road trips

Just got back from a road trip with hubby to the Soo for a wedding. 

Road trips are fun.

 I have had the privilege of travelling with two friends on some road trips. Some far away, some closer to home. This one was in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario and we had tshirts for the occasion.

We went into the hoity toity hat store and tried on some hats and were chastised by the saleslady. I suppose she knew that we were not going to buy her $450.00 lavender topper with the feathers and ribbons.

We then found some hats that we did like and were considerably more reasonable in the money department.

We noted on the labels after we bought them that the hats were not to be in contact with any type of moisture or they would dissolve. So we could not take them out in the rain (a good reason to wear a hat) or in the hot sun (where our brows might bead the dreaded drops of sweat and render our hats soggy masses of straw).

Wendy and Tena are great gals to travel with and I relish any time we get to spend together.

I know I am

I am a genius. Trouble is that most people can't recognise my geniusology.
See I can even make up my own words. How genius it that?

Years ago I came up with the idea that we should have velcro walls in public places and these walls should be available to hang cranky children until we wanted them back. At the mall...at church...at the grocery store... The possibilities are endless. I am sure that kids would love to just hang there and we won't have to worry about where they are. Seems like a great solution to a tricky problem.

It seems I am not the only one with good ideas.

This one is a little odd but I am willing to try it on the next cranky kid at the store.

don't forget the jugs

When the kids were still all at home we used to go through copious amounts of milk. We would by the 4 litre jugs from Mac's and we would have to get four jugs three times a week. That makes 12 jugs a week x four litres.... which makes lots of milk.
When the kids started driving and they wanted to use a vehicle they would have to pay for the privilege by buying milk on their way home. They would sometimes forget to take the jugs back to the store to get the deposit back.
A common refrain when the kids would leave the house with keys in hand was often "don't forget the jugs"

I can see that we were too easy on them.

woo hoo

This Friday we are going up to the Soo for a wedding. Jeffrey is marrying Laura and I can't wait to see them. Jeffrey lived with us for almost two months back in the spring of 2009. I absolutely love that kid. It's like he was one of my own. I can't wait to give him a big hug and to take pictures and I have been told that I am allowed to sing at the reception. I had better start with some vocal exercises soon. I wouldn't want to disappoint.

wicked

I am slogging my way through the novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
I saw the musical Wicked in Toronto with two of my daughters and it was wonderful. I went without knowing much about the story except the Wizard of Oz movie background. I was pleasantly surprised.
So when out of town, wasting time (and so it would seem- money) at a mall, I thought I would buy the book that the musical was based on.
Now once I decide to read something I rarely give up on it.
It isn't my cup of tea. I am not a literary genius but it just feels too political. I am sure there is so much more in it than I thought but I didn't want to waste my brainpower looking for it. I just liked the musical so much better.
But I am nearing the end of the book and will finish it just to say that it was read.

I go on Youtube to listen to the songs and will pick up a CD one day.
I hear there is a movie coming out so hopefully it will be based on the musical and not the novel.

doyou hear the people sing?

My favourite musical of all time is Les Miserables.

I was so happy that I got to see Colm Wilkenson play the role of Jean Valjean.
I was one of the things on my "things to do before I die" list.

I loved the book - although the full version is awfully long.

"Who am I ? 24601"
"I have bought your soul for God"

Does it get any better than that?

  One of my favourite scenes was where they are marching forward
(but never seem to get to the end of the stage)

More stirring music I have not found.

ain't I amazing?

Some of my skills are more marketable than others.

Showing off my spooning abilities.

And no comments about the size of the spoon or the nose.

on cruise with my mom

I had taken liberties with unflattering pictures of my mother.
It would only be right to put some up there that didn't particularly flatter me.

And then there is the one that mom took that made me very happy that she knows how to crop pictures.

too long

Well procrastination had reared it's ugly head for most of the month of April in the writing department. I even decided not to go to an annual writers conference that I have wanted to go to for years now. Every year there was something that got in the way but this year it was only my lack of motivation. I wanted to go prepared and I think that it would not have been best to attend an event that I am not prepared for. So I waited until the early bird deadline passed and decided that I don't want to spend the extra $10. for missing the early registration day.

Why does life get in the way of creativity? I suppose the passion of creativity must be greater than the house that needs to be cleaned or the laundry that needs to be done. I have always thought there was no sense struggling to do something creative when there is plenty of practical things to be done. When the words just need to be written I am sure I will make the time.