Exhausted - From Singing All Day

Well, Friday the Bogmeister sang in Saxonburg at the Library outside. It was cold and snowy, but the group went over very well. I wasn't with them because I had a Rotary banquet with Dee. However, they then came as part of the entertainment for the night at the banquet. I got to sing with them there, and we went over very well.

Here are some pictures of our "Tour de Butler" today when we sang in 7 assisted living and nursing homes. If you haven't seen my real Santa hat, (Santa is going down the chimney) then here it is. The second picture is of our "Sharp Edge" quartet at the Mars Youth Home where we started at 8:30 AM and then went to 6 other places and got back home by 4:30 PM. A LONG day, but we saw lots of smiles and heard lots of applause.

We brought a lot of happiness to people. I think they were surprised at how well we sounded. We were on our game, but as the day wore on and our voices wore out, it got harder and harder to sing. Our "show" is about 35 minutes long and then there is the MC who has a few jokes and introduces the music selections. We were all done in after it was all over. We didn't stop. And we probably put a hundred miles on the cars (we carpooled) so there was absolutely no "down time". At one point, one of the cars didn't make it to the Sunnyview Home (they got delayed) and so we had to go with what we had. (It is always import to have all four parts represented.) I was the only bass at that point. So I had to carry my part. It went well and the guys thought I did well. But I sure was glad to see the other 3 basses at the next place again.

It was good to get home. The shower felt awesome! Dee and I chilled and worked on the puzzle and relaxed. I have to get up early on Sunday and go to the early service as well as the 11 AM service. I'm singing with the quartet from church at church. Then, Monday night is our program for "friends and family" when I'll bring my mother to hear our concert. That's what we've been practicing for. Today was like one LONG practice is preparation for Monday night.

A Cold Day but a "Hot Tub"

Yesterday I did some reading from the book Visiting in An Age of Mission, by Ken Callahan. I thought it might be helpful as I begin this process of volunteering as "Minister of Visitation" at our church. The book has a lot of good insights not only about methods of contacting people but also about 9 different categories of people that you might visit (like first-timers, occasionals,inactives and others.) I was surprised to read that visiting "first-timers" is the easiest and visiting "inactives" is the hardest of the nine to visit. And of course I've been asked to visit the "inactives".

The author says the "inactives" really are not inactive. He says they're active, nonetheless, trying to find community, meaning and belonging in other parts of their lives. He also said that most people who become inactive, do so gradually and not because they leave in a huff. They miss a couple of Sundays and no one seems to care they weren't there and they just gradually drift away. He also talks alot about the biblical mandate to visit and to care. I've appreciated his perspective on the task at hand. So, I've got my work cut out for me.

Yesterday I practiced some of my barbershop music and also the Qchord. (I have a cartridge that has Christmas songs on it and thought I'd get reacquainted with it.) I also did some things around the house and had a nice talk with my mother about picking her up on Monday for the "show" and about the possibility of her going to Philly to be with my sisters for Christmas.

Later I stopped in to see Dee at her work, and then stopped at Best Buy to check out an external CD/DVD burner for my desktop computer. When I bought this one, it was near the bottom of the line and doesn't have a burner.

I also stopped at Barnes and Nobel to peruse some books and found one titled Who Speaks for the Muslims? Since I know very little about Islam and what they believe, I thought I'd look it over. It's a book about what actual Muslims believe and value, rather than a history of the religion. It's the result of a Gallup World Survey of tens of thousands of Muslims from 35 countries. I found it fascinating. For instance the survey revealed that only about 7% of Muslims are from Arab countries. I revealed how the average Muslim is a person of prayer, highly values family and believe that their religion is a very important part of their daily life. (Like 95% vs. about 57% of Americans who value their religious beliefs.)

Since it was a cold snowy day, I went back home. After Dee arrived, lit the fireplace, wrapped some Christmas gifts, listened to some Christmas music and made some finishing adjustments to her village on top of the fireplace. Also, we continued working on the new puzzle we started the day before. It's a winter scene by Jane Wooster Scott (there were four puzzles in the box - one for each of the four seasons of the year.)

Then, we decided to enjoy the hot tub... Amazing - I pushed the inch of snow or so off the deck and steps with a squeegee blade, turned on the rope lights for ambiance. It was strange having snow land on your bare back as you stepped up into the hot tub. There was no breeze to cool you off even though it was 32 degrees out. The hot water was soothing and with the jets doing their thing, it was really nice. Looking out over the homes behind ours, they looked like the little village on our fireplace. Lights on the street in front of the homes, a soft coating of show on the roofs, grass and street and steam rising from the hot tub. Kind of idyllic and very relaxing.

Caroling with Rotary

Yesterday Dee went to Contours to workout and then shopping while I went to my Rotary meeting. After Rotary about a dozen of us went to three Nursing/ Assisted Living Homes to sing Christmas Carols to them. One of our guys dressed up as Santa. I'd not gone with them on this before so I stayed in the background at the first place.

However, it became evident that they needed a little "organizing" so that we at least looked like we knew what we were doing. So that asked me to find the first note of each of the songs and to select the ones they'd sing. It was all off the cuff, but it went well. I had some fun introducing the songs and our group. I directed some of the songs and got the people to sing with us. I even had them do a little choreography (swaying to "We Three Kings") along the way. We had fun and the people seemed to appreciate our coming. One of the guys took his two doberman pincers along (They were trained as therapy dogs I think, and so they fit right in with bells and all.)

When I finally got home, Dee had already returned. We chilled out in the afternoon and began working on a new jigsaw puzzle together. (It's always fun to see how long it takes to build one - 500 pieces.) Then after dinner I had to go to the church for "quartet" practice. We'll be singing at both services this Sunday. We'll do "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" a cappella style. I pretty much have the words and notes memorized and feel confident I can do my part well. I think some folks from the church are going to our Bogmeister "show" on Monday night. That'll be nice.

I sure do like the music of the season. Our bird feeder has been busy with titmouse, white-breasted nuthatches as well as the downy and hairy woodpeckers. The gold finches have their winter coats as do the purple finches. Occasionally I scare a squirrel away from the feeder. He tries to get the split nuts in it, but isn't very successful because of the nature of the feeder and it's inaccessibility.

Another Surprise Sighting at Barnes and Nobel and 57 Degrees Whew!

Yesterday, I picked up Earl C. and we went to the men's Bible study at the church. We have a good time learning about the flow of the Old Testament history and visiting with the other men. There were 7 of us there yesterday. Earl really enjoys being able to share his thoughts about life and living in the world today with the guys. We all do. It's low key and relaxing. The brief video provides good input and a launching place for discussion. When I got home, Dee went to Contours to workout, and then when she came home, we decided to go to Waterfront Mall. We'd not been there and many years, and we had a PF Chang's gift card that we wanted to use. Surprisingly, getting there was a breeze - no traffic whatsoever.

After lunch, we strolled the stores. I was looking for a burgundy v-neck sweater so we went in some of the clothing stores. The first three we went in to had the music blaring so loud, that we took a quick look and got outa there. Unbelievable. While Dee went in someo of the stores, I sat on the benches and watched the shoppers and enjoyed the very mild weather and the Christmas music playing outside along the streets.

Eventually we found Filene's Basement. Lots of nice stuff there. I did find a pair of dress gloves for the winter that were nice. By the time we finished there the holiday lights were turned on in the mall and it was beautiful. I figured that we'd hit the rush hour traffic, so we went into Barnes and Nobel for a coffee frappachino. While we sat there a woman walked by us, Dee thought she looked like an old friend and called her name. As it turns out it was Cindy R. An old neighbor from Blackridge. Dee used to babysit her daughter for several years while we were there and Kerri was good friends with her sons. So, for the next half hour we reminisced and got caught up on what's been happening for the past 13 years! Awesome.

I continue to be amazed at how often we are connecting with old friends and renewing our friendships. This has been a good month for doing that.

As we headed home (about 28 miles) we noticed the traffic was all going in the opposite direction. We virtually sailed into downtown, then out I279 North and arrived back on Mars in no time. The GPS was very helpful as we initially left the parking lot and got onto the Homestead Hgh Level Bridge heading in the right direction. Dee was able to talk with Kerri on the phone and all is going well there. A Great Day! God is good.

A Cold Cold Day

Sunday we went to try out Sunday school classes again and then stayed for worship. We sat with the Campbells and had a nice chat with them after church. We were able to visit with other folks too, as it seems they are getting to know us some. Lots going on and very festive. They don't decorate like Seaview does, but the decorations they do have look very nice.

We went to the Freedom Square Diner for lunch and while we were there two people we know from church came in toward the end of our meal. Nice to connect with them again. They are among the first people we met and she is in Dee's women's SS class.

We went home (it was really cold outside) and hung out till the Steeler game! Go Steelers! It was a good game and they beat the Cowboys. After that we watched a movie and then a new show was on called "Leverage" - a kind of "high-tech" Robinhood plot.

I did hear from my former church. They met with a candidate for the pastorate there and liked him enough to call him to be their next full-time pastor. He'll start in March.

Where's Waldo?

Yesterday, while Dee was at work, I drove to the Air Base and led the protestant worship service for the 171st Air Refueling Wing. That's the fourth time. Their chaplain will be back for the January drill. It was good to connect again with the folks there. Interestingly the chaplain team I worked with are all still there after 13 years, although one person became full time and works in another office.

Afterward, I drove in the snow up to the Bogmeister's gig at the Butler Country Club. We were "carolers" and stood in the hallway singing as guests came into the building and checked their coats. They kept coming by and every once in a while people would applaud. After it was all over, a couple of the staff said "awesome". We did sound good, and the people were within 10-15 feet from us, so they got a good dose of holiday music. LOTS OF FUN! Here's a photo of the group that sang last night. See if you can find Waldo.

Since neither Dee nor I had eaten much all day, I picked up Dee after the singing gig and we went to Smokey Bones for a nice steak dinner (coupon for ten dollars off, and then got another five dollars off because we got their "Scrooge card". Great meal, and reasonable price. At home we watched the Hallmark channel's "The Christmas Choir". Good stuff.