A Year in Review

They say (who they is I am not sure) that whatever happens on the 1st of the year is how your year is going to be like. I hope that that is not true, because right now I am not up to par, physically and emotionally. It seems like this year was never going to end, but then I think where did it go.

Now I am normally not a negative person, and any problems that I may have are affected by the choices I have made. I admit that. Although I don't make resolutions, I am going to try to change some of the bad habits that I have.

Ice Surfing

 

I was always one that says "life is what you make it, don't like it, change it" I understand that things are hard to change. A hard change for me was switching jobs. Farewell . Although I don't regret my decision, but it wasn't what I was bargaining for. Two, sometimes three days of the week I kick myself. But then I wouldn't have the overtime. Write that one down on the calender that I would actually admit to that.

One of the most viewed blogs that I had was about a friends wedding with a whopping 54 views. Redneck. Whatever made this post popular, although I think it was the word redneck, thanks.

I can sit here and go post by post and give detail, but you can always go back through it. I did. My objective for the blog was a daily picture. That didn't happen. I couldn't find anything that was interesting. But that was the point, wasn't it. To find things interesting.

The home improvement didn't happen as well as I wanted it too. Although we did get Emily's room done. Except for windows. There needs to be so much done here. Now we just have to decide what's more important and just do it. A little at a time.

I can say that one of the biggest things that happened in 2013 was the  Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Yes, we went places, but this was one of the most exciting things that year. Someday I will have to sit down and start going through all the pictures and deleting the triplicates.

A nice, BIG fire.

All in all it hasn't been a bad year, just not the year I was hoping for.

I don't know if I will do a blog for 2014. I am afraid it is all going to be the same. But who knows. There are alot of places that I want to go, and I think it will just have to come down to just doing it. Its not like it is a weeks vacation, but a day trip or at least a weekend trip.

Happy 2014 Everyone.
Thanks for reading.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I have wanted to see TSO for a couple of years now. I remember trying to call into radio stations when they had free ticket giveaways. I was number 14 out of the 15th caller they wanted. It is a good think I didn't win back then, I probably wouldn't have appreciated the show as I did now.

When I seen the advertisement that TSO was going to be in Madison, I looked up the tickets and was let down. The price of the tickets were just going to be too much for all of us to go. I couldn't go without the girls or Mike, so I let it drop, disappointed. Well I just couldn't let it go, so I kept on looking online and trying different searches for seat prices, I finally came to one that was a lot more affordable. It was up in the upper mezzanine, or as my husband calls it, nose bleed area, but I didn't care. I am going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra! 

 I wasn't sure what to expect. I certainly did not expect what we seen. Sure, I seen pictures, but they tell nothing. And I must say that I am very happy with my camera, even after over 3000 pictures. Yep, you read that right, 3000. How, you may ask, did I get 3000 pictures. Well, quite simply really, a feature on the camera called multi-shot. There was so much going on that I thought that this would be the best route, and I was right. Got some cool pics.

For being as high up as we were, I was able to zoom in fairly well with my camera.

We felt the pyrotechnics in our nosebleed seats. The building structure almost looked like a big TV screen, it kept on changing. There was one time there was a dragon that was moving around the castle. The musicians, dancers were on lifting structures, and one of those structures was right in front of us.

All in all, it was one of the most exciting thing that I have ever seen and I was so glad that I took that initiative to go. Who knows, maybe I will be able to go again. But I think next year I will try to see The Nutcracker.

Preparing for Christmas

Inasmuch as I would like to blog about TSO, I will save that for another day. I have had this blog in my head for a week now, I just don't take the time anymore to write. For the most part I believe that I am done decorating for Christmas with what little I have anymore.
I always liked a fuller tree, I blame that on my Mother. She worked at Kohls and one year I remember she had a tree that you would find in a Good Housekeeping magazine.

I am not one for colored bulbs, or whatever they are called. Although I do have some, they are unique. One looks like cracked class, one had glitter in it. I try to find things that when the light hits them, they sparkle. Then I have one that look like they could be homemade. I have ribbon around the tree as opposed to garland. I used to do raffia for a more country look, but that got messy, and I could never find any long enough to where it would fall apart every two feet. So this is the final result.

I used to have a village, but I just don't have any place for it. Back when I had a huge tv stand, but now with the flat screen, there is no room. So I am left with one stand of decor. Various snowmen. a nativity scene. Angels.

My decor that was outside eventually gave out. I do not have lights out this year because we didn't get them up before it got cold. I am not even sure if they work.

So I guess I am prepared for Christmas, decor wise. It is 10 days till Christmas and nothing else is done. Got to get a few more items for the kids then we will be done.

Merry Christmas.

Unexpected Fun

After what started out to be a pretty boring day, it ended up being a very "sweet" day.

Having a four day weekend is what I really needed, had all these plans to get things done. Yep, nothing. And Saturday I had no motivation whatsoever. At least I got the tree up, not decorated, but up.

I was playing with my camera to see what I can do with lights. I always see pictures of things that I would like to do, but they never really turn out they way I see them. I enjoy looking at my niece Janae's pictures, she takes some really good pictures. I am not sure what she is studying in college, but I hope photography should be in there somewhere.

This one I like better, it is of a flower arrangement that is in my Mom's house. Maybe it was just better lighting.

Since Saturday was zilch day, which included cooking, we decided to head for lunch at one of out favorite spots, The Golden Cup 2 Cafe. What we were doing after that we didn't know.

What we did end up doing is taking our new friends to the Amish bakery and stores. Big mistake! LOL. Not really, you just don't walk out of the bakery with nothing. I am not sitting here eating cashew brittle. Didn't expect it to be that good! Jana is a junk food junkie! It was a wonderful time with some new friends.

Once Upon A Mattress

Once a year the school puts on a musical. For the last three years my daughter has been a part of this musical. This year it was Once Upon A Mattress, adapted from the Princess and the Pea. This actually happened in the beginning of November, I am just late blogging about it.

My daughter didn't want anything posted of her part in the musical. Well I am going to because I am so proud of her, I certainly couldn't get on stage to do it.

She played the Jester, and she rocked. I even have a video of her solo. Everyone that either seen the show itself, or the video thought she did am awesome job. The whole musical was done well.

Here is the start of the show, they are giving the princess a quiz to see if she is a true princess by order of the queen. The townspeople are waiting for the prince to marry, so that they too can get married. No one is good enough for the queen.

 The new potential princess, she swam the moot to get to the castle.

 

The minstrel, the jester and king. The jester is the voice of the king.

The queen talking with the wizard about a devious plan to prove that the princess is not a true princess.

The princess trying to get comfortable, how she did not fall off that thing I will never know. The "pea" must be really distracting. Oh and you can see the feet of the singing bird in the right corner.

And the true end of the story, someone has slipped in a few "extras" into the mattresses. Like antlers, bird cages, shackles...

It was a great play, although I remember the story of the Princess and the Pea, I never expected for that ending.

The Colors of Fall

The other day Emily and I took a drive around the area to see if we can get some good pictures of fall colors. Although most trees at that time were not turning, I did get a few that were. One good spot is my friend Deanna's house. She has to great trees out in front of her house. They were always one of the first trees to turn.

I love the multi-shot on my camera. I tried to capture Emily throwing leaves. They turned out ok.I have a good 20 pictures of these.

Of course you can't forget the colors of fall before the harvest.

One leaf just didn't want to leave my windshield.

This is one of the prettiest trees that I had seen that day. A mix of colors, things only a professional photographer seems to get.

And lastly, the trees by the waters edge. Geese included.

A 5oth Bash for Alice

Oh what fun it was. Just the right amount of people, a nice group of people, that came together to celebrate Alice's 50th birthday. She actually spent her birthday in Las Vegas (lucky shit).

The men made her a nice gift that will, I am sure, be put to good use in the future.

Denture wash and depends..All the things Alice needs.

 

People donated for beer and I was told there were 16 pitchers of beer on hand for those who wanted it. I just had Pepsi, I guess I came to the point in my life where I didn't want to try to be a drinker because everyone else was. But I did share a couple of shots with the group. One was rum chata, which was ok, as much hype as it was, I thought it would have been better. And another was a cherry bomb. This one was pretty good, tasted like cough syrup, but it went down smooth.

Did alot of dancing, although I am pretty sure I looked like a weeble wooble, but what the heck. I had a good time.

I personally don't have any pictures of me dancing, be here is one of Alice...at least I think she is dancing...

Of course there is always entertainment; Mike B. No holds barred, will do anything.