Valentine

I had a fantastic time singing for the Valentine Banquet at the Avoca Baptist church on Sunday night. I sang 8 old love songs with a cassette tape of piano music done by my friend Abigail. Then I had a CD to accompany "you raise me up". I had such fun. I flirted with the old man across the table who couldn't hear anything. I flirted with Hubby when I sang "My Funny Valentine" and then when the 8th grade boys were getting restless, I messed with one of them when I sang "time goes by so slowly.....are you still mine?" from "Unchained melody". I was really a hit. It was good for me. Hubby loved it. I am still waiting to find out what the committee decided about corporate sponsorship for my recital. They met yesterday and still no word. Probably not good news. I'll try to be patient. (I still can't figure out why I can't make paragraphs here.)

downsizing/giving

FIRST OF ALL SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH EITHER MY CONNECTION TO BLOGGER OR WITH MY KEYBOARD ( WHICH I DOUBT) WHEN I HIT "ENTER" MY CURSOR DISSAPPEARS INSTEAD OF MAKING A NEW PARAGRAPH. ANY HELPFUL HINTS ANYONE? I gave up my cell phone at the end of January. I am not totally glad I did, but it is one more way to downsize. The first step in the expense reduction, I think, was a mini-seminar on debt reduction at church in late sept. or early oct. I remember the time frame because I had not healed enough from my back surgery to sit for long periods. We had a garage sale just after the seminar, because he encouraged it. Got rid of a bunch of junk and made $200, which was supposed to go directly to pay on the credit cards, but actually didn't. But I did take out a low interest short term loan at the credit union to pay it off, and the payments are not negotiable, they come out of my check first. No fudging. Mike Cope and Val Durington have had recent posts on their blogs about needless use of our money that we feel is so necessary, when not able to tithe or give willingly to others' needs. So I gave up my cell phone. There have already been many times I've wished I had it, but nothing disasterous has occurred. I could easily live like this. Next to go under the axe is the housekeeper. She only comes every other week to dust and vaccum and clean the sinks and showers. I can take over most of those duties again. Just can't vaccum because of my back. Hubby will ha ha. We're waiting until after SingSong to fire her, because most of Daughter-in-law's family will be coming to see her little sister in the show, and we'll have all of them over for a meal first. Now we're trying to decide whether to give up our dish TV. The year contract will be over soon, and I guess we'll cancel. Back to rabbit ears. It has alread become kind of a game. How cheaply can we eat out? How long can we go without buying new clothes? What old movies can we watch at home instead of going to the movie? I almost always carry a lunch to work now. In all of this I have discovered how much my music really means to me. I would rather sing than eat richly. I have enough food. Look at me and you can tell. But beans and cornbread at home is a nice meal. Abuellos is a nice meal, but costs 1o times what a simple meal at home would. (I am by no means a gourmet cook, so ALL meals at home are simple.) Has anyone else been trying to live a simpler life in order to be a more cheerful giver?

the best sons

#2 son just got an unofficial acceptance to graduate school!! He is on cloud 10. Went out to the Tx. Roadhouse to eat. I'm stuffed. But mainly just so proud I could bust. Both of my sons make me happy, proud, pleased, amazed. ( I can't get this to make paragraphs. Every time I hit enter it jumps off the page to somewhere I don't want it to be.) Anyway, #1 son is now working towards a CPA, in a major accounting firm in Dallas. He married the most wonderful young lady in the world who is in grad school for speech pathology. I feel like small potatoes. I only have a diploma in nursing. But still remember the excitement when I got the news I was going to get to go to nursing school. And still remember the sense of accomplishment when it was finished. But that was only the beginning. Experience is the key to success.

sponsors 2

I just submitted an application to my employer for corporate sponsorship of my recital. The requisites for their backing look daunting and discouraging, but I put in my best shot. Here's some of what I said: I believe that a well-rounded and healthy person includes diverse activities and interest in his or her life. I am a Regestered Nurse at ___Day surgery and have been at ___about 24 years. My career is wonderful, but my life is made even more interesting and fulfilled by music. I feel that I bring that fulfillment and happiness to my workplace. In addition, I feel that in order to maintain a healthy life into one's golden years, new interests and endeavors must be undertaken. I began formal vocal training in my fifth decade of life. I hope to be an example to people of all ages that with God's blessing, one can fulfill dreams in all stages of life. I probably don't stand much of a chance of getting corporate sponsorship, but applying cannot hurt. Actually it was kind of fun to fill in those spaces on the application on the website as eloquently as I could. And if ___doesn't come through and underwrite the whole program, I will probably be able to get many small businesses to sponsor portions of the recital or certain expenses. The owner of printer I went to for an estimate today said he'd be happy to sponsor me. I don't think it will be hard to get other businesses to help me.