Closing The Deal

.
Ladies and gentlemen, the choice is clear:

.
It is my hope that come Tuesday evening, Mitt Romney will be the next President-elect of the United States.

Please be sure and vote on Tuesday!
.

Posted in Elections, I Love America, Messin' with my kids, Think about it | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

“When October Goes”

.
Just ask my family – I’m one of the original “Fanilows“, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  I’ve been hooked ever since I heard “Mandy” on the radio in 1974 (what can I say?  Other girls my age went gaga for Donny Osmond – Barry’s always been “my” guy).

When October Goes” is one of my absolute favorite Barry Manilow songs.  I first heard  this song on his amazing “2:00 A.M. Paradise Cafe” album*** – I managed to wear out the cassette tape from rewinding it to hear this song over and over and over…..
.

.
Have a great day –
.
***”When October Goes” is available in CD and MP3 formats – there are lots of good songs on the album (including duets with Sarah Vaughan and the “Velvet Fog”, Mel Torme).

Posted in Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween – it’s the only night of the year when you are allowed to wear a costume without being in a play:

I’ll be rocking this “Maleficent” costume tonight…

Continue reading

Posted in Contemporary, Holidays, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hurricane Relief

When Paul saw this young lady’s plight, he immediately volunteered to fly to New Jersey and help her personally:
.

.
He’s sure she needs to be held in her hour of need……
.

Posted in Humor, I Love America, Inspirational, Just Because, Think about it | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Sacred Watch

Amidst all of the alarms being sounded about the hurricane that is battering the upper Atlantic Coast, please take time to say a special prayer for the men who are standing their sacred watch in Washington D.C.:
.
.

My dedication to this sacred duty
is total and whole-hearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me
never will I falter.

May God bless and keep these men safe in their vigil.
.

Posted in I Love America, Inspirational, Think about it | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“The Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre

.
In 2004, Eric Whitacre set Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The Seal Lullaby” to music:

Oh! Hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us,
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.

Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!

Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936

His arrangement is absolutely breathtaking:

.
In hectic and chaotic times, music like this truly calms the soul….

(“The Seal Lullaby” is available in CD and MP3 formats)
.

Posted in Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

.
It was 26 years ago today that our lives changed in the space of an instant. One second we were a couple, and the next we were a family. It still never ceases to amaze me how seamlessly that transition occurred, and how it felt like things had always been that way.
.

Continue reading

Posted in Family, Messin' with my kids, Special Occasions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I Must Have Done Something Right…..

.
Well, I have now made 52 complete revolutions around the sun.  In this age of the Internet, I have received many well wishes from dear friends – both old and new – and family members.  What a treat it is to reconnect with all of them!

My parents sent me a birthday card (with a nice check in it!), and I got a card from my grandmother (who still finds it hard to believe that her oldest grandchild is over 50…..).

Sarah went out and bought breakfast for me, and when I opened my e-mail this morning, I found this from Rachel:

Continue reading

Posted in Family, Just Because, Messin' with my kids, Special Occasions | Tagged | 4 Comments

I’ve Got Your Flu Shot Right Here…..

.
So Paul got a flu shot at work a couple of days ago….

The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are:

  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
  • Fever (low grade)
  • Aches
  • Nausea

If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it.

Soreness? Check.
Fever? Check.
Aches? Check.
Nausea? Check.

I don’t know which is worse, the flu or the reaction to the flu shot.

All I know is, I’ve got a grown man looking pitiful and whimpering “I don’t feel good….” on my couch right now.

They may need to add “Head injuries from cast-iron cookware” to that list of side effects.

I’m just sayin’…… 😛
.
.

Posted in Family, Humor, Just Because, Things That Make Me Crazy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“October” by Eric Whitacre

.
“Fall” in Texas doesn’t really start until mid-October most years.  Today, we’ve got a blustery wind blowing in, and the leaves are starting to swirl around.  The temperatures are getting nippy (for Texas), and the dogs want to be outside longer as the days get shorter.

I love this time of year.  Apparently musicians both classical and contemporary do, too – here is the hauntingly beautiful “October“, composed by Eric Whitacre.  Originally written for a wind orchestra, it translates beautifully to a string arrangement:

.
“October” (wind orchestral arrangement) is only available in the MP3 format.
(Mr. Whitacre has an amazing body of work; I just discovered him today….)
.

Posted in Classical, Just Because, Music, Texas | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments