Bad Karma

Last week we noticed that the air conditioner on the other side of the house didn't seem to be cooling well. We asked our friends who they used for these problems, since we are still fairly new to the area. They gave us a name and we called them the next day. They came right out which was nice, however, the guy they sent didn't seem to "with it" if you know what I mean. He checked both of our units and said that we were low on freon on the one that wasn't cooling, but the other unit was fine. He said he would put some freon in and it should cool just great--as long as there was not a leak. This is an important part to the story. So he filled up whatever you put freon in and lo and behold, he found a leak. But all we need, mind you, is a little part that will be easy to get and he should be back the next day to fix it.

So $300. later Phil and I are in bed on our side of the house and notice that the air conditioner is not cooling. Yes, you have that right. Not the one that the man had worked on, but the one that was working perfectly fine the day before until the air conditioning guy checked on it. So, we get up the next morning after a very sweaty night and call. The same guy comes out and lo and behold, something that he didn't notice the day before has miraculously burned out after he had checked on it yesterday. So, we need just one more little part and it will be all better. So, $87 later the air conditioner on our side of the house if fixed.

While he is fixing this air conditioner, his company calls and said they can not get the part for the first air conditioner because they only sell it if you buy the whole unit (motor-compressor--one of those things that cost lots of money) So we have the choice of spending $1000. more to fix the first air conditioner or we might want to buy a new one that has a 10 year warranty because this one is 12 years old. So, Phil and I debate. Do we want to throw another $1000 at an air conditioner that might break down again. No. So we decide to get a new one--$4500. Yep! you read that right. You would think we would be smart by now. So Phil went in to sign the papers and we were promised that Monday morning they would be there at 6:15 to begin.

Monday morning we are all up-some grumpier than others---all grumpy actually. We waited until 7:00 and they still have not come. So we call. Guess what! They didn't know they were supposed to come Monday even though we had called, gone in and signed papers and set the time. We were getting a little upset by this time. I kinda hung up on the guy--my excuse was it was really early and evidently I woke the guy up even though we were up and waiting on him to come and fix our problem. I was beginning to feel we were being taken advantage of. I don't know if Jesus would have hung up on the guy or not, but I was really nice to them the next day until they fell through our living room ceiling.

Yes, you have that right ladies and gentlemen. We now have a broken air conditioner, which may or may not get fixed. They are still working on it and have been since 6:45. We also have a beautiful hole in our living room ceiling. Luckily the man was not hurt. He is fine. I made sure he was fine, but Donna is not in a happy mood. We found out what happened when Megan walked out of her room and said, "Uh Dad you might want to come in here. There is a man's leg coming out of our ceiling." It is an attractive element in the room, but it is not really the theme I had in mind in redecorating

So we have called someone to come repair our ceiling which will entail taking off all the texture, retexturing and repainting the entire ceiling. He can come maybe in two weeks. I am having company this weekend and won't it be lovely to show them the new hole in our ceiling.

Yes, I am very happy. We now have spent $5000 and nothing is fixed.

I was telling a friend about this and she said, "I think you all have bad karma." I am not sure what "bad karma" is, but I would like to be rid of it if you please.

Going to take a valium now and take a nap. Phil is already resting with a headache. It has been a day!

School letter

I received the yearly letter from my superintendent yesterday. This is the form letter that all employees of the district receive before the school year begins. The letters I have received over the years from various districts are always on a positive, slightly humorous and "we are going to conquer the world" note. These letters have never had their intended purpose on me. They descend me into a cloud of denial and depression. "The summer went too quickly", "I don't want to go back", "You can't make me go back!" Yes, I become whiney, emotional, depressed --kind of like that teenage mode where you don't want to do anything that you don't want to do.

But because I am an adult, let me just say, Yes, I know I have to go back. Yes, I am thankful I have this job. Yes, I love my principal who is also a good friend. I am blessed. I know this. But for now all I can think of is NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

That is my tantrum for the day. You can be assured there will be more to follow.

Horsefeathers and decorating tip

We had a wonderful trip to Salado. It is a really neat litte town, full of cute and eclectic shops. Phil and I went shopping at a store named "Horsefeathers." We always stop at this little shop because it is just full of neat furniture and accessories. While we were shopping, Phil was visiting with me about a piece of furniture and a young lady heard him talking. She had not seen him, but just heard his voice. She followed his voice to the room we were in and said, "Are you Phil Ware from Abilene?" It seems she is a student at ACU and her parents had recently moved to Salado and bought the shop "Horsefeathers." We thought it was so funny that she recognized Phil by his voice. We had a great visit with her and her dad. They go to the church in Salado where Phil was speaking, so we saw them again that night. You never know when you are going to meet fellow believers and friends. This is wonderful and also means you have to be good wherever you go!

We ended up buying two pieces of furniture and somehow squeezed them into my little Trailblazer. We were packed to the gills, but made it home fine. One of the pieces I bought was a little round table. In the store it was decorated with a lamp, plant, three candle holders with candles and a little plaque with the scripture Matthew 22.37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind." I was showing the shop owner what I wanted and I pointed at the display and said, "I want to buy this." He asked me, "You want the table?" I said no, "I want this." He said, "You want the plant?" I said "No, I want the whole thing--the whole display." He said "Oh!" I think he was pleased. You see, if you find a table and like the way it is decorated--buy the whole thing. It is so much easier than trying to decorate the table yourself. That is my decorating tip for the day.

Pictures of The Inn on the Creek

A Trip to Salado

Phil and I are off tomorrow to one of our favorite places in Texas. Salado! We stay at the best bed and breakfast ever-The Inn on the Creek. We have been for the last three summers and have enjoyed our stay each time. The manager is a precious lady who makes an incredible breakfast, but also will just come up to you as you sit out on the porch rocking away the day and say "You look hot, I just made some raspberry sherbert. Let me bring you some." Well who am I to turn down homemade sherbet. Yummy and refreshing!

Last year we had friends come from Austin to hear Phil preach and they came over to the Inn after church. As we were visiting on the porch rocking away and remembering old times, here comes the sweet manager again and she says, "I am going to bring you all some homemade creme brulee." Well who are we to turn down creme brulee? Yummy again!

As you can see alot of our love of this place revolves around rocking chairs, porches and yummy food. The perfect combination for a two day getaway with your hubby.

I am still working on the pictures of my dad's birthday. Will post as soon as I figure out how to do that on this blog. I will also try to come up with some pictures of the Inn on the Creek, just in case you are ever in Salado and hankering for some homemade creme brulee.

Dad's birthday and summer musings

Hello everyone,
Let me introduce myself. It has been since September since you last heard from me on my blog. I don't have any excuses except when you are teaching you are too exhausted to have a full coherent thought in your head. I had good intentions and maybe this year I will do better. (don't mention that it is almost August and I have not written until now)

We had dad's surprise 75th birthday bash last night at our house. We had a cowboy theme, complete with cowboy hat, sheriff vest, and badge for my dad to wear. You may be thinking, hmmm he is 75 years old. Would he want to wear a cowboy hat, vest and badge? Of course he would! He dressed in the get-up for the whole evening and was just precious. I believe this is the first birthday party he ever had, so since he missed out as a child, my sister and I thought it would be a good time to have a surprise themed party for him. We had about 23 of his friends and family here and everyone was so sweet. It was a fun night and I will try to post pictures later on. The crowd was mostly in their "older" years and I asked my daughter if she thought the party was a success. She said "Well, no one broke a hip, so I think it was successful." She has a wry sense of humor, that sweet child of mine.

Summer has been glorious!!! Phil, Megan and I went on a Alaskan cruise in June. So fun! If you want to see pictures from our trip, go to Megan's blog at countryfriedpk.blogspot.com. By the way, the pk in her blog title stands for preacher's kid in case you didn't know. We had a great time together--all in one little room the size of a small closet, but it was a special time together.

I spent most of July cleaning out closets, cabinets etc. Phil said he thought I might be pregnant because I had that nesting fever. No pregnancy--just wanting to get things straight before the new school year rolls around.

Phil and I are preparing to travel to Salado where he is speaking next week. They ask him every summer and we love going there. They always put us up in a great Bed and Breakfast and we always buy one extra night because we love it there.

The Coffee Group had a wonderful year. We met so many wonderful women in our travels. We have updated our website and blog and hope you will visit. Our site is www.thecoffeegroup.net and our blog is espressohislove.blogspot.com. We are beginning to hear from churches who may want us to come speak at their retreats and we are always excited to go meet new friends!

See you next time!
Donna

My friends are the best!

I have finished my first week of school with the students. It has been fast and furious. I only had time for lunch one day and ate my slim fast bar the other days while working at my desk. Whew! I am a wee bit tired. However, I had a wonderful surprise on Friday. Let me back up here: Last Wednesday night I learned that "my coffee group girls" had gone out for coffee the first morning of school like we have done for the last three years. I am usually with them drinking coffee, laughing, talking.... you get the gist. When I found out they went and I hadn't known because I was at school, I kinda had a little pity party for myself. Well maybe it was a big pity party, but I love coffee and I love my coffee group and I love laughing and talking, so I was pretty blue. Then on Friday moring I heard this familar voice yelling down my hallway at school, "Where is Donna Ware's room?" As I looked up there stood four of my coffee buddies with a to-go cup of Cafe Mocha just for me! They drove all the way to Clyde to see me in my new school! I was so excited and so happy to see them. We got to visit, laugh, talk, drink coffee and even though it wasn't at Tuscany's or Starbucks, I felt right at home because they were there with me. It is really true, wherever your friends and family are-that is home. Thanks sweet precious friends. You made my day, my week and my year. I love you all and will miss our morning coffee times, but I am thinking it can be dessert and de-caf at my house soon!