Duran Duran Come Back!!

This from Reuters. 80’s band Duran Duran perform songs from their new album to a London audience.
British band Duran Duran entertained fans at a London theatre with songs from their latest album ‘Red Carpet Massacre’.

The sell out gig was due to be held at a location in Leicester Square, a part of London where film premieres are often held. But the location was too small and the concert was relocated to the Lyceum theatre. The chart topping band from the 80’s have released their 13th album, and have already performed songs from it for fans on Broadway in New York.
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Did you see this? This is so funny to me, because from 7th grade on…this was my band! I LOVED Duran Duran! Then Andy and John left to do Power Station and Simon, Nick and Roger temporarily tried “Arcadia”–but they are back! Now maybe 25 years after falling in love with them–I may actually be able to see them in concert! Of course, now they are just a bunch of old guys–but hey, a girl can still dream!

Scouts!!

Jake made it to Scouts on Tuesday night. I feel so bad. It’s only the second time he’s made it since we moved here. First off, it took a month to find out where and when. Then–it’s on Tuesday night here, and no matter how many times I write it on the calendar–my brain naturally reverts back to the old house, and I wake him up every Wednesday morning saying, “Don’t forget–you have scouts…uh…last night. Never mind!” Pretty lame mom I know!

He’s in the Bears–and he’s finished up all of his requirements to get his Bear–but we’ve never been around to turn in his book to actually get the award. I’m afraid it will be too late since he already turned 10, but he earned it before then, so if they don’t give it to him–I will head to the Scout store and take care of it myself.

We were driving home Tuesday night–him holding his homemade Totem and eating fry bread, and I mentioned how next week he wouldn’t be there because he got Bulls tickets for his birthday and his game was that night. He was disappointed. But it wasn’t until about 2 hours after he’d gone to bed that I realized the game was on Monday night–and he would get to go to Scouts! Phew!

A Soldier’s Silent Night!!

‘Twas the night before Christmas

He lived all alone

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone

I had come down the Chimney with presents to give.

And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see.

No tinsel, No presents, Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand.

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,

A sobering thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,

I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,

curled up on the floor, in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured an infantry Soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up on his poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realised the families that I saw this night,

Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to Cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice.”

The solider rolled over and drifted to sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still

And we both shivered from the cold nights chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark, night.

This guardian of Honour, so willing to fight.

The solider rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,

whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, All is secure.”

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.

“Merry Christmas my friend, may God bless you tonight.”

This is a song that brings me chills–I wanted to share it with my mom, since it’s an original to the radio station here. So I was happy to find it. The words above are the poem the song was made from–although, slightly different—just as goose bump enticing! We owe everything we have to God and to the brave men and women who fight for our freedoms everyday. The freedom you have to deny God. The freedom you have to speak ill of God and mankind. Freedoms that I almost wish we didn’t have…these men and women fought for it all. They are far braver than I as a person–and 1000 times braver than I as a mother. I’m thankful for them everyday–and will look for a way to honor them, remember them and help them this Christmas Season. May GOD bless each and everyone of them!

The link below will take you to the website where you can listen to this beautiful piece of art. Enjoy!

Soldier’s Silent Night

Keeping Up The Yard!!

I wrote not that long ago about the neighbors that came and cleaned up the leaves in the yard. I was so thrilled for them to do it because I had been dreading it! Now the big job left is the back yard! I have to ‘winterize’ the entire thing–and I for one don’t even know where to begin! Do I just take the weed wacker and take everything down to the ground? How about the raspberry bushes? Do I cut them down too?

I guess the first stop would be to purchase a rake, and some yard bags–because I don’t own either one–then I guess I just get to go to town ripping everything up! If nothing grows back next year–I will feel terrible! This yard is GORGEOUS in the summer and I don’t want to ruin that at my first trip to bat!!

HELP!!

Hopefully The End!!

I have been sick for over a year! I never used to get sick–and now, I just can’t seem to get well! I was deaf over most of the summer with so much congestion in my head, and although I have maintained my hearing over the past several months-the congestion is still there.

I have heard that Cranberry juice can help boost the immune system–and KMart had a huge sale on Cranberry juice–so I literally have 10 bottles of the stuff. I hope Cran-Apple will boost the system as well, because–that’s about the only flavor I like!

I did buy Mucinex tonight to try to start breaking up the head/chest congestion. I really should just be on a really strong anti-biotic–but that would actually require me to get into the doctor–and with the other recurring chorus in this house—with four kids, it’s just not going to happen!! So wish me luck with my OTC medications and my cranberry juice!! I hope they work!

Lost It Again!!

I would like to be the first person (maybe) out there to SCREAM…I HATE WP 2.3.1!! I was told over and over to update–and I did, and you know what–it deleted my entire blog! Now, as I was ‘re-entering’ everything all day yesterday I realized that it was just on October 2nd that I did this same thing–although, miraculously–everything came back! I vowed then that I would never touch it again! Ha—nearly 2 months later–not only did I touch it–I LOST IT ALL!

Google had all of my posts cached as of November 11th, but there were a ton of posts between then and yesterday. Posts I didn’t even remember writing! We are talking over $200 in lost posts–scary! Luckily–way back when, I subscribed to this blog on my Google reader. I never look at Google reader–I don’t even understand why an RSS feed is cool-but let me tell you–yesterday it was a life saver! It held every post that I was missing–I was able to copy and paste them in, then go in and replace all of my photo’s and links. It took hours–and any ad over 30 days was not brought back–but every post I’ve written from the beginning to yesterday was returned–and it’s just amazing!

I’m not sure I’m sold on the new layout–I was really fond of my purple one–I may have to play with it later and find something I like–but at the time, in the stress of the moment…beggars could not be choosers!!

Our Second Honeymoon!!

This was our first chance in our marriage…well, since kids started coming 10 years ago–that my husband and I got to take a trip alone. Mind you, we’ve left the kids overnight with his parents and gone out together–the longest was two nights when we got a hotel downtown–but to actually get into an airplane and fly away…this was the first ever!

I was a little worried about this trip. You know…what do you talk about for a WHOLE weekend? No kids around to break up those uncomfortable silences! At the same time I was excited. Excited to reconnect with this person I call ‘husband’! The communication in our marriage has generally been one of…”OH…didn’t I tell you?” when I overhear my husband telling his parents something. Just kidding–although I do get that a lot–we rarely have the time to chit chat. He works such long hours that by the time he gets home at night–I’m winding up our day and heading to bed. So it’s usually in the car driving around town that we get to chat.

Well, chit chat in Vegas was great! We walked the strip holding hands, laughing at silly inside jokes that nobody would get…that I was surprised we still got! The last time we were in Vegas without kids—was our honeymoon. We walked the strip that night too–and it was the most painful experience ever. Not for any other reason than I was wearing two left shoes (yep, he married a blond)–so walking the strip in flip flops wasn’t any easier–but it was still just fun. Fun to be together. Fun to be alone together. Fun to be able to do anything we wanted without much of a schedule. We will be doing this every year, same weekend, different destinations! Next year it will either be Boston or Toronto–I’ll just have to surprise him!

Soldier Field!!

This monument stands on the North end of the stadium. The John F. Kennedy War Memorial, was dedicated to Veterans at a ceremony on Veteran’s Day 2003.

I mentioned earlier, this amazing quote from John F. Kennedy. Here is the picture of the monument as it stands outside of Soldier Field (home of the Chicago Bears). You know–it’s name is “Soldier Field” but I never really thought about why. It isn’t just a cool name–there are literally memorials all over the stadium to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. It truly is a monument in and of itself!

I have two friends that blog and both are experiencing wonderful things. The first is Karen. Her daughter is graduating from Coast Guard training and Petty Officer School. How exciting is that! It’s a tough course, out of the 18 that began–only 11 are graduating! Hat’s off to Stacy!

The second is Charlotte. Her daughter Andi is finishing up her tour in Iraq and will soon be stateside–safe and sound. What an amazingly brave young woman she is–I can’t imagine the joy and excitement her mom must be feeling to get her home! Welcome Home Andi–Godspeed!!

Camera’s Coming Out My Ears!!

Two weeks ago, I wanted to take the kids out and take their pictures. Mind you–I’m not really thrilled with the time/money/finished product of the “photo shops”, so this one was on me. I was prepared! I purchased a 2GB photo memory card–and I was set! Only problem…my obsolete little camera wasn’t compatible with this fabulous new card! So I did what any smart woman would do! What’s that?? Take the card back? Nope–I bought me a new camera that is compatible with the card–OK, so it isn’t what MOST smart women would do!!

So we go, get the pictures–AWESOME!! I have a sharp, new little camera–and we are off to Vegas! We get to Postie Con–and there are raffle tickets. Second to last prize of the day was a beautiful new Nikon digital camera with a 1 GB memory card. YEP!! I totally won it! So now I have an old (2 weeks) digital camera and a new one!

Oh to have been blessed with a little more patience in my life!! I would spend far less money if I could just learn to … wait!

New Christmas Tree!!

I bought a Christmas tree yesterday! I know–we are a little early! I got one of the prelit ones–just because, hey, with four kids—the worst part of Christmas is definitely the lights! This one is green–but it has just a little skiff of white on the branches–so cute! They had it very “country” decorated at the store–and I took pictures–because I thought it was so cute–but what I really can’t wait to do is make some salt dough gingerbread men–I love those!! So that is my project over the coming weeks!!

I need to go to the craft store today and find the heavy epoxy clear coat to completely cover each little ‘man’–it’s highly toxic–so that will be a job for the garage–after the kids are asleep!