Rehearsal

We all slogged our way through horendous weather to the Center Theater in Long Beach to rehearse the opera "Good Soldier Schweik". Here is General Manager and conductor Andreas Mitisek conducting as if he didn't have a care in the world. In fact, the ceiling of the company's administrative offices caved in during the torrential downpour this afternoon causing severe damage and taking out the box office running at peak capacity 3 days before opening night. You would never know it by looking at him. Andreas defines grace under pressure. Rock on!

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Tornado Warning

A tornado has been spotted off the coast. We in Signal Hill are being told to take shelter.

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UPDATE: The storm blew over to the northeast. The scariest moment came when the pressure changed so dramatically that my ears popped. We're on high ground and fine now.

California Adventure

Bob and I ran into friend David wearing his colorful Mickey's Playhouse costume at Disney's California Adventure this afternoon.

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Sony Pocket Reader

"Highest Duty" by Chesley B. Sullenberger on the Sony Pocket Reader

I have been hankering after a Kindle for a couple of years. The price tag, however, kept me from acting on the hankering. Still, I was firmly set on someday acquiring a Kindle.

That changed when I discovered that the Kindle could not download ebooks borrowed from the library.

I am a big library fan. I LOVE books! I just can't afford to purchase them. The library feeds my hunger for new reading material.

When I learned that the Sony Pocket Reader could download library ebooks, I sat up and took notice. Although both the Kindle and the Sony can download free public domain books, the Sony Reader was the only one of the two that could supply me with large amounts of current books FOR FREE.

That sealed the deal for me. My mother-in-law's generous Christmas gift made it possible for me to indulge in the luxury of the Pocket Reader. Purchased from Costco.com, the price included an AC power adapter AND a leather book cover.

Downloading books from Project Gutenburg and the library is painless and blazingly fast. I've powered through several books already, and find the reading experience pleasing and comfortable.

Kindle, you had me at hello, but the Sony Pocket Reader is the one that delivered the goods.

Holidays 2009 - Batting A Thousand

As you saw from a previous post, I was down for the count on Thanksgiving Day. I was eager to head north again for Christmas, reveling in the fact that I felt well and looking forward to getting in all the partying I missed at Thanksgiving.

What could go wrong?

I will say that Christmas Eve was lovely. I felt especially fine and enjoyed the company and massive amounts of delicious food immensely.

Christmas Day started at 2am for me in our hotel room. No, I wasn't hyped up wondering what Santa had left for me. I was, how shall I say, stricken with an exceptionally violent case of stomach flu.

The next 24 hours were spent in a misery of extreme nausea with attendant body aches, headache, and other, um, other interesting manifestations.

What were the chances?

By the next day I could drink Gatorade and smell food without wishing for death. I spent the afternoon at my sister's, prone on the couch, hiding under blankets until our late afternoon departure.

I'll admit to a few tears of frustration and self pity as we pulled out of their driveway. I missed Thanksgiving AND Christmas. BOO HOO. Poor me.

It was almost a week before I could stand up for more than a few minutes without getting dizzy. No matter. I had a delicious stash of books to read. Who needs to stand for that!

New Year's Eve arrived and I was feeling pretty good. Bob went out and rounded up some delicious treats, and we spent a quiet evening at home enjoying each other's company.

The new decade dawned warm and bright here in Southern California. And guess what! I felt FINE!!!!

I'm putting the ills of the old year behind me and embracing the fresh promises of a fine New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!!

Wheel Chair Birthday

Thanksgiving didn't exist for me last week as I lay prone in a hotel bed trying not to oink.

Today is my birthday and I didn't want to yield completely to infirmity. I've been fever free since Saturday and am not coughing or running out the nose. I did develop a new symptom yesterday, though - Vertigo. No biggie unless you want to WALK. At Disneyland, Annual Pass Holders get a $72 gift card on the day of their birthday. I didn't want to miss that. Hence the wheel chair.

Although there is no way I can walk, the wheel chair allows me to enjoy the Disneyland experience. Here's something I've noticed: kids look me right in the eye with big smiles and (thanks to my birthday pin) wish me happy birthday. That is absolutely making my day. We should all try to be more childlike...
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Which Turkey Gave Me The Flu?

I woke up this beautiful Thanksgiving morning in Atascadero with the flu. There's no doubt that the headache, body aches, and fever over 100 degrees match the classic flu symptoms. I haven't had flu like this for years. A flu shot was on my to do list, but I've spent the last two months with a cold then a mild bronchial thing. It didn't seem wise to get a flu shot. Now I won't need one. Think of all the money I'm saving. One of the benefits of flu is loss of appetite. I won't feel at all sorry for myself as the rest of the family digs into the feast later today. All in all things are pretty great. I've never had the flu in a hotel room in Atascadero before and I love new experiences. I've got a stack of books, a loving family praying for me, and Jesus in my heart. It doesn't get any better than that!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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