Wednesday, Nov. 7

Up at 6:30 to get ready for water aerobics. Br-r-r, it was a chilly, windy morning for the walk to the gym. Thankfully, the pool was warm, though.

Talk in the locker room was not about the presidential election, but rather about how an adjoining local county had voted "wet," meaning alcohol can now be sold there. This did not meet with the approval of these older ladies, of course, one of whom said, "It was them northeners at that retirement village that got that issue passed."

Their fear now is that, like kudzu, it's just a matter of time before alcohol invades our county. Never mind that it is already here, in private clubs, and in restaurants that call themselves private clubs.

Likewise, there was no talk in the pool about who voted for who in the presidential election. The only comment I heard was, "God is in control," hinting that those who had voted for Romney need not worry, even though the wrong man was elected.

A couple of the ladies worked the long hours from around 7 a.m., when they helped set up polling sites for voters, until after 7:30 p.m., when the polls closed. I was surprised, though, when one of the ladies commented that she didn't even vote. I guess her patriotism took her as far as helping out, but not as far as the voting machine.

Funny: back in the locker room, a woman was complimented on her haircut, and asked who had cut it. "Velma," the woman answered. Another woman said, "Oh! I know her. She's my former son-in-law's daughter's brother-in-law's mother-in-law."

Back home, I indulged in one cup of coffee instead of two, so I could hurry and get ready to go to the hospital conference room for a luncheon and talk about diabetes. Mother went with us this time. As far as we know, none of us has diabetes, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of the symptoms just in case.

Mother enjoyed the outing and the lunch, which consisted of baked chicken, oven fried potatoes, and mixed fresh fruits...cataloupe, honey dew melon, strawberries, grapes, and pineapple.

We were not home long before it was time for Mother and me to meet haircut appointments at 1:45 and 2:15. For some reason, the woman who gave us our appointment times chose to sandwich us between a lady who was having her hair tinted (by my hairdresser), and a lady who was getting a permanent (by Mother's hairdresser). So we were at the shop until around 3 p.m.

While we were gone, Hubbie peeled and sliced potatoes, and when we got back, Mother and I put together potato soup for supper. Mother diced the carrots, celery, and onions, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and I cooked the ingredients. I also gathered ingredients for bran muffins, which Mother mixed and put into a muffin tin for the oven. It was a comforting and warm meal for a cold evening.

I accompanied Mother home afterward, and waited until she had showered before returning home. She had a very active, productive, and satisfying day today, so she was in great spirits.

Hubbie and I spent the evening watching TV, as usual. Tonight, we saw the movie, "Angels Crest," about a young father, who takes his three-year-old son into the woods to play in the snow.

When they arrive, the boy is asleep in his car seat, so the father goes for a short walk. In the meantime, the boy gets out of the truck, wanders off, and freezes to death in the snow. Naturally, the town blames the father. In the course of investigating the tragedy, lots of family and town secrets are revealed. Surprise ending.