The ultimate in April fool's day pranks

The work has been done. This weekend I enter a whole new level of pranksterdom with what I deem to be my best April Fool's joke to date. Our joke team established the foundation with a key victim this afternoon. The victim took the bait - hook, line and sinker. It should be fun to watch this unfold over the next few days.

How do you know if you miss a person...or only the idea of a person? Part 2

Regardless of the process...I have my answer. I miss the person.

The effects of the fires...

What does a fire that burns nearly 1 million acres look like? These images capture the harsh realities of this natural disaster.

Spanish Skirts & Hoodoos

Many of you have heard me talk about "the canyon". I have made several treks to Palo Duro Canyon since my move to Texas in August of last year. Most often, I forget to bring a camera. On a recent hike I remembered to bring a disposable camera (or more accurately remembered that there was still a camera in my car's glove box.) and I clicked a few pics around the trail.

A disclaimer, the day I took these photos was probably not the best day to hike in the canyon. It was the day that the entire panhandle was experiencing high winds (50-60 mph) and the same day that the fires began northeast of Amarillo.

For all of you science nuts, the rock formation above is something called the Spanish skirts. This is the formation that inspired part of the design for the new pac. The picture does not capture it especially well, but the individual layers of rock and sediment are quite clear in this formation.

This is an image of the Lighthouse, one of the most famous hoodoos in the canyon.

Regin

That's the name of a cat. How does one come up with a name like that? Well, apparently 10-year old boys come up with a name such as this for a black cat. Take a look at the word one more time and reverse the letters.

Yes, a family I met this weekend who named their cat Regin. The husband of the family thought it was brilliant that their child came up with that name.

I on the other hand was absolutely appalled. As a parent, how could you find it amusing that your child chose this name for your family pet?

Finish Line

This week the symphony has the tremendous privelege of working with a living composer. Cindy McTee was commissioned to compose a piece for the symphony.

Observing this evening's rehearsal I was struck by how dynamic the rehearsal can be. Interactions between musicians, conductor and composer. The fluidity of the creative process is a site to see. Together the three groups work together to create art.

Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky are not able to interact with today's orchestras...however, when they first composed the music they too interacted with the musicians. The evolution of each piece continued through the performances. Unfortunately, I have seen many musicians who forget that the performance was a fluid one. It is truly refreshing to witness the interactions I have seen this week.

Further, it is my hope that the energy of this process is shared with the audience this weekend.

Green

Green: the color of money, right? For how long? This week I have seen a few of the new $10 bills in circulation. The infusion of colors with this particular bill is reminder of European and other forms of currency. For many, many years Americans have referred to the color of money as green...even greenbacks. With this gradual introduction of color to currency will our children know what we mean when we refer to the green stuff? Or will they think we have surely lost our marbles? Yeah, probably the latter...

And the hits keep coming...

I think that is the best and perhaps the only way to describe this past week. One punch, two punch, three punch...red punch, green punch.

Wow. Even taken alone each of this individual events would have been enough to deal with...the combination, well...it's pushed me back a step or two. Thankfully there is always the weekend to step back, breathe and put each piece in perspective.

Sue and Guest

Yep. It has happened again, 3 little words that seem to frustrate me.

Sue and Guest

They may seem harmless to the unknowing individual extending the kind social invitation...but when it's on a wedding invitation, from a friend...yep, frustration.

Seriously brides, what's the deal? If you know your friend is single and not dating why do you add "and Guest". Do you want your friend to bring some stranger to your event? If you friend brings "and Guest" do you realize the unnecessary burden you are creating?

Your act of generosity could cause more frustration than it's worth...know your friends, know when "and Guest" is really welcome. After all, does the single gal really need a reminder of her single status?