NOT ABOUT EASTER

The Queen woke early (4 a.m.) and mused a lot about Easter, it's meaning, celebration, symbols and so forth.  And had some pretty interesting thoughts -- from Christ arising from the tomb to Fabrege' eggs.  After all of that, she has decided not to write about Easter.  The Queen's prerogative.

One of the things in my world now is a very large TV with all that new stuff.  Folks if you have never seen The Phantom of the Opera ----- what can we say, you are deprived.  Now we do not like opera per se.  (Here we could expound on screeching, etc.)  But this, my dears, is not "Opera", it's ART, GENIUS, TREASURE, CLASSIC oh my.

We first saw Phantom at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles - you know, where they've held the Oscars.  Big, big auditorium.  Margaret -- being well connected-- had gotten tickets and shared.  Seems like it was 8th row......I had no idea what I was in for.  But for those of you who are deprived, in this production the show opens when a humongous, glorious chandelier travels from the top of the back of the pavilion down to the stage with a loud something.  Now this incredible lighting fixture is about a block long (well, maybe we exaggerate slightly).....You just MUST see this.

I have seen the play 3 times in different venues and, now the movie.  I don't know when this came out, but it's got to be out there and what a treat.  There is nothing wrong about this movie.
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We would urge that viewing be uninterrupted if at all possible.

In My World this is a beautiful thing.

The Queen

TRAIN WHISTLES

"Hear thaaat lonnesome whistle blow....." the Queen sang.

Now aren't we glad this doesn't have audio?

Train whistles:

• adventure
• danger
• loneliness
• arrivals
• departures
• sadness
• gladness

There are a lot of trains and their whistles in my world now.   They are heard mostly at night and sound far away. -- How do you know a train has been there?  By the tracks.........----(This is what you get at 2 a.m.)  We can understand that one would not want to be very close to the trains and their whistles.  Close would be very annoying.  Too close could be fatal.  But at a distance they can be soothing or mournful.

Tonite I choose soothing.

The Queen

FIRST RANT!

Evil slips into my world.  It really pains us to say that there are still things we cannot control.  Ugly outside influences.

Again this morning our world was deeply upset by CLERKS!  Now I grant that there may be a few competent clerks out there really trying.  But folks, most of them are undereducated, minimum wage, non career non thinking robots!  The big problem is that they can -- and do-- control our lives.  And as such have the ability (which I think they secretly know and relish) to ................

There are many examples.  However case in point.  Clerk at doctor's office fails to pass on paperwork requested by insurance company to doctor/nurse in a timely fashion (or at all?).  This triggers first clerk at insurance company to enter into the'computer' (another rant due here) a big red flag.  Result is that we must take our time to make calls to get this straightened out OR pay 2-1/2 times the amount of the prescription -- a not inconsiderable chunk o' change.  OR just go cold turkey and stop this life altering medication.....

Now the Queen doesn't like these alternatives.  If this were in the control of our world PEOPLE WOULD JUST DO THEIR JOBS.

And we wonder why we are sometimes cynical.

THE QUEEN MUSES

Ever wonder what happened to.......?  It seems that people move in and out of our lives.  Sometimes we understand -- they move away and you just loose touch.  Or maybe you wake up one day and realise you miss them.  You may not even know where they are if you wanted to reconnect.

We have experienced this and sometimes mourn.  (Admittedly, sometimes not,)  An example:  Before queendom We decided to 'go back to school'.  During that time four of us got together that were of a similar age and circumstance, studying the same thing.  We saw each other frequently off campus and I thought each of us felt the bond would last.  And it did, for many years and thru many life changes for each of us.

But then one day one drifted away and we heard less and less from her.  An occasional Christmas card from a neighboring country.  And then ----- nothing.  Then another moved out of my life, although to this day I keep track of her through Willow, who was the third member of the group.  And, if you will remember, still around and in my Court of Advisers.

To demonstrate my point, although I wasn't really close to the first one, the others were.  I was very close (so I thought) to the second and am still puzzled and more than a little sad she is no longer in my life.  I cannot conceive of my life without Willow.  Although it's been a long time since we've lived within driving- over-for-tea distance, we maintain a very close friendship that I cherish.

So We muse:  Where are they now?

Queen

FAVORITE THINGS

'These are a few of my favorite things', the Queen hummed softly.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee                   Gardenias                        Grand Tetons              Ferrari's      
               The taste of good coffee (Starbucks Americano)                 Turkey dinner              Dark Chocolate            New Snowfall                      Ribeye Steak             Horses, puppies & bunnies
            Sunrise (God painting watercolors)               Raindrops on Roses (of course we didn't forget)
and, oh yes------BOOKS!!!

BIG, little, to read, to look at, to have, new, old, real & unreal let us count the ways.    Oooops, we wander. We love to read them, discuss them, cherish them, have them.  In my world (IMW) there is a 'library'.  No, no.  Not that kind.  One of the old fashioned kind with walls of loved books, big comfy chairs with ottomans and a fireplace.

So with that said, We've been thinking of Top Ten Lists.

  First additions (teehee):  Favorite writer/authors ever:  God,  John Steinbeck, Ivan Doig, Susan Wittig Albert, Brock & Bodie Thoene, .....

Best Books --The Bible,  East of Eden, Steinbeck;  The Book Thief, Zusak;  The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas;  The Five People You Meet In Heaven,......

Just finished "Sweet Thursdays" by Steinbeck.  Hadn't even heard of it until we saw it at a library book sale (Oh!  Another Favorite Thing!) in paperback and snatched it up.  Sort of a continuation of "Cannery Row".  Big Sigh.  Oh Darn, It's The End.

Middle of the night IMW and we are tired.


                   

IMPORTANT PEEPS OF OUR COURT

For future reference, these will probably pop up most often.  Not in order of importance....

Court Advisers:

Margaret:  Most trusted, smartest and most learned.  We grew up together since teenhood.  Always there and can be counted on to be outrageous or calm whatever is best.  Trusting her to offer correction in all matters 'english'.  Knows more about us than......

Cookie:  Source of all important matters outside my world, that could affect my world.  Dedicated to truth and serious researcher. Passionate.   BTW, a wizard with all things edible.  Makes us laugh.

May:  Most recent addition to advisers.  Shares experiences and interests.  Always good for a chat.

Willow:   Clever, steady, insightful, dependable, inventive, crafty, creative.  Wonderful to travel with outside our world.

Important in Our World:

Beauti:  Daughter, but never got to be a princess.  Beautiful inside and out.  Intelligent but sometimes thinks too much.  Talented with things electronic.  Has a wonderful laugh.  Will inherit the kingdom.

Diane:  Wonderful younger sister.  Queen of her own world which she rules with love and generosity.  Serves her King.  Also trusted adviser especially on numbers issues.  Presents an opposite, although not opposing, view;  agree or not.

Cuz:  Wonderful lady.  Glad she's related just cuz.

Well will you look at that!  There are no male persons in our inner court!  Now don't get me wrong.  I really like men.  Have really liked/loved a few outstanding men and (come to think of it) a few real stinkers.  But this Queen is picky.  On the whole they have their usefulness.  (a subject for yet another time.)  There is one who has a lot of influence in our world and we do trust him.  But he definitely has a strong 'stinker' side.

TRUMPET FANFARE & DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

In the not too distant past, in a land now far away, I was sitting in a movie theater with a dear friend and happened to observe some behavior that I deemed 'wrong' and made one of my comments.  My friend, without missing a beat, totally soto voice said, "But you are not queen of the world."  Truly this came as a shock to moi.

Time has passed.  And I am now Queen of My World!  So be prepared folks, all the comments, observations, advice, rants and opinions you read here are mine and mine alone -- for better or worse -- (and that phrase just conjured up a whole boatload).  You are welcome to, and invited to, comment.....
Signed, 
The Queen (not queenie!)