That Cake Was HOW MUCH?

 Sometimes I go outside in the mornings, look up at the sky and actually see stars.  It makes me wonder how those astronauts can fly up there and not run into something along the way.  It also makes me wonder just how in the heck the month of March is already GONE!  How can that be when it was February just two days ago??

Our weather Gods have been playing tricks on us this entire time.  Now we are going from 82 one day to 70 the next, followed by 65 degrees.  The expected rain has disappeared, leaving us heading clear down to an overnight low of 48.  Someone is having a great time with the Weather Button!!

This one right here ... she is such a sweet and happy girl.  She talks to me constantly now, and recently let me know the second flap on the doggie door had fallen down and she could not get out.  No kidding ... she ran back and forth to the door four times before I got the message and fixed it.  There were lots of purrs and rubs that followed.  She just craves attention, which I'm good at giving, but only when Mr. Cooper isn't looking!

Breakfast came early.  OH YEAH ... ICE CREAM!  I mixed up a batch the night before and set it to freezing this morning.  There are just as many good things about being single as there are being married.  THIS is one of them.  No one questions me about making ice cream at 6:00 in the morning.  

I get to eat anything I want, any TIME I want, without question.  I can come and go as I please, no asking or worrying about feeding someone when I'm gone.  I ALWAYS get to lick the beaters, never have to fix my hair and makeup if I don't want to, and I can keep the house temperature at whatever I feel like.  

On the OTHER hand, I have to do all the repairs, take out the garbage, fix the toilets and replace the light bulbs in the 12' high ceilings.  I LOVE my high ceilings, but they can be troublesome when a light goes out or the fire alarm beeps for new batteries.

I have two more of those small can lights over my desk.  Though I rarely turn them on, I was now worried about the bulbs putting off too much heat.  

It took some doing to get the old bulbs OUT.  I had to stick a piece of duct tape on it to get it to unscrew.   Finally it came loose and a new LED bulb was installed.  I have six more in this room to replace.  They went crazy with the lights in this house.

One more thing about being single ... YOU GET THE ICE CREAM MACHINE ALL TO YOURSELF!  Oh yeah ... once most of the peanut butter deliciousness is in the freezer, I get to clean the bowl all by myself!!

There was a bit of a pause before the accountant called, which led to an hour on the phone before thinking about the next event.  This is LOVE INC, a local charity group that does great things in our town for people who need help.  Our Elks Lodge Bingo donates quite a bit to this one.  Anyone in need, whether they are homeless or just need help, benefits from this Christian group of local churches.  

Elks buys two tables every year, so that means some of our bingo volunteers get to have dinner.  It was a little different this year.  Instead of the big charcuterie table, we got healthy snacks.  Trouble was, there were only six little sticks of goodies, and EIGHT chairs at the table.  

In no time, our tables were full of volunteers, awaiting that tri-tip and chicken dinner we usually have.

Or NOT!  This year it was raviolis.  WHAT?  Okay, we should be happy with anything.  To my surprise, the chicken ravs were VERY good!  

While we ate, they talked about some of their programs, which includes giving beds to people with children.  It surprises me how many families are sleeping on the floor.  Our Bingo volunteers stepped up and from just our table alone, we bought five beds at $100 each.  The crowd actually donated a total of $20,000 towards the purchase of just beds alone.  Anyone applying for same has to get a background check and their housing situation inspected, but WOW ... we have some wonderful donors in this town.

They had a raffle, a silent auction and a live auction.  I'm pretty sure they made close to $100,000 in this one night.  Local churches also donate their time and money to Homeless Showers (a portable setup) and Job Education programs.

Dessert was another fabulous donation from our table.  They have a Dessert Dash ... place your bid, and if you are the highest, you get to pick first.  Bingo is always the highest.  Only this time our RV Park donated $1,000 and our Park Manager picked the winning cake.  No pictures ... I was zoned in on trying to get 16 slices out of a pretty small cake.  It was DELICIOUS!  

Here's the problem.  They wait until everything is completely over before figuring out how much each bidder owes.  That takes WAY too long when we are all wanting to just pay and get out the door.  I waited in line for 20 minutes and the BANK door did not open.  They definitely need to start adding things up EARLIER.  People who have no intention of bidding on the big things could pay and leave.

My back wasn't happy at all, and standing was only making it worse.  I even had CASH that no one would take.  I walked out the door.  They have all my information and can call any time.  I will be happy to drop it off in their office.  I mean truly, it was worse than waiting for that doctors appointment that takes over an hour!!

And so I returned home, full to the brim.  No ice cream disappeared on this night.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend and the Van needs a workout.  I'm not sure where I will go, but anywhere will help that little battery recharge itself.  Maybe a QUILT store!!