Deep In The Forrest

When you're a teenager, there is this little 'magical, electrical' feeling you get sometimes when you're excited about something that, in my own personal experience, just doesn't happen later in life, or at least not past the 20s. Maybe it's just me. Crushes and fun moments always felt that way though. Originally, I started this post yesterday to recognize "Remember Your First Kiss Day", but I got busy and didn't get to finish. So we'll still say that we are celebrating "First Kisses", and you get a fun story to boot. You see, during  High School, when we got our class rings, there was some sort of ritual about 'turning our class rings', which I believe I misunderstood. I thought it was that you turned your ring when you received your 'first kiss'. How I came to this conclusion, I am still not sure. Because in searching a bit about it on the internet, there is a 'ring turning tradition' but it has nothing to ...

Memphis weather is fickle if not bitchy at times. One day, spring has sprung with all of its warmth, color and glory, and the next day Mother Nature is on her period and brings us a cold snap complete with ice and snow. Everyone rushes out to the stores to pick up their emergency stock of bread and milk in case they die in the tragic freeze (which lasts until about 6 p.m.), then it's back to business as usual. Spring comes in on the heels of winter, rarely a smooth transition but once it begins to even out, the short magical spell lasts maybe a week or two before rushing head first into the melt of summer, which is hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hell (with a side of mud and bugs). Through this sweet handful of days where we get to feel that hope, perfect temperatures and spirit of renewal, I am usually reminded of a few delightful childhood memories. This morning I was reflecting on just one particular such memory, which I am pretty certain was about 6th grade (I w...

**This post (or note) has sexual talk and adult situations so if you are around your children go ahead and mark it for a 'read later' type of thing. I don't want anyone mad at me for any adult material... since everyone's so darn sensitive... hey, you guys were all rad once... right? ha!** I digress... let's begin the post. For some reason, I am always wayyy behind on the news. For instance, A "Gene Simmons Sex Tape Scandal" leaked out in like February 2008 and I just now ran across this. Now, you might wonder why I would even be curious about the sexual exploits of some old-n-moldy, formerly cool Rocker dude like Gene... well, I wouldn't really, but he is a Rock Icon, and of course he has that gargantuan tongue and lots of money. That's the only "pro" that would get me with gene... well, pros. From the time when I even remotely could think of a fling with a KISS member, it was Paul (and I know everyone is really waiting for his Tranny vi...

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 ...

The rain has kind of stuck around, I guess we're getting showers from Hurricane Fay . So we haven't seen a really "clear" day most of the week. I like my rain and all, but I've just felt quite listless and mundane through the course of the whole week. Maybe it will switch up soon... I sure hope. At any rate, I'm sure you've all seen This Video Of The Idiot Kitesurfer who got slammed into the building by Fay. Just kind of shows me that idiots are still breeding, and that they need to be sterilized to stop the spread... Humans via evolution, should be advancing right?? Well so many people make a stiff argument for stupid. So I just don't know if we're making much progress. I know this is tragic and all, but please... is it so hard to use your brain these days?? They say we use only 10%, right? I think alot of people don't even come close to that. This is probably old news for most of us, but I'm a bit behind this week because I just haven...

12/28, yeah. We've today and 3 more days left in this whole entire year. 6 years ago, I skipped on up to the J.P. and said "I Do" to Mr. J., as he did to me. Afterwards, we had Barbecue at a little place in Midtown called "The Bar-B-Q Shop". Sound like the perfect romantic wedding?? lol Probably doesn't, but it's what happened. Some things are more practical than our story-book fantasies, as a result, we saved money and we bought our house about 6 months later... No, it's not my dream home, but it's fine. I am not being negative about the whole thing, I'm just telling how it is. We have a good life, everything we need and share a lot of laughs and love. Those are the biggies, right? So I can't say I'm doing bad, not bad at all. Thank you Richie, I'm very happy that we've made it this far, and I hope we can look forward to many more... Happy Anniversary. I Love You. :) You can't make it to "I Do", however without ...

I got a motorcycle for Christmas when I was about 12. It was a "Honda MB5" built for only one person and could be driven on the road, but still I drove my nieces and my sister around whenever nobody was looking. It was a great two-wheel vehicle, and I got a ton of enjoyment out of the thing. Looking back now, I cannot imagine what possessed my Mother to agree to me owning a motorcycle because she was so overprotective. Now, even my husband won't agree to let me have one... maybe I'll eventually wear him down. What is it we chicks dig about motorcycles? I've been a fan ever since fifth grade when I pledged my eternal love to "The Fonz" during Happy Days re-runs. From then on, I was hooked. Whenever I would see one on the road, my heart would leap and my imagination would run wild with fantasies of riding off on the long highways with a handsome, roughneck on a "Hog". Fonz was the least of Mama's worries, however as this obsession would lat...

Tastes, smells and sensations that strike up memories and make me sentimental... Oscar De Larenta cologne, it reminds me of all the wonderful times spent with my sister, Vickie growing up. Old Country music in restaurants, I can see my Dad, straight and tall and strong as an Ox walking into a Truck Stop on a long haul, or a family trip with us. Juicy, red ripe watermelon, takes me straight to a hot summer day at home. I can envision my Mom in her 'work jeans', sitting outside in the heat still drinking coffee, we sprinkle a bit of salt on the melon, and I can almost smell the freshly cut summer grass. Insense and certain air freshener, reminds me of living at Bo's house. Wind Song perfume (by Prince Matchavelli), I can close my eyes and see Mom getting ready for church on a sunday morning in her best suit or dress, looking like a billion dollars, me still sleeping, squeezing every last moment I could and hoping she wouldn't make me go. Classic Old Lysol (the Hospital s...

Jessica is my best friend Tamra's daughter... I can't say "little girl" because she's growing up all-too-fast, and is no longer a 'little girl', plus she'd get mad at me for saying it since she's 14 now... I've been Trick-or-Treating with her, trips to the mall with her when she was still in a child-seat, rocking out to her Mom's metal music and watching MTV and Southpark all the while! She's a really cool cat, and she knows it... so I just wanted to wish her the Happiest Birthday ever!! So Jessica, and anybody else who has a March 20th Birthday, hope it is a terrific day--you share it with these other superstars (some of which have passed on--r.i.p Mr. Rogers)!! Happy Birthday to Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington (1976), Franz Ferdinand singer Alexander Kapranos (1972), supermodel Kathy Ireland (1963), " Harry Potter " actor David Thewlis (1963), " Thirteen " star Holly Hunter (1958), actress Theresa Russ...

Imagine a world where there are no video games, no electronic gadgetry to keep you inside the house. Oh sure there was T.V., but there was no MTV, no Comedy Central, no HBO, no "Tivo to go". We watched t.v., later when we came back inside the house from a full day of braving the elements and using our real, raw imaginations. Growing up, I lived on music, love and relied heavily on fantasy to create the world that was mine... I can't think of a better paradise really. Although, others in my family don't quite remember it as magical as I do, but that's o.k. too. During the summers, or any time we were able really my nieces, Kristie and Stacey (barely just my juniors by a couple of years as you may recall) spent our time at either their house, just 30 minutes north, or at my house out in the middle of 10 whole acres... an entire universe for a kid. Their house was in a subdivision just 30 minutes north of mine, just beneath Memphis, TN, so you can imagine this felt l...

We came close to completing three whole songs last night at Band Practice. This has been such a great grouping, the four of us because we tend to write like fiends. Rich really comes up with most of the song ideas on his guitar, and then everyone works out their parts and I usually put the lyrics together along with my own keyboard parts. We have some finishing touches to do on the CD and then we should be able to start sending out some stuff. That's when everybody can actually get a better idea of it, get to hear the music for yourself... Mostly getting good reactions from our friends and close associates so far, but still I get nervous thinking about how many people are really going eventually hear it all. See, I'm pretty new to the whole recording and live gig experience. (Weddings, Open Mic Night and karaoke don't quite count I guess). Growing up, I didn't have many friends with talent. Let me rephrase that, many friends with "musical talent" and/or intere...

Such a cold day today, unusually so after it was in the 60s only a few short days ago. Unusual, but not really for Memphis. I'm feeling homesick again, which is something that usually only people thousands of miles away from their home and family feel. People on business trips overseas, or people traveling thousands of miles, or those who are at war while their loved ones are at home. Not me, I am only 30 minutes away from my parents, and still somehow I feel a universe away from "home" today. Everything occurs to me through music, and scents and my senses. I'm daydreaming of the drifting years, and how being 15 myself just doesn't seem like more than two days ago. Much the same as it having been so warm just over the weekend, but now a frigid 28 degrees (F)... It's just how fast life is passing. I Thought about my old classmates, how most of them are 'all grown up' with children, children who are now as old as I still feel. Old loves, who have childr...

Oh what if we could all truly rekindle the "Wow Factor" in life? I really try to, & I'd like to think there are others out there who do the same. Let's Laugh at ourselves, make snow angels, enjoy making pictures out of clouds, 'slosh' around in rain puddles, drink hot cocoa with marshmallows and invite our old imaginary friends over for dinner. Let's laugh at the big as well as small things in life. Our perception of what life should be has become over complicated and creates too much paperwork and pain. This is in honor of childhood and all that it represents to all of us "old(er) children". Fishing around on the net, I found these 3 poems that I wanted to share with you all. "Childhood" by Eugene F. Ware It passed in beauty, Like the waves that reach Their jeweled fingers Up the sanded beach. It passed in beauty, Like the flowers that spring Behind the footsteps Of the Winter King. It passed in beauty, Like the clouds on high, Tha...