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Sunday, July 29, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

Today's prompt from Helen at Words of Life is Street.  Dancing in the Street was one of my first thoughts but someone has already done that, although I was going to use the version by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, not Martha and the Vandella's.

So, putting on my thinking cap...and checking my iTunes...I found this one by Phil Collins:


Heat on the Street
You've gotta shout if you've got something to say
I know it's getting bad, you read it every day
And you, you can try your best to fight it
But you can't make it on your own
Someone better tell the people up there
I think they ought to know, the bubble's just about to bust
Tell them they'd better beware
The word is on the street, get up on your feet, and shout out
The kids out there don't know how to react
The streets are getting tough and that's a matter of fact
And I, I can't take it any longer
But we can't make it on our own
The people there find it hard to relate
They don't know how it feels to be standing there on your own
Believe me, it's never too late
It's time to make a move, get up on your feet and shout
Stop, look down, everybody, do you see what's going on 
Around you, stop
Shout out, shout it out, shout loud
Shout out, shout it out, shout loud
There are people who give and there are people who take
But I believe it's gonna get better
Realize what a difference you make
And don't turn away, hey! I'm talking to you!
So there's only the one solution
Stop and think what's going on
You can draw your own conclusions
But we won't make it on our own
Someone better tell the people up there
I think they ought to know
The bubble's just about to burst
Tell them they'd better beware
The word is on the street
Get up on your feet and shout
Stop, look down, everybody
Do you see what's going on
Around you, stop
Songwriters: Phil Collins
Heat on the Street lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Concord Music Publishing LLC

 I love the beat and the sax but, look at those lyrics!

"Someone better tell the people up there...the bubble's just about to burst.  Tell them they'd better beware."

"Stop, look down, everybody, do you see what's going on around you."

"Realize what a difference you make and don't turn away..."

I am definitely not one to get all political and don't want to start a big conversation about it but...

We saw Phil Collins in 2007 when he was touring with Genesis and I made a couple of scrapbook pages from that show.  It was in the beginning of my concert experiences so the pictures weren't all that great but the show was!




I am most excited that we get to see him on his upcoming "Not Dead Yet" tour, although from the videos I've seen on YouTube taken at some of the shows he is not going to be doing a lot of his faster songs and sits in a chair to sing.  He definitely has had some medical issues and is slowing down.  Still, he is Phil Collins!

Here is the song:




Make sure to stop by Helen's Words of Life and check  some of the other participants in today's musical ensemble! 



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Saturday, July 28, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #SoCS Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Today's prompt from Linda G. Hill is "T, tea, tee" 

We just got back from our most recent Travel experience, visiting the in-laws in Oregon.  Our next planned vacation is not until September when we head for Boulder Creek so that my husband can play in the annual golf tournament he started with one of his friends.  There are lots of tees around then for sure.  Sometimes it is really hot and a tee shirt is all you need but I've been down there when the weather is chilly and more layers are definitely needed.






While at my mother-in-law's I was able to continue my habit of drinking some tea before bed, although she doesn't have the variety that I have here at home.  She did have some mint, which she doesn't like, so I drank that to get it out of her hair.  I really like the cranberry tea but haven't been able to find it lately.  I also like lemon, peach and raspberry. 



The biggest T that has happened around here is that our daughter has just been hired to be a Teacher's Assistant at a local elementary school!!  They hired her really quickly and even though she has not taught before, they counted the degree in Psychology that she obtained as a year's experience.  We knew that college would pay off! 




One final T before I go, my Sketchbook is in Toronto this weekend as part of the Sketchbook Project Mobile Library.  If you are in that area, stop by and check my book out!  



How about you...have a favorite Tea flavor?  Doing some Traveling?  Like a particular kind of golf tees?  Love to hear about it!  Make sure to go visit some of the other participants in the Stream of Consciousness Saturday gang. 



Wednesday, July 18, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 Time to Travel!

My hubby's mom and brother live in Oregon and today is her 93rd birthday so we've come up to spend some time with them.  We don't travel much and fly even less so every time we do I consider it an adventure.  I am a patient person by nature so waiting doesn't bother me.  I people watch or read and do not get overly stressed.  I know that Tuesdays are generally slower travel days and the fares are lower so yesterday was fly day. 

We were lucky enough to get Pre-TSA on our boarding pass so we didn't have to take off our shoes or take our laptops out of our bags.  My husband has had two stents in his legs and he carries a card that explains foreign material showing up on the screens.  I put all my stuff on the conveyor belt and walked through the metal detector and what do you know if a buzzer didn't sound!  The TSA agent said that I had been picked for a "random" screening and asked me to wait off to the side.  My husband went through with no problems. 

I stepped off to a little waiting area and was expecting to have to have a pat down search or something like that, which didn't bother me.  As I said, it's all an adventure.  Soon another agent came and asked me to get my cellphone and go with him.  Just my cellphone, which was in my purse and had gone through on the conveyor belt.  He took my cellphone but didn't ask me for passwords or even turn it on, just held it near a machine which spit out a tiny strip of paper.  Then he handed me back my phone and told me I was okay and could proceed, which we did. 

Thinking about it now, I'm sorry I didn't ask any questions!  What were they checking for?  How did they check it?  Why just my cellphone and not my laptop?  Was there something that had triggered this "random" search or was it truly random?  Did I look like a suspicious person?  Have they put some kind of tracking device in my phone?  Instead, I asked nothing.  We collected our belongings and went on toward our gate. 

We were early so we stopped and had a pre-flight cocktail, as you do.  Since it was morning, mine was a mimosa and the hubs had a bloody Mary.




We went to our gate and after waiting there for about half an hour we were informed that the gate had changed to another one that was on the other side of the terminal!  That didn't make my husband very happy.  After waiting another half an hour, we were finally able to board.

Goodbye San Francisco


We had to have some sustenance since we were thirsty after waiting so long to board.


Flying through the air



Beautiful scenery in this part of the country.


Touchdown.



So here we are for a week.  I'm sure I'll have more adventures to tell and more pictures to share.  Have you ever been "randomly" selected?  Do you know what they did with my phone?  



Sunday, July 15, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 - #SLS Un-Break my Heart

Another week gone by!  I've been busy working on card making for my Etsy shop and I've tried something different this time.


It is called a pop up box card and it comes flat but opens to reveal things popping out the top.  


I managed to make 10 new cards.

I've also been commissioned to make an album for a friend.  He was the officiate at a wedding recently and he asked me to make an album using the program from the wedding.  It has been an interesting assignment as our tastes are somewhat different.  He is an architect and thinks in terms of lines and exact measurements and elegant simplicity.  I think in terms of free flowing, smile making, layering and the like.  After several consultations I think I've got what he wants and I'm almost finished.  Here's a little example:






Obviously I blurred the pages a bit to keep it private for the wedding couple but I think you can get the idea.  It has been a bit challenging to keep the embellishments to a minimum but I think that it is a good experience for me to get out of my comfort zone. 

Most of the time I am crafting while the baseball game is on TV but I also love to listen to music and have my iTunes playing in the background.  Right now I have it set to play the songs in alphabetical order.  I find that I get a better mix of artists that way.  Sometimes when I have it on shuffle it selects a few artists and keeps going back and forth between them. 

This brings me to the real reason for this post, it is time for Song Lyric Sunday brought to you by Helen Vahdati and her theme this week is "Break."  My pick for this is Un-Break My Heart by Toni Braxton.  She has a commercial out where she talks about her life and the odds of a woman making it to where she is today and they seem astronomical.  Then she states that she has an autistic child and the odds of that happening to someone is like 1 in 56!

I really like this song and I have to say that although I've been able to sing it with meaning a few times, for the most part I've made it this far in my life without having the sadness she speaks of.  Maybe that's because I never had a boyfriend in high school and have only had two real relationships other than my current husband of 34 years.  I was married once before but it only lasted six months and he cheated on me so I was more pissed off than depressed!

Un-Break My Heart
Don't leave me in all this pain
Don't leave me out in the rain
Come back and bring back my smile
Come and take these tears away
I need your arms to hold me now
The nights are so unkind
Bring back those nights when I held you beside me
Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my heart
My heart
Take back that sad word goodbye
Bring back the joy to my life
Don't leave me here with these tears
Come and kiss this pain away
I can't forget the day you left
Time is so unkind
And life is so cruel without you here beside me
Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my heart
My heart
Don't leave me in all this pain
Don't leave me out in the rain
Bring back the nights when I held you beside me
Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my
Un-break my heart, oh baby
Come back and say you love me
Un-break my heart, sweet darlin'
Without you I just can't go on
Can't go on
Songwriters: Diane Warren
Un-Break My Heart lyrics © Realsongs

Have a listen:





I love the intensity in her voice.  We have not seen her in concert but it might be one worth going to if she comes around.

Hop on over to Helen's site to see/hear the other Song Lyric Sunday participants.  There's some good stuff over there.

Also, check out my Etsy site if you haven't done so before.  Tell me what you think.  I do make special orders if you have an album you want made :)

Have a great Sunday!



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Wednesday, July 11, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #Sketchbook Project Road Trip

So very excited that my Sketchbook is going to be included on the road trip!




If any of you are in those areas, the Library Call Number for my book is 353.17-2, the title is "A Smile 4 U from Janet" and the theme is "People I Wish I Knew."  If it gets requested, I will get a notice.  That would be so exciting I must say!

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know in those areas!  I think that it would be a great way to spend an afternoon browsing all the different submissions.  There is some really terrific artwork there.  I am looking forward to contributing another one for the next edition.  Wish they would tour it over on this side of the country.  

If you can't get there, the link to my book is here.  I'd love to know what you think.  








Sunday, July 8, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

According to Helen at Words of Life, our theme for this week's Song Lyric Sunday is "Think." 


My offering...Chris Isaak, Think of Tomorrow:

Lyrics

The future looks so bright ahead, the past is far behind
I think of all the things we said, and you are on my mind
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
Mexico has sunny skies, Hawaii knows no rain
Any place you want sweetheart, I will buy the ring
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
Anything you want sweetheart, anything you do
Anywhere you go sweetheart, I will follow you
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
This car I drive is old and beat, it may not see me through
This car I drive is fine with me, it's headed back to you
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
Songwriters: Chris Isaak


We saw Chris Isaak last year at the Mountain Winery and he puts on a really good show. 





He was going to be there again this year but we are going to Oregon so we are limiting the number of concerts we see.  Plus, while my husband enjoyed it, this is not the type of music he prefers. 

Today also happens to be my son's 30th birthday so I am "thinking" about when he was born. 





Hard to believe he is 30 this year and I have to stop thinking about him as my "little blonde haired boy" and more like the man he has grown to be.  We are so proud of him. 

I'll leave you with Chris Isaak and suggest that you check out the other Song Lyric Sunday participants!




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Thursday, July 5, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #31SRW Photography Challenge

The prompt today in the #31SRW Photography Challenge by Shelley Quaint is fire.  Since yesterday was 4th of July here in the US, I have a couple of pictures of our "Safe and Sane" fireworks show.

When I was young we used to have fireworks in front of our house all the time.  I wrote about that here.

We are one of only a couple of towns in our area that still allows the safe and sane fireworks.  Most other cities have outlawed them and all the ones that go up in the air are definitely illegal to shoot off.   Our city uses the sale of fireworks as a fundraiser for local children's sports programs and my husband volunteers his time in the booth for the Pony Baseball teams.  On the 4th he brings home our fireworks show and we have some friends who come over from the next town to share them with us.




Fortunately it wasn't too windy.

One of the best ones got started when I was in the house so I only caught the reflection through the window.  It was still impressive.





I love the fireworks setting on my camera that lets me get some of the pretty colors, but it takes a while so I can't do rapid shooting.


And even though they are illegal, some people still manage to find and shoot off the ones high in the sky.  




25 people were arrested for shooting them off.  That's a $1000 fine each!  More money for our city.  



Hope you had a great 4th.  


Wednesday, July 4, 2018

July-Jinks - 2018 #31SRW Photography Challenge

So today in the 31 day photography challenge Shelley gives us the prompt of Clutter.  While food and clouds gave me a challenge I couldn't overcome, clutter is pure simplicity for me!

It seems like everywhere I look in our house there is clutter.  I know we are not the only ones who feel that way because I hear a lot of talk about people going minimalist and there are a lot of folks my age looking to downsize.

We've slowly been trying to take steps to repurpose some of the things we no longer hold dear.  I've started a collection of things we may use for a garage/yard sale this summer.   


In addition to this batch, there are 2 more plastic containers in my closet and I haven't even gone through MY clothes yet!


How much space we will have when these things are gone remains to be seen.  I have a feeling that no matter what it is still going to look like we have a lot of stuff.  If we are able to sell some things, that would be a bonus.  If not, I'll call the local charity and have them come and pick it all up.  


I don't know if taking all the color out makes it look any less cluttery. 


Some may consider this clutter too, but to me it is artist at work.


I'm making a baby album and when I am deep in the process, things are everywhere. 


In this instance, I think making it black and white makes it look a little bit more organized.  


I did make a bag of crafty items that I know I won't use to give to our friends who are coming over today to watch the safe and sane fireworks we are allowed to shoot off.  She is a teacher and I know that supplies are sometimes hard to come by so win-win for both of us!  How about you?  Got clutter?  Trying to downsize? 

Thanks again to Shelley at Quaint Revival for organizing this little picture program.  Have a happy 4th to all in the USA.