Week of July 6th through July 12th, 2025

 SUNDAY:   This was the second week of AT THE MOVIES at Freedom Church.  The movie was FIRST MAN, the story of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, in 1969.  Unfortunately, there was a problem with the sound system, and much of what Pastor Craig said as well as the audio from the movie clips was hard to understand.  After church, Lori, Marlene, Glenda, Betty and I went to Denny's for lunch.  I spent the rest of the day at home.  

MONDAY July 7th:Andrea called to tell me that she has  horrible stomach ache and could not go to the Chautauqua Institution with Marlene and I.  I called Marlene, and she said she would drive.   I met up with her at Freedom Church at a few minutes past nine a.m. and we headed out.  Unfortunately, Marlene made a wrong turn after getting off of 90 and we had to turn around and go all the way back to Fredonia, where she decided to take a different route to get to Chautauqua.  We stopped in  Mayville and had a picnic lunch at a very small park along this pond or lake.  

  Unfortunately, it was very buggy there.  It wasn't long before we got to Chautauqua.  Our first stop was at the Visitors Center where I paid for our admissions and parking.  I asked the parking attendant if there were any rules regarding carrying purses, bags or backpacks into the Institute and he said yes, that only clear bags are allowed.  I told him that we were going to the Atheneum Hotel and he said there were not any restrictions there.  We went through the admissions area and waited for a bus to take us to the hotel.  We met this man, a lawyer from Virginia, who we talked to for a bit about the bus route, etc.  The bus came and took us to the hotel and dropped us off. at the ATHENAEUM HOTEL.

  We went inside and tried to get information about the event, but nobody had any information, except that the speaker would be in "the parlor".   Here is a picture of the empty parlor.  

 We went outside to wait and I took a few pictures.  While waiting, Marlene recognized Dr. McCullough walking into the hotel.  I noticed people going into the parlor at around two fifteen or two twenty, so Marlene and I went inside and got very good seats.  They had cold water, cups and cookies on side tables.  The presentation started right around three p.m   Dr. McCullough spoke for about 40 minutes and then took questions. 

About nine people had questions, including two who obviously did not believe him and challenged him.  He handled those questions very well.  As we were leaving, everyone was given a signed copy of Dr. McCullough's newest book (which isn't even for sale yet) and a very nice clear plastic bag.  So, Marlene and I have those for the next time we go.  

We caught a bus back to the exit to the Visitors Center and then another bus that took us across the road and to Marlene's car in the parking lot!  We headed out and stopped in Fredonia for supper.  I had the cheesesteak sandwich, which was very good.  We got back to Freedom at about 7:40 p.m. and I got home a few minutes before eight p.m.

TUESDAY the 8th:  I went to LIFE GROUP this morning.  Ten of us attended and it was very good.  Then I met with Peggy in the basement of the church, and we worked on "excursions" for our Alaska cruise in September.  We made some progress, but still have a long way to go. Dee Mann called in the evening and asked if I want to go over to her house and look through her albums of pictures from Alaska.  I said yes, and that I will let her know when I have a free day.  I have concerns, though, I am OK with looking through pictures of places that I will be going to in Alaska, but I don't think it is really valuable for me to look through other pictures of places that I will not be going.  

WEDNESDAY:  I went to Carrie's Day Hab for a meeting this morning.  It went well, and it was good to see her.  Then I decided to use my car's navigation system to go to the new REI.  I found it easily, but I realize that the prices are really too high.  I went into OLD NAVY and bought two pullover short sleeves tops.   I also went to PANERA in that same plaza and got a drink.  I stopped at BOB EVANS and had lunch (burger, fries and coleslaw).  I spent the rest of the day at home.  I called the PRINCESS DINE LINE and changed a couple of reservations.  Peg called and wants me to look into excursions in Ketchican and Victoria, so I went to the Princess website but they would not accept my email address.  So  I had to call and the woman I reached merged my past cruise with my future cruise, and it took FOREVER, and then she said to wait a couple of hours after changing my password, before using the site.  UGH.  Lori messaged me and was hoping to come over for a movie tomorrow night.  I suggested that she and I take Marlene out for supper to celebrate her birthday.  She agreed but when I called Marlene, I found out that she has plans with her daughter.  So, I offered to prepare spaghetti tomorrow night and Lori will come over at six thirty.