WWJD

So!  I have this neighbor who lives behind me - educated, attractive, well-groomed, healthy (apparently).  She is a member and attender of one of the most prestigious churches in the area - for all appearances, a Christian.

And yet she doesn't have one kind word for any of her neighbors.  She certainly hasn't had one for me in the 20 years I've lived here. Comments from the neighbors about her range from "petty"... to "crazy"... to "mean spirited _____".

She regularly reports (real and imagined) property infractions to the County (and yes, I'm one of those receiving a visit from a County official - and at least some of my infractions were real). 

Recently, she had flood lights installed on the back of her house.  They don't point down at her property.  They point directly into my back windows.   I thought briefly about contacting our friend, the County inspector.  But being a "live and let live" kind of gal, I just close my room-darkening curtains in the bedroom and enjoy the fact that she's lit my back yard nearly as well as she's lit her own.  So, go for it, neighbor.  Light the world! 

Her yard is near-perfect - an apparent metaphor for her life.  She works hard on it, spending hours and hours raking, mowing, brushing, blowing, sweeping, tidying.  And yet I've never seen her sit on the beautiful bench in the back of her yard and read a book or enjoy her lunch in the beautiful setting she's created.  It appears to be much more about appearance than function.

There are days I'd love to fill my back yard with plastic pink flamingos and barbed wire "art" and wait to do battle with the County representative who would almost certainly come to visit.

But most days, I wonder what makes her so unhappy.  Where does the anger come from?  What hurts?

As I sit here, looking out my window at her house and yard, I wonder if there is anything I can do to make it better (other than landscape my yard in like fashion - which I'd love, but can't afford - and would do myself if I were physically able.)

Thanksgiving has passed.  Christmas is on the way. 'Tis the season to be all about peace, love, forgiveness.  What would Jesus do???

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Late)

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I have a "thankful" hangover.  SO much to be grateful for!

Thanksgivng day was busy and wonderful.  The whole family came to my house for our traditional breakfast.  Even my father made it this year.  Looking down the table at all of the beautiful faces, I was fighting back tears - of gratitude - of love.  My life has been truly blessed - over and over again.

After breakfast, a couple of hours to recover and on to Greg and Amy's for dinner.  They had 3 tables this year.  There must have been at least 20 people.  Greg and Amy carried it off with their usual grace - and a truckoad of food - 2 turkeys this year - a ham - Amy's wonderful mashed potatoes and all of the fixings to go along.

Greg and Amy had a turkey "cook off" - each cooking a turkey.  Amy declared herself the winner!  Greg didn't even put up a fight. 

Richard, Julie, Kate, and Brynn stopped by after dinner for dessert (of which there was no shortage - cheescake - pumpkin pie - apple cobbler - cupcakes for the kids).  I'm still full today!! 

There is a new baby in the family this Thanksgiving and we are thankful for her sweet presence.  Greg has a new job this year.  So does Richard.  Michael was just promoted.  There are also job complaints, but basically we are all grateful to have our jobs - our homes - our families. 

Life is good!  God is good!

We are thankful! 

Shawn Mullins

Shawn Mullins
November 10, 2010
World Cafe Live

If you like stories - bar stories - civil war stories - true stories - fictional stories - stories about stories - then you should LOVE Shawn Mullins. 

Shawn Mullins is a story teller, a dreamer, a heart tugger.  The stories between the songs were as captivating as the stories IN the songs.  As soon as he spoke, he threw a net over the audience with his voice and drew us all in.  

I've only seen Shawn "live" once before - when he toured with The Thorns - Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn (spectacular, by the way) - and I think he must have deferred that night because I was totally unprepared for the range, power and depth of his voice.  The resonance was palpable - both when he spoke and when he sang.  It covered us like a warm blanket.  (The incredible acoustics at World Cafe Live didn't hurt a bit.)

It was just Shawn and Patrick Blanchard on stage - and it was enough.  Well... actually...  Shawn and Patrick and a few guitars.  It was a night for Gibson acoustic guitars with Shawn's big ol' Gibsons and Patrick's Gibson J-45 (I think).  Shawn also used a third guitar (maybe an Alvarez ???) - for "Lullabye" and Patrick added color to the evening with a Telecaster.  It was a great night for acoustic guitar with a little sweet electric thrown in.

Although Patrick Blanchard usually plays bass with Shawn's band, there was no bass for Patrick on Wednesday night.  He did more than an adequate job taking the solos and playing some great licks.  He played like he meant it.

Although Shawn Mullin's catalog is full of great songs, everyone still wants to hear "Lullabye" before the night is over.  We were not disappointed.  Shawn closed the show (the last show on this tour for him) with the ever-favorite, "Lullabye".  For an encore, he performed Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down".  An amazing ending to an amazing night!  (and the song is available on iTunes)  Great show - wonderful music - a night to remember!

I may even start a Shawn Mullins channel on my Pandora.

Everything's gonna be alright
     Rockabye Rockabye
          Bye bye, baby
               Bye bye

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday do you!
Happy Birthday, dear Dad
Happy Birthday to you!

87 Years old today - still golfing - still bowling.  Amazing! 

So... I went to visit my father and we went drinking.

Kind of.

Well... for me, anyway. 

We had a glass of wine.

Dinner at Cesare's (NOT the Dallas Diner) was great - wonderful food - pretty place - a nice night.  Then, after dinner, the scenic route back to his house - by the Yacht Club - the train station - by the bowling alley.  We hit all the hot spots! 

The drive home to Delaware was uneventful - great music on XM - not much traffic.  All in all, a really nice evening.

Happy birthday, Dad!

Red

Let's hear it for old people!!!  This movie was soooooooo good!!! 

Michael and I laughed until we cried.  It was a good story - lots of action - and tons of humor. 

All I have to do is look at Bruce Willis and I laugh.  His eyes laugh even when his face doesn't.  And John Malkovich?  OMG!  John Malkovich was born to play a crazy person.  (Is he playing?????)  Morgan Freeman is one of my favorites and there just wasn't enough of him in this movie to suit me, but a little Morgan Freeman is worth more than a lot of many other people.  I've been a fan of Helen Mirren since "Calendar Girls".  She was exceptional in this film!  She is one sexy senior - for sure!

This is one I will definitely watch again and again when it becomes available on cable. 

You HAVE to go see it!!!  GO!  Today!!

Quotes * October 31-November 6

October 31 - November 6

I don't know why

The trees grow so tall
And I don't know why

I don't know anything at all
But if there were no music

Then I would not get through
I don't know why

I know these things, but I do

From "I Don't Know Why"
~ Shawn Colvin ~

Hi Ho Cherry-O

It was game day with Bryce today and as always, he amazed me!

I love to play board games and card games and so, apparently, does Bryce.  We played one game after another all afternoon yesterday.  What fun!

AND... every game had all of the pieces.  True! 

Do you know how many of those little cherries there are in the Hi Ho Cherry-O game?  I think there are 4 colors - 10 cherries of each color - 40 cherries.  They must give you a couple extra, because Bryce not only had ALL of the pieces, he had extras. 

Scott said that Bryce loves games and so he and Crystal taught Bryce that if he wanted MORE games, then he had to take care of the games he had.  If he doesn't take care of what he has, he will not get more.  Ahhhh!  The joys of common sense!  (and standing by what you say - which is sometimes hard - and which was never my strong suit)

We laughed SO hard - talked trash to one another - and had a wonderful afternoon.  At one point we went outside to see how Scott was doing (he was installing a new scooter lift on my car) and Bryce grabbed a soccer ball and proceeded to play a make-believe soccer game.  I got to be the announcer, which was fun and made me laugh. 

Bryce would whisper to me... "announce that I'm coming into the game".. and I would announce... "Now entering the game is Bryce.  His team is down by 2 goals with less than a minute in the game.  CAN Bryce score the goals his team needs to win????"

And so Bryce would run and kick and at one point he whispered again to me "count the seconds down, Grammie"... which of course, I did - with delight.

I called a "time out" and Bryce came and sat next to me on the porch.  We decided to go in for a while and I headed toward the door.  Bryce ran out into the yard and grabbed his soccer ball to take inside.  Impressive!

I hope we can spend another afternoon together soon.  SOOOO much fun!