75 Year Old Floors

Our house is 75 and that means it is just used. Not old in my book. I grew up in a 300 year old house so 75 is young by those standards. The original owners built our house as their retirement house, moving from Forest Hills, or the city as it was considered, to Hope Valley, or the country. They lived out their last 30 years here.

Apparently all the upstairs bedrooms were carpeted over the hardwood. It was nice to put in good wood floors and then protect them with carpeting.

Then when those original owners passed away the house was sold to a couple who lived here a year and a half before scandal drove them from town. They had ripped out all the carpeting and freshened up the wood. Not going so far as refinishing because it was all in perfect condition.

When we moved in we bought some good wool carpets that went in two of the bedrooms and they have been there for the last 33 years. Today two nice men came to take them out to go get cleaned.

Now I am left with one destroyed room as it had too much furniture and stuff in it. The guest room is fine for now. Putting the carpets back is going to be another story.

I have started the great clean out of the rabbit room, named for the wallpaper border that was put up when Carter was a baby. It has served as Russ’ home office for the last 14 years and thus the depository of anything he wanted to keep.

He is away on a business trip giving me a few days to make order out of it. We shall see how I do. At least the floors are in great shape. Not that it matters since they will get covered back up once the rugs come back.

Shay at Zoom

I do more Zooms these days than I have since the pandemic. Thanks to my lovely students in Canada, Switzerland, London, France, Spain and Monaco I sit in Living room and Shay gets the advantage of hearing me teach the same things over and over again.

I can tell that Shay likes listening to me teach because she stays snuggled on the sofa listening attentively. I am not sure if there is anything else that keeps Shay so well entertained.

Today I had a zoom with the good ladies of Caring House to discuss the logistics for the Mah Jongg Fundraiser we are doing on November 12. We have already sold three quarters of available seats. The tournament is a friendly evening get together with a chance to win prizes for winning at mah Jongg.

Shay spent the whole call on her sofa, dreaming of mah Jongg. If only she had opposable thumbs, I am certain she would be an excellent player after all these lessons.

Getting Back to Durham Life

Russ put up our new mailbox this weekend. We never found out who crashed into our old mailbox. The police did come by while we were in Maine. They thought the plastic bumper, light housing piece that was left from the crash came from a fairly new model white Toyota or Mazda. But no person ever identified themselves as the culprit. They did a lot more damage to their car than the cost of our mailbox and post.

We went to church today and were welcomed by our regular crowd in our section of church. It is always good to be with your people. Raynor came by after church to bring me some flowers as a condolence for my friend Mike who passed away. He had been on our church prayers list for the last six months when he asked me to pray for him. Wish the prayers alone had worked.

After church Russ and I went to have lunch with my Mom at Croasdaile. She was in great spirits. She only had two little computer related jobs for us to help her with which is a record since we had not seen her in six weeks.

Tonight I had an early supper with Lynn. We had a lot of catching up to do and this was the only day when we both were in town on the same day. WE had to pick a day for our Christmas lunch. It’s less than 100 days until Christmas. I need present ideas. Also saw Treat at Thai Cafe. I promised to get coffee with her!

It’s back to regular life in Durham- the busy season.

Always Hopeful for Democracy

Because Russ and I both think that this democracy is worth fighting for we wanted to see the collection of David Rubenstein’s Declaration of Independence broadsides. He has lent his collection to Durham and the Nasher Museum so that regular ‘ole Americans like us can see them.

We went to the main library in downtown Durham where the collection is on view right now. They will move to the Nasher later. Going on a Saturday morning meant the exhibit was not busy. A very nice Hispanic security guard gave us each a booklet of the constitution and took our photo infront of one of the declarations.

There were three different copies. All printed in the 1800’s to help spread the news about the declaration.

Our democracy is not a given. It takes work to make sure that we keep the rights enshrined in our constitution. I hope that everyone speaks up for what they believe in and remembers rights for you also means rights for others. Let’s not take our eye off anyone wanting to limit rights that our founding fathers fought for.

Things on a List

I had a busy calendar today. Then things changed. I woke up at six AM to take a shower before one of my London Student’s class. After the show I checked my What’s App. Turns out Amazon did not deliver her set in time for her first class. So today’s lesson was canceled. Try again tomorrow at 7AM.

I still had Shay to be groomed and as soon as she was done I was to go meet a friend to celebrate her birthday with a lunch out. The friend texted. A contractor had to move her appointment and she needed to move our lunch. So lunch got canceled

I took Shay for her grooming and thankfully that was not canceled. At least I accomplished one of the the things on my calendar.

Instead of the fun things, I got to work on my long list of “the shit I need to get done AFTER Maine.” You know that list. The back to school list, or the after summer list or the stuff you don’t want to work on so it stays on your list.

Maybe it was a good thing things got cancelled because I made headway on my list. My trusty painters were available to come by today to look at my trim and shutters I need to have painted and see what needs to be washed on the house, like the painted brick that looks a little green. I really like my painters. They do inside and outside and they are honest and hard working.

The only bad thing is we stumbled upon a fresh half a squirrel behind my house. When I told Russ about it a few hours later it was gone. What’s going on in my woods?

Then I called Fargo Hanna and talked to Micheal about coming to pick up some rugs to be cleaned. They can do it Tuesday. That was easy.

I texted Our landscape guy. “Can I talk to you about some bushes that need trimming.” “Yes”. We still haven’t talked, but he knows I need him to come by. That’s a good first step.

I sent Mah Jongg Tournament Rules to Caring House for the Tournament in November and we scheduled a call to discuss logistics. I am going to need to borrow some standard Mah Jongg sets from friends who have them. Or better yet, come and play in the Tournament and bring your set. We are about 3/4 sold out.

www.caringhouse.org

I bought my plane ticket for Houston for my classes at the Bayou Club. Know anyone who wants to learn mah Jongg or get better in Houston? There is still room, just contact me. Houston in October is fun!

I checked in on the registrations at my November Tides Inn classes and that is going great. Lots of fun people signed up, but there are still a few seats left. Resort mah Jongg is the way to learn. You are pampered while you are getting smarter and having fun.

I did the menu for the church new member dinner Russ and I are hosting next Sunday and I got people to sign up for bringing the salad, dessert and wine! That is my most pressing job and it was done in seconds. I even got the house cleaner to come and clean the house on Saturday so I won’t have to do that before that party.

I texted with my Mom about lunch this Sunday and with some friends from Atlanta about lunch next Sunday. All scheduled.

I am about to send out emails to my students from this week. That is the last pressing thing that must get done today.

The bonus thing is I also had time to talk to Carter today and get caught up. I even cooked dinner for Russ.

As far as things on my list I was planning on doing next week I got a lot of them done today. That means I can make a new list.

I Don’t Have a Photographic Memory

When I am teaching mah Jongg, my students ask me if I have a photographic memory. The reason for this repetitive question I get weekly, is that I can remember what hand every student in the room is playing and what tiles they each need. I know I can do this for up to 48 people at the same time. I haven’t tested myself on more people than that at once, so I have no idea what my upper limits are.

I promise I don’t have a photographic memory. I just have a really good mah Jongg memory. This is something anyone who plays and teaches as much mah Jongg as I do can do. It’s just that there are not many people who play and teach as much as I do.

It’s the teaching where I developed this skill. Playing helps, but not to remember what other people are doing since you don’t know what other people are doing until the games starts to unveil it’s self, and then at most, you might be able to know what four people are doing.

It’s really useful as a teacher to have this kind of muscle memory. This is one of the skills that amateur mah Jongg teachers usually don’t have and won’t develop until they have been doing it years.

Being able to remember what hands students are trying to make is very useful in helping keep them on track in a timely manner.

When someone from a place far from me, that I don’t visit to teach, asks me what to look for in a mah Jongg teacher I say, “First make sure the person has been playing American Mah Jongg at least seven years. Someone who has not lived through many card changes does not know what they don’t know. Second, make sure your teacher has been teaching mah Jongg for a couple of years before you become their guinea pig.”

Lots of people who fall in love with Mah Jongg believe they can teach it right away. They might be able to explain rules to others. Rules are easy. But understanding how to figure out how different people learn differently and being able to help multiple people at the same time without adding confusion is harder than most people think. Precise use of language is incredibly important.

The one thing that frustrates me is how an amateur teacher spoils the well, by not being able to communicate well enough that people have a chance to fall in love with the game. A bad teacher will create more people who think they “can’t play mah Jongg, or don’t like mah Jongg”, so they give up. It is usually not the students problem, but the teacher.

Chose your teacher well. They don’t have to have a photographic memory, but it will look like they do to you if they are a really good teacher.

Like Homecoming

Today I had the privilege of attending a Food Bank Lunch for past board members. It was a lovely gathering of many friends made over the years from time spent around conference room tables and in warehouses doing the work to ensure ‘No one goes hungry” in eastern and central North Carolina.

I was a volunteer and Board member of the Food Bank since Carter was two years old. That was over 25 years ago. I have witnessed a lot of changes and a lot of growth.

Today the President is a woman, Amy Beros, who we hired at the food bank as a staff member on the development team when she was a very young woman. She grew into the VP of development and left us to work for Feeding America and after being in the bigger Food bank world came back to take the lead role at our Food Bank. It made my heart happy to see how far she has come and all the good she is doing.

I got to see old friends who served with me so many years together. Barry, Jim, Carey, Chuck, George, Steven, Susan. And I saw people who joined the board after me, my friend Shelayne, and Becky. It was a surprise to see Becky because she is new on the board. We met years ago when we spent a year trying to make a merger happen between two organizations that we both led. Despite all our hard work and violent agreement the merger never happened due to a founder who derailed it. But Becky was committed to the mission and it is great to see her at our food bank now.

It was a homecoming like lunch. One I look forward to attending again in the future. I was sorry I couldn’t not stay for the whole thing because I had to go teach class. But I look forward to continuing my support of the Food Bank as the work they do is sadly more needed than ever. God bless the people who take care of those who need a meal.

The Mug

I venture a guess that not many people have a mug with the date commemorating the day they first met their future spouse. I am lucky that one exists from the day that Russ first met me. It was September 15, 1989. He did not make himself known to me, but swears he decided he was going to marry me that day.

We both worked for the same company in New Jersey, OPEX. He was in engineering and worked at the headquarters. I worked in Washington, DC and was only at the home office a few times a year. I was there this day as our company had just moved into a new purpose built headquarters. I had been there for four years and Russ was a fairly new employee so I had no idea who he was.

As part of the grand opening of the building lots of friends of the firm were invited to tour it and I was demonstrating a new machine that Russ had created a number of features for, five of which he got patents on. He liked he way I showed off his machine. He told his friends he was going to marry me.

It took two years for me to know his name. He was very shy and I was not around that much. Thank goodness he never got over that first impression. And here we are 37 years later. Thanks to Russ’ Dad, who still has the mug and send Russ a picture of it on this day. He does not know the significance it holds for us.

Only the Good Die Young

On Thursday, while I was still in Maine I got an email from my friend Mike Mansuy. We went to college together. He started reading my blog regularly some years back and we reconnected since we have a lot of the same beliefs. In college he was about the nicest person in my class a class full of a lot of really nice people. As a point of reference I was one of the least nice.

This email was not one I wanted. He was letting everyone know that after nine months of fighting cancer he was calling in Hospice. Mike lives in California and retired a few years back as a high school principal, where he was well loved. He has a wife and grown daughter he loved more than anything. He spent the last few years in retirement working out so he could live a healthy long life and fishing, because he loved fishing. So this news at only 65 this was not good.

I was hoping he was going to fail hospice. It has happened. I wanted him to have many more days with his people. He was the only son of a family with six daughters. That made him especially nice to girls.

We drove home from Maine and Sunday I was sick in bed. Nothing serious, but I slept a lot. I had just learned from another college friend that he has gotten a cancer diagnosis. The news came out late Sunday and I did not see it until today that Mike Mansuy had passed away. So unfair that such a good human, a kind human, a sweet human is taken and we are left with some awful humans still walking around.

I have lost a good number of friends my age in the last few years. All have been really good people. The really nice ones. The most beloved ones. Nothing is promised. I am not saying people should become bad, but the way it is looking around me, the good ones are taken too early. Billy Joel sang it, “Only the good die young.”

Shay and I Wore Out

On our drive home from Maine I started not feeling well. Shay had her memory foam bed and I thought she was fine. We got home and I had a full blown sinus sick.

Russ got me meds, but Shay thought the best medicine was for her to stay right by my side. So she slept beside me today while I slept. When the meds kicked in and I got up she still thought her sleeping stillwould help me.

So I laid low all day and she laid lower.

If I’m not going to feel well it’s best done in my own bed. I will recover for back to regular life tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Baby Chick

It was exactly twenty years ago this weekend that Lynn Toms was nick named Baby Chick. We were at mother daughter weekend at Seafarer, staying in a cabin on bunks with our girls. Being early September in Eastern North Carolina it was still warm. That did not stop Lynn from bringing a down comforter to sleep with.

The first morning she awoke on her top bunk, surrounded in down with her blond hair all fluffed up. We looked at her and said, “You look just like a baby chick in the nest.” And thus Baby Chick was born.

All the Lange’s celebrate everything Baby Chick with you and wish you the happiest of Birthdays. This photo is not the one of you in bed, but once you got dressed. It still embodies the spirt of Baby Chick. Always happy, smiling, sunshine yellow sweet baby chick.

9/11

Today is a terrible anniversary. All of us who lived through it will never forget where we were when we learned what was happening in America. We also will not forget how we came together as Americans afterward.

So leaving Maine today makes today doubly sad. The bonus was Suzanne was with us. She was such a big help in helping close down the house and pack the car. Since Russ had an early morning call Suzanne sat in the front seat so we could talk which made the trip to her house in New Hampshire go by so much faster.

As we drove south through the small mid coast towns we saw four different fire departments firefighters out with flags on the side of the road waving them as we drove by. We waved backed. In Bath there were more than just fire fighters lining the bridge waving flags and we got to the other side of the river the big hook and ladder was fully extended with a huge American Flag. It was a heart warming tribute.

We are all Americans and will never forget 9/11. It would be nice if we could be as unified as we were in those days that followed the horrific events. The flag belongs to every American, and we wave it proudly.

The Perfect Day

The last full day in Maine is always a sad one, but today was the most perfect day Weather wise. After many very cool days wearing sweatshirts and jeans today was 72°, sunny and blue skies all day.

Although I had to pack and straighten up we still had a most fun day. Suzanne and I played endless hands of Siamese mah Jongg. I finished up my delft lobster painting. Suzanne wanted me to bring it home and frame it, but instead I hid it in the house for J & G to find. I think it is appropriate for my lobster to stay in Maine.

Russ actually finished his calls at a decent hour so we all took Shay on the big loop walk. When we got home I taught Suzanne how to play Monopoly Deal and she loved it. A new game!

We finally went to Sammy’s Deluxe for dinner. I can’t believe we have not gone before. It was spectacular. A very quirky interior and funky, fun waitstaff. We had such yummy original things to eat. I ended my Maine meals with Crab and tomatoes on toast, not lobster!

It’s been a great month. It was not as restful for me as usual, but I loved everything I did this summer. Sorry to have it end. I have to wait 11 more months for Maine Summer to come around again. I will be dreaming of it.

The Final Countdown

Russ has been working non-stop so it is great to have Suzanne here for the final days in Maine this year. Today was a grey and cold day, but we made the most of it. We had brunch at Home Kitchen Cafe where we yaked away half the morning.

To work off breakfast we walked the breakwater. We lucked out because it started sprinkling right when we got out of the car, but that was all the rain we had. Due to the cold temp we practically ran to the light house.

After we returned home to play many rounds of Siamese mah Jongg. Suzanne is fully hooked and is a great player now.

Suz tested us to dinner at Ada’s, which made Russ so happy s he was craving red sauce. Shay was a little miffed to be left home again tonight.

More after dinner mah Jongg ensued. I am going to need to do a lot more walking when I get home after all this eating out. Suzanne says we should not mess up the kitchen on our last days. Not that there is much kitchen to mess up.

Friends in Maine Day

One of the joys about being in Maine is getting together with friends. Every year I get to see one of my favorite Durham Academy friends, Sheppy Vann. Sheppy has a house in Maine and since she moved to Nashville the best chance I have to see her is in Maine.

This morning we met for breakfast in Camden, which was a longer drive for her than it was for me, which was so nice of her. We had a great time a catching up. We did have a women come up to us to say thank you for the way we were talking about America. She said it was nice to hear people who believed what she believed.

We all need to keep talking loudly, as Sheppy and I obviously did, so people know they are not alone in thinking America is not going in the right direction and we have control over changing that. Let’s go back to sanity and kindness.

Then this afternoon Russ and I made the big drive to Portland to meet up with our friends Steve and Suzanne for dinner at Scales. It is the best place in Portland, which is saying so much since Portland is the most foodie city ever.

After a wonderful dinner we brought Suzanne back to Owl’s Head with us. She is staying for our final couple of days. I had to pack in one last friend at Owl’s Head and how could it not be Suzanne when we are this close to each other.

To make this work, I brought a bunch of things I have bought while in Maine for Steve to take home to his house. So I have room in the car to bring Suzanne home on our way back to North Carolina. When it comes to friends there is always a way to make it work.

Hike to Sapville

Carter and Claire left Owl’s Head early this morning. So sad to see them go. I won’t be seeing them again until Christmas.

As it was a beautiful day Russ and I decided a good long hike with the princess Shay was a good plan for the day. We picked the hike at the Langais Art Peserve since the last time we stopped there it was raining.

It was a nice two and half mile hike, around the art installation and then deep into the pine forest. Shay almost always has to be in the lead. If I pass her while she is sniffing around she will pull Russ to pass me.

It was a good up and down hike and the aroma of the forest was heavenly. They had a couple of benches deep into the trail which was nice to stop and have a break and give Shay some water.

One problem with taking a break in the pine forest was the sap we sat in. That is when we realized Shay’s paws were full of sap. After we finished hiking we stopped at the Owl’s head General store to grab lunch. The place is for sale we pray some industrious young chef decides it is just the place for them. It would be very sad for Owl’s head to lose it’s only store.

We came home and spent a good amount of time cleaning Shay’s paws which involved dawn, warm water and scissors. She was not happy about he operation, but after I know her feet felt better than they did when the sap was holding her toes together.

It was such a perfect sunny day it was worth the sap.

Summer and Winter All Today

We awoke to a beautiful sunny, but cold day here in Owl’s Head. The giant celebrity cruise ship was in the harbor for it’s one day stop. Thankfully we got ahead of the crowds and went for brunch at the perennial favorite Home Kitchen Cafe.

We had a little wait for a table as we were behind a pro roller derby team. While waiting we witnessed the most ridiculous scene. An older man in visor, shorts, white socks, black sneakers and fanny pack, using a commercial spray bottle and polishing rag to clean his red corvette while his wife Cindy talked on the phone. We knew her name because it was spelled out one her purse which had the heads of three dogs depicted in rhinestones next to her name. Only in Maine.

We thankfully got a beautiful table on the side terrace and I was in the sun, thank goodness. The best waitress took care of us and we enjoyed a delicious brunch. Russ and I shared a smoked salmon breakfast sandwich on rye that I have to remember so we can get it again.

There were the biggest sunflowers planted next to the terrace where we took some fun photos. It was a happy morning. We followed it up with a trip to Maine Sport.

This afternoon the cold, rains came in in waves. It would be sunny then dark black with big rains for just a short spell. It’s 57° right now so I am snuggled in bed under two blankets. How am I going to ever go back to heat?

Returning to the Scene

Nothing is more fun than having a good Maine day with Carter and Claire. We spent a few hours today exploring Rockland and Camden. Shopping is never top on my list, but I have to say the shops in Rockland were the best. We took Norman because he is such a gregarious boy. He was well loved by all he met and loved meeting the shop dogs who worked at the art market and the book store.

It was windjammer day in Camden which made parking even harder than normal. We stopped in at 10 Mechanic, the best antique shop in town. Then visited our favorite mixed greens before heading home.

After resting and playing Monopoly Deal we dressed for dinner and headed back to Camden to the Norembega, where Carter and Claire got married.

We were so warmly greeted by everyone there. It is such a special place. We enjoyed the best dinner sitting at our “regular” table as they called it. I hope that every year we can revisit the happy place where Carter and Claire had their wedding. Thanks to Will and Brett for making us feel like family. We missed seeing Abby, but we’re thrilled to have Pallo serving us dinner and Steel making our drinks. If you are ever in Camden try and get a room and a meal at the Norembega. You will not be disappointed.

The Princess of Claws

We are regulars at our local Lobster shack, Claws. We may visit other establishments, but 50% of all our meals that we eat out are eaten at Claws. Come to visit us and we are taking you to Claws. Ask us where you should go out the mid-coast, we tell you Claws.

Besides the perfect lobster rolls, we love Claws because Shay is so welcomed there. Tonight we went for supper and Shay jumped right up on the pillow strewn bench and made herself at home. Other diners turned to coo at her. A sweet server came and brought her a water right away.

She made herself as comfortable as possible, while demanding bites of other people’s dinners. Norman was with us, but he chose to surf for spilled morsels on the floor, while Shay sat with her head on the table.

She is clearly the princess of Claws. Always welcomed. Always fawned over. Always happy with her dinner.

Rainy Maine Day

Maine has been in a terrible drought this summer so I am happy when we get a wet day. It was supposed to rain a lot more than it has, but any rain is welcome. It is very cool, and I hear it’s very hot in North Carolina. This is why we come to Maine this time of year.

While Russ had a busy work day I went on a treasure hunt with my old friend Warren. He sells antiques and we have to go find them. I found a steam iron I had been looking for. Not an antique.

We stopped at Spear Spring Farm to get a few vegetables. Warren mentioned he was making stir fry for dinner. I thought that sounded like a good idea so that is what I made at our house.

Carter and Claire arrived this afternoon for the long weekend. They brought Norman who Shay was actually happy to see. The best thing happened. Norman had his special kibble for dinner and Shay, the dog who does not eat dog food, decided she want to have some. It was a revelation. Might not last another meal, but it was good for tonight.

I hope it is not rainy all weekend. If it is we will be forced to play a lot of games. What a shame.

HApPy BirThDaY SisTa J

I was eight and half the year my youngest sister Janet was born. It was Sept. 2, 1969. The world was changing and Janet was born into a totally different world than I was. My parents were different, more grown up. Janet came home from the hospital to the house my parents loved in her whole childhood. Not moving around like I did for the first seven years of my life.

Margaret and I had broken everything in for her. She got to live the best of everything. And she was the perfect child to do that. The kindest, the most beloved, the smartest, the most athletic, the most hard working.

So on this anniversary of her birth I want to say how thankful I am that she took all the advantages she had of being the the baby and made her most of them. She is still the smartest. Still the hardest working. Still the kindest and most beloved. The only problem with being the most athletic is she wore some of her parts out too early. (finally an advantage to not being athletic.)

Janet I hope you had a good birthday. You deserve nothing but happiness. Thanks for being a great sister and good daughter and wonderful aunt and best partner to Sophie.

As Seen in Cary Magazine

I got a call from Erin McKnight, an editor at Cary Magazine before I left for Maine. “I am doing a story on Mah Jongg and you are THE Person to talk to. Would you talk with me?” About Mah Jongg, in Cary…absolutely. So I had a delightful two hours sharing my love of Mah Jongg with Erin and then I left for Maine.

I have a great relationship with the Cary Mah Jongg community thanks to the wonderful family at Home for Entertaining, Megan and Jackie. So when Erin called I also told her about Home for Entertaining and how big Mah Jongg is there and the wonderful ladies who started Cary Mahj. So Erin called all of them.

Meredith Rooth, one of the women who run Cary Mahj sent me the story that came out in Cary Magazine today. It was a well done and highly accurate story. That is saying something when the writer was completely ignorant of the details of mah Jongg when she started researching.

If you want to read this fun story here is a link. https://www.carymagazine.com/features/pass-it-on/

Thanks to Erin. I love sharing Mah Jongg at every town in North Carolina.

I will be teaching at Home For Entertaining in September. To sign up for their classes look under the events and classes tab at www.homeforentertaining.com