Some Reasons Why....

There is a long story behind this post, but I don’t think it is necessary to tell it. I will simply say that it has to do with music. You can draw your own conclusions. Here and now, I intend to answer, in part, a question I asked of Ski the other day. So, I will tell you now why I married you (or at least some of the reasons).

• You make me laugh
• We were friends first
• You were a poet and you wrote my heart
• You walked in the rain with me
• You understand things I never say
• You have always listened to me (unless you were asleep)
• You think I am funny
• You didn’t think I was weird
• You are the most creative person that I know
• You have a song for any occasion (even if it is making dinner)
• God intended us for each other before we ever knew each other
• You showed me what you loved
• You wanted to know what I liked
• You never complain about my music
• You were persistent
• You think I am fun to be around
• You’re my best friend in the world
• You showed me that I should never be ashamed of myself
• You find me interesting
  

Those are just a few of the reasons I married you. And all those and more are the reasons I am still married to you…A few more reasons are below

• You are fun to be around
• You write down things that I say I like
• You think about me
• You have held me and cared for me when I thought I would never smile again
• You help me enjoy life and forget myself
• You try new things when the old stuff is more comfy
• You love Italian and Chinese
• You love my children
• You are the most persevering man that I know – you’re such a wonderful and inspiring example to me!!
• You say that you like my music (even the opera)
• It brings you joy to see me smile
• You hold my hand
• You are the most patient man that I know
• You miss me
  

Tell Me It Isn't So.....

Ski has vowed not to post about this, so it is left to me. Lucky You!!!

Last night, Ski said, "How about a date night?!?!" I am always game for a night out, so I said, "Sure!!" We weren't sure what to do. Our favorite thing is to go and have Italian, but we were a bit short on the moolah and had had dinner anyway. We thought we would have dessert. Well, as much as I like ice cream, I am not keen on getting ice cream in the winter. My choice would be some pie, but apparently, there aren't any places that make pie anymore. Oh, and before someone mentions Bob Evans, I was sorely disappointed last time I ventured out for pie and tried them. After much thought and a stop at our usual romantic spot (Walmart), we decided to get tiramisu to go from Carraba's and take it down the road to Starbucks where we could sit and talk for awhile. When we pulled into the parking lot of Starbucks, I got a bit excited. I noticed what I thought was the car belonging to our favorite Barrista/SB manager. She doesn't normally work nights, so this was a real surprise. We ambled on up to the door only to find that it was CLOSED!!!! WHAT?!?!?! So off we went to the next closest Starbucks. It looked promising with people inside. And what is more, I was nearly run over by a Volvo driving, maniacal patron. Nope. It too, was closed. I think the maniacal patron was desperately in need of a caffeine buzz!! So, dear Ski, who is a determined kind of fellow, drove off 11 miles further to find us some good coffee. To our amazement, that store was also closed. So we forlornly headed to a nearby Chick-fil-a where I had a pretty darn bad cup of coffee. I think it was the dregs of the pot. :( Let me tell you, CFA is not very conducive to having meaningful conversation. This is especially true when there is a table full of noisy teens nearby discussing who is "Hot" and why they don't like that singer's music anymore.

Later, we discovered that all of the Starbucks stores in the nation were closed last night (unless you found yourself in an airport or a grocery store). But seriously, we were in a grocery store later and that one wasn't open either. Now, apparently Dunkin' Donuts and a local coffee chain knew about this and had deals for their patrons. We had no clue. And Ski had even watched the morning news and read his online news yesterday and didn't hear a word about it. I am even on their email list.

In other news here....we had snow today.
Seriously!!
It was hilarious! I had to drive Ski into work and I had the talk radio on. People were calling in from all over telling about the snow. I drove through it. It was SECONDS of flurries!! I heard that in Vermont, they were calling for 32 inches!! I told Ski to tell his boss about people going crackers over flurries. She lives in Chicago and I think she would find it hysterical. The weather guy said that there would be blowing and drifting sunshine. Two of my Skibums saw the snow. The rest did not believe us.

iPod wOrthy: Larry Norman

Call it what you will, I started earnestly following The Lord in 1982. I also started listening to "Christian music" then. After attending quite a few concerts, I noticed there were certain artists that, when they spoke, what they had to say was just as good, if not better, than the music they were performing. I had not really formed any sort of theological convictions at that point but I still remember things I've heard from folks like Phil Driscoll, Leon Patillo, Mylon Lefevre, Glen Kaiser, and Larry Norman that have stuck with me.

I've seen Larry Norman in concert at least three times (even had an "Ntv" t-shirt back in the day). I remember how humbly childlike he spoke. He was an amazingly brilliant song writer and performer. Yet, he wasn't polished vocally. He left coughs and giggles on his records. He was SO in love with Jesus and his boldness and honesty was uncomfortable and inspiring at the same time.

I feel about him like some folks feel about Bob Dylan. He was a voice and an example for many and much of today's gospel music would still be in the dark ages if God hadn't used him as a means of grace. Larry had SERIOUS health issues late in his life and he recently went on to be with his Lord at age 60. I will miss him and I feel a loss but I'm happy that Larry is in heaven worshiping Jesus.

I only have a few CDs from Larry and iTunes and Walmart have a totally LAME selection of his songs. (shame on them!!) I'll have to dig around eBay and fill out my collection.

Larry put out around 62 albums ("count 'em") so it's impossible for me to pick one song that's iPod wOrthy. I've chosen ten songs I love from him that I have yet to acquire. If you can find any of his CDs, especially ones with music from the 60s and 70s--buy 'em.

Good bye Larry. Thank you.

1) If the bombs fall
(a song that wonderfully expresses how I feel about B)
2) Moses in the wilderness
3) Six o'clock News
4) Christmastime
5) Up in Canada
6) Sweet sweet song of salvation
7) We need a whole lot more of Jesus
8) Hard luck and bad news
9) Watch what you're doin'
10) Put your life into His hands

In Memory of a Legend

Hope you're havin' fun with Jesus, Larry!!
Here's one of my favs. Enjoy!!

I'm going to plug in my top ten here.
My fav's are (in no particular order):

1. 1) Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?
2. Why Can't You Be Good?
3. The second and happier version of "I Love You"
4. Up in Canada
5. If the Bombs Fall
6. One of the "Nightmare" songs can't recall with number
   
7. His version of People Get Ready
8. Sitting in My Kitchen
9. Let That Tape Keep Rolling
10. Shot Down
    

Tis the Season?

We're doing daily breathing treatments daily for Isaac. I am thankful that I stocked up on his nebulizer medications recently. We're not sure if it is a cold or pollen (due to unseasonably warm weather). It all goes straight to his chest and the coughing never ends. I am leaning towards allergies. We're chucking the cold medicine tomorrow (since it isn't really helping anyway) and trying our good old buddy Zyrtec.
I am having some very bad "achy" days here lately. I suspect that they will be over soon, but they wear me out a bit. So we rested today. Last night, Ski took the Ski Bums out to a church thing. I stayed home with The Pie. He ended up falling asleep on me while watching "Winnie the Pooh." I kind of got stuck there for a few hours until he roused enough for me to wake him.

The kids and I watched "How Green is my Valley" and I relived some fond memories of childhood. Ah, mom....you would have loved it!! It reminded me of St. David's Day and cakes and tea. Sigh.....

What Has My Life Come To?!?!?

This post should rate #! for most boring and uninteresting post.

I have had the most disappointing week.
It all began last Friday. I am in need of a bunch of books for school and being the skin-flint that I am, I cannot bear to buy them all new. So, I went off to the biggest used bookstore that I know (which is not the cheapest place to buy books) with my giant lists in hand. I took two of my dc who were not thrilled with the fact that mommy looked so long. I only found one book out of the stacks and stacks that are there. I also stopped by two other places. In one, I located a book that was not on my list, but I could use for the younger kids. It is funny how they are low priority when I have three in hs next year. Wow!!! Did I just say that?!?!?! Anyway, at my third store, I found a book I needed, but it was still $48!! Ka-ching!!! And I had a hard time paying $6.95 + tax for the one book I bought. So, I am waiting a bit for the pricey book.... So, my trip to used bookstores netted me one book crossed of my list.

On Sat, I went off with Hannah on the excursion where I was unable to locate two supposed used bookstores -- see my post below. Not a fun day for book hunting although I did enjoy my company.

Monday...visit to thrift store row netted me two books. One was for this year and saved for the future. One was for fun. Neither were on the list. Oh, but I did find a very cool and old hc Marguerite Henry book in another store that deals in cheapo paperbacks (which was another stop that netted me zero books for school).

Tuesday, I decided to run up to a pharmacy a few towns over to buy a new jar of cream for Iz. Now, this cream if very effective, but you cannot buy it just anywhere. I have two places where I buy it. The place that I went to last time had the 1lb jar in stock. Since this is much more cost efficient, I decided to go back there to buy another jar. Well, wouldn't you know, the stuff wasn't there. Argh!! So, I went back home and stopped by the dinky pharmacy down the road from my house and asked them to special order the 1lb jar. While I was there, I asked them if they knew of a place I could buy nebulizer parts so I can have two sets -- a piece from one of my sets was pulverized. Sometimes I give Iz two medications within 10 minutes of each other and it saves me from having to completely clean a set between the dosing. I knew of a place in town, but I thought if there was somewhere closer, I would go there. The nice pharmacist gave me three numbers to call. Great!! I go home and call one and the number is out of service. Another number is the pharmacy two towns away where i had just asked while I was there searching for cream and they didn't have any. So, I go online and become a detective. I found another phone number and called. This time I got a lady who did not seem pleased that I had called. No it wasn't the pharmacy. Sigh....I could order the parts online, but the shipping would cost more than the neb set.

Today.....I go to pick up the special order cream and a bar of Iz's soap. Yeah!! It is in. Then I go off with address in hand to see if I can find the other pharmacy. I drove to one end of the road, turned around and drove towards the other end. I DID find it. They did have a neb set, but it had the tubing as well which I didn't really need. Oh well, I bought it anyway. It saved me a trip in town. While I was there, I noticed a bar of Oilatum. You would have thought I had found gold. I practically exclaimed "Oh, Wow!!" I had heard of it, but I had never seen it before. I am sure the cashier thought I had lost my mind. In fact, I didn't even buy it. I already have a soap that works. Then, it was off to Walmart. While I was there, I looked for a cream I was trying to locate for my older three dc . Walmart was supposed to have it. Nope....it wasn't there. I stopped by another dinky pharmacy and I couldn't recall the correct name of the cream, so they couldn't order it for me. My girls and I went out tonight which was the bright spot of my week so far. On our way home, I stopped at Harris Teeter and was about to give up looking and amazingly found the stuff. Now, with my luck and the way my week has been going, it will not help.

I know that you all must wonder why I do these things. TBH, I was wondering that myself this week. It gets VERY old store hopping. My dream is visiting one store -- I really don't care which one -- and buying every single thing that I need there. I know people who actually do this and it really is amazing to me. What a luxury it would be!!! Even if I ordered online, I would have to do it from various places. I seriously think I must have gone cuckoo to do all these nutty things. I guess that the Lord knew my kids needed a mom who liked research, was just a bit adventurous, and was willing to ferret out places and things to serve them. When I arrived home today and I handed Iz a bag and he looked inside, it was all worth it. "My creams!!" he exclaimed. You would have thought I had bought the moon and packed it in a bag for him.

In other happenings today....
Lydia and Simon and I walked to where Ski parks to catch the bus. This isn't a big deal, but on our walk, a rottweiler came out of nowhere. I don't think it would have been an issue -- it looked friendly enough -- buy Lydia is scared to death of dogs. The poor thing began screaming and running away. The dog trotted after her because I think it wanted to play. I had to yell at the poor girl to stop running and screaming and to just walk forward without looking back. I yelled "go home" a few times and I think it got the idea.

The girls and I went out, as I said. I had coffee (oh, no!!) and they had ice cream. We sat and watched the lunar eclipse. Now and then we would howl at the moon. Yes.....we are crazy!! Apparently, Christelle felt that the eclipse was a bit anticlimactic. After the moon was dark, she said "What happens now?" Well, honey.....that's it. The above pic is for Christelle who thinks eclipses should be a bit more exciting.

Of travel I've had my share, man..

Ok, I've been "tagged".

First of all, I was informed that I couldn't pick anything B picked. Well, ok for the most part, though you don't see ME picking Switzerland do ya?. (= Second, I didn't try to weasel in TWO answers in one entry. (wazzup with that??). So here goes....

Places I'd like to see someday:
1) Tokyo Disney Seas - Japan has always fascinated me but I pretty much hate seafood and I don't like McDonalds either so I'd probably starve.
2)Lambeau Field, Green Bay - Gotta go to football Mecca. Central US is a pretty neat place to tour anyway and I could find MANY sidetrips going to and from.
3)Mall of America - just to ride a rollercoaster in a mall would be cool.
4)Jerusalem - I had more US spots but had to get outside the country for some of these. Anywhere in the Bible would be cool but if I had to pick one place, this would be it.
5)Paris - Since B already picked Poland, Greece and Italy (where I could eat like a pig), I'll pick the dessert haven (where I'd be treated like a pig). The lights, the romance, and Disneyland Paris with the dragon under the castle. Way cool.

Places I've been that I'd like to see again:

1) Cape Cod, MA - a common vacation destination for my family when I was young. My mom made scrapbooks with postcards and drawings that I still treasure. I love the beach anywhere. Plus I have family in CT which is chock full of cool places to see on the way.
2) New York City - Been there many times, done lots. Much more to do and enjoy again. My only duplicate from B's list.
3) Orlando - I'm a big fan of the mouse but anywhere in Florida, from the kitschy to the mega-parks to the ocean would be SOOO much fun for me.
4) Texas - Ok the real skinny top portion of Texas? We drove through it on our cross-country camping trip back in the 70's. I'd love to go back and experience the whole state. Yee-Haw!!
5) Nassau, Bahamas - B and I went on a cruise 6 months into our marraige. It was SOO relaxing!! There are probably better places in the Caribbean for the whole, white sand, blue water experience and I'd be up for any of them.