Various things of an update-like nature, some sad
--I'm trying (not very hard, but I am) to understand contract bridge, in preparation for the family reunion/vacation in Northern California in June. When we had these vacations yearly at the Monterrey Dunes Colony in the mid to late '90s, more or less nightly bridge games were the norm. But somehow I never learned the in and outs of the game. Now that I can drink with the adults, not being able to join in this semi-family tradition just seems silly. Um. Three spade no trump?
--School board budget drama continues to affect my old elementary school. It may have to share a principal with a neighboring school, and the layoff schedule being based on seniority means that the teacher whose classroom my mom volunteers in is next, because she has the fewest years at the school, unless (although it's no guarantee) my kindergarten teacher retires. (She taught all three of my brothers, too, starting with the oldest thirty-two years ago.)
--A long time friend of our family, who was very active in our neighborhood and city, died a few days ago. She was the godmother of one of my brothers, and she was only 71.
--The riper tangelos higher up on the heretofore unpruned tangelo tree yielded one decent marinade and one very nice glass of chilled sweet juice. Now the wait for the next batch. Meanwhile, the lemons have conspired to ripen all at once. I can haz lemon recipes?
--I watched a few episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8 yesterday. Don't ask how I started, I don't remember. The kids are really cute, Kate's on the borderline between conscientious, obsessive mom and neurotic, and I like Jon.
--My high school alumnae newsletter came, featuring the school's side of the expansion vs. historical homes controversy. No word on whether they're going forward with either construction or legal action, just jubilation that the school is now no longer in violation of any city ordinances for maintaining an enrollment of approximately 100 girls over what the city had previously allowed. Which they had been doing since before I attended.
--School board budget drama continues to affect my old elementary school. It may have to share a principal with a neighboring school, and the layoff schedule being based on seniority means that the teacher whose classroom my mom volunteers in is next, because she has the fewest years at the school, unless (although it's no guarantee) my kindergarten teacher retires. (She taught all three of my brothers, too, starting with the oldest thirty-two years ago.)
--A long time friend of our family, who was very active in our neighborhood and city, died a few days ago. She was the godmother of one of my brothers, and she was only 71.
--The riper tangelos higher up on the heretofore unpruned tangelo tree yielded one decent marinade and one very nice glass of chilled sweet juice. Now the wait for the next batch. Meanwhile, the lemons have conspired to ripen all at once. I can haz lemon recipes?
--I watched a few episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8 yesterday. Don't ask how I started, I don't remember. The kids are really cute, Kate's on the borderline between conscientious, obsessive mom and neurotic, and I like Jon.
--My high school alumnae newsletter came, featuring the school's side of the expansion vs. historical homes controversy. No word on whether they're going forward with either construction or legal action, just jubilation that the school is now no longer in violation of any city ordinances for maintaining an enrollment of approximately 100 girls over what the city had previously allowed. Which they had been doing since before I attended.