Happy New Year’s Eve 2025 – DISCO time!

Last day of 2024!

Recently, I saw these shoes at the department store. I was brought back to DISCO days. So many great disco songs to choose from. How about this one… Disco Inferno!

Wishing you all a fun evening. Stay safe and dance the night way. Celebrate!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025! 🎊🎉🍾🥂

The Lion’s Roar…

My father passed away recently. When I think of my father, I imagine this lion.

It’s how my family feels right now — A HUGE ROAR!

My father loved music, he had an Ipod full of great songs. One song, I distinctly remember was “Rose Marie I Love You.” Here it is for you to enjoy too. It’s sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

A passing makes us reflect on life, so many emotions.

So, dear Blogging friends, stay well, hug your family and friends! 💕🙏

Dreams… What do you remember?

Do you remember your dreams? They say we all dream, but I “rarely” remember anything. Although, every once in a while, I wake up humming / singing a song. So, I must have dreamt something, right.

This AM, I woke up singing Johnny Cash’s song, “Ring of Fire.” NOW, what was that about? I have been in a country music mood lately. I guess it’s time to listen to his music. My Dad used to blast “A Girl Named Sue” when he was in the Johnny Cash mood.

Well… I was going to share these two songs with you, but today YouTube and WP are not cooperating. When I do a paste for the song, I get a “not supported” message from WP. Trying to sort that out…

If you haven’t listened to Johnny Cash, visit his videos on YouTube.

This might make you chuckle. A few months ago, I woke up singing, “Santa Lucia.” Now, who knows what my mind was thinking THAT night!!

Nashville – A music city!

This past weekend I was in Nashville. It was a lot of fun. I did feel like I was back in College. You can see the strip here is full of bars. Each one had a band. Lots of drinking, dancing, partying. Lots of cowboy hats and boots. Enjoyed seeing the cowboy/cowgirl styles.

I was surprised to see one of these old fortune teller machines.

A lot of people were jumping up on the bar to have a picture taken with this sign behind them.

This was a band from another bar.

I did buy a shirt. Don’t they say, “When in Rome, dress like the Romans.” So, when in “Nashville, dress like the cowboys/cowgirls.” It is easier to dance to country music with cowboy boots on, my opinion.

This bus went by, I think it would be fun. We were only there two days, so not a lot of time for touring.

I look forward to going back. Next time dressed like a cowgirl! 

A Bavarian puzzle leads to Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany

Last year, I found a Bavarian puzzle. I fell in love with this Bavarian city, but the puzzle box did not mention where this city was. I sent the photo to different people asking and asking, “Does this city exist?”

Finally, someone told me, it’s a medieval town in Germany called, “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” north of Munich. So, I started to formulate a plan to visit Bavaria. First Munich, then Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the Christmas Markets. Then fulfill another dream of seeing Andre Rieu in concert.

My daughters were on board and we started our pre-Christmas journey to Germany a week ago. Munich was lovely, so fun and festive to be there this time of year. We had plenty of sausages!

In Munich, we saw the Haribo store. Of course, we stopped in.

Then we headed to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. They had a Teddy Bear store, you can see in the photo that there was a Teddy Bear blowing bubbles from the window. What a great idea! It did catch our attention.

This was a lovely Advent Calendar. Each door we opened would play music and surprisingly there was enough space behind each door to put a chocolate or a small ornament as a surprise.

In Rothenburg, this was the main market where they had a lot of shops. It was wonderful to see the people out with their families enjoying the Christmas Markets, the food, the wine, etc.

Finally, after our visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we headed to Maastricht in The Netherlands to attend the Andre Rieu concert. I’ve watched Andre Rieu on PBS for over 20 years. Always with a goal to see him in person. Realizing that he is now around 74 years old, it was time to go. Perfect for Christmas.

The music and his orchestra were fabulous. We had good seats, row 7 to the left of the stage. He had dancers on two ice rinks on either side of the stage and dancers also came in between the isles where we sat. So, it was extremely festive.

I wish all my Blogging friends a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! If don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very HAPPY HOLIDAY!

On to 2024 soon!

Exercising: Found my old Ipod… music changes our moods!

Life is funny. I went through a drawer and found my old Ipod. I knew there was good music on there and different podcasts I used to listen to, so found my headphones and went out walking.

It was GREAT, so many songs I haven’t listened to in a long time.

This one by Freddie Stroma came up, “Possibilities.” It’s a really sweet sounding song. I was going to share the song from YouTube, but it looks like YouTube might be taking our “sharing” options away, at least for THIS song.

Happy exercising — Enjoy!

Did you hear the news? PURPLE has just joined the M&M’s candy crew…

Big news in the candy world. PURPLE is the new color for M&Ms. Purple is the first M&M to represent as a female for the brand. As far as male or female, I’ve gotta be honest, I’ve never given it much thought. This Purple M&M is meant to represent loving your “true self.” You’ll see this in the song. We are being hit with political statements every where we turn.

Apparently, they haven’t had a new color in over a decade. Did not realize this. I’m not sure why, but I always prefer the light colored peanut M&Ms (orange, yellow, green). I get in moods for them.

Enjoy the weekend.

I leave you with Purple’s debut song, “I’m just gonna be me”

What do you think? I like her eyelashes!

Memories – HAUSER, Waltz No. 2

HAUSER the famous cellist…. Waltz No. 2 was written by Dmitri Shostakovich, a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist. This Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 was written in 1938 for the newly founded State Jazz Orchestra of Victor Knushevitsky, and was premiered on 28 November 1938 in Moscow (Moscow Radio) by the State Jazz Orchestra.

When Shostakovich began piano lessons at the age of nine it was clear he had musical talent. He was one of the major composers of the 20th century.

After reading Dave’s post, ”Child’s Play,” on Life In A Word, I was inspired to listen to Hauser play Waltz No. 2 on YouTube. Thanks, Dave. I hope you all enjoy it too.

Have an enjoyable weekend everyone!

England – The SINGING Plumber

I wish the media would share MORE uplifting stories like this. Miracles happening when we least expect it. Here is a Kev Crane, 49, a plumber who enjoys singing, he even sings on the job. He’s hired for a plumbing job, by a man who “happens” to have his own record label.

The owner hears him singing, LIKES his singing AND there is the miracle!!

A STAR IS BORN!

A DREAM FULFILLED!

Keep doing what makes you HAPPY!

Share uplifting stories.

We need to stay positive and know that break throughs can happen ANY DAY at ANY TIME!

Bucket List: André Rieu in Concert

https://youtu.be/IoFJh3n915I

Years ago, on a late Sunday afternoon in winter, bored and wanting to watch something on television, I flipped through the TV channels. Nothing captured my attention. Before turning the TV off, I went to the PBS channel. There was André Rieu in concert. I had never heard of him, but I was immediately drawn to his music and his beautiful orchestra. I’ve always found the violin and the flute to be very soothing.

I happily listened to his concert while I sifted through paperwork and did my filing. My Italian mother always played classical music and various Operas at home, so listening to this music was also nostalgic. If you watch a bit of the concert, you’ll see that his concerts are always sold out.

Years have gone by, and when I feel a little low and need my spirits lifted, I go to YouTube to find one of his concerts. Last year, I FINALLY decided to put “seeing his concert LIVE” on my Bucket List. I found out he has started coming to America. However, I want to see him in Europe. Vienna would be my first choice.

Thanks to YouTube for sharing videos of André Rieu’s concert. As winter approaches, and Sunday’s will seem dreary, his beautifully dressed orchestra playing music that I have not listened to for a while will lift my spirits!

Bucket List —

NOW, to make a plan. Choose a city, a date, a time and BUY the ticket!!