Cherie Rainwater

Blog Silence

2012-02-09T00:20:00.000-08:00

I was doing so well there for a few weeks, writing daily blog entries, but life got busier and I couldn't seem to find time to write anything worthwhile. :( Here I am at midnight and I really should go to bed. But if I do that, the next day will be here before I know it and I'm not ready for the next day yet.

I will tell you, the Rainwater household has been a bit down in the dumps lately, in response to some terrible news about a teen girl in our church who passed away unexpectedly. Rob and I didn't know her well, but Rob works closely with the high school youth group, so her death affects the kids with whom he is close, and he has been doing his best to provide healthy grief counseling. My heart goes out to the teens who knew her, who were her friends. The news brought back so many memories to me of my school years, and the friends we lost back then. I felt myself getting all choked up, grieving for the loss of them all over again. As a person of faith, I absolutely believe there is a glorious life after death. And yes, it does bring some measure of comfort to believe that. However, my friends who have passed are no longer here, and it's perfectly normal to grieve and miss their presence here on earth.

Truly, our entire church community is sobered by the death of this young woman. It is causing each of us, I think, to re-examine our lives and our beliefs. It's easy enough to say you believe in God's goodness and grace when things in life are going well overall. But faith is tested in these moments when His goodness becomes harder to see. In reality, it's not that God has become any less good. It's that my vision has become a little more clouded by my momentary experiences.

If ANY good can come of a person dying at such a young age, I pray that at the very least it causes the rest of us to be real in our hearts about who we are, how we are REALLY doing, and transparent in the relationships we have within our various communities (faith communities, work communities, family communities, etc.). May we all have the courage and humility to admit that we DON'T have it all figured out. I'm grateful to worship a loving God who does! I pray for wisdom and understanding, I seek it in the Scriptures, I do my best to understand the non-sensical things that happen in this life, but ultimately, I pray that I may take on Jesus' yoke instead of my own. That's where true peace is found.

Leaderships

2012-02-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Utter Cuteness

2012-01-29T23:14:00.001-08:00

Rob + Mandolin

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001-08:00

Amazing husband and best friend, I love you so!

Stuffed Animal Carnage

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Arlo recently received some wonderful hand-me-down toys from a doggie friend. He has been so happy to play with them and root out the squeakers!

Before...

And after...

Pirate Party at the Library

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Something I've been wanting to do at work for awhile now is have our displays advertise not only our collections, but also our events. I'm pretty jazzed about this one, which showcases our items on pirates while letting families know about an upcoming pirate party.

Winter Ups and Downs

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

On my way to work Tuesday, I drove by this poor tree and pondered an analogy about it...something about how even a small winter storm can be a difficult burden, depending on our circumstances.

Then Wednesday, on a walk with Arlo, I spied these buds, and my little analogy grew to include something about how we can cling to and even demonstrate hope in the midst of our winters. I mean, we aren't even through January yet and this plant is looking forward to spring! What a hopeful little thing!

Friend, whatever kind of winter you might be in, my prayer for you is that you will cling to hope! Our loving God has not forgotten you and even walks with you through the muck.

This might project my analogy into total cheesiness territory, but...

That tree lost a major branch and is surely hurting, but who knows? Maybe it's a kind of pruning that will actually help it to thrive in the future.

Poor Working Conditions

2012-01-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

I can't get anything done today. I have an unfortunate case of cat in my face.

How can I fold the laundry...

2012-01-11T13:19:00.001-08:00

...when he looks so comfy sleeping on it?! Sweet poochie pie I love him so!

From a local water conservation calendar

2012-01-11T12:54:00.001-08:00

I feel so special...

A Baby Sheep is Called a Calf?!

2012-01-10T15:28:00.001-08:00

I just bought this book at Costco. And I will be returning it there. What a sloppy mistake! I mean, EVERYBODY knows a baby sheep is called a kid! ;)

Hazards of being a musician's wife

2012-01-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

I've written before about the hazards of being a musician's wife and how I often find guitar picks in the laundry. Well, today my vacuum wasn't working well. I took it apart and couldn't see anything, so I just kept vacuuming...making very little progress...and then after about AN HOUR, lo and behold, this BIG HONKIN' guitar pick dislodges itself and comes out, wrapped in a nasty ball of hair and dirt. (I didn't find the penny in the vacuum, but I put it there for reference so you can see the ENORMITY of the pick.)

To all the single ladies out there who so easily fall for musicians...let this be a warning to you! I was once like you! And this will be your future! lol.

Sincerely, the trade-off is really great. I love how Rob plays his guitar or mandolin every day, and fills our home with beautiful music...

...not that I can always HEAR IT, over the sounds of a groaning, belabored, pick-filled Dirt Devil! :)

Brag Alert

2012-01-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, an elderly patron came into the library and asked me to help her find a specific book. She couldn't remember the title or author. Through her endearing broken English, I could just barely decipher two words: cell and Henry.

Fellow librarians, I bet you can you guess what book she was looking for! But before I tell you, everyone please note that if you google search the words book, cells, and Henry, you'll get many listings for "The Birth of the Cell" by Henry Harris.

In fact, the entire first page of Google results is unrelated to the book the patron wanted. Yeah, Google is pretty great much of the time, but its kryptonite is that it can't help you if you don't give it the correct search terms to begin with. The patron said Henry, but she meant Henrietta. I recognized the mistake, and knew right away what book she was looking for. Take THAT, interwebs!

Professional librarian at your service.

Waiting for Rob

2012-01-04T10:27:00.001-08:00

This is what it looks like when we're waiting for Rob to get home from work.

A Lovely Morning

2012-01-03T12:24:00.001-08:00

Spent the morning with a dear friend and her daughter. Since the wind was still, we enjoyed a little walk.

War Dance

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

"War Dance" tells the story of the Acholi tribe's struggle for survival against the rebels who call themselves the Lord's Resistance Army, at a time when their own government isn't doing enough to protect them. The documentary takes place in northern Uganda, where thousands of Acholi people have been driven from their homes into government camps, in search of safety from the rebel army. Children in the camp are taught to sing and dance according to the tribe's traditions, and then they are given the opportunity to travel to the major city of Kampala to compete against other tribes in the national music competition. The documentarians created a wonderful balance in storytelling by intermingling the stories of the violence against the people with the training of the children for the competition. It shows the strength of the human spirit and the power of music to uplift in even the darkest of times.

Throw Down Your Heart

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been searching the library catalog a lot lately for documentaries about Africa. Many of them teach about the pain of the people from wars and diseases. However, "Throw Down Your Heart" focused on something entirely different: the roots of the American banjo. Expert banjo player, Bela Fleck, traveled to Africa to learn about the origins of his beloved instrument and to collaborate with African musicians on some new material. The results are beautiful.

The Queen Family: Appalachian Tradition and Back Porch Music

2011-12-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

We checked this documentary out from the library. It was very interesting, especially in light of our recent trip to Ireland, where we learned that bluegrass has such close ties to Irish music. We could definitely hear the influence!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Luke 2: The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should beregistered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is calledBethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. ²¹ And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) at www.biblegateway.com

Kids and Faith

2011-12-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

I just found this entry from April 2009 that I never published. Better late than never I guess!

Sometimes, Teague and Quentin accompany me and Rob to church. In the last 10 months since they moved down here, the boys have unknowingly challenged me toward a deeper level of faith, as they regularly catch me off-guard with questions that even grown-ups struggle to answer. In the past, they have asked, "Who created God?" and "Why did Jesus die on the cross?" The questions usually come when I least expect them, and so I offer a sincere albeit disjointed reply, and then I cogitate on it for the next several weeks, growing in faith as a result. So here is how it went down tonight:

Teague and Quentin were sitting at the dining room table after school, working on their homework. I was a few feet away in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. We were chatting about their homework, and school, and the video game the boys wanted to play later, when from out of nowhere, Teague asked, "Aunt Cherie? Does God talk to you?"

Uhhh.....

I replied, "Well, God has never said anything to me in a voice that I could hear, the way you and I are talking right now. Some people have said they have heard God speak to them like that, but I haven't had that happen to me. But, I do believe that God's Spirit is here with us, and when we pray, we are asking God's Spirit to guide us in our lives and help us."

And now I've spent the rest of the evening thinking about how difficult it is to explain what it's like to have an actual relationship with God, and not just difficult to explain to a child, but to anyone who might wonder. On one hand, it seems kind of presumptuous, like, who could ever claim to know God well enough to actually have some kind of a relationship? But on the other hand, I follow Jesus, and that's exactly what He showed us how to do. He showed us how to pray, how to love, how to walk with God...through all the seasons of our lives, through all the joy and through all the suffering.

Pursuing a relationship with God is a challenge, but not because of any lack of presence on His part. When I seek, He is there, just like the Word promises. The challenge is to remain focused in the midst of so many distractions. Life is so fast-paced these days, we have little time for the relationships that are right in front of our noses...our spouses, our families, our dearest friends...and so focusing on a Spirit seems sort of abstract. But actually, a life of prayer and meditation, a life of seeking alignment with God, brings everything else into focus. That's what I'm aiming for, anyways.

Now, if only the disciples had written down verbatim the conversations that Jesus had with children. Then maybe I'd have a clue on how to talk about faith with my nephews! :)

An Explanation of What Has Brought Me to This Place Where I'm Thinking of Going to Africa

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I was a teenager, I read "Roots" by Alex Haley, and it opened my eyes to the atrocity of slavery. Sure, through coursework in school I'd heard about African slavery in early America, but reading about it in a textbook kept the information sterile. Isn't it strange how reading a fictional account can bring reality into focus? I've since learned about Alex Haley's plagiarism when writing "Roots", but that doesn't change the book's affect on me. And over the years, I've migrated from an interest in slavery in the States and the American Civil War to a deeper interest in Africa itself: the land, the people, the history, and the current struggles. More and more, I find myself thinking about Africa.

Three years ago, I read "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah. In this book, Beah tells the true story of the civil war in Sierra Leone. He was forced to be a child soldier--brainwashed by drugs and fear--witnessing and participating in terrible atrocities. Rescued by UNICEF after about four years, Beah has become a voice for child soldiers. His account is difficult to read due to the violence, and it gave me nightmares. But it only increased my interest in Africa. I asked myself, "Why does it seem like Africa is always hurting?" and "Where is hope for Africa?"

Then a year or so ago, Rob and I started volunteering once a week at an organization called AOET~USA, which is a supporting organization in the States for AOET~Uganda. AOET~Uganda began when a Ugandan named Sam saw impoverished children in his country digging through the landfill for food and items to sell. Sam started AOET as a mechanism to help the children who have been orphaned by the AIDS crisis. AOET offers hope by paying the school fees so children can receive a quality education; covering medical costs so children can receive adequate medical care; and sharing the Gospel so children will know there is a God who loves them, who has not forgotten them, who has known suffering, and who has provided for a much brighter future. Rob and I go to the local AOET~USA office to encourage the staff there and help with small projects like bulk mailers and database cleanup. Through AOET~USA, we have been able to sponsor a Ugandan child named Joyce Mwesigure, with whom we exchange letters and pictures.

Last March, Rob and I had the privilege of traveling to El Salvador to serve in a small village. This was the first time we had traveled internationally for a service/missions purpose. This was also the first time we had seen what poverty really looks like. That trip forever changed us. It humbled us, and motivated us to see beyond our daily lives, to the needs of the rest of the world. It also taught us that you can't just throw money at people and expect that to fix their problems. People in poverty need encouragement and love...they need to see that someone cares. They need people to come alongside them and walk with them in the journey.

Then I read "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Talk about eye-opening! I had no idea about the extent of oppression that women face in the world. Truly shocking were the statistics and stories about sex trafficking (another kind of slavery). I appreciated that this book told the brutal truth, but also offered complementary stories about people who are making a difference to stop the evil.

Last month, I read "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt.It confirms so much of what Rob and I have been thinking these last few years, that most anyone living in the United States today is wealthy compared to most of the rest of the world, and that we have a responsibility to use that wealth wisely. Especially in communities of faith, how can we possibly devote most of our resources to ourselves (big buildings, comfy seats, etc.) when so many people in this world are dying everyday without hope?! Platt delivers a straightforward, challenging message; he seeks a total paradigm shift in American believers' thought patterns and actions, and I'm all for it.

On top of all of these learning experiences, I have been drawing nearer to the heart of God through His Word. I have been growing closer to His heart as I read about His concern for the orphan and the widow. If Christians are to love the way that Christ loves, then it's about way more than throwing a five in the collection plate on Sunday morning. It's about living and loving sacrificially. God freely offers His extravagant love to anyone willing to receive it, and out of my love for Him, I desire to be like Jesus and do the same.

All this to say...

I have no idea what the future holds for me, but it appears that actually going to Africa is on the horizon! There are definitely things I feel nervous about: the long hours of travel, the impact on my health (I have a very sensitive stomach), the fear of being in a country with what I perceive to be a less stable government than my own, and simply the fear of the unknown. But to counterbalance my nervousness, there is a whole host of other thoughts, feelings, and convictions: I have already logged many hours of travel in my life and I can handle more, my stomach will just have to deal with it, peace comes from the Lord and not from the perception of a stable government, and the unknown will become known if I go. Most of all, I think the Lord is calling each of us believers to serve Him, and to give and love sacrificially...at times that will be on the ground in our own neighborhoods, with our friends and family and communities. At other times, it means traveling a little further to offer encouragement, hope, and love in the Lord to people halfway across the globe.

The more I look at Jesus' example of love, the more the fears quiet themselves. With the Lord as my security, His grace as my stronghold, and a future with Him my great hope, what is there to be nervous about?

In closing, I'd like to say that I certainly don't have any grandiose misconceptions that I will go to Africa and do some big thing to help people there. No. For me, the big thing will be simply going. Once I'm actually there, the most I can expect to do is show love to everyone I encounter. And that is a good enough reason to go.

Old Friend, New Friends

2011-12-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

From a recent weekend in San Francisco...

The Renegade Craft Fair gave me tons of inspiration for art projects that I'll most likely never get around to doing. (I know, negative attitude, but probably true.) I felt especially drawn to papercraft and book art. The best part of the fair, though, was the photo booth!

The House That Ahmet Built

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is a good documentary if you're interested in the history of American music in the 20th century. It tells the story of Atlantic Records through the life and eyes of its founder, and through interviews between him and many famous musicians and vocalists who were signed to that label. I appreciate that the film focused primarily on the music itself and Ahmet's fascination with it from a young age; it only gave a brief nod of acknowledgement to the uglier side of the industry--that is, the drugs and sex. (Too many music documentaries become consumed with the musicians' illicit lives off-stage that the viewer isn't able to capture a full understanding of the evolution of the music itself.) In "The House That Ahmet Built," I learned a ton about Ahmet's role in supporting and bringing nationwide respect to black music at a time when it was not considered acceptable in the white community, and I have a newfound admiration for the musicians themselves who were involved in that journey.

I Adore Other People's Kids

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's a mystery to me why I don't desire to have my own children yet, but I've come to accept that about myself and trust the Lord to give me guidance on it. One hidden blessing about it is that, when given the opportunity to play with my friends' kids, I have a TON of energy and enthusiasm. I just love imaginative play. I'm fascinated how kids learn and process stuff. And I treasure hearing what they have to say about the world around them.

The other night, Rob and I spent a few hours visiting at a friend's house. He has two adorable young girls and I got such a kick out of them. We colored on a chalkboard for a little bit. The older one, age four (I'll call her 'A'), drew what I thought was most certainly a rainbow. I commented on its beauty, and she informed me that it was NOT a rainbow. It was sound waves.

Touche, young lady, touche.

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Later, we played hide and seek. 'A' pointed to Rob and her dad and said, "You two men hide, and us three will find you." We waited around the corner, counted down from ten, and soon found them...standing behind a blanket they were holding up in front of themselves. 'A' excitedly announced the next set of instructions: "Now us little girls will hide here behind this blanket, and you grown-ups come find us."

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At one point in the evening, the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" came on the radio. We began to sing along, then we pretended we were reindeer flying through the sky. 'A' said that her little sister could be Rudolph. It wasn't long, though, before she changed her mind:

'A': Wait a minute! She's not the red-nosed reindeer! I got my colors mixed up! Her nose is yellow!

Me: But if she's not the red-nosed reindeer, what will we do?! Who will guide the sleigh for us?!

'A', not missing a beat: The red-nosed fox, of course!

Of course. Silly me. What was I thinking? :)

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When it was time for me and Rob to leave, the girls were sad. It was very flattering. :) I told them that we would come visit again and we could have more fun times playing games together. In response, the older one said in a quiet, sad voice, "Make sure that you do." Expertly applying the guilt, she repeated herself, quieter this time, "Make sure that you do."

Keep Mom Occupied

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, a young girl asked me for a specific book that she wanted to find for her mother. I looked it up in the catalog and then we headed to the stacks together to find it. Here's the conversation that ensued as we walked:

Me: That's very nice of you to find a book for your mother.

Girl, smiling: She likes to read.

Me, thinking about how the mom's reading habit sets a wonderful example for her daughter: That's great!

Girl, smiling brighter: Yes. I like to find her books, 'cause then she will read and not pay attention to me and my sisters, and we can mess up things.

Me, surprised and concerned: Mess up things?! What do you mean?!

Girl, casually: Oh, you know. We like to throw paper.

A Polite Son

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

I overheard this refreshingly polite conversation at the library a few months ago, between a boy and his dad, regarding the self check out computers:

Boy: Dad? Is it fun for you to do the check out thingy?

Dad: It is fun. Do you want to do it?

Boy: Well, yes, but not if you really wanted to.

Dad: No, that's fine. You do it.

Good Computer Lady

2011-12-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

I received this feedback from a library patron the other day after using the Worldcat catalog to help him locate an item outside of our local library system:

"Ma'am, I wanna thank you for helping me. You're good right where you are, ma'am...a good computer lady."

My View This Morning

2011-12-10T08:11:00.001-08:00

So true!

2011-12-06T11:04:00.001-08:00

Fatty

2011-12-06T09:01:00.001-08:00

Biggest cat I have ever seen. And check it out, he has a thumb! He has lived at my brother's house for years but is now moving on to a new home. I'll miss him. Love you, Fatty!

Litter Avenger

2011-12-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Normally, I do some complaining in my heart about all the litter I see when I take Arlo for walks. This week, instead of allowing that internal growl to grow, I decided to try picking up the litter myself. That simple act lifted a tiny darkness off my heart. I am humbled.

This sign makes me want to cry

2011-11-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

I hope they're going to Punctuation Camp.

The Two Man Gentlemen Band

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Rob and I went to a local pub with some friends to enjoy some trad Irish music. We had no idea that our evening would be launched into total awesomeness when we stayed for the evening lineup: Trash Can Joe and the Two Man Gentlemen Band.

Did you know there's this whole genre of music being created today that harkens back to the days of vaudeville? I can't wait to discover more of what we saw that night. Trash Can Joe created the mood with their period-style clothing, trash can bass, and washboard percussionist. To top it off, local legend Shoehorn joined them with his tap-dancing, saxophone-playing accompaniment. Then The Two Man Gentlemen Band from New York hit the stage and blew our minds. They were really really really good. Really good.

Some pics and vids from the evening:

Trash Can Joe

The Two Man Gentlemen Band singing "Chocolate Milk."

Hood River

2011-11-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Rob and I needed a day of rest last week, so we canceled all our plans (sorry, friends) and stayed a night in Hood River. We hadn't spent any time there before. We got a room at Vagabond's Lodge (which doesn't look amazing from the outside, but the room was great), ate a delicious dinner (with enough leftovers to become breakfast in the morning!) at China Gorge, and spent several leisurely hours at Dog River Coffee Co. simply reading and talking. It was just what we needed. We returned home refreshed and lighthearted.

I got a kick out of the mural in the bathroom at the coffeeshop:

Library Card

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

A young girl stepped up to the reference desk, held her head high, and pronounced confidently:

"I would like to get a library card. I am six and three quarters of age."

"Well then! I think it's time you DID get your own library card," I replied.

Trying not to break her mature facade, she did a short fist pump and whispered very loudly to herself, "YES."

Goodnight, Nebraska by Tom McNeal

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Usually I try to write at least a small review whenever I post about a book I've read. But today, I'm not in the mood. So in short, this book was good and I liked it.

Sarah's Special Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law fell asleep while the pie was in the oven. Oops.

Offering Thanks

2011-11-24T12:28:00.001-08:00

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:7-11

Coloring Chips

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, a Latino toddler came up to me at the reference desk and asked, "Coloring cheeps?" Not sure what he wanted, I asked him to say it again, and he patiently repeated himself. Coloring cheeps means coloring chips, which means coloring crayons. I just about melted, he was so adorable. He can have all the coloring cheeps he wants, anytime. :)

To My Dad, On His Retirement

2011-11-23T12:58:00.001-08:00

Dear Dad,
In the days leading up to today, this first day of your retirement, I encouraged you to rest. I told you that you should take a few weeks to just sleep! And you said, "Well, maybe a few days." I should have known you would not sit still for long. When I spoke with Mom this morning, she said you were downstairs, working on the remodel of the spare bedroom. I want to say, "Shame on you! You need to rest!" But secretly, I am so proud. The drive that kept you returning to your work day after day for the last several decades is the same drive that will compel you to wring out the most enjoyment from your retirement. We all know you are a hard worker, and what's beautiful is that you seem to enjoy the work itself, not only its outcome. I can only hope that I myself have even a small portion of your work ethic.

Before you completely submerge yourself in this new adventure, let me share a few memories of you over the years, as your daughter who grew up watching you work so hard.

When I was in the fourth grade, our class took tours of places around town: the post office, city hall, the park, the public library, and the wastewater treatment plant. I remember standing with my classmates while you explained how everything worked around town...the nitty gritty of public works. I remember being very proud that you were my dad, and thinking that you were very smart.

Growing up across the street from the park, I went there often to play. When I saw other children treating the park with disrespect, I told them to stop. Most likely, I was annoyingly bossy. But at the time, I felt a pride in our city park because my Dad took care of it. I didn't want ornery kids to mess things up! I loved the trees, the playground, the big field of grass. And I thought of you as the king of it all.

As a junior high student, I didn't join in the annual student mud pull out by the football field. But I remember feeling so proud, because my dad was the one who showed up with the backhoe and dug the hole so everybody could have so much fun. The whole time that I watched my peers running around laughing and celebrating the end of the school year, I thought, 'My dad did this for them. My dad is awesome.'

Living in a small, rural community gave us kids the freedom to ride our bikes all over town. We explored every corner. And sometimes we were mischievous. But because you also worked all over that small town, your watchful eye was on us (or the threat of your watchful eye was on us) everywhere we went. Remember the day my little brother and I snuck down to the grocery store and filled our pockets with candy, even though you had told us not to do so? I'll never forget the moment I came out the front door of the store. I literally jumped for joy off the top step, my arms lifted up in the air, my fists full of candy. As soon as I landed, there you were. You just happened to be driving by in the city truck. And you did the most terrifying thing! You didn't stop to admonish me and take the candy. No, you were on the job and you had work to go do. You didn't even slow down the truck. You just made calm eye contact with me, and pointed one finger at me. The next few hours were the worst punishment ever, just waiting for you to get home from work. That evening, you and Mom most assuredly dealt out some kind of discipline. Grounded for a week? Extra chores? I don't remember. What I do remember--what is burned into my memory--is your finger pointing at me, and your eyes saying 'You, young lady, have disappointed me.' Even as an adult, I hope I never see that look on your face again! My hope is that you are as proud of me as I am of you.

One last memory, this one my favorite. Whenever the weather turned blustery and the clouds released a torrent of rain, you had to leave the house and tend to the city. Even on your days off, if the situation called for it, you would go to work. I remember one particularly wet weekend day when you left the comfort of your warm home and headed across the street to the city shop to gear up for storm drain duty. I watched from the window of our home. You emerged from the shop in bright yellow full-body rain gear. You looked like a superhero to me. You walked across the street and cleared the drain by the corner of our house. Leaves had blocked the rain from draining properly, and you used a huge rake (or something) to pull the leaves back and you caused the water to flow as it should. All the water that had been building up in the road, a mini flood, was released as from a dam, and in my mind, all was made right with the world. In my child mind, we had been under grave danger of flooding, and you had saved us. You would stay out in that stormy weather for hours, driving around town cleaning off every drain you could find. And to this day, I love clearing the storm drains. As I type, my coat hangs wet on its hanger, from a walk I took this morning. My socks and shoes are utterly soaked from kicking leaves off the storm drains. Every time I do it, I feel some kind of glee. I feel like I'm doing something good for my world...and following in the footsteps of my bright yellow superhero.

There are more memories where these came from, but you get the idea. I grew up feeling great admiration for you, Dad. Your work ethic is one of your best qualities, and one that I strive to copy. I know you didn't always enjoy your job, but you did it well anyway, and you kept at it in order to provide for your family. I grew up in a beautiful home, had plenty of food to eat, and never worried about whether or not there would be enough for us, because of you.

Thank you, Dad. Happy Retirement.

Dad can fix anything!

Supply and Demand

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, a patron phoned the library to ask if we had a DVD aimed at high school students that would teach them the concept of supply and demand. Checking the catalog, I found a great one, but it was checked out and had several people on the waiting list. I then checked a neighboring library system's catalog, and they had several copies checked in with no people on the waiting list.

I told the patron, "Unfortunately, supplies are limited in our library system, and demand is high. We wouldn't be able to get a copy for you for a few weeks. However, at the library system next door, supply is high and demand is low, so you could go there and get a copy today!"

Perceiving myself to be quite clever, I started giggling a little, but I suppressed outright laughter in order to make sure the patron thought it was funny, too. Sadly, not all patrons appreciate a sense of humor in their librarian. The patron didn't seem annoyed, per se, just uninterested in joking with me. She simply replied with something like, "Okay, great! Thank you, that's very helpful!"

I (pathetically) tried again...thinking maybe she hadn't really heard me...

"You're welcome! I'm glad the supply is good over in that other library system...there's less demand over there...."

From the patron: No giggle, no laughter, no 'oh aren't you a clever one' reply. Just another, "Okay, thanks!"

So our call ended, and I went over to the other desk and told my coworker about it. At least she laughed. She probably didn't think it was all that funny, but I think she took pity on me and offered the courtesy laugh. And I soaked it up. :)

The Answer to Yesterday's Quiz

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

When they designed the page, they inverted the photo of the bicycle but they didn't correct the text running backwards. Classic!

What's Wrong in this Picture?

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of a recent issue of the City of Lake Oswego's monthly newsletter, "Hello LO". Can you spot the copyediting/design mistake? I'll post the answer tomorrow!

Quentin's Birthday

2011-11-20T10:47:00.001-08:00

For Quentin's birthday in October, Rob and I treated the family to a visit to a corn maze on Sauvie Island. We broke up into two-person teams to see who could make it out of the maze first. Only one team happened to have a map, the rest of us were on our own. Teague and I wandered around for loooong time, but couldn't find out way out. Annoyingly, Rob sent me texts saying, "Are you coming out anytime soon???" So eventually, Teague and I got sick of each other and we decided to split up. I found a map posted inside the maze, took a picture of it with my phone, and used it to get out. Everyone else was already out of the maze, waiting at the exit.

I think they were surprised to see me without Teague. I felt a little bad about that. :) Then after 15 minutes of more waiting with no sign of Teague, Rob went back into the maze to find him. It took awhile. But he finally came upon the little guy standing in some cornstalks, cradling an ear of corn in his arms. "Oh, thank God," Teague said when he saw his uncle approaching. He told Rob that he had picked an ear of corn because he was getting hungry and didn't know if he'd ever find his way out again. He said he had been wandering around aimlessly, muttering to himself, "You're gonna die! You're gonna die!"

At first, we thought Rob's team had won the contest. But the truth always comes to light! Rob and Emilio had cut through some corn instead of staying on the path, so they were disqualified. Todd and Quentin, and Sarah and Miguel, both admitted that they had turned around and traced their way back out from the entrance. THEREFORE, I would like to say that I am the only person in the family who made it through the maze without cheating. Yeah, I did take a picture of the map, but that's not breaking the rules...everybody is supposed to get a map when they enter the maze! THEREFORE, I would like to declare myself the winner. :) However, I think I probably shouldn't have abandoned Teague in the maze, and that the rules of competition probably would have included the stipulation that teams make it through the maze together. Which means we are ALL disqualified.

We are kind of pathetic, huh?! :)

Snow in Athena

2011-11-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to this morning!

Super Maggie

2011-11-15T15:50:00.001-08:00

I get a kick out of random graffiti. I saw this one in the women's bathroom at Alberta Street Public House and I couldn't help but smile.

Did they mean uh-oh?

2011-11-14T11:10:00.001-08:00

This is why copyeditors exist. To spell uh-oh correctly and to eliminate unnecessary exclamation points. It's a noble profession.

What to do if you want free guitar or bass lessons at Apple Music downtown

2011-11-13T20:39:00.001-08:00

Arlo's Oxygen Bar

2011-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

A Favorite Moment

2011-11-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

Zee Google

2011-11-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

On holidays or other noteworthy days, Google creates atemporarily redesigned homepage. Internet searchers still see the same blank, white screen, but where itwould normally read “Google” at the top, it will instead show an artisticrepresentation related to the day’s celebration.

On one such day, a patron asked for my assistance at hiscomputer. He comes in severaltimes a week, so I recognized him. He is a kind, older gentleman, and he speaks with a German or Eastern Europeanaccent, which I will poorly recreate here.

I asked him how I could help. He didn’t say a word. He only pointed to the Google homepage on his computer, which displayeda whimsical rendition of the Google name in the style of a famous artist.

Again, I asked how I could help.

“I don’t vant zum keedz Google,” he said. “I don’t vant zis. I just vant zee Google.”

I explained that this wasn’t Google for kids. I told him that Google changes theirhomepage like that sometimes, just for fun, and he could still use it.

“But I don’t vant zis,” he insisted. “I just vant zee Google.”

Using different words, I patiently explained that this was,indeed, Google, and he could use it in the same way he has used Google in thepast. Once he understood me, heseemed a little embarrassed, and he started to chuckle. “Oh,” he said. “Okay zen.”

Now, every time I load the Google homepage, I am reminded ofthis patron. When I'm at work and I see the homepage, I think quietly to myself, “I just vant zee Google!” But in theprivacy of my own home, I punch my fist in the air and shout to theheavens: “I JUST VANT ZEE GOOGLE!”

You Can Research Anything

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, a tweenage girl hesitantly approached me atthe Reference Desk.

“Umm…do you have any research books?” she asked softly.

“Sure!” I replied. “What would you like to research?”

Her eyes widened, and a look crossed her face thatcommunicated two things: 1) Shecouldn’t believe she could just waltz up to the Reference Desk and ask forinformation on any topic, and 2) She and I were in on this together; we wereconspiring to provide her with the info she needed.

I totally expected her to ask for books about puberty.

Instead, with a sound of awe inher voice, she said, “Books about God.”

Food, Inc.

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

People have been talking about this documentary for awhile, and I've been avoiding it. Why? Because I knew it would make me want to change some of my eating habits, and frankly, I wasn't sure I could afford it financially. I was already slightly aware of the factory farm, and the treatment of animals in them, but I hadn't changed much of my eating habits as a result. If the label says organic, cage-free, non-hormone, then you can bet it's going to cost more, and our grocery budget isn't huge.

But Rob and I sat down the other night and watched. And what I really appreciated is that the documentarians didn't simply try to use a bunch of scare tactics to convince the viewer to stop eating meat altogether. Instead, they addressed broader issues, like the implications on the stability of our food supply when it's being provided by only a few huge companies. And the implications of government subsidies for farmers, which encourage them to grow products they originally wouldn't have. And ohmygosh, I had never heard of companies being able to patent their genetically-engineered seeds, which means that it's illegal for farmers to save the seeds from one season to the next! They farmers are required to purchase the seeds from the company (Monsanto) each year. They actually hire investigators to follow up with the farmers and make sure they're not saving seed. They're the mafia of the farm industry!

Some of the characters interviewed for Food, Inc. are absolutely fascinating, like the farmer who philosophically pontificates on the pigness of his pig. He considers how when we start to view animals simply as products for consumption, to be genetically designed and processed, instead of being creatures with purpose and individuality, then we naturally progress to looking at ourselves and our fellow humans in the same way.

So yes, I have decided to change some of my eating habits as a result of watching Food, Inc. I plan to ask where my meat is coming from when I purchase something like pizza, so that I can choose businesses who support local, family-run farms. And I just discovered that Foster Farms is a local, Pacific Northwest company that partners with family farms, so I will intentionally buy their products from now on. I would like to send more of my dollars to local farmers by shopping at farmer's markets. Those are baby steps, but they're better than nothing, right?

Freakonomics: The Movie

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Rob and I watched this the other day. Got it at the library, of course. :)

They basically created a number of mini-documentaries based on the studies and writings by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, and then used interview clips of those two men to segway each mini-doc to the other.

The directing and producing are artfully done. I got a kick out of considering causality and correlation, and the way society collectively responds to certain events or information. Very fun, highly recommend it.

Working at the Library is Awesome

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I like to take note of some of the subject areasthat I get asked about while working at the reference desk. An evening last week proved really interesting:

Hair care / how to cut hair

How to download ebooks

Country information on Rwanda

What city hosted the 2010 winter Olympics

How to make costumes

Books for kids when they feel anger and other emotions

History of the Rolls Royce

How to order books on the online catalog

Location of the local Oregon State Bar office

Soapmaking

Cost of Living

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

We all know the state of the economy these days. Rob and I have been fortunate enough to keep our jobs, so we haven't been impacted as severely as many other people who have lost their jobs. I see them at the library every day. They come to use our computers for job searching. They check out our resume and interview books. Heck, they ask us if we have any openings. And for those who were already barely surviving month-to-month, the loss of a job often means that homelessness is soon to follow.

So yeah, I totally recognize how fortunate Rob and I are to have our jobs, and I'm so grateful. In the last few years of the economic crisis, we've been able to pay our bills each month, sock a little into savings, and even enjoy some small luxuries to boot. When I say 'luxuries', I mean that we've been able to do some fun things around town with family, keep our vehicles maintained, and afford the extra costs associated with that 'free' trip I won to Ireland.

In spite of our relatively comfortable lifestyle, we are starting to feel the effects of the bad economy as well. Gas prices are through the roof, and last month we spent twice as much on gas than we had budgeted for. We are considering selling our gas-guzzling little pickup (which we LOVE but can't afford to drive much). We received a notice from PGE that our electric bill will rise significantly, so we have only turned on our electric heat once so far this season (when we had guests staying with us). It is very c-c-cold in our home, especially with the concrete floors. And then there's food. Groceries are getting more expensive. And when you want to eat healthy (organic, non-hormone-filled, etc.) you simply end up eating less.

Is it no wonder that when the economy turns south, the poor suffer first, and they suffer the most? There are a lot of hardworking people out there who slave away at minimum wage jobs that don't cover the cost of living in this country. They slowly go in the hole each month, relying on credit cards to pick up the rest and hoping that one day they can get ahead and pay those off. The banks take advantage of them with exorbitant fees. They can't afford healthy food...the dollar menu at McDonalds offers more food for their buck than the grocery store. I know this because Rob and I once lived in that reality, years ago. And meanwhile, the very wealthy don't have to change their day-to-day habits at all. They feel the impact of the economy on their bottom line, sure, but it just means a little less of a lot of wealth. It doesn't mean they have to go without food, heat, or a roof over their heads.

So as we shiver a little at home, and spend less on coffee so we can afford gas, I can't help but think of those who are truly suffering. Many of us stand in line behind them at the grocery store, observing them as they pay with food stamps, and judging them for the items they've selected to buy. But I don't think any of us is any better than the rest of us, and if I found myself in poverty, I think I'd probably want a beer, too.

I'm not trying to develop an argument for why folks on food stamps should be able to buy whatever they want. That's not what I'm saying. I'm just trying to suggest that we need to look at their whole situation...their background, their education, their experiences, their worldview, their struggles, their dreams...we need to understand the whole person and develop methods to help them rise up out of their poverty. Government food stamps should be a short term solution to an immediate need, and a long-term solution to poverty will require more than just money. A long-term solution begins with people seeing others as people, too. A long-term solution begins with the whole of society having a voice in the way we run our country...not just the wealthy. I'm not inherently against the wealthy. There are MANY wealthy people who are extremely generous and big-hearted. But what I see is that our country is run by the wealthy (both Democrats and Republicans) who primarily safeguard their own interests, not the interests of the majority of the population.

This has turned into a stream-of-consciousness post. And I've only been addressing the poor in the United States, which really doesn't EVEN compare to the poverty you find in many other places in this world!

So I'll wrap this up by briefly reflecting on the actions of Jesus.

Jesus didn't shun the poor. He didn't stand on the sidelines and judge them. He didn't use his power to take advantage of them. In fact, the poor received His love and attention, His understanding and compassion. I want to be more like Him...more compassionate, less self-righteous. I realize that sanctification is a life journey, not just a single moment in time, and I'm thankful for Christ's example, and for the grace He offers when I attempt to be like Him but royally mess up. :) I pray that my heart does not harden toward the poor (or the wealthy for that matter), but that I see them through God's eyes, as His beloved children, worthy of love.

Where are the library's cool books?

2011-11-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

A boy about the age of seven approached the Reference Deskthe other day. If you'll allow me to totally stereotype for a moment, usually kids in hisdemographic ask for Pokemon, Garfield, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or a pass to use the internet. Instead, he asked, “Doyou have any cool books?”

“Yes!” I enthused. “We have lots of cool books! What kind of book would you like?”

This type of conversation is something librarians train for,believe it or not. Soldiers dopush-ups, politicians polish speeches, and librarians practice the art of thereference interview. This sacredduty involves a conversation between the librarian and the patron, designed tohelp the patron articulate something…ANYTHING, God help us…about the enigmaticthing they seek.

In particular, when it comes to reader’s advisory (helping apatron find his/her next ‘good book’), I like to ask questions that canascertain mood and general interests. The most difficult type of reader’s advisory interaction is actuallywhen the patron says, “Oh, I don’t know, just recommend any good book.” Since ‘good’ is a subjective term, Ihave no idea what ‘good’ means to them, unless they can give me a hint aboutgenre, or previous authors/topics they’ve enjoyed. There are lots of ‘good’ books that I can’t stand to readmyself, and lots of ‘good’ books that I love which are completely awful toother readers.

Back to the boy who wanted ‘cool’ books…he simply wasn’tinterested in being interviewed. He preferred to browse. So when I asked what kind of cool book he'd like, he replied, “Well, if you could just show me where the cool books are, then I canjust look.”

I stifled my delighted giggles and proudly led him to the‘cool books’ section. Can youguess where I took him?

Yep.

Comics and graphic novels. :)

Q Places 2nd in Painting Contest

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I took the boys to Dipinto a Mano to paint. They each received a flat, white, ceramic pumpkin and painted their own creations on the front. We then left the pumpkins with the shop owner, Linda, to be fired in the kiln and displayed in the shop window for folks to vote for their favorite. Linda received 118 entries from local children!

Teague opted for multiple layers of black before adding facial features. Mig vacillated between a few different colors before settling on black as well. Emilio seemed to have a vision for his right from the start, and added a few stamp effects at the end. Quentin's plan seemed the most "out of the box" to me...he painted a blue cookie monster pumpkin. This made his creation stand out from all the others in the contest, and it won him 2nd place! When I gave him the news over the phone, he sounded shocked. As I told him the details of his prize (a gift card to a local frozen yogurt shop), he intermittently giggled and said, "Cool" over and over.

These are pics of the boys and their pumpkins before the pumpkins were fired in the kiln. After firing, the colors are much more vibrant. I'll post updated pictures in a few days after we've picked them up from the shop.

Lucky Day

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I receive so much satisfaction from serving others andguiding them in their information requests at the library. The other day, a patron came in with multiple in-depth questions. I had one of those perfect interactions where I knew exactly whatresources to use, so I could quickly and efficiently provide her with the all theinformation she needed. She couldn’t have been happier. Tickled, she gathered her things, thanked me, and exclaimed, “I hit thejackpot today!” Those words arestill ringing in my ears and encouraging me in my work.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

Rob and I attended a costume party the other night for youth group leaders. Our costume was inappropriate, but that's how we roll. :) His shirt said "Sir Edmund Hillary" and my shirt said "Mt. Everest(s)".

We had a pumpkin carving contest and I won best in show! Finally, the creepy trees I draw year round came in handy. :)

Books I've Read Lately

2011-10-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

For a new staff book club at work, we each chose a different title from the Adventure Fiction genre. I read Beat to Quarters by C.S. Forester. Many library patrons who enjoy seafaring adventure stories have recommended the Hornblower series to me. I didn't really expect to enjoy it, seeing as how ships at sea don't really appeal to me much. But amidst the sea battles and ship vocabulary, the author actually presented a story with the depth of character development that I need to stay hooked. Hornblower's inner tension with his normal personality pitted against what he expects of himself as ship captain kept me engaged.

Colleagues at the library raved about Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, so I jumped into this young adult novel with high expectations. I'd really liked Bray's "A Great and Terrible Beauty" when it came out in 2003. And I've seen her in some online interviews and she's hilarious. In "Beauty Queens", imagine Lord of the Flies meets the Miss America Pageant. It's a fast-paced read...very funny, with some outrageous characters...but at times Bray's sarcastic wit brought me down. Her commentary on society rings a little too true at times. Still, I hope teen book clubs will tackle the themes presented here and consider just how much the media and society try to manipulate our minds and tell us who we are.

Fun little juvenile graphic novel. Rob thought the pictures of the faces on the clouds were creepy, but I love creepy, so there you go. It's just a fun, imaginative tale of a kid escaping the everyday doldrums of the classroom.

I was determined to be annoyed by this book, because I can't stand the James Patterson book-making corporate machine, but it was actually a fun read. A kid in middle school makes it his goal to break every rule in the school codebook. Great premise, and it went deeper than I thought it was gonna go. You end up learning a lot about the kid in the end, and not through an overly didactic "breaking rules is wrong" kind of message.

In October, the staff book club genre was African American Fiction. I've seen lots of Dickey novels make their way through our New Books shelves over the years, so I decided to give one a try. This story of a man and his wife choosing to become bank robbers in order to survive the economic crisis had its bright moments. At times, I found the text to be a little corny...a little cliche...and it's not a story I would naturally gravitate toward, but I'm glad I read it. It opened my eyes to a genre I hadn't tried before.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I want to buy a copy of my own. When I can find a novel set in small town rural America that really deeply delves into character development and is written thoughtfully and poetically, I am in HEAVEN. Think Richard Russo. Think Wallace Stegner. Think Wendell Berry. And now I have another name to add to my list. Tom McNeal. This novel is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Boo

2011-10-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

This morning at 5:30am, Rob was in the shower and I'm sure he thought I was asleep in bed, as usual. In fact, I was standing in the dark outside the bathroom door with this mask on.

Did it scare him?

Yes. Yes it did.

And yes, I do know what they say about payback. But it was worth it!

The Dreaded Phrase

2011-10-02T21:48:00.001-07:00

Me: Ack! The expression that I can't STAND has infiltrated a children's graphic novel!

You: Just get over it. You're being dumb.

Me: I know, right? *cringe* Nope, I tried. I will never get over it.

Boys Scream Their Heads Off

2011-09-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

To my Facebook readers: This blog is easier to read at its homepage, www.cherierainwater.blogspot.com

On Saturday, we took the boys to Bullwinkles Family Fun Center in Wilsonville. They rode the virtual roller coaster and screamed their heads off. Rob and I stood outside the ride and listened to them howl. I'm pretty sure we got just as much enjoyment out of it as they did.

A Day Spent in Galway

2011-09-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Sept. 15th, the tour group rode the bus to the coast andviewed the Cliffs of Moher. I would have enjoyed that day trip very much, but I wasn't feeling well. Rob and I had been staying out late to catch as much music as we could, and the lack of sleep was catching up to us. So wedecided to hang back from that long day trip with the group. We rested a lot and spent a few hours exploring Galway instead.

As we walked around downtown Galway, we heard a number of talented street musicians, atedelicious, fresh fish and chips at McDonagh’s Pub, visited a few cathedrals,happened upon a beautiful cemetery, and got caught up on sleep with a long afternoon nap back at the hotel. This afforded us the opportunity to go out again in the evening to takein a few more sessions.

Downtown Galway

A creative way to get attention. They stood up there for at least an hour while they performed!

This Galway band recently got a record deal in LA. They call themselves Keywest, but may change to The Rising.

This band is called Alele

In the evening, we saw one session at The Western Hotel Bar, where 11musicians gathered to play together. The beautiful thing about a session like this is that the musicians arenot there simply to play for a crowd. They gather in a circle, facing one another, and they are playing forthe love of the music. They may ormay not know each other. They seemto appreciate when the crowd at the bar taps along to the beat or claps after asong, but they don’t need our appreciation. They would gather and play even if we weren’t there. This particular group had a wonderful mixof people and instruments (3 women and 8 men, ranging in age from earlytwenties to mid-sixties, with mandolas, pipes, harmonica, spoons, bodhran,fiddles, flutes, recorders, and penny whistles), they never seemed to reallygel with one another. The songs started well but lost momentum halfway through.

YouTube direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6BVItu3hBg

We left The Western and walked around downtown again. Since the night was young, thereweren’t as many raucous students filling the streets yet. We found a pub hosting a session withfour musicians: a box accordionist, two fiddlers, and a mandola player. One of the fiddlers hails fromNashville and is visiting Ireland for a week. This little informal band created a full sound that filledthe pub. We snagged a close seat andcaptured some great video.

Direct YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avv753217E4

The Tower

2011-09-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

These friendly horses near the tower accepted our offering of fresh, green grass.

Music in Galway

2011-09-21T18:49:00.001-07:00

On our first night in Galway, three musicians played for usin McSweeney’s pub after we finished dinner. They showcased guitar, banjo, and box accordion. The lead singer had a calming effectwith her soothing, motherly voice, which showed its absolute best during long,slow ballads.

As the evening wore on, the people in our group trickled outthe door and back to the hotel. Rob and I stuck around ‘til it was just the two of us, the musicians,and our tour guide, Holger. Wegathered in a small circle and shared more music, even collaborating to developsome new potential songs. I wish Icould say that I’d had the guts to sing for them, but even with such a smallgroup, I still felt too shy. Butoh, how I enjoyed listening to them!

Direct YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOL9kgttQp4

After that, Holger and Rob and I walked around downtownGalway to seek out more music. Young people swarmed the streets and pubs, very drunk and loud. Later, we learned that this was theirfirst week back in school at the University, so they were celebrating andspending the money they made during summer break. One of our taxi drivers said it best when he shook his headand commented, “If only their mammies could see them.”

We listened to some really tight rock in the basement of atrendy pub filled with sweaty 18-year-olds. I didn’t catch the name of the band, but they were certainlymore modern, playing electric guitars, bass guitar, and absolutely wailing onthe drums. They had mastered somesuper unusual tempos and would switch things up mid-song, making for somereally intriguing sounds.

Then we went to a session in a more traditional pub withpeople our own age all around. Two men played a show for us, mainlycovers but with an Irish flair. One played guitar and sang, the other played banjo. We raised our voices with them and hadsuch a fun time.

Direct YouTube link: http://youtu.be/ZMuDWjifN5Q

More Food Close-Ups from Ireland

2011-09-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Boxty, I think?

Rob couldn't quite eat all his dinner.

Fish

Fish and Chips at O'Donaugh's

Goat Cheese Salad

Banoffee

Bunratty Castle

2011-09-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

On the 14th, we toured Bunratty Castle. I had so much fun exploring all the nooks and crannies! Rob and I got separated and it took him a good hour to find me. :) Bunratty has an adorable folk park around it with trails, shops, animals, barns, a chapel, and more.

Inside the Great Hall

The chapel in the Folk Park.

Beautiful view from the top of the tower.

Rob failed to read the sign.

Blasket Islands

2011-09-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

On the 13th, we took a driving tour from Killarney to theDingle Peninsula and back. Thistour included a stop at ancient beehive huts, the beach, the city of Dingle,and the Blasket Islands Interpretive Center. To be honest, I had never heard of the Blasket Islands. Now, I am completely fascinated bythem! There used to be a smallvillage on the main island, but it hasn’t been inhabited since the 1950s. The people there decided to write abouttheir experiences living in the isolated village, but they didn’t know how toread or write in Irish. So firstthey became literate in their native language, then they wrote manybooks about their lives on the island. I look forward to reading some of those accounts.

Rob and our tour guide, Holger, tested the waters. Rob said the waters of the Oregon Coast are actually colder.

Kinsale and Charles Fort

2011-09-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

We're back in the States now, with strong Internet access, so I'll be posting several entries today with pics and stories about the remainder of our trip.

On Sept. 12th, we visited the seaside village of Kinsale and nearby Charlesfort. Kinsale is a charming coastal town.

We had one hour before lunch to explorethe streets on our own. Rob and Ipopped into the tourist office first thing and received a recommendation for aone-hour walk around downtown. Themap and walking tour helped us maximize our time. We visited a cathedral, bypassed the castle, and roamed theshop-filled streets.

The scents wafting from this bakery drew us inside. We enjoyed an éclair.

We didn't go in here. There was something a little too fishy about the place.

We came upon a liquor store and spent about 30 minutesinside chatting it up with the owner. He pulled out his reference books and helped us determine what kind of whiskeyto buy for our friends back in the States. We also talked beer and wine with him. Turns out, the owner is well aware ofWillamette Valley wines. Hespecifically mentioned Drouhin. Hesaid they opened three different bottles of wine at a dinner the other night,and the Willamette Valley one was the favorite. He told us that the next time we visit Kinsale, we shouldbring some wines from home and he’ll trade with us. We really enjoyed conversing with him as he helped us and some locals with purchases. Kinsale is a small town, so he knew his customers, initiated friendlybanter with them, and sent them out the door very happy.

At Charles Fort, the strong winds prevented me from touringmuch of the site. Rumor has itthat we were on the very outskirts of a hurricane and the winds were fromthat. I’ve never stood in suchpowerful gusts before. To behonest, it was a little scary! Dear Helga, who is a wonderful 81-year-old lady in our tour group,depended on me to keep us both upright. Not only did I fear her taking a fall and getting hurt, but I worried Iwould fall on top of her and make it worse! We retreated back to the visitor’s center and spent the restof our time indoors while others went out to face Mother Nature.

Doors of Ireland

2011-09-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Join Us For A Session

2011-09-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

We've arrived at our hotel in Galway with its strong wifi signal, so here is my opportunity to upload some music! I hope you enjoy these little tastes of Irish talent.

____________________________________________________________

DEVITT'S PUB

In an earlier post, I wrote about the AMAZING, heavenly, life-changing session at Devitt's Pub in Dublin. If you watch only one video from this whole post, watch this one:

http://youtu.be/WnqkW1JdOOM

And here are some more videos from that same session:

http://youtu.be/rEpCHcKs6kY

http://youtu.be/Mi0_91W3H74

The locals were proud to tell us that this singer is a soap opera star on the Irish soap opera Fair City. He added subtle dramatic flairs to his solos, gesturing with his arms or holding onto notes longer than normal:

http://youtu.be/5F6bNmflGWE

_______________________________________________________________

THE BROTHERS FROM KILKENNY

Also in an earlier post, I shared about the brothers who played for us one evening. Here's a short raw audio of them. Technically, yes, it's a video, but the room is so dark you can't really see anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxjgK54v0eE

_________________________________________________________________________________

SHAMBALA

On our first night in Killarney, Rob and I started out inthe pub right next to our hotel. Three older men played traditional Irish music, using the fiddle, flute,and guitar. Having experiencedsuch an amazing session in Dublin, we quickly recognized that these musiciansweren’t really playing together so much as playing three different parts all atthe same time. In other words, itwas a muddy mess.

We left that pub in pursuit of something more energetic andcollaborative. As we made our waydown the street, we popped our heads into each pub to see who was playing. There was a decent session going on in one pub...just one man playing guitar, singingsolo. His music successfully filledthe pub, and we could have stayed for awhile, but we were still itching for somethingmore.

Our hunger for a really good session was satisfied at a pub further down the road called Courtneys, wherea duo played guitar and harp. Theyperformed their set list for the crowd, rather than offering an open session for anyone to join, but it wasextremely good. We plantedourselves there for the rest of the evening.

After the show, we stuck around to chat with themusicians. Turns out that the guitarist (Sean) hasrelatives in Portland, Oregon, with whom he has lost touch. We wrote down as much information as hecould recall, and we plan to seek out his cousins for him when we get back home. We also learned that the harpist (Mel) hadactually MADE her instrument herself. What atalented lady! Here’s a short rawvideo of their music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv4pBsZWiQI

Harvest Festival in Waterford

2011-09-13T23:27:00.000-07:00

On our stop in Waterford, Rob and I decided to skip the tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory. We headed down to the waterfront for a harvest festival, where we heard an Irish bluegrass band play (complete with a rendition of Sweet Home Alabama fused with the theme rap to Fresh Prince of Bel Air--bizarre), a sports competition that involved stabbing a small hay bale with a pitchfork and heaving it over a bar that was continually raised higher and higher, a threshing demonstration, artist booths, and endless food booths. We had an AWESOME time interacting with the locals. No matter how hard we try to blend in, they seem to know right away that we aren't one of them. LOL

Reenactment of a viking settlement

A beautiful hotel along the waterfront

A threshing demonstration

Rob was about to get on this old tractor when a child jumped in front of him.

Patience is a virtue. The child jumped off again and Rob had the tractor to himself.

Rob said, "This habanero sauce is so hot it made my esophagus spasm, so I HAD to buy some!"

Candy, candy candy!

Beer, beer, beer! This is a microbrew called Metal Man.

Artists display their works in progress.

Rob tastes some delicious cheese. They had flavors like Irish Whiskey, Guinness, Blueberry, Cranberry, and more.

Glendalough

2011-09-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Please Forgive Me...And All the British

2011-09-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we arrived in Kilkenny. Right away, some local tour guides led us on awalking tour of downtown. I was in the same group as Edmund. When the tour guide began to tell the story of Ireland’soppression by the British, the guide abruptly stopped himself and said, “Well, let’s see. I need to be very careful about the wayI word this, because of the company of the group." He looked at Edmund. "Don’t worry, don’t worry," he said as he smiled mischievously. "I’ll offer a balanced viewpoint…asalways."

Since the oppression of the Irish by the British has been a regular theme throughout most of our tours, Edmund has been dealing with some ribbing. This time, in a move that applied his fantastic sense of humor to eliminate the awkwardness between himself and the guide, he got down on hisknees, clasped his hands together, and begged for forgiveness on behalf of all the British. I'm happy to report that Ireland forgavehim.

Click here for the video.

Powerscourt

2011-09-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous gardens grace the estate of Powerscourt.

Rock of Cashel

2011-09-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

When you initially approach Rock of Cashel, you marvel at its beauty and strength as you wonder what it looked like in its original condition. However, once you go on a guided tour and hear stories about battles which left bodies covering the floor so thoroughly that there was no place to step, then you look at it differently. I'm glad these walls can't talk. I couldn't handle what they'd have to say.

For more info about Rock of Cashel, you can visit this link.

Some Families Have All the Talent

2011-09-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

At dinner in Kilkenny on Saturday evening, two local musicians—brothers—treated us to some wonderful Irish music. They masterfully played fiddle and accordion. And they kindly answered our many questions about traditional Irish music, their lives as musicians, and what it’s like to play really long sessions.

The musician on the right, Mick McAuley, plays in a band called Solas. I can't believe we got to hear him play!

Solas has toured through Portland before and played at the Aladdin Theater. We hope to go see the show next time they're in town. Who's coming with us?

Shot Down

2011-09-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

At breakfast Friday morning, I wanted to taste a traditionalmorning meal. I ordered Irish porridge from the menu. Rob ordered a full Irish breakfast, soI knew I’d be able to try that as well. The porridge landed on my table piping hot with cream and, believe it ornot, a dash of Irish whiskey on top. I’mnot a whiskey drinker, but I actually didn’t mind this subtle blending of a small bit ofit into the cream. I added some sugar, then ate the entire bowl.

Later, I proudly told our tour guide, Garbhan, that I hadeaten my whole bowl of traditional Irish porridge. I complimented the dish and said that the whiskey tastedgreat. “The what?!” Garbhanresponded with incredulity. “Theyput whiskey in it?” He laughed, then continued, “No, no. We don’t do that.”

Pub Crawl Musicians

2011-09-13T04:49:00.000-07:00

Here is some raw video of the musicians who led our pub crawl onFriday evening. (We're doing so much sightseeing that I just don't have time to process it right now; I'd rather get the video to you than wait until I have time to clean it up.)

The musicians playedexpertly. Between songs, they shared information about their instruments ina classic Irish comedic way. Itwas a good craic, as the Irish would say. At the very beginning of the evening, before the first song had beenplayed, the musicians situated themselves on the stage and waited for us tofind our seats. Then theguitarist said, more to himself than to us, “We’ll start off with this…” andrather than delve into a ditty, he grabbed his Guinness and took a swig.

Garbhan and the Walking Tours

2011-09-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

The leader of our walking tour was an UNFORGETTABLE youngbard by the name of Garbhan, originally from Donnegal. With his tall stature, curly red hairdown to his shoulders, and tweed jacket, Garbhan already presents himself as a memorable figure. Add to thathis in-depth knowledge of Irish history (bachelor's degree in it) and his incredible talent forstorytelling, and you can imagine the delight we all shared in walking arounddowntown with him.

Several timesthroughout the tour, Garbhan stopped to tell a story. I'm a huge admirer of good storytelling, and Garbhan honored the tradition with his talent. You could see hisdemeanor subtly change as he began to weave his tale. He has mastered classic techniques of timing: When to raise the voice,when to drop it to a whisper, and when to allow a long silence to command your audience's attention.

In case I haven’t madeit clear how good Garbhan is at storytelling (sarcasm, wink), I’ll add that as we walked thestreets of Dublin, even the LOCALS stopped to listen in and comment on his skills! If you ever plan to visit Ireland, be sure to hire Garbhan. (He is not paying me to tell you that!)

Garbhan's Blog: www.garbhanireland.blogspot.com

Or you can book him here: www.toursbylocals.com. Just look up Ireland and look for tours by Garvan R. He is guide #2888.

More Pics From Around Dublin

2011-09-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

A beautiful door

Rob shops for a jacket.

A young girl pushes her doll down the street.

Ha'penny Bridge Inn, with our tour guide out front taking care of details.

Part of our group next to the Ha'penny Bridge

Rob brushes up on Irish history

Rob points out the bullet holes on a pillar at the General Post Office, where the rebellion of 1916--Easter Rising--began.

The economy is struggling here, too. This man slept here all day, occasionally sitting up to call out random nonsense to the pedestrians as they passed by him. What I really like about this photo is the pigeon on the third step down.

Rob, looking like a local.

The two musicians who led our pub crawl.

Where I'm From

2011-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

During some free time yesterday, Rob and I strolled downO’Connell Street. This popularboulevard is lined with shops. Wepopped into a department store called Penneys (different from JC Penneys in theStates). As we tried on someshoes, a man sat next to us and to try on shoes as well. After a few minutes, we drew him intothe conversation. He is living inDublin and is originally from Zimbabwe. He said that when he initially sat down, he assumed we were Irish. (My red hair is really helping me fitin with the locals.) Once he heardus speak, though, he knew we were from the States.

“I’m guessing L.A.,” he said.

“Close,” we replied. “We’re from Portland, Oregon.

“Yes, I knew it was West Coast. I watch a lot of movies and you sound like moviestars. That’s why I guessed L.A.,” he said.

After that, I felt rather self-conscious. I didn’t want to say something stupidand let him down. Then Iremembered…moviestars say stupid things all the time. No need to worry.

Trouble Uploading Video

2011-09-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I had hoped to upload some video this morning, but the Internet connection isn't fast enough. It was going to take an hour and a half to upload a one minute video, so I may need to wait two days until we arrive at our next hotel. Sorry for the delay! I can't wait to share the music with you!

Book of Kells and the Long Room

2011-09-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

On our first day in Dublin we took walking tours thedowntown area near Trinity College. We viewed the Book of Kells, a 9^th-century manuscript of theGospels. The Book of Kells is anamazing artifact...a stunning work of art. The monks decorated the lettering in spectacular detail andused a gorgeous array of color. Manuscripts like these draw my attention to the truly amazing preservation of Scripture over the course of thousands of years.

After viewing the Book of Kells, we climbed upstairs intothe Long Room. The Long Room isfilled from floor to rafters with old manuscripts. Thousands of books lined the shelves, their aged spinesbarely revealing their titles. Ileaned over the velvet rope and peered at the words on the spine; I saw manycommentaries, collections of sermons, some large maps, and much more. Being a librarian, I felt a specialconnection to this place. Walkingquietly up and down the hall, marveling at the books and imagining the sheeramount of knowledge stored within, was a more spiritual experience for me thanentering an old cathedral.

Devitt's Pub

2011-09-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

It's 4am and Rob and I haven't gone to bed yet! We'll be up in three hours for breakfast, then loading into a coach as we begin our journey out of Dublin and into the Wicklow Mountains. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this evening was one of the most amazing times of my life.

We started out on a pub crawl led by our tour guide and two local musicians. They took us to two pubs and played beautiful Irish music. By the end, one lady from our tour shared her own musical talent--opera singing! She blew the roof off and we couldn't stop clapping. Then, Rob played guitar and sang an American bluegrass tune. Everyone enjoyed it very much.

After that, the official tour-led pub crawl ended. The musicians encouraged us to continue enjoying this merry Irish tradition of pub crawling, and they even recommended the next place to go. Feeling tired after a long day of sightseeing, much of the group went its own way, but a smaller faction of us headed to that next pub. We had an unbelievable experience! At Devitt's Pub, we climbed the stairs to a long, narrow room with a bar. At one end, seven or eight musicians sat with their instruments. We saw fiddles, whistles, recorders, guitars, and a mandola. These folks hadn't gone to the pub to play music for tourists. Rather, they are music lovers who enjoy playing together and they all know to meet at Devitt's on Friday nights.

Sometimes, the musicians played a song all together--always a lively, fast-paced ditty. Other times, just one musician played or sang a solo, and those were often slower ballads in which the whole room joined in on the chorus. (Rob played guitar and sang again here as well!) Since the music itself was the main focus of the evening, the rest of the pub-goers were regularly shushed when their conversations began to detract from the enjoyment of the music. This is not to say that we all didn't chat with the people sitting around us, but just that conversation came second to the music.

We made many new friends. We met Felix, a local auto mechanic who was willing to talk about anything but cars. We met a man from Belgium and a gal from the Netherlands who both ended up in Dublin to work for HP. We met a lady from Columbia and another from Spain; they barely spoke any English, but a smile goes a long ways in those situations. It was an amazing mix of locals and travelers, and a wide range of ages to boot, from kids in their late teens to an elderly lady in her early 80s!

I really must get to bed now. I hope to share more stories soon, and post some video from the pub crawl. Until then, I leave you with this image:

Food in Dublin

2011-09-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

Chips (French fries) with a steak and Guinness stew.

A traditional Irish strew.

Bangers and Mash in a red wine sauce.

A shrimp patty topped in a special mayo sauce on a bed of greens.

Boxty

Bailey's Cheesecake. This was incredibly light and fluffy. Best cheesecake I've ever had. Ever.

More Pics from First Day in Dublin

2011-09-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

Rob's First Guinness in Ireland

Cherie's First Guinness in Ireland

Rob marvels at the age of this castle wall in the heart of Dublin.

As I started to take a picture of Rob, a stranger walking by asked if we'd like to be together in the photo. She took the shot then wishes us a nice holiday.

First Day in Dublin

2011-09-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

We'll start with photos. I hope to have time to write later today.

Our guide, Garvhan, showing us around Trinity College.

A typical pub in downtown Dublin. That's the morning beer delivery stacked up out front.

A pub called Temple Bar, in the area known as Temple Bar, which is a cultural/drinking district in downtown.

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Beautiful stained glass in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

A beautiful door we walked past on the street.

Detail of the door at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

First Day of School

2011-09-06T12:50:00.001-07:00

This morning, Rob and I drove to the boys' house so we could help with the first day of school. Quentin is entering 6th grade, so he'll be attending a nearby middle school. Teague and Emilio will be in 5th grade, and Miguel will be in 4th grade (I think), so they will attend the same local elementary school together.
As I drove with Q to his new school, he worried aloud that we might be late. "I wish you could drive as fast as my heart is racing," he said. We arrived in time. Parents, teachers, and students swarmed the front of the building. Q took a deep breath, said good-bye (we had hugged earlier so as not to embarrass him at school), and headed into the crowd. I'm pretty sure a piece of my heart went with him.
Back at the house, Rob kept the other three boys entertained. Correction: The boys kept Rob entertained, as evidenced by the photo.

This is the great thing about kids: They are trained to do what you say, even when it doesn't totally make sense. They had been getting fidgety, but it hadn't been time to go to school yet, so logically, Rob told them to build themselves into a pyramid.

When I got back to the house, we walked down to their school. E and M have attended there before, so it will be their job to show T the ropes. They took the task very seriously. "Sometimes, there will be dead squirrels," one said, warning T of what they might encounter on the walk. "Yeah! And lots of dog poop," the other added.

We continued walking. The distance is maybe a quarter of a mile. But you never know what obstacles might confront you. "This is the whizzing tree," M told T matter-of-factly. "This is where you go when you need to pee."

As we made our way, the three boys walked side by side. At the sight of it, I experienced a huge internal sigh of relief. A new school year is full of unknowns, but they are going to be okay. They've got each other's backs.

There is much to be learned, both inside and outside the classroom. They'll have fun times and difficult moments. I know I can't be there with them every step of the way, but they will certainly be kept in my prayers everywhere they go.

Welcome, New School Year.

Accurate Prediction

2011-09-04T20:03:00.001-07:00

Just got this fortune at dinner tonight. For once, it's true!

Faithful Furry Friend

2011-09-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is how Arlo comforted me when I was sick with food poisoning a couple days ago. He's such a good friend, always ready to receive attention.

How Librarians Prepare for Travel

2011-08-30T14:12:00.001-07:00

12 DVDs, 11 books, 3 CDs. Sadly, not enough time to watch/read/listen to them all. But having them sit around the house makes me happy. :)

Carlton, Oregon

2011-08-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Have you been to Carlton? Rob and I discovered it a few weeks ago while driving through the rural west side of Washington County. This small town has made an effort to draw in business to the downtown core, and it appears to be revitalizing the community. We saw multiple wine tasting shops, restaurants, a chocolate store, a gallery, a train depot, and room for a few more businesses to join them. Just a few blocks from downtown, new housing developments are springing up. Spend ten minutes exploring, and you'll see the convergence of the old farming community with the new wine economy. As tourists sit in the shops sipping wine, enormous semi-trucks roll by with loads of hay. Short on time, we continued on our driving tour through the county and then returned home, but we can't wait to take a day and go back to Carlton.

Firehouse Pub door

2011-08-28T01:20:00.000-07:00

Today at a yard sale I found a treasure: the front door to Lake Oswego's Firehouse Pub. That's the story from the guy who sold it to me anyway. He said his grandpa bought it 30 years ago when they remodeled the pub. So how old do you suppose this door is?

I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with it yet. I might make it into a coffeetable. For only $20, I just couldn't pass it up. I'll figure something out.

First coat of paint

2011-08-26T08:46:00.001-07:00

Wow, it looks so great to get the old linoleum out and put down a fresh coat of paint! Now I'm looking at those cupboards and wondering about color. Should I keep it light or go dark? And what about the wall behind it? Time for some color!

Bye bye linoleum!

2011-08-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

I started tearing out the linoleum in our kitchen yesterday! The top layer is the easiest to pull out. Then there are two layers that are a little more difficult. The last layer resists the most. So I bought a razor tool at the hardware store that digs underneath the glue and scrapes it off. It still takes a lot of elbow grease, but I don't mind. I love it!

Rob had a hard time going to bed last night because I was scraping away and he felt compelled to help me. "I don't want you to have to work on this all alone," he said. I giggled. "Don't think about it like that," I replied. "I LOVE doing this kind of thing. It's spiritual!"

Brahm's Lullaby

2011-08-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, they played Brahm's Lullaby on 89.9 All Classical. The singer produced a gorgeous rendition...in German. I've heard a lot of singing in German in my life, and let's face it, it never sounds good. But somehow this version is simply stunning.

Captivated by the strength and purity of the singer's voice, and the calming effect that a lullaby can have on me even as an adult, I searched iTunes to find a copy of the song for myself. iTunes has a vast selection, without the ability to perform complex search functions (as far as I can tell...I didn't look super hard). So you can imagine the wide range of results I got from a search of 'Brahm's Lullaby'. Let's just say that some people should never be allowed to open their mouth with the intention of singing.

I wouldn't settle for any other version of the lullaby, so I emailed the station and asked for the name of the singer. They replied with her name, Anne Sofie von Otter, and they said she's an alto. An alto?! Wow. I would not expect an alto to be able to carry off the range required by this piece.

My next pleasant surprise happened when I read the original lyrics to this famous song, along with an exact translation (according to the YouTube member who posted the video, anyway). Again, wow:

Guten Abend, gute Nacht, mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt, schlüpf unter die Deck!'
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt

Guten Abend, gute Nacht, von Englein bewacht
Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum
Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traum 's Paradies
Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traum 's Paradies
A close English translation of which is:

Good evening, and good night, with roses adorned,
With carnations covered, slip under the covers.
Early tomorrow, if God wills, you will wake once again.
Early tomorrow, if God wills, you will wake once again.

Good evening, and good night. By angels watched,
Who show you in your dream the Christ-child's tree.
Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, see the paradise in your dream.
Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, see the paradise in your dream.

Enjoy!

At the Beach

2011-08-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken on June 4th. Rob and I spent the day at the beach celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. (As a sidenote, look at how much weight Rob has lost from his face! He is lookin' good.)