Just have time for a quick update. Need to be up at 5:45 tomorrow. I am working at NAMM for the first time EVER! NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants, and each year they hold a 3 day event in the Anaheim Convention Center just 15 minutes away, but it is invite only for most of it. It is like Christmastown USA for musicians as ALL the major and minor music companies set up their booths and show off their latest everything. I will do well to leave my credit card in my car! LOL.
Anyway, one of my clients and mentors, Christine Stevens, is leading a drum circle there and participating in a panel discussion on the recreational music making movement in the U.S. and I will be managing time and shooting photography for her. We set up at 7:30. Woof. I am NOT a morning person!
Everyone is over the pukes here in CASA Ringgold. THAT is a good thing.
Ali is just about the cutest thing on two legs. Her vocabulary, inflections, timing, and overall conversational skills seem to be just exploding again. All you parents out there know what I mean when I say how much it blows my little mind watching her blossom right in front of me on a daily / weekly basis! She is really trying to attach to Lucy, our grumpy old chihuahua, and we literally hijack Lucy and stick her in Ali's loft every night. It's warm, soft, and there is plenty of room so she is only marginally more grumpy about the whole thing. It has helped TREMENDOUSLY having Lucy in the room with her at night. Ali really misses having Bella in there with her, so Lucy is pulling surrogate roommate duty.
Alright. Hey! If you haven't commented lately, drop a line and say hi! Just let us know you're out there. I have to admit that knowing 1,000 people read the blog and 4 people comment feels a little weird. Time to de-lurk! I'm still learning about being a blogger. What would you like to hear more about? I bet there's an article out there, "8 Ways to make your blog readers comment more..." LOL. Alright, alright, I'm just messing with you all. Back east, that's a sign of affection. A guy from New Jersey and I were just laughing about how much we have to dial back our normal wise-alec tendencies living in southern Cali... different culture from the northeast. When you mess with someone, it's a sign of affection... it means they actually mean enough for you to even talk to them! LOL.
Alright, really, I'll stop. Big smiles, hugs, and a warm heart to all of you out there!
God night.
I'm glad to hear that the vomit virus is out of Casa Ringgold.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sweet that Ali enjoys Lucy's company and in her bedroom. I still haven't agreed on having a dog for my children... so far just a gerbil...
Good luck in this new music event.
Love,
Mariana,UK
Alright! I'll de-lurk!
ReplyDeleteIt was your mention of the NAMM show that made me de-lurk. My husband is a director of a chain of musical instrument stores in New Zealand, and the rest of the directors are at NAMM as I type.
Just makes the world a smaller place for me.
Love your blog, your words of wisdom, your challenges, your insight, your stories.
Thanks for writing,
Helen- Christchurch, New Zealand
OK I will de-lurk as well.
ReplyDeleteHow about letting Ang do a guest post on here? I would love to hear her take on how she is dealing with her grief. You always talk so well about Ang, well let her have a shot at this.
God Bless,
Kristie,Alabama
I love when people comment on my blog as well, and agree that it is creepy that people read it and don't comment! People will tell me all the time how they read my blog and I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteI love reading everyday. I love hearing about Ang and Ali, but I also love to read what you are up to too. I think that if people are hooked, they're hooked!
It is STILL snowing in Minnesota. We got another 4 inches yesterday.
I know! Are you still coming to MN in February? You should write about that! Haha!
Much love,
Amanda Schauer
Ooooooh, NAMM!! One of these years I'm going to make it out to that. One of my best friends interned at Yahama in Anaheim when NAMM was going on and she saw Stevie Wonder live... so jealous!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad everyone's over the sickies in your household. Can't wait to hear about the drum circle!
Stephanie
Houston, TX
Good morning, Ringgolds!
ReplyDeleteOK...so just shame us back into action, why don't ya? Hey, not a problem for me. I'm a teacher and understand you gotta do whatever it takes!
If you remember, I'm an animal person so your story about Lucy becoming Ali's new roommate just makes me smile. Our companion animals give so much to us, don't they? Even grumpy ones! One of my kitties is super grumpy himself; I affectionately refer to him as my curmudgeon. Grumble, grumble, hiss...but I sure do love him.
Glad everyone is better in your casa. Wishing you well at your event.
Take care, sweet family!
Susan
A friend in NC
Happy the barfs are over!
ReplyDeleteMy American Society of Health-System Pharmacists meeting was at the Anaheim Convention Center in December...I find it kind of funny that I live a mile away from where your family lived in Minnesota, and I was 15 miles away when I visited California. It's like life won't let me forget Bella and your family...and I'm thankful for that.
Hey Tim Awesome! Okay, I totally know what you mean about the lurker-blog thing. I get so excited when someone comments on my blog and feel a little creeped out when I see how many people have been reading and never comment. I am a seriously private person, and while my blog isn't deeply personal (it is mostly about running), it is still me putting some of myself out there.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on the picking-on-people-means-you-like-them thing. Except I am from the South (Texas) so sometimes it comes across as a passive aggressive thing....sugary sweet with a bite! I always make sure to let new people know that if I am talking to you/picking on you then it is a good thing and they should worry if I ever STOP doing that.
Have a great weekend!
Michelle K.
The Colony, Tx
Hey Tim... It's Angela O (vzw), its been a while so I thought I would drop a note to let you know I am still here, checking on you, learning from you, praying for you. I want you to know, that as a fellow human being traveling through this Earth school, I admire your strength and your determination to seek the lessons and leave this place better than you found it.Be proud of yourself and your beautiful family, I am for you! I believe that when you keep doing the right thing, all the doors simply appear before you so you can open them...no fear, no doubt...just love. Watching your journey is a testiment!
ReplyDeleteLove to you all always!
Angela
I'm just wondering and I know you are still chest deep into your grief and of course there is the fact that both of you are carriers of the EB gene defect but do you guys think that someday you might have another child? Sorry if I have offended asking this. Just thinking about what you said about Alli and Lucy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your family is well once again and hope wellness and healing to your family.
Your birthday bash should be amazing. Wishing we lived on the opposite coast during that time.
ReplyDeleteToday's photo is fantastic- gorgeous. It's amazing that you took so many. Truly gorgeous.
Great news about Ali too. She sounds just precious and precocious (a great combo).
Keep on pushing toward the goal. We, the little donors, will do our part and hoepfully the large donors will do their part.
I'm still following - just little time to post.
ReplyDeleteBarbara and AJ (RDEB, three years old and living in MN)
Still here, reading you and feeling inspired by your journey and commitments. Sorry for becoming a lurker... but all my spare time is dedicated to Debra Portugal, the most recently created Debra.
ReplyDeleteSo good to know that we are battling side by side against EB. I am as sure as you that we are going to win!
Best of luck,
Carla, from Portugal
www.debra.pt
Delurking here too :)
ReplyDeleteI also share a new found love of photography. It's funny how life works out when you start listening to those whispers that point you in the right direction. Amazing might be a better word for it. :)
PS....as an East Coaster, I totally get what you're saying :) My husband and I joke that "sarcasm is our love language" :)
ReplyDeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteNot so much delurking as resurfacing here!
Still reading - and funnily it crossed my mind just yesterday that I really must add a little to your daily words, as I hadn't commented for some time.
You still inspire. You have the energy of thousands....
Fondly,
Jane
heaveno!
ReplyDeletestill reading...still praying and thinking about my new friends! we've been iced in around here...you know it doesn't take much to shut us down in the south :)
loving that lucy makes ali feel better! sweet bella approves i'm sure!
god bless y'all!
susan
w-s, nc
Heaveno, Ringgolds! So glad you're all feeling better! I'm migraining at the moment but wanted to drop in and say hi (and we're still praying for you all down here!)
ReplyDeleteLove from TX!
Laura (for Team A)
Have a great time at NAMM - I'm an amateur musician (clarinet, saxophone, guitar, mandolin)and have a few friends that try to get to NAMM (music store owners). They say great things about it.
ReplyDeleteAlso glad that your family has successfully conquered the nasty bug that moved in with you!
That's so cool that you are doing the NAMM show this weekend. My husband Craig used to work for Fender. He was just laid off in October but, he went to the NAMM show the last 5 years. He loved it. Even though he was "working" he got to check out all of the cool stuff that was going on and meet artists and see them perform. He really enjoyed it. I hope that you get to check things out while you are there.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to tell you that I have been hearing these really cool commercials on the radio lately about www.oncallmusician.com. I believe that is the website. Anyways, it's an organization that raises money for musicians to perform in hospitals and other settings for sick people. They advertise how it's mainstream artists that perform. I was wondering if you had heard of them before? I believe they advertise on MyFM 104.3 in So. Cal. I have been thinking a lot lately about Bella and you and how you perform for people. It just makes me happy to think that you use the talents God gave you to bring peace and happiness to others. Especially when they need it the most. Music is very influential. It can alter your mood, take you back to another time and space, bring you closer to God...etc. It's awesome and I am so glad that you share your talent.
Love the family picture!! You all look FABULOUS!! And, I'm glad to hear that you are all feeling better now. YAY!!
Lots of Love,
Amber, Craig, Malorie(2yrs), and Liam(1yr)
The McLaughlin Family, CA
My mom has a blog too.. just not sure how/if/when you all respond to the comments we post. Some people post questions that all of us are thinking of.. I know you are busier than most so posting responses to everyone is too much, but an occasional response may bring more comments :o) I agree with Kristie about hearing from Angi and wonder all the time if you all are planning on having any more children (though ofcourse like the above poster hate to even get that personal with questions that may cause pain or.. angst)
ReplyDeleteRobyn in Indiana
I'd love to hear more about Ali. She sounds like a wonderful little girl. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to never comment-I will try to do better. :)
Mary in PA
I haven't written in ages, but I read daily. Sorry! I should do better. Glad the pukies have left. Those are seriously no fun.
ReplyDeleteDe-lurking! Tim, you can write on just about anything and keep your readership. You're an amazing writer and inspiration! Looking forward to watching the evolution of your life, your blog, your family. It's ever-changing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLove to the Ringgolds!
Still following and thinking about all of you.
ReplyDeleteSending some prayers for strength your way all the way from snowy Alberta Canada
Linda
I hope all is well! Noah and Ali must be about the same age (Noah will be 5 in March). He is "blooming" right before my eyes and I love it! There are those moments he says something and I wonder where on earth did you pick up that word. It is a wonderful age/stage.
ReplyDeleteOver a thousand people read your blog?!?! WOW! I must admit...I am more of a lurker on some of the other blogs I follow. But I always pray for those I am following. :)
Speaking of praying...I have changed how I pray. I focus on being more thankful for the person I am praying for. A little background...I pray for about ten children...each of them facing serious health "challenges". Before I always asked for a miracle for each one...for each disease. Now I thank God for each child and for bringing them into my life. At the end I ask for him to watch over each one of them and their families and to guide the doctors and researchers...to help find cures. This leaves me feeling differently...leaves my heart feeling good.
Sending my love to all and sweet sweet kisses for Ali.
Denise WI
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those above mentioned lurkers. I found your blog through Jonah's and have been praying for you all ever since.
My name is Sarah and I have six wonderful children, one of whom was born with a broken body which can't be fixed this side of heaven.
We have worked for the last almost seven years for quality of life and our son has done better than we ever really had dreamed he would.
We also live in sunny SoCal.
Looking forward to reading more.
Take care,
Sarah