He's 60!!!

Yes! I have never been excited more for my dad's birthday than I was this year! Way to go Dad! You now get all these awesome discounts just for hitting the magic number - 60!!!

I'll never forget you running to save me when I was wearing a jacket that was too big while changing water. First, you thought I was just waving - but then you saw I was in trouble and rescued me while laughing... No worries, I was 1/2 inch close to having my insides ripped open.

I'll never forget the summer you, Logan and I went to build mini-pivots and worked from sunrise to sunset. I loved that I was able to be the little tomboy and help you with some of the more exciting things. Well, except when it came to skinning the pig... **shudder**

I'll never forget the hours you spent playing the piano or the organ just so I could sing-a-long with you. I love your amazing musical abilities and wish that I could be just as talented as you are! I love you Dad and I hope this birthday tops all the ones you've had before!!! :)

Love, Taci Beth

The reason I left Utah.....

Here it was the 31st of March and the sun was shining bright (no snow, unlike my fam in UTAH). Erin, April, Alesa and I drove to the beach and spent the day in the sun! Ah... the glorious, Vitamin D, tanning my skin, ball of fire!

The wind was also perfect to fly some kites and I had two that I purchased last year still in my car. Overall it was a great day of laughter, junk food (Hot Tamales), sun bathing, snoozing, eating at Jetty's, good way to spend a Wednesday!

Here are pics for you to enjoy!

New Hobby - - - Oil Painting

I will never forget the oil paintings my brother Matthew did while he was in highschool, one of The Little Mermaid and another of our brother Justin and a girl dancing. I thought that they were fantastic!!

Lately, I have had a lot of time on my hands and decided to take a look at starting a new hobby. I have always wanted to try oil painting but had a fear of being a failure. My friend, Bob, had started up watercoloring and was doing really well - so I decided I could "try" to oil paint.

Turns out that I am really enjoying myself and have found painting to be quite relaxing. I have included the first paintings I have worked on and if you make fun of them - please don't leave a comment! :)

The unfinished girl is something I still trying to figure out. I am testing different ways on how to do eyes or a mouth, or really a face. But I just formed an idea in my head and will see how that works out.

The Tulips were based on the tulips I received a couple of weeks ago. They were beautiful and I wanted to capture the love and beauty in something so simple.

The Space painting was just a random one I designed. I had created a blue background and all I could visualize were stars and the moon, so that is what is on this one.

I love art, I love the freedom I feel while I paint! Oils are a very forgiving tool to work with and that has helped. I look forward to create more pieces, one day they will start to look better - but for now I am still proud because I did them.

Last shot is a picture of me with my new glasses and new hair color. I went dark because I wanted to cover some old highlights! And I think it looks great - I had a wonderful colorist by the name of Andrew Wheeler.... I told him I would recommend him to all my friends! :)

No sleep...

Ever had time periods in your life where you aren't able to sleep all the way through the night? That has been my life for the last month or so!

I crave for those mornings when I wake up and see the sun shining and feel completely rested.

Big thanks to my mother and sister who decided a little trip to Maryland was exactly what Erin and I needed. Mother made wonderful cinnamon rolls, cookies and other goodies! Erin for letting all of us (four additional people) cram into every nook and cranny - good times, which could also be why I haven't slept well. :)

Overall, things are much better! Thanks to my great family!!! :)

Til the next time!!

Taci

P.S. Thanks to Dad for my special gift. I Love You, even if you don't send gifts!!

"A, B, C, D...."

I have been playing and singing in the Dementia unit at work and there is something that always amazes me. I learned about this in college from one of my professors, but didn't really believe him until now.

When I am playing and singing some of the traditional songs, the residents can sing them word for word. And then two seconds later won't even remember their own name! Music helps the right brain and the left brain work together - which makes it harder for somethings to be forgotten.

I remember in highschool and college putting things I needed to remember to a song. There are songs for our A, B, C's and the States. We can go our entire life and most likely will not forget those as they are deeply ingrained in our brain.

I had a teacher in Jr. High that would play Jazz music during tests and quizzes as it helped students relax and "let the brain ooze the right juices."

I believe that music is a very powerful tool. We see that in movies - we wouldn't know there was a scary part coming if it wasn't for the music. We see that in commercials - we all know the T-Mobile chime. We see it in the stores - music now has a warning label if it is considered violent. We see it in our everyday lives - there is always a song that fits the mood we are currently in.

Alright - I am headed to bed! Planning my trip to Utah! So excited...

Tra la la!

In talking with a friend, we were discussing the various ways we relieve the stress we encounter in our everyday lives. I already knew the answer (I find that one quite easy). Music.

Whether I am playing, singing, listening, watching or thinking about it music is not only a huge stress reliever, it is a HUGE part of my life. I remember being a little girl and taking voice lessons and warming up to: "Ma, Me, Mi, Mo, Mu" and one of the first songs I sang was, "Sing, for the Lord is Listening!"

My family has always been musical, we have all been involved in some form of music in during our lifetime. The biggest inspiration was my brother Justin, I will never forget his performances and the excitement I felt when he was up on stage singing. To me, he was a star! My dream to be in a show choir like Stagelight started with Justin and then grew bigger as I watched Matt and Kari also enjoy participating in Stagelight.

My love of music is deep and when I thought that it was over, I felt broken. But, I still have one good ear that I don't think shows any sign in loss of hearing! It has only made my appreciation for still being able to hear something so precious to me deepen.

I am learning the guitar right now, something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I feel like I am doing alright, although I have some sore fingers!

I feel blessed that I can hear harmony in my head while singing, that it is such a natural thing for me to hear. I am grateful to be in a family that has allowed my love for music to grow and parents that paid LOTS of money so I could learn piano, singing and dance. I am especially grateful now when stress is in my life that I have been taught ways to let it out...

Angry Eyes!

WARNING!! - This is going to be a venting entry to my blog!!

UGH! In my apartment complex we do not have reserved spots. That being said, my friend came over for a visit and parked her car in one of the normal spots that was open and plowed! Apparently, someone thought that it was unfair for her to be parking there and took a stool to her trunk. The reason I know it was a stool was because it was sitting on her trunk when she got to her car.

What right does a person have in vandalizing anothers possessions? What the crap!? I was so angry when she told me that - I went downstairs to get the stool and it has since disappeared. If I see it out in the parking lot tomorrow, I am taking it to the guardhouse and they will see an ugly side of me. I called them already tonight and explained what happened - they said that she will have to call her insurance company and file a claim.

If they could look at my blood right now they would see it boiling with rage. It is stuff like that which make me want to go and take my shovel and bash it into several cars!

Just today as I was shoveling out the parking spot where my car had been parked for the last week or so, I had three cars try to pull in. I looked at them with my shovel and shook my head no. Seriously!? Do you think that I just spent 45 minutes scraping away snow and ice so someone else could park there?? I was standing in the spot! This was before I even went to move my car back! Ugh - frustrating day!

I hate snow - I hate snow more that I am in a place where they don't know how to drive, plow, be polite, be cautious and think in the snow.