Wow! That weekend was so exhausting I am looking forward to going to work and resting up.

Dave's service was about T.S. Eliot--not really inspirational, but educational. Eliot's grandfather was a UU minister, but he converted to Anglicanism...! As he said, we teach our children to question...but we don't like it when they question UUism.

Ray and I went to the Benevolence Market. Beth, the board president, was representing AAHS. It was pretty sad, there was no display board on our table. Amanda (the intern) came to help. Ray and I had lunch. Beth left. Amanda walked around and talked to people. The UU group sang, although I couldn't really hear them. They seemed well received. I spoke to the woman from Habitat, as well as Jenni from the Justice Project, Mary from Healthy Families...and many others.

At 3, we packed up and went to the Land Trust party/meeting at their new offices. Really nice. They are expanding, with 6 employees now. I wanted to say, what about me? I still think the time might come when they hire me.

Then we headed to the Kenney Ridge progressive dinner. Vanessa and the Captain had brought the stuffed mushrooms, as well as plates (that they didn't use). It was quite fun for all of us...enough food to go around, good conversations. Karen F. bought the farmhouse and renovated it, so that was really fun to see. Dinner was at Jenni and Bill's and dessert at Paul and Tanya's next door. The advantage of that is anyone can come home when they want. Three of us walked up and Ray came a little later.

More working on presents and dozing in front of the TV--and now it's Monday! The week the grant proposals are due.

I started yesterday bone-tired from my work week and was pretty much planning to do lots of nothing. Captain got a fire going and I had some hot chocolate and raisin English muffins and began to feel like I might live. I wrapped some things, Vanessa said she needed to go to the mall, so we headed out and got there by 10. Not too crowded yet. Bought a few things and were home by 11:30. My Mom is incredible, walking through the mall, carrying bags. I bought one thing for Ray, a little more than I wanted to spend, but good quality on sale. As we were leaving, I saw a display of turntables that you can hook up to your computer and convert your records. It was 10% off. I agonized for a minute or two and then I bought it. Ray will give it to me for Christmas. I have wanted one for a long time and now he doesn't have to stress about what to get me.

When we got home, the boys and the truck were gone. I was pretty sure I knew where they were, although there were other possibilities. I had told Nancy H. that we could go pick up tables and chairs if they needed us to for the Kenney Ridge Progressive Dinner tonight. I took a nice bath, had some lunch, and started working on the stuffed mushrooms I had promised to bring for appetizers. First I peeled the caps and cut up the stems. The caps were dipped in lemon juice and olive oil and cooked for 6 minutes to soften them. Meanwhile I was chopping onion. Vanessa chopped apple and she said, "don't we have any more walnuts?" I looked and couldn't find any. She had used them up in cookies earlier in the week and put them on the list, but we hadn't realized we needed them for this. So Ray and I headed to Kroger.

First we went by the Craftstravaganza. http://www.athensindiecraftstravaganzaa.com/ It was pretty darn cold downtown, even though the sun was shining on some of the vendors. We enjoyed the funkiness of it, mostly young people we didn't know. We bought something for a couple of young women. Their company is called Bacon. We asked were their things made out of bacon, no, one of their first efforts was for one of their boyfriends and he really likes bacon. Saw Stephanie Astalos-Jones. Her son Nick is moving to Mexico, to be with his girlfriend. She asked about our girls.

Kroger was something of a madhouse. We don't generally go there late in the day, especially on Saturday. We did eventually get walnuts and a few other things. Sadly, they did not have Chanukah candles. I don't know if we can find any in time. Chanukah is early this year--it starts this week.

The sun was setting as we got home and it was starting to be seriously cold. I had gotten a few more mushrooms. They shrink when you cook them and ours are not very large to start with. Mixed up some more lemon juice and olive oil, dipped them, cooked them, finished cooking the filling. Vanessa stuffed them and we threw them in the freezer. Then started on supper. We did eat by 7:30, but I have to fight the urge to be grumpy when I feel like I am cooking on a deadline and starting to get hungry. After dinner, watching TV, falling asleep. My back is a little sore too. I need to walk this morning. The computer says it is 27 and the sky is starting to get light.

TGI Saturday

What a day! We had to count and enter in the computer all the money from last night. Four different board members dropped by to see how much we made and wrap up loose ends. I worked some on the grants, meeting with Brandy before the DCA auditor showed up. She was about half an hour early, while we were tidying up and vacuuming. She was there until nearly 3. I was finding documents for her and answering questions. Kerri was tied up until almost 1:30. She had specific suggestions on our policies and procedures--that they should be less vague to protect us from lawsuits. I would have been justified in saying I don't know anything, that was before my time, I wasn't told about that. But we want the organization to be capable, regardless of who the staff are. So she will send us a letter with several suggestions. The only big thing ("finding") is that the board lacks a formerly homeless person. Clearly not my responsibility and one I passed on to the board members within hours.

By the time she had left and I had the deposits ready, it was about 3. I took all the money to the bank (We made more than $12000 on the event) and then stopped at the national to get some lunch. They ssid they stopped serving at 3. I threatened to go to Wendy's and she asked the kitchen if they would make an exception (it was to go after all and people were still eating). I asked for the lamb stew. It seemed to take forever--I don't think they had to make it, just pour it in a container. There was a yummy salad too. $10. By the time I got back, there was more to deal with and it was after 4 by the time I ate it. It was still warm but not hot and it was delicious. But it was more like soup than stew and I thought that was kind of a ripoff for $10. Kerri and I talked a bit. I thought Amber was coming to finish the display board for the benevolence market on Sunday, but she had a death in the family. Kerri didn't have a chance to tell me until then. So, no display board. I did not have the energy to stay there another hour or so and do it. Not my thing anyway, so much.

I picked up Ray a little after 5 and asked him, weren't we supposed to go to the Democratic Committee holiday party? They were at Janet Pomeroy's most years, but this year they had it at Little Kings, kind of a seedy bar (not as bad as 40 Watt). They paid them something for the privilege. But people brought tablecloths and decorations and it was fun. Captain and Vanessa came and seemed to enjoy themselves. Captain still taking it a little easy, just a little whisky on the rocks. Vanessa had one or two drinks. I was excited they were offering hot drinks. I had two hot toddies, not very strong, but very comforting and relaxing after my day. We picked up some baguettes at Big City Bread. Ham and turkey were provided and a few side dishes. but omg the desserts! Vanessa brought some homemade cookies, but they were overshadowed by the cakes and sweets, so we got to bring them home. My kind of party, we were home by 8:30 and I was soon dozing on the couch, waking up now and then to watch a little TV (with my sweetie).

The fund-raiser seems like it was very successful, lots of people there. We had over $7000 in sponsorships, and I am sure we made at least $5000 more. Two bands: Thieves market and Modern Skirts. They were both good--not my very favorite, but listenable. There was a silent auction. Fortunately, nothing I really wanted to bid on, but one garnet ring was at $300 when I left... The space was really neat. We have a new green hotel, the Hotel Indigo, and I like it a lot. There is a "club" room downstairs, a bar with couches and cool decor and a small room with a stage. It was set with little tables with buckets of champagne for the sponsors in front and then chairs for the rest of us. The whole thing was organized by numerouno, a hair salon and event planning business and who knows what else. John Robert is the main guy. He is as flamboyantly gay as you can possibly be, way over the top for Athens. I saw him kiss another man on the mouth last night--and that was as he was arriving. He was wearing a sort of Tyrolean hat with a silver-edged white plastic poinsettia on it, gold dangly earrings shaped like Christmas packages, tight jeans with some sort of plants or flowers textured into them in 3D and boots I think. Eye makeup I'm pretty sure. Also the ever-popular 5 day beard stubble. He made almost all the decorations, huge feather and fake-flower things (from things he bought at Michael's). He also made some women's tops that were in the auction that I quite liked (for someone else). Some of the women were wearing some quite glamourous outfits that he may have loaned them--short diaphonous jewel-toned dresses. I sure wished Amelia and Molli were there. He was such a stereotype--asking me twice how I liked it--and declaring it a disaster when he couldn't pick up the hors d'oeuvres because the streets were closed due to the Christmas parade. I sent Ray and Jaron and one of the Athens Academy students to pick them up on foot. There were only about 4 trays of hors d'oeuvres. I and many others, I'm sure, were planning to make dinner out of hors d'oeuvres. I had one delicious bronie and one sort of bruschetta. I passed on the pickle and radish and someone else said the dates with fennel were really good. Ray finally went upstairs and bought a burger and a panini that we shared with Mom. Mary Kelly invited her to sit at her table and share their champagne. She had a good time, I think, but was exhausted and could barely walk to the car. Valet parking.

Kent S. was a sponsor. He and Becky were there. some of the staff. Joanne P. (Elizabeth's mother), Sharon A. (marla's mother), other people I knew somewhat, but mostly people I didn't know, maybe fans of the band or friends of numerouno. A good time, but I did wake up in the night with painful stomach cramps and diahrrea. I do not want to go to work right now! Of course, yesterday was crazy, but I did manage to do the necessary prep for today's DCA audit and work some on the grants. Jaron was keeping the list for the door last night, but somehow an old version got saved over the new version and we had to go back and check all the emails. Hopefully we didn't leave anyone out.

In between, Ray and I went out to the funeral home because Phyllis Barrow died. She was 89. It was nice to see John and his brothers and sisters. Parker was there. Also, little Jim who played the monkey with us in Inherit the Wind. It is always a little strange to be having conversations with people with a dead person lying in the casket next to you. She even had her glasses on. She was 89 and was a great model for all of us--6 kids, taught at the university 20 years, politically active...she had been sick and no one seemed very sad. Lots of pictures of her when she was younger--quite beautiful.

Must go--it's 7:00.

Harvest for the Homeless tonight!

I'm looking forward to an evening of music and hors d'oeuvres with my sweetie and my parents and some other good people at the new Hotel Indigo. The Board tells me I don't need to do anything except enjoy myself. what to wear? hmm dress and boots?

Yesterday it rained hard off and on all day. Poor Jaron was out trying to get restaurants to give us gift certificates. Then Mary wanted to see the list and check on everything. I said you'll have to prioritize, tell me what you need first. I was working on the grant proposals, along with other day-to-day stuff. I had him working on the list. Then a man wanted to donate a painting, so she wanted him to drive all the way to the East side and pick it up...

It was a little crazy, but not awful. Our current guests are mostly pretty quiet. There are some colds going around. One Mom has Medicaid for her child. The doctor gave her lots of prescriptions and told her to buy Mucinex for him--over the counter. She tried to explain that she had no money, couldn't buy anything, unless it was prescription. sigh

potluck, choir. I am actually a little disenchanted. Amber chose a small group to sing at the Benevolence market. We made an effort last year to perform there, even though she was on maternity leave. I am a little hurt. supposedly it is about the venue. And I have to be there for the Homeless Shelter anyway. I am thinking it may be time for me to sing with one of the community groups and take a break from UUFA. It is a tossup--I would like more challenging music, but I like the frequent performances and variety of singing for the service. We just haven't been doing much new music this year.

Stayed up until almost 10--and didn't get up until after 6!

Raining hard, cold. I have a headache and stuffy nose. Been awake since four reading a detective novel. Doesn't help with the stress. I have to figure out how to deal with it. Work stress. The board delivered the posters for the fund-raising event tomorrow on Monday. Interns put them up yesterday. Yesterday afternoon I get an email that there are more places to add to the list--and could the interns solicit some more donations? There are supposed to be 52 restaurants, 52 weeks of free food. They have 37. and tomorrow night the winner will be drawn. Tell me from the beginning what I have to do and I will make sure it gets done. Tell me the day before and I will freak out. Actually I dumped it on Jaron. He is the Americorps VISTA participant and I spent some time yesterday looking for any information about what our obligations and expectations are regarding him. I found an email from 9 months ago; his primary purpose is recruiting homeless and formerly homeless people for a speakers' panel. But he is supposed to do fund-raising, grant-writing and public relations work for us as well. So I gave the board member his name and contact info. and told him he might need to put everything else on hold for a day or two. Of course, going door to door in the pouring rain trying to solicit gift certificates is not fun.

I also had a call from the state DCA office--she wants to come audit us on Friday. I said that wasn't a really great day, but we will not turn you away. She needs to look at financial records and case files to verify our reimbursement requests. I can do that. But Kerri will be teaching and won't be around until afternoon. She also wants to see policies and procedures for the two programs, as well as financial policies and procedures. Kerri and I found them; whether we follow them or not is another question. She wants an example of a resident who was asked to leave, so she can see if we are following our own policies or not. Terrifying.

Plus, I didn't even look at the grant proposals yesterday. One of the grants ends in December and the money should be used up by then. In some categories, it has been used up for months: child care, transportation. But we still have lots of health care money. People either have Medicaid or don't need health care...I guess. and mental health care. We can't get them to go to counseling. Or we don't have to pay.

Had lunch with Becky--very enjoyable--fajita and flan. Thought of Molli and Mexico.

Left at almost 4; talked to interns about their jobs. Made dinner with Ray, went to Arabic. Only 2 of us, reviewed letters and sounds and writing words and sentences. Hopefully I know most of them now.

Yesterday morning I felt pretty crummy, but after I was at work for a little while, it got better. I had a cup of tea. As it's the end of the month, I started working on the reimbursements. Kerri had been out of town and gotten in late, so she didn't get to work until almost 2. People called and came by for her. I worked some on the grant. I took a little break to run across the street to a funky new thrift store that I read about in the paper on Sunday. I admit it, I had to buy a purple hat for $10. Even though I don't need any more hats. Sigh. It cheered me up and gave me some exercise, so I could stay until about 4 when I headed to the bank and then to pick Ray up.

At home, I put the previously made chicken cacciatore in the oven. Ray made the mashed potatoes and the salad. I sewed a little, read a little. My Mom made me an old-fashioned and I had a very pleasant evening. I managed to stay awake until almost 10.