Kevin got distracted (one boot, one sandal)

Well, the driving home part was very long, even though the weather was great and we started in the daylight. We really hated to leave and didn't start as early as we should have. Ray didn't drive quite as fast this time and we stopped a few times, briefly.

He slept late because he stayed up late watching football games on TV in the motel. I was awake so long before him that I had to go down and eat waffles off of a styrofoam plate with fake syrup and crappy OJ.

We spent a little time hanging out while Amelia finished the soup she was making and then we walked around a complex called Brightleaf (another tobacco reference), in and out of shops. I finally got Nicky's birthday present and bought a few Christmas-y things. They had advent calendars, which my Mom used to give us some years and that made me cry, thinking about celebrating Christmas without her. Will I bother to do the advent angels?

beautiful day at their complex

artist studios

Then we went back to the apartment and ate the delicious, healthful soup, with bread we had bought the day before and cheese and homemade fig jam. It was after 3 before we left. I drove first. There was a traffic jam ahead, which Ray noticed using iPhone, so we got off the highway and went around it. That was a little stressful. I am not sure I ever want to drive that far again. We can meet them somewhere...or take the train.

patio with planter Amelia built

table under the stairs

shiny new appliances and cupboards

looking toward the patio

It was about 10 when we got to Amelia's and had some breakfast--banana muffins, Greek yogurt, and tea. Yum! Then we all piled in the car and headed to downtown Durham, where we could park for free since it was Saturday. Amelia bought some veggies and I got a hot chocolate with homemade marshmallow--too chocolatey for me, but she liked it. It reminded me of Mexican chocolate--really thick. Mostly, I got it because it was warm and I was cold. I looked at the prices on some of baked goods. I really need to look into that.

We drove around near Amelia's friend Hannah's house, looking at some of the cute houses. Some like where I grew up, some like Five Points in Athens. We even stopped at one that was about $160,000, which Amelia and Kevin might be able to afford in a year or two if all goes well. I love peering in the windows, admiring the wood floors, and imagining what it would be like to decorate. I even took a real estate course once, but didn't take the test for my license. I would have had to drive a ways and pay money.

 We had a lovely brunch at 1:30--the earliest that they could seat us at Rue Cler. Sort of faux French. They have beignets; we bought a 1/2 dozen to start with. They aren't quite like the ones at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I can't remember exactly, but I think the Louisiana ones are heavier and greasier. These are more like donuts. I had eggs, sausage and potatoes. It was delicious. I traded a sausage for Kevin's salad.

We walked around some in the area and then drove to the American Tobacco park and walked around some more. Cold and deserted but fun. We went in and bought some used books at the honor sale--you put the money in a box and take what you want. You can't have too many books!

We drove back to their house and watched most of the Georgia-Florida game. I did some knitting, glanced at one of my new books. At 7:30, we went to dinner at Watts Grocery. We sat at the bar because there were no tables. I liked our server a lot--he had dreadlocks on top of his head and was cute and fun. He even listened to Ray's bartender jokes. The drinks were amazingly good. I had sangria--with Myers Rum in it! Fortunately, it was on the small side. We had to wait a while, but enjoyed our food very much. Amelia's butternut squash tart was pretty great. Ray had chicken-fried ribs. I would think it would kill you to look at them...desserts were astonishing. Amelia had a toffee pudding; Ray and I split Lady Baltimore cake. Kevin had a chocolate martini, which tasted pretty good, I have to say.

We were back at their place by 10 and didn't stick around, so we were asleep by 10:30 or so last night, for a change. Of course, I woke up at 5:30. After dreaming about showing houses to an Indian woman with three children. with thick brightly colored shag carpet.

I am really enjoying being with Amelia and Kevin. She is trying to entertain us, but I just like hanging around and doing ordinary things with her, watching the cat, and talking.

The breakfast here was really annoying--all styrofoam plates and plastic containers. I ate a small individual yogurt and an English muffin--dry because there was no peanut butter and I didn't want fake butter or jelly from an individual plastic container. The juice was horrible and watery. I shared Ray's styrofoam plate and didn't have any cereal and milk. I used one plastic spoon. We showered and dressed and tried to figure out what we would want for all day. It was almost half an hour to Amelia's.

We loved it. She has described it and I have seen pictures, but it is really great. A renovated tobacco pouch factory in the Golden Belt. The neighborhood is mixed, "the other side of the tracks," as she says. They have a little patio and Amelia is growing a few herbs and veggies. There are artist studios on site and they are trying to get a restaurant to move in near her. We walked over to where a new market is starting. She bought some interesting tea. We went to the scrap exchange, where you can buy all kinds of odd things, like styrofoam blocks. Or old test tubes.

We looked at knitting patterns and hung out. Kevin took his lunch break and we went back to the market to buy some sausage. The sausage truck said they were closing up, but we bought sausage from a meat vendor and brought it back to the apartment. Amelia had some really old butternut squash soup that she wanted to throw away and I said Ray would eat it. He ate half of it and I ate the rest--yummy with cloves, no dairy. I tried the sausage but it was too spicy for me. I ate the rest of the lentil salad we brought with us and what Amelia was having--leftover stir fry with rice. I heated mine in the greasy sausage pan.

Amelia and I drove about 20 minutes to Hillsborough, an old town near by, to the knitting shop. It was a great store and I bought some needles there. She bought one skein of sock yarn that was on sale, but she's not really supposed to buy anyting more, but use up what she has. We also went through a funny old hardware store with some of  everything, cluttered together. The town is really nice; we only saw a bit. Did I mention it was cold and rainy all day?

For supper, Amelia had made a delicious lentil and eggplant casserole, with mashed potatoes, like a vegetarian shepherd's pie. I was having some stomach pains though and ate mainly dry toast and tea. In a situation like that, I am so curious. Was it the butternut squash soup? Was it the sausage? What did I eat (or do) that made me sick? No one else was sick, so part of it is my delicate digestive system. We drove to Chapel Hill to see a play. The traffic was horrible, including 3 accidents, and construction. We barely made it in time, and all the parking meters had covers on them: No Parking. Amelia went in and asked and Ray waited with the car. "It should be all right tonight," they said. So our procrastination netted us a spot right in front of the theater. And we were in time.

The show started with old television commercials and photos from the late fifties and early sixties: Bosco, Rice Krispies, Esso, Ajax...there were live musicians, dressed in striped prison outfits and sitting in the remanants of a bus, at the back of the stage. The theater is almost in the round, with the stage in the middle, amphitheater-style, and we were up in back. It was an ensemble cast, with everyone playing different parts, black or white, male or female. This was a tad confusing at times, but I like it overall. Names I recognized: Stokely Carmichael and John Lewis. It was about the Freedom Riders and is called the Parchman Hour. Parchman was a prison in Misssippi where they spent 3 weeks. We saw violence portrayed: beatings, and a hunger strike, arguments among the riders. The time line was hard to follow.

CORE was an organization that came up with this plan. Send black and white northerners to test segregation, college students mainly, I think. They rode the buses, Greyhound and Amtrak, and sat in the white waiting rooms and used the white restrooms in pairs.

The Southern authorities blew up the bus in Anniston, Alabama, and they were arrested in Missippippi. But the prison was the background for the rest of the action, flashbacks, I guess. They sang a variety of songs. The actors were very good, especially some of them who could do accents. One young woman also played Bull Connor, police chief (?) in Birmingham, who arrested them and drove them out of the state. Anyway, I am sure we will hear more about this play. It was like watching the first draft of something very good, although it's really more like the sixth draft, I suspect. It just needs a little more polishing.

It was about 10:30 when we got back to her place. We had some homemade ice cream she had made: two choices, chocolate chocolate (very rich) or vanilla yogurt with ginger (what I had). Kevin had gingerbread beer. He has been testing all the seasonal Halloween beers. It's one of the things he likes best about Durham, is the large number of "craft breweries." Whatever.

So by the time we got back here it was almost midnight again. Slept pretty well, but my Mom was in my dream, eating crab cakes in a restaurant called Peekytoe (is that a kind of crab--not sure where I dredged that from), with my Dad and Ray and some people, supposedly from choir, but not anyone I know now that I'm awake. There was a woman with two sons...one sharing a giant plate of food with the rest of us...

Ray had to make cookies and I had to have my blood work done. I was running out of days to do it and couldn't put it off any longer. So I had to not eat anything and I was at the lab at 7:45, before anyone else. I had been warned that this particular lab was really slow sometimes. But they opened the door at 5 of 8, took my information, and took my blood in 5 minutes. I was home about an hour after I left, most of that driving time. Then I could really enjoy eating. Ray was finishing the oatmeal-raisin cookies and they smelled so good.

He packed for our trip and I did some preparing. He went to his office and I went to the GED program and worked with a young woman on math. Now I have committed to being there for her next Monday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30. She is actually in really good shape, already passed several of the tests and just needs to work on math and science. She passed the pre-test. So she should be able to take it again pretty soon. Very fun.

Then I went to the Arch and ate my sandwich. Adam was there again and a young black man from Jamaica. He was wearing the Lorax sign (unless somebody cares a whole lot, nothing is ever going to change...) and yelling at another young man, shorter than him and better dressed and calmer. I tried to get him to calm down and listen, but to no avail. I was actually impressed with the other man, who stood his ground quietly and waited for a chance to talk. I try to be calm and not get upset with the protestors (or the opposition), but I think it's important to look for common ground and listen to others.

I headed to my gynecology appointment, but got distracted when I went by Robins Credit Union. I stopped and opened an account. It's going to be a major pain to transfer everything over, but I can do it. Not by November 5, I fear, but it's a start. First, I have to put some money in and pay some bills on line to make sure I am okay with their system. Then, I have to stop all the automatic payments out of the SunTrust account--and the direct deposit of Ray's paycheck. But the timing is important. I don't have enough money that I can have plenty in both accounts to cover any miscalculations.

So I was a little late to my first visit to this gynecologist. I still had to wait a bit, but not too bad. This may be my favorite doctor ever. I was awfully fond of Dr. Pelham-Harris, too. (she died). Dr. McPherson is the daughter (Camille) of Warren and Lavonne, who run the Montessori school the girls went to back in the day. She is wonderfully approachable, and even laughs. I wouldn't exactly say I enjoyed my exam....but I feel comfortable having her as my doctor. I have to wait for the results from the Pap smear, and schedule a mammogram.

I went home and started working on getting ready to go. My Dad arrived and we spent some time together. After he left, I finished packing and put everything in the car. Pretty haphazard, but that is one of the advantages of driving. Just throw it all in any way.

Ray was at the Democratic Committee meeting and he came out when I texted him I was there. He was only there about 10 minutes. He started driving because my back was bothering me a little. We talked some, I knit some, I looked at the iPhone some, we listened to the radio some. I fed him lentil salad as he drove. Also guacamole and crackers. And plums. We drove and drove and drove. It got dark. There was stop and go traffic and construction. I dozed a lot. We stopped at a Wendy's, but only the drive-through was open. We went to the gas station instead and ate ice cream. We got to our motel before midnight. Oddly enough, there are two LaQuintas--one across from the other. Of course, the one we went to first was the wrong one. We are on the third floor. There is a microwave and fridge.

I slept until 6:45. The light coming in the window was from the parking lot, not daylight, but it didn't matter. My brain/body decided it was morning. The hotel breakfast was pretty awful. Mostly it was just that I can't bring myself to use styrofoam plates and cups and bowls and plastic utensils. I had a yogurt and an English muffin. No peanut butter. Jelly or fake butter in little plastic containers. I couldn't do it.

Yesterday, I spent a little time in the morning at the protest. I met a young man named Adam, from Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He was pretty high energy, jumping up and offering flyers to people stopped at the light. I met Andy for lunch at Big City Bread and we also went to visit the new bookstore. I went back to the Arch for about half an hour and then went to wait for Ray. His class took longer than expected to do the test, so I waited almost an hour, but it was sunny and pleasant in the car.

At home, I made lentil salad for potluck, which we attended, as well as choir. The people at potluck, who should be supportive, say, "why are you standing there? It won't do any good?" I think the protests have already had an effect. After choir, I read a ltitle and went to bed early.

After I took Ray to work yesterday morning, I picked up my Dad at this house. We stopped at the post office to mail Polly her keys. At my house, he fixed a gutter that had fallen off the roof of the tractor shed when we had snow and ice. Like many jobs, it occasioned lots of swearing when it was harder than anticipated. We decided to leave the other side for another day. The deal was, I would give him lunch, so he had some of the curry from the night before, while I made myself a sandwich. It was a beautiful sunny day and got up to the low 70s in the house. He also hung out the laundry for me.

At 2, I headed to the writing workshop, after taking the Captain home. I enjoyed it very much and read the start of a story I have been working on, about a family dealing with changes brought on by the sudden reduction in oil availability and increase in cost to $10 a gallon. I would love to write something like that and have it published.

venison at Etienne

Ray met me at the hospital and we drove home. I worked on some guacamole. We drove back to town for a wine dinner at Etienne Brasserie, meeting Dad there. He was sitting next to Jim Jones, who was there with a woman we didn't know. We had a lovely time. The food and wine were very good, although Ray enjoyed watching me have a good time more than eating most of it. Oyster, rabbit pate, quail, and venison (he liked the braised venison), followed by 3 chocolate truffles. Each course had garnishes/accompaniments like beet greens (with the quail) and carrot shavings (with the rabbit). The portions were very small, which was fine with me. And we had five wines, starting with Entre deux Mers and finishing with St. Emilion. Very nice. It made me miss France; I wonder when I will go again.

I was pretty much asleep when we got home after 10. But I woke up at 3:30 for a while and read a really strange book. I did get back to sleep eventually.

sumac leaves in fall

I spent a pleasant hour at the Arch yesterday morning. It was sunny and warm enough. I brought some cookies with me. But there only 3 or 4 others. In fact, I was alone at one point, with the sign that says, "We are the 99 percent." I was kind of embarrassed. I wanted to change it to "I am the 99%," not that that makes any sense.

I met Becky, her friend Teresa and her daughter Amanda for lunch. I had a tuna melt. I had to leave before I finished it all, because the service was slow and my OLLI class started at 1. It was enjoyable, but I do get frustrated. All the people there are smart and educated, and pretty liberal. But they say things like, "people aren't willing to make sacrifices to have solar panels." I point out that I have neighbors with solar panels and they have a refrigerator and a TV; they don't need to make sacrifices. Ann said she wanted to put solar panels on when she did some renovations, but she would have had to cut down a lot of trees, a definite concern in the South, with its long hot summers.

After class, I went by my Dad's and visited with him a bit. Then I went to Earth Fare and picked up some groceries. I spent some time in Ray's parking lot, until he was ready to go. We were home at a reasonable hour and I didn't need to make supper--I had thawed some chicken curry. Ray cooked some rice and that was dinner. We were watching TV before 7 and in bed by 9. Unfortunately, I could not sleep and tried changing places, activities, and even nightgowns.

Yesterday morning, I baked my orange and chocolate cookies. We had pancakes, went for a walk, and got ready to go to UUFA. We ended up late, as usual. I brought the cookies and  a few things from my garden to use as decorations if needed.

We sang for the service, stayed for the lunch, and then got ready for the memorial service. I had volunteered to coordinate the reception, which is not hard. Some of my "helpers" were worried that we would run out of time between the lunch and the memorial service, but I told them not to worry. Wilma started asking people to leave, and they did, of course. Hank was faithfully washing all the dishes and we were arranging the tables, when family members started arriving. They wanted to set up photos and flowers and that was fine. Plenty of food arrived and I went to sit with Ange in the service. There was standing room only and people came to sit up in front in the choir seats, facing the congregation. There were lots from Kenney Ridge as well as UUFA and others from the community. Friends of Steve's from Cedar Shoals 25 years before, and friends of the MacNairs from the African-American community and school of social work. People all agreed he was a lovely person who made friends easily. And apparently they are still waiting for the autopsy results and don't know how he died. He was in the kitchen, cooking something for them to come home to, apparently. He did have some issues with drinking and drugs earlier in his life, but seemed to be on track now. I am sorry I never met him, but it did make it easier to get through the service. Ange had volunteered to lead the hymns, but she was really nervous and I stood up with her.

When the postlude started, I zipped out to the Fellowship Hall and started putting out the drinks, which I had totally forgotten. We had no ice, so Ange went and bought some (it seemed to take forever). But, other than that, there was plenty of food. We replenished the plates and napkins, someone wanted a fork, and everyone enjoyed and was appreciative. The hard part is the tail end. Most people had gone, but Caryl stayed to clean up with Ray and me. I should have swept the floor, but my back was pretty sore.

We went by the MacNairs to take some of the leftover food and they were very pleased. They invited us to sit with them, out on the deck, but we went on home to collapse. I have Rebecca's email address and she has mine, so she can let me know if there is anything they need in the next few weeks.

I ate two bowls of chili and a portion of pepper casserole and some ice cream, watched some TV, and was in bed before 9. Slept well, my back is still sore, some coughing and stuffiness, but the temperature in the house is warm enough. I love not using the electric heat--or even the woodstove yet.

Now I seem to have a cold. Jeez. People say when the weather changes, you catch a cold. When you stand on the street in cold weather, you catch a cold. I never believed them. I thought, when you come in contact with someone who has a cold, you can catch it. Especially if you are tired or stressed or not eating right. Sigh.

Yesterday was beautiful and sunny. The chickens were out most of the day. I didn't feel like going to pilates, so we didn't go there or the farmers' market. I didn't think there would be much for sale there that I needed, having lots of my own garden produce. Ray went and cut wood and came back a couple hours later with another pickup truck full, so now we are in pretty good shape for a while. He has lots of splitting to do.

I did some writing on a story about what happens when the oil runs out that I enjoyed and made chili. I did a couple loads of laundry.

At 5:30, I went to the community center and helped Nancy H. with a dinner for the Macnairs. Steven, the man who died, had worked on it some, and she had the idea it would be nice for his family to see it. Several people brought food and we set the tables up. Nancy had wine and sent Tom for more after they arrivied and started drinking it.

Ray picked me up from there and we went to a play at Memorial Park, picking up Captain on the way. It was The complete works of Shakespeare--abridged. It was a little too silly for me, although there were some things that made me laugh. Somewhat bawdy, but so is Shakespeare. I think my companions enjoyed it. Vicky M. is the one who let me know about it. She was selling tickets, and asked about my girls. Both D.G. and Maria were there. Maria is a petite and beautiful young lady, with a baby (and a husband).

Back home, I ate a bowl of chili and a dish of ice cream, watched Jeopardy, and went to bed.

Between the politics and the economy and my ongoing unemployment and the overwhelming personal sadness, I am practically unable to do anything. I cooked and cooked yesterday, but it didn't solve anything.

I stayed home because Paul came to clean out our chimney. I am really glad to have that done, so we can hopefully have a working wood stove again. We haven't tried it yet. It was cold this morning, but the sun was coming, so we didn't build a fire. It's still pretty cold, but beautiful.

I baked bread and cookies and a pepper casserole. I took the pea soup and some ginger cookies to the macNairs and answered a lot of phone calls and emails about food for them. I am sure we will have a ton for the reception tomorrow, and they have dinners up to Monday night so far. People say how sad it is and they want to know what happened, but I don't know and I'm not going to ask. Maybe I will hear about it sometime.

My Dad came over and dug up the sweet potatoes--funny things, you can't predict where they will be. It seemed like there weren't as many as we hoped, but some of them are really big. It's always possible he missed some. There are two potatoes coming up where they grew in the spring; I guess we missed at least two then. I picked a peck of peppers and the last eggplants, in case of frost. I threw some remay over the squash and beans and peppers, but it didn't actually freeze last night.

When Ray got home, he slept for a while. The bread and the casserole were baking and I finished the book I need to return to Becky. I had to wake him up; we were an hour late for the hootluck. It was at Deb H.'s in the next county, on Lake Oglethorpe. Really fun to sing around the outdoor fire. Music makes me cry. and I need to work on making sure I eat often enough and less carbs. I think it affects my mood, as well as my health and digestion. Potlucks are iffy. There were some yummy things there, but no meat and not much protein.


 I slept in the car on the way home and was in bed by 10.

It's cold, even in the house, this morning as the sun rises. But it will begin warming up soon.

Yesterday, I rushed out at 8 to have lab work done. I had to do it before I ate. When I got to the lab, they said they didn't take my insurance plan. They take Blue Cross, but not the HMO. So, I had to go back to the doctor's office and get a different piece of paper for a different lab. After that, I went home to eat. I'll have to go another morning without breakfast! Man, that was frustrating, to waste an hour and be hungry and cranky.

After breakfast, Ray and I took a walk and he finished the cookies I had started (for his class). Because it was Thursday, when he stays in town to eat dinner usually, he took the truck. I made oatmeal for the protestors, but didn't get it there until 11, kiind of late for breakfast. I spent a little time at the GED classes, helping a young woman with rounding up or down. Then I went back downtown and parked and walked to the protest. I had on a turtleneck, a sweater, a jacket, a scarf, a hat and gloves. It was too cold to knit. I think it was about 50 degrees and windy. A young woman there was preparing to go to NY to join the Wall Street protest. I felt obliged to say that if I was her mother, I would tell her not to hitchhike alone. I doubt that it had any effect. As I was getting ready to leave, the police chief from the university came and said the items left on the grass were supposed to have been removed. I, of course, did not know anything about it, or want to be involved in moving them. Fortunately, other people had more ideas. He was very pleasant, I have to say. I asked him why he changed the rules. He said he was too lenient at first and should have probably enforced them at the beginning. He said there had been complaints. I said we had not blocked anyone, but he just said he had to respond to complaints.

I drove home, stopping at Karen Frank's house and enjoying some tea by the fire to warm me up. She had some Kenney Ridge documents to give me and we talked about buying some pigs and sharing in their care and costs. I was shocked how much one baby pig costs, but it still seems like a good plan.

At my house, I made pea soup for my supper and spent some time on the computer and making phone calls. I am coordinating the reception for the memorial service Sunday, and also helping organize food for the MacNairs.

I headed out to go to UUFA, but had a little trouble getting the chickens to go back in their coop, so I was late. It was the lay ministry training, with Jane M., Myrna, Aleta, and Michelle L. Nancy M. is in the group, but she naturally didn't go this time. Alison leads it. It is pretty in-depth and challenges me, but it is also very nurturing.

When I got home, Ray had just gotten here and we watched TV a little later than usual, and then I read my book, which I need to return to Becky today, even though I haven't finished it yet.

From my writing workshop, for my children

Untitled by Peter Meinke

This is a poem to my son Peter
whom I have hurt a thousand times
whose large and vulnerable eyes
have glazed in pain at my ragings
thin wrists and fingers hung
boneless in despair, pale freckled back
bent in defeat, pillow soaked
by my failure to understand.
I have scarred through weakness
and impatience your frail confidence forever
because when I needed to strike
you were there to hurt and because
I thought you knew
you were beautiful and fair
your bright eyes and hair
but now I see that no one knows that
about himself, but must be told
and retold until it takes hold
because I think anything can be killed
after awhile, especially beauty
so I write this for life, for love, for
you, my oldest son Peter, age 10,
going on 11.

(Peter Meinke)

I am still feeling a little haunted by death and sadness. Otherwise, my day was good, if busy.

I stopped by MacNairs before I went into town. They said they didn't need anything, and their son Doug arrived as I was leaving. The rest of the children were expected.

My chair is to the left, behind the coorporate personhood sign

It was still raining when I got to the Arch, and cold. I had my umbrella, my chair, my knitting and my purse. There was a tent over the table, which had been moved a little to one side. I thought it was because of the weather, but apparently the UGA authorities have decided that we cannot be on the steps. About 60 people came out at 6:30 in the morning to be there when the police came. I am very disappointed; I was so proud of Athens. I thought it was very smart to offer no opposition. I think more people will come if there is resistance. I had a shawl and a jacket under my raincoat, but it was 55 degrees and I was not warm enough. The rain stopped, but the wind picked up. I had to take a break and eat lunch at Five Star Day, where I had hot tea and a yummy chicken and pasta dish. Then I moved my car. I need to get more quarters...

At 2, I picked Ray up after his class and we drove to Atlanta to pick up my Dad. He was coming out as we pulled up, so that worked out perfectly. It is a little wierd to see him in a wheelchair, but it is a brilliant way to get through the airport for him. ATL requires lots of walking and he doesn't have to worry about finding his way. His trip went very smoothly, but he was still pretty tired. We enjoyed Bistro Niko very much, but it wasn't quite the same with just the three of us. It was not busy, but there was an atmosphere of getting ready for the rush. We sat by the window and watched the bar fill up as people arrived after work. There was a wine tasting set up in the private room; it looked like professionals. Grampa was feeling like he shouldn't eat anything too rich or spicy and I (and Ray) am trying to eat as healthy as possible, so we didn't order gougeres, or cheese or charcuterie. Ray and Dad had the butternut squash soup, which is amazing, as you may remember. I had the beet salad, which is pretty wonderful, too. Little sprigs of watercress and tiny dollops of creamy goat cheese, eaten with lots of French bread (this time it seemed to be partly whole wheat!). Ray had salad nicoise, Dad had trout meuniere, I had coq au vin. I did not love my coq au vin--Grandma's is better. Or at least what I am used to. This sauce was dark and tasted a little strong. Either it had been reduced too much (is that possible?) or they had added something that did not improve the flavor. Mushrooms and onions, but not much in the way of carrots, three small potatoes. The trout was better--very mild, with buttery mashed potatoes and perfect green beans. I think Ray may have felt the same about the nicoise--it wasn't they way we make it.

We did get a little sorbet and chocolate marquise, which was actually kind of odd. A chocolate mousse-y thing, some dry cake (like baba), some boozy cherries and pistachios. The bottle of wine was great. The service was exquisite and I love the atmosphere. And it wasn't that much. Yes, over $100, but not $150.

We took Grampa home to his lonely apartment (I think he needs a cat, but he can't have one there) and zipped over to choir, where we had missed about half an hour. Ray was so disappointed; he wanted to go home and go to bed after all that driving. But he perked up after singing for an hour. Many people there gave me hugs; I guess they had heard about MacNairs. It is good to have community. I sometimes feel like I might as well laugh as cry about My Year of Death...

I didn't even watch a whole episode of Wheel of Fortune before I went up to read in my cozy bed and fall asleep. It is cold this morning, but predicted to be sunny. Time for the house to do its thing, letting the sun warm it up during the day and holding the heat in at night. It needs to be full of people, though, enjoying it and letting me feed them.

Apparently, it is my year to spend a lot of time with death and grieving. My friend Harriet's mother died recently and last night was the visitation at her house. It is about half an hour north in another county. We had an early supper and were headed there about 6. As we came out of our driveway, we saw the emergency vehicles turning into our neighbor's. Ray M. was out with an umbrella, guiding them. I jumped out of the car and ran over to him. I walked in the drive with him. He has just been diagnosed with ALS and his speech is unclear and his walking unsteady. "It's Steve," he said, "our oldest son. He's dead." They had been in Augusta for medical tests confirming Ray's condition and come home to find their son, age 42, dead in their house. I don't know how he died yet, and the police wouldn't let me in the house. My husband and I stood around and comforted them as best we could when they came out. We offered to stay with them and they said they had calls to make. I called our minister and Nancy H. and then we went on our way to Harriet's.

There were a few friends there, whom we knew somewhat. A couple people from Clarke Central that I hadn't yet met, including the "new" principal. He called for directions and I talked him in, using the Map on my iPhone. Harriet's mother, Margaret, was 92, so her death was not as upsetting in some ways. On the other hand, she was relatively healthy. She had been to the funeral of her youngest brother (there were 12 of them and she was the last one living). Harriet was with her. They had stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home and she had fallen and hit her head on the tile floor. She was in the hospital in Macon for five days before she died. Harriet was doing pretty well, but was not looking forward to the funeral. Her Mom had many friends and was very active in First United Methodist, the biggest church in Athens. So it will be a big deal and Harriet (as is often the case) will have to greet and comfort many people when she would rather be comforted. 

I did not sleep well.

Other than that, it was a good day. The weather was beautiful in the morning when I was sitting at the Arch. I finished a third hat. I had lunch with my friend Becky and went to the writing workshop. During the two hours, we watched the sky darken and the rain start to fall. It's raining a little still this morning, from the souonds on the roof. We had a good dinner of lentil soup and an omelet that included peppers from the garden. There are still a lot of peppers to eat or do something with.

We were home before 9, in time to watch a few shows and read a bit before we went to sleep.

I was pretty exhausted yesterday.

Of course, it started with an 8:30 doctor's appointment, which I didn't have on my calendar. I had a message from them on Friday and I wasn't sure what the appointment was for and whether I should not eat. So I didn't eat breakfast and I was crabby and nervous. I had left my purse at home accidentally. She told me I had high blood pressure and prescribed a diuretic. I suggested tea instead. She said caffeine was bad for my blood pressure too. She said I could lose weight and exercise. I said I lost weight. She said no you didn't. She looked at my chart. I lost .2 lbs since July. So, that's good in my book. I said I walk every morning, but I couldn't this morning because I had to be here at 8:30. Anyway, I have to get blood work done this week and go back and see her next week. I felt like a crabby old person, too stupid to write down my appointments and get my blood work done.

I had to go home to get my purse and I felt a little better after I ate. Then I went to the small group ministry, which was good. Then I parked the car at my Dad's and found a piece of banana bread in his fridge. I took the bus to the Arch and sat there for a while. I ate some nuts...then I took the bus back to get the car, but I had to wait half an hour. By the time I got Ray, I was really hungry and stopped at Wendy's to get a grilled chicken sandwich and some sweet tea.

At home, I wasn't hungry at dinner time and had a 6:30 meeting at the Fellowship. Dan and I drove together. It was long and not totally productive, but I guess it's important. We are talking about Governance and changes in the Fellowship. It is not the kind of hands-on stuff we usually do in meetings, so hard to see progress.

Ray heated up some lentil soup for me and I had ice cream and watched TV.

dogs on the porch

Deb ready for her first golf game

Home again. yay. The older I get, the more I like coming home...I think.

favorite beach activity (John and Becky, Ray in other room)

antiques

We spent almost 48 hours at Fripp Island with longtime friends, celebrating Ron's 60th birthday and enjoying gorgeous weather. Yes, we swam in the ocean--Ray and John and I did. Becky and Janna put their feet in. We sat on the beach and got really tan. It was sunny and warm and breezy. Saturday the flies drove us off, but Sunday they were gone. We played bocce both days. Saturday Deb and Ron and Kent played golf. The rest of us spent some time on the beach. Ray and John thought they were going to play bocce without me. It is generally a game for two people or to teams of two. We created a three-person game. which lasted about 4 hours, punctuated by some time in the water to try to shake the flies for awhile. Becky and Janna sat in beach chairs, covered by towels, and walked in and out of the water, trying to get them to go away. 

Ruins of a church in Sheldon, SC, burned in the Civil War

Friday we drove down uneventfully, after I spent a couple hours at the Occupation and bought a few things at Earth Fare and spent some time at my Dad's apartment. We did not stop between Athens and the beach, not for gas or anything. And we made it in 4 1/2 hours. We had a lovely dinner and went to bed. On Saturday, other than spending time at the beach, Janna and Becky and I went to Beaufort for about an hour and had a great time in an antique store we found. Plus admiring the houses in Beaufort and the Spanish moss-draped big old trees. We met the rest at dinner at a fun restaurant where we could watch the sun set over the boats.

Yesterday morning, Ray and I walked some and I made huevos rancheros for those who wanted. Janna and Ron left and the rest of us spent some more time on the beach. Ray and Kent played bocce against John and I, and we won. We ate lunch, packed our cars and drove home. I rode with Becky and Kent rode with Ray. We got separated at one point, and Ray couldn't call because he had no service, even though we did on our route. He finally got through and we met up again at a restaurant in Augusta, the Chop House, where we spent a pleasant hour. All this relaxed pace, however, meant it was after 10 when we got home. In fact, there is still lots of unpacking to do. 

Yesterday morning we left here around 9, earlier than usual for some reason. I had asked Caryl S. about volunteering for the GED classes. She told me to just show up and gave me the times. I said I would be there Thursday morning. When I got there, two students were waiting for the teacher. There were other people in the building. A couple young volunteers asked me if I was there to volunteer. I said yes. The classes were supposed to start at 9:30, but it was about 10 minutes late before the (young) instructor came in. She had been meeting with the director, Erin, who is pregnant again. Miranda is the instructor. She is a BSW student. She did not seem to know who Caryl is and said she generally met with volunteers ahead of time before they could volunteer. She had me fill out a form and talked to me some about my experience. Then she told me to come back next Thursday morning, if that was the best time for me.

Next I drove to the ACC Council on Aging, where they were having a Harvest Festival. This has been going on 37 years! The older people demonstrate crafts from 100 years ago or so and the schools bring classes to see. I was not demonstrating (I was told they had knitters, but didn't see them). I was assigned to the children's art table. There were two activities; coloring and making pasta necklaces. It seemed a little lame to me. They couldn't think of anything more old-timey and fun than that? However, there were wave after wave of kids, some in matching shirts, some who were well behaved, some with many adults, some with adults who were not very engaged...I spent most of two hours cutting pieces of yarn to make necklaces, and tying one piece of pasta onto them. Fortunately, we ran out of noodles about noon. Then I helped the lady at the next activity with the bean bag toss. This was much more physically demanding. We had to keep bending over and picking up the beanbags from behind the holes and handing them out again. We also handed out candy, from a giant assortment (300 pieces): Laffy Taffy, Sweet Tarts, and Nerds among others. Several children wanted to trade what they had for Nerds. Warning: do not start down that road. A few boys helped pick up the bean bags for us before they had to leave. Many children lined up more than once to play bean bag toss (and get more candy). It was hard to keep track of which ones had already been. They could have another turn, but they were only supposed to get candy once. They gave me a sandwich on a white roll with accompaniments in plastic: chips, cookies, nuts, mayonnaise. I appreciated it and it was tasty, but I was horrified that it was in a styrofoam box. They gave me water in a styrofoam cup, too. Opportunity for education there.

I picked Ray up and we drove home, stopping at the bank and Kroger. I was really tired and read for a while before making a delicious tabouli: home-grown cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, herbs...I mixed in the lentil salad from the day before and it was really tasty. We headed over to the Cedar Commons for KR potluck. Lots of excellent food and good company. After awhile, my young friend Ada asked me to teach her to play cards, which I did. Always fascinating to me that you could get to be 4 (or older) and have no experience of cards. We learned War and she delighted in beating me. I played some with her 6-year-old brother Solomon too. I started by trying to comfort baby Ruby who was crying and crying. At one point, I had her more or less happily bouncing on my knee, while playing cards with her sister. My idea of fun. Later, Ada wanted to be pushed (fast) in her sister's stroller. It had a very smooth ride. Almost everyone was gone and the cleanup had been done, so I raced her around the tables over and over. She always wanted just "one more time." But we finally left.

When we got home, I made the meringues I had been planning to make for days, with leftover egg whites and not much else. Low-fat and wheat-free. We'll see how they taste.

Fell asleep watching TV and went to bed. Ray had to turn the oven off for me.

I parked downtown and went to the Arch again for a couple of hours. I would have stayed longer but the meter had run out. There were only three of us at one point. It's a little discouraging. Dare I say college students have no stamina? There was another gray-haired woman, Carolyn, there, and a young black man. Then, just before I left, a couple more people showed up. I finished a scarf.

I drove to my Dad's and brought in his mail, took some things from his fridge that would be bad by the time he got back, and made his bed with clean sheets. The apartment needs vacuuming and general cleaning, but I am not going to do it. I should clean my own house first.

I went to the library and got some books. I went to Earth Fare and got some food. I waited in Ray's parking lot until he was ready to come home.

I made lentil salad for potluck and talked to my girls on Skype. We went to potluck, where liberal people I have known a long time disparaged the protestors for not having more specific demands. We practiced singing and came home. We watched TV and went to bed.

Wow! What a difference a day makes! We had 2 1/2 inches in our rain gauge the last time I checked, more than enough for the garden for a week, so no watering for a while! I know the reservoir is up some too, but we are probably still in drought. All the veggies and trees are so happy and green!

Yes, I went to stand at the Arch for a couple hours, in the pouring rain. I did not take my chair and I did not knit. At one point, we were down to three people with umbrellas. There were soggy signs and leftover food containers with rain in them, chairs with puddles of water...not a pleasant sight. Waterfalls dripping down the steps. It's hard to imagine what impact it had for me to be there. Certainly, the young people who were there appreciated me being with them. Perhaps it helps them know that older people care too.

A little after noon, I headed to my car. I was pretty cold and wet. I needed to use the bathroom. I was parked near my bank, SunTrust, and I needed to make a deposit. So I went in and headed for the back, where I thought there was a rest room. A young woman asked if she could help me, and when I explained, she said they did not have public rest rooms. I repeated that it was my bank, but she insisted that I could not use the bathroom. I told her I was closing my accounts. And I thought it was probably illegal. Man, that really frosted me!

My friend Becky met me for lunch at Sweet Peppers deli, where I got warm and dry (and used the bathroom). I had soup and quesadillas and it was pretty good. She brought me some pomegranates, too.

At 2, I went to my writing workshop and enjoyed it very much. We read one poem that made me cry. Ray met me there and we drove home, doing a couple errands on the way, and picking up the Captain's car. He arrived safely in Seattle, by the way, delayed about an hour, but with no major problems.

We made a stir-fry with the last of the pork and some peppers and carrots and onion. It was awfully tasty with brown rice.

I had wanted very much to go hear Janisse Ray, one of my heroes. But I opted to audition for Jesus Christ Superstar instead. I hate auditioning and I'm really bad at it. The man who is directing it has never picked me for anything else. The group was all younger than me, by a lot. Many talented young people. But I love to sing and I love Superstar. And they are having what they call a Pit Choir, so I could sing and not be on stage. I was number 34, and there were more the first night. And more after me. I did not dazzle with my singing. Ray helped me choose: Consider Yourself At Home...from Oliver. Something I could sing a cappella, but really not that well. Anyway, I did it. I did not get called back. sigh. I can sing Superstar to myself as much as I want..

Back home, I treated myself to ice cream and TV.

baby lettuce Captain set out

It's raining! A lot...steadily for at least a couple of hours. Yay! It was rainy and drizzly yesterday--nice, but not a lot of accumulation. This is the real deal now though!

I made some cookies and stuck the raw balls in the freezer for future baking. Ray and I are not keeping up with the cookie eating (which is good). Anything I bake will be saved for future events. We have delicious bread, banana bread and 3 kinds of cookies, more than enough for two people at risk of diabetes! 

last of the tomatoes

still have cucumbers

spinach, chard, bok choy

more zucchini

the broccoli plants

carrots and beets

lettuce and cabbage coming along

signs in the rain

I spent a couple of hours at the Arch, sitting in the rain, knitting and holding my umbrella. A gentleman named George was standing near me with a sign most of the time. The bulk of younger people (6-8) were on the other side of the Arch. They put up a tarp to sit under.

putting up a tarp

I took the bus to another bus to River's Crossing for my 1:00 class. I was damp, but dried off during the class. We talked about the book Ishmael that we had read and the current state of affairs. It was somewhat less discouraging than the last class. Lots of good people.

I took the River's Crossing bus back toward campus, but walked the last 20 minutes to my Dad's apartment. Visited with him for a half hour or so, then went to get Ray. Captain had wanted to get some cash for his trip, but of course banks and post office were closed for Columbus Day. Confusing, because otherwise not a holiday here--schools and businesses as usual. We stopped and got money for him from a cash machine and took it to him.

At home, I was happy to be able to make soup for the first time this fall. Lentil soup from the Romagnolis' cookbook, followed by the chard omelets we've had before. Maybe the best thing to do with chard, of which we have a virtually unlimited supply.

We finished our excellent supper just in time for me to pick up Ray M. and head to the Fellowship for the Green Sanctuary meeting. A good one, although progress is slow.

I needed a drink when I got home, and a couple TV shows before bed.

Weather is changing, hopefully rain! Overcast and cool. Yesterday there was some sun.

Ray and I went for a walk, then to the Fellowship. We weren't singing. He taught the childen. I sat in the service and knitted. Enjoyed talking to various people.

We went to lunch at the Chinese restaurant on Alps, then to Earth Fare to buy some things before heading home. Ray put fencing up around the deck so the chickens can't get under there.

Ate leftovers for supper. Watched TV, knitted. went to bed early, slept well until 2. read some. Went back to sleep about 5 for a couple hours.

Not feeling quite right again, don't know if it is lingering effects from the virus I had or something else. We went for a short walk, but I wasn't up to pilates. Ray split wood and then we ate lunch. My Dad came over briefly. Janna and Ron came and brought me some houseplants that they got when Bertha died. I won't kill them as quickly as Janna would...they came in Ron's new black BMW convertible.

I read some depressing stuff about how the US aid policy contributed to people starving in Haiti. I feel like I have done most of the things I could do to minimize my footprint, but I am not doing anything to help the world, so I am not in balance; I am in a deficit by not contributing to improving things. Ray gets mad when I say things like that. He made some nice pasta with veggies and cream sauce, but it was late when we ate. Then we watched a litttle TV and went to bed.

protest moved so bridal party can have photos at the Arch

bridesmaids wear black and carry red roses (GA colors)

That day did not start too well. Ray and I were finishing up a relaxed breakfast; we would have gone for a walk and eventually gone to town. But the phone rang at 8:30. It was my Dad wanting his car back (Ray had driven it home Thursday night after his meeting). Captain was supposed to walk Jean's dogs Friday morning. So we jumped in the shower and got there as soon as we could--in two cars to avoid the same problem again. For every solution, there's a new problem...and apparently left my phone at home. I hated being without it, but went ahead down to the Arch with my chair and my knitting, while Ray went to his office. I sat for over an hour; there weren't many people there--6 or 8? and I felt like I was getting chilled. It wasn't very cold, but just enough that sitting, without a warm sweater or hat or scarf made me a little uncomfortable. And the fact that I had no communication.

Ray being interveiwed by channel 5 about release of data

I took the bus back to the car (a fairly slow process, at least 30 minutes) and then drove home. I had some lunch and gathered my phone. I had missed one call--Becky inviting me to lunch, which I declined. After a couple hours, I headed back to town, with my phone. The hard part was getting the chickens to go back in the coop. They like being under the deck, out of the sun. In fact, I found an egg there, which I got out with a shovel. The chickens were much harder to reach. I wasn't willing to crawl under there, not that it would have done any good. They were not interested in being lured with corn. It took a good 30 minutes, I think. And another 5 to get Cameron to come in. I was hot and not happy by the time I left.

my dinner

Ray's steak frites

There were a few more people and it was warmer. Maureen McGinley sat with me for a bit--and Hannah Hay. Will didn't arrive until late in the day. Maureen said Erin is pregnant! In China...Charlotte Poss and her parents were there for a bit at the end. Ray headed to get a haircut, then picked up my Dad and we met for dinner. Except they left the cars and came on the bus. We walked over to Etienne, the new French restaurant Ray and I had eaten at when it opened in May. We had a very pleasant evening, toasting my Mom and thinking about what she would have liked about the restaurant and the menu. It was quite good, but not up to Bistro Niko standards. My fish was a little overcooked (or reheated) and the coq au vin was dry, with not enough vegetables. The frites with Ray's steak were amazing and the creme brulee awfully good too. It took us a long time to go back on the bus, the night route goes more places for one thing. But eventually we got to the apartment and left the Captain there. We drove home, watched TV and went to bed and slept well.

It's Saturday morning, with no obligations and I'm not sure what I'll do with my day. Water the garden for one thing.