Paper Bag Album - CUTE BOY

Here's another paper bag album I completed recently. Next on the agenda....some Notre Dame albums for the Cushing Manor Inn - just in time for football season.

Relaxing Weekend

The long Memorial Day weekend was relaxing but productive...

• Caught up on my laundry.


• Priced items for this weekend's garage sale.


• Cleaned off a bunch of stuff on my DVR - including the movie "Click" which left me a blubbering mess.


• Had a "date night" with my husband.


• Had a "mother/daughter" day with my youngest.


• Enjoyed a family cookout at Colleen and Jimmy's house.

Aside from the memories of time spent with my loved ones - the next BEST thing was the three hours (oops - make that six hours since I saw it on Saturday AND Monday) I spent in the theater with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Jesus Christ Superstar

I was a freshman in college in the fall of 1971 when Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice released their first masterpiece - a rock opera entitled "Jesus Christ Superstar". There was a lot of controversy surrounding it in the early 70's - the story of the last week of Jesus' life set to rock music. Within a year, it had been released as a movie with a young "rock star" Jesus performed by Ted Neely. I owned the soundtrack on vinyl (of course) and knew every word of every song.

Today, Ted Neely is 63 years old and on his farewell tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. I've been lucky enough to see him on stage three times through the 1990's and each time leaves me in tears. He carries with him such a state of reverence and peace, despite the turmoil surrounding him on the stage. He has been portraying Jesus on film and stage for 34 years. Bob and I saw him in Chicago in 1992 and I remember us waiting outside the stage door that afternoon - not so much to get an autograph but just to see the actors as they left the theater. He was one of the last to come out and he immediately approached a family with a child in a wheel chair. He knelt and talked to the child in that soft spoken voice. He visited with people, shook hands and a general state of peace seemed to surround him. I can't really explain it, but it was something special.

Recently Ted appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed "Gethsemane". The years are showing, but his voice is still powerful and he can still hit those notes!

I haven't given up hope that I'll get the chance to see him perform just one more time in the next year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPfPUv72Uc

Paper Bag Album - JUST A GIRL

This is a sample of my latest effort - paper bag books. I've been making and selling them and I'm having trouble keeping caught up!!! No two are alike, so customers are going to have to be patient!!!! Kelli's employer at the Bed and Breakfast wants me to make up some for her to sell this fall on Notre Dame weekends - so looks like I've got a busy summer of paper bags ahead of me!

Styx

The concert last night was everything we expected and then some.....

We met Chrissie and Brock at Fiddler's Hearth for dinner and then walked over to the Morris Performing Arts Center. It was a warm and beautiful evening in South Bend.

Styx took the stage at 9 p.m. and the Morris was packed to the rafters - not an empty seat in sight.

After listening to two hours of classic Styx tunes, which included Lady, Come Sail Away, Renegade, Crystal Ball, Grand Illusion and more, we made our way out to the street - which just happened to take us past the stage door and their tour bus. There were approximately 30 people waiting around and we thought, "why not". So we parked ourselves front and center at the fence - right outside the door to their bus and we waited....and waited. It just so happened that I stuck the copy of Chuck Panozza's book "The Grand Illusion" into my purse. (I had run to Barnes and Noble the day before to purchase it). So, I waited patiently, with my book and pen in hand. As they came out one by one, they stopped and signed autographs and posed for photos. They acted like they had all the time in the world - it was really awesome!!!

Here's Chrissie and I with Lawrence Gowan (keyboard and vocals).





Finally, when we were about ready to give up - out walked Chuck. (Kind of hard to believe that Styx started with this man and his brother as 12 year old twin boys in the basement of their home in Chicago). I held up his book and he walked right up to me and thanked me for buying it. He asked my name and wrote a nice "thank you" inside the cover.






He shook hands with Bob and my evening was complete. We headed home with the memories of another great concert spinning in our heads.

Tomorrow Night....

....we'll be at the Morris Performing Arts Center to enjoy our 8th STYX concert. Yes, I said 8th. We're pretty much STYX junkies. Joining us will be Chrissie (her 2nd time) and Brock (our STYX virgin).




Founding member Chuck Panozzo (far right in group picture) will join the band tomorrow night in a rare performance. When Bob and I saw them last summer at the Venetian Festival - it was the first time we had ever seen him with the band and needless to say, it was a real treat!!!!


He released his memoir this week - The Grand Illusion - Love, Lies & My Life With Styx. In it, he discusses his life as a gay man in rock 'n roll in the 70's and 80's. This morning's South Bend Tribune has an article about Chuck and his book:

In 1977, Styx released its breakout album, "The Grand Illusion," the first of four consecutive triple platinum albums for the band. On Tuesday, Styx bass player and founding member Chuck Panozzo released his bold and brave autobiography, "The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies, and My Life With Styx." The book candidly chronicles his public life with the band, and the grand illusion he was living in his very private life as a gay man struggling to come to terms with himself. For nearly 40 years, Panozzo kept his sexual orientation secret -- even from band mates Dennis DeYoung, James "JY" Young, Tommy Shaw and his twin brother, John -- always afraid that he would be found out and exposed, harming both himself and the group. "As liberal as the '70s were in many ways, it still wasn't open to gay society," Panozzo says during a telephone interview from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. " In those days, it was nothing for police to just barge into bars where gay men were congregated and shake them down. It was a totally different time." As far as the gay community has come as a collective, individually, you are still on your own. But, in the '70s, if I had come out, I would have to be out. I had no idea what the mind-set of the people would be. I couldn't drag Dennis, John, JY and Tommy into my own personal situation, so I felt it was better to say nothing and go along with the crowd." Although the band's success brought crowds of screaming female fans, Panozzo was disinterested in the bras, panties and propositions being thrown his way, instead finding ways to sneak out to gay bars while the band was on tour. Born and raised in the blue-collar neighborhoods of the South Side of Chicago, Panozzo felt pressure to keep his homosexuality hidden." The idea of being rejected is rather intimidating," he says. In 1990, Panozzo finally decided to come out to the band when he was diagnosed as HIV positive. It was an anti-climactic moment, as the band members had already suspected it for years." I always say if a guy isn't dating anyone by the time they are 40, I would kind of figure that they might be either asexual or gay," Panozzo says. "So they pretty much figured that one out, but because I was rather reserved, I don't think they were about to approach me on the subject. We were focused on our career." There was concern from at least one member of Styx that Panozzo would become "one of those guys that act up," so Panozzo agreed not to come out publicly. "At that point, I would call myself a coward," he says. "I was a 'don't ask, don't tell' guy." When Panozzo was diagnosed with AIDS in 1998, it was unavoidable that he would come out openly, as he was forced to take a break from playing and touring. He made a public announcement at a Human Rights Campaign Foundation dinner in Chicago in 2001."It was very apparent to people that I had lost a ton of weight," he says. "When I was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, that was when I had to back off and say I have to stop everything now." Now, Panozzo says that he is in good health and plays occasional shows with Styx (he will join the band for their show at the Morris Performing Arts Center on Saturday)." I feel very good," he says. "I live a productive life, and that was my whole fear with it. What if I would have to live 30 more years with a disabled lifestyle, or I couldn't really function as I used to before, and got really sick? Now, it is not like a criminal death sentence but a chronic illness." For the Styx fan, the book also offers many interesting stories of the band. Panozzo charts the history of the band from its inception as a three-piece outfit, comprising the Panozzo twins on rhythm guitar and drums, with DeYoung on accordion, through his brother's alcohol-related death, to the bitter departure of DeYoung from the band. He has not spoken to DeYoung since. In the book, Panozzo tells the humorous tale of how the band came to play rock 'n' roll. Already popular on the local wedding circuit, the trio scored its first big gig playing at a Catholic high school dance. They bombed. After the show, the nun who had given them the gig gave them advice that changed the course of the group: Play rock 'n' roll." It was a hideous disaster," Panozzo says. "Up to this time, we were basically a wedding band. We were playing these wedding songs and the kids are looking at us like, what are you doing? That was when the light bulb went on, and we said if we are going to have any success in playing in front of people our own age, we can't play music that is more appropriate for people our parents' age." The book tells of the band's early struggles, such as how its first record label invested only $160 on marketing its second album -- all on postage stamps to mail the record to radio stations -- and how the band found its first major success when the program director at the influential Chicago radio station WLS vowed to play its song "Lady" every night at 8 p.m. until it became a hit. It worked. Panozzo says that he is humbled by the reaction that his memoir has drawn. It has struck a chord with Styx fans, gay and lesbian readers, and just about anyone who has ever struggled with self-acceptance. "It is just overwhelmingly wonderful," he says, "that my little story has been accepted and embraced."

I Just Can't Seem to Do It.....

....and that's pick an American Idol Winner. Two years ago - it was Bo Bice (he finished 2nd), last year it was Chris Daughtry (he finished a shocking 4th) and this year, my girl Melinda Doolittle (who is by far the best vocal talent) finishes 3rd.

Guess I'm just being out-voted by the young crowd - including my 15 year old, who loves Blake Lewis.

Melinda was a CLASS ACT throughout the 11 weeks. As the judges said, she was the most consistant week after week - they seemed to have trouble ever finding fault with her.

It's tough finding a favorite performance out of the 11 weeks, but I think for me it was seeing her "rocker girl" side during Bon Jovi week. I know she'll be successful and have a great career.

"Have a Nice Day" Melinda!!"

So, We Have This Dog.....

...and he's not the smartest dog in the world. Cocker Spaniels aren't known for their mental capacity, are they? Last night it became very evident that there was something wrong with him. I sent him outside to go to the bathroom and he squatted and yelped - wandered around helplessly - unable to "take care of business". When I brought him inside, he could barely climb the steps. He laid by my bed and whined. I had memories of staying up at night with a sick child - but this one couldn't tell me where it hurt. He just kept panting and his nose was warm and dry instead of cold and wet. When I feed him in the morning, he ususally beats me to his food bowl - today, he just laid and looked at it. So, at 8:00 I called the veterinary clinic and gave them the information. Katie dropped him off at 8:30 and I waited. Thankfully, our vet's daughter and Kelli are on the same high school softball team. About 11:00 Jeff called me and said, "Patty, what's wrong with this dog???" I went back and told him everything from the past 48 hours and we were finally able to narrow it down. On Sunday evening, I took Rigby with me to Carrie and Joe's house. They have a huge, fenced in back yard and I thought it would be fun for him to run and play with Nolan and Grace. That is - until he got out through a broken gate. Kelli stayed with the kids and I took off after him. He smelled "freedom" and took off. He ran next door where there is a new house under construction. He's wandering through the house sniffing around the corners, etc. I walk through the rooms and at the back of the house is a large opening for patio doors. I look out the opening and there he is - 8' below, playing in the dirt. I remember thinking, "are you so dumb that you JUMPED?" It was definitely too high for me, so I went out, walked around and picked him up and took him back to Carrie's. He never cried or yelped. He seemed fine yesterday morning and even yesterday after work. Last night, the symptoms started. Jeff thinks that he has a slipped disc in his back. He said this would explain him yelping when he squatted to poop, his inability to climb the steps, and that the pain and stress can cause his nose to be warm and dry and bring on the panting. He says his temperature is normal, but that he favors his back when Jeff rubs his hands over it. So, I picked him up on my lunch hour - complete with pain medication and an anti-inflammatory drug and we're to keep him quiet for the rest of the week. When we walked in the house, he went straight to his bed. I stuck the pills down his throat, gave him a kiss and went back to work. Wish I could have taken a couple of aspirin and gone to bed!!

The Weekend.....

.....was almost perfect. (Not long after calling and wishing my mom a Happy Mother's Day - she fell and broke her nose. At least she was able to laugh about it after 3 hours in the Emergency Room). Bob and Kevin and I, along with Chrissie and Brock sat through Kelli's high school games on Saturday morning at Mishawaka. In the second game - Kelli hit her 1st ever home run!!! Of course, Kevin left after the first game and Chrissie and Brock arrived about 5 minutes after she rounded the bases. But Bob and I were there to see that big grin!!! Saturday afternoon we worked in the yard - lots of trimming and planting flowers. As tired as we were, Bob and I went out for a late supper at SONNY'S - in Buchanan. Yesterday, we were all in church together. We've given up trying to find a pew big enough for the entire family - but it still warms my heart to look down that pew and see my seven children. Four years ago on Mother's Day, Bobby was in Iraq. It was a cold and rainy - miserable day and I remember feeling so "blue" until I got that phone call from 11,000 miles away. Colleen and Jimmy took us to lunch at the Bonefish, along with Jimmy's parents. A wonderful lunch and a nice chance to visit. Evening found us babysitting with Nolan, Grace and Jack while Carrie and Joe enjoyed her Mother's Day gift - golf clubs from her husband. While they snuck in a quick 9 holes at the country club, we went for a walk, played on the swingset and managed a bubble bath before I headed home to a good book.

Blue-Eyed Boy

A new layout for the Pages in Time DT. My grandson Jack - fresh from the shower with messy hair and sunburned cheeks.

Little Boys and Baseball

Is there anything cuter than a little boy with a glove and a bat? We went to Nolan's t-ball game on Saturday morning and his face lit up when he saw Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Kevin in the stands. T-ball is a whole DIFFERENT ballgame - only 3 innings, everyone bats and no one keeps score. AND, once the game is over -everyone shakes hands, grabs their treat ticket and heads to the concession stand for the biggest decision they'll make all day.

Oldest and Youngest...

Love this photo I took yesterday of my oldest daughter and my youngest daughter. Carrie was 16 and a junior in high school when Kelli was born. I always remember when I had Carrie - only the father and one grandparent was allowed in the room with the baby and THEN they had to wear gowns and masks. Sixteen years later when Kelli was born - the entire LaSalle softball team was in my room that night passing around a 5-hour old baby.

She's 3.....

Three years ago today, Grace Elizabeth Urbanski joined this family. As of right now, she's our only granddaughter - but that will change come September (or so the ultrasound says).


Yesterday, we celebrated with Grace - and it was a party any "princess" would have been jealous of...

High School Friendships.....

I may be a grandmother now, but I still have a couple of "close" friends from high school. We grew up just a few blocks from each other. We had slumber parties and spent our summer afternoons swimming at the lake. Our boyfriends played football and baseball. We listened to music (which today is considered Classic Rock) and we shared our secrets and dreams. I now have my last daughter in high school and I keep reminding her that these are the BEST years of her life and to not "wish" them away to quickly. Yesterday, I visited her MY SPACE (which I frequently do) and I found some cute photos of her and her friends.

Enjoy these days kiddo - they'll be gone before you know it.....