Visiting First West

This post was started last Sunday from Monroe, Lousiana. 

Part of the fun when traveling is getting to experience new things.  I'm blessed on this project that I'm working with several Christians.  

I went to church Sunday morning with one of the coworkers.  They had quite the show going on.

It surprises me how many churches keep up with technology. 

When praise and worship time started they had a full orchestra and choir.

From the outside it looked like it was designed  with the architechtural style common to the South.

This campus had a school too.  I'm not sure if it was actually active?

I don't think that I could ever live in Louisiana permanently.  They have bell peppers gound into almost everything.  I ordered eggs benedict because who can get a biscuit, slice if ham, egg and hollandaise sauce wrong?  They did. They used pre-prepared ground pork patties with red flakes and no ingredient list on the package. 

The only thing I could eat was cheesy gritts.  Interesting.

Monday 12/11/2017

Time flies and I was too.  I was chasing the sunset on the second leg of my trip from Minneapolis to Monroe (Louisiana).

The views were beautiful even if the windows were scratched and dirty.

The sunset reflected off the tip of the wing as well as the river below.  It had me mesmerized. 

Pecanland Mall

Why did I think there was anything smart about walking into a mall this close to Christmas? I was 6 Christmas cards short and I thought that there might be a store with cards to sell.  

Instead I saw a two level merry go round and people riding on animal shaped riding machines.

Then I saw a photographer trying to snap a picture of a kid on Santa's lap who is crying.

All I could do is laugh. The more she tried the more he cried.

With good intentions...

I was going to take pictures Friday night of my supper. I forgot.  Tonight at the Mall I saw the Chick fil a cow impersonating Santa Claus.  

My BLOG program froze so I had to put the rest of the mall postings on a different post. I am at Longhorn Steakhouse tonight. Let's see I remember to take photos tonight. 

They serve warm honey wheat bread with frezh butter.  YUM! (My splurge for the meal.) I ordered stuffed mushrooms topped with cheese.

They served the standard Caesar salad.

For my main meal I had a steak and sweet potato. Yum!

The restaurant is dark but it has a rustic charm.

It has so many longhorn steer. Watch out so they don't get you with their horns.

When I got back to the hotel, I was greeted by a beautiful tree!  I know that it is still Saturday evening and I am at a Hotel. I am working through the weekend geetimg ready for a payroll go live.

Teamwork

This drawing table was part of the deals that Dale found along side the road several weeks ago.  It was missing the bottom catch board.

Here is a good reason to keep scraps. Dale took a piece of scrap board/paneling and cut it to 2" by 31".  I measured and tapped the board to reuse the old screw holes. I put the board on the table.  

Ready, set, PAINT!  I guess that I'd better but a piece of tagboard over the top first.

Flowers in December

Yes more amazing view from Monroe, Louisiana! It has been a challenging week.  Maybe these gorgeous view are God's way of showing me there is something positive in every day?!?!

I should explain what has been challenging. Monday when I arrived I found out that my hotel room had been canceled.  I'm within a month of a partial go live (implementing payroll). 

I was able to get rooms to stay but had to switch hotels. There has been a cold spell unusual for this area. I can handle it but the hotel I'm staying at can't. When I turned the heater on the fire alarm went off. I didn't use that the rest of the week.

I received a message from the airline to move to an earlier flight. I did. Pro lem was ALL flights from Monroe to Atlanta were cancelled. 

We drove to Dallas. That means instead of flying Delta I am now flying Southwest. Stop and smell the roses.

Morning from Monroe

Tuesday morning I got up in Monroe.  I noticed the trees were significantly behind Minnesota in changing colors.

I am so blessed to be able to experience the beautiful contrast of red and greens for a second time! They are amazingly beautiful!