Mom's gone... :(

Mom flew out this morning. Two full weeks spent here. I took her to Skyline Drive yesterday with John E., and we all had a good time. Mom got tired walking through the woods, and that evening, I took both Mom and John to the Giffin Tavern. It's a great little place.

I just got back from choir practice with the Washington Cappella Antiqua. I'm on reserve membership now.

But I'm tired now and it's bed time...

Thanksgiving, and the weekend with Mom

On Thanksgiving Day, Mom and I went to the M.'s house and spent the day with them. Thanksgiving dinner consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad, and green bean casserole, and dessert was pumpkin pie, apple pie, and vanilla ice cream. If Emily, my personal trainer, is reading this, then it's no secret that I ate all of them, and that they were yummy. :)

Sorry, for that. I had to say that. {big grin}

Anyway, after dinner, we chatted for a while, then walked around Frederick with part of the family, and we left about 8:00 PM.

Friday, I worked practically all day. That evening, we went to St. Augustine's and joined Michael, Sylvia, Emily, and a host of other Christendom students, alumni, and Bracy for a day-after-Thanksgiving dinner.

On Saturday, Mom and I went to Alex's house in Davidsonville and visited with the family. We stayed around until about 5:00 PM, and then made the two hour drive back. (It was at a leisurely pace.)

On Sunday, I took Mom to Mass in town. After that, I took her to Spelunker's (because you can't come to Front Royal and not go there), and from there we went to see Carmen and Barry, and Mary Jane and Hoppy, Dad's sisters and their husbands. We had a good visit with them, and dinner was, once again, excellent. We had chicken and dumplings, which was so far superior to Christendom's version that it was not even remotely funny.

Mom and I headed back to Front Royal about 8:00 PM, and we sat around with a good puzzle for a while. A while after all this, I called it a night...

Sunday

On Sunday, I took Mom into town for the Tridentine Latin Mass at 12:30, and after that, to Villa Giuseppe's. That evening, she, Lizzie and I went to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers again. I was very glad to see the final performance. It is always a lot of fun. The actors at Christendom are all very talented, and I really get a kick out of watching them...

My kudos to all the director, producer, actors and assistants in the show. Without all of you, the show would have been significantly less fun!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Friday

Mom, Sarah and I went to see this play. Aside from the relatively poor sound quality that the Front Royal High School offers, the production itself was really good. The actors were quiet animated, and they made the show really fun. I laughed so hard during some of the scenes.

My intention is to go back on Sunday for the final performance. I hope that I can...

Dinner

Mom and I went to dinner this evening at the C.'s house, parent's of the J. family in TX. We had a good time discussing life, politics and religion -- two of which every etiquette book in the world says should not be discussed. I don't see why not. It's very enlightening, and it's honestly fun...

Mom's here!

Mom flew in today to visit me! She flew in from TX on American Airlines, courtesy of Soma. She'll be here for two weeks!

She went with me back to work and then to choir practice. Following this, I drove her to Front Royal, where she will be staying through her visit. I hope that it is well for her!

Sick weekend

This weekend was busy as all heck. First and foremost, I had a meeting on Saturday morning. Marc from Oklahoma flew in for it. The meeting was basically all about where the team and the company was going. I felt horrible doing this, and I didn't just give up, but I was so tired that I kept falling asleep in the meeting -- even though I overslept that morning and was late for it anyway!

That evening was the Tepeyac Family Center's gala dinner, to which Christine and I went. It wasn't a bad dinner, nor was it a bad cause. I'm just not used to spending that much money for a small meal, an auction, and listening to people tell me what a wonderful gift life is and how there is always another choice instead of abortion. Admittedly, though, the stories were getting though my icy heart...

Sunday was the second Sunday of the month, so I had triple choir duty. Josh drove me in to Christendom that morning, so I rode in with him. After Christendom's 10:00 AM Mass, I stuck around for the Select Choir practice, and then rode in to Old St. Mary's, where the Select Chorus was singing at the 5:00 PM Solemn High Mass. I sang both with the Select Chorus as well as the Schola. Following this, the choir went to Amphora's for the choir dinner.

The next morning, I rode in to work with Ken, and that was the end of the weekend...

Weekend stories

This weekend was fun. Saturday morning, I went and practiced with the Washington Capella Antiqua. I think I'm beginning to get these pieces. They are very difficult, but I think that the increased difficulty is only helping tone my music sense...

After that, I went to the gym for a while and did my body weight workout. I was surprised that I was able to do it all, because last weekend, I certainly didn't feel like it.

I went to Holy Transfiguration for Vespers and sang there again. I'm beginning to get the hang of Eastern Chant. It's fun, and it's not that hard, but I'm still learning it.

I then went to work for a couple hours. I promised Michael C. that I would be come to Christendom for Sylvia's birthday singing, so I left work at about 10:40 PM, making it there just after the "Happy Birthday" was sung. Fortunately, that means that it had just started.

Sunday morning, Mass was quite easy. There was a new piece by Dr. P., and it wasn't too hard, all things considered, but I'd never seen it before, and I needed to make sure that it sounded good, so I didn't sing that loud for it.

The Tridentine Latin Mass at St. John's was fine. It was a standard Mass for the schola: Missa de Angelis (Mass VIII), the Propers, and a couple hymns. Following this, the Select Chorus (Palestrina Choir?) had its practice, and then I went to go help Josh.

Josh was on the outskirts of town, providing rides for the ladies going to Leslie's bridal shower. The bridal shower was being held at Jen's house (the maid of honor), and she lives near the top of a mountain. Great view, but heck on brakes. Anyway, I arrived there shortly before the party let out, so Josh and I chatted for a while. We discussed some details regarding his bachelor party and the wedding, and then it was time to ascend the mountain. I followed him in the Sentra up the hill, and we ferried the first group down. We went back up for the second group, but they weren't quite ready to go, so Josh and I went inside for a few minutes.

The house, although small, was very nice and cozy. It was pretty sweet. :) I think the house style is called an A-Frame? I'm not sure...

Anyway, after that, I took Lizzie B. to dinner, and we just talked for a while. 'Twas fun. We went to the Griffin Tavern, and I realized that I had a new favorite place to eat. :)

After dropping her off, I went and chatted with Sarah H. and Jonathan D. for a while. I drove home, and got there about 10:30 PM.