You Heard Me!

It was a magical evening for me!  Getting the opportunity to play with legends in the music business. WE ROCKED IT! Funk, Latin, Jazz...Yoshi's was packed! OMG, pinch me! I was definitely playing with the Big Boys; band members from Tower of Power, War, Sly and the Family Stone, Malo, Jorge Santana, legendary percussionist Bobby  Escovedo and many, many more top notch musicians and singers! I was in heaven.                                    Yoshi's, San Francisco, October 15, 2010

First published: December 1995 Tiny Lights Publications paintings by Norman Rockwell photographs by Karin Kascher They’re back!  The holidays. One of Norman Rockwell’s merrily contented families enjoying a delectable feast pops into my mind when the approaching festivities are mentioned.  I can see someone’s Uncle Bob, sober as a judge, carving the succulent, evenly browned beast with white paper tassels atop the plump and juicy drumsticks. His calm and blissful expression is emulated by all the eager guests seated around the perfectly set table.  And who should appear through the swinging kitchen door but sweet Aunt Dorothy, white-haired and rosy-cheeked, wearing her simple, dark blue dress, dotted with tiny pink roses and a neatly starched apron.  She is proudly presenting her freshly baked pies to the sounds of oohs and ahhs, and respectful squeals of delight!   Come to think of it, when did dear Aunt Dorothy find the time to single-handedly ...

A couple of month's ago, I discovered Ollie playing violin and guitar with his awesome Volvo tractor.  Many of you may recall taking music lessons and using the oppressive metronome.  The metronome, for those who've never heard of one, helps a musician to practice and keep time. This often leaves little room for overt expression, however, it comforts those whose cultures (like mine) demand adherence to precise time-keeping and offers assurance by its restraints.  Ollie, who is of the Swedish persuasion, has an Osh B'Gosh® ability to play synchronized duets with his farm equipment.  Please... to listen to... the fantastic Mr. Ollie all the way through his video. He starts cookin' after the second set and finishes with a pulsating flourish! I may get my husband to restore our Cat DII so that I can have someone to play with!

So, we went camping last August to McCarthur-Burney Falls State Park .  Imagine seven people, several dogs, three meals-a-day and endless snacks.  Stress and dirt out of every orifice!  Packing and unpacking, shopping and cooking. Decisions of what to do and when to do it.  My husband and I had our once-a year-blow-out argument...all in the name of camping!  I can't even remember what it was about. "Special" Camp memories:  Camping is the middle-class's idea of roughing it.  Now, granted, I'm guilty as well.  We used to tent-it,when the kids were wee, but now that we require more comfortable accommodations, we go all the way in our 1978 Airstream ™ luxury travel trailer (not really, 'cuz when we're 'boon-docking', we can't use the shower or flush), which includes; an indoor toilet /a tiny shower, sink, stove, 'fridge and two twin beds [please no comment].  But, in the past few y ears I've observed that camping is the furthest thing tha...