It was rainy and cold all day yesterday. We started a fire in the morning and again in the evening and we were very comfortable. High was about 48. Ray and I walked out to get the paper with umbrellas--it wasn't raining hard then. I made waffles and we video chatted with Barbara and Ray's Mom, mostly about Christmas presents. We went to church and I sang. There was a UU minister there from Uganda who taught us a song in Swahili and Lugata (?) and drummed with our drum circle. He runs a school, New Life (?). I think he said there are 4000 children, 80% orphaned due to AIDS. Most don't have shoes until they are 10. I was very concerned and gave him $5. After, I thought, maybe they don't really need shoes? Ray MacNair spoke about liberation theology and they gave out the Guest at Your Table boxes.

Ray and I ate Fourth Sunday lunch. Then we met Captain and Vanessa at the bookstore (Barnes & Noble). There was a fund-raiser for Clarke Central--they got some portion of the books you bought--and Vanessa has a membership this year that gives her 10% off (me too!) So I bought some Christmas presents for people. Still need a few more ideas, but feeling better about being prepared than I usually do. My cold was much better, especially my energy level, but I worried a little about being out in the hard rain in the cold. V and I drove to Beechwood, where we went into TJ Maxx and looked at purses. I wished I had sprung for the $70 at Macy's--my red quilted purse is beginning to embarrass me. I have bunches of great purses, but I want one large enough to throw a sandwich and paperback into, yet still organized enough to find stuff and not too heavy. We didn't buy anything there and had to walk a ways in the rain back to our car--very few empty parking spaces, maybe a good day to go to the movies? The movie theater is next to TJ Maxx. We drove up to Talbot's and went in. Good sales there. Janna got there soon after, driving herself in the rain. She was just going to get some stockings, but found a gorgeous fuscia wool jacket. It looked great on her and she had to buy it. I won't tell you how much it cost, but I didn't try it on because of the price. She also got gray pants and a long-sleeved top. I did, however, buy a beautiful red sweater. It doesn't even button, but it looked and felt so nice I got it anyway. Especially in the cold rain--I kept it on the rest of the day. And a pair of dark brown pants and one item for Christmas. We went down to Coldwater Creek and nothing there looked that good, although it was cheaper. Vanessa tried on a pair of dark green velour pants, but they were too long and not particularly becoming. She tried on a couple things at Talbot's too, but didn't get anything. Janna, on the other hand, bought several tops and a gray shawl to go with her new pants. Then we went on home. Captain made turkey soup (with Vanessa's help) and we had the last of the homemade bread from the freezer. I'll have to make that recipe again. Everybody likes it and it even has a little whole wheat in it. Instead of watching TV after supper, we played Oh Hell. It was a good time, we were all in good spirits. The Captain twice said how much he liked this (us playing cards). He and I were tied at the end of the game! Vanessa didn't do very well and he made a couple remarks about her paying attention--was she tired, did she not feel well? She got annoyed and told him she didn''t like to be treated like an idiot.

I fell asleep watching MASH. And didn't get up until 6:15.