Om Pa Pa

Yesterday Dee and I decided to have lunch out at the freedom Diner (coupon for one free meal). Their "whale of a fish sandwich" was delicious. Then from there we did some shopping for vitamins, and food, dry cleaning and then to Dee's work site to check out their sales. We saw a neighbor there and learned that she teaches at the community college. I told her of my interest in teaching and she said she'd take my resume in to some people at her campus who may be interested. That's nice. My mother called to let me know she sent the insurance check today. She also mentioned that she'd gone on a day bus trip with people from the Senior Center to Washington Mall for a shopping trip. She went with her friend Carmella and had a great time. There were musicians in the mall she enjoyed. She said, "I have to get out more, and that was a chance to do just that." ...

We got home in time to take Bonz for a walk and relax some before heading to the Oktoberfest at the Penn Brewery. There were tons of people there and an om pa band as well as a couple of accordion players inside. They had tents set up outside with lots of tables and chairs. The food was great and of course their Octoberfest beer was the hit of the afternoon. Here are a couple of pictures from my cell phone of the musicians

We were back home in time to sit outside and enjoy the quiet and cool night air on the deck. Then we watched the final episode of "Burn Notice" for the season. Just about that time, Dee's friend Kathy called and they chatted till bed time. Dee told her about Dee's long time friend Carol C. calling and how happy she was to hear from her after so many years. She lives in Kitanning and so isn't all that far away.

Whew !

Here's a picture from 9 months ago. My how time flies !

Yesterday Dee had to work some, so I took Bonz for a very LONG walk and then started preparing for my 10/5 preaching assignment. Later, I used the hot tub or work out a muscle ache that had developed the day before. This was the first time Iused the hot tub during the day time. It sure helped. Then after lunch I joined Russ and Bob for 9 holes of golf. Little did I know they'd planned to walk the 9 holes. These Western Pennsylvania hills are something else. Whew! None the less I played reasonably well (for me)and it was a beautiful day!

When I returned home, Dee was there (short work day) and we enjoyed a nice dinner of grilled chicken. During the day I heard back from Dom and finalized the business with him. My mom called in the evening and we had a nice talk, and then she talked with Dee for about a half hour. She assured me she'd mail the health insurance check on Friday morning. In the evening we watched some television (We'd recorded a show on the mystery channel that we wanted to see, and then an episode of "Burn Notice" we hadn't seen.) Kerri called and she and Dee talked about how Kerri had located a lot of our old neighbors' kids on Facebook. They were kids Kerri had grown up with but lost contact with after we moved away to NJ. Now with the Internet and Facebook, she's able to she where they are what they're doing, and "the rest of the story".

Another Nice Day

Here's a quote from some of my reading this week... "We tend to turn to prayer in extreme moments - Great joy, "O how good God is!" When all human sources have failed, "O God, help me." Anguish, guilt, fear send us to God when no aid is near or, if near, would not understand. But prayer may be so much more: a way of life, a resource, a comfort, a continuing communion."

Yesterday I took a couple of items to the dry cleaners. That's the first time we've done that since retiring. I guess we just wear less formal clothes now. Then I went to Rotary for the luncheon meeting. Dee went to work for the afternoon and evening, so I stayed at Treesdale shot 9 holes of golf and then practiced my chipping and sand trap shots.

While there my mother called my cell phone and we had a nice talk about some concerns she had. Later I went home and took Bonz on a LONG walk. The evening at home was quiet so I decided to start reading the new book "The Shack" that I'd bought last week. It's supposed to be the next "Pilgrim's Progress." It is a good read so far.

I receivedanother request to preach at a local church on October 5 at the First Baptist Church of Aliquippa. That'll be fun since i've been there before, and I will also be speaking at the Air Guard Base nearby later on that same day. When Dee came home, we got caught up on all the day's events at her work and with me. Then we watched an episode of "Monk" we hadn't seen before.

A Denominational Luncheon For Retrirees

Yesterday was a busy one. As Dee went out to work, I went out to a Mars Clergy meeting. I met some new people there from a local church and we shared our current "highs" and "lows". Then we looked at things we might do together that would have an impact on the community. We explored the "World Day of Prayer" for January and the upcoming "Applefest" in Mars. It was a good meeting.

From there I went to a luncheon sponsored by my denominational Pension Board at the 4-Points Sheraton. There were about 24 people there. Several of whom I'd known when I served churches here in the Pittsburgh area. It was great reconnecting with them again. Each person told what they were up to, how they'd been connecting with family or doing something new. The Pension Board representative told us about how our pensions would be affected by this last year's market drop. Essentially he said, "Last year you got a 10% increase, and this year you'll get a 5% decrease." He mentioned that though our Pension Board's track record this year is better than the general economy, it's still down from a year ago. The new rate will be set on Sept. 30th. Also people talked about the "M and M Thank Offering" churches give each year for retirees and how helpful that has been. The meeting was very upbeat and a pleasure to attend. I learned a lot. There were 3 other people there for the first time like I was.

Afterward, I brought Bob and Vivian, Ed and Lois back to our house to see where we live. I gave them a brief tour and they met Bonz. It was nice to have them there and I'm sure be back for some kind of soiree in the future. Here's a photo from their visit.

Later in the evening I put the finishing touches on the flier for our Barbershop Open House and Dee talked on the phone with Betty Sammons and later from Linda Slaymaker at our former church in Linwood, NJ. It was nice to hear their voices and catch each other up on what's going on there and here. We watched the movie "S.W.A.T." with Samuel Jackson and actually enjoyed it.

Dee Gets a "Spa" treatment

Yesterday we went to the dentist of our six month cleaning and then enjoyed lunch at the new Chinese restaurant near our house. Later toward evening Dee went to Contours to try their new "Spa" and I went to Bogmeister practice. The location was moved because the school where we were to meet had no power. It seems the area was hit pretty hard by high winds. About 69K people were without power. Many trees downed, windows broken and power lines broken.

We were spared most of this, however, when I went to the patio outside, I noticed that the HEAVY COVER over our hot tub was blown off. Dee was gone, so I had to put it back on myself. It took some doing (It's big and heavy and awkward to handle.) but I managed after a bit of maneuvering.

Barbershop Harmony practice was good. We started practicing Christmas songs to get ready for the season when we'll go around and sing various holiday events during December. (I didn't know there were Christmas Holiday songs in the barbershop style. They're fun to sing. All I have to do now is memorize the words and notes... whew!) I got home in time to watch the final episode of the season of "The Closer." It's one of our favorite television programs. I watched some of the Eagles/Cowboys game. Sad that the Eagles lost. It was the highest scoring NFL game in history - they said.

Go Steelers !

Sunday we went to church and attended the newcomers class. It was well done. The conversation was easy flowing and we learned a little about the two teachers and others in the class as well as information about the church and denomination. The worship service went well and we got to visit a little with the Campbells. Afterward, Dee had to go to work, so we grabbed a quick lunch and got her there by 1 PM.

I went home, and walked the dog around the court and then finished reading the paper and watched a movie called "Arabian Nights." Later I went to pick up Dee at work, and after dinner we enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching the clouds drift overhead and the play of colors of blue, orange, yellow and green among the puffs of white and grey. Dee got to talk with her friend Patti from elementary school. They're planning a luncheon next Sunday for about 8 other classmates from LONG LONG ago. Sounds like it'll be fun.

While she was on the phone I watched the Steelers beat the Browns 10-6. GO STEELERS!

A Lazy Day

On Saturday it rained here most of the day. Dee went to her new job from 10-6:30 PM. I just got some things done around the house, picked up some ink cartridges for my printer and then stopped back at the store where Dee works and tasted some samples while I read the paper. I created a flier on the computer for our next Barbershop Harmony Open House. It'll go out electronically with the school newsletter of the school where we are not practicing.A very relaxing afternoon. Later we enjoyed our hot tub with a near full moon.

Dee took this photo during the line dancing class at the Dude Ranch.