tynajoymetzner

Better Late Than Never Pfizer Please

One down and one to go. I got my first Covid -19 vaccine. I’m way behind many of you. Most of the people that I know are fully vaccinated! I really researched the best I could. Information about what to expect and the risks of both the Moderna and Pfizer Vaccine. Both have their appeal in percentage of immunity protection! I guess I chose the Pfizer because somehow my conclusion was that it has fewer talked about side effects. Who knows? I’m not an anti vaccination person, but I haven’t as an adult, been vaccinated for anything. I just don’t put a bunch of stuff into my body. I’m not a drinker, I’m in good health so I don’t have to take medication. I believe in an apple a day approach to good health. I hate the idea of having to take a pill to control something in my body. Anyway my point, this vaccine was something I really had to grapple with in my thinking. It wasn’t my go to for a solution at first.

I really firmly decided that I want to be able to start living life rather than hiding out from a nasty, killer virus. I decided that a proactive decision to join the masses and take the shots would be the best thing for me to do. I don’t want to get sick with Covid. The next thought was even more the best reason of all… I want to be part of the solution in the fight against Covid-19! Maybe taking one for the team, works to benefit my community as well. If that is the thinking, I’m for doing my part in getting vaccinated! I’m right handed so I turned in the passenger seat of the car to expose my left arm. I had very little arm discomfort from the shot at all! I will do the same on the second dose. 

I wasn’t sure how the vaccine would effect me. I got my first dose on Tuesday morning. By evening, I was feeling pretty wiped out. I’m pretty active and I keep busy with plenty of physical chores. I just felt kind of out of it. On Wednesday, I did a power walk and realized just how wiped out I felt! I ended up trying to sleep it off by taking a nap. That didn’t work, I was even more wiped out having slept. Anyway, I woke up Thursday and just kept busy all day. I was feeling fine. 

The second dose is the one people are saying is really tough… not looking forward to that! I will however try to keep the goal of being fully vaccinated in the forefront. I don’t want to have to give Covid-19 more of my attention, energy or acknowledgment! By my birthday in early June, I will be fully vaccinated! That is a pretty cool gift… I’m not sure how this will change my celebration. Maybe I’ll go to Vegas (lol, just kidding). Is anyone else missing buffets? That is what I have missed a lot during this pandemic. We had lovely Mother’s Day brunch buffets here at a few different local casinos. Don’t know if buffets will ever come back ? 

Till We Meet Again Cover Music written by Terry Kath and Chicago. 

I’m pretty happy with this. ⬆️ Someone is listening to this on my SoundCloud channel, a lot! It’s fun to have a fan of something that you cover! 

Whatever you choose to do regarding the vaccine don’t minimize Covid-19. It’s out there with several variants. What a heck of a year this has been. The decision deserves careful consideration. Be informed and do some research. Stay well and be at peace with your decision. 

 tynajoymetzner

Huff Puff And Blow Your House Down

The weather has been fantastic although really windy in the afternoons! The last bit of bare-able before we hit HOT temps that just cook everything. The pollen has been astronomical. More Palo Verde trees than I ever recall. I can’t believe that we planted one in our yard. A free tree event inspired the planting of this now established Palo Verde. 

This week was Earth Day. I have been enjoying the abundance and beauty all around me. This pond is always full of birds, ducks and turtles. I enjoy taking a minute to snap a photo while I jog/walk by…

This is part of my suburban neighborhood. I’m grateful for the beauty and peace this place provides! 

This little hummingbird was perched smack in the middle of this tree. I love hummingbirds❤️. They are precious and sweet natured birds. At times I’ve found them to be flirtatious! 

I’ve washed both cars, cleaned the oven, washed my dog and gave her a haircut this week. A domestically productive week. Got the taxes done… Made plenty of meals, did the laundry, changed and made beds. Cleaned the cat litter box many times… yard work and sweeping for days. Heard all about what I don’t do right, what an idiot I am, and how worthless I am, daily. It’s so hard to live with someone who resents you and picks at you to your core. I’m so over living like this!

Taco Omelettes are a great way to use up leftovers from the Taco Tuesday dinner I prepared… 

I’ve spent time this week really pondering the things in my life that I’d like to change. I’m still feeling stuck and I am! I hear my Dad’s voice telling me “You can’t get upset about the things you can’t change”. His words, his voice and wisdom resonate with me. With so much that I feel I can’t change right now, it’s nice to focus a bit on something I feel that I can do! 

I’m plotting “My Escape“- (my Original)

My Escape is my Original Composition 

Spectacular place for this tool right? Absolutely no room for it anywhere else that I see in this house. I’m enjoying this piece of fitness equipment! It’s relaxing as well as a good workout! You can really get a good stretch with it too. I may not be able to change much right now, but I can work on myself! I’m always a work in progress lol. 

Here is an audio only track link that I uploaded to my YouTube Channel. 

Something In The Air And Layla

Thanks for taking the time to listen and subscribe!

tynajoymetzner

Exploring My Escape

My Escape – my Original Composition with strings… 

My latest #YouTube Cannel upload … 

Here is my #SoundCloud link to the piano only version… 

My Escape- Piano only version 

Personally, I’m still waiting for an escape hatch to flee and be free. So dramatic right? I get up each day and do the best that I can with whatever I’m faced with. I do hope that, I will find peace and a lucrative way to live. Try as I might, I find myself in the same plight. I remain determined, optimistic and open minded about a new journey of discovery and a fresh new start! 

Thanks for taking the time to listen and to visit my blog❤️

Perfect Isn’t In My Vocabulary

 tynajoymetzner

Perfect Isn’t In My Vocabulary When It Comes To My Covers

Practice makes perfect? Really? Sometimes practice leads to more practice and trying to figure out acoustics and device placement. This was the case last evening . A test of what my set up sounds like in my new studio space. I record all of my tracks and videos with my iPhone. Nothing fancy for sound or video. Straight to my phone/ from my phone to you. … so, of course I’d love for it to be perfect but what you get here, is Live, undoctored recordings … Perfect isn’t in my vocabulary. I’ll settle for a solid effort. Anyway, I’m just beginning to try out my new room and space. This was last nights effort… 

I play by ear. I don’t read music. I’ve been playing this way since I was about 4. So about 50+ years I have enjoyed interpreting what I hear. That is why my covers are never verbatim. Always my own interpretation… I have especially found composing my own songs to be so rewarding! Songwriting is a process that I’m in love with! 

I use an app called AudioCopy to capture my audio tracks. It allows me to record my audio and upload it directly onto my SoundCloud channel. That is, exactly what I did last night for a couple of practice tracks… Here is a link to my original, “Something More”. A song that I wrote about empowerment and a desire to start a new life beginning… 

Something More – my original!

Here is another practice cover teaser track- Silent Lucidity written by Queensryche. 

Silent Lucidity Cover Music written by Queensryche 

For those of you who would rather watch a video here is a video I ran across this am. I posted this on my Facebook page- 

Only Because Of You is written by Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp… 

Thanks for taking the time read my posts and listen! I appreciate your support and time! 

 tynajoymetzner

Old Dreams Never Die They Just Take A Back Seat

When I was a teen, I was a part of this. “Blackland Freight”. We were a band on the central coast of CA. We gigged around the entire central coast. My peers knew of me from my time I spent with this band. I’d like to think we were memorable and pretty darned good! When this band parted ways, I chose to not pick a side. As a result, I just didn’t play professionally anymore… I got busy with life and school… I absolutely had the best experience with this group of young men. They were all like big brothers to me and I loved them! They watched out for me and put a few rowdy guys in their place at times! What an amazing experience this was for me… I remember thinking, “I can’t believe I’m getting paid to have so much fun!”

The band was already founded when I joined. Named after it’s founders, Eddie Blackburn, Larry Newland and Johnny Freitas. 

Some dreams never die… I’ve thought a lot about trying to find a niche with another band. I’d absolutely love to be a part of a gigging, paying band! I think for me personally, this is what would make me the happiest! I cherish the memory of this time in my life❤️. I want this again for myself, I’m not done yet! I long to be a part of a band again. 

With COVID-19 looming, opportunity to find a band is limited. I do hope we can start returning to a more normal state of being! I have finally secured an appointment to get my first dose of Covid vaccine. It took a long time to find a vaccine site with available appointments! I was able to book appointments for my eligible daughters as well. So, we are vaccinating together! I have gone through a lot of back and forth trepidation about getting vaccinated. I’ve decided to be part of the solution. I want the ability to let go of the daily worry that Covid-19 has been for me. It will be nice to feel a bit more at peace with being present in public. I want some freedom back as well. It’s time to live, I’m tired of hiding away and being invisible again. 

Picture credits from left to right- Hal Hannula, Larry Newland, (Me), Tyna Phipps, Bob Cook and Eddie Blackburn. The photo was taken by our mixer/ Soundguy, Ray Baynham. The pic was taken at the Amtrak station in San Luis Obispo. Pic taken in the late 70’s… I know, I’m showing my age or my experience depending on your interpretation…

My oldest daughter and her husband recently received their first Pfizer dose of vaccine. Most of the POD’s are drive thru vaccine sites. Mine will be as well. My daughter briefed me that she was in the passenger seat of the car. Her injection was given into her right arm. She’s right handed and it was really painful to use her arm for a few days after the vaccination. So, I have made a mental note! When my turn comes, I’ll simply turn to face the back of my seat to expose my left arm! 

Tender Years is written by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. This, is my cover…

 tynajoymetzner

Easter Fun Can We Be Done?

Happy Easter! I hope you enjoy a hip pity hopping, gorgeous Easter Sunday. I will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen today. My choice… I enjoy cooking for holidays. My ASU freshman will be here later this eve. for dinner. She is working today. 

“Easter goodies“

The Easter Bunny always leaves the household a little something something… 

This sweet old gal, never misses a holiday festivity❤️. She loves the opening of gifts and Easter baskets. She is a charmer!

A senior Cinderella story for sure! Ugh. I’m hoping to get the vaccine soon. I want very much to feel a little more confident in being with the public masses. I’m hoping that by getting the vaccines and being immunized, I can start taking steps forward! Right now, I feel like I’m a sitting duck. I’m target practice… 

I know I should be grateful and, I am! I also am barely getting through each holiday. Trust me when I tell you that,  I’ve had my share of personal challenges lately. My living circumstances are nearly intolerable. I’m at crossroads, I can feel it. I just don’t have the means to cross the road… This pandemic has shown me how bad things can really get in relationships! I’m wearing a smile but inside, I’m barely keeping my head above  water. 

So, I’ll wear the smile, and fake it till I make it! I’ll Dream Of You Tonight is a romantic, sappy sweet song. Perhaps a nice daydream! ⬇️

https://youtu.be/t11q5-cDaqA. – I’ll Dream Of You Tonight 

I know that I’m not alone in my life situation. Unfortunately, I believe many are in the same dynamic! Hang in there. This too shall pass, - like a kidney stone 🤣…

Apricot & Cheese Delight Jello Salad

 tynajoymetzner

Apricot and Cheese Delight Salad

Apricot & Cheese Delight Salad is an old family recipe. My Grammy made it and now this Gram makes it as well. An Easter favorite of ours. It starts off with a large package of Orange Jello. You can use a store brand to save a few cents but I’ve chosen the name brand for this. 

This is an easy, scrumptious, wonderfully unique jello salad. One of a kind deliciousness that you will crave, especially, for Easter every year. It just wouldn’t be Easter if I didn’t make this.  Although I make this as a side dish, it can be a dessert. 

Pour 2 cups of boiling water into the jello. Reserve the liquid from a can of Apricot Halves. Also, the juice from the small can of pineapple chunks. Add water- enough to make 2 cups of liquid total. Add the juice and stir into the jello mixture. 

Cut up the fruit into small chunks. Add the fruit to the jello. Fold in 1 cup of mini marshmallows. They will float to the top and that’s ok! Chill jello for several hours.

Small 8 oz. can of pineapple chunks and (1) 15.25 oz. can of Apricot Halves that I cut up together.

1 cup of mini marshmallows.

When the jello is firmly set- spread Whipped topping in a thick layer over the top of your jello. Sprinkle generously the grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top of the Whipped topping. It may sound like a strange combination but it’s absolutely amazing and unique! Pairs really well as a side dish for ham and Au Gratin Potatoes! Add broccoli with hollandaise sauce, crescent rolls and you have a glorious Easter feast! At least I’m hoping… 

Apricot & Cheese Delight Jello Salad