Musician's Widow

My little vacation ended as of today. For the last week, I unplugged heavily and enjoyed having my parents visit. I continued to post in my various locations — Facebook, Twitter, here, etc. — but if anyone pays much attention they probably noticed that my volume of interaction decreased dramatically. That was because I wanted to enjoy my company. I wanted to live in the moment more. I loved it.

However, today, my parents headed home to Texas. Last I talked to my mom, they were over half-way home. I’m always sad to see them leave, and I know they aren’t ever in a hurry to go either. But that’s a good thing! I’d hate it if they couldn’t wait to leave! That would be a serious bummer and would throw off all kinds of alarm bells.

No, it is just time to get back to work. They have their business to run, and I have my own to continue to build. While they were here, we did nail down a lot of projects I’ve had lined up to tackle. When I finish this post, I plan to pull out a spiral notebook and really outline my various projects. Outline my goals. Outline a game plan.

I am a HUGE fan of to do lists these days. It’s too easy to let things slide without a list, or its too easy to let little projects come ahead of big projects because you don’t realize the massiveness of those projects.

Like I said, I am always sad to say good bye to my parents. I have this incredible relationship with them that I cherish deeply. It was fun to take an impromptu vacation at home, and it was good for me to let my hair down and put my worries and stresses aside.Now I feel more prepared to move forward with a clearer head and clearer mission. I had said that I was letting August be like a new start for me, and it really has been! I’m running with that, and keeping a positive focus on everything.

Periodically, my husband and I have had troubles with our air conditioning duct work staying in tact. This summer, the heat has really wrought havoc on them. It seems at least once a week, we’ll realize one of our vents is blowing hot air, which means going up into the attic, reattaching the duct to the unit, and then duct taping like crazy. No need to cool the attic!

So last night, my husband decided to look over the duct work before he left out on the road. As he went to the attic, I bit back, “Don’t fall through the ceiling!” I figured it would be both a funny joke, but also a terrible jinx on him. So instead, I started vacuuming the living room.

I heard a bit thud from above, but I figured he was probably just moving the ladder and I paid it no mind. My parents are visiting for the week, and my mom happened to go to the guest bathroom. She called at me and motioned for me to come over. So I turned off the vacuum and went over.

“Look!” she said.

I opened the door, looked up and saw… a leg.

Immediately I went, “Are you okay!?” and started pushing up on the bottom of my husband’s foot which had, yes, come through the ceiling in the bathroom. Insulation all around on the floor, I didn’t know if I should be scared or start to laugh. Upon confirmation that my husband was indeed okay, I couldn’t help but start to laugh at the situation.

My husband’s pride was wounded and, of course, concern over having to have it fixed settled into the equation. But ultimately, it lead us to a lot of laughs — as well as a series of hilarious comments on his Facebook status update for last night. Everything from “Money Pit” references to requests for pictures.

Sadly, no, I don’t have any pictures of our temporary leg light fixture (I was too shocked to think to grab my camera, not to mention worried that my husband was seriously hurt!), and at the moment the hole is covered by a square of cardboard my dad helped us put up. We’ll get the ceiling fixed soon, and it’ll give us an excuse to slap a new coat of paint on the room. Looking on the bright side of things, you know.

However, today’s topic of conversation has consistently come around to the previous night’s adventure in ceiling destruction. Come to find out, a LOT of people have similar stories! So here I am to ask: Anyone else out there have falling-through-the-ceiling stories to share??

I had to put all my writing and designing work on pause yesterday. It was a totally domestic day.

Domestic - adj. – of or relating to the household or the family or devoted to home duties and pleasures

Since getting married, I’ve grown to hold a new respect for my mom and all moms out there. Keeping a house is a lot of work! Anyone who looks at a Stay a Home Mom (or Stay at Home Wife) and thinks, “Boy they must enjoy just laying around at home all day.” THINK AGAIN. Keeping a home is a never-ending job!

My day started with scouring the internet and mail inserts for coupons. I am all about trying to save where I can when I can. I’ve not totally mastered the art of coupon-shopping, but I think I do a decent job nonetheless.

Then I checked the account and figure up how much money I had available for groceries and fuel for the truck. After a quick bowl of cereal, I was out the door and off. Three hours later, I came home having only broken my self-imposed limit by $10. Not bad; thanks to the calculator I’d tucked in my purse. Tax always throws me here, though. In Texas there’s no tax on groceries. Here, the tax is different on groceries than from other items, and its that discrepancy that got me.

I had a hard time getting motivated to tackle my next task: clean the house from top to bottom. I liked too many shows on TV tonight, and they kept beckoning to me to come sit on the couch instead of work. Instead, I took a break to fully watch one show. All the rest were background noise.

Bathrooms have been scrubbed, all floors cleaned, kitchen clean, guest bedroom vacuumed and fresh sheets on the bed (I have guests coming!), my own sheets cleaned and put back in place, office relatively clean (as clean as it’s going to get), and a million other little tasks that have been needing to be done… got done.

See, I generally save my cleaning for when my husband is on the road. And even with that, I usually leave it for Friday or Saturday. However, as I said, I have guests coming, and the job had to be done early.

It feels good to be lounging on the couch with my laptop, sipping a glass of wine, looking around at my clean house knowing it looks good. Knowing that now I can relax and enjoy my company. Knowing that its one more thing off my to do list…

…until next weekend. When many of my tasks will come due again.

It never ends. My hats off to those women who keep a clean house while raising children and holding down a full-time job. I know you can say its a labor of love. I know what I did today is because I am both proud of my home, but also because I want to open my home to the people I care about and know they’ll feel comfortable.

But I’m beat! Kudos to those who juggle all angles of domesticity.  It’s a lot of work, and I admire every one of you.

I am flying home today. And yet, I’m at home.

I’m blessed with two homes. The one I have with my husband and our crazy, wonderful life in Nashville. The other in Texas where I grew up and where my family is. Like I wrote in a note to my brother tonight, “I have the best of both worlds. I am happy to be going, but I am sad to be leaving.”

How wonderful a feeling, to know you have two places that you are loved and that you call “home.” I am truly blessed and so very thankful.

Today, as I fly home to Nashville, I wanted to pass along a challenge for today to be a day for Random Acts of Kindness.

See, my sister-in-law’s second cousin was killed in a car accident last month.

She was only 16.

Today would have been her 17th birthday.

I didn’t know Lauren personally, but I know she meant a the world to her family and friends. I’ve read and heard many stories in the last few weeks about the good she did in her short life — kindness that many of us dream to aspire to do, and yet somehow often will fall short.

Her loved ones decided a way to honor her memory would be to make what would have been her birthday be a day to commit “random acts of kindness” in Lauren’s memory.

[Article from KBTX - Bryan/College Station about the movement.]

This world is so filled with an “all about me” mentality. I think a day to focus on someone else would be refreshing. And to have to be in memory of a life cut short? Well, that’s an added bonus.

I will be flying from Austin, TX to Nashville, TN today. And I fully intend that somewhere in between — or perhaps a few times in between — to participate in this day of good deeds…

Won’t you join us?

I heard an article yesterday that a college in Massachusetts is now accepting YouTube videos of students applying for admission.

An excerpt from the story:

“We’re not judging it on the qualities of the production values,” says Lee Coffin, dean of admissions at Tufts. “We’re not looking for Oscar-winning short films. What we’re really hoping to get out of these videos is another part of the puzzles that make up this 17-year-old person.”

I’m glad I didn’t have this kind of pressure on my shoulders when I applied to college!  However, I can’t help but sit and wonder what I’d have done as a video when I was 17. Who I am today and who I was twelve a few years ago are two different people! However, in the same breath, my core values haven’t changed one bit.

First and foremost, I would have to introduce my family. It’s changed some since I was 17. My niece and my husband have both been added to the family since then. More love to go around! I have without a doubt been blessed with the most amazing family. A family that is supportive and loving. A family that laughs together and leans on each other. A family that I can always rely on to be there for me. And one that I will always been here for… they are truly the people who mold me more than anything else.

My faith would also be at the top of the list. My faith and the hope and strength God gives to me is a huge part of who I am. I am not someone who will wear my faith on my sleeve, but I also will not deny it. I will not hold back how much I do lean on it to get me through trials in life.

My faith is stronger today than it was back then.

Home would have to be introduced. Back then, I would have focused on my hometown, and my love for wide open fields and back roads. Today, I would have to show that, but I would also have to put a heavy focus on my city. I absolutely love Nashville and its vibe. I love its melting pot of people, and the wonderful friends I’ve made there.

My school would have to be acknowledged. Back then, high school and the pride I had in my school then. Today, being an Aggie is a bigger part of who I am than anyone could ever understand or truly respect. Digs against my school could very will be considered a dig against me personally. My school is more than its football team. My school is a family in and of itself. I could never ask anyone to understand. All I ever ask is to for it to be respected.

Finally, lots of little quirks make me who I am. Back then, things like yearbook, newspaper, band, flags, CDs and my pick up truck would be who I would introduce. Today, writing, photography, travel, my cats, my home, and a good home-cooked meal would probably be what I add to the mix.

Come to think of it, there would be absolutely no way for me to capture all the things that make me who I am in a way that would be true to myself. I suspect many of those applying for admission are realizing that fact, and are instead taking the catchy route. Sometimes its easier to entertain than it is to study yourself.

But at 17 — heck at ANY age — its not a bad idea to do just that. Take time to consider what it is that makes you who you are, and a step beyond that… how do you portray that to the world?

This is the first time my Weekly Winners post comes all from the same day. However, it was a very special day. It was Stride & Ride.

My excitement for the day was trumped by this overwhelming hope and joy of the event. As we made the walk around Cowboys Stadium, I was amazed at how all of us there had gathered to celebrate MDA’s strides towards a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. We were all gathered together with one common purpose. There was old and young there. There were people of every race. There teams walked with their friend or family member who have Muscular Dystrophy. There were those walking in memory of a loved one.

The excitement that buzzed in the air trumped the fact we were at the new Cowboys Stadium — a sight in and of itself to experience. And at the end of the day, over $500,000 were raised for MDA (the group with the most raised was a high school team!) and there was this wonderful reminder to everyone there: You are not alone.

Amazing. I am SO GLAD I got to be there… Thank you Scott, Dana, Cody and Jeni for having me there. Go Maynard’s Gang!

For more Weekly Winners submissions, go visit Sarcastic Mom!

We were at Cowboy's Stadium

Boy Scouts on hand to present the colors

We had people cheering us along the way around the stadium

Me and my big brother -- I didn't expect this to come out because we were literally walking at the same time I took this. Much to my surprise, this is one of the best pics of the day!

Carrie and I have been taking pictures like this since junior high school. Only, I think this is the first time one of us had backup singers.

Maynard's Gang striding and riding. My niece and nephew brought friends along, and they took a turn pushing my nephew along.

There are Tvs all over the stadium! Our teams cruising along, checking out the screens.

Our fearless leader!

I can officially say I've been on the Jumbotron at Cowboys Stadium. TAKE THAT! I RULE! COOLEST THING EVAH!

I think these arches in the stadium's architechure are the best part of it.

Cowboys Stadium

We all went to this awesome barbecue restaurant after the walk. This was part of the building's charm. SO NEAT!!

All of my photos on Flickr.

Recently, a fund raising focus has been on helping the people in Haiti following the earthquake that devastated the island. The need there is great, and its wonderful to see the outpouring of love and aid that has come from the tragedy.

However, right here in our country, there are many people and organizations that are in need. And as everyone finds themselves tightening the belt on spending, those needs become greater. We find ourselves picking and choosing where we give our support.

For me, I have a few places I feel compelled most to help. At the top of that list is the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

See, my nephew has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and I have seen the amazing things that MDA is doing with my own eyes through him.

My nephew is, without a single doubt in my mind, one of THE most amazing people anyone would be lucky enough to meet. Why? Simply because of his attitude and perspective on life. He never asks, “Why me?” Instead, he puts his energy and focus on those things he can do.

I still remember attending church one Sunday, and during the children’s sermon, the pastor asked Cody if there was ever a time he said, “That’s not fair!”

And his answer?

“When my sister got to have something I didn’t.”

I remember blinking back tears, and my heart filling with admiration. He could have said any number of things. When I couldn’t play baseball anymore. When I spent a week in ICU one summer. When I can’t join in at PE with the rest of the kids playing ball and chase. But no, when his sister got something he wanted.

He has an easy smile and can-do attitude. I have always said it, and I will continue to say it. I look up to that kid; he is my biggest hero. If I can be even half as optimistic as he is, then I’m doing okay.

It is with great honor that I will be joining him and the rest of the family in Dallas, Texas at the new Cowboys Stadium this weekend for MDA’s Stride & Ride to help raise money for MDA. We are Maynard’s Gang, named by Cody. And even though I don’t do mornings (no, really, I don’t; this isn’t just a funny thing to say), I will be there at 7:30 AM with a smile on my face (assuming I have coffee, then it might not be a smile as much as a smirk), ready to support this great cause. Ready to stand there by my nephew and family. Ready to be a part of this event.

(Besides. Dude. The new Cowboys Stadium. Holy Smokes! I can’t wait to see it! WOW! I think this week’s Weekly Winners has a definite theme ahead. LOL!)

I know from personal experience… dollars are very short these days. But if you can give, even just a little bit, please consider helping sponsor Maynard’s Gang.