Boooootiful Roses, Valentine's Day 2017

Jane Lynch Receives Honorary Doctoral Degree from ISU

And I was there to see this ceremony which is the closest thing ISU has to the Oscars, said President Larry Dietz.   As a part of Founder's Day, many people receive awards, including the Distinguished Professor Award which Daad received in 1997 with only 2 awarded each year.  

Jane still dreams about ISU, especially the quad in autumn.  On the ACT she received a score of 13!  She was closed out of a class so decided to take a theater class just for the hec of it, after which she breathed, ate, and lived theater. She never attended her Spanish II classes but did show up for the final.  Her professor knew of her talent and so gave her a very easy exam.
The essence of her beliefs --

     Goal setting may be restrictive
     Never use the word "should"
     Intelligence means creativity
     Don't be a humorless do-gooder  

Daad's New Snow Blower

It is February 8th and down came snow, enough for Daad to try out his new snow blower.  He reported though the machine is larger and heavier than the old one, it is easier to use because it starts up immediately.

Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury

My Master Gardener friend, Margaret Hollowell, emailed me a link about Montserrat Caballe, an incredible Spanish soprano.  Here with Freddie Mercury, they sing Barcelona in 1988, composed by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran.

Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991 from complications due to AIDS.

Exquisite beyond words!!!

Daad LOVES These Shoes

Last year the same sight appeared on the dining room table.  The shoes are old and were purchased in Pittsburgh. 

Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education??

Horrors!  Let's hope she is not confirmed.   Yeh to Teachers' Unions and people like me who are protesting this selection. 

It is February 7th and I am sad to report she was confirmed -- 50/50 and Pence broke the tie.  This is a first. 

Lucy Croft, Incredible Zumba Gold Instructor

Top left, is my beloved Zumba Gold Instructor, Lucy Croft.  I've been doing Zumba Gold with her for 4 years on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  When Laurie and the girls are in town, Laurie, Roslyn and Liesl come and dance.  They love it. 

Tom Ashbrook GLT 50 Year Anniversary Celebration

Meema Was on NPR Tom Ashbrook's On Point!

My friend April Schultz emailed she heard me on the radio!!  Tom Ashbrook from On Point, a brilliant journalist who is from Bloomington and was featured at a 50 year WGLT celebration. I tweet with Tom.  When we were in line to talk with him at the meet and greet he saw our name badges and knew exactly who I was.  He said "I feel such warmth in your tweets! and then he hugged me.  We talked because I know people he knows and he hugged me total of  3 times.  I was in heaven.

Tom asked people to call an 800 phone number to share unique Xmas stories so I called and shared the time we were snow-bound in Colorado Springs.  Laurie and Neal:  Remember this???? 

And that is what my friend April heard!  Because I subscribe o On Point, Oompa and I were able to hear this.  Oompa wrote the piece but I abbreviated it as I spoke on the phone.

Christmas Eve Morning, 2016, Live Broadcast on 89.9

Kings College Choir, a mix of men boy sopranos!  Every Christmas Eve morning they do a live broadcast.  When Oompa and I saw the choir in the mid-90s, we went nuts with joy.  After the concert we followed the little boys and I shouted to them "You are stars of the planet!"  This minute they are singing a piece our Civic Chorale just performed!!!