Poem of the Day: Surviving Winter

Surviving Winter
It was a dandelion March
Guiltless as a new born child
Boundless as the infinite sky
Yet unfathomnable as the wild;
It was a buttercup April
With depths sweeping and wide
With many a naked flower
Having no need to hide;
It was a daffodil May
As planters come - as planters go
It was pure Springtime
In a brilliantly lit show;
It was the Vic in Victory
The overcoming of the frost
The marrying of a new season
With no seedlings lost.

By Theodora Onken
April 8, 2013

"The overcoming of the frost"

That's the mode we are in right now .. 
Trying to overcome and wait for the buttercup April and the daffodil May. 

Simon and Sting Sing: Sweet Scenes

When in Hershey, PA, at the Hotel Hershey, you fill up on protein for the hours of probable dancing ahead.
Perhaps with a Reese's Peanut Butter Pie slice - split three ways.

Sustenance

Simon and Sting Tour.com

The evening at the Giant Center could be a blur of excitement, dancing, shrieking, whistling,
stamping along in rhythm, and "singing" along.

Feeling Groovy

Document for posterity as able,

but don't forget to 

Experience the now as it happens.

Look away from the screen.

Direct your attention to the larger screens
when body blocked by other concertgoers.

Snap

Lights. Cameras. Action

Power duo

Dancing Girl Grins

pero ... Ellas dancen solos

Remember this post?

STING, BABY!

Rock legends in their own right. 

A musical journey around the world in about three hours.

Musical Allies and Brothers in Song

Paul Simon and Sting on Tour Together

NYTimes

I took turns shooting on the iTouch and the Nikon. 

It took the whole show to figure out which Nikon presets to best use to get these two:

 And then ... there was backstage.

Which I didn't shoot.

Because.

Well.

Let's call it my: Gaiman Give Back Philosophy

which I developed one night after sitting waiting for Neil Gaiman's autograph after a reading.

These artists have given us so much already - often for many years,

often, with literal blood, sweat, and tears,

not even including the epically wonderful 3 hour show we just attended;

and usually they are in transit, tired, 

and must be weary of the same old song and tune off the stage.

Let me "give back" some of your time, 

by demanding no more 

than what you have already given.

I am already so grateful for you and your art.

This "give back" is my gift to you.

But thank you, Paul Simon,

for being so gracious to me and my friends,

for the words, the photo op, the autographs for those who requested,

and,

most importantly,

at least to me,

and for reaching out to one

who would have been happy just to 

give back 

to you.

It really meant a lot.

Sincerely,

An even bigger fan than before. 

March 9, 2014 Setlist:

Brand New Day

(Sting cover)

 Boy in the Bubble

Fields of Gold

(Sting cover)

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

Englishman in New York

I Hung My Head

Driven to Tears

(The Police cover)

Walking on the Moon

(The Police cover)

Fragile

(Sting cover)

Mother and Child Reunion

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Dazzling Blue

Graceland

Still Crazy After All These Years
 

Me and Julio Down By The School Yard

America

(Simon & Garfunkel song)

Message in a Bottle

(The Police cover)

The Hounds of Winter
 

They Dance Alone

Roxanne

(The Police cover)

Desert Rose

That Was Your Mother

Hearts and Bones

Mystery Train/Wheels

Obvious Child

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

You Can Call Me Al

The Boxer

(Simon & Garfunkel song)

Encore:

Bridge Over Troubled Water
 

Every Breath You Take
 

Late in the Evening
 

When Will I Be Loved

 

The Sounds of Awesome!

2 men, their voices, their instruments, their bands, and their fans.

Hershey, PA, Sunday, March 9, 2014

Paul Simon and Sting on tour

And maybe some shrieking, some dancing, and a backstage pass.

Thanks Amelia and Christine and Deb and Carlos and Sting and Mr. Simon.

Via iTouch

Please pardon this introvert's interruption ...

 Also

via the Twitters

More later.

Homeward Bound: On a wing and a prayer

Some of the most sacred travel insurance ever...

The Faith of Innocents

Monday night prayers

Via iTouch

On the road again, again

Arizona, Thursday, Feb.20, 2014

I am in the midst of a 2 brother, 3 families, 4 airline, 5 airport, 5 states, 6 day, 6 nieces and nephews journey.

Wish me luck ... And patience!

Via iTouch

Auntie Nettie Reads A Lot 2013 - 4th Quarter

Winter 2014 Snow Days = More reading? Maybe.

I don't think it needs to be said AGAIN that the last quarter of 2013 was a bit busy. There just weren't enough hours in the day to work 12-14 hours a day, commute, craft, or read a good book.

Though, apparently, I did try,  occasionally. But not enough.

The usual caveat applies: If you are just finding the blog, please note that this list was maintained mainly so that I could remember what I've read this year. The record does not fully represent me or all of my interests, so don't judge my reading habits. My interests change quite frequently. Also, as a general rule, I don't do book recommendations or link to major retailers or publishers. Except for the ARCs listed below [thanks major publishers!], most of these books came from MY library or a public library. 

Go forth, use your library card and READ! 


October - December

[Surely I have read more than this?]

Jane by April Lindner
Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White (reread)
Dark Witch (Book 1 of the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy) by Nora Roberts
The Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee
A Cookbook Conspiracy (A Bibliophile Mystery) by Kate Carlisle
Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

some e-books I don't recall