California Dreaming!

What better song to get you out of your winter doldrums than my absolute all time favorite song. The 1960’s and early 1970’s would not be complete without its ode to “California” and this forever California girl places this song as her #1 all time, best ever song. 🙂 Whether teaching my (then very young) children to harmonize to this song on our 2 hour commute when we went to the coast for a day or weekend trip or the million times I played it post 1996 (after our move to Virginia), this song never gets old. It also seems to be one of those songs everyone loves! When choosing which video to show from You Tube, this one stood out by far! My how the world cried when we lost Cass Elliot. Believe it or not, I classically trained in voice starting for one and a half years ages 16 to 17 and was a 1st soprano….. yes, a diva 😉 . I contend to this day that Cass was and is the best contralto that God ever graced this earth with! Also, very underplayed 2nd “Pappa” Denny Doherty, gets some nice solo time. He has a great voice and if you have the “Best of…” any of the “Mammas and the Pappas” you have likely heard some of his other work. Since I am a total music geek, I will let one other somewhat hidden fact out. Though Denny was *not* the father of Cass Elliot’s only child, Owen (a girl), Cass pined for Denny for years and in fact likely until the day she went to Heaven. Though Denny cared for her very much, it was in a strictly platonic way.  :’-( . So take a 2 minute break from the cold and do some California Dreaming! 🙂

And don’t forget….

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Well, here I sit, another New Years Eve. Another night, tonight, to look forward to sitting on my couch, watching the ball drop, next to my husband who is also my best friend. I get sad, to some degree, each year that we have so many friends and family, but never seem to get invited to any sort of New Years Eve get-together. I don’t quite understand it, because we get plenty of invites to other things. However, home, next to Paul, well, I am blessed. Not all people can say, after nearly 7 years of marriage and going through storm after storm, that not only is their relationship still intact, but that the black cloud that stays overhead has actually bonded them closer. They can say they are married to their best friend. For that I am proud and thankful.

This has been a year to remember. Just like 2007 will stay with me; tattooed on my heart as the year I lost my Dad, 2011 will go down as the year I lost my Mom. In fact she passed one day after the ten year anniversary of 9-11.

I want to set a few things straight. Many people think I ‘disowned’ my Mom. I did NO such thing. I am not going to go into a lot because so much of it is deeply personal AND out of respect to my Mom, who I hope has finally found her peace, I don’t find it necessary to convey the personal details. I only ever asked ONE thing of my Mom. Though arguably there were many things/conditions I could have placed, there was just one and my heart leaped with joy a few weeks ago when I found out at some point she was looking into that one thing I asked of her. Even though she never went through with it, words cannot describe how comforting that was to know she at least made *some* effort and I will leave it at that. Why bother telling anyone the issues you have with them if you are just going to make it some obstacle course they can never get out of because you keep making the stakes higher. Most of the time we forget that our parents are people. Because they are people, they make mistakes and are no less vulnerable to ‘screwing thingsup’; big or small, just like we can.I have learnedtrying to make some people understand fibromyalgia is like trying to make a six month old baby understand the theory of relativity. It is sad that in spell check the word fibromyalgia has a red line under it BUT but the word squiggly DOES NOT have a red line underneath it. How screwed up is that? A condition that affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans (alone) is still not a recognizable word in spell-check!

www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/symptoms

http://www.fmaware.org/PageServerded3.html?pagename=fibromyalgia

Please take even 5 minutes to read one or both of these web sites. Imagine if you hurt like you do with the flu, to some degree, every single day. Imagine if you, in say your 40’s, for the last TWENTY YEARS have felt like an 80 year old lady getting out of bed in the morning (if you were lucky enough to be able to sleep in bed and not have to sleep sitting up because of pain), every morning. That is all I will say, because most people know at least 1 person that has fibro. I am not trying to be a “Debbie Downer”, I am simply trying to convey a message.

I say this each year and our little black rain cloud just sits, but this is the year we push it away! For one thing, I have a kick ass counselor who has taught me I am a worthwhile and loving human being who, despite being human and also accountable, I do not have to be a punching bag. This is the year I am not taking any *bleep* from anyone. Now don’t get me wrong. This does not mean I am going to walk around with an attitude, it just means I am going to be myself; loving, sincere, kind and bubbly. I want to be the best Kelli I can be and that is what I am focusing on. I am a Christian. I am a Christian wife, Mom, Mammo and friend… and I want to be the best I can be in allthose areas.

My resolutions

1. Read at least 8 books. It was 10, but I want a realistic goal that I can achieve.

*****Brain fog from the fibro has really messed wih my concentration.

2. To write at least an hour a day (per a published author friend I have made online who has been so supportive along with another author who has also)

3. Continue to ween myself off of diet coke and get to where I only have a few a week at the most.

Also, just continue to be the best I can be. I always strive to be the best I can be for God and my family.

Happy New Year To All. And may 2012 be a best year yet!

We all get in our music ‘comfort zone’ and many of us are afraid to venture out and find new sounds, new lyrics and new ways to express ourselves in this lovely thing called: music. In the Glover house, you will hear the expression, “Everything from Metallica to Mozart”. That is the truth. With the exception of  ‘death metal’, twangy country and most rap, you will find the most eclectic choices of music you have ever seen.

Plato said:

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and  life  to everything.”

This statement nails it straight on the head!

Of course, I have to pick a “Coldplay” song for intro #1. They are the band that ‘took the roll with me’. In case by now you are not sure what that means, I will explain. On 9-30-2010, doing 5 MPH under the speed limit and listening to the smooth, serene music of what was then my 2nd favorite band, I was taking my near 1 hour drive home from my very stressful job. This Thursday night was less stressful really; an atypical end of the month day. The type of day that would usually have me blasting Godsmack (when really stressed, I blare hard/metal music). I guess the only thing ‘out of the ordinary’ is that this particular night, I was not too stressed at all….just chillin’ to Gwyneth Paltrow’s hubby and the rest of the band. Then, out of nowhere,  one of my back tires blew. The song playing was “Fix You” from the “X & Y” CD. It is a fabulous song, and very fitting to a woman rolling a car, not know what was going to happen. My favorite Coldplay song, and the song of the week I am going to introduce is, “The Scientist”, by Coldplay. This song is moving, beautiful, serene and lovely in so many ways. I think people ages 6-96 could love this song!

OK, since I explained about the wreck and why Coldplay booted “Grateful Dead” as my favorite band of nearly two decades to #2, I am going to go ahead and send the link to both “The Scientist” AND “Fix You”, the song that was playing when Coldplay ‘took the roll with me’. Enjoy!

“The Scientist”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWLpTKBFcU&ob=av2e

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“Fix  You”

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI-o25K6B-E&ob=av2e

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(Happy!!!!!)

JUDY COLLINS: “Both Sides Now” Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons everywhere, I’ve looked at clouds that way But now  (Upset!!!!!!!!)–>

they only block the sun they rain and snow on everyone So many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down and still somehow It’s cloud’s illusions I recall I really don’t know clouds at all Moons and Junes and ferris wheels the dizzy dancing way you feel As every fairy tale comes real, I’ve looked at love that way But now it’s just another show, you leave ’em laughin when you go And if you care don’t let them know, don’t give yourself away I’ve looked at love from both sides now From give and take and still somehow It’s love’s illusions I recall I really don’t know love at all Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say, “I love you” right out loud Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way But now old friends are acting strange they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed But something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day I’ve looked at life from both sides now From win and lose and still somehow It’s life’s illusions I recall I really don’t know life at all

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR5ELDYcPK8&feature=related ***************************************************************

I have always loved this song. Maybe it is because one of the best singers in the choir I was in for years told me often that my voice reminded her of Judy Collins and Joan Baez. I think she heard wrong, but the truth is, I just love the song. It is easy to sing and is a light and happy song, it has so much to say while not being a drag. 🙂 So what is this blog about? Life as I see it! I am a quirky, free-spirited California native, transplanted to the south, Y’all! Ideas, rants, shout-outs, funny things, current events, recipes, songs, tried and true tips about everything, etc, etc, etc! What you won’t see is very much talk about 1. RNY (Weight loss surgery or weight loss in general) unless I am ranting about society’s crazy notion of what ‘thin’ is; I already have a blog for my experience as a weight loss surgery patient http://thelosingside.paulglover.net/  and my success and daily diligence to keep my 170-180 lb weight loss off. And 2. Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I am getting ready to  start a separate blog just for that. While I will most likely talk about health issues at times, I will leave most of the fibro talk for my fibro blog. So this site will be eclectic; about anything and everything. Most of the time lighthearted and upbeat, but serious when need be. Who am I? My name is Kelli Lynn Coleman (Jennings) Glover. I was born in Bakersfield, CA where I spent the first 32 years of my life. In case you don’t know where ‘Bako’ is, it is due north of Los Angeles by 100 miles, or roughly 1 1/2 hours depending on traffic (or who is behind the wheel) 🙂 I did not know until my sister picked me up in from LAX in September, that it IS possible to drive it in just over 1 1/4 hours! 🙂 Bakersfield, during my “Wonder Years” was just that….. the “Wonder Years”. Roughly 70,000 in the city limits with maybe 100,000 with the city and surrounding areas, while a dull and plain city, you were no more that 30 minutes from ‘something’, ‘anything’ really. Mountains (30 minutes), the ocean (2 hours), the desert (just under an hour), etc. Our winters were short (January and February), Summers temps grueling May-October and mild (shorts weather) pretty much the rest of the time. Today the city limits are 350,000+ with near a million is what I was told with the out lying areas! And I believe it! I grew up on Woodrow Ave. in Oildale, which was “North of the River” and went to the same school, Beardsley, until 7th grade, when my parents sold the ‘house that built me’ and split up with their divorce soon to follow. Mom remarried and with that I gained a Step-Dad, a brother and a sister. We went through the trenches together then and have found our way back together, sadly through my Mom’s passing in September 2011. I maintained a very close relationship with my Dad, who passed in June of 2007 and who I miss every single day. Dad’s only surviving brother, my Uncle David is just like a 2nd Dad to me and I love him so much! He has done so much for me and my girls over the years. He is such a good person, underneath that persnickety front! 🙂 Out of respect to those I love and my sheer hate for ‘trash-talk’, I will just touch on the following: I was married to 20+ years to the father of my 4 girls. We moved to Virginia in 1996 from California. Work was ‘iffy’ at best there as a journeyman union welder in Bakersfield and we saw a job offer from an established company as a nice, safe buffer. Moving to VA was an exciting adventure. To this day, I miss California almost everyday except in Autumn on good weather days when the leaves are at their brightest colors. I often think things would have turned out differently if we had just stayed in California, but you cannot live your life in “What if’s….”. The kids are here, everything is here now and another big move. I can barely move across town now; across country again? Not right now. I re-married in 2006 to my best friend, someone who respects me, battle wounds and all, and my soft place to fall; husband Paul. We are pretty boring really. You know the song, “Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey”….. well you get it. We survived the fiance’ immigration process…. by ourselves; no attorney. We dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’. With the exception of Immigration LOSING his biometric fingerprints and him having to make the seven hour round trip to Charleston, WV for 1, ONE! fingerprint, it went smoothly…An aside here; RANDOM! Why is their biometrics machine, of all places, in Charleston, WV? I now have 4 grown children, one son in law and one perfect granddaughter that I love like my next breath. So why me? Why having a blog about ‘both sides now’. I have been through a lot in my life. I know there are those that have been through more and those that have had such a cushy ride, a hang-nail is a bad day for them. I love to write! It is my passion and one of the things this stinking condition I have (I refuse to call it a disease), has not taken from me. Fibromyalgia (the fibro fog part of it) stole my piano playing, cross stitching & and I am NOT going to let it take my reading so I am going to look into some ways to re train myself to read (as in a novel) to keep my attention and not let the fog keep me from understanding, and/or falling asleep every time I try to read more than a few pages. In fact my New Years Resolution for 2012 is to read 10 books. If I exceed that, great, if I get to the 10, great! I wanted to set a realistic goal. I mean, I CAN read…. it is just the fog. Anyone with it, understands. I want a place to shout with joy! I want a place to vent! I want to a place to spout random info! I want a place to talk cooking (something for years I did not enjoy for the longest time, but am really starting to enjoy again). How about music! I may not be able to play anymore, but I listen, so introduce a random song once a week… and I promise, it will NOT just be Coldplay, my favorite band who ‘took the roll with me’. I have lots of neat things planned! I am excited, so, won’t you come and enjoy life….. from both sides, now!  🙂

Mmmmmm Mmmmmmm Lots of dicing & chopping but well worth it!

Minestrone Would Not Be Complete without crusty french bread