Visitors from France

Arthur is back in the States and this time he has brought his charming fiancee. We went to Yindee Thai in Springfield for dinner this evening. Here are a few photos of the happy couple.

Doesn't Arthur look like the cat that has just eaten the canary?!

 

                             Arthur

My dinner - Pad Thai with tofu

An Outing for Lovers of Norwegian Theater

A group of ten of us attended a performance of "Nuora" at the Lansburgh Shakespeare Theatre. This play was an Arab-American adaptation of Ibsen's A Doll's House.

In the photo above you will see, from left to right, May, Christine, Marie, John (standing), Verna, Barbara, and Joel. Three members of our group - Solveig, Elden, and Sunneva - were unable to join us for coffee and our lively discussion after the performance.

It was a wonderful afternoon - an interesting play in a lovely setting and a cordial, interesting discussion in the spectacular courtyard between the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of American Art.

Lively Discussion

Our Sons of Norway lodge's Reading Circle met to discuss Jo Nesbo's Blood on Snow. Those present were Marie, John O, Tim, Richard, Linda, Lynn, and Christine.

The discussion was, as always, animated and interesting. Much of it centered on the Fixer's wife Corina and whether she was a victim of sexual abuse or a ruthless Black Widow.

Dinner and a Play at GW

May, Janet, and I had a leisurely dinner at Panera's at GW before attending the GW student play Translations. An enjoyable evening!

The play was written by Brian Friel and directed by Jodi Kanter.

From the playbill:

The play's themes of identity, community, and colonialism resonated with a variety of political and cultural issues of the early 1980s,  the midpoint of the thirty-year conflict between Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland commonly known as The Troubles.

The characters all struggle to discover their individual identities by learning to communicate with each other.

Translations identifies colonialism as a factor contributing to this gap in communication. The linguistic barriers impeding progress between the English and the Irish in 1833 would not be present if the English respected Ireland's autonomy and culture.

 \                                   May and Janet in the dark theater before the performance

The stage set before the lights went out

Powerful Music

May, Indra, Barbara, and I went to a concert this afternoon at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Falls Church. It was powerful!

More details later.

Swiss Food Again!

Marie, Tina, and I met at the Swiss Bakery for lunch. We spent two hours in stimulating conversation. I forgot to get a photo of us, unfortunately. However, here are some photos of the bakery and its "crown jewel," the delicious Linder cookie.

Celebrating John

Janet and I wanted to celebrate John's reception into the Episcopal Church. We invited him to a dinner at Janet's house. She made delicious manicotti and Arthur (my live-in chef from Paris) provided a heavenly French cheesecake. (He should go into the catering business!)

John Q, Janet, John O, and John Q Junior 

Arthur's Cheesecake

A Birthday

Colin is now a teen-ager! We celebrated his birthday today.

Arthur took me to Game Shop to buy Colin's gifts. Colin made it clear, "NO BOOKS."

Arthur prepared the main course, Eggs Benedict. I added the peas.

 Arthur and Christian

 Marcello

                                                                Auguri, Colin!

Proud Mima

Swiss Again

Indra and I met for lunch at the Swiss Bakery and had a very pleasant time chatting.

We shared a Linder cookie, the Swiss Bakery's Claim to Fame!

May, John, and I met George at the National Museum for the American Indian and saw the new exhibit. (More details later.) I forgot to take photos of us.  :(