Holiday Weekend

I thought we were done with Christmas parties/events, but this last weekend proved that false.

Friday, Carolyn and Wanda rode the train up to LA (a little late after their 9:45 a.m. train derailed before reaching Irvine) to meet with Lisa and Katie for an afternoon of window shopping and conversation before Katie's choir performance at Crescenta Valley High. I then left work at 5 p.m. and drove over to Montrose and met them at Lisa's condo before we all drove over for the performance. I was utterly amazed that a public high school sang and played so many Christian hymns! They had a full orchestra and three separate choirs on the stage singing various Christmas themed music. For the finale, alumni including Lisa and Carolyn, were invited on stage to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the retired choir director. I think Carolyn, standing in front of the young men, sang every part! But they both had a great time.

Then we drove through the holiday lighted Montrose and stopped at a BBQ place for a late dinner of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Then, after dropping Lisa and Katie off and picking up Wanda's new artificial "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, we drove home and Wanda slept over.

Saturday was spent sweeping up the leaves in the yard that continue to fall - alas, when will the horror finally end? It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the high 70s and it called out to those of you living in colder climes. Then we readied ourselves for a evening at the Orange County Pops Symphony with front row tickets made available from Lewis Company.

Again, songs filled the air proclaiming the incarnation of the Savior with only a short section devoted to Hannukah and, thankfully, nothing to Kwanza. At one point, the conductor asked for volunteers and, of course, my bride was one of five invited to perform with the orchestra! She played the bells (like in sleigh bells) while Rockette-kicking, doe-see-doeing and generally hamming it up with the others on a stage with only three thousand or so in the audience looking on! So now Carolyn can honestly say that she has performed as a featured instrumentalist with the OC Orchestra!

Sunday, we drove down to pick up Wanda for Church, but found she was just too tired to make it. So we made our way down and enjoyed the sermon and Pastor Mike's teaching by ourselves. Then I dropped Carolyn off at the Hawley's for an afternoon baby shower while I drove home to do a few chores and watch some football. Carolyn got a lot of good ideas for 'future' baby showers. Our evening finished up with sharing a dinner from Biagios and catching a TV show or two before jumping into the spa for about two minutes (it was tooooooo hot) before calling it a weekend and a night.