Mambo this time.

After much a do about Her husband's attitude - Trish and I went to mambo lesson with the same lady who taught at the Art Gallery last week. It's a ball! We had SO much fun.
We are going to do the two Saturday in a row class in October and a Class or two every month. This is made much easier by the fact that we can take the littles. ( AKA Moira and Colin) THey have a baby sitter that will come and watch the kids for $5 for the evening...both of them. THis is good news. We would not be able to do anything like this if there was no option to take the littles. Sean just will not watch his own kids with out a fight. Sad really. When we go out together I do more with his kids than he does. I should not have to.
But Mambo was great...we spent so much time giggling and laughing and cracking jokes it was not funny. Trish is still amazed that I have this much fun. And that I will do this. I have wanted to learn certain dances since I was a kid. The Lindy, the Foxtrot,the Charleston. A proper waltz. I love the way they look. Tara says she can teach me all of them. I like her teaching style. She makes it easy and does not stress over rhythm or lack there of. She says "get the foot work and rhythm will follow." Much easier to learn when you don't have to worry about being humiliated.
I am already looking forward to the next class.

How do they do it?

Had a violin lesson yesterday. Pachelbel's Cannon is still a consternation - It will be for awhile before I can play it well...but it's a start. I continue fighting Beethoven too. Ode to Joy is coming along, but Vicki says I have to memorize it. Sigh. I am so not good at memorizing things. But she seems to thing ( and is probably right) that if I don't have to worry about what note comes next, if I just know that, it will be easier to concentrate on the note quality, elbow position and rhythm. This exercise has given me a whole new respect for folks like The MacNeils, Mac and Ian...they have literally THOUSANDS of pieces memorized. How do they do it? Really.
It's a whole other type of smarts to be able to do that. And a lot of work. I am so glad that there are folks who take the time to do it. I can't fathom how much time they spend at home, off the road learning new songs, practicing, things like that. It's a total commitment. I am so glad that there are people who are willing to make it.
And that they are willing to share their talent with the rest of us.
I wish I could express my thanks and gratitude for the sacrifice of time, place and talent that they make. And their loved ones at home.
Thank you is simply not enough.

Fun Time this weekend.

This weekend Trish's Kids and Husband went to his mom's in PA, leaving us blissfully alone for the weekend. We had a Ball!
Friday she and I went to the Art Gallery, had swing dance lessons and listened to Carol McLaughlin’s Big Band. It was so much Fun! Then we wandered art the Gallery at a leisurely pace and just enjoyed being there.
We're going to take the swing lessons from this lady she does lessons every other month at the Unitarian Church.- and we're going to take David along. Under pain of death. Just because he is getting to dating age and the ability to conduct himself well in formal circumstance would be a good thing for him to learn.
Anyhow, I think I could use this too...I've always wanted to dance well. Oh heck, I've always wanted to dance at ALL!

I have a job interview.

Trish took my resume to work with her a while ago and today they called. So I have an interview to be a dental assistant. It would be nice to have a job that could work into something respectable rather than this place holder job that I've had since leaving the hell-known-as-Client Logic.
The job I have now definitely is not something I can do for long, as the church is closing - I have to find something and this place offers on the job training for both Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists -as well as Medical Receptionists/Schedulers.
The problem is that this job has a 5 day interview. Basically they try to make sure you'd fit in there and could do the job. I hope I get it. I could use something good to happen.
Really.

So I've joined an SAL

A Christmas ornament one. I have started Stitcing ornies in a big way, odd since I don't celebrate the day. But I figured I could use some "company" while doing it so....

I have also decided that I am going to start using my other blog as a stitching gallery..Oh I'll post pics and commentary about who gets what, here, but that will be primarily used as a gallery. Hope it works!

Or maybe recipes I have been looking for someplace to put recipes online..either here or Multiply. hmmmmm.

The stitchery

Here are pictures of Kyle's card and the Blanket for Sheumas's newborn son. I am sure you can figure out whic is which ;)

So I told him..sort of.

I went to see the Barra MacNeils last weekend. It was a weekend of relaxation and fun with my long time friend and road trip buddy, Anne.
Now Anne Has been encouraging me to tell Kyle that he's the one who keep me going with fiddle...keeps me inspired to practice and not to give up.
So I made him an Angel card like this except in green. And copied most of the post below to a letter and I actually had their techie send it back to him between sets. He was sweet about it. I got a couple of BIG hugs afterwards, so I think he was ok with it.
We had seen them two days before in NJ and Lucy asked what I did Friday..so I told her that I had gone shopping for needle work stuff, had a fiddle lesson with Anne and did some site seeing. She asked if I have lessons at home and I told her yeah I have lessons. She suggested asking Kyle for a lesson when I have time..and I emphatically nixed that. Lucy pushed it a bit saying that he is a very good teacher. I told her that I think they all would be great teachers, since they are so patient but no I would never ask Kyle for a lesson. I will ask Kyle to play with me when I can do Tullochgorum at speed. Stewart looked suprised that I would think they'd be great teachers and mentioned that he has taught piano at the university level. ( lucky, lucky students!) I don't think Lucy "gets" how hard it would be for me to study under Kyle...you just don't study with the person who keeps you inspired. It would be too hard, too humiliating and it would take the dream away. I would be crushed if he laughed at me for my mistakes, or quirks ( although Lucy tells me "He would NEVER!" that's a direct quote.)
Playing with Kyle is my dream, the mere Idea of it is what keeps me going through all the rough stuff...If I have him for a teacher and play with him that way, what do I have to reach for?
On another note I also gave Sheumas a cross stitched baby blanket for his newborn. I actually handed it to him..he gave me a hug and a kiss. Which is the last reaction I expected! These folks are amazing. He later mentioned that he "has a complete set" of my work since I've given him a present for each of his three kids. Amazing. most men I know place no value on stuff like that and throw out hand made stuff before the kids ever see it. Sheumas apparently keeps it and uses it. Made me feel so good. I couldn't speak I was so touched.
I love the entire family. I have for years.
Anne's graciously allowed me to post pictures of a couple of them.



This is Kyle.
and



This is Stewart. Anyone who knows me know that I think the world of Stewart...I make no bones about it. And he'd have to be brain dead not to know it. BUT I can't seem to talk to him, lately. Too bad, because he is a wonderful person. I'd love to make a friend out of him. and It doesn't hurt his cause that he's the first man I ever met who could and would talk crafts with me with out making fun of me.
Of the ones I don't have pictures of Lucy is wonderful...warm, kind, strong yet feminine - she's fantastic.
Sheumas, as I said amazes me.
Boyd, is the youngest family member and a real gem. He's forever telling me "thanks" and I can't figure out why...but it's nice to know that he doesn't mind seeing me or answering questions for me or what ever. I could get to like him too.
Ryan, I finally met last weekend. Too soon to tell yet but he seems to be just as nice as the rest of his siblings. If he is, he's got to be a really special person too.
Then there is Jamie Gotti ....Lucy calls him "her adopted brother" nice man, fantastic bass player but he next to never talks to the fans. Too bad. I have enjoyed his music for so long that I'd love to tell him more often. Lucy says he's shy so it's not really appropriate to force him to talk to us.