September 25 – “Thermostats and hotel dollies”

 

 

So Hampton Inn and Suites is no longer on our list of possible hotels to stay in unless it's the only one around.  We decided to try it since it was closer to the funeral home than the LaQuinta.  We had heard some good things about them in the past, so we thought it was a safe choice.  Not so much.

 

It was pricey.  But I was willing to treat this like a special occasion.  We don't stay in hotels very often.  But after I checked us in I asked if they had one of those roller things that you put your luggage on.  It's not like I was asking for a person to help us.  Just the dolly.  The answer?  "We do have them, but I guess customers have them all in their rooms or something."  OK.  We didn't have that much stuff.  We would just have to make do on our own. 

 

So we loaded up our luggage, hanging clothes, computer, briefcase, and ice chest headed inside for our room on the second floor.  The card key actually worked.  We have had problems with that one before.  But when we entered the room I noticed a towel on the floor in the bathroom.  Maybe it just slipped off the rack.  But no.  As we walked into the room itself, the bed had not been made and the room in general was a mess.  Not staying here.

 

We hauled our stuff back down to the desk and informed them of the problem.  She apologized profusely and issued us a new room.  Still on the second floor.  This time she said, "If there is any problem with this room, just call me.  I'll come up and help you so you don't have to carry your luggage back down again."  Oh, you noticed that, did you? 

 

Back up to the second floor again.  The room this time had definitely been cleaned.  Looked very nice.  In fact they had been maintaining a sterile environment in there by keeping the thermostat set on 52 degrees.  Now, I like a cold room, but that was just a little too much even for me.  Chris pushed it up to 70 and we waited for it to shut off for a while.  Didn't happen.  Instead of shutting off it switched to heater mode.  And this was apparently the first time for heater mode, because almost immediately we could smell the telltale odor of lint burning away.  I checked the blower and the thermostat for a way to turn off the heat.  No other options available.  We really debated about checking out right then, but it was already time to be at the viewing, so we left hoping the lint would be the only thing burning off.

 

Those were the only problems we had with the hotel.  Breakfast was pretty good.  But as long as they had one of those waffle makers I would have been satisfied.  We won't stay there again, though.  Maybe we'll get one of those customer satisfaction surveys to fill out.

 

Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

 

Father, thank you for being in control so little things like thermostats and hotel dollies don't really matter.  Amen.

September 24 – “Most disconcerting”

 

 

We made it to the Dr. Pepper museum in Dublin, Texas yesterday with just minutes to spare.  The final tour began at 4:15, and we walked in at 4:05.  That's cutting it close.  At least it would be if the tour had been anything particularly spectacular.  Don't get me wrong.  It was interesting.  And they did give us a free Dr. Pepper.  There just wasn't much to it.  The "bottling plant" was a two-room warehouse kind of thing with one huge machine apparatus in it.  It wasn't operating, though.  If I understood him correctly, they only turn it on once a week or so.  On Wednesdays.  It takes eight people to operate it most efficiently, but they can do it with five.  The museum was in three tiny rooms with Dr. Pepper paraphernalia cluttering the walls and shelves.  That was way more interesting than the bottling plant.  The history lesson was fascinating as well.  Even down to the part where one of the spectators asked about the big lawsuit Dr. Pepper has filed against them to stop them from using the name Dublin Dr. Pepper.  The gift shop had just about every kind of DP engraved stuff you could want.  They were even selling old empty quart bottles with Roger Staubach's picture on it.  Ten bucks.  I passed.

 

Last night we went to the family "pay-your-respects" time at the funeral home.  It's sometimes called a viewing, but they had the casket closed for this one.  My friend's mother was a believer and had lived a long and full life, so the family was doing very well.  It was one of those fun, family, get reacquainted times.  There was some talk, though, about how they had just established a family cemetery a year ago, and they have had to use it already three times.  That has to be a little disconcerting to them.

 

Speaking of disconcerting.  At one of the lulls when Chris and I were by ourselves in the hallway and our friends were off greeting other family members, one of the mourners from another viewing came out of their room and motioned for the funeral home attendant.  As it happened, they met just a few feet from where we were standing.  The mourner very quietly expressed a concern she was having about the body of her loved one.  She said it appeared as if he had a runny nose.  Apparently some of the embalming fluid was leaking.  The funeral home rep reassured her that all was well, and said she would be in shortly to deal with the situation.  Now, with my terrible hearing, I didn't hear the conversation.  And perhaps that is just as well.  When Chris told me what had been said, I was filled with – how shall I say this – mixed emotions.  I wanted to be mindful of the graveness of the situation and respond with concern and assurance as had the funeral home attendant.  On the other hand, the images that filled my mind made it very difficult not to explode with laughter.  I confess that I did consider walking casually into that room to see it for myself, but when Chris realized my intentions she absolutely would not allow it.  Disconcerting.  Most disconcerting.

 

Proverbs 26:21 says, "As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife."

 

Father, walk with the Wilson family through this third funeral in less than a year.  Thank you for the faith of his mother that gives them all encouragement.  Amen.

September 23 – “Dr. Pepper float”

 

 

I just had to throw away two perfectly good coupons.  Actually they weren't perfectly good anymore, because I waited too long to use them.  They expired three and four days ago.  I picked them up last month at International House of Pancakes when for some insane reason I went there two days in a row.  That hasn't happened in, well, ever, as evidenced in the fact that I never made it back.  It was one of those deals where you had to go online and complete a survey about the visit.  Then they give you a code number to write on the check and it becomes good for a free short stack of pancakes.  That's what made them so appealing to me.  I always order a short stack of pancakes at IHOP.  I used to be able to handle one of their omelets (which, by the way, comes with pancakes), but I just can't hold all that anymore.  Oh well, I still have the coupon I got at McAlister's Deli for doing their survey.  It's good for three dollars off whatever we order.  And I have until October third to use it.  Plenty of time. 

 

We are heading to Stephenville, Texas, this morning for the funeral of a good friend's mother.  Actually, the funeral is going to be in Lingleville, a few miles outside of Stephenville.  I don't remember ever going through Stephenville, and I sure don't remember a metropolis like Lingleville.  I asked around about what there might be to do in the area.  A Facebook friend said the downtown part of Stephenville has been fixed up and a lot of shops and things are there.  Just what we need.  Let's go to the Stephenville Strand.  Honestly, Chris will probably love it.  I saw online that there is even an antique mall there.  I know she'll like that.  My sights are on something else, though.  I found out that the little town of Dublin is also nearby.  And Dublin is the home of … Dr. Pepper.  They have a Dr. Pepper museum.  But I also heard that Dr. Pepper is suing them for using the name Dublin Dr. Pepper or something.  Hope they are still open when we get there.  A Dr. Pepper float sounds really good.

 

Proverbs 26:20 says, "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."

 

Fatehr, ride with us to wherever this place is we are going today.  Amen.

September 22 – “The unexpected”

 

 

Little Matt's surgery went well.  Since I wasn't sure about the time, I got there at 6 a.m.  And I had the opportunity to meet a very nice nurse who informed me that he wasn't scheduled to be there until 11:30.  Ah. 

 

I had to get up anyway.  Chris woke me up a little before 5 and said I needed to roll over on my side.  One would think I snored or something.  Actually the fall is a great time of year – cooler weather and all.  But it's my worst time for allergies.  And they have kicked in.  I'm usually ok until I try to lay flat at night.  Bad combination (flat and night).  Then I can't breathe even with my daily medication.  I usually take a Benadryl when it hits, but that takes a while to become effective.  So I have almost completed my crossword puzzle book.  Glad I have two more waiting.  Last night I tried folding over one of the two pillows I sleep on to get myself propped up enough to breathe.  It worked pretty well.  I only fell off one time, but I actually slept until a little after 6. 

 

Back to Matt.  His surgery was to remove tonsils and adenoids and anything else that might be a hindrance to his health.  He has been having lots of trouble with gunky nose and infection after infection.  Antibiotics would clear up the infection for a while, but it would keep coming back.  This was the next step. 

 

It took quite some time for him to even be taken back to the surgery suite.  I got back to the hospital near 11:30, and they were doing the entry interview.  After that we were escorted to the playroom to wait the call.  I think it was almost 2:00 when they finally arrived.  Long time for anybody to wait, especially if you're just a kid.  Oh.  Matt did really well.  I meant me.  And his Mom. 

 

She finally rejoined us in the waiting room around 3. Matt's grandparents were there, so I left them to handle the final stretch.  Mom promised to let me know the results when the surgery was over.  And she did.  Posted it on Facebook, in fact.  When the doc got into the surgery he discovered something unexpected.  Seems Matt had a little rock lodged … in his nose.  Explains the recurring infections, I guess.  And why did he have a rock in his nose?  Hey.  He's a little boy.  It's what we … er … I mean "they" do.

 

Proverbs 26:18-19 says, "Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'I was only joking!'" 

 

Father, keep healing Matt, and remind him to keep anything smaller than his elbow out of his nose.  Amen.

September 21 – “Eyepapple”

 

 

Early morning this morning.  Even for me.  One of the little guys at Seaside is having his tonsils and adenoids and whatever else they usually go after taken out in a surgery.  He is supposed to be the first one on tap, so I'm assuming it will be around seven or shortly after.  I also assume it'll be in the outpatient surgery area of the hospital.  I'll have to get on his Mom for not giving me a call with the specific time and place.  Of course they may not have told her even yet, and it's 5:20 in the morning.  I appreciated her telling me Sunday that it was happening, though.  Some folks don't ever think about letting me know so I can get up there and have a prayer with them before it begins.  I'll just head up there in a few minutes and see what I can find.

 

Oh, before I go, we isolated another of Cailyn's great ways of communicating difficult words.  She went to the refrigerator yesterday and said she wanted some "eyepapple."  It took Chris a minute or two to get that she meant pineapple.  Now I know I'll probably never look at those things without thinking of that word.  Or more likely I'll remember that she had a word for it, if I could only recall what it was …

 

Proverbs 26:17 says, "Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own."

 

Father, be with little Matt during his surgery today.  And guide the hands of the surgery team.  Amen.

September 20 – “Not what I anticipated”

 

 

We had rain again yesterday.  In fact it woke me up at 4 a.m.  Well, the thunder woke me up.  It wasn't hard to get back to sleep to the wonderful sound of the rain hitting the window.  It was still going at 6 when I got up for the day.

 

We made a quick trip to Houston to take Mom to get her hearing aids fixed and her ears cleaned out.  It took us awhile to get started, though.  As we were walking out the door Chris on a whim asked Mom if she had her hearing aids in her ears.  Mom checked and said, "No."  That led to a frantic search throughout the house to locate them.  Chris knew where one of them was, because it had stopped working earlier and she had put it away.  The whereabouts of other one, however, was a mystery. 

 

We split up and started looking.  We checked her purse.  We looked on her dresser.  We opened every drawer in her room.  We crawled around on the floor, peering under her bed and under the couch where she usually sits to watch TV.  We went through her bathroom.  And then we switched places and looked in the same places again.  Mom was ready to just buy a new one.  Chris insisted that it would show up eventually.  I was daydreaming about the many times we had to do something similar when Dad would hide things during his bout with Alzheimer's.  I finally found it, tucked away inside a pocket of one of the jackets Mom wears all the time.

 

We barely made our window of departure to get there on time.  Traffic was light, so we pulled into the parking garage with ten minutes to spare.  And as we left the car and headed toward the elevator, Chris and I both noticed a movement to our right.  There stood an older man next to his car's open rear door, facing away from us.  I'm really glad he was facing away from us.  I'm also really glad Mom never seemed to notice him.  Because all of a sudden he dropped his drawers, revealing his tighty whities.  Not what I anticipated seeing in the clinic's parking garage.  To his credit, he quickly reached into the back seat and pulled on some very nice slacks.  And it worked out fine.  Chris controlled herself admirably.  Oh, and Mom got all taken care of.  Her hearing aids should be ready next week.

 

Proverbs 26:14 says, "As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed."

 

Father, please let the hearing aids give Mom some relief from the frustrations of not hearing.  I know how tough it is for me, and her hearing loss is much worse than mine.  Amen.

September 19 – “Missionary Day”

 

 

We had two missionaries speak at our worship time yesterday at Seaside.  Well, actually we were assigned the wives of the missionaries. One has served in China and the other in Wyoming.  The association of Baptist churches we cooperate with around Galveston County arranged for a group of missionaries to be flown in to speak in churches.  The whole service had been crafted around the missions theme, so I was kind of excited about it.  I started it out by reading a poem I found about standing at the door to God's kingdom and helping people find their way in rather than just heading inside and enjoying the benefits.    Then they were supposed to talk about ten minutes each. 

 

The lady from Wyoming went first.  She seemed quite tentative with her presentation.  She used a lot of churchy words and assumed the people would know a lot of what she referred to.  Not really a good idea at Seaside.  Too many diverse backgrounds.  She had a power point presentation that went pretty well except when she just read the slides to us.  The pictures of sites in Wyoming and especially wildlife were particularly well-received.  The problem was she went about 35 minutes. 

 

The lady from China was next.  No slides from her.  She did have a table of artifacts from China that were very interesting.  One was a pair of shoes that used to be worn by a woman with bound feet.  They couldn't have been more than four inches long.  Ouch.  Her presentation was quite engaging.  She was much more animated than the first lady.  She had obviously done this sort of thing many times.  She used some of the churchy words, too, but not as much.  Her effectiveness was in the way she engaged the audience and the way she came across as excited about her topic.  And she went for another 30 minutes or so. 

 

In spite of the length, it was a good day.  We had dinner on the grounds after church, so no one had to go home and cook or wait for an order at a restaurant.  And probably the best part of the day?  It rained.  Hard.  Didn't last long enough to solve our drought problems, but it was a start. 

 

Proverbs 26:11 says, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

 

Father, thanks for the missionaries who adjust their entire lifestyle to serving you in unique ways.  They get what it means to be a pastor.  Amen.