Once In A Lifetime Celebration - Thanksgivukkah!

Wordless Wednesday - Hump Day

 

WEDNESDAY = HUMP DAY

Fa La La La La - The Sounds of the Season

Ho Ho Ho! It's that special time of year again.

♪♫  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas  ♪♫
Everywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store
But the prettiest sight to see, is the holly that will be

♪♫  On your own front door. ♪♫

I can hear the distant sound of tinkling jingle bells - smell the mouthwatering aroma of gingerbread - anticipate the twinkling colorful lights adorning every other home on my block.

Of course, it wouldn't be the holiday season without the start of those incessant advertisements everywhere you look - beckoning, pleading, guilt inducing the unprepared gift giver into parting with their hard earned dollars.

And how about those holiday carols(of which we know every word) blaring over the airwaves on local radio and drifting into our subconscious at our local Walmart?

But you know what? Though I hear the grumbles from my family, friends, coworkers and the media that it's all too soon, it doesn't bother me one bit. I've never let commercialism dictate how my family and I celebrate the holidays and special occasions.

See, I don't like pressure. Or stress. And I won't be sucked in by the Madison Avenue advertisers who strive to use their Jedi mind tricks on the weak minded and influence their buying decisions. 

I will shop where and when I want. Purchase the items I want, and not the items they deem that I can't live without. I'll put up decorations when I feel the time is right (and keep them up year round if I so please, thank you very much). I'll watch the holiday shows and movies when I'm in the mood (thanks to DVD's I'm not dependent on the scheduling decisions of some yahoos in Hollywood). I'll listen to the holiday music when I'm in the mood via either my CD's at home or bopping along in my car with the radio turned up to 10.

Because of my resolve, I bet you think I'm not a Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopper. And you'd be right! I look for bargains and shop year round. But mostly I'd rather bestow memories or provide help year-round than another meaningless chotzke, like - movie, show or sports tickets - trips such as ski weekends with our children - dates with friends - pay someone's bills (like the year I had my parent's oil tank filled) - adopting a needy family - donating to a worthy cause - newspaper and/or magazine subscriptions - giving a photo album full of cherished photos.

How about you? What's your take on this time of year and all the hoopla associated with it?

Help! I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up!

Not sure how or when it happened, but somewhere along the way (i.e. within the last 2 years, I think), I gave up caring how I look. Clothes, hair, nails, makeup, exercise... meh. It used to mean so much to me. I took lots of pride, not to mention time, in taking care of me. Now? Not so much. Argh and ugh.

 

It's not that I don't know fashion...how to zhuszh up an outfit. I studied fashion and design years ago and have been a haute couture admirer from afar ever since. Oh, and I'm a lifetime devotee to all things What Not To Wear and Project Runway. Never missed an episode. I bow to the alter of Stacy and Clinton and dreamed that someone would nominate me. But my sweetheart of a husband said it would never happen; I was too classy of a dresser, too pulled together. (His words, not mine.)

Honoring Those Who Serve - Veterans Day 2013





(Photo Credit: VA.gov)

 

It's days like these that are made for reflection. A time to stop...close the eyes...and think about all those fellow Americans who served this country, and those that are still active military, and how they protected and still strive to protect our freedoms. The freedoms we too often take for granted.

I think back to the first time I could really comprehend what it meant to be a veteran. What it meant to enlist. And the consequences of that decision. It was 1967. My mother received the call. Her nephew, my cousin, had been killed in Vietnam. She was heartbroken. But she didn't let her grief show. Instead she chose to let her support and love of the men and women serving in America's military shine.

Four years later, we said a tearful goodbye to my brother who graduated high school and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. We followed every news story, every headline...yearned for phone calls from my brother...waiting for the announcement that the war was over. I feared that he would face the same outcome as our cousin. I had nightmares. Fortunately, my brother never saw combat. However, he did go on to serve 30 years and retired from the military as the highest ranking enlisted Marine.

Health Care For The Music Community - Tune In & Tune Up

About a year ago I began volunteering with the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame ("RIMHOF"). RIMHOF is a "nonprofit dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and preserving the legacy of Rhode Island musicians, educators and industry professional who have made significant contributions to the national and Rhode Island music scene". I was initially partnered with one of the board members who had begun a very substantial project: constructing an online database that would keep track of all the venues state-wide that offered music performances. Within a few months, we were also including non-profit agencies and programs that pertained to music. My role slowly began to evolve and I took on more responsibilities within the community outreach program, such as keeping track of anyone who had expressed a role in volunteering for RIMHOF. I also assist with organizing quarterly meetings for the music community where they can discuss issues affecting them.

Recently, I was quite surprised and happy to be asked to join the board as an official member. I didn't hesitate to say yes! I'm very honored to be associated with a great group of people whose mission is to preserve and support Rhode Island music. All the members have spearheaded various meaningful projects, from an online archive to the community outreach program.

Which brings me to today. This weekend. And one of RIMHOF's newest projects, the health initiative, Tune In & Tune Up. Per the RIMHOF site:

TUNE IN & TUNE UP is the new health initiative of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. The program came about because Board members, many musicians themselves, were fed up with the lack of affordable health care options for the R.I. music community. We also fully understand how confusing and daunting it is to understand what may be available to you. If you are a professional Rhode Island musician or industry professional (soundman, engineer, roadie, tech crew etc.) OR the spouse of a musician or industry professional, sign up to become a member of the TUNE IN & TUNE UP program.

In the coming months, TUNE IN & TUNE UP will be offering seminars and workshops, soliciting retail outlets that will offer discounts to our members, and creating a web page (linked off of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame website) which will try to help you navigate and more easily understand Rhode Island’s health care & wellness options.

A quite worthy and very important endeavor!

To support and raise awareness of the
initiative, RIMHOF will be hosting the 2-day Unity Concerts. The fundraising concerts will be held this weekend at the Ocean Mist in Matunuck (South Kingstown), RI. The concerts will feature some of the best of what RI has to offer. Household names like, John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, Roomful of Blues and Steve Smith and the Nakeds. Up and comers like Kim Petrarca and The Brian McKenzie Band.

It's going to be a great weekend of great music!

 

To learn even more about the initiative and the concerts, visit fellow board member Herb Weiss' very informative blog post here.

I'll be heading down there momentarily to help in any way I can to make sure that this weekend is a success. Healthcare and coverage are very important to all of us in these current trying economic times, and especially vital to those who are under or uninsured. Music is so important to enriching our lives, feeding our souls. We owe it to ourselves to do what we can to keeping the music playing, keep our musicians healthy and support those special people who bless us with their musical talent.

Hope to see you at the Unity Concerts!! ♪♫♪♫

Wordless Wednesday - Hump Day Essential

FUEL

Wordless Wednesday - Red Sox - World Series Champions

2013 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS....YOUR BOSTON RED SOX

 

Who Would You Be? The Dream Police Want To Know!

Earlier this year I was outside on a sunny yet chilly day, trudging about 50' behind my husband as part of his "New Year's resolution 1-hour walk per day" proclamation. My iPod was blasting in my ears. Had my "work-out" playlist blaring. (It usually keeps my feet moving - albeit not as fast as my 6'2" husband with mile long legs...but I digress). 

There's some great rocking tunes with screaming guitars on my playlist but I found I really got moving during certain songs.

So as I was jogging along my mind wandered (as it sometimes does at times like those) and I started thinking about when I was younger ... I heard my first female rocker. I wanted to be the next-big-thing girl rock star. Like ... Janis Joplin. Pat Benetar. Joan Jett, Lita Ford (or any one of the Runaways). Suzi Quattro. (I'd even have settled for a semblance of the feisty Dolly Parton or Tammy Wynette.) I wanted to write great songs filled with musings, romance, conflict and angst. Like Karla Bonoff and Joni Mitchell and Loretta Lynn. Ah, dreams! And impossible fantasies.

Thought about where I am today. The vast differences in the lifestyle of my mid-life self and the rocker fantasy of my youth. What twists and turns kept me from being one thing and led me to a polar opposite life.

A good life. A happy, loving one.

I went down the home and family road. Gave up my single, waif little self and morphed into pleasingly plump Wife. Mom. And now grandmother. Set up house in urban suburbia. Graduated college after I had my kids (so I was a wee bit untraditional for some things!) Went the business route. Worked 9-5. 

And gave up my childhood dreams. Well, sort of. I still love my music. Never packed away my albums and 8-track tapes. Autographed posters and signed 8x10 framed glossies of famous performers adorn my walls. You'll still find me at concerts, though I've moved to a comfy chair in the back of the room. (These old bones aren't what they used to be!) And of course, I got involved on a local level by being on the board of directors for the RI Music Hall of Fame.

How about you? What was YOUR dream? What did you want to be when you grew up? However, if you happen to not be growed up yet ... what's your goal? Come on, you can tell me ... I won't tell anyone.

Happy Anniversary - Birth of a Blog!

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller

This week marks a monumental milestone for me. The anniversary of the birth of this blog.

This is my 140th post.

A lot has happened over this past year. Some really incredible, crazy, bizarre, never-saw-that-coming kind of things. And I've documented most of it right here. On Kate's Khronicles.

Along the way I've enticed some readers to come inside, sit a spell and take a look around. And those viewers left 351 awesome comments on my ramblings. It was nice to know that there was someone listening out there!

And would you believe...

Wordless Wednesday - Red Sox and the World Series

PLAY BALL !!

The Boys Are Back! Red Sox Strong!!

I'll admit it. In all honesty and full disclosure...I had written off the boys up at Fenway Park. As a lifelong diehard Red Sox fan, I was sorely disappointed with the reported shenanigans in the clubhouse. I used to be so proud of them...win or lose. It was how you played the game, right? It was how you conducted yourself and acted like part of the team...no "I" in team, right?

I just couldn't bring myself to care anymore. If they didn't, I reasoned, why should I?

Grandma - The Sweetest Name

I remember the day. The day you came into our world. The day that changed our lives forever. Eight years ago. When we went from being parents to .... duh duh duh ... GRANDPARENTS!

I'll admit. I was scared at first. And apprehensive. Me? A grandmother? I just couldn't see me fitting the mold. I'm youthful, ain't I? I'm not old, wrinkly and gray. (Well, maybe just a little white-ish ... ssshhhh! only you and my hairdresser are in on that secret!) People said I didn't even look old enough to have adult children. Now what would they say when I wear my grandparent badge?

I don't want to feel old. I want to keep my blinders on and believe I'm still young - vibrant - full of life - energetic .... oh I could go on and on....

A million thoughts and questions ran thru my mind. How will this change me? Will it alter the world's view of me? My view of the universe? Am I now ... gulp ... middle-aged? Am I ready for this new phase in my life?

I wrestled with my emotions while waiting your arrival. You represented such a big transition in my life, the structured comfortable world I was living in.

I remember the day. The day you came into my world. The day that changed my life forever. When I went from being a mom to a ... grandma. And oh, the joy that filled my heart the first time I held you in my arms, looked into your sweet blue eyes, gazed at your angelic little face. And then I knew. Everything was right in this world. Everything felt right about this new chapter in my life.

Today we celebrate your special day. But I can also celebrate my special day, too. The day I was given a very special title that I wear proudly ... GRANDMOTHER.

Happy birthday my precious grandson ... Grandma loves you!

 

Wordless Wednesday - Boston Red Sox

'nuff said

My Cinema - The Butler

Lee Daniels' The Butler.

I had been hearing a lot about this movie. A lot of good things. And since I love historical films, especially ones based on a true story, I knew I had to see this one.

I'm not sure I can truthfully say this was a fantastic movie, or one of the best I've seen. But it was good. And very, very interesting.

The premise of the film is the telling of the story of Cecil Gaines (convincingly played by Forest Whitaker). From a young black boy born as a slave in the turn of the century South to a prestigious position as a butler in the White House where he worked for 8 administrations. We watch as Cecil grows from a young sharecropper slave's son through the 1960's civil rights movement and on into the Reagan era of the 1980's. All the while, Cecil is a passive witness to history in the making from his point of view in the nation's capitol.

Wordless Wednesday - Viva! The Voice!

New season!

New singers!

Same good old time!

 

 

Wordless Wednesday - I'm Dreamin'....of Louis Vuitton

Someday....................................

My New Fashions - True Meaning of Fall = Shopping In Style

"October is the month of painted leaves.

Their rich glow now flashes round the world.

As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall,

so the year near its setting.

October is its sunset sky;

November the later twilight"   

- Henry David Thoreau

It's that time again...my favorite part of the year.

Apples. Pumpkins.
Pies and muffins.
Steaming cup of caramel mocha coffee. Hot spiced cider.
Colorful leaves. Hardy mums.
Football. Thanksgiving.
Warm sun. Crisp air.

And of course, Fall fashion!

Did you ever have your "colors" analyzed? Or wonder "what season am I"? Apparently everyone can be sorted into the 4 seasons. I've never psychoanalyzed myself that in depth - don't think I have to, I kinda already know I'm the north side of crazee.

But I digress....

My Backyard - Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI

Alternate title:    HANGING WITH A SLOTH

Do not adjust your screen...you read it right. We're going to be chatting about spending time with a sloth at one of the country's oldest wildlife parks - Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Once upon a time there were 3 little children. They begged and pleaded with their tired, worn-down grandparents to bring them to the zoo. "Puh-leeeeease?" they wailed over and over, day after day. Grandma and Papa heaved a heavy sigh in unison and knew they could not say no to those persistent little rascals.

The sun rose bright on the chosen day. And 3 excited smiling tots ran out the front door and piled into the family's station wagon for the quick ride to the see the wild animals that live in Providence.

Wordless Wednesday: Pause and Reflect

 

ALWAYS REMEMBER

My Rememberer Is Broke

My Rememberer

My forgetter's getting better But my rememberer is broke To you that may seem funny But, to me, that is no joke. For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering If I really should be 'there' And, when I try to think it through, I haven't got a prayer! Often times I walk into a room, Say "what am I here for?" I wrack my brain, but all in vain A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away Where it is safe, but, Gee! The person it is safest from Is, generally, me! When shopping I may see someone, Say "Hi" and have a chat, Then, when the person walks away I ask myself, "who was that?" Yes, my forgetter's getting better While my rememberer is broke, And it's driving me plumb crazy And that isn't any joke.

My New Chapter

♪ Turn the page... ♫

Have you ever picked up a new book and just couldn't wait to open it to the first page and begin the adventure? That's how I'm feeling.

♫ Start it up... ♪

Yes, time to get started. Rev up the tired rusty engines. Fuel up the empty gas tank. Put the career in "D" and zoom on down the highway. Towards my encore career. My new destination.

♪ I'm sooo excited...and I just can't hide it... ♫

My soul feels like singing! Haven't felt this way in a long, long time. Never thought I'd be so happy to say...

My Music - He Will Be Dave Davies

The infamous little green amp that put the rock in rock 'n roll and wonderfully changed the genre forever.

Photo Credit-Russ Fletcher (russhifi.blogspot.com)

 

David Russell Gordon Davies. Guitar virtuoso. Gifted songwriter. Founding member of the British invasion and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame quartet, the Kinks. And creator of that searing, crunchy distorted guitar chord heard round-the-world and in almost every rock song since the mid-60's.
                                                                                                 Photo Credit-Klaus Hiltscher

All the rock guitarists (and struggling wanna-be's) out there owe a lot to this pioneer. For if it wasn't for his frustration at not getting the sound he heard in his head out of that little amp that fateful day way back in the age of aquarius, where would music be? Would there be punk? Heavy metal? Dave Davies' latest retrospective homage to that music and life altering incident is included on his latest work of art, "I Will Be Me".

Wordless Wednesday - Golden Rule Days!

The countdown is over.

The big day is here.

Smiles on the faces of

grandparents everywhere!

My Backyard - Rosecliff Mansion, Newport, RI

Another day. Another mansion. And another happy day for this blogger!

Hubby and I grabbed a rare day off from grandkid duty and hightailed it out of our house. (i.e. NOT a mansion.) It was no surprise where we wanted to go. One of our fav places to head to on a bright, warm sunny summer day - Newport. The place just calls to us. The water. The sail boats. The food. The history. All of it.

First stop:  The Corner Café. If you're ever in Newport, for whatever reason, you've got to try this place. An unassuming little restaurant in the center of town. Maybe seats 40 diners? And almost always a wait. On this particular morning, we were told it'd be about 20 minutes. So we gave our name to the hostess and strolled down the sidewalk and down a side street. Just meandering and chatting. Enjoying picture-perfect weather that seemed to be tailor made for our spur of the moment excursion.

Wordless Wednesday - Kaanapali Kate

Fine form ... um, no.

Fun ... yes!

Beautiful Kaanapali Golf Course in Maui, Hawaii.

 

 

Fine form ... um, no.

Fun ... yes!

 

 

A hula girl is born in Honolulu !

 

 

May - 2007

My Backyard - 6 Reasons to Love the Pawtucket Red Sox

Baseball. It's part of our heritage. As American as apple pie.

Peanuts. Cracker Jack. 

Balls and Strikes.  Gloves and Bats.

Three Outs.  Nine Innings.
 

I love the game. All my friends and family know I'm a lifelong fan. I've been to many a ballgame, both in my backyard and around the country. Nothing like kicking back and enjoying a bit of Americana on a warm, summer afternoon.

 

The stadiums the boys of summer play in vary from city to city. Small quaint historical playing fields like Fenway. State of the art contemporary Marlins Park. Each team puts its own local flavor on their home. Though I've enjoyed games in many minor and major league parks, in my opinion one of the best places to watch the old pastime lies only a few miles from my hometown. In Pawtucket. McCoy Stadium. Home of baseball's longest game. Home to the AAA minor league affiliate for the best team in the majors, the Boston Red Sox. The reigning International League Champs.

The Pawtucket Red Sox.

My Music in My Backyard - Rockin' The Blues

Mixing things up today. Gonna get a little wild and crazeee. Get ready...I'm combining 2 of my fav blog topics: Music and Backyard. Whoa! Hope I didn't lose you there...hold on...you'll be fine.

Recently I got to enjoy some good ole time rock 'n roll at a local venue I had never been to before (but have been wanting to visit after hearing some really promising reviews).

Thanks to the generosity of NBC10 WJAR-TV, I won tickets to the "Rock 'n Blues Fest" at Park Theater in Cranston, RI. The show starred rock, blues and veteran Woodstock performers and bands: 

1. Canned Heat
2. Pat Travers Band
3. Rick Derringer
4. Edgar Winter
5. Ten Years After

What a lineup! What an exciting show! And what a nice theater!

Hold my hand...its time to step inside the way-back machine...groooovy...................

Wordless Wednesday - New England Patriots

Are you ready for some football?!?

 

Oh yeah!

Wordless Wednesday - Return to Sesame Street

♪♫

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

♫♪

Come and play
Everything's A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That's where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

♪♫

 

Thanks to the small fry who live with me, I've rediscovered Gordon and Olivia, Big Bird and Oscar, Bert and Ernie and all the other residents of that iconic roadway.

 

Comforting to know that the land of muppets, cookie monsters and (my personal fav) Super Grover is still there to entertain and educate a new generation in such colorful, sing-songy style.

 

 



My Cinema - Despicable Me 2

I don't care if you're 3 or 93. You will LOVE the new movie, "Despicable Me 2"!

It's laugh-out-loud hilarious! Thoroughly entertaining! And, believe it or not, better than the first.

And don't be scared off if you never saw its predecessor. You'll be able to follow the storyline in the sequel without having seen it. (And if you didn't see the first one, what is wrong with you? Go rent it NOW!)

 

My grandkids were very vocal about keeping me informed about when the movie would debut in our local theater. (The repetitive commercials and saturation of the marketing blitz for the movie were quite helpful in that regard.) And on the BIG day, we found ourselves sitting in a dark theater with 3 eager, excited little ones. Popcorn in hand. Waiting for the lights to dim.

As soon as the screen lit up with the opening scene, I could sense the joy emanating from those little bodies sitting next to me in the dark.

Despicable Me 2 picks up where the first movie left off. After retiring from his vocation as a villain, we find Gru (superbly voiced by Steve Carrell) making an honest living (cooking up home-made jelly...imagine!) and adjusting to being the father to three precocious little girls. He's recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help them find out who's stolen a formula that threatens civilization. After mulling it over and how it'll affect his new family life, he teams up with Agent Lucy and sets off to find out who's behind the evil plot. To compound the situation, unbeknownst to him, his minions are being kidnapped as part of the unknown villain's secret devious plan.

Ah, those crafty little, crack-me-up, twinkie-clone minions. The real stars of this movie. They steal the show! My grandkids are obsessed with them. (And I think some adults are, as well.) How can you not love them?!? I sure hope they get to have their own movie someday. (But think about it...there'd be no dialogue. It'd have to have sub-titles. No one can understand minion-speak...can they?)

(p.s.  Be on the alert: the use of words like "poop" and "fart" abound. If your kids are anything like my grandkids, i.e. perfectly normal, they will be repeating these words and laughing hysterically!)

The characters are well written. The writing uber-funny with the requisite important moral. Animation colorful. The film moves along at a nice clip that keeps the audience thoroughly engaged from beginning to end. (And please, do NOT leave until ALL of the credits roll by; some of the funniest bits are at the end!) Just brilliant!

Won't tell you anymore because I hate spoilers and don't want to ruin your enjoyment of the film. If you haven't seen it, head to your nearest theater; I'm sure it's still playing.

Get ready for an afternoon of laughs thanks to a great feel-good movie and those lovable little minions.

MINIONS ASSEMBLE!

    

My Backyard - Oakland Beach, Warwick, RI

Have you noticed how life seems to always bring things 'round full circle?

When I was little, money was tight. Eight children seriously narrowed the options of where my folks could take us on outings. One usual excursion in the summertime was a 30-minute jaunt in our trusty old station wagon to Oakland Beach in Warwick, RI.

Ok, full disclaimer, for those who've never been to Rhode Island. Yes, we're called the "Ocean State". And I'm pretty sure that would lead most people to envision miles and miles of white sand Caribbean-style beaches. Um...no. While there are a few beaches that are pretty nice, they wouldn't be described as tropical-like.

Oakland Beach is more of a "diamond in the rough". As in its a bit rough around the edges. A little stretch of sand along a bay inlet.

Let me explain...

My Backyard - If It's 5:00 On A Friday Night It Must Be Time For...The Providence Children's Museum!

News Flash! Friday night all-nighters? Concerts? Parties? Clubbing?

Gone.

My time is now dictated by the wants and needs of the under 4' set. Since they're living with me, and I'm still not working and money is uber tight, I'm on a mission to find free or low cost activities to keep the grandkids busy. And me? Sane.

So far we've spent time at a playground a few blocks from home. We've also been to a huge park in a neighboring town that has a dog area, vintage carousel, top-notch play equipment, some gentle farm animals and a yummy ice cream stand. We've enjoyed some movies, both at the early low-cost matinee and an outdoor movie at the park ("Yogi" - kids had never heard of the pic-a-nic basket snatching bear but thoroughly enjoyed it!). They also enjoyed a day at a local state park swimming in a crystal clear fresh-water lake. They stayed in for hours!

But we need more ideas....

My Empty Nest Has Filled Up Again

Wordless Wednesday - Prince George Alexander Louis

Welcome to the world, little prince!

 

What a beautiful family!

 

 

I Really Should Have Listened to Oprah

I used to love watching the Oprah show. Every afternoon. I'd rush home from work, snap on the little color tv in the kitchen while whipping dinner together for the kids. Just in time. For an hour of power. A time of wisdom and clarity amid the hustle bustle of being a working mom.

Oprah had a way with words. A turn of phrase. And one of her favorite sayings has become one of mine:

WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE...BELIEVE THEM.

 

Usually when some deep, meaningful kernel like this drips from Oprah's lips I am totally onboard. As she says, a true "Aha Moment". And I try to bear it in mind in all facets of my life.

 

But recently I realized that I had failed. I neglected to keep the above wise words front and center in my brain. And it came back to bite me in my wide backside.

 

Someone close to me had been showing me for a while who they were and I did not believe them. Instead I projected what and who I wanted them to be onto them. Clouding my eyes. And my perception of them.

 

Now they have shown me who they really are and my eyes have been opened. Wide.
 

Why am I surprised? Hadn't I seen the signs? They'd been there all along.

 

No. I wanted to believe. That's how I roll. I always want to believe that there's inherent good in the hearts of everyone. So I wanted to believe they were honest, kind and loving. That even though we came from different worlds, different generations I accepted them. Warts and all. We didn't always agree on music, books, movies, fashion, whatever, But I thought for sure we were on the same page when it came to family. Love. Trust. Loyalty. I thought we were friends.

 

I pushed aside my suspicions. And that was wrong.
 

I don't think I'll ever understand the choices people make. But I truly do understand even more the wise words from my tv mentor, Oprah:

 

WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE...BELIEVE THEM.

 

 



Wordless Wednesday - The Night the Light Went Out in Florida

This isn't what you think. This is about a beautiful young lady, whose life was cut short far too soon. But its amazing how much she accomplished in such a short amount of time. Her ever-present smile was blinding - her spirit uplifting - her enthusiasm infectious. I never had the pleasure to meet her but feel blessed to have known of her. To hear her speak, to read her words. To feel her warmth, energy and positivity.

RIP sweet little angel. Thank you for coming into my life. You will not be forgotten.

Wordless Wednesday - Born on the Fourth of July

My father's birthday is on July 4th.

When I was younger I thought everyone was celebrating his special day.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday, America!

 

 

Restoring My Faith in Major League Sports - When Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Two recent events involving two of my favorite local sports teams have left me speechless. Mouth agape. I mean chin-hit-the-floor kinda reaction. I know what you're thinking? You? Speechless? Unbelievable!

But come on, hear me out now.

The first involves an incident that truly shocked everyone who heard about it. A young, talented, highly paid football player for the New England Patriots was arrested for...MURDER! So bizarre. He's accused of murdering, execution style, a close friend. Wow...just wow. (If that's how he treats friends, I bet his enemies must be quite relieved he's locked up...no telling what he would have done to them.)

And then...the part that impressed me...

My Backyard - Seeing the World Through Helen Keller's Eyes

Inspirational. Amazing. Extraordinary.

So many words to choose from to describe Helen Keller. A woman who changed the world, changed how the world looks at and treats the visually and hearing impaired. A woman who personified hope, strength and determination.

I've been a fan of Helen since I first heard her story when I was a young girl. I was mesmerized with her tale, her struggles, her triumphs.

Now as an adult I decided to re-visit her story. And come to understand her in a different light. From an adult perspective.

Wordless Wednesday - Me and Herb

Me and Herb Brooks celebrate our first meeting last year in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Luv my hockey!