Hometown Baghdad

This is a side of Iraq we don't see on the news. It's a blog and series of videos about a group of 20-somethings surviving in Baghdad. Check it out at hometownbaghdad.com Here's one of the videos...

I'm It!

I didn't make it to the safe zone in time. Dorky Dad has tagged me. His reason was "because he's curious." Well, he'll probably think I'm curious by the end. If I had to be tagged though, I like this one. I need to list seven songs I've been enjoying. But wait, just seven? I am a Mac person and have a hefty iTunes folder. In fact I recently bought an external hard drive to store said music among other things. How will I narrow it down? I'll try.

1. "Flathead" by The Fratellis. I have to admit I was sucked in by the iPod TV ad. Love the video too. It's fun to see something different. Have been playing this album quite a bit over the past week.

2. "I Cried Like A Silly Boy" by Devotchka. Heard this group described as "Eastern Block Indie Rock" which I think fits. I think it sounds like Roy Orbison feeling Bulgarian in Mexico. Most of the other tracks on this album have a strong mariachi sound to them. It's fun.

3. "In A Sentimental Mood" by John Coltrane. Out of the Jazz category I'd have to pick this one. Makes me want to pour a glass of wine and melt.

4. "Oelle como espíritu adolescente" by the Mandragora Tango Orchestra. I am so excited! I had no clue this was a local group! Hubby, I have a suggestion for a date night. And if you don't recognize the song title, it's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and it makes a beautiful tango arrangement.

5. "Black Coffee In Bed" by Squeeze. I used to have this album back in the day and this was one of my favorites. I was surprised to find the video on You Tube. I think the song has a much longer shelf life than that video. Ah, 1982, the year I graduated from High School.

6. "Cucurrucucu Paloma" by Caetano Veloso. He's a superstar in Brazil. I have no clue what he's singing but his voice carries me away. It has something to do with a bird.

7. "Diamond Day" by Vashti Bunyan. She's been a folk music icon in the UK since the late 60's but I just recently discovered her music. It's sweet and simple.


I'm going to slip in this last one too because I've listened to this more than the others in the past few days. It's the first little song I've learned on the new concertina. It's really bad but thought I'd share with you anyways. "Oro" by balou.


I'm going to break the rules a bit and say if you're reading this and want to be tagged, you're it! Let us know in the comments if you choose to be tagged. If you don't want to be tagged, welcome to the safe zone.

Høre Norsk (Learn Norwegian)

I've been wanting to learn a second language for a long time and since I've decided I will visit Norway one of these days, Norwegian (Norsk) is going to be my second language. Strange though it may be, here's my thought process; since a number of my relatives originated from Norway, I believe my Norwegian instincts will kick in and I'll pick up the language quickly. You know, like how German Shepherds have an instinct for herding everything around them. You're all thinking "Is she serious?" No. Yes. Well maybe a little. Although it's not a controlled scientific study unless I have someone of non-Norwegian descent learning the language with me. Hubby is 100% English according to their family tree. Hey hubby! Want to perform a scientific experiment?

I went shopping on Amazon.com and the euroTalk interactive CD entitled "Learn Norwegian" arrived in the mail last week. The CD is impressing me so far. It's a combination of images with words, games and two different people pronouncing the words. I can also record my voice speaking the words and it replays with my recording followed by the proper pronunciation. At least one part of my instinct theory has been proven wrong. My tongue does not have the instinct for performing short rolling r's which is needed for some of the words I'm learning. Maybe my tongue is more German than Norwegian. I'll keep practicing.

"Takk" is Norsk for "thank you." "Tusen Takk" is "thank you very much." I mentioned the program uses images to aid in word recognition - here are the images they felt best described thank you and thank you very much...


I wonder what the pictures for "a good bank robber" and "a great bank robber" will be? I think there also may be a reason for the tongue depressor graphic behind the words. A graphic jab at my disabled tongue perhaps? I'll keep you up to date on my progress. Now, hvor er banken (where is the bank)?

Ingrid returns!

My Ingrid is home! She was at her sister's out east for 2 months but now she is back! I missed her. I met Ingrid nine years ago when she came to one of my garage sales and she tried on clothes behind a pickup in the back of our pole barn. We talked for an hour.

She is an artist and creates wonderful, unique pottery in her barn-studio. Not long after that garage sale I began working for her sanding pottery. We got to know each other while chatting over clay dust. I don't think I ever received money from her but rather I worked in exchange for pottery. It's a true joy to be in her studio when Ingrid opens up a kiln to reveal her newly glazed creations. It's like Christmas and Ingrid is filled with child-like excitement every time.

Her art isn't limited to her pottery. She's also talented in drawing, painting, photography, fiber arts, and cuisine. You just can't help but be inspired by her creativity. She is a great friend that has helped open my eyes to art and how it exists in every corner of our lives. I am indebted to her forever for that gift.

Strange Sketch #2

Believe it or not, this does have a back story to it but it's just easier to send you to the source at Dorky Dad's blog about lobster lingerie.

Fate, Sexual Predator and An Old Bag

FATE...
Isn't it strange how fate works? I've been looking around on the internet for quite some time researching the concertina world. I've often visited the website of a musical instrument store in a nearby town. Fate led me there again last night while perusing the cyber world. I had never been to their bulletin board page and decided to click the link. On March 31st, a musician that teaches concertina in Chicago is holding a workshop just down the road. It's a 3 1/2 hour intensive Anglo concertina workshop and it said they will "have us playing tunes by the end." I'm not sure if they took into consideration a nine-fingered 40-something-girl with a 1 week old concertina attending the class when that statement was made. Regardless, I was on the phone with the owner of the shop at 8:56 a.m. and I am signed up! Isn't fate cool?


SEXUAL PREDATOR...
I found out today that a former co-worker was arrested for sexually abusing a minor. He is 65, she is 13 and there are more girls coming forward. It makes me sick to my stomach. It also didn't surprise me. He had this surface niceness about him but those gut instincts were right. He had a candy coated shell covering a twisted, evil soul. If he is truly guilty, there is no punishment on this earth that could ever equal the damage he has caused. My thoughts are with the girls and their families.


AN OLD BAG...
An Altoid scented sigh of relief was released by me in the office of our accountant as I set the yellow plastic bag of paperwork in a chair. I could hardly see him peeking over the stacks of manila folders on his desk. We've been taking our taxes to Ed for over 10 years. He's an old school accountant. No e-filing here. He still fills out our forms in long hand. He works his magic every year and we get nice returns that almost pay for our outrageously high Wisconsin property tax.

I have always used a bright yellow plastic bag with a CAT (Caterpillar) logo on the side to transport our paperwork to Ed. I didn't think I was going to fit it all in this year but I managed with only a couple of puncture wounds to the bag. We'll see how good Ed is at repacking! One year I walked in the door to hear the comment "Hear comes the Johnson* bag." To which I replied "Oh thanks! I'm an old bag now?" I made my accountant blush. Hopefully the bag will survive for next years trip to town.

*Johnson is an alias. I still like my anonymity.

So happy I could jig!

It's on the way from Massachusetts! Should be arriving Monday or Tuesday! I'm so happy I could jig! What is it you ask? It's my next adventure. The fulfillment of a 2 year flame that hasn't burned out. The cause of my family and friends reply, "That's different." The reason my hubbie will need to stock up on earplugs.



Here it comes....











Are you ready?....



















Ta daaaa!!!



It's that concertina thing. It's not quite the dream concertina I had initially hoped for but I'll start out with this baby.

Clipped Haiku

Clipped
by balou

which one should I use
the good clip or beater clip
endless decisions

Big Sis' Birthday

Isn't she lovely? She was probably about this age when I was born. The photo Mom loaned me didn't have a date on the back so I'm not positive. Sister-N and I are 11 years apart. That meant when I was in elementary school, she was dating handsome high school boys and then going off to school and then to a new job.

She is my "water" sister because so many of my special memories with her seem to involve water. She taught me how to swim. I can remember hanging on for dear life until finally being convinced she would not let me sink. And all of the sudden I was floating on my back! Not long after she had me dog paddling like a pro. She also taught me how to water ski. The first time was at a cabin owned by a couple she babysat for. I don't believe I actually skied that time but it was my first try. Then there were the visits to her apartment with the wonderful beach out the back door. Making stinky snail shell necklaces, building sand castles and getting sunburn. She and her husband have lived on a lake all but a few years and their kids grew up like little fishes.

I wish the lake wasn't frozen and it was a warm sunny evening so we could cruise around the lake with a bottle of wine. Happy birthday sis & thanks for the love of the lake!

Cyber Cruising with Lifecruiser

Just in time for a much needed vacation, I'll be cyber-cruising with the gang over at Lifecruiser. Stop in. Today we board the ship in Sweden with Lifecruiser then it's off to Norway with my friend RennyBA and TorAa. More stops in Belgium, Spain, Germany, USA, Italy, Dominican Republic, Australia and one mystery destination! This is my first cruise so I'm learning the ropes, swabbing the decks and making espresso. I think there will be a lot of parties, smart talking and drinking involved. I've already danced with the very handsome Prince Carl Phillip of Sweden in the swankiest bar in Stockholm, Cafe´ Opera. Life could only be better if it were sans-cyber cyber-cruising.