Sonnystone Acres

wdw2010, originally uploaded by rightbug?.

okay, I’m still obsessed with my 400+ pictures from WDW–less than last year, but Jessica and Melissa have lots of beauties to peruse. Despite the chilly clime earlier this week, I’ve been basking in the overflow magic. March was good—-especially the wonderful, goal-fulfilling vacation last week (go ahead and barf, you could probably stand to lose a lunch or two). Now to April………..

The beautiful weather finally arrived and today’s high is supposed to be in the upper 70’s, fully sunny. I cleaned up part of the veggie garden yesterday, broke up the soil, and today I’m planning to put in the cool weather crops: broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, cilantro plants as well as carrot and beet seeds. oh, don’t forget the onions. We bought a new-used tiller from a neighbor and husband has started on the new cottage garden. When I made my monthly resolutions back in January, I said I wanted to go back to Keeneland. I am changing that goal to getting the new garden in and starting my new garden blog. I’ll try Keeneland next fall. In the meantime, stay tuned for the link to the new blog.  I’ll also publish a link to my flickr slideshow of our WDW trip. 

Love to all…..

wdw2010, originally uploaded by rightbug?.

by now i’m sure you’re all gagging when i talk about how much i love my family, enjoy being around my kids and grandkids, and devoutly believe in the magic that we share at DisneyWorld. so i’ll just leave you with this picture (there are plenty more over at flickr) and these words: Peace, Love, and Mickey Mouse…it’s all ya need. 

  

welcome, originally uploaded by rightbug?.

i always know it’s Spring when i have to start taking the antihistamines, but am still surprised with the headachey, eye-swollen misery of seasonal allergies. yuck. in this state, putting together an interview seems like work— we all know i’m allergic to work, so why make things worse? i’d rather write about going to visit Mickey.

back in 1984 we were much younger and poorer, but i wanted melissa to see DisneyWorld (such as it was back then) before she got too much older. even though michael was only 2, we made a bed in the back of our 1979 camaro and headed out. it was april (we’d taken mel out of school) and the weather was intermittently rainy. we got a one day pass for the magic kingdom, did it up, and came back home. my mom commented that she really didn’t believe we’d been gone—it was a 4-day trip….but we were hooked. we went back again and again, adding family and worlds as we went along; last year was my first visit as a Grandma. over the years, we’ve seen the World get larger and are still awed by its magic. that’s right, Magic. it’s the happiest place on earth, honestly. nobody is grumpy or curt. there’s more to see than can ever be seen. no matter what state of mind i’ve been in when i arrive (and some of these trips were “rescue” trips) i’m always re-charged with energy and hope when i leave.

now that i’m old and rich, we stay at the resort and stay for a week. going in early spring is the perfect bridge from snowy winter, reminding us that 70-degrees is not just a dream; that dreams are not just dreams—they are life waiting to be activated.

i spent the cloudy, gloomy-ish week-end piddling around, setting the clocks forward and packing for the upcoming Disney-fest, cleaning and re-arranging–oh, and i can’t forget the food-binge on saturday that is now showing on the scale. (sort of exercising my stomach)  because of the vacation and weather, it’s been easy to wait patiently until our return to start any seeds or do any digging in the garden.  usually i’ve jumped the gun, but this is much more rational–unlike that silly pi. 

i have one more interview for wednesday, then sonnystone will be on hiatus.  when i return, we’ll start with gardening, gardening, and more gardening.  till then, let’s start the countdown!   5 more days and we’re off!!  the casey jrs will be here friday evening and we’ll leave saturday morning, in caravan, stopping somewhere about 3 hours out from The World.  the jose’ family will start their 20+ hour road trip saturday, meeting up with us at check-in time, old key west resort.  Sooo excited! 

On December 20, 1974 I gave birth to an 8lb, 9oz baby girl and named her Melissa Beth.  Her dad, Bill (Beaver) Bass, and I loved her mightily and were amazed at her precocity and charm.  Though we divorced when she was 2 years old, we did our best to show her that the one thing we agreed about was our love for her.  I had sole custody of Melissa, but had plenty of help from the Bass/Hefley clan, without whom I couldn’t have provided the loving environment that shaped her early years.  She danced and sang; played with her imaginary friends (Cindy and Jan);  read her books and generally entertained the many folks who traipsed in and out of our lives.   When she was 5 years old, Mike Casey married us—she was my maid-honor, walking with me down the aisle to our new life as a “real” family.  The following year Mike legally adopted her, making her his daughter and giving her his name, his undying love and devotion.  At age 8, she sang her first solo in church: “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”.  I remember holding on to the pew as she went for that last high note and the tears that fell as she nailed it so perfectly (without a mic, of course).  In the 5th grade she sang with the University of Evansville Children’s Choir, the first of many choral groups that marked her career as a singer.  By the time she was in 8th grade she was involved in a group called TKATS (Talented Kids and Teens) and starred and supported in their many musical endeavors throughout her high school years.  She attended Central High School, where she was involved in all things musical, culminating in her leading role in Brigadoon her senior year.  I don’t want to leave out her All-City Choir experience, where she linked up with many people who encouraged her (and still do).  A lady of many talents, she also edited her high school newspaper and seriously considered pursuing journalism in college.  In the end, however, she chose Vocal Music Performance as her major, attending Indiana University School of Music.  While there,she met the Love of Her Life, Eric Jose’.  When Melissa decided (actually with a push from me) to go to NYC to pursue her dreams, Eric and her dad moved her to West New York, NJ and I thought she’d be back in a couple of years to do something practical and logical, like teaching; but I underestimated her determination.  She and Eric were married on October 24, 1999 in a dream-wedding that I still think was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever witnessed (”Can you feel the Love tonight?”). They settled in Manhattan.  In May, 2001, Melissa was diagnosed (not exactly then, but let’s not get into it) with Crohn’s Disease.  This complication, along with the tragedy of 9/11, disrupted her life and sent us all into a spin.  Many treatments and surgeries later, things are better, mostly.  The grace and calm she has shown as she has coped with this horrible condition has been remarkable, and her courage and strength awes and inspires all who know her.  Emma Magnolia, whose life has been well-chronicled by her mother’s beautiful photographs, seems to be a fitting antidote for so many years of suffering.  Today she works as a cantor at St. Joseph Catholic Church; sings at the Episcopal church services in Somers, NY; sings with many NYC choral groups; photographs children; bakes wonderful pies; nurtures her family; faithfully tends to her many friends.  This interview was conducted back in November, 2009, when I was visiting NYC.  I have put off posting it because it is so hard for me to write about Melissa without my emotions getting the better of me.  I have tried to be objective, but anyone who knows us knows that I’m her fiercest fan. 

What is your favorite virtue?  kindness

What is your favorite quality in a man?   a sense of humor, thoughtfulness, intelligence

What is your favorite quality in a woman?   a sense of humor, thoughtfulness, intelligence

What do you consider Your chief characteristic?   sincerity

What do you appreciate most in a friend?   loyalty

What do you consider your main fault?   insecurity

What is your favorite occupation?   muppeteer

What is your idea of happiness?   enough to eat and drink; friends; satisfactions with place; good health; lots of laughter;  not just “enough”, but “something special”..

What is your idea of misery?  loneliness

If not yourself, who would you be?  a cutting-edge avant-garde artist’s artist; an artist’s muse

where would you like to live?   NYC, Cape Cod, or Europe

What is your favorite color?  flower?  bird?  orange/pink;  magnolia/peony;  cardinal

Who is your favorite prose author?   Haruki Murakami;  Alice Walker;  Toni Morrison; Mark Twain

What is your favorite poet?    Mary Oliver; Maya Angelou (also her prose)

Who are your favorite heroes in fiction?  Atticus Finch;  The Little Prince

What is your favorite hero in real life?  my mom

What is your favorite food?  drink?  name?  spaghetti (meal); cherry pie (dessert);  hot coffee with 2 sweets and 2 creams;  emma magnolia;  (currently) carolina

What do you hate most?  injustice

What natural talent (other than those you have) would you like?  to be athletic

What is your present state of mind?  sleepy

Favorite motto:   Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;  It’s all good;  Just breathe. 

crocus, originally uploaded by rightbug?.

what a glorious week-end!! it was slow to warm up saturday morning, but the sunshine beaming through the windows assured me that the weatherman didn’t lie. i spent the morning dusting the newly-exposed dust in the house and by noon was OUTSIDE, cleaning up the garden. the bulbs are bursting from their winter rest, (though the new tulip bulbs i set out last october are still unaccounted for), and the crocus are in full bloom, as you can see. by sunday we could open the windows yayayay!!! i did inventory of the plants who had over-wintered on the back porch and it looks like the thyme, rosemary, and lavendar made it; jury is still out on the lemon verbena, but maybe. average last day of frost around these parts is 4/15, so i can’t get in too much of a hurry, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming.

13 more days and we’ll be checking in at WDW. i am my own travel agent and the disney folks are the easiest folks to work with. i requested some special accommodations and talking with them is always exciting, seriously. they have always come through for me, too.

this week i am planning to shop, shop, and then buy: sandals, a new hat (i know exactly what i want, but can i find it??), several items for the husband (shopping-impaired), and whatever looks sunny and fun. i don’t usually like clothes-shopping (shows if you see my attire), but for vacations i get inspired.

hope it’s sunny in your town, but if not, here’s a sunny smile comin’ at ya! have a great week!!

Thom is the oldest son of Sonia and Romy Jose’, born August 16, 1972.  He graduated from Brebeuf Jesuit in 1990 and blazed the trail to Indiana University, graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in biochemistry.  He went on to Texas A&M, earning his Masters Degree in chemical education in 2002.  He has worked at Blinn College-Bryan campus since 2003, where he is Co-ordinator of the chemistry program and teaches.  Thom and I bonded during the Casey-Jose’ wedding festivities.  He is a very charming man who shares many of my interests, the most prominent at that time being ciggies; now we share an abiding love for Emma Magnolia.   I was a little awed by his majors and thought he might be a little smarter than me, but I was wrong: he’s a lot smarter–though I did manage a B in biochemistry in college.  He’s also a guy who’s fun to talk to and be with and I was honored when he visited Sonnystone in 2006.  It is especially obvious that we have a lot in common when you see some of his answers to the interview questions.  I swear, Thom, I did not look at your interview before I did my realtime interview last week…we just think alike, darlin’.  I’d love to visit him in College Station, TX someday and have him squire me around.  Sounds dangerous, doesn’t it?   

Age:  37

Bed size:  full

Chore you hate:  cleaning the litter box

Cat’s names:  Suity and Chicklet…I didn’t name them, they came named

Essential “start your day” items:  caffeine and nicotine

Favorite color:  Red

Gold or Silver:  silver

Height:  5′7″

Instrument you play:  piano (out of practice);  my voice (which gets practiced most Thursday nights at karaoke

Job title:  chemistry instructor; program coordinator

Kids:  none…a beautiful niece has been wonderful, though

Living arrangements:  a townhome that I keep for 2 cats

Mom’s name:  Sonia

Nicknames:  Tommy boy

Overnight hospital stay (other than childbirth):  n/a…I’ve never had to go to the hospital for anything

Pet peeves:  folks who text instead of being part of a conversation

Quote from a movie:  “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti” - Silence of the Lambs (favorite movie of all time)

Righthanded or left handed:  right

Siblings:  Brian and Eric

Time you wake up:  the alarm is set for 8am…sometime after that (I am the late shift, after all)

Underwear:  boxers and boxer briefs

Veggie you most like and dislike:  potatoes…and I’ve never met a veggie I didn’t really like (or grown to love)

Ways you cope with stress:  You don’t really want to know!

X-ray vision (have you ever predicted the future correctly?):  not in recent memory

Zoo you like best:  my classroom when students are working together. 

February has passed quickly for me.  the bird class certainly helped; my birthday party, complete with a visit from Olivia, was great; i got plenty of attention for my birthday, which always makes me happy. 

but i’m never sorry to see February end.  Now the days are longer, the birds are singing loudly, and i can start gardening again.  i start to feel like “i’ve made it” (shew, stop and take a breath) go on. 

now for March, with its allure of spring.  40-degree temperatures seem tropical.   spring flowers spring, despite the temperatures…. the meteorological start of spring is march 1 and they have no clue what a solar calendar is.  here at sonnystone we check the  weather channel and count the days, however, so these 20-degree lows can be daunting.  it’s okay.  in like a lion, out like a lamb…that’s March.   

appropos to the season of lent, i am in a state of preparation:  WDW here we come!!!  my original goal/resolution for march was to enjoy a spring break vacation as fun as last year’s and i’m well on my way….