I gave up on orchids for my jacket or any kind of a yoke type thing.  When I woke at 4:30 this morning, I cogitated on the problem and finally decided to just cut off the top of the back by the 1 1/2 inches involved in the neckline and cut that much off the bottom of the two fronts.  This jacket is long on me anyway, in my opinion.  I really don’t need it long enough to cup under BIG BUTT.  After I was up and going this morning, I checked that out more thoroughly and I think that is what I’ll do. 
     Before I had time to do much with that, the phone rang and Bill answered.  I was in the back but caught “briefcase.”  Today was the first day for his ad for the stolen briefcase.  The newspaper ads won’t let you say “stolen.”  You have to say “taken.”  Go figure…  Everything is so cotton picking politically correct these days it makes you want to scream!  Anyway, when he hung up I got the story.  The caller said he had a brown briefcase with “Oriental stuff” in it.  In Bill’s ad, he mentioned pictures from Vietnam.  The caller first said he was calling from Tacoma and then said he was calling from Federal Way which is farther north.  What the called did not know was that we had his phone number on Called ID.  Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee…..  When Bill questioned him further about what was in the briefcase, he finally admitted he didn’t have it in front of him so would check and call us back.  We have heard nothing more.  Bill heard someone in the background asking about the amount of the reward. 
     And what does all this mean?  Well, Nancy Drew and Rambo suspect the burglar(s) put this person up to calling.  Why else would he not have the briefcase in front of him when he calls to arrange to collect the reward if it is the right briefcase?  Wouldn’t it stand to reason you would have to properly identify the item before someone agrees to meet you and pay a reward for return of said property?  Also, the “slip” about where he was calling from.  Didn’t he KNOW where he was? 
     I immediately got on the internet and googled the phone number.  Unfortunately, I didn’t come up with a name.  However, I did ascertain that it was a Tacoma phone number and I identified the phone company, which is one of the alternative phone companies to the major players around here.  I suspect they have phone and internet with this company. 
     Bill immediately called the Sheriff’s Dept on the cell phone trying to talk to someone to tell him what to do if the guy called back.  Do you think you can do that?  Of course not!  The gal in the office said she had no way to contact an officer in the field.  Hello?  What is wrong with THIS picture?  I called Robin’s son, George, who is a detective in another city and asked his advice.  He told Bill not to meet anyone without talking to our deputy.  We still haven’t heard from our deputy on the case. 
     In order for Bill to be here by the phone today, I did the mail run.  I checked and our reward sign on the stop sign on our road is gone.  That made me wonder if the person who called saw the ad in the newspaper or if the burglars were from out here, saw the sign and took it and called.  The caller didn’t say anything so that we would know.  So that is the latest in the Nancy Drew and Rambo adventure. 
     Here’s a picture of the first set of four burp pads with the vintage animal baby designs.  Aren’t they adorable!    

 

Remember, friend, your arms are the only ones God has to hug other people, and He  may want to use your lips to kiss a few toads.  Let Him.  And pray that each time you err in discernment, it may be on the side of grace! – Barbara Johnson