Christime time is here

Hello friends. For your viewing pleasure . . .

Diva #2 Sings

We've been busy the last few days.

Well, actually we always are . . . but this week was PARTICULARLY busy.

Miss Ems had to record her BYU audition, which was a stressful experience to say the least. We went to the university and had it professionally recorded. When the technician walked in with a camera that was about the same size as ours, we said, "Uh, is that what you are using?" We were expecting professional sound and video equipment. Thank goodness her teacher was there to insist they upgrade to something better.

So, Diva #2 sang and sang.

And sang . . . Isn't this an attractive picture?

Why is she #2? Well, here is Diva #1

I played, of course.

And here is a sample. Juliet's Waltz.

What's on your nightstand?

I like to read. I don't always have enough time to do it, but finding a good book and immersing myself in it is one of my favorite activities.

Here are some of the books I am slowing digesting.

The choices may surprise or amuse you.

Here's the first one:

A friend of mine had this and lent it to me. I am hoping it will inspire me to make some changes. I have just read chapter one. I'll let you know how I do. So far I've gained two pounds.

Isn't this interesting? I have a piano student who is a computer expert. He suggested I read this. Here's a closer look:

I REALLY want to be able to take care of my own computer. Actually, I think I should develop a company that simplifies computers. There are so many things on mine I never use or need. I could put 5 big icons on my desktop and that would be enough. I should finish this book in. . . about 5 years or so. By that time it will be obsolete and I'll have to start over.

This is actually ON my pillow. I am halfway through chapter one. This one will take me awhile. It is an interesting read.

So, what's on your nightstand? What are you reading? What have you started and never finished? What have you read more than once? I want to know!

Eek!

As the weather cools, we invariably find creatures that make their way into our house. On warm days, like today (nearly 70, yahoo!), the Japanese beetles invade my front room. One year there were so many I think I vacuumed up over 100. This year wasn't as bad.

We have the spiders, the box elder beetles, crickets and various other annoying pests. Those don't bother me much. However, this knowledge did not prepare me for what I saw as I tripped down the stairs with a load of laundry in my hands.

One of our traps, which we always have set (just in case!), clipped this little guys toes. I didn't see him until I was nearly on top of him, ugh!!
Here's what happened to the laundry:

I was on the stairs above, shrieking and shaking.

Now I was stuck with a dilemma. What should I do? Would it stay put until DH got home?

Not a chance.

It was up to me. So I did what any woman who is good at preserving would do. I canned it.

Put my Kerr jar to good use!

Goodbye little mouse! Tell your friends to find a new home!

Violated

I've been hacked.

It is not a good feeling.

Someone got into both of my email accounts, wrote emails in my name and stole all my addresses. I didn't know it until I got a bunch of return mail and people writing me back wondering if I was in a new venture of some sort. Many recognized that the style of writing was different than my own. Some didn't. I don't know how many took it seriously and went to the website.

Scary.

It reminds me of an incident when I was in high school. Our home was robbed. I came home to a distraught mother and a house that had been picked over. I went to my room and saw my drawers open, my clothing on the floor (my fault) and felt this creepy feeling that a stranger had been in my room, touching my clothes and going through my stuff. And taking my stuff too. Whoever it was, was good at it. They didn't waste time looking in obvious places. They took only the most precious things.

We couldn't touch anything until the police came. All I wanted to do was to clean up my room, restore it to order, remove the reminders that made me feel violated.

Now someone has been into my private email account, looked at all the names in my addresses book (took them too!) and sent messages out impersonating me. I have that same creepy feeling as I did 30 years ago.

It's my one month anniversary

Okay, I'm back to blogging. For now.

Sorry I have been quiet. You know, life has been a bit tough in our family lately. I just didn't feel like writing about trite things like purses, trees, and the like. When sadness hits, it is hard to be inspired to be interesting or uplifting or funny. Just couldn't get up the energy to do it.

I'll try to do better. I'll try not to have another one month anniversary of not blogging.

Even though I haven't been writing, I have been thinking of things to share. I have some in mind. I'll get to them soon.

This week is a big one at our house. Ems is preparing her audition for BYU. It has to be a DVD and it has to be sent in soon! We are scheduled on Thursday to perform in a nice hall at the university. Because it is a one shot deal, we are practicing at home with our camera. I'll try to figure out how to get one on the blog so you can see it. She sounds amazing to me, but of course, I'm her mother. My girls always sound amazing to me. My biggest fear is that I'll botch it on the piano and mess her up. I debated about hiring someone to take my place, but it is a rite of motherhood for me to play for my children. Gotta keep doing it no matter how bad I sound. Remember that when you hear it--listen to the voice, not the piano!!!

Love to you all -- I'll be back!