memorable INDEED!!

OMG .... when I previously posted that I KNEW it would be an amazing weekend ... I STILL understated it!!!  From the beautiful weather toward our journey, the scenes from our car, the phenominal place we cozied up in, the delectible eats, the gorgeous views from our easy chairs ... and the suprises around every corner ... it was a trip to remember !!!!  Happy Birthday?  (duh) a thousand times YESSSS.

a love letter to my husband

It is the eve of a pair of days away, the Captain has planned for my birthday. There is little doubt in my mind that he has gone far beyond the needs of celebrating even this pivotal of birthday years. I tried to talk him off the edge ... but I'm pretty sure he has gone over the top! I KNOW I will be telling him "he shouldn't have" (more than once), I know he will keep telling me I'm worth it... but most importantly, I know whatever he has planned will be amazing... and fit for a princess. THIS MAN of mine is often too good to be true, and it scares me when I think about the pedestal on which he routinely perches me. And though I have tested him a time or two, he is ALWAYS there whenever I need him. He is my strongest supporter & my biggest fan. He makes it quite clear. And I ?? Well I'm not sure I tell him enough how much he means to me, how important he is in my life. I love him of course .. but more interesting to me .. I ADORE him. I have a serious crush on the guy. I fall in love with him now & again, over & over. He is my knight, my joy, my soulmate. SO- while I know I will feel a bit overwhelmed over the next few days while he pampers & adorns & treats me like a princess .... I will also be aware of the lengths he will go to in showing his love for me. and in between a "WOW" or two ... I will tell him how much I love him!!

rain ... the magical elixer

first I noticed a wee rainbow opposite the sun ... next came a fireball of a winter sunset.  the clouds grew thick & scarlet colored in just seconds.  what a wonderful evening show.  mother nature is one of my favorite people!! 

the sky was a brilliant blue following last night's rain.  the showers had washed over streets & landscape, allowing the colors to pop as if they had just been polished up for presentation.  every thing just looked a little brighter, a little cheerier, a little fresher.

I love the sound & smell of the rain.  It lulls me to sleep, it taps at my senses with it's pitter-pat, it cacoons me with it's rhythmn.



our neighbors trimmed back their princess flower bush a few months ago, to give it a fresh start.  A couple of days ago, I noticed a bunch of tiny buds just begging to pop.  With light showers over night & some warm breezes today ... they seemed to burst open before my eyes.  such pretty little things!!

everything will change, nothing stays the same ..

clouds on the rise

I sip from my SEATTLE cup this morning, very appropriate- as it appears our summer-like weather has left the building for a few days.  I've downed my cherry yogurt, anticipate the oven beep signal of a toasty pasty any moment, and ready to settle in with a stack of magazines.  There is a load in the washer & dryer, the littler box is clean, my IPAD on charge and I've spent at least an hour mentally singing my qtet contest songs.  All-in-all ... pretty productive considering I'm still in my PJ's! 
Do I feel guilty?    NO 
Indulgent?     A bit. 
I'm winding down from an exhausting weekend with 4 funny firecrackers.  A whole lot of singing & laughing, with some learning tucked between the two.  It was a coaching session of sorts.  Not the average format, more like a musical version of the Ground Hog movie with 4 Bill Murrays.  The outcome was a stronger, more cohesive sound for us to continue building on.  It's the first of such, but not the last, and in the meantime .... we are collecting our thoughts & voices 2-3 times a week to build & support our muscle memory!
HOWEVER FOR THE MOMENT ... I have my eyes on 6" of reading material to barrel through by noon!! !!

birthdays, ballads, & burrrr

 it is the month of capricorns & aquarians ...... happy times, dark clouds of doubt & soggy tears included with all.  friends, family & past loved ones.  There is not one I have forgotten ... although some that I have not made much mention or fanfare.  and I have my reasons.  private thoughts.  broken heart. separation.  reasons, excuses, take your pick- they are mine and I take full responsibility! (and I'm cool with that)  outta sight is not outta mind or heart.  words unspoken are not unthought.  BUT THERE ARE ALSO those who choose to think of ME even when it's their big day & I find that simply phenominal!!  to one of my besties ... Jules ... I love you beyond words & I know you know ... but I do     love the look on your face when I tell you each time!!  AND there has been a LOT of music in the air (AKA in our living room) ... as SeaGlass continues it's uphill climb toward a CC worthy competition performance.  Our noses have more recently been to the grindstone and I find that (finally) we are rehearsing more than we are chatting or laughing!  Not to say we aren't enjoying (nearly) every minute of this journey ... We have bumped up the schedule to meet twice a week and are popping in for a wee bit of coaching when appropriate!  This weekendwe are attempting a more concentrated effort and with the luck of some mental muscle memory ... will  emerge with more confidence on the far side of Sunday!  There is a lot of emotional involvement in this "hobby" I'm deeply passionate about.  Dissappointment is not an option ... if we do the best we are capable of.  The more dedicated we are to raising our skill level ... the more comfortable we will be whatever the standings indicate come competition day!  SO- onward we march, one phrase at a time.

A few days ago- serious effort toward any task may have seemed a bit more of an obstacle ... the bone chilling temps at night crept into the daylight hours as well.  Sunlight was sparse, outdoor activities short & not-so-sweet.  Such things can dampen ones spirit.  (vitamin D??)  BUT  ...  a couple of nights ago-I stepped out onto our lanai and looked at the black velvet blanket overhead, sparingly sprinkled with silvery sequins .... & I was filled with wonder.  Without even knowing I was numbed slightly from seasonal affective disorder, it was swept away from me in that moment.  The wonderment was the cure ... and I am still basking in it.  Mother nature?  celestial conditions?  whatever!

pigtails & pigheaded

 once upon a time ... there was a man (a very good one) who didn't think he was "grampa material".  Then a chat & a visit later with a turquoise-eyed, male halfpint- melted his heart & he's never turned back.  A few years later ... said grampa was unsure of relating to someone covered from head to toe in pink, with a language all her own & an attitude the size of Texas.  Since then... the 2 of them have developed a language they share & her personality is more about giggles than pouts .. although she is still often covered in pink.  He can be found carrying her cotton candy hued bag of "stuff", he caters to her food whims, and, he tells me at least once a day how cute she is.  If you look in the dictionary ... I'm pretty sure his picture is present under the word grampa (although they call him Captain to avoid confusion between relatives) !!  She adores him ... almost as much as I do.

and speaking of adoration ... there is a mutual society of members right here at the FEOTS.  A couple of kitty kats needed some sittin' for a few days ... and since I get up every morning anyway- and the sun sets pert-near every night ... I am right here, willing & able to do the deed easily.  Acuz that's when they needs a serving of the delicious stuff that comes from Fancy Feast cans !  So's one needs a bitta extra TLC with an itsy bitsy pill, & one needs a bitta cleanin' up after when she's been rowdy or coughin up a clog ... but other than that (and a few scoops of the litter box) ... it's just another day in paradise around here.  We bin a-tellin the felines that it's an easy gig- but a"parently" they thought otherwise & sent a gift over by courier-person.  Not sure that you can read the writing ... but lemme tell ya ... of the 2 doz or so suggestions for life at the beach house stated here ... we lived by at least half of them today alone!!!  HOW APPROPRIATE !  Thank you Lucy & Boo ... you're very thoughtful (and hard headed)  XOXO

sleep in heavenly peace .... (I'm looking forward to it)

I have just finished load #5 of wash.  Both guest beds are dressed in clean sheets.  Kitty-sitting duties across the street have been accomplished. Dinner is almost to the table & little miss Addy ... our guest for the next few days is squeaky clean.   These are all good things ... good-er yet, the noise level of the house has fallen 10 fold!  On January 28th- grandson Anthony joined us in welcoming the Johnsons & Beltrano families ... arriving for their annual stay to ring in the new year. 

We only had a couple of scheduled activities .... so the goings-on were subject to whatever, whenever ... bookcased by eating!  On the eve of 2013.. the Twilight Zone marathon was playing as backround music to conversations, homework, conference calls, grilling & baking.  By this morning (which started a little later than the ones prior .... I might add),  linens were tossed into the laundry room and discussion began to break out the RockBand equipment.  Gabbie (a teenster) stepped to the plate to set everything up, and with coaxing ... the majority of the household was taking turns at one thing or another.  Chris, April, & sissy to Anthony .. miss Addy arrived early this afternoon & between the game & bodies present- the noise level rose steadily til the sun went down!! 

as of this moment ... with many chores completed, the house lays quiet, save a sweet voice asking for a drink of water, or to sit on grampa's lap to watch tv (Annie).  The Captain ... is hoping his dish washing duties have subsided for awhile (the dishwasher runs more over this gathering than in 6 months total), and I .... well I'm hoping the peace & quiet lasts for a while.  I love the house filled with music & laughter, but I appreciate it MORE ... when I've had it's counter part for a while.  I've given myself permission to take tomorrow off from the majority of duties ... with the goal of starting the Christmas decluttering on Thursday!  AND I'D LIKE TO MENTION ... that when I hit the sack tonight ... I will be thinking about how wonderful it was to spend time with some of my favorite people during the holidays!!!