9.02.2008
I found a photograph...
Ok, I may be having a bit too much fun today. But take a peek about what I could have looked like in an old yearbook:
1956
1960
1966
1968
1978
8.21.2008
8.15.2008
GROWL Memphis
So here is something that made me smile and laugh this morning. My neighborhood is very quaint and active. What I like most about my area is that it’s very runner, walker and biker friendly...Until things like Crepe Myrtle’s grow out of control and block the side walk.
And trust me I know all about the Crepe Myrtle’s out of control way – mine is constantly making a mess of my car, driveway and porch. I spend more time then I care to think about trying to tame this crazy tree plus its’ flowers and dust.
That leads me to my morning funny. My neighbor who lives around the corner has a Crepe Myrtle that literally took over the sidewalk. I jokingly told our mutual friend that the tree had begun to beat me up (leaving me with pink flowers entangled in my curls). To avoid the confrontation with the tree, Parker and I had decided to move to the street when we approached that block.
Until this morning when I got a pleasant surprise & note, which culminated in me smiling and laughing. See below:
As I stood there giggling I noticed some chalk was left out, so what did I do? I wrote back of course!!! I replied, “Thanks the management “hearts” it!” and “Bonus next month!” The older couple who lives in between our houses stopped as I finished up my chalk response. They declared to me how impressed they were with my neighbor’s tree trimming efforts.
Here is a shot of the offending tree:
And finally all this got my creative juices flowing so I wrote the following fake e-mail response to my friend:
Ms. Peacock**,
I wanted to extend a 3 Bark salute to you this morning from GROWL Memphis*! We were notified by some nosy neighbors in your 'hood that the crepe myrtle at your residence was finally cut back allowing bikers, runners and walkers access back to Sevier from Shirlwood & Philwood. Most importantly it now allows Dogs and their human companions a clear walkway to tread on their daily poop & scoop outings.
I for one tested this poop path this morning with Sir Barks-A-Lot (a Beagle) & Mr. Pickles (a Pomeranian) and we were quite impressed with the tree surgery. Mr. Pickles even christened the tree in his excitement. I know what you're thinking, but don't worry!!! I carry a canine fanny pack that includes doggie bags, wipes and a few innovative sprays to clean up the toughest mess (which is also available for ONLY $49.99 on the growlmemphis.org website).
Again, thank you so much for trimming back the tree and allowing our four-legged brothering the privileges to "walk this way!"
If you would like to learn more about GROWL Memphis, make a purchase, donation, register your dog or become a resident dog walker/dog walker –in-training please visit us online @ www.growlmemphis.org
Yours truly,
B. Mad Dog
Betty "The Mad Dog" Beagle
President & Communications Chair
GROWL Memphis
www.growlmemphis.org
growlmemphis@gmail.com
901.526.BARK
ALPHA DOG (#31)
* GROWL Memphis = Greater Residences of Wags & Licks in Memphis
**Name has been removed to protect the innocent
Anyway, I hope you get a chuckle out of this like I did. TGIF to all my Reeling with Rachiley readers out there!
And trust me I know all about the Crepe Myrtle’s out of control way – mine is constantly making a mess of my car, driveway and porch. I spend more time then I care to think about trying to tame this crazy tree plus its’ flowers and dust.
That leads me to my morning funny. My neighbor who lives around the corner has a Crepe Myrtle that literally took over the sidewalk. I jokingly told our mutual friend that the tree had begun to beat me up (leaving me with pink flowers entangled in my curls). To avoid the confrontation with the tree, Parker and I had decided to move to the street when we approached that block.
Until this morning when I got a pleasant surprise & note, which culminated in me smiling and laughing. See below:
As I stood there giggling I noticed some chalk was left out, so what did I do? I wrote back of course!!! I replied, “Thanks the management “hearts” it!” and “Bonus next month!” The older couple who lives in between our houses stopped as I finished up my chalk response. They declared to me how impressed they were with my neighbor’s tree trimming efforts. 
Here is a shot of the offending tree:
And finally all this got my creative juices flowing so I wrote the following fake e-mail response to my friend:Ms. Peacock**,
I wanted to extend a 3 Bark salute to you this morning from GROWL Memphis*! We were notified by some nosy neighbors in your 'hood that the crepe myrtle at your residence was finally cut back allowing bikers, runners and walkers access back to Sevier from Shirlwood & Philwood. Most importantly it now allows Dogs and their human companions a clear walkway to tread on their daily poop & scoop outings.
I for one tested this poop path this morning with Sir Barks-A-Lot (a Beagle) & Mr. Pickles (a Pomeranian) and we were quite impressed with the tree surgery. Mr. Pickles even christened the tree in his excitement. I know what you're thinking, but don't worry!!! I carry a canine fanny pack that includes doggie bags, wipes and a few innovative sprays to clean up the toughest mess (which is also available for ONLY $49.99 on the growlmemphis.org website).
Again, thank you so much for trimming back the tree and allowing our four-legged brothering the privileges to "walk this way!"
If you would like to learn more about GROWL Memphis, make a purchase, donation, register your dog or become a resident dog walker/dog walker –in-training please visit us online @ www.growlmemphis.org
Yours truly,
B. Mad Dog
Betty "The Mad Dog" Beagle
President & Communications Chair
GROWL Memphis
www.growlmemphis.org
growlmemphis@gmail.com
901.526.BARK
ALPHA DOG (#31)
* GROWL Memphis = Greater Residences of Wags & Licks in Memphis
**Name has been removed to protect the innocent
Anyway, I hope you get a chuckle out of this like I did. TGIF to all my Reeling with Rachiley readers out there!
8.13.2008
8.07.2008
Sacred Stones
"Would you catch me if I was falling?
Would you answer if I was calling?
Could you love me with my eyes closed?
'Cause I saw something and I don't know what to do"
8.05.2008
8.03.2008
Willie Nelson & Dave Matthews Band Setlist @ Autozone Park 8.2.08
Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews Band played at Autozone Baseball park last night. It was fantastic, even if it was a super hot Memphis summer night. Here is the setlist for DMB, hopefully in the coming days I will be able to find Willie's set list too:Don't Drink the Water
Old Dirt Hill
Eh Hee
Water/Wine Jam
Tripping Billies
Gravedigger (with Willie Nelson)
The Song That Jane Likes
Drive In Drive Out
Burning Down The House
#41
So Damn Lucky
Crash Into Me
Corn Bread
Sledgehammer
Where Are You Going
Smooth Rider
Louisiana Bayou
Two Step
Encore:
Sister
Anyone Seen The Bridge
Too Much (tease)
Ants Marching
7.31.2008
Faith, Hope & Love
In such a fast paced world sometimes we neglect the most basic things in our lives. The things that exist right in front of us – family and friends are often taken for granted. Sometimes we would rather choose to play on our blackberry, Iphone or computer then to look away from the screen for a few minutes to really treasure the things that really matter.
Instead we toil away on that work e-mail, proposal, game or anything else that occupies our forefront. I for one am as guilty of doing this as anyone else. I often get caught up in something from work or some emotional tie that I carry with me outside of the office (which I probably should have just check at the door).
I always found it slightly refreshing though when I talked with my old manager a few jobs back. He seemed to always fret and worry about his to-do list for work, but always found solace in going home. And you could tell that he just adored his family to no end.
Yes, his job provided him a never ending list of tasks. But his family provided him a substance that enriched his life. His entire family bonded over music and religion. And you could just tell how his wife lit up his world. They practiced and lived the motto “Faith, Hope and Love.”
This lesson is going to come into play now and in the coming days since his wife passed away from a rare blood disease. It saddens me to see him so torn apart, since I always picture him as this pillar of strength. But the way his wife lived her life touching countless other directly and indirectly with faith, hope and love will live on through him and their children. I hope that peace finds him and his children.
And I hope that all of us too, will find comfort in the simple things that are in front of us through faith, hope and love.
Instead we toil away on that work e-mail, proposal, game or anything else that occupies our forefront. I for one am as guilty of doing this as anyone else. I often get caught up in something from work or some emotional tie that I carry with me outside of the office (which I probably should have just check at the door).
I always found it slightly refreshing though when I talked with my old manager a few jobs back. He seemed to always fret and worry about his to-do list for work, but always found solace in going home. And you could tell that he just adored his family to no end.
Yes, his job provided him a never ending list of tasks. But his family provided him a substance that enriched his life. His entire family bonded over music and religion. And you could just tell how his wife lit up his world. They practiced and lived the motto “Faith, Hope and Love.”
This lesson is going to come into play now and in the coming days since his wife passed away from a rare blood disease. It saddens me to see him so torn apart, since I always picture him as this pillar of strength. But the way his wife lived her life touching countless other directly and indirectly with faith, hope and love will live on through him and their children. I hope that peace finds him and his children.
And I hope that all of us too, will find comfort in the simple things that are in front of us through faith, hope and love.
7.25.2008
7.24.2008
Coldplay Set List @ The United Center 7.22.08
This concert was absolutely AMAZING...I was so blown away by the music and the event Coldplay created, that's all I've got to say for the moment. Here is the set list from the show:
Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Viva La Vida
Yes
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
Chinese Sleep Chant (side stage)
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (side stage/techno version)
Speed Of Sound
Yellow
Lost!
Lost! (repeated for video)
The Scientist (Acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer (Will - Acoustic)
Encore:
Politik
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends
The Escapist
Encore 2:
Green Eyes (Chris & Will acoustic)
Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Viva La Vida
Yes
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
Chinese Sleep Chant (side stage)
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (side stage/techno version)
Speed Of Sound
Yellow
Lost!
Lost! (repeated for video)
The Scientist (Acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer (Will - Acoustic)
Encore:
Politik
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends
The Escapist
Encore 2:
Green Eyes (Chris & Will acoustic)
7.08.2008
6.05.2008
R.E.M. @ RedRocks 6.3.08 Setlist
Just rolled back in from Colorado and there will be more details, photos to follow, but here is R.E.M.'s Setlist from Red Rocks, Tuesday, June 3, 2008:
Living Well's the Best Revenge
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Welcome to the Occupation
Ignoreland
Man Sized Wreath
World Leader Pretend
Accelerate
Cuyahoga
Hollow Man
Walk Unafraid
Houston
Electrolite
The One I Love
Feeling Gravity's Pull
Departure
Final Straw
I've Been High
Let Me In
Horse to Water
Bad Day
Orange Crush
I'm Gonna DJ
Encore:
Supernatural Superserious
These Days
Losing My Religion
Fall On Me
Man On The Moon
Living Well's the Best Revenge
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Welcome to the Occupation
Ignoreland
Man Sized Wreath
World Leader Pretend
Accelerate
Cuyahoga
Hollow Man
Walk Unafraid
Houston
Electrolite
The One I Love
Feeling Gravity's Pull
Departure
Final Straw
I've Been High
Let Me In
Horse to Water
Bad Day
Orange Crush
I'm Gonna DJ
Encore:
Supernatural Superserious
These Days
Losing My Religion
Fall On Me
Man On The Moon
5.27.2008
Austin City Limits
Years ago (ok - during high school), my friends and I would rush home on Saturday evenings to catch SNL. Those days have come and gone with the introduction of things like beer, darts, board games and a great little invention known as a DVR.
Do you know what I now love coming home to on Saturday nights? No, it's not Mr. Wonderful. I enjoy coming home to catch Austin City Limits (or my DVR’d version of it) on the Memphis local PBS – WKNO. What makes it even sweeter is when it's one of my favorite bands.
The beauty of Austin City Limits is that they showcase music inside and out. And there is always a wide variety of artists willing to showcase their new and old tunes. Plus they are very good about featuring artists who are on the cusp of being discovered by a mass audience.
That’s why I’m not in favor of looking weeks ahead to see who will be featured on Austin City Limits. Instead I choose to be pleasantly surprised when I tune into ACL and someone like R.E.M. (who was featured on Saturday) just happens to be playing! Or a new artist is showcased and somehow they really make my ears perk up.
So if you’re a music fanatic, enjoy the occasional good tune or just interested in catching a show you might not see in your local area. I would suggest you make Austin City Limits a destination since they’ve been serving up a solid musical fare since 1975.
Do you know what I now love coming home to on Saturday nights? No, it's not Mr. Wonderful. I enjoy coming home to catch Austin City Limits (or my DVR’d version of it) on the Memphis local PBS – WKNO. What makes it even sweeter is when it's one of my favorite bands.
The beauty of Austin City Limits is that they showcase music inside and out. And there is always a wide variety of artists willing to showcase their new and old tunes. Plus they are very good about featuring artists who are on the cusp of being discovered by a mass audience.
That’s why I’m not in favor of looking weeks ahead to see who will be featured on Austin City Limits. Instead I choose to be pleasantly surprised when I tune into ACL and someone like R.E.M. (who was featured on Saturday) just happens to be playing! Or a new artist is showcased and somehow they really make my ears perk up.
So if you’re a music fanatic, enjoy the occasional good tune or just interested in catching a show you might not see in your local area. I would suggest you make Austin City Limits a destination since they’ve been serving up a solid musical fare since 1975.
4.08.2008
2008 KU Basketball Champions
Seriously I woke up this morning still in awe of the KU victory. I've been dreaming & cheering with college pals about KU winning a national title since I was a freshman...And I literally watched our hopes fade away each March. It particularly hurt in '97 when I was a sophomore in Lawrence and we lost to Arizona (who ended up winning the championship) after an almost perfect season.
After graduation, we kept on cheering. My friends and I joined our cheers with my sister and her KU friends in '02 (Maryland - sadly I watched us self destruct in person in ATL) & '03 (Syracuse - where I heard an earful from a close friend) as we lost in the final 4 back-to-back. And then we saw Roy leave in abrupt matter to go back to UNC.
With the arrival of Bill Self we continued to win, but had a little trouble cracking anything above the elite 8 (but we were still happy making the tourney). That was until now…The KU season started out great! We seemed to be pacing one of my other favorite teams – Memphis.
But Memphis kept winning and KU could never secure the #1 as we dropped games to K-State (bitterness), Texas and Oklahoma State. I argued with my friends in Memphis. I was practically begging to see a KU vs. Memphis match-up in January & February as the smack-talk flew about who which team was better.
But the road to the final 4 paved the way for my ideal match-up KU vs. Memphis to become a reality. And I have to say the victory was both thrilling and bittersweet. I’m not sure a writer could have predicted a better script for this year’s tourney. I'm proud to be a Jayhawk and a KU alum. But honestly I was sad how my hometown, family and friends became a bit deflated after the loss. Hopefully as time passes we can all look back and just reminisce about what an amazing game the championship was… I know I will remember it fondly. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK, GO KU!!!
PS – I’m going to have trouble waiting around another 7 months until basketball season to start-up again.
After graduation, we kept on cheering. My friends and I joined our cheers with my sister and her KU friends in '02 (Maryland - sadly I watched us self destruct in person in ATL) & '03 (Syracuse - where I heard an earful from a close friend) as we lost in the final 4 back-to-back. And then we saw Roy leave in abrupt matter to go back to UNC.
With the arrival of Bill Self we continued to win, but had a little trouble cracking anything above the elite 8 (but we were still happy making the tourney). That was until now…The KU season started out great! We seemed to be pacing one of my other favorite teams – Memphis.
But Memphis kept winning and KU could never secure the #1 as we dropped games to K-State (bitterness), Texas and Oklahoma State. I argued with my friends in Memphis. I was practically begging to see a KU vs. Memphis match-up in January & February as the smack-talk flew about who which team was better.
But the road to the final 4 paved the way for my ideal match-up KU vs. Memphis to become a reality. And I have to say the victory was both thrilling and bittersweet. I’m not sure a writer could have predicted a better script for this year’s tourney. I'm proud to be a Jayhawk and a KU alum. But honestly I was sad how my hometown, family and friends became a bit deflated after the loss. Hopefully as time passes we can all look back and just reminisce about what an amazing game the championship was… I know I will remember it fondly. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK, GO KU!!!
PS – I’m going to have trouble waiting around another 7 months until basketball season to start-up again.
3.25.2008
I Will Possess Your Heart
I caught the new Death Cab for a Cutie song, “I Will Possess Your Heart” on XM radio yesterday on the way into the office. Gosh, it’s just so darn good…I “heart” Ben Gibbard, so I immediately pre-ordered Narrow Stairs album on iTunes and got the single. It’s definitely the highlight of my week thus far and I can’t wait until May 13th to check out the rest of album.3.10.2008
Ski Break for Spring Break? Not Quite...
Here you can see my reaction after I stepped in (what seemed like) a foot of snow and got smacked upside the head with a snowball. Funny I'm not in Colorado or Vermont. And I wasn't even on ski trip somewhere for spring break. This all took place last Friday here in Memphis. Seriously, can you believe it snowed here in March?
3.06.2008
Psycho Killer
My co-worker started singing about a psycho flower, which got me thinking about this Talking Heads song. Now I keep having the "fa's" going through my head...Please someone stop me from singing:
"Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away"
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