Marie Osmond's Sweet Second Verse

All my chums know I had (have?) such a thing for the Osmond Brothers. Yep. I make no bones Donny was not even close to being at the top of my Billboard Chart, until his voice changed. So, it was older Brother Merrill who had (has?) my heart. Gravel voice and all. Oh, and did I tell you I saw 26 Osmond concerts before I saw anybody perform? I felt I cheated on the Osmonds. No joke. I'm sure there's some hidden meaning in all that, especially, since the Osmonds really didn't know who I was. I'll save that for another post...

It was the Osmonds Brothers-except Jimmy was too young, and Marie--well, I was envious because she had the good lookin' brothers, could sing (even tho to this day I'm not a "Paper Roses" fan) and was pretty. Something I really didn't feel I was much of--so what Marie, did was Marie's business.

Fast forward. To Marie and I both being members of a 'golden' decade. I see thing so different now. Have for a few years really. I look at the troubles Marie had--the post partum, her daughters' troubles, son in rehab, fainting on live TV on Dancing With the Stars, her second divorce, and the tragedy of her son's suicide. By then, I had interest in Marie. I watched how she handled each situation.

We are both grown women now. We both had gone thru some valleys, yet mine weren't as deep as hers. I understand relationships better, especially after I'd gone thru my own. I wasn't keen on the 'work' Marie seem to have done, especially when her lips seem a bit puffier on some days than others. Yet, I admired Marie. Her business savvy with her dolls. I wonder Marie did do it. There were pitfalls--we all go thru them-Marie's seemed like an endless pit.

Then came yesterday's announcement Marie married her first husband Stephen Craig. During their first go round, I thought he has pretty cute. I remember being at a Donny and Marie concert in Kansas City. She said something to Steve in the audience, and there he was, not standing so far from me-just beaming. I wondered what went thru his mind.

Looking back, we were all so young. Marie have been mature from her life in showbiz. Yet we were all so young in that first marriage year of 1982. Marie wore the same wedding dress she did back in 1982. The only thing I could possibly fit in from 1982, is a comb through my hair...

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is, Marie deserves to be happy. I always believed Marie always loved Steve. He may not have been ready for it as much as he thought. I think Marie always loved him. I think time heals all and helps us grow. Could have have happened in this case.

No mattes, what Marie does, still is Marie's business.

Congrats!

Slow Down

Did a walk tonight in my new tennyshoes. Did OK in em as I walked the neighborhood. My route is up to these benches, where I sit and watch cars zoom by and then trek back home again. I sat and stared at the Church's Chicken across the street. Debated to bring $2.81 for their 3 piece and a biscuit special. Don't worry, I left my money home.

Months ago, I post how I needed to lose 41 pounds. I'd gained most of the 70 lbs I'd lost when I'd been sick, and kept it off until emotions from my job and this house got to me and I chose M&M's over a salad. I've kept up with my drinking 74 ounces of water daily (OK, maybe not so much on the weekends), but as for the loss of 41 pounds...

Let's just say, my bathroom scale is the only one in this universe that gets up and runs when it sees me coming!

Anyway, I've gotten back into my daily walks. I still would like a treadmill in my other bedroom for those days when it will soon be too hot to walk. I've cut down on my Blue Bell Ice Cream. Oh no, it's not disappeared actually, I just take slower to eat it--I savor it more--in fact Blue Bell's Tin Roof is in my freezer--and I hear it beggin' me to take a couple spoonfuls. Ya know how, ice cream can be SO pushy.

And one last thing--two guys, in my new job training class, flirted with me today, at two separate instances. Kinda caught me off guard. Been so wrapped up in learning the job, school, and the fact this is the most single I've been in a while--yea, they caught me off guard. Yet all very sweet and made me smile. Nice.

Shhh...do you hear? Oh wow...that darn Blue Bell!!

Tuesday goes OUT with a little '70's song by the Osmond Brothers: "Flirtin" .....enjoy!

May 23, 1976 was Sunday

And I flew to Las Vegas.

One exact week after high school graduation.

Why--especially since I wasn't old enough to gamble?

Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Donny Osmond were the reasons....why else? :)

My diary tells me I landed there and met my chums, from Allentown, PA, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Stayed for a week and nothing but Osmond memories on every page. Like sliding in the elevators , after the Osmonds. to get pictures snapped with them. HA! Or when we spotted Donny at the pool-we thought we would faint. He was shirtless! Or the two hours we waited on the golf course for Jay, Jimmy and my fave Merrill to finish. Pictures galore, along with sun burns. Or when I gave my fave Merrill a bear, and his wife Mary, even thanked me for it. Or when we went to a LDS church to listen to each Osmond give their testimony. Oh wow--to see that now, because back in 1976, I just went to see them. Didn't really want to pay attention to their words about God. A whole different mindset in 1976.

Nonetheless, one of the sweetest Vegas memories, is while my chums and I ate in the restaurant. Yapping anything Osmond and not paying any attention to anything around us-I felt a hand on my shoulder. Heard "Hmm, I like watermelon too!" I turned and saw a fork with some body's hand attached to it take a piece of my melon: Mr. Osmond! My chums were too stunned to get a picture and I was almost speechless! He and Mrs. Osmond just smiled and were so gracious.

Yep May 23, 1976 was the start of week of Kodak moments.

Now I'm gonna cue up a song the Osmonds did do in Vegas, not sure if it was '76 or later--I just know I like it. It's Saturday and I still got words in my mouth so I say them!

Tweak

Mentioned on Twitter. So therefore I tweet. Yet, still don't get the jest, so I feel like twit.

Thought I was up so uptown when I began a blog. Turns out, I was already behind the times. On Facebook for MONTHS, before I started to do anything there. Had to reset my password I don't know how many times. Still don't mess with all the little requests and such they have--except to play Word Twist and Scrabble with Movie Man. I do like the past and present c0ntacts made. Then after all that--comes Twitter.

I follow Oprah and Tom Hanks' tweets. Still try to figure out if can only leave them direct messages if they follow me too. Well, that ain't gonna happen any time soon. Oh, did I mention I follow Donny Osmond too?

Donny and I still need to sit down, chow and chat. See, I need to remind him how a bunch of us crammed in the service elevator space of the 30th Floor in the Las Vegas Hilton. We hoped to sneak a peek of our fave, since this was right outside the Osmonds' suite. And then Donny can explain how once in Provo, Utah, as a Baskin Robbins stood right next door while he informed us of his love for pralines and cream ice cream-that he never treated?

Now headed back to Twitter to tweet. Can't wait until I quit feeling like a twit. Gotta savor Blue Bell Cookies n Cream ice cream while a cat fights me for it. In the meantime let's showcase a Saturday song: Havin A Party, by those Osmonds....and check out the choreography!

One More Osmond Thing...

On this day, September 17-forever ago in 1973. I readied myself for another sophomore day in high school. That day was also the wedding day of my favorite Osmond Brother Merrill and his bride, Mary. I didn't ever believe I'd marry the guy, yet when Merrill got married, it was as if something changed. Like I lost something. Maybe I had to admit to myself other folks had lives too. Not just to sing and dance to make sure I was entertained. An educational moment so to speak. I'm sure by the time the day ended, I put on an Osmond vinyl lp and wondered if Donny could spark some interest in me! :)

Thank you...is all that I can say.

Friday and The Osmonds

Since I announced Donny Osmond was not my original favorite Osmond, the response from folks has been, "WHAT?!?!?"

Gotta be honest, I wasn't that thrilled with Donny's voice UNTIL The 12th of Never. What I mean is---that song, I first heard on a Sunday night years ago, was the first song after Donny's voice changed. Yep. Being honest. However until then and even know--the first to have my heart was older brother Merrill Osmond. He's the only Osmond who ever called me by my first name. OK-granted, I wrote it in a note and gave it to him. And the next time Merrill saw me--he whispered it. I nearly passed out--yet I digress. :)

The top picture is from Vegas '76. After a midnight show and in the service elevator. The bottom picture was from August '76 in Ft Washington, Pa. He and Alan had just come from a walk. Very gracious!

Thank you is all that I can say.

It's Friday. Say our prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Ike.