Yesterday afternoon I ordered a variety of  things, including a few gifts - though I'm still having trouble deciding what to get for a number of family members.  I realize that nobody "needs" anything, which is what makes it all that more difficult.  

This idea doesn't work since NO ONE is going ANYWHERE these days!

Just have to put on my thinking cap...

Yesterday I stumbled upon a VERY entertaining Billy Crystal show on HBO, 700 Sundays, in which he 'introduces' us to  his family members and his life growing up in NY. If you get a chance, watch it!  

Billy Crystal brings his award-winning, one-man Broadway show to HBO in this deeply personal special.

Crystal glitters in this richly satisfying vehicle, and demonstrates that his bubbly, charismatic presence and laid-back acting ability need not be confined to the screen. He displays the type of effortless, easygoing rapport with the audience that many performers can strive a lifetime to perfect, proving himself a genuine theatre star.  The story is pure, nearly flawless Crystal, tracking him from birth through his Jewish upbringing and to the present day in hilarious and vividly moving fashion. The show is a loving look at the people who helped Crystal get where he is today: his family. He paints loving portraits of them all: his enterprising uncle Milt, who played a major role in the jazz world (he founded the Commodore label and introduced the young Crystal to many major music names); his other uncle Berns; his aunt Sheila, who must deal with a lesbian daughter and intolerant husband; and his grandparents, including an oddly encouraging (but flatulent) grandfather. Most important, however, were his parents: His hardworking father Jack died suddenly when Crystal was 15 - the play's title refers to the amount of time Crystal had with him - and his mother Helen had to bravely soldier on after Jack's death. She became his greatest hero, Crystal explains, his voice tinged with pride, awe, and even a bit of sadness. (She passed away following a stroke in 2001.) They were his two most important teachers, and instructed him on how to lead a successful, loving life; Crystal's late-show card game with God, in which he realizes the depths of his blessings and what he learned from his parents, is perhaps the single most moving scene currently on Broadway. This morning I signed up for an upcoming AQG Zoom presentation, in early January, with Mel Beach. Below is a link to view some of her quilts, which look delightful.  The last show I 'attended' got me pumped up to quilt (at least temporarily) and I'm hoping this one does the same.    Mel Beach quilt gallery