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Archive for the ‘Everyday’ Category

The Compatible

Posted in Everyday, tagged , , , on August 20, 2015| 7 Comments »

Imagine, if you will, walking through the Cathedral square in Cologne, Germany.  It’s a brand new world for you, but the world you walk in is older than you can comprehend.  The Old World.  They call it that for a reason.

As you walk along you hear music coming from somewhere.  A small orchestra.  You ask yourself, is there a concert going on in the middle of this, this ancient square in Cologne, Germany?  Of course you seek out the source of this beautiful music.

When you turn the corner you see the musicians.  Street musicians, not an orchestra.  Street musicians with a case in front of them for donations.  A violin, some accordions, and a tuba.  That’s all…making this glorious music.  It’s absolutely stunning.

Charlotte and I stood in awe watching these musicians play with a passion that took our breath away.  The experience was one I’ve never seen before and will probably never see again, but it is one I’ll never forget.

The Compatible.  That’s what they call themselves, these musicians of unthinkable talent.  We each dropped a two-Euro coin into the violin case open in front of them.  It hardly seemed enough.  When I listened some more I went up and bought a CD.  It was the best souvenir I could ever want.

The video I’m sharing with you wasn’t taken by me, but is a fine example of what Charlotte and I experienced on a hot day in Cologne, Germany.  Take a listen, and tell me this isn’t some beautiful music.

I don’t know if you can get a CD of this music anywhere, unless you’re wandering about Cologne without a care in the world, accidentally catching those magnificent notes floating across the square.  I am so lucky to be one who has done that.

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The Summer of ’15

Posted in Everyday, tagged , , , , on August 18, 2015| 7 Comments »

What a summer it’s been.  It started out with an extended weekend to Door County, Husby’s and my go-to place to get away from the hum-drumedness of the everyday routines we have.  It’s always refreshing and has become quite comfortable.  We’ve gotten to know people who used to just be familiar faces, we devour our favorite meals at fun restaurants, and we revel in the company of mighty Lake Michigan for hours on end.

Moon over Baileys Harbor

I’m the luckiest girl in the world because not only did I get to have a mini vacation with Husby, I got to have a major vacation with Charlotte…to Europe!  Oh, the sights we saw, the people we met, and the feelings we had.  It was my first time visiting countries not attached to my homeland, and it made a huge impression on me.  So huge I’m still trying to get my head around it.  Everything I saw and did was awesome, in the truest sense of the word.

Cologne Cathedral

Next on the summer agenda is the Minnesota State Fair, which begins in nine days.  There will be much eating of things on a stick, taking in animals and art and carnival, and general hobnobbing with millions of fellow Minnesotans.

Fair lovers galore!

When it’s cold and snowy (and it will be soon enough) I’ll have warm memories of the Summer of ’15.  Making memories – that’s what life is all about, isn’t it?

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Tinglebutt

Posted in Everyday, tagged , on July 31, 2015| 4 Comments »

Have you ever had “tinglebutt?”  If you have, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  If you haven’t, they you’re the most put-together, non-anxious person around.

Tinglebutt is a manifestation of anxiety, excitement, anticipation, and other words that start with a vowel.  It’s a tingling sensation that starts in the gluteus maximus and may radiate down the upper thigh.  I suppose it’s kind of an adrenaline thing.

I had an episode of tinglebutt today because you see, in less than eight hours I’ll be jetting off to foreign lands.  I’ve never been to foreign lands that weren’t attached to my native land, so it’s kind of a big deal.  I’m not nervous about flying.  I’m not nervous about being in a foreign land.  I’m nervous that I haven’t packed everything, and nervous about not knowing where I packed what I packed.

Once I’m on the plane I’ll be fine because it will be a done deal.  If I missed anything I’ll have to spend some euros at the village drug store or boutique.

Euros?  Wow.  I’m going to Europe for the first time in my life in mere hours.  I’m grateful and thrilled to have Charlotte with me on this adventure, because my sister is my best friend and also the Travel Master.  I’m also grateful for Diggy who financed this trip for both of us.  I’ll be thinking of him a lot as we see the castles and cathedrals along the Rhine.

I might be posting pictures here, so stay tuned.  There will probably be updates on Facebook. But who knows? I might be too in-the-moment to interface my vacation. (Sorry for using a noun as a verb – I hate that.)

So, off I go, living life to the fullest, living the dream.

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A Grand Voyage

Posted in Everyday, tagged , , , on July 27, 2015| 6 Comments »

About ten years ago Diggy suggested that he, Charlotte and I take a sibling trip to Europe. Nine years ago Diggy died unexpectedly and the sibling trip to Europe became just a memory of something we talked about.

Diggy bequeathed part of his estate to me, and eight years after his death I said to Charlotte, “Let’s go.” For nearly a year we’ve been anticipating a river cruise on the Rhine, inspired by Diggy and financed with his generous parting gift to me.

Rhine River

Yes, for nearly a year Charlotte and I have had the date set for our European adventure, but it’s only now that it’s starting to become real to me.  We leave in mere days and I can’t remember a time when I’ve been so excited and nervous to take a vacation.  Excited because I’ll see so many things I’ve only read about and seen pictures of, and nervous because I’m not a seasoned traveler.

Marksburg Castle

Luckily Charlotte is more experienced and is gifted when it comes to preparing for trips like this.  I’d still be stuck like a deer in headlights (which I pretty much was until a few days ago) if I didn’t have her to walk me through all the details of traveling abroad.  She even gave me a spreadsheet of things to pack.  She loves spreadsheets.

Cologne Cathedral

It’s going to be an adventure of great proportions.  We’ll be thinking of Diggy a lot, and I’m sure he’ll be with us in spirit while Charlotte and I take our grand voyage on the Rhine.

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Culture Vultures

Posted in Everyday, tagged , , , on July 8, 2015| 3 Comments »

Hello!  I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve talked to you all!  I’m so behind in keeping up with the happenings at the Auntie B’s Wax World Headquarters, both professionally and personally.  But as we all know Blog Time isn’t necessarily the same as Real Time, so whatever I post will be appreciated no matter how far behind it is, right?

Enough with the time tricks and riddles.  Husby and I spent a marvelous evening out for his birthday.  Okay, so his birthday was way back in May, but you can’t fault me for giving him the gift of an experience (rather than a ‘thing’) which took place over a month following his actual birthday.  Here are two things you have to know before you can appreciate the gift I gave him.

1.  Husby was raised in a family that loved musicals.  South Pacific is his favorite, but he can sing and/or quote many musical productions, especially those produced in the ’50s and ’60.

2.  Husby loves baseball.  OK, maybe he isn’t a die-hard fan like some other people you may know, but he enjoys keeping up with the scores and listening to or watching a game or two on the radio or TV, and loves to see a game in person now and again.  (Note to self – take Husby to a Saint’s game, he would love it.)

What would be a better present for this man than a musical production about baseball?!  I bought tickets to Damn Yankees –  a musical about baseball!  We gussied up and trotted to downtown St. Paul for an evening of dining and theater.

We began our night at Kincaid’s with a cocktail (or two) and an appetizer to share – a platter of melt-in-your-mouth steak bites, coconut shrimp, and crab-artichoke dip with delectable bread.  We felt absolutely glam with the service and food provided to us.

Afterwards we took the short walk across Rice Park to the Ordway Theater for the Performing Arts and settled in for an evening of great fun.

The pre-theater appetizers were to die for, the play was outstanding, and on our walk back to the parking ramp we were serenaded by a festival of sorts in Rice Park with live music.  All in all it was a glamorous evening in the city.

Happy birthday to Husby!

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