Happy Birthday Neil!!

Yes, it's my annual tribute to Neil Diamond. His birthday is today and he is 70 years old!!! My hell. How time flies.

I remember the first time I heard his voice. My brother Jeff brought home an album called "Tap Root Manuscript" by this guy called Neil Diamond. My mom was always very hesitant about the "new" music that was coming out during the late 60's, early 70's. Made most parents very nervous.

But she heard his voice and she was hooked. We bought the 8-track of Tap Root Manuscript and listened to that thing in the yellow station wagon all the way from Virginia to Las Vegas when Daddy was stationed at Nellis AFB. Lisa and I knew every song by heart.

And though I know lots of people make fun of me when they see this post or hear that I love Neil Diamond or see that I have about 100 songs from Neil on my iPod, I don't care. Because hearing Neil's voice brings back such great memories and his songs are a part of my life.

He's a youngster here!!

Old but still great. 40+ years in the music business and sold out concerts. Can't touch that.

New favorite person ............

Ben.

The other night we were having dinner and talking about Robee's new guitar teacher. He's an English bloke that plays just about everything very well. I've toyed with the idea of taking up the fiddle, but since my music knowledge is .... lacking, I've sort of been hesitant about it.

Anyway, we were discussing me taking from this English guy who is about 55 or 60 years old. Thomas said jokingly that he was worried that I might run off with this guy if I started lessons.

Ben was shocked and said, "No she wouldn't. He's an older guy."

I looked at him and said, "Um ... Ben. So am I."

Ben started laughing and said, "That's so funny! I always think of you as being 35!"

New favorite person. For now anyway. :D

Technology .... I loathe thee.

Okay, maybe not LOATHE but I really hate when things like this happen.

Sigh.

So reading from past blogs, I can see my high tech camera that I got for last Christmas is now sitting on my desk, after being dampened by Puerto Rican rain and a loose water bottle cap still not fixed. I'm attempting to make my way to Seattle to a camera shop.

Until then, I turn to my trusty orange, WATER RESISTANT camera as a back up. Takes good pics and is water resistant so I'm sure NOT to ruin this one.

Oh, but .... what about the camera card, eh??? Is that water resistant too? Destruction proof?? Or more importantly, KRISTI PROOF??

Nope. It's not. I am making copies of some pics of the kids for my dad to send to him for Christmas (yeah yeah, I'm a little late - so sue me) and I LOSE the bloody card. Gone. All those pics. Gone. I'm searching through the recycle bin looking for it, the garbage bin looking for it. EVERYWHERE looking for it. Gone.

Then winking on the sidewalk, my darling spouse sees my precious card and returns it to me!! Oh thank the heavens! O Wondrous of all Wonders! My pics are back!

Crap. It was raining and it's NOT water resistant. I plunk it in the camera - no pics. Hoping against all hope, I put it in a bag of moisture absorber so that it will suck out all the rain and my pics will indeed, be restored.

No possible way this can work.

I'm back to using my phone camera with sucky pictures. Sigh. Sometimes I really miss 35mm film.

I'LL say when it's over ... THEN it's over.

Okay. It's over.

I've announced it: CHRISTMAS IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

As the pic above shows, I finally took down all my lights from the outside and the inside. There is a winter storm advisory for tonight (if I were in Utah, I might expect two or three feet of snow; here, it could be up to *gasp!* 2 INCHES of snow) so I thought I should finally take down the lights.

It takes about four or five hours to put up the lights outside and another two hours to decorate inside. To take down? Two hours tops. Linc the Tree is defrocked as well. I'll get out to plant him this week.

So NOW I can officially say Goodbye to Christmas 2010. We'll see you again in 11 months when I open the storage door, turn on the light and see the sparkle of Christmas yet to come for 2011.

Where will I be next year? No one knows save for a few special spirits. I may be here, I may not. Life is quick and fleeting. After the tragedies that have happened this past week in Arizona, we cannot predict what our future will be. We should strive to live each day by helping others to enjoy their own lives. It's really all we have.

Bring on 2011!!

Felix and the salmon

This picture is important for many reasons.

First, the fact that my darling daughter loves salmon; most kids her age turn their noses up at this fish. Even the ones who live here where salmon is the KING! (pun intended)

I started feeding her fish when she was quite small and luckily she kept that taste bud for it even though she went through the normal ups and downs of picky food eating.

Second, the fact there is no possible way that Mom would have EVER ever EVER let me try and cook and clean up my own food creation. Ever.

Not because she was being mean ... but because ... well, to this day, I don't really know why. I hope that one day I'll understand Mom's erratic behavior. I may never actually.

Okay. I don't want to start a therapy session about my mom. THIS is about Felix.

Third, the fact that she is the most beautiful girl I have ever met, inside and out. Perhaps it's because she's my daughter that I feel this way. She's also one of the most together girls I've met and I have met lots of girls her age since she has friends and I teach 12-13 yr olds in church.

She seems to have no fear about anything; just goes in and tries whatever she needs to do. I want to take responsibility but I know I can't; she is her own person and whatever roads she takes, I know she is making thoughtful choices about where to go.

Love You Baby Cakes.