Blast From the Past!

Reality TV and Dancing With The Stars does not entertain me. Although some people may enjoy these shows, I miss the classics that not only entertained but also taught values. Leave It To Beaver is a wholesome show that I loved as a kid. My dad always wanted to watch the evening news, but I fussed with him to watch the Beaver. Seven-year-old Beav was always getting into trouble even though he looked so innocent. The website at http://www.tvland.com/shows/litbeaver has photos, episodes, videos, and trivia games. I didn't realize Wally was only twelve-years-old on the show.

My Three Sons was another favorite of mine. I loved Uncle Charlie who tried to keep everyone happy. Now that I have three sons of my own, I wish I had Uncle Charlie. There household was never boring and kept me watching as much as I could. I wish it still came on. I was amazed that a family could survive without a woman, but somehow it did. Fred McMurray was such a good dad. I loved the theme song that opened the show and the dog, Tramp. The website http://www.starpulse.com/Television/My_three_sons/Links includes cast, crew, and links to episodes and general information about the show.

I remember The Patridge Family and their wild bus. Each member was so cute, but the one that I fell madly in love with was Keith (David Cassidy). He was so good-looking singing on stage. I collected all his albums. He was a heart-breaker. My favorite song was "I Think I Love You." Susan Dey was also fun to watch with her photogenic eyes. I tried to copy her style as a teen. But it was the mother (Shirley Jones) that kept the family together. Danny Bonaduce was hysterical because you never knew what he was going to say next. At http://www.cmongethappy.com/, you can find episodes, pictures, news and music of this talented televison family.

Who can forget The Brady Bunch? Not me. I loved this mixed-up family. Alice was my favorite character, but Jan and Marcia kept me entertained. After I grew up, I got a shag hair cut like the mom, Florence Henderson. Although the show only lasted five years, it reflected American pop culture of the 1970s. Two movies were made off the show as well as the cartoon, The Brady Kids. This show was pretty risque becasue the mother was single with three daughters who marries a widower with three boys. The website http://www.tvland.com/shows/brady_bunch has tons of information about the Brady Bunch. You can even watch full episodes at this website.

Two movies that I adored as a kid was Disney's Pollyanna starring Haley Mills and Gidget starring Sandra Dee.
Although she was an orphan, Pollyanna was so cute in her sailor dress and big bow tie. I loved how smart and intelligent she was. The entire town soon recognized her value. It was so fun to watch television focused on young girls for a change. Clips, pictures, critic and reviews are at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1016512-pollyanna/.

Gidget was every girl's dream. What a hunk Moondoggie was! They just don't make shows like this anymore. A girl could learn so much about life and social skills watching Sandra Dee and later Sally Fields playing Gidget on the Malibu beach. Of course, her parents were always supportive and had plenty of money. A documentary "Accidental Icon - The Real Gidget Story" is at http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/46318/news.

This is a true account of a young girl coming of age on the beach of Malibu. Gidget became a true American icon.

Now when I see Gidget, I wonder why I loved the shows so much. But back when I was a kid, these shows helped me understand life. I often dreamed I was Gidget on the beach playing volleyball or hanging out with friends. Hey, a girl can dream. . .

Princesses

My dream as a little girl was to be a princess. I read fairy tales about them and watched them on television. Although I am older now, I still drift off occasionally and wonder what my life would be like if I was a real princess.I researched online and found some cool princesses:

Princess Haya was born in 1974 and grew up in the royal family of Jordan. Her father is the late King Hussein, and her mother is Zueen Alia Al Hussein. The Princess competes in equestrian sports such as the Summer Olympics at Sydney in 2000. At 30, she married His Highness Sheik Muhammed. She leads many humanitarian efforts such as children's right to play and for health care. She seems to be a cool princess!
http://one.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=141&Key=20

Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson was born in Australia in 1972 and grew up on the island of Tasmania, where her father was a math professor. She went to college and had a regular job. Princess Mary Elizabeth met her new husband, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, at a pub in Sydney. In 2004, she married him at the Copenhagen Cathedral and became the princess of Denmark. She did not want to be a princess, instead she wanted to be a veterinarian. Princess Mary also enjoyed involved in equestrian pursuits. She makes the role of princess look easy.

http://www.hellomagazine.co/m/profiles/crown-princess-mary-ofdenmarkazine.com/profiles/crown-princess-mary-of-denmark

Another princess is Prince Charles' only sister, Anne. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. She went to private school at Buckingham Palace and later in Kent. Princess Anne Elizabeth leads a very unassuming life and did not give her children, Peter and Zara, royal titles because she wanted to protect them from the media as much as possible. Princess Anne became president of Save the Children Fund and has visited over 70 counties. She participates in equitation events and loves horses. It is interesting how most princesses love the outdoors and horse riding. Maybe, fairy tales are not so far off.

http://www.britroyals.com/family.asp?id+panne

A rediscovered Princess is Sarah Culberson. She was given up for adoption two days after she was born in West Virgina. When she was twenty-two, Sarah hired a private investigator to track down her birth parents. Her mother died of cancer years earlier but her father was a royal member of the Mende tribe in Bumpe, Sierra Leone. That was some discovery! As a result, Sarah became a princess. But her life is not about riding horses or attending balls. In fact, she works to raise money in the U.S. to send back to her tribe in Sierra Leone so they can rebuild the village and school that was destroyed in the country's civil war. Now, that is a story. Oprah interviewed Sarah on her show in October 2006.
http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Sarah-culberson

The youngest princess of the British royal line is Lady Louise. She was born prematurely at only 4 lbs., 9 oz to Prince Edward and his wife Sophie of Wessex in 2003. Since Louise was so tiny, she was called Lady, rather than Princess. She was christened in Windsor Castle. Legally, she is Her Royal Highness Princess of Wessex, but to keep her from media attention, she is known as Lady Louise. She is a cute little girl and is 7-years-old now.

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/windsor_20.htm

Princesses are not all pink tiaras and fluff. They are real people with passions and lives. I was very surprised to learn that one princess was adopted and had no idea that she was of royal blood. What a happy day for her! I enjoy learning about princesses and realize that they are

flesh and blood, too. My favorite princess is Lady Diana. My fascination with princess began with her. She was also an average girl and met Prince Charles, which changed her status to Princess Diana. At http://princessamerah.com/blog/2009/12/11/why-do-girls-want-to-be-a-princess, is the definiton of a princess. It is any woman or girl regarded as like a princess, as in being: graceful, accomplished, or outstanding in some way... This blog answers the question: why do girls want to be a princess? It includes photos of Princess Diana and information about her. I learned that she was president of over 100 social instiutions and received the "Prize for Humanity."

Now that is a true princess!

Week Six

I love country music. I grew up listening to Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. We went to a concert in April at Firelake Casino and saw Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan. They shared the stage and took turns singing. The seating was way too tight, but the music was sensational!

Pam Tillis grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and sang on the Grand Old Opry at 8-years-old. Her dad, Mel Tillis, was a great example for her to follow, even though he stuttered. Pam sang Maybe It Was Memphis, Shake the Sugar Tree, Don't Tell Me What To Do, and Spilled Perfume. Her music can be heard at: www.last.fm/music/Pam+Tillis. She is a classy lady and awesome country singer.

Lorrie Morgan is amazing! She also sang at the Grand Old Opry as a young girl when she was 13-years-old. Her first song was Marie Osmond's Paper Roses. I would have loved to hear that. After her dad died, she took over her his band. Lorrie seems so relaxed and elegant at the same time. Both stars wore t-shirts and blue jeans. Lorrie's song, Five Minutes, went gold in 1990. My favorite song is Something in Red, which she sang at the concert. http://last.fm/music/Lorrie+Morgan. Lorrie married Keith Whitley in 1986. They sang a duet: Til a Tear Becomes a Rose.

Keith Whitley, another country singer formed a bluegrass band with Ricky Skaggs. He was a great performer! I like his songs: It Ain't Nothin, and I'm Over You. He had so muchtalent. Sadly, he died of alcohol poisoning in 1989, but his music lives on. www.last.fm/music/Keith+Whitley/+Wiki.

Next month, we are going to another country concert at Riverwind Casino. Gene Watson, T.G. Sheppard, and Moe Bandy will be performing.

Gene Watson is an old favorite of mine. He sings honky tonk songs and beautiful ballads. Love in the Hot Afternoon was a hit in 1975 and Fourteen Carat Mind in 1982. Watson also sings Nothing Sure Looked Good On You, Speak Softly, and Should I Come Home or Should I Go Crazy? In the summer of 2007, he recorded In a Perfect World. www.starpulse.com/Music/Watson_Gene/Biography

T.G. Sheppard is another great country artist.
At 15-years-old, he ran away from home before graduating high school. He went to Memphis, Tennessee to get in the music business. Sheppard became friends with Elvis Presley and lived at Graceland for a while.

Elvis gave Sheppard his first tour bus. In 2002, Sheppard played in Fort Worth, Texas. He has so many good songs: Finally, Lovin On, Do You Want To Go To Heaven?, I Loved 'Em Every One, and Devil In The Bottle, which was #1 in 1974.

He has a smooth voice that all the ladies love. Check him out at: www.last.fm/music/T.G.+Sheppard/+wiki.

Finally there is Moe Bandy. He is my least favorite singer that will be at the concert. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Bandy currently performs in a theatre in Branson, Missouri. His songs focus on cheating,divorce, loving, drinking, and patriotic themes. I am familiar with Bandy, The Rodeo Clown the best. He also sings I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs and Borrowed Angel. I read that Bandy played at Bush's Presidental Inaugaration in 1989. His music can be found at: http://www.moebandy.com/

Spring Fever

Spring Fever has arrived. In class, less students show up. The days are getting warm and flip-flops are making their debut on campus. I can think of a thousand things I need to be doing when I am sitting in class. Usually, I love school, but when April arrives, things change.

Maybe, it is because graduation is only three weeks away. Perhaps, I am thinking about the summer that I am taking off or our Mexico cruise in July. Regardless of why I am distracted, I have to make myself concentrate on finishing my final semester as an undergraduate. I will take the three months off and come back ready to start graduate school in August.

Hopefully, I will get plenty of rest and relaxation to recharge my batteries. It would be awesome to have an adventure. Maybe, on our cruise we will have some fun. I don't scuba dive or snorkel, but maybe it is time for me to learn. Cozumel is a great place to go underwater. They have awesome coral reefs. At http://www.cozumelinsider.com/Reefs, you can find site maps and condition reports. I read that Hurricane Wilma did some major damage to Cancun and Cozumel in 2006.

Bling and Fashion!

Today, I went shopping with my older sister. She loves jewelry with lots of glitz and bling! If it sparkles or shines, she wants it. I am eight years younger than her and require much less maintenance. I wear two rings and earrings when I go out.

My sister has solar nails, false eyelashes, and lots of black eyeliner. When she has no makeup on, she looks ill. I feel sorry for her because she does not feel dressed without all of it. I just do not like that much baggage. Less is more, I think.

We are also opposite with clothes. I have more comfortable, active clothes, but she has tons of dressy business suits. I hate wearing those stiff clothes. Of course, she works at a bank and has to dress up. I would die if I had to wear high heels everyday.

It seems like we represent two different generations. We laugh at each other, but we have fun. Sisters are fun to go shopping with. Her favorite store is Dillard's, and mine is Hobby Lobby. I like to make my own things sometimes. But she just buys things already to go.

Week Five

This week I am reading blogs about fashion. I love finding new ideas and styles that I can incorporate in my wardrobe. I love to wear casual, comfortable clothes, but I need to upgrade my look. I went exploring and found some great blogs and websites:

Fashionpirates.com

Snazzyfashion.blogspot.com

iamfashion.blogspot.com

trendqueen.com

eshakti.com

Tavi Gevinson is a 13-year-old blogger who loves fashion. Her blog, Style Rookie is at http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/ and has 4 million readers. Her popularity is due to her originality and thriftiness. She has been invited to attend New York Fashion Week. Gevinson has been featured in fashion magazines such as Pop and Love.

She sees clothing as art and a means of self-expression; however, her love for fashion also isolates her since she is only in the seventh grade. I like that she makes her own style and shops in thrift stores. In th seventh grade, I don't think I even knew what fashion meant, but the young girl is turning heads in the fashion world. I read her blog, which seems rather strange.

Gevinson uses photos of high-heel shoes, accessories, and runway models in her blog. She seems a bit eccentric to me, but I guess lots of people like reading her blog. Gevinson lives in Oak Park, Chicago and was named Blogger of the Moment by Teen Vogue.

She writes with sarcastic commentary, posts her own words, and inserts photos of brillant garments.

Fashion Pirate names Gevinson's blog as one of the top seven brilliant blogs.

I also learned at eshakti.com, you can custom order a dress or skirt, which is awesome. The web site shows pictures of them so you can see how they look.

These tops and skirts look awesome! I would love to wear them. Eshakti.com charges $15.00 extra for the fitting fee, but that is still a good deal. I will have to check that out, even though I prefer trying clothes on in the store. Malls are a bit overwhelming. I prefer to go to individual stores. I wonder if malls are going out of business because many stores are moving away from them and establishing independently.

With clothes like this, I would not mind ordering them online. Maybe, I can upgrade my wardrobe and obtain some new fashion sense at the same time. I usually wear a lot of brown, black, and gray colors. I am going to get out of the box and wear some bright new colors and styles.

Week Four

I love to read. My favorite author as a child was E.B. White. I read Charlotte's Web over and over. I loved the barnyard animals, just as White did. His story is still one that I continue to read as an adult. White's love for nature portrays a simple spider that saves Wilbur's life. Wow! That is amazing to me.

I have seen lots of spiders but I had not thought of them in the way that White presents Charlotte. How could one simple spider have that much impact? Perhaps, it is magic. I will never look at a spider as a simple creature again. Charlotte used words to save Wilbur. How inspiring White's story is!

Spider webs are used to snag flies and bugs. I love the intricate beauty of them. They remind me of spokes in a bicycle wheel. White had a creative imagination. He hatched spiders in a jar on his dresser. Wow! That would be a site to see as spiders crawled everywhere. It makes my skin itch though. Sometimes, I find spider webs on my porch or in my flower garden. I try not to bother them because I know they have a purpose. The spider is a busy creature. In fact, nature is interesting and works like a community.

I also read E.B. White's "Stuart Little." White loved boats and lived in Maine where he could take lots of boat rides. I found this picture that includes the sign: Book a Boat.

Stuart Little is a book about a mouse who has lots of adventures, which has been made into a movie. All children love to watch it. Stuart has fun as he is sent down the drain to find his mother's lost wedding ring. I love his little red sports car. What is not to love about a tiny lovable mouse?

E.B. White's works

Stuart Little: 1945

Charlotte's Web: 1952

The Second Tree from the Corner: 1954

The Elements of Style: 1959

The Trumpet of the Swan: 1970

Famous Quote:

"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is picking up grapes or sorting the laundry."

I found E.B. White's biography and life story at http://www.todayinliterature.com/stories.asp?Event_Date=10/1...

http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/e.b.white.asp

http://www.nndb.com/people/827/000066629

Born in 1899, White died of Alzheimer's Disease in 1985. Although he wrote several children's classic books, he is mostly known for his work in The Elements of Style.

Other good web sites that I found on E.B. White are:

http://www.winsor.edi/library2/ebwhite.htm

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ebwhite.htm

I relate to E.B. White because he enjoyed nature and was a simple man. It did not take a lot to entertain him. He loved working with animals and was fascinated with nature. I have learned so much from his literature. Perhaps, the one thing that sticks with me is his famous words: "Keep it simple." He was truly an amazing writer and an important man. White worked for the New Yorker for many years. I am impressed with his works and am inspired to follow in his footsteps.

My GM Portfolio

I began working at the General Motors OKC AssemblyPlant when I was 19-years-old. As a Quality Control Inspector, I was responsible for inspecting paint, brakes, electrical, tie-rods, doors, hoods, etc. Here are some images of the vehicles that I worked on:

Buick Century

Chevy Celebrity

Chevy Citation

Chevy Malibu

Chevy Trailblazer EXT

Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

Pontiac Phoenix

Pontiac 6000

GMC Envoy XL

GMC Envoy XUV

Isuzu Ascender

The most popular color: White

Best thing about working at GM: Money, benefits, lay-offs, and insurance

Worst thing about working at GM: No windows, long hours, injuries, and repetitive work

GM was my life until the plant closed in 2006. Today, I wear a different hat--as a UCO college student. But I hope it will be provide a good job and bright future.

Check the website out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_Assembly.

Our plant built lots of trucks. The last factory that manufactured trucks was in Moraine, Ohio on December 23, 2008 as seen in the HBO documentary - "The Last Truck Closing of a G.M. Plant." Every 43 seconds, a vehicle zoomed by. If I didn't focus, I could miss checking something that may cost someone their life.

A New Day. . .

Now that the Health Care Reform has passed, I am more confused than ever. I watched the news to see if I could make some sense of it. All that I learned is the Democrats favor it, and the Republicans do not. Lots of people are very angry because they feel they are forced to purchase health insurance. A reporter comparded the new health care bill to General Motors. The government cannot force people to buy a GM vehicle just because the government is controlling and subsidizing the company.

Since I worked for General Motors for twenty-seven years, I understand this analogy. GM became a dinosaur in the competitive market. They always introduced products too late. One example is the popularity of Chrysler's P.T. Cruiser. Several years passed before GM came out with the HHR. Although GM was a great company to work for, it had serious CEO, engineering, and management problems.

What is the future for Americans and health care? I will have to read some blogs to learn more about this issue. Now, every business, small or large, are required to carry health insurance for their employees. Sadly, this will shut many small business owners down. Although health care needs reform, I do not know if this health care bill is the solution. Like me, many Americans feel confused. I read in the UCO paper that this bill becomes law immediately.

I read there are two problems on www.theheathcareblog.com. First of all, there is a conflict between mandated coverage and consumer affodability. Secondly, national health care expenditures need to be slowed down.

On a brighter note, Spring is here. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and graduation draws near. Spring is a wonderful time of year because it is a time for new beginnings.

Week Three

Spring Break is over. I am proud to say that I studied, slept, and finished decorating my sister's house. No broken bones or car accidents occurred. I did get a really bad sore throat and sinus infection that required a doctor's visit.

Speaking of doctors, my son is in his third year of medical school. Last week, he helped amputate a leg. He did not get his strong disposition from me. I would have hit the floor in an unconscious state. But it did not seem to bother him. The first week of medical school, the students were taken to the basement to work on the cadavers. I am so glad I did not choose a medical profession.

I enjoy decorating as a hobby. I wanted to pursue interior design in college, but I did not think I could make a living in Oklahoma. I love HGTV's website (http://www.hgtv.com/) because it has ideas for every room. Bold colors are back such as countertops, tiles, and cabinets. Red is a color that is still hot, due to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing while oranges and yellows of India are soothing.

Tuscan and Terracotta are color schemes that are out because of its overuse in stores and restaurants. My favorite color is burnt orange with accents of blue and dark brown. My sister has an old world taste with a touch of Hollywood. She loves fringe, tassels, sparkly chandeliers, and glass accents. I had to put my Shabby Chic taste aside in order to decorate her house, according to her style.

Shabby Chic includes vintage fabrics and antique furniture painted white or a soft pastel color that is distressed at the corners by sanding. I also love faux painting. I painted my study gold, and then I brushed burnt sienna in a half-moon shape over it with a paint brush.

I find lots of ideas at http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/. This blog defines Shabby Chic as mixing the old with the new, blending them all comfortably and in harmony. Sounds like a good definition to me.

Apparently, Rachel Ashwell created Shabby chic in the 1980s after spending lots of time at garage sales and thrift stores. The colors include pale pink, pale blue, cream, ivory, and pale green. Fabrics are usually mis-matched fabrics, florals, stripes, and plaids. I like it because anyone can afford this style. It is okay if things don't match. In fact, it looks better if they don't. Target carries Shabby Chic decor and quilts are seen at http://www.target.com/Simply-Shabby-Chic-Designy-Shabby-Chic-Design.

This floral print makes a great throw pillow that fits in any decor. Even old dishcloths or handkerchiefs would work in this bedroom. The flowers remind me of my 'Nanny.' She used to sew her own flowered-dresses with this floral print.

My sister likes Old World style decor that is found at http://www.kirklands.com/. Here are a few items that I put in her house:

Of course, these items look better in her house, but it shows the different taste that we have. She is eight-years-older than me. She likes to dress up, and I like to wear jeans.

This week, we are learning about politics, citizen journalism, and blogging in our online class.
My favorite political blog is http://www.huckpac.com/. I am discovering a world of information that I had no idea existed. Who needs to watch the news with all this information available on blogs?

On the other hand, my sister likes old world decor in her house. I learned a lot while I was shopping and decorating. Here are a few pictures of her taste: