It's about a week later than normal...

...but Thanksgiving was about a week earlier than most years? I know it's no excuse, but I'm finally decorating for Christmas today. I had to take a day off work to even find the time to get it done...

(Yes, I'll use just about any excuse to take a day off work!)

Christmas May Start Now

It's official: A Charlie Brown Christmas is airing on TV tonight. Charlie Brown Christmas is the best cartoon, ever (the original, of course; the new one is dreadful).

Brass Ears

After attending an orchestra rehearsal last night where there were 6 trumpet players alone, I started wondering: How much of my hearing has been blasted away over the years by orchestral brass sections? (If not brass, then percussion - I've had that person who plays the big gong stand behind me a time or two...)

It always gets me in the mood for Christmas to go play some great music with an orchestra as we prepare for church or a Christmas concert (or in last night's case, the church Christmas concert).

It's two days after Thanksgiving: Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet?

If not, maybe you're like me and avoid the malls and stores like the plague the day and weekend after Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I skipped the 5K Turkey Trot this morning that I was supposed to do. Because it's cold. And, also involves running. Instead, I'll be going straight to the stuffing this afternoon at the parental units' house, for which and whom I'm extremely grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Old...ish.

I went out for coffee this morning with my very first piano student who is in town for Thanksgiving. I started teaching this girl piano lessons 12 years ago - when she was nine years old. It's hard to believe she's all grown up, getting ready to graduate from college in Iowa, looking at grad schools and in a serious relationship, and her younger sister (to whom I also taught piano lessons) is the proud mommy of an infant. Where did the time go?! I feel old...ish. Not really old, but like these young children (I tell you, they're still babies!) around me cannot seriously be as old as they are.

To Read or Not To Read

Rarely am I actually interested in anything the National Endowment for the Arts comes out with. But today the NEA is releasing a study on reading in America. The findings and statistics are scary. Americans are reading less, and what they do read, less well, and these declines have civic, social and economic implications. I have previously mentioned that the state of reading in this country is quite sad, and I frequently wonder what it will take to turn back the tides. And I don't necessarily think that another program is going to solve this problem: it seems to go deeper than that.

Skol, Vikings!

Cotton Candy at the Metrodome is Tradition

Skol, Vikings!

OK, so as soon as we sat down at the Metrodome yesterday, I told Emily it was going to be a long game. About thirty seconds later, the Vikes scored their first touchdown of the game, and I told her it would still be a long game. The highlight, of course, was when Daunte got sacked in the endzone and got called for intentional grounding - woohooo! Safety! Justice was served. No, I'm not bitter. I disliked Daunte even when he was here. I would've loved to see Adrian Peterson run in person, but Chester Taylor did a good job with the ball yesterday. All in all, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (I mean, I love the Vikes, but they're having an awful season), and we had fun.

I didn't realize Vikings had so many horns.

Half-Time

The Kick was Good.

Fall Updates

1. I rowed a total of 760 miles on the Mississippi River this summer.

2. I finished the last of the candy corn on November 14th, making for a two-month binge. I also discovered Jelly Belly candy corn this year, which is the best, by far.
3. In the last year and a half, this blog has had 10,000 visitors. I'd give the 10,000th visitor a prize, but I don't know who you are and I have nothing to give you. Except my warmest personal regards. So there you go: to the 10,000th visitor, my warmest personal regards.

4. I have made it/am making it to 3 of 4 major sports team events this year. Twins, Wild, Vikes. No Timberwolves. Why would I bother when I know no one on the team, the two I had an inkling of are injured, and KG is in Boston?

Hello, Salmon.

What on earth possessed a parent in the 1800s to name his child Salmon?

Every once in a while I'm struck by the oddity of a person's name, and then wonder what his parents were thinking. People I know today have names their hippie parents gave them. Apparently fish were a big deal back then to Mr. and Mrs. Chase.

Apparently Salmon himself was a bigger deal back then, too - he has his picture on the U.S. $10,000 bill. He held multiple positions in government - including Secretary of the Treasury and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Toothpaste for Dinner Sudoku Ultimate Challenge

www.toothpastefordinner.com

Bow Ball: Casino Row-all 007

Me, Emily, Will, Amanda and Joel

The Minnesota Boat Club's annual fundraiser gala was on Saturday night. This year's theme was Casino Row-all to go with the usual silent and live auctions, eating and talking, laughing and dancing. It's fun to see all the rowers wear something other than river-smelling spandex workout clothes. It's also hilarious to see some of the older club members let loose and dance. Almost everyone gets really dressed up, and it's a blast. The choker I'm wearing in the pictures was my grandmother's, and I haven't worn it once since I inherited it from her 12 years ago. I was waiting for the perfect occasion (i.e., the right dress). Here are a few pics from our evening.

Emily and me

Anna, Emily, Kim and me