Rainy Saturday

I was awake until after 11 last night, and awake again at 5, listening to the sound of the rain. Steady rain. It makes me so happy. I think of all the little plants that Captain set out, and the seeds he planted...the fruit trees and blueberries and pecan trees. They are growing happily in the warm wet soil that we are steadily improving with our compost and imported manure. I hope we will harvest some berries and fruits and nuts eventually. But I know we will have our own onions and cabbages and carrots and beets and even some asparagus in a few months.

Yesterday we went pretty early, but still only had time for a half hour of racquetball, one good game. I saw Alice Bender in the locker room and enjoyed chatting with her. I went to help teach a homebuyer education class. About 8 black women and one disabled white couple. It is more hopeful work than what I have done before. These women have jobs: security guard at Wal-Mart, nursing assistant at a nursing home. They have savings accounts! They know what they need to do to own their own homes and they are willing to do it. They filled out paperwork to have a credit report pulled and I copied their drivers licenses. Next week when they come, Cathi will go over them. If they are not good enough, they will start the process of improving them: paying down their debts, advocating to have old items removed... It is a buyer's market and there are programs to help them reduce their down payments or their interest rates. It will be harder now, though, for them to qualify for loans. Anyway, it was a great joy to be part of.

The class was held at El Banco de la Oportunidad, a Spanish-language branch of First American Bank. What a brilliant addition to the community! Of course, people need a safe place to keep their money where they trust and understand the staff. I spoke to Fausto Sarmiento, the young man who is the manager. His sister, Carolina, was a friend of Molli's (or Amelia's?). She is getting married about a year from now. Fausto is one of the dancers tomorrow, too.

Then we came home and I mostly read my mystery novels. Grandma had made pea soup, so there was fortunately no work to do (I didn't feel like cooking anyway). And after supper, we played cards (all the way down and back up, interrupted only by a great phone conversation with Amelia), and I won. Even though it was close, between me and my Dad, especially the last few hands.

I am going to be a little sad to go back to work on Wednesday...but I will like getting paid.

straw hat with ribbon threaded through it

Ray was working on the financial report for the Democratic Committee yesterday morning, so we didn't get going very early. When we got to the gym, there were no courts free (6 are taken up with classes, there are 3 others and usually one or more is available). They told us we could kick someone off, but I didn't feel like I wanted to do that. We walked the indoor track for a mile (8 laps), and rode the bikes for 15 minutes. Then I picked Janna up, got lunch at EarthFare (turkey paninis served by Cherly Rogers, I mean Teasley), and dropped her at Aderhold. She is dealing with something that Ray (and I'm sure other teachers) have: students who are on FB during class...or texting. We kind of touched on this in class. This generation is multi-tasking, they constantly get information from lots of sources. It's hard not to be judgmental about it--it just is. But what to do as a professor? She feels disrespected, but if she says something to them, they feel disrespected, like she doesn't trust them.

I called ACTION and left a message for John. Then I went to ALT. I was talking to Cathi, when John called me back. By the time I got there, he had left. His wife had a stroke and was on her way to the hospital. Brenda and Donna said that ACTION would be getting a lot of stimulus money and they hoped to be able to hire me at some point. I went back to ALT and heard that Nancy's husband Jim had been at the doctor, where they told him his cancer had come back. That's two directors of non-profits I'm involved with whose spouses are seriously ill on the same day! It's wierd...Another woman I know (who works at the Mind-Body Institute where I went to yoga class yesterday) had her husband die of a heart attack while driving the day before. It was creeping me out all day. I don't know if Ray should or shouldn't exercise...of course he should. I wrote a press release for Cathi and called the people scheduled for homebuyer classes today. Yoga was very good. Then I went to the Democratic Committee meeting with Ray. It was a good meeting. We divided into subcommittees and brainstormed for 15 minutes--an active meeting.

Meanwhile, Captain had set out all the cabbage plants and burned some more of the scrap wood, so there is no longer a giant pile in the front yard. He was exhausted as usual.

Hi,

Had two more great racquetball games with Ray yesterday, then went to ALT, where I worked some more on a grant application. The director said she wants to find a grant so she can hire me. Is part-time okay? I said, yes, it would be great, I would love to work here. I went home for a late lunch of leftover paella--yum!

Mom and Dad had been to the store, but didn't get ziti (even though it was on the list). So I went there and Ray took the bus to meet me. Then we came home and made the ziti--two big pans, one for potluck, one for the freezer. Yay! It made me happy. Choir was good, but I was pretty sleepy. Went to bed when we got home, so naturally I woke up really early!

Daddy is anxious for me to get out there and garden with him. He is spending a lot of time and effort and is really tired afterward. Even Mom is out working too. So, maybe today gardening instead of racquetball. The peas are coming up and we have beautiful onions and cabbage started in pots and being transplanted out. Even baby tomatoes are coming up (indoors). I also need to do some serious cleaning before Ray's Mom arrives a week from Saturday!

Spinach

I made some calls for ALT and added some ideas to a grant proposal. Went by ACTION to talk to John Scoggins about a web site, but he wasn't there. Long on-line discussion with class members trying to decide about a project due next week. I convinced them to choose the topic Energy-Saving Tips. Somehow they ended up choosing elementary-age kids as the target audience. I was a little disappointed, because they are really not the group I was aiming for. A lot of the things I was thinking of children couldn't do themselves (like driving less). But they wanted to make up a game, so I guess they thought that was a good age for a game. My part is pretty easy: come up with a few questions that can be answered in a few words and send them to the guy making up the game.

Two good games of racquetball yesterday, plus a few hours at Athens Land Trust making some phone calls. The paradox of not working is I can never figure out where the time goes. Some of it on line, for sure. Relaxing is good, but it makes me kind of lack energy, too. Maybe I need more practice.

The Taize service we did yesterday was wonderful. Beautful chants, sung over and over, with a few short readings, and lots of pauses for meditations. Everyone loved it! We had lunch at the Fellowship (fourth sunday lunch). Mom and Dad were there too.

I spent a couple hours rehearsing for Dancing with the Athens Stars next Sunday; I volunteered to help back stage. Apparently I am cuing the music, although I haven't actually been told that, I inferred it from the conversations. It will be fun, but I am a little nervous. That seems like a really important job.

Then I attended a board meeting for Athens Little Playhouse. I offered to do the books, which was gratefully accepted. But I didn't really agree to be on the board and attend meetings...

Then to Janna's for an Oscars party. I couldn't find time to cook anything, so bought a German chocolate cake at Kroger's (for Reader). Janna ordered Indian food from Taste of India (for Slumdog Millionaire). She had ballots and a quiz. Of course, I fell asleep and we had to leave long before most of the awards. It was a really good show with Hugh Jackman.

It is starting to get light a little earlier, so I am no longer on my computer for hours in the dark every morning. Although it is well below freezing this morning--our heat has kicked in.

Thursday was the last day we read essays. I was feeling my cold a little more too, so I went in early instead of playing racquetball. I read 3 packs in less than 3 hours! I was really smoking. Then Becky and I went to lunch at the Sultan. I scored 3 more packs and it was 4:15. I asked how long they thought we would work on Friday...and they said this was it...so I read one more pack...7 packs in 8 hours...wow! And they invited me back starting March 4. Friday I got my first paycheck, $721, and I'll get about the same again in 2 weeks. I got a printout showing my validity is acceptable (above 60%), but it has been steadily decreasing and I keep thinking I'm doing pretty well!

Friday I enjoyed the pleasure of not having to score essays! We played 2 games of racquetball. The second was even close (14-16). Then I did some volunteer bookkeeping at ALPS, went to Kroger and home in time for lunch. The day was too short for the number of things I had planned...cooking... gardening...schoolwork!

That night, we saw Cabaret at Town & Gown (volunteer ushering). It was much better than I expected. The singing and dancing was quite competent, although of course, no Liza Minelli. The girls were a little too young and sweet, mostly not brazen and tawdry enough. Amy Miller was quite good as Frau Schneider, the landlady. Most of the people did pretty good imitations of a German accent--I was pretty impressed! And man, does that show have great songs! There was a 7-piece orchestra above and behind the stage...and it was nearly sold out.

Yesterday, we had a workshop at UUFA. There was a good turnout. Everyone was polite and dedicated, there was just enough food, and the donations almost added up to what we paid. Ray was so helpful. He drove me there at 8 am, carried stuff in, then went to give platelets. He ran some errands, then picked up the sandwiches for me and brought them to the Fellowship. He ate with us, then hung around working on something in another room and was there to do the dishes when we were done! We chatted some with Paul and Tonya in the afternoon, out on the porch, it was so sunny and pleasant.