Thursday, June 28, 2007

What is a friend....

I cannot take credit for putting this together, but I thought it was worth sharing....Enjoy Aim

A Friend....
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges (O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

Friday, June 22, 2007

What are you listening to?

Right now I am listening to "Cheryl" by Waltham. Very upbeat, rocking, tune. In two minutes I could be listening to Alan Jackson sing "Blessed Assurance", or Rick Springfield sing "Jessie's Girl", or even Idina Menzel sing "I'm not that girl" (from WICKED). I know that a lot of people have varied artists on their ipods. That's what an ipod is for. Calm music, upbeat music, sleep music, inspirational music. You can put it all in one place, available at the touch of a finger, music to suit any mood. So, let's see...the next 20 songs to pop up on my ipod's shuffle songs are:

1) Hold me down- Tommy Lee
2) The Heart Won't Lie- Reba
3) Still Crazy for You- Rick Springfield
4) He's Gonna Step On you Again- Def Leppard
5) Barely Listening- Pilot Speed
6) Amigone- Goo Goo Dolls
7) Perfect- Rick Springfield
8) Wanted Dead or Alive- Bon Jovi
9) Gathering- Nomad
10) Hate me- Tantric
11) Novocaine- Bon Jovi
12) As Good as I once was- Toby Keith
13) Few and Far Between- Shannon Curfman
14) It's my life- Bon Jovi
15) Landslide- Fleetwood Mac
16) Celebrate Youth - Rick Springfield
17) Forever (EFX Houdini) - Rick Springfield
18) Lady Red Light- Great White
19) Miss Me Baby- Chris Cagle
20) Beautiful Soul- Jesse McCartney

So, I ask you, what are you listening too??

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

And away we go...

I would say that we are officially starting summer now....I know, I know, it started weeks ago when school got out, or it starts this week (Thursday to be exact), but it feels like summer now. we (meaning I) am starting my list of stuff to do/bring for vacation, and I'm counting down the days. Being that we are going significantly later than usual, I'm REALLY looking forward to it.

I think this is going to be a good summer though. In July, the girls and I are going to see Rick Springfield (and if we went on vacation at the "normal" time this would not be possible), In August, I'm going to see Daughtry at On The Waterfront, and I get to spend a week reading. There's a new JA Konrath coming out, as well as a new Janet Evanovich. My favorite author ever, Barbara Delinsky already put out her book for the year and it was WONDERFUL! Just when you think you know what's going to happen, she twists it up. It's definitely worth a reread.

Okay, a quick update on Zach Garside: He's going HOME today. YEAH!!!! Still doing outpatient therapy but he has improved so well, so quickly, that I have to think all those prayers are working! You can check out his story/updates at www.zachgarside.blogspot.com

That's all for now. C'Ya soon,
Aim

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Movies, Movies and More Movies

I would have to say that this past weekend was the biggest movie weekend I've had since my birthday weekend. Actually, bigger. Birthday weekend, Kelley and I watched 3 movies. This past weekend, I watched 4. It must be summer time.

Friday night, my sister in law and I watched "Music and Lyrics". Kind of corny, but lots of funny one liners. Then we watched "Freedom Writers". Good casting, good story. It's nice to see that good can come out of bad places. Saturday night I saw Erin Gruwell on C Span, doing a Q & A from Chicago, and she had more to tell of the story. I was glad that I had seen the movie before I saw her talking, because everything really made sense.

Saturday, SIL and I went to lunch and then to see "Premonition"..you know, Sandra Bullock and Julian McMahon. (What is it about those men from Australia!?!?) What a freaky movie. I liked it, but I think I need to see it again, just to piece everything together in my head. Kind of like watching "Sixth Sense" for a second time. You look for those little nuances of information that will help tell the whole story. What I walked away from that movie with was "DESTINY". You can change the process but you can't change the outcome.

Then, because I was home alone, and I had to return videos anyway, I rented "Catch & Release". That was another one that I think I would watch again. I was writing/editing while I was watching it, so I'm sure that I missed some stuff. But overall it was cute, funny, and had a happy ending. There were a few cute one liners in that movie too.

Okay, that's all for now.

Aim

Friday, June 08, 2007

Hey, it's finally FRIDAY

Been looking forward to this day all week! It's gonna be a busy weekend but well worth it. The most recent news on the friends that were in an accident last week is positive. The little one is out of ICU..The older one went back to school but is still in a lot of pain, and mom is hanging in there. You can check out their story at
www.zachgarside.blogspot.com
or
www.carepages.com (zachgarside)

Hope the midwest storms missed everybody...I know I slept like a baby.

C' Ya
Aim

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Prayers, please!

I bet you can't believe that you got two enteries from me, not only in a month, but in less than a week. Well, when prayers are needed, blogging succeeds. (that probably doesn't make a ton of sense, but I kind of rhymed.)

Anyway, the prayers are for a friend of mine. She was in a car accident with her two boys in the car. The youngest is in ICU, improving slowly, daily, but it's still going to be a long way home. I don't have the full extent of his injuries, but he's banged up with some broken bones, and head injuries. What we here at the hospital call "TBI" (traumatic brain injury). We'll be putting together a carepage soon. Everybody can go there to get updates. Until then (and even after that) pray, pray, pray....and while you're at it, continued prayers for our little friend, Sahara. you can read her story at www.saharaaldrige.com

C' ya soon,
Aim

Monday, June 04, 2007

Aqua Fest review

I was cleaning the other day and came across this review that I wrote about Rick's show in Rice Lake, WI..it was like what 3, 4 years ago. Enjoy.

Rick Springfield's performance at Aquafest was typical of his entertainment style. After a couple of false starts ("The Gathering" played twice as did a few songs from Karma, Rick's ___ album), he quickly got the crowd involved. Several audience members participated in singing "DTTS". A song during which Mr. Springfield generally retrieves someone's cell phone from the audience to speak to the none to expecting party on the other end. At this performance, Rick summoned a somewhat unwilling member of the stage security to come up front and sing. "Mike" did as well as could be expected for a non fan and the audience cheered.

A few songs later, during IGE, or at least at the beginning of it, Rick said "I need a little help up here" and women started pushing their way towards the stage. He then informed the audience (and security) "We'll take the first 10". Yours truly jumped over the orange, plastic, fake fence and rushed up the steps (and was able to enjoy a moment of being in such close proximity to such a wonderful entertainer.) I was able to take a couple of pictures of him with the guitar girl (who was right next to me...all I needed to do was take a step to the right and it could have been me.

I continued singing along and before leaving the stage, received a hug from the man himself. Have you ever noticed that he smells like vanilla?!?

Rick and the guys played mostly older songs that everybody could sing along to. Noticably missing were songs from Rock of Life and Karma. The guys left for a quick break and when they returned for the encore, Rick informed the audience that the band was about to do a ballad from the new CD. This ballad is called "idontwantanythingfromyou". It was a great laugh for those in the know, and a surprise for those that weren't.

Rick left the stage but not before throwing out his trademark hug and kiss to the audience.

Special notes not included in the review.
*Rick announced "I'm gonna come out there" and the crowd went wild. He put on the headset and worked his way out and about into the sea of 30 something faces. He was not visible to most, but he sang the whole way.
*He took the stage in a black tee and black shoes, and his camo cargo pants, looking good as ever.
*he came to stand on the equipment cases placed on their side next to the orange fencing and asked "how's my hair?" A little while later, he asked "Has anyone here seen my naked butt?" which lead into a near perfect rendition of "Love Somebody"
*Overall, he looked good, sounded great and was able to laugh at himself as he messed up or forgot the words.
*After Rick asked, "IF this is Aquafest where is the water?" Someone opened a bottle of water and sprayed it at him. He laughed and said "There it is."