic.

Once inside, I was much too busy with all the “toys” we could play with to take pictures.

Out in the wind and drizzle, we became part of the crowd again. I took this picture for my sister who was a great fan of Barnes and Noble before Amazon got to be so popular.

Another store for all ages is FAO Schwarz. DD patiently posed for a picture in front of Barbie’s house.

Then there were the famous landmarks made of Legos.

If you click on the picture and look at the original size, you can see King Kong on the Empire State Building waving a Legos banner.

We didn’t have a video camera with us when we saw the piano that Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia played in the movie “Big”. There were a couple of fellows that came out and entertained the crowd that had gathered to watch and listen. I don’t know why, but I got teary-eyed. It was so neat!

Our stomachs were letting us know we hadn’t eaten since breakfast (leftovers plus bagels merm had brought in from a neighborhood bakery). DD took me to the Zen Palate in the theatre district, one of her favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurants. The food was delicious and the company was excellent.

Then there was the fat woman across the table.

It had been a long day with lots of walking and we were both getting tired. There was one more place she wanted to visit. It was a little hole in the wall eatery offering raw vegan food. The place was almost like a wide hallway and there was a very friendly jolly sort of fellow behind the refrigerated case. A couple of tables took up most of the space. Everything seemed to be overpriced in the extreme but she wanted me to have the raw vegan experience. She settled on a piece of chocolate “cheese” cake that we’d split when we got back to the apartment. The chef (I supposed that was who he was) offered us a sample of some “candy” made of sesame seeds, walnuts and I don’t know what else. There were several pieces in a cup. When I bit into it, I wished I’d taken more than one. It was wonderful! That just whetted my appetite for the “cheese” cake.

DD guarded her precious packet as we boarded the subway that would take us back to the apartment. It seemed to take far longer than it should. I wanted to sink my teeth into that chocolate-y goodness!

Inside, merm declined sharing in our bounty. He probably figured he’d have a fight on his hands and he didn’t need that. DD got two plates and carefully cut the piece in two. I was practically drooling by that time.

She handed me my plate and a fork. I took a bite.

After I did all the essential things, DD called. I figured I had time for a short conversation and still grab a bite to eat before I had to shower and leave for the nominating committee meeting. DD was deep in the throes of packing to move. Better her than me.

I hadn’t calculated the time very well because after we hung up, I didn’t have time for food. My banana supply was gone or I could have taken a couple with me. I figured I’d live.

The meeting that was supposed to last “maybe an hour” stretched to almost two. I’d thought I might run by to see Genese but I still had to stop by the supermarket and get a few things I needed and then I was going to come home and EAT even if it was rather late.

Once I was safely inside, I left off putting things away until I could scarf down some food. I had a lovely juicy grapefruit straight from Florida and that held me over until I could fix the last two mangos.

I finished eating about 7 p.m. Rejuvenated, I put the groceries away.

The weather has turned even cooler. I’ve had to turn the heat back on several days. One morning, it was down to 32. Guess I got spoiled by the solar heat we’d been experiencing. The sun still shone, though, and I was able to get out in it bundled up like an Eskimo. I haven’t been visited lately by the Garage Guest. He’s been ordered to leave me alone.

Tuesday night, I did another Story of My Life post. It was about the cruise DD and I went on. It won’t be long now!

Thursday came and I got a phone call. Well, actually, I got two. The first one was from one of my friends asking me to guess where she was. That was easy. The last time I’d talked to her, I asked her when she would be going to Costco and told her about Champagne mangos. I said, “You are at Costco and they have Champagne mangos.” I was right on both counts. I ended up having her get me two six packs plus a box of who-knows-what-kind of mangos. I’ve found that Haden aka Tommy Atkins share the same PLU number with Kent. Anyway, they should be good coming from Costco. Avocados and a pineapple completed my telephone shopping. Then, when she got home, she discovered her husband had put back one of my six packs of Champagne because he thought the box of mangos replaced them. Oh, well. I’ll get more later.

Then my cousin/neighbor called me to let me know what was going on. GG had quit his job. Again. He was working for a temp agency and had misunderstood how he was to get paid. He swore they lied to him but I figure he heard an amount and that stuck in his head as his wage. Anyway, he came home, got Pooky and left again. He was gone until sometime last night because his truck was back this morning. The garage door was closed. I had no reason to go out there so, as far as I was concerned, he was undisturbed. What will happen on that front is anyone’s guess.

The construction partner’s brother had to go to a rehab facility to get strong enough to walk again and he wasn’t at all happy. She was on her way to go see what could be done to calm him down. I still don’t know if he had his 84th birthday party.

Yesterday, I prepared food for today and tomorrow. I’d put garbanzos to soak Thursday night and I started them cooking in the morning. I made tahini (I’d made it once before but I’d used it all) and then turned part of the garbanzos into hummus. One container of it went with me today for the fellowship meal and the other will go tomorrow to a last get-together before my dear friend I’ve known since I was 14 moves to Hawaii.

My friend’s daughter, her husband and their baby were at church today. That little boy is just too cute! He had on little brown overalls and looked like an animated doll.

After the fellowship meal, the Women’s Ministry group met to discuss the God In Shoes program that we’ll be having in June. It will be quite a project but it has the potential of doing a lot of good. It’s nice that I can participate in such things. Before, I would have had to work or try to get off. Now, I have a lot more flexibility.

There was a little hummus and some chips left so I took them over to Genese. We visited for most of two hours and could have talked longer. Get the two of us together and we don’t have any lapses in the conversation.

Seems I’m always hungry after a fellowship meal so I ate when I got home. Not good. I’ll probably gain a lub from my gorging.

DietBet has been campaigning for me to participate again and I probably should. They have a public challenge starting every Tuesday.

My granddaughter (DS1′s daughter) had some disturbing news. One of her friends from her high school drowned this afternoon. She said everyone is taking it very hard. That’s understandable. One of my classmates was killed in a motorcycle accident during the school year so I can relate. She asked me to pray for everyone concerned—especially his family. She said she knew I didn’t know him but it would help. I told her I didn’t have to know him, that she knew him and God knew him.

I’m starting to yawn. I got up a little after 5:30 Tommie Time (Genese likes that) this morning and will have to do the same tomorrow. Guess I should think about hitting the hay.