Halloween Poem

Yes, I wrote it! What do you think?

Whirling
Swirling
Twirling

Lighted
Witches
Hat.

Stars
& Moon
Illuminate

Swooping
Gliding
Bat.

Presidential Candidates

Less then a month to go! Are you ready? Do you know who you're voting for?

Hold on a minute. Are you sure?

I have a wonderful site you can visit that my lovely friend Rosie sent me, and I thought I would share it with you.

You simply click on the quote you agree with about many topics like the ecomony, taxes, and the Iraq war. When you are done, you will find out if you have picked a candidate that will do what you want as the next Prez.

I'll admit I was a bit nervous when I started. Would I choose the quotes from the candidate I wanted to win, or would I have to completely rethink who I am voting for on November 4th?

Well, for me, it was a landslide. I picked all but one quote from the person I am supporting (and the one I got wrong threw me for a loop). It helped solidify for me that I have chosen the candidate that will do what I want as Prez.

So have fun with this quiz.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MatchOMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

P.S. I saw the greatest Burger King ad about voting. It had a bunch of clips of people ordering thru a drive-thru their unique order (one woman even wanted them to cut her fries in half!). Then it said (I'm paraphrasing a bit - I only saw it once), "We know you have a voice, we hear it everyday. Use it to vote on November 4th. Have it Your Way."

I LOVED IT!

CMA'S! CMA'S! CMA'S!

The 42nd Country Music Award Show is happening November 12th on ABC from 7- 10pm. I’ll list my picks to win as we get closer to the big night. I would also like to add that I am glad it’s not on a Wednesday like the ACM’s were, the 12th of November is a Wednesday night. That does mean no new Pushing Daisy’s, Private Practice, or Dirty Sexy Money, but I can let that slide for some good country music.

::clears throat::
::puts on best announcer voice::

“And the nominees are…”

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland (YAY! First nomination for them in this category)
Keith Urban
No Rascal Flatts this year.

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
This is a good category, but I would like to see Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, and Josh Turner added at some point.

Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Alison has the voice of an angel, but doesn’t get much radio play, which is a shame. Other powerhouse females that are missing are Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, and Sara Evans.

Vocal Group of the Year
The Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
There are more groups joining the country scene now, and it’s nice to see that reflected in the nominations. Next year we could see Lost Trailers in this category.

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers
This, like the Group of the Year, is a category that has been expanding the last few years with newer duos. The Wreckers really don’t deserve to be there however since they are no longer together, and that has been known for a long time, so their inclusion bugs me. Look for Michelle Branch to try a solo country career soon.

New Artist of the Year (formally The Horizon Award)
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler
This is going to be a tough pick this year.

Single of the Year (award to the artist)
“Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
“Gunpowder & Lead” – Miranda Lambert
“I Saw God Today” – George Strait
“Stay” – Sugarland
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins

Song of the Year (award to Songwriter)
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson (Alan Jackson)
“I Saw God Today” – George Strait (Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby)
“Letter To Me” – Brad Paisley (Brad Paisley)
“Stay” – Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles)
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins (Lee Thomas, Ashley Gorley)

Musical Event of the Year
“Another Try” – Josh Turner & Trisha Yearwood
“Every Other Weekend” – Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney
“Gone, Gone, Gone” – Alison Kraus & Robert Plant
“Life in a Northern Town” – Sugarland featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
“Shiftwork” – Kenny Chesney & George Strait

Music Video of the Year
“Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson
“Stay” – Sugarland
“Waitin’ on a Woman” – Brad Paisley
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins
This year I will watch them all online and make a pick. I always forget that I have that option since I am too cheap to splurge for the Expanded cable and just have basic at my house, thus no CMT.

Album of the Year
“Carnival Ride” – Carrie Underwood
“Cowboy Town” – Brooks & Dunn
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson
“Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates” – Kenny Chesney
“Troubadour” – George Strait

NEVER FORGET

Seven years ago the way we looked at the world was forever shattered. Much has happened since, but the best thing to come out of tragedy is the love that we feel for each other. I will never forget how I felt that day, and in the days that followed. When I would walk Dingo and see the flags, or the tributes I would know that I was not alone in my mourning. The terrorists tried to separate us and bring hate into the world, but the failed miserably. Instead we were brought together and found love.

Here's what New York City Mayor Bloomberg had to say at the memorial this morning.

“Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day our world was broken, It lives forever in our hearts and our history, a tragedy that unites us in a common memory and a common story ... the day that began like any other and ended as none ever has."

That day ended for me with thousands of tears shed, and a fear that when I woke up that morning the Empire State Building wouldn't be standing. When I forced myself to go to bed and turn off the news The Empire State Building was being evacuated with the fear that there were bombs in the building. Fortunately that was not the case.

In the days following 9/11 there were many theories past around the net. (remember the one about Nostradomous?) But someone sent this email to me that I found fascinating. I don't know what genius thought of this, but it will make you sit back and say "Wow."

UNITED WE STAND
1) New York City has 11 letters
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters.
3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters.
4) George W Bush has 11 letters.
5) The two twin towers make an "11"

This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:
2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number11.
3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11
4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers.6+5 = 11
5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known. 9 + 1+ 1 = 11
6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number911. 9 + 1 + 1 = 11.

Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own mind:
1) The total number of victims inside all the hi-jacked planes was 254.2 + 5 + 4 = 11.
2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year. Again 2 + 5 + 4 = 11.
3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 11.
4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towersincident.

Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own mind:
Now this is where things get totally eerie:

The most recognized symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is The Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamicholy book: "For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."

That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.

Still unconvinced about all of this..?! Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:
Open Microsoft Word and do the following,
1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the firstplane to hit one of the Twin Towers.
2. Highlight the Q33 NY.
3. Change the font size to 48.
4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS

I wish I could show you what happens, but the blog doesn't have WINGDINGS.

So try it on your own, but be prepared to freak out a bit!

The Presidential Candidates

I found this and thought it was a great way to cut thru the BS and get to the issues and where Obama and McCain stand, so I thought I would share it with you. Going to be a very interesting, and hard fought election.

This is from the non-partisan website ProCon.org. I know you're not dumb, but just to clarify a "Pro" stance means yes he's for it, the "Con" stance means he's against it.

Should abortion remain a legal option in America?
Obama: Pro.
McCain: Con.

Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the US?
Obama: Con.
McCain: Pro.

Should sex education in our schools be based on abstinence only?
Obama: Con.
McCain: Pro.

Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed?
Obama: Con.
McCain: Con.

Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed?
Obama: Pro.
McCain: Con.

Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care?
Obama: Pro.
McCain: Con.

Should illegal aliens receive any of the rights or benefits that lawful permanent residents enjoy?
Obama: Pro.
McCain: Pro.

Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman?
Obama: Con.
McCain: Con.

Should marijuana be a medical option?
Obama: Pro.
McCain: Con.

Should Social Security be privatized?
Obama: Con.
McCain: Pro.

New Form of Breast Cancer

My friend Sheri sent this to me in an email about IBC. Inflammatory Breast Cancer. A breast cancer that cannot found in a mammogram or when doing your monthly self-exam.

Please watched the linked video to learn more about a disease that most woman have never heard of.

Be aware that it is a bit graphic.

Thanks Sheri for sharing this with me.

http://komonews.s3.amazonaws.com/ibc/komo_ibc.wmv

NASHVILLE STAR FINALE

This is it. The final Nashville Star. In an hour we’ll have a new star on the horizon of country music. This season started with high expectations, but I am finding that most of us were quickly disillusioned. I just read an article with John Rich where he talked about NBC casting characters more than true singing talent for country radio. If they want this show on next season, get the judges involved right away, and have them pick the contestants, and find a better way to fill so you don’t have to torture the contestants with super long exaggerated pauses.

That said, I am excited about tonight's show.

John Rich introduces Melissa Lawson by saying, “One of the most gifted vocalists” he’s ever heard.
Jeffrey Steele says “Shawn Mayer is the comeback kid.”
Jewel says Gabe Garcia is “country thru and thru.”

And then Katy reveals there were 5 million votes to determine the winner.

We will start the show with Billy Ray Cyrus (BRC) singing, and I am hoping for his new song, or even “Ready, Set, Don’t Go.”

But shut my mouth, and slap your gramma (to quote Trace Adkins “HonkeyTonk Badonkadonk”)

He is NOT singing Achy Breaky Heart! The honey likes the dancers, now Gabe joins in, then the rest of them, and then the entire Top 12. Now I wasn’t into the country scene when this song was popular, so it doesn’t grate on me the way it does others, but I don’t think this is the song that would lure in the viewers (well maybe with those dancers.)

The voting is over, but each contestant will sing an encore performance. Then their mentors will show a little love for them.

Gabe Garcia
“Celebrity” – Brad Paisley
It was just OK for me. Oh, but I did like how he ended it by boosting “adios reality.”
Jewel (J) – She is proud of him. He is so country. He is the American dream since he started out as an electrician.

Melissa Lawson
“My Wish” – Rascal Flatts (Jeffrey Steele wrote this song)
She is restrained and didn’t belt it out, seemed to have a few weak moments, but she has a great voice.
John Rich (JR) – 5 kids under 10, she has become more beautiful each week. How does it feel to know people can download her music? “Unbelievable.” He said it’s life-changing.

Shawn Mayer
“Gunpowder & Lead” – Miranda Lambert
Was she having mic problems? She looks nervous. Trying to put too much into the performance – just sing already. She is doing bad karaoke for me again. Seems like a copy of Miranda’s performance of this song.
Jeffrey Steele (JS) – He didn’t think she would make it to the final 3, he agreed with JR (she fired him as her mentor), but says she has been professional and she is his dark horse.

Now it’s time for some pointless filler. The judges and the contestants have some mentoring moments. They show them sitting around with snacks talking about what it takes to be in the business, and then they bring out the big Radio Syndicator Blair Garner (After Midnight), and then one of their big mentors George Jones. JR said “if there is a God of country music, it’s George Jones.” Seems George is a fan of the show. On a side not, did you see all those tattoos on JS? George Jones still sounds great. It’s too bad his voice was out and he had to miss Country USA.

OK, someone is going home. Who?

Shawn Mayer. I don’t think that’s a big surprise.

So we are where we knew we would be in practically the first week. Gabe & Melissa in the final two. I will say that my pick is Melissa. I like listening to her all the time, but I am iffy about Gabe.

Anyway as Shawn says goodbye BRC asks her if she would do anything differently and she says no, and reminds us that Miranda Lambert went out third. She has been hit and miss for me. I think she has potential, but there is something about her that I am not a fan of. I think it’s her attitude and when JS tells her it’s all stepping stones to get there I find myself wondering if I am not alone and that he thinks her attitude needs to be adjusted.

Now it’s time for Gabe & Melissa to sing a corny duet. “Time of My Life” which Jennifer Warren & Bill Medley sang for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Melissa is blowing Gabe away. Oh, now wait, that part was pretty good. LOL I guess he just had to relax a bit, since the end was better than the beginning.

I have a question about the duet. Did they practice this with Shawn and Gabe, and Melissa and Gabe, and Shawn and Melissa (which would have been extremely corny!) or did they have the girls practice another duet?

During a commercial break they run a trailer for Toby’s movie “Beer For My Horses.” I really want to see it! I love the end of the trailer where he is elbowing a bunch of different people. And ladies, you know you melt when he says “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.” It looks like fun. It has to be better than The X-Files movie. But I hear it is only opening on 100 screens and if it does well they’ll “blow it up” as Toby says. Hopefully one of those 100 is around here. I’ve been counting on the movie as a Fair stress reliever.

Back to the show.

Melissa Lawson recap.
Shots of her performing and the judges saying nice things about her.
“Something More” – Sugarland
The girl can sing.
The judges give her lots of positives.

Gabe Garcia recap.
See above with Melissa.
“Gone Country” – Alan Jackson
If they find the right song that fits his tone he sounds good, and this is one of those songs. Very nice.
The judges heap him with love.

BRC wants them to pick.
J says she can’t she’s “𨢁a girl”
JR says that he is proud that they both represent what country music is.
JS picks Gabe, and since he isn’t a mentor of either, like J & JR, it will be interesting to see if he is right.

I want Melissa to win. I remember the first time I heard her voice. Hers was the first one to make me say, “OH!”

Now we get a treat of seeing the two contestants in the studio singing the new single “What If It All Goes Right?” John Rich is going to be their producer, and when BRC asks how it went, he says that country radio and fans are getting a true star no matter who wins (translation – they both have a career ahead of them).

Jewel congratulates America for putting the two right contestants thru.

And the winner of Nashville Star is….MELISSA LAWSON!!!

She looks so surprised! How sweet!

“What If It All Goes Right?” her first single.
I really like it, but I also want to hear Gabe sing it. I wonder how he would have sounded. I was a little worried that she was going to choke on confetti – she kept having to pull it out of her mouth. Then her darling boys come up on stage and she hugs them. So sweet.

So congrats to Melissa Lawson!!! I’ll get that new single on the air pronto!