In Memorium

A friend of my daughters died a senseless death on Friday evening. From what I have heard, she was trying to stop a suicidal friend. Her life was taken instead. She leaves behind 3 children, almost the same age as my 3 granddaughters.

I have thought alot about my daughter since I heard the news. She will be affected by this. I think about the 3 small children who will never see their mother again. They will grow up missing the love only a mother can give. All a person can ask is why ??

You will be missed, Mandy !!!!

Thanks Mom !!

As a child, my siblings and I were involved in orchestra. We all played from grade school through our senior years in high school ( even though I begged to quit). I gained an appreciation for my cello ( my instrument) in my senior year in high school. In high school, we played a quartet at church, something my Jr High orchestra teacher said his own talented children were never able to do. All of us were also in choir at church as well as in school. Music was a HUGE part of our lives.
As an adult, I still love music. I hear all the string instruments in every song I hear. This love was passed on to my own children. My daughter played the cello. My son plays the piano, violin and has played the viola. Both were in choir, and continue to appreciate music.
I work with a gal who has little appreciation for music. I talked about different songs I hear and how beautiful they are, and she's never heard of them. I talk about my favorite radio station in my vehicle, and she says she prefers silence when she drives. I felt amazed that someone does not appreciate music as I do. Shocked is more like it. So, I did some asking around, inquiring with acquaintances and friends, and find some really do not like music.
After this discovery, I started recalling my journey into music. Up popped the vision of my mom receiving her stereo for a gift and a John Gary record ( yes, I know who John Gary is). Then, I remember doing inventory at the old Gibson's store ( the predecessor to Pamida). With the check I received, I bought my own AM/FM radio to listen to my favorite radio station. I remember my 1st stereo and Donny Osmond / Partridge Family LPs. My 1st concert when I saw Seals and Crofts on my 18th birthday. I recalled the founding of our church, and the celebration we held in the Jr High Auditorium. The Youth group sang on stage, and we still sing the same song in church.
So in all the recalling, one constant was and still is always their. My Mom !!! Thank You Mom for the wonderful gift you gave us kids and our kids. I never take it for granted.

Amazing Woman

I find myself taking after my mother more and more. She finds sayings that inspire her or just strike her fancy, and she puts them by her computer for inspiration. Once I was working on the computer and found just such a saying.

These words apply to many, but I found them most important when dealing with a child. How many children hear negative comments or teasing on a regular basis? Making a child feel special for a small point in time will echo through out their life. The negative moments become a big baggage of pain, but the positive moments twinkle like a star in heaven. I try to say positive comments more than negative, but some days that is SO hard. But then I sit at my computer, and there sits these words of wisdom.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
Mother Teresa

Words to try to live by !!!

Bryan Adams

WOW, is about all there is to say. It was a wonderfully intimate concert with a superstar, who played his acoustic guitar and had only a piano player to accompany him on a few select songs.

Over the years I have heard the songs, but forgotten who made them popular. Most of the songs were recognizable and easy to sing along with.

What amazed me was how long he stood without sitting and sang non-stop.

Date night with the hubby and doubling with the daughter and son-in-law team was SO much fun and what a memory ! Thinking we just might have to do it again !

2010 Olympics

The Olympics have begun. Bring on the figure skating, speed skating, luge, down hill skiing, cross country skiing, hockey and more.

To sit and watch the Olympics like a football game though is time consuming and impossible. However keeping up on the medal count and watching the events that " gets your heart pumpin " is doable. I enjoy seeing the best and the worst.

Although the word patriotic does not quite fit, it is how I feel watching the Olympics. Cheering for fellow country men and women !!

So, I am an armchair Olympian. Bring on my Gold Medal ( a toasted bagel with honey ) !!!

Happy Valentines Day

To all my friends and family, I wish you the love I hope you know I have for you all year long.

Roses are Red ( and adorable )

Roses are now in huge demand. My husband bought me some for our Anniversary in January.
The TV stations are full of ads for roses and Valentines Day presents and sweets for the upcoming holiday.

My mother has never been a "flowery" person. She prefers a living plant. However, I do think this year I'd like to give her at least 1 rose.




Happy Valentines Day to all those of you who prefer the living thing !

Winters Past and Present

Last night on TV they started talking about the coming winter weather, and that there was a Winter Travel Advisory. Those 3 words sent a chill of panic down my back. Do I call in and say I can't drive the 25 miles miles to work ? Or am I just being a big baby and letting panic get the best of me? I do have to ponder this sometimes.

As I grow older the weatherman becomes my enemy. As a child he was my friend. Bad weather coming meant NO SCHOOL !!! YEA !! As a young adult, bad weather was a calling to go out adventure driving. Then my children came. Needing to be more responsible, I had to keep an ear on the weather. But now as I get older, the fear of going in the ditch or getting into a car accident occupy my thoughts more.

So my question is, are the winters different or is the fact I'm getting older the bigger factor? Have we had a few easy winters in MN, so we are soft ? I'm thinking it's me and I need to quit listening to the weather so much and just enjoy what God and Mother Nature have to dish out.

Ground Hog Update !!!!!

At 7:25 AM EST on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 the world discovered that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow - predicting six more weeks of winter!

Feb 1, Already ??!!

Tomorrow is February 2nd. That means... Ground Hog Day. Will he see his shadow? Do we have 6 more weeks of winter?

I looked up the origin of Ground Hog Day and came up with this ...

The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

Here's hoping he DOES NOT see his shadow. Bring on SPRING !!!!!!