One dinner down, a few more to go

Last night Chuck and I cooked rice and stir-fried veggies for the annual civic center potluck holiday dinner. Once again I forgot my camera. Truly a shame because the room was decorated with a nice tree and the tables were pretty.

My days have been crazy lately. I've had meetings and interviews, and this social life that has kicked into high gear suddenly. I'm having a great time, though.

Last night I found out that the dinner we will attend tomorrow evening is a formal, black tie affair. Eeek! I haven't been anywhere in years. I remembered I had this nice red formal gown I bought a few years ago when Sean and I attended the Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle. I pulled it out as soon as we got home last night to try it on.

It's two pieces. The skirt is floor length and the top is strapless and zips up the back. The skirt fit fine, but somehow I gained weight in my torso. How in the world does that happen? So I'm walking around thinking, "Hmm. I can't really breathe very well in this thing. I don't know if I can handle wearing it."
Suddenly the zipper split from the bottom up and I was soooo glad I tried it on and didn't just wait until time to go to dinner.

Today I went to a consignment shop with the top in my purse to try to find an alternative.
Sharon's Consignment in Gig Harbor has really nice clothes and she was great! I told her what I was looking for and she went right to the rack and pulled a few options for me. She even found a skirt that was almost exactly the same as mine at home so I could see how the tops would look with the skirt.
I was in and out of there in about 30 mins. or maybe less and spent $43, and my choice still had the store tags on it. I was very happy with my purchase, and SUPER happy that I didn't have to go searching for a new formal outfit on short notice.
I'll be sure I take the camera to this shin dig.

Tree Lighting Festivities

We didn't make it in time for the actual tree lighting ceremony in our town on Sunday evening, and I hate that we missed it. Chuck was officiating the ceremony and I wanted to be there for him, but Sean was late getting home from his visit with his dad.

By the time we got there it was lit and Santa and Mrs. Claus were posing for photos. We decided to skip the long line and wait until the Fire Dept. sends Santa and the Mrs. through the neighborhood.
They have expanded the route this year, so we'll have a personal visit.

We hung out at the local computer shop where there was hot cider and cookies, and we talked with the nice owner and friends. She and her boyfriend hosted the wreath-making party we attended last week.

Then we mozied over to the Fire Station where we helped Chuck cook some stir fry veggies for the potluck dinner at the station house. It was really good food, very nice people and a few emergency calls while we were there. Sean loved hanging out in the station and exploring, and Chuck led the event with an ornament exchange.

I was still searching for my camera, so no pics.

Smitten

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend a social dinner by a handsome man I've known for a couple of years. We work in the same community and see each other often at events. I clicked with him the first time I met him, but ours has been strictly a working relationship.

As the editor of the local paper I've tried to be careful about any personal relationships in general. I am limited in my ability to get close to some of the major players here because chances are I might have to someday publish a story about them. I try to avoid bias, or any appearance of such.

It's difficult. In this tiny community you'd have to pretty much be a recluse to avoid becoming friendly with the people who make this place tick. And that is exactly what I've tried to do. It doesn't work very well, because as Executive editor I'm expected to be at certain community events and do a bit of what I call "back slappin' and grinnin'."

So when he asked me to dinner I thought he was inviting me as a guest. I thought he was trying to get me in the door so I could talk with a politician. Turns out it was an actual date. I didn't know it until about half way through the night when I heard him talking to someone and he used the term, "ex-wife." He had been introducing me as his date all evening, but I thought he was using that word as a joke.

After I was able to wrap my head around the fact that this man actually asked me out on a date, and I was happy and excited to see where this could lead, and after I decided I really wanted to get to know this man better, the panic started to set in. The implications for my job came to the front of my mind.

He's a division chief with our fire department, and I'm the Executive editor of the local paper. The fire department is one of the constant topics in our paper, and it isn't always pretty. I let him know at the end of the date that it is still my job to report news about the fire department to my readers. I'm searching for someone to take over the beat, but it's getting difficult to find anyone who doesn't have some kind of link to someone at the department. He understood, and has already been demonstrating respect for my position.

He is so perfect for me in so many ways. We have a long list of things in common. He has been so honest with me about his flaws, faults, past, needs, wants. I've been honest with him too. We're both at an age and place in our lives where the games are gone, the baggage is heavy, and we know what is important.

I asked some hard questions, so did he. Since that first date, we've been almost inseparable. I've attended Fireman events, we've been to community events, we've been to see a play in Seattle and we're constantly talking about places we want to go and things to do. Our kids have been on a couple of these dates with us, and our kids get along and we both like each others' kids. BIG PLUS.

He introduced me as his girlfriend last night at the Fire Department's dinner. I was really happy that he did, but wasn't sure how the crowd would take to it. I know to some I'm seen as the enemy. Next it will be my turn to announce to my staff. I hope to have someone else taking over the fire beat by the time I announce it. I have a feeling a lot of them already know. It is a small town.

I'm content and happy, and it just feels good. We've talked about what is important in a relationship. For me, at this point in my life, it is a foundation and it needs to be God-centered. He was going to surprise me and show up at my church last weekend, he said, but when he checked the start time it was too late. So he came yesterday to church, and it was really nice to have him sitting beside me.

I'm totally smitten.

Red Ranger Came Calling

We have enjoyed reading the book, "Red Ranger Came Calling," by Berkeley Breathed for a few years now. We pull it out around Thanksgiving and read it a couple of times before Christmas. It's a beautifully illustrated book about a boy who is shipped off by his parents to visit his Aunt Vy on Vashon Island (right here in our area) during Christmas time in 1939.

He is into a character called Red Ranger of Mars, protector of the 25th Century. The newest thing in 1939 was an Official Buck Tweed, two-speed, crime-stopper, star-hopper bicycle. Red, of course. And the little boy is called, "Red," and has red hair and a fiery temper to match. He meets up with an old man named Saunder Clos who the locals say is the real deal retired from the North Pole to Vashon. Red is prepared to unmask the phony. 

It's a heartwarming story, complete with a little piece of evidence that suggests the story is true. 

So I was REALLY excited when I found out a local theater company was doing a play based on the book.  I can't even remember how I found out about it, but I immediately looked for how to get tickets, etc. The dates worked out for us, so I was ready to purchase.

I decided to "friend" them on Facebook, and found on their profile page that redheads could get in for a discounted price of $10. And even if you didn't have natural red hair, you could dye your hair, get a wig, wear yarn hair, whatever, and get that discount.

Well, that was just icing on my cake. Anytime there is a chance to have a little silly fun I'm in. And believe me, a discount can send my heart racing.

I envisioned a troop of redheads in our party, and I was likely to be the only natural redhead in the bunch. I talked Sean into a wig in the beginning, but he changed his mind and wanted to dye part of his hair red. I was fine with that as long as it was temporary. My boyfriend wore a red wig, Sean dyed the top part of his hair with red hair gel, Lilly (my boyfriend's little girl) put a red streak in her hair, and my aunt and cousin went with their regular look. Not as many redheads as I thought, but still just fine.

Chuck with Sean and Lilly. Chuck wore the wig until after the play. Under the wig are Sean's spiky red locks. 

The promotion was only through the Facebook page, so there weren't many in the audience who had taken advantage of it.

The play was incredible. It was a musical, which I didn't expect. Honestly, I'm usually not that into musicals, but this one was really good. My joy came from watching Sean thoroughly enjoy every moment of it. Each actor did such a great job and really brought the book to life.

Sean knows the story so well, I'm sure he could anticipate what was coming next. To have it all right there bigger than life for him was so much fun!

We had just read it last week when Chuck was visiting, so he was familiar with the story, too. We all had a really good time. 

I loved that it was a Christmas story, but so different.

I feel so blessed to live here. There are some really rich and top-notch arts opportunities here.

Snowy Thanksgiving

We are supposed to have a cold, snowy, icy winter. So far we've already endured two windstorms and a snowstorm.

This was our neighborhood a couple days before Thanksgiving. Sean didn't go to school all week. Though school was on regular schedule Monday, I called in to say we wouldn't be coming. We already had about an inch of snow on our road and it was getting colder and snowing hard.
So we had a week off from school because Tuesday and Wednesday the roads were icy and school was cancelled, then Thursday and today were holiday break.

We had a nice Thanksgiving. The snow was starting to melt, but the roads were still icy. We drove grandma to Aunt Bennie's and had a good dinner and watched a couple of movies.
One of them was "Toy Story 3." We were laughing through the whole movie. Then we watched "The Last Airbender," and I wasn't so thrilled with it. Sean loves that show, so he thought it would be great. Even he wasn't as impressed as he thought he would be.

Today we went out to search for red wigs. A local theatre is putting on a play based on the book, "Red Ranger Came Calling," by Berkeley Breathed. It is one of my favorite books, and Sean loves it too. We have been reading it during the Christmas season for the past couple of years. So those who have red hair get in to the play for $10. Of course, I don't have to buy a wig :-) Knew someday it would pay to have red hair!
Sean wants to do a temporary dye job on his, and I was looking for wigs for Bennie and Rhian.
There could be more of us going, just have to confirm.

Anyway, we came up empty on the wigs. I started to buy yarn to make a Raggedy Ann type wig, but that shop had a line around the store because of Black Friday deals.
I can get yarn tomorrow, or next week. No big deal.
I love this time of year, so much going on!

So this month is almost over, and this Sunday we will make Advent Wreaths in my Godly Play class. I LOVE Advent Season. Love everything Christmas and everything about it. I don't really enjoy shopping so much anymore, but maybe it's because I don't have a partner in crime here. Before I moved from home Karen and I shopped together a lot.

I turned my radio station to the Christmas music station today. I listen to it in the car throughout the season. I love the decorations in the stores, love the Christmas commercials on TV and the television specials like Charlie Brown and all the shows for kids. We'll be pulling out "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Home Alone," and all the old Christmas movies on our shelves.

In December we have quite a few events. There's the Red Ranger show. I want to go to the Journey to Bethlehem again if possible, and we are also going to see the Puget Sound Revels again this year. Then we'll be on our way to Tennessee and I'll meet my first granddaughter, Parsla. Can't WAIT! Her ETA is Dec. 5.

It's a little strange to think of myself as a grandmother when I have a child who is 8, but I love the way my family has grown. I'd love for it to get even bigger. (Not that I want a baby, but I like adding new people to our tree.)

December will be a whirlwind for work. I'll probably start on the January edition Monday, and that's the day our December edition is delivered. Work is crazy. I need to try to hire some new people, work on some contracts, finalize a budget, and somehow do a little bit of shopping.

I also agreed to help out with a local non-profit. I was asked by the director of Interfaith Youth Camp to help write a grant. I'm getting a crash course in grant writing next week, then we'll see what happens. I'm supposed to try to write it and get it finished before the end of the year. Whoohooo. Lot on my plate. I like being busy, then when I'm finished I like to just crash and do something mindless, like watch "The Housewives of Atlanta."

Waiting for Superman

"Waiting for Superman" was playing at a local theater a few weeks ago, so I made a date with myself and went for a matinee. I learned a lot from it, and overall I loved the movie. I think we need to start the conversation of public school reform, and we need to be truly working toward a solution. This movie has started the conversation, now it's up to parents and educators to work together to come up with the solution.

In this country we seem to believe that people need to just take control of their own destiny, to choose another way if the way presented isn't good enough.

So the question for me is this: As a people, living in this country, are we entitled to an education? Is education a right for all people, or is it really just for some. Is it for those who live in a "good" neighborhood and make a lot of money, or are all children entitled to a good education no matter how much money their parents have?

Should education be a socialist idea? Shouldn't every child, in every neighborhood be getting the same education as the next if we want to have an educated society?
No matter what color we are, where we're from, or what economic class we fit into, parents want the same thing for their children: The best education possible.

Sitting there alone in the theater, I caught myself reacting with mouth agape, shaking my head in frustration, and sometimes fighting back tears.
The families in the film were living in areas where their schools are failing, and failing miserably. One mother had tried numerous times to have a conversation or conference with her child's teacher. The child was in first grade, and the teacher would not respond to her requests. Unbelievable.

When the mother who sent her daughter to a private school across the street from their apartment was crying because she was behind on payments and the school wouldn't let her daughter walk across the stage for her Kindergarten graduation, I was frustrated.
The little girl watched out her window as her classmates filed through the door of the school on graduation day.

I thought the movie left some questions unanswered.

For instance, I didn't realize that teachers get tenure after only two years, and they don't have to do much to get it. Why? I also didn't realize that bad teachers don't get fired, they get moved around to other schools. A travesty.

It definitely pointed out the flaws in the teachers union and why we need to reform the system, but it didn't present a solution.

I don't think getting rid of the teachers union is the answer. There are probably very good reasons why there is a teachers union. At some point in history teachers must have been treated unfairly. (And if I weren't lazy right now I'd start to research that and reveal it here, but I have dinner on the stove, a boy who needs a bath tonight, couple of freelance stories waiting to be written, some emails waiting to be answered, and some site council information to review tonight.) To do away with the union entirely would be a knee-jerk reaction and in my opinion not a good solution.

The movie showed that there are some amazing things happening in the charter system, though not all states have charter schools.

I'm in the midst of a similar movement where I live. Sean is attending a public Montessori school, but it isn't a charter school. I'm not sure what the buzz word is in our system, but the name I would give it is alternative education.

I encourage everyone to see "Waiting for Superman," and whether you love it or hate it, start talking about it.

A lesson in wool

This was our third year of attending the local Fiber Arts Festival. Each year we see something new and interesting.
As we made our way from the parking lot we happened upon this scene:

This goat's name is Nellie, and she is an angora. They were clipping her curly locks and the kind lady was nice enough to show us the next step in turning this soft wool into yarn.

This is called a carder. I had never seen this type, but it looks a bit easier than the ones I've seen before. There are tiny metal pins on the large and small wheels that separate the wool and make it a soft tuft. The tufts are then spun into yarn, like this:

This girl is a sophomore in high school and has a yarn business with her grandparents. She learned to spin as a young child. You can see other spinners in the background.
We had a great time, as always. Sean is so drawn to this artform. He insisted we needed more yarn, so I ended up spending a good amount on one skeen of hand spun, hand dyed yarn. It is really pretty, and he has been finger knitting regularly with it.
There were lots of things at this festival, including quilts and felted items, silk, wood buttons and so much more.
There were a lot of new vendors this year, and we can't wait to see what they have next year.