Don't Pee on the Bee

The Hills Are Alive

So that whole re-entry from vacation to real life is still going on!  First, J.R. got up at 3:20 a.m. to go to work, and of course, he wakes me up to give me a kiss.  He heard on the radio awhile ago that men who kiss their wives in the morning live longer, so he doesn't care what time he kisses me, he's going to do it!  Then JJ woke up at 4:43 with a bad dream, and nothing was working on getting him back to sleep, so he laid in his bed and read and never went back to sleep.  Then Sarahwoke up at 5:30 with a bad dream.  I laid down with her for a few minutes and swear she was asleep!  But the minute I get out of her bed, her eyes pop open, and she started yelling at me for getting out of her bed.  Left her there and moseyed out to the livingroom to try and do some yoga.  Opened the front door for some fresh air, and right at 6 a.m., the dog started barking at some mystery creature in the bushes.  Pause yoga.  Go outside and get the dog.  Put him the garage.  Resume yoga.  Sarah comes out and starts yelling at me again for "sneaking out of my room" when she went to look for me.  Apparently she wanted to get in bed with me.  All this before 6:20!!!

But now JJ is at school, and Sarah is watching Sesame Street.  I'm trying to do my laundry--since everyone else's was done Sunday and Monday!  And I'm trying to get some computer time in along with phone calls and emails!

But now the good news!  As I was surfing, I read that Oprah is going to reunite the entire cast of The Sound of Musicon her show on October 29th!  I kid you not that people who commented on this were crying because they can't set their DVR that far ahead!  This is a HUGE thing!  Apparently it has not happened in 45 years!  I, for one, doalready have my DVR set!  I decided to record all of Oprah's shows for this season since I'm sure some of them will be good.  I haven't watched any yet.  Deleted most of them but saved a few for one of those days when only some Oprah will do.  But I will definitely watch this show!

For those of you who don't know this, The Sound of Music is truly one of my most favorite movies!  My mom took me in 3rd grade to a showing of it at a local movie house. It was one of those one-time showings, and it was really a big deal to me.  I got to stay up late that night and go somewhere special with only my mom.  She bought me the 20th anniversary edition--in VHS!!!--when it came out.  And when I traveled to Europe in my 20's, I went to Austria specifically because of the movie.  My husband thinks I am a total geek!  But I did make him and my step-daughter watch the movie a few years ago.  He thought it was completely corny, but his daughter was happy that I made her watch it.  So there!

And as crazy as this might sound, having heard this news has made my morning a bit more bubbly!  Pardon me while I scoot outside, burst into song and twirl around!

My Postscript to A Bittersweet Morning

As we left the house yesterday morning, embarking on our adventure for the day, we were listening to one of two CD's that my kids are totally addicted to at the moment.  Both are from Putamayo Kids.  The one we were listening to is called Animal Playground.  We've listened to this CD more times than I can count, and each child has their favorite song.  Sarah's has always been "Eagles."  Check out how appropriate these words were--or are!--for yesterday and today!  For a quick listen, click here and then click on song #11 to hear Terri Hendrix's song.

If you wanna fly with eagles, son
You need to learn to live your life like one
Look at what I’m doing
Look at what I’ve done, done, done
If you wanna fly with the eagles son

I love you little baby, but I’ve got to let you go
You’ve taken and you’ve taken
Now you’ve stopped to grow
I’ll watch over you as you fly, fly, fly,
But little baby, I can’t be your sky

And when you see that horizon
Believe in what lays beyond
And when you feel nothing but confusion
The wind against you can be used to fly on
You gotta fly
Fly on

You can plan and plan or you can just do
You gotta dig in deep, you gotta find your groove
Sing to your rhythm, mama
Sing to your pain, pain, pain
Let nobody take your voice away
No, no

I love you little baby, but I’ve got to let you go
And it’s hurting me worse than you will ever know
But eagles do as eagles have done, done, done
When they want to fly with the eagles son

You’re gonna fly fly fly
Fly fly
You’re gonna fly fly fly|
Fly fly
You’re gonna fly fly fly
Fly fly
Away.

So here we are . . . flying to school . . .

And for those of you who are wondering, no, I did not cry.  Well, I did tear up when JJ's teacher started playing the guitar.  (J.R. just rolled his eyes at me!)  Music will get to me every time!  Obviously.

The Amplifiers of Human Emotion

Funny how things stream in and out of our lives at different times.  Things like music.  Friday I posted about my listening to my cousin on the radio.  And Saturday night we went and heard them perform.  And all during this time, JJ has decided to play the piano.  He has been  playing the same few notes in a very melodic way.  It has been really neat to listen to him.  And he is always so proud of his songs when he is done!

As I was going through Viamagazine, AAA's travel magazine, I saw a short blurb about the Musical Instrument Museum that will be  opening on April 24th in Phoenix, Arizona.   There will be over 3000 instruments on display from all over the world.  They even have the Steinway upright that "Imagine" was written on by John Lennon.  Kind of cool!  There are headsets and videos throughout the museum and also a gallery where visitors can play some of the instruments.  If I was headed to Arizona, I would definitely check this place out!

Check out the MIM website for some global music and a really neat video about the museum and  music around the world.  During the MIM video, musical instruments are described as "the amplifiers of human emotion."  And I'm sure that many of us have heard that music is the language of the soul.  But one question that comes up in the video is this:  If music is the common language of us all (all cultures have music), then why are there so few people who are blessed with the talent of music?

Misner & Smith--Or as The Doobies say "Listen to the Music!"

Here's a  bonus post for the day!  I was just listening to KVMR and heard my cousin and his girlfriend intereviewed.  They also played quite a few songs since they are in the Grass Valley area for the weekend to perform their music.  Take a listen!  They are really good!  They sang "Poor Player" during the interview.  Check it out!  It's so crazy to realize that we are all grown up and doing things besides just playing at our grandma's house!  Way to go, Sam!  And Megan!

The Blues

The other night we went to dinner at one of my favorite local restaurants.  Besides having fabulous food, they also play fabulous music.  As the kids were coloring, and J.R. and I were actually having a real conversation, I stopped everyone and asked, "Whose singing this song?" to my kids.  Both of them perked up their ears, and then JJ grinned and enthusiastically said, "James Taylor!"  Ah, it does a mama's heart proud!  It wasn't even one of his hits, but JJ knows his voice, having been steeped in James Taylor and The Doobie Brothers while in the womb.

And as a side note, for those of you you don't personally know me, I mention James Taylor in the hopes that one of these days, the six degrees of separation will kick in, and somehow I will get to meet the man--again.  (I'll save that story for a day with nothing going on!)  My daughter, Sarah Maria, is named for an old song of his from the Gorilla album, probably still my favorite of his.  So suffice it to say, we are all fans!

But back to the restaurant . . . another song came on a few minutes later, and JJ was rocking out while coloring.  I said, "This kind of song is called 'the blues.'"  Sarah said, "Like my dress," as she stood up and lifted her dress.  "And like your shirt," as she pointed to my shirt.  "And like my panties," as she pulled down her leggings and shows off her, yes, blue panties.  It's a good thing that things like that don't give her mama the "Blue Pantie Blues!!!"

Oh so Wicked!

I had a fabulous getaway weekend!  Thanks to my mom for planning all of it to the perfect T!  And thanks to my wonderful husband who's motto is:  "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"   Friday morning I headed down to the Bay Area with a few stops along the way, seeing friends and a tad bit of shopping.  And then on Saturday, my mom, my aunt, and I headed to The City and saw Wicked which was spectacular!  (Wicked is a musical that tells "the untold stories of the witches of Oz."  It was originally a book written by Gregory Maguire and begins long before Dorothy lands in Oz, when the witches were young girls.)

What is it about the theater that is so transporting?  I guess you need to be the kind of person who enjoys it in the first place, and I am truly one of those people.  My eyes frequently well up with tears at a musical or play, not necessarily because of the story per se, but usually just because of the beauty of the music or the emotion on the actors' and actresses' faces.  And then, of course, the storyline will get me from time to time!  Those universal themes of good vs. evil, love conquers all, etc.  Isn't it amazing how they still prevail in spite of the differences between this modern era and the past?

The unique storyline of Wicked really got me thinking about how quickly some of us make assumptions about others without knowing the back line of their story.  Years ago I read a book by Don Miguel Ruiz entitled The Four Agreements.   One of the agreements struck me then and is relevant again today: Don't take anything personally.  It's not about us.  The way a person reacts has to do with their own story, not ours.  When I actively engaged in that process, very little bothered me.  And somehow this now feels linked to Wicked in that the story that we know about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz takes on a completely different perspective if you've seen Wicked.  I've got to borrow this book from a friend of mine now, just to really dive into some of those details!

I hope that something in your weekend transported you--even for a moment--out of your day-to-day routine!  I highly recommend it!