There's Always Time To Play With A Shuttlecock

 A

Ed and I carry two badminton rackets and a few shuttlecocks in the truck. 

We don't use them very often, but it's a lot of fun to get outside and smack these around on a nice (not windy) day.  We don't need an actual net; just an agreed-upon demarcation that serves as one. 

And an honest scorekeeper!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: It's All Happening At The Zoo
2017: A Royal Goodbye
2016: Passing Time
2015: The Vast Nothingness
2014: An Amish Gathering
2013: Personalized
2012: Fire On The Island
2011: Harborside Education
2010: Yo, Vin!
2009: Sweeter Words Have Never Been Spoken
2008: More Proof I Ate At A Sushi Place
2007: North Sally Port
2006: Holy Cow!
2005: Wishing

A Virtual Art Gallery

Ed recently bought us an 85" 8K flat-screen TV.  It's gigantic.  And it's got a beautiful picture. Everything looks fantastic on it.  We "travel" via walking videos, we binge-watch shows on Netflix, and enjoy movies like we're in a private mini-theater.

But, because it's so large and didn't fit in the spot we had our other TV, so I had to rearrange our living room to accommodate it.  It's not exactly in a spot that a TV should be in.  But because you have to sit far away from it to not wind up cross-eyed while watching, we had to put it in a spot that gives us the most distance from the TV.  I can't wait until we can actually arrange the room properly, but for now, it is where it is.

The screen is so beautiful that after I discovered framed TV art, I was hooked.  Search YouTube for "TV Frame Art" or a variation of those words.  You will see the choices in the results and can narrow them down further from there.

The one above is one of my favorites. It's so vibrant and the gilded frame actually looks three-dimensional.  

The frames really look amazing in person.  There are different styles of frames and all sorts of art, from Cézanne and Monet to van Gogh, Matisse, and Modigliani.

Some of the artwork has music associated with it, so you can have a beautiful screensaver with relaxing music playing in the background.

As I mentioned, this is just a temporary spot for our television.  Once we have it exactly where we want it permanently, we'll mount it at a height that looks more like a painting and will continue to use this type of screensaver (with music!) whenever we want to add a little culture to the room.  Or, when we have guests because it looks so much better than a TV hanging on the wall. 

Check out this lady's version of framed TV art.  That's ultimately how I'd like it to look - but hanging on the wall, not on a TV stand like she has it.

Little by little we'll get this old house into the modern era.  But right now, we're just going to add a little fancy to our day.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Making Hay While The Sun Shines
2017: Howdy, Heart Attack!
2016: 44 Things
2015: I'll See You And Raise You
2014: A Job For A Four-Star General
2013: Colorful Nights, Rainy Days
2012: These Coco Girls Are Not Reading Rare Books
2011: Imagine What These Bird Droppings Look Like
2010: Is It Just The Girlie Bits That Make Us The Cry-Baby Sex?
2009: Who Would Have Thought Cheese And Tarheels Were Such A Perfect Complement?
2008: First Friday Fill-In. Say THAT Five Times Fast!
2007: Another Year Of Life In The Pink
2006: Can You Hear My Happiness?
2005: Alis Volat Propiis

Bound By The Road

Photo courtesy of Bound By The Cloak website

I was recently asked to be interviewed for a podcast called Bound By The Cloak. 

Chandi Guntapalli contacted me because she and her co-host,  Zoe Marshall, wanted to get the perspective of a woman truck driver and tell the story about what we experienced on the road as a truck driver.

I love talking about my job and sharing what happens in my daily life on the road.  Many people seem interested in this profession and don't always know what our days are like.  So Chandi and Zoey asked the questions they were interested in and I answered!

You can listen to my episode HERE.

Enjoy!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Welcoming Wyoming Wind Power
2017: Not Really A Loop
2016: Food For The Spirit Inside Of You
2015: These Little Piggies Went To Market
2014: Just Another View From The Road
2013: Polly Needs More Than A Cracker. Polly Needs A Roll Cage.
2012: Hats Off To Tits And Ass
2011: Approaching Chi-Town
2010: Paneful Outlook
2009: Gray County Silhouette
2008: This Little Piggy Went To Market
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: The Heat Bog
2005: Five

Dinner And A Show

Last night we went to see Gladys Knight at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center in Shipshewana, Indiana.  When we decided to come here to get work done on our truck we looked for things to do in the area and this concert was one of the events on the calendar. So we scooped up dinner and show tickets and had a sweet little date night.  How lucky are we?

Shipshewana, a town of less than 900 people, has this wonderful 1,500-seat performing arts center that's hosted a surprising number of celebrities. We'll definitely be returning to enjoy future shows - the venue was small and we felt like we were part of a very private event.

Gladys Knight was fabulous.  The crow was energetic and responsive and the Empress of Soul brought them to their feet several times!  She looked fantastic and put on a great show - it's hard to believe she's going to be 80 next month!

Click here to see photos and a few short video clips from the concert.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Mise En Place
2018: Keeping Time In The County Seat
2017: On Your Mark
2016: Always Be A Moose
2015: Where The Good Girls Run Into Trouble
2014: Feed The Children Of The World
2013: Burst Of Power
2012: If This Worked, I’d Become A Cannibal
2011: How I While Away The Hours
2010: Incredibly Average, Yet Heroic If Necessary
2009: May I Take A Message?
2008: Doing The Speed Limit In Your Sleep
2007: Now I Can Go Back To Watching The Show
2006: Ten Of Life’s Simplest Pleasures
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Box Seats

 

Ed and went to see the Harlem Globetrotters this week at the Crypto Arena in downtown Los Angeles.  He bought one of the suites for us - it was inexpensive, not the thousands of dollars they charge for real games and concerts - which had a great view and was very private.  We were alone for a while until a family of four came in.  You can see the suite in these pictures.  

It was an interesting way to spend an afternoon.  I'm not much for sports but I do like to people-watch.

Oh, and I like me a little Sweet Georgia Brown, too.  Now that's something that makes a good earworm.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Few And Far Between
2019: Salz Und Pfeffer
2018: Hot And Sweet
2017: My Kind Of Salad
2016: In Disguise
2015: Hawaii Five-O
2014: I Like Big Boteros And I Cannot Lie
2013: The Young Never Have Trouble Screwing
2012: Making Tracks Across The Country
2011: Eddie Is The King Of The Dome
2010: Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2009: Sipping In Nyack
2008: The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
2007: Ralph’s Service Station
2006: The Isle Of Capri
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Iron Sky

I just came across this video again a few days ago and had to share it.  I love this guy's voice and this song.  It's an old video - he wound up winning the competition, The Voice UK - but it's still such a great sound.

Enjoy!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Tucked In
2018: This Is Who I'm Meant To Be
2017: No Chickens 'Round Here
2016: Piquing Interest
2015: Not Your Average Hula Girls
2014: Some Links Are Sexier Than Others
2013: Who Says I'm Spoiled?
2012: So That’s How It’s Done
2011: Sunny Bright Yellow Moments Ahead
2010: Loaded
2009: C’mon, Just Do It Already!
2008: Counterproductive
2007: If You Need A Reason To Cook More Often, I Think I Have One
2006: Warning: May Contain Traces Of Nuts
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Personal Space

 

Ed and I spent the past weekend at a Hilton Garden Inn in Aberdeen, Maryland.  The manager was amazing - he gave us great restaurant recommendations, extra perks on our room, and two free tickets to the local movie theater.  We decided to go see Argylle.

We almost had the entire theater to ourselves - look for Ed all the way up in the back.

We always arrive early for movies because I want to get the seat I like and I want to see all the previews. So, on this day we did the same. Once we were settled in our seats chomping on popcorn I looked around at the empty theater and said to Ed, “It’s like we’re at a private screening. Just us. Imagine if someone came in right now and just sat right next to us?” 

Then, not five minutes later, a couple walks all the way up to the row we were in, starts down the row towards us, and the girl stops in front of the seat next to me where I had my purse and jacket and just stood there.

She wanted me to move my stuff so she could sit there. So I looked at her and said, “Really??” And she said, “Uh, yeah.”

I could not BELIEVE that out of all the seats in the theater, she had to sit right next to me. WTF? 

I looked over at Ed, rolled my eyes, and whispered, “Can you believe her??” He then told me that the seats were assigned. When you make your ticket reservation you choose the seats you want. Ohhhhhhh.

Well, wasn’t I the asshole.  Great.  So now I had to apologize.

I reached over, tapped her on the arm, and said, “Sorry for the comment - I didn’t realize these seats were chosen when you purchased the ticket.” She said, “Oh, no problem."  And we went on to enjoy the movie. 

That said….

Since the movie theater, and our whole row, was still empty the entire two hours and nineteen minutes of the movie, she could have moved over and put one seat between us. It would have been the right thing to do, especially since we were there first.

So, maybe I’m not the asshole. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: The Worst Bar-B-Q In Texas
2018: Bestie In The Caldera
2017: A Living Snapshot Of Another America
2016: C'mere, Give Me A Hug
2015: La Bufadora And Almejas Gratinadas
2014: In The Nick Of Time
2013: This Business Means Business
2012: A Nodding Donkey On The Hill
2011: What A Croc
2010: Flash Of Pole
2009: They Hire ‘Em Young These Days
2008: Setting Sail At Sunset
2007: Happy Bee
2006: It’s Not Unusual
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

I Can't Get Off My High Horse

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Kabs Family (@thekabsfamily) on Oct 4, 2020 at 12:17pm PDT

If you're not following The Kabs Family (Tay, Chan, Teija, Maliya, and TJ) you should - you can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  They're a great bunch, currently living in London.  My favorite in the group is Maliya, the one who's singing here in this video.  The last song she sings is "Somebody Else's Guy" by Jocelyn Brown, a great tune from the eighties.  I love that Tay (the father) is teaching her some great old school tunes.  

After watching Mali sing, and bringing me back to a time when I was jamming out to these tunes myself, it made me Google the song. Here is Jocelyn Brown doing her song.  Sing along with the lyrics below:

     

Somebody Else's Guy

I-I-I-I... can't get off my high horse

And I can't let you go
You are the one who
You are the one who makes me feel
So real
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh! What am I supposed to do
Oh! What am I supposed to do baby
When I'm so hooked up on you
Then I realize
Oh I realize
That you are somebody else's guy
Oh yeah
Why you wanna do this to me boy?
(Ooh ooh ooh
Somebody else's guy)
Can you remember the times we spent together
Sharing our days in the sun
Then I found out that you were somebody else's
Lover
After all the plans we made, now were shattered
Still I can't get off my high horse
I can't let go
You are the one who makes me feel so real
Ooh what am I supposed to do
When I'm hooked so on you
Then I realize that you're somebody else's guy
That day in September, I'm sure you can remember
That's when all the stuff hit the fan
You told me a lie and you didn't have an alibi
But baby yet I still cared
You know I loved you so baby that I can't let go
No, no
You are the one who makes me feel so real
Ooh what am I supposed to do
When I'm hooked so on you
And realize you're somebody else's guy
You know I loved you so baby that I can't let go
You are the one who makes me feel so real
Ooh what am I supposed to do
When I'm hooked so on you
And then I realize that you're somebody else's
Guy
(Oh I can't get off my high horse and I can't
Let go
You are the one who makes me feel so real
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I'm hooked so
On you
And realize that you're somebody else's guy)
(Oh I can't get off my high horse and I can't
Let go
You are the one who makes me feel so real
Ooh, what am I supposed to do when I'm hooked so
On you
And realize that you're somebody else's guy)
I, I, I, I can't let you go no
See you are the one who makes me feel so real
What am I supposed to do
When I'm hooked so on you
Then I realize that you're somebody else's guy
(repeat chorus and adlib to fade)

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2019: Sorry, no post for this day
2018: One More Look
2017: Not Exactly "Woodland" Creatures
2016: Hot Is Hot
2015: Washy Watercolor Morning
2014: The Piano Man Put Us In A New York State Of Mind
2013: Eddie Sandwich
2012: Scenes From An Italian Kitchen
2011: Living Deliberately But Not Without Scars
2010: Maybe They Just Don’t Like Oklahomans
2009: Mexico? Derecho.
2008: Juxtaposition
2007: Eddie Sports Pigtails Friday
2006: Gambling Under The Big Sky
2005: Sleeping Beauty

How Deep Is Your Love For New Artists?

This week I watched Nobody's Fool starring Tiffany Haddish.  I liked the movie - Tiffany Haddish is funny, as expected, but the storyline was cute and it fit right into my love of Rom-Coms.

In the movie, there was a club scene where they introduced the band as PJ Morton and Yebba.  They sang "How Deep Is Your Love", the old Bee Gees song.  I'd never heard of the group and wanting to know if they were real, I Googled them.  They are in fact real people.

Above is the video of the song done by PJ Morton and Yebba - she's the girl in the overalls with the cool voice.  Both a new discovery for me. 

I love discovering new music through movies.  And this version of a familiar song is really great.  

My love is deep. 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2019: Barging Through Downtown
2018: Maybe This Time
2017: Queen Of The Copper Camps
2016: He Ran By And Told Me To Share Links
2015: Heading To Shore
2014: Chocolate And Gnocchi - The Best Of Any World
2013: Looking And Smelling Good Behind The Wheel Of A Big Rig
2012: Necessary Evil
2011: Getting Drunk On Summer Fun
2010: How Is It The Fish Don’t Freeze???
2009: A Meal Even 300 Year Old Monks Would Love
2008: Not A Knock Knock Joke
2007: Eddie Shades Friday
2006: The Idiot And The Box
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Damn, She's The One

Yesterday I was scrolling through Twitter, as I normally do nine-million times a day, and I came across a tweet  that led me to this Instagram post by Tracee Ellis Ross (Diana Ross's daughter):

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross) on Apr 22, 2019 at 3:54pm PDT

The song is by an artist named Lizzo.  Who is this Lizzo?  I've never heard of her.  Not surprising, since I don't really keep up on music as much as I should - I listen to more podcasts than music when I'm driving - so I started to do some Googling.

And I'm now a fan.

The song in the Tracee Ellis Ross clip is this one, called "Soulmate".....I'mma marry me one day.  Here's the video, with the lyrics. Sing along!:

Now I'm going to save you some time and post all the videos of the songs I listened to so you can binge-listen like I did.  You don't have to YouTube 'em yourself.  You're welcome.

Let's start with "Good As Hell".  I heard this song in the movie I watched the other night and it was very catchy.  "Hair toss...check my nails...baby how you feelin'?..feeling good as hell..."

In this song, "Cuz I Love You", her voice is astounding.  If you don't get chills listening to this QUEEN belt out this song, you better check yo damn pulse.  "AHM CRYIN' (huge inhale) cuz ah looooooooOOOOooooOOOOOOOOVE UuuuuuuuUUUUUuuuuuuUuuuuuuuU"  Mother Jones magazine compared her to Beyonce. 

Then we come to "Juice".  So snappy.  So joyful.  So fun!  "Ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee"

This next video is called "My Skin".  Lizzo sings, "I woke up in this.  I woke up in this.  My skin."  Wow.  Fantastic lyric.  

This is what Lizzo said about this song:  "This is a summoning of bodies: all shapes, sizes and shades to unite in their pride, and wear their skin like the gift it is. 

My Skin literally matters. It matters because it’s the largest organ on my body. Because it’s my exterior. It’s been stretched, sunburnt and covered in glitter. It’s the first thing you notice about me. My skin is dark brown, but if you asked someone they would say it’s black. My blackness is my largest assumed ‘accessory.’ Not my gender, religion or wealth. Because of it, I’ve experienced countless misconceptions from people— neck rolls and gratuitous gestures, overt southern dialects superimposed onto my own voice, perceived “ghetto-ness.” I laugh it off because it’s seemingly harmless, but when we think about where this originates it’s actually poisonous. 

Being black in America is a unique experience. All people have a unique American experience, but I can’t speak for all people. I can only speak from my unique experience as a black woman. The “African-American” myths that cloud non-black people's judgment are taken from the worst part of our struggle and paraded as fact. I could write this essay trying to debunk “black-on-black crime” and fill it with pleading persuasive prose, but I’d rather just tell you what I know."

I'll leave you with one last one I like, called "Scuse Me".  You can YouTube the rest. 

She's so talented.

She even plays the flute.

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2018: Bathroom Essentials
2017: The Red Planet
2016: The Calm Before And After
2015: Cheese On Horseback
2014:  A Life That's Good

2013: The Big Weekend Event

2012: Bringing The Sea To The Sleeper Bunk

2011: The Lonely Road

2010: Boys’ Town, Old Digs And A Non-Working Number

2009: She Needs To Wear A Bell

2008: Budding

2007: I Hate When He Does That

2006: The Toes Of Summer Are Peeking Out

2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!