I’m excited about the artist Michael Franti and Spearhead. My friend introduced me to the album Yell Fire. The lyrics are spiritual and from what I’ve heard so far in line with my beliefs. There is only One God. One God that is everything, the only One we should honor and revere. Check out some of the tracks below.

And what about this site I found where artists can sell their own stuff…how wise is that idea. Brotherly love plus economy equals wisdom.

Read more about Michael Franti and Spearhead click here

You can listen to songs from Yell Fire on the site. I’m loving East to the West.

The holidays get kicked off at my house on November 19th, my son Matthew’s birthday. Months ago, he asked for a PSP, a Playstation Portable. That’s all he wants for his birthday and for Christmas, although when he started drumming on any surface he could with pencils and slapping his knees all the time, he expressed his desire for a drum set. Both of these items aren’t small investments and his father and I started making plans. A few weeks ago the toy catalogs started getting inserted into newspapers and I thought I should take Matthew to the store to get some suggestions, in case relatives inquired on what he liked. In perusing the shiny catalogs I noticed how pretty the Holiday Barbie was this year. So one night we hit the local department store. I asked Matthew, “Wanna walk up and down the toy aisles and see if there’s anything you may want in case Nana asks?” He’s at an age where toys are set aside for video games, bike riding or drawing. As we walked through the toy section I noticed he looked at games, puzzles, Nerf guns and Legos. The Legos kept his attention the longest. He studied the Lego Starwars sets, seeing if there were any new ones he doesn’t have yet. Continue Reading »

Photo Courtesty of: C.T. Bowens

Train tracks, my favorite neighbor for thirteen years,
Startled the first time a freight train caught my ears,
ROARING, did it run through the attic above?
I never thought the sound I’d grow to love,
At times is taken for granted and the thunder is tuned out,
Sweet, first time was long and loud,
I feel alive when I hear the train coming, listening to its approach,
Memories of places I’ve never been before, memories like ghosts,
Towns I’ve seen in my mind as I read books, places in make believe,
Hearken hard and imagine the haunting sound long after it leaves,
The track is laid from point A to point B,
Yet the adventure experienced is never the same guaranteed,
Johnny Cash retelling a story about a train rollin’ round the bend,
Passenger, freight train the track is their path as well as my neighbor, my friend.

(by Linda Latta)

Even though I’ve worked at the same place for almost fourteen years, people ask me all the time, “What exactly do you do at your job?” I am a sales and use tax revenue consultant for municipalities. Huh? I know, I said, “Huh?,” for about the first fours years of working there. I help cities, counties and districts recover tax. The tax is on “tangible personal property.” And with the holidays soon upon us tangible personal property becomes a huge focus. We tend to focus on our “Wish Lists,” our whims. We think about wants vs needs? But are we grateful for the good already received? Are we grateful for the “intangible” stuff? The stuff that is not personal and not really property at all. Continue Reading »

This morning I cooked the“perfect” omelette. Grandma Rose taught her granddaughter and me the technique about 25 years ago, and every time I use it I think of this funny lady. I remember her pasta fagioli or fazool, (the real pronunciation). And she didn’t eat sandwiches, she ate “sangwiches.” I’ve been thinking a lot about how special grandmothers are lately. When Grandma Rose passed away, she left some pretty big shoes to fill. My friend married into a big Italian family where Grandma Sue, the matriarch, certainly fulfilled the role with her own style and grace. Last week I attended Grandma Sue’s funeral. And even though my friend’s marriage is ending, I’m sure she will always be part of this warm family as I witnessed over several days at the various services. Grandma Sue lived to see her 97th birthday on October 30th only to pass a few days after her annual Halloween party. Several times during eulogies I heard that Grandma Sue prayed every night for loved ones by name. She prayed for family, friends and strangers. When my son was sick with leukemia, I remember Grandma Sue telling me she would look at a picture of Matthew every night and pray for his healing. I know that she did this until he was out of danger. And every single time I saw her she would ask about Matthew. At the services the idea of her praying for my son, along with her granddaughter’s poem, moved me to tears. The poem recalled memories of holidays, celebrations and Sunday dinners. Continue Reading »

Photo courtesy of: Whispering Crane Institute

A few weeks ago I was helping a close friend set up her new apartment. At age 40, and after almost nine years of marriage, she’s getting a divorce. When I separated from my husband about four years ago I was lucky enough to stay in my home. Grateful I wasn’t the one who had to rearrange my life, I was ready to help in whatever way my friend needed. As I looked around her kitchen I realized her cute, little one-bedroom did not have a dishwasher and I knew where I’d be spending some time. She had wrapped all of her white china in newspaper and now it had to be washed before it could be set on the newly lined shelves. As I washed and washed I gazed out the window. Palm trees and other tall trees were blowing in the wind. The leaves flickered and fluttered with the breeze. I called to my friend, “Come and see this.” I pointed to the waves of movement and said, “Look at the life in those trees, see how the leaves don’t resist, they just go with the flow, that’s life, God’s breathing in and out, it’s so beautiful.” We continued working emptying boxes of kitchen items. When she found the toasting glasses from her wedding, I was holding open a trash bag and I suggested, “Hey don’t unwrap them just put them in here.” She didn’t argue. I told her mine were still in a box with wedding photos but as soon as I could I would dump mine as to not be a hypocrite. Continue Reading »

My third blog entry: a sincere thank you to everyone who has taken the time to peruse, read and or send me an email commenting on the site. I am grateful for all the compliments. Oh by the way, it was brought to my attention that comments could not be entered on the blog site. I have now fixed that setting and the blog site is ready for all of your comments and feedback. So go ‘head, I can take your constructive criticism. “Linda, that piece just rambles on, it doesn’t make sense, I don’t get it, what were you thinking?” Also, you may have noticed I have listed friend’s blogs and websites here. If you would like me to add your blog or website, please let me know. I would appreciate showing up in your blogroll too. Please forward my website and blog to your family and friends. Again, thank you for your support.