Musicals that won the Tony Award for Best Musical that I have not seen.

 I do not keep up with musicals the way that I used to.  I need to pick up the pace on that again because I have always loved them and they have been an important part of my life.  And I have loved watching the Tony Awards every year since I can remember.  Looking back at the musicals that snagged the top prize, here are the ones that I have never seen a stage production of.  I'm going in order from when the Tony Awards first started. And I am not counting if I have only seen the film version because many of these have film versions which I have seen and enjoyed, but not the stage version.

1. Wonderful Town - 1953

2. Kismet - 1954

3. My Fair Lady - 1957

4. Redhead - 1959

5. Fiorello - 1960

6. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1963

7. Man of La Mancha - 1966

8. Hallelujah, Baby! - 1968

9. 1776 - 1969

10. Two Gentlemen of Verona - 1972

11. Raisin - 1974

12. Ain't Misbehavin' - 1978

13. Nine - 1982

14. Big River - 1985

15. The Mystery of Edwin Drood - 1986

16. Jerome Robbins' Broadway - 1989

17. The Lion King - 1998

18. Contact - 2000

19. The Producers - 2001

20. Avenue Q - 2004

21. Jersey Boys - 2006

22. Billy Elliot - 2009

23. Memphis - 2010

24. The Book of Mormon - 2011

25. Once - 2012

26. A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder - 2014

27. Fun Home - 2015

28. Hamilton - 2016

29. Dear Evan Hansen - 2017

30. The Band's Visit - 2018

31. Hadestown - 2019

32. Moulin Rouge - 2020

33. A Strange Loop - 2022

34. Kimberly Akimbo - 2023

35. The Outsiders - 2024

36. Maybe Happy Ending - 2025

When I started this list, I did not realize there would be that many.  Some of these I have not heard the recordings of either and I must work on that as well!  Have you seen any of these?  Any recommendations?

Ain't It Good - Children of Eden, Elon University 2010

 I recently listened to the original cast recording of Children of Eden and was reminded what a power show this is.  If you don't know it, the first act tells the story of Adam and Eve and the second act tells the story of Noah and the Ark.  In the song, Ain't It Good, Noah's wife rejoices at the sight of the earth after the storm is over.  I did not see Elon's production, but this clip is as excellent as anything I have seen there. A good way to start my Friday. 

His Eye is On the Sparrow

 I remember going to see Sister Act 2 in the theater when it first was released. This performance of His Eye is On the Sparrow I found to be deeply moving.  This is one of those songs that had heard sporadically throughout my life, but it was not really one I grew up hearing much.  And it's so beautiful but the music and the lyrics.  A great moment of music in a movie. 

Three slots left

 

While I know that I will not finish up my list before I turn 51, I still have to come up with three more things to make this at least a true 50 at 50 list.  I really did not foresee this being as difficult to come up with when I really began composing the list.  When I started the list, I made the decision to add things that are realistic and not things that I definitely know would not happen this year. So, I did not put things like travel abroad on my list.  But I did put steps to traveling abroad on there like getting my passport and my real id done.  I compromised with some dreams, so to speak.  

So now I have three slots left to fill and no clue what I can put in there.  I've covered cooking, reading, travel, skills, events.  Not sure what is left.  I can probably find a few things within those groups to add specifically but my mind is blank.  So I am definitely open to suggestion at this point. If you have any ideas, please pass them along.  I really hope that the next time I write about my list, I will have accomplished at least one more thing on it. No pressure though!

The first day of school

 Today was the first day of school for many kids in Guilford County and it has brought back so many memories for me.  I have loved seeing all of the pictures from my friends of their kids in their first day outfits, often with signs that say "First day of..." Those are memories that these kids will carry with them for the rest of their lives (one of the good things about social media). 

I started first grade in 1981.  This was back before schools (at least in the school system I was a part of) did open houses before school started.  I remember Mom taking me to Walter Bickett Elementary that day.  The kindergarten and first grade classes shared a building.  So we had to go into the hallway and look for our names outside of each classroom to see where we belonged.  I was in Sue Richmond's class.  What I wouldn't give to talk to her again.  She was one of my favorite teachers.  Outside of her classroom, she put a tree on the wall with apples, and each apple had the name of one of her students on it. That is how I found out which class I was in.  

I remember the first day of 4th grade.  I had Mrs. Thaxton that year.  It was important because that would be the first grade that we would change classes in, for reading and math.  Then 5th grade was interesting because all three elementary schools combined that year.  Walter Bickett had all of the city's 4th and 5th grade students and the K through 3rd were divided between the other two.  So, there were so many new people to meet that year.  And starting new schools was a frightening adventure as well.  The first days of Monroe Middle and Monroe High Schools were both very intimidating for me.  But I survived each time. I would not necessarily want to go through those times again, but I do enjoy the nostalgic memories of them.

Of course, I cannot forget shopping for stuff before the first day of class.  Buying new clothes for school was exciting.  Mom would take us to T.J. Maxx in Charlotte to shop for clothes.  I always thought it was a big deal to go out of town to shop and in many ways, it was.  Bless Mom for making us try on each and everything to make sure if fit and that there was room to grow.  It would take several hours but she was patient, and I always found it fun.  Buying the school supplies....pencils, crayons, paper, the memorable Trapper Keeper, fun folders to keep things in, the backpack.  There was just something about the newness of it all each year that gave me something to look forward to.

While I did have some hard emotional times throughout my school years, I chose to remember the things that make me happy.  And it all really started with that first day of school in 1981.  

Gift Cards

 

Sometimes when I am going through this process, I find things that I forgot that I had which can be beneficial to me.  Not often, but it does happen.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I have this wooden box that I use to keep loose change in.  It belonged to Grandmother.  And like her, I keep it on a shelf in my bedroom.  When I was cleaning the shelf, I went ahead and opened up the box because I had not done that in a while. It's not like I need to look at the loose change that is in there, but you never know. Anyway, I found an entire stack of unused gift cards.  I had totally forgotten that they were in there.  Jackpot!!

I took out the cards and decided to sort them.  There were probably 50 or so in there.  By the way, I often get gift cards at work which is where many of these came from.  They don't have super value but better than nothing.  I have a ton of $5 Chick-Fil-A cards that were given out at work.  I do not eat there, but I suppose it is good to have them in case of emergency.  Anyway, I decided to get them all sorted to see what loot I had.  I divided them into three categories:  places to eat, places to shop, and generic (Visa, etc.).  It looks like I have many options to eat out in the future now if I want to.  

I do not know why I have not used these cards and have let them accumulate like I have.  It may be that in the back of my mind I have not used them so that I could save them for emergency situations.  I do not know.  But it is nice to have found them and now have them organized. I probably need to go ahead and begin using them.  I did not find an expiration date on any of them, but you never know.  I would hate to let them go to waste.  Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise that may not have happened for some time if I was not constantly cleaning up my spaces.  One drawer at a time is paying off, so to speak!

Caring for the inside and outside of the house

 I was talking with Lois yesterday about how hard it is sometimes when you live by yourself in a house to get everything done.  And I meant both inside and outside the house.  Now, I do not live alone right now.  I have a roommate.  A great roommate.  But he's only here four nights each week and his work schedule does not really allow him time to get household chores done too much.  Don't get me wrong, he does still do things, and I am so appreciative of the help. But it is outside where I am having to play catch up. 

The conversation began because I was talking about getting out in the front yard on Saturday to rake up grass that was left from the last mowing.  I now have someone coming by every few weeks to mow.  Not because I do not want to do it, but it is more of a time constraint thing.  And, honestly, with all of the rain we had over the last six weeks it has been hard to find the time to cut the yard.  It is too wet to mow before work and often the rain happens mid to late afternoon, which also keeps me from doing it.  

I don't mind paying for someone to mow.  When we first moved in, Michael and I paid our neighbor's kid to mow each week and that was fine with us.  We started mowing once he left for college.  Of course, Michael really took care of that, and I did the inside stuff which suited me fine. It is not like I hate working outside, it is simply not what comes to me naturally. I definitely want to start getting outside more and make my yard one that I can be proud of.  It is simply a matter of balancing my time with that.  I think coming up with some daily things for my to-do list will be helpful with that.  

One day, I hope to have an actual home of my own and with that will come a yard.  And if I want to keep up with things and have everything looking presentable, I just need to make the time and not fall behind.  Easier said than done, right?  We'll see how that goes.  If you stop by the house in a few months and I am lost in the brush outside, it'll be a sign that it's not going well.  Let's hope that doesn't happen!

Finding some new antiques shops

 I want to find some new places to go antiques shopping.  Not that I need anything.  We all know that is not true LOL But I just love going into new places and seeing how things are displayed and set up in the different booths and shops.  And I never know what I will find.  Much to the dismay of my already full house, I almost always walk out with something in my hand.  Not always, but mostly.  And I have this pattern (again with the patterns) that I do in each shop.  I have to make a full run of the entire shop before I put anything in my basket.  Unless it is something I completely fall in love with and have to have right then and there.  Thankfully, that almost never happens. 

There is an antiques mall in Asheboro that I have not been to yet.  I would love to find someone to go with and walk around there.  I would also love to go back to Waxhaw, NC, and see if any of the shops are still there. I have the feeling that the small town looks somewhat different from when I was there 35 years ago. And I have a friend in Rocky Mount that has a great store called Trash 2 Treasures that I really want to take a day and make a trip up there.  He and his mom have wonderful things in their store. That would definitely be fun for me but very dangerous.  And I think that there is an antiques mall up 220 north near Summerfield.  A former coworker told me about that one.  Got to love the local places. 

And while I do not need anything, I am always on the lookout for something it seems.  Sometimes, I am simply looking ahead to Christmas.  I love to give vintage things for Christmas!  But I love fun vintage kitchen items.  I love serving pieces.  I have an infinity for compotes and covered dishes it appears.  I am totally ok with that.  I also still have my antiques bucket list. I have checked 4 out of 10 things off of that list so that leaves me searching for 6 items.  One is very specific:  the ceramic bumble bee honey pot. Aunt Sara had one in her kitchen, and I am not sure who ended up with that, but it was always fun.  The rest leave room for interpretation.  But the beauty about those is that I must fall in love with them.  I am not going to buy a Gone with the Wind lamp just because it is one. I have to absolutely love it.  Now, I know that I could find something suitable on Ebay, but I would rather go to a brick-and-mortar store.  

So, one of these weekends I am going to get myself out of the house and find some new antiques places to shop.  I love it and it makes me happy.  So, why not?

Class notes

 Now that classes are done and my time in the master's program as a student has come to an end, I am wondering the best way to organize all of my class notes.  I have an entire box of them.  They are not all in order of the class I took them in, but they are somewhat already organized. When I was working on my capstone presentation, my entire den was covered in different piles of notes from all of my classes.  I am sad to say that once I was done, I just stuffed them all into a box without thinking ahead.  I will excuse myself of that because to be honest, I was pretty stressed out and tired of looking at them LOL

When I updated my resume this week, I added some of the classes that I took in school, and I realized that I need to be able to access those notes for later purposes. It's not as if I cannot talk about these subjects without the notes, but they do come in handy.  And when I was doing my capstone, I would often come across something that I had totally forgotten about that was so useful.  Also, going back and reviewing my notes from class may spark an interest in an area that I had not thought about steering my gerontology career.  You just never know.

So, it is time to start going through my box of notes.  I will reread them and get them better organized.  I think I will keep a highlighter and a pen and pad close by to make better notes on the ones I already have.  Maybe I will get some notebooks to put them in.  One day, they'll be someone else's trash but for the time being, having my notes organized is going to be so beneficial to me. 

Patterns

 I don't know if I was like this as a child but as an adult, almost everything I do is based on a pattern of some kind. When I organize things in the house, like CDS, DVDS, records, books, etc., they are all in alphabetical order.  That is not that unique, but it drives me crazy when things get out of order.  I take my time when I listen to a new record or read a new book to put it where it needs to be in the sequence of things.  This also helps me when I do inventory.  It is a lot easier to find things when they are listed alphabetically.

I also use numbers in my everyday existence. Every single day.  And while this system may seem completely foreign to some people, it is completely natural to me.  Here is an example of what I mean.  Let us say that today is the 4th of the month.  When I make my coffee, I will select the 4th coffee up in the shelf to drink out of.  When I'm getting dressed for work, I will select the 4th pair of pants in line and the 4th shirt to go with it.  Now, this does not always work out due to fashion rules so sometimes I bend that one LOL When I drive home from work there are 15 different ways I come.  I have three choices of roads in my first section and five choices of roads in my second section.  Being the 4th, with only three choices in the first section the list begins over.  It makes complete sense to me.  And it keeps things different and there's a definite way I make the choices of things to do. 

When I get home, I have a list of things to I want to accomplish each day.  This day, I will start with the 4th thing on the list.  If I listen to a CD or record, yes it will be the 4th.  I even choose my blog topics based on this pattern.  I don't know if there is a term for this kind of pattern loving, but it does something to ground me.  I am in control without being in control.  But whatever it is, it works for me.  That is all I know.  Now, I need to go look at my "to-do" list and see what I am going to do next.  It all depends on what day it is LOL

Keeping my list going

 

I have come to accept that my 50 at 50 list is not going to completed by the time I turn 51.  And you know what?  That is perfectly ok.  I am not at all disappointed, in fact I am quite the opposite. There are still over 3 months left until I turn 51. If I win the lottery, there's a chance I could complete my list but realistically, that is not going to happen LOL So I want to keep my list going after my next birthday.  It is nice to have things written down that I want to do and accomplish. 

I look back at the things that I have done this year and I'm pretty pleased with it. I have gotten out more.  I have tried new things and eaten at new places.  Because of this list, I've seen plays this year.  I have gone to museums this year. And these things have happened because of my list.  If I didn't have my list, I may have done some of these things but most likely I would not have. So that is all the more reason why I want to keep my list going.  It gives me some direction for my free time. 

I have a long weekend this weekend.  While I am going to spend today catching up on my household lists, I am hoping to knock a few things off of my 50 at 50 list. We shall see.  It gives me something to look forward to.  That is all. 

Dealing with hate

 

One of the things that I struggle with in my spirit these days, and I know I am not the only one, is dealing with feelings of hatred towards others.  I do not like to hate.  It is not in my nature, and I definitely was not brought up that way.  But I would be lying if I said that those feelings are not there.  They continue to rear their ugly heads all the while I am trying my best to push them back down.  It is a difficult thing to do. And it is a difficult thing to control sometimes.

Often times when I am feeling that way, I try to remind myself that it is perfectly fine not to like something or like someone but try very hard not to let it get to the level of hate.  And it is not because my feelings are not legitimate, at least to me, but it is more due to the effect that hatred has on my person.  It tears into me and eats away at my spirit.  I do not like that. And I am trying to find ways to work through those feelings and come out better on the other side.

Whenever I talk about my spirituality, I am not always meaning religion. I do spend a lot of time talking with God.  Not everyone does and I am not the kind of person to shove my beliefs down anyone's throat. I do take a lot of comfort in those conversations, though.  I also find myself talking to the earth.  Just putting ideas and thoughts out there for the earth to hear and see how it responds.  Sometimes the response is quite obvious and sometimes it is not.  Either way, it helps to ground me and my feelings, and I am able to process things in a better way. 

There is an awful lot of hatred in our world today.  Everywhere I turn I see it in some form, and I am trying my best not to let it get to me.  Sometimes I am successful but sometimes I am not. I am open to suggestions on how any of you deal with those feelings.  I will say that overall, I am much better than I used to be in dealing with it.  I know it will never go away, but in the meantime, I am going to do my best to lessen it in my life. 

Just thinking about a few things to do next after graduation

 

Well, I did go to the UNCG Gerontology semester kick off.  It was a small crowd, but it was a lot of fun. And I actually made a new connection in the world of gerontology, so that was a good thing.  Even though the crowd was small it made me realize that I can do this.  I can get out there and network.  I can talk about myself and other topics with ease.  Now I just need to find those places to network.  I have a few ideas in my mind so I will let you know how those pan out for me!

I am also looking into more classes and certifications that might be useful for my career.  If I want to stay in senior living, which is definitely an option but not a must, many positions need specific certifications.  Especially if you work in administration or activities/wellness.  So that is something to think about.  And I know there will be other things out there that I am unaware of that will enhance my abilities and job prospects. 

Right now, my biggest priority is not wasting this degree and education.  While I really do not consider my undergraduate degree a waste of time because I did learn a lot and met a lot of people who I can call on when needed, the degree itself did absolutely nothing for me in the job sense.  I really want having this master's degree to help me out.  I think I have earned that, especially at this point in my life.  That is all. 

The blanket chest is next

 

One of the things that I do not enjoy about this process is having to move stuff off of something in order to see what is inside.  I know, that's the price I pay for enjoying my stuff.  But still, it's a pain in the rear sometimes.  Working in the bedroom, my next "drawer" to go through is the blanket chest. I can honestly say that I do not remember what is in there.  After all, it has been over a year since I have looked inside.  That tells you how important whatever is in there is to me.  Well, not so much its importance as its usefulness I suppose.  

Who knows what will be in there.  There may actually be blankets LOL  I simply cannot remember.  I know, once upon a time, that is where I hid Michael's Christmas presents.  Now that I am single it seems hardly necessary to hide gifts from myself.  Anyway, I will need to clear off the top before I can see what is inside.  I keep some of my electronics on top of the chest like my dvd and vcr (yes, that is correct) players.  Those cords will have to be untangled so that I can move them off.  And there are little odds and ends that I keep on there.  It really is nothing extraordinary, just time consuming.  Then again, what else do I have to do?

I am looking forward to seeing what is inside.  Maybe this will be a good opportunity to let go of some things. I want to be able to utilize this storage space as best as possible.  But first, I have to know what is in there.  I will keep you updated!

Sheet Music

 One of the first things I need to do if I want to get back into playing the piano is to find my sheet music.  I know it is out in the garage somewhere!!  I just don't know where.  I think that it is mostly all together in one box, but I know there are pieces in other places as well. This is when having my garage organized would really come in handy.  I have so much sheet music that I have collected over the years.  I still have some of the level books that I used when I first started.  Those should be very easy to play once I find them, but you never know.  It's been a while.

I also need to look up some new sheet music to learn.  I think that would be fun because it has been a long time since I tried out a new piece.  I do love new age style piano music so I may look there.  I have several books of David Lanz compositions so I might branch out into another artist.  His music is so relaxing to play, and I want more of that.  But I also to find fun arrangements of songs as well.  I do not have any music of Mancini's, and I think that would be great to play.  So, I am on the lookout for a beautiful arrangement of Moon River!

Once I can get my hands on my sheet music, I will have to finally bite the bullet and start practicing.  I have figured out that I can go into work early, most likely, and practice on the piano that is in our life enrichment room.  That way, I can close the door and not bother anyone like I would during the workday.  Also, chances are that the room wouldn't be used during that time.  We shall see.  Anyway, my goal right now is to put my hands on my music, and I will go forward from there.

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Be a tourist for a day - it could even be in your own town.  Bring a sense of renewal and awareness to a place you have perhaps overlooked before now. 

Radio Shows

 I love to listen to the old radio shows from the 1940s and on.  When I was growing up, one of the local radio stations, 1100 WBT, would play episodes from time to time and that is where I first really heard them.  I remember one Christmas that they played about 4 hours' worth of Christmas episodes.  One of the most touching things I heard was an episode of "Amos 'n' Andy" when Amos explains The Lord's Prayer to his daughter.  And one Halloween, they played an episode of Suspense with Agnes Moorehead.  She did a version of the story "Sorry, Wrong Number" and it scared the crap out of me. It's amazing what sitting in the dark and letting my imagination run wild can do!

I found a place online to listen to the old shows. It's a website called ABN Old-Time Radio Antioch.  I love this station.  They do their best to play shows that were aired on that specific day.  Sometimes that results in some interesting news stories because they had to break into the programming. Here are some of the shows that I love listening to.  Do you still listen?

1. The Man Called X

A radio espionage drama about an agent, Mr. X, who takes on cases set in exotic locations.

2. I Was a Communist for the FBI

Based on the memoirs of undercover agent, Matt Cvetic, this series covers Cvetic's infiltration of the Communist Party of the United States.

3. The Lives of Harry Lime

A prequal radio series to the film "The Third Man", this series follows the misadventures of con artist Harry Lime

4. The Life of Riley

A situation comedy about Chester A. Riley, a wing riveter at an aircraft plant and his family.

5. The Great Gildersleeve

A spin off of Fibber McGee and Molly, this show was centered around the pompous Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve and his balancing raising children, work and social life. 

6. Suspense

Subtitled "radio's outstanding theater of thrills", this anthology series focused on suspense-thriller stories staring leading Hollywood stars

7. The Jack Benny Show

A comedy set in Hollywood about tight wad Jack Benny, his producer Don Wilson, his friend (and real life wife) Mary Livingston and his butler Rochester

8. Fibber McGee and Molly

The misadventures of a working-class couple and their neighbors and acquaintances in Wistful Vista

9. The Whistler

A mystery series that started each week with footsteps and the haunting whistling theme.

10. The Shadow

The adventures of Lamont Cranston and his companion Margo Lane. Cranston used his hypnotic powers to cloud men's minds so that they could not see him in order to solve crimes

Close Every Door - Donny Osmond

 I watched Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat a few weeks ago and it's just such a fun show.  I would love to see in live one day.  The score is delightful and all sorts of fun.  This is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, and Donny Osmond does a wonderful job in the role of Joseph.  If you have not seen this production, it's well worth seeking out!

Prayer for when you feel stuck

 

My wheels are stuck this week and I needed to read this. 

UNCG Gerontology Semester Kick Off

 

Well, tomorrow I am going to the UNCG Gerontology semester kick off.  It's going to be at the Oden Brewing Company.  That's a nice place and I have not been there in a few years. I have not been to one of the semester kick offs yet, so I am looking forward to it.  It will be a mix of current and new students, alumni, faculty and board members.  I did not even know our department had a board.  Ah, well LOL  I think this will be good for me because I can do some networking, I hope.  And lord knows I need that most definitely.  But it will be good to get out of the house for a bit and converse with others who enjoy older adults as much as I do. I have also updated my resume and my LinkedIn profile.  Not sure how much good will come of out that, but it is done.  I am having some flashbacks to when I graduated with my BSW and couldn't find a job, so that has put me in a funk right now.  I will get through it. It just simply sucks in the meantime! But I hope that tomorrow will be motivational for me. I look forward to finding out! As long as my social anxiety does not overtake me, I will be good!

A few more things done on the 50 at 50 list

 

I have managed to get a few more things done on my list.  Well, most of them come under specific things but that still counts.  I went to see a production of "La Cage Aux Folles" in Winston Salem with a friend of mine.  As many times as I have seen "The Birdcage" and listened to the La Cage cast recording, I had never seen it live on stage before. This was a community theatre production and it did not disappoint. I finished two books:  Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.  Anne of Windy Poplars is only the second book I have read in the Anne series and I loved it.  Makes me want to read more of them.  And, of course, I love a good Christie mystery and this one did not disappoint.  Last weekend when I went to visit Dad and Bill, we went to a local restaurant called Napper Tandy's. It's an Irish pub in downtown Angier.  It was excellent!  The food was great and I ate too much, but what else is new.  Love trying to places that are local (to where I am at the time LOL).  So, I am making progress and I am hoping to get several more in before the end of the month!  If anyone wants to join me on an adventure, just let me know!

No social media days are good for me

 

Spending less time on social media sites have proven to be beneficial for me. Last month I was going for once a week.  Now, this may not sound like a whole lot, but given that I was on social media every day for hours upon end, this was big for me.  When I was taking time off, I found that I not only got more things accomplished, but I felt better mentally.  Everywhere I look these days there is gloom and doom and it weighs me down mentally.  It makes it hard for me to be motivated about anything.  So not having that thrown in my face every now and then is a good thing.  This month, I am doing once every 6 days.  Still, may not sound like much but let me tell you, it is.  And next month, I will increase that.

When I say social media, I am referring to sites like Facebook.  Places where I have profiles.  Places where the evils of the world are major topics of articles, videos, etc.  I still check my email.  I still do my personal blog.   And it's amazing to me how much time I shave off of my computer time when this is all that I do.  It's very freeing.  So far, it has truly been good for me and I will continue it for as long as I can.  That is all. 

10 of my favorite Anne Murray Songs

 I do love Anne Murray's music.  She has been a part of my music canon for my entire life.  My mom loved her and that's where it started for me.  We would listen to her greatest hits album and sing along to it in the car all of the time.  Anytime she put out a new album, we would get it.  And her Christmas albums were always favorites to be played at the holidays.  Even today, when I'm shopping for music, if I see an Anne Murray album that I do not have, I will put it in my cart.  Her voice is so beautiful and clear and soothing to me.  Here are some of my favorites of hers.  Enjoy!

1. A Love Song

2. A Little Good News

3. Walk Right Back

4. Broken Hearted Me

5. Could I Have This Dance?

6. Nobody Loves Me Like You Do

7. Time Don't Run Out On Me

8. You Needed me

9. Christmas Wishes

10. Just Another Woman In Love

Gathering Items for Donation

 

My daily challenge for August is each day I need to come up with at least one item that I will donate. We are putting together a yard sale at work, and this will help me to be able to contribute to that sale.  Also, there are many organizations in Greensboro that accept donations of goods.  Goodwill, Freedom House, Reconsidered Goods.  These are all worthy places to drop off items that can be reused and repurposed.  This will also help me with organizing my own things and letting go of unneeded items.  Not family heirlooms or things that I treasure, but good stuff that I will not ever use.  I hate to think of something going unused when there is someone out there that can use it.  No point in having it if that's the case.  I don't want it to just sit there until it can't be used anymore. It's all a process, much like my "one drawer at a time" that I am doing.  It will be good and beneficial to both me and others.  That is all.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

This is a good verse to start the week with.  We would all benefit if we did this!

One Drawer at a Time - DVDs

 As I go through this process, one of my goals is to maximize the use of space in the house.  One of my projects in the bedroom was sorting and organizing my DVDs.  Yes, I still have DVDs and I still watch them.  Not everything can be found on free streaming services, you know.  Also, when the internet goes out and I want to watch something, I just pop in a DVD and that's that. Well, my collection has outgrown the shelves that I bought specifically for the DVDs. I definitely did not want to buy more shelves for them.  If I buy more shelves they will be for another purpose. Still, I wanted to find good storage for them while maintaining my organization methods. 

I found some DVD albums on Ebay.  They were a good price and looked like a good solution to my storage dilemma.  They hold 400 each so I bought several of them. Yes, I have well over 400 DVDs. Anyway, once they arrived, I carefully took each DVD out of its case and put them into the album in order.  Of course, when I got 400 in the first one....guess what?  It would not close.  Yes, it would hold 400 but it would not close with 400 in it. That was frustrating. The albums are divided into 2 sections of 200 sleeves, so I took 200 out to see if the album would close then.  That worked.  I ended up putting those 200 into another album so now I have two half full albums that will close on their own.  Yippee. 

I have a bookshelf in my den where these albums fit perfectly.  That is very helpful!  However, I hate to waste all of these unused sleeves just so I can close the albums.  I think that I am going to buy some cheap notebooks, cut out the unused sleeves out of these albums and put them in other albums.  Why not?  I think that would work.  We shall see.  Still, I have opened up some space in the bedroom and that is a good feeling!

Seeing a boxing match

 I know that boxing is not everyone's cup of tea, but I have always enjoyed it. When I was growing up, I would watch it when no one else was around.  Not because I was embarrassed, but because no one would believe that I was actually watching it. Top Rank Boxing on ESPN and USA Friday Night Fights were staples of my viewing, even though no one really knew.  And if I couldn't watch it then, I would set the VCR (remember those?) to tape the rebroadcast that came on in the middle of the night.  Ah, those were the days.

Even though I enjoy watching them on television, I have never been to a match live.  That is something that I want to do this year.  I think it would be fun to attend a boxing event.  Of course, it would be better if I had someone to accompany me, but one thing at a time.  So, I am looking online to find events in the state.  I have actually found several but unfortunately the websites I am finding them on are not giving any real details.  They have a place and a time but no link to get tickets or more information.  That kind of sucks.  I will have to do more digging.

I might look outside of NC to find events to attend.  I wouldn't mind a road trip.  Lord knows, it would be good for me to get out of town LOL  But, I will see how this goes.  I really do think that I would enjoy it, so hopefully I can find something not too far and that is in my budget.  Wish me luck!

Quote of the Week

 

Very true!!

One Drawer at a Time: Working in the Bedroom

 

I am working in the bedroom now and this is probably the most difficult room in the house for this process. One of the reasons it's hard is because this room, more than others, is where there are many piles of things.  It is so easy for me to just set something down in the bedroom and say to myself that I will deal with it later. I think that it is because no one, and I mean no one, ever goes into my bedroom other than myself so that makes it a safe place to be messy.  It honestly drives me nuts but admittedly I do not do anything to prevent this piling process. This is definitely a room where my "don't put it down, put it away" philosophy needs to be activated and utilized!!

The other reason that the bedroom is difficult for me is my clothes.  Now, I do not have too many clothes.  I have just enough.  Maybe that is the problem.  This is a mental thing.  Because of my weight gain, there are many items of clothing that I cannot wear right now.  Hence, I go through this whole struggle of "I may be able to wear it again someday." So, this one is hard for me.  I am currently going through my chest of drawers where most of my clothes are.  Many of my t-shirts are now what I call "belly shirts."  I have very few that go down below my waistline anymore but oh well.  And I convince myself that I can just wear these shirts around the house because who cares?  And I put them back into the drawer.

So, given this mental dilemma, I am going to use my "one drawer at a time" process in the bedroom not to necessarily purge but to motivate.  I am going to keep these things to remind myself that I need to make the changes in my life necessary so that I can wear these clothes in public again someday.  And, yes, I will eliminate the many piles in the room as well.  It is just a different process in this room and I am ok with that. 

50 at 50 - Checking a few things off of the list

 

Well, progress on my 50 at 50 list is coming along at a slow pace.  I do not mind that though and I am perfectly ok if this list bleeds over into my 51st year.  But, I still have been able to check a few things off of my list and add a few more.  By the way, I am still stuck at 45 things on my list so if you have any ideas that might fit me, just let me know!

As far as additions go, they are simple ones.  One is to get a library card.  I have not had one in decades.  I really did not need one when I was a student but now that I am not, I think I would like to have them.  Going to the library was so much fun when I was a kid.  It was an important part of my upbringing.  And I think it is good to support libraries during this time in our world.  Another thing is to go to the movies. I just have not been inside a movie theater in almost 10 years. It is something I would like to experience again.  Going to the Greensboro History Museum is the last thing I added.  Even though I have lived here 30 years, I have never been, and I need to go. 

As far as things I have checked off of my list, getting my Master's degree is the biggest accomplishment.  Quite proud of that one!  In my quest to try new local restaurants, I went to a place called Bagner & Alexa's which is just down the street from me.  The breakfast was great, and I will totally go back again. I tried a few new recipes, which will appear on the blog soon enough:  Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls and Chicken & Shrimp over pasta in a Lemon Cream Sauce. Both will be added to my recipe canon.  And lastly, I went to Kerner's Folly, the historic home in Kernersville.  That was fantastic.  A beautiful place that I highly recommend.  I would love to go back and see it at Christmas!

So, things are coming along, and I am happy with where I am in my progress.  Here's to new adventures this month!

Listening to my body

 

The older that I get the more I realize that I need to start listening to my body.  I have never been one to be in tip top shape, but I have definitely let myself go over the last six months.  I know that the stress of finishing school and other things have added up to this blob that I am now. But it is time to put those excuses to bed and start paying attention to my body.  It is telling me that I need to make changes if I want to live a healthier existence. I know some of those changes will be hard, but I am stronger than I give myself credit.  I can do it.  It is just a matter of discipline, which has never been my strong point except for the vices in my life. 

It's just where I am right now.  I hate to see pictures of my current self.  It is quite embarrassing, and it is time for me to do something about it.  Having to constantly buy new clothes because my old ones no longer fit.  And I wear something until it turns into rags, so having to restock takes a toll on my psyche.  I just know that if I don't turn some things around, I may not get the chance to do that down the road.  It will be a good challenge for me.  And, as an adult, I love a good challenge.  We shall see how things go.  I need to start checking in with myself daily as far as my weight, BP, and other things go to see where I stand.  I can do this.  It is just what is on my mind this morning.  That is all. 

Grandmother's Easter Eggs

 I do love decorating for the holidays.  Mostly, I have Christmas decorations, but I do have decorations for other holidays of the year. One of those being Easter.  I do not have nearly the number of decorations that I do for Christmas, but I still have a few to put around the house. Easter was not a big decorating holiday when I was growing up other than a centerpiece on Grandmother's table. I do a little more than that but just small things here and there.  I do enjoy it though.

In the late 80s, Grandmother began hand painting ceramic Easter eggs. They would be decorated with rabbits, flowers, birds, ducks, geese, etc. She would often even paint someone's name on the egg as well which made it extra special.  She gave them to us each year and often gave them to friends as well. I know there are many people out there who have a cherished Easter egg painted by Dot Laney.  I have about 2 dozen of them myself. I keep them in the old Styrofoam egg cartons that Grandmother had them in.  It actually works out very well that way and makes them easier to keep track of.  It also protects them well, too.

I just love bringing them out once a year and displaying them.  She took such time with these. They are hand painted without a template, free hand.  Unlike the many ceramic figurines I have that she painted over the years, these were all painted from her imagination.  I often wish that I had that kind of artistic ability, but my talents lay elsewhere. These eggs bring not only some color to my home at the holidays but also a sense of nostalgia and comfort.  They are a piece of my history, and I cherish them. One day they will be passed down to someone who I hope will appreciate them as much as I do.  In the meantime, I am going to enjoy them every year.