A ROAD DADDY AND A BIRD!

As some of you may know my husband drives a bus. Not any old Greyhound bus, but the million dollar coaches associated with the music artists of today's rock and roll, pop, country and even gospel scene. He is an A-list driver who has worked for Britney Spears, N-Sync, Faith Hill, Wide Spread Panic and here for about the last four years, Lynyrd Skynyrd, to name just a few. I am privy to some back-stage spoiler but like a good wife, keep my lips closed and just nod my head like I care. LOL. Artists seem to be cut from the same narcissistic cloth, its just the way they roll. Anyway, I digress so let me get quickly to the point. Occasionally, Arnie will have a really great story. And this past week he had me close to peeing my pants while driving. Let me recount this as best I can.

2 am and the bus is rather quiet.

Arnie is driving (or flying at about ** miles per hour) down a dark desert highway with Sparky, guitarist for Skynyrd, sitting up in the captains chair listening to Arnie drone on about loving his wife and kids. (okay so maybe that isn't what they were talking about but --- don't kill my joy!)

Anyhow, out of the corner of my husband's keen eye, he saw a dark shadow zoom by and then it happened.

BAM!!! *&%!!!!!

Husband recalls his heart nearly stopping and his shorts getting wet.

Sparky lept into the entrance well turning around and around in circles doing what I refer to as the dooky-dance. You know the one where your kids run in short little circles holding their hand over their butt cuz they're gonna drop one but can't seem to get to the bathroom???? Yeah that's the dance.

In addition to the circles, he continuously mumbled and then shouted out some passionate word that takes no imagination, but rhymes with truck! Apparently, the dancing lasted a couple of revolutions as Arnie had to ask him if he was okay. Eventually he was --- after his heart rate settled down. The large OWL bit the proverbial road dust. Poor bird, he was probably just looking for a branch to perch on but ended up meeting his maker.

When the rest of the gang awakened in the am, finding the damage to the driver's side wind shield, they were amazed. After all, they commented, "we didn't even feel you swerve!" Husband answered them, "that's because I didn't!"

Isn't that the best? Those are the stories I live for. I met my husband nearly 20 years ago while he drove for the group I was touring with. He is an amazing driver and takes his job very seriously. I guess that's why he's ALWAYS asked back. He can be little irreverent at times but he's also one of the most hard-working and loyal men I have ever met. He's had me in stitches more times than I can count --- LOVE HIM!!!

So glad this bird's aim was little too high. Because I want a life-time more of those funny moments.

All joking aside. It really could have ended quite badly.

YEP! I'M A KID AGAIN......

Yesturday I received a phone call that turned me into a kid again. One of my friends called to tell me she had just left Claire's and noticed they had Patrick Dempsey barbie dolls and asked if I she should pick one up for me.

"Seriously?....let me think a minute......ahh, YES!"

She started to laugh, as only a true friend would, and then turned her car around to head back to the store she had already left. SWEET! Within 20 minutes she arrived with my prize and we both giggled like we were 12 years old. Ahh, I am blessed with the most loyal of all friends.

As you probably imagined, Greys Anatomy is my one true vice, or as my teens like to tell me, my crack addiction. They humor me as I pull back the layers to the plot like a crime-scene investigator on CSI.

Yep, I'm that kind of fan. I examine this show like the very best pathologist --- 'colors, motivation of the characters, what episode does it link us back to? Will Meredith and Derek ever get it right?' Those are the thoughts and questions that whirl around my head after watching this show. I know there are people who think I have lost my mind, or what's left of it, after all, its just a television program. But I say, "Oh really, I suppose Jane Eyre was just a book. Hmmph!"

The fact is, Greys Anatomy is layered with characters who are deeply flawed though filled with heart. They often exhibit the best and worst of humanity. They make choices that I most definitely would NEVER make for myself. But they also move me to FEEL something. I see that even in the screwed up mess the characters have often created in their lives, there is beauty to be discovered in their triumph and lessons to be gleaned in their failures. (There is also Dr. Derek Shepherd aka McDreamy. LOL)

There is an underlying theme of grace in this show --- of learning to love those who get it wrong more than they get it right and of course --- of learning to forgive when someone has painfully and willfully rendered undeniable harm.

It's an awfully complex little television show, my Greys Anatomy. I'm not one to answer the phone on a Thursday night, so remember that. And please don't hate me for it. The show will come to an end in a couple of more seasons and Seattle Grace Hospital will be no more. I will have to watch Mr. Dempsey race cars for his hyper-sport team or pay the $8.25 ticket price for the latest movie he stars in.

But until then, I'll keep my Thursday night Greys appointment --- and my Patrick Dempsey barbie doll! LOL

Amy Whinehouse is ?????

So, in the last couple of days my youngest daughter, Jaelyn, decided that she would begin the chase of her musical dream. She, along with her older brother Gregg, created her very own YouTube channel. Her video debut was that of her very own karaoke cover of Amy Whinehouse's, You No I'm No Good --- not exactly the most innocent of songs ever penned. Well, I was truly floored, as a former professional singer myself, by the sound and interpretation my 13 year old baby was able to produce. And then it hit me? Was Amy this good at the tender age of 13? Did she use to learn the latest hit songs from the radio, run downstairs demanding an audience with her mother and father? Did they even know she was truly an amazing and gifted songstress? Or worse, did they only show her attention, love and affirmation when she performed?
I had a father like that. He believed I would be somebody IF AND WHEN I became famous. Now, don't misunderstand, I love my daddy and I wish every single day I could talk to and see him again. He's been gone from us now for 11 years and that's given me alot of time to reflect on his mistakes --- as well as my own. My daddy did the best he could with what he had been given. And consequently I have learned that I will not give love and affirmation to my children based only on the merits of their performance. I have let them know that God loves them for EXACTLY who they are --- even when they create a heap of a mess. I wonder if Amy ever heard the words, I love you --- just because. I wonder why this gifted creature, that God formed in her mother's womb, is such an utter train wreck. Maybe it was just teenage rebellion that got her started down the path of destruction she seems hellbent on traveling. But maybe, just maybe, she is hiding something much darker. I'm sure I'll never know, but I have prayed for her today as I've watched Jaelyn's video. And then I've thanked God for the gift of my daughter. And I pray even harder she will NEVER know or experience the meaning of the words to that song.

For the love of Britney!

I just don't get it. It's like watching a speeding train about to demolish a vehicle trapped at a railroad crossing! Can't anybody do something!? Is there not a single person anywhere willing to stand up for this young woman when she obviously can't stand up for herself? Oh, wait a minute, Dr. Phil attempted to intervene and we then watched some people attempt to knock him off of his high horse for publicly stating what everyone already knows --- unless they've been living under a rock! Britney is in trouble!!! With all the media coverage and eyewitness accounts of her speeding down the Hollywood freeways, why hasn't the local DMV revoked her license? If we know she's driving recklessly--- don't they? Are we really that sick of a society to just stand by and watch as this young mother self destructs? Is it a new way of getting our celebrity crazed kicks? (Of course it is!)
I want her to fall and FALL HARD! I want everyone to stop buying the albums and the perfume and the swag associated with this iconic pop princess! Why? Am I really that mean? No! I simply think that more than another meaningless round of success, Britney needs to hit rock bottom. She needs to rediscover who she was before Hollywood, record sales and paparrazzi!
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