erhaps I overdid a bit yesterday, as my cold may be worse this morning.

I took a quick walk, a quick bath, and was eating my breakfast of yogurt and toast when Mary Jean arrived. She was pleasant about waiting for me to finish, drinking coffee she had brought with her. It was a beautiful morning, and we drove to UUCA in Atlanta for a day of singing with about 100 other UU's from churches around the state (and Alabama). I love these annual events mostly because we read about 20 new pieces of music--and that is my very favorite part of choir, when we first learn a new piece. I don't like all of them, but a lot of them. Each director had five pieces, I believe, and they all had their own style. Cathy's pieces were all in other languages: Cantar (in Spanish), one in Japanese, one in Swahili. They were beautiful, and my favorites, but some of the members of our choir are a little resistant to singing in other languages. The young dynamic director of UUCA, Don, smiled all the time. He was so energetic and upbeat, it was fun. But I still like my director best. UUCA has a round sanctuary--pretty fun.

At lunch, I sat with and helped Denise, a new member of our congregation who is partially blind and has mobility issues as well. It must be very difficult to be in a new place. When we plan events, we don't think about people's needs. The sandwiches were in piles on the table, labeled tuna, turkey, etc. She couldn't begin to help herself and stood waiting until I offered. It's enlightening to put yourself in someone else's shoes. The lunch was wonderful, supposedly from a nearby Russian deli. Hmm, maybe there are advantages to living in Atlanta. They had recycling bins, but I was surprised the sandwiches came in styrofoam boxes and they offered canned Coke products. I did not have any, although I did take a little package of chips!

We drove home happily and I had only a little time before we left for dinner. We tried a new seafood restaurant. The menu had lots of great choices and was not extremely expensive. It seemed a little quiet for a Saturday night, but by the time we left, it was very crowded, with people standing waiting for a table. We met Becky & Kent there and enjoyed our dinner very much. My Dad said his swordfish was excellent. I thought the food was not great, not bad, but not really good either. My grouper was somewhat bland and came with macaroni and cheese and creamed spinach. Kind of unusual choices.

Then we went to see Romeo and Juliet at the Seney-Stovall Chapel. They had done interesting things to the stage, building it up with a large set of two-sided steps, painted to look like stone. Harry Valentine was Romeo, which is why we went. My mother and I had the same reaction. I have seen lots of different versions of this play, but I don't like it, because I know how it ends. I have this feeling of dread through the whole thing, and lots of people get killed. You want to say, "No, don't do it..." The costumes were peculiar, a sort of mix of periods. But my father really enjoyed it and Kent and Becky were delightful company.We were home by 11.

Yesterday was pretty hectic. Ray was getting ready to head out of town on a field trip to Cloudland Canyon with 15 students and 3 more professors. He had been trying all week to get eerything done, with teaching his other classes too. We were supposed to go in early, but left the house only about 5 minutes before we usually do. I had asked him to turn the solar water  heater on before we left. It wasn't quite warm enough, because the sun was just coming up. He couldn't get the faucet to close, because it was frozen. He thought it was broken. Then he decided to just open it again, and he couldn't get it open either. Water was spraying onto the porch. My Mom was getting up and we told her not to worry about it. Ray was it a state, not surprisingly. But on the way in, we talked about it and he calmed down. He told me what to do later in the day when I got home and it was warm. I took him to the store--he had to buy some groceries for the breakfast he was responsible for (French toast for Sunday morning). Then I took him to get the van and met him at his office to transfer everything out of the car. So I was about 30 minutes late for work. It didn't really matter because Meredith was there. She had urged me to stay home if I was too sick, so was not surprised not to see me. I finalized the newsletter and did a few minor things. About 11, Ray called and asked if I would go to Normal Hardware and pick up a rock hammer for  him (he couldn't find his, which must be in the garage somewhere, unless he left it on a previous trip). I said sure, I would do that (before  noon). I was trying to send a fax, but it wouldn't go through. 

 

Then I heard my father's voice in the hall. I couldn't imagine what he would be doing here. I went out and escorted him into my office. He said he just wanted to talk. I wanted to shake him--what do you think the phone is for?? "What am I supposed to do about the water?" he wanted to know. "Nothing," I said. "I'll take care of it when I get home. Is it still dripping?" "More than dripping," he said. He also said  he didn't know why Ray opened it, since it was going to freeze again that night. Then I had to explain it all to him and assure him that I would be home early in the afternoon to take care of it. As I drove to Ray's office with the rock hammer, I called him on the phone. "My father came to the office. He says the water is still spraying onto the porch. He really can't just show up at my office and get me all upset about something going on at home." Ray reassured me. When I asked him to call the plumber and see if he could come today, he said he would do it right then.

Back at the office, I worked for a few more hours, then headed home about 3. It was a beautiful sunny day, although not really warm--45 or so. When I got there, the faucet was not dripping any more--there was no sign of water. My father wanted to climb up on the railing and turn it off, but I insisted on doing it--with a stepladder. Ray said the railing was starting to break from him climbing on it to turn the thing on and off. Then we went down in the cellar and arranged the buckets to catch the drips. That's the part that shouldn't happen--apparently there is a faulty valve that the plumber was supposed to be replacing, but he never called Ray back. 

Later in the afternoon, the phone rang and the Captain answered it. I could hear his end of the conversation and it was the plumber. He never offered to let me talk to him, but took it on himself. Then he told me he was on his way here. When he got here, my Dad met him and escorted him around and he left. He said he had just gotten the new valve. He and the Captain agreed that there is nothing wrong with the faucet on the porch roof. And now we should not have to empty buckets any more. Yay!

After a delicious supper, I went to see a funny (and a little bit naughty) play called the Love List. Becky and Kent met me there and we enjoyed it greatly. Allen Rowell, Bryn Adamson, and Jeff Evans were the cast. Rick Rose directed. I would love to tell you the whole plot, but my fingers are already tired. I saw Harriet there and many others. They were turning people away--for a Second Stage production! I was in bed just after 11 and slept well.

I went to work in the morning, pretty much got the newsletter ready to go. I just need to hear from someone on the board about the Harvest article. They are not responding to my emails or phone calls. Meredith said we should go ahead and not put anything in. I left about 1 and came home to sit around. Vanessa was at two different doctors, one at 9:30 and one at 1. She didn't really know anything yet, but she was tired and sore. The captain built up a good fire to keep us warm and comfy. Ray didn't come home until almost 8, because he was at the Democratic Committee meeting. I read some and watched TV. The Captain took the squash out of the freezer, put it in a pan on the stove and turned it on. I was glad I had taken dinner out of the freezer the night before to thaw and just had to heat it up.

Ray is taking a field trip to Cloudland Canyon today. He has been getting ready all week. One of the things he has to do is buy groceries for one of the meals--French toast. He has to get gas in the vans and he still has to teach his other classes today. He did not sleep much last night and I don't think the lodge accommodations will be very comfortable. He is packing now. I will probably work part of the day again.

Yes, I have a head cold. I am stuffy and achy and all I want to do is read or watch TV and have people bring me things to eat and drink.

However, I did go to work yesterday. I even walked the dogs. Meredith was at a class on board development all day. And Kerri took her orals in the afternoon. I worked mainly on the newsletter, trying to decide where everything should go, keeping it to six pages. Of course, I am still waiting on the board to write something about the Harvest fund-raiser. And I need a picture of Meredith. And I did payroll. I left about 3:15. Ray and I went home, stopping by the grocery store, and he made mac & cheese for potluck. I would have stayed home, but we are working on a hard song for this Sunday. I left a little early since I will be away the next Sunday and didn't need to work on that music. I went right to bed. It's below freezing again, so Ray and the Captain drained the water heater.

This is supposed to be the morning we play racquetball, but I don't think I'm up to that.

I have a cold, maybe the Captain's, or maybe one from work. Everybody there has been sick, so I guess it's my turn. It is hopefully not very bad, but allowed me to do nothing yesterday except sit on the couch from the time I got home until I went to bed, drinking and snacking and dozing. I did go to the table long enough to eat dinner that my mother had made (Ray cooked the vegetable).

Yesterday morning was Tuesday, so we took Vanessa to yoga at the Council on Aging. We were a minute or two late--I always feel bad making her late too. Meredith and I went to the DCA workshop about the next grant, due in April. A lot of the usual suspects were there for her to meet and the workshop was not very informative. There will be a lot more requests for funding than there will be funding--surprise!

I worked on the newsletter formatting in Publisher. Man, I am rusty at that! Not my favorite way to spend time, and it takes lots of time.

My mother called on my cell phone to say we desperately needed dog food, so I went to the store to get some. Naturally, I bought lots of fruit and veggies, too, and cold medicine just in case.

Can't believe I slept until 6, after dozing all evening in front of the Olympics. Maybe that will help me not be too sick.

The damn dog bit me! I was waiting for Ray to leave for work, standing out on the porch, looking at the wet yard. The rain had stopped. Cameron was with me and he went after a peach pit on the railing. After all his digestive troubles the day before, I really didn't want  him to eat it. I told him "no" sternly and he spit it out. I told him how good he was and he picked it up again. The same thing over again. The third time I grabbed the peach pit from the porch--big mistake. He bit my finger enough for it to bleed--and it really hurt. This does not help you be on time for work. I grabbed a paper towel and tried to get it to stop before we got there.

More old files and routine stuff at work. Meeting with Meredith to talk about the week. Picked Ray up at 3:30. Went home and made lasagna with home-made tomato sauce Vanessa had frozen last spring. It was a little runny, so I put in a small can of tomato paste. I had some no-boil noodles and they worked great. It was in the oven in less than half an hour. Then we played cards in front of the wood stove. It was a gray cloudy day, even though the rain had stopped. It wasn't very cold--in the 50s, but the fire made it quite pleasant inside. We stopped for supper and the Captain found a few pieces of lettuce still growing--and a good-sized carrot. Everyone loved the lasagna too. I did not play very well and neither did Vanessa, but Ray had a high score and the Captain was right behind him, which made him cross.

Then we watched some more curling, which eventually put me to sleep. Ray had to wake me up to go upstairs at 11. I was pretty sound asleep on the couch.

Serious rain with thunder and lightning woke me up this morning. It's been a while since we've had that.

Yesterday was a good day, in spite of some not-so-good things.

Ray and I walked briefly, after whole wheat pancakes. The Captain's cold did not seem to be bothering him too much. We went off to church, Ray to be a greeter and I to work with the children (instead of singing). There was a group baby and child dedication, which was fun to watch, before we marched out. After the service was the Mystery Friend reception, so Ray had to stick around. I spent a little time with iPhone, but kept talking to people insteadWhen we got home, the Captain was in something of a state. A small aside here about living with my parents. They are very healthy and the situation is beneficial to both of us in many ways, small and large, but it is very difficult, like living with roommates. I tend to be naive and optimistic, but I knew this would be hard. I keep thinking it will get easier, and it has in some ways. At the end, we all know how this story will turn out. They will not be getting better, only worse, and that has an effect on our relationships. However, my father has something of a dramatic nature. He is not really the person to stay calm in a crisis.

Cameron had thrown up several times, including in his crate. My mother had apparently cleaned up one of the messes, which had made her shoulder and back hurt. She is taking one less medication because they found that her kidney function is decreased and think that medication is at least partly to blame. She was told she could take more hydrocodone (a strong pain reliever she takes once a day, about 3 in the morning). She doesn't like how groggy it makes her feel. Or she could take Tylenol, not aspirin or any other pain reliever. She went to the pharmacy Thursday or Friday, but they did not have Tylenol and sold her something else. Whether she did not explain well what she wanted, or did not hear them correctly, she came home with the wrong thing. I had some Extra-Strength Tylenol, just a few left in the bottle. While we were at church, she took two. Then she started to feel nauseous and was not very clear in her thinking. This put the Captain into a tizz, all of which he had to tell me when I got home, of course. Ray and I cleaned up the mess, we all ate lunch, my Mom started to feel better, and the Captain cheered up quite a bit. We all decided that maybe two extra-strength Tylenol on an empty stomach was not a good thing. It made me feel useful, which is sort of nice, but I began to think I should make them come to church with me and not leave them home alone. Of course, they are home alone most of  every weekday. Sigh.

The Captain had set out baby lettuces, cabbage and broccoli. Ray split wood and I put old manure around the strawberries, as well as gathering up pine needles for mulch. Meanwhile, I tried to keep a close eye on Cameron. This meant chasing after him two or three times, somewhat affecting my ability to get anything done. I think perhaps he has been eating things from the compost pile. The Captain thinks he has been eating plastic, so he tried to pick up any bits he had left around the yard. It was a lovely sunny and warm day. My Mom even sat on the deck for awhile. After a delicious diinner, we all watched more Olympics, and I cast off the top of the vest--not that it's done, I have to sew it together and make the edging bands. I managed to stay awake until about 10 and went to bed feeling pretty good.