Thank you for the music!

Thank you for the music, for giving it to me!

 

A few weeks I was blessed with such an unexpected gift - a piano! One of Dennis' colleagues was moving and needed to get rid of a piano. I've had my heart set on that beautiful baby grand piano at my parent's house but Beth says its her retirement. So I jumped at a free piano!!

 

I can't wait to start playing again. It's only as an adult that I can say I am so grateful to my parents for giving me the gift of music. I'll be the first to admit, I suck but I love it. Most parents promote music but let me tell you living with Mark Nurnberger is a whole different ballgame.

 

When your dad is a musical genius and your parents met in theater, you grow up in a world filled with music and Broadway. It's a shame that all that musical influence didn't produce more talent. The best I can do is play The Battle Hymn of the Republic by memory.

Thoughts from my musical childhood...

 

I fell asleep every night to the sounds of WQED on my radio except for Saturday nights when I listened to Delilah because I was afraid of a radio show called Hearts of Space.

 

I had no choice. You will play the piano. You will play in the band or sing in the choir.

 

While most children my age were watching Disney films, my sisters and I were watching musicals on VHS...Oklahoma, Gigi, Carousel, Sound of Music and of course, White Christmas.

 

I was a regular at the Pittsburgh Symphony Fiddlestick's performances.

 

During summer evenings at Lakeside, we had to sit through two numbers of the Lakeside Symphony before we could go play mini golf, get ice cream or go to the movies.

 

Looking back, it wasn't terrible growing up in a world of beautiful music. I have an incredible appreciation for classical music and theater. I love to sing and play the piano.

 

I was stubborn and I never realized how grateful I was to my parents until I had a choir teacher in high school who further instilled in me musical appreciation.

So, hopefully the piano tunes coming from our apartment will be more than The Battle Hymn of the Republic.



Just Another Week at the Library

Well, it was just another crazy week of summer reading at the library. As I look back at the numbers, I'm pretty happy considering I had no idea what to expect.

 

...134 people registered for summer reading (that's actually huge since they have never had more than 50 register apparently)...

...six science experiments conducted with two programs and two outreach visits...

...one outfit ruined by cornstarch and coke (that's an improvement from previous summers)...

...five stories read during programs and storytimes...

...only one kid had an accident on the floor (no joke)...

...participation of almost 150 for the week at programs, outreach and storytimes...

 

It was a whirlwind week that started with Splish, Splash Science Camp and Fizz, Boom Science Camp. Together, the kids and I learned about floatation, aerodynamics and chemical reactions! The week continued with two storytimes, a teen program and three outreach visits. I'm ready for a nap.

 

Next week's agenda includes lots of painting, crayon art and recycled art! Creativity abounds at the library!

 

If you haven't signed yourself or your children up for summer reading, what are you waiting for? Get to your local library and register!

Dying to Run

Last Saturday, Meg and I ran the Run or Dye 5K at Lutherlyn with one of her work friends. It was definitely not your traditional run, which I was not expecting and although I had fun I'm not sure I want to do it again.

 

First, EVERYBODY did this run and I mean EVERYBODY. These were not runners. People took strollers into the woods!

 

Second, it wasn't timed. I was kind of hoping to check my 5K time for my training for the Great Race but it wasn't.

 

Third, I was sick of people's comments about Lutherlyn. It's a camp people! The trails are in the woods. That's why the trails aren't paved! Think about it.

 

I had dye everywhere! My toes were purple. My ears were blue. I was blowing pink snot. It took a lot of scrubbing to get clean.

 

 

It was worth running or dying just to feel in shape compared to the other runners who were definitely struggling for breath after a half mile. At the marathon, I feel out of shape but here I felt like a fast runner. That was well worth it!

Fizz, Boom Read!

Summer reading has commenced!

 

It was a little tricky to start with planning and figuring out what my new community needed and wanted for summer reading. The community was used to a very different summer reading program in the past and last year's did not end well. I was determined to use summer reading to help rebuild the library's tainted reputation.

 

Monday was the official kick-off. Participants of all ages could come and register and sign-up for programs. They could also enjoy donated Eat n' Park cookies, visit the balloon artist and win door prizes. I was stressed to the max that no one would show up because that's how this community works too...not incredibly supportive of the library.

 

So, for me...one would have been a success.

 

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when more than 50 came to the kick-off and as of this morning nearly 90 were registered for summer reading. That is a huge improvement in programming for my library. This is just the beginning. I still have to get through six weeks of programming basically on my own with now help.

 

Ready, set, go...see you in August!

 

 



A Perfect Beach Read

Finally!  A book on my summer reading list that I didn't want to put down. Thank God for Elin Hilderbrand. She is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors and maybe next summer I'll make it my goal to read all of her books. Summerland, which I finished yesterday, is a perfect example of a beach read.

Although it is not one of my favorite of Hilderbrand's, I love the setting and every time I closed the book all I wanted to do was visit Nantucket again. Her descriptions of the island are so realistic that you can really imagine walking through town or sitting on the beach.

Summerland is great because Hilderbrand weaves together the stories of two generations. After a tragic summer accident ends an evening following a celebratory bonfire on the beach, the lives of both the younger and older generations are changed in unimaginable ways.

The accident kills Penny Allistair, the driver of the car, yet leaves her twin brother Hobby, boyfriend Jake and friend Demeter alive and dealing with the aftermath of the accident in their own ways. They must overcome severe injuries, teen alcoholism and young love lost, all as a result of the accident.

The older generation, the parents of these teens and close friends, struggle with the accident and the effects on themselves and their children. Zoe Allistair has to come to terms with the death of one child and the recovery of another. Her lover, Jordan Randolph thinks taking his family to Australia is the answer while the Castles figure they have escaped the worst of it since their daughter Demeter survived the accident unhurt.

Summerland is a quick read but well worth it. At times it is very descriptive and slow but Hilderbrand weaves such an intricate plot that you will find yourself turning the pages eagerly awaiting what will happen next. Will Hobby survive his injuries? Will Jordan Randolph save his marriage by moving to Australia with his family? Will the Castles continue to lead their idealistic lifestyle?

Read Summerland to find out the answers to these questions and take a trip to the beautiful island of Nantucket. I would definitely recommend this book to those who need a paperback for the pool or beach, as well as all of her other books, especially Castaways.

Happy Reading!

How does your garden grow?

I will be the first to admit that I am definitely not a green thumb. I don't really even like flowers, which is why sunflowers were definitely the simplest option for wedding flowers. The ugly dirt and bare deck stairs were getting to me last year at the apartment. Something needed to be done.

Last year Dennis and I started with I think three pots. We bought some seeds and used some leftover plants from a library program. Surprisingly, all of the plants lived through the summer. They looked like they were dying though. The sunflowers had to be tied to the deck to not fall over.

This year, I was determined to do better. I bought more pots for the stairs. I planted the sunflowers in an ugly dirt patch formerly tended by our deceased lawn guy. Dennis planted tomatoes. I actually bought a shovel and a watering can to improve our gardening skills.

(Lettuce and tomato plants)

The plants are growing like crazy, especially the lettuce. There's just a few problems. I threw away all of the seed packets, so now I have no idea what pot has what plant. Oops. I know the tomatoes, lettuce and sunflowers. That also means, I have no idea what a weed looks like. Ha ha!

Let's play a game before I have to get my parents involoved. Ha ha! Spot the weeds and identify the plants! And go!

(Spot the weeds. There are sunflowers, black eyed Susans, lupines and maybe astors planted in this garden. Pretty good that I actually knew what I planted. I know there are weeds but I don't what's a weed and what's a plant. I'm so clueless.)

(The good new is that I haven't killed these plants yet. The bad news is that I have no idea what is in each of the four pots. I guess that's why you mark your plants or you are just smart like that. Hey, gardening is a domestic sport and we all know I'm not that great at those.)

Another Book Bites the Dust

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I'm reading like crazy right now. It's my favorite thing to do on the weekend. Relax in my Adirondack chair on the deck with a good book basking in the sunlight.

 

Last week I finished, The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters. Somehow this book made it from my sister's book shelf to mine because it had her name in it. I'd never heard of the book nor did I know what it was about.

 

Perhaps I'm being too critical because this is the first time in a while that I gave back to back books only three stars. This one was even tougher to get through then The Fault In Our Stars. I was disappointed to because it was written all in letters and I love that style.

 

The entire book was written in letters, faxes and emails from the main character, Olivia, to family, friends and colleagues. I will say it was interesting to see the more modern forms of communication with the traditional letters; however, it was confusing at times that is was only Olivia.

 

The story begins with Olivia just plain down on her luck - she loses her job, her boyfriend leaves her and eventually she is evicted. Yet we soon find out that her sister is all down on her luck - she is dying of leukemia. Her outlook on life is much more optimistic than her older sister.

 

The story evolves with Olivia trying to be there for her family while also rebuilding her own life by producing a movie, Don Quixote. There are ups and downs throughout but as in Don Quixote we find who achieves their "impossible dream" - surviving cancer and/or producing a blockbuster hit. 

 

Although it was interesting and did keep my attention, it was definitely not one of those books that had me rushing to get back to it so I could find out what happens. I will admit I did like the correspondence although confusing at times and the aspects of Hollywood.

 

The author was working on another book when this one was published and I might give it a try. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer read or a quick fiction title. I will warn you the emotions in the book are up and down throughout.

 

Finally, I'm reading one of the Elin Hilderbrand novels on my summer reading list. So right now I'm lost in Nantucket, right where I'd love to be in reality too and although the book has sad elements its already much better than those last two downers.

 

Happy Reading!