Yanni

As you know by now, one of my dreams came true, and I met The Yanni.

Truth be told, I wasn't expecting to meet Yanni in my lifetime, so it wasn't actually a dream of mine... more like a life surprise.

I am very, very lucky.

So, we had fun in Lancaster.

After this wonderful experience, my Yanni friends said that they had a ticket with my name on it for the show in Atlantic City a few nights later.  Score!

 I like that Shirley took a photo of our selfie the exact second Lauren took our selfie, so we got Shirley's flash.

Bi-annual photo with Yoel

Lauren and me with photobomb courtesy of Yoel

Dancing to Niki Nana

This is Joy.  It was Joy's 80th Yanni concert.  WOW!  

Joy was kind enough to give me her spare ticket.

 Yanni did take a moment from his concert to recognize her.

Everyone loves Joy.  And Joy loves to dance! 

 I even got fun things like Yanni's mother's meatball recipe.  I'm sharing, because I am a nice person.  Here.

Of course, my traveling to two Yanni shows in one week led to some character revealing amongst some of my colleagues who are newer to my team and did not know this fun fact about me.  

Jokes and teasing ensued, especially when in describing the pre-show gatherings, I said that we met in Lancaster at an Olive Garden (because it's Lancaster and that is all that is around.)

From: Veronica
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:14 AM
To: Two jerk brother/colleagues
Subject: Hello.

Realizing that you are probably going to roll your eyes and scoff, please be advised that The Yanni people have invited me to come to the Atlantic City show tomorrow, and so I will be doing that.  Free ticket, courtesy of The Yannster.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

From: Bro 1
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:15 AM
To: Veronica & Bro 2
Subject: RE: Hello.

Are you going to hit up a Ruby Tuesdays before the show with the Yannster?

From: Veronica
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:20 AM
To: Bros
Subject: RE: Hello.

You are very funny.  You guys are very funny.

When I sent Bro 2 the photo of me and the Yannster, all he replied with was, “Go get him a pineapple Italian ice.”   You might not get this joke, but it hit me hard in the funnies.

It’s at the Borgata, so we are having the pre-show dinner at the Borgata. 

I ate at a Ruby Tuesdays like 12 years ago and I am still traumatized. 

From: Bro 2
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:27 AM
To: Veronica & Bros
Subject: RE: Hello.

It’s the American Rib Festival right now at Ruby Tuesdays. Do Greek New Age musicians like ribs?

From: Bro 1
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:28 AM
To: All of us
Subject: RE: Hello.

And the all you can eat salad bar has olives!

From: Veronica
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:31 AM
To: Jerk Bros
Subject: RE: Hello.

Yeah, I am basically positive that the olives at the Ruby Tuesdays all-you-can-eat salad bar are exactly the same as the ones from where he grew up – Kalamata, Greece.   No difference at all in quality or taste.   

From: Bro 2
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:32 AM
To: Everyone
Subject: RE: Hello.

Maybe they have better olives at Beef O’Brady’s?

From: Veronica
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 9:34 AM
To: Bros
Subject: RE: Hello.

I am not even going to spend the energy looking up what that is on Google.  

-------

It's okay, though.  As Joy would say, the ridicule is half the fun! 

So now we are looking forward to Yanni coming around again in July.  He'll be in D.C. and Baltimore July  7 & 8.  Let me know if you want to join me.  :-)

As much as we're light and airy about Yanni, I do get some interesting e-mails sometimes on my Yanni e-mail account (yes, I am an official Yanni representative.)  

I get happy e-mails from people who are totally stoked about their upcoming Yanni concerts, and it's fun to share in their delight.

I also have gotten some not-so-happy e-mails, and some of them really touch me.  I got an e-mail not too long ago from someone who recounted that he and his wife used to listen to Yanni together, and how much they enjoyed him.  She recently died of cancer, and he said that they were listening to a particular Yanni song when she passed.  He wanted to know if Yanni would be playing this particular song on this tour [he is,] and how much it would mean to him to hear it again.  He has his ticket already for an upcoming show.  

Just even having a group of people to talk to, who can embrace him in this tough time, and be with him when he sees the show live, it can mean a lot to someone, to help them find peace after trying to pick up pieces of brokenness. 

For this particular song that this guy was inquiring about, when I saw it performed in Lancaster, I distinctly remember hearing someone sitting behind me sobbing their eyes out.  I remember thinking, "Wow, they must really be moved by this performance."  In fact, you never really know what a song or a moment can mean to someone.  So, it has all definitely been a learning experience for me.

Through The Ages

I swear, at least once per week, that "on this day..." feature on Facebook (the one that shows you your posts of years past) I make mention of Yanni, or having just bought a Yanni ticket, or whatever.  So silly!  Ever since I've had Facebook... so the posts go back to like 2009.  It's been hilarious.

Gayle Waters Waters

I have a new obsession.  I am obsessed with Gayle Waters Waters.  I have always loved Chris Fleming.  But now that I have been watching the Gayle Waters Waters (her name was already Gayle Waters and she married a guy with the last name Waters but she decided to keep both names anyway), I can't stop.  Each episode is only 8 minutes or so.

The thing that got me.... SHE LOVES YANNI.  In almost every episode, there is reference to Yanni.  There are even hidden Yanni jokes.  

Click here to see Gayle at a Yanni concert. 

Gayle loves Yanni and is obsessed with Chobani Greek yogurt (correlation is no coincidence.)  Sometimes, Chobani is the only thing that will calm her down.  In Episode 15: The Valedictorian, Gayle starts losing her mind (around 3:45) and the only thing that calms her down is when her daughter starts rubbing Chobani on Gayle's face.  It's just SO funny.

If you can only watch one episode, watch this one: 

Click here for Episode 2.  

What would you have done?!

I don't know why it's so funny!!  I just can't stop watching it.  Obsessed.

Okay, may The Yanni be with you.

Receiving, Writing, Luxury, Washington

Receiving Guests

One thing that always bothers me about sitcoms and other TV shows is that people are always so put together, sitting in their house. Like, people just answer their doors to unexpected guests, and they have pants on and makeup and their hair is good, and they are ready to receive guests. I've been thinking about this an abnormal amount lately.
Listen, if you bust into my house without giving me A LOT of notice, I am not going to be ready to receive.

I've been thinking, there is never going to be a time in my life where I am just sitting around my house on a lazy afternoon wearing full makeup and clothes as though I could easily be attire-ready for a nice dinner out on the town.

Well I am happy to report that I just successfully passed this test. I was sitting here writing the dreaded Maryland Archery Guide, and then someone knocked at my door. As a rule, I don't answer my door - If I'm not expecting anyone, and the knocker is being overly persistent, I just call my neighbor across the street to see if he needs to come chase them away. 

So I peaked out the window and saw that it was my new neighbor, and I actually was show-ready to greet him.  

My house was even in decent order to receive guests.
 

I think God knew that this was the only time this was going to happen, and I was ready to appreciate it.

Writing

When you have a talent for something that you actually like to do, and then you HAVE to do that thing, and it becomes work, things tend to come to an abrupt halt. Refer to the story behind Sara Bareilles' "Love Song." That is why there have not been blogs. The archery guide just drains me. And, life has been a little challenging lately, so, that also drains ya.  

This balance between enjoying something, and it then becoming work, is something we all go through. I know it happens to me a lot, with archery especially. I know lots of people can even relate to that. We like archery, but when we have to do work to support the Maryland Archery cause, it becomes work and not play very quickly. I have to make an effort to balance it out, otherwise I'll lose interest in the sport. I know you know what I am talking about.

Life of Luxury

Do you ever just take count of the things you have, and just enjoy?  

I do. I have the cutest house, filled with every perfect thing. I just love it. Not long ago, I was on the phone with my sister, and I probably said something about feeling guilty for doing nothing that day, and she said something I really needed to hear:

"You know what? You go to work, and spend most of your week just trying to make enough money to afford the things in your house, and afford heat and water and everything, so.... enjoy it. There is no guilt in just enjoying what you have built."

I love that, and I think about it all the time. Don't get me wrong: I have absolutely nothing of worth - I don't own any fancy jewelry, or any fancy electronics, or anything like that.  My house is filled with mostly yard sale finds and stuff people have given to me over these  years.  

My house was broken into a couple of years ago, (you may remember) and not only did he get the only couple of valuable things that I owned, but he also taught me not to own anything valuable.  It's okay, it is well with my soul. So now I can just look at, for example, the loveseat that was given to me by my dear friend in almost-new condition, and just appreciate that I have it.

So, someone I know is getting a new house, and needs new house stuff.  There is nothing that will make you take inventory more efficiently than this situation.  Of course, I am able to contribute a lot, but the thought process is so funny.  For example, I sorted out some mugs and glasses for them, but at the end, this is my cup cabinet, and I NEED EVERY SINGLE ONE.

If you pair this with my previous mention of needing all of the things and all of the stuff, I think we may have just fully disclosed that I am a borderline hoarder.  I think that on some level, we all are. I cannot be the only person who would see this in the store:

And stand there trying to justify the purchase of every single one of these.  Maybe it' a Libra thing. 

Washington

So, spring has sprung!! How are you feeling about this spring and summer? Do you have plans?  

I am super excited to announce my upcoming trip to Washington State. I am going to be spending a week here (click to be directed.) You are so jealous. I am going to play with the cows and mini donkey all day every day whilst skipping through mountainous glory.

Okay then. Enjoy your life and your things and 

be grateful and kind.