Pretty, Pretty

Just like I love to dress up, I love to have my surroundings pretty. So, I spent a bit of time and tried to make my blog look a bit more put together...

Thanks to http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/ for the template for the background! It's awesome what she does, and I do appreciate it a lot, as I am partially brain dead when it comes to computer tech stuff and after about three tries, I was able to put on the background of my choice!

It makes me feel a bit more....well....finished....polished....stylish.

Yes, There Are Spies Among Us

This morning as I was putting my young son's underwear into his laundry basket, (you know how they get piled up everywhere but in the hamper.) something fell out onto the floor. It startled me and I was a bit afraid for a moment, then I realized that it was just several action figures, rather muscle-bound and small but looking ready for a fight. I took a few deep breaths, reminding myself that as I was a lot bigger than them, they couldn't hurt me.

Well,....that and the fact that they could barely breathe, let alone speak, as they had been trapped for who knows how long in my son's dirty underwear. I definitely had the advantage as they were clearly recovering from whatever scary smells and "smears" that they may have found, stuck there in his dirty underwear pile....

Spies!

That's what they were.
I know this, because my son told me when I asked him if he was hiding them for a reason in the dirty clothes pile... I actually thought him rather smart to "take them down" in such a creative way.... This way I was able to dispense with them quickly and efficiently with no change in our usual morning schedule.

Yep, you guessed it----before they could fight back, and were still reeling from their experience spent in the dirty underwear, I put them quickly into the action figures drawer and shut it tightly.

I'll interrogate them later...when I have more time...

The Life Of A Celebrity

Ok, yes, I will finally admit it.

I AM a celebrity,....of sorts.

Just a few weekend's ago, I got the opportunity to go to Oklahoma City to sing at a HUGE benefit for The American Heart Association. It was first class all the way, baby, with the band staying at the Marriott and chauffeured around in a custom Mercedes from the biggest Mercedes dealership in Ok. City. It was all expenses paid; food, plane fare, and a nice chunk of change for the gig.

But first, before you really start to get jealous, let me tell you of my first class visit to this grand city, and the ball of the year...

We arrived at the Boston airport at about noon for our 2:30 flight. The torrential snow storm or blizzard of the year was going on, so we weren't surprised to find out that our flight was canceled. No worries----we are celebrities, after all, and only the best for the Rod Stewart tribute act and his entourage. So, they found us a flight on another airline going out at 8:00 that night.

Great! A nice leisurely stay at the airport is a treat indeed----I'm sure that is what you are thinking also, as we sat around, ate from the finest airport food----yes, they even had a Panda Express! It was grand! Of course it was rough trying to keep people from recognizing us and bothering us with autographs and such, but I solved the problem with turning on my computer, hooking up my headphones and watching several DVD's that I had brought. Whew, it was close, as I tried not to catch anyone's eye. I was trying to be incognito...

At about 8:00, after we were told that the airport was officially closed down and there wouldn't be any flights out until about 10:00, I was able to dine at the exclusive restaurant, Wendy's, having an amazing wilted lettuce salad and chili with hardly any beans. (that way one doesn't get a "gaseous" experience for one's flight) Ahhhh, how nice to sit with no interruptions, listening to the great sounds of the airport music and then, after eating, once again, listening to the great sounds of the top forty airport music as I leisurely read my book.

Well, they finally opened the airport and we got on our plane to Cleveland, Ohio. It was a great flight, of course, because being a celebrity, we got two pillows and a small blue square that they called a blanket. It was soft, though, and we got a bit of a rest.

When we were arriving into Cleveland, they announced that the motels and hotels in the area were pretty much booked up, and there was a worrisome moment there for a minute. (You see, our flight to Oklahoma wasn't going out until Sat. morning at 10:30 a.m., so we needed a place to sleep) But of course, as we got off the plane and they saw what celebrities we were, they ran quickly and got a cot for each one of us, and...get this....as MANY PILLOWS AS WE WANTED! I knew that we had arrived, also, when we were able to pick out our own blanket, from a neatly stacked pile----and yes, you guessed it,---it was those soft, small blue squares! Heaven!

We were told to pick any area at a certain Gate. I'm sure that they were concerned with fans interrupting us in the early hours of the morning and disturbing our sleep. I was lucky enough to find a space to tuck my cot away behind a tall giraffe, that was advertising some park in Cleveland. I laid down and realized that we were also going to get to listen to that lovely, piped-in top 40 airport music again, with those ever important public service announcements----ALL night! How thoughtful of them... And then, to keep us safe and just in case we were afraid of the dark, they left ALL the overhead flourescent lights on, ALL NIGHT LONG!

I know what you are thinking...such luxury you have never known, right? I know...and I am ashamed to say that I couldn't sleep very well----its hard sleeping in such grandeur, in such a large room, when one is used to a small dark room. So, I read for a while, listened to the music, chatted with a one of my band mates, and took a few cat naps.

After a great breakfast at one of the high end restaurants in the airport, we settled in and waited for our flight. It was truly amazing how the accommodations were so comfortable, that several of my band mates slept on, even as people were coming to get on their flights. Oh....and the paparazzi would have had a field day with those big guys sleeping on their cots, with their oh, so, smallish comfy blankets barely covering them. But, the airport did their job and kept the paparazzi away.

Our celebrity time wasn't up just yet. We got on our flight, had some tremendous pretzels, and tomato juice, then were able to take a quick nap in our luxurious coach seats before landing in Cleveland. We were met by Jimmy, our driver, got our luggage and away we went to the Marriot!

Sound check was next, but was done pretty quickly and we were able to relax in our sumptuous rooms bef0re the performance, which was held in a ballroom at the Convention Center adjacent to the Marriot. The room was filled with about 600 people----all dressed in black tie and formal gowns and so happy that we were able to be there and made it out of the Boston blizzard---they even had a special dressing room put up behind the stage using curtains, so we could have extra privacy.

After the show at 12:30 a.m., I went to my room, exhausted, but excited that I was going to get two hours of sleep in my luxurious Marriot bed before I had to get up at 3:00, get ready and be taken to the airport at 4:00 a.m.

Well, I must admit that the rest of the trip was a blur. I believe that we visited two more cities...or...rather...two more airports---you know how it is on these celebrity tours,----before we returned home to Boston. I know that I was able to sleep immediately on each and every flight home. I was an exhausted celebrity. I also think that all that star treatment left me a little tired, and it took me most of the week to recuperate.

Well......now.....all I can say about the weekend is....I now understand why those big celebrities have such a hard time getting rest.

It's hard work being a celebrity.

To Bathe Or Not To Bathe...

...or to shower or not to shower. Same difference.

As I was standing in the grocery line a few days ago, thinking about my evening ahead,---I was hosting a "Cooks Du Jour" night at my house (its a cooking class type church thing)----I noticed that an annoying smell kept permeating my thoughts. It wasn't exactly a "B O" smell, but more like the smell of unwashed hair and clothes that had been worn too many times without a good washing. I could have sworn that I could even tell what the couple (yes, they were standing behind me) had had for dinner the night before. It was there---I believe it was chinese or pork.



As I tried to turn the other way and breathe upwind of them, I started thinking about how many times a week that I am put into this situation and then that got me to wondering...

Are people not bathing or taking showers every day anymore?

Now, you have all read my pet peeves about the way society is not dressing up anymore and how it is so rare to see women look nice and wear makeup, but is it getting so bad that people don't have good hygiene either, anymore? I happen to think that if I don't take a shower every day-----at least----that I can HARDLY STAND myself, let alone anyone else having to stand being near me! This is even if I don't leave the house, people!! (well, there has been that day or two when I was really sick and stayed in bed, but that is about once every 5 years or so...)

And of course, it doesn't help that I happen to have the most acute sense of smell of anyone that I know. I can walk into the house and smell that there is something going bad in the fridge.... Really! I have been known to get on my hands and knees and smell the floor until I can find a pee spot from one of the four animals in my house. It will drive me crazy until I find it!

So, I guess that I happen to be more annoyed by this...ah....granola/grunge habit than the normal human being walking around. So, whats a girl to do? I try to smell good and keep my self clean and perfumed (only clean smells, though, can't stand those cloying over spicy matronly perfumes) and am not really surprised when people say to me, "Oh, you smell good!"

So, what do you think? Is it just my imagination or are we going back to our roots----you know, those pioneers who go for several months before they even take spit baths.

Let me know, because I need to prepare for the worst....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

I was reflecting today on Valentine's Day and how we have made it into such a huge thing. My little boy acted like it was Christmas as he was talked about how much valentine's he would be getting and wondering what kind of a stuffed animal he would get this year, etc. (That must be totally my fault, as I tend to love to give things at the slightest provocation....and they tend to always be soft and squishy and "smoofy")

But now you can go into the stores and see several aisle's brimming with balloons, candy, stuffed animals, cards, food, toys, and more candy. Are we just a people that like to use an excuse to celebrate? Or do we just love to have an excuse to eat more sweets and more food? Now don't get me wrong, I really like the special day to recognize those that we love and as I said, I love to give gifts, and heck, yeah, I love to receive them also. But is it me, or has it gotten WAY more commercial than when I was a tyke. (Oh, yeah, right, that was the dark ages...they didn't have stores then...)

I actually found myself making sure that I wore red or pink today, to get into the festive spirit of the holiday. Wait a minute...that sounds like what I do at Christmas, or Easter.

I feel a little sorry for those that don't have anyone special in their lives---this must be the worst holiday ever. But then again, I've experienced that, also. When I was going through my divorce twelve years ago, I felt that I didn't need a man in my life and that I could go it alone. Forever,....I thought. I can do this. I can be a strong woman.

So I went to a movie be myself on Valentines Day and bought myself some candy and flowers. (I know, it sounds a bit dramatic, but I've always been a bit over the top...) I was sad as I sat there with all the couples. but I was making a statement to myself and the world. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ALONE ON VALENTINES DAY!!

Well, it worked magnificently and helped me to turn a corner, leaving my past behind.
I was a talented, strong, independent woman, and I knew that I would never rely on a man again.

So, exactly a month and a half later, I met my husband, and a year after that we were married.

By the way, being alone is over rated.... I still go to movies occasionally by myself, but I love being with my best friend, my hubby, if I can.

And I guess that I don't really care why we go all out for this holiday, because it is always worth it when you see that smile from the one you love---even if its just for a silly stuffed toy or a balloon. It doesn't take much to please someone....and heck, yes...every woman loves flowers.

Hint. Hint.

I'm So Vain. I Probably Think This Blog Is About Me

I was hanging with my band mates a few weeks ago, and having a conversation about meeting new people and sizing them up. I had just met the girlfriend of our new keyboard player, who is a totally gorgeous and put together gal, and I mentioned that fact to her, as I am not one to mince words when I like someone's style. I told her and the keyboard player that I was into what people looked like and how they put themselves together. I don't care what kind of style it is, I just admire someone that HAS a sense of style in this world of jeans, sweats, and work-out wear for day wear.

So, the keyboard player laughed and said, "Oh, so you are just shallow and vain like we are---we should all get along great!

Now, I answered in the affirmative, and laughed it off, but I don't like the fact that he thought that I was shallow. I'm really not, as I have quite a hidden depth to me, when it comes to family and spiritual stuff, and I really DO try to get to know someone and appreciate them for who they are on their inside....BUT the part about the vanity...well...he is dang right about that one!

I am going through a phase right now that I like to call my "just don't ever look into the mirror closely before you have your makeup on or after its off" phase. I am really SCARY before I have my face on and its hard to get a girl feeling good about herself when she looks like that!

I believe that I have mentioned before in a former blog that I never go anywhere with out my makeup on. I mean----no where!

The only exception is when I wait with my son in the morning for the bus. I used to put my lips on and a bit of mascara just so I didn't scare the bus driver, but then I thought about the fact that when I wait for the bus to pick him up, I look totally put together, so she would just forget about how scary I was in the morning and think that I cleaned up nice.

Or, maybe that I have a twin sister? Or that it is my younger sister that picks him up?

Well, I really try not to let anyone I know---except for close family---see me without my makeup on. My vanity is serious business. I mean, I could take you out for something like that.

My husband just informed me that one of the guys that works at the shop that he used to work at lives right down the street from us. "Oh," I said, not really listening or caring. "Yeah, he asked me what you and Aydan were doing, standing out by the street corner in the mornings?"

"WHAT?" I cried. "A friend of yours has seen me on several mornings looking like a bag lady with my sweats on, no makeup and mismatched scarf, hat and gloves?"

"Yes", he replied.

"What's his address..." Oh, yeah...I'm takin him down...

Its Great To Be Eight!

Aydan Cannon Bahe----eight years old!

Aydan, with his new kitten, Shadow.

On January 22nd, eight years ago, at just after midnight, when I had just finished watching a movie with my daughter Brinna, I stood up to go to the bathroom and thought that I had peed my pants. It turned out to be my water breaking and at about seven hours later, at 7:14 a.m., my youngest son, Aydan was born into this world!

Fast forward to January, 2008, as I am discussing with my darling boy what he would like to do for a birthday party this year, as he can do something special, as eight is a special year. (this is the year that he will be baptized in our church, and its a BIG event!)

So, he thought about it and decided to go to the internet for some ideas. (Now, he is only allowed to use Google kids for his search engine, so I wasn't too worried... The last time that he had used the regular Google search engine, he was asking if I would help him fill out an application to go to an art school---yes, college,---because he decided that he wanted to be an illustrator and wanted to start now!)

He came to me about a half hour later and announced that he wanted to go to a place where they paint pottery. "Ok, I thought, that sounds like a fun idea...especially since he is into art."
So, I had to find one in our area, and proceeded to write down the phone number so Bret could call and ask questions, because I hate to talk on the phone. Really.

Fast forward to the week of the party. The reservations were made, the invitations given out and we were just doing the final things to decide what to give in the goodie bags and should we even have goodie bags, and what about the cake?

Well, I prepared myself to start looking for a super-hero cake or something like that. (That is what we did last year and he is obsessed with anything super-hero.)

So, did he want Spiderman?

Did he want Batman?

Did he want Superman?

Imagine my surprise when I asked him, and he replied, "Well, I was thinking that we needed some kind of a pottery cake...you know...to go with our theme and what we are doing for the party!"

Well...

I must admit that I started to worry about the fact that he might be a bit too much like me and that I am a bit anal when it comes to things like this. Or is he just in touch with his feminine side and likes his party to look festive, put-together and cohesive?

So, after several days of discussion, and going back and forth about how I don't have the ability to make a cake that looks like a piece of original painted pottery, (I mean, I have lots of talents, and I can do the impossible usually, but I couldn't figure out how to get the frosting to adhere to the cake if it was cut out of some other cake,...etc....well, you get my drift.) we decided to put some pottery on the top of the cake and put frosting around it to blend it in with the cake.

So, off we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick out some pottery. Aydan went right up to a mug and coaster display and pointed to a green striped mug. "I want that one," he said. "Don't you want to look at some other options?" I replied. "NO!" he answered, "That is the one that I want!" (I wish that I could be so decisive when making household accessory decisions.)
We then stopped by the supermarket and picked up a plain cake with minimal flowers that could be scraped off, and took our goodies home.

The cake turned out great. The party was a huge success. Aydan was extremely happy and I didn't have to be annoyed because the decor didn't match with the cake.

The amazing cake!

So, that's my cutie Aydan---eight years old now, but full of adult mannerisms and able to talk and make friends with anyone, no matter what their age. He is a smart, amazing boy, easy-going with a huge imagination and a great eye for style.

SCREEEEEEEECHHHHHH... (that is my sound affect for brakes)

Yep, you heard it right... We were in Panera's today eating lunch when he pointed out a girl at the next table. "She's got on a really pretty shirt." he said.

And then after a few moments, "I bet her bedroom is really put together nicely."

That's my boy.

Jane Eyre

I got really terrific news on Saturday.

I had interviewed to direct a show for a local theater, Theatre III in Acton, near to where I live. I was really excited to interview with them , as they have some notoriety in the Boston area and have won a few awards for their plays and musicals. I have been trying to break into this particular area for about 4 years and have always gotten shot down interview after interview, as the area seems to only use the same people and are a bit clique-ish.

But after meeting with several of the women on the theater board and talking with them about my experience, etc., I had felt that they were excited about using me.

Then I didn't hear anything...

For one week...

For two weeks...

At two and a half weeks, I sent a small e-mail reminding them that I was still looking forward to directing for them.

I didn't hear anything for another week...
At this point I had just figured that I had lost out again and all people were flakes to not at least reject me properly!

Then....I got an e-mail. They hadn't received any references from me and wondered if I could supply them with some. "Now?" I thought. "You wait for three and a half weeks and THEN you ask for references? " (Well, I guess that in this particular interview, I should have supplied them with references right away, and well...I guess I just forgot, so I found out from a mutual friend that knows the woman----they were concerned that I hadn't left any references. I guess that they thought that I had made my resume all up or something).

So last week I supplied references (which all the people I asked all sent me copies of what they sent her and were amazingly glowing, by the way, and two and three paragraphs apiece---I was surprised---I imagined something like, "Oh, yeah, Shawn? She is pretty good at directing and sometimes has her funny moments").

And then.............they e-mailed me on Saturday morning and asked me to direct the musical, "Jane Eyre" for the fall show. I thought about it for a moment, listened to the music a bit on line, and....well...I got pretty darn excited!!!

So, there you go, after four years of trying and never giving up, I have finally broken into the inner sanctum of the Acton theater scene.

People should know better than to think that I will give up , because I NEVER do, I just keep stepping back and try new ways to get what I want. And it almost always works...

I remember a time in junior high school when I decided to run for a class officer. I lost the first year that I ran, then lost the second year. Then, I went on to High School and ran again. My mom kept saying to me, "Why do you keep running for a class office, when you keep losing? Aren't you tired of trying?" I lost again that year. But I explained to her my plan. "Mom," I said, "Eventually they will get tired of me and vote for me!" So, in my sophomore year, I ran again, and I won---and won every year after that until I was the Student Council Secretary my senior year!

So, that is how I tackle every thing that I want.... well...except with the goal of being famous someday----I haven't been able to get a grasp on that one yet....

A Famous Movie Star?

Who is this movie star? I know that I have seen her somewhere before, but I can't put my finger on it...

She looks like a star from a bygone era when movies weren't just all computer generated and a girl could still get a break and make it big in the movies.

So mysterious, so fragile, so lovely...

Another New Blogger Is Born!

Ok, so I know that I don't get many comments, but PLEASE visit this site and leave a word or two.
It will make his day!

www.aydan-drart.blogspot.com

And for the record---he has been bugging me for WEEKS to have his own blog...
He's an amazing kid---check it out.