Trip blog 1

 We have arrived. After a long delay at the Fort Wayne Airport, we made it to Dallas with 25 minutes to get way across the airport to our flight to Buenos Aires.  Thanks to my wonder spouse who had mapped it all out before we landed we made it. We were the last people on the plane. The overnight flight was uneventful, just like you want a flight to be. When we landed here in Buenos Aires there were Viking people holding signs (it seemed like every ten feet or so) to guide us through every step until we were safely on the ship. Since then we have been eating way too much, meeting lots of friendly people, seeing a marvelous Tango show and generally having a great time. This afternoon we tour the city and this evening we sail. 

PS miracle of miracles, our luggage also made it.

Ship ahoy

 Since my mind is on ships today (we leave for our cruise tomorrow), when my west coast brother posed the question 'why is the ocean called the "Main?  What exactly is the Bounding Main?"  I did a little research and here's what I discovered.

The bounding main is the mass of water occupying all of the Earth's surface not occupied by land, but excluding all lakes and inland seas. So I guess, since we will be sailing on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, we will indeed be sailing 'over the bounding main.'  

Sing it with me: "Sailing, sailing over the bounding main..."

PS It turns out that the Bounding Main is also the name of a singing group.  So, if you aren't handy to an ocean, you can listen to their music.  

but I want to...

 Today we finished packing for our cruise.  We leave on Monday, so I think we're doing pretty well to be packed this far in advance.  Even better, the bags to be checked are not overweight.  There have been times in my life when I was still packing at midnight for a flight leaving at 7:00am.  But not this time.  We are ready to go, except for the inevitable last minute stuff that will go in our carry-on bags.  While I was packing, the phrase that kept running through my head was "You can't take it with you."  And my response "But I want to.  I need it all."  Eventually, I was forced to admit that I really couldn't take it all.  My good old well-traveled blue, green and white checkered soft side suitcase was stuffed to the gills (whatever that means).  However, I did not unzip the zipper that gives me an extra two inches of depth.  I will save that for the trip home.  Things never seem to fit quite the same way coming home.  Thinking about what I could and could not take with me inevitably led me to remember the play I was in at Arena Dinner Theater three years ago.  The play was, as you might have guessed, "You Can't Take it With You."  One of my most enjoyable roles ever.  I played Gay Wellington, a drunk over the hill actress, and spent about a third of the play 'passed out' on the sofa, after my memorable line "When I see snakes I know it's time to lie down."  This was also the only play in which I sang a solo.  

                "There was a young lady from Wheeling,

                 who had an incredible feeling.

                 She wasn't quite sure his intentions were pure,

                As she lay gazing up at the ceiling." 

Maybe you had to be there to really appreciate it.

Here I am in all my Gay Wellington finery.  Such a role is not easily forgotten.
 

decisions, decisions...

 As I may have mentioned once or twice (a week) my spouse and I will be departing next Monday for a cruise around the Horn of South America.  Packing for such a long cruise (and yes I am almost finished) has entailed lots of decision making.  How many pairs of shoes do I really need?  What should I carry in my carry-on bag and what is ok to check?  After this evening though, I believe we may need a break.  I came to this conclusion after supper when we took at least 25 minutes to decide which of two almost identical jackets (one light gray and one light tan) my husband should take on this trip?  

Since we are also in the throes of having our kitchen remodeled, and really needing a break from thinking about clothes, we then decided to do some on line shopping for a new kitchen table and chairs.  Not buying yet, just looking at possibilities.  Three hours later, we found a table we both agree on, and appropriate chairs.  We also agreed (we are such an agreeable couple) that we really need to see the furniture in person before we make a purchase.  

Right now I have decided that it's time for bed.  Good night.

Viva Italiano

 This evening my spouse and I went to dinner with my son and daughter-in-law.  It's a pleasure to spend time with them, but I must admit I wasn't too excited when they suggested we have Italian.  Don't get me wrong, I love Italian food.  It just happened that we went to dinner last night with my spouse's  brother and their cousin. The cousin, who doesn't come to Fort Wayne often suggested Italian, and we agreed.  

So last evening four of us gathered at Ziano's, where we eat frequently, and I enjoyed my favorite dish, stuffed shells.

This evening then, as part of our second foursome, we ate Italian again.  But this time, at their suggestion, we went to Salvatori's, a first time for me. 

I am happy to report that I had the best manicotti I have had in years. Absolutely delicious. I also had an excellent tomato and cucumber salad.  Besides the food itself I was delighted that all the entrées were offered in two sizes. I had the smaller size, which was more than enough. I ate it all, felt comfortable but not over-stuffed.  Believe me, I will be going back. 

Meanwhile, go to Salvatori's and have the manicotti with meat sauce.

Happy Birthday Abe

 Today is Abraham Lincoln's 216th birthday although we don't really celebrate it.  Ever since it got mushed together with Washington's birthday we have just celebrated Presidents' Day, which gives some school children and postal workers a day off, and, for some reason, inspires lots and lots of mattress sales.  But some of us still remember "Honest Abe."  Some more accurately than others. 

Here's what Congressman Danial J. Flood (1906 -1994) had to say about him.

"It is fitting that we pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin that he built with his own hands."  

good for me

 Today, according to my west coast brother, is "Grandmother 
Achievement Day."  As far as my grandmotherly achievements are concerned, I have raised two fine children who are productive members of society and who, in their turn have each parented two fine children.  No pressure here but I'm beginning to think that it would be fun to be a great grandmother.  Congratulations to all you other grandmothers out there (no surprise that many, many of my friends are grandmothers).  Have a great day and keep on achieving.  

PS Today is also Extraterrestrial Culture Day which seems appropriate since the lifestyles of my grandchildren and their contemporaries often seem strangely out of this world to me.  From clothing to music to technology their world is not the one I grew up in. 

Instant gratification

I know you've all heard that we have raised a couple of generations (our kids and grandkids) who expect instant gratification. With their phones they can communicate quickly with friends all over, share pictures (sometimes much too generously) and information with the tap of a button or a voice command.  The whole world is at their fingertips via their phones and computers. 

To be honest, I realized recently that I have become just as bad as the younger generations.  I appreciate, if not instant, at least quick gratification.  For example, yesterday, about 4:00pm, I told my spouse that I was heading to Target to buy some things I needed for our upcoming trip.  His response was "I'll just order them for you on Amazon and they'll be here tomorrow."  So we sat together at his computer, searched for exactly the style and colors I wanted, which I might not have even found in the store, and sure enough, the order showed up on our doorstep this morning.  Later yesterday my spouse ordered two more items for the trip, and today we placed one more order for me.  Can you tell that we're finally getting serious about packing?  His items showed up today.  Mine will be here by noon tomorrow.  I wish I could tell you that this way of shopping helps me avoid impulse buying but, honestly, it's just as easy to browse on the internet as it is by strolling through a brick and mortar store.  Even easier if you have a comfy chair and a glass of wine.  

after the intermission...

 Friday evening's Philharmonic concert continued to thrill after the intermission.  First the Youth Symphony Orchestra joined the Phil to play Sibelius' Finlandia, Op. 26.  They did an excellent job and brought back great memories of my visit to Finland several years ago.

This was followed by Ottorino Respighi's Fountane di Roma (Fountains of Rome) Op. 160.  It was a very evocative piece.  I visited Rome in September of 2023, saw several of the city's great fountains, and felt like I could hear the gushing and pouring and gentle trickle of the various fountains.  

But the last piece really was the grand finale.  Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34 practically had me dancing in my seat. 

38 minutes of music took me back to Finland, Italy and Spain.  An amazing musical journey.  Thank you, thank you, Fort Wayne Phil. 

Too much music

 We went to hear the Fort Wayne Philharmonic again this evening.  This was our last chance before we leave on vacation in 9 days.  The music was amazing.  There was so much variety that it's too much to write about in one blog.

The first piece, called "Obliviana" was a new piece by composer Patrick O'Malley (B. 1989) who was in the audience to hear it performed.  It was one of the most unusual pieces I have ever heard.  I had no idea our orchestra could make such sounds.  My spouse said it would be great music for a horror movie, but he meant that in a good way. I loved it! 

The second offering was Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7 by Clara Schumann, wife of Robert Schumann, and a brilliant pianist and composer in her own right.  She didn't compose as many pieces as he did, but then she was busy raising their eight children.  For this performance the piano was played by Lucille Chung, and she played brilliantly, as attested to by the long standing ovation (three times back on stage) which she received.  One of my favorite parts was the beautiful piano and cello duet.  

                                INTERMISSION

a blast from the past

 My spouse and I recently became reacquainted with a couple we had known in our past lives at a chance meeting in a restaurant.  I knew the lady from working together long ago in real estate and theater while my husband knew her husband from church, serving on committees together, etc.  That chance meeting has evolved into an unexpected but very welcome friendship.  We have had wine at their place and gone out to dinner a few times.  They are both interesting people and fun to be with.  In one of our casual conversations I was asked what we like to do and I admitted that we like to play games.  That simple admission got us invited to their place this evening for a home cooked dinner and an evening of games.  Turns out they also really enjoy playing games.  

So here was the scene this evening.  The four of us sat around sipping wine and munching snacks in the living room, watching the flickering fire in the fireplace,  while the conversation dealt with many things including our brothers and sisters.  Not sure how we got to that topic but it was a fun discussion.  Then we sat down to a dinner of ham and cheese casserole, salad, dipping bread and Buntlets (our treat) for dessert.  Since we are without a kitchen right now, a homecooked meal was a real treat.

After dinner the host set up an actual card table with matching chairs and we played Rummikub.  My wonder spouse won.  Then we shifted to the comfy living room couch and chairs, by the fireplace again, and played Scattergories, a game I hadn't played for years.  I actually won, but not by much.  

We had so much fun.  It occurred to me on the way home, that the whole evening was like something I might have done when I was much younger.  No TV, no heavy discussions (nothing about politics), Just good food, fun games and lots of laughter.  

I am looking forward to entertaining them at our house next.  Of course that will have to wait until we have a kitchen, but that's getting closer.  The drywall work is finished and Monday they will start priming and painting.  I live in hope.

libraries I have loved...

 February is "Library Lovers' Month."  I think it's wonderful, and very appropriate, that Libraries and the people who love them are given a full month to celebrate.  Granted, it is the the shortest month of the year, and must also allow space on its calendar page for presidents, valentines and groundhogs.  Libraries have been a big and important part of my life since I was five years old.  When I was young, my mother would drop me off at the little library in our small town while she shopped for groceries.  Miss Tremp, the librarian, remembered my father from his youth and told me that he read "every book in the library."  Later libraries in my life included the high school library where I loved to volunteer.  No boring study hall for me.  All through college my part time job was to work in the Ball State library in a section called Teaching Materials Services where we created bulletin board and other displays which teachers could check out and use in their classrooms.  I actually got that job because I was an art major.  Fast forward to my next specific library memory.  I was married with two little children when I discovered that the bookmobile (a marvelous invention) parked down the street from our first house for a couple of hours every other week.  It was very well stocked but the librarian/driver would also take orders.  Very luckily, at that time, my sister-in-law loaned me an English pram that her daughter had outgrown.  It easily carried two toddlers and all of our books.  When we moved out in the country, north of Fort Wayne, there was no library close by, but, as more and more people moved north, first a grocery store and then a library appeared on the scene.  The store and the library have been doing a booming business ever since.  Years later I had a job downtown in a building right across the street from the main library.  Lunchtime excursions were so easy.  Even later, I moved downtown and was withing walking distance of that same library.  Now I'm living in the suburbs with a library less that a mile away (also within walking distance).  And yes, as mentioned in a previous blog, I am very happy to be able to make use of that "invisible" library on my tablet.  Andrew Carnegie thought that libraries were so important that he donated vast amounts of money for them to be built all around the US.  Many of them are still in use.  My hero, the ultimate "Library Lover."  In case you're wondering, there were originally 164 Carnegie libraries in Indiana, 106 are still in use as libraries.  

weather or not...

 The local weather persons all seem to be in agreement that tonight we will be getting freezing rain or sleet which will leave a treacherous coating of ice on the roads.  If all goes as predicted it will warm up into the 40s by tomorrow afternoon so that should be ok.  Meanwhile be careful out there.  

In the olden days, when I was a child, this would almost certainly mean that school would be cancelled for tomorrow.  The superintendent or some other person in a position to make such decisions would drive around the country roads about 4:00am and decide that, yes indeed, the roads are icy and we must cancel school.  School buses are expensive things to repair or replace.  Expecting this, my family would turn on the little kitchen radio and we would wait until after the farm news to hear if our school was cancelled.  There was always a long list of schools to listen through, because WOWO, our radio station, covered a lot of territory.  Since my mother was a teacher for most of these years, she was just as anxious as we kids were to hear if we got a day off.  A day off was a wonderous treat.  Especially if I had a good book I wanted to finish.  One memorable winter we had had lots of rain that fell and pooled on the frozen field across the road from our house. The rain froze into a solid sheet of ice about as large as the Coliseum floor where we sometimes went ice skating, but with a rougher surface because it was wind blown as it froze.  That frozen field was our playground for days.  I remember skating so much that one night, lying in bed, I could feel the bottoms of my feet vibrating from all the skating.

Those were the good old days.  If tomorrow our local schools are closed, the children will not have a day off, nor will the teachers.  Instead they will have an e-learning day.  Sometimes modern technology just takes all the fun out of life.  

book blues...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to read.  I saw a cartoon on Facebook recently where the character, sitting in a rocking chair surrounded by books, claimed to have a black belt in reading.  If there is such a thing, I certainly have earned it.  In the past I would go to the library (we have an amazing library system in Fort Wayne and Allen County) and bring home arm-loads of books, which I would read in a week or two and then faithfully return.  That was in the olden days.  These days, I can simply access the library on my tablet through Libby, download a book for a 21 day loan, by pressing a 'button' that says BORROW, read it and return it, when finished, with the push of a 'button' that says RETURN.  It's an excellent system when all the technology aligns.  This morning wasn't one of those times.  I had turned on my tablet to read a few pages when a quiet technology tantrum occurred.  As I started to read, the page kept going black.  I would bring back the screen view, read a few lines, and it would go black again.  This happened several times and I was getting very frustrated.  This doesn't happen with bound books.  Finally I swallowed my pride and asked my spouse for assistance.  Being the wonder spouse that he is, he checked out all the settings and everything else he could think of and finally realized that the cover I had on my tablet was slipping a little, and that slippage was just enough to bump a button on the edge which turns the screen on and off.  Mystery solved.  We took the cover off and the tablet is working like a charm.  Whew! For a minute there, I thought I might have to go back to the library.  

penguins, please....

 Two weeks from today we leave on our cruise.  One of the stops, allowing us time to explore on shore, will be on the Falkland Islands, where we will, we hope, get to see many, maybe hundreds of, penguins.  I know that penguins are popular (I also think they're incredibly cute) but I didn't realize how popular until we started discussing the details of our up-coming trip with our family.  To date I have a list of at least ten near and dear relatives and friends to whom I MUST SEND penguin postcards.  

I was talking about the trip this afternoon with the second grader I tutor, explaining why I would be gone for the next four weeks; one Monday of no school and three weeks on the cruise.  He seemed to understand, although he said he would miss me, and he also wants pictures of penguins. 

Fingers crossed that the day we visit the Falklands is a great day for taking pictures and that, somewhere close to where we land, there is a lovely little gift shop with lots of penguin postcards.  What are the odds? 

another Phil

 Well, it's official.  Punxsutawney Phil evidently saw his shadow and we will be having six more weeks of winter.  Why am I not surprised?  My spouse has assured me that he's ok with six more weeks of winter a long as the worst three weeks of it are while we're on our cruise to points south.  

My west coast brother has informed me that not only are groundhogs prognosticators of weather, but so also are hedgehogs, marmots and sled dogs.  Who knew?  I can understand sled dogs.  They do know enough to come in out of the cold.  

I had a groundhog move into the space under my deck some years ago when I lived out almost in the country.  I might never have known except it came up to sun itself on the deck a few times (and left little 'presents' behind).  I decided I must have it removed because it seemed to be burrowing very close to the air conditioner and I was afraid it might start gnawing on some lines.  Being a kindly soul, I had a pest specialist come out and set a live trap, that would just catch it, not hurt it.  He came and set it, with an apple as bait, three evenings in a row.  Each following morning a happy raccoon was sitting in the trap, eating the apple and waiting to be let out.  Since raccoons didn't ordinarily come near the house, I told the trapper to just let it go.  It could have been the same raccoon all three nights.  On the fourth night the groundhog finally took the bait, and was sitting in the trap the next morning, not looking nearly as happy as the raccoon.  Maybe it didn't like apples?  The trapper assured me that he would take the groundhog far out in the country and release it, and I would never see it again.  By that point I was so pleased to see it go that I wouldn't have cared if he made stew out of it, but I presume that wasn't the case.  

Anyway, if all goes as predicted, by mid-March we should be enjoying the first signs of spring.  

back to the Phil

 It's not often that we go to the philharmonic two nights in a row, but this was one of those times.  And what a contrast.  Last night it was Brahms, beautifully performed, and tonight it was "The Music of ABBA."  It was such a delight.  The singers, four women with beautiful mellow voices, were part of a group called "Jeans 'n Classics." They were accompanied by their own piano, drums, bass and guitar, and then of course by the entire philharmonic.  This group specializes in performing with large orchestras and it was obvious that they knew what they were doing.  They used microphones, correctly set, and could be heard clearly over the musicians, without yelling or screeching (as I've heard some other singers do).  I enjoyed every song but my particular favorites were Mamma Mia, Chiquitita, I Have a Dream (my very favorite) and Take a Chance on Me.  I also enjoyed a learning experience with Super Trouper.  Until they explained it, I did not know that the super trouper is the really big spotlight that will, if you have a skilled light person, follow the performer anywhere she goes on stage.  All in all such a really fun evening.  I wish you could have been there.  Or maybe you were.  The theater was packed.

I love Phil...

 ... The Philharmonic orchestra that is.  They never disappoint.  This evening's concert was all Brahms' music.  First his Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, followed, after the intermission by his Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.  It was beautiful music all the way through.  I was particularly pleased that the trombones had prominent roles in both symphonies.  My brother, and years later my son, both played trombone in high school band, so I appreciate the effort that goes into playing them as flawlessly as they were played this evening.  

I think I've said it before, but I like seeing my music.  I could have listened to these symphonies and enjoyed the music, but being there and seeing it makes it so much better for me.   Watching the drummers, seeing the violinists' arms moving in perfect synchrony, the concentration on some players faces and so much more.  It's all such a treat to the senses.

My favorite part this evening was the third movement of Symphony No. 4.  It was so lively and vibrant, joyful and exuberant!  Pure bliss.  You should have been there.  

Two laughs

 My west coast brother texted me twice today and each time his message made me laugh.  First he informed me that today is "Yodel for Your Neighbor Day."  Yodeling was a big deal when I was a child.  All the singing cowboys could do it.  Sadly, no matter how hard I tried, I could not yodel.  Yet another example of lack of musical ability. 

In his second message he told me that, at his annual checkup this afternoon, his doctor assured him that he is "healthier than a man twice his age."  This is actually good news.  A man twice his age would be 140 years old so, you know, dead. 

not so fast food

 This morning my west coast brother informed me that today is "Gnocchi Day" pronounced 'nyow-kee.'  Being curious, and knowing it had something to do with food, I Googled Gnocchi and discovered that they are basically potato dumplings.  They looked delicious in the pictures.  I started reading recipes, thinking maybe I would make some Gnocchi (forgetting for the moment that we don't have a kitchen right now).  As I read, I felt like I had gone down the proverbial rabbit's hole.  One recipe specifically said to use one whole egg and the yolk of a second egg, while the next recipe said never use eggs.  And so it went with just about every ingredient except potatoes.  They all agreed that there must be potatoes as the main ingredient.  

Finally I decided to see if there was another food being celebrated today and, guess what, today is "National Corn Chip Day."  Now there's a day and a recipe we could easily celebrate, even without a kitchen.  Put out a bag of chips, a bowl of salsa and a bowl of queso and dig in.  Happy Corn Chip Day everyone.  

ah, music....

 My west coast brother informed me that today is "National Blueberry Pancake Day."  We celebrated by going to Blueberry Pancake House for lunch.  But today is also "National Kazoo Day."  I'm not sure who invented the Kazoo (I'm sure you can Google it if you're really curious) but I applaud that person.  In my opinion the Kazoo is the very best instrument for a non-musical child.  I know this because as far as my musical talents are concerned, I make a really good audience.  I actually took piano lessons for a year or so as a child, no success there.  I never attempted a band instrument or marching band which would have required coordination, also not a strength of mine.  But I can play a Kazoo.  Anybody can.  I really appreciated the great blessing that a Kazoo can be when two of my granddaughters (sisters) were given violins at school and urged to join the violin orchestra (and I use that term very loosely) at their elementary school.  They practiced faithfully on those violins, often when I was watching them after school, (I think their parent planned it that way) and they performed in one school concert which I dutifully attended.  Everyone in the group seemed about equal in their violin virtuosity and the resultant performance is best forgotten.  Believe me, if they had all been playing Kazoos it would have been so much better.  I am happy to report that those granddaughters gave up their violins after one semester, much to their parents' and my relief.  They did, however, have Kazoos, which they didn't practice on nearly so much, but I really didn't mind it when they did. 

camping in....

As my faithful readers know, my spouse and I are in the process of having our kitchen remodeled.  Currently that room is just an empty shell, but we are making progress.  The city/county electrical inspector came today and approved the new wiring.  Now we're just waiting for the framing inspector to come, then the drywalling and painting can start.  Meanwhile, realizing that we simply couldn't keep eating all our meals out, we have moved our toaster and coffee maker to the basement rec room, along with a big supply of paper plates, plastic  and Styrofoam cups and plastic table ware.  

It feels like we're camping out.  Years ago, my first husband and I owned a VW mini-bus camper conversion.  We kept that 'camper' for 13 years and traveled all over the contiguous 48 states in it, with our two children and two dogs.  Camping then consisted of staying in our camper in national parks or forests, city parks that allowed camping, and sometimes in KOA campgrounds, when we needed showers.  Did you know that the KOA in Las Vegas has slot machines in the laundry room?  It's true.

Anyway, it occurred to me that, right now we have a similar set up and experience here.  We have a comfortable table in the basement rec room at which to eat casual meals (I was never much of a camp cook) and play games.  We also have a refrigerator (in the family room instead of the camper), shower facilities (more private than KOA) and, while we're in that basement retreat, a blissful absence of TV or radio.  We talk, we play games, and we go to bed early.  All commendable habits I think.  So, while I will be thrilled to have our new kitchen finished, I am going to enjoy these few weeks of "camping in."

Ouch!

 Today, once again according to my west coast brother who knows such things, is "Dental Drill Appreciation Day."  Now I ask you, is that a day anyone really wants to celebrate?  Except maybe the inventor of the drill or a sadistic dentist.  It's also "National Peanut Brittle Day" which, if you eat enough of it, could land you in the dentist's chair.  

I actually have a good relationship with my dentist.  I've been going to the same dental group since I moved back to Fort Wayne 43 years ago.  At that time my parents recommended the dentist (he was working solo then) , so it was a family thing, although I do not remember getting a family discount. Of course things have changed a little in those 43 years. These days, the dentist who checks my teeth after they have been thoroughly cleaned is either the grandson of the one I started with or one of the three other dentists on staff.  

I do try to take good care of my teeth and I guess it's working.  The last time I was there, three months ago, the dentist who checked the cleaning said that I have "the teeth of a 30 year old."  I told him that I hoped she didn't want them back. 

dinner music

 My spouse and I went out to dinner again this evening.  This is part of our ongoing quest to enjoy good restaurants (and Fort Wayne is blessed with many) while we live a kitchen-less existence.  We have set up a pretty good breakfast bar in the basement rec room so we are no longer eating out all the time.  

This evening we went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Dos Margueritas.  The food was excellent, as usual, but this evening, because it's Saturday night, we had the added pleasure of being serenaded as we ate.  The lone guitar player had a good voice, and sang a song in Spanish that sounded very romantic.  Unfortunately, he then chose to sing what I assume were the same lyrics in English. It was a recounting of what a great guy he was and all the ladies he had loved and left, really not very romantic at all.   Ah well, at least the food was good.

a strange night...

 My husband and I went to dinner and a play at Arena Dinner Theatre this evening.  The food was good - meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad and caramel apple cake - real comfort food.  Which worked well with the theme of the play - the last night on earth.  The play "The Last Quiz Night on Earth" takes place in an English pub on the evening that a giant asteroid is on a collision course with earth.  No attempts have been able to deflect it so the end is near.  Four people (the actors did an excellent job) spend their last night in a pub hosting a quiz show.  In one way it was a fun show with the audience involved in answering the quiz questions.  Our table got about half of them right.  On the other hand it was weirdly thought provoking.  I came away wondering what I would want to be doing if I knew it was my last night alive?  Certainly not sitting in a pub.  The play is on for one more weekend.  If you want a really different kind of play, I recommend it.

deciding what to wear...

 My west coast brother has informed me that today is "Clashing Clothes Day."  I have a hard time with that.  I like my clothes to coordinate, but I do admire people who are more free-wheeling about their clothing choices.  Children are the best at this.  My daughter, for example, loved to wear bright colored, patterned tights with just about any skirt and sweater.  Except, of course, in middle school when she went through her 'grunge' phase.  Of course that was a very inexpensive phase, so I didn't complain.  My son, when he was in kindergarten, wanted to wear only navy blue.  That was his "I want to be a fireman" stage.  When my granddaughters were younger, pre-teens, I would take each of them on a shopping spree as a Christmas gift.  That was always interesting.  One loved to shop at Goodwill, where she could get lots of outfits for her money, another shopped by feel.  Pants and skirts had to feel soft and look comfortable before she would even try them on.  The third granddaughter would bypass the clothes all together and head straight for the book stores.  A girl after my own heart.  After all of this reminiscing about clothes, I've just realized that my clothes clashed today.  In my defense, this is because of the cold snowy weather.  Today I wore my brown and blue Alaska moose socks, red ankle boots, black jeans, a red turtle neck, a black and tan plaid flannel shirt, a gray puffy hooded coat and turquoise gloves.  I guess I can clash with the best of them when I'm too cold to care.  But it just occurred to me, if you want your clothes to really clash, wear a suit of armor.

Now you see it....

 ...now you don't.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here are two pictures that should make things easier to understand.

The picture above was taken at 8:00am today, just before the crew showed up to demolish (their words) our kitchen.  They had scheduled a possible two days for this procedure. 

This picture was taken from the same corner of the kitchen at 11:00am.  These guys did not waste any time.  At this point it is hard to identify the room as a kitchen.  In case you're curious, the refrigerator is in the family room, still plugged in, and the stove and dishwasher, as well as all the reusable cabinets, are in the garage.  Sadly, reassembling the kitchen will not be as quick, but I will be patient and reassure myself that it will all be worth it.  Actually, having a working refrigerator in the family room is not all bad. 

To be worn again...

 This evening my granddaughter, the artistic one who is a senior at the Columbus College of Art and Design, sent me a video clip of her wearing a very special dress, a dress with a history.  Several months ago I had given her a dress that I had had since 1965.  I had woven the fabric from fine wool yarn in shades of blue, teal and green while I was in college. After I graduated I asked one of my cousins, who was a very good seamstress, to make a dress from a pattern I provided - a fitted sheath with a short skirt and cap sleeves. I wore it as a jumper with a silky blouse.  It was a nice teaching outfit. After I got married and had children the dress didn't fit anymore so I hung it away, tucked away in the back of my closet until last year.  I decided that the time had come to part with it. So I offered it to my granddaughter, telling her she could cut it up and use the fabric any way she chose. Instead she chose to wear the dress over a black long sleeved top and black tights. The video she sent shows her in the dress at a party she went to yesterday where, she said, she explained the history of the dress. It fits her perfectly, and I'm thrilled to know it's being worn again.

An interesting day...

 Today was Inauguration Day.  My spouse and I watched the news coverage of the event for several hours.  Regardless of your political persuasion, it was a chance to watch the peaceful transfer of power played out as it has been in our country for over 200 years, with pomp, ceremony, peace and civility. 

Today was also MLK day, a day to honor a great man who died too soon.

On a less serious note (thank you to my west coast brother) today is Penguin Awareness Day.  My husband and I are very aware of penguins because we hope to see many on our upcoming cruise. 

It is also National Cheese Lovers Day.  We would have celebrated with some of my husband's fabulous toasted cheese sandwiches, but, alas, the electric frying pan is hidden in the muddle of stuff removed from our kitchen for the remodel, which you have already heard about.  So we ate cold cheese sandwiches.  

And finally, today is Take a Walk Outdoors Day.  Since the temperature early this morning was minus one degree (it eventually got all the way up to ten degrees) we decided not to walk outside, at least not for long.  My wonder spouse did put the garbage and recycling bins out.  The high tomorrow is supposed to be six degrees.  We won't even talk about the wind chill.  The only walk outside will probably be bringing those pesky bins back in again.  

Tomorrow should be Honor the Garbage Persons Day.  

It's snowing...

 Traditionally January days in Fort Wayne, Indiana are gray and blah, with lots of clouds, cold rain, sometimes sleet, but no snow.  This year we do have snow, however, and some sunny snowy days.  Very pretty. A local weather person said that we have had twice as much snow as we had last winter at this time.  That's fine with me because, so far, this is being very well behaved snow, falling enough to cover the grass with two to three inches and additional one inch falls as needed to keep things looking fresh.  But offering enough time between snowfalls to clear the roads easily.  In case you're wondering, my west coast brother, who only has snow in the mountains, has informed me that today is "World Snow Day."  In unanticipated celebration of this special day, I had the most beautiful drive to church this morning.  It Was 9:30 in the morning, the sky was a light pearly blue gray, the ground was covered in white and it was snowing softly; just enough to make everything feel a little fuzzy around the edges.  There were very few cars on the road and it was an enchanting drive.  Everything blended together.  When I got to church, I met out organist just walking in the door and blurted out "Wasn't that a lovely drive this morning?"  He understood exactly what I meant and agreed completely.  It was good to know that someone else had shared my blissful snowy drive.  

Hooray for music!

 After all the hubbub of getting ready for the big kitchen remodel my spouse and I needed a break.  It happens that we have season tickets to the Philharmonic Masterworks series and this evening was the first performance of their spring series.  When I saw the word SPRING on the program booklet I wanted to cheer.  We thought we would enjoy a nice relaxing evening just sitting still and enjoying the music.  We did sit still of course, we are adults after all, but it was not at all what I would call a relaxing evening. More an edge of your seat kind of evening, especially during the second half.  The first music performed was Sibelius's Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 47.  It was moving and brought back images of Finland.  As it said in the program notes, the music was evocative of "the bleak, cold, primeval landscape" of Finland.  I've been to the far north part of Finland (their part of Lapland) and it was cold, and the temperature here is about 15 degrees this evening so I was not thrilled with this selection.  I must say though that the guest solo violinist, Paul Huang was absolutely fantastic.  

The second half of the program was Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 (said to be his best symphony and I believe it).  Shostakovich was a Russian composer who lived during the time of Stalin's brutal rule over Russia.  He wrote this symphony after Stalin's death when things began to get better in Russia.  It's a narrative in music of life under Stalin's rule and the relief felt after.  It was not easy listening.  The first movement was dark, sad and somber.  The second movement frankly scary, then the third started to lighten up, and by the end of the final movement the music was positively joyous.  I must commend the flautist who had a huge part in this symphony.  All in all, a wonderful evening at the Phil.  They never disappoint.  

However, after 

Flash back...

 I saw this stove at Stuckey's while we were shopping for a microwave earlier this week and it brought back a flood of memories. Not because I've ever owned a big six burner stove, but because of the color choices.

Notice the colors across the top of the range.  You can get this wonderful six burner stove in six different colors and I have lived with most of them.  Black is what we have now, and I like it.  Yellow (you certainly remember Harvest Gold?) is what I had for 25 years before I remodeled the kitchen in the last house I owned.  I must admit I've never had dark blue or bright red appliances, although I did have a bright red toaster.  But orange was a dominant color in my Ohio house.  Actually, in that house the kitchen counter tops were bright orange and the appliances were brown.  I think they called the color copper but it was brown.  So seventies.  There is a high school here in Fort Wayne, built in the 70s, whose colors are brown and orange.  I actually really liked that kitchen.  It was very bright and cheerful.  White was the color of the appliances in my apartment, my last home before moving here.  Not very exciting but they worked.  In case you're wondering, our new kitchen will be in very neutral colors, clean, serene, and not easily identifiable with any particular decade, although it will look NEW.  

A flea market???

 My husband and I have embarked on the adventure of having our kitchen remodeled.  It sounded fairly straightforward when we started planning the project.  In consultation with our contractors, we selected new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, paint and trim colors, drawer and door pulls, sink, faucet, over the stove microwave and other details.  We decided to keep our refrigerator, stove and dishwasher which are fairly new and work well.  Next Tuesday they will come and start to tear out the old cabinets.  This is sooner than we expected, so we spent most of yesterday and today taking everything out of our current cabinets.  We decided that the best way to handle this was to pile everything on the big table in the formal dining room.  As I write this we have about three quarters of the cabinets cleared out, and have stuff piled high on the dining room table, chairs and two card tables, plud some overflow in the family room.  This is only the stuff we decided to keep.  Some things got pitched.  We are trying to be thoughtful after all, and some things still in good condition were donated.  I mean, how many spaghetti strainers does one family need?  We even discovered some things that neither of us remembered ever seeing before, so no sentimental attachment there.  Would anyone like a "Bob the Builder" child's plate?  Right now our dining room looks like a huge stall in a flea market.  i am trying to reassure myself that we are getting the same number of cabinets (some with nice pull put drawers) that we have now so we will be able to fit in everything that has come out.  What goes up must come down, so what comes out must go in, right?

 I took these pictures this morning.  There's much more stuff there now.  

the perfect hat...

My west coast brother informed me that today is "National Hat Day." While I don't regularly wear hats these days (fake fur trimmed hood yes, hats no) there was a time in my life when hats were a really big deal.  When I was in my pre-teen and early teen years my mother and I would make at least two trips a year to the big city of Fort Wayne to do some shopping.  This almost always involved buying new hats for the season.  Spring and fall each year the stores introduced the 'color' for that season.  One year the fall color was royal blue, very pretty.  I believe my hat that year was a pill box style.  Every Sunday all of the women from toddlers on up came to church wearing hats and gloves, and carrying purses of course.  Even in the summer time.  In fact I remember my father teasing us once about wearing gloves in the summer.  White sheer light weight gloves of course, with little ruffles at the wrist. As I've grown older, I think I've come to understand why hard working women of my mother's era and earlier wore gloves to church and other fancy occasions.  It was to cover up those aging work worn hands.  Hummm.  Just looking at my hands here in the bright light of my desk lamp, perhaps I'll go back to wearing gloves to church, and, while I'm at it, why not a hat?  Does anyone know where I can buy a hat?

really fine...

 My spouse and I eat out fairly often, probably once a week at least, but that's just eating out.  This evening, to celebrate our first anniversary, we indulged in $$ FINE DINING $$.  Instead of our usual haunts, which all have really good food, we went to Eddie Merlot's.  We dressed up and everything.  The food was excellent (best filet I've ever had), the service impeccable, soft lighting, beautifully set tables and a very nice but not overly attentive waitress.  We were seated at a U shaped booth where we sat side by side and observed all the action.  No scooting around the bench seat though.  When we were led to our table, the hostess pulled the table completely out, so we could be seated, then pushed it back in place in front of us.  The procedure was reversed when we were ready to leave. It was all in all a delightful experience with only two jarringly funny notes.  The carts laden with meals that were pushed around the room were loud.  It sounded like they had wooden wheels reverberating on the lovely hardwood floors.  My husband said it reminded him of scenes in old movies where people in carts were being hauled off to the guillotine.  It didn't happen often but we thought it was pretty funny in that oh so lovely setting.  The other incident happened as we were getting ready to leave.  We realized that we didn't have anything smaller than a ten dollar bill with which to tip the coat check person, so we asked our waitress if she could get us change - two fives for the ten.  Poor lady, I think she thought we were going to leave her a $5 tip.  But my wonder spouse came through with his usual generosity, so she probably brightened up after we left and she saw her actual tip.  After all that, we came home and had champaign to toast our new year.  Cheers everybody!!

cheers...

 This evening my spouse and I drank a toast of delicious champagne in beautiful Waterford crystal flutes that we received as wedding gifts last year.  The toast was to a year just finished (our first as husband and wife) and to a new year, beginning tomorrow, with just as much joyous fun but, hopefully, a little less drama and better health.  Last year at this time, I was so sick that I could barely stand up for our wedding vows.  I know I was there.  We have pictures to prove it, but two days after the wedding I ended up in the hospital for ten days with acute kidney injury and covid.  Three months later, I came out of the brain fog of long covid and and was able to function normally.  During all this time my spouse took care of me, while moving all of my belongings from my apartment to our house.  No surprise that I call him my Wonder Spouse.  So here we are now, on the brink of year two - our anniversary is actually tomorrow - and we are both healthy and excitedly looking forward to taking this next year a day at a time, because what else can you do? 

memories of home

 My west coast brother informs me that today is "National Glazed Doughnut Day" and "National Hot Tea Day."  Two absolute staples of my growing up years.  My mother made the world's strongest coffee, which my father seemed to love, but she was convinced that coffee was only for adults (and hers probably was).  Tea, on the other hand, was perfectly acceptable for children to drink, so our morning brew was hot tea with milk and sugar.  I'm proud to say that I was able to continue the tradition with my children, and even my grandchildren when they lived with me.  And they seem to have suffered no ill effects. Glazed doughnuts, on the other hand, were a summer treat.  

Back in the day we lived in the country, and quite a few delivery trucks were part of our routine.  If Mom put a certain card in the front window, the dry cleaner's truck would stop and pick up whatever we needed cleaned.  The "Jewel Tea" truck would stop by regularly with spices, teas, coffee, extracts and other items.  We even had a truck that would stop by a few times a year with fish on dry ice for sale.  But most wonderfully, the Nichol's Bakery truck would come once a week.  During the school year we bought bread but in the summer, when the Nichol's Bakery truck came, Mom would buy the usual bread order, but also a box of one dozen sugar glazed doughnuts.  In my memory this was always on a Wednesday morning.  As soon as the truck left, we would have a midmorning snack of milk (it was too hot for tea) and doughnuts.  I would like to think that we saved one for my father, but between the four of us (Mom, my two brothers and myself) we ate the whole dozen.  I don't know if Dad even knew they existed. In case you're wondering if we were all fat little piggies, no we weren't.  We all grew long and lean and worked and played outside enough to burn off all the calories.  In fact, I'm not sure if we had even heard of calories back then.  Such a blissfully ignorant existence.  

A snowy day

Today was a beautiful sunny day with a fresh three inch cover of snow all over.  Simply sparkling!  It was also, according to my west coast brother, "Girl Hug Boy Day."  Now, I'm far beyond considering myself a girl but there was a boy I would have liked to hug today.  Not my spouse.  Don't get me wrong, my spouse is very huggable and we hug often but this was different.  After breakfast this morning my spouse announced that he was going to go out and shovel the snow from our walks and driveway.  I was reluctant to see him do this, even though I know he's in great health.  I was unable to help due to my recent sternum injury.  He assured me he would take frequent breaks and off he went to get his coat and boots on.  Just then the doorbell rang, and there stood a strapping youth (the boy I wanted to hug) who offered to shovel all our walks and the driveway for $25. I'm not sure what the going rate for snow removal is but this seemed reasonable to us and we accepted his offer.  An hour later he was finished.  He did such a fine job that we asked him to come back anytime it snows again this winter, and he suggested that he also come back and rake our leaves in the fall.  We have his name and phone number, know that he lives about a block away from us, and best of all, he's a freshman in high school so he will be around for a while.  Isn't it good to know that there are hardworking teens out there?  

before

                                                                        after

It's thriving...

 Today (thanks again to my west coast brother for the information) is "House Plant Appreciation Day."  It's also "Peculiar People Day" but I don't think that means that people who have house plants are peculiar.  I have a house plant (singular) while my spouse has five house plants.  Just one more way that we are a blended family.  I have had my house plant since 2006.  I'm not sure if that is a good life span for a house plant but it seems to be doing ok.  It's been with me through home ownership and apartment living, where it spent summers on the balcony, and now in a house again.  Actually, my house plant is really living the good life here.  My general philosophy of plant care amounts to watering them if they gasp as I walk by.  This may explain why I was down to one house plant when I moved here.  My wonder spouse, on the other hand, is a very conscientious plant care provider.  He waters them all, two times a week, and adds plant food to the water on a regular schedule.  My house plant has never had it so good.  For that matter, neither have I.  Except for his irritating habit of winning at Scrabble (yes, again this evening) my spouse really is a good guy. He may be a little peculiar at times, but aren't we all?  

 My west coast brother has informed me that today is "National Word Nerd Day." It's also "National Static Electricity Day" but I don't know where to go with that. So let's think about words instead.  I am blessed with many friends who I would certainly consider Word Nerds.  Just this morning, for instance, a friend texted me using 'diabolically' and 'diverse' and she was just talking about Wordle.   You must admit those are good words. My spouse is, if possible, even more of a Word Nerd than I am.  The big clue is that one of our favorite games is Scrabble.  I knew for sure though that he was a Word Nerd when, as he was getting out of bed one morning, he announced that he had "achieved verticality."  After I figured out what he meant I rolled over and went back to sleep.  But I did admire his verbosity. 

Kicking the habit...

 Reminiscing about dolls yesterday reminded me of another incident from my childhood that I want to share.  When my younger brother (not my west coast aka baby brother, but the one who was two years younger than me) was almost eight years old and I was ten he was still sucking his thumb.  It was his left thumb and he had quite a callous on it.  I don't think he sucked it at school, or if he did he was large enough that nobody picked on him about it.  This was during the era of Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger ("Happy Trails" and "Hi Oh Silver, Away") on the radio, and my brother and the neighbor boy and I played cowboys and Indians (please don't be offended, we didn't call them Native Americans back then) in the orchard located conveniently half way between our two houses.  The trees were old and gnarly and very easy to climb.  I, being the oldest, usually got to figure out the story line and frequently played the starring role.  I especially like being the Indian princess, but sometimes I was Dale Evans.  The only thing lacking were guns.  My mother was really opposed to guns of any sort, but that didn't stop us.  We crafted pistols out of sticks or clothes pins.  Finally my mother realized she was fighting a loosing battle but decided to use her capitulation to her advantage.  She made a deal with my brother. It was spring, school was out for the summer and his birthday was coming up in July.  She told him that if he would stop sucking his thumb he would get a set of two cap pistols with fancy belt and holsters for his birthday.  His dream come true.  You have never seen a child kick a habit so quickly and so completely.  It should be so easy for smokers.

Hello Dolly!

 The mystery is solved.  Our son and daughter-in-law left the 1943 card for us to find thinking I might know someone to give it to, and I think I do.  They bought it at a 'discount bin place' for 50 cents and worth every penny.  But even after I knew this, one part of the card kept running through my mind - the reference to a Betsy Wetsy doll.  I had a Betsy Wetsy doll.  Very "realistic" - you put a tiny bottle with water in it into its little open mouth and squeezed.  The doll 'drank' the water and pretty soon it came leaking out the other end into its little diaper.  I don't remember why that seemed like so much fun.  Dolls were a big part of my childhood.  When I was five my father built me a beautiful little cradle and Christmas morning it was under the tree with little twin baby dolls in it.  They didn't do anything but they were so cute.  I had a cousin just a year older than me and we played with dolls whenever we got together. I had one beautiful doll, a forerunner of the American Girl dolls. We had to replace the wig on that one after my younger brother (not my west coast brother) plucked all the fuzz off its head to rub under his nose while he sucked his thumb. There's nothing sadder than a beautiful doll with a big bald spot on the top of her head.  That doll went from being a curly red head to a blond with long braids.  There was a doll hospital in New Haven where the transformation took place.  In addition to real dolls, my cousin and I spent a lot of time playing with paper dolls - the little dolls with lots of cute clothes that came before Barbies.  We spent hours dressing those dolls in the costumes they came with, usually in book format where all the clothes needed to be cut out.  Being very careful not to cut off the tabs.  We also traced around the dolls and created our own fabulous styles.  Another wonderful source of paper clothes were the Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs.  Those big fat books contained pages and pages of women's fashions and we could always find some that would fit our paper dolls.  Those dolls didn't come with beach houses or pink cars but I'm pretty sure we had just as much fun with them as little girls playing with Barbies do now.    

the mystery gift

 Today, as my spouse and I were packing away the last of the Christmas decor scattered around the house, we found a clear plastic wrapped flat package which had slid down between the family room couch and an end table.  When we opened it we discovered a large tri-fold card titled "Back in 1943."  Neither of us had seen this before.  We think that someone may have brought it to my birthday party earlier in December (because we had said cards, no gifts) and while here realized that, since I had just turned 80, I must have been born in 1944 not 1943.  So, our best guess is they just left it behind??? However it happened I am enjoying looking at it.  It lists all sorts of things that happened between 1948 and 1968, from the time I started kindergarten to the year I got married the first time.  Definitely my formative years.  Here are some of my favorites - Sky King and Lassie on TV, also Leave it to Beaver and Gunsmoke, my Betsy Wetsy doll, the "Little House" books, Bazooka Bubblegum, Tootsie Rolls, proms, and Elvis Presley (I saw him in concert when I was 13).  Thank you, thank you to the mystery person who left this behind.  It's being lots of fun.  

Good times...

 Recently I've received emails from high school classmates reminiscing about the "good old days."  I've also seen similar posts on Facebook with pictures questioning if I remember certain devices and how we used them.  Yes, in case you're wondering, I do know how to use a dial telephone and I know what a 'church key' was for.  However today I realized that there are a lot of things to celebrate about the Good New Days.  For example, this morning my spouse and I chose to stay home and attend church on line.  It was a very cold morning.  The service was lovely, the sermon was excellent, and we even had our choice of wine for communion.  I don't do couch church every Sunday, but it's a nice option to have available.  Later in the day when we had to go out, we enjoyed the luxury of seat heaters in our car.  My father's Chevy never had those, let alone my grandpa's one-horse power surrey.  Can you imagine what a cold ride that must have been?  Just writing this on my laptop I remember the frustration of learning to type using carbon paper to make copies.  There's a reason I never became a secretary.  One more example - on Tuesday evening I will be attending a committee meeting by Zoom.  Now there is an excellent modern invention.  We all agreed it would be more convenient that way.  Yes!  Let's hear it for the good new days.  

tree down...

Here's a picture of our Christmas tree as it looked in all its glory  when we set it up in December.

And here is how it looks this evening after being totally de-constructed.  All branches removed and stored in a large bin, and the top covered with a large trash bag to keep it dust free in the basement until next year.

About half way through the deconstruction process each year (especially when I'm fighting with the lights that have somehow gotten tangled while just being on the tree) is when I start to think that I really should get a new tree.  This one is, after all, over 40 years old.  My kids and grandkids have grown up with this tree.  I could get a nifty, easy to fold away pre-lit tree, possibly less than seven feet tall.  Just unfold it and add some ornaments.  I could do that and I might do that, maybe next year? Or maybe not.  
 

Really???

 Imagine my astonishment when my west coast brother told me that he cooked aebleskivers and bacon for his grandchildren this morning for breakfast.  Who knew that he knew how to prepare such a delectable dish?  I certainly didn't.  But then, to be perfectly honest, I had never even heard of aebleskivers until today.  It's not part of my German heritage.  My west coast brother further assured me that he does indeed have the proper pan for baking aebleskivers.  It seems that his daughter (the mother of the grandchildren for whom he was cooking today) gave him the pan some years ago.  That was rather clever of her I think.  The pan he has can make waffles, pancakes or aebleskivers, but only one at a time.  Hummm??? My wonder spouse is a very good cook. Perhaps I should get him an aebleskivers pan as a belated Christmas gift?  The kind of gift that keeps on giving.  Perhaps I'll sleep on it.  Today is, after all, "Festival of Sleep Day."  I think it's not a coincidence that this comes right after the holidays.  Good night.  Sleep well. Perhaps you'll dream of aebleskivers

What goes up...

 ..must come down. I'm sure you are familiar with that wise old saying.  I first learned the truth of it as a child while tossing a baseball up in the air.  One missed catch smacked me in the nose. 

But now I am confronted with a different kind of coming down. Emotionally, my spouse and I are coming down from the high of holiday entertaining and travel to face the grim reality.   It's time to take down my good old tree.  It is not a throwaway.  We will box it up until next year.  We're making some progress.  We actually hauled up all of the Ornament boxes from their storage space in the basement.  

We were getting a start on the undecorating when my spouse's son stopped by to pick up a dish left behind on Christmas day.  We visited for a while and munched on some leftover Christmas candy, before finally deciding that we really should go out for pizza. That is what you do, after all, when all of the Christmas leftovers have finally been consumed. 

And so we did, and so we shall take down the tree tomorrow.  And if that doesn't work out, there's always Saturday. 

No thank you...

 Well, 2025 is off to a good start for my spouse and myself.  We have enjoyed not going anywhere or doing anything except relaxing.  I did get a few thank you notes written and we both ate more than we should have of gift cookies and rum balls.  What we did not do, however, is take the Polar Plunge.  Many people did.  It looked like a big crowd on TV.  My west coast brother informed me that people in Washington state were also stripping down to their bathing suits and jumping into frigid water.  Evidently the water around here was about 40 degrees.  Burrrrrr!!  One young man being interviewed explained to the well bundled up reporter that it was "fun and exhilarating."  At least I think that's what he said.  His teeth were chattering so much it was hard to tell.  Not only do I not want to take the Polar Plunge, I don't even want to go stand around and watch as others do it.  Not sure if that makes me old, or just sensible.  I can live with either label.