Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that Saturday was my friend Luzanne’s party where we began with pizza, salad and a vintage candy buffet with old time treats like Ice Cubes, Good & Plenty, candy cigarettes, Caramel Cremes, Slo-pokes, licorice, Razzles, Tootsie Rolls, Sugar Daddies, Dots, Swedish Fish, Necco wafers, and dozens more. Current goodies like M&Ms and Snickers were also included.

There was quite a collection of Christmas sweaters, headwear, and jewelry. One guest wore this suit (or something very close) which had electric colored lights blazing from under the material. The two hostesses wore blue dresses like those worn in White Christmas. They also had the blue gloves and fans.

After people had their fill of candy, we moved on to the Music Box Theater for their 35th Annual Christmas Sing-Along showing of White Christmas. Before the film started the Southport Carolers led the audience in song accompanied on the organ. Then Santa arrived and led us in more songs including one the organist wrote.

Then the movie starts but the singing doesn’t stop. The audience sang along with Crosby, Kaye, Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Also there were plenty of funny comments during the film including hissing at the nosey housekeeper. I’m glad we got jingle bells at the party because they came in handy throughout the evening.

Sunday I visited St. John Cassius church in Chicago. Built in 1893, it’s listed as one of the “11 Churches You should See in Chicago.”

It’s a magnificent building which would fit in in Europe. Lots of gold, art, and majesty. I went to the 11 am Latin mass. It was the first time I attended a mass in Latin done in the Pre-Vatican II method. The priest didn’t face the public, but the altar. This mass differed from what I’m used to. While I studied Latin in college, it’s rusty. They had a small choir of people who sang the responses so there was more response than a few mumbles from people who’d forgotten their Latin.

The rest of the week was mainly slaving away at the department store, which I have quit, and helping a friend with some work problems.

Thanks to Eclectic Alli for hosting this Weekend Coffee Share.

Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m excited that advent’s started. Yesterday I went mass at Northwestern University’s Catholic center where I heard an exceptional homily.

The job is not going well. I’m counting the days. Last Monday, I learned that a colleague was taken away in handcuffs. It’s all very hush hush. Obviously she was caught stealing in one way or another. So we’re extremely short on help. I’ve volunteered to work extra. I immediately regretted that since I don’t like this store much and the woman who asked didn’t even say “thank you.”

The library’s reading challenge has begun. I haven’t been reading novels as much as I’d like so I’ve resumed. I’m reading Zola’s L’Argent (in English).

We’ve started to decorate the house for Christmas. Like last year, we’re doing so gradually. I’ve come to like that better than getting everything out in early December. I think this way there’s more anticipation.

Thanks to Eclectic Alli for hosting this Weekend Coffee Share.