This past weekend Teacherman (my hubby) and I had the awesome pleasure of attending Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice concert at St. John the Divine’s Cathedral in New York City.  It was the 30th anniversary for the concert and construction on the cathedral was complete so the entire cathedral was open for the first time in many years.   We have wanted to attend the Winter Sosltice concert for over 20 years, ever since we first went to see Paul Winter in concert and heard about it, so even a winter blizzard that was rolling in wasn’t going to keep us from going.  It had already started to snow earlier in the morning, but by afternoon the snow had temporarily stopped. The weather channel was calling for 12 inches or more by later in the evening. We left early in the afternoon and arrived in New York by train with of plenty of time.  We then took a cab up to the cathedral and found a restaurant near by and had a lovely dinner.  On the way back to the cathedral we stopped in a bookstore to browse and warm up a bit and then made our way to the cathedral.  It was a truly wintry magical evening honoring the longest night and the sun’s return and a reminder to one and all to focus on the blessings in our lives and to always remember that even in darkest of night, the light continues to shine.

While there I picked up the Silver Solstice cd (music from the 25th Winter Solstice Celebration). I highly recommend it and all of Paul Winter’s cds, these are a few I have: Earthbeat, Wintersong,  Journey with the Sun (Summer Solstice), and Wolf Eyes- songs from the cds are also available for downloading and make a great addition to a magical musical collection.

It was truly a magical and awe inspiring event – the music floated through the cathedral, beating drums awakened the soul, the golden ship (symbol of the sun) sailed down the center aisle, the whales sang and the sounds of the night (owls, crickets) paid homage to the longest night and then the vibrating sounds of the sun gong were heard as it it was slowly raised 100 feet, all the way to the ceiling of the cathedral.  We howled with the wolves and honored the Mother Earth.  The beautiful voices of the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble inspired joy and celebration in the heart.  The Forces of Nature Dance Theater performers were a delight to the eyes and ears.   A gigantic spiral Solstice Tree (inspired by the tradition of the Tree of Life and World Tree) graced the stage, adorned with a myriad of bells, gongs and chimes (to symbolize the diversity of beings in the life family).  At the conclusion of the concert, the Sosltice Tree was brought to the center of the stage and all the dancers and singers danced and sang around the tree in celebration, and everyone in the audience got to their feet, clapping along to the beat of magnificant drumming.  As everyone was leaving the cathedral  we were greeted by the blizzard.  Several inches of snow had arrived and a blanket of snowy sparkles covered everything.  Someone in the crowd began howling to the wolves and it echoed across the wintery wonderland, and a chorus of howls rose up from the crowd as we all stepped out into the night howling and laughing as we began our journey homeward.

Words truly can’t describe the experience.  Below are some links and youtube videos of some of the highlights from past concerts, there is even a link for a free download of 9 Paul Winter tracks.

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday filled with blessings, love and light, Lady Rose

Paul Winter Links and Videos:

FREE Downloads - 9 tracks from Paul Winter’s Solstice Journey (http://paulwinter.bandcamp.com/)

Links provide by Paul Winter’s Living Music from an email we recieved: “To give you a feel for music of the Pokrovsky Ensemble, we’ve collected a few videos from past solstices and performances given in Russia. We’ve also found a video of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, our other special guest ensemble.”

2008 Winter Solstice – nice overview of varioius performers who have performed last year, begins with the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble performing one of my favorites (they also performed this year)

2008 Finale – can see the Solstice Tree, but a different song then the one played this year

2004 Winter Solstice, 25th anniversay – nice overview, can see the Sun Gong ascending 100 feet

Forces of Nature Dance Theater - video of a performance they did at Central Park. Seeing them in person at the Paul Winter Concert was incredible.

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, Paul Winter, Winter Solstice, Yule

I’m taking the day off Friday, October 30th, to relax and enjoy my 54th birthday. We will be celebrating on Sunday with a trip to Medieval Times (more about that later). I feel like I’ve been celebrating already for a few weeks with all the fun things I’ve been up too lately.

Late Sept. I went to a Native American Indian harvest festival with Angelgirl (my daughter) – it was small but nice, held at a farm about 15 minutes away. Angelgirl and I enjoyed a relaxing morning browsing the displays and a couple of demos, and listening to speakers, stories, and some music. When it came time for dancing and they asked folks to join – I, of course, jumped in – and Angelgirl pretended not to know me.  LOL   It was adorable.

Oct. started off with a date with Teacherman, my hubby, to see Billy Crystals’ one man show, 700 Sundays at a theater in Philadelphia. It was “truly maaaarvelous”. He is an outstanding performer and the show was very funny, as well as touching the heart and leaving a few tears in our eyes. He told stories about growing up, his parents, etc. – the title for the show comes from the 700 Sundays he had with his dad before his father passed away when Billy Crystal was a young teen.

The following week (Oct. 8th) we went, along with another couple, to see Bruce Springstein playing his next to last concert at the “old” Giants stadium. He wrote a new song in honor of the stadium, “wrecking ball,” since the old stadium will be torn down soon. He is always at his best when in he plays in New Jersey, and the concert was great. This tour he plays a different album each night – our night he did the Born to Run album, which of course is awesome. The show even had fireworks at the finale.

For my birthday we are going to Medieval Times (on Nov. 1) – it has been over 15 years since we’ve been. I’m very very excited; plus we have the royalty package so we have FRONT row seats which is just going be soooo very cool (included is a dvd of the show and a cheering banner so we can wave it as we cheer our knight during the joust). Teacherman surprised me by getting a limo to take us all – which adds a big WOW factor to the day. There will be six of us, Teacherman and Angelgirl, my mom and two good friends from work (my friends and I are getting dressed in medieval costume which is going to add even more fun). Doors open 90 minutes before the show so there is plenty of time to mingle in the big room with the bar, where the characters from the show (the knights!) come out and mingle and photos can be taken. For the limo ride up we have a bottle of sparkling white wine and bottle of red wine chilling, and we are also packing some shrimp, cheese and crackers and for the ride home we are bring strawberries and chocolate dip along with a tin of the fancy cookies shaped like a straw. (I won’t be indulging, of course, but I can at least sip my ice water from a chilled glass in the limo and for a huge splurge I can have a strawberry on way home.)

I am so very thankful to have this time with my family and friends.

Wishing every one a happy and safe Halloween.   Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:birthday, concert, events, outings

Greetings one and all.  I know it has been awhile since I’ve posted here, so let me catch you up on what’s been going on and some of the fun things I’ve been up too lately and other fun things planned for the future. 

Since my gastric bypass surgery on Aug. 6th, I’ve been focusing on creating a healthy eating plan that works with the “pouch” (the 2 oz stomach created by the surgery), constructively dealing with emotional and mental obstacles and overall generally putting all my energy into getting healthy, enjoying life and taking one step at time to achieve my goals.  It’s been a time where I feel I needed to withdraw a bit and just focus on my top priorites – my health, my family and the day to day challenges as well as the daily surprises and the general ups and downs.  I have also been reflecting on what in life brings me joy and contentment, and focusing my energy, not just on physical health, but on spiritual well being as well, which for me includes spending quality time with family and good friends.  

The first few weeks after the surgery were a roller coaster at first, with a bit of weight gaining for a few days followed by struggling to lose, then gaining a few pounds again and ending up frustrated because I wasn’t making any progress.  Not exactly what I had expected.  However, my body seems to have calmed down a bit and healing well, and finally I’ve seen some weight loss  (I’ve lost 25 lbs in the past two weeks, and overall since I started with the pre-op process on March 3, 2009, I’ve lost a total now of 79.5 lbs).  If any one is interested in more details about gastric bypass and\or my journey to get healthy, feel free to stop over at my blog Diet Pulpit.

Overall life is going along very well. Angelgirl is enjoying the 8th grade. Teacherman’s leg injury, from the fall he had on Aug. 6th, is healing well.

Last weekend Angelgirl and I attended a small Native American Indian Event at a local farm about 15 minutes away. We spent the morning listening to stories and music, browsing booths, looking over artifacts, and admiring beadwork, especially a bead project the woman was working on a bead loom (oooooh I so want one – but will resist the urge for now - I have too many crafts around already that I don’t have time for). The Lenapi Indian reservation is not far and they hold larger events there on a regular basis. I hope to be able to attend more often and learn more about their culture. Native American traditions are very close to a wiccan way of life and it is always spiritually renewing to be around others who also respect and honor the Earth. 

We have a lot of fun events to attend coming up this month and through to December and beyond. Hubby and I will be enjoying with friends the comedian Billy Crystal and a Bruce Springsteen concert. I am also planning to go Medieval Times (medieval dinner and show) some time around my birthday which is Oct. 30th. I’ve invited a couple of my girlfriends from work and my mom to come along, but we haven’t set the date yet (most likely early November).

In December we are going  with another couple to see the Paul Winter concert held at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine In New York. It is an awesome Winter Solstice performance and this year is their 30th anniversary so it’s just going to be stunning.  I have wanted to attend this Annual Pilgrimage from Darkness into Light for over 17 years ever since I first heard Paul Winter in concert. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the solstice than with good friends, awesome music and watching the huge sun disk floating across the ceiling of the cathedral.  We are going to make a day of it in New York to see the holidays lights, the big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and a nice dinner.

Teacherman is looking forward to it and he thinks it will be a grand idea if we can round out the experience to balance out the year by attending the Summer Solstice Sunrise Drumming Event in Philadelpia in June, it is held on the roof top of the theater and everyone brings a drum (link for the 2009 event).

I am looking forward to enjoying these awesome events with family and close friends.  It is a double bonus for me for many of these events because they are closely related to wiccan themes and they are renewing to my spirit as well.

Some long term possible future plans include attending Womon Gathering next June and possibly taking a Qi Gong class or two (if I can find one locally, so far I haven’t been able to find one, but I’m still looking).  

Mama Kelly and I had such an awesome time when we attended Womon Gathering  in 2008 (one of many posts about our experience:  Friday at Womon Gathering 2008), that I definitely want to go again, and hopefully every year or every other year if need be.   Plans didn’t work out to attend this year, Womon Gathering 2009, so I’m not taking any chances for next year and planning early.  Teacherman and I discussed it and  I decided that I am going to go in June 2010.   I know it’s a bit early to be thinking about next June, but registration is in December so it doesn’t hurt to plan early. 

Having driven there once before, I feel comfortable with the idea of going by myself if I needed to, but I’d be happy to have friends or family come along if they wanted to attend also.   I’ve been getting the word out, so folks can start thinking about it and let me know what their plans are in case any one wants to  corrdinate registration and cabin accommodations (need to put on the form names of those you want to share a cabin with), and later on driving arrangements (I can only fit one other person in my car, but if more then that end up coming along, could always split the cost of renting a bigger car or just forming a train of cars).  

So if any one is planning to attend Womon Gathering 2010, let me know in case you want to corrdinate cabin arrangements or travel plans together or arrange to get meet and get together at the event.

As my 54th birthday approaches, Oct. 30th, and as part of my overall journey to wellness in all aspects of my life, I am making sure that I put time and energy into taking care of me and not letting the bumps in the road of life  or the negativity of others drain away my energy or focus.    A big treat I gave myself was getting a new car (a 2009 Ford Focus, it is a cute little 2-door silver coupe).  My old car was a 14-year-old Prism, that needed repairs, the air conditioner no longer worked and it really needed to be replaced.   Teacherman said he would get me Vanity Plates as a birthday gift if I wanted them - I am hoping that LDYROSE is available – if it’s not, I’m not sure what else I would chose.  I don’t want something too witchy, since in a few years Angelgirl will mostly likely be also driving this car.     I also treated myself to a trip to the hair salon – for a wash and very small trim (only about an inch or two).  The ladies at the shop down the street were very nice and amazed that I hadn’t been to a salon since my wedding in 1991 and that I never, ever plan on getting my hair cut.   The woman who washed my hair said it was the longest she had ever washed.  For me, it was definitely a luxuary indulgence but one I gave myself as a treat to celebrate the weeks of recovering from surgery being over and feeling good.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even get my nails done one of these days in the not too distant future.  It would be a first, since I’ve never had manicure.

I am also enjoying the sense of empowerment and appreciation for life that comes from the wisdom of the Crone.  Fall is my favorite time of year, even though it is a mixture of sadness over some past events, it is also for me a time of year that fills me a renewed sense of spiritual awareness, reflection, and connetion with the Goddess.

At this time of year, the Crone’s energy is all around us, the cool breezes, the blazing colors of the leaves, reminding us that there is light and there is darkness, but we are capable of wisdom, strength, and love; our spirits can endure and thrive if we open ourselves to being in harmony with nature, staying grounded and balanced, and sharing the warmth of love and friendship with others.

May the blessings of the Crone heal your spirit and fill your life with wisdom, 

Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, family, gastric bypass surgery, health, life in general

Well the birthday and graduation celebrations are all finally done.  What began with a lovely outing to the Well Sweep Herb Farm at the beginning of the month (and way too many presents) ended* with the Celtic Woman concert on this past Monday.  Now Lady Rose already shared her own thoughts on that evening, but let me tell you that we all had a fabulous time.

Seeing a concert in a suite setting is a truly once in a lifetime experience, especially if you are someone (like me) who detests crowds and loud noise with a passion.  I got to be a part of this wonderful group experience, enjoy the energy of a live concert while feeling as secure as if I was in my own living room.  Additionally, being able to sit in a lounge and eat dinner while chatting with friends (old and new) before the show and during intermission was simply delightful.

The show itself was simply wonderful.  The women’s voices (Chloe, Lisa, Lynn, & Alex) were truly angelic.  The drummers stirred my blood and the Celtic violinist, Mairead (who btw has her own solo album Raining Up), was simply amazing.  The show was not fully appreciated by Princess Nibbles (give her time to grow into it) but Miss Artistic loved it.  Now, granted, I don’t expect her to ask for the CD for Yule or anything, but it was great to see her give a different genre of music a fair try and groove on it enough to clap her hands and sway a bit.

While I will say that I enjoyed the more traditional tunes (Danny Boy for one) to the covers they performed (though their rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors was quite lovely) I enjoyed each and every song they performed. I only wish I had jotted down notes during the show (I was too busy having fun) or at least had purchased a program so I could remember the names of some of the pieces they sang that I wasn’t previously familiar with …. but the one that stuck with me the longest (that took a bit of work to find since I only remembered the theme and not a scrap of the lyrics) was “At The Céili”

“And me I made my choice as well
And in no way was it easy
But I’d rather have a man for love
Than be a rich man’s lady”

Graduation (which we attended in the hours preceding the concert) went off without a hitch and I can’t believe Miss Artistic will be attending high school in the fall (and will be working a real job over the summer). I am proud of her, for all she overcame in the past year and a half, and all I can see her achieving throughout the rest of her life as I know she can truly go far as she is so bright and talented. We gave her a mix of smaller gifts instead of one larger one (art stuff and a disposable cell phone) and took her out to eat at a local Japanese Buffet restaurant with plentiful and varied sushi which was just what she wanted and was really very very good (even Mr. Grumpy enjoyed himself and he can generally always find something to complain about).

Things are still busier than usual here in Mama Kelly’s household. Work has been trying, Saturday is belt testing for the girls in their Taekwondo class, there is cleaning to do for my friend “E” coming in from out of state for July 4th and tomorrow night will find me attending a Mary Kay party.  I am not one generally speaking for the make-up, tupperware, lingerie, or other type of parties.  I am not one for social gatherings with people I don’t know to be perfectly honest.  But, I am going because I was invited by the step-mom of one of Miss Artistic’s best friends and as they host a number of sleepovers (more than we manage) it seemed like the right thing to do.

So anon my dear readers. A little more time for things to calm down and we should be back to your regularly scheduled Pagan programming soon.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

PS links to youtube “videos” that share the audio of the songs from the same performance we attended:

Goodnight My Angel
Dulaman
When You Believe
Fields of Gold
Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears

* I have one more birthday outing coming.  In the latter half of July I will be going to Atlantic City for an overnight with my friend “M2.”  This one is to celebrate her birthday as much as mine as she will have finally caught up and hit the big 4-0 as well.  I am looking forward to it as an opportunity to spend an evening being just Kelly … not wife, not mom, just me.

Written by Mama KellyTags:birthday, concert, music

Monday evening was part two of Mama Kelly’s 40th birthday celebration – the Celtic Woman Isle of Hope concert.  The music and performance were breathtaking, joyful to the spirit, and a delight for all the senses.  It was truly an awesome experience from start to finish.  They are on tour for June and July and if you get the chance I definitely recommend seeing them live.

I’ll just give you a brief overview of the evening and let Mama Kelly fill you in on more details.

Teacherman and I rented a suite and ordered catering for the event.  It was a combination 40th birthday for Mama Kelly (June 10th), 70th birthday for my mom (July 13th), and celebrating Mama Kelly’s daughter, Miss Artistic’s graduation from 8th grade (that very day June 22nd). 

It was the first time for everyone attending to be in a suite for any event – so the joke of the evening was we were all “suite virgins.”  

The food was good and plentiful.  I even shared some with the folks in the suite next to us.  Everyone got to take some leftovers home (I had ziplock bags in my purse) and the rest of the food the arena staff quickly and efficiently boxed up for us to bring home.

The catering package I ordered included a cheesecake, which was perfect for mom’s birthday since it is her favorite.  I picked up a small strawberry shortcake and small brown derby chocolate cake for Mama Kelly’s birthday and her daughter’s graduation.  I also included cards for our guests of honor  (with a bonus $20 for the gradate), a few simple decorations – some  40th and 70th candles and a congratulations graduate center piece to highlight the occasions.

We clapped and danced in our seats through the concert.  An unexpected  bonus for hubby and I was one of the songs they performed was our “wedding” song – Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.  The awesome music, good food, and gathering of  great friends and family combined to create one of those magical moments in time that will be remembered with a smile and cherished for years to come.

I highly recommend taking a listen to the music by Celtic Woman.  You may also be able to catch them on tv.  They appear on the PBS channel. I’m looking forward to their new live show for PBS Television and DVD at Powerscourt House and Gardens. It is scheduled for filming  in County Wicklow, Ireland on Wednesday July 29th and Thursday July 30th 2009.

I have one Celtic Woman cd (The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection) and they performed several of the songs at the concert.  Two of my favorites from this cd are Butterfly and The Voice.  I hope to get a couple others later on, such as this delux package - A New Journey (cd w/bonus tracks + Irish charm).

If you want to know more about them or are already a fan, this dvd is fantastic. It includes music and a behind-the-scenes documentary about the women and some lovely scenes of Ireland – Celtic Woman – The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection (DVD).

Wishing everyone bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, family, friends, outing

Angelgirl and I had an awesome evening last night of Irish music and various styles of clog dancing. In spite of the rain and not really knowing where I was going or where to park, we arrived safely at the theater.  Teacherman is a away on the senior class trip, so unfortunately he couldn’t come to the concert (when he bought the tickets, the trip had not been scheduled yet).

I just LOVE The Chieftains, and listening to their music you just instantly feel happy and bouncy, and everyone was clapping and toe tapping along. They ended the concert with the dancers leading an ancient folk line dance out into the audience and gathering up people to join in. After a few rounds around the theater they all went up on stage for a few circles around the band (the audience members with them were having a grand time up there). The house went crazy with cheers and clapping, ending the evening with a standing ovation and big smiles all around.

Here are a couple of videos I found on you tube so you can enjoy a little of the kind entertainment we got to enjoy last night. Erin Go Braugh!

***********************
You can sample their music with a mp3 download, here are a few to get you started:
The Chieftains,
Away We Go Again,
The Fairies’ Lamentation And Dance,
Galician Medley,
The Ace And The Deuce of Pipering, many more are available too.

Or you can also listen to some music samples from their cds:
The Best of the Chieftains,
The Essential Chieftains,
The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early.
Their latest cd is Further Down the Old Plank Road.

Hope every has a great weekend! Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

(cross posted on Diet Pulpit)

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, family outing, irish music

Well last night I went from feeling bad to feeling damn awful in the span of a couple of hours.  I spiked a fever and shivered under the blankets for a couple of hours before succumbing to the lure of Tylenol when my temperature hit 103.  I usually try and let a fever run its course since its purpose is to kill off the bacteria/viruses, but once you cross the 102 mark its hard to even rest.

After much debate I stayed home from work today and went to the Doctor.  Mainly because I need to be well for Thursday night so I can go see Loreena McKennitt at The Academy of Music with Lady Rose and TeacherMan.

I am very annoyed at my Doctor’s office.  Not only did I have to wait in the waiting room, but then I waited in the exam room while he met with a Drug Salesman.  He spent 5 minutes with me, my appointment was at 10:45 and I didn’t get into my car until 11:30.

I have a sinus infection and a double ear infection.  My temp. in the office was 101, is it any wonder I feel like shit.

He wrote me a note for my missing work today and encouraged me to take off tomorrow too, although as I stated in my post the other day my hours are calculated exactly this week so any more time off just isn’t in the cards.

I have 1 paid day off that I “won” at work and I will be using that to compensate for my absense today.  I hate to use it, seeing as I only have “1? but I really really needed to stay home today.  There was no way I could’ve talked on the phone for 8 hours with my throat and ear hurting like this, plus still running a fever.

I am going back to bed now.  I can only hope I feel markedly better by Thursday.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:concert, ear infection, outing, sick day, sinus infection, telemarketing

Mama Kelly did such a great job describing the Bruce Springstein concert — I’ll just say thank you BRUCE for a totally wonderful, joyful, spiritually moving, uplifting, awakening, fun, evening. The songs spoke to the heart and soul no matter what faith one holds, the power and energy that night touched everyone — and we had a great time!

I am still feeling the glow and humming some of the songs. Mama Kelly called me last night to tell me where the song we both really liked (it was a recorded on played after the concert) – Down to the River was from — the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. It was so funny because just as she called the movie was ON TV and I was watching it between commercials of another show I had on!!!!!

We know we’re a bit strange, but Mama Kelly and I tend to see these so called “coincidences” as little taps on the shoulder from the universe saying “pssssst pay attention, things do happen for a reason.” Besides the whole evening from the concert to the events after and the following day seemed to string together so this added coincidence just made us giggle and go “hmmmmm, interesting.” (Of course over the years, we have had our share of not paying attention and then the universe uses the school of the 2by4 and whacks up side the head — so we try to be observant.)

Any way on to the Concent Part II, the events that followed the concert. We got to the train station, and the train we needed is now boarding so we figure ok no way we’ll wait the hour for the next one – but as we walk we see folks hurrying down the steps — so we rush to make it and seat ourseles down on train. LOL Well the conductor tells us its the wrong one! and we can’t off cause the doors are closed – so we get out at the next stop: Seacaucus — lovely, clean but totally empty station (just some security around). So we figure ok — no problem we will wait our hour here. In the center of the station was a wonderful metallic HUGE sculpture of three cattails (some would call them punks) — that shifted colors as the lights changed. Very soothing — and being so tired and silly I was like “yo dudes, colors” and we all some good giggles — Mama Kelly and I definitely want to look up what the symbology of Cattails, since we know it had to be a sign from the Universe that we were here.

Well after a little while two young men came through the same gate we had come through (they had obviously had a bit to drink) – and we giggled thinking they had done just we did — get on the wrong train. They came over to ask how to get to Linden (cause the bars there stay open to 3 a.m.). We told them to take the train we were getting on in about 30 minutes. Normally two drunks in an empty train station would be annoying. But these were no ordinary men — they were soldiers, one an army medic just back from his second tour in Iraq and had reinlisted, and his buddy had just joined and would be shipping out to Irag soon. One young man was on his cell phone, while the other told us his stories of Irag and how proud he was of what he did, Kelly and I nodded and smiled and listened, and our hearts just went out to these two brave boys. I know they are men — but as mothers we couldn’t help but feel the pain of them loosing their youth to the war — it was heart breakingly clear how young they were (he was so proud of his little beard saying how it made him look older) — I wanted to bring them home and feed them a home cooked meal and tuck them in for the night.

We gave our unwavering support and told them how proud we are of them. I gave the one boy my email and told him to contact me when he had the addresses where they would be stationed and we would definitely send packages and letters (which is something I have done a lot to soldiers who’s names I get from various sites that provide for them – especially at Xmas time so I would be more then happy to send things to these two great guys). They were both so respectful and nice, and as the young man left to go wait down on the platform for the train he patted his pocket and said “Don’t think I’ll throw this away, I will be sure to keep it,” as he waved and turned to leave.

I am tearing up even now just thinking about it and it was all I could do to not cry right there at the train station. At the concert earlier I was crying as we all sang the song about bringing our boys home. The “coincidence” of the whole evening was definitely noticed. Whether we were meant to just be there so he had someone to talk to, or there will be more to it later on, it doesn’t matter — we knew we were that evening exactly where we were meant to be.

The boys ended up taking the next train — but that wasn’t ours — so they were actually heading to Long Branch (not their destination Linden) — hopefully they would find a safe, interesting adventure in Long Branch. My thoughts and prayers will be with them.

Sweet Goddess bless all our men and women in the services, keep them safe and bring them home.

Blessed Be. Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert, soldiers

BRUCE ROCKS !!!!!!!

***goes back to bed and pulls covers over head*** **yawn** It was the most awesome Bruce Springstein concert ever with a funny, touching little adventure on the way home afterwards. **yawns** But too sleepy to **zzzzz*** type more about it. Mama Kelly and I along with my hubby had ***zzzzz*** a great time.

Will blog more later….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Written by Lady RoseTags:concert

 B.B. King Live (on cd)

Last night Teacherman and I, along with another couple who are our long-time dear friends, had the pleasure I seeing B.B. King in concert. He is celebrating his 80th birthday on tour. The spirit and joy this man shares with his audience is truly inspiring. His voice his strong, his guitar playing is totally awesome, and it was a fantastic evening.

Teacherman has seen him seven times in concert. This was my third time. We hope he will tour again and we’ll be there!

My favorite line from a song he sang last night was:

I’m goin’ to give up living, goin’ to go shopping instead, goin’ to pick out a tombstone, cause I’m better off dead.

Everyone just cracked up. It certainly sums up how I feel a lot of days, when I’m exhausted and joints are aching. But listening to someone so talented and full of life sing the blues, just fills your heart and spirit with joy. The audience nods, sings along, shouts out “you tell ‘em B.B.” and for that moment in time you feel a connection because every person on earth can relate to sorrow, loss, pain, but we keep carrying on and singing the blues and finding the joy and smiles in life in spite of the hardships.

Here I am at a mere 50 years young — grumpy, limping around with my sore heal and aching joints, back pain, lack of energy, wondering how I’m going to manage getting out of bed even one more day to face the daily 8-4 office grind — and here is B.B. King, 80 years young, bad knees, diabeties, full of life, still watching “all the pretty ladies”, traveling the world sharing his gift of music and story telling with the world. I plan on carrying his songs and inspiration with me, so I will remember that the “blues can make you smile” and to enjoy life each and every moment.

The next time you feel like life has trampled all over you, or that “the thrill is gone”, or you want to go shopping for your tombstone — take a few moments and celebrate the Blues and listen to some B.B. King tunes like these:

B.B. King – Greatest Hits, B.B. King – The Ultimate Collection, B.B. King – Deuces Wild, and many other great tunes on cd or as mp3 downloads.

Crank up the volume, dance (even if its just doing a little shimmy in a chair), sing out loud (of if need be put on a headset) — let the music take you to that place inside where you can connect once again with your heart and spirit. To live is to experience the blues, the joys, and the many ups and downs of life. Celebrate it all and share your unique talent, what ever it is, with enthusiasm today and every day into your 80s and beyond.

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:celebrate life, concert, music, the blues