Max and Esme

A home improvement project led to Peter and I solving a mystery this weekend...  When Esme went off to college in August 2023 she left behind 100 notes and small rubber ducks for us to find. While we eventually found all 100 ducks over the coming weeks (months?), we were short one note. On Saturday, we replaced a section of wall in the hallway that had screened vents cut into it. (Don't ask why. We lived with the oddity for 20+ years, but hey, sometimes it's finally time to fix it!) After we cut away the wall we found two rubber balls that were probably pushed through by a Girard toddler many years ago, and this sticky note which had fallen through more recently.  I happen to know that Esme does know how to do her own laundry. But finding this so many months later was a wonderful way to start the day!

Spending a couple of days in Rodman after taking Esme back to St. Lawrence. Mom and Dad have two deer that spend a significant amount of their day (and night) nibbling on the bushes around the house. They come right up to the windows - often getting between the hedge and the house itself. They are skittish if you move quickly, but in general they don't mind the presence of people just a few feet away behind a pane of glass. 

Our Advent Calendar tradition was inspired by the Gilmores. Each year we write two notes of appreciation for each member of the family. Esme prepared hers before she went back to school after Thanksgiving break. Those of us living in Rye didn't get our submissions completed until she came home again for Christmas break! We read them aloud on Chrismas Eve. The fir tree design is Esme's - cut outs from magazine photos. The origami lotus flowers are Max's. Peter and I were less creative, but no less sincere. 

Esme and I saw Romeo + Juliet on Broadway over Thanksgiving break. Yes, the lighting was very red. Amazing and unique production with Kit Conner and Rachel Zegler - high energy, small (and young) cast with actors playing multiple roles, crazy use of the space (in the round, with actors using the aisles and even the catwalks overhead.) Was fantastic to see so many young people go to the theater to see Shakespeare! 

 A slightly delayed post. I visited China in early October and meant to put up some pictures as previously promised. I was caught up with a brief term of gainful employment as a consultant with New York Democrats working on the NY-4 house race. Despite a staggering series of defeats on the National Stage our state campaign was run very well  (in my unbiased opinion) and flipped three house seats to the Democrats including the district I worked in.  But alas, we could not be operating in every state. And so the election ended in (for me) bitter disappointment. So as a change of focus, here are some of the many photos I took in Shaanxi Province, October 2024.  Some of the traditional noodles of Xi'an. Large flat noodles are served with spiced potatoes, meat, and spinach along with an ample portion of chili peppers and spicy oil. They are meant to be eaten alongside raw garlic; you take a bite of the noodles and then a bite of the garlic. I love spicy food and trying ne...