Two more days

Two more days until MF and her crew get here from Prague. On the one hand, I can't wait. On the other, I've got a ton to do. My "to do" list is two pages long. But I will get as much of it done as I can. The main thing is to have a bed for everyone, a place for everyone to eat, and a place for some toys.

We've still been absorbed in the Civil War. We've been watching "Gods and Generals." We also had watched most of "Gettysburg" before going to the battlefield. I had just found it at a discount store. Both these films are wonderful and I'm disappointed the third one won't be made as "Gods and Generals" didn't do well in movie houses. It is four hours long so that's partly understandable.

It's going to be very exciting to be living here so close to most of the battle sites for the Civil War sesquicentennial. Anyone who's from the South or this part of the North knows that this is still a subject that has infinite meaning even though it happened 150 years ago. I saw many fresh bouquets of flowers on the site of Joan of Arc's execution site and that happened in 1431. People don't forget great sacrifices.

The photos are of the Virginia monument (the only one we found with posted warnings about vandalism--how sad) and Michael and me on the path that leads to the battlefield.

Gettysburg

The name says it all--Gettysburg. The most famous battle of the Civil War. And we were there this weekend listening to two wonderful Civil War bands, the Wildcat Band representing the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers and The Eighth Regiment Band of Rome Georgia. (And if you think it didn't feel good to me to hear those rich Southern accents rolled out like honey on bread, think again.)

There was a brass band festival at the Gettysburg National Military Park. These bands use period instruments to recreate the sound of the war so that you can understand what the soldiers heard as they waited and marched into almost certain death. On both sides, units were put in situations where they had almost no chance to survive. The field that Pickett's Charge crossed over is vast and it looks much the way it did on the day of the battle. We were there only days away from the actual date. So the wildflowers blooming there would have been blooming in 1863. Maybe next year we'll return for the re-enactment of the battle. We also got to hear one of the bands in the Prince of Peace Episcopal church which is one of the places the wounded were taken after the battle.

The photos are of the Wildcat Band, John Carruth, the leader of the 8th regiment band (and yes, he knows he looks like Robert E. Lee), and the Louisiana Monument put up during Gov. McKeithen's administration.

We had a lovely weekend and got much-needed rest. All wars bring out nobility of spirit and courage at the same time they bring out brutality and hate. For me, the Civil War musicians fall into the first category. Unarmed, they faced the same artillery fire as the soldiers and served as litter carriers, ambulance drivers and medics during the actual battles.

Busy, busy, busy

Okay, I'm busy and I haven't blogged in a while. This doesn't mean I haven't been writing though. My writers' critique groups are going amazingly well. One will meet at the library and the other will meet at Barnes and Nobles downtown. This is a really interesting Barnes and Nobles because it has nothing to do with the B and N chain. It's a university bookstore for both Wilkes University and Kings' College (both downtown) and so it can order really cool books for you. They also do a lot of book signings.

And I gotten a really important assignment from a national children's magazine. (If you want to know about that, you'll have to click the link to my other blog.)

I am calmed down somewhat about the editorial. And I was so right not to write to the newspaper in reply. Someone very nice and calm replied to this guy and set him straight. And things are going well with my kids and their kids. I do have just a few days before M gets here with her family. There's lots to do. It will be so much fun. I can't wait.

Idiot

The Times Leader recently published a letter from a person who says he will not stop and aid anyone who is un-American enough to drive a foreign car. He says he will do this in spite of the Good Samaritan law here in PA. This means he is enough of an idiot to break the law and refuse to stop and help a suffering child because her mother has been unpatriotic enough to buy a Volvo.

A)I wonder if he knows how many of those "foreign cars" are made here in Merica?
B)Does he refuse medical treatment since MRI machines and other diagnostic machines are often made elsewhere?
C) Does he eat fruit? When is the last time you saw a Made in USA sticker on a banana?
D) Does he take medicine? Some of the most prestigious pharmaceutical companies are European. Does he tell his doctor to prescribe only American-made drugs? Maybe he grows his own.
E) Does he have a TV? DVD player? Cell phone? GPS system? Computer? Radio? In fact, finding anything electronic with all components built in the US would be quite a feat.
F) Does he buy clothes?
G) Does he buy gas for his American car?

It's a global economy, stupid. Obviously, this guy really ticked me off. I know his heart was broken when GM went bankrupt. And I feel his pain. But any company that isn't well-run is not going to do well in these hard times. My husband heard a speaker on the radio who said that we shouldn't talk about the bad economy. We should talk about hard times. It's more honest and more accurately expresses what's really going on in our country right now. In hard times, we shouldn't be pointing the finger of blame. It's not the fault of the poor college student who is running an imported Toyota Corolla into the ground so that he can pay tuition. I'd rather point the finger at people with credit card debt they built on a lifestyle they couldn't afford but that's not fair either. We should all try to help each other in these hard times. And "Judge not, that ye be not judged" has been good advice for a long time.

Me and Monet

First shot is Rita's. It's the most amazing ice and frozen custard imaginable. Michael had cherry ice and I had vanilla custard with hot caramel. Very nice. The yard looks great with all our iris by the road. We have lots of different colors. The bearded ones which are lilac and purple are beautiful this year. Michael took his life in his hands to get the flower pictures. Behind the photographer is a blind curve and people whiz by very fast.

I feel very Monet-ish since we have more iris than the rest of the folks in the neighborhood. Our town is a riot of color right now. The rhododendrons are blooming as well as iris, flags and even some late tulips. Our poppies are going to be good this year as they have lots of enormous buds and the daisies, roses and mums are still to come.

My back continues to improve which is good news. I have a big Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators meeting in Bethlehem, PA on Tuesday and I want to feel good for that. I get to meet three children's book editors. Imagine! My big project right now is a nonfiction book related to brass band music. Wonder why I'm interested in that? Could it be the continual tuba playing at my house? I wonder. Michael has a concert with the Liberty Band of Hazleton in a church tomorrow. I'm looking forward to that.

Sorry blog fans!

I've never gone this long without a post. But I have been hustling pretty hard to get some projects going. I did make the Sunday paper here about an organizational meeting at the library. You can check an article on moi at the Times Leader. I hate the picture but it was really small in the paper! Good thing. The photographer came in with his strobe and then proceeded to set up another light glaring on my face and another on the piano to bounce back. Nobody who has seven grandchildren should have to stand up to light that harsh. I kept mentioning "natural light" but he didn't seem to think that was a good idea. I'm thinking that natural light and soft focus are necessary at this point. But the reporter did a great job without quoting me exactly. It's always scary agreeing to do an interview. But the library and I really wanted the publicity. Hope it works.

The weather here is ...searching for the right word...perfect...nope, too generic...beautiful...nope, too bland...idyllic...yep, that ought to do. Northeast Pennsylvania would be a good setting for a pastoral novel right now. The picture is of the Japanese quince which is no longer in bloom. The iris and rhododendrons are blooming now but I haven't grabbed photos of them yet. While I don't have as many iris as Monet, there are several varieties blooming all at the same time--the two-toned ones both lilac and purple and yellow and deep reddish-brown (burnt umber?), some gorgeous pale yellow ones and the regular purple ones with bright yellow tongues. They are down by the road and it's impossible to take care of them or weed them without being hit by a car. I'm hoping we can stop traffic or something and get them transplanted up to a safer spot after this season.

Our memorial day picnic for our church congregation was awesome. We had a wedding. Two of our newest members got married (see picture above). It was great. There was wedding cake and hot dogs. Best of both worlds.

Too bad I'm not rich

My great-great grandmother who immigrated to this area was an Arnott. My father was named after her. Too bad I'm not rich. Here's why. The ancient seat of clan Arnot is for sale. You get a seven-bedroom Victorian manor, the medieval castle in ruins and one of the nicest gardens in Scotland. The Arnot Tower website has all the info. No price listed. Hey, they already do weddings there. Maybe we could turn it into a bed and breakfast.

And to think we were thinking of retiring in Texas when we could move to the family estate in the Old Country instead. Maybe J.K.Rowling will buy it as investment property. I'd like to think of the spirit of Harry hanging around with the spirits of my ancestors. Hah!