Dance like it's 1799

Last Saturday night Bobbie, Sarah and I went to an English country dance in the manner of Jane Austen. This photo should look familiar as these are the same dresses they wore for last spring's Netherfield Ball. (Click here for a refresher.)

The crowd came mainly from the North Hills, but some people drove nearly two hours down from the Meadville, PA area. These English country dances started at Grove City College about an hour north of Pittsburgh. They have become so popular that the organizers are starting satellite events to reduce the crowds in Grove City.

Due to vague directions, we arrived about 20 minutes late, but joined in right away. We all enjoyed the dance. While Bobbie and I danced together for most of the time, I had trouble dancing with Sarah. She was fairly popular and seemed to already be taken most of the time.

We already have the second annual Netherfield Ball scheduled for this spring. In the meantime here is some video to show how it works. (Please note that as with most dances the girls outnumber the boys, so some doubling up always seem to happen.)

The Big Game

Since last night everyone around here has been talking about a big football game.

Well in case you didn't notice, the Steelers won the Super Bowl last night. They really take football seriously around in these parts and here is an illustration.

This is a screen shot of the post game coverage on the local ABC affiliate. They had their main news anchors there grabbing players as they went by. Note the crawl at the bottom of the screen for schools who were calling a two hour delay. Now there was no snow storm, or other weather related reason. The simple reason is that the Steelers won the Super Bowl late the night before.

As Rod Serling used to say, "Submitted for your approval."

Our snowy driveway

Here's Bobbie shoveling our driveway. It's a 25 yard uphill dogleg right. Note the evergreen rough on the left side of the fairway. Like most houses in our area, we have a tuck under garage in the back. It fits the hilly terrain quite well.

But if there is a single flake of snow on the driveway you will loose traction as soon as you turn the wheels going uphill. Indeed it was quite embarrassing when I got stuck in my own driveway during our first winter in this house 15 years and several snow shovels ago.

There are two solutions to this challenge. First, shovel the driveway again and again. Instead, this winter I have parked my car at the top of the driveway and wait until it stops snowing. You see, it is cloudy most of the time here. So we get a little bit of snow in the air most everyday.

(Don't think Bobbie was shoveling alone. I had the pleasure of clearing the apron next to the garages.)

What happened next...

Once we got everything working again at home, it was off to the big event. Here's some of John's buddies making some cornbread to go with that chili. Thankfully the guys made some milder chili, and plenty of it for the crowd of 20.

Everyone was very kind about the chili. They mixed in some sour cream as a buffer or tried both the mild and hot together.

In the end we went home with an empty pot after having a great time.

That's a $200 pot of chili...

Yes, there it is, the pot of chili that cost me $200.

This past Saturday we had our winter boy's club event in which the boys cooked dinner for their families. They made chili, and corn muffins at the Doyle's while the other families brought salad and dessert. John and I volunteered to bring a "pot of red" that might have a little more zing than the chili the boys were making.

Chili tastes better the next day, so I made ours Friday evening. We followed a recipe that sounded pretty good and I selected because I thought we had the ingredients. Foolish me.

The precise power behind the recipe was a tablespoon of cumin, four tablespoons of mild chili powder, and four of hot chili powder. (Might I add that I love my wife and am proud of her culinary skills including how she stocks our pantry.) Indeed it appeared that we had all the proper spices until Bobbie came in and saw them.

"How much of this did you put in?" she asked while pointing to what I thought was the hot chili powder.

"Three tablespoons. I wasn't sure about the recipe and wanted to adjust the seasoning."

"Oh no! I only use that chili powder to keep the deer away from the roses in the garden! I think it's mismarked cayenne."

At this point the chili tasted like the deer would indeed stay away from it, as well as any sane person.

"You can't serve this tomorrow night unless we do something." So I did something. Because I had not yet added anything else, I drained the meat which removed the fat as well as some of the heat. Later we added a quart of homemade tomato sauce and some peanut butter. Both added depth to the flavors making the chili more than edible. (Even later I had a bowl as a midnight snack.)

Now, what to do with the drainage. Addled by the spiciness, I dumped it down the sink.

In 70 degree weather I might have gotten away with it, but at zero, forget it.

Saturday morning my cell phone rang while taking the kids to ballet.

"Did you notice water backing up in the basement before you left?"

"No. Is it now?"

"Yes, it is. I will call the plumber. Do you have his number?"

"Of course I don't."

Our new plumber arrived at 2 PM as we were the third in line Saturday. Bill for services rendered- $200.

- 30 -

Girl Scout Cookie Time

Did I mention that Janine and Sarah are selling Girl Scout cookies? Well they is and they can mail them to you if you would like to buy some. Just click on the comments line below or send me an email. Everyone needs some Thin Mints!

Janine has been energized to sell. We wants to go out tonight in the snow storm because we were out last Friday while it was lightly snowing. You see that was when the selling officially began and she wanted to get to the neighbors before her friend Samantha down the street.

I never want to discourage her in her selling efforts so I walk from house to house with her but let her do the talking. (Not to complain, but I wish they would choose a more agreeable time of year to sell cookies.)

Sarah by contrast has been working her network at Saltworks play rehearsals. She has a Harry Potter event this Sunday afternoon. I will remind her to take along her order form at that time.

(Update, 1/21/09- Blog readers still need to make their voices heard and sweet teeth satisfied! Click on the comment line to order now.)

At the barre

Tonight we were supposed to have the first night back at ballet class, but the snow intervened. While we haven't had a problem getting around today, apparently others are stuck in traffic or worse.

Here's Janine from the last class before Christmas during which we had a "parent's observation." The other parents got to sit in on the class to get an idea where their money is going...check that...their daughter's progress.

Every class starts with time at the barre. Janine was paying attention, but the music stopped at this point.

Both John and Janine are in the Saturday morning class. The studio owner's Christmas gift to this class was music provided by a live pianist. Donna is an accompanist at the nationally acclaimed dance studios at Point Park University. While Donna is great, the piano is not. So we have to put up with a few out of tune notes and an occasionally buzzing sound board. But it's worth it to listen to Donna play.

First Field Trip of the new year

Yesterday we all went on a field trip to the small art museum next to the Frick Mansion in the Point Breeze section of the city. There is an exhibit of high Renaissance drawings there from Michaelanglo and the like. For more click here.

Bobbie and I enjoyed straining our eyes at nearly 100 relatively small chalk, pencil and pen and ink study drawings. In order to preserve the works, the room is fairly dark, so I spent most of the afternoon with my nose next to the glass. The kids did not strain their eyes at all. But they pooped out by the first room retiring to the benches in the foyer. (In all fairness, Janine was coming off a New Year's sleepover.)

Afterward, we went to our favorite grocery store pictured here. The place was packed so this was the best photo I could get of the sign other then directly under it.

We bought many of our favorites there including their house blend coffee and goat milk yogurt. (We can't get a Trader Joe's favorite here: Charles Shaw wine, aka, Two Buck Chuck. Alas, it's great to live in a bastion of socialism with state run liquor stores.)

Interestingly, one of our other favorite food stores is Aldi which is owned by the same company. The locations are small. The stores are set for maximum efficiency with far fewer SKUs (items) than conventional grocery stores. Most everything is private label. In other words, much like Trader Joe's but carrying more basic items. No goat milk yogurt for example.

We even found some of the cereals were similar, except for this one from the "Things that make you go hmmm" department.

Christmas Morning

Even if Christmas was last week, this year was one of the best ever for us, full of joy and time with each other (in the right measure).

Sarah got things started with some improvised hair decoration from her first gift. It's funny how things get started as traditions. Every year Nana puts a bow on top of her head, but this year Sarah beat her to it. The kids are the arbitors of these traditions as they should be. The best Christmas morning gift giving is full of child-like wonder and anticipation. (Ideally this anticipation should reflect that of ancient Israel's anticipation of the Messiah, but that's another post.)

Our other Christmas morning tradition is below: homemade scones fresh from the oven.

Santa came to the circle...

...early last week. Here he presents a gift to Janine. John and Sarah got ones too.

Santa's visit to the circle dates back to when the houses were first built over 30 years ago. In fact some of the moms and dads were among the first to participate in this event when it first started. A family one street over started the event. Another family took it over a few years ago to keep the tradition running.

This year we had a new Santa. As you can see from the lower photo, Santa comes in a firetruck. The volunteer fireman who has been Santa for many years is now retired. I was told that he really wanted to be Santa again this year, but the cold has slowed him down. So now we have a younger and more robust Santa.

It was a good call because it was only 10 degrees when he arrived and thankfully no snow falling this year.

Christmas Meditation

The message of Good News...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:9-14)

...Later

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:45-49)

The purpose of Christmas doesn't end the next day. You can only understand Christmas in the context of Easter. Jesus' death for our sins and his resurrection on the third day is victory over sin and death. When we accept Him we share in that victory.

We have posted the above on Christmas Eve for the past three years. For an even longer view click here to go to a Wall Street Journal editorial that has run every Christmas Eve since 1949. Still none can compare to the longevity and significance of the story behind it.

Christmas Ballet

Here's Janine at last week's parent's observation day at the ballet studio. She was very proud to wear a real tutu. Being a head taller thant the rest of her class, she was not able to wear the same costume as the other girls. So I guess this was part of the source of her pride.

(My goodness! Pardon me for a moment. My youngest is growing up and I am so pleased and proud of her.)

O Tannenbaum? "That'll be 27 bucks pal."

On an appropriately snowy late afternoon this past Friday we bought our Christmas tree at our favorite stand. As you can see from the photo, you need not ask the price because they are all $27, even the brown ones without any needles.

But ours is better than that. In fact we bought the first one the guy showed us. He brought it over from the far end of the small lot, assured us that it was a prestigious Fraser Fir and that was that. In less than two minutes he bailed it in plastic netting and placed in the back of our van. It was a much better experience than last year when they were burning some scraps, got impatient and careless with the kerosene and nearly immolated the entire lot.

After a night in a bucket of water, I put up the tree on Saturday. We allowed it to settle overnight then decorated it yesterday. It is still a work in progress and probably will be until it is on the curb waiting for the township to grind it up for mulch.

Two years ago we bought our tree at a nearby garden center. It was probably the nicest tree we have ever had, but it also was $70. For that amount of money I expect them to not only deliver it, but to check in every night to make sure it has enough water! After that, we like our $27 trees very much thank you.

Light Up Night

This past Friday evening we went down to downtown Sewickley for light up night. The main intersection of Broad and Beaver Streets was closed to cars and all the stores were open late.

As you can see from the look on Sarah's face, it was cold. About 20 degrees to be exact. The Starbucks across the street from this photo was packed! I later realized that the kids have not yet learned how to deal with the cold. Sarah though she would be warm enough with a pea coat on top of a cotton scoop neck shirt. John had the right idea with a hoodie, but he also did not have enough underneath. Janine was in good shape except for the fact that she has out grown her favorite shirt which is now too short. Bobbie was wise with a heavy coat and scarf over a sweater.

I liked it a lot because it reminded me of Minnesota. Crisp, cold, full of the attitude that we won't let the cold keep us down. Heck, we used to walk to the Nordeast White Castle from the U of M campus in January! Of course there was the promise of sliders... On second thought, Sewickley this past Friday was perhaps a bit classier.

Wizard Rock!

Here's John with some new friends at a Wizard Rock concert last week.

For the uninitiated, Wizard Rock is a new music genre devoted to fans of Harry Potter. Some clever and creative musicians have written songs about the characters and stories in the Harry Potter book series. While most of the melodies are original, they are also familiar. Some remind me of Elvis Costello and others of Buddy Holly; not bad company to be in.

Most concerts are in libraries or bookstores. This one was an exception because it was at a coffee house. There was even a cover charge. John got his hand stamped for the first time! (See bottom photo.)

I took both John and Sarah to the concert, but sat with only John. I knew that Sarah wanted to network with the other fans and didn't need Dad to help her. But she was great to check in with me every so often, and be ready to go after the concert.

John sat with me at the beginning, but then got up to dance with the kids pictured above. They were the youngest in the crowd, so they stuck together. These kids were there with their mother, with whom I spoke for a few minutes. We both agreed that the great thing was to see them trying their independence but also to be there in the same room as an anchor.