New Kid in Town

Meet #24 - Oscar. He came to us midway through the school year after his host family didn’t work out. Come to find out, he hasn’t experienced much of life in Michigan during this time.

We’re fixing that.

First was a trip to Maggie’s Kitchen for authentic Mexican food. Then, a trip to Grand Haven to experience the frozen Lake Michigan lakeshore. And on the way back home, a spin through Grand Valley’s Allendale campus for a little college life.

He wants to experience more culinary delights. Describing the Chilimacaloco at Mad Dogz, his eyes lit up as he said, “that sounds so American!” And he’s never had a root beer float. 

I have a feeling we are going to be our own personal Explore Michigan ambassadors. 

 

Making The White Album T-shirt

No. 9? Actually, No.0020828

Between The Beatles Channel on Sirius/XM and the Get Back doc, I’ve been sucked back into Fab fanaticism, although does it really ever go away? I've been there since 1973. 

I’m not alone, as my social media feed has seen a delightful uptick in all things Beatle. 

One meme in particular caught my eye as everyone dusted off their old band shirts. Guy posted an image of a man wearing a plain white tee, calling it his White Album shirt. That gave me an idea…

While the cover is white, it’s not purely white. Embossed on the cover in Helvetica is the band’s name, slightly askew, five degrees or so. And a different font is used for stamping a serial number, a limited edition of an album that sold millions, a sarcastic joke by the band. Closest I could get to matching the stamp font was Modern No. 20. 

I do have a one-in-a-thousand, remastered, limited edition box set from 2018, released for the 50th anniversary, with its own serial number. I set about making my own personalized No.0020828 album cover tee, using a white v-neck, the gatefold poster image of the band, and iron-on transfer paper. 

I trimmed it up, ironed them on hot and dry, and let it set. I made one for my friend Lisa too, her serial number is ridiculously lower than mine, 0001298. 

It’s fun, a DIY that came together quickly after sitting on the idea way too long. 

Next, whether I should make a cartoon Beatles shirt that started it all (since 1973 people! I was 4!) or go with my idea of a Here, There, and Everywhere shirt, a song I can now play on guitar. I did buy a 6 pack of t-shirts, so I have four left. 

One more thing! Sirius voters need to give more love to the song Long, Long, Long #underappreciated. 

Guitar slinging, a month in!

I’ve been quite shy about my pursuit of relearning guitar on my own, and have, in a self-depreciating tone, commented that “I’m a terrible runner and mediocre skater, why not suck at guitar too?”

I was starting to get down about my erratic timing, bum notes, and suspect melody, admitting I’m 100% enthusiasm and zero percent style. But then I saw the quote from Rickey above, and it reinforced  mindset that I have the freedom to try. I went through the same thing with skating, striving for that adult nationals medal for validation, then relishing the freedom that afforded me to do the kind of skating I wanted to do, which made me a better skater. 

I reclaimed my electric Fender Starcaster collecting dust in Will’s room, and Dave replaced the sixth string. I tuned it up and started playing pretty much nothing, since I had packed the songbooks for the trip up north. I felt relaxed. I had originally committed to 15 minutes a day but it has consistently been an hour or longer. 

I have all the individual notes all figured out, which is a sweet victory since I stumbled over this as a kid. And I can tune my guitar on my own, thanks to a guitar tuner app. Is this cheating? No! I knew the fifth string didn’t sound right and figured it out on my own. 

2022!

 Here’s to blender drinks and monopolizing board games!

Moment of Joy 2021, part 21

There’s a phrase that states “the family that prays together stays together.” I think, or hope, that there’s more than that as I have over the course of the year included scenarios such as eating donuts, watching how-to videos, drinking hot sauce, or even wearing clearance Led Zeppelin ‘75 tees shirts, above. 

And to finish out the year, my mammogram came back clear. So I guess we can add the family that fusses over mom’s boobs together stays together. 

Moment of Joy 2021, part 20

 

I learned how to make homemade jam, revisited jello cookie and jello pie recipes, and improvised an apple pie recipe based on limited ingredients in the cottage pantry. And no one died of food poisoning, it all turned out pretty tasty.

Moment of Joy 2021, part 19

Will’s band concert lit a fire under me to resume practicing guitar. I took lessons from 1979 to probably 1980. I remember struggling with my hands being too small, but I also didn’t “get” the musical memory of what an A should sound like.

I was also lazy as hell, and would rather read books or ride my bike instead of practicing scales.

I am determined to give it 15 minutes a day, and have practiced at least that daily for 10 days in a row now. I’ve mastered maybe the first two strings, and am getting a solid grip on 3-6. I’ve got a few songs I can play off my old rehearsal book like Kumbaya and Amazing Grace. 

What am I trying to accomplish? Maybe like learn to skate back in 1998, just the basics and see where that takes me. There’s certainly no Adult Nationals for basic guitar. But like figure skating, just keep learning and exercising the old noodle to find a new skill.

So maybe I will suck at two sports and a musical instrument. But I will keep on trying. Hey, I learned how to make apple pie this year after all…