saw Mama several times over the month. she definitely has good days and some really bad days. it's distressing for me, but I know me being there is good for her, so I just "buck up buttercup" and keep on going.
shows we've seen: Joyce and I got tickets to see a Broadway touring production of If/Then with the amazing Idina Menzel! I used the train and rapid transit to get to the City where I met up with Joyce for dinner and the show. fun times together! I also got to see our theatre's production of Evita, which was a clever and different telling of the traditional musical. my season ticket at Tabard was for Death Takes a Holiday, which is a relatively new musical I've never seen before! what wonderful music!
I had a business trip to Phoenix the week before Thanksgiving. the best part of the trip - besides meeting so many people I work with remotely, and many new people who are recent additions to the company - is that during the "social" times after the business meetings we had karaoke! you know I was there!! and on the final day of meetings, it was announced to my 550 or so division team mates that I had won a prize for being a teambuilding inspiration to everyone, because of my enthusiastic performances at karaoke. this was the second time I've won something for singing! the prize this time was a smartwatch that will keep track of my fitness and sleep.
no sooner did I return on a flight from Phoenix, Joyce and I hopped a flight to LA for a short trip to Disneyland to finally celebrate our birthday together!
then Joyce headed to snow country to spend Thanksgiving with her Aunt and cousins. the night before Thanksgiving, to treat myself, I attended another Paint Nite activity, this time painting a picture solo (it's the same company as the Eiffel painting last month). the instructor was so impressed with my effort, he asked me, under his breath, "are you an artist?" yes, I was definitely flattered by the compliment. Especially since this is not an art medium I've done regularly. Needles and thread or yarn are more my style.
spent Thanksgiving afternoon with Mama, and had dinner with her at the "home." I'm grateful that I still am able to see her. Joyce and I learned while we were in LA that my uncle in Oregon had passed away. he was 89-1/2, and they had been married for 64 years - they beat my grandparents' record of 63 years.
