Sleeeep gooood. The baby left tonight and moments later I found myself nodding off at the computer. After each nod, I'd wake up with the computer message, "Do you want to save the changes to…" What???? What did I do??? Oh geezzz....After that happened twice I crashed face down on the nearby bed. The King called an hour later… he was buying outdoor spotlights and diapers. Plus stopping off at the food store! He is the best ever! Am I the luckiest girl in Puppet land or what?!! Well… back when I fell asleep at the computer… I was working on these photos of Princess Aowyn and her new tricks.
The last two days she has been seriously working on rolling over. Not happened yet… but she is close. She ends up spinning 'round like Curly of the Three Stooges! The down side is… she hates when I place her on her belly! She gets so angry with her body making her learn this new maneuver that will eventually put her on her belly too. Kinda' funny cause now she will be doing it to herself! Today she was blaming her loving Fairy Grandmother for daring to lie her down on the floor, when she was having more fun babbling on the changing table!
I see you looking at me! Look... I thought about it... and I am not so sure I like this exercise time!Can't you hear me yelling about it!
Stop putting me down here... pahleeze!
Ya know...I seem to be spending a lot of time on my side these days.What does it all mean?They say change is good... but I'm not sure...
Don't care if you did get me this new dress...YOU put me on the floor mat again today...so talk to the hand Grand Mum!!!
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep Goooooooooood!!!!!!!!You got that right kid!
With predictions of rain for the next five days, I worked at getting the mulch out of the road this evening. After our usual late dinner we both went out into the dark to haul off the rest of the pile. The stars were out and the winds had kicked up. After a hot day the night air felt great! When finished we walked towards the back door. Something flew at us! It slammed into the kitchen window and was flying a bit wacky. It was a magical Luna moth! As you can see the poor dear is quite beat up. Our sweet friend has decided to spend the night hanging on our window. I rushed out to take photos with my Nikon D50, but as usual it would not take correct exposures. Then I tried a mini Nikon CoolPix to satisfy my need to capture the moment. Resolution not so good.
Ben spent the rest of the evening wrestling with the D50 and finally got it to take some pics of the Luna Moth. These photos are from The D50. Great job Ben! I edited the photos by enlarging and cropping some areas of the Luna moth to show the details. Ben now understands my excitement in needing to take advantage of photo opportunities when they arise! Stalking wildlife with a camera, the King was victorious tonight! Enjoy the night visitor who flew in with the wind!
Look at the size of the antennae on the Luna Moth! How cool is that!?
One of the supreme joys of the Queen is getting to share in the King's musical world!To be at a Hectic Red Event is to be around happy people who support The Big Red Machine's awesome live music!
I always enjoy the crowd! The guys in the HR band are talented, friendly and eager to put on a great show for the audience. The fans are extremely loyal and always full of enthusiasm and appreciation. Totally cool! After all… 'Hectic Red' IS the best Classic Rock Band in the entire Baltimore area people!!! That is why I am passionate about getting the word out about Hectic Red! This is a labor of love!
No other band 'round these parts does the HR set list. The four part harmonies of Rich, Danny, Such and Ben are unmatched. Really… now who else around here has that? Nobody. These same four guys have been together for the entire 22 years! No other band in the Baltimore area can say that either! Some local bands are known by the name they made for themselves back when they still had their best players, but now those bands for various reasons have a changing rotation of musicians. Hectic Red gets their dynamic tight playing from 22 years experience of always playing together…Rehearsal not necessary!
You can tell by their fun attitude the HR guys enjoy what they do too!
I was a fan when the band started out 22 years ago at the Dulaney Inn in Towson…so I am not being prejudiced just because my fiancé is the lead guitarist. HaHa! It happens they perform to perfection some of my personal favs from when I was a skinny hippie girl… Funk 49, Long Distance Runaround, Southern Cross, Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Steely Dan, Genesis...Beatles… and the Hectic Red rendition of the 'Dixie Dregs' version of 'Led Zeppelin's Kashmir' is to die for! Powerful sound! I love these guys!!! They all are such sweethearts that it's no wonder everyone enjoys working with them at gigs...even Club Sharks!
John Suchy is a man of many talents…the utility man sings wonderful vocals, plays acoustic and electric guitars, and really killer keyboards. Sometimes all at the same time!!!!
That rascally Knight Danny Grim sings the high vocals, while playing bass, along with his famous Moog Taurus foot pedals! Yikes!!!
My old friend Rich Filbert, sings vocals and harmonies while he plays his drums with absolute precision. And yes... ladies.... he is still single. (I attempted some drum lessons a few times with Rich back in the day....well, I still cannot play, but I have huge respect for the skills of drummers! Especially Rich!) Finally the guitar virtuosity of Ben Sherman enables HR to perform thrilling versions of Joe Satriani's Satch Boogie, and Eric Johnson's 'Cliffs Of Dover…and if you never had the experience of hearing Ben's guitar playing live…. it is jaw dropping! I am a total fanatical fan every time Ben plays his solos. I get lost joyfully on the wave of his creation in that moment! I get to hear and enjoy all the crowd comments while the guys are on stage; along with the kind words people have to say about Ben directly to me.
One of the constant phrases I heard the past year over and over from fans was "Ben Sherman IS the Sh*T!" One show where HR was playing with Rob Fahey and Crack The Sky, … Rob told a story to Ben that I overheard. Apparently someone had come up to Rob and told him that he needed to check out this guitarist that this particular guy had just seen the other night. "Who was it?" asked Rob. "His name is Ben Sherman." "Oh man," says Rob, "Ben Sherman IS the SH*T!" Right then and there, I said to myself that I have to design a tee shirt with that phrase on it. Especially now since even Rob Fahey said it! Haha!
I wore my shirt to last night's gig and every time someone told me how fantastic Ben's guitar playing was I just pointed to my sh*t sh*rt! Now the latest phrase I am hearing is "Your guitar playing is SICK man!" What kind of t-shirt design would that be???? Haha! (If you want one of these new designs you can buy 'merch' online at Shermanator Gear) Last night's HR gig was not far from home, which was a treat for us! Yea! The crowd went wild and even at the end of three sets gave standing ovations along with cries of "More! More! Do one more song!" Hectic Red did and still the chants continued… This is the way it is at HR gigs! People love 'em! This is just what happened last year at the Towsontown Festival! The crowd was on its feet multiple times during the show, and just kept yelling for more at the end of the Hectic Red show in a rousing ovation! Which is why I am at a loss for why HR is not playing there this year. (Ah the smelly underbelly of the local music world snarks across the swamp. That's my politically incorrect rant, ha!ha!)Now back to last night…How great is it that HR fans stayed out for all three sets?!!! What fan dedication! Kudos to Jenny coming out with an injured leg and her psychedelic cane! Also to Lauren supporting HR with a pinched nerve! A big shout out to the Lighting Babe and her Revel Grove crowd. I feel very blessed that all these good people have been so kind and welcoming to the Queen. Thank you all!
An added note: Ben had someone come up to him today who had been at the show the other night. The young man in his twenties looked at Ben shaking his head and said, "Dude!........Duuude!... Unbelievable! That was the best cover band I EVER heard!!! I called all my friends and said, "You missed it Dude!!!"
I think that pretty much sums it up for the committees, venues and agents who are not booking Hectic Red! Duuuuude!
Ahhhh....My Very own Guitar God!!!! The Queen is sooooo happy!
So much to do! So mulch to do! The mulch arrived today, dropped on the road in front of our home. Unfortunately it was spread far out into the street. We had to start working the shovel earlier than planned, just to narrow the pile and make room for the cars. Soon we will be buying lots-o-flowers for planting around the Castle. More than usual because we have a Royal Wedding in 5 weeks!Yikes!
The much-maligned Dandelion has sprouted their little bits of sunshine across the bright green grass. Can't wait till they grow their wispy seed balloons for the wind to catch! Since the fruit trees are flowering, the wind moved that sweet smell into the brisk afternoon air. And although it's been a little nippy… I finally 'feel' the Spring.Now I can take the wee Princess for walks in the enchanted carriage!Yea!
After breakfast I put up a new bird feeder for the finches that visit us. Last year we used a seed sock. The tiny yellow birds would hold on tight, as that sock swayed furiously in the wind! This year Ben bought a standard feeder with more places for them to perch. They still seem to have their pecking order anyway! Waiting up on the shepherds' hook, they vie for their turn at the seed pole. Keeping an eye out on the competition! Those little pigs had it half empty by the evening!
Started taking a few photos through the kitchen window, as the birds will not come around if I open the window. The glare must help to hide me because those little buggers are always looking around!
Pretty cute! I wish the shepherds pole was taller, so I could sit at the breakfast table and watch their busy little lives.Maybe someday I will find one made for giants somewhere in this realm!
This is turning out to be a very big year! I am getting married, we just had our first grandchild, and I am changing how I spend my creative days and nights. Ending a business of Mural painting and Faux Finishing that I had been doing the past 15 years has led to me learning a whole new world of creativity. One door closes and many others open! With my background in Graphic Design, Art Direction and Illustration I have been taken in by the world of Photoshop and websites. I always knew the new tools would dazzle me and that is why I avoided computer art for so long. I consider myself a sponge in training. I have ideas expanding in so many directions! Although right now most creativity will have to wait till after the wedding in June. Taking care of my grand daughter is nearly a full time job too and when she is here nothing gets done except hovering over her current needs. That is okay …as she grows older she will be more able to entertain herself. What is undone will eventually materialize.
Today our little 10-week-old princess held her bottle by herself while Ben did the morning feeding! The littlest things really are exciting in infant world. So I told Aowyn that she can help out now… since I know she can do it! The rest of the feedings I put her hands around the bottle and whoo hoo!!! She is getting a feel for this already! As any Fairy Grandmother knows there is no time for me on these days…. And yet… a baby's smile is the perfect priceless payment for looking like a ragged mom again. Bless Ben for loving all of this IS ness! On days of my own… I work on our wedding items and design Ben's promo materials for his many musical endeavors. I just finished creating a Classical Music Website for him. Check it out at benshermanguitar.com/classical.
Ben's Big Birthday statement was that "the debauchery would continue!" The Queen is pleased and rewarded the King with a new gift of technology… an 8GB Nano Ipod!!! Hahaha!!! Yes we are a little late for that mini musical boat, but we admit that we are finally getting hip to the ways of the tiny techno material world. Ben loves his new toy! In addition I gave him tickets to see Unwigged and Unplugged in May. A Live 'Spinal Tap' Anniversary Show!!! Truly… a musicians dream comes true! Can you say" it goes to 11"?
What better day to begin my foray into the blog world... than on the Kings Birthday! Now I can proclaim to the world the Glory of The King!Yes! He is one awesome dude people!My Ben is a dream come true and being with him is a blessing. Wow that is a very cool dream indeed! I always say that if you are going to live in the world of your making anyway...dream big...and make life the way you really, really, want your experience to be! The Queen could not be more pleased with her King!Happy Birthday Ben!!! You Rock My World!
We are night people in Lothlorian and my Princess Aowyn arrives at the Castle at 8AM. This is a difficult schedule change for the new Fairy Queen Grandmother...but one she will dearly do for the wee one. Now when working on the computer I am checking the time in the corner to remind myself to go to bed and get some zzzzz. There may be no time to catch up tomorrow! A house painter is arriving at the same time to paint a ceiling. Gonna be a busy morning for the zombies!
Sleeeep gooood. The baby left tonight and moments later I found myself nodding off at the computer. After each nod, I'd wake up with the computer message, "Do you want to save the changes to…" What???? What did I do??? Oh geezzz....After that happened twice I crashed face down on the nearby bed. The King called an hour later… he was buying outdoor spotlights and diapers. Plus stopping off at the food store! He is the best ever! Am I the luckiest girl in Puppet land or what?!! Well… back when I fell asleep at the computer… I was working on these photos of Princess Aowyn and her new tricks.
The last two days she has been seriously working on rolling over. Not happened yet… but she is close. She ends up spinning 'round like Curly of the Three Stooges! The down side is… she hates when I place her on her belly! She gets so angry with her body making her learn this new maneuver that will eventually put her on her belly too. Kinda' funny cause now she will be doing it to herself! Today she was blaming her loving Fairy Grandmother for daring to lie her down on the floor, when she was having more fun babbling on the changing table! 
I see you looking at me! Look... I thought about it... and I am not so sure I like this exercise time! Can't you hear me yelling about it! 
Ya know...I seem to be spending a lot of time on my side these days. What does it all mean? They say change is good... but I'm not sure...
Don't care if you did get me this new dress...YOU put me on the floor mat again today...so talk to the hand Grand Mum!!!
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep Goooooooooood!!!!!!!! You got that right kid!
