The dirt is always browner...

As we travel around the country, I begin to have a bit of wonder-lust wishing I lived everywhere except for Tucson. Boston, San Francisco, Peaks Island (Maine), Vermont, ....those are just a few that come to mind. But, then we return to Tucson and I'm in love with the sun, the mountains, our friends, ...unfortunately though that feeling of being in love with Tucson doesn't always remain. I think it's because I don't take advantage of all the things I love here as often as I should. And then you know, I start thinking that the dirt is always browner (or maybe fertile enough so that grass could even grow), everywhere but here. So, as a way to keep myself present and content, I decided I would spend one day a week where I "splurge" and take the time to go for a hike or run somewhere other than around our neighborhood. So far...the results have been great! I'm loving Tucson!

Last week's adventures:

The trailhead at the end of Alvernon Way:


Sabino Canyon:


Today:
The trail at the end of Broadway:

Life with Grammie

Living at Grammie's has been wonderful, as I mentioned in an earlier post. I feel like there is so much to learn from living with someone who has almost 50 years on me. Her husband (Bill) has been living in a home for people with Alzheimer's for the past 4 years. And, she still visits him six days a week (Wednesday she gets her hair and nails done at the time when he is usually awake). It's beautiful to see her love for him continue despite the fact that he doesn't know who she is anymore. She still brings him his favorites of frappuccinos, strawberries, and yogurt, even though he probably doesn't even know they were ever his favorites. It's love. It's marriage in sickness and in health to the very end...filled with love.

Last night Grammie had some friends, The Reillys, over for dinner. She's been friends with them since she moved to Tucson (almost 50 years ago). She met the Reillys while moving her parents into their old house. I love it. Just a little real estate transaction, turned into a life long friendship.

Another couple she is close with, she met because they used to both go to the same restaurant a lot, and always see each other. Now, with Bill being in the home, they invite her to partake in dinners, vacations, movies, etc all the time...again, beautiful friendship.

Tomorrow we'll be moving back to our home. I'm going to miss the hour long breakfast chats, cozy home, and bedtime hugs. Good thing she only lives 20 minutes away. :)

There have been many laughs while living here. Grammie is laugher (as is Lori)...I love it. A couple of years ago when Ryanhood was taking press photos, she found the perfect look that they should go after...it was based on a photo of Michael Buble, her musical crush. Unfortunately it was not the look Ryanhood was going for, but just for fun, I made Ryan pose like him so I could take a photo. I don't think we ever showed her that photo. So, perhaps tonight will be the night to bring out that photo to make her laugh.

Michael Buble


Ryan Green

Two steps forward, three steps back?

Our last hotel of the tour turned out be pretty sweet, despite the lack of a trusted name. (Normally I'm anti-chains...I like small businesses, but when it comes to hotels...I like the consistency and cleanliness that comes with recognizable names). This particular hotel was called "The Lodge", and well, it looked like a lodge! Log cabin on the outside, and log cabin-looking on the inside...very cute. AND, it had a putt-putt golf course in the back that guests could use for free! The owner told us we were the first golfers of the season, so we had to clean off the twigs, and astroturf was a bit water-logged...

...but she never said anything about the dog losing his leg over the hard winter!


Onto other things...
Our road "kitchen" has moved up in ranks! We recently discovered the electric skillet! (So much better than having to use a hot plate with a pot/pan on top of it)...the electric skillet totally simplifies the cooking process...not to mention it's way bigger, and heats up much faster! The only problem now though, is that we are often tempted to plug it in outside of gas stations so we can eat hot food for lunch instead of eating our tiresome turkey sandwiches. :)

One of these is not like the others...

We are staying at Grammie's house right now (until Saturday) while our house is still being rented. I think this was the best way to come "home". We can see all of our friends and family, be in the sun, do our laundry non-coin-op style, etc...but no guilty feelings of needing to clean the house, pull the weeds, etc. Plus, Grammie happens to be very nurturing, drinks tea, and loves to play card games! It's the type of community living I picture loving (although roommates may make me clean, pull weeds, etc...but that will be okay). :)

As we pulled back the covers to go to bed on our first night here...we found a surprise from Grammie...Ryan's blankie after years and years of separation! :)



Gray Beauty (aka our 1987 Nissan Sentra) feels a little out of place, but we keep re-assuring her that we really don't want a Buick LeSabre until we turn 65... (please note that these are only the Buick LeSabres we pass coming and going from Grammie's, we haven't walked down the streets of other condos yet...

Dominic!

Dominic Christopher Giambelluca arrived on Sunday morning! Everyone is home and doing great. Here are a few photos...

Saturday evening...


Sunday morning...




Monday evening...


It's probably fair to say we are stalkers. :)

More posts to come about the wrap up of the tour...so nice to be home, I think I'm just going to enjoy it for now instead of blogging. :)

Today!

Last weekend I heard a sermon that really moved me. It was the first thing that the pastor said though it had nothing to do with the sermon, in fact it was a prelude to what turned out to be a joke, but it was still striking...and it has left me thinking ever since. He said, "Today doesn't have to be a carbon copy of yesterday". I have a job that is truly different from day-to-day...one day we are in Iowa playing a show, and the next day we are driving 8 hours through Wisconsin passing time playing games in the car, and the next day we are at home booking shows for the following tour. But it can still be a carbon copy of the day before if I allow it to be. My thought patterns, what dreams and passions I put aside, the food I eat (even though I'm sick of it), the phone calls I avoid, etc. I don't want to live out a carbon copy of yesterday though. I want to have more spontaneity. I want to dream big dreams. I want to actualize those dreams. I want to stay up too late for once and be okay with not getting enough sleep. I want to get caught up in conversation with a stranger. I want to have the confidence to sing at a family sing-a-long. I want to live in the moment. I want to choose to be joyful.

Dreams/passions I'd like to pursue...

* Hang out with children in some capacity (volunteer in Child Life, be a substitute preschool/kindergarten teacher, be a "big sister", spend more time with Rachel, offer to babysit for my friends' children, invite the neighbor kids over more, ....)

* Take more time with crafts. Usually I start a project and want to finish it soon...I don't want it to carry on for a long time...I want to wear it, give it, sell it, etc as soon as possible. But, what if I allowed it to take me a few weeks...a few months...could it become even better...might my creativity develop even more?

* Try my hand at painting using mixed media.

* I'd love to get to know my neighbors more.

* Make Ryanhood concerts benefit shows for various causes.

* Send cards to friends and family for no particular reason.

* Spend less time on the computer.

* Be involved in a cause...not really sure what this involvement looks like right now, or what the cause may be. Two current thoughts running through my head are: a.) something to do with marriages--it saddens me to see so many marriages that surround me lacking communication and complacent with their unhappiness. and/or b.) something to do with human trafficking.

* Take time to play outdoors everyday! (run, hike, garden, etc.)

Something More

One of Ryan's new songs has me totally captivated. I wish I could upload audio for it, because the melody is beautiful, but I unfortunately don't have a recording of it yet.

I love finding music that I can connect with it. I love it when I find it to be so true to me. I love it when it inspires me to be 'something more'.

Something More
Some people say that I was born a man
No time to play while I was making plans
I never learned to dirty up my hands

Cause even when I step outside
I hold it in and my kite won't fly
I'm tangled up in a fear of highs

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

I wanna swim in the sea at night
Unafraid of the deep inside
Learn to love in the full moonlight

I'm tryin' to find what I'm made for
So you can get your moneys worth that you paid for
'cause I've got nothing left that I need to save for
I'm ready, I'm ready to spend myself

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

I've waited for myself
But nothing's coming
There must be someone else
That keeps me running

You keep me running

Please come before me
Make me into something more
I feel the need to love
But I haven't got enough

Touring along...

Here's a random smattering of what we've been up to lately...

*We just saw the wiener mobile in Madison! I don't know why it is so exciting to see a car in the shape of a hotdog, but I love that it can totally make my day.

*I'm loving the snow! I grew up with seasons, and I think part of me just needs to see summer turn into fall and fall turn into winter...I love it! I guess this is the great part about touring we get to experience all the seasons.

*We've been surrounded by Little House on the Prairie country while touring Minnesota! We made a stop at the Walnut Grove Mercantile the other day to get some fresh fudge...they also had bolts of fabric, just like Mrs. Oleson would have had.


*We did a little snow shoeing (we decided that skiing was not an option considering the recent finger damage)...



*And, we hit black ice...spun the van into the highway median (thankfully filled with fluffy snow)...the tow truck pulled us out, no injuries and no damage to the van!

*Yeah Arizona for making it to the Super Bowl...we were cheering you on at my sister's Super Bowl party!

*Welcome to the family Lucy!! We're so glad we got to finally meet you!


*Wonderful meals and time spent with family and friends in the midwest!

*I was inspired by Halle Berry to get my hair cut...

...unfortunately having the haircut like her's, doesn't mean I can style it the same way...I'm working on it. ...sorry no pictures at this point. :)

Only 9 more days until we are home...this tour has flown by!