Cool & Rainy

While taking a shower this morning, I was remembering what Rich told the Elders yesterday -- that for the whole two years he was on his mission in Mexico, he never had a warm shower. The water was always cold. I asked how they did that, and he said that they would take a deep breath and exhale, then jump under the cold water, lather up fast, and rinse off in a hurry.  No way!!!  Our bodies should ever have to endure that!!  I was just soooo grateful for hot running water this morning.  And we can stay in the shower as long as we want - - no limits for us, as we have hot water on demand.  It goes on and on and on.  

We wore our coats this morning.  It seemed strange to have them on because the weather has been so nice, but they surely felt good.  It was even drizzling a bit, and my umbrella popped up in a hurry when I noticed the moisture.  

Work at the office was more of the same today.  I am now in the process of putting together the packets for the missionaries who are leaving next Wednesday during transfers.  The packets contain a letter from the President, their passport (we keep them in a safe in the office), a copy of their flight itinerary, four talks from Pres. Hinckley, Pres. Faust, Elder Oaks, and Elder Brown (a Seventy, I think)  The Sisters get one from R.S. Pres. Sister Beck, in addition to the others.  Then there is a goal sheet, and a sheet to record a spiritual experience. These are filled out at the Mission Home when they congregate for their last interview with President Argyle, and a meal, prior to departing for the temple. After the temple session, off to the airport they go for the long overnight flight home (if they are from the U.S.)

Sister Argyle came by the office today and we had a nice chat.  She is perky and bubbly and fun to talk to. She is a great resource for information I always need. She found a good hair salon where she gets her hair cut. I was interested, and took down the directions.  I also asked about a good dry cleaner.  It just happens to be around the corner from the hair salon.  Both of these places are just down the street from the Apple store. We are acquainted with that area for sure, so we are confident we can find these places.  Excited!

When we came home from the office, we decided we would try to find a Western Union place in order to get the money that Marianne sent to us.  We had cancelled our debit cards after our senior moment last Saturday, having left our card in the ATM machine.  We hate to think about it much.   Anyway, as I was changing clothes, I decided I would wear a warmer coat.  I opened the cupboard that is above our closets where I put my winter sweaters, and coats, and other warmer items, and guess what????  My black and white parka was missing.  Those dang robbers took that too.  They left Rich's jacket.  I guess they liked mine better.

We walked about 6 blocks to a Correo (post office) where a Western Union is located.  We took a number and a seat.  The count was on 980 and we had 989.  It is amazing to at how much time it took some people at the window.  We sat there for 1/2 hour and then our number popped up. It didn't take us long at the counter because the teller said that the Western Union system was not operating, so they couldn't give us our money. Why did we think we could complete our task in one visit?  How silly of us!!!  

For those of you who do not know the Kroff tradition of "skinny pancakes", it is an old buttermilk recipe that when cooked, are thin like crepes and taste yummy.  Since buttermilk is not to be found in Argentina, Elder Kroff was distraught thinking it would be 18 months before he could sink his teeth into his favorite Sunday morning breakfast. He has the recipe memorized, now all he needed was buttermilk. He decided to just add a little vinegar to make regular milk sour. . . . and behold, here is the first skinny pancake cooked in Bs. As. (short for Buenos Aires).   Well . . . . close, but now quite the same.