In a few short days we will be passing the second anniversary of the accident and Sunny’s death. Sunny’s death, that is so hard to say, write, think.

Ani and Sunny, May 2006 at Red Robin, Starr’s 17th birthday.

Just like last year, I am stunned that time keeps passing, as Sunny is still a part of our every action. We miss her, we ache for her family. This years round of Spring weather, proms and graduation announcements have again set off my emotional triggers.

As I pull this post together, the sun is shining, trees are blooming, the birds are chirping, my windows are open, there is a slight breeze. It is hard to reconcile the movement of time, of life going on, with the fact that Sunny is no longer here. I suppose I need to learn to accept that it will never make sense, that the only thing I can do is keep living and loving.

To accept the things I cannot change. Change those I can.

Easier said than done.

Sunny, we miss you, your bright smiles, your silly jokes, your sense of community responsibility, your light, your beautiful voice, just how flippin’ excited  you would get over things and the way you would trip into the house, clumsy and smiling. I love you.

I don’t have any recordings of Sunny, but this one of Starr’s might be appropriate:

mp3: “To the Sky” – Starr, 16 years old

For a nearly two weeks, I had been  receiving and ignoring daily calls from Nielsen Ratings. I would look at the caller ID and shrug and walk away. They kept calling. Apparently, my input was crucial! Last week I finally picked up the phone.

“We at Nielsen Ratings would like you to participate in a survey about your television watching habits. Would you be willing to participate?”

“Sure.”

“What types of  television programing do you and your family watch?”

I laughed, “Um, many types?”

She wanted clarification,  “soap operas, comedy, sit-coms, drama, news?”

Okay, “among others we tend to watch dramas, reality TV (totally Starr!! *cough*) and the news.”

“That’s fine, I can record those answers. Thank you for participating in our survey today.”

I laughed out loud, they have been calling my house every single day and they had one non-specific question? “That’s it?!”

I heard her giggle, “yes, well, some of our surveys are longer than others.”

Starr and I went to the movies this afternoon and saw Earth. We enjoyed it very much, the theater was packed with young and old. We really got a kick out how vocal some of the young kids were about their enthusiasm! It was beautiful, interesting, funny as well as sad. It’s our world.

We are both looking forward to Oceans next Spring:

Oceans – Disney Nature Series – Earth Day, 2010

When looking for the video in Friday’s post, I ran across the video below. Moved, I wanted to share it, now seems like as good a time as any:

“Hey World (Don’t Give Up)” -  Michael Franti and Spearhead
All Rebel Rockers
Michael Franti and Spearhead-MySpace

For multiple reasons this has been a difficult week. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to detail them. I will only choose to send peace and love to those who have chosen to hurt us. It is our only weapon.

So, I am so ready for a Friday night! The end of this week…and hope for the start of a better one.

I am ready for a glass of wine, however I have some grocery shopping to do first.

But before I go I wanted to talk about my new venture into green cleaning. Already in the few days since I bought supplies and microfiber cloths, I have noticed that I am consciously using fewer paper towels. Actually, the first and only time I used paper towels was last night to drain the grease off of dinner. Sounds great, huh?! Yum, greasy dinner.

I cleaned my front door window, which has given me fits for years. In the past I would have to clean it multiple times, reinstall it, see streaks, remove it clean it again and again…it was such a pain. I only cleaned it once a year or so because I hated it so much and even then I was never happy with the result. Well, last Tuesday I tried it with the combination of homemade window wash and microfiber towels. Because of the layers of dirt, I did clean each side twice, but when I put the windows back in the door…they were sparkly and perfect. Even with the sun shining through in the evening. You know, that special time of day when you can see all of the streaks and crud? Yeah, no streaks!

I wasn’t thinking about Earth Day, I was just making some changes. I seriously doubt that it will help me with my headaches, but I figured why not eliminate unnecessary chemicals from around the house and save money at the same time. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

So far, I am not disappointed.

I will leave you this Friday night with a music video that makes me want to dance around the room and smile big silly grins, which is something that I need today (edited to say: sorry, I am just now getting the disco theme–yes, I am that unfocused tonight!–this is not disco, but it is danceable!!):

“Say Hey(I Love You)” – Michael Franti and Spearhead

“I know, one thing, that I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you!”

I found this video posted by Reno Rambler this morning. First off, I love this song. Secondly, wow.

From the video description: Filmed over the period of a few months in and around Edinburgh by Dave Sowerby, this video of Inspired Bicycles team rider Danny MacAskill features probably the best collection of street/street trials riding ever seen. There’s some huge riding, but also some of the most technically difficult and imaginative lines you will ever see. Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike.

I have posted Band of Horses before, but this seems like a good time to revisit them.

mp3: “The Funeral” – Band of Horses
Everything All the Time

mp3: “No One’s Gonna Love You” – Band of Horses
Cease to Begin

Band of Horses-MySpace

Not mine, unfortunately, but Starr’s.

Starr, Skye and their friend Sookie (along with Sookie’s boyfriend, C) are planning a summer trip.

Sookie has taken charge of planning. Starr and I absolutely loved it when we received a spread sheet detailing the trip last night. Since I copied and pasted from a spread sheet, the columns are a little messed up, but you can get the idea of all of the hard work and research Sookie has put in to planning this trip. Her efforts are appreciated by all.  She has planned every detail, including movies that they will watch…movies that are tied to the locations that they are visiting!

Sookie, I love you. You made my week! Please help Starr keep track of her camera and cell phone during the trip. Thanks!!

I edited the schedule to remove travel dates and personal information, emphasis is mine:

Vacation Day	Activities	Time	Cost $	Daily Cost	Total Cost

Day one:	Depart from Home to Houston	6:10-9:33	$118.70
	Layover in Houston and Lunch for Plane	9:33-10:55	$6.00
	Arrive in Washington D.C.	2:59
	Metro to Hotel
(Money is for the whole trip)	3:30	$10.00
	Check into Hotel
Hotel location removed	3:40	$150.77
(For all 3 Nights)
	Arlington National Cemetery	4:00-5:30	$0.00
	Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorial	5:30-7:00	$0.00
	Pizza at Hotel	7:30	$5.00
	Movie Night (National Treasure)	Night	$0.00
				$290.47

Day two:	Start the Day	8:30
	World War II Memorial	8:45-9:15	$0.00
	Washington Monument	9:20-10:15	$1.50
	Breakfast at Holocaust Museum	 10:30-11:00	$1.50 - $3.00
	Holocaust Museum	11:00-1:30	$1.75
	Lunch	1:30-2:00	$7.00
	Smithsonian: American History	2:00-5:00	$0.00
	Smithsonian: Natural History 	5:00-7:00	$0.00
	Dinner	7:00-8:30	$10.00-15.00
	Hotel	Night
				$21.75 - $28.25

Day three:	Start the Day	8:30
	The White House	8:45-9:15	$0.00
	Walk and National Christmas Tree	9:15-9:45	$0.00
	The National Archives	10:00-11:30	$0.00
	Smithsonian Air and Space Museum	11:30-12:15	$0.00
	Lunch at the Old Post Office	1:00-2:00	$8.00
	Ford's Theatre Tour and Performance	2:30-3:45	$3.25
	Spy Museum or Shopping	3:45-6:00	$18.00
	Dinner in Georgetown	6:30-8:30	$10.00-$15.00
	Hotel	8:15
				$39.25 - $44.25
					$351.47 - $362.97
(for Washington D.C.)

Day four:	Start the Day	5:00
	Metro to Union Station	6:00
	Train Ride to Pennsylvania	7:25-11:03	$56.00
	Head to House	12:00
	Grocery Store	12:00-1:00	$40.00
	Relax at our hosts Home	Rest of the Day
				$96.00

Day five:	Start the day	8:00
	Central Market	9:00-10:45	$10.00
	Tour Lancaster	11:00-1:30
	Lunch	1:30-2:30	$10.00
	Tour Willowstreet/Pick peaches at orchard	1:30-3:00	$5.00
	Afternoon Icecream at Mack's	3:00-3:30	$4.00
	Relax at our hosts Home	4:00-?
	Movie Night (Remember the Titans)	8:00
				$29.00

Day six:	Start Day	7:30
	Gettysburg	9:00-11:00
	Lunch (fast food during drive)	11:30-12:00	$5.00-$10.00
	Hershey Tour	12:45-2:45	$0.00
	Walk around downtown Hershey	3:00-4:30
	Dinner	4:30-5:30	$10.00-$15.00
	Optional Sunset Admission into Hershey Park	5:30-8:00	$26.95
	Get Gas	~	$10.00
				$51.95 - $61.95

Day seven:	Start Day	8:30
	C, Sookie, Host go golfing	8:30-12:30
	Skye, Starr, Host go shopping	9:00-12:30
	Meet up for lunch	12:30-1:30	$10.00-$15.00
	Relax	1:30-Night
	Barbeque at house	6:30-7:30
	Catch Fireflies	Night
				$10.00-$15.00

Day eight:	Start Day	5:00
	Thank you gift for hosts	~	$15.00
	Head for Airport	5:30
	Flight out of Philadelphia	8:29 - 10:45	$106.60
	Arrive Home	10:45
	Home Sweet Home!	12:30
				$121.60
					$308.55 - $323.55
(for Pennsylvania)

Total cost for entire trip = $660.02 - $686.52

Things we still need to reserve and pay for:

Washington Monument: $1.50
Metro Pass: $10.00
Holocaust Museum: $1.75
Ford’s Theatre and Tour: $3.25
Spy Museum: $18.00
Train to Pennsylvania: $56.00

mp3: “He Was Gone” – Gladshot
Burn Up & Shine
Gladshot-MySpace

mp3: “Fools” – The Dodos
Visiter
The Dodos-MySpace

mp3: “At Least I’m Not as Sad (as I Used to Be)” – fun.
fun.-MySpace

mp3: “Cold is” – Dish
Ma Raison de Vivre Ton Amore
Dish-MySpace

mp3: “Pastures” – We The They
The Shabby Road Sessions
We The They-MySpace

mp3: “I Must Be Dreaming” – The Monolators
Don’t Dance
The Monolators-MySpace

Yesterday I ran errands. So exciting! Not. I also purchased some green cleaning supplies and made a variety of cleaners. Then I cleaned my bathroom, using my new cleaners and no paper towels! Today I plan to test the window cleaner and microfiber towels on my front door window. It looks terrible and always looks terrible, even after cleaning. I will report my findings tomorrow.

Starr has been working on a mailing for her professor’s assistant job. It is all over my living room floor. Yay. Her boss is planning a series of writing workshops for children grades 4 through 12 this summer and they are sending information to all the schools that might have interested students. Starr, Sunny and Skye worked at one of the young writers workshops the summer between 11th and 12th grade, 2006. They loved getting creative with the kids who were, I am guessing, in the 9 to 13 year old range. At the end of the session, they had a published anthology of their work. (I just paged through it and stuffed in the pages are several very cute thank you notes from the students. “Thank you for giving up your summer to help us.” and “Thank you for helping me realize what I need to improve on with my writing. Thanks to you, I’ll be rich and famous!”) Starr still refers the experience and what a treat it was. She will have a slightly different role this summer, but it will still be good times!

The weather is awesome. Starr is wearing sundresses all week…she is so excited about it! With the sun shining, the birds chirping, the sound of lawnmowers running and the smells of someone grilling I have been singing this song in my head for the past few days:

mp3: “Sunshine” – Atmosphere
Sad Clown Bad Summer Number 9

Atmosphere-MySpace

“Sunshine, sunshine is fine. I feel it in my skin, warmin’ up my mind. Sometimes you’ve got to give in to win. I love the days when it shines. Whoa let it shine.”

The winter storm is over and the sun is shining brightly this morning! It is beautiful. It rained more than it snowed and we ended up with just a few inches of snow that were mostly rained away by the end of the day yesterday.

Unfortunately this means that Starr’s snowman making contest is a no-go. Since registration fees for the kickball tournament were non-refundable, the sorority will be making a profit for their charity, but being repeatedly canceled isn’t what they wanted to happen!

After being under a winter storm watch for the past few days, we are loving the forecast!

Last night as I was putting together a list of supplies for green cleaning, I watched the first episode of the new series Life After People on the History Channel. Here is the trailer:

It’s interesting and a little unsettling. Funny thing…I kept hearing this song in my head throughout:

mp3: “Here’s Your Future” – The Thermals
The Body, the Blood, the Machine
The Thermals-MySpace

As long as I am posting The Thermals, here is a more recent offering from their latest album:

mp3: “Now We Can See” – The Thermals
Now We Can See

They say a big snow is on it’s way. Because it’s Spring and the temps are right on the borderline, they are predicting a range of snow from zero to 24 inches! I am guessing 8 to 10. I will report back with the reality. It’s a little funny because the highs were near 70 for several days this week and the high predicted for next Tuesday is 72.  At this moment it is still raining with bursts of hail, slush, sleet and for a brief moment 1 to 1 1/2 inch snowballs. They were light and fluffy, melting quickly upon impact.

Whatever the outcome of the storm, Starr’s sorority fundraising kickball tournament will be canceled for the second and last time. Rain or snow the fields will be unplayable. The girls are scrambling, trying to come up with a fun alternative for the teams that signed up. Snowman contest? This was the sororities “big” event for Spring, unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate. Starr is planning a “Big Man on Campus” or “Mr. Campus” contest for the fall which could be big. At least it won’t be vulnerable to weather reports!

I actually did the cliche and went to the grocery store today. I was four days past my “regular” shopping day, things were getting thin. I wouldn’t want to risk running out of Diet Coke! *shudder* What would I do then?!

This song was posted by Sub Pop Records today. I was pleased to see it, even though it isn’t exactly new:

mp3: “The Trapeze Swinger” – Iron and Wine
Around the Well (Dig)
Iron and Wine-MySpace

And just because I am in the mood, here are a few more Spring Break pictures that made me smile:

Playing in the park.

Starr failing to launch.

and K failing….

Yay! Success!! And nice save by E!!