Mother Nature is in control

The snow is coming, a blizzard in fact. Of course it is supposed to start tonight and keep coming until noon tomorrow. My flight leaves at 8:45 tomorrow morning, I hope. Everyone is freaking out over the weather which I don't understand. It's winter in Wisconsin and it is always like this. Year after year, it doesn't change. And the people who freak out over it every year don't change either. It's like a bad boring habit to discuss the weather.

A coworker did email the boss this morning from Albuquerque to say his flight back to Milwaukee was already cancelled even before the snow starts coming. Things are not looking good.

No one understands why I am so calm. Why not stay calm? I can't change it or fix it - mother nature is going to do what she does no matter what I think so why worry? I do check the airline regularly throughout the day and the flight is still on although the airport status says check your flight before heading out. By the afternoon the airline is asking if I want to reschedule but the flight is still on. I will wait.

By the end of the workday I decided that if the flight gets cancelled, it's ok. After all, we were feeling bad about missing a funeral that we really should attend this Saturday. We tried to get out of the trip but we would lose almost all the money we put into it. If it was the weather's fault we could reschedule without an extra charge.

Ten on Tuesday

10 Things You Want but Wouldn't Buy for Yourself:

1. A pedicure (I usually get spa gift certificates for Mother's Day and that's how I get pedicures).
2. TV series DVDs.
3. A cappucino maker.
4. A new gas grill.
5. More Wii games.
6. Bose iPod dock.
7. Ceramic bowls.
8. Boots.
9. Professional hair coloring.
10. Acrylic nails.

http://www.yanowhatimean.com/tuesday/

Shop the Ward

The third ward is one of the fashionable areas in Milwaukee. I know that's not saying much since the only other fashionable area of the city is about 3 miles northeast known as the east side. Such creative titles. Anyway, I headed to the third ward to meet my daughters for some Black Friday shopping and a nice lunch.

The difference between the third ward shops and the awful mall and department store throngs is that the sales begin at 9am, none of the hordes of lifeless zombies getting up in the middle of the night to get a free widget that is worthless in the first place. We casually went from store to store where there were plenty of sales making our quality purchases reasonable. The clerks were friendly, in fact we were offered a Mimosa and homemade coffee cake at Broadway Paper. Most other stores offered hot coffee or some delicious little snack. It was relaxing, not hurried and a lot of fun plus the sun was shining and the air was crisp, a lovey late fall day in Wisconsin.

Jen's friend owns a shop called Freckle Face, a beautiful children's store. We spent more time in there than most stores. We purchased some cute things for the new baby. It was hard to choose with all the beautiful clothes and cute toys to pick from. I bought the environmentally, reusable diapers, Jen bought some trendy little girly clothes. My favorite shop was Anthropologie. It was filled with quality housewares and clothing, it reminded me of an upscale Urban Outfitters. I could have purchased kitchen gadgets and trinkets by the basket full but I refrained. I don't really need anything - less is more is generally my motto but it sure was tempting.

We ended our shopping at the Milwaukee Public Market enjoying a margarita and tacos at Margarita Paradise. This was the best Black Friday because it was with my girls.

Steely Dan - The Aja Show

There were 13 people in the band, including 3 women backup singers. The show started with the band doing a little jazzy instrumental introduction. Then one of the backup singers symbolically lowered a record player needle onto a record and the band started playing Black Cow, the first song from the Aja album. They continued the album songs in order and of course after the third song, the "album" had to be turned over. The music was flawless. Just sitting back and listening to the sound of Donald Fagen's vocals brought me back to a time when I was younger, less battered by age and experience. It was like good memories of another time flowed like the music. Walter Becker was magical. Playing a guitar is a talent way beyond anything I could imagine, and this guy is the master.

Before the concert, I insisted on a margarita - I had to have my Cuervo Gold. Jeff didn't make the connection until the band played Hey Nineteen, too subliminal at the time for him I guess. It seemed like Aja went by fast. Then Mr. Fagen asked the audience what we wanted to do now, the crowd went wild and the music continued. The Riverside is a great venue, small and inviting, it feels much more intimate than most concerts halls. Every song was familiar, most of them I could sing along from start to finish. The audience was shouting out requests. Their playlist seemed to be never ending. And just when I thought it was coming to an end, there was more. The girls sang a song (Dirty Work), the horns played solos, as did Walter Becker and the pianist. Then there was more. It was incredible.

The audience was filled with people just like us. At just under $250 for two tickets, and there were higher priced ones available, I wondered what kind of crowd would be attending. The middle-aged, balding or grey haired generation was well-represented. It was a nice mellow audience, so we could actually sit and enjoy the show, unlike others where you have to stand through the entire thing. But some things never change, I could smell the dope in the air.

This concert is one of the best I have ever experienced and I would love to come back again tomorrow to see the Royal Scam show. I'm curious to see what those gorgeous singers will be wearing.

Finding meaning on this day

I took the day off. I don't know why but I was told I should. I would probably need it. The advice was good advice, I did need it. Today is the day one year ago that Stephen was born. We should be celebrating his first birthday instead of mourning his loss. All I know is that I need to do something memorable, something to commemorate how important it is that he was here.

I've been dreading this day for a long time. I knew there would be sadness, something tough to get through, but the worst part was looking for some sort of meaning in the day, like I needed to do something really special. Planting a tree was one thought I had, but it didn't really fit how I feel. I want a tradition that I could continue on all of Stephen's birthdays, something meaningful for me to give.

I woke up with a sense of dread, between the loss and my inability to channel that grief, it was a struggle. I put my running gear on and headed out the door. The sky was gray but the temperature was very warm for November. All I had on was a long-sleeved t-shirt and leggings, for running this weather was perfect. Running changes my mood, the endorphins kick in and make me settle down. The ruminations stop running through my head and things always seem clearer. And that's when it hit me - Project Linus.

Project Linus is a non-profit organization that gives handmade blankets to sick and traumatized children. What a perfect way to memorialize our sweet baby grandson. I could make a quilt, in fact I could make one every year on his birthday and donate it in his name.

I hit the ground running, baby fabrics, patterns, and the National Project Linus website for proper instruction. This is just the therapy I need. I am a blanketeer.

Happy Birthday, Stephen... Love, Grandma.

Veteran's Day parade

We rode in the Veteran's Day parade today. The weather was perfect, better than perfect for a November day. The Legion Riders group that we ride with is so nice and friendly, it's always pleasant to be around them. The turnout was pretty amazing and I was touched by the display of patriotism shown by those in attendance. I think I will let the photos tell the story...