Hoodoo Highway

Where the Hell Have I Been?

2008-10-30T11:00:00.002-05:00

Ok, ok I know I have been absent for about 6 months or more. Nothing personal against the blog, I love the blog, but I have been blogging on myspace, primarily. It just became much easier to deal with one thing, rather than two.

So much has happened in the past few months that this blog will be burning up with catch up material. I will do one long blog with highlights, I promise. Hang in there with me, I am coming back full force and, baby, its gonna rock!!

John Prine Show was Uber Awesome

2008-03-09T01:55:00.005-06:00

This man totally blew me away tonight. I went to see John Prine at Robinson Auditorium. Michael was sick so I took Virginia (she fell in love with his music!)
The show was just wonderful. The music was outstanding. I enjoyed it when he was with his bass player and other guitar player and I loved it just as much when he was on stage alone singing. It was all good. Some of my favorites: Hello In There, Sam Stone, Please Don't Bury Me, Angel from Montgomery, Crazy as a Loon, Lake Marie, Ain't Hurtin Nobody and more. I remember Spanish Pipedream, Dear Abby, Lucky Larue, 6 o clock news, Glory of True Love, She is my Everything, Bear Creek Blues and You Got Gold. I am sure there were more that will come to me later. If he shows up near you - go see him. This was my first time seeing him at a live show and I was surprised at how short he is. Really short. Still cute as a button though. Go see him or at least put on some of his music. Tomorrow we go to see Bill Cosby - same place.

Altered Guitar

2008-03-02T13:36:00.003-06:00

I altered an acoustic guitar for a benefit held last weekend. The guitar had a theme of the roots of the blues. There were delta maps, chicago map and hoodoo items/photos. There was even a mojo bag hanging from the neck of the guitar. I included photos of Howlin Wolf, Tommy Johnson, Ma Rainey, Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson and Charley Patton.

Inside the guitar was a shrine with Charley Patton. Guitar picks spelled blues and hung off the neck of the guitar. A crown was placed on top of the neck and read Blues Rules.

The guitar went for $250.00. I really hated to part with it after all that heart and soul went into it. I

have been asked to do another one for another benefit. I will take better pictures this time. These pics were taken by my friend Amy B. (Thanks!)

Mexico

2008-02-17T19:53:00.004-06:00

Our trip to Mexico with 6 other friends was fantastic. Of course, we had our moments and catastrophes - it would not be a vacation without them.

I will list them in a bit. Our flights were uneventful. Customs and Immigration were fine. Getting rental cars was fine. Finding Steve & David and Shyrlee & Bill at the airport went fine. The traffic from Cancun south on 307 was monstrous. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get to Playa de Carmen. We stopped at Sam's to load up on a weeks worth of beer, wine and liquor. We got snacks, cokes, water and came to the liquor aisle to find that we could not purchase alcohol on Saturday because an election was being held on Sunday! Yikes, that was like being in Arkansas at election time but at least here it is only on election day that you cannot purchase alcohol. In Mexico it is the day before and until 1pm the day after the election. This meant we would be unable to purchase alcohol from Saturday until Monday 1pm. We were not happy foreign nationals. We pushed on because driving after dark on these roads is not a great thing to do. We stopped in Felipe Puerto Carillo for gas, restroom breaks that cost us each 3 pesos (T was quite upset because she thought it cost her $3 to use the restroom but was ok when she found out it was just .30Cents). We also got some Salbutos (fried tacos with shredded chicken, shredded cabbage and salsa) to snack on and pushed on southward towards Limones. It was dark, very dark on the jungle road. There is little electricity when you get off the main road. The place we were going to has no electricity, just solar and generator. We turned past Limones and started that 54 km drive towards Mahahual. We turned left past the gas station that we called "twisted metal". It is still a twisted metal wreck from Hurrican Dean. In fact, the hurricane damage became more and more evident as we pushed on. Turning on the final road, the beach road, for the last 3km was rough. The dirt road was very damaged and you had to drive very slow and maneuver around huge potholes and rocks. The mangroves on the right were full on debris from the hurricane, the lives of the people strewn about in the mangroves - waiting to be retrieved. We arrived at Mayan Beach Garden while dinner was being served. We were greeted warmly by Marcia and she promptly had us seated at the table with other guests (mostly Canadians we gathered). After dinner Marcia took us to the house we would call home base for one week. That is it pictured above from the beach. It was a fabulous 5,000 sf home with several amenities. My favorite being the screened in porch along the back facing the beach. We spent many hours there in hammocks or in comfy chairs listening to the music and chilling.
On Sunday we just relaxed at the house. The alcohol crisis was diverted when Marcia sold us a couple of cases of beer from her place and a bottle of tequila. She also hooked Bill up with some wine. We were good to go until we could get to Fernando's place in Mahahual on Monday. This picture to the left is the beach at the house. The water was so clear. The palms were sparse, Hurricane Dean took care of that but many were surviving and being replanted.

On Monday we had to go to Mahahual to take care of three major issues:
1) Dano lost the keys to the mini van and we needed to get in touch with National Rent A Car in Cancun to see how we could get replacement keys 5 hours away from them!! Marcia had given us her accountant's addy in Chetumal and we were going to see if that was a possibility.
2) Michael got bit by something and his toe was turning purple and hurting. It was also creating a rash up his leg and blisters, which he was scratching. We were afraid of an infection so off to the Farmacia for anti biotics
3) The alcohol issue - we needed to replenish the supply and make sure there was enough to last the week.

After a phone call from a pay phone in Mahahual, Dano was told to call back in the morning. It was election day and he would have to be the one to sign for the keys it they were mailed out. We got anti biotics, shampoo and a few others things. An ice cream truck went by and Steve proclaimed it to be a truck thanking people for voting until we all heard "chocolate' " and knew that was an ice cream truck - well that and the pics of ice cream on the side, the music and the kids flagging it down. We made our way into the beach area of Mahahual. Most of Mahahual was destroyed by Hurricane Dean but there is a flurry of activity to rebuild. One street back from the beach was Fernando's place. We created quite a stir, 8 Americans, buying tons of beer and wine from Fernando. I snapped this pic of the gang with Fernando, our hero! The pic below it is of the back street of Mahahual. As you can see, it is not a sophisticated city. It is simply a seaside town that will one day explode with tourists and buildings and, sadly, become another Cancun.

We mostly hung out at the beach enjoying the balmy days and wind. We did have one night where a squall picked up and blew so hard it slammed the door and began blowing rain in. It was a bit of excitement at 4am. It slammed the door so hard, part of the jam broke off. Nate, the sexy handyman in the area, came and replaced it. Poor Nate he had women and men drooling over him. It is a bit annoying when you have the heteros and the homos drooling over the same person!! (evil grin)

We did, finally, get replacement keys to the van. Fernando called National, they sent a man on the bus overnight. He got there about 8 am and left the keys with Fernando and caught the 8:30 bus back to Cancun. 10 hours on a bus to deliver an extra set of keys -- $50 was all they charged. Not bad. Here it would have been much higher I am certain.

Michael's leg got a bit worse and we were concerned we might have to take him to Chetumal (2 hours away) to see a doctor. Sevulow, the caretaker at the property looked at it and told us to rub lime on it, only one way. Sevulow is Mayan and knows he is at least 70 years old. He gardened every day. A very sweet old man. We are not sure if the lime worked or not but we did it! Michael finally started getting better.

On Thursday we went to Dzibanche, Knichna and Kohunlich - ruin sites. They were amazing. Michael and I had been to Dzibanche so I did not climb any temples there. I waited for Knichna and Kohunlich. Kohunlich was most impressive and beautiful with 300 year old Cohoon palms everywhere. It was magnificent. The Temple of Masks was cool to look at. We have tons of pics but will have to post more later. We were very tired that night and then another catastrophe... Michael slammed the van door shut on two of my fingers. All I could do was scream a couple of times, I could not say anything. Luckily, he understood those screams to be exactly what they were. He jumped out and ran into the house to get ice. I then stood there cursing because, well when you hurt like that, cursing just seems to help. Poor Sevulow probably had the bejeesus scared out of him! My fingers were sore for a few days but otherwise fine.

Our last full day together was Friday, as Steve & David were taking off for Chichenitza and we were staying until Saturday morning. This pic was taken by Marcia on the beach at her place. A great group of folks to travel with. Great music, well ok except for gay disco/techno stuff, and great fun.
Dano, Bill & I snorkeled with Marcia Friday afternoon and it was awesome! We had so much fun and saw some great stuff. I hot a red heart urchin shell to bring home. We decided we would like to do this every couple of years. So look out 2010 - here we come!

A Holiday and a Movie

2008-01-21T14:18:00.000-06:00

Today is the federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King so that means I have the day off.
I overslept, meaning I slept far longer than I intended (noon!!) and when I realized it was noon, jumped up to get moving. I washed clothes, picked up the house, showered and then sat down with a cup o' joe to see what was on tv. I ran across "A Patch of Blue". Oh my, this movie sucks me in each time. What a great movie. What furor it incited, so much so that the kissing scenes had to be deleted when it was shown in the South.
For the uninformed, A Patch of Blue is the 1965 Academy Award winning film about a relationship between a black man (Sidney Poitier) and a young blind white girl (Elizabeth Hartman). The movie is touching and shows that love is "color blind". The sad thing is that, even today, inter racial couples get the crap. It makes my blood boil when folks comment about a mixed couple. So 43 years after this film explores this type of relationship, the same small minded people exist.

Oh I suck...

2008-01-18T18:34:00.000-06:00

At keeping up with the blog. I have been blogging on myspace a lot but have neglected this little blog.
A catch up blog of sorts. Back into the swing of things at work. Loving my Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. This stuff smells amazing and makes me feel sooooo sexy and fresh. Michael was a dear, I got the perfume, lotion and body cream. Mmmmmm.
Gained 4 pounds from Dec 11 until Jan 7.... probably most of it the two weeks I was a slug at home for the holidays. Now back to being serious, ok semi-serious.
Radio show going fine - we had a great show today. I had Cosmic Biscuit & Dan and Al up for some acoustic stuff and to promo their upcoming visit to International Blues Competition in Memphis in a couple of weeks. Great sounds. Wish them the best of luck. It was really cool that lots of local musicians were listening today and calling in their best wishes. That made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Tomorrow night is a fundraiser at Parrot Beach to help with the costs to send them to IBC. I did note that my friend Jon Justice (read the blog here to learn about him) from Cinci was competing this year.
We are going to Michael's dad's retirement party on Sunday up in White County. I am making a dessert (Miss Beve' home made pound cake) to take for the party after the party. (Read this blog to understand this area of White County).
Counting down the days until Mexico. We will be there with 6 other beach bums (Shyrlee, Bill, Dano, T, Dave and Steve). We are staying here. We were going to stay a few yards down the beach at our favorite place, but they took a huge hit from Hurricane Dean in August and cannot hold us all just yet. It will be a relaxing and awesome trip.
Going to Nashville, TN next week to do some training and will stop in Memphis before heading up there. Check out the old office and make an appearance. It has been such a blessing to be able to work back in Little Rock, particularly having to deal so much with mom. Mom is doing better, by the way. Much calmer and sweeter in the past month.
Does anyone have a clue who to vote for? I know I will not be voting Republican, I would cut off both arms before I ever had to do that. But I am still undecided on the Democratic front. I think Obama has generated a ton of energy and excitement but worry about his relative lack of dealing with really evil Repubs on a national level. I just do not know.... still reading, watching and thinking.
Is anyone else sick of the Spears' family freak show? Please Lord move on to real news. I could care less about white trash with money. You cannot buy class and they are proof positive. Nuff said about that.

New Year - New Do!

2008-01-02T16:57:00.000-06:00

I let Jose' just do his thang. This is what I left with. No, it will not be this straight tomorrow, once I wash it the curl will be back. Yes, he uses about 6 variations of auburn from darkest to lightest.... he is amazing, I mean consider what he had to work with.

Equality

2007-12-23T11:49:00.000-06:00

There will never be equality between men and women, never. In a world where being a man has the most distinct advantage, overall, they are not likely to give it up.
Women still earn less than men, 76 cents on the dollar. Women are still primary caregivers in families (including parents and children). Women bear children, raise them, often work outside the home, and then, come home to cook, clean, take care of general day to day home activities.
Do not be deceived by the cliche comments such as; women get their drinks bought for them, women do not do the yard work, women get dinner paid for, women always know when they are going to have sex, etc... yada, yada, yada. I can buy my own damn drinks and dinner buddy. I can also mow a yard, if need be - three times a year because that is about what happens around here. Our yard is mostly rock. I can also hire someone else to do it.
When the home duties are equally divided and men quit sitting on their asses talking about the trash they took out or the one load of laundry they did (their clothes) and, truly, do an equal amount of work in the home AND women earn dollar for dollar what men earn.... we will be equal. For now, it is all a piece of crock that women are equal... If women started billing men for their actual work time there might be a different story emerging. What do you think a general laborer might earn per hour? Let's lowball this figure at $10 an hour. Just for Christmas prep alone (cleaning, shopping for all the meals and everyone - including HIS family, wrapping each and every gift, cooking, cleaning again and cleaning after him each time he eats or cooks something for himself, picking up his friend's gift, etc...) I figure that was about 100 hours of time so far... that makes it $1,000.00!! Just for Christmas prep alone.... wow, I could quit my real job if I started charging at home.
What do I want for Christmas? Peace, a clean house that I did not have to clean, a stocked refrigerator that I did not have to stock and a meal that I did not have to cook. Oh and no shoes on my living room floor....

Snorkle (the sound of coffee through the nose) - slap me silly...

2007-12-19T18:19:00.000-06:00

but Jamie Lynn Spears (Brittney's little sister) is pregnant. Yep, 16 and pregnant. Reports are that Jamie Lynn plans to raise the baby in her home state of Louisiana — "so it can have a normal family life." ok , give me a freakin break - there is nowhere in the world they could raise that baby and it have a normal family life. Come on.... get so real.

In a related story Reuters reports that the mother of Jamie Lynn & Brittney has her book plans delayed... she was writing, yep you guessed it, a parenting book!!! Ok now I am really laughing - the kind of laugh where my latte comes back up through my nose...

Greece, Glorious Greece

2007-12-12T22:23:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, we spent 9 wonderful days in Greece. It was a fabulous trip and so amazing. I could go on and on and on, but I will hit the highlights of the trip. We flew from Little Rock to Dulles (D. C.) to Munich to Athens. The Dulles to Munich was on a 777 and it was very, very comfortable. It took about 8 hours on that segment, 9 coming back. We arrived in Athens on Friday the 30th, got our rental car (which was too small for four people and all their luggage so Michael and I sat in the back with two suitcases). We found our apartment, which was in the middle of a neighborhood. This was pretty neat. We would walk to the market for fresh fruit, snacks, beer, etc. There was a bakery around the corner for our wonderful pastries and bread, a laundry near by and many little local shops (nothing touristy). My favorite place to get cappucino was a couple of blocks away. We were about 10 minutes from the Metro, so we purchased a week long pass for 10 euro and took that thing everywhere.

The Metro was awesome, clean and no smelling of urine, no grafitti and flat panel tvs where you wait on the trains (now how long do you think those babies would last in a subway system here?) We rode the Metro all over - it was very convenient and easy to use. My metro story is that one day, Michael and I rode to Piraeus, the port. As folks got on at one stop I swore someone grabbed my butt. I turned around and all I saw was a little old greek man, white hair, short, smiling and walking to the back of the train. I thought maybe someone just bumped me. A couple of stops later, he was getting off and I will be damned if he did not grab my butt cheek again and cup it. I turned around and he had the biggest smile, saluted all of us and got off the train. I turned back and told Michael "that old man fondled my butt twice!" to which Michael said "well it must have passed inspection, he saluted you!"

Beer in Athens - Mythos or Alpha - preferred Mythos. Here is some we enjoyed at the apt. in the evening as we rested up for dinner. In Athens, dinner does not start before 9pm. It gets crowded even later than that. So we made a habit of sightseeing, doing whatever, going back to the apartment and having some wine, beer or whatever and resting a bit before we would head back out at 9pm for dinner.

Food in Athens was quite tasty. The only meat I had was a McDonald's Cheeseburger at a rest stop on the way to Delphi. It tasted the same. Michael says I should just go on and become a vegetarian but there are 5 things that keep me from being one; pork bbq, fried bacon, fried catfish, turkey and ham. So no vegetarian lifestyle every day. Here is the real scoop. Dishes were described as having meat. Well ok... does that mean lamb, because I just am not into lamb. Also, bacon there is not cooked done and I cannot eat pink, limp bacon. So I stuck to lots of Greek salads which are a bit different. No lettuce; just tomatoes (which tasted like real tomatoes ya'll - the kind we used to get), cucumber, olives, onions and the feta cheese is a slab on top of the salad and they bring olive oil and a balsamic vinegar to the table for you to top your salad off with. Very yummy, the olive oil was the best. Now you could get it Crete style, with these very hard croutons "dakos" and the feta cheese was crushed into the salad. I had a lot of these Greek salads. Michael dug the Mousaka and had it about 3 times. Steve got lots of lamb. I also did several soups "beens soup" (that is how it was on the menu) some white beans, with greens (spinach) in a nice broth with lemon squeezed on top. Also they have these giant beans (that is what they call them or boar beans) I think they might be fava and they make some awesome soup with those. Bread comes with everything and is wonderful. We bought several loaves of fresh bread from the bakery and it was awesome. We found a little cheese, snack and olive store. We got a couple of hunks of cheese, some olives, some pretzely things with sunflower seed that made it through security and customs with me... (yyummm) and snacked on that a lot.

Sights we saw: Hadrian's Library, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Wall, Acropolis site (with parthenon, etc), Plaka, Anafiotika (which starts at the Plaka and is a cluster of small houses built on the slopes of the Acropolis)above the Plaka (this photo to the right is the path into Anafiotika it is like wandering a small cobblestone path on a greek island beautiful and the Acropolis above it, Corinth Canal, Epidavros, Delphi (my most favorite site of all), the Agora and various other things here and there. We did not do any museums. Can you believe it? The one we wanted to go to had an El Greco exhibit that we found out was on loan. You were not told that and paid your 5 euro and when you got to that section, they had pictures of what used to be there. My friend Steve said he wanted to go back and ask could he give them a picture of 5 euro instead of the euro. The fact is, that we saw so many ruins, statues, etc.. everywhere (metro, on the streets, in neighborhoods, at stores, etc..) that we just figured how many 3,000 year old chunks of stone and marble do we have to see. Call us lacking in culture but we absorbed culture elsewhere. I loved Temple of Zeus (the first site we found) and it is the pic that starts off this blog. This piece of a column here was at Hadrian's Library, which was right next to the Agora and the Metro stop at Monastiriki, the train runs right through the Agora. This is also where the Sunday morning market is at the Steve said was not to be missed. You can miss it. It is a lot of useless junk and furniture. However, we did enjoy going and checking out the neighborhood and found some cool little cafe's and a place to eat later in the week (near Thissio).

We took a day trip to Corinth and saw the canal and then sidetracked to Epidavros. It was a beautiful drive but it was a rainy, grey day. The mountains were very pretty, the site was cool but the rain limited what we spent time seeing. We drove through some small villages and found a really cool church. As we got to the church we realized a funeral was going on so we did not stop and take pictures out of respect for the funeral. It was a really cool church. We enjoyed the outing.

We spent a day shopping in the area that housed Attica (the largest department store and high end) Noro Galleries, H & M ( I bought three uber cool hats and a necklace there), other little boutiques and all the fancy, schmancy designer stores; Dolce & Gabanna, Versace, Ferragamo, etc... The in style at the moment is boots with jeans tucked in. Everyone had on boots (the ladies) so see my Darth Vader boots (as Michael calls them ) are so in, in Greece, but that is ok I will still wear them here. I found a fabulous necklace made by Armando Moustaka at Attica and bought it for Jen as a gift. Then I found an even more fabulous, funky one made by Armando Moustaka for me and bought it!! Michael said it looks like something I would wear, so most of you know that means different. I love it. We piddled around, went to Utopia cafe (our favorite neighborhood coffee place with Maria the sweetest waitress). They are stuck on the 80s music there. We had a good time singing along with Duran Duran and other 80s legends. Also, you should know that in Greece the national past time is smoking. Everywhere, everybody. I believe when they are born they are given a cigarette first. They smoke and eat at the same time and all have the same pose. Cigarette between two fingers held up while head in propped against the hand with the cigarette. Then with the other hand they eat and then smoke and eat... very interesting and so not Larry or Virginia - they would die over there or be killed for complaining about it.

My favorite site was Delphi. It was an amazingly astounding and beautiful place. Delphi was considered the center of the known world, the place where heaven and earth met. In Greek Mythology, Delphi was the meeting place of two eagles, released by Zeus and sent in opposite directions. Where they met indicated the center, or the navel, of the earth. It is the center of worship for the God Apollo, son of Zeus who embodied moral discipline and spiritual clarity. Prior to that, other deities worshipped at Delphi; including the earth goddess Gea, Themis, Demeter and Poseidon. Apollo displaced these other deities and became the guardian of the oracle, Pythia. The oracle would deliver her prophecies in an intoxicated haze and they would be translated. It is absolutely stunning.

It is built on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, overlooking a valley filled with cyprus and olive trees. The site contains the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena, The Treasury of the Athenians, A Gymnasium, A theater, a stadium and much more. I just cannot describe how beautiful and peaceful this place was. Here are Michael and I at Delphi. We went into the village of Delphi which had one main street into it and then back to the village or town of Archova, which is where we had lunch. It is a ski resort town in the winter and is built on the side of the mountain. Just gorgeous. I have many pictures in my album of the entire trip, actually.

The Plaka was one of our favorite hang out places, also. Lots of touristy shops with lots of interesting tchotchkes to buy and bring home. One of our favorite places was Brettos Distillery. We enjoyed Ouzo, Raki, Mistachi, Coffee, Citron and other liqueur. We bought Ouzo, Raki (with honey and cinnamon and Coffee liqueur which is nothing like Kahlua - not nearly as sweet - just yummy. The place is gorgeous. It is 109 years old and the bottles line the wall with these lights behind them.. the old kegs are there and everything is still produced there. Go to their site and get you some good stuff, too! I found some cute evil eye talismans for some folks, some fabulous olive oil and honey soap, I got myself an wooden icon thing that is pretty funky, I found some beautiful lacework coasters and doilie things I bought as gifts and I got some worry beads. Also I got a Greek Cats calendar for my friend, the cat lady Virginia. Cats and dogs are everywhere in Greece. They do not believe in spaying or neutering and everyone takes care of them. They are all fat and healthy looking. The dogs just lay where they want to and you step over them. They never open and eye or do much of anything. The cats sit where they want and when they want. I have pics of them on scooters, in trees, etc..

My final story (because I could go on and on) is our trip to Thissio area of Athens - just a few Metro stops away from where we stayed and at one end of the Plaka. We found that taverna we wanted to eat at. Steve went with us. Now, Steve, whom I love dearly has this guidebook called Time Out - Athens. He lives and dies by the guidebook - if it is not in there well he is not all that interested in going. It was pretty funny because we would say we were going to eat somewhere and he would say "do you want me to check the guidebook?" So he went with us, a little begrudgingly I think. We walked in and sat down and he said "Two things against this place already, it is too bright in here and the menu has pictures on it - not a good sign". I made a tacky, cursing statement about his guide book. (Cause I am an evil red head and he would expect no less from me and he knows it). Our meal was great. Michael said it was the best Mousaka he had and he tasted Steves carbonara and said it was excellent - Steve gave it an "ok" - cause he knows he did not want to admit it was good because it was not in Time Out. (Not that Time Out did not have some cool info in it, it did and their recommendations did have some good food but their driving directions to Delphi were incorrect). However, all of that being said - we all travelled well together and I would travel with these folks again, anytime and Steve knows it. We had so much fun, we really did. As we walked to this Taverna we passed a cafe on the corner called Carte Postale. Some awesomely great Chicago blues was playing on the sound system so I said we would return for a drink after dinner. We did and sat down. We told the gentleman we stopped because of the blues. He told us he only plays blues and jazz. He was very excited that we liked the blues. I told him I had the blues radio show and OH MY GOD he was in heaven. He then showed us pictures of his album (vinyl) collection, a picture of him and an older black gentleman that I was supposed to guess the identity of. I said it looked like Hubert Sumlin, which was correct, so I am batting 2 for 2 now. Free beer starts flowing. He asked Michael would he trade wives and Michael said no. He told Michael "you lucky man". I told Michael he could have negotiated and gotten a goat in the deal, as well, and probably lots of free Mythos. In the end, we were invited back on Friday night before we leave for a special night. I decide, I am going to give him my AR Blues & Heritage T Shirt that I had with me because I can order another one. We went back Friday night around 10ish. When he saw us I got the Greek greeting of kiss on both cheeks, while we hug and slap each other on the shoulders. He had some friends there who also liked the blues. I gave him my t shirt and it was like I gave him a kidney. Here is one of the many kisses I got from Bill (because he says his greek name is too long and it means the same as Bill) after giving him the t shirt. His friends Dimitri and Jacob (another one who says his Greek name is too long and difficult to pronounce) were fun and interesting, as well. An artist and poet, among other things and blues lovers, except they like Country but Bill will not play them country. Bill turned them on to the blues, that is how he met them. They (Dimitri and Jacob want to visit America and go to Nashville, TN. (Hey, they should check out the Parthenon there). Jacob drank Jack Daniels and had on cowboy boots. We explained the whole "shit kicker" thing and he got a real kick out of that. The thing is, these guys know blues beyond belief. Like the date a song was recorded, all the artists, where it was recorded, etc... amazing stuff. They had a huge book of blues artists that they had obviously studied. They knew about Arkansas because of blues artists from Arkansas. It was very enlightening and fun. Michael dubbed them the Greek Blues Society and Steven says "Of course, leave it do Deb to find a party in Athens." For Krista, Tony, Steve and Trish {inside joke} - "I think I found my tribe - they were not at the Grand Canyon, they are at Carte Postal in Athens, Greece waiting for me to come back!! (Michael, me, Bill with his t shirt, Dimitri and Jacob - my tribe, my people... I will be Queen of the Greek Blues Society!!)

Massive Update October - November

2007-12-09T15:22:00.000-06:00

I have been so neglectful of this blog because it just has been busy as ever.

October was a busy month with the first part being the Arkansas Blues & Heritage festival. We had a fabulous time, although I got sick (dang it) from overheating!! In October!! It was so hot, we all went over to Clarksdale, MS on Saturday afternoon to escape the heat. I missed the campsite party at Michael Burks site but will make it next year for sure. Lots of good memories from that weekend! Enjoyed the music, the Chuck's BBQ sandwich, walking around and hanging backstage with Charlotte, stealing the blues box with Charlotte, having an opening ceremony for the blues box to discover it was full of NOTHING. But we did have some fun.

I then spent two weeks spent in Phoenix doing training for the agency. On the weekend, several of the instructors went to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. It was pretty awesome to see. A big thanks to Krista and Tony for being our tour guides or the locals who got stuck with us for the weekend. The Grand Canyon was amazing. Photos, or at least ones I took, do not do it justice. We were supposed to meet up with some of the other instructors at 6pm - at the lodge, bar, tourist center and we got there at 5pm.
We started drinking beer, playing the juke box and pool and the others did not show up until almost 7pm.... hmmmm. Is a picture worth a thousand words? We went on to Flagstaff and stayed at a motel on Route 66. The next morning we went to Sedona. That was beautiful. We stopped along the way and bought some jewelry from some Native Americans. I bought several pieces made by this woman, who is 94. That is her beautiful great granddaughter with her. She made the bracelets all the Amys got when I returned.

Sedona was fabulous but I have to admit, I felt no vortex or anything special but I did enjoy the town very much. Bev and I had a drink at sunset and the show was amazing. This was my view from the outside bar area. Yep, those are my chucks... love em. I always take my view from the relaxed, feet up position because I am weird that way!!

As soon as I got home, I had to get ready for Octoberfest, the annual retreat to Petit Jean Mountain with the gang; John, Becky, Bill, Shyrlee, Barrie, John, Dano, T, Larry, Carolyn, Angie, Bob and others that vary from year to year. I was sick, having gotten a horrible sinus thing toward the end of my two weeks in Arizona. I did not spend a lot of time outside but enjoyed the weekend anyway. We did a girl's bedroom this year and kind of liked it. The men were tucked away in another room! At least some of us did! Good food, good friends and I forgot to take pictures.

That moves us into November. I was in the process of moving my office to Little Rock from Memphis, can I get a hell yeah? It was awfully sweet of my boss to allow me to do this. It will really help me out a lot and, really, I can do this job from just about any location with a phone and computer and I have all that portable!! I had my annual birthday party on the 17th at the Parrot Beach Cafe. Yes, there are pictures, No I have not uploaded them apparently. Big John Miller played and we all had a blast. I have also seen pics on Parrot Beach's myspace page and a few others...

Thanksgiving was ok. I did not cook. We went to the Wyndham with Virginia, Betty and a co worker Carlos. The food was good and we enjoyed not cooking or cleaning. That night we went to the annual Parrot Beach Thanksgiving Jam - which was huge. It was a ton of fun. I even got pulled up to sing - which meant that everyone else had too much to drink because I cannot sing at all!! I did backup to Charlotte with Karen, her sister and a couple of other ladies. We did Mustang Sally, yes I know - my banned song, and Chain of Fools. I really vamped it up because - what the heck right?

So there, caught up and on the move. I promise to do better with this thing, really.

Antoher one for the category of "things that make me go hmmmmm"

2007-09-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

Huh? Is there a difference in auto loans for these folks as opposed to these folks?

I googled other types and auto loans and did not find a group like this. Another one for my list.

What a Week It Was

2007-09-15T10:09:00.000-05:00

I was in the nation's capital all week, Washington D. C., and what a week it was! (For the gramatically correct challenged, Capitol is the building, Capital is the city - the two are not interchangeable).
When you fly into D. C. (I flew into National) you fly over the Pentagon, you see the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the beautiful National Cathedral rises from a blanket of trees, the Potomac - it is all so wonderful to see. It makes me proud to see all of this and know that it belongs to all of us.

I was there for the PA Conference. I flew in Sunday and flew home Friday evening. I was there with all the other PAs from across the country. These are my peers, my coworkers and my friends. There are about 22 of us nationwide, so we are not a large group. We are, however, a tough group, a loud group, an outgoing group and an entertaining group. I have to say that these people are the most creative, energetic, outgoing and wonderful group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I consider many of them my friends. Bev, my Birmingham peer. She is my co-trainer, my friend and the southern belle of all southern belles. Her daughter calls us the redhead duo. Joe, my Houston peer. Joe is gregarious, has a deep laugh, is very thoughtful and introspective and has gotten several of us to routinely state "You can't make this shit up!". Nitza, my Miama peer. Nitza has the most wonderful energy around her. She is so animated and lively, with her adorable Puerto Rican accent. She brightens up a room when she enters. Santos, my Los Angeles peer. Well Santos is Santos. He is the person who I bicker with the most and we sounds like an old married couple when the reality is we adore each other and hit it off the minute we met in 2001. We can tell each other anything and know it is ok. Krista, my Phoenix peer. Krista really opened up this year and had a great time. She is very talented and lots of fun. Rodney, my San Antonio/Dallas peer. Rodney is very smart. He has a dry sense of humor that is totally on. He cracks me up all the time. I would say this is my core group. My group I can call any time day or night, and often have. I can vent when things go wrong and share when things go right. I can get ideas, ready made presentations or anything else I need from these people. I would be lost without them.

Highlights of the week:

Dinner at Jaleo on Tuesday night. 14 of us and we were the loudest group in the restaurant. I think we were the group having the most fun. A friend of mine joined us and he was a bit overwhelmed at first. I am pretty sure he was glad dinner was over, since he has to live there. Brian (New York) was so funny. He kept ordering "more Sangria" with a flip of his arm. Our table of 7 did the Sangria in. Our bill was $380 for our Tapas and Sangria, compared to the table beside us at $220... hmmmm.
We had to bring baby/toddler photos for a game and Rita forgot hers. I had an extra baby pic since I used the toddler pic - she used it. Only one person was suspicious, Linda, who came up to me and asked me if I had two photos up on the board. I started laughing and had to admit I did but told her that 1 was now Rita. After the game, we came clean. We are a devious bunch.
Walking tour on Wednesday night. Joe, Krista and I decided to do some exploring after dinner on Wed. The rest of the group went back to the hotel (slugs). We walked up 17th from P Street to beyond U Street. We were in the gay area we figured out pretty quickly. The scene was lively and there were lots of folks at outdoor cafes and bars (gay or otherwise) and the mood was jovial. We enjoyed the architecture of the buildings we would walk past. We marveled at the wrought iron fences in front of the row/townhouses that were probably 100 years old or older. We turned and walked a bit and realized we were in a Middle Eastern section of town. We walked a block and saw a convenience store with several people milling around and realized that we were in a sketchy part of town. At this point, 5 police cars raced by with lights and sirens and the police helicopter circled above shining the light down on the area. We decided it was probably a good time to move on, quickly. We walked down 15th and were in an area of older townhouses, some is total states of disrepair and others lovingly restored. We talked about how much fun it was to just get out and walk around D. C. I would never get out and do this much walking at home - why? We saw some fabulous old churches and admired the ornate carvings and friezes along the tops of the buildings. Just incredible and interesting. We then noted a huge building on the street to the right of us as we were walking past it. It looked like a huge temple of some sort and took up the whole block. We were really impressed and inquiring minds want to know. So we cut through an alley to go see what this was. It was the The Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Temple. It was amazing!!! You can tour it here - go check it out. Of course, Santos kept calling wanting to know where we were at.
Text messaging Santos while he was on a panel in front of the room. He cannot ignore his phone, no matter what he is doing. So Nitza and I kept texting him and he would grab his phone and look at the message and shoot us a dirty look. We laughed so hard. He got embarrassed when Laura said that we should go on and let Santos talk before he got another phone call.
Brian - he was just too funny. He laughed so much this week at us that his sides hurt. He also tried to blame his excess Sangria and Scotch on "bad monkfish". The round of applause when he walked into the room the next morning looking like he had been run over. He was trying to slip in but there were those of us who were not going to let him go unrecognized.
Dinner at the Thai Restaurant and the waiter chasing Brian on the street. Priceless.
The roundtable with Rudy, Brian, Nitza, Kritsa, Santos & I. We played the "Say one thing good about each person at the table" game. We laughed so hard, there were a few tears but some really honest moments. Ahhhh group hug.
Tydell & Phyllis singing Proud Mary in the hall after the day had ended. That was priceless.

It really was a great week. I was ready to come home for sure but I was glad I got to hang with some really incredible people for a week.

A Tribute to a Local Hero

2007-08-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

On Monday, August 27, 2007 at 6pm, Billy Watkins died. He was an awesome person.

I met Billy through the Arkansas Interfaith Committee on Worker's Justice and the Central Arkansas Labor Council. I have known Billy since 1999.

Billy was a wonderful person. He was always smiling and had a kind word for everyone. I have never attended a labor related event that I did not see Billy there. He drove this pickup truck that was full of labor stickers. He was the most genuine person you might ever meet.

I knew he was in the hospital and was not doing well. I emailed Melba about visiting him and she warned me yesterday afternoon that I needed to get up there fast because he was not doing well. I was unable to go because I had a meeting in Pine Bluff and did not return home until after 9pm last night. He died while I was in Pine Bluff. I regret I did not get to visit but I do have great memories of this remarkable man.

Melba sent out an e mail that contained a heartfelt tribute that I know is felt by more than just her. I think her words are beautiful:

There is a big hole in the heart of the Labor Movement tonight. Billy was an inspiration to all of us. He was a good man; a kind man; a man that would do anything to help anybody in need. The angels are rejoicing because they won't have to work so hard now.... Billy is there... and I guarantee that he will be the hardest working angel in heaven. Because if there ever was an angel on earth, it was Billy. I, along with all his union family, will cherish the memories of our good times with him. When there were meetings, Billy made sure the buildings were opened and he stayed late to make sure they were cleaned up and locked. He was the first to show up for a rally, picket or a meeting. He made sure we had prizes to give away at the picnic. He used his truck and his gas to put up political signs. Billy was the oldest delegate, who had served the longest on the United Way Community Services Committee. He was an officer in the A. Philip Randolph Institute and a member of the Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, receiving the 2005 Worker Justice Award. He was very active in the Democratic Party of Pulaski County and Arkansas; having been a delegate to national conventions. This is just a small part of what Billy did.

I will miss seeing him at events.

Hmmmm

2007-08-28T21:45:00.000-05:00

I am saddened to see that Hurricane Dean caused so much destruction in the area of Mexico we love best. Placer and Mahahual in the Costa Maya region, 4 1/2 hours south of Cancun and North of Belize.

Michael and I fell in love with the place when we vacationed there two years ago. Vacation is a word that implies tourist, it is anything but. You are a visitor there, not a tourist. The place we stayed at was so wonderful, we convinced 6 friends to join us there in Feb 2008. The plane tickets have been purchased, the deposits paid and Hurricane Dean took out most of our wonderful little place, Mayan Beach Garden. The owners plan to rebuild but I am not certain that can be accomplished in 5 months. We will find another place to stay that week, plans can be changed. We are just thankful that the good folks there are safe and sound. We are so sorry they have to start over and rebuild. We will definitely be visitors again when they are up and running!! There are fundraisers for the Costa Maya region, if you are interested, and information on them can be accessed at this link and information on specific places, etc.

On another note, I see there are tons of fires in Greece, a place we were planning on going in November - December this year. This prompted my friend Teresa to e mail me and comment " Did you see the fire in Greece?!!! I’m beginning to think vacationing with you is not such a good idea" Hmmmmm, yes she is one of the 6 going to Mexico with us.

A Meaningful Weekend

2007-08-28T05:18:00.000-05:00

It has been 20 years since I lost my brother, Billy. He was killed at UCA in a freak accident. He was just beginning his junio year there. I miss him as much today as I did when it first happened. I can smile about things he did and said but I still cry when I think about him and how his life was shortened. I must say though that in his 20 years of life he truly lived it.

This weekend, 13 of us got together at a house on Greer's Ferry lake. We had a 20th anniversary get together. It was not morbid. It was not depressing. It celebrated who he was and the profound impact he had on our lives. Profound, as a word, does not do the attempt to explain it much justice. Colossal, unbounded and immeasurable might help with the explanation. Spiritual and sincere. This group has stuck together like glue since his death. He brought them all together and we remark frequently that had it not been for Billy and his death, some of these people would not be friends today. It is hard to imagine that the gregarious, outlandish and fun loving Bill would be friends with the anal retentive, number counting John. Or that anyone in the group would tolerate Ben, we not only tolerate him we love him!! It is so hard to describe. I think it is rare that you find a group of friends so entwined that 20 years later, and for some they have known each other since 5th grade, they are still such good friends.

The lake house was perfect, an absolutely beautiful place. Dano had his party barge parked down below the house. There were sunset cruises both nights. There was a table with photos, stories, memory books about Billy or things he wrote. We all laughed about him, some of us cried a little but, overall, we enjoyed that through his life we all have remained such good friends. In fact, I would say we are a family. As Dano said, you might leave "the group" for awhile and go off and do your own thing but you always come back and you are always welcome.

It was touching and telling that Johnny C made the trip from California to attend the weekend. My mom still feels so bad that his name was left off the program as a pall bearer. It hurts her to this day to think that he might have had his feelings hurt about that. I assure her he understood, mistakes happen. It was not intentional.

Dano put together some playlists for his iPod. He actually found a list that Billy had written out of music to put on a party tape (yep tape - come on it was 1987) and he recreated that list on his iPod. He went to great lengths to get one song, having to end up rebuying the cd to get the one song. A song, we all agreed, really sort of sucks!! What was Billy thinking? The song? Rhythm of the Night by Richard Marx. Yep, Richard Marx.

There was plenty of alcohol, plenty of smack talking, plenty of fun. One thing I can say is that there is nothing sacred in this group, no secrets to keep and anything and everything is discussed. If you cannot take the heat, stay away from this group - they hold no punches.

I love each and every one of these people. Dano - always and forever. I have known him the longest, since he was a snot nosed kid in about the 5th or 6th grade. William, still quiet, funny as hell and always William. Bill, well what can I say about Bill? The term bullshitter comes to mind, in the most loving way. He is a storyteller. If there is a story to be told, you need to have him tell it. "I promise". I love him tremendously and still want to kick his butt over Arkansas Underground. Ben? Well, despite that one groping incident when we were in Helena, I love him. Sure, I wanted to kick his ass, who doesn't? He redeemed himself by taking care of Michael at 1 in the morning when he was laying on the bathroom floor from too many Patron shots. Bobby, god love him - so uptight and in need of some relaxation. Bobby is sweet, has an relationship with Star Trek and needed a little prodding to get him into the spirit of the party. John? How can you not love John. He is sweet and funny as all hell. John is the ultimate "white man dancing" but he gives it his best. Rain man we call him, well that and other things. Teresa? Oh my, is there a sweeter person on the face of this earth? NO! She has the kindest heart and the most talented hands (massage - get your mind out of the gutter). Her generosity and spirit are so uplifting. You cannot help but smile when she starts to dance because the happiness is written all over her face. Johnny C? Still the same. My mom always said he was the sweetest, quietest little boy (???) ummm I think he can be quiet but do not let that quiet exterior fool you. Michael, Angie, Becky and Chad did not know my brother, well they never met him. I can assure you they "know" him.

I am thankful to have these people in my life. They are real, they are true and they are forever. Thanks to Billy - we all have each other.

Wanderlust

2007-08-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

wanderlust n 1: very strong or irresistible impulse to travel

Hmm, that would be me. I have it. Always have, probably always will. Maybe it stems from my upbringing, we did move every 3 years give or take a few months. Living here in Arkansas for 30 years now (WOW!) breaks all records for me. Born in Maryland, moved to Alaska, Louisiana, Thailand, Louisiana, Colorado, Arkansas (and that annoying duel Memphis, TN thing). Maybe all that moving around just made me used to going places. In Thailand, we moved 11 times in 3 years!!

So it is no wonder that I am always dreaming of places to visit. I have a copius list. It grows unceasingly. My top choices ever changing. The list contains many of the usual suspects and probably some that might not be on anyone else's list. I want to go back to Thailand. I want to go to (in no particular order) China, Singapore, Vietnam, Greece, Turkey, Seychelles, Malta, Italy, Spain, Ibiza, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Peru, Bolivia, Fiji, Saipan, New Guinea, Nova Scotia, all the Islands of the Caribbean, Tasmania, Galapagos Islands, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Bora- Bora, Easter Island. You get the picture - my list is L - O - N - G (kind of like a belt I once saw being purchased - you had to be there!)

So imagine my delight when my friend, Steve, offers me a trip to Greece! I was very excited to hear about this trip. Nov 30 - Dec 8 in Athens, staying in an apartment in an area right outside of Athens and having a rental car for less than $1,000 (air fare included). I am planning, wheels are churning and my mind is afire with possibilities. Art journal, Travel Journal, photography, coffee, greek salads, ouzo, oh my it makes my heart beat faster. I love this site for the best of Greece. Michael and I are so seriously into this gig we are trying to figure it out. The days off for me would not be a bid deal 0 I have the hours I can fly to DC on Thursday morning and you fly on to Munich - to Athens. How fabulous to be in a fabulous apartment near Athens and day trips to other things ---island hopping brings one to mine, This helpful chap has compiled the best and I admit I am impressed. We can tour on foot or in car, We can ferry out to the islands for a day trip or two. We can eat fresh seaf0od and drink wonderul wines and ouzo.... we can have fun with fun loving people. Who would not want to go. My mom called it the trip of a lifetime. I call it a journaling experience.

We are booked for Mexico Feb 2 - Feb 9 at our lovely little boutique place at El Placer. ^ cabanas is all she holds. We have four of them. Our secret mexican get away near Chetumal and Belize - our own wonderful resport right on the beach and with all the patiences for all of us. We love it. Mayan Beach Garden. We are going and taking with us; Bill * Shirley, Danny & T, Steve & David with Michael and I - that makes 8. * is great!
We are so excited about the trip and adventures we are going to take. Ruins, swimmin in cenotes, photographs of drinking donkeys and more. Relaxation and restoration - no cell phones, no computer, no worries - it is wondermus!!

A couple of invites that are on the not likely list right now are Bonaire " We are planning to go sometime between mid-March and mid-June 2008. We're staying at Buddy Dive resort. We can stay a week for the package or purchase a few more days' worth of vacation." A fun trip this would be. I am not dive certified yet but am sure I could find something to do. Also real close to our return from Mexico date. The second invite Pompeii" we're going to see Pompeii and Herculaneum and spend a week or so in that part of Italy in 2008. Anyone wanting to accompany us will be welcome. I have a book about the area and am going to plan after I know more." Another fun trip for sure. We will just have to see when in 2008 this is going to happen. If it happened at Christmas, that might be cool....

So we are in for Mexico, 85% in for Greece and wondering where else we can wander. We do have some state side wanderings.... the lake, Petit Jean, AR Blue & Heritage, the Juke Joint Trip in late October that has picked up a few more attendees. We will be heading to Merigold, Mississippi. I love that friends have wanderlust like I do. Makes for interesting talk most days.

Other stateside wanderlusts I have: Colorado (really miss my best friend). I do not hear from her much anymore although her son keeps in touch pretty regularly. I was to go to California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Joe's lake house in Marble Falls, TX and Austin, TX. I want to go down to Lafayette or Lake Charles area to have a swingin good party at one of the zydeco clubs and eat some of that good boudain.... I want to go Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina (maybe see some relatives - eat some goat hash (maybe) at least eat some good bbq! I want to go to Mississippi and get me some good boiled peanuts. I really think I can design cool mini vacations for folks....

So my dilemna - Greece or no Greece -- I really cannot think of one reason I should not be doing this in Greece in November and December of 2007. Besides, my passport needs a new stamp in it for this year.

Beyonce, eat your heart out

2007-08-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

Nothing is really new is it.....dancing 60s style.

What do Black Men & the Weather Have in Common?

2007-08-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

Apparently they both cause white, republican, allegedly married and straight, Florida lawmakers to solicit oral sex in a public restroom.

Pursesession

2007-07-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

I have Pursesession (purse obsession). I am not all that picky (in terms of having to have the best of the best, etc...) but every now and then I just have to get a good purse. Generally, it is a Coach purse. I also like Kathy Van Zeeland purses, although they are actually a moderately priced line.

I have never been drawn to a Dooney & Burke and absolutely hated that phase in the 80s when everyone had that hunter green thing with the tan handles and trim...remember that thing? It spawned all sorts of knock offs and everyone (except me) had one. Shudder....

I remember my very first Coach bag. It was the Coach Station bag. I followed that with the Coach Willis bag. I still have both of those and a few more. (I love them, I really do). Plus, the fact that even 12 - 15 years later - I still have them and still use them says a lot.

So, I am home sick the other day and watching QVC. They have a Dooney & Burke show. Too lazy to change the channel, I got sucked up into it. I bought two of them!! Yikes. I got a red and a black (although I thought I ordered brown). Now why did I do that? I do not know, call it a weak moment. I had decided that when they both arrived, I would promptly return them both. No problem.

Problem, they arrived. They are gorgeous and I have to keep the red one. The black one is going back but this red baby is staying!! Isn't it fabulous!! A french lady told me when I was confessing my purse sins last week that quality accessories were a must. She said it would make those $10 target tops and $20 jcpenney capris look fabulous. So, fabulous here I come!!

Tequila She-Devil

2007-07-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

I have spoken often of the Tequila She-Devil, my good friend Carolyn. She denies it vehemently but I have photographic proof. We had some good friends over last weekend for dinner, etc.

The Patron did not come out of the box until Miss TSD arrived. Here she is, all smiles, like she is an innocent angel or something. Ummm hmmmm. Ask those around her how innocent she is.

She is all sweet and nice (that is not an act) but that is just what lures you in. You think, surely someone who is nurturing and caring like Carolyn would not lead me down the wrong path? She lulls you into a comfort zone with her down home friendliness and gets you to agree to "just one" and before you know it....

Anyway, the pic below is proof positive. See her eyes? That was after her shot of Patron. See, once she has a shot - well she cannot hide the She Devil inside.... I abstained from Tequila last weekend. So I need to be extra cautious around her next time - she will be gunning for me for sure.

Going to the crossroads

2007-07-09T20:09:00.000-05:00

I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.

Down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.

Asked the Lord above for mercy, "Save me if you please."

I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.

Down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.

Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by.

(Robert Johnson 1911-1938 - Crossroads Blues)

If one could imagine what Robert Johnson was visualizing as he wrote the immortal "Crossroads Blues", it might be something like this. Then again, did he have to visualize it since legend has it that he truly went down to the crossroads and made a deal with the devil? Would the devil be a white man, taking his soul for unmatchable talent and 29 songs? Was "Hell Hound on My Trail" born of his own experiences?

I got to keep moving, I got to keep moving

Blues falling down like hail, blues falling down like hail

Mmm, blues falling down like hail, blues falling down like hail

And the day keeps on remindin' me, there's a hellhound on my trail

Hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail.

Legends are intoxicating. They draw you in and whisper of things unobserved. I am drawn in by the above painting. My good friend, Gil Franklin, painted this for me. He brought it to me tonight. Foreshadowing and beautiful, all at once.

Thank you my friend.

Family Ties and Maters

2007-07-08T12:34:00.001-05:00

This past week we had visitors from Louisiana. My Aunt Mary Jo and her son, Reece. My Aunt Mary Jo is my most favorite aunt and Reece and I were born a month apart, so we grew up together. We were thrilled they came up to see mom. Mom's health is not so good and she was worried she would never see her sister again. I guess when you get older those things are things you think about.

They came up on Thursday and stayed until Saturday morning. We enjoyed the visit. I cooked everyone Chicken Fajitas on Thursday night and my dad came over to eat with us also. Jen stopped by but could not stay long as she was in a class on Thursday night. Growing up, folks always said I looked more like my Aunt Mary Jo than I did my mom. In fact, we were at the bank in Monroe, LA one time (having just returned from Thailand) and mom needed to cash a check. She was to tell the bank manager that Mary Jo was her sister but he said he already knew - he could look at me and tell we were related. (Try to cash a check now somewhere using that as an id!!) My mother used to bemoan my lack of her level of cleaning freakness. She would tell me that I was just like "Mary Jo" and she did not understand why I did not get that home ec gene from her. Funny thing, my daughter says that dad (her Papaw) got on to her the other day when she picked up something at his house. He saw the humongous mess in the back of her vehicle and told her "You are just like your Aunt Mary Jo!" Anyway, we reminisced and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Michael, Reece and I went to Parrot Beach for the blues jam Thursday night and Michael had to be designated driver. Since I have been "dieting" I really have not had much to drink - one shot of Tequila killed me. UGH UGH UGH. We had a good time anyway.

We snapped a few photos before they left on Saturday and we got this one of mom, me, Mary Jo and Reece. Do you think I look like my aunt? She is the one on the right. My mama is on the left. She is the short one.

I hope I can take mom home soon so she can visit some folks and places she would like to see. I have commented before but Louisiana does not feel much like home anymore, particularly since my Uncle Jake died 3 years ago. I have not gone back since. I guess I should.

On Saturday we went to Lisa and Paul's annual pool party!! We did not swim, since we had to be at a benefit a bit later. We visited with Michael's mom and step dad and other family and friends. It was hot but I never broke a sweat!! (An accomplishment outside in Arkansas in July!!). Michael's cousin, Jim, brought us some home grown tomatoes (Maters, baby!) Oh my!! They are so yummy. I was so thrilled he brought us a flat

- that is the pic on the right. Tomatoes from the store just suck anymore (hmm that rhymes, could be the start of a great song) and these were grown up the road in White County. This morning I made egg white omelettes and sliced tomatoes for breakfast. They were delish!! Is that a southern thing? Sliced tomatoes at breakfast? We used to eat them at most meals we had, sliced tomatoes were a side - morning, noon and night!! They tasted so good. They had that slight acidic bite when you bit into them. Mmmmm mmmm good. They would be awesome in a BLT, but that is not on the diet. I may have to break diet rules and have one. It would be such a shame to have some bona fide tomatoes and not have a BLT!! Mayo only please, no Miracle Whip!!

Naa Naa Naa Naa, Naa Naa Naa Naa, Hey Hey Goodbye!

2007-07-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

Packed up and moved out of Uptown Square in Memphis. I have had this apartment since April 2004. The apartment complex, itself, was pretty cool. Built in the 30s as a public housing project. Revitalized and reopened in 2004 as modern apartments with the charm of the 30s architechture. Elvis lived here from 1948 - 53. It could be a real community place but I never really settled in. I loved the apartment but once Andy moved, I never really met any other neighbors. I was never there enough to meet anyone. I will be staying with a friend when I am in Memphis working from here on out.

We were meeting up with the wonderful volunteer moving contingent at 10:30 at the apartment. Just as Michael and I got there, I spotted a true Memphis Pimp and Ho walking across Danny Thomas. The ho was, obviously, not happy with the Pimp. They were arguing all the way across the street. She was rough looking, dressed in the stereotypical ho outfit for the not so nice part of town. He was classic pimp, for the same part of town. I snapped a pic from the sunroof of the truck but it was not the best. However, here they are - immortalized forever - Memphis Pimp and Ho. I wondered though, were they just finishing up their Friday night (it was 10:30 a.m.) or were they starting early for a Saturday?

The volunteer moving contingent consisted of John, Karen, Dano, T, Jen & TC. They were awesome!! They all drove to Memphis, worked their butts off, drove back to Little Rock and worked their butts off again. I was so thankful for these fine folks. Here they are, under the magnolia tree outside of Neely's Interstate BBQ. I fed them all a Memphis BBQ lunch. It was so hot yesterday. Within a few minutes we were all drenched in sweat and miserable. The good thing was that since we all stank, eating together was tolerable.

We encountered a few showers on the way home, had to exit the highway at Brinkley and take Hwy 70 to Hazen to avoid the clogged up Interstate. Michael and I decided it took the same amount of time to do that because when we got back on at Hazen, we were behind the same truck we left on the highway at Brinkley. BUT, at least we were moving and saw some pretty back road scenery.

I got my big ass couch in the living room and Michael and I are at a standoff. I want to keep my couch, he wants to keep his leather double recliner thing. However, both do not fit in this living room, well they do not fit and look right. So we have both crammed in there and we are at a standoff. I will let you know how that comes out. I also have an extra bed, extra dining room table, extra tables, extra chairs, extra pics, extra dishes, etc. I am going through all that this week and moving some to Jen's, merging some in here and selling the rest in a huge yard sale.

Boredom!

2007-06-22T23:38:00.000-05:00

I had no plans tonight and Michael was on his way back from out of town. When he got in we had some coffee and he offered to take me to a movie. I swear I could not find one I wanted to see. I can count on one hand the number of times we have gone to the movies... just prefer to Netflix at home.

Anyway, Michael passes out early and I am bored. The house is clean (see post before this one) and I do not feel like trying to clean up the craft room. I drink coffee and play some canasta on line while listening to some favorite tunes.

Then one of those things happen that only occurs when you are totally bored and brain dead... you do something totally useless and weird. What you ask? I will tell you, after all that is the point of this post. I want to share the knowledge I have obtained tonight.
You know the song "Ain't No Sunshine (when she's gone)" by Bill Withers? Well, I believe he says "I know, I know, I know..." 26 times in that song. Yep, counted them "i knows" three times and got 26 twice out of 3 tries - so I am going with 26. In case you ever wondered. Now that I think about it, I probably could have googled the information.

E. J. Miller asked me today (because he said I know everything... ha - shows you what he knows) why tape does not stick in space? He heard that on the news. I guessed weather related but was not sure. So I decided to google that tonight...temperature extremes. Either too cold or too hot (200 below in the shade - 200 above in the sun). There ya have it...another useless fact.

Sigh... I should just go to bed.

Three Things on a Friday

2007-06-22T19:26:00.001-05:00

Friday - June 22nd. Summer is officially here. Three things about me on a Friday.

I am a girly girl. I LOVE product. Makeup, perfume, body lotions, shampoos, hair stuff, body stuff, creams, potions and lotions of all sorts. Love it all. I am forever trying new things. New things I got in the past couple of weeks that I totally dig: Shedonism , a very soft and interesting fragrance. Got the spray cologne and the body oil that shimmers. Love it. Merle Norman Satin Lip Pencil in Sweet Marmalade - yummy color. Merle Norman Definitive Eye Liner in Jaded and Hazy. Waterproof - so you can cry or swim!! My favorite this week is Bobbi Brown's brand new eyeshadow palette - Stonewashed Nudes. This palette is uber wonderful. Love all the colors in the kit. They are just beautiful and the shadow goes on so smooth and lasts all day. Get this one now, because it will not last long. The buzz is already out on it and a lot of her palettes disappear fast. In the mail - my Bobbi Brown gel eye liner in Sepia Ink. Now, lest you think "damn she sure buys a lot of product" I was on a splurge thing this week. I do not normally buy that much product in a week. So, girly girl with the product.

I hired a cleaning service, The Cleaning Authority, and boy am I thrilled. They do a zone thing where on one visit they do a deep clean of the bathrooms and kitchen and the general cleaning of the rest of the house. On the next visit they deep clean the rest of the house and general clean the kitchen and bathrooms. It was so nice to come home and see that every corner in this house was cobweb free, the floors looked wonderful, the stove was way clean (even cleaned underneith the top of the stove). It frees me up to do other things. I can keep up with the day to day stuff, it is the deep cleaning stuff I do not have time to do. Love it - recommend it, wrote a song about it... (just kidding).

Last but not least, got my hair cut and highlighted. What the heck? It will grow back. Summer is here, it is hot and I thought I would enjoy it. I have had many compliments and just as many "quit cutting your hair" comments. Also, people seem to prefer my hair curly over my straightening it with the Chi iron. Go figure. The curl is a mop of mess. Kind of hard to see in this photo but it is above my shoulders.

So there ya have it... three totally useless pieces of information about me. Next?

Amys, Amy's, Amies...whatever - WE were all in one place!

2007-06-16T17:29:00.001-05:00

Proof positive that all of them were in one spot last night. That would be (left to right front row first) AmyF (Flap), AmyG, AmyC(Carolyn), AmyW, AmyD (Deb) and AmyB. Too many Amys for one place.

It all started out as a joke. There was AmyG and AmyW and Carolyn was going out with them. AmyB joined in so everyone became an "Amy" (hence Carolyn, Flap and I are AmyC, AmyF and AmyD).

We were all at the cd release party for The Salty Dogs new cd. We had a great time and tequila was flowing. I have to admit, I passed off two different sets of shots and only did one. Just was not up to it last night. The music was great, the crowd was boisterous and, as usual, I am on the dance floor with that Amy Garland when the last song plays and the lights come on. I keep telling ya'll - this is a recurring theme (White Water Tavern - Chris Denny singing - lights come on at 1:30 a.m.; Midtown Billiards, Big John Miller singing, lights come on at 5am). Last night, Salty Dogs singing, lights come on - 2am!!

Great night, great music, great cd...go getcha one!!

He Would Be 40

2007-06-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

He would be 40 today. Born in 1967 in New Orleans, LA. I remember my dad taking me over to the hospital but I could not go up to see him. I stood by the car under a huge tree and waited for my mom to look out the window and wave at me. I wasted time picking wild strawberries and counting clover heads to find a 4 leaf clover. I, finally, got to see her wave at me.

He came home, a big chunk of a thing. He liked to eat. He smiled a lot. He was interesting enough but still not a lot of fun. That all changed as he got older. He was a talker and quite inquisitive. He used to sneak into my room at night to crawl into bed with me so he could talk. I would fall asleep to him telling me stories he made up about wars, things happening at school and characters he created. He was a pain in the ass, too. Aren't brothers supposed to be that?

When I was 16 I got my own phone line (how cool was that?). I started locking him out of my room at night because I would spend hours on the phone with my boyfriend talking and he just wanted to make fun. The next morning he was ready for me to get up and play so he would dial my phone from downstairs and just laugh when I would answer.

He was charismatic, a collector of people. He never met a stranger, although he met and befriended many strange people. Ask his circle of friends, they will tell you to this day that he brought in some misfits and weirdos and protected them from everyone else. His friends were like the united nations.

He was open and honest. He was a bull shitter, as well. He turned me onto the blues more than anyone else did. He was the life of the party. He could imitate almost anyone. He played guitar and loved Rush, U2 and Robert Cray. Today, I will listen to some of that, in honor of his birthday. I still miss him so much and I know I am not alone. He left us many things but one sticks out - the smiles on the faces of everyone he knew when they reminisce about him.

So maybe today a few smiles will creep across my face. Here's to you Billy - and what would have been your 40th birthday.

Callings

2007-06-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in callings? You know, the ones that are usually precipitated by God? Such as, God called me to preach. God called me to minister. God called me to butcher 5 people in his name. Those kinds of callings.

I had a call today from a listener. He wanted to know if I go to church. Told him I do not answer personal questions. He said that he was communicating to me a calling. He felt it. There was a calling for me to be at a christian radio station as a dj, instead of doing the blues. I thanked him. What else could I do? Sure it is a little weird but maybe he really believes there is a calling for me to be at a christian radio station. I do not agree. I think I am perfect where I am...playing the blues and cursing every now and then!!!

P. S. Does anyone really give a rat's ass about Paris Hilton and her drama going on?

Direct Buy

2007-06-03T09:29:00.001-05:00

So Michael and I did the Direct Buy tour out of curiosity. Having read up on it on line we knew what to expect. It was interesting but we did not buy into it.

They want you to pay $4,679 (or some figure very close to that) for a 3 year membership and they showed you how you could save thousands of dollars on purchases. They also tell you that if you do not join that day you can never come back. (Like I really believe if I showed up today with that money they would turn me away).

The guy said they had 3,000 members which made me wonder how they stay in business if the only money they make off you, as they claim, is the member ship money. You do the math. Anyway, we would say that if you were about to build a home, remodel a home or make a substantial amount of purchases of big ticket items, it might be worth it to join but if you have furniture, appliances, etc.. and do not really see a major, major purchase coming up - you might not recoup your fees.

Still there were lots of folks in there. Interesting. We noted that all the price comparisons were with ads but nothing on the internet. I believe they negotiate a lower price with manufacturers that still includes some profit for them (How else would they stay in business?).

Regardless, Michael and I left there feeling fine at not having joined even if it means we can never, ever set foot in that place again.

Lame on the Blog Thing

2007-06-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

I have been so lame on the blog thing lately. I do not keep up the MySpace thing and I am slacking off on the blog thing here.

I have been crucially busy at work - to the point of stress!! After next week, it should be ok for a day or two. :-)

Mom fell again and broke her shoulder again - different one. I stayed with her last night and will hang around most of the weekend because it is really difficult for her to manuever for the necessities. If you have read any prior posts you know that I have quite a relationship with my mom, as most of her family does. She is the queen of "backhanded compliments" - meaning it is supposed to sound like a compliment but it really isn't. Of course, this one just does not even come close to sounding like a compliment. Last night, as I was telling her about this night cream I was using and liking she said "you need to have your face planed". I said "What?" (thinking what the hell is planed?) She said it again. So I am thinking she means some kind of dermabrasion or something. So I just said "oh ok". She ended with "Maybe it would make your face look better". (Double blink) uhhhh -ok, maybe it would.

Now really, I had no idea my face was so horrible that I needed to have it planed??

Hmmmmm. Horrid, what was I thinking? :-)

The White Gal's 40 ounce

2007-05-19T18:26:00.000-05:00

Girlfriends turn you on to the coolest things. Diana came over last night and brought what I have now dubbed "The While Gal's 40 ouncer" - our equivalent to Colt 45 or Olde English 800. Here it is ... Kriek Lambic -------------------------->

It is a fruit based malt liquor. She brought Raspberry. It was pretty yummy. It kept us entertained until close to midnight. We were girl talking and girl drinking.

Today I bought the black cherry one. I will let you know how it is when we try it.

I did not know that there was a whole world out there about 40 oz'ers.... check this out.

Mother's Day

2007-05-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

We get all hyped up over holidays, don't we? I stayed in town on Sunday so I could take my mom to my brother's house. She could see her granddaughter and visit with them for awhile. My daughter was coming over there to eat with us. Would it have been my choice of the ideal day? No but it should have been nice.

Should have been are the operative words here. When my mom is involved, nothing goes as plans and she loves it that way. It gets her going, psyches her up and thrills her if she can create drama, in some form or fashion. This is nothing new in her life, I recall it from my youngest days.

I went over to help her bathe and get dressed. We spent at least 40 minutes trying to get her to the shower. She was obsessing over some tops she could not find. She is convinced that someone is stealing them. I cannot imagine why her caregivers would want her tops, they do not fit them. Obsessing is the appropriate word. She works herself up over it. I know some of this is the mental thing but it does get to you after awhile, KWIM? I got her in the shower and helped her. Washed her hair, etc. Got her out. Got her lotioned up, etc. Got her dressed, down to her shoes. Fixed her hair (the whole time she complained about the lotion, the shampoo, the deodorant, the way the caregiver organized her bathroom shelves, why she could not find her shirts, where were all her panties (those are missing, too - even though I counted at least 7 pair of this one kind she says is missing). I left her there to put on some makeup, do her final stuff while I went home to shower, dress, etc. When I completed all that and went back to check on her progress, she had stripped down to her shirt. She did not like the panties she had on, everything was choking her, those shoes were horrible, etc.... Another 40 minutes to get her dressed again - the whole time listening to her obsess about her shirts, etc... Oh yes, her perm is horrible. The hairdresser deliberately did it bad so she would have to come back sooner. I do not know where she gets that from, it looked very nice. She swears there is no curl in the back but it has a ton of curl. We finally head out almost 2 hours past the original time we were to head out. (Family is used to this when dealing with mom). On the way there, she started in on me. How I think she is lying about her tops missing, how I think she does not hear someone on her steps and trying to open her door all the time now (although she does not hear us on the steps or the doorbell half the time) and what a horrible person I am. I am used to this. Funny isn't it - the one who does the most for someone gets treated the crappiest. I finally had all I could take so I turned up the music a bit, which made her angrier. She started singing above the music. I blew ya'll. Horrible I know. I told my mama to shut up. It was not a nice scene. It was the typical "how can I ruin your day" scenario with my mom. She is so toxic. She accused me of running around on Michael with someone she calls "little beardie".. Michael and I tried to figure out who it is she thinks that might be. We are not sure. It just ruined my afternoon. I stayed away from her at my brother's, which made her madder. If she came outside to sit, I sat elsewhere. If I went inside and she came inside, I moved elsewhere. Nothing major - just did not want to hear it anymore. The bright side of the day was my daughter - Jen. She got me a massage at a local place here in town. I cannot wait to use it. It was very sweet. She told me I really needed it now, after spending the day with grandma.

Funny moment of the day? My mom was asking my SIL if she had gained weight ( only the negative, remember?) and my daughter butted in and told my SIL she looked great like she was (and she does). My SIL asked my daughter had she lost some weight and my daughter said "No, and if you do not believe me ask grandma!" I nearly lost it.

When I got Drama GrandMama home last night, she tried to act like nothing had happened. She was satisfied to have created chaos and upset everyone. My whole life has been this with her. I told her I was going out with a friend (not Little Beardie) to hear another friend play. Michael was not back from his mom's yet and I left. My friend Jim and I went to the Honey Hut to hear Gil Franklin (hmm, he is shorter than me and has a beard...could he be Little Beardie???). Jim and I were laughing about the LB comment from my mom. We were planning on staying just a little while but were there until the music stopped at 10:20 - it rocked!! No where else on a Sunday evening can you go to a bar, sit outside on a deck, drink some brewskies and listen to some awesome music - than the Honey Hut. I do not know how they get away with it. No one else can open to do this. I would so love to describe the Honey Hut to you but words cannot do it justice. It is a biker, redneck, Levy rat bar.... what can I say? The music is good and the beer is cold. I need to get pictures...because a picture is worth a thousand words.

Next year on Mother's Day, I am leaving town!!!!

How was Da Boil?, he asked

2007-05-12T13:06:00.000-05:00

Ah Larry - who missed Da Boil and most things that have happened down here in the past two months, sent me an e mail to find out what went on with Da Boil on May 5th. He wanted to read about it on the blog. Alas, there was no blog post about it or much of anything this week.

To start, Da Boil was a success, with many folks there (many I did not know). This is a common theme. We find that there are more and more people that other people do not know. Oh, they know someone there - we just do not all collectively know each other. Weather was lovely. Food was delish. House was trashed. That, my friends, was enough for me. They broke my toilet, trashed my house, went through my medicine cabinet (sorry I had no drugs), stole some shot glasses and used my very expensive decorative towels despite the fact that I had many towels laid out at the sink. There is also that thing where we find previously live crawfish all over our yard and on our porch. That would be kids taking them and playing with them and leaving them. Not a nice smell the next day. Any comments I make about kids is taken as a bad thing on my part but I have to say some of these kids are pretty bad. Not all of them but some of them are pretty bad. T caught one of them throwing rocks at little Maya, my dog. It is maddening. My house ain't kid proof because, well it does not have to be damnit. I do not have kids - so I can live like an adult. I know kids will be kids but there are a few things parents should do. 1) Watch your kids! 2) Tell your kids - do not go in and out of the house. You have no reason to be in their house unless you are using the restroom. 3) Do not get into things that are not yours. If you are not sure - ask. That is it! Those three things and yes, your kid, would be an ok kid to hang out here. I am refusing to host this event anymore. With that being said - the general consensus is it has gotten way too big. Who to uninvite? I think we are scaling way back next year to just the core group. No more than 20 or so. Should be much more enjoyable for all.

I was in Washington DC this week. It was lovely weather and a great group of co workers working on a project. Folks in HQ are, generally, an unhappy bunch these days. I have to say that it surprised me how unhappy all of them are. Even folks who normally say nothing bad about anyone or anything...well they had plenty to say. Sad really, I had thought this Chair was going to be pretty popular. At least I was very sure she had the capacity to be so. Not working out for her up there in HQ. The agency is moving to a very unsavory part of town. It sucks, really. I would feel pretty crappy as an employee to know that is what my agency felt I deserved - a empty lot across the street with beer bottles, drug paraphenalia, condoms, etc..., the county's largest methadone clinic two blocks away, a dilapidated liquore store two blocks away. Safety issues abound. Going to HQ will be less attractive, I tell ya.

On the bright side, we hit a fantastic Tapas Bar in Crystal City this past week. My friend, Steve, took us there. It is called Jaleo. If you go to DC, you should check it out. There are three locations and is highly recommended by all of us that went.

Cheerios to all of you. Have a great weekend!!

Remodel Blues

2007-05-03T23:56:00.000-05:00

I have the remodel blues. I am dead dog tired from all this stuff. I feel like I have walked around this house in circles more times than I can count. I keep looking at all that has to be done and getting frustrated. Today I took off work (and still fielded 4 phone calls and answered e mails) and got a lot accomplished, I guess. I totally dusted the living room including the blinds, yep each slat. The construction dust was everywhere. I got most of the junk out of there and tomorrow I can sweep the wood floors, vaccum (sp?) the rug, etc. I need to run a mop over the wood floors to gather up the fine particles the broom will miss. Then on to the dining room. That place is a disaster. At least I got the guest bedroom cleaned up and ready for this weekend.

Here are some quick shots of how the remodel is progressing.....

The toilet leans because the floor leans in this old house. The cabinet looks crooked because the ceiling line is crooked in this old house. GRRRR. Tomorrow they are fixing the leaning toilet. Not much we can do with the cabinet but put something on top of it to hide the flaw of this old house. While old houses can be charming, sometimes they are just a pain in the butt.

The kitchen will get bamboo blinds. I love the two pendant lights over the sink. They are really nice and give a little pop in that area. The travertine backsplash turned out very nice. Overall, we will be very happy to have a bathroom that is not embarrassing and to have a nice shower to use.

Now, off to the tub before I go to bed. I have hit the wall tonight. I will be so glad to get out of this tub for good. I really missed my showers.

Purging

2007-04-25T18:40:00.000-05:00

Our office is moving next week. To that end we are all packing up our offices. I moved over here in 2004 and shipped way more than I needed from my office in Little Rock.

This time around, I am being heartless. I am throwing away more stuff than I am keeping. Do I really need a mailing list from 1993???

One of the hardest things for me to throw away was my 3 huge binders of cause cases. These are investigations I did over the years where I found a violation. These represent what our agency is here for. The good we accomplish for individuals. I threw all of that away. It was a good feeling though to go through some of the lawsuits that had been filed as a result of my investigations, to see the relief we obtained for individuals who were discriminated against and just to see the hard work I had done that had paid off over the years. I always kept those as a validation. When things got tough, I could look at them and remind myself of the reason I worked here. I do not need that anymore. This job assignment is a bit different. I am involved in education and prevention now, so I feel like I help people all the time.

It was freeing to throw away so much stuff. Yet, some things I still cannot part with. That stupid hat I got in a truck stop in Gurdon, Arkansas in 1986 that says "There you go again, thinking you have rights"... why do I keep this thing? That stupid pen holder a co worker made me out of a toilet paper roll... I guess because they remind me of the laughter and good times we had back then.

I got rid of so much, I gave up a 5 drawer legal size file cabinet. That is major - no one in government work ever gives up a piece of furniture once they get their hands on it....

Conservation begins at home.....

2007-04-23T13:58:00.000-05:00

...ok, well it begins anywhere. Let's see where can I start with conservation this week. Hmmmm... oh I don't know... HEY..maybe Sheryl Crowe has some ideas!! Yea that is it, let me see what Sheryl Crowe recommends...

On her Sheryl blog she suggests these two conservation efforts: "I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming. Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating. One of my favorites is in the area of conserving trees which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many sqares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required. When presenting this idea to my younger brother, who's judgement I trust implicitly, he proposed taking it one step further. I believe his quote was, "how bout just washing the one square out."I also like the idea of not using paper napkins, which happen to be made from virgin wood and represent the heighth of wastefullness. I have designed a clothing line that has what's called a "dining sleeve". The sleeve is detachable and can be replaced with another "dining sleeve," after usage. The design will offer the "diner" the convenience of wiping his mouth on his sleeve rather than throwing out yet another barely used paper product.. I think this idea could also translate quite well to those suffering with an annoying head cold."

Mmmhmm, I see. We should use one square for #1 and 2 - 3 for pesky #2. Hmmm, can I check back with you on that one. Now about this snot sleeve thing. I think that is just disgusting. When you take off the nasty sleeve, where do you put it? Do you stick it in an offensive plastic bag to take home and wash? Yes, I can see me at a business lunch wiping my mouth on my sleeve or worse, blowing my nose on my sleeve!!! Ewwwww!

Do not show Sheryl this toilet (with thanks to AllFunnyPictures.com) - she would not be happy since they offer the user such a huge choice..how could you limit yourself to just one square?

Although I am pretty sure my mom would like that toilet paper idea. She always agonized over how much toilet paper I used. Once, as a grown woman with a 9 year old daughter, we went to visit some friends for Mardi Gras. When Mr. Mac and I were unloading the car, I grabbed a package of toilet paper and he asked me what it was for. I told him that mom thought I used too much toilet paper and she did not want them to be upset at how much toilet paper I used so she brought extra. He rolled his eyes and laughed so hard. So I think mom would be on board with Ms. Crow for this one. However, as long as I am buying the tp..I will use what I think I need - thank you very much. Now hand me that sleeve - I am out of toilet paper!!

Smelling Good in the Neighborhood

2007-04-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

Not the best picture BUT this is one yummy smelling candle. I have an obsession with aroma. I love perfums, body creams, shower gels, candles, potpourri, etc. I found this candle at Wally World for $2.97. It is a large candle, 11.5 ounces and it smells heavenly when you burn it. I am going back to get more - for that price you can't beat it. This one (in case you cannot read blurry print) is Hazelnut Cream. Yummmmyo.

All of the kittens are gone. Nat came and got the last two, she is telling her hubby she "found" them. Mama cat is roaming around meowing at me. I feel bad (I cried - yes I am a wimp) but it is better that the kitties have good homes than be feral. Still she looks at me with those eyes... ahhhh it kills me. Flap wants Mama Cat and I hope she gets her.

Maya will miss the kitties - she loved for me to bring one in the house for her to sniff and "play" with. They were not as thrilled with the playing thing as you can tell in this picture.

Kitty was not really liking Maya hanging out all around and he ran for shelter.

Kitty Mama Drama

2007-04-22T16:39:00.000-05:00

These little stinkers were born under my house. Mama is a fluffy calico. I thought she was feral but it turns out she is not. I think someone dumped her. Anyway, she had these under the house and Maya was absolutly obsessed with something being under the house. She gnawed some of the paint off my built in bookcases trying to get under there to see what was down there!! Three weeks ago, Maya got under the house and came out with a scratched nose. Mama Cat don't play! Two weeks ago, Michael went into the shed to get something and heard hissing. He saw mama cat and 5 kittens in there. She moved them from under the house to our shed. I began contacting organizations trying to get help for these kitties. In the meantime, we learned she was friendly so I began feeding her. She gets two full meals a day plus some snacky stuff and eats it all. I figured since she was feeding - she could worry about her girlish figure later. She moved them once again to another shed. She had them in a shallow box on the shelf. I changed them out of the small box into a larger and deeper box - she seemed content with that. Long story short, I have all of the kitties adopted out - last two leaving tomorrow. A friend of mine wants Mama in a week or so. We are going to get her spayed. She was a bit upset when a kitty turned up missing here and there. I felt really bad taking her kitties but I know it is best so that they are not feral!!

I hope no more show up. This is not a good thing for someone who is off the charts allergic to cats.

Things Government Workers Worry About

2007-04-19T13:24:00.000-05:00

Office space must top the list of "things government workers worry about". We are big on office space and the type of desk you get to work on. When I was a union rep, I actually processed a grievance on a particular desk being given to one employee over another.

This time one of our Administrative Judges found out his new office in our new space is 118 square feet. The rules say he is supposed to have 120 square feet. He is upset. This has resulted in people measuring their office, finger pointing and general whining. Nearly everyone ended up with a window office but, by golly, that office is missing 2 square feet!! Call me callous - but come on???

Greek Temple Architecture or Mausoleum??

2007-04-18T00:57:00.000-05:00

So Michael and I got the bug several months ago to buy some land and a new house. We want it large enough to hold what we have and the folks that might be with us. We wanted some land so we had some sense of privacy (more so M than I - I am content in a neighborhood). We signed up with an agent, looked at a few then decided to cool our jets for awhile. However, we are still on the Listings link. When a listing is posted that falls within our parameters (house size, bedrooms, acreage, price, etc..) we get the listing.

Got this listing the other day. When I opened it up I said "that looks like a Mausoleum" but when I read the description I was informed that it was Marble Greek Temple Architecture. OK -- I still say it screams Mausoleum. If you check out all the pics on the listing you will note the water feature in the living room... like it takes up the entire living room...why?? However, the notes on the listing say they have removed the water feature so you can have more room. I cannot imagine why. Why who wouldn't want a huge ass water fountain instead of furniture in a living room? Who wouldn't want the downright hominess of all that marble? Who wouldn't want that mess of lights above the living room that look like lights above a stage (I actually thought it was a model airplane hanging there) AND who wouldn't want that inviting front entrance with all that lovely light. Oh come on - you know the light streaming through that 2 foot circle above the doorway. What gives with the Victorian style door on the Greek Temple Architecture house? This house just says weird to me... in every possible way.

FOR RENT: One Watcher

2007-04-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

This watcher is highly adept at watching you work. He can sit for hours and watch you clean the kitchen, clean the cabinets, get ready to prep for paint, move stuff and wash clothes.
His ability to not "notice" that work is going on is amazing. If you want to rent a watcher, I have one to rent but you better hurry .... Guiness Book of World Records is interested.

Weather Woes

2007-04-13T22:42:00.000-05:00

Man, what is wrong with this weather?? We were freezing last weekend and we started to slightly warm up the past couple of days to be hit by massive thunderstorms, wind, lightning and hail today. Tonight the loudest clap of thunder I ever heard woke my from my little nappy on the loveseat. I thought someone dropped a bomb on the street!! WOW! It is cold, nasty, wet, yukky and, in general, a bummer. At least, we are not getting the snow some folks are getting!! Hey Mother Nature...it is the middle of April!!!

On another note, I am also bummed out about a situation at the radio station. A long time show host (I mean 20 plus years) was booted in favor of more Hispanic programming. Not that I am against Hispanic programming - I am against their ability to purchase 4 nights a week for one man who owns a large club in town. It goes against all the rules to allow a business owner to purchase shows and then hype up the business. I suspect that is what is happening. The sucky thing about it is I believe it was motivated solely by the 25% commission the manager who brokered the deal got. The deal was $4,000 a month for those days (7 - 10pm Wed - Sat). Lets see, 25% of $4,000 makes that a nice tidy $1,000.00 commission - monthly. Now why do you think those shows have taken over? By the way, I believe that knocks out any other Hispanic programming we have. So, we have dumped all the other for one club owner. Sound ethical to you?

Demo Derby

2007-04-09T21:23:00.000-05:00

Well the demo has begun. Today the crew came in and started ripping out the kitchen floor. They removed the old dishwasher and stove. They moved the fridge to the dining room. After all of that, they started pulling up the old flooring. Two layers on linoleum. The one on top was probably put down in the late 70s, early 80s. The one below that was definitely 50s, maybe late 40s. It was a speckled green press on square by square thing. Pretty dreadful! I should have taken a pic beforehand. Tomorrow, the bathroom will be gutted.

I put the old dishwasher on freecycle and it was gone by 3 this afternoon. The lady who got it said her dishwasher went out yesterday. I do not have to put it in a landfill and she gets a working washer. What a deal!

My allergies continue to kill me. My eyes on most days look dreadful. Much like I stayed up all night crying. I have an appt with the allergist on Thursday morning. I take shots every 14 days, Allegra in the a.m and Zyrtec in the p.m. and I have had to rely on Benadryl in between. Can you say SLEEPY?

By the way, I am loving some Amos Lee. His music is so awesome. I love the song Freedom, and the one called Colors...and then there is Lullabye and Supply and Demand....ahhh just go download some of it and check it out yourself.

Will post pics of the remodel as we progress.

There is a TRAMP in my shower!!!

2007-04-06T10:07:00.000-05:00

I am in love with a Tramp. Yes, it is true. This Tramp is dark, squishy and smells so awesome. I have a new addiction to LUSH products. They are the coolest. This shower gel smells sort of woodsy, sandalwood, fresh... sigh... just clean and not flowery. A man or woman can use this one. I am hoping Michael does not like it though!! I also love, love the shampoo Rehab and conditioner Retread. I have a head of thick, out of control curls. When I got back from the blues jam last night my head smelled like an ashtray. I took a shower with my Tramp and washed and conditioned my hair with the Rehab and Retread. Yummm. This morning I can still smell the scents on my skin and hair. Not overpowering, very subtle and oh so nice. My hair feels silky and my curls are behaving. I am anxious to try my butterballs next. My LUSH wish list grows but I have to budget a little at a time. I guess I am living a LUSH life.

Mullets - they never die!!

2007-04-06T10:02:00.000-05:00

I know, I know - it is a lifestyle and not a hairstyle but man oh man do they persist. We snapped this pic at the Cornerstone the night of the Who concert. It is a modified, overgelled, mullet. Usually, folks do not gel up those mullets.

Last night Diana and I went to Parrot Beach for the "blues jam" and we saw lots of mullets. It was very interesting. Someone ought to study that culture as an anthropological project. How cool would that be?

Hey now, if you have a mullet do not be offended. You have chosen the lifestyle, wear it proud!!! It is sort of like tattooing something on your forehead - you did it, ya got to expect folks will talk about it.

2007-03-26T11:46:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since I posted. Busy and boring, pretty much.

Although I have to admit when I ran across this little ad to the left here it was Deja Vu. The KABFers have met two times in as many weeks to plan listener appreciation day for April 7th. This reminded me soooo much of our little get togethers. The first meeting was held at Loca Luna. Flap, Cryin Brian, Audie, Diana, Jay, Tennille and myself enjoying the cold brew and the patio. The second meeting was held at Cornerstone Pub; Flap, Cryin Brian, Audie, Diana and moi'. We accomplish much at these meetings, really we do. We consume mass quantities of libations, as well. The listener appreciation thing is coming along quite nicely. I am going to cook jambalaya and Flap is cooking her awesome gumbo. Come on down to the station and join us.

This weekend flew by. Michael & I had dinner with Bob & Diana on Saturday evening. Most gracious hosts they be. Diana cooked a wonderful meal of flank steak with chimichurri sauce, salad and some heavenly rolls from Boulevard. Dessert was chocolate banana bread. We ate on their wonderful (and I am so envious) screened in sun room/porch. It was beautiful. The evening was great, so much so that when we decided it was time to leave it was 1:30 a.m.!!

Michael and I are working up to a tizzy. That means we are planning on being in a tizzy getting things ready for the annual crawfish boil (May 5th) and the remodeling that is about to occur. That means this place will be a disaster zone for a couple of weeks. I did get the 200 pound blanket off the bed and redid the bedding with a lighter quilt from Pottery Barn. I think Michael will quit complaining since this one only weighs about 25 pounds as opposed to the 200 pound comforter. I have to admit, I laugh all the time at Michael for complaining that the comforter weighed 200 pounds because, of course, it does not. However, when I went to fold it to put it away, it was very heavy and bulky.

We went to Lowe's and got a new dishwasher for the kitchen redo. We are also going to install a microwave above the stove to free up counter space. Michael got a ton of yard stuff and has begun his annual battle with the "non-lawn" which he has yet to totally win. This yard is mostly rock. He tries very hard to make grass grow with some success for a short period of time. However, I think he should just forgo grass and go for moss since rocks really seem to like moss or vice-versa.
So the annual battle is on. I will let you know how it turns out.
Speaking of lawn, grass, etc... The oak tassles are in full swing and all over the car and yard. The green dust (pollen) has changed the color of my Tribute from silver to yellowish green. It also gives way to the

annual practice of sneezing

50 times a day. Have a kleenex my allergy affected friends. I am with you!

You Be The Judge

2007-03-11T17:19:00.000-05:00

Arkansas was hit by tornadoes in late February, destroying the town of Dumas and leaving over 150 persons without homes and 800 without jobs. This tiny town in DeSha county is not a goldmine town. Jobs are scarce and times are hard there. Arkansas has a newly elected Governor, who is a Democrat. Arkansans got tired of the Repubs and changed back to how they used to be, a Democrat state.

Alabama and Georgia also had storm devastation. They both have Republican Governors. FEMA officials, the President and others immediately visited the area and declared it a disaster area. Allowing millions in federal aid to flood the area to help the citizens.

Arkansas, on the other hand, got no visits (fine with us if the chimp never comes around) and was denied disaster status because, FEMA says, the state can handle the storm damage???

Now let's see, let me add this up. 2 states, 2 repubs, a visit from the muckety muck freakshow in DC and they get emergency relief. 1 state, same situation, a Democrat governor and no visit from the DC destroyers of America and no emergency relief. Go figure.... couldn't be because we booted the Repubs now would it? Surely this administration that espouses chrisitan ideals and values (as a farce in my opinion) would do something so vengence filled and un-christian like?

Rehab & from the looks of it - none to soon!

2007-03-10T12:45:00.000-06:00

Eddie Van Halen, of the group Van Halen... entering rehab for the second time. Ya think he could get there any faster?

Hello from Shopryland

2007-03-06T22:19:00.000-06:00

- Nashville, TN. I am here all week doing training for New Investigators. I do not really care for Opryland, we call it Shopryland. I mean, it is ok, but come on. Who designed this freakin' place? I think they just added on everytime they needed more room, with no rhyme or reason. Check out the map of the hotel/convention center....

I am staying in a room, which is the equivalent of a Holiday Inn express or something. You know, the flowery bedspread, flowery curtains, a tv slapped on top of a dresser thing. Nothing extravagant but ok. I am staying in one of those spikes sticking out of the nucleus in the "red" area. That is Delta. I have to work my way from Delta to Magnolia every day for training. Magnolia is in one of the yellow spikes off the convention center. I would estimate that hike to be about 1/2 mile?? In high heels, hauling a briefcase of training materials, etc.. NOT FUN.

When I got here on Sunday I was dropped off in a swarm of people from Wal Mart!! I am here when there is a Wal Mart Conference. Yes, they cheer. Yes, they play loud "pump you up music in their meetings"...AND they are very secretive and weird about "security". They have hired additional security to stand outside their meeting room doors where all 3,000 plus of them are chanting and cheering. They direct you to walk past outside the blue roped area. Huh? What? I might absorb some Wal Mart secret on the way to my freakin training session 1/2 mile away? They also have a chick who walks around with a K-9 dog sniffing around. Maybe he is trained to sniff out Target spies or something. Surely they do not think someone is going to plant a bomb at their conference? Although the last time I was at Opryland that man did blow himself up in the parking lot but it was not related to Wal Mart. Also, I have noticed an abundance of chick mullets in the Wal Mart clan. I have seen about 7 of them since Sunday. In fact, K9 chick has a modified mullet.

Also here this week is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Who would have thought? My co trainer wanted to know what air duct cleaners could have to discuss for one full week. I got to admit, I wonder, too. There was a workshop sign I saw yesterday outside one of the training rooms entitled "Big Bucks in Air Ducts". Must be something about those air ducts that I do not know about.

Acoustic Concert in My Living Room

2007-03-03T02:04:00.000-06:00

How lucky am I to have an acoustic performance in my living room at 1:45 a.m. Pretty damn lucky. Incredible music from an incredible man. His voice is like a sweet tart, is that weird? Gruff but soothing. Two total opposites that work together. Love me some Gil Franklin.

Sushi to Go!

2007-03-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

I was picking up a few items in Kroger yesterday. I have seen the sushi them making the sushi fresh in the store but never opted to try it. Something about it coming from Kroger, I reckon.

Yesterday I took the plunge and got the Vegetable Roll for about $4.50. It comes in a cute little take out container with all the fixins (as we say around here) wasabi, pickled ginger and soy sauce. You get a generous portion (I snapped the photo after eating 4 pieces). It was YUMMMY. I will definitely get that again. Quick and inexpensive, as far as sushi goes. What next? Bento Boxes to go?

Robert Randolph & The Family Band - MAYHEM in Fayetteville

2007-03-02T13:52:00.000-06:00

I was in Fayetteville on business with some co workers. We were lucky to be there at the same time Robert Randolph and the Family Band were playing at George's Majestic Lounge.

Mayhem broke out and folks were dancing everywhere!! I was so thankful we were at George's and not Harding U in Searcy. We met up with Larry and Carolyn, Francis, Emily and her boyfriend and hundreds of other folks with great taste in music! The show was awesome. When RR started out he commented that the last time he played Arkansas he almost got kicked out of the state. The crowd went wild. I really liked their version of the Doobie Brothers "Jesus is Just Allright with Me." They even covered some Michael Jackson in a funked up, rocking way. Awesome.

New England

2007-03-02T13:49:00.000-06:00

I am remiss in posting about my trip last weekend to Manchester, NH, etc. I had a great time and it was good to see my friends.

The burning question to be resolved? Is Krispy Kreme better than Dunkin' Donuts? Hands down Krispy has them beat. The coffee is way better and the donuts were sort of "dry". Does anything beat a warm KK, fresh off the line? Think not.

KISS Weekend

2007-02-19T15:45:00.000-06:00

Ahhh, you are probably thinking that it involves some weekend event honoring the rock group KISS. Noooo. I am flying to New Hampshire on Friday morning to hang out with the wild gals on that side of the country.

The event we are going to is in Manchester, NH and it is Keep It Simple Scrapbooking (KISS). It is a huge crop, vendor fair, etc... If you don't know or understand, just accept.

Anyway, I was trying to think of some little gift to bring the gals (since we always do that) and I came up with an "altered initial" since it would be lightweight and easy to put in the suitcase.

Here are the finished letters. For those who do not understand - the letter represents the letter of their first name (ahhhhhhh!) So for Judy, Debbie and Laurie (Beth backed out of going - she ain't getting one

I have been working on the pics and things I need to get ready to take with me. That is the challenge of the moment.

Weekend Whippets

2007-02-18T19:07:00.000-06:00

Another weekend bites the dust. Well, sort of. I guess I get an extended weekend since tomorrow is President's Day and I get the day off. Woo hoo! I love those red number days on the calendar.

Friday was pledge drive at the station. We did ok. I really think that damn labor show (and nothing personal against the hosts) has really caused us to take a hit. When we lost 30 minutes...we had those folks listening in the car on their way home and calling in a pledge. But thanks to all who pledged and I appreciate the heck out of it. One cool premium was Gil Franklin offering up an hour of slide guitar lessons for a $35 pledge to KABF. That was real sweet of him to do. He gave us 5.

Friday night Michael and I went to Mt. Fuji, sort of a delayed V-day thing. Had the asparagus roll, Volcano roll and crunchy shrimp roll. YummmmY. Of course, I had two Kirin so when we got home I was sleepy and not wanting to meet up with Flap at Sticky Fingerz to see the Hackensaw Boys. I called her and she sounded a little bummed that I was trying to back out. I told Michael I felt bad but did not want to drive down there and have anymore to drink and drive home. He offered to drive me there and come back and get me!! Is that sweet or what? I called Flap and told her the plan. She came over here and Michael took both of us to SF and came back and got us at 12:30!! Now that is a sweetie. I tell ya I have a keeper there. We had a good time at the show and I enjoyed getting out with Flap - we have not really been out in awhile.

Saturday was total slug day and I loved it. I did go grocery shopping in the evening - so that killed the whole slug fest day.

Today I had my brother, sister in law, niece, mom and Jen over for an early dinner. I cooked a huge pan of Penne Pasta with sauce, a caesar salad, garlic bread and for dessert.... I made an old fashioned banana pudding.. or nanner puddin. Can you say "oh yeah!!" I even did the meringue on top. It was really good. I like the short cut ones just fine but none taste as good as the old fashioned kind... mmmm.

Anna Nicole Smith Circus

2007-02-12T21:16:00.000-06:00

With all the circus surrounding this tragic story about a tragic life... well it leaves me wondering one thing. I just keep being puzzled everytime I see the little Broward County Medical Examiner on tv (Joshua Perper)....

What the heck is that bump on the top of his head?

Still Loving the Killer

2007-02-10T20:48:00.000-06:00

I got this Jerry Lee Lewis box set off of buy.com this week. It is so awesome. Ya'll know how much I love me some Jerry Lee and he says Louisiana like I do "loozeeanna". He is from Ferriday, not too far from where my mom grew up at Ft. Necessity, so I guess that whole accent thing is so familiar to me because of that. This box set is just too cool. 3 cd's and one contains an amazing audio clip and Sam Phillips (Sun Records) and Jerry Lee arguing religion - very interesting. So if you are hankerin for a great collection of Jerry Lee's music (and who wouldn't be?) - go get this. I have it on in the craft room and am about to go work on my "Mybook" that I have not finished yet!!

Spaced Out Moonbat?

2007-02-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

Wow, the psychonaut (psycho/astronaut) Lisa Nowack that drove 950 miles from Houston to Florida to confront another woman has certainly garnered the news (although it will now be overshadowed by the Anna Nicole Smith death). The whole diaper thing clearly indicates that this woman was not in "her right mind".

I am going to make an observation here... in NASA photos she is healthy looking and has a good set of teeth. In other pics now her teeth look very ragged out, she is thin and drawn and her skin looks bad. Hmmm, sort of like a meth head gets. Not that I am saying she is a meth head but I am wondering if there is some sort of drug thing going on here....

Totally weird stuff. Who thinks to wear diapers so they would not have to take time to pee or (yuk) do anything else. I mean come on, she had to stop for gas could she not take a moment to pee while her car was filling up? This shows the disconnect ---

Wonder if we will find out the real deal?

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

2007-02-05T12:37:00.000-06:00

If you remember that song - you were around during the 70s when the Carpenters sappy love songs ruled the airwaves.
It is not a rainy day, thankfully, but it is a Monday. The Super Bowl is over and while I did not watch it, found the half time show pretty good. Kudos to his "Royal Purpleness" for a respectable version of "All Along the Watchtower". Although the two dancing chicks were more annoying than anything. What did they add to the whole performance, other than t & a?
I am off work today, having used a day of annual leave. I have mom stuff to do and lots more to get ready around here for the upcoming week. I wish I had a personal assistant...sort of a "minime" - now that would be a good reality show. A smaller version of me... ahh ok I had my laugh for the day...off to it.

2007-02-04T14:57:00.000-06:00

Here you go, help for the "state abbreviation challenged", of which there are way too many of you.

I cringe when I get mail addressed to me at AK (Alaska) or when I get a letter back from a federal agency (this week) and they presume to correct what they felt was my mistake... I had put my address as Little Rock, AR (Arkansas for the challenged) - they sent me a letter and put Little Rock, AZ (because, of course, Little Rock is in Ari"freaking"zona). I guess they thought I had no clue where I lived....

What is up with this...why can't people get this shit right? It is not difficult. Come on.... I cannot tell you how many times I have called an 800 number for something and my address shows AR and they say "Arizona" or I tell them Arkansas and they put in AK...
So to help you all out - here is the map. Use it and quit looking so darn stupid. and Yes, I am an uber geek on these - I know each and every one of them.....

Religious Bullying, Christian Aggression.. or rather Oppression lives!!

2007-02-03T23:44:00.000-06:00

Robert Randolph and the Family Band played a gig in Searcy, AR the other night. Searcy, AR - home of Harding University. Harding University - the Church of Christ college that runs that town with bullying, intimidation and threats. Their antics are widely known and talked about (in hushed tones around town).

Robert Randolph is a master of the pedal steel guitar. In fact, he honed his skills in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion, ( Pentecostal ). The House of God Church is known for its music called, Sacred Steel, something I am thrilled to have introduced to many folks here in Arkansas via my radio show. I know I got Larry hooked the very first time he heard it. Anyway, it is how I think church music should be - uplifting, raucous, fun and lively. That is a church I would dig being at on a Sunday morning...better than what I used to listen on Sunday morning.. "Just As I am....as we waited on poor lost souls to wander down to the front of the church.." (ah I digress yet again).
Anyway, they play at Harding U (the religious nazis of the mid-south) and *GASP* look what happens. I particularly like the headline...mayhem!! Mayhem? Mayhem? Oh that is too freaking funny. I feel a flashback coming on...yep there it is..it's Kevin Bacon ??? What? Oh yeah wait, Footloose!!

Hey, Robert Randolph - please believe me that the rest of Arkanas ain't that way.... come on back to Little Rock where you know you can play!!

UPDATE: I just found out from Larry that RR will be in Fayetteville on the 27th - the same night I will be there doing training!! WOO HOOO... and Larry referenced the youtube post of it but there is a better youtube on it...so you can go see it and read the comments. By the way, Larry was there, of course... There there is the blog that has some pretty funny comments from HU students..

Oh Molly, I hate to see you go!

2007-02-01T10:31:00.000-06:00

I love Molly Ivins. Her wit and ability to jab at politicians was very entertaining.

Molly passed away yesterday, after a particularly difficult battle with inflammatory breast cancer.

Molly will be missed.

Sobering, yet uplifting

2007-01-28T14:07:00.000-06:00

The news of the marches this weekend in the nation's capital (and across the country) made me focus a little more on Iraq. I have to admit that I have been against the whole thing from day one. Not one to shy away from being vocal about things, I posted regularly on the Deblog (now lost in the internet highway until a server can be located).

I have always maintained that this administration lied to us, manipulated the media (and did it very well) and manipulated the oh-so-gullible American public into believing that somehow, someway Sadaam Hussein was the root of all of our problems, including 9/11. We have since learned (or rather those of us who care to learn - many are blissfully ignorant) that it has been a lie. I am heartened by Bush's low popularity rating. I am heartened that the Dems took control again. I am heartened because I want so desperately to believe that Americans are waking up and saying "hey, we are not buying this bullshit anymore."

Before I get into a huge rant, which I am so prone to do, let me just say that I read this article today. One thing really struck me and it was this passage :

Let that sink in a bit. His son gave his life for this monstrosity of a "war" and they mailed a medal to his home. They could not send one soldier out there to deliver it with some words of comfort and thanks?

Hurrah for the marchers and hisses (yet again) to this administration. I hear the cries of impeachment and they are long overdue.

That is Just Too Darn Cute

2007-01-26T12:59:00.000-06:00

Bill and Snake sent me this pic of Flora's doggy, which makes that their grand-doggy. Now isn't she just the ultimate in doggy fashion!!! A cool Blues House Party t shirt, all cool dogs should be sporting one of these babies. Maya has several!!

Oh my aching head, back and body

2007-01-26T09:40:00.000-06:00

That darn Amy Garland. She is a bad influence. Everytime I hang out with her I end up on a dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. Egads!

Amy convinced me to come out to the Whitewater Tavern last night because it was Gooses last night as Proprietor. He is leasing it to a bunch of early 20 somethings.

When I got there the place was already packed (I arrived about 9:45pm having sat on the interstate near Brinkley because of an 18 wheeler being in an accident and on fire). I waved at Kelly Bass who was in the back and sat with Sherry (daytime bartender). Sherry said she and MaryAnn (evening bartender) were out - they were replaced with a youngun (I say age discrimination and Michael says I am too quick to judge that it could be a friend of the guys who are leasing it or a girlfriend - point taken). Anyway, some young heavy grunge rock band was playing and I was feeling my age, big time. The music did not move me. Not that they were not talented, I just do not dig that kind of music. Amy arrived (the rock star that she is) and had to meet and greet all of her admirers so I hung out at the bar for awhile. I decided that all I was going to get out of the deal was a headache so I paid for my one Newcastle and made my way to the back to tell Goose, Amy & Kelly goodbye.

This is where it all goes south. Amy tells me that the band is from Philadelphia (oh so that explains it I guess?) and that the local artists were about to play so I really needed to stick around. Kelly got me another beer - it was a cleverly designed ploy and they worked well as a tandem team. Patron shots were going and then we were dancing and before I know it is almost close to 1 a.m. and I am dancing to "Is Anybody Going to San Antone or Phoenix, Arizona.." (charley pride) ala Chris Denny. Surreal. The band from Philadelphia seemed a little taken aback that folks were rocking to some cheesy old country songs but I saw one of the kids dancing shortly after that. I mean come on, how can you sit still when someone plays that? :-) There was a disturbing moment during the night where Goose dropped his pants and was standing there in his underwear. Something I never would have thought in a million years is that I could report on Goose standing in the tavern in his tighty whiteys -an image forever etched into my brain -unforgivingly.

So, once again, I am out with Amy G and it is way late and I am on a dance floor. I see a disturbingly fun trend here. Regardless, she is still my favorite songbird of the south and I am doing a shameless plug for her now. Go get this cd - Amy Garland Band - Angora. It is still one of my most favorite cds and her version of "I'd Have to Be Crazy" is an all time favorite of mine. I love that Amy G - even if she keeps me out all night.

Air Tran - 1, Bad Ass Toddlers - 0

2007-01-25T14:25:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I have to admit that I whooped with glee when I saw the news report the other day about the family that was booted from an Air Tran flight because their 3 year old would not get in her seat and quit crying. I think the issue was the not getting in the seat because they would not have been booted for just the crying. Anyway, I let out a "hallelujah!" and then quickly looked around for fear the MAEBOKs would advance and attack me. What is a MAEBOK you ask, well it is the Mommies Against Everything But Our Kids group. Come on, you know the ones. Their kids never do anything wrong. Their kids pitch fits and throw tantrums while mommy begs and pleads with them to stop. The ones that have out of control kids and they can not do, nor are they willing to do, anything about it. The ones that get their panties in a wad when the rest of us adults roll our eyes or move to another table. But I digress.

So the family gets booted off the plane. They are outraged and humiliated. They just needed a little extra time to comfort and console her, although news reports state that the child had already been crying and kicking her parents and the seats for 15 minutes!! (15 minutes ya'll). They told the parents to get her in a seat and buckled up because everyone has to be in a seat and buckled up. The mom was upset because they would not give her additional time to console the kid. CONSOLE? There ya go. Therein lies the problem. A disciplinary issue does not require consoling. DING DING DING. I tried to feel some sympathy but could muster none. When I read the additional information I was ok with what I was feeling. YES! Let's do more of it. Now, I understand the child who has the occasional meltdown, it happens. I have been the victim of it myself, little miss jen pulled a huge one on me in the middle of a Target store. Been there - done that, but I assure you she would not have kicked me or the seats and cried for 15 minutes on a plane (nor anywhere else).

So I did not post about it, despite my secret feelings of being thrilled that this happened because I knew the MOEBOKs would be livid and outraged. Then, today I read this article where Air Tran reports that they have been overwhelmed with e mails and calls in support of their decision. 92% of the people contacting them were ok with what they did. See, those 92% have been on flights with those "bebe's kids". You know the ones; they sit behind you and kick your seat the whole time and even after you ask a parent politely to have them stop and get the snarly stare from the parent - it continues. The ones that are in front of you and climb on the seat and turn around rocking the seat like it is a rocking horse, while your drink takes a tumble - you know them. You know they exist. Satan's spawn, I call them. I also decided that it was a-ok to feel this way. I further felt justified when I read that they had checked her car seat in baggage claim!! Why didn't they bring it on and pop her little ass into it?

As parents we do a disservice to a child to allow them to behave this way. We do a disservice to a child and fail as parents when we raise them to think they can behave anyway they want and it is ok. Those parents become the helicopter parents you hear about. They are the ones that are still trying to take care of their adult kids lives, a very disturbing trend.

I have always been vocal about kids that "show their asses" as my mama and grandma used to say. I even advocate that restaurants should offer you "smoking or non'smoking" "kids or no kids" options (unless, of course, you are at a family oriented restaurant). Michael and I tried to have dinner at an upscale restaurant one evening that was not "family oriented". We were seated in a booth next to a lady with a little boy named "Ben" (evil Ben). They were waiting on hubby to get there. Ben squiremed and wiggled, he did not want to sit down, he would periodically just scream for fun and her entire time waiting was spent saying "Ben, please sit down, daddy is coming", "Ben, stop that and please honey stop yelling", "Ben, daddy will be here in a minute, please honey stop". I was so sick of Ben I wanted to reach across the aisle, snatch his ass up and pop him in the seat and tell him to sit there and be quiet but I can't. Although I am certain the other diners would have applauded. We were all already sharing eye rolls. Then daddy showed up. Ben got to do it all over again for daddy. Ben even took to walking the aisle and coming up to everyone's tables. (me: go away Ben you demon child, heal thyself). Finally, they brought their food. Woohoo, Ben will start eating and things will settle down. Two minutes into the meal Ben is in mom's lap. Ben then slams his hand down on the table and yelling a war cry - everyone jumped in the restaurant and looked - just in time to see mom's plate take a flying dive onto the floor. Mom said to Ben "Honey, look what has happened and gives dad an exasperated look". At that point, I was done. Through. Finito. Let's grab the bill and go - I cannot enjoy this freaking meal.

So all that to say, Air Tran you did a good thing. The parents of the 3 year old tantrum thrower need to get over it and quit expecting the rest of us to tolerate their ill behaved child. They say they refuse to ever fly Air Tran again - while I am already looking at flights on Air Tran for my next trip!!!

Blues Patrol Reunion Rocked

2007-01-23T01:52:00.000-06:00

Hmmm, who are those shady characters in that picture? That would be the Blues Patrol and me stuck in the middle. Yes, Cecil was sitting on my lap. This was, obviously, at the end of the night. From the smiles you can tell that a great time was had by all.
The weather did create some weather wusses. It was rainy and folks stayed in but we had a good crowd, anyway! We lost one band, the 420 Blues Band because some of them were iced in at Marshall. Bluesboy Jag kicked off the show with his acoustic blues and he was awesome. He makes some very cool guitars out of cigar boxes. Next was Charlotte Taylor, the queen of Arkansas blues. Her set was amazing, as usual, and she complied with my requests for one more, no two more... (thanks!)
Here are some of your KABF djs in rare form (Amy, Diana, Deb, Brian, Larry, Flap and Redneckerson). The guy in the very right of the picture is Bill from AR Record & CD Exchange.

Here are Cryin Brian and Flap, two more KABFers. Brian does Blues and Flap does the Alternative Country.

Blues Patrol took the stage, started out strong and kept the blues coming all night long. It was great to hear some of the old favorites "Disease" "Was it Me", etc. The crowd loved it. It was so great to see so many folks out supporting the blues.

Ran into some long time listeners and appreciated them coming out. The Cornerstone did get a bottle of Patron for us and it was gone before the night was over. (I am thinking bigger bottle with this crowd).
Michael worked the door for us and did a mighty fine job.

Folks had a great time and I kept seeing smiles all around. On the left is Diana and her hubby Bob. Diana hosts the Monday Jazz show. I think she was answering "I don't know" to the question of "Where did all the Patron go?" Shannon Boshears had her arms full with Bill on the left and Cecil Parker on the right.

In this weird picture, Sarah was wanting Theresa to get a picture of our curly hair from behind. I am on the left and she is on the right. I have some curl but that girl has ringlets!! Audie made it to the show a little bit late but looking as cool as ever. Audie is the funniest guy and dresses like an ace reporter from the 50s. He is too cool. Larry, Amy & I look none the worse for wear and tear.
The pics tell it all - it was a fun night.

We ended the night at the Waffle House with Jimmy, Theresa, Kent, Billy and one other guy whose name I cannot remember. Man, it is sooo good to eat breakfast after a long night of partying!

The next morning around 11:30 Gil showed up at the house to rehash the night before (we have to analyze everything) and got his guitar out to play us a song he had just written..... but that is a whole other story!!

Terrorist Attack? Oh for crying out loud!!

2007-01-22T14:05:00.000-06:00

Ok, anyone who has lived near the Mississippi River (or Arkansas River or any other river that has barge traffic) knows that, occasionally, a barge hits a bridge. It is no different than a car accident on the highway - it happens. Whether it be high waters and rough currents or operator error - it happens.

This weekend some barges broke loose on the Mighty Miss at Memphis. Some barges broke loose and travelled down river - hitting a railroad bridge in the process because, well a renegade barge goes wherever the water takes it!! My ex is a Bridge Inspector for the railroad and was called out to inspect the bridge it hit. Routine thing.

Yet, when the incident is reported (in the link above) they end the story with "Terrorism was ruled out". Holy beegeeezusss. Come on now. Are we going to start linking every possible bad thing to terrorism? There was a wreck this morning on I-630 - a single car wreck at 4 am - I wonder if we ruled out terrorism on that wreck? What about those fender benders in rush hour - are we checking to make sure they are not terrorist attacks? What about the errant vehicles that crash into a bldg when the driver loses control? Terrorism? We are off our proverbial "rockers" in allowing the press to force feed this terrorist crap down our throats. Ridiculous!!

I guess if we do not keep "terrorism" in the limelight and link it to innocuous events, then we cannot control a nation.

When did "Slut" become the role model?

2007-01-15T17:13:00.000-06:00

It slipped up on me and, I am guessing, a whole lot of other folks out there. This whole "slutty is cool" thing. I mean, come on, when will it end? When did the whole "bad girl" image become the ideal for young women across America? Shame on us for letting it happen. Shame on us for allowing our daughters to fall into the whole trap. Shame, shame.

Now let me start with the "I am not a prude" statement. Truth is, I am not. I drink tequila shots at the club, curse a bit too much, am not as affected by skin on women as some and I guess I have seen enough shocking behavior that I am sometimes immune to it. Maybe that is the problem, we have become immune.

What am I talking about? Let's analyze this. It appears that the sluttier you are, the more publicity and fame you get. Hell, our beauty contestants cannot even keep titles these days. These are role models? What happened to the brainy girls who also had drop dead looks? They have been replaced by plastic, artificial, too white perfect porcelain veneer teeth, fake boobs, blonde highlights on their oh so straight hair bimbos!! They strive to look like strippers, dress like strippers and they are applauded for this.

If their behavior is bad, America eats it up and they make even more money. To wit, the idiotic Paris Hilton. She has sex and lets her boyfriend video it, it sells millions and her personal stock rises and she gets even more gigs. She does not wear panties, she is shallow and vapid and this is what our girls see daily. Turn on an entertainment channel and see if you can go 10 minutes without a scantily clad Paris. Britney Spears, hell this weekend she spent it doing all sorts of slutty, sleazy things but America eats it all up. Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Tara Reid, Kate Moss, the list goes on and on. All behaving slutty.

Last night I could not sleep, two separate channels had informercials that were soft porn - "Girls Gone Wild" - what is this phenomenom that makes any girl raise her top, lick another girls breast, rub her body on another girl, etc.. only to have it videotaped? Yes, wouldn't you want your kids to find that video 10 years later?

Then there is the whole Hollywood - I will dump my spouse for the next good looking costar? Then America snickers at the "good girls" out there. The ones that have no shadowy past, no sex videos, no nights at porn balls - hmmm how passe' are they?

Thank god my daughter is 22, almost 23. She does not dress like Paris or Hilton, does not go to clubs in short dresses with panties, has not made a sex video and still has some human flaws on her body. That makes her all the more beautiful to me. I feel for those moms with teens out there now. What is going to come of this? It has got to come to a halt soon. Again, shame, shame. Someone has to have some these days.

Rain, rain Go Away!

2007-01-13T17:27:00.000-06:00

It is a dreary, rainy day here in the Land of Opportunity, oh wait - we are now the Natural State. Maybe we are the Natural Land of Opportunity State. Anyway, we are deluged with rain. In the NW part of the state there is an ice warning. Here, in Little Rock and surrounding areas, there are flash flood warnings. It makes for a lazy, grey day. I am still sitting around in my pj's.
I am supposed to meet up with Diana tonight and catch Big John Miller Band at the Afterthought. That means I need to shower, dress, put on make up and go outside. I am psyching myself up for it. It is a shame when you have to give yourself a pep talk to make you leave the house. I still have this croupy crud in my chest and it just will not go away. I am sure the rain will help tonight!! :-) At least the Afterthought is totally non smoking. Maybe tomorrow will be much more productive.

UPDATE: I decided to back out and received a message from Diana that she was backing out, as well. So I think the stars were aligned to keep me in - which was fine with me. I showered, put on clean pjs and am vegging inside a warm, dry house tonight. Still hacking and coughing but I am warm and dry.

Sushi Dog

2007-01-12T02:08:00.000-06:00

Michael and I went to Mt Fuji Thursday night. We ordered more than we could eat and brought about half of it home. Maya loves Sushi! She particularly likes the vegetarian asparagus roll and the eel. Maya loves asparagus period. I buy pickled white asparagus to snack on and when I pull that jar out of the fridge... she goes crazy for it. Shes a funny little doggie

Plus, I think she also sings Mustang Sally.

Mustang Sally

2007-01-12T02:07:00.000-06:00

How many bands does it take to play Mustang Sally?

All of them! Enough said.

Brrrr Baby It's Cold Inside

2007-01-09T22:18:00.000-06:00

Yes baby, its cold inside my apartment in Memphis. I arrived tonight to find it 52 degrees inside. Ok that is not freezing BUT come on it is cold!! I could not get the heat (or air) to work at all. I called the office, no answer. I had Michael look on the website to see if he could find a maintenance number (the office number - again no answer). I decided to look on line myself and found that for after hours maintenance emergencies ( come on it is an emergency right? ) you call, guess what, yep the office. I tried one more time - you know just in case they somehow turned on the answering machine or something and -- no answer. Is anyone surprised? I know it has been awhile since I have bitched about the management of this place because it has gotten a lot better since Alco took over but there ought to be a way to contact them for after hour maintenance needs. Maybe I should start a fire on the patio...oh wait my little grill was stolen but, hey, they left the charcoal.. hmmmm!

So here I sit wrapped up and cold. I am going to make some coffee because that is, at least, hot! I have hot water so it is something with the unit. I have not been here since Dec 21 - so no telling how long it has been cold in here. I should not really have much of an Memphis Light, Gas & Water bill for sure!!

I am even tempted to get back out and go buy a space heater somewhere.... maybe Walgreens would have one of those little ones I could put near me and then in the bathroom in the morning. I dread the thought of a shower and getting out in this cold apartment --- NHO big time huh?

Just as I am trying to get over this killer cough and congestion.

Send me some warmth... cause baby it's cold inside.

Craft Room Reorganization

2007-01-08T17:43:00.000-06:00

I finally got around to reorganizing and cleaning out my "craft room". Michael hung shelves for me last week. It really helped get things off my workspace and out of the way! I also had room for my maniacal clown (on the right) which was a birthday gift from my friend Jim. Although it is very small, I also put up my day of the dead band Shadowbox from Mexico on the left below the shelves. I strung a cool little hanger thingy with some of my favorite pics on it. I can change those out as I like. I also hung a couple of prints from my days in Thailand, so I have good memories to look at in my workspace. On the right, the drawer things hold current projects/pages, supplies, embellishments, chipboard stuff, oversized embellishments. On the left, a desk organizer holds my alphabets, sayings and decorative rub ons, stickers, etc.. I sorted those into file folders so they are very easy to find.

My workspace is actually a piece from a 1950s farmhouse. It is a metal "bar" like thing. It is curved on the end and has shelves on the curved end and on the right side. So I stuck all sorts of paper pieces, small cardstock, art supplies, paints, chalks, etc. The piece is taller than a desk, so I like that.

The wall to the immediate left is a wall of built in shelves. The bottom ones go across the entire wall and I have lots of books, etc on the left side and kept my art/craft stuff limited to the right side. As you can see it holds cardstock, albums and more supplies.
I also have an old armoire to the right that is painted cream and I keep a lot of stuff in it, as well. On the wall where I stood to take the pics is a small couch and a side table so I can kick back and read. Well, ok, Maya is the one who uses it mostly so it is just a big dog bed. I know it is not the "typical" scrapbooking/art area but I like it and it works for me. I do more than scrap in the space as I really like to do collage and altered art projects, as well. Yes, the wall really is the color of a Hershey Bar and, yes, so is the ceiling. Nothing like a milk chocolate room to envelope you as you work!!

Uhhh Ooookkkaaayyy!

2007-01-04T21:00:00.000-06:00

So it is sniffle time again around here. Double UGH! At Christmas - Jen & Emily both had bad colds, I avoided it. Mom has been sick the past several days and I thought I had cruised through the holidays without it (not that I did not have other issues) then yesterday it started with the sneezing. Today I woke up with the full fledge stuffy nose, that alternates between running - sometimes runny on one side and stuffed on the other. So I now look like Rudolph with the red nose from blowing my nose all day.

I thought I would search out some info to see if there was a good over the counter medicine I could get because Sudafed was not working so well, Benadryl just makes you sleepy and more stuffed up and Dayquil was not addressing the nose thing and I do not have the cough, etc.

Lo and behold, I run across this. Birmingham Nasal Douche...say what? I have never heard of such a thing, have you? Yeah I have heard of it in association with, oh shall we say, another body part but never for my nose! I do not know, something about that thing disturbs me, really. Look at it - somehow calling it nasal douche and it looking like that - well it seems rather umm Freudian. Maybe it is just me but I am just going to get another box of Kleenex.

Now dats some good eatin'

2006-12-30T16:27:00.000-06:00

Bodacious - it best describes this pot of red beans I made today ya'll. I had quite a bit of ham left over from Christmas so I boiled the bone and made some very tasty stock yesterday. I got my last two packages of Camillia Red Beans out of the cabinet and soaked them overnight. Camilla is the red bean, no others are as good. V usually brings me a stash home when she visits family in New Orleans or, if I head to Monroe, can find some there at the grocery store.

Anyway, I chopped up some celery, onions and bell pepper. I rinsed my beans and threw them in the crock pot with the veggies and a dab of butter. I add bay leaves, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, white pepper and some Tabasco. I added chunks of left over Honey-b ham which we order from the Plano, TX location because the shipping is half the cost of the one in Lake Charles, LA .

We were tempted with the smell of those beans cooking all afternoon but they are ready. Right now I have the rice cooking and in a few minutes we will be enjoying those red beans. I did accomplish a few other things in between, I washed sheets, put up laundry, organized three kitchen drawers and the pantry and organized my linen closet. I think I am done for the day.

Tonight we are going to Parrot Beach Cafe to see some friends who are in from Nashville (a group called Texarkana) play. They called last night trying to entice us out of the house and taunting us with names like "party animals" but that did not describe us the past several days - no way, no how!

We try to avoid going out on New Year's Eve...it is amateur night (HA). We are going to a friend's house to see his brand new bachelor pad he had built but that is it. Since I am taking all this medicine, I am designated driver so all will be safe.

Happy New Year!

The Killer Rocks My World

2006-12-29T21:06:00.000-06:00

There is not enough I can say about Jerry Lee Lewis. He rocks and he is the "Last Man Standing", which is the title of his latest CD. A CD full of 21 songs he performs with other people. Go get this cd if you like Jerry Lee Lewis at all (beyond Great Balls of Fire) think "A Couple More Years", etc....

It would thrill me beyond belief to run into this man in Memphis. Come on, at least let me have this Memphis!! That would be on the top of my list for the year if I could do that.

The title is really telling if you think about it. He recorded at Sun Studios over 50 years ago along with folks like Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Elvis Presley, etc.. and they are all gone, including Sam Phillips. Go Jerry Lee!!

What the ????

2006-12-26T23:41:00.000-06:00

Who gets Thrombophlebitis? Apparently, me! Oh and I get the rare version - in the arm! Geezzzz! It is the vein where I had to get an IV two weeks ago, after a nasty dehydration incident. It hurt when I got the IV and I had some bruising up the vein, etc. but all that went away until today! I felt quite a bit of pain in this area on the inside of my arm and when I felt it, I felt a pea sized knot on the vein. Sooo, a few phone calls later I am sitting in the walk in clinic at the family practice we use. I am on anti biotics, Celebrex and keeping it elevated with heat. This puts a little kink in my PT on the rotator cuff on that arm. Weird stuff, it could be from the IV but the dr said it was unusual for it to show up over 2 weeks later! Michael's dad said the vein is kaput now - useless, never to be poked again. Happy New Year. Hey, at least I think I might spend all my Flexible Spending Account money this year after the deductible and meds today!! I swear the past few months have been tough on me, medically. Hmmmm??

Festivus!! For the Rest of Us

2006-12-23T23:26:00.000-06:00

If you know what the title of this post means, then you are indeed a Seinfeld fan!!

I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season; whether you celebrate Christmas, Xmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or nothing at all. I wish all the best in whatever way you do this season!! What better way to wish you that that with some form of Corporate sponsorship along with the message?

I, finally, finished the 4 photo albums I need to gift tomorrow. I finished them about 10 minutes ago. Nothing like the last moment huh? I wrapped gifts today but still have more to go. I injected a turkey breast so it can be smoked in the morning before we head up to White County. I made Spiced Walnuts tonight, as well. I was going to make Peanut Butter fudge but I am thinking, at this late hour, NO!!!

I had planned to have an early night last night BUT that did not happen. I was designated driver for three drunk asses that would not leave the Underground Pub until it closed. We had fun, although the dd never has the same amount of fun now do they? I got everyone home safe and sound. Soo, things I planned to do last night - did not happen. By the way, I pulled a double at the station doing my show (with a little help from Audie and some christmas cheer supplied by moi' and Diana brought by some Guiness for the masses). I then did Flap's show until 7 - had a blast with that one. Met up with everyone at Mt. Fuji where I had some absolutely awesome sushi, the eel thing (I can never remember the name) and a vegetarian asparagus roll that was outstanding!! I am ready for more. My last attempt at sushi was pretty good but some of it I just could not develop a taste for...this stuff - oh yea baby!!

So, have a happy and safe holiday season. Take a moment to think of those who are not home this season and send up a little good thought for them!!

Have I told you how much I like Memphis?

2006-12-21T11:53:00.000-06:00

I have surely not because the reality is that I really DON'T. I love my job and the people I work with are fine - it is just Memphis.

Memphis is a fun place to come spend a weekend but once you do that, well there is not much left. Now I know there are folks who would rise up with arms to do battle with me about how wonderful Memphis is. The cold, hard truth is that crime is a major, major problem here. In fact, Memphis now ranks 3rd in crime in the nation!! Heck, the Police Chief went to NYC to see how they, finally, got a grip on crime. In context, Memphis is a lot like New Orleans was! If there were a huge catastrophe in Memphis - well it would be the Katrina thing all over again. Folks would evacuate to other locations and those locations would start to despise the "evacuees". (Now I am so not saying that all the evacuees were undesirable - by no means)

This past week, I returned to my apartment to find my little kettle grill stolen from my patio, where it had resided, semi happily (come on it was in Memphis) for over 2 years! The scum that took my little kettle grill, left the charcoal in the little rubbermaid container, go figure!! Someone there told me that they could not pawn the charcoal. HA! Who would pawn a little grill? Is there a pawn shop that would buy it? I paid, maybe about $20 for it. BUT that is not the issue, it is the principal that someone came onto my property and took something that belonged to me - AGAIN.

Hence, my love affair (NOT) with Memphis. The ghost of Elvis needs to start kicking some thug ass...........

Role Model?

2006-12-18T10:29:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: At the last minute, Tara was able to save her crown! Apparently, she was appropriately remorseful and cried a lot. That always works that crying thing, especially when your chest heaves as you cry and your chest, well you know... just look at hers! :-)

Miss USA? Ok, former Miss USA as she has been sent packing, with good reason.

Whatever happened to beauty pageants? Come on now, is this what you want your daughter to aspire to look like or be like?

And what is up with those boobs?? Pullleeessse, spare us.

Oh me Oh my, what shall I buy?

2006-12-02T21:27:00.000-06:00

Christmas has rolled around once again and I am on the quest for some cool gifts for Michael, etc.

In doing so, I give you my annual Gifts You Should Not Buy... ever (or why in the world would you buy this gift?)

In no particular order, but at the top of my list of absolutely weird stuff... the Ear Wax Camera!! Hey, not only can you look deep into the caverns of your ear and see how much wax you have, you can watch yourself clean it out!! GROSS. I would be more than a little creeped out to get this from someone.

Ah, so you have a hunter in your family? Perhaps you think these Salt & Pepper Shakers would be just the thing? Nooooo..unless the recipient is a single male, with no hopes of a companion because if you give this to some man who has a woman...she has to put up with this stuff. Now really, how pretty to look at is this?

Now a whole lot of folks have iPods, not me I just have an MP3 player so I do not get all the cool iPod accessories, like this little jewel. My god, who wouldn't need to dock their iPod next to the toilet so they can listen to it before they wipe.

Sadly, I know of some men who would love to get this...tightwads!

Hey, all you Christian smokers out there...have I got a gift for you! Full of guilt and shame, all in an effort to save you from yourself and a one way ticket to a real smoking place.... Along the same line, worship with your meal, or at the very least you might convince someone on ebay that the image appeared magically and make some big money.

For those lazy ice cream eaters in the family. DO NOT enable them to be this lazy.

What about the crafty people? You say you like to make your own gifts, hey no shame in that. In fact, I am making some really cool journals and albums for some gifts this year. BUT (and I emphasize the BUT) there are some things that just should not be made. For instance, the bra purse. While I like the idea of giving "support" (no pun intended) to breast cancer awareness, I think the whole pink ribbon thing is a much better option than flaunting around an old bra made into a purse. Depending on whose bra you used, well it could be a teeny purse or larger bag (no names mentioned AHEM).

Nothing says I went all out on a gift for you more than the Nothing Jar. Hey, it even tells you that it is a great fundraiser for Christmas Stalls?? Would you really buy one of these. The something about this jar is that the crafter who creates it and sells is - is the only one getting $omething. What? you say you need a bag to carry your peanut butter and jelly sandwich to work in BUT it has to look like a "cool to be slim" carrier? Well, look no more. Seriously, if someone gave you this wouldn't you think..what the Hell? I would rather have had the Lean Cuisine, at least you would get something from it. Well this website is just full of nifty crafty ideas like this bracelet. I mean come on, what woman would not be thrilled beyond belief to open a jewelry box on Christmas day and find that her honey made this just for her. Swoon city baby! Retro, it is all the rage but this retro is not happening. You know you remember these. I was always fascinated and wondered why we never had a toilet paper lady. What was up with that? I think I figured it out - my grandma never advanced to toilet paper lady - she was too busy with ponchos, afghans, vests and hats - all of which I sported proudly, thank you very much!

So, maybe I have been able to help you just a bit. If you have any questions or need assistance in determining the right gift, just give me a holler and I will roll out the gift911 mobile to help you! Remember, if you have to convince yourself that the person will like it, they probably won't!!! Happy Holidays! I am off to make someone a potato chip bracelet. Whoo hooo..

P. S. Hey Carolyn & Flap, I issue a challenge to you two talented beer sweater ladies... make this chic beer outfit and Larry, get on the phone to Nicaragua or El Salvador - we need to move fast on this before the whole world catches on!! (These by the way are ok to receive as Christmas gifts - I just ran across it while searching and had to throw it in here).

Something sexy about dual tubs.....

2006-12-01T17:59:00.000-06:00

Ok, so every time I see the Cialis commercials with the couples who are just about to "do it" when someone (be it kids, grandkids, folks throwing them a surprise party, etc..) shows up and they have to wait till later to do the nasty - I cringe. I roll my eyes and then I wonder.....

There is the white couple with the lady with the long silver hair. They visit with the kids and grandkids, all the while exchanging lustful looks and then...when the kids leave they get in the car and drive to a lighthouse to have an ice cream cone??? What the hell?

Now there is a black couple that come home and exchange those "knowing glances" at the door when SURPRISE a whole house full of people surprise them with a party. Throughout the party they whisper to each other and share that "little secret smile" and when the guests leave??? They get in those damn dual tubs outside and sit in the dark holding hands. Just like this white couple over here on the right.

What the hell is up with this dual bathtub thing? Number 1, does anyone have a freaking bathtub outside? Number 2, does anyone have two of them? Do you haul these claw foot tubs, which weigh lots, to the grand canyon, to the lake, to the hillside, pull them out, put water in them, strip down nekkid and hop in? All the while just waiting for that Cialis to kick in....then what? You share a tub, outside?

Disturbing, that is all I can say. I can just see Michael and I putting two claw foot tubs in our back yard, side by side. Yep, there we would sit, nekkid, drinking a Shiner, swatting mosquitoes and trying to ignore the incredulous stares of our neighbors as we sit and wait for that Cialis to kick in. Umm hmmm I am feeling all warm and sexy now just thinking about that. Pulllleeeze!!

Creeps and Liars

2006-11-23T10:55:00.000-06:00

They are not always the same. So, this creep in Bryant, Jeff Cheshier had sex with his stepdaughter for a year and gets her pregnant. He takes her to Illinois, where you do not have to have parental consent, and gets her an abortion. He brings her home and some months later, after a disturbance at his home, the girl tells cops he has been raping her for over a year. Creepy dude. Anyone that knew him - knew this. He is a CREEP. He worked at an accounting firm as their IT person but had about as much IT knowledge as I do (I probably have more). The rumor was that he was hired and kept around for so long because he had the ability to illegally program cards for satellite tv and one of the "partners" liked that. I am sorry the girl went through this but I am glad he was caught. Wonder how he will like prison - can you say bend over buddy?

Anyway, I digress. My rant today is about the "abortion activists" who helped cinch the case. This couple have sat outside this abortion clinic for 14 years taking pics of each car and person going into the place. The Detective on the case called them and asked if they had pics of CREEP's car and they were able to find them - cinching the case. That is great! However, this is where I split hairs with them. In an interview about the case the woman, Angela Michael, said "The detective asked, 'Do you have the car?' 'Yes.' 'Do you have the plate?' 'Yes.' And I read it to him." "And in the background I heard the clicking of the handcuffs," Angela Michael said, along with the comment "We've got him."

OK come on now Angela Michael. It is not believable that the cops have Cheshier sitting there before they call you and are just waiting to see if you have the photos. Uh huh I believe that one. A bit melodramatic don't you think. I am sure Angela was just trying to add drama to the story but let's face it - she obviously lied. So is that ok? If you are trying to do "god's work" is it ok to LIE in your efforts to do so? I think not.

Yet, she goes on..... <<"I remembered how upset she was, and pleading with him (the suspect) not to make her go in," she said. >> WHAT? You witnessed this? You saw a young girl, obviously, being forced into an abortion clinic by an older man and did nothing? Come on now Angela, are you sure this really happened? OR are you again making something up to add to the melodrama of the story. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. If, in face, Angela saw this she should be arrested for being an accomplice to a crime of some sort. What a bunch of crock. This kind of lying is typical. Tell me the truth about a situation and I am more apt to listen to you but start lying or embellishing and I turn a cold shoulder to you. I submit that Angela is unethical despites her obvious obsessions with saving women's souls and "preventing" abortions for 14 years - at this same clinic.

On a side note, the article linked to is on a pro life site so maybe the embellishments were for the pleasure of like minded individuals. Other stories I read did not contain those "embellishments".

Dressing vs Stuffing -- the debate rages on

2006-11-22T12:24:00.000-06:00

So once again it is holiday time and the ages old debate of "dressing vs stuffing" arises again.
Around here it is dressing, specifically cornbread dressing. There are no chestnuts, apples, cranberries or mushrooms in it. It is basically the same all across the south with slight variations; cornbread (day old), bread crumbs, celery, onion (we use green onion), butter and stock. We add chicken meat to ours sometimes. It bakes up nice and golden brown on the top and it is YUMMMEEEE! When head down to South Louisiana you get the addition of oysters, andouille sausage, etc. in the dressing.

I am not much of a stuffing fan, I guess it is what you grew up with. I hear horror stories about the stuffing not cooking well inside the turkey and being a mushy mess or the turkey being overdone to cook the stuffing.

Whatever you call it - enjoy your day! Give me dressing anytime. My secret pleasure? A helping of cold dressing the next day with some whole berry cranberry sauce on it....delish!!

Party over Here - Party over There

2006-11-22T12:03:00.000-06:00

This would be Gil Franklin and that would be CASH... Was money flying at the party? Gil Franklin & friends (Keith, Charlie, the two Jim's, Dan, Brian & Cecil at various times during the night). We rocked out at the Press Box and I had a great time. I think I threw my back out on Ring of Fire...(just kidding).

The night was great. A friend of mine, Steve, came in from D. C. for the party - now how sweet is that? Michael, being the sweetie that he is, had it catered so there was tons of food for folks to munch on and it was great - go TJ!! This is Michael and I - after just a few drinks -->

Even though I requested no gifts, some folks did so anyway and I noticed a theme... hmmm wonder what they are saying? I got a 4 bottle pack of Patron from Larry & Carolyn, a bottle of Patron from Steve and a bottle of Sauza from Diana. Patron anyone?

This little pic is Tenille, me and Kendall. Now Tenille and I were being funny, I think Kendall is just tipsy!!

This is pretty indicative of the mindset of most everyone there.

Thanks to everyone for making my party a great one! A big thank you to Michael for taking care of everything - smooches honey - you are a keeper! Love everyone!

The Hucksters - shucking again!

2006-11-13T22:31:00.000-06:00

So our Governor and his wife, Mike & Janet Huckabee, are still making a play for gifts, gimmes, freebies of all sorts. His 10 years as Governor has allowed them to line their pockets and coffers with gifts of all sorts, without any kind of reproach from the "ethics" folks. My guess is that the thinking is that "good old Baptists like them can't be doing anything wrong" - I just bet that if it were someone like, oh say, Clinton when he was leaving the office and they pulled a stupid stunt like this - well one can only imagine.

So as far as I can recollect they have received furniture, written books about the Jonesboro school slayings and used the profits, flew all over the country for their own benefit and charged it to the state, received clothes and NOW - have registered for "gifts" to furnish their new 7,000 sf mansion. Uh huh..I am thinking they need all the help they can get - those greedy bastards. I was going to stick a photo of them in this post but, damn, I could not bear the thought of coming to my site and seeing a pic of them.

It's a Good Day to Be a Democrat!!

2006-11-08T21:18:00.000-06:00

So, another election has passed. It was exciting and gives rise to a new hope. Does anybody doubt that people are sick of this administration?

So here are some highlights for me:

Naa, naa, naa, naa
Naa, naa, naa, naa
Hey, hey, hey..
Goodbye

So long Rummy... don't let the screen door hit ya where the dog should have bit ya!!

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis... are you sure you did not know about Foley's affinity for Page Boys??

George "Macaca" Allen...need I say more?

On an even brighter note.....

Bill Ritter was elected Governor of Colorado! Go Bill and I know Miss Ethel is one proud mama. Having known this family since I was 13 - I was so excited for this to happen. I even donated to his campaign, even though I do not live in Colorado, because I wanted to "help" a good Democrat get elected. Guess what? You can be a Christian and a Democrat...Bill is living proof.

Go Dems!!

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk..what next my dear evangelicals?

2006-11-03T23:03:00.000-06:00

So, I go away to Dallas for two weeks to conduct training and return this evening to find that yet another evangelical has made headlines. Tsk, tsk, tsk... makes me wonder if there really is something to that whole "me thinks thou does protest way too much" when they are gay bashing.

Ted Haggard, a swarmy, fake smiling evangelorrist (evangelical terrorist) claims he has not had gay sex with the escort BUT he did have him come to a hotel in Denver for a massage. Come on now Ted, you just live down the road in Colorado Springs - surely you could get a legitimate massage at home? If there was nothing to hide, why meet in a hotel? (Note- the escort claims it was at his apartment, not at a hotel). Also, Ted says he did buy Methamphetamine because he was "tempted" but threw it away without using it. Yeah, ok, is that like "I did not inhale"? Pulllleeeeezzzee, do you really think anyone will buy that one?

Have you ever, ever been "tempted" to wake up one day, go about your day as the head a massively large evangelical organization and think "hey, I know the dangers of drugs and I never, ever do them...but I think I am "tempted" to just go out and buy some meth?"
No? What? Doesn't this happen to everyone? We do not do drugs but we are "tempted" to just jump on board with the hard stuff? Yeah, sort of like I woke up yesterday to conduct training in Dallas and, oh around 10 am thought "Gee, I am really "tempted" to score some heroin" despite the fact that I have never done it. Yea, yea that is it - let me start with heroin. Oh and while I am at it, I saw this ad for lesbian massage therapists... let me try that, as well.

Ummm hmm, I am buying it Ted. Got the London Bridge to sell me, also?

In the "You Can't Make this Shit Up" Department...

2006-10-22T05:13:00.000-05:00

My agency is moving from the 5th floor of this building to the 9th floor early next year. We have been in this building 25 plus years and in the space we are in now - equally that long. The move is long overdue.

Here is the clincher, in designing the office space and assigning space to employees (oh about 50 of us total)- they "FORGOT" me and another lady.

How do you "forget" an employee? Particularly two employees who have both worked for the agency over 25 years each!! Doesn't someone have a phone list? Can you spell INCOMPETENCE any quicker than I did?

What a hoot! Word has spread across the agency like wildfire and I keep getting e mails and phone calls about it. We just smile, shake our head and say "hey, you can't make this shit up!"

Yes, I do have an office. Yes, I had to fight to get a decent one. Oh let's just forget I am on the Management team in an office with just 9 total managers. HA! Too funny!

Hey, anyone out there?

2006-10-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

I have been without internet at home for over a week. It is killing me ya'll. To add insult to injury, my computer has been on a slow decline for several months. It looks something like this these days. I was thinking I would have to bury it but Michael says nooooo, it just needs something reloaded and that will take him, oh say 15 or 16 hours. Hmmm?

Now as much as I love Michael I am beginning to understand the tales of women who were married to plumbers and had plumbing issues, women whose significant others who were car mechanics and there own vehicles hobbled along..you get the picture? Michael is a computer guru, wizard, king for christ sakes!! Yet, I have hobbled along with a decrepit system for months now. Sigghhh. I will leave this weekend for a two week training stint in Dallas, maybe oh maybe it will be working when I return!! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Holy Moses!!

2006-10-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

Hey, in Colorado, Moses asks God how to vote on minimum wage. What advertising low will we sink to next?

Phobia, who knew?

2006-10-13T11:43:00.000-05:00

Apparently, I am claustrophobic. I would never have guessed it. I know I do not like being a huge crowd of people where I cannot control which way I am going BUT I have never freaked out in a huge crowd of people.

It took this jewel here to the right to teach me that I am, embarassingly, claustrophobic. The MRI, the purveyor of the "buried alive" feeling.
The machine that made me say "OUT, GET ME OUT NOW!". (Sheepishly and red faced I admit it). I was crying and I thought my heart would explode! What a strange sensation. I now have respect for folks with phobias, how frightening, at the time you experience it. ARRGGH. At least they think they got some good shots that can be read. They also told me that if I ever needed to have another that I needed to tell them I should be sedated. I think they should have sedated me yesterday, I think the first clue would have been the first time they slid me into that death chamber and I immediately said "take me back out". Live and learn. Thankfully, I lived. HA

Blues, The Final Installment

2006-10-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Busy week, so I was unable to complete my blues festival report. Saturday night was the final night. I, finally, made it over to the media tent to get a backstage media pass. That pass puts you halfway backstage and directly in front of the stage, making for some aweseom pics. Except for when you and various other folks trying to help you, mess up the settings on your camera and all your pictures suck!!

J. D. and I headed down to Cherry Street and Main Stage, leaving everyone at the camp site saying they would catch up later. We ran into Trainreck on Cherry Street. Awesome two piece blues band from Texas. I chatted with "Washboard" Washington a bit and he gave me their newest CD, I will have to play some of it on the show this week. We have caught them at The Press Box a couple of times. One night, it was pure juke jointish, we had our beers, sat at the domino table and played dominoes with Ben & Amy and listened to Trainreck live. It was so fun!

A friend of ours, Michael Burks was playing main stage at 7pm and receiving an award before his set. I wanted to be sure and get some pictures of it. I could not get Michael or any of the campsite folks on the phone so they could come get media passes so I had to foray backstage without them (much to their chagrin later). JD got me an artist pass from Michael, which meant full acess to the backstage area (and free beer). Bobbie was using a wheelchair and I talked her into sitting on stage while Michael performed (she would have gotten swamped in the crowd and she needed to be able to see her sweetie's set). So I stayed on stage with Bobbie and took pics from the side. I ran into Anson Funderburgh and was thrilled to see him there. Anson's band has played the festival for 20 years but Sam Myers died this year and they had decided not to come. I told Anson I was so glad to see him and could not believe that they would not be there this year. He told me he had not planned to, with Sam passing, but that he had never missed it and decided someone would let him play, hopefully Michael (which he did, of course).

For some reason, I cannot get the remaining pics to upload - so just know that the festival was great! We had an amazing time and the weather was perfect. Look forward to next year's festival!!

Blues, Part two

2006-10-09T23:01:00.000-05:00

This is Trish & I, at the campsite, after gorging ourselves with my Jambalaya. We all had a great time sitting around waiting for Jon Justice Band to perform.
Michael loaded up their equipment and hauled them to the Emerging Artists stage so they could set up

This is Jon Justice performing. He is awesome and his band sounded great!

Bill brought back a "souvenir" from our late night at the festival on Friday. A smoked turkey leg. He left it on the table outside in the container and the next morning we had a colony of flies, ewwwwwwww and THANKS bubby! We kept those flies despite spraying, etc.

On Saturday more folks showed up and we just hung out enjoying the conversation, sights and food.

Charlotte Taylor dropped in on us. We did not get to see her band perform because they started early on Thursday before we even got to the festival.

I did get to complete a fantasy on Saturday - I rode a Harley! This nice fella, Winston, took me down Highway 49, around by the bridge over the Mississippi and back. It was uber cool. You meet the friendliest folks at the festival each year.

More to come!

Arkansas Blues & Heritage

2006-10-09T17:21:00.000-05:00

Whoo, we recovered from our weekend at the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival in Helena, AR.

We arrived on Thursday evening and set up camp at Johnny's, right on Hwy 49B. We were not expecting anyone except for J. D. on Thursday night. We were settling in and a big ass bus pulled in and parked in front of us. YIKES, our great view of HWY 49 - gone.
It was the Jon Justice Band from Cincinatti. They were great fun and whacky - fueled by much alcohol. We had great fun with them. Michael and I took Jon and his dad, Papa Gino to Michael Burks campsite for dinner that night. Jon was blown away at meeting Michael, eating his food and THE ULTIMATE - getting to see and touch three of Michael's guitars, including his Flying V. Jon kept thanking me over and over, which was so not necessary. We had a lot in common, Patron, Patron, Patron. HA! We enjoyed meeting Derek, Scotty, Nathan, et al.. a great group of guys. We caught their performance on Friday night and they were awesome. If you are ever near where they are playing - go see them. Great cd - Jon gave us several copies.

Friday folks starting arriving. Craig & Trish, Bill, Shirley & Chad, Chris, Brian - we had a good crowd at the camp site. The weather was absolutely perfect!

Friday, Michael and I went down to the festival to see what was happening. We saw some street acts, Mudbone was there, of course. He shows up every year playing his blistering music on the street. Last year they finally put him on stage.

Michael and I moved on and found "The Blues Brothers", okay, they were statues. We popped our bag of home made pork rinds in Belushi's arms and I snapped a quick picture, how totally tourist of us. Yes, that is the cool beer sweater Carolyn made for Michael keeping his beer cool. We ran into Babs from the Hot Springs Blues Society, who tells us she is headed to Australia for 7 weeks to "do whatever the hell I want." Go Babs!

We split up when he wanted to head back to camp and I wanted to hit main stage to find a couple of folks I knew. I located Craig & Trish and sat with them for a bit. We watched Sam Carr & The Delta Jukes, Paul Delay Band and a tiny bit of Pinetop Perkins & Bob Margolin. I needed to head back to camp since I was hosting dinner. I have to bring my Jambalaya to the festival every year (come to think of it, I have to bring it everywhere). I knew we were going to have a bunch of folks at camp waiting to be fed.

I Will Take Creepy Pedophiles for $200 Alex

2006-10-09T17:09:00.000-05:00

Hmmm, now this is a disturbing list.

Oh My Word, Nekkid Art!!

2006-10-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

A teacher was fired for taking her class on a school sponsored field trip to an art museum. Apparently, some of the 5th grade students saw a nude portrait. (Not the David, pictured to the left, as that is in Florence, Italy but probably something similar) Say it ain't so Ethel, not nekkid art at an art museum?

So what have we learned from this lesson folks? Nude Art BAD, EVIL and SINFUL.....

Would you rather your kid see art that has nudity in it or this ---> because if they are watching tv they are seeing this stuff on the right.

Go figure huh?

(thanks to John for the info on this piece of ridiculousness)

I Got The Blues, almost!

2006-10-05T02:29:00.000-05:00

Countdown to the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival (formerly the King Biscuit Blues Festival).

Tomorrow, we load up the camper and head on out. I have been attending the festival since 1987 when it was a tiny festival, on the levee by the Mississippi River in Helena, AR. The stage was small and in front of the old train depot, which is now the Delta Cultural Center. It is now the largest, free blues festival attracting over 100,000 folks each year.

The pre-festival activities just about kill me though. I worked all day in Memphis, drove home, went shopping, got home at midnight and started cooking. I have to pack, get the camper ready, run more errands tomorrow and have it all ready by 1pm. ACKKKK. I am feeling a bit stressed. Of course, Michael is cool as a cucumber. He moves at one speed, granny slow. He never gets frazzled and never gets in a hurry - which so totally puts me over the edge!

I have to make my famous jambalaya tomorrow for I cannot attend the festival without it. I made Country Breakfast Pies tonight. I will make Baked Oatmeal in the morning. ARRGHHH. I cannot wait to get there, get set up and have a shot of Tequila.

Check out the line up this year. Proud to see Miss Charlotte Taylor & Gypsy Rain are playing main stage Thursday. My two picks for Thursday are Johnny Sansone and Tab Benoit. If I have to narrow it down, it will be Tab Benoit. Friday gets into full swing. Chris, Chad, Bill, Trish, Craig and more all arrive. They will miss the party Thursday night - their loss. We pick up more folks (Matt, Stacy, Bob, Angie etc..) on Saturday. Wooohoo! They are not forecasting any rain, although it always rains at the "biscuit".

My Friday choices are Pinetop Perkins ( I mean come on, Pinetop is TOPS), Billy Gibson Band and Willis "Big Eyes" Smith. As is typical, I am drawn more to the smaller stages - rather than main stages. Saturday I want to see Larry Garner, Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials (who I was supposed to interview on Friday until they found out I would be there at the festival), Robert Lockwood, Jr, Michael Burks (Michael is receiving an achievement award!) and the Fabulous Thunderbirds or Super Chicken. I really like Super Chicken and get tickled thinking about taking Virginia to see him at Sticky Fingerz and him making that rooster sound and saying "Don't shoot my chicken" all night long. It drove her nuts after about the 5th time.

For your edification - Helena, AR is in the Delta and on the Mississippi River. Highway 49 runs out of Helena across the Mississippi and hits Highway 61 in Mississippi. Helena is economically depressed, as are many delta towns, and is depressing to be in on any other weekend of the year (except Bikes & Blues). Let's hope I do not have to babysit any drunks, do not have to make a run to the ER or that it rains so much so that it is all just mud (been there and done all of that). I cannot wait to get my annual BBQ Bologna sandwich from Chuck's and walk around Cherry Street munching on the finest delicacy ever and listening to the great music!