Southern Gal Goes North

It's Big Ol' Sweet Iced Tea...and Why it is Taking Over the North

2011-03-23T15:34:00.006-04:00

Sweet tea is a southern staple, we all know that. People who were raised in a traditional southern household were used to seeing that great, big pitcher of sweet tea goodness sitting on their table at every meal. We love it and can't get enough of it.

Imagine my horror when I moved up here to Chicagoland and found out that my local restaurants didn't have sweet tea on their menus. It was a difficult time for me. Very difficult. Can't. Talk. About. It.

Now however, sixteen years later, southern-based chains with sweet tea have begun to show up around Chicago, and folks are beginning to take notice....and to finally understand what the hoo-hah is all about. We've got Sonic's now you know. Next chain I'm hoping we'll get is a Milo's, but I'm not holding my breath. That would be an awesome day though...their sweet tea is fabulous!

I took myself to lunch the other day....decided on Famous Dave's BBQ. It is a Wisconsin chain, but the theme is southern BBQ, so they do offer sweet tea. I have to say, it's not bad. Not as sweet as I'd prefer, but very close. I happened to overhear the people next to me ordering their lunches and all four asked for sweet tea. One lady exclaimed (with her Chicago accent), "I love this stuff!" I just nodded to myself, and let myself smirk a little bit.

Today I was craving some Chik Fil-A and drove into Orland Park for my fix. Y'all have to understand, Chicagoland just started getting Chik Fil-A's and I was as happy as a junebug to find one near me! Anyway, I went through the drive-through and ordered my chicken sandwich and waffle fries and large sweet tea, and then remembered (from comedian Anita Renfroe) that Chik Fil-A offers gallon jugs of that delicious goodness. So, I bought one of those too so I wouldn't have to make more when I got home.

When I drove up to pay, the little Midwestern check-out girl confessed that she was becoming addicted to the stuff. I just smiled and said, "Honey, welcome to the club!"

Another year gone by...

2011-01-08T11:30:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it has been a whole year since I posted last. It didn't seem that long and a lot has happened in that year. I guess I am not good at juggling multiple hobbies. Sometimes it's hard to deal with one. But in the last year, I have been making jewelry, taking pottery lessons, losing my mother-in-law, struggling with my weight, and dealing with a teen and a pre-teen.

It's hard to feel an urge to blog sometimes, but my son has urged me to start up again. I am not writing this so people will flock to my blog, I am writing this for me. Because it makes me feel good. I guess that's how this blog first started anyway. Writing can be therapeutic.

Today, looking out at all of the snow, I am really wishing I was in Alabama. Nothing different there. However, I hear that y'all have been getting snow too lately. But a nice place to be down there today would be Lake Guntersville.

Imagine a toasty fire in the state park lodge, hot chocolate, views of the lake...ahhh. I could really go for that right now.

Sunday Afternoon

2010-01-17T15:12:00.003-05:00

Today at mass I had a heavy heart and I asked God to lift my burden and lighten my spirits. I have to admit, part of me didn't expect Him to, but He did. How He did it and how I reacted to it surprised me though.

We were sitting in a pew in the balcony over one of the stairwells and I was staring at the wooden handrails. Just staring. All of the sudden it was like I was transported to my childhood and I remembered how much I loved to explore the churches we'd go to.

My dad was a Baptist minister and we attended many different country churches over the years. Whenever we attended a new one, it just called to me to be explored after the service. Hidden stairwells led to cool, basement fellowship halls, kitchens, restrooms, and Sunday school rooms. Some basement walls had wood paneling over them giving the rooms a warm darker look. Some had painted concrete block walls which, in the summer, kept the lower level nice and comfortable if there was no air-conditioning.

My sister and I would play hide-and-seek in the church after the services while my parents were socialising with other parents. Crawling under pews and giggling. we'd eventually get in trouble, but it was always fun while it lasted.

Vacation Bible School was a tradition and we always attended my aunt's church in Warrior, AL. My favorite part was arts and crafts, and snack time when we could mingle with the other kids. Lemon cookies, sugar cookies, Kool aid, and apple juice were staples and disappeared fast. We would eat at these long concrete tables under the pine trees that had been built for outdoor picnics and potlucks. We'd stand at these tables, there were no benches, and we would stuff our faces in the twilight.

After school was over, we'd play outside in the cool of the evening waiting for our parents to arrive. We'd play touch football in our dresses, or play hide-and-seek (we loved that game) in the graveyard amongst the gravestones.

Today, as I kneeled there at my pew, I felt experienced all of those memories with all of my senses. And in those brief minutes, I lost all of my worldly cares and troubles, and felt like a child once again. I still feel the remnants.

Thank you, God.

Where are all the Danged Roadside Attractions?

2010-01-16T16:30:00.003-05:00

When I was a kid, almost every Sunday, my mom and dad would take us for a ride around the countryside just to see what was out there. We literally drove hundreds of miles in a month finding new places, new parks, scenery...it's what we did!

Now, when I am visiting the family in Alabama, I love to take my kids for rides through the countryside, just seeing what's out there. We have visited state parks, county parks, museums, and just rode around the state, literally, seeing where the roads would take us. We always found our way home and saw some beautiful scenery. I just can't get enough of it.

Up here in Chicagoland, it isn't as easy to do that. In fact, most state parks in Illinois encircle the city of Chicago and aren't that close. And even if we did try and take a road trip, it's pretty much the same all over - flat corn fields. At least, in the immediate vicinity of a good day's trip. So, would it be worth it to a girl who is used to mountain roads that curve into the horizon? That said, I welcome any tips on places that I can check out. I love Americana. I love back-road atractions, and oddities.

And that brings me to Roadsideamerica.com.

If you have never visited this site, I highly recommend it. It will tell you where you can find the weirdest, coolest, and sometimes just plain stupid, sites around the country within a day's trip of your home.

For example, a few places near me are: the McDonald's Museum and 1st Resturant in DesPlains, or the Ferris Bueller glass garage scene location in Highland Park, IL, the silo hidout of Al Capone, or the alley where John Dillinger was shot and killed. Oh wait...here's a good one: A Giant Lady's Leg Sundial in Roselawn, IN at a nudist resort.

Oh my!

I'll pass.

It's All Geography

2010-01-13T10:15:00.003-05:00

One of the first things I noticed about Chicagoland when I moved here was, besides how big Lake Michigan is, that it wasn't all that different from other places I've visited. The same traffic jammed the freeways, the same crazy drivers gave you the finger as they passed by your car going 20 miles over the speed limit, the same people were having dinner with their families, the same moon shined brightly in the sky, the same stores were being shopped at, the same...you get the picture.

I learned a lot of new things too.

I had never heard of pirogis before I moved here. Luckily, I had tasted a bagel one summer when my Jewish roomie introduced me to them. I remember her grandfather had a nice forest-green convertible Jaguar. Nice car.

I had never heard of Braunschweiger liverwurst before. My husband loves it. I will do just nicely with corned beef hash.

In Alabama, people have to go hunting for deer in deer season. Here in Chicagoland, you can find whole herds of deer grazing throughout the many fields and forest preserves surrounding the city. They aren't hunted, so they thrive.

My husband had never tasted black-eyed peas with cornbread. Never been exposed to it. He still doesn't like it. that's OK. More for me.

My kids root for Alabama football while their friends only care about the Chicago Bears. We proudly wear our crimson and white clothes amongst the blue and orange.

In Alabama, we never got snow much. Up here, people in the city have to stake claims on parking spots after they shoveled so they will have a place to park when they get home. To steal someone else's plowed spot is to risk your car's paint job.

Up here in Chicagoland, people think my accent is cute. I am always asked, "Where are you from?" Back in Alabama, people think my accent is cute. I am always asked, "Where are you from?" I guess I have an accent somewhere in the middle of southern belle and Chicago gangster.

I know I tend to complain about my whereabouts a lot, but when I think about it. People aren't so different here. People are people, no matter where they are. They are doing the same things, just differently.

Alabama is #1

2010-01-09T20:03:00.004-05:00

Of course, I always knew that. Now everyone knows. ;)

I, just like my other fellow Bama fans, spent the other night watching the Championship game between Alabama and Texas. Computer to my left, TV to my right, I kept up a commentary on Facebook, made up of mostly expletives, the entire game.

Texas played well. My fingernails are now stubs.

Anyway, the insanity is over for another year. Thank God and Roll Tide!

Alabama Snow - haikus

2010-01-05T11:27:00.003-05:00

Alabama snow-
children enjoy the rare treat
No school today, Mom!

-----------------------------------

Pine trees softly sigh
branches covered by white snow
deer hidden in brush

-----------------------------------

feet covered by bags
Granny drags her sled uphill
for one day of fun

-----------------------------------

Y'all feel free to add your own snow haikus in the comment section. I'd love to read them! Remember haikus are made up of lines that are 5 syllables, 7 , then five again.

To Set the Record Straight

2010-01-04T11:21:00.003-05:00

OK, this has been bothering me for many years. I have never brought it up before, but I feel the need to tell my side of the story...

Mom, that time in church when you were sitting in the choir section whispering to your neighbor during the sermon, and I was sitting in the front row shushing you because everyone knows you aren't supposed to talk during church, and Daddy took me outside and blistered my butt for making noise during the preacher's hell-fire and brimstone...

Well I resent that. You taught me to be quiet in church and you set a bad example. I was just trying to shush you up so you wouldn't get in trouble and I got in trouble instead. It's all your fault.

There I said it.

Southern Gal Feels the Need to Blog

2010-01-04T10:09:00.002-05:00

I have discovered something about myself: I can not juggle too many things at a time or I get very overwhelmed.

And who knows...maybe all of us are like that to a point.

But i feel my brain turning to mush just thinking about multi-tasking, or blogging while worrying about selling my jewelry, or Avon, or taking care of the kids, finding a day job, etc...In fact, my brain is melting in my skull as we speak.

Oozing out my ears...

(shaking head)

I have missed writing. It's that simple.

And I have finally discovered my muse. It's not my children, God knows I love them. It's not my husband. It's not my cat.

I can only get excited about writing when I am thinking of Alabama. About the forests, the state parks, the pine trees, the dogwoods, and yes...even the fireants.

It's not my lot in life to be able to actually be in Alabama at this time. So, as long as I can remember the smells, textures, and sights of my home state, I'll manage just fine.

At least, I hope I will. ;)

Family Memories

2009-08-18T15:55:00.006-04:00

This past week I lost someone very dear to me - my great-aunt Yvonne.

She was the youngest sister of my grandmother, who I call Nanny. Their other two siblings have already passed away so Aunt Von and Nanny were extra close in the last few years.

Aunt Vonne was always a kidder. Every Christmas, she would bring her family to Alabama (they lived in Apopka, Florida) and she would bring her sisters gag gifts. Anyway, one year it was red long underwear with the butt flap, one year it was giant panties, "fake" perfume, you name it. Thing is, they always posed for pictures with their gifts.

(I wish I had the pictures to post, but my mother has them.)

Aunt Vonne's laugh was so musical. She had the sweetest southern accent I had ever heard. Very gentile. I am going to miss that laugh. She had a way of making you feel right at home.

She took care of me when I lived in Florida and was working for Disney on their College Program. Every week, I'd visit and do my laundry. I always got yelled at for being late. LOL

One year, when I was a little girl, I stayed with Aunt Vonne for a few weeks. My cousin, Kim, and I are about the same age, so we had a blast playing outside. They had just dug a hole for an underground pool and there was a huge mound of sandy dirt sitting next to it, so Kim and I decided to play on it and in it.

We dug, and crawled, and slid... Aunt Vonne took one look at us and turned a hose on us. Wouldn't let us in the house we were so dirty.

She also let us play the record player over and over again. We listened to ABBA, to Grease, anything disco. Kim and I took turns being Sandy and Danny.

She has granddaughters that will miss her terribly. They are all young and haven't had the joy of having her around as long as I have had my Nanny. Bless their hearts. It's going to be hard for them.

So, goodbye, Aunt Vonne. You are loved and missed.

I Love Finding New Blogs

2009-08-18T15:51:00.002-04:00

I ran across another southern blog today called A Southern Daydreamer and really enjoyed reading the posts.

One of the things she is involved in is Outdoor Wednesday. You post pictures of something outdoors to your blog and link to hers. I like the idea a lot considering that I love taking outdoor pictures anyway. So I think I will join in the fun tomorrow, which is Wednesday.

Too cool.

I'll be Selling Handcrafted Jewelry at the Sassy Affair

2009-08-10T19:35:00.000-04:00

Thursday, August 13th
6:45 - 7:15 Colors of the Woods jewelry

I will be having a special sale for those who attend. All of my wine glass markers will be 20% off and if you purchase a necklace, earrings will be 50% off. Hope to see you there!

Here is the official blurb..

A Sassy Affair Shopping Extravaganza
Sponsored by Sassy Sisters In Sales
August 13, 2009
5:00pm - 9:15 pm EST

Various vendors representing a variety of products. There is something for everyone. Games, Prizes, Special Deals, Exclusive Savings! Invite your friends - they won't want to miss this either! All of our guests will be entered for a chance to win fabulous prizes , but you must REGISTER !!!!!!!

Event will take place on WAHMChats.com. In the menu select Chat rooms, enter your name, no password needed. Once logged in you'll be in "the lounge". At the top of the box click on the arrow & choose the room assigned to a Sassy Affair.

Sit back and enjoy the fair! Chime in with questions or comments anytime.

Family Essays and Facebook

2009-07-07T18:32:00.005-04:00

Lately, my past is catching up to me. No matter how hard I try to hide, fate has a way of bashing down the door and smacking me on the face....whack whack....then thumping me on the nose for good measure.

My fate is to write.

Even when I don't feel like it or even know what to write.

To wit, I googled myself and saw all the pages of stories, poems and essays that I have written in the past and just knew that I was going to have to come out of my self-imposed exile and just "do it"!

So here I am. Without much to say, but babbling it anyway.

I used to think that having a southern heritage was something to be extremely proud of, that no one else would understand the southern family dynamics, that no one else would have the same kind of stories to tell.

Flannery O'Conner once said, "Whenever I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one."

Is this because southerners are freaks?

No, but my in-laws might think otherwise.

I believe it is because the sweltering heat down there messes with your brain, making you do things and say things you might not ordinarily. So, in a way we might be freaks, but I'll tell you one thing; there are a lot of freaks up here in the northern mid-west as well. You just don't hear about them as much.

I also believe that most southerners want to be in the spotlight. After losing to the North, y'all know what I'm talking about, maybe one of the only ways to show they were still here, still alive, was to create this persona of a gentile, yet quite batty, people, and then write about them.

"What has always been clear, for Southerner and non-Southerner alike, is that Dixie is the most fascinating part of the country. There may be a book out there called 'The Great Midwest' or 'A Turn in the Midwest' or 'The Mind of the Midwest' or 'The Midwestern Mystique', but if there is I'm certainly not aware of it."

--Fred Hobson

So, I'll be content to carry on the tradition. I'll write about my family's history, maybe add some northern bits and pieces to the batter, and hopefully bake a nice literary cake.

In between, you can find me over on Facebook. I'm addicted, don't you know? In fact, I wrote a little poem about my addiction...

Facebook, oh Facebook
why must you be
so danged addictive
with all this social repartee?

The games and quizes are
offered up like a buffet,
so many friends of old
stopping by to say "Hey!"

Farmtown and Yoville,
Bejeweled and Farkle,
Mafia Wars and Superpoke Pets,
make my life sparkle.

Facebook, Dear Facebook
you've made my life grand,
and if anyone tries to bother me
they can talk to the hand!

© 2009 Dana Sieben

My Kid is Growing Up!

2009-06-18T19:38:00.003-04:00

Today my oldest son told me to get off my butt and get to writing again.

He's right. I have been neglecting my blog and my poetry. Now that school is out, I do have the time for it, but finding something to write about is a different matter.

Lots has happened in the past few months:

a good friend passed away from colon cancer and I walked a 5k in her memory. It was at Lincoln Park in Chicago.

I quit my job as school librarian and the boys will be attending public school instead of Catholic school for the first time.

I am still making jewelry. Just posted some new pieces today. Check them out @ Colors of the Woods!

I am addicted to facebook. I have found so many old friends there and considering that it has been 20 years since a lot of us opened the Disney MGM Studios, a reunion was planned for this weekend. Can't go though and I am bummed about it.

Anyway, I'll be back more often with more to enjoy, so check back.

Toodles!

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T12:44:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of watching the Inauguration of President Obama this morning and I have to say it was inspiring. We've come a long way, America! Let's keep going in the right direction.

Glitter Text Maker

Orland Park Steak Buffet - Restaurant Review

2009-01-17T22:10:00.003-05:00

Tonight Dave and I took the boys out to eat. We chose Orland Park Steak Buffet since we have been before and it was very good. Tonight was no exception.

The buffet has a grill section where the cook whips up steak, chicken kabobs, hotdogs, hamburgers, etc...for you while you wait.

There is a salad bar with tradional salad fixings as well as Middle Eastern salads and hummus.

Alongside Asian noodles, fried chicken, tacos, pot roast, etc. are authentic homemade Middle Eastern foods such as falafel, coucous, tabbouleh, chicken and yellow rice with vegetables, pita bread, and other steak dishes that I can't remember what they are called, but they were delicious!

The dessert bar has homemade puddings, eclairs, fresh fruits, cakes, and more.

Basically there is something for everyone there and it has a very friendly atmostphere.

***Orland Park Steak Buffet is at 15615 S Harlem Ave Orland Park, IL 60462. Phone number is (708) 429-9590.

Meandering Muses

2009-01-13T13:53:00.004-05:00

You know, on days like this, I really wish I didn't live in Chicago. (I swear this isn't whiney blogging)

My father was chatting with me on the phone yesterday and he was saying how cold it was down there in Alabama. About how it was probably as cold as up here. How he was shivering in the 39 degree weather.

I probably would have said something to that effect if I had been still living in Alabama. Your blood is thinner down there and anything below 60 degrees is considered winter.

But not yesterday, Dad.

We are under a Blizzard Advisory for tomorrow and we are expecting even more snow on top of what we already have. It's a whopping 12 degrees out with a wind chill of who knows. And that's warm! Tomorrow is going to be colder.

But at least I don't live where my friend, Jen lives. She lives up in British Columbia, Canada where it drops down to -40 degrees in the daytime.

Bless her heart.

Any Theater Lovers Out There?

2008-12-27T01:19:00.004-05:00

I have been reuniting with old friends via Facebook.com lately. It has been a blast!

First, I started out with old college band buddies, high school peers, and then graduated to Disney College Program alumni from both years that I participated.

In fact, it has been 20 years since I helped to open the Great Movie Ride at the (ex) Disney-MGM Studios, now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios. 20 years!!!! Time does indeed fly fast. It seems just yesterday that I met these amazing kids from all over the country, learned to work with them, and to party with them.

When we weren't at the beach or playing in the Magic Kingdom, we were learning basic acting for our roles as the bandit in the Western scene, and the ganster in the, well...Gangster scene. We learned crowd control, got to see and meet celebrities on opening night, made more than one mistake in our jobs, and got to have some of the most fun we had ever had.

One of those ladies is named Kristin Stone, but we all called her "Missy" back in those days.

Today, she is a professional actress in LA and has her own entertainment company. Her show, Inside Private Lives, is going strong and requires audience participation.

So if anyone is in the LA area, y'all go see Kristin and the rest of the cast for me. I don't think I'll get to see the show unless I can persuade her to bring it to Chicago.

You hearing me, Missy??? Chicago would love your show! Bring it on!

Here's a Site Y'all Might Like

2008-12-19T13:18:00.003-05:00

Y'all might now that I am on Facebook.com now and while there, I found a great group called Southern Plate. It is run by the cook, Christy, and she has some mighty yummy recipes to share with y'all.

I am planning on trying her chocolate creamcheese cake (not red velvet) on my northern in-laws and see if they can appreciate good southern cooking.

Y'all go say howdy to Christy.

OMG!

2008-12-17T18:08:00.002-05:00

Suspect cop says he's engaged to be married
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:30 AM EST
The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — A publicist for the former Illinois police sergeant suspected in the disappearance of his wife says the ex-officer is engaged to be married again.

Publicist Glenn Selig (SEH'-lig) says 54-year-old Drew Peterson proposed within the last week after dating the woman for about four months.

Selig says the woman is 23 — the same age as Stacy Peterson when she disappeared in October 2007.

Illinois state police call Peterson a suspect in the disappearance of his wife but no charges have been filed against the former officer from the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook

Peterson claims his wife left him for another man.

Selig wouldn't give any details about Peterson's new fiance and Peterson wouldn't comment.

**********************************************

Hmmmm, a new woman the same age as his last wife who disappeared. He goes for the young ones, doesn't he? Is he following a pattern here?

You know...I have ben following this case since the beginning and I have to wonder...why in God's green Earth would this unnamed woman date Drew Peterson, much less GET ENGAGED TO HIM????

Lady, this man does not have a good record in his past marriages. One dead and one missing. I'd be a little wary if I were you.

This Dog is Incredible!

2008-12-09T11:43:00.002-05:00

YOu may have heard and seen the stories of heroic actions by dogs, Lassie and Benji, on TV, but here is a modern day tale of bravery above and beyond the call of dog duty...

This dog in Santiago Chile braved heavy freeway traffic to save an injured dog who had been struck by a car. It is very touching.

Unfortunately, the other dog died and the hero dog ran away when officers came to help.

Watch the video.

TV Show Beeps and Bleeps

2008-11-25T18:50:00.004-05:00

I am sitting here watching Sweet Home Alabama, one of my favorite movies, on USA, and noticed that they bleeped out the line "Are you shittin' me?

That's all fine and well. I have no problem with that, but I find it highly hypocritical of the network when the movie goes on to include the words, bitch, piss, and ass - all in the same scene as the "shittin' me" line.

As this website shows...

Melanie Carmichael: Well, for starters, you can get your stubborn ass down here and give me a divorce.
Jake: You're shittin' me, right?
Melanie Carmichael: I never fully understood that expression, but no, I am not "shitting" you.
Jake: The only reason I ain't signing is cause you've turned into some hoity-toity Yankee bitch, and I'd like nothing better right now than to piss you off.

Oh, and don't forget the cute line in the same scene: "...you know that old bastard hates me!"

Go figure.

Thanksgiving - A Humorous Acrostic Poem

2008-11-24T23:46:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving
by Dana

Tis' another year
Happy are we to sit at the table
And gorge ourselves silly...
Never pausing to say hello to Aunt Bertha or Uncle
Ken, just eating away,
Slobbering our turkey and
Gibblet gravy.
Instead of pausing to give thanks,
Voraciously we dig
Into our food,
Not even stopping when
Grandma glares at us with her beady little eyes.

*acrostic poems - first letter of each sentence spells out the title of the poem...in this case, "Thanksgiving".

I'm a Sinner!

2008-11-22T23:12:00.003-05:00

I was just reading the news before bed and came across a story about yoga.

Seems as if the Malaysian government has banned Muslims from practicing yoga due to "it is un-Islamic" and could "corrupt". Yoga-practicing Muslims are outraged and say it has nothing to do with spirituality.

And Muslims aren't the only ones on the bandwagon...fundamentalist Christians are also saying "yoga's Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state".

Hmmm.

Now I'm not a yoga or religious scholar, but even I can tell that yoga is being used more and more for exercise and relaxation than as a pursuit of the spiritual. I can honestly say that my yoga teacher never mentioned God or Buddha while we were sitting on a mat like pretzels. And I don't think school children are being taught spiritual enlightenment in their short gym class, just exercise and stretching.

But some people just have to attack what they don't understand.

I don't make it a habit of telling y'all what to believe, but here is a good website that discusses the history of yoga. How it started thousands of years ago as meditating in order to reach spiritual enlightenment, but as of this age has evolved into good fitness practices.

To all of y'all who don't know what to think...go ahead and read up on it and do some research on your own. And then go to a gym and take a yoga class. You'll see that it's healthy and good for you.

How can that be wrong?

Just my opinion.

Love Me Some Sonic

2008-11-13T11:13:00.006-05:00

For about two years now, I have been suffering through Sonic commercials showing all the delicious foods that I remember from when I lived in Alabama. And their sweet tea is to die for!

Thing is...there were no Sonic's in the Chicagoland area that I could find. So why were there so many commercials for an area that had no Sonics?

Well my husband found out last night.

A Sonic has FINALLY!!! opened up down the street from my house and the line of cars waiting to get in filled the length of a Walmart parking lot. My husband parked his car at the other end of Walmart and walked over to Sonic and stood in line just to get my sweet tea and some shakes.

There must have been a LOT of hungry people watching those tempting Sonic commercials for two years in order for the place to have a line of cars for goodness sake! I have never heard of a fast-food restaurant getting so much publicity and so many first-time customers

Sonic knew what they were doing. Get us all worked up over the commercials and then sneak a restaurant in and see the locals jockey for position in line.

If you are lookin' for me tonight, I'll be camping out in the Walmart parking lot line waiting for a Sonic breakfast.

That sweet tea was divine!

For Those Nathan Fillion Fans

2008-10-11T20:57:00.004-04:00

Yes, I've come out of lurk mode and am trying to keep both of my blogs going at the same time. It isn't easy. It can be downright hard.

And speaking of hard...

Nathan Fillion, from the awesome cancelled show, Firefly, is starring in his most masterful piece yet! I swannee! (fanning myself)

Here y'all are....

PG Porn's Nailing Your Wife!

Nailing Your Wife Girls SPIKE.com

Answer, by Fredric Brown

2008-08-25T18:32:00.003-04:00

This is a short, short story written in 1954 by Fredric Brown. Makes you think.

"Dwan Ev ceremoniously soldered the final connection with gold. The eyes of a dozen television cameras watched him and the subether bore throughout the universe a dozen pictures of what he was doing. He straightened and nodded to Dwar Reyn, then moved to a position beside the switch that would complete the contact when he threw it. The switch that would connect, all at once, all of the monster computing machines of all the populated planets in the universe -- ninety-six billion planets -- into the supercircuit that would connect them all into one supercalculator, one cybernetics machine that would combine all the knowledge of all the galaxies.

Dwar Reyn spoke briefly to the watching and listening trillions. Then after a moment's silence he said, "Now, Dwar Ev."

Dwar Ev threw the switch. There was a mighty hum, the surge of power from ninety-six billion planets. Lights flashed and quieted along the miles-long panel.

Dwar Ev stepped back and drew a deep breath. "The honor of asking the first question is yours, Dwar Reyn."

"Thank you," said Dwar Reyn. "It shall be a question which no single cybernetics machine has been able to answer."

He turned to face the machine. "Is there a God?"

The mighty voice answered without hesitation, without the clicking of a single relay. "Yes, now there is a God."

Sudden fear flashed on the face of Dwar Ev. He leaped to grab the switch. A bolt of lightning from the cloudless sky struck him down and fused the switch shut."

Now, I think that the ending would have been better had it ended with the words, "There is now!" and then nothing else. The last paragraph is not needed.

What do you think?

Hey Y'all! I'm Back!

2008-08-24T16:53:00.007-04:00

Well, I decided to take some time and sit down and write a little bit so y'all won't think I'm dead or something.

Lots has been going on up here. I quit the wine business as I was losing money on the whole deal. It was fun, but I just couldn't put all the time into it as I could have. My last wine tasting was my sister's down in South Carolina at the Marine Air base in Beaufort. I figured that I'd go out in style.
The weather was hot in Beaufort. And I mean HOT! In the 100's and that's a fact. Christy's car's air conditioner was broken, we had to ride in her car since all the kids wouldn't fit in mine, so we were miserable, especially the day we went to the beach.

Anyway, I am now devoting my time to making jewelry and selling at craft shows all year round. And the best thing is: I really enjoy it!
Here's the latest piece I made...

It's made from 18 gauge copper wire and takes only a half hour to make.

Here is one of my necklaces...

I had planned on cleaning the house today, but I think I will take the rest of Sunday off for a change. Tomorrow the kids start school and I will be the school librarian again, so I need some peace and quiet today.

On Haitus

2008-05-01T09:44:00.002-04:00

Hey y'all.

Until the summer starts, I am going to continue to be busy, so I am puttng the blog on haitus until I can devote more time to it.

I hope you will keep me in mind and check back now and then. As soon as I get to writing again, I will make sure to visit everyone's blog and say howdy.

Take care.

TTFN (ta ta for now)

Dana

I Tell Y'all What...

2008-04-15T14:55:00.006-04:00

Stephen King is a frakkin' genius!

As a writer, I appreciate his success and envy it as well. I mean, he is a sicko, if you think about it. What must be going through his head to make him think up so many disturbing stories? How can I be just like him?

Keep on writing, I guess.

Last night I watched "The Mist" which is based on his novella of the same name. It disturbed me on so many levels. It made me think, and that is what being a great writer is all about. It didn't just entertain, it made me use my noggin'.

I highly recommend it to adults, but I've already told my 11-year-old that he is not allowed to watch it. Too intense. In fact, I was so upset at the ending that I cried myself to sleep. Call it PMS, call it sympathetic guilt, but it was a story that I'll never, ever, forget.

New WAHM Website

2008-04-11T16:44:00.002-04:00

Hi folks,

I've been uber busy lately with my two businesses and life in general and have neglected my blog. I have to admit though, it has to come last right now. I will, however, try to post at least once a week.

This time, I would like to bring your attention to a new work at home mom website called The Woman's Garden.

It is filled with articles on many topics, including stay at home careers, businesses, women's health, home life, gardening, etc... Plus, there is an extensive forum for members to participate in.

As it states on the home page, "The Woman's Garden is the online work at home mom's (wahm) business magazine. There are interesting articles, recipes, and tips on gardening. Find the family section for specific help with scouts, baby showers, soccer, and more. Consider The Woman's Garden as mom's best helper! "

Y'all go on over and check it out. My two businesses are advertised in the classified section, Colors of the Woods and The Traveling Vineyard.

Spring Break

2008-03-21T01:45:00.002-04:00

Hi y'all. I'm sitting here in Louisville, KY, half of the way to my destination in Alabama. It's late, but after driving so far tonight, we are all hyper a bit and need to wind down.

Lots of flooding between here and Indianapolis. I could see it even though it was dark. We passed one river and the water was almost over the dike. If it goes any higher, the stores below will be flooded.

Chicago is under a winter storm warning tonight. Ha! Missed it this time around.

I sold a set of my handmade jewelry today to a lady from Ireland (at left). Got a couple of comissions to work on this week and hopefully sell more on my Etsy shop.

I'll be posting pictures of our trip periodically, so check back.

Happy Easter.

Busy busy busy

2008-03-19T10:29:00.002-04:00

Well, Spring Break is next week and we are headin' down to Bama for some quality family time. Thank God.

I am so sick of snow and cold temps. Yick!

However, seeing as it is Spring in Alabama, there's no telling if it will be nice or I'll spend the whole week in Grandaddy's storm pit hiding from tornados. It's a toss-up.

Before I leave, however, I have to prepare for a wine tasting for when I get back, a vendor fair, I have to wrap up a few jewelry sales and start on a new commission for a friend who wants a lanyard.

So, basically I have no time for myself. Oh, and I have to go to the school library today and check books out to students.

Hope everyone has a nice Easter weekend and gets plenty of chocolate Easter bunnies in their basket.

Y'all Want Fries With That?

2008-03-12T10:11:00.011-04:00

Today, as I was sitting in my car at the Micky D's drive-through, I started contemplating fast food joints. Not the food itself, mind you, but the restaurants themselves and how they can vary across the country.

For example. Take your everyday, family-owned fast food place. Down south, there are many, many BBQ places with superb food, as well as regular hamburger joints, such as Milo's, Mexican eateries, and pizza parlors, among others, making their way south.

Up here in Chicago, you see Greek places serving gyros, such as Mr. Gyros, Italian places serving beef sandwiches, hot dog places serving their dogs with relish and onions and tomatoes, and a couple of BBQ joints here and there. Not to mention the Thai, Chinese, Polish, and other Eastern places serving a fast-food version of their international delicacies.

Plus we are fortunate to have White Castle. At least my father in Alabama thinks we are fortunate to be able to purchase slyders (White Castle burgers so named because they "slide" down your throat) whenever we feel like it. I, personally, get major indigestion after eating some of their square burgers with their acid-like sauce. But Dad loves to have his White Castles when he comes up for a visit.

Down in Bama, there is Krystals to be sure, but he says their burgers just aren't the same somehow.

Up here, I have a hard time finding a restaurant that serves Sweet Tea. Luckily, the Cracker Barrel down the street serves it just right, and
Famous Dave's, out of Hayward, Wisconsin, who serves southern-style BBQ, Memphis style (that is, with cole slaw on the pulled pork) has really good sweet tea not five minutes from my house.

And this year something miraculous happened: McDonald's started serving their famous southern sweet tea in Chicago!

I was in ecstasy! I love Micky D's sweet tea. It's just strong enough and syrupy sweet enough to satisfy my craving. And, there are five Micky D's within five miles of my house.

Of course, I could make tea at home. My mother and grandmother taught me well, but it's like going out for dinner; it tastes better because you don't have to make it.

Dah dah dah dah dahhhhh. I'ma lovin' it!

Now, if we could only get a Milo's. Hmmmm.

Hep me! Hep Me!

2008-03-10T14:42:00.002-04:00

I swear. I must be the most fickle person in the world.

I take on a project, say blogging, and mess with it for a couple of years. Then I take on cross stitching like there wasn't anything better on earth. Then I start my own wine business, which I am still in, understand, but I must have been getting bored because now I am making wine charms and beaded jewelry and plan to sell it too.

Because of all of this, I am neglecting my blog, my house, seems like my kids....but not my husband. Heaven forbid I neglect him. He makes it hard to forget about him when he is constantly trying to get to second base, grabbing my boobs and tush all of the time. Animal!

I'm Over the Hill Officially

2008-02-27T22:23:00.002-05:00

Yep, I'm 40 today.

I wasn't looking forward to turning 40, and had dreaded today more than anything. But, I ended up having a pretty good day. Lots of well-wishes from old friends, the kids in my library classes, the waitress at Famous Dave's BBQ...

Anyway, it wasn't the birthday that I was dreading after all, but the prospect of staying here in Illinois even one more second. I was so ready to bolt just a few minutes ago that it wasn't even funny. I just wanted to get away...far, far away.

You know, don't pay any attention to me. I'm just being melancholy once again.

What? Snow Again??

2008-02-27T15:46:00.006-05:00

The Cracker Barrel special: "The Mother-in-Law's Suite" birdhouse. Ain't it cute?

Just think, in a couple of months, this yard will be green and I'll be planting more flowers! Think positive, Dana...think positive.

Since snow is so white and so ...well, blah...I thought I'd capture a little color.

My poor little Rock City birdhouse has seen too much snow lately.

Just a shot of the neighbor's house across the street. I tried to go to the nearest forest preserve to take some shots, but they were all closed due to not being plowed and I had nowhere to park. It's times like this that I really miss living in the country.

Do You Like Pina Coladas?

2008-02-25T20:41:00.005-05:00

Where does it say in the Big Book of Being Sick that you have to continuously hear songs in your head while you are in the process of being sick?

The whole weekend that I was sick with the stomach flu, I kept hearing that dadgum pina colada song in my head.

"If you like pina coladas,
and gettin' caught in the rain,"

I was so hot with my fever, rain sounded kinda nice at the time.

Even when I was sittin' on the toilet, pukin' in a bucket and poopin' my guts out, the same ol' refrain kept running through my brain.

"If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.
I'm the lady you've looked for, write to me, and escape."

After about three hours, this was making me suicidal.

Seriously. Being sick is bad enough.

So much going on...

2008-02-22T14:48:00.002-05:00

Sorry I haven't been by in a while. We've had lots of unexpected things happen lately and a few expected, large events.

My in-laws had their 50th anniversary reception at a country club that my husband and I helped organise, my mother-in-law's brother passed away the day after the recpetion, so there was his wake and funeral, my youngest is sick, I've been sick...it's just been a bad month.

I have been composing some Spring poems in my head lately and I hope to get them written out soon so I can share them.

I tell you...I am so ready for Spring to get here!

PS...if anyone is on Facebook, come find me. I just made a page a little while ago.

2008-02-04T14:18:00.000-05:00

My friend, Scott, reminded me that today was our 20th anniversary of starting work at Disney World on the Magic Kingdom College Program. Of course, today it is called the Disney College Program, but back then, there were only two parks, The MK and Epcot.

We lived at Snow White Village in Kissimmee in trailers on Seven Dwarf Lane. Cheesy, true, but we had a lot of fun there.

Scott and I drove all night from Alabama to Florida to get there at check in time. I remember at one point, as I was driving, a rabbit ran across the road in front of us, and scared the crap out of Scott, who was half-way asleep. It was funny and I need to tease him about it again.

We got there early, so we went to the closest restaurant, Waffle House, and had breakfast. After that, I decided that I wanted to drive to see my aunt and cousin in Apopka, and then almost got hopelessly lost trying to get there.

All I remember is that when we finally checked in at Snow White Village, I slept for hours.

I worked at the Haunted Mansion that semester. Loved that job! What a fun time! I met so many interesting people and had so much fun that I decided to stay the summer as well. The next year, I signed on again so I could open the Great Movie Ride at the brand new Disney-MGM Studio. That's a whole other story.

So much as happened to me since that time twenty years ago. People I knew have married, had kids, and have even died. I just wish I had more pictures to keep the memories fresh.

Now is Now

2008-01-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

I was reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder for about the umpteenth time this week and I just finished it again. The last few paragraphs really touched me and I wanted to share them with you. The scene is when Laura and her sisters are in bed and Pa is playing his fiddle.

Then Pa began to play again the song about Old Grimes. But he did not sing the words had had sung when Ma was making cheese. These words were different. Pa's strong, sweet voice was softly singing:

"Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days of auld lang syne?
And the days of auld lang syne, my friend,
and the days of auld lang syne,
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
and the days of auld lang syne?"

When the fiddle had stopped singing Laura called out softly, "What are days of auld lang syne, Pa?"

They are the days of a long time ago, Laura," Pa said. "Go to sleep now."

But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa's fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods. She looked at Pa sitting on a bench by the hearth, the firelight gleaming on his brown hair and beard and glistening on the honey-brown fiddle. She looked at Ma, gently rocking and knitting.

She thought to herself, "This is now."

She was glad that the cosy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.

Those words, written so long ago, are so lovely. I've felt that way before. Totally at peace, glad that I was in the here and now and able to take in everything. I feel that when I am in the woods or when I am kissing my kids goodnight.

Have you ever had a moment like that?

Monster Quest

2008-01-21T18:51:00.001-05:00

Today the kids were home from school and we were all being lazy. I watched the History Channel for hours and the show they were running was Monster Quest.

One episode was about monster fresh-water fish.

When I was a kid back in Alabama, I heard rumours of monster catfish in Lewis-Smith Lake. My grandfather still remembers the time when a diver was scouting the bottom of the lake after a car went over a cliff and saw catfish down there that scared the crap out of him. Said they were so big that they could have easily swallowed him whole. According to About.com, that is a popular urban legend. But, my grandfather swears he read about it in the newspaper. Hmmmm. Sounds like that story has been going around since before I was born.

According to the History Channel, in Thailand, a 9-foot catfish was caught on the Mekong River. Some people tell of children being swallowed by giant catfish. I know one thing, I'll never look at fried catfish and hushpuppies in the same way ever again.

Now one thing I know is true. My grandmother loved to fish when I was a kid. I distinctly remember one day she was on the boat dock
(one of those that has the opening for the boat in the middle so people can get out of the boat on both sides) and saw what she believes was a gar....a very long gar. She said that fish glided through the water slowly and started going under the dock. When it's head emerged on the other side, she could see that it's tail still hadn't gone under the dock at all. The picture above has a boat dock, in the background, similar to the one we had. The next photo is one of an alligator gar. I'm not sure exactly what she saw or which species, but they can get very long.

She wouldn't let us swim off the dock for a long time after that day.

BYB Sunday

2008-01-20T14:44:00.000-05:00

I am having a hard time lately feeling my blessings. It's this struggle with depression, you know. I don't like to talk about it much and I am on medications, but every now and then it overwhelms and I don't feel like blogging or anything else for a while.

Today all I can say is that I am blessed in that my children are turning out so well. They have their faults, as we all do, but they are genuinely good kids. All I want for them is to turn out all right as adults and I think they are on their way.

Flood Waters in Winamac

2008-01-15T16:14:00.000-05:00

A friend sent these shots of our place in Winamac, IN. The flood waters have receeded some since last Sunday when these were taken, but I am not sure how much.

Wishes and Wants

2008-01-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

There are some days that I wish I had never married.

Some days I wish I could go back in time and fix all those mistakes that I made. Starting with my college major.

I wouldn't change being on the Disney College Program, but I would steer clear of a certain guy named Rick that brought me nothing but sorrow for a long time.

If I had studied for a good career instead of sticking with film, I wouldn't have been broke in Orlando and I probaby wouldn't have moved to Chicago.

I could have stayed in Alabama and married a southern gentleman.

But if wishes and wants were dimes, I'd be as rich as J.K. Rowling.

Various New Year Traditions Around the Country

2008-01-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

IN the spirit of the new year, I wanted to write up something about New Year traditions. Some of the gang over at the USA Deep South website were discussing black-eyed peas and their importance to the southern new year and it got me to thinking...

What do people around the country do to ring in the new year?

As for black-eyed peas, my family always has some on New Year's day for good luck. Sometimes plain with a bit of bacon, sometimes as Hoppin' John (see bottom for recipe). But it is said they bring you good luck. According to how many references to Hoppin' John that I came across during this article's research, there are a lot of southerners who eat it. Plus, collard greens or turnip greens to bring you money in the new year.

Here's what I came across on PE.com regarding traditional foods...

Traditions

Cabbage is associated with wealth and prosperity. The word "cabbage" is also slang for money.

In Germany, eating sauerkraut at New Year's is considered good luck.

In China, a long noodle represents long life and eating them brings you a long life and good health. Don't cut them, though. You need to have those noodles make it into your mouth in one piece if you want good luck. Spring rolls, too, are considered good luck.

In Italy, lentils are supposed to bring you good luck if eaten at New Year's. In some other parts of that country, eating risotto is considered to bring good fortune.

In some countries, the circle is considered a symbol of good luck. A circle always comes back to the beginning, so to speak. In Holland, they eat doughnuts to bring good luck.

In Spain (and other Latin countries), good luck is sure to come when you eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31.

In Germany and Austria, eating pork is good luck. According to the theory, pigs root forward, symbolizing forward movement in the New Year.

In addition to black-eyed peas in the South, collard greens will bring money and cornbread will bring wealth. The dish called Hoppin' John is a mix of black-eyed peas and rice, and is said to bring good luck.

Boiled cod is a New Year's tradition in Denmark.

In the Philippines, a large display of food on the table at midnight symbolizes abundance throughout the New Year.

I could go on and on, but I don't have time to write a long post today. I did provide some links below that have some good articles on the subject.

So, however you celebrate the new year, I wish you good fortune and lots of love for 2008.

New Years Tradition Links:

http://www.illinoishistory.com/newyearstraditions.html (very interesting article)

http://littlerock.about.com/b/2008/01/01/southern-new-year-traditions.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html (tells how the song, Auld Lang Syne became a tradition in the US + more tradtions around the world)

http://www.foodtimeline.org/newyear.html

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/living/food/story/293931.html

http://www.oldeducator.com/new_year's_day_traditions.htm (paganism's contribution to today's New Year activities)

**Hoppin' John recipe (as taken from http://southernfood.about.com/od/blackeyedpeas/r/bl80308c.htm)

1 pound dried black-eyed peas
2 small smoked ham hocks or meaty ham bone
2 medium onions, divided
3 large cloves garlic, halved
1 bay leaf
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 can (10 to 14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with chile peppers, juices reserved
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, minced
2 teaspoons Cajun or Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon salt
4 green onions, sliced

PREPARATION:
In a large Dutch oven or kettle, combine the black-eyed peas, ham bone or ham hocks, and 6 cups water. Cut 1 of the onions in half and add it to the pot along with the garlic and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer gently until the beans are tender but not mushy, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Remove the ham bone or hocks, cut off the meat; dice and set aside. Drain the peas and set aside. Remove and discard the bay leaf, onion pieces, and garlic.

Add 2 1/2 cups of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Add the rice, cover, and simmer until the rice is almost tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Mince the remaining onion then add to the rice along with the peas, tomatoes, and their juices, red and green bell pepper, celery, jalapeno pepper, Creole seasoning, thyme, cumin, and salt.

Cook until the rice is tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the sliced green onions and the reserved diced ham. Serve with hot sauce and freshly baked cornbread.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T00:04:00.000-05:00

I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas before heading to bed.

If you celebrate something other than Christmas, I want to wish you joy and peace throughout your lives. Bless you.

Tasting Winter

2007-12-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

I love to revisit old poetry that I've written, so here's another one. You can also see it on this website: http://alongstoryshort.homestead.com/poetryjan07.html

Tasting Winter
by Dana Sieben

In the woods
The snow falls quietly
As I catch stray flakes
On my tongue.
I twirl around and around
With hands stretched out
Like Jesus.
Taking nature’s communion,
With my head thrown back,
Eyes closed,
Cheeks cold and numb,
I hear nothing but
The absence of sounds -
The absolute silence of
Snow dancing in the woods
As I taste winter.

Snowflakes

2007-12-20T11:02:00.000-05:00

Snowflakes

by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom

of the Air.

Out of the cloud-

folds of her garments

shaken,

Over the woodlands

brown and bare,

Over the harvest-

fields forsaken,

Silent and soft and

slow

Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy

fancies take

Suddenly shape

in some divine expression,

Even as the troubled

heart doth make

In the white

countenance confession,

The troubled sky

reveals

The grief it feels

This is the poem

of the air,

Slowly in silent

syllables recorded;

This is the secret of

despair,

Long in its cloudy

bosom hoarded,

Now whispered and

revealed

To wood and field.

Here Comes Santa Claus...

2007-12-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

I'm just sitting here at the school library listening to Elvis sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Blue Christmas". Now, I'm not a big Elvis fan, but he does sing the Christmas songs nicely.

I had a Christmas party for the two fifth grade classes today for being so good in library all semester. We had cookies, candy, and lemonade, played games and listened to music. They had a good time, but I hope their moms don't call me tonight because the kids are all hyper due to all of the sugar.

I don't have anything profound to say today. I'm just in a nice, comfortable mood...finally relaxed for a while, you know. It's not often I am.

Last night the kids had karate. I work the front table taking payments and selling equipment, so I've gotten to know some of the parents and kids. It's fun watching them learn and I love seeing their faces when they are promoted. My oldest just went up to purple belt last night and youngest is second degree orange. They both want to be black belts some day. We'll see. That will be a long time from now.

Their sensei (karate instructor) is a very nice man and gave me a gift card to a book store. Now how did he know I loved books more than anything???

I still have lots of shopping to do. In fact, now that I have no more library classes, maybe I'll go ahead and leave and get that taken care of....

Bye y'all!

Christmas Poetry

2007-12-19T13:18:00.000-05:00

Here is one I wrote a year or so ago...You can see it at http://usads.ms11.net/christmaseve.html

Christmas Eve

by Dana Sieben

Snow falls softly as

the tree stands watch.

Christmas lights flicker

and silvery tinsel

sways in the slightest breeze,

each coming alive

and waving.

Tiny elves, fairies, and reindeer

hang from each bough,

chatting among themselves,

about the morning to come.

Presents,

hidden in silver and gold boxes,

sit eager to be found.

Outside, in the world,

Christmas cheer overcomes

worldly hatreds.

Love conquers all,

and Santa leaves no coal

in the Christmas stockings.

Cravings

2007-12-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a walk with Maggie, my dog. It's a beautiful morning - snow is lightly falling and the ground is covered with a white frosting of ice and snow, the woods were asleep and silent. Just beautiful!

Now I am attempting to get toasty-warm and am craving bran muffins from The Cypress Inn restaurant back in Tuscaloosa, AL.

They are delicious and served with a sweet butter. Yummmm! Definitely one of my favorite places to visit when I am in T-town.

OK. Who's going to invent a transporter system so I can be "beamed" wherever I want to go, whenever....?

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

2007-12-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

...but the kids think it is delightful! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

And it did. We got about 10 inches of powder yesterday and last night. Enjoy some shots of my house.

Playin' With My New Scanner/Copier/Printer

2007-12-11T19:14:00.001-05:00

Ahhh! 'Tis the Season....

2007-12-09T19:24:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday was strange in that it went from kooky to wonderfully fun. It just happened to be the night of my husband's company Christmas party, or holiday party for those of you who are politically correct.

He just started the job two weeks ago and I wasn't expecting to attend the party this year, but he wanted to go, so I went. But before I went I did a number of things. One of them very stupid.
I had my eyebrows waxed.

And let me tell you, I will NEVER, EVER do it again.

This country gal has always had semi-bushy eyebrows and no one has ever had a problem with them. They aren't that dark, so I always just left them as is.

Well, considering that this shindig was being held at the prestigious Standard Club in Chicago, and the nice Oriental lady at the nail salon where I was having a full set put on said that I needed my brows plucked and waxed, I decided to be brave and go for it.

That said, the waxing part wasn't as bad as I figured. She was fast and the sting was brief. But when it came to the plucking, it hurt like hell!

Call me a big baby if you will, but why do we women endure stuff like that?

....to get the nicely shaped, and much thinner, eyebrows that are so highly prized by today's women-on-the-go.

"I make you beautiful and husband will love you," said my stylist.

"He'd better!" I said, eyes watering, as she plucked and made me feel as if white hot needles were poking me in my brows.

Of course, when I showed him my new look, all he said was that my regular brows were just fine.

His funeral is tomorrow.

***************************************************************************

Now, on to the Standard Club...

Now, this was the swankiest holiday party I have ever attended, with or without my spouse.

The Club's second floor is old-world beautiful with dark wood paneling and marble fireplaces. A thousand people or so, dressed in their formal best, milling around, drinking champagne, wines, mixed drinks of all sorts, and listening to the melodic notes of the harp player in the corner, covered every inch of the second floor where hors d'oeuvres were being offered by passing waiters.

After being summoned upstairs to the main dining room, we all made our way to the next course, turkey and roast beef with all sorts of mashed potatoes (lobster, wasabi, sweet, and regular).

Later, we made our way to the next floor where there was a beautiful dessert buffet table laden with all kinds of fruits, two chocolate fountains, and more... The floor was all in red and white. Red, sheer curtains hung on the walls, draped around the doors and ushered you into the Grand Ballroom where a live band was performing and more drinks were offered.

It was extremely posh to me.

Now I am sure that there are other places even nicer and people who have seen those places, but in my life, this was the most enjoyable time I have ever had to date and it really impressed me.

I can't wait until next year!

BYB Sunday

2007-12-02T12:32:00.000-05:00

I have to say my blessings are many when I think about them. Some days I am so down and depressed and homesick for the south, but then I remember my good life here with my family, the friends I have made, my home...

But today, in the midst of the drought in the south, up here we have rain. Lots of rain. I only wish it would rain where it needs it most.

I am thankful for rain. It may make the sky dreary, but it gives life.

Thank you God for the rain.

On a lighter note: my youngest son said to me today, "Mom, I prayed for rain in church. I asked God to let it rain in the south. But Mom? I think he got confused."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I asked him to let it rain down south, but since we live south of Chicago, I think he let it rain here by mistake. Did he think I meant south of Chicago?"

A Sad but Warmhearted Story

2007-11-30T15:38:00.000-05:00

It's good to spotlight a heart-warming story now and then...

Migrant Thought of Own Kids in Rescue
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 6:45 PM EST
The Associated Press
By AMANDA LEE MYERS Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — An illegal immigrant who gave up his long walk into the U.S. to help a boy whose mother was killed in a van crash in the desert said Wednesday that he never thought of leaving the child.

"I am a father of four children. For that, I stayed," Manuel Jesus Cordova Soberanes said in Spanish from his home in the Mexican state of Sonora. "I never could have left him. Never."

Authorities said Cordova may have saved the life of 9-year-old Christopher Buztheitner, whose mother was killed when their van ran off a cliff in a remote area north of the Mexican border on Thanksgiving Day.

A spokeswoman for the Mexican consulate in Nogales said the office is working to obtain a short-term visa for Cordova so he can come to Arizona and be recognized for his actions.

The 26-year-old bricklayer was two days into his walk and about 50 miles from Tucson when he saw the boy, who had walked away from the crash.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from his home in Magdalena de Kino, Cordova said Christopher had scrapes on his leg and was dressed in shorts despite the desert cold.

The boy had his dog with him and was holding a side mirror from the wrecked van.
Neither Cordova nor Christopher spoke the other's language, but the boy took the migrant to the edge of a canyon and showed him the accident site.

Authorities said Christopher and his mother, 45-year-old Dawn Alice Tomko, had been in the area camping. Tomko was driving on a U.S. Forest Service road when she lost control of the van, which landed 300 feet from the road.

By the looks of the mangled van down below, Cordova said, it was obvious the boy's mother had died. The child was distraught but did not cry.

"I felt frustrated and sad because I couldn't do anything for the mother," Cordova said. "And I didn't know how to console the boy, so I just sat next to him."

Cordova gave the boy the sweater he was wearing, climbed down to the van, and found chocolate and cookies to feed him.

He then built a bonfire, and the two hunkered down. The boy slept most of the night; Cordova kept watch and tended the fire.

Fourteen hours later, a group of hunters found the pair and called for help. U.S. Border Patrol agents took Cordova into custody, and Christopher was flown to a hospital in Tucson.

Christopher was reunited with family over the weekend; a message left with his uncle was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said Cordova is "very, very special and compassionate" and may have saved the boy's life.

Adriana Hoyos Rodriguez, the mayor of Magdalena de Kino, called Cordova a hero. "He left everything to save that boy," she said.

Cordova said he wanted to come to the United States to earn money to feed his four children, who live with their mother, and help support his girlfriend's three children. "I have two families, many mouths to feed," he said.

He said that even though his trip was thwarted, he is glad to be back home and wishes Christopher the best. "I hope he has a good life," he said.

Strange Coincidence

2007-11-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

My husband and I were discussing where we'd like to take the kids for vacation the other day when I had a brainstorm, "Let's go to Yellowstone," said I.

"Let's go to Wisconsin, " said he.

"Wisconsin?" said my mother later, "What's in Wisconsin?"

"That's what I'd like to know," said I in my immense ignorance.

Compared to the glorious scenery at Yellowstone, how could it possibly compare? I mean, there won't be any geysers, no elk and buffalo, no smell of western sage in the air...

Not to knock Wisconsin, but I've never been there, and in my ignorance I continued to bitch and moan to my mother about the change of plans.

But then I remembered the movie, The Great Outdoors, with John Candy. In the movie, he and his family had rented a log home on a lake in Wisconsin and it had looked beautiful there. There were bears, woods to hike in, lakes to swim in, and raccoons to eat your garbage.

At the time, I couldn't remember the movie's name, I just remembered the scenes. But last night, what should come on? The Great Outdoors. Hmmm, a sign?

So I did a bit of research on Wisconsin. I mean, it is shameful that I've been in northern Illinois for almost 14 years and haven't visited our neighbor to the north. So I had no room to talk when it came to moaning about the impending vacation plans.

Actually, Wisconsin looks lovely on the internet, and to be honest I can't wait to visit there next summer.

We will be staying near Hayward in the north-west part of the state. I am planning on taking a day trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and see Lake Superior for the first time. My husband and boys can't wait to go fishing for some small mouth bass, walleye and pike. Me? I'm not a fisherwoman. I'll just sit back on the water's edge and read a book or two.

So, I take back what I said before about there being nothing in Wisconsin. Whack me with a wet noodle, but I think I am really going to enjoy the northwoods.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here smelling the delicious aromas of green bean casserole and apple pie. Ahhhhh! I love Thanksgiving. Too bad that people (and I mean retailers) tend to push it out in favor of an early Christmas.

I saw an editorial cartoon the other day that was very witty. A turkey and Santa were sitting at a bar, both vying for a woman. The turkey leaned over and said to Santa sarcastically, "Do you mind?" Santa was horning in on his potential score.

Today my dad, my sister and her family are all in Williamsburg, Virigina, having a colonial Thanksgiving. They are staying at a historic inn and learning about history. I wish I could be there with them. I love visiting new places, especially historic ones.

If you are wondering why I am online instead of being busy in the kitchen, my mother-in-law always keeps Thanksgiving at her house and the daughter-in-laws bring a little potluck. I have never had to cook a turkey to date. Eventually, I'll have to learn, but until then, I'll enjoy my freedom from the kitchen and watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade every year.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving today. Try and remember everything you are thankful for. God Bless!

It's a Dreary Suburb Day

2007-11-20T11:25:00.000-05:00

Looking out my window, all I see is mist.

Uh Oh! Hope there aren't any man-eating creatures in it (see Steven King's book/movie The Mist).

OK, serious again.

It is very foggy today. Foggy and not so cold. Weird weather for November, that's for sure. I'd rather be walking my dog, Maggie, in the woods than be indoors. Soon, it will be too cold for me to take walks comfortably.

As I am checking out the news on the internet, there are so many disturbing stories: 2 boys doused with gasoline and set on fire, man robbed and then killed, Drew Petersen is apparently liking the spotlight, but is probably guilty as hell, the University of Chicago is having a spate of violence lately, and two small boys have been charged with rape!

And that is just local and US news. I won't even go into what is happening overseas in other countries.

What is this world coming to?

Love Those B-52's

2007-11-16T23:34:00.000-05:00

I have liked the B-52's since my first year in college thanks to my freshman roomate, Susan. We would listen to her cassette and bee-bop around to Rock Lobster, Private Idaho, Quiche Lorraine, etc... in our dormroom and the music made our homework, chores, etc. go by so much faster it seemed.

It still does today.

The B-52's are still going strong. When I bought my first car (a 1993 Dodge Daytona), the first thing I put in the tape deck was Good Stuff.

When I want energy, I listen to Private Idaho or Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland.

I've seen them in concert three times since the late 80's, once in Florida and twice in Chicago and it just isn't enough.

Now I hear they have a new CD coming out in February and you bet I am planning on getting it. After all, good, freakishly fun music is always good to have!

Rock on, Kate, Cindy, Fred and Keith! Y'all come on back to Chicago someday soon!

"Has anybody seen
a dog dyed dark green
About two inches tall,
with a strawberry blond fall;
Sunglasses and a bonnet
and designer jeans with appliques on it?

The dog that brought me so much joy
Left me wallowing in pain
Quiche Lorraine"

Visiting Friends From the Past

2007-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

Working here in the school library has given me free time to catch up on my reading. The other day I decided to re-read some of Louisa May Alcott's works (Little Women, Jo's Boys, etc...). I had read them in my youth and enjoyed the lighthearted, innocent escapades of the characters Mrs. Alcott described.

Written over one hundred years ago, they can still entertain with stories that have morals, show character and teach us to be more respectful to our fellow man. Because showing respect, honor and courtesy to others brings it back to you faster than if you were an ass.

My son is going through this right now. Some of the kids in his class are starting to behave so badly. Bullying, calling names, being just plain mean to him and to others, basically showing off and trying to be "grown up".

It's sad.

Hopefully most will grow out of it in the long run, but some won't and will end up being pushy, uncaring and still plain mean.

But, that's life isn't it?

As long as I teach my sons how to act that will make not only me, but themselves, proud at the end of the day, that's all I care about.

So, what are some books that you remember reading in your childhood? Besides The Cat in the Hat. ;)

Praying for Rain

2007-11-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

OK, read the story and then read what I have to say about it...

Ga. Governor Prays for Rain Amid Drought
Monday, November 12, 2007 6:15 PM EST
The Associated Press
By GREG BLUESTEIN Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — As Georgia descends deeper into drought, Gov. Sonny Perdue has ordered water restrictions, launched a legal battle and asked President Bush for help. On Tuesday, the governor will call on a higher power.

He will join lawmakers and ministers on the steps of the state Capitol to pray for rain.
While public prayer vigils might raise eyebrows in other parts of the nation, they are mostly shrugged off in the Bible Belt, where turning to the heavens for help is common and sometimes even politically expedient.

"Christianity has more of a place in the culture here than in some other region," said Ray Van Neste, a professor of Christian studies at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. "And it's only natural, in a way, for the public to pray for rain."

Perdue won't be the first governor to hold a call for public prayer during the epic drought gripping the Southeast. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley issued a proclamation declaring a week in July as "Days of Prayer for Rain" to "humbly ask for His blessings and to hold us steady in times of difficulty."

The loudest opposition to Perdue's move has come from the Atlanta Freethought Society, a secular group that is expecting about a dozen of its 125 members to protest at the vigil.

"The governor can pray when he wants to," said Ed Buckner, who is organizing the protest. "What he can't do is lead prayers in the name of the people of Georgia."

Political heavyweights outside the U.S. are known to occasionally plead to the heavens for rain. In May, Australian Prime Minister John Howard asked churchgoers to pray for rain in hopes of snapping a drought that has devastated crops and bankrupted farmers Down Under.
In the U.S., public expressions of faith are often discouraged as a breach of the separation of church and state.

Thomas Jefferson, for one, resisted calls for a federal day of prayer. But he was an exception. From George Washington, who declared "a day of prayer and thanksgiving," to Harry Truman, who established a National Day of Prayer, American politicians have not been shy about associating themselves with petitions to the Almighty.

With rivers and reservoirs dropping to dangerously low levels across the region, a prayer rally at a high school football stadium in the Georgia town of Watkinsville drew more than 100 worshippers last week, and a gospel concert dedicated to rain attracted hundreds more two weeks ago at an Atlanta church.

"We need to try a different approach," said Rocky Twyman, who organized the concert. "We need to call on God, because what we're doing isn't working. We think that instead of all this fussing and fighting, Gov. Perdue and all these others would come together and pray."

A Baptist, Perdue has several times mentioned the need for prayer — along with water conservation — as the crisis has worsened. Over the summer, he participated in a day of prayer for agriculture at a gathering of the Georgia Farm Bureau.

OK. I guess what I want to say is this:

So the governor is going to pray for rain on the steps of the capitol...
People are pissed off that the governor is going to pray for rain...
People say that the governor has no right to pray for rain in the name of the people of Georgia...

Hmmmmm.

Y'all need rain badly Mr. Buckner. I wouldn't think you'd be particularly picky about the efforts that people are making to ask for rain.

What will it hurt???

You afraid that God will hear the prayers and then think you had something to do with it? I would think he'd know who really wanted to send the prayers, and who wouldn't want to be involved.

And I don't think that politicians praying for rain in the capitol is going to break the separation of church and state. I think it is a selfless gesture on their part. And if you don't believe in God, then join them on the steps and pray to your god or goddess or Mother Earth or your Aunt Myrtle. Who knows, someone might be listening.

But instead, you want to protest this prayer vigil and stop it altogether so that no prayers go up for rain.

Well, you just might not get any and then where will you be? Pretty danged dry, don't you think?

Come on now, let them say their prayers. Again, what harm is it going to actually do?

Boogie Nights

2007-11-11T10:47:00.000-05:00

You know, I used to be great at roller skating. In my childhood's past, I'd go every Friday night and disco skate with my friends. I could go backwards, do spins, and couple skate with boys.

But, that was the past.

Last week I took my boys to a school skating party. There weren't that many kids there and the floor was quite empty, so I got a wild idea that I might go out and skate for the first time in 30 years.

Yeah, you are imagining this aren't 'ya?

I only fell once, but was wobbly for a long time. Not only am I older, but I am much larger with more mass upstairs than before. My poor widdle feet had a hard time supporting this larger mass while on wheels. My shin muscles were exhausted after only one trip around the rink.

After a while, I got much better at keeping my balance again, but unfortunately, my leg muscles were still too weak to let me skate more than one time around the rink.

And to add to that, my son's friends kept giving me weird looks as they passed by me on in-line skates. Plus, since I am the librarian this year, other students kept yelling out my name or just "Hey Library Lady!" as I wobbled around.

Talk about embarrassing.

Autumn

2007-11-05T15:27:00.000-05:00

I haven't had time to write any new poetry, but in honor of the seasons, I wanted to re-post this one that I wrote last year. I changed the title though as this one fits better. Enjoy.

Craft Faire

Autumn is approaching
And with it is a forest
Of aging leaves - colors
All over the spectrum.
Cardinal reds,
Lemon chiffon yellows,
Pumpkin orange,
Even eggplant purple.

Through my sweatshirt,
I feel the brisk winds pick up
and bring goosebumps
To my arms and legs
as I hunt for the biggest pumpkin
In the pumpkin field.

Corn stalks,
Harvested for decoration,
Stand sentinel against a craft booth.
Homemade soaps and
Indian dream catchers
Hang gracefully from white tents with
Framed cross-stitch and
Quilts showing a country life
that I embrace
And love
And can not get enough of.

Autumn is approaching
And life can not get any sweeter than this.

Peeking in...

2007-11-03T15:41:00.001-04:00

Hi y'all. I am just a sittin' here at my very first vendor fair!

My business is going well. Wine tastings are very popular and most people are intrigued when I tell them what I do. So I decided to spend some money to participate in this vendor fair. It was a good move as I have gotten a few bookings and made new contacts.

I am sitting near a Tupperware lady, Creative Memories is on my left and there are more that I have never heard of before today. But then again, the haven't heard of me either.

I paid for an electrical link, hopin' that someone would order online today, but no one has been interested. Oh well, you live and learn.

I hope everyone is doing OK. I promise to check in more and do more writing. I just have to learn how to balance work, home and school. I have never been so busy before and it is overwhelming.

Chat more later!

Temporarily Out of Service...

2007-10-04T23:42:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that I haven't blogged in weeks!

Very unlike me. Sorry.

Right now we are headed for Bama, going to the UA homecoming game. I love four-day weekends at the kid's school.

Roll Tide!

Ah! Ya Got Me Copper!

2007-09-18T13:49:00.000-04:00

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Whatever happened to the Firemen CLIMBING a tree to save a cat?

2007-09-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

Sorry, but whever I think of a cat stuck in a tree and a nice fireman comes to the rescue...I think of him climbing the tree and plucking the kitty off the limb and saving the day, but not what happened here... ;)

Cat in Tree Rescued With Hose Blast
Monday, September 17, 2007 4:43 PM EDT
The Associated Press

YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — A fearful feline that was stuck in a tree for a week, clinging to branches several stories high, was finally blasted to safety with a high-pressure fire hose.

Volunteers with an outstretched sheet made the save as the cat — soaked and hungry but unharmed — was hosed out of the tree by firefighters Sunday night.

"Everyone was cheering," said artist and animal rescuer Greg Speirs, who was among about 50 people assembled beneath the willow tree.

The cat had previously ignored people who banged cans of cat food and climbed ladders that were just out of reach. It took two shots with the hose to do the trick.

"As soon as the cat landed it jumped out and ran into the woods," Speirs said Monday.

"Some kids helped us bring the cat back, and a man said he would adopt the cat right on the spot," Speirs said. "You can't come up with a nicer ending than that."

OK, poor kitty is stuck...let's blast him out of the tree! Woo hoo! Watch him fly!

Don'tcha think that a high pressure hose blast would hurt him? Just sayin'.

Patriots Day

2007-09-11T10:33:00.000-04:00

I can't let today go by without blogging about Sept. 11, 2001.

God bless those who lost their families and loved ones in the terrorist attack on America.

God bless those all around the world who have lost loved ones in war and the evil that can be wrought by those who have no love in their souls.

God bless those extreemists who think it nessesary to kill others in order to get to Heaven. God bless the world leaders and may God change their hearts and minds and fill them with peace.

God bless America and God bless the World!

http://www.patriotresource.com/wtc/timeline/sept11.html

Ooops!

2007-09-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't been online in a while, but this has been a very busy week. I hope to get something posted on Friday, so y'all come back now.

Dreams

2007-08-30T22:46:00.000-04:00

I took a short nap this afternoon and had that dream again...the one where I am on a reality TV show similar to Survivor and The Real World.

Everyone is younger than me.

I'm the only married person.

It seems like I am constantly making mistakes.

But, I think to myself in the dream, I have been on the show multiple times, so there is something important about me. Isn't there?

I hate that dream.

Me? Librarian?

2007-08-28T19:45:00.000-04:00

Well, today was my first official day on the job.

I am not an official librarian at my kids' school, but I am doing the job. I check out books, check them in, doctor them, read stories to the younger classes, do crafts, etc...

I had two classes come in to the library today. They were so cute. Kindergarten and a 1st grade class. I got to tell them all about the library and why they should take care of books and how to find them on the shelves.

Then I read to them.

I found it immensely satisfying and can't wait until tomorrow.

Of course, I still have to attend PTL meetings, be in charge of Market Day, gather volunteers for shelving the books, work lunch room duty, yada yada yada...

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

2007-08-26T20:16:00.000-04:00

I haven't blogged on a Sunday in a while, so I felt the need to participate in BYBS this week.

Last night I was watching CNN late late late...and they were showing a special called "God's Warriors". It was about the role of religion in today's society and how the fundamentalists are going into politics more and more.

I got to see the many sides of the issue.

One side said that this country is going to hell in a handbasket and that we Christians should use our right to vote and take over the political scene in order to get our country back on the right track.

Another side said that Christians ought to stay out of politics as Church and State ought not to mix...that America was founded on freedom of religion and that we shouldn't try to impose our beliefs on others through politics.

Yet another side preached that we, as Christians, should be more into enviromentalism and start taking care of the Earth and it's creatures as mentioned in the Bible.

And then there was the preacher in Texas who has a teenage "army of God" who takes his charges out into the streets to do protests and has gospel rock concerts.

All of these people were being called heretics by other Christians.

One preacher said something that has stuck with me...he said, and I don't remember the exact quote, that he was at a church on some patriotic holiday and above the pulpit was a giant movie screen showing patriotic themes: three crosses, an American flag...and fighter jets flying. He said that people in the audience started screaming and praising when they saw this patriotic theme.

Now, I see nothing wrong with patriotism. But, just like that preacher, I see something wrong with showing the cross of Jesus Christ with fighter jets (instruments of potential death). Christians are supposed to "love thy neighbor" and turn the other cheek. We are supposed to be peace-loving folk. We are supposed to spread the love of God.

But that brings me to my point of the day: I am thankful that I have been taught to think for myself and to have my own ideas and ideals. I am blessed to live in America where we have freedoms and I am blessed in that I have the right to vote in whatever manner I choose.

I only wish others would do the same and not follow others blindly.

Y'all gonna support me while I go back to school?

2007-08-25T01:32:00.000-04:00

I was reading this and it got my dander up.

Fallen Pastor Seeks Financial Support
Saturday, August 25, 2007 12:02 AM EDT
The Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The Rev. Ted Haggard, who left the megachurch he founded after admitting to "sexual immorality," has asked supporters for financial assistance while he and his wife pursue their studies.

The former New Life Church pastor plans to seek a master's degree in counseling at the University of Phoenix while his wife studies psychology, he said in an e-mail sent this week to KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs.

The couple and two of their sons planned to move Oct. 1 to the Phoenix Dream Center, a faith-based halfway house in Phoenix, where Haggard and his wife would provide counseling, the e-mail said.

"It looks as though it will take two years for us to have adequate earning power again, so we are looking for people who will help us monthly for two years," the e-mail said. "During that time we will continue as full-time students, and then, when I graduate, we won't need outside support any longer."

Haggard left the 10,000-member New Life Church late last year and resigned as head of the National Association of Evangelicals after a former male escort accused Haggard of paying him for sex.

Mike Ware, an overseer for New Life Church, told The Gazette of Colorado Springs on Friday that it was premature of Haggard to release the statement without first consulting the overseers.

A New Life spokesman did not immediately return a phone message left late Friday by The Associated Press.

Haggard received a salary of $115,000 for the 10 months he worked in 2006 and an $85,000 anniversary bonus before the scandal broke, The Gazette reported. Haggard's severance package included a year's salary of $138,000, and he collects royalties on his book titles, the newspaper reported.

El Paso County records show Haggard's home, which has been up for sale, has a market value of $715,051.

OK. For one thing, what makes him think he is entitled to outside support in the first place? Like I can ask my friends and family to support me while I go back to school for two years? Yeah right. We all have to make it on our own in this world, reverend.

Second, for someone who lost his position as head of that church due to sexual misconduct, why would anyone go to him for counseling?

All I can say is, "Boo hoo!" Not.

Bad weather bad for business

2007-08-24T12:01:00.001-04:00

I drove through some of the worst weather last night, hoping that it would end as quickly as the previous storm. It was not to be.

I had to reschedule the tasting because most of the guests couldn't make it. One's basement was flooding.

Nasty weather.

If I could send some of the rain down south I would. They need it much more than we do.

Whew!

2007-08-23T16:56:00.002-04:00

A tornado warning was just in effect for our area and rotation was spotted about a mile north of my house.

I hate summer storms! And me trying to get ready for a wine tasting tonight.

Talk About Grand Central Station...LOL

2007-08-18T19:22:00.000-04:00

Man Asks Officer Wearing Badge for Meth
Friday, August 17, 2007 8:41 PM EDT
The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A man hoping to score some meth asked the wrong person for the drug. The Eugene police vice narcotics unit had searched an apartment on Monday night and were questioning the tenant when a man came by and asked to buy drugs, Sgt. Jerry Webber said.

As detectives stood around with their badges hanging from their necks and latex gloves on their hands, the man asked the tenant, "Can you hook me up?" Webber said.

The tenant was seated on the couch with handcuffs around his wrists. A detective was writing him a citation.

The tenant said, "I don't think I can help you," Webber recalled, but the visitor persisted. He then allegedly turned to a detective and asked him for meth.

The detective told the visitor, James Wilkinson, 34, of Eugene, he was under arrest for attempted possession of methamphetamine.

Wilkinson tried to run, but officers grabbed him, Webber said.

They found a small amount of marijuana in his possession, Webber said.

Officers cited the tenant, Gary Puckett, 58, for possessing meth and for endangering the welfare of a 15-year-old girl who was in the apartment.

They also arrested a man who walked into the apartment carrying seven baggies of meth, Webber said.

A fourth man showed up at the apartment carrying an illegal butterfly knife, Webber said. He told police he had come to tell Puckett not to sell drugs to his girlfriend. He left with a citation for carrying a concealed weapon.

After that, police stopped answering the door, Webber said.

Grotto Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains

2007-08-17T16:50:00.001-04:00

Carver's Applewood Restaurant

2007-08-16T23:02:00.000-04:00

We had breakfast here the other day and it was delicious. Along with our order, we got a basket of apple fritters, some apple butter, and apple cider. After we ate, we went next door and bought some fresh concord grapes, a huge watermelon, and a 1/2 peck of apples right off the tree.

My New Favorite Swimmin' Hole

2007-08-15T21:32:00.001-04:00

You Know You're in the Bible Belt When...

2007-08-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

....all the graffiti on the Walmart bathroom stall walls are bible verses.

UPDATE: More pictures, but first, I have to say that we saw a bunch of bears today. One got within 8 feet of us and I actually rolled the car window up. Poor thing was scrawny. But I, for one, DID NOT want to be it's next meal.

Cades Cove

2007-08-13T22:23:00.001-04:00

It's been a long day, but a good one.

We left early this morning for Cades Cove in the national park. The boys (and Dave) were on a bear hunt. This is their favorite part of the Smokies: driving around the cove and looking for bears. Must be a guy thing.

We did see a lot of wildlife. A lot of deer, including a ten-point buck and a few fawns, some wild turkeys, a baby bear, a lizard, and more deer.

The weird thing was...I might have booked a wine tasting! We ran into a couple who used to live in the Chicago burbs, not too far from where we live. They have family that still live there, and they are going to give my information to them as they like wine and having direct selling parties. What a small world!

Anyway, enough of the small talk....on to the pictures of the day.

Roaring Fork Nature Trail - Photo Journey

2007-08-13T00:15:00.001-04:00

(Do you see the back-end of a bear in this picture?)

Greenbriar Motor Trail - a Pictoral Post

2007-08-12T14:46:00.000-04:00

We're Here

2007-08-11T18:34:00.000-04:00

Finally! The trip to Tennessee was long. I got about two hours of sleep last night and barely napped on the road. I'm pooped.

The RV we rented at Smoky Bear campground is nice. The kids have bunk beds and there is much more room than the one we rented last year.

It is very hot outside, but the nights promise to be cooler. I can't wait to get to Cades Cove and see some wildlife.

Right now, we are heading for the pool and then later into Gatlinburg for dinner.

I'll post some pictures later.

UPDATE:

Well, we ended up eating at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. in Gatlinburg. The kids and I had eaten at one in Charleston last summer, but the hubby had never been to one, so we ate there.

Gatlinburg was so crowded!!! Probably because it is a weekend night. I have been to Gatlinbug so many times in my life, but it is still new for the hubby and kids. They love it here. And I do too, to tell the truth.

We are planning on attending church tomorrow, but to be honest, we might not make it. Lack of sleep has made us very tired and we may sleep in.

Just for the sheer novelty of it, I plan on recording our trip here on the blog. For those of y'all who don't care for such stuff, please keep checking back as I will have more writing and poetry soon.

Night y'all!

Name Meme

2007-08-10T16:28:00.000-04:00

Sheila over at Alabama Kitchen Sink tagged me for this meme. It should be short and sweet since my middle name is made up of only three letters...

RULES: You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

Loves watching Crimson Tide football!

Enjoy reading so much that I forget to clean the house.

Expects the kids to be southern gentlemen even if they were born in the north, dadgummit!

OK, now it's my turn to tag someone....

I just have to tag Beej over at Welcome to Beejland. She's a hoot!

Garden Gnome over at Garden Gnome's Journey likes memes.

...and finally

Sassy over at The Sassy Southerner. Need I say more?

Have at it ladies!

Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me...

2007-08-08T23:04:00.000-04:00

What is it with me and air conditioners? First the car air conditioner went down and we had to have that fixed, then our central air went down and we had to have THAT fixed. Then, as I was sitting in my bedroom earlier today, our extra window unit (for really hot days when the top floor of the house won't cool off) decided to spontaneously combust.

Yep, I'm sitting on my bed when I hear this loud "pop" and then the smell of burnt marshmallows wafts through the air into my nose. I immediately ran to the window unit and turned it off, hoping I wouldn't be electrocuted. Just to be safe, I unplugged it as well.

It is well and truly dead. No telling how old it is anyway..it came with the house.

Old Memories

2007-08-07T19:00:00.001-04:00

I was just sitting here thinking of my youth..remembering all the fun I used to have with my friends and my sister during the summer.

I was a tomboy. Yes sirree! I didn't flinch at the thought of climbing bluffs in search of dinosaur bones, or freak out when a bug crawled across my foot while I was playing hide and seek. I didn't mind it if it suddenly rained. We just ran around like monkeys and got soaking wet. It was like playing in the sprinkler...only better.

I remember one summer when my best friends (both boys) made the coolest fort I had ever seen. It was in the kudzu. They and their dad had hollowed a huge area of kudzu and made tunnels through it and little rooms under hidden bushes covered in the vine. After you got through the tunnels and to the edge of the patch, they had a rope swing that you would use to swing off into a deep ditch where we would drop off and run around to the front to start all over again.

I remember one summer when we all went swimming at the Shiner's pool (Grandaddy was a Shriner) and I was in love with a lifeguard. I had to have been about twelve, but I tried every trick in the book to get him to notice me. Well, everything but accidental drowning.

I did, however, jump off the high dive and when I came up, I noticed him staring at me. I was so thrilled....until I noticed that my bathing suit top had fallen down.

As a kid, I climbed trees, "free as a song," as Ray Stevens would say. I loved sitting up in the limbs, reading a book and feeling the swaying of the tree in the wind. I'd sit up there for hours, just-a reading.

I really miss being a kid. I miss being able to climb a tree. Can't now, what with being so overweight and all. I miss my best friends, who are now husbands and dads themselves. I haven't spoken to them in years and I really regret that.

I remember going to my first concert: The Village People. Gloria Gaynor of the "I Will Survive" fame opened up for them and it was the coolest thing ever. I was invited to go by my friend, Christina, who later asked another girl to go see the BeeGees with her. I was so jealous.

What are some of your favorite childhood memories?

Playin' with my new toy...

2007-08-06T15:03:00.000-04:00

Ooo, it's a nice one too. I bought a Toshiba laptop yesterday and I have been
playin' with it and checking out all of the features. It has Windows Vista Home Premium which will help me in my new business venture. Even my solitare game is new and updated. He he he! I even bought a wireless thingie so I can access the internet. That will come in handy as the boys are always on the internet nowdays.

Other than wasting time on my new laptop, I'm cleaning the house, checking on my wine shipments, preparing for vacation. Just a lot of busy work.

I will be posting pictures from vacation while on vacation since our campground has wireless, so keep checking by next week for updates and cool photos.

Anywho...gotta run and put more clothes in the dryer. I know, fun, fun...but it has to get done.

Here's something to keep you occupied...

Your Star Wars Name And Title

Your Star Wars Name: Dansi Wobir

Your Star Wars Title: Nebcho of Naes

What Is Your Star Wars Name and Title?

Sizzle Revisited

2007-08-02T13:56:00.000-04:00

In honor of summertime, I wanted to repost a poem I wrote last year about a Chicago summer. Enjoy!

Sizzle

July is scorching.
The grass is crusty and brown.
The heat rises
Off the streets in the downtown
Where herds of people
Walk,
And live,
And bake,
And are desperate for autumn,
But in denial of winter.
Then chairs will denote
Parking spaces saved
And plows will
Block the driveways with snow.
For now though,
Summer holds court.
The cicadas are buzzing loudly,
And the highways make
The slow-moving cars
Sizzle.

It's Hot Hot Hot!

2007-07-31T10:18:00.001-04:00

Well, not exactly yet, but it is going to be and I have no air conditioning.

"Oh, poor baby!" you are probably saying.

I know. I'm a wimp. I'm spoiled. The pioneers had it hard and had to deal with nature every day.

"Yes, you are correct," I say.

I am spoiled rotten. I love my air conditioner and it is not working. We had a guy come out late last night after 10 pm to look at our unit. Thank God for small favors. Turns out our air conditioner should have been serviced quite a few times in the last ten years we have been here.

Go figure.

I didn't know that. Hubby obviously didn't know that.

Our air conditioner is a vewy sick puppy. But he's coming back out tonight to make it all better. In the meantime, I shall perspire....um I mean persevere.

I think Oscar is an angel...

2007-07-28T23:17:00.000-04:00

Oscar the Cat Predicts Patients' Deaths
Friday, July 27, 2007 5:33 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By RAY HENRY

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.

"He doesn't make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," said Dr. David Dosa in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

The 2-year-old feline was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses.

After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours.

Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work there, said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill

She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish tinge, signs that often mean death is near.

Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room though, so Teno thought his streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.

Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a harbinger of death. Most families are grateful for the advanced warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.

No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat notices telltale scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him.

Nicholas Dodman, who directs an animal behavioral clinic at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has read Dosa's article, said the only way to know is to carefully document how Oscar divides his time between the living and dying.

If Oscar really is a furry grim reaper, it's also possible his behavior could be driven by self-centered pleasures like a heated blanket placed on a dying person, Dodman said.

Nursing home staffers aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying.

Oscar recently received a wall plaque publicly commending his "compassionate hospice care."
———
Science writer Alicia Chang in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Where has Summer Gone?

2007-07-24T13:33:00.001-04:00

I don't know about you, but to me it seems as if summer is flying by. Pretty soon, it will be Fall and then Winter again up here, and I am NOT looking forward to another winter. Sometimes, I wish we could put time on hold in order to savor it for longer.

On the other hand, the time until my first wine tasting seems to be dragging. Thursday night is my Divine Event, as first tastings are called, and I am nervous that I will forget everything I have learned. I've been making the order folders up and getting my accessories ready. I bought raffle gifts and display items.

Now if I could just remember details about the wine itself. I'm serving five:

2004 Señorio de Garci Grande, Rueda, Spain
2006 Franschhoek Cellar, Paarl Chenin Blanc, South Africa
2005 Henri Eschenbach, Gewurztraminer, Alsace, France
2003 Ignis, Mendoza Malbec, Argentina
2003 Ducato di Nardo, Primitivo del Salento IGT, Italy

Quite a cosmopolitan collection. A step above the white zinfandel I'm used to buying for myself.

In a few weeks, we'll be going on our Smoky Mountains vacation and I can't wait. Mountains, waterfalls, bears, country music....

Ahhhhhhhh!

Goodbye Harry Potter

2007-07-22T21:50:00.000-04:00

Well, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just now and all I can say is that I cried like a baby. Unlike some, who delight in the spoilers, I won't say a word except that no matter how sad this book is, it is the best one by far that she has written.

My sons and husband decided they would rather read spoilers online than read the book. I refused. It's not the same. It's like having sex without the foreplay, you just don't get the same satisfaction like the delving into places unknown. So, I read until 3am this morning and then read the rest this afternoon. And I was rewarded by an immensely good book.

It's sad saying goodbye to an old friend. J.K. Rowlings Potter series has been a good run. It's given us an imaginary place to yearn for, magical terms and people to miss, and I know that I, for one, will miss the anticipation of wondering what will happen next at Hogwarts.

He he he...I'm Like a Disney Movie

2007-07-18T21:28:00.001-04:00

Against a Black Southern Sky

2007-07-18T21:21:00.000-04:00

Against a black, southern sky,
Silver stars peered down
Like peeping toms
As we did the wild thing
On a grass-stained blanket.
Heedlessly,
Recklessly,
Shamefully,
I learned about love and life
And, later, much later,
The lies he spoke
To anyone who would listen.

Dana Sieben ©2006

Internet Problems

2007-07-17T00:21:00.001-04:00

Hi y'all. Sorry I haven't been around much. We've had problems with our internet modem and some days I can't get online to save my life. For some reason, or I should say some wires that were jiggled correctly, tonight I am able to blog my little heart out if I want.

We saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix tonight. My oldest son and I were very excited, being Potter fans and all, and it lived up to the hype. It just seemed hurried a bit though.

I have gone off my rocker (due to forgetting to take my depression pill last night) and had a small breakdown earlier. IN the midst of this breakdown, I managed to sprain my little finger, bash my left knee and bruise my right arm up a bit. I am in some pain, so I won't be typing much longer.

Y'all have a good week, and hopefully my computer problems won't be here much longer. Take care.

No Charges Filed???

2007-07-11T12:23:00.001-04:00

If you haven't heard about this, read the story and then we'll talk...

Toddler-Ecstasy Video Investigated
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:08 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By MONICA RHOR

HOUSTON (AP) — A group of young women videotaped themselves laughing at a toddler and joking that the child had taken Ecstasy, though it's unclear whether the tot had actually been given the drug, authorities said.

The young women told an investigator that they got bored during a return trip from Padre Island and were playing with the little girl, who was following instructions to roll her eyes back, said Lt. John Martin, a spokesman with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The video, which appeared on the Internet, runs 2 minutes, 28 seconds, was taken in a van and shows a girl who appears about 2 years old. As the young women tease her, the toddler rolls her eyes back until only the whites show.

Some of the women can be heard laughing and seeming to suggest that Ecstasy might be responsible for the child's behavior.

"Cookie, stop rolling, girl. ... You shouldn't have popped no X," says one of the young women, as she squeezes the little girl's cheeks and taps her on her head, telling her to stop rolling her eyes. "X" is a slang term for Ecstasy.

The video appeared on YouTube.com before being removed and is on other Web sites. It also shows an infant being handed around in the back seat.

In addition to the two children, there were seven people in the van — the toddler's 21-year-old mother, two other adults and four teenage girls under 17, he said. All are from Houston, and no charges have been filed.

Area authorities became involved after clues in the video indicated it had been filmed in Texas.

A map of Jackson County can be seen in the video, and an announcer for a Christian radio station in Houston can be heard in the background.

The FBI's Houston office is also involved in the investigation.

Now what this story DOESN'T say is this: the little girl was sitting on the floor of the van, no seatbelt, no car seat, and she was unresponsive most of the time. I saw this on the news last night and what I saw was a two-year-old on something. Plus, one of the teens asked why the other girl had given her the X and the girl in question said "because she wanted it." One girl was complaining that the toddler had hurt her face, or something, and was videotaping her as a punishment. The language used in this video was disgusting, the one person who was slapping at the toddler and squeezing her face to get her to stop rolling her eyes was harsh, and most of the time, the little girl was in another world.

If no one is charged in this case, I'll be very surprised.

Too Bad...Too Sad!

2007-07-10T16:51:00.000-04:00

I just found out that Blogazoo is closing! I have to say, it was one of my favorite traffic sites and I happened to like the Gazoos too.

Seriously, it will be missed. It was one of the easiest and blogger-friendly sites around.