Our Brand New Year

It is now that time of year,

When everyone seems full of cheer.

But we should know there’s trouble there,

Some of whom have no joy to share.

At midnight’s stroke on New Year’s Eve,

Let us 2011 start to weave.

My resolution for our newest year,

Will be blessings for all of you - my dears!



photo from:  http://themistressofspices.files.wordpress.com/

..... what can I say, I've been "waxing poetical" recently!  AND that brings up .. where the heck did that phrase come from anyway?
 
FROM ANSWERBAG.COM:
 
One can wax poetic, lyrical, eloquent, philosophical, etc. It's all pretty much the same thing. But finding the origins of this phrase is a bit tricky.
One sense of wax (as an intransitive verb) is to pass into a mood or state.

In this sense one could understand the phrase wax poetic (or sarcastic, or whatever) and this would certainly lead one to doubt whether this phrase is an idiom (as I had been thinking) because it can be taken literally.

The Canadian Oxford Dictionary suggests that wax (in this sense) has a Germanic origin: wachsen (to grow). The interesting thing about this relationship is that wachsen never has an attribute, i.e. neither wax poetic nor grow old translate.

The Encarta online dictionary's suggestion is that this sense of wax is from Old English weaxan, and ultimately from an Indo-European base meaning �to increase,� which is also the ancestor of English "augment" and "eke."

The American Heritage Dictionary agrees, adding that this word is an offshoot of the Indo-European Language family's root fragment "aug", from whence we get words like augment, inaugurate, auxilliary, august, and auction.

Hope that helps a bit!

******** um, not really! :-)

A Couplet, The Cat - Amusement by "Moi"

The cat is sitting by my side,

True feelings no, she does not hide.

A puff of furr shows displeasure,

A stroke of hand reveals a treasure.

Is not the cat a basic soul,

A drink of water, food in a bowl.

With mews and purrs, sometimes a wink,

One may just wonder what she thinks.

free graphic at http://www.i-love-cats.com/

All Rights Reserved

"How" and "Why" I Got Involved In Theatre

Okay so now that I’ve admitted to “hanging around” Midland Community Theatre (MCT) for 35 years - still hard for me to believe - let me go ahead and tell you some more about me :-) and theatre.

Even though, I was involved throughout grade school with school plays (the earliest I remember was 2nd grade) ... but not in junior or high school, I got involved in being a “jock” (track, basketball, volleyball) “nuf said” (that theatre stuff was for pansies after all, wasn’t it?) AND even though my mother was big into always putting on the Christmas plays at the churches we attended (yes, my range was from angel, to - yes - even playing Joseph one year ... but in all fairness, I also got to play Mary one year!) ... I will simply add here that the year I played Joseph, I found out that you don’t want to be involved with LIVESTOCK on stage ... stubborn donkey wouldn’t budge and then had the nerve to step on my foot!

Sooooo, how did I hook up with MCT, because I never really thought of actually “doing” theatre after grade school?

I was in Student Government at Midland College when we were approached by MCT to partner in a spook house project. We the government :-) (always wanted to say that) decided that a spook house would be a good thing for the students to become involved in (and attend).

Sooooo, one night while I was preparing to work tickets and was speaking with a theatrical type (can’t remember who now), somehow it came up that I sang. As a theatre advocate, this person told me I should consider trying out for Oklahoma and told me when auditions were - I ... somehow ... decided I’d give it a go, these theatre folks seemed pretty nice (and funny).

Sooooo, I did go, I did get cast in the female singing ensemble and I had a blast running on and singing and running off (there was a separate female dance ensemble) ... that is when I decided I needed to learn to dance because as much fun as I was having, it appeared the dancers were having even a better time - at least a much more active time (as I mentioned I’d been a jock, so I was all about active!) (Over the coming years, I worked backstage ALOT and was onstage a bit here and there, until I gained more experience, knowledge and ability of being onstage .... at that point the backstage/onstage experiences became just about equal!)

... and, as they say ... now you know the rest of the story (well most of it anyway!)

Book-Ending a Career Hobby?

Okay, I admitted this outloud last evening and it really made an impression in my brain, which I now ponder. What you may ask? :-)

I have auditioned (yes, once again) for Theatre Midland’s 2011 season opener Oklahoma and yes, I’m currently in White Christmas ... yes, I got cast in Oklahoma and, although I will do “back-to-back” shows on occasion - I try not to.

So, now to the saying “outloud” part - in a congratulations received backstage last evening I made the statement that disregarding the fact that I love musicals - I auditioned for Oklahoma for an “additional” reason and that being Oklahoma was the first show I ever did at Theatre Midland.

Two responses now spring to mind:

(1) “How long ago was that?”

• 35 years -- I mean really, I admitted this outloud?! (I’ve done theater at MCT that long? Of course, excepting a short 6-7 year hiatus that I allowed myself, at the point I refused to “take” ... any longer ... a “past” director’s snide remarks. Okay, I’ll also admit I had no intention of returning to theatre when I left ... guess I “got the bug”.)

(2) “As long as you don’t make it your last show.”

• Well, before this statement came up, I had discussed that thought with my husband, I mean at some point you need to give it up - before you start embarrassing yourself (yes, even as an actor - I mean you all know how “we” are). It would be fitting to “bookend” a “career hobby” with the same show - sort of adds that note of “just right.”

Anyway, I doubt I put an end to my embarrassing myself any time soon - I mean there are some great shows on the 2011 season - so maybe I’ll branch out and away from musicals and REALLY get into the embarrassment stage of auditioning for non-musicals ... those for which I am truly untalented!

Have a great day (and weekend) my Buddies!

Rose Beyond the Wall by A. L. Frink

A rose once grew 

where all could see, 

sheltered beside 

a garden wall, 

And as the days passed 

swiftly by, 

it spread its branches, straight and tall...

 One day, a beam of light 

shone through 

a crevice that had

opened wide ~ 

The rose bent gently 

toward its warmth 

then passed beyond 

to the other side

Now, you who deeply 

feel its loss, 

be comforted ~ the rose blooms there ~ 

its beauty even greater now, 

nurtured by 

God's own loving care.

December 1 - Really?!

Here it is December 1, 30 days to the end of the month ... how did that happen, didn't we just celebrate the New Year turning to 2010?

First thing I think of today is it is World AIDS Day - I think of my friends who are no longer here with us because of this disease and I let them know - I think of you often, not just today.  Even though it has been almost 30 years since AIDS was first recognized and in spite of the advances made in treating the disease and in spite of all the education available to people - do you know they say that there's still 1.1 million people living with HIV -- AND YET one in five people don't know it!

Second, another "blast from past history" ... I believe it was today - in 1955 - that Rosa Parks was arrested for disobeying the Alabama law that black passengers relinquish their seats to white passengers, when the bus was full (and also to sit in the back).  (Yes, just checked this date is correct.)  Her quote from Quiet Strength "I did not get on the bus to get arrested, I got on the bus to go home." 

My third thought for today is ... how did we get to the end of this year to quickly?  I suppose the more "stuff" that happens during the year, the more you ignore time passing ... then "all the sudden" :-) you are at the end of the year and you think -- what?!  Any thoughts on that matter ... comments are welcome! :-)

So I propose that next year we all take time to take the time and enjoy each and every single day ... do something special, with someone special -- or just by yourself!  It may only be to take a few more minutes to sip the drink of your choice and reflect on the beauty of life!

Good Day Buddies ... a bit more random than I started this blog off to be today ... but that is what "came out" !!!  One just never knows with me :-)

Nature XXVII, Autumn - Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper,

The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,

The field a scarlet gown.

Lest I should be old-fashioned,

I'll put a trinket on.

Why Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Okay, I've been negligent in letting my random brain "out" to exercise (well okay, I've been involved in the final "throws" of getting White Christmas onstage -- but that production is up and running .... so fair warning - let the randomness continue!)

So, just sitting here at the office during a break and wondering (all of the sudden) why is turkey traditionally served for Thanksgiving -- I mean our Founding Fathers (and the Native Americans, that came and shared) living close to the ocean would they not more in likely have had cod, seal, lobster or even vension?

Research Time - Google here I come (disclaimer: only transferring what I find of interest -- definitely not my own thoughts) -- then you can decide!  Here is some of what I found:

1.  There are lots of interesting stories behind the turkey being Thanksgivings most important dish. One is that Queen Elizabeth was celebrating a Fall Harvest and celebrated with a baked goose as this was considered a delicacy and a celebration indeed. Upon hearing that the Spanish Armada had sunk as it was on its way to attack England the Queen was so pleased with the news that she ordered an additional roast goose. Englanders were so accustomed to roast goose being associated to celebrations and that was what they would have celebrated with had the New Colony been full of wild geese. But, this was not the case and wild turkeys were much more plentiful. So, as they started a new life they also started a new tradition of serving turkey on days of celebration and giving thanks.

2.  It is tradition that says the Native Americans brought turkey to the the Pilgrims providing them food for their first Thanksgiving. Turkeys are native to the Americas. There is evidence that it was domesticated by the Native Americans.

3.  The tradition of serving Turkey comes from a letter written 22yrs after the first celebration by William Bradford "History of Plymouth Plantation". This letter sent to Edward Winslow, a known as a Pilgrim. The letter described how the governor sent "four men out Fowling". They returned not only with Turkeys, they also brought back ducks and geese.

Branford’s letter was lost during the War of Independence when the British took it way. Thankfully, was rediscovered in 1854 and the Turkey turned out to be a popular symbol of Thanksgiving Day.

Benjamin Franklin was in favor of changing the National Bird from the Bald Eagle to the Turkey.  (Ben, Ben, Ben ..... what were you thinking?!!)

4.  AND for added interest:  "Asked to write a composition entitled, 'What I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving,' one student wrote, 'I am grateful that I'm not a turkey.'"

5.  AND for yet more added interest (or amusement) - here's a blog of a :-) veggan Thanksgiving Is Tainted

6.  AND my personal favorite:  "Because it's delicious?"

Have a great Thanksgiving my Buddies!

AND because I have a sick sense of humor and found this one amusing!

Yawning

Okay, when I awoke this morning and looked down at my also awakening cat and she let out a HUGE yawn.  I thought you know how odd that we share the oddity of yawning with animals, I've read that cats, dogs and even fish yawn.  It is said that even 11 week-old fetuses yawn ... now I haven't seen any personally yawn, so I'll take the word of experts.

The chain reaction that is yawning - as I was reading up on the subject, one article said you will probably yawn before the end of this article, I thought "yeah right" ... by the end of the article I yawned ... "WOW"

It is said that even a blind person just hearing yawn will more in likely yawn within the next five minutes - yet what does a yawn do for us - no one really knows - lots of theory:  Yawning is an involuntary action that
causes us to open our mouths wide and breathe in deeply. BUT why the heck does the body do it?

• Physiological Theory -- Our bodies induce yawning to drawn in more oxygen or remove a build-up of carbon dioxide. This theory helps explain why we yawn in groups. Larger groups produce more carbon dioxide, which means our bodies would act to draw in more oxygen and get rid of the excess carbon dioxide.  However, Giving people additional oxygen didn't decrease yawning and decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in a subject's environment also didn't prevent yawning.
• Evolution Theory -- Some think that yawning is something that began with our ancestors, who used yawning to show their teeth and intimidate others
• Boredom Theory -- In the dictionary, yawning is said to be caused by boredom, fatigue or drowsiness. Although we do tend to yawn when bored or tired, this theory doesn't explain why Olympic athletes yawn right before they compete in their event.

Interesting Yawning Facts:

• The average yawn lasts about six seconds.
• Your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn.
• 55 percent of people will yawn within five minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
• Blind people yawn more after hearing an audio tape of people yawning.
• Reading about yawning will make you yawn.
• Olympic athletes often yawn before competition.

So what up with that?!  Not really an original blog, but it was an eye-opening question .. this morning :-) most of my "stuff" isn't original and I looked it up from Discovery Health but what'ev I was in the mood to blog regardless of the two glasses of wine I've had to rest my brain from rehearsals ... so does it make sense or not - I'll go with not ... hopefully you will be amused AND YES, I myself have yawned typing this blog about the wonders of yawning ... so you decide boring blog or contagious yawn??

Great Day to You Buddies!

PS .. not my cat:



Austin Wrap Up

I know it has been a couple of weeks since the Austin Livestrong Challenge BUT there were a few thoughts I wanted to wrap up - but I'll keep my thoughts short on this one!  No really :-) !!

1.  At Mellow Johnny's for the Team RadioShack signings:  It was good to see the boys and as always they were personable and smiling (even the "new" boys) ... also, all the sudden (down by Popo) I was standing in front of JMac (hiddy JMac) .. I'd not read he was going to be there too - so that was a pleasant surprise.  My sweet niece gave me the poster she had signed, as I had my "retro" t-shirt from Gila signed - so I got two wonderful items (you could only have one item signed) ... anyway, she settled for an unsigned poster -- HOWEVER, at the end of the line -- she would have settled for Popo!  He is such a sweet man (and cute) "hey" I'd adopt him - hands down!

2.  At Mellow Johnny's standing in line for the signing we met a wonderful couple from Canada and had such a lovely chat with them - and much like the lady from Norway we met the day before in the line at Livestrong HQ ... it brought it home as to how global that Livestrong has become - wonderful.

3.  Back at Mellow Johnny's the last day we were there and it wasn't as crowded :-) all the staff are simply wonderful, helpful and happy people.  MJ's is a typical (yet so non-typical, as most of you know) bike shop and the people of Austin are lucky to have them downtown!

4.  JUAN PELOTA MAKES THE ABSOLUTE BEST AMERICANO I HAVE EVER HAD ... ooops, sorry but it really did make me want to scream it from the top of the nearest 50 story building :-)  Good Grief they make good coffee ... Starbucks, sorry babes - you'll only "do" because JP isn't "here"!  TIP:  If you go to Austin and are not interested in MJ's for any reason ... GO anyway for JP's coffee (my niece said it was the best mocha latte she's ever had.)

5.  Downtown Austin --- in love with - it is also to be experienced, such a culture AND you may want to stick around for the bat flight ... we didn't, but I heard from alot of folks who did -- so it is on my list for next time!

6.  Last, but not the least - as they say: Chuys -- a small chain of Tex-Mex restaurants:  Oh My Freak'in GOODNESS!!!  The first day we ate at the one out by my nieces house and the last day we ate at the "original" in downtown Austin ... the location matters not -- eat there, if you go to Austin!

AND ... they have the absolute best, I say again ... the absolute best Jalapeno Ranch Dip - I'd never tasted anything like it, I could have asked for a straw (um, as a matter of fact - I think I did!)   We asked after the receipe and then I Googled, once I got home and my niece just texted me and said "That's It" ... sharing the receipe but you may want to start smaller ... but I'll guarantee - you'll want more of it for whatever you decide to dip into it  .... or a straw is also good! :-) (This is one item of food I am just going to accept is probably "bad" - I'm not going to overanalyze its contents and breakout the fat content etc. - I'll make a smaller batch for meeeeeeeeeee only (hands off Neal!) and enjoy it on special occasions!)

Chuy's Jalapeno Dip - yield 7 cups; prep time 10 mins:

1 quart sour cream
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped jalapeno
1 cup green tomatillo sauce
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
3 (1 ounce) packets dry ranch dressing mix

1 Mix first 5 ingredients in a blender until smooth. 2 Stir in ranch mix with a whisk. 3 Chill and serve.

Nothing Gold Can Stay - Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

For nothing gold can stay.

Livestrong 2010 - The 5K Run

Okay, waking up Saturday AM in Austin was interesting - to say the least!  I've been having "trouble" with the time changing - my body seemingly has made the leap, like 2 weeks ago - so at home, I'd been waking up 1 hour later than I normally do, making it interesting getting to work on time! :-) So, I'd set my phone alarm, the hotel room's alarm AND almost called down for a wake-up call, but decided that might be overkill - but I definitely didn't want to oversleep on this important morning!

So, as it was I woke up at 4:30 AM, not 5:30 AM - as planned, I don't think I was excited or anything 'eh?  My niece picked me up and off we went towards downtown Austin and the 1st Street Bridge (starting line).  Okay, here I will insert that the route had been changed from Challenges past where the route had been downhill "mostly" the first 1-1/2 miles and then uphill the next 1-1/2 miles ... which had concerned me greatly, as far as running the course!  BUT miraculously this year's course was running south from the bridge and then turning back north to the bridge and I thought ... well it is flatter down that way (my first mistake in thinking) and maybe they'd changed it for all the Survivors that walk and run and the kids etc.

The Bridges at Sunrise - looking towards Congress Street Bridge

Okay, sidetracking here ... I was wrong, they'd changed the course because of the UT game - stadium is "downtown" so there would be greatly conflicting traffic.  Now back to the rendition of the story :-)

So we get parked, only about 1/4 mile from the start line - fabulous - and we walk across the bridge north and around and then back south on the bridge to get to the start line ... we got right up at the front because almost everyone was elsewhere!  This was great because as it was the "boys" were running (well Jani didn't run) and we were right there when they showed up .... it was a theme of the weekend, right place - right time!  Never-ever in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen ..... Popo!

He is ever so sweet as he appears AND funny ... that one is just a bit later.  So, the boys came out, had photo op with some "high money raisers" and then they were each given stacks of RadioShack caps and Livestrong caps and they went out to the Pedicabs and visited with those folks and handed the caps out.

Then came and got back to line up to run - with caps still in their hands, so they were all sort of looking like "now what do we do?"  So since I was standing there, I held out my hand and said (smilingly) "please"?  Never hurts to ask -- I'm "modeling" the one Popo gave me ... after the run -- I'm so "loverly" yes?!  Then Popo took all the remaining caps and starting tossing them in the air and backwards (the "boy" must be good with a frisbee!)  It was funny because one would come down and the person that caught it was like:  Where the heck did this come from?!

So, speaking of dear sweet Popo -- the pedicabs began and then they started the countdown for the runners and Popo took off the start line - BAM on like count 8, looking back and grinning the entire way down the hill :-) then turned around and came up in time for 1 "bang" ... we ran with the "boys" for about 100 feet and then they left us in the dust ... who knew cyclists could run so fast!

So, down the hill we went and around the first corner and I heard "Aunt Char" and I realized I'd let my adrenaline get me ... and slowed down -- almost popped myself in the first 500 yards .. no not excited at all!  It was a good thing, I slowed because very shortly we turned right on Congress street AND I saw nothing but UPHILL - noooooooooo !!!!!!! 

Alp D'Congress (help me, help me)

Soooo up we went and I did a combo of running, jogging and speed walking - my dear sweet niece, ran the entire way "UP" ... FINALLY we turned right, which meant we'd reached the halfway point and there was the water station .. YUM, was really dry by this point .. then we turned right again and yes, what goes up, must come down ... and the next day, I realized it was the down that got me more than the up (when I went down some steps!)

I was going pretty good and the excitement started building again ... because we could start hearing the announcer and the excitement at the finish line ... we started seeing more and more volunteers along the side (and other runners that had finished) cheering us to keep on going ... just a bit further -- too funny, we were passed at the same time by a Mom/Son combo .. one on left and one on right and then both "sets" stopped and walked and both Moms were having the "okay, we are going to start running again and when we do, we are not going to stop because it is the finish line" talk ... they started back up a minute or so later and we never saw them again ... so I suppose the sons made it all the way to the finish running! :-)

I realized then those 100 yards down, were 100 yards UP to finish, my niece asked me "How's my hair look." :-) ... punk :-) for our photos at the finish ... she, of course, looked beautiful ... me on the other hand -- well, I looked like I always do :-) ... with about 100 feet to go, I really didn't think I was going to make it to the finish running but she grabbed my hand and we held them up in the air as we ran together those last few feet ... I tear up thinking about it right now ... the emotion of the entire Challenge (and day) is always waiting at the finish line, when you see the Survivor's lane AND on this day at the time we crossed the line in our lane ... I could see Doug U. cheering on everyone and handing out yellow roses to the Survivors!

My run was all about support and memory of family and friends AND my simply "surviving" the uphill portions and I fought on because of all the people ... that, yes, were passing me WITH yellow "Survivor" tags on ... the children, the young adults, the not so young adults ... cancer knows no boundaries, it is a hateful disease and for them to be running (rather well) after surviving their fight with cancer ... was most inspiring, as were the ones in pedicabs that were unable to run -- LIVESTRONG ALL!

LIVESTRONG MY BUDDIES!

Talk About Recycling - Livestrong

If you visit Austin, Texas in the future - you have got to make time to stop at the Livestrong HQ, if not for cancer information and support - go for the architecture!  They offer regular public tours and a tour can be arranged by emailing livestrong@livestrong.org or calling 877-236-8820. 

My neice and I waiting on the tour, another kind person waiting in line took the photo with her camera, she posted it and I, of course, lifted it from her!

Now let's talk about one heck of a recycling job -- the Livestrong HQ located one mile east of I-35, at 2201 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas - the fourth home for the organization and the first home that they have owned - and it is obvious they are here to stay.  (The building was funded by donations specifically earmarked for this project.) 

The building was originally built as a warehouse for paper products and now owes its new (and very purposeful) life to Lance Armstrong, who found it one day on a bike ride.  Now this 30,000 square foot "warehouse" is a permanent home for Livestrong - which is an announcement that they are here to stay and are fully committed in the fight against cancer and support of the cancer patient.

95% of the building's original materials were used in its redesign and the building has earned the highest award for a renovated facility - the gold-rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification which makes our Livestrong HQ one of the “greenest” offices in Austin - also earning four stars from the Austin Energy Green Building Program.

An open floor plan with cubicles for everyone encourages employees to use collaborative and creative interaction while they work.  The gigantic walls surrounding the openess showcases world class art from Armstrong’s private collection ... and a certain collection of 7 yellow jersies!

In his Architectural Digest interview, Armstrong said, “Most importantly, this building – like the phrase LIVESTRONG’ and the color yellow – is now…a place where you can talk to someone and say, ‘Finally, I feel that thing called…hope.’” 

My Favorite Artwork - the "boy" has great taste in art!

This artist made several of "these" this one is Lance's writing of Live Strong

This is not just a place of employment, all the employees here are dedicated to providing patient support and also providing services to the community.  Outside of everything that I found interesting on this tour .... including Lance's kids and a director playing tag and running here and there :-) ... was the emphasis Chris Brewer put on social networking.  As we are all aware social media never sleeps and the LIVESTRONG blog serves as the hub of all social media outreach with information on any and all things cancer.

Twitter "Social Media" Wall at HQ

Sorry, got sidetracked ... back to the building :-) they also encompass the "whole" of the employee, as they do in helping the "whole" of the cancer fighter.  The building includes a gym and HUGE beanbag chairs that can be "plopped" anywhere that might suit a creative moment.  The garden "out front" is complete with native vegetation, the ceiling was built for special heating and cooling qualities and the a/c - heating system is ... to quote Chris Brewer: "Well it's special." :-)

A Cooling Garden Shade Rain Collector Thingie :-)

Specially sloped with collecting tubes and the such - Yups, Chris Brewer needs to explain this one to ya!

Native Plants Thrive

Ceiling Inside

We can be very proud of our Livestrong HQ and staff - for not only being cancer advocates, but also environmental advocates ... quoted from Livestrong.org:

"We moved into our new home in February 2009 for several reasons.

• To create a permanent home for LIVESTRONG in Austin, Texas
• To contribute to the revitalization of one of Austin's most diverse neighborhoods and continue our efforts to be a strong community partner
• To create space that will be available to host meetings for other nonprofit organizations in Austin
• To show our concern for the environment by focusing on ways to be environmentally friendly, including being designated as one of Austin's first gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facilities
• To provide LIVESTRONG more stability and long-term fiscal health by owning rather than renting office space"

There is plenty more to continue on with this blog, but I'll refrain from going there ... just know that if you do make it to Austin ... at any time in the next 100 years ... visit the Livestrong HQ - it is a truly beautiful building, filled with awe-inspiring people and HOPE!

P.S.  I will put this disclaimer, I looked up a few facts that I didn't have 100% remembrance on (probably from running that 5K UP Alp d'Congress Street

 :-) !!! and I truly hope I haven't mis-remembered the rest!

LIVESTRONG BUDDIES

"Hey Cancer" Can You Hear Us Now?

How do you wrap your head around the Austin Livestrong Challenge raising $3.1 million this past weekend?  (Austin: 5400 participants, 800 volunteers $3.1 million; Bay Area: 1500 participants, 500 volunteers at $1 million; Philly: 5700 participants, 800 volunteers at $3.1 million)

"Hey Cancer" did you hear us - the Livestrong Army?  Do you feel our hatred now?  Do you understand we are not going to tolerate you -- you are not welcome here anymore -- go away!

As I am still wrapping my head around exactly what I want to "blog" about from this past weekend (it will more in likely be a two-parter!) For today, I'm leaving you with this video posted in the blog section of Livestrong.com Why I'm Here: Austin Livestrong Challenge 5K Run.

Why was I there at the run?  My first encounter with cancer was when I was 14 and my mother was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease for two more years and since then cancer - that underhanded and foul foe - has affected many more of my family and friends.

My mother may have lost her battle with cancer .... but .... I AM CONTINUING THE WAR!

Buddies -- "Go Ahead and Pick a Fight!" ... and LIVESTRONG in the process!

Focus Totally Gone Today!

Hey my Buddies, I tell ya my focus factor is null and void today -- so what do you think that is doing to my already Random Brain?  Yeppers, you would be correct if you were thinking -- scrambled!  I'm off in the morning for Austin to participate in the Livestrong Challenge 5K run.

That in itself would cause complete and utter chaos in my brain today anyway ... BUT ... I am also going to see my niece that lives in the area and my sweet little grand niece and nephews (well they are no longer little - growing into quite the beautiful/handsome young people)!  I'm also going to get to meet my niece's "beau" (and he'd better get ready for a big hug from me because he makes her soooooo happy AND I'm a hugger!) and his children ... AND if that wasn't already enough to blow my brain completely "up" might I mention my "next to" Sister that lives in the area also!

A few other items of interest:  Team Shack riders at Mellow Johnny's ... hanging with my sweetnesses... just being at Mellow Johnny's and having a cup-o-Joe at Juan Pelota ... hanging with my sweetnesses ... Livestrong HQ .... hanging with my sweetnesses ... Wimberley in everyway (my family's ancestral town - and just a darn neat place) ... hanging with my sweetnesses ... soccer games (at which my sweetnesses ROCK) and much, much, much more - shopping, eating, staying up late playing games - at which I'm usually no good at, but "hey" someone has to lose!

I'm all packed and ready to go NOW ... but I will need to focus for a few hours tonight at rehearsals -- then sleep THEN BAM "off I go into the wild blue yonder ... well, won't probably be blue, but gray overcast (hopefully not thunder-nasting ... which I normally love, but not while I'm at 30,000 feet!)

Anywhooooooooooooo .... that's it, that's all -- great blog 'eh?  This is my Random Brain in "explosion mode" it needed to land in a confined space ... like my blog page BECAUSE it would be real ugly on my wall at work!

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY BUDDIES!

A Great Email

As emails that float around goes, there are ones that make you chuckle, make you think, maybe even make you cry ... but this email that I just received is so true to what I always tell myself ... as "bad" as I may think "I" have it, there is always someone else less fortunate.

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A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.  He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."  There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.  He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.  He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up.  A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind.  But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling … And even more beautiful, is knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!

If you appreciate this message, please share. You may touch someone's heart today and forever.

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Have a blessed day my Buddies!

10 Weird Things!

Okay, since a blogger should try to blog regularly (and it has been a week since my poor brain has had a random thought) I scounted around on the internet for some strange stuff.  Here's a bit of what I found:

1.  While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. (Go ahead no one will see you.) While doing this, draw the number “6″ in the air with your right hand.  Your foot will change direction!  Even if you tell your brain "NO" ... it still does it (OR) it messes up the way you drawn the number "6"!

2.   It is said that just thinking about your muscles could make you stronger -- my kind of exercise!

3.  The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!  (Anyone gonna volunteer to test this one?)

4.  After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp.  (I personally think this is because after eating too much - one is usually asleep!)

5.  Tiger shark embryos fight each other in their mother's womb.  The survivor is born.  (Not sure whether to believe this one or not, but it totally MIGHT make sense!)

6.  There are as many chickens on the earth, as there are humans.  (I'm just still laughing about this one, true or not ... I guess we can be glad that chickens aren't of higher intelligence .. and power hungry!)

7.  A "geep" is the offspring of a sheep and a goat.  (Okay really?!  I suppose, Googled it and they say it is true!)

8.  Giraffes can't swim.  (Questionable: Gerald .. they had to be drinking, right?!)

9.  The average person's left hand does more than 50% of the typing.  (Well, heck yeah ... that's where the a, e, d, r, t, c, s ... et al. the important letters are!)

10.  Astronauts are banned from eating beans because passing wind in a spacesuit can damage it.  (Allllrighteeeee then ... I'll leave it on that remark!)

Well that's all for now Buddies, have a wonderful week!

B-17 Texas Raiders - My First Time

As I start to type this I hear the "big iron" coming - nothing like hearing those big 'ole radials in the morning *there she goes* :-) ... but Fifi is not the subject to todays blog.  Since I'm in a reflecting mode, I thought I'd tell ya about another time I was "at the right place - at the right time" and got to go riding on the B-17 Texas Raiders.

One of the first things I thought I would be interested in doing at the CAF was marshalling the airplanes (parking them on the ramp) ... talk about "up close and personal" and I went through the training and then happily set of to my first airshow in Dallas at Love Field *insert big iron sounds a'cause here "she" comes again* .... okay, I had to go look at her shiny underbelly one more time - I promise I'll focus now! :-)  (Insider Tip: they are selling rides, but it is also an "infamous" marketing device -- "whip" up the folks in town ... as it may be ... and maybe they may come out to the show!)

Okay back to Gulf Coast Squadron's Texas Raiders B-17- so I was a newbie marshaller at this airshow and mid-afternoon'ish one of the guys in charge of marshalling (who was extremely nice) said to me: Come with me, they are giving marshallers rides on the last flight of the B-17 today.  I was stunned and not sure, but followed him in a hurry anyway, saying: But I have ramp to cover.  He said: Don't worry about it, no more planes are coming in at the moment and the others will cover anyway.

Next thing I know I'm being "tossed" onto the B-17 (after having a waiver put in front of my nose - of which I signed ... um, you people do know that the "waiver of release" really isn't worth the paper it is printed on, right?) .... and then I was hustled back into a seat and buckled up.  Once we were in the air they came and got me (and one other they'd tossed on the plane) and walked us past the bomb doors and to the waist gunner position -- I was standing looking out the right one AND ... ummmm ... "Is that window supposed to be popped out?"  (It was perfectly safe there was a guy belted in there and actually no way I was going close enough to an open window, not strapped in!)

At that point they told us that they were filming (and taking stills for advertisement) with two of their "Little Friends" (P-51 Mustangs) -- who joined up and flew what seemed to me then .... very close, right outside the waist gunner window!  Talk about World War II history hitting you in the face, yes - I did shed tears!  It was an incredible first ride in an "old girl" and to this day I thank Mike (my guy in charge) for saying that the two "new" marshallers were going to have the chance to ride in the B-17.

This website has some great photos of several of the "girls" from Airsho 2008 here and the 7th photo down shows a B-17 with her "Little Friends" .. although the B-17 is Sentimental Journey, based in Arizona and not the Texas Raiders B-17 that I rode in *there "she" goes again for like the 5th pass since I last mentioned her - enjoy your ride people!*

An almost 10 minute video of the Texas Raiders B-17 which shows the waist gunner positions ... with the windows out :-) ... once again not flying over Midland .. take time to look and listen and think of our "boys" that gave the ultimate price for an ultimate freedom -- and still are.  We could be living in a rather different world today ... but for them!   ... and yes, here "she" comes again!

(Oh, my days with marshalling were numbered, at the next airshow I went to found me meeting up with some real ... well I won't say that here ... let's just say *bossy donkeys* and I knew that even though I loved marshalling itself, that I would not be long for liking alot of the people (they were not all Mike) :-) so I told them not to expect me to continue on with marshalling, opened my hand and let it go (although not without much dismay ... and purchasing of t-shirts - did I say I buy stuff when I'm upset?!)

Happy Day Buddies!

My Time With Fifi - The World's Only Flying B-29

I had a stint where I belonged to the - now called - Commemorative Air Force (when I belonged it was known as the Confederate Air Force) and I will not comment on the forced change of name for political correctness - at least the "directives" of the organization remain the same.

Also, during this time, I was the leader of Aviation Explorer Post 1941, which was sponsored by the CAF.  One of the major projects that we helped with was in the cleaning of the aircraft - and thus, we were allowed to be around the aircraft (also, we were on the ramp during Airsho weekend.)  It was because of the Explorer Post that I spent time around some of the larger aircraft of the CAF: B-29, B-24, C-46.  (The "wing" I personally belonged to allowed me time around alot of the smaller trainer aircraft of WWII).

Anyway, back to the B-29 :-) I got tired after a long morning of working on her (Fifi) one Saturday and when the boys went to lunch, I crawled into the tunnel where it was quiet, cool and dark.  I thought I'd wake up on their return ... but ... I didn't, it was like 4:00 'ish when a friend found me soundly napping in the tunnel (I suppose I could have gotten out of the hangar, if they'd locked it!)

This is a photo of the comfy tunnel taken by photographer Mark Wahlster.



So, one Saturday Fifi's pilots were all in town for "checkout rides" they each were going to do two touch-n-go landings, then proceed off airport property to the south and then loop back in for a landing and a change in pilots ... so they would have their "go" at it.  As was often the case, they decided to fill the plane with available "Colonels" (what members of the CAF are called) and were going to change riders, when they changed pilots - yes, I was super excited when I was asked (there weren't that many out that Saturday), signed the waiver and loaded up and away we went!

Here I sat with a bunch of folks I knew (many of them working the B-29 on tours), but there was another woman that worked alot around the CAF like I did AND WE WERE ON FIFI -- flying around .... 1st touch-n-go; 2nd touch-n-go; .... ummmmm, "wait" are we still in the pattern? ..... 3rd touch-n-go, 4th touch-n-go ........ 50th touch-n-go --- it seems they changed their minds on how they were doing things!  After the first hour "in the pattern" my friend and I kept saying "We are in the only flying B-29 in the world - for free."  That kept us "going" through the next 1/2 hour ... after that, I must admit the next 1-1/2 hours (a total of 3 hours of touch-in-goes) turned us into raving crazies just wanting off the plane .... and we did finally get off - obviously!

To this day I still cherish "being in the right place at the right time" ... and getting to be so fortunate in this ride - yet, on the other hand "I shudder!"   "Oh" there are no window seats ... well for the "riders" - watch the video and enjoy and notice at 2:36 you'll see seats behind the left "gunner" position - that's where we sat.  (These rows were added to Fifi to carry the crew that is needed to take her to an airshow and show her off!)

Take a Flight with Fifi and Diamond L'il ... they, as is obvious, are not flying over West Texas :-) and I never got the pleasure of flying in Diamond L'il - although, I knew her before they made her put on clothes!

I think it fitting Fifi's been flying over my house all day and will do the same tomorrow - and I am now fondly remembering my ride with her - especially since I know there are people now paying huge amounts of money to take a ride with her!

"Hi there girl, I do miss you!"

Thursday Smile

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This so brightened my day (and makes me want a "kitteh")!  Of course, not my kitteh, I love the icanhascheezburger website - so cute!

Have a Great Day Buddies!

Livestrong 2010 and Adventure Running 2011

22 days from today I will be in Austin, Texas visiting with family and getting ready to participate in Livestrong Austin's 2010 Event on October 23.  I have walked with my niece in the past and we made a pact to participate in the run this year - she is going to pull me along with a tow rope!  "Ah come on" it will be a good workout for her :-)

Soooooo, not wanting to get in any hurry, I figured I should started running -- well, okay wogging (walk/jogging combined) this morning and at least I didn't stop breathing and fall off the treadmill.  My brillant idea is to hire a flatbed truck, put my treadmill on it and run on the treadmill, as the truck is driven over the course :-) this flatlander could very well be in trouble in the hills of downtown Austin!  BUT I do figure that the trade off will be the fact that I live at a much higher altitude (like 2300 feet higher) than Austin and have been "training" in thinner air (ROFL) - so my performance level will be much better and the hills won't matter!

I believe I'd read somewhere, maybe in an email *note to self, find this information* that the run starts "backwards" from years past which will put the hills FIRST ... at least it will be downhill from there :-) and I could actually fall down and roll ... well until I rolled into the curb (or another runner) *note to self, check this option out*!

LIVESTRONG AUSTIN 2010 IS STRONG AND IS GOING TO KICK CANCER'S ASS -- that is all there is too it, we have no option folks except to do whatever we can to beat the absolutely horrible disease!  28 Million People Living With Cancer

Adventure Running -- now here seems to be the really fun stuff I'm going to do next year ... it is not representative of raising money for any cause, but I came across Warrior Dash one day while surfing the net and just now on Facebook, MudRun DFW just popped up. 

I mean running, obstacles, mud, beer, costumes and "serious competition" - well, okay probably not serious competition, but definitely a seriously good time!!  I mean seriously how can I not "give it a go"?!

Great Day to Ya Buddies!

Auditions - My Weird

Sunday, September 19, found me on the way to auditions for White Christmas, my first audition since Hubby’s little problem. Now, let me make this statement - I love to audition, really-really, so I always totally look forward to getting dressed, showing up, filling out the cards, getting your pic taken (well, okay, I don’t really like that part - I always look like a dork in the pics!) talking with everyone, dancing, singing, reading ... well you get what I’m saying AND I love the show White Christmas.

Sooooooo, my weird? It was almost like I was sent someone else to auditions - getting dressed, I got nervous - not excited; driving to the theatre I didn’t break out in song, I thought to myself “why are you doing this”; filling out the cards and standing in line, I know I chattered probably waaaayyyy too much (well, okay - I always do that!) but I actually found the palms of my hands sweating a bit.

Settling into the auditions I danced fine - or I think I did, I could be very wrong in this perception! Then came along singing auditions and I decided to sing in the alto section for a change (usually sing 1st or 2nd soprano) -- first mistake, out of the ordinary for an audition, we wound up singing in pairs ... the soprano and alto parts together ... which I blew, because in a few minutes of going over the song, I found it difficult to change a “lifetime” of singing the song’s soprano part :-) and the alto part wasn’t really that difficult “arrrrrgggg” and “oh well” STRIKE ONE? (I now even wonder if I sang out with any kind of confidence, I really just don’t remember.) Then came the read -- well, that too was interesting and I tanked it big time STRIKE TWO?

My question is/was where the HECTOR did the nerves come from? That is just ridiculous, nervous is not my style - all I can think of while sitting here writing this is I’m still not all that secure about leaving the house in the evenings for rehearsals and leaving Hubby there - alone, even though he is now coming along nicely from his little problem, or is it that I now simply feel like I’m a million years old -- probably where the “why are you doing this” question came from.

So did my subconscious try to sabotage my very own self? Did I do as crappy a job as I thought I did? Will I get back my “joy,” “happy” and “more youthful than I really am” feelings - that just seemed to be missing in this audition (or so I think it was, maybe I “acted” my way through the audition?) Will I be “back to normal” for the next auditions - I surely hope so ... this one was simply just too weird for words -- well, obviously not since I’m blogging about it!

****** Was holding off on posting this until cast list was posted ****** it has been AND I MADE IT (wooohooo) in spite of all my weirdness!

I can say that I really cannot wait for the first rehearsal -- let the joy begin and may we all have a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!

A "Wow" Moment

Gila Wilderness Area

Okies dokies - I promise this one will be short (yeps, I know I've promised that before), we got back from vaca in Silver City, New Mexico and we had a fabulous time.  We took things nice and slow as Hubby is getting up to speed ... but still not up to full speed for hiking - we are still rather slow in that aspect :-)  Anyway, that's not what this blog is about - it is obvious I still get side-tracked!

Several years back I had requested (and received) my Dad's CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) records.  He had signed up for the CCC to send money back home, as was the case in just about everyone at that point in time.  So, Dad was in three different camps and at the time I received the papers - I'd researched where the camps were and made the notes on the papers, promptly filed them for later inclusion in the family genealogy.

Sooooo, this last week I decided one of the things that I would do was to start to organize some of the family files that have been "rifled" through looking for information, some I'd dropped on the floor (yeps me "durh" go figure!) and some information I had pulled out and never got back in the correct file ... so in layman's terms :-) they were messed up!  I started with Dad's family files and in going through them - found the CCC records in a file that they should not have even been in -- yuppers!

Anyway, in looking at my notes I saw the camps that he was in (as a truck driver - all camps) - two were around Prescott, Arizona AND "WOW" one was in the Gila Wilderness Area around Silver City, New Mexico .... now how's that for ya?!'

I, of course, immediately called to Hubby and informed him of this fact that I'd forgotten over the last couple of years .... so I'm wondering is the reason I love the Silver City area so much, simply in my genetic makeup, something my Dad passed along to me from a time before he was even married to Mom, or was their love of the Southwest simply passed on to me?!

Hope you, my Buddies, have a "Wow" moment soon - they're great!

9/11/2001 - Never Forget

Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended. - George W. Bush

Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?

September 11, Digital Archives - Preserving Histories

Buddies say a prayer for our Nation today, as we remember and pay our respects.

Epitaphs - Gila Style

Yes, as you know, I like cemeteries -- for so many reasons!  Here's a few epitaphs we have stumbled upon (sometimes literally!) 

The Marston Brothers (Pinos Altos):

Captain Arizona Scouts
Thomas J. Marston
September 13, 1839
October 27, 1861
Died of fatal wounds received in action as he led the settlers in defense and repulsed 400 Apaches led by Chief Cochise
Miner Virgil Marston
Brother of Thomas J.
Killed by the Indians near Silver Cell Mine on Whiskey Creek about 1870

Then in the same cemetery - quoting the Apaches:

Everything Dies But the Rocks Said Geronimo, Apache Chief

Fort Bayard National Cemetery:

Three Small Words :-)

Committed to Freedom

Lordsburg Cemetery:

One way to preserve your area's history - thanks goes out to "people" like the Muir Ranch!

Las Cruces Masonic Cemetery:

Yet another approach to passing down genealogy to descendants.

Guess that's all for now Buddies - carry on!