The Country Music Inspired MI-5

Billy Rhythm says:

This morning I was downstairs folding laundry, listening to country music. The DJ played some really good stuff, and his set list inspired this MI-5. Country music inspired me, but you may answer freely, regardless of genre.

1) Is there any particular song that always makes you smile? (This question inspired by "Tight Fitting Jeans" by Conway Twitty.)

"Oh, yeah, by the way she moves, she's got me rolling in dirt, in a white t-shirt, breaker breaker one-nine she's a big ole flirt"...It's a song called "Nothing to Lose" by former American Idol contestant Josh Gracin. It's got the catchiest melody, and the "breaker breaker one-nine" just cracks me up. And it cracks me up every time, without fail. Josh actually has a couple of songs out, and I like them all. They will never go down as the greatest songs in history, but they just make me happy. Oh my goodness. Right now, on CMT, is a Josh Gracin video. It's his new one. "Favorite State of Mind." It's another fun one. What timing!!

2) Is there any particular song that always brings a tear to your eye? (This question inspired by "Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis.)

There's probably quite a few of those, and more so since Dad died. Of course Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" can bring a tear, and so can LeAnne Rimes's "I Wish It Didn't Hurt So Bad". That may not be the actual title, but anyone who knows the song will know which one I'm talking about. "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" can make me cry, too. That's another country singer, can't remember now who. I don't know if there is a song that can make me cry EVERY time, but I think these will do for now.

3) You have the opportunity to spend the day with someone who's no longer around. (Could be they've passed on, could be they're just not around.) Do you take the opportunity? Who do you pick? (Inspired by Diamond Rio's "One More Day.")

Of course, I'd pick my Dad. Hands down. I don't think there's even a close second.

4) You're going somewhere tropical. Where are you going? What's on your agenda? (From Kenny Chesney's "How Forever Feels.")

Anyway tropical would be fine. All of Kenny Chesney's videos make me want to go to the Caribbean. Sometimes I wish that I had so much money that I could just buy a vacation home and hang out all day for the rest of my life. I'd want a hammock in some sort of cabana thing on the beach, with the breezes blowing through. Maybe have a guitar to strum like Kenny. Bare feet. Ceiling fans of palm frawns (is that how you spell it?). Wicker furniture simply because it looks pretty. And I suppose I'd need a horse to ride on the beach. Of course, I'd be so rich that someone else could take care of it. To just be able to have no worries and be so carefree.

5) We all probably have a little habit/love/idea that some might consider a little "red neck." What's your "white trash" secret? (Inspired by "Redneck Yacht Club.")

Oh, boy. Here it comes. This little "fantasy" probably comes from some video I've seen. Or maybe one of the opening scenes of the first Charlie Angels movie. I think about what it would be like to live in a dumpy little trailer. My guy works very hard, but we just can't seem to make ends meet. It doesn't matter, though, because we love each other so deeply. It's a raw, sexy type of love. Oh, I'm embarassed. I think I'll stop right here.

Amy's Hodgepodge MI-5

1. A meal is being prepared in your honor. What is prepared (include specific dishes and don't forget dessert as this is a special occasion!)? Who is invited? Why are you being honored? Do you give a speech?

Oh, we definitely have to have lobster. And maybe filet mignon wrapped in bacon. (I've never had that, but it sounds good.) Mashed potatoes with a puddle of butter. Corn on the cob. Baquette bread. Can I give up dessert to have more lobster? If I can't, then I think I'd say chocolate cream pie. My entire extended family (including my church family and in-laws) are invited, as are Alice, Ronda, and their families. Why am I honored. I have no idea. Best church pianist that's never had a professional piano lesson? (for which I'm awarded free Southern Gospel Piano Lessons.) #1 Scrapbooker in need of organized space? (for which I'm awarded with a two-storage garage, and you guessed it, the top floor is an entire scrapbook room complete with tables for scrapbooking parties. I picked a garage so that Dwane could have something, too. I want one like Lucille's.) # 1 Paralegal that works from home, trying so hard to balance family and housekeeping? (for which I'm awarded a lifetime of free maid service.) I'd definitely give a speech. Not sure what I'd say, but I tend to kindda like public speaking (not that I'm any good at it), so I'm sure I'd come up with something.

2. Your neighbor accidently backs into your car and gives it a nice sized dent. The dent is for the most part purely cosmetic in nature. The neighbor is a nice guy...and also doesn't really want insurance companies to get involved. He gives you the option: have his friend (whom you don't know at all) fix for you or take it to a repair shop. What do you choose and why?

If he was paying for the work to be done, I'd take it to the repair shop. If he's only paying for it if his friend does it, then I'd probably just have Dwane do it. I'd trust him more. Maybe the neighbor could provide us with a lobster dinner (see #1 above) in exchange for the work.

3. You win a trip to any place OUTSIDE of the United States. Where do you go? You can take only two people with you...who do you take?

Only two people! That's really tough. Dwane would need to go. And then I guess I'd say Eben, figuring that Caleb wouldn't be old enough to enjoy it. And I'm sure that he'd rather stay with Nana anyway. Where would I go? That's tougher to say, I guess. If the Holy Land was safe, I'd really, really love to go there. I think I'm kindda scared of it now, though. Maybe I'd pick Fiji. And get one of those cottages with the glass floor so that you can see the fish swimming under it. In that case, I'd take my cat instead of Eben so that Dwane and I could have some alone time.

4. Now let's talk about work. You bend over backwards to get something done quickly for someone as a courtesy because of the situation- something that requires you to call on other people to do YOU a favor to get it done. They don't say thank you and the next time they require something of you they expect it to be done just as fast. What do you do?

If it was my boss, I guess I'd do it all over again, because I'm a sucker, and I tend to respect authority (almost too much). If it was a friend, I'd come up with an excuse to not do it. I guess that's not really very nice to do to a friend, but all of my friends would bend over backwards to say thank you to begin with.

5. If you could start A NEW hobby...any hobby...(money is NO object) what would it be?

Well, if I was a good wife, I'd say skiing, or maybe four-wheeling. That would be so that Dwane and I could do something that we both would maybe enjoy. Oh, I know! Dwane loves his motorcycle. If money was no object, maybe I'd pick buying a Honda Goldwing (or two) and tour the country. Maybe we could follow Bill and Sue in their convertible across Route 66. If I was going to pick a hobby for just me, I think I would take up ballroom dancing, or just dancing in general. I have always wanted to do that (Dwane's work schedule always seems to preclude lessons). And now, with Dancing with the Stars so big, it's really fueled my desire to try it.

This was a fun one, Amy! Thanks!

At church today, Bill and Sue presented me with a gift. "The other half of my birthday present," they called it. Inside was a matted and framed print of Andrew Wyeth's "Sailor's Valentine". I have loved this painting for years, but unfortunately, prints were never made of it. Bill has been searching for me for years trying to find it, and the Farnsworth told him prints were never made, which was why he could never find it. They told him if he ever did find it, it was because someone had taken a page out of a book and matted and framed it. Well, that's what he found. And I am so in love! It is absolutely beautiful. Sailor's Valentine pictures a lighthouse (Tenants Harbor Light so my son informs me) with a bush with pink flowers in the foreground. I love the colors. I love the lighthouse. I love the flowers. I love the title--"Sailor's Valentine." I can't thank Bill and Sue enough for such a gift. And yes, Sizzle, I cried. So did Sue. And I think even Bill misted up.

I got to compose the MI-5 for this week. Here it is:

The MI-5 is easy this week. Although you can give a one-word answer, it’s much more fun to elaborate a little bit with the reasons for your choices, or a “I remember when…” type of story.

1. If you could only have one type of cereal for the rest of life, what would it be?

Right now I am totally into Chocolate Lucky Charms. I love them (and so do Eben and Dwane). I'm also quite fond of Frosted Mini Wheats (not the bite-size--they don't have enough frosting). But I think I'd have to pick the Chocolate Lucky Charms.

2. If you could only have one type of ice cream for the rest of your life, what would it be? Be specific as to flavor and brand.

This one is tougher. I really, really love Mocha Chip from Dormans. However, if I could only have one kind, I think I might pick Vanilla from Dormans, simply for its versatility.

3. If you could cook potatoes in only one way for the rest of your life, how would you cook them?

I think I'd have to say mashed potatoes. I like this a little on the wet side with lots of butter and whipped with the egg beater. In the summer, though, I really like boiled potatoes that are boiled with fresh green beans. After draining, add milk and butter, and then mash them on the plate. Yum!

4. If you could have only one type of pizza for the rest of your life, what would it be? Be specific.

Papa John's Double Hamburg. Oh my goodness is that good! Since we don't have a Papa John's locally, it's a treat, so I don't get tired of it. Locally, I like Snappy's Hamburg. What's funny is that I've had Snappy's probably only twice in the last 10 years. Dwane likes Pizza Hut Pan Pizza, Eben likes Dominos. We also get Take & Bake's from Pik-Qwik in Thomaston quite a bit. They are awesome, too. But, nothing compares to Papa John's.

5. If you could have only one type of TV Dinner for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This one is easy for me, too. I like the Swanson's Dinner that has the fried boneless chicken breast, mashed potato, corn, and that yummy chocolate brownie. There is a really good Kid's Cuisine, one too, with these taco dipper thingies that you dip in cheese sauce. It comes with corn and chocolate pudding with sprinkles. I used to eat them all of the time, but this particular flavor of Kids Cuisine is harder for me to find now

Guess I must have been hungry when I composed these questions. Seems like lately all I do is eat. What is up with that????

Boy! Yesterday was a busy day!

I worked for an hour or so first thing in the morning, and then I took Ma and Aunt Ruth to the Nursing Home for Bingo. While they were at Bingo, I made a quick trip to the bank, and then picked up stuff at both Wal-Mart and Hannaford. Back to the Nursing Home to pick up Ma and Aunt Ruth, then took Aunt Ruth home, and went around the drive-through at McDonalds to get a quick lunch. (My boys are both obsessed with the movie "Cars", and McDonalds' Happy Meals now contain "Cars" toys. If anyone want to eat a Happy Meal, I know a place where you can deposit the toys!)

After inhaling lunch, Ma, Mom, Caleb and I head to Eben's school for the third annual talent show. Eben played his guitar with Philip R. They played "Smoke on the Water". In their second act, they played a couple of chords while two girls did a clapping game (similar to "Miss Mary Mac, Mac, Mac, All dressed in black, black, black). Eben said afterwards that he was really, really nervous, but he did an absolutely fantastic job. In fact, those two acts were the best acts out of the entire 34!

Shortly after coming home, Ma and Sarah came by to visit. Sarah had just been on vacation at Key West, Florida, and she had bought gifts for the boys. Caleb was napping (he slept from 3:30 to 7:00), but Sarah had time to play football and Sega Fishing with Eben. Both boys were thrilled with their gifts. Eben got a crystal lighthouse, and Caleb got a squirting fish and some bubbles. The gifts were all perfect for them.

Alice came down in the early evening, and we created some thank you notes for her son, Brandon. Brandon is graduating from 8th grade today, and he wanted thank you notes for his teachers.

Dwane got home about 7:30, so it was a quick and easy supper (homestyle Filet-o-fish sandwiches), and then an early bedtime. Sleep was interrupted, though, when Dwane came rushing into the bedroom saying, "Something's going on down the street." Off he went. He came back, hopped on his four-wheeler, and headed off again. Apparently, someone had hit a moose right in the head. The Sheriff needed someone to haul it off the roadway. Of course, Dwane volunteered, and he hauled off a 700 pound moose with his four-wheeler. He ended up waking Eben up to go see it (this was about 11:00 PM). Dwane is just too cute.

Jim's MI-5, for the second week in a row:

Jim says:

The five this week is a bit different. One might say a bit of a riddle. I will give you a phrase and you tell me why it is true. There is a riddle in the truth. Once you figure out one of these the rest are easy. I hope you have fun! If this turns out to be too hard let me know and I will give you one or give you a hint. In a few days in my web log I will post what I was thinking when I wrote these or what we might call the answers.

When Animals Speak!

1. Horses are so negative.

2. Cats are selfish wimps.

3. Dogs need to be more refined.

4. Donkey's love to laugh.

5. Ducks never like their
doctors.

When I first saw this, I thought, "There is no way I will ever get this." About 10 seconds later, I read the title again, and it became so obvious! When I saw that the first one matched up with the title, the rest were a breeze.

1. Horses are negative because they always say "Neigh" (Nay).

2. Cats are selfish wimps because they always say "Meow" (Me Ow).

3. Dogs need to be more refined because they always say "Ruff" (Rough).

4. Donkeys love to laugh because they always say "Hee Haw" (hee haw).

5. Ducks don't like to go to the doctors, because they're always calling their doctor a "Quack".

Yay me! I'm quite sure I got it.

I started working on a set of MI-5 questions earlier this week, and lo and behold, today Jim nominated me to write them for next week. Well, Jim, they're already done. They are certainly not as clever as Jim's are this week, but they are easy ones that won't need you to think a whole lot. (Those are my favorite MI-5's. Since I have to think so deeply doing my paid job, it's nice to just have some fun things to think about.)