It was WNE/SL reunion weekend, and what a weekend it turned out to be. DH and I hopped in the car to head to Springfield on Saturday morning, oblivious to the fact that a major snow storm was headed to New England. There were a few flakes falling when we got on the Mass Pike, but by the time we got to Becket ("Highest Turnpike Elevation 1724 Feet. Last Highest Elevation on I-90 Oacoma, South Dakota 1729  Feet") we were in white-out conditions and 5 cars had  gone off the road. Yikes. That's when we learned that 6-12 inches of snow were predicted.

We slowly made our way into town, checked into the hotel, changed for the reunion and headed over to the courthouse venue. Big branches were down across the road, the parking lot was empty and the doors to the courthouse were locked. Our other four friends showed up - all of us out-of-towners who had never gotten the message that they'd cancelled the dinner late that afternoon.

We had fun anyway: drinks at the hotel and dinner at The Student Prince. On Sunday, we met more friends and had brunch at Max's Tavern. Most of the surrounding area had no electricity, so we were lucky to find a restaurant and to be able to get gas for the trip home. It wasn't the reunion as planned, but I got to see my favorite classmates, so it was fabulous.

DH & I had a great day in New York on Saturday with D & M. First, we got to stroll on the High Line, something I've wanted to do since it was opened. It was crowded up there, but it somehow felt serene, especially as the afternoon turned to dusk. We  stopped by the Chelsea Market to browse and to pick up goodies from Amy's Bread (tasty demi-baguette) before the stroll, and had a quick drink at the Brass Monkey afterwards.

Then we headed up to Lincoln Center to Dizzy's Club Coca Cola to hear Renee Rosnes with vibraphonist Steve Nelson, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash. So good. The topping on all of it was getting a chance to shake hands with Wynton Marsalis. It's hard to come back to reality!!

I spent a few days last week in Austin with DD#1. We ate, we shopped, we Occupied. I was happy to visit her new stamping grounds and to stay at the retro and very groovy Austin Motel - So Close Yet So Far Out.

DH and I spent a wonderful December weekend in DC this past week. It was unusually cold there, and they had the snow that we'd been lacking - the city had a charming feel, but I guess it always does, at least for me.

On Saturday we did some Christmas shopping at Kramerbooks and Afterwords and Filene's Basement and then headed down to the White House. There was a group protesting, in call and response to President Obama, about the U.S.'s support for Laurent Gbagbo who lost the presidential election in the Côte d'Ivorie.

We went to the American Art Museum, both the main building and the Renwick Gallery. It was my first visit to the Renwick Gallery, which was saved from destruction through the efforts of President and Mrs. Kennedy and is now a National Historic Landmark. We toured the The Art of Gaman exhibit - arts and crafts made by Japanese Americans interred in the U.S. during World War II,  beautiful objects made from modest materials. The main building was exhibiting Telling Stories, a collection of Norman Rockwell’s images of American life; Jo Seated on the Old Sofa, Little Girl Observing Lovers on a Train, Going and Coming and The Jury were particular favorites.  An elegant dinner at The Bombay Club rounded off the day.

We had to leave on the early side on Sunday, but I was able to make a quick trip up to the Freshfarm Market at DuPont Circle for luscious Harmony Creek Farm soap and some fantastically soft undyed yarn. We spent a couple of hours at the Newseum - you could spend a couple of days there, but a few hours was all that we had. There was an exhibit on Covering Katrina and one on Elvis - the King.

After a yummy lunch in the cafeteria (musuem food has gotten really good!) we got in the car for the long ride home - I can't wait to go back.

Good times are being had by all this December (or at least by DH and me.) We saw Loudon Wainwright on Saturday night at the  Center for the Arts in Homer.  It's a fantastic, intimate setting for a concert, and Loudon did not disappoint.  DH wasn't especially familiar with his music, but he enjoyed the show immensely and laughed a lot. Loudon reminds me in many ways of Billy Collins; I think they're both wise, funny and (obviously) poetic. I must say that both the performer and all of us in the audience on Saturday were of a certain age - sigh. I texted DD#1 and told her we were seeing Rufus Wainwright's father in concert.

On Sunday we went to C & E's house for our book group's annual holiday party and book exchange. This year the spouses/partners came too, and it was really fun and festive. We did have to hold some of the guys in check as they tried to tinker with our rules for the book swap - they are persuasive fellows, but we were up to the task!

We had a fun and busy weekend. On Friday night we went to the new Finger Lakes Wine Center in Ithaca with B & A. It was interesting to taste the different wines in the "flights" that we chose and to really think about what how they taste - what the elements are. It's a beautiful, open facility, and it will be fun to take visiting friends there - I'm think of you, D&M!

We took part in the work crew at IYC on Saturday - it was a sunny, warm and calm down by the lake, and I'm glad we were able to help out a little.

Saturday night was the Empty Bowls fundraiser for Loaves & Fishes. Ten of us went down together  - good times for a good cause, and one that DH spends a lot of time on.

It seems that someone (a certain MR. FREDDIE FICKLIN of USA) has been claiming that I am dead and that I'm not entitled to money from my late uncle. That doesn't seem right. Should I send this man my bank account information so that this whole misunderstanding can be cleared up?

Attention:

We are writhing to know if it's true that you are DEAD? Because we received a notification from one MR. FREDDIE FICKLIN of USA stating that you are DEAD and that you have giving him the right to claim your funds with our that your late uncle left for you which you are enable to claim. He stated you died on a CAR accident. He has been calling us regarding this issue, but we cannot proceed with him until we confirm this by not hearing from you after 7 days. Be advised that we have made all arrangements for you to receive and confirm your funds without anymore stress, and without any further delays.

All we need to confirm now is your been DEAD Or still Alive. This MAN message brought shock to our us. And we just can't proceed with him until we confirm if this is a reality OR not But if it happened we did not hear from you after 7 days, then we say: MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE"

YOUR JOY AND SUCCESS REMAINS OUR GOAL.

May the peace of the Lord be with you wherever you may be now.

If you are not dead and alive please re-confirm your bank account to us again if we have the right account with us because our bank has in marched with Alliance Bank Plc..

Regards,

Robert Johnson

(Managing Director Alliance Bank PLC)

Yes, spam can be fun.