Welcome!

A place for family and friends to see what I'm up to. Visitors welcome here.

Hail Guest, we ask not what thou art.
If Friend, we greet thee, hand and heart.
If Stranger, such no longer be.
If Foe, our love will conquer thee.
-Old Welsh Door Verse

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Manifestation...

...at its most fun.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Deborah's Theme

What if it were real?
 

What would it be like to have someone write a piece of beautiful music just for you?  I've had people write poetry for me, and as lovely as it is and as much as I appreciate it, it's really music that connects.

I heard a Morricone piece used as background in a youtube video and went searching for it to download.  Then started browsing other Morricone pieces and found this one.  Not often do I see my name - spelled as I spell mine - anywhere.  It's kind of an old name, not real popular anymore.  In fact, in twenty-one years of teaching (over 3500 students, half of them girls) I've never had a Deborah (or a Debbie or a Debi or a Deb).  Which is probably good.  It's a little girl name, one I was tired of by the time I was 14 (when I changed the spelling to Debi).

I fantasize changing it sometimes.  To something a grown-up would wear.  I like my middle name, my aunt's name.  But I guess once you've worn a name as long as I've worn this one...

So, I'm rambling.  I've done well lately, maintaining my good spirits.

Collecting feathers.

But life is changing, and sometimes lonesome lurks along the edges.  And all it takes is a lovely melody with my name on it to send me into wishfulness.

Where something better than lonesome stands not too far in the distance.  I can feel it.  A connection.  An excitement.  When the time is right.

Meanwhile, I count feathers.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

What an Artist.

Sara.


Waiting with my son at the Santa Barbara Bowl for the concert to start.  Feeling pretty proud that I was able to make the climb up.  The trek through the Oak Grove was lovely (but a tad steep).  Reward was several steep sets of stairs.  But, I made it!  Could not have done this - and would have missed this fabulous concert - just three years ago.  YAY, me!


 
 
Breaking the rule.  Yes, me.  Had to get at least one decent picture of Her on stage.  After a week of memorizing my newest theme song, "Chasing the Sun," Sara opened with a powerful arrangement of...
 
"Chasing the Sun."  I cried.  Brat son took a picture of me boo hooing that I hope never to lay eyes on.  (I do not weep prettily.)  Oh, it was moving.
 

This is how my Universe takes care of me.  I misread the map of the venue (haven't been there since the rennovations) and screwed up and bought tickets in the nosebleed section.  BUT, lucked out after all, as the people in the seats in front of me never showed up during Sara's set.  The people in the next row up didn't arrive until 3/4 of the way through the set.


We were invited to sing along with a couple of songs.
Yes, I sang along.  "King of Everything."  "All my life, I've tried, to keep everybody happy while I just hurt and hide waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn to decide."  You bet I belted THAT one.  "Let me hold your crown, Babe."
 
 
And to "Brave,"  which hit gold last week.
 
.
 
Ready for school tomorrow.
 
If I can get to sleep tonight.

Monday, September 09, 2013

The gift of my heartbeat...

...sounds like a symphony...


Can. Not. Wait.  to hear this tomorrow night.

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Nothing cuter...

...than baby tortoises.


Herbie and his little brother, Quincy.  Perfect little miniatures.  Except that they're squishy.  I am particularly fond of their tiny claws, which you can't see.  Oh, yeah, and the adorable bits of eggshell stuck to their noses.

I'm such a Disnerd.  When my son named the first one "Herbie," I immediately thought, "Yeah, well, I guess he does look a little like a Volkswagon."

It wasn't until Quincy that I realized these were jazz snags.

Still waiting on the rest.  Expecting between six and fourteen.

Really a thrill.

Sunday, September 01, 2013

How big can I smile?

Herbie is here.


 

Quincy is on his way.

Counting on at least six still to come.

Look at his tiny claws.  Herbie is not quite twice the size of a quarter.

Nothing cuter than a tiny baby tortoise.