Life is wonderful and mysterious! Yesterday, we saw the video N. brought of the "Sports Day" at her elementary school 18 years ago. Here was tall, pretty, ten-year-old N., winning a race and laughing with her school mates. Later, we saw her feeding a mother bird from her balcony in Tokyo--then her sadness when it flew away with the babies.
Now, ten thousand miles and eighteen years away from that familiar neighborhood, N.'s husband and his parents are watching a child who never dreamed--as we never dreamed--of meeting an American teacher and becoming his wife.
I made a chocolate cake, but it came out horribly. Tastes good, but is both flat and misshapen. Pat, P., and N. assured me I could camouflage it with icing, but I think it's going to be horrible. Well, I'll try.
Got to Motor Vehicle in Northfield and P. passed the written test--after glancing at the book he had gotten only a few hours before. He got a learner's permit, but may not be here to take the road test.
After, we went to a pet store in Manahawkin, P. driving, then home where P. made a delicious meal--a kind of stew with mahi-mahi, tomatoes, other vegetables, and spices.
Got a web cam call from the Singapore side of the family and enjoyed seeing Vivian, Violet,and the rest of the crew. Vivian is getting a tad jealous of her little sister, but she'll get over it. She's used to her parents' undivided attention and can't understand the oohing and aahing over Violent.
Nice yesterday and I'm looking forward to the party today.

Back to normal hours, I guess, so I'm writing at 6:10 am. Enjoyed yesterday a lot, although when we went to Motor Vehicle, it was closed for Lincoln's birthday. Will go back today.
Pat's cousin, Joe, called from Jacksonville to wish him a happy. More cards came in
P. and N. will come with Susan and me for our mile and a half walk--a mere few steps for them, as they're experienced hikers.
Must get ready for the party tomorrow. Will pick up a few things at the store, make the cake, and decide if I want to use the disposable plates and utensils left over from our anniversary party.
So good to be with our older son and his sweet wife.
Wider: This, from Arthur Silber on his "Once Upon A Time" blog, seems to me to state the full magnitude of our decline:
"This amalgamation of major business interests with state power, this system of oligopoly and governance of, by and for the ruling class, has metastasized beyond imagining since the Progressive era. It has expanded in every direction and subsumed virtually every industry and business in America, large and small."
Yes. And we're screwed.

We picked up P. and N. in Philly last night after their plane was delayed three hours in Chicago. Was able to get to my acting workshop and did my monologue pretty well. Director Desi asked me to perform it when the Little Egg Theatre Company presents a sea-themed show at the Tuckerton Seaport in April. I'm very flattered and agreed--assuming, of course, our circumstances allow it.
Didn't get back to our house until almost midnight; slept late. Was too busy to make an entry here until now, at 5 pm.
What a delight to have our oldest and his beautiful bride here! We went to the supermarket and P. cleaned up the computer in various ways. N. then presented me with a precious gift: A beautifully executed scrapbook with pictures of her as a baby, child, and teenager and finally, as a young married. It's exquisitely designed and decorated and something I'll cherish forever.
Lots of cards, packages, and phone calls coming in for Pat's birthday. It was actually yesterday (Feb. 11), but we'll celebrate on Saturday.

As ever, had a neat time at the Wellspouse meeting last night. Actually, it's a "meeting" only in the sense that a group of people meet together and have dinner; there's no real agenda.
The big news is that we'll be meeting in a different restaurant from here in--and that's fine with me, considering the food is lousy at the Empire diner.
As I'm the only person on the east coast who likes liver and onions, and I never cook it at home, I ordered that. I was asked how I wanted it cooked and I said "rare." What I got was a mess of over-cooked cardboard, of which I ate only a few mouthfuls--terrible! I brought it back to a waitress and said it was inedible and I didn't want to pay for it. Of course, she asked if I wanted another platter, but we were almost finished eating and I said I'd fill up on the salad bar instead. Later, they had the nerve to charge me $15 instead of $20, although the salad bar goes with the dinner!
Oh well, the hell with it. I only regret not enjoying some yummy liver.
Wider: I was stunned to read that the "economic stimulus plan," supposedly meant to create jobs and spur economic growth, includes $1 billion in funding for nuclear weapons! Is there no end to the duplicity of the scum of the earth, our elected leaders? This rancid pork, no doubt the repayment of favors (read "campaign funding") to the death-dealing manufacturers, is a perfect example of why I see no reason even to vote. All the pious propaganda about "your vote matters," "one vote can change the (insert one: 'town, state, country, world')," etc., is bullcrap of the purest ray serene. We have no chance to influence the outcome of this bill or any other action of government and we might as well give up trying.
Later: I'm happy to say I just got a message from Rev. Moore of the Coalition for Peace and Justice to the effect that the nuclear weapons funding was NOT included in the stimulus bill. I'm so glad.

More cleaning, followed by an eye doctor appointment late in the day. Pat's brother, Bill, called and the only two left of a family of nine chatted warmly together. Got the official word from my nephew, Steve's, wife that he's coming east for Pat's birthday party on Saturday. It then occurred to me to invite Pat's niece; I did and she accepted with pleasure. We're now up to 12 people for dinner--10 adults and two kiddies--but that's fine. I do think I should add to the menu, though, and will consider additions.
Going to the monthly Wellspouse dinner in Freehold tonight. That's always an enjoyable affair and I'm looking forward to it. Naturally, I have coverage for Pat--"a family member," as she wants to be called on this blog.

Continued being a virtuous little wifie by cleaning the Corian countertops in the kitchen, vacuuming here and there, and generally sprucing the place up. Took an hour to go to Acme on a glorious spring-like day. Talked to Ellen on the web cam. Was pleased to hear nephew Steve from Pasadena will come for Pat's birthday party (family only this time) on Saturday.
Wider: I think the evil twins, corporate America and government, have gotten together again to raise gas prices. Ours are up to $2.73 a gallon and wasn't it just a few weeks ago I paid $2.47? It was, I did, and that's 26 cents a gallon higher. Combined with the loss of jobs, soaring health care costs (if you're lucky enough to have health care), I don't know how working families can manage, not to mention older people who don't have the cushions some of us do. But, hey, Bush and Cheney and their mob are livin' high on the hog, so no worry... (And see yesterday's entry for Larry Summers' words about "entitlement" programs. The pompous jerk.)
Second rant about corporate America: I HATE COMCAST! I watch television for only about 45 minutes a day from 8 pm until I leave to read in bed. My husband, however, being home bound and unable to do much else, watches television much of the day. Very noticeably and unarguably, the volume has recently started going up by several decibels during commercials--which now, of course, sometimes total nine or ten per interval; I've actually counted that many. It is infuriating that, without viewer consent or control, the jerks have the right to turn up the sound. And I'm not talking subtlety here--the volume is ratcheted WAY up. We pay $107 a month to this lousy company to get cable and the Internet--we have Verizon for the phone--and how dare the arrogant bastards just arbitrarily decide to take over the volume on our television?
May they rot in their own electrons!

Good, productive day. I went through several of the kitchen cabinets and drawers, discarding stuff I no longer use and cleaning as I went. Did other domestic stuff. Found my potato masher and the small sharp knife I thought I had lost. Used both to pare, then mash potatoes the old-fashioned way for Pat.
Precious Vivian called and we had a great time. She showed me some school work, a stuffed animal and other toys, then insisted on getting into her bathing suit, cap, and goggles to "show Nana." She also demonstrated a Rubik cube, which she said was her brother's. "Your brother's?" I asked; to my knowledge, she only has a sister. Vivian then told me calmly that "Harry" is her " 'maginary brother." What a bright, beautiful, inventive little girl she is!
Also saw Paula (who just received a nice promotion at the design firm where she works), darling Violet, and Vicky, their former nanny, who has come back to be with them--happy day! (Long story, that, which I won't go into.)
Wider: Pat watched Pearl Harbor, which, if I'm not mistaken, was a candidate for several awards, the most notable being "Worse Movie Ever Made." For hammy, boring, over-the-top cliche-ridden crap, it can hardly be beat. Pat and I saw it years ago in the movie theatre (sigh--imagine being able to go to the movies with your husband) and believe me, it hasn't improved since. It should probably also have won in the "interminable" category--it seemed to go on all day. As I passed through the living room, I'd glance at it and, of course, I could hear it from all over the house.
It put me in mind of the era when the U.S. was at war with "the Japs." They were characterized as mean, slant-eyed little people, with their strange language, outlandish dress, and slavish devotion to the emperor. Of course, it's absolutely necessary for the populace to believe the "enemy" is sub-human, otherwise, they might rebel against murdering them. Now I have a lovely, talented, intelligent Japanese daughter-in-law and another whose mother was Japanese. In a few years, our current "enemy" (but who are they and why are they enemies?) will be rehabilitated and some other humans will be "the enemy."
I must keep referring to 1984, because Orwell was so eerily prescient. The "enemy" keeps changing and Oceania is at war with Eurasia--Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia.