Friends in Virginia and DC

On Tuesday Mom and I met up with my friends Judy and Lance.  Judy and I worked together at my very first job out of college in 1981.  Lance and I worked together at Arena Stage in Washington, DC back in the 1980's.

Lance gave us a detailed tour of the new Arena complex.  It is truly something to behold and pictures I have cannot convey the size and grandeur.

I got kind of nostalgic walking through the few parts that are still there from what I remember as the original structures.

Lance's partner, Tony, met us a the theatre and we went up to Capitol Hill for dinner at one of their favorite places, Las Placitas.

We all got caught up.  It had been two years since we had met as a group.  This gathering of people from my past has been a Christmas-time tradition.

From the restaurant to Lance's condo to show Judy his truly amazing Christmas decorations.  Lance decorates his place in an unbelievable amount of Christmas.

There are more Dicken's villages than ever, garlands of lights and ornaments, Santas, Christmas Mickey Mouses, an enormous creche, and this incredibly beautiful tree.

We agreed we would only go up to Lance's highrise condo if there was easy parking.  There was this spot that was about six inches longer than the rental.

Not to brag (but I am)...I made it in on the first try.

Christmas in Virginia

I flew to Virginia on Christmas day to spend some time with family and friends.

After landing at Dulles International Airport, I got the rental car and drove to Herndon to pickup my sister Carol.  Herndon is very close to the airport.

Then we drove to Mom's in Burke to pick her up along with the potatoes for the traditional potato soup.  We went to my niece Gracie Kay's apartment.  My sister, Lea, and her husband Tim and his brother Todd were already at Gracie Kay's.

Also at Gracie Kay's was the newest member of the clan, Austin.  He's Gracie's nephew and only 3 months old and cute as can be.

He is successfully unwrapping one of his presents here.

The food was fantastic and the company was even better.  It was a great Christmas celebration.

Merry Christmas

Two great Minneapolis Christmas yard decorations.

Got it!

I finally got a new 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid.

This has been quite the process.  When I found out that the new 2013 Escape model coming out in 2012 would not have a hybrid version, I really wanted to get the current model which does come in a hybrid.

The problem was there were no hybrids available in the upper midwest.  So I searched around the country thinking I could fly out and drive one back.  There were just not very many and it was made more difficult because I want an all wheel drive version.

I did find three in Virginia where I am going for Christmas.  I called the dealer and was told a salesperson would call me.  Never happened.

The salesman at the dealership here in Minnesota called me Tuesday to tell me he found one.  And it was at their sister dealership in Buffalo, Minnesota.  That is the dealership where my current Escape came from!

I picked up this black beauty yesterday.  I am so happy.

Home again

I had a wonderful weekend in the Berkshires with Jill.

We stayed at the very historic Red Lion Inn on Stockbridge, Massachusetts. 

The inn is full of charm.  The halways and roms are filled sith antiques and paintings and drawings and bric-a-brac -- a bit like The House On The Rock in Wisconsin.

The impetus for the trip was for Jill to see James Taylor in A Christmas Carol.  Which we did at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Alice's Restaurant

Sitting in the former Alice's Restaurant of book and movie fame in Stockbridge, Massachsetts right now.  It is now called Theresa's Cafe.

There is no cell phone service in this little New England town but there is wi-fi. I had a work teleconference so I used Skype for the first time.  I was connected via wi-fi to my corporate email, skypeing and testing all at the same time.

James and Jill

No, it isn't Jack and Jill.

Spending the weekend in Massachusetts with my friend Jill from Oregon.  We are seeing James Taylor in a production of A Christmas Carol.  And yes, this is the James Taylor, singer/song writer.  He is performing the role of Bob Cratchet.  Jill is a James Taylor fan freak.

I flew to Albany, NY last night where we have spent the night.  I'm working this morning from the hotel lobby.  We drive to Stockbridge, Massachusetts later today.  Staying at the historic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.  Pictures to follow.

Interesting air freshner

Usual flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Charlotte.  I generally make one trip to the bathroom if the conditions permit.  I guess there are hiundreds if  not thousands of Delta flight attendants so there are always different ones.

This week was the first timeI can recall there being an air freshner in the head. What made it stand out was what the air freshner was...a packet of ground coffee.

The flight attendant was in the back.  I thanked her and said what a great idea.

7' 400lb gorilla

The equipment for the Delta flight home on Thursdays is an Airbus A319.  I'd never heard of an 'A319' but that's what Delta calls it.  In coach the seats are 3 x 3 -- 3 on each side with center aisle.

I always try to get an aisle seat.  That way I can go to the bathroom easily during the flight if needed.  And when landed, can stand up right away. 

I am just a hair over 6' and weigh only 185 these days but on this A319 the seat size and/or configuration makes me feel like I am the 7' 400 lb gorilla.  With my feet flat on the floor I cannot lower the seat tray to level.  It rests on the top of my thighs.  My shoulders and legs are always intruding on the center seat person.  And the refreshment cart always hits my shoulder even when I squish in.

The outbound flight from Minneapolis is on a regional size Embraer 175.  It is a 2 x 2 in coach.  But there is more room and comfort on this type of plane than the bigger A319. 

A Coffee First

I got my regular Carabou coffee at the airport and walked to my gate.  The gate was very close which was unusual.

I chatted with another gentleman that is on the same project and travels to Charlotte every week, too. The gate attendant made some announcement about an equipment change and it might take longer to board.  Meanwhile, I've been holding my coffee in my right hand with my boarding pass.

Somehow I've got myself stuck with the coffee and the boarding pass and can't switch hands.  The coffee seems to be getting hotter and hotter.  By the time I get on the plane and to my seat, the coffee cup is burning my hand.  Burning my hand so much I end up with a 3rd degree blister on my thumb which has already busted and I'm bleeding!

I cannot recall ever getting myself in such a predicament.

First Saturday Coffee and Church Bizarre (oops- Bazaar)

 I picked up James for first saturday coffee and took a couple of pictures of his newly painted house.  It looks so wonderful even on this overcast day.

 Congratulations to James, Habitat for Humanity and all the volunteers.

I was very proud to have played a small part in this project for such a deserving person

 After first saturday of the month coffee at Jack's the gang headed over to Rose's church, Incarnation Catholic, for their annual Christmas Bizarre.

In addition to great Christmas bargains there is homemade soup.  This is the clean bowl club.

Two of the basement church ladies (and friend) Jane and Diane.

Bunny and Jackie B-day Celebration

Bunny's new birthday hat.  Seems so appropriate.  It even has a bottle opener in the visor part....awesome.

And Jackie's birthday is on the 9th so she gets to wear the birthday hat, too.

Linda won second place at work for this lovely holiday sweater. Second place for most frightening. She has Rose and Amy to thank for the award.

Nothing specific

On my flight home the week before Thanksgiving a passenger was talking to the flight attendants and actually referred to another flight attendant as a "stewardess."  The passenger who used stewardess was a young woman.  The flight attendant, also a woman, corrected the passenger to use "flight attendant."

When was the last time you heard "stewardess?"  Is this from the tv program Pan Am ?