The usual New Year's Activities

Can't say what got me motivated- but I have spent the last two days editing a drawer in the filing cabinet.  It was the one with all our financial records.  One thing that helped was looking online to see if the information was available there.  Then I could shred the paper.  I also spent time requesting digital statements instead of a hard copies. Just so I don't think I have to print them all out now!  That would be counter productive.  I will add two garbage bags of shredded paper to the trash pick up this week.  In the past I have put some shredded paper in the compost, but don't want to put too much ink in it.

I also started a stretch exercise class.  It is for an hour two times a week and the third day they do line dancing.  I definitely have a ways to go with getting in shape and learning to dance.  But I must start somewhere.

Another change in our life is that G gets up at 5:30 AM each day so he can be on the road by 6 AM to beat the rush hour traffic.  I get up with him (but usually have to sneak in a short nap during the day).  I haven't told him that so will see if he reads my blog.

Christmas Part 2

K was in my office for a long time.  She then appeared with a "stage" she had built with paper and paper puppets.  She presented us with a play with three characters: Her cat Logan, Renee Michelle's cat Phi, and a bird.  She need the help of several people to hold the "stage".

Papa G with his two favorite grandchildren.

It seems that one of the activities was photography. Note that another person had to take this picture.

Ada's first Christmas with us was peaceful.

This really needs no explanation!

Grandson helping

This post will be mainly our grandson helping others (to open their gifts).  A future post will show his sister's activities.

A is happy with a Physics book.

B checking out a gift.

We decided a magnifying glass is necessary for a budding scientist. 

Papa, let me read it!

Let me help by tearing the paper off.

Christmas Part 1

In order to show pictures of our celebrations, I will do several posts.  The first is food preparation.

For breakfast there was homemade sticky rolls and for dinner dessert, Andrew's favorite - apple pie.

On Christmas day itself, there was just Gerry, myself, Renee Michelle, Andrew and Shawn.  I made two lasagnas, one with meat and one vegetarian. Gerry decided he did not like ricotta in his lasagna so we looked up a recipe without it.  I found this one, which took the person who posted it on her blog six years to perfect.  She recommended taking two days to make it.  I tried to do it in four hours: talk about stress.  Still it probably is the best lasagna I have made.   recipe here   Shawn helped by stirring the two sauces.  Renee helped by sitting in the recliner with a timer and the recipe.  (She was not felling well, so was excused.)

Happy New Year

For several years now, G and I have welcomed in the New Year at First Night Akron.  We invited another couple, who went with us two years ago.  G's favorite was listening to a group that dress and sound like the Beatles. He also likes the University of Akron Steel Drum band.  My favorite was a 40 piece Brass band that played an hour long concert of classical music and marches.  They played one of my favorite pieces by Leroy Anderson called "Buglers's Holiday".  Solos were played by various instruments where I heard the Flugle horn with it's mournful but beautiful sound.  There was another hour of the concert, but since there were four us us, all with different tastes, we all had to compromise and go to the ones others liked too.

First Night celebrations are at various cities in the US.  They are "family friendly" which means not a lot of alcohol and loud parties.  I am sure some of this was going on in the bars, but the various venues are in public buildings. There is one fireworks at 10:00 pm for younger children who need to go home and to bed early.  There was another at midnight.  So we got home around 1:00 AM.  It was a great start to the new year.

Celebrating our anniversary

Our 43rd wedding anniversary was on Thursday.  Since G worked that day, he was a bit too tired to really celebrate.  We did go out for dinner.  But last night we went to dinner and a musical.  The title was My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding.  It is based on a true story.  It was a comedy but had serious parts too.  Did you know that only four countries have legalized gay marriage?  Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada.  Who would have guessed Canada.  They did mention the states in the US too.

G has taken vacation until January 2.  We are just staying around home so I am hoping it will be relaxed.

Another holiday party

Last night G and I attended another holiday party.  It was the family party for the owner of the company where he now works. It was held on the campus of the University School which is a private high school for boys.  In attendance were a couple hundred of their closest friends.  As is the custom, the program was a report on Dan's latest motor cycle adventure.  This last year he went with three other men from the southern to northern tip of Africa.  You can read his blog at http://www.dantmoore3.com.  He has a separate blog there for each trip he has taken including the Continental Divide ride that G took with him. We met people who had known him and his family all their life, other motorcycle riders, and people currently working for him.