If winter comes …

1 December, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Thank you to my sister for the drive to the airport today!  This is my idea of how to start a new month ... feeling 1000 percent better after four days of mostly clear liquids and on the road, or more precisely, in the air.  In a couple of hours, I’m off to Poland for my semi-annual board meeting of the Center for Promotion of Entrepreneurship.  I’ll stay a couple of nights in Warsaw with friends Dorota and Jacek and their son Franiu, then head back to the airport to meet the other US-based board member, Steve, and our driver for the 200 km (160 mile) trip to Sandomierz.

4 December, Sandomierz, Poland

The drive to Sandomierz was pretty uneventful.  Steve and I had a chance to catch up while the driver Piotr moved steadily toward our destination except for one 8 km missed turn.  Since we’d been driving for a while, I had closed my eyes but opened them quickly when we pulled over and I heard Piotr ask for directions to Radom.  That’s a city south of Warsaw along the freeway.  We would drive through it if we hadn’t wanted to stop in Piaseczno to check out the Bolesławiec (Polish ceramic dishware).  And we’d stopped, purchased less than usual, then gotten onto the “old” road to Sandomierz.  It’s been paved and upgraded and is actually a quite acceptable route now.  The drivers like the road to Radom because it’s a multi-lane highway and they can drive 150 km/hour.  Anywayz ...

I disavowed him of heading toward Radom, we backtracked to his wrong turn and only lost 30 or so minutes.  

Had a lovely time with Dorota and family as well as lunch with Gina and Dorota and dinner with Iza.  Lots of soup and tummy-gentle food.  Gina seems far less harried that usual at work, no more 12-hour days, and Dorota’s a bit more harried with her 500 Ukrainian university students who are learning Polish through her efforts.  It’s a new contract and concept for her, and she’s learning a lot about administration in the process.  Iza’s enjoying her job and living in Warsaw but gets to Kraków and the mountains on weekends.

6 December

A ferocious and freezing wind has made its way across Western Europe to Poland, and ironically it arrived just as our board was discussing the possibility of investing in new windows for Hotel Basztowy.  Our newest board member was cautioning against the expenditure just as a fierce gust hit the window behind my chair, creating shivers over my already chilly body.  

Ryszard J., board chair, and Hala

9 December, Kraków, Poland

Hala, Steve and I drove to Kraków yesterday afternoon for a few days of R&R.  We’re staying at Hotel Pod Wawelem, where I stayed on my last visits to Kraków.  Unfortunately this time the elevator is broken and we’re on the 4th floor. (For my American family and friends, that’s really the 5th floor.  Europeans usually don’t count the ground floor.)  The receptionist carried our bags but still, climbing all those staircases (two between each floor) took my breath away.  Time to get back to water ex!

Hala had gotten us all tickets to the opera, resulting in an invigorating walk to the new opera house and only getting lost once briefly.  I wasn’t familiar with “Elixir of Love,” a comic opera by Donizetti but read a synopsis on line.  All in Italian with Polish subtitles, which I understood enough to know what was being sung.  Gorgeous costumes, lovely voices and the humor was played very broadly and well.  Wonderful way to spend the evening.  We taxi’d back to the Old Town in search of supper since we hadn’t eaten since breakfast, other than coffee breaks.  Not much open at 9 pm but we finally ended up at an Italian restaurant where I’d eaten good food before.  We’re committed to introducing Hala to new cuisines on this trip ... Chinese and Mexican are on the menu before she returns to Sandomierz.

Hala & Steve at opera

Hala & I toast a good day

10 December

Well, we got Hala her Chinese meal at a hole-in-wall place that was recommended by the daughter of a Center manager.  Although not as spicy as it should’ve been in my case, the food was hot, fresh and tasty.  

Hala and Steve visited the Schindler Factory Museum today while I wandered the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in the Old Town square, looking at jewelry for my friend Ted’s daughter for Christmas.  Simple, sophisticated and more silver than amber.  Not much luck so far.  The only pieces I’ve seen and liked were more than $300 -- prices have really gone up here!

We met at one of the Ariel cafes in Kazimierz (there are two, cousins or brothers, I can’t recall which, who had a falling out).  I had wanted some fresh air and despite the rain, walked the couple of kilometers from one old town to another, this historic Jewish quarter.  After tea, we set out on foot to find the Chinese restaurant that was on the route back to the hotel.  We were on a roll of only two meals a day ... hurray. 

12 December, Belgrade, Serbia

Fog in Warsaw delayed our departure and made my transit time in Munich about 30 minutes once the wheels hit the tarmac.  Then there was deplaning, taking a bus to the actual terminal, traversing to another concourse, getting through passport control.  I literally ran through the airport to passport control as I heard the gate agent calling my name.  Several lovely people let me go to the head of the passport control line and the passport officer directed me straight ahead to my gate, couldn’t believe my good luck.  It was through a duty-free shop where I dodged baby strollers and luggage carts.  The gate agent was still looking for errant passengers and directed me to process my own boarding pass on the scanner and head down to the bus.  En route I helped a young mother who was walking a two-ish genderless child down the six flights of steps.  I carried the folded umbrella-style stroller so she could carry the kid.  Three people hurried onto the bus behind us and we were off.  Phew!

Once I changed money, bought a SIM card and called Aleks for a meeting spot, I was on my way to see the new baby.  I worked with Aleks on a USAID project here, and since my departure he and Ivana have married and now have a beautiful almost-three-month-old daughter Katja.  Although she’d been sleeping when I arrived and peeked, she later awoke and I got to meet her.  Aleks is totally smitten with this bundle of pinkness.

Now I’m settling into the apartment that the hotel I booked gave me.  Quite nice -- plenty of space and no extra charge for Iva when she arrives from Skopje for the weekend.  It’s not too far from where I used to live.  I’m off to the supermarket so I can have coffee in the morning!

13 December

Violane

Last night I enjoyed an evening at a musical with Violane, her language teacher and a friend of the teacher.  Violane’s with IFC now.  We both worked for Booz in Belgrade at the same time but on different projects, then on the same one in Kosovo.  I didn’t understand more than the odd word of the musical, but it was very well done -- exceptional costumes and staging and the dancing and singing were superb.  The young man who sang the lead reminded me of Ashton Kutcher and his lady love, a little of Nicole Kidman in the film Moulin Rouge.

Today I awoke to three messages from “amazon.com” about “my orders” ... which I didn’t order and which are actually addressed to three someone elses whose names begin with “suzi”.  I dispatched the messages to amazon’s spoofing address and deleted them.  Will keep an eye on my credit card next.

Just returned from a walk down my old street and around the neighborhood, then up to the pedestrian mall, Knez Mihailova, and on to lunch at Tribec, one of my favorite restaurants.  The “Cesar Salata” and freshly baked breads are almost as good as I remember ... and the cigarette smoke from the bar still drifts easily into the non-smoking dining room.  Ah, yes, back in the land of smoking in airports, exit doors that open in and dog poop on the sidewalks.  Surprisingly I don’t see that much has changed here, unlike Skopje or other cities I’ve re-visited.  

14 December

Iva arrived from Skopje on time yesterday, and our friend Aleksandra joined us for dinner at a new woman-owned vegetarian restaurant that Aleksandra recommended. The restaurant is really tiny — it’s actually in an apartment — but has an outstanding menu and delicious food.  I had an array of tasty and interesting salads, Iva and Aleksandra had the quesadillas, and we shared a mezzo of hummus and such.  Violane and her husband Stephen joined us at the end; they’d been to the symphony.  We all agreed it’s definitely a restaurant we want to support.  I’ll do a Trip Advisor review.

This afternoon Violane hosted a bunch of my Belgrade friends — Aleks M. (of the new baby), Aleks S., Slobo and Olivera from my old Serbia project, Nenad and Aleksandra that I know from Booz’s Serbia competitiveness project that ran at the same time as mine in Macedonia, Iva from that project.  Lots of “where is …” but also some interesting discussions about what’s happening in the Serbian and Macedonian economies.  Aleksandra did some fascinating research of entrepreneurship that she shared.  I’m waiting for the final report, then may write here on what she learned.  I don’t want to trust my two-glasses-of-wine memory!

Slobo & Aleks M.

 (I cannot get the photo of Iva, Aleksandra and Nenad to load ... argh!!!)

Olivera & Aleks S.

15 December

4:35 am … Major panic.  Dressed, packed and doing last minute check and I cannot find my passport ... anywhere.  I went through all of the likely places and the unlikely ones in the carry-ons and had started to unpack my big suitcase when I called out to wake up Iva.  She was calm, asked where it normally would be -- zippered part of my Kangaroo tote where I keep the laptop, mobile phones, wallet, and such.  And there it was ... I do not know how I could’ve missed it.

Re-packed everything and was out the door at 4:50, and the driver was waiting.  Whew.  Violane was right that I shouldn’t worry; he’d be on time.  But I confess.  I am a very nervous traveler.  I have missed planes and I’ve boarded the totally out of breath from running their lengths (eg, O’Hare in Chicago as well as the aforementioned Munich sprint).  So I am at the airport with lots of time to spare for walking, having coffee, walking, buying a dead-tree book, walking.  I get lots of exercise when I travel.  

My first de-icing experience of the season.  We had a slight freezing rain as I left for the Belgrade airport, meaning the plane had to make a brief stop at the de-icer before we took off.  Although we left late, we arrived on time and my layover was a couple of hours.  The transition was smooth ... plus I got a free International New York Times and coffee near my gate, compliments of Lufthansa.  Two Sunday crosswords, one from Violane’s husband’s paper from last weekend and yesterdays.  I am set!

18 December, Minneapolis MN USA

Home again.  Fell asleep at 8 pm last night and got up at 4 this morning.  Lots of time for miscellaneous tasks before water exercise.

The trip home was a good one.  Did some last minute shopping in Warsaw and walked Aria before heading for the airport.  She is still a puppy but an English sheep dog who  thankfully can walk down the stairs now.  (Last time she was under three months old, and I had to carry her down the stairs.) 

Aria

Flight to AMS was uneventful, and I found Ana and Archie easily.  We had a lovely dinner in a small Italian restaurant that Archie said was his “kitchen” before Ana.  They have a best guest room bed, nice firm mattress, and I slept well.  The flight to MSP was equally uneventful, and the movie system even worked.  I’ve had lousy luck with those in the past.

Off to water ex boot camp, then to talk with my brother Dan.  We’ve been playing telephone tag since he left a voice message on my iPhone on Sunday while I was still overseas.

19 December

Finally talked to Dan. I knew something was up because his voice had been uncharacteristically somber on the voicemail.  It is.  He’s having a most-likely-benign tumor removed tomorrow.  Dan had had pneumonia before I left for Poland.  That resulted in a chest x-ray that identified the mass in his chest.  Lots of tests indicate that it’s slow growing, been there a while and not likely cancerous.  Dan opted for one surgery to remove it rather than a biopsy, then surgery.  He has confidence in his doctors and the hospital (Renown, on which campus there was a shooting on Tuesday). He’ll be in the hospital about three days.  I’ll talk to Ann after the surgery to determine if she’d like some company while he recuperates at home.

If that isn’t enough, I’m trying to remember if I shopped at Target after Thanksgiving.  They’ve had a major security breach that could jeopardize tens of millions of shoppers.  Nice to read that American Express is on top of things since that’s the card I would’ve used.  Now to add, “check credit card purchases” to my To Do list for today.

20 December

After mulling it over, I decided to go to Reno on Christmas Day and return on New Year’s Day.  I travel far and wide to help friends in need and want to be there to help my brother and his wife too.  I called them this morning, then made the reservation.  Thought about using some of my many miles … but that itinerary was eight hours and four airports!  

Since I’ve been back from Poland, I’ve followed the news on South Sudan with much trepidation.  I checked with a friend who’s still working with Women for Women, which more than a year ago, moved to Yei, a few hours from Juba. So far, they are okay there.  I’ve emailed the lawyer we used in Juba but gotten no response yet.  He has a nephew in college in St. Paul that I actually met in his office one day, but I don’t recall the young man’s name.  They are Nuer, the same tribe as the ousted vice president, whose wife lives in Minnesota.  I wish it were hard to understand the rapid escalation and rush to violence, but unfortunately it’s not.  That’s how issues are dealt with in that part of the world.  

24 December, Christmas Eve

Dan’s surgery went well, and he should be home today.  I got an upgrade to first class on the MSP-SLC leg of my trip — yay!  My friend Bob is home from Kabul and in Reno with his son and family.  He’ll pick me up at the airport so Ann can stay with Dan.

Last night Barbara, Chris and Jen came over for prime rib dinner.  Like last year, I found one at Lund’s ready for the oven.  Also bought their twice-baked potatoes.  Used some of Jean’s pears and Diane’s pecans with a bit of store-bought gorgonzola cheese for a salad.  Cookies by Ada and Lydia, shortbread by me, ice cream by Ben & Jerry.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Christmas dinner.

Today, after a bit of running around in the morning (water ex, deliver gifts to niece Michelle, unsuccessful try at car wash), it was off to Roseville and lunch with Mary, an old friend from my corporate days.  We spent a couple of hours enjoying big salads, catching up personally and talking about South Sudan.  Mary works for a foundation that does work in East Africa.  From there, it was directly to Westminster where I ushered for the early “family” service.  My friend Anne, also of my corporate days and more recently of Baltimore, and her husband Peter have returned to northern MN in retirement, but both daughters and their families live in the Cities.  And they all attend Westminster.  Great to see them all.

After church Barbara and I drove through the snow and cold wind to Marin, a newer restaurant that she hadn’t tried yet.  My one experience with the food there had been very enjoyable, but the server was a bit ditzy. (My friend Susan and I celebrated our birthdays there, and as always, split the check.  The server put both haves on my Amex card, which we didn’t notice until my statement arrived.)  We had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner of shared small plates and small bites for dessert.  Barbara warmed herself on Irish coffee, and I sipped a nice white wine.  A wonderful way to spend the evening.

Alijah says Merry Christmas

25 December, Merry Christmas from Reno, Nevada

Minneapolis is definitely having a white Christmas.  Hope my flights are on time.

And the first one isn’t.  After waiting for connecting passengers and their luggage, we left the gate about 20 minutes late only to sit in the de-icing line for another half hour.  I was glad to be in first class, makes for a quicker dash from the plane.  Sat next to David who owns his own bar tending business in Syracuse.  A friendly, chatty fellow who made good company during the flight. 

Dashed to my connection thinking I had about 40 minutes.  I had forgotten about the time zone changes.  As I boarded the Reno flight, I noticed that I was at the top of the Upgrade List … heading for economy.  A few minutes before the door closed, the flight attendant came to move me to Seat 1B.  Nice.

Welcome to Reno

Bob met me at the airport and drove me to my brother’s.  He stayed for wine and cheese with Dan and Ann, while I ate delicious turkey leftovers.  

27 December, Reno

Dan had a great follow up visit with the surgeon yesterday.  The tumor that was removed, though big, was a “solitary fibrous tumor” and benign. Hurray.  His recuperation is going well, minimal pain and discomfort.

After the good news. we all went to Peppermill casino for some video poker and delicious lunch in its seafood restaurant.  Ordered fish tacos, one of my favorite entrees, and they were fantastic.

Today we drove up to Truckee and had breakfast at Jax at the Tracks, traditional diner with some nontraditional breakfasts.  Ann had crab cakes benedict, spicy corned beef hash with biscuits, and I had a Great Start Breakfast (macadamia nut granola with dried fruit, fresh strawberries and plain low-fat yoghurt).  

When we returned, I had a few minutes to prepare for a job interview by conference call.  Someone I’d interviewed with earlier in the year recommended me for a chief of party job in Kosovo.  I decided to follow through; the project meets my criteria — in a place I’d enjoy working and a project that interests me. We’ll see. The proposal is due next week and a decision is expected fairly quickly.  If the NGO got the contract, I’d have to postpone Scotland, disappointing but not life threatening.

29 December

Had a fun lunch yesterday with Bob, his son Ian and family.  Bob grandsons sure have grown since the last time I saw them.  Last time (about three years ago) they were shy and didn’t participate much.  This time they were outgoing and charming.  We had real conversations about things they were interested in.  Bob’s off to see his daughter Alexis and fiancé tomorrow.

Being with my brother is always a gastronomical tour.  He enjoys good food and knows where to find it, including at home.  Ann is a wonderful cook, not only healthy but delicious.  Today we to the northeast side of Lake Tahoe for a late lunch at West Shore Inn Cafe in Homewood CA.  More great food and a gorgeous view of the lake and mountains.  Tomorrow we’ll go to Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe for the ice sculpting.

30 December

One of the things that’s so surprising to me about Reno is the amount of public art in the metro area but more interesting, along the highways.  The freeway around Reno has concrete noise barrier walls that are decorated with contrasting landscape silhouettes of mountains and lakes adorned with birds, fishes, trees depending on where they’re located.  A highway intersection just outside Carson City is overseen by a small herd of metal deer.  It all makes for a far more pleasant drive.  

It was a heavenly day in Heavenly — perfect weather for wandering the ski resort, watching the ice sculpting and just relaxing outdoors in the fresh air.

Ann & Dan take a photo

Gondola lift at Heavenly

Preparing ice

Sculptor

Finished ice sculpture

31 December, New Year’s Eve

As usual, I’m off to bed before the new year arrives.  Tomorrow it’s back to Minneapolis where the temps are arctic.

A gift from Iva -- looking ahead to the new year

  

I am thankful for all of you

1 November, All Saint’s Day, Roswell GA USA

Flew to Atlanta this morning to spend a long weekend with my friend Kathy whose husband Chuck died of cancer on 31 July.  Kathy and I met in the mid-1980s when she attended the Y’s Way to Fitness class that I taught every Saturday morning at Northwest YMCA.  I started doing that so I’d exercise during grad school and continued with it to help manage my stress during my divorce.  Kathy and I bonded going through our divorces and starting to date again.  Ah, the stories.

Despite predictions of rain, the Atlanta weather was beautiful.  Kathy met me at the MARTA station which was near her office.  After a brief stop there, we headed into rush hour traffic for the drive to Roswell, where she lives.  Dinner tonight will be at Mambo Jambo, a seafood restaurant with a Latin flavor.  Sounds wonderful.

I knew that Chuck had spent his entire career in the music industry.  After I met him, I discovered that I had several tapes of music compilations that he’d produced.  Kathy showed me his music room in their house, and the walls are lined with many thousands of tapes, cassettes, CDs, LPs, 45s ... with gold records for songs that I didn’t know he’d produced, like Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and Johnny Mathis’ “Too Much Too Little Too Late” among others ... with photos of Chuck with clients and friends like Wolfman Jack, Liza Minnelli and Lucille Ball, Lorrie Morgan.  And he kept meticulous records.  For now, Kathy’s left everything in tact other than moving a comfy settee in for quiet reflections and moving his desk to another room.

2 November

Finally met Kathy’s “Ya-Yas,” after hearing so much about them. I managed not to get lost driving Chuck’s CRV to the cafe where they have breakfast after their Saturday run. They are a wonderful supportive group of women that I really liked (and you never do know if you’re going to like your friend’s friends!).  Wish I could run again.

Kathy

3 November

I’m pooped.  We walked for about 90 minutes in a forest preserve near the Roswell Mill, very hilly but a beautiful place to hike.  Kathy organizes a trail run in this park, which I cannot imagine running.  I had trouble walking over the roots and rocks.  But we encountered a friend of hers who was on a trail-run workout.

Kathy and Chuck’s church had a remembrance service this morning that we attended.  Chuck was part of a photo montage of members who’d died in the past year.  When they asked about non-members who’d died, I stood in remembrance of David.  I’m glad we went.  It was a lovely way to remember old friends.

This has been a weekend of beauty.  Yesterday we went to Gibbs’ Gardens about 45 minutes north of here.  Jim Gibbs, the developer, owned a landscaping company.  Having decided he wanted to design a world class garden, he traveled the world for 15 years looking at gardens.  In the 1980s he found the perfect site in the mountains of northern Georgia -- nearly 300 acres on which he developed three “feature gardens” -- a Monet lily pond, a Japanese garden and the terraced gardens at the manor house.  Given the variety of deciduous trees, the range and intensity of colors we saw were incredible.  The Japanese maples in particular were remarkable and defied my ability to get a good photo.  Kathy had a special app on her iPhone that allowed her to make this postcard from shots she took.

Kathy's post card

That night we met Jan and Mike, David’s brother and wife, for dinner in Old Roswell.  We wandered the quaint town before going to the restaurant that Kathy recommended, Table & Main.  It’s so popular that we couldn’t get an advance reservation, but the intrepid Jan got us to the top of the waiting list.  The cioppino that I had on Friday was fantastic; the vegetarian plate that I assembled from the eight or so local and fresh offerings was equally excellent.  The mac and cheese was made with Velveeta!  We had a delightful evening of wine, food and good company.

Jan & Mike with me

     

4 November, Atlanta GA

Had coffee with Joy this morning before going to the airport.  Joy worked for IBM which allowed employees to do volunteer work.  She was a volunteer expert on the USAID project I led in Macedonia.  Since I had an afternoon flight, Joy offered to meet me in Buckhead, where Kathy’s office is located.  It was great to see her and catch up with what she’s been doing since retiring from IBM.  

5 November, Minneapolis MN

After all of the delicious food I’ve eaten in the last days, it felt good to be back in Lindsay’s power water ex class this morning.  I need to weigh myself on Saturday to see if I’m anywhere near my goal.  (I only weigh on Saturdays so I don’t get paranoid.)  It’s been more than a year since I did the cleanse/detox that started me on this weight loss, and I am determined to make it permanent.  So far, so good!

11 November, US Veterans Day and Poland’s Independence Day

My friends Bonnie & Gary's front yard

Originally Armistice Day, marking the end of “the war to end all wars,” the holiday morphed into a general day for remembering and honoring war vets in the US.  In Poland, it’s independence day since, after more than 100 years of being partitioned, Poland’s three parts were reunited into one nation after World War I.  

It’s been a busy week.  Celebrating birthdays (mine late and friend Susan’s early), seeing old friends (Cathy R. and Marilyn R.), visiting my oldest MN friend Lois in Northfield and starting to organize her memoir stories completed, lunching with my late son’s friend Hans at the gorgeously renovated Union Depot, cleaning up and organizing niece Tomery’s apartment for the move to New York, enjoying fish and chips with friend Marilyn C.  Whew. And people ask how I keep busy in retirement.

Picked my sister up at the airport on Wednesday afternoon; she was returning from New York where she had deposited Tomery and a car loaded with clothing and shoes.  Have I told you enough times that my niece got a huge promotion to help open a new “diamond” LifeTime Fitness in Westchester?  Ok, I have.  But I am so proud of her and what she’s accomplished, not always under the easiest of circumstances.  As I predicted, the road trip was an adventure; I followed on text messages while in Atlanta.  After getting a late start, they drove all the way to Indiana on Friday night ... but made a wrong turn leaving their hotel on Saturday.  The “Welcome to Michigan” sign was a good hint that they’d gone almost an hour the wrong way.  But they made it and Tomery is getting situated at her cousin Jessie’s for the time being.  And Barbara had some time in NYC with a college friend.

12 November

I miss Lily.  Chris came for dinner on Sunday and took her home with him.  I know I can’t have a cat right now, much as I’d like one.  I’m traveling too much and am not ready to give that up.  But it was awfully nice having someone waiting at the door when I came home.

My friend Hala’s mother died yesterday.  Close to 90 with dementia, she got up in the middle of the night one day last week and fell down the three stone steps to the front door.  She was hospitalized, had had surgery and died peacefully after having a good meal and animated conversations with her daughters.

Mrs. Kozłowska epitomized the warmth and inclusiveness of Polish hospitality.  She always made me feel welcome.  I remember when I was living in Sandomierz the first time, she was raising turkeys.  She got very upset because Hala wouldn’t let her kill a turkey for me for Thanksgiving.  Hala knew that I was going to Kraków for the holiday.  So instead, she gave me homemade white cheese and the thickest cream I’ve ever seen.  It’s going to seem strange to visit next month and not have her around.  Yes, she could be pain in the patoot in recent years because of her strong independence despite her deteriorating mental and physical condition, but she was also a kind, friendly woman, and I’ll miss her.

15 November

What month is this?  We have had such glorious autumn weather the last few days, it feels more like early October.  I just walked back from downtown in my fleece jacket.

Yesterday I met the movers at Tomery’s and watched while they packed the remainder of her worldly possessions.  They were quite efficient, even though I forgot to reserve the loading dock and freight elevator.  Didn’t know I had to and someone else had.  They refused to use the front entry with their UHaul ... so that’s were the moving van parked and they used the regular elevator quite handily.

16 November

My bakers, Ada & Lydia

A rainy dreary day is a fantastic day to bake cookies.  I am so glad that I’d arranged for my friend Jodi and her daughters, Ada and Lydia, to come over to do that today.  Ada and I made ginger bread people dough from scratch in the kitchen while on the dining room table, Jodi and Lydia cut sugar cookie dough that Jodi brought from home.  We cut and baked and frosted for almost three hours, then took a pizza break.  After decorating the final dozen cookies, we tasted our efforts and declared them definitely acceptable.  Then played the Minnesota game that Lydia found on an end table.  It’s just a simple plastic box of small cards with Minnesota questions on them (a gift a year or so ago from Sabrina, Mark and Christopher).  A delightful day.    

17 November

A blustery winter day weather wise but made enjoyable by spending time with friends attending a concert by the St. Catherine Choral Society.  My friend Sabrina sings alto with them.  I ran into her husband and son, Mark and Christopher, as I arrived, and we joined friends of Mark and Sabrina’s for the concert and dinner afterwards.  Now I’m at home in my sweats with my feet up after finishing the ironing.  Time to relax and watch a couple of my favorite television programs, The Good Wife and The Mentalist.

Sabrina's concert

I tried to call Hala this evening, but the connection was awful.  We could barely hear each other through the loud, heavy static.  I did hear Hala say their land line was “broken.”  Will try her at work tomorrow.

21 November

Can’t believe this week.  I am rarely this scheduled.  Had an awesome ego boost at a Tuesday morning breakfast meeting.  I went to a Minnesota Trade Office event because the presentation was on Macedonia and I know two of the presenters from my days there:  Zoren is now the Macedonian ambassador to the US and Vlado is deputy prime minister for economic affairs.  Wasn’t sure if they’d remember me and to my surprise it was a bit like old home week.  Zoren even introduced me when he opened the session.  Made lots of good contacts and am having lunch next week with one.  He’s interested in exploring overseas expansion for the firm where he works.  Lunch with friends Ted and Patrick meant lots of good conversation, early evening condo board meeting at which we finally decided to do something about our lackadaisical management company rep.  Yesterday I enjoyed a delightful lunch with Marilou to belatedly celebrate my birthday.  We went to Outback Steak House since we were both craving meat.  I’ve already put to work the cute wine-bottle stopper she gave me.  Spent part of the afternoon with friend and former client Julie whose antique shop may be put out of business when Central Avenue closes while a railroad overpass is redone.  Then dealt with Comcast because my Internet was slow and On Demand wasn’t working at all.  Believe it or not, I’ve had good luck with Comcast in the past.  But this time was a nightmare …the service tech was on time and great, but the process of setting that up … but it’s working again.

Today I overslept so I walked for exercise — home to downtown Target, bus to the post office, walk to St. Anthony Main for a Meetup called Get Out Get Social.  We saw 12 Years a Slave. It was to be a triple treat, movie, walk and happy hour.  However, the intensity of the film just didn’t square with happy hour at Whitey’s, a nearby bar/grill that I normally would enjoy.  Another woman in the group felt similarly, and we went to a cafe near the theater for coffee.  On the walk back home I stopped to see my niece Michelle and to pick up a few groceries at the new downtown Whole Foods.

22 November, 50th Anniversary of the day President Kennedy was shot

Can’t think of anyone in my generation who can’t answer the question, “Where were you when you heard that President Kennedy had been shot?”  For us, this was a defining event, not unlike Pearl Harbor for our parents.

At about 1:15 pm CST 50 years ago, I was crossing Sheridan Road in Evanston Illinois (just north of Chicago), going from the main Northwestern University campus to University Avenue.  A dorm friend, Ann, who was in the same 12 pm freshman English class, and I heard the rumor from students passing in the other direction. We thought it was some hot head who’d taken a pot shot at JFK and joked about her Texas friends who might’ve done such a dumb thing.  A block closer to ivied Willard Hall,  we learned the truth, that the president had been shot and was likely dead … and along with so many others, were glued to the television for days.

I won’t wax poetic about Kennedy’s life-cut-short, presidency, legacy.  I don’t know what he might have accomplished or not if he’d finished his term, been re-elected and lived to a ripe old age.  He will forever be 46, vibrant, charismatic, and inspiring hope in millions.

24 November

My nephew John is getting married in February!  I met his now fiancee Heather when I was in Brainerd last month, and she’s a lovely young woman.  I’m excited for them and for all of us to celebrate such a happy occasion.

26 November

Have I told you that I’ve taken up knitting again?  My Granny taught me way back when I was a kid, and I’ve knitted at various times since then.  Even made a fisherman’s knit sweater for my then husband back in ’69.  I re-started knitting on a baby sweater for Hadassah, the Jewish women’s organization that lost its money to Bernie Madoff.  My friend Jan, a beautiful and prolific knitter, was making a scarf, so I volunteered to help too.  Finished the sweater today and have decided I’ll give it to my friend Aleks’ new baby daughter (we worked together in Belgrade).  I also made a rainbow hat for my nephew’s son for Christmas and another for Franiu in Warsaw.

28 November, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Chanukah

An unusual convergence of two holidays that make celebrating double the eating!  Unfortunately that’s something I won’t be doing.  I was so looking forward to dinner at a favorite St. Paul restaurant, Pazzaluna, with my sister, nephew and his girlfriend.  And Barbara reported this evening that their dinner was spectacular, just the right portions of turkey, dressing, etc. leaving room for a to-die-for white chocolate tiramisu for dessert.

Yesterday I felt yukky, no specific symptoms, just all-over yukky, so I went to water ex, thinking that would help.  It didn’t; I still felt miserable.  And shortly after my usual rice-cakes-with-almond-butter and coffee breakfast went down, it came back up.  It was coupled with severe (baby-delivery level) abdominal pains.  And that’s when I realized that my diverticulitis was acting up.  I cancelled my day’s plans and divided my time between bathroom and bedroom.  Today, while I feel better, I know that continuing clear liquids is the best path to recovery before I get on a plane Sunday afternoon.  Am I having fun yet?!

30 November

Feeling lots better.  A few days of clear liquids has helped the gastrointestinal system, along with just laying low.  By yesterday afternoon, I needed to replenish supplies and noticed the car badly needed a wash.  I made a quick trip up Third Avenue South/Central Avenue to my favorite car wash, then back down to Lund’s where I got a big bowl of plain mashed potatoes for dinner along with a couple of soups, then a side trip to my sister’s to pick up packages that I’ll take to Marta in Warsaw.  That was enough outing for the day.  Back home, the mashed potatoes never tasted so good.  I ate the whole bowl.

Today I had brunch (bland but enjoyable) with Sabrina, Mark and Christopher, and two other Peace Corps friends whom I haven’t seen in 20 years (Paul and Krysia) and their three sons and Krysia’s brother Dan.  It was great fun seeing them.  Dan, who’s in nurse anesthetist training here, lives just a few blocks south from me but not in a very good building.  He wants to find another apartment in May, and I’ve offered to help.  

Sabrina, Paul, me, Mark, Krysia

The Whole Gang

Back home for some R&R and a visit mid-afternoon with Jan and her son Matt, him of the south of France.  Another great catch-up time but I forgot to take a picture.

And tonight I went to Words by … Ira Gershwin at Park Square Theater with Linda.  We’d planned on dinner at a great Thai restaurant nearby until we found a 30 minute waiting list.  Wandered around a bit and found Fuji Ya, offshoot of a famous Minneapolis restaurant, and dived into wonderful Japanese cuisine.  I had soup with udon and veggies, way too much even if my stomach hadn’t shrunken.  The delight of Gershwin music wrapped around details about the Gershwins and their musical cohorts was a lovely want to end a crappy holiday weekend.

(And since I am late posting this, and will be even later doing written holiday greetings, let me add 

 Happy Holidays 

to one and all.

As Time Goes By

1 October, Minneapolis MN USA

Yesterday I spent much of the day getting my flat tire repaired and starting on my long “to do” list.  I left the dining room table piled with debris from opening mail, emptying carry ons, etc. from my two months in DC.  This morning I returned to Tuesday’s vigorous water ex with Lindsay, which had 20 participants, then had coffee with a few friends from the class.  Then I stopped to catch up with Janet and Ed who have been off traveling too.  Off to Costco where I bought a cooked chicken for dinner among other things.  Once home, I started making phone calls to set up annual doctor appointments, furnace check up and such.

Now I’m taking a break and having lunch in front of “As Time Goes By,” an old BBC comedy series starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as a couple who accidentally re-meet after many years apart.  They had dated seriously before he went off to war, but his letter asking her to marry him never arrived ... so she married someone else, had a family, was widowed, started a business, and he went out to Africa to be a coffee farmer and to write a book.  I’ve watched it off and on since my days in the Balkans when I became addicted to BBC serials.  Now I watch those serials faithfully on Netflix.  As my regular followers know, mostly I watch the spy, police and mystery series, but occasionally fit in something light (“The Monarch of the Glen” comes to mind).  And I often watch from season one, episode one, to the bitter end.  Perhaps it’s time to watch “As Time Goes By” from the beginning.  

Fall has fell in Minnesota

2 October

Hurray and thank you to the Central Avenue Car Wash!  I made a quick trip to my favorite car wash today.  A thick coat of dust had dimmed the bright blue exterior of my baby in the two months I was absent.  Now she’s all shiny and clean.  And I have my spare set of condo keys back.  Whew.  I don’t need to order a security key at $75 (!!!), which would’ve been a must since my only other set of condo keys is in Sandomierz (see summer posting).

My sister Barbara was going to use my car to pick me up at the airport on Sunday since I thought my two suitcases might not fit in her Mini.  Then she discovered just how low the tire was.  With multiple sets of keys in her hands, she dropped my keys, probably in the car but she wasn’t positive.  She scoured the car and emptied her purse.  No luck.  She called the places where she’d tried to put air in the tires and the coop where.  No luck.  Yesterday I stopped at the gasoline station and coop to double check.  No luck.  Then as I get back into my clean car, I see my keys sitting in the cup holder between the two front seats.  They were somewhere on the floor that we didn’t reach but the car wash fellow did.  I stopped to thank him and give him a tip. Then I rolled out of the car wash, pulled to the curb and called Barbara.  Maybe she’s finally out from under the black cloud that she felt was hanging over her on Sunday.

Later

Well, our 30 percent chance of rain hit 100 as the sun went down.  And guess who left her windows down a couple of inches before going into a meeting at 5 pm?  Yep, you got it.  Wet seat.

4 October

As you’ve read, I am not a Facebook fan.  But I do enjoy the “I’m from Greenock” group of folks from the same spot on the map where I grew up.  One recent post noted that the Girl Scout Camp in Mount Vernon is closing.  What great memories.  Marsha, Suzie, Mary Jane (?) and I, all from Greenock, went to that camp three years in a row, after 4th, 5th and 6th grades.  The first year Daddy drove me there -- he knew the way well as the camp literally bordered my friend Mary Lynn’s back yard though the camp was completely wooded and had a long, steep hill down to the river.  We met the camp director, Judy, who was an old girl friend from his growing up days.  (Her daughter eventually was a soloist at our church.)  Sleeping on cots in big tents during rain storms.  Using latrines instead of flush toilets.  Cleaning them with wire brushes, the scent of Pinesol.  Bug juice for lunch.  ‘Smores after dark. Crafts and hikes and cookouts.  Making new friends.  The third year we met Noreen, Eileen, Darryl and Janie, four childhood friends from Elizabeth where our junior high was located. Junior high melded students from a wide geographic area; busing was the norm for many of us.  Suzie, the Elizabeth “girls” and I were all at the 50th class reunion.  

I also enjoy keeping up with my friends overseas so about once a week check posts.  Dori from Skopje posted this link.  Macedonia ranks first among the least expensive, safest and most tourist friendly countries to visit!  Way to go, MCA Tourism Cluster.  Check it out:

http://www.kimeshan.com/2013/07/11/cheap-safe-and-friendly-countries/

5 October

Have escalated my search for a place in Ayr for next June.  Did another TripAdvisor search this week and came up with a great three-bedroom option that’s kid friendly too.  It’s also closer to everything, including the beach and shopping.  Stay tuned!

Yesterday after water ex, I cadged coffee and a piece of peanut butter toast at my friends Janet and Ed’s, then Janet, her former coworker Carrie and I road tripped to an independent bookstore in White Bear Lake, a quaint St. Paul suburb that’s about 20 miles (30 minutes) from here.  Our friend Gege’s sister who has published a new book was doing a book signing there. It was a chance to get an autographed copy of the book and to see Gege who’s sometimes not easy to pin down.  Janet, Carrie and I had lunch at a local tavern before returning home.  Afterwards, I was ready for a nap and actually nodded off for about an hour before going to dinner with my nieces Michelle and Tomery and my sister Barbara at one of our favorite spots, Zelo on Nicollet Mall.  It was drizzling, so I walked to the free bus, then bused over; T gave me a ride home.  Ah, I do love living so close to downtown.

At the bookstore yesterday I bought the first four mysteries (of course) in a series that takes place in and around the Twin Cities (naturally) written by a local television reporter. Got home and found that the clerk had given me two of one book.  I talked Michelle into going with me to exchange, which we did in conjunction with a stop at Herberger’s at Rosedale to she could drop off some Goodwill donations and look for pant boots.  Michelle drove as I had a wretched morning.  As I was organizing to go to water ex and make the trip to White Bear Lake, I realized that I needed to get my tires’ lug nuts checked after the new tires and rotation that I had done on Monday.  Texted Michelle who agreed to drive.  Off to water ex ... where I arrived an hour early.  Argh.  Swam a dozen laps, then showered etc. and went to Tires Plus where the lug nuts inspection was completed.

6 October

Saw “Enough Said” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfino, last night with Randy from the Brunch Bunch.  For new readers, the BB was an amorphous group of singles who enjoyed Sunday brunch together for years.  The group was started because Sunday is the hardest day for singles, especially newly divorceds.  In addition to brunch, we went dancing, saw movies, shared holidays ... generally enjoying each other’s company and supporting the ups and downs of single life.  The group has fallen apart as members have died or become seriously ill.  But BB’ers are still among my best friends.

But I digress ... The movie was fantastic, just what I needed.  The chemistry between the actors and their characters was awesome. I think it was James Gandolfino’s last movie and if so, he went out on a high note.  I’ll miss him as an actor.  Although I wasn’t a “Sopranos” follower, I saw enough episodes to appreciate his abilities, and I loved the ambiguity of the final episode.

Today was Twin Cities Marathon, and my niece Michelle ran a fantastic 9:07 miles per hour, according to the official stats.  Just before 8:30 am I parked in front of Janet and Ed’s and walked down to Lake Harriet to wait for Michelle and her running partner Becky to run by.  I picked a place where no one else was along a straight stretch so I’d see them easier, and vice versa.  I clapped and yelled encouragement to wheelers and runners, then just after 9, there were Michelle and Becky, looking good.  They finished at about noon, meeting their goal of finishing in under four hours.

7 October

Sunrise over Lake Harriet

 Walked with Linda at 6:30 am, first time since July and a welcome return to my routine.  Besides generally catching up, we discussed the almost three dozen candidates for mayor who’ll be on the ballot on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.  I’d forgotten that we switched to ranked voting.  We get to vote for our top three in order and somehow all of that amassed will end up in one mayor.  Since I’ve been gone so much, I’m not terribly familiar with most of the candidates.  Hence I’m talking to people who’s opinions I trust, like Linda and Susan, with whom I had dinner tonight.

8 October

Such beautiful weather outside today that I decided to start shifting clothes around.  Having lived in Minnesota for 40+ years, I have quite a collection of coats -- one for all temperatures.  My front hall closet is full of my coats; guests have to use my bed!  And I have half a dozen different kinds of boots, from fancy leather pant boots to my Dutch Army surplus Wellies.  In between the clothing shuffle, I did a couple of loads of laundry, organized a drawer that holds my vitamins, aspirin, first aid stuff and such, loaded the dishwasher, and cleaned up after the cat.  

Lily at rest

  Ah, forgot to tell you that Lily is back.  For a visit.  Lily is the fuzzy little grayish long-haired cat that I got a few months before the South Sudan assignment.  This prissy female bonded with my two-meter-tall nephew Christopher when he condo sat during my South Sudan assignment in 2011-12.  When Chris moved to her own flat across from Loring Park, a few blocks from me, Lily moved with him.  Now Chris and his sweetie Jen are moving in together.  Unfortunately he had to exit his flat before theirs, out in the ‘burbs, was available.  So for a month Lily is staying with me while Chris bunks with his mom, who already has a cat, Stuart Little.  Neither Stu nor Lily plays well with others.

9 October

Weird story for the day.  Janet and I arrange to meet Gege for lunch, and I invited a mutual friend of Gege’s and mine, Judi, that Janet’s met.  We’re to have lunch at Hazel’s in Northeast Minneapolis.  Janet and I drive together because parking in that neighborhood can be a challenge.  As we approach the restaurant, the car in front of me pulls to the curb, leaving a big space between itself and a van that’s already parked. In front of the van is some space in front of a bus stop but not enough to legally park my little Ford Focus.  

So I pull up next to the van, put on my turn signal and shift into reverse to alert that I’m going to park.  Before I can move, the woman who’d pulled to the curb pulls out and stops right behind me.  I hand signal her to go around.  She gestures wildly for me to move.  I open the window and again gesture for her to go around.  A few cars have gone by, but there’s room; she too has a small car.  But she sits.  More gestures from her and words I cannot hear but can imagine.  Janet and I share our exasperation to each other, and I  finally pull toward the curb in front of the van to let her pass.  As I back into the space I’d been waiting for, she scrunches into the one in front of the van.  She’s on the sidewalk as Janet and I alight, and walking around like a dog looking for a fireplug (Janet’s later description).  She’s obviously waiting for us with a few choice words about my driving, which she offers unbidden.  I mostly ignore her and Janet tries to maintain her giggles, which seems to incite the woman.  She says with a touch of sarcasm, “You’re probably going to Sarah Jane’s too.”  That’s a local bakery next to Hazel’s.  I respond as pleasantly as I can muster, “No, we aren’t,” and keep walking to the restaurant.  She stalks into Sarah Jane’s insisting on the last word, “You should learn how to drive.”  Janet is still trying not to giggle, but once we’ve joined our friends lets go as we regale them with our Laurel & Hardy moment.

Fast forward 10 minutes or so.  The four of us are chattering away, and the woman from the parking incident walks to our table, holding a bakery box, and stands there. We studiously ignore her, not knowing if someone will get a pie box in the face or a tongue lashing about her driving skills.  Eventually she says, “You’re the ladies who were trying to park out front?”  I allow as we are, with a bit of trepidation at what might follow.  But she says, “Did you know you parked in a handicapped spot?  I noticed you didn’t have a handicapped sign, and I didn’t want you to get a ticket.”

I acknowledged that I hadn’t seen the sign and thanked her for letting me now.  We get up and chat amiably about our previous misunderstanding as we walk outside, she offers me her slightly illegal parking spot, but I decide not to chance it and move my car to a nearby lot.  Back in the restaurant, we all have a good laugh.  

10 October

For the second time in three years Minnesota’s women’s professional basketball team, the Lynx, brought home a national championship, something the Timberwolves have never done.  And it’s been a long time since either the Vikings or Twins even got to the playoffs.  The Lynx swept their playoffs, among other accomplishments during the season.  Way to go!!!

11 October

I joined a writer’s group the other night but am not sure how active I’ll be.  Interesting group, diverse backgrounds, genres, published and unpublished. Mostly I want the pressure of a deadline, but I also wanted some critique, scary as that is.  For me, the deadline pressure is made “real” by needing to be ready for a review.  So we’ll see.

12 October

Well, I did it.  I just made the commitment to honor my 69th birthday next year by spending the month of June in Scotland. I’ll invite family and friends to join me.  To answer the two most obvious questions, why Scotland and why June when my birthday is in October: (1) Scotland is the land of my mother and her forebears.  Ayr, where I’ll be, is near Stevenston where my mother was born, as well as lots of interesting sights for guests to see.  It’s Robert Burns territory, for example.  (2) June weather is much better than October weather!  Plus I have to be in Poland at the end of May for a semi-annual board meeting.  One trans-Atlantic ticket plus one intra-EU is cheaper than two trans-Atlantics.

So ... I made a down payment to rent a three-bedroom townhouse in Ayr, on the Clyde (west) coast, 15 minutes from Prestwick Airport and about an hour from Glasgow Airport.  The townhouse is within an easy walk of lots of places to eat and drink, buy necessities, frolic on the green, lay on the beach, play at Pirate Pete’s.  It has a big enclosed backyard for coffee -- and for kids. I’m hoping friends with children will be among my guests.    I’ll post a flyer on Hello All with details and deadlines next month.  One step at a time!

13 October

Saw “A Strange and Separate People” by the Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company with friends Jan F. and Marilyn tonight.  Very thought provoking, as most of their productions are, with no simple answers.  I was disappointed to miss “Rachel Calof” about a Jewish picture bride who moved from Russia to North Dakota at the end of the 19th century.  The play was based on a memoir she wrote in the 1950s about her experiences.  A contingent from the Devil’s Lake ND area attended the production.  Jan, as well as my ex-husband, is from Devil’s Lake (a coincidence Jan and I discovered several years after we met while both working in St. Paul).  Word is that MJTC is fund raising to present the play in DL, so I may get to see it there.  Jan, Marilyn (who’s family also has ND roots) and I have talked about making a pilgrimage there in the spring.

14 October

Target Arena was nearly full for Lynx

 Neighbor and friend MaryAnne and I walked up to Nicollet Mall, then on to Target Center to participate in the parade and pep rally to celebrate the Lynx championship.  It was so great to see not just a lot of people but especially so many girls taking part.  The Lynx women aren’t just athletic winners, they are all around incredible role models.  

Lynx parade on Nicollet Mall

16 October

Big day ... my niece Tomery got the job offer to become physical training department head at a new “diamond” club in Westchester County, NY.  The interview process was long and brutal, and the salary offer was low ball, more like a raise at her current location not a promotion to one of the most expensive places in the US to live.  Her rent alone, a one bedroom apartment, will double!  So this evening she gather her mom and me to discuss the offer and her response strategy.  She got cost of living data, rental costs, additional relocation expenses like the $2000 it’ll take to get out of her current lease.  She’ll call her new boss tomorrow with her counterproposal.  As my brother Dan said when Barbara called him with the news, “Tell them you can’t live on their love.”

Tomorrow I’m off to Cambridge MN to help my oldest niece Michelle spruce up her and husband Jon’s lakeside cabin for friends who’ll use it for a few days to attend a local wedding.  

18 October

There’s a clever cat toy that’s just a long piece of thin wire with some tiny cardboard-like tubes on one end.  Lily will jump and chase the tubes for as long as you will wiggle it in the air near her.  The toy was laying on the floor this morning with Lily sitting nearby looking longingly from it to me and back again several times.  She finally seemed to remember that I’m not nearly as good at playing games with her as her new parent, Christopher, and took to batting the thing on the floor with her paws.  Now, as I write this, she is perched on her window seat, fluffy tail wagging like a pendulum down one side and head inching stealthily toward the pencil holder on the end table between us.  She nimbly grasped a pen in her mouth, pulled it from the holder, then dropped it onto the floor when she knew I was watching.  Pay back?

I’m a very hands-off kind of pet parent.  Thus my pets of choice have always been cats because I appreciate how “self service” cats are.  Give them a clean litter box, food and water and they are content.  They’ll tell you when they want to interact, which is mostly okay with me.  I just like the company, interaction optional.  With Lily, I add an occasional brushing to keep the hairballs down and sometimes let her jump into my lap for a nap when I’m reading.  She now sleeps on the bed with me, as she did when she lived here permanently ... and in the same spot, on the window side where she can look out for squirrels and birds and not be bothered if I arise to use the bathroom at night.  Lily and I are a good pair.  I’ll miss her when she moves to Chris and Jen’s new apartment.

Actually I think I was a bit of a hands-off parent too, gently moving my son toward independence from a very early age.  Peter and I were a great pair.  But that’s a whole ‘nother story for a whole ‘nother book.

19 October

Last night I saw “Steerage Song” at The Lab theater with my sister, Jan and Marilyn last night.  Excellently done musical about the late 18th and early 19th century immigrations to the US.  The program noted the talented, well known people who immigrated during that period, including Irving Berlin who was five when he came here.  He and some of his music were a small feature in the overall piece.

Saw my first dead deer on the highway as I drove to Brainerd this morning.  Never a pretty sight.  But the day has been wonderful.  Gorgeous autumn weather in which to enjoy an Oktoberfest at Ruttger’s Resort near Brainerd.  My sister-in-law Elyse, her daughter-in-law Heidi and her daughter Evie (got all that?) drove over to see what was happening.  Huge array of crafts by artisans from the region, brats and beer galore (other stuff too), and the occasional polka tune coming from the dance hall tent. Lovely day.  

My brother-in-law Steve had channeled my desire for ribs and was preparing them for cooking when I arrived.  Honestly, I have walked by Market BBQ at least once a day, smelled that rib smoke and thought about indulging ... but didn’t.  Steve’s ribs were slow cooked and delicious.  The whole Brainerd contingent came over ... nephew David and Heidi and their three, Sam, John and Evie, and nephew John and his girlfriend Heather.  All through dinner Evie kept whispering in Elyse’s ear and asking aloud about cake.  After we’d all feasted on chicken and ribs, Evie carried in a birthday cake for me.  Quite a surprise ... and a tasty one too.

Eventually 4 inches fell in Brainerd

22 October

Here I am at 9 am still in nightgown and bathrobe.  I could feel a cold coming on over the weekend (either that or a new allergy to cats and dogs - in addition to Lily, I was exposed to Steve and Elyse’s Jade, a big German shepherd with a long winter coat already).  Felt a lot more like the kind of head cold that I get after being very stressed and finally relaxing.  Like my body knows it finally has time to be sick  Happened every quarter during grad school -- as I exited my last final exam, my sinuses would fill and I’d be miserable for a couple of days.  Since it’s cold and windy again, I decided to skip water ex and lay low all day.

Sunday in Brainerd we had about four inches of snowfall.  The heavy, wet kind that thankfully melted by Monday morning (except on the roof of my car.  I had removed snow from the windows midday on Sunday).  Yesterday on the drive back a quick stop at a traffic light cleared the roof, and the windshield wipers cleared the windshield.

I stopped in Blaine to see my Godson Craig and his little one, Alijah.  I have forgotten how fast babies grow.  Alijah is five months old now and teething, not fun for him.  But Craig is such a loving and involved dad.  Alijah got really fussy, crying despite a diaper change and bottle, walking and rocking, and Craig took it all in stride.  He and April have their work schedules arranged so Alijah doesn’t have to go to day care yet.  And they drive April’s son Jaden to and from school so he could stay in the same one even though they’d moved.

Alijah

23 October

MaryAnne and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art today to see a new collection of Japanese art, The Audacious Eye.  The pieces go back several centuries and had some stunning work, but for both of us the highlight was five pieces that represented the five classes of beauties:  women of the warrior class, merchants’ wives, young maidens, working girls, and women in the demimonde.  Their faces were all alike, but their kimonos were representative of their beauty.  If I remember correctly, the artist Yamaguchi Soken, who painted in the painted in the late 18th Century, was the son of a textile merchant.  He understood and painted exquisitely the details and intricacies among the various kimonos which identified the wearer’s class.  We continued our cultural adventure with lunch at a local Thai restaurant that we both enjoy.  Nice way to begin my birthday celebrations.  Thank you, MaryAnne.  Then home to meet the furnace fellow to ensure my furnace is safe and well for the season.

25 October, Happy Birthday to me

Something I ate last night didn’t agree with me, and I started my day with several hours in the bathroom.  Will limit the discussion to that.  Finally fell asleep at about 3 am and decided I’d skip water ex and go straight to the Minnesota International NGO Network’s IDEASummit, the first international NGO conference in the state.  My gastro-intestinal tract had settled down by the time I completed my brisk walk over to the University of St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus.  The event was a great success, somewhere between 200 and 300 participants.  

Dinner tonight with my extended family, Barbara, Tomery, Chris and girlfriend Jen, Michelle and husband Jon at a great Italian restaurant in St. Paul that Barbara found.  I had a spectacular cioppino, the best broth I’ve ever had and perfectly prepared seafood.  Unfortunately the birthday girl’s free dessert was very disappointing ... and I love cannoli. There’s was covered in hard dark chocolate and could not be cut into.  No where near competing with the best I ever had.  That was made by Tilio at Caffé Roma in Kampala, Uganda, also for my birthday (2003).  

All in all a wonderful way to spend a birthday.

28 October

Boring afternoon, especially after 90 minutes of lunch with my friend Ted, always dynamic, thoughtful, fascinating conversations.  

Since I’d gotten a Fb message from my cousin.I decided to scroll through Facebook for a few minutes.  She  has mailed an old photo of me and some childhood friends from my grandmother’s town in Illinois; we are very young.  I may share it in the blog when it arrives.  Anyway, as I scrolled I found a post by Nancy, the wife of a fellow I worked with in Macedonia.  She linked an “identify your accent” quiz onto her FB page.  And I decided to take the quiz.  Here’s what it said about my accent:

"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.

Well, I did radio in Iowa City in ’69-’70.  The bank where I worked (my day job) played that station all day and I didn’t like the sound of my voice at all.  And what about all of the linguistics books about the uniqueness of the Pittsburgh (even slightly different McKeesport) accent?  Argh!  I have lived in the Midwest too long.

Jen packs the UHaul

Guess a boring day was in order.  Saturday was a whirlwind.  Barbara and I power shopped to find a few good “big girl” outfits for Tomery to try.  After a very quick lunch at the new Whole Foods (my first excursion to this city block-sized grocery), we met Christopher and his UHaul and helped empty his storage, it was off to meet Jen, her parents and brother in the ‘burbs to add some of Jen’s boxes and furniture to the truck.  The we all caravaned to the new apartment and helped move Chris and Jen’s worldly possessions into their first place together.  Once everything was in the unit, we all abandoned them to unpacking and setting up.  And Barbara and I went to an early evening movie, Lee Daniels’ The Butler.  We had popcorn for dinner (our personal favorite).  The film was as good as the reviews.  Forrest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey are so incredibly gifted.  I’m sure Oprah was channeling Mom in her scenes as a young mother.  I could hear old Jeannie’s voice, see her mannerisms as Oprah parented her sons.  The selection of actors who played the various presidents, from Eisenhower (comedian Robin Williams) to Reagan (Brit Alan Rickman) was kind of mind boggling.  Each found some key pieces of his character that made him realistic despite the obvious disconnects: comedian Robin Williams as Eisenhower ... a Brit, Alan Rickman, as Reagan.  And Jane Fonda was Nancy Reagan.

30 October  Happy Birthday, Larry.  And a belated happy birthday to Bill, Sabrina and Stan.

Had lunch yesterday with Bill’s “other half,” Tom.  They were both Peace Corps volunteers in Szczecin in northwest Poland and as unalike as Oscar and Felix when it came to housekeeping and as Cheney and Biden when it came to politics.  I catch up with Bill when I’m in LaQuinta CA visiting my brother and sister-in-law and through the odd email.  And a few times a year Tom and I have lunch. After lunch, I stopped to see Sabrina, Mark and my youngest adopted grandson, Christopher, and stayed for dinner.  Sabrina made the best soup and tried popovers that also were delicious.

Stan's kids surprised him with a 75th birthday party.

Stan, Mary and their granddaughter

One of Sue & Nancy's polar bears

Also got an email from Sue & Nancy today with photos from their trip to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, where they went out in a tundra rover to see the polar bears. 

31 October, Happy Halloween

As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to “ask for presents” (i.e., have a birthday party).  I got to host a Halloween party on my birthday instead.  By junior high, the birthday party prohibition changed ... and as did Halloween.  I remember one night Suzie, Marsha and I went out “tic-tacking” on Halloween.  That is, we threw dried beans at house windows ... until the township cop stopped us.  Someone had reported the pranks but thankfully not identified the pranksters.  Add to that, the cop some who knew me cuz he knew my dad.  I can still hear him ask, “You girls weren’t tick-tacking, were you?”  We of course answered in the negative, and as he drove off, we threw our remaining beans under an evergreen. My life of crime ended quickly.

Larry, Jonah, Spike & Karen

Larry, Karen, Jonah and Spike were at the Red Sox game last night and saw that team win its first World Series at home since 1918, according to the radio this morning.  Here they are enjoying the win, a great photo to end this month’s blog.