by Judy Handley | Dec 9, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 343: Ollie’s Holiday Jazz Performance, Mingle and Mix
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Warm; High 50, Low 45 F; Sunset 4:13 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Fun and fun. This afternoon I attended Ollie’s jazz group holiday performance in Mashpee Commons. There are four members of the jazz group playing drums, trumpet, trombone, and Ollie playing saxophone. The instructor plays the keyboard.
It was fun hearing jazz arrangements of traditional holiday songs. I especially enjoyed listening to Ollie confidently play his solo parts. The Commons was in full holiday mode, so it was a great beginning to an evening with more fun.
I left the performance a couple of minutes early so I could get to the Encore Mingle & Mix on time. Each person or couple brings an appetizer, or a dessert and tonight’s food was over the top.
Jane Woodin was very proud of her baked brie
and Ellen Albanese brought a delicious gluten-free almond cake with sweetened sour cream and raspberries. It was to die for.
I especially appreciate the small group Mingle & Mix gatherings as you learn so many interesting things during conversations.
Donna Shaw was our ‘hostess with the mostess’. Thank you, Donna.
It was a great evening.
by Judy Handley | Dec 8, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 342: Happy Birthday to Jed
Date: Friday, December 8, 2023
Weather: Sunny and a Tad Warmer; High 42, Low 31 F; Sunset 4:13 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I was up at 6 am to get to the hospital for a 6:40 am MRI. I don’t have any results yet and I hit a dead end in getting it send to my primary care. The hospital and my neurosurgeon do not use the same MyChart system and they couldn’t figure out how to get it to my PCP. We’ll continue that struggle on Monday morning.
This afternoon after school Ollie and Jonah came over to complete getting the garland and lights on my very long front rail fence.
They did a wonderful job and finished in the dark, but when we plugged in the lights, one part of one 300 light strand didn’t work. It was disappointing as they had worked so hard and hoped to be done. We celebrated anyway, but they will have to replace that complete strand tomorrow.
It was wonderful to see brothers working together to get the job done.
Heather got home around 5:30 pm, sleep deprived, but still with the energy to share things about her trip to Dubai. Yesterday was a tourist day and members of the Woodwell team got a chance to ride a camel and learn to wrap I keffiyeh or shemagh around their heads.
Heather bought one of the scarves used for wrapping the head and tried it out on the boys.
The keffiyeh is primarily used as headwear and can be secured with an agal or black cord. The shemagh can be used for various purposes, including as a neck scarf or face cover in addition to being a headdress. Based on that definition, I would say she has a shemagh.
Jed fried the latkes for dinner, and they were the best I have ever had.
We also had smoked salmon to go with the latkes and salad. The candles were lit for the third day of Chanukah,
we toasted, and we feasted. Jed opened his presents, the big present from Heather and the boys being a smoker to add another dimension to outdoor cooking.
Then we had the cake. Sam fashioned a candle out of the burned down candles in the menorah and place it atop the yule log from the French bakery, a Bûche De Noël.
Happy Birthday, Jed!
by Judy Handley | Dec 7, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 341: Happy Hanukah, Hanukkah, Chanukah
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and Cold; High 32, Low 28 F; Sunset 4:13 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Some say there are as many as 28 ways to spell Hanukkah, with Chanukah being the most traditional and Hanukkah being the most common. I have always used Hanukah because it is easier to type. But I will go with Chanukah as I like most traditional. However you spell it and however you observe it, Happy Chanukah. Jed and the boys had matzo ball soup tonight, but will wait until tomorrow night when Heather is home to have latkes. I will celebrate with them tomorrow night.
Jed came to walk Shadow this morning (Thank you, Jed) and then I was off for my annual physical exam. The meeting with my primary care is best summarized with his statement, “Whatever other issues you have will have to wait. This tsunami has to be dealt with first.” The tsunami referring to all of the issues I am having with the back nerve pain. I have my MRI at 6:40 am tomorrow and Dr. Ahmed will take it from there. After he reads the MRI results, he will talk with my neurosurgeon to try and get an appointment as soon as possible. I am so thankful for Dr. Ahmed. He always takes a situation and goes with it, and I was scolded for not contacting him sooner. I guess I thought I needed to go through the specialist, but from now on I’ll go to Dr. Ahmed first. He prescribed Prednisone along with the Lyrica I am already taking, but no more Celebrex. For a person who has taken very few medications in her life, all of these drugs are a little overwhelming. But if Prednisone can get me walking again, it will be worth it. Time will tell.
Karen Baranowski dropped by to pick something up around noon and we had tea and talked and talked and talked. This evening I picked Ollie up from tennis and took him to jazz group practice. They perform on Saturday afternoon in Mashpee Commons. I will be able to for about an hour and then I am off to an Encore Mingle & Mix. That’s about it for today. Heather comes home from Dubai tomorrow and it is Jed’s birthday. So, lots of celebrating tomorrow evening.
by Judy Handley | Dec 6, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 340: Long Day, Short Log
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Weather: Sprinkles of Snow; High 35, Low 25 F; Sunset 4:13 pm (-1 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
This was a long day, so it is going to be a short log. Encore Holiday Luncheon, Health and Wellness Group meeting, late afternoon and evening with the Goldpebbles as Jed had an event at WHOI. Just got home and have had so much back pain today that I am just going to get the ice pack out of the freezer and head to bed!
by Judy Handley | Dec 5, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 339: Goldpebbles Decorate My Christmas Tree
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Weather: More Clouds Than Sun, Colder; High 44, Low 32 F; Sunset 4:14 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Late this afternoon, Jed dropped off Sam, Jonah, and Ollie to decorate my Christmas tree.
But, first things first, we had to have hot chocolate. Then I sent Sam out to wrap garland around the rail fence on the front of the property and Jonah put lights on the beautiful Christmas wreath that hangs on the front of the house. Ollie helped Sam. And then finally, we came inside to decorate the tree. They did a fantastic job.
Jed arrived and after the tree was decorated, he and Ollie were exploring my Jackie Lawson Advent Calendar and loving playing the games, which were challenging.
It was a great late afternoon decorating party. And Sam promised to come back and finish putting the garland and then lights on the front fence. He couldn’t finish because I didn’t buy enough. I’ll take care of that tomorrow.
It was fun hearing jazz arrangements of traditional holiday songs. I especially enjoyed listening to Ollie confidently play his solo parts. The Commons was in full holiday mode, so it was a great beginning to an evening with more fun.
Jane Woodin was very proud of her baked brie
and Ellen Albanese brought a delicious gluten-free almond cake with sweetened sour cream and raspberries. It was to die for.
I especially appreciate the small group Mingle & Mix gatherings as you learn so many interesting things during conversations.
Donna Shaw was our ‘hostess with the mostess’. Thank you, Donna.
It was a great evening. 
