Married to a car lover

9-9-09 more motor brain
Labor Day Weekend: Sunday early afternoon
You guessed it.... since it is a Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day or course there is yet another car show- and we must go!

This was the KC British Car Club Show and since we belong to the Iowa British Car Club it was our duty to check this out. Plus we knew there would be a few Iowa car friends showing there.


Yes, Dave and Ladonna (above picture) had made the trip with one of their classic Mini’s. Dave and Ladonna are a fascinating couple. She from the U.S. and leans towards the serious side of life, and Davey is from England and a charming funny guy. (perhaps a good example of "Ayurveda" Three Doshas in balance) Davey actually has a car shop in Des Moines that works on British cars and he does our Mini Cooper oil changes now that we are out of warranty.

I sing a song in my head to the tune of Lady Madonna….

“Dave and Ladonna own a Mini Moke, Davey’s always telling everyone silly jokes”….

What else can I do…. Me and my shadow standing around looking at cars with Greg on a beautify day in September.




The picture of the Triumph sport cars are for my Dad. He owned two back in the day before my sister and I could drive.

Ayurveda

9-8-09 balanced brain
Saturday of Labor Day Weekend:
Greg and I met up with Molly and her niece Megan for lunch at a Greek Restaurant in KC. Greg then proceeded to a car show, and I went with Molly and Megan to an alternative medicine lecture.

I didn’t have any clue or expectations on what this was going to be, all I knew was that we were going to Molly’s yoga instructor’s house for two hours. There were about a dozen in attendance and we met our instructor David who was from New Zealand. So I was happy that I would at least be entertained by listening to a cool accent.

We were introduced to Ayurveda which means life, and knowledge/science. So this is an ancient “science” about life. We learned about the “Three Doshas”… these are very similar to the five elements (water, earth, fire, wood, metal) I’ve learned about in Chinese Medicine, and Fung Shui.

The Doshas are made up of two elements each:
Vata: Ether(space) & Air
Pitta: Fire & Water
Kapha: Earth & Water

So during the two hours we learned and explored what our primary Doshas were and what this has to do with how we get and stay healthy and balanced.

I enjoyed spending time with Molly’s niece Megan (pictured here with me the next day out at Molly’s farm).



Molly and I have been two matchmaking Aunts over the last few years or so. We tried to get my nephew Christopher and Megan introduced to each other. It was hard to do since they live many states apart, but we thought they might hit it off. They seem to us like they could be two peas in a pod. Both are studying history, have red hair and a bit shy around the opposite sex- the semi nerdy types.

Molly and I did manage to connect these two via Facebook a few years back, and it looked like a nice friendship was taking hold. These two did finally meet once face to face over last Christmas vacation. I don’t think it went anywhere…… oh well, at least Molly and I tried.

NOW after learning about Ayurveda…. I see where Megan and Christopher are probably too much alike to be much good for each other as partners. Both are strong in Pitta and it would be better for them to find someone who can balance that out with more Vata and Kapha.

If you want to learn more just google “Ayurveda”… there is a lot of information out there.

For the record, currently I am fairly balanced between the Three Doshas... on the self assessment I was 9-Vata, 9-Pitta, 6-Kapha...... after 10 years of acupuncture and self exploration and self care, I would have expected no less.

My "new normal" life

9-5-09 Tale of Two Cities brain
This has been my week to spend in KC. I’ve been spending a week each month down in KC with Greg. Really its 11 days when you count the weekend on each side of the week. Then on the other weekends in the month, Greg tries to take a 3 day weekend up in Des Moines. So I figure we get to spend at least 15-17 out of 30 days together.

This is working out well…and it is kind of fun. This has become our “new normal” as they say. It won’t be forever…. Just for now.

I find I get a lot of work done when I’m in KC with my laptop. Not so many distractions here. Our house is in a nice quiet neighborhood for the most part. My only distractions might be the neighborhood animals. Once in awhile there is a barking dog.

My KC routine has been to walk around the block at lunchtime or for afternoon break. And I usually find myself looking for my new friends….. the neighbor's cats: Kojo and Pixel.

Recently I’ve also discovered another pet down the street that I like to walk by and “observe”…. I haven’t been able to get close enough to be friends yet with this animal.

It’s a goose.


At first I thought it was just a lawn ornament which kept being moved around the yard. Then Greg told me it was a real goose. Sure enough when I tried to go meet the goose the other day…. It came at me like a guard dog, honking and making a lot of noise. I couldn’t even get close enough to take a good picture. The goose also has a companion, the family dog.

Since birds seem to be allowed in this neighborhood, maybe Molly will let Peeps come stay with Greg and I from time to time…. and maybe Peeps can keep down the mosquito population. (That’s my major complain about KC this summer)

Tomorrow I’ll get to visit Peeps the peacock again since Greg and I plan to attend Molly and Jeff’s Labor Day party out at Aggie Acres. I don’t believe it will be warm enough for pond floating though.

More music memories

9-3-09 reminiscing brain
It was fun to have several comments from others on yesterday’s blog sharing favorite first owned songs.

I started thinking how music has played such an important part in my life growing up. These thoughts also came to me in August, as I listened to NPR story about 40th Anniversary of Woodstock. I was only 13 at that time, but I do have strong memories and connection with the music from that event.

My first music awareness was as a child when my Dad would play some classical music on his stereo. My favorite was Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

I got my first transistor radio around age 11.

I misspoke yesterday when I said I only owned 45s single records until college. I actually owned ALL the albums of the Monkee’s when I was in 5th and 6th grade and had them displayed as a shrine in my bedroom……That along with Tiger Beat Magazine pictures on my walls. (I believe I still have some of those magazine laying around…. I’ll have to look again in my closets)

My very first concert was in 8th grade with friend Becky who had older sisters to drive us over to Mason City, at the community college 30 miles away. We saw Jim Croce and the Carpenters! Croce wasn’t too famous then, but the Carpenters were, and we stayed after the show and got all their autographs. (I believe I still have the piece of paper too…. I’ll have to verify that. I think I know where I kept it all these years- that’s for another blog)

My first really BIG outdoor concert happened the summer of 1974, after I graduated from high school. I guess I was old enough to get to attend a concert 3 hours away in Davenport Iowa with my boyfriend Bruce. It was suppose to be a double date, but his friend Dave at the last minute didn’t bring his girlfriend, so the three of us went in Bruce’s car.

This was a day long outdoors concert and the acts I remember the most were Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Sweet Home Alabama” was popular) and Eric Clapton ( “I Shot the Sheriff” was popular song). This was my first experience turning down pot which was offered to me. I was still a “good girl” then, no drinking or smoking for me. As it turned out, my two companions were not so good and they didn’t refuse the offerings. They being a bit wasted and sleepy….I ended up being the one to drive us home late that night. I was a little PO’ed with them, but proud of myself for not getting lost in the dark.

Music was a common bond for Greg and I when we met in 1990. We both loved the music of the 80’s! At that time we had two CD’s in common; Joe Jackson and Steve Winwood. Now we own hundreds of CD’s and several iPods full of music.

Probably the band I've seen most in concert was REO Speedwagon. My favorite? That would be hard to pick. Probably a concert by Peter Himmelman, which actually might also be who I've seen the most in concert. Greg and I became fans in 1992 and helped start his Fan Club with Ellen from New Jersy and Pam from Chicago. Peter Himmelman is a talented songwritter, artist, and funny guy! I'm still a huge fan!

Himmelman has a great website now and gives concerts online every Tuesday night.
http://www.peterhimmelman.com/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Himmelman

More music

9-3-09 music brain
My friend Ann recently gave me a CD of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits. I’ve been listening to it quite a bit over the last few weeks. I especially enjoy the several Jackson 5 songs that are included on this CD.

These songs bring back memories of Jr. High. I loved dancing, but was a shy geeky wall flower back then at the school dances. Now, given the chance, I’ll be the first one out on the dance floor!

I went looking in the closet and found my old records. I owned the single 45’s back then and had several of the Jackson 5 records. I didn’t progress to albums until college. Singles were less an a dollar back then.

Did anyone else have a storage box like this?



These are some of the other songs in my collection from back then.
Do they bring back memories for anyone else?






I Want You Back: Jackson 5
I’ll Be There: Jackson 5
The Love you Save: Jackson 5
ABC: Jackson 5
Ben: Michael Jackson
Julie, Do Ya Love Me: Bobby Sherman
Little Woman: Bobby Sherman
The Letter: The Box Tops
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye: Steam
We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters
Pleasant Valley Sunday: Monkees
Why Don’t You Write Me: Simon & Garfunkel
I Think I Love You: Partridge Family
I Saw her Again: Mamas & the Papas
Come Together/Something: Beatles (I like both sides!)
The Long and Winding Road: Beatles
It Don’t Matter to Me: Bread
I Saw the Light: Todd Rundgren
Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All: The 5th Dimension
Cray Me a River: Joe Cocker
In the Summertime: Mungo Jerry
American Pie: Don McLean



I was remembering how I would play those singles over and over again and again. I bet my parents got sick of hearing the same song again and again when I bought I new one I liked…… so different from today with the iPod’s. Parents have no idea what their kids are listening to!

American Idol

9-2-09 music brain

Sunday was the last of my August summer fun. This day included a drive down to KC in the afternoon with the purpose of celebrating Molly’s Birthday and to attend the American Idol concert at the Sprint Center in downtown KC. (Greg was in Ohio attending the Browns football game)

My friend Ann has a friend Felicia, whom I just met on Sunday, and Felicia was the instigator to get Ann interested in the American Idol concert. That didn’t take too much arm twisting, since Ann is a huge Idol fan.


In contrast Molly agreed to go, having never watched. (What is that look on Molly's face?... shock?...deer in the headlights?... she can't believe she agreed to THIS?) Me, I was somewhere in between. I had watched quite a bit of the top ten and loved Adam the most, although I did like Kris also, and also impressed with the talent of Allison.

We started out with dinner down in the Power and Light district of KC and then headed over to the concert. Our seats were good enough, not real close, but I liked the fact no one was behind us.

It is obvious to me now that I didn’t have my camera settings correct for the venue. Thus I don’t have many pictures worth posting.


The concert was awesome! I was blown away. Molly was even entertained as well as people of all ages, who were in attendance.

Ann and I had attended the American Idol concert 3 years ago, when Carrie Underwood won and Ann and I described it as an enjoyable variety show. I’d give it a 9 on a scale of 1-10. Using that same scale, this year’s show was a 100! It was quite the production with lights and several large screens.



Ann is allowing me to use her video on my blog, so if you are an Adam fan, here is a sample.

Adam Rockin' The Sprint Center, August 2009 from Drake Smart on Vimeo.

Summer sounds

9-1-09 waning summer brain

You know it's August when: you hear the special August sounds.

I realize it is September now, but that special August sound continues even today. When I was in KC mid August the cicadas were especially noisy in our KC neighborhood! I think it is because of all the large trees in this area. I started to find many of their carcasses around the large trees.

So being the weirdo that I am, I started to make a collection. Maybe there is some strange type of art I can do with these odd bugs.



One evening when we were coming home after dark, we saw a cicadas in the process of shedding it's skin and evolving into it's next life. It had attached to a outdoor wood chair.



This is what "death" looks like to me. Our body, a mere shell, is left behind as our soul breaks free and goes on to live a new type of life.