November 30 2013

Had a great Thanksgiving in Portland with family. Turkey Dinner with all the regular fixings and even Bear Ham. Too many side dishes to remember but all great. 5 different kinds of pies and even managed to watch a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with the girls.

November 25, 2013 Countdown to Thanksgiving

We are going to Portland this year as haven't ever done the Thanksgiving dinner with family there and told Sue and Steve on Steven's birthday that we would not be coming to their house and think they were actually a little relieved. Ha. I do appreciate all those dinners over the years but I will have our family here in Eugene on Christmas Eve as usual. We will be staying at the Oregon Garden Resort so looking forward to that as a friend recently stayed there and liked it a lot. Will go to Powell's Bookstore on Friday and then leisurely drive home . Went to the holiday market Saturday and it was fun and started my gift box for long distance relatives...all Oregon foods..fun stuff.

November 19 2013

Going to Portland for Thanksgiving this year and staying at the Oregon Garden. Talked to Janean today and she is going to cook a bear ham as well as the typical Turkey Day dinner will be served. Last Christmas we had some of the elk from hunting trips done by Ellis. Very exotic stuff. It will be great to be with family. Sunday we went to a play "Arcadia" at the Robinson Theater on campus. Very nicely done and then we went to grandson's 23rd bday party at Abbey's so a nice weekend.

November 18th, 2013

Yesterday horrific tornadoes ripped thru Illinois and Indiana.......Luckily my family and friends are all ok but others were not so lucky. It came very near my Mother's home......so grateful it was spared. This is a bad time to have this happen with the approach of Winter. Sometimes it seems like the current day is boring...it is raining or don't really feel like getting out of the house but when your house is gone only then do you realize the importance of having it.

November 14, 2013

Last evening we met granddaughter for dinner at Sizzle Pie and then we went to the Bijou Metro to see the Sundance shorts........interesting group and I liked the one from Ireland the best. Today we have our nice young man helping do leaves and since he was here had him help lug in the 8 foot tall fake fir........must say it seems odd to see a Xmas tree against a backdrop of leaves on the patio but we will just turn it on at night for the lights and I will slowly decorate it. This year I intend to get different ornaments down as have been just pulling down a few bins to get the job done but time to look at something new. Working on holidaze plans and have the Turkey Day covered and have planned how Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will go.

Retirement in 2007 and been a whirlwind ever since.

Sunday November 10th 2013

The Film Festival was a hit and the show was full. All the electronics worked well and we enjoyed two parties afterwards. The last party was a crock pot chili feed. My vote went to the Buffalo Bean Beer one and Desiree brought killer chicken wings. Cheese, vegies, homemade apple pie and there were even hamburgers fresh from the grill if those other offerings weren't enuf. Good time and thanks Pam and Jeff for being generous and fun hosts.

Shaggy Dog Film Festival Debut

After years in the making the SD finally hits the big screen and Mike has a short film he made with friends entered as well as the films the Shaggy Dog group has been working on. This afternoon I will have my I pad taking photos of the event and the people who come so should be fun for me. Altho not directly involved except our home being used as a control center with thousands of phone calls and emails and even one film it was used as a set, I would have to say I have paid my dues so looking forward to some calmer moments ahead as much of this film making is truly labor intensive and major league frustrating best I can tell from comments coming from the film makers. Yet they persist so I figure they got the hi-tech gene that I happily seem to have avoided. I am puter literate and finally am navigating my mini I-pad but still don't want a smart phone and do not want to be hooked up electronically 24/7. Getting cards out for the family November birthday and yes, I can holler Happy Bday on Facebook but still like to send a paper greeting and also Turkey Day cards are ready to address and mail. Barely able to see them as everything in the stores is red and green now.

November 3 2013

Yesterday I went to a genealogy class at OGS and was thoroughly entertained. It was called "Preservation of Books, Documents, and Photographs as well as photograph identification. We had 10 folks which makes for a nice size and very knowledgeable speakers. Who would have known that there were books out there that you can pinpoint the year taken just by what the folks were wearing and their hairstyle, etc. Good stuff and I am happy I joined and looking forward to more classes and research. Nice folks and not many distractions there which is what you need when you are trying to figure out that family tree. Currently working on the Palmer line and awaiting some family history and research from two of my cousins and also want to work on my grandmother Mary Edna Morris Miller.

All Saint's Day

Went to early Mass for all Saint's Day. My Saint is Catherine of Sienna. It is one of my favorite church traditions to do. Yesterday was book club and we met at a local eatery. I led the discussion of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice . Last evening we watched an old Vincent price movie, "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allen Poe. Did chili dogs and just enjoyed taking turns to open the door for all the trick or treaters .