Hard to believe it's been over a month since I last wrote anything here. Where does the time go. If you have been a faithful visitor, I apologize for not having anything new. I've been busy working...and even getting paid for it!

It's a gorgeous, sunny Saturday in snow-bound Minnesota. After it snows it's truly magical with everything covered in white and all the snow laying heavy on the trees.

As many of you know, Josh plays the violin—quite well if you ask me. It all began when he discovered River Dance. He loved the music and decided he wanted to play the violin. After many months of violin rental fees, music lesson fees and finally the purchase of his own instrument, he's never gotten to play anything remotely close to style that drew him to the instrument in the first place. Which brings me to today. I found out there was Winter Bluegrass Festival just a few miles from our house and I thought "Hey! a Bluegrass Festival right in our own back yard. What could be better! I'll take Josh!"

So today Josh and I went to the Festival. NO WAIT. Let me re-phrase that...I went and dragged Joshua WITH me. There were nail marks running from our house to the festival venue as I pulled him by his ankles. Picture a very reluctant 13 year old boy sitting in a clogging show, slouched with his arms fold tightly in front of him, tying very very hard to have a very bad time. (I caught him smiling a couple of times and the music was GREAT). Of course I knew this was how it was going to be before we left home but I still wanted him to have the experience of a different genre of music. Everywhere you turned there were small groups, some were total strangers, jamming with their instruments. I would have loved to have joined in but sadly the only instrument I play is the piano and when I strap it onto my back to take it with me, it's a little uncomfortable, not to mention heavy. I would love to play the violin, the mandolin or even the guitar.

I did learn something today...The best way to get on the good side of a 13 year old boy and make him smile and talk to you is to feed him whatever he wants. After he ate a beef and cheddar sandwich (yuk), curly fries, a chocolate shake, mozzarella sticks and a large pop at Arby's, when we returned to the Festival his arms weren't folded QUITE as tightly as BEFORE lunch.

On arrival to the Festival, I thought the entrance fee was $9/person but when we got up to the ticket table to buy our tickets we found out it was $12/person with kids 12 and under FREE! Man! $24 is a lot of money when one of you doesn't even want to be there. I looked at Josh and actually thought about saying he was 12 but I knew his mustache and his being almost as tall as me would be a dead-give-away. Besides, he was watching me and I wanted to do the right thing. The extra $6 was worth it to be able to model good character. I am just sorry the thought even crossed my mind. My bad.

We left the Festival after a Beginner's Bluegrass Workshop. Guess what he liked the most about the day....The clogging!

How would I sum up todays adventure you ask?

Entrance fee, $24, Lunch at Arby's, $12.50, time with my son telling me "I really don't want to be here" over and over again...priceless.

Well...On Monday I joined a gym.

I really can't afford it but I really can't afford not to. Age and inactivity are catching up with me and the jiggling is getting really annoying. We have a treadmill and "workout stuff" at home but I just can't get consistant in using it. Now I HAVE to go the "club" at least 12 times a month or my monthly fee goes from $30 up to $50!. Hit me in my pocket book and I'll be motivated. I'm off to a good start. I walked on Mon, did the "eliptical trainer thingy" on Tues, did "Gentle Flow Yoga" on Wed, Thurs I did "Fitness Yoga" and by Friday, I couldn't walk...or sit down. I walked around the house like I had a cobb up my #$%$# because I couldn't walk any other way. (I apologize for the graphic nature of my story.) It's now Saturday and I'm starting to feel back to normal. I plan on getting back to it on Monday. I think I'll take it just a bit easier until I get into better shape. I've heard it said that if we used to work out (which I did) that our bodies remember and go back quicker. I'm hoping 15 years of inactivity isn't too long for my body to "remember" what it was like...I can always hope. If the people on "Big Fat Loser" can do it, so can I. My goal is a modest 20 lbs. Time will tell.

I apologize for anything that's misspelled. My spell check wasn't working.

Until next time, Peace to you and God bless you.