Mini Blinds, Paper Cranes and South Africa

While in my car on Sunday afternoon, I heard an interview on CBC radio with the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa. Listening to the songs they played re-ignited my interest in South African music. Of course, I loved Paul Simon's Graceland album. From there I discovered Ladysmith Black Mambazo. However, it's been a while since I've listened to this style of music. I LOVE it! Great discovery.

Yesterday I started installing some mini blinds on my windows. At first it was a little tricky, but I was able to get 2 of 3 finished! I even got to use (for the first time) my cordless drill I got for Christmas! I'm so proud of myself. :)

Today, my mom turns 60 years old. As I like to remind her, she is now double my age. We celebrated the occasion when we all got together for Easter on Friday. By about Tuesday I decided it would be fun if I could give her 60 "somethings" for her birthday. But what would the somethings be? I finally decided on writing 60 memories on slips of paper and then folding them into paper cranes. What a delightful idea!! Tuesday night at work I downloaded paper crane instructions from the internet and taught myself the proper order of folds. For some strange reason, I didn't really work on them again until THURSDAY!!! When I left for work I had 5 done. Only 55 to go. I worked diligently during our newscasts (and our producers both thought I was insane...and maybe I was) and had 28 done by the time I got home at midnight. Since I had to have them done the next day, I made myself some tea, popped in a Gilmore Girls DVD and got to work. By 2:30 my finger tips were very sore and I had 54 paper cranes done. I went to bed as I could not fold another. My plan was to make another 6 and give them to my mom later...claiming to have found them after the fact. However, Jason wouldn't let me off the hook so easily. I taught him the folds with our napkins at brunch and we slipped downstairs and folded 6 more while everyone was cleaning up. So, the project was finished. And, my mom LOVED it! It provided some entertainment that afternoon as she unfolded and read aloud the anecdotes of our childhood. So Duane, if you're reading this...you owe me one. You of little faith, didn't think I would finish!!