Well, my son is not home after all. The last leg of the trip, from New Jersey to Detroit, was cancelled. Hopefully he will fly home in the morning. I am really bummed.

a dream

 

I dreamed of you last night.

We sat together at a little table in a bistro.
We were laughing.
Your face glowed with happiness, your eyes shone.
We ate from each other's plates, and sipped golden wine.

I dreamed of you last night.

When I awoke, tears were running down my face.

This morning I got a great surprise. When I got online to read my email, Bill started talking to me IM. I love the internet! I got to talk to my son in Spain!

He is probably at the airport in Madrid right now, getting ready for the first leg of the journey home. They have long, long layovers in Paril and New Jersey, and will be either in airports or on airplanes more than twenty hours before finally getting into Detroit Metro. I am sure he will be grouchy and tired, but he will be home by the time I get home from work tomorrow night.    

Uggggggggggggggg. Work has been awful this week. We've been buried under huge amounts of work. Thank goodness there are only two nights left this week. Then it will be the holiday weekend, though I will be working both Sunday and Monday (July 4).

The terrible heat continues. You cannot believe how good that cool shower felt this morning, and getting off all of that sweat and other peoples' smoke smell and splashed beer. I love all sorts of music, but I have to say that you don't get covered with smoke and alcohol at most jazz and classical concerts.

It is hotter and drier here in Michigan than it is in Madrid, Spain, where my son is sleeping right now. After leaving Biarritz, France, which is supposed to have wonderful beaches (and do not ever underestimate the lure of the ocean on a bunch of Midwestern teenagers who live far from the sea), the kids went on into Spain, stopping for the night at the old historic city of Burgos. They are now Madrid until it is time to come home later this week. They knew that in France they would be seeing Notre Dame and the Louvre, and the beach, of course. The only thing they knew they would be seeing for certain in Spain was Pamplona. I hope they got a chance to see the Gothic Cathedral in Borgos, as it sounds lovely.

I love the internet. We can look at pictures of the hotels Bill has stayed at.

In Paris: Hotel Tryp de Saxe http://www.dilos.com/hotel/2693

In Biarritz: Altess Hotel http://www.altesshotel.com

In Borgos: Hotel Cordon http://www.hotelcordon.com

In Madrid: Petit Palace Puera del Sol

http://www.solartours.com/madrid_vacations/petit_palace_puerta_del_sol_-.asp

Haven't been able to teach Steven how to bake, as we had planned. It's been way too hot to be running the oven...

 

Braved the terrible heat (am still exhausted from it) and went to an outdoor concert last night featuring Los Lonely Boys and Carlos Santana.

Had a great time, other than the heat. It was well up in the 90's and very humid, and most of the people in the crowd were at least half naked. It was either a sell-out or so close to make no difference, and we were packed into the lawn like sardines. Luckily the people right behind me were dancing wildly quite often as the night went on, and they kept splashing me with ice cold beer. It felt very good.

The opening act was a band called the Salvador Santana Band. They were alright. They combined sort of a Latino rock with rap.

Then came Los Lonely Boys, and they were great. The two guys on guitar were awesome.

Then came Santana, and what can you say? He played a mixture of his newer hits like Maria, Maria and Smooth, as well as some of his old classic hits like Black Magic Woman.

The best part, which made me laugh from sheer happiness, was when he had Los Lonely Boys come out and join his band, along with the keyboard player from the Doors. They kind of all jammed for awhile, then started playing the opening movement from John Coltrane's jazz symphony A Love Supreme, which is one of my favorite jazz pieces.

We got home at one in the morning (we live to the southwest of Detroit - Pine Knob is to the north of Detroit, and about a two hour drive) and found out that, thanks to a passing storm, all of the electricity had been knocked out to our area. Luckily, I keep a maglight in my Jeep. I went on to bed while my husband set up the generator for the refrigerator. But since we have a well with an electric pump, I had to wait until this morning to wash off the sweat, beer in my hair, and the variety of ashes I got covered with at the concert.

My older son is in Spain now, and will be for the next few days. It might have been hot in France, but I'm pretty sure it will be even hotter in Spain.

Today is a social day. Dan will be getting home from work soon, and then we will go to a party for awhile this afternoon. Then we will take Steven to his best friend's house for an overnighter, then head up to Clarkston for the Santana concert.  We haven't been to a rock concert since Billy was a baby. And we have seats on the lawn. It'll be Ma and Pa Kettle, for sure. But it should still be fun.

Lois McMaster Bujold -- The Hallowed Hunt

Lois McMaster Bujold is probably best known for her science fiction stories, space opera involving the noble Vorkosigan family of the planet Barrayar. Books in that series have won so many awards, its pretty amazing -- and some of them, like Mirror Dance are among the best science fiction books I have ever read.

In the last few years, Bujold has been moving into fantasy. She has a great talent for drawing conflicted and interesting characters, and I loved her two fantasy novels The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls. While set in the same country, and with the second featuring a minor character from the first, each can be read as in independent novel rather than as a series. (The same can be also be said for her science fiction books, as some of the Vorkosigan books do not need to be read in order, either).

She has a brand new fantasy book out now, called The Hallowed Hunt. Because Bujold wrote it, it went right to the top of the stack of things to be read.

Quote:
Prince Boleso is dead - slain by the noblewoman he had intended to defile.

Lord Ingrey kin Wolfcliff has been dispatched to the remote castle of the late, exiled, half-mad royal to transport the body to its burial place and the accused killer, the Lady Ijada, to judgement. Ingrey's mission is an ugly and delicate one, for the immanent death of the old Hallow King has placed the crown in play, and the murder of his youngest son threatens to further roil already treacherous political waters. But there is more here than a prince's degenerate lusts and the fatal retribution it engendered. Boleso's dark act, though unfinished, bestowed an unwanted, mystical "gift" upon proud, brave Ijada that must ultimately mean her doom - a curse similar to the one with which Ingrey himself has been burderned since boyhood.

A forbidden spirit now inhabits the soul of Ijada, giving her senses she never wished for and an obligation no one sane would desire. At once psychically linked to the remarkable lady and repelled by what she carries within, Ingrey fears the havoc his own inner beast could wreak while on their journey, as he fights a growing attraction...and an equally powerful compulsion to kill.

The road they travel together is beset with dangers - and though duty-bound to deliver Ijada to an almost certain execution, Ingrey soon realizes that she is the only one he dares trust. For a malevolent enemey with designs on a troubled kingdom holds Ingrey in his sway - and without Ijada's aid and love, the haunted lord will never be able to break free and realize the great and terrible destiny bestowed upon him by the gods, the damned, and the dead.

Bujold has won more Hugos for best novel than any other living author, tied for most ever given with Heinlein. She has also won Nebula awards, among many others.

www.dendarii.com is Bujold's official website

 

Started reading a book called Tobacco; A Cultural History of How an Exotic Plant Seduced Civilization by Iain Gately yesterday.

The first chapter was pretty interesting. It tells how tobacco was first domesticated in South America and some of the uses to which it was put. Besides smoking and chewing, it was also used topically, nasally, and in a liquid form was drunk and used as enemas. Shamans used it in their vision quests, and would deliberately take near fatal doses for near death experiences. It also told how it spread to North America, where is was usually smoked, and how it was the only plant some tribes cultivated. For the most part, it was considered a medicinal herb in the Americas before the coming of the Spanish.

I started a children's series tonight, known as The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. The individual books are called
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Dark is Rising
Greenwitch
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree

Right now I am on Over Sea, Under Stone. I have only read a couple of chapters, but it seems promising. A family with three children have gone to stay with an old family friend (a famous and adventurous professor) at a mysterious old house near the ocean in a little village in Cornwall. Right now the kids are having a lot of fun exploring the house on a rainy day.

I got a nice email from a lady from Arizona today about going to Elohimfest at this time last year, and how it helped her out emotionally in a rough time in her life to go there, and to spend time with all of us. It really was something very special, and I was very glad to have the chance to participate. I was just getting over the initial worst mourning for my father (though I would not truly get over the worst altogether until last December, when I got that huge emotional catharsis that began to change my life). Elohimfest gave me the first thing to be happy about in the five months following my father's death. The day I spent driving across Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle with my friend was the first truly happy day I had had since my father had gotten sick six months before that. Some of the people I met there are some of the finest human beings I know.

Truly the trip of a lifetime for me.

Today Bill went from Paris to Biarritz, on the ocean. Since it has been so hot in Paris, I'm hoping that he (and the other kids) will get some good ocean breezes and that things will be cooler on the coast.  Tomorrow they will be going on to Spain. They will be visiting Pamplona before going on to Madrid.

Today was a good day to be off from work. It was frighteningly hot. Homes in this part of the country are built to keep heat in, because of our long, frigid winters. When it gets this hot, people suffer. I went to the grocery store, and all I felt like buying was ice cream and fresh fruit.  I did buy other food (like rotisserie chicken  ) as well. I actually lay down and took a nap for awhile after I got home from the store. (I should get dressed again in a few minutes so I can go out and water the garden now that it is cooler out).

This time last year we were in New Mexico, for Elohimfest. So many things have changed in the past year. It's rather remarkable thinking about it. I am so glad we did that, got together with all of those dear people. It was truly remarkable, the sort of thing to remember and cherish as long as I live.

Just finished reading a little book called The Final Season by Tom Stanton. He tells the story of the last season the Detroit Tigers played in Tiger Stadium. But the story is really about male bonding through the generations through love of sports, and time spent together at the stadium by grandfathers, fathers, uncles, and sons.

Quote:
If we have felt loved as children, we yearn as adults to give back to our parents. We try to repay them with time and attention for all the gifts they bestowed never expecting any in return. We yearn to show them that their investment paid off and to prove that the sacrifices were worthwhile. We aim to make up for the sleepless nights we caused while out late with friends speeding through subdivisions and sipping Boone's Farm wine. We aim to erase the little injustices we did, the times we doubted them, the times we chastised them for something as silly as jangling the coins in their pockets.

Well, this will be Bill's last day in Paris. I bet these few days there were lovely (even if very hot) and that the nights were also lovely, under a huge full moon. Tomorrow they will begin the next leg of their trip, stopping for some time at the beach and spending tomorrow night at a little town on the Atlantic before heading down to sunny Spain for the rest of the trip.

I miss my big guy, but am very happy he has this chance.

It's nearly the weeked, and it will be a hot one. Dan and I will go see Santana and Los Lonely Boys at Pine Knob Saturday night. Should be fun.  I might take Stevie swimming tomorrow at Rolling Hills Water Park, as it is supposed to be extremely hot tomorrow.

 

Well, my big son is in Paris right now. Got him off on the plane yesterday, got the phone call this morning that all is well, the kids are having a wonderful time, and that over in Paris it was very, very hot today.  I'm so happy that he is getting a chance to do this.

I ended up calling in sick to work last night. I think the stress from the weekend made me sick (the truck accident Bill got into, the packing and making sure everything was right for the trip which was good stress but still stress, making sure Bill got to the airport and on the plane...) and on top of that, my allergies are horrible right now.  I can really feel the wheezing in my lungs. So I called in and got a bunch of sleep, took a bunch of allergy medicine, and that all seemed to help and I was a lot better today.

The estimate came in for the chevy truck. The damage comes to over $6000. Thank God for collision insurance, because we will have to pay less than $600. It will take at least a month for the repairs to be done -- the left side, that it landed on when it flipped, was really wrecked. It really is a miracle that Bill only got cuts on his left arm from broken glass, and nothing worse. Thank God, thank God, and thank God again. Also thank heaven that my kid had the sense to be wearing his seat belt!

Steven seemed to enjoy having me to himself this morning. We ate ice cream bars before I went in to work, and we played with the cats.

 

Lately I have been reading a book I picked up at the Canyon de Chelly gift store when I was there with Danlo and my family last summer. The book is called The Pollen Path; A Collection of Navajo Myths as retold by Margaret Schevill Link.

Besides the myths, there are also some poems used in religious ceremonies in the back. Here are some favorites:

The Dreamer (about to be taken permanently away to the world of the gods) says farewell to his brother at the end of the Night Chant:

Quote:
Farewell, my younger brother.
The Gods have come for me.
From the high, holy places
The far, mysterious ones have come.
You will never see me again.
But when the showers pass over you
And the thunders sound,
You will say,
'There is the voice of my elder brother.'
And when the harvests ripen,
And you hear the voices of birds,
Of beautiful birds of all kinds,
And the singing of the grasshoppers,
You will say
'There is the ordering of my older brother.
There is the trail of his mind.'

Song of the Horse

Quote:
My feet are made of mirage,
My bridle of strings of the sun.
My mane is like the white lightning.
My tail is like long black rain.
My eyes are big, spreading stars,
My teeth are of the white shell.
My belly is white as dawnlight.
My heart is of everlasting garnet.

The Bluebird Song

Quote:
He has a voice.
He has a beautiful voice.
The bluebird has a voice
That flows in gladness.
Just at daybreak he calls.
The bluebird calls.

Song of the Young War God

Quote:
I have gone to the end of the earth.
I have gone to the end of the waters.
I have gone to the end of the sky.
I have gone to the end of the mountains.
I have found no one who was not my friend.

the end of a healing prayer:

Quote:
The world before me is restored in beauty.
The world behind me is restored in beauty.
The world above me is restored in beauty.
The world below me is restored in beauty.
All things around me are restored in beauty.
My voice is restored in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.

    

Some of my favorite jazz albums:

I do not claim that these are groundbreaking, earth shattering, or particularly influential. But these are the ones I keep coming back to again and again:

1. Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong
Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Two great legends performing together at their best. What could ever be better? I've been in love with Ella's voice for years, and its fun hearing Louis use his voice like he would his trumpet!

2. Maceo Parker
Life on Planet Groove
Just flat out fun and funky.

3. Steve Turre
T-N-T
first rate jazz featuring the mellow sound of the trombone rather than the searing trumpet

4. Chris Botti
When I Fall in Love
lush, romantic, and beautiful -- perfect for serious cuddling in front of a fireplace and other such activities

5. Dave Brubeck
Jazz Impressions of Eurasia
Dave Brubeck toured the world in the aftermath of WW2 as an American good will ambassador...this album, featuring a variety of rythyms and sounds from mnay different cultures, all mixed lovingly with jazz is the lasting result

6. John Coltrane
A Love Supreme
a jazz symphony, revolving around loving God, in four movements -- the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra also has a first rate recording of this piece

7. Dave Brubeck
Jazz Impressions of Japan
beautiful music mixing the sounds of American jazz with traditional Japanese music

8.  Sarah Vaughan
The Essential Sarah Vaughan
one of most beautiful and moving voices in jazz at her best

9. The Rippingtons
Topaz
jazz with a Southwestern feel, reminds me of good times with good people at Elohimfest

10. Lena Horne
Greatest Hits
another of the Great Ladies, her best songs and her lovely voice

Well, yesterday was a pretty bad day. Bill wrecked his little truck in the afternoon. He is OK, and that is all that matters. The truck itself is supposedly fixable. And that is why I had collision insurance on it...

I have to give my son credit. He has serious courage -- more than a lot of adults (male and female alike) that I know. When I asked him what happened, he looked me in the eye and said he was going too fast and was messing around with his radio instead of giving full attention to the road. Hehit something and rolled the truck. The cops didn't even give him a ticket, I think because he was equally upfront and honest with them. No excuses, no whining -- just quietly and fully and honestly taking responsibility for his own actions. Whenever I think its not possible to be any more proud of that kid, he proves me wrong and finds a way to make me even prouder.

Yesterday and today I ran lots of errands getting things ready for his trip to France and Spain. Tonight and tomorow we will pack, Monday I get to run him to the airport and see him on his way. There were so many little things to get done - like adding an international calling plan to our cell phones and getting an adaptor so he can plug in his cell phone charger in Europe. I am hoping I did get everything done that I was supposed to do!

We went to the Tigers game yesterday, even after the truck wreck. We thought it might cheer Bill up, and by the seventh inning he was smiling and telling jokes about how bad the Tigers are (and they were pretty bad, as they were shut out and even managed toi leave three men stranded in the ninth inning).

While Bill is gone, I have promised to teach Stevie how to bake! So we have all sorts of stuff to make muffins, cookies, cakes, brownies, biscuits, etc. etc. Should be both good and tasty.

Well, one of the things I was thinking would be time consuming this week did turn out to be that way. Bill had his high school senior pictures taken today. I got up this morning, ate breakfast, helped him pick out which clothes he wanted to wear, de-cat-hairded and ironed the clothes, then went with him to the photography studio. Everything went well, and the weather cooperated for the pictures of him in his varsity jacket next to the river which runs through a beautiful park in the middle of town. I think the outdoor pictures~ of him sitting and/or standing on one of the bridges over the river, standing next to some trees next to the river, and standing next to the little brick antique one-roomed schoolhouse in the park ~ will all turn out great. For the studio shots he wore his wrestling warm ups, a nice sweater of his dad's, the soccer sweatshirt with his name embroidered on it, and a suit (depending on the picture).

Tomorrow Stevie and I have to run some errands for Bill while he has to work with his father (we have to buy him a couple of things for his trip, pick up a refill on his prescription, and also run some errands in general like dropping off Steven's trumpet for a good cleaning). Friday night we'll all be heading to Detroit for dinner at Greektown and a Tigers game.

Saturday we will pack up for Bill, and I will give him a crash course on how to use his new digital camera.

Sunday will be the last minute packing (no matter how careful you are, there always seems to be some) and I will be working. It's Father's Day as well.

Monday I get to drive my baby to Detroit Metro airport and watch him fly off to another continent! I will probably have to call in late to work in order to stay with him until he goes through customs.

Its so cool that the kids havea chance to visit France and Spain as a school trip. We sure never got a chance to do anything like that in high school when I was his age.