How It Is...

This is how not good I feel...I have not touched my sewing machine in several days.  And, when I did, this was all I could do...put the inner and outer borders on the quilt top.

Poor Naomi Janome.  I'll have to spend some time with her real soon.

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Did you know that Robert Plant has a new album out?  I hear it's #7 over at Amazon.com.  Not bad!  It's called Band of Joy and I must say that I think these songs are so well suited for his voice.  I like each and every song on this album.  Great job, Percy!

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And, cuz I know you've been wondering about Tag's warthog...here is a photo I took of it last week.  I was sitting at the sewing machine and turned my head toward the dining room to see where Tag was.  Saw him laying on the sofa and then noticed that the warthog was apparently enjoying the music I was playing.  See how it's just sitting there, as if it doesn't want to miss any part of the album? 

(be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it)

Ya know...it's all I have.  {grin}

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Raising Sand...

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss...a seemingly unlikely pair.

Click on this link and see what this collaboration sounds like!

I am very impressed, for sure!!!

Robert & Alison

This is supposed to be the just the one song, but it continues on!

I love their voices...and this music...awesome!!

The album came out on the 23rd and is Amazon.com's bestseller!

It's Been a Long Time Since I Rock & Rolled...

Led Zeppelin is re-forming! No, that’s not REFORMING, as in they are changing to become better (how could that be possible?????). Perhaps I should say...the reformation of Led Zeppelin! Well, no...reformation is what happened to the Catholic Church back in the 16th century...remember Martin Luther King? Oops...not him, just plain ole Martin Luther.

Okay...what I mean is that they’re getting together to perform! YES! That IS what I mean! As in re-form...isn’t that what I said way back in the beginning? I do believe it is! Re-form...to take form again. Now that we’re clear on that....

Seriously...by now, most of the world knows that Led Zeppelin’s 3 band members, plus the son of their dearly departed drummer are re-forming for one night only at London’s 02 arena on November 26. This year. In 2 months. That’s over in England...you know, across the big pond. A heck of a long way from Stoughton, Wisconsin, for sure! Fans have been waiting for this to happen for years!!!! Official news of this gig was announced on September 12 and the world has not been the same since. The fans on the Led Zeppelin email list that I belong to are sending hundreds of emails back and forth with all of their thoughts and plans and so on. It’s very exciting!

I did actually submit my name to the ballot...there’s a lottery drawing. Over 20 million submissions thus far...for just 18,000 available seats. That’s like...1 chance in 1,111. But, good news...they extended the deadline to next Wednesday - so everyone in the entire world (let’s see...world population is currently over 6 billion) has a chance to submit their name, I guess! I have...well, like a snowball’s chance in hell, really! I’m thinking there will be at least another 10 million name submissions...so 1 chance in 1,666 will probably be more accurate.

Hmmmm...I’m thinking I really need to make a plan...you know, just in case. Though I’ve never won anything big, you just never know! (Actually, I did win a contest that Westminster Kennel Club was having online at the time of their big dog show at Madison Square Garden in February of 1997. I correctly identified a Papillon. Haha! No, really, I did! And, I won several dog books! One was ‘Dogs for Dummies’...how I love those yellow books! YAY!)

At any rate...I do digress. I feel it’s very likely that they’ll draw my name and offer me the opportunity to purchase one or two tickets at £125 (that's approximately $250.00). I’ll have 72 hours to come up with the money and THEN, I’ll have 6 weeks to book hotel and flight reservations, get a passport, get time off work (no vacation time coming...will have to call in sick, I’m thinking). By the way...if any of you out there reading this want to go with me, just let me know.

Or, if anyone would like to finance my trip, that would be really terrific of you! Otherwise, I’m trying to come up with a good way to earn money, as it’s likely that no one will make that offer. In my current life, I sell wool. Let’s see...if I sell a fat quarter of wool at $8.50 and make approximately 40% profit, that’s $3.40 per fat quarter sold (I actually have no clue what the profit margin is, so this is just a number I pulled out of my ... hat.) I should have a minimum of $3,000 to cover everything just for myself, don’t you think?

Let’s do the math together. $3,000.00 divided by $3.40 is 882...882 fat quarters is 220 yards of wool that I need to sell within the next 2 months. I guess that is a possibility, isn’t it? Yeah, right. Well, I guess I best get the dye pots going, hey?

By the way, donations would be most appreciated! {grin}

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Here are a few interesting links for you to check out...

Tour the O2

Here's the reason for the gig... Why now?

This guy’s blog entry cracked me up! Here's an excerpt...
by Frank Cerabino...
"...So here are some suggestions how Led Zeppelin can update its songs for the upcoming reunion concert.

Old song title: Stairway to Heaven
New song title: Elevator to Heaven
Reason for change: Take the stairs? Are you kidding? With this sciatica? Feh! Where’s the elevator?

Old song title: Immigrant Song
New song title: Immigrant Mows My Lawn Song
Reason for change: It’s the kind of grass we’re interested in these days.


Old song title: I Can’t Quit You, Baby
New song title: I Can’t Hear You, Baby
Reason for change: If only we knew it wasn’t such a good idea to stand right in front of those amplifiers for all those years.

Old song title: The Song Remains the Same
New song title: The Song Is Not the Same
Reason for change: Somebody needs to write down the chords and lyrics because, jeez, it’s hard enough remembering phone numbers these days.

Old song title: Dazed and Confused
New song title: Dazed and Confused at the Walgreens
Reason for change: This time, it’s prescription drugs that are spacing us out.

Old song title: Heartbreaker
New song title: Heart Smart
Reason for change: Because we want to be able to perform concerts 30 years from now at the assistant living facility."

Read the entire entry here...Bino's blog

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It's too bad ole Percy doesn't still look this way...

I'll keep you posted on this upcoming event, the funding of my trip, the winning (or not) of the tickets, etc.

Any questions? Just call me at...867-5309. Ohyeah, that’s Jenny’s number (remember Jenny? from Tommy Tutone’s song?) {grin}

Have a great weekend!

Chinese Astrology

I've wanted to check this out since I read Kim's blog (click on Kimmer's link at the right side of the page) and found out that she was the Pig in Chinese Astrology. So...here it is...or, should I say...Here I am!


The Dragon is one of the most powerful and lucky Signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Its warm heart makes the Dragon's brash, fiery energy far more palatable. This is a giving, intelligent and tenacious Sign that knows exactly what it wants and is determined to get it. Dragons possess a certain natural, charming charisma that ensures they can always influence their peers and often find themselves the center of attention in social situations. This Sign is truly blessed, too; Dragons are considered to be very lucky in love! The Dragon's friends are always keen to hear what this firebrand has to say and when it comes to dispensing advice, the Dragon has the floor.

Its ego can get in the Dragon's way, but even so, this larger-than-life creature has a knack for initiating projects and keeping the troops motivated. According to Dragons, it's their natural born right to lead the way -- because who else could do it so surely and so well? As lucky as they are, Dragons have a good chance of achieving considerable material wealth during their lifetimes, although it isn't mere money that's this Sign's main motivation. Power is what the Dragon wants and truly believes it deserves. Dragons are quite the opportunists, forever searching for ways in which to consolidate their considerable power. Contrary to all this strength and fire, a weakened Dragon is a sad sack, a creature that refuses to take defeat with even a modicum of grace.

The role of leader is the only one the Dragon wants, the better from which to give orders and be king of the hill. They make solid leaders, too, knowing instinctively what needs to be done to stay on top. Crossing the Dragon is never a good idea -- this beast can singe! A valuable life lesson for this clever creature would be to absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons from living their lives to the fullest. If Dragons can learn to balance their quest for success with an appreciation for the little things, their life will be more than worthwhile.

The most compatible match for a Dragon is the Monkey or the Rat*.

*YAY!!!! Robert Plant is a Rat in Chinese Astrology! {grin}

This Week had a lot of 'happenings'...

I guess I should have posted this last weekend. Then, you would have known about the things that were to come, instead of learning about things that have already happened.

Monday, August 20...Robert Plant celebrated his 59th birthday. Happy Birthday, Percy!

He just completed a new album with Alison Krauss! Entitled, "Raising Sand', this album will be out on October 23...cannot wait! Here's the album art...

Tuesday, August 21...this day would have been Cruiser's 11th birthday. I've been without him for almost 6 months...I miss him still...very much.

Friday, August 24...a double whammy day. This day was Manley's 6th birthday...WOOF! (Manley is my sister's dog.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOODLEHEAD!!!

Also, this day was Robyn's last day at work! It sure was great working with her these past 5+ months! She's my son's age...but she totally 'got' me (as not everyone does)! She will be missed by all.

Still UNpacking...

YAY, I am almost all done UNpacking! My Music is all unpacked and sorted, my bedroom is almost done, the dining room is done and the kitchen just needs a few things put in place (if I can find that PERFECT place, that is). Cleaned at my apartment yesterday and broke a belt on my vacuum cleaner...so, I need to go back today and finish up. Going to be one of the warmest days, of course...temp in the 90's and high humidity. ohluckyme!

No new photos of the house today. Am sure I will have some to share after this weekend. I'm having an OPEN HOUSE tomorrow so my friends and family can see the house.

HEY, but here's a photo someone shared on the Led Zeppelin email list...it's Robert Plant with Strider, his blue merle collie boy that he had way back when. I once saw a video of Robert and his family walking through a field with Strider all grown up...would have been late 60's or very early 70's...Strider was a beautiful dog. (NOOOO, that's not why I have collies...didn't know ole Percy had ever had one until a few years ago.) "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" is a song all about Strider. You'd know it if you heard it. There's a verse that I always thought was 'there's no companion like a blue-eyed girl'...it's actually 'there's no companion like a blue-eyed merle'...guess I never paid attention to the part that Robert sings 'you're the finest dog I ever knew'. HA!

Have a great day!