Zumba

Well, I have finally gone to a zumba class.  I think a majority of women have attended a zumba class.  Most woman I have talked to who have attended a class enjoyed it.  And what is not to enjoy.  Thirty to forty women all crowded into the boy scout hall, jumping and dancing, shimming, undulating, shaking, wiggling and laughing and clapping and arms and legs a flying.  There was every shape, size, color and age of women there.   Most of these women looked like they knew the routines or I think they call them dances.  The instructor is a short energetic woman who loves what she does.  She hopped and swung her arms which I finally realized was code as to what to do next.  Carolyn and I worked our way to the back of the room where we flailed and tripped and stumbled and sweated and twisted our heads like owls to watch the instructor.  The class started at 5:30pm on the dot.  Seriously.  The Instructor says, one minute and all the socializing and giggling and talking moved into lines and they got into position.  The room was cold, but after the first two dances most stripped down to their zumba clothes.  I moved constantly and kept my jacket on well into the second half of the class.  I was moving, but since more energy was being used up for thinking and trying to figure out the ever changing pattern of foot work and arm movement, I think the blood was flooding my brain more then it was moving through the rest of me.  But by half way I wasn't watching the clock anymore.  I had started to get enough of the steps so that I could keep moving all the way through a dance, regardless of what the rest of the room was doing.

These women are amazing.  Most of them look fabulous and can shimmy and roll and wiggle and shake and vibrate and undulate in beat to the music.  I remained standing upright, so that was huge for me.  Carolyn and I smiled at each other on rare occasion.  The rest of the time we just kept moving.  Moving.  Moving.  Shuffling, stepping, hopping and dancing.  The last five minutes of the class is a dancing yoga style cool down.  That is my favorite part of the class. 

We enjoyed ourselves enough to say we would meet again last night.  I worked at the Opera House during the day.  Most of Jefferson County had travelled in mass to Tallahassee to try and dissuade the closure of the Jefferson Correctional Institute (JCI).  This is our state correction facility located in our rural county.  They are the largest employer in Jefferson county and this closure is going to affect our economy significantly.  I held down the fort.  I did a little filing, answered the phone, took reservations and finished writing the draft of the minutes from our January Board Meeting.  I got to visit with Judy, Jack and Jan as they came in to work on the set for Nobody's Perfect  

After Lisa got back and I was no longer needed at the office, and they were not ready for me to really start painting on the stage yet, I headed over to the Flying Eagle, our boyscout hall where I worked on a scarf while I waited for the class.  There were about half as many woman last night that had been the previous night.  There were also a few women who had not been at the class last night.  The music started up and off we went.  After the first dance Carolyn looked at me and said she could feel it in her legs.  I could feel it in my abdomen.  We giggled back at each other and reminded ourselves, that this is why we were there.  To move.  Just to move.  The music thrummed on, some dances were Middle Eastern music like what a belly dancer might use, others were salsa, there was even a couple more rap like.  The strangest were the ones that sounded like all the above to me.  The hour swept by faster then the previous night.  I don't think I was any better then the night before because there were muscles that were whining, just a little.  Not real pain as much as I was noticing muscles I wasn't aware of. 

When I got up this morning and looked in the mirror I think I could see a difference.  Nothing big, but since I have so little body fat when a muscle changes even a little it looks different.  Or was it just in my mind?  I am not sure, but I feel better about myself.  Carolyn and I planned on going again tonight, but I realized that I have a Stage Company Board Meeting and then to rehearsal.  This next week is a bit tricky for me in that I am now involved in two plays, so I have to coordinate rehearsals. 

I am down to the last 4 inches to weave on my shawl.  I did the first six and a half feet in less actual weaving time then the last 6 inches.  I am getting there.  Even if I just weave a nail or two a day, I am still determined to get this shawl done.  My goal is to be able to have the weaving done before the Super Bowl so I can start knotting it off during the game. 

The weather here is gray.  We might get a little rain, but only spotty

Bob and his ball

Harry, the old man

Edna, okay doesn't she look crazy?  that thing around her next keeps
her distracted enough to leave the rest of us alone

Henry, after Edna had just stuck her nose where Henry did not think it belonged

 Not much new here.  Lots of fun things planned for the rest of the week, and of course it is Superbowl on Sunday.  Then next week, busy with rehearsals, zumba and trying to get my shawl done so I can finally work on some other project for a while.  I don't mind starting another shawl, but it will not have the pressure to finish as this first one has.

It is hard to complain about this winter.  The sun peeks out once in a while, raising hopes of warmer weather, but honestly, it is not that cold, just an illusion.  But a quick walk around the yard found my pink perfection camellia blooming

truly pink, truly perfect

A variegated Frank Hundly, bigger then my hand

A pretty wonderful day.  Yes, it is gray, and muggie, but the doors are open, the dogs are getting attention from mom, the flowers are blooming.  Time to play with friends tonight, a little yoga this afternoon and life is good.  Just life.  Just an everyday sort of life.  Just living it, cleaning the kitchen, planning on Super Bowl food, working on my weaving.  This is life.  These are those everyday moments we all have, and once in a while the sun comes out and lifts our hearts and spirits and allows time to just stop for a  moment and look out the door, or step out on the porch, and think I am glad to notice this very moment.

Today would have been my husband's 61st birthday.  Tuesday would have been our 26th wedding anniversary if only............  But life did not turn out that way.  No, life took a different journey.  I see the steps, the actions, I see the consequences, I see how I got where I did.  Every possibility is out there.  And this is where all those possibilities brought me.  I love where I live.  I love my property and all the possibilities it gives me.  I love all the possibilities for my life.  So many fun things to do.  So much love to share with beloved ones.  Yep, possibilities.  They make life so much more interesting. 

Weaving the hours together

Life is a little more quiet again.  The Interview behind me, the wedding joyfully enjoyed, the first two rehearsals for The Fantasticks done, and now, it is quiet again.  Clear forever blue sky and so much green.  Last week it was warm and muggy.  Muggy as a summer day.  In January.  Nature is so magical and fascinating, and science, all rolled into a warm winter with grass and green leaves and daffodils in January.

daffodil

 And the camellias, and Japanese Magnolias, even azaleas and red buds are all blooming right now. 

azaleas

The Japanese Magnolias are as splendid as ever.  Most of the others are a spot of color  here, a tree there.  It is so much fun watching all of these different plants blooming  in January. 

Today is absolutely glorious.  So was yesterday.  I have spent most of these two days weaving.  Standing and sitting, moving up and down the loom,  watching the patterns magically appear as I move from the outside inward, bringing the two sides of the shawl together.

getting closer to the end of the weaving on the shawl

I have to take a break every once in a while to rest my shoulders and to stretch out my back.  I get up and walk around the yard looking at all the plants, up and moving.  Sometimes I just do some stretches in the living room.  At rehearsal on Thursday night when the part comes in the play where I am the wall, I struck a warrior pose.  The Director liked the idea of it, so we will see how it works out.  I think I need to do a lot more practicing so I can hold that pose long enough during the performances.

It has been just the most enjoyable days.  Weaving, walking, stretching, watching cooking shows as I weave up and down the yarn, fingers moving in and out, in and out.  The peacefulness of the drama of the past two weeks, seems all the more precious and dear.  Giving me time to let me wander and weave and dance through the last few weeks.  Time to smile over happy moments, playing like movies in my head and heart. 

Sometimes my mind wanders forward as I think about my Dad's cousin's  great granddaughter (whew!) bringing her daughter down to spend a week with me.  They will come during Ellie's spring break.  This is the same week that Rob, JongAe, Jessica and Dad are coming up.  Yes, that will be a lot of people.  But Jessica and Ellie are within a year or so in age of each other, and won't it be nice for Jessica to meet one of her cousins.  Even if removed or something like the 6th degree or however it is figured out.  We have a small family and I believe this will be the first American cousin that Jessica will meet.  I think about how much fun it was last summer having Christopher here for those weeks and the places that we went that he enjoyed the most.  We will probably do some similar trips this spring, like to the Museum of Natural History and to the Tallahassee (Jr) Museum.  Maybe Mission San Luis, we will see.  It will be fun to have time here at the house and to spend time crafting with the girls.  JongAe and I love to craft together, we will see how Jamie enjoys it.  I am sure that we can find things for all of us to enjoy. 

My mind just floated from moment to moment, passing through time like riding a time machine, as I move forward and backward. The air almost danced between the quiet and the weaving, the dreaming and the sitting and staring out the door.  Outside into a yard that needs attention.  But for right now, I want to get this shawl done first.  The sooner I can finish the scarf, the sooner I can move on to a new project.  Once I finish the weaving, then I have to tie fringe to two of the sides and then crochet off the top row.  Still lots of work, but I am enjoying honing my new skills on this just learned craft.  I can not help but see other colors and wonder about what patterns might emerge if I used this yarn or that.  My mind running through the bags of yarn of not started or partially finished projects.  Yarn that I can now maybe weave another shawl.  But first to finish this one.

Bob and Ednarose walk with me when I take my walks around the yard to stretch out.  Bob chasing after the ball.  Edna insisting on walking directly in front of me.  Harry barking from the porch.  Time with my kids.  Today the chickens insisted on walking just behind us until I chanted, "Here chicken, chicken, chickens.  Here chicken, chicken, chickens" and they ran to me as I threw out handfuls of scratch.  I love to watch chickens run.  There is something so joyfully slap stick about chickens running.  Here they are eating.

here chicken, chicken, chickens

pretty chickens

It is just perfect winter weather.  Sigh, it has been so lovely.  Tonight it will get colder and tomorrow it will be below freezing.  I loathe the cold.  But if the sky is blue and the green shimmers in the winter sun, it doesn't matter how cold it is outside, I will just keep working on my shawl.  I have a couple of scarves started that I want to finish, but I am getting so close to finish the weaving, and anxious to see what it looks like done.  So I have to get busy on the fringe, and well, I love working step by step watching the craft come together. 

Moffitt and I need to see her with my own eyes.

I am not sure what all will happen this coming week.  I am just enjoying Chinese takeout and movies on the TV and my fingers dancing up and down my loom, in and out, magic appearing, like this glorious time of peace and joy.  The weather perfect for a picnic.  Hmm, that sounds like an excellent idea.  I just might see if a picnic can be added in sometime this coming week.  If not, I can always just take my lunch out on the porch, to take a break from bending and weaving and tying.  To enjoy this glorious winter.

An Amazing, Beautiful and so very Precious Day

I did not sleep well Tuesday night.  I think I was as excited about the events coming on the next day.  Maybe a little anxious also.  I had written the ceremony for the wedding and I could not read it without weeping a little.  I am so dramatic, so emotional, shoot I cry at Publix (where shopping is a  pleasure) Commercials.  I probably got some sleep, but I remember waking up and checking the clock like a small child waiting for Christmas or their birthday.  I was waiting for a wedding.
Not mine.
No, Falcon and Amanda's wedding
sweet precious childhood sweethearts.
lovely intelligent responsible adults
dear funny giving friends.

I got up a little before 7:00am and checked the cake.  The "wedding cake" was actually a small bundt cake iced with whipped chocolate ganache and the rest of the "cake' were okay.  I had carefully baked them on Tuesday and iced them before I went to bed.  The white cakes were iced with a white shiny icing that I think of as a wedding cake.  The chocolate cupcakes they were also iced with the ganache.  I had also made a vegetable pickled relish with mushrooms, roasted red pepper, olives, capers, onions, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Yum.  Quick easy and delicious as a side relish for a meal, or spread on crackers.  I also cut up vegetables for Crudités with a dip.  This way people had snacks to munch on until the wedding and then the cover dish dinner.  Everything seemed okay, so I put the top down on the toy and put a 6 foot ladder in the back seat and headed to the Woman's club.  I got there early, so I left the ladder at the Woman's club and headed over to Winn Dixie for Sunflowers.  I had bought flowers yesterday, but had not picked up the sunflowers, Manda's favorite.  I needed flowers for the bouquet and I needed flowers for the cake and then I wanted to have some flowers for the Wedding table as well as for the food table.  Plus I just love working with flowers  and tend to go over board.  

I picked out my flowers and drove home. I finished the bouquet. It came out beautiful. Sunflowers, gerbra daisies, yellow mums, yellow roses and baby's breath.  Then I made Falcon's boutonniere out of a yellow rose, baby's breath and black silk rose leaves and black ribbon.  I should have taken a photo of the bouquet, it was wrapped with black silky ribbon with gold button pins and at the top a circle of gold filigree with crystals and yellow and black ribbons hanging down from the bottom.

The happy couple

The cake finished, the flowers finished, my contributions to the dinner, finished, the ceremony written and adjusted to Falcon and Manda's wishes, finished.  So off I drove back up to the Woman's Club to help decorate the front steps, and to help set up chairs for the ceremony.  Then to work with Jan as we decorated the inside of the club.  We put down white table cloths, a red one for accent on the food table.  The table that after the wedding would be groaning from the weight of so much food.  We blew up balloons that Jan had picked up and set out the flowers.  I set up the cake:

wedding cake

Mid afternoon, with the chairs in place, the lights set up, the inside ready, we all headed home to get prepared for the big event. 

People starting arriving about 6:00.  Falcon scurried here and there setting up the music, working on problems with the lights, greeting beloved ones who had come in for the pending nuptials.  Manda was stuck inside with all the woman wanting to fuss over her and be a part of this moment with this precious young lady. 

Our sweet beautiful Manda

At Falcon's cue, we got everyone seated for the ceremony.  Falcon and Manda walked together from the front of the building along the sidewalk to where they then entered the park, the side walk lined with luminaries.  The music played, they walked up to the gazebo.  I stood there smiling at how beautiful they looked.  How special this day was, for them, for all of us who were lucky enough to be there.  The service lasted only about five minutes.  Here is what was said:

On behalf of Falcon and Amanda, I would like to thank you for joining in this day to celebrate their marriage.  Marriage is a celebration of two people, two hearts coming together.  It is a joining of two people into a family.  Falcon and Amanda come willing and by their own volition to take these vows in front of their family and friends.  We ask you to support them, love them and to be there for them as they take this first step today as husband and wife.

I, William Falcon Street take you, Amanda Nichole DePotty to be my wife my partner in life and my one true love I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before.  I will trust you and respect you laugh with you and cry with you loving you faithfully through good times and bad regardless of the obstacles we may face together I give you my hand my heart and my love from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

I, Amanda Nichole DePotty take you, William Falcon Street to be my husband my partner in life and my one true love I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before.  I will trust you and respect you laugh with you and cry with you loving you faithfully through good times and bad regardless of the obstacles we may face together I give you my hand my heart and my love from this day forward for as long as we both shall live. 

While Falcon and Amanda exchange rings, I would like to share a poem by Shel Silverstein:

“How Many, How Much”

How many slams in an old screen door?
      Depends how loud you shut it.

How many slices in a bread?

      Depends how thin you cut it.

How much good inside a day?

      Depends how good you live 'em.

How much love inside a friend?

      Depends how much you give 'em

And now I would like to ask for everyone to please stand.  Falcon, Amanda on behalf of your family and friends, it is our honor to be the first to pronounce you Husband and Wife.  You may now seal the union with a kiss.

Ladies and gentleman, Mr. and Mrs. William Falcon Street.

Isn't that a beautiful ceremony?  I managed to make it through the ceremony without crying.  After the ceremony everyone carried their chairs inside and the party began. 

Jack and Jan decorating

falcon setting the lights

putting out the luminaries

view of the ceremony site

Aren't they beautiful?

Conducting the ceremony

Environmentally friendly lanterns being flown off after the ceremony just like in a Disney movie

So many people managed to make this mid week celebration.  People who love Manda and Falcon.  People who wanted to be there to support them and to wrap their arms around them and love them.  I felt so special to be a part of this.  I felt so honored to be there for them.  The night was magical.  There was laughter and love and joy and bells ringing.  yes, everyone got a bell and whenever a bell rang, the new married couple had to kiss each other.  And yes, yes the beloved gathered there for them took complete advantage of the bells.  The bells rang continuously.  I would not be surprised if they woke up with chapped lips this morning.  I am sure that they woke up with the glow of newly weds.  They woke up with memories of all the love and caring and giving and sharing that had occurred on a warm winter night in north Florida.  At a beautiful old building that has held so many happy and loving moments.  And last night was another one to add to the memories, to the patina of the old pine walls.  And each of us who were able to be there last night, also woke up this morning the with the afterglow of a night filled with sharing something so rare and special.

Good luck Falcon and Manda.  Happy ever after.  And if two people have the chance for that?  It would be these two sweet precious people.  I love you both dearly.

      

The (un)wedding day is here!!

Wow what a life, what a week, and it is only Wednesday morning.  Monday my friend Other Bob came over for lunch.  I burnt the Rubens.  He is a nice man and scraped the "Caramelized" black crusty bread off and then ate it as if he enjoyed it.  Then we put on our jackets, climbed up on his beautiful big Harley and drove out the drive, down the road, around all the holes on Farmboy Road.  We turned right on the publicly maintained road and roared on our way.  I wrapped my arms around this new friend and leaned into the smell and heat of a man.  I love to ride, but I have always preferred to be opossum girl, hanging on the back, silly smile on my face.  And here I was doing it again.  With a new friend, a nice man, a man with an interesting life, sharing his joy with me.  Bless his heart he had already driven more than an hour and a half just to get to my house.  We headed north on 19 turned onto CR 149 and then with the help of a GPS we turned down this back road up another.  We did make one wrong turn.  Not that we got lost, but we did end up on a dirt road, rough and ridged with car tracks, spots were muddy, others were sprinkled with a topping of gravel.  Oh yeah, pretty treacherous riding, but Other Bob skillfully after having ridden thousands and thousands of miles, maneuvered our way back to black top and then off we roared again.  He is a safe driver and I leaned back against the seat as comfortable as any lazy boy found in a family room in front of the TV.  Other times I leaned in and watched him or we would have snatches and grabs of conversations.  The radio playing around us as the wind whipped the music in a spiral rising above us and then blowing away.  I was in heaven and kept saying, "I am so happy."  Honestly, I never thought I would have the opportunity to get to ride again in this life time.  Thank you Other Bob.  I had so much fun.  Can't wait to do it again.

He chose the name Other Bob because of my Bob.  My dog, Bob.  I thought that was cute.  I was also amazed how the dogs loved him.  Bob is a little slow to warming to new people, but once you throw the ball, Bob is okay and as long as you keep throwing the ball, or feed him treats, he will love you forever.  Harry however fell in love with Other Bob hard.  He grew up with a man in his life.  He is used to man smells and the sounds of motor cycles.  Bob grew up with me.  When the day was done and I was heading up to the Rosemary Tree for a Board Meeting for the Opera House, and Other Bob was heading back the hour plus drive to his place, Harry pushed his face against the gate and barked out to Other Bob, "Don't go!  Come back!!!  No, please don't go!"  He barked.  I love that dog.  He is still in that giant old body.  I don't see him come out very often.  He sleeps a lot.  Well, dogs do sleep a lot, especially old dogs.  But he woke up and was happy to have that man smell around him again, the sound of pipes.  Harley pipes.

Yesterday I started baking.  I made 50 cupcakes.  That is not a lot.  Half are vanilla "wedding" cake with white shiny icing.  The other half are chocolate with ganache for icing.  The topper is chocolate bundt iced with more chocolate ganache.  This afternoon I will put the cake together and decorate it with live flowers.  Shades of yellow and white.  I will finish the bouquet of sunflowers.  I will cut up the veggie plate, the vegetable relish to serve with crackers.  I cheated and bought store made humus.  I met Manda, Jan and Jack at the Woman's Club to get the key from Ms Ethel.  We looked at the woman's club and planned out our decorations today.  
It is here.
Today is the day.
Today is the Unwedding of Falcon and Manda
Now I will go print off the ceremony we put together. 

It is going to be such a beautiful wonderful amazing and magical day.  I am so honored to be a part of this special day.

I will tell you about it, soon.
See that smile?
Yep, still smiling from the ride, still excited about today.
sigh, what a wonderful life I have. 

Another amazing week

Yes, it was another amazing week.  Tuesday morning Ms Mary and Ms Judy met at my house and we put the top down on the toy and drove up to Thomasville.  I love driving my toy with the top down, but when you have someone all dressed up to go out with the girlfriends for lunch, driving with the top down is a lot of wind.  We drove up the so familiar road, straight north from Monticello.  Monticello, a struggling rural community with a precious sweet little downtown.  But we are struggling.  I have only lived here in this place for five years that I love to call my home and there are businesses closing that have been the heart of the community for as long as people's memories seem to go.  We drove north to Thomasville which is also struggling, but so much bigger and stronger with it's larger proportion of affluent then our dear town. 

We decided to have lunch at Henderson's.  Mary said we had eaten there before, but I did not remember until we walked in.  It still seems so odd that I have so many gaps in my memory.  That is why I am writing this journal.  So many wonderful things and I don't want to loose them.  Like lunch with Ms Judy and Ms Mary at Henderson's.  Lunch where when I walked in the door and saw the record album covers, I remembered having been there.  I still have to rely on Mary's memory for when, why, and what we were doing to be there before.  But I love stories and Ms Moon can tease my memory with one of her stories of lovely events in our lives anytime she wants.

We talked through lunch and time and the food just disappeared amongst the laughter and woman's voices talking in harmony.  We headed over to see the Amazing Dr. M.  I had scarves that I had made for the people who do so much for me.  I had enough colors for most people to choose.  When I had asked Allison what color she would like, she had asked for black, so I had it made it for her and it was was ready to give to her as soon as I signed in.  I asked her if she would get Bobbie for me.  Bobbie is one of the Amazing Dr. M's nurses.  She was his only nurse when I first started going to see him.  Bobbie has a little boy and she has the sweetest smile and I just love her and Ashley, the Amazing Dr. M's other nurse.  They are just so very precious.  Beautiful young woman, amazing nurses and I am so honored to call them friends.  Allison went to get Bobbie and would not tell her why she had to come out to the waiting room.  But she came out, took one look at the three of us, Mary, Judy and myself, and she smiled.  Nervously, but she smiled.  I explained that I just wanted her to have first pick with the scarves, Allison laughed and ran off, her black scarf waving good bye in the breeze of her movements.  Bobbie picked the blue/green one.  I gave the same exact color to Ashley, and Bobbie had said that was the color she wanted.  Sure enough when presented with 10 choices she picked up a couple of them, but chose the blue/green one.  She was shy and smiled with pleasure.  She wrapped it around her neck and hugged me and hurried back to work.  I proceeded to slip in and out of offices delivering the soft warm scarves.  A turquoise and white one to Donna, she kept commenting on it when I was making it.   Another one to Stephanie, my scheduler, one to Esther in paperwork, a purple one and a green one to the ladies in the lab.  Pretty soon there was a buzz all around the center as all these ladies wore their scarves proudly around their necks.  It was just so precious and made my heart sing with joy. 

The visit went well with The Amazing Dr. M.  He said I am doing so well that he wants me to go see his friend who works with people who have Hepatitis C.  There has been an evolving treatment out there for years, but like chemo it has been a hard bitter pill to try and survive.  I have known others who went on the treatment and they were as sick as I have ever been on those early chemo treatments.  The Amazing Dr. M wants to see if they can come up with a treatment that will not cut into the quality of my life.  Thank you Dr. M, I do appreciate how you balance quantity and quality.  The Amazing Dr. M was so happy to see Judy and Mary and we just smiled and talked to the handsome intelligent man.  We commented on his hair cut.  He said his wife told him to get it cut.  Then Judy and I told Bobbie, Ashley and The Amazing Dr. M that we would like to invite them to come to see the Spring Murder Mystery in May on Judy and I.  They were thrilled.  We said they would have to coordinate to make sure that they all came the same night.  It will be so much fun having them all there together.  I hope we can all work this out. 

We left the Oncology Center happy.  Happy for the three of us to be together again.  And for all of us to be healthy and happy.  We drove home and each headed our own direction to get things down.  I made pecan praline gingerbread, one of my new favorites.  I hopped once again in the toy and headed up to Ron and Pat's for a gold selling party.  Then I pointed west on Hwy 19 drove west to visit Janak, Geeta and Baa.  Manju and Genevieve were also there and all the ladies joined together for a guided meditation.  Genevieve ran off to a yoga class after the meditation and the rest of us, joined by Janak sat down to a delicious dinner and a lively conversation.  I love the discussions with these people because they are so smart and well spoken and will generously discuss all types of issues with me.  I enjoy hearing their perspective, which is different than mine sometimes, but really not so different.  We all live with the same basic rules of kindness, joy, laughter, learning and living life to the fullest.  I drove home and reflected how very lucky I am.

Wednesday I worked at the Opera House.  Thursday I met with my new financial Advisor, who drove out to meet me.  After he left I decided that I really was not interested in driving my loom up to the Art League when I had been so busy with other projects and had not worked on my weaving since the class on Sunday.  I did drive up to meet with the other ladies and I enjoyed being at the Art League with friends.  It is always nice to be able to sit around with friends and talk.  I seem to do a lot of that lately. 

Friday I cleaned the house.  I am trying to get back on top of my little place.  For the last two years it has pretty much been pushed to the back of the list, and there are so many things that need taking care of.  But I find if I just focus on one project at a time it is amazing how many things end up getting done.  Just one bite at a time.  After lunch I drove over to pick up Carolyn and we drove into Tallahassee.  The ride along Hwy 90 is so beautiful in summer with the frilly crepe myrtles blooming on both sides of the road like ladies in waiting with their pink, purple, white, and rose colored dresses.  In the winter it looks like a road you could see in any state, bare, gray trees standing naked in area with the undergrowth brown and broken.  A stark beauty against the memories of the green and pastel flowers of summer.  We ran here and there picking up things, talking away.  Just enjoying two woman driving into town together.  Open to new ideas and always willing to try something.  Talking about our weaving projects, the Opera House, Garden Circle, and the Art League.

After we got back from town I met Manda and Falcon at Jack and Jan's to discuss the (un)wedding this Wednesday.  Wow, Wednesday, it is finally here.  They have been dancing towards this day for ten years.  It will be small but a dear affair.  Loved ones will gather together to share this moment.  I need to finish writing the service out.  I will be conducting the service and I want to keep it short and sweet, but to choose the rights words to mark the joy and love and happiness that everyone there will be sharing with these two remarkable young people.

Saturday I worked on my weaving and baked Chocolate chocolate chip everything muffins.  Come on, chocolate has anti-oxidants in it!  I also put flax, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, walnuts and coconut.  So not only were they tasty, but they were also full of healthy treats.  A little after 1:00 I drove north to Golden Acres where a beautiful and talented woman from FAMU was going to show people how to build a greenhouse out of recycled materials for less then $100.  I stood at the first gate and pointed people back to where the green house was to be built.  Bobbie did not get to come out and see everyone, she is still recovering from knee surgery.  Big gentle hug, Bobbie, it will get better.......soon, really it will.  Fred looked great and is recovering nicely from eye surgery.  More then half of the Garden Circle showed up to help, so once everyone was parked I left because there were just too many people crowded around together for me.  I was so happy to see what a nice group of people turned out.  I left and went over to Mary's where she and Judy were busy away practising lines.  I jumped in and started reading the other two small parts while Mary and Judy did the leads.  Judy is wonderful to watch work.  Mary was doing much better, but she still has so much to learn.  Not the big monologues.  She has those down pat.  No, it is the small lines like, "Hello, Hello", "Hello, Hello, I am here"  "Hello, Hello, what did you say?" kind of thing.  It is repeating just about the same lines over and over.  But if you do not get them right, then the cue for the other actors is not right and it is so easy to end up in a never ending circle when people get lost because of those silly little lines.  Ms Denise came over and all the men headed to the Glen Den to watch the FSU/Duke game.  I slipped away to get changed and ready to go to my second vegan dinner and meditation for the week.  This time at Ms Genevieve's.  

Carolyn drove over to my house and then I drove us down Hwy 19 to Hwy 27 and turned west toward the horizon already growing dark with dusk.  It was a small group of six woman who came for the vegan food and guided meditation.  We were a new group, but we all knew someone and it was short order before we were all talking and munching and getting into very in depth subjects.  And the honesty and humor had us laughing until our noses ran.  We went into the bedroom and sat with our backs to the beds, giving each of us a little privacy as we listened and responded to the Guides words.  After unfolding ourselves from the floor, we enjoyed more eating and then some sparkling grape juice and more loud hardy laughter.  It was after 10:00pm when Carolyn and I finally made our way  to the car and drove back through the dark night, ever watchful for deer standing along the grass beyond the road.  Beautiful creatures that could leap out in front of you in less than a moment's warning, wreaking havoc on an automobile.  Usually worse on the poor dear.  We made it home in the muggy winter's night safe and sound.  

Today I got up and did my Sunday morning ritual of hot tea, fruit and yogurt for breakfast as I watch the Sunday morning local news and then Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood.  I worked on my loom as I waited for oils and beeswax to melt on a slow warm stove.  I mixed flowers, rose petals, lavender and chamomile along with lemon peal  into the oils then made a hand moisturizer, that I am not sure about.  It has honey in it, which draws moisture into the hands, but it is tricky to get the right amount.  I also made a scrub with salt, sugar, honey and oils.  I will test market these on my friends and see if I can tweak the recipes, working and evolving them until I am happy with the recipe and then I can put together spa bags with soap, scrub, lip cream, moisturizer, massage oil and herbal tea for bath, shower or to pour out water over to make into a relaxing beverage.  I love trying new recipes in the kitchen.  So far I am happy with my 5 basic winter soap recipes and the lip cream.  The other two I am still working on.  

This afternoon I drove once more to town for the first rehearsal of The Fantasticks.  I have to give it to Melanie she has cast an amazing group of people.  We have two beautiful and talented young ladies splitting the part of Louisa.  I have to tell you I could not have chosen between the two.  Each one so amazing.  We also have a father son team of Dave and Jacob Smith.  I have gotten to work with Dave on a Radio Play with the Opera House Stage Company's 1940 Radio Show.  He played the part of The Shadow and Tonto in the Lone Ranger.  He is extremely talented.  And the apple fell straight down into the roots of these talented parents iinto Jacob.  This 11 year old has a better bio then I have and does the most amazing death scenes you could ever want the opportunity to witness.  He has at least one death scene in this production.  I am so looking forward to that.  The rest of the cast, four men, all amazingly talented and I so enjoyed getting to sit in and listen to them as they read through the play for the first time together.  We listened to the music for the show, they read their lines and and I sat quietly highlighting my parts as the muse, as the wall.  Our next rehearsal will be Thursday.

I ran though the grocery store picking up food for the week and food for the wedding and trying to keep so many different events straight in my head.  I rushed home and made it in time to see the last half of the fourth quarter of the Ravens/Pats game.  The Pat's won.  I am sorry, they are just not my favorite team.  The Raven's looked so good.  I can't believe it.  It was going to be so easy to tie the game, just one field goal.  Just. One.  Field Goal.  A field goal that was wide.  That is a lot of pressure.  Now the Pats will play the winner of the Giants/49ers game.  It is the beginning of the 4th quarter and the 49ers are ahead.  It is also a good game. 

And now I think I shall weave a bit more.  I have a very busy next several days.  Mostly Tuesday and Wednesday when I make the cakes and the flower bouquet.  I will also make some appetizers for the wedding.  I have a friend coming for lunch tomorrow and then by Tuesday I need to buckle down and bring everything together.  I also need to get more rest, we are in rehearsals.  I need to make sure not to tire myself out.  It has been a wonderful first three weeks of the new year.  Such delightful moments with sweet beloved ones.  Phone conversations, promises to stay in better touch.  Quality time spent with friends.   Working so hard to get all the scarves made and the reward?  Smiles and sweet hugs.  Life is great, and I am so happy to be in there participating.  Baking, knitting, weaving, driving, calling, talking, laughing, be amazed by so many talented people.

A busy week, filled with beloved ones, whether talking to on the phone, or sitting across the table from. It was also filled with great excitement when my interview with Jeff Pearlman on the Quaz came out. The Amazing Jeff Pearlman's Quaz.

Blessed Journy, Ms James

Yesterday, the extrodinary Queen of the Blues, Ms Etta James died.  We have lost one of the greats.  Let us all send her off with the song she is most remembered by. 

At Last, Etta James

In a little more then three minutes, such love, such sweetness, such passion
Play this for your love and celebrate that love in its simplest, most open and honest way

Blessed journey, Ms James, thank you for leaving that voice of an angel
the magic of the blue fairy
where wishes come true
thank you for leaving that music
behind for us
namaste

Jeff Pearlman

WOW!!!!  OH WOW!!!!!  Do I sound excited?  I am.  I recieved a comment from a Jeff Pearlman who asked me to contact him.  I may not be good about commenting on comments, but I read each one many times, and so I emailed Jeff and he got back with me and asked if he could interview me for his Quaz.

QUAZ?!??!!??

Yep, the Quaz.  And if Jeff and I sound like a mutual admiration club, well, yep, I think he is a wonderful writer.  I looked at his website and was impressed with his smart, witty, keen insight on his blog.  His photos crack me up and even when he gets political, I have not seen any meanness.  Just great writing and insightful questions.  I looked at the people he had interviewed and I saw all kinds of people.   Sports Stars, Entertainers, just people, all kinds of people.  So I said, Yes, I would love to be a part of the Quaz.

And Bam!!!  I am on the Quaz.  Please go and look, I am sure that you will want to add Jeff's site to your regular reading, even if you are not a sports nut.  Seriously, have I evoked any curiosity?  Go on over and check it out:

Jeff Pearlman's Quaz

or

http://www.jeffpearlman.com/the-quaz-qa-kathleen-osgood/
I know you will be as amazed at his insight as I was, and I feel so humble to get this opportunity.  I mean, my life is just so amazing!!!!!

Okay, lots going on, but I will talk about that later.  Right now, I am still floating from the Quaz.  Really, go there and enjoy!!!
Kathleen