The surprise party for our pastor went off well yesterday. There were a lot of people there from the different churches he serves. His gift was a set of books called "Feasting on the Word". He seemed very pleased with them.

After I got off work at noon today, I went to H&R Block and got my taxes done. I don't get as big a refund this year, but I do get some back. Then we went to Wal-Mart and shopped for groceries. When we left there, neither of us had eaten lunch so we stopped at Bill Miller BBQ and had their fish plate which was delicious.

We came home and Sis has been crocheting little covers for hot sauce bottles that look like a little Mexican with sombrero and serape. They are brightly colored variegated yarn and really cute. Her beautician sells them for her on consignment and she called her this morning and told her she had orders for more. So Sis is going to crochet a dozen more to take to her. The price of the yarn went up since she bought the last, so she won't make as much profit on each one.

This coming Sunday after church we are to meet at one of the other churches in our group to have a surprise party for our pastor. He graduated from his course of study and they are having a potluck lunch and giving him a gift. His wife knows about it, but they are all trying to keep it a surprise for him.

I see that Ancestry.com is sponsoring another season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" It is to start next Friday evening. I enjoyed watching it when they did it before. I have really worked a lot on our family genealogy and have found out more than I ever imagined I would about my ancestors.

Jan 24, 2012
We are having rain today. It has been pretty heavy at times and thunderstorms are predicted as the day and evening go on.

I got a notice today to report for jury duty, but since I am over 70, I can get exempted from it and that is what I plan to do.

We ate breakfast at our favorite little restaurant this morning. I had two potato and egg breakfast tacos with coffee.

Then we went to Wal-Mart and picked up some coffee, shampoo & conditioner, kitchen can liners, paper towels, cat litter, cat box liners and a couple other items.

I took the car and got it filled with gas this afternoon. Gas has gone up 20 cents a gallon in the past couple of weeks.

I tried the new microwave fish steamer I got last week. For supper I fixed steamed tilapia fillets with butter, salt and pepper. We also had garlic-flavored quinoa, spinach-tomato-carrot salad, and sliced fresh nectarines. It was very good. Neither of us had ever tried quinoa before, but we liked it.

It is 32 degrees as I start today's post.

I didn't get much sleep last night; don't know why. I don't have to work today so may take a nap this afternoon.

We went downtown to the River Walk this morning and walked for a little while. Sis tripped on an uneven spot in the sidewalk as we were walking from the parking lot to the River Walk and scraped a couple of spots on her face. Fortunately she didn't break her glasses or get any more serious injuries, but she is pretty sore. She also got deep scratches on both lenses of her glasses. If they hadn't been plastic lenses, they might have broken and cut her face and eyes. We didn't walk as far as we had planned because she was beginning to feel the soreness more as we went along.

On the way home we stopped at the Whataburger restaurant near us and had coffee and a little breakfast. Actually, since it was about 11 a.m., that was more like lunch. She had a cinnamon roll with her coffee and I had an egg and cheese biscuit sandwich.

Sis took her glasses to the eye center near us and they will replace the lenses and she can pick them up later this afternoon. This time she went ahead and got the warranty so if anything else should happen, they will be covered.

I started hearing fireworks pretty early last night. People started setting them off in neighborhoods all around us. It is legal to buy them this year, as we have had more rain lately, but they are only supposed to be set off in "safe zones" outside the city. People rarely pay attention to that around here.

I went to bed early, but woke up a few minutes before midnight and got up to see the new year in. At midnight it really got noisy outside. I could see and hear fireworks everywhere. That lasted for 15 or 20 minutes, then it started slacking off and I went back to bed. So here I am up at my usual time this morning.

My antivirus program always expires at the beginning of the year, so I renewed it online yesterday and spent a little while downloading the renewal program. I have used AVG with good results for several years. I used to use the free version, but with all the problems with viruses, worms, trojans, etc. I switched to the stronger paid version two or three years ago.

Sis got up with a migraine headache this morning. Sure hope she doesn't have as many this year as last. It went away later and she went to church.

After we both got home from church today, we went to BJ's for lunch. Now I know I'm a senior citizen. Even the meals on the senior citizen menu turn out to be too much for me. LOL. I had a breaded beef cutlet (delicious), with a tossed green salad and baked potato. Coffee and a hot roll came with it. The servings are smaller than the normal, but I wasn't able to finish everything.

When we got home, I had my usual Sunday afternoon nap. For supper we had a carrot casserole and leftover macaroni and cheese.

Dear Abby's Jan 1 column

(saved so I can refer to it)

Published: January 1, 2012 12:01 AM EST
Updated: December 31, 2011 6:32 PM EST

Dear Abby: New year offers chance to start anew






Dear Abby

Jeanne Phillips

Dear Readers: Welcome to 2012! While the last year has been tumultuous for many of us, a new one is here, bringing with it our chance for a fresh start.


Today is the day we discard destructive old habits for healthy new ones, and with that in mind, I will share Dear Abby's often-requested list of New Year's Resolutions, which were adapted by my mother, Pauline Phillips, from the original credo of Al-Anon:


Just for today: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.


I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.


Just for today: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.


Just for today: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.


Just for today: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.


Just for today: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I'll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking.


Just for today: I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.


Just for today: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I'm a smoker, I'll quit. If I am overweight, I will eat healthfully -- if only for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it's only around the block.


Just for today: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.


And now, Dear Readers, I would like to share an item that was sent to me by I.J. Bhatia, a reader who lives in New Delhi, India:





Dear Abby: This year, no resolutions, only some guidelines. The Holy Vedas say: "Man has subjected himself to thousands of self-inflicted bandages. Wisdom comes to a man who lives according to the true eternal laws of nature."


The prayer of St. Francis (of which there are several versions) contains a powerful message:


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;


Where there is hatred, let me sow love;


Where there is injury, pardon;


Where there is doubt, faith;


Where there is despair, hope;


Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;


To be understood, as to understand;


To be loved, as to love;


For it is in giving that we receive,


It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,


And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.


And so, Dear Readers, may this new year bring with it good health, peace and joy to all of you. -- Love, Abby


Write to Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.