Feels like Spring

 I went to the library today and two older women were on a bench down from the back steps talking.

They had on long sleeves but no sweaters.

I smiled as I got out of the car and said, "Warm for November...."

One of them looked shocked. "It IS November, isn't it--I forgot."

They sat in the shade, no need for sun.

It feels like Spring!

Especially as the election results come in.

Democrats have not only taken over the House and Senate, they've elected Governors and the congresses of previously red states.

I am so Blue to day--not sad, but delighted.

It turned out ever better than I had hoped.

Lord, help them start to get things straightened out.

Impeach the Secretary of War, P.H., right off....

It does feel like Spring in my heart and mind and soul....

The sky will clear

Today began in Cheshire with the sky full of clouds.

But it cleared up and was quite warm, almost 70, for November.

In just that way, the election day is clouded over.

It won't clear until tomorrow--if then, given Alaska's strange way of counting votes.

So, it will either be warm--with Democrats gaining greatly--or chilly with Republicans holding on.

As they say, "we shall see...."

I pray for sun and warmth....

 

Tense day tomorrow

I voted last week, so I have tomorrow off.

But I don't know how late I'll be up watching the results come in.

It could be a GREAT DAY or a not so great day.

Democrats will advance, but I want them to take over Congress and put limits on trumpy-Trump.

Connecticut is no problem--deeply blue state usually and even more this election.

It won't change my life, but it will certainly influence it.

I'm so tired of living in TRump-WOrld.

I want out.

But our country elected the bimbo twice--so who's to say what will happen tomorrow....

I'll be tense though.

Probably until Wednesday morning.

 

All Saints Day

 I was off church today and it was All Saints Day.

I can't wait to hear what Bill said in his Morning Prayer Sermon.

ASD makes me a little confused.

We aren't ALL saints, all of us.

One of the hymns they might have sung goes, "For all the saints, who from their labors rest...."

Does that mean you can only become a saint when you die?

I've known people I would think of as 'living' saints.

I did the funeral for one of those folks a couple of weeks ago.

I've known dozens of people in my ministry who ARE good and DO good during their lives.

I think of them as living saints.

But what do I know, I've only been doing this for 40 some years?

It wasn't that bad

 Halloween was pretty quiet.

People on our street don't leave lights on--except a few--so we get fewer and fewer Trick or Treaters.

I gave cheetos and peanut butter cups to about six kids and left a bag out, few of which were taken.

So, I've been eating Cheetos and peanut butter cups most of the day.

Not bad.

Now, if people will just take down the monsters in their yards, we can move on toward Thanksgiving.

Bern and I are going to Baltimore on the train for Thanksgiving with Josh and his kids in a hotel. A little odd, but worth the trip.

So, hopefully the spooks will be gone soon.

I don't like Halloween....

So relieved!!!

I was in the parking lot at Big Y,  getting ready to go in and get a few things Bern asked me to bring home.

My phone rang and I was annoyed until I heard the voice and knew my fears were relieved.

It was my first cousin, "Mesh", which is what I call her though it's not her real name.

She is five years older than me and grew up with me. My parents even brought her on our vacations to keep me company and keep me happy.

I'd been trying to call her and email her for three days and was afraid she was in the hospital or worse.

I way going to tell Bern about my anxiety when I got home.

BUT IT WAS HER ON THE PHONE!

We had a long talk about Anawalt and Jenkinjones, where we grew up and about going back to see what was left after coal ran out but it would be such a long trip.

She is my connection to those places and to my childhood.

We've been close ever since.

I was so afraid something had happened to her.

But something had happened to her phone instead.

I'm so happy and so relieved.....

 

Busy Friday

 I went to the library and, lucky me, found two David Rosenfelt novels I've not read.

He's my favorite author and I've read most of his 30-some books more than once. Two new ones is a treasure!

I also picked up cigarettes for Bern and me. I always go to the same gas station for them and the person behind the counter (and there are several) always has them out when I get to the counter. They know me well....

After a lunch of cold tuna from last night and a piece of cheese cake--I'm an addict for cheese cake--I went to the grocery store.

I came home with two heavy bags full and put it all away then dove into one of the Rosenfelt books.

In an hour I'll fix dinner--torn pork and cole slaw sandwiches, potato puffs and a small salad. I'll clean up after dinner and read some more than go watch Jeopardy and get ice cream at 8 p.m. and watch TV with Bern until I go to bed.

Just wanted you to know I do DO things....

Warmer today

I'm not so cold.

I don't even have on the heater beside me as I write this.

Of course, I'm cold if it isn't 80 degrees, so I'd say I'm just a little chilly today.

I should probably move to Florida or Texas except they aren't a Blue as CT and Bern wouldn't come with me since she hates the heat.

She visited her cousin in Florida a couple of weeks ago and said she 'sweated like shit' the whole time.

Hold does a cold guy get a hot woman?

Beats me, just lucky I guess.

 

He should have stayed at the White House...

...or Mara Lago.

The President has been on the campaign trail for weeks now.

Not doing good for Republicans, but messing up big time.

Where ever he goes, new outlets find him forgetting things, bubbling around, making funny noises, demonstrating health issues and on and on.

Given his approval ratings the candidates he's supporting should tell him to stay home.

Never mind his threats to over-rule votes he doesn't like.

And telling folks to vote 'as if I were on the ballot' can't be much of a boost for the candidates.

But I'm glad he hasn't stayed home.

Go, Blue Wave!!!

 

TV

 There are only two TV shows I watch with devotion--Jeopardy and The Voice.

I like MSN news.

I like CNN news a little.

Sometimes I watch episodes of Seinfeld from the past.

And Bern talks me into watching episodes of some things from 8 til 9 p.m.--when she goes to bed.

I'll search around for a while after that but seldom watch anything for long.

Then I go to bed and read until it's time to sleep.

I'm not much of a TV guy as you can tell.

I prefer watching parts of Family Feud on line.

TV isn't my thing.

I prefer novels and being on the back porch reading (except now that it's cold).

Maybe when I'm 'in the home' I'll watch TV more to pass the time.

Sunday was great

 Church was wonderful. Great music, good crowd, visitors, wondrous coffee hour.

But I just realized I don't have church next Sunday and Bible Study on Wednesday is on hold, so I have two weeks with nothing to do....

I'll manage.

The Cheshire library is there.

We have TV.

I love to play hearts and solitaire on line.

There's a dog to pet and take out and feed treats to.

Bern is my best friend as well as my wife of over 50 years--and she's here to talk to and be with.

I think I'll handle to time off....

Lord help us!--WVU

 WVU Mountaineers won in Texas, beating TCU 24-20.

They have scored more than 24 in every game and given up more than 20.

They have a great offense and a terrible defence.

But they are my team.

I spend over 2 hours in front of a TV set groaning and hoping.

I guess it was worth it but it wore me out...

A West Virginia boy is always a West Virginia boy.

Besides, the other schools I got degrees from were Harvard, Virginia Seminary and Hartford Seminary.

That's 4 degrees if you're keeping score.

But only Harvard has a football team and I'm sure WVU could beat them.

GO MOUNTAINEERS....

Diocesan Convention

 Today is the first of two days of Diocesan Convention.

For the third or fourth year in a row--I'm not going!

I get excused because of my knees and my cane.

Besides, I don't think retired clergy should have a vote. We won't be around to see how things turn out so why should we vote on how things are going to turn out?

And so, I wouldn't vote--so why go at all?

Besides I find them boring since I don't have a stake in what happens at them.

Call me lazy if you want.

I don't mind.

Lazy is a good way to be....

I wrote my sermon

I wrote my sermon today.

It's about the necessity of 'loving yourself'.

I know that is not something we talk about much--self love--but Jesus tells us to love God and love our neighbor AS ourselves.

AS means "in the same way that...".

So, if we don't love ourselves how can we love our neighbors 'as ourselves'?

And, how can we love God if we don't love ourselves?

Without self-love we would fear God, not love him/her.

We'll see how it goes on Sunday.

Wish me luck--and Love Yourself....

 

The tee-shirt I'd forgotten about

 Bern didn't like the hat I was wearing.

She said, "look in the hat and glove drawer".

I had no idea where that drawer was, but I didn't tell her.

I think I opened every drawer in the house but only found a Bears toboggan. I used to be a Chicago Bears fan until Mahomes and the Chiefs came around.

But I wore the toboggan today anyway.

While I was looking I came across a tee shirt I didn't remember having.

It shows a flying saucer above the White House.

The caption says, "No Intellagent life here!"

Below, it says, 'Not my President'.

(Even though I can't spell 'intelegent', I love the shirt.)

Cold Monday

I know I won't shut up about being cold--it's an part of my personality.

It was supposed to warm up during the day but I can't attest to that yet.

I went to the library.

I love Cheshire Public Library! Kids running around, a ton of books and good library staff.

I took five books back and got five more. I do this every week.

I love mysteries and my favorite author is David Rosenfelt.

But I read other writers too.

But I want a mystery with either a great detective or defense attorney.

The Cheshire Library never disappoints.

Go to the library where you live and see what a great place it is.

I spend more time reading than I spend thinking....

 

 

It went well

 He's a good guy, even if he is a Diocesan Canon!

He preached, without notes and standing in the middle of the aisle. He distributed the wafers and I gave healing oil. He took a picture of everyone there after the service and gave the forgiveness of sins.

Good guy at coffee hour, chatting well and touching some people with his graciousness.

We left at the same time.

I liked him a lot--not something I usually say about Diocesan folks!

A good day and I was glad to share it with him.

Maybe I shouldn't be so suspicious of Diocesan folks....

I think I'm ready

 

 Sunday we have a member of the Bishop's staff visiting Trinity.

I'm always a little anxious when Diocesan folks are around.

I think they're evaluating me--but that's most likely just me imagining.

He's a nice guy. He'll preach and I'll celebrate and he can see how 'low church' an Episcopal priest can be!

Actually, since I never go to other churches, I'm not sure where my practices are on the high church/low church scale. Just know for sure no one will think me Anglo-Catholic!

It should go fine. There has been lots of news about it in Trinity's newsletters.

Hope we have a good crowd.

Wish us luck....

Long Thursday

(They did pick up the trash Wednesday morning! Stubborn behavior pays off sometimes....)

I went for a Cat-Scan (whatever that is) today.

It took nearly 2 hours.

First I got a shot to do something to me and sat for half-an-hour, then went to a weird place in the hospital and sat some more.

Then I got into the machine. I'm lucky I'm not claustrophobic or else I would have been screaming half-way through.

It took so long that I peed my pants.

When they let me out I was as far from my car as I could be.

I sat on a pillow on the way home to keep the driver's seat dry.

I rushed in to change my pants and underwear and put on dry ones.

Quite a day....

I don't recommend it.

Shalom, Jim

 

I took out the garbage today

 I know, after yesterday's late realization that it was Columbus Day that the garbage won't be picked up tomorrow.

But I put it out anyway.

I'm nothing if not stubborn.

Ok, two more things that bug me--besides not remembering holidays

1) kids walking down the street looking at their phones. I have a dumb phone and I like it like that.

2) men my age in shorts and short sleeved shirts while I have on a shirt, a sweater and a coat.

Aren't they chilly? And aren't those kids watching out for traffic?

Some things just confuse me.

Columbus Day is also Indiginous People Day (which I can't spell) but it seems like a good thing to remember: those who were here already when the white men 'discovered' America...

White men get too much credit for all kinds of things....