PIANO!

Monday, March 19, 2018
Spring Break is this week, so I didn't have Seminary. Good thing, with me being sick and all. So I awoke around 7:30. The kids were still in bed; Jonathan didn't have work until nine. But where was Ken? It was his day off!

He had to go to OKC for TB supplies, taking up three hours of his morning. They kept calling and texting all day, like a bunch of babies who can't think for themselves and need to be told what to do. And this was his management staff! You can tell, it irks me.

I met our landlady today. She came over with her handymen to fix a couple of issues in the house. She was very nice.

I am still tired, thought the fever, aches and chills are gone. I tried to nap today, but the cough with phlegm I've developed didn't let me. So I basically lazed on the sofa. I let Ken go grocery shopping alone today. That is always interesting.

New surprise: drum roll...a piano! Our Branch President has neighbors who've been trying to get rid of a nice upright for cheap! It's going in the area I cleared in the living room last week.

The President and his son brought it over. It was a little cold from being stored in a garage for a couple of months, but hopefully will warm up nicely and then I can get it tuned.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018
I just have no energy for anything today. It was all I could do this morning to start some towels in the washer, drink some orange juice, and take some vitamins.

My back refused to let me go back to bed, so I spent the majority of my day being a slug on the sofa. Mr. Mockingbird came to keep me company again but, as usual, got very camera-shy when I brought out my phone!

Me and my awful camera skills.

I ate some crackers. Drank some water. Drank some juice. Went to pick up Jonathan and then go to Walmart to get a prescription. I was too tired to drive back; that's what Jonathan was for!

I'd purchased some bananas while I was there; they sounded good. Ate one and liked it. I even had enough appetite at dinner to have a small bowl of my home-made refried beans. But I think tonight will be like last night - early bedtime for sick-y!

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Today's Slug Day was accompanied by frustration. I'm feeling well enough to care about what is or is not or needs getting done. But I do not have the energy to do it.

My biggest accomplishment today was setting up the printer. Well, Jonathan got it out of the box and plugged it in for me. But I sat at my laptop and phone for the next hour installing, registering, aligning printer heads, and testing. All so I could print up some sheet music.

Because...I dragged my saggy, sickly self to the church at six (see what I did there?) to practice accompanying a violin duet with a sister missionary and a branch member. They want to do it in a couple of weeks; actually they wanted to do it this Sunday but I knew I wouldn't be ready. I was embarrassingly awful and out of practice, what with the new music and my steadily warping hands, not to mention my lack of real piano training and my - as Ken puts it - "creative fingering."

That wore me out. Done. I am now in my jammies, waiting for Ken to come back with Analiese from YW so we can have Devotional and I can go to bed.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Doing a bit better today. Mainly it's just gunk in my chest that I'm trying to cough out. I have a  little more energy, too, though the appetite is still depressed.

I actually got some work done as well. Did some organizing on the computer and got all of the stuff that was sitting on the dining/office area floor put away. My box of filing, though, got moved back to sit in storage near the file cabinet (where I can conveniently forget it). It will take a very healthy, energetic day to get me to tackle THAT!

During my week "off" of Seminary I've also been watching talks from a video summit on gospel teaching in all callings. Some have been better, more useful, more interesting, than others. Today, one of them actually focused on Seminary.

I even cooked dinner tonight, BBQ cups. I didn't eat any, though. I had canned soup. The kids loved them and Ken came home actually hungry and was pleased to have some.

Friday, March 23, 2018
Just a lingering cough left. Usually it's most annoying at bedtime when I'm lying down. In the morning I'm faced with gunk to cough up, but it's better. I'm still a little tired, but even that's improving.

It was overcast today with a breeze that comes and goes. It's pretty strong when it comes, though. The temperatures got up into the mid-seventies, so I opened windows. It becomes a game of breezes, pollen and dust or claustrophobic, stinky suffocation. I prefer open windows. If I was feeling any better, I'd've said let's go on a picnic. Maybe next week.

My appetite is slowly coming back. This evening I not only made dinner - taco salad - but I actually ate it. I'm glad to be finally on the mend.

I'm making a habit of practicing the piano after dinner every evening. Often, I feel sluggish and unmotivated, but I know I need to work on that musical number plus keep limber and ready myself to start playing in sacrament meeting on Sundays. My goal is to start in two weeks, the Sunday after General Conference.

Saturday, March 24, 2018
A headache and neck-ache had me up at 1:30 this morning looking for pain relievers and blue gel. I was able to go back to sleep and awoke at 8:30...that's very late for me!

I took some time this afternoon to take a books, sit underneath a tree in the backyard, and just relax outdoors. The day was so beautiful, softly warm. It was a peaceful moment to just enjoy...being.

The sister missionaries came to dinner this evening and we were all home to enjoy it! The one musical sister oohed and aahed over the piano. I had made chicken alfredo lasagna rolls for dinner and tried out a new cake recipe that I'd found on Facebook: Lazy Day Cake. It sounded like something made just for me. I wouldn't say it was any easier than other cakes I've made, but it tasted good. Actually, warmed with a little vanilla ice cream is wonderful! The sisters both liked it so much they wanted the recipe.

Sunday, March 25, 2018
Today I was planning on talking with the regular ward organist about who plays when. But Ken texted me from ward council: She was ill and it was up to me today. It was going to have to be the piano, though. I didn't know what the hymns were and had no opportunity to practice on the organ or figure out the stops. As it was, I learned that if I don't focus hard enough, I'm going to lose my place and make mistakes. Which I made. In spades.

I did get set apart for the calling after church. So did Analiese; she's the new Mia Maid president. Leadership skills opportunity!

Jonathan said that this afternoon his records were read into the Norman YSA ward. He heard whispers about a calling, too. That's all part and parcel of our church membership - we serve...in and out of church!

BYE-BYE BOXES!

Monday, March 12, 2018
Mondays are always full steam ahead! After I finished with my seminary class, I took a shower, sorted laundry, put beans in the crockpot and dashed off to pick up Analiese from her class. We stopped at a store nearby to pick up some orange juice for her; she's still suffering from those allergies, poor dear! Then I went home to start laundry, have breakfast, and study tomorrow's lesson.

Ken and I went to a tiny grill on the side of a main road for lunch today. I do mean tiny, too. There was a counter with the staff behind it, cooking and serving, about five people. There were stools at the counter and a few benches behind that for people waiting for to-go orders. It was packed at lunch time and I felt cramped on my stool next to Ken and a stranger on the other side. The food was okay, not much in the way of seasonings and my fries were oily and overdone. But we're trying different places each week with me keeping track to see what we like and what's good for the price!

I served homemade burritos with homemade refried beans. Ken and the kids love those beans and I haven't had the time to make them for quite a while. Happy family with happy tums!

Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Apparently the temperatures dipped a little below freezing last night. The dew transformed to frost and I had to scrape it off of the windows of the car before heading out to pick up Analiese. It also made for a very cold walk this morning as we headed north of us toward the hospital. Our hands were stuffed in our pockets and our noses were cold as ice!

I did a little re-arranging in the living room today - more on that later - and tried hanging up a few things on the walls with the help of command strips and hooks. Clocks went up great and the FHE chart and family calendar were fine. But hanging heavier art work...nope. It wasn't the fault of the command strips, really. It's the textured walls! The owner doesn't want us nailing things up but what am I supposed to do when stuff won't stick because the wall is too textured?

My linen cabinet came this afternoon - very heavy and entirely unassembled. Yes, it's particleboard, but all together...it weighs a lot! I've let Mr. Lego Master - aka Jonathan - assemble it for me. Mainly because I've already dropped heavy parts of it on my foot, wrenched my elbow and shoulder and got a huge paper cut!

Wednesday, March 14, 2018
I think I've identified the cardinal's song. It's one long trill followed by several "cheeps." So now I know by hearing that they're around. Though they're much smaller than I thought they'd be. I figured they'd be blue-jay sized!

Yeah, winter has pretty-much fled. When I got back from picking up Jonathan from work, Analiese was in a panic. There was a wasp in the house! I located our fly swatter and then found the wasp resting on the linoleum. Making sure I hit the thing squarely so it couldn't retaliate, I swatted it several times and gave it a burial at sea. Wasps! Not my friends. Bugs are coming out. Lovely.

Analiese didn't go to YW tonight. She's so stuffy and miserable. She says she can't taste anything. At bedtime I gave her some mucus medicine so at least she could sleep without coughing all night.

Thursday, March 15, 2018
I think Analiese has a sinus infection. I ought to know, I've had plenty of them! I kept her in from our daily walk and gave her some sinus pressure medication. She took a little nap this morning after seminary before starting her school work. If this gets any worse, I'm taking her to the doctor. I guess I'd better find one.

Jonathan finished the cabinet for me yesterday, so today I cleaned it up (dusting, removing labels), sorted through my linens and put the stuff I'm keeping away.

After I picked up Jonathan from work, we went to the animal shelter (on the far side of town next to the dusty Union Pacific train terminal). We donated three large yard bags full of old blankets and towels. They said they were getting short on blankets, so it was a win-win!

While I was sorting linens this afternoon, a mockingbird flew by to keep me company. No, he wasn't in the house, but perched on a stump of a shrub outside the front door. He stayed there a good while. I eventually went to get my phone to take a picture, but he flew off. That pretty much sums up my experience photographing birds!

Friday, March 16, 2018
I had taken some allergy meds last night and I think they were still working (keeping me drowsy) this morning when my alarm went off. After Seminary, I came home to take an hour nap and get the rest of it out of my system!

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, but Ken is cooking a special dinner for the sister missionaries then. I'm making a special St. Patty's Day dessert for them, but tonight I've got a special stew in my crockpot called Dublin Coddle. Potatoes, bacon, sausage, onions...very Irish ingredients!

I'm feeling rather heartbroken this afternoon. I opened a box containing the glass temple (Los Angeles) that had topped our wedding cake over twenty years ago. I hadn't packed it correctly and it's in too many pieces for me to try and fix it. I'm sad!

But not too sad, because a sister from the branch came over to get all the rest of my packing boxes today, including the two gigantic ones that had my linens in. Yay! The boxes are gone and I feel much better. There's still a few things to sort out in my office/work area, but other than that, we're moved in!

Jonathan took me out to the movies tonight. We saw the Black Panther. It was a visually beautiful movie and a fairly good storyline. Of course, it's all part of the movies leading up to the big Infinity Wars movie at the end of April.

Saturday, March 17, 2018
First thing this morning, I made brownies for the trifle I'm making for dessert tonight. I watched rabbits while Analiese cleaned cages. Then I made dough for rolls and set them for the first two-hour rise. That was just this morning.

Ken was going to get Shamrock shakes on the way home from work today...one of our St. Patrick's traditions. Would you believe it...this McDonald's doesn't carry them? That's practically un-American! I know, it's an Irish holiday, but it's actually celebrated more in the U.S.! Next year, courtesy of Pinterest, I'll have to try and make my own.

I made the rolls, trifle and salad, while Ken smoked the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts. When the sisters came...we feasted. It was all so good, but I can never finish the whole chicken breast in one setting, it's so big. The trifle - brownies, vanilla pudding (dyed green), whipped cream and mint Oreo cookies - was a hit too.

Nice, but not too rich or heavy. And my strawberry spinach, well, I could eat that as my main course without anything else!

Sunday, March 18, 2018
I am sick. I don't know what happened, but by the time bedtime came yesterday, I was aching all over and felt cold. By the time Jonathan came home from work, about a quarter to eleven, I had the chills (he got me an extra blanket) and was downright miserable.

I wasn't any better this morning, the aches and chills accompanied now by dizziness and nausea. Church wasn't going to happen for me today. Analiese, either, the sinus infection had her resting parts of her face on a heating pad. Even Ken had a migraine-type headache. Only Jonathan was fine, heading out to Norman.

I spent most of the day in bed, resting or sleeping - though at one point I did take a bath to try and ease the aches. I was cold and ache-y until about mid-afternoon when all of the sudden, I started sweating (fever broke?) and the aching eased. The malaise and dizziness were still there, so I took things easy the rest of the day. I'm just glad those chills are gone - they were the worst!

SPRING SNEEZES

Monday, March 5, 2018
Right after Analiese got out of Seminary, we headed straight to Lawton. We needed to make a Sam's Club run - I get my OTC meds and vitamins there cheaper. Plus, Ken got some stuff for a priesthood barbecue they're going to have after their session of General Conference at the end of the month.

Then we hurried home so we could be there to meet the plumber. I guess there were roots getting in the way (similar to our Altus problem) and he cleared it up. I don't know for sure because I left to go do regular grocery shopping while Ken dealt with the guy.

I got stuck by the train tracks near my house. Hi, engineer!

Ken and I had lunch at a place near TB. It was a diner - filled with laminate tables, an eating counter, sock-hop music, and black-and-white photos from the 50's and 60's. The food was good, too, and you knew locals knew it - the place was packed! It liked like they could have used an extra hand or two!

Tuesday, March 6, 2018
The tree pollen season has begun. They are beginning to bud and, beautiful as it is, the unseen little tormentors are everywhere. Both Analiese and I are busy sneezing, wheezing, and struggling to breathe! It hasn't stopped us from walking, though it certain took away some of the pleasure. It was pretty cold this morning, too, so I cut out walk short. My nose was frozen!

I'm having a hard time getting a good picture of a cardinal!

I am determined to get the living room finished so I can sit there without being surrounded by boxes and just relax! Unfortunately, I have my boxes of linens at one end, waiting for the cabinet I ordered to arrive.

The days are nice and sunny, even to me opening the windows. I know, it's a fight between my desire to have fresh air versus the tree pollen! But once the sun sets, it cools off quickly. I made a simple dinner, but warm and cozy: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Old fashioned, but always so satisfying!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Our walk in the park took us up and around the pond. I gave Analiese an idea for her future she'd never had: she loves nature & being out of doors, maybe she'd like working one day for the park service? The more we talked about it, the more it appealed to her. She's a very gifted and intelligent girl, I'd like to see her think through all of her options.

For our breakfast-for-dinner I made chocolate cheesecake-swirl muffins. It was a bit of a mess - I had to clean my mixer twice for the two batters. I braced myself for the oven...and succeeded! But it made for a rich, dense muffin...one was plenty and pass the milk!

Taking Analiese to YW, I stayed at the church to practice the organ. I looked up some YouTube instruction and went on the church website to try and get help. The church had a link to a BYU site with some free classes. I found a small book of organ exercises in the bench and spent the greater part of my hour doing them and stretching my fingers. By the end, my hands ached. I haven't practiced that much in a long time!

Thursday, March 8, 2018
We took a neighborhood walk this morning, starting with a stop at our favorite house-on-the-corner to take pictures of all the daffodils blossoming.

Just one section of "daffs" in our neighbor's yard!

So happy and Spring-y! We walked down past the train tracks and up several blocks, walking in a grassy meridian. We saw a large field down the dead end of one street, so we walked toward it to check it out.

At the end, we saw an alleyway between roads that pointed toward home...so we followed it. It led us back toward the train tracks and where we started. A fun little adventure!

I took an allergy pill after lunch, only to have to go to bed and nap because of it afterward (I know, feel sorry for me). It still had me groggy when I left to get Jonathan from work. But at least I was breathing better.

The sister missionaries came to dinner tonight. So far, Ken hasn't been able to join us; he works later on Thursdays. If we can do a different day, he has something special he'd like to do for them.

Friday, March 9, 2018
I know that the Lord blesses you when you accept and magnify callings, but I didn't expect blessings to come so fast! This morning, after doing my warm up exercises on the church organ, I began playing some hymns. The Spirit came so strongly, especially while playing the sacrament hymns, testifying through the notes of Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice! As concerned as I've been about my abilities and my hands, this was a sweet, reassuring surprise!

Jonathan and I went to the Tag Agency (read: DMV) to change our addresses on our licenses and update our voter registration. I was concerned about the Oklahoma IDs not being flight-worthy, but apparently we have a reprieve until November. Good, because my vacation to Oregon is in July!

My books were due, so I went to the library today, taking Analiese with me. I guess working at a library has made me a library snob because I really wanted to straighten their shelves and tell them they were too small to have duplicate copies in their circulation! Yeah, I could volunteer there, but I'm still trying to get my act together here. I'll think about it and bite my tongue when I visit.

I made chicken yakisoba for dinner this evening. I wanted something healthy and it was...okay (Pinterest recipe). I didn't use Top Ramen noodles, but Japanese soba noodles because they're healthier. If I did it again, I would cook them for less time. They were very glutinous and gluey. Also, I'd saute the onions along with cooking the chicken. I just don't like my onions crunchy.

Saturday, March 10, 2018
Despite the pollen, I kept the windows open all night. It was warm enough and I love me my fresh air. I didn't get it much in Altus because the windows were all painted shut. Here, I can open any window I want. I awoke to bird song (I've come to identify the cardinal song) and cows lowing. I love the nature/country feel to this place!

It's a beautiful day out, too. No breeze to spread the dreaded pollen and the sun was out bright and clear by noon! I took advantage of it by going to the back yard. I swept the porch of leaves, pecans, and twigs, then raked a little. I saw the trees, budding out gloriously and iris leaves poking up from the ground. I love Spring - too bad it doesn't love me back!

I tried something different this evening for dinner: crockpot deep dish pizza. Weird, I know! I took canned dough (next time I'd make my own, I like it better), formed it into the bottom of my greased CP, put on sauce and toppings, and set it on low for two hours. You know, it worked! I was very surprised, I thought it would be doughy. It doesn't make a very big pizza if you're wanting a feast, but it worked and everyone liked it. I think the hardest part was getting it out of the CP!

Sunday, March 11, 2018
NOTE: If you're not into TMI, skip the first paragraph. You're welcome.

As I approach the dastardly "M" season of my life, I find my cycles less and less frequent, though they never were really very regular. When they hit, though...POW! Be prepared to take a day off, curl up in bed in the fetal position, and think you're going to die.

So I didn't go to church today. Considering the waves of dizziness washing over me, it was a good idea. Analiese stayed home, too, victim to the winds that picked up last night and sprinkled pollen over her fitful dreams. She really has suffered this season and I'm trying to get her to start taking allergy meds like I do, if only to alleviate her condition.

We both took naps, completely wiped out by what assailed us. (If you know Analiese, she does NOT nap - hasn't since she was almost two. She doesn't like missing out on life! You know she's bad when she naps on her own!) When I awoke, the rest of the family was assembled in the living room. Ken had come home earlier between church meetings to get moving boxes for a sister in the branch (Yay! They're gone! Well, almost all of them.) and had come back. Jonathan had been to Norman YSA ward and announced he transferred his records there. Another step in the growing-up process. Necessary and natural!

FIGURING THINGS OUT

Monday, February 25, 2018
I was back to live video classes for Seminary today. Everyone was there, but one, and I got a lot of good participation. The lighting in the room I was in cast everything in a sickly yellow color. But that didn't seem to bother my students.

It was so lovely and sunny out today! Ken opened windows and blinds to let in the fresh air and sunshine as we worked on more unpacking and setting up projects. When we went out to go shopping, he even turned on the air conditioner in the van.

Dinner tonight was shepherd's pie. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that if I've made mashed potatoes a day or two before, I'm going to make shepherd's pie afterward. It's a great way to use leftovers. Jonathan really loves it and had three helpings (he missed his mother's cooking when we were apart)!

For the first time in forever (seriously, no singing), we had Family Home Evening and on a Monday to boot! We bought some ice cream at Braum's (the best around), set up the games in our storage room (we have a lot of games), and played one of our many Munchkin games, thanks to Karla. We ran out of time before we could finish it, but enjoyed playing together just the same. If you're curious, Ken was the closest to "winning."

Tuesday, February 27, 2018
As we left the church building after Seminary, Analiese and I spotted a flock of Canadian geese just hanging out on the park lawn across the road. They were completely unruffled by drivers coming past, sauntering in and out of the road at will.

They are very regal-looking birds.

Analiese and I walked three or four blocks north of our house this morning, stopping at the police station but not quite making it to the hospital. We are busily exploring our new environment. We turned back earlier than planned as the rain began its fore-casted falling. The storm only lasted for a couple of hours, but got loud at times with thunder.

My biggest challenge with unpacking currently is finding places for everything. We have one small closet in the living room as you enter the house and each bedroom has a small closet. I have nowhere to put my linens - towels, sheets, blankets, etc. My brain is still pondering solutions...

Another issue I have is with the oven. The dial for it is unreadable. That makes it difficult (very) to set a temperature for baking. I made a blueberry oven pancake for dinner, using an electric thermometer to try and gauge temperatures, but it got a little overdone. It still tasted good, but I was frustrated. I want to make some cookies, but I'm not sure how I'll manage it.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Ken said he'd take the kids to work and Seminary this morning, so I didn't get up. I should have. He decided to take a shower and I heard Jonathan asking him if they were leaving soon. I think they headed out the door at 6:45, right when Seminary starts and fifteen minutes before Jonathan's shift began. I don't think they'll want to do that again; neither one of them likes being late!

I unpacked all of the china today - seven boxed filled with and all its wrappers. What a mess! I did, however, find some missing kitchen-ware I'd been concerned about. I cleared up a lot of box space, but took up a lot of space with trash bags filled with newspaper!

I took Analiese to Young Women's tonight and stayed for the Book of Mormon study class that the ward mission leader and the sister missionaries sponsor. It seems pointless to me to go all the way home and come back, plus I got in some extra scripture study, which is never a bad idea!

Thursday, March 1, 2018
I substituted in Analiese's Seminary class this morning. Yep, they caught me! The reasoning was, I was a Seminary teacher, so why not? I had seven students (including Analiese) and I think we had a good discussion about pride. At least, Analiese didn't say that it was boring!

We didn't walk for very long this morning, mainly because I had a lot to do today, but also because a brisk wind was freezing my nose! We spotted a woodpecker at one point and even heard a cardinal singing.

Today I battled the oven in earnest. I'd purchased an oven thermometer and a sharpie, determined to test temperatures and make them on the unreadable dial. After ascertaining three basic marks, I attempted to make chocolate chip cookies. This was only a a partial success, some batches came out better than others. I've decided that, while a basic benchmark is okay to start, I will need to look at the thermometer in the oven directly to be precise!

So when the sister missionaries came to dinner tonight, I baked homemade taquitos in the oven using my new technique. I proudly report, success! They were actually very good, along with a cilantro-lime ranch dressing I made to go along with it. I can't tell you how happy my kids are (especially Jonathan) that I am home and cooking again!

Friday, March 2, 2018
After Seminary, Analiese and I took a small walk through a part of the park. She really loves and looks forward to our daily walks. They help her settle down to lessons better afterwards. And she gets upset if we don't go!

I've pretty much got the most important stuff unpacked. Now I'm just working on the little stuff and straightening things up. Other than the linens...they are sitting in big boxes in the living room until I get a cabinet to put them in.

We had dinner early tonight because I'd been asked to help drive youth to Paul's Valley for an activity with the ward's youth there. It's south of Norman, about an hour drive from here one way. The nice thing was, it was at the home of two of my students, so I got to see them again! Jonathan came with me, acting as navigator and DJ - the girls sang in the van at the top of their lungs most of the way there! They had a great time at the house, too, playing air hockey, ping pong

and pool.

There was a barbecue of hamburgers and hot dogs waiting for them, plus cookies and chips. Some went outside to sit on swings by the pool and watch the moon rise. Everyone was very quiet on the way, home, though. They were worn out!

Saturday, March 3, 2018
Despite a late night (we got home and settled by 10:45), we were up at seven so I could take Analiese to the church so she could go off with the youth (again) for a mini stake youth conference in Norman. She'll be gone all day, so I did not volunteer to drive. I couldn't have anyway, Jonathan had to have the car to be at work mid-day.

I stopped afterwards at Taco Bell to swap vehicles with Ken. I ended up running an errand for them. They'd run out of Fritos for their burritos (RHYME!), so I drove across the street to Walmart, purchased some, and returned. Yes, I was reimbursed.

While I was there at Walmart, I purchased some $1 pots of spring flowers - iris, tulips, and hyacinths. There are two barrel planters by the front porch, so I filled them with the flowers.

One already had some naturalized pansies, so I kept those in and just added the others. It felt good to be outside "grubbing in the dirt!"

I had some plumbing issues as Jonathan was showering for work. The tub wasn't draining well and water was leaking from the base of both toilets. The plumber can't come out until Monday. So I ended up taking a sponge bath and washing my hair in the kitchen sink. Oh. Joy.

When Ken got home this evening, we went out to OKC to go to dinner. With Jonathan at work until 10:30 and Analiese in Norman until about the same time, we could go (a 40-45 minute drive) and enjoy a leisurely meal. Gee, a real date!

Sunday, March 4, 2018
Ken didn't have any meetings before church today, it being Fast Sunday, so we went together (minus Jonathan, who went to the YSA ward again). I'd say that was nice, except Ken wasn't in Sunday school at all because of his EQ President duties.

I wasn't exactly in Sunday school the whole time, either, because a counselor in the Branch presidency pulled me aside to talk to me about being a part-time branch pianist/organist. The current one is quite elderly and bent over with arthritis. Since I don't have a piano or organ, I'll have to use my time at the church when Analiese is in Seminary for practice time instead of working on my class. That I'll have to do at home, I guess. But I will need to practice because I don't have a piano or organ at my house and I'm especially less skilled at the organ.

After two late nights, I finished church up today with a headache. I made a beeline for my bed as soon as I got home! When I awoke, Ken was gone. Analiese said it was TB-related. He had to drive 75 miles to get cups for his store. His supply order person isn't doing so great at their job. This is the second time THIS WEEK he's had to travel to get stuff for them, not counting me going to Walmart for him on Friday!