Nothing gets me going internally like waking up in a room that's 50 degrees. It always seems like I can conquer the world, if I can just get out from under the covers.

It was lovely to get to worship and then eat with my precious church family this morning. Our fellowship is very "child-heavy" and I say that in a good way...this morning I sat watching and listening to all of them and thought, "Here is the future of our church. And from the looks of it, it's a very promising future."

So I have had a good week of Christmas shopping. My bathtub, unused for much of anything other than storing Amazon boxes seasonally, is beginning to fill up and I catch the grandkids peeking around the corner once in a while to measure its progress.

Speaking of Christmas shopping. Every year I say I'm going to start in June and then don't really get going until October. This year was no exception since I was sitting still all summer! I've always "known" that you do better if you take advantage of sales throughout the year instead of waiting. Well as it turns out, it really isn't true, at least not any more. I am finding so many good deals right now that weren't there during the summer, as retailers desperate for their bottom lines not to bleed cut merchandise by 50-75% right before the holidays. I am VERY glad I waited.

This weekend The Papa got my ticket for our post-Thanksgiving Hawaii trip...and surprised me by getting it First Class all the way. That will make the flights so much more pleasant. I don't mind flying as much as some people...as long as the flight is about 45 minutes. Long flights, though, tend to panic me, and I think the perqs of First Class will make it easier to get through that Pacific leg. He will be on business there, of course, and wanted me to join him for a week and actually November-December is my favorite time of year there. Yeah, I know. I'm strange. (As it now stands, The Papa will be in Hawaii for part of every month from now until May and then has an Australia trip in June. I ask you: who should be allowed to have a job like this and get paid for it?)

Excuse me for a moment, I need to go in the kitchen and see if we have any more chicken and dumplings.

Ah yes, good. Okay, where were we?

Oh, I was about to give out the weekend political reading assignment. There will be a quiz, especially for those of you too young to remember Chairman Mao. Mark Steyn: Limbaugh bad, Mao good

Thanksgiving plans are shaping up at Granny's House. I'm scouting for tablecloths and taking inventory of flatware and especially serving utensils, for which we seem to scrounge at the last minute every year. I've used ebay to beef up my supply of glassware, and we've taken a count of all the dinner plates and dessert plates. I'm going to buy a couple of extra tables this year to make sure we have places for all of our guests that don't include the coffee tables. And the menu is coming together as well, thanks to my handy-dandy Google spreadsheet that everyone can access. Still more than a month away, and we're making great progress!

And as far as physical therapy progress, in case you were wondering: last week I was able to walk to the end of my driveway (and if you know our driveway....) and back with no cane, no walker, no support at all. I'll admit that the walk back was not as easy as the walk out there, but I made it all the way back to my room without help. Can I do the airport yet? No, but the driveway comes first :-)

So...these are my stories and I'm stickin' to 'em. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Labels: Church, Health, Holidays, Political Observation, Vacations