sunny, with a high in the low 70s and a slight breeze--a gorgeous day

On the good side, before she left town for 10 days, Nancy S. wanted to let me know that I will be the new very part-time, temporary volunteer coordinator at ALT! Yay! I'm employed. Don't know much more yet. The computer network was restored and I worked some on the mailing list and the newsletter, with a review of the Badcock proposal as well. With Nathan and Nancy gone, Heather went to a meeting before noon and never came back. In fact, when I left at 3:15, I was the only one there and had to lock the doors.

Ray and I picked Janna's sister up from the shuttle at 3:45 and took her to the hospital. Bertha seemed much the same. We took Janna home. She is getting pretty worn out and was really glad Dani would spend the night at the hospital last night. Dani is very entertaining and talks a lot; maybe that will be nice for her Mom.

We went home and Ray made the mac and cheese. I talked to my Dad a bit before he left and admired the garden extensively. There was not a single egg! so sad. Captain and Vanessa bought eggs this week. The peas are starting to blossom and there are green and white strawberries. We are trying to guess what will be ready to eat while Polly is here. I don't think she likes asparagus; not sure about peas, but they probably won't be ready yet.

Potluck and choir were pleasant. We are working on We Rise Again for Easter; one of my favorite things to sing, with lots of high parts. Molli sang the solo this year and Amber said it always reminds her of her. Me too. Really challenging rehearsal and my voice was tired by the end.

Watched a little TV and went to bed. Still didn't sleep that well; don't know if it's the weather, visiting the hospital, Ray's coming to bed late and getting up early, or the busy next few months.

Well.

We were a little late in the morning; partly because the iPhone was syncing and took time to cancel. Also, I booked flights to Seattle in May for Ray and me. It was stressful because one was paid and one was with miles (yay!). As far as I know, you can't book 2 and pay for them separately. And you know how flights can disappear on the internet. So, I was terrified that I would get one booked and then it would be gone when I went to book the second. Or that I would screw up and not get us on the same flights. But all is well about that.

It was about 10:30 when I got to the Land Trust. Nancy was meeting with Laura. I went to turn my computer on (Nathan's) and nothing happened. I tried the power strip. Nothing. I thought I might have done something wrong shutting it down or something. But eventually I realized all the lights in the place were off--and the phones! No power. They had already called Georgia Power and it came back on at noon. It was off in the church and the office next door, too. And probably lots of other places, from the wind storm the night before. Couldn't make calls or work on the computer. But it was a sunny day and the building is so open and light that we could see perfectly well. I worked on rewriting part of a grant for Nancy. When the power came back, I had some emails about the bike ride to respond to.

Then I left for my writing class, which was lovely, involving cutting pictures out of magazines to glue in a collage on the cover of our journals. Fun! I picked up Ray after 4 and we went on home. The Captain and Vanessa were there. It was cool and windy, but sunny. He was working on the garden, of course. I dug up the beets, which were mostly greens, and started the soup. They came in for a drink and snack (I was starving). Ray had gone up for a nap. While we were chatting, I had a call from Becky. Bertha had a stroke and she was headed to the hospital. I said let me know if I should come. A little later she called me and suggested I come on down. About 6:30 and I left my soup without eating!

I could write a lot about Bertha and being in the hospital. Time changes there. Janna and Ron went to get a break and some food. Bertha's sister Vi was visiting and she and Becky and I stayed there, chatting with nurses and technicians and taking turns touching Bertha and talking to her. Sometimes, she tried to talk and we were able to understand some of it. Okay was one thing she said sometimes when we asked her if she was comfortable. We even sang some songs. Trying to think of ones that don't have anything to do with death--harder than you would think. Go Tell Aunt Rhody? no Clementine? no Swing Low Sweet Chariot? no I've Been Working on the Railroad. White Coral Bells. yes. Kent came and he and Becky went to eat. A young woman named Stephanie who worked some for Bertha. Janna came back and Ron took Vi to Bertha's apartment. Janna held her mother's hand and talked to her. At one point, she started to cry and her mother tried to reach up and comfort her. It was pretty emotional. Becky came back and I left and went home to my soup, a little TV and my bed.

I did not sleep well, couldn't get comfortable, and had visions of the hospital and Bertha. I think she will probably recover to some extent, based on the efforts she was making to talk. But thinking about death is hard for me and important.

Incredible wind and rain in the night. The clock was blinking, so I don't know what time it was, but I woke up several times. Ray was up working most of the night.

Yesterday was beautiful, highs in the low 80s and windy, so not too hot.

I was a little muzzy in the morning and it took a couple hours for my head to clear, and me to figure out that I was going to be late to SGM. I had small group ministry a ways south of here, but I had to go by the rental place and return the things, and, of course, to drop Ray off at his office. We didn't have yogurt for breakfast, and we only had the strange flat raisin bread I had made Sunday night. So we ate the two eggs we had, fried in butter. A short walk and a bath. My phone needed charging. It was just one of those Monday mornings.

I was about 30 minutes late, because it took a while to get to Lisa's house after I dropped Ray off. But she lives in a beautiful old house in the country. We had a very pleasant time talking about books, which we clearly could talk about a lot more. Pomegranate green tea and banana bread. I stayed a little later to admire Lisa's gardens. Her husband died and she is clearing and creating gardens of his favorite trees and flowers--river birches, Lenten roses, lilies...It seems very sad to me; I would rather she were doing something a little more constructive, but it is surely better than staying inside and watching TV or reading. She is a very quiet and private person.

It was after one when I got to ALT. I was tempted to go home instead, because it was such a beautiful day. They were glad to see me. Nathan is gone this week and I could sit up front and use his computer and answer the phones. Laura, the intern, sent me another draft of a poster for the bike ride. But I have heard nothing from Christy in a week. This was her idea and I am supposed to be helping. I am waiting on her for several things. Also talked some about the newsletter.

I left before 4 to go to EarthFare and finally get some orange juice and other things. Made a few phone calls while I was waiting for Ray. My sister Polly and her family are coming in 8 days! I am looking forward to seeing my niece and nephew, as well as their parents.

When we got home, it was wild and windy. I lifted Sylvia out of the nesting box and two eggs fell onto the ground. She did forage with the others, though, until they settled down in a corner of the garden for the night and I shooed them back into their coop (not quite as easy as it sounds). I cut us a few stalks of asparagus and admired how well things are coming along. My Dad has been working like crazy every pleasant day. This is the time of year when there is a lot to do.

Eventually I came inside and made dinner. Ray had already peeled the shrimp, thank goodness. I had some broccoli left from the reception that I wanted to use before it went bad, so sauteed it with onion and some of the carrot sticks, as well as some seasonings and the shrimp. Served it with brown rice. It was fine, nothing too wonderful. The asparagus tasted delicious, though.

TV and bed, falling asleep about 9 and moving upstairs to read for a bit, while waiting for Ray to join me, which he must have at some point, because he is there now.

These are the daffodils I just planted--can't believe they bloomed!

Wow! Everything went well yesterday, but my shoulder really aches.

Ray singing with the men--in Hungarian.

We had pancakes for breakfast and had a short walk. It was a beautiful day, but we didn't really take advantage of it. Ray and the men from the choir sang in the morning and I sat in the congregation.

After the service, he went up the street to get us some lunch from Loco's. It took him an hour! Meanwhile, we waited for people to stop chatting and clear out so we could set up. We moved things out of the Fellowship Hall that are always there, like a tree that was shedding all over the floor. Pat M. arrived with beautiful big snowball hydrangeas from her yard. She had found some fabric on sale at Joann's that was green and black, the colors Alison had requested to match the pennants Stewardship had used the year before. We moved some things into the back of the sanctuary and some things into the administrative office (3 boxes of lost and found, for instance). It took me awhile to get everyone to cooperate, but patience is good. Meanwhile, Pat was a whirlwind, moving tables by herself and cleaning the floor. Heather K. helped too, but we kept wondering where Ray and other helpers were. Of course, they all arrived at about the same time. But Ted had to sit; his back was bothering him so much. Bob and Denise were there to help, too. And Caryl S. The new bulletin boards are designed to be flipped over during special events. There are three holes at the top that hang on three screws that go into the cement block. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to get it lined up right, and some of the screws come out when you try to take the bulletin board down. It's still a very clever system, but not as simple as I would like. There's an old sideboard that is in the foyer, which is often used as a bar. We moved that into the Hall and covered it with a tablecloth. Pat had some green ribbons she used to loop up the corners of the tablecloths. It looks pretty and keeps people from tripping over them. Other people arrived to help, but some of them were working in the sanctuary under Myrna's direction. Of course, I took no pictures, but Pat did a great job.

They set up a projection screen and folding chairs, in case there were too many people to fit in the sanctuary. Ray went to the house to get the frozen mini-quiches (and some toothpicks). A lot of the food arrived at the last minute. I rehearsed with the choir for about 15 minutes, in between answering questions and giving instructions. Hank was there and Kay arrived. Most of the food came at the last minute, but we arranged fruits and vegetables on trays to be passed. One woman brought a tray of bananas, in their peels, with things written on them (au naturel, yummy). She instructed that they were to be passed like that and not cut up. I ignored her, but the tray ended up on the coffee table. Not quite embarrassing, but definitely odd.

Someone decided we had to have coffee. We had to rearrange things and add another table. (I think about 4 people drank coffee, in the end.) Ray arrived with the mini-quiches, having completely missed the rehearsal. I explained to Hank and another guy how to heat the mini-quiches and preheated the oven. They heated a bunch of them (earlier than I wanted) and laughed about leaving the guys to cook. Of course, they were just reheating, but apparently that was a lot to ask. I went in and sat with the choir and stayed for the beginning, until we sang the anthem. (Lift Up your Voice, very upbeat). Then I snuck out and waited in the kitchen and hall. There were not as many people as we expected. I don't think any other ministers from Athens were there, although the mayor was on the program and said something nice. Mostly there were other UU ministers from far away, charging Alison and the congregation and congratulating us. It was nice, moving, but way too long. Several of us watched on the screen, but we put away the rows of folding chairs. We didn't heat all the mini-quiches. We were ready...and we waited. I actually proofread the whole membership list that Shaye printed out for me.

Eventually, the people came out. Deb and John manned the bar. Rosemary served punch. Kay and I and Jane and others passed trays of food. Bill H. made cheese straws. They were delicious. The quiches were a big hit. There was probably twice as much food as we needed. Someone brought out plates and someone else put out bins for dirty dishes. Next time I will have carefully selected and trained helpers, but it was okay. Many people complimented me on how nice it was and what a good idea it was to pass the food. So, it was a success. Kay bought the extra frozen mini-quiches and we distributed all the leftover food. Cleanup was not too bad, because the wine glasses were rented and we didn't use many plates or coffee cups, just punch glasses. And all we threw away were napkins. People spent their time chatting and didn't cluster around the food tables. We ended up leaving about 7:30, the last ones, with some cut-up veggies. I need to figure out what I need to be reimbursed for (rentals and booze).

But I hadn't eaten much and was hungry when we got home. And I had foolishly started some bread in the morning that I had to get out of the fridge and finish. I think that is what did my shoulder in. And we didn't have enough flour, so I used corn meal. Kneading cold bread dough made with corn meal took a long time and I got hungrier and hungrier. Ate some soup. And half a banana and some ice cream with a brownie. Watched TV while I ate and the bread rose (not much) and baked. Small flt loaves. So sad.

But I am glad to have that successfully behind me. It really wasn't that hard and now I know more than I did. And I can look ahead to my next activities.

I did it! I walked 5K and still managed to function more or less for the rest of the day!

I called Barron's about renting glasses and tablecloths and found out they close at noon on Saturday and aren't open at all on Sunday! Not sure we could be back by there before noon, we stopped on our way to the MS Walk. Charlie (Junior) was there and we chatted with him briefly about his parents, who were our neighbors on Glenwood Drive. We rented 150 glasses for .50 each and 3 big white tablecloths. Depending on what kind of disposable glasses you buy, it may be cheaper to rent them. It's certainly better for the environment, and you can return them dirty!

We still got to the walk in time to register (after standing in line). It was sunny but cool, perfect for walking. There were lots of people and dogs and I was a big claustrophobic at first, but enjoyed talking to John and others. Halfway through the second time around, I rested for a bit and got behind. When I went by the pavilion the second time, Heather said to me, "only one more time around." I kept going, but didn't see many other people. My cell phone rang. It was Ray. He said, "where are you?" I described where I was and he said he couldn't see me. I said, "where are you?" He said, "we're finished." I said "3 times around?" He said, "it's only twice." So, I turned around and headed back, not sure if it was quicker to keep going or go back. So, maybe I walked 7K instead of 5K! We had some orange slices and waited for the pizza to arrive. The UU group was about 15 people and Catherine and her family were very pleased. Wouldn't it be amazing if they discovered a cure?

We went home and admired the garden. Sylvia, the hen, is broody, I believe. She has stopped laying eggs and won't leave the nesting box, hoping to hatch something, I guess. I keep picking her up and making her leave the coop, but she ends up back there as soon as she has a chance. The book I read says if she doesn't get over it, I should "cull" her. Meaning get rid of her. But I don't think that's going to happen, at least not soon. Three laying hens is about perfect. I don't think many more would fit in that coop.

There are some tiny peaches on the peach trees, and green strawberries. Bok choy and lettuce could be harvested small. The first asparagus shoots have been harvested. Most other things are just getting going, but they like the combination of lots of rain and sunshine.

My parents arrived and worked in the garden in the sun. It didn't quite make it up to 70 degrees. We had a little drink and snack. I made spaghetti sauce and the fourth batch of mini-quiches. Now I have almost 200 in the freezer.

Watched some TV, went to bed just after 9.

A busy day yesterday, which I didn't enjoy as much as I would have a few years ago. As I get older, I seem to appreciate the quiet days more.

Beans planted beyond the baby broccoli in the early morning light

The morning was typical: computer time, breakfast, walk, bath, getting dressed. I wore my suit with a white blouse, since I had an interview at 1:00 at the Land Trust. I figured I didn't really need to impress them, but thought I should show that I can dress up if need be, and I wanted to respect the process. I worked some on the newsletter layout, which is interesting work--tedious but challenging. I was able to  fix a few things, but was stumped for awhile by a picture. Nathan was working on it, but he needed to finish up some things, because he is leaving for Haiti this morning, to participate in a volunteer building project. I was very impressed and a little jealous, but afraid it may be depressing there. I feel oddly exhilarated that he will be away. I moved his monitor after he left, so I can sit at his desk all week, answer the phone and greet people who walk in. His desk has a place where the computer and keyboard are the right height, so it will be better for my back, I think.

Tomatoes set out to the left of the old beets and one boy choy

About quarter of one, I realized I hadn't eaten my lunch. Nancy was eating too and we had a pleasant few minutes together. Then Heather arrived, we put our dishes in the dishwasher, and moved to the back room for the interview. I think it went well; at the end, Nancy said "you certainly know more about working with volunteers than I do." Of course, running IHN involved hundreds of volunteers, trained to do work that required some high-level skills. The program they want to set up at ALT is for yard maintenance. The hardest part will be finding and recruiting the volunteers. (I never want to help other people with yard work; I can't get to my own.) They said they need to interview two or three other people and then meet in executive committee. When they asked me why I wanted to do this job, I said that I was committed to the Land Trust and was going to work there until they were able to pay me. Nancy said thank you.

I worked some more on the newsletter and asked Nathan if there was anything I should know to do while he was gone. He explained to me what happens when someone calls who wants to buy one of ALT's houses. There is a phone intake form; the biggest question is about their income. They have to make less than 80% of the median (which is about 52,000 for a family of four). Someone had called and I returned her call after he left. C is living with her in-laws near a house that ALT has renovated, with her 2 year-old daughter. I did not ask about the father/husband, not at this point. She says her credit record is bad and she may be interested in a lease/purchase. I answered a few of her questions and made sure her income qualified ($22,000 as a CNA--certified nursing assistant in a nursing home). Then I sent her an application and information.

Nancy and Laura and Heather all went to visit a property. I locked up and went to get Ray. We went home briefly. On the chicken front, Sylvia seems to be spending all day in the nesting box. Either there is something wrong or she is what they call "broody." She wants to hatch an egg. Since there is no rooster, the eggs are not fertile and will never hatch. I have to read up about what to do about it.

We had a big night planned--dinner at Five and Ten with my parents and then a concert at Hodgson Hall. The dinner was very good, but, as my Dad pointed out, not as good as Bistro Niko and at least as expensive. Of course, we do keep ordering things like drinks and appetizers and dessert. First, we had four dates stuffed with celery and Parmesan cheese, but not overwhelmed, served in a long narrow divided dish. And a whiskey sour made with bourbon for me. Martinis for my parents. It makes the Captain especially happy when they have onions as well as olives at the bar, so he can have his the way he likes it. I had a spinach salad that was excellent, with blue cheese and pear. Ray had a different salad that he loved. My Mom had crab claws, which she really enjoyed and took her into the entree time to eat. The Captain had steak tartare, which he doesn't get to order often, with a raw egg. Then he had lamb, she had Caesar salad, I had flounder, nnd Ray had chicken. Followed by 3 desserts and coffee for two. It was almost $300, over 300 if you include the tip. And the service was very good. The place was jumping.

We paid up and left and drove to the concert and found a place to park and walked in and sat down, with about 5 minutes to spare. There were people we knew all over the Hall. Mike and Todd behind us; Morgan and her husband right beside me. Katherine K. with a helper and her parents. Rosemary, Herb & Myrna, and lots more.  Our seats were in row B. Only where we were, there was no Row A, so we sat in the front row, way over on the left side. http://www.uga.edu/pac/strings.html

 

Bela, Edgar and Zakir from our seats

The performers included Bela Fleck, a very attractive and pleasant man who played banjo, wearing jeans and sneakers, with his plaid shirt tucked out. I really wanted to meet him and get to know him better. There was a bass player named Edgar Meyer. He was taller. He wore dress slacks, with his shirt tucked in, and a little bow tie. He leaned over that bass like it was an extension of himself, dangling his arm down to caress the strings and change the notes with his meaty but delicate fingers. He went from long fluid notes to very fast ones, constantly changing. He brought the bass out front for a solo at one point and the music was so beautiful. Of course, I remembered Molli playing cello and the many high school orchestra concerts I had been to. The third person was Zakir Hussain, apparently massively popular in India. He sat (cross-legged, I think) on a platform surrounded by silvery drums, with ropes. Several times, he took out a little silver hammer and tapped to adjust them and trade them around. Bela and Edgar even played a snatch of Maxwell's silver hammer... His hands were amazing; the fingers moved so quickly, you couldn't really see them sometimes. He had very expressive eyes and was facing us, so we saw the faces he made to his fellow performers as they passed tunes back and forth.

As far as the music, it is hard to identify. I guess you could say it was very modern jazz. It felt like improv and was mostly fast with dissonances. The drums are amazing, and actually had some tune as well as percussion. I admit to dozing off a little, my usual method of enjoying music late at night. Sit down, relax, fall asleep. I hope no one was offended.

We chatted with people on our way out (no hurry, since everyone had to get in the cars and leave at once) and were home by about 11:30. Ray worked some, but I went to bed. It looks like a beautiful sunny but cool morning.

Still sleepy this morning, even though I didn't get up until 6;30. I was having a weird dream involving the land trust, but it was completely different...

Yesterday was rainy in a different way, tiny droplet of rain in a mist most of the day, but it cleared in the afternoon and was actually sunny. I worked some on the mailing list and read over the grant for the case manager one more time, since yesterday was the deadline.

I had lunch with Becky, and while I was there, asked the manager about sponsoring the bike ride. I also talked to Ray's friend John about it. He reassured me that no one would register this soon. He wanted to know why the race was not round trip, and assured me that 48 miles is not far for serious riders.

We didn't have any after-work errands and were home just after 4. It was sunny and my Dad was working in the garden. I changed into my gardening clothes, too, and transplanted some lettuces. When I came in after about an hour, Ray was asleep. My Mom was working on the jigsaw puzzle. When they left, I turned supper off and worked on the finances until Ray woke up and we ate. After supper, I made a batch of mini-quiches for the reception, so I was pretty tired and sore by the time we sat down in front of the TV. We really enjoyed the latest Big Bang Theory. It was about World of Warcraft, among other things.