Bits and Pieces

We have a wonderful thing here in Omaha called the Intergenerational Orchestra of Omaha. It was started in 1985 by the Office on Aging and brings together musicians of different generations. You can be in the orchestra if you are 50 and older or are 25 and younger. Both learning from each other and playing music—what’s better than that? Their conductor is Chuck Penington, who in addition to all the stars and orchestras he’s worked with, is best known around here as the keyboard artist for “Music of Manheim” and conductor for the Manheim Steamroller Christmas tour.

My friend’s 13-year-old daughter plays violin with this group, and we went to see them a couple of weeks ago. It was called “Pops and Pie,” and was their last concert of the season. They were wonderful, and I got a slice of home-made peach pie. They played Henry Mancini music, so everyone was bobbing their heads to the Peter Gun theme and the Baby Elephant Walk.

It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I’m really a little jealous. What a great opportunity for the kids and what fun for the older people. I’m too young and too old at the same time! Of course, I also don’t play an instrument but that’s beside the point. I can still listen.

----------------------------------------

We went to a log home show this weekend. We’re not interested in a log home, but we would like to build a timber frame some day. A timber frame still has the warmth of the wood from the frame of the house, which can be exposed as much as you’d like, but it’s not as clunky or chunky or rustic as some log homes can be. Timberpeg was one of the companies there who do a type of “turn key” house, but there were many local companies who were custom builders. One in Missouri still uses the antique hand tools he’s been using for years.

Here’s a picture of a Timberpeg home. Of course, this is pretty elaborate, but you get the idea of the exposed frame.



One of the things we like about this design is that it’s really easy to have an open floor plan. Space! I need my space! Plus, we’re ready for a smaller footprint, which means I want a smaller house so I can get rid of a lot of stuff and can keep it clean easier. Also, when we finally build or buy “the” house that will be our last or at least close to our last house, I want one level.

We need to set a goal for those investments and stuff, and this seems like a pretty darn good one.

----------------------------------------

We watched Casino Royale this week. I knew Daniel Craig was going to be wonderful, at least IMHO. I know people are very territorial about their Bonds, but I’m not a Bond-fanatic, so I can like him all I want.

And after the scene where the bad guy was trying to get information out of a naked Bond sitting in the chair, Al said, “Well, that’s an interesting torture technique.” I think he was a little pale.

But we both liked it.

Well, that’s enough for today.