The International Festival

I hope my readers had a wonderful weekend. I sure did. Friday evening Travalon went out for drinks with some coworkers after work, then he and I had fish at the Nau-Ti-Gal. Saturday was a really fun day. It was the free International Festival at the Overture Center, so Travalon, Tiffy, Richard Bonomo, and I met there to get some international food (not free) and watch some performances. We saw a flamenco dance troupe, then the guys left and Tiffy and I watched Light Bright’s band before checking out a Brazilian drum line. They had some dancers come out to do the samba, and they were dressed like pictures you see of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, with lots of feathers on their heads and hardly anything on their bodies. They were wearing tiny, sparkly bikinis and high heels, and the women behind us clucked in disapproval. I bought a rainbow-colored top which I am wearing today, and we caught one song by local Klezmer band Yid Vicious before we had to meet the Rosary Ladies at Bunky’s, where we talked about the fashions we used to wear in the 80’s. After dinner we headed to Olbrich Garden for the annual wine and chocolate tasting fundraiser. This year there were a lot of wineries and not that much chocolate, but there was one chocolatier with really spicy chocolate that was so good. In the conservatory, a DJ played Steely Dan while disco lights swirled around. Luxuli had to head off to another fundraiser, and the rest of us were thinking of calling it an early night as well, but we ended up staying until the bitter end.

Yesterday at Mass we learned something shocking: the mother of a priest in our diocese was recently kidnapped at gunpoint! She lives in Nigeria, but not the part Boko Haram is active in, so they think it is just a money thing and not a religious one. Anyway, prayers for her safety would be much appreciated. After brunch, Travalon, Rich, and I went to Home Depot to get a new toilet and new carpeting for my old condo. They will come to my condo tomorrow to get measurements, and then they should install the carpeting later this week. How exciting it will be to finally get the condo on the market! Then Travalon and I went to the model train show at the Expo Center, which is always very cool. Some of the layouts were so elaborate, with moving parts and punny names for the little businesses along the tracks. It was a sunny day, but very cold, so we decided to drive out to Martinsville and have a drink at the Keg, which is a very sunny bar. Travalon gave up seven and sevens for Lent, but since Sundays don’t count during Lent, he got his drink. We ended the evening at Rich’s house with steaks for dinner. Now it’s back to Lenten penance…  

Famous Hat