Happy Birthday Amy!

Today is Amy's birthday! She is... um... well... she is... a year younger than Richard and a couple months older than Greg and WAY WAY younger than I can even remember being.

Amy was so pretty at 16, but she is SO much more beautiful at... well... this age.  Obviously I'm going to have to find pictures to prove my point. 

Greg made plans for us to go to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate - Greg, Amy and their 3 kids - Chrissie, Will and their 3 kids - Michael and me.  We had a great time!  I love spending time with Amy, Greg and the kids any time and anywhere I can! 

Greg wanted a cake from Serpe's (where else???).  Since Michael is off on Wednesdays, he picked up the cake.  The servers brought our cake to the table and sang their rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" while Amy gave us all dirty looks.  (Imagine!)  They announced that Amy was 29 years old today.  She looks like she could be!

Happy Birthday, Amy!

Amy - Then


Amy - Now

See????

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear Amyyyyyyyy!
Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuu!

2010 Quotes * March

March

"Resolve to keep happy and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." ~Helen Keller~

~ * ~

"To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy... is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

~ * ~

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. " ~Thich Nhat Hanh~

An Acoustic Evening With Leo Kottke

Someone told us that there are only 3 people in the world who can make a 12-string guitar REALLY sing... and all 3 of those people are Leo Kottke. 

There are apparently a lot of people who agree.  The Keswick Theatre was sold out last night for a concert with Leo Kottke and Los Lobos.  Almost every seat was full before the "opening act".  A rarity!

We were in the first row - right hand side - close enough to watch Mr. Kottke's hands.  There were no finger picks - no thumb pick - just the glorious sound of that beautiful Taylor 12-string that seemed to produce itself magically and with almost no effort at all.

In the 1980's, Mr. Kottke (no... we aren't on a first name basis yet.  Besides he's 3 years older than I am.  It's a "respect" thing.) suffered from tendonitis and nerve damage cause by his aggressive picking style, so... he changed it.  He changed the position of his right hand and began using the flesh of his fingers and his fingernails instead of the finger picks. 

I was able to take my eyes off the stage twice (and that took great discipline) to look around at the crowd.  The audience was mesmerized! 

I'm not sure how long Mr. Kottke played - maybe an hour.  I only know it wasn't long enough.  I could have listened and watched all night. 

We took a couple of pictures, but we didn't even think about the camera until he put down his 12-string for a 6-string. 

AND... he was funny, which surprised me for some reason.  He told an anecdote about being chosen to be "the cover" for a magazine, so when he showed up for the photo shoot, he saw Doc Watson and Chet Atkins.  They had been told the same thing.  I don't know if they ever got around to pictures, but we heard about what a great time the three of them had playing together.  And then he played something that sounded SO much like Doc Watson - except on a 12-string.  Just amazing!  Oh!  And we all got a chuckle when he told us that the magazine was "In Flight". 

At the end of the evening, I felt privileged to be there - to see Leo Kottke in person - to experience the wonder of his music - to watch his genius.

There truly are only 3 people in the world who can REALLY make a 12-string guitar sing - and they are ALL Leo Kottke.

The Same Acoustic Evening - with Los Lobos

After hearing the amazing Leo Kottke open, we could hardly wait for Los Lobos.  Everyone I talked to told me that we would be blown away by the band.

We weren't.

At least not at first.  Don't get me wrong.  Individually, the members of Los Lobos are all jaw-droppers.  I mean... who wouldn't love David Hidalgo???  Really!  Guitar? Voice?  I'm a fan - for life!

Cesar Rosas was missing due to a family emergency.  Although I've never seen them before in concert, I'm sure that Cesar was greatly missed!  The audience shouted several requests for songs that Los Lobos couldn't play because Cesar was the lead singer on those songs. 

And Steve Rubin???  The man of many instruments.  We were close enough to FEEL the vibration from that baritone sax!  Fantastic! 

Maybe it was because the set was acoustic (which is usually my favorite) - maybe it was because Cesar Rosas wasn't there - maybe I was just "off" - but I was not blown away most of the evening. 

I looked behind me and saw 2 women in one row nodding their heads to the music and smiling - no one else in that row was moving.  Behind those women, a man appeared to be sleeping.  And yes, I know the difference between "feeling" the music with your eyes closed - and sleeping.  Usually "feeling the music" is not done with your head back and your mouth open.  (Just my opinion.)

There was some chair dancing in the crowd, but not much.  At one point David promised to play some songs so that people could dance.  A couple in the row opposite me got up and headed toward the wall to dance.  (You know about wall dancers, right?  The people who just can't sit still and get chased over by the wall so that they don't get in anyone's way.)  I LOVE the wall dancers - as long as they are wall dancers and not "stand-in-front-of-me" dancers!  If I could be one... I would!

So anyway... Great!  But the next 3 songs were undanceable (yes, that's a new word), so the couple went back to their seats. 

About the time I was wondering when it would be over, Los Lobos broke out the electric guitars and the place started to rock.  You could feel the crowd come alive for the last 3 songs.  It was at that point that I totally understood why people love Los Lobos and why the Keswick was sold out!

And why... the next time Los Lobos is in town, I'll be there!

Set List...

Happy Birthday, Richard...

... again!

Today was the big breakfast!  Scott couldn't come because of an all day training for work and Greg, Amy and their crew didn't make it, but the rest of us had a great breakfast at Kid Shelleen's to celebrate Richard's birthday!

I took a card with "birthday money" in it and I was SO shocked when my dear sensitive son, turned the card upside down and shook it instead of reading it.  When the check and a $1 bill fell out (the $1 is a tradition) he said ever so sweetly (???)... "That's what I'm talking about!!"

Yeah... right!

Kate looked so pretty in her little purple dress and Bryce is adorable with his spikey hair - and they were both SO well behaved at breakfast! 

Julie is very prego at this point but feeling great and looking even better! Julie should be the poster-child for pregnancy. She wears it soooo well!

It was great to see Crystal!  I forget between times that I see her, just how much she sparkles!  And she DOES sparkle!!!

Oh and Richard.  This IS about Richard, right??? Richard looked great as always.  He has the BEST smile!

It's fun to sit and watch.  It makes me feel incredibly blessed - so happy.  God is truly amazing. I know we're just a small blip on His screen, but I feel the touch of His hand on our lives SO many times.

Oh!  And I even got a parking place near the door! 

Life is good!

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Lyle Lovett is...

... a soulful guy.

I'm not sure why I'm writing this.  I was listening to Pandora (you know about Pandora, right?) and this song came on by Lyle Lovett - "Nobody Knows Me Like My Baby"... and I thought... "Hmmmm  Nice song.  I think Lyle Lovett is a very soulful guy." 

So I was talking to Michael and told him about this song by Lyle Lovett and Michael said... "Lyle Lovett is a soulful guy."

So I went to work and told someone else about this song (among others) and that I thought Lyle Lovett was a soulful guy and they laughed and said... "You're kidding, right?"

*sigh*

There is just no accounting for some people's taste - or lack thereof. Not that people who disagree with me are necessarily wrong.  Or maybe...

...whatever

In case you were wondering, Lyle Lovett is a soulful guy.  Trust me on this one.

Happy Birthday, Richard

I don't know how it's possible that Richard is 38 today when I'm only 50.  (Or did I turn 51 last September?)

ANYWAY... it's Richard's birthday and he's off celebrating with friends - watching the NCAA's allllllll day!  He and Julie are going out for dinner tomorrow night and we're all getting together on Sunday morning for breakfast.

I asked Richard what he wanted for his birthday and he gave me a few ideas, but I think he would be the first to tell you that he already has anything anyone could ever want! 

Well... maybe almost. I mean... after all... there IS that Golf GPS!  ;)

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday dear Riiiiichard!
Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuu!

Avatar

That's it! I know!  I know!  I KNOW!

Everybody's favorite picture and I give it 3 Go's. 

I was impressed with the technology.  But otherwise... not so much. AND I thought it was at least a half hour too long.

About that time thing... I didn't see it in 3D. I was too late for that.  So I get it that if I had seen it in 3D, I probably wouldn't have thought it was too long.  But I didn't see it in 3D and it was too long.

The big war at the end???  Really!  This is THE movie with a message (I also felt "preached to") and that war kind of blew the whole thing for me.  Maybe because I was expecting something more peaceful.  Silly me!

Was the message that the side with the most guys is the side that will win? I don't know. I just got so many mixed messages.  Maybe my brain was cross-wired that day. I think there are days that's true. 

Maybe there was just too much hype.  A mild case of "The Emperor's New Clothes"?  I'm not sure what bothed me, but something did. 

If you haven't seen it yet... go... but only because it's such a "thing" this year. 

As Scott would say... "It sure wasn't Rocky".

Alice In Wonderland

FIRST of all... I absolutely hated "Alice In Wonderland" when I was a kid.  Hated the story!  Maybe it was just too dark for me. I don't know, but I may have told you - - - - I hated it!

We had a whole set of Childcraft books. I devoured all of the fairy tales - all of Aesop's fables - the volumes with poetry - just about everything.  But I avoided "Alice In Wonderland" - wouldn't even look at the pictures.  Really.

So, I guess the point is... I debated whether to go see this movie or not.  I missed "Avatar" in 3D and decided that I didn't want to miss another 3D movie that I might regret.

So I went to see it today.  (Whew! Took a long time to get here, didn't it?)

I LOVED it!  It may have been a tad too Tim Burtonish to get 5 Go's, but it was a solid 4 Go's. 

Johnny Depp - the more over-the-top he is - the better I like it.  And he was plenty over the top in this one.  Blue eye shadow and a lisp - a Mad Hatter - a crazy milliner - loved it - loved him.

And Helena Bonham Carter was FANTASTIC as the Red Queen.  No one will ever say "Off with their heads" without making me think of the big-headed Red Queen.  (Not that I hear that often)  I have to say that the Red Queen reminded me ever-so-slightly of Bernadette Peters.  I'm not sure why - maybe it was the mouth. 

Anne Hathaway was as over-the-top as the White Queen as Johnny Depp was as the Mad Hatter.  She made me laugh out loud (always a treat when you go to the movies alone).  I had no idea she was THAT funny. 

As far as the 3D?  I spent an hour and fourty-some minutes ducking flying teacups, reaching out for a feather that LOOKED like it was right there in front of me and almost feeling the wings of a blue butterfly on my face.  This is NOT your grandmother's 3D! 

So... go see it - in 3D!  This weekend!

P.S.  Oh!  Alice!!  She was good, too.  Pretty girl. 

Crazy Heart

Defiinitely 5 Go's! Definitely!

Jeff Bridges earned and deserved his Oscar.  There are those who say that he was rewarded as much for his body of work as for Crazy Heart.  That may be true.  But Crazy Heart was enough. 

If you're looking for a happy, "feel good" movie, this ain't it.  You'll have to get your rainbows and "white horse into the sunset" somewhere else.  Okay... you may get a rusty ol' truck into the sunset at the end of this one.  And the truck may have a li'l hope shoved in the back, but... well... I'll leave it there.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is extraordinary.  I mean... I don't know her or anything, but she was extraordinary in the movie - and I'm guessing that if you were lucky enough to run into her today at say... the grocery store... I'd bet she'd still be extraordinary.  Just guessing.

At first, I thought it was a very unlikely pairing, but not for long.  I think I'd like to see the movie again - to watch it develop again.  What man wouldn't/couldn't fall in love with Maggie Gyllenhall?  That's a "duh"!  But the other way around?  Interesting, to say the least.

The time flew by.  I tend to watch the time when I watch a movie (bad habit) to judge how far along we are in plot resolution, but not on this one.  I totally forgot about the time.

Oh! By the way, I Googled Maggie Gyllenhall to see what I could find out and I found her in Wiki with this note:

"Margaret Ruth "Maggie" Gyllenhall, pronounced /ˈdʒɪlənhɑːl/...."

Go ahead.  Pronounce that. I dare you!  The artist formerly known as Maggie Ruth???

I digress!

SO... the music!  I heard Jeff Bridges say that he turned down the script at first - because there was no music in the movie.  Hellllooooooo?  No music in a movie about a Country Western musician?  No wonder he turned it down.  Makes sense to me.  He didn't even have to call for my opinion on that one!

When Jeff (no more Mr. Bridges for us.  I'm jane - he's Jeff) talked about the music in the interview I watched - and talked about T-Bone Burnett getting involved - his face was just one big grin.  But then, how could it NOT be?  T-Bone Burnett?? 

So... T-Bone and Jeff agreed to do the movie.  T-Bone and an old friend, guitarist, and songwriter: Stephen Bruton, co-wrote most of the music for the movie.  T-Bone said that the following two lines from one of the songs were the fulcrum for the movie:

"I used to be somebody

Now I'm somebody else"

So... Ryan Bingham, a young musician from New Mexico, landed a part as a member of Bad Blake's pickup band.  He played a portion of his incomplete song, "The Weary Kind" for T-Bone.  T-Bone told him immediately that it would be the title song for the movie.  Can you imagine how that young man must have felt?  28 years old - the title song for a movie.  Pretty cool.

And now... the winner of an Academy Award for best original song.  Life changing, for sure. 

 "And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try"
 by Ryan Bingham

So if you're getting the message that I think  you should go, you are soooooo right!  (If you already saw the movie, let me know what you think about it)

Go!  Go!  Go!  Go!  Go!

Peking Acrobats

Months ago, Ellen, from the Keswick, suggested that my family might enjoy the Peking Acrobats.  I had never seen them - had no idea who they were - or what they did, but if Ellen said they were good... they were good!  So, I bought 13 tickets for the whole gang.  Thank you, Ellen!  It was GREAT!  We had terrific seats and we had so much fun!! 

There were several of these "Lions" - just fascinating!!!!

This had to be done right on the edge of the stage to

avoid the curtains and valance.  He was soooooo high!!

This one was done by the women.  We were amazed!

Does anyone remember Ed Sullivan?  I think that's the

first time I ever saw anyone spin plates.  These women

performed all kinds of flexibility stunts while spinning

the plates at the same time. 

Balance and grace!

This one I wanted to get especially for my 2nd cousin, Zoë.

This woman was en pointe on top of that guy's head!

I've never seen anyone as flexible as these women were!

Flexible AND strong!!!!

Speaking of strong!  These guys were beyond strong!

The man in the center was hanging by his feet.

And again... incredibly strong!!!!

The women were spinning small, round cloths

while doing all kinds of contortions.

We were sitting next to Julie, Richard, and Kate and behind Greg and his kids.  Michael took the one below of Kate and her Uncle Greg.

And... a GREAT time was had by all!