Git 'er done!

What a rewarding day! I got way more done than normal and was able to stay focused and on task pretty much all day. So now I have a clean house, we had a great meal, I got my BIBLE STUDY NOTES site up at http://ionanet.com/bible I think actually having the framework in place and a few chapters posted will tend to motivate me to get be more productive and post well beyond what our Bible Study is doing.

In praying about the study, my research and review and the site itself, I am led to feel I should approach it as a permanent project. I was also reminded by the Holy Spirit that I need to get to work on my life story once more. I am so easily side tracked and the longer something gets laid aside the less I get done on it.

That brings me to another project I need to get into the works, Max Cooper's Pen. Max was my favorite uncle and a gifted writer.

If I can muster up more days like today, I can get these projects rolling. I love to do them but usually never seem to keep them moving along. I am praying I can be blessed with some of my old energy and sustainable drive so I can actually get all of Max's columns online, make serious progress on my life story and the Bible Study Notes, and...

Then there is the photo project. I now have the latest version of Photoshop so I can once more work with images. I do need to get my scanners up and running, though. I have hard copy photos that need to be digitized and preserved. It's a project for my children and their children as is the genealogy I also am working on.

Well, I am excited. As I said, my house is clean, all my little paper work chores are done, I hope, and I made good computer progress today. Praise God, for He is the author of any success I had. It was sure good to "Git 'er done!"

Red Tape Idiocy

Kim sent us an interesting and morbidly funny article about a dead person with a zero credit card balance who was racking up quite a bill for annual and late fees. Of course, they couldn't close the account. You have to do that in writing which is extremely hard once the fingers begin to stiffen or decay.

Although I roared with laughter as her family loaded one tactic after another with a fair share of dark humor and tongue in cheek wit, I also realize this sort of catch 22 happens all too often. Here's ours:

We are having a similar situation with our deed. Seems an error was made in the legal description before the house was even built. We are now told the land and house do not exist and were never deeded to anyone during the subdividing of the original orange grove. Our response is that we should then be removed from the property tax rolls. The mortgage company didn't pay the insurance premium because the insurance is supposedly useless until we can prove our house and lot exist and belong to us. It matters not that we can send pictures or even bring the bureaucrats here to stroll through house and measure the lot. The county courthouse says our place is nonexistent. We're having so much fun! If we were braver, we'd stop making mortgage payments altogether or claim this as a true homestead.

I picked up a copy of our deed today from our safe deposit box and, armed with many pictures, a survey and appraisal and closing documents from when we bought the place, we'll load up Monday and head over to the county offices and tax assessors hideout to see what were can work out. I'm bringing Bible, a book on Mark and my iPhone with lots of games.

We got out tax notice today. Seems after the property tax cut all us Floriana voted for last year gave Richard and I a $1200/yr increase on our property tax. So, I am off tilting at windmills like a flower child version of Don Quixote. We cannot afford $300 a MONTH PROPERTY TAX! Taxed to the limit and receiving few governmental services,,, Someione needs to step up to the plate and put a stop to shoddy, overpopulated and uncaring government. HELP, I'm too old to run, not too mention way too slow.

Lana, Graham and Harvey

So much has happened and the days whizz by so fast that I lose track. For my own record and for anyone who is interested, here are some highlights:

Son Norman was in Auburndale in his truck (semi) Friday evening. Fay was hitting us with a gullywasher downpour when we went to pick him up. We had a great evening visiting and a good discussion of the Bible even though we hold quite different beliefs on who Jesus is and what can legitimately be called scripture. Neither of us tries to convince the other. Those days are long past and each has heard what the other has to say.

Trudy had her 5 pound 2 ounce baby girl by C-section Saturday. Being a great grandmother again is such a blessing. I wish I could hold this new little bundle of life, Lana.

Mother and baby are both fine. Norman and I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Richard met us there after he got off work. When it was time for Norman to return to his truck, I stayed at the park for two live performances, Beauty and the Beast and Fantasia.

Other than church, I can't recall much about Sunday.

Monday was interesting. Athena had given us vouchers to see Blue Man Group. I had called and made our reservations and we decided to go early. We ate at the NASCAR Grille before picking up our tickets. Very cool place with great food... the taquitos were like nothing I ever had before. Marvelous! Then the rain came down, hard and fast like it only does in Florida or in a rare desert flash flood. We bought ponchos, and made a run for the theater. We redeemed our vouchers for actual tickets and the attendant says, "You know these are for next week, right?" WRONG! We did not know. Well, I did know but didn't realize what day it was... Oh well, whatever, as the young folks say. We still had a fine time.

Tuesday we cleaned and shopped and played computer games and studied the Bible. It was a very fine day.

Now, for today. Had Bible Study this morning. Revelation 6. Of course we didn't get finished with that. Too much going on in that one to cover in an hour. I'm posting my notes online now. That way everyone can print them as they want them. I got chapters 4 and 5 up but will get 6 up tomorrow. They are at http://ionanet.com/bible/revelation.htm if you want to check them out.

This evening we had "Back Yard" at church. I made spaghetti sauce. The sermon was on Phillipians and Mike put the message in a new light, very effective. Someone I had sent an email invitation to came. She was delightful. It's always such a blessing when the seed you scatter bears fruit. Of course, it is the Lord who causes that.

Now, I am pleasantly mellow and relaxed. Here is something to ponder... Yes, you may have seen it before, but it is worth a reread.

Billy Graham's prayer aired by Paul Harvey

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. 

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. 

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. 

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. 

We have killed our unborn and called it choice. 

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. 

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. 

We have abused power and called it politics. 

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. 

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. 

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. 

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story." With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'

If possible, please share this prayer with your family and friends. 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.'

May we once more become...  One Nation Under God.

Evolution?

I just read and responded to a New York Times article about Florida teacher David Campbell who helped devise the new state standard specifically requiring Evolution to be taught in public schools. I found the article to be well written and Mr. Campbell well presented. I am sure he is proud of it. I, however, was ashamed. The science presented and the conclusions advanced are shoddy at best. Please read this for yourself.

Here is my response, which was also posted on the Times site:

As a scientist and former educator, I am amazed at the number of those responding who have no clue what a "theory" is (the concept is presented, after all, at the middle school level) or who understand it fully (presumed based on their descriptions of themselves and their work) yet misuse the term, perhaps for the sake of argument.

So, we have two camps, both including noted and worthy scientists, both also including those who in defending their position, present it as "fact."

Is the theory of Evolution indeed a "theory?" Much of the claimed scientific investigation has revolved around Natural Selection which is readily observable even to the untrained. There can be little doubt that Natural Selection has been ongoing from the very moment life began. Individuals best suited to their environment will tend to survive longer and have more opportunities to reproduce, so changes in genetic code due to random accidents or any other cause can lead to changes within the species.

But it is a giant and unattained leap from Natural Selection within a species to claims that this process leads to the creation of a new species. There is not one valid study which properly supports the creation of a new species through Natural Selection or any other means.

The Evolutionary camp has traditionally defended their "theory" with such fervor that they pull dishonorable stunts such as false claims based on "doctored" pictorial evidence. Shame on Campbell for using Mickey Mouse as a pro-Evolution prop. His changed mouse is still a mouse and is thus nothing more than an example of Natural Selection WITHIN species.

It is dishonorable and shoddy to hide behind the lab coat of scientific respectability to further a cause for which there is no viable evidence. None! I would feel far more comfortable if we were asked to accept the so-called "Theory of Evolution" on faith.

Creationists point to the Biblical reporting in Genesis and, allowing for wider interpretation among believers, accept by faith the the origin of species, life and indeed all matter as factual and therefore in no need of scientific proof.

No one has seen a new species evolve from a different one. No one saw God's creative activity past or present. From a purely scientific point of view, either of these stands must be accepted by faith alone... well, not quite.

The study of statistical probabilities is a science and can help us out in this situation. Referring back to the first spark of LIFE in all its amazing complexity, which do you feel would prove most probable.

Is it more probable that, by any means of randomness and without intelligent influence of any kind, the proper components of even the simplest speck of living, reproducing matter would somehow come together under the perfect conditions and LIFE would accidentally happen? And survive to reproduce itself?

(Think of taking all the parts of a fine, Swiss watch and dropping them in a bag which would be shaken until all the parts reunited properly and the watch rebuilt itself.)

Or is it more statistically probable that the complexity and perfection of the many systems we observe were designed and created by a being of infinite knowledge and power?

(Think of the bodily systems, circulatory, reproductive, etc; the weather and water cycles; the solar system; indeed the universe... all are amazingly interrelated and interdependent.)

So, it isn't just species we are talking about here. The entire conflict must be applied universally. Is all we observe the result of millions of cosmic to microscopic accidents? Or is God who He says He is? Before you look around in wonder at the splendor of creation and decide there is no God behind it is all, consider that this is no casual question. Your entire future depends on where your opinion falls.

Throughout history, the most brilliant men and women of science were also believers in the creator God of the Bible. It is also true that none of them tried to apply scientific investigation inappropriately as has been done with the so-called Theory of Evolution."

Note added 7:28 PM: I just checked their web site and see that The New York Times has pulled my comment. It was up at least within minutes of my submitting it. Upon reading through the 250+ posts, I note they kept very few that disagreed in any way with the stance of the article. I am truly disappointed with the Times.

Fay

I was up late, and slept in late. I need to unprepare for the unhurricane, like put yard and sun room stuff back out. Tropical storm Fay is still fooling around the coasts of our lovely state, but she had little effect on our neighborhood. Lots of rain and a firm but gentle breeze helped cool the days but did nothing to upset our normal way of life. We had prepared to some degree. Had water and food on hand, braced our garage door,took out the plastic windows from the sun room, etc.

We are amazed at the number of critters making night noises in the catchment pond behind our house, though. Normally dry, this is just a large area dug out to contain run off when rain comes by the bucketful like it can do in this state. Now, however, it has some standing water and is teeming with creatures of the swamp persuasion. In fact last night when I took Baby Snooks out to do her business, something large, long and damp flew onto my arm, spiraling itself clear around from wrist to elbow. I flung it off and went inside, leaving the clueless dog outside to finish her job alone.

It has rained most of the day here and at Disney, but Richard said the parks were pretty busy. I can't say much, we've done Disney in the rain many, many times. One man from New Hampshire said he kind of liked Disney in the rain because it was cooler and a few less people were in the parks. It's been a while since we've been over to the parks. Sometimes we let ourselves get too busy.

I'm really excited about our Wednesday morning Bible Studies. We are doing Revelation and are working on chapter six now, the four horsemen... so much there! One member of our group suggested I write up my notes so they would have them as reference. I am enjoying doing that. I worked on it some today.

I went to Giveback's business meeting this evening. They have made some changes in how the meeting is conducted and who should attend and I think much more will be accomplished now. Next Thursday, we have Advanced Cognitive Training a workout in Contextual Processing.

It's been a blessed day and I have felt the Lord Jesus right beside me all day long. Of course, He always is there, where ever I go, but sometimes, all to often, I don't take notice. I miss a lot that way.

Party On!

The first of four birthday outings was in Denver when most of our Colorado based children and grandchildren treated us to great food and fun at the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery. It's always a special treat to be around our family and this was a sizable group.

Next, I celebrated with my brother Donnie as we ate frozen dinners and Wal-Mart cake in his hotel suite in Panama City Beach, FL. His birthday was on the 13th and mine the 17th. It was a wonderful evening sharing old photos and memories as we watched the Olympics.

On Sunday, my actual birthday, some friends were heading to the new Tijuana Flats eatery after church. Someone had seen on MySpace that it was my birthday, so they all sang and Donna and Donnie bought me the best Mexican food I've ever had in a cafe. Plus, they don't cook with bell peppers there, so I can eat anything on the menu... What freedom!! Then, a monster sized chocolate dessert with a huge mound of whipped cream and ever so luscious sauce was delivered to the table, complete with burning candle. We passed it all around the table. Yummy!

Later, after he got home from work, Richard snuck up on me and led me to the kitchen where he had already staged a beautiful plant, card and tiramisu complete with glowing candles. I was totally surprised. I feel so loved!

As if all that weren't enough, we celebrated again Monday evening at Athena and Brian's house where they prepared a beautiful meal complete with the best chocolate souffle I have ever eaten... I'll even go a step farther, Brian's souffle was the best any kind of souffle I've had. There was great food and super company, although one of the partyers went a bit too far. I caught it all on camera. Check out the pictures of the party at Athena and Brian's.

I had one more birthday surprise. Athena got us tickets to Blue Man Group. I have wanted to see them for years!

Friends and family have made my 69th birthday more than memorable, it has been a blast!

Happy Birthday to Us!

I headed to Panama City Beach early Thursday morning, taking the scenic route and thoroughly enjoying the drive. I made it to the Bay County Courthouse in Panama City in plenty of time to record the documents I had brought up for my brother Donnie.

When I arrived at his job site in Panama City Beach, he was hard at it putting on finishing touches to the new Olive Garden Restaurant which had its management and kitchen staff in place and was already hiring wait staff. Donnie works all over the country building and remodeling Dardin's restaurants. I sat on a bench out front for over three hours reading a mystery and marveling at the applicants coming in for job interviews.

The manager was dressed in suit and tie and was personally interviewing each applicant. What dismayed me was the fact that nearly all these young ladies were dressed as if they were going to hang out on the beach, clean their yard or perform some other equally casual activity. Several looked like they had not combed their hair in days, and many had wrinkled clothing on. One girl was heavily tattooed an had low rider short shorts and a halter top on, She was inside only about three minutes. I found it interesting and somewhat satisfying that the only three to come out with hire packets and drug test paperwork were well groomed and a bit less casual than the majority.

There were no male applicants while I was there, but several guys went in with their ladies and were promptly shown back out the door.

Finally, after 12 hours of strenuous work, Donnie was ready to go to his suite, Yes, Haley's Construction treats Donnie very well. He has been their "Punch Man" for several years and can come in and finish the job and make the new owners sing with joy. He travels all over the nation living in short term apartments or hotel suites all paid for.

He was tired. I was wired. We both had birthdays to celebrate. His the 13th, mine the 17th. It had been a long time since we had been together for a birthday celebration, but neither of us really wanted to go out. I went to Wal-Mart, got frozen dinners and a tiny cake about six inches across, got lost coming back, but finally made it back as Donnie talked me right to the door. Aren't cell phones great?!

We sang off key, "Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday to Us..." It was a blast. We sat and watched the olympics as we ate. Talking of old times, looking at snap shots. Just enjoying time together. It was good, very good.

I love my brother deeply. We have always been close in a special way, maybe because Mama had so many health problems and Daddy was gone so much plus we lived from day to day never knowing if that day would be the last day in that school and town. Often when Daddy would come home from work late at night (he usually worked swing shift) he would rouse us up and we would pack what we could into the car and be off to somewhere new, following Daddy's dreams of greener pastures. Donnie and I depended on one another. we were each the only real constant in the other's life.

Friday morning found me sound asleep on the couch and Donnie already gone to work. After I awakened, made his bed and tidied the place up, etc., I headed to the job site to say goodbye. On a whim I went to see the time share folks and was able to do all the needed paperwork for Donnie (it was already signed) so he wouldn't have to take off work for that chore.



Back to the job site I went and delivered the papers, which he handed back and asked that I send them to his daughter in California (who handles much of his business when he's on the road, which is always). We took pictures of one another taking pictures of one another, then I was heading home, my heart full. Joy and an ache mingled therein and I spent the drive home in concentrated prayer for Donnie and my other loved ones who do not really know the Lord.

I try not to preach, but how do you stand on the shore when you know someone you love is drowning even as they are slowly being drawn ever further out to sea. Some say they believe in God, but so does the devil. They don't want to hear about Jesus' great love for them; they seem uncomfortable with even the mention of the Master's name, yet they feel they are spiritually fine. Or they don't like how God runs things.

I am such an inadequate witness, too, for I am so far from the picture of Christ I long to be. I am still too full of me and not full enough of Him. So I pray that some how and some way, those I love so much will come to know the real Jesus, not one of the many false versions created by people who have not met Him. That they would know the joy of their salvation and the depth of the sacrifice that made it possible.

Adventuresome Comings & Goings

Last night, I got back from from a tiring, trying, but wonderful trip to Colorado. This evening learned I need to take care of some unexpected family business in Panama City tomorrow afternoon and possibly evening. I will leave here around 6 AM and will spend tomorrow night there. I expect to be back home by Friday late afternoon - early evening.

But getting back to recent traveling adventures, we got up at 3AM Friday so we could catch an early morning flight from Orlando to Memphis. We like Memphis but had no business there, yet North West Airlines routed us up that way so we could experience a new kind of flying adventure.

We found our gate, but wondered where our plane was. In its place, we saw a dwarf plane, long and very narrow, about a third the size of the plane we came to town on. Asking around, we were told that this tiny plane, operated by Masaba Airlines or something like that, was our scheduled transport to Denver. The interior headroom in this plane was 6'1" and Richard is a tall 6'3" so we were not at all surprised when the seats were almost too narrow for him to fit in - and he is not a fat man. For various reasons, we in this aircraft for about three hours. Still stiff and sore from my accident, I could hardly move when we got off.



We picked up our rental car without a hitch and drove straight to our hotel, ready for an hour or so of rest. The hotel had recently been taken over by Red Lion, a chain we are favorably familiar with, so we were somewhat dismayed to find our room faded, dated and not at all up to Red Lion standards. But is was paid for as part of the package deal I bought online over a month ago. Besides, we were there to celebrate and visit and love on our family, so who cares if things aren't quite up to par in the room?

We spent most of Friday afternoon and evening with Crystal and her kids and soon-to-be step kids. Ronnie was in and out, and both were tending to last minute preparation for their Saturday wedding. I went with Crystal to pick up her wedding gown - gorgeous! Later, Jim and June joined us and all the adults went to Golden Corral for dinner. By the time we hit the bed, we didn't give a hoot about our room's dinginess.

Early Saturday morning, Richard took serving tower, dishes and other decor to the Aurora Summit where the reception was to be held. Crystal was going to do this and said Mary told her it would only take about 30 minutes. Knowing Crystal was already pressed for time and wanting her to fully relish her big day, he had taken on the chore. He helped Mary the wedding planner get the place ready and decorated. They worked about two and a half hours, which was about as long Richard had thought it would be all along.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, I was getting me ready for the big event. But there was no hot water! Not even warm water. Nor tepid water. No cool water, either. Only very cold water. I had not showered the night before because I was just exhausted, so there was no choice but to buck up and back in to that frigid flow. It was, by far, the fastest I have ever bathed. In my rush, I lathered up my hair without checking to see that there was no coconut oil in the shampoo. Of course, since I am wildly allergic to coconut anything, my hands and scalp immediately felt as if they were on fire.

The burning was getting more tolerable by the time Richard got there and hot water (which the desk clerk said had been out since 5AM) was being restored. He had a tepid shower complete with a richly lathered shampoo which I tried not to smell. Coconut scent even burns my nose.

We arrived at the church for a pre-wedding practice, but no one was there. After a bit, the Chaplain showed up, than Crystal and her ladies arrived in a limo and we all headed on in. Practice was preempted by the need to decorate the chapel. Somehow, I assumed that would already have been done or at least the decorations would have been prepared to set in place. Mary set me straight in a firm but gentle way and put me to work making bows and draping netting. Poor, misguided lady had no idea what a klutz i am! With the help various onlookers, it all got done.

Mary had gone into a side room to decorate the bride and her attendants. Various female family members wandered in and out of that room offering opinions and practical assistance as the clocked ticked 10 minutes past the scheduled time for the ceremony, then 20 minutes, and 30... I was getting nervous, the guests were becoming restless. Then, with everyone seated, or so we thought, there was a grand, but quiet entrance of a very important party... the mother of the groom along with several family members.

As He so often does, God had it all worked out. Crystal (like me) has a tendency to under estimate time requirements for tasks and projects. Mary is even worse. The bride was late... BUT that was GOOD because Carol and her family were held up at the gate. This wedding was on a military base and they would not let her in. There was a glitch and the prearranged admissions did not all work out. Of course, as soon as Ronnie's family was all there, the bride came out and the ceremony began!

This chaplain, by the way, married Tami and Troy last year, and officiated at the wedding of Kim and Steve the year before! I still have two single daughters and he says he is available for next year. We've got a trend going!

After the reception, I rested a bit then drove to Kim's house where Athena and a friend Yvonne grilled dinner before we headed to the movies to watch Mama Mia. There we were, me, two of my daughters, two of my granddaughters (one a teen and one a baby), Yvonne and her daughter watching one of the best mother-daughter, girlfriend, women's celebratory movies I have ever seen. The music of ABBA and, and, and... we were the dancing queens! Athena brought dark chocolate bars, several of us cried, especially me, all of us felt beautiful... all of us WERE beautiful. You just had to be there!

Tami cooked Sunday breakfast at her house. Of course Athena helped. Troy walked us through the landscaping plans. Miriah was arranging housing for college and Kyle was rebuilding and recrashing his cool, plastic airplane. It sort of reminded me of the one we had flown in on. Athena and I uploaded my pics and Athena's. Good thing, because the wedding photographer didn't show up! Hint: If you view the pictures in a slide show, click on the first picture to come up and the title and notes will appear on all the pictures in the show. Very neat!

Later, we spent time with Tami and Athena at Black Hawk. I played a penny machine and won $1160. Then, just a few minutes later, Richard won $940. These were the super, mega jackpots for these machines. We gathered our money and left. Our trip has now been paid for! Plus we have enough to give extra to the church!! God is so cool.

We were wiped out when we finally fell into bed. Like zombies we slept until about 4AM when alarms brought us up like the living dead in some horror flick. Addled and half asleep, we struggled to figure out an appropriate response to the strident howlings in the hallway. No answer at the front desk. At last, we got into our clothes. Fire trucks were gathered in front of the building. Richard hurried to pull open the door and we were met with... silence.

We called the hotel clerk again and she answered. False alarm. Go back to sleep. Right!

An hour later, we at last slid smoothly into the Land of Nod, deeply asleep and needing to stay that way. Not to be! Conditioned by our previous experience, we were jolted immediately awake, alert and in a state of extreme, adrenaline stoked readiness as the alarms alarmed us louder and more brashly than ever. We looked out the window, checked the hall, called downstairs. Another false alarm. But it's still screaming, blaring mercilessly until our nerves are raw. On and on it blasts for almost 20 minutes. When it stops at last, we are in no condition for sleep.

Monday morning we have some important business to tend to. I have a folder with several deeds inside. I am waiting on a bench in front of the hotel for Richard to pick me up. here he comes. We have lots to do and I am in a hurry. I slide in the car seat... leaving my folder lying on the bench. I don't notice it's missing until much later and have no idea where it could be. I assume it is in our room.

We drove to Eaton to see sam. A business and personal visit... mostly because we love him so much. I use Sam's computer to try check in to our flight for the next day. North west's site says I am to go to Mid West Airlines site. Our flight is now on that airline. I am getting nervous. After an hour or more and several calls, I am told I have no place on an NW flight and my place on Mid West is not paid for. I can't check in online. Oh boy. Lots of prayer needed here.

We later visit Irene, Richard's sister-in-law. Her daughter Christine and family come over. Time flies and we are amazed. We decide to do our business when we return home, so we head on over to a birthday dinner held for me at the Rock Bottom Pub. I'm not into beer, but the food was fantastic as it often is in some of the finer gastro-pubs. The best part of the evening was the people. Steve was back from his travels, so we got to see all our Denver area family except bethany who was working when ever we were getting together.

It was late when we arrived at Crystal and Ronnie's, so we only stayed a short while. We just wanted to leave them something and hug them all again.

We arrived back at our hotel full of food and sentimentality, sweetness and light... but the hotel stood in darkness! The only lights were from emergency, battery operated units. No one knew when the power would be restored. They had had a major melt down. Apparently those alarms we endured the previous night were in earnest after all. Tired and needing to sleep, we took the proffered glow sticks from an apologetic manager and hiked up seven floors to our room. It was slow going for me with my right knee still gimped out from my accident.

We left early Tuesday morning and everything went smooth as glass;. Our tickets were waiting for us, paid for a month ago, and the plane ride was pleasant as were all the people. They even served warn chocolate chip cookies. We flew to Milwaukee where my iPhone died, stayed a while, then got on another cookie serving Mid West flight. 16 hours after we arrived at the Denver Airport, we crawled into our own comfy bed, desperately tired, amazingly grateful.... but I could not sleep!

If God has not eased me into needed sleep, He must have something else in mind, so I got up and prayed. I prayed for people, situations, nations... and mu iPhone. Then I went back to bed and fell immediately off the firm ground of reality into soft and nebulous clouds of nothingness.

This morning, I was up early. I erased and restored my iPhone and gathered the folders I would need for today's business. Someone had turned in the deeds folder to the hotel desk, and we had to register the replacement car. We also needed to be at Bible Class and clean the children's are. There was needed trip to the safe deposit box, a notary, our broker... Busy, busy day.

I leave at ^ in the morning for another busy day... God doesn't usually let folks sit rocking on the porch for long. they get lazy and bored that way.

As for the auto accident, I am healing pretty well. The knee will take some time, but praise God, I HAVE time! We got a replacement for the Mercury, I now drive a cute little PT Cruiser with TinkerBell on the back window and my children are definitely considering committing me to a custodial care facility, LOL

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well, it's late and I'm not packed and we leave for the airport at at 3 AM... so this will be short.

We bought a 97 PT Cruiser. Very cute. TinkerBell is on the back window.

And my day was like this...
12:37 DMV can't register PT until we have title. Oops!
13:12 I am wasting time trying to make things work that will not work on my computer. I cannot say how frustrating it is!
15:46 Online check in for NW airlines was an hour long process because they kept saying check in failed... Must not be my day for technology.
17:28 I gave up on high tech and am cleaning the house (sort of) in my own sore, stiff way. Sure hope I get better soon.
19:27 All I have left to do is fold laundry and pack for the trip. Yay! But first, I'm eating something.
20:37 My camera is back from the repair shop and takes good pictures but the view finder is nothing but a blur. I am sick of stuff not working.
22:19 Packing, still haven't eaten. They don't allow a very big carry on bags any more. Praise God, at least He never downsizes.

The Corvette as Family Car?

I was in a major car wreck Thursday. I was broadsided by another car going about seventy mph. My car spun and was airborn; it bounced down then still spinning went up again, then back down. It was certainly the hand of the Lord who kept it from rolling and held me safe from serious injury. I am virtually unscathed. Just a bit twisted in the right knee and torso.

We don't have an insurance agent since we bought our policy and deal with Progressive online or on the phone. I called them from the hospital to report the accident and they were very sweet. Friday morning, a man from Progressive called to tell me our car was totaled, well of course it was totaled, the front part was bent at a 90 degree angle, and he would be out with a check as soon as possible. He was there in about two hours! And the check was for more than we expected!! Considering all I've heard or experienced about insurance claims, this was amazing. A pay off in less than 24 hours with no hassle at all. Praise God!!

I'm beginning to think I may have told this whole story to you before... Forgive me if I have.

So, we are car shopping on the internet. Our first thought was so get what we had, a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. We loved that car. Proudly called it the Geezer Car. But then have you considered the Corvette as family car? Well, if it's a family of two, it could work? We've had a variety of "family" vehicles. For a while, my only transportation was a 250cc Zundap motorcycle. My other wheels have included a 1936 Chevrolet straight eight, a 1957 TR-3 sports car, a 1953 Cadillac ambulance, an old torpedo front, slope back Studebaker, and some more traditional cars as well.

Since the vehicle we get needs to serve as a reliable errand and fun buggy rather than a work vehicle, I see no reason not to emphasize the FUN part. I see a lot of interesting cars online that are less costly than our Mercury was. We both enjoy cars, exotics, classics, etc. and love car shows. It would be great fun to actually participate in that sport. I have long dreamed of doing that. I even took a college class in auto restoration.