Conversation Club Chatter

At first I wasn’t too happy about spending New Year’s Eve with my In-laws. Our friends that we usually go with are going to be with family. Well this dinner has ballooned so Matt, Bobby and their girlfriends will also be with us and we are all going to Hollyhock at 4:30 PM. That way The boys can be with their friends closer to midnight and I’m looking forward to being alone with Elliott, for a change, at midnight. I have now seen four movies in the last week and I liked all four! On Christmas I saw Marley and Me which I enjoyed but it’s a tear jerker. Everybody in the theater was crying! Saturday I saw Doubt ( it’s a dark and intense movie but terrific acting) which I enjoyed but didn’t leave with a warm holiday feeling. Then I saw Yes Man and even though it was silly I definitely liked it and left with a good feeling. Last night I saw Milk. I enjoyed the acting the story and I learned a lot about Harvey Milk. I finally finished and really enjoyed the book Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. It’s for my book club and the first book I’ve enjoyed ( that I had to read for book club) in a long time. What are all of you doing for New Years? We will be with Neil and Dora on New Year’s Day instead of New Years’ Eve

I will be playing bridge and relaxing. Shana arrives on Friday so we stay busy until then.

With the bad weather we are slow, at Pike, but we still have peoplecoming in to use the computer. We are getting a few reference phone calls but not many patrons. This morning we did have a few patrons come for movies. I was supposed to go to a Pacer game, tonight, but I’m going slide home and stay there, after work, until Bobby comes home tonight and the two of us goes to Munster tomorrow. Carol, I wonder if I’ll have stories like you with this icey weather. I enjoy your stories. I know I have some bad weather stories but I can’t think of any right now. Happy Holidays to All and to All be safe Driving and flying wherever you go this holiday season.

Kate, what a neat story - do you keep in touch with those friends? Where was the diner?

Then there was the time that baby Caitlin (my sister and husband adopted daughter) was due to arrive from Korea on Christmas Eve 1983. The plane got delayed in Seattle and was rescheduled to arrive on Christmas Day instead. That was a true blessing, because on the 23rd and 24th was one whopper blizzard in Minnesota and no one was going anywhere, much less the 2 hour trip to the airport in the cities. My sister and husband were actually snowed in at their neighbor’s farm, not being able to continue driving even the 1/4 mile ahead to their place, so that’s where they spent Christmas Eve!! The next day the roads were plowed just enough to drive to the airport (I have pictures of the snowdrifts at the sides of the road, twice as high as a car) and we all (Judi and Gene, my folks, my younger sister and husband, my brother & wife and 2 little boys, and Steve and I and boys) ended up going! We got there just in time for the plane and I will never forget it - we were at the gate but the big windows were so frosted over and it was still so swirling with snow that we couldn’t see a thing until the host mother came literally running up the entry way from the plane, straight toward Judi and Gene and in one swift motion it seemed like she thrust Caitlin into their arms! It was such a neat Christmas story (other babies arrived on that flight too) that there was a news team covering it and we were all on the 6 o’clock news Christmas night. So, it was a very, very memorable Christmas. Oh, I remember one more thing. It was soooo cold yet (way below zero) that when we went to get our car in the airport parking garage it wouldn’t start and we had to beg a jump from the security guys!! The next day on the 26th we finally were all together at my folks, and celebrated the birth of Christ, along with the long awaited arrival of baby Caitlin. Sweet, sweet memory.

I saw Raquel sitting in her car while Felicia ran inside to the library. I hopped in and was talking with her. She will have a full house for Christmas … all her kids plus the 2 grandkids. I gave her the date of the next CC

Dave and I went “with” Sue to the JCC. We spent an an hour and a half just using the machines. It feels good to use machines for a change from free weights. Thank you Sue.

I onl;y have two more days of my seven days straight! Today was Head Start. I loved all the hugs I got ( even one of the teachers has been hugging me!) Friday I have to get my packing and gift shopping done before Matt and Jen pick me up at 4:00. That”s when we leave for Munster. We will be with my parents Friday night and Nancy’s family on Sunday. I’m excited about a three day weekend, working two days and then another four days off. I get three days off for New Years eve, Day and the second. Jen will be back here for New Year’s Eve. That’s the only time Bobby and Matt will be together. They are gonig out, with Rachel and Jen for New Year’s eve. We will be with Elliott’s parents and his sister ( Yeah.) . Neil and Dora, who we usually go out with, for New Years, have plans with Dora’s Brother and his wife. I better get some sleep. I hope all of you have a great weekend and holidays.

Thanks, Carol, for the recipe–everyone really liked it. We played the parlor game, “How’s Yours” and then Wits and
Wagers. Both were big hits and there was much laughter, joy and goodwill.

Sue,
I will try to sum up last night. I’m sure the ladies will add if I forgot something. Maureen, Carol, Kate and Barb came to CC. I served Reisling wine and showed everyone a pretty crystal bracelet I bought from the Columbus Winter Fair. I mentioned my friend, Mary Ann,( who Judy and I stayed with in Columbus) travels around and gives talks about saints. She has twenty boxes of saint statutes. Kate showed pictures of Titius and the family. She also brought the folder about the Breast Reconstruction folder.Maureen talked about, Cancer, Breast reconstruction andher upcoming surgery, in January. I talked about the excitement in the Pike Men’s room and more info about Jen and Matt, and Bobby and Rachel. I also mentioned I’m going with Jen and Matt to Munster and two days later going back to Munster with Bobby, to have two Chanukah celebrations. Kate brought magazines to share with us. Kate was making slippers for Titus and Parker. Carol was making doll afgans for Delaney and Ella. When Carol and Maureen left Barb talked about her job and her boys. I think that covers it but ladies feel free to add what I missed. Elliott turned on the fireplace for us. How was your evening??

This came from the wife of Steve’s boss (from his days in the lab at the U of Minnesota - and here at Lilly for awhile - we both moved down here from Minneapolis for Lilly) who served it at a Christmas party they had at their home - I always thought it was very festive as well as delicious.

Wine and Wild Rice Casserole

1 pkg of long grain and wild rice mix (6 oz)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 T butter
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup dry white wine (that would be like a chardonney)
1/2 tsp curry powder
2 cups torn/cubed chicken or turkey
1/2 c. snipped parsley to garnish

Prepare rice mix according to directions. Meanwhile in saucepan cook onion and celery in butter till tender. Blend in soup, sour cream, wine and curry. Stir in chicken and cooked rice and put in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 for 35 - 40 minutes. Stir before serving, garnish with parsley.

I don’t remember how many this serves, probably 6 - 8 people if you are having an assortment of side dishes. I think I may also have used more chicken/turkey than the 2 cups.

I have the wine chilling. I’m gonig to Trader Joes, after work, for desert! I’m off Thursday and I think I’ll skip Riley so I can relax, get something done in the house and then maybe a movie. I’m still tired from the weekend and after tomorrow off I work seven days in a row (including Sat. and Sunday). More news tonight. Sue, sorry you can’t come. I’ll post what happens sionce we don’t have a note taker.

I have two clicks left on a five pass that expires on 12/20. It is free to anyone who would use them. I did miscellaneous shopping with Kara yesterday. I was so worn out from walking that I fell asleep on my sofa during a football game. Could someone take notes Wednesday so I don’t miss any important news? Bill’s group of card buddies are having their annual Christmas bash so I won’t be at CC.

My love and knowledge of movies really paid off today. A young girl and her Dad came into the library. She asked the librarian next to me if we had a movie about shoes. Lygia tried movies keyword but it wasn’t enough information. It took me a few minutes but I almost imediately thought of the movie “In Her Shoes” and the girl said “Yeh!” I asked if it was also a book and she again said “Yeh” It’s so nice that all my book reading and movie watching is so useful in my job!! I’m excited about going to a couple of literacy and story telling workshops. One is at the Greenwood Public Library ( in Feb.)and the other is at the Trafalgar Library (in April). When we go to these workshops we get LEU’s. We need a total of 50 LEUs a year, for 5 years to be certified. Carol, I don’t know about you but I wasn’t thrilled with the latest James Bond movie. It had too much violence. Kitzi and I were not as happy with the story line like we were with Australia. I know it’s mainly an action movie but a strong plot, I think, helps any movie. All of you have a good weekend. I can’t wait to go to Columbus, Ohio tomorrow. I leave about 2:00.

Do you believe I took my car in, yesterday, to get the bumper fixed, and Churchbrothers called today. The car is ready so I’m picking it up tomorrow before work. Did I tell you I’m going, with Judy, to Columbus, Ohio, Friday. We are staying with my friend MaryAnn ( she has five bedrooms and no sons at home). We are going to a Winter Fair in Columbus. Hopefully I’ll have a piece of Art or Jewelery to show you next Wednesday. Did I show you the Old McDonald finger puppets I got from the Art Fair in Kentucky?