The Cath Sisters' Blog: "Exactly how this grace thing works . . ."

Some friends and I have begun a blog together so if you are interested you can find me there! I hope to do a little more blogging over here, as well, but for now here's a link!

The Cath Sisters' Blog: "Exactly how this grace thing works . . .": Music is one of my very favorite things and I have been blessed to see some of my very favorite bands the last few years. Being a rather s...

Marcus Foster on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon!

If you know me then you know one of my favorite musicians is a lovely lad named Marcus Foster. He's an amazing musician, songwriter, sculptor, and a genuinely nice guy. Tonight he is playing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, his first major tv appearance. I'm so excited, delighted, and proud! If you're still up and on the West Coast please tune in! You won't regret it!! Marcus is fabulous. Go visit his Facebook and his website & then buy his awesome album Nameless Path on iTunes or Amazon!

The Katniss Everdeen Cowl

This is my Katniss Everdeen cowl! I was inspired by the character from the stellar book The Hunger Games and this is what I came up with. This cowl is knit in an "arrow and rib" stitch, as a nod to Katniss' talent with a bow and arrow, in a rich red, gold, and green yarn which reminds me of the forest Katniss hunts in and how she becomes "The Girl On Fire" at the Games. This super soft and cozy cowl would certainly keep her warm while she hunts or sleeps in the Everdeens' small house. I could imagine Prim making it for her from the remnants of an old blanket or sweater. The edges are ribbed with a small cable along side. Three big burgundy buttons are placed to mimic an arrowhead. this is just what any Hunger Games fan could use!

You'll find it in my Etsy store! You can also visit my Facebook page, where you see what's new as soon as it is added to my store!

I've got my midnight tickets! Do you? What scenes are you most looking forward to seeing?

Bobby Long's Song of the Week: "When I Come Around"

I can't stop listening to this.

Mumford & Sons' "The Enemy" from "Wuthering Heights"

Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite novels & this song is PERFECT. I love M&S and I'm so ecstatic over this song.

For Sale: Hand-Knit Eggplant Purple Cowl

This hand knit cowl comes in a gorgeous, rich eggplant purple and features ribbing along the edges. It can be folded for a variety of looks, all of which provide a cozy warmth during the chill of winter and early spring. This is just what you need in the office or on walks where a scarf would only get in the way.

This cowl measures about 25 inches around and is about 7 inches across but the material is stretchy.

Etsy! Etsy! Etsy!

Well, I have a hard time remembering to post here. I mostly post on my Tumblr but I always mean to come back over here.

Recently I started my own little Etsy store! I thought I'd post a link here. Perhaps you'll have a look & maybe buy something? :) I do custom orders, too. Must make some money for books & concerts, you know! If you'd like to pass it on I'd be extremely thankful!!

Bones is back, baby!!

I'm really delighted that one of my favorite tv shows, Bones, is back tonight! The hiatus has been so very long and the cliffhanger was so completely exciting that Bones fans have been looking forward to tonight's episode with barely contained excitement. If you're already a fan then you know what I am talking about.

I do hope this "change in the game" does not throw the show's magic off. In some ways I'm sad that we won't get to see the actual development of the relationship beyond what we have always seen. Brennan and Booth were essentially always a couple but while they behaved like a couple, I am sad we do not get to see their first kiss as a couple or date or that sort of thing. We have always seen them relying on each other as one would expect from a committed couple but there is a difference when they are holding back and doing so as just friends rather than as a couple in love. Perhaps we will be surprised with flashbacks. Please.

I do have faith that the show's magic will continue. I think, for the most part, the relationship has played out in a near perfect way.

Less than one hour!!

MASH: Modern Style

		I will marry Mr. Darcy.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Bath in our fabulous Mansion.
		We will have 0 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a Navy Blue Porsche.
		I will spend my days as a Lawyer, and live happily ever after.

Happy New Year!

Thank God 2010 is over! I pray 2011 is an amazing and wonderful year!



Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Please vote!

You can vote 5 times in a row, without leaving the page. Thank you!!

Long Time, No Posts

I really do miss posting on my blog. I've been thinking about it a little lately. Hopefully I'll start doing more. Last year was amazing and so busy and I was glad to live it rather than write it down. This year hasn't been so amazing but we'll see.

I went to a great music gig on Saturday so perhaps I'll blog about it in the next few days.

Cheers

Happy New Year!

Here's to another year of dreaming, in whatever form in comes, good music, the best friends, and more blessings from God!



Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Last Post of 2009~A Year Of Dreams

I really didn't know what to expect from 2009. And now, at the very end of 2009, I can see that there is no way I could have expected what this year brought me.

2009 was a year of great sadness and great joy.

My uncle died on Easter. My mum's oldest friend died in November. But, even in the depths of sorrow, God is with me and there is always His Light shining. And it was shining.

The great joys came throughout the year and carried me through. For me, 2009 will always be remembered as the Year of Dreams.

In this year of Dreams, which sounds cheese-y but is the truth, I became friends with some of the loveliest people ever and helped promote the fledgling careers of 3 very talented and lovely English singer/songwriters, Bobby Long, Marcus Foster, and Sam Bradley. This new vocation gave me such a wonderful purpose. I traveled to Texas to meet my new friends, the boys, and see some fabulous live music. I also traveled several times to Portland, Seattle, and even Vancouver, BC, to help promote and to see shows, to see friends & family. It was amazing. I have never really traveled by myself, nor taken on such responsibilities. I have grown up a lot this year, which is a very good thing. I have learned life lessons and made an impact and have found something that I adore doing.

I have also had fabulous times with dearest old friends, including my Twinnie!, playing 10 Words, watching dazzling movies, and much more.

I could go on and on, but I have spent more than enough time on the computer this year. My song of the year is Bobby's "Being A Mockingbird." Go listen.

"I don't know where I am headed to, but at least I know where I've been . . ."

• Bobby Long, "A Passing Tale"
  

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

---William Shakespeare, the Tempest,
Act IV, Scene i, Lines 148-157

Happy Christmas!

Luke 2:1-20

"For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord."

Marcus Foster IN Seattle!

I'm really excited that one of my favorite boys, Marcus Foster, will actually be performing in Seattle! When he finally posted the tour dates I was really glad to see he wasn't missing our corner of the country. He will be in Seattle on 7 December, at the Vera Project, and in Vancouver, BC, the following night, supported by Blue Roses at both venues.

I have been blessed to see Marcus perform live 3 times (and 1 other time when he played a bit of guitar for Sam Bradley) and I will never forget it. He's the most amazing live performer I have ever seen. I can't really describe why, though. Perhaps because he just puts it all out there on stage and never stops moving or using his voice and the guitar in different ways. Just phenomenal. He's also a lovely guy.

Marcus will be at the Vera Project in Seattle, a non-profit, all ages performing arts place which supports children's music programs. Tickets are ONLY $9 for an unbelievable night of music. Please come and invite all your friends who live in the Seattle area. Honestly, Marcus is unbelievable. Please come. More details HERE and tickets on sale HERE.

Please visit Marcus' MySpace to hear songs, watch videos, see pictures, and more.

Here's a video of one of my favorite live-performed songs, taken by my friend Tara (I was there!!!):

Bobby Long returns to Seattle!!

One of my favorite, favorite, favorite singer/songwriters, Bobby Long, is returning to Seattle on 19 November and I cannot wait! He'll be performing at El Corazon, an all ages show. Tickets are $15 and available HERE.

Bobby's a very talented singer/songwriter/musician and his lyrics are more like poetry than most music today. That's one of my favorite things about his music. He tells stories with his songs and the passion and intensity of his love for music always comes through. I have seen him live 6 times and I don't think any number of live performances will ever be enough. Plus, he's an absolute sweetheart with a fabulous sense of humor.

Please come see Bobby Long live at El Corazon in Seattle, 19 November 2009. Seattle local Christina Cramer is one of the opening acts. More details HERE.

Visit Bobby's MySpace for more information, to listen to songs, and more!

Seriously, COME!!! He's AMAZING.

Here's a video of one of my favorites, taken by my friend Evie, the first time I saw Bobby perform live:

Happy Birthday, Bobby!!!

Today's the birthday of one of my favorite singer/songwriter/musicians and a very lovely person, Bobby Long. I fell in love with Bobby's music at the end of last year. His lyrics are like poetry, like Keats, and often one has to think and sort of "claim" the meaning for oneself. Bobby's an amazing guitarist and, on his Dangerous Summer Tour the last few months, only got better and better. I am in awe of his abilities and his talent and his passionate intensity on stage. This is not to mention that he is an incredibly sweet guy with an hilarious sense of humor. I am blessed to be a fan of his and to have his music to listen to every day and to have spent some time with him. If you haven't yet, please visit his MySpace and listen to some of his music. He's got a gorgeous whiskey voice and you can't stop listening.

Happy Birthday, Bobby!!
I hope you avoid sharks, rashes, and mafia men!!

Love you like cheese, Bobby!! xx

I'm Addicted . . .

. . . to this video/medley.


"Penance Fire Blues" has always been one of my favorite Bobby Long songs, especially live. He's begun adding "In My Time of Dyin'" on to the end and it blows me away. Especially this live version.

The video's absolutely gorgeous as well and you can't look away from that passion and intensity. Watch it and tell me you aren't a fan of someone who can sing/play music like that.

Bobby's amazing. You should see him live . . .

And come visit us at The Land of Dreamers to learn a lot more about Bobby!

Remembering 9/11: 8 Years Later

I cannot believe it has been 8 years since the events of 9/11/01. What a horrible day. I still remember it so vividly. It is seared into my memory. The way so many of our fellow Americans were murdered. The way the Twin Towers fell. The hole in the Pentagon, symbol of our military might, and that crater in the field in Pennsylvania.

Those terrorist attacks were an act of war, not a crime, and we should continue to treat them that way. I am so thankful for our military, who keep us safe by dealing with the bad guys (and they are the bad guys) in far off lands, away from their families. We haven't had a terrorist attack on our homeland in 8 years, thanks to President Bush and our military. I am so thankful for that. On 9/11/01, I thought we would be attacked and attacked and attacked. I woke every morning for ages after that wondering if we would be attacked again. I remember how all planes were grounded for at least 3 days and the skies were so silent. But, when planes started flying again, they all sounded SOOOO close and loud and I always looked up expecting to see one crashing. That's now how we live in the United States. We are blessed that way. And I want us to stay that way. And I want the world to be that way. But it doesn't become that way through talking, talking, talking. That's what got us to 9/11.

So today I remember all who were murdered, all who died saving lives, all who fought the good fight, all who mourn still, all who stand up and fight, and, especially Barbara Olson, who was one of my favorite political commentators and was on the flight that hit the Pentagon.

A couple of years ago I participated in the 2,996 Tribute, where bloggers were given someone who died on 9/11 to write about. I keep reposting my tribute, to Betty Ann Ong, Flight Attendant, Flight 11, every year.

This is my tribute to Betty Ann Ong. Please read it and remember Betty and the other victims/heroes of 9/11. God bless us all.

___________________________________________________

This is dedicated in Memory of Betty Ong and in Honor of the Ong Family. May God bless you all.


2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.

On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers
will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Today, September 11, 2006, I remember Betty Ong, Flight Attendant, American Airlines, Flight 11.


On September 11, 2001, Betty Ong was just doing her job . . . a job she loved. She was a flight attendant for American Airlines, on Flight 11, which was going from Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles, California. Betty had been with American for 14 years and loved her job and

was a tireless worker. Whenever she worked a late night flight, she would never sit down and relax. Even when passengers were sleeping, she would walk down the aisles and softly talk to the passengers who were awake and provide blankets to those who were asleep. It would not be unusual to find Betty caring for a passenger's baby while their parent's rested. (Source)

She was a people person and it was safe to say people loved her too.

Betty didn't start out life as a flight attendant. She was born in San Francisco, California, on February 5, 1956 to a family with four children. Betty and her siblings grew up in Chinatown and she attended George Washington High School (Source).

She had a special place in her heart for children and senior citizens:

She paid special attention to them whenever they were aboard a flight she was working. On many occasions, Betty would drive a half hour from her home, into Boston, to have lunch and take walks with senior citizens. She shared stories about her far away travels with the neighboring children and often had trinkets to give them. (Source)

Betty's loving personality made her a perfect candidate to be a flight attendant:

She was feminine, very humorous, very caring, and she loved people," said Cathie Ong, [Betty's sister]. "She saw the humor and loved to bring out the humor. And she just loved to laugh. She had this habit, when she laughed, it was just very distinct. She would slap her knees when she would laugh, yet on the plane she was very professional."

Passengers and crew members loved Ms. Ong, 45. "She made everybody feel like they knew her right away," Cathie Ong said. "She had a knack for making people feel at ease. But if you were out of line with her, she wouldn't hesitate to put you in place. She was tough when she had to be." (Source)

On September 11, 2001, Betty showed just how tough she could be.

At about 8:20am on that day, Betty managed to get a call through to a woman named Nydia Gonzalez at the American Airlines Reservation center. It was one of, if not the first, calls with information about the hijackings. She stayed on the line for 23 minutes. (Michelle Malkin has a post up about Flight 11, here, which has a lot about Betty's role that day.)

Betty didn't panic. She calmly and professionally relayed information from the passengers and other members of the crew of Flight 11.

After Ong's description of the scene on board, Gonzalez and a second call-taker asked Ong what seat she was in.

Ong identified herself and her seat number, and said, "OK, our number one got stabbed, our purser is stabbed. Nobody knows who stabbed who, and we can't even get up to business class right now because nobody can breathe." (Source)

Betty's bravery and serenity under pressure helped alert the authorities to the terror that was about to unfold. Her call helped air controllers to decide to ground planes.

Ong calmly told ground staff there were possibly four hijackers of Middle Eastern extraction on board.

Ong also reported on the carnage taking place -- the First Class galley attendant, stabbed; the purser, stabbed. The terrorists also slashed the throat of a passenger, who was bleeding profusely. The hijackers locked themselves in the cockpit.

Amid the mid-air horror, Ong remained cool. She identified the seats the terrorists had occupied, enabling the FBI to learn the hijackers' passport details.

Fifteen minutes after Ong first alerted the world to what was happening, the big Boeing suddenly lurched, tilting wildly. She said the pilots were probably no longer flying the airplane. The 767 approached Manhattan, flying ever lower.

Still on the line, Ong said in a composed voice: "Pray for us. Pray for us."

Seconds later the line went dead.

Her ground contact asked: "What's going on, Betty? Betty, talk to me. Are you there? Betty?" (Source)

Betty Ann Ong was only 45 when her life was ended, much to young. She has so much left to do.

Only a portion of Betty's call was recorded. A small segment was played for the 9/11 Commission and Betty's family in January 2004.

"She was outstanding, under those circumstances," Cathie Ong said. "It's hard for us all to imagine ever being in those shoes. My family and I, we cried. She was just exemplary in her performance, her attitude and everything. "

"She was very take-charge, and we were very proud of her. She was very calm." (Source)

The audio from that four minute portion of Betty's call can be heard here (The transcript can be found there too).

Betty Ann Ong was a Hero on September 11, 2001. She made a choice not to passively accept her fate and did her best to save the Crew and Passengers of Flight 11.

Betty Ong will never be forgotten.

Of course, Betty was a lot more than a victim of 9/11:

She was the youngest of four siblings, a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was warm, caring, thoughtful, and considerate, always thinking of others before herself. Gifted with a sense of humor, Betty had a knack for making people feel comfortable and putting them at ease. She had a smile about her that could light up a room and lift up a spirit. She could feed laughter to anyone's heart. (Source)

Betty's brother Harry paid tribute to her with this poem:

Dear Bee:

I don't know fully why you left us
I don't know fully when you left us
I don't know fully how you left us
But I do know that I miss you so very much

I do know that you left us doing the job you loved best
I do know you left us fighting to the very end
And I do know you did your job most heroically

Oh how I wish I could turn the clock back to make things whole again
This is so much like a dream
I never expected to write you this letter..
Let alone a letter like this for you before me

Each day I wake up waiting for you to call or I.M. me just to say "Hello"
I go over and over the moments we shared together and wish we could share even more
And now as I slowly wake up each day, I realize that I can only talk to you in my heart and know that you are here in spirit

I whisper a little "hello" when I walk by your picture each day
Bee, I will never really say goodbye to you
because you are forever in my heart and soul
Bee, I just want to say I'm so very proud of you
And I really miss you so

Your loving brother, Harry
Source

In honor of Betty, her family has established the Betty Ong Foundation:

a not for profit public charity, [it] was established to continue her legacy. The advocacy of the Betty Ann Ong Foundation serves to educate children to the positive benefits of lifelong physical activity and healthy eating habits and to provide opportunities for children to experience the great outdoors so that they can grow to become healthy, strong and productive individuals.

Betty's memory will live through the Foundation's work for the advocacy of children and to give recognition to heroic flight attendants who continue to work hard to keep the passengers safe in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

You can pay further tribute to Betty Ong at one of the following sites:

September 11 Victims
Remember September 11
9-11 Heroes
Living Tribute

In Memory of Betty Ong and All Who Died on September 11, 2001.

May we NEVER Forget.

I know I will never.