Swine Flu Blues

Don’t get sick! Not if you can help it. My husband, Steve and I found that out the hard way this past week. Steve got sick and went to the doctor. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well it’s not. Swine flu has made things complicated. Before he even got to the doctor, my company nicely told me that I might need to stay home. I wasn’t aware of their swine flu policy since I am only into my second week of the job. I really didn’t think much about having to stay out of work. Swine flu was not even on my radar.

That all changed when we got to the doctor. See, where we live, since it isn’t flu season yet, if you can’t be diagnosed with anything definite, then you are treated for the swine flu. Blood tests aren’t given for H1N1 unless you go to the hospital emergency room. Just where every sick person wants to spend four or so hours—the ER. Not!

Steve’s doctor really thought he had pneumonia. Actually it seems he was pulling for it but when the x-rays were read, no pneumonia was detected. As a matter of elimination, Steve is being treated for the swine flu. Not only Steve is being treated but I’m on medication too, as a preventive measure. The Tamiflu was expensive, even with insurance. I don’t know what people with children and no insurance will do when this flu gets cranked up in the schools. If his fever stays gone, I can go back to work after Labor Day. Steve may have to wait out his cough before being allowed back.

Keep in mind; we don’t know if Steve had the swine flu. We’ll still have to take the flu shots and I guess we really could have a confirmed case of swine flu later on. Who would have thought pneumonia would be preferred over the flu? I hope too many of you don’t have to experience the swine flu but if the media is to be believed, a lot of you will. You can get through it. Just keep humming the swine flu blues.

A Birthday Gift from Elvis

A gift can sometimes be a very rare thing and I was lucky enough to receive such a rare gift from Elvis. How many Elvis fans can say they got a birthday gift from Elvis? I am one of the fortunate few. My gift was a song Elvis sang on New Year’s Eve, 1976, while performing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The night Elvis sang the song, I had no idea it had anything to do with me. I wouldn’t know that until two months later in February, 1977. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Well, it all started in March of 1976.

Elvis was playing three shows in Johnson City, Tennessee. He was staying in a not-so- nice hotel in Bristol, Tennessee. We, my husband, a friend, and myself, went to look at Elvis’s plane at the airport on Kingsport. Then we went over to Bristol to check out the hotel where Elvis was staying. At the hotel coffee shop, we met Al Strada, one of Elvis’ bodyguards.

Our friend had just returned from our hometown about three hours away with contact sheets of pictures from the previous night’s show. This was in the olden days, before digital cameras. Even before one hour film processing, so it was unusual to see photos from a concert the next day. (My husband and friend used a pro-lab who could do this. It wasn’t like they took the film to the local drugstore.) While we were talking I said I wished Elvis would perform my favorite song in concert, Rags to Riches. Al wasn’t aware that Elvis had recorded a version of the song.

In December Elvis performed Rags to Riches at the piano during his Pittsburgh New Year’s Eve concert. I in no way related it to my birthday which was the same day; it would be nearly two months later, February, 1977 that the two events would be connected for me. We saw Al again in Charlotte, NC. He smiled and asked me how I liked my birthday present. I was floored. How had any of them known it was my birthday? Looking back at that night, I figured it out. About seven of us had been waiting for Elvis when he arrived in Pittsburgh from the concert in Atlanta, Georgia. The advance team had allowed us to stay in the underground parking garage to watch Elvis arrive, telling the hotel manager that we were ok. (That night is another story in itself. One for another blog.) The guys couldn’t believe we came all the way to Pittsburgh to attend a concert when Atlanta was so much closer to our home. My husband explained that New Year’s Eve was my birthday. That cleared up the mystery of how Elvis, Al, or anyone knew it was my birthday.

Every year on my birthday I always remember the year I got one of the best presents ever – the year Elvis sang my favorite song for me. It is one of my own private memories of Elvis and I treasure it.

Movies and History

I love movies and history. When I can combine the two, I am in heaven. That happens when I watch “Silent Sundays” on Turner Classic Movies. Last week the silent movie was D.W. Griffith’s Broken Blossoms. Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl was released in 1919, which makes the film ninety years old. That is unbelievable, especially to realize the fact while watching the movie. When I watch these old silent movies, I get caught up in the backgrounds. Sometimes the movie companies filmed outside of the studios on the streets. So a glimpse is provided into how the streets appeared at that time. Costumes can also reflect the clothing styles of the period the film was made.

Old movies reflect the thinking of the times in which they were made. Broken Blossoms addresses the issue of the few choices available to women during this time. The young girl is advised not to marry by a friend who is made old before her time by having many children, little money, and a lazy husband. The young girl’s only other option is the streets. Local prostitutes warn her away from that life. The film was conversational when it was released because it was an interracial love story. The alternative title says it all, The Yellow Man and the Girl. An Asian man falls in love with a Caucasian girl. That wouldn’t be very conversational now but it was pretty racy stuff for 1919.

What would raise eyebrows today is the age of the girl in the film. In the original story on which the film was based, the young girl is twelve years old. Griffith changed her age to fifteen. This change had nothing to do with the character but everything to do with the actress playing the role. Lillian Gish was twenty-six when she played the role of the young girl in Broken Blossoms. Griffith upped the character’s age from twelve to fifteen to make Gish’s appearance more believable. Either age would make audiences uncomfortable today.

“Silent Sundays” comes on TCM at midnight, which really makes it Monday, doesn’t it? Check these movies out sometimes. Use that handy DVR. It’ll be a nice combination of movies and history.

Christmas In July

Last week I celebrated the holiday season by having Christmas in July. What I mean by that is that usually Christmas is the only time of the year when my whole family is together in one place. All our family photos have Christmas trees in them. Well now we have a couple of family photos without any Christmas decorations in them.


Tuesday we had a nice family day like on Christmas Day. We played games together and had a nice meal. The only difference was instead of a board game at the kitchen table we played arcade games at a Putt-Putt. The meal was not ham or turkey and we ate at a restaurant. An added plus was no cleaning up to do. Gotta love that!


The best thing about Christmas in July; knowing that another Christmas will come around again in December. Then we can take the picture with the tree in it. An extra Christmas in the year is wonderful. I propose having one every July with a regulation photo session.

The Truth About Elvis and Michael

I wrote about Michael Jackson fans last week. What I said was that Elvis Presley fans could relate to what the Jackson fans are going through with the death of their hero. Well, there is another thing that Michael Jackson fans will or probably already have in common with Elvis fans – the conspiracy theories about Jackson. I have already read claims that Jackson’s body was not in that golden casket. Can the rumor be far behind that Jackson isn’t dead? Elvis fans are very familiar with that theory. The first time I heard the story that Elvis had not really had died but faked his own death was August 17, 1977. I was on Elvis Presley Boulevard across the street from Graceland, spending the night sleeping in the parking lot of a shopping center. Some fans can’t accept the truth. Of course from time to time, stories would pop up about Elvis sightings; like in a Burger King. Remember how Grandpa Huxtable on The Cosby Show talked several times about Elvis being seen at a mall in New Jersey? If it hasn’t already this is going to happen to Michael Jackson fans. It is just amazing to me how far people will take these theories.


A couple of years ago I read a news report about a movie being released in August, 2007. The name of the movie was The Truth About Elvis. The film maker claims that this documentary was devoted to finding out if Elvis is dead or alive. People in the movie trailer swore Elvis was alive and even some claimed to have seen Elvis. A website was mentioned. Curious, I went to check out this website.


Okay, I know there are strange people in the world. I think this website is weird center. Not only was a movie coming out but the same guy was releasing a book. This book was to be composed of fan letters to Elvis. The film maker wanted all handwritten, present tense letters. In other words, the people writing the letters had to believe they were writing to a live person. People were sending them in. Wake up and smell the coffee. You wrote a book for this guy. He will publish it and get paid. You'll get nothing; expect maybe, to look foolish. Looking foolish is a very easy thing to do on this website.


Like all good fan sites, The Truth About Elvis had a message board. Not only were fans posting but so was someone claiming to be Elvis. He was nice enough to explain that he went into the witness protection program in 1977. The witness protection program didn't work for the presumed Elvis, so he dropped out. Over the years this person claims he made a few recordings. BMG might be interested in that piece of news. Elvis was under contract to their RCA division in 1977. He may still owe them a few recordings. If a record company isn’t going after this guy then he isn’t Elvis. Record executives would get what is owed them, as well as the profit to be made on releasing newly recorded Elvis material. People were responding to this person as if he really was Elvis. Now I'm not a genius but I do wonder if this poster claiming to be Elvis could be the result of the reward offered on the website for information that proves Elvis is not dead or a publicity stunt to promote the movie and book?


I loved Elvis. My husband said just the other day, he still misses Elvis. I do too, but I don't miss him enough to be convinced he didn't die on August 16, 1977. This guy, with his film and book, will make what money he can. In order to make that money, he'll need to spread the word about his project. The film was supposed to be released during Elvis Week in August, 2007. Since I never heard any more about the movie I went back to check on how The Truth About Elvis did at the book office. What I learned was the film has not yet been released. If you are curious, Google The Truth About Elvis. Now look, see what I've done. I've given the film publicity. Of course that may not matter since the film has never made it into release. It was kind of scary to read the fan board. Do all these people really believe they were writing to Elvis? Things that make you go mmm.


Watch out, Michael Jackson fans. This will happen to you. It is not only Elvis -- there are people who believe JFK was not assassinated in November, 1963. I always tell people that I know Elvis is dead because I don’t go to people’s funeral unless they have died. Who I really feel bad for is the people who truly cannot accept that someone has passed on. With Michael Jackson’s death being so new, it is understandable that fans may be dealing with accepting it as fact. After so many years, it would seem that people would accept that Elvis is gone. Maybe some never will. That still doesn’t give someone the right to make money off the pain and suffering of others. That will keep happening as long as there are people around to take advantage of others. Just watch out for these vultures.

Memory Keepers

Like most everyone I have read thousands or maybe millions of words written since the death of Michael Jackson. These words are just the tip of the iceberg compared to the television coverage of the event. In all this media reporting one group of people have been overlooked – the fans. Once in awhile some reporter will point out someone who had purchased tickets to a London O2 concert and planned to fly over from the United States. That story always turns into the issue of refunding ticket money. The group I’m talking about is not someone who bought a concert ticket. I am talking about die-hard fans; like the ones who stayed outside of Michael Jackson’s Los Angles home in the vans. I can so relate to these people because I was them in August, 1977.

This is not an easy time for these fans. Grieving is never easy for anyone but it is made harder by all the information and stories being reported every day. People don’t have much sympathy for fans. Understanding a fan’s loss is impossible for most of the general public, but it is a very big loss. Fans are part of a group people joined together by a common interest. When that interest is a person and not a sport or hobby, it is looked upon as strange. Other fans understand and support Michael Jackson fans at this terrible time. They become a surrogate family for each other.

In the coming days Michael Jackson fans will hear many disturbing things about Jackson. Things they will not want to believe or accept. All of this is part of the legacy of Michael Jackson. Nothing takes away from the talent he shared with the world. It is a great sadness that so many people with such great gifts suffer so much unhappiness and pain. Maybe that suffering is part of what allows a super talented artist to connect with an audience. We all have pain at one time or another. It’s a common thread running through life. Fame and wealth doesn’t take the pain away. It does provide the means to deal with the pain in a way not available to everyone and that is not always a good thing.

Take heart, Michael Jackson fans. His music will outlast all the stories. Remember that fans of other artists, who left us too early, like Elvis Presley, understand what you are going through. Your world is dark now but it’ll get brighter. Life will never be the same. You are the ones who are keepers of the memories. The reasons for you being a die hard fan are pure. Money and greed was not involved – only love. When the time is right, and you’ll know, the world will know your story. This is the story I’m waiting to hear.

Endless Possibilities

My youngest son, Paul, visited his Dad and me last week. Both of my sons live in another state and their careers keep them on the road a lot. It is wonderful when whatever they are working comes close enough to us to spend time together. Most of the time we travel a couple of hours to see them but Paul was in a town only about thirty minutes away. He was even able to spend one night with us.


This was made extra special by the fact it was the week before Father’s day. My boys are Daddy’s boys; always have been. Why shouldn’t they be? They have a wonderful Dad. Paul even bought us a present- a GPS. That has been great. I can’t wait to use it on a trip.


Speaking of trips, one night we went over to watch Paul work. He is a sound engineer. This summer he is doing Christian youth camps for Student Life. The people who work with teen-agers in church youth groups are very special. Too much drama and hormones for me. Then add in the wild tale told by the lead singer of the band performing at the camp and it makes for one interesting evening.


Seeing Paul do the job he loves was the best part. He had to struggle to get where he is today but life is getting better for him all the time. I always knew he would overcome his problems because Paul is a strong person. At this point in his life, I think he is beginning to discover his strength.


Paul left yesterday. After this gig is over in August, he’ll be working with his older brother in the fall. I hope that tour comes close enough for us to go. If not, we won’t see Paul again until maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas. We keep up by phone and computer. I am so proud to see and know Paul as the person he has grown up to be. I have been so blessed to have been a part of the amazing journey of Paul’s life. I can’t wait to see what else he’ll do. With his talent and strength, the possibilities are endless.

What's Good For You?

I was reading a post on an email string the other day written by a lady who attended a lecture by Suzanne Somers on health, hormones, and all the other stuff Ms. Somers is pushing these days. Bless her heart, this dear lady threw out all her Febreze after hearing Ms. Somers speak. According to the lecture, Febreze has chemicals that can be harmful to the human body the same way as preservatives in food.



Ms. Somers, along with quite a few other celebrities earn a nice income by telling us regular folks how to look and feel young by following their recommended lifestyle. The buying of books, DVDs, and CDs are encouraged to teach the method used by the stars. Of course the number one secret of what Hollywood celebrities believe keeps them young is never discussed in any of this material. That brings me to my question- why is plastic surgery not harmful to the body?


Now I am sure stars like Ms. Somers don't want us to know about their plastic surgery. Let's face it, when your face no longer moves or resembles the face you had when you were younger,it is very obvious. The public is not blind or stupid. If the chemicals used in preserving food are bad to eat, how can putting chemicals, like botox, in your face, breasts, or thighs be healthy? Never mind putting your body through purely elective surgery. That can't be good.


Maybe since I don't have to depend on my looks, thank goodness, to keep my career going, I don't understand. That's why I'm asking. All I want to know is how someone like Ms. Somers can preach keeping chemicals out of your body and home but use them on her own body? Any type of cosmetic surgery is doing something to to the body that nature never intended to be done. Bodies are supposed to age, not be filled with chemicals to make them look plastic. (Note to all celebrities: all your "people" you pay are lying to you. You don't look younger - you look gross.)



I'll keep my Febreze. I like the way it makes my house smell. I look at it this way: if all the stuff that has gone into body over the years that I had no idea would harm me when I used it hasn't killed by now, a little Febreze isn't going to hurt. If anyone can answer my question about why plastic surgery is healthy and Febreze is not, I'd like to hear from you. Maybe Ms. Somers can explain it to me. If it involves buying one of her books I guess I'll never know. Unemployed blog writers like me can't afford celebrity self-help books.


Oh well, it's not like plastic surgery will ever be an issue for me. Just one of those things I was thinking about in my gracious amount of spare time. So I wrote about it. Maybe one day I'll write something and collect royalties checks like Ms. Somers does. I can promise you I won't be pushing some philosophy I don't follow. I'd rather be broke and honest. At least I'll be able to sleep at night.

Past Dreams 1964

Dreams do not always come true but in some strange ways, they can be fulfilled – just not in the expected manner. The dream of my heart when I was growing up was to see The Beatles perform live. I admit I am giving away my age, and yes, I am old: old enough to be a first generation Beatles fan. None of the Beatles’ tour came to the town I lived in so the local radio station promoted bus tours to larger cities taking fans to Beatles shows when the group played the US. I begged my parents to take me; always holding out hope that one would lose their mind and give in. Never happened.



This past week-end I went to see a band called 1964. The band is billed as a Beatles tribute band; the best Beatles tribute band according to a 2005 Rolling Stone review. This was repeated quite a few times during introductions and intermission. Think Beatles from their first Ed Sullivan Show appearance. 1964 wear the suits, ties, boots, and hair from the year the band’s name is taken. All the music is from the years The Beatles toured, 1964 – 1966, in the U.S. The band is very good. They should be they have been doing this for twenty-five years. It’s a fun show. The music is great. 1964 even stays in character between songs, using what sounds like vintage Beatle patter



The show I attended was outside in a park. A charity event, only 2000 tickets were available. Beatles shirts adorned quite a few concert goers; not only on older folks but on younger people also. A teacher brought his “Beatles class,” which looked like middle school boys. (It had to be from a private school. Our public system would never fund a class that cool.) Judging by the number of teen-agers who sang along, not missing a word, I’d say Beatle music is alive and well, even if it can’t be purchased on iTunes.







Time has changed the fresh faces of 1964 I saw back in the 1980s at a local university. I sat up front at the park the other night. Maybe the next time I see 1964 , I’ll sit further back, close my eyes and it will be 1964 – the year again. For a brief second, the wish of my ten year self will come true. I did see George Harrison and Paul McCartney perform in person when I grew up. So fifty percent of my dream came true. The moral, and you knew one was coming, is never give up on your dreams, no matter how they come to be fulfilled.

Precious Memories

Once upon a time, back in the 1970s, everyone didn’t have digital cameras, small cam corders, or even cell phones, never mind ones with cameras. Unlike now, filming an event any time or any place was not available to everyone. Film was used in every type of camera. Home movie cameras using 8 mm film were the only thing available to the general public. Zoom lenses for these cameras were not even something most people thought about. Usually home movies were taken of family events. Some Elvis fans used their home movie camera to record a different, very important event in their lives – Elvis’ concerts. Quite a lot of these films are out floating among fans. I received a very special one recently.


March 17, 1976 is a day that holds very precious memories for me. On that day I received my first scarf and kiss from Elvis Presley. In was in Johnson City, Tennessee. Elvis played Freedom Hall behind the high school for three nights that spring. I was present for all of the concerts. My scarf and kiss happened on the first night. Also that night I gave Elvis a pair of sunglasses. He wore these glasses on stage and joked about them. For years I had great photos of Elvis wearing the sunglasses while he was talking to me. Quite a few wonderful photographers were in the audience that night. Sadly I only have one not so very good picture of Elvis kissing me. A policeman’s hat blocks Elvis’ and my faces. All that can be seen is Elvis leaning down and the back of my shirt.


A few weeks ago, after thirty- three years, I got to see the kiss and the scarf. Like I said at the beginning, the 1970s were like the dark ages in terms of filming a concert by a fan. Compared to the technology of today the 8 mm film that is on the DVD I received appears primitive. The most important thing to me is that the film exists! As a participant, I was there when the event took place, of course, but I could only re-live it in my mind. Now for the first time, I can see the actual event. I saw the scarf and kiss captured on film as it happened. The kind Elvis fan who sent my husband the DVD was actually trying to get us footage of Elvis with the sunglasses. He no idea of the hidden treasures the DVD held.


As for the sunglasses, there are very brief shots of Elvis taking the glasses from me and passing them to Charlie Hodge. (I was told by one of the bodyguards that Elvis kept the sunglasses and played with them in his hotel room.) The CD of the concert that came with the DVD contained another gem- Elvis talking to me! I had handed him the sunglasses over the heads of women standing at the stage while Elvis gave out scarves. After everyone was seated, Elvis looked at right at me. He asked, “did you give me these glasses?” Elvis put the glasses on and kept on talking about how they made him look like Elton John or Isaac Hayes. (A few days later I received a personal thank you written by Elvis for the glasses.)


These are wonderful memories that are as fresh for me now as they were that March night over thirty years ago. To be able to see and hear the events anytime I want is an amazing gift; a gift that comes from someone who only wanted to help a fellow fan. Only a fan could understand how much this means to have these DVDs and CD. Every time I watch or listen, Elvis is alive for a few moments. Sirius radio slogan for its Elvis channel is “we never forgot.” This is the way it is for all Elvis fans who saw Elvis perform live. The atmosphere and excitement of the performances were never captured the way it really was for the audience. Like most fans, I am thankful for what remains and all our memories.

Mother Nature is Playing Tricks!

The sun is shinning bright and the temperatures are at near record highs outside. Spring? Is spring here? No. It is still February. In fact, it is not even Valentine’s Day. Today and this week is suppose to be wonderful weather-wise. But I’m not fooled. Spring is not here. I don’t even think it is just around the corner. Mother Nature is playing a trick on us. She is luring us unto a sense of a false spring.

I am not the only one not buying into this false spring. A few weeks ago, the groundhog saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter weather is what the sign tells us. One of our local weathermen is also seeing through Mother Nature’s trick. He has warned us to enjoy the nice weather- he predicts a return to winter between the 18^th and 20^th of February. I marked that on my calendar to see if he is right.

While I am enjoying the warmth I am not going overboard. No shorts or flip-flops for me. I’m still thinking maybe one good snow is still in the cards. I live in a bread-and-milk-state. If one drop of snow is predicted people run to the store to stock up on bread and milk. If snow actually falls, everything closes. Snow days are like major holidays for us. Right now we are all enjoying a preview of what’s to come when the time is right. Back to winter will be hard to take. We’ll adjust. What choice do we have? Under our blankets and coats we’ll be dreaming of the return of warm sunshine. Makes spring all the more worth waiting for and very appreciated when it arrives – for real.