My Brother

My brother can be a lot of things:

LOUD
mean
Cruel
Impatient
Funny - but not really

He is also very:

handy - he can fix anything
determined
consistent
tender hearted - though you wouldnt know if you didnt know to look for the lip quiver

But tonight, we were in Mazzios eating . Keith had driven in straight from work in Tulsa at the air base. He had on his uniform still. I have often wondered why he tends to keep his uniform on. He will wear it to the barber shop. He showed up at Danielle's wedding in it.

Tonight an older lady walked by the table this conversation took place.
" I see you have an honored guest here tonight. Thank you sir for all you do for us. I appreciate you."

Then she progressed to tell us a story about her husband and Thanked my brother again before she left.

He has been to Afghanistan , Iraq and Saudi Arabia. He has 7 more years and he will retire from active duty and civilian service.

During that conversation my brother was quieter than usual and quite humble. I realized how good he probably felt when people approach him like this. He doesn't get a lot of pats on the back..... but these makes up for many.

I think he was proud to be a solider.
I know he was.


I am proud to be his sister.

I cant sleep,,,

Tomorrow is our day off. We are in Mountain Home Arkansas for two days. We have a concert on Saturday morning so, it was just too far to drive all the way back to Siloam and back again. I had planned to sleep in. I was so excited about that fact that I fell asleep really early. Now, here I am up at 3 am and cant go back to sleep. Not to mention the hotel Smoke alarm is dinging. Randy is sleeping like a baby so I decided to grab a little quiet reflection time.

The mall concert was a lot of fun. Many of my friends from ASU came to watch . They had the concert in a store front. I wasnt concerned at all that I have gained so much weight and was doing the TWIST on a huge stage and so "out there". I think when you are round - as Beth says_ you have to twist a little harder so the kids can actually see you go around...So, by the time I get all that done I am exhausted. Then I have to sing a solo of " This little light of mine" and I am so out of breath I feel like I am going to pass out. I am too OLD and out of shape to be a childrens rockstar!

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging.

I had a little boy heckle me today. Well, not really heckle. He was very funny. When I sang " can you point your finger at your nose" he put his finger IN his nose. Next was point at your mouth. Well, you know where this is going.... Sometimes when you have done the concert 50 times already, it can get a little routine. So, I actually appreciated this little boy for making me smile today. As I entertained him, he entertained me.

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging....

Why do men think it is ok to pass gas in small places? And exactly how do they do that in their sleep? I mean , what would the world be like if women went around - Oh , ok we will say it- farting at leisure? Can you imagine? Randy and I are cooped up in the truck sometimes for hours. You would think he could hold it or roll down the window to warn me or something , but no. Loud as Gabriels horn it rips and the smell is horrid. Sometimes I have one of those little Cracker Barrel car deodorizers and I smell it.... sometimes I just pout. Why do they do that? I know, you wondered what Randy and I did while we spend some much time in the car. He farts and I play with my IPHONE.

I wish the hotel smoke alarm would stop dinging.. and that Randy would stop farting.

I am going to try to go back to bed.

The Motel 6 and my New Phone

So..here I sit in Barnes and Noble syncing my new IPhone to my MAC. After a huge turn of events, I was forced to purchase a new phone today. Let 's start from the beginning.

Yesterday I worked in the preschool for a while. Randy had a doctors appt and Beth needed to go to the doctor also , so I volunteered to hang out with my best buds until everyone was back. The day was wonderful. We talked about all the things that they have been doing while I was gone. We read books and did circle time. The kids told me all about the fun they were having with Mrs. Beth. MANY MANY times, they called me Mrs. Beth. At first I felt a little betrayed but then I thought you know.....I want them to love her. This is a good sign. So, I just answered to whatever they wanted to call me.

FInally TWO HOURS later than we planned to leave - We were all packed. I am an organizer. Randy is not. If we want to leave by 10 you should plan for 8. No matter what time he gets started he will be late. Mark that down somewhere.. he will be late. So , we get in seat belt all buckled and RWRR.. RWRR.. The truck would not start. We had to move the cars around so we could jump it. We went to Walmart and sat..... and sat... only to find out they did not have a battery to fit. We drive to Harrison. We sat.. and sat.. and YES!!! THEY HAVE ONE! So, finally about 7 pm we are headed to Jonesboro.

We stopped somewhere near Bortia to eat a very late supper. It was ok but the surrounding conversations were wonderful. There was a table of traditional pentecostals there. She was on the phone explaining who her friend is.. " You know, she has long hair." mmmm kkk... Think about that one. They are at a tent revival ( her words) and the long hair is supposed to make her stand out. I mean at that table there were three people that had hair to their waist. ( OK, maybe I have had a bad day and my recollections are really mean.....)

Randy finally pulls in to a motel 6. We have not stayed in one all summer. It has been a good summer. We walk in and there are two queen beds. The room is so small the beds are pushed against the wall. I quickly decided to claim one bed and let Randy have the other. I mean.... He deserves a little punishment for such crappy taste right?

After checking my email ( SURPRISE THEY DID HAVE WIFI YOU COULD BUY) I plugged in my phone to charge. Randy went to get ice in the container. We wont call it a ice bucket , we will call it a butter tub. I fell asleep . I tossed and turned all night. I dont remember the dreams but I am sure they were just a preview of my morning.

I woke up and started getting around.... I am generally a morning person and happy. I picked up my phone and felt the water drip from it.... NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO I am sure in slow motion this exploded from my mouth. Thankfully I am not a cusser or I am totally sure it would have been an expletive morning. Randy had no compassion for my poor dead phone at all. Did he understand this was my friend? Did he understand this is how I have kept sane this month? Obviously not, or he would have had his kid gloves on. Let's just say, it was a quiet drive. I am thinking I have three concerts with cheerful kids today and all I want to do is kill Randy and get a new phone.

As I sang... I did it myself.. it makes me happy.... in the back of my mind i was adding up the hours until I get to deliver Randy to the hotel and find an AT &T.

And that I did..

But first.

I did see on Facebook that everyone said my phone my dry out. I put it on the front of the truck during our last concert.

I forgot until I was halfway to Jonesboro to get a new phone. Randy didnt even complain about my forgetfullness. I think he knew better.

He is alseep. I am happy.

The Jonesboro Library called today and said they would love to put us up in a bed and breakfast tomorrow night. I gratefully accepted. I am trying to decide if I will tell Randy or not.... maybe... not.

I will close now and get to know my new traveling friend a little better.

Upon returning home if my bon voyage friends would like to have an intervention and try to break my addiction to my phone you may try... but i doubt you would be successful.

Concerts and Conditions

I am waking up in the nice luxurious Comfort Inn in Little Rock. OK, maybe not luxurious but WAY Better than the hotels Randy picks out.  We spent four days at my friend Gwyns home and now we are in Little Rock. We came in for a concert last night.  The concert was PHENOMENAL.  I loved it! The Celtic women  have voices like angels.   In my younger days I would have loved to be part of a group like that. Now , I will just settle for being a children's musician... No fancy long dresses for me  or ALL TELL arena performances. Instead I get a bright shirt, tight capris ( a result of last years tour ) and flip flops!   And venues, well we did play the Lonoke library and in a backyard with the beautiful backdrop of a barbed wire fence and a walnut tree. Sounds beautiful and natural I know, but let 40 three year olds loose with walnuts on the ground and see how comfortable you feel... 




Randy has a sleeping problem.  I mean a serious one. I think he has caught that bug that a  lot of older people get.  You know, the one where you wake up with the chickens and get breakfast and watch the news.  Then all day long you talk about " I just dont know how people stay in bed so late.."   This morning at 6 am Randy woke up.  " Deb, go get breakfast with me."  I let him go on down there, but since I was awake I got dressed and went on down.  Homemade waffles with pecans. Yummy.   ( Remember the tight Capris?)   As I walked in he was talking to an older woman.  No doubt discussing how  "young'ns" stay in bed so late.  Randy says " well, there is my beautiful wife. Wow, she is up, I cant believe it!" I smile and get my breakast.  Randy needed a buddy eater.  We eat and talk about how we hate that all that is on the news lately is Micheal Jackson. Yes, he was a music icon.  Yes, he died.   Farrah Faucett died the same day.... she was working to protect the rights of privacy of our medical records. Something that I have no doubt Micheal is going to wish he had.  Ok, back to the story.  We come back upstairs to our room and Randy checks his email and then lies back down on the bed.



 " I am just gonna rest my eyes".  Well, as I type this, he has been resting them for about an hour and a half. I mean, why not just sleep in.... ugh....   Ever since I met Randy one of the things I admired about him was his respect for older people. I am actually quite surprised me married me and not an older woman.  Randy has aspired to be an old man for a long time. I think he has arrived.  :)

A little Rest Never Did Anyone Harm

I am really slacking on my blogging this summer. Dana, I think I need a counseling session.  Does my  lack of blogging mean there is nothing exciting going on , or that I have accepted my fate as a traveling kids musician and staying at low rate hotels?  

Our traveling this year has been really minimized.  We havent been away at night as much as we were last year .  I think we have only been in  a hotel three nights so far this year.   The hotels we have stayed in havent been too bad, as a matter of fact only one had numbers.   It was a Super 8. I have dealt with this promptly though.  I say.. if you stop at a Super 8... 8 minutes is all you get.  Motel 6..  you get six minutes.  Needless to say, the hotel we stayed at last was a suite with a king size bed and a huge flat screen TV.  I am learning to bargain !

Over all our tour this year has been successful. I have not been on stage with tags hanging from my arms or anything.  My favorite part this year has been when Randy asks " Am I cool or what?" and  this little 7 year old girl stuck her finger in her throat like.. dont make me gag! I thought I would fall out! 

I actually have notes at home I had to blog, if I find it I may have more to add.

Right now, we are in Texas. We came for Randy's sister's 50th Birthday Bash. It was a surprise party.  We have spent a lot of time hanging out by the pool and sight seeing.  We will head home tomorrow.

I miss my life in Siloam , but I cant deny I have a great one where ever I am.

Yes, that is me in the top.  Can someone PLEASE start First Place when  I come back. I look like a mix between a fat mexican or chinese lady!

Whew... Let's catch up.

A week ago today I got together with a group of friends to celebrate my departure on the KIDDOS whirlwind tour of Arkansas and Mississippi. I thought I was clever making little goodie bags with leftover travel amenities from our tour last year.  I even stuck a little condom ( can I say that on here?) with a blue pill attached.  I was really really disappointed that I was the youngest one on the room and had to explain to the others that it was a joke " viagra".  Then Jeannie says.... I dont have to use those.. yet. Thanks Jeannie for the encouragement!  Now, I am considering whether that sexy gray hair was really worth it .I mean,  if I like the LOOK of an older man, I could always get a younger man and  dye  him gray... :)  Naw... let's not think that way.  Let's be honest. I would totally miss the overalls and the washboard playing .  I doubt I could even handle a younger man. Let me continue.

So, it seems the joke was on me.   The girls had brought presents as well. I got many nice things to use while " on the road".  I got many different kind of warming massage oil.   I almost used that this week while I was down in my back. I thought it would make the fact that I had to walk hunched over a little more sexy than icy hot. Atleast I would smell good.... and it would keep warming the sore areas of my back for quite a while . One testimony ( weird choice of words) was that it got so hot she had to find a bath tub quickly to get it off.  Hmm.. who would have admitted to having that experience?  Then there was the whistle for the security guard if I have to be outside stealing the internet. Then the bra.... I dont even know what to say. I got birthday cake candles for romantic evenings and a timer... 5 minutes buddy, you snooze - you lose.  What a FUN FUN time this was.   We laughed and laughed.  Thanks Brenda for hostessing  in your home.

Then.... what was next? 

We have had four concerts so far this year.  We had two in Bentonville , one in Clarksville and one here in Siloam The one in Siloam had over 400 kids and I was a little nervous... I mean, these are people that "know me".  I think it went well. Danielle came and made a video but unless you can crop videos from the waist up...it aint happening.

When I took Danielle to the airport we went shopping. I got a few new outfits. If you remember last year., this is my therapy for the summer. I DESERVE a few outfits  a week for having to do the stupid hula in front of 400 people every day and then laying my head down in a motel 6.  I got the cutest outfit. SO cute in fact that I wore it out when I got home to go out for my anniversary.   I got a lot of compliments on it.  As Randy and I sat listening to music he gently reached back and rubbed my leg.  Instead of getting a little  umm.... warm ( without the warming oil) all I could think was... what is that hitting my leg?  Low and behold he gets up and goes to the restroom and like a 16 year old I was checking out my leg.  The SECURITY TAG was still there . Are you kidding me? Was everyone saying I looked so cute and secretly laughing at the white button on the lower edge of my cute new black pants?  As we quickly went home and I undressed I heard the tag CLUNK as it hit the floor.  Why didnt I hear that when I put them on?  

As I got undressed I heard Randy say... Deb, I am fading fast...  are you coming to bed?  Five minutes later I heard him snore and knew the anniversary celebration was officially over. 

Visiting Randy's Church

Ok, now - let me get this straight. I am not making fun of Randy's church, it is just everytime I go I come back befuzzled.... and more confused.   Here are my questions  this time.

1.   Why would you go to a church service where you dont understand 3/4 of what the bishop is saying?  Do you get anything from it? How?  I mean, I didnt know whether to sit, stand or give peace.

2.  If you KNEW you were going to kneel in church would you take the large #7 circles off your shoes and the TJ MAXX 19.99 price tag?  ( Yes, I was already lost and wandering at this point.)

3   Is it ok that the kids behind you goes to get his " Lord's Supper" complete with wine and comes back saying " MAN, that wine was STRONGER than the last time.. whew...".  

4.  Why do they have confirmation? What does it mean?  Arent they confirmed when they accept Christ? or.... how do they do that?

5.   Is that spaghetti I smell cooking in the kitchen?

6.  Why does the Bishop get every drop of wine out of the goblet? Is he that thirsty or just doesnt want to wash it?

7.  I noticed they took up two collections.  The first one was regular and the second was a special one for something.  The second basket was almost as full as the first.  Maybe we should try that pass the plate two times thing....

8.  Why did I wear this purple sweater by boobage keeps wanting to bust out ?

Yep... that was pretty much all my thoughts for the service. They even prayed in Spanish.  Maybe I should have went to my own church...