Happy Birthday to Me!

Allan took the cake this year when he made my birthday dinner. Since he was leaving on his trip the day after my birthday, he suggested making the cake the previous weekend so we could enjoy a piece each night all week long. Great idea! So for the first time he tackled a German Chocolate Cake. I can't tell you how wonderful it was, although after I looked at the calorie count, I couldn't eat it guilt-free. I grudgingly shared a couple pieces with our maid and our driver. On Thursday night in a little over an hour, he whipped up a meal of lime-and-chile basted grilled lobster with lime butter sauce, cous-cous, and green salad. Mmm! Gotta admit it, not too many guys would be willing to jump in on that one, but it was actually a pretty do-able recipe taken from Bon Appetit (August '08). I was a pretty happy birthday girl!

Rapping it up . . . at 85

Both our moms turned 85 this year, and, unfortunately, we weren't there to celebrate with either of them. But we did manage to produce a video clip for Bea's birthday bash--completely with costuming, of course. Although Allan was worried it would end up on u-tube, I can't recall he said anything about me putting it on our blog.

Let me tell ya ‘bout a lady we know so well
Her name is Bea and we think she’s swell
She raised 6 kids who are very fine
And want to say she’s a one of a kind

Doesn’t like to cook--but loves her football
Bets a dollar on the game, hopes to win them all
Crossword puzzles are really her thing
Or just sit in front of a nickel machine

Worked right up until 80 years old
And then retired---but the truth be told
Now she walks the aisles of the WalMart Store
Lookin’ for deals and buyin’ some more

Just check in her closet, she’s got gifts galore
For the Christmas exchange—can hardly shut the door
Just remind her then when the time comes around
Where she hid the gifts so they can be found

She’s still kickin’ it back now at 85
Is there another granny here who’s so alive?
Even with her tobacco and her caffeine high
Ain’t nothin’ gonna stop her til 105

So give it up for the Bea ‘cause we’re all right proud
And we know everyone in this birthday crowd
Can say with us in their own special way
We all wish you a Happy Birthday
We all wish you a Happy Birthday
We all wish you a Happy Birthday

Six in the City

Yes, you read that correctly . . . what were you thinking, anyway? The Luanda International School held a quiz night in February to test the mental skills of six-member teams competing for the honor of being "the smartest," and to raise funds for a school project. Allan and I joined four very smart people to offer up our answers against 12 other teams. It was important to come up with a theme and name for our team, and as one of the few teams who live in the city center, we adopted the name "Six in the City." We were quite striking, to say the least, as we made our entrance sporting our finest wear. Let's just say we looked much better than we fared in the final round. All in all, it was a great occasion to use some of those dramatic talents that don't get to surface often enough over here.

Millie's Tea House

On February 21st, Millie’s Tea House opened for the afternoon to serve the only high tea in Luanda. Manfred, the butler, greeted eight beautifully dressed ladies at the door and presented them with their tea selection for the afternoon. After they were seated in the dining room, the ladies enjoyed a complete menu of savories and sweets fit for royalty. Smoked ham and pineapple salad sandwiches on crustettes, tomato-basil sandwiches, and traditional cucumber sandwiches were served with sugared grapes, artichoke-rice salad, and African Sunrise tea. Cranberry-orange scones with jam or cream were followed by mango sorbet. The trays of dainties included macaroons, dipped apricots, anise cookies, chocolate-pecan tassies, Belgian wafers dipped with chocolate and crushed macadamia nuts, and lemon-filled sandwich cookies. These were finished with a spot of caramel tea. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Millie had worked hard all week preparing for this special event, and Manfred stepped in to graciously assist in hosting for the afternoon. He also helped clean up the myriad of dishes and silver after Millie collapsed on the bed. The guests were the winning bidders of an auction item which the Vances put up for bid last September at a benefit for the Home for Abandoned Girls. Millie asked Manfred not to quit his day job quite yet, but there’s a lot of potential there. It was the talk of the town!

Wheels Up

At the end of May I’ll be going to the US to spend two months in Washington, then a week with my mom in Kansas City before heading back to Luanda in August. Allan will join me towards the end of June. We look forward to time with the kids, grandkids, and friends who will visit. We’re anxious to work on some landscape projects at the house, as well as unpacking some of those boxes that been sitting there for a year. And of course---salmon fishing and crab catching. Mmmm! Can’t wait.

Time Lapse

I cannot believe it has been almost two months since my last blog entry. Who knows why? I have all these thoughts racing around in my head which never seem to make their way down to the computer. Yes, I’ve been busy, but probably no more than usual. Lunches, dinners, Bible study, sitting in traffic, meetings, scrabbling, teaching at the high school, sitting in traffic, making curtains. etc. etc. etc—and, oh yeah, sitting in traffic. So I’m back for another round. Let’s see what I can fill you in on.