A grand idea

I've been on a piano kick lately. So much so that when the dining room table refinishing job went south last week I hatched a plan to replace said table with a baby grand piano. You read that right -- use a baby grand piano as a table. After all, the DR table is used as a perching post for sundry papers and the occasional homework session, not so much for dinners. So why not just replace it with a lovely baby grand? Put the top down, throw on an artfully arranged table cloth and pull up a stool if one really does need a table. Voila! Talk about a multi-tasking piece of furniture. Not to mention an uber conversation piece and built-in piano bar. I think this could really work!

It might not surprise you that my baby grand-turned-table idea has been met with raised eyebrows and a few quizzical looks. (Or both.) But I couldn't imagine I was the only one who had ever thought of this, so I let my fingers do some googling. Guess what? THIS is what. It's the next best thing to having a real baby grand as a dining room table. It does come in black but it doesn't have Steinway or another storied brand printed on the side. For the price though, I could buy the grand and the chairs and the table cloth and some sheet music and hire a caterer for a dinner party and pay for a professional pianist to provide the music. Yowser.

It is time to pick up some more sand paper and paint and give the dining room table another go. You can bet I will be listening to piano music the whole time.

Christmas in July

I found this musician while browsing on iTunes and just had to share. Jon Schmidt is a classical pianist, composer and new age recording artist. His music ranges from simple and elegant, to bold and brilliant. What an amazing talent!

But wait. It gets better. Go to Jon Schmidt's website and you can listen to full length songs, playlists, even download sheet music for free. Yes, FREE! It's like Christmas in July! And you know how much I adore Christmas! *serious squealage*

My new house

Just so you know, the 2010 HGTV Dream Home will be mine. You won't need to enter. You won't need to pay attention to all the emails they send. You won't need to give anyone your email address or phone number. You won't get carpel tunnel in your hands from typing multiple daily entries. I'm going to make it soooo easy for you this year and save you tons of time because I AM GOING TO WIN IT! (Heck, Oprah says I have to delcare something and then it will come true. Speak it to the universe and all that. So I'm speaking, Universe! Hear me? That's right, I'm declaring that I will win the 2010 HGTV Dream House. De. Clar. Ing.)

And so you, my favorite reader, will know what kind of house I'll be living in come April 2010, and just in case you want to come visit, here is the rendering. If you get tired of staring at the mountains and breathtaking Santa Fe setting click "next" near the bottom of the page and you'll see the floorplan. Stunning. Spacious. Drool worthy. It's gorgeous. I'm planning the move. Swoon.

If there was ever any doubt ...

Are these two related or what?!?!

Scout Camp v. 2009

Last year during scout camp I was the lucky recipient of a phone call with news of a tangle between thumb and pocket knife. (In case you had any doubt, pocket knife won.) This year during scout camp I was the lucky recipient of the following:

So far I much prefer the upgraded model. :-)

July 4th

Yet more fun, frivolity and fireworks!

One adventurous birthday

July 3, while a fabulous day to make a grand appearance in this world, is sometimes a complex day to celebrate a birthday. But not this year! July 3, 2009 was a truly wonderful birthday. It started with my first non-commercial flight (you read that right -- flying!) over the Eastern Shore with a stop in Georgetown, Delaware for breakfast. After eggs benedict and a few photos, we started on the 45-minute flight home, crossing the Chesapeake Bay and back over Annapolis, avoiding the MPT tower, and landing back at home. It was quite an adventure for the Vertigo Girl!



The next few birthday hours were low key, napping and gabbing with friends both on line and on the phone, then off to G&M for crabcakes with the family. (G&M is a local institution with The Best crabcakes in the state, hands down. They even offer shipping so be sure to check 'em out!) After dinner it was a quick wardrobe change and then we met up with friends at the community fireworks display. It was the perfect capstone to a celebratory day.

So from flying to fireworks, friends and family, with facebook in between, it was a GREAT day! Thanks to everyone who made it such a special, fun and adventurous celebration. Here's to 41!