I dreamed that my mother told me that I'm such a negative person that she doesn't like to be around me.  My brother confirmed in the dream that I really am negative. 

 

So, my mother decided to schedule an old-fashioned 'gospel sing' specifically for me.  All the local groups would come and 'minister' to me specifically to try to get me out of my supposed depression.

 

Frankly, that was the worst nightmare I've had in a long, long time.

 

-b

 

Brandon finished the marathon!  Brandon finished the marathon!  Brandon finished the marathon!

...and as an extra really cool thing which even I didn't know about?  Brandon put Joel's name on his shirt, too.  "Joel crossed the finish line with me today." 

Awesome. 

I'm so proud of him.

 

...and here he is at the finish line!

 

Brandon's in town for the Country Music Marathon...thanks in part to many of you who contributed.  He was able to come out to my show last night and so, of course, I totally embarrassed him by calling everyone's attention to him.  But, hey, if you're running 26 miles having been part of a Team in Training which raised 6 figures for cancer research, you deserve the full out applause which everyone gave.  And besides, Brandon has never ran a marathon.  He just decided he was going to do it, he trained hard for months and tomorrow he's going to.  That should be inspiration to us all.   Decide what you're going to do, do the work it requires, and then do it.  No excuses.

 

Meanwhile, I opened up the Tennessean this morning to page 3 (celebrity gossip/updates, of course) and the following excerpt was glaring back at me: 

If you're bad at doing parties and if you have no social graces, then allow me to give a pointer.

Name-dropping isn't the way to get invited back.  I realize I run with a tough crowd, but we really have no tolerance for that type of junk. 

 

And now for the meat of this learning session:  if you drop Pat Boone's name first, you've not only named-dropped one that doesn't really count, but then you then have to drop about 30 cool names to make up for your bad judgement.  But, once you've dropped the Pat-Boone-bomb, no one wants to be around you anymore so there's really no way you'll get the 30 good names out.

Plus, if Pat Boone is your STARTER name, well, then...let's just say that you needn't name-drop in the first place.

 

-b

 

 

A few weeks ago I played a sold out show at the Bluebird Cafe here in Nashville.  It was probably the third time around when I introduced a song and said, "I wrote this with Tony Wood.  Tony's one the best lyricists in music today, hands down."  A few rounds later I introduced another song and said, "This next song is one of the most important songs I've ever written.  I wrote it with Tony Wood and it's called 'Beautiful.' "  If I play a full set, there's rarely a time when I don't sing at least one that Tony and I co-wrote.  He's the kind of writer you're lucky to get a co-write with--you always know it will be good.  I know full well that awards don't always go to the most deserving.  Tonight, however, Tony finally got his LONG OVERDUE first Dove Award.   The fact that it's his first is really mind blowing considering the songs he's written, but again, sometimes there's a lot more that goes into that voting process than we think about.  I realize that in order for Tony and Mark to win, Joel and Twila couldn't and that's the only downside.  But, I'm beyond thrilled that Tony finally got celebrated.  Well done, my friend.  Well done!

 

Sue C. Smith, who I know personally (refer to the posting below) won TWO Doves tonight for her work in musicals.  She works so hard on musicals and I'm so happy to see her work acknowledged, too.  Congrats, Sue!!

 

And, Wayne won two Doves tonight, too.  He was genuinely surprised...which makes it more fun.  I'm so proud.

Congrats to everyone who was celebrated tonight.  It is nice to be acknowledged...even though I wasn't this year...but I'm not bitter...not at all...don't worry about it...not a second thought...just here for the wallpaper...it's all good... 

 

-b

I simply MUST grow up at some point.

 

 

-b

I was visiting a church Sunday morning and they did a song that Sue wrote.  It was from the Easter musical they just did that Sue also wrote.  It got mentioned that I write with Sue. 

...so everyone was very impressed that I write with Sue.

I love having famous friends.

 

-b

 

 

I was staying out in the country in East Tennessee Friday night.  I had just gone to bed when my cell phone, which was on vibrate, started going off.  Who was calling me at 12:30 am?  I got up and started searching frantically for my phone--my purse, my jacket, my bag... 

 

Yeah, it wasn't my cell phone.  It was COW mooing in the pasture over the hill.

 

-b

Yesterday morning's challenge:  I rode my bike 94.7 miles up hill both ways to the post office to mail my tax return. 

Today's challenge:  sitting down.

 

-b

I don't feel like blogging today.

...thanks for checking, though.

-b

There are bad people in the world.

The innocent have to suffer for it sometimes.

I'm really sorry for the people who are dead and for the grief that's been forced upon their families and friends. 

...he had no right.

 A HUGE thank you to those of you who rallied for my friend Brandon and donated to his running the Country Music Marathon.  He's hit the goal and he wouldn't have without you who gave.  I appreciate it so, so much...and Brandon asked me to thank each of you, too.  Thank you.

 

p.s.  If you'd still like a seat at the cool table in the lunchroom, here's the link to donate.  It's such an important cause...er, not the seat at the cool table, the cancer research.

 

 

-b

 

I'm dog-sitting for Ruby this week.  For those of you who've been with me for a while, you'll remember Ruby as the chihuahua that I found and tried to find a home for.  Well, the first time she stayed with Mom, it didn't work out because my Dad was on an extended trip.  BUT, once I took her back at Thanksgiving, she's been there ever since.  She's my Dad's little project now...or as Dad tells it, he's raising my crack baby for me.  (I get no respect at home, either.)

 

Anyway, I was watching out the back door this morning as Pete and Ruby were in the backyard doing business and sure enough, it happened:  Ruby was squatting doing hers when Pete came over, hiked up his leg and peed all over her. 

 

...and then he tried to look all innocent.

Anna Nicole's baby has an official father now.  May I just say that if I had a baby and then died and then all of these men started coming forward claiming they were the father, my Mother would take the shovel herself and dig my body back up out of the ground and KICK MY BUTT from here to kingdom come--wherever that is.  Even my being dead wouldn't help me escape Bev's fury!

 

gheesh...

 

Can you imagine?!?!?!

 

-b

 

 

 

My childhood next door neighbor died over the weekend.

We always ran down over the hill and played on her patio, and then we'd eat on her picnic table.  I remember having hot dogs there, for some reason.  I have lots of good memories of her.  All of my memories of her are from the summer times.  I think that's interesting.  What I also think is interesting is how one thought will lead to another when you're remembering things.

 

One of my childhood friends was in a car accident a few a years ago.  She'll never walk without a walker again.  I wonder how that changed her as a person. 

 

Another of my childhood friends hasn't done anything in his life to make him pop up on a google search.  I don't know what ever happened to him.

 

I carved my initials on the back pew of my Grandpa's church during one service.  I would've gotten into big trouble for that one.

 

I still have a scar on my knee from where I fell in the gravel parking lot at one of our county tent revivals.

 

I was walking back home from my friend Annette's one afternoon when a man stopped and tried to get me in his car.  I saw him at a church we visited not too long after that.  His name was Sonny.  He was driving the same car at the church that he drove on our road--it was powder blue with a white top, white vinyl seats with a silver chrome stripe down the side.  I'd love to see him today--our conversation would undoubtedly go a little differently this time.  Last I heard, he'd moved out of town.

 

I hope that the kid I went to grade school with who peed his pants everyday till the 5th grade is a hugely successful business man today.  I don't know what ever happened to him, either.

 

My 6th grade teacher threw a book at a fellow student and then went to her desk, put her head down and wept.  She later had what they tell me was a nervous breakdown.  I always worried that it was our class that put her over the edge. 

 

 

 

It snowed in Nashville today.

...and, yes, it is April 6.

 

-b

I think we've written a song in 5/4!  There is a puddle of joy under my seat regarding this.  I'm going to email Sting--he's going to be very proud.

I'm writing it with Twila.  We spent forever trying to figure out the time signature the other day.  She's a drummer and so this seemed important to her.  Personally, I didn't think about it till we started trying to define it, but then I became obsessed, too.  We tried 12/8, 9/8, 7/4, 3/4, 2/4, 9 squared, etc.  We finally settled on having the verses in 6/8 and then the chorus is in 4/4.  (It's a very cool song, mind you.) 

 

HOWEVER, I started singing it this morning while I was making coffee and it was just SO obvious that it needed to be in 5/4 in the verse and then switch to 4/4 in the chorus.  Duh!  It works so perfectly that way.

 

Very cool.

 

And, now, you're thinking, 'Ummm, Belinda, who is going to do a song in 5/4?'

 

Well, we're pitching it to Joel Lindsey for his solo record.  Cross your fingers.

 

-b

 

You would have a difficult time convincing me that there is any better television to watch than the first episode of any season of “The Bachelor.”  I don’t watch the show, but I won’t miss the first episode.  It’s fun to watch pretty people at their worst.  I’m sorry.  It just is.   

So, this past Monday night I was glued to the TV as the new “Officer and a Gentleman” bachelor was introduced to 25 potential wives…yeah, right.  It’s a show about dating (and calling it ‘dating’ is even a stretch) under controlled and limited circumstances, but with unlimited funds, and how catty people…er, chics…can be.   

But, the first night, the Bachelor must say goodbye to 10 women.  So the night is filled with 25 women who are vying for a singular moment with the Bachelor when she will make an impression that will get her a rose, or an invitation to stay.  I have to say that Monday night was filled with the most embarrassing attempts I’ve seen…and I loved every delicious minute.  

One girl actually broke into song for the Bachelor.  And, get this.  Of all the songs ever written, she sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”  I cringed.  …I’m cringing now, even.  So embarrassing.  At least she could’ve tried something like, “Crazy.”  

This girl did a series of acrobatics in her formal gown, without flashing, thank you very much.  She did a cartwheel into a back flip.  I kid you not.  

This girl asked if he would do push-ups with her.  He agreed.  They got on the floor and did push-ups.  Well, it did make an impression…not sure if it was the kind she was hoping for.  

This girl got down on the floor and did the worm in front of everyone.  Remember that breakdance move from the 80’s?  She does.  

And, perhaps my favorite, this chic first threatened another potential wife over a miscommunication.   “You got something to say?”  Then, she did squats with the Bachelor…in her dress.  Nice.  And, then, when she didn’t receive a rose (go figure), she stormed out of the ‘most dramatic rose ceremony ever’, went outside and lost her head on national TV.  Just made a complete idiot of herself.  I mean, an absolute IDIOT of herself.   

De-li-cious!!!!

-b

Well, gang, after putting it off as long as I possibly could, I finally went to the dentist yesterday.  My dentist is awesome, but I still dread it.  See, I used to not mind the dentist.  My mom took us regularly and so we were never afraid of it.  I did 2 1/2 years of braces and, though I can't say that was totally pain-free, I still didn't mind having my teeth worked on.  That is, of course, until I decided to whiten the teeth.  Allow me to say that it hurt.  I'd sleep with these trays filled with the whitening gel and I always woke up in pain--at 3 am I'd be tripping over things in a rush to the bathroom to get those things out. 

 

Henceforth, I've had sensitivity to lots of things and my first cavities.  Seriously.  I never had cavities growing up.  Neither did my brother.  My first one as an adult was devastating. 

 

So, while I hadn't been to the dentist since April 2005 (shameful admission), I also didn't have any cavities!  Hooray! 

 

But, my dentist walked in and said, "I cannot believe you STILL have your wisdom teeth!"

 

He and I have been arguing about this since 1999.  He wants me to have them out and I don't want to.  With all the surgeries I've had in my life--paying to have my ankle broken, my heel moved, knee surgeries--I'm scared to have my wisdom teeth out.  Plus, I use them.  And there will be weird spaces where they once were and I'll hate it.  And then there's that terrible 'dry socket' thing that people keep scaring me with.  Oh, and not to mention that my insurance won't pay for it so it is going to cost $1500...which is enough to redo my living room floor or buy a new couch or take a vacation--or even to spend frivalously on fun stuff.

 

I made an appointment to have them out in September 2005 and cancelled it the day before. 

 

I told him I'd come for the x-rays in July. 

I'm honestly not sure if I was telling the truth.  Maybe...but then, maybe not.

 

-b