Sigh, our age is showing!

We helped out at our church "Harvest party" tonight & were assigned to "man" the "Swing Bowling" game activity, but had to beg for relief after the 1st hour! You see, all 6 pins are on the floor and having to be manually reset after every "hit" ='s stoop, bend & stand, far "worse" then "weekend-warrior" gardening for Grampa MIkey & HE was "sparing" me (NO pun intended) because of my healing hip & knee! We both felt "better" about it, however, after our (lengthy ;-) "break" when we returned to see our reliefs, a younger set, in similar condition! Was a fun evening! mc

Just heard from Jordan

We just got a brief but happy phone call from Jordan. I asked if he was having a good trip. He said "I'm having a GREAT trip." They are in a rural area outside of New Orleans that sustained significant storm damage. They have focused on- sort of "adopted" - this one neighborhood and they're just going to keep taking teams back a few times a year as long as it's needed. On Sunday, they went to church and then drove through the 9th ward to see the worst flooding damage. Then yesterday it was back to work. They'll work all M-F and return on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll get some pics to post soon after he returns.

So who here has an ipod?

I'm sure there must be a few out there. Which one do you have? Do you love it?

Jordan's Yearbook Dedication

Jordan's school has parents of the seniors create personalized dedications for the seniors in the yearbook. Since I signed it generally "Your family" I thought I'd share what "we" (us, you) told him.

Hint- you have to click on it to see it large enough to read.

Jordan is still in Louisiana- haven't heard anything for a few days.

Darcy- you're next. 4 more years!

1st annual Fall Festival, or Classic

Our little group of neighbors around our little block- gathered for our 1st annual Fall Festival. The men called it the Fall Classic. So...whichever. Most of the kids, with the exception of a couple, are past the baby and toddler stage and are old enough to run around and have fun while the adults visit. So Jenny and Joe hosted since their front yard is the only one whose front lawn doesn't slope too much for the bounce house. Everyone brought something to share. Chili and cornbread and hotdogs, and all the fixings. Jacob bounced for hours straight. I can't believe he NEVER ran out of energy. He could have kept going. There were just enough kids that it felt like a real PARTY but not so many that it was chaos. Jenny painted faces and walked around wearing an apron she and her mom made with pockets all over the front for the kids to reach in and find goodies (remember your Sunday School teacher wearing one of those?). They bobbed for apples. Colleen ran the cakewalk (with cupcakes). Next year we'll do real full-size cakes for that. Since our neighborhood growing up wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy and kid-friendly (we were okay and had a fun childhood- but I did get asked if I claimed Bloods or Crips! We just "bussed" ourselves into other neighborhoods for school and friendships)it's really nice to be able to have neighborhood-based friendships for ourselves and our kids. We hoped for that when we bought the house and it seems like everyone (well, almost) who's moved in since then has been a great addition of fun and personality to the mix. Our kids are uncannily all the same ages (there's a group Jordan's and another Jakie's and not much in between- weird) and we all work hard to take care of our houses and enjoy the friendships of our kids and ourselves. We like our little block. As much as we keep talking about wanting to leave SoCal and have a bigger property somewhere, we just always come back to how hard it's going to be to duplicate our little gem here of a house we truly love and a little micro-neighborhood and town that's really great. Can we just magically expand our yard and transport the whole thing a little north?

Beavers Rule and Trojans... well...

In honor of the Beavers' grand and glorious victory today, I thought I'd show you some pictures from this year's games.

Those are some vicious beavers

I see that this Beaver's victory prompted Caleb to leave his first post. Woohoo. Welcome Caleb!

We thought that Brad and Mark Sr. would be grumpy or sad after the game, but when we called, they said "We're celebrating with the Beavers!"

Beavers v. Trojans

Our USC trojans are on Beaver turf today. Mark's brother Brad and Mark Sr. are both at the game. They made it their annual SC away-game destination this year. Last year was Notre Dame. They just called to say that Portland had gorgeous weather yesterday and they're in Corvallis in their USC gear waiting for kickoff.

Soo...the Trojans still haven't lost, but they also haven't looked very impressive lately. Can the Beavers topple them today? Who will win, SoCal or the GNW?

Signed my life away

Maybe not my life... just my wallet. I just finished registering Amy and I for her 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg and Jamestown. It's a 6 day trip in June '07. 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the settling of Jamestown, so we'll be there for the quad-whatever-centennial celebration. That'll be fun. You know the very best part of the entire itinerary? It's a large, air-conditioned motor coach. Ahhh... I've seen D.C. twice now on foot and my feet are not thanking me for it. The bus is the very best part. :) So now the fun part begins... the fundraising. They're fundraising en masse and Amy will not be thrilled to discover that she is participating. It will be good for her, right? haha!

Mayberry

For a rather large town in the middle of So Cal urban sprawl, Orange does a great impression of a small town. We are known as "the Mayberry of O.C." Because of the town plaza, surrounded by Old Town, we have several town-ish events through the year which are fun.

Today was "Treats in the Streets." The traffic is blocked through the traffic circle in the middle of the town plaza and the 4 streets leading into it. All the kids in town come in their costumes and "trick or treat" from the storefronts there (according to a pre-approved kid-traffic flow chart). The firemen are there with their firetrucks, the Orange HS marching band and cheerleaders parade around the outside of the cirle. The inside of the cirle is reserved for the hayride pulled by two beautiful large draft horses. Only non-profits are allowed to set up food booths, like funnel cake, bake sales, hot dogs. After the trick or treating closes at 5:30pm, the kids do a costume parade and there is a welcome ceremony and everyone continues milling around the plaza taking hayrides, or sitting on the bales of hay listening to local politicians try to be jovial and dignified until 7pm. I should also mention that "The Orange County Star Wars Society" blessed us with their presence.

Next up is the tree-lighting ceremony in Dec. The city decorates the largest pine tree in the middle of the plaza, and local choirs sing and there's cider and hot chocolate (don't get any ideas, Kyle) and they light the tree and the large nativity, which even though a few people complain every year, is always back the next year. They hang garlands and wreaths over all the streets and street lamps which also sparkle with lights at night. There are always banners hanging over the different streets leading out from the circle, which is how one keeps informed of upcoming events. Lately, it's the mayor's prayer breakfast.

It's nice living in Mayberry.

Jordan is off

Jordan officially left behind his chi-chi designer jeans and headed out to New Orleans today for 10 days of drywall hanging, with levis, a toolbelt, work gloves, 2 other boys and 2 dozen sophomore girls. He called this evening to say he landed safely. I'll be interested to hear what Halloween in N.O. is like... but I hear rumors that the kids get NO free time no matter what, so there may not be any sight seeing involved whatsover. I'll keep you updated as I hear from him.

Refreshing Beverages and High Culture

So last week, Pastor called me to ask about going for a bike ride. I wasn't able to ride that day, but we did schedule one for another, instead. We also got to talking about life in Lithuania, as it were, and some of our difficulties with the culture. One thing that Bob mentioned was a web site that had a listing of all the things that were going on in the country from an entertainment point of view. His original point was that no one had told him about the site until he had been here for two months, and he had been looking for, and asking about, just such a thing since he arrived. He went on to explain that it was a great site, full of information. What follows is the gist of the remainder of the conversation:
Pastor: "Oh yes, it is quite a site. You really should take a look at it to see what's going on."
Kyle: "I will, thanks. I wonder if the Queen (of England) will be appearing in public during the rest of her visit..."
Pastor: "I'll check while we're on the phone (he knows I don't have the internet at home). Hang on."
Kyle: "Thanks."
Pastor "No, it doesn't look like it, but I tell you it's a great site. All kinds of great information, on everything that is happening in the entire country."
Kyle: "Great."
Pastor: "For instance, there is blah, blah, blah (I can't remember what it was) happening on Saturday. Here is something about hot chocolate on Tuesday..."
Kyle: "What's that about?"
Pastor: "Sure...let's see...I'll just click...well...yeah...er...ah...well...you know...it's not what you think it might have been."
Kyle: "Really? What is it?"
Pastor: "Well. See. It appears to be an art exhibition featuring only black nudes."
Kyle: "Yeah. I guess they won't be giving samples of Swiss chocolate at that one, huh?"
Pastor: "I hope not!"

I could tell that he was feeling a bit awkward. I mean, he was really touting this site, and then-BLAM! Poor guy. I laughed for an hour.

Vacation adventure

Hi All! We're back and catching up on this blog slowly but surely - am MOSTLY through commenting on the missed posts & have enjoyed it so!
Here is some of what WE were up to! I'll TRY to be concise :-) although it means eliminating other lovely places we enjoyed. We initially made it to SD for but 3 1/2 days but it was worth it to see Mom & M&E all together in their NICE "new" house! Stopped by Schmidts enroute down & LOVED seeing them ALL there, too - Jordy's lovely girlfriend and assorted buddies popping in/out reminded me of growing up on Centraloma Dr! Had a great pizza potluck at Sis Ellies with McCardles in abundance. Boogyed (sp?)through LA to Sacramento to attend along with with Ellie & other (recently discovered) Calif. McCardle cousins, the '06 Cal. State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service where Ellies oldest son, our nephew Jimmy, was honored along with 26 other Fallen Firefighters... an intimate solemn VERY memorable event we were SO glad to have been a part of... (Yep, The Govenator was present but tastefully kept a low profile as did the other Ca. gov't officials, including his primary opponent.)Following, we "played" on the way back home - a 1st for us, which we hope to repeat on other trips down! The pics are not necessarily in order of occurance, but here goes! Our McCardle group following the memorial service, Mike & "Hot Lips" in Old Sacramento ;-), me in a (spontaneous) shot taken in what is referred to as a "Goose pen" tree in the Ca. State Redwoods Park below Eureka (!! An indescribable Amazing place!) Patricks Point State Park - Mike on a trail from Lookout Rock (!!) to view Wedding Rock; me exploring Agate Beach there where there really ARE agates & other beautiful stones in abundance, for the taking! Me examining a REAL covered wagon at the (GREAT, end of the trail!) Applegate Trail Intrepretive Center just north of Grants Pass in Sunny Valley, Oregon (renamed that from the ominous original, "Grave Creek"). We SO enjoyed ourselves, but have had to leave SO much out here, sigh, that I MAY continue posting pics, anyway! :-) Took routes we'd never seen and caught the northern Ca. coastal areas w/o fog AND BETWEEN rains! PTL!! Have managed to see all Grands & (most of) their parents since our return and my return to FT hours at the Inn. "Gotta" scat! mc

Pumpkins

It was a pumpkiny weekend. After the Friday night failure, we recovered for some serious fall fun. Saturday was "THE Pumpkin Patch". Several pumpkin patch areas and a full kiddie carnival. We met Stefan and girls there so the girl in the pics is Jacob's little buddy Sophia. Jacob had fun and picked the perfect Jacob pumpkin-head pumpkin. You may not remember, but as a baby, he actually looked like a pumpkin. At least his head did. Seriously round and orange. Anyway...he got a pumpkin to match his head and today we carved it. Jacob "designed" and Mark and I weilded the knife. Then I felt baker-ish, so we ended the day with orange-glazed pumpkin spice bundt cakes. :-) Pumpkins... After I get them out of my system, we will switch to apples and I will get all apple-y. I'm dreaming up an apple dinner as we speak... But for now, pumpkins.

Skype

So...you all need to download Skype and go get a $30 wedbcam. I'd been meaning to, but just procrastinating. But it's awesome. You can see each other full-screen video and even though the sound isn't as good as a phone, it's free computer-to-computer and it's great for showing visuals and talking as a group. You should do it. Sermon over.

Life in the fast lane

This is the last week of fall sports and oh boy am I glad. It's been fun... it always is... but by the end I just cannot wait for a free Saturday. George is in budget season, which means he's gone most of the time, so I'm running this show on my own. This week we have soccer practice Tuesday and Friday, football practice Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday we have end-of season tournaments and the schedule goes like this:
8:00 a.m. Joshua - soccer game
10:00 a.m. Caleb - football game
11:00 a.m. Joshua - soccer game
12:30 p.m. Caleb - football party
4:00 p.m. Joshua - soccer championship game

Yes, there is only one of me. I'm still working on the clone. George is planning on going to work around 6 a.m., then driving out for the 10:00 football game. After the game he'll go back to work, then drive back for the 4:00 soccer championship. I need to find someone to attend the 11:00 soccer game so I can watch the entire football game. Any takers?

Also on that day, Sarah is going to a dance camp and Amy is going into Keizer to babysit Lis & Dan's kids. My life is nuts.

Cade's a groupie

Well, I'm here in the square, catching some chilly fall sunshine, and Cade just received his first skateboarding kesson from some Lithuanian 12 -year-olds. They were really quite patient and reassuring with him. Especially when he fell after his first four glides. "Everybody does it. It's ok." They said. Then they taught him about "grinding" on te courtyard wall, and now one of them is explaining competitive regulations to him. Just icture it all said with an Eastern European accent, and you will know how cute this really is. Heath keeps running over to give me updates: "Mommy, that kid is gwinding!" Now Cade is telling the boys about Legoes. But the best part is when Heath ran over to tell me that the boys were thirty years old. "No, honey, I said. Mommy's 30. Those boys are not 30." Heath, wit all the considerable force of his natural indignation, yelled "Everyone can be 30!" Aha, you have the right to remain 30. Not bad...

Happy Weekend!

So this new Chuck E Cheese opened up by our house and we thought since we had nothing else to do this Friday and Jordan was out, Mark and I would take Jakie over for dinner and play. We've never done that before.

Holy Cow.

I think I would rather eat macaroni and cheese (ask my mom about that one) before going back there. Can you say o-ver-stim-u-la-tion?

Recording of the piano tracks is finished! We have one more day at the studio sometime these next few weeks for voice-overs of song titles and foreign diction. The gentleman who did so wonderfully on the last edition has passed away since then, so we can't re-use the existing ones for the recurring songs. We have to re-do it all. Had a first peek at the cover as well. I have been SOOOO afraid I wouldn't like the cover but would have to just smile and pretend I did. But I do like it. I do I do! Yay! Can't post it in public here but if anyone is REALLY interested I could email it. Getting closer...

Jordan leaves for New Orleans this Thursday for a 10-day service trip, helping with repair and rebuilding. Mostly putting up new drywall for the homes that had to get stripped to studs. He's happy to go. He's also excited about going to Africa this summer-- 3 weeks in Malawi, likely on a contruction team.

He's also started a rather grown-up job. He decided since he's very focused on being a lawyer now, that he would like to get a job at a law firm just filing or doing messenger work. Learn by observing, etc., etc. After talking to anyone and everyone he knew with connections to law, he landed a job at a small family law firm where he is the "Assistant to Attorney". It's 1pm-5pm Mon-Fri and he has to dress for work every day (dress pants, shirt & tie). He answers the phone, files and does whatever they need and really likes the two partners- they are as crazy as he is! They love him too- they love having a bright capable kid who really wants to learn and hopes to be a lawyer rather than their usual drippy receptionist who sleeps at her desk. So they've been letting him read depositions and take a first crack at filling out some legal forms with them checking his work, and also letting him spruce up some of their filings grammatically and stylistically. Hopefully, this will be a good thing for him long-term. They are fine with his service trips as well, so it won't be a problem as it was with the retail job. I'll get some pics of him in his "business attire" and post them.

The next few weeks we'll be diving into college applications. Exciting and scary.

The pics are of recording. I couldn't get an action shot of myself at the mic, because when I was producing Jan was out of the room (and generally isn't great at taking pics), Les was mixing and Jean was playing piano. So I took shots of Jan producing and the others doing their thing and of the empty chair which you may imagine me sitting in for the tracks I produced. Jan promised to get pics of me during voiceover recording.

Red- Headed Dervish (giggling)

Boy, did we just have fun here. Heidi finally downloaded Skype - but didn't have a mike yet. We have a combo mike-camera. (We couldn't find a headset at the first store we went to and since the house has been finished we're very lazy. We consider one job - like changing a light bulb- a weekend as a lot accomplished. And one store enough to visit). It actually has worked very well because we can all three talk and listen at the same time with the LT fam, instead of one person at a time on the mike and earpiece.

So Heidi called us on our computer after Jakie had called me on the cell phone and we 'talked'. They could hear us through the computer - but we could only hear them through the phone. But when we got the picture working and they could see us Jakie went crazy. He danced and gigled and squealed (I couldn't see but could sure hear him bouncing around and carrying on.) First it was just me, then Poppa squeezed in, then we got Gigi over. Each new face brought fresh gales of giggles and cavorting.

What fun!

On the Eddie/Spanky front. I have taken to calling then Stan & Mont. They are like 2 brothers who can't get along. I am threatening to use Gigi's famous discipline and make them just sit & look at each other for a time. Eddie would love it, though. And Spanky would get nnastier and nastier. In fact today while Spanky was in a deep sleep in a chair, Eddie parked in front of her staring at her with his tail twitching back & forth, back & forth....nothing happened - probably because Gigi was there, but Eddie was itching for trouble.

Hi everyone

Okay, so I'm not very good at blogging. I had good intentions, but through a series of mishaps followed by sluggishness, I've been absent. Can I still play?

Mom called me after they got home yesterday and told me there's talk of moving up a reunion to next summer? I'm looking at my calendar and wondering about that. Amy and I will likely be gone June 18-23 on her 8th grade trip to Wa DC. George and I also have a trip to New Mexico in late July for a work-related conference. Were you seriously thinking about this? What kind of timeframe?

I'll try not to be so... missing.

Explanation

Sorry LT for the lack of clarity. We are recording the accompaniment CD for the book this week. We flew the pianist in for the week and we're spending 8hrs per day holed up in the studio- seeing sunlight only coming in the morning and leaving in the evening. It's SOOOOO much fun commuting to LA every day. Not. As I'm driving through the LA muck, I keep muttering to myself "Ugh. I hate LA. I do NOT live in LA. This is LA and I do NOT live here!"

Jan and I are co-producing. She does some songs solo, some we do together and some I do solo. It's been going really well, actually and we are moving along so quickly, we might actually finish a day early. Which is INSANCE since we had 52 tracks to do and that's a crazy goal for 5 days. We were pretty sure we'd have to record into the weekend. But we might actually finish on Thurs. Yeehaw.

I'll post some pics the next few days.

Love you guys.

SAT

Since Windy brought it up...Jordan felt pretty goodabout the SAT. He worked so hard prepping for the math section, he actually thought it was easier than the new critical reading section- which he said was vague and sneaky. We'll see how his score plays out. He still has one more subject exam to take in Dec-- Lit. Maybe Windy, you could tutor a little from the Baltic region? :-)

After I finish recording this week, we focus on college apps. I will boldly tread this new territory into which Darcy soon will follow... I've become the unofficial college advisor for Jordan's friends. They are calling the house now asking for my opinion on this school or that career as a fit for them. Since I love them, it's fun.

Love you all!

Last high school homecoming dance

Last night was Jordan's homecoming dance, his last one in high school. He and Alli went in a group with three other couples and three girls going single. They ate dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and then went to the dance, followed by a brief fondue afterparty at one of the girls' house. They had a nice time and Jordan is already campaigning for a crazy tux for Winter Formal. He wants yellow or baby blue. We might compromise with him in a white tux and Alli in a vintage dress. I told him he had to take Alli and her mom tux shopping with him and if they agreed to it, then he could get it. I know Alli's mom wants the pictures to look good so she'll have an opinion! We told him for prom he needs to be in a nice normal tux, so he's hoping to work out his silliness on Winter Formal. We'll see. The official pics aren't in yet, but this is from before the dance. Most of my other shots were fuzzy or just bad. Where's Kyle when you need him?

How we pretend the flowers got there...

How it actually got there...

The Holstein Vulture

Aren't you all dying to hear more adventures of Eddie & Spanky. His latest is to get on top of the kitty litter box when Spanky is in it - and whack her tail if he can. Spanky does not appreciate it at all. Neither do I. Let's see Oct. Nov. Dec..... Eddie feels bad and rejected and Spanky feels a nervous wreck. Any more globe wanderings will have to include pets!

We had a great talk with Windy & boys again Sunday morning. Cade's knee seems to be OK now. He said he went all the way up the stairs on it Sunday.

We had a fun week with Mike & Marilyn here Mon night - Fri morning, then Nadine and Harvey for dinner Friday night. Stan called Mom and talked Sat evening so she certainly had a good visit with all her kids in one week. We're enjoying watching the Cardinals beat the Mets lately.

We got our new windows in the nick of time. They were installed Tuesday, and Friday night and Sat morning we had RAIN! 3/4 inch at Lindbergh Field ..... Glad we had windows that would shut. The windows look very nice and they are a pleasure!! Smooth and easy to operate and actually shut tight. Hopefully our bedroom will be a bit warmer this winter.

We are voting on our pastor candidate this evening - will be wonderful to have a pastor again - I think he'll be easily passed. It's been 8 months.

I guess that is all the news I can dredge up - It isn't that we are so busy here - just not much to say.

Yes. Busy

Ach. I feel like such a Southern Californian. "I'm busy...blah blah blah." But seriously, Jakie said "Mommy, why are you doing the book EVERY DAY?" I wanted to cry.

This coming week, I will be in the recording studio all week. I will resurface next weekend. Tonight I will post some pics of Jordan's homecoming dance from last night.

Love you all.

Wow

You guys must be reeeeeeeeally busy. I meant to post something on here earlier today, but I messed up and put it on PProg. instead. You see, we write them in the comfort of home, sometimes days in advance, and then I paste them into Blogger. I ws a little too efficient today.

So when you read lost in translation, pretend you are still on this one...

Jordan? Talkative? Noooooo.....

Jordan was tickled to win one of the "Senior Mosts" announced in chapel today:

Most Talkative

In the words of Iago the parrot, now there's a big surprise. I'm think I'm going to have a heart attack and die from that surprise. ;-)

Jordan's shirt series...

Do chicks dig the Czech Republic? And mariachis?

Why is this?

These are my 3 most recent quilts. The bright one (twin) is called Attic Windows and is for Gigi's bed - the day bed - in AZ. It is from scraps at church except for the black which I had to buy - and hand quilted by the hand quilting ladies. I then pay for the hand quilting and that goes to missions.
The queen size is one from scraps at church I made to sell ($225)- the proceeds to missions. I can't remember the name now but it is related to cards. It is very pretty so I hope it will sell. It looks a bit washed out in the picture.
The yellow/lime green one I made because I got carried away in the fabric store with exciting pretty prints. It's called candy cane. Our teacher usually picks a pattern for us all to do and we choose the size. It's a lap size.
After I made the attic window this summer, everyone came back this fall and they are all making attic window quilts now. Everyone's will look different because of the diff materials people pick.

We 3 had a wonderful talk with Windy & kids via Skype this am. Kyle was off shooting pics and heading to a Padre game. This one was worth watching! Though nerve racking considering how many men we left on base!

I'd write but...

I have wanted to post on the blog - but my news is exciting like...... Eddie chased the thread while I was trying to sew the binding on the quilt. And lets see.... today was colder and it was strange 'cause almost everyone of the patients fell asleep during my sermon. (That happens some days - they were mostly sleeping when I arrived also.) Some good news is we are happy to be paying less than $2.50 a gallon for gasoline.

Well I strained myself but managed to crank out something.
Love ya all!

Take me out to the McOpera (Supersized for hungry family letters)

So, here’s a typical expatriate evening for the Petrie family.

5 p.m.: Eat at the only McDonald’s in Old Town Vilnius. We do this once a week to reward the kids for being such great sports about borscht and such. Our Vilnius real estate agent, by the way, considers the existence of McDonald’s in his city a horrible travesty, and I tend to agree with him. But I go there, nevertheless. I offer no excuses.

7 p.m. Go to the Opera house for a performance of Aida. Lithuanians love their opera, ballet, and National Philharmonic, and I am planning on loving it, too. We also have tickets to see Swan Lake in December. It will be a lovely way to say goodbye to Eastern Europe.

11p.m. Watch the Padres in the playoffs at Peter’s flat (Peter is from the embassy, about our age, and—oh, no!—A Yankees Fan…). Of course, this is an “early” game, since it starts at 1 p.m. in America. Seeing the late games may involve waking up at 4 a.m. to watch, as Peter does for the Yankees. I don’t know if I’m that dedicated, but Kyle is glad he found a sports fan friend with cable.

Ok, just kidding. It is SO not typical, but it is cool, which is why I wanted to tell everyone about it. Things seem to occur in waves for us. Most evenings I’m enjoying catching up on my reading, but every once in a while a string of parties, receptions, or musical events all happen at once. And the more people you meet, the busier you get, of course. In fact, tonight I had the opportunity to meet a group of Lithuanian Fulbrighters who have recently returned from the U.S. They were very interesting, including a reconstructive surgeon who was doing experimental research on skin transplants in Michigan, and a composer who will be performing the piano piece he composed while on his Fulbright later this month.

In fact, the week of Nov 13-17th may do me in, as it has ended up that I have 3 different presentations in 3 different forums that week.
The first of them is in a town several hours away, and the University there recommended that I catch the 6:30 a.m. train to get there in time to deliver my 11 a.m. lecture. I was game to do so until I told Carlos, the head of the Cultural Affairs section of the embassy, about my plans. “No, no, no,” he said. Now I am going in an embassy car, with a driver. I could have handled the train, but I am not going to refuse being chauffeured. He and Rasa, who handles the migration paperwork, will probably come along, since Carlos needs to make a trip to the town anyway (to arrange some concerts there for a visiting American conductor).

Someone has to break the silence

This should do it.

Ahhh I finally get 2 days off and....

Well, this afternoon we made the mistake of going to "Dodgerville" (Kurt & Eliz.) to watch the Padres lose game 1, sigh! I took pair 1 of 2 of Mike's now 3 yrs old NEW (tags JUST removed yesterday to launder them) shorts that weren't short enough for his preference, to work on, figuring I'd see all our home runs on replay & not miss any of the excitement in the win..... Well so much for that! Back to the shorts... he has worn his current pair to the absolute threadbare stage & STILL refused to wear either of these nice length pair. Sigh again, SOOO I was reduced to this "indignity" ;-) I only have half a pant leg left on pair #2 now, THEN have the fun of shortening his new dress slacks (for the Fallen Firefighters Service in Sacramento). Who knows! Maybe I'll bring them along & do them in SD for "old times sake"!! At least the slacks DO need shortening! ANYway he is on alert that the next time he finds shorts to his length-preference, he has to buy himself several pair so they last as this is NOT "my thing"! (Now THAT was a painful "threat" to give a true Scotsman! BUT I told him I'd force myself to do the same when I find shoes I like/need, but somehow it didn't seem to have the same "sting" to it! ;-). Mike is out walking now but offered to make our scrambled egg dinner when he returns & I took him up on it! Guess that'll teach HIM to have me shorten his shorts, HUH?! mc

Cocktails or Draggle-tailed?

Welp, it's happening. Now is the time when we all find out if I can ever become a successful mingler. As you all know, I am not one of your Natural Hobnobbers, and I find cocktail parties a strain. Diplomatic receptions, however, knock me down for the count. We went to our first about a week and a half ago, and, since I couldn't make sparkling conversation with a complete stranger unless you set me on fire first, I inadvertently asked the United States Ambassador to Lithuania, "So, do you work at the embassy?"
I blame Kyle for this--he had been standing talking to this guy about baseball and drinking Lithuanian beer, so I came over, and he said, "Oh, here's my wife. Windy, this is John." This is when I asked the silly question. Kyle made a good recovery ("actually, honey, he Is the embassy") but it did not build my confidence for the next event, which is Wednesday. Luckily, I can report with confidence that the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania is a kind and gracious man, and his wife is even sweeter and more down-to-earth. I really liked her. Anyone who can raise a daughter who serves as a case worker for foster kids in D.C. gets my vote of confidence. I don't know why, but I have always vaguely thought of Ambassadors' wives (not that I've done too much thinking about this) as stork-like women in Chanel suits who would probably ask me if I'd gone to Vassar. So glad I was wrong.
Wish me luck for Wednesday night. Maybe I'll get a chanel suit and ask everyone who comes near me if they've gone to Vassar. That way, no one would want to talk to me anyway....