What do I really want for my birthday?

Each year I ask my husband what he wants for his birthday, or Christmas, or whatever gift-giving holiday is coming up, and he usually has a long list of specific items. I think his love language is way more "gifts" than he thinks it is.
I often struggle with offering up anything for people to get me, mostly because I'm not one to dwell on the stuff I don't have, but to dwell on the blessings in life. Okay, I'm not bragging, but I see my humility is going to be put to the test here. It's not that I see myself as better than others because I don't wish for personal things, but that I really just don't think about these things very much.

My birthday is coming up here in another week, and I'm getting the same kinds of questions from my mother-in-law, my husband, my mom, etc.
These intangible things seem so difficult to tell them, but this is what I'm thinking.

I want time to write, to take pictures with a better camera, more time to write, time to sing out loud with my friends, to get a new computer for home - maybe a laptop, to walk on the beach with my daughter when it's warm, to build sandcastles with my son near the water, to kiss my husband long and hard without our children interrupting, to walk and hold hands with my husband along a quiet stretch of sandy beach without saying a word. I want to lose some weight and keep it off, and to be able to run again without being totally exhausted after one mile. I wish for deeper relationships with the friends I have, and to be more appreciative of those who want to build a friendship.

Everyone - okay almost everyone - at work is on facebook. I have yet to dive into that world, although I've heard it's much easier to post a daily note versus an entire blog post. Let me know your thoughts. Not many people follow my blog - mostly because I don't post very often. But if you're here - then thank you for reading my blog. I hope you'll comment to tell me you're here. I usually take this space to vow to be better about posting. That's not going to happen - no vows, not necessarily going to post more, either. But, I'll do what I can in this season of life.

Am I a foodie?

What's a foodie, you ask? Well, it's a term I heard on TV a few months back. I've never considered it a negative word, but to many it means snobby food critic.

According to Wiki:
Foodie is an informal term for a particular class of aficionado of food and drink. The word was coined in 1984 by Paul Levy, Ann Barr, and Mat Sloan for their book The Official Foodie Handbook.

Check out : What is a foodie, anyway? on Slashfood.com.
She says anyone can be a foodie. But, I'm not sure I'm in the category yet - as mostly I just love to eat food, create food, research recipies, and see what other foodies have cooking. Although Nicole seems to think you just have to want to know things about food, and have a thirst for knowledge about food, then I guess that's what I am. After all, I don't have a friend that doesn't like to eat good food. Well, I have some friends who are picky eaters, but they know what they like.

I'm hoping a better knowledge of food - and nutrition - will help me stay away from nasty tasting dry baked goods that are terribly bad for my body, and will turn me towards healthy things I already love to eat - red peppers, herbed chicken, fresh fruit. Okay, is that convincing enough to my subconscious to stay away from birthday cake?

Hmmm...anyone getting hungry?

New music and lots of heart

My husband and I were dating in college, and attended a concert on campus by Billy McLaughlin. He's an incredible guitarist and musician who uses a fingerstyle of guitar playing.

Billy has been a favorite of ours ever since that first concert, and we've followed his work for almost 20 years.

Several years ago, he disappeared from the Twin Cities music scene, and we wondered if he just simply decided to stay at home and raise a family with his wife, or if something else had gone wrong. The last time we saw a full concert by him was at the MN Zoo music in the summer series in 2001. As it turns out, he had an injury, and was thereafter diagnosed with focal dystonia - a crippling disease that caused him to lose the ability to play guitar with his right hand. Until last year when he appeared back on the scene, and I saw a story on Kare11, because Billy has now retaught himself to play guitar with his left hand.

An incredible journey of faith in God, and determination...Billy's music takes you to the places he writes about. If you get a chance, check him out. We got to see a little bit of his concert at tpt2 (public TV) studios in St. Paul as they celebrated their 50th anniversary. What a treat to watch Billy live, and take in the strolling melodies of guitar and strings.

But, the best time yet...we got an email invite to see Billy play at 318Cafe in Excelsior on Feb 1. Yes, it pays to get on email subscriptions.

What a treat! Billy's music sounds incredible, and in such an intimate atmosphere (only about 50 people were in the place that night) his music sings over the small crowd of friends. We got a chance to talk afterwards, and look forward to continuing to email and attend his future performances. If you get a chance, you've gotta check it out. Billy, thank you for your music, and for your incredible story. It's good to call your music "old friend."

Check out "The Return of Billy McLaughlin" on You Tube!