I want to dedicate tonight's blog to my Aunt Sherry, who is currently recovering from surgery due to a battle with breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 (13% of women). It is estimated that in 2006 about 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States. At this time there are slightly over 2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Women living in North America have the highest rate of breast cancer in the world." To beat this, its imperative to detect the cancer early, so please, women, GET CHECKED!! My aunt should survive this battle simply because she and her doctors detected the cancer early. Each day, more and more strides are made towards a cure, but until then, women all over the world will be continuing to fight this disease. Chances are, it WILL effect someone you know. For more information, take a look at www.cancer.org. Help continue to make strides! Fight the fight Aunt Sherry.

Ok, so I finally have a more official job! Reporter with the Chetek Alert! Granted, its only part time for now, but I'm really excited about the prospects of the position. It can only get better! Starting in November, keep an eye on www.chetekalert.com for my articles. More as it gets closer!




On another note, there has been a lot of publicity surrounding Sara Evans departure from "Dancing With the Stars". (See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15251252/) Since my last post surrounded country music, I felt it timely to comment on the situation. I appreciated Sara's work on the show. I think a lot of people really hated to see her on each week, but it was clear that she put everything into her performances and truly appreciated the support from her fans. While many people may be glad to see her go, I am sad to see it. I am sad because the situation she has been put in is sad. However, I completely admire her decision to be with her children at this time. It is that dedication to family that makes me respect her even more as not only an entertainer, but a person.

The Slide of a Steel Guitar, the Hair on a Fiddle Bow....the Twang of a Queen....



Country Muisc....yes, that is the subject of tonight's blog. Now, anyone who's met me, even for just 10 minutes, can gather that I am one of the biggest country fans you will meet. Lots of people say "I listen to just about every genre of music...except country." Most people who say this can't even come up with a good reason...they say it because they can make fun of it. For those of you who say this...I say bah humbug. The interesting thing is that those eclectic music lovers forget that country is a combination of almost every major type of music...rock, bluegrass, blues, R&B. Country music is music for the ordinary person. It deals with everyday love, life, good times, and friends. Now, I don't deny that there are the songs out there are annoying or extremely simple. I've had the pleasure of attending many concerts, and have met three major stars. They've created some of the best memories of my time because it bonds people together. Common music for the common person brings out a common bond between people...that is country music.

I also want to comment on the country news making headlines

I want to leave you with a couple pictures from those concerts that I've been able to attend...


The funny man himself--Bill Engvall
















Me and Emerson Drive














Reba and Myself!!! The most exciting one of them all!

Counting Pennies



An original assignment....in Middle English

A good fotball player ther hadde been.
He played for the Packers in Wysconseen.
The nombre faur he wore on his chest..
He seyde the grene and gold were alre-best.
Thryce he was cleped most important player,
A fet, many said, nedeth a preyer.
He played with corage on the feldes
Lyke a sely child in reyn holdes.
During playoff monthes on the turf gras
He wolde kepe a berd around his face.
Him thoughte to do so was good lucke
For him, his wallet, and teme’s sake.
For yeres he played with an injurie,
So he took payn drogee lyke candie.
But with the helpe of his good freendes
His problemes did come to mendes.
No humbler man hadde I ever mete
Which loved his estate with al herte.


Another original:

As a first grade penny

I toddled through the lockers
to gym class:
“Short shrimp”
“Short shave”
“Short shit.”
I walked the hall braving
the giants flocking my sides
daring the railroad tracks
waiting to be the
flattened penny
the train would
Squash and
Crush.
Banging doors like
out-of-tune tympanis
spread the scent
of innocent blood
starting the tracks
into full
vibration:
“Short shrimp.”
“Short shave.”
“Short shit.”
“Shorty.”
Don't slip.
If your gets foot caught,
The train Will
Squash and
Crush.

Packer Tickets and Forrest Gump

Ok, so I don't know about anyone else, but cheap Packer tickets are really hard to come by. At least, I can't seem to find any for less than 80-90$....is there anyone else who has any idea how to get tickets? I'm wanting to go to a game at Lambeau during December. If anyone knows anywhere that has cheap tickets, please let me know ASAP!!

On another note, I just finished the novel version of "Forrest Gump". I must say that it was much, much different from the movie (which, by the way, is one of my favorites). For anyone who doesn't want to spoil the book, skip this....

First, in the book, I was much less sympathetic to the character of Forrest. He didn't seem like this lovable guy who was just a little out of it. The book made Forrest out to be more of an brash, clueless idiot. He swore, first off, which didn't happen in the movie. Secondly, the problems between Forrest and Jenny were made out to be much more in Forrest's fault and I was much more sympathetic towards Jenny in the book than in the movie.

Secondly, Forrest does many many more things in the book. He still plays football and ping pong and goes to Vietnam, but he also becomes an astronaut, gets lost in the jungle for a couple years, becomes a Pro-Wrestler, and plays harmonica for a band, along with becoming close companions with a male orangutan named Sue. (Which reminded me a little bit of the Jonny Cash song, "Boy Named Sue".
The ending is also almost a 180 from the movie.....but I won't give that away.

Now with all of these differences, I can't really say whether I liked the movie or book better. It is hard to compare the two with the variations. I still love the movie, and the book wasn't bad either. There were portions of the book that were witty, comical, and sad, much like the movie. For anyone interested, however, in taking in more of Forrest Gump than what was in the movie (a sequal if you will),
I recommend reading it.

I guess that's all for tonight.

Today's Garfield comic, I found it amusing....

I love relaxing when the 'rents aren't around.....its so much less anxiety

Bulldogs and Things

An unusual call I thought I share while working at the Chetek Library:

Caller: Yes, Rachel, can you tell me what the school colors of Chetek are?
Me: Purple and white
Caller: And what is their mascot..you know, like the Barron Bears.
Me: The bulldogs
Caller: Ok, thanks
Me: No problem

I thought that was an interesting call to the library....I guess thats the only excitement you get working at a small town library.

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Another poem. I'm sure there'll be more to come....

Thing by Lisel Mueller

What happened is, we grew lonely
living among the things,
so we gave the clock a face,
the chair a back,
the table four stout legs
which will never suffer fatigue.

We fitted our shoes with tongues
as smooth as our own
and hung tongues inside bells
so we could listen
to their emotional language,

and because we loved graceful profiles
the pitcher received a lip,
the bottle a long, slender neck.

Even what was beyond us
was recast in our image;
we gave the country a heart,
the storm an eye,
the cave a mouth
so we could pass into safety.