Scuulpture in Dallas airport near gate D29

Also ordered tix to see

Also ordered tix to see the Band of Heathens at the Ark in March from here at the airport. I feel so modern!

At DFW and guy calls

At DFW and guy calls from Joseph beverage In Toledo and saYs he can get me a case of that Milton Park shiraz, so I order up!

Leaving detroit almost on time

Leaving detroit almost on time but theres a two hour layover in dallas so no worries.

Random Texas pictures

Tom and Jessica at the bed and breakfast.


Sign at the Broken Spoke


Inside the Broken Spoke. Note ceiling tiles.


Jessica's mom Robin.


The silk sleep shirt I got from Robin.


Sign.


Room at the Austin Motel.


Lobby at the Austin Motel.

Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke.


Cutie Pies wagon on S. Congress.

Avocado margarita and ceviche at Curra's in Austin. Christmas Eve breakfast with the kids.

The cupcake wagon on S. Congress.

Great Room at Robin's Nest.

Bat statue in downtown Austin.

Baby posing as Christmas goose.


Anne receiving a bag gift.

Max and Jan

Poker. Follow the queen

1:40 Dancing

More euchre

Two simultaneous euchre games

Pool at the Austin Motel

Got to Dallas just fine.

Got to Dallas just fine. Plane to Austin delayed so will get there an hour late. At least i am in Texas!

Lists, lists....

Tomorrow is the potluck at work: remember to take cards for kids, gift for exchange and hummus and chips and avocados and chips and salsa, which ends up costing about $20. There's some potluck frugality.

And then get my free dozen bagels and send some to Jenks with the coffee I bought at GFT for her and a copy of David Rawling's Machine's new CD.

I have a list of clothes for the trip so packing should take about 10 minutes. Get up 4 a.m. Weds. and drive to DTW.

Last night, I unwrapped the presents my ex-mother-in-law gave me for the kids and will take that stuff with tape to wrap it back up once I get to DFW for the hop to Austin.

Bought two tickets today to see Paul Thorn at the Ark March 26. It would be fun if more people went. Consider it. Got reserved in Row D. Which is a good sign as tickets went on sale Saturday but I couldn't call the Michigan Union ticket office til today as I refuse to purchase through the heinous Ticketmaster.

I think I might be ready. How did that happen?
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Just about ready

Today I went to Delaware where my mom had up this very nice Christmas tree and many many of the ornaments we packed up when she moved. We ate at Bob Evans and then went shopping at WalMart, Kohl's and Meijer where she received two sweatshirts and a sweater and a pair of jeans and I self-gifted a fleece. Then we went back to her house and she gave me a lovely rust fleecy sweater. Which I really like.

She also told me Woes of Karen which include that the gas and electric bill are in arrears at the trailer in my mom's name. What does Karen do with her money? she wonders. PURPORTEDLY, Karen gets $1,000 a month in unemployment so why could she not keep up on these bills since my mom was paying the entire rent out there. My mom struggles with should she have left Karen but come on, what is up with that girl?? I can (kind of) understand that she has multiple physical and mental depression problems. Kind of. But she put their old dryer in the shed when she got the one from the people next door who got evicted so that someday, when she has some money ahead (contain yourself), she'll get it fixed. A used dryer they bought off Craigslist. See, this is just not clear thinking. Plus bill collectors call my mom constantly for Karen. What are these bills? Why does a 50-year-old woman not have one friend in the world? And many more questions along these lines.

My mom is loving living where she is now, with the human interaction and regulated heat and no animals destroying her furniture.

Tickets for Paul Thorn at the Ark went on sale yesterday for a show March 26. The Michigan Union ticket office wasn't open yesterday so I'll buy some Monday AM.

Tonight I made a list of clothes to take to Texas where it's about 55 in the day and 30 at night. So I can throw them in the suitcase Tuesday night and then get up Weds. AM about 4 and drive to DTW. It's not the driving up there I hate so much; it's the parking. I think I'll do the off-airport with shuttle this time. In January for Mexico I think I will do the stay over the night before deal. I'll book that now. Done.

OK two days of work.
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Now we're cookin'

An exhausting week so far.

Monday, Sal and Carrie and I saw the Subdudes at the Ark. They were fabulous. I must say the economy is hitting the music scene hard as the show was not even close to sold out. Shocking. Ate at Conor O'Neil's: mussels, salads, fried Brie, salmon and shrimp cakes. Yumba.

Tuesday, went to an Arts Commission holiday soiree and then to the Blarney for fish and chips.

Tonight, had dinner with my ex mother in law at her house. Heard all about her new romance. Oh yeah. She's 79, he's 81. More info than I needed on his prowess. LOL Also she gave me some wrapped presents that I'm sure I cannot take on the plane since I won't be checking any luggage. Maybe I'll ship them to Austin. Hmmmm. Or unwrap them for the trip and rewrap.

Tomorrow night Calico Sage for a little shopping.

My daughter emails that Tom's girlfriend has sent this message:
I've made reservations for one of the best restaurants in the world, Uchi. They only had space for the night ya'll get in town so I was thinking it's be fun to get a motel room in the city so we could have a raucous night out with out the drive home. Plus this motel is extra special and on South Congress. http://www.austinmotel.com

Plus this place is right near the Continental Club where Toni Price plays on Tuesdays (of course, we're getting there Wednesday-- sad face) but James McMurtry is there the night we're there! Ready to run up the credit card.
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Look! It's me and Santa AGAIN!!

Last night he was behind me in line at the Ark in Ann Arbor and I asked if I could have Sal take my picture with him.



I see that I have on the same sweater and fleece jacket as in the other Santa picture so this must be my lucky Santa photo opp outfit.

Blah blah

So I bought these fancy wine glasses at Pier 1 and tonight I put one into the sink to wash it and the fancy thin stem broke right off. So I bagged up the other three to return.

After not getting any cooking done Sunday, I went to Kroger tonight and made some butternut squash bisque and stuff to make chicken mole and lasagna. Although I am having cheese and crackers for dinner tonight.

After coming home from work all disgruntled, I pulled myself together and realize I should be making a gift list. It's not like I have a lot to buy, but some stuff must be purchased. Like the kids at work need some gift cards. And an ornament for the work gift exchange (potluck Dec. 22). And my mom needs an answering machine. But what can I take on the plane for my chillens?

And Christmas cards. Hmmm, I've got a ton of them. Let's see if we can get some in the mail.

Reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. I always like them post-apocalyptic themes.

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Catching up

Today, Santa was at the Toledo Botanical Garden, so I had my picture taken with him.


Here's an email from Sal:

Duck season opened last weekend and we took Chuck Motley on Saturday. Didn’t BAG anything but it was nice being out there. The boy, Willie, smiled and wagged his tale non-stop (5 hours) much to our amusement. Went again on Sunday with a river bud and I bagged a beautimous Woodie. Willie did the same and jumped and ran endlessly while we were picking up decoys.

Later in the day Willie seemed to be bothered by his butt and was then experiencing muscle spasms in his intestinal area, or so we thought. Thinking he may have ingested something horrendous on the island that he could not expel, we took him to the Emergency Animal Hospital. Very depressing place. After several hours and examination and x-rays we found that he had broken his tail and amazingly, his penis!!!! Poor Willie, the best and worst weekend of his life. He is resting comfortably on pain pills in his kennel, which we had to drag out of the depths under the house.

Also this is what's wrong with the world today (from some news media blog):

“Say you’re a sports fan at a college football game, and another game that’s really important to you is on at the same time,” he said. “While I’m watching my team live in the stadium, I’ll want to be watching the other team on a handheld portable device.”

OMG I do not even want to watch one thing, let alone 2 at once. If you're watching, you're not DOING anything.

Speaking of which, I have been doing for the entire weekend and now it is Sunday evening and back to the slave pit tomorrow.

Friday night Ginger and Amy and I went to the Wood Co. Historical Society holiday gala, where we ate Korean noodles and grape leaves and tamales and mashed potatoes on stew and hummus and kibbie balls and a variety of desserts including Mexican bread pudding and 2 kinds of baklava. So we didn't make it to Polka Floyd.

Yesterday I went to get new lenses put in my current glasses frames but after I was read the disclaimer about how if the lenses or frames broke during the process, I would have to pay for it ALL, I decided to get new lenses which I hope are not Sarah Palin-ish. So I ate at the Corner Grill and did a few other things and then it was time for the radio show. After which I went to Les Robertson's birthday bash in Toledo and then went out for sushi with Stubbs and Gus and Chip.

Today Amy and I went to see Dr. Sue's photos at the National Photography Center at Secor Park and ate at Cafe Marie beforehand and after went to the Botanical Garden and Pier 1 where I bought more wine glasses. Always looking for the perfect ones at a good price. And where I shoulda bought the gift for the ornament exchange at work. Duh.

A big weekend of chow and no exercise. Good job. And 5 weeks to Mexico.

GNO was here Wednesday and it was a good turnout considering the events of the week and the crappy rainy weather. Much wine was drunken. The last guests left at 12:30. AM.
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Almost December

What a wonderful weekend. Wednesday, I went to my mom's and bought the requisite supplies for a Thanksgiving dinner which I made: cole slaw, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, stuffing, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce in the can. Then I cleaned it all up and drove home, listening to Bailey White on NPR. Had a fun evening.

Friday I sat around all day reading T.C. Boyle's Water Music. Later, we went to Kim and Jim's for cards which was a fun time.

Saturday I did some errands, went to Pemberville to try to retrieve my glasses I left in the opera house during the play (no could do) and a radio show and then had a turkey dinner with sausage stuffing and brussel sprouts and cranberry in the can. Mmmmmmmmm.

Today I put up some Xmas decor for GNO on Wednesday and bought some wine for that

Today, I uh did something. Washed, ironed, hung the kitchen curtains. Bought some groceries. Talked to Miss Annie for an hour and a half. Made some sweet potato corn chowder. Laundry. Cleaning. Greenery wrap on my outdoor lights. Etc.

And now back to work. Monday night, radio meeting. Weds., GNO. Friday, the gala at the Wood. Co. Historical Society AND Polka Floyd at Grumpy Dave's.

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the weekly rag

Well, thank heaven that play is over. I will NOT be trying out for the Wizard of Oz. My, that stuff really sucks up your time.

Another beautiful weekend, weather-wise. 50+ and sunny and not so windy. I got the rest of my fence down and stowed in the garage and moved chairs inside and under cover and took the last of the leaves to the yard waste. Made a meatloaf. Did a pilates DVD. Yesterday I did not get in my car once except to clear out the detritus. Walked to the library, visited the OSU-UM party at Martha's in the final quarter, had a lovely dinner, slept today til 9:30. Although I still look tired. Really looking forward to the long weekend. Although this week there is something almost every evening.

Going to Delaware Wednesday night and back home Thursday as soon as can be done.

Did not view the BG holiday parade for probably the first time in 20 years.

Today, I wake up pretty darn cold and after fiddling with the thermostat, no heat will come on. I start thinking hmmm, new furnace, but alas when I went to the basement, I see the cover panel has fallen off the side where I installed a new filter Nov. 1 and when it was replaced, furnace on.

GNO chez moi Dec. 2.
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