Eighteen
What a great evening! As usual on Wednesdays, I headed over to Bob's house to play old-time tunes with an assortment of friends and band-mates. Much to my delight, Curtis and Dennis Buckhannon were there. They're not only great musicians - in my opinion, Curtis may be the best old-time mandolin player around - but all 'round nice guys. I never laugh as much as I do when I'm in Curtis' and Dennis' company.
The bunch of us played a lot of great tunes, listened to Curtis and Lindell play more, recalling the hey days of Cousing Curtis and the Cash Rebates, reminisced and groaned at the torrent of awful puns. I wish it had never ended. But we're all old guys (except guitar-player Ellen who is neither old or guy) and the fun can't go on all night anymore.
Then, as I was driving home and just three blocks from there, who should pull up behind me flashing her lights, but my sweetie, Jane. She'd jsut gotten done with a late night pet visit in my neighborhood and saw my car as I drove past.
We headed over to my place where we sat on the deck, had a couple of glasses of wine, and I listened while Jane poured out the tale of her long and stressful day. From there, we talked about what's going on with some of our friends and the play that I'm getting ready to direct. Really a wonderful conversation. I only wish she didn't have to get up so early so she could have slept over. Even so, I can't think of a more pleasant or relaxing way to end a beautiful evening.
Nineteen
Wine I'm drinking: Cupcake Pinot Noir
Book I'm reading: This Wide Night by Chloe Moss
Dinner tonight: Green salad and a chicken sandwich
Wow! Is it ever hot around here! As I left work this afternoon, the radio said it was 109 degrees fahrenheit. Fortunately for everyone here in Missouri, the humidity was so much lower than normal that the extreme heat was bearable if you didn't have to be out in it too long.
All in all, though, it was a good evening. After work, I headed out to Maplewood, one of our inner-ring suburbs to meet with people from The Folk School of St. Louis to talk over some plans that they have for expanding the reach and community of the school. After talking with them, I have some concerns. But, I think that may be due to an inherent resistance to change. In all honesty, I can see that this set of changes has the potential to be very good for an organization that is dear to me.
After the meeting, since I was already near my mom and dad's house, I stopped by there and helped my sister with some computer problems she was having. Really simple stuff, but if you don't work with the computer every day, these kinds of things can be mystifying. Stopping in gave me a chance to visit with my brother, sister and mom. For some reason, I wasn't as frustrated by the family dynamic as I usually am and was able to laugh at some of their usually annoying idiosyncrasies. Maybe I'm maturing about it. Maybe I'm just generally happier these days. Maybe I was just worn out from the heat?
While at mom and dad's, I was surprised by a visit from my daughter, China! Always good to see her. She's just the best kid around. China is taking a water aerobics class at a nearby municipal pool with my sister and I think it's doing them both worlds of good. So, we got to visit briefly before she had to run off to her class. She relayed that her almost-10-month-old daughter, Callie, the best grand daughter in the world is now saying "fish" as well as her previous vocabulary and playing a "what's that" game. She apparently also thinks that her dad is Barack Obama. I mean, her dad is a tall black man, and a pretty good guy, but he's no President of the U.S.
Speaking of the President, how about that Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Health Care Act today? Pretty great if you ask me. And President Obama has a lot to be proud of there. Now he's got to get the message out that this law will be good for the country, good for the economy, and is just plain the right thing to do. His work is cut out for him! I've been following the news coverage on PBS (when I wasn't watching Doc Martin) since I got home and had some dinner. I've just been beaming about it the whole time.
Now, I'm darned tired and am going to read a little before going to sleep. 'Nite all.
Showing posts with label Love My Pet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love My Pet. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Day Nine (or Five Through Seven)
What I'm reading: Joyce's Ulysses
Current wine: Cellar No. 8 Pinot Noir
Current emotion: Happier and more confident than I've been for a couple of weeks.
It's been a few days since I've had time to gather my thoughts and sit down in front of the computer. So, this evening, I'm going to see how it works to condense the last few days into a single post.
Day Five: A friend's mother passed away a few days ago and Jane and I went to the funeral today. She was 90 years old and had been ill for quite a while, but she was sharp and active right up until a month or so before the end. Sad to see her go, but very happy for her that she's left her body and is off on a new adventure. The funeral mass was what I had expected: ritual, songs, and a priest that didn't know Fran well and didn't really know what to say. I was surprised that since I left the Catholic church a few years ago -- can it really be 15 years since I've been to mass?-- that so many of the responses to the liturgy have changed. It made me a little nostalgic but also comfortable with my Buddhist practice.
After the funeral, Jane and I escaped the meet and greet line to have lunch at a little tavern near the church. We sat on their deck and had glasses of chardonnay (her) and Guinness (me) and talked about how we're getting older and losing more friends and relatives. Of course, it wasn't all gloom and doom. We laughed about things and talked about the here and now as well. It was good. Lunch was crab cakes and a small salad for both of us. Then, Jane had to get off to some pet visits (her business is Love My Pet pet sitting and walking) and I went home and logged on to get some work done.
In the evening, we met the bereaved for drinks at O'C's and stayed far too late. I left the pub in a state of unease and sadness. Another friend had been with us and she became upset when she found out that the funeral had been that morning. She somehow missed the obituary in the paper (as had I) and felt that we should have told her about it. Though, how we could have known that she didn't know is beyond me. Still, she was quiet and pouted and was obviously determined to be upset. It bothered me more than I should have let it.
Day Six: In the morning, Jane and I performed a short play for a local AARP chapter. It was fun, though a little chaotic as we were arriving. Plans were a little confused, and we were later than they were expecting. It all turned out fine, though and a splendid time was had by all. Then off to lunch at Pi with Jane & Cindy. We all had beers, pizza and a delicious salad of lettuce, beets and mandarin slices with a vinaigrette. A nap in the afternoon and then Jane and I saw Act Inc's Travels With My Aunt based on Graham Greene's book. It was about 80% wonderful. The actors were all terrific and the simplicity of the costumes and sets gave the play a great deal of style. There were about 20 minutes in the second act that dragged. But I'm not sure if that's the fault of the script or the director. Even so, it was pretty darned good.
I had hoped to stay over at Jane's, but we were both worn out and it didn't happen. That, of course set me to worrying that she's tired of me or that I'd done something to make her mad at me. But when I look at it from a non-magical-thinking perspective, I believe we were both just tired and there's nothing to worry about.
Day Seven: I'll be directing a show in the fall for West End Players Guild called This Wide Night and met for lunch with Carrie who has been my assistant director and stage manager for several shows. I like working with her a lot and am glad she can do this one. We talked about the script, possible casting choices, designers we'd like to talk with and what's been going on with the two of our lives since we last sat down to talk. It was great and I wish I could do more of that; just meeting a friend for a meal and a good conversation. But I never seem to find the time for it.
I knew that Sunday would be busy with various activities for Father's Day and a meeting in the early evening. So, I went to visit with my dad. Take him a card and a present. When I got there, he was alone and a little confused. Dad is in the late-middle stages of dementia and is worsening quickly. My mother is still around and a brother and sister are living at home, but they had all gone to a show and Dad was there by himself. I sat with him and we talked a little, though he isn't much for conversation and never was. He watched some movie that he'd seen several times before and wanted to explain to me what was happening with the characters. It was a little sad, but I was happy to be able to spend some time with him. Who knows how much longer that will be possible.
That evening , it was back to the same pub for drinks with Jane, Cindy, and Chuck L. who had been reviewing a musical that evening. We drank too much (is this looking like a pattern for the weekend?) and solved the problems of the theater world. Much fun.
And..... I'm afraid I'm running out of steam and will have to finish this post tomorrow. Good night to all.
Current wine: Cellar No. 8 Pinot Noir
Current emotion: Happier and more confident than I've been for a couple of weeks.
It's been a few days since I've had time to gather my thoughts and sit down in front of the computer. So, this evening, I'm going to see how it works to condense the last few days into a single post.
Day Five: A friend's mother passed away a few days ago and Jane and I went to the funeral today. She was 90 years old and had been ill for quite a while, but she was sharp and active right up until a month or so before the end. Sad to see her go, but very happy for her that she's left her body and is off on a new adventure. The funeral mass was what I had expected: ritual, songs, and a priest that didn't know Fran well and didn't really know what to say. I was surprised that since I left the Catholic church a few years ago -- can it really be 15 years since I've been to mass?-- that so many of the responses to the liturgy have changed. It made me a little nostalgic but also comfortable with my Buddhist practice.
After the funeral, Jane and I escaped the meet and greet line to have lunch at a little tavern near the church. We sat on their deck and had glasses of chardonnay (her) and Guinness (me) and talked about how we're getting older and losing more friends and relatives. Of course, it wasn't all gloom and doom. We laughed about things and talked about the here and now as well. It was good. Lunch was crab cakes and a small salad for both of us. Then, Jane had to get off to some pet visits (her business is Love My Pet pet sitting and walking) and I went home and logged on to get some work done.
In the evening, we met the bereaved for drinks at O'C's and stayed far too late. I left the pub in a state of unease and sadness. Another friend had been with us and she became upset when she found out that the funeral had been that morning. She somehow missed the obituary in the paper (as had I) and felt that we should have told her about it. Though, how we could have known that she didn't know is beyond me. Still, she was quiet and pouted and was obviously determined to be upset. It bothered me more than I should have let it.
Day Six: In the morning, Jane and I performed a short play for a local AARP chapter. It was fun, though a little chaotic as we were arriving. Plans were a little confused, and we were later than they were expecting. It all turned out fine, though and a splendid time was had by all. Then off to lunch at Pi with Jane & Cindy. We all had beers, pizza and a delicious salad of lettuce, beets and mandarin slices with a vinaigrette. A nap in the afternoon and then Jane and I saw Act Inc's Travels With My Aunt based on Graham Greene's book. It was about 80% wonderful. The actors were all terrific and the simplicity of the costumes and sets gave the play a great deal of style. There were about 20 minutes in the second act that dragged. But I'm not sure if that's the fault of the script or the director. Even so, it was pretty darned good.
I had hoped to stay over at Jane's, but we were both worn out and it didn't happen. That, of course set me to worrying that she's tired of me or that I'd done something to make her mad at me. But when I look at it from a non-magical-thinking perspective, I believe we were both just tired and there's nothing to worry about.
Day Seven: I'll be directing a show in the fall for West End Players Guild called This Wide Night and met for lunch with Carrie who has been my assistant director and stage manager for several shows. I like working with her a lot and am glad she can do this one. We talked about the script, possible casting choices, designers we'd like to talk with and what's been going on with the two of our lives since we last sat down to talk. It was great and I wish I could do more of that; just meeting a friend for a meal and a good conversation. But I never seem to find the time for it.
I knew that Sunday would be busy with various activities for Father's Day and a meeting in the early evening. So, I went to visit with my dad. Take him a card and a present. When I got there, he was alone and a little confused. Dad is in the late-middle stages of dementia and is worsening quickly. My mother is still around and a brother and sister are living at home, but they had all gone to a show and Dad was there by himself. I sat with him and we talked a little, though he isn't much for conversation and never was. He watched some movie that he'd seen several times before and wanted to explain to me what was happening with the characters. It was a little sad, but I was happy to be able to spend some time with him. Who knows how much longer that will be possible.
That evening , it was back to the same pub for drinks with Jane, Cindy, and Chuck L. who had been reviewing a musical that evening. We drank too much (is this looking like a pattern for the weekend?) and solved the problems of the theater world. Much fun.
And..... I'm afraid I'm running out of steam and will have to finish this post tomorrow. Good night to all.
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