Meet the Pastor

The last two days we pretty much stayed close to home although Dee did go to exercise class each day. I rearranged the computer area in our home and now we can see out the window overlooking the woods and homes in the distance behind our house.

I did go to Rotary for lunch. Again the food was great and the conversation around the table was informative and interesting as I learn about the various members and their interests and work. During the afternoon I enjoyed the deck and finished the Prince Caspian book. Also, I had noted in our church bulletin that the adult choir was practicing on Wednesday so I decided to go to practice in the evening. It was okay, but certainly not what I was used to with Linda W. directing, nor was it like what I've been experiencing with the Bogmeisters on Monday nights. The church choir only rehearses one more time before their summer break, and the last time they sing in worship is May 18th. So it was good I went to try it out before they break for the summer. No opening prayer, no warm up exercises. The rehearsal only lasted for about an hour. Very low keyed.

Then yesterday, we'd arranged to have the pastor come for a visit so we could ask him some questions, learn more about him and the church. We talked about the worship service, the music, the youth group and then mission emphasis. I tried to let him know that I'd be willing to help in any way I could, even willing to preach if the opportunity should present itself. I told him I'd decided not to do interim work for the time being, but that I was planning on doing supply preaching when asked. He talked about some of the history of the church and its experiences with the founding pastor and the two brief interims before he arrived last October. We talked about the church's web site and their lack of A/V for the congregation to use for singing, or for the pastor to use to strengthen the verbal impact of his messages with a visual component. He said he was surprised that with so many young adults in the church, that they didn't have any A/V installed with the new remodeling of the church a few years ago. He also talked about the financial challenges the church is facing as they are still paying for the remodeling that was done. It was a good visit.

Another Nice Day

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Dee went to Contours for a workout. I had two projects to work on. First, I stayed round home and did some outside maintenance (scraped the paint off the steps going into the spa. Then I painted them. Satisfying job. Then, I did some computer work applying online (took about 2 hours) to become a government contractor so I could provide marraige and communication training with the PREP materials for the retreat with the Air Guard at the end of the month in Wildwood, NJ. Most of our day though was spent outside enjoying the fine weather. Bonz does enjoy his walks around the block. Later in the evening, we enjoyed the spa again. Relaxing. I finished the Prince Caspian book by C.S. Lewis and practiced some of my barbershop songs with the CD on the deck before it got dark.

A very nice day.

Dental Work and Music

Yesterday, we puttered around the house with lime for some bare spots in the grass and watering the flowers, checking the ph on the spa and reading on the deck. (I'm just about finished with the Prince Caspian book.) Then Dee went to the dentist for some re-fillings and other work. That went well for her.

And I ended the evening by going to sing with the Bogmeisters. (Note picture above. The group has grown since this photo was taken. Susan Nist is our director.) More photos are available at http://www.bogmeisters.org/ The two new songs we were given, that I'd worked on, weren't used. (Duh!) The director wanted to give us another week to learn them. So we practiced other songs I'd not even seen before. However, at the end when we form quartets ad hoc and sing a song we do know, I did it for the first time with three other guys. It went ok. I missed one tricky part, so we finished the song, reviewed that part and then did it a second time. Good experience. It sounds different when you're not singing as part of a section, but are on your own to hold up your part. They also announced that the flower sales were going well. (We're selling flowers from a local nursery for a fund-raiser. (If anyone would like our order sheet I can email it to you very easily. Our orders need to be made by May 12th and they'll be delivered May 19th. From what I understand the flowers are a great buy - beautiful - and once people order them, they start looking for them to be sold again the next year and can't wait to get them.) Also, a quartet from our group was selected to sing the National Anthem at the Pirates game with the Yankees on June 25th. (They'd auditioned last week. Later that day they were singing to a waitress in the ballpark, and Johnny Angel (from the Halos) heard them and offered to let them sing between sets at one of of his events some time.) So cool.

Life on Mars

Yesterday we went to church in the morning. The pastor was away and so the youth advisor lead the service and preached. There was a youth stringed ensemble that played the special music and they were good. It was nice to see Marilyn Campbell there and to sit with her. Dee was able to connect with a new friend there and plan for lunch later in the week. After church we had lunch out and then went home. We sat on the deck in the sun and did some reading for a while.

Then we headed to the grand opening of the 2008 Carnegie International contemporary art show at the Museum of Art. The show is called "Life on Mars." We went to the lecture in the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. That was a first for us and the "people watching" aspect was fun. The lecture was actually an interview with the curator about the creative process behind selecting the 40 artists for this year's Gallery displays. The topic was about experiencing "other worlds" of creative mments in life. It wasn't about Mars at all (to the disappointment of some attendees). It was interesting to be a part of the event. But we're not really wowed by contemporary art. I'm glad we went as it was something new for us. I always enjoy being at the museums. A plus for us was that we got to see Tom and Eleanor Fisher along with Kay Chute and Ken Chute from our Wilkinsburg Church days. And ofcourse the reception with the snacks, beverages and the crowds added to the ambiance.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho and off to work I go...

Even though Saturday was a rainy day, it seems golfers don't mind that. As a result, I had my first day as a part-time temporary summer employee at the Golf Course near our house. The guy who was supposed to train me, didn't know he was working on Saturday, and so another person was given the task. More important that learning what I am supposed to be doing, I also learned what I am not supposed to do. For instance, I learned that starter/ rangers are responsible for the pace of play and seeing to it that people make their scheduled tee times on time. We're not responsible for cleaning the golf carts or anything else having to do with outside operations. That's good to know. Here's a picture of me as I was about to go to work. (Note the "work hat" in my right hand.)

It seems this is yet another "first" since my retirement. Sometimes doing things for the "first time" can be a bit intimidating, but I'm discovering that if I pay attention to the instructions, then it's not nearly as bad (or difficult) as I may have thought it would be.

Here is another photo I took on Saturday while on the golf course. The picture was taken with my cell phone. It's the 8th tee on the Orchard Course at Treesdale Golf Club. You'll note that it's all downhill - like a 100 yard drop in altitude. Beautiful course. Click on the picture to see a larger image of the picture.

Dee was able to go out to dinner with a dozen gals from her Contours exercise group. She enjoyed an evening of laughs and getting to know the people who use the gym better. They're thinking of doing that monthly, which would be nice for Dee as she gets to know others better.

Bubble Bubble

After the last week of getting the spa ready and awakening it from the two years of hibernation we finally too a dip in it. Very nice. Well worth the effort.

The Test

Dee had been wanting to pick up an order we'd placed in the strip district so we decided to go to Pittsburgh yesterday. The weather was perfect. Rather than park the car and carry the order a couple of blocks from the store, I stopped the car in front of the store while Dee went in and picked it up. The owner helped her carry it out. I drove away then with Dee and the order to find a parking spot so we could do some shopping in the area. It was then I realized the store had given us twice what we'd ordered and paid for. So we carried one of the boxes back to the store and told the clerk. She looked at us in disbelief and said. "Thank you. You made my day." The over site was worth over $100. We're tested everyday. Some days you have to ask yourself what the price of integrity is. We sell ourselves short so often, it was good to do the right thing.

Then, we went to Wholeys and bought some fresh fish and frozen fish. Mr. Wholey was there and introduced himself. He recommended some fresh mussels "These just came in off the truck. They're delicious." Later, Dee steamed them. (A first time for her of preparing mussels.) They were delicious.

Then, we went to the Penn Brewrey for a late lunch. We like the atmosphere and the food there. It was good as usual. This local brewrey has won many awards for their micro brew so we bought some to take home as well.

I was able to play some golf at Treesdale after we got home. I played the "Grove" course for the first time. The first several holes were alone, but then I caught up with a couple who were slowed down by two foursomes in front of them. I had a nice time with them. One of the holes had a 75 yard drop from tee to green. A beautiful hole to look at and enjoyable to play. The couple I played with must play everyday. I asked the woman if she played often and she said she played 140 rounds last year. That's a lot of golf. Afterwards I had a nice conversation with one of the rangers about working there. His name is Joe, and though it's his first year, his son was one of the pros there years ago and so he's been working 4 days a week. He used to run the golf course at South Pointe for many years. Later, Dee and I sat on the deck and did some reading. And I also practiced some of the barbershop songs. During the day I'd gotten a phone call from a Deacon at the Penn Hills Baptist Church about preaching there on June 8th. He asked me to give a message that fit with the Children's Day theme. That'll be fun so I said yes. All in all it was a good day.