I have been reading a book about a small town in Northern Ireland situated in the south across the border of its sister the Republic of Ireland. I have to post something for my class, and I found a great rendition of a song that I love sung by Cara Dillon. It's called "There were Roses," and it talks about the religious conflict in Northern Ireland. I thought since this is the week of St. Patrick's Day, I should post this live version of the song. The recording is incomplete, so I included the words below.



There were Roses
Words and music by Tommy Sands
Sung by Cara Dillon

My song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends on the time who were both good friends of mine

Isaac he was Protestant and Sean was Catholic born
But it never made a difference, for the friendship it was strong
And sometimes in the evening when we heard the sound of drums
We said it won't divide us, we will always be as one

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together

It was on a Sunday morning when the awful news came round
Another killing had been done just outside Newry Town
We knew that Isaac danced up there, we knew he liked the band
But when we heard that he was dead we just could not understand

Now fear it filled the countryside there was fear in every home
When late at night a car came prowling round the Ryan Road
A Catholic would be killed tonight to even up the score
Oh Christ it's young McDonald they have taken from the door

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together

I don't know where the moral is or where this song should end
But I wonder just how many wars are fought between good friends
And those who give the orders are not the ones to die
It's Scott and young McDonald and the likes of you and I

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together

Friday was Pizza Day - the best day of the week

Tonight we ordered pizza for dinner. It was nice. We don't do it very often. It's cool that we can order Pizza Hut online. Ben loves pepperoni pizza like most boys. Chris and I had a supreme.

Today Ben went to Sierra Vista for Royalz Core. They went on a field trip to The Cove, a pool with cool slides and a wave pool. Ben was quite happy about going. He loves to swim. He was also excited to go to the mall, mostly because we never take him. Is that bad? I just hate shopping at the mall, probably because we used to work at the mall. He called me from the mall to tell me that the bookstore had this book that he wanted to read - If you're reading this, it's too late by Pseudonymous Bosch. Ben read the first book in a couple of days. He loved it, and I haven't heard him laugh out loud while reading ever. It was awesome. Anyway, Ben didn't get it because he didn't want to buy the hardback version of the book for $16. I told him we'd check it out from the library.

Snow campout and Gila Idol

Last night, Ben went with his scout group up to Mt. Graham for a snow campout. He was very excited. He just got home, his face covered in chocolate from the chocolate-covered doughnuts from this morning and the s'mores from last night. Hmmm. They stayed at Twilight. They weren't as cold as they were at the Camporee. Ben said he was toasty warm in his new sleeping bag. They played capture the flag until 10:30 and went to bed around midnight. He went with his friend Kale to watch the sunrise. He didn't get enough sleep, so I know he's going to be crashed on the couch in a bit. They ate breakfast then went to go play in the snow. He looks tired. I think I will do my homework in the other room, so he can sleep on the couch while he watches the Disney channel.

Last night was the Gila Idol audition that the store sponsored. Last year when Richard's sponsored it, they had it at the bowling alley which worked out great because it was a wide open space (the years before we had it outside in front of the store in the cold). It's great for the bowling alley because people eat or get a soda or stay afterward to bowl. It works out good for everybody. Last night, Chris did a headcount. There were around 300 people there with about 130 cars in the parking lot. It was a great turnout. While I was there I went out to the car and fell in a hole in the parking lot. I am such a clutz. But it really isn't a surprise.

Reading, remodeling and competition

Not much has been going on lately. Chris has been so busy with remodeling the store, and I feel like all I do is read and sleep. One of the other students in my folklore class said the funniest thing the other day. We were talking about our "everyday" activities, and he said "I read. I think about reading, and I write about reading." It is an example of the life of literature graduate students and the story of my own life lately.

Chris has decided to remodel the store again. He hates when it stays the same way for too long. He is moving things around to make each section of the store its own mini-store, i.e. the guitar section has a counter with pics and strings and the school band section has its own counter with clarinet reeds and saxophone cleaners. It looks good so far. I will have to take some pictures when he gets finished.

Ben is doing well. Last Tuesday they went to Band competition at EAC. Their band got a Superior for their performance. He was very excited about it. He played trombone for "Aardvark Parade" and drums for "Stargate 6." I think it's great that Dr. Sullivan lets Ben play drums along with trombone.

Gila Valley Temple Groundbreaking

It was great! We watched the groundbreaking from the Stake Center. I'm so glad that we got to hear the words that were spoken. It's so exciting to know there were be a temple so close.

Cookie Gram

Ben came home from school yesterday and told me they were having Cookie Grams. I remember the humilation of not getting the flower or cookie or whatever whenever they had these activities at school. Ben is smarter than I ever was. He told me he bought one for himself. I laughed when he told me and said they were HUGE and they were only a dollar. A typical 12-year-old boy. He gave me the heart-shaped slip of paper he plans on turning in. It said "Dear Ben, Uhh, I don't know what I'm going to write. I've never done this before so umm I guess that I have to say BYE From Voldemort." With "Harry Potter must die" scribbled on the side. I'm glad he will get something from himself on Valentine's Day.

Here we go Steelers...here we go!

What a relief! I am so glad they won, mainly for my own selfish purposes. I hate when they lose because I can't comfort Chris at all. The Cardinals played very well. They actually played better than I thought they would, and I think they gave the Steelers a run for their money. It was a great game!