Linda Z

From our dear Adios: "We have freedom of speach in this country. We don't have to tell our President we love him like those poor people in Iraq. Please try not to silence any voices, these are all the voices of the American people, this is why I love this country." Bravo! Linda Z

Oh well, I've decided that Spirit's stuff doesn't cut it as house-cleaning music. It's more for sitting and istening than flitting around the house dusting and singing along. Rats. They were a good band, though. Linda

Socksness, glad to hear the Moody Blues still rock. I had a chance to go see them in Vegas about 10 years ago, but my friends dragged me elsewhere. I'm still ticked off at them. :D--> Ah, Spirit. They were previously called Spirits Rebellious, if my memory serves. Did you guys know that the drummer was Randy "California"'s dad? I hung out at their house in Ojai once and used to go hear them play pretty often. Randy and his dad were friends of a friend of mine, so we always got in for free. Haven't pulled out their albums in eons. Maybe that would be good music to clean by today! Thanks for the reminder! Linda Z

It's noticeably slower when I'm moving between threads or between forums. I appreciate your trying to make it the best for us. Maybe it's just my connection, but I do have cable access and I haven't noticed it lagging anywhere else. Linda

Fifty schmifty...no biggie! You still look as cute as ya did at three!! Hope your big day is filled with music and laughter and love. You deserve them all! B'day hugs, Linda Z PS. OHIO??? Where in Ohio? You mean we might actually have a chance to meet?

Ladycat: Please e-mail me, and I can give you an update. Short answer is they're doing fine. :-) Linda Z

Yesterday was Kit's birthday! I can't believe that of all the birthdays in the world, we missed this one! Thank you, Kit, for being such a faithful reminder of everyone else's b'days. I hope yours was the happiest yet and that the coming year is filled with God's blessings!!! Love you, Linda

Sorry to be a day late for your big day. Hope it was the happiest ever! XO, Linda

Have a birthday that's as wacky as you want it to be!! Enjoy, Linda Z

My cat Molly thinks she's a dog. She totally ignores her cat toys (the ones Emma the Dog hasn't destroyed) and plays with Emma's toys. And usually Emma lets her! She follows Emma around. When she got catnip balls from "Grandma" for Christmas, she immediately went over to Emma and dropped one between them. Never thought I'd see a cat share! These two are really pals. The other night they were playing tug o' war with one of Emma's stuffed toys. I was amazed at how gentle Emma was. She's a terrier with realllllly strong head-shakin' action. She coulda had that toy in 5 seconds flat, but the cat would have been splatted against the wall. So instead Emma would pull it ever so slowly in her direction, stop and look at the cat. The cat would pull back. Emma would pull a little farther, but just as gently. Back and foth they went, in slow-mo, until Emma finally had the toy to herself. It was so cute. Oh, you asked about cats? I believe Molly was a feral cat. She was in and out of the shelter where I got her for a over year. She's the most skittish cat I've ever had. My son was here for 10 days and she hid the entire time. She never (I mean NEVER) comes and sits in my lap. She'll plop down next to me on the couch occasionally, or on weekends (when I don't mind the commotion of two critters in my bed and leave the bedroom door open), she'll come join Emma and me on the bed. But a cuddler and lap sitter she's not. I love my little furball though. For one thing, she wiped out the mice population that was trying to overrun my house after my former cat died. She never scratches the furniture or curtains (I opted not to declaw her, in case she ever gets out and needs to defend herself--plus it looks downright painful!). She always uses the litter box, and she loves to stand on my desk and rub heads with me while I'm trying to type on the computer. Linda Z, dog and cat lover! [This message was edited by Linda Z on February 15, 2003 at 7:48.] [This message was edited by Linda Z on February 15, 2003 at 7:49.]

insurgent made me laugh with this one! "When life hands me lemons I grab the salt and the tequila."

Simpleton: Yes, they went on a jaunt to Scotland when I worked for RFR on staff, not long after twi acquired the Gartmore property but before PoP--I'm thinking it must have been '84 or early '85. As for RFR's son, I think we should leave him out of it. Wasn't it enough to have had her for a mother without having his business discussed here because of that unfortunate fact? :)--> Linda Z

From Larry P "'God's Spiritual Marines?' Like when TWI entered into the California mission field, of course they came storming onto the beach from the sea, right?"

JT *happy sighs* You guys know how to melt and soothe a girl's heart after a tough week at work!! The mere mention of James Taylor's name has a mellowing effect. I think I told Socks this story once, but I'll tell it here again (close yer eyes, Socksness). Many moons ago I went to a McGovern fundraiser...a concert by JT and Carly Simon (it was soooo long ago, I think it was Carly Simon, but it might have been Carole King!!! She played a piano and sang.) :D--> The crowd was young and enthusiastic and kinda noisy. Carly (or Carole...am I getting old, or what???) came out first and got very annoyed by the restlessness of the audience and angrily lectured: "If you don't quiet down, I can't play!" People got quiet, but it was an uncomfortable quiet. Then JT came out. The crowd was twice as excited to see him and so the noise level rose again. He looked warmly at the audience, smiled, and just softly whispered, "shhhhh" and started playing and singing without even waiting to see if it would get quiet. You coulda heard a pin drop. JT's is the music that heals my ragged, jagged soul when it needs it. His is the music that makes me smile as if I'm sharing a cup of hot chocolate with my oldest and best friend. He's a bright kite floating with fluffy clouds across a crisp, blue sky. He's ocean water, softly, rhythmically lapping at the sand. I'm gonna go put on a JT album while I wash the dishes. Thanks for the reminder!! Linda Z

Congrats, SocketCreep! May you and your family and your new kitty have many happy years together! That's great news. Linda Z

There was a show on PBS here about a week ago about hot dog stands around the country. One segment was a place famous for its deep-fried hot dogs. There were three kinds. I forget the other names, but the "Rippers" were the ones left in the fat long enough to start splitting. Anywho, here's the blurb from pbs.org describing the show. You can go there and see if this show will be airing in your area soon. "From the Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest at Coney Island to a gourmet reindeer-dog vendor at the start of the Iditarod sled dog race, A HOT DOG PROGRAM visits some of the country's coolest hot dog places. The one-hour special is a fun look at some hot dog history, a guide to some of the finest hot dog houses in the country, and an unabashedly friendly look at these finely ground sausages and their fans." It was pretty entertaining. Me, I like my hot dogs grilled and then instead of mustard, smeared with peanut butter! (Don't laugh unless you've tried it!) Linda Z

And :)--> anniversary to you, Ted! I know you put your whole heart into Way Prod, and many others put their whole hearts into the music they wrote and played. The result was that you touched lots of our hearts. Many thanks to all of you who made us smile or shed a tear with your songs--and your plays and sketches and dances (well, most of the dances). :D--> Love, Linda

A la, it's true. Dave Brubeck's daughter (who is a WONderful gal) was in the 7th Corps. I worked on a play with her when she was at Rome City for a block or two. Alfa, I like Leonard Cohen, too...I've had a few lines of one of his songs taped to my computer stand for about 10 years now: "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." I love that. Hey Ted, have a safe trip (unless you're already gone, then have a safe trip back!) and give Doug a hug! We'll keep a seat warm for ya. Love, Linda

A la Prochaine, is this the one? It sounds sappy without Kathy Mattea's sweet voice, but this one could make rocks cry. It's one of my all-time favorite love songs, and I'm not even a big country fan. I think her hubby wrote the music and Nancy Griffith wrote the lyrics (sorry hubby and Nancy, if I got that wrong!) :-) Where Have you Been? Clare had all but given up When she and Edwin fell in love She touched his face, and shook her head In disbelief, she sighed and said "In many dreams, I've held you near. Now at last you?re really here. CHORUS "Where have you been? I've looked for you forever and a day. Where have you been? I'm just not myself when you?re away." Verse He asked her for her hand for life And she became a salesman's wife He was home each night by eight But one stormy evening he was late Her frightened tears fell to the floor 'Til his key turned in the door "Where have you been? I've looked for you forever and a day. Where have you been? I'm just not myself when you?re away." (Bridge) They'd never spent a night apart For 60 years she heard him snore Now they're in a hospital In separate beds, on different floors Clare soon lost her memory Forgot the names of family She never spoke a word again Then one day they wheeled him in He held her hand and stroked her hair And in a fragile voice she said, "Where have you been? I've looked for you forever and a day. Where have you been? I'm just not myself when you?re away. No, I'm just not myself when you?re away." Linda Z.

Ted said, "Outside of Linda Z don't think anyone on gs has ever seen or heard me perform in clubs." *gasp* You gotta be kidding. Well, if that's true, a lot of people are missing out, and I feel like a very lucky duck!! Ted is Mister V for "Versatile." He can play/sing any kind of music. The first time I saw him perform outside Waydom, I was blown away at his range. Up till then I had him filed in a small twi-music box, but I soon learned that I was soooo wrong. Ted, you sure have brought back fond memories of that little club in Indian Lake, Ohio. I saw you up in Lima, too, but the place in Indian Lake (wasnt' it an Italian restaurant?) was my kind of cozy little joint. Well, if anyone ever hears that Ted's going to be playing in a club, go see him, that's all I can say. You won't be disappointed. Linda Z

We've heard what touring was like from Ted and Socksie. Here's my view of what it was like to be on the other side. It was 1976. I was driving home from work, looking forward to seeing Ted and JN on their America Awakes tour later that night. I turned a corner and, lo and behold, I spotted that little equipment trailer Socks mentioned. Claudettee Royal was driving the car pulling the trailer, and I was so excited. Joyful Noise had arrived! I waved at Claudettee and she grinned and waved back. It meant so much to me that they were going to perform for us "on the field." and I saw it as a special little blessing to run into them on my way home from work. It brightened my day after a tedious day of looking at people's water bills. Somehow, my sister and I got my parents to go to the concert with us. While Mom and Dad were okay about our involvement in twi, they didn't want any of our beliefs shoved down their throats, so they were pretty standoffish about going to ministry "events." But for some reason (I think because we played some JN music for them, and because they were the kind of parents who were willing to check out what their kids were into), they agreed to go. We pulled into the parking lot at Roehm Jr. High School and made our way into the auditorium and took our seats. I remember loving the music, of course, but the biggest impression I recall was how proud I was to have my parents hear Joyful Noise (and Ted, my dad especially loved "White House Across the Street"). Mom and Dad really enjoyed the concert, and that made my sister and me happy. Despite the fact that many things went wrong with twi in later years, and some things were wrong even back in the "good old days," God sure reached the hearts of people via that organization, often through the music. For our family, life and our relationships with each other improved as a result. So Ted, John, and anyone else who's lurking here from Way Prod., thanks for the part you played in the good times! Love, Linda

...didn't happen. I chose to play one because my best friend was taking lessons. So any sympathy for me should be for my poor choice of an instrument. As for the stinkin' lottery: On a recent Mega Millions drawing, I had 5 of 6 numbers and only won $7. Why only $7, you might ask? I'll tell ya why. Because two of the numbers were in the wrong places (the "gold" ball and a regular number were switched). Had those two misplaced numbers been reversed, I think I'd have won $150,000. Details, details. Linda Z

A la and bowtwi, sorry, no flute, no violin, no dulcimer (though I love the dulcimer). And Yana, no autoharp--this was a full decade before my hippie phase. laleo, you got it. Yes, as a little shrimp of a girl, I played a biiiiiiig red accordian that probably weighed almost as much as I did. I could barely peek over the top of it to see my music, and the bottom came down to my knees. I used to get a chapped chin from it! What I really wanted was a piano, but there wasn't room in our house for one (or so Mom and Dad told me...I think they actually were afraid after paying to have one hauled in, I'd lose interest). So when my best friend started taking accordian lessons, I insisted on doing the same. It wasn't the coolest instrument in the world, but when Zydaco (sp?) had its burst of mainstream popularity and when Drew Carey appeared on his show playing one, I felt I'd been redeemed from total geekdom. Anyone want to hear a few bars up "Up on a Housetop"? Laleo, e me your address so I can send the prize. Linda

Since you're the only contestant and since it's my contest and I can make the rules, I say enter as often as you like!! Linda

I think I'm seeing a trend here! One reason I had trouble learning to play guitar was that my right hand didn't seem to be able to catch on to the pickin' and strummin' part. I do lots of things right-handed: throw a softball, bowl, etc., but the fine-motor skills required for quitar pickin' escaped me. Maybe it was really that I lacked the patience to practice long enough to get the hang of it. I wasn't totally without musical training growing up, though. From the age of about 9 years old till I was 11 or 12, I played the... Hmmmmm! I'm not telling. I think I'll make it a contest. Whoever guesses what instrument I played as a child will win my duplicate copy (vinyl) of America Awakes. I'm serious about the prize, but I won't send it till after the holiday madness has passed. Happy guessing! Linda