Deep In The Forrest

Mama was always happy to celebrate her birthday, not really because of the number. In fact, if anyone made mention of how old she was, asked or told, she would get blazing mad. She remained "39 and Holding" until her daughters began to turn 39. She was strong, beautiful, passionate about life and her family, and just one of the most amazing women I've ever known in this world. She used to say that she felt like she was really born on April Fool's Day (April 1st) and that she was just told her birthday landed on April 2nd to make her feel better. Mom, anyone who ever encountered you learned quickly you were anything but a fool. You were and always will be my beautiful, fierce, beloved mother and hero. No fun celebrating without you... I love you so much. Happy Birthday Mom. Hug Daddy for me.

In an effort to glean a bit of inspiration for June, I filtered through some of my past writings, I have had quite a few poetic moments on this blog. I realize how badly my posts as of late surely pale in comparison. Believe me, some of my thoughts and moments could compete, but I can't publish it all. You will simply have to wait for my autobiography to be published. :) This year is definitely zooming by, I feel like we just got through New Year's and already six months have evaporated before our very eyes. It has been an emotionally up and down time, sometimes I feel like I'm just floating helplessly in a creaky little boat on a stormy sea, but I'm hanging on to the boat, not the shore, popping my Dramamine and doing my best to ride the waves. Everything comes gradually at its appointed hour, there's a bigger picture and plan. So, we keep on rolling along. Shouts out today to Richie , it's his birthday and I hope he has a good one, still do my best to be a goo...

The year is halfway faded, some has been ill-fated but now on we roll. Most of June has passed, nothing lovely ever lasts, now all the birthday kids are grown... on we roll. That's my poetic way of beginning the post. ;) In fact, there have been a lot of spring and early summer birthdays we have gotten through, and as stated before the difficult firsts of all the holidays of the year without my father... and on we have to roll. We have no other choice. No matter what life tosses us, we have to dodge, or catch it with full-on force and keep moving on towards the goal line. It's hard sometimes, I know. Our difficult days and our dark and violent storms are what carries us through to the most beautiful days ever so I'm glad for them all... I know things will get better. Here are the only things I have to show for my birthday this past Monday (6/22). First and foremost, my beautiful Mother gave me this birthday card with lunch money in it... It's a lovely card and a lovely ...

That's right, I'm doing a self-birthday post... I should've done it earlier, but I took the day off and slept late and still had to do things like laundry and the like but for the most part it has been a nice day. Why do your days off pass off so quickly though while work days seem to be a week long a piece?? That's so unfair. But right now, I'm just saying "Happy Birthday To Me!!!" Overlook the bleached out hair, please! Dad, Me and Mom on NWCC Grad Day. My Mom made me a delicious Mandarin Orange cake and gave me a very beautiful card, I'll probably scan it and share the verse with you. She's the sweetest most loving Mom in the whole wide world and I thank her and my Dad for seeing fit to bring me into this world. It's not their fault they were unaware of how rotten the world was and/or would become. But it's up to us to make our lives what we can, and be successful (by whatever means we measure success, and that doesn't have to be job...

Just a random little post today, busy Monday and all. I'm not going to make a huge deal out of it, but can't get through this day without wishing Z a very happy birthday. I hope that he has or gets all he deserves in life, always hope for the best and that he and his family are doing well. It's all I can really do... So, today Z, I thought of you and next week when it's my birthday (22nd), I doubt you'd even remember that or think of me and mine, but that's o.k., the world continues to roll around and round. It's all good, you're righteous and don't have to worry bout nothin, right?? You're cool. Ok, enough of that I can see where it was headed lol, let me shut my mouth now. Geez, it started out all cool too like it sometimes does, then turned sour... kind of like yesterday's nasty-ass pistol-packin potato salad. {deep breath} Yeah, you've got your heroes and your zeroes. Then there are times when you still think the zeroes could be hero...

So the weekend was o.k., and of course not long enough. Friday night, we had birthday stuff to do, met up with my drummer, his birthday was April 9th, and then a friend of Richie's had a birthday coming up (today actually), so we made an appearance at their birthday celebrations as well. I weathered the crowd well enough, even though I don't usually like crowds with many people that I don't know, it makes me uncomfortable, but I was o.k. Speaking of birthdays, I was just peeking at the April 13 date on Wikipedia , just out of curiosity and saw these notable April 13th Birthdays: Peabo Bryson, Rick Schroeder, and Al Green Peabo , of course everyone should know, if not for romantic nights spent with his albums, then quite a number of songs from the Disney classics such as "Beauty and The Beast", and "Whole New World" from Aladdin. He's done duets with the likes of Roberta Flack, and others. Rick Schroder , who hasn't sang anything that I know of bu...

Blessed was the day that our best-blog-buddy, Jayman (From "Cynical Bastard") was born!! Today is his Birthday... so go over and wish him a rockin and bad-assed day! He's probably the glue that keeps us all sane ;) Have a great day Jay!! And here's to many more... Birthdays, Blog Posts and just all-around "CYNICAL" Magnificence from YOU!!! Here's his fantastic Blog-O-Mercial (courtesy of Mattman!! Photo also from Mattman's blog, sorry Mattman--I didn't have a good one).

It's one of my sisters' birthdays today, she was born the day after Christmas, which I'm sure happened to be a bummer sometimes. But there are plenty of people born too close to various holidays. She made do. I want to wish Deb a very Happy Birthday today, December 26th. :) Anyways, I've been in and out, and I haven't had time to get around to blog hop during Christmas, but will be back through to check on you guys very soon. So, my apologies for that, I am not trying to ignore ya. It's been very busy, and I've just had my mind on so many family things lately with Dad's ongoing dilemma and all. Hope things get back happy and semi-normal soon, but I have my doubts. Looks like we're in this for the long haul. :( In the spirit of important people in our lives, this video, Social Distortion "Don't Take Me For Granted" , I might have posted before but I like it, and it fits. Here's a little music to tide you over... don't take anyon...

On A Crazy Train... Happy Birthday to Ozzy Osbourne , who is sixty ( 60 ) years old today. It's been quite a ride, and I've always been a fan... from Black Sabbath , to "The Ozzman Cometh" and on, and through his host of great guitarists. The funny thing is, with all of our 'musical heroes' turning fifty-something, sixty, seventy and beyond, it only serves as a wake up call to the children that we still subconsciously hang onto. In other words, it reminds me that I am not "that kid" anymore, no matter how much I try to be, or how immature I seem to remain. We've come a long, long way since those early days when MTV changed the world, or Friday Night Videos were the highlight of our Friday nights (this was before we could date of course, and Stacey and Kristie were forced to stay up for this, but rarely made it. They probably remember "Friday Night Videos" in an entirely different light). So you go to sleep one night, and you're ...

"Some people are born to greatness, others have it thrust upon them... then there are those of us who have it both ways!" -Hawkeye Pierce (M*A*S*H). [Daddy has it both I think we'd all agree] It was on August 29, 1927 that the greatest father in the world was catapulted into this crazy world, head first. Funny way to describe it I guess, but true if you think about it. Then most of his life, he spent working hard to make ends meet, caring for family and being Daddy. My father, "Dad" (pronounced in the Southern U.S. "DAI-aad!!!") has been a friend, a disciplinarian, an entertainer and comedian, a caretaker and protector, a business manager at times (when we needed him to help us with our business, or keep us out of trouble), an ultimate giver of unlimited hugs and kisses, and an adviser, among so many other things. So many times in his life he'd wake up with make-up on his face, or Vicks Vap-O-Rub shoved up his nose, surrounded by all girls, always ...

My cake... the candles will light your way. I don't want to discuss that any further however. :) I'm off for celebrations with the family for yet another birthday... Thanks to my mother for giving me the special date of "June 22nd", it's mine. My birthday isn't until tomorrow, but I'm taking the day off I guess you could say, so I may or may not post anything tomorrow. We'll see. The birthday weekend did not start off all that great, my car had to be taken to the shop because it wouldn't crank... so that was unexpected expense... I will have to pick it up from the dealership at 3:30. Things happen, I guess that was my 'birthday gift' from the universe, huh... I'm trying to think of things in a positive light, but sometimes it's hard because sometimes you just can't figure out a reason why things always have to happen to 'you'. Yeah, why me?? Why couldn't my weekend go off without a hitch? Why can't everything ju...

Today is my best friend's birthday! This is not my sister by blood, but she is my blood sister. I want to send her the sincerest Birthday wishes. Divorce the number baby! You will always have it goin on no matter what!! Everyone send her some birthday shout outs, and I'll just dedicate this post to my "best mate" Tamra. A short history of our friendship is in order I think, today. Roll with me here. :) I knew who she was in High School, although we weren't friends or really acquainted back then. I do remember that we were interested in the same guy once, as told to me by another mutual acquaintance. The funny part about that is that we both got him as a conquest (not at the same time you perverts, different points in our lives), and neither one of us were impressed... lol! All's well that ends well, really. So after High School, I got a job at our local Wal*Mart, and worked with a girl named Sherry. Sherry was Marge Simpson in the flesh (so named by her Dad j...

The time while I was renting Bo's house was a strange little blur. I mean, I remember everything but can't remember exact months, dates or anything of that sort. DO KNOW that my motives for renting his house were not-so angelic. He and his girlfriend were moving down to the next county for some odd reason. His mother liked me, she rented the place to me for $200 a month (ok quiet everyone, yeah that's dirt cheap!). She also left most of their stuff in the house, and Bo told me that they had a special 'hook-up' with the cable, so if I just paid the bill he said I could leave it all "as is". It was my thought and desire at the time that Bo would come by the house a lot and that somehow it would bring me closer to him. But this story is not about Bo, it's more about Me, or rather a brief encounter I had with "Frankie". I'll get to that in a minute though. Despite the fact that I had these fantasies that Bo and I would somehow get closer by m...

Holy Bejesus I just realized with Christmas and all that I totally missed yesterday, Tuesday, that's right... the Weekly Words Challenge (WWC) " (Tink I'm sorry!! Geez I'm freaking out now, 2 weeks in a row?? Maybe I can do a belated, make-up WWC, then get back on track next week!! :( Well, anyway I was going to say... I fell down to this Earth from Heaven (and yes it did sting a little) right as summer was stepping on stage. Sounds like a lovely time to be born, but as I have said before , I rarely had attendees at my birthday parties because people were on their summer vacations and out of town a lot. I got used to it, and of course I had a couple of good parties growing up. However, I can imagine it is even harder to have a birthday the day after Christmas. I have a sister who was born on just such a day, today! I have sent her something to uplift her day, and a card... Deb I know you don't read this, but I hope you have a wonderful day. Christmas has come to a...

Happy Birthday Jack Jack! You're just four years old now... and you've got a lot of living to do. Hope you had a great birthday party, and thank you for letting me be a part of it. I took lots of pictures, as you know! It was a great day for a zoo party! Hope all of your dreams come true in this life! Love, Aunt Jackie As you can see from my above dedication, I spent the earlier part of the day at Jackson's 4th birthday party, which Kristie had for him at the Memphis Zoo . Lots of faces, cake, sugar, animals and fun. Thanks Kristie and Rodney for having me. Tonight, however it's back to the war zone as Mr. J and I have our D&D game on, with Justin the DM and our crew of top-notch warriors and wizards... lol (sorry I have to laugh at this, but it's fun). This is my post for today, November 3rd... Hope your Saturday is magnificent too. -AJ

My niece, Kristie was always very independent. Just 2 years my junior (due to the fact that I was a delayed blessing in my family and my sisters are all significantly older than me), she, Stacey and I grew up more like Sisters ourselves than Aunt and nieces. She went off to the Math and Science high school after tenth grade, attended Mississippi State and then headed off into the wild blue yonder (which happened to be Arizona). It was more independent and brave than the rest of us really, who stayed pretty close to home. When she was going to college in Arizona, she would tell us about the people she met, and went to school with, and those that she became more familiar with got 'nicknames' kind of like "Rodney the Undergraduate" (as by this time she was in grad school). When she told the latest news and such, this is how we came to know her associates. As you can see, Rodney the Undergraduate eventually became Rodney Man Candy, the Boyfriend, and then finally Rodney t...

All is well on the home front after my extended ancient aging rituals (a.k.a. Birthday celebrations). Our Gig went really well! We got a pretty good response from everyone. As I sang, I scanned the audience, and saw lots of people rocking out. There was quite an interesting mix of people there too. Even though we had already gone over our time, the club owner asked us to do one more song! She said "Rock Me!" So we did. The sound was mixed very well, and my vocals rocked... We got much positive feedback, one of the waitresses even told me she thought I sounded amazing & wished I could come and sing her to sleep (was that a pass or just a compliment? Rockdog and Zig be quiet! LOL!). Of course, we stayed afterwards for the next act so it was late when we left... Then Mr. J was supposed to be following me so I could show him the way out. I had my co-worker, Vikram in the car and Richie had his friend Kenny in the truck. I was watching carefully, when I got on the interstate r...

Approximately 9:01 a.m. on a beautiful Monday morning (not all THAT long ago), the world became blessed with the light of one very special child. The Mother was ecstatic as this was the baby she had been praying for! She named her Jacqueline Dawn (although she nearly named her something else entirely, but wished to name her after her Dad). So it was on this day that she was born... The world did not know what a serious "Butt Whooping" it was about to get, and as well, the Guardian Angels did not know how hard their job was about to be! They have all done very well, however as she is still alive and kicking... Her Mom called this morning (very early) to tell her "Happy Birthday Dawn of the Morning!" Happy Birthday to Me! Let's have a look back in history for the ever-changing, all-powerful Aunt Jackie: Here I am crushing my inchworm, circa (approx) 2.5 years old. 12th Birthday at McDonald's (I'm the one on the right of course, with the orange balloon) ...

You guys really think you're something don't you? I mean you really have an ego, and it shows. Men have it made! You seem to handle aging much better than us... you know, 'the girls' . We don't really get this. Just about the only reason I can think of is that nobody makes you feel worthless if you aren't still '20something' anymore, or if you get gray hair (you get called suave and "distinguished"). Depending on your circumstances, people even look over your ample beer gut or your worst habits. Then there is the sexuality and fertility issue, you guys are made to feel like aging gives you more charming or virile qualities. You can also continue to father children as long as you're reasonably functional. We have an 'expiration date'. Although it is completely unfair, it's not an argument that's really worth tackling because I'm sure most of you would say... "Hey, it's just the way it is." Right? So be it. ...

Waking up on Saturday is always the climax of the week, no matter what you've had going on it feels great when you sleep late, and then know you don't have to go anywhere or do anything if you don't want to... That's exactly what I did yesterday. Once I woke up, I did a few things, watched a little T.V., and fell back asleep for about a 2 hour afternoon doze-fest! When I woke up, it was time to get ready for band practice... We hadn't practiced Thursday night, which is our normal night, but we wanted to work on a few specific songs for our set, so as a band we went out to eat at The Bar-B-Q Shop in Midtown, Memphis. It's top-notch if you're going to be in Memphis and want to try our fine BBQ (and yes, they have beer)! Don't be fooled by the more commercialized "popular" ones... take it from me. So we ate a nice dinner, then we practiced. Mr. J and I then went home and had a nice quiet late evening. I arrived home too late to listen to Rockdo...