http://mylifefromscratch.com making life the way I want it Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:34:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My friend Leslie sent this YouTube video. It took me a couple of days to get around to it.  Watching it, I was blown away.  More importantly, I was reminded, once again, why it's so important to pursue the dream . . . Because you just never know! Click on ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=152 I finished editing the final draft of my novel on a couple of weeks ago.  Last week, just before I left for spring break, I mailed the manuscript to my friend and beloved mentor, David Haynes, for him to (hopefully) give it the final thumbs up before I start looking ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=149 I think I should come back as a musician in my next life--that's how interesting I'm finding my piano lessons. I'm still a beginner. I'm taking baby steps. But I'm enjoying this experience more than I've enjoyed anything in a long time. I took the girls to see my parents last ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=150 After a thirty year hiatus, I decided to take up the piano again. My last piano experience ended badly. Beethoven was my undoing. I was thirteen at the time, far too interested in boys and drill team to practice. When it was my turn to play at the ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=147 I been too busy lately to post anything since the election, but the dust is slowly clearing.   The parents and in-laws have gone home. The Christmas tree has been stripped bare and dragged to the curb. High School applications are finished.  It's time to get down to business. Recently, I read ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=146 This picture was taken at 8:02--just after the polls closed on the West Coast.  This was how we reacted to the news Obama had been elected. Immediately after I took this picture, I ran out into the middle of our street and screamed. The next morning, H had an assembly ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=143 I spent the weekend in New York visiting my Ragdale family. Saturday morning found me at Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun with Sarah and Robin. Four days after the election, people were still celebrating Obama's victory.  Rabbi Felicia Sol delivered an amazing sermon celebrating the election and the feeling that our country ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=142 A few hours ago, I realized I forgot to buy C's music books. She started piano two weeks ago and after the first lesson, not only did her teacher tell me which books to buy, she wrote the music store's name, along with the days and times it's open. I ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=137 The other day it occurred to me that we may have entered a new era. Halloween is less than a week away, and usually, by now, the pumpkins are carved and on the door step and fake cobwebs droop from our porch railing. In past years, the girls have ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=135 Last week this time I was in Louisiana planting sugar cane. It was the last cane-related activity I needed to experience for the book. At this point, the only thing left for me to do is move down there permanently. As it turns out, planting sugar cane is no ... http://mylifefromscratch.com/?p=128