Not Your Neighbor's Black Friday

A more recent 'tradition' in our house has been the stringing of popcorn for the Christmas tree. In previous years we've begun this task shortly after Thanksgiving.

This year is shaping up to be no different. While many Americans scurry helter skelter hither and yon for best buys, the Chicagoland Rudorf's cozy up to Miracle on 34th Street (in glorious black and white, of course) and string popcorn.

I. Stringing Popcorn



II. Sharon the Popcorn Lady

Thanksgiving

Slept late: 7 a.m.

Cold, frosty but brilliant morning.

A bit of a disagreement with Arianna about which was more important: accompanying me to Mass or watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I lost.

As has been 'the tradition' since we returned to Chicagoland, Linda and Michael had the family to dinner at thier house in Lake in the Hills. Michael prepared a wonderful dinner.

After dinner, Sharon presented Grandpa with a certificate of appreciation for the number of things he's helped out with around the house. Arianna drew up the certificate Wednesday night.

I. Sharon explains and then reads Grandpa's Certificate of Appreciation




II. Arianna hugs Grandpa

III. Aunt Myra and Uncle Lester read Grandpa's Certificate of Appreciation

Later, when the dishes were washed, some of us played a few hands of Uno. Both Arianna and Grandpa enjoy Uno a lot.

IV. Playing Uno

Tommy, Huck, and Fred Gone Missing

Today we carried the 'Big House' down to the basement. With temperatures near 30, it's doubtful Arianna will be playing in the sunroom any time soon. Unfortunately, as is often the case on 'moving day' things can get misplaced. This was the case this afternoon. Arianna and I were all set to put things aright in the 'Big House' when we discovered that Tommy, Huck, and Fred were missing.

After a half-hearted attempt to locate the missing lads, Arianna gave up.

So what to do? Left alone amid the ruin of the 'Big House', I decided to resume work on my photo albums.

In contrast to Arianna, who became distraught at having misplaced her little friends, I was happily surprise by how quickly I was able to locate Arianna's First Communion photos.

Back to School

Today Arianna returned to school. The antibiotics she's been taking since Sunday impacted the fever she'd been running.

ER

Arianna's recurring fever resulted in our spending most of the day at St. Joe's. We arrived around Noon, took care of the administrative business, and waited. After an hour, Arianna and Sharon were ushered into an examination room. I didn't anticipate a long examination, so I didn't question Sharon's suggestion to 'mind the coats'.

As I waited, the ER began to fill. An emotionally disheveled family arrived; a man in his 40's consoling his Mother fought back tears. His Dad, transported to the ER by ambulance . . . . A heart-attack . . . a stroke?

As the Packers piled on the Bears, the man whose young, children had become restless seemed incapable of anything other than apologizing to his son for the long wait. Although he watched the TV, I sensed he was wondering how he'd ever manage if the results of his wife's tests indicated something life threatening.

A young boy in a wheel chair was examined by a nurse.

More family members arrived . . . they embrace, wipe away tears, pace.

Eventually a nurse calls my name -- it's 3 o'clock -- and I join Sharon and Arianna in an examination room. Arianna is in tears. I offer her my handkerchief and blood runs from her nose. The nurse was a bit too assertive in taking a culture.

After Arianna calms down, we play hang man while waiting for the fruit juice to stimulate her bladder.

A nurse confirms that she hasn't got the flu and that she hasn't got strep -- what her friend Bridget was diagnosed with.

Arianna and Sharon go to the rest room to collect a sample.

The family whose patriarch was run over to St. Joe's in an ambulance is next door in a physican's consultation room. The doctor -- loud, boisterous -- goes into the room and asks if the folks inside are the family.

Arianna and Sharon return from the rest room: no luck. Hang man: a five letter word.

Next door hospital employees come and go. Every time the door opens I catch bits of conversation.

Arianna and Sharon go the rest room to collect a sample.

It's a heart-attack. Not life threatening. More tests are required to determine the severity of the blockage.

Arianna and Sharon return to the examination room with a sample. We wait for the nurse to return and retrieve the sample so the analysis can be done.

Shortly after the nurse retrieves the sample a technician arrives. So thick is her accent that we have to ask her to repeat herself three times until we understand that she has to take a blood sample. Arianna becomes anxious. We explain that it will be quick; 'just a pin prick', we say. But, naturally, Arianna cries when blood is drawn from her finger.

A Physician's Assistant arrives on the scene: bladder infection. 'Will Arianna swallow tablets?'

Shortly after 4 o'clock we emerge from the examination room, perscription in hand.

What a day.

Parent - Teacher Meetings

Grey, rainy, 50's.

Due to Parent - Teacher conferences, Arianna had only half day of classes today.

After lunch her friend Peyton J. came by for a play date. Peyton is Arianna's best friend. But, due to Peyton's folks' decision to home school this year, Arianna does not get to see her on a daily basis.

It sounds like they had a nice afternoon. They helped Sharon bake scones and later they had a tea party.

After supper Sharon, Arianna, and I went to St. Catherine's and met with Mrs. Norman. This was the first time I met Mrs. Norman, who -- even after an 11 hour day -- was animated and articulate.

Since we just received Arianna's first report card for the year, Sharon and I were not too surprised by Mrs. Norman's summary of Arianna's performance and behavior. She is doing extraordinarily well. Arianna reads at the 6th grade level. He math skills are at the 4th grade level.

Math remains a challenge for Arianna and we've been asked to drill her so that she becomes more confident.

What astonishes me is the Iowa Basic Test results: Arianna is in the 99 percentile of third graders across the United States.

I don't think Arianna really understands what this means, nor what it means to be at a 6th grade reading level. And, I'm glad. I don't want Arianna 'to peak' in 3rd grade. And I certainly don't want Arianna to grow complacent.

She may be savvy with the English language -- and why wouldn't she be, being an only child surrounded by oldsters who prefer books to television? -- but she is not an especially motivated student. Homework still results in fits of tears -- especially math homework. So, while I have no complaints whatsoever about her performance, and, in fact, am very proud of her; we -- Sharon, Grandpa, and I -- still need to incite her to adopting a postive attitude about learning.

It'll come.

As an aside, while sitting at the table with Sharon, Arianna, and Mrs. Norman, I drifted back to Guardian Angels. It's a bit unsettling being a child in the presence of adults, who are talking about you.

I cannot recall my Father ever accompanying my Mom to G.A. on Parent - Teacher Night. Of course, now that I think about it, the fact that my Father was not Catholic may have had something to do with it. Although more than likely his being hard of hearing was probably a bigger cause for his staying away.

My hope is that I'm able to keep Arianna in St. Catherine's. I cannot bear the thought of her attending the area's public schools.

Hard Frost

Cold morning. Hard frost.

Yesterday was Sharon's birthday. Although I had suggested we go out for pizza - or Italian - everybody else preferred to remain comfortable and stay at home. So, we ordered a pizza, played Operation, and then watched an old movie -- Topper.

A quiet but happy evening.

Surprise!

Yesterday, Arianna, Bruno, and I succeeded in throwing Sharon a surprise birthday party.

I. Sharon - Guest of Honor



Although not all the invited guests were able to attend, the family and friends who braved the cold and traffic enjoyed wishing Sharon a happy 50th birthday.

II. Familie Falloon - Julie and Bill





III. Warren and Kristi, Bill and Julie, Aunt Myra and Uncle Lester



Logistics dictated that we arrange a get together away from the house. The idea to rent a room at a Chinatown restaurant came after a lot of hemming and hawing. I chose a restaurant we'd planned to eat at last year on Sharon's birthday, but were unable to locate -- due to the fact that Tony's web site was out of date and he'd closed the Palatine store. Not one to hold a grudge, I decided to venture into the city this year.

Preparations had been ongoing for at least 6 weeks. Since I'd planned to invite family from out of state I knew they'd need sufficient time to plan. Much to my surprise both Sharon's brother's family and my Mom and my sister, Marikay, and her son, Ben drove in from Iowa and Michigan, respectively.

IV. Mom and Marikay




V. Ben (Marikay's son) and Alana (Kilarski)





VI. Bruce and his son, Alex



Due to horrendous traffic our trip into town took us longer than anticipated. Then, where my directions indicated I was supposed to merge onto Emerald Avenue, I ended up back on the Dan Ryan expressway. Silence fell on the back seat of the car. Our game of 20 Questions was cut short.

I told Arianna not to worry -- we had a compass; we couldn't get lost. And, within 15 minutes we were in front of the restaurant.

Since it was cold, I decided that Sharon, Bruno, and Arianna should go into the restaurant while I parked the car. Who knew they wouldn't wait for me. So, by the time I'd gotten back . . . everybody'd already yelled surprise!

I missed the 'big moment'.

No worries.

It was a fine evening spent laughing, eating, and enjoying everybody's company.


VII. Sharon's cousin Barb and her husband Gregg




VIII. Uncle Lester and Warren, Kristi's beau




IX. Watching . . .




X. Waiting . . .




XI. Laurie cuts (more) cake! While Bruno enjoys a slice.




XII. And the kids enjoy a slice (Jane, Arianna, Alana).




XIII. Uncle Lester and Linda (What? No photo of Michael?)

End of Season Rituals

Warm and partly sunny.

A surprise breakfast this morning: French Toast - prepared by Arianna.

I. Cracks eggs




II. Letting me know that we're outta eggs!




III. Beating the eggs!



Then some this and that around the house . . . .

Changed out the last of the storm windows. This ol' house has antiquated double-hung windows that require me to physically remove the screen and replace it with a storm window. Although I'd have preferred to leave the last screen on in Sharon's and my bedroom, I know the weather'll turn and don't want to have to do this in a cold rain (or snow).

Afterward gathered up a pile of leaves in the swale at the west edge of the property. And who should show up? Arianna! We're working on three years straight now: I pile up the leaves and she jumps in 'em!

Great fun.

A few frames of video and a photo of two.

IV. Arianna's autumn fun




V. Arianna's autumn fun




###

Saturday was overcast but calm; warm -- mid 60's. After Mass (All Saints Day), I got right outside and attended to business: Cut down the peonies, cut down the remainder of the day lillies, took down the swing and stored it in the attic (above the garage), took down Grandpa's glider and stored it in the attic, drained the hoses and put them into the garage, moved the picnic table under the protection of the eaves, and mulched the leaves.

VI. Frost felled peonies




VII. Last gasp for the unnamed Dutch flowers




VIII. Rudbeckia peeks out from behind Monarda




IX. Spiderwort covers Geranium




X. Geranium with Bishop's Weed



The last was a good five hours of my day. Twice in the front yard, twice in the back yard. In the front I bagged and dispersed the chopped leaves in a number of flower beds.

Since I'm walking the yard, by day's ends my feet hurt and my legs were tired. But in that hour, as the sun fell below the horizon and the geese soared overhead, the turn of the year is palpable. I look out across our 'Three Quarter Acre Wood' at the wavering Golden Rod and the Big Blue Stem and I'm thankful for having been blessed with the good fortune of being able to cultivate this corner of earth.

XI. Sugar Maple