The Lake House

Last Thursday afternoon things really heated up at work. Worked until 7 pm trying to get ahead. Met Ceil in Roswell to drop off the car to get ready for the emissions check. Didn’t get home until after 8 pm.

Friday morning was super busy workwise. I was going to take off all day, but had to work the morning. Also had to pick up the car from the shop. Got the Corolla and Rav4 emissions done. Barely got almost everything done before leaving at 1:15 pm. Turned out the other guys could’ve left earlier.

Friday afternoon we arrived at the lake around 3:30. Really just sat and talked until time to eat. Decided to go to The Flying Trout Restaurant, where we’d gone last year. Since I’m allergic to fish, I got the BBQ sandwich. Very good. Got back to the lake house after nine, and had cake and ice cream.

Of the three other guys at the lake this weekend, two have sleep issues. One likes to take naps on weekends and go to bed early, because he wakes up and has a hard time getting back to sleep. Usually he’s up for good at 4:30 am. Our host has a real hard time getting to sleep. I just snore.

Saturday morning I joined my early-rising friend out of the porch overlooking the lake. Eventually our other two friends joined us for further conversations. At 11 am we decided to go into town for lunch. Settled on a small Cuban diner: Lala’s Kitchen. Guy had moved his family up from South Florida to Blairsville. I should’ve gotten the Cuban sandwich, but the breakfast burger looked good, with an egg on top. Had an appealing side dish, but then when the meal arrived there was no side dish.

Was almost three by the time we got back. Went out for a boat ride. Lee tried to ski, and I rode the big tube. The boat slung me around, but I never fell off. That would’ve hurt. A pretty fun ride.

Later we stopped the engine in the middle of the lake and floated, just sitting there talking for a long time. We drifted a long way, and finally had to crank the engine when we got too close to shore. Grilled burgers and chips for supper. Also more cake and ice cream.

Sunday: another morning discussion out on the back porch. Hadn’t wanted to sleep too late. Wanted to maximize my time with the guys. Later we went inside and watched JFBC pastor Clay Smith deliver his morning sermon, on Providence. Some notes:

God’s Providence is sufficient (me: sufficient is a key word). His providence helps govern the world He created. Thing don’t happen by random chance. This guards us from fatalism. Not karma, which would suggest what we do affects the outcome. Romans 8:28 God causes all things to work together for good. God does not cause sin. CS Lewis: “Hell is God’s great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.” In The Problem of Pain, Lewis dedicates a chapter to the doctrine of hell. God’s people are safe, even in exile, even on this side of the cross, even though Israel is His chosen people. 1 Peter 2:9-11 “You are a chosen people.”

https://www.rforh.com/resources/know-it/diving-deeper/c-s-lewis-problem-hell

Snacks for lunch. More chit chat. Discussed how to watch TV without cable. Later we took turns riding the jet ski. I’m no speed demon. Eventually packed up and drove home. Lots of travel headed back south. Was so good to completely unplug for 2-1/2 days.

Came back to several hot orders, as well as three huge month end problems to help resolve. People just kept emailing and emailing even though they’d received my out of office reply.

Went for a run this morning, then shaved my beard. Really need to hit the exercise hard this month.

Times playing all 82 games of an NBA season:

9 Jordan

5 Kareem

4 Kobe, Hakeem, Wilt

3 Bird, Duncan

1 LeBron

0 Magic, Russell, Shaq

Braves trade for 4 players while I was away. Fans were clamoring to get back Duvall, who hit .220 in Miami. Hope they’re happy. Maybe if the NL has the DH next year the Braves can sign Pujols.

Pitchers who have been walked intentionally since 1945.

Player               Date                Team    P/Opp team

Haefner..........7-May-1946..........WSH....Harder/CLE

Hutchinson…20-Sep-1947(1)......DET.....Feller/CLE

Kaat...............01-Sep-1970(2)......MIN.....Bolin/MIL

Kieschnick.....5-May-2004...........MIL......Graves/CIN

Lopat.............31-Aug-1946.........CHW…Harder/CLE

McDermott.....12-May-1957(1)…KCA.....Wynn/CLE

Pizarro...........25-Jul-1958(2).......MLN.....Elston/CHC

Rowe.............21-Apr-1946(1)......PHI.......Sain/BSN

   "                  15-Aug-1947.........PHI......Hatten/BRO

Sleater...........14-Jul-1957(2)......DET.....Zuverink/BAL