Quartet sings on the road

We've used the hot tub a couple of times this week. The weather was just right for it and there was no breeze. On Wednesday we had a speaker from the "Blind Vision Rehabilitation, Inc." organization. A young man spoke to us about how he suddenly went blind over a two week period about a year ago. He must be in his 40s. He shared how the organization has helped him learn to communicate and to navigate and do everyday things. What he said gave everyone pause. He is a courageous young man dealing with a very tragic circumstance.

Yesterday Dee had breakfast with two friends from Butler at First Watch then she joined me at the Friday lenten luncheon at the Mars UP Church. I was able to put together a barbershop quartet to sing there - just one song - Irish Blessing - for the close of the service after lunch. It went well.

Afterward, we went and sang some songs to a woman for her anniversary. Her husband had hired a Singing Valentine back in February for his grandmother, and now wanted a quartet to sing to his wife. We'd only found out about the request earlier yesterday morning, but since we ha a quartet already together, the group decided we could do it. As it turns out, the woman was a clerk at the Shopper's Choice grocery store in the North Hills. We sang three songs to her from her husband. She loved it, and the customers stopped what they were doing to watch and listen. It went well. I spoke with the husband later in the day and he was very pleased with what we did.

Earlier in the week went to see the painting work of a person that was recommended. The interior decorator who came to the house to suggest colors, used a guy she was pleased with. We went to her house to see the results. Then, we made our decision on the paint colors and the painter we wanted to use. Of the five estimates we received, his was the most reasonable. He came by the house and finalized things, and said he'd be able to start on Monday! So, it won't be long we'll have a little more color in our lives.

I've been working on my sermon for tomorrow. I'll use the text from Exodus 17:8-16. I need to finalize it today. I've given it the title "The Secret Weapon." Today I practice with a quartet from the church at the church. We'll be singing on Maundy Thursday at the church we attend regularly.

A Day of Golf and Shopping

Here are a couple of photos from last Thursday's performance at the Presbyterian Church luncheon. The photo on the left is of a "pick-up" quartet that sang that day. (I notice one of them needs to exercise more.) The photo on the right is of the group of 12 that were able to make it that afternoon. We did put on an entertaining show. The lower photo shows the poster they had created to advertise us to their congregation for the day. Nice.

Well, the Bogmeisters practiced on Monday night as usual. Our director was late because she sold her home in Monroeville. But the guys practiced faithfully under the guidance of the assistant director (He's just one of the guys.) I was pleased to see people didn't just goof off, but came to learn and to get better.

Yesterday we went to the dentist to get our teeth cleaned and to make some appointments for additional work (fillings and crowns). Then I went to the "networking" session at the Chamber and Dee went to get her hair cut and colored. (It looks real nice.) Afterward, we drove to Butler and Dee went shopping with Kathy G. and I went golfing for the first time this year at Lake Vue North. (It went well.) Then, we met up for dinner with another couple. The six of us ate at Garfields at the Clearview Mall. We had a nice time. A beautiful day to be with friends out in the sunshine. I told them about our singing the National Anthem at the Pirates game on the 19 of July. They all wanted tickets, and Russ wanted two more for their grandchildren. Great! We'll sit in the $20 section and everyone will get a Pirate hat to boot. Anybody else interested?

However, a little achy after the first day of golf. We walked the 9 holes - up and down the hilly course. Reminded me of the first time I did it there last year. Whew!

A Little of This and That

Yesterday was a quiet day for me. Dee had to work so I hung around the house. The window guy came and washed the outside of the windows. I did some reading of stuff on selling and wrote an article for the local Chamber of Commerce newsletter. I also decided on a text and title for the sermon I have to preach next Sunday at our church.

I talked with my mother for a while. She seemed to be okay. I keep trying to encourage her to participate in the "bell ringing" at her church. She said she used to like doing that and that she knows she needs to get out more. But when Tuesday comes, she's not very motivate. She does go to the senior center but I don't think she teaches much line dancing any more. She said her group of interested women is down to about 4 people. And often they bring their own music. She says they'll get there before her and have it playing when she arrives. Therefore, they don't need her.

We did talk about the "Irish Jig." She said she'd like to learn it. I went online while talking with her and saw some people doing it on You Tube. I read her the directions for the steps. She was familiar with what I was reading, but just didn't have the sequence of steps down. We talked about 25 minutes. She didn't repeat herself and this was anew topic for her so that was good.

Dee's sister Ruthie called and said she'd been to see the headstone that was installed at the cemetery for their mom. She said it looked very nice. We'd just gotten word that the work was done.

Dee commented the other day that in two days she'd talked on the phone with about 5 friends and couldn't recall having done that while in NJ during the whole 12 years we were there. It's like we were cut off from our past and just didn't connect with folks back here while out there. Each day we both find confirmation that our decision to retire was the right one at the right time.

When Dee got home, she was tired. It was a long and busy day at the store. She has just one more day before she takes a leave of absence. She's looking forward to that. I told her Kerri had called earlier in the day and was doing fine. Though her due date is April 17, she's hoping to make it to at least April 4. That's Patrick's last day for the intense classes he's taking. Kerri said the last week will be very busy and important to him work wise, so she really hopes to make it till then before giving birth.