The Soloist

It's not often you get to sit down after an introspective moment and write about it. Usually I am caught up in my surroundings and never get the chance to process what just happened.

I went to see the movie the Soloist. I won't ruin the movie but I will tell you its about Music, mental illness and the Homeless in LA , its very thought provoking. Its not a fast paced movie full of action or lots of CGI characters. It was made to give you the experience of walking in another persons shoes for a while. As we walked out of the theater my brother and I heard a girl say something close to " it was very boring, not like they made it look in the previews, it was very slow" I turned to my brother and said " She didn't get the message of the story at all did she" We then joked about how there weren't enough car chases or things blowing up to keep her entertained. Anyways...back on track...

Music has always been a powerful presence in my life. My parents, my Dad especially has always surrounded himself with music. I have memories of going to my Grandparents house and my Grandma always had 1400 KSTR blasting with classical music. I have countless memories of my Dad sitting in an recliner or laying on the floor with the music as loud as he dared take it, feet dancing to the beat and him often singing along. My Dad also introduced us to a large amount of Classical music. He would put on one song in particular (I am going to have to ask him the name of the song) and would lay on the floor, my siblings and I would march/dance around him in a circle, as the music would build and the tempo would increase so would our pace. Every so often my Dad would reach out and grab one of us and pull us down with him and we would all laugh and continue our dance anticipating the next lunge and grab from my Dad.

Because my Dad has music in his veins his children all have been quite musically cultured. Between my Dad's love for Classic Rock and my Mom's cravings for Country we experienced a lot of different kinds of music. (Except for the 80's that is one decade that I am still struggling to catch up on and find my own likes.) Music for me can say something much more fervently than words alone. Have you ever watched a movie with out the musical sound track? The scary scenes aren't as scary with out the shrill sound of a violin in the background. Music helps you feel things that you may miss. You can put so much emotion into music. I have a very eclectic musical library. My iTunes spans all generes, because I believe that there is a time and a place for all types of music.

In the movie tonight one of the main characters was able to not just hear the music, he could feel it. He knew that it was so much more than just a bunch of notes on a piece of paper that when played were aesthetically pleasing. They were someones emotions, someones sorrows, joy, pain or love. If you haven't experienced this, my heart aches for you. And its more than "feeling the spirit" during a musical number in Sacrament meeting.

So for this girl to say that it was a boring movie really bothered me, It made me wonder if we watched the same movie, if she was really that closed off to feeling. So tonight I am thankful for the childhood that I had, and the way that music runs in my veins as well. I hope I can teach my children, like my Dad taught me how music is an amazing thing that can get you through hard times and make the good times that much better.

Introducing....

Flower Cup the Snake

My sources tell me that she won't go anywhere with out Flower Cup. Which is not a surprise. I am interested to see how the other one reacts to Flower Cup since she is deathly afraid of snakes.

Gotta love the randomness of Bailey

the girls are on vaca

The girls are in Arizona visiting some of their favorite people in the world. I kinda like them too. They are great with my girls and do things with them that I wish I could do. Or that I had the patience or motivation to do with them.

These are some pics they have sent me over the last week. Laira loves pillows. apparently she told her aunt that she was uncomfortable so 5 pillows later she was good to go.. doesn't she look comfy?
This makes me giggle cause its classic Amber, but look wow.. they both have their hair done which doesn't happen often at our house.

Watermelon seeds

My brother and I are planting a garden, we've been allowed by the yard man himself to dig up some grass and make a garden. We went to Home Depot and bought some supplies and seeds to start our garden. They also had these little cups with seeds for kids and since I am a sucker I bought a pumpkin and a watermelon for my girls to grow. They were excited. they had the little pressed pellets of dirt in the cups so I had to put water in them and wait for them to expand before we could plant the seeds in them.

Yesterday Bailey wanted to play outside, so she went out there alone and just played. She came in and informed me that she had planted the watermelon seeds out in the back yard. I laughed and asked her where and she said in the back. I figured she had just planted them in my Dad's flower bed. So I had her go tell my Dad what she did, she was so proud of her self and told him with a beaming smile. My Dad explained to her that it might be too cold and they may not grow, she didn't care she was still just pleased with her self.

Later I was talking to my mom and she told me that she saw Bailey digging in the middle of the lawn and then watering it. So, we may have watermelon growing in the middle of the lawn this year. I am sure she will be so proud if they grow, my Dad ... not so much.


ALSO.. this is my 200th post.