Justus Turned One!

My great nephew, Justus (Buddy Boo) just turned one year old!!!
Happy Birthday Buddy Boo!!!

Happy Birthday Bruce!

Today is the 60th birthday of "The Boss". I fell in love with Bruce Springstein for two reasons. His song, Born to Run, was a love letter written to a girl named...you guessed it...WENDY! I mean what girl wouldn't want this Jersey guy growling..."I want to die with you Wendy on the street tonight in an everlasting kiss"!!!
I just got goose bumps!!
And...the second reason was the kicking song in the 80's...BORN IN THE USA!!!
Gotta Love "The Boss".
Happy Birthday Bruce!!! Rock and Roll!!!

The Orpheum Theatre Haunted

As you know, I just went to the Broadway production of A Chorus Line at the Orpheum last night
.
It's such a beautiful theatre and I have been there numerous times and seen some great productions. The first was when Mollie was about 3 or 4 years old and we went to see Peter Pan. It was AWESOME!!! Since then we have seen, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, RiverDance, The Nutcracker Ballet, and others.

But did you know that the Orpheum Theatre was supposedly HAUNTED?
Yep...So, I am copying you the story from the official Orpheum Memphis web site and also posting pictures.


Historical Orpheum


Orpheum Today


Inside

Mary's Story

Mary the Theatre Ghost
Countless times over the past 50 years performers and employees at the Orpheum have noticed a little girl in a white dress and pigtails sitting in seat C-5, Box 5. Although her blank stare and ethereal appearance have upset some who have seen her, the little girl known as Mary has never disrupted a performance. In fact, it seems as though she adores the theatre.

One version of the story is that Mary was struck by a trolley, and was carried into the theatre where she soon died. An investigation by Dr. Lee Sutter's parapsychology class at University of Memphis alternatively suggested that the little girl actually died during a downtown accident and did not wander into the Orpheum until after her death.

Regardless of how she came to the theatre, she apparently enjoyed her new surroundings and the performances and has stayed as our guest for nearly 80 years!

A Chorus Line...One Singular Sensation

My company sent out an email and offered FREE tickets to the Broadway production of, A Chorus Line at the Orpheum. My very good friend Whitney (who is nimble and quick fingered) was able to acquire two tickets before they ran out. And so tonight, we had a girls night after work.
We ate at The Blues Cafe and then walked over to The Orpheum Theatre. It was perfect weather.
A Chorus Line started on Broadway in 1975 and is the fourth longest running Broadway production EVER! It also has won 9 Tony awards out of 12 nominations.
I honestly didn't know what A Chorus Line was all about so, I got on line and read a brief synopsis before we went. It's about dancers that are at an audition for a part in a stage production. They all want a part in "the chorus line" but the director wants to know WHY they want the part and who each dancer really is, where they came from, and why they dance. Not just their resume with a name and picture.
We had a great time. Thanks Whitney, I love you!



Chandaliers at the Orpheum.

FA-ROG

Anyone who knows us girls...(Mollie and Myself)....know that we have had our share of creatures and critters to surprise us and keep us on our toes where we live.
We've had wasp, mice, slugs, worms, a mole, spiders, and even a "smouse" to visit our home.
(smouse is another story for another blog)
So, Saturday night we had gone to bed. Mollie was in her room watching TV and I was in my cozy bed about to doze off and my cell phone rings.
It's Mollie from her ROOM!!! I answer the call and Mollie says in a calm voice...."Mom, there is a frog in my room". I said "What"?!
She repeats...FA-ROG...there is a FA-ROG in my room please come and get it.
I'm not a big fan of frogs but being "the mom" I had to go and check out the situation.
Sure enough..it was a FA-ROG. A tiny baby green frog about the size of a cricket but none the less it was a FA-ROG!
So, I get a plastic cup and we trap him and then run a manila folder under the cup and capture him. Then I RUN and throw the cup, folder, and FA-ROG out the front door. (ok, so I'm still a girl....yuck)
Today I was looking for a picture of a baby green FA-ROG on line and saw an article that baby green tree frogs are the new pet craze. Are you serious????

Here are a few sentences about the pet craze....
Green tree frogs have rapidly become a household pet and it is no wonder. These beautiful little creatures require very little room and are easy to care for, although they do require an adequate supply of water and must be monitored on a daily basis. You can find these exotic looking amphibians in nearly any pet store for under $10. Use caution when purchasing a tree frog and look for signs of stress or other health issues.

Under $10??? I had one for FREE and didn't want him!! YUCK!!! The amphibian had to go!!!

I'm a Brunette

I was walking through Walgreens about three or four weeks ago and on a whim purchased a $3.00 box of Medium Brown hair color. The box however has been sitting on my bathroom shelf ever since.
Yesterday afternoon I just decided to go for it. After all it's just hair, right?
So, here I am. A Brunette.

5K

I was encouraged, prodded, and coerced by my good friend Lanell to participate in the Memphis Women 5K Run/Walk and sooooo.....I did it.
First of all, three miles is a long way. But, being there with all these other women doing the exact same thing was pretty cool.
I did however want to share a few of thoughts....

Number one...I learned that the number you wear on your shirt is called a bib.
I did not know that until today.

Number two...Today is the first day I have ever used a Porto Potty...enough said.



And finally, number three...every thing we were ever taught about littering gets thrown out the window at a race. At the mile markers, they hand you a cup of water as you go by and then you THROW THE CUPS ON THE CURB when you're done.
(they have someone designated to clean them up)

It was a great experience and I had fun. On top of that, everyone got a cool t-shirt and medal!

Peter, Paul, and Mary

Mary Travers of the Emmy Award winning musical group, Peter-Paul,and Mary, died yesterday at the age of 72. She was battling Leukemia. I remember the song Leaving On A Jet Plane and many other folk songs from my childhood. Rest in peace Mary.
Oh, and look at her picture above. Didn't she have great lips? Bet those aren't Botox.

Boys Like Girls

My baby girl got her first brush with fame Saturday night. She got to go back stage and meet the band, Boys Like Girls.
Can you tell she was excited?

Patrick Swayze

Actor Patrick Swayze died yesterday of Pancreatic Cancer. My two favorite Swayze movies are Dirty Dancing and Ghost. I am already planning on watching Dirty Dancing this weekend.
May God comfort his wife and family during this time of loss.

9/11

Eight Years??? Can you believe it's been eight years??? What a solemn day in America it was. I still remember the feeling of disbelief when I heard the news break in on the morning radio show. I was driving to work and couldn't believe it. I wanted to turn the car around, go pick up Mollie from school, and go home.
I was (as I'm sure all Americans were)...glued to the television and radio wanting answers and reassurance that the attack was over.
I hope everyone takes a minute to remember those who lost their lives that day and pray for the families they left behind.
Also, pray for the leaders of our country today. May they make decisions that will protect and honor God and America.

New Party Cups?

I had to take Mollie to the doctor last week and she had to, well, "give a specimen". It reminded us of old times. Sitting in the doctor's office bathroom chatting, running the water, giggling, etc. (shy bladder syndrome)
Anyway, the "specimen cup" was CLEARLY MARKED as you can see in the picture.
So, I was wondering. Would it be fun if you used these at a party? I think it would be hysterical.

Book #13

This book is AWESOME.
Echo in the Darkness is the second book in the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. One more to go in the series but, I think I'm going to let this one "soak in" before I start the third one. I may even read a lighter book in between.
I love the characters, I love the story, I love the issues addressed and how they are handled, and I love Mindy for talking me into reading them!

September 7th...Happy Anniversary

I am a day late on posting but....Happy Anniversay Mother and Daddy!!!

Labor Day Weekend

I'm so tired. Yes...I LABORED on Labor Day Weekend. Mollie and I took on the task of painting our living room and foyer. Let me tell you, this was no small project. I am sore and tired and don't even like the "p" word right now.
However, I am very happy with the results. Here is a picture of getting started. The original color was DARK RED and the first coat was KILZ Primer.
I will post the AFTER picture on another day.
Oh, and I got a picture of Mollie on hands and knees cleaning. Yipppeee!!!

Book #12 for 2009

I finished Book #12 for the year. After much begging, encouragement and prodding...Mindy talked me into reading the "Mark of the Lion" series. I will be honest...it took LOTS of effort to get through the first hundred pages of "A Voice In the Wind" but, it's worth it. I promise you could change the names to more "modern" sounding ones and put the characters in the year 2009 and all the sins and trials are exactly the same as ours.
The author Francine Rivers is so good!
As usual, I don't like to give too much info just in case someone out there wants to read them.
I assure you that this book is worth the 100 pages of historical background and setting the story and characters up. The story and faithfullness of the female character can change your life.

"The Lost Get Found"

Here is another one of my favorite songs from the K-Love station. It's by Britt Nicole called "The Lost Get Found". Again, I love the words. I feel like it's telling me not to give up and get discouraged. To keep the faith because someone may see Jesus living in me and to be brave and have the courage to lead somone to Him.

"The Lost Get Found"
Britt Nicole


Hello my friend
I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain't worth stayin'
You wanna run but you're hesitatin'
I'm talkin' to me

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There's a girl on the streets, she's cryin'
There's a man whose faith is dyin'
Love is calling you

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

Why do we go with the flow
Or take an easier road?
Why are we playin' it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I'm movin' out of the way

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
(Stand out)
Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
(Stand out)
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it