Puff ... Revisited

Cleaning out closets and reorganizing cupboards is an annual tradition in our household. It seems that over the year it is all too easy to shove clutter into the closet under the stairs and forget about it for 12 months. And this year was no exception.

The other day my husband and I were busy sorting throw piles of scarves, hats and gloves; organizing the wrapping paper bins; and deciding what coats have been outgrown. While digging deep in the closet my husband pulled out his old guitar and began to tune it. We hadn't seen that thing for a while and it sparked some nostalgia in both of us.

The real excitement came when he began to play it for the kids. My daughter jumped up and down and begged for him to teach her how to play. My son's head bobbed to the beat as he giggled. Suddenly our home was filled with new found joy and music!

Yesterday I was drinking my morning tea when I heard the sound of strumming and the beat of a metronome coming from the family room. It was my daughter! There she sat strumming a guitar that was three sizes too big for her as her daddy patiently instructed how to properly hold a pick. My son lingered nearby, enjoying his sister's efforts.

My daughter carefully strums away - we just might have another guitar player in the family.

It has now become a bedtime tradition to have a song before going to sleep. Last night I put in a request for Puff the Magic Dragon as I so cherish the memories of my own dad playing that on his guitar for me as a child. My husband played while I sang, and the kids laid back and enjoyed the show. What a great way to start the new year!

Happy New Year everyone and have a very blessed 2010!

Blog Fodder

Some days I can't think of anything to blog about. Other days, it just pours out of me. Today is a blog fodder kind of day ...

Hot Date

It is a rare thing for my husband and I to have a date. We live in a town where the nearest relatives are 2 1/2 hours away, most of our friends have kids (and more of them than we do) and it doesn't seem right to ask them, and since we are pretty new to our current church we don't really know the teenagers enough to ask them to watch our kids. Fortunately, a very nice couple in our small group offered to watch our little ones if we ever wanted to go out. YES!!! This last Saturday we went on the first date since November and boy was it fun. We went to a charming little eatery and had a leisurely lunch. I also insisted that we take a couple of photos to remember who we are as a couple since almost all of our photos are of our kids.

Survival of the Fittest

I guess I wasn't fit in one of my Facebook "friends" opinion as I have been defriended. In Facebook you can remove someone as a friend and they may never know about it, or at least it could take a while. I was sorting through my friends and putting them into categories (i.e. family, high school, church, etc.) and discovered that someone wasn't on there any more. He was from my youth group in high school and I didn't know him that well, but still I feel the sting of rejection. Why was I removed? Did I offend? Did I get removed by accident? It's like high school all over again!

No Line on the Horizon

It's here. After 4 1/2 years since their last album, U2 has finally released a new one. Being a HUGE U2 fan I was quite excited. I have listened to it a couple of times now and I have decided that I like it. It may be a while before I love it, as most U2 albums need to grow on me. I mean I didn't even like them back in the 80s when they released their renowned album Joshua Tree (probably because I was listening to the poppy tunes of Debbie Gibson, I was only a 6th grader after all). I haven't had time to delve into the lyrical poetry of No Line on the Horizon, but knowing this morally conscious band, I'm sure it's in there. In the meantime, I have had a great time watching snippets of U2 on the Letterman Show last week. Here is an amusing clip featuring the "Top Ten Things U2 Has Learned Over the Years".

So Bad Yet So Good

I have discovered a bakery in town. That is both good and bad believe me! Good that the local bagel shop is no longer the only place to go for a morning treat and a decent cappuccino. Good that they sell fresh French breads and pastries - that fill my olfactory senses with wonderfulness as soon as I walk into the shop. Good that their cappuccino is so perfect that I can taste the whole milk, the good espresso and I don't even have to add sugar of any kind. Bad that I discovered this place and have already indulged, because now I can do nothing but dream of their croissants, their scones, and oh the chocolats! It's created a monster I'm afraid. Bad, bad Kelly!

Five Christmas Songs That I Love the Most

1. O Holy Night - Nat King Cole

Originally this song was a poem written by French poet Placide Cappeau. I love it not only because of the quiet and dramatic moments of the score, but the words are truly beautiful. With lyrics like''Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth." and "Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!" I can't help but be moved. It places emphasis on the birth of Jesus and the meaning of that miraculous event for sinners of the world. Nat King Cole's voice is smooth and sweet, making it my favorite song of the season.


2. Carol of the Bells - George Winston

I love this song when a choir performs it, but my favorite version is done in piano. George Winston is a pianist that I have had the privilege of seeing perform live. He is a staple in my household and this version of the Ukrainian Bell Carol is energetic and conjures us so many memories for me.


3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

This song is so much fun. I think I like it so much because it has that classic 1950s sound - it was recorded in 1958 - and just makes me want to dance. In fact as I listen to it in the car you might find me bopping along to it. It also makes me want to go ice skating for some inexplicable reason.


4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland

This song was introduced in the film Meet Me in St. Louis - a film I haven't actually seen. There is something comforting about hearing "Dorothy" singing a sentimental Christmas tune. Her voice is legend and in my opinion this is the best version of this song.


5. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby is a Christmas must in our house. To me he sounds like Christmas. His voice is rich and comforting and it just makes me want to curl up by the fire and knit when I hear it. Of course this song is performed in the classic film, White Christmas, and epitomizes that old Christmas feeling.

Bing Crosby

She's So Unusual

In a recent post, I mentioned that my husband brought home a record player from a garage sale. It was only $5; and I didn't mind the player but he brought home a Harry Chapin record much to my shigrin. Well, I have found that we have been using this record player quite a bit since it's purchase. My husband has quite a collection of records ranging from Ella Fitzgerald and Julie London to Kiddie Songs to the Bangles first album - can anyone say Walk Like an Egyptian?

This evening we were cleaning up after eating dinner when my husband puts a record in the player and let me just say ... I was overcome with giddy nostalgia! The beat of the music, the quirky melody, that unmistakable Betty Boop-like voice instantly took me back to when I was seven years old and buying my first record album with my own money. I was in the local Fred Meyer store perusing the titles, pretending to give everything careful consideration even though I already knew what I was going to get. Then I found my coveted treasure with a girl splashed on the cover wearing layers of thrift store finds and flaming multicolored hair. That's right folks, I picked Cyndi Lauper's She So Unusual. It was 1983, what else would it be?

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual

Tonight as I listened to my newly rediscovered treasure, I was surprised at how many of the lyrics I remembered. I was also reminded why I used to only listen to side A as it has all of the totally rad, awesome and cool songs on it. The B side - with the exception of She Bop - is forgettable and not nearly as interesting. I also think that this album sounds so much better on LP than a CD. It just doesn't have the same feel if it has been digitally remastered.

It's a Cruel, Cruel World

Oh no! It happened. I thought I had escaped it, I thought I was done with it forever. But no. It is back in my life I am not too pleased.

My husband, who can't resist a good garage sale, brought home this:

Harry Chapin - Verities & Balderdash

Not only that, but he brought home a portable record player to play it on! Not only that but he has played it already as my children danced to 30,000 Pounds of Bananas! Dad I know this must give you an incredible sense of glee that your music once again is in my home. Invading my audio senses. Seeping into my psyche.

I hope you are happy! It's a cruel, cruel world indeed.