Little Lucy

This is what I did during my "All Alone" day! It took me about 4 hours with dish washing, "ugly dancing", fruit salad making and dog chasing in between the creative process! What do you think? (Sorry about the glare of the sunlight...It was MUCH better than the bad overhead light!)

Title page...

Detail from above picture

Detail from above again...

The left page says, "little"...

Detail from the above picture

Back

I had a BLAST making this one!!! I'm not sure if it was because I didn't have to choose the pics for it or do the journaling... It also helped that things fell together quickly!

I hope that Christy and Little Lucy know how much they are loved!

HEART,

j

Angels...

Today for guitar lessons, B came to me...

The store he was teaching out of, The Acoustic Musician moved to a larger store in Union Square. (Same complex, MUCH more space...) Around the same time as their move, B and my dad, found ANOTHER space in Union Square that they are looking at to be the new home of Starchild Music Productions Guitar Instruction and Luthier Work. So, in the meantime, while papers are being signed and so forth, the guys are tweeking their schedules and being fabulous enough to make house calls.

We worked on Natural Minor Scales, Major Scales, and Minor Pentatonic Scale patterns as well as the three songs I'm currently smashing into one:

Alloway Grove by Paolo Nutini
Don't Panic by Coldplay
& Love and Some Versus by Iron and Wine

B said that I'm doing MUCH better than last week, (Really? YOU THINK?? Remember last week???) and that my transitions are getting smoother. I was pleased to hear that. Then came the, "Gee, Sis, remember to pull your wrist out and down...keep your thumb out and flat while fingerpicking...and...ease up on the pick..." (These are the SAME things he tells me every week, the same things that I remember for about 3 seconds the next time I pick up the Ovation and promptly forget, thus needing the weekly reminder. Yep.)

B also shared a Watermakers, a CD by the Dutch band Bløf. I've had the CD on while typing and have quickly found a favorite song: Engel Voor Een Dag. Best part? I could actually READ and UNDERSTAND the name!!! (Yes, I did Bablefish it to double check...) I did some digging and found the lyrics to the song on http://www.lyricsdownload.com/. Hope they don't mind me sharing...

Engel Voor Een Dag

Denk je dat het anders wordt
Als mijn engel van me weggaat
Mij in stilte weer verlaat
Zoals ze is gekomen
Als

zilver in mijn zwak
Met maar één ding op haar hart
Dat ze gek werd van verlangen
Om een tijdje rond te hangen
In het dal van mij geloof
Ze cirkelt lieflijk om mijn hoofd
Maar ze laat zich nergens vangen
Zij is mijn engel voor één dag

Denk je dat ze lang zal blijven
Haar geduld zal overdrijven
Dat het haar wel schikt
Dat ze opwiekt van mijn schouder
Niet te laat maar wel wat ouder
Als een vogel die verschrikt
Of gewoon zomaar zonder reden
Zonder toekomst of verleden
Weer gaat vliegen naar de zon
Waar het einde ooit begon
Zij noemt dat altijd heden
Zij is mijn engel voor één dag

Ze is er nog maar net
En ik ben nu al bang
Voor de ruimte in mijn bed
Want een engel blijft nooit lang
Alsof het altijd zo geweest is
Ligt ze naast me als een kat
En als ze weggaat zal het zijn
Alsof ik nooit iets anders had
Dan een engel voor één dag

'k Denk wel dat het anders wordt
Want een dag is veel te kort
Voor een engel om te sterven
En het stof is het bewijs
Het zilver wordt al langzaam grijs
Ook al heeft ze net staan verven

Maar ik kan er wel mee leven
Want wat mooi is duurt maar even
Dat is lang genoeg voor mij
Al ben ik stiekem toch wel blij
Dat ik haar snel heb opgeschreven
Mijn engel voor één dag

Zij is mijn engel voor één dag

Mijn engel voor één dag

Zij is mijn engel voor één dag

Na na na na na na na na

Na na na na na na na na

Zij is mij engel voor één dag

Fun, right!?!

Here's a rough translation provided by http://www.altavista.com/ (a FANTASTIC online translator!)

Angel For A Day

You think that it becomes differently

If my angel of me leaves

Me in silence leaves Such as them has come

As silver in my weakness

With but one thing on its heart

That them crazy person became of desire

To hang around a spell In the valley of me belief

She circles melodious my head but she can be caught nowhere

They is my angel for one day

You think that she will remain long

Its patience will exaggerate That it arranges her, however,

That them opwiekt of my shoulder

Not late but what parent As a bird which frightens

Or simply zomaar without reason

Executed without future or

Will fly to the sun

Where end started ever

She always calls that present

They is my angel for one day

She is there still but exactly

And I am now already frightened

For the space in my bed

Because an angel remains never long

As if it is always this way is

She lies beside me as a cat

And if she leaves it will be

As if I had never something else

Then an angel for one day ' k thinks, however,

that it becomes differently

because a day is much too short

For an angel to die

And the substance is the proof

Silver becomes already slowly grey

also already has them net stands paint

But I can live

Because what is beautiful but lasts just as

That is long enough for me Already

I am secretly nevertheless glad

That I its fast my angel have written down for one day

They is my angel for one day

My angel for one day

They is my angel for one day

After after after after

After after after after

She is me angel for one day

x,

j

Jack Black

*My Glorious, Happy, Sneaky, Angel*

He had been mine for just hours...

Sometimes he can look so small...

(Really, he's close to 125 lbs)

Jack LOVES the water...he stole the hose from me.

THIS is what Jack chooses to play with...

This is my FAVORITE picture of Jack.

I love my baby...

Darts of Pleasure

"...Feel your fingers tingle, tense anticipation..."

I'm livin' in 'Lucid Dreams'

(Yes, Steph, you may read two meanings into that one... ;))

First off, if anyone was wondering...I am the proud (and fulfilled) owner of a copy of Quantum of Solace. Second, Barnes and Noble came through-Grave Goods was waiting on my front porch when I got home from work. Bliss...

So as tonight rolled forward and The Meeting (and how I acted afterward) fell further away, I began to be more and more aware of my "escape mechanisms". First on the list?

*MUSIC*

After a particular loud and difficult day for me, I hit my breaking point when I stepped on the wet dog spit puddle on the floor, found myself in the middle of an argument and had too many dishes in the sink. What did I do? I ran for the iPod (which is STILL on) and turned on Franz Ferdinand as loud as I could stand it.

Music IS my escape when I don't feel like dealing with the present. It's what i turn to when I'm "DONE". It's what I yearn to create. It's what wakes me up and puts me to sleep. There's ALWAYS a song running through my head and coming out in the fidget of my legs and feet.

I live music, breathe music and bleed music.

I guess it's good that I'm aware of this-I know from my Training that I shouldn't allow myself to be so dependant on one thing and that I certainly shouldn't use it as an escape. I SHOULD deal, feel and be present.

It's just at this moment, I really don't want to. I'm happy in my oblivion,

my lucid dream.

A *PORTION* of my glorious music collection

*books, sheet music and vinyl*

3 Business Days or Less...

Oh happy, happy, happy day!

After The Meeting on Saturday and the snow of today, I was in a rather pissy mood. Until I returned home and found that not only had the wish come true-Arianna Franklin has written

Grave Goods,

the third in the Mistress in the Art of Death Series!!!!!!!!-but I didn't have to wait for it! It's available at Barnes and Noble and...it will be shipped out to me in 3 business days! Yay!

I SO needed this!

ALSO...just a couple more hours until Quantum of Solace

is available! Mmmm....Bond!

j

***Make sure you click the links for more info!

AND...I've created a store for the kjk T.R.A.S.H. Book Club! Visit our Cafe Press store for Official T.R.A.S.H. Swag! (PERFECT for ANY T.R.A.S.H.er at heart! ;))

Isn't that what you came for?

WHY?

Why is it that HE shows up on the day that you don't feeling like washing your hair? When you don't think it will matter when you roll out of bed and put the clothes on that you wore yesterday... Why does he show up after being gone for two years? WHY is it that the meeting takes place on YOUR turf, YOUR sanctuary, YOUR section of heaven?

And why does he show up with his wife and baby girl?

...Then says, "It's good to see you..." with that same look in his eyes he left you with?

WHY DOES THE WIFE SAY, "WHO are YOU?"

Me? I'm just the girl he walked away from because I was "too perfect".

And why were the feelings the same when I thought they had gone...?




How does one handle that? How do you retain your composure and move forward?
I didn't cry (but came close). I didn't yell or scream. I just quietly fell apart, checked out (I am so pissed at myself...) and did my best to walk forward into the dark messy hallway to play my version of 'Alloway Grove'. (Which, it turns out, was "Very much un-pass-off-able"...)


j

I had lunch with my neighbor in my car because I can!

I got this one from my Kaydee!
***

Pick the month you were born:
January-------I kicked
February------I loved
March--------I karate chopped
April----------I licked
May----------I jumped on
June----------I smelled
July-----------I did the Macarena With
August--------I had lunch with
September----I danced with
October-------I sang to
November-----I yelled at
December-----I ran over
Pick the day (number) you were born on:
1-------a birdbath
2-------a monster
3-------a phone
4-------a fork
5-------a snowman
6-------a gangster
7-------my mobile phone
8-------my dog
9-------my best friends' boyfriend
10-------my neighboor
11-------my science teacher
12-------a banana
13-------a fireman
14-------a stuffed animal
15-------a goat
16-------a pickle
17-------your mom
18-------a spoon
19------ - a smurf
20-------a baseball bat
21-------a ninja
22-------Chuck Norris
23-------a noodle
24-------a squirrel
25-------a football player
26-------my sister
27-------my brother
28-------an iPod
29-------a surfer
30-------a homeless guy
31-------a llama
What is the last number of the year you were born:
1--------- In my car
2 --------- On your car
3 ----------- In a hole
4 ----------- Under your bed
5 ----------- Riding a Motorcycle
6 --------- sliding down a hill
7 --------- in an elevator
8---------- at the dinner table
9 -------- In line at the bank
10 -------- in your bathroom
Pick the color of shirt you are wearing:
White---------because I'm cool like that
Black---------because that's how I roll.
Pink-----------because I'm NOT crazy.
Red-----------because the voices told me to.
Blue-----------because I'm sexy and I do what I want
Green---------because I think I need some serious help.
Purple---------because I'm AWESOME!
Gray----------because Big Bird said to and he's my leader.
Yellow--------because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars
Orange--------because my family thinks I'm stupid anyway.
Brown---------because I can.

Have fun with this!!!

*PS-the rest of the text is green because I swiped it from Kaydee's blog. NOW, I can't change it...

Savor the Spectrum, Miss Dansie!

Know what you eat...


I THOUGHT I was eating well. I THOUGHT I was getting my 5-a-day. I THOUGHT I was making good choices...




Not so much.


That's me eating a Donor in Rotterdam, Netherlands... Donors are NOT on the Spectrum...

In my mind, it was okay if I had a Dunford chocolate-chocolate donut or a strawberry shake from Del Taco or nachos once (okay...twice or sometimes three times a week) in a while IF I "made good choices the rest of the time."

About a week ago, I was angry at myself because I started to pay attention and found that I wasn't eating enough fruit and veggies. I was upset and that lead to more nachos-this time WITH a strawberry shake. (Del Taco really does have a great shake. It's lower in fat than most and has REAL "California" strawberries, rather than sugary mush...it's just super high in calories...) And, as you all know that leads to a sad, sad downward spiral eating more junk for dinner and then a TUBE of Thin Mints for snack at 11:30 pm. Nice.


It wasn't until last Thursday that, Dadadada...it was time to "Savor the Spectrum" at Liberty Elementary! Liberty's staff has been challenged to commit to eating AT LEAST 5 fruits and veggies a day in a variety of colors. I signed up-and started THEN-even though the official start date wasn't until the 16th.

Mmm...a happy breakfast! OJ with yogurt and LOTS of protein!

That's Brandon ^

Since then I've done a little digging and have found some VERY valuable tools. I found an application for my Blackberry that lists nutritional info for quite a few fast food restaurants and the site: http://www.nutritiondata.com/. PLEASE go play! You can search by food and restaurant, as well as pull up food that will do the most good for YOU. I've added their widget to the blog as well-USE IT! I'm sure you'll be surprised... Also, Check out: http://www.thefruitpages.com/ for A LOT of great fruit info!

Here it is the evening of the 17th and I've already hit 12 servings for TODAY and I haven't had dinner yet. Savoring the Spectrum is EASY when you really stop to think about what you put into your mouth-and what counts as a serving! (A palm-full of raisins-or any other dry fruit-equals 1/4 C or one serving! And guess what?!? Not only do they "count", raisins are NECESSARY for simple brain function AND they keep us awake during Power Hour!!!) This morning I threw two handfuls of frozen strawberries, half a banana, an orange-and some extra orange juice in my Magic Bullet mugs and in 5 minutes or less, I had breakfast for me-and Miss Greene! Best part?! 5 fruit servings, no added sugar and our classroom smelled like Jamba all morning long.




So...watch out Mrs. Cambell, Room 14 is savoring ALL the time now!

The Serpent's Tale...

Late last night I finished one of the BEST books that I've read in a VERY long time: The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin. I loved every minute of the dark mystery that takes place in the early 1170's-just after Thomas Becket's murder.

TST was published in August of '08, which is when I found Mistress of The Art of Death the first of the two novels. (Also one of my FAVORITE books!)

Both MotAoD and TST are very Bones-ish, which just happens to be one of my favorite shows...

Tonight I start Malice Domestic presented by Nancy Pickard. MD is March's T.R.A.S.H. selection and is an "anthology of Original Traditional Mystery Stories", written by numerous authors. And in true T.R.A.S.H. fashion, is the 3rd in the MD series. Visit our blog for more info! KJK T.R.A.S.H Bookclub. (Just click it...)

With a good book and a cup of chai...life is good!

j

The Diabetes Expo

Yesterday morning, at the crack of sunrise, I made my way to the South Towne Expo Center to attend the 2009 Diabetes Expo. Officially, I was there to take pictures of The Jon Dansie Band, answer questions, and to see friends that I've made over our two year friendship with the American Diabetes Association.

The guys of TJDB were asked to play a few acoustic sets during registration and to talk a little bit about Jon's life with diabetes. We made many new friends and contacts yesterday-and as always, everyone at the ADA was VERY happy! Check out http://www.thejondansieband.com/ for more info and pictures!

While there, I got my team: Team The Jon Dansie Band signed up and registered to participate in the Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk on September 26th, 2009. As of today, we are a team of 7...and counting! Please join us! My personal goal is to raise $1,000 and have already picked up $35 of that. I haven't told the Team yet, but I would like us to aim HIGH! How about $10,000?! The BEST part is that you can be a part of our Team even if you have other plans on the 26th OR if you live out of town! I will be posting more info in the coming weeks and months-but I want you all to consider this as an open invitation. PLEASE ask your friends and join me in the Fight. Together, we can find a cure!

AND...I volunteered to be an end of line greeter/cheerer at this years Tour de Cure (also to raise money for a cure to diabetes) in Brigham City. I can't wait!

Also while there, I spoke with an Usborne Books rep and decided to have a home show. It is tentatively set for March 11th, but I think I may have to reschedule. More to come!

j