New Movie Review: Giant (1956)

True to my word, I've posted my review of the 1956 classic, Giant. It's one of my favorite films of all time but is a landmark picture because it was the last film James Dean made. In my opinion, it's his best movie and proved beyond a doubt that he was a great actor who was not limited to those stereotypical pictures of teen angst associated with Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden.

Sorry about the horrible paragraph construction of my review. Stupid blogger would not let me seperate the paragraphs for some reason.
www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Giant Dancing Dinosaurs...

Heh heh. No, there will be no pictures of dancing iguanadons on this entry. That was my not-so-clever way of combining three little subjects in one.

Last night was the first 'competition' episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance',my favorite of all talent shows. As mediocre as American Idol was this year, I won't be a bit surprised if this one takes over as America's favorite talent competion. Last season was phenomenal and introduced us to some great performers and fantastically choreographed routines (like the one above). This year, judging by last night's show, will be just as good or better. Wade Robson (choreographer extraordinairre) will have a bigger part in the routines this season and the dancers are a little more varied as well. I'm so excited to see what comes! (Can you tell I watched Star Search religiously as a kid?)

Yesterday, I also finished reading the book 'Giant' by Edna Ferber. I have to admit I was strangely disappointed with it and this was a surprise since the 1957 movie starring Rock Hudson, Liz Taylor, and James Dean is one of my all-time favorites. The book lacked so many of the characters and great scenes from the movie so my hat is off to the screen-writers for adding this stuff. As most of you know, it is a rare thing indeed for a movie to outshine the book it is taken from. In this case, Ferber's writing was a bit more stiff than usual and the characters less dimensional than the movie. Also, it seemed like more of one-sided commentary against the Lone Star State than the movie respresented. I'll post a review of the movie on my movie review blog in the next few days or so.

And also last night, hubby was doing is daily online browsing and discovered that The Black Keys are playing on the 22nd at the Nashville City Hall (a club, not an actual government building...ha) and WHO is opening for them? Dinosaur Jr! I am not only thrilled to my fanatical toes but shocked at this unexpectedness and going online to purchase our tickets today! Who knew such a thing could happen??? I have been listening to J Mascis' band since my teens (I actually discovered them late) and adore them, to say the least. They are the quintessential summertime band, ideal for driving about in the heat with the windows down. I've been listening to them alot lately and this was icing on the cake for me. Yay!

25 weeks

6 months and counting.

Everything seems to be okay so far but I'm already feeling a bit of pressure due to weakened muscles, I suppose. At my doctor's visit last Monday I found out that I have gained 7 lbs in all. I was excited to finally go up on the scale but then last Saturday the whole family came down w/ a stomach virus and I think I may have lost some of that.

Victor is very active and likes to kick things off my belly. I'm curious to see how he differs from his brothers who at this moment are arguing loudly over which of them gets to play with the blue 'clone trooper'. Johnson is such an analytical academic and Nathan is just the opposite. He's kind of an athletic , happy-go-lucky sort.

I'm really looking forward to the convention in a couple of weeks. I hope my ankles hold out and my little aches and pains don't get too unbearable for those few days. The chairs are hard so I'm gonna try and remember to bring a 'huge pilla'. I'm also determined to wear my cute shoes, no matter what. The ones I'm wearing are heels but ones I've worn a few times so they are nicely broken in. The other day at the meeting I got up from my chair and proceeded to fall right on my knees at the entrance of the ladies room. Everyone freaked out and told me I had to stop wearing heels and no manner of explaining that my foot had fallen asleep and it would have happened if I was barefoot would appease them. So I'm thinking I'll get lots of scolding when they see my cute 'lucky lous' and 'dancing hearts'. :)

Okay, this is fun!

The Soundtrack of Your Life:

(A friend put this on her blog months ago and I never put it on mine, though I did intend to because it's very fun. Here's how it works: Open your computer music files, ipod etc and set to 'shuffle'. Whatever song plays first goes in the first slot (no cheating!). When you go to a new question, hit the 'next' button' and continue doing so until all blanks are filled.)

1. Opening Credits: "Folsom Prison Blues"-The Reverend Horton Heat

2. Birth: "Give It To Me"-The Stray Cats

3. First Day At School: "All I've Got"-The Hellacopters

4.Falling In Love: "Then I Close My Eyes"-David Gilmour

5. Fight Song: "Where the Flavor Is"-Mudhoney

6. Breaking Up: "Why Georgia"-John Mayer

7. Prom: "Digging the Grave"-Faith No More

8. Life: "Paranoid Opioid"-Corrosion of Conformity (LOL...that is just a coincidence, I SWEAR!)

9. Mental Breakdown: "Into the Void"-Kyuss

10. Driving: "In a Jar"-Dinosaur Jr. (a happy conicidence this time since Dinosaur Jr is my favorite band to drive to of all time!)

11. Flashback: "The Selector"-Missing Words

12. Wedding: "Red Red Wine" -Tony Tribe

13. Birth of a Child: "So In Love"-KD Lang

14. Final Battle:"My First Taste of Texas"-Ed Bruce (haha. I guess that shows you how 'non confrontational I am)

15. Death Scene: "Blue Suede Shoes"-Carl Perkins

16. Funeral: "Motor City is Burning"-MC5

17. Ending Credits: Cinema Paradiso (Se)-Josh Groban (couldnt end any prettier :) )

Okay guys, get to it!

A Profound Sense of Pride

My family and I just finished watching the 'Independant Lens' documentary on PBS called 'Knocking' which details the lives of two families of Jehovah's Witnesses as well as the history of the organization itself.

I was so filled with pride and love for Jehovah by watching this little film. It is extremely well done and even though it was constructed and lensed by a non-'Witness', the truth of the information is very well-represented. It moved me to tears on more than one occasion and I especially loved how there were comments from non-Witness scholars and family members interspersed with the families' respective stories. It's such a positive step toward making the true nature of our message and our decisions in life known to the outside world. With all the 'mess' that is being publicized in the papers lately concerning our brothers and their handling of congregation matters, it's nice to see someone take more of an active interest in finding out the truth.

If any of you haven't seen this show yet, I believe you can find information about obtaining a copy of it on the PBS website under 'Independant Lens'. We recorded it on our dvr but we also would like to have a permanant copy for our library.

How priviledged we all should feel to be part of this wonderful work!

12 Years and Still 'Twitterpated'...

On May 20, 1995, the old man and I got 'hitched'. We were married at The Magnolia Room in Overton Square (Memphis) at the ripe old age of nineteen. Two and a half kids and one house project later, I can honestly say we've made a nice little success of us. I guess sometimes even teenagers know what they're doing. :)

( Listen honey, they're playing our song! So help me, it still makes me swoon. )

Song Title: Buttercup

Artist: Brad

http://www.badongo.com/file/3151684

I Love It!

So you guys have heard me talking about site I found online called Dungaree Dolly's, right? Well, for those of you who haven't-she's this great little lady who makes custom purses and bags using great retro-reproduction fabrics. For a very reasonable price, she will let you pick out your own fabrics for the exterior and lining of your bag as well as tailor the strap length to suit you.

I picked the deluxe messenger bag ,that I plan to use as a diaper bag, and it's so fantastic! It's a fuzzy leopard print w/ a lipstick red lining and everything is double reinforced and awesomely made. I also got a matching sunglasses case, a little tattoo print mirror, and a 'rosie' head scarf that I love just as much.

One of the reasons I'm singing Dolly's praises is also that her customer service rivals any I've experienced in my years of online ordering. As soon as I placed the order, she sent me an email thanking me personally for my interest and making sure I didnt have any further questions or concerns about my purchase. When I did have a question, she responded almost instantly and was absolutely detailed in her answers, always friendly and making sure that I was completely satisfied before she began working on my bag.

Just about three weeks later I got a box in the mail lined w/ a lovely assortment of tissue paper and all kinds of extra goodies like candy (yep, candy!) ink pens, stickers, and such. It made my day! My bag was everything her site claimed it would be and more. I am now on a mission to tell as many people as possible about her amazing little company and also to eventually obtain more of her precious little bags myself.

And there you have it, a shameless use of blogging as free advertising!

Here's to ya, Dolly!

www.dungareedolly.com

21 weeks...

So here's the 21 week shot...halfway there.

Anyway, things are better w/ the nausea. I had a small bout of indigestion last night that was kind of a nusiance but other than that, I'm okay. Eating normally and all that .

I registered on Target.com, more as an organizational tool for me than a real 'gift registry' at this point. It's under sharron westmoreland, which was not on purpose since most people don't know my first name.

I'm having fun tailoring my workouts to my pregnancy. It's kind of liberating doing the 'lazy' versions of squats, planks, etc. But due to the extra weight, I feel like I'm still getting the same quality work out. My sciatic nerve is starting to pinch so the workouts are absolutely necessary to prevent progression in that area. Lifting my right leg is painful in the mornings, at first, but as I continue to move, the pain lessens. Good stuff.

Gotta go take my boy for his last day of first grade so that's all for now. Sigh. Aren't I supposed to be happy that he's going to be home w/ me every day for the next three months? I'm sure I'll get used to the chaos however...aye me.

Ashley's Flippin' Good Cookies...

Okay so I discovered this recipe some time ago and have made it numerous times but now that I have a blog, I can share it with the world. You will not believe how much yumminess resides in so few calories (unfortunately I lost my calorie-count info for them but it is rediculously low)!

The actual 'technical' food network name for them is 'Rita's Ultra Lite Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies' but I'd prefer that you refer to them as the entry title suggests. Heh heh.

Ingredients:
4 egg whites, room temp
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
12 oz mini chocolate chips
1 c. pecans, finely chopped (I actually only use 1/2 cup cuz I'm not a big 'nut-lover')

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

In mixer on medium-low speed, beat the egg whites until frothy-between 1 and 2 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high, add salt and whip to stiff, but not dry peaks (i.e. peaks stand up straight, don't curl, but aren't grainy). Reduce speed to medium. Add vanilla and then sugar, a few tablespoons at a time. Whip to glossy peaks (pretty shiny thick stuff), about 2 minutes. Gently fold in chocolate chips and pecans. Drop by tablespoons full onto cookie sheets lined w/ parchment. Bake 45 minutes. Turn off and leave in oven overnight (or at least a few hours) without opening the door.

No, you can't dip em in milk but I'll venture to say you won't give a darn.

'Lost'...in...space...

So I know some of you guys gotta be watching 'Lost' on Wednesday nights.

What do you think of the last couple of episodes? Last week, I was thrilled w/ the way the show picked up in the last 20 minutes and the revelations we were blessed with concerning the connection between Locke's father and Sawyer's nemesis. Incredible.

But last night I was SO thrown for a loop on several occasions! Does Richard not age? Are he and the other Others in some wierd 'island' time warp? Why was Jacob invisible and when we did see him for a brief moment, did he not look remarkably like Robert Englund? Who IS this Jacob guy anyway? Is Locke dead? Sweet lord, Noooooooo! And Ben, he's way more evil than I thought. Did anybody else catch that he stole a 'sample' from Kate just in case she might be pregnant? And we thought she and Sawyer were just being sneaky in that cage...heh heh.

I have to admit I've been fed up w/ this show's lack of progression for a while now but the last few shows were really back on track. And now we're in for a 'showdown' between the islanders and the survivors, which looks cool. But I just wonder when we're REALLY gonna learn something about the Dharma Initiative and what it's become since Ben took over. And now I'm all into finding out who this Jacob guy is and why Richard apparently remains eternally pretty.

For those of you not into this show...forgive my geekiness. :)

Spiderman 3 Review:

I posted my review of Spiderman 3 on my movie review blog:

www.movinpitchers.blogspot.com

Victor James Westmoreland

Well, there you have it. In spite of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the excelerated heartrate, the constant nausea, the fact that this pregnancy was entirely different from the other two, and the constant assurances of everyone and their mother-the baby is definitely a boy. I went today for the ultrasound and decided to go it alone this time as opposed to taking company with me. I just had a bad feeling, you know? Anyway, also unlike the other two times, it took the lady FOREVER to find out the sex. The other two times it was like-squirt gel, apply camera, 'whoah! That's a boy!'. This time, the baby was wild and hyper, turning flips every which way. She finally got a good view and she just gave me an 'uh-oh' look. She showed me the 'evidence' with almost a grimace. At first I was okay. I laughed it off and all that. But as I was waiting to see the doctor, I just started crying and I've been kind of weepy all day. I guess deep down I really did think it was a girl. I was looking so forward to cuddling a little girl and watching my husband spoil a girl and buying little girl things. I realized that I had been picturing a little girl in my head all along, really, and now I feel like I'm kind of grieving over the loss of a daughter that never really existed. I didnt expect to be so sad.

Anyway, I'll get over it. It'll be a happy mommy again when Victor arrives and I guess I should be happy for hand-me-downs and all that bunk. And as Marilla said 'every baby is the sweetest and the best', right?

Okay, so I told myself this blog would not be a 'downer' so let's move on.

MEMPHIS-TOWN
_______________

I went to Memphis last weekend and enjoyed myself quite a lot. The purpose of the visit was really to see my ailing grandmother who has developed quite a bad case of dementia and isnt likely to know us much longer. So sad. We also were planning on looking at a couple of Honda Odysseys over the weekend. We understand the importance of a 'third row seat'-with the third baby and all-but both of us hate the average mini-van and didnt want to splurge for a gas guzzling SUV. So the pre-1999 Odyssey just suited us since it is 'technically' a mini van but has a lower profile and four normal doors instead of those bulky sliding things that I detest. Lastly, the Beale Street Music Fest was Fri-Sun and Friday night held special interest for us.

Friday night we (me and the hubby and Toby and Annie) went to Beale Street around 7pm and after a few hectic turns found pretty good garage parking for ten bucks. By the time I picked up my will-call tix and got some cash out of that super-expensive atm, it was about 8 and Chevelle was just getting started. I'm not a fan of Chevelle, myself. I kinda get sick of the 'Tool' comparisons when I really don't feel there ARE any and I also get super annoyed at the way that guy keeps saying 'here it comes...here it comes!' before powering into the most simplistic parts of the song, thus fooling 4 acres of people into thinking they're witnessing something truly spectacular. That said, I tolerated them for the sake of my fan brother and was surprisingly entertained. I didnt expect much and didnt get a whole bunch but what I did get was nice and loud, moderately heavy, and pretty impressive for a three piece band.

Social Distortion, however, was a blast! Mike Ness totally lived up to my expectations, charming the audience immediately by throwing roses in the crowd as he walked onstage and completely blowing me away w/ the gravely beauty of his voice. I adore him, have done forever, and was not disappointed. I wanted to hear 'Story of My Life', 'I was Wrong', and 'The Angels Sing' but was pleased w/ the selections he chose from the latest album as well as the great old classics he brought back to life. 'RIng of Fire' made an instant fan of my sister in law, Annie, who felt she'd surely have 'sweet dreams' after hearing his sexy rendition of the classic. The band was brilliant as well, never too close to the album to bore , but tight enough to leave you wanting more. Needless to say, by the time they finished up I had screamed and sung myself hoarse, was suffering from sore hips due to dancing whilst 'with child', and dreading the walk all the way thru Pronto Pup Hell to see the Stooges. (incidentally, I visited one of the vendors and got me a funnel cake but promptly threw it away after tasting it. A friggin ' brick.)

The Stooges were a cranking up 'My Idea of Fun' when we made it over to their stage and the crowd was pretty sparse, as I expected. But at least they made up for it w/ energy. Lots of great old classics to hear ('Dirt' was phenomenal) and though I was too zapped to dance about, I was doing a jig in my heart as I sat getting wet-butted on the ground and singing joyously along. Yeah, the old guy has a potty mouth but boy is he ever fun to watch as he cavorts around the stage humping the monitors, swinging from wires, and convulsing like some kind of epileptic chimp to the beat of his favorite rhythyms . Speaking of rhythyms, Mike Watt on bass was having such a ball and he was my favorite thing about the performance-if that's not making me too many enemies. Add to all that the allowance of about fifty people onto the stage to hop w/ Pop and two encores and you've got one heck of a show. After it was over, I didnt even mind the nightmarish journey back to the car along drunken-teen laden streets all that much.

Saturday we made it to the car lot a little late (sleeping off the fun, ya know) and lucked out when we found a 1998 Honda Odyssey w/ all the trimmings, beautiful original paint and interior, and an itty bitty price tag. Of course, the price tag was due to the excessive miles (175,000) but we serious Honda people know that this car is just a teenager and good for another 100,000 miles at least. It drives like a new car and I couldnt be happier (especially since I talked the dealership down another 1000 bucks w/ my smooth handlings).

My grandmother is not doing well but I'm ever so glad I came to see her. I don't know if she REALLY knows who I am but I am comforted in the knowledge that she seemed to enjoy my and my family's visit alot. Sunday,, while my mom n' em headed off to the assembly (we've already been), we made a family day of it and went to lunch at Huey's (one of our favorite things about Memphis) and to see Spiderman 3 at the Studio on the Square. It was a lovely relaxing day (the movie was good and I'll post my review tomorrow) and the drive home (though in two seperate cars) was a cinch.

And...that's about it.

'Eternity obeys man more than man imagines.'

I have resurrected my 'page-a-day' blog of Victor Hugo's 'The Man Who Laughs'

Page 73 is up and running:

www.themanwholaughs.blogspot.com

'The time has come, the Elvis said...'

'to talk of many things, of foreign food, and music fests, of barbeque and wings'-a variation on 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' by one very inept poet. heh heh.

Anyhoooo, it's that time of year again. The Beale Street Music Fest is this weekend and it actually doesnt suck. We got some good stuff this year, my friends! Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Iggy and the Stooges (weeeehoooooo!), Jerry Lee Lewis, The Allman Brothers, Social Distortion (yesss!!), Old Crow Medicine Show, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steely Dan, Wolfmother, Taj Mahal, Billy Lee Riley, Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend, and yes even DAUGHTRY will be performing (just kidding about that last one, by the way, but the others are VERY worth our time, to say the least).

The old man and I will be making the trip on this weekend (mainly to see family of course) but Friday night, we're planning on leaving the kids w/ nanna and checking out Social Distortion and The Stooges -aka: staying out LATE. :) I've always loved Mike Ness and the chance to see Social D is a long-awaited one that I won't pass up. Plus, Iggy Pop LOOKS pretty healthy now, but who knows when that heavily embalmed cadaver won't just shake apart in the middle of a performance?

To get you in ze mood, here are some fun songs to aquaint or 're-aquaint' yourself w/ these two great bands:

First off, Social Distortion w/ 'Story of My Life'- http://www.badongo.com/file/2908256

Iggy and The Stooges, one of their newer songs, 'My Idea of Fun'-(no offense please :o),

http://www.badongo.com/file/2908301

( Those of you who knew Iggy Pop in the eighties and nineties will have to get used to The Stooges again...very similar to their origina albums and nothing like his solo stuff. )

The Ultimate Survey...

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for surveys. I'm always getting them on myspace and so I wrote my own 'ultimate' survey. This is a copy of my myspace survey w/ a couple little extras thrown in. If you don't know your friends after they fill out this baby, you never will! ;)

p.s. I deleted some of the questions that have been on other surveys

Name: Sharron Ashley Westmoreland

Call me: Ashley

It means: dweller of the ash-tree meadow

1. Age: 31

2. Place of Birth: Memphis Tn

3. Current Location: Pleasant Shade Tn

4. And where is that? About 40 miles outside of Nashville...going towards Knoxville. In the foothills before the Cumberland Plateau and awful purty. :)

5. Height: 5'6" or so

6. Right Handed or Left? Right

7. Heritage:Anglo Saxon all the way...the skinheads love me.

8. The Shoes You Wore Today: Bone colored dress shoes for the meeting

9. Your Weakness: Whipped Cream-the real stuff

10. Your Pefect Pizza: I haven't ever had it, I don't think...but I like olives.

11. Goals You Would Like To Achieve This Year: increased service time, scultping, toning, etc.

12. First Thought Waking Up: What a pretty view!

13. Favorite Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird

14. Ok, now your REAL favorite movie (the one you watch over and over w/out a hint of stopping): Urban Cowboy, Jaws, and the Shawshank Redemption....oh! and The Quiet Man. All movies I could watch an infinite number of times....and darn near have.

15.Favorite musical group/artist: Simon and Garfunkel

16. Favorite work of fiction: The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo

17. Favorite Song of all time: In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

18. Your Average Bedtime:9:30

19. Your Best Vacation Memory: The World Showcase at dusk

20. Pepsi or Coke? Coke Zero

21. Mcdonalds or Burger King?Burger King-love that whopper! (however, since I've been pregnant I've had crazy cravings for the Big Mac!)

22. How Far is the Nearest Wal Mart? 13 miles

24. Pet's Name: Helen Roper, (Beagle) Aunt Bea ,(another Beagle) and Albert (cat)

25. Favorite alcoholic Beverage: Korbel (brut)

26. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

27. Cappucino or Coffee? Cappucino, Iced

28. Do You Sing? all the time...and I can belt Harper Valley PTA w/ the best of them!

29. Are You Inlove? yes, madly

30. Do You Have Any Kids/ How Many? yes, two and one on the way

31. Their names: Johnson Edgar and Nathan Edward (Victor James or Helen Abigail-Blue in the oven)

32. Do You Shower Daily? pretty much. Lately, I have been trying to skip washing my hair every day because the red is fading too fast...but I'm clean.

33. Do You Get Motion Sickness? sometimes

34. Afraid of Heights? yes, secretly

35. Are You a Health Freak? nah, but I love working out

36. Do You Like Thunderstorms? yes, but they make me nervous

37. Do You Play an Instrument/ which one? I have mastered the cowbell

38. In the Past Month, Have You Been on a Date? yes, thanks to my babysitting friend, Naomi!

39. Where did you go? To The Melting Pot in Nashville and then to a bookstore...we're a wild and crazy couple.

40. In the past month, have you been on stage? yes, at the KH

41. Have you ever been skinny dipping? yep

42. Were you caught? errrr....yep

43. Have you ever been beaten up? no, I'm very non confrontational

44. What country would you most like to visit? Italy

45. Why? Scenery and Culture (and food)

46. Number of cd's you own: a couple hundred-joint ownership

47. Favorite Color: Peacock-bluegreen

48. Your Theme Song: Into the Mystic-Van Morrison

49. Can Mark Hammil Act? Nope, but I love him anyway.

50. Ever walk out on a movie? Yes

51. Which One? The Ring-I was so scared!

52. The Most Important Thing Is: Relationships

53. Favorite Sushi-roll: California Roll-still my favorite

54. Favorite Restaurant: The Melting Pot

55. Store where you could drop a thousand bucks the quickest: Pottery Barn

56.Best show on tv: Seinfeld re-runs (still the 'king of the county'!)

57. The Car you Drive: Honda Civic 1998

58. But you'd rather be driving: a fully restored 56 Chevy Bel Air-ahhhhhh.

59. How Many Miles on your car? 110,000+ and I will run it into the ground before I get another...

60. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? 'I Wanna Check You For Ticks' a song by Brad Paisley that I wanted my husband to hear because it's funny.

61. Have you ever licked a 9v battery? Yep...and aren't these questions getting interesting? ;)

62. When was the last time you swam in a pool? In Vegas a few weeks ago

63. Type of music you dislike the most: Experimental Jazz (yes, I know it requires talent but it drives me BATTY!)

64. What is your favorite comic strip? I have always had a deep affection for Bloom County and The Far Side

65. Do you know all the words to 'The Star Spangled Banner'? I am ashamed to admit, yes.

66. Favorite Candy Bar: Toblerone

67. Which of your current friends have you known the longest? Heddo, probably.

68. Have you ever won a trophy? When and for what? Yes, for the math-a-thon in sixth grade.

69. Favorite arcade game: Pole Position...heh heh.

70. What shows did you watch religiously as a kid: Little House on the Prairie, Inspector Gadget, Scooby Doo, Thundercats, and Silverhawks. Oh, and VOLTRON...loved that show!

Have fun guys! You KNOW you want to. :D

Never Say Never...

No matter how content you are or how settled you may be, there is always the possibility that you may eventually think of change. The catalyst may be environmental (ah, for a warmer climate), health related (where can I go to relieve my chronic sinus problems) or economical (wow, THAT'S how much my job pays out there?). Or it could be a combination of all three mixed w/ a little old fashioned curiosity.

Before last month's visit to Vegas, we had only off-handedly discussed moving out west...perhaps when we retired. But since we've returned, I think we've determined that such a drastic move is not proving to be as daunting as we once thought.

As with everything else in our relationship, this decision to consider relocating was entirely mutual. There was no coaxing, hinting, or sighing to speak of on either of our parts and really, there was no reason for such since we are not the impetuous kind , the kind that make sudden decisions based on whim or fancy. We both have carefully considered the expense, spiritual aspects, and impact of such a move and plan to continue doing so over the next year or so before we finally decide to take that step. But there are several serious 'positives' that make this seem so right.

1)We have chronic sinus problems that seem to foster a weakness in our immune systems and thus we are sick ALL THE TIME. The doctors have told us that this problem (allergies, sinusitis ) is inescapable as long as we live in Tennessee and therefore, we will probably have to be on medication for the rest of our lives. Needless to say, a dryer climate is a definite improvement on this problem.

2) Cold weather is making me tired! I remember loving the snow as a kid and maybe its my natural age progression or the sudden appearance of arthritis since my auto accident of 1996, but now, I can't stand it! I am SO on board w/ being in a place where the winter temperatures average in the 50's. No wonder so many old people move to Fl!

3)Job availability-my husband has a few areas of expertise but plumbing and pinstriping are his two choice occupations and in the vegas area, plumbers get paid more-even factoring in the higer cost of living. This is no doubt due to the enormous ammount of construction going on in the city. In addition, his pinstriping abilities are just in demand out there...whereas here, especially in our rural area, he has to pretty much create the demand in order to get business. Because of this, the prospect of his getting a painting business off the ground is a lot greater in that area than it is here.

Stipulations are definitely a factor. If we do move, I don't want to have to pull in an income, focusing instead on the ministry and my kids (that is my goal here as well) and I want us to be making enough monthly to make regular visits to Tennessee to see my family. So this is by no means set in stone and may indeed never happen.

I've always said I'd 'never' move out of Tennessee. We love our new house. We adore this area...you guys have seen pictures. It's GORGEOUS out here and even though our city of choice (Boulder City Nv, pictured above) is somewhat 'green' for a desert city and located directly on Lake Meade, it would be a shock to my spoiled senses to be confronted w/ so much sand-beautiful mountains or no . We also have family that would be very sad w/ the absence of the kids and a wonderful congregation that we would miss. My husband's uncle has just bought some property about 2 miles from us and I know his close proximity will definitely be a pleasant thing that we would hate to give up. We don't know ANYONE in that area and the neighborhoods are grouped together rather tightly, meaning a large lot is absolutely unheard of . So going from 20 acres to less than 1/2 an acre would be a huge adjustment. Boulder City is a smaller city (about 15,000 people and pictured above) and a little more appealing to us than Las Vegas or Henderson ( a 'suburb' of Vegas w/ about 250,000 people- on the top 100 places to live list last year) but the neighborhoods are still 'cozy'. As you can see, there is lots to consider.

We've both decided that if we do this, we will start w/ a clean slate. Sell everything, in other words, and begin again. I am pretty changeable-I've moved many times in my life-and I have no problem with that at all. I only own a few things that I can't do w/out...mostly art. So starting over is no big deal for me. But the truth is, we feel so good when we're out west...sinus and allergy-wise especially. And we're starting to think that deep down, we're warm weather people. Even when the temp is over 100, we don't notice it like we do here, due to the lower humidity. So though it may not happen, we are going to think in terms of 'planning' and set a nice deadline to make our decision. In the end, opening up to change is half the battle and I think we've done that.

Fill in the blanks-an autobiography...

FIRST NAME? Sharron

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No. My dad liked Sharron but my mom was leery of naming me that whilst living in Tennessee because of the proclivity of most Southerners to forget the 'two syllable' thing and call me 'Shern'. So I go by my middle name, which is Ashley.


WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Not sure. I like to cry, I guess. At least, I do it alot. Movies, books, songs, frustration..,just give me an excuse

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes. I'm notorious for changing it based on my mood so that my signature very often looks like a forgery of my own signature.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Pastrami is my favorite lunch meat but I'm also a sucker for the ol' childhood favorite, balogna.

KIDS? 2 and one on the way.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think I'm nice. I don't have any enemies that I am aware of, anyway.

DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL ? I guess this here 'web-log' qualifies.

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yeah, right.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep, and 'when I was a kid, I wasnt allowed to hang out w/ people who didnt have their tonsils'. (Seinfeld fans unite!)

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? It depends on the ammount of safety precautions involved. Yes, if sufficent harnesses and double checks are there.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love that waffle crisp and those Reeses Peanut butter puffs...but I usually eat Vanilla Creme Mini Wheats for 'love' because they're 'whole grain'.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Rarely


DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically? No. Emotionally? eh...no. Spiritually...yeah but there's always room for improvement.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Udderly Cream from Maggie Moos (w/ a chocolate chip and Cherry mix in)

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? What they are wearing-yeah, I admit it.

RED OR PINK? Red


WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of patience.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Bonnie my Bonnie.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARIING?I'm wearing black yoga shorts and Ryka cross trainers (I just finished working out)

THE LAST THING YOU ATE? I ate some beef n broccoli and chicken lomein last night. I rarely get Chinese take out but last night it hit the spot!

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 'Stanley' on playhouse disney. I usually let littlun watch cartoons in the am. But I'm planning on listening to Lil Gizelle later today.

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Blue-green just says 'me', I think.

FAVORITE SMELL? The smell, not unlike baking bread, of millions of grass seeds parching in the sun on a hot summer day.


WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My dad.

FAVORITE DRINK? Coke zero followed closely by Kirin Ichiban.

FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Figure Skating and gymnastics

HAIR COLOR? Red. I think I'm gonna put a layer of blonde on the top though before convention. What do ya'll think? Too 'trendy'?

EYE COLOR? cold coffee, baby. Somebody told me that one time and I liked it so I go with it. :)

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not anymore. A few years ago I went from 20/400 vision to 20/15 through the miracle of 'lasic surgery'. Weeehoooo!

FAVORITE FOOD? I absolutely love real whipped cream w/ just a little brown sugar in it. But I also like sushi. Right now, both together doesnt sound that bad!


SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Why can't it be a scary movie w/ happy ending?

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I saw 'The Ladykillers' on tv the other night and it was okay. Obviously heavily edited and couldnt hold a candle to the original, Cohen brothers or no Cohen brothers. Everyone go rent the original Ladykillers NOW. :)

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Almost the exact same color as my skin...kinda funny, actually.

SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer! I am a hot weather girl!

HUGS OR KISSES? Either works for me.

FAVORITE DESSERT? A perfect Creme Brulee is hard to beat.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Giant by Edna Ferber and I'm still struggling over the last 20 pages of "The Man in the Iron Mask' by Alexandre Dumas. It was such a downer!


WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Nathan at about 6 months.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST ON TV LAST NIGHT? Started watching 'Hot Rods to Hell ' again but got yawny so switched to 'House Hunters International' and promptly fell asleep.

FAVORITE SOUNDS? Littlun laughing at older brother telling him a story. A perfect tenor or soprano, Leo Khotke playing guitar, Tom Waits, and a horse pushing a rush of air outof its nose

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Neither please

THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? I went to Hawaii when I was little.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? My arm bends in some scary angles that freak most people out.

WHEN WERE YOU BORN? July 22nd, 1975

16+ WEEKS...

So I'm at sixteen weeks now. No picture to post currently. I will eventually get around to posting that, I suppose.

Monday's doctor's appointment was uneventful. I won't go in for my ultrasound until 3 weeks from then so-a little more than two weeks to go. I am a little apprehensive because I almost don't WANT to know. But, I'm trying to prepare myself to be disappointed and accepting if it's a boy. Ultimately, I know I just want a healthy baby and if I find out it's another boy-I know I'll be very happy when it comes time to welcome little Victor James into the world. Monday, they did get the heartbeat very quickly on the doppler so I guess my uterus has 'popped' now. The kid's heartbeat was so loud, actually, they had to turn the volume down on the little speaker...heh heh. 160 bpm (incidentally, this heart rate is more in keeping w/a little boy than a girl. Boy's heartrates tend to be higher, I understand...sigh.)

So funny how the perfect little girl's name will pop out of nowhere! We were on our way home from the airport a couple of weeks ago, listening to this great Rockabilly compilation cd we got (for free) w/ our tickets to Viva Las Vegas , and this song came on called 'Abigail Blue' by the Starkweather Boys. The song is soooo great (you can hear it on their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/thestarkweatherboys) and somehow, 'Abigail Blue' started to really grow on us! Now, if it were just up to me, that would be her name- Abigail Blue Westmoreland...but unfortunately, I've made this itty promise to my grandmother that any possible little girls will carry her name. So, I think we've decided on Helen Abigail. After all, Abigail IS the number 2 name in the country right now (gheesh) and I just can't bring myself to side w/ the masses by putting it in the number one spot on the birth certificate...heh heh. But, we'll undoubtedly be calling her 'Abigail', in keeping w/ my family habit of calling kids by their middle names (I myself am a Sharron Ashley) unless she just LOOKS like a Helen, which I doubt. ;)

But she'll always be Abigail Blue to me.

The Rockabilly Weekender-A Love Story

To sum up in a few words my feelings about the Rockabilly Weekender in Vegas: More fun than a body has a right to have!


I was completely in my element the entire time and despite the pregnancy, I never felt wiped out or overwhelmed. It was refreshing to be among people who have the same love for the past that I do and enjoy the entertainment that goes along with it.

This was the tenth anniversary of Viva Las Vegas and so many bands signed up that neighboring hotels had to open up their ballrooms and get in on the action. The main event, however, takes place at the Gold Coast Hotel, a nice western-themed resort w/ plenty of showrooms and ballrooms for the gig. At night, bands play from 6pm to 3am and during the day there are jive classes, the shifters car show, and the best shopping I've ever seen! Yes, I spent too much money...but for once, I have no buyers remorse. From records to shoes to accessories to clothing it was just the best selection I've been confronted with. My most luxurious purchase was a pair of one-of-a-kind shoes from Lucky Lou ( http://www.luckyloushoes.com/styles.html) that I fell in love with immediately! They're like little works of art for my feet...sigh. I mulled over it for two days before finally giving in and handing them the visa.
The Shifter's Car Show Saturday was the highlight of the whole trip. So many gorgeous cars, so much pomade, so many cuffed jeans, and such a plethera of oriental umbrellas you've never seen! And even more shopping...but I was able to obstain. I fell in love w/ every 50's model Chevy on the place. By the way girls, whether it's your style or not, those parasols are a lifesaver! I got away w/ little or no sunburn due to that thing. The three girls in the picture (by the blue car) were on roller skates and they were so cute rolling around everywhere.


The music was all pheonomenal...very traditional rockabilly. I made some great discoveries and rediscovered some old favorites like Narvel Felts and Billy Lee Riley ( 'my gal is RED HOT...your gal ain't doodly squat'). The band in the picture came all the way from Australia and we actually bought their cd...they're called The Firebird Trio. Great vocals and excellent upright! And did I mention the dancing? While the bands played, huge areas were opened up on the dance floor for the couples that could jive and they were amazing! One couple was so good, I was simply mezmerized when they crossed the floor. There was also this cute dance for 'girls only' called the Sex Kitten Stroll that strongly resembles the electric slide. It was a blast!



Sunday was the Tiki Pool Party and it was perfect weather. All the girls dressed in fourties/fifties style swimsuits and did their hair in barrel curls w/ flowers. They also carried their signature sun umbrellas and wore rediculously high platform heels. Silly, but it made for great pictures. Needless to say they didnt go near the water. The guys wore white tanks and straw hats very similar to Huckleberry Fin. We sat for hours just people-watching and sipping (non-alcoholic for me) coctails by the pool. Incidentally, I've never seen so many heavily tatooed girls that somehow still manage to be glamorous. One girl beside me had an elephant tatooed over ther entire back. It was so beautifully done, I had to ask her for a shot of it...which seemed to flatter her alot .















The hotel we stayed at was The Orleans and I liked it so much that I doubt I'll ever be staying anywhere else in Vegas. It is extremely reasonably priced and off the strip so away from the hubbub that can sometimes be annoying. There is little lobby area to speak of, just a huge casino w/ cheesy 'Mardi Gras' themed decorations hanging from the ceiling and a registration desk on the right hand side. But there are at least six restaurants ranging from Tgi Fridays to Japanese to Italian and there's a ten screen movie theater, a bowling alley, and a spa. I had a massage, scrub, and facial combo Friday morning that was the best I've gotten yet...and the spa is beautiful. Actually, the rooms are quaint and quite pretty too, completely different from the loud lights and colors in the casino. The pool is the best we've ever visited! It is immaculately landscaped and there is a lagoon style hot tub that sits off in a quiet corner far away from the huge main pool. There is also a lounge pool for those who want to avoid the kids in the main one and tons of trees to relax beneath. We sat out there for 3 hours Saturday night...even ate dinner out there. The weather, again, was beyond belief. Gosh, I love the desert climate.

On the flight home, we ran into a bit of drama when the passenger in front of us passed out and a doctor had to see to him which sent the whole plane into a tizzy. There was scramblings for blankets and pillows, calls to the air-medic, and even an iv was administered. When we got to the Nashville airport, the tarmac was alive w/ red and blue lights as the perimedics boarded to cart him away to the hospital. My husband (who is an avid 'Airplane' fan) bets he had the fish. heh heh.

Anyway, it was a great trip, a wonderful trip, a perfect trip. And though it's always good to get back to children and congregations and the comfort of every day things...I won't be getting over it right away, I assure you.

Edwurd Fudwupper and The Planet Earth

If any of you are not currently catching the ASTOUNDING series on Discovery called Planet Earth, I cannot stress enough how much you NEED to see this show! If your tv has HD capability, you're in for even more of a treat, as the show was purposely filmed w/ this feature in mind. Regardless, however, let me just say that I have NEVER seen footage of this kind before and every single episode is a gem. You will see things you've never seen before, unbelievable vistas that will give you a lump in your throat, and be introduced to species that are almost too incredible to be real.

The shot above is just an example of the type of footage the show endeavored to capture...yes, that's a great white shark jumping entirely free of the waves to catch a bird as it attemped to dive for food. Each episode deals w/ a different terrain of our planet from deserts, to oceans, to mountains. My seven year old son watched the 'Deep Ocean' episode yesterday and literally remained open mouthed for the majority of the all-to-short 45 minute segment.

Though the creators of the show boast relentlessly about the 5 years it took to create the series, the state of the art technology used to capture such quality footage, and the years of research involved, those of us who know better cannot help but be even more drawn to our Grand Creator , Jehovah God, who is the REAL artist behind all these miracles. You just can't look at the desert landscapes, polar vistas, or fantastic creatures without offering a silent prayer.




Another little recommendation: A few years ago I chanced upon this wonderful book at the library called 'Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big' by Berkely Breathed. I remember being drawn to the artwork and also the fact that Berkley Breathed was the author since I had grown up surrounded by 'Bloom County' memorabilia (my dad was a big fan of the comic strip) and I had an abiding love for Berkley's illustrations and his creations, 'Bill the Cat', and 'Opus the Penguin'.

The other day at Barnes and Noble, I ran across the book again and I'm SO happy I bought it. The story is absolutely timeless, written in rhyming language very similar to Dr Seuss (and every bit as clever) and the story (about how lies grow and grow) not only teaches a lesson but also touches a soft spot if you are a bit older. The artwork is fantastic, alternating Breathed's (pronounced bree-thed) unique sketchy illustrative style w/ some of his sock-you-in-the-jaw brilliant paintings that take up two full pages. I strongly recommend you check this one out for your littluns...they will love it and you will want to keep it for yourself!