Temperature dropping. Ray has a fire laid, but I don't think we'll light it this morning. There was enough sun (and cooking) to keep it warm in the house overnight, at least warm enough for sleeping. and we're not staying long.

When it got light yesterday (almost 8), I made blueberry pancakes--and a vegan carrot cake. It was touch and go whether it would be done in time, since it takes about an hour to bake. There was a potluck for Amber after the service. The service ran 15 minutes over--and we didn't sing the last hymn. It was also the bulb service and we sang two gorgeous and challenging requiem pieces. I spen most of the potluck in the kitchen. There wasn't much food left, but I had some fruit and a piece of cake. We were there until after 2, washing dishes, and didn't get to hear the program. Jane and Julene did a lot of the work. It was SRO (standing room only), so it was well attended. We need to figure out a system to distribute the work evenly. The problem is that many would argue for using disposables. I do not want that, so I am in the kitchen at every event.

I was home for less than an hour before it was time to head to the community center for the Kenney Ridge community meeting. It was an unpleasant two hours, but we did make some progress. I was starving when I got home. I had a drink. Ray cooked a ham steak and some green beans. We watched TV, mostly hurricane coverage, and went to bed. 

Yesterday was another busy day. After a short walk, Ray and I went to UUFA to set up for a Memorial Service for Barbara Dale, who died of cervical cancer 8 months after being diagnosed. It just didn't respond to treatment.

When we got there, five or six people were already hard at work. They had set up the tables and there wasn't much for me to do. I stayed in the kitchen and helped set out food at the last minute. The service ended up taking more than an hour. The reception included BBQ and pretty much a full sit-down meal. So, we couldn't start clearing for a while. I did several batches of dishes and almost everyone had left except the family. Ray and I left. We came home and changed our clothes and headed out again, to the Atlanta airport.

Traffic was fine and we were there at least 30 minutes early. In fact, my Dad landed a little early and we were at Bistro Niko by 4:30. It might have been early for dinner, but we had a great time: a good bottle of wine, French onion soup for me, a salmon croque-monsieur for Mudge. Ray had a salad nicoise and nothing else. I had scallops that were outstanding, with pureed potatoes and a few stalks of asparagus. My Dad had the duck. Then I ordered a Tarte aux pommes, which was flaky and delicious. I couldn't leave any of it, although I was awfully full.

We took Mudge home and then were at our house before 8. I had trouble staying awake for even one TV show.

Thinking of Amelia in NY and others waiting for Sandy.
 

Yesterday was good. It was an extra "free" day, thanks to the "fall break." UGA (and the Clarke Count schools) take a day off so people can attend the Florida game. So, no teaching for Ray. He slept a few extra hours, while I worked on paying bills. We took a long walk.

It was in the high 70s and sunny and lovely. We (mostly Ray) worked on the Amazing Chicken Fence and got the first section done. Then we moved the coop and tractor to be continuous. This required some amusing Rube-Goldberg style building. We used scrap lumber and metal and chicken wire to make sure the chickens stay in and nothing can get at them. Enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching them explore. I don't think chickens like change.

We had sausage for supper and asparagus from the freezer. Then we drove into town and met BEcky and Kent and watched Argo. It was great, but I was really tense. Too bad we didn't see it at Cine, where I could have had a drink!


Home and to bed.

I went to the library when Ray went to work. Thursdays he doesn't go in as early. He wasn't feeling very good, coming down with a cold. I read for class for an hour and a half or so. He picked me back up and we met Hunaid for lunch. The plan was to go to the board office and change Elisa's address. We had a great lunch, by the way. We were a little late and he had time to run over to the office without us. They said I need to go to Clarke Central's counseling office with my proof of address and a letter from AFS stating that Alisa will live with us.

We went home and spent some of the afternoon working to clear things out of Molli's room so Elisa will be comfortable there. Ray had to prepare a financial report for the Clarke County Democratic Committee and go to their meeting at 6. I had prepared a rice and sweet potato salad in the morning for the Kenney Ridge potluck. The sweet potatoes my Dad had harvested were largely rotten and it was a lot of work to peel and cut up 2 1/2 cups of them--a lot more went in the compost bin.

A volunteer from AFS, Joerg, was coming to visit and inspect us and make sure it would be okay for Elisa to stay here, at 8 pm. He thought it was ridiculous after all the hosting we have done, although I suppose we could have let things go since then. The good thing is it was an incentive for me to vacuum the house. So now it is nice and clean, with the bed made up and ready as soon as we get the official OK from AFS. Hunaid and Kavita are renting out part of their house next weekend for homecoming for $400, so they want her moved before then, which should not be a problem.

We had a pleasant chat with Joerg and watched a little TV and went to bed at a reasonable hour. Ray does not have to teach today and is still asleep at 7:45. I slept about 8 hours myself.

It's once again Thursday and I am feeling pretty good. In addition to turning in my paper Tuesday, I have found a paper that I can use for another assignment. It is about a new model for nursing homes that includes empowering the workers. I am excited about that.

Ray and I had a short walk before going to UGA. After dropping off Dan and him, I went to Kroger to buy the supplies Tonya needed for cleaning my Dad's house. I met her there and went to the EJC office, where I reviewed some statistical videos before class. At 11:45, I left to go back to my Dad's. They were still working away, but I left them a check and went on to lunch with Becky and Deb. It was a beautiful day and we had a pleasant time eating outside.Deb talked about her trip to South Africa and how scary it was there, with a very high incidence of robbery. People have gates and barbed wire and dogs to protect themselves. Apparently, your purse can be stolen from your car at a soplight, if the doors are not locked. So, I am glad to live here and I think it is an illustration of one reason not to have huge economic inequities in society.

I went to class and we talked some more about public health and statistics. In this case, it was about a possible correlation between smoking rates and the death of the subject's father. Really. Hypothesis: people who have smoked in the past and quit are likely to take it up again when their father dies. I tried to argue that they might be more likely to quit, if their father died from lung cancer. Our final group project is to prepare a brief about murder and suicide rates. OK, very interesting assignment, but not too relevant to gerontology... She also handed out the syllabus for the class next semester and asked for our feedback.

After that, Ray and I met for dinner and were able to enjoy sitting outside again. I had a glass of pinot grigio and an antipasto platter, plus some butternut squash soup. Pretty moderate. Ray had caeser salad.

Then we went to Robert's piano recital. He is the accompanist for choir. Incredible to sit in an excellent performance space and listen to that quality of music--for free. There were 20 of us from choir, plus at least as many others.

Choir started much later than usual and was not as long. We rehearsed for Sunday, with a harpist! We will sing two beautiful Requiem pieces. I think I have sung them enough to be all cried out, but we'll see on Sunday.

We watched a little TV and went to bed about 10. I woke up at 5 feeling energetic.

Well, I did finish my paper and turn it in, but it was 9 pages (10 pt type) and I'm not sure how well it matched the assignment. It wasn't completely clear. We spent the entire class period summarizing our experiences. I didn't understand that's what she was planning to do, so I kept mine really brief.

We had a walk. The weather has been gorgeous--sunny days with cool nights. I did water a little to try to keep the garden alive. Ray made progress on the Amazing Chicken Fence, but it was dark when I got home, so I haven't seen it yet.

I spent most of the day on my class work, the paper and reading for last night's class. Still much to do. 

We ate leftovers for lunch and dinner. I was tired and fell asleep early, while trying to watch Jeopardy. Perhaps it was the glass of white wine.

Worked a lot on a paper due today, but there's still a lot to go. For once, I'm glad this class doesn't start until almost 5. I have most of a day to get it whipped into shape. Mainly,  I have to reduce it by about half, which is easier than coming up with stuff. I do need to make sure, however, that I am doing the assignment and not just hemorrhaging words and feelings.

Rode to Dan's with Ray and Cameron. Cameron and I walked back. It is one way to force me to walk, at least half a mile. Took my Dad's car in later. Had lunch with Janna at her house. She is not eating much these days, so going out didn't seem like a good plan: toast and scrambled eggs is what she had. I brought some leftover pasta salad and a couple slices of ham. Also an apple.

I was a little late to class; traffic wasn't great. Watched some pretty sad videos about Alzheimer's last thing. Particularly hard on the family members. Drove to my Dad's to leave his car there. Ray and Dan picked me up when they were through. Called Tonya and arranged for her to clean there on Wednesday.

Got home about 6 and started dinner: jambalaya. Unfortunately, I was supposed to be at the Fellowship to lead a Green Sanctuary meeting at 7. There was no way we would be able to eat before 7 and I was just exhausted. I called several people and left messages, but at 7 they called and asked if I was coming. I told them I had a paper due today, which is true. On the other hand, I didn't actually work on my paper at all last night. I was just worn out and couldn't do much of anything. We had a nice dinner, watched some TV, and were in bed before 9:30.