So now I know

I've been weaving scarves for my grandchildren as their Christmas presents.  People have asked me how long it takes me to weave a scarf and I wasn't really sure.  It's one of those projects that you can pick up and put down.  But today I've been working on one that I need to finish before Christmas and I figured out that actual weaving time works out to about nine inches an hour.  The scarves contain 72 inches of woven fabric (11  inches wide in case you're curious) so that means each scarf takes about eight hours of actual weaving time, not counting the finish work.  So now you know what I've been doing in my spare time today - four hours to go on this one.  Which further explains why this is such a late and short blog.  

It could be true.

Today, according to my calendar, is "Wright Brothers Day."  It seems to me that this day should be more widely celebrated than it is but I will admit that December is a pretty busy month so I guess I understand.  Here's a related fact that I just learned today.  When Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, he had a piece of fabric from the left wing (actual not political) of the 1903 Wright Flyer along with a piece of wood from the airplane's left propeller in his pocket." I am assuming he had permission to take these items with him and wasn't involved in a bit of vandalism.  Personally, I'm interested in this special day because, according to my mother, our family is distantly related to the Wright brothers.  My mother's mother's maiden name was Wright and she was a second or third cousin.  So there you have it, our family's only known clain to fame.  Although, now that I think of it, we are actually related to Frank Lloyd Wright also.  My mother received a tiny little bit of an inheritance after he died.  So I guess we have two claims to fame, but all in the same family.  I should really do some research someday.  

Another fun Arena experience

Last evening three friends and I attended a play at Arena Dinner Theater.  So-so dinner but really good play. It was a musical comedy called "She Loves Me" and, according to the program, takes place in 1934 in Budapest.  Thankfully, the really excellent actors did not try to speak with Hungarian accents.  Until the play started I was sure I had never heard of it before, but in the first scene there was a plot twist involving a musical cigarette box, and I knew, when I saw that, that I had seen the play before.  The play was written in the 1960s so it's not surprising that I mught have seen it but I can't remember where or when.  Someone suggested that it might have been at Stratford but I don't think so.  I think the production last night was better than the first time I saw it.  While Arena puts on really good plays they can't top a Stratford production.  I would be recommending that everyone go see this play but last night was the last performance.  If you  ever do get a chance to see it, it's lots of fun.  

Happy Birthday to me

In truly contemporary fashion my birthday greetings today came in many forms including real actual cards (some even came in the mail), texts, facebook and even one real live phone call.  This evening my daughter and family took me out to dinner at Wu's.  They let me suggest the place, Chinese was fine with them, and I didn't realize that they had never been there before.  I'm happy to report that they enjoyed it very much.  The five of us were seated at a round table with a 'lazy Susan'* in the center, making it easy to pass dishes.  All in all, it was a lovely evening. Everyone enjoyed their food.
*By the way, my friend Susan finds the term 'lazy Susan' somewhat offensive while I dislike the phrase 'loosey goosie'.  Lucys and Susans of the world unite!

Party Time

I almost didn't go.  This evening our apartment complex held their anuual Christmas party in the penthouse of the other building.  This is always a fun event with drinks, munchies, a canned food collectiom and a chance to visit with neighbors.  I had been out most of the day at meetings and was really tired when I got home this evening, about 6:30.  I had just about decided that I wouldn't go when I met two of my neighbors coming out of the elevator as I was waiting for it. They were all cheery (perhaps they had started partying earlier) and asked if I was coming to the party.  I told them maybe, came on up to my apartment and then decide to be a little sociable.  So I gathered up a little canned food to take to the party and headed over to the other building.  For the cans of food I got 5 tickets for the prize drawing.  No idea yet if I've won anything, but I had some spiked eggnog and got involved in conversation with neighbors I knew and some I didn't. These were two young couples who actually live right down the hall from me and I had a good time learning about their job searches, recently earned degrees and mutual interests like travel and theater.  I've said it before.  One of the great pleasures of living here is being able to see young faces.  I'll be 74 tomorrow, far and away the oldest one in our cheery group this evening, and I'm not kidding anyone with my looks but it really is fun to interact with younger people.  Let's hear it for age diversity.  

A smooth edge indeed

More lovely Christmas music.  This evening I enjoyed a concert at our church (First Pres) given by a group called "Smooth Edge 2."  They are billed as an a cappella jazz group.  Their eight voices blend together to create an amazing sound.  It feels like there are musical instruments involved but it's all vocal and quite impressive.  This is the third time I have heard this group and they only get better.  Tonight we enjoyed jazzy interpretations of several Christmas classics plus some songs that were new to me.  All in all a delightful evenng. I recommend this group.  

Good Old and Brand New

I love it when old and new technologies merge for fun.  Yesterday I picked up my granddaughter for a day of shopping and a sleep-over.  She had agreed to be my fashion consultant in the selection of gifts for my 'angel tree' girl.  As we were driving from her home to Kohl's (I had some really good coupons) she mentioned that a friend of hers was playing Snoopy in the Fort Wayne Youththeater production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  We decided it would be fun to go and she checked the times on her phone.  The play was on at noon, and by juggling our very flexible schedule for the day we could make that performance. Next step, still on her phone of course, she checked availability of tickets.  This was at 10:15am and she discovered that there were 4 tickets left.  She then used my credit card to reserve two of those tickets.  We did some quick shopping, got to the theater in plenty of time, our tickets were waiting, and we had a fine time enjoying the good old Charlie Brown story which was first aired as a TV show in the 60's, (very old tech). "Snoopy" did a great job with her part, as did all the other young actors, and she was delighted that my granddaughter was able to come and see the play. Isn't it fun when new tech and old tech create such a happy result?