Music

Yesterday I wast happily writing in my book 'Meg'.  Meg is a skinny 12 year old dealing with personal issues as she tries to survive middle school.  I wanted to include the lyrics to 'You'll Never Walk Alone'  from  the musical Carousel.  It was the musical performed at the high school my senior year, and 'Never Walk Alone' was the theme song for our trip to Spain that same year.  I found the lyrics and included them in my book.  Of course, then I wondered if I could pick out the melody on the dulcimer.  Sure enough, I could.  I then went from that song to all the songs in my personal repetoire, and then to the songs in the dulcimer handbook.  Three hours later, I came back to the computer in hibernation mode, still open to Open Office and the lyrics to "You'll Never Walk Alone."  Going online, I spent another hour or so researching dulcimer workshops.

Wind in the City

I read that the cause of the winds in the midwest is a jet stream that screamed over OR with 220 mph winds.  Since my city is in a valley, we've been protected from the gale force winds and torrential downpours.  A few sprinkles, but not enough to deter a walk with the doggits around the perimeter of the field.  And, yes, because there were ten or so raindrops, we had the entire field to ourselves, except for one other doggit and her owner.  Very nice weather we're having.  A good day for turkey chili over a baked "tato with sour cream and cheddar cheese on top.  And a side of garlic bread.  Perfect!

Murder Mystery Fundraiser-- Who dunnit?

As I approached the door, I heard Myra say, "We'll start as soon as Bailey gets here!"  I hurried through the door, saying, "I'm here!  Finally, I'm here!  After a three hour delay in Chicago."  All of my classmates were there--and I hurried to greet them.  Plenty of atmosphere and good food.  I caught up on the latest news!  Nick was running for President.  Molly had won an Emmy and had signed a contract to star in a Disney film!  Joe and Natalie had married right out of high school.  Steve had produced many films and was wealthy as were Myra and Byron.  Many other friends were there, B.A., Judd, Mika, Pamela, and Cindy.  We ate and danced and talked.  And then, we were horrified to find Steve, dead in the hall.  He had been murdered.  Rumors circulated--Natalie and Cindy were having an affair with Steve. Steve would not pay either his accountants or the music company.  Steve had withdrawn his monetary support for Nick.  Molly had gotten her start in pornographic films.  Thoughts swirled around as I tried to discover the identity of the murderer.

"Trick or Treat"

It is almost that time!  Time when the little hulks, dragons, princesses, and frogs ring the doorbell and ask for goodies!  I  bought the pumpkins and twix, candy bracelets and watches, butterfingers, snickers, and reeses peanut butter cups.  I have to hang the singing spider (ewwwwww, ewwwwwwww, ewwwwwwww) and put Henry, the pumpkin head man in his chair on the front porch.  The rapping ghost and count dracula are waiting to make their appearance.  "Velcome! I've been vaiting for you!"   to the music of Phantom of the Opera.


                                                                       BOO!

                                    

A fine day off

Today is my day off.  I do not have another one for six days.  I started the day by driving to the rec center and dancing--zumba dancing!  There is absolutely "no right or wrong in zumba."  That takes the pressure off for sure.  When I came home, the three dogs and I walked around the field.  We saw no signs of other humans or wildlife, so it was a most pleasant walk.  Home to do some computer work and throw in a load of clothes.  Since it is my only day off for a while, I will read and perhaps work more on my book about a skinny little 12 year old girl named Meg and her friend, SQ, a talking squirrel.  I will head off to spar and train this evening.

Murder at the high school reunion

This Saturday evening, I am attending a Murder Mystery fundraiser at the dojang.  The setting is 1985 and my character is Ms. Bailey Babble.  I felt it my obligation to tell-all during my high school career, and probably embellished the tale quite a bit.   I must tell you that I will be fashionably late, as I have to work.  I can't wait to meet up with you and touch base.  Did you know that I work for the tabloid, Tellitasitis.com?  I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Saturday!   Save a dance for me.   Au revoir!

Continuation

The car problem turned out to be a cracked hose connector to the radiator (50 cents).  Have the car back, but now it seems to smell of exhaust inside, and I can't tell if it is coming from the engine or other vehicles.  I worked 11 hours today, because one of the closers wasn't feeling well.  The best part of my day was hapkido.  I worked with one of the new students.  He's eager to please and learn, and it was a delight.  I am so grateful for exercise, otherwise I'd be eating my arm.  It's a day that if I drank, I'd be putting schnapps in my cider.  Or if I was a bear, I'd find a cave and hibernate.  I am going to distract myself be reading the mystery "Living the Vida Loca."  Perhaps it will bring a smile or two.

Extra care

Just now, I heard the long blare of a car horn.  Someone honking at a cat or at a high school student heading for the bus?  Both drivers and pedestrians need extra eyes to watch out for each other, especially in the darkness of early morning and evening.

The Only Constant in Life is Change

Just one of those days today.  No heat in the Sebring , but lots of steam coming out from under the engine, and a temp gauge running hot.  Off to the shop to keep our mechanic in beer and chips for another month and a half.  News that beginning October 31st, church service time has been changed, so it will not work for me to go there before work on Sunday.  I've been attending this service for 10 years.  Busy at work, regrouping from Sweetest Day yesterday--putting fresh flowers in the cooler, waiting on customers, trying to get a b'day delivery out, and restocking water tubes.  Home to discover that one of the kitties knocked an oil lantern off the dresser and broke the lamp.  I picked up the big pieces and vacuumed.  One step forward, two backwards.

An Encounter with Wildlife

The other morning, I thought, "Hmmmm.  Smells like a skunk in this house."  As I walked into the living room, the smell got stronger.  It smelled amazingly like a burning vacuum cleaner belt.  I smelled the fur of Max, an eight year old pound hound.  No skunk smell.  I then checked out Pudge, a 2 year old puggle.  He was okay too.  On to Maui, a 2 year old mini dachsund.  Lord have mercy!  She had to have a bath with tomato juice and shampoo, and even then, she still smelled like a skunk.  After I got home from work, I let the three dogs out, and Maui promptly went under the deck where she commenced to bark,  "Arf!  Arf!  Arf!  Arf!  Arf!"  I went to the side opening and imagine my surprise when I saw the hind end of something black and white striped and furry.  My daughter tried to use the hose to squirt through the top of the deck onto the barking dog.  Maui would come out and go back under.  Finally, she came out from under the deck, mouth full of skunk oil.  Paper towel to clean out her mouth and another bath.  That night, a big wish that Miss Skunk would waddle out from under the deck and find another location.  And though it's impossible to know for sure, Miss Maui, has gone under the deck, but has not barked like a wild thing.  So, we can hope.  It still smells of skunk outside and the basement level has a residual odor.  This morning, when I looked outside and saw the garbage strewn all over the backyard, I wondered about the culprit--dog or skunk?

A Realization

I have decided that a college student with a full life--social life, classes, sports and work needs more than one room to keep her possessions in.  Where exactly in a room 13 x 13 can she possibly keep sports equipment, heavy tomes and lighter paperbacks, dressy clothes and shoes--flip flops, Uggs, sandals and dress shoes?  No, indeed, she needs a bedroom, dressing room, living area and small kitchenette.  A whole house would do nicely.  A place for everything and everything in its place.

A Fun Way to Exercise and Work up a Sweat

Last December, my daughter was visiting for a week or so.  She had planned to meet a friend and her friend's mother at the rec center and take a zumba class.  She invited me along.   I had never heard of zumba and had no idea what a zumba class was.  However, I like doing things with my daughter so said, "Sure, I'll go!  It sounds like fun!"  Wow!  The woman leading the class was graceful and energetic.  We danced the tango, cumbia, salsa, mambo and the moves from Zorba the Greek.  I tried to follow and make my two left feet cooperate.  Sweat dripped off my forehead.  I gave thanks for three years of hapkido so that I could keep up, so that my mature (can't tell you how old) body wasn't lying flat out on the studio floor!  How I enjoyed zumba! When registration came up, I signed up for the class on Friday evening.  I found out that a young 70 year old woman leads zumba on Wednesday morning.  So I registered for the Wednesday morning class!  The music--mostly Latin, but certainly also from Arabia and Greece, takes me and my zumba friends from the studio in America to places far away, and lifts our spirits and lets them soar.

Martial arts and competition

Back in the days of junior high and high school, I did not participate in sports.  For some reason, I thought that my classmates participated and competed in sports, because he or she not only loved the sport, but excelled in that particular sport.  He or she was a talented, gifted, incredible athlete.  I realize now, that though this is true in many cases, that there are other factors--determination, hard work and motivation.  Another consideration was that  my parents both worked, and I didn't want to impose on them to drive me around the city.  As I grew older (how old, you ask--not tellin'), I began to train in hapkido.  Hapkido is a martial art form using circular self-defense techniques.  I dreamed of entering a competition and winning either a medal or trophy.  My first competition was at my home dojang almost three years ago.  Though as Kenny Chesney would say in his song The Boys of Fall, I had to "batten down those butterflies, I also had fun, and brought three trophies home.  In June, August and September of this year, I participated in tournaments--one of them the World Hapkido Games, and added gold and bronze medals to my collection.

A day for rejoicing!

Chi.  Chi.  Chi.  Le. Le. Le.  Chile!  Chile!

I can't imagine living for 17 days not knowing if my loved one was alive deep in the earth.  And finally, getting the word, that 33 miners were alive!  Today, after a concerted effort by hundreds of people, the 33 miners are safely above ground.  Yes!  Certainly a day of happiness and tears and hugs! A day for rejoicing in a miracle.