Weekend Getaway

Bright and early tomorrow morning I am off to a weekend retreat at a conference center on Lake Hickory, about 70 miles west of Winston-Salem. I'm driving alone so I am in high anxiety as I print out, highlight, study and otherwise over-analyze the driving directions. (I have self named my condition: the corn maze syndrome.)

Anyway, this trip is for my Stephen Ministry church group. We have an annual weekend retreat and it's always a good time. I missed it last year because of my MOB tour of duty.

This center is a Baptist conference facility (we're Methodists) so it's geared towards religious conferences. There are no TV's on the premises; just one large monitor for presentations. Nor are there phones or radios in the rooms. I understand that the contract states that there will be a $100 fine per incident if anyone is caught smoking or consuming alcohol. One person in our group, a cigar smoker, jokingly said he's prepaid the $100 fine so he can enjoy his cigar after dinner.

The weather forecast is perfect. And there's a beautiful hiking trail around the lake. I'm looking forward to communing with my friends and also some meditative alone time. This will be a low tech, contemplative weekend.

Peace for the soul. Direction for the journey. seen on a church marquee a few blocks from our house.

Patton's Trip to Denver

Hi Brothers & Sisters,

Mel and Chris stopped by this past weekend for a short stay on their way through the Colorado mountains. We had a great visit. The picture below is taken with Boulder and the University of Colorado in the background.


On Saturday, we ventured into the mountains to view the changing of the Aspen. We drove along a highway aptly named the Peak-to-Peak highway, which provided us with some spectacular views of the aspen. We then proceeded to go into Estes Park where Mel & Chris reserved their camping spot at Jellystone camp ground. Just heard from them today and they're planning on staying there the rest of the week and will be heading back on Friday. They wanted to go over Trail Ridge road to visit some friends in Winter Park, but the road is closed due to inclement weather (i.e. - it's snowing up there).

On Saturday evening, we took a short drive up to Fort Collins to visit with Jared. Jared's in his 4th year at Colorado State University (CSU), pursuing a degree in psychology and political science. We met up with Jared at his apartment (didn't get to go inside - in fact were requested to meet him in front of the apartment complex - something about a guy's roommate being a little on the messy side). Anyway, we went out to dinner at Chili's and had a nice visit.

Mel and Chris then headed up to Estes Park on Sunday. The weather was pretty cold and wet down here, so I imagine it was even worse up there.

Thanks to Chris for showing me how to load pictures to the blog - I was being a little impatient during the loading process - I'm still in the 90's with my DIAL-UP service - remember, impatience is also a virtue.

Nature Day

With a trace of fall in the air, Tim and I loaded up the bikes this morning and headed for Salem Lake. This is a scenic, city owned park which has a hike and bike trail circling the lake for a total of about 7 miles.

We biked around the lake and then rode an additional route that branched off the lake for another 8 miles. It was on this leg of the trail that I noticed the large black snake right in my path up ahead. He must have sensed me coming because he quickly did the slither thing and was soon out of the way headed for the woods.

Tim asked if I was scared when I noticed the snake. I was not. The snake was scared of me - a middle aged woman wearing a purple helmet, flying along on a bike trail, invading his territory.

We had fun this morning. I enjoyed the unexpected sight of the reptile. And I especially enjoyed the finish line since 15 miles was just about my limit.

When we got home I rewarded myself with a bowl of chocolate ice cream. *LG
*(life's good)

In Remembrance

Our uncle, Lew Moir, left this earthly life the afternoon of September 17, 2007. I would like to share some photos and memories of him and his family.

The Moir Family

seated left to right: Kyle, Karen, Betty, Marie, and Lew

Kevin, Jan, Keith, and Sue

****

This picture was taken one year when I was on my own visiting Marie. We were at Kevin's house for dinner and were visiting on his back deck.

The Moir lake home in northern Michigan

It seems as long as I can remember Lew and Betty had this "cottage". There are three bedrooms upstairs along with the living room, dining area, and kitchen that overlook the lake. The last time Mel and I were there, the lower level was being refinished by Lew and his boys for more sleeping accommodations.

Here we're having lunch on the front porch. This is a picture postcard view. Give me a good book and lounge chair and I'd sit here forever!

John, Mel and I were up in Michigan several years ago. We were at Kyle's house when this photo was taken. Here's a happy grandpa with his youngest grandson, Bradley Lewis.

We give thanks to the Father for giving us our uncle, Lewis Edward Moir. Although we lived many miles apart, he and Betty always had their door open for his sister's family.

Moir Update

I phoned Sister Mary and got an update on Marie and Lew. Sister said Marie is doing as well as can be expected. Her femur bone is healing, and she is doing therapy now. She (with help) is out of her bed during the day, dressed, and goes to eat with others on her floor via a wheelchair.
She still cannot get to her phone, so I would say continue with cards and notes.

Sister Mary spoke to Kyle at the end of the week and Kyle said they had a priest in for Lew Thursday night. I took this to mean that he was given last rites which, in the church, is the anointing and blessing of the sick before being called home to the Lord.

I'll continue further updates as I hear them.

Hello Kitty

Well, not exactly a kitty. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, let me introduce Sonny, the quietest member of our household. Since there is no category for him on the family tree, I will let this serve as his biography.

Sonny has been with us for over 17 years. We found him at a local pet store, a 6 week old kitten, and paid $5.00 to bring him home.

For many years, he was the one who greeted Melanie and Will when they arrived home from school. When they walked in the door, he would be sitting in the middle of the den floor - upright with paws side by side - and would give them the welcome hello of one single "meow". Sometimes Will would roughhouse with him or Melanie might dress him up. He never seemed to mind. He liked the attention.

Nowadays, Sonny mostly just eats, sleeps, and takes an occasional stroll around the house. When the weather is pleasant, as it is now, he loves to lay sprawled out on the deck for hours on end.

However, just like an elderly human, he has slowed down quite a bit and his walk seems a little stiff. For the only animal we've ever had, he has been a good pet and a beloved member of our family.

Coming Soon

Fed-Ex rings the doorbell. We go to the door, and there is a large envelope on our front porch with an announcement in it that we have been hoping to hear. We are going to be grandparents again with Brian and Rita being the parents-to-be!!!!!!!!! God is good!!!!!!! Due date at this time is the last of March.

V is for Victim

I promise this will be the last post about my Razr cell phone. I am angry with Verizon.

Three weeks ago when I purchased my phone, I also bought two others - one for Tim and one for Will. To put it simply, I ended up paying $120 for the three phones (after 3 mail-in rebates and using a $100 "new every 2" credit). I thought this was a pretty good deal.

In today's paper I couldn't help but notice a Verizon full page ad: BUY ONE RAZR FOR $39 (after mail-in rebate) AND GET 3 FOR FREE!

For my purposes, if I bought today, I would have paid $0 because I could have applied my $100 "new every 2" credit to the first phone and the other two would have been free.

I called Verizon to see what they could do for me. They said I could bring in all 3 phones, packed just as they were in the box, get a full refund and then turn around and jump through the hoops again by repurchasing.

Oh sure, Verizon, no problem. One phone is in Tampa and the other two have long been separated from the box with the cords, chargers and cases scattered here and there.

The cell phone industry makes it all so confusing is slowly driving me crazy.

Where Am I?

This time of the year reminds me of the fair. I remember once when I was about seven years old Mom took me to the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport. For some reason it was just the two of us. After we arrived I insisted on going into the House of Mirrors. She bought one ticket and I went in by myself.

I wandered around for a while, going down narrow hallways which ended in either clear glass or mirrors. I would turn around, going left down this hallway and then right down that hallway, always running into a mirror or clear glass. It was a twisted maze of narrow walls and I quickly had enough. I was ready to come out.

I found my way to the front of the glass house and came to a clear glass wall in the front. I could see Mom standing there smiling and waving at me. I waved back.

But then I couldn't find my way out. I started to panic and then started crying. Mom saw my fear and was trying to point me in the right direction. I could see her but I couldn't get to her. After what seemed like an eternity, I found my way out. I ran to Mom and threw my arms around her.

I still get that same panicky feeling when I have to go somewhere that is unfamiliar. Even familiar places I will still get turned around and confused. Since I have such a poor sense of direction I will always have the route printed out and next to me in the car when I travel alone. It's funny what childhood memories will stick with you.

I am so thankful that Tim is the opposite. He is a human compass. He always gets us to our destination without one wrong turn. And most importantly, he never criticizes me for my lack of knowing if we should turn right, left or go straight.

I Didn't Know This

Labor Day ..... "constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country". Read more.

SprayGround Fun

Spraygrounds are a very cool way to beat the summer Texas heat when it's too hot to even think of playing on playground equipment. Last week we took Jacob and Josh to this local one in Allen just north of Plano. Most older kids were in school so there was plenty of room to run around and enjoy the cool spray coming out of various outlets.

Here's Josh running through the tunnel with Jake close behind.

Jacob's favorite thing was to run around and around the pails of water and avoid getting dumped on. If you click on the picture he is to the right in the red and yellow suit in the back and Josh, in the blue suit, is to the left in the back.

Ah-h-h what a way to cool off those hot pants!

Update

Sister Mary called yesterday to tell me Marie is home from the hospital. When she fell she broke her femur bone not her hip; and it was a vertical split in the bone. She is on pain medication and will be in therapy in the future. Sister said she is quite down in the dumps. Hopefully our cards and letters will perk her up.