APRIL 2007 GUESTBOOK
APRIL 2007 GUESTBOOK
!! April with Andre !!
- Check out our new homepage stories
- Send your postcards
- Write your Concert Story & send Photos
- Have a News item? Magazine article? Send them!
April will bring us Andre in North America & April Showers bringing May Flowers.
Let's all share & have April bring us new Andre Rieu Fans & Friends as well.
It's a beautiful April 1st here today. The sun is shining and will warm up to about 55. It's a typical, beautiful spring day in the Pacific Northwest. Today was my father's birthday. As children we always had to pull an "April Fool's" joke...they were not serious of course, just a lot of fun and always got a laugh. I haven't done one of those jokes since my father passed away...just wasn't the same...although I would if given the right opportunity
I'm alone today, all day, so I'm making it an "Andre Day", watching a dvd or two and listening to music all day. I don't have many of these days, so I'm going to take advantage of it. First, the necessities, of course.
I wish you all a very Happy month of April, and to all of you who are fortunate enough to have a concert this month, enjoy your excitement to the max! Tell us all about your experiences so that we can "be there" in our hearts and minds.
I love Hugs too...so Hugs to all! Take care and have a wonderful day.
I checked out the new pages, it is very refreshing, well organized, and what Love the most, that You all can see a few pictures of my famous hometown! Hard to pronaunce it, but this is not April's Fool, it is for real, I will visit my Home Town again, in September. Thank You Sally, to share this with all the Andre Fans! Kati
dear friends, Just took a peek at the postcards. Kat's city does have a very long name!! Does it translate? The longest word in english is a welsh gaelic word I think something like well over 26 letters & totally un-
prounceable. Happy April to all, with Easter this coming week-end so I hope
the weather improves, woke this a.m. to
a skiff of snow. Think everyone is very tired of winter, I know I am. Its
not so bad if the sun shines but the dull grey weather I can do without.
Marlene, an Andre day is just delicious
I can work at the books & watch & listen to the dvds. One dream I have is to win a big lottery & take all my pals to Maastricht for the summer concerts. Would also go to Amsterdam & look at the records from when New York
was a dutch colony. Think it was ceded
to the british in the treaty of Ghent,
which was prior to the war of independence. Am reading a book by
Dan Mccullough "1776" & so far is very
interesting. He's written about John Adams & the Johntown flood, won a pulitzer price for the latter one. I get into a book & forget everything I'm supposed to be doing. It's called lack of discipline I guess. Hope everyone is well Love Marianne
Nobody, could pronounce my Hometown's name! Just does not resemble any other language, although, belongs to the Finn_Ugor language Family, but You would never find a word, that would match in the Family, meaning, the Finn. One just has to live there? Sometimes, american young teachers, go to the Couyntry, to teach proper, american english. The do not lern the hungarian language, can You imagine, how hard that is to live in the Country for years, without speaking the language. They do great job tho, with the youngsters, who would like to speak english the proper way, grammar and all. Kati
Love the "Andre Thing" page. What is this "Andre thing"? Well, it's certainly contagious, and very addictive,a very widespread thing.The only remedy for "it" is at least one live concert. If that can't be applied, the very least antidote to be used is a dvd or cd. If this is not applied you will suffer severe withdrawal. Not to be recommended. When you need an "Andre fix" the very least of these will help. Without any of the remedies mentioned you will be a hopeless case.
Kati, the name of your hometown, looks like you just decided to hit random letters! I would not even attempt to pronounce that!
Oh my gosh, yes, I'm so ready for beautiful days like today. Everything is so nice and green, even my honeysuckle vine is blooming. Between it and my lilacs the air is filled with the fragrance of Spring. Wishing everyone a beautiful Andre day.
Shirley, no, that is the real thing! Do not attempt! It does sound worse than chinese! Got some Sun, Bike, housecleaning, Andre's music, cook for my dog, comes the news, comes one of the DVDs> Sounds like a great plan to me, for April first! Kati
Dear Friends Just learning about different parts of the world is an education. I know a bit of french & german, just enough to be able to read some of the posts on Andre's guestbook
& I am getting a bit more knowledgable
Having had a year of Latin in high school gives a lot of the roots of different words & I do crosswords plus
play scrabble so one is always in the dictionary as I has a very big sense of curiosity about most everything. Guess I was born wanting to know about the world, people & how stuff works. We had a skif of snow overnite & it has gone on all day with about an inch of wet sloppy stuff, supposed to clear up by the Easter week-end & that's okay with me. Love to all Marianne
I have always wished I spoke Latin. It was not offered for study when I was younger and in school. Guess only time & laziness is stopping me now. Still, I agree it is the root of words, that would give us a better understanding of all languages.
I love that Andre's guestbook, helps teach all of us about the world. And then you smarties here are always teaching me something too. Sometimes I just read in awe.
I studied Latin for 4 years in High School, I needed for my Biology, and I do not speak it at all, they were teaching literature,poems, Socrates, and so forth, but not the language, yet in Europe, the medical terminology is Latin. So You have to learn the bones and muscles in the body in Latin, but You do not speak the language. Some teaching? HUH? Kati
Kati, that is the same as Tarek. He could read Latin, but it was because of his Medical background. He is a MD, but I worked with him at the Internet Company. I've even got a Latin Domain Name...
In Hoc Signo Vinces
Anyone know the meaning?
I'd like to know what this means,Sally. To me, Latin is the same as Greek. It's all Greek to me!A few phrases I've written down in the past, just because I liked the sound of them. I need to get me a good Latin book, but at my age I'm not sure the brain could handle it.
It has something to do with signature, but beats me! I know the bones and muscles, sicnesses, medical terminalogy, I did have to read Ilias and Odisseus in Latin, but do not ask me to say a thing. Just like Shirley, those are common sayings that people can memorize, know the meaning, that is all! I do know how to read it, does not help too much. Kati
Ilias and Odisseus -- Wow reading them at all is something. I think kids today in the US do not read enough. We cannot make new master pieces if we do not know the old.
Reading is the best teacher, when You study a new language! I do remembewr, watching the TV and read the papers every day faithfully, had no I dea what I am reading, but sure helped a lot, maybe Bill would say, not enough!! I make a lots of mistakes, most of the time, not reading what I wrote. HAHA Kati
Ah, Latin. Little do I remember from school days. But I'll bet we do use more latin terms every day than we realize .e pluribus unum, our US motto and on our currency. And our courts & laws, our medical professions, our colleges. We all know what bona fide, caveat emptor, cum laude, et cetera mean. And any Marine can tell you their motto,semper fidelis. And don't we sing, at Christmas, Adeste Fideles? I guess we just don't always think about it.I certainly couldn't speak Latin, but I know a few words. One phrase I copied years ago is "amicitia semper prodest",("friendship is always of benefit") Isn't that neat? But as for reading Andre's guestbook, I have to rely on the alta vista translation. But you know what's interesting, no matter what the language, people all say about the same thing.We all love the music of Andre Rieu & his JSO. And Marianne, you are, what I ,in Latin, call you."amicus humani generis" ( a friend of the human race). I always enjoy your writings as they are educational and very friendly. You are one of those people with an open heart and mind. I'm glad we "met" ya!
Aww dang, I didn't know half of those were Latin, and a few I didn't know at all.
Do not feel bad, You are not alone! I studied it, still do not no a thing. Dumb! Kati
Hi dear friends! Shirley I think I can say that ("amicus humani generis") about all of you. Every one of you writes such interesting and wonderful things and you are all so helpful. I had Latin for 2 years and now the Church is going back to some of the Latin songs for certain parts of the Mass. We just started this about a month ago and it is so interesting to hear these Latin phrases - it brings back memories. I was in the church choir so we sang at all the special masses and the requiem masses in latin so we had quite a lot of practice but over the years you forget so much because you don't use Latin at all. I tried to learn Italian years ago but it is very difficult. I can read some Spanish and my Dutch lessons are not going to well. That is a difficult language to learn - I should have decided on German instead.
We have two beautiful days this week, today and tomorrow at 76 and then by Wednesday and Thursday everything will change with a "wintry mix" on Thursday and lows in the 20's the end of the week and weekend. I will have to dress warm on Easter.
Hope everyone has a beautiful week. It will be busy for us. Kati, hope you have some time to bike. What do you feed your dog? You mentioned cooking for him. I am trying to find something to feed my cats since this pet food recall. My sister and I are frantic and we are throwing out all the suspect food. I am so afraid I am giving them poison or something.
Love the "Andre Thing" page. I haven't had much time to go over everything. I am also packing for Florida. Only a little over 2 weeks to go!! I am so nervous but happy about going. Will be sure to tell you all about it.
Have a beautiful April my friends.
Hugs
Yes, I do ride my bike everyday. Does not get too much easier. I do not have to worry too much about dogfood, because, my Husband started to spoil our dog, since She was 6 months old. So, I do have to cook for her everyday. It is a mixture of things, that is good for Her. She is the Queen of the household. Now, that finally i do have a microwave, I cook for more days ahead of time, just heated up daily. I had to give away my Microwave, many years ago, My Husbanf did not like it. It does come handy, but you really cannot cook, good tasty food in there, good for heat up. Kati
Have a great Easter everyone and enjoy the coming warmer weather. Ours is cooling rapidly - can't say I'm sorry this year. Maybe we may even get some RAIN!!! Hugs
dear friends I would like to wish everyone a Happy Blessed Easter before I run out of time to do so. Thanks for the compliment Shirley. Even though I live in a small community of 13,000, we have folks from all over the world
so I get to travel even staying home. Am still debating a return to work, mostly because I miss the interaction with my co-workers & clientele. We are still having winter, but its supposed to improve by the weekend. We've had three days of wet sloppy snow with freezing temps overnite so the roads are a skating rink & people just don't slow down, so there are fender benders & major accidents which is not pleasant
Crop planting here does not take place
until after mid-April as the ground is too wet to till & the danger of frost is always present. Glad I'm not on a farm, that's too much like Russian roulette for me. Happy Easter to all
Love Marianne
Hi dear friends!
In Hoc Signo Vinces - In this sign you will conquer.
Hugs
wow, was I off base on that one.haha, I figured "signo" must be sign, or signature, didn't know what "hoc" meant, and the "vinces" I thought might be like to master or excel, so I thought, ok, maybe a diploma or an award type thing. HA!Better leave the Latin to those who know, hmmm? I'd forgotten about the Catholic church & Latin.Thanks Jeanine Ann, for the info. Marianne, I just now read your story on A visit to Maastricht, very, very interesting.I'll have to go back and reread again.
grrr my post was lost. I need to carry my banner to the blog!!
Yes, The Scarlet Brigade of Fairfield High School has the motto:
Under This Banner, Thou Shalt Conquer!
And geekette me owns the domain name.
And how do You say in Latin, this painting is for the Birds? Let me learn something new? OK? Beautiful weather, in low 70s, this what I like, this is Colorado, should be like this all year around. Back to the Bike, it is still not easy, but I am doing it. Easter ? Few days away, maybe I will have a nice clean Living Room wall, by that time? Kati
Good morning all, I ran across an interesting bit of trivia this morning. In the food section of our newspaper there is an article on the carrot(which I love btw). Did you know that the carrot was first cultivated in the 7th century in Afghanistan? And the colors were red,black,yellow,white & purple, but no ORANGE. Now here's the interesting part, The DUTCH later developed the ORANGE carrot! I had to smile at that because you all know how important the color orange is to the Dutch. It's a color that symbolizes national and royal pride, since the color orange stems from the royal family name-- The family Nassau, House of Orange. You can read the history of all of this yourself, but I just thought to myself, this is yet another thing the Dutch have given us! I just can't imagine eating a carrot of any other color!
Speaking of the Dutch, I have seen a TV show the other day, when they were announce that the World Tallest people are Dutch. They were showing a club for the tallest people, and the american 6.3 was nowhere, they are very proud of themselfs! They did change the building codes, because of this, the enterance door have to be at least 7 feet high. They did mentioned the inches also, which I forgot. I do always think of them, not just because Andre, but if someone seen the National Geographic Channel sometimes, they are showing what Dutch people did about the oceanside, that was constantly flooding the area. They did buy up those lands from their owners, relocate, and they did the smartest system yet, closing and opening the gates to the sea, depending on the currents and the hight of the Sea, this way Land and People are protected. If You seen the structure, You have a hard time to believe, what Engeneers can comne up with. Also, they do take good care of themself, this show said, they do have the best Health Care System in the World. Kati
Hey Kati, the reason they have "the best health care system" is BECAUSE THEY EAT CARROTS! orange carrots! hahaha......I'm just funnin ya here.
And Sally, I love vegetables and fruits of most kinds.
I love carrots, shirley, I am always wondering, why are our carrots here so perfectly orange? I peel them, slice them put them in water, and Hoops, thay do stain my water!! HAHAHA. Kati
Kati, you mentioned how the carrots colored your water. We used to use a lot of different vegetable & fruit dyes to color our eggs for Easter. I used beets,red and yellow onion skins,cranberry& grape juices,anything we could think of to give a natural dye. It was fun but a lot of trouble. One year we did plaid eggs. I had a piece of madris plaid material, we wrapped it around the egg and boiled it to see what would happen. It was really neat, but we could only do one egg at a time. Took us forever! Didn't do that one anymore, but they were pretty. Now, if I color eggs at all, I buy the food coloring. much easier, then I can have all the deviled eggs I want later. coffee and tea make good dyes too.I'm not doing any this year, unless my daughter comes over and says"what, no colored eggs"?
In HUngary, all they want is Red Easter Eggs, they will get all kind, but that is a tradition.! Kati
Shirley, that sounds so neat. And plaid? Now that is something I've not seen and I am certain I could not do.
Have you seen the kids who dye their hair using Jello? Yup. The Orange, Purple & Red flavors are their favorites.
I would not know plaid, maybe it does have to be hand painted. The Kids, no surprise, they do come up with some ideas!! This way, if they get close to eachother, can lick each other's hair for a good taste! Funny! Kati
Amazing. I had no idea. I just this year saw carrots that where not Orange, and here I thought they were weird. Come to find out, it's the orange ones that are specialty made.
I love carrots, and all fresh veggies. I am a veggie-holic.
Unfortunately, they do use a lots of coloring, I do not think that is sooo healthy! Kati
dear friends That bit about the carrots being an orange invention by the dutch. They've really done marvelous things with flowers etc. Think you are talking about the locks protecting the Rotterdam estuary which are awesome would also think a system like that would work for New Orleans, which is also well below sea level, so when there's a hurricane plus storm surge, it's a total disaster. Because the Netherlands has just too much water
with three major rivers, excess rainfall plus storm surges from the North Atlantic storms, they are now embarking on a system of floating houses, bridges and the like, so we can expect great things from Dutch engineering. The city of Maastricht is on somewhat higher ground as the southern part of the country has hills.
The Dutch are a very amazing people who
have been fighting the inundation of the oceans for a very long time. Adversity sure does make for exceptional character I think. Hope this bit of info is of help to us all
Love Marianne
I think I wrote about Easter in Europe, last year. We do have two days of Easter, Sunday and Monday. Sunday, maybe Families get together, eat drink, have a good time. Monday, the Ladies stay home, does not matter, how old You are, the gentlmen or little Boys are coming to the Ladies with Colon Water, little Boys telling their Easter Poems, for a Red Easter Egg, what they do collect, naturally money also. The older Gentlemen, maybe a drink or very popular, cold cut sandwich with Ham, hardboiled eggs, sausage. The Ladies like Flowers, they have to be preserved! That is the idea> Neat, is it not? At the end of the day You do smell like a parfumery! YUK. Kati
I'm going to make a Ham Sandwich on Monday and who knows... maybe I'll find a new Beau!
Kati, what a neat custom. Nothing wrong with the ladies getting flowers and I bet those Red Eggs are a site to see. My kids enjoyed dyeing eggs but I was never that into it. I only managed to make a mess.
Certain areas, where the real tradition is, like some ethnic groups, different part of the Country, different outfits, the Ladies get water on Mondays over their heads, insted of perfum, so they do have to run for their lives, if do not want to get wet.
That is the tradition, the outfits, differ by area, beautifully designed, same idea as Carla had one on for Juliska, exept, more flowers on the skirt the blouse, beautiful head dress, representing the area of the Country. Ksti
Kati...beeeeeuuuuuuutiiiiiifffullll!!!!The eggs were gorgeous too! In fact they were eggsellent! (how corney!)
Thanks for all those lovely pictures!L
Hi everyone. Greetings from Hong Kong. I'm just about to leave for Singapore and then to Australia.
Bon Voyage Al, tell us all about it when you get back, or whenever. Take lots of pictures and then let us know where they are.
Send a Postcard also!! Kati
to the Kowloon station to catch the Airport Express, which is a high-speed
train. The trip takes about a half an hour.
It's funny how even in a country with a strange language, one soon begins to
learn where at least a few things are, and one also learns how to pronounce
the names of places. For example, one area that I went to on several occasions
is called Tsim Sha Tsui. I had no idea how to pronounce it, but I asked a man
and he told me it's pronounced Chim Shaw Choy, so armed with my new knowledge I
felt like a local at least for one minute.
People were really nice which was a delight because one would normally expect a
city of some seven million to be a dangerous place. One day I took the Star Ferry
across from Kowloon to Hong Kong and hopped aboard a double-decker tram. I was lucky enough to get the front seat up top where I stayed for almost two hours as the tram made its way along the route, but when I decided to get off, I discovered that I was lost.
I knew where I wanted to go - to Central to catch the Star Ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui, but I had no idea what bus to take, so I asked a driver at a stop and he said that he goes there. A Chinese man who spoke no English heard me ask "Star Ferry" and that was enough for him to call me to sit with him which I did. He told me all sorts of things in Chinese, which of course I couldn't understand, but I did understand that he was trying to help me.
Help me he did, as he guided me to my stop. To my mind that was simply a wonderful example of kindness to a stranger, and a memory that I'll not forget.
The next day as I was trying to read a bus sign to figure out which one to take to
Aberdeen, where the boat people live, a man said "Can I help you?". I told him that
I wanted to go to Aberdeen and he pointed out the bus stop and told me the bus number.
The Octopus card is a great way to travel. When you enter a bus, tram, ferry or train you simply wave the card over a reader, and a screen shows how much value the card still has. I used the card a lot, travelling all over the area on many small and large trips.
The 3 3/4 hour flight to Singapore was nice, with good food, and reisling was marvelous. I would say I enjoyed the best roast beef I've ever had on that flight.
I took a two hour guided tour into the city, which really was too fast as the bus only stopped for traffic lights, but the lady who provided the narration really knew her stuff. I now know way more about Singapore than I ever thought I would.
I'm now in the Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge which Forbes Magazine rates as the third best in the world. I have no idea where the first and second best lounges are, but this lounge is incredible, and I have another four hours to enjoy it before boarding for the overnight flight to Melbourne, Australia.
Needless to say, I've been taking a lot of photos, alth
Oh, thank you so much for telling us all about your journey.How very interesting,and isn't it a delight to know that people the world over are willing to help and be kind? And, roast beef, of all things, who would think? Keep us posted and I can't wait to see pictures.
My long post disappeared, so I will have to reply to Al tomorrow.
I felt as if I am traveling along when I read his report.
April 5, 2007
As you may already have heard at the end of February, I was flown to The
www.andrerieu.com )Netherlands to meet with world famous violinist André Rieu. (
I have been privileged to have been working with him and his Johann Strauss
Orchestra since then and am about to embark on a tour around America. We tour
for two weeks in April and May and later in the year in October and December.
It's such an exciting experience for me and I feel very privileged to be
working with such top artists!
I would like to thank you all personally for all the support and encouragement I
have received in the last few weeks and would like to say a big hello to my new
friends around the world who have signed up to this newsletter! Also big thank
yous to all of the people who sent me such lovely birthday messages! It was so
nice to hear from you all!
Look forward to seeing you at the concerts!
Points of Interest:
- Mirusia's debut album 'She Walks in Beauty' is still available
on her website
www.mirusia.net and now also available at www.marjoleinart.com -
Order your copy now!
- Mirusia on myspace - visit www.myspace.com/mirusia
- Keep your eye out for 'Songs of Inspiration' the new CD from the
Queensland Pops
Orchestra featuring Mirusia, which will be released in June. For more
information go to
www.popsorchestra.com.au
dear friends First of all the phrase
in hocsigno vinces, was said to Charlemagne just before a big battle that led to the formation of the Holy Roman Empire in the middle ages. He didn't actually convert to the Faith until on his death-bed, but his Mother
St Helen did long years before. Listened to Mirusia's songs a few days ago, & she will be a delightful addition to Andre & co. She does have a lovely voice, but is different from
Carmen, Carla & Suzan, so she will add to the mix. I'm looking forward to hearing more when the U.S /Canada tour begins. Will mis Calgary this year as Andre added Saskatoon to the Canada tour. Will miss hime but maybe next year, unless he does the tour to Australia, which would likelu be a Sept/Oct trek. Happy Easter everyone.
Love Marianne
Thank you Marianne, I did not know the saying started with Charlemagne. I had no clue.
I too think Mirusia will be a welcome addition to Andre's choir and JSO. I am so proud of Andre, he ignored all the silliness going on because he was too busy signing a new Soprano for his tour. I don't know where he finds the time. The Plantin Tenors are great, and I am glad they are on tour with Andre and now that 'the girls' are moving on, he finds someone who has a beautiful voice to bring to us.
Happy Easter to you too.
Here is an Easter Egg from Kati:
OMG these eggs are very beautiful! Did you paint these Kati? I can only dream of being so good as to be able to paint that beautifully. I love those eggs!
I would love to be so talented, not a chance! These made bu professional, egg carvers, actually, they do scratch the surface of an egg shell! Kati
There are a lot of interesting folk customs still alive all over Hungary. Many of them are connected with religious holidays, while others have older origins, from early, sometimes from prehistoric years. The two, most known customs of Easter are the "sprinkling" and the egg-painting. Both are very common in both urban and rural areas, among people of every age-group.
Sprinkling
The old tradition is shown on the first two pictures. These photos here show folk costumes that people wear just for special occasions today. Today women wear casual dresses for sprinkling, not folk costumes. Also, men sprinkle with cologne, not with water. A couple of decades ago men poured water on women in rural areas and women changed their clothes after each sprinkling. Boys often dragged girls to the well and poured water on them with pail. Sometimes they washed them in creek.
The possible reason for this very old tradition is that people believed in the cleaning, healing and fertility effect of water.
Easter is a 2-day holiday in Hungary. On Monday boys and men visit all of their women relatives, friends, neighbors, often even if they are not close friends. Boys in small groups, fathers with their sons, or single men leave early in the morning and their "tour" last all day long. They greet girls and women with shorter - longer poems (mostly with a funny poem about "Eastern sprinkling") and sprinkle them with cologne. Women must be well-prepared, they treat men with dessert and beverages - and with hand-painted eggs. Women usually prepare in the previous days by cleaning up the house thoroughly, decorating, cooking and painting a couple dozen eggs.
There is a competition among young girls - who gets the most "sprinklers" wins. It is a shame if the girl is not ready early morning when the first visitor rings the bell.
The result? Women wear more then a dozen of different colognes by Monday evening, and sometimes the alcoholic beverages are harmful for men also. Many times, sprinkling continues on the next day in the working places and we, women wait the evening desperately to wash our hair.
Egg painting
There are many different painting method alive. The simplest way is to cook the egg envelopped into a dented leaf, in painting water. The covered part of the egg remains white and will show the pattern of the leaf.
Painting liquid can be made from onion skin, wild pear, green walnut or other vegetables yielding different natural colors.
Sometimes women "write the egg". They draw folk patterns on the egg by melted wax and put the eggs into painting after this. The egg remains white below the wax and will show the pattern.
But the most beautiful eggs are painted by hand with different colors following traditional folk patterns.
K
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Kati, are these eggs what you call pysanky eggs? I have a friend who does these. Looks very complicated to me but they surely are beautiful.The designs are very intricate.
Real egg shells, are the one they use, imagine, how light Your hands have to be, and scratching the designs on the,. Otherwise, the Easter eggs in Hungary, mostly made out of chocolate, covered with red foil! Kati
Pysanky is not a hungarian word, might be Polish. I do not know. In hungarian , these eggs called Himes Tojas, meaning, very fragile and decorated for Easter. Kati
Kati, the friend who does these eggs, said "pysanky" is a Ukranian word meaning "to write".I guess because the designs are written with hot beeswax. She first got into it when, years ago, her husband bought her a kit for Christmas. She says her first efforts resulted in many mutilated eggs,she put the kit away for a few years and then one day decided that it was something she really wanted to learn, so she just kept practicing. She is retired now and has plenty of time to work on them, although she says she spends many nights bent over the things, and it is rather hard on the eyesight, it's a hobby that she loves and her results have greatly improved.It sure takes more patience than I would have! But aren't they beautiful?
Pen Pals for Peace. I saw the blurb in a magazine and responded. My girls and I had Pen Pals. Mine was Alexander Budnikov, an archaeologist in the Ukraine. He sent me a few of the eggs Pysanky, they were wooden and the hand painting on them fabulous. I have them in storage (and I forget which box!). Isn't it wonderful how each country and even each area, village, province, locality within a country develops their own customs? I love that we can share them, see them and enjoy them.
Hi all,
Did anyone notice Nicolle's new doo? She has dark hair now. Looks good to me! (The singer on the right end)
Happy Easter to Everyone!
Marilyn
I hope everyone noticed Marilyn correctly spelled Nicolle's name....with 2 l's!
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police
Marilyn,which picture do you refer to? I guess I hadn't noticed, she's such a cutie anyway, I'm sure she would look great in any hair color. I tend to focus more on the jewelry the girls wear.
I noticed it too, checked the pictures on Andre's Website, as they on tour. Kati
Hi my dear friends! Had to catch up on all the posts the last two days. Those eggs are beautiful! Thank you Al for all that great information on your trip. That was so nice of you to share with us.
We will have a very cold Easter Sunday here with lows in the 20's. Cannot wear to church what I had planned unless I have long underwear on. We will celebrate Easter with church Sunday morning and then later a nice ham dinner with all the trimmings. My sister and I still exchange Easter baskets (like kids) so we plan on a nice Easter cake and coffee with them; however, they are both sick with colds and they do not want to infect us for our trip so we will probably exchange baskets on the front porch and they can have their cake in private. It wouldn't matter if we were not leaving in two weeks!
I want to wish all of you the most beautiful Easter and may the day bring you peace, joy and love and of course music. My love to all of you.
Hugs
Thank you Jeanine Ann, for your thoughts of all of us.I think it's nice you still do the basket thing. I always have to buy myself a chocolate rabbit, just so I can bite the ears off. Once the ears are gone someone else can have the rest.Sounds like your weather is similar to ours. Who knew, that this year, April showers woild mean April Snow showers?!
It was snowing all day over here in Colo. also, very cold. I wonder, if the Sun will come out for Sunday? Kati
YE GADS! I spelled "would" wrong!! That "cheeky chartreuse character", otherwise known as the "S&P punctuation police", will be after me!!!
I wouldn't have busted you for that misspelling, I'd have assumed it was your New York accent resurfacing
S&P chief of Police
MR BILL! you must need new glasses! You know darn good and well I'm not from New York! So it must be my "Ozark" accent !
Dear S&P chief of Police:
I took the liberty of correcting you:
S&P Chief of Police (capital C, Please)
I wouldn’t have busted you for that misspelling; I’d have assumed it was your New York accent resurfacing.
(Your sentence required a semi-colon, and a period).
From your favorite New York accent, L
I love It, I loveit Lorraine. He needs corfrection sometimes too. Katio
So Bill, You arew favoring some people, like, You must like Shirley, If it was me, God help me! Yes, I need to learn all I could, but do not run it in!!. Kati
<hehehehe> Did you mean "rub it in"? Looks like Lorraine caught me twice. I was tempted to intentionally misspell her name, but changed my mind least you & others decide to excoriate me!
S&P Chief of Police
Hey Mr S&P Policeman! Didn'y you mean to say "lest" instead of "least"? hahaha.......gotcha!!!!
oops! I see what I did. will teach me to write in the dark!
Yes! I did mean lest! My misspellings are becoming commonplace.
Bill in Arizona
Someone is tampering with the evidence! A few minutes ago I saw a reply from the webmistress telling me I'd misspelled extraordinaire. That's also telling Jeanine that she misspelled it. I'm here to tell everyone that Jeanine correctly corrected me when I first misspelled the word extraordinaire.
Go here if anyone has any doubts as to the correct spelling of http://m-w.com/dictionary/extraordinaire
This mysterious disappearance of the evidence is unprecedented. I strongly suspect the webmistress is hiding under a large rock in a heavily forested area, on a different planet in another solar system.
This is what makes the Word, going around. I love it. You were thinking, Your English is perfect? HUH? Kati
Hi Shirley, Nicolle is in the video on Andre's website at the top, titled Oh Happy Day. She really is pretty, but all of Andre's people are very nice looking, maybe that is part of the pre-requisite for hiring on!
Well, new new TV went out so I am not able to see Andre on DVD at the moment, how awful, huh? The weather is near 80, but that will not last. I am enjoying it.
I wanted to say to Kati, those eggs are beautiful. Must be nice to be talented. Have a wonderful weekend.
It is not me, some Ladies in Hungary, who are very talented to scratch those eggshells, for Easter, mostly, rural areas, by ethic people, different areas, different designs! Kati
dear friends I surely do like Kat's Easter eggs. I used to have one made by a Ukranian lady but it was with my Xmas decorations, which was left behind when I moved from my house to a mobile home, prior to moving to Brooks
Still it is quite a talent to blow the eggs & then decorate same with such intricate designs. As a child & then with my own childreen we colored eggs as part ofr the Easter celebration & mydaughter has carried on the tradition
Will have two dinners this weekend. One with my son-in-law's Mom & the second with my daughter's family so I expect to have two big meals. Still don't eat much at one time as I'm still on the lose weight kick. It's not leaving as quickly as I'd like but each reduction is at least staying off.
Weather here is still chilly, minus 10,
but it's suppposed to warm up for a couple of days & then cool off some more. We are far enough north that it sometimes seems that spring has forgotten us, & also I think the global warming is not just coming, but is already here so as individuals one has to begin conserving as much as we can, & it looks like maybe our Federal gov't is beginning to consider going green. The shocking thing is that we can't sell our autos in China because they don't meet the emission levels & the big three have been trying to sue California for their tough emission levels which have been in place for at least 30 years. It can be done, but we have to have the will. When I am able to buy a new car, I will get a diesel-hybrid as both carbon emissions are less, so I will do what I can . Hope all have a Happy Blessed Easter love
Marianne
Hello, friends,
I'm in Torquay, Victoria, Australia, which is a beautiful beach town near Melbourne. Tonight my friends and I will be attending a "footy" game which is Australian Rules football.
This part of Australia is in the throes of a severe drought, and water rationing is in full force.
Yesterday I was treated to barbecued marlin steak, and after that I played the La Vie Est Belle DVD which is in my iPod. We'll be watching more as the month goes on.
It's good to see so many Australians pleading for a tour on Andre's guestbook, and my friends plan to add to the pleas. The surge is on, as Andre gets more and more popular in this wonderful country. Meanwhile, I'm helping to spread the word.
I'll be in touch soon.
Al Girard
Hi Al, I'm reading your posts with much interest. Football, that's interesting.Think a raindance might help the dry conditions? As for "spreading the word", that's how it happened here!With PBS and word of mouth. Now that the Ovation channel shows Andre and fans spreading the word, well, it's got to help. Keep on keeping us informed of your journey. When do you come back?
Agreed & Agreed. I can't tell you how many emails I am getting from Aussies who have just seen Andre on Television, or tell me a friend saw him and said they had to watch. It reminds me of when I first saw Andre, there I was clicking through the channels, but BLAM..had to stop and see who those ladies in the pretty dresses were, gosh those handsome men playing violins and who WAS that man with the smile? And the MUSIC....so beautiful.
I was hooked.
I love how you travel around the globe. You prove to us all the -- It's a small world after all --
I can't wait to see your photos. Your story & photos have us all feeling as if we are traveling with you.
Happy Easter.
Thank you Al. I love reading your report. Makes me feel as though I am in Australia. I would love that beach town - sounds wonderful. So glad you are having such a good time and that you are spreading the word about Andre and the JSO. Have a safe and happy trip and a Happy Easter to you and all "down under". Hugs
Hey Shirley I remember biting the ears off those chocolate rabbits! Didn't they taste good?!! Now I cannot have the chocolate (because of migraines) so I must console myself with something else (like a nice Andre concert haha).
Marianne I thought it was cold here. I could not stand minus 10 right now. I do hope you will enjoy your Easter dinners. You certainly deserve a good time. I hope the warmth of the Easter season will melt those chilly temps for you. Shirley, I am sure it is cold where you are too so I hope the same for you.
Kati, is it warm enough for you to bike? I will have to wait to walk for a while. Next week I will be getting ready for the trip so that will take a lot of my energy. I am trying to save my energy for the concert but I know I will be so wired that I will forget about being tired. These trips do take a lot out of you especially when you drive for 2 and 1/2 days.
Love and HAPPY EASTER to all. Hugs
Last twodays cold and snow, no biking, just a lots of painting!!?? Have to stay inside it is so cold, in the 20s. Two days, will warm up, I hope. I am so rited of it. Kati
Hello Most Wonderful Friends: Have you seen the News & Letters Page today? I received an email from Kaj's inviting everyone to view the wonderful photos Kaj takes:
Hello Dear Fans & Friends,
Kaj Verner of Denmark sent us a link to see the exquisite photos he took at Andre Rieu's concert in Flensburg, Germany. They are beautiful. Please have a look. Thank you Dear Kaj for sharing!
Here you can se pictures from a wonderful concert in Flensburg, Germany. I let my pictures tell the story. Because Flensburg is near to the border of Denmark, many Danes were there. During the final, it was possible to come close to Andre. Here I really could see, feel and take fotos from the great Andre, the soloists and his great orkester.
Have a nice look all fans:
click here ~~> KAJ'S FOTOS <~~click here
It was a great night. Hope you can feel a little part of a great concert.
Best Regards
Kaj Verner-fotograf-Denmark
Thanks for the beautiful photos, I hardly can wait until I can make my own! Kati
dear friends. It is so good to hear of al's trekking around the southeast part of the world. Would love to go to Australia one day as I've read a lot of historical novels about the country
by one Stuart Long, as well as collen McCullogh's Thornbirds which was made into a tv series some years ago. Jeanine, since you can't eat dark chocolate, you might try white chocolate, which is sweeter but doesn't have the excess caffeine. Think
most everyone likes to bite off the bunny ears first, I'll bet coffee is also a no-no unles it's decaf. The foot
bal Al mentioned is a not holds barred
rugby , which I've seen on tv & it looks like an old fashioned dogpile. Not for me thank-you, but our hockey can create just as much mayhem, & even baseball can have their donnybrooks. The competiotive spirit can run very high so it can get a bit wild, but still much better than resorting to knives & guns etc. It has warmed up a bit & no wind from the north which is okay with me. The chinook wind comes from the southwest as is part of what is know as the pineappple pipeline straight from Hawaii, & that's a nice wind tho it can be quite foerce at times. Love to all Marianne
OMG! Those photos are incredible! I am so excited I can hardly type. Thank you Sally for supplying the link. Thanks so much to Kaj Verner. They are wonderful. Talk about counting all the hairs on Andre's head!! Hugs to Kaj
Kaj's photos? FANTASTIC! thank you for sharing these Kaj, the rest of your album is great too.
It's very late, but I want to wish everyone a Very Happy Easter! Enjoy your day and I hope that all of you are blessed with the most beautiful blessings!
It's very early in the morning, & I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. The libraries are closed tomorrow, so I won't even be able to lurk.
I'lll be baaaaaaaack, on Monday!
Bill in Arizona aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police aka
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire <hehehe>
You think You have the last word? No way! I think We Ladies outnumber You any day!. Any correction of Yours by anybody is my Pleasure! Kati
Someone is tampering with the evidence! A few minutes ago I saw a reply from the webmistress telling me I'd misspelled extraordinaire. That's also telling Jeanine that she misspelled it. I'm here to tell everyone that Jeanine correctly corrected me when I first misspelled the word extraordinaire.
Go here if anyone has any doubts as to the correct spelling of http://m-w.com/dictionary/extraordinaire
This mysterious disappearance of the evidence is unprecedented. I strongly suspect the webmistress is hiding under a large rock in a heavily forested area, on a different planet in another solar system.
Ok, no more day dreaming for you. I've been at work all day and y'all are thinking things are showing up and disappearing!
tsk tsk tsk. Webmommie thinks the kids are playing too hard.
Incidentally, if anyone is interested, including Kati, here is a great place to go for the correct spelling of english words, you can even listen to the correct pronunciation of a word.
S & P chief of Police
Happy Easter to Everyone. May the meaning of Easter bless us all with the Grace, Freedom, Peace and hope of Eternal Life that was paid for by the One who loves us so much that He came stretched out His Arms, died on a wooden cross, and ROSE AGAIN, promising that all who believe in Him will Live and Not die! Thank you all for Easter Cards and for wonderful friendships...and Bill ...I am so happy that you took my correction so gracefully (unless you have something up your sleeve for later! hehehe).
BTW, Bill, i fell for your Maastricht trip hook line and sinker but could not get a post up at that time!
God Bless you all by wonderful friends, L
"ahem"...that was supposed to be God Bless you all MY wonderful friends, L
By Dustin Shipman
For Carolyn Trout, decorating eggs is not an event reserved just for Easter. It’s a year-round hobby that she has been perfecting for almost 30 years.
Using an ancient Ukrainian egg-dyeing process, Trout has been able to create detailed and intricate designs out of what most people consider breakfast.
Trout — the former director of Joplin Public Library — said that she has made hundreds of these eggs over the years as a hobby, and most of them either decorate her home or have become presents for friends and family.
This year, however, Trout said she decided to enter one of her creations in a contest sponsored by the American Egg Council and was invited to go to Washington, D.C., and have her egg be a part of a special exhibit at the White House.
Trout said the rules of the contest were that the egg had to be a large chicken egg, have a design on it that was representative of her state, Missouri, and had to have the yolk removed so that only the shell remained.
She said she decided to create an egg with the Missouri state seal on the front and dogwood blossoms on the sides and back.
"I first sent it to the Missouri Egg Council back in November," Trout said. "Mine was picked out of all the eggs submitted to go to the White House."
On Tuesday morning, she attended a banquet at the White House during which First Lady Laura Bush met with her and more than 30 other egg artists who had been chosen to be a part of an exhibition in recognition of the annual White House Egg Roll.
Trout said that she wasn’t even aware of the contest until this year, but with the success she’s had, she is already planning next year’s project.
Trout said the process she uses to create her eggs is called pysanky. It’s an ancient Ukrainian folk art form that uses bees wax to cover parts of an egg’s shell. The egg is then dyed a certain color and the wax is melted.
She said that some eggs have several different colors and through this process the artist is always working backward to create different designs and pictures.
"They are not painted, they are dyed," Trout said. "The way this works is you draw on an egg using hot bees wax with a tool called a kiskia, which is basically a brass funnel on a stick. You put the wax in the funnel and then hold it over a candle flame and draw on the egg."
Trout said the process can be time consuming, and it is almost the opposite of painting because the artist is placing the wax in places they don’t want the color to be, rather then applying paint where they want the color to be.
"After you draw on everything that you want, you dye the egg the first color, then you draw over that to protect that color from the next dye, and then the next color," she said. "Once you have all the patterns and colors on, you melt the wax, and it will reveal what you have done."
Trout, who has taught classes on pysanky eggs at Spiva Center for the Arts, said that she learned the process from books and that with enough practice and patience, anyone can learn how to do it.
"It is a very long, intricate and involved process," she said. "But I really enjoy it. It is a very enjoyable and unusual hobby."
Egging them on
The tradition of the state egg display for Easter began in 1994. Each year, the artists vote among themselves to select the artist to create the following year’s commemorative egg, which is presented to the president and first lady.
April 8, 2007 ~ HAPPY EASTER
AndreRieuFans.com Easter Card #1
AndreRieuFans.com Easter Card #2
OH BILL - YOU SPELLED "EXTRAORDINAIRE" WRONG!
Thank you Sally for the beautiful Easter cards. May you be blessed this day and every day.
HAPPY EASTER DAY to all my wonderful and dear friends. May the love of the Risen Saviour be with all of you. Hugs
Gadzooks! Busted Again
Bill in Arizona aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire
You should write in a different color, at least for Easter! Kati
Thank you Sally, for posting Carolyn's story, it was in our morning paper.From a beginner's kit to a White House egg, some accomplishment huh?
Easter blessings to all.Listened to Handel's Messiah and the Halleluja Chorus today.Very fitting.
Sally, that is a fascinating article on Carolyn's egg dyeing. What talent she has. I don't think I would have the patience but if you do, the results are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. Hugs
Easter Sunday morning I went to mass at a beautiful basillica in Geelong, and in the afternoon we went down to the bay where there is a beach, piers,walkways and even a vintage carousel. One fun thing that they're doing here is reclaiming old telephone and telegraph poles,converting them to humerous characters, and planting them in the ground as singles, doubles or groups. They stand about six feet high and are painted to resemble a fireman, or a surf lifesaver, or a spinster, or a marching band etc. They're called "bollards" which is the piling that ships tie up to, and I've photogrqaphed quite a few of them.
We also stopped by a park where there are thousands of fruit bats, or flying foxes way up in the trees. I was warned not to walk underneath because of droppings, but I did take a few photos.
Last night we watched the Tuscany concert, and I plan to show the Raqdio City Music Hall concert tomorrow. My friends are enthralled by Andre, the JSO and the way the concerts are presented.
Talk to you soon.
Al Girard
dear friends, Have been enjoying Al's
posts & am looking forward to the pictures. Expect the bollards are pretty interesting. Here in Brooks, we had a thing where folks sponsored a fire hydrant so many of the town's hydrants are of the places where there are particular business. The one by St Mary's Catholic is a Padre & the location of the farmer's mrkt is a farmer, what else? Makes for a good conversation piece. The story about the eggs was most interesting as I didn't know just how intricate the decorating process is. I have a little job to do in the next couple of weeks & that is to write my memoirs of
growing up in Hedley from age 8 to 18, when I left to go to business school. I
already have a start on the outline & the director of the museum was most interested in my recollections, which atart in 1941 & go to 1951 when I left to go to school, although I've been back to visit my folks & again a couple of years ago, when I took a friend to my school reunion of 50 years
She is from Ontario originally & had never been through the Rockys so whe was really impressed. On the way home we detoured off the main highway to go into Lake Louise so she could see the
glacier & the chateau. Sadly the glacier is much less that it was when I was a child. Another instance of global warming, but I am hoping that our federal gov't, state gov'ts & the
larger corporations get off their duffs & get busy doing what has to be done & also pass on what we as individuals can do too. Hope everyone had a Happy Easter. Dinner was great,
Love Marianne
Sally those cards were absolutely exquisite! Thank you so much. Hope you and all the other Friends had a lovely Easter. Hugs
Just checked out the news page.Inge, your "Andre in Miniature" displays are magnificent! Thank you so much for sharing. Al, I'm so enjoying your journey reports,will be waiting to see the pictures. Marianne, I wouldn't mind reading your "memoirs" myself.
Hi dear friends, Shirley where did you find Inge's "Andre In Miniature" display. I looked on the news page but maybe I am a little sleepy this morning. Thanks and Hugs
Hi Jeanine Ann & Andre Friends:
You will find the Andre in Miniature, made by Inge Cossette on the Featured Fans page. Go to www.AndreRieuFans.com and click the photo in the center.
We've (I had help) just updated the Photogallery page as well, thanks to Iris & Albert Schilling ..
http://andrerieufans.com/PhotoGallery.htm
And now, it's off to work I go.... Have a GREAT Day everyone. ~Sally~
*ps:
Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of each page, click the links and see what you can find. Our site was the first to put up Lyrics, and yes we could always add more. We've got reviews, chat n chomps, fan events, dvds, cds, many featured fans stories (let's add YOURS!!) and on and on. Let me know what you've found !
The Miniatures are something else, here I am complaining about painting, try this tedious work! Painting is done, if there are any streaks, I do blame it on Andre's music, because I had it on all the time, so, I moved on the rythm, sometimes with less paint, sometime more, so I am not responsible for the streaks! HAHAHA! Kati
Hi everyone, the Miniatures are just beyond words! Inge is so talented. I don't know how she does it, but I know she does it with love and it shows.
Thank you Sally for sharing.
Kati I don't think anyone will notice the streaks if there are any but if they do you can tell them the history behind them. Besides you will remember you were listening to Andre when you painted.
Sally the new photos are great. I will guess the one with little Akim is 2005. Am I wrong? Hugs
Dear friends, just a not to say how lovely are the miniatures, I can appreciate the time to assemble, construct, dress & paint each figure. Expect Andre was quite delighted with the effort, which is considerable. It's finally warmed up some here so the snow is melting & so far the dreaded prospect of more of the white stuff hasn't materialized. Easter dinner was great, kids & grand-kids. My oldest grandson calls me wafer, which is a bit odd. It's a pet name & he colored an egg just so for me. Glad your painting is done Kati, it's a chore but when it's done you have a feeling of accomplishment, so give yourself a pat on the back. Hope everyone is well, Love Marianne
My son worked in the music industry & still has contacts - he emailed me that Andre debuted on the Aust. DVD chart this week at No. 1 with New York Memories. How hopeful is that! Hugs!
That is GREAT news!
Hello Fans & Friends - This is from Ineke. What a great idea!
Hi Sally,
This is something for your website:
I discovered American people can easily order the Andre Rieu Tulip via internet.
http://www.dutchgardens.com/ . Fill in under "search" the words Andre Rieu tulip, and......wow, there they are.
Ten bulbs cost $9.95, 30 bulbs are $27.96. Right now is the time to order. You'll receive them in August/Sept. To plant.
They'll bloom in April next year.
Every fan should have Andre Rieu tulips in the garden!!!!
Love,
Ineke.
Dear Ineke::: Thanks so much for the update on the Andre Rieu tulip.. I tried to order them last year, but they were all sold out.. I ordered 2 sets, you are right,, everyone.... should have Andre in their garden to enjoy.......Love and Hugs... Nettie May from Colorado
I just ordered the Andre tulips too.Thank you Ineke.They are very similar to some I now have, I had to cover them on the cold nights, hope they will perk up.Ineke, if you ever see some Johann Strauss tulips let me know, Maggie has some in her garden & they are lovely.
Thank you girls for your nice comments in the GB here about my miniatures, this is the first time I read here and I shall do it more often in future!!
The ninis are my hobby and my perfect world. When ever I feel low or happy, I get ideas and make a new one. At the moment my daughter is here from Germany , she gives us lessons on the computer and upgrades it and she mixed up my scanner, as soon as it is fixed, I shall also send a picture from André that I took from him in 2OO1 at an autograph session at Archambeaults in Montréal. It was free, not a meet and greet, he signend my book and we spoke German.
Have a nice day, we still have snow , Inge
I so enjoy how Andre speaks many languages. And to have seen him without that PBS charge is good too.
I have the Plantin Tenor's CD and love all the songs, but I enjoy Deutsche Volkslieder the most. Don't understand a word of it, but with all beauty, I don't know to understand, I still know the song.
Have you heard this song?
Sally, what is the name of that CD? Would love to hear it. Deutsche Volksleider means German Folksong...there are so many many German Folksongs that are wonderful. I'm wondering if i know the one you are loving the most. There is a wonderul a counter tenor named Andreas Scholl (oooooomlat (hehehe) over the o) who has an entire cd of Deutsche Volkleider. They are all wonderful! Andreas Scholl is not for everyone...one has to really love Counter Tenors (a very very high male voice which Baroque composers employed in Cantata and Opera. I think Scholl is the best in that genre).
Sally, it is wonderful that you enjoy the arts so much. One day you must come east...there is so much here for you! L
Inge, Let me add my compliments on your miniatures...they are beautiful! So glad that you shared your beautiful treasure with us! L
Oh dear Ineke - thank you so much for the information of the Andre Tulip. I was told by Dutch Gardens to contact them in July to see if they would carry the tulip. That is how I missed it last year so now I have it ordered and I am so grateful to you for telling us about it. I didn't know they had a Johann Strauss Tulip. I would be very interested in that also. Thanks so much.
Shirley are your tulips up already? I thought yours and mine would be up around the same time but maybe you are a little warmer there.
Inge - so good to hear from you. I hope you will visit us often. Sounds like you had a wonderful time speaking with Andre. I am always happy when someone gets to meet him. Hopefully I will too one of these days. Have a wonderful day everyone.
Hugs
Hi Jeanine Ann,yes, my tulips had just bloomed when the below freezing temps hit. The cold did ruin my lilac bushes which were in full bloom, but I covered my tulips, at least the ones that were in bloom.
Hi Shirley, more snow is coming to Colo. I do not know, how much will get to Your place, maybe going North from here, but I just do not like it no more. My roses started to come out, my Lilacs, i do have Peonies, I just hope they do not freeze!? Kati
Hi Terese, Sorry I lost the e-mail address, do you want to try again?
Thanks
Question to anyone...is anyone using the new Windows Vista. I went out to purchase my new computer (procrastinated for months) only to find all the salespeople tellling me Vista has alot of bugs in it and that i should try and find a new computer with Windows XP. Does anyone have the Vista yet? L.
Hi Lorraine, I do have Windows XP, and I do have the windows Vista, I do like it a lot, having a Toshiba Laptop, came with some programs, might not be compatible with Vista, maybe a drawback, depend, what do You want to use. I do not have no problems with it, like it more than before. Kati
Hi Lorraine: I don't have Vistas. I have put it off as NONE of my software works with it. And, I have MSCE newsletters warning of all the bugs. So, I've held off for now myself.
I have VISTA on a laptop (HP) and XP on two desktops. I like XP and was not interested in learning a new OS; however, Vista has some neat options and once you learn your way around it is fine,IMO. Check cnet.com and they have articles on how to personalize.
Just my opinion...wishing enjoyment to all. I really like AR's music.
Joanne
Sorry, i missed a few things here and there, but I was too busy to put signs all over Colo. on the corners of streets, that this house for the next 3 days, will be an Open House, being the cleanest in Colo. Signs will be picked up after 3days!! Crazy?? HUHUHUHUH.. Kati
"Truth is the best vindication against slander," Abraham Lincoln.
I LOVE THIS SAYING
Hi, here are some of my favorite quotes about truth.."Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is". Sir Winston Churchill
"If you speak the truth,have a foot in the stirrup"... Turkish proverb
"When in doubt, tell the truth". --Mark Twain
"Always tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember what you said".--Mark Twain And now I'm here to tell a truth! ANDRE IS BACK!Can you hear it? "The hills are alive with the sound of music"!
"If you speak the truth,have a foot in the stirrup"... Turkish proverb
HA! I love this one.
I love it too, You do not have to worry, You forgot, but sometimes, the truth hurts, and maybe You do not want to hurt people's feeling, so just stretch the truth!? Kati
Agreed. No need to be mean. I was working with a friend once (a woman), and another coworker (a man) said to her, "your hands, they are so delicate, so dainty and elegant....((to which she was smiling and cooing, all happy he was saying nice things)), then he said.. "they do not fit your body".
BLAM.
I felt so bad for her. I could tell he had hurt her feelings and she was about to cry.
He had no idea. He was just making an observation.
You just cannot say what You are thinking anymore, even if You mean well, and maybe positive way, thinking for the future, to learn out of it. Never know, what is inside of people's minds! Kati
And then there are April Fool Jokers like myself <snicker>
I love it Shirley, it really was n ot You. if You would not come up with all the TRUTH! Kati
And then there are April Fool Jokers like myself <snicker>
I love it, that was said a long time ago?? Kati
Thank you Sally, Kati, Shirley for all your info on Vista....my life right now is so complicated...i'm going to try to buy a new computer that still has Windows Xp...i could not in anyway handle computer woes...
Very wet, very windy, very cold here this a.m. in Long Island. Hope someone somewhere is tasting Spring!
Just a reminder to all the U.S. concert goers. Don't forget to take a blue glow stick to shine at the conclusion of your concerts. Let's show Andre and the JSO our love and appreciation for them!
Hi Lorraine, I wanted to answer your question re Windows Vista yesterday but didn't have a chance. I too am waiting to get a new Dell but I was told by Dell that they are having problems with the high end computers and the gaming software. I am not a gamer so I really am not interested in that kind of software. I have been waiting since January for this computer. I love Dell and they last a long, long time. I have had this one for five years with absolutely no problems except my burner went a few weeks ago but I used it hard. My sister has Vista and loves it. I love it too just from using it on her computer. I may just get the Dell I want but with XP on it which they are offering until they get this software problem fixed. I can then put Vista on myself because I get a free upgrade to Vista with the computer. The only things that do not work with Vista are some of the older printers and scanners. I don't know what you have in the way of peripherals but the newer things will probably work. Vista is great and is user friendly. There are some things you need to hunt for because they are not where XP had them. But that is minor. If you get Vista be sure to get Home Premium, otherwise you will be getting nothing but an upgraded XP. You need to experience the Windows Aero feature. It is so neat. I will decide after my trip to Florida which is next Tuesday, the 17th. I AM BEYOND EXCITED!!!! My first live concert. I know I will never be the same - but I will be better!
Spring is certainly not coming here soon. They are talking about a possible nor'easter for the weekend with snow, rain and just plain miserable. Poor Andre and group will be in the middle of this terrible weather but I guess they are used to that. I suppose those big buses will be on 95 South the same time as we will. That is so exciting! Chances are we could see them en route depending on the timing of the concerts. Take care everyone and have a beautiful day. Hugs
Make a lots of pictures, and make Us so Jealous,because, We do have to wait for Our turn! Kati
dear friends Think we may just have turned the corner for a bit of spring.
we did get the snow last week but it's all melted now although the temp is still minus 3 or 4 in the early a.m. Jeanine, I too have a dell computer & when I was shoping for a computer I went with dell, mainly because all our Canadian banks use them as well as most
of our doctors. The price is a bit more than some products, but is more than made up with the user friendly aspect & the availabilty of tech support when needed. That is how I finally got back my sound system. Some-
how lost it when I went from one internet provider back to the phone company. The Andre tulips sure are pretty & I will get an order before fall planting. Canada has quite a connection to the Dutch royal family, who spent the war years as guests of
Canada in Ottawa, & when they were able to return home, they gifted us with whole gardens around our parliament building of tulips. In the spring the gardens are supposed to be really spectacular. I myself have only
seen postcard pictures. Also Jeanine if
you really get into the concert you will fing that your hands will get a work-out from keeping time as will the rest of you as you just can't sit like a lump at an Andre concert. It's the best work-out I've ever experienced along with the glorious music. Enjoy!!
Love Marianne
I bet those tulips are beautiful and the reason they gave them is just as beautiful. It all works better when we work together.
I think after my first concert, my hands hurt. They were really sore. lol
I figure by now Andre, the JSO, & Mirusia have already finsihed their concert. Sure wish I knew what program of music Andre delivered.
Hopefully, reports will begin to filter in, in a couple of days.
Bill aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police aka
Cheeky Chartreuse Character
Since You do have so many names, which one You prefer?? If We would have to contact "THE POLICE" We have to know! Kati
HAHA Yes we need a correct ID.
Bill, You are very good looking!! Kati
Ok.. who Sang:::
(Lyrics : Joe Raposo)
It's not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold...
or something much more colorful like that.
It's not easy being green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ord'nary things.
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
or stars in the sky.
But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain,
or tall like a tree.
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.
I know but I ain't tellin'!Want to see if others know too. I just came to say I just heard the Morman Tabernacle Choir sing "When You wish Upon A Star".Gosh that was pretty! I'd like to hear Andre & Co. play that too.
You are not fun, You supposed to share!! KAti
Ribit, Ribit...i can relate!
Thank you Marianne, I will enjoy the concert. I'll bet those tulips around the Parliament building are beautiful. I have always loved tulips and now I have another reason to love them. I sure hope you will have Spring soon. We will probably get that snow on Sunday and Monday. That is the latest report. But we will ignore it and leave Tuesday. You take care.
Kati, I hope to get some photos for you and make you jealous! I will share whatever I get. I will also throw a big kiss to Andre from all of you. I doubt if he will see it but I will do it. Your turn will come soon.
Hugs
AND WE SHALL KNOW YOU BY THE GLOW ON YOUR FACE!!!
When I went up to the stage, close, last year, when thay been here in Denver, I danced with Carla, on the Juliska From Budapest, He made a funny face, not knowing what to think of me, just went to have a good time, being hungarian. I also, understand, some security issues, but i just wanted Csardas, He is coming to Denver again, I will try to dance with them again. Maybe. this way, He will know a crazy Hungarian, and enjoy my csardas! Kati
Talking about computers, I have XP, but I started with whatever came before Win 95.Didn't do much on the computer til I retired. Then one day decided to learn what I could, bought me a book for dummies and proceeded to learn, got on line but it was dial-up, you all know how slow that is! But at the time i'ts all I needed.Then moved on up to Win98, whoppee, I'm gettin' into this now! Then when I discovered Andre, I had to find his site. wow! That's where I first met a friend(our e-mail address were shown at that time). Well everything snowballed from there! Did you ever think how a computer could reach out to people all over the world, and thanks to Andre, we have friends all over the world.How could we talk to each other without our pcs? And where I once traveled in the World Books, I now travel online! And with DSL I get there quick! So much to learn, so little time!
And Kati, this time they will think you are a teenager,with your new hairdo!
They did call me pretgty Young, with my hairdo, I told Her get new glasses, might help. I have not a clue, what We all do without computer. I guess, write letters, make the Post Office richer, HUH? Kati
Since I do have Windows Vista, My DSL is much faster, which I like very much. Kati
I just want to wish you all a wonderful time at the concert tonight! I'm sure you will have a great time, and we will be waiting to hear all about it!!
I just like to know, what Friday the 13th brings? I hope it is all good for all of US!. Kati
Well...I always take a lemon and make "lemonade"...soooo...Friday the 13th is considered a "lucky" day in my book!
I'm always happy to see it, so therefore it's always been a GOOD day for me. Take care everyone, and have a very good Friday the 13th tomorrow!
I don't suffer from "Paraskavedekatriaphobia". Any day I'm alive is fine with me!
I'm suffering trying to pronounce that word.
I am suffering to try to read this!! Yes, You are the one Shirley, who just puts letters together, and us try to pronounce it, let alone read it, or to know, what heck are You talking about? Maybe Bill would know!! Kati
I hate to rain on the parade, but there is no such word; at least not with that spelling. I just checked the online dictionary because I wanted to hear the pronunciation.
Bill aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire aka
Spelling & Punctuation chief of Police ak
Cheeky Chartreuse Character
Look Mr Bill, you little cheeky chartreuse character, there is so a word with that spelling!!! When do I get an apology? Or do you want another name, such as a creepy chartreuse crawler??? Do I have to come there and talk to you by hand?
I Love the new name!! Kati
go to m-w.com, enter the spelling of that multi-syllable word.....& the dictionary says there is no such word! And I'm not playing games.
c'mon, everyone else! Back me up on this.
HINT: the word is derived from the concatenation of the Greek words Παρασκευή, δεκατρείς, and φοβία
shirley is playing games with y'all! There is no such word, at least not a word spelled "Paraskavedekatriaphobia".
Bill aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police aka
Cheeky Chartreuse Character
Paraskavedekatriaphobia... there IS such a word! Maybe not in your dictionary, but how do you think I found it? I certainly couldn't have made that one up if I tried.Mr Bill,I won't argue with you anymore.
I'm sure I'm right on this also. For everyones benefit; I did make a mistake once! And I admited it! That was my mistake, my one & only mistake, because I later found out I was right in the first place.
Has anyone else found the word in their dictionary? I'm wondering what Shirley is smokin', snortin', or drinkin', whatever it is, it's illegal. <g>
Bill in Arizona aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police
Charming & charismatic chartreuse character
Bill, i hope you are not serious.L
P.S. Ah....Bill..."Admitted" has TWO T'S. Crow and Humble Pie anyone? Come on admit it Bill, you can't spell! And Don't tell me Oomlat was a correct spelling for Umlaut!
i'm so glad i don't give a hoot about perfect spelling on the blog...i'd be eating it daily.L
<snicker> just wanting to keep you gals on your toes <hehehe>
Bill in Arizona aka
Official Pot Stirrer aka
April Fool Joker Extraordinaire aka
Spelling & Punctuation Chief of Police aka
Charming, charismatic, & cute chartreuse colored cool customer
I tell you, my spelling has always been atrocious. And, the strange thing about that is...I am a reader. Always have been. I can read faster and with greater comprehension than most. I recall my first library card when I was not quite 4 years old. You had to be able to read and write your name to have a library card, and I was so proud of mine.
What I hated was reading in school. The class was never fast enough for me. The teacher would say to read a chapter, and I would have read the book by the end of the day. Boring...&...Boring to read the book again when it was time to test. (most of the time I didn't re-read the book)
Now, most readers are good spellers, only I am the exception to that rule. Never could spell. I read an article once about those who read but cannot spell and a certain 'problem' we have. Don't know if that was really me or not but do know my spelling is Yuck!
Rather than fight it, I figure I spell like Mark Twain. So Twenty Three Skedoodle to ya!
Hi Sally, I've never ever noticed you make spelling errors!!! Your love of reading is obvious...as is your intelligence! A joy to behold! I was an excellent speller until the big "M" came...ladies you all know what that is. Now i'm blessed if i can remember where i'm going, what i was saying and how to spell it? who cares! hoping this is not a permanent condition...
Have a great week friends! We are wet here but thankfully no damage to our immediate surroundings. So many people did not fare so well through this storm. Hope everyone is safe and snug. L
Hi dear friends, I don't know what Friday the 13th will bring but I do know what Saturday the 21st will bring and that is what I am living for (God willing). All night I was thinking about the lucky ones in Boston. It was so good to know that Andre is on our soil again. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. I am still packing and must try to cut the grass today depending on the weather. Sunday and Monday will not be good weather wise. I saw they were having big dust storms in Arizona. Are you still there Bill?
Shirley - what is that word?? Is that fear of Friday the 13th? Love and hugs to all.
hahaha,I can't pronounce it either, and yes it does mean "fear of Fri.13th".here's the Pronunciation: [pê-ræs-kê-vey-dê-kæ-tri-ê-'fo-bi-yê]. Now you all can practice!
Finally, somebody made me laugh so hard, I hardly could stop, that is You Shirley! My Friday the 13th, started on my nleft foot, so I need some laughs! I do remember, the last time it was Friday the 13th, was no good for me either, so now, I do not like it anymore!! Kati
LOL The Green Guy is making a storm.
Definition: The Fear of Friday the Thirteenth, a form of triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number thirteen.
Usage: The fear of Friday the 13th originated in two fears: the fear of Friday and the fear of the number "13." Why? Well, no one knows so we won't repeat any of the urban myths that have arisen to explain either. The fear of 13 is clearly much greater than the fear of Friday, since the 13th floor is regularly omitted from high-rise buildings, 13th Street and 13th Avenue are often omitted in street numbering, and no one would dare invite 13 guests to sit around the table for dinner--at least one would surely die within a year.
Suggested Usage: Most people fear this word more than breaking a mirror while walking under a ladder to avoid a black cat on Friday 13th. It is long but pronounceable with a little practice: "Paraskavedekatriaphobia is among the leading causes of loss of productivity since many sufferers avoid coming to work on that day." For the adjective, just replace the final [a] with a [c], "Freemont is an old paraskavedekatriaphobic who never leaves the house on Friday the 13th."
Thought I would add, a simple google search yields many results:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Paraskavedekatriaphobia
Hi Bill, I went to the Boston Globe and they do not show any concert reviews for last night - so far - only old reviews in the archives section. I know that is not the best place to look for good reviews but I thought I would try. The best review is from the concert-goer perspective. Will let you know if I find anything.
Hugs
I also searched all the Boston newspapers looking for a review of the concert. nothing!
Probably snowed out!! Kati
BALTIMORE MD SHOW-
I'll be driving my Mom up to Baltimore on Monday (4/16) to see her HERO Andre' yet again, and was hoping to meet up with some fellow Andre' fans for a pre-show dinner. We're staying at the Sheraton and the Don Shula Steak House is located right in the hotel. We'd love to have you join us! You can email me directly at CheapKat3 at AOL, or just show up at the restaurant around 5:30! Enjoy the show!
Kathy
Kati, with Andre around the snow would melt pretty fast!!! There must be some report on the Boston concert. According to Andre's comments on his site he was pleased with the audience. We will have to wait until we hear from someone. Hugs
dear friends. The word covering the fear of the number 13 is triskaideka-
phobia &there is another Friday 13th in July. Still no reports from Boston concert from our blog friends, but expect there will be some after the N.Y concerts. Was warm to-day 21 degrees celcius which is just over 50 fahrenheit. Sure nice to have it warm & see the sun, but we've sure had some crazy weather the past two weeks or so,
Hope all is well kove Marianne
Hi dear friends, Marianne so glad you are getting a little warmer. It was in the low 50's here today but the weather is going downhill fast tomorrow and Monday. This nor'easter will bring us rain and high winds. I don't like the wind because we live in a wooded area and there are huge trees all around us. Further north there will be 1 to 2 feet of snow. What a spring this has been. Just hope everyone will be safe. Andre should be in the thick of it tomorrow night at Atlantic City. Nothing is worse than a coastal storm on the boardwalk. It can be miserable but I am sure anyone going to his concert will not even notice. They will have a beautiful time. Next week at this very time I will be in the middle of my first live concert. I can hardly believe that 7 months ago I thought the day would never come and it is almost here. Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday. Hugs
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) -- Legendary crooner Don Ho, who entertained tourists for decades wearing raspberry-tinted sunglasses and singing the catchy signature tune "Tiny Bubbles," has died. He was 76.
He died Saturday morning of heart failure, publicist Donna Jung said.
Ho had suffered with heart problems for the past several years and had a pacemaker installed last fall. In 2005, he underwent an experimental stem cell procedure on his ailing heart in Thailand.
Ho entertained Hollywood's biggest stars and thousands of tourists for four decades. For many, no trip to Hawaii was complete without seeing his Waikiki show -- a mix of songs, jokes, double entendres, Hawaii history and audience participation.
Shows usually started and ended with the same song, "Tiny Bubbles." Ho mostly hummed as the audience enthusiastically took over the song's swaying, silly lyrics: "Tiny bubbles/in the wine/make me happy/make me feel fine."
"I hate that song," he often joked to the crowd. He said he saved it for the end because "people my age can't remember if we did it or not."
The son of bar owners, Ho broke into the Waikiki entertainment scene in the early 1960s and, except for short periods, never left. Few artists are more associated with one place.
"Hawaii is my partner," Ho told The Associated Press in 2004.
Donald Tai Loy Ho, who was Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and German, was born August 13, 1930, in Honolulu and grew up in the then-rural countryside of Kaneohe.
In high school, he was a star football player and worked for a brief time in a pineapple cannery. After graduating in 1949, he attended Springfield College in Massachusetts on an athletic scholarship. He grew homesick, returned to the islands and ended up graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1953 with a degree in sociology.
Inspired by the U.S. military planes flying in and out of Hawaii during World War II, Ho joined the Air Force. As the Korean War wound down, he piloted transport planes between Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan.
When he returned home and took over his parents' struggling neighborhood bar, Honey's, he put together a band and started performing at his father's request.
"I had no intention of being an entertainer," Ho said. "I just played songs I liked from the radio, and pretty soon that place was jammed. Every weekend, there would be lines down the street."
Honey's became a happening place on Oahu, with other Hawaiian musicians stopping in for jam sessions. Ho began to play at various spots in Hawaii, and soon, he was packing places such as the Coconut Grove in Hollywood, California, and the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Stars such as Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra were known to be in the audience for Ho's shows.
Ho also became a television star and hosted the "The Don Ho Show" on ABC from 1976 to 1977. One of Ho's most memorable TV appearances was a 1972 cameo on an episode of "The Brady Bunch."
"I've had too much fun all these years," he said in the 2004 interview. "I feel real guilty about it."
Besides "Tiny Bubbles," his other well-known songs include "I'll Remember You," "With All My Love" and the "Hawaiian Wedding Song."
Hi all Mark & I spent a very pleasant few hours with Al yesterday. Lovely lunch -topic Andre of course went back to his Friends home & watched Silvester Punsch. Al's had a slight problem with the net but will be back ASAP. It was great to meet him! Hugs
That's Terrific! It is so good when fans get together.
"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You´re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you´re two months back in the middle of March".
Robert Frost
That is wonderful. (where are our poets of today?)
This POET is busy with cleaning up all the mess! Finally, it is done, so I can put my feet up a little, or I should put my feet on the pedal, to Bike!. Windy, cooler, more reain is coming, Today and Tomorrow. Going toward You Shirley!! Kati
omgarsh...i'm not saying a word!
dear friends. Was saddened by hearing of the passing of Don Ho. He was one of the entertainers I had the privilege of seeing when My late husband & I visited Hawaii in 1974. We
celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary
at the Royal Hawaiian hotel. Dinner which was lovely along with a singer named John Rowles, a tenor with a great voice. Don't think he ever got to the mainland , but he was sure nice to hear. Our trip to the islands was different as we stayed with friends, who were there on sabbatical, so we got a very different view of Hawaii &
its' people as we went to many places which weren't full of tourists although we did that bit too. Don't think I will ever forget that trip. Just read Mirusia's April news letter,
she is going to be one very busy yound lady. Its funny how all singers belong in categories, sopranos, contraltos, tenors baritones etc, but each on is a bit different, & that just points out the uniqueness of each person in this world. It's a bit gray to-day but it's not supposed to storm until to-morrow.
We do get the odd tornado here & had a watch last week, so we all have been subjected to the vagasries of weather.
Hope everyone is well Love Marianne
Hi Marianne: How good it is to have memories of Don Ho. He certainly made his mark on music and shared his love of Hawaii with everyone via his songs. You must have enjoyed your anniversary trip very much.
There are a few artists I would have/would like to see. Wish I could have met Roy Rogers & Dale Evens. Wonderful People. Walt Disney. Genius. Far Before His Time. Maureen O'Hara. I've always thought she was so beautiful & talented.
And I am happy to have Met with Andre & many of the JSO. Nice People who share their time. *I would never want to hang around and force them to use their private time, but I did appreciate the Meet & Greets and seeing them out and about when they did not mind saying hello. So many of us have met them at those times. Andre certainly picked nice people for the orchestra, good thing they are also very talented.
I hope everyone's Cats & Dogs are ok. Please remember to check the recall list daily as it is still growing. Check each food provider's site as well.
Monster-Kitty
I'm soo glad that Monster Kitty is ok now!So far Jazz is ok, tho' she hasn't had any of the recalled food, I'm still cautious. I watched our little Miss Kitty go thru the kidney failure thing and it's not something I wish to see ever again!
Well, yesterday I was handed off to another couple of friends in Melbourne who I'll be with for a couple of nights before heading back to Geelong. These friends are about to head off to Europe for a three month tour. They have a small RV in England that they will use before selling it.
Yesterday we all met at the M.C.G. as it's called locally. It's the Melbourne Cricket Ground which seats nearly 100,000 people. The event was a footy game between Melbourne and Geelong which Geelong won. This is one of the great stadiums of the world. We had an elegant dinner in the members' dining room where no one will be admitted if they are not properly atired. Dress code is suits for men and dresses for ladies. My host ordered two really nice bottles of wine (there were six of us at our table)and I ordered a prawn entree. The lemon tart dessert that I ordered was outstanding. After dinner we went to our seats in the stands to watch the first half of the game, and at half time we returned to our table for sandwiches, tea and scones.
I saw several of my friends at the game, and because both my first host and my current one had formerly played for the two clubs that were involved in the game, I met through them several other former players. The circle of friends in Australia is growing. Actually I met six of my old friends at the game.
Today we went looking for koalas and kangaroos, but did not have much luck. We found a couple of koalas, but they were too high up the trees to get good photos, and the kangaroos bounded away from us when a couple of dirt bikes scared them away.
My friend Ken and I visited two wineries which are located just on the outskirts of Melbourne. We then joined his wife and six others at a fine home for a marvelous dinner.
This evening my hosts are having another dinner with nine of us in attendance.
Tomorrow I'll be taking the train into Melbourne to meet two friends for a tour of the M.C.G. before heading back to Geelong. On the 20th I'll be flying to Brisbane to visit yet another friend,with my return flight on the 24th. I'll stay at a Melbourne hotel that night because the 25th is a special day in Australia - Anzac Day which honours the veterans of foreign wars. There will be a dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance followed by a parade and in the afternoon we'll all be going back to the M.C.G. for a footy game which will probably sell out.
I've not been getting much rest, as my friends have been keeping me busy with a full schedule.
I must mention that I had a delightful afternoon with Norma Akers and her husband Mark. We had lunch at a riverside cafe and then we went to the house where I was staying to watch the Silvesterpunsch DVD.
And last night I played segments of several different Andre Rieu DVDs for my hosts. They had never heard of him, but they were most impressed.
Keep well, and I'll send updates again soon.
Al Girard
Thank you Al. I look forward to reading about your journey & experiences.The "lemon tart dessert" caught my eye right away as I've never turned down a lemon anything! And I never knew there was a special day there to honor the veterans.Will be waiting to hear more.
Hi dear friends. Thanks Al - really enjoy reading about your adventures. Oh that Lemon Tart sounds good to me too. That must have been fun looking for kangaroos and koalas. Keep your reports coming and have fun.
Sure hope Andre got out of Atlantic City early. I know that area real well and it is probably flooded now. I am sure they are ahead of the storm because they know what they are doing at every moment.
Leaving for Florida tomorrow!!! I can hardly stand the anticipation any more. I am a wreck. My husband and I will be meeting Ruth Morgan at our hotel on Saturday morning and we will start off on our adventures - looking for buses, going to the Sawgrass Mall and just having fun. We will all get together with her family for dinner at 5:00 and from there to the concert! Oh happy day!! We have our blue lights so I hope Andre will see them. We are all seated in different areas so he should see some of them. Will give you a full report once I regain my senses.
Did everyone see the photos on Andre's site from Boston and New York?
Take care everyone. Hugs
Jeanine Ann, if you are to be with Ruth you're in for a fun time!I'm just so excited for you I could burst!
Shirley, I think we should stow away in Ruth's, Jeanine's & Al's Suitcases! Just think of the travel we could be doing!
/And You would just leave ME behind?? Kati
No One Would DARE!
I just had to remind You, of ME!! Kati
yer, a gonna save a lil space for meeeeee, aren't ya?
Just if You will have Your chartreuse short on!! Kati
Go ahead, just tease us!! Kati
Hi Jeanine Ann: I know Andre will be glad to get away from Atlantic City and drive on down to sunny Florida. If I was flying across country I'd sure rather head to FL where the weather is nice.
I hear Mirusia was wonderful with her Angel Wings & song. Suzan ala Sisi and I Belong To Me.
And as always the JSO is terrific! Andre really does bring us the best.
Sally, thanks for your concern about our pets. All kitties here are good. Don't think they got any of the bad food. So glad Monster is ok and Shirley glad Jazz is ok too. It is really a concern and I look at every can and pouch to be sure they are not on the list. Our oldest Honi is 16 and I don't think she could survive anything like kidney failure. Cotton is 13 and her liver is not good so I don't think she could survive anything either so I keep watch. Patches is young at 5. Take care. Hugs
Thank you Shirley! I am excited for me too and anyone else going to a concert. Didn't you say earlier that you would be going to Pittsburgh or am I wrong? I get confused as to who is going where.
I just saw on the news that 32 people were killed at Va Tech this morning and dozens more wounded. I don't have all the details but it is all over the news. Those poor people. The families need our prayers.
Take care. Hugs
Hi Jeanine Ann, no it wasn't me going to Pittsburg(darn it).I've been watching the news about the shootings, definately praying for the families.What a horrible thing to happen.
dear friends. The Detroit abc stn I listen to most of the day has yet another report on the terrible carnage
at Vtech, Can't imagine what dire things could make a person wreek such havoc!! We had a similar thing happen a few miles from here a couple of years back & the perp served time but only 3 years, but the family who lost a son will have that to mourn forever,
& you can't tell me that the perp didn't know what he was doing as he certainly was beyond the age of reason.
Enjoyed the new pics of the current concerts back east. Surely do hope their weather improves sooner than later. Here to-day it was almost 20 cel
like over 70 fahrenheit & the gras is greening & the trees have an aura of
green & the birds are singing. My son Andy came home all enthused about the baby lambs a couple of doors away, so
Kathy & went over to see the little
critturs, which turned out to be goats
& boy do they talk up a storm. They sure are cute!! Finally won a scrabble game from son -in law Curtis & even used up all 7 tiles in one turn. That was fun but it wasn't a run-away as both scores were over 350 points. Talked to my computer tech in Montreal
this morning & it was just the end of the nor.easter that blasted to whole
eastern seaboard Can only get better
Hope all is well love Marianne
I am with you Marianne: I cannot understand man's inhumanity to man. There is no sense in the killings.
My heart goes out to the loved ones of the victims (and the loved ones of the shooter).
"Almost 20 Cel" That's still cold ! But then spring can be cool. I'd rather have cool, that extreme heat. And I love all the birds singing as well as the new baby animals.
My heart and prayers go out to those killed or hurt at V-Tech today, and their families. I will never understand why things like this have to happen. How can one person take so many lives? Why? I do not know. So many questions. How can there be such hate?
My love to all who were affected today.
IF you look at the April Concerts you will find the lyrics to one of the songs Mirusia sings. It is beautiful.
HI JOAN FROM PHILLY. If you are going to Reading concert maybe we can get together before the concert. My husband and I are going. Please contact me at: weathergirl052@comcast.net
We are leaving today for Florida concert but I will pick up email enroute. Thanks for your report. Have a great day everyone. Hugs
Another "Rieu"
Today I got my usual morning email from "God's Promises". Every day there is information re encouragement, Scripture, etc. TODAYS HAD SOMETHING ON ANOTHER RIEU! Dr. E.V. Rieu....
Dr. E. V. Rieu was a classical scholar and translator for many years. He rendered Homer into very modern English for the Penguin Classics. Rieu was sixty years old and a life-long agnostic when the same firm invited him to translate the Gospels. His son remarked: "It will be interesting to see what Father makes of the four Gospels. It will be even more interesting to see what the four Gospels make of Father."
The answer was soon forthcoming. A year later, Rieu, convinced and converted, joined the Church of England.
In an interview with J. B. Phillips, Rieu confessed that he had undertaken the task of translation because of an "intense desire to satisfy himself as to the authenticity and spiritual content of the Gospels." He was determined to approach the documents as if they were newly discovered Greek manuscripts,. "Did you not get the feeling," asked Canon Phillips, "that the whole material was extraordinarily alive?" The classical scholar agreed. "I got the deepest feeling," he replied. "My work changed me. I came to the conclusion that these words bear the seal of the Son of Man and God."
No words are more powerful.
Thank you for a very interesting read!
to marlene and sally, the hate you question is evil ...unadulterated evil...right now it is having its way in our world ravaging, maiming and killing. Jesus said Be of Good Cheer, for I have overcome the World. Trust in Him. He is our only hope.
Having a young son ready for college this hits my heart big time...i could not survive this earth without Jesus Christ and His Word. L
So many young lives lost. I wonder if our supposed News Media would report the good in the world as well as actually dare print the Good Word, if our world would start healing.
Sally, i understand your sentiments. Yet... The Good Word is available for anyone with "ears to hear". It is cried out by many and refused by most...but to those who receive it, it has the power to change lives, to make fools wise, and to make those the world considers to be genius become a fool, this Word, the Good Word, will prevail, of that we can be sure! It will make the hills low and the valleys high and all will be either welcomed because they received it...just as it will turn away many who have not. What we are seeing in the world today is the enemy of our souls taking up residence in those he in whom he can gain entrance, he knows his days are numbered! The King of Kings is coming, of this we also can be sure...and in that day Justice will be served to both the fool and the wise.L
dear friends, I think we may be in for a bout of good weather, thank goodness!
Sally 20 degrees celsius is like 70 degrees fahrenheit so it's not really cold. You see folks here with shorts &
tees, no coats & i sure do like that
Mirusia really does look like an angel
on the pics from Boston. I do enjoy the
wite-ups & [ics fo the differnt concerts as they each have their own unique flavor. Most likelu won't get to the reunion, so I may see if there is a bus tour to Edmonton for Andre's concert, that would be nice so we shall see how it goes. This depending on pensions only is not fun but am managing okay but no room for frills!!
I see by a program on Disc civilization
that people also came from Europe about
17000. years ago, so that explains the source of the Clovis point, an arrow-head found in the Southwest that has no connection to the migration from Asia. Guess they's have to re-write the history books. It is amazing how people populated the world over the
many millenia. Next thing is a small lesion to be removed from my neck which
is either a squamous or basal cell cancer. Will be done as an out-patient
on April 26th, & it should not be too bad. Much like going to the dentist, &
with these things, the sooner you tend to them the quicker they heal without further problems. This is my third bout with the pesky cancer incidents.
I call them an incident as I know that if you tackle them in good time, you don"t have further complications & no
having it pop up in another place. So far all the cancers I've had have been
on the outside of the body & not in the major internal organs, so I feel that I have had the good Lord keeping a
look-out for me. Hope everyone is well
Love to all Marianne
I really think all of mankind is from the same tribe. Now if only we would all act like it.
I hope you find a bus, or a ride and can make the concert. And, if not, perhaps you will still make the reunion.
I am sending good thought rays for your neck. You are so loved, no doubt it will be fine!
Hello Dear Fans!!!
It's me Sarah again. LONG TIME NO SEE!!! I haven't been blogging for a LOOONNNGGG time!!! Sorry. I have to apologize for that. My school and job have been keeping me quite busy. But...I still take some time off to think about you all. Sometimes I stand at work and look at the beautiful sunsets. My manager has to "wake" me sometimes, or shake me. I usually daydream, or think about my friends. It's fun!!! I know, lots of people at work think I'm odd for daydreaming, but it keeps me very happy!!! I love my imagination. It takes me to different places!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!! Take care!!!
God bless...
The Daydreamer.....lol
For Andre
At present I am listening to your wonderful DVD "New Year in Vienna" Whenever there is nothing on T.V. -which is nearly always- I enjoy this DVD. I never fail to laugh at your humour, and think it's marvellous the way you control your orchestra with a nod, wink or smile. The whole package is a joy to watch. How come there are so many beautiful, and talented young women over your side of the world? I look forward to adding to my collection over the next few years. Something to look forward to in my old age....
I first saw you on T.V. about 20 or more years ago, performing on your own, in a white suit from memory, with the spotlight on you. I thought you had married the beautiful blonde actress in the American soap "The young and the restless"? Did you?
Congratulation on your wonderful music, and many thanks for giving so many people around the world the joy you do. Keep going for a long time to come.
I just found an interesting article on the sale of DVD's in Australia:
http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=1937
When I went to Andre's website and heard "Lost Heroes" playing along with Andre's touching words, I cannot tell you how much it meant to me. I think deeply how special Andre is, he just knows when "comfort" is needed, when something touches our hearts and souls and what to do to get us that needed solace. Thank you Andre, so much!
And Sally, that song SHOULD be playing on all the news stories!
Bill, that was a great article from Austrailia on Andre! Thanks!!
Hi All, i wish I was at the concerts on the east coast. Sounds like a wonderful time.
Has anyone found tickets for the Portland Oregon concert on Oct 9, other than from PBS? Last year Ticketmaster had them in February. I need to find at least 2 tickets.
i am horrified to hear about the shootings and other violent acts in schools. What is going on? I wish people would just live by the Golden Rule. So easy to do! There have been bomb threats and kids with guns at schools here in Oregon recently as well. I send my prayers and thoughts to everyone affected by this.
The tickets for the Oct. 9 concert will
go on Sale May 5 through the Rose Garden Arena - Their ticket phone # is
1-877-789-7673. They won't be using
ticketmaster this year. I got this from the Rose Garden office last week.
I am really looking forward to this
concert.
Sally this is for you! I remember you saying that you loved math. A very funny poem on Algebra written by the other Rieu!
http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/601.html
Oh My! Poetry & Math. I have to send that one to my kids.
*somewhere there is a Rieu Winery. I ran across it online once, but didn't save the link.
I am happy to report, that among these, distinguished Poets and Writers, there is a Famous hungarian Poet named MIKLOS RADNOTI is mentioned, with His Forced March! Read it! Kati
Here is a 23 April Press Release, regarding the new contract with André & Denon Classics
Kati, that sounds interesting. I am going to have to look it up.
Hi all you industrious Andre fans!I'm trying to catch up on all the latest here. Been trying to "save" my eyes for a bit. Will have some cataract surgery coming up before too long.Marilyn,I agree, the Golden Rule should be followed but seems not enough people want to even try anymore.I think we forget that we are all interconnected, and we let a lot of negative things into our minds that only complicate things. Wish I knew all the answers, but, heck, I don't even know all the questions!
What a night in Columbia SC! The concert was wonderful. Andre really connected with the crowd.
ONE BIG DRAWBACK: The seats on the chairs the JSO crew sets out are only 14" wide - smaller than the worst economy class. Three hours is a long time to be uncomfortable.
14" ? Were you carrying a tape measure, or do you have a keen eye for measurements? <g>
André Rieu , critic proof? Read this recent article. Notice, the article misspells, André by omitting the accent mark <g>
I keep a small tape in my camera bag for macro work, but last night was the first time I used it for seat measuring.
I can't imagine having a tiny seat when they have to play so long, but maybe it helps them move? I dunno.
I'm just glad they are there.
Hi Guys - Just got into Sunrise, Fla. I am exhausted from all this driving but so excited about tomorrow night. Will have lots to report. No sign of any blue buses along the way but we were about a day ahead of them. It was exciting to know we were in the same areas as Andre. Talk to you soon. Love to all of you. Hugs
Hi Jeanine Ann!! Oh I am excited for you. You get to go to a concert, and you'll be meeting Ruth (& Jim) Maybe you will see the buses tomorrow or even the JSO at the mall nearby.
My dear Marianne - My prayers are with you. I just know that all will be fine. You are loved. Hugs from Jeanine Ann seeing Andre in Florida!
Has everyone looked at the April Concert's Page?
Those are Joe's photos. I'm working on a page for his story and concert photos, but have some up on the concert page already.
The ultra narrow (and, I am not wide) chairs provided incentive (not that any was necessary) for more standing ovations.
Still, it was a wonderful experience. It's the best kind of 'high'.
In responce to the comment by Marilyn Bas asking about how to get tickets for Andre's Oct. 9 Concert in Portland, Ore.other than at PBS.
The answer to her question is that the tickets will go on sale at the Rose Garden Arena (the concert site) on May 5. They will not be using ticketmaster this year, so people have to call the Rose Garden @ 1-877-789-7673.
Marilyn Smith
Thank you for the info. I kept waiting for ticketmaster.
marilyn bas
What do We have to do, to get access to AndreRieuFans.com? Does n ot let me open it. Are You still working on it Sally? Kati
Where,oh where,has our webmaster gone?
Oh where, oh where can she be?
She was here before, but she shut the door,
I'll bet she forgot the key!
Here I be. Still working on the new server. And still confused. To give you an idea of what this is like, it is like I said.. "I can drive a car, therefore I can fly a plane"....
There are as many controls and differences as well. While the other site was not a cookie cutter cheesy template server, this one is a blank box I have to build from zippo.
So wish me luck, and hope I can do this.
Maybe I'll emerge next week. ..
It's getting closer! I've actually uploaded files. Now to do some Tweaking.
WE ARE UP! YOUR PRAYERS WORKED!
Actually I am still working and tweaking this thing, but for now the site is showing.
AndreRieuFans.com
Now You know, how much We are lost without You!! Kati
Oh girls and guys - my dear friends! It is the day after and I cannot describe how I feel. Will do that later in a concert review. Andre was fabulous!!! Got lots of photos. We were in front of the stage for the encores and WE DANCED!! This morning we called Tampa and managed to get two floor tickets in section 1 but they are row 27 but who cares. At least I can see him again before we leave Florida. Met Dan and Alice! I am on a real high and really have STRING FEVER now!! See you in a few days. Didn't get to see the buses YET. Take care my friends. This was the happiest night of my life so far!!!! Hugs
Jeanine Ann: I can feel you smiling from across the country.
How wonderful you had a great time and even Danced.
*I'll have my email running in a day or two, and until then you can email me at: sally.chaney@gmail.com
Happy Happy Joy Joy
I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!!! I've been thinking of you,but I already knew how you were feeling. Fantastic! "STRING FEVER"? I love it. now go enjoy your other concert.
SHINE ON
Shirley, we've really got to learn how to hide in their suitcases! We need to go to these concerts too!
Let Us put all Our sizes together, figure out of the size of the suitcase?? Extra pouinds, extra charge!! HAHAHA Kati
WE ARE UP! YOUR PRAYERS WORKED!
Actually I am still working and tweaking this thing, but for now the site is showing.
AndreRieuFans.com
Sally, I'm so happy you are up and running! Talk about withdrawals! If anyone can "fly a plane" you can Sally! It's Sunday morning, a lazy morning it is, there's work to be done but not until I say hello to all of you out there. Hello! I can't wait to hear about all those nice concerts some of you have been going to. Jeanine Ann, I've been thinking of you, knowing this was your first concert. I knew you would be beyond "cloud 9"!! Isn't Andre great in a live concert?!!! Makes me excited just thinking about it.
Ok, I've got my day ahead of me, I will write later, now that there is a place to write
I am actually going to celebrate. I have AndreRieuFans.com back up and I've got
DeweyCat.com
&
ApplePiePatriots.com (still need to get this one rolling)
That's enough for now. <wiping brow><dazed & confused>
I ordered my special License Plate, hopefully, they will not deny it. Another hope of mine is, it comes in chartreuse color, with white, that is Colo. color. Bill will like it!! Kati
Yabadabadoo! And look, Kati correctly spelled chartreuse
Go here for some news about Andre
Just because I have this word the front of me all the time, make sure, at least I spell Your favorite color roght! HAHAHA Kati
The NEWS is GREAT, I just cannot get enough of the New York CD and DVD either. I am not surprised at all, that He and His Company, high on the Charts. The only thing is missing of these DVDs is my CHARDASH, Mr. Bill, this is the correct way to spell it in English!!
Bill, You could come to Denver, with an lxxx size of chartreuse size of Shorts, and We could build a Snowman. Snowing like Dogs and Cats Today!? Kati
Have you all checked out the Featured Fans Page ?
Let's all give a Thank You shout to Joe!
THANK YOU JOE!!!!!
I checked it out yesterday! Thank you Joe, for taking the time to share your experiences with us & for taking the time to take so many beautiful photos.
Thanks Joe for sharing your experiences, highlights and wonderful pictures of your concerts! It's so much fun reading about these concerts because we can take ourselves out of our present daily lives for just a minute and enjoy something so beautiful as an Andre Rieu concert. It's one of my high spots of the day. Thanks so much.
Hi Joe::: THANKS A BILLION for your grand report... do keep us informed of all the happenings with Andre, appreciate it so much.
With Regards,,,,Nettie May from Colorado
And it is fun to look forward to a page Adopted by Wendy !
(c)Wendy Keighley
Yes it is! Please let us know when it's ready & I'm curious about what page you adopted.
What a fantastic picture! I love it. One of my "highlights" (one of MANY) at an Andre Rieu concert is the balloons, and it's enjoyable watching Andre watching a balloon. Thanks for sharing this!
Brisbane was amazing. It's a beautiful city, with a large river
that flows through it, and there is a lot of activity on the river.
It's lined by many expensive homes, most with docks and some with
yachts. The river leads to salt water, and cruise ships actually
come upstream to the city. There is a transporation system called
"River Cats" which works much like a bus system would through streets
and avenues.
I rode the River Cats probably for a total of about 4 hours over
the four days that I was in the area, and I have a lot of photos
that I took while travelling on the river, as there was a lot to
photograph.
I got caught in the middle a few hundred lorikeets with one even
landing on my head. They're absolutely beautiful birds. Australia
has a tremendous number of gorgeous birds because it's essentially
a near-tropical country. Again, I took a lot of great photos.
My friends and I were taking a walk along the river where there are
a number of fine restaurants. The staff was feeding pelicans table
scraps, and I was just feet away from the birds. It was quite funny
to watch, really.
On the 24th I got up at 5:00 am as my flight for Melbourne left at 6:50.
Upon arriving in Melbourne I checked into my hotel and then I took a
tram for the city center where I did a little shopping and took a lot
of photos. There's no doubt that Melbourne is a major city, and it's
absolutely a beautiful one. I went to bed early becuase I set the
alarm for 3:30 the next morning (April 25th) which is ANZAC Day, a
statutory holiday. The reason for getting up early is that I wanted
to attend the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, a magnificant
tribute to the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in Galipoli
and in other wars. I had been told that if I wanted to have a good
spot to watch the proceedings I should be there by 4:00 a.m.,so I
walked the three blocks from my hotel and was there on time. While
waiting, I met several really nice people, including a lady who's
great-great-grandfather joined the army at the age of 15, and was
wounded at Galipoli. She told me what to expect, and even took me
by the hand as we climbed the stairs to enter the shrine. When we
got inside, we were handed poppies which we placed into a large bronze
urn to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers.
Later in the morning my Geelong friends picked me up to take me to
the Montrose area of Melbourne where we were joined by other friends
for a marvelous dinner party. I'll be staying here for the next
few nights before going back to Geelong for the final days before
I head home on May 5th.
This house is on the side of the Dandenong Mountains, and the view
is magnificent. One can see city lights far in the distance. It's
simply outstanding.
I'm going to head to bed early tonight but my friend has lots planned
for tomorrow, so it looks like I'll have lots of great memories to
add to those that have already f
Thank you Al. It's such a pleasure to be able to see, through your eyes, the beauty of this wonderful country.What a magnificent journey you are having & I appreciate your sharing it with us. I'll be awaiting all the photos. Thanks for reminding us of ANZAC.
thanks for taking the time & trouble to document your experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Quite honestly I have very little knowledge about Australia & had to look on a map to see where Melbourne & Brisbane are located.
Will be eagerly anticipating further reports.
Sincerely,
Bill in Arizona
If We get lucky with Andre's October programs, maybe able to dance the Csardas, if He plays the song ELJEN A MAGYAR, this is written in hungarian, a very good Csardas. You can listen to it, if You have Andre's 100 years of Strauss CD. Kati
GOOD GRIEF KATI!I would be dead if I tried to dance that one!!!I'm out of breath just listening.I'd have to do more than ride a bike to get in shape for that. Speaking of bikes, did you know about this 65 yr old man who is riding a bike for 6500 miles?He's doing it to raise money for cancer, ALS and hospice. His goal is to make $500,000.I've been following his story and his route. now that guy is in great shape and doing a remarkably good thing too.
I would love to join Him, but not yet, or I would be Dead sooner than anybody else. What a great cause!! I really feel like to do so good, have to be a shorter distance. Anyway, the dance I am talking about is not that bad, I will teach You one day, tyhere is Csardas music, that is much slower, like for Senior citizens, like ME! Kati
Of course, if I show up in Denver, I'll have to decide between my chartreuse outfit or my Oakland Raider outfit.
Oakland Raiders"? you wanna be run out of town? Besides,I'd like to see you in your chartreuse, dancing the csardas with Kati. You're committed to chartreuse now, "to thine own self be true"!
Now, that would be something!! I had to stand on my head, to be able to open Sally's site, I do not know why, anyway, maybe I will come up a skirt of chartreuse color, it is ugly, but would worth the dance. I am sure, all JSOs would remember!! Kati
Andre in Oakland - YES Raiders in Oakland - snooze.
When Andre appears in Oakland, I understand his contract requires that he & all the JSO members appear in Silver & Black
I think Bill, You just go a little too far!!. Never will happen! Kati
I love good football! Kati
Bill, now that I finally was able to open the site, I have to tell You, I always liked the Oakland Raiders, You can come in Your outfit anytime! Maybe the people of Denver, might chase You out, but not me. Kati
hmmmmm, Denver in October? Actually, that is doable. hmmmmm
Usually it is very nice here in October. But I do not know anymore, after this year? There was a blizzard 2 days ago, in two days, it will be over 80. Who can understand this? Kati
You wouldn't believe the action at my friends' bird feeder which is just ten feet from the kitchen window. Today I took photos of sulpher-crested cockatoos and crimson rosellas which are gorgeous little parrots. I can't wait to share the photos with you.
I can't wait to see the photos either! Be sure and let us know where to see them.
Al, I would love to see them. I think birds are such happy little creatures. They bring a beauty to our world and most of us never see parrots in the wild. Close as I come are my little family of Cockatiels, Zorro, Annie, Betsy Boy & BabyZ. I can only dream of watching parrots flying freely.
You bird lovers might enjoy the book
"Providence of a Sparrow" written by
Chris Chester,a Portland, Ore. author.
it's the story of a man (his wife helps) who rescues a baby house sparrow who falls out of its nest into
the guy's yard and thus becomes part of his life and teaches him many thngs. It is charming and is wonderfully written. Our local library featured it in group discussions with authors.
What a treat to have at your library. I am going to go to my local and request the book. I love reading and thankfully passed that love onto my children. When combined with my love of animals, it's even better. Thanks for the tip!
Providence of a Sparrow <~~ on my list of books to get at library!
Have You All seen the new DVD, that is coming? Andre's way to New York. Check it out on His site. Kati
Kati, I think that one will be like the "soaps" we watched.
I will enjoy it, I did not see the Soaps! I hardly can wait!. I am still waiting on the previous one! It is a month now, it is about time, maybe Today?? Kati
Good excuse not to ride the Bike, I had a flat!! HAHAHA. Fixed, so I have no more excuse for Tomorrow, Sun came out, nice and warm, I have to ride. Kati
I don't have a bkie to ride, but I do walk/jog 6 miles every other evening after I get off work; takes 1.5 hours. Last Sunday I climbed Squaw Peak, a 2'5 hour climb north of Phoenix along trails in a preserve area. When a hiker gets to the top, we get a great overlooking view of metropolitan Phoenix. Plan to make the same climb day after tomorrow. It's great exercise. Last Sunday, after the climb I was wondering if I would have any sore muscles, aches, or pains. I really happy to report....NONE.
I did not ride yet, today, just trimmed and cut my grass, gave a bath to my Dog, and myself, and I am already aching. I plan to ride after a little Hockey, I do have rest a little first! I am old You know? Kati
Oh Kati, if you want my opinion, you will never be old! You got too much sparkle. By the way, are you watching hockey or playing it?
I am watching the Hockey Playoffs, very good match ups, great games, theyt are going for the Stanley Cup. I have a few Sports, I do like, I played Basketball myself for 12 years, decades ago!!! Kati
Hi Kati: I have never watched hockey. Never got into it. Now Basketball, I don't watch but LOVED to play. I played all through school. My little grade school had an unbeatable team. I think 69 to 0 was our best wipeout. We did that with our C string. I played varsity in 9th grade. And yet, I never got into watching it as a sport either. I think perhaps I have no team to watch here, or just didn't get the bug to see professionals.
**Did everyone see our site is back up? And, I've got pages...pages to work on now. I can receive emails at Sally@AndreRieuFans.com but cannot send them return yet. I'll still use my gmail for that.
There were no Professionals under the Communist Regime, ,but I played at the highest Leage possible, I am short, but I was fast as Lightning! I loved it. I still played 2 extra years, while, I was a High School Teacher, but became too much, with all the travel, so I had to give it up. Now, I just watch all the sports I like. I will not say which ones I do not like, that would not be an american!!! Kati
You Shirley, mean to tell me , I am too mean? Kati
Kati, you mean? Nah.
Now me? Well, I'm nice a pie, unless one calls names and tells lies. Two things I seriously dislike in a person.
I think that is what I like about most of Andre's Fans. They are such kind & nice people.
We do have to accept honesty, even if it does hurt!! In my opinion, it is maybe a constractive criticism, We all can be wrong one time or another!! Kati
You know Bill, You are only Human, You misspell things also, just like I do, bkie?? Kati
http://chaney.name
While the domain name propagates the net, our site is up on http://chaney.name
To the Canadian fans....does anyone visit Vancouver. I'm interested in visiting there and wondered if it has changed much from 1985 (the last time i was there?). It was a gorgeous place then that made a lasting impression on me.
Thanks, Lorraine
dear friends. Hope this site accepts my
post!! It's failed for the past three times so I hope it works this time. To
Lorraine, I hope to find you some info re Vancouver, B.C., which is a beautiful city mostly because of the setting with the coast mountains & the sea. I used to live 100 miles east in
Hope B.C., so Don & I spent a lot of time visiting the city, with all the parks etc., & I didn't rewalize how much I missed it until I moved to Alberta< which is flat land. I've been here ten years , & expect it is where
I'll be when I'm called up yonder, as nyfamily is all here, so why go anywhere else? Was a bit annoyed with the critics assessment of our maestro,
who brings us love, joy, peace etc & the audience loves what he &the JSO do
so who cares? I think he has done more for ordinary folks than anyone else on
the planet & what he does is universal & there is not many people in the public eye than can say they've brought as much joy to audiences the world over as has our maestro/ Hope all is well with everyone, Love Marianne
Hi Marianne: Vancouver sounds so pretty. I would love to see Butchart Gardens..in fact I wish I could see each season there. That's on my list of things to do. For now I'll settle for seeing Andre Rieu there in October. (I still have Prince Edward Island on my must see list too)(and thinking of the gardens, I must must must go to Mendocino a weekend soon and return to the Mendocino Gardens where I saw the most spectacular Begonia ever!)
I agree with you about the critics. Andre never pays them attention. That's why he is so popular. No matter if it is those who dislike his style, or those who dislike his guest stars, he ignores them all the way to millions of ticket sales and all the way to the bank. I think most important he ignores them to follow his own heart & dream, and that is a lesson we can all follow.
thanks marianne! i loved vancouver when i was there. been looking at the price of houses... it must be very wonderful to live there! i heard that stanley park has suffered some tree loss due to a huge storm awhile ago. i biked through there and thought it was so beautiful. i am traveling to canada often now via the net...vicarious travel and moving helps me sometimes when the turkeys of my own area get me down. the grass is always greener syndrome! stay well, friend! lorraine
Mother's Day in Europe, is the first Sun day of May! So, Happy Mother's Day, to all Mothers, here, and all over the World!! Kati
Hello my dear friends! I am writing from my sick bed. Both my husband and I got the flu on Tuesday - concert day in Tampa! We were so sick because it is a particularly bad strain of the flu. We got to Tampa, picked up our tickets and when we got to the motel we just collapsed. We could not eat or anything. I cried my eyes out because I knew I could not get to the concert. We had to stay there for two more days just to get enough energy to drive which was a real chore since we had over 1000 miles to go. Got home last evening (Saturday) and we are still sick but will improve with rest. But at least I did get to the Miami concert and will be sending all of you report with lots of photos. Some are real good and a few are blurred but words fail me as to the great difference seeing Andre LIVE in concert. I was on such a high afterward and then I just sat and cried and cried (tears of joy that time). I kept asking my husband during the concert - am I really here? Ruth and Jim - what lovely people they are. We had so much fun together. Ruth introduced us to Dan and Alice (Banner Man) and that was such a delight to us.
Thank you for all your kind and happy thoughts about my first concert. My second one is in about two weeks and I will get there if I must be carried in! Oh and would you believe all through the driving and illness, my yellow balloon is still intact from the concert!
Kati you are NOT old so keep biking! Glad you got your doggie washed tho. Hope he enjoyed it. Will read all posts later. Need another nap. My love to all of you. Hugs
Oh Jeanine Ann, I was wondering about you! What a bummer, to miss your Tampa concert, but at least you did get to the other one.That strain of flu is wicked, it wipes you out fast.We'll just have to pray for your fast recovery.Two weeks and you'll be back in the clouds, that is if you ever left!Will look forward to your reports.
Yes, I would call it most unusual, We got the weather, that supposed to come here in March. Let us hope, May will be much better!? I do know it will be better, my Birthday is coming, that will make me a year older, so do not feel bad, I am catching up with all of You out there. The Younger ones, have to catch up with Us! HAHAHA. Kati
As old as You feel, sometimes, like a 100? I met Dan, in Denver, He does not know, who I am, but I tried to tell Him, get up and dance with us, He said it is OK. He does not know, that all the Fans recognize Him, because, the DVDs, He is on every one of them, so , it is like to know Him. Kati
Hi Kati: Dan has been to so many concerts, wow,...he could write a book. Did you met Alice his wife. She reminds me of a movie star from the silver screen (no she is not old), in that she has a graceful elegance to her. Very pretty and classy lady.
I just noticed Dan, with His Banner, Andre for President, I filmed Him, but personally they do not know who I am, and so, I do not know how His Wife looks like. Maybe in Sacramento in Dec.? I hope I will have a better chance, unless They are coming to Denver also, on Oct. 21st, I will make time to introduce myself. Kati
Jeanine Ann...
wow Jeanine Ann that is some experience you are having! So so sorry that you got the flu. I am really glad that you got to the one concert! So great that you got to meet Jim and Ruth and Dan and Alice! Can't wait to see your pictures and hear all your impressions about your experience. Wishing you a speedy recovery from that nasty bug. I guess the flu season is still here. I wouldn't have thought so! L
KATI--- KEEP BIKING!
Last day of April, Biking is inn, now comes some relaxation before my Hockey games in the evening!! Go San Jose!! Go Anahiem!! Unfortunately the Denver team did not make the Playoffs. So, I just like the better team! Kati
So the choices are DUCKS or SHARKS?
Well everyone, I just wrote almost 3000 words...and when I put it up...it got lost somewhere between here and there...so...later, if I get another opportunity, I'll write again.
Isn't that annoying as all get out??? Even happens to me.
So once I get this new server settled in...I'm going to learn about another blog and setup a custom site blog. Until then... right click, select all, copy and then press enter. If what you wrote doesn't make it.. at least you'll have it copied to the clipboard and you can paste it in, not having to retype the darn thing.
(that's what I do as I too have had it bounce me out. grrrr! 
What a great idea Sally...duh...you would think I would have thought of that!
I don't' have time to type anything tonight, tomorrow I will try to remember most of what I was going to say...and re-write. Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful evening, my thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Take care!
...just wanted to say goodbye to April...and readying for a hello to May.
May it be May! L
Hi dear friends, still feel rotten but I just must share this bit of heavenly news with you. My tickets to Reading are in ROW AA, CENTER. I could not believe it so we called and the man said "you have the best seats in the house"! WHOOPIE More tears of joy. Must go, working on my report. Hugs
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!!!!!
I CALL IT LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY!! Kati
dear friends I agree!!goodbye to April
which has been spotty to say the least,
but at least we didn't get the extreme rain that Vancouver & the Fraser valley had to endure. It was very wet!!Butchart gardens is on Van island which
has a different ambience than the bigg city on the mainland. Both are beautiful but different as each has its' own unique flavor The gardens were built in & over an old quarry for
Butchart senior's wife Jenny, who was an avid gardener. He was able to bring
exotic species of plants & flowers from
all the world & because of the generally mild climate all the stuff does grow. All of coastal B.C. has the
evergreen forests plus the undergrowth
that you usually find in tropical jungles so with the mountains as backdrop it's very spectacular. When you live with this for most of your life you take it for granted & only when you live on the flat prairies do you realize what you left behind. I've
been in Brooks for 10 years & I still get homesick for the mountains. My surgery went well & no melanoma thank the good Lord Geet the stitches out this Friday & none too soon as they are itchy. Good sign of healing so I am very releived. Hope Jeanine Ann &
husband recuperated from the flu. & it
is a rather nasty strain floating around, So far I've been lucky, but I do take extra care Sani-wipes for carts
which are more germy than flush handles on the toilet. In public restrooms I flush with my foot and turn
taps on & off with paper towel. Also if I get a cold I stay home until I'm not infectious to other people. Seems to help as I haven't had a cold in five
years Love to all Marianne
dear friends I agree!!goodbye to April
which has been spotty to say the least,
but at least we didn't get the extreme rain that Vancouver & the Fraser valley had to endure. It was very wet!!Butchart gardens is on Van island which
has a different ambience than the bigg city on the mainland. Both are beautiful but different as each has its' own unique flavor The gardens were built in & over an old quarry for
Butchart senior's wife Jenny, who was an avid gardener. He was able to bring
exotic species of plants & flowers from
all the world & because of the generally mild climate all the stuff does grow. All of coastal B.C. has the
evergreen forests plus the undergrowth
that you usually find in tropical jungles so with the mountains as backdrop it's very spectacular. When you live with this for most of your life you take it for granted & only when you live on the flat prairies do you realize what you left behind. I've
been in Brooks for 10 years & I still get homesick for the mountains. My surgery went well & no melanoma thank the good Lord Geet the stitches out this Friday & none too soon as they are itchy. Good sign of healing so I am very releived. Hope Jeanine Ann &
husband recuperated from the flu. & it
is a rather nasty strain floating around, So far I've been lucky, but I do take extra care Sani-wipes for carts
which are more germy than flush handles on the toilet. In public restrooms I flush with my foot and turn
taps on & off with paper towel. Also if I get a cold I stay home until I'm not infectious to other people. Seems to help as I haven't had a cold in five
years Love to all Marianne
Shirley and Kati, you are both right - lucky and happy!!
Just sent concert report to Sally. Will send the photos on a CD tomorrow. Hope all of you will like them. Have a beautiful May everyone. April was wonderful!
Marlene, I hope we get to read what you wrote and lost. You always write so nicely. Hugs
Cannot wait to hear your concert report Jeanine Ann. I'm sure we will like the photos
They say the third time is a charm. We shall see. For anyone in cyberspace who wishes to hear, I've done this twice now, and lost it both times...hence, the third time is a charm. I really need to hit my "easy" button right now!
Ahhh...It makes me feel so much better!
Sally, if you wonder why I didn't copy it like you suggested...well...when I got finished I had every intention of hitting it...and my fingers went to the submit button like clockwork and...need I say more? Oh well.
Al, thanks for all the nice reports of your travels. It's been great reading them.
Jeanine Ann, I'm so sorry you missed your Tampa concert, if it were me, I
would just have to sit down and cry. It would take an awful lot to keep me away from and Andre concert, I know that there are times that are unavoidable, and as in your case and someone else I know, but why on the night of an Andre concert?
So, if anyone can answer one question for me...IF...we are to get sick (or whatever reason) and not be able to make a certain date, then WHY...oh WHY...does it have to be on the night of an Andre concert? The wait is long, for most, almost a year. The great tickets go very fast, Andre
is MORE than worth waiting for...so why?
"Fate" is NOT an acceptable answer.
I've been to Vancouver, B.C., it's been many years, about 35 years, and I
still remember the beautiful lake and those incredible mountains, and the
wonderful time we had. Always wanted to go back. On my wish list is the chance to see Andre in concert there. Three nights in a row, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, what a joy that would be!
Shirley, I know someone else who says that April was (still is?) a doozy...I
think more than one person will be happy that this month is leaving us and
letting us get on with another whole new month with wonderful things to do
and participate in. I've always been happy when the first three months of
the year are over with...it seems that so many things have happened in my
life in those first three.
The last four days, including today, have just been incredibly
beautiful here...if Andre were having a concert up here now, then I would have to say that Clara got the sausages!
I wanted to say something about the wild Parrots...When we moved to Florida the first time, 1973 (?), we used to go out in the evening and wait for the flocks of wild parrots to fly over.
It was so enjoyable watching them, they were noisy and squwaking so loudly. It truly was a unique and exciting experience for us.
Well, I better get off before I'm kicked off, it's just that not often I
have a minute to write something.
Take care everyone. Have a great week and all of you who are not feeling
well, get better and have a great week too!
Ok, haha...I remembered, so this is the last time I will have to type this, or, close to what it was in the beginning.