Singing: The *GaySport would be lost

I suppose it's a good sign that I'm not blogging every day. My posts were to entertain myself, document trivial BS that happened daily, and like most all bloggers, whether they admit it or not ... feed that attention seeking biotch that lives in my ego. I justify that facet of my personality by blaming it on M.C.S. (middle child syndrome) Fewer posts just mean I'm busy enjoying life.

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Michael Jackson
(Why did I sell the mint-in-the-box dolls I had of him years ago?)

Farrah Fawcet
(Why did I pitch that poster of her in the red bathing suit my ex had?)

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Don's daughter Tyler came for a visit. (She lives in Florida)

Don, Ty, his son Cheyne, Cheyne's girlfriend Candy and I went ... where else ... out on Lake St Clair for a boat ride.

Ty and Candy

Candy acquired a dragonfly for a pet. It stayed on her back and finger for the longest time.


Cheyne caught up on his sleep.

Ty caught us up on her life in Florida and her plans for her time here.

Don, and I caught up on ... cocktails!

Then ... Mother Nature caught up snuck-up on all of us.


*Don's boat had been named the GaySport in jest. It's a BaySport and the lettering had been "tampered" with. And no, he's not gay nor were there any gay sports happening on it.

The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow GaySport would be lost,
The Minnow GaySport would be lost.

We made it just one mile short of our destination and had to get off the lake. Don did a great job of making sure we didn't end up like Gilligan. Would I have been Ginger or Mary Ann? Don't even suggest Mrs. Howell!

Ty placed a call to the bar restaurant we were heading to and they kindly sent a waitress over to pick us up. We were soaked, so Don bought us all T-Shirts there. We looked like a commercial in progress for the place.

We had a great lunch, the storm passed, and we headed back home.

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We had a wedding to attend. Don suggested we go by boat, I vetoed it. I just knew I'd somehow end up overboard!

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Sunday, Don had a graduation party for his son at the local park. It was perfect weather and the park pavilion he rented was at the furthest point ... right on Lake St. Clair. (Common' you knew it would have to be on the water now, didn't you?) Friends, family, BBQ, great weather, cocktails, and cake ... can you think of anything better at that moment? Me either.

Cheyne and his Grandma

I ate too much this past weekend and slept too little. I'm thinking of the 4th of July coming up this weekend. I better fast the next 3 days.

"Got a Little Crazy"

Kenny Chesney's song "Got a Little Crazy" is probably the best synopsis of this past weekend.

Don's birthday was Saturday, so Friday morning we flew to Nashville. I had gone last year for the first time and had so much fun. Don had never been there and since he has always enjoyed "old school" country music, it was a great place to celebrate his 49th!

We went to the Grand Ole Opry Friday night. The line up was some old school, some newer, but all absolutely entertaining. Tracy Byrd, Vince Gill, Alison Krause, Marty Stuart, Little Jimmy Dickens, and many more were the line up that night. We were 10 rows back, center, perfect seats.

Tracy Byrd

Marty Stuart and his
how the heck do you walk in those too-tight jeans?

Vince Gill

Alison Krause

Saturday morning we started with a liquid breakfast then off to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Another good time seeing costumes, cars, guitars, and history. The walls are floor to ceiling with all the gold & platinum records of every country singer imaginable.

Breakfast!

After the HOF, we decided (since Dons actual birthday was Saturday) to go from one end of Broadway to the other stopping in as many honky tonks as possible. Our stop included getting cowboy boots for each of us and I picked up a cowboy hat.

Tan leather, pink stitching.
Ignore the hem of the white jeans that were too long and
picked up who-knows-what along the street

Don is a good singer. His fave, again, old school country. Especially Hank Williams Sr. We stopped in "Wanna B's", the main karaoke bar on Broadway. There were good, and not-so-good singers, but all having fun. (How can you NOT have fun on a bar crawl?)

The "Wanna B's"

Don started out saying he was not going to sing (mhm, right) but after a few (seventy-eleven) Crowns on the rocks, he was up there with the rest of them. His rendition of Hank's "Hey Good Lookin' " brought hoots and hollers and applause.


We were partying with a couple from our hotel celebrating their anniversary. I had talked to fellow blogger Ginger (GingerSnaps) who I had met last year. She is my BFF in Nashville and was going to meet up with us later. Ginger is a professional singer ( yes, she's sang with Dolly Parton and more) and last year I heard her beautiful voice at this same bar.

As the vodka, Crown, and beers flowed, we all glowed. Don had one request. (He knows I can't sing. Not one note.) He asked for one thing for his birthday.

That I sing.

That I sing Happy Birthday to him.

That I sing Happy Birthday to him at Karaoke.

That I sing Happy Birthday to him at Karaoke, ala Marilyn Monroe, as she sang to President John F. Kennedy.

In a drunken weak moment, I agreed. But, I said I must have a good buzz on before I can do it. I promised and I don't break promises. (forehead slap)

It was just before midnight, I was feeling pretty good. I was getting pressured that his birthday would soon be over. Eh, what the heck. No one here knows me. They'd never see me again. Don was feeling no pain, his ears were probably as buzzed as the rest of his body. I could pull it off.

I got up on stage, had on Caitlin's my Marilyn Monroe T-shirt, my new confidence cowboy boots, and yeah, I'd never see these people again.

I started in, slowly singing just as Marilyn, puttin' on my moves and then oh shit, right there, front and center I see Ginger with her laughing shocked look. She had just got there, umm, what timing. Don was happily prompting me on and I finished without making a total fool of myself. Although, I have yet to be presented with any record deals ?!?!?

Me and Ginger

Sunday, as we were getting ready to leave Nashville, we realized how lucky we are not to be famous "rawk stars" ... we can party like 'em, for a couple nights, but it will take us weeks to recoup.

Happy Birthday Don.

I'm Having Some Good Times!

What can I say? Another camera unload.

This blog may be boring now, but in real time ...
I'm having a great time!

Conversation Hearts : She's 21

The tags Conversation Hearts have always been about my daughter Caitlin.


Since she moved out on her own, our daily chats are more like post it notes. Short and to the point. I really do miss her loud, moody, quirky, silly-self.

Like everyone else, jobs and money have been a speed-bump she's been trying to juggle. This kid has had a job, non-stop, since she was 15. She's a hair stylist, and like everything else, her industry is slowing down. Women are stretching their appointments longer and doing a lot of "do-it-yourself" coloring. (This has been an upside because they usually need a professional to fix it)

Caitlin just turned 21. Her car died. She needed to get another job. She was feeling pretty blue.

This, 2002 Saturn, owned by a little ole' lady only has 36K miles on it. No dirt, stains, chicken-McNuggets or footprints in it.

(Oops, crappy background, on work parking lot)

Happy Birthday Caitlin !

You are a hard worker in life and you're always striving to be better.

I love you,
Mom

Blogger Boo-gah????

:::Poof:::

My header has disappeared!

I asked John if he borrowed it, he didn't ;) ... but he said banners and headers have been randomly disappearing from blogger.

Before I let loose on them, (not really, I'm too nice) ... has anyone else experienced any problem with this or seen it on other blogger blogs?

TYVM

Ahh-Ahh-Ahh-Chooooooooo!

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their black gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!

The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, "GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage.

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

For Cheyne, Shortman, and all the other 2009 graduates, the future is yours with endless possibilities. God Bless you!

Congratulations Cheyne!
(Don, his son Cheyne and the car Don gave him at graduation)


Congratulations Shortman!
(With his mom, Ree, TheThe Hotfessional)

*This is an embellished version of what really happen according to Snopes. Point being, that class, of our future, had already solved a problem together and united in their beliefs.

So Then ....

Last Thursday (oh mah holy hell, I haven't posted in a looooong time) at the last minute, Don got Detroit Tiger tickets from his boss. It was a day game so we made the best of our day in Detroit, since the Tigers SUCKED the wind out of the game in the third inning.

Thanks Brandon Inge for doing your part!

So then ...

We walked back to our super cool parking space ascloseasthis to Comerica Park, (never have recieving a parking ticket there before) .... only to find a $30 frickin' ticket. Yes, that's my Black G-6 the one with the ticket on it!.


So then ...

In my Nancy way, I took a buncha pics showing there is no warnings about parking and I'll send them in with my $30 check.

So then ...

We headed over to Tiger Stadium, the historical, original home of the Detroit Tigers as I have know it all my life. It's being demolished, destroyed, pulverized, even though it could be developed into a landmark park / ball fields for kids to play in. Nope a big ugly vacant parcel of land is just what Detroit has decided it should be. George Clooney saved it for a couple days by requesting a film crew be able to use it. Of cour$e Detroit $aid $ure.


So then ...

We headed to the Better Made Potato Chip factory on Gratiot because ... hell why not? Neither of us had been there and Don has been jonesing for chips. We got a quick shot of the chips coming off the conveyor belt ...

... then decided to take a pic in front of the building and its sign.

Just as I posed and Don took aim,
Momma and her kids pulled up, right in front of me.
She couldn't care less that we were trying to be all touristy and take a pic.

So then ...

We decided to go fishing.
When we got back to Don's house,
his son Cheyne and Cheyne's friend Rich were waiting for us.

Fishing, always a great way to end the day.

Cheyne and Rich serenading (?) with "I'm On A Boat" ... poses included,

... a few perch caught, (TYVM Cheyne) ... a perfect sunset,

... and a beautiful moon to call it a night.

So then ...

This weekend ... to be continued.

Ben on the Mend

After Bently had his surgery ( yes, that's how his name is spelled, unlike the Bentley automobile), his only goal in life was to lick those stitches until they were removed.

Bryan decided Ben needed a dog sitter while we were at work. His good friend Cathleen has "dog-sat" for Ben on other occasions. Like ... the first couple months of his life because I had told Bryan NO DOGS! He brought Ben home, I made it clear ... NO DOGS. Yes, we see how that turned out, tyvm. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield, no respect.

Anyway, I have grow to love this dog so much and when Bryan moves out, there just may be a fight over him.


I digress. (Really, I just like using that word ... it's thee most overused word by bloggers)

So, Cathleen watched Ben for the first week after his surgery. She also watches a couple little kids. She took the following photos.

I know Pit Bulls get a Bad Rap, especially when the Vick Dogs story came out. I also believe, the breed itself, makes for a great family pet. Remember Petey on The Little Rascals, was a Pit.

Although there are bad breeders, for the most part, I think it's all how they are trained. That goes for any other breed, including kids and what the hell let's throw men in there too! HUSH, you know I'm kidding ... maybe.

So here's Ben the Pit Bull [oh no!] playing with young kids!

Um, I think they intimidated Ben more than he did them!