Happy Birthday Happy Birthday la-la-la-la-la-la!

Mel's 2nd birthday...was she a cutie or what! :)

Today is Mel's 56th birthday and I can't think of anyone who deserves to have a happier one. Mel's my big sis, my friend, my "mother hen". Nothing means more to her than family and in a way she's the glue that holds us all together (even though she doesn't realize it). A true blue person with a heart of gold -- that's Mel. And Mel I'm not saying that because you're my sister; I'm saying it because it's true. You're a great sister and I'm glad you're mine. Happy Happy Birthday!! I love you! 

Mel and I on Warnock Street, 1963

My yard sale mom

Today was mom's umpteenth yard sale. She says it was her last and I say "I sure hope she means it this time." The last three or four yard sales were her last also so I don't know. I have my doubts. Yard sales in my opinion are a BIG pain in the butt. Sorting, pricing, folding, hanging, bending, lifting, sitting, standing, sweating, aching, wheeler-dealer-ing, and then after it's all over figuring out what to do with and where to put all the leftover crap. Like I said, a pain. Mom's been a yard sale queen for as long as I can remember. She gives them and she goes to them. Sometimes I think she goes to them to accumulate more stuff to give them. I'll never forget the times she talked me into tagging along on one of her typical bargain hunts. Oh yeah, those 6 am Saturday morning yard sales...loved 'em (not!). I'd take my own car (for a possible quick getaway) and meet her at "the yard". Sometimes we'd go to huge neighborhood sales involving every couple houses in an entire subdivision. We'd stop at one, hop in the car, stop at another, hop back in the car, me all the while following and trying to keep up with her spinning wheels. I can still feel my face turn red when I recall her actual peel outs to the next house. Yes, mom is/was a Yard Sale-A-Holic. She couldn't pass up a bargain if her life depended on it. She's a hoot, my mom, but I can't imagine her any other way. 

Emily holding up her future wedding dress. ha-ha

Who buys a wedding gown at a yard sale anyway? Apparently no one...this one didn't sell.

What does it mean to love?

Todd Rundgren wants to know and what a great song he wrote about it. It's called "The Verb to Love". Many may know Todd by his hit songs of the 70s -- "Hello It's Me" or "I Saw The Light". Though great songs I think they barely touch the real genius of the man. A successful record producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist -- this skinny white man of soul can sing his a** off!

Forever a funky dresser (and his outfit in the video below is no exception) Todd gives his all in a live version of "The Verb to Love", a bit of blue-eyed soul at its best. From the first time I heard this song (thanks to Mark) I absolutely loved it.



The Verb to Love
(from Todd's 1976 album Faithful)

Some people tell me that love is a feeling
or a possession
Somehow it seems so cold
And when they say love is sweet,
does it mean that you eat it?
Maybe you drink it,
does it fill up an empty hole?

I'm lookin' for a love and I may not find it
You know it doesn't mean a thing
without some action behind it

Please come home
I can hear them calling
Please come home
Please don't leave us all alone
Your mama and your papa are crying all alone
You better let it magnetize, learn to sacrifice
'Til we get the true version of
The meaning of the verb 'To Love'
What does it mean to love?

And when somebody needs love,
do they spend some money?
Say something funny,
ask for some tenderness?
And when you wanna touch of love,
do you lie on your back?
Stand on your head,
how do you feel it best?
I'm looking for a love with no strings attached
To take me like I am, that's the only catch

Please come home
I can hear them calling
Please come home
Please don't leave us all alone
Your wife and your lover are crying all alone
You better let it magnetize, learn to sacrifice
'Til we learn the true version of
The meaning of the verb 'To Love'

Does it mean any more,
the more you talk about it
Is it anymore real
if you jump around and shout it
I'm sick and tired of hearing
'bout everyone without it and
Too much talkin' sends me walkin'
Night is falling and everybody's calling for love
Everybody's lookin' for their one and only
It's only just a game 'cause they're scared to be lonely

Please come home
I can hear them calling
Please come home
Please don't leave us all alone
Your brothers and your sisters are crying all alone
You got let it magnetize, learn to sacrifice
'Til we get the true version of
The meaning of the verb 'To Love'
What does it mean to love?

The Mighty Mississippi

Mark and I spent a little time strolling along the Landing last Saturday. After visiting Sundeckers we decided to walk down to the river and see how much the mighty Missisippi had risen. Many songs have been written along the banks of this river, many stories told, sketches drawn, photographs taken. Click below to hear one of those songs by a girl named Lissie, a singer from Rock Island, Illinois.

"Oh Mississippi"

I don't think anyone will be valet parking for a while.

There once was a road here.

Home in the country with Jesus

A year ago today dad went home. I'll never forget the day he let me know he was going. We were in his hospital room waiting for the ambulance to take him back to the house he'd lived in for over 40 years. I sat on his hospital bed when he said "it's a long way isn't it?" I was confused at first thinking he meant the drive from Alton Memorial to Granite. Then when he asked how I would see him and I saw his expression and childlike worry I realized it wasn't home to Granite he meant at all. In his confused state he thought he was returning to his boyhood home in the country and in his own way he understood he was going alone. Always a country boy at heart he longed to return there and in my mind that's where he is now, the country he yearned for and belonged to, his home in the country with Jesus. And he was right -- it is a long way but with faith and hope in my heart I believe I'll see him there some day.

This slideshow made in honor of dad shortly after his passing last year brings painful feelings of loss but also celebration and affirmation of his life. As Mel said so well -- losing dad left a void in our lives that can never be filled. It's comforting to know though he will live on in the hearts of those who loved him, forever.

Though in my heavenly country home,
I am closer than you know.
Believe that when you say my name,
I am standing next to you;
And know that when your time comes,
I’ll be there to take your hand,
And together we will be in God’s eternity

Is it Vacation yet?

Boy, what a long week it's been. All work and no play makes me feel (and look) like the little green guy above, fuzzy purple house slippers and all. TGIF tomorrow! The weatherman says it's going to be sunny and in the 80s this weekend and I say "It's about Time!" :)  Looking forward to a beautiful weekend...and only16 more days till Vacation!!! Yippie ki yay! Can't wait! 

Is it Saturday yet?...

Only one more day until Midlake. I am so excited about seeing this band! I've heard them compared to Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead and Jethro Tull....Jethro Tull? I hear the flute in many of their songs but to me they sound more like...Midlake, a band with a unique style and sound totally their own. I'm hoping to hear a few specific songs I know such as "Head Home" (below), but if not, that's ok because whatever they play I have a feeling I won't be disappointed. I have a feeling they're gonna be GREAT!

Loss of the familiar

Well in a short time Emily will be leaving for Texas... and then what? I knew this year was going to be about change, knew it was around the corner, and knew I wouldn't be ready for it when it came. Is anyone ever ready to let go of a special period in their life, to let it just become a memory? I came home from work today, walked into Emily's room, and boom... there it was, change. Pictures taken off the wall, shelf down, little table gone. I thought of two years ago when Emily and I decorated the room together. And I thought of how everything that's become so familiar the last two years would soon be gone. Yesterday Emily asked if I was as sad when Mandy moved away. I told her I didn't remember; it seemed so long ago. I'm sure I was but maybe in a different way. When Mandy left I knew I wasn't finished being a parent, not that a parent is ever "finished"... but maybe now I'm just less..."needed"? I don't know. Maybe I need to remember it's ok to feel this way. I think it's called the "empty nest syndrome" or something like that. Maybe all I have to do is remember it's normal and do like the picture above says...let go, trust, and love. Maybe.

Congrats to Emily!

Wow, time flies so fast. It seems only yesterday I was thinking to myself that Emily has one more year before graduation and now in a blink of an eye that year is over. Life is truly a journey and as Emily travels along her life she continues to make me proud every day. Below is a poster showing her journey to date and also a slideshow from her graduation party at Rivers Edge Saturday night.

Click poster twice to magnify.

Note: slideshow below has sound.

To a one-of-a-kind mom

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my wonderful one-of-a-kind MOM!!!
(and, no mom I don't want anything)... ;)

This man can sing...

Steve Dawson sang his beautiful soulful heart out Saturday night at Off Broadway. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I have no little videos of my own to prove it. Drats! At any rate, Steve's voice was clear as a bell and I found myself mesmerized by it from the moment I walked in the door. Love Love Loved it!

Here's a cool "old film" video of a song from Steve's latest album called 
"I Will Miss the Trumpets and Drums". It appears to be made just for the song. I love the way the two complement each other.



Simple Pleasure by Steve and his band Dolly Varden

April Recap

Bye bye April. I love the month of April. Officially spring may begin in March but April is spring to me. And even though it means the beginning of grass cutting season (ugh) it’s still my favorite month of the year. It’s a big birthday month in my family beginning with my dad’s birthday on the 12th, mine on the 14th, and my brothers on the 30th. And now there's two more birthdays to celebrate in April -- Mark’s mom on the 15th and his sister Deb on the 22nd. Whew, thatsalotta birthdays!! The following slideshow is a recap of some of the birthdays and other miscellaneous happenings in April 2010.