Funny Opera - Yay!

The big news yesterday was going to the opera. Isn't that exciting? Yippee! Opera! Actually, this one was pretty entertaining. It was a comic opera. I wouldn't mind seeing more of those. Natalie Dessay sang the lead in La Fille du Regiment. Very entertaining all way round.

After the opera, Mom and I went to an UNO for dinner. The food was good - not great. We had avocado eggrolls (they are better at Cheesecake Factory) and a deep dish pizza. More leftovers!

Other than that, I can't think of anything too exciting that happened. I mailed a package, met someone from POF - nice woman who I hope to see again one day - Oh, that's right, I went to a new-to-me place. OPUS - it is a wine and coffee shop. They serve some food. Very trendy. I will be surprised if it lasts for long here in Geneva. We had smoothies. It is hard to get a smoothie wrong - fear not, they didn't.

I also asked at Hobart and William Smith about taking classes. There are, of course, hoops to jump through. I think I will take a stroll down to FLCC today and see what they offer and how much, etc. Baby steps.

Another thing I forgot. Goodness, maybe Alzheimer's really is catching! I was sort of explaining "the cloud" in technology to mom in a restaurant the other day. A woman walked by and said that she had overheard and was impressed with my explanation. She expressed the desire to have someone help her with some computer issues. I volunteered my services and gave her my card thinking that I would never hear from her. Yet, she did call. And I went over yesterday and spent an hour an a half helping her with little computer things. It was fun and I think she felt helped. Yay!

Because the Turkish Women flaked on me, I was going to go ahead and have an adventure today anyway. My first thought was to go beering by myself. Then I thought of the racetrack with mom. This morning when I first woke, I decided that it would be best if I stayed around here - ate leftovers, cleaned out the car, packed etc. Yippee for being "responsible."

Photos from July 13, 2011:


Mom's fan and the cleared out area. I was sorting one of the boxes last night and had a violent allergic reaction. No wonder mom's nose drips! Her room needs a major cleaning. One day...


The electronic chalkboard at Opus - coolness!


The fruit of a lot of stealth sorting! Bye bye! Happy recycling!! :)

The Mom who Cried Wolf

Finally figured something out - maybe I have figured it out again. Part of what is most distressing about mom is that she is constantly groaning and complaining about her ills. Luckily not in a completely horrendous way - but it is incessant. I remember when I was 17 and traveling with her in Egypt how she complained about being fat and overweight and unable to get around comfortably. And she went on and on about her cramps. And that was 33 years ago. Now that she is older (81) she complains about her drippy nose, her difficulty breathing, pains in her stomach, etc. My feeling is that a large part of it is that she wants sympathy. Maybe no one was sympathetic to her as a child - or when she was ill she got attention that she was otherwise starved for. I don't know, and honestly, I don't really care. It is just a) grating, b) enervating and c) it dulls me to listening to her woes. Which means that when she has something serious going on, I won't know it until too late. Because I will think that it is just one more carp. Oh, her sore ribs turned out to be a slight muscle pull that went away. Yippee!

We ran a couple of errands yesterday. I got to see crush 2,714 (or some such number - so many crushes, so few girlfriends...) which was pleasant. And I made her smile a couple of times. We went to two pharmacies and Walmart. At Walmart we got mom a good fan for her room. I will take a picture of that today. When we got it back, setting it up was easy - except for the part where I had to remove five boxes of papers and crap from the place where I wanted to put the fan. I don't think those boxes have been touched in 5 or more years! Mom said decades, but I don't think that was the case.

Yesterday I also attended a rehearsal for the opera where dinner was provided. Yum! I didn't do much except chat with a couple of performers and helpers. Every little impression helps.

Oh, went to Red Dove Tavern again - they do have a decent beer selection. Saw another new crush - 2,715 - and had three beers - Slyfox Stout, Ommegang BPA and Ithaca Apricot. Yum. I do feel weird buying beer that doesn't count towards a plate like they do at the Flying Saucers...

The Turkish Women have cancelled our wine tasting jaunt because they are too tired. Now I can either do something on my own or take mom to the racetrack? Any thoughts?

And I need more readers and more followers if I am to reach my goal of fifty followers by the end of the year! Well, maybe if my blog were more interesting...

Pictures from July 12, 2011:


The sunken garden at Houghton House. A fond memoryful place for me...


Gowns galore for the opera chorus!


This is what I ought to have bought rather than the house. Sigh. Hindsight is so good...

Errands Day Take Whatever

Errands day for me.

After making lunch, I headed out into the world to see what I could accomplish. First stop, camera shop to pick up the DVD of my VHS of my 8mm and super 8mm movies. I must admit to the movies being really boring. Especially after the sound died on the camera. Sigh. But still, historically quite interesting. Maybe I was just really, really tired when watching it. Nope, boring. I couldn't even make it through the movie I made for a senior project back in high school. I would really like to find the people in the movie and give them copies. Where in the world is Abigail Saltonstall? Hmm?

Another reason I went to the Camera Store was to see if they could convert some 16mm film to video - turns out that their machine is broken and they probably aren't going to get it repaired. Oh well. I will look for another option. Why this is necessary is because while neatening the red room's closet just a bit, I came across a can of film. Mom thinks that it is film of her and her brother as kids. That would be awesome to see for many reasons! I will keep updating as we go along.

Next stop - the library. Someone mentioned the Sharpe books to me and I was thinking to get some from the library. They had nary a one that I could find on a cursory examination. I need to get comfortable with the OWWL system - and soon, so that I can do things from home - renew and put holds on books and such.

Next the bank - where I deposited my insurance check - water heater died and leaked a good bit. Ted fixed the leaking and replaced the water heater. Paul came in and did the work to make it all pretty again. Yippee! But they have to be paid...

I stopped in briefly to say hi to Morgan, who, it turns out, is on vacation. The lovely Brittney (Ok, I forgot to ask her how she spells her name) was tending bar. I was surprised to find that she has never been to a circus! Eeek! That is just unAmerican! :) A teeny circus is coming next week and I am going for sure! I love circuses. All shapes and sizes. Have done since I was a little tyke (I think that's redundant). Mom thinks that my love for circuses is inherited from my father. Anything is possible!

So, errands day was successful.

But wait, there's more! :) Kim and Russell stopped here on their way to Canada from Cooperstown, NY. That was great! One of the things I do miss about not being in NC is seeing my friends and great people, like Kim and Russell! Russell asked if I knew everyone in Geneva, which gave me the idea to meet everyone in Geneva. Anything is possible...Anyway, we went to Nonna's Trattoria for a yummy Italian dinner. I had something that I can't pronounce. Mom had scallops - she loves her scallops. Russell had something that looked like Ravioli but had a different name and Kim had some delicious looking lasagna! I met Nonna herself!! And started another even more inappropriate crush.

Some crushes are just so far out there, that I need to let them go. It is possible. Speaking of which, crush 2,712 still hasn't responded. And Franco is still dead. :)

Pictures from July 11, 2011:


Three different types of media - DVD, VHS tape and 16mm film!


Mom, Kim, Russell and me. With our food!


Nonna!

Ren Faire!

Most of the day was occupied with going to the Renaissance Festival in Sterling New York. I thought I had been to that one once before - but it barely struck a few cords here and there. I don't know why. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable experience.

Having mom along, we got to park in handicap parking. A very short walk to the gate. And then the ticket lines were weird - there were 6 windows open, and almost everyone was in line at one window. Weird. So I waltzed up (figuratively) and got our Buy one-get one at half price tickets. Huzzah!

The most difficult part of this location is that it is on the side of hill. So one enters at the top of the hill, and everything is downhill from there. Which means that coming back is all uphill. Sigh. We watched four shows throughout the day. The Rat Show - lots of bad puns but fun - the mud show - a re-telling of Perseus with mud, the washer women show where the front rows got a little damp, and the joust which was fun. We lunched in the indoor space, which was a good thing. I can imagine it gets brutal out there!

Mom did not put her best foot forward - though she did a good job getting around. Note to self, Ren Faires are probably not the best type of events for her. Still, we survived the experience which is always a good thing. I am going to put up most of the pictures on Facebook - though of course I will put a couple here.

When we got home, mom offered to take us out to dinner! Huzzah again! I looked up restaurants in Geneva and was surprised to see a couple that I didn't know about. One had closed - boo - but one was still open - and serving on Sunday - The Torrey Park Grill. Good food, nice staff, not too terribly expensive for large portions of food. Yay!

During the day, I also managed to talk with the opera director - he also isn't clear what he needs yet - so we will meet eventually and figure it out. Not too worried about it. I gave my card to a woman at the restaurant and offered my help with her computer woes. I doubt she will call, but one never knows. And it is day three (or four) and my crush hasn't written. Still not surprised. :)

All righty then. Time for pictures! Huzzah! (By the way, that is Ren Faire lingo for Hooray or Hurrah)

Pictures from July 10, 2011:


The entrance to the Sterling Renaissance Festival.


Our washer women. I think that would be a good gig to have on a hot day! They get to wallow in water and splash people!


Mom so loves to get her picture taken...the food was good!

Zuper Zaturday

No real plans for the day, yesterday. Sort of went with the flow. Mom and I eventually got the day started with brunch - I made the left over chicken into curried chicken salad. With grapes and apple slices. The remainder of the grapes and apples made tasty juice!

Then we decided that we were going to go see the Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts movie. I hadn't realized that Tom wore so many hats for this film. He wrote, directed (probably helped produce) and starred in it. It was a midling movie at best. Enjoyable, mainly because I am a sap. I do enjoy my romantic comedies and feel good movies.

Dinner was leftovers - frozen Augustus eggrolls (heated up), left over green beans and coleslaw. Easy-Peasy!

On a whim, I decided to go out last night. As I walked downtown, I formulated my plan. Go to Red Dove Tavern and say hi to Lianne. Sure enough, she was there - so was Laura, most recently from Beef and Brew. And Katie, who I also met at Beef and Brew (she too was a patron). Small town! Had a pleasant time, drinking beer (War of 1812 Amber from Sackets Harbor Brewing Co. was a decent amber - nothing too exciting - Southern Tier's 2X IPA was an enjoyable double (I have yet to have a Southern Tier that disappoints) and an Old Speckled Hen) and chatting with all and sundry. At one point there was a teeny set of ok fireworks out on the lake. Yippee for fireworks! Oh, I learned more about a production of Into the Woods that is being put on here. I will have to go. Yippee!

Speaking of theatre, it looks like I may be helping out with the Opera (of Cinderella) in a number of capacities. I will know more after speaking with the director today at some point. While at the ren faire...

Walking home, I glanced in the Eddie O'Brien's window and was surprised to see Hilal, Gulsun and Ozge! We chatted for a few minutes and made tentative plans to go wine tasting on Thursday. I will make a plan for that, just in case. As we know, I like my plans. :)

Two more little things - one) I am thinking of another book or books - something about the women in the family - Anna Schoen-Rene, Mom's Mom, Mom. All are/were pretty amazing and worth writing about. We shall see if anything comes of it - two) still no response from my crush which is about what I expected. Sigh.

All in all, a Zuper Zaturday!

Photos from July 9, 2011:


Mom took a shine to this stuffed warthog - who was I to deny her! And my elephant pillow looks on...


Does anyone know which grandchild was responsible for this work of art? I am leaning towards Ernst or Eric, but it could very well have been Sam or Joe...


Yay, Fireworks!

I also took a movie of the fireworks - and one of a light show on a Harley - but for some reason, blogger hasn't yet successfully uploaded a movie for me. Probably just as well. :)

Off to the Faire!

Accomplishment Day!

At least it felt like accomplishment day...

A couple of things I had been putting off got done. Finally. Well, finally is a strong word - but at least they got done for the time being. And mom helped! The one she helped with was the container cabinet in the kitchen. It always accumulates stuff and I just threw most of it away. Mom emptied the contents of the cabinet onto a counter. (Oooh, alliteration!) Then she apologized for doing it. Weird. Anyway, I then sorted the stuff into keep and toss - putting the "to be tossed" stuff onto a folding table in the middle of the kitchen - not having enough counter space for it all. Mom looked through it but rescued nothing! Good on her! :) She also washed the containers that needed washing - which was most of them. All clean, all put back, all done. And now we have more counter space as well. Yippee!

Another bit that was accomplished was the study alcove - the boxes that I accumulated there had to go - I did it in about 5 stages. All of the flattened boxes, which was most of them, are on the front porch awaiting recycling. The alcove is almost totally empty of boxes. Next step? Move all of the boxes that I have sorted into the space. Then start moving the other boxes and papers in there - leaving nothing in the living room and dining room and front hall. That is the dream. After that, start pulling boxes or piles or whatever out, a little at a time and whittle away at it till it is gone, gone, gone! Hahahahahahahaha! (Diabolical and slightly demented laughter)

And if that wasn't enough, the rug guys came and fixed the ridges in the rug. They cut and tugged and tapped until there was nary a wrinkle! Mom's trudging is now protected once again! Sadly, I broke a toe nail trying to help move a sofa. Poop! Luckily it didn't hurt at all. Yippee!

Dinner was yummy last night! Store bought roasted chicken, steamed green beans and homemade onion rings that turned out really, really well! I will have to do that again. It was a lot of work, but well worth it!

Every month or so I get girl crazy. Well, girl crazier. I mailed the crush the email I oughtn't to have mailed. Heaven knows that she will not respond. And maybe I will even get 86'd from the Raleigh Saucer. Though honestly, I didn't put anything lewd or lascivious in the note. Whatever. Done is done! And I spent the whole day twisting my head around to glimpse potentially pretty women. Sigh. If I were in a relationship, perhaps my girl craziness wouldn't be as intense. Double sigh.

Photos from July 8, 2011:


My new computer lapdesk and my garnet bed sitting pillow thingie. Yippee!


The emptied alcove!


My toe's owie.


Onion rings! The seasoned bread crumbs helped to make them delicious!

Ginger Day

Or Thursday (alternate) as it is commonly called, was quite productive. Ginger is the visiting nurse who comes to help mom out. She rubs stuff on mom's back. Would help her shower or whatever, but generally just helps out with neatening around the house. Yesterday she helped mom a little bit in her bedroom and in her living room nest. I had been smelling mothballs in mom's room for quite a while - turns out mom had collected 9 (Nine!!) boxes of mothballs in her wool closet! Gads! They have been removed, so I hope mom can breathe a little more easily. Ginger also found a dead bat in mom's shoe tree. How random and weird is that? And while working around the sofa/coffee table/tv area, mom found one of the wayward library books! Huzzah!!

I went grocery shopping and to the library. I really need to get on to the library website. I guess it is time for me to add the OWWL to my bookmarks.

When I got back, mom had also gotten motivated and got her package prepared to send off to Bosey - so back out we went to the post office.

Wow, I really think Barack Obama is going to cave to the Republicans and cut social security instead of taxing the wealthy. What kind of crap is that?! Why can't we have people in power who are compassionate, instead of people who are greedy and self serving? Glarg!! Did anyone see the fake ad that Bill Maher did about the estate tax? I don't think he is very funny generally, but he is clever. Ok, sorry for the rant...

All of this inspired me too! Or maybe it was the lack of accomplishments the previous days. Who knows. Anyway, I did send out dropbox requests to the people who volunteered to proofread Diary of a Plate Addict. And clean my room. And the red room. And started on the boxes in the alcove. I got at least a third of them broken down! Yippee! Baby steps.

Quick thoughts on the future - I am leaning towards going to the Ren Faire with mom on Sunday. Wednesday we have the opera. Friday we head to Connecticut to help Karl move. Somewhere in there I would like to do something else with the Turkish Women. We shall see.

Photos from July 7, 2011:


How a bat got into mom's shoe tree...


A much neater Red Room.


I even vacuumed!