Another project

Last summer, Blaine and I had a "building session". We got the copper arch completed and installed and started on a little table. We didn't get it done, but did get the parts cut out and some assembled. You can see 2 images of "raw wood" here. One is the partially assembled table and the other is due to a lesson I learned years ago. I hardly ever make 2 things just alike, but back in the birdhouse days, I would make one for someone, then someone else would say, "I would like one like that." So the lesson learned was; always make 2 patterns of everything you build because there is something unique about that item that you won't remember the next time you want to build one. Therefore there is a second image of "raw wood" pieces all tied together. This is the second set of parts for the table. Because of time, we only marked out the profiles on the sides and legs, ready to cut when and if there is need to do this style again. Although the prototype picture I had brought from Oregon had a different style of leg, we (I) decided to try something different. I don't think Blaine was quite on board when I was rattling on about this idea. We cut the leg pieces on a bevel with the long side out. Then glued and nailed (got to use my new air nailers) to the end and side pieces making 4 sides with beveled ends. That was the part we got done last summer and you see in the first image, all clamped together. This weekend we got to finish the table (sans painting). What we found was that although our biscuit joinery last summer was a bit hasty (something to work on), the table came together quite well and the legs were very strong. In fact, although the original prototype included a lower shelf (which would give strength to the legs), we omitted that shelf, allowing the table to be used as a small writing desk. We stained the top and drawer front and added an old drawer pull that I had salvaged from some piece of furniture on it's way to the graveyard. We were afraid to paint it because it was soon to be packed in their van to ride to Springfield. I think we were very happy with the results, although as always, there are flaws that only the builder knows about. One thing I learned years ago. Don't tell everyone about the mistakes in your projects.... Although they are glaring to you because they weren't up to your expectations; most other people probably won't notice them.

Little details

So we're just about ready for the traditional family Christmas celebration. As we were tying up some loose ends last nite, Georgia says, "Greg always looks for the mistletoe. We used to have it all the time." Taking my cue, I made plans to "stop by" and pick up a bunch on my way home from grabbing a few bundles of firewood. See, we missed the Hogan woodcutting this year due to our trip to Tennessee and although we were offered wood anyway, the schedule didn't allow for bringing any home. So since time is getting short, I decided to grab a few bundles that you see as you walk into stores; you know the reject junk from sawmills. Decided to get the wood at Lowes. (that was the first stop). Then to Prairie Gardens... they've been out for 3 weeks. OK, on to Greenview... Never had any, Now Walmart.... didn't get any this year, Target.... ditto, Getting nervous. Back to Lowes... all gone. So I gave up and headed home, but stopped by the Mahomet IGA for a couple of grocery items... Yup; there by the express checkout lane. Now I remember living in the south and visiting Florida and seeing mistletoe growing as a parasite in the trees. I was about ready to e-mail my friend Mike Thomas in Mississippi to ask if he could FEDEX a batch to us overnite. But IGA, right here in Mahomet bailed us out. Soooo.... There had better be a lot of kissin' at our house these next few days. Merry Christmas to all!

A new word for a favorite sound.

Listening to WEFT (you can get it online) the other day, I was really blessed with one of my favorite sounds. My taste in music tends to revolve around "down home" styles, mostly acoustic. Last Saturday evening, we got a treat listening to our Greg and his Friend Jim Wood present a "concert" called "US2" in which they covered lots and lots of U2 songs; just Jim on the guitar and Greg on the Mike with a scratchy voice that he covered well. While that wasn't my favorite type of music, I really enjoyed it; and got to see one of the boys using his talent. Back to me and WEFT. I Listen to that station as much as I can from noon til 2 because they play rhythm and blues. I have always liked this music as it was the beginning of the Rock and Roll of the 50's... the last of the great music.. With R&B, the older and more acoustic the better; I don't care for the screaming guitar styles however. Well, since we are in the Christmas season, they played a couple of Christmas songs including one that just about had me jumping off my ladder. The music style was that which I had always called Cajun music, but in my attempt to find the song (cause I really couldn't understand the words of the title) I found that this music is really called Zydeco, which is a particular style of Creole music, but I love it, love it love it. You can't sit still if you have any rhythm in you at all. I find that I have always loved this music, but didn't know what it was called. It is amazing how many bushes I find that I have lived under as I move toward seniority. The name of the song was "Zydeco Christmas". You can hear part of it if you go to: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/mediaplayer.asp?ean=014551920229&track=8&disc=1
Wikipedia gives this literal definition forZydeco:(French: "les haricots" or "le zaricot", English: "snap beans") This music just makes you happy. Which brings to mind one of the guidelines we gave the boys as they were beginning to appreciate music and decide what they wanted to listen to. The rule was something like this; If the music makes you feel happy, it is probably OK to listen to, but if it makes you frown or feel angry, then you should just turn it off. I realize that if the whole world employed this principle, the poplular music of today would be a whole lot different than it is. For the most part, I would say that would be "a good thing", but it can also create a Pollyana personality. Some of the music is intended to make us feel uncomfortable to allow us to take some of the ills of the world seriously (aka U2). Oh Boy! I feel another rabbit trail coming on. Sooooo.... just why do we listen to music? I hear people saying that they "enjoy" listening to music. But then what about music of social revolution? Certainly that music doesn't create enjoyment. Sometimes I think we may listen to music to feel like we are joining those who care. Can you really call that enjoyment? I would venture to say that there are those who feel they are "paying their dues to society" by listening to such music.. Sorry, if listening to the music doesn't spur you to action, you really have done nothing but try to salve your conscience. That music has a place, but if you ask me, for really enjoyable music, you can't beat Zydeco (unless you have a poker up your butt)..

transitions

Last spring, we experienced a spring in the Wilamette valley of Oregon in mid March, then traveled through northern California with more spring, only to be hit with winter coming out of Colorado. After one day of winter in Illinois on our return home, we got to experience another spring. I should interject that our favorite times of the year are spring (for me) and fall (for Georgia). Could it be because I was born in March and she in September??? After a short summer, we experienced fall in Illinois and Indiana during September and October, then on October 31, we headed to Tennessee. We got to experience a beautiful fall again in Kentucky and Tennessee. This was all great and fitting with our year of 2 springs and 2 falls. However, now that we're back in the midwest, it is winter. We got to experience our first snow of the winter driving to Gas City Thursday evening. In case you didn't know... Winter is here. We feel like we left for Tennessee in the fall and returned in the Winter. I have notice that my body has not had time to equilabrate, but I do have my trusty Ridge Rider vest from Laramie to keep me warm. Oh well, we'll make the transition again; and be wishing for snow at Christmas.

topsy turvy world

This is just a quickie to illustrate the point that Saint Paul described... "Be in this world, but not of this world". Now my illustrations are not even close to being spiritual as Paul intended, but I think they do illustrate the point that common sense and experience no longer help you manage in today's society. The first is an apparent change in philosophy regarding tags. We are all aware of the everpresent tag that says "do not remove under penalty of law". Right? On this trip, in effort to not overpack, I apparently underpacked for the season. I was in the "right place at the right time" and actually bought a sweater (myself).. Yes Erin, I bought a sweater. When I got it to the room and started removing the tags, I ran across this one. Will wonders never cease? Don't ask me why we must remove this one and "can't" remove those others that look very similar.

As you drive into the Opryland "complex", I'll call it, you notice that the speed limit is 24... not 25 like everywhere else in the world, but 24. I finally asked why. Supposedly it was so that people would notice it and thus pay heed. Well, I noticed it...

Do you remember when we got free water from the fountains that were found all over theatres??? I won't get off on a complete essay on the cultured of bottled water in our country, but I was astounded the other nite when a coke was $2.50 and a bottle of water was $3.00.

That's all, just a few observations that keep me from gaining comfort from my experience. Shock and Awe on my level. Here are a couple of daytime pictures from the Opryland nativity.

Christmastime in Opryville drei

Having finished our third night of being pumped full of the Christmas spirit by entertainment here is Nashville, we realize that there is so much we missed, but are also aware that we can't handle much more at this time. We did make it to the Louise Mandrell dinner show tonite. It was in the Delta Ballroom at that Gaylord complex. The more I see of that place, the more amazed I become. To avoid the $18 parking fee and still having to walk a bunch, we took the Hyatt Place shuttle which dropped us off virtually outside the door of the theatre. Before I get into the evening's entertainment I want to take a little aside. Since we've been here we keep hearing about the "Ice" exhibit. I touched on this in another post. Well this morning was the earliest it opened and since Georgia's back makes it difficult for her to get around very quickly in the morning, I decided to slip over (since now I can navigate this place like a (semi) pro. Another deterrent for Georgia was that with some of the medication she is on, her hands would have frozen at that temperature without super gloves which we did not have. If you haven't seen the Ice exhibit, you would be thoroughly amazed. This is the last year for the Grinch theme. Aparently 40 ice sculptors from China worked several weeks to prepare it. Everything in the place is carved out of colored and clear ice. They keep the place at 16 degrees and issue parkas as you view it. Simply amazing. Here are a few pictures with more on my facebook page. It only took me about 20 minutes to see it all (and slide down the ice slide... yes I did.) I got back in time to get ready for our afternoon and evening adventure.

That Gaylord Resort and Convention Center is simply amazing. Words can't describe it, and I'm not sure the pictures do either. One interesting thing was what I will call "ivygirl". This vinecovered girl on stilts moved around nuzzling trees, essentially like that leave thing in that movie, I think with either Arnold S. or Sylverster S where he battles this thing in the jungle. However this one was just full of love rather than hate and descruction. See if you can find her face.

Now to Louise Mandrell. What talent!

http://www.louisemandrell.com/Biography/

She was born in 1954. That should make her 54 years old. You wouldn't believe the stuff that old lady did. I doubt most 25 year olds could keep up with the gymnastics she did in a number near the end. She of course played nearly every instrument on stage and a few they brought in for her. Singing, dancing, playing all sorts of instuments as well as playing a spoof mail"man" who delivers kids letters to Santa. Georgia says Louise was always her favorite Mandrell sister. Although we didn't get to see her up close (as you can see by the blurry pictures), Georgia and I commented that she didn't look any different than she did 25 years ago when she was on the Barbara Mandrell show. Again, a great meal in which we met some super people at our table. Six glitterclad ladies from Alabama including a mother of 3 of the ladies (2 were twins about our age). They travel as the "Yaya's". One other couple there were from Michigan, salt of the earth types with no refinement whatsoever.

Christmastime in Opryville deaux

Aha! with a little daylight, I think I have actually figured out the lay of the land (for the most part). I now have 2 main arteries to work from. So there seems to be 3 main "parts" to the Opry experience with many little add ons scattered around the entrance. There is the Gaylord Opryland resort and convention center. It is the biggest part, housing the indoor riverboat ride and several theaters along with the convention center, etc. That is where we will go to see the Louise Mandrell show tomorrow nite. Between that and the huge mall, is the Grand Ole Opry House, where we saw the Rockettes Christmas show tonite. The General Jackson where we went for the Cruise last nite is on the other side of the mall. There!. Beside the Opry House is a small green building called Ice. I thought that was an Ice Show, like Icapades, so decided we could forego it this trip. However, I am hearing that it is amazing and far less time and dollar consuming so we may figure a way to squeeze it in yet. I got some daylight pictures of the nativity, etc, but they are out in the car.. Tonite, after spending some time at the mall and eating at Johnny Rocket's (we enjoyed it in Lansing, so decided to do it again.), we went across the street to see the Rockettes show... Wow! OMG!, etc, etc. etc. The whole show was phenominal, but the living nativity at the end was breath-taking. Yes, Georgia cried through the whole thing. They basically acted out carols like O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Holy Night, etc. We were impressed that the sheep and camels that were on stage for quite some time, including passes across and standing in scenes, didn't feel the need to follow the laws of nature for any animal on stage. Nary a dribble or a dropping. The camels vigorously chewed their cuds and one sheep actually put his front feet up on a rock as if stretching to see during the singing of "O Come all ye Faithful". The rest of the show was really good with lots of cute stuff, like the 3 foot tall snowmen and baby bears who danced, and a bear who had to be a kin to Miss Piggy. Worth the time and money. The only down side was that the seats were like church pews and they seemed to pack in one more person than the pew could hold, thus we were a little "snug". Sorry, no pictures, which probably means no one will even peek at this post.