I have been wanting to post something about the Royal Wedding for some time now. I have been wanting to write ever since they announced the engagement back in February. I have been putting it off and putting it off. I realized if I don't write soon, I'll be discussing the birth of their first child so here goes...
First of all, let me tell you about my experience with another royal wedding. I was in London until the day of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. It was amazing to be there! Anything and everything had their images emblazoned on it with the words "commemorative" and "official souvenir". I have a stamp that was made to honor the occasion beautifully framed and hanging in my living room. I have several "official" souvenir books as well. My favorite mementos, however, are the photos I have of all the carriages. My aunt and I got up at the crack of dawn the day before the wedding to watch the rehearsal. I remember how cold it was and how thrilled we were to join in the excitement that surrounds such an historic event. The day of the wedding, we flew to Belgium and watched from there. No setting the alarm like every other American. Belgium is actually an hour ahead of England. I was thirteen years old and thought it was truly a fairy tale. As a matter of fact, I have a sapphire engagement ring (only a FEW carats smaller) because of Diana.
Diana was fascinating to watch as I went through high school. William and Harry were adorable. It was sad to witness the downward spiral of her marriage. Don't we all remember where we were when we heard about her death? My heart broke watching those forlorn boys walking behind her casket. I was living in DC at the time and we went to see the British Embassy, the grounds covered with flowers similar to the gates at Buckingham Palace.
When we were in England, we had the chance to visit Kensington Palace which is where Diana and the boys spent many years. We also saw the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens. Watching the kids play there will always be a favorite memory.
Fast forward to now. I have always thought Kate Middleton was absolutely adorable. It has been fun to follow their on again, off again relationship and I was excited when William finally proposed. The first thing I did was to ask two of my British friends if they would send me a stamp once it was issued. My friend and I made plans to watch the wedding together. I slept at her house and we dutifully awoke at 4 am to catch all the coverage. We ate scones and sipped tea as well as some other treats I had ordered from England including treacle tarts and Victoria slices (named after Queen Victoria). What a splendid morning. The dress, the ceremony, the Abbey- everything was just so lovely all I could do was sigh. Okay, everything except Fergie's daughters. Ugh! Could have done without that side show! I talked to a friend who was there with her husband and three young children. She said it was crazy but so much fun. They went to the Abbey the day after and saw Kate's bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other things that hadn't yet been removed. She sent me a "commemorative" tin of biscuits with the couple's picture. What a treat!
I would imagine that any wedding of an heir to the throne causes quite a stir in the UK but this was even more. I think everyone could sense how genuine of a couple they are. I know the monarch of England is nothing but a figure head these days but I do think William will make a great ambassador and "face" for England around the world. His mother's love shines on through him. Kate seems to be all that Diana was and more. She has a similar grace, elegance and charm. Unlike Diana however, she brings to the marriage the blessings of a stable home and warm, happy childhood. It was sad to watch old footage of Charles and Diana and see how empty their relationship appeared. I have talked about that with several people lately and the discussion has gone the same. Maybe they shouldn't have married. It certainly, with the luxury of hindsight, seems to have been a mistake. The quick response is: Wait. Then there would be no William. God brings goodness even out of our mistakes.
Oh yeah... besides the biscuit tin, my friend Mary says the stamp is in the mail!
Cheers!
Dina
12 May 2011
23 March 2011
Back By Popular Demand
Okay, so the title sounds as if throngs of adoring fans are sending e-mails in droves begging, pleading me to post something, anything. Although I am sure it is hard to believe, that is not actually the case. However, I don't need thousand of adoring fans when I get a message like this:
There it was so cute and unassuming, sitting in my Facebook inbox just waiting to make my day. When I read it, a smile spread across my face and planted itself in my heart. Thanks, friend. It was just what I needed.
As I have probably said before, I blog all the time- IN MY HEAD! I have powerful thoughts and insignificant ones, all of which are chronicled in my brain but never make it to the computer. That, you see, would require effort. Keeping my house running the past few months has required every ounce of effort I could muster.
Mark left for DC the first week of January and he didn't return until the very end of February. I know February is the shortest month, but boy did it seem long this time. Much of the time I felt like I was wading through wet cement in boots. (Wish I had the toned thighs to prove it.) Any time I would think about blogging I was either too tired or too overwhelmed to say much that wasn't whining. I would alternate between feelings of loneliness and guilt. First, I would bemoan the fact that I was so lonely. Poor thing! I can throw one heck of a pity party. Then something would jolt me back to reality. A story about a terminally ill child. Remembering a friend who lost her spouse. My sadness would end. Theirs would last a lifetime. Then I would find renewed strength. One time I thought about posting a photo of that WW II ad with the girl rolling up her sleeve and showing her muscle that proclaims: "We can do it!". Then back to the pity party again. It felt like I was being tumbled around in an emotional dryer.
One day, when I was trying particularly hard to hold on to my sanity, I decided I needed a diversion. I had lost any time to do the things that refresh and rejuvenate me- reading, knitting, even blogging. I knew that I owed it to myself to carve out a little time for me. I decided a good book was in order. Something easy and fun. Something that would transport me to another place. I found just the thing. After much coaxing from two of my kids, I finally picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I wasn't against reading it. It's just not an appealing setting for me. Besides, I saw the size of the books after 1 and 2. It wasn't a pool you could dip your toe in. It was all or nothing. How could I possibly commit the time it would take to complete the series? Besides, there is a stack of books next to my bed waiting to be read. So, I begin, rather nonchalantly. Okay, maybe even cynically. What's the big deal? What's so great about Harry Potter anyway? The first few chapters were okay. Easy reading, not especially knock-your-socks-off. Then it happened. My socks were knocked off and I found myself stealing away to my bed room in the middle of the day. Sorry guys. Mom HAS to read about the Quidditch match. She'll be back from Hogwarts real soon.
Speaking of that, I need to get in a chapter or two of Book Five: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before I go to bed. Besides, it has been so long since I have written, I wouldn't want to pull a blogging muscle.
Hope to be back more often.
Dina
PS. Mark is in town now! :-)
hey you! time to blog again...I miss it :)
There it was so cute and unassuming, sitting in my Facebook inbox just waiting to make my day. When I read it, a smile spread across my face and planted itself in my heart. Thanks, friend. It was just what I needed.
As I have probably said before, I blog all the time- IN MY HEAD! I have powerful thoughts and insignificant ones, all of which are chronicled in my brain but never make it to the computer. That, you see, would require effort. Keeping my house running the past few months has required every ounce of effort I could muster.
Mark left for DC the first week of January and he didn't return until the very end of February. I know February is the shortest month, but boy did it seem long this time. Much of the time I felt like I was wading through wet cement in boots. (Wish I had the toned thighs to prove it.) Any time I would think about blogging I was either too tired or too overwhelmed to say much that wasn't whining. I would alternate between feelings of loneliness and guilt. First, I would bemoan the fact that I was so lonely. Poor thing! I can throw one heck of a pity party. Then something would jolt me back to reality. A story about a terminally ill child. Remembering a friend who lost her spouse. My sadness would end. Theirs would last a lifetime. Then I would find renewed strength. One time I thought about posting a photo of that WW II ad with the girl rolling up her sleeve and showing her muscle that proclaims: "We can do it!". Then back to the pity party again. It felt like I was being tumbled around in an emotional dryer.
One day, when I was trying particularly hard to hold on to my sanity, I decided I needed a diversion. I had lost any time to do the things that refresh and rejuvenate me- reading, knitting, even blogging. I knew that I owed it to myself to carve out a little time for me. I decided a good book was in order. Something easy and fun. Something that would transport me to another place. I found just the thing. After much coaxing from two of my kids, I finally picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I wasn't against reading it. It's just not an appealing setting for me. Besides, I saw the size of the books after 1 and 2. It wasn't a pool you could dip your toe in. It was all or nothing. How could I possibly commit the time it would take to complete the series? Besides, there is a stack of books next to my bed waiting to be read. So, I begin, rather nonchalantly. Okay, maybe even cynically. What's the big deal? What's so great about Harry Potter anyway? The first few chapters were okay. Easy reading, not especially knock-your-socks-off. Then it happened. My socks were knocked off and I found myself stealing away to my bed room in the middle of the day. Sorry guys. Mom HAS to read about the Quidditch match. She'll be back from Hogwarts real soon.
Speaking of that, I need to get in a chapter or two of Book Five: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before I go to bed. Besides, it has been so long since I have written, I wouldn't want to pull a blogging muscle.
Hope to be back more often.
Dina
PS. Mark is in town now! :-)
20 February 2011
A Post From Mark
Carnival time when you grow up in New Orleans is such a special time of year. It was not until I left for my first Congressional internship in January of 1990 that I realized this fully. That was when I attended the annual Krewe of Louisiana Mardi Gras in DC. The three day event is a wonderful tradition and I sensed right away how much this piece of New Orleans culture meant to people in our nation's capitol from all over the country. For me, it was a nice little slice of home but it was not the real thing. Talking to people that weekend made me think about all of my memories of Carnival up to that point in my life.
The experience for New Orleanians differs depending on your age and your family and mine was no exception. Unlike many others, my immediate family (with a few exceptions) did not belong to any Carnival Krewe and did not ride in any of the parades. In the 1970s, we lived in the suburb of Metairie in Jefferson Parish whose own series of parades was quite robust in comparison to those in New Orleans. My father would take us to the end of the traditional parade route that began at Clearview Mall on Veterans Boulevard and rode all the way past Bonnabel because there was less traffic and easier to attend. Kale and Josh, my two younger brothers and I would bring Schewgmann Supermarket paper grocery bags to catch beads and doubloons. We would always come home each evening, lay out our catches, much like kids would after Halloween, and compare our haul of stuff. At a certain time, the local New Orleans Times Picayune would have a section that laid out all the various doubloons for each parade so we could plan, in advance to catch all the different colors. I would follow certain floats for several blocks just to make sure I would get every color.
One year, about the time I was 10 years old, the New Orleans Police officers went on strike during Carnival and all the parades were in Jefferson Parish meaning our formerly less crowded routine was upset. We stayed at my cousins place several evenings and cars were parked all over there neighborhood for parades two miles away! That was when I first really sensed how big this celebration was called Mardi Gras. A few years later my father accepted a transfer to Baton Rouge but we still made it a point to be in New Orleans during parade season, especially since my grandmother had moved into a place on Carondelet, just off Saint Charles where many of the New Orleans Krewes paraded.
Most of the stories from high school and LSU are best left to memory with one major exception. While at LSU, my fraternity rented a flat bed for a rig and had it parked on third and Saint Charles Avenue each year for Mardi Gras day. Just before Mardi Gras day 1989 I had met Dina with some friends at LSU one evening out at Murphy's Bar. Shortly thereafter we met up again Mardi Gras and spent the whole morning and afternoon together, laughing, joking, drinking, and talking about how much we loved New Orleans. There was a little magic, just sitting on the curb talking about things, almost oblivious to the floats and bands going by. We did not seriously date until the Fall of that year but it was Mardi Gras day when we really began to know one another. So when I put some of the kids on a Mardi Gras ladder, watch them check out all of their throws back at home after a parade, and relax on the sofa after a long day of parading, I am reminded of that lovely day back in 1989 when I first came to know Dina. I will always revere Mardi Gras and treasure this amazing tradition that makes New Orleans one of the truly authentic cultures in America.
The experience for New Orleanians differs depending on your age and your family and mine was no exception. Unlike many others, my immediate family (with a few exceptions) did not belong to any Carnival Krewe and did not ride in any of the parades. In the 1970s, we lived in the suburb of Metairie in Jefferson Parish whose own series of parades was quite robust in comparison to those in New Orleans. My father would take us to the end of the traditional parade route that began at Clearview Mall on Veterans Boulevard and rode all the way past Bonnabel because there was less traffic and easier to attend. Kale and Josh, my two younger brothers and I would bring Schewgmann Supermarket paper grocery bags to catch beads and doubloons. We would always come home each evening, lay out our catches, much like kids would after Halloween, and compare our haul of stuff. At a certain time, the local New Orleans Times Picayune would have a section that laid out all the various doubloons for each parade so we could plan, in advance to catch all the different colors. I would follow certain floats for several blocks just to make sure I would get every color.
One year, about the time I was 10 years old, the New Orleans Police officers went on strike during Carnival and all the parades were in Jefferson Parish meaning our formerly less crowded routine was upset. We stayed at my cousins place several evenings and cars were parked all over there neighborhood for parades two miles away! That was when I first really sensed how big this celebration was called Mardi Gras. A few years later my father accepted a transfer to Baton Rouge but we still made it a point to be in New Orleans during parade season, especially since my grandmother had moved into a place on Carondelet, just off Saint Charles where many of the New Orleans Krewes paraded.
Most of the stories from high school and LSU are best left to memory with one major exception. While at LSU, my fraternity rented a flat bed for a rig and had it parked on third and Saint Charles Avenue each year for Mardi Gras day. Just before Mardi Gras day 1989 I had met Dina with some friends at LSU one evening out at Murphy's Bar. Shortly thereafter we met up again Mardi Gras and spent the whole morning and afternoon together, laughing, joking, drinking, and talking about how much we loved New Orleans. There was a little magic, just sitting on the curb talking about things, almost oblivious to the floats and bands going by. We did not seriously date until the Fall of that year but it was Mardi Gras day when we really began to know one another. So when I put some of the kids on a Mardi Gras ladder, watch them check out all of their throws back at home after a parade, and relax on the sofa after a long day of parading, I am reminded of that lovely day back in 1989 when I first came to know Dina. I will always revere Mardi Gras and treasure this amazing tradition that makes New Orleans one of the truly authentic cultures in America.
07 January 2011
It's a New Orleans Thing
By the way, I have done some refreshing of the blog. I hope those of you who subscribe and are getting this message via e-mail will visit the actual site and check it out here. Look out world (or at least you, dear readers), I am rested, refreshed and ready to blog!
Those of you not lucky enough to live in NOLA- let me know if I need to eat a piece of king cake for you. It will be tough, but I am willing to make the sacrifice.
Dina
01 January 2011
New Year's Eve
I have never liked New Year's Eve and I have finally figured out why. When I was younger, I felt conflicted. I thought I should join friends in their New Year's Eve revelry, but I didn't see the point. What was so happy about the passage of time? I felt sad. That is how thinking about the passage of time makes me feel. Not terribly sad, just wistful, like the bittersweet words and melody of a James Taylor song. Images of events from the past year, fill the tv screen. Then there is the sentimental, farewell montage of those who have died. Events, both good and bad and people who are lost forever. Therein lies the answer to why New Year's is hard for me. It is the realization that we are trapped in time.
During and after Katrina, I loved listening to a song by Anna Nalick called Breathe. The words were so meaningful to me in those weeks and months but also shed light on that "trapped in time" feeling.
Life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button now
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe.
"An hourglass glued to the table"- Those words perfectly and poignantly express our passage through time. It explains why I ache when I look at a picture of a chubby infant with a toothless grin whose breathe is sweeter than all the flowers in the world. An infant that is lost to me forever. It's that damn hourglass. Don't you wish occasionally, that you could pick it up and at least slow down the sands of time, if only for a moment. Yet, if the moment wasn't fleeting, would it be so beautiful?
Years ago when Mary Elizabeth was beginning to understand mortality, she was coping with the fear it brings. She asked dozens of questions about Heaven. Will my room be there? Will my favorite toys be there? Will my favorite food be there? Of course, for a young child, the simplest answer is- yes. They can't imagine happiness outside of the earthly things that make them happy. As we age, we move beyond that idea. We learn more and more about letting go and how fleeting earthly happiness is. I have come to the conclusion that Heaven and eternal joy is simply, existing with God outside the prison of TIME.
Like I said before, I am not terribly sad on this holiday, just a little reflective. The passing of time can also be a positive thing- fresh starts, wounds healed. As much as I miss past stages of childhood, I would not want to be trapped in sleepless, nursing nights forever. Time is both an enemy and a friend. In thinking about time, I looked up about a million quotes about the subject. Some made my brain hurt. Some made me want to cry but most were hopeful. Here's a lovely one I'd like to share:
On that note, here's to a new year full of beautiful hours.
During and after Katrina, I loved listening to a song by Anna Nalick called Breathe. The words were so meaningful to me in those weeks and months but also shed light on that "trapped in time" feeling.
Life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button now
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe.
"An hourglass glued to the table"- Those words perfectly and poignantly express our passage through time. It explains why I ache when I look at a picture of a chubby infant with a toothless grin whose breathe is sweeter than all the flowers in the world. An infant that is lost to me forever. It's that damn hourglass. Don't you wish occasionally, that you could pick it up and at least slow down the sands of time, if only for a moment. Yet, if the moment wasn't fleeting, would it be so beautiful?
Years ago when Mary Elizabeth was beginning to understand mortality, she was coping with the fear it brings. She asked dozens of questions about Heaven. Will my room be there? Will my favorite toys be there? Will my favorite food be there? Of course, for a young child, the simplest answer is- yes. They can't imagine happiness outside of the earthly things that make them happy. As we age, we move beyond that idea. We learn more and more about letting go and how fleeting earthly happiness is. I have come to the conclusion that Heaven and eternal joy is simply, existing with God outside the prison of TIME.
Like I said before, I am not terribly sad on this holiday, just a little reflective. The passing of time can also be a positive thing- fresh starts, wounds healed. As much as I miss past stages of childhood, I would not want to be trapped in sleepless, nursing nights forever. Time is both an enemy and a friend. In thinking about time, I looked up about a million quotes about the subject. Some made my brain hurt. Some made me want to cry but most were hopeful. Here's a lovely one I'd like to share:
Today is a smooth white seashell,
hold it close and listen
to the beauty of the hours.
On that note, here's to a new year full of beautiful hours.
Dina
01 December 2010
Post #83 (for lack of a better title)
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mark got a flight home at the last minute and we decided to surprise the kids. It was such a treat to bring them to the airport, thinking we were picking up our cousin from New York, to find their dad standing there instead. We scooped him up on Thursday morning and headed straight for his parents' house in Baton Rouge. We spent the entire holiday there. And I do mean, ENTIRE. We even managed to squeeze in dinner on Sunday night before heading back. After several days and nights of eating, visiting, movie-going (Tangled was great.) and football watching (thanks Saints for defeating the Cowboys), I was happy to come home and get back to a routine. A routine which, at this time of the year, includes celebrating Advent and preparing for Christmas.
Every year I say that it seems they are starting with Christmas earlier and earlier but it is getting ridiculous. This year I was absolutely floored to hear Christmas music on the radio BEFORE Thanksgiving! Have they no shame?! Confession time: The song was that John Lennon song "So this is Christmas" or "Happy Christmas". Either way, it is one of my favorites. I have to confess that I did pause and even ask the kids for reinforcement by announcing, "We can't actually listen to this now, right?" The answer very emphatically was, "RIGHT!".
The weekend before, I had read an article about celebrating Advent and how our popular, secular, mall-crazy, consumer-driven culture really makes it a challenge. True. So, I am on a crusade to hold off Christmas as long as possible. Right? Well, maybe. I love the tradition of the Advent wreath and so do the kids. I love getting out the empty manger. It makes Advent real for the kids. It paints a picture of exactly what Advent is, a time to wait joyfully and patiently on Baby Jesus. However... that darn Christmas music keeps playing on every station. Lights are twinkling all over the neighborhood. Friends are posting on Facebook that their tree is up and everything is done. (Yes, dear reader, you know who you are. :-) All the sparkle and the glitter has my head spinning. It's drawing me in and it is STILL November, mind you! What's a girl to do? Well, I could start by actually lighting the Advent wreath, couldn't I? I promise I will... tomorrow. Then out will come the manger and I will prepare for Christmas taking my own sweet time.
We now interrupt this blog for a message from our sponsor:
Are you ready for Christmas? Put all that Advent talk aside for a moment. Get out your Christmas list and get some shopping done. With ME! I'd love to help with your gift list. Now through Friday night, I am hosting a Virtual Open House. Click this link then check out the catalog. www.mythirtyone.com/dszelden If you find something you like, shop under "Place an Order" and look for the Virtual Open House to participate. If you are local, you are welcome to join me for coffee and pastries (8:30-Noon) or wine and cheese (6-9 pm) this Friday. Now back to the blog...
I haven't talked about it on the blog but just before Mark took this job in DC, I had decided to try another home-based business. Long story short, I love it and have been having so much fun selling it. It is a nice outlet. I get to talk to adults and pretend to be a grown-up a few nights/days a month. What a treat. Seriously, it has been a blessing and I am amazed at how much I have grown as a person. I have achieved all but one of the goals I set for myself. This month I have a big goal so I am letting you know about it. The products are great and reasonably priced- tote bags, purses, accessories. Please check it out.
So, I guess what I figured out in this Advent/Christmas preparation debate I had with myself is this:
“Advent: the time to listen for footsteps - you can't hear footsteps when you're running yourself.” Bill McKibben
I will try to walk quietly through this season in hopes that I hear His footsteps. Hoping your Advent season is meaningful.
Dina
Every year I say that it seems they are starting with Christmas earlier and earlier but it is getting ridiculous. This year I was absolutely floored to hear Christmas music on the radio BEFORE Thanksgiving! Have they no shame?! Confession time: The song was that John Lennon song "So this is Christmas" or "Happy Christmas". Either way, it is one of my favorites. I have to confess that I did pause and even ask the kids for reinforcement by announcing, "We can't actually listen to this now, right?" The answer very emphatically was, "RIGHT!".
The weekend before, I had read an article about celebrating Advent and how our popular, secular, mall-crazy, consumer-driven culture really makes it a challenge. True. So, I am on a crusade to hold off Christmas as long as possible. Right? Well, maybe. I love the tradition of the Advent wreath and so do the kids. I love getting out the empty manger. It makes Advent real for the kids. It paints a picture of exactly what Advent is, a time to wait joyfully and patiently on Baby Jesus. However... that darn Christmas music keeps playing on every station. Lights are twinkling all over the neighborhood. Friends are posting on Facebook that their tree is up and everything is done. (Yes, dear reader, you know who you are. :-) All the sparkle and the glitter has my head spinning. It's drawing me in and it is STILL November, mind you! What's a girl to do? Well, I could start by actually lighting the Advent wreath, couldn't I? I promise I will... tomorrow. Then out will come the manger and I will prepare for Christmas taking my own sweet time.
We now interrupt this blog for a message from our sponsor:
Are you ready for Christmas? Put all that Advent talk aside for a moment. Get out your Christmas list and get some shopping done. With ME! I'd love to help with your gift list. Now through Friday night, I am hosting a Virtual Open House. Click this link then check out the catalog. www.mythirtyone.com/dszelden If you find something you like, shop under "Place an Order" and look for the Virtual Open House to participate. If you are local, you are welcome to join me for coffee and pastries (8:30-Noon) or wine and cheese (6-9 pm) this Friday. Now back to the blog...
I haven't talked about it on the blog but just before Mark took this job in DC, I had decided to try another home-based business. Long story short, I love it and have been having so much fun selling it. It is a nice outlet. I get to talk to adults and pretend to be a grown-up a few nights/days a month. What a treat. Seriously, it has been a blessing and I am amazed at how much I have grown as a person. I have achieved all but one of the goals I set for myself. This month I have a big goal so I am letting you know about it. The products are great and reasonably priced- tote bags, purses, accessories. Please check it out.
So, I guess what I figured out in this Advent/Christmas preparation debate I had with myself is this:
“Advent: the time to listen for footsteps - you can't hear footsteps when you're running yourself.” Bill McKibben
I will try to walk quietly through this season in hopes that I hear His footsteps. Hoping your Advent season is meaningful.
Dina
21 November 2010
Wordle
I am really not sure how this will look to those of you who subscribe to my blog and receive my posts in an e-mail. You may have to link back to the website to see it but first try clicking on "display images". As a matter of fact, click on "always display images" if that is an option. That way you will be ab;e to see any photos I have with the post.
Anyway, I came across this website ( http://www.wordle.net/) some time ago and stumbled across it again this morning. Since I LOVE words, I LOVE this website. It is really fun to create your own Wordle. You can even type in your blog and it will create a wordle using all the words from your posts. Words appear larger depending on how many times they are written I tried it and guess what word appeared larger than any other...HATE! I thought that was pretty funny.
Happy Sunday! Go Saints!
Dina
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