First Holiday dinner a success

Dinner for 14! That was last night. It was a simple meal: pork tenderloin, roasted root vegetables, a salad of romaine with pears and pecans and for dessert a purchased chocolate lava cake with ice cream. I had to push myself a bit because I had a cold all week, but everyone seemed to have a great time. Next Friday I have another dinner for 12. I am using the same menu.

Tonight I plan to paint two walls in the basement. We had moved all the shelves to the center of the basement to put insulation and dry wall on the walls. So, since a new furnace will be installed in a week, the walls need to be finished and the shelves moved back. For those who have seen our basement, you understand the magnitude of this project. But a deadline is great to get things finished. I would post pictures but it would be too embarrassing.

Geothermal is actually happening

There are no pictures to show what G and I did tonight unless I scan the rather large check I wrote. We actually made a decision on which geothermal contractor to use and placed the order. It should be installed in three weeks. We have been studying about it, talking about it, and getting bids for three years. Now in three weeks it will be in.

Our job now is to complete the insulating and painting of the basement walls. We have them all insulated with polystyrene which we have glued to the concrete walls and have dry wall up on all but half of one wall. G will be finished the mudding so I can paint. It will take primer (one coat I think) then the paint (two coats).

I have two dinner parties scheduled (Dec 3 and Dec 10) so either I will need to be really organized or you can come visit me at the "funny farm".

44th Kent State Folk Festival

Gerry and and I spent a total of 10 hours on Friday and Saturday listening to various folk performers. Friday there were 35 venues at various stores, bars, churches or galleries. You can listen for a few minutes and then go to another or stay for the entire concert. Some of the categories were folk rock, hammered dulcimer, bluegrass, tribute bands, blues, and blend of world music. We met a music professor from Kent who was a great source of info. His special area is far eastern music. He led a Chinese gong and drum group on Saturday.

We stayed at a motel on Friday so we would be raring to go on Saturday, when there were 36 "workshops" as they call them, over six hours. Again you can come and go as you wish. Some we attended were: Dulcimer lesson, Jug Band music, Slow Jam, Songwriting, Bawdy tunes (adults only), and Shape note singing. In many of these you learn a lot about the culture that produced the music. The Professor told us of a local church that does the shape note singing. (look it up on youtube)

Halloween

OK, OK, I am planning Thanksgiving dinner, my house is mostly decorated for Christmas (more on that later), but I am finally posting pictures from Halloween. Granddaughter made an apple costume for a program the children gave at her preschool. The next picture is her brother and their cousin. Sorry about the first picture being so big. I don't know how to reduce the size.

I love the web site Ted.com

Today I spend a couple hours listening to speakers on Ted.com. Check it out. It's amazing how ideas I hear are applicable to situations in my life. Amy Tan was speaking about creativity and talked about how ideas or information comes to you when you need it. She didn't try to explain how or why. She also talked about a person doing something and it not turning out as you thought it might. You are to just look at your intention. (I am simplifying here)

So, here is my story. On Election Day my job as a judge was to look at everyone's ID, which in most cases was their Ohio driver's license. When I looked at one I noticed that it had expired so I mentioned it to the man. He turned red and said he had lost his job so didn't have the money. He said maybe one of his roommates could help him out. As it turns out he is a neighbor who lives four houses from me. I felt bad that I had caused him embarrassment. So today I went to his house to apologize. I was going to offer to help if he would accept. He was gracious and said it had been taken care of.

In looking at my intention I was reminded of this which I had recently read - Gloria Steinem's story, "Ask the Turtle".

http://www.yuni.com/library/docs/217.html

Post election rant

On Tuesday I did my civic duty by working as a poll judge again. All 14 1/2 hours. Don't know where I will spend the $100 I earned. That is for the entire time. We had a high turn out. (40 to 50 %) That is sad when I type it. High should be 99%.

My biggest rant on our local elections is that we have the most archaic, convoluted methods of funding our public schools in Ohio. It comes down to a local voted levee. But of course the schools are mandated by law to provide the education but in many cases do not receive the funds because the levies do not pass. It is the only place people can have control of the taxes they pay. It is real mess.

The other thing (rant continues) I would say is "Good Luck Republicans in fixing the mess we are in!"

Sunset

I always wished for a home where I could see the sunsets. Our deck faces the west so my wish has come true. Since I am not an expert photographer, this was the best I could do. But I am working on it. Yesterday we had part of the storm that was covering the Midwest with winds gusting to 60 mph. Our gusts were not as bad as further west. But it rained hard and then there was this fabulous sunset.