Blithering Knitiot

Monday

Today was the last day for students in the high school.  They now have Standardized Regents testing for the next 8 days or so.  So, the school year is almost over.  The elementary school still has kids till the bitter end, and then graduation for the high school is the 28th.  It's the longest two weeks of the year...

I called my Mom tonight to let her know I had replaced a valve or something-or-other in my kitchen sink faucet to stop it from dripping.  It's been dripping for a long time.  Years, actually.  Since I may have company staying here for graduation weekend, I thought it might be nice if the faucet didn't drip.  And now it doesn't.  My Dad would have been so amazed and pleased that I did that all by myself (which I thought would give my Mom a chuckle).

My Mom isn't living at her home at the moment.  She's living at the home of her friend Wilson.  Mom has known Wilson for many decades.  She knew Wilson before she met my Dad and married him.  They were friends, but never dated.  After my Mom married my Dad, she and Wilson grew apart.  Mom and Dad raised their family, we all grew up and moved away to acheive whatever it was we were searching for.  Then Dad had his stroke and after three and a half years of hospital beds and nursing homes, passed away.

I'm not sure exactly when Mom and Wilson rekindled their friendship, but it was a very good thing for both of them.  Wilson's kids had moved away also, and he and Mom would do things like pick black berries and Mom would make pies.  They would shop together and go out for breakfast and just be wonderful companions for each other.  I might add at this point that Mom is 77 and Wilson is 96.  And, unfortunately, Wilson has Cancer and is dying.  Mom is staying with him till the end to help care for him (He did have live-in help until very recently, which is another story all together) and to see that his banking and house is taken care of.  And that he is taken care of.  (There are a couple of women from her apartment building that come in to give her a little break to get out and run her errands, so she's not doing this totally by herself.  But she is living there.)  She makes sure he eats something, although in the past several days, that has become almost nothing.  His mobility has become very limited in the past week or so.  He doesn't want to take his pain medication - he's a stubborn guy, that one.  Mom thinks that his final days are close at hand.

Hospice has been called to come in and help.

I'm not quite sure why I am sharing this, other than to say how proud I am of Mom's deep loyalty and devotion to her friends.  And how much I love her.  She amazes me with her strength of character.  She's an amazing human being.

Update: Wilson passed Wednesday morning at 3:13am.  Mom, and Wilson's minister were present, each one holding his hands.  Thank you for your kind words and prayers for Wilson and Mom.  The suffering is over, and Wilson is at rest.

Lately...

Life has been it's usual busy, get things done and meet some deadlines and have some more performance kinda thing. 

Drama Club at school presented "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde a couple of weekends ago.  I was the Prop Master for the show, so tea cups and silver tea services, journals and LOTS of cucumber sandwiches were taking up my time.  These kids ate through almost the entire show!  They were awesome and had quite an excellent theatre adjuducation from the New York state Theatre Association!

Some of my high school singers attended a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo festival this past weekend.  They did pretty well overall, and two of them received a perfect score on the pieces they performed. 

This weekend I'll be attended an all male knitting retreat just north of Albany.  I'm very excited!  I'm taking a laceknitting class, a spinning class, double knitting and a class on binding off techniques.  I think there are about 35 men going, so it should be quite a hoot!  My friend Van, who I met through menwhoknit.com will be going, so he and I can do some catching up, as well as meet lots of new people.  I know of a few guys who are going, but I'll take lots of pics and let you know who they are next week.

Yesterday I drove to Pa. to take Mom out to dinner for Mother's Day.  It was a very nice day.  It's not often we get to have time with just the two of us, so it was a nice treat.

I've started a little lace bookmark for a swap, and a mohair shawl is on the needles for some mindless knitting.  That's it for knitting at the moment. 

I hope you all are having a great start to your week!

Hey there!

Happy New year to you all out there in Blog land!  I hope the new year is being kind to you and getting back to work hasn't been too traumatic if you didn't have to work over the holidays. 

I've really got nothing new to report here, life has been very quiet for the past week or so.  The HS musical I'm directing has been cast (not without a little drama, but I guess that's what High School is all about...?), and the actors have been busy memorizing lines (hopefully), and rehearsals will start soon.  Then I will have basically no chances for a social life of any kind for a few weeks (like I had a social life to begin with.  *grin*).  But working with the kids and watching them grow as actors and singers is always a hoot, so it's worth the time spent with them.

I am taking a couple of pesrsonal days to take my Mom to NYC in a couple of weeks.  My Mom has never been to NYC, and we will actually be spending time with a couple of my brothers there.  This man, Bob DeAngelis, a professional Clarinetist from Toronto, is my oldest brother's brother-in-law.  Bob is performing a tribute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall, so we thought it was the perfect event to get Mom to NYC!  We heard Bob perform last Spring in Pa. with the Northeast Philharmonic, and it was then that we got the news that Bob will be performing at Carnegie Hall.  So, hotel rooms were reserved, tickets for the event were acquired, and we'll be staying an extra night because Mom wanted to see a Broadway show.  Chicago was the choice, and tickets are now in my grubby little hands!  Oh, and we're taking the train so we don't have to worry about driving or parking in the city.  So, we're good to go!  Mom is VERY excited, and we'll get to see a couple of my brothers and their wives! 

And if you haven't read Mel's blog, a dog named Phoebe needs  our help.  There's a link to the story and how to give if you are able.

That's it for now.  I've been pondering doing a little knitting again, but that's about as far as I got...  LOL!

Damn....

Because I like reading Lilith's blog, and since she tagged me, I'll play....

The rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. Here are my facts:

1. I'm not a big tv watcher, but I always find something on PBS, Turner Classic Movies, BBC America or Bravo that will get my interest.

2.  I have 5 siblings, all male.  I know exactly what you're thinking - "Your poor Mother!".  If I had a nickel for every time I heard that phrase.....

3.  Although all of my brothers played an instrument in high school, I am the only one who persued it as a career (in teaching), or has done anything in theatre.

4.  At last count, I have been part of 45 plays, musicals or operas, either as an actor, director, music director or backstage work: building costumes, props or sets.

5.  My favorite playwrites are Christopher Durang, Noel Coward and David Ives, and I have been fortunate to have performed in plays by each.

6.  I think LEGOS is one of the most amazing inventions.  Ever....

7.   I can't imagine  a day without laughter.  All of my close friends have amazing senses of humor, and the bloggers I read and have contact with are very clever, talented and funny.  It's not only healthy, it's the LAW...

7a.  I have seen all of Deanna Durbin's films.  Several times.  Google her - it will do you good.

There you are, my 7 things.  I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you feel like playing, go right ahead and have yourself a great time.  And stop by and see Lilith sometime.  She's a good girl, she is...  *wink*

The Weekend

This weekend was the start of a vacation from school.  A gathering of several of my brothers, my Mom and I happened Saturday night to see a concert at the Scranton Cultural Center.  The program was a Tribute to Benny Goodman, performed by Canadian musician Bob DeAngelis.  What made this event special is that Bob is the brother-in-law of my oldest brother, John and his wife Lenore (Lenore's sister Joni is married to Bob, and is his manager).  Phenominal musician!  We all went out for drinks after the concert, and had a great time together.  I'm very lucky that my family does get along and we have a lot of fun when we're together.  I've not seen Bob and Joni since my brother's wedding 19 years ago, so it was really wonderful to get to spend time with them.  Awesome people!!  Friends of John and Lenore from Pittsburgh also joined us, and there was LOTS of laughing and silliness.  Again, I'm very thankful for good friends and family.  Most of us then gathered Sunday for breakfast before everyone had to go their seperate ways for the start of a new week.

Sunday evening brought lots of snow - wet, heavy snow.  About 8" of the stuff.  Sometime during the night we lost power, phone and cable services.  Walking Lizzie this morning looked like this:

And now that the power is on, cable and phone are working normally, the news of the tragedy at Virginia Tech is all over the news.  May we keep the families and friends of those killed and wounded in our prayers.