A Wild & Crazy Night

Liz treated Tricia  & me to an evening of Dina Martina at the Re-Bar. Quite an experience. Dina is hilarious, a little naughty and still remains sweet.
I would go again. Maybe the Spring show.

 I treated for dinner at Habesha Ethiopia restaurant.  They serve good vegetarian fare as well as meat for those who feel the need.

When we arrived at Re-Bar we had problem trying to find  three seats.  Liz and Tricia went on a mission to find them. When we were finally seated I  viewed the rather tacky environment  and asked Trish ( who lives in NYC) if she thought this was Off Broadway or Off Off Broadway.  She said Off off off off off off Broadway.
Dina is a great entertainer, writer and singer ( I mean Dina is great at portraying a really horrific singer)

We all enjoyed the show.

Christmas Gathering

December 26 was a great day.  No major foul-ups.  I did forget to take the healthy juice, filtered water complete with filtered water ice cubes out of the fridge. Also forgot the fresh shrimp.
A big forgot was a family photo.....maybe next year.

Besides our family, we enjoyed the company of  Nancy and Don (step-parents of John Hilgedick, and our friends Joanna and Rachael.
It was especially fun having Joanna & Rachael . It was like having more family, without the pain of child birth.  They are featured in the top photo.

Summer phoned to see if it was OK to stop by, so several persons who were ready to head home were nice enough to stay. Mike, Joe, Deb & Tricia  and Liz, John & family

Zoe made an interesting comment earlier in the day. She said she hates to open presents in front of people and would rather open them in a dark closet all by herself. It reminded me of how I did not enjoy showers. I appreciated them but didn't enjoy the fuss.



My usual routine  is to make notes of what worked & what could be changed. I'll have to think about that one.

Just had a delicious dinner of leftover rice & beans, green beans, green salad topped with Svetlana's cabbage salad. One advantage of cooking extra food is that I won't cook  for the rest of the week.
About the beans. I always add fennel seed to the pot. It seems to prevent gas.

Midnight Mass

This is one of my favorite things.  I just hope I remember all the words, all the notes, and all the places we are supposed to be at specific moments. Singing at St. James can be a challenge but it is so worth it. I'll be singing here until I can no longer drive or sing..whichever comes first.

Santa Joanna and Rachael etc.

A special place in heaven is being reserved for those who spent ten hours at St. James on Sunday.

Now, if they don't  blow it by doing something really evil.

Groove for Thought

Joe and I  were watching the "Sing- off"  on TV.   We listened to a jazz group called "Groove for Thought" .
 We were interested since  the vocalists were  music teachers from Seattle.
Actually, I know at least one is from Renton. His name is Kelly Kunz. His daughter Amanda was also in the group. Photo of Mrs. Kelly Kunz ( also named Kelly and daughter Amanda)
When I went  back to College I signed up for regular classes plus Music Theory and a choral group.
A new teacher, Roger Treese, changed choral to Jazz. I told him I was not a jazz singer but he persuaded me to give it a try and I loved it.
When he moved on, Kelly Kunz was head of music. He was a serious musician, an accomplished bassist and he wanted a great jazz group. At HCC the group was all women. (see photo) I had to audition 3 times before he allowed me to be part of the mix. I had to prove I could sing without vibrato and agree to sing alto.
When he moved to Pierce College I decided to stay with him. 
We were very lucky to have a professional musical trio accompany us when we performed. It was a lot of work and great fun. The young people tolerated having an older woman in the group.  The group was called Farwest Jazz.

I can't honestly say that I immediately recognized Kelly.
My friend John Burton called  to ask if I'd seen Kelly and his daughter on "Sing-Off".
I went online to watch  and there he was...it brought back memories of this older woman singing with a group of much younger women at HCC then following the director (I stalked him)  to Pierce CC where we had a much better group including male voices.I don't have a photo of the group but the two young women in photos were in group.
A great way to learn music.

Gilman Village Experience

The" Caroleers" sang at Gilman Village each year. One of the members owned a gift shop and was in charge of holiday planning for the Village.
One year we were singing outdoors on this platform  and it collapsed.  We felt a little ridiculous but kept singing
in a lower key!

Christmas Memories ..The Caroleers 1987

It was a wonderful experience singing with the "Caroleers".
  We rode on a special bus that  stopped at many hospitals in Seattle and surrounding areas.   Many of the vocalists had been doing this since 1960. Quite a few also sang with Seattle Symphony Chorale.  One of the sopranos was a bit of a  diva and had an unpleasant speaking voice, but when she sang it was angelic.

We performed for many hospitals, homes and schools, including Children Orthopedic, Swedish, Providence,  Virginia Mason, Doctors, to name a few and also at South Center Mall and Gilman Village.


I remember singing carols  to children with shaven heads. I felt we were getting in the way,   but the nurses were very appreciative and assured us that the children loved the music.

One year my dad was in the hospital during the Christmas holidays.  I asked if we could go to his room and sing. My sister Judy was in the room with him. The music brought tears to her eyes.
Dad seemed very happy to see me and  hear the singing.

I will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to sing for my Dad.

As I remember it he passed away on December 29 1987.

Wet and Wonderful Day at Starfire

Joe and I felt a little crazy going to a soccer game on such a  wet and soggy day.   We left mass after communion and managed to arrive just as game was about to begin. We were able to find a parking space since people were leaving from the last game.. The Gods were with us.
Our Grand-daughter Sami plays on the team called the Cheetahs.  They were playing for State Championship
I enjoyed a  colorful collage of umbrellas.
There are several places  you can watch the game out of the weather but I wanted to be as close as possible since I  have a habit of turning my head just as Sami makes this incredible goal.  I decided to stay glued to the action.
They won the game 3-0 and were so excited. They jumped up and down then  rolled on the wet grass( sort of a group hug).
Our son John has been coaching the girls team for 10 years so it was great to see his team win State Championship.


Joe really did not want to go to game.  I stressed the  need to support the kids while they still care.

His comment later. " You're a great mother, a great grandmother but a terrible wife."
Very funny Mr. MacKenzie!

Bigamist or Procrastinator

 

Tony is the tallest soldier.

When I was a child we would visit Tony and Annuta.  She was my Grandmother's neice.
This is how the story goes.

Tony followed Annuta to the United States and proposed marriage. She refused but he continued to pursue her until she finally said yes.
Her mother, Esterina, was very upset as his chase started in Italy while he was still married. Esterina would scold him but he never listened.  
He probably told her he was available. The talk was that he was never divorced.

I'm sure he meant to get a divorce....just didn't get around to it.

Annuta and Tony had one child, a son named Eros. Eros died of tuberculosis when he was 17.

I remember cousin Eros.
We found a photo of him in one of mom's books.  Eros was in a casket. Not something easily forgotten.

Helping the Helpless

Our son James and Grandson Dylan drove  from Tumwater to help with my computer problems.
It seems the problem is my brain. It looks so easy when they do it.


I told Jim that when he's my age, I'd be in heaven or hell,  looking down or up at him  saying, "See, it's not so easy now, is it?"

They helped Joe move a pile of wood closer to the house.It will make it a lot easier for Joe.

James and his family give hours of labor for a  Christmas gift.
A great gift, plus we have a chance to visit and catch up on all the news.

The End of an Era

One of many great performances.  1947

My good friend and sister Gloria retired from the great choir of St. James.
I have mixed emotions. Sad, because I know how much she loves the music, the choristers, and just being  a member of a choir of such quality.
 I'm  happy for her as she will be  able to spend more time with her family in New Mexico, Oregon and Seattle.
I know she will continue to share her gift with others.

Quotes To Remember

2005  July 4....Late in the evening..
     Seven year old   Zoe said, " I'm tiredly attracted to fireworks."

   About her twin brother.
     Eight year old Sami  said    " Alex is possessed with baseball."

2006 About a calm smiley face she drew. Zoe said..."  I'm happy about it. I feel that way most of the time."
                                                       


2006  Aunt Blanche ( at least a hundred at the time)....after taking me all around the house she stopped at a cupboard and held up a bar of soap  " I spent a fortune on my wedding and all I got was a bar of soap."


Dylan and Ian   (around 7 & 8)  were describing the size of a puzzle they were working on............Their final comment was " It goes on to infinity, you should see the size of the box!"

WALKING NATURE'S PATH 2007

Shoes crunch
Ice pellets pound umbrella
Tree branches bend   break
Icicles hang from power line
Prints of coyote, deer, squirrel and bird
decorate frozen snow
Icicle lights earn their name

Winter Memories

Some of my favorite winter artwork. Our son James created this solid snow tree many years ago.