RRRRRRRR! You got it. Spring is predictable; ok, I should say that March is predictable, Spring is not. Yesterday, I took in a fantastic walk around the park with temperatures around 50 degrees. Today, we awoke to blowing snow and temperatures hovering around 30. But it's spring, it's Nebraska and it's March 31. March came in beautifully, if any of us can remember back to March 1. So, it would only make sense that it's going to go out with a bang. Why complain? The weather will level out, be more consistently gorgeous and we'll have plenty of time to enjoy it... in the meantime, hold off on your garden "To-Do" list and enjoy the serenity of doing NOTHING!
S and I had the most delightful visit with T & S last night... A lovely couple who have 4 four-legged's that they call 'kids.' 2 cats, 2 dogs (really overgrown puppies who haven't calmed down yet). And wonderfully, they live not too far from us. I think I might have found a nearby walking partner to drag outside in the great weather.
So... we've been here 6 months, hard to believe; as it's really seemed like forever; due to how quickly we acclamated to our surroundings and dove into the community. And it's been 6 years since our first date. Again, it seems like so much longer that we've been in each others lives; and yet, it's just a fraction of our time on earth... but so many years to come is the excitement that lies ahead.
This post really has very little purpose except to defend Mother Nature and everyone who's giving her a bad reputation for being so brutal after such lovely spring days... but that's what we get. And we should be prepared... our snow shovel is STILL on the front porch. Never know!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Projects
That word can bring a smile or a snarl to your face, in my family. It either implies you're on the doing end; or the 'listening' end of the project. Still unclear?
When my mother says, "Ooooh, I have a new project to do." It usually involves wood, fabric or paint. And it can EASILY involve all three. The woman is one of the most creative women I know... she can envision an idea in her head and then manage to not only put it on paper; but execute it RELATIVELY close to the original sketch. Amazing. And her ability to paint small details is much better than my 'stay in the lines' coloring that I can crank out.
So... my crafts have also been given the title of "project." And for most accounts, the title fits. My current projects include knitting, cross-stitching and playing with the Cricut machine that I was given for Christmas from S & S. It's way fun; and not only have I loved working with it to make my scrapbook look 51% professional; it's been a great way to liven up gifts and bare walls. What more fun could you have with contact paper, than writing out your favorite sayings and putting them throughout the house?
Ok... Cricut, what is it, you ask? Pronounced: Cricket www.cricut.com (or grasshopper, if you're my husband who finds it funny) is a die-cut machine which enables you to use various cartridges to cut out hundreds of shapes in sizes up to 24". You can cut fabric, paper, vinyl, chipboard, photos or who knows... possibilites are endless! It's pretty fun and rather easy to operate. It keeps you from buyings a million letter stickers for your scrapbook; or vinyl letters from companies, for home decor.
At Christmas, I used it to decorate glass bricks as well as glass ornaments. Who knows what I will have learned by next year.
So... projects ensue at the house, it keeps us all happy... I stay busy, or atleast always dreaming up something I could do with the new machine, or watching the cross-stitch take shape, stitch by stitch; and the rest of the household just stays out of the way and puts in their 2 cents, when requested.
It's a happy day for all!
When my mother says, "Ooooh, I have a new project to do." It usually involves wood, fabric or paint. And it can EASILY involve all three. The woman is one of the most creative women I know... she can envision an idea in her head and then manage to not only put it on paper; but execute it RELATIVELY close to the original sketch. Amazing. And her ability to paint small details is much better than my 'stay in the lines' coloring that I can crank out.
So... my crafts have also been given the title of "project." And for most accounts, the title fits. My current projects include knitting, cross-stitching and playing with the Cricut machine that I was given for Christmas from S & S. It's way fun; and not only have I loved working with it to make my scrapbook look 51% professional; it's been a great way to liven up gifts and bare walls. What more fun could you have with contact paper, than writing out your favorite sayings and putting them throughout the house?
Ok... Cricut, what is it, you ask? Pronounced: Cricket www.cricut.com (or grasshopper, if you're my husband who finds it funny) is a die-cut machine which enables you to use various cartridges to cut out hundreds of shapes in sizes up to 24". You can cut fabric, paper, vinyl, chipboard, photos or who knows... possibilites are endless! It's pretty fun and rather easy to operate. It keeps you from buyings a million letter stickers for your scrapbook; or vinyl letters from companies, for home decor.
At Christmas, I used it to decorate glass bricks as well as glass ornaments. Who knows what I will have learned by next year.
So... projects ensue at the house, it keeps us all happy... I stay busy, or atleast always dreaming up something I could do with the new machine, or watching the cross-stitch take shape, stitch by stitch; and the rest of the household just stays out of the way and puts in their 2 cents, when requested.
It's a happy day for all!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Escape to Witch Mountain, aka: Johnson Lake
So... an hour and a half from Hastings is Johnson Lake. A great hidden getaway from the perils of the world... atleast from phones, computers and people who know us. S and I took off on Friday morning to the lake, to stay at my aunt/uncle's cabin for 24 hours... to get away and see what else this great state has to offer us. Plus, how often do we really go to a lake cabin in the winter? Not enough would be my answer... the solitude, the serenity of the birds flying north; and the semi-frozen lake were totally worth it.
The cabin... let me try to describe it to you... Imagine your grandparents house in the 50s... ok, so yeah, for some of us, they still have the same furniture as then... goldenrod couches that have the occasional design that's way too classic... beauty over comfort was the motto then, combined with "oak" panelling throughout the entire house... carpeted bathroom, complete with the pink tub. And the decor was a walk back in time, that you could learn a thing or two by looking at the pictures, seeing the lineage of the family, and reading amazing things. It was fantastic. Nothing flashy, just sensible, comfortable and that right at home feeling; where you expect your grandmother to appear any minute.
We took books, movies, and our sense of adventure. We never got to the movies; watched a bit of NBC TV, as that was the only station that decided to come in; and we read like mad... did some bird watching, some mid-morning napping... it's exhausting being lazy; and ate here and there. Met a few neighbors, peeked into a few houses for sale and walked the neighborhood... and dreamed of our return visit when the weather is warmer, the water is melted and ready for swimming/boating; and gleefully and well-rested, we returned to the city...
Everyone needs these places... places to just 'be.' Places that God clearly has dominion over... ok, I know it's a man-made lake; but the flocking of the birds in their migratory patterns, the ducks wandering around the lake; the squirrells running like mad; and the serenity of the sun appearing over the lakeshore in it's daily accent into the sky. It's a marvelous beauty to behold. Does it compare to Lake Michigan or many of the other great lakes we've experienced in our lives? No... but who said I was comparing?
On the "Ides of March", I hope you do not approach them with trepidation, but with excitement to find your "Witch Mountain" or whatever you call yoru escape for R&R.
The cabin... let me try to describe it to you... Imagine your grandparents house in the 50s... ok, so yeah, for some of us, they still have the same furniture as then... goldenrod couches that have the occasional design that's way too classic... beauty over comfort was the motto then, combined with "oak" panelling throughout the entire house... carpeted bathroom, complete with the pink tub. And the decor was a walk back in time, that you could learn a thing or two by looking at the pictures, seeing the lineage of the family, and reading amazing things. It was fantastic. Nothing flashy, just sensible, comfortable and that right at home feeling; where you expect your grandmother to appear any minute.
We took books, movies, and our sense of adventure. We never got to the movies; watched a bit of NBC TV, as that was the only station that decided to come in; and we read like mad... did some bird watching, some mid-morning napping... it's exhausting being lazy; and ate here and there. Met a few neighbors, peeked into a few houses for sale and walked the neighborhood... and dreamed of our return visit when the weather is warmer, the water is melted and ready for swimming/boating; and gleefully and well-rested, we returned to the city...
Everyone needs these places... places to just 'be.' Places that God clearly has dominion over... ok, I know it's a man-made lake; but the flocking of the birds in their migratory patterns, the ducks wandering around the lake; the squirrells running like mad; and the serenity of the sun appearing over the lakeshore in it's daily accent into the sky. It's a marvelous beauty to behold. Does it compare to Lake Michigan or many of the other great lakes we've experienced in our lives? No... but who said I was comparing?
On the "Ides of March", I hope you do not approach them with trepidation, but with excitement to find your "Witch Mountain" or whatever you call yoru escape for R&R.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
It's Not About the Groceries...
About two years ago, S and I sat in our professional counselors' office; and I remember him saying very clearly, "It's not about getting the dishes washed, it's about the conversation that happens while you're washing them." I suppose I should back up a bit... I'm a bull in a china closet. That's how I attack most household chores... get them done, get them done 99% well, and 100% quickly. Speed over accuracy, for the most part; although not enough to look neglected and half-done. My favorite person in the world that I live with, S, is accuracy over speed. He's a 100% over 50% kind of guy. Methodical is how we describe it in our house. This was disconcerting to me about 2 years ago... it drove me nuts. I just wanted the chore done; and at my preferred speed. So, it was the topic at the counselor's... he wanted us to enjoy the time together standing around the sink; and not worry about the task at hand.
And so... last night, we hit the grocery store together. Honestly, I think the last time we did any major grocery shopping together was maybe the weekend we moved to Hastings. Maybe! But the shelves were empty, the fridge was bare and my husband was claiming starvation! We made our list, grabbed our reusable grocery bags and hit the road. We did arrived at the store without our list (never fear, Wife is visual!) We went through each aisle; sometimes one arriving back at the cart with an armload of stuff while one other was still staring at which canned veggies to purchase... but in an hour's time, we had successfully filled the cart to overflowing and arrived at the checkout. With only one thing missing: bagels, which was discovered this morning.
Huge thanks to a gift card from Christmas, we barely broke the bank, headed home to put everything away and poof... groceries were put away, S felt much safer in the house and I went to the computer, as I heard a mouse getting into the chips immediately! He was content. He knew the house had food, he would not starve; and we had an enjoyable evening that had nothing to do with the stress/chore of getting groceries; but rather enjoyed the time together!
And so... last night, we hit the grocery store together. Honestly, I think the last time we did any major grocery shopping together was maybe the weekend we moved to Hastings. Maybe! But the shelves were empty, the fridge was bare and my husband was claiming starvation! We made our list, grabbed our reusable grocery bags and hit the road. We did arrived at the store without our list (never fear, Wife is visual!) We went through each aisle; sometimes one arriving back at the cart with an armload of stuff while one other was still staring at which canned veggies to purchase... but in an hour's time, we had successfully filled the cart to overflowing and arrived at the checkout. With only one thing missing: bagels, which was discovered this morning.
Huge thanks to a gift card from Christmas, we barely broke the bank, headed home to put everything away and poof... groceries were put away, S felt much safer in the house and I went to the computer, as I heard a mouse getting into the chips immediately! He was content. He knew the house had food, he would not starve; and we had an enjoyable evening that had nothing to do with the stress/chore of getting groceries; but rather enjoyed the time together!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Post-Production a.k. Resume Normal Behavior
Twilight of the Golds has ended... with a standing ovation at the Sunday afternoon matinee... I think the other performances were just as amazing; but we typically leave the audience in shock or tears and I'm not sure they are ready to stand... quite yet.
Yesterday was the first day that I heard the sniffles in the audience; and on stage, for that matter... as the final monologue was wrapping up, tears welled up inside of me; and I tried to hold it in, long enough for the curtain call and return to the dressing room before losing it. I knew it would be the last time that moment would ever occur. You can get the same group of people together again; but the performance, the mood, the stage would never be the same. It reminded me of graduation from anything... You leave changed, but you can never return to that moment.
It is my sincere gratitude to EVERYONE who came to the performances, who prayed for S and I during the production, who considered how many lives were changed because of the production, or from the need of the script. This production allowed me the safe environment to meet amazing folks, involved with the production and patrons who told their story. I am ever grateful to them all.
To the Gold-Steins... thank you for taking the journey with me! Thank you for supporting my love of theatre, even though I may not be perfect and have my faults on and off stage... thank you for taking the leap of faith in becoming a person that we all can agree on, isn't quite who we'd want to be in real life... and for loving these people even with their faults!
To my family... thank you for your support, your concern over the subject matter and my safe ability to go through this transformation.
To LCGS... thank you for being supportive, for attending, prayers and for talking about how this play affects you and how we, as Christians, work together to balance science and God in this ever changing world.
And to S... for being my biggest fan!
Yesterday was the first day that I heard the sniffles in the audience; and on stage, for that matter... as the final monologue was wrapping up, tears welled up inside of me; and I tried to hold it in, long enough for the curtain call and return to the dressing room before losing it. I knew it would be the last time that moment would ever occur. You can get the same group of people together again; but the performance, the mood, the stage would never be the same. It reminded me of graduation from anything... You leave changed, but you can never return to that moment.
It is my sincere gratitude to EVERYONE who came to the performances, who prayed for S and I during the production, who considered how many lives were changed because of the production, or from the need of the script. This production allowed me the safe environment to meet amazing folks, involved with the production and patrons who told their story. I am ever grateful to them all.
To the Gold-Steins... thank you for taking the journey with me! Thank you for supporting my love of theatre, even though I may not be perfect and have my faults on and off stage... thank you for taking the leap of faith in becoming a person that we all can agree on, isn't quite who we'd want to be in real life... and for loving these people even with their faults!
To my family... thank you for your support, your concern over the subject matter and my safe ability to go through this transformation.
To LCGS... thank you for being supportive, for attending, prayers and for talking about how this play affects you and how we, as Christians, work together to balance science and God in this ever changing world.
And to S... for being my biggest fan!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Opening Weekend
Courtney wipes forehead in sigh of relief, then falls back into couch and smiles.
Well, I can report that we got through the three performances this weekend. Opening night was the best of the best. It was a high for us all, and absolutely amazing. Saturday's performance had a few glitches and Sunday's as well; but all in all, we were pleased. R, the director was pleased; and the crowd seemed to enjoy the performances... really absorbing everything we said. What a high.
And now, we have three days off. "CAN YOU IMAGINE?" We dont' report back till Thursday; which leads us all to a bit of a scare that we'll be super rusty; but that's what Thursday is for... Brush up rehearsal.
The side note to this is that this weekend has been an amazing journey for S and I. We've hit some new notes in the marriage that we hadn't seen/experienced before and it was really quite amazing.
Our Lenten journey has begun... GIrl Scout cookies have been delivered... my thin mints are all in the freezer... with the hope that I'll hold out for them until after Easter! My Lenten journey will be to get back to Weight Watchers and get refocused on my goal!
peace be with you all!
Well, I can report that we got through the three performances this weekend. Opening night was the best of the best. It was a high for us all, and absolutely amazing. Saturday's performance had a few glitches and Sunday's as well; but all in all, we were pleased. R, the director was pleased; and the crowd seemed to enjoy the performances... really absorbing everything we said. What a high.
And now, we have three days off. "CAN YOU IMAGINE?" We dont' report back till Thursday; which leads us all to a bit of a scare that we'll be super rusty; but that's what Thursday is for... Brush up rehearsal.
The side note to this is that this weekend has been an amazing journey for S and I. We've hit some new notes in the marriage that we hadn't seen/experienced before and it was really quite amazing.
Our Lenten journey has begun... GIrl Scout cookies have been delivered... my thin mints are all in the freezer... with the hope that I'll hold out for them until after Easter! My Lenten journey will be to get back to Weight Watchers and get refocused on my goal!
peace be with you all!
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