Music For Listening

EricsLeverHarpBach’s Prelude in C-major, played on a Lever Harp,  by my cousin Eric, was posted to Facebook by his brother (my other cousin) Luke. And, because we are “friends”, as well as cousins, I got to play the video.

This was a surprise. I totally forgot he plays that instrument. Eric plays so many different ones that I can’t keep up. The entire Steitz branch(s) of the family tree has incredible musical ability.  I, alas, am not from that talented branch.

I play the iPod Nano these days, and I’m cool with that. I did play the piano in my youth, but the only keyboards my fingers bang on now belong to computers.

I feel remiss that I have not been frequenting YouTube, Facebook, and other sources of my families music. I get all caught up in my mind and the “little things” are pushed aside so I can get stuff done. I’m wound tighter than rattlesnake – so I’ve been told.

But – today, I stopped. I closed my eyes. I cleared my mind.  And LISTENED.

Really listened.  And when it ended, I listened four more times.
The harp music did what 3 kinds of depression/anxiety/sleep medications that I’m on didn’t do.  It made me feel relaxed.

Maybe that is why the angels play…

Thanks Cuz!

A Word About Valentine’s Day

SwanLoveOK… Y’all know it will be more than one word – Ha!

As I suspected, there will be no Valentine for me this year. At least he told me so before V-day. We were in the “seasonal” aisle at the grocery store, looking at the small amount of candy hearts, etc left on the shelves. That’s when he said “sorry, but I don’t have anything for you.”

Gee.   What a surprise.

I find this morning that there are surprises for me today, not from hubby, but from people who actually read my posts….

1. I am not the only one who thought the movie Love Story was obnoxious. Thank you, wscottling , cleopatralovesbooks and k8edid for your comments!

2. I angered my sis-in-law, calling her brother a “jerk“. Well, sis – sooiirrree, but on Valentine’s Day he is one. You do not know this because you never wanted a Valentine from your brother, and you are spoiled by your hubby, who apparently never got the anti-Valentine’s Day memo, so enjoy your romancing and stay out of my pain. 😉

3. Received a surprise confession: “I’m very much like any guy in that I’m like, “Oh, is it Valentine’s day? I forgot. Oops.” And it’s my guy who’s without the card. But I do love him, and he knows it. I guess what I’m saying is I kinda knew all that up there ^^^ because I’m the same way. It’s a good thing for others to know though because I’ve had to talk women down from breaking up with their guy because he forgot their birthday when every other day of the year he’s been showing her love. (I forget birthdays too… I’m horrible like that).”

4. Received some words of wisdom too: “So very true and as women we must remember it is the every day loveliness that makes us love them. Once a year romance would be awful…”

5.  I would bet she was lying, if I didn’t know her “My hubby never forgets a birthday or anniversary, or VDay! I always get flowers for VDay, no matter the cost. One birthday (30) I got 30 birthday cards one at a time at work and 30 long stem roses delivered to my work, along with a romantic dinner and other presents!”

6. I will call my son, who is a math tutor, to explain to me why V-Day + Full Moon ≠ Romance.

Here’s to a fabulous, sunshiny, TGIF day – whether you’re in love or not 😉

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Something You Don’t See Everyday

If only I had my camera!

But I did not. I never take a camera to a doctors appointment. A two-hour drive down the mountain to Modesto. Highway 4 to Farmington, left on Escalon Bellota Road.  A lot of cattle, sheep and turkey farms on that part of Hwy 4.  A revolting smelly stretch of highway, depending on wind direction. Otherwise rather boring.

Or so I thought…

Anyway, we saw it on our way home from Modesto. It had rained and snowed most of the day and we looked forward to a warm cozy fire, and sitting in our living room, watching weather from inside. On Highway 4, we drove through the (what I call the Mr. Toads Wild Ride section), and were making pretty good time, until traffic slowed down to a stop. Oh No! What was this?

A white truck with flashing yellow lights had pulled over to the edge of the highway and sat there. Up ahead, a police car crawled along the road so slowly that we couldn’t tell if it was moving or not. When we passed the white truck, it had ANIMAL CONTROL printed on the side.

That meant an animal was involved somehow. But, we couldn’t see any animals on the road. And why weren’t the animal people doing something? Why was a cop leading the way? When we inched up closer to the police car, we saw a young bull trotting along the road – between the cattle fence and the law.

He hadn’t a care in the world. Just out for a pleasant stroll in between rains. The flashing blue, red and yellow lights did not faze him. Obviously, he had no clue he was busted.

We watched this go on for awhile, then saw the young traveler take a sharp left turn and cross the street. The cop turned his car perpendicular to  the road and bleated the siren for a second. The bull turned and ran the way it came from, along the opposite side of the road. Mr. Policeman once more began keeping pace with him.

“He’s trying to herd the bull with his car!” I squealed. This would go viral on YouTube, if I had a camera to record it. Dammit!

Now that the cop car was inching along the other side of the road, we were able to continue down the highway. We were still talking about the little bull when we noticed that a police car, then soon after, a sheriff’s car passed by, heading for the cow pastures behind us. Weird, we thought. Our county is large and there are many tiny towns in it. Rarely do you see two law enforcement vehicles in one day. So… when 2 more police cars, going the same direction, passed by, hubby and I found this very suspicious.

I have a feeling there is going to be a policeman’s BBQ this week-end.   😉