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.