Long Weekend

I.Love.Long.Weekends! Except for having to go back to work on Tuesday, because it will be phenomenally busy, but right now, I'm ready for the extra day off! And I'm excited because my wonderful Prince Charming is taking me away for the weekend. Just the two of us! We're not going far, just to Nashville. We're going to do all those "touristy" things that tourists do. We've lived in Tennessee all our lives, but have neglected to visit those 'landmarks' unique to our area. Maybe I'll share some details later, but as a wise old scribe said, "What happens in Nash-Vegas, stays in Nash-Vegas"
Enjoy your Labor Day!

Queen of Hearts

Princess Diana.. I.LOVED.HER. She was the epitome of every little girl's fantasy to grow up, marry the prince of her dreams, and live happily ever after. She had style. She had class. She was simply beautiful. I've always been an anglophile, but Diana intensified my interest in all things English. Although I was a very small child when she and Charles began their courtship, I remember it vividly. She was so shy, seemed so in love with him and it seemed like she would be the perfect princess. I remember getting up at the break of dawn to watch her wedding. I remember how the commentators commented on her beauty that day, how long the train of her wedding dress was, and who her attendants were, how she included the children that she had taught at nursery school. They seemed like the perfect couple, the kind you read about in fairy tales, but alas, life is no fairy tale. We've since heard all the sordid tales of Charles' and Diana's marriage. I admit, I kept up with her through the tabloids. The very ones that caused her such distress. The ones who are probably responsible for her death ten years ago this Friday. A death that should not have happened. A death that was too soon. I remember the exact moment I heard she had died. It's one of those seminal moments that define our lives, like the moment you heard JKF died, or when the space shuttle, Challenger, exploded. It was late at night, and Art and I had been up watching the BBCAmerica channel on television. The program was interrupted with the news that Princess Diana had been in a car accident and had died. I could not believe it. I skimmed other news channels for confirmation because I simply could not believe that she was dead. Someone so full of life, just gone in an instant, it didn't seem possible, but it was. And I grieved. I was pregnant with my own son then and I grieved for the young sons she left behind. Having lost my own mother at about the age her oldest son was, I could empathize. I remember the outpouring of grief and love for her and her boys. The mountains of flowers at her estate, she was truly the Queen of hearts. Again, I was up early to watch her funeral service, her boys walking with their father, uncle, and grandfather to the service, and the drive to Althorp for her internment. The image of the horse drawn cortege bearing her body to the church with flowers and loving notes from her children on the casket is burned into my memory. She was many things to many different people. A comfort to the sick, a crusader for the injured, a role model, a fundraiser for needy charities, a wife, a mother, a woman. Let us remember her not only for her physical beauty, but for the beauty that she possessed within that reached out to others.

Rest in peace, Queen of Hearts.

'Cause She's Got PERSONALITY

I'm a sucker for those quiz thingys. So, for what it's worth, here's my personality type score. Like I didn't know this stuff already.

Crazy Notion

My husband has this crazy notion. He's of a mind that if a word, say a slang word for instance, is in the Bible, then it's okay to use said word. Case in point, the word ass for example. My dear, sweet husband says that because this word is used numerous times in the Bible, that it's okay for him to say it, and say it, he does. Now, before you get the wrong idea, he's not a regular cusser. I mean, he doesn't use curse words often, neither do I, or we try very hard not to, but occasionally they slip out. And when they do, he's always careful to only utter those that are in the Bible (in front of the children anyway), therefore, he uses the above notion as justification.

Now, let me tell you what happened this week. Tad was in the kitchen, doing something he wasn't supposed to, I'm sure, when I hear him use the "A" word.

Shelby hollars at me, "Mom, Tad used the "A" word".

"Tad, you're not supposed to use words like that", his sister and I say simultaneously.

"So what, Dad says it's okay 'cuz it's in the Bible".

Thanks, Dad!

'Tis the Season

Hurricane season has arrived and as we are coming upon the second anniversary of one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent years, I think it fitting we take a few moments to remember the victims of Hurricane Katrina. During this time, we should also reach out and help wherever we can. There are many organizations out there that prepare in advance for disasters like hurricanes. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and the American Red Cross are just two examples of such organizations. Funds donated are used exclusively for the intended purpose of extending aid to victims, so please visit their websites to find out how you can help.

Now for your reflection:


Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On


I bought a cheap watch from the crazy man
Floating down Canal
It doesn’t use numbers or moving hands
It always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was had
But this watch is never wrong
And if I have trouble the warranty said
Breathe in breathe out move on

And it rained
It was nothing really new
And it blew
We’ve seen all that before
And it poured
The earth began to strain
Ponchartrain
Leaking through the door
Tides at war

If a hurricane doesn’t leave you dead
It will make you strong
Don’t try to explain just nod your head
Breathe in breathe out move on

And it rained
It was nothing really new
And it blew
We’ve seen all that before
And it poured
The earth began to strain
Ponchartrain
Buried the Ninth Ward
To the second floor

According to my watch the time is now
The past is dead and gone
Don’t try to shake it just nod your head
Breathe in breathe out move on
Don’t try to explain it just bow your head
Breathe in breathe out move on

(Jimmy Buffett/Matt Betton)

Run Forrest

So, guess who I saw in the bank today?

Forrest Gump.

Well, what I would picture Forrest to be if he were a elderly gentleman. This gentleman came in today, with an Alabama ball cap on, walked like Forrest, acted like Forrest, and sounded like Forrest. IT. WAS. STRANGEUH. The whole time I was processing his transaction he was rambling about our lottery and figuring how he'd split the money if he won. He walked out still mumbling about it. I reckon Forrest's mama was right. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!"

SO-A

SO-A (Soap Opera-holics Anonymous)

My name is Stacie

It's been one hour and forty-one minutes since my last viewing.

My addiction is Soap Operas.

My soap of choice is 'General Hospital'.

I have been watching it for the last fifteen years. Before GH, I watched 'Days of our Lives' or DOOL as it's known to it's fans and I watched 'As the World Turns', 'Guiding Light', and 'Bold and the Beautiful'. It started when I was a child. My mother got me addicted. She was a fan of ATWT and would proudly state that she was watching it the day President Kennedy was murdered. She remembered vividly the program being interrupted and what was going on with the characters on the soap. When I started back to work outside the home a couple of years ago, I had to miss my beloved General Hospital, and my favorite characters, Sonny, Jason, Jax, Carly, but thank God for the SoapNet channel because now I need never miss my show. I faithfully watch every night at 9pm. My friends know not to phone me during that time, my children do not interrupt me (mainly because I send them to bed as I have never let them watch GH), and my dear sweet husband doesn't call me at that time either. He's so good to me that he'll even watch with me on his night off work. Am I missing something in my life that makes me watch? No, I don't think so. My husband is sexy, spoils me plum rotten, and we have a wonderful marriage so GH is not an escape for me, instead I think it is a connection to my dearly departed mother that keeps me watching. This is one connection I still have with her and I don't think it's such a bad thing, no matter how stupid other people think soap operas are.

So there! I'm not going to hide anymore! I'll continue to watch General Hospital, and dang it Young and the Restless, or All My Children, and even DOOL if I feel like it!

**SIDE NOTE** I don't mean to make light of those 12-step groups, I truly believe they are a genuine help to addicts. I apologize to anyone who reads this blog for any offense, it was not intended.

One Love

I'm pretty sure I've blogged about this before, but here I go again. I believe that in this life, God provides us with a life partner that is especially meant for just us. What I mean is that there is someone for everyone. I found my special someone very early in life and I praise God that I didn't have to spend a long time looking for him. I always knew he'd have to be an extra special guy to put up with my independent streak, my feminist leanings, my stubborness, my outspokenness, and let's not forget that spoiled brat still lingering inside of me. I cannot fathom why God blessed me with such a man that accepts me completely for who I am and loves me despite all my faults. I look around at other marriages where there is a lack of communication, lack of trust, competition, or where one spouse acts as the parent and wonder if and how they can survive. I look at my own and am thankful that we can communicate about anything, trust each other implicitly, and where we work as a team. I cannot imagine spending one day without my husband. From the way he looks at me, to the sound of his voice, or his gentle touch, words alone cannot describe how this man makes me feel. Even after all this time, I find him as attractive, if not more so than the very first time I saw him. While we may not have as much time together as other couples do, we maximize every moment. The journey we've been on together has not always been a bed of roses, but you have to experience the thorns to be able to fully enjoy the beauty of the rose.

Long Live the King of Rock n Roll!

All the days we've been together
All the days we've been apart
Add up to a bunch of nothing
If I'm not still in your heart
I never want you to be
Just a page in my history
Someone I used to love

Your voice breathed in my ear
Or on the telephone
All the tender things we've whispered
To keep from feeling alone
May they never come to be
Just cold gems set in memory
Of someone I used to love

This current flows between us
That will not be denied
You draw me in towards you
Like the moon pulls at the tide
May no shadow ever fall
That will make me have to call
You someone I used to love

August 16, 1977

I don't remember much about August 16, 1977. I don't remember what day of the week it fell on, if it was a sunny day or a day of rain, where I went or what I was doing that day. I was only four years old, but I do remember August 16, 1977 as the day my muse died, the day Elvis Presley died. Now, I didn't know what a 'muse' was, but what I did know was that this man stirred something down inside my little heart. Something that inspired me, that could console me, and something that filled me with joy. His chiseled features, his long flowing hair, eyes like pools of water, he was simply beautiful. His charm and outgoing personality were like a magnet drawing you towards him and I was totally in love with him, as far as I could comprehend the concept of love. Elvis was a big deal in our home, we had 8 track tapes of his music, my brother had a poster from the Hawaiian concert on his wall, we watched all his movies anytime and everytime they were on the television. We all loved Elvis.


I remember the outpouring of grief. The constant re-telling of his tragic death on the television and airplay of his old interviews,concerts, and movies. Seeing lines of people standing on the roadside as his funeral procession came their way. Women shrieking, tearing their hair, such grief I could not comprehend at my tender age.

Elvis meant many things to many people, and for me he was an inspiration and encouragement to express myself musically. Thank you Elvis for what you have meant to me and to the world and thanks be to God for sending this world such a blessing.

Rest in peace, E.

Interview with Art

1. So, Stacie, how did you meet your husband.
Short version: at a party
Long version: because I hounded our mutual friend to come to aforementioned party until he relented bringing along this tall, gorgeous, blond, green-eyed Greek god of a man. (I've always had a thing for blondes ;))


2. As a "musically inclined" person, what do you feel are the benefits or contributions of music to humankind.
The benefits and contributions of music to humankind are many. Music stirs souls. It has a way of breaking through the walls that we build around our hearts and empathizes with our struggles, soothes our hurts, rejoices in our triumphs, and awakens our consciences to seek justice. Of course, it also has groovy beats that you can really dance to, but seriously music, for some (myself included) can speak to a persons spirit in ways that the spoken word cannot.


3. 1st Corinthians 14:33-35 reads, "... As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." Your thoughts on this?
Hot Damn, that church in Corinth finally let the women inside the door! Well, that's my initial thought. I feel that we should not take scripture out of context, that we must look at who a particular text is written to, the culture of the time in which it was written, and the author themselves. In this case, the text is written to the church in Corinth, which obviously had a problem with the women in worship service wanting more understanding of the gospel and accidentally disrupting worship. The author here, Paul, while admonishing the women, only does so to ensure that total chaos does not take over in Corinth. Another thought is that if Paul had intended for women to never speak in church, then he would have sent similar instructions to the other established churches, he didn't, which leads me to believe that this was a problem only for this particular church. Also, to say that a woman must be in submission is in some ways equal to slavery. Paul says, in other parts of scripture, that "there is no longer Jew, nor Gentile, slave or free, male or female, that we are all one in Christ Jesus". If that's true,and I believe it is, then man and woman are equally capable of proclaiming the gospel!


4. You have called yourself a liberal but many people who know you in "real life" consider you to be quite conservative. So which is it?
I'm a conserberal, or is that liberative? I consider myself more in the "liberal" area, even tho I despise those labels. The folks in "real life" that think I am conservative don't know the real me, or haven't taken the time to dialogue with me. I can understand why folks would think I'm conservative; I've voted Republican numerous times. For a long time, I straddled the fence, not really definite on what it is that I believe. Maybe that's because I was young and still trying to figure it all out for myself. Now, I know. I'm happy with who I am and what it is that I believe and quite frankly I couldn't give a good gosh darn what anybody thinks of me!


5. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes! I met Davy Jones of the MONKEES! when I was 16 yrs old. My much older parents took me to Nashville to the Hickory Hollow Mall where I had to stand in line for hours waiting to meet Davy. I had bought his book and was determined to get his autograph. I got it and I've got the pictures to prove it. Looking back, I realize how spoiled I was because my parents would probably not have driven two hours to wait in a mall for two hours just to meet some guy from a made up band off the TV. How blessed I was!

Here's the proof:

Just Another Day

My husband and I have tried instill manners in our children. "Yes Ma'am", "No Sir", "Please", "Thank you", etc. Sometimes, I think we've done a good job, sometimes, I'm not so sure. I've taught my son to open doors for ladies, never to ask a woman her age or weight, and a few other things. Now that's not to say that he hasn't learned from example becuase his dad does those things, but I just want him to be a polite, respectful man when he's grown. So this weekend while we were out doing our 'tax-free' back to school shopping, I noticed Tad performing a polite, respectful act. As we were walking up to the door of a department store, Tad saw an older lady coming towards the door from the inside. He ran up, opened the door and stood there long enough for the older lady, his sister, and myself to walk through. Immediately, I complimented him (we've always been big on positive reinforcement) for opening and holding the door for the older lady. He looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Ahh, Mom....it's just another day, No big deal". My co-worker upon hearing this story said, "That Tad sounds like a card".
If she only knew.....