March 20, 2006

20 MARCH 2006

There is so much to catch up about. I'll start with the Karl sisters special weekend. We all met in Tyler Texas on 10 February at the perfect venue for our purpose - a B&B called Arabella Garden Retreat. On our first night, a Friday, we piled into two cars for the trip to the chicken ranch where, after donning surgical caps, masks, coverups and plastic boot covers that came up to the knee, we toured a facility operated for Pilgrim's Pride. It was amazing. There were five chicken houses; each accommodated 26,000 chickens. The chicks arrive early in life, some with remnents of egg shell still attached, and stay until seven to eight weeks of age when they are shipped to the processing plant. During the growth period, all needs are supplied electronically: food, water, heating and cooling, humidity control and ventillation. The sisters and I walked throughh one of the houses as the feathered residents cleared a path. The owner explained that they have a 3% mortality and survey all of the houses each day in order to cull the sick or injured. He found one such little chicken who had had an unbilical infection that affected his leg and overall growth. He was about half the size of the other healthy chickens. It was clear that the owner wanted to dispatch the sick bird as he cradled the chicken in his hands and extended its neck for a quick snap. Apparently, at that moment, each of the five sisters averted her eyes.............reluctantly, the owner set the chicken down and it hobbled away to live, well, who knows, for how long.

On Saturday, after a delicious B&B breakfast, we had a memorable and emotional sisterly bonding ceremony that was impressive due to Kathleen's exhaustive efforts to make it so. I don't think that any of us will forget that special time together. Then it was back in the cars to trek to our previously arranged massages. This was turning out to be a perfect day. Kathleen, Rita and I ventured out for lunch and found the perfect place - an excellent restaurant that was attached to a gift/apparal shop that was conducting an excellent sale. Soon, Margaret and Theresa joined us; we spent so much time (and money) there that we had to rush back to the B&B to prepare for supper at another perfect place - Kiepersol. Kiepersol's is an ambitious establishment and boasts a B&B that is quite pricey, a vineyard/winery, and a restaurant. We were shown to the perfect, large, round table. The food was great and unusual and, as usual, we closed the place.

After another delicious breakfast, the sisters drove to Rita's house to share our experience with Mother and to surprise Theresa with a birthday party. It was a wonderful weekend

Now, I'll talk about the disappointing experience that Cynthia and I had at the opera. It was our last, regularly scheduled opera for the season and was much anticipated - Der Rosenkavillier. Well, forty-five minutes after the curtain rose, I leaned over to Cynthia and whispered, "Are there any arias, duets, or even choruses in this opera?" Apparently not. We sat through 75 minutes of sung dialogue in Act One - not a song to be heard. We decided to give the production one more chance and sat through a disappointing Act Two. Then, we left. Cynthia couldn't remember this opera as being so awful. She had probably made a concerted effort to forget it. And, it was composed by Richard Strauss and not the celebrated creator of the delightful Strauss waltzes, Johann Strauss. Next season at Lyric Opera looks to be brilliant.

Cynthia and I returned to my little unit to enjoy unfrosted, freshly baked from a box, chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.............and, of course, more wine.

Posted by leah at March 20, 2006 02:00 PM
Comments

you tell the sister's weekend story very well...I may plagurize it.

Posted by: rita on March 20, 2006 05:40 PM

u bettr lern to spel first!

Posted by: Blue-eyed Blonde on March 21, 2006 08:24 PM
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