Julie and Julia

Tonight Randy and I went to the late show ( gasp ) to see Julie and Julia with our neighbors. We were running a little late and asked them to save us seats. Turns out the 9:10 show in Siloam is not an attraction. There were 6 of us in the theatre.

The movie was ok. I guess it just wasn't my kind of movie. What is my kind of movie? I love LOVE stories, the kind that make you want to grab your hubby's hand or go home and make a baby. Well, I have yet to see a movie that made me want to make a baby and hopefully at my age there wont be one. :)

This is a synopsis, I took of the apple site:
Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell’s Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme. Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends…until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

I too believe that anything is possible with butter but with this new weight watchers thing Randy and I are doing AGAIN, I doubt I will be tasting any for a LONG time....

Anyway, the thing that intrigued me about this movie was the blogging. Julie decided to blog about her experience reading Julia child's cookbook and taking one year to cook everything in it.

I blog.

Incase you didnt know.


This is a therapy of sorts for me. I was just mentioning to someone that last year my blogging had a life of it's own. This year it is almost non existent . Is that because I have become more private? Doubt that. Is it because my life since my SLOW DOWN has become dull and boring? Maybe..

There were so many times in the movie that I was reminded of myself . ( Other than when Julia Child's said.. I love to eat and I am growing right in front of you. ) Like the time that she was about to blog about her and her husbands fight. IF.. Randy and I ever fought I would NEVER do that. Of course, we dont. So it isnt an issue. Just sayin.... Then there was the time that she had a melt down as she typed... like i said, my blog is therapy.

I wanted to look back on some of the OLD post I made and see if they are still relevant today... well, tonight.


July 26, 2008- Sometimes they are heart breaking.


My mom
My heart is in my throat as I type. You know that feeling?

We went by this morning to see mom and dad. Mom was sitting in the living-room in the dark . She wasn't watching TV or reading or anything. Dad had ran to the bank. Mom looked so sad. I immediatly knew she wasn't doing well at all.

Mom said her stomach is hurting so bad. The first thing my mind reels to is that this is how it all started. She had stomach problems and went through doctor after doctor and no one knew what was wrong. Finally Dr Hill ran a test that showed an indicator of Cancer. Cancer....

JUne 23, 2008 - In love...

Randy ends up coming out to pool. It is time to go for supper. He takes ones look at me ( my swimsuit is cut almost the naval – I know gross ) and says wow. He always has a way of making me forget I am fat.


Apri 27, 2008- Girls friends!

As I went out I grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. I am SURE she knew I was ready to spew. It is unlike me to drink …. We sat on her front porch and discussed men. Mine. hers. a couple other peoples. Why does life have to be so complicated?

We will laugh.. We will surely cry.. But we will most surely have the best summer of our life. The summer of wine. And oh yeah.. we will blog each time we sit on the porch and whine.. I mean. Wine. Till next time

December 20, 2007 - Political Tell that Curtis guy on Facebook to kiss my playdoh covered hiney! :)
joining the campaign
I have decided to join the campaign. Sitting back on my duff and not doing or saying anything and letting the things that really bug me mount up is not solving the problem. We live in a free country . I can exercise my rights and speak up against the "real problems" of the world. ( Seems I cut off some. It was about twist ties. Don't you just HATE those? ) Today - I want to come out of the closet as a twist tie hater


October 12, 2007- Spiritual
I guess this is just the part that I pray... God please protect my children. I dont know why tonight I seem so sad and over whelmed with missing them but place your hand over thier hearts and lives. Help them make the right decisions and help me accept those....

And... help me stop crying. Black mascara running down the face is NOT attractive on a 41 year old woman.

So, here is my blog in honor of the blog on the movie tonight . I can only hope that mine would be picked up and published . The world can learn a lot from me , right?


So, there ya have it blogger readers. I love it. I used to love to read. Now , I dont have time. But I do have 10 minutes to jot down my thoughts so generations from now my kids will say " oh my goodness, I never knew mom.... ________" ( fill in the blank)

Watch out for the Birds!

So, I have been stressing all week about this trip to Hawaii. I mean, lately there have been two planes with birds stuck in the engine. Then, I watched this movie about a man and woman on a plane that was hijacked. I know all of that is crazy and doesnt happen that often, but that wasn't what was stressing me anyway. It was getting on the plane and buckling my seat belt. All summer ( or all my life, you choose ) I have tried to lose weight -mainly due to events like yesterday. I mean on stage I can hide behind my voice or my confidence. On a plane there is nothing to hide behind.. it is just me... my body. It doesnt even matter how" pretty my eyes are, what a great smile I have or how beautiful my voice is" ... Those plane seats are made for skinny people. Who ever engineered them did not have chubby people in mind. I had anxiety as I loaded the plane hoping that a forgiving soul was sitting next to me. I was in the window seat. I sit down and stowed away my bag... and thought.. is it going to fasten. If it doesn't can I please just not bellow loudly?


It did. Buckle.

Barely.


At one point the stewardess said.... please make sure you safety belts are securely fastened. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This thing is so securely fastened that I am not sure I will be able to get back out of it. I made it through the flight to Denver. There was a man ,much smaller, sitting next to me and he was quiet. I didnt even ( believe it or not ) spark conversation. I knew if anything came out of my mouth, it would be.. sorry you are the unlucky one that share this seat with me... ugh...

The next flight wasnt too bad. On a 777 the seats are bigger. THANK THE LORD! I was comfortable and so was the man next to me. I even sparked a conversation with him . He and the Colorado Swim Team that surrounded us got little rest. I watched two teenage boys read a girls issue of Cosmopolitan. They giggled and pointed and stared. Oh.. to be a teenager again and think the stuff in those magazines really does work. I had already decided not to eat much... remember the last plane ride... so I just got a snack box. It said ACTIVE so I figured it ws healthy. It was so healthy in fact that you didnt want to eat it. The movies shown were the soloist and Star Trek. It wasnt a bad plane ride, I did afterall fit in the seat belt.

The first night in Hawaii with the kids and Geneviette was good .We took the grand dog to the dog park. It was interesting . There was a park for dogs 35 pounds and under and then a park for the bigger dogs. They all just ran and played . There was even a drinking fountain for them. You have to wonder what the dogs were thinking as they ran about playing , humping and growling at each other.

Then today... at 4 am my phone rang. A store called to tell me they were looking for a dress I had ordered. YAY! Then I couldnt go back to sleep. I tried to read. I got a drink. I felt my way through Danielle's dark house ( which is very nice ) to the bathroom downstairs. I was afraid if I used the one upstairs I would wake her and Justin up. I went back to bed. The phone rang again... it was Randy. He couldn't find the dentist office I made him apppt. at. Ok OK OK. I will get up.

I go downstairs.

Danielle's dog, Tigger, comes running downstairs with a kotex in his mouth. I chase him around for a while trying to quietly laugh.. Geneviette is up by now chasing him too and saying " Mia, what's he got..." I finally get it and take it back to my suitcase. Geneviette leaves the door open again and here we go again.... chasing the grand dog around the house trying to catch him and get my personals. Danielle is up by now. After it is all over she comes downstairs and is laughing. She said she asked Justin did he know what is going on down there he said " yeah... You mom is trying to take Tigger's Kotex."

Not sure what is better.... the seat belt or the kotex. ( This story in some wierd way reminded me of a friend , a lap top , a new son in law, and some panties...)

My Brother

My brother can be a lot of things:

LOUD
mean
Cruel
Impatient
Funny - but not really

He is also very:

handy - he can fix anything
determined
consistent
tender hearted - though you wouldnt know if you didnt know to look for the lip quiver

But tonight, we were in Mazzios eating . Keith had driven in straight from work in Tulsa at the air base. He had on his uniform still. I have often wondered why he tends to keep his uniform on. He will wear it to the barber shop. He showed up at Danielle's wedding in it.

Tonight an older lady walked by the table this conversation took place.
" I see you have an honored guest here tonight. Thank you sir for all you do for us. I appreciate you."

Then she progressed to tell us a story about her husband and Thanked my brother again before she left.

He has been to Afghanistan , Iraq and Saudi Arabia. He has 7 more years and he will retire from active duty and civilian service.

During that conversation my brother was quieter than usual and quite humble. I realized how good he probably felt when people approach him like this. He doesn't get a lot of pats on the back..... but these makes up for many.

I think he was proud to be a solider.
I know he was.


I am proud to be his sister.

I cant sleep,,,

Tomorrow is our day off. We are in Mountain Home Arkansas for two days. We have a concert on Saturday morning so, it was just too far to drive all the way back to Siloam and back again. I had planned to sleep in. I was so excited about that fact that I fell asleep really early. Now, here I am up at 3 am and cant go back to sleep. Not to mention the hotel Smoke alarm is dinging. Randy is sleeping like a baby so I decided to grab a little quiet reflection time.

The mall concert was a lot of fun. Many of my friends from ASU came to watch . They had the concert in a store front. I wasnt concerned at all that I have gained so much weight and was doing the TWIST on a huge stage and so "out there". I think when you are round - as Beth says_ you have to twist a little harder so the kids can actually see you go around...So, by the time I get all that done I am exhausted. Then I have to sing a solo of " This little light of mine" and I am so out of breath I feel like I am going to pass out. I am too OLD and out of shape to be a childrens rockstar!

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging.

I had a little boy heckle me today. Well, not really heckle. He was very funny. When I sang " can you point your finger at your nose" he put his finger IN his nose. Next was point at your mouth. Well, you know where this is going.... Sometimes when you have done the concert 50 times already, it can get a little routine. So, I actually appreciated this little boy for making me smile today. As I entertained him, he entertained me.

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging....

Why do men think it is ok to pass gas in small places? And exactly how do they do that in their sleep? I mean , what would the world be like if women went around - Oh , ok we will say it- farting at leisure? Can you imagine? Randy and I are cooped up in the truck sometimes for hours. You would think he could hold it or roll down the window to warn me or something , but no. Loud as Gabriels horn it rips and the smell is horrid. Sometimes I have one of those little Cracker Barrel car deodorizers and I smell it.... sometimes I just pout. Why do they do that? I know, you wondered what Randy and I did while we spend some much time in the car. He farts and I play with my IPHONE.

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging.. and that Randy would stop farting.

I am going to try to go back to bed.

The Motel 6 and my New Phone

So..here I sit in Barnes and Noble syncing my new IPhone to my MAC. After a huge turn of events, I was forced to purchase a new phone today. Let 's start from the beginning.

Yesterday I worked in the preschool for a while. Randy had a doctors appt and Beth needed to go to the doctor also , so I volunteered to hang out with my best buds until everyone was back. The day was wonderful. We talked about all the things that they have been doing while I was gone. We read books and did circle time. The kids told me all about the fun they were having with Mrs. Beth. MANY MANY times, they called me Mrs. Beth. At first I felt a little betrayed but then I thought you know.....I want them to love her. This is a good sign. So, I just answered to whatever they wanted to call me.

FInally TWO HOURS later than we planned to leave - We were all packed. I am an organizer. Randy is not. If we want to leave by 10 you should plan for 8. No matter what time he gets started he will be late. Mark that down somewhere.. he will be late. So , we get in seat belt all buckled and RWRR.. RWRR.. The truck would not start. We had to move the cars around so we could jump it. We went to Walmart and sat..... and sat... only to find out they did not have a battery to fit. We drive to Harrison. We sat.. and sat.. and YES!!! THEY HAVE ONE! So, finally about 7 pm we are headed to Jonesboro.

We stopped somewhere near Bortia to eat a very late supper. It was ok but the surrounding conversations were wonderful. There was a table of traditional pentecostals there. She was on the phone explaining who her friend is.. " You know, she has long hair." mmmm kkk... Think about that one. They are at a tent revival ( her words) and the long hair is supposed to make her stand out. I mean at that table there were three people that had hair to their waist. ( OK, maybe I have had a bad day and my recollections are really mean.....)

Randy finally pulls in to a motel 6. We have not stayed in one all summer. It has been a good summer. We walk in and there are two queen beds. The room is so small the beds are pushed against the wall. I quickly decided to claim one bed and let Randy have the other. I mean.... He deserves a little punishment for such crappy taste right?

After checking my email ( SURPRISE THEY DID HAVE WIFI YOU COULD BUY) I plugged in my phone to charge. Randy went to get ice in the container. We wont call it a ice bucket , we will call it a butter tub. I fell asleep . I tossed and turned all night. I dont remember the dreams but I am sure they were just a preview of my morning.

I woke up and started getting around.... I am generally a morning person and happy. I picked up my phone and felt the water drip from it.... NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO I am sure in slow motion this exploded from my mouth. Thankfully I am not a cusser or I am totally sure it would have been an expletive morning. Randy had no compassion for my poor dead phone at all. Did he understand this was my friend? Did he understand this is how I have kept sane this month? Obviously not, or he would have had his kid gloves on. Let's just say, it was a quiet drive. I am thinking I have three concerts with cheerful kids today and all I want to do is kill Randy and get a new phone.

As I sang... I did it myself.. it makes me happy.... in the back of my mind i was adding up the hours until I get to deliver Randy to the hotel and find an AT &T.

And that I did..

But first.

I did see on Facebook that everyone said my phone my dry out. I put it on the front of the truck during our last concert.

I forgot until I was halfway to Jonesboro to get a new phone. Randy didnt even complain about my forgetfullness. I think he knew better.

He is alseep. I am happy.

The Jonesboro Library called today and said they would love to put us up in a bed and breakfast tomorrow night. I gratefully accepted. I am trying to decide if I will tell Randy or not.... maybe... not.

I will close now and get to know my new traveling friend a little better.

Upon returning home if my bon voyage friends would like to have an intervention and try to break my addiction to my phone you may try... but i doubt you would be successful.

Concerts and Conditions

I am waking up in the nice luxurious Comfort Inn in Little Rock. OK, maybe not luxurious but WAY Better than the hotels Randy picks out.  We spent four days at my friend Gwyns home and now we are in Little Rock. We came in for a concert last night.  The concert was PHENOMENAL.  I loved it! The Celtic women  have voices like angels.   In my younger days I would have loved to be part of a group like that. Now , I will just settle for being a children's musician... No fancy long dresses for me  or ALL TELL arena performances. Instead I get a bright shirt, tight capris ( a result of last years tour ) and flip flops!   And venues, well we did play the Lonoke library and in a backyard with the beautiful backdrop of a barbed wire fence and a walnut tree. Sounds beautiful and natural I know, but let 40 three year olds loose with walnuts on the ground and see how comfortable you feel... 




Randy has a sleeping problem.  I mean a serious one. I think he has caught that bug that a  lot of older people get.  You know, the one where you wake up with the chickens and get breakfast and watch the news.  Then all day long you talk about " I just dont know how people stay in bed so late.."   This morning at 6 am Randy woke up.  " Deb, go get breakfast with me."  I let him go on down there, but since I was awake I got dressed and went on down.  Homemade waffles with pecans. Yummy.   ( Remember the tight Capris?)   As I walked in he was talking to an older woman.  No doubt discussing how  "young'ns" stay in bed so late.  Randy says " well, there is my beautiful wife. Wow, she is up, I cant believe it!" I smile and get my breakast.  Randy needed a buddy eater.  We eat and talk about how we hate that all that is on the news lately is Micheal Jackson. Yes, he was a music icon.  Yes, he died.   Farrah Faucett died the same day.... she was working to protect the rights of privacy of our medical records. Something that I have no doubt Micheal is going to wish he had.  Ok, back to the story.  We come back upstairs to our room and Randy checks his email and then lies back down on the bed.



 " I am just gonna rest my eyes".  Well, as I type this, he has been resting them for about an hour and a half. I mean, why not just sleep in.... ugh....   Ever since I met Randy one of the things I admired about him was his respect for older people. I am actually quite surprised me married me and not an older woman.  Randy has aspired to be an old man for a long time. I think he has arrived.  :)

A little Rest Never Did Anyone Harm

I am really slacking on my blogging this summer. Dana, I think I need a counseling session.  Does my  lack of blogging mean there is nothing exciting going on , or that I have accepted my fate as a traveling kids musician and staying at low rate hotels?  

Our traveling this year has been really minimized.  We havent been away at night as much as we were last year .  I think we have only been in  a hotel three nights so far this year.   The hotels we have stayed in havent been too bad, as a matter of fact only one had numbers.   It was a Super 8. I have dealt with this promptly though.  I say.. if you stop at a Super 8... 8 minutes is all you get.  Motel 6..  you get six minutes.  Needless to say, the hotel we stayed at last was a suite with a king size bed and a huge flat screen TV.  I am learning to bargain !

Over all our tour this year has been successful. I have not been on stage with tags hanging from my arms or anything.  My favorite part this year has been when Randy asks " Am I cool or what?" and  this little 7 year old girl stuck her finger in her throat like.. dont make me gag! I thought I would fall out! 

I actually have notes at home I had to blog, if I find it I may have more to add.

Right now, we are in Texas. We came for Randy's sister's 50th Birthday Bash. It was a surprise party.  We have spent a lot of time hanging out by the pool and sight seeing.  We will head home tomorrow.

I miss my life in Siloam , but I cant deny I have a great one where ever I am.

Yes, that is me in the top.  Can someone PLEASE start First Place when  I come back. I look like a mix between a fat mexican or chinese lady!