Last One Standing

I have been fortunate enough to have known Aryn Michelle since college.  Throughout the years, her musical writing has evolved to such depths that it is a pleasure to listen to the profound messages within her vocal stylings.

This next week will be very exciting for Aryn Michelle.  On Monday, YouTube.com will premiere her first single music video-End of the Renaissance.  Subscribe to her channel so you can be one of the first to catch this world event.

The next day, October 4, is the official launch of The Last One Standing album.  You will want to get your hands on this album.  It is amazing!  I have been listening to each song repeatedly.  Just when I think I have finally found my favorite song, I fall in love with another track.  You can get your hands on her album through iTunes and some other sites.

Spread the word for this talented woman.  Share with family and friends.

Spamalot!

"Camelot!"
"Camelot!!"
"It's only a model."

As part of my indoctrination into the Stewart clan, I was raised on various staples including Army of Darkness, the Adventures of Baron von Munchausen, Major Payne, and...


Monty Python.

Needless to say, when TravelZoo offered a deep discount to see the Broadway production of the Holy Grail (Spamalot!) with its campy and lewd humor, I jumped on the chance to go.  "Dragging" along my best friend who shares and equal love for this humor also didn't hamper the impulse and last minute decision to go.

I was thoroughly impressed.  Loved the ad lib that occurred.  Sang loud at the very end with the entire audience.  And laughed at all the lewd gestures, references, and innuendos.  While, I probably won't see it again (there are too many other Broadway shows I want to see) I will recommend it to anyone who appreciates British humor and think back on those 2 1/2 hours fondly.

Although...I wish they hadn't discontinued the rabbit with big pointy teeth.

Fort Worth Zoo

Today, despite the 100+ degree weather, I went to the Fort Worth Zoo with dear friends.  I took along my DSLR and learned that I still have much to learn to get the shots I want.  As it is, I missed some amazing shots (cheetahs chasing each other get a squirrel one had killed) and had the wrong shutter speed for others (leaping lemurs).  I also ended up with a surprising number of robotic dinosaurs (but that was the entire reason for today's adventure).  I have selected a few of my favorites to share (without editing).

DonorsChoose.org

I have created an account with DonorsChoose.org for the garden next year.  But, I need your help.  Please spread the word to people you know that may be interested in donating to a classroom project (Email, Facebook, this blog etc.).

You can find out more about this project, make donations, and keep updated on its funding progress by clicking here.

Remember that contributions are tax-deductible and each donor will receive a personal thank-you note written by one of my students in the fall.  Once this project is fully funded, we will have many of the supplies that will be needed to start the garden and make successful.

So...

Support a good cause, inspire a generation of gardeners and nature lovers, and...  

Remember what the Lorax said:

Baby Shower

I love being reminded of the power of friendship.  I know I was always told that as you got older, your true friends would stay and others would slowly start dropping away.  I don't remember ever being told (although there is a very great possibility that I wasn't listening), that despite the time that has elapsed, those friendships will pick back up where they have left off every time.

I have also learned that at this stage in life there are two things that will always bring old friends together: weddings and baby showers.

Today it was the later and it was a great time during a beautiful spring day in Texas.

SU friends

"If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it.  I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle."
~Vincent van Gogh

Muddy memories

When work becomes too <insert adjective>, I find myself drifting back to moments in my life where I was carefree.  One of my favorite memories occurred during my sophomore year at Southwestern University. 

The university had just plowed a field in preparation for a parking lot construction job and it had been raining hard.  Exhausted from our duteous studies, five friends decided that it would be a brilliant idea to put on our dingiest clothes and frolic in the muddy field.

At first, the plan was just to run around but then a certain friend of mine decided to get in a competition with me as usual.  And as usual, even though she always won anything competition we engaged in, I rose to the bait.  This then turned the experience into a muddy "fight" until the bitter end (we were all too cold).  As we emerged from the pit, we asked an unsuspecting person enjoying a stroll on campus to take our picture.  Little did we know that during dinner that night, we would be the topic of conversation for the surrounding tables.

And my skin felt amazing for weeks after.  Perhaps from the mud.  Perhaps from the scrubbing.  Perhaps from just letting my hair down for a bit and enjoying nature in its finest.