In My Forties I...

Wrote/produced ten plays in five cities
Acted in fourteen plays (auditioned for twice that)
wrote two screen plays for 48 hour film fest
Produced / procured new artists for two new plays
Published three books

Traveled solo to Chile, South Korea, and Thailand

Opened concert venue
Promoted 16 concerts for 22 bands/artists
Became concert reviewer for No Depression and

Met the love of my life

traveled to (not exhaustive)

Chicago St. Louis Cincinnati Alaska Washington British Columbia US Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands San Francisco Los Angeles San Diego Joshua Tree Death Valley Kings Canyon Santa Barbara

Minneapolis Atlanta Cape San Blas Smokey Mountains Nantahala Tybee Island Savannah New Orleans Fundy National Park Canada Prince Edward Island Acadia National Park Portland, ME Niagara Falls Syracuse Portsmouth Italy Slovenia Croatia Montenegro Greece Istanbul Teddy Roosevelt NP Glacier NP Yellowstone NP Grand Tetons NP Badlands NP Custer SP Crazy Horse Mount Rushmore   and a few more

Became crazy aunt

Became a better daughter

lost a grandmother
learned photography
created a beautiful home

built beautiful gardens, Drunk Monkey Gardens in the most ordinary neighborhood

became fit

Ran half marathon

Rode the Hilly Hundred

built career

worked at a brewery

created Airbnb space

developed a bit of a drinking issue

kicked drinking issue

made new friends lost a few
hosted countless dinner parties

hosted poetry and performance parties

became a better pet parent. lost Primo.

becamse a better partner

fell, got back up, fell

got better

got right

got balanced

Snowy Spring

Larry was in a play most of March so we didn't see much of each other. Last weekend we had a lot of fun. Friday we went to Eagle Creek to see the migrating loons!

I love loons!

My photographer friend Beth was there and got these great shots:







Here's a great video of the Loon call

There was a irruption of Snowy Owls this year in IN




Here's a Barred Owl called Shakespeare that lives in Eagle Creek.


He sounds like this:

After loon watching, we took a nice long walk. First nice night in ages. A little brisk. Hardly anyone in the park on a Friday night. Went out for Mexican food afterwards. Ate too much. Had to walk around the parking lot a few times. Sheesh. Next time go Vegetarian!

Spring flowers!

Next day, we planed our trip for September-October. Renting a campervan and hitting the SW parks of UT, AZ, and NV!!!!

Oh, and we got 10 inches of snow the day after taking a long spring hike! We put on our snow pants and boots and took a winter hike!

Winter 2018

Went to some parties, some theater, worked out, worked hard, hiked, saw Eagles and Owls.

Bald Eagle!

I made killer spaghetti and meatballs. And a Klondike. Why not? That is the first time I ever had a Klondike bar. They are delicious!

I attempted a triple layer Boston Creme Pie  for my mom's birthday. It fell apart. I put it back together, and man was it tasty!

Lauren with her bunny Pfeiffenhaffer. 

Saw this BEAUTIFUL show in February! I cried when it was over because I didn't want it to be over!

My niece Zavi sent me a watercolor she painted with the art supplies I gave her for Christmas

Had a wonderful time in Michigan celebrating my mom's, Lori's, and Daniel's birthdays. Made a lunch for the girls, then had a family party that night. We all had so much fun.

Saw this really good play, "A Raisin in the Sun."

Valentine's card from Larry.  Front said: "There are two kinds of people."

Roses sent to my office.

Here's a bizarre thing. SomeTHING scractched the hell out of me, most likely while I was sleeping. I have a ghost.

I took tons of pics of the roses

Abby bugged us all night, so Larry put a sign on her the next day.

Went to "Meet a Raptor" at Eagle Creek. These are owls that permanently injured in the wild but now live at the ornithology center. Little Screech owl is blind in one eye.

Great Eastern Horned Owl has a broken wing. 

Everyday is a good day to make fun of Trump

I like to collect elephants when I go on trips, if I can find some that fit in my purse.

My niece Zavi's rescue horse "Red Bird."

And rescue dog "Chance."

And rescue kitty "Ninja."