Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: fun stuff


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It’s cherry festival time!

Close up and personal.

Close up and personal.


No, not in Michigan, that’s still a few months away. But down in DC? Well, it’s prime cherry blossom viewing down there! And I was lucky enough to have a meeting scheduled there, so in between commitments I went up to Capitol Hill and became a tourist.

It was glorious.

I’d never been in DC during cherry blossom time, so I didn’t know what to expect. I flew in on Easter afternoon, changed into running clothes and figured I’d jog a bit on the Mall, take a few pictures of cherry blossoms, just enjoy some alone time.

Pretty in pink.

Pretty in pink.

I was so naive! When I came up out of the metro (subway) and made it over to the mall I was confronted with a few hundred gazillion tourists, all strolling along. It was like being at the start of a race, when you’re all jammed together and walking (slowly) toward the start line. Except there was never any start line…the crowd just kept meandering along.

Not going to be running here.

Not going to be running here.

So, no running on the Mall that afternoon! What was I thinking? But the cherry blossoms were stunning! The trees glowed under their own power without benefit of the sun.

Crowds enjoy the blossoms.

Crowds enjoy the blossoms.

I moved with the crowd from the Washington Monument where white cherry trees provided a heavenly canopy for people picnicking….

My favorite image from Easter afternoon.

My favorite image from Easter afternoon.

…toward the Jefferson Monument on the tidal basin, surrounded by white and pink trees.

Jefferson Monument surrounded by beauty.

Jefferson Monument surrounded by beauty.

The water was filled with people in paddle boats having fun. The shore was crowded with people taking pictures of people in paddle boats, pictures of trees, pictures of blossoms, pictures of each other, pictures of Jefferson’s monument.

There were long lines to rent the boats.

There were long lines to rent the boats.

It was so much fun, even though I was cold. I had dressed to be running and I was decidedly not running. But I didn’t care. It was so just much fun! Eventually I got all the way over to the Jefferson Monument….

Headed up the steps.

Headed up the steps.

…and noticed how pretty the Washington Monument was, across the basin, ringed with cherry trees.

Washington watches over the crowds.

Washington watches over the crowds.

The short trek between the two had taken over an hour, and it was getting dark, so I took some side streets back to the metro. I even ran a few blocks, just to say I did.

I will put together one more blog about the sights on the Mall. Tuesday, before my flight, I got up early and headed back to see the sun rising over the cherry trees. You won’t want to miss it.

I couldn’t stop grinning the whole morning.

Found a few seconds of solitude at Jefferson's.

Found a few seconds of solitude at Jefferson’s.


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Happy Gotcha Day

Hi sweetie!

Hi sweetie!


Hi Katie-girl, mama here. I wanted to tell you and your loyal subjects the story of your “Gotcha Day,” March 31, 2007, the day we met you and brought you home.

You sleep upside down all the way home that first day.

You slept upside down all the way home that first day.

You don’t remember, but your mama and daddy were very sad when your sister Bonnie went to the rainbow bridge, and even though mama had been communicating with your first mom, we just weren’t quite ready for a new little girl when she had a litter of pups.

What's that you have mama?

What’s that you have mama?

But later, when your first mom told us she had someone special that needed a home we were almost ready, so we said yes. We are so glad we did! You were a bundle of fluff, just 12 weeks old, but already very sure of what you wanted.

Anything good up here?

Anything good up here?

You were curious right from the start and explored your yard with your daddy and the house with your mama.

Your first walk in the yard.

Your first walk in the yard.

You found all your favorite places to sleep right away.

So exhausted that first day.

So exhausted that first day.

And figured out a crate wasn’t such a bad thing. Unless you had been bad to begin with, which sometimes you were.

Your safe place to snooze while mama studied.

Your safe place to snooze while mama studied.

But we couldn’t help but laugh and cuddle you even when you were being your stubborn self.

Caught in the act!

Caught in the act!

And you let us know right away that you were a princess and demanded pillows. All the pillows.

Princess on her pillow.

Princess on her pillow.

These nine years sure have gone by in a hurry sweetheart. I hope you’re happy you’re our little princess. We sure are happy to have you.

You have always loved to be outside.

You have always loved to be outside.

Though I suppose it’s you that really have us.

Time for another nap.

Time for another nap.

Happy Gotcha Day sweetie. Mama and daddy love you.

I know. It's YOUR sofa.

Photogenic right from the start


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Park times two!

Katie here!

HEY! Did you all have a wonderful weekend? I sure did! My mama took me to my park yesterday AND today! OK. She doesn’t get credit for thinking of it all on her own today. A friend messaged her and suggested we meet them over at my park and I have to say mama got me in the car and over there in ten minutes! She can be efficient when she wants to be, my mama, but if it wasn’t for that friend I’d have been inside this boring house all day! Thank you Aunt Karen!

But I digress.

Let me tell you about my adventures! Mama says yesterday was cold, because it was the last day of winter. I guess winter is supposed to be cold. I, personally, thought it was perfect.

Mama likes these two trees. I don't know why.

Mama likes these two trees. I don’t know why.

I trotted right along at a brisk pace because I was feeling terrific! I told mama to stop dawdling and taking pictures of stuff, even of me, because I had things to sniff and places to pee on.

When we first got to the park mama heard the cranes making a bunch of noise at the back of the park. We figured we’d come upon them when we got back there, but we didn’t see them. When we got to the place furthest away from the car mama heard the cranes up at the front of the park. She told me she figured they were dancing a jig around the car laughing at us.

She was wrong.

When we got out of the woods and close to the softball fields we topped a little hill and guess what? THERE THEY WERE just on the other side of the hill. Like 10 feet away from us! They were just as surprised as we were. Mama grabbed my leash extra hard but I had no intention of getting anywhere near these giant birds.

They squawked a bunch but didn’t leave…just continued to voice their displeasure at me being in what I guess they consider their park, and then they casually walked down the hill and over to the softball field. Mama’s picture isn’t very good, she was trying to hang on to me and take the picture and she couldn’t see in the viewfinder whether she even got the birds in the shot.

Those are bigger than ME mama!

Those are bigger than ME mama!

She did, but you have to really look. You can click on the photo and make it bigger and maybe you can see them.

Then today my friend Deuce had his mom contact my mama so we could go on a walk together. I think he likes me, but I told him I had a boyfriend already. Deuce is fine just being friends, cause he’s a good guy. I didn’t sit too close to him so that my boyfriend Reilly the Cowspot Dog doesn’t get jealous.

Close...but not TOO close.

Close…but not TOO close.

Then our mamas called us and we raced to them. Well. Deuce raced. I sort of sauntered. As befitting a princess and all.

I let him win. I'm a good park hostess.

I let him win. I’m a good park hostess.

Deuce loves to run. Mama took a bunch of pictures of him and I wasn’t even jealous. I was having too good a time showing Deuce my park.

Deuce can fly!

Deuce can fly!

I had fun this afternoon even though it was warmer today and I was slower than Deuce. After all I am 9, and Deuce is a much younger guy. I bet he didn’t even need to take a nap when he got home. Me? I went straight to sleep on my princess pile of pillows after mama brushed the burs out of my fur. I blame the burs on her, she’s supposed to watch out for things like that and she failed miserably. She was too busy talking to Aunt Karen. I’m not going to tip her this time, as she didn’t earn it at all.

So hard to get good help these days you know.

Beautiful me.

Beautiful me.


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Music of Angels

Last night we were treated to something extraordinary from the Ann Arbor Symphony.  Of course that isn’t a surprise because every performance the symphony gives is extraordinary.  But this truly was music meant for feisty angels.

Those of us in the audience were treated to the Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, Op 25 composed by Alberto Ginastera.   If you’ve never heard it you’re in for a surprise.   I, for one, didn’t know a harp could make the sounds that musician Primor Sluchin produced on the beautiful instrument.

She told us, in the pre concert lecture,  that we probably thought harp music was something soft and gentle, something you’d find on clouds.  And then she proceeded to demonstrate a few of the techniques she’d be using in the piece that evening, which included rapping her knuckles rhythmically on instrument, and plucking the middle of strings for a sound almost like a gong.

And who thinks to pair a huge percussion section comprised of 28 different instruments with a harp?  Composer Ginastera did.  The whole piece is amazing, influenced by Argentine music and with a contemporary feel, it  requires the musicians to remain focused and concentrating on counting.   There is no room for relaxation, either by the musicians or the audience, especially in the third movement.

The intense third movement gives you a feel for how different the piece is.  Ginastera was commissioned in 1956 to write it, and he didn’t finish it until the end of 1964,  saying it was a most challenging piece to write.  Guest artist Sluchin said it was very challenging to play as well, and that her whole body would hurt by the time she was done.  After listening Saturday night I imagine her physical pain is something like a marathon runner’s — the body hurts, but in such a very satisfying way.

Listen to the third movement yourself. In this video link you’ll get a birds-eye view of the harp, the percussion, and the rest of an orchestra. It’s not Ann Arbor, but it will give you a good idea of how it felt to listen and watch the piece. It’s about seven and a half minutes long.  If you’re short on time start listening at minute 3 because that’s when things really get jumping.  I think you’ll be just as amazed as we were, and though the artist in the video is not the beautiful, talented and incredible musician we saw, you’ll probably be on your feet applauding at the end.

Just like we were Saturday night.

So once again, thank you Ann Arbor Symphony, thank you for a wonderful evening of inspiring music and soul filling joy. I know you know how wonderful it was. I saw the smiles on your faces, the head tilts, the relaxed shoulders, the bodies leaning forward as Primor Sluchin played her encore, a sweet and gentle harp piece that showed the softer side of the instrument. You were all as mesmerized as we were out in the audience.

I guess we all got the same gift last night. And it was big enough to share.

 

 


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WordPress Photo Challenge: Harmony

I play clarinet in a community band and within the group are several parent/child combinations. I’ve been lucky enough to watch their musical relationships over the years. It’s been pretty cool, and I think it’s one of the best things about a community band.

For the past few years I’ve enjoyed watching a particular relationship right within my own section; a mother and daughter, both playing clarinet. I know the memories they make playing music together will last a lifetime. They have a special connection and it’s easy to see how much fun they are having.

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So for the photo challenge this week I could think of nothing more appropriate than the harmony so obvious between them as we readied ourselves to play a concert on Saturday. What they have is pretty remarkable these days – mutual respect combined with love and a lot of laughter. Just another example, as far as I’m concerned, of the benefit many kids get when they grow up playing music. Especially with their parents.

You can see other interpretations of harmony as comments to the original post. Or you can check out a few of my favorites here, here and here. It’s a good theme. What do you find harmonious around you? We’d love to see, share it and link to the original post.

Guaranteed to make you smile.


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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Couples, Twins, Two of Anything

Two tuba players share a conversation on the way to performing a concert.

Break a leg.

Break a leg.

This past weekend our community band played in a festival a few towns down the road. Walking through the fresh snow into the facility I noticed these two. Remembering Cee’s challenge, I fumbled with my gloves, found the camera in all the stuff I was carrying, and got the shot.

I thought it was cute to see two tuba players deep in conversation, casually hauling their giant instruments along almost as an afterthought. Turns out they were our musicians, and we all had a fabulous time playing music together a few hours later.
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