We Went To REDDs

 Yesterday Shirley and I met at a new restaurant in the town of Windsor, which is about 15 miles from my apartment. Totally new experience. 

                      REDD's SERVICE STATION

It is in an old service station (with the pump still outside) and they serve chicken fingers and Blue Bell ice cream among other things.

I got a chicken sandwich and the meat was tender and tasty. I told Shirley I thought they had Chic-fil-a beat but she would have none of it! That girl is sooooo totally taken with her Chic-fil-a and I am so tired of her taking me there!! I am not in to eating the same stuff time after time.

But, anyway...We had a great time. The music was loud and the people were all chatting away. I usually don't like loud music while I am eating but this was different, somehow. 

There was an old juke box in there...

And, an old coke machine. Shirley got one just for the heck of it. It's such a novelty! It cost her 5 bucks but that once was alright. 

The decor I am not sure about. Industral architecture so the acoustics were bad. There was a huge disco ball and the front end of a car as part of one bench. 

Like I say, it was a new experience!! I want to go back but I bet the next time we gals head out we end up at Chic-fil-a. 

Hanging On For Dear Life.

 No picture, sorry. I was too busy driving to be distracted with a camera. 

But, I was distracted by something that kept me entertained for 3 or so miles as I journeyed down the road. You see, a spider was in the process of spinning a thin line of webbing from the corner of my car door to the edge of my side mirror. He was sitting there right in the middle of this tiny strand of silk.

And, I crank up the engine and take  off. Poor thing... He must have thought the biggest tornado in the world had hit him. I snuck a peek and he had his legs wrapped around that tiny thread for dear life. Once I stopped for a red light, he set out again, spinning away. Light changed and we took off again. He still clung on.

Finally he made it all the way over to the side mirror and quickly disappeared between the mirror and it's frame. Safe at last!! 

You know, I am glad he made it to safety so that I would not be held accountable for the murder of a spider!! 

The Sound of Music

 Talk about boring! There is just nothing going on right now so I guess it's time for another blast from the past. 

My husband got stationed in Bainbridge, Maryland and our family moved into housing situated just outside the base's back gate. On top of the hill behind us sat a Baptist Church and I started attending services there.

There's always a big turnover anytime there's military involved so one day the pastor told me that the organist had moved away with her Navy husband. He knew I had played the piano some years before so he asked me if I would take up her position.

I'd never plalyed an organ before. never had lessons (and yes, it is different than a piano). Scared the bee-gee-bees outta me but I said I'd give it a try. I'd go in off-times and practice and got to where I could do a fair job with all the keys and the foot pedals and stuff. 

I was soon playing for the Sunday morning service.

Well.... I got to church one Sunday morning. We had guests attending service that day.... the BIG BOSS.... the base commander and his wife. That made me a little nervous. 

People were already filling in the pews when I went up and sat down at the organ. I opened the hymnal to the opening music, positioned my hands over the keys and hit the first chord. It was like a bomb had gone off ... the volume was so loud. My face turned bright red, I glanced at the Commander and gave a weak little grin. 

Seems that when the caretaker was doing his weekly cleaning he'd pushed the volume pedal to full volume. I prayed that the floor would just open up and let me drop through but I fixed the problem and we started our first hymn. 

Hey, I lived through it and now it's a funny memory to pass on to others. But, I tell you.... it was not funny when it happened!!

When my husband retired from the Navy and we moved to Alabama to live, I got me an organ and played it all I wanted to.... and I never forgot the volume pedal either!!

QUOTE

"I would rather have the bravery to try something and then fail than never to have tried at all."

                                                    Robin Sharma 

A Great 'Sunday Morning'

 As usual, on a Sunday Morning, I tuned into CBS's 'Sunday Morning'.

In the world of television with all it's various opinions, reality shows which are NOTreality at all and the stupid sit-coms, 'Sunday Morning' is a breath of fresh air. 

I really miss Charles Karault but Jane Pauley is 'growing on me'. 

I learn so many interesting things by watching that show. it's just good, basic facts which is rare to find these days.

Take that Silicon Valley exec who had a stroke. It left him mute and paralysized from neck down. Most people would just give up. But, this guy is playing cards, writing song lyrics and connecting with his grandchildren all through robotics. Amazing!

And, the strange little buildings in southern Italy with roofs made of layered stone (nothing holding the stones in place). Well, I wouldn't want to go inside (it might cave in) but what a unique idea. I wonder why they started building them like that... 

We lived in Hawaii for a short period of time. And, I left there with a plumeria lei around my neck. I found out on ;Sunday Morning' that due to farm land in Hawaii being gobbled up with urban sprawl and the environment changes, Hawaii has a shortage of blossoms to produce those beautiful leis. As things do, that craft is evolving into using more stable items such as shells, bark etc. instead of the flowers. A way of life is disappearing there as everywhere else. 

I wonder if you are still curious about the world, if you still love to learn things and too, if you are concerned about the amount of false information we are being exposed to? 

I don't think we should ever stop being like a child, with open eyes, open heart and open mind. 

a Trip To The ER

                        

              What's with getting to see a doctor these days? 

I mean, I have a GP I love but if I have something come up that I need attention to, I get sent to the Emergency Room! Seems the only time I see my GP (general practicener)n anymore is on scheduled wellness visits. 

I've been having some issues (we don't have to discuss which ones (grin). It started with the gall bladder attack and progressed further down, if you know what I mean. I called for an appt. to my gastroentologist and it's mid October before I can see her. So, that's when I called the GP.... 

Now, I am not a big fan of Emergency Rooms. So, I was resisting going big time... 

Enter my daughter, Shirley... Came down for lunch and as soon as she heard me whining about the doctor situation, she said 'Get your things. We are going to the ER.' and so we did.

After numerous tests it turns out that I am very healthy (as they say, 'for my age') Don't you just hate that!! 

But, the point I want to make is this. I am very independent. May be why I am so healthy, who knows, right? But, I have taken care of people my whole life. I've gone through raising teen age sisters-in-law (twins), raising my own 4 kids, ten years of caring for my aging mother and then another ten years caring for my husband who had Alzheimers. 

And, I have been a stinker about that independent thing up until recently. As much as I try to remain independent, deep down inside me is the cry for someone to please just take care of me!

                   for listening to me whine! 

May He Rest In Peace

 It's Sunday!

A day of worship although we should be worshiping God in every way, every day.

I thought I'd post a picture of a historic church near where I live. It's St. Luke's in Smithfield, Virginia.

I have been there several times. When I first discovered that church, I felt a connection. Little did I know, at that time, that my 9th great-grandfather was buried in the chancel of that church, in front of the pulpit. 

St. Luke's was built in 1623, making it the oldest church in the state of Virginia and the oldest Gothic church in the United States. My ancestor, Joseph Bridger, was given much acknowledgement for the important contribution he made in completing the Church.

Oh, the story does not end there...

In 2007 descendents of Joseph Bridger gave the Smithsonian permission to unearth some of Bridger's bones in order to study why he may have died.

He was supposedly one of the richest men in Colonial Virginia. So, Joseph (well, at least part of him) traveled to Washington D. C. and he underwent extensive testing. Seems he died of lead poisoning, his body containing 7 times the amount of lead that would have been found in a corpse this day and time. He was rich, he ate off of pewter plates, drank out of pewter mugs and the lead from those articles leaked into his system and killed him.

Joseph bones were brought back to St. Luke's and he was laid to rest where he had always been. 

That's pretty cool, isn't it? Leastwise, I thought so! I'm so proud that so many of my ancestors were involved in the making of this country. 

This week's ups and downs

 This week has been interesting. Day before yesterday I got this pain in my side just under my ribs. Before long it had included my stomach and back. Man, it hurt! Then I was bloated, gassy, nauseauous. 

I've known for some time I've had gallstones and those suckers finally dealt me fits! I never want that to happen again. So, I'm making some changes to my diet and incorporating some new techniques to help keep my gall badder healthy. Who knew that small little thing sitting beneath your liver was so important! 

Anyway, I'm feeling much better this morning. Hope all of you are doing super. 

I am counting down to college football time. College football has changed a lot and I am not as big of a fan as i once was but I am so sick of watching the same ole tv that having football back for awhile would be a welcome treat!      ROLL TIDE!

I've noticed just lately that I am slowing down a good bit. Guess it's time. So, I am getting pickier about what I put my energy to. 

Well, I guess I'll get off here and go do nothing! 

An 'Arresting' Time

 So, I've not been on here for a few days. Been tied up. Or handcuffed up!! A good looking policeman 'arrested' me for starting a riot....

There's more to the story!!

It was National Night Out last Tuesday. Our apartment complex always participates and a good time was had by all.

National Night Out, in case you don't know, is held once a year where the First Responders meet with various groups in communities throughtout the U. S. in a effort to promote better connection and understanding between law enforcement and the public. 

We had a cookout with all the yummy food associated with a grill! There were over 75 in attendance. The Firemen arrived first,came roaring up our drive in a huge ladder truck. They are here on a regular basis... false alarms, people falling, disputes (although that's seldom) and to check our fire safety procedures. They are a great bunch of guys. 

A part of the crowd trappsied out to get their picture taken in front of the firetruck.

Then the police arrived, one office driving the forces brand-new mustang patrol car!

Isn't that thing a dandy!! 

I  wouldn't mind getting arrested if I could take a ride in that beauty. Of course, if those handsome officers were my arresting officers, that would be a big plus! 

We had such a great time. There was a DJ playing '80s music, great food, a lot of yakking going on and the 'eye candy' wasn't bad either! 

Coconut Oil and Monkeys

 I keep learning something new every day!! I hope you do, too. 

You see, I bought this jar of coconut oil from the grocery store. I had a recipe that called for it but then I never made the recipe so there that jar sat. I had no idea what to do with it.

Chatgpt to the rescue!! 

Did you know that you can use coconut oil the same as butter or olive oil to fry eggs, saute veggies or even grease a pan?

If you have dry feet or elbows... rub a bit of coconut oil on them! or dab a bit on your lips if they are dry.

You can use it as a cuticle softener! Who knew, right?

If you have wood furniture... just mix the oil with a bit of lemon juice. You'll have a beautiful shine on that wood. 

And, it even helps to unstick zippers. 

So, I got my jar out of the pantry and put it to work!! Don't intend to waste my money on something I am not using!! After all, I am a depression baby... gotta save every way you can! 

And, I'm throwing in this for a chuckle.