August 21 --Two Anniversaries!

One anniversary I do remember, while other--well, not so much. 
***OK. The anniversary I do recall happened when I was all of 15 years old. Yep. On this night, August 21, my BFF and I were driven to the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines by her mom and older brother. Any other time we would be hankerin' for some good ol' Iowa corn dogs or even a look at the infamous butter cow--but not this time. Nope.
*****This night was my first ever Osmond Brothers concert. This is way before Donny sang with Marie or Jimmy being the Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.  This was the five performing Osmond Brothers. We sat in Section B, Row 4, seats 11 & 12.  Back then Donny threw a purple cap out the audience. Alas, if I had raised my hand, I might have caught it. The cap went to the girl directly behind me. Such heartbreak at 15. :) Nonetheless, it was my first Osmond concert. The memory makes me smile to this day. Here's a link of the Osmond Brothers on Flip Wilson. When I saw them that night, I made up my mind I would see them somehow--some way--in concert. And I did. 
**********And the anniversary, I don't quite remember?  Tucked away in a tackle box (yes, a tackle box, my mom painted gold) is a calendar.  Well, just one month actually.  August. Each day, my Mom wrote something on it--especially that Dad had gall bladder surgery, and when they paid $25 to the doctor.  Just a word or so on an August day to show plans or Mom's happenings. I read each day, as if to have a connection with my mom. Especially on August 21.
**On the calendar, my Mom wrote how she wrote her mom a letter (who lived just 40 miles away). The letter was to inform Mom's mom, that she was pregnant--with me.  I was my parents' fifth try for a baby. I can only imagine thoughts and fears my mom had. If this pregnancy would go horribly wrong like the others. I wish I had a copy of the letter my mom wrote that night.

*****On this night, I smile at both memories--even if I can only remember one. 

August 6, 1974 was Tuesday

.....and home from Las Vegas trip for four whole days. All my rolls of 126 film were 'in the shop" as we use to say back then--and I waited, what seems like years to have them developed and returned. Let me say, those rolls of film might as well be crystal. Fragile. Delicate. One of those rolls held my my prized possesion photo of me with Donny Osmond.  Special cargo indeed!
**Let me back up a moment.  Dad, my cousin, and I were in Las Vegas until July 26. I hated the thought of leaving. I mean, I would be leaving the Osmonds!!  Plus, I'd met three girls who Greyhound it from outside Philadelphia to Las Vegas. We met in a hallway were the Osmonds would head to the backstage door. Those three girls and I had bonded and nobody wanted anybody to leave. Well, Dad wasn't feelin' any of that. Our next stop would be Phoenix, Arizona. So I had to say good bye to my new three friends--who remain y friend to this day--and to the Osmonds. Would the Osmonds even know I was gone? 
**** Yep. An aunt and cousins lived there. Once they lived just 35 miles from us, now they lived in another time zone. This was my closet cousin. I loved her. She was like my big sister, but she was NOT an Osmond. Once I got to Phoenix, I did have a good time. And I did talk my Dad into letting me stay a couple more days, while he and my cousin went on back to Iowa.  Those couple more days were August 2, 1974. Once I got back into Des Moines, I still lived another 35 miles away. My uncle was going to drive me from his daughter's place to my house. He just lived a few blocks from me. The thing is I had TO get home by 10:30 PM.  Why? Because the Osmond Brothers were to be on the Tonight Show and their new single, "Love Me For A Reason."  After some pouting and yawning, my uncle drove me home thinking I was just 'so tired from my trip."
***Sure, uncle. I made it with time to spare to watch guest host Joey Bishop introduce my fab five. I got goosebumps all over again.  Ya know, like any fan, I wondered if by some chance they remembered me...maybe? 
******To cut to the chase, I still had to wait a couple more days for my film to arrive. I don't think the kids of today could fathom we waited a week to see photos. My heart raced as I inspected each packets. I search for my infamous version of crystal. Where was it? Don't tell me the girl who took the picture didn't really take it?? Then:

Yea. My heart sank. Blurry. Right after my photo, there's the photo of the girl who took the picture with Donny. Her photo, that I took, was clear--although she was looking the off to the side. Donny was smiling right at ME....with MY camera. I did send the photo the girl as I'd promised. Here I was, sending her a gorgeous photo, even tho she looked off to the side, and I get Blur City in my Iowa small town. I just knew this was going to be the best there ever was. Would I ever get a chance to see Donny and the rest of his Brothers ever again--so I could get a better photo? And make more memories? Would I?
*************Stay tuned! 

Saturday Touch Past...

That's what today was as I decided to clear out my back bedroom where everything gets tossed. I should say 'start' to clear it out. I didn't get as far as I wanted because I touched the past--alot. I found letters from a guy I went to high school with. Turns out we exchanged handwritten letters during one of his years in college. I didn't/don't even remember! Cards signed by my sweet Daddy. I can't believe on 10/18 will be the tenth anniversary of his passing. Found pictures of Dad before diabetes really made its move. Healthy, robust and King Edward cigar in his mouth. There was also a letter I 'wrote' to my Dad wishing him Happy Father's Day. I looked at the envelope. It was dated a year after I was born. Ha! I'm sure Mom helped! I've mentioned I was such an Osmond Brothers fan back in the day---well, I found negatives, probably all my negatives, of that mystical, magical time. Such a surprise! The big question, do places still reprint off 110 negatives? The actual prints, I have lost some thru the years--so for an Osmond fan, this is quite the jackpot! More photos, newspaper clippings, notes I'd received from management at the company I worked at before my current one. I'd given the CEO a copy of my then newly self published book. He sent me a nice note back which include his wish for my writing career to thrive! Completely forgot that! Cards to celebrate my birthday, good wishes when I left a company. sympathy for my dad's passing and get wells after my pesky open heart surgery. All these things span my whole life. Then I found a sympathy card from the girl who was my BFF thru our girlhood growing up years. I remember I was surprised I heard nothing from her when Dad passed. She had family in our hometown and Dad's passing was mentioned about every hour on our local small town radio station mixed in with the soy bean report. The BFF lived in another state, yet I thought her family would tell her. My house was her home away from home, when we grew up. We were that close. One inhaled, while the other exhaled. When I got back to Dallas, after Dad's funeral, and still not a word from her, I wrote BFF to tell her of my Dad's passing. Her handwritten letter told me her family didn't tell her. And we hadn't been the closest thing in those recent times. She apologized several times in the letter saying there was no other place she would have been if she'd known. Also the former BFF said it had been awhile since we'd spoken and left me her phone number. Maybe we should try to talk again. I didn't remember that part of her 2001 letter. I sat, in the midst of my clutter in 2011 and wondered if I ever called her. I thought we were so estranged by 2001, why bother? Or I did call her and the conversation wasn't one for the scrapbooks?

When you touch the past like that. does it have room in your today?

Hmm.

June 25,1977, was Donny Osmond Saturday

....and I got to see this guy.

Yep. Donny Osmond. Not quite 20 year old Donny Osmond. Photo snapped in Des Moines, Iowa--Donny, his brothers, sister Marie and their parents, were literally in my own back yard. Well, 35 miles away from it, yet closest at literally I was gonna get! *****By this time in 1977, I'd trekked to Las Vegas a coupla times to see said Osmonds. Back then, Vegas wasn't so family friendly like now. My friends and I weren't 21 yet--so we were underage to be going around Las Vegas alone. We did not care--OSMONDS made all the difference. Also by 1977, I'd journeyed to the East Coast to see the Osmonds--in fact, come August of 1977, I was in Pennsylvania, where we stayed up all night. Yes, we did. We were giddy Osmond and planned to leave early in the morning so to the Philadelphia airport to see them off.*****And we did. I have one of my favorite photos of Donny from the Philly airport, which I cannot locate. Digital wasn't around then. Just negatives. It's gotta be somewhere. *****I digress. Back to Des Moines.*****What I remember is how GREAT it was to have the Osmonds where I lived! Although I loved my adventures to see then (have I told you about the time Donny came off the stage and gave me hug in front of the whole audience?) it was way cool to know they were just RIGHT THERE! *****Girls were everywhere. Screams. Osmonds. Flashbulbs. Pictures snapped. The Hilton in Des Moines was absolutely no match to the Las Vegas Hilton, so we fans were crammed in tight quarters. I think the police weren't that sure what to do either! And we didn't care. Being crammed into that hotel, was better than the concert at Veterans Coliseum. Our seats were about 6th row--yet so far over to the side. I could probably have seen better, literally from my own back yard. Spoiled from previous Osmond Concert seats. Still to this day, I MUST be up at that stage, regardless of who the performer. So to see the Osmonds up close and personal at the Des Moines Hilton made up for it:

...and did I tell you about the time Donny said he had more soul than me?
Water color and purple memories...
And even those glasses that I LOVED at the time--
Nice....nice... indeed.

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!

Still July. Still Donny Osmond.

Still Dallas, Texas. TX. HOT. Got Blue Bell Peaches and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream in the freezer and watermelon in the fridge. All is good and so on with the story....

Took a trip through time (aka my diary and my blog) because of Donny Osmond. My very first airplane trip took me from Des Moines Iowa to Las Vegas! You see, back in yester-century, namely the 70's, my own experience of Osmondmania was well in hand.

In fact, on this night, July 24, in 1974 I sat smack dab in THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE in the Tropicana Showroom, to see Donny, his brothers and sister Marie. My sweet Big Daddy Don tipped the 'd 40 bucks for our seats . I sat at the end of these steps that came down from the stage. I really didn't get it--at the time.

Looking back, I bet some of the other teenage girls in that showroom hated me for where I sat. I had no clue it was THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. My dad probably just wondered what in the world he was doing there. The scotch and milk probably erased any of his thoughts.

Being in shock I was seeing the Osmonds so up close and personal, imagine when the moment came I realized I had THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. Girls crowded around the bottom of the steps as Donny broke out in song--I honestly can't remember, maybe "Puppy Love"? Donny came to the steps, maybe even took a couple steps down. Girls went nuts. I went speechless.

Donny was right THERE! He sang. Girls screamed. He reached and squeezed hands. I finally gained consciousness and raised mine. Donny TOUCHED my hand! We looked into each others eyes. Donny's smile blinded me. For a moment we had--well, a moment.

I asked my dad what he thought of the whole Vegas thing. My dad as only my sweet Big Daddy Don could say: "I thought you were crazy."

And the picture below isn't from 1974, because that picture of Donny and me is so blurry. Way before digital-so this is photo is from 1978. Still Las Vegas Just eight days after Donny married the girl on the left, his wife of 32 years, Debbie .

Even now on this so hot July summer day 2010 in Dallas. I still gotta smile because I was sat in THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!

Sunday Short II

Sunday bout done.Tomorrow I go back to work. Honestly, I have LOVED this time OFF.

Refreshed.

Rested.

Ready.

To tackle changes that danced in the wind before I left.

Heck, I'll worry about THAT tomorrow!

In the meantime, a chum of mine did an overnight to Phoenix for a wedding-.

He was OK with the 24 hr trip and was glad to be back in Dallas.

For me, I thought an overnight wasn't long enough--he said "It's Phoenix."

Not sure what that meant, but--

I gave ponder and decided if I was to do an overnight--it would be

New York City. Yep for 24 hours. Not so much to see what sites

I could see-it would be for the four chums I have there, who I did the

Whole Donny Osmond and the Osmond Brothers thing with.

My chums and I have not seen each

Other for such a long time now-so for

That 24 hours we'd squeal, giggle and remember

How it was when we were 17-

Yea, for 24 hours I could do that.

For starters anyway!

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!

Donny Danced!

To win Dancing With The Stars Trophy! How cool is that? Plus, Donny sang, "Puppy Love"--a song I really did hate until Donny's voice changed! Kid you not.

I was sure of that after last night's free-style. It was Mya's trophy to lose, until the free-style. Kinda feel for her, yet not really. Kelly grew, and I admire that. I'm sure Daddy Ozzy was mush watching his baby girl grace across the floor.

But the night was for Osmonds and Osmonds only. Donny got his wife, Debbie, and her carried onto the floor. His kids. Sister Marie and who knows WHO else, surrounded them. Donny proved you can turn 52 on December 9, be a grandfather and out do two ladies that could be your daughters! Yep-it was Donny's night!

For me, to watch from the comfort of my own home. In my bed actually, under the covers in my purple jammies--instead of like yester-decade as a teenager, lingering in a service elevator-hours on end--just to catch a glimpse of an Osmond. As of tonight, I am more confident Donny ignores the AARP membership invites that turn up in the mail.

Just like I do.

Congrats to YOU, Donny!

Donny Osmond Fun Friday FlashBack

I'm so into Dancing With The Stars--have been since I got curious when Dallas Cowboy Great Emmitt Smith danced all the way to the hoisting glass ball trophy. And this season, Donny Osmond has my full attention. I like a couple other guys, like Iron Chef Guy Mark and the Boxer Guy--but Donny....

Yea, the Osmond Brothers filled my 1970's and really beyond, with alot of good memories! I can see alot of you smilin' and rememberin' too. And you know Kodak Camera company made such a mint off all us Osmond fans :)

So because it's Friday, and just 'cause I like this splash of fun, cue up a little ditty to show how Donny had the movies even THEN: Yo Yo!

Donny Osmond on Wednesday July 24, 1974

On this day, in 1974 I met Donny Osmond up close and personal for the first time. This was at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. Way before Las Vegas was family friendly, I somehow got my Dad to take me to adult playground to see the Osmonds perform.

The Tropicana was booked, so we had to stay in the Hacienda Hotel. I was bummed about that, yet we did do breakfast at the Trop. After my we dined, a girl came up to me and asked me my name. Turns out, being in the whole pen pal thing at the time--real hand written letters sent through the mail for eight cents-Bonnie had written me to ask if if I wanted to be part of scrapbook she put together for the Osmonds. So I'd sent a note and a picture--and there she was right there in front of me. She was from.Oswego, NY. Anyway, a bunch of girls were outside the restaurant and I wanted to hang to. My dad really wasn't feeling it--however there were some adults there and he gave in--reluctantly. I'm sure the thought of his teen daughter in Las Vegas--alone-was not appealing. Anyway, after I met my first Osmond, Alan and his wife of eight days, Suzanne--I wouldn't have budged--period.

As I got to know the girls around me and saw my first pair of platform shoes--with sequins yet--I realized I wasn't in Iowa anymore. As us girls gabbed everything Osmond--I was amazed how many times some of them had seen the Osmond perform. For me, it was just once--in Des Moines, and tonight would be my second. Felt kinda outcast with concert going and being just one of the two black girls in the midst.

Commotion. Screams. DONNY! Girls crowded him, while the security guard tried to keep us at bay. Just few feet from him I stood. Regained consciousness enough to snap pictures. There is some picture of Donny holding a brush as he talks to a fan. Heaven knows where it is. Did I have some long, in depth chat with Donny, like; "Is purple REALLY your favorite color?"

Naw. In fact, we didn't chat at all. I don't even recall if I got my picture taken with him that day. I don't think I did. The picture came the next day, when that same security guard let us go back stage around 10am. All I remember is I made Donny laugh and I gave him some hat I had. A girl took our picture with my camera, with the hat donned on Donny's head. The picture came our blurry and I was heartsick. No digital in those day--so you know there would be a do-over.

On that first meeting--well, me meeting Donny than he'll ever remember meeting me--butterflies flittered in my tummy. I couldn't believe it. In PERSON! -if only for a moment as the security guard ushered Donny away.

As for the pictures-both are from 1977. The one above, I've shared before. It's from Las Vegas on the the 30th floor of the Hilton. I made Donny laugh again on that day. The one below is from Des Moines-when Donny and his family were on my turf for a concert! Just liked the the picture and I think Donny was calling me "Crazy" when saw me.

Now if Donny and I met today and I asked for an autograph? We'd both have to pull out our readers to make sure we could see what was going on! Gotta admit--would be fun, and I'm sure I'd make Donny laugh again. Then I was gonna let this day go by without a song--but it is Friday--plus I wrote about Donny Osmond, so why not the song that really made me notice him: The 12th of Never. See, Donny's voice had changed--and I liked it and liked him--finally. Up til then Donny was not my favorite Osmond. :)

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!

May 8, 1978 was Monday

I knew I needed to grow up, eventho I still ached do all those fun things folks, in their 20's do. Yet, something happened that day. Something inside of me must change, I reckoned because:

Donny Osmond got married.

Yep. Life as we knew it ended. I've said before, originally Donny was not my favorite Osmond. His older brother Merrill was. Not until The Twelfth of Never (the song, not a calendar date) did I begin to fathom Donny not being half so bad. See, his voice changed. Donny sounded a bit more interesting to me, than during that "Puppy Love" stuff. Being honest. As I ventured to around the country concert dates and had a chance to chat with Donny--he was always very nice. His 70's nickname for me was "Crazy." So, indeed, I liked Donny.

Then Donny gets up and gets married. Co-workers gave me every newspaper clipping they could find on the wedding. What would I do, they asked? Did I still like him? Sure I did, yet it all felt funny. Donny and I weren't best friends. We never shared ice cream, but it felt like someone close to me ended our relationship. What of me? Was it time to get serious about life? Be grown up? Not stay out until 3 am and go to work 5 hours later?

I tried to be grown up. Be responsible--like Donny was. To look back, I can't blame him getting married. Donny had done ten times as much as anybody his age. In a sense, he had to grow up quick. To wed so young seemed like a given.

Fast forward 31 years to today. Donny and his bride Debbie are now grandparents. That thought seemed so far away in those 1978 days. I couldn't believe Donny got married as I vegged in my studio apartment with the black, brown and white shag carpet all for the $180 a month-utilities paid. And now to celebrate their 31st anniversary and what of me?

Today I boldly went where alot of men (and women) have gone before, and will go alot this weekend: the new Star Trek movie. Just got two words: LOVED IT. A smile rarely left my face through out! Not had THAT much fun at a movie in such a long, long time, ALL the way front start to finish. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto were superb as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, respectively. I can't say enough except I LOVED IT. Hey, I'd even say pay full price -I did- and have no regrets. I can't believe I ever doubted to even see this Star Trek. What was I thinking?

What a time to remember. The picture posted here, I once showed to Donny and Debbie. They both smiled and Debbie said, "Oh, how cute!" Then today, a movie reminds of a time once was and makes me look forward to tomorrow. Big time warm feelings on both.

As for me being all grown up. Well, some folks might think so while the others would say not so much. That I bounce around like a yo-yo instead of staying on one road.

And what fun is that? Except to be a segue to cue up The Osmonds Brothers to get the weekend started with a little Yo Yo. This clip is from Flip Wilson's show, in 1971, and another smile of how things once were.

I am blessed.

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!

Saturday Smiles

You should be washing dishes. Mop the floor. Doing laundry. Instead you pet just about every cat in the neighborhood---oh wait, they ALL live with you. Pop your daily meds. Take a shower. Notice the man who once again said he'd call so you two could do coffee hasn't and probably true to form: won't. Which is too bad, because you hoped he'd changed---finally.

Nonetheless, you feel a giddy. January 20, 2009, Inauguration Day inches closer. You bask how more History is being made.

You also realize there's movies to see, paint to buy, dreams for another house, food for all the neighborhood cats that seem to live with you. And then there's the pipin' hot coffee with the scrumptious piece of pie at Celebrity Bakery that screams your name.

Yea, all that other stuff can wait. You got things to do. To make you smile, you post some videos from a time before you had to be responsible for the dishes, the floor, the laundry and now that pesky mortgage because you crave a roof over your head and all the neighborhood cats. A little David Cassidy and the Partridge Family, then Osmond Brothers when it was still all five of them, and then a little rock n roll because you did always like a little Kiss.

The Osmond Brothers

...and now a little Kiss

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.