Britain's Military Wives Recording

Hear this beautiful song by a group of Great Britain's military wives. Not only are the words of the song beautiful, but the very professional voices, and heartfelt performance is truly inspiring.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/hear-the-tear-jerking-fastest-selling-single-in-britain-in-3-years-by-a-group-of-military-wives/ via @theblaze

THE FIFTH WITNESS by Michael Connelly

This is another book in the Mickey Haller series. Mickey has added foreclosure work to his law practice because of the economy. Even though crime continues in this economy, fewer clients have the means to pay for a defense lawyer.

One of Mickey’s foreclosure clients, Lisa Trammel, has become very vocal in her protests about foreclosure practices of lenders. She has formed her own protest group and held demonstrations at her lender’s location. Her bank obtained a restraining order to keep her away from their premises with her protest demonstrations. After that, she took her demonstrations to the courthouse steps.

When the bank manager who supervises foreclosures at Lisa’s bank is found murdered, she is one of the first suspects. The police bring her in for questioning and find a witness places Lisa near the bank at the time of the murder. She is arrested and turns to Mickey Haller for help defending her against this charge.

The book has so many turns and twists, particularly after the trial begins, it quickly becomes a page turner, especially in the last 100 to 150 pages.

The author does a fantastic job of enticing the reader with hints throughout, taking the reader just to the brink of figuring the story out but then backing away. The witness statements during the trial are very deftly handled and surprise witnesses continue to appear.

It is an easy read, one that is very enjoyable for leisure reading. There is just enough drama to be captivating, yet not so deep you need a notebook to keep track of the hints along the way.

It’s a great book to begin the New Year with.

My Cats and the Christmas Tree

Here's a little dialog I wrote many years ago about my cats and the Christmas tree. The two cats are Fred and Charly and they were both around a year old at the time I wrote this. I can still see their eyes as they would sit under the tree and stare up through the branches.....just before their launch at something on the tree.

So Fred, ya think mom'll put up the tree?

I dunno Charly, I think she remembers last year, see?

Last year? Did we have a tree last year?

Yep, Charly, up till where we upset it and she got so mad we'd a been
outside if she coulda caught us.

Oh yeah, Fred, I 'member now - "Ho ho ho and away we go!”
That's what we kep a'saying!!!

Right Charly, hee, hee, hee, we sure did. We really liked that tree,
especially after we fixed it up just the way we liked - branches bent
down, shiny stuff on the floor to chase!!! "Hee, hee, hee, look at me"
That's what you kep a hollerin' Charly . I'd look up and there you
were, pullin' down another bunch of that silver stuff.

Uh....... Fred?

Yeah Charly?

I just 'membered sumpin' else....

Yeah? What?

'Member the flyswatter? She didn't hit, ya know but she sure made my
heart go thump 'n I fell clean outta that tree!!!

Yeah, Charly, that's right. But Charly, giggle, giggle, snort,
snort, I sure wish she'd put that
tree up agin......giggle, giggle, snort, guffaw...........when she, I
mean, when you, when she, when you, I mean when she chased you under
the bed, screamin' and a hollerin'........and you had that big rope of
stuff you was a pullin' off the tree.....and giggle, roar, snort, haw - haw, you ran so fast with it, the whole tree fell over.........CRASH!

Now THAT was a Christmas to remember!!!!!

Christmas Music

I thought I'd just share some of my favorite Christmas CD's. I start playing them the Friday after Thanksgiving and enjoy them all the way through New Years Day.

Here are some of my favorites:

Barbara Streisand:


More Streisand:


The Beach Boys:


And what's Christmas with Elvis singing Blue Christmas anyway??

Earn Savings When You Browse Online

I have been using this toolbar for about 18 months. It's really simple to earn "points". This toolbar is called SwagBucks. I just rack up the points and then usually go and redeem them for gift cards to places I like to shop or to restaurants.

Just click here and see if you like it also:

Jack and Rexella Van Impe

I'm going to talk a bit today about Jack and Rexella Van Impe. They have a television program that runs on several stations and usually outside of prime time. If you check your television guide, you can easily find them.

I have been watching Jack Van Impe for about 35 years. I'm not a regular viewer but often. Jack has the most amazing recall of scripture, quoting it from memory very effectively, to back up what he preaches. Off and on through the years, I've been a donating partner to their ministry. I've ordered several books and tapes from their ministry.

Whenever I see our front page news coming close to things I know from scripture, I start watching Jack's programs again. He is brilliant at tying today's headlines to prophecies in the Bible.

I'm putting a few links in this post so you can take a quick peek at Jack and Rexella's programs and books. I do hope you will check out his preaching, no matter what your faith.

Website: http://jvim.com/

I particularly recommend his daily news update page, his Intelligence Briefing reports, and adding yourself to his email list.

I particularly like Dr. Van Impe's preaching and teaching because he doesn't sugar-coat things. His message is not a "feel good" message like we get from so many televangelists. He doesn't stand on a podium inside an enormous church to bring his messages. He doesn't flash expensive jewelry and suits. His is a plain Bible message.

Enjoy his programs while you can - Jack is 80 years old now. I hope we are blessed with his program for many years to come.

Jack Van Impe on Amazon

More Info on Frankenfood - Fake Blueberries Everywhere

Watch this video to see just which MAJOR food "processing" companies are using deceptive advertising to sell you food with blueberries - but the food doesn't actually have ANY blueberries - just some little chemical concoctions colored blue!

The word deceptive is such a very nice word which really means just plain old lying!

http://www.naturalnews.tv/e.asp?v=7EC06D27B1A945BE85E7DA8483025962&s=1



Quoted from the website's transcript of the video:

"Why can't food companies just be more honest about it? Nature's
Path Organic Optimum Blueberry-Cinnamon Breakfast Cereal contains --
get this -- both blueberries and cinnamon.

Better yet, you won't find any red #40, blue #2 or
partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils in Nature's Path products.
They even use organic blueberries and organic cinnamon.

Health Valley Low-Fat Blueberry Tarts are also made with real
blueberries. You won't find any artificial coloring chemicals
in this box.

So why can't Kellogg, Betty Crocker, General Mills and Target
stores use real blueberries in their products instead of deceptively
formulating them with artificial petrochemical colors that mimic the
purple color of blueberries?

It's probably because real blueberries are expensive. And artificial
blueberry bits, made with sugar, partially hydrogenated oils and
artificial colors, are dirt cheap. If these companies can fool
consumers into thinking they're buying real blueberries in
their products, they can command a price premium that translates
into increased profits."

There we go! Lying and deceiving increases profits. Send a message to these companies that lying and deceiving actually cause lost profits. Just don't buy them!

Save Money on Electricity and Earn Rewards Too!

We have just switched our electricity carrier to Ambit Energy. Not only were we able to lock in a very low rate for a year but we also earned a free accommodations for a weekend trip to a city of our choosing.

More than that, Ambit gave me a free web page where I can refer friends so they can compare their existing electricity rate with what Ambit is offering.

You can do this too with Ambit!

If you have enough family and friends who switch to Ambit, you begin to earn deductions on your electricity bill. Not bad if you can make it happen. Best yet, I didn't have to sign up as an Ambit rep.

Here's the link to check it out: http://bit.ly/savemoneyonelectricity

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is a must read for every Christian.

The book is written by the father and pastor of a little boy who has a near death experience. The child is 3 years old at the time. The little boy begins to reveal his experience is small comments that completely shock his parents. He talks about being in heaven, seeing God on his throne, about seeing Jesus "he has the prettiest eyes", and even about seeing Satan, though he won't talk about that very much.

Since the child is too young to know how to lie and too young to read or even know much about the bible, many of the things he tells about his experience totally confound his parents. He even talks about meeting his sister in heaven and asks his mother about this sister. In fact, his mother had a miscarriage before this little boy was born and she naturally never discussed this with a three year old. She and her husband, in fact, didn't know whether the child they lost was a boy or a girl. But here is their son, telling them all about her.

This book would make a wonderful Christmas gift for every Christian on your gift list.


View all my reviews


Get at Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/teeclpiapla-20

Water and Salt, The Essence of Life by Barbara Hendel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


At first, as I began reading this book, I thought it was dull, dull, dull! It's written in such a calm style that it's like listening the calming new age music that's is supposed to relax everyone. This music (or this style of writing) doesn't relax me; in fact, does the opposite.

Nevertheless, I continued reading. I began to read the information about Salt Lamps and crystal salt ionizers. The use of crystal salt is said, by this author, to be very beneficial to our health.

The crystal salt discussed in this book is not the same iodized salt we find in our kitchen cabinets. It is salt mined from various places in the world and is the salt which was left behind eons ago as the original vast oceans on earth began to evaporate away. It retains a slight pinkish color.

I have tried drinking the "sole" (pronounced so-lay) salt water mixture suggested by the author. It does not have the taste typically associated with a salt water rinse; it is much milder. The author suggests drinking a small amount of this every day to enjoy many health benefits.

I have purchased two salt lamps, basing my purchase decision on the information in this book. These lamps help neutralize electronic emissions from all the electronic hardware we work around and clean the environment in our rooms. The effects of these lamps can improve sleep, improve skin conditions, and have an effect on persons who have ADD and ADHD. We have experienced several health improvements in the few weeks we've operated them.

Being a skeptical reader at heart, I thought some of the claims in this book were extreme and perhaps just "hocus pocus". However, now that I've actually tried some of the suggestions from the book and experienced health improvements, I'm no longer skeptical.

I recommend this book to everyone. Read it and learn if you have any health issues that the author says are helped by crystal salt. Put the information to the test. It's a alternative health method that might prove to be very helpful for you.




View all my reviews

Find this book at Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/theeclpiapla-20

Free Stuff and Bargains for Seniors - Review

Free Stuff and Bargains for Seniors: How to Save on Groceries, Utilities, Prescriptions, Taxes, Hobbies, and More by Anonymous

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very helpful book. Many of the tips in the book I have already tried but there were at least a dozen I had never known before.

In particular, the tips for finding or getting lower costs (or free) medical tests were amazing.

I also used the tip which suggested calling my local grocery stores to see if they offer a senior citizen discount. I found one of my stores offers a 10% discount on their own store brand. This alone has saved me at least $60 in 3 months.

I highly recommend this book to anyone over 50.



View all my reviews

Free Stuff and Bargains for Seniors: How to Save on Groceries, Utilities, Prescriptions, Taxes, Hobbies, and More by Anonymous

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very helpful book. Many of the tips in the book I have already tried but there were at least a dozen I had never known before.

In particular, the tips for finding or getting lower costs (or free) medical tests were amazing.

I also used the tip which suggested calling my local grocery stores to see if they offer a senior citizen discount. I found one of my stores offers a 10% discount on their own store brand. This alone has saved me at least $60 in 3 months.

I highly recommend this book to anyone over 50.



View all my reviews

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush
My rating:
4 of 5 stars

This is written in such a straightforward and simplistic style and yet, has elegance.

Mrs. Bush tells of her life from her birth in Texas through the day she and President Bush left the White House.

It really brings to mind the fact that since the spouse of the
President also meets many foreign dignitaries, that it is very
important to have a person of excellent character in this position.
I had no idea how much work the First Lady puts into all the state
dinners and functions that take place in the White House. Just selecting
clothing, that is paid for from their own private funds,
is a daunting task.

She served us and represented us well.



View all my reviews http://astore.amazon.com/theeclpiapla-20

Seizure by Robin Cook
My rating:
5 of 5 stars

A sequel that can still stand alone. Rather a slow read, it keeps
building bit by bit until a shocking, abrupt end that was
foreshadowed for some time. The book is provocative in subject
matter - what can really happen with cloning and stem cells as
research continues?

View all my reviews

Find the book here: http://astore.amazon.com/theeclpiapla-20"

Where's the Birth Certificate?: The Case that Barack Obama is not Eligible to be President by Jerome R. Corsi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book is painstakingly researched. The author is a PhD from Harvard and the book reads much like a dissertation. That said, every American citizen needs to at least read Chapter 12, which is a summation of all the foregoing material.



At this point in the current presidency, it's probably moot, and would cause more endless litigation than it's worth to pursue it. But we need to make sure that this issue never comes up again. Solve it now.



I came away from this book with two major thoughts:

One: There is not one law on any books, state or federal that

spells out who should do the verification of a person's

eligibility to be president by meeting the requirement to be

a "natural born citizen". The Supreme Court ruled that THEY

didn't have the jurisdiction to make this ruling. It was

their opinion that this was up to the states who prepare the

actual ballots for voting. None of the states have such a

law and they need to add one ASAP.



What the states have done in the past is rely on a document from each political party that states that all candidates meet the qualifications required for the office they are seeking. These are signed by two top level members of the party, notarized, and forwarded to each state. The state election boards get that document and use that as their basis of proof. Seems like the fox in charge of the henhouse, no matter which party.



Each state needs to pass a law stating what requirements they have for each candidate to present to the election officials of the respective states in order to be put on the ballot and who will perform the verification.



If, Texas, Idaho, Arizona....etc had a such a law in place in 2008 that they must be given a long-form birth certificate from a candidate for the Presidency and that they, the state officials, will verify its accuracy...we would not have this question in play today.



Therefore, write your state representatives TODAY and insist they enact such a law. I have already done so.



Two: In this book, the writer found there were many places that the current administration has blocked release of records and all the places that official government documents are not where they are supposed to be; they are “missing”. It just seems basic common sense that anyone who goes to this much trouble to hide things, must have something they need to hide.





View all my reviews

Don't Blink by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I agree with earlier reviewers, the book was hard to follow at times. I believe the author was trying to portray the main character as a world-class reporter, willing to face danger. All right, noted.
Moving on, the danger does continue to build and build, with many very bad characters coming on the scene.

For all intents and purposes, the book reads more like something written hoping to make it to a movie or a TV pilot, something like that. I had the feeling most of the way through that I just wanted it to move faster but the problem was I was in the wrong media for the story. If I'd been watching it on a DVD instead of being slowed down by reading, it would have been a much better story.

Nevertheless, there were many moments in the story that I just didn't want to be interrupted from my reading because of the great suspense.

View all my reviews Find the book at my Amazon store:

I found a very interesting website on my local library's pages - (see my favorite links). It's called Goodreads.com On there, you can build a list of books you want to read, read reviews others have written about the book, and write your own reviews. Here is the latest review I wrote: McNally's Dare by Vincent Lardo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is excellent for the "sitting by the pool, sunbathing" sort of reading. It is not challenging at all so far as the plot. I do not understand the way the authors are credited...it has Lawrence Sanders name prominently displayed but then below the title, it says "written by Vincent Lardo. I have not researched this but perhaps the character private investigator, McNally, was created by Sanders before his death and Lardo continued writing a few books using this character?

But to continue, the book is simple and fun to read, set in sunny Palm Beach, FL and Archy McNally is hired by several people to solve the same crime.

View all my reviews

Clarinet Recommendations

I have just been reviewing the information about the Buffet B12 student clarinet. In my opinion, Buffet manufactures the best clarinets made today. I myself have an R13 Buffet. They manufacture several models, from student quality through professional quality. Among professional clarinet players, it is difficult to find someone who plays anything but a Buffet. As for the Buffet B12, this is NOT a wood clarinet, it is plastic. That's why the cost is greatly reduced. Of course, one can purchase many student clarinets for less money than this but most of the others have significant flaws. This clarinet, in some parts of the country, will see a student through from beginner class to high school graduation. Other parts of the country, near large cities where incomes are higher and schools are bigger, expect students to upgrade to a professional quality instrument when they enter high school. This needs to be taken into consideration when the initial purchase is made. Some people may wish to start their beginner on a Buffet E11, which is a wooden Buffet clarinet but not professional grade. This is an excellent clarinet and should definitely see a student through high school and even into college for a few semesters if need be. Link to my Amazon Store: http://astore.amazon.com/theeclpiapla-20

Initial Post

Welcome everyone to this new blog I've started. The main purpose of this blog is to discuss music and books. A further purpose is to review music, performances, and books and to make recommendations. As for music, my preferences are for classical and yet, there is a lot of old-time rock & roll that I really like. I make recommendations for pianos, clarinets, other woodwinds, and music to perform on these instruments. I am a music school graduate and worked as a middle school band director for several years. If you have questions about learning to play a band instrument or the piano, please send them to me. I will be posting some links to articles I have written about beginning band students that will be very useful for adult beginners and for parents of children beginning musical study. As for books, I read primarily mystery books but I also read many political books and health and diet related books. My plan is to post reviews here of the things I am reading. As for the eclectic part of the title - my interests sometimes wander far and wide and I often feel the need for a soapbox to stand and talk about what I've discovered in my current readings and musings. So sometimes, you'll be treated (or subjected) to my "opinions" on things in the world. Since most everyone who visits here will likely be a friend - in real life or online - you already know what to expect - LOL! But you might want to refer friends and family to some of my thoughts about musical study since I offer a very practical approach to help current students or to help parents considering what to do about musical instruction for their child. After all that, welcome to this eclectic blog - where you just never know what you might find!