Valentines Day, no surprise

As sad as it is to say sometimes, my husband is not and never has been a romantic of any kind. Zip, Nada, Ziltch. In other words, we don’t do Valentines Day. I don’t even think he remembers when our anniversary is, since he’s never said anything after all of these years.

All this has caused me not to even try to make any plans or even attempts at trying to go out of my way with cards and such for him. It’s not really out of my way, but I don’t think it would mean anything. So, instead…I still get Valentines and candy and such for the kids, despite they are nearly all grown. Just something a little special.

When they were small, I’d make cookies and decorate them, and get balloons and have party with cake and Valentines. Now they all have plans it seems and so I just make supper for who ever happens to be home, and call it good enough. I might start volunteering at the school for the 1st and 2nd grade classes. Little kids still really like holidays and I think it might be just what I need to pick up my spirits.

What is on your mind?

Have you ever considered writing your own blog, but didn’t think that you would have enough to write about to make it worth anyone’s while? Have you become disillusioned with social media sites like Facebook? Have people on Facebook written nasty comments to you in response to you voicing your thoughts? I know I have been quite upset over the number of people on Facebook that take great delight in “trolling” other people. I really don’t think that was the original intent of a social media platform, do you?

The people at the On My Mind Daily website must have gotten tired of the social media trolling, too. I think that is why they decided to create their website. Their website allows people to vent, or express their thoughts and opinions, without having to sign up for an intrusive Social Media account, and without having to create their own blog. I was looking at their website a few minutes ago, and read a few of the posts that they have on their current home page.

As I was reading the article, I started to think about how many times I have wanted to “sound-off” about something, but did not want to put it on Facebook, or here, on my blog because I did not want to deal with being blacklisted, or trolled. I think I just MIGHT actually contribute an article or two, myself!

Picnic and Fireworks

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays because the family always goes down to the elementary school for the town celebration. The fire department sells grilled chicken dinner with potato chips, corn on the cob and cole slaw, there are several local bands playing music to provide entertainment, and when it gets dark the fire department sets off a pretty decent fireworks show. We get to see some of our friends that we haven’t seen in a while, spread a blanket out on the lawn and enjoy the nice weather.

A guitar with three necks

I was watching a YouTube video a few minutes ago featuring a performance on a guitar that has three necks. The musician playing the guitar is a man named steve vai. I hate to admit that I have fallen “behind the times” when it comes to recognizing the names of the current names of younger musicians and bands – I guess that is the price you pay when you are working full time, (with overtime) taking college courses at night, and raising kids, too! Anyway, I was surprised to see a guitar with three necks! The musician sure seemed talented! I had to wonder if he ever watched himself on video after he plays – he was making some really funny facial expressions that made me laugh! I wonder if he does that on purpose.

Baby shower

A very close friend of mine has a daughter that is about to have a baby and we mothers got together and threw her a baby shower. She got some really nice gifts for her baby which is due next week. She is going to have a baby girl and has decided to name her Savannah, that is a very old fashioned named for these times but I really like it. I hope if she has another child she does not name it Dallas or Tulsa.

Early Fall

Waking up this morning, I literally was shivering and had to turn on the furnace to get the chill out of the air. Looking out the back yard, I could see what I thought was frost on the grass. Of course, I didn’t go outside to check it out, but this 53 degree weather is a far cry from the 110 degree weather of two days ago. I’m not looking forward to the weather changing cold.

With the fall, come my favorite holiday, Halloween! The stores aren’t wasting any time getting the Halloween displays out either. They started that last month. There is even a Halloween store that opened up in town before the kids were back in school.

Time to start my projects! I should have started on costumes a long time ago, instead of figuring I had more than enough time. I’m mainly sticking to making masks and a costume or two for those who have already commissioned me. So much to do and so little time.

Kids went to Camp Chateaugay and brought home some awesome summer camp pictures

First of all I had no idea what to expect with a summer camp for my two boys. I have two sons age eight and ten and they have never been to a summer camp before. But if you have two boys around that age you know that sometimes summer can seem very long as your nerves wear thin and your patience runs out. It’s not their fault it’s just, well they’re crazy boys and they need to get that energy out. So I bring you summer camp!

 

We looked around at a few camps online, checked out pictures, read reviews, talked to neighbors and checked on what kind of activities each one offered. We decided to go with Camp Chateaugay on one of the Adirondack Lakes in upstate New York after talking to the owners Hal and the assistant director Kirsten. They were both very nice, knowledgeable and had quite a bit of experience with both kids and camps.

 

Talking to the owners put my husband and I at ease and we took the kids up to the camp this past summer. They absolutely loved it and did not want to leave. They shared some of the awesome summer camp pictures that they had taken and it looked like they had an absolute blast. It was well worth the money spent in my opinion. I only wish I had found Camp Chateaugay a few years ago because if so it would have kept my sons busy with fun and kept me sane with some free time to get things around here done.

Elvis Presley is and always will be the King

It took me a while to warm up to Elvis Presley. C’mon I’m just being honest. When I was younger I felt like I couldn’t fully embrace him because he was from my parents generation. Well it didn’t take long for the music to take a hold of me after my parents constantly played it on the old turntable. And the more I learned about Elvis and what he accomplished coming from nothing the more I started to dig him as a persona and more importantly his music.

Presley’s rise to national attention came in 1956 and as soon as he popped up he transformed the field of popular music and had a huge effect on the broader scope of popular culture. As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll, he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of youth culture and rebellious attitude. I can remember hearing about his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and the camera would only show Elvis from the waist up because the censors considered his dancing to be too wild.

Elvis was notorious for giving credit for his musical influence to many black rock and roll and jazz performers before him. And rock and roll’s occupation of a central position in mainstream American culture facilitated a new acceptance and appreciation of black culture because of Elvis’s music. Little Richard even said famously that “He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music.” His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. And in my option, like him or not, that makes Elvis Presley pretty darned rock and roll.

A Personalised Birthday Party

My grand daughter will be turning 10 in August, and my daughter and I got together to discuss what we could do to make this birthday super special. My daughter had surfed the internet for ideas and came up with some great ideas on how to personalise with the birthday child’s name and age. This would be so special for my grand daughter as ten years old is a rather tough in between age.

This site is fun, and has all kinds of great gift, school and party ideas with the special touch of everything being personalized. My daughter and I want to get the party favors, napkins, cups, and plates for cake and ice cream all personalised , just for her. I really think she would like it. And of course key word here are “personalised” and there are great gifts that can also be ordered. There are labels, that can be put into clothing, shoes, hats and gloves. I thought the pencils with names were cute and of course kids would like them for school, and they wouldn’t get taken.

Lately my grand daughter has been writing her name on everything from her shoes to stationary and books that she loves and has in her small library. The labels and other gifts would be perfect for her and also it is such a unique idea! She’d be the first to have a personalised party, which at that age is important since she’d be “one up” on her friends! All said and done, I’m sure this would catch on quickly after the party we have for her! Now we have sort of thought of a theme for the party, we have asked my grand daughter how many friends she would want to come to her party, and I have a feeling we are going to have lots of little girls who will tell their parents about the personalised  items we are planning on getting!

Ripped pool liner

While getting ready to open the pool, everything was nearly done but once it started filling with water I realized that the liner had a tear in it and I was loosing water faster than I could ever have imagined once the water got nearly three feet deep. I had once heck of a time draining the  pool and trying to find the leak. And standing in ice cold water up to my knees as it drained made my legs numb.

I was about ready to hang up this project and save it for another day, when my daughter called. She was using a service to open her pool, and since her husband is friends with the guy doing it, she said she was sending a pro to me!

The liner wasn’t as bad as I thought and the guy who came out, had some super good stuff to patch it up. He said it would last though the summer and even gave a guarantee, which surprised me. Now I hope that the ground will absorb all the water that leaked out, and it’s not so marshy out in the back yard. Still…I’m so happy I have a thoughtful daughter who’s husband knows people!