Elisa's alarm is going off for the second time. It's a snippet of song, pretty and mystic-sounding. The sky is light over the trees, but it is still too d ark to see anything. It's 7. I have been reading e-mail for about half an hour, in my bathrobe. Everyone else is asleep. In Adairsville, an hour or two from here, some people are waking up with no homes, or they haven't slept at all. That's where a tornado killed one person and overturned 100 cars. I am so grateful and thinking of the people suffering.

We knew the weather was supposed to be bad. In fact, I took an umbrella to class--and left it there. A good, big umbrella--what are the odds it will be there tomorrow?

Molli and Ray walked. I managed to walk Elisa a little ways. Molli took herself to work in the truck and Ray and I got going in time for him to park at his office. I got a little reading done at Dawson before my class--about "hard-to-house" people and the evolution of public housing. They are tearing it down and building mixed-income neighborhoods instead. This is a good thing--except for these "hard-to-house" people--with disabililties, mental health and criminal histories, and even large families. Geraldine Clarke spoke to our class. Of the 1200+ families in public housing in Athens, less than 35 are "on welfare." Half are working, some are recieving disability payments or social security. Mosr are female-headed with children, of course.

I drove to the Council on Aging and worked hard all day, working on the Access database and the files. About 3, we started hearing about tornadoes and looking at the weather on the computer. Elisa's horseback riding was cancelled and Kate said I could leave any time. I called Ray and he picked me up. We got Elisa and went home. Molli was already there. She had finished her training and passed the qualifying test. Today, she starts work, scoring essays written by eighth-graders. She will find out how many she can grade in an hour, which will determine how much she makes.

We watched the television and the sky. I gave the chickens some feed. Molli made the carrot casserole and I started on a bean dish for tonight. I filled a pitcher of water and set it by the cellar stairs, along with my iPad and knitting. Elisa did her homework at the kitchen counter. She said it was "exciting." There were lots of heavy clouds and rain, but nothing unusual--no green sky or odd-looking clouds.

By 5:30, the red line on the map had gone by us and we were no longer in danger of tornadoes, they said. We got ready and went to UUFA for diinner and choir. We are singing "the Awakening" this Sunday and Molli and I really like it.

Went to bed before 10 and slept soundly until 6:30!

A little intense yesterday morning. I made crock pot roast, while getting breakfast and lunch. Elisa had to walk herself while I got dressed. I ended up eating some of my breakfast in the car. We got Molli to work right about on time and me there a few minutes early.

Lots to do at "work" because bad weather is predicted for today, so we had to call every one of the members to tell them we have rescheduled the cocktail party from today to tomorrow. In the meantime, I asked some of them a few questions about being members of the Village, based on a survey from another Village. Also, the board president, Madeline, was in the office for several hours and talked a lot about the big picture going forward. I entered information in the database about which members are interested in volunteering and which forms we are missing. New file folders arrived and I started putting the paperwork in them.

Ray picked me up and we went to get Molli. We were home a little after 5. E had come on the bus. The pot roast was well done. We made some mashed potatoes and broccoli to go with. Molli went for a run. We ate dinner and then I dozed in front of the TV during Wheel of Fortune. After that, though, we watched an episode of Castle about a serial killer...it was a cliffhanger, so we had to watch a second episode. That kept me awake, but I slept soundly when I went to bed, for a solid 8 hours.

Somehow I ended up reading until 1:30 in the morning--just not sleepy, I guess, but it was very foolish and I knew I would regret it today.

Yesterday was the big day for classes. It was the first day of Molli's temporary job scoring essays. Elisa had to get herself to her ride, which was not a problem, just a change in procedure. Ray and Molli took a quick walk. I kind of hung around the kitchen, not wanting to leave until Elisa was on her way. Four people had to have breakfast and something to take for lunch. As she left, I dashed upstairs and took a quick bath and dressed. We left the house at 8:10, not as early as we had hoped. Ray had to copy a test for his 9:00 class.

We drove him to his office and then I took Molli where she was going. Then, oddly enough, I went home. I had forgotten a couple little things. This gave me a 15-minute breathing space that felt like a mini-vacation.

I stopped at the credit union on the way to class and was just on time. After that class, I went to Earth Fare and bought some meat and other groceries, which I put in a cooler I had gotten when I went back to the house. Then I met Becky for a quick and pleasant lunch. It is her birthday today, so we had to have a bit of coconut cake...and I was a bit late for that class too.

Three hours later, I picked up Ray and we picked up Elisa and then Molli. We were all home again before 6...and we had a plan for supper. We had taken some chicken tagine from the freezer the day before. Molli made some couscous and some green beans and we had supper 20 minutes later.

After supper, I made bread and we watched TV. Somehow I didn't fall asleep. No walking  yesterday, no wine. It could have been either of those or neither. I read an entire book and still lay in the dark for a while, but finally got 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Not ideal!

This is the beginning of a new phase. Molli has to be at work this morning and we wil still be using only one car. Four of us to get ready at the same time. Still dark out. Wish us luck.

Yesterday we went to the 11:00 service, even though we were not involved. We sat together in the congregation. The pews were packed and a man with a walker (George) had to get up so we could squeeze in. At one point, Elisa reported, Ray and I were both dozing. Hmm.

After the service was the Men's Lunch. All the food was brought by men, although I happen to know of at least one case where the wife did the actual cooking of the brownies!

After the lunch, I had to lead the Leadership Council meeting. There were only a few people there, but it went well.

By two, we were on the road to Greenville, SC. It was less than two hours and went smoothly. (I did not fall asleep, fortunately, since I was driving while Ray worked on his quiz.) We got to the Greenville Zoo about 4:00, paid $20 for the three of us, and spent an hour seeing everything. That was actually enough time, because it was very cold and we didn't want to spend more time than that outside. Lions, leopards, many primates (who made a racket), and Elisa's favorite, alligators. The reptile house was popular because it was warm!

Then we had an hour and a half to kill. We drove through a historic neighborhood, where all the houses looked like the one I moved to when I was 10, except in better condition. We parked downtown (for free!) and spent some time at the Mast General Store--a really fun and quite inexpensive store that has everything. Kitchen items, clothes, games...

The first restaurant I picked out was closed on Sundays. The second was a pub--in fact, a Belgian gastropub! We ordered something to drink and looked at the menu and enjoyed the ambiance. At 6:30, Ray strolled next door to the bus station. They were back in no time. Molli was happy to have something to eat!

three mousses

The menu was wonderful--so many interesting things. In fact, they have six different kinds of mussels with French fries (ok, Belgian fries) and sauces. She had coq au vin, Ray had sausages, Elisa beef stew (with fries) and I had a seafood dish I had never heard of before: waterzooi, a sort of Belgian ratatouille, served with crusty bread for soaking up the broth. We also had cheese croquettes while we waited for Molli (and I had an old-fashioned, not like my mother used to make--for one thing, there was no fruit in it!). Ray had a big salad and we all had dessert. There were too many that we wanted: waffles for Elisa, mousse for me (three kinds), waffle balls for Molli, and cherry crepes for Ray.

We were back on the road a little after 8 and home by 10, quite a satisfactory adventure. Riding in the car seems to be the worst for my back, though, possibly compounded by walking around in the cold.

Catching up on my financial records and working on my tax return, so no time for blogging. I also wrote a paper for my class tomorrow and prepared for a UUFA meeting later today.

Yesterday had some good and some bad. We all miss Molli terribly around here.

Ray and Elisa and I did go to pilates and we were there pretty early. The class filled up -- 12 people, I think. We stopped at the store on the way home and bought a few groceries.

After lunch, my Dad came and we worked in the garden. It was somewhat sunny and not very cold. Ray went for a walk and then we moved the chicken coop and put clean shavings in the nest boxes. I want them to lay lots of eggs there!

making brownies

I made chili for an early supper and Elisa made some brownies for me, the first things to be frozen for the next dessert night. The chili was a tad on the spicy side for me.

After supper, we drove to the Fellowship for games. My Dad was there, as well as Ange. Alison and a young man named Arthur showed up later. We started Hearts, but stopped when Alison arrived. We decided on Bezzerwizzer, with three teams: Ray and Elisa, Ange and my Dad, and Alison and me. We added Arthur to our team when he came. We tied and it was time to go home. I brought two kinds of cookies.

At home, Elisa suggested the Mentalist, with brownies and ice cream. A good plan.

It was definitely below freezing yesterday morning--about 26, I think. My fingers were cold inside my gloves! We walked E. out to the mailbox, but her ride came before we got there. We went back and got ready to go. Molli was up to say goodbye.

I dropped Ray off and took the car to his parking lot. I was worried because it didn't seem to detect my key (keyless ignition) and I thought it might die any minute. Then I was afraid to lock it, for fear I couldn't get it unlocked. I walked over to the building where my 10:00 class was and sat in the break area, looking at emails and brushing my hair.

In class, we filled out a survey about our preference for working in groups and our skills and interests. Then we practiced interviews by interviewing each other. I boldly walked to the back of the room and interviewed a football player. His name is Christian.

After class, I walked back to the car and it started right up, not giving me any trouble detecting the key. TG! I drove to the Council on Aging and went to my desk. Kate was meeting with a member. I checked the answering machine and updated the database.

The phone rang and it was my Dad! He was surprised to find me there. I had left an invitation to the cocktail party and he was responding, yes. When Kate got back, she explained to me that we had to send out forms to all the members. The officers had developed a "billing" form that must be signed, explaining all the obligations and rights. For instance, if you don't renew within 2 weeks, there is an administrative fee that is charged. Really? That seems like a bad decision to me. It sounds negative. It would be better to give them a discount on renewals. Anyway, I drafted a letter for her to send and developed a checklist form for the files, to let us know what we are missing. She is pleased with the database.

I went out to say hi to Ray when he came to get the car and I noticed my Dad's car. Of course! He plays bridge at the Council on Aging on Wednesdays. I went to find him and say hi. There were 10 people. I only knew one of them, at a quick glance, besides him. Many looked quite infirm.

As we were packing up to leave, my Dad stopped in to say hi and meet Kate. I sat in his car and chatted for a few minutes before Ray arrived. He had been to get new batteries, so I don't have to worry about my key not working! We went home. Molli had put together the casserole for potluck and let the chickens out and back in. The house was pleasant.

We went to pick up Elisa at horseback riding and then went to potluck. Lots of people, lots of good food. Great music in choir. Ray didn't stay; he went to a lecture on campus, and he was a bit late to pick us up.

At home, we went to bed after one Wheel of Fortune, very sleepy.

Maybe a little anticlimactic, but not terrible.

Walked Elisa part way, came home and bathed and dressed. Tried to pick out something that would look great, be professional, and be warm enough for this really cold day (high 45). Ray drove me in and went home again. Kate is very agreeable. I signed paperwork and then we visited a potential new member, Alison R., who lives alone in Cedar Creek. She has a dog and a renter, a young man who pays $100 for a room upstairs. Her husband was an art professor, and her house is full of paintings and books. She has some back pain and gets shots regularly, but still drives. Mostly, she seems lonely. Her children are in San Francisco, Savannah, and Greenville. We visited wtih her and left an application.

Back at the office, I called all the members (that we hadn't yet heard from) to invite them to a cocktail party next week. I got some more yeses, a few nos, and some answering machines. I studied the Excel spreadsheet and turned it into a database in Access. It took me awhile; there is a lot I don't know about Access, but was quite successful. Ate leftover pot roast for lunch.

Ray and Molli picked me up and we zipped over to the credit union, where I deposited some money and Molli opened an account. Then we picked up Elisa after chorus and drove home. Molli had mostly made dinner--beef stew cooked in the oven. Ray worked on the chicken for her chicken soup (our lunch today). I made some cowboy cookies that Molli and I ate with ice cream while watching Castle. I was not as sleepy as usual.