What a crazy weather week this has been! We complain daily
about the chilly temperatures—no, that's not right—cold temperatures (for here)—until we see the weather reports from
around the country and see what you all are facing. Thankfully, nothing has
frozen here as it has in Houston and Dallas, but none the less it's chilly. And,
we've had no precipitation unless one considers the heavy dew. Here's the
rundown of what the temps were when we got up in the mornings:
Monday: 39
Tuesday: 51
(heat wave!)
Wednesday:
46
Thursday: 37
Friday: 35
Saturday: 41
Sunday: 49
Daytime temps last week didn't get out of the 40s, and we
had wind most every day. Tomorrow night (Tuesday) the thermometer will dip to
the low to mid-30s as it will at night the rest of the week. Weather reports
say we'll hit the low 60s during the days, but we're not holding our breath.
We're also facing ½-mile visibility at night and in the mornings due to heavy
fog. So different from last year.
Because the weather was so crummy all
week, this was movie week. We saw 3!
Monday night we went to the clubhouse to see "The Butler," the story of a White House butler (Forest Whitaker) who served eight
American presidents over 3 decades. Based loosely on fact, the film traces the
dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil
rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this
man's life and family. The story recounts the life of Cecil Gaines, born to
sharecropper parents on a cotton plantation in 1926 in Macon, Georgia; how he
is taken in by the estate's caretaker and trained to be a house servant. In his
teens, he leaves the plantation, breaks into a hotel pastry shop and is,
unexpectedly, hired to work in the hotel. He learns advanced skills from the
master servant, who, after several years, recommends Cecil for a position in a
Washington, DC hotel. While working at the hotel, Cecil is hired by the White
House during Eisenhower's administration, beginning his 34 year career as a
White House butler.
Thursday: movie #2, "Nebraska," starring Bruce Dern as Woody
Grant, a cantankerous father who thinks he's struck it rich
after receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail. After seeing the letter, his
son realizes that it's a mail scam to make a person purchase
magazine subscriptions. Woody refuses to give
up; his multiple failed attempts to walk to Lincoln, Nebraska to claim the $1
million fortune causes his youngest son to give in and take a road trip with
him to Lincoln. Slow moving at the start of the movie, family relationships are
developed and quirks are portrayed throughout. The movie is shot in black and
white, with very little music. We went to the movie with friends Bob and
Sharon, and we all agreed that we weren't sure if we liked the movie or not,
but bits and pieces keep coming back to us, causing us think about life in our own
families. (I remember my dad always submitting his weekly entry to the
Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes, so the movie was particularly
poignant—although Dad, unlike Woody, never thought he won the prize. Like Woody, he just
wanted to leave something to his family, if he won.)
Saturday: movie #3, " Monuments Men." We highly recommend this movie! Based
on a true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, the film focuses on a
group of seven unlikely, mostly older men comprised of museum directors, curators, and
art historians. They were tasked by FDR with entering Germany with the Allied
forces during the closing stages of World War II to rescue artworks plundered by the Nazis,
saving them from destruction or damage, and returning them to their rightful
owners. (Artworks included fabled works from great museums; paintings, jewelry,
gold fillings, and gold and silver heirlooms from Holocaust victims, even brass
and iron bells from ancient church towers.)
Hitler had issued an order that the Nazi loot must be destroyed if he dies or
Germany falls, so the race is on to save mankind's
cultural treasures from being destroyed. This American-German war film was
written and produced in part by George Clooney, who also produced the movie. Starring George Clooney as Lt. Frank Stokes, who
hand selected the remaining team, including Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John
Goodman, among others, and Cate Blanchett as a French Resistance operative
who spied on the Nazis. For more background on this phenomenal undertaking
portrayed in this movie, please read this article, which appeared in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/arts/design/not-all-monuments-men-were-men.html?_r=0
Wednesday's dinner at the clubhouse was "shrimp and grits," that I enjoyed, but Dick was "iffy". He would've preferred a dish of shrimp, just
without the grits.
The rest of the week was filled with regular activities,
including Pegs and Jokers played many times
during the week, when we introduced 4 more couples to this fun game. We
attended "happy hour" at the clubhouse Wednesday, and the ice cream
social on Sunday afternoon—all either preceding or following Pegs and Jokers.
Just can't get enough of that game!
Sunday's message at First Baptist Church of Rockport, brought
by Pastor Scott Jones was entitled, "Who's Your Daddy?" Based on scripture from
John 8:31-59, Pastor Jones outlined the distinction between hereditary children
and children of God. The thought-provoking question was asked: "Is my life
being shaped by the Word of God, or is it shaped by its absence?" Here’s the
link to the message: http://fbcrockport.net/online-sermons/
A few weeks ago I mentioned a dear friend who is facing some
health challenges. I spoke with her yesterday; her treatment is scheduled to
start next week, in Houston, so please continue to keep her in your prayers. I
also covet your prayers for another dear friend in Washington who is also
facing life challenges, as well. She's currently undergoing treatment in Seattle. Both
these women are very special to both RJ and me. Miracles do happen—please pray
for them. Thank you.
Until next week, we hope this finds you warm, healthy and
happy. We are!
Love 'n' hugs,
RJ and Gail
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