Until 4/1

I'm taking a writing break for Easter weekend- lots of cooking for one thing, worshiping for another.I'm going to prepare Lamb and Okra,kousa(squash dish), taboulley, broccoli salad and a dessert, which will probably be pecan pie.I am getting everything ready today, so I just have to cook it tomorrow. Somewhat labor intensive.... I'll write again on 4/1 which is appropriately April Fool's Day and also my dear nephew Jason's birthday.

Choir

I love singing in the church choir.I have been regularly doing it for about five years. Now, I didn't say that I am a good singer, but I know how to read music, and I can sing usually on pitch. If a note is too high for me, I drop an octave. If a note is too low for me, I go up an octave.I have a very limited range - about two octaves( on a good day).Solos aren't for me(except Napoleon Solo). I have very dear friends in the group, and they are excellent, trained musicians; e.g., Kim sings for the Atlanta City Opera and also sings Rock- how's that for multi- faceted? Yet despite my limitations - as well as others in the "Chancel Choir" - there isn 't stress or intimidation, and I guess I add some levity to the rehearsals.You can imagine that the toughest schedule is near Christmas and Easter, with extra long rehearsals for the biannual concerts we do ( often cantatas in foreign languages), besides of course the regular Sunday worship times. So this is a busy week for me culminating on Sunday. This kind of busy is good, and I am certain that I will sing beautifully in Heaven;I hold on to that thought.

Tech

I seem to resist making my life easier. Back in the Seventies, I stubbornly refused to get a microwave. I eventually " gave in" and purchased one around 1978, about 8 years after they became mainstream. Why? I guess part of the answer is ignorance - not understanding the science and technology behind it. Part of the answer is laziness; I thought the new development would be "difficult" to use. What would I do without that time saving device? In retrospect this all seems silly, but I keep resisting many new tech items. I just got an IPad and my first smart phone in the last six months. They are ridiculously convenient, but I had convinced myself that I didn't need them. Well, I don't NEED them, but I sure realize that they make a lot more sense than a stationary computer and a land line with an answering machine. (We still have a land line, however.)I know quite a few people who do not have cell phones. I have a close friend who not only does not have a cell phone, she doesn't have any kind of computer! She is a retired teacher, and she feels she has lived this long without those "nuisances", and insists that she will avoid " buying into the idea " that she needs them now. I love her dearly, but I'm glad that I live in a first world country. Nevertheless, I don't feel I must get the newest phone or tablet or big screen TV available, but I do think it's important to be part of the 21st Century.(One trend truly annoys me though - continually texting when you are with other people.)I admit that video games are daunting to me, but the graphics and developments are outstanding; I relate better to pinball( and a long time ago "Blazing Dragons").My son can play instruments, but he creates electronic music, now. He couldn't have done that very well 15 years ago. When I was growing up, we only had a black and white tv. I don't think my dad bought a color tv until I was a teenager - yes they were readily available.What we were missing! It's like today; why wouldn't you want cable and Hi Def? Yet I still don't have 3D.... Also, I love books. I love the smell and feel of them, and I am a frequent reader, so, of course, I resisted getting a Kindle.My Kindle is soooooo convenient, I don't lug a bunch of books around ; they are all stored nicely in one little device, thank you very much.I still can read a hard cover book if I choose. Why does anything have to be either/or? It can be both....Check off another way of making my life easier. Could I survive without all this tech ? Yes, of course. After all,I grew up before this stuff was created.I never had the use of a computer as a student; heck, I didn't even have a simple calculator. But new tech WILL be created, and I certainly plan to take advantage of these advancements, but I will probably continue to come late to the party so to speak. Science and technology are growing exponentially, and although I may never be in the fast lane with it all, I don't want to be stuck on the side of the road.Old dogs can learn new tricks if they try. I'm a senior citizen; I'm not dead.I have heard that people over 30 are technology immigrants , and people under 30 are technology natives, and many people over 55 are tech illiterate. It is difficult to learn a new language ( e.g., techeese- I made that word up), but it's not impossible. My son and daughter have grown up with computers, etc., as an integral part of their lives; I haven't. I don't want to be a pioneer in the wilderness or a hermit. "No man is an island." And on that note, let's hope the post-apocalyptic stories remain science fiction.(BTW,stream- of - consciousness thought - have you read the book "The Road" - fabulous and the movie is equally so.) I thank technology for my blog, my emails with attachments, FB, my digital photography.... Etc.which reminds me.... In 1962, we were in the family car, a 1959 Plymouth without AC, driving across Death Valley....improvements are good...just saying....

Gina

It's hard to talk about my daughter objectively.I'll just use some descriptors , that other Trained people have given to her, which can be googled. Any one descriptor is challenging, but she has a combo pack. RAD ( reactive attachment disorder), schizophrenia and ADHD. This combination is rare and difficult to treat. Other mitigating factors are that she is adopted and South American Indian. She is 17 and has been determined to be very bright, but she does not fit in well in a regular classroom. She has an IEP and gets services, but she is not very compliant and can't bother to do her homework. On top of all this she is a teenager with all the typical issues of that age. Welcome to the Orfale house where unpredictable is the norm. BTW,she was diagnosed with these problems around 10 years old and they are chronic. Schizophrenia and ADHD can be moderated with medicines. However, RAD ( in adopted children) is often not treatable, and is a unique behavior disorder. We are taking a road less traveled.

Collecting

I'm going to stop collecting stuff. I truly want to pare down. Many items have been gifts, but I really don't need more things. I have a large collection of snow babies. I really enjoy them but I need half a room to display them all. I also have numerous angels, masks, dolls and SHOES. I tell myself, "enough now". Perhaps, the largest collection is on my walls. I love the work of Zamy Steynovitz, and I have a few pieces. I don't "need" any more. I say this, because this collecting idea which used to be so compelling for me now seems trivial and selfish. I realize that I should be using the money I spend on these things for something more important- like donating to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. So I think I will - donate that is. And my "collections" I will eventually give to my children or grandchildren, if they want the stuff.

Peeves part 1

I'm 60 so I've had a myriad of years to accumulate pet peeves.Here are some in no particular order:men wearing hats inside a building - especially a church, and especially a ball cap, people talking during a movie that I am trying to watch, cell phones ringing during worship,turn signals not being used, being interrupted by kids, being interrupted by anyone, chewing tobacco- just nasty,customer non-service,being put on hold on a phone for more than two minutes, trying to discuss a business issue and the person taking my call is not fluent in English,air conditioning that is too cold, heating that is too warm, parents not monitoring their kids in public places, crying babies in restaurants- take them outside,please,the word like instead of pauses- like you know like what I mean, the word "Whatever..." ,Dennis Rodman- a travesty,people not cleaning up after themselves,auto correct, people talking about me in 3rd person when I'm in the room, having to spell my last name more than once when I'm making a reservation, not giving me eye contact when I'm talking to someone, someone asking me how much something costs that I own, having to request something from a waiter more than once, an arse finishing my sentences,people running on the road when there are sidewalks, children riding bikes without helmets, reality shows about boorish people, singers who can't sing, actors who can't act, being labeled this or that, lack of manners,people who do not even try to dress a little better than T shirts and jeans for the symphony or opera or ballet or a fancy place. when the following words are not used when they need to be: please, thank you, I'm sorry, It's my fault, I love you, forgive me, you were right. People who are more than 15 minutes late without any particular reason and then don't even say sorry, sending a gift in the mail and then having to call two or three weeks later to see if that person got it, because they didn't call or email to use the words thank you, I got it. Many of these peeves come from people's thoughtlessness or self-centeredness or disrespect or lack of civility and manners, or lack of home training, or an anarchist mentality.

Some days you feel like writing; some days you don't....

Traditions

I appreciate family traditions, and I think they are important touchstones. Besides getting together around the table for holiday meals, I grew up with mom decorating -at least the living room- for every notable occasion, and I do the same. I loved the decorations when I was younger,and now I think my kids do,too. My mom did ceramics, sewing, painting,etc. I didn't get that artistic gene apparently, but I do have beautiful pieces she made,and I display them proudly, especially her manger pieces,Easter items and so many others. Wonderful nostalgia.I would help her with holiday baking and I loved her homemade fruitcakes! Dad and mom always had a real Christmas tree.Smells create traditions, too. After dying some eggs today for Palm Sunday, I remember that activity growing up and I look forward to doing it every year.Also, one tradition that I share with Adam and Gina is making a gingerbread house around Christmas. Because Adam is artistic, the gingerbread house, thankfully, always looks pretty good.Also Adam gets a Nutcracker decoration every year and Gina gets an angel piece. Continuity and anticipation are good I think. Now that Adam has his own house, I try to give him at least one decoration for each occasion to keep and reuse each year. However, he doesn't really care about having what he calls, "more stuff." So I'm wondering, is this interest in keeping traditions , holiday decorating, baking, etc., more important if you are a parent? Probably.... One day - not too soon-perhaps Adam and Gina will be parents and appreciate these details more and do something that will become a tradition with their kids, too ( and maybe the grandma will be included).

Chuffed

I'm the opposite of bored. I have had numerous people ask me since I retired this past June, "Are you bored yet?" No, I'm not at all. Do they ask me because, unlike them, my time is not as regulated as it was before? I'm asked, "What do you do all day now?" Really? I didn't stop thinking or reflecting or reading or traveling or watching the news or chatting or cooking or dealing with relationships or countless other things I've always done, but the pace is more sane M-F.If I want to see a movie in the middle of the day, I can. If I want to go to a museum in the middle of the day, I can. Civilized, not hurried, not frenetic, not frazzled. I also have a husband, son and daughter.Hello! Right now, it still feels like I'm on an extended school break. If I "eventually" get bored, I'll do more volunteer work or more church related service or even get a part time job, maybe working in a combination coffee/ tea/ book/ music/ art store (ideal). Maybe start a business. Maybe not; I have lots of time to decide....Meanwhile, I am what the British called "chuffed."

Preferences Part 1

Some favorite things in no particular order - Vacations: Cruising, RC club level, Italy, Michigan, Hawaii, Napa Valley, Florida, Majorca Men's names that begin with"A"; SHOES .... Inhale and exhale (this can be a blog unto itself); TV series ( current): Big Bang Theory, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Dexter, TV series (past): The Prisoner, Dark Shadows, Man from U.N.C.L.E., West Wing, Twin Peaks, Bonanza - IDK, Saving Grace, True Blood ( first season), Six Feet Under, Sopranos Beverages: ( yea, H2O ,too) 1% Milk Strong Coffee French roast Pinot Noir Lemonade Dry Champagne Caffeine free diet coke Stoli Cranraspberry juice Earl Grey Tea St.Pauli Girl To be continued....

Costumes

I loved wearing a good costume ( present tense - not so much). In my 20's and 30's I always dressed up for Halloween, not in scary outfits but rather in outfits that fulfilled a fantasy of some sort.I always wore wigs with them, too. One time, I used a beautiful old dress of my mom's, found a vintage hat,long gloves,put on some seamed hose and wore a fox throw - and of course the right kind of high heels.I tried to replicate what a female would wear in the 1940 's - my favorite movie era. Another evening, I put on a trench coat and sunglasses and pretended to be Mata Hari.I spent a lot of time doing a geisha costume one year in honor of Puccini's Madame Butterfly. In my mind and costuming, I've been a gypsy, Madame Curie, Jane Austin, Margot Fonteyn,Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth 1, Spock's girlfriend, Annie Oakley, an angel, an apparition, Joan of Arc and one of my favorites was Lady Godiva - but I was covered in Godiva chocolate, not nude( I actually thought up this one myself). There are photographs hidden away.... I love masks too, but I collect them; I rarely wear them. So, of course, I loved seeing Adam and Gina dressed up for Halloween when they were younger.Gina was a doll dressed up as a cat in the hat, Dora- the splitting image , a lion , and perfect as an angel when she was three.:) Adam would have "twofers" using a costume different ways,one year Robin Hood, next year Peter Pan; one year Men-in- Black guy, next year James Bond. He's been a Zelda guy, Harry Potter ( quidditch player), power ranger,a monk and more. Lots of photos of both my babes. Oh and one more random thing about Halloween that has nothing to do with costumes. From when Adam was about nine years old, he would carve the pumpkins every year - until he was about 18. They were elaborate and a couple of years, he even won contests. (proud mama moments). Al has only put on costumes the times that I can count on one hand.He was memorable as a sheik and a caveman. Authentic looking costumes with details take a lot of work ; I am lazier now and don't put in the time to create them any more; besides that, some of these looks just wouldn't work well with my 60 year old face and body, but it's all good.... All in all, the above mentioned times remain as vivid images in my mind and always bring a smile to my face when I think of them.... :)))

Food part 1

Well, food is an evolutionary journey...or not.I can be easily satisfied with a simple grilled cheese sandwich as much as a pricey bowl of white truffle turtle soup, although one big difference between them is that I can make a good grilled cheese , the soup- not so much. I have eaten hundreds of excellent meals, but many of them have not been in restaurants.(More on restaurant experiences another day.) I have tasted sublime homemade cuisine,especially at the hands of my husband's sister Margo, his Tia Alicia and my own dear mother.Until I met Alfredo, I had never experienced Arabic cooking, and how amazing it is. I learned to make such dishes as Lamb and okra,taboulley, kibbi, mamoul, etc. From mom I enjoyed all the "comfort" foods, and I still do.I love Mac and cheese, meat loaf, turkey and dressing - you know all those mom made foods we took for granted when we were young.This was back in the day when kids could come home from elementary school and eat lunch, btw. Southern cooking- a genre unto itself- was enjoyed since I was a child, because Dad was from Kentucky, and mom made some of his favorites - and made them well: pancakes,biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumplings, banana pudding ,pecan pie.She made to- die- for soups and casseroles.I acquired a taste for items not seen on restaurant menus such as cottage cheese with worchestershire sauce(don't eat this in public; the looks are deceiving ) Graham crackers with milk( eaten like cereal) and a mess of smelt. My dad used to say that he liked two kinds of food - hot and cold. Who's my daddy? Now , it sounds like I only like high caloric, high fat, high sugar foods.That actually isn't true, although if something calls for butter and/or sugar, please don't substitute margarine and artificial sweetener. I love a good Caesar salad, broiled salmon,sea bass, salade nicoise, boiled eggs,and most vegetables and fruits. I like simple foods and I like exotic, unusual foods( except maybe squid , chitlins, and sweetbreads- there's a misnomer). You know, I was even a vegetarian( I ate fish)for over 6 years until I got pregnant with Adam. Then I returned to being a carnivore and never looked back. Can you say, " filet mignon, please, and I'll have that medium rare" ?Nevertheless,I love eggplant Parmesan and eggplant pie( a dish my mom created). And good sushi puts me in 7th heaven. I fondly remember the pot luck dinners at church and with my sorority groups.Carb city and loved it. There might be the same dish made three or four different ways, and comparison/ contrast applied.Family reunion potluck picnics- perfection. The commonality of all of the above is not me and my gluttonous ways - well, yes, that too - but the fellowship of family and friends. We could be eating a PBJ together, and I would be content. I consider myself a good cook - and I do enjoy cooking, but I'm thankful I learned my way around the kitchen from GREAT cooks.Now it's fun (and relaxing)to taste the dishes my husband or son serve.They make tasty food, indeed. Many of my best memories involve food with friends and family ; they probably always will.I am signing off now to eat Al's homemade pizza and wings...yum...I'll be making stuffed French toast soon, a family favorite. <3.

Parents

On the occasion of what would have been my parents' 64th anniversary, I want to say how undeniably fortunate I was to have Ruth Ann and Benjamin Shelton as my mentors, critics, encouragers,admonishers, and unconditional givers of Love. Not all children are blessed to have both parents' guidance and positive influence. I loved our family camping trips, our holiday gatherings, and even watching the "Ed Sullivan Show" together. They were not highly educated people.Nevertheless, my mom exposed me to the "cultured" life. Dad would take me gladly to cello and piano lessons , and I learned a lot of history from him. Mom- thank you for my church upbringing. Dad- thank you for giving me a love for baseball/ Detroit Tigers and your quiet strength. ...and oh do I miss my mom's cooking. I can truthfully say I was never ashamed of my parents( embarrassed, at times, yes) ,and because of them, I wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I wish that my own children would have been able to be around them. Mom and Dad loved being grandparents to my nieces and nephews ;I know they would have been wonderful with Adam and Gina, too. I miss them every day. The loving memories are long and deep....I wish all sons and daughters could be so richly blessed.

Vanity

Well, I went to "Rate your teachers" site for the very first time, and since I am now retired, I wanted to see what kids had said about me in retrospect.Vanity, I guess. It was a mixed pkg. Students either really liked me or really, really didn't. To be expected, I guess. I did enjoy reading what they thought of me. It's like everything in life- some people like you, some people don't, and I'm ok with that.