Frankenstorm

I just got an e-mail saying the University of Massachusetts was closed tomorrow, so instead of last minute homework, I can write the weekly letter.  And it's overdue.

 

The storm was also responsible for Mary cancelling her trip to DC this week.  She was supposed to leave Tuesday; she thought about leaving today, but it just didn't sound right:  "I'm going to drive into a hurricane."  She said she would have done it if she was 24, but she's a different age and has no excuse for being recklessly foolish.

 

We did take advantage of the day to put things away for the winter.  And, of course, we had an e-mail forwarded to us from a friend in DC who said there was a run on organic no-fat milk at Whole Foods.  Sounds like a state of emergency.  Are we the greatest generation or what?  Maybe the second greatest.

 

Hey! We have a driveway, and we have parked the cars in the garage!  Take that Sandy.  Johnny came over to help put up some braces so we can hang the canoe on the wall.   And, we painted the wallboard and hung some hooks so we are a little bit organized with garden tools.  How long will that last.

 

We have spent the week negotiating the construction on Hancock Rd, where they are laying new gas pipes. 

 

We went to Boston last week, and this week Boston came to us.  Mary had a rug-braiding course near Woburn (remember Grandma's 70th?) so we made a weekend of it, visiting our friends Cliff and Sheila (whom we nromally see in Maine.)  Mary finished one braided pad for her computer and is busy at work on a rug.  This weekend was parents' weekend at Williams, so Charlie and family (one of whom lives in Boston) came. 

 

Next weekend, we hope Peter and Janet will be here, having survived Sandy.  We see Janet's postings on Facebook about getting around, although it sounded like Johanna was pushing her through NYC in a wheelchair.  Can't expect anyone to negotiate the city after a broken leg.  Hope recovery is going quickly.

 

There's a rumor out there that Claire had a party in Chicago with her friends from school, as part of her 18th birthday present.  And Bill turned 30!  What happened there?  Congratulations.

 

David says that wedding preparations are proceeding.  They tried out a restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.  Looking forward to it.  Annie is making her flight plans!

 

Anyone following the election?  Mary is.  She picked out a line in the third debate out teachers unions and wrote a letter to the editor in the Berkshire Eagle about it:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/letters/ci_21858392/romney-likes-his-teachers-poor.  Take that!  We saw her swim coach at the movies Friday, and he had seen it!  She's started wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap when she goes out.

 

We spoke with Joe a few times.  He sounds busy, but still has time for college football.  Not sure that he had time for that last year.

 

Halloween is coming up.  We saw pictures of Margaret and Andrew dressed in "Back to the Future" garb.  Very convincing.

 

Have a wonderful week; stay smart and safe.  Love from up here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no joy in Mudville

Sorry about the Nationals and the Reds.

Celebrate!

We have much to celebrate.  First off, a lot of birthdays.  Belated to Paula and Johanna.  Upcoming to Janet, Claire, Billy and Kathleen!  And there is a first wedding anniversary also thrown in there.  Remember that weekend, Jeff and Melodie?  Fun.  Anyway, we hope everyone is marking their day in style, especially Claire who is turning 18, and will be able to vote!

 

Another reason for celebrating is Janet had her cast off this past Monday.  What a long haul.  I bet there's still a lot more to come, but you made it!

 

Wait, there's still more.  David and Paula celebrated with a trip to the outer banks of North Carolina last week. And, Annie (and Greg) returned from a vacation in Burma, not Myanmar, which we learned is the military term for the country.  Annie sent pictures, and it looks like a magical place.  Hope to read her blog soon.

 

We celebrated Columbus Day with Margaret and Andrew and D up here for a few days.  We did a Pittsfield arts walk one night, and then went to a concert at the Guthrie Center.  The chief reason for the trip was to check out the kitty, and to introduce D to the cat.  That did not go as well as we thought it might.  Seems the kitty has become a little territorial in her brief time with us.  She was back happily running around the house as soon as D left, though.

 

Mary spent a couple days over at UMass with me, and found the apartment she rented when she went to college.  It's right on the railroad tracks, and looks like a college pad.  We also did a tour of the Steepletop, Edna St. Vincent Millay's home in NY, which is worth a trip.  This famous poet died in 1950, and her sister took over the house, leaving it pretty much untouched from the day she died.  Needless to say, her quirkiness, which coexisted with her intellect, is evident pretty much everywhere on this country estate/compound.  Not as grand as Edith Wharton's mansion, but beautiful nonetheless.

 

We spoke with Andrew who said that Lur's father had a stroke or series of small strokes.  He spent a while in the hospital, and doesn't sound like he's doing very well.  Tough on the whole family.

 

We remain busy with house projects.  We finished a landscaping exercise, and turned our attention to getting the garage ready, which means taping and then painting the dryboard.  The driveway guys were supposed to start today, but we think the rain kept them from coming.  Maybe tomorrow.  It would be a real breakthrough if we could park the cars in the garage by first frost!

Joe has been busy as well; we talked to him as he was going to work on Sunday evening at 7pm.  His comment was: "That's why they have young people working."

Mary has substitute-taught a few times, but for several reasons that remains less than satisfying.  I am frantically trying to stay caught up at UMass, and so far, so good.  There's so much extra (films, conferences, beer parties) that I miss by not being on campus, but I like being home too.

Hope you do too!  Love from down here and congratulations to all the celebrating folks!