Amazing Adventures

We love good reviews!

2012-02-17T11:55:00.002-05:00

"Under [Muñoz's] skilled watch, Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms" left an indelible impression, as the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus struck the ideal blend of sensuousness and ritual. At full throttle, the power of the singers was daunting, while elsewhere, their stately pace and transparent vocalism invited listeners to ponder the text and bask in dissonance.Here's the review.Photo credit: Audience

Who's Your Cousin?

2012-02-16T06:52:00.003-05:00

I feel so lucky to know the Jazzman and be a part of his extended family. He has two brothers, with whom he has frequent, friendly interaction. His dad came from a family of five or six. One of those brothers had 14 kids, and one had 13. I forget all the numbers, but there are a bunch of cousins. They're all close. His dad's only sister passed on last fall, and most of the cousins were in the

How It's Done

2012-02-15T09:18:00.007-05:00

Ever since the 2011-2012 Cleveland Orchestra schedule came out, I've been looking forward to singing under the baton of Maestro Pierre Boulez. He is a legendary conductor, and he's been places and known people who are also legendary in the world of classical music.This week the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus are performing the Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms. I first heard bits of this work when I

Doing What One Needs to Do

2012-02-09T09:09:00.003-05:00

May I make a confession? I hate exercise. I have never enjoyed exercise, ever in my entire life. In Pathfinders (the Adventist equivalent of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts), I ran the 100 yard dash and did the high jump and broad jump and got lots of blue ribbons for swimming competitions. And I like to walk. But to tie on a pair of track shoes and actually walk out the door? That doesn't happen

Inspiration and Coming Back

2012-02-08T15:28:00.004-05:00

I've missed posting to this blog, but life has just been roiling with other things — singing, a new piano gig, work, and the vandalism problem (which appears to have abated - knock wood!).Blog post topics are starting to percolate in my brain, and I attribute that partly to having joined the gym around the corner and making myself regularly attend a cardio class. I hate every minute of it, and

What I Do While I Sleep ...

2012-01-21T08:01:00.005-05:00

I have very little in life to complain about, but I'll have to admit that I don't like this 5:00 a.m. schedule that the Jazzman is currently working. His alarm goes off at 4:08, and then he hits the snooze button and I lie there waiting for it to go off again at 4:15. He then tiptoes around getting ready to leave, leans down and kisses me good-bye around 4:35, then putters around the kitchen

How Do You Express Your Stress?

2012-01-06T15:33:00.004-05:00

The first time the Jazzman stayed over, I confessed that I wear a bite guard when I sleep. During my four years of ultrastress with Evil Ex-Fiancé From Hell, I became a grinder. Two days before leaving for a three-week trip to France, Switzerland and Germany, my jaw froze and I could only open my mouth 1". Oh, the amount of exquisite European cuisine that went uneaten on that trip!The Jazzman has

2011 - in Words

2012-01-05T20:03:00.006-05:00

There's a Facebook gadget called "Year in Status". The program will (allegedly) look at your status updates over the past year and pull out the most frequently used words, making them into a "cloud map" sort of image.The past year held challenges galore for me, so I thought it would be interesting to see how my status updates mapped out into the image.Alas, it appears all the program did was to

An Open Letter

2012-01-05T12:01:00.002-05:00

Dear Troubled Person/People Who Insist on Attacking My Home:I used to be a champion sleeper. I would lie in my bed and read a few pages of the book on my nightstand, or solve a few words in a Washington Post crossword puzzle, or work on a Sudoku puzzle, or write a few sentences in my journal, or just listen to a little soothing music. Then I would drift, peacefully, off to sleep. I might wake

Is This How It's Going to Be?

2011-12-22T09:46:00.004-05:00

Woke at midnight last night after a couple hours of sleep. Stared at the clock for a few minutes, then grabbed my phone and went to sit on Ridley's bed, peeking out the window at the location on the street where someone would come to throw rocks at my windows. Sat there for almost 10 minutes, then gave up and went back to bed, wide awake. Lay there working crossword puzzles and playing games on

Under Attack

2011-12-21T11:46:00.004-05:00

My house is under attack. Over the course of eighteen days, some person or persons have thrown rocks through a living room window on three separate occasions. The first time could have been some random incident. But when it happened again six days later with a large rock and a chunk of concrete instead of just a pretty, polished rock, it didn't feel so random. Then when those projectiles were

Ways to Communicate

2011-12-11T09:22:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel put upon that my communication with my mother is a one-way street. The last time she picked up the phone to call my number was about a year-and-a-half ago. So that proves she does know my number, right?But I must look at myself. I almost never call my children. Tyler and I email and text frequently through each day, as I work for him. Jaci and I see each other's posts on Facebook

Discovery of a New-to-Me Author

2011-12-07T09:47:00.003-05:00

Before we left for our trip to Ireland, I asked PianoLady, an avid reader, for some reading suggestions. She gave me several suggestions, I found and downloaded them, and started listening. No joy! As you know, I want content I can get lost in. I want content that will grab me and make me not want to turn off my MP3 player. I'm not a good book club member—I don't want to analyze and pick apart a

It's the Most Wonderful Time . . .

2011-12-03T10:25:00.000-05:00

Or, it's Christmas again. As a musician, I spend my Decembers providing holiday joy and magic and concertgoers.Last weekend I did two concerts with a local bass-baritone who has progressed very nicely in the world of opera. He's my younger son's age and is a delightful guy. We have great fun putting together a concert filled with holiday music, poems, readings, jokes and sing-a-longs. He's very

Thinking about gifting. Or, For Doug.

2011-12-02T16:40:00.002-05:00

The adults in the Jazzman's family draw names every Thanksgiving for Christmas gifting. Financial limits are set, and the holiday becomes manageable in this economically horrific era.One niece's significant other drew my name. And, to prevent trauma, I thought instead of just double-checking my Amazon wish list, I'd stop to think about the things I enjoy.Many holiday gifters wrinkle their noses

Heaven and the Lack Thereof

2011-12-02T14:40:00.006-05:00

First, I apologize for saying nothing for over three weeks. I honestly don't know where the time goes.Next, if you follow all my comings and goings to NC, I will report that my visit with Mother lasted 24 hours. I used impending rain as the excuse and got out as she was walking to dinner on the second day I was there. I have two statements to make about the visit: 1) She's doing remarkably well;

Songs Well Sung

2011-11-09T06:55:00.004-05:00

On October 6 and 9, the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus performed the Mozart Mass in C minor. Singing with this chorus is one of the great gifts Life has given me. I thought I'd share with you some reviews we received. The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Zachary LewisClevelandClassical.com - Daniel Hathaway (I especially like Hathaway's "as solid as granite" simile.)The Classical Music Connection:

Please Tell Me I'm Not Insane

2011-11-08T06:23:00.001-05:00

This morning I'm again driving to North Carolina. I'll stay about 36 hours, then turn around and head home. I don't want to go. I go because of [perceived] duty. I go because I try to treat my mother with respect. (I had to figure out on my own how to do that.) I go because I need to view myself as a good daughter. I go because it's the right thing to do.Each time I set out on this drive, I think

Who's To Blame

2011-11-07T09:31:00.004-05:00

Or: Why does anyone have to be blamed?Yesterday morning, with the sun shining outside, I took my cup of tea and my iPhone into the library to catch up on my Words With Friends games. The library is my favorite room in my house, and I hadn't taken advantage of it in at least a month. I was sitting peacefully, cat at my feet, when the Jazzman walked in. He sat down next to me, bumped his shoulder

One Day

2011-10-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

Before Mozart C minor Mass hell week and all its affiliated time-in-the-car, I was searching on Audible for a new book. I chose "One Day", by David Nicholls. I liked the idea of peeking into the lives of two people on the same day every year for twenty years.I've been enjoying it immensely, and will see the movie as soon as it comes out on video next month.There are so many good lines in this

Old Friends

2011-10-19T07:38:00.000-04:00

For the past umpty-seven years, PianoLady and I have been meeting in New York City for a Broadway weekend. (Want to read the accounts dating back to 2006?) This year we decided to change things up a little. She has two sons in college; I have bills I'm trying to consolidate. It was time to hold our purses a little tighter.Her across-the-street neighbor has become a dear friend. They discuss books

It's the Little Things That Count

2011-10-18T10:26:00.004-04:00

The first "little thing" of the day was Angel. As I was waking up, he crawled up on my chest and went to sleep. He loves on his own terms, which is not what I like in a cat. However, his parsimonious love makes it all the more precious.Last spring the Jazzman and I went somewhere; I was ill-equipped for the cool weather that blew in. He tossed me a black sweatshirt hoodie from the trunk of the

Gloria!

2011-10-07T14:09:00.002-04:00

Taking a moment out of a very busy day to share with you the review of last night's Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus performance of Mozart's Mass in C minor. We in the chorus thought it was an incredible performance. I am honored to be a part of this organization!

Family of Choice

2011-10-06T12:34:00.004-04:00

Boston was talking the other day about drawing a family tree. We joked that if he included all my husbands and step-children, he would need another nine pages.Years ago (1983, to be exact), after finding my birthmother and having her ask me never to contact her again, I began researching my genealogy. The thrill of finding actual relations, even though only on paper, was unsurpassed in my

The Calming of Chaos

2011-09-22T16:29:00.003-04:00

My work life the past five months has ranged from famine to feast. Let's face it—my personal life has been running at the speed of light also. I'm hoping work stays at feast, but feast can be hard to manage. My boss recently got a new client that seems to be needing my help a lot. I am getting eight-to-ten emails a day from this client with changes that need to be made to their site. All the

Me, as Activist

2011-09-21T08:19:00.004-04:00

Oh, stop laughing! I am well aware that I'm probably the most non-confrontational person you've ever known. But Jo-Ann's has pushed me over the edge, and I'm fighting back the only way I can.A while back I discovered the iPhone app for Jo-Ann's. I was thrilled. The app would present the Jo-Ann's coupons to me and let me choose which ones I wanted to use and save them to my phone. Then, when

Personal Rants and Raves vs Artistic Joy

2011-09-15T16:22:00.001-04:00

I've been renovating my lesser-used blog today, getting it ready to become a project gallery. And I've started posting the travel photos from Ireland, if you're interested. Travel photos at "Exploring Art, One Project at a Time".

The Grand Irish Adventure

2011-08-29T04:58:00.013-04:00

I'm going to attempt to "live blog" here, sorta. I'll try to post a daily update, and previous updates will be pushed farther down the page. There will only be one page, so you can bookmark this page and keep checking back. ---13 Sep 2011 5:20 p.m. - Home, Sweet HomeYes, I am aware that we've been home for a week now and I haven't finished my account of the trip. Can I blame jet lag, and a

Like a Madwoman!

2011-08-24T10:24:00.004-04:00

I'm preparing for a little trip. (Sssh, I'm not supposed to talk about it online, as my guy is a little paranoid about someone reading my status and breaking into our house. Or something. Whatever. Just don't tell him I talked about our trip. Please?) I've been sewing up a storm. New brown slacks from Marcy Tilton's Vogue 8712, which I've taken apart and resewn about four times to get them just

Dreams DO Come True!

2011-08-13T07:29:00.004-04:00

My babes are with me for the weekend while their parents relax with friends in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. This morning I'm dawdling in bed, the Jazzman having left for work at 6:00, the birds chirping outside my window, the air cool with the promise of fall. I'm waiting for the babes to wake up, knowing the day to come will be a whirlwind of activity for this ol' grandma. Last night

On having totally lost my mind.

2011-08-05T21:36:00.005-04:00

It cannot possibly have been two-and-a-half weeks since the last time I posted on this site!Let's see—there was a four-day incredibly stressful period in North Carolina, then a Saturday party to attend, then the Mt. Carmel Italian Festival, then a week of crazy shopping and sewing to get ready for a Saturday night wedding, then a Sunday baseball game, then a week filled with work. And through it

Unspoken Thoughts

2011-07-19T10:42:00.006-04:00

I sit in the gazebo of the nursing home with my 98yo mother and 15 other residents. Each has half of a swimming pool noodle. Teenagers from a nearby day camp are playing Noodle Ball with them, tossing balloons to them to bat back with their noodles.Mother's mind is still in great shape. She beat me at Scrabble last night, and will probably do so again tonight As I rolled her out here, she said,

On the Road Again . . .

2011-07-18T05:00:00.001-04:00

Off to North Carolina again to check on Mother.

Secret Vices

2011-07-17T09:30:00.004-04:00

Okay, I like romance novels. So report me to the literature police. When I've got a nine-hour drive ahead (two-per-week every other week for the past six weeks or so), I want something that will capture my interest and keep my mind from wandering.I was searching Audible.com before my last trip to find something suitable for the trip, and I happened across Sherryl Woods's "Chesapeake Shores"

Growth Spurts

2011-07-16T10:03:00.002-04:00

Little Miss Long-Legs Ridley is growing about an inch a week. Yesterday I took the babes to the playground. When she was climbing up a metal structure she'd climbed on many times before (as a much shorter child), she whacked her skull on a metal bar and came crying to me.She's eight years old, trapped in the body of a 15-year-old. It's a steep price to pay for what a long, cool drink of water

Driving on the Left

2011-07-15T10:16:00.005-04:00

The Jazzman and I are planning a week-long vacation in Ireland. I've traveled in Europe quite a bit, but only once without the aid of an itinerary planned by a travel professional. In 2002, I met my then-fiancé in Paris. We spent a day in Paris, a few days in Lyon, a few days in Geneva, a week roaming around Switzerland, two days in Germany on tour with my chorus from Washington, then a few more

Melancholia - or not!

2011-07-01T10:18:00.002-04:00

If "melancholy" means long-lasting sadness, what is the word for long-lasting happiness? Contentment? Bliss?Whatever that word is, it describes my mood today. I was noticing the date was July 1, and wondering where on earth June went. Then I realized that since May 29, my mother's life has turned upside down in a most disastrous manner, and I've traveled to North Carolina three times.But now I

Whew!

2011-06-30T09:58:00.010-04:00

That was a fast trip! Left the house at 6:15 on Monday morning, indulged in a quick stop at Waechter's Fine Fabrics in Asheville, then arrived at Mother's bedside at 4:45. There had been some hiccups in her condition on Sunday and she was taken back to the hospital for tests. Alas, all the skilled and caring medical professionals working with and around her do not realize that her grimaces are

2011-06-24T12:01:00.005-04:00

I've never particularly thought that Ridley looked anything like her father. I always pictured her features to come from her mother. However, today I found a picture of Tyler taken in second grade. Coincidentally, Ridley just completed second grade. Look at those eyes! Look at those eyebrows! I may have to change my opinion.

And a Good Day Was Had By All . . .

2011-06-23T06:44:00.002-04:00

Here's the postscript on birthday celebration #61:I picked up Boston and Ridley at 9:00. Nobody in their house remembered it was my birthday. (Lesson One: Learn to be less subtle.) We headed to the Cleveland Zoo, stopping first at the Panera on Richmond in Warrensville Heights for morning pastries to tide us over. I splurged for the calories on a chocolate pastry, my absolute fave.When we got to

Secrets and Confessions

2011-06-22T08:40:00.002-04:00

May I tell you a secret? I hate birthdays! No, it's more than that. I hate my birthdays. I hate expectations. If I could wipe out expectations, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Those expectations always lead to disappointment.I pride myself on being a good gifter, as I've written about before. Unfortunately, that makes me expect others to give accordingly.I've been in financial chaos for a long time.

Ultimate Compliments

2011-06-19T10:59:00.002-04:00

The Jazzman paid me a compliment recently, and it was one of the best (and most insightful) compliments I believe I've ever received. We were talking about my oldest brother, who has a severely diseased heart. He is a transplant candidate, and lives now with the aid of an internal defibrillator and pacemaker. Tyler was asking how his uncle's heart got so bad. I replied, "He got Daddy's heart."The

But It's MY Perception!

2011-06-17T18:43:00.003-04:00

I perceive my beloved Daddy as having been unconditionally loving, accepting, and nurturing. I perceive my not-so-beloved Mother as having been critical, rigid, and never satisfied. That's my worldview, my Weltanschauung. I've lived with it for 61 years (next week), and you haven't. I've carried around my baggage of being unloved and unlovable. You haven't. I've developed habit patterns to try to

Life Cycle

2011-06-16T14:59:00.005-04:00

Molly and I sit across the room from each other. Mother's bed lies between us such that we can't see each other. She reads a bridge guide, expanding her knowledge of the game. The playlist Jim loaded on her iPod Shuffle plays in her ear, and she occasionally sings along. A novel about a knitting group plays in mine, as I work on a cotton and silk summer scarf. Mother lies between us. She is

Customer Service

2011-06-15T10:17:00.004-04:00

When Molly and I arrived yesterday morning, Mother immediately volunteered, "I had the meanest nurse!" We wanted to know what the nurse had done that Mother had perceived as mean."She walked in here, said, 'Are you alright?', and left."We asked her what she had answered. Had she said she was okay? "Yes", she answered.Okay, so what was she expecting? I guess she was expecting someone to hang

Quick Update

2011-06-13T06:02:00.002-04:00

Mother fell and broke her hip yesterday. I'm heading south, to meet my sister-in-law, who is flying north. More later.

Wandering through One's Memories

2011-06-10T10:02:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had the grandbabes at my house on a Friday evening. It was a dusky pre-summer evening, 8ish, and we were playing outside with balls. For some reason, they've named this game we created "War". It involves pots and pans and bouncy rubber balls. And the best part? It gets rid of lots of energy!!As we were playing outside, I was suddenly transported in my memories back to my

Getting Younger and Younger

2011-06-03T09:53:00.003-04:00

I flew to Atlanta last Sunday to drive up to the mountain cottage for our family celebration of Mother's 98th birthday. When I left her on Monday afternoon, I was angrier and more disgusted with her than I've ever been in my entire life. On Tuesday I screwed up my courage, called her, and told her I was angry. I'm almost sixty-one years old, and that's the very first time I've had the courage to

Spring at Last!

2011-05-26T16:11:00.004-04:00

Honestly? This has been the longest, coldest, wettest winter/pseudo-spring of my entire life. For a Southern Belle, this kind of protracted wet cold is simply no fun.But finally we have some warmth and spring blossoms. We had horrific pollen and sneezing for about three weeks, but that seems to be gone to, and not a moment too soon.This is COC hell week again - although not as arduous as most

Date Night

2011-05-24T11:24:00.003-04:00

The Jazzman picked up a Cleveland Indians Community Appreciation Program package. For $35, you get four free tickets (up to $36 each) and several Buy One - Get One tickets. So last night we went to the ball game!(I'll skip the whole part about the one-hour rain delay and tornado/thunderstorm watches. We didn't get too wet, and we had a great time.)We sat in the Field Box, about 20 rows up, just

It All Works Together

2011-05-18T09:21:00.004-04:00

Over the past two weekends, I watched my younger son perform three times. Easy Street Productions brought "Forever Plaid" back to the Ford Recital Hall. (Here's the review.)It was such a joy for me to watch this man perform. His first experiences with theatre were during his summers living with me in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Because of his innate musicality, he won a leading role in every musical

Who Would Have Dreamed?!

2011-05-17T18:47:00.006-04:00

Even if I do have limited work available to me and associated limited income, there is an upside: I'm available to take the kids to school!This morning I was listening to the Coffee House channel on SiriusXM radio on my way home from my Montessori run. It's a channel devoted to singer-songwriters, mostly with acoustic music. A song came on and I was instantly identifying with the lyrics.I have a

What Makes People Go Bad?

2011-05-17T18:17:00.004-04:00

This afternoon, in my never-ending decluttering effort, I'm scanning in a bunch of photos of my mother. She's turning 98 next week, and—ever the optimist—I don't want to have to rush to put together a "slideshow" for her memorial service when she dies.In one envelope I found pictures of each of Mother's three sisters—Helen, Louise, and Betty—at age 18. These would have been taken in 1915, 1919,

A Rose by Any Other Name ...

2011-05-14T07:29:00.004-04:00

Each weekday morning I devote two hours to Rosie O'Donnell's Sirius/XM radio show. Rosie and her team present many viewpoints that I've never considered before, and discuss topics that just wouldn't otherwise come across my radar screen. It's quite mind-expanding for this ex-Adventist girl who was never taught to think for herself. They're going off the air soon, as Rosie prepares for her new TV

A Lovely Day

2011-05-12T11:17:00.001-04:00

Sunday was Mother's Day here in the U.S. It's not a big deal to me anymore, but let me explain why.When FOMC and I divorced in 1981, he got custody of the children. He played a few tricks to get sole custody, and he worked very hard over the next several years to turn my children against me. Obviously, he was unsuccessful.These statements are totally my opinion. They do not reflect

Changing One's Perspective

2011-05-04T17:13:00.003-04:00

If you're a longtime reader, you know I've been living in the state of Financial Fiasco since selling my Tucson houses at a gross and grotesque loss in 2008. That state was not helped along by the fact that I was commuting 120 miles a day, at 28 mpg and gas prices that spent much of the time hovering over $4.00. I've always thought "bankruptcy" was a dirty word. I believe we as Americans tend to

Fragments of Prose

2011-05-03T01:43:00.001-04:00

Words fly through my mind. Things I read and hear remind me of things I want to express through writing. Sometimes these expressions make it to ink or pixels, and sometimes they just float off into the ether.Yesterday afternoon I was giving my office a long-overdue straightening. I found a pad on which I had written the beginning of thoughts formed while spending time with my granddaughter.She's

Inappropriate Teaching

2011-05-02T09:00:00.002-04:00

My latest read is Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor". I grabbed it off Audible because it was under $10 and I needed something to pass a couple of Cleveland and Akron commutes. It has captured my interest, but not in a can't-put-it-down way. More in a what-outrageous-thing-is-he-going-to-say-next way.When one observes parents teaching their children the basic facts of life—"that's a 'tree', that's a '

Rethinking One's Position

2011-04-26T09:18:00.002-04:00

I've always been pretty conservative in my thinking. And I was raised in a very straight-laced Christian mindset. Oh, wait—what I'm saying is I was not thought to think for myself. I was taught to accept whatever I was told without thinking.That oughta be a crime!When all the furor about gay marriage started a few years ago, I was adamantly against it. I didn't discuss it with anyone—I was also

Learning by Doing

2011-04-25T14:06:00.003-04:00

Probably the biggest challenge with getting one's feet wet in any new venture is learning how to use the available tools.My Etsy store shelves are holding a bunch of this and that—things I've lovingly made and things I'm tired of working around.My biggest mistake, to date, was in not understanding the shipping profile. The user can set up several shipping profiles that will pre-fill some of the

Follow-Up on Overdue Decluttering

2011-04-18T13:49:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned in Overdue Decluttering, the Jazzman and I went to look at a house two miles away. There was a lot wrong with the house, but I love the street and the lot and the neighbors. We called the realtor last Friday to make an appointment to draw up an offer. He called back that evening to tell us the bank had accepted an offer on the house.Five years ago the house sold for around $190,000

And How Do You Use Clothesline?

2011-04-17T20:02:00.007-04:00

This weekend's decrease-the-stash project began when I unearthed three pieces of fabric that I had hand-painted about ten years ago. I found a coordinating polka dot print stashed away that I loved with the three hand-paints. Then I started wrapping and stitching.This is my third effort with this technique. Effort number one used up a yard-and-a-half total of two companion fabrics that have been

I'm a Good Girl, I Am!

2011-04-15T12:26:00.003-04:00

Spring has finally arrived in Northeast Ohio, and I can only hope that we won't get any more miniblasts of winter! The winter just passed was long and hard, and I'm not sad to say "Farewell!"As the flora is beginning to green up, I'm needing to clean out the beds around the house to make room for growth. Last Sunday afternoon, while the Jazzman was golfing, I got out and did some raking and

Things We've Known That Are On The Way Out

2011-04-11T09:04:00.003-04:00

My friend-of-30-years, JW, sent me a compelling piece of text this morning. I've searched and searched, to no avail, to try to find the original author of the piece. With each new gadget that Apple or Amazon introduces, I shake my head and wonder, "Why do we need this?" and then "How did we live without this."Sometimes I long for the days when we were not all instantly available to everyone in

Overdue Decluttering

2011-04-08T12:19:00.003-04:00

Or: Choosing the Right Perspective.The Jazzman and I have been occasionally driving past a certain house for nine months while we waited for it to go through foreclosure. The next-door neighbors on one side are friends of mine. Two doors over on the other side, the homeowners are friends of the Jazzman. There are a number of features I like about the house, the two most important being a very

Remote Knit Along

2011-04-05T11:40:00.009-04:00

I started knitting for the second time in my life two-and-a-half years ago. Now if I take a trip and don't have at least two skeins of yarn with me, I become very anxious. Gotta keep those hands and that brain busy.I have several knitting blogs feeding my Google Reader. One of these, Random Musings on Crazy For Ewe, is written by Ellen, the owner of a local yarn store (LYS) in southern Maryland.

Fitting In

2011-04-04T10:25:00.002-04:00

I've written a number of times in this space about feeling, throughout my life, that I didn't fit in. I know I'm not alone. Lots and lots of people don't fit in where they've been dropped on earth.I loved and respected the environment at Interlochen Arts Academy when my younger son was a student there. That school made it possible for hyper-talented young people who didn't fit in at their home

What One Thing Do You Do Best?

2011-03-30T12:26:00.004-04:00

All day yesterday I was thinking about and composing the content of my "The Best" post. In the late afternoon (after delivering my tax documents to the accountant's office—Yea!!!), I went to the university music school to accompany my friend's voice lesson.This is a paying gig that I'm oh-so-thrilled to have snagged, as I believe—er, hope—it can lead to more of the same.As I sat there, in front

Are You the Best?

2011-03-30T11:17:00.007-04:00

I've heard several conversations in the past week or so on talk radio shows about people wanting to be the best. The very best in their field. The very best of anyone doing whatever it is they do.When you are a jack-of-many-trades, as I am, that's a tough standard by which to be measured. I have had a multi-faceted career (makes you think of a diamond, huh?). I've been a writer, secretary,

How underrated is communication?

2011-03-25T08:23:00.003-04:00

I learned with great sadness the other day that a dear friend and his wife have separated and are proceeding to divorce. What I heard about the problems and misunderstandings that precipitated this split indicated a total breakdown of communication. It breaks my heart.Another friend, whose marriage broke up years ago, told me he didn't even know why his wife wanted out. He had never been able to

Folding the Map

2011-03-24T14:43:00.004-04:00

Lately my life feels like a map. I've always been very good at map-reading. But that was when I knew where I was and where I wanted to go.Lately I have no idea what the destination is or should be. My thoughts and plans change daily. "If this, then that" goes through two dozen permutations each day.If I get a job and can stop accepting social security and let my allotment grow. If the banks would

Nothin' Could Be Finer . . .

2011-03-21T19:25:00.002-04:00

than to hold a ten-week old baby and watch him sleep.The Jazzman has a new greatnephew, who (along with Mom and Dad) visited his grandparents and great-grandmother in Columbus over the weekend. As much as it pained me to miss the Grand Opening soirée of my daughter-in-law's beautiful new photography studio in the Ward Bakery Building, the coming out of Riley James [Hagan] Haseley had to take

97 Across: A tool for keeping your brain nimble

2011-03-18T08:52:00.007-04:00

Some of my clearest memories of my precious daddy are from my college years when I was still living at home. He was working shorter days then (7a-7p, instead of 6a-11p). He and Mother were living in a lovely home in Spring Valley, and his "man cave" included a Duncan Phyfe couch upholstered in an antiqued red velvet, a ceiling painted red, and a wall of bookcases. It was in this room that he

Hell Week, Again

2011-03-09T13:53:00.003-05:00

This week is COChorus hell week for the Dvořák Te Deum, which we will perform with the orchestra on Thursday and Saturday nights this week. Our normal rehearsal night is Monday, but in preparation for this performance, we had a Sunday night rehearsal. I drove for 75 minutes, rehearsed for 90 minutes, and drove another 75 minutes. And worth every minute of the drive!But that switch in rehearsal

Finishing the Story

2011-03-05T07:09:00.005-05:00

Woke at 4:30 with a headache. Nurse came in at 5:00 to prick Mother's finger and inject her. Got up at 7:00, showered and dressed, to breakfast at 7:30. Back from breakfast. Mother laid down and napped. I cleaned my knitting bag, found a partial ball of yarn, and started an experimental project. Mother got up around 11:30 and we walked down at 11:45 for lunch. After lunch we walked to the

A Day in the Life

2011-03-03T06:12:00.004-05:00

Nurse came in around 5:30 to prick Mother's finger and give her injection Got up around 6:30, showered, dressed. Went with Mother to the dining room. The staff were wearing scrubs, the residents were wearing jammies and robes. I was the only person in real clothes. Had scrambled eggs and bacon. Have never eaten bacon in front of her before. My place in hell is now secure. Came back from

Aging

2011-03-02T08:49:00.004-05:00

Just a quick note this morning with no theme-suggestive images. My mother was always an immaculate housekeeper. You know the phrase "you could eat off the floor"? Her house was always so clean you truly could eat off the floor. Over the past couple of years while she was still living on her own, my sister-in-law and I started noticing changes. There was dust where dust would never have been

The Pace of Walking - Toward Meals

2011-03-01T18:22:00.002-05:00

When my two-months-short-of-98yo mother heads to her Assisted Living dining room for meals, she races like a three-year-old. However, when we're having a conversation about something that it's somewhat important for her to remember, she remembers like a three-year-old.For the next few days, I'll be south of Asheville, NC, getting some face time with my mother. I'm the Designated Visiting Child

[Not so] Random Acts of Kindness

2011-02-25T08:10:00.008-05:00

I have a friend, Ypsi, whom I've mentioned here before. I met her, oddly enough, in the play space at the mall when I first arrived in Youngstown. Her daughter and my grandson hit it off, and she was over-the-top gracious to me, inviting me to join her book group and her knitting group. She became the first friend I made on my own in Y'town and, as such, is treasured.She's been oohing and aahing

What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?

2011-02-24T19:17:00.003-05:00

Have you ever had life situations attack you such that you just didn't know what to say? That's where I am and why I haven't had much to say on this blog lately.A couple of months ago I became aware that my income was going to drop off and I needed to find other work to supplement my income. Unfortunately, "other work" has not materialized. I've applied to things that suited my resumé but—as we

A Shy Inner Light

2011-02-09T09:37:00.006-05:00

Today's post is precariously multifaceted. Let me see if I can make sense of both these faces.I just finished reading Kim Edwards' The Lake of Dreams. Several Many times while reading, I wondered why I had selected to download this book. Then, a third or a half of the way in, the content grabbed me.When I look back at the Audible.com description of the book, I think I was drawn in by "secrets"

Can You Keep Stuff Too Long?

2011-02-07T07:59:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend, I was going through a box of photos that I brought back from Mother's apartment when she moved into the Assisted Living Facility. My older brother wants to see some pictures that were taken in about 1972 when he went with my parents on a trip to Japan, so I was searching through years and years of things Mother has saved.Deep down in this box I found a plastic bag containing

Luck or Fluke?

2011-02-05T09:41:00.005-05:00

I have my thermostat programmed to let the house settle down to 55° at night, and then bring the house back up to 63° in the morning, about half an hour before the Jazzman's alarm goes off. (Lest you tell me 63° is not warm enough for humans in houses, I will say that the thermostat for this house is funky. I'm comfortable at 63° It feels like 68 or 70 in other houses.)Yesterday morning he hit

Done Frogging

2011-02-04T09:26:00.005-05:00

You are to be commended for not complaining when I left my "Frogging" post up for so long. PianoLady did send me an e-mail saying, essentially, "Get off your butt, Woman!" So I am getting off my butt and back to this blog.I finished the sweater Tuesday a week ago (1/25/11), blocked it overnight, and wore it on Wednesday afternoon to pick up the babes from dance class for Dinner-with-Grandma. Why?

Hot Off the Sewing Machine

2011-02-04T08:38:00.004-05:00

Yes, you're right. I've been absent lately.My brain is overloaded with the anticipation of changes—job changes, money changes, life changes. (Relax, no changes re family or Significant Other.) As things settle down and become clearer, I'll tell you more. But as I'm weighing and balancing and considering all these changes, I haven't had much to say in this public forum.So I'll share what's been

I'm Frogging!

2011-01-20T10:56:00.004-05:00

No, my headline does not have anything to do with frogs. Or Fire-Bellied Toads, which today's photo shows. Miss Ridley recently got a Fire-Bellied Toad, but I digress.I've been working on knitting a sweater for the past couple of months. My activity really heated up when we went to Hilton Head for New Year's. It was so cold outside that we just stayed inside and I got a lot of knitting done. The

On Becoming a Cook - Again

2011-01-17T18:01:00.005-05:00

For years I've joked that I don't cook. I confess that I try to always marry men who cook. I have a thousand cute sayings I throw in to divert the listener from the fact that I'm a woman who can't cook.["Given the number of hours in the day, I'd rather spend them sewing/knitting/making music." - "I'd rather slave over a hot computer/sewing machine/kiln than a hot stove." - and so on.]Well, I got

Love and Passion

2011-01-13T12:23:00.002-05:00

I'm filled with joyous melancholy (is that an oxymoron?) this week as I look back to my time, a year ago, of getting to know the Jazzman. A line of dialogue from "The Good Wife" episode that aired earlier this week struck me, and reflected how lucky I feel that we have comfortably moved into a loving life together.In the scene, Alicia's brother, Owen, is visiting, after being caught cheating by

Stories to be Told

2011-01-13T08:31:00.004-05:00

Today's Daily Thought from Real Simple magazine grabbed me:“Behind the story I tell is the one I don’t …. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you hear.” ― Dorothy AllisonI watch and read anything regarding adoption that comes across my radar screen. So many stories are of wonderful, heart-wrenching reunions—hugs, kisses, tears, the sharing of stories that fill the holes of

Making Space

2011-01-12T07:30:00.004-05:00

I've been having the craziest dreams lately. While on vacation, I had several dreams about my lifelong best friend. I had noticed a change in her Facebook status, but had not heard any news from her, so was feeling hurt and rejected (which, you know, I do so well and automatically jump to in any slightly questionable situation!) (oh, and then thinking it must have been a Facebook error!). I kept

Open and Shut

2011-01-11T18:38:00.003-05:00

I've been trying to get through John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany". When I downloaded it, I was thinking I had read some John Irving in the past and enjoyed it. Now, looking back to wonder why on earth I wanted to read this book, I search his bibliography and realize I've never read any of his works. Hmm, wonder who I was thinking of!I rarely put down a book once I've started it. But in the

One Year, and Counting

2011-01-10T11:54:00.003-05:00

This was the profile picture I saw on Match.com a little over a year ago.After several introductory and exploratory e-mails flew back and forth across the fifteen miles that separated our homes (a couple including my whines about a home improvement project I was up to my elbows in), this was how he asked me out:I'm off for the next couple of days, would you like to meet and have coffee? We could

'Tis More Blessed . . .

2011-01-07T12:59:00.002-05:00

When you reach the first Christmas of a relationship, and your primary goal is reducing debt and guarding spending, choosing a gift for your loved one is a challenge.I had been keeping my eyes and ears open, watching and listening to the Jazzman's spoken and unspoken wishes. From the night I put a lamp on the end of the bedroom dresser, he would get into bed, then clap his hands twice, imitating

It Takes One's Breath Away!

2011-01-06T12:14:00.006-05:00

I just learned shocking news. I was digging through file drawers searching for a paper when I came across the address book/calendar that John always carried in his briefcase. I kept it in case I'd ever need to contact one of his old friends.I flipped through the pages before putting it back in the drawer and noticed the entry "Karl & Donna Teepe" (TEH-pee). Karl was his closest friend at the

Taking a Leap of Faith

2011-01-05T16:12:00.003-05:00

A year ago today I received an e-mail from a man who saw me on Match.com. When I saw his note, to which Match had attached his picture and the introductory paragraph of his profile, I didn't really remember having looked at his profile. Match sends active members five potential matches each day—"We think you might like this person." You have to click on each one and indicate interest, disinterest

Memories of Holidays Past

2011-01-05T14:28:00.004-05:00

As I was thinking about the quiet (and delightful) evening I shared with the Jazzman on New Year's Eve, I reminisced back to the best and worst NYE's I had experienced. The absolute worst occurred while I've been writing this blog.Here's the link.(And if you want to read more about this guy, type kayaker into the search bar of my blog. I realize now that's how he was referred to earlier in the

Ho, Ho, Ho

2010-12-30T17:37:00.005-05:00

Yes, I've been busy and not posting. Yes, I've been away. The Jazzman and I spent Thanksgiving with his family, so Christmas meant seeing my family.When one's mother is 97½, every significant day is perceived as, "this might be her last [insert name of significant day]".As my sister-in-law, who lives in Tampa, and I were ironing out the details of the trip, we kept watching the weather forecast.

Out of the Mouths . . .

2010-12-16T17:11:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I took the g'babes to school—just helpin' out. On the way, Ridley told me she's getting an iPod Touch. Boston started telling me about the conversation Ridley had with her mother about allocation of a check she had received for Christmas. Ridley interrupted Boston and said, "No, that's not the money." He retorted, "I was just telling Grandma the whole conversation." She said, "Oh," and

It's not even winter yet!

2010-12-13T09:42:00.005-05:00

Just in case you don't live in Ohio, I'll give you a little clue. It's cold!By the time this winter storm advisory ends on Wednesday morning, we should have about two feet of snow. Would you like to know what shoveling that is like if one is not fortunate enough to own a snow blower? It's exhausting and hard on the shoulders and back. I'm not looking forward to this exercise!But I am very

Lotsa Music

2010-12-13T09:09:00.002-05:00

From Sunday a week ago to yesterday I had five rehearsals and six performances. I was thinking that was a lot until I realized that many of my COChorus colleagues had even more!A few months ago I had agreed to accompany Jason Budd in two holiday concerts. Jason is a local boy who has done very well in the world of opera, both as a singer and, lately, as director. He and Tyler met while they were