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The Musician's Prayer


Born To Sing "Lord, please bless my music that it may glorify Thy Name...Mayusing it to serve You always be my aim."

Wanna hear me sing?


Hail, Poetry! (not alot to see, but the sound is wonderful!) The young man who played "Frederick" took this at rehearsal a month before the show, with his little nikon. I was sitting behind him, so you can't see me,but you sure can hear me! I am the soprano-nooo,not mafia! the woman singing the high notes-that's ME!

My Buzzen Profile Here's my buzzen profile, which includes a recording of an audition of mine, "Vissi D'arte" from Puccini's opera, TOSCA.

Guestbook

Thanks for visiting!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN THE GUESTBOOK!

Sure would love to hear your comments,

be they constructive criticisms

or downright witticisms!

(Keep it clean--this is a family forum, k?) ;-)

Add a comment

Jameswrote:

You are so great, Such a brilliant mind and you are so gifted in the way you express all your ideas. I think your project is only for you. It is my privaledge to write these few words about one that I love so much.............................................................Mac

Aug. 31

Brenda hollowaywrote:

Dear Bev; What a lovely space you have here. You are so very talented, the world is a better place for having you here. Its simply wonderful that through your talent you touch so many peoples lives and their hearts. May God continue to bless you and yours my dear. Please tc, and I shall chat with you soon.

hugs, brenda aka dreamcatcher

July 1

KCwrote:

Bev, beautiful piece from Pirates of Penzance. I could hear you quite well and you have a very clear, distinctive voice.

Nov. 4

KCwrote:

Dear Bev! Very nice and interesting site. I truly enjoy good singers and appreciate your chats in Buzzen. I'll visit your space again soon. Best wishes, KC

Oct. 3

Jameswrote:

What a lovely space. What a beautiful lady with a loving personality and very talented. May God bless you and keep you just as you are. All my love goes to you.

Mac

Sept. 15

Blog

June 05

I needed a chuckle today...

...and recalled this video clip Someone sent to me a while ago...

Maybe You'll get a kick or two...or three...out of it, also...

6:22 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

May 07

The Sunflower...

Recently, noticing that so many library patrons seem to enjoy listening to recordings of books while driving on trips, I decided to give it a whirl. The first book I chose for listening while driving to and from work was "Miracle in the Andes", a book I had begun to read years ago, and would like to have finished. Perhaps it wasn't the best choice for one with such a vivid imagination, because as i was driving along, the story very nearly came to life before my eyes--I was envisioning the mountains, and they seemed to be appearing right in front of my car! Quickly popping the cd out of the player, I decided that maybe I'd better stick to the written word afterall.

However...some months later...I've tried it again, and found success in THE SUNFLOWER, a book by Richard Paul Evans. It is the story of a young woman who finds herself after a breakup which occurs a week before their wedding...heading to the jungles of Peru on a humanitarian mission. A sweet love story which discusses, too, some of the harsh realities of life in the jungle (which I had heard about from a friend of mine whose family were missionaries in Peru back when we were in highschool...she would return on "hiatus" with her family in order to garner support from churches in the area, so they could continue their work in Peru, among the Quezchuan natives).

There are some poignant quotes in the book...the one which caught my attention yesterday:

"Absence is to Love...what wind is to fire-- it extinguishes the small...and inflames the great..."

i have a close and dear friend, tm, who will be planting sunflowers every year...in memory of a great Love...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Sunflower/Richard-Paul-Evans/e/9780641934797/

Thursday, May 7, 2009...

7:45 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

May 03

Stop the Planet! i wanna get off! :'(

Well...since that isn't actually an option...can we at least try to SAVE it???

Getting back to my roots recently, by reading Mother Earth News, Backwoods Home Magazine, and other "back to the earth" type publications, along with National Geographic, The Smithsonian, etc...

and today, came across this yahoo site, http://green.yahoo.com ...i'm surprised i haven't seen this before. It contains articles on many topics pertaining to cleaning up/restoring the planet, improving health naturally, and basically, "living green"....here's another link, as well... http://www.thedailygreen.com/

Let's start with this article about recycling books...ahem...i AM a librarian, afterall! Nerd

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_cheapskate/17/a-greener-and-cheaper-way-to-read-books-no-not-the-kindle.html

book shelf

10:00 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

April 28

Ah...looks like it's fixed! and I didn't do a thing to it! perhaps others were affected similarly and attention was brought to the matter...

Let's just see if it works...

7:31 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

April 23

Got a response from MSN space tech...complicated...about 20 suggestions...oi!

6:41 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

View more entries

A chuckle a day! (at least)

When you really need a laugh...these sites will do the job!


http://icanhascheezburger.com Cats rule!

http://ihasahotdog.com Dogs drool!

Movie list


	Rebecca's Garden, Vol. 1: Basic Gardening GREEN THUMB, HERE I COME! This six volume set will make anyone a fantastic gardener! #1-Basic Gardening; #2-Rose Gardening; #3-Spring Gardening; #4-Container Gardening; #5-Herb Gardening; #6-Summer in the Garden.

	Touring America's National Parks Getting ready for my adventure out west! :-)

The Sights and Sounds of Yellowstone National Park

Exploring the Grand Canyon

	The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag Recommended to me by one of my co-workers, this comedy is about a LIBRARIAN who, neglected, underappreciated, and taken for granted by her husband, gets more than she bargained for in an attempt to open his eyes. Don't have ANY idea why i seem to identify with this character...but the movie gave me an idea regarding boosting our own library's fund-raising efforts--any one know where i can get my hands on a Dominatrix outfit for BBW? ;-)

	Girl With a Pearl Earring This painting has always reminded me of a photograph of the daughter of My Very Dearest Friend...this movie tells what may have been the story behind the painting...

	The Education of Little Tree

	One Last Thing... The bittersweet story of a teenage boy's final wish before dying... http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie-synopsis/one-last-thing/

	Keeping Mum Niall Johnson's comedy Keeping Mum concerns the family of a vicar who are beset by a variety of problems. Reverend Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) is a well-meaning but hapless religious figure in his town. His son, Petey, is a wimp, forever terrorized at school. His daughter, Holly, enjoys the company of a variety of different boyfriends. Wife Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) has had enough of her husband and is considering leaving him for a golf teacher (Patrick Swayze). The family starts to come back together after hiring housekeeper Grace (Maggie Smith), a woman who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

	Surviving Picasso The story of Picasso's remarkable misanthropy is told as experienced by his mistress Francoise Gilot (Natasha McElhone). Francoise was Picasso's lover from 1944 to 1954, and they had two children together, Claude and Paloma. The film was supposed to be based on Gilot's book Life with Picasso, but the filmmakers were unable to get the rights to it, so they settled for basing the film on Arianna Huffington's Picasso: Creator and Destroyer. The movie also uses imitations rather than Picasso's real paintings. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide.

Muse of Fire A documentary on the National Endowment for the Arts Project "Operation Homecoming"...writing the wartime experience. A film by Lawrence Bridges.

	Young@Heart Young@Heart is a documentary film directed by Stephen Walker about Young@Heart, a senior citizens ' chorus from New England who sing contemporary and classic rock and pop songs. The film premiered July 2007 at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It was also shown at the Austin SXSW Film Fest.

	Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist Mary Stevenson Cassatt (May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker. She lived much of her adult life in France, where she first befriended Edgar Degas and later exhibited among the Impressionists. Cassatt (pronounced ca-SAHT) often created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children.

	Across the Universe Set against the anti-war protests, rock & roll revolution, and mind-expanding psychedelia of the 1960s, Julie Taymor's hallucinogenic musical follows the arduous journey of star-crossed lovers Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) as they and a small group of musicians are swept up in the raging waters of the volatile counterculture movement. Guided through their journey by a pair known only as Dr. Robert (Bono) and Mr. Kite (Eddie Izzard), Jude and Lucy are eventually forced to find their way back to one another after being split apart by powerful forces beyond their control. The music in the film consists exclusively of songs made popular by the Beatles during the time period depicted in the movie. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

	Then She Found Me Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt makes her feature directorial debut with this adaptation of Elinor Lipman's best-selling novel about a Philadelphia schoolteacher (Hunt) whose long-lost birth mother (Bette Midler) reappears at the very moment her daughter is careening into a midlife crisis. Abandoned by her husband (Matthew Broderick) and still grieving the death of her adoptive mother, the emotionally fragile teacher enters into a relationship with the father of one of her students just as her biological mother, an eccentric talk-show host, appears on her doorstep attempting a reconciliation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

	The Great Debaters Denzel Washington takes on the true story of the champion debate team of all-black Wiley College in Texas, which, in 1935, became the first black team to compete against white colleges (or, in the words of the film, the first Negro team to debate Anglo-Saxons). Washington stars as coach Melvin B. Tolson with his usual command and the righteous spark of committed social activism (he's a labor organizer in his off-hours), and Forest Whitaker is the college preacher, a scholar who is leery of Tolson's extracurricular activities but just as committed to social justice. It's an inspirational tale of triumph over adversity that plays the debate competition like an underdog sports movie, complete with the cheering crowds celebrating each win, and the plotting of their road to victory. But outside the debate halls awaits the Jim Crow South of segregation and aggressive racism, where a drive to a debate lands the team in the midst of a lynching, and Washington brings that reality into harrowing focus.

	For Love of the Game

	Kilowatt Ours Filmmaker Jeff Barrie takes us from the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida as he discovers solutions to America's energy related problems. Find out how Jeff and his wife Heather cut their energy bills in HALF! Best of all, "KilowattOurs" will teach you how to dramatically reduce your own energy bill.

	Once A Dublin-based busker and vacuum-cleaner repairman enters into a fruitful relationship with a piano playing florist in a toe-tapping "video album" directed by John Carney and featuring a cast comprised entirely of professional musicians. He (Glen Hansard of the Frames) was a six-stringed street musician. She (Markéta Irglová) was a flower woman who couldn't afford to purchase a piano of her own. One day, after admiring the musician's songs and asking if he would take a look at her broken vacuum, the flower-pushing piano player discovers that she shares a remarkable sonic rapport with the mechanically savvy guitarist. As their musical sensibilities quickly converge to striking effect, the talented pair soon determines to record an album together. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

	My Dear Secretary Produced by comedy specialist Harry M. Popkin and his brother Leo Popkin, My Dear Secretary stars Kirk Douglas as Owen Waterbury, a best-selling novelist with an eye for the ladies. When aspiring writer Stephanie Gaylord (Laraine Day) signs on as his secretary, Waterbury assumes that he's lined up another sexual conquest. But Stephanie is not so easily won over, and the rest of the film finds Waterbury striving to come up to her standards.

	Enchanted Because we all need a bit of fantasy in our lives now and then...

	The Secret Life of Geisha The centuries-old, mysterious Geisha tradition has played a significant part in Japanese society and has long been been held in a place of honor. Geishas have been trained since childhood in music, dance, the arts, formal ceremonies, conversation, and various ways of bolstering and indulging "the male ego." A revered tradition involving women who are meticulously trained, expensively dressed, made up to appear as if they are wearing masks -and formally devoted to the idea that "Man has done no wrong, man can do no wrong" - may not easily be understood by many people in modern western society. This program, narrated by Susan Sarandon, gives viewers a look inside the tradition and sorts out some assumptions. Although hired to provide entertainment and company to men, a geisha (the word means "artist") is usually not a prostitute. A historical look is also taken at the impact of geisha's alliances with political figures, the tradition's struggle for survival through World War II and the cultural changes since...

	August Rush A story of music and passion...how they are one and the same...magically drawing the spirit to its destiny.

	84 Charing Cross Road Based on the true story of an American woman's correspondence with the workers of a British bookstore and the friendship which developed as a result.

Alone in the Wilderness To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin...to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...to be not at odds with the world, but content with one's own thoughts and company...Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them...he found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. This video is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature's events that kept him company. (~Sam Keith)

	The Grass Is Greener A rousing chorus of Noël Coward's "Stately Homes of England" is heard as the opening titles of The Grass Is Greener fade into several stock shots of those stately homes. One of these mansions is owned by British earl Victor Rhyall (Cary Grant), who opens his home to American tourists in order to make ends meet. One such tourist is wealthy Texan Charles Delacro (Robert Mitchum), who sets his sights upon Victor's lovely wife, Hilary (Deborah Kerr). In his efforts to win back his wife, Victor presses his former girlfriend Hattie Durant (Jean Simmons) into service. The Grass Is Greener was adapted by Hugh and Margaret Williams from their own stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Christmas Carol Patrick Stewart stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge in this made-for-TV adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic holiday fable. Scrooge is a skinflint businessman who loathes the Christmas season and begrudges having to give time off to his best employee, Bob Cratchit (Richard E. Grant). On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late friend and partner, Jacob Marley (Bernard Lloyd), who in the afterlife has come to see the error of his ways. Marley arranges for Scrooge to be visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Joel Grey), Christmas Present (Desmond Barrit), and Christmas Yet to Come (Tim Potter) in hopes of teaching Scrooge of the importance of embracing the joy of the holiday season. A Christmas Carol was produced for the TNT cable television network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

	The Chorus Wildly successful orchestra conductor Pierre Morhange (Jacques Perrin) returns home when his mother dies. He recollects his childhood inspirations through the pages of a diary kept by his old music teacher Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot). Back in the late '40s, little Pierre (Jean-Baptiste Maunier) is the badly behaved son of single mother Violette (Marie Bunel). He attends a dreary boarding school presided over by strict headmaster Rachin (François Berléand). New teacher Mathieu brightens up the place and organizes a choir, leading to the discovery of Pierre's musical talents.

	Born on the Fourth of July Critic Matthew Doberman: Much of modern America's understanding of the Vietnam War has been shaped by films, not the least of which being Oliver Stone's Platoon. In Born on the Fourth of July, Stone revisits the topic to show us the damage the war did back home. Aiding him is Tom Cruise, whose powerful performance as real-life veteran Ron Kovic earned him the right to never again be thought of as "just a pretty face." MY NOTES: It seems as though this theme is revisited today...in our current political and frightening wartime experience. Many of the same realities exist-- the unwary populace at home, soldiers fighting a seemingly endless war on foreign soil, confusion between unquestioning patriotism and sensibility...fortunately for Mr.Kovic, there seems to have been sense made of it all...

	Cyrano De Bergerac Jose' Ferrer stars as the poetry-spouting soldier with the oversized nose in this faithful adaptation of Edmond Rostand's romantic tragedy. Using the handsome but inarticulate Christian as a conduit for his feelings, the ugly* but eloquent Cyrano pours out his heart to the lovely Roxanne. And she, wooed by the beauty of the words, falls in love with Christian, not realizing that it is Cyrano whose voice has aroused her passion. (*just for the record, I didn't think he was ugly...ugliness comes from the heart, and his heart was lovely.)

	Calendar Girls Calendar Girls (2003) mines humor and charm out of the true story of older British women doffing their clothes for charity.Mercifully restrained in portraying the critical illness that provokes these Yorkshire ladies to shake up their comically dull women's club, Calendar Girls lightly builds to the moment of truth, as Helen Mirren's ballsy Chris and Julie Walters' widow Annie corral their friends for the calendar photo shoot that hilariously redefines the meaning of "cheesecake."

	Tristan and Isolde Before Romeo and Juliet...there was Tristan and Isolde. In thismedieval legend, young lovers become doomed against the forces of royal politics. English knight Tristan wins the hand of the daughter of the Irish King, but the love threatens the truce between their two countries.

	Brother Sun, Sister Moon This account as well as the writings depicting the Life and Devotion of Francis of Assisi had a profound effect upon my own life. His imitation of Christ in simplicity and purity are worthy of emulation.

	Music of the Heart inspiring drama about a teacher who helps change the lives of her students. Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras (Meryl Streep) teaches at an elementary school in Harlem, where discipline is a higher priority than the lively arts. But Roberta believes that studying music will give the children a sense of purpose invaluable in later life. Despite indifference from the school administration and budget cuts that force her to seek outside funding (and even threaten her job), Roberta struggles to teach the violin to her students, instilling a love of classical music in kids who might otherwise never have heard Bach or Mozart, and leading to a student recital at Carnegie Hall.

Bits and Bytes

Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, ANYONE can start from NOW and make a brand-new ending


Paraphrased quote from "Flip the Switch" by Jim Karas "Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, I stop--and though I realize that there is nothing I can do to erase the past, I tell myself that I can, from this point forward, lay the groundwork for the future."

Check it out!

Some of my favorite websites...


Arts in Education Informative site of arts in education...

The United States Government The official website of the U.S. Gov't.

The British Monarchy The official website of the British government, detailing historical background and current events.

Billy Graham aka http://www.billygraham.org Sincere and honest, Billy Graham is a man after God's own heart.

Pure Intimacy Spiritual wellness pertaining to relationship issues.

Focus on the Family Lots of information and spiritual guidance for healthy upbringing, marriage, and life in general.

Plan A (in a perfect world) I was on the Hallelujah Diet for much longer than I should have been and suffered for it,but it is a wonderful SHORT TERM cleansing regimen for detoxifying the body and getting it into "healing mode" without the competition of life's nutritional pollutants

"Plan B" ("B" is for Balance!) Healthier balance between Hallelujah Diet/other Natural Hygiene regimens and the American Dietetic Association recommendations.

Books, Books, and More Books!


Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management This book was edited by Isabella Beeton and was first published as a book in 1861 by S.O. Beeton Publishing, 161 Bouverie Street,London, a firm founded by her husband,Samuel Beeton. It was a guide to all aspects of running a household in Victorian England.

The Internet Public Library! The IPL was founded by a class at the Univ. of Michigan's Sch. of Information.On Jan.1, 2007,the IPL moved to Drexel University's College.Now, a consortium of colleges&universities with programs in information science is developing and maintaining the IPL.

Fred's Site A collection of some of the world's best literature, ancient and modern, painstakingly transferred to html. Thank you, Fred!

Arthur's Classic Novels An online resource for reading enthusiasts. I have it bookmarkedfor the philosophy section, but there are many other genres as well! A veritable smorgasbord!

Books, Books, and More Books...

Some of my favourites...


The Treehouse Book by Peter Nelson

The Complete Idiot's Guide to RVing, 2nd Edition by Brent Peterson

The Earth-Friendly Home: Save Energy, Reduce Consumption, Shrink Your Carbon Footprint (The Green House) by David R. Goucher

Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded by Douglas W. Tallamy

The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

Where To Go When: The Americas (Dk Eyewitness Travel Guides) (Dk Eyewitness Travel Guides) by Joseph Rosendo

My Kind of Garden by Richard W. Brown

Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone by Douglas W. Smith

Powwow by George Ancona

The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel

Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices by John Heinerman

Europe Through the Back Door: the Travel Skills Handbook 2009 by Rick Steves

Reading Matters: Five Centuries of Discovering Books by Margaret Willes

Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Peter McWilliams

What About the BIG Stuff? by Richard Carlson, Ph. D.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and It's All Small Stuff by PH. D. Richard Carlson

Funny, You Don't Look Like A Grandmother by Lois Wyse

We Dance Because We Can: People of the Powwow by Diane Morris Bernstein

Native Universe: Voices of Indian America by Clifford E. Trafzer

The Music of the Spheres: Music, Science, and the Natural Order of the Universe by Jamie James

The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America: Where to Discover Creative Communities, Fresh Air, and Affordable Living by John Villani

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey by Sam Keith

Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan, John

A Christmas Carol (Reissue) by Charles Dickens

Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons

Flip the Switch: Discover the Weight-Loss Solution and the Secret to Getting Started by Jim Karas

A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes

Akiane http://www.tinyurl.com/yxewot by Akiane Kramarik

Back to Basics by Editors of Readers Digest

Collecting Rare Books for Pleasure and Profit by Jack Matthews

Everest: Mountain Without Mercy by Broughton Coburn

Hind's Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard

Ideas That Changed the World by Felipe Fernandez-Arnesto

Instead of Education by John Holt

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Unset

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Native American Portraits 1862 - 1918 by Nancy Hathaway

Nothing is Impossible by Christopher Reeve

Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade

Savage Summit by Jennifer Jordan

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Staying Together When an Affair Pulls You Apart by Stephen M. Judah, Ph.D.

The Art of Outdoor Photography by Boyd Norton

The Joy of Reading by Charles Lincoln Van Doren

The Last Algonquin by Theodore Kazimiroff

The Trial by Franz Kafka