Las Vegas and Out Running Cops...Sort Of

This past weekend, Brad and I went to Las Vegas to celebrate 2 of our daughters birthdays with them (Aja and Natalie). Vegas is only about a 6 hour drive from where we live and we drive it often..BUT, we have learned to budget an exta $100 because, inevitably, Brad gets a ticket almost everytime we go...at least 80% of the time. It's become a running joke. We made it down without any incident, but did talk about it and he even said how our counties are hurting for money (budget cuts) and how it's impossible to talk your way out of a ticket or even get a warning these days.

We got to Vegas Thursday afternoon...the next day, Friday, started out pretty calm. We got up, ate breakfast and decided to drive into Henderson (about 5 minutes away) and go to Trader Joes...we will NEVER get one in Utah :'( because of our stupid liquor laws, so I have to take advantage when I get within striking distance of one...On our way, I passed 2 sneaky cops hiding on the side of the road and realized that I was going 52 in a 35...one of those frontage roads that should be at least 45! Crap...I quickly turned into a Motel 6 (my lame attempt to "ditch" the cops), pulled up like I was parking and looked behind to see the flashing lights that had followed me into the parking lot...the girls were cracking up!

Then I saw that it was a female officer...that's it, I knew I was getting a ticket. {{crap}} not what I needed. So she walks up, asks if we're staying at the Motel 6 (how humiliating) when Aja chimes in and says, "No, we're staying at the Marriott, we have friends staying here!" (Lie #1). The she asked for my license and registration then asks for my insurance card...we just got our new card in March but it was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND...I did, however, find 4 expired ones...not one current card. She told me that it is a $1300 fine if you don't have your insurance card in your car AND you have to come back to Las Vegas and appear in court! How am I going to even BEGIN to explain this to my hubs...$1300 + whatever the fine for speeding is...??

As I opened my wallet, she asked if I had a weapon in my car (?!?). I told her no and she said, "what's that blue card in your wallet?"...I responded that it was my FAA card and she asked if I worked for them, "No, flight attendant" I responded...Now I haven't flown for 5 1/2 years, but have, for some reason, always kept that card in my wallet...Then she said, "Oh how can I give a Flight Attendant a ticket?" She asked who I "flew" for  and without missing a beat, I said, "Delta" (Lie #2)...She walked back to her car...

After a couple of minutes, she came back and said, "Now I have to go explain myself to my partner"...hmmm...could it be?? She told me to "slow down", handed me my license/registration back and told me to have a good day...I was shocked so in my shocked, supidity, I thanked her and said, "If you are ever on one of my flights, free drinks for you!" (Lie #3). She laughed and told me she flies Delta ALL the time and will take me up on it!

So now I'm a Liar and I tried to Run from the cops in Las Vegas...but hey, I got out of a ticket!...Nothing's impossible...

Charity Never Faileth

In our church, there is a familiar saying that is the motto for the Relief Society (women's group) which is, "Charity never faileth".

I have been thinking about this simple phrase quite a bit lately and asked myself, what does it really mean? Is it really a true saying and does charity ever fail?

I have observed a lot of ugliness lately in the world in which we all live and I have been very disturbed by what I have seen. I have seen families turn on each other over silly misunderstandings. I have seen long-time friends expel unkind words that cut deep and bruise the soul. I have seen simple strangers exchange glaring glances over minor traffic infractions. I have watched as kind gestures have been mocked or ignored. I could go on, but you get the point

So what is charity? We are taught that Charity is the Pure Love of Christ... If that's really true, as I believe it is, then it can NEVER fail...it's simply impossible!

I don't want to see the ugliness in the world. I want to see the beauty and the love that I KNOW is out there..so how do I do that? It has to start with me...bottom line. So I have been really working on how I can become a more gentle, kind, loving and unconditional person...I'm a work in progress.

My dear friend, Connie, recently sent me a beautiful email filled with beautiful sayings by Marjorie Pay Hinckley. This was perhaps the most timely email I have ever received that touched my heart deeper than even I could have imagined. The pictures in the email were beautiful so I have included some of them as well.

"Be a Mother who is committed to loving her children into standing on higher ground than the enviroment surrounding them. Mother's are endowed with a love that is unlike any other love on the face of the earth."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"The family is eternal. Love must be nurtured. It must be spoken. We must put away our pride, our haughtiness, our shyness, our misunderstandings, and with humility say, "I love you. Is there something I can do to help you?" You can never be completely happy under any other circumstances."


-Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Charity Never Faileth

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for an relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead"


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

There are some years in our lives that we would not want to live again. But even these years will pass away, and the lessons learned will be a future blessing."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, "We are here in mortality, and the only way to go is through; there isn't any around!" I would add, the only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."


— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

It's true...Charity Never Faileth!

Thankful Thursday:My Hero, My Dad

Boy oh boy has this been a difficult few weeks! I guess that's just how life is...ugh...

Last night Brad and I drove down to my parents house and had a wonderful time with my sweet dad...(my mother was at an Opera rehearsal and didn't get home til late). He is 81 years old, pretty much confined to a wheelchair, in chronic pain and overall, physically breaking down. But, his mind is completely there and his ability to dispense his amazing words of wisdom is second to none!

As we were getting ready to leave, we went into my dad's room to make sure he had everyting he needed before we left. I heard a moan coming from his room so Brad and I hoofed it in there only to find my dad on the floor...he had fallen! We helped him up, checked his shoulder that he hit on the dresser and sat with him for awhile. My heart was breaking!

It hit me that this sweet man who has always been a great strength and rock to me, is dying. He has been doing so for a long time and as a family, we kind of joke about it. But this time it was different. I caught a glimpse of sadness, loss and mourning. Tears filled my eyes and I felt compelled to speak to him as though it was my last face-to-face meeting with him. I told him of my great love for him and how I am honored to be his daughter. I told him that I will miss him when he is gone. I said to him, "dad, when you get to the other side and see all of my faults, will you promise that you will still love me?" He laughed and assured me that he would.

I don't know how much longer my dad has on this earth but I do know that he is an example of enduring to the very end! He is an example of strength and courage as he faces the new journey that awaits him. He is my hero and I am so thankful for him!

Spring Cleaning - Part 1

As much as women LOVE to buy new things, I think, generally, we love to PURGE the old!

This past Monday, I decided to get on the ball and do some Spring cleaning. I usually have it done by the first week of May but with 3 of my *Littles* living with me for the past month, I'm a bit behind. So monday was Day 1 and I tackled my closet!

Moving from 4000 sq ft to 900 sq ft has presented some major dilemmas, one of them being...NO CLOSET SPACE! I am an organizational freak and LOVED all of my massive closets in my last house...now, {sigh} I have 2...TWO...DOS...so I have to really be organized! In my last house, we had a master closet that was the size of our spare bedroom (not kidding!) but, alas, I now have one small closet that I use and so I have to use it wisely! (my hubs uses the one in his office!) There are 6 built-in drawers so I went through them as well...ahhhh, felt so good!

I like to launder all of the items that have been in storage before I hang them up so that takes up most of the day. As I emptied the bins, I promptly filled them up with my winter items...putting my shoes into separate bins. MAN, I have a LOT of shoes!! I HATE wearing them and if you stop by my house, I will NEVER have any on...but since I have to wear them in public, I like to have nice ones and I have a LOT!! So my winter shoes/boots filled up 2 huge bins! It was actually pretty disturbing because, as much as I hate wearing them, I hate parting with them even more! So I kept them all...Did I mention that I ADORE hats?? Yep...didn't get rid of any...

Then I started going through ALL of my clothes and made 3 piles. One was the "keeper" pile and they went into the empty bins. One was the "donation" pile which I will donate to our local thrift store and one was the "daughter" pile...yes, my girls raid my closet on a regular basis so I figure I'll give them first dibs on things that I know they want!

It felt so good to pack and store away my dreary winter duldrums in those storage bins...5 in all. My closet now sports clean, colorful warm-weather clothing and I couldn't be happier!...AND, I have room for new purchases!

I am one of these Mix-n-Match kind of gals who buys items that can be transformed into multiple outfits and I must say, I do pretty good at it...but things have gotten out of control and I had way too much! So, since I purged so many, (I had no idea how many items I haven't worn in years, so they are g.o.n.e) I now look forward to going shopping and replenishing my wardrobe...I am going to try, however, to limit myself and shop smartly!

So there you have it! I tossed, gave away and stored to my hearts content! My closet is clean, organized and when I go into it I smile!

Closet √ ...Next, my back storage room...YIKES, Beware, enter at your own risk!!

Homemade Laundry Soap Tutorial

With the economy the way it is these days, I have been asked to teach a class at church once a month on money saving tips. Last month we made Homemade Laundry Soap for PENNIES!! I have had a lot of people ask for directions so here is a tutorial:

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap:

You will need 3 basic ingredients:

• Fels Naptha (1/3 Bar)

• 20 Mule Team Borax (1/2 Cup)

• Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (1/2 Cup)

Fels Naptha Soap: It is an old fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle. The other options for soap are Ivory or Zote. If you use Ivory or any other common bar soap, you will need to use the entire bar.

Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with Baking Soda. They are not the same thing. Washing Soda is “Sodium Carbonate” or “Soda Ash”. (Baking Soda is “Bicarbonate”). Washing soda is a white powder and its purpose is to remove dirt and odors. The brand to look for is “Arm & Hammer”. It can also be found in the laundry aisle.

Borax: Borax is a natural occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. It is also a white powder and its purpose is as a laundry whitener and a deodorizer. The brand to look for is “20 Mule Team”. It can be found in the laundry aisle.

**You will also need some sort of grater (food processor works great), a 2 gallon or bigger bucket for mixing and a large pot.

Grate the soap and put it in the pot. Add 6 Cups of water and heat it until the soap melts…stir often. It’s best if you grate the soap very finely, it will melt faster. Add the Borax and Washing Soda. Remove from heat.

Pour 4 Cups of hot water into your bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Then add 1 gallon plus 6 Cups of water and stir. Let the mixture sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.

**A few things to note about the soap**

This was taken after it set for 24 hours and after I stirred it...before it's stirred it will be even more gelled...

**The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be a gel on the surface and once you stir it will be watery. Sometimes it has an “egg noodle soup” look.

**The soap is a low sudsing soap. This is OK. Suds are not what do the cleaning, it’s the ingredients in the soap.

Options: If you want your soap to have a fragrance you can scent with ½ to 1 oz. of essential oil of your choice. Lemon or Orange is a popular choice.

Cost Breakdown:

The cost of making the above recipe of laundry soap is about .77 cents (average). With a 2 gallon recipe you will have enough to do about 64 loads of laundry, depending on how much you use and how big your family is!

1 bar of Fels Naptha is: $1.59  
1 box of Borax is: $4.99
1 box of Washing Soda is: $3.19

Per Gallon:
1/3 bar of Fels Naptha = .53 cents
1/2 C Borax = .52 cents
1/2 C Washing Soda = .39 cents

Total: $1.44 cents ...for 2 GALLONS = .77 per GALLON!!
If you have a new front-loader washing machine, you may only need 1/4 - 1/3 Cup or even less depending on the size of the load.

POWDERED LAUNDRY SOAP:

1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap (Grated very finely, even into a poswer if possible...a food processor is the best)

1/2 C. 20 Mule Team Borax

1/2 C. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Mix all ingredients together and use only 1 Tbs. (yes, it's true) per load. This makes about a 6 month supply.

Also, if you put in 1/4 - 1/2 C White Distilled Vinegar with each load instead of expensive Fabric Softener, it will rinse your clothes and leave your whites whiter...there is NO vinegar smell when they finish their cycle...I PROMISE!!

I have been using this soap for the past 2 months and have noticed that my clothes come out feeling cleaner and my whites are definately whiter AND I LOVE having the extra money to spend on other things!!

25 Reasons I Love My Mother

My cute mom with my baby brother and my sweet niece...

**I'm sorry this is a day late, but it was MY day yesterday and I relaxed ALLLLLLLLLL day (after church, that is!)

I got this in Church yesterday and thought it was cute so I thought I'd share it with you all.

1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE:
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning!"

2. My mother taught me about RELIGION:
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet!"

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL:
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into next week!"

4. My mother taught me about LOGIC:
"Because I said so, that's why!"

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC:
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're grounded!"

6. My mother taught me about FORESIGHT:
"Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you get into an accident!"

7. My mother taught me about IRONY:
"Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about!"

8. My mother taught me about the SCIENCE OF OSMOSIS:
"Shut your mouth and keep eating!"

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA:
"You sit there until all that spinach is gone!"

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER:
"Your room looks like a tornado hit it!"

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY:
"I've told you a million times to stop exaggerating!"

13. My mother taught me about the CIRCLE OF LIFE:
"I brought you into this world, I can take you out!"

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION:
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY:
"There are millions of children less fortunate than you who don't have wonderful parents like you!"

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION:
"Just wait until your father gets home!"

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING:
"You're going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE:
"If you keep crossing your eyes, they're going to stay that way forever!"

19. My mother taught me about ESP:
"Don't even think about it!"

20. My mother taught me about HUMOR:
"When that lawn mower cuts of your toes, don't come running to me!"

21. My mother taught me about BECOMMING AN ADULT:
"If you don't eat all your vegetables, you'll never grow up!"

22. My mother taught me about GENETICS:
"You're just like your father!"

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS:
"Close the door...were you born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me about WISDOM:
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand!"

And my all-time favorite...

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE:
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

In a reality, I have a WONDERFUL mother and she never said these things to me...well, maybe one or two, but she's the best! I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day and have a blessed week!

Ants Be Gone!

OK, I know that you are going to think that I'm NUTS...and I probably am...but with Spring around the corner (yes, you heard me, "around the corner" in the mountains here in Utah...hopefully) those pesky little critters called ANTS are alive and well and EVERYWHERE. Never fear, I have the PERFECT solution and it pure and it's organic. No harmful pesticides, just Mother Nature at her best!

When my parents were serving their mission in Central America, I was blessed with the opportunity to go down and visit them twice while they were living in Guatemala. Those were amazing trips and I will forever cherish the fabulous memories I have of learning about the culture of those humble people. What does this have to do with getting rid of these annoying little creatures? It was there, in Guatemala, that I learned a life-changing solution to an age-old problem!

Since the natives are very poor in this beautiful country and live off the land, they have to rely on nature for many of their cures, so to speak. They have THE answer for ridding themselves of ants...and I mean EVERY kind of ant in existence! They simply use human urine as a pesticide...you heard me right...good ole' fashioned Pee! And if it's from North America, they are thrilled because there are no parasites. They bottle it and save it for pesticides as well as for fertilizer!!

When I got back from my second trip down there, it was Spring, almost Summer, and I noticed I had an ant problem in certain places outside my house. I started noticing tiny mounds of dirt along the cracks of my walkway and on my front porch. I used commercial ant spray and the ants disappeared...for awhile...then they were back! I did this a few times but the little suckers always returned and it was driving me crazy!!

So I remembered what I had learned in Guatemala and thought I'd give it a shot. I enlisted the help from my son, for my backyard...(aren't little boys great??) He was about 10 and I told him to go in the back yard and pee on every ant hill he could find...he was ELATED! He dutifully did his business and proudly bounced back into the house announcing that he had completed his task!

We waited and watched for several days...no ants...then it turned into weeks...no ants and by the end of the summer, we had NO MORE ants!! Not ONE!...OK, let me explain. We had no recurrence of ants in the areas he "sprayed". We did have some in other places, but as soon as he would pee on those areas, they NEVER returned!

Who'd-u-thunk?? It really works and I have used this natural pesticide throughout the years. Even though my son is grown and gone, paper cups come in real handy! So now you know! Mother Nature has even given us natural pesticides. Amazing!

Thankful Thursday:Peace & Quiet

Today I am thankful for PEACE AND QUIET! For the past month or so, my daughter and her 3 *Beautifuls* have been staying with us. Normally this wouldn't be so hard, but we are currently living in a 900 sq ft home with 2 bedrooms/1 bath and very small rooms. My hubs uses one of the bedrooms as an office and works in it from about 8AM-6PM. So they have been living on my living room floor.

I must say that it hasn't been that bad. It has been challenging and frustrating at times, but overall, I think we have done pretty well. Her precious little ones have been real troopers and haven't complained a bit about their living arrangements. They are just happy to be loved and safe in a home where they are adored!

Yesterday was moving day for them! We got all of their stuff into their house with the help of 27 men and young men who showed up to pack up trucks, trailers, drive it over and bring it into the house! Man oh man I love my ward! They are amazingly helpful and make it a really fun experience in the meantime! It made her feel so welcomed and "at home".

So today she is going over there to start the daunting task of setting up her home. I have Bunco this morning but will be helping her as much as I can. We're all exhausted, but the end is in sight and it will be awesome to have her living just around the corner!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to have our home to ourselves tonight as we crawl into bed, watch T.V., read or whatever...I will miss my sweet *Littles* but will rest well knowing that they are just around the corner. I will miss their precious little smiles in the early morning hours when they are fresh faced and happy to be alive...there's just a different look in their eyes and it melts me.

I never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait to VACUUM my house again! I can't wait to do just our LAUNDRY again. I can't wait to MOP my floors again. I can't wait to DUST my furniture again! (I have done this while they are here, just not as often as I like). I can't wait to walk in and hear NOTHING again!!

So I am incredibly thankful for Peace & Quiet! I am happy for quiet moments shared between JUSTmy hubs and myself. I am thankful for peaceful moments to reflect on moments of the day!...But yes, there is a part of me that is going to miss the sweet chaos of 3 of my most favorite *Littles*!

Looking Forward

I have learned that in life, the one thing that is consistent, is INconsistency!! This is SO frustrating at times, but that's just the way it is...maybe it's a good thing..not sure!

Brad and I have had to make a life-changing decision lately and boy oh boy is that difficult. We have made the decision and have started to take the necessary steps to begin the new path and are on our way. It has been a tough process, but I feel confident that the right decision has been made and now we look forward.

I really do try to blog every weekday, but this whole situation has drained me so much that combined with my daughter's move (she and her kids have been living with us for a month while waiting for her house) I haven't really been able to do much more then go through the motions for the past few days. But the decision has been made and actions have been taken so now we have a new direction and I'm excited...I think!?!

I know that things are going to be good, actually great and even better than before. I have faith that the Lord has directed our path and through much prayer He has answered our prayers with great love and generosity...it's just getting to the place where it is really great...what is the path going to be like?

Faith is such an amazing thing. I have joked about being careful about praying for faith (or patience) because the Lord WILL let you learn that lesson! I believe that faith is a belief in things which are not seen but are true. Just like this major change in our life, I know that we are going down the right path. I know that our decisions have been right. It's the "getting there" that scares me a bit BUT Faith and Fear cannot occupy the same space so one has to go...it has to be Fear that goes...Faith is SO easy when everything is going smoothly. It's when the floor falls out from beneath you that it becomes so difficult to hold on!

I was really stressed the other day. So much so, that my heart went into A-fib for about 72 hours which is a first since my heart surgery nearly 2 years ago. It scared me and I knew that I had to do something to get back into sinus rhythm...I was NOT going to the hospital if I could help it.  I took a pill that's supposed to help (it kinda sorta did) but I knew I neded something else so all I could think of was to kneel down and pray. That was the real medicine! I actually knelt down in my closet of all places and asked Heavenly Father for His divine help...He delivered!!

Within about 10 minutes, my heart had settled down and I knew that things would be alright. I was blessed with the assurance that if we did all that we could and remained prayerful that we would make it down the possibly probably difficult path ahead of us...I feel like I am living in a scene from the Wizard of Oz...not sure of what lay ahead. I figure I can get through just about anything as long as I don't have to encounter those freaky flying monkeys!

So I apologize for my absence yesterday...hopefully I will be able to remain motivated to blog daily since it really benefits me more than anyone else anyway...but more importantly, hopefully I will be able to make it down the path for the next few months and have the strength to conquer whatever comes my way...even those stupid monkeys!!

An Evening of Temptations

Ond advantge of having a mother who plays violin in a fabulous symphony, is that she gets us really great tickets to some really great concerts! She scored us 4 tickets to see The Temptations with the Utah Symphony last Saturday night at Abravanel Hall in SLC. We invited our friends Van and Denise and had a blast!

We met up for dinner at "Z Tejas" at the Gateway (one of my favorite places) beforehand and then made our way over to the Hall. I always love going to Abravanel Hall, it'so beautiful and elegant and I LOVE the "Chihuly" in the lobby that was first displayed during the 2002 Winter Olympics held in SLC. It's a magnificent piece and I never get tired of seeing it.

The first half of the concert (which was really about the first quarter), the Symphony played a few show tunes...All Gershwin. It was great, but I was anxious to see the boys and had to remind myself to just relax and enjoy the WHOLE concert...I did. The music was wonderful and the Symphony sounded beautiful.

After intermission, the feeling in the air was one of anticipation and excitement. The music started to build as the Symphony played behind the announcer who milked every second to a funky version of Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey), finally introducing The Temptations...it worked, people were whistling, screaming and clapping like crazy. Then, in the shadows, out walked these 5 amazingly talented guys, in the dark with only the vibrant green of their matching jackets shining through the blackness...Lights up..."Ladies and Gentlemen....THE TEMPTATIONS!!" (wild applause, screams, and whistles...)

There is only one original left in the group...Otis Williams. He looked amazing and they were all true to form as they sang the music of a past generation that sounded as timeless as when it was first recorded. Of course, they had amazing synchronized moves and were visually entertaining as well.

I couldn't help but think of my son, Tyler and his best friend Phil, who ever since they were 9 or 10, would blast the music of the Temptations from my son's room and sing along at the top of their lungs. The girls and I used to laugh and shake our heads at these two little guys as they knew EVERY word and imitated all of their moves...it was a sweet time in my life that has passed but will forever be resurrected in my heart each time I hear one of those iconic songs...

The show finally came to an end :( but that was OK. We had a wonderful evening of great food, great company, amazing music and wonderful memories. As we were exiting into the lobby, my cell rang and it was my mother who told us to come back stage. We did, and we were able to meet the group as they were mulling around the Musicians Lounge (which is as beautiful as the rest of the hall). Most of the symphony musicians had already left so it was nice to be in a more intimate setting with them. My mom introduced us and they were all so kind and genuine and took time to really talk to us. My mother told them that my dad had worked for Capitol Records and they were more star-struck than we were!! We met the members of their band and here's the Beatles connection...Brad asked their bass player (who was phenomenal, by the way) how he first got interested in playing bass guitar...he said that he LOVED Paul McCartney's style and that's what inspired him!

So for my son Tyler and his friend Phil, I had these pictures taken with Otis...just to rub it in a bit...{tee hee}The man to the far right of the picture is in the group, his name is Terry Weeks and I believe he told me he has been with the group for 15 years...It was a great evening and even better when we got to meet a 4 time Grammy winning Rock 'n Roll hall of famer!