Blogophilia 44.15: Rush Hour

Blogophilia group on Facebook Right Here

Blog topic parameters & how it works HERE

Hard Bonus: Include a line from the movie “Cleopatra”

Easy Bonus: Reference smog or pollution

Traffic Jam – Asthma Attack

When we were young & still growing up, time went slow, we didn’t have enough to do to fill up our schedules. It’s too bad because children & young people have tons of energy. Getting older, we can’t do as much, with the responsibilities we have with paying bills, house chores that we can’t delegate to anyone else, jobs, health issues that slow us down some more, life sincerely feels like a constant Rush Hour to run around & not get as much done as we need to…

With all this stress about hurry up & wait, or just feel like your to-do list is never ending, it’s important to take down time to do what rejuvenates you. Aside from work, that dirt will be there later to clean. Don’t forget, you need to clear out the smog in your head, so make sure you take time for that hobby you want to pick up. For me, it’s music… Here are a couple of items coming up:

• Who: UW-Parkside Wind Ensemble & Community Band
• What: Last concert of the season, until fall
• Where: The Rita, Bedford Concert Hall
• When: Thursday, May 2, 2024 @ 7pm
• Why: A sax quartet, featuring James from the last recital, and Julia is coming up!
• How: Get your tickets HERE or show up & buy them at the box office

Pieces we’re playing include Free by Alex Shapiro, The Old Boatman and Juba Dance by Florence Price, Four Dances from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein, and Concerto Grosso (featuring our sax quartet) by Frank Bencriscutto – who is rooted in Racine! We are under the direction of Laura Rexroth, a very graceful conductor. You’re missing out if you don’t come!

Our featured saxophone quartet!

And finally, let’s not forget! This will feature jazz/blues standards & originals.

• Who: Julia Lewandowski – on alto sax, tenor sax & flute
• What: Senior Recital (she is REALLY good) – no cost
• Where: UW-Parkside Music Department in the Black Box Theater
• When: Friday, May 3, 2024 @ 3pm
• Why: Regional musicians from Milwaukee & Chicago accompanying her on stage
• How: no buses run, so can we possibly carpool to cut down on pollution?

Here is Julia, at rehearsal, practicing hard & a lot. Let’s support her!

In closing, Cleopatra: I will not be told where I can go and where I cannot go!

Blogophilia 42.15: Putting the Wheels in Motion

 Blogophilia group on Facebook Right Here

Blog topic parameters on WordPress Over Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a movie in which one of the Wayans Brothers appeared

Easy Bonus: Include running shoes

Put a card in the sprockets!

With so many things going on, it’s hard to figure out what to do to be Putting the Wheels in Motion. Between figuring out how to generate income in a bad economy, keeping up with what feels like way too many medical appointments, and having my creative outlet to keep my sanity, it gets super crazy… Especially with 3 people, 1 car, and no income opportunities within walking distance, I feel like there’s always a monkey wrench in the system.

I’d put my running shoes on, but I only walk in slo-mo. I miss the days when I could have been in a Dance Flick (2009, featuring Marlon & Shawn Wayans). But then again, maybe I should see if I can try out for a musician in the pit, when some of these things get turned into a play. Unfortunately, I live in a town that is too small to do this…

Anyway, today, I am going out to UW-Parkside to support my young friend at his senior recital before he graduates. We’ve been playing for a few years together in the Parkside combined bands, and I wish him well into his future, but also will miss him there. My son will be taking me.

Blogophilia 42.15: Jack of All Trades

Blogophilia group on Facebook HERE

Blog topic parameters Right Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate power, corruption and lies in your blog
Easy Bonus: Include a lyric or song title by Gloria Gaynor

Big Fish, Little Fish

Life… it would be nice if we could keep the rose colored sun glasses on, but the reality is, it’s all about the gray scale… I remember learning about the American government system, and being that I came from a different country, it seemed so interesting and all inclusive… Very romanticized and while on paper, it’s all good, but it’s not… At least we have our 1st Amendment rights to free speech, assembly & petitioning our government, which I partake in regularly. I got pretty good at that in college, especially, and was encouraged by my Jr. High & High School teachers. Both Speech/Public Speaking teachers went out of their way to let me know that I had a positive presence, even though I didn’t like that kind of captive audience back then, it made me nervous. My American Government teacher mentioned that I’d be good at conferences & such. *shrug* I grew into it, eventually.

As life went on, I remember when the slogan “think outside the box” was popular, I thought these people were nuts, because I was never INside the box to begin with, yet never got any leverage… I was being advised to “diversify your portfolio” – another confusion, I technically didn’t have one, but eventually figured it doesn’t have to be a literal one, just learn a variety of skills to be a Jack of All Trades. I didn’t have much opportunity to do a lot, but, yes, it’s possible… even if the odds are stacked against you, and obstacles get put in your way…

Whether it’s in our government, big business, certain aspects of society in general, there’s always a certain (and obvious) level of power, corruption & lies – the American dream isn’t achievable for everyone. There will always be poor people, and many of us just have to be content with being able to coast. After seeing how Obama was raked over his Hawaiian birth certificate, I’ll probably never have a chance (even if I all of a sudden got money) to be able to have a real chance at being the President of the USA, even though I’m a natural born citizen (just born abroad). But, I’m not sure I’d want that job, anyway…

So, as a multicultural person, I got my BA in International Relations, that never took off, so my chances of eventually being a Diplomat is probably not going to happen either, but that’s ok. Because I’d refused to give up music, I still have that skill, and still play in 2 groups, with the potential to get side gigs on occasion. I also learned how to sew, after my husband got me a sewing machine, where I can do hems (pants, curtains, etc), make blankets, table runners, drumming bags, diaper bags, etc. It’s small cash, but hey, it’s a diversification.

In the words of Gloria Gaynor in (If You Want it) Do It Yourself in her “Experience” album in 1974, I think her words of wisdom that she learned from her dad ring loud & clear for me:

Waitin’ around for someone who can help you
Oh, someone who can help you find your way
Then if you think there’s no one you can turn to
Well, there’s someone just a lookin’ glass away

Hang in there, everyone! I’m rooting for you all.

Blogophilia 41.15: The First Morning Cup

Blogophilia Facebook group HERE

Blog topic parameters Over Here

Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric by Van Morrison

Easy Bonus: Mention wizard potions

I’m no princess, I drink bug juice!

The First Morning Cup technically is my citrus fruit. I need my orange or grapefruit first thing in the morning… I don’t care what anyone says about glycemic index, net carbs, whatever… This is non-negotiable, I’ve been doing citrus daily since I was big enough to eat them, and I don’t remember that far back. Then I move to whatever I have for breakfast, then after that is my dark & muddy coffee.

I’ve cut back on a lot of coffee, though I do enjoy my warm & cold beverages. I’ll switch to tea, drink lots of water, etc. while I try to eat healthy, too. It’s just so much going on with everything, it’s hard to know what’s what. Brown rice has a higher arsenic content, white rice has less fiber but still a whole grain. Both have equal carb counts, so, I’ll stick to white (less arsenic) and load the veggies up high with my stir fry. Butter is fattening, but margarine has so many emulsifiers that it’s not even food, same for fake sugar, which can cause gut problems. So, I just scale back on the real things, use honey sometimes. Cooking with raw honey takes away from the antibacterial & healthy nature of it… I’d like a Wizard’s Potion to make my favorite stuff be less bad for us.

Like Van Morrison says, “You Gotta Make It Through The World” (1977 album entitled Period of Transition):

Well let them take you for a clown
And they’re bound to bring you down
You got to make it through the world if you can
Think they’re doing you wrong
But you got here on your own
You got to make it through the world if you can
I said if you can, if you can
You got to make it through the world if you can
I said if you can (oooh), if you can (lord)
You got to make it through the world if you can

Many have taken me for a clown, and even if I feel like I’m barely doing it, I am, so… I guess I can make it through the world, even if I’m not globe trotting it, it’s time when it’s time… Jam that sax… One day, we’ll meet our blogger angels, and while that would be nice, I’m not going there one day earlier than when it’s my time. I have more to write, more music to play, more memories to create with my husband & son (and hopefully with more people).

p.s. I actually have the introduction, 1st & 2nd chapters done in my other story done. When I get a few more done, since it takes me more than a week to get them in, I’ll drop a link at a time when I’m ready. After I’m done with that one, I’m hoping to do my creative stories… I’m just trying to figure out which I should do first, and so I’m starting with the hardest one to write.

My other ones include 1) the funnier side of life, based loosely on adventures where the fictitious characters where the main character is mostly me, and the other ones will be regular ones but will represent different people throughout the story. 2) based on dreams, it’ll be disconnected, sort of, light Sci-fi feel, maybe I’m warped, but should be interesting for people who like stuff like that. 3) also on recurring dreams where I could fly by swimming in the air, and not sure if this will be a bunch of short stories or if it’ll even lift off much, not sure yet. Stay tuned.