In Favor of the Strike

I was thinking about yesterday - Easter - and how much I enjoyed all the visits - both here at my house and at Richard and Julie's house.

I thought of Easters past, which always brings Amy to mind.  Amy has been the offical holiday meal cooker for her family (and me) years now (and the dinners have always... ALWAYS... been exceptional), but this year there's a "holiday dinner" strike.

Shortly after the first of the year, Amy told me that she's on strike this year - no family dinners at their house. 

"If anyone invites me, I'll be glad to attend a family dinner.  I'll even bring something, but this year... it's not me.", Amy told me emphatically (but pleasantly).

It made me laugh.   But then I started to think about all the dinners... all the food.... all the work... all the $$$$$$ - and I thought... "I should have done more to help."  It's so easy to take it for granted - to assume that Amy and Greg will be cooking. 

So yesterday was Easter.  I guess it's the first holiday this year affected by "the strike".

Amy, Greg and the kids showed up at my house after dinner for a visit... sweaty.. out of breath.  They had been playing  baseball.  It occurred to me that I don't know if Amy has EVER been to my house on Easter.

It was GREAT to see them all laughing... spending time together as a family... and having them ALL stop to visit. 

If this is the result of the strike... I am TOTALLY in favor!!!! I'll have to do my part to support it!

(Okay... so it's not an Easter picture... or a holiday picture....

or a militant strike picture... but it IS Greg and Amy)

* * * * * * *

Happy Easter!

What a great Easter I had.  I got to visit with all of my children (except for Crystal) and grandchildren and I loved every minute of it.

In the past, there has been a tradition of the "Easter Weed" - a plant that the kids picked up for $1 or $2.  It's always fun to see what they found and to hear them laugh about it.

This year, though, the tradition must have been suspended.  I got a plant from each family, but this year they were BEAUTIFUL!  A gorgeous pink hydrangea... wonderful hyacinths that made the whole house smell like spring... and a hand-picked pot that Bryce filled with dirt and one red snap-dragon and one yellow marigold - truly perfect. 

I could lapse into the story about how my great-grandfather and I used to pick snap dragons in his yard when I was little, but I'll spare you the nostalgia.  Suffice it to know... we did. 

It was a glorious Easter and any day that I get to see the whole gang (especially when Crystal can come) is very good day and one that leaves me very grateful at the end of the day!

He is risen!

Don't blink...

... or you will miss something miraculous!  Or at least that's how it seems with my grandchildren!

Gregory is almost 13... playing the guitar... acting in a play at school.  Brynn (almost 9 months) is crawling.  I remember when Gregory learned to crawl.  I really do. 

So much happens between 9 months and 12 1/2 years old.  Every day is a learning experience... for them and for us. 

Life is SOOOO good!

P.S.  The link above is to Julie's blog.  Check it out if you haven't already!

* * * * * * *

My iPod needs to sync...

... with ME!

Today my iPod is crazy about Nellie McKay!  Unfortunately, I am NOT crazy about Nellie McKay today.  "Why do I have her in there"  you ask?  Good question.  I think at one point I WAS crazy about Nellie McKay, but it must have been in another life. 

ANYWAY... I just thought you should know that.  If you were going to send music to me today, you can skip Nellie McKay.  I have plenty!

* * * * * * *

Glimpses and Glimmers

Sometimes the light comes in through the cracks - just in glimpses and glimmers.  

Yesterday was... well... you know...

But at the end of the day I had some time to stop and reflect - and think back over the day and I realized that I had been hearing a "let go" message all day from several places - several people - in different ways. 

Sometimes when you stop fighting it, life flows a lot better.  Sometimes when you are in search of your authentic self, the search itself gets in the way. Sometimes it's best to just let life wrap itself around you and carry you.

A while ago, I taped a piece of a concert on some music channel on the TV- a song by Sheryl Crow. I don't know what was on Sheryl's mind when she wrote this song (with Bill Bottrell), but it's kind of a God-thing for me - and a very pretty melody.

ANYWAY... I played the song last night and the following lines kind of took on a different meaning for me than they had before...

"It seems like every time I try to make it right
 It all comes down on me"

And I found myself thinking (again)... that it's often the effort to "make it right" that makes it all crumble.  Sometimes the only thing that can make it right is to let go - surrender - one of those "let go and let God" deals. 

ANYWAY...

Here are the words to the song.  If you get a chance, find it on YouTube or something.  So nice!

I Shall Believe

Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe

I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe

Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it's true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key

Never again
would I turn away from you
I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me

Please say honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
I shall believe
And I shall believe

THAT Kind Of Day

It's been that kind of day.  You know... that kind of day. 

... the kind of day where you could put catsup on your roast beef sandwich and Arby's sauce on your curly fries.  (not that I did)  It's just that kind of day.

... the kind of day when you hate your job.  Most of the time I like what I do, but some days, I just hate my job.  That kind of day.

... the kind of day when you melt down like a 3-year old without a nap.  and then you step outside yourself long enough to take a good hard look - and a deep, deep breath.  And you realize, it's all okay.  It's just been that kind of day.

A Star is Born

Alice in Wonderland at Talley Middle School and in my opinion (totally unbiased - totally), my grandson, Greg, was the star.

Gregory played the March Hare - bravely in a brown bunny suit.  I thought it took a lot of courage to wear a bunny suit in a junior high school play and wear it, he did - and he made it come to life.

The play was a musical (pretty ambitious for a Middle School) and the kids did a fantastic job! 

The March Hare and the Mad Hatter sang the "Unbirthday Song" (which was THE best song in the show - again my objective opinion).

As a grandmother, it was great fun to watch Greg's confidence and joy in what he was doing.  Music is in Greg's future in some way.  You can feel it. 

Whether this is the beginning of something or just a terrific way to be involved in school this year, I'm SO proud of Greg's involvement and commitment to this play.

I am a VERY proud grammie, indeed!

GREAT job, Gregory!

Light Up The Queen!

World Cafe Live at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware

Last night was the first concert in the Queen theater which has been closed since the lights went out over 50 years years ago (April, 1959). 

The Queen was built in 1915 at a cost of $250,000.  The vast two-tier theater originally seated 2,000 people.

The Queen is an entire city block long with six floors.  Like World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, there are two stages:  "Upstairs" has a capacity of 150 seated and 250 standing room only; "Downstairs" has a capacity of 400 seated and 800 standing room only. 

The Queen also provides banquet facilities (yes, your child can have a birthday party at the Queen) and a studio for WXPN (well, of course), full service kitchens and who knows what else?!?

The renovation of the Queen theater has been estimated at over $25 million -  only possible through the help of partners who supported and funded the vision .  The premier partner is the "Light Up The Queen Foundation" which has been dedicated to the revival of the Queen Theater.

And those are the facts.  But the Queen is much more than facts.

We were privileged to be at the Queen for Ingrid Michaelson concert, which was standing room only and packed!  Although the balcony area was closed for a "grand opening" party given by Hal Real (Light up the Queen), we were fortunate enough to have had seats in the third row of the balcony (even though we weren't part of the party) that provided a breathtaking view of the theater.

The murals high on the wall to our right were painted almost 100 years ago.  That these murals are still there is a tribute to the kind of care that has been taken with this renovation.

I was speechless (and a little teary, I admit) at the beauty of this theater.  The workmanship on the marble and the plaster and every surface is awe inspiring.  The railings - the work on the ceilings - the moldings - the front of the balcony - just everywhere. 

The concert began an hour after the scheduled start, but we really didn't mind.  There was so much to see!

This theater has its own personality that it's carried with it for almost 100 years and it's palpable.  You can feel it all around you. 

I think that in the future when going to events at the Queen, I'll make a concerted effort (no pun intended) to get there early - to drink in the majesty of the old theater - to let her 100 year history wrap itself around me - to feel the life and breath in the walls and the stage.

Music at the Queen!  What could be better???

Long live the Queen!

Websites*April 24-April 30

Julie shared this one with me and I LOVE it!  If you order during the week before 4:00 PM (I think it's 4:00), your order will be delivered the next day. How cool is that???

The shipping is free on your first order of $25 or over and then I think it's free if your order is $39 or more.

soap.com

* * * * * * *

Websites*April 17-April 23

Okay... This one is just plain funny.  Not being truly a cat person, I have to admit (even though it embarasses me) that I thought to myself... "Wow!  Is that what that means?????"

Then I got it and just laughed - at the website - at myself.

Enjoy!

http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

* * * * * * *