Who are these two?

2-14-12 loving brain

It's Valentines Day, how can I not post and wish my sweetheart a happy day.... 

 I was staring at this picture last night and I found myself asking- who are these two people? I barely recognize them!

......also want to wish all my family and friends a happy day too! I did manage to get a few Valentines sent out this year, but then stalled mid-stream when I got busy this last weekend..... so sorry not all of you received one.

A special VD to Vivian and Clyde AND Lori and Tim who have wedding anniversaries to celebrate.

Also Vivian and Annika have birthdays tomorrow.

Musical Weekend

2-12-12 singing brain

One morning last week, maybe Friday, I found a surprise on my door step. Along with the morning paper, there were at least half dozen old Olivia Newton John albums. Of course I knew right away, someone is remembering my need of old record albums to create my large Peace Art. I’m suspecting Carolyn, since she goes to work early and I think she had told me sometime back that her sister had some old records which were going to be cleaned out.

This music on my door step was a good way to kick off a “musical” weekend.

Friday night Greg and I ventured out into to the cold Iowa night and met up with our friends Ann and Roy downtown. An old bar, “Blues on Grand” had recently been re-done and now called the “Gas Lamp”…. And there was a band playing this weekend which covered Beatles music. Roy, who strums a guitar from time to time, was particularly interested, so the rest of us went along with the idea.

It actually was fun stepping out of my 50 something box…. And going someplace new to listen to old music….. and stayed up past my usual reasonable bedtime….. and I had fun. AND happy to report I wasn't the oldest person there. 

Also this weekend our friend Mike who works one afternoon being a DJ at the locally owned alternative radio station was telling Greg and I about a class which was allowed to listen to his show on Friday afternoons during their reading time. Mike plays all types of cool music from blues, jazz, …. I can’t even begin to describe the mix of sounds he is into. Anyway, Mike had been contacted by this teacher of this class who told him the class has an autistic boy who doesn’t talk and sits with his head down all day…. BUT now on Friday afternoons, during reading time which includes Mike’s radio music…. This autistic boy comes to life and starts smiling and dancing and at the end of the hour the whole class gets up to join him dancing.

This story moved me, and shows the power of music in our live, touching deep into our soul, which we can easily take for granted.  I think about this from time to time…. Remembering how my life use to have a sound track that went along with it…. and now, when I hear those certain songs from the past, I can be transported back, usually with a smile on my face.

I was feeling sad that I didn’t have a current sound track to my life. I’m either not taking the time to listen to music since I tend to be in an NPR talk radio phase of life and/or I am not keeping up with new music enough to have any music punctuate my daily life, able to create future memories.

However, there is one exception. Molly, a month or so ago, when I was riding in her car, was playing a CD by Adele called “21”. I liked it- (now LOVE IT)… so I bought it…. and I have been playing this A LOT.  

Tonight, the Peace Sisters will be gathering to watch the Grammys together. Ann keeps up with all the current music and I rely on her to keep me partially in the music loop. Her favorite is Maroon 5. At least I will know and appreciate who Adele is now while we watch the Grammys….. and I also am looking forward to see my old very favorite Bruce Springsteen who is suppose to perform tonight.

Then came the sad news this weekend of the death of Whitney Houston….one less beautiful voice on earth, one more singing in heaven.

Music is a GIFT.... and I must remember to keep it in my life daily!

TGIF

2-10-12

I am enjoyed by mini blog sabbatical this month. It’s been nice not having to force myself to write something everyday, especially when nothing out of the ordinary has been happening.

This week, Iowa has returned to winter, but still who can really complain about temperatures in the 30’s. I’m really starting to notice the longer daylight hours, since it is still light out now past 5:30PM. To me, that is a sign of spring!

Last week in KC when I was being spoiled with mild temperature in the 50’s and 60’s, I started walking during my lunch break. I found this to be very therapeutic and a brisk walked helped lower my stress and I was able to have very productive afternoons after taking this mid day break.

I’ve tried to continue this and make this my new habit this week….. and I’m happy to say I did bundle up with hat, scarf and winter coat…. And I did walk most days this week.

AND..... I have been eating pretty healthy. Here is example- I've been using my mini crock-pot. This might look like soup, but once you drain off the liquid, there is a cooked chicken breast with a yam, wild rice with cranberries and pumpkin seeds.

Greg is coming to DM this weekend, so I am happy about that. We’ll see what fun we can scrape up here in the small city, compared to our times spent in KC (4 times bigger that DM).

Winter can be beautiful!

2-7-12 wordless brain

Super Sunday

2-5-12 split brain

I just finished watching Madonna on the half time show, so I have the song “Like a Prayer” singing in my brain.

I now switched over to watch a late 60 Minutes show (I believe a rerun) with Meryl Streep talking about acting and getting into someone else’s head. I always wondered how actors do that…. Becoming a new character without loosing themselves.

I was thinking about “acting” while I drove back to Des Moines this afternoon from my week in KC with Greg. As soon as I hit I-435, I feel like I have to “flip a switch” in my head. DM-Judy has to be self-supporting, strong and independent. DM-Judy reminds me of the Judy in her single days…. She can be a bit more self-absorbed, bewildered and moody.

I’ve discovered on this last trip to to see Greg that both KC-Judy and DM-Judy are equally happy, but different things about each split life makes me happy. I am usually grateful that I get to experience both, because most of the time, I feel life would be boring just being in one place. Yet last week in KC, I found myself realizing that Greg makes me a better person…. And really miss him when we are apart.

Today when I left KC it was about 46 degrees. My drive was sunny for the first two hours, then as I hit the Iowa boarder the clouds appeared and somewhere south of Osceola the snow appeared on the ground. I thought this would depress me, but actually the scenery was so pretty. When I hit Warren County the trees were lined in snow. I love that look when each dark branch of a tree is outlined with white. I was too focused on getting home to stop the car to take a picture, but think of a typical Ansil Adams black and white photo of winter in Yosemite.

Here I did take a picture of the back yard when I arrived home. The bushes appeared to be made out of cotton-candy.

When I pulled in the drive way, I was expecting I’d have to shovel the snow which fell on Saturday, but some fairy-godmother…. Or fairy-godfather had already cleared it all away. The nice thing about this surprise is that I can’t just point my finger at one person who was so nice to me….. I’m blessed with many people who are helping me navigate my crazy split life- otherwise I know I couldn’t keep this up.

So I head to bed now, not focusing on what I don’t have….. but I’m feeling blessed and grateful for what I have…. a crazy life with wonderful loving people I treasure.

Now I am humming the song “I get by with a little help from my friends”….

Happy Ground Hogs Day

2-2-12 surprised brain
Ann wanted to write another blog this week ~Judy

Global Warming and Ground Hog’s Day

Oh my, what a winter we are having in Iowa. Mostly mild days, but this week, cant’ beat 65 degrees on Monday and 55 on Tuesday. All I can say, thank you Al Gore for pointing out the benefits of global warming.

 As I’m watching the Newt Romney showdown in the Sunshine State, I remembered February 2^nd is around the corner, Groundhog’s Day! I’m so glad I took that exit off I80 last summer.

Here’s a recap:

 As I was motoring along, I noticed the sign for Punxsutawney, PA  and that alone got me to exit as Dad always chuckled when we saw the sign and when Groundhog’s Day came around.

So when I watch the coverage today, I can say … dang, I’ve been there. When they show the infamous hotel, Pantal Hotel, I can say I’ve been there and slept in Bill Murray’s room,  Room 304.

And yes, I met the Ice Man, one of the officiates at the ceremony. He told me that people come at the wee early hours of the morning. Seems foolish, but I did get up at 4 am to see Morning Joe.

Happy Groundhog’s day to all and regardless of Phil’s shadow, 6 more weeks of winter.

Chat Later
That Girl, Ann Marie

Wednesday GUEST Blog from Ann

2-1-12 resting brain
Grateful that Ann is still posting her guest blogs on Wednesday! I am in a better frame of mind and may actually blog once next week ~Judy

Year of The Dragon ~ Happy Chinese New Year

With a name like Chee You, one would think Chinese New Year would be an annual event. Sad to say, NOT. Well as the President said “no sense crying over spilled milk”. Haha, hehe, haha.

I did some checking on the web to find out what The Year of the Dragon means:
“Chinese holiday traditions include forgiving past conflicts, hosting elaborate feasts, setting off fireworks and giving children money in red envelopes. The Year of the Dragon is believed to bring success and happiness, while other animals bring other blessings during their years. The celebrations last 15 days after New Year’s, and on the final day a lantern festival takes place in which red lanterns are hung outside houses all over China.” Interesting, very interesting and if someone wants to pass some money in a red envelope to me, I’ll gladly accept it.
I found this video of what the Year of the Dragon means to the Chinese people. (sorry John and Jean). http://video.nytimes.com/video/2012/01/23/world/asia/100000001306948/year-of-the-dragon.html

No fireworks here, but the Peace Sisters celebrated the Year of The Dragon last week. I had a certificate to cash in and what better timing. Here are a few pics of the dinner: sushi rolls, Sue, Carolyn, Judy and me. The food was yummy, company great as usual and the wasabi …. Dangerous, just sayin’.

Speaking of Chinese, I love going to Chinatown in big cities. I took Dad to Chinatowns in Toronto, Chicago, DC and Los Angeles. I’ve been to Chinatown in San Francisco and I must say, that is the best Chinatown in the country.

So what year were you born in? I looked it up and I was born in the Year of the Rat. Really a Rat? Well, here’s what in store for the Rat in 2012. |
Rat (born 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)  “Romance is expected to blossom and careers will peak for the Rat, who is a risk taker,” says Chung. Chung believes that the Rat must take risks but not aim to defeat everyone. “It is in the rat’s nature to hide indoors, but the rat should head out into the world this year,” explains Chung, “and the Rat is the sign most likely to profit financially in 2012.
Source: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/614791

Well, I have a lot of work for this GOP girl to hit it big time in 2012. The lottery may be my ticket in 2012.

Chat Later,

That Girl, Ann Marie