"...or would you rather be a fish?"

That boy, that boy!!!! *L* Smashing records right and left....collecting gold like it was the beginning of the gold rush and the nuggets were just laying on the ground!

Since our gymnasts aren't doing so great it would seem safe to say that while Americans apparently can't bounce, we certainly paddle quite well!! *G*

Okay, okay....fine....it can be said....Yes Virginia...I am a PHELPS PHREAK!!!!! *LOL* Go Fish-Boy GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!!!

"I'm forever blowing bubbllllllleeeessssss..."

Michael Phelps took his first gold medal of the games!!!!!!!!!!!! AND broke the world record...AGAIN....while doing it! Way to go Bawlmer Boy!!!

I don't care what the commercial says...he IS part dolphin...he DOES have gills...AND flippers...AND fins!! There's just no other explanation...he is the only living Merman! *LOL*

Me?? A Phelps Phan??? I don't know what you're talking about. *hmph*

"I'll stop the world and melt with you..."

Official temperature for Enid, OK from the Weather Channel: 108 degrees.

"I'm melting....meeeltiiing...."

Right now the wind is 10-20 mph...a breeze out here but wind in MD. And full of dirt and grit. If the temperature doesn't boil you and the grit doesn't flay you alive...you just might make it 'til the cool front comes through. Wednesday is supposed to drop down to 96. Wahooooooooooo!!

The heat is making me delirious.

"Is the heat on???"

I'm going to go and dissolve into a puddle now.

Cool thoughts......cool thoughts........ *G*

"You're beautiful, beautiful music..."

Ever notice how "they", in their infinite wisdom, can sometimes pick the prettiest songs for commercials?? Integris Baptist Health Center in OKC has been running two particular commercials lately that catch my ear every time!

The first one is a commercial about cancer survivors for the cancer center at the hospital. The song they use is "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan and it's beautiful. You don't hear all of it of course, and to be honest - the full song is awfully dark and quite depressing...but to see a montage of the survivors and to hear her voice singing "In the arms of the angel....may you find some comfort there..." is a very peaceful message.

The second commercial is for the heart donor/transplant program. You see a person who's life was saved by a heart transplant - then you see the mother of the donor (a young boy) holding a picture of the donor - then you see the mother and the recipient meeting and hugging. In the background is playing "I Know You By Heart" by Eva Cassidy. That commercial positively sends chills up and down my spine. I'll leave this with the lyrics - absolutely beautiful:

I Know You By Heart - Eva Cassidy

Midnights in Winter
The glowing fire
Lights up your face in orange and gold.
I see your sweet smile
Shine through the darkness
It's line is etched in my memory.

So I'd know you by heart.

Mornings in April
Sharing our secrets
We'd walk until the morning was gone.
We were like children
Laughing for hours
The joy you gave me lives on and on.

Cause I know you by heart.

I still hear your voice
On warm Summer nights
Whispering like the wind.

(Oh oh ohh)

You left in Autumn
The leaves were turning
I walked down roads of orange and gold.
I saw your sweet smile
I heard your laughter
You're still here beside me every day.

Cause I know you by heart,
Cause I know you by heart.

"Ring, ring, telephone ring..."

"Somebody said: Baby what ya doin'..."

At the moment I'm talking about my cell phone and it's associated ring tones. I think I have almost everybody done now....still having trouble with choosing a tone for the Popster. Those of you who chose your own tones will already know what they are (if you remember! *G*), and those who didn't choose...well...my phone, my choice...so nyah! *LOL* Anyways...here's the list:

Bobbi -- Tom and Jerry Theme (chosen) - any need to ask why??? *LOL*
Carolyn -- Midnight at the Oasis (chosen) - she likes it, hey Mikey! *G*
Mamie Lynn -- Iris (assigned) - I like this song...a lot!!!!!
Kati Doodles-- Drops of Jupiter (assigned) - I agree with her mother, it seems to fit the Puddy Girl so well!
Norie -- Come Dancing (assigned) - again, need to ask?? ("Come dancing...that's how they did it when I was just a kid...and when they said Come Dancing, my sister always did!") - love this song too!! *G*
Susan -- Looking Through The Eyes of Love (chosen) - absolutely beautiful song!

And so go my ring tones. Oh yeah, my "anyone" tone is "Wake Me Up" by Evanescence - love it, love it, love it!! And my text message tone is the Undertaker's theme from the WWE..."BONG! BONG! BONG!" and then eerie music. *L*

The only problem I have, as I mentioned, is for the Poppy. Any suggestions?? Anyone?? Good, bad, silly...I'll take any and all into account! Well???? I'm waaaaiiitinnnngggg....... *G*

"Some enchanted eveniiiiiiing...."

Last night we went to see "South Pacific", presented by the Gaslight Theater (Enid's community theater) and it was wonderful! We had a special guest, Jeffrey Ambrosini, playing the part of Emile DeBeque, the French planter that Nelly Forbush falls in love with. According to his bio, Mr. Ambrosini has performed in 2 national tours, sung leading operatic roles with the New World Symphony, performed with the New York Philharmonic, and had several international engagements in Italy and France. He was quite good - in Richard's opinion a better singer than actor. *L*

The lady who played Nellie, Kristi Kirkpatrick Browne, was also quite good. A little breathy on some of the long notes perhaps but a very solid Nellie.

And then we have the young man who played Lt. Cable, the young marine sent to talk Emile into helping provide the Allies with valuable reconnaissance about Japanese troop and fleet movements. He is the man who falls in love with Bloody Mary's daughter, Liat, but because of the overwhelming prejudice against Pacific Islanders at the time, gives up his love for the appearance of propriety. The young man in this role, Joe Redman, is a sophomore theater major at Ball State University and, in my opinion, should never EVER listen if anyone tells him to stop studying theater! Joe stepped onto the stage looking like a tall, thin, but handsome, geek of a boy dressed in his older brother's 'marine suit'....and then he opened his mouth. The audience was awestruck through every one of his scenes and at the end, as bows were taken, the thunderous applause made him blush clear to his shoes. It was absolutely deserved though. Everyone cheered for Nellie/Kristi and for Emile/Mr. Ambrosini, but they roared for Joe. He was, in this role, perfection.

The other true highlights of the show were Pamelyne Guillory and Chuck Lipps (yes, that's his real name). Pamelyne played Bloody Mary - her screeches of "STINGY BASTID" and her rendition of "Bali Ha'i" were wonderful! Chuck played Luther Billis - the sailor who is the all-around con man and, along with Mary, the comic relief of the show. I give him credit for: 1. allowing someone to draw a very bad picture of a ship on his chest and stomach, 2. wearing a grass skirt and coconut bra to perform "Honey Bun", and 3. rolling the little tummy pouch that he has so the drawn ship looked like it was floating. It was hilarious! Chuck has a very nice voice as well. In fact, when singing in ensembles, the sailor boys trounced the nurse girls completely! All in all it was a wonderful show and I'm very glad we got to see it.

'Bali Ha'i
May call you,
Any night,
Any day,
In your heart
You'll hear it call you:
"Come away,
Come away.

Bali Ha'i
Will whisper
On the wind
Of the sea:
"Here I am
Your special island!
Come to me,
Come to me!

Bali Ha'i,
Bali Ha'i,
Bali Ha'i!"

"Let Freedom ring...."

I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July! We did our usual trip to Meadowlake Park in Enid to listen to the Enid Symphony Orchestra and see the fireworks presentation and it was awesome! I've uploaded pictures of the celebration to the album site: http://no1shome.myphotoalbum.com. Choose the album titled July 4, 2008. I hope everyone enjoys them.

Enid decided to REALLY enforce the "No fireworks within the city limits" ordinance this year so we weren't able to set off our own. 'Our own' generally consists of a few small fountains, some Camellia flowers and some cool sparklers but I did miss them this year. The professional fireworks were awesome as usual though! And it's so nice to sit at the park by the lake with the cool breeze blowing and listen to the music, both before and during the pyrotechnics. According to the newspaper, in all of Oklahoma only Enid and OKC have fireworks displays with live music. We are very fortunate since we have a wonderful Symphony.

Thank you to all of the men and women who made yesterday possible. You are not forgotten and you are appreciated from the bottoms of our hearts!