Stop! Collaborate, and Listen!

Thankyouverymuch. That was, indeed, my best Vanilla Ice impression!

But, seriously, folks....what actually does happen to those "one-hit-wonder" groups we all know and love? Do you know? I don't. But, I bet google does.

There's actually a website dedicated to bringing us at least identification of these special bands. At least one website.

Here are a few of my favorites from years gone bye:

The Vapors - Turning Japanese (I was just singing this song YESTERDAY!)
Sugar Hill Gang - Rapper's Delight
Toni Basil - Mickey
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
Moving Picturs - What About Me
Nena - 99 Luftballoons
Jack Wagner - All I need....

Wait. Pretty much every single one from the 80's and 90's.

As far as what happened to these bands....here's a great article on what may have happened to them.

Simple, yet complex? No, just simple!

Believe it or not, I have been grumpy lately. A lot. There is a multitude of possibilities as to why, but I think I've narrowed it down. I'm having financial problems again.

Brian is such a great friend...but another reason I like him is because he can point out the simple things in what feels like such a complex problem. Yesterday, he made a post (as well as talked to me prior) which simplified it for me, a bit, to enable me to determine the core issue. I simply haven't been paying attention. My attention has been focused on my weight loss, not so much on my finances.

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm an excellent multi-tasker. I just am. It's a skill I've developed quite well over many aspects of my world. Why, then, am I having trouble multi-tasking regarding my personal goals and/or development? Again, with the paying attention. Pay attention, Tracy!

Hey, Brian! Next time, just slap me in the face, wouldja? Thankyouverymuch.

Do you?

Out there, somewhere, is a special man. A man beyond my wildest dreams. This man is someone that will care about the world, and the people that surround him. He will be able and kind. He will be strong, yet in touch with the sensitivity that makes him such a special man. This man will have courage beyond my imagination; however, be humble enough to know when to show his deepest fears. He will enjoy engaging in conversation and banter, as well as dwell in the silence between two beating hearts.

This man....he will not be perfect, yet he will try his best to be that special man. He will have integrity and values, a personal vision, and goals. He will pay attention to details, and especially when they count. This man will know when those details count. He is intuitive, and knows what a woman needs. His desire is to know me...all of me. My dreams, my desires, my pet peeves, what hurts me most...

This man will be able to allow me inside of him, to know him fully. He is not only willing, but craves, to give and receive, and knows when to do each. And, sometimes, he may not know. He will admit that he doesn't know...and be willing to truly listen when I offer advice.

This man will come into my life, and steal my heart. He will keep it safe, and not ever intentionally hurt me. There will be rough times, together and separate, and this man will stick with me, and I with him, to the bitter end.

I have faith. I believe.

Figure it Out

Yesterday, a good friend told me that I was more powerful than I realized.

My response was, "I wish I could figure out how to realize it."

His response was something that I will think about many times along my journey of self-discovery: "You're IN THE PROCESS of figuring it out!"

Sweet Home Alabama

Ms. H has never been to Missouri. However, she has heard the word Missouri far too often for her liking, in the past few weeks. She knows a fellow from Missouri, and he's been talking, recently, about wishing he were home. In Missouri. And, now, it appears Reader 492 is suggesting that if Ms. H does not blog bi-daily (is that an actual word/term?), that she may as well move to Missouri.

Missouri, my friends, is a far away place. It is a place that exists only in Ms. H's mind, although, she realizes that it actually does exist.

The only thing that Ms. H can offer you, her readers, is a little something based on nothing. Enjoy!

Walkin' to Missouri one night, Shenandoah saw bright headlights coming her way. She slowed her pace just a bit to ready herself for a jump in the bushes, if needed. As the car approached, she could see it was a late model sedan, brownish in color. Her heart skipped a beat, and she prayed aloud, softly. Standing here on Route 66, Shenandoah could just imagine some Able Bodied Man disabling her body, and doing Lord-knows-what with it afterwards.

Shenandoah was only Forty Miles from Poplar Bluff. If she could only get back to her abandoned car on Chicken Road, she could get to her destination by daybreak. She could hear the squeaking brakes as the car slowed to approach her. She turned slightly just as a gruff looking man in his late forties appeared before her. She could tell, as shallow as it is, just by his looks, that he was an Absolute Zero. Shenandoah was scared. And, it takes quite a bit to scare her.

"You tryin' to get Across the Wide Missouri, ma'am?" he spoke in a friendly, yet deep voice.

Shenandoah answered, trying not to show her fear, "I'm just Leaving Missouri, Sir. I'm trying to get back to my car. But my brothers, Frank and Jesse James, are nearly here to pick me up."

Before the man could respond, Shenandoah spotted a Red Sombrero in the back seat with a cape of some kind. Red, to match the sombrero, with tassels to add flair. She wondered if it was a costume, or if it belonged to someone else. It didn't appear that anyone else was in the car. Her mind wandered a bit as she wondered, briefly, if maybe there was someone in the trunk. She'd never know.

"Alrighty, then, Miss Matilda, you take care. I'll get back to My Dark Life," he said, as he sped away into the night. She wondered why he'd called her that, but tried not to give it too much thought.

As Shenandoah pulled out some Animal Crackers, she thought to herself, 'Whoa, that was a close call.' She munched as she walked, her feet shuffling as if to a rhythmic beat. After a bit longer, she heard a faint noise in the distance. It sounded as if it were music coming her way. Shenandoah thought to herself, 'As much as I could use some Soul Rocking, I SURE hope that's those darn boys coming to get me.'

The music grew louder and louder as the car approached. This time, Shenandoah, with a bit less caution, turned to face the car. Indeed, it was the boys coming her way. She could tell by the bent grill on the blue van they were driving. Dose of Thunder - that's what they called it. Crazy boys. She stuck out her thumb as they approached, as if she were a stranger, hitchhiking in the night.

"I'm Tryin' to Get to Heaven, boys," she said as they rolled up.

They slowed to a stop, and Frank said, "Shhh. Get in, sister. Just Let it Ride!"

Shenandoah spotted someone in the back of the van, laying down. Shenandoah said, "What's My Cousin Kim doing with you guys?" Neither brother answered her, and she decided to let it go, as she sat back to enjoy the ride. She was glad to be off her feet, in a warm car, and felt safe, knowing that she was headed back to her car. She knew that it would be fixed, and that she'd be fine.

Shenandoah realized she'd noticed an unfamiliar smell, as she entered the van. It smelled different somehow. So Fresh, So Clean, which was much different than normal. She asked the occupants of the van, including Kim, who was awake by now, "What's that smell???"

They all knew it was unlike the boys to have such a clean van. And, They All Laughed.

Up for the Challenge!

Dear Reader 492,

Once again, I must thank you for your continuing challenge. However, I will go above and beyond your challenge, and not take a day off. Because, that's just how I roll.

And, since you've given me yet another idea for a post, here goes. However, I must challenge you this time...keep count yourself. ;-)

Regards,
Ms H.

7 Day Digest - Day 7

So, this is the final day of my challenge. And, again, I have nothing to say. Does it count that on some of the days, I blogged more than once? I didn't think so.

Okay, so I'll have to try and talk about something. But, nothing's coming to mind. Why is it that when you need to say something, nothing comes to mind? And, when you don't need to say anything, or especially when someone wants you to stop talking, you can't stop talking? Ask me. I know this well. And, when I say you, I mean the you as the in general you, not really you. Because it's not all about you. IT'S ABOUT ME. DUH.

Enough about that. What should we talk about now? I could ramble on and on for days like this, as if I'm having a conversation with you when you're not even in the room. Now, I talk to myself quite often...what's that? Oh, don't act like you don't talk to yourself. We all do it. You might as well just join the crowd. And, this time, I DO mean you. Anyway, I rather enjoy talking to myself, at times. Especially at times like these where I pretend you're there, but really you're not.

Are you?

Maybe you are.

Is that you over there in that corner?

Hey you! Turn around!

Ohhhh.....nevermind, that's not you.

Wait! Who is it then....

7 Day Digest - Day 6

Being sick blows. And, again, not in a good way.

I just wonder what my sinuses are thinking when they're kicking my ass....

'Take this, and that!'
'Just when you thought you could bend over...HA!'
'Sit up...g'head...make my day!'
'I'm a mean, green fightin' machine!'

I hate sinus infections, and I'm lucky enough to have inherited sinus problems from my father...bless his heart.

To anyone else out there suffering from sinus problems this season, here's to lots of water, lots of rest, and lots of heavy drugs. Hopefully you have better drugs than my pitiful Advil. Cheers!

7 Day Digest - Day 5

The theme for today: Not today.

NOT. TODAY.

I don't feel very good today, and apparently, I'm feeling and looking like this:

Little Miss Crabby Ass

FOUR

How many ways can four help me?
Four million dollars would be nice.
Four kids would probably help me be humble, if nothing else.

I like the way four looks on the page.
I like the way they stick that ‘u’ in four, for no reason at all.
Four is one of the years a child is a blessing, while fourteen is an age I’m scared of.

I’d be happy if the Saints had won by four.
But I don’t really care that much since I have watched them in over four years.
Did anyone bet four hundred dollars on the game?

Day four of my seven-day digest.
I had a short post, less than four words per line.
Now, here’s a little something with plenty o’ fours to digest.

7 Day Digest - Day 4

Whip it!

WHIP IT GOOD!

And, while we're on the topic of asses...

Why is it that I can find as many beautiful female asses I want on the internets, like these....but when I do a Google image search for male asses*...I literally get a handful? And, I don't mean the GOOD kind of handful, either.

Now, although, I like looking at female asses as much as the next guy...c'mon...I'm feeling a little discriminated against, here.

*Don't try that at home with Safe Search turned off....you'll be really, really sorry you did. You get WAY more than you bargained for....believe me.

7 Day Digest - Day 3

I've always known, but have become more acutely aware that I need more practice at this.

And, this is pretty important reading material for me, as well.

To be continued....

7 Day Digest - Day 2

What if?

What if the world, as we know it, ended tomorrow? What if the Blazers went to the championship? What if I won the Lottery? What if birds could talk? What if everything in the world turned green next week?

What if I quit my job? What if you and I got married? What if a tree fell onto my apartment? What if I took a cooking class? What if someone bought me a new car?

What if LiLo really does get better? What if I got an iPhone? What if George Clooney asked me out? What if Cruella Deville was my next door neighbor? What if naked pictures of me were posted on the Internet?

What if there really was world peace? What if Bush were indicted? What if my printer weren't a P.O.S.? What if all the friends I'd ever had were true friends?

What if.....tell me...what if?

7 Day Digest - Day 1

Dear Reader 492,

I'm always up for a challenge! Thank you!

As dull as it may be to some of you, I forgot to post last week about the fact that I, Ms. H., jogged TWO MILES on Tuesday during my workout! Although, I'm still at a fairly slow pace, I am still very proud of myself!

And, today I learned that the true meaning of insanity (doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results) not only makes us insane, but it hurts the heart, as well.

I love learning things. Even when they hurt. And, even when I have to learn them over and over again.

Here's to hoping the rest of the digest will be on a very positive note!

Thanks for reading,
Ms. H

Tribute to a Great Man

There is no way I could even begin to write a suitable tribute to such a great man: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, today, I would just like to share my favorite quote, and say that although not much has changed, I still have hope.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starlet midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."
-Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I finally saw it...

Two months later, and I finally received and viewed The Great Gatsby! That's the particular version I saw, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it didn't do the classic much justice.

Now, I can certainly see why this sad tale of lost love and ensuing Karma is a classic, as well as a favorite to many. I'll bet the book was even better, I'll have to add that to my must-read list. As well, I'll have to purchase my own copy of one of the more original film versions.

Next up - Casablanca! Thanks to Brian for the lovely gift of symbolism for the holidays!

First Post of 2007

Well, welcome to the new year, peeps.

The year 2006 was good to me, I must admit. And, although, I normally don't make "resolutions" per se, this year I have a few goals in mind that I could call resolutions, I suppose:

1) Be down 60 lbs. by my birthday on May 30.
2) Continue to focus on my finances in such a way that I don't use/touch the auto-savings that goes into my account every two weeks.
3) Take responsibility for my credit, and work on getting it cleaned up.
4) Attend more social functions so that I'm not so frozen with fear at the thought.

Oh, yeah...and I suppose I should have started that list with taking down the regurgitation-Christmas-decorations. It's so much work...wish me luck (or something)!