Country Music

When I was a kid, one thing I loved about my Dad was his love for country music.  I only got to listen to country when I was with him.  I have vivid memories of a concert he took me to.  We saw Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis.  That inspired me to save my allowance to buy what may have been my very first album, a collection of country favorites!  I listened to that album until I had every word memorized, including Lynn Anderson's "I've Been Everywhere, Man!"  Watching The Porter Wagoner Show and Hee Haw was a welcome diversion from my suburban life style!

Well, I can add country music concert #2 to my list.  Last night Jim surprised me with tickets to the Brad Paisley concert.  Brad Paisley in Bozeman?  That's a long way from Nashville!  Justin Moore and Darius Rucker were on the concert stage as well.  Just a couple of observations, and forgive me if I state the obvious here.

1.  I'm pretty sure there was not a cowboy boot on stage.  Now, Brad had on what looked like work boots, and he was indeed working.  But there were no slick look-how-pointy-these-sweet-foot-covers can be.  I love cowboy boots, that's all I'm saying.  Guess you don't have to be a cowboy anymore to sing C&W.
2.  Concert fans love to stand, rather than sit.  I guess if I wanted to stand for three and half hours, listening to three guys croon-and-holler isn't a bad way to keep my mind off the fact that I'm standing for three and a half hours.
3.  Concert fans also like to sing along.  Loudly.  Hmmm, so why aren't they on stage?  I really don't care if know every word to every song.  So do I, pretty much, but you don't hear me belting along off tune with Brad and the boys.
4.  There is still something very exciting about all the lights (albeit they be lazer), smoke, and loud noise!
5.  There is still something very romantic about snuggling with your love to all the love songs.  Smile!
6.  I was still star struck, cowboy boots or not. 
7.  Brad Paisley is an amazing guitarist.  Even if his weapon of choice is usually an electric guitar.  Can you say "Whiny"?
8.  I love that my rock-and-roll husband has finally seen a small glimmer of country music light.  I guess my rocking to Queen and his singing along with Brad is proof that after nearly thirty years of marriage indeed, you do become each other.

Long live rock-and roll!  (Errr, I mean country music!)

Power School

So, our school district has an online website (is that stating the obvious?  Online website?) where parents can access their children's grades.  I'm still trying to decide if this is a good thing or not.  At least in my case, if I access G&D's grades regularly, I then feel somehow responsible for their grades.  Should I?  When the grades are low, I am all over their backs about bringing them up.  If they are good grades, well, they should be, so no big deal, right?  I don't know.  When A,B,C,D, and E were in school, I'm sure I had no idea what their grades were until report card time.  As it should be, right?  Then once every grading period the wrath of mom and dad came down on those with poor grades.  Now it seems like a continual annoyance.  "What's going on in math?"  "Did you turn in your science journal?"  "Why do you have a D in Art?  Who gets a D in Art?  How hard can Art be?"  The grade chatter is always running through my brain.  So, for my own sanity I have told G&D I will check Power School only once a week.  Then the wrath of mom will only blow once a week.  Grrr!  That still doesn't seem right.  When I was in school, I hated school, and the whole grading system.  Guess I still do.

What's New

So, I guess I took a little break from blogging.  Here are my three excuses: 1) I have no idea where the camera cord is to transfer photos to the computer. 2) I've been kind of busy, or lazy, or apathetic.  3) I don't get enough time on the family computer to do anything other than "business".  You know checking email, checking facebook, checking recipes.  So in an attempt to bring you up to speed, I will simply list significant (mostly) things that have happened in the last four months.

1.  School was out, not one day too soon!  We were all relieved to be free of homework for the summer.
2.  Bethany came to Montana for the summer, working at the church's day camp, falling in love with this place, and making this place fall in love with her.
3.  We took a family vacation to Portland, ate Tillamook ice cream at the factory, loved on Uncle Wayne and Aunt Dana, and won Bingo at a church bbq.
4. I had a 50" flat screen tv installed for Jim for his 50th birthday.  What a great surprise!
5. I have worked up to one hour on the elipitical machine.
6. I was elected as Women's Ministries Deaconess at church.  I'm so excited to be back in the saddle.
7. We gave Duke, our dog, away.  No doggie doors and no fenced yard = one frustrated dog and four frustrated people living with said dog.  He is now in a good home, with a friend dog to play with.
8. Suffered one broken front window, five screens, and roof damage from a terrific hail storm.
9.  Andrew has accepted a job at Edelweiss Lodge and Retreat center in Germany.  Leaves October 17th.
10.  Emily is moving in with a family from Saudia Arabia.  Free room and board for an English speaking presence in their home.

See, you really haven't missed much, have you?  :)  But I bet you do miss photos.  I may actually look for that cord soon.

While the cat's away...

Women's Expo

I went to the Women's Expo at MSU today.  Their ploy to get me there?  "Get the back of this page stamped by all the advertised vendors and you could win..."  I could win some great stuff!  And I am such a sucker for free stuff!  A dog toy, a free one-hour massage, a sonic toothbrush from Oral B, a 5-piece kitchen set, a half-hour helicopter tour of the Gallatin Valley, a two-night stay at a lovely ranch, the ever-present Mary Kay gift basket, and more!

I went, alone (pitiful pity party) and walked around for over an hour.  It wasn't crowded at all, I suppose due to the ultra wonderful Bozeman weather today.  So the vendors were anxious to tell you about their wares.  Everything from hand-painted high-heel pumps to tickets to a boxing match.

There was a fashion show, modeled by apparent college students.  The ogling from all the women when one male model took off his shirt had me questioning "Where exactly do I live, again?!"

I suppose the highlight of the Expo for me was the free chair massage!  Why do I fall for these "Here's-a-free-massage-but-you-need-to-listen-to-a ten-minute-explanation-of-why-you-need-chiropractic-treatment" deals?  Because I will do nearly anything for a back massage!  I probably really do need chiropractic treatment and will get right to that as soon as I read through all the informative pamphlets I picked up today!

I did get my page stamped and turned it in, so they should be calling anytime with my wonderful prize!  Stay tuned!

UPDATE!  i won free one-hour massage at the Expo!  My name was called over the loud-speaker and a lady from my church went to claim it for me.  She said "That's my pastor's wife, can I take it to her tomorrow?"  And they let her!  Yay!  

Been A Little Busy

The last few weeks have included a spring break mission trip to Spokane, packing and cleaning our Powder River house, closing on our Sweetgrass house, moving, unpacking, a week in Chicago/Indiana, more unpacking.  So I thought I would just check in to let you know I had not fallen off the face of the earth.  I love our new home.  This is the only photo we have of it right now.  Broken cameras = limited shots.  Once we are settled a bit more, we will take some more photos with Jim's phone (pathetic!) and share the inside with you as well. 

A Mother's Heart

My heart has just been breaking lately, for one of Mine that is really having a hard time.  Just can't get a break.  People all around are demanding.  They don't ask enough questions.  They have expectations.  They frustrate Mine.  And Mine frustrates them.  I am not frustrated.  Only broken hearted.