Happy Hour Chatter

I've always said that music soothes the soul.  It lifts me up, calms me, energizes me, makes me dig down deep and think,  makes me forget, makes me cry, laugh, love, hate and any other emotion I can feel.   Because to me, that IS what music is all about....  emotions set to song. From the time the original movie Fame came out, I loved the song Out Here On My Own sung by Irene Cara.   I hadn't heard it in a very long time.  Today I was home from work due to a raging migraine.  I couldn't sleep any more; I woke up couldn't sleep any more so was flipping channels and found the remake of Fame done recently.   This song came on and it was even more beautiful this time.  But the words even more so.   Why?  Because of the opening words, - they pulled me in.   Who of us haven't thought, at some point or another, thought, "Sometimes I wonder, where I've been.  Who I am, do I fit in". (C...

Today was Blaine Day.   It's been several weeks since I've been able to spend any great amount of time with him due to our schedules.   After discussing it on Friday, we thought our best chance would be today. I woke him up via phone call on my way in to town at 10 and told him he better get showered and changed cuz I was picking up donuts and going to be there in a 1/2 hour to work. He was ready...and work we did.  We started out in his kitchen and did everything ...I mean.. everything .  We washed dishes, put them away, wiped down the counters, cleaned out the refrigerator, microwave and toaster oven.  Then we (ok, me), scrubbed the floor. I tackled his bathroom while he started on cleaning his bedroom.  (We both had our work cut out for us!)  But we made it and no HazMat suits were needed!  At 12:30 we gave ourselves one hour to dust and vacuum and finish everything up so we could treat ourselves to beer and burgers at IDK.....

I envy those that can dance. I am envious of the people who are graceful, elegant and captivating as they glide across the stage.  The seemingly effortless movement and grace has me spellbound.  When I was younger I used to watch American Bandstand and Soul Train.  Yes, for the music but also for the dancing.  I was mesmerized.  My parents taught me to dance at a young age.  Mom would put a record on the record player in the living room - most likely country music like Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, et - and teach me the 2-step or waltz while standing on her feet.   She had good rhythm (she played piano by ear) and would teach me through her own steps, literally. I love to dance.  My greatest moments of joy are when I am out on the dance floor. I'm not graceful, fluid, elegant or captivating.  I move for the sheer pleasure of movement.  I dance with abandonment.  I dance as if no one were watching. ...

Yesterday, August 9th, 2013, was another proud day in Blaine's life.   Senator Heidi Heitkamp presented Blaine with the United States flag that was flown over the United States Capitol.  There were people from the community there, fellow Wal-Mart coworkers, family and friends. News agencies from Jamestown (The Jamestown Sun and CSICable) as well as the news station Valley News Live (Fargo) were there also.  It was awesome to see Blaine shine in all of his glory once more.   I was so proud that I teared up and had a lump in my throat.  I'm so proud of my Blaine.  He IS the apple of my eye!

Today I got to spend some fabulous time with my family down in Adrian ND at my brother Terry's home.  Although the day was a bit chilly and windy, the day was perfect. When we were growing up - or rather, when I was growing up - we used to have family picnics out on the farm every August.   My father's birthday is August 9th, and my sister-in-law's birthday is on the 5th.  We (ok, me) would spend hours mowing the lawn and making sure it was ready for the picnic.  Mom would be frying chicken by the roasters full starting at dawn, and everyone would start piling in to the farm in the morning even though we didn't eat until 1 pm.   There would be mom's fabulous potato salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, cakes, bars, scrumptious fried chicken and anything else that mom thought would be fair game.  We never   ran out of food! We'd spend the day hanging out talking while the guys would play a bit of horseshoe.  The kids would ...