Write A Letter!

Betty Eldridge, of New Port Richey, Florida, mailed her teeth first-class to Tallahassee. That was more than a year ago, and she's seen them only once since. But she doesn't miss them. Edlridge, who's 71, wrote to the dentist who made her teeth, "Without a doubt they are the worst set of dentures I have ever seen, and I've seen lots." After writing the dentist she sent her dentures and a complaint letter to the state Department of Health. That was a year ago. Now, as she waits for some sort of resolution, Eldridge is sticking to meals of mashed potatoes, rice and twice-cooked chicken nuggets.

Flute

At an estate sale recently, I found a vintage Armstrong 80 French style flute with a B foot - solid silver head, silver plated body - for an absolute song and picked it up. I'm excited to report that I've found someone both reasonably priced and well recommended to give it an overhaul. I'm currently playing on a Gemeinhardt that works just fine, but I miss the brilliant sound I have always found on an Armstrong. Many would argue that Kurt Gemeinhardt's flutes are superior - and at one time they were, but that was years ago. I don't think this flute will need too much - in fact, the pads look pretty good, (two keys are sticking) - cosmetically, this instrument is beautiful with no scratches or dings, and a gold mouthpiece (no more flute black on the lip!). I'm hopeful for a good result and expect it back in-house in two weeks tops. Would love to have it back in time for our next symphony concert but I don't think that's going to happen. You never know, though!

Ipod Body Armor

An iPod saved a soldier's life in Iraq. The MP3 player stopped a bullet from an insurgent's AK-47. Kevin Garrad (3rd Infantry Division) was on a street patrol in Iraq and as he rounded the corner of a building an armed insurgent came from the other side. The two of them were within just a few feet of each other when they opened fire. The insurgent was killed and Kevin was hit in the left chest where his iPod was in his jacket pocket. It slowed the bullet down enough that it did not completely penetrate his body armor. Fortunately, Kevin suffered no wound. (Here's a photo of the iPod.) An Apple engineer got wind of what the iPod did for the soldier and plans to help Garrad get a new one.

Lazy Dog Days

Novel

For the past three years, I have been working on a novel. Not just one novel, but I get halfway done, hate it, and start over. I have taken two novel writing classes, both of which have been extremely helpful in figuring out how to flesh out characters and plotlines, but haven't found exactly the right story to tell. When my father became ill, I started fresh and have been working on it ever since. Someone I work with who is a published author gave me advice a few weeks ago that I have adhered to since - write one page a day. Every day. No matter what, one page. Like it or hate it, it's the best way to get your creative juices flowing - and so far I think he's right! I have been writing a page a day, even on the busiest days - and so far the result has been some solid work toward my goal - and I really love the storyline.
Aspiring authors - take the advice of my friend and write a page a day. If you do, you'll have a novel in a year.....and that's a reachable goal.

The Smartest Dog in the World

I love this!

Swimsuit Season

Summer is creeping up and I can't wait. Hands down it's the best time of the year. For the past three years we have had a snapset pool from Intex in the backyard - the White Trash version of a luxury pool. We loved it and used it every day it was warm enough. The tough part is putting it up and taking it down every year - it wasn't one of those inflatable ring pools, it was a PVC frame pool that took hours to set up. So this year I've taken the plunge and have bought a "real" pool from the Pool People. It's all being delivered on Monday, and I've hired our friendly neighborhood handyman, Jason, to come install it for me, which should take him roughly a day or so. My backyard is too small for the 24 footer I wanted, so I bought the 21 foot round Doughboy - that way there'll still be plenty of room for the dogs and kids to play, and to fit the trampoline. After the pool's in, Jason is building me a deck, too - nothing fancy, just a rectangle off the house that I can put some furniture on for cookouts and parties. Right now, thanks to the dog, our backyard looks absolutely terrible, so I'm looking forward to the upgrade - and plenty of lunchtime breaks reading on my lounge chair in the pool!

Happy Easter!

In Vino Veritas

Got my wine from the Wine Club and have totally fallen in love with an Australian called Henry's Drive Pillar Box Red, vintage 2005. Here's what the writeup looks like:

Pillar Box red is an opaque red/black color with a scarlet rim. It displays aromas of sweet, ripe red berries underpinned cinnamon spice and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and fleshy with vibrant raspberry & blackcurrant fruit intertwined with a citrus like cedary oak complexity. The tannins are full yet soft and supple, combined with the gentle acidity to produce a lingering harmonious finish.
This wine scores a 91 and is one of the best values available from the Wine Club.

Buy it here:
http://www.thewineclub.com/187701?id=7cnmwytW

Elks Club Night

John joined the Elks club back in September and has gotten quite active with the organization. Last month he was elected as an officer and last night was installed as the organization's Lecturing Knight for the year. We all dressed up to celebrate and attend the installation and dinner. He's pretty excited about it. I have been all for this Elks thing but after last night it has become clear that they expect spouses to be just as active, attending national conventions and that kind of stuff with the officers. I won't go this year, but I might go next year to Anaheim and the year after to Portland. What the heck - a chance to see places I otherwise would not.

Sorry, President Kennedy

Sorry, President Kennedy. Tampa misspelled your name. The city put up a new street sign this week but spelled Kennedy "Kenndey." The city has put up a corrected sign.

Covering ALL the Bases

Wouldn't want to chance making a mistake on this one, eh?

Wine Time

At my sister's suggestion, I have ordered a case of wine from the Wine Club of California - what spectacular wines they have at terrific prices! Check them out at www.thewineclub.com and find deals like this - for only 10 bucks a bottle:
Crios de Susana Balbo: Malbec
The wine has a beautiful reddish/purple color as most good Malbecs do. The aromas are a mix of fresh crushed cherries and toasty/smoky oak—just enough to frame the exuberant fruit. On the palate, the flavors of cherries and spice are obvious, and the jammy fruit quality just keeps coming on strong, with hints of spice lurking in the background. This is a wine that you’ll want to buy by the case because it can be consumed at almost any occasion, whether at a fancy dinner party, or just curled up on the couch in front of a movie. Fun and delicious.

The Wine Enthusiast Subtle and smooth from start to finish. The aromas are sly but sturdy, with mocha and blackberry sticking out. The flavor profile is pure black fruit with underlayers of spice and chocolate. A ripe, really good example of approachable Malbec. Score: 90. —Michael Schachner, December 01, 2006.

The Wine Spectator Plump and juicy, with blackberry and black cherry fruit on a creamy texture. Toasty finish. Drink now through 2007. Score: 88. —James Molesworth, September 30, 2006.

Producer Crios de Susana Balbo
Varietal Malbec
Category Red
Region Argentina : Mendoza
Alcohol 13.5%

Musings from the Mall

After booking the trip to Mexico, I realized I have Nothing To Wear, so I set out to the mall to buy a few things that I'll need prior to departure. I'm a curvy girl, see, so I know I need to look in the Curvy Girl section of the stores. No problem, right? Um - right. That is, if I want my ass, which is already the size of Montana, to look even larger than it already is. Why any curvy girl would want to wear big flowers and horizontal stripes - well, the reasoning here escapes me. My search will continue for the perfect swimwear.
As the temperatures have risen, so has my mood. I'm feeling hopeful and looking forward to summer and the adventures ahead.
My good friend Duff Damos, who lost his own father a few years ago, told me that while I will always miss my father, the WAY I miss him will change. I find hope in that.

Local Idiot Story

I just love these....
Applebee's proposer arrested for probation violation

By Jeff Starck
Wausau Daily Herald
jstarck@wdhprint.com March 23, 2007

A Wausau man who proposed March 15 to his girlfriend while dining at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar on Stewart Avenue was told "yes" by his new fiancee, but the authorities said "no" a day later.

Peter McGreck, 26, was arrested March 16 for violating the terms of his probation and spent three days in the Marathon County Jail. McGreck was on an electronic monitor at the time of his arrest.

McGreck might not have been arrested had he not contacted the Wausau Daily Herald before popping the question. A photo of the proposal was published on the newspaper's Web site.

McGreck, who served 4 1/2 years in prison for forgery, was supposed to be at work while he was proposing and was not allowed to be in a place that serves alcohol, said Mike Williams, the Department of Corrections' local field supervisor.

"When a person is on an electronic monitor and is supposed to be at work, it depreciates the value of the programs when he wasn't where he was supposed to be," Williams said.

A corrections agent was looking at local Web sites and saw the photo and notified McGreck's agent. They confirmed McGreck's whereabouts, issued a warrant and arrested him for the violation. Williams said agents often find people who violate their probation on the Internet, newspapers and other forms of media.

McGreck said he had verbal permission to be out that night from his probation agent, but it was not in writing. McGreck had the evening off from his job at Emma Krumbee's in Rib Mountain, a job he has since lost.

Good Advice......Good Advice

Parasailing Gone Wrong

Incredibly wrong.....

Happy Birthday Rowan!

March is a month of birthdays for us, and Rowan turned 11 today at 3:09PM. Since everyone had to work tonight, we won't have his family party until tomorrow, so I told him I could take him anyplace he wanted to go for dinner. Anywhere! So, where does he pick? TACO JOHN'S. Uncle David and Grandma rode along and his best friend Wyatt joined us as well. It's hard to believe he is 11 - before you know it he'll be 22!

March 16th

Today would have been my father's 78th birthday.
I can't stop thinking about him. I think it's harder now than it was when he first passed away.....now that everything is "done". The funeral is over, the thank-you cards have been written. Now it's just supposed to be life as normal, but nothing seems normal anymore.
In an effort to combat my increasing depression, I have booked a trip to Mexico for May. My best friend Dana and I have talked about going for 10 years - and we're finally doing it. It sounds like heaven - four nights on the beach in the Riviera Maya. I plan to do nothing but plunk my butt in the sand and read....maybe do some kayaking and wind surfing. I think that it can only help, right? I'm attaching some photos from the website of the resort we have booked.

Peace Day

This week marked Peace Day, and my boys' school celebrated by performing some special songs in the middle of the Wausau Center Mall. They rode the city bus and had lunch at a downtown restaurant afterward - a very fun field trip. I had a hard time attending, because it's exactly the thing my father would not have missed.
I think this first year will be the hardest - filled with firsts of loneliness. Since my dad and I were practically joined at the hip, everything we normally did together - the downtown concerts, the festivals, the fair, the field trips....all feels so different now. My friend Duff Damos, who lost his own father a few years ago, told me this - "you'll always miss him.....but the WAY you miss him changes after awhile". I'm holding onto that.
Meanwhile, after about 2 feet of snow in the past two weeks, it appears spring may indeed be on the horizon with 50 degree temps and major snow melt today. I opened windows and drank in the fresh air. It was fantastic - the best I've felt in months.