Corn Roast 2008

A family tradition for decades is the annual Big Falls Corn Roast, which I know I've written about on this blog on previous years.  The roast is held on the Sunday before Labor Day every year, and Big Falls (pop. 75) swells to hold five to ten thousand visitors.  There's a parade followed by a festival with live music, beer, raffles, lots of food, and all the corn you care to eat.  The corn is free, donated by area farmers, and each year they go through about 6 TONS of corn.  It's insanity.  I didn't attend last year, because it was too close to my father's passing - and going without him just seemed unthinkable.  But this year the kids talked me into it.  Just before I left, Darren called from his big music camping festival in Birnamwood, asking me to come get his 14 year old daughter Meg, who was not having a good weekend of it, so I picked her and her best friend Grace up along the way.  I would have just taken them home, but they were game to come to the fest, so we all went and had a great time.  When I drove them home, all the lights were off on the north end of town (EVERYTHING - creepy!) so I just brought the girls to my house, and they and the boys are in the living room watching a movie and eating plenty of junk food.  It's nice to have a house full - and they are great girls.  

Tattoo Photos

In celebration of turning 40 and beginning life anew, my friends Julie and Dana gave me a tattoo - and yesterday was the day. It's a lower back tattoo (TRAMP STAMP at 40 - OMG) and it's my 4th tattoo. The other ones were done years ago and I thought I was over the tattoo thing, but I found that I really wanted this - so Hoss fit me in and after 2 1/2 hours of excruciating pain I now have a beautiful musical back tattoo. I say excruciating pain because truly it was, and that's saying something.....I have NEVER had pain during a tattoo before but this location is so sensitive I almost passed out - CRIPES! But it was worth it - I love it. Check out the photos.

I chose Hoss partly for his reputation, but largely because he for years has supported the Arts Alive Hospice fundraisers that I work with.  He has been a sponsor every year, and I feel it's important to recognize those who give to the community by giving back business when I can.  He was terrific (and didn't laugh at me when I almost died on the table.....)

Meanwhile on the home front, we are all settling into our new lives.  The kids seem at peace.  The time they spend with John (which is frequent) is filled with fun and laughter.  And at home we are having a blast together.  I reconnected with someone from my past who makes me feel terrific.  And I'm so blessed to have support from family and friends who have been wonderful to all of us.  There will be bumps in the road.....but I feel positive we'll all make it through.

Today"s Plan.....A New Tattoo

At 3 crucial junctures in my life I have gotten tattoos. After the last one, I thought I was finished. But turning 40 next week coupled with the big change in my personal life has led me to decide on a new one - a lower back tattoo that I'm getting today at 4pm with Hoss. Dana and Julie pitched together to pay - it's a birthday gift. Can't wait. Watch for photos - Dana's coming to take pics for me.

Great Sportsmanship.....LOL!

Adjusting.....

Yesterday, my husband of 13 years moved out of the house.  This has been a long time coming and I can honestly say that I think we will be better friends once the dust has settled.  We are both looking forward to a new chapter in our lives and the challenges ahead.  Finally told the kids yesterday afternoon when they got home from the lake......after a few tears they too realized that this will be better for all of us.  And so.....a new life begins.  Sad.  Scared.  But relieved, too.

My dad always said 13 was the luckiest number - maybe it's true, and this was the best time to leave.  I know it won't be easy, but luckily John moved in with his brother about 6 blocks away, so the kids can go back and forth easily.  And despite the tears, we are both moving forward and wish each other well.  Still.....it's a huge adjustment for all of us.  I know my dad is watching me and giving me the strength I need to make it through - and I have incredible friends and family for support....I am not alone.

Photos from Julies family bbq!

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Here's the view from backstage at blues fest. Thanks Darren!
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Pic from blues fest
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Una Notte Bella 2008

The planning is on for Una Notte Bella 2008, the Conservatory's annual fundraiser in October and this year I'm co-chairing the event with Amy Plier.  Our theme this year is France, and we're planning an incredible evening with a french flair - wonderful food and an incredible Milwaukee based French musician, Robin Pluer.  One cool thing this year is a project started by one of the WCM parents - taking completely unusable violins and turning them into artwork to auction off.  16 regional artists have agreed to create a piece, and the first one has just arrived from artist Mark Mittlestadt - this is entitled - HOT MUSIC.  I love it - and can't wait to see the rest as they begin to trickle in.

Olympics

The Summer Olympics has me mesmerized - I love the games as I always have.  Is Michael Phelps not the Bionic Man?  Holy crap.  Gotta love it.  And those synchronized divers?  Wow.  We saw the Chinese pair with their hair cut and styled exactly the same.....Rowan looked at me, shook his head and said - now, that's just creepy.

Still irritated that the games ended up in China....but watching those Chinese gymnasts last night I couldn't help but root for them.  Their floor exercises were works of art compared to our tumbling acts.  And, too, you've gotta wonder what it's like for them if they lose.  (They won gold - a sigh of relief, no one's gonna get shot today.)

Oh, I'm being unfair, I suppose.

Note to the volleyball players - get the undies out of your @sses, please.  (Yes, I am obsessed with the volleyball outfits. I know.  I KNOW!)

In Olympics news, (and in support of my what-it's-like-not-to-win-in-China-theory), China's men's gymnastics coach said he would throw himself off the highest building in China if his men's team didn't win gold.  

Seriously.  SERIOUSLY?

In which case Michael Phelps would have rushed to the nearest phone booth, ripped off his clothes, and flown to save the coach in the nick of time.

One would hope, anyway.  Thankfully, the Chinese won gold and we'll never have to know.

Lose Your Camera?

Check the I Found Your Camera blog at www.ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com - It posts photos that people have found, either physical pictures or those in cameras or on memory cards. People email the photos to the blog’s founder, Matt Preprost, along with information about where and when they were found. Preprost then posts the pictures online, hoping that people will spot themselves in the photos and claim them. Nearly 100 photo sets have been posted to the blog, and 10 of them have been claimed. That 10% success rate encourages Preprost to keep up his work. He says the photos contain memories that their owners probably thought were gone for good, and to give those memories back to them is very rewarding.

Three years ago Dana and I lost a camera up at the Hodag Country Music Festival - I can honestly say I hope those photos DON'T show up on the I Found Your Camera blog......LOL!

Central WI Idol

This past weekend, I was asked to judge a singing competition for Fox called Central Wisconsin Idol.  The winner of this local competition won a guaranteed audition with American Idol Producers on August 18th in New Jersey along with an all expenses paid trip.  I was happy to be part of the process and there was a lot of raw talent there.  Trayce, the other judge, agreed that with training some of these people could be incredible.  But the minute I heard the winner open her mouth and sing I knew she was the one - the total package.  Congratulations to Tana DeLonay, who is a Conservatory student and former Choralation singer.  I would not be surprised if she ended up on the show - she is amazing!

Summertime....

....is my favorite season.

I love everything about it.  The sunshine, the breezes.  The cool nights.  I love that the kids are here with me instead of off at school all day long.  I love not having to get up early to get them off to school, since I always have to work really late at night.  I love spending my lunch hour floating in the pool with a good book and an iced tea.  And I love that the kids and I have time to do silly things together.  Tonight at about 9, we decided to all climb into the convertible and go for a spin.  We went to visit my dad at the cemetery, then went and got an ice cream at DQ.....then sat around the kitchen table and played a rip roaring game of Yahtzee, which Rowan won handily.  (I came in 2nd, and Devon 3rd.  Good thing they are both good sports!)  I suppose most people reading this would roll their eyes and think - eghad, a Saturday night playing Yahtzee and eating ice cream?  But to us it was fun.  We laughed and giggled and broke the zoom on my blackberry trying to take photos in the car (don't ask) and discussed why, exactly, their friend Joey has decided not to take a shower for the rest of the summer.  (Again - you don't want to know.)

At 11 and 12, I'm lucky they still want to hang out with their old mom.  I must seem pretty ancient to them sometimes.

I wish the summer would never end.

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Simon thinks those olympics volleyball outfits look just a little too tight in the butt. How comfortable can THAT be?
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Why I love working at home!
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