I'm 5-0 today....really?

I can't believe I'm fifty today. I remember ten years ago thinking to myself I'll never be fifty. I'll never make it to fifty with these crazy kids and when I do...my last daughter will be graduated from High School and Jim and I will practically be empty nesters. Well here it is and as Marilaine said last night--If I weren't here now - FIFTY - where would I be?

My friends from work gave Marilaine and I a joint birthday party at Vitense Mini Gulf Range last night. I actually knew about it, but played along because Heidi spent so much time giving out invitations (secretly), planning the event, buying balloons and chocolate and a book (God Never Blinks--50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours [just what Marilaine and I need with all that's been going on in our lives]) for each of us. So I acted surprised and grateful and truly had FUN. We BOTH did!

The action shot! 

The Gehrmann Girls have never liked being the center of attention so I was happy that Marilaine and I got to celebrate our birthdays together--open up the cards and presents at the same time, blow out the candles together and be there for each others' joy.

The Birthday Girls!

The Gang--what a Motley and WONDERFUL group of people!! Thanks PEEPs!

Another Katie Musical

Katie has been cast in yet another musical for the summer. This time she is Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (try to say that three times, fast, in a row)in The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee.

The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is a one act musical comedy. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set at Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown ups. Katie's Logainne character is the precious ultra-liberal political daughter of two gay dads. She has to speak and sing with a lisp (yes, she's already started practing this). Katrina will be directing the musical. The cast consists of present and former Edgewood High School students. They met for practice last night and listened to all the songs in the musical. They will present the show the first weekend in August.

Dan Fogler (Number 13) won a Tony Award for  Featured Actor In a Musical in the original Broadway show in 2005. His character William Morris Barfee uses his foot to spell out the word on the floor before he speaks it outloud for the judges. Luke will be portraying this character.

Of course I said I would help out in any capacity for the musical--costumes, make-up, props, food--whatever is needed! It's going to be a fun show to watch!!

The UW-Madison Memorial Union

One of my favorite places to visit in the summer is the terrace at the UW-Madison Memorial Union. Which Jim and I did yesterday late afternoon. We had so much fun eating pretzels (the inside bar wasn't open where they usually sell my ultimate favorite-POPCORN!) and drinking a beer and talking and people watching.  The colorful chairs just shout out THE UNION:

The view of the lake is spectacular: beautiful and soothing!

My only regret is NOT bringing my camera! (The above photos are borrowed.) I would have taken a pic of the man in front of us who was giving a speech in which we had NO IDEA what he was talking about! His speech started out in favor of Native Americans, turned angry on Fidel Castro, then turned to Iraq, followed by an angry spouting of various subjects that made absolutely NO sense. A gay man tried to gently stop him by saying, "None of us want to hear any negative things here today." The man kept giving his speech to which the G-man incuded the rest of us by asking, "am I right, how many of the rest of you DON'T want to hear this man?" I responded with a "Yeah." Speech Man went on for another half a minute and then hobbled away to annoy another group of people (he was on crutches).

I would have also captured the man on a tall bike. It was amazing--over six feet tall! The best part was when he got off and then climbed right back on.

It looked something like this.

But the man at the Union's bike looked hodgepodge and homemade, stuck together with duct tape. And the man himself was quite a character--long beard, thin and spriteley, maybe sixty. Alot of people were taking pics of the man and his bike (sigh...)

I vow from here on: BRING MY CAMERA every fun place I  go!

Monday, May 28th, 2012

To all those men and women who have given their lives defending our country=

THANK YOU!

Summer Movie Review #1

Yesterday katie and I went to see the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (for the elderly and beautiful). I give it an A!

A group of seven British (don't you just LOVE british actors) retirees travel (all expenses paid) to the "newly restored" Marigold Hotel attracted by the seemingly exotic India and with hopes of stretching their retirement savings. Upon arrival they learn the hotel is not what was promised: no telephone service, bizarre dinner fare, dusty accomodations, and run down plumbing. Nonetheless over the course of the adventure each and every one of the ragtag group is profoundly transformed by his/her experience.

The breathtakingly colorful setting of Jaipur, India is a character in and of itself. The crowded streets, the various vendors: meat, cloth, jewelry and spices, the delapidated buildings, the religious sounds that echo, all create not only a fantastico place but steer the characters on their individual and group journeys.

All the actors in the movie portray their characters beautifully. My favorite characters are: Evelyn (portrayed by Dudi Drench) who is a recently widowed housewife forced to sell her home due to huge debts incurred by her late husband. She gets a job in Jaipur as a cultural adivisor to a call center. Then there is Douglas (portrayed by Bill Nighy) who is funny and positive and extremely handsome for an "Old Guy."He eventually divorces his "biatch" of a wife (amicably).  Madge (Celia Imrie) does a good job portraying a character that goes from angry, bitter racist to dogmatic and resourceful manager of the hotel finances. Her character changes the most and we see her real personality. Finally there is Sonny (Dev Patel) the extremely enthusiastic hotel manager and overseer
 of everything. He is funny, postive and caring of the retirees.

I loved the movie and (mark my words) think it may be up for Best Movie in 2012 at the Academy Awards with some nominees for best actor! The only thing I question is that the appeal of this movie may be age related. Katie--at eighteen--did not seem to find the movie as lovable as me. She thought it was "cute." I thought it was profound, knowledgeable and life-lesson-learning.

BRATFEST

Only in Wisconsin do we have a whole festival wrapped around a single food item, a brat at that--BRATFEST!

Spectrum, formerly The Edgetones (an a capella group from Edgewood High School--don't ask about the name change, purely stupido drama) played the 1 pm - 2pm block at the big Baker Tilly Stage yesterday!

Of course KATIE was the best performer in the group!

Summer Goals, Plans, Adventures

Remember those obnoxious essays you had to write once you got back to school in the fall. They were ALWAYS entitled "What I Did On My Summer Vacation." Most of the time as kids, we had no idea what to write, we sat there in that blank space of our brains trying to think, think, think of something fun and exciting we had done. Perhaps if we had been writing things down all along or better yet, had come up with some goals, plans, and adventures, it wouldn't have been so difficult to remember.
Well here I am...a whole summer vacation looming before me...
Here's what I intend to do this summer.

GET TAN AND BUFF. This one is my favorite. I attempted this last year as well and did pretty good. I got a summer gym membeship for Katie and we spent many an afternoon at the gym pool. I also went to group exercises alot too. But I would like to expand on this one by TRYING NEW CLASSES at the gym. I basically go to two classes--Bodypump and Sculpt--figuring I get my cardio from walking Maggie everyday. But this summer is a great way to try a Step class, or Zumba dance or many of the other classes offered.  Because I keep saying I will try new classes and I never do--this summer I will!

MAKE A SUMMER WREATH. There is a big single nail beside the front door. We put a fall wreath I made on it, as well as a Christmas wreath but I would love to make a pretty, summery wreath for it.

FINISH KNITTING THE PINK SCARF AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO CROCHET THE GRANNY SQUARE SCARF. That pink scarf is sitting by the couch and I can pick it up anytime while we are watching TV. Also the granny square scarf can be knit while I sit on the deck outside!

WRITE ONE SHORT STORY. AND SEND IT OUT TO BE PUBLISHED.

READ AS MANY GOOD BOOKS AS I CAN.

GO ON DAY TRIPS: DEVIL'S LAKE, GERMANFEST, COUNTY PARKS, BRATFEST, RYTHM AND BOOMS, MALLARDS GAME, AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATER, MOVIES.

GO ON A FEW OVERNIGHT TRIPS: CHICAGO TO VISIT BECKY. LACROSSE WITH KATIE.

Well I can always add more, as I think of things I want to accomplish and do this summer....
Because the skys the limit.....