Pomp and Pose!

 Tap tap tap tap tap .... that's the rain hitting the bottom of the downspout 5 feet from the head of my bed.  Mother Nature is having one last winter blast.  At least I HOPE it's the last one!  Yessiree ... it's raining.  She just can't decide whether to smile or cry.  It makes me smile though because the sprinklers are still OFF.  Oh yes, here we go with another summer of sprinkler angst.

Here's another big smile that happens every day, all day long.  My body guard keeping a watchful eye out for intruders.  Yes, he's sleeping because it's his break time.  Being the Watch Pup is a hard job.

I spent an hour in the morning quilting the latest of the Vets quilts, now ready for binding.  I love this panel, and hope the Vet that receives it does too.  Today I'll be working on the next two ready for the longarm.  

Very early in the afternoon ... like 2:00 ... I was headed off to the Elks Lodge once again.  Truly, I feel like I live there, I just can't throw stuff around on the furniture.  It is the end of the year and a new set of officers is going to take over.  It would be so much easier if the same person stayed in the head position.  Changing them out every year means most everything is run differently.  

I've luckily made friends again with several couples who don't mind a single gal in their midst.  We sat in the bar, waiting for the entourage to land on the back steps.  It was so noisy that I ghosted the entire event and hung out with our oldest member ... 95 year old Floyd.  What a great guy!!

How can I describe the installation.  Those new officers have to take an oath of office and are walked around the room while lots of clapping ensues.  You'd have to be there to experience the racket.  There are two stops for pictures, followed by seating them at their appointed chair. 

I'm included in the group since I'm back to First Year Trustee, having been here WAY too long.  Yes, I volunteered once again because none of the other four trustees have ANY accounting experience ... and that's their job.  So this "walk" is all pomp and circumstance.  

I on the other hand, am not a fan of the pomp part, so when I was escorted to the picture spot, I held up my hand .... wait ... WAIT ... I have to pose for this ... doing my best model impression.  The crowd broke into laughter.  So much for the circumstance part.  From then on everyone was laughing and posing for every picture.  It certainly made it a LOT more fun!!

After that, we all headed downstairs for dinner.  There was a little panic there since I was probably the only one in the building who did NOT buy a ticket.  My plan was to head straight home.  I sat down where the Secretary told me to, but there was a big mixup in the seating arrangement.  Luckily it wasn't because I was there.  You could cut the tension with a knife.  Thankfully, someone didn't show up at the table next door and we were saved.

THIS was dinner.  A buffet affair with the best roasted veggies I've had in ages, salad, little red potatoes with parmesan cheese and a big honking piece of BEEF.  Prime rib to be exact.  Just wow!  This is the best piece of prime rib I've seen in forever.  Cooked perfectly and very little fat ... melt in your mouth goodness.  All for $30.00, which I will pay for first thing Tuesday.  I think the officers got off scott free, but that's not my nature.

That was followed up by our famous peach cobbler with ice cream.  No kidding ... people come from lodges all across California just to eat our peach cobbler.  

Of course I brought half the beef home for the Guard Pup, but he may have to share.  Today I'll be back at the longarm quilting the next two quilts and resting up from eating WAY too much food.  And thankfully, I'll be watching the rain from INSIDE the house since I get to stay home all day long!!!