Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ob la di, Ob la da

Aaaah...this brings back memories of the Beatles! 
 Because of recent events in our lives as a family, I especially like this line: DesDesmond take a trolley to the jewelers store 

Desmond takes a trolley to the jewelry store...

Buys a twenty carat golden ring... 
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door...
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing... 
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...
Lala how the life goes on...
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...
Lala how the life goes on.
Takes t

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Chanel & C.S. Lewis

My son and daughter were recently at the Wade Center which houses artifacts from 7 British Christian writers --- including C.S. Lewis.  Here is Jill modelling my Patent-leather Chanel GST  in front of the wardrobe that Lewis' grandfather made. It supposedly was Lewis' inspiration to write The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe





eta:




********

Monday, March 21, 2011

Art smart!

The Meeting Place
Received this email earlier this month:

Subject: And the winner is...
Apoorva M for Autumn Gazebo!
Second place was a tie:  Jillian E (The Meeting Place)
and Jack G (Ontarioville Gazebo).
Third place went to Liz S (Garden Bench).
Congratulations to all of you! 
And congratulations to each student who participated.  All of the paintings are wonderful & this was a huge accomplishment for everyone.  Starting with your very own photo references & pictorial concepts, you worked with discipline & dedication to successfully bring your paintings to life.  I'm so very proud of all of you!
The presentation of the awards & other details regarding the display of all of the paintings will follow. 
See you on Saturday...
Linda 

Here's another of Jill's oil pastel drawings:






12.10.8.18

Friday, March 18, 2011

Anton Diabelli @ Monster Concert

...Opus 149 No 28 in E Minor
Monster Concert 2011
8 Grand Pianos
32 Hands
(Farrah & Jill are on the right)


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Perpetual Commotion

...by Kevin Olson
Monster Concert 2011
8 Grand Pianos
32 Hands
(daughter Jill is on the right side)






Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Kentucky Wedding

As we got ready to exit on Rt 335 from I-57, we heard it. A thumping, somewhat grinding sound from the left side of me (sitting in the second row, right side). A slight burning smell also.

Pull over, says hubby to our son, the driver.
Jared had just been manipulating the cruise control, but pulled over safely to the shoulder.
An hour away from home, on our way to Eric and Laura's wedding in KY, and now this!

What's the problem here??!!! Engine starts, but shifting gear resulted in stalling.
We weren't going anywhere.  Off in the distance, to the right, is the exit to Monee.
To the left, is McD's. And bathrooms. I needed to go. Sigh.


Called Geico. Very, very nice black lady on the phone.
Within a half hour, a confirmation from Superior Towing (driver Tom).
But no Taxis in the area. Huh?! Let's call non-emergency Police for help.
Over an hour later, Monee Town Police shows up.
Two minutes after that, Illinois State Police shows up (Officer  Powell with an assistant, license plate 5-43).
Monee Police is a no-go.  It's against their regulations to take us anywhere except to the nearest gas station.
Tow truck can only fit two more people. State Police could also fit only two.  But there were 6 of us!
Rules were bent and winked at...off we ALL go. Must go backwards 5 miles to a Dodge dealership - hallelujah!- in Matteson. Meanwhile, I am being transported in the back seat of a Police car.

Two hours of waiting at Denny Guests' Southoak Dodge. Problem: blown out/bad ignition coil.
It was an original part. Bound to break, sooner or later. A nice office lady made us feel better by giving us Coke with ice.  Finally... 4 hours after break down, the car is fixed. Kentucky, here we come!

Officer Powell said if we had stalled around Kankakee, there would have been no one (meaning, car service) around for many, many miles. Realized later that had we passed Kankakee, in the backwoods area of Illinois, we would have ended up sleeping in the van while awaiting help 'coz NOBODY would have found us till the next day. The area was similar to the "Deliverence" movie in remoteness (I could be exaggerating here, but that's what it seemed like to me).  It would have been worse than trying to find Janice's dad's wake.

Finally made it at the hotel (Fairview Inn) at 9:15 pm. Had we not been delayed, we would have been here by 4 pm. Now, there was no time for the pool. At leasts there was wi-fi. Plus, below  was the glorious view outside our rooms' windows. We don't have this around our town. Yet.


Our morning meals were also included in our rate (unlike our friends who rented from Marriott).

Breakfast: 
Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Jimmy Dean Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
Ham, Egg, Cheddar Quiche
Otis Spunkmeyer Apple Cinnamon Muffin
Dannon Light Fit Strawberry Yogurt
Orange Juice
Hard-boiled eggs
Coffee

Thursday, March 3, 2011

February was a good month

...for our daughter.  At the beginning of  the month, she won CSA's piano competition (first place/Senior Division), as per a previous post. On the 20th, she competed among North Shore's music students at the NSMTA's  Sonata Festival.  It was held at a crowded building in Winnetka, with few parking spots. Try being patient when the rain is pouring and the time is short. It was even shorter than we realized when the two competitors ahead of her were no-shows. She played the Beethoven  Tempest Sonata. We stood, waited and listened in the hallway. She won, again,  by the grace of God. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Two competitions, same month.
Two recitals for the winners, same afternoon. Less than 2 hours apart; but, several towns apart.

Oh, boy -- the frenzied  life of middle-aged parents to teen-agers. Oh, boy.

What made it worth our while was the venue for the first recital (NSMTA's gold medal winners).  None other than Evanston's Northwestern University.  Who would have thunk! The very place that rejected me twice (long story) was now willing to play host to my champion daughter. Sweet!!!!!