It is mid-July and it's 90 degrees and hotter. So, it can only mean only thing....it is time for the annual Koenig Family Reunion! It is held at the American Legion in Fredricksburg in Holmes County. Yes, for those of you who know your Ohio geography, it is in the midst of Amish Country. The location itself is gorgeous. It is a really nice place set in the woods. There is a pond for fishing and swimming. Lots of shade for those warm days. And the food is off the hook! The Koenig women, with the exception of me, can cook!
Every year it is a small gathering of the same suspects! It is all of my mom's cousins and their families on my grandfather's branch of the tree. Now it is a bit a crooked branch, but that's better than a straight branch, right? Of course my Uncle Gary and his family were in attendance. I love my Uncle Gary. He and I torture each other. All my life he has called 'De-nephew'. (Get it: the De-niece and the De-nephew) I'm 49 years old and he still calls me that. He thinks it is hysterical. I have come full circle with it. As a child I would laugh. As a college student and through 30 something, it annoyed the heck out of me. But now at the age of 49, I love it. I would be hurt if he quit! Of course, I always respond back with 'You're my favorite uncle'. And he responds, 'I'm you're only Uncle!" And I just smile. Today's visit was no different!
Well, Uncle Gary and Aunt Karen are faithful blog followers. (BTW, Aunt Karen, do you see the box at the top that says email address? If you put your email address in there, you will receive email notifications when I post a new entry! ) So Uncle Gary knew about my 5K training. So all day at the reunion I had to listen to him go on about my running. "Was I tired from running the 2 hours there?" :
"Was I going to run home? " "Why don't you show us how you run!" I think you get the picture! It was non stop. So, I threatened him that the might just end up in a post some day. So, to you Uncle Gary, SNAP! I got the last word! Love you!
My one and only cousin, Libby, was there with her fiance, Aaron. He is a very nice young man and he seems to bring out the best in Libby. Of course we had to put him through the 'test'. To survive in our family you had better be able to roll with the punches! We can be quite the sarcastic group, not to mention blunt. Aaron passed each part of the test with flying colors. I'm happy to say Aaron can roll with the best of us! Of course, the big test will come at Christmas when we ALL are together. That will determine if he stays or goes!!! I'm rooting for him!
My brother Vince is just like my Uncle Gary. Vince has to tease everyone. His ammo is to have a nickname for everyone in the family. This year's victim was Libby. Her first nickname was PITA (Pain in the ass), and has changed over the years. For the last couple of years she has been called the doctor because she was in dental school. Well, she and Aaron just graduated and are now dentists! Libby took a job at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Yep, she is the prison dentist! Yikes! So now she has been christened with the new nickname, The Warden! Maybe Aaron will get the old Doctor moniker! That's yet to be determined! We have to make sure he is going to stay for the long haul before we can nickname him!
Then of course, I was once again crowned the fun Aunt of the reunion. See little Hunter wanted to fish, so I brought him a pole, tackle box, and worms. They actually belong to Rick, but I hauled them on my back as I 'ran' all the way there!!! Right, Uncle Gary? Well, turns out I'm the only relative that knows how to bait a hook, cast a reel, and de-hook a fish! The kid wanted to fish and apparently I'm the only one out of many who knows how to do this. Now to be fair, my brother Vince did get him started, but took off as soon as the opportunity arose. So the duties were left to me. Of course, I'm also the same aunt who played street hockey with him at Christmas, so Hunter knows who he can count on. We had fun. Of course he got bored real quick and let me do all of the work. He would wonder off to see how the other kids were doing. But he was quick to run back to take the credit for each fish I caught! But as the fun aunt that was okay with me! We both will always remember our fishing trip!
As I was leaving the reunion, I realized how my attitude has changed about them over the years. As a small child I loved them. It was an opportunity to play with other kids you didn't know. It was also an opportunity to torture Uncle Gary and visa a versa. Then I became a teenager and hated everything. I would sit and glare the entire time. We didn't have cell phones back then. If we had, I would have been able to text my teen angst to my fellow angry friends. Once I hit college and my 20s, I quit going completely. Why should I go? I don't know those people. Then my mom moved to Florida and the rite of passage was handed down to me. As the oldest, it was now my responsibility to represent our branch of the crooked tree! I'll be honest, I would go like every other year. But something happened this year. As I looked around I noticed that the all of the branches of the tree seem to be aging, although gracefully. It made me wonder what will happen to our little family reunion when all of the cousins are gone. Will we, the next generation, continue the tradition after our parents are gone? Or will the tree die with them? I made a promise to myself on the way home to do my best to attend as many as I can for as long as they continue. You just never know what the future holds.
Make Every Day Count.....
Denise
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Never a Dull Moment in Downtown Marne!
If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know some of the most bizarre situations happen to Rick and I. We are like some kind of crazy magnets. Well, last night, or should I say early this morning, was no exception. So let the story begin...
Rick woke me up this morning at 12:30 a.m. to inform me that we had some half naked drunk guy on our porch. Now, it was no little inside voice gently saying, "Hey, honey, you need to get up because there is a possible problem." No, it was a full fledge outside voice, "Get up there's a half naked drunk guy on the front porch, what should we do?" Add in the fact that our personal security team, Sophie and Stormy, are barking and growling while trying to tear down the new front door. (Only can hope that they didn't scratch the new door. It's only been up for a week!) Throw in the fact that I'm groggy from my medication that I take every night. So I was completely oblivious as to what was happening and I'm yelling, "What the hell is going on?" So Rick tells me again there is some half naked drunk guy laying on our porch. Rick's like what should we do? Of course I answer in my most 'are you serious' voice, I yell, "Call the cops!" My kind hearted Rick is like 'Well what if he's hurt? May we should check him first? I answer 'Well what if he has a gun!' So, I called 911!
The very nice 911 dispatcher answered my call and asked about my situation. I told her about the half naked drunk man laying on my porch. She asked all of the necessary questions and I answered them. Then she asked if I wanted a Deputy Sheriff to come to the house. HELLO!!! That's why I called 911! And the whole time Rick is pacing from window to window to see if the guy is still there. He keeps telling me that tomorrow we need to get a gun. I'm like shut up we don't need a gun, we have Sophie! Anyways, the 911 dispatcher connects me with the Sheriff's Department. I repeat everything. They ask me if the intruder needs medical attention and should they call the emergency squad. I'm like I don't know, I'm not going out there to check! The dude could be dangerous. So they tell me to stay on the line until the cops can get there. Well, it only took 60 seconds for 5 cop cars to show up.
Well I hung up and we ran downstairs. Up to this point I hadn't looked outside yet because I was on the phone. So I looked out the picture window and I don't see anyone but the cops. I'm like are you sure there is someone out there, Rick? He's like look at his feet hanging between the balusters. I did and the only thing I could think of was the Wicked Witch of the East from the Wizard of Oz. The guy's feet looked like the witches's feet sticking out from under the house!! They were facing upwards. I couldn't figure out how he got them twisted like that IF he was laying face down on the porch. I wiped the duck poop from my eyes and got a better view. You see, all Rick said was he was laying on the porch. I assumed he was face down! Well, the half naked drunk guy was actually sitting face up on the chair on the front porch. (LOL! I hope I'm describing this well enough so you can envision what I'm talking about because I found it hysterical!) In the meantime, the dogs are barking, Rick and I are pacing, the cops are trying to get the drunk up and the neighbors are calling to find out what's going on! Finally, the sheriff knocks on the door and asks if we would take a look at the guy to see if we know him. All I can say is that the guy's own mother wouldn't have known him. The dude looked like he had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. We said no, and the cops told us to go back in the house. They called the squad for the guy. Then everyone left! I'm like what!?!?!?! No one is going to let us know what just happened. Well, apparently not. So we congratulated the girls on doing a good job of alerting us to the bad guy and we went to bed.
The next morning the neighborhood conversed and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Apparently "our half naked drunk guy" got into a nasty altercation down the street with 3 other drunk guys and all hell broke loose. From what I understand these dudes totally destroyed the house they were in. Our guy got away and went to several other houses looking for help before coming to rest on our front porch. That is why it only took the Sheriff's Department 60 seconds to get to the our house. They were already on our guy's tail. The reason why the coppers left so fast? Because they found another beat up drunk guy in the front yard of another neighbor. In the end, all four of the guys were taken to the hospital! We don't know the conditions of any of the men, only that they beat each other to a pulp. I do know that our guy will be heading to the pokey at some point if he isn't there all ready. Apparently, he had numerous arrest warrants on him. What a night right?
Then we get up this morning and realize that our half naked drunk guy left us a calling card. He had slobbered all over the glass door! EEEWW!!! Not to mention he left a small trail of blood instead of bread crumbs! Not only did he interrupt my sweet dreams, but now we have to clean up after his drunken butt! Can you believe it?
Of course, if you know me, I have to analyze the situation and decide what I've learned from this experience.
#1. If you do not have a landline phone, be sure to keep a charging cell phone by your bed at night. You never know what might go bump in the middle of the night.
#2. Always wear pjs to bed. You never know when you will have to fight criminals in the middle of the night. You don't want to waste time looking for clothes! (For the record, I had my pjs on!)
#3. Bleach works wonders on blood and snot!
On a serious note, we do want to thank the 91l Dispatcher, the Sheriff's Department and the Madison Township Emergency Personnel for their assistance this morning. Rick and I never once felt threatened once they arrived and started to resolve the situation. You all were professionals and we appreciate what you did for our community last night. You kept us safe and sound. Job well done folks.
Make Every Day Count...
Denise
Rick woke me up this morning at 12:30 a.m. to inform me that we had some half naked drunk guy on our porch. Now, it was no little inside voice gently saying, "Hey, honey, you need to get up because there is a possible problem." No, it was a full fledge outside voice, "Get up there's a half naked drunk guy on the front porch, what should we do?" Add in the fact that our personal security team, Sophie and Stormy, are barking and growling while trying to tear down the new front door. (Only can hope that they didn't scratch the new door. It's only been up for a week!) Throw in the fact that I'm groggy from my medication that I take every night. So I was completely oblivious as to what was happening and I'm yelling, "What the hell is going on?" So Rick tells me again there is some half naked drunk guy laying on our porch. Rick's like what should we do? Of course I answer in my most 'are you serious' voice, I yell, "Call the cops!" My kind hearted Rick is like 'Well what if he's hurt? May we should check him first? I answer 'Well what if he has a gun!' So, I called 911!
The very nice 911 dispatcher answered my call and asked about my situation. I told her about the half naked drunk man laying on my porch. She asked all of the necessary questions and I answered them. Then she asked if I wanted a Deputy Sheriff to come to the house. HELLO!!! That's why I called 911! And the whole time Rick is pacing from window to window to see if the guy is still there. He keeps telling me that tomorrow we need to get a gun. I'm like shut up we don't need a gun, we have Sophie! Anyways, the 911 dispatcher connects me with the Sheriff's Department. I repeat everything. They ask me if the intruder needs medical attention and should they call the emergency squad. I'm like I don't know, I'm not going out there to check! The dude could be dangerous. So they tell me to stay on the line until the cops can get there. Well, it only took 60 seconds for 5 cop cars to show up.
Well I hung up and we ran downstairs. Up to this point I hadn't looked outside yet because I was on the phone. So I looked out the picture window and I don't see anyone but the cops. I'm like are you sure there is someone out there, Rick? He's like look at his feet hanging between the balusters. I did and the only thing I could think of was the Wicked Witch of the East from the Wizard of Oz. The guy's feet looked like the witches's feet sticking out from under the house!! They were facing upwards. I couldn't figure out how he got them twisted like that IF he was laying face down on the porch. I wiped the duck poop from my eyes and got a better view. You see, all Rick said was he was laying on the porch. I assumed he was face down! Well, the half naked drunk guy was actually sitting face up on the chair on the front porch. (LOL! I hope I'm describing this well enough so you can envision what I'm talking about because I found it hysterical!) In the meantime, the dogs are barking, Rick and I are pacing, the cops are trying to get the drunk up and the neighbors are calling to find out what's going on! Finally, the sheriff knocks on the door and asks if we would take a look at the guy to see if we know him. All I can say is that the guy's own mother wouldn't have known him. The dude looked like he had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. We said no, and the cops told us to go back in the house. They called the squad for the guy. Then everyone left! I'm like what!?!?!?! No one is going to let us know what just happened. Well, apparently not. So we congratulated the girls on doing a good job of alerting us to the bad guy and we went to bed.
The next morning the neighborhood conversed and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Apparently "our half naked drunk guy" got into a nasty altercation down the street with 3 other drunk guys and all hell broke loose. From what I understand these dudes totally destroyed the house they were in. Our guy got away and went to several other houses looking for help before coming to rest on our front porch. That is why it only took the Sheriff's Department 60 seconds to get to the our house. They were already on our guy's tail. The reason why the coppers left so fast? Because they found another beat up drunk guy in the front yard of another neighbor. In the end, all four of the guys were taken to the hospital! We don't know the conditions of any of the men, only that they beat each other to a pulp. I do know that our guy will be heading to the pokey at some point if he isn't there all ready. Apparently, he had numerous arrest warrants on him. What a night right?
Then we get up this morning and realize that our half naked drunk guy left us a calling card. He had slobbered all over the glass door! EEEWW!!! Not to mention he left a small trail of blood instead of bread crumbs! Not only did he interrupt my sweet dreams, but now we have to clean up after his drunken butt! Can you believe it?
Of course, if you know me, I have to analyze the situation and decide what I've learned from this experience.
#1. If you do not have a landline phone, be sure to keep a charging cell phone by your bed at night. You never know what might go bump in the middle of the night.
#2. Always wear pjs to bed. You never know when you will have to fight criminals in the middle of the night. You don't want to waste time looking for clothes! (For the record, I had my pjs on!)
#3. Bleach works wonders on blood and snot!
On a serious note, we do want to thank the 91l Dispatcher, the Sheriff's Department and the Madison Township Emergency Personnel for their assistance this morning. Rick and I never once felt threatened once they arrived and started to resolve the situation. You all were professionals and we appreciate what you did for our community last night. You kept us safe and sound. Job well done folks.
Make Every Day Count...
Denise
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Picking My Battles
We all know the adage about picking your battles. If you have children you know what I'm talking about. In fact it is one of the basic parenting skills you learn. Some battles are small time while others are of CIA caliber. What each of us must do is evaluate each individual battle and determine if it is worth the fight or not. And the degree of importance varies from parent to parent.
The same is true for all children whether they are of the two-legged or the four-legged variety. Well, blog posse I find myself in a 'pick your battle' quandary. Here's the load down: In May Rick and I bought new furniture. (See April's When Opposites Attract post if you haven't read about our trip to the furniture store.) After it arrived, I decided that the dogs would no longer be allowed on the couch. After nine years of camping on the sofa, Sophie and Stormy were not at all amused with the new policy...especially Stormy. You see she is the main couch potato in our family. Now Sophie likes it too but prefers the our bed upstairs. Sophie is also recovering ACL surgery, so she really hasn't tried to get on the sofa too much of late. Stormy, on the other hand, feels she owns that couch and we are just a nuisance that gets in her way.
The first week we had the couch, Stormy would jump on it at every turn. And each time I said, "Bad Dog, Down." She would slither off and give me the death stare while waiting for her next opportunity. Blog Follower Catie emailed me some advice. Apparently she is the dog whisperer of Licking County so I was happy to give anything a try. She said I should say Good Girl Down and give her a treat each time. Positive reinforcement if you will. Catie assured me that it in no time flat Stormy would be broken of her couch camping habit. Well, the only thing accomplished with that route was Stormy probably gained a pound or two from the treats! Now she did learn not to jump on the sofa when I was looking. It did nothing for when I was out of the room.
So, I started blocking the couch. I would put the coffee table up against the couch. Of course it wasn't quite long enough so I would block the open end with the four BIG pillows. Unbeknownst to me, Stormy has also picked her battle. It was only a matter of time before she learned how to knock the pillows off of the couch! Did I mention I have some smart dogs? So, I went bigger, better, best and started putting a box on that end of the couch. I have no idea how she did it, but she worked until she moved that box aside enough to get her skinny butt up there!
After weeks of continual defeat, I drew up a new battle plan. Blog Reader Barb gave me a baby gate to help keep Sophie from climbing the stairs to the bedroom. ( A side note: Sophie has had a bit of a setback with her therapy. She got to feeling good and started going up and down the stairs. We thought why not if she can do it. Wrong!! Her ACL is now inflamed and she is having issues. So back to the cage for her! ) So, to the story at hand....I decided to use the gate for Stormy while I'm gone. Sophie is in her cage, so why not? The first time I used it, it was a success. I put Stormy in the kitchen and blocked off the living room. This worked wonderfully. I got home and Stormy is sitting in the kitchen glaring at me. Apparently she was not pleased with the new game plan.
Like me, Stormy has not given up her battle either. The next time I put her behind the gate, she knocked it over and camped out on the couch! Now, I think she thinks I'm blind because she met me at the door like nothing had happened. Really girlfriend? You don't think I can't see the gate laying on the floor. And just in case I don't notice the gate down, I can't miss the incriminating evidence on the couch...two pounds of black dog hair against the camel colored cushions! So the next time I put the gate up and push the kitchen chair up against it. I figured a little reinforcement and the problem would be resolved. No such luck. She pushed the chair aside enough to give herself room to crash the gate! Did I mention I have a really smart dog?
Well, apparently Stormy takes after me. We both refuse to give up! I told her I'm digging in my heels and I will conquer! I told her she is messing with the wrong Mommy! She just gave me the 'Bring It On Girlfriend' look and walked away. The battle lines have clearly been drawn. It is Me vs. the Schipperke. I have a feeling this could be a battle of epic proportions! Who will win? Stay tuned!
Make Every Day Count...
Denise
PS: Since the writing of this post, Stormy and I have come to an agreement. In the Couch Treaty of 2011, Stormy has agreed to stay off the furniture while I'm on the premises. I have agreed to cover the couch whenever I leave the premises. Poor Sophie is being punished for a battle she wasn't even in. Not only has be booted off the bed due to her surgery, but now she can't even lay on the couch! She is a little hateful towards Stormy right now!
The same is true for all children whether they are of the two-legged or the four-legged variety. Well, blog posse I find myself in a 'pick your battle' quandary. Here's the load down: In May Rick and I bought new furniture. (See April's When Opposites Attract post if you haven't read about our trip to the furniture store.) After it arrived, I decided that the dogs would no longer be allowed on the couch. After nine years of camping on the sofa, Sophie and Stormy were not at all amused with the new policy...especially Stormy. You see she is the main couch potato in our family. Now Sophie likes it too but prefers the our bed upstairs. Sophie is also recovering ACL surgery, so she really hasn't tried to get on the sofa too much of late. Stormy, on the other hand, feels she owns that couch and we are just a nuisance that gets in her way.
The first week we had the couch, Stormy would jump on it at every turn. And each time I said, "Bad Dog, Down." She would slither off and give me the death stare while waiting for her next opportunity. Blog Follower Catie emailed me some advice. Apparently she is the dog whisperer of Licking County so I was happy to give anything a try. She said I should say Good Girl Down and give her a treat each time. Positive reinforcement if you will. Catie assured me that it in no time flat Stormy would be broken of her couch camping habit. Well, the only thing accomplished with that route was Stormy probably gained a pound or two from the treats! Now she did learn not to jump on the sofa when I was looking. It did nothing for when I was out of the room.
So, I started blocking the couch. I would put the coffee table up against the couch. Of course it wasn't quite long enough so I would block the open end with the four BIG pillows. Unbeknownst to me, Stormy has also picked her battle. It was only a matter of time before she learned how to knock the pillows off of the couch! Did I mention I have some smart dogs? So, I went bigger, better, best and started putting a box on that end of the couch. I have no idea how she did it, but she worked until she moved that box aside enough to get her skinny butt up there!
After weeks of continual defeat, I drew up a new battle plan. Blog Reader Barb gave me a baby gate to help keep Sophie from climbing the stairs to the bedroom. ( A side note: Sophie has had a bit of a setback with her therapy. She got to feeling good and started going up and down the stairs. We thought why not if she can do it. Wrong!! Her ACL is now inflamed and she is having issues. So back to the cage for her! ) So, to the story at hand....I decided to use the gate for Stormy while I'm gone. Sophie is in her cage, so why not? The first time I used it, it was a success. I put Stormy in the kitchen and blocked off the living room. This worked wonderfully. I got home and Stormy is sitting in the kitchen glaring at me. Apparently she was not pleased with the new game plan.
Like me, Stormy has not given up her battle either. The next time I put her behind the gate, she knocked it over and camped out on the couch! Now, I think she thinks I'm blind because she met me at the door like nothing had happened. Really girlfriend? You don't think I can't see the gate laying on the floor. And just in case I don't notice the gate down, I can't miss the incriminating evidence on the couch...two pounds of black dog hair against the camel colored cushions! So the next time I put the gate up and push the kitchen chair up against it. I figured a little reinforcement and the problem would be resolved. No such luck. She pushed the chair aside enough to give herself room to crash the gate! Did I mention I have a really smart dog?
Well, apparently Stormy takes after me. We both refuse to give up! I told her I'm digging in my heels and I will conquer! I told her she is messing with the wrong Mommy! She just gave me the 'Bring It On Girlfriend' look and walked away. The battle lines have clearly been drawn. It is Me vs. the Schipperke. I have a feeling this could be a battle of epic proportions! Who will win? Stay tuned!
Make Every Day Count...
Denise
PS: Since the writing of this post, Stormy and I have come to an agreement. In the Couch Treaty of 2011, Stormy has agreed to stay off the furniture while I'm on the premises. I have agreed to cover the couch whenever I leave the premises. Poor Sophie is being punished for a battle she wasn't even in. Not only has be booted off the bed due to her surgery, but now she can't even lay on the couch! She is a little hateful towards Stormy right now!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Celebrity Crushes
Do you remember your first celebrity crush? I remember mine. It was Bobby Sherman of Here Comes The Bride fame. For those of you who are under the age of 30, he was the original Justin Bieber! I remember crying when I would see him on the TV. I also bought every Tiger Beat magazine that had him on the cover. I loved him! (And, yes, Tiger Beat is older than dirt! It came out in 1965. )
As with all young love, it comes and goes like the waves of the ocean. My next celebrity love was Donny Osmond AND Michael Jackson. That's right, I was in love with two boys at the same time. I know, I was a trollop at the age of 10! My poor family! I would play "Puppy Love" and "Rockin' Robin" until the needle worn down on my 45 record player! It was reminiscent of Sandra of the Cosby Show. Remember when she kept playing the say song over and over when she and Eldon broke up? Everyone in the house was about to go over the edge. Well, it was same thing in our house in Berlin, Ohio. The difference was I didn't have a broken heart; my heart was busting out with grade school love! I had like a gazillon posters on my walls and ceiling. In fact, you couldn't see the walls! I think there was paneling underneath the glossy photographs, but I'm not sure.
Then everything changed in the mid 70s when my oldest brother Randy moved in with us. He introduced me to a whole new genre of music. With one 8-track tape, my love life was turned upside down. Gone was Donny Osmond and in his place was Aerosmith's Steven Tyler! I was totally in love! The dude could sing Dream On to me for hours, and I would never tire of it. To this day, I still love that song. It was the first tune I download to my iPod! At first I think my family was grateful for the switch. After all how many times can you listen to Donny and Michael without wanting to pull your hair out?!?!? I'm pretty sure it is equivalent to Baby, Baby by the Biebs! But when the black light posters went up as well as the volume on my record player, they realized he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon! Just wanted they wanted was to hear the Demon of Screaming 24-7. (BTW, for the under 30 crowd, a record player was the precursor to the 8 track tape player, the CD, and MTV! ) My brother gave my parents reasons to want to hurt him during his teenager years. I'm pretty sure introducing me to Rock and Roll and Aerosmith would definitely be one of those times.
Well, 35 years later, Steven Tyler is still my celebrity crush! Now I'm going to be honest. I have strayed from time to time. There was the Peter Frampton and Michael Hutchison rock periods. And not too recently there was the McSteamy and Rafael Nadal phase. And of course I'm on all about Team Edward! However, I always come back to the Demon of Screaming, the Lips of Love, one half of the Toxic Twins. I'm pretty sure he will be my one and only until the day I die. I just recently read Steven's autobiography, "Do the Noises in My Head Bother You?" I have to tell you there were times that I cringed and then would turn around and LOL. There were 'aha' moments and moments of 'huh'? I'm sure after reading his book there are many people who are turned off by him. Let's face it! He is vulgar and has a checkered to past to say the least. At times I too was turned off by him while reading his book. But in the end, I had a great appreciation for him, the band, the music world, addiction and survival. If it is possible, I think his book only made me like him even more. I totally appreciated his brutal honesty and sense of creativity. I'm a Steven Tyler fan for ever!
Now, he just signed on to judge American Idol for another year! I'm smiling really big!!! I can't wait for the season to begin. I love having a weekly date with my man, Steven Tyler.
Make Every Day Count....
Denise
PS: I would love to hear who your celebrity crushes are! Just leave me a message. I promise I won't tell anyone!
As with all young love, it comes and goes like the waves of the ocean. My next celebrity love was Donny Osmond AND Michael Jackson. That's right, I was in love with two boys at the same time. I know, I was a trollop at the age of 10! My poor family! I would play "Puppy Love" and "Rockin' Robin" until the needle worn down on my 45 record player! It was reminiscent of Sandra of the Cosby Show. Remember when she kept playing the say song over and over when she and Eldon broke up? Everyone in the house was about to go over the edge. Well, it was same thing in our house in Berlin, Ohio. The difference was I didn't have a broken heart; my heart was busting out with grade school love! I had like a gazillon posters on my walls and ceiling. In fact, you couldn't see the walls! I think there was paneling underneath the glossy photographs, but I'm not sure.
Then everything changed in the mid 70s when my oldest brother Randy moved in with us. He introduced me to a whole new genre of music. With one 8-track tape, my love life was turned upside down. Gone was Donny Osmond and in his place was Aerosmith's Steven Tyler! I was totally in love! The dude could sing Dream On to me for hours, and I would never tire of it. To this day, I still love that song. It was the first tune I download to my iPod! At first I think my family was grateful for the switch. After all how many times can you listen to Donny and Michael without wanting to pull your hair out?!?!? I'm pretty sure it is equivalent to Baby, Baby by the Biebs! But when the black light posters went up as well as the volume on my record player, they realized he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon! Just wanted they wanted was to hear the Demon of Screaming 24-7. (BTW, for the under 30 crowd, a record player was the precursor to the 8 track tape player, the CD, and MTV! ) My brother gave my parents reasons to want to hurt him during his teenager years. I'm pretty sure introducing me to Rock and Roll and Aerosmith would definitely be one of those times.
Well, 35 years later, Steven Tyler is still my celebrity crush! Now I'm going to be honest. I have strayed from time to time. There was the Peter Frampton and Michael Hutchison rock periods. And not too recently there was the McSteamy and Rafael Nadal phase. And of course I'm on all about Team Edward! However, I always come back to the Demon of Screaming, the Lips of Love, one half of the Toxic Twins. I'm pretty sure he will be my one and only until the day I die. I just recently read Steven's autobiography, "Do the Noises in My Head Bother You?" I have to tell you there were times that I cringed and then would turn around and LOL. There were 'aha' moments and moments of 'huh'? I'm sure after reading his book there are many people who are turned off by him. Let's face it! He is vulgar and has a checkered to past to say the least. At times I too was turned off by him while reading his book. But in the end, I had a great appreciation for him, the band, the music world, addiction and survival. If it is possible, I think his book only made me like him even more. I totally appreciated his brutal honesty and sense of creativity. I'm a Steven Tyler fan for ever!
Now, he just signed on to judge American Idol for another year! I'm smiling really big!!! I can't wait for the season to begin. I love having a weekly date with my man, Steven Tyler.
Make Every Day Count....
Denise
PS: I would love to hear who your celebrity crushes are! Just leave me a message. I promise I won't tell anyone!
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