"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. "
~John Lennon


Thursday, February 28, 2013

Opera Fan


Fan, as in admiration, not fanning as in stirring the air.  Two women and I enjoyed a matinee performance of The Magic Flute at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Omaha this past weekend.

It was interesting to see it was filled to capacity, and that whole families were there. No cell phone noise and no talking or disruptions.

A few weeks ago I went into Omaha with another friend to see her granddaughter perform in two different venues. The second concert was at the Performing Arts Center at UNO and she played French horn in honors band while two members of the opera society sang. It was like watching a live preview of the opera The Magic Flute, for they sang some songs from that opera. So when I was watching the opera at the Orpheum Theater, I watched them sing the same songs but in costume.

Our seats were a few rows behind the orchestra and to the right. It was fabulous to listen to the Omaha Symphony. I had taken small binoculars but did not need them. Great seats!

The production designer is the much revered Jun Kaneko. What a treat to see the workings of his mind on the stage at the opera. If you haven't heard of him, some of his upcoming projects should awaken you to his talent:  A sculptural installation in Millenium Park in Chicago with forty six-foot pieces and forty eleven-foot pieces.  Also, a fifty-six-foot glass tower in Lincoln, Nebraska that glows at night. There are projects in Toronto and Washington, D.C. as well. Lucky me, I will be able to see the finished project in Lincoln.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Use Your Brain And Use Your Voice


When you see unkindness, use your heart and use your voice. Say something gentle when the opportunity presents itself. A kind word can do wonders. I know. It has happened to me many times and each and every time I felt healing begin.  I learned through my own disappointments that other people cannot understand what is going on in my life; therefore, how would I be able to judge what is going on in other people's lives. A smile on someone's face does not mean they are happy, it may only mean that they have learned how to hide from inquiries, how to duck the well meaning questions.

I try to look at each person with kindness. Sometimes that is really difficult for me. I don't like everyone with the same enthusiasm. Especially after being mistreated by someone.

When I write things like this, I am not preaching; I am sharing the thoughts I have when I am "talking to myself". Aren't you lucky to listen in?

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

I Like These Kids

I think these kids showed their parent true love.  Why call them names?!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Try Not To Smile In Court

These are found in the book Disorder in the Court.

Court Reporters have to keep a straight face when these kinds of things are said.

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you so?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!

ATTORNEY:What gear were you in at the moment of impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception of the baby was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY:  What were your doing at the time?
WITNESS: Getting laid.

ATTORNEY: All your responses must be oral, okay? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then, it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible he could have still been alive and practicing law.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Chocolates And Flowers

Some people choose to nurture the love in their life; others throw it away as carelessly as tossing out garbage. Regretting it later is usually too late to retrieve the sweetness and ripeness of trust.

Gifting someone you love with chocolates or flowers is a symbol.  Neither gift lasts long; however, the daily reminder throughout the year of how important someone is to you is like watching the flowers grow and bloom or watching fillings be surrounded in chocolate in a candy factory. Giving chocolates and flowers to a loved one is like giving hugs and kisses. Chocolates and flowers are visible, tangible. If they are given with kindness and love, they can be received with gratitude and pleasure. And sharing chocolate with a loved one helps them stick with their diet.

However you celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope it brings sweetness into your life for the day that remains active all year long.


Monday, February 11, 2013

I Wonder

I wonder why parents think they are spending time with their children when they are on their cell phones and barely paying attention to those children. Is there real communication going on between parent and child, or between parent and the person on the phone. When a parent wants a pat on the back for spending "quality time" with their kid, I wonder....

I wonder why so many people around the world are hungry, starving, while so many people throw out enough food to feed the hungry. I wonder why this can be tolerated by those with plenty.

I wonder why older people are left in facilities to finish out their lives alone, waiting for someone to come see them, disappointed that they are not thought about or interesting enough to spend time with or remembered and respected. I wonder what age I will be when it is my turn to be sitting and waiting in a place for old folks unable to live alone. I wonder if I will always love the sound of music, the joy of laughter, a kind touch. Oh my, I do hope so.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

There Should Be

This post is written by a woman, so it is slanted in favor of the female sex.  Deal with it.

Some things that Should Be:

There should be baby changing tables in all men's rest rooms. Some men are single fathers, some men share in all the baby changing and some men should learn how to take care of the child they fathered.

There should be one time all year with no changing back and forth a couple times a year. No more spring forward and fall back.

There should be ad campaigns extolling the virtues of all women, all sizes, all types of looks, promoting their beauty and teaching them to feel good about themselves just as they are. Being battered constantly about the need to look better, look different, teaches women to believe they are never good enough, they are taught in TV ads, magazines, billboards, certain looks are beautiful. What a shame.

There should be a Bring Your Wife To Work Day one day a year like the one to bring your kid. Just see how different men act around the co-workers with the wife at work.

There should be party lines available again for people who want to listen in on other people's conversations and get the straight scoop to pass along to their friends instead of searching and questioning trying to find some good gossip. Oh, there is something like that on a large scale, it is called the news. What used to be unbiased, basic news has become the trendy reality show called the news.
Depending on who owns the network the so-called news will be based on the owners' views.


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Photo Shoot

A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable, and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school.  As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school.  She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child.

Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school.  She   saw her little girl walking along.

At each flash of lightning the child would stop, look up, and smile. More lightning followed quickly, and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her child "What are you doing?"

The child answered "I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture."

Sunday, February 3, 2013

The Day After

Yesterday was my birthday and twelve friends showed up at a restaurant with cakes and presents and we partied in the afternoon. They surprised me. Overwhelming to me at first to have them all come out in the cold weather with fresh snow and they showed me they know me so well, the gifts were all the things I like. I am so blessed to have dear friends.

In the evening one of those friends drove me and her sister to a nearby town where we ate and then went to watch the band her son plays in perform for hundreds of enthusiastic dancers. The dance floor was pretty full all night. That band is popular around here.

My birthday was a full day of loving greetings and cards and phone calls and emails and texts. My son called me from where he lives in Hawaii and we talked about two hours. I don't think my brother has ever missed calling me on my birthday and we had a great visit on the phone. I have been emailing thank you messages this morning.

Today will be another full day of concerts in Omaha and meals and friends and we will get back in time to watch the second half of the Super Bowl. Good thing I have lots of energy!

Thank you to all my blogging buddies who sent me birthday wishes. Your messages mean so much to me, and your presence in my life adds to my joy.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Today

Yesterday I went to lunch at a restaurant I had not been to with five of my closest friends. Sitting there with my gal pals I looked around at them and realized how dear they are to me. We are a group of women who were not a group before, we found our way to each other and discovered some wonderful things in each other.

My lunch was awesome: Filet mignon cooked to perfection and French Fries and a veggie.  Anyone who knows me will already have discovered how much I like French Fries. I have been avoiding them for a few months, so it was a treat to enjoy them yesterday.

After lunch we drove to our favorite place to play bingo and guess what? I won the last game of the day so I won forty dollars.

I bought my lunch with some of the money my daughters sent to me in darling birthday cards. Today is my birthday. I have started celebrating birthdays for the first time.  This is the best time of my life. I am happy. Oh, and it is true, I am not getting older, I am indeed getting better.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Mary Had A Little Lamb

















Meet Mary, the dog.

See Mary run.

Watch Mary feed her little lamb. 

The end.