Jimmy Carter RIP

Former President Jimmy Carter passed away today at the age of 100. Just by coincidence I'm currently reading a biography of Ronald Reagan and today I was reading the chapter on the 1980 presidential election campaign where Carter was defeated by Reagan. It was a real eye-opener. 

Carter was also a Navy veteran and the only president of the US that was a graduate of the US Naval Academy.

The Rainy Day Return

Katie, Todd and the kids came back to our house today. Todd's brother and his family left to go back to California this morning and we had thought that Katie and Todd would be driving back to Philly today but it's a very rainy day. The heavy rain would have followed them all the day back to Philly so they decided to stay another day with us and drive home the following day when the weather was predicted to be better. They also couldn't stay another day at their downtown hotel because it was filled up for the coming New Years weekend and their reservations ended today.

So we got them another day and we're very happy although still somewhat tired. It's too bad there is so much heavy rain because it would have been nice to go for a walk in the neighborhood, go over to the zoo or even go to the art museum but the kids were tired from a long week and wanted to just hang out and play with their Christmas present toys.

We're also planning to go out to dinner this evening at Kostas. In the meantime the kids wanted to cuddle on the couch with their grandmother.

The Birdcage

Last night Becky and I stayed up a little later than usual to watch the movie The Birdcage. It was hilariously funny and I think this was only the second time I saw the film since seeing it when it was originally released in 1996. It had a great cast including Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane and was put together by Mike Nichols and Elaine May. It was groundbreaking at the time for a popular American film to feature LGBTQ characters at the center of the story. It was also a funny put down of extreme conservative family values that looked particularly valid today.

We saw the original French film version, La Cage aux Folles, sometime around 1979 and loved it. I think we saw it again sometime in the early 80's but I would really like to see it one more time.

I looked online to see where we could view the French film and it is available on Tubi and Pluto TV for free but not Amazon Prime, Netflex, Apple TV, Max, etc. without paying extra. We watched The Birdcage on Max.

More of Those Burgers Again

We had been having a lot of different holiday meal leftovers this week and then Becky decided to cook up a couple of those wonderful Dash's hamburgers which we keep on hand. Of course she had recently got some nice potatoes to make with the burgers along with a nice salad. Yep, the usual.

We had some Christmas cookies for desert and then a little later we watched a movie.

Some Time To Relax... and Clean Up

I did get to take a look at Henry's Lego Marvel figures he built on Christmas day and left on our dining room table. Becky did good picking them out for his Christmas presents.

Today we had some time to relax a little bit and to clean up after having three of our grandchildren staying with us in our home for the holidays. Well, at least the first few days of the holidays. On the day after Christmas they went downtown to the hotel where Todd's parents have their apartment. They would be there probably for the rest of the week they are in town with the possibility of them coming back here on Sunday before driving back to Philly on Monday.

So in the meantime we were able hangout the day after Christmas and relax. The party for Violet's birthday was scheduled for the evening of Friday the 27th so we had that day to relax too. And we did some cleaning up around the house. Then on Saturday the kids were doing things with their cousins from California who were in town for several days. And then we had another day of rest.

We did hear from Katie that they will be coming back to our house on Sunday sometime in the early afternoon and stay with us for the rest of the day and the night before driving home on Monday. We'll see how that goes. In the meantime we can enjoy the quiet house for a bit.

Ottmar Liebert - Kitchen Listening

Today we listened to a few hours of the music of this amazing guitarist... Ottmar Liebert. This is someone I collected a few of his albums twenty years or so ago but didn't listen to him much recently. I had used a few of his songs on some new age/classical mixes I made about ten years ago and I was reworking a couple of them into my Final Version sets. I liked what I heard and then put an album on the stereo, then another one.

I had to go and look up this guy because although I really liked his Spanish flamenco influenced guitar style but knew he wasn't from Spain. Actually it turns out he was from Cologne, Germany and born to a Chinese-German father and Hungarian mother. He played in rock bands in Germany but moved to the US where he eventually settled in Santa Fe in 1986 where he has been ever since.

He states that his musical influences come from Carlos Santana, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp, Jeff Beck and Miles Davis. No wonder I liked him so much.

Ottmar Liebert in my collection:

• Nouveau Flamenco, 1990
• Rumba Collection 1992-1997, 1998
• Barcelona Nights: The Best of Ottmar Lievert Vol. 1, 2001
• Surrender 2 Love: The Best of Ottmar Lievert Vol. 2, 2001

Violet's Birthday & Dinner

We had a wonderful time last night at Iris and Dick's downtown apartment celebrating Violet's 3rd birthday and enjoying the holiday with the Schifeling family. They had a full house. Todd's brother Jeremy and his wife Rachel with their two kids were there. They were visiting from California and staying in the hotel. Dan and Barbara were there and Dietrich also showed up. And of course Katie and Todd and the three kids were there too.

Violet loved being the birthday girl and enjoyed opening her presents. She also loved being sung to for her birthday. All smiles. Violet's birthday is actually on Monday.

There was lots of wine, some beers including NAs and soda waters. Becky brought a couple of large trays of cookies leftover from our Christmas Eve dinner. They were a big hit... especially with the kids. The dinner was a takeout meal from Fat Bob's and it was really boring. We had BBQ from them last year at Dick and Iris's and it was great but somehow last night it was very bland. All of it. Each side dish had no taste and there wasn't even any BBQ sauce to put on the brisket which was tough and overcooked. There was also no pulled pork which is usually their best dish. Oh well, maybe we should suggest BBQ from Southern Junction next time.

We did have a very good time talking and socializing with the folks at the party. It was especially nice talking with Jeremy and Rachel and with Dan and Barbara again.

I should have taken more photos of the gathering but here is a selfie with Clara and Violet.

Clara was so happy that Violet was turning 3.

On The Perch

I've been spending a lot of time over the past couple of years sitting in a comfy chair in the upstairs front room overlooking our street and reading. It has also been a getaway this past week when we have been getting ready for the holidays and when the grandchildren were here but out of the house for a little while visiting other folks.

I always refer to this spot as "the perch" and I will mention to Becky as she is watching something on TV that I am going up on the perch. I enjoy sitting there both day and night but usually during the winter months or during bad weather. Otherwise I like to sit on the front porch or in the backyard sunroom. I previously mentioned my time on the perch when I was wrote about mom-momming which is related to what I've been doing there.

The perch is a nice getaway spot. I have a bunch of "stuff" located within handy reach from that chair. I have a stack of old note books which I sometimes look at and I keep a pair of reading glasses on the table next to the chair.

Now Autumn is Sick Too

Sean and Ashely were thinking of possibly coming to Buffalo this week after Christmas to spend some time with us and to see Katie and the kids. It really wasn't a great idea because of illnesses going around Kate's family... Todd, Henry and Clara all being sick at some time this past week. The plan was for them to stay at our house while Katie and Todd were at the downtown hotel. Then Sean and Ashley would take their kids down to visit or they thought Katie and Todd would bring their kids back to our house for them to all play together. They probably didn't realize that Todd's brother and their kids were in town from California to spend time with their cousins too. And then there was the birthday party planned for downtown at Dick and Iris's which was already a full house. Having Andrew and Autumn there along with Sean and Ashley could be a problem with just not enough room.

Well, not of that mattered when Autumn got sick with a bad case of RSV with a fever of 103. She wasn't going anywhere. Poor thing. 

Being Sick for Christmas

First Henry was sick the week before Christmas. He had an ear infection, walking pneumonia and Covid. All at once. Katie had to take him to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia by uber and on the way back he threw up in the car. Well, he got his meds and got better.

Meanwhile Todd got sick but tested negative for Covid. His illness caused the family to stay home a little longer than planned before he felt good enough to hit the road. He needed to take his time and although they left a day later they also stopped along the way and got a motel room so Todd could rest. Then they continued on the road and arrived at our house on Monday December 23rd.

Then Clara got sick on the last day of traveling. Kate took her to an urgent care center in Buffalo where she was treated for an ear infection. Fortunately she did not have Covid. The first picture is of her lying about on the floor over a heat vent. She did not have much energy that first day here. Clara wasn't always great about taking her medications but the picture here is of her downing some meds. 

Todd was not feeling well for the first several days in Buffalo but he was gradually getting better.