Reflections at Year's End

Something about New Year's Eve always makes me a bit nostalgic. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. It's the sort of holiday that lends itself to reflection. I always feel abit weird about ending a year and beginning another. Funny, really, since it's only just the next day. But I feel like we go through a door at midnight-plus-one-second, leaving one year and entering another.

We were very blessed this year!

Here's a recap of 2006:

January: Emily got glasses and joined the Berks County 4-H Rabbit & Cavy Club.

February: Edward turned 5 on Valentine's Day, and we celebrated his birthday adventure at the Reading Museum. We had our annual 12th Annual Valentine's Day Tea. Earl Grey (Emily's 4-H project) and Clementine (Himalayan Dwarf bunnies) were born.

March: My sister, Shelly, turned 40! Stuart spent nearly the entire month in Qatar in the Middle East.

April: We celebrated Easter and gave a little homeschool seminar about bunnies. Emily went to work with Stuart as part of Take-Your-Daughter-to-Work Day. She spent the WHOLE day there and learned lots.

May: Stuart and I made it to our 10th Anniverary! Yeah!! And the greatest part is we're still best friends! Edward signed up for kindergarten, and Emily finished 3rd grade. I started this blog.

June: Emily had her dance recital. We went to the annual company picnic at Hershey Park. My parents celebrated 45 years of wedded bliss.

July: Independence Day! W. City celebrated 100 years this year and the annual 4th of July Parade reflected that in the floats and displays. I had my first ever Jury Duty!

August: Stuart debuted in our church's annual Vacation Bible School skit as Captain Chris P. Cookie. We enjoyed the summer, getting together with friends and having movie and game nights. I met up with two college friends I hadn't seen in 10 years.

September: A hurricane delayed our annual vacation to Nags Head, N.C., but we made it down there by Sunday night. When we came home we had to jump into a new school year with both feet -- especially since we'd left PAVCS for Agora Cyber Charter School. Stuart turned 36 on 9/11. The kids joined AWANA and started at their homeschool learning group. Stuart and I headed in to New York City to see the screening of I Trust You to Kill Me and met KIEFER SUTHERLAND in person.

October: Emily and I had our joint-birthday with her turning 9 and me turning 36. She had angel tryouts for the Nutcracker and made it. Our birthday adventure took place at the Children's Zoo in Central Park. We even took a ride on the subway, going through the station at the World Trade Center. We also spent a long weekend in Atlanta -- our first ever "just-us" vacation -- to see the I Trust You to Kill Me movie again with Kiefer Sutherland doing a Q&A afterwards and 99X hosting Rocco Deluca and the Burden in concert at midnight.

November: We plodded along through the month, enjoying Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house with 35 people in attendance. Stuart and I headed to Baltimore to see Rocco again in concert, this time meeting him and getting a photo and an autograph.

December: I headed to my annual shopping trip with a friend, and Stuart and the kids planned and filmed a funny movie for me. We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Santa, courtesy of Stuart's company. Emily received her Year One Award at 4-H. She spent the following week in the theatre at rehearsals for the Nutcracker and performed in all three shows. We celebrated Christmas, Boxing Day, and Pagoda Day...enjoying each other and the blessing of good food, family, and friends.

God is good!

Happy Pagoda Day!!

Happy Pagoda Day!!

To all of you out there who have no idea what that means....well, it means nothing, really. But it's so special to our kids.

Two years ago, Edward (then 3) fell in love with the Reading Pagoda. He watched it light up on the side of Mt. Penn each week when we took Emily to her dance class on that side of the city.

One day, about a month before Christmas, he decided that we should start a new holiday. He and Emily planned and planned. They even made up a song.

We humored them by listening to their plans but realized the holidays are already too busy to add more confusion to the mix. Still, it didn't have to be anything too elaborate...and it would please them.... It was to take place on December 27th, the day after Boxing Day. And we'd sing the song and do a dance of sorts, I guess.

The first Pagoda Day arrived, and my hubby sent us the first-ever Pagoda Day e-card he made using a photo of the Pagoda. We made Pagoda-shaped sugar cookies with red sprinkles on them.

But the "icing on the cake" came when we surprised them by taking them up to the Pagoda at night for our first Pagoda Day photo. They were ecstatic! The lights were wonderful up close and personal like that and you could see all the lights of Berks County it seemed.

So each year we board the car and head up Duryea Drive on Mt. Penn to see the Pagoda at night and get our annual Pagoda Day photo.

It's the simple stuff in life that keeps kids happy...

Happy Boxing Day!

No, it doesn't have anything to do with boxing...

My husband has been celebrating Christmas in the United States for the past 12 years, and he decided that -- apart from his family -- the only parts of the holidays he really missed were Boxing Day and all the trimmings of a good ol' English Christmas dinner. You know, turkey, stuffing, roasted potatoes and parsnips, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, Christmas pudding, mince pies, etc.

So last year we started celebrating Boxing Day, complete with all the tradition English fare and Christmas crackers.

There are lots of stories about how the tradition of Boxing Day started. For Stuart, it was the day he and his family had dinner together with other relatives. He said they usually stayed in and celebrated Christmas Day as a family and then went "a-visiting" the next day.

I personally think it's really just another excuse to eat more yummy food...but who's complaining??

* * *

Christmas Cracker-Me-Ups:

Q: Where should a dressmaker build her house?
A: On the outskirts.

Q: How did the human cannonball lose his job?
A: He got fired.

Q: What does the word minimum mean?
A: A very small mother.

Q: What do you get if you cross a stereo with a refrigerator?
A: Cool music.

Q: What do you get if you cross a skeleton and a detective?
A: Sherlock Bones.

Q: Why didn't the skeleton go to the New Year's Eve party?
A: He had no body to go with.

And the winner....

Q: Why don't ducks tell jokes when they're flying?
A: Because they would quack up!

Happy Boxing Day!!

Christmas Greetings!

Merry Christmas

from all of us

to all of you!!

Christmas Eve Traditions

Where do we get some of our family traditions?

Occasionally born out of laziness -- or a lack of time -- we've developed "traditions" at our home.

For instance, we realized in the pressure to get everything finished in time -- ie: presents wrapped, living room cleaned, tree decorated, Santa's cookies-and-milk put out, Christmas cards/letters mailed -- we decided to forego the wrapping paper and open gifts at 12:01 a.m. on Christmas. By "opening" we mean hand a present to the other person who has his/her eyes shut and must try to guess what the item is.

Another "tradition" is to decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve so that the kids wake up to a decorated tree with prezzies beneath it on Christmas. That works great if you don't store the tree in a bucket of water the week before you decide to "install" it indoors....so that the trunk swells to a size just slightly larger than the old-fashioned tree stand....and you end up outside at 2 a.m. with a circular saw trying to figure out how to get the tree to fit without it shedding all of its needles.

And "Shhhh!"....don't tell the kids, but we forget nearly every year to put out the cookies and milk so we stage the event for a photo by placing a tiny bit of milk in the bottom of a cup and dusting a plate with cookie crumbs. I know, bad parents! Bad, bad parents!!

And what if you try really hard to get out all of your cards and Christmas letter before the big day...but fail miserably? You just call them "New Year's letters." As long as they're out before Easter, you're good to go.

Still in all, I figure traditions are what you make of them.

Sometimes you have to do what works for you....and, in the end, have fun....or at least make funny memories.

Isn't that what it's all about?

The Eve of Christmas Eve

18 years ago today....

That's when my hubby and I -- along with two other friends -- had a picnic in Lydiard Park, just outside Swindon, England. We had peanut-butter-and-jam sandwiches, a pint of milk, salt-and-vinegar crisps, and a Schweppes Ginger Ale the one friend brought for me since I was missing some familiar drinks from the States....and had ordered Ginger Beer instead of Ginger Ale at the pub a while before.

It was freezing as I recall....and we got some rather strange looks from the few passers-by who must have wondered at this group of 17- and 18-year-olds having a picnic on the 23rd of December.

1988.

Half a lifetime ago.

Still makes me smile.

Celebrating a Celebrity

In honor of actor Kiefer Sutherland's 40th Birthday today....a video I love from YouTube, celebrating some his movies and shows. Enjoy!

On the Eve of Turning 40...

It can't be that bad, right?

You grow up the day you have your first real laugh, at yourself.
- Ethel Barrymore

No man who has once heartily and wholly laughed can be altogether irreclaimably bad.
- Thomas Carlyle

Christmas: 24-style

Here's a very fun and clever holiday commercial done by FOX.

Santa Jack?

(Can't wait for Santa to hang up his boots and bring out the "real" thing though...such a long wait...)

Oh....and, by the way, only 5 more shopping days left until Christmas!!!!

The Dance of Angels

Here's the angel dance from the Nutcracker. I took this during the dress rehearsal from the balcony with my digital camera...sorry it's so tiny.

Sweet Nutcracker Memories

Well, we survived the "Nutcracker Season." And now the Christmas season can really officially begin for us!

After two months of Saturday morning practices and two weeks of Sunday afternoon practices and three-hour tech and dress rehearsals and then "living" at the Sovereign Performing Arts Centre through three performances....we're officially finished with "Nutcracker 2006."

A bittersweet moment for all.

(And all the above was for our little "angel." I can only imagine how the amount of time involved will increase exponentially if she ever gets bigger roles.....)

It truly is a fantastic experience for all involved. Even as just an "angel parent" watching and waiting in the wings, I can see the thrill it gives to everyone participating.

Emily was especially excited to have gotten autographs and photos of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker Prince, the Dew Drop Fairy, and her own ballet teacher who was correographing/directing this year's show. Since the main roles are danced by professionals, it was quite an honor for her.

It gives her something to aspire to.

And allows her sweet and cherished memories!

Nutty-n-Crackers Sweets

Silliness divine...what you get when you have to wait too long between shows...

A Nutcracker "Sweet"

Well, the Christmas season can officially begin.

We've made it through the first of three performances of the Nutcracker... with flying (literally... Emily was an "angel" this year) colors!

What an absolute treat it was to watch Emily dance on stage in a professional performance with a live orchestra and over 100 performers!

I remembered as I walked her down the stairs to her dress rehearsal the other night how I came to the Sovereign Performing Arts Center -- then known as the "Rajah Theatre" -- when I was in 6th grade to see the Nutcracker. Little did I know that I would one day bring my own daughter there to dance in the performance.

Emily has dreamt of being in the Nutcracker since she was 2. So every year she is privileged to fulfill at bit more of her dream.

Her biggest wish is to one day dance as "Clara."

I keep telling her to dance toward that dream, and we'll be in the front row, smiling up at her!

Quaking with Fear

Well, it's official.

We had another earthquake here in W. City, Pennsylvania.

Okay, so it wasn't quite 3 points on the Richter Scale, but it was still felt by most everyone I know. And tongues were wagging with everyone saying his or her thoughts of what it was before the realization hit.

I thought it was a truck hitting something outside...then I thought maybe one of the kids rolled off a bed...then I thought: EARTHQUAKE. It's not the first one we've had in this area...though it was perhaps the first that most people recognized as such.

Funny to think that can happen anywhere outside of California.

It's like we think they have some sort of monopoly on this kind of occurrence...

Theatrical Debut on Trebor Place

A gift for me...

The Eyes of a Child...

Initially, I chose the video this week based on the song: "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)." I always enjoyed this song -- though I've never really been sure why since I'm not really a John Lennon/Yoko Ono fan.

But this Sarah McLachlan version is really sweet since she is joined by a children's choir of students from the music school she personally funds and oversees in Vancouver.

(The Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Program was founded in September 2003 to provide free music education classes to inner city youths whose school music programs have been hit by budget cuts. "As a kid," Sarah recalls, "music saved my life; having that one thing that I knew I was good at made all the difference. It feels so good to be able to see their lives impacted. There's hardly any joy comparable.") From her website: http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/

Watch the children's faces and catch their excitement and enthusiasm at being able to sing with someone famous. I especially liked Sarah's expressions as she watched them join in.

It's joy all around. Perfect for this time of year!

Oh, Deer....

If this doesn't get you in the mood for Santa Claus, you're hopeless.

Turn the volume up - these reindeer can sing.

I'm Dreamin' of a White Christmas

Oh, and only 13 more shopping days until Christmas!!

Santa Letters, Part 2

The above letter to Santa Claus was written by our 5-year-old. He disappeared while we were visiting his grandparents the other day and came back with this list. His choices are hilarious! (Click on the photo to make it bigger.) I especially like #18...and #10. 'Cuz every kindergartener needs a cell phone to go with a suit of armor.

A classic in the making...

Donut Ask Too Many Questions

While I'm on the subject of past memories....

I went into a Dunkin' Donuts years ago and was happily perusing the wide selection of flavors, trying to decide which one sounded most yummy, when I happened on the "plain jelly" one. I found it sounded less than appetizing when I considered what plain gelatin looks like. Besides, all the other jelly-filled ones had fruit names in front of the "jelly" part.

So I asked the donut clerk what flavor jelly this variety had in it.

"It's plain jelly," she said, looking at me as though I had three heads and "kindly" refraining from adding a "duh!" at the end.

"Yes, I know, but what sort of jelly -- cherry, strawberry, raspberry...." I persisted.

In her eyes, the number of heads on my body multiplied by a factor of 10. "Just plain," she repeated firmly, figuring I was dumb or at least hard of hearing.

I gave up and chose a cream-filled one. Less complicated and less likely to provoke the "Donut Nazi."

"Achtung! Achtung! Ve only serve de donuts vith plain jelly at ziss location."

Just plain scary.

Punny Stuff

Years ago when I worked for the newspaper, we had the dubious duty of writing headlines for the various articles our co-reporters wrote in our section. I wasn't particularly good at it since I could never think of anything "catchy" on the spot.

But one particular day, we were running a business "close-up" story about a local septic cleaning business called Bailey, and I was watching my co-reporter try to headline it.

Well, being that we were the business section and ran lots of stories on businesses....and that there was a jewelry chain in our local mall called Bailey, Banks, & Biddle, I suggested the pun-filled "Bailey Banks on Piddle" on a whim. We had a great laugh about the pun and then went back to thinking of a real headline.

The managing editor instantly LOVED it and told us to run it....much to my chagrin.

I begged my co-reporter -- who was acting as editor while our boss was on vacation -- to pull it since I wasn't sure either business -- or our own editor -- would find it so funny.

He agreed but not in time to stop it from running in the morning edition.

We were biting our fingernails, hoping our editor didn't see it while reading his newspaper at home on vacation.

He didn't.

Fortunately, he subscribed to the afternoon edition...and so saw the story with the boring, pun-less headline.

I don't remember if we ever shared the original with him when he got back from vacation....

It doesn't always pay to be clever.

Santa Letters, Part 1

Christmas 2001

An imaginary letter from the kids:

Dear Santa:

We've been very good this year. Of course, we've grown up some since this photo was taken, but we're still just as cute! Hard to resist, we'd say.

So please, please don't include any coal in our stockings this year.

Very sincerely yours,
Emily and Edward



FYI: Only 20 more shopping days until Christmas!!!

One of Those Days....

Ever have "one of those days?"

Things That Make You Go...Huh?

Passing a billboard on my journey to a Pennsylvania county just north of us:

"giftsonline.com

The name says it all."

Huh?

Did I miss something? Or maybe it's just that simple....

First Things First

A pinch and a punch on the first of the month.

Happy 1st of December!!

Only 23 more shopping days until Christmas!

Mixed Messages and Memories

when kennedy was in the white house
we were children in the sun
smokin' candy cigarettes
cowboys and indians with toy guns
~"joe" by Jude Cole, from the album i don't know why i act this way

Been thinking...

Funny how stuff was so different "way-back-when." I can't believe I'm old enough to remember a "way-back-when." But I do.

I remember the newscasts on Saturday mornings in between the cartoons with the spinning globe dancing around and around the TV screen. I remember Afterschool Specials and School House Rock. I remember when you turned off the TV, and it shrank to a little white dot in the middle of the screen. I remember black-and-white TV with dials to change channels -- one for UHF and one for VHF -- we had one for years, even after we had a color version. (Now, kids watch shows in High Definition television. They very seldom are interested in anything NOT in color...that's really old.) I remember if you turned on PBS too early in the morning you saw the color test screen and heard the sound test tone. And I remember when there wasn't such a thing as a VCR...let alone a DVD player. If you missed your favorite show or a movie, you'd have to pay close attention to the TV guide to see when it might be repeated. Forget seeing many movies anywhere except the cinema.

I was listening to the above verse from Jude Cole's song called "Joe" the other day and realized how different the world is today. I wasn't born yet when Kennedy was in the White House. In fact, only one of my sisters was. But I remember the stories. And I didn't come into the world too much later.

Would we encourage kids to "smoke" candy cigarettes now? I remember "smokin'" them. And it felt "cool," though I never took up smoking...too many allergies. I don't know that it was encouraged as much as accepted. We didn't know as much about the hazards of smoking.

Now I preach to my kids to stay away from cigarettes. I'd never buy them candy cigarettes.

And do kids actually play "cowboys and Indians" anymore? What seemed like a harmless game re-enacting the past has become un-PC. What about "cops and robbers"...or do we worry about the reprecussions of children poking fun at those poor unfortunate souls that really need rehabilitation not jail time?

But childhood games haven't really changed that much, have they? There are still playtimes of good against evil. Afterall, they brought back Star Wars -- a classic tale of good versus evil -- to introduce it to a whole new generation.

Our kids actually play CTU agents against terrorists...gee, wonder where they got that from?

Odd really...mixed messages...memories...

*sigh*

"Way-back-when"...it really is a "foreign country."

On Buses

AAAAAAAAAAA!

Have you seen the new style schoolbus driving 'round your neighborhood recently?

It looks more like a giant loaf of yellow bread with wheels.

Ugh! I'm so disappointed.

I saw one on my way to drop off the kids at their homeschool learning group today. I found myself fuming inside. I hate when they change something familiar to me. Something I've grown up seeing a certain way.

Remember the "Blue Bird" style schoolbus with the flat front? That style didn't last long. I guess that was because it looked nothing at all like the pull-along Fisher-Price happy-faced school bus with big orange wheels.

But maybe that's what it takes...

I mean...

Why mess with a classic? Ugh.

Canon Fire

My parents' wedding, June 17, 1961
Pachelbel's "Canon in D"...

It's one of my favorite classical pieces.

A popular wedding song. One of my sisters came down the aisle to it. We used it in our wedding as the processional for my parents. I got to play it on my flute for our friends' wedding. I practiced it on our honeymoon since they were marrying a few weeks after us.

I remember the first time I heard it was on the film Ordinary People (excellent and very moving film, by the way). They actually sang words to it. I was so moved by it that I began a quest to find it. I didn't know about soundtracks yet.

Now this version by Trans-Siberian Orchestra has me visiting my blog just to hear the video playing.

My dad told a story about how much he liked the "1812 Overture" and would listen to his record of it with the lights off and the volume pumped up on his record player.

So dim the lights, light a candle, close your eyes. And fire away this "canon."

It's magnificent!

A Real Nappy Knight

I was perusing the Internet today when I came across this hilarious tidbit:

Kiefer Sutherland’s Thanksgiving Diaper Duty

Kiefer Sutherland showed his nurturing side on Thanksgiving.

The “24″ star was dining with friends at Gotham Bar & Grill and enjoying a Jack Daniels and Coke when a male pal’s baby started to whine.

“Kiefer went straight to the men’s room with his friend and helped change the diaper,” our spy said. “He was really good about it - a really nice guy.”

Other diners sitting nearby included Nathan Lane with a male buddy, and Tony Bennett.

I'm a big fan and all, but can't the guy do anything without being noticed?? This cracked me up for hours! I mean, it's a baby's diaper, for goodness sakes. Anybody with munchkins has "been there, done that," including Mr. Sutherland.

What's next?

Kiefer Sutherland ties his own shoes. He's such a nice guy. Look, he's actually acting human like the rest of us....

He is human. And a nice guy. But give him a break, and let him breathe at little without reporting on it.

(An aside: The comment left on this article was equally hilarious:

"Well I guess he's had a fair amount of practice over the years. What an adorable man. In his own words........'Bless his heart'. "

I think he only fathered one baby (and raised three stepkids moins les nappies)...and even then I don't know how often he would have changed her diaper. He is a guy afterall...and he was in quite a few movies during that time.)

Sheesh...the life of a star....never a private moment to come to the aid of a "pal" and his baby's bursting diaper.

So where's the photo??

Hating It Together

It's odd to think that we recently learned some helpful relationship advice from a Notary Public we used to refinance our house. But that's exactly what we did, and it was excellent! Read on:

My habit is to "fix" stuff.

Not in the traditional tool way. But in a feelings way.

I'm one of the world's biggest cheerleaders; all the world really needs is a "pep rally" to forget its woes. Ask my former roommate at college. You know, "smile and the world smiles with you?" Well, sometimes, she told me, the world wants to "bop" you in the nose to get you to stop smiling for a little while.

Maybe that's because sometimes people don't need to be "fixed." They just need us to listen, to "hate" the problem with them, not try to solve it.

Think that's why God gave us two ears and only one mouth?

Don't you just hate it when people forget that?

I'm "hating" it with you.

With Thankful Hearts...

I'm a huge fan of Norman Rockwell's artwork.

We've been to a museum of his paintings down in the basement of the Curtis Publishing Co., in Philadelphia. It had every cover of the Saturday Evening Post that he ever did. Quite amazing really!

This picture is one of my favorites -- though I have a hard time narrowing down an actual favorite -- and came to mind as I sat down to eat Thanksgiving dinner this year.

It reminds me of how much love and blessing we share in being with family, actually having family.

Our Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by my aunt and uncle, was very similar this year...only multiply the picture by 4. Lots of people, kids, and food. And even an uncle and aunt who joined us from Colorado -- a first in at least 5 years.

Family may annoy, cause confusion, be a hassle....but, in the end, a small moment of time like this causes a person to sit back and reflect on the blessing of it.

Especially when we realize that not everyone has such a blessing.

It causes a thankful heart.

Thanksgiving Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!!









Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

~Martin Rinkart, 1636

Talking Turkey

(Editor's note: I promised myself never to go on a politcal soapbox in my blog...but my ire is up...so "sue" me.)

I'm amazed.

I shouldn't be...but I am.

Totally and utterly amazed.

According to a news article, Bill Morgan, an elementary school teacher in Long Beach, Ca., decided to teach his class a new variation on an old theme. He walked into class and began snatching pencils, books, and other bits of property from the students. Because afterall, he said, isn't that what the pilgrims did? It outraged the kids who immediately wanted their property back. Bingo! said Mr. Morgan. That's how the Indians -- who apparently were nomadic and didn't believe in "owning" something -- felt.

Come on, Mr. Morgan! What are you really accomplishing by teaching what you consider the "truth" on history made nearly 400 years ago??

What do we really know about that time period? No one alive then is alive today. We only have what was written by the early settlers...and what was passed down orally by the Native Americans. Hmmmm....

I worked for 3 years as a reporter. I tried very hard to be accurate in my reporting. I wanted to represent whomever I reported on in the most exact way I could. Did I ever misquote them? Absolutely. I'm human. My ears can only hear so fast, and my pencil only write as quickly as my fingers can help it.

Can we really know exactly what happened during that first Thanksgiving? Or is there some surmising on both sides?

Teach the truth, Mr. Morgan.

It's fairly basic. There were pilgrims. There were Indians. Both had some issues, but somehow managed to overcome those in order to share a meal together to give thanks for the pilgrims making it through another year. Friendships were formed. Agreements were made. They traded recipes and farming tips. Somehow they went on to live in "perfect" harmony....

And that's what should be taught. Not the mistakes made (and there were plenty, I'm sure)...but the good stuff that was learned and practiced afterwards.

That's the kind of world we want for our kids.

Because we cannot rewrite history...only learn and grow from it.

* * *

Just for giggles and grins, perhaps our government should try a re-enactment of its own. Have a "First Thanksgiving" feast together...to give thanks for what we as a nation have.

Sounds Good to Me

Emily, age 2 1/2, never one to resist dancing to music --->

Listening to Rocco Deluca and the Burden in concert last weekend made me think a lot about music...obviously. Watching the rockumentary of their tour in Europe reminded me how much music moves and reaches people -- of all nationalities. You don't even need to speak the same language to enjoy it.

* * *

Do you have a soundtrack in your life?

I think all of us do.

My "life soundtrack" is made up of all sorts of songs that conjure up memories, thoughts, and emotions for me -- making me feel a magical moment I thought I'd forgotten. I've always used music to help me in my writing.

Life is made up of all sorts of music. I think a person who learns early on to enjoy and/or appreciate all genres of music is the truly gifted musician.

I especially love soundtracks. I love the way the songs set the mood of the film/show and affect my emotions as a viewer. My video this week is from the Narnia soundtrack.

When I was younger I collected soundtracks on cassette tape (CDs weren't out yet...amazing, huh?). I could never replace all of them now -- I'd collected so many. It was the first thing I noticed on a film, especially if it was good.

The soundtracks to many of my favorite movies aren't available. I can watch the end credits to get snippets of the lovely melodies. Or just re-watch the movies. Somehow the music will become part of my own "life soundtrack."

I recently watched The Lake House. I noticed right away how wonderful the soundtrack was. It added such a depth to the movie.

Fortunately for me, it was available.

I'm listening to it as I type...

...and it sounds so good to me!!

Another bunch of tracks for my "life soundtrack."

B-more Rocco-like

Welcome to B-more and Rocco Deluca!

Wow! What a night we had on Saturday!

We headed down to Maryland to see Rocco Deluca and the Burden play at Fletcher's Bar on South Bond Street in Baltimore -- their last concert on a national tour. (Cool area of the city...and the best part was we found parking for $3!! Yeah, Baby! ) The concert wasn't until 8 p.m. so we decided to have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe down along the Inner Harbor. Great place!! And excellent food!!

Then we headed over to the venue around 6:30, and each sat enjoying a Yuengling's, Newcastle Brown Ale, and Woodpecker Cider, respectively, until it was time to head up to the room where the band would play....at 11(!!).

What we weren't told -- and there was a good reason for that since no one would have come until after -- is that a local rock band called OFM was "opening" for RDB. Let me think of a word to describe said band....hmmmm.....AWFUL? No, that's too strong. They tried....at little too hard (though some of their stuff is very catchy on their website) to be like RDB? But they added their own "zing," bouncing around the stage, playing their instruments in the air, banging on trashcans, eating the mics, and, basically, screeching song lyrics that no one could understand... The drummer actually resembled "Animal" from the Muppet Show, complete with the huge, round crazed-looking eyes, fluffy hair, and open mouth. After they finally deafened us with their noise music for 45 minutes (an aside to the soundboard people: those sliders go up and DOWN -- does wonders for the music), we waited for the stage to be reset with RDB's stuff. By the time all was said and done, we'd been standing for over 3 hours and waiting for nearly 5. I kept reminding myself of how good Rocco and his group were in Atlanta...and how worth the wait....

And they were! They played new stuff and "old" stuff and rocked the house.

Afterwards, we were going to leave, but I noticed that the room had cleared out, and we were told that the band was going to come out. I asked if we could stay around and get a photo and autograph on my CD insert. Stuart agreed, and we sat in the room and waited. It wasn't long. Rocco came out and happily agreed to a photo with us. He chatted to Stuart about England. I talked to Ryan (the drummer), and it was like they were "old buddies" of ours. (Yeh, right! LOL!) I told Rocco that our daughter Emily is a big fan, and he smiled. We missed saying hi to Greg (the master percussionist) and Dave (the bass player), but perhaps another time?

Tired but exhilarated, we arrived back in W. City around 3 a.m.

It was definitely worth the wait...we're still humming.

Cheers, Rocco!

Rocco On...

Some clips from the Rocco Deluca concert in Baltimore, Maryland. They're short because my little digital camera's batteries could only handle short tidbits. But enjoy! I'll post a few more later.

On Chickish Flicks

I'm a sucker for "chick flicks."

I mean it. I love a good action, adventure movie, but I can watch the same sad, soppy, emotion-filled movie and cry almost every time.

As I sit here typing -- my face tearstained -- I just finished watching one of my favorites, Behind the Red Door. I can't tell you the number of times I've watched that film since I discovered it....and nearly every time I find my eyes filling up with tears and my heart squeezing inside my chest.

I know what's going to happen. It's not a surprise. I mean, I knew it before I watched it the very first time -- it's on the back of the box. But there's something about watching it that makes me feel like I'm there suffering through with the actors -- feeling the pain of his sickness and the loss of their newly rekindled blossoming sibling relationship.

I watched The Lake House earlier in the week -- All I can say is: Excellent! One to keep you guessing! -- and then River Queen yesterday -- nothing can describe this fabulous film.

But it wasn't until this morning that I found myself able to really let my emotions go (blame the hormones -- I did). And thank goodness, my hubby was there to soak up all my tears! It was like the stories were all floating around inside my head, haunting me with their emotional overtones.

Gotta love that!

Well, I guess...if you're into "chickish flicks."

Fudging It

I was getting ready to post another very simple and WONDERFUL recipe from Hellish Kitchens that is perfect for this time of year....and then realized I'd already posted it here.

It's for "foolproof fudge," and it makes a great gift that says, "I slaved away in a burning-hot kitchen making this delicious delicacy for you because you're worth it!" (Only you know that it took about 10 minutes to prepare...and then another 2+ hours cooling in the fridge.)

I'm including a photo of this yummy treat to remind you that life is short...eat dessert FIRST!