Song lyrics and enunciation

Now I know why every good choir director teaches singers to enunciate. I wondered why Ariel, the Little Mermaid, sang about "pregnant women, ready to stand. The correct lyrics are "bright young women, ready to stand." More recently, in Adele's Set Fire to the Rain I thought that the beginning lyrics were in French. My coworker told me the actual lines , but I don't remember them. Every time I hear the opening lines, I believe that Adele is singing in French. And today, after struggling with the words, "I'm a rubber duck. I'm a rubber duck (can't be!) I'm a rubber duff?" my daughter went online and found the lyrics. They are not about a rubber duck or even a rubber duff!

Organizing my life and writing

For the past week or so, I have been attempting to organize my life.  This means taking the six or so responsibilities that I have and incorporating them into a schedule.  Some are easy...I have set times.  Work, church, hapkido classes are programmed into the day.  However, certain activities, such as technique practice, exercise, writing and quiet time need to be incorporated.  And If I am not inclined to practice, if I am not motivated, I won't do it.  Which explains why promoting to the next level is such a struggle, and why my martial arts master is pulling his mustache with frustration!  Some of my hobbies are fitting well.  Chatting online and reading, for instance.  And I have begun writing again.  I am working on the story of Meg, a 13 year old whose life fell apart when her father inexplicably disappeared.  At the present, she is a mess, both physically and emotionally.  A friendly gray squirrel, SQ, has come to help her.

Costa Rica

My niece will be traveling in November to Costa Rica to learn massage therapy.  My sister mentioned that she was going to visit her.  From the time I was in high school and had a friend from Costa Rica, I have wanted to visit the beautiful country in Central America.  I visualize blue skies, tropical palms, pristine beaches, excellent cuisine.  So when opportunity arose, I grabbed it with both hands.  Now years ago, ages ago, I had a passport. However, if I want to go to Costa Rica, I need an updated one.  Last night I began the process.  I filled in the DS11 form and my husband and I got passport pictures taken.  With much difficulty, my husband printed out the form.  This morning I went to work for a while, and then when my coworker arrived, I drove to the post office.  "I'd like to apply for a passport please, " I told the woman behind the counter.  "We accept applications between 10 and 3, Monday through Friday."  I looked at my watch...9am!  "Thank you."   I smiled and left.  I chatted with my coworkers, and decided that it might be a good idea to take money from the ATM just in case debit cards were not accepted.  Driving back to the post office, the same woman started to help me.  "Since the old passport was in your maiden name, you need to provide a marriage certificate."  In my sling bag, I had my birth certificate and passport photos--in my wallet my driver's license.  I had no marriage certificate.  Since my parents' house is on my way home and I had to get the marriage certificate, I thought it was worth a try to make a quick search of my parents' home for the old passport. No luck there!  I came home retrieved the marriage certificate and drove back to the post office for the third time.  "You're back!" the woman stated.  She helped me through the process, double checking the information.  It was time to pay up.  "You can pay with a money order or check."  No problem since I could buy a money order .  I called my sister to say, "Guess who's going to Costa Rica!"  For 5 or 10 minutes, I heard my sister screaming happily in my ear.

Basil and begonia

Which genre?

I left the Writer's Conference with the urge to write! An animal rescue and haven is sponsoring a writing competition and fundraiser.  I want to save dogs from a death sentence by entering this contest.  Which genre?  Poetry or Romance? Mystery or SciFi? Suspense or Horror?Teen or Children's?  So fun making decisions!  In the past  I have written about a woman leaving home and living an adventure for three months, a novel about a 13 year old girl who is befriended by a talking squirrel named SQ, a story of a young woman who joined the underground to overthrow an anti feminist totalitarian government.  My coworker writer friend told me to write about the subject that I can't stop talking about!  Well that would be that I feel like a sandwich, tugged this way and that by the people in my life.  Today I worked, zipped by the store to buy some new shoes.  The tread on my old shoes was worn out and walking on water slick surfaces was treacherous.  I found some for $20.  I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning.  Four or so weeks ago, I chomped into some candy which was frozen!  My two back teeth hurt and eventually, part of  a filling fell out when I flossed.  So a new filling was installed, but I haven't felt comfortable inside my teeth.  Though she looked and took xrays, the hygenist could find no crack or other problem.  I suppose that is good news.

Writer's Conference

I wake before the alarm and get ready.  Carrying my purse and sling bag, I leave the house and feel the sunshine on my face.  There is dew on the back window of the car, so I wipe it off with a towel.  Lights and defroster on, I back down the driveway and point the car to the east and the library about 67 miles away.  I have googled the directions twice and cautiously written them with a big black sharpie on a piece of paper.  I spent some time studying the map, and I am confident that if I am careful and read the road signs that I will find the library and the writer's conference with no difficulty.  I am impressed by the large, brown brick library with the sun shining overhead.  No sooner, do I park the car and open the door when I hear, "We're so glad you're here!  I'm the president of the Writer's Association! What do you write?"  And so the day begins.  A delicious breakfast of bagels, breakfast rolls, fruit, dip, juice, coffee.  The President welcomes all to the writer's conference.  I find my first workshop "Out of the Horse's Mouth, Mistakes to Avoid."  I am pleasantly surprised to find that the author lives near me.  After the workshop she graciously lets me be photographed with her!  On to the second workshop, on micro fiction.I write some micro fiction and read it to the writers. After lunch, the keynote speaker addresses the group, reminding us that stories have a beginning, middle, end, that we all have tales to tell.  We smile and clap when she tells us that Hollywood producers are reading one of her novels.  I attend a workshop on Memoirs and on Harvesting Your Journal.  As awards are presented, I wipe a tear from my eye and congratulate the recipients.  I say farewell to my new writer friends and head home.

Birthday Celebration

For my 60th birthday, my sister and two friends invited me for a Girls' Night Out at a resort two or so hours away from home.  The girls arranged for three treatments at the spa..a Vichi shower and facial (which I had never had before) and a back massage.  I left the spa completely spoiled, trying  to figure out how to work it so I could get myself pampered every month or so!    We had a reservation at a restaurant in the resort..wine, appetizers, shrimp caprese and tirimisu!  So delicious!  We relaxed in our suite after our meal.  Today we drove home and stopped to browse the gift shop at the cider mill and to have a wonderful Chinese meal.  Thank you little sis and friends for a perfect birthday celebration!  So blessed to have a dear sister and friends.

Celebrating my birthday

Valuable and brave

Max is my labrador beagle.  We adopted him from the pound so I am not sure exactly how old he is...maybe eleven or twelve.  Max has an arthritic shoulder so he limps, has a bronchial condition aggravated by hot humid weather (he sleeps on the air vent which pours out cool air) and he has a benign tumor.  His hearing and eyesight are not as acute as they used to be.  Just a few days ago, Max returned from a camping trip where he enjoyed the company of his best friend, my daughter.  He rested peacefully on the soft sand at the park.  Back at home, he greets me with his unique beagle "arrrrooooooo."  He sniffs around the backyard, savoring the scents.  My mother is 84 and is dealing with dementia and mobility issues along with diabetes.  Every morning she gets up from bed and with the help of her walker, she moves into her special chair in the living room.  She watches out of the window and prays the sign of the cross..   She looks at newspaper ads and peruses the grocery receipt.  Sometimes she makes me laugh with a funny comment. And though she does not like it, I tell her that she is very brave.   Obviously Max and my mother have special needs that have to be addressed.  However, they are still as valuable and loved as they were before the health issues.

A Perfect Vacation

Last Thursday my parents, husband, daughter and I headed north 250 miles to the state park.  Settting up two camps was hot, sweaty work, so my daughter and I hit the beach.  As I floated around with a bright pink noodle, I noticed a skier behind a large airborne kite.  It looked like so much fun.  On Friday, my daughter and I pushed my mother in her wheelchair around the Cross in the Woods.  Amazingly, we were able to locate the two pavers we had bought several years ago.  They are near the statue of Kateri Tekawitha.  We stopped in the gift shop and purchased a unique tree topper and a beautiful sky-blue rosary and case.  Saturday I returned to the Cross in the Woods to attend Mass.  I  heartily sang "Rejoice!" and Amazing Grace in Odawa.  We celebrated my birthday with cake and ice cream and wonderful gifts.  On Sunday we drove to a Pub and Grill in Petoskey and 12 of us enjoyed a delicious meal overlooking Traverse Bay.  The waiter was attentive, the food delicous!  My favorite day--Labor Day.  Ten of us got up early and took the school bus across to St. Ignace.  We disembarked and began the 5 mile hike to Mackinac City.   Back at the park, my daughter grilled BBQ chicken legs.  On Tuesday we headed home, reveling in the perfect weather, yummy meals and enjoyable company.

Lake Huron from north side of Mackinac Bridge, Eating overlooking the Bay in Petoskey, Burt Lake State Park