Partial Retirement - His First Friday Off

Walter has decided to partially retire.  Since turning 62 this January,  he has signed up for Social Security and his first check is to arrive in March.  He negotiated with his employer for one day off each week.  Most of the time this will be on Fridays.  However if something comes up and he needs another day off, he can swap out the Friday for another week day that week.  Sweet!

This past Friday was his first day off.  He slept in a little but not for long as I had arranged for a Pei Wei luncheon date with two friends of ours who work about 45 minutes from the house.  What better way for him to get used to the four day work week than being with friends and NOT having to watch the time or leave in a hurry?  Our friends had to watch and leave on their schedule, not ours.

We had a wonderful visit with each other albeit fast paced.  I think Walter and I will enjoy many more leisurely focused Fridays now.  I look forward to the increased time we may have together.

Plates Bought at Goodwill for $9.00

Salad or Dessert Plates with Bleeding Hearts

Plates with Pansies

On the way home we stopped in for a look at the Goodwill store in the area.  Walter found two nice dress shirts and I found some Easter decorations and a set of butterfly and plants decorated plates and dessert plates.  They are StudioNova in the Garden Blooms pattern.  As Spring arrives, I will use these to lighten up the table.

If I could afford it, I would set the table with a different set of dishes every time we eat.  This, of course, is not possible or affordable but Goodwill makes it seem like you have a large variety to fill your cabinets anyway.  I hope Walter doesn't think we will be shopping like this every Friday.

That night we went to the Primitive Quartet concert held at Middle Tennessee Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  We love to attend Southern Gospel concerts.  This one did not disappoint.  The church was filled with people worshipping and praising and filled with spirit.

On the way home, we stopped in for a Taco Bell fast food snack.

Is there a way to have too much fun?  I don't think so.  This was a FULL day for us.  God is good!

Valentines Banquet

Church Auditorium with Decorated Tables

I am on the kitchen committee for the year and for this event the chairman asked me to do the table centerpieces.  I used mirrored tiles with white candles in clear glass candle holders.



Twenty Tables Were Set Out

I took a Valentines' garland and cut it in sizes to fit snugly around the candle holders and used the hot glue gun to attach the ends.  Each piece of garland was 15 inches which gave plenty of flexibility for getting them on and off of the candle holders.



Serving Table for Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables

The menu was Pork Tenderloin, Green Salad, Mashed Potatoes with Carrots, Green Peas with Pearl Onions, Raspberry Applesauce, Red Velvet Cake and Chocolate Pie.



We Take a Minute to Enjoy the Centerpieces Before Guests Arrive

Walter and I took a minute to have a picture made of us before the attendees started arriving.  Roses were laid in each of the women's places.  A few rose petals tossed on the tables completed the decorations.

We had a great meal and a nice musical program afterwards.   I have no pictures of this but one of the singers imitated Elvis and three young ladies ran to the stage and threw rose petals at him.  Hilarious!

God is good.


Music at MTSU

A few days ago, Walter and I went to Middle Tennessee State University to hear the Tennessee Valley Winds concert at the T. Earl Hinton Recital Hall there.  This was about the third concert we have been to for this group.  A real estate agent, Jane who used to work for Walter when he had his own agency, Tony who worked with Walter in manufacturing for several years and Matt who was one of my co-workers are in the orchestra.  They are each excellent musicians.

Tony Smiles Prior to the Performance

We enjoyed the performance and got to have a short visit with them afterwards.  I loved what the conductor said to the young people in attendance that night.  He said that learning to both appreciate and play music is something that will last for a lifetime of enjoyment.  His example of that was the age composition of the Tennessee Valley Winds.  Their ages ranged from 15 to 85!


Matt with His Bassoon

Both Walter and I love this kind of music.  The program included a medley of religious music and ended with a John Philip Sousa march.  The crowd gave a nice standing ovation in appreciation to the musicians.


I Chatted with Matt after the Show

Agents Orange, White & Blue

My brother-in-law, Edd, has been giving my sister, Jean, tender loving care since they discovered she had breast cancer.  Neither of them have outside jobs so he was available and able to care for her 24/7, going to treatments with her, helping with the daily chores and giving her much love and attention.

I spoke to her Wednesday and she said she felt wonderful that day.  She is taking chemo medicine daily by mouth.  The doctors told her she could expect to take the drug for about five years.  She was excited because she had just vacuumed the entire apartment without stopping.  This was quite the accomplishment as she had only been able to clean a little at a time and then rest a while prior to starting to clean again.

She was looking forward to spring so she and Edd could walk around their apartment complex.

Jean, Edd, Elizabeth and Me

But Edd has been having spasms in his legs and arms for a while now and recently they have gotten much worse.  He is diabetic too which complicates the situation.  His doctors have said his troubles stem from the fact that he was exposed to Agents Orange, White and Blue.  These were herbicides used during the Vietnam War to destroy plant life, especially rice and to clear out hiding places alongside roads, etc.  To learn more about these agents, Wikipedia encyclopedia has good summaries of their properties and the purposes of their usage.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_White and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Blue .

So now I am outraged at the suffering that has been endured for many years by our returned military personnel.  Many families have watched as loved ones go through so many changes in their bodies.  Some have succumbed to the illness, including one dear man who was a church member with us.

The story of my small family goes on.  Edd was a brave soldier, is a good companion and family man.  He will take his doctors advise and adhere to their instructions.  Hopefully he will be able to live the best life possible for many years.  Good luck Edd.  You are in our prayers.

God is good!