M. was at work when I got there. She couldn't sleep because of our cash flow problem. She had me print lots of reports, trying to figure out whether we can get enough reimbursements soon enough to cover our projected expenses. She thinks we will use up all our reserves by October 20. I told her i think it will be okay, but she needs something more concrete. I called DCA and they said we should be able to submit some reimbursements next week and get some money in by early October, but that seems too iffy to her. I am afraid she will make herself sick. I am trying not to ot to panic myself, but it is definitely having an effect.

Ray and I  played racquetball and swam before going to rehearsal. Then we went to Your Pie for trivia, since there wasn't any choir rehearsal. We did well until the questions about drinks. What 5 kinds of liquor are in Long Island iced tea? vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and Cointreau (or something like that). It made me feel like throwing up just to think about. What do you call a drink consisting of pale ale on the bottom and Guinness on top? Black and Tan. What was the first beer made by Terrapin? Rye pale ale. So, we didn't place, but enjoyed ourselves. Ate pizza and gelato. Went to bed and slept well.

Working, having lunch at Democratic HQ (roast beef sandwich from Big City Bread), working some more, taking Janna to her meeting, picking up Ray. Captain and Vanessa went to the circus. I didn't cook. Ray ate leftovers and I ate odds and ends: crackers and cheese, popcorn, ice cream...Worked in the yard a little and watched the chickens. Watched TV, slept well. Nice and cool this morning, hot in the middle of the day.

Sunday, I went to the Fellowship, getting a ride with Don so I didn't clutter up the overcrowded parking lot. My parents picked me up there at 12:30 (well, it was more like 12:45) and we went to the Greek Festival in Watkinsville, as we have many years. Great food and I love to watch the dancing. It was very crowded this time. We sat with Evan and Jennifer and saw other people we knew. Takis did not do his solo dance and pick up the table...I hope he is okay. I did not see Mari. I believe she is a mother now...

When we got home about 4, I was checking my emails and found an invitation to the Applebys! They were hosting a party for Jared Bailey, who is running for District 5 commissioner. I am not actually in District 5, but I was glad of an excuse to visit them and I wanted to make sure they had a better turnout that I did! There were not a lot of people there, but we talked about extending the bus lines and other local political issues.

We didn't eat much supper and i watched TV until 10:30, when I drove to the university to pick up Ray after his field trip. So it was late when we got to sleep and late when I woke up yesterday! We showered and dressed and I ate breakfast in the car. No walk for the dogs.

After a long day of working on the mailing list, doing payroll and buying milk, we went to play racquetball. Ray won, but I am playing much better than I used to. I don't know if the swimming and pilates is paying off or what, but I am much less likely to feel like I can't possibly get that shot.

We had rehearsal at 6:30, so just got something to eat at EarthFare and made our way to Memorial Park a little early. Easy and fun choreography and singing. (the music for Sound of Music was much harder). No TV and early to bed.

I slept really well again last night, even though a thunderstorm kept us up later than usual. There was one very close clap of thunder that scared us. But the rain was very welcome and there was lots of it. We had almost finished watching a movie that I like (In Her Shoes) about sisters, when the satellite went out.

In the morning, I worked in the garden some. The chickens seemed happy, going after the corn the Captain had bought and thrown in their tractor. I have decided to name them (even though we said we weren't): Sylvia, Gladys and Mabel. Sylvia is the smallest and darkest. Gladys and Mabel fight and Sylvia runs away. They don't actually hurt each other, but they are deciding who is going to be dominant--the "pecking order." It wasn't cool, but it wasn't hot. It was humid and felt like rain. At 9:30, I took a quick bath and rushed to pilates class. Made it there just barely on time. Love that class. At $10 per drop-in session, it is a great investment and something I do just for me. 

After that, I headed to the Fellowship. They are having a "start-up weekend" to celebrate our new minister and talk about our goals for the future. It was about 6 hours of sitting, listening and talking. I managed to get away with only 4. Connie is the consultant from the Mid-South and she is very good and energetic. It was a good discussion, but I am not sure it was worth it for me. It is interesting to find myself in the position of "elder"; that is, I have been a member since 1992, longer than most of the people there, although there were several there older than me.

When I got home, didn't do much for the rest of the day. Cooked, watched TV. Enjoyed being home. Had a drink and snack.

Another Saturday morning. I smile waking up as I realize it. Ray is at the coast with a group of students. I hope that it is going well. There is a certain pleasure in having the bed to myself to stretch out in and li there leisurely waking up. The windows are open, although it is not very cool an it is a little humid. I can hear the background insect noise. Two roosters crow competitively some distance from me. Then a train hoots and rumbles along. I can hear some cars as well.

Yesterday I worked hard, hoping to get the mailing list finished (not that it will ever be finished really). I did get through the M's on the last time through and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I begin to see a pattern. The people that I don't have addresses for are mainly those who have given a small amount several years ago and live out of state. So, it looks like they were deliberately dropped and I have been painstakingly adding them back! Starting on Monday, I am authorized to delete them instead. I also did a few other things.

At lunch time, I went to the Democratic HQ to eat my leftover pasta salad. The news has been depressing lately for Democrats. But the young people working for Russell are charged up. They had 40 people show up in Towns County, way up in the boonies, and a good turnout in Augusta. They say things are going well. A lady from Elberton came in and asked for a sign while I was there. And I got to see my older friend Ann D., who is a big fan of mine and was working the 12-2 shift.

At home, we threw together some supper, watched some speed Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, and I rushed off to the Fellowship. With the DVR, I can record them, and then skip through not just the ads, but the chatty parts. As soon as I guess the puzzle, I speed ahead to the next one. Wheel I can do in about 10 minutes, Jeopardy still takes 15 or 20.

At the Fellowship, they had a consultant from the Mid-South District, Connie. She is here all weekend. We are having a "kick-off" for our new minister. It's a chance to look back at our history and think ahead to who we want to be. I left at 9, but they were still going strong. It was interesting to be one of the older members. There were several that have been here longer--Virginia, Violet, David, Chip--but if you divided the group in half, I would definitely be in the older half. I joined in 1992. Some things I remember very clearly; others have faded away. I guess there is too much to remember every minute of every event.

Came home, went straight to bed, slept like a log for about 8 1/2 hours.

Ray and I both had trouble falling asleep last night, maybe because he is going away for the weekend, taking students on a field trip to the coast. On my part, I have not been getting enough exercise, so maybe that is part of it. It was cool enough to open the windows, but still in the 70s. Maybe when it is even cooler at night, it will be better for sleeping.

I worked, mostly on the mailing list, seven hours. I enjoyed eating lunch with Becky. Ray and I went out to dinner because we had the read-through for Annie at 6:30 at Memorial Park. Ella, Lisa and Geoff's daughter, is one of the orphans! Little Thomas Guillebeau, who was in Oliver and other things years ago, is the radio announcer. He has a great voice for it. Other than that, not many people we know. We will be in the Hooverville scene (I am trying to sell apples), as well as the Cabinet. Rehearsals are at 6;30, which is a bear, starting Monday. Ray shopped at EarthFare for most of the things he needs to make pancakes for 30, between dinner and the read-through. Then on the way home, we stopped at Kroger for milk.

http://www.athenscreativetheatre.com/

Worked mainly on the mailing list. It seems to go on forever. Also reconciled the checking account. Need to ask Maureen a few things, but she is tied up until next week.

Worked on pasta bean salad for potluck. Choir was good. Signed people up for photos for the directory.

In the 90s and humid again. No windows open last night. Chickens are fine, they are moulting or shedding their feathers.