Thursday, July 26, 2007
Memphis Music Note
FACT: Approximately half of the members of the rock and roll Hall of Fame hail from within a 100-mile radius of Memphis. The location of the rock and roll Hall of Fame -- -- Cleveland, Ohio. Not exactly a haven for rock and blues. Go figure.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Visitor From Foreign Shores
Niece Shannon is back in the States visiting from Morocco where she has lived and worked for the past year and a half -- and where she met and married a loving and handsome fellow. (See the posted photo from the wedding celebration. Yes, you probably recognize her from our wedding. She was my maid of honor.) Lucky for me, she included a couple of days in Southaven on her itinerary.
Shan has been teaching elementary students at an American-style school in Agadir, a beach town that is very tourist-y. Shan says that the climate is much like Southern CA where she lived for a few years. Apparently, there’s some desire in Morocco for schools that offer U.S.-style education. She and a girlfriend accepted teaching jobs in Agadir at the beginning of ’06 and have now accepted positions for next term in the much-larger city of Casablanca. Gee, I hope she runs into Humphrey Bogart. Shan will be the assistant principal for discipline. The student population is multi-national and provides interesting challenges for the two Arkansas natives. Teaching American-style included putting up a Christmas tree and having the children draw snow pictures in a nation that’s mostly Muslim and totally desert. Next thing we know, those girls will be cooking up fried okra and hush puppies for the kiddies.
Interestingly, as part of their contracts, the school provides housing and housekeeping services as well as personal internet connections and annual round-trip tickets for a visit home. Excellent perks!
Hmmmm I have a niece who packed up and moved to an exotic country and another who leads European wilderness tours and climbs mountains. I think I led a sheltered life.
Check out Shannon’s blog for more adventures of a Southern girl in North Africa -- http://www.myshanona.blogspot.com/
But give her about three weeks to get back to Agadir and un-jet lagged.
Shan has been teaching elementary students at an American-style school in Agadir, a beach town that is very tourist-y. Shan says that the climate is much like Southern CA where she lived for a few years. Apparently, there’s some desire in Morocco for schools that offer U.S.-style education. She and a girlfriend accepted teaching jobs in Agadir at the beginning of ’06 and have now accepted positions for next term in the much-larger city of Casablanca. Gee, I hope she runs into Humphrey Bogart. Shan will be the assistant principal for discipline. The student population is multi-national and provides interesting challenges for the two Arkansas natives. Teaching American-style included putting up a Christmas tree and having the children draw snow pictures in a nation that’s mostly Muslim and totally desert. Next thing we know, those girls will be cooking up fried okra and hush puppies for the kiddies.
Interestingly, as part of their contracts, the school provides housing and housekeeping services as well as personal internet connections and annual round-trip tickets for a visit home. Excellent perks!
Hmmmm I have a niece who packed up and moved to an exotic country and another who leads European wilderness tours and climbs mountains. I think I led a sheltered life.
Check out Shannon’s blog for more adventures of a Southern girl in North Africa -- http://www.myshanona.blogspot.com/
But give her about three weeks to get back to Agadir and un-jet lagged.
Friday, July 13, 2007
My Turn in the Barrel
It has been called to my attention that, although I freely tell stories on Mike, I seem to have gone unscathed in this blog, if not elsewhere. Since Mike refers to my life as an ongoing series of I Love Lucy episodes, there’s ample material. So, OK, I give. We’ll start with this one.
Back in college, my sorority had an annual luncheon, which was a real big deal. Always held at a top-notch Memphis venue. Various remarks and acknowledgements to be made. Famous alums present. And a special speaker or program. Definitely a high heels, your best dress and pearls event.
In this particular year, we were gathered in a very fancy restaurant, which I’d only visited once before in my young life. We had finished a fine meal and, as was the custom with so many in that era, many of us lit up after-lunch cigarettes. I’d casually crumpled my napkin to the left of my plate. (Etiquette forbids the actual “folding” of a used napkin.) I’d scooted my chair back just a tad and primly folded my hands in my well dressed lap – cigarette hand on top. I was just so sophisticated.
Our speaker was a beautiful woman, probably a local celeb, who was speaking to us about poise and grace. I was attentive. She – the goal to which I aspired – was standing right across the table from me. That’s when I glanced down and discovered the problem.
I had set the napkin on fire.
It was not in full flame, but definitely afire and about to burst into four-alarm status. I instantly assessed the situation. I couldn’t jump up and scream. I could not douse it with my goblet of water. So I proceeded in the only other, acceptable course of action.
I delicately reached up with my bare hand, grasped the smoldering napkin edge, and squeezed it until I’d suffocated the burning edges. I must admit that my eyes watered a bit, but I made no sound. My sorority sisters were unaware of my transgression. The crisis was averted. The beautiful speaker continued speaking, and I should have received the gold star for best pupil of the day.
Back in college, my sorority had an annual luncheon, which was a real big deal. Always held at a top-notch Memphis venue. Various remarks and acknowledgements to be made. Famous alums present. And a special speaker or program. Definitely a high heels, your best dress and pearls event.
In this particular year, we were gathered in a very fancy restaurant, which I’d only visited once before in my young life. We had finished a fine meal and, as was the custom with so many in that era, many of us lit up after-lunch cigarettes. I’d casually crumpled my napkin to the left of my plate. (Etiquette forbids the actual “folding” of a used napkin.) I’d scooted my chair back just a tad and primly folded my hands in my well dressed lap – cigarette hand on top. I was just so sophisticated.
Our speaker was a beautiful woman, probably a local celeb, who was speaking to us about poise and grace. I was attentive. She – the goal to which I aspired – was standing right across the table from me. That’s when I glanced down and discovered the problem.
I had set the napkin on fire.
It was not in full flame, but definitely afire and about to burst into four-alarm status. I instantly assessed the situation. I couldn’t jump up and scream. I could not douse it with my goblet of water. So I proceeded in the only other, acceptable course of action.
I delicately reached up with my bare hand, grasped the smoldering napkin edge, and squeezed it until I’d suffocated the burning edges. I must admit that my eyes watered a bit, but I made no sound. My sorority sisters were unaware of my transgression. The crisis was averted. The beautiful speaker continued speaking, and I should have received the gold star for best pupil of the day.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Little Rock Reunion
Mike and I had a great weekend reunion with my best friends from my seven years in Arkansas – Denise & Rae Ann – and their husbands Glen and Jimmy. Rae Ann and I were reporters together in Jonesboro where she and Denise were roommates. Denise was a reporter in LR, then went to law school there. I lived in LR for five years. The ladies were dating, then married their guys back in that era. Glen takes credit for teaching Alex how to ride a bike. Rae is now the big-time executive director of her town’s Chamber of Commerce, and Denise is Super-Attorney.
In addition to giggles, memory-sharing, catching up, and food – then more food – and, as I recall, there were some beverages involved, we spent a good bit of Saturday at the Clinton Library in downtown LR and on a driving tour. The Library is on the banks of the AR River and has great expanses of glass to supply impressive views. Neither Mike nor I had been to a Presidential Library so we were fascinated by the displays and exhibits. There may be land nearby for the library of the next President Clinton. (Oh, you know I couldn’t let that go by.)
Downtown LR has seen a lot of redevelopment and sports artsy areas with restaurants, galleries and clubs and some tall, sparkly buildings.
Gotta give credit to Mike, Glen and Jimmy who were extremely patient and sometimes amused by their wives' reunion-ing. Just had to dig out the above photo of Rae Ann, Denise and my son Alex taken back in the LR days.
In addition to giggles, memory-sharing, catching up, and food – then more food – and, as I recall, there were some beverages involved, we spent a good bit of Saturday at the Clinton Library in downtown LR and on a driving tour. The Library is on the banks of the AR River and has great expanses of glass to supply impressive views. Neither Mike nor I had been to a Presidential Library so we were fascinated by the displays and exhibits. There may be land nearby for the library of the next President Clinton. (Oh, you know I couldn’t let that go by.)
Downtown LR has seen a lot of redevelopment and sports artsy areas with restaurants, galleries and clubs and some tall, sparkly buildings.
Gotta give credit to Mike, Glen and Jimmy who were extremely patient and sometimes amused by their wives' reunion-ing. Just had to dig out the above photo of Rae Ann, Denise and my son Alex taken back in the LR days.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Morgan Again
I submit for your inspection, the above picture of Morgan Freeman posing for a photo with Sharon Stone. I recommend that you scroll down and refresh your memory of the below image of Morgan Freeman posing for a photo with me. I brought these two photos to the attention of my husband. I further pointed out that, based on available evidence, Morgan Freeman likes me better than he likes Sharon Stone. To which Mike replied, "You're gonna be real hard to live with for a while, aren't you?"
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