It's still Rock and Roll to me...

How much better does it get? You've got the Piano Man and the Rocket Man. Bennie and the Jets and the Stranger. Only the Good Die Young and yes, the Bitch is Back. There were Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and a Funeral for a Friend.
Captivating! Amazing! Absolutely brilliant!
Seriously, I smiled (see above) all night long...and sang just about every word of each of these incredible performers' magnificent repertoire. And so did Allison. (Chock that up to really good parenting...)

I had seen Elton John three or four times before. I believe the last time was around 1977, with my parents and Gina at the Universal Amphitheatre. That evening holds a special memory in our family's history. It was the night we showed up at a concert with tickets to the previous nights' show. Crushed and devastated (and 14 years old) my dad purchased tickets from a scalper right there at the site...and we enjoyed the show tremendously. (Thanks Dad! That was cool!) My Dad LOVES Elton John, and Elton would not have disappointed him last night. Though obviously detouring from the very high notes he used to belt out, he delighted the audience with songs from 'the day.' I always tell people that I LOVE Elton John-"pre-Can You Feel The Love Tonight." He thrilled me by singing ALL my favorite songs, including Levon and Tiny Dancer, and by not singing ANYTHING from Lyon King.

And Billy Joel? I had seen him just about a year ago at the same venue. But this was a completely different show. Billy not only sang his seemingly ENDLESS stream of songs I love and know by heart...but he sang Elton's songs as well. And vice-verse. We were privileged to experience pianos being played at their utmost potential. Unbelievable!
The two capped off the night--THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER--with an incredible rendition of "Piano Man." There was not a person in the packed house that was not on their feet and singing every word at the top of their lungs.
Including me. And my daughter.
Seriously, how much better does it get?

Sing us a song, you're the piano men...

Allison and I will be there tonight!

Yo yo yo yo yoga...

I have been wanting to go to a yoga class for months. I don't know exactly what was keeping me. Fear? Insecurity? Uncertainty?
Oh yeah. All of the above.
I also thought perhaps I wouldn't fit in--that I would be a distraction! I am not the most limber person on Earth and I was afraid I might not be able to hold the positions or fall over! But so many of my friends have raved about the benefits of yoga--a toned body, loss of weight, increase in strength, amazing balance, and a sense of calm and well being--that I felt like it was time for me to try.
I desire all of those things. And more.
Here's the deal. I've absolutely run out of excuses to not exercise. I don't have anyone waiting at home for me. I don't have kids to cart around. My house is clean and my laundry is done. Actually I have nothing but free time. And I live a half mile from the gym.
And (from what I remember) I love being in shape!
So I went to Yoga class tonight.
My fears and insecurities were calmed immediately. I grabbed a mat and positioned myself in the back of the class. I began to stretch as I watched the people come in. I was not the largest person there, by far. I was not even close to being the oldest. And, once the class began, I realized that I was not nearly the least coordinated or inflexible. There was no pressure to perform, and, although I came close, I didn't even once fall over!
In fact, I did pretty well. It was an amazing workout and it felt soooo good!
So good, that I signed up to go to Pilates tomorrow morning.
...that is if I'm able to move.

Funny Face

I believe in pink
I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in kissing, kissing a lot.

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day
and I believe in miracles.
-Audrey Hepburn

Think 182

Things that crossed my mind today...

1. Both of my kids have Arnold Swarchenegger's autograph. On their college diplomas.
   
2. I never use a straw. Unless I am driving.
3. I understand why a person would give an ultimatum to someone who won't make a commitment.
4. I don't know how Lorilei resists kissing Luke.
5. I honestly do my best to live at peace with everyone.
6. I totally LOVE using every last drop of shampoo, lotion and toothpaste. I stand bottles on their head for days. And cut open the toothpaste tube.
7. I SO wish I had a garden. I really miss my roses. And my nasturtiums. I even miss the dusty millers.
8. The 100 calorie cookie packages have saved my life.
9. I have not been to Las Vegas since 1996. It might be time.
10. I love my friends who are (much) older than me. They never talk about being old.

Unpacking...

I have a thing for suitcases and have quite a few displayed throughout my home. They are symbolic of so many things to me---travel, adventure, a new journey ahead--and I love how you can close it up and take it with you. They also always remind me of how very little I really need when I go on a trip.
Having returned so late Monday night from Arizona, I didn't feel like unpacking when I got home. Instead, over the last few days, I have just been taking out what I need, as I need it...and then putting it away in the right place. The dirty clothes. My makeup. A couple of pair of socks. Last night I took out my jammies and a t-shirt. Today the last few items were taken out of the suitcase. Some were hung, some folded in a drawer, a few belong under the sink. My Camelback souvenir pennant and magnet are waiting on the kitchen table...I will find a place for them tomorrow.
Four days later, the suitcase is empty--the clothes and items from the Arizona trip finally put away. It will be ready to be filled again--with different items--when the next trip approaches.
I couldn't help but kinda see this as an analogy for my life. My 'suitcase' was full to the brim with stuff from my former life. Over the last four years I have slowly 'unpacked' all of this, being careful to put everything in its proper place. It's taken a little longer than I thought it would--and there are a few things that are not quite in the right place yet--but I'm getting there. Everything has been unpacked. The baggage has been handled, sorted, and put away.

And the suitcase is ready to be filled again. Ready for travel, adventure and new journeys.
I just need to figure out where I'm headed.

Nighttime sniffling sneezing coughing aching stuffy head fever so you can rest medicine

One thing I didn't plan on bringing back from Arizona was a head cold.

I used to tell people that I never get sick, but I have to admit, in the last few years, I get sick at least once a year. And I freaking hate it. I am not good at taking it easy or relaxing and I'm just not a rester (sorry Nana.) Oh sure, I take a nap in the afternoons once in a while...but that's only so I can go out at night! This forced laying on the couch--because my head is aching, my ears are plugged and I can't stop coughing for five minutes--is for the birds. It's driving me nuts.
Of course, I will remind you that I HAVE NEVER CALLED IN SICK ONE TIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE! That's thirty plus years of working. Through two pregnancies. And, lately, quite a few head colds.
And I'm not about to start now.
I'm doing the Day-Quil/NyQuil thing, drinking lots of water (with Emergen-C) and I swear I've sucked down a full bag of cough drops. I'm finishing up a bowl of Hot & Sour soup and am now seriously considering taking the medicine prescribed by all the guys I work with: a big shot of tequila.
They swear that one shot--(which you have to admit does assist in a good nights' sleep)--is just what the doctor ordered!
And, really...let's be honest...have you ever checked the ingredients in NyQuil?
Yep. Tequila and food coloring.
And, I swear tequila is cheaper.
I'll let you know how it works.

Relatively Happy!

I spent the weekend with these two beautiful women! They are my cousins, Robin and Sherri and they are absolutely phenomenal! We laughed, we cried (tears, tears, tears), told stories from the past and created a new tradition for the future: GOING TO SPRING TRAINING!!
I must thank these girls for providing me with one of the most enjoyable weekends of my lifetime!
Can't wait til next year!

Stairway to (more) Heaven

The last day of my Spring Training weekend landed us at the stairway to the Angels' Diablo Tempe Stadium. It was an absolutely spectacular day--weather wise, company wise, and, well, it was all about baseball!Yep, Manny played today. Bonus: my high school friend, Bill, lives in Phoenix and met Robin and me at the game!
Bill is a HUGE baseball fan too!
Greatest weekend ever.

Is This Heaven?

This was one of the BEST days of my whole life!! I literally CRIED tears of joy...it was a dream come true to be at a Dodgers Spring Training game!! Here are a few of my 82 pictures from today's experience at Camelback Ranch. My cousin's Robin and Sherri--true Diamondback Fans--even donned Dodger digs just for the day!

That's Robin's boyfriend, Dave and Sherri's husband, Mike who joined us in the adventure!

And what a BEAUTIFUL place! I don't think I have smiled so much since I was in Italy!
I was SO SO happy to be at Camelback!


Oh yeah, this is heaven...

I'm going to Camelback!!!!!

I don't think I have ever been so excited to go somewhere!!!
There will be photos.

Even more fun in Arizona!

Fun in Arizona!