Weekend Coffee Share

Tags

glass fusion jewelry, grant, hobbies

If we were having coffee, I’d ask you how you liked the spring snow we had last night and today. I thought it was beautiful and since it’s not too cold out, welcome. Today I taught and had fun watching the kids play in the snow during recess.

I went to a jewelry making class at the library early in the week. We learned to make glass fusion jewelry. I made 5 pendants. Watch this space for photos of them, which should be done. The teacher took them to her workshop to fire them in her kiln. It was a delight to work with this ad how community to design jewelry and learn a new craft. Unfortunately, I don’t know how I’d continue this craft on my own as I don’t have a kiln. Because the class is so popular, people can only take it once. What a shame.

I’ve made headway with a grant I’m writing with two friends for alumni of State Department programs. Our topic is women and democracy and is geared for refugees in the Chicago area. The deadline is next Wednesday. We also want to submit a second proposal. The others on the team have been busy so they haven’t been able to spend time thinking and working on this.

Tonight I went to dinner with a friend and then we went to see Once. It was my second time and I could go back again. It’s that good.

Last Sunday I hosted some friends for a conversational salon, a fancy way to say I had people over for tea and other drinks and some sweet and savory snacks.

Seussical

Saturday I went to Seussical at the Special Gifts Theater, which is an afterschool program for teens and adults with developmental challenges. Give them a chance to put on a musical and experience putting on a show.

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Weekly Coffee Share

Tags

musical, my week, Once, reading, Spiral, Treasure Hunt Deals

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that as usual spring is coming in fits and starts. One day it’s 59° the next it’s 30°. That’s the reality of how seasons changes, which is perfectly fine.

I’d tell you about a new shopping experience. My friend Ruth took me to Treasure Hunt. This store sells items that were returned to Amazon.com. On Fridays all items are $8, Saturday they’re $6, Sunday $4, Monday $3, Tuesday $2, and Wednesday $1. We went on Wednesday.

I didn’t intend to buy anything but after going through numerous bins of assorted goods, I wound up with a bottle of vitamins, wrapping paper, a set of utensils for canning, a bag of pistachios.

It’s an unusual shopping experience. I wouldn’t go often and you never know what they’ll have (though phone cases, holiday decorations and face masks are a safe bet) but it is a fun experience in a weird way.

I finished reading Everday Sisu, an average book on the Finnish concept of resilience and watching season 8 of the French police series Engrenages a.k.a. Spiral. (Skip Everyday Sisu. It’d make a better magazine article).

Finally, I’d mention that today I must go to training for early voting judges. I hope it doesn’t take too long because it’s supposed to snow a lot this afternoon. I don’t want to get caught in a snowstorm.

Weekend Coffee Share

Tags

books, Chicago, drama, Theater, Theater Week

If we were having coffee this week, I’d like one with a design on top.

I’d tell you that it was a holiday week as Monday we had Presidents’ Day off. That meant I got to go to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s orchid show. It was just glorious, an absolute must-see if you’re in the area.

Mardi Gras

For Mardi Gras I went to my sister-in-law’s for dinner. We had Danish pancakes called aebleskiver. The Dane’s pancakes are round not flat. I had no idea.

Chicago Theater Week

This week participating theaters slash prices to $15 or $30; some even let people name the price.

Wednesday I caught the Lookingglass Theater’s Villette, based on a Charlotte Brontë novel that was recently discovered. I’m not a big Brontë fan. None of the sisters’ books is a big favorite of mine, but I did like this play.

Villette is a town where the play’s heroine, Lucy Snowe has no family or fortune to support her. She decides to take a ship to France to see if she can get better prospects. On board she meets a flibbertigibbet named convinces Lucy to give Villette, the town this debutante is headed for school, a try.

Villette does offer work and success to Lucy, but it the house where her school is located is haunted. The romantically skeptical Lucy does become enamored of her godmother’s son, whom she discovers happens to live there. The school’s aloof headmistress and her brother, a popular, yet professor provide the conflict any good play contains.

The best thing about Villette was the staging, which consisted of two sets of Japanese style doors across the stage. All these doors had old style handwriting and patterns in sepia tones which conveyed the era. The furnishings were moved around easily and deftly to create atmosphere.

In this play Lucy talks a lot. It seems like she talked half the time. I allow for this as it was based on a novel. Still more dialog and less monologue would be an improvement.

This was the first play I’d been to since the lockdown of 2020. It felt wonderful to resume playgoing.

This afternoon my aunt, sister-in-law and I went to lunch at a new favorite Greek restaurant before going to Once at the Writers Theater. Once blew me away. I’ll see it again next month. The Writers Theater let us name our price for tickets.

Reading

I’m reading The Adventures of Caleb Williams, which is an enthralling story about power and tyranny. Published in 1794, Caleb is a country boy goes into service for the wealthy , influential Mr. Falkland. Though everyone believes Mr. Falkland is the epitome of generosity and kindness. When Caleb discovers Falkland’s secret, not only does he learn of Falkland’s despicable acts, Falkland seeks to torture Caleb and keep him in his power.

I’m also reading a book about sisu, a Finnish concept that helps us use resilience to strengthen our character and alleviate our stress. Swimming in a cold lake in January is an example of sisu.

Weekend Coffee Share

Tags

hygge, reading, sitcom, teaching, Television

If we were meeting for coffee, I’d bring some gingerbread cookies. I think they’re best in the cold of winter. They lift my mood on these gloomy days we’ve had. The magic of hygge.

I’d tell you that I had lunch with my aunt on MLK Day. We talked and talked and I was surprised that it was already 3pm when we finished. My uncle died in December so I want to see my aunt whenever I can.

I taught three days this week. Two were delightful. One was in a first grade and the other in fourth. Both times I substituting for aides who were there for individual students, though I helped out in general so that “my” student didn’t feel hovered over. The teachers in these classes were wonderful. Today I replaced an 8th grade teacher, which was less satisfying. The junior high is huge and half the students don’t want to learn. I don’t plan on taking another junior high assignment. Even when the teacher makes it “easy,” enough students are mouthy and troublesome to make the day sour.

On Wednesday I visited Special Gifts Theater’s rehearsal. I’m on my township’s Human Services Commission and have four agencies to visit to determine if we should give them grant money. Special Gifts Theater is an afternoon program for teens and adults with special needs. It’s a theater program that puts on musicals starring people with special needs. This year the adults will do Fiddler on the Roof and the younger performers will perform Seussical. It was wonderful to see the players and peer-mentors collaborate.

I finished reading Underground Railroad for my book club. I didn’t need to rush. I hate when I’m running late for our meeting. I’m disappointed that we’re doing it via Zoom instead of in person, but c’est la vie. I’m also reading a Nancy Drew book for old time’s sake.

I also finished The Red and the Black. The end of the book moves a lot faster than the first part and answered my question “Why did Stendhal include both the affairs with Madame de Rênal and Matilde, by the end I saw the necessity.

I’m continuing to love the BBC show Upstart Crow, a sitcom about William Shakespeare. A hero sure isn’t adored at home. The running theme is how his parents, wife, daughter and servants don’t think Will’s a big deal as a writer.

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