I have been busy. Here are some photos I collected along the way.

A tiny butterfly on the flowers in my friend Ulyana’s front yard, REO Town Lansing.

An unusual mottled eggplant with “ears.” This was taken at the East Lansing Food Co-Op. There was another eggplant of the same coloring, which did not have the side bits sticking out. I did not buy either of them, but the visual surprise delighted me.

A fraternal pair of Striped Summer Socklets. These are a store sample at Yarn Garden in Charlotte, Michigan- as of Tuesday.

The yarn is Cascade Heritage, a standard wool-nylon sockyarn. It comes in many solid colors and a good selection of multicolors as well. Good quality, good price.

Several photos of a group of Habibi Dancers, performing this last Wednesday at Sparrow Hospital. I think this is my 5th year participating with my troupe in this event. It’s a Diversity Week celebration. They also have a food contest. We got to dance to the smell of some lovely Indian spices. Yum!

I am third from the right, in turquoise, hot green and a purple head wrap. This is how I look when I am in character as Eudora, the dancer.  Theatre is much fun, and dancing with girlfriends is just as fun as it gets!

You can’t see it here, but this was a cane dance. we balance the canes horizontally on our heads for part of the dance. We also swing them around, toss them back and forth, and otherwise generally have a bit o’fun with shiny sticks.

My dear friend April, being her beautiful and energetic self. Her daughter, Isabel (age six), took all of these photos for me, from the front row.

I’ve been giving Isabel my camera to use since she was about 4 years old. She has learned to take photos, zoom a bit, and take a look at the photos she has taken on the camera’s preview screen. She does a rather nice job.

I love that sometimes Isabel takes photos from her own perspective. A person several feet shorter than I am, sometimes takes photos at her eye level, which is adult hip level. When the photos are of dancers, I enjoy seeing the energy in the clothing. Clearly, these folks were moving quickly!

Love this one. Literally caught mid-hop.

Yes, the baskets are real. No, we don’t use magnets or velcro. Yes, the headwrap makes it easier (my hair is very slippery). Yes, it takes a lot of practice.

We still have hiccups at times. The baskets are wider than my shoulders. It’s easy to run into someone else’s basket. It’s SO much fun, though!!!

Thanks to Sparrow Hospital for inviting us back, yet again. Community events make me really happy. This is one of my favorite events of the year.

I have talked before about author Barbara Winter of the Joyfully Jobless blog (and book Making a Living without a Job). Today she posted a blog entry called “Things I Haven’t Told You.”

I got to thinking… what my mind jumped to was telling a story yesterday (at Maker Faire). I was a computer consultant and discovered that one could knit her own socks. For me, that was a defining moment in my own personal history. I knew my life would change, and it did.

I am fond of saying “One can not buy passion.” It sort of explains how I am in this business. My computer business was enjoyable and paid well, though it fizzled out after Y2K passed. My knitting/singing/art business is about passion. I wake up dreaming that I am knitting. It is all about that excitement that can not be purchased.

Going back, I remember several moments which I will never forget. These moments changed my life in some way. The best of them include a picture in my mind of how the room looked, how I felt, sometimes how I stopped in mid-step to drink in the experience. Some of them:

• I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, and my family took a trip across Lake Michigan on the “Milwaukee Clipper.” There was a musical ensemble in one room for entertainment. One guy was playing a drum set, including a snare drum with brushes. I had to be pried away from watching him.
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  However when it came time to play in band, I knew not to ask. Girls did not play drums in my community in 1969. I asked to play flute, which had intrigued me since Mrs. Gibbs played one for us in 3rd grade. My father gave me two choices, trumpet or clarinet. He played trumpet and I did not want to “match.” I never liked clarinet. I quit as soon as I was allowed.
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  Interestingly, though… I was always great at reading rhythms on sheet music. Notes were much harder. As an adult I took a private hand-drum lesson and the instructor indicated that I took to it easily. Arthritis in my fingers means I did not pursue it further, but I felt good to find that out. Now, I play Heftone bass. It’s a rhythm instrument that is kind to my hands. In the end I sort of got what I wanted, all along.
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  Not long after I started with clarinet, Karen Carpenter came on the scene, playing a drum set. She also had a beautiful voice. She was my hero.
• I was in 10th grade. Our church youth director, Lynn Grimes (now a retired United Methodist minister) was from Detroit. Our town was decidedly low on diversity and not at all like a big city. She decided to take our whole youth group to Toronto. There were 15 kids, Lynn and her husband. We had an amazing time. For me, I found out that there were places not like home, where there was more diversity, more visual stimulation, more everything. It was intoxicating.
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  Lynn made sure we saw things we could never see in 1975 suburbia. We rode the subway. We went to a Hungarian restaurant and a Chinese one in Chinatown where lots of people did not speak English. The food was unlike anything near home.
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  We went to fine museums, both the Royal Ontario and the Science Center (a new concept at the time).  And I spent a whole weekend taking photographs pointing straight up, at the skyscrapers. I fell in love with cities. Now I collect cities  (and especially their subway/transit systems). Photo is the Eaton Centre, a multi-story mall in Toronto.

• I was 27 years old in the sad part of my adult life… cleaning house alone one night, playing the radio for company. I think it was Bob Blackman’s Folk Tradition show on WKAR/MSU. He played a cut from Paul Simon’s Graceland album, singing with Ladysmith Black Mombazo (I believe the cut was Homeless).
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  I literally stopped  in my tracks, turned up the volume, and sat right there on the floor in front of the speakers, transfixed. I knew virtually nothing about Africa at that time, but it was like finding home. That much vocal beauty at one time knocked me over with a feather, so to speak. I’m still in love with that sound.
• I took a feltmaking workshop on the recommendation of Nancy McRay, around 2000. It was wonderful, and my hands remembered how wool made me feel good, to touch it.Looking for wool supplies online, I somehow found myself on the www.socknitters.com website. I was blown away. I had not imagined that someone could make their own socks! I could feel in my gut at that moment, that my life was going to change.
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  As a child of the 70’s (Twiggy, rainbow toe socks, laugh in), I loved bright colored socks, preferred wool, and had small enough feet that bright colored wool socks were impossible to find for me. I literally had over 80 pairs of socks in my sock drawer, when I found out one could knit one’s own socks. None of them were a)wool, b)bright colored, and c)small enough to fit properly. Most had two of those three attributes.
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  So there it was: I could make my own socks. I was working on a rather complex database project for a computer client at the time. I knew if I went to the yarn shop before finishing, I might not get the project done on deadline. The minute I turned in that project, I headed over to the only yarn shop in town at the time.
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  Ruth was working that day. I told her I had only knit scarves for 20 years and had played with purls a little, but not in any finished project. I was determined to make socks.
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  She did not flinch. She helped me find some DK-weight yarn and double-pointed needles, and instructions for making my socks. I went home, and somehow I had a pair of socks 10 days later (photo at right). And the rest, is my current life/livelihood…

Perhaps you would like to tell me a moment like this, from your own life? In the comments? I would love to hear. I think these moments do help us know who we are on the inside.

I am a big fan of neighborhood events. I also especially love buying from people who own their own small businesses. Allen Street Market fits both bills.

One of the food vendors, I know from knitting. Their kids took my knitting classes when I was at Foster Community Center.

The market is literally on my route between home and Rae’s Yarn Boutique or Foster Center. I pass by the location nearly every day.

On Wednesdays, it comes alive! This week was a special treat. They had scheduled Strawberry Festival (though there were few strawberries there this week), and thus a musical act followed by Habibi Dancers.

Originally, Jen Sygit was scheduled to sing. In the end, friend Julianna substituted (with her friend Jeff). Julianna has a LOVELY voice and I enjoyed her set very much. Here’s a photo. Notice she has her ukulele in her lap.

After Julianna sang, I was part of the show by Habibi Dancers. Sheila (also a Habibi) came and thankfully did a great job taking photos of us, with my camera. Thanks, Sheila!

(For the record, the market is a magnet for people from all parts of my life. I saw contra dance folks, knitters, musician friends even a woman I met when I acted/danced in Pippin! at Riverwalk theater, I think in 1992. I feel so right there, all the facets of my life come together at this market.)

It’s hard to recognize me in my garb as my alter-ego, Eudora. I’m wearing a light green tunic with blue skirt and coins. I’m often in the front because of my height (or lack thereof).

Speaking of ColorJoy… I think the Habibis qualify!

Before I had two sock design deadlines plus a trip out of town for 4 days, I had a grand time on Lansing’s East Side. Brian and I, as The Fabulous Heftones, played Mac’s Bar with our friend Wally Pleasant. Not only that, but there were two warm up bands besides our two acts, and I enjoyed every set.

Brian has worked with Wally since before Brian and I met. They used to go on tour together… two guys in a van with a bunch of instruments.

They would drive to Tennessee one day, then take turns driving and sleeping to get to Florida the next day, and a gig in Texas the next. It was a crazy schedule but they are both pretty laid back guys and it worked for them. Brian plays so many instruments, he’s a perfect one-man backup band.

Lately we are connecting with Wally again a bit more. It’s great fun.

Mac’s was an extra-special event, because we are emphatically not the kind of act one would expect at that venue. They do a lot of modern indie rock, usually more of a party scene. (It’s common to see a drum set on that stage.)

We are known as “Lansing’s most romantic act.” It was a delight to take our turn at the legendary venue on my own favorite side of town.

The night at Mac’s, Brian backed up Wally for half a set, and then Wally’s wife Alisa backed him on the last half. Alisa is a fine musician in her own right. She’s a classical musician, and also plays in the popular local band, The Lash. (She also took all of the photos in which I’m pictured. Thanks, friend!)

The last photo makes me giggle. There is a large poster on the wall at Mac’s, above the heads of everyone. It shows a fine collection of several class-act top entertainers, probably taken in the late 60’s or early 70’s. (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra)  All of them are wearing tuxedos.

Brian may be the only one ever to show up at Mac’s in a tuxedo, and he felt a photo of him and “the guys” was in order. Love it.

Brian and I will perform at Mac’s Bar on the East Side of Lansing tomorrow/Friday night. The show has been billed like a fight… Wally Pleasant vs. The Fabulous Heftones.

I find this rather amusing. After all, both we and Wally are known for being rather… well, pleasant to listen to. We’re not fighting folks, though Wally has a few surreal pieces that could mess up that reputation.

Get to Know Wally Pleasant

If you don’t know Wally Pleasant, I would describe him as a poet who is a songwriter. His lyrics are important to his work. You might hear irony, a giggle, or a bit of pondering when  listening. His songs can be amusing, sweet, silly, preposterous. I always enjoy being in his audience.

Wally is a friend as well as a music colleague. We sang at his wedding, and Brian used to tour with Wally years ago. (He was also the driving force behind the Charlotte Gives Back concert to benefit homeless/domestic abuse shelters, a few weeks ago.)

The Fabulous Heftones?

Brian and I play mostly the music of the 1920’s. Our playlist tends toward love songs, but we have a number of novelty/fun songs in there.

One song fits both categories (love and funny): “I Love Me.” That’s perhaps our most requested song. It seems many bands have a funny piece that gets requested most. I’m happy some folks know us well enough to remember one of our pieces!

Not the First Time

We played Mac’s Bar once before, many years ago. We opened for several punk bands one night, for a birthday bash.

The birthday guy was Ken Knott, a local punk rocker, and his friends’ bands took turns on stage. We were listed in one newspaper under the headline “Punk Bands Play Mac’s,” just listed in there with the others. I treasure that newspaper clipping. Too fun! Absolutely opposite from the truth… but a giggle.

I’m pretty hyped that the place is now smoke free, for just over a month. (This is due to a new state law, for those out of Michigan.) For me, that makes bars far more accessible.

I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, though I have friends who do both. My voice prefers no smoke, though. No smoke makes one of the reasons to stay home, a non-issue. Bars still tend to be loud places to chat, and my voice likes to take it easy when not singing.Tomorrow I’m singing! Perfect.

The show is at 9pm. The cover is $7. Open to those 18 and older. Please consider coming out, to see this entertaining event!

My Kind of Weather!

It has been a good several days for me. It is genuinely hot here if you stand in the sun, need to do physical activity, or have a car without air conditioning. However, indoors (no A/C) or on the porch, I am in my heyday. This is MY kind of weather!

Summer Food Experiments, Rhubarb Recipe

Just as an update, I have been cooking some wonderful food including a salad tossed with cold barley grains (barley contains gluten but one could use mixed rices instead), some flavorings and fresh veggies. I made a fava bean dip that turned out great (if you have not tried fava beans, they are magnificent legumes indeed). We ate fava beans for breakfast every morning in Egypt, so I am especially fond of them since I returned from Africa.

I even made a first try at a sort of flat bread, cooked in a cast iron pan. In my dreams it was like an Indian chappati, but in the end it looked more like a very thick brown pita bread that had no hole in the middle. It was chewy and worked well to eat with the fava beans. When I refine those recipes a bit more, I will share them here with you.

I did also pick some rhubarb last week. I made a slightly-too-sweet rhubarb crisp for us. The rhubarb was so fresh, it made a soupy fruit filling rather than a sticky one, but it was a treat anyway.

Next time I’m out of white sugar, I will substitute with a smaller amount of brown sugar. It did not work when I used the specified amount. Live and learn. (Click this link for the Rhubarb Crisp recipe, scroll to the end of that long post to see it.)

Singing in Lansing

We had a great time at the East Lansing Art Fair. If anyone took photos of us singing that day, please consider passing a photo to us. For some reason I forgot to ask someone else to take photos. I did get shots of other bands, but they are not edited at this time.

Our next performance will be with Wally Pleasant on Friday, June 4, at MAC’s Bar, East Lansing. Really. No smoking, I’m liking that prospect, myself.

Knitting Progress

Now I am working on two sock designs. Both have deadlines in the next few weeks, one is due early next week. This is why I have no photos today on the blog.

It’s wonderful to be back doing socks again, though. I’ve designed two hats, a neckwarmer and a legwarmer pattern most recently. Socks are like going home.

Happy, Happy, Happy!

And I just can not stop saying how happy I am with this weather. Nobody else seems to love it as much as I do. I think I feel like a kid on her birthday – the adrenaline rush keeps repeating as I proceed with my life. I wait for this every year.

May you be comfortable wherever you live, whatever you prefer. As for me, I’m giddy with summer. Anyone else?

It is always a joy to play at events here in Greater Lansing. Brian and I, as The Fabulous Heftones, will perform at East Lansing Art Festival tomorrow.

The weather is gorgeous this weekend. The other performers scheduled are very fine, indeed. There is great food (my friend Altu’s restaurant will have a booth). And of course, there are excellent artists showing and selling.

This show is an honor. It’s our first time at this event. Details:
 

East Lansing Art Festival
Sunday, May 23
12:15 to 1:00pm
West Stage, Abbot Rd. at Albert
Downtown East Lansing

The Audience Makes a Difference
Local friends, it will be a glorious, sunny day. Come on out early in the Festival Day and say hello. It means a lot to see familiar faces in the crowd. I have heard from several folks that they plan to come out.

As a performer, I literally sing to folks in my audience (it unnerves me to sing in a blacked-out auditorium, though I can do it). The more familiar faces, the more lovely my own performing experience.

I can sing to Cyndi, to Gwen, to Mom, to Rae, to Rod and Deb… sort of thanking them for being part of the experience. We make new friends at every show, but I’m all about relationship; the more, the merrier.

What Music will You Hear?
If you have not heard us before, our music is primarily from 1900 to 1930 with a few instrumentals that Brian wrote. Many are familiar to contemporary ears.

Here are links to a few songs we have put up on our website. (Click to listen, or save as a free gift from us if you know how to do it on your computer.)

For Me and My Gal (Lynn Singing)

Shine on, Harvest Moon (Brian Singing)

Epley Breakdown (Lively Instrumental)

Wish to be Notified of Future Shows?
If you would like to be on our email list, announcing upcoming events, either leave me a comment (make sure you fill out the email address box, it won’t be seen by my readers) . I’ll get you on the notice list.

(Photo is The Fabulous Heftones, singing at Cooper’s Glen Festival in Kalamazoo, August 2006)

Brian and I performed in Charlotte, Michigan (pronounce “shurr-LOT“) a few weeks ago. It was a benefit for the SIREN center of Eaton County, an organization which works with homeless and domestic abuse clients and their families.

The organization turned away over 500 people last year for lack of funds. We wished to help them help others. Many folks are one paycheck away from homelessness… It’s an honor to be in a position to help.

(Yes, I’m a bit behind on photos, but these were too fun to skip. It was a grand time, and the Charlotte Performing Arts Center was a great place to sing.)

I did not get photos of all the acts. In addition, musicians move so much and the lighting is so intense, that it was hard to get many photos. However, what you see here please me.

Photo 1, Brian and I/The Fabulous Heftones.
Photo 2, Wally Pleasant (at right) with my Brian backing him up
Photo 3, The Lash (Wally’s wife, Alisa, is the lady in red, far right)

We had a blast! The folks from SIREN were more than appreciative, too. We got to meet a bunch of them. They had so many volunteers backstage that night, we all could have had a 10-course meal and taken home more. The food, the hospitality, the space… all were top notch. Best of luck to SIREN in their current year.

Wow. Diana found this one somehow… “The Ross Sisters” singing three-part girl harmony at the beginning… and then amazing acrobatic/contortionist/dancing. Wowie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNR74UCidBI&feature=player_embedded

Sometimes these old movie clips disappear from YouTube, but today it’s working great.

Saturday, a great concert is expected, for a great cause: The Fabulous Heftones, Wally Pleasant, Don Sovey Quartet and The Lash will perform together on one stage!!! The event is to benefit SIREN/Eaton Shelter.

The press release for this event starts:

…SIREN/Eaton Shelter turned away 510 Eaton County families last year because of a lack of funding…

Help them turn away fewer (or no) people this year. Enjoy some good music at the same time!

Brian and I are “The Fabulous Heftones.” Brian and Wally Pleasant go back a long time, they were touring together before I even knew Brian personally. Wally’s wife, Alisa, is in The Lash. Don Sovey has been the PR person, event planner, you name it, for this event. I think we will have a rollicking good time and do some good for our Greater Lansing Community at the same time.

If you want to see this poster larger, click on it and you will open a PDF document which is easier to read.

If you would like to read an online version of an article which goes into more depth on this event, you can Click This Link to read more.

The concert start’s at 7pm this Saturday (May 8), at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, a wonderful theater space. Please consider joining us.

This last Saturday, the Habibi Dancers had their annual dance concert. I am in the troupe but did not dance in the show this year. That meant I got to take photos from the balcony.

I put together a slide show on Flickr, for those who wish a journey through larger photos full of color and exhuberance. I’m including a few of my favorites right here, if you want a quick peek instead.

One of my favorite pieces in the show was Molly/Najida, doing an earth mother dance to celebrate her 8th month of pregnancy. She is a remarkable dancer and I’ve never seen a woman so happy to be with child. It was an honor to view this dance of joy.

For the record, this form of dance was developed in some cultures as a way of strengthening women for childbirth. (Women had some fun dancing together, but strength was a goal.) Before modern developments, a strong torso was an essential help through labor. In some areas, your women friends would come and dance for you while you were in the process of delivering your baby.

I think one can not look as happy, strong and feminine as this:

Hi, everyone. For someone whose goal is 28 posts a month, I am not hitting my goal right now! This is my post number 2,915 since November 2002, but it is my first one in a week.

Gratitude

My car is now in the shop for 2 weeks and I’m to call them Tuesday for an update. I’m thinking it will be 3 weeks without a car, at least.

However, this has allowed my friends to love me with service. It happens that my furthest commute is to Haslett once a week (ten miles one way, requiring 3 buses). This two weeks happened to be between terms, so I did not have to worry about that. I have been able to ride the bus a lot (and our system is quite reliable).

I did one round-trip to downtown Lansing (not quite 5 miles, total) on my cool old 5 speed Schwinn Suburban. Last year, I did not ride the bike once. It was pleasant to get her back out on the road.

Things are intense but fine here. I am well again, thanks to the miracle of modern medicine. It is spring, and absolutely lovely to look at outdoors.

Friend Rae loaned me her car to go to the doctor last week when I was quite ill with a sinus infection. Friend Altu loaned me her car this week to go back for a checkup. You can not know what a gift it is to have a car for an hour or two, during a week which is otherwise car-less. The first week, I got a few groceries. The second, I went to the bank. Those trips were much easier with a vehicle!

Friends Melinda, Kelley, April, Altu and Kim have offered rides at different times. Mind you, most of the time, the bus works great… but some trips are a lot more hassle than others. Going to Rae’s shop and back is a breeze. Most of my life is lived on the East Side between Rae’s shop, Frandor and Altu’s restaurant. So most of my life is easy to handle by bus.

But you know, in the scheme of things, this is just fine. I do not have a long term illness. I have the prospect of  a vehicle again in a week or two. It is spring here, so waiting for the bus is pleasant. I have knitting in my purse, and can do that while I wait.

Project(s) Update

Since you last heard from me, so much has happened. The Lansing Comfort Bear project is going nuts. There is a nice article on the Lansing State Journal website about our event at Schuler Books. (It was in the Thursday paper with a photo of me teaching, but the online article is missing that photo. I’m fine with that.)

The article does not mention that Berroco Yarns and Rae’s Yarn Boutique donated yarn, Rae’s donated needles, and I donated patterns and teaching expertise for that event. Rae, Anna and Barbara from Rae’s offered teaching assistance, also donated. (Anna took the two photos here, while I was teaching.)

Whitney at Schuler Books did a great job of publicity and hospitality, as well. The project started not long ago thanks to Kristi Garcia, and it’s growing like weeds! It took a team to get this moving, and we are thrilled.

I have created a simplified version of the pattern to be distributed for free as a PDF download. That version can be accessed by clicking this Fast-Finish Bear Free Version link.

For those not inclined to download and print, or those who do not use the Internet, there will also be a photo-enhanced version with instructions for even non-knitters to get started. That one will be printed in color on good paper and in a page protector, for sale at the shops. The price will be my standard $6, but $1 from the sale of each pattern I will donate to EVE (End Violent Encounters). EVE is an organization which has helped two women I know, both with children, get out of a bad living situation and into new, healthy lives.

I am on the brink of an adorable child’s cap pattern (had hoped to release it yesterday but literally fell asleep with computer on my lap). I helped a friend with her taxes, and the Habibi Dancers‘ annual show and workshops are this weekend. (Photos below taken at rehearsal Wednesday.) I am over busy but all is well.

Signing Off, for Now

And with all that distracting me, I didn’t say hello to all of you. I’ll be back with more when I can. Meanwhile, focus on gratitude and let go of those things over which you have no control.

Hugs from Lansing, Michigan.

Brian and I sing (as The Fabulous Heftones) for a number of retirement homes, independent living communities, retirement homes and Alzheimer care homes. We absolutely love this work.

Our music really is the right sort of thing for this setting. So many of our songs bring back good memories for folks. Even for those whose memories of recent events are fading, songs from decades ago seem to stay stuck in their minds.

Last Friday we went up to Alma, Michigan (an hour north of our home) to a place where we have sung several times. When we arrived, a woman was sitting at the piano. She was playing “Amazing Grace” and singing along. Sometimes she had to stop to get the chord right, but then she kept on going.

I did not want to disturb her, so I took a photo from across the room, without flash. In order for you to see her at all, I had to play with light/color levels in my PhotoShop program. Low light turns out grainy, but what happened almost looks like a pointillist painting rather than a real photo. I like it.

This woman stayed for our full concert. We really enjoyed this… at one point we had about 80% of the crowd singing along with us. They particularly enjoyed “When You wore a Tulip… and I wore a Big, Red Rose.” They also seemed to love “Bye, Bye, Blackbird.”

I just wanted to share this photo with you. It reminds me that so often we give up things that have given us joy in the past. This woman’s voice is no doubt not as strong as it was when she was younger. The piano was not in perfect tune, and she did not proceed confidently through the music.

All of the imperfections did not matter. There was no audience until we came in, part way through her song. And she was having a nice time, playing and singing just for her own pleasure.

I think we need to remember this. Do not let go of the things you love, even if you can not do them as well as you once did. Jump in and enjoy!

Once I knew others were happy but I thought I could not have what they had. Now I have such a different life, I am amazed. I did a lot of work on the road here, but the payoffs of that work are tenfold.

Tonight, Saturday, February 13
6:30-8:30
The Fabulous Heftones (Brian and I) sing at the newly expanded/renovated
Altu’s Ethiopian Cuisine in East Lansing.

This is truly our home venue in a million ways. We became a better act because of our regular 2-hour performances here.

We were in the What’s On section of the Lansing State Journal this week (page 3, with a photo). There is an online version of that article (with a photo of our friend Frog, who is mentioned later in the same column).

But today, on a day when we are again booked as the “Most Romantic Act in Lansing,” I feel like it is Thanksgiving even more than Valentine’s day.

I wrote a post January 31, 2009 that sums it all up, gratitude for my new life. It’s a short column (for me). Please consider taking the time to read it. I think good news doesn’t usually make it to the masses, and I’m all for spreading the good stuff when I can.