"It's fun to stay at the . . ."

I am now out of the Olympics mood and into a game mood. I heard this song on the radio yesterday and never realized what these words were before. The next lyric is actually the name of the song. I won't give it away, but someone can guess. Hint: They ALWAYS play it at church dances.

So, anyone can play this. Just write down a sentence or part of a sentence in the comment box and see if anyone can finish it. Here is my list:

1 - I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder . . .

2 - All I'm asking in return honey, is give me my . . .

3 - In the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair . . .

4 - Then you flew your Lear jet to Nova Scotia to see the . . .

5 - The room was spinning harder as the ceiling flew away. When we called out for another drink . . .

6 - Won't you buy me a color TV. Dialing for Dollars is trying to reach me . . .

7 - Hello woman of my dreams; is this not the way it seems . . .

8 - When I'm home, everything seems to be right. When I'm home . . .

9 - Like my brother before me, I took a Rebel stand. He was just eighteen, proud and brave . . .

10 - Outside in the cold distance, a wild cat did growl. Two riders were approaching . . .

So, does anyone want to play? If you can't guess all of these I'll post the answers in a few days.

"You Can Do It! You Can Do It!"

This is a quote from Bela Karolyi. With the Olympics getting started, and gymnastics coming on tonight, I was thinking about him. I have watched the gymnastics portion of the Olympics for over thirty years. That is my favorite part. I remember watching Nadia getting her four perfect tens. I remember Mary Lou Retton winning the gold. That year the Russians were boycotting. I remember around 1972 or so there was this little Russian girl who won, the time before Nadia. Does anyone remember her name? I forgot. Anyway, Bela has always seemed to be there. He coached Nadia and Mary Lou, and was the team coach four years ago. Remember in 1996 when Keri Strugg(?) hurt her foot, and he picked her up in this huge bear hug and actually carried her to the stand for the team medal. He is always so much fun to watch. He yells at the girls constantly and is always very expressive. But this time his wife, Marta, is the coach. And we are supposed to have the best team ever. I saw the trials back in June, and the girls were really amazing. So, this will be a fun week to watch TV. I've got my VCR all ready.

The Black Jesse Helms

Tonight I went to the Surry County Republicans meeting. This is my third time going to these meetings. It is fun. There are a lot of local politicians that come and talk, but tonight the big guns were there - Virginia Foxx and Vernon Robinson. It was interesting. After all the local guys talked, these two talked a little. Vernon is a little on the arrogant side - okay, a lot on the arrogant side. He was talking about how he had won the primary, and if there hadn't been a run-off his campaign would have more money. Which is true. Then Virginia Foxx got up (the one who called for the run-off) and said she was tired of "others" smearing her and telling lies about her. They were both talking about each other without naming names, and everyone there knew that.

From what I gathered, most of the Surry crowd is for Foxx. So after the meeting, me and Teresa Cowan, a friend from church (the one who went with me to see Bruce Springsteen - whom I no longer like now that he is campaigning for Kerry), talked a long time to Vernon (see how I'm on a first name basis with him), and he wants us to volunteer in his campaign, so we said we would. He was talking about spreadsheets and databases and stuff, and got our email addresses. When someone else came up to talk to him Teresa looked at me and said, "This will be fun." I said, "Yeah, but do you know what he was talking about?", and she answered, "No, but it will be fun!" So, we'll see what we are in for. Vernon has a cool ad running on the local channels now, and you can see it at vernonrobinson.com. When you go there, click on ads, and then "The Twilight Zone."

OBAMA - YO MAMA

Did anyone see Barack Obama give his speech the other night?  I thought he was great, and I predict that he will be the first black president.  Don't get me wrong - I don't agree with him on his politics, but he had a great way of putting things.  He was interesting, intelligent, and - dare I use the word? - charismatic.  If you don't know who he is, he is running for the senate in Illinois.  Apparently unopposed at the moment.  The Republicans had an embarrassment in Jack Ryan, who briefly ran against him.  I guess he has gone back to hunting for the Red October (haha).  Anyway, what do you guys think?

SCREEEEEEECH!

I am writing about songs I absolutely hate.  I started this kind of on Bennie's blog, and more songs just keep coming to mind.  I selected the title of this post because hearing these songs is like hearing fingernails on a blackboard.  So, here are my worst favorite (or Josh says "least favorite", which I guess is more correct) songs in no particular order:

The Lion Sleeps Tonight (?)
Cecelia (Paul Simon)
Old Time Rock and Roll (Bob Seger)
Honky Tonk Women, Jumping Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud (Rolling Stones)
Money (Pink Floyd)
We are the Champions (Queen)
I Heard it Through the Grapevine (Anybody)
Glory Days (Bruce)
Sugar Sugar (The Archies)
I Think I Love You (David Cassidy)
Rocky Raccoon (The Beatles)
Paradise City (G&R)
Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Delta Lady (Joe Cocker - I like it by Leon Russell)
Witchy Woman (Who does that one?  Was it the Eagles?)
Take it Easy (The Eagles)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John and Kiki Dee - was she the monkey in Zelda?)
Anything by Bread

Well, that is just a few.  As you may have noticed, some of these songs are from some of my favorite bands or singers.  It is just the song itself that I can't stand.  If I think of others I'll add them in the comments. 

"How could I forget you - you're the only person I know."

I love this line from The Bourne Identity.  Me and Quentin watched this movie last night because the sequel is getting ready to come out.  I really liked it.  I almost jumped out of my skin though when that first assassin came through the window.  There are so many profound moments in movies.  I love the exact time when something happens on screen and all of a sudden goosebumps just spring up all over.  Like on The Natural when he hits that final ball into the lights, and the place comes alive with fireworks.  And the music fits so well.  Another moment is in An Affair To Remember, when Cary Grant comes to her apartment and realizes that she is crippled.  And I love the part in Return of the King toward the end when the four hobbits are standing there, and everyone bows down to them.  They just have this innocent look on their faces like, "What did we do?"  And then (since I mentioned AATR) in Sleepless in Seattle when Tom Hanks and his kid come back for his stuff, and there is Meg Ryan, "Annie".  Another one is when Prince Charming (Richard Gere) comes back for his Pretty Woman with the opera blaring out, and Julia Roberts looks out her window, and there he is.  She had said earlier, "I want the fairy tale," which is exactly what she got, and what I got were goosebumps.  Well, I could go on and on.  Remember the Titanic finally tilting and sinking into the ocean?  And what about when John Wayne is telling Jimmy Stewart who really shot Liberty Valance?  Great moments.  Feel free to add any of your favorites.

Musings on YC

This weekend I went to Youth Conference in Hickory for the Hickory, Winston, and Asheville Stakes. There were a lot of similarites from YC's in years past that I have attended, and a lot of differences. I think the previous ones that I went to were so much better than this one was. Each stake started Thursday morning in their own area and did a service project, then everyone got to the old stake center in Hickory around 5:00. Winston's project was writing letters to missionaries, writing testimonies in BoM's and highlighting the scriptures for the missionaries to give out. Then we had lunch, then we had a talent show. Then we left about 3:00 to go to Hickory. We got there first and some of us played basketball (knockout) waiting on the rest. Then everyone got there. We all met and separated into four groups to "practice our cheer". Then we ate pizza. Then, and the highlight of the day, we heard from Curtis Jacobs, who is a great speaker. He spoke from 8-9:30. Then we left for the night. Winston and Asheville went to the Park Inn (roach motel), while I think Hickory stayed at host families'. So the next day we ate our continental breakfast at the hotel and packed up. At 9:00 a.m. we walked down the hall to the convention center and had four seminars, which were okay. Then lunch. Then Brother Jacobs spoke again and was again really good. Then testimoney meeting, then supper, then a dance, then home.

Now, the thing is, most of the time was just sitting around waiting for the next thing to do. There was nowhere to go, like on a college campus. And it was always an hour or two between these activities, if you can call them that. It was so tiring. And the kids didn't really have a chance to meet each other. No name tags, no "mixer activities", and no address booklets were given out. The dance, however, was really good. Keith Ball from N. Wilkesboro did a great job DJing. Most all the kids got involved in that. I even danced the Electric Slide. And they did the limbo.

But, all in all, I missed the old youth conferences from years back. I know that these kids didn't realize what they were missing and probably for the most part enjoyed this one. I wasn't raised in the church and never went except as a chaperone. So I was remembering some things that happened at other YC's:

One year someone put shampoo in the fountain at Catawba College, and the next morning there were suds all in it.

A young lady, who shall be nameless, flashed the boys one night from her third floor window (one of my girls - we had to talk to the stake president about that one the next day).

One night after a rain several guys were running, diving, and then sliding through a huge mud puddle. Everyone was watching from our windows and cheering them on.

I remember Josh playing a song he wrote on the piano and Shelby Wall singing it. It was beautiful.

Anyway, I know this is really long, and if you are still reading, maybe you could comment on some of your YC experiences, if you have gone.

I Was So Much Older Then - I'm Younger Than That Now

This weekend we took the YW from our branch to Boone for an overnighter. We had a great time. We rented a house way up on a mountain with five bedrooms that slept 12. There were 12 of us. Some of the adults had smaller children that they brought. On Friday we ate Japanese and toured downtown Blowing Rock. At the house we played several games - the favorite was Sardines. It was a big house with lots of hiding places. The kids really liked it. Then today we packed up, left our cabin in the sky, and went to Tweetsie. Some of the kids had never been. I love Tweetsie. I have gone there a lot in my lifetime. Today I was remembering back how it used to be. So much has changed. There was a show on TV years ago with Fess Parker who played Daniel Boone. His son was Israel. Anyway, the kid who played Israel was at Tweetsie one time when my family went up there. I was probably around 8 or so. This boy was so cute on TV, but so arrogant in person. I remember him yelling at his mother, and she didn't even spank him! I had never seen anyone act up like that to their parent. Also I remember Fred Kirby. It seemed like he was always at Tweetsie when we would go. He had a show on TV every Sunday. He would play his guitar and sing songs, then they would show a segment of "The Little Rascals". Fred Kirby was a big deal back then. I remember being too little to drive the cars around. I remember the "Sleeping Giant" in his castle at the top of the mountain. There was no fudge store, but there was this one store that had all the usual Tweetsie junk they sell, and they had big jars of caramel squares. These squares were about 3x2x1 inches. There were just caramel covered in chocolate. Kind of like a really thick Sugar Daddy. That was a big treat back then. Anyway, we had a good time today. Bennie took a lot of pictures. Maybe he'll put some of them on his site.

As much fun as the whole weekend was, the highlight was seeing Isabella - and Josh and Megan. Here lately Isabella has not wanted me to hold her very much, but she goes to Bennie all the time. So today in the restaurant she let me hold her a pretty good while. She was sleepy and was cuddly. It's hard to describe what it's like being a grandmother. She is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. I love her dearly, and I look forward to her brothers, sisters, and cousins.

Is it Tomorrow, or Just the End of Time?

Someone stole my umbrella. I went into Wal-Mart with it because it was raining. I hooked it onto the cart, and when I came out I left it on the cart. As soon as I got home I realized what I had done. I called right away, but of course no one had turned it in. Why would someone steal my $10 umbrella? And right there at the store where they could buy their own. So anyway, today I went and bought another one. I have never seen these before, but it can fit in your pocket. It's cool. It is a full size umbrella when you pop it up. There are so many great inventions out today. I'm going to list some of my favorites in no particular order:

1 - Sunscreen
2 - Good tasting low fat food, like sour cream and mayonnaise
3 - Self-stick envelopes and stamps
4 - VCR's
5 - Cell phones
6 - Brookstone Thera Spas and Jacuzzi tubs
7 - Highlighter pens

If you can imagine, when I was young we didn't have any of these things. If anyone wants to add their favorites, feel free.

Name the Theatre

There is a new movie theatre coming to Mt. Airy, and they are having a contest to name it. The winner gets a VIP pass for a whole year for two. So if anyone who reads this knows of a good name you can enter and maybe win. Or, you can put your ideas in the comment box and share them. I entered. If I win I'll tell you what I named it. There will be ten theaters. It is being built on Hwy. 89 across from Blockbuster/Roses.

A Few Sandwiches Short

I was thinking today of all the expressions we use to describe dumb people, such as -

A few sandwiches short of a picnic.

A few bricks short of a load.

A few pickles short of potato salad.

Well, you get the picture. I thought it might be fun for everyone to share your favorite "dumb expressions". Be creative. (I just made up the one about the pickles.)

Not a Creature was Stirring . . . Except

Once in a while we will get a mouse in our house. We have not had one for several months though, probably not since last fall. But we still had one of those sticky traps in our bedroom just in case. So, last night, around 3:00 a.m. I heard a racket which woke me up. I knew right away what it was and woke my fearless husband up to take care of the matter. He got up, turned on the light, and there it was! A little brown mouse, jumping around in the corner with one little foot stuck on the trap. So Bennie stands there and looks at it, trying to wake up, while I'm still on the bed freaking out. Well, before Bennie could get moving to actually CATCH the mouse, it broke free of the glue and ran behind the dresser. And we haven't seen it since. So after that I was "Sleepless in Dobson". I think I finally fell back to sleep around 4:30, but a fitful sleep at that. I can't wait until tonight.

Feel of the Wind

I have a bicycle! It is great. I had forgotten what it was like riding downhill and feeling the wind rush by. The only time I have ridden a bike in the last several years has been at the beach, where there were no hills. The only bad thing is, of course, the hills. I am determined, however, not to have to get off and walk my bike up the hills. So I haven't tackled the really big hill by our house yet, just some little ones around. I got a plain bike - no gears. Regular brakes.

Yesterday I went strawberry picking. I picked seven gallons in 30 minutes! It usually takes me an hour to pick two or three. So I froze 15 quart bags of berries and then cut up the rest and sugared them. I love strawberries. If anyone has any good strawberry recipes please put them in the comment section. I made up a pie crust with flour, sugar, and melted margerine, then pressed it in a 13x9 pan, baked until lightly browned. Then I mixed 2 cream cheese, 2 Eagle Brand milk, 2/3 cup lemon juice, and 2 t. vanilla, and poured over the cooled crust. You chill this for a couple hours, then serve with the strawberries on top. The filling is the same as the cherry-cheese pie filling. I'm going to experiment with cream cheese, crushed strawberries, powdered sugar, and cool whip, and mix it all up, then put in a pie shell and freeze. We'll see how it comes out.

I was going to do the movie quotes thing, but Josh did it instead. So, I thought about poems. What are your favorite poetry lines? Here are a few of mine:

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light.
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.


And hand in hand on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon, the moon.
They danced by the light of the moon.


Tell me what thy lordly name is on the night's Plutonian shore.
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"


Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar;
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.

I have had lines from songs on my mind. Justin (Chris) was talking about favorite movies, so I was wondering what people's favorite song lines are. Here are some of mine (not counting my blog title):

Darkness has a hunger that's insatiable, and lightness has a call that's hard to hear.

I've been this way ten years to the day.

Wait only for my bootheels to be wandering.

I never was one for romantic words, and the next few lines come really hard. I don't have much, but what I've got is yours. Except of course for my steel guitar.

Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet. I am you and what I see is me.

Well I dreamed I saw the silver spaceship flying in the yellow haze of the sun.

Wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door. Who is it for?

And one of my all time favorites - Don't ask me 'bout the shape I'm in, I can't sing, I ain't pretty, and my legs are thin. Don't ask me what I think of you - I might not give the answer that you want me to.

Oh well. I know there are hundreds of others, but I'm tired of thinking. Feel free to tell me some of your favorites.

So, how often does one update one's blog? I'll try for a couple times a week. Last Friday Bennie planted our garden. I can't wait to get fresh vegetables (especially tomatoes) right out of our backyard. And we should have plenty of tomatoes. Bennie sent me to get everything Friday morning. He wrote down all the stuff we needed, and he included 12 tomato plants. So I got to the produce place to get all the plants and seeds and stuff, and they have these flats that you can put twelve little trays in. Then they sell the whole flat for $10.00 or something. So I went around and picked out all the stuff. I got okra, corn, green beans, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelon. And tomatoes. I picked out 8 of the regular tomatoes and then 4 of the smaller ones (grape tomatoes that we used to call tommy toes), and filled up the flat. That makes 12, right? Well, when I got home I noticed that each tray actually held 4 plants. So, like I said, we should have plenty of tomatoes.

I guess it's time to update this. I have to give a talk this Sunday on "The Sabbath". If anyone has any ideas/stories/experiences that go along with this topic, I would appreciate help (Dr. J, are you there?). I hate to just read stuff, because I know how bored I am when others do that.

Last time I mentioned enjoying deep cuts. This morning going to work I heard a song on 95.7 that I haven't heard since I was in high school. I think it is by Jefferson Airplane, called "White Bird". It is really pretty. Has anyone heard of it?

Well, I've got to go. I have to make black walnut cookies tonight. Me and Mom are going to see Aunt Erlene tomorrow. I went to see her a couple weeks ago (at Salemtowne Rest Home) and took her some chocolate chip cookies. She thanked me but informed me that her favorite was black walnut.

So again, if anyone has any ideas for my talk let me know.

Okay, this is my first post. I want to welcome everyone to my blog. I named this after one of my favorite quotes/songs. Purple is my favorite color, and I am usually in a haze, so it seemed to fit. I had to put in a description, so I was going to put, "Deep Thoughts", then I thought who am I kidding. So, this will be a fun blog, and please comment. On anything. Some things I enjoy are rock music (especially deep cuts from the 70's), romance and mystery novels (I just finished "The Da Vinci Code" - it was great!), the mountains (I love hiking Stone Mountain), games/puzzles, and watching the best soap ever, "The Young and the Restless". Which I tape every day. So, join the fun and send me your comments!