Feb. 27

Gypsy Kings blasting from my home office. Someone is in there working on projects...open paint involved. Better go check - okay, napkin placed on bed with wet paint brushes.

Alan further bonded with the children at the UU today and continues to make meaningful connections there. After services, we watched them chase each other around in the muddy yard. This did our hearts good.

Loafing on couch now. Dinner will be easy.

Feb 28th 7:30am

Enjoyed dinner with Eileen and Phil and the girls. Alan discovered a pretend trumpet in the girl's room. They played nicely together and put on a show after dinner. ALan is up extra early, and I had some trouble sleeping last night, so I am groggy as I write this, but the coffee is helping...Here are some additional funny things/questions said by Alan yesterday:

I wish I came out of your belly French.
How did Johnny Cash get killed?
Are dreams God?

Feb 27 2:18

Should have known better than to pitch the idea of going to Sesame Street Live to Alan....Luckily, within moments of that idea being shot down, we were invited to the Kamrass family residence for dinner!

We actually just came back from another snowy walk through the village...Alan and I discussed yesterday's incident at the book store, and wouldn't you know it...he was a much better listener this time around....progress!

Feb 27 AM

Waffles + Violin + Veena + Harmonium + Snow = Happy!

Feb. 26 4:39pm

I decided it would be fun to make a list of all of the questions posed onto me by Alan today...(as of 4:32pm)

Do elphants live around here?

Are there any "live" angels?

Do angels wear necklaces?

Is God an angel?

Is Saraswati an angel?

Can grown-ups order kids around whenever they want?

Who was the one who couldn't hear and couldn't talk?

Is Helen Keller a "he" or a "she".

This one isn't a question, but was a comment that came out of no where: "I can make a cat face without a cat stencil."

We had our moments today....Alan was fresh, and I sent him to his room. Also, at the bookstore, he wasn't listening, so I abruptly cut short this visit. It was a complicated situation. He wanted to buy Bob a present, and I was trying to get his attention and listen. When we left the store, he was sooooo mad!!! He thought he was going "above and beyond" for wanting to get Bob a present. When he stopped crying, I explained how he hadn't been listening to me at the bookstore...ANYWAY....

But most of the day was enjoyable.....we continued our paper mache planet project (actually I popped the sun today!)....we went out for lunch, and played music...

In fact, we just finished a jam session - he kept switching instruments - first banjo (the one that Bob made for him), then guitar, concetina, drums and finally the piano. We played Oh Susanna, Bye Bye Ms. American Pie, a few blues tunes, then random compositions involving the solar system. He still is a little bossy when it comes to selecting songs, but he is sort of "getting" it. Practice!! His latest choices are our friend Rich Bala (Barefoot Boys), and Ray Charles....

We are all just hanging out now...the chicken wings were a hit with the boy, so I am taking advantage of this new food choice and just started baking some more... More cornbread, salad, etc.

More later (maybe)...

Feb 25 - wet and snowy

....A little tired about talking about the weather!! Again, I was up EXTRA early to assess the weather situation....Decided to leave for work EXTRA early - 6:45 AM before the weather became too treacherous. I stopped along the way to the bagel place and purchased enough bagels for everyone to enjoy (and more!)....I wanted to do something EXTRA for our staff who have been dealing not only with weather-related stress, but a computer upgrade which has backed us up a bit....

Then around 12:30, the snow was coming down EXTRA hard, and our office was getting many calls from loved ones urging them to go home. I packed up around 12:30 and headed over to pick up Alan...had lunch over at Roger's, then the weather turned to all rain, and there is SLUSH EVERYWHERE!

GOOD THING WE INVESTED IN A NEW ROOF!!!! That's all I can say!!!! OMG, I wonder how my old victorian on Washington avenue is doing...and my old basement too (probably flooded!!!!) While my current house is by no means my dream home, at least it is EXTRA warm and dry!!!

ANYWAY, Here is a cute visual for you. Alan and I are laying on the bed in my room next to each other with our laptops "working"...He has a purple laptop!!! He's playing some alphabet game. He just finished an orange popsicle....

LIFE IS GOOD!

feb 23 (i think)

...Woke up this morning unprepared for today's snow closing...I usually would stay home, but I needed to get some projects accomplished at the office. I literally made the final child care arrangement while walking to my office. Luckily, Bob could watch him, but he had a gig mid-day, so Jimmy and Miera watched him for a while...They are the best neighbors ON THE PLANET!

At work, I cleared my desk so I would be prepared to take off tomorrow as the snow is expected to continue....This juggling act stressed me out, so when I arrived home at 3pm, I took a hot shower, put on my PJ's, and now I am enjoying cinnamin raison toast and a cup of coffee (probably should be tea, right). I stopped by the store on the way home, so there is also a roast in the oven...yum.

I am ready for the snow!!!

Feb. 21

Hello,
Enjoyed hosting the 3 Rix for dinner tonight....very interesting fellas, all named Rick. They performed for Heritage Folk Music this afternoon, then came over for dinner afterwards....Enjoyed hearing them jamming before dessert....I will never grow tired of having live music in my home.....and I made chilly and cornbread....and Cathy brought some delicious pastries.....

Feb 20

Just another wonderful day to record for myself so when I reflect on this time in my life, I will remember and appreciate all the fabulous times and wonderful people in my life.

Started the morning with a little reluctance on Alan's part to attend the African Drum concert at the library. However, I knew he would love it....We made it there in time, and BOY WAS IT FUN!!! Alan has a djembe that we acquired at the Old Songs festival, so he felt right at home. He was able to take a turn playing along with a jam....We met up with my friend Dominick and his son, and Scott and his son. I joked that I was hanging out with the dads for once instead of moms!!!

Alan recognized a boy from his Religious Education program at the Unitarian. He was soooo cute...and excited to see him. He even brought the friend over to Scott's son Sumner. I totally respect Alan for taking the time to match up his buddies together....wonder who he gets that trait from???

Then, we had lunch with Scott and Sumner at Panera bread. Boy, was that the happening place!!! Ran into friends from Alan's school and more of Scott's friends too. We missed Beth, but it was a nice outing nonetheless.

Then upon arriving home, Julie called and brought the boys over to play with Alan. Ricky helped Alan create planets for our paper mache solar system....the got into the silly potty talk, and to calm them all down a bit, I put on a movie. They still were very silly. But I love seeing that....Julie and I had our time together too. I love her sooo much!!!

After they left, Alan and I continued on our solar system project. Instead of paper maching all of the planets, I discovered that styrofome balls work just as good, and we don't have to wait for them to dry!!! We only have 2-3 more planets to go!!!

Alan is now watching a movie (we don't own a TV, so he's watching a DVD).....and we'll be getting ready for bed soon.....I was supposed to go out to listen to music tonight across the river, but I am content to stay home and relax.....Tomorrow is a big day. I am hosting a dinner party for performers for Heritage Folk Music. All are old time friends of Bob's...all have the name "Rick"...so they call themselves the 3 RIX!!

Thinking about making chile for that...and corn bread.....

ANYWAY.....that's enough of my ramble....it was a fabulous day.

Feb 18th

My news of the day is that I will be hosting a campus radio show featuring faculty, staff and students. It's been almost 6 years since "What We Do" aired, and I am soooo excited to return to radio. This time, technology has advanced, and it will be internet based. Stay tuned for date and time...should start in about 2 weeks. Need to come up with a name of the show!! Send me suggestions folks!

ALSO, this weekend should include a wide array of music. Friday, I MAY (not sure yet) go out with a friend across the river to listen to a faculty band in Red Hook...blues, jazz rock combo. Then Saturday, the Kingston libray is having African drumming for children....then Sunday I am hosting a dinner for the performers for Heritage Folk Music....(thinking of making my famous chili)

I also have a solar system project to finish...Alan and I started paper macheing planets...need to get paint and more balloons...


ANYWAY, very tired, worked at the Kingston library tonight, so I am EXTRA tired...GOODNIGHT!

Feb 16 - late

It's late, struggling to keep those eyes open...ended up driving into work 11:30-3 only....came home and had a great evening...started to create planets out of paper mache that I hope eventually will hang in Alan's room. Alan did well cutting, but didn't want to get his hands dirty....then a little painting, music, and he finally fell asleep at around 10ish....LATE!!! Leftovers for dinner...skyped with Pops,that's all! GOOD NIGHT :)

Feb16..it's early

Checking the weather to see how long we can all sleep in! Looks like it just might be a breadmaking kind of day (and soup too!)....

Probably one of the strongest statements I'll make here is that Saugerties is just about perfect EXCEPT for the school system. Disappointed with the leadership. Living in this small town, we have SO MUCH....I love it! We spent a fabulous morning at Art Lab where we didn't even have to arrange to meet our friends, it was a given that we would see them...music, food, crafts, face painting...real small town....Later, I stopped by John Street Jam to drop off flyers (couldn't stay), and within 30 seconds, I received 3 hugs! It's just that kind of place. Love being walking distance from the village shops, cafes, library, muddy cup, beach, park, garlic festival, parades for everything....and lots of friends.... But with the dysfunctional leadership at the school I can't put my son there.....Luckily....Alan has the opportunity to attend Rhinebeck.

Anyway in other news.... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Feb. 12

Hello! Just a quick note to say hello! I'm off to NYC tonight for a show!!! Home late! I haven't been to NYC in a very very long time! It's too noisy and crowded for me!!! Anyway, need to get myself ready for this busy day!!! BYE :)

Feb 10

....not sure when this will be posted, but as I write this, I am all cozied up in the living room eating the second half of an M&M cookie while listening to the sea chanty singers practice downstairs in our music room.....

From where I sit upstairs, I see 4 guitars, children's piano, and a mandolin, You can only imagine what our actual music room looks like....There is a library of historic music books, recordings, magazines, all labeled and organized. Then the large room (music room) is filled with exotic instruments, guitars, banjos, comfy pillows and futon, and great photos including an old "folkloric" sign which always gets a positive comment each time someone visits.... Though too cold for me this time of year, the garage has also been organized into a work shop for creative projects, too many to list.

....going to check on them to see if they need any refreshments.....maybe I'll join in :)

...also enjoyed this snow day....Alan and I made Valentines and we walked over to the post office to send them off....then through the village (with his sled), then out for lunch! Afternoon at Muddy Cup, then roasted a chicken.....

spiders and lady bugs -- Feb 9

…quick random thoughts about two spiders and a lady bug while waiting for the snow…and my pizza to cook.....

…unbeknownst to my family, we have two pet spiders crawling freely in our home, spinning webs and eating insects. Their home is located on the ceiling corner of my living room, easily seen when lying on the couch. They keep me company during my morning routine (email, facebook, Daily Freeman, coffee), and while everyone is still sleeping, they are active with their own morning routine (crawling freely, spinning webs, eating insects)…. When I disclosed all of this to my son this morning on our drive to school, he said, “Mom, I’m not so sure about that.” ……each time my mother visits, I worry that she will spot this cob web and swat at it with a broom. Believe me, the fact that I leave a cob web on a wall doesn’t mean I am lazy or dirty, mom..….we are clean folks, even vacuum under the cushions… at least we don’t have dog hair or feline fur stuck to our clothes or couches, nor do we have stinky pellets scattered in a path from smelly cat litter to the front door…it just relaxes me to watch these spiders crawling around….more so than watching Herman swimming around….

Now onto the lady bug…. Earlier today, I needed to run across campus to give something to a colleague…On my way, I spotted a lady bug…..it was crawling around on the top stair. While its redness had faded, its vitality certainly hadn’t! I scooped it up and brought with me to my co-worker. He wasn’t there, but I notified his co-workers and was told that the good luck offered by lady bugs certainly would be welcomed. I left the packet with the lady bug on his desk……to be continued….OR if you enjoy reading about bugs, remember my blog entry on beetles???

Cake

….oh my, while the holidays are now a fond memory, the extra poundage (aka snowball cookies) continues to rear its backside to the clothing store for a larger size pair of pants. (If I could, I would insert the beeping of a truck backing up LOL!) I blame it on the blitz of birthday bashes the past month that officially ended tonight…with my baby's 5th birthday! Can you believe it....FIVE children’s birthdays and 1 adult the past 3 weeks! Cake, pizza, candy, cupcakes….should I even mention the trail mix and banana bread left over from our board meeting, or that night where I vegged on the couch with a bowl of ice cream?

For the young’ins, these parties have included racing games, little gyms, running through parachutes, kicking balls and balloons! They eat their cake all red-faced and sweaty. For us old folks, we just sat on the sidelines gossiping about our children with a fork in one hand and a plate of cake in the other!

And as I ramble on, it just occurred to me that Valentine’s Day is next week….so I better reframe all of this…..how about a little Vitamin CH on those strawberries please. LOL Better get these sweet cheeks to the gym!!!

ANYWAY….I should mention how proud I was of Alan during all of these parties. He certainly is a charmer …(minus the time that he and his friend told me they invented the word ...”dork”).

Happy 5th Birthday to my baby!!! Photos to be posted on Facebook soon!

PS: A shout out to Jules and the boys, thanks for coming over tonight!!! You are the best....
PSS: I used to be called Cake, Cakis, etc....and I still have that Hostess t-shirt LOL....

Car Talk.....Feb. 5th

.....While I have nothing to contribute to the chatter about the Superbowl, here is an earful about cars. Parked in my driveway is a totally operational 2000 Dodge Stratus that is deserving of a new owner. It certainly has character and a great story to tell. To thoroughly enjoy its driving experience, you must first dig out from your basement, those old tape cassettes. I recommend James Taylor. This is perfect if you have a tired, cranky passenger who will benefit from the rocking back and forth of the broken front passenger seat …guaranteed to lull them into a dream state, so they won’t even ask how it broke in the first place.

In hot weather, driving this car gives you justification for throwing your hair up in a schrunchy and wearing as little as possible (including that skirt which you think may be a little too short.) You see, the air conditioner needs to be re-charged, and two of the power windows don’t open. You’ll sweat so much, those extra pounds will melt right off!

Within its 155,000 miles, it’s only been pulled over by the police 2 times. I talked my way out of both tickets (once for speeding and the other for driving while talking on my cell phone). Because I am not sure if you have the skills that will result in the same outcome, I suggest not talking on the phone when driving. This is extremely dangerous! Your temptation will be made easier if you know that if you plug the cell phone charger into the lighter, the fuse will trip, and your horn won’t work.

Along the passenger side (I honestly can’t recall at the moment if its front or back) there is a dent that recalls a great memory from Forsythe Park’s autumn festival where we listened to music, fed a bull, took a hayride, scurried through a maze, etc. As we walked back to the car, this well dressed woman in a fancy SUV was leaving me a note on my car…to make a long story short…she gave me $400. Sweet!

Despite all of these issues, this car has traveled with me and has never ever broken down. Yes, we’ve had the occasional flat tire because I wasn’t careful, but I have been faithful with getting its oil changed, tires rotated, etc. So, I am conflicted about selling it. When my offer to give it to someone for free was surprisingly rejected, it occurred to me that I might actually have to sell it.

So now I am considering parking it next to the high school. There is no doubt that a student who has been mowing lawns each summer to save up for a car would appreciate this good set of wheels….they might be more prone to skip class or make out on a dead end street, but at least they would have a good story to tell. $1345 or best offer.

February 4th

….What a week! What a moon! I'm feeling existential about it all (the good, the bad and the ugly!), maybe it’s all this talk about god and the solar system generated by a 5 year old. Remember what happened when the coin dropped into the gravity pit at the planetarium this past weekend? It just spun faster and faster until it finally disappeared. Not me…maybe it’s because with so many family and friends orbiting along with me, I am steady on this journey. I allow myself to laugh and cry, and never lose sight of all that is meaningful to me… it’s true! When someone can’t find meaning in their lives, it’s like they are spinning down that gravity pit. They lash out, deluding themselves into thinking that they have the power to steer you off course….

At lunch yesterday, a friend told me that I deal with conflict with such grace….what a wonderful gift that was…in addition, I am particularly thankful this week for the humor which came from an unexpected source…it was like discovering that Jupiter has yet another moon.

Not sure if this is making any sense. I am distracted at the moment by superficial things such as what to include in my son’s goody bag….caio bella!

Feb. 3 diary entry

It's late, I should be heading to bed, but I just wanted to jot down some random notes....enjoyed Alan's classroom observation....he told Arianna that he can't wait to "introduce" her to his "home" friends at his birthday party this weekend. Still need to order cake and get goody bags!

Work was busy....all good things....love the students!!

We had a nice evening....leftovers for dinner....Alan and I played in his room, and when he fell asleep (watching Johnny Cash!), I went downstairs to join the sea chanty rehearsal....live music!!!

Feeling good these days that the house is in order...relieved about the new roof, and especially that we dug up the oil tank!!! Can't wait to see if those bulbs we buried all around the yard actually grow and bloom! It's still a mystery as to who picked up our christmas tree? Our neighbors is still on their lawn....

...and then there is when to get the tickets to Arizona...maybe this Saturday....we should be going last week in March/early April....Pops will be happy about this!!!
...and I haven't forgotten about the opera!