I never understood the ins and outs of a refrigerator. I know that it keeps food inside it cold. I know that the outside is not cold. What I have never understood is what makes a fridge frost free? How do you defrost a fridge that is really overdue? Where do all those drips go that you occasionally hear? Why is it that older fridges have coils up the outside of the backs but newer ones don’t?

As my kids would say, I have a lot of book smarts but sometimes the commonsense goes away.

My old fridge – which was (operative word) very old and I bought off a friend second hand – died on Monday. It was still keeping things cold but was running constantly. I couldn’t, regardless of how cool I set the temp, get it to stop. I finally pulled its plug.

My new fridge is being delivered today. I figure this is a good time for me to clean the area where the fridge goes. The old fridge, and maybe all fridges – I have no point of reference, is really heavy. It is now on the screened porch. I am hoping I can convince the guys who deliver the new one to move this one further for me.

Here’s to cold food and wine and drink!

This weekend has not really held all that much to do on the calendar. My youngest is off on a scout camping trip and will bring home the prerequisite load and a half of laundry. My oldest at home is working all day today and was scheduled to work all day yesterday. The 16 year old insisted we practice for the parent/player tennis tournament which is tomorrow.

The true exhaustion, though, occured on Friday night. I was a volunteer at our high school’s annual drug and alcohol free after prom party. To prevent problems that can occur, we have a committee that throws a free party from midnight to 5:30 am after the prom. You are not allowed in after 2 am – I think that is the time – and definitely not if you are inebriated. The kids love it and out of a class of 195, we had around 130 show up for the party which is held at the high school.

Now you may wonder what could possibly be available at the building they are dying to get out of that would make kids come to the after prom party so here goes. Every senior that comes gets tickets for raffles. This year there was a car donated by a local dealership that was raffled off in the 5 am hour and you have to be present to win. But other than the big raffle, there were ten smaller raffles that you, if you were a member of the senior class, received tickets to bid on and a name was drawn about 5 also. These big items, but not car-sized, included dorm-sized fridges, a personal DVD player, a computer (I didn’t see one this year but know that this has been an item in the past), cash. Then, throughout the night, each senior wins at least on prize just for being there – a Brita pitcher, a gas card, gift cards to many stores, a fold-up chair, a floor lamp. There were prizes for everyone.

Then, there was the entertainment. We always have a casino tent where you can win prizes. There is a roulette wheel and card tables. There is a games section where you can win everything from cash to small little prizes. And, the big ticket entertainment, we hired a hypnotist. The man does a wonderful job with about 15 students being hypnotized. It was so funny, I nearly cried laughing so much.

And a photographer. His night starts about 5 pm at what is called the promenade. Each couple is introduced as they walk across the high school stage and poses for pictures. This is parents’ and families’ chance to take pics of the kids and the after prom party has a photographer who is here and also takes pics on his digital camera. He, then, goes to the prom and takes shots also. These are all taken to a one-hour development place (WalMart) so the kids can pick up the pics at the party with no charge to the kids. Then, the photographer continues at the after prom party, letting kids see all the shots he has and printing off those that people want.

And food…I cannot forget that there is food. Fruit skewers, chicken wings, shrimp cocktail, soda, water, subs, chips….it is amazing that with a lot of small schools in the area, a party like this is supported by the community. Not only do local merchants support the event, but the volunteers that spend a year planning and those, like myself, that show up to work it help assure the senior class they can celebrate their upcoming graduation without incidents.

Anyway, I am still, though I seem to keep waking up at 6 am, exhausted from being up all night Friday night.

It’s an annual event in June. Seems like there are lots of them but that explains my earlier post about the May and June calendars and lack of white space.

Last night was the Maine-Endwell Music Department’s Night of Jazz. Every year since 2001, this event has taken place in June. The event features a guest artist and the school district’s jazz bands and ensembles. This year the guest artist was Mister Dan Miller. He played with both the middle school jazz band and the high school jazz ensemble. On top of that, he did a “clinic” or workshop on improvisation prior to the start of the concert.

The middle school jazz band is an extra curricular group. There are not enough periods in a middle school day to add another band, nor is there space for them to practice. The group meets once a week after school until 4 pm. This means that sports and other commitments that take place after school may, and usually do, prevent the entire group from being present at any given time. Even last night, there was one member missing as he had opening night of The King and I, a local Cider Mill production.

The high school jazz ensemble is a high school class. It does meet daily. These are wonderful musicians and play almost as well as adult groups that I have heard.

On top of these two school groups, the guest artist and the two music directors performed three songs together with a small group of students providing backup.

It was long – a little of two hours of jazz – but a wonderful night out with great music!