Whew!

I love this picture. This was taken one marriage and two hairstyles ago. We are coming up to our one year anniversary - APRIL 20th. Whew. Did you know that was also Hitler's birthday and the birthday of Noel Coward's mum?

Bizarre combo, I know.

The rehearsals for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" are coming along nicely. I play the stern Domina, mother to Hero. It's a great part and I have a hard song called "Dirty Old Man". Fun but difficult. The whole cast is quite good. It's been a great process so far.

Off to a rehearsal!

Once Again!

I am fairly sure I have posted this photo before but I love it! Mallie is looking over my shoulder so I thought I'd let her type a few words to the world beyond....Mallie here!! Right here is me, my mom and my stepdad. We're standing right in front of an organ. We're at "The Music House Museum" in Traverse City, MI. We were here for a Christmas Concert and my mom sang & my stepdad played the organ. Maybe you were there. I know I was. Oh, and one more thing. Make sure to check out my stories. Bye-bye!!!

http://mallielife.blogspot.com

PEEVES!!!

I was stood up - twice - on Sunday. First by a student and her mom and then by my ex-husband. Neither thought to pick up the phone - EASY ENUF!!! - and place a simple call to say...hey there I ain't coming. But no. It makes me feel as if they think their time is somehow more important than mine. And that, I guess, is my definition of arrogance.

Did I mention I hate arrogance?

But screw that. On to other things. Isn't this photo lovely? You really should visit http://jolli.wordpress.com/ every day just to see what beautiful images this guy catches. Really nice! It always makes me feel better just looking at his work. And the fact that he uses one of my favorite places in the world as his subject matter alot of the time....well you can't go wrong with Good Harbor Bay and Lake Michigan.

Seventh inning stretch

This getting near and near to the inevitable. Can it be? Spring is near....?

NAH!

Check it out.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/230/story_23057_1.html Check out this article on Beliefnet about feeling comfortable with who you are. Very interesting.

That's it. Feeling out of sorts. Guess I'll do some laundry.

Fluffy.

I am feeling "fluffy". I am told that is a correct term for that feeling of chunkiness. I have worked hard with my weight over that past several months and I am slipping, ever so slightly, at present. I think it's the constant cold - 18 degrees at present - and the need to stay warm. How do skinny people handle the cold? Anyway, I am doing better with feeling more in control with it. I know what to do and I am motivated now to be healthier. At this age, that is where my head is at. Yes, a smaller size would be KICK ASS but I will settle for not huffing and puffing when I climb stairs. It is embarrassing and I am realizing, lately, that life is shorter now that I have turned 46. Yikes. Halfway mark!!

At least I HOPE it's the half way mark!

SNOW DAY!!

Howdy! Another SNOW DAY here in the Frozen North. Funny, because my daughter has missed two days of school and today she wakes up FEVER FREE and ready to rumble. AND Friday is a half day. She could have phoned it in this week. Our trip to the doctor yesterday did point out that, had we not gotten flu shots earlier in the season, her flu would have hit her much harder. Thanks goodness for modern medicine, eh?

I am just reading a collection of diaries from women crossing this country in the 1800's when the West was settled. What they had to endure! Just being a chick was hard enough. Throw in child birth and long skirts.....ouch! A cholera epidemic swept through the trail as well as dysentery, etc. The women noted the graves they passed every day. In one three day period they passed over 40 graves, hastily dug. Never being completely dry, having to cook over an open flame in a treeless landscape, never having a chance to completely wash.... It was said that the absence of women were hard on the ones travelling. That three women could use their shirts to offer privacy to each other. Not to mention the comfort of someone understanding your personal hardships.

The more I read about the settlement of this country it is AMAZING to me that people live west of the Mississippi. Ya know??

Hats off to hard working women. The men may have made the decision to push West but it was the women who insured they would make it in one (nearly) piece!

Wine List

This is just for me although feel free to copy off the list. These were the wines we sampled at the party.

2008 WINE TASTING LIST

Hook and Ladder
Cabernet California (CA) 2005 REALLY YUMMY

Lindemans Bin 45
Cab Australia (AU) 2006

Alexander Valley Vineyards -LIKED IT LOTS
Cab CA 2005

Cavit – Pinot Noir - YUM
Italy 2005

Cotes de Bourg /Chateau Guirand-Cheval-Blanc
Bordeaux France 2003

Arrow Creek
Merlot CA 2005

Piping Shrike
Shiraz AU 2006

Wild Horse
Cab CA 2005

Waterbrook
Melange Washington State 2005 THIS WAS THE ONE I GOT. LIKED IT LOTS

Ortman
Sangiovese CA 2005

Mirassou
Pinot Noir CA 2006 LOVED THIS ONE AND IT'S THE WINE OF THE WEEK @ MEIJERS

Aureus/Santa Helena
Cab Chile 2004

Marques de Casa Concha/Concha y Toro
Merlot Chile 2005 WINNER LOVE THIS LINE (Winner won $127!)

McManis
Sirah CA 2005

Cambria /Julia Vineyards
Pinot Noir CA 2005

Rancho Zabaco
Zinfandel CA 2004

Toasted Head
Cab CA 2005

Marques de Caceres
Rioja Spain 2004

Renwood
Zin CA 2005

Rosenblum
Zin CA 2005

And yes, there was one Charles Shaw Cab in there as well.

ENJOY

Feelin' spacey?

Hi All!

WOW! It's been some time since I posted here. Lots has happened! I've had a birthday - a moment of silence for one more year lost...... LOL!

Had a super party! Approximately 40 people crowded into our house for a wine tasting. We tried TWENTY different reds and wow! Blurry vision! Everyone puts $5 per bottle in the kitty - some must have put in more. The take -for the winner - was $127! A Spanish wine took the lead. We had a super fire ritual - although we didn't get all the way through all the things I had written. This is a treat for me to fashion -0ut of different readings/books/ ideas that I have - to put together a ritual that takes place outside, in the snowy evening, in front of a fire. Great! There are always those who are more "into it" than others. For those I guess I should plan a smaller, more intimate party and another fire. I am a PYRO I admit it!

All went well though and thanks to all that attended. It was a great mix of folks!!

This shot is a composit that my brother-in-law made of some photos we took at the NASA John Glenn Center in Cleveland. Cool museum - free admission - if you are into space and all that surrounds the subject. It is a bit weird to get on the base as it is well guarded and you go through a bit of an elaborate check in process as you are on federal ground. Well worth it though!!

My daughter is home today with a fever/cold deal. It's going around and I am grateful she has been so healthy, up till now.

This weekend - my bday was Sunday - was filled with friends, good food, wine, cake and some great intimate time with my honey. All told - a VERY GOOD TIME. Thanks everyone for thinking of me. I do not take for granted that there are people in this world who love me and keep me in their thoughts. Thank you so much! I love you right back!