I was right.....
.....no Christmas trees were assembled today. We had several empty aisle this morning. We got everything we could set. Many were still stocking when I finally left for physical therapy. I was late to therapy as it was, but I always feel guilty leaving work before the work is done.
Tomorrow night we go overnight. I will be doing sets in jewelry and cosmetics. Sunday night will probably be tree night. I might even be going over night on Monday to help finish any loose ends.

The Target Christians vs "rights" crowd battle continues
God is still shaking everybody up. So much fun! I like to see a fire under people and in people
. time to wake up and give praise! We have the freedom to worship! When and where and how ever we choose. Some might try to stop it, but they can't change your heart and God knows our thoughts. Someday those who tried to quiet the voice of God will have to face him! My guess is He will exercise His right to keep them out!

maybe - maybe not
We hit our Target a little while ago. Halloween is selling down like mad! that means I may not get to put trees together in the morning. A lot of aisles are going to be empty and that take priority.
me day
I was off work early today - saving more hours for tomorrow. I took care of a couple of errands and went to the Clinique counter at Younkers. I love it there! They were having a "big promo" weekend. I was able to get in early. I got to try lots of new things and got lots of samples. (I also bought lots!) Trying to get ready for winter. My skin care needs change quite a bit with cooler weather. You add in my health problems and being slightly more "mature" in years on this earth - hey folks; I'm just trying my very best to avoid a complete disasater.
Clinique does seem expensive, but their products are generously sized, you use less than other brands, and you have the luxury of trying before you buy.
Trick or Treat......bah-humbug
All I do all day long is get ready for Christmas. Everything we do, plan, talk about..... is getting ready for Christmas. So anyway - I forgot Halloween. Willie reminded us in time. That was the purpose of my earlier mentioned quick trip to Target. Candy was light, but available.
As I muse here, Rand is upstairs greeting the costumed rug rats. As of last report the most interesting of mention - Two "over-aged" teen girls, dressed as cheerleaders. They wanted to know why Willie wasn't the one passing out the candy.

Christmas is coming....
And if you can't bear the thought of celebrating another holiday without a giant "golden" reindeer - your prayers have been answered! It's antlers will even hold those wondeful holiday candles for you! Can you tell how my day went? I set Christmas table linens (ooohh-aaahh!) and spent the rest of the day filling a new POG with all all the home seaonal gift decor. There are lots of beautiful shiny things. My wish list grew as long as the day. but there is usually an item or two that really makes you wonder what the designer was thinking. As entertaining as it is to open and set all of the new pretties; my hands are screaming. There were over four tubs of stuff - all piled very high. You use your box cutter to open the box - to be greeted by lots of smaller boxes. Upon opening the first of these you encounter: styrofoam, bubble wrap, tape, string, plastic, etc....... After all the careful and tedious unwrapping you finally get to the end product. All this for each small box. And there were dozens of the big boxes. After the first couple of tubs, my hands were really beginning to complain! I worked over 9 hours and made it to physical therapy barely on time. Tomorrow will be a very short day. I have to save hours for Friday which will be a very busy day! I have 19 Christmas trees to put together!

this time it's for real
Rod has accepted a pastor position in West Union, Ohio. Their goal is to move right after Thanksgiving. Rod will be Pastor of the West Union Christian Union Church. And no - that isn't a typo. We've checked and there are some very nice camping areas around there. I'm sure we will be visiting the area next year.

So I'm off by a week....
Next weekend I get to go overnight with the plano team. Luckily, I figured this out before going in. Crazy way to do things - but I actually looked at my work schedule.
God is Good!
We have a new team member at work. Tony is full of the Holy Spirit and it overflows everywhere! We work many hours before the store ever opens. Tony does his job well and is ususally singing praises and gospels while working. A few "heathens" (who claim to be non-practicing Christians) have tried to raise a fuss, but the majority are backing Tony up. The "heathens have tried to say "religion" doesn't belong at work.
My points of countering these fools were:
1. Tony isn't preaching; it is just his personaility. He full of Christ and the Holy Spirit and what you have inside will always come bubbling out. (I don't think the sour puss I was talking to, understood it meant her attitude as well.)
2. You could put your fingers in yours ears and go "La-La-La-La-La".......
3. God is everywhere - if you truly believe - you should know that you can't put God in a box and only bring Him out when you feel the need.
Meanwhile, the store is turned upside down with all of this. Closet Christians are professing their faith publicly to stand behind Tony. The execs have said nothing to anyone. I haven't decided if they just haven't noticed the stir, or maybe they are just turning a blind eye.
What I know - that few do - in all of this. Tony is an Assoc. Pastor of a Baptist church here in town. We have talked just enough to know we need to talk more. We both have testimony and gifts to share!
New Drugs
I can tell a change with my new meds. I slept better last week than I have in months. Except for last night. I was out and about on a lot of short excursions yesterday. No scooter required. I thought. Pain ruled last night in a big bad way.
Changes in the air today
I went to church with Mom and Dad again today. Berean Assembly of God in Pleasant Hill. I really like it there. (One of these days I will go visit Tony's church.)
Willie was supposed to go to the Chief's game with Rod, Angie, and Lawyer. He could not find anyone to fill his shift at Target. Will decided that his responsibilities mattered more. He declined to go to the game. (I'm very disapointed for him, and very proud of him)
So Rod's asked if Sandra would like to go. Sandra LOVES football. But, she had a very big date planned with a new beau. The date was not to be, but she discovered too late to change.
So anyway.
Randy is on his way even as I type to the Chief's game!
The Stowers Family Reunion Vacation
Really I need lots of input. We want everyone to be a part! If you're not so particular about where we go, perhaps when we go might be important to you. Or, at least, let me know if you want to go.
speaking of dates....
Willie has a girlfriend now. Tasha just started at Target a couple of weeks ago. Will didn't waste much time snaring her.

One Week Later.......
it's really over
Our last campout is officially over. The weather last weekend was record high warmths - a very nice way to end a season pastime. But it might have been emotionally easier if we had severe cold, rain, ....some form of winter torture! I packed up all foods, dated products and anything I didn't want to freeze. Not as bad of a job as I first imagined. Being so nicely organized helped bunches! I did get a bit over-heated cleaning (not a good thing for me) and spent a good deal of the weekend ducking from late season bees. (There is a good reason to wish for at least one hard freeze!) Even though the temps were nicer, the previous weekend was much prettier - we had hit the peak of the fall colors. This past weekend the lack of leaves was the most noticeable.

It's still "a small world after all".
I was checking in at my orthopedics yesterday; giving my name and time of appointment; when suddenly an arm went around me and the voice attached asked, " Are you THE Pam Glazebrook?" I turned and was quite surprised! He asked, if I remembered him. I did.
Flash back to December 1991.
I was meeting with Dr. DenHartog and his "right-hand/nurse/assistant", Kevin, for the first time. The news about my right foot was very bad.
The person standing beside me yesterday? It was Kevin (and Yes, I did recognize him!)
Kevin was accompanying another patient, saw my name on a chart and remembered me. He said he had to see if it was truly me. I couldn't believe he remembered me. Kevin said he and the good doctor never forget the really bad cases. (My medical problems people - not my atttitude.) He was still in contact with DenHartog and they occasionally wondered how I fared over the years. We played a lot of catch up in the short time we had.
As for the rest of my appointment: I am slowly but surely showing improvement. Doc is leaving me on light duty and I still have P.T. 3x's a week.

still sucks to be me
I went to the rhuematoid specialist today. The one thing he is sure of is - I don't have rheumatoid arthritis. But - I do have something. It seems there was more than one blood test given by Maher, and the ANA isn't the only thing that didn't come up roses. This new doc had x-rays taken of my hands and feet, is running a half dozen or so more blood tests, changed half of my meds, and scheduled me for a bone density test in a month and another visit with him. He mentiond the possibilties of lupus, a tumor somewhere, and a few other ailments I have never heard of. That in itself is entertaining. not too many medical things left that I'm not already aquainted with.

Christmas is coming
This coming weekend the plano team and I get to work overnight. We will be re-setting Seasonal from Halloween to Christmas. As far as retail goes the next few weeks will be intensive preparation for Thanksgiving; or as it is more frequently celebrated - the beginning Christmas. Beginning with the day after Thanksgiving it is non-stop chaos. Despite it being the season of good will, sharing, giving, and the celebration of the Blessed Birth, many people don't reflect that inner most joy. Very Sad.

The Stowers Family Reunion Vacation
Here is the concept: One week quality time with lots of diversions.
All we need to decide is when, where, and "stuff" that goes with that.
The when is currently the second week of July. Several have spoken against the first week. The 4th isn't a day of for some, and others have too many other activities. If this doesn't work for you - please speak up!
I still need to get everybody's idea of where. If you don't tell us what you would like - we could use this as a form of personal torture for you. We need full hook-ups (water, sewer, and 50amp service), available cabins for those without portable homes, lots to do, and/or see. Swimming, boating fishing, and entertainment for the smaller rug rats - are all serious considerations in finding the right spot. The goal is to have this all figured out as quickly as possible. We will need lots of advance notice to get multiple sites/accomadations reserved.

not doosey - it's doozy
doo·zy or doo·zie ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dz)
n. Slang pl. doo·zies
Something extraordinary or bizarre: “Among the delicious names taken by, or given to, minor political parties in the United States... are these doozies: Quids, Locofocos, Barnburners, Coodies, Hunkies, Bucktails” (Saturday Review).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Possibly blend of daisy, and Duesenberg, a luxury car of the late 1920s and 1930s.]

Doc's office called
I once pointed out to my doctor that when the nurse calls with test results - it means everything is fine. If your doctor calls - things aren't so fine. He seemed amused and as a result - has quit calling me. I tested low on my thyroid test so I get to up my meds. I also tested abnormal on my ANA. Which means I do have arthritis and I get to see a rheumatologist to find out which kind.
broken again
Willie's glasses. He broke them while getting dressed after gym. His explanaiton is they came from together. Sounds less forceful that way.

that first week back can be a doosey!
(what's a doosey?)
It's been so long since I wrote, I hardly know where to begin.
Knees
Saw the ortho one more time. Still on light duty (which for me is meaningless); still have therapy three times a week.
I'm back in my jeep again. Pushing the clutch to shift isn't too bad. Pushing forever at a long red light is torture. I'm still trying to get my right shoulder treated. I spoke with the company insurance company today. They stated they need to rule out a "previous injury". I asked if a "previous injury" "over-ruled" the fact that the floor was uneven and that caused my fall. She said it didn't. But my health records did show a shoulder injury and treatment a few years ago. My exact words were, "Listen sweetheart. That fall happened almost 20 years ago. It was my left shouldered injured then, not my right. And I have had no problems with that shoulder since." She asked who treated it. I gave her the orthopedic's name. She asked how to get hold of that office. I said after 20 years (and I know they moved the offices out to West Des Moines) that wasn't my problem - it was theirs. And the fact that I injured my knees earlier this summer is a bit of a problem too. I was still in therapy, and doing better, and it was my right knee that was the worse of the injuries. This latest fall has screwed up my left knee. I keep having to explain these are opposite side injuries. I personally think they don't know the difference between their left and their right.
They asked about the last two car accidents I was in and what my injuries were. Car accidents? I asked for the dates. I then got to explain while my car was present for these accidents, I was not. (yeah - it was Powder Puff)
I understand that they need the whole picture, but it makes me very nervous when they get the simplest of facts wrong after I have already explained it - over and over again.
doctor upate
I saw my regular family Doc - Maher. We are running the RA tests again along with thyroid and some other blood tests. He is going to send me on to a Rheumatologist regardless of how my tests are. When I had to go off my Aleve for the week before my colonoscopy - my hands (and a few other joints) took a serious dive.
camping
We went camping with the folks and baby bro's family at Saylorville (Cherry Glen)this past weekend. We were calling it our last campout of the season. It was so nice - beautiful fall weather. We decided to call next weekend our last campout for the season.