Golfing on Nov 14 in Pgh. - Amazing

Friday was a beautiful day. I went golfing for 9 holes and Dee went shopping. I'd planned to just golf by myself, but when I got there some of the rangers I work with were golfing so I joined them, and then we went to the Brush creek Inn for some libation. A nice time of fellowship and getting to know them better.

Afterward, Dee and I connected at home where I had a late lunch and then we rearranged our "office area" a little so it looked nicer. We also puttsed around the house and then after some evening television, we enjoyed the hot tub again. It's nice to finish off the day that way.

A Relaxing Day and Lunch with Friends

Since Dee didn't work on Thursday, we were able to go to lunch with our retired clergy friends Bob and Ed and their spouses Vivian and Lois. It's always good and refreshing to get together with them for lunch and good conversation at Olive Garden. We compare notes on retirement, our denomination and our families, as well as philosophize about national events. Time seems to fly by while we're with them. Lunch always takes about two hours.

Afterward, we did some shopping. I bought a microphone that plugs directly into my laptop. I want to do some recording for this blog and other things and had heard that this microphone, called a "Snowball", is supposed to be a good one. Dee did some shopping for Thanksgiving and we looked at some garlands for Christmas decorations along the staircase up to the loft. We treated ourselves to a coffee at Barnes and Nobel and then went to a "Half Off Bookstore" right across the street from B&N. I bought a couple of books; The Defining Moment by Jonathan Alter (FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope) and a book on Presidential Anecdotes . I thought the former would be a good read as we anticipate Obama's new presidency and the latter would be fun to read about little known stories of former Presidents. Both of which would add to my understanding of American History.

We didn't get home until dark, sop I took Bonz for a nice walk while Dee prepared dinner. The we watched a movie called "The Contract" with Wesley Snipes. Good story. And closed out the evening with "Life on Mars", a weekly show we enjoy watching.

We also learned who the new pastor will be at Seaview. As it turns out, he's an old friend of mine from NJ. He's been in the ministry for many years and will be a good choice as they move into the future. Church life has changed over the years and no pastor has it easy. He is as well equipped for the task as anyone, and I'm sure he'll lead them well. As it turns out, he interviewed for the pastor position at Seaview many years ago prior to my going to that church. For whatever reason, he wasn't called. Now, fourteen years later, the time has come for him and the Church. I wish them well.

Wow! I'm Now a "Man of Note" !

Monday Dee went to the receptionist job and after much prayer and discussion decided to tell them that it wasn't working for her. They'll want her 5 days a week once the current receptionist goes on maternity leave for possibly up to 12 weeks. She talked with her manager at the McGinnis Sisters and they wanted her to come back and were willing meet a couple of requests she had. She likes the people there and enjoyed the work.

I took my Saturn Vue in to the dealer for the oil change tire rotation and "recall" items they needed to check. In and out in under an hour. Very efficient. Then, Monday night we had Bogmeister practice as we get ready for a Christmas Show for friends and family on Monday, December 15, at the Pine Richland Elementary School. The price of admission is some canned goods which will be given to a food pantry in the area. Practice went well and I was given a"Man of Note" pin for recruiting our newest member. The man of note pin is a tie tack with the number 1 on it. Here's what it looks like. Then, yesterday I picked up Earl C. to go to the men's Bible Study breakfast (just muffins). We watch a short video of instruction and then discuss the issues it raises. We're going through the Old Testament and yesterday was on 2 Samuel and the stories of David. Afterward, the pastor gave me the list of people he like me to call on (folks who haven't been at worship for quite some time) and he had some business cards made for me that say "Minister of Visitation." Cool. These are people he's like to follow up on, but just doesn't have the time to do so. I'm looking forward to it and we'll see how it goes.

Then, I picked up Dee and we had a nice late breakfast at "First Watch". During the day, Dee and I did a little shopping (I stayed in the car and fussed with the gps device I recently purchased. At home, we spent the afternoon on home maintenance and cleaning issues. I saw an job listing for an adjunct faculty for a "Creative Writing" course at the local Penn State Campus and so I applied for it. (I've already heard back that the position has been filled but they'll keep my resume in their "active" file. Whatever that means.) We closed out the evening with some lightly breaded (actually crushed saltine crackers) fish and veggies; some television; and then a glass of Chardonnay and a dip in the hot tub. Very nice.

Pancakes Washing Dishes

On Saturday we went to the Rotary Pancake Breakfast with Russ and Kathy. I stayed to help with the breakfast by clearing tables and then by working in the dish washer section pre-rinsing the plates etc. for the dish washing machine. Lots of fun. We served about 700 people breakfast by the time it was over. Then, Dee picked me up and we did some shopping with lunch later at her favorite Chinese restaurant.

On Sunday we went to church. The adult choir sang a patriotic cantata, "Land of the Free". It was well done and some children sang with the choir. The kids were especially amazing because they had it all memorized, probably because they were too young to be able to read the words.

Later in the day I just crashed awhile, read the newspaper and worked on learning some music. Dee went out in the afternoon and shopped for groceries. While she was gone, I began watching the Steeler game. We watched the disappointing end together. We watched a movie we'd recorded called "There are Butterflies in the Air." A good story about three sisters and their efforts to bring justice to the Dominican Republic by ousting a dictator. It was based on a true story and was well done.

Dee went back to the Receptionist job on Monday morning to continue the training to replace the girl who will be out for a maternity leave. However she has reservations about leaving the other job. So she has to make a decision about which job to keep and how many hours she wants to be working in the weeks and months ahead. I've started getting ready for preaching next Sunday at a church in Penn Hills that is non-denominational. A friend from my Pittsburgh days called and said he heard I was doing supply preaching and that they had a need for a speaker on the 16th. So why not?

Back from NJ

Well I made it back from NJ last night about 7 PM. The ride out there took about 7 hours and the ride back took 9 hours and 45 minutes! I was sailing along just fine when there was a detour off the Turnpike. There had been an accident that blocked both lanes. We were re-routed off at Breezwood and supposed to get back on at Bedford, but I missed the Bedford entrance and drove to the next exit at Somerset on Route 30. Augghhh. I was tired and tense when I got home.

On the other hand the visit in Linwood with my friends at the Seaview church went really well. It was fun to see them all again, and the atmosphere , though a funeral, was very upbeat. I did my part leading the funeral service. The church choir was there with an empty seat symbolic of Geneva's spot. The hand bells played in her honor, since she was a member of that group, and many people shared a word of remembrance about her life.

The weather there was very windy and rainy on Wednesday night, and rainy and chilly on Thursday. Wednesday night Andy and I went to "Pratt's Hill of Beans". A new coffee house in EHT. They had open mic night where people played musical instruments and read poetry. It was nice, something different, and relaxing. Earlier Thursday night I had dinner with my old golfing group at the Greate Bay Country Club. It was a pleasure seeing them again (We'd have golfed, but the rain prevented that.) The Morrises look great! We laughed a lot.

I had a nice visit with my former secretary and got to see the remodeling going on at the parsonage. Pictures below. Despite the last part of the drive home, it was a wonderful trip. Folks missed Dee. I let them know about the funeral she attended in PA and her other commitments that prevented her from traveling with me. She said the service for her brother-in-law went well here.

68 Degrees in November !

Yesterday, Dee went to her second day at the new job while I prepared for my trip to NJ to lead a funeral service for my old friend Geneva. I've worked out most of the details by email and phone and so things should go smoothly there. It will be nice to see the people from my former congregation again.

I was happy to hear form Cokesbury Bookstore that the book I ordered had arrived - Story Journey. I'm thinking of using it for a class at our new church sometime in the future. I'd read it and used it before, but couldn't find my copy.

Kerri seems to be doing well. Now that they are anticipating a new baby, they've found a new place to live with more room. And of all places, it's on a country club golf course! Go figure! They plan to move in December.

In the evening Dee and I went to the funeral home in Butler to be with Dee's sister Ruth. Ruth's husband's funeral is today, Wednesday, in the afternoon. Dee's sister Donna and her husband drove up from NC, and other relatives were there too. It's always good to see them. I'll be driving to NJ today for the funeral there on Thursday.

When we got home, we watched some of the election returns and then went to bed. Dee has a cough that's been hanging on for 3 days.

Golfing with Friends

Yesterday was the "employee appreciation day" at Treesdale. We were allowed to bring three guests to play golf. Here are the other three guys in my foursome. Tim, Tom and John and I enjoyed the pizza and pop prior to tee off in Arnie's Grill at the club and then played the Grove and Lakes Courses. We didn't keep score, but we did keep track of any pars we may have made. It was a beautiful day! The weather cooperated and rose to 69 before we were done. However, as the afternoon wore on, temperatures slipped and dusk creeped up on us, we decided to call it a day after 5 holes. Here are Curly, Moe and Larry on the 3rd tee of Lakes Course. As you can see the Fall colors were still vibrant.

Dee had her first day at her new job at the Worthington, assisted Living Homes. She said things went well and she had a few stories to tell about her day of learning and meeting new people. We enjoyed a yummy dinner of sloppy joes prepared by Dee. Then, I was off to Bogmeister practice. We're working hard on the Christmas songs December performances at various places around the area for the holiday. We finished early so people could get back to see most of the Steeler's game. It's nice to see many of the new guys returning week after week. Hopefully some of them will stay with us after the Christmas season ends.