Thank You to Our Veterans

Veterans Day 2013.

Thank you to all who served our country in the past, present and those yet to have the call to duty. It is because of your bravery, commitment, sacrifice and dedication that we are able to have our freedoms. Thank you to my husband for his years of service in the Army as well as my Grandpa Pollock who served in the Army. Thank you to those in my family that have served. Thank you, my friends, for your service. 

 I appreciate your service to our country.

Harley Man had the day off today, and as I was getting ready for work I thought it would be great to have the day off as well.  There was the Veteran's Day Parade going on and it would have been great to go with him. But I didn't have the day off and had to get ready since I couldn't show up at work with hair matted to my head. On my drive to the radio ranch I reflected how thankful I am to live in the United States of America where women have the freedom to work. I had just read in the Washington Post that in other parts of the world:

- In Yemen: A woman is considered only half a witness. That’s the policy on legal testimony in Yemen, where a woman is not, to quote a 2005 Freedom House report, “recognized as a full person before the court.” In general, a single woman’s testimony isn’t taken seriously unless it’s backed by a man’s testimony or concerns a place or situation where a man would not be. And women can’t testify at all in cases of adultery, libel, theft or sodomy.

- In Saudi Arabia and Vatican City: Women can’t vote... still. This is amazingly the case in Saudi Arabia, though a royal decree, issued in 2011, will let women vote in Saudi elections in 2015. Vatican City is the only other country that allows men, but not women, to vote.

- In Saudi Arabia and Morocco: Rape victims can be charged with crimes. Many, many countries fail to protect the victims of rape, but some go a step further -- punishing women for leaving the house without a male companion, for being alone with an unrelated man, or for getting pregnant afterwards. The most infamous case may be Saudi Arabia’s “Qatif girl,” but a recent suicide in Morocco also made headlines -- 16-year-old Amina Filali killed herself after a judge forced her to marry her alleged rapist, in keeping with a policy that invalidates statutory rape charges if the parties marry.

- In Yemen: Women can’t leave the house without their husbands’ permission. Yemen, where this law remains in force, does allow for a few emergency exceptions, for instance if the woman must rush out to care for her ailing parents.

- In Saudi Arabia: Women can't drive. Read more about the ban and how women are challenging it here.

There was more to the article, and if you'd like to read it, here is the link:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/27/7-ridiculous-restrictions-on-womens-rights-around-the-world/

I am so thankful for all of the Veteran's  -   for those who didn't have the choice but to keep going in times of war, and times of peace. I am thankful for the families of the military. I am thankful for all who paid the ultimate price. You are not forgotten. Thank You.

TOBY KEITH - AMERICAN SOLDIER

It just doesn't seem like enough to say Thank You. I hope you know how much you are appreciated. American Soldiers.

Grandma Becker's entry November 11, 1990

"Church - good sermon. "Are You Ready".  Gideon speaker. Home for dinner-home all P.M. and eve". 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo

Melody

Larry, Larry and Crafting

Well - we are under a Winter Weather Advisory. It's the 14th of October. And this is the third go-round of measurable snow since the last weekend in September. Guess I do need to get used to the winter months in Wyoming. When we first moved here the one question almost everyone asked was "Are you ready for the Wyoming winters"?  Now, coming from Iowa I wanted to ask if they had ever lived through an Iowa winter. They can be long and nasty as well. And the snow is usually on the ground for months. Well bring it on, Mr. Old Wyoming Man Winter. 

This last Saturday I went with Harley Man to Cam-Plex. The Northwest Barrel Racing Association Finals was going on and he wanted to see how things were running. Besides that event, the Powder River Collector's Antique & Craft Show was happening as well at Cam-Plex. Knowing this, you bet I went.  After watching the Barrel Racers we headed to where I thought I might have to spend money. The Antique and Craft Show. My palms started to sweat a little bit thinking about it. I love fall craft bazaars and shows. So this was on my mind when he stopped to chat with a few employees of Cam-Plex. There was one man that had recently started that Harley Man hadn't had the chance to meet yet. They shook hands, and said what you do when meeting someone. "Hi Steve, I'm Larry". After they did their spiel I held my hand out as well to meet him. Guess what I said...."Hi Steve, I'm Larry".  Steve and Larry both stood there looking at me. Steve asked me if Darryl would be joining us. 

Even I knew it was "Hi, I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl" from the good old days of "The Bob Newhart Show". 

We were just two Larry's that day.


I was so embarrassed. Not sure if he understood I had craft shopping on my mind.


Grandma Becker's entry on October 14, 1990
"Beautiful day - cloudy a.m. warmer than yesterday.  Washed sheets. Cooked a squash.  Dinner-minute steaks. Gerald mowed lawn and then cleaned off the garden. Helen couldn't go to Dr. Rau today, had a cold. Charles combining corn at Howard Kyhls. Gerald raked up a lot of walnuts". 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

The first magical snowfall. If only the whole world could see and feel this magic. Everyone, at once.

Wow. This was my view this morning. Absolutely beautiful. 

 Even though I knew snow was on the way after reporting the weather forecast every hour from 2:00pm to 6:00pm it was still a little shocking. After all it is September 27. The calendar says Fall. Not Winter.  I didn't open the door to let Old Man Winter in. My Halloween decorations and orange lights outside are looking a little forlorn. But not to worry. It's supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow and 70's by Sunday. Whew. Beautiful, but not quite ready for the fluff yet! 

I remember snow a few days before or on Halloween, but don't recall it ever being this early living in Iowa. By the way, my fam reported it was in the 80's today back in my homestate.  Missing this time of year in the Hawkeye state. The beautiful trees, the vibrant colors of my favorite time of year. I love Fall.

No matter what, the vibrant colors I carry in my heart makes me feel like home. No matter where I am.

Grandma Becker's entry on this day in 1990

"Very hot & humid. High in the 90's. Washed, got it in early before dinner. Tired from hurrying around. Marcella here a while.  Should go see Helen but we just stayed home. Took some cucs out to Melody. Hot for school. Talked to Mona, Anne home-".

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo

Melody

3:00am and Senior Year

REALLY?!

 Every so often I'm awakened around 3:00am from the years of being on morning radio. Then I'm stuck with not being able to shut my thoughts off and go back to sleep. This was one of those mornings. It's coming up on one year I found out that I had breast cancer and as that day approaches it kind of gives me anxiety. Oh I'm happier than a possum in in the corncrib while the dog is tied up, but those feelings when you first hear - well, those never, ever leave me. 

I started to think back to my senior year in high school as I have a nephew that will graduate this year from Aplington-Parkersburg.   Then I started to think of my other nephew that is a senior at Quincy University. Seniors. One high school, the other, University. What a great time in their lives. One will be going off to College or University with all of the fun and anxiety of being a freshman, again. And I'm not sure what my other nephew will do, but I know he has talked about Grad School. I'm proud of him for his tennis scholarship and doing well throughout his last four years. It will be exciting to see what his next plans are.

 

Two different times in their lives, but both Seniors. My wish for both is to live life to the fullest as this is one of the best times in their life.


Grandma Becker's entry for September 17, 1990
"48-chilly last night. Washed, Baked freezer bread.  Gerald on errands to see about the car. Partly cloudy this P.M. Brought the little heater upstairs.  Gerald fixed screen (shower) on tub. Got repairs from Daltons. Eva called - talked to Mo Rohde-they got back from California yesterday".


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo

Melody

Memories of Our Wedding

  Harley Man and I did. Tied it up.

                                    

One week ago today. We said "I Do" in front of a small, intimate crowd that included a few family members and friends. We met each other in front of the fireplace at the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming.

My daughter was the Matron of Honor and Elizabeth, Harley Man's daughter was Maid of Honor. Standing up for Harley Man was his son, Max as Best Man, and his best friend Denny Rowley. Bryce and Brooklyn, my grandchildren were Ring Bearer and Flower Girl. Actually they were just CUTE. Beyond belief cute. Adorable. Melt your hearts kind of cute. 

I couldn't have pictured a more perfect day. Did I wish more family could have been there? Absolutely!  Would I want more friends there? Yep!   It's a long drive from Iowa and people are busy and have other commitments. We chose to have the ceremony here in Wyoming even realizing this may be the case. Hoping to create memories for all that were able to attend as not only about "our day" but to make the Labor Day weekend a great, crazy, fun weekend of memories being created and to be cherished. And a chance to get family and friends to our home since only a few had seen it since we moved here this last February.

On "The Day", we left the house for Buffalo after hair appointments, a few errands were run and after I was done creating an accessory for my hair. This consisted of cutting part of the shawl (that came with my dress) and and sewing onto a hair clip.  I couldn't find the right vintage barrette for my hair.. Oh well. I was happy the way it turned out!  Harley Man had stayed in a hotel the night before so he was already at the Occidental Hotel overseeing the flowers, cake, and hanging up a couple of strings of vintage lights in the Saloon.

Upon arrival at the Occidental we unloaded the cars and everyone explored the hotel where the likes of many famous people of the Old West walked - including Butch Cassidy and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill, Tom Horn, the young Teddy Roosevelt... and many more were common accessories to this beautiful place that has honored its rich history. 

Many times the bar keep and hotel staff had to "shoo" away Harley Man away as yours truly had to honor some tradition...I didn't want us to see each other until 6:30pm. 

One of those times he had to be "shooed" away was when I realized the wedding cake had arrived and...located in the walk in refrigerator. I had to pass him to get a glimpse of the "cake". Now I was very excited because we had met with one reputable baker and was quoted $650.00 for 75 people.  We both about fell out of our chairs. I politely explained we were on a budget. But REALLY-$650 DOLLARS FOR 75 PEOPLE? Cake? Nothing fancy?! Unbelievable! We felt fortunate when leaving Sheridan and noticed a store front advertising wedding cakes. We felt it was meant to be. The nice cake lady was only charging $125.00 for the same request. Harley Man couldn't whip out the checkbook fast enough. We were sold. She was so nice. Plus the pictures of her past work were quite impressive.

Ours wasn't impressive.  I did mention this was prepaid, right?

It was crooked, uneven, and....ugly. After all of the previous drama the last couple of days all I could do was have a couple or three Bud Lights and laugh. Sit down and laugh.

Anyway, I went to my daughter and son-in-laws room to get ready. I forgot about the lighting. Or the lack of lighting for an important day.  I'm talking make up here. Since it is such an old hotel, lighting wasn't the best. Oh my gosh all I could think about was not to look like a clown.

 At 6:30pm I walked down the historic grand staircase to meet my fiance.

So much happened I wish I could record it all. Like the fact that the Minister, Harley Man and I passed around my reading glasses, to the fact we couldn't find my ring for a few seconds. I pointed out it was lying on the floor.....and to the fact the processional was the theme to Peanuts which the minister played on the piano. A beautiful tribute to Harley Man's brother Stephen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16xNlqtZg08

 My vows to Harley Man:

"Larry, this is the greatest moment in my life. To marry my very best friend, who freed my soul to love, who opened my eyes and heart to a deeper love that I have ever known. A man of tradition. One who calls his mom every Sunday to talk and just to say I love you. Tradition. A father who is and will always be there for Max and Elizabeth.  A man that loves Casie, Bryce and Brooklyn and baby girl Bass. A loyal man that stands firm for what he believes in and without a doubt will always be there for me.  Through the pain and scars of cancer you were my pillar of strength. Through your love you have given me a new reason to stand proud and soar. I believe in you, love you, and will always stand by your side. This is the best chapter in our life. I love you". 

BABY WE DID IT!!

Thank you to all that traveled hundreds of miles to a few miles to spend this best day of our lives with us. Thank you for helping us celebrate! 

Grandma Becker's entry for this day:
"Another day and a bit cooler.  Baked choc. chip and oatmeal cookies for Charles to take on fishing trip to Canada. Connie stopped on way from work and left them at Charles'.  Still phone calls coming.  Fixed pork chop, cucs, tomato dinner. Home all day. Got my new glasses. 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

Check out the Historic Occidental Hotel:

http://www.occidentalwyoming.com/our-story-gallerynav.html

Grandchildren....How Wonderful Life is When You're in the World.....

Big Brother and Little Sister together at the Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming

I haven't had the time to sit down yet and chat about our wedding day....but I do want to share the joys of having grandchildren. They made the sun shine alot brighter the minute I saw them. I was sad to have missed greeting them when they pulled up to the house as I was out doing last minute errands.....one of those being shoes for the big day! But when I walked downstairs to the family room I was greeted with a huge hug and a "I missed you Grandma" from Bryce. Sweetest words to hear. 

It melted my heart to see them both playing in the yard, as this was the first time for them to visit Grandma here in Wyoming. The three of us had a great time visiting the tree house for the first time and running through the sprinkler(s) during the hot Friday afternoon sun. 

It was more than I could have wished for to spend time with them and it was great to see a few toys scattered through out the house and knowing they were here. Pretty soon they will have a new little baby sister to welcome into the world! Can't wait to meet her....grandchildren are so special. 

Grandma Becker's entry for September 5, 1990
"Tired this morning. Sleep was sort of mixed up and I think I am more so today! Very hot day! Nice inside, made 12 pint of spaghetti sauce. Sure makes alot of dirty dishes! But had the tomatoes and didn't want to wast them. Lots of telephone calls today. Had a letter from Virginia and Charles today and so glad as we hadn't had word since last Feb. Virginia had heart surgery in March and then had her other eye done. Ruth called and her brother Dave has cancer. Letter from Jennings. To Janesville - "500" here". 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

The House That Built Me.

"I know they say. You can't go home again. I just had to come back one last time. Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.  But these handprints on the front steps are mine".

This song speaks to me like no other song has for a long time. I'm not sure why. My age? The move from my home state Iowa to Wyoming? Is it the fact that I had cancer? Is it because I dreamt of a different life than what has become? Not better, just different.

No.

It's home. Family. From Peps our dog, to chickens, cats, cows, pigs, and even racoons. The barn. The gravel roads. The beautiful memories that happened within those walls. And forget the walls, it's the acres. The farm. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving. With Connie, DeAnn, Mom and Dad. Extended family. Friends. Along with Dennis who helped Dad on the farm for....I don't know how many years. He was the closest person I could consider a brother. Obviously more than this but at this moment it's what's on my mind.

Home. It was the 100+ year old farmhouse I spent my childhood to the time when my parents built the house they dreamed of.  Memories of growing up. Family time. From playing pick up basketball games with whoever was there on Sunday afternoons on the outdoor court during the days when the sunshine hung in the sky to when the sun didn't shine and we had to shoot 100 free throws inside the pole building. And make a certain percentage or start all over again. Boy, did that come in handy later on. It was those same Sunday afternoon's that I would be DeAnn's catcher while she practiced pitching. I didn't make that a habit. She could make my hand sting and hurt. Plus I was scared to catch for her. It was usually Connie or Dad that had that duty.

Sunday nights. Popcorn, Polly's chicken and fries from Parkersburg or Brown Bottle Pizza.

So many memories. I wonder what it would be like to walk through the door from the house that built me into the kitchen and see where I did my homework. To see the dining room, living room and my old bedroom. To see those memories flash before my eyes.

 "If I could just come in I swear I'll leave. Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me". 


Oh, one last thing-

 "And I bet you didn't know under that live oak my favorite dog is buried in the yard". 


Grandma Becker's entry from August 16, 1990
"Up at 6:30 still humid. Hair at 9:30 - Gerald to Aplington at  11:00am.  Jodi here an hour. Busy getting things ready to pack. Gerald home at 6:00. Talked to Dorothy, Connie and Charles. DeAnn called".



 "You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can".

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

Melody
xoxo

As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men......

So I ordered it. The "DRESS". Yesterday. I'm on pins and needles. Oh my GOSH I hope I love it as much as the pic and hope it fits!!  Harley Man and I are meeting each other at the perfect place in 37 days and vowing our lives to one another.  But whose counting?! Yes, ME....and I still need to find the perfect shoes!

I've been down the aisle twice before. That damn saying better be right. Third time is the charm. In my previous relationships they have included abuse, multiple attempts at suicide, alcoholism, and had more issues than a magazine subscription. Yep, it will be in my book. "My Life in Black & White" or "My Personal Soundtrack of Life". Look for it at your nearest Barnes and Noble. Heck by that time, everyone will download it. Or upload. Whatever. Enough of that. I'm getting married in a few. Even though I'm over the emotional hold that both of those relationships have obviously had, they still are a part of me and take a toll.....

 I know that Harley Man and I will be together forever. I know it. I feel it. He is my best friend. He makes me laugh, we laugh at each other, we talk about our childhoods, our parents, our kids, my grandbabies, our past relationships, our failures, our strengths and weaknesses, our day, our personal goals, and dreams and goals we want to accomplish together. We purely enjoy and love to be in each others company.  It's craaazzzzy to think that our paths never crossed in the years before we met. We worked at the same advertising agency-different times- but still, a tad twilight zone-ish. We knew the same people but obviously we weren't supposed to meet until a certain time in our life. And in a small city, that is hard to do. Where everyone knows everyone and they tell you your business before you know it. 

Harley Man is the reason (actually his career) I moved from my homestate of Iowa and away from family to the state of Wyoming.  Before we met, there were many moments I wanted to move away but decided to forge ahead, stick it out, and be thankful for each and every day. Anyway, we fell in love with the town of Gillette, and this state when we were visiting to see about bidding on the National High School Rodeo Finals. 

Yep- Forever and Ever, Amen

Now it's countdown time. The invites will be out in less than 48 hours. I love my Harley Man and cannot wait to meet him in front of the fireplace at the Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, WY. Then we are going to dance and party with family and friends who know what we both have been through, and new friends that have no idea but are happy for us just as well. 

I still need the "Shoes". 

Grandma Becker's entry for July 25, 1990
"Helen "85" today. A bit windy but a nice cool morning. Gerald in berry patch pretty slow picking this morning. I "snippled" a pan of green beans. Made 2 berry pies. Went to see Helen and took a piece of pie to her. Six ladies from 8th St. were there for her birthday.We had a piece of Leona's delicious cake-lemon chiffon. Helen at the pie at once! Went to Osco's then home - a warm, muggy evening".


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

How Do You Coach? FMCA is in town!

Happy Thursday!

Boy do I have a lot on my mind, but not alot of time today to put the pen to the paper. Well, maybe fingers to the keyboard.  I started my new job this last Tuesday and am loving it! It feels really good to be back in the studio. Tomorrow will be the first day I'll be solo on the air. 

I got home late last night, and so did Harley Man. It was a late dinner - he put steaks on the grill around 9:00pm. He is busy -very busy- at work with 3000+ motorhomes on property. We're talking about the kind that people live in year round. Luxury motorhomes. Some are so large they could be towing a small home. There are seminars, a trade show, a couple of concerts and much more for all that attend. They had pet parade the other day which I caught the tail end of. Wish Miss Pippi and Mr. Pretzel would have been with me. I'm looking forward to seeing the sight of all of the motorhomes as well as attending the trade show this weekend. I caught a few vendors in the set up stages and there looked to be some very cute jewelry!

I LOVE the retro looking red and white one!

 Check out the Family Motor Coach Association~

 http://www.fmca.com/

Gotta run. Well, not run. Chat later. 

Grandma Becker's entry for June 20, 1990

"Up at 6:30. No rain today but looks rainy tonight. Hair at 9:30-did odds and ends. Cleaned bathrooms, fixed things for supper. Gerald home at 5:30. Went to Funeral Home. Saw all the family. Francis, Loren, Virginia, Jimmy. Heard that Naomi Bolton had a heart attack". 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo

Melody

Game of Throne. Do You?

I don't do it. AT ALL. It just grosses me out. Not sure why because there are a lot of people in the world that do it. In the loo! 

Reading in the bathroom. The loo-room. Well, June is National Reading in the Bathroom Month. Apparently the average American spends anywhere from 700 to 2000 hours on the throne in their lives. Now granted, I'm probably on the higher spectrum of those hours because of my self diagnosis with IBS. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Ohhhhh...tmi about the IBS?  Let's get back to reading. It's good for us.

I just prefer to go in, do my business and get out, maybe read in bed or the couch or on the deck when it's super nice out. When I was on the Mix Morning Show my partner and I had a disagreement about this subject. He read while in the bathroom. In fact one time he asked me to knock on the bathroom door to let him know when it was about 30 seconds to air time. Guess he had to catch up on the previous days happenings. Oh gosh, this grossed me out and I told him no. So he was on his own. Anyway, after that we had the discussion and had many, many calls that morning in support of keeping a library of books in the bathroom. Or a novel or crossword puzzle. Thinking back I believe the score was tipping in favor of people that do read in the bathroom. To each his or her own. 
 

I love retro pink (and green) bathrooms. Both my Grandma's had one, and in one of the rentals I've lived in it had a glorious pink bathroom with hot pink carpet as well. It was wonderful. I didn't read in it though.

There's even a contest from Uncle John's Bathroom Readers in honor of National Reading in the Bathroom Month. The Grand Prize is a complete library of in print Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers. If you are a bathroom reader you only have until June 30th to enter. 

http://bathroomreader.com/2013/05/2013-june-is-bathroom-reading-month-contest-rules/


By the way, it is pure coincidence National Reading in the Bathroom Month is in the same month that Fathers Day is?

Speaking of the bathroom, there is another discussion that is on going between Harley Man and myself. It's  about toilet paper. I like soft and gentle and he prefers bark. I'll get into that another time. 



Grandma Becker's entry for June 13, 1990
"Early shower-had breakfast and then a heavy shower came through - several of them. Gerald had oil changed and tire fixed. Went to Joe Luhring funeral. What a crowd!! Threatening rain but none in P.M. A very nice service-did not go to the cemetery. Home at 4:40-rested a while. "Shakeys" to eat and "500" here. Tired. Rain started at 10. Thunder and lightening."


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

You Are My Sunshine

However it may be I hope we all are somebody's sunshine is someway.

 

While getting ready this morning I had the telly tuned to the "Colorado Everyday Show" and caught this heart warming video. It instantly brought me back to when Grandpa Becker used to sing this song to Connie, DeAnn and myself. When we were old enough to learn the verses we sang with him. All he had to do is start it off and by the third word we were singing right along with him in the kitty car. That was the white Chevrolet. Their "good" car. It's where we really let it loose!

Grandpa Becker and Dustin. I don't think Dustin would like those pants today. 

I wish I had more pictures of both Grandpa & Grandma Becker & Grandpa and Grandma Pollock. But I have the memories.

Grandma Becker's entry for June 12, 1990

"Very windy. Washed-Gerald mowed lawn. Rain late afternoon-many storm warnings. Not stormy here - lucky again. Charlene here-brats, rolls, juice and milk. Gerald had to shut her windows. Byron said storm winds hit their farm yesterday."

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo

Melody

"It's not true I had nothing on. I had the radio on." ~Marilyn Monroe

Stereo we grew up with. Used to love to lay on the floor listening to records and the radio while staring at the little green power light. I know, it doesn't take much.

So very, very, excited! I sure was hoping for a good -wait - fantastic day. I feel like I've been on pins and needles and trying not to think about it since last Thursday. Which is when "the" job interview was. It felt like it went well, but then over the weekend....well, waiting is very hard. 
  

My new position is with Fox Country 100.7 and I'll be keeping Gillette, WY company in the afternoon and driving them home Monday thru Friday. I can't wait to meet people at remotes and get involved in my new community!

Little did I know when I was little listening to the stereo growing up that one day I would be able to be one of those voices. Thinking back I'm sure the deejay's used to hate us. We used to crank call and ask if they had a refrigerator. And then ask if it was running and before we could say the rest of the lame brain joke....Click. Lame. And then we used to call and request the same song a million times. Thank gosh for no caller i.d. back then or Grandma Pollock would have a lot of explaining to do. Or we would to Grandpa Pollock! 
  
Can't wait to get back into the studio!! Watch out Wyoming! We have caller i.d. 

On the other hand it's kind of sad that kids today can't crank call. How long has it been since you've said crank call, anyway?!

Grandma Becker's entry for June 11, 1990
"Up at 6:30 - Soon clouds and a shower. Defrosted the freezer. Glad that is done. Fixed food to take to Connie, chicken & noodles, potato casserole and a raspberry pie. Went there 5:30 and then stopped to Randy's mothers. Home at 7 and had a sandwich at McDonald's."


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo
Melody

Fishing. I Love Bobbers.

Lake Pepin

It's almost "Go Fishing Day." One of those bizarre holidays that I love to look up, I'll credit my days of radio show prep for that one. It's one of those things that is just interesting to me. Take for example today's bizarre holidays. Its 1) "National Gardening Exercise Day - where you are supposed to burn calories while digging around in the dirt, and 2) "Yo-Yo Day". Did you know that the worlds largest Yo-Yo weighs 256 pounds, and is on display at the National Yo-Yo museum? No? I didn't either so we both learned something today! 

"Go Fishing Day" is June 18 and it conjures up great memories growing up and spending summer weekends (when us girls didn't have a softball game) in Minnesota at Lake Pepin. On Friday mom would hurry from work and once she was home everything would be put into gear. Start packing.  Swimsuits, shorts, sweatshirts (it was cold on the mighty Mississippi in the wee morn. hours) sandals, and a pair of jeans, just in case of crappy weather. Then the really fun packing would begin. A couple dozen eggs, bread, packages of bacon, Crisco, butter (always Land O' Lakes, thank you) and other necessary food items so we wouldn't starve. Once everything was loaded, us three girls loaded in the truck or car and we were off. Always went the back roads through Charles City (we would stop there on the way home for a DQ) and those little towns that people always wave when you drive thru. During basketball season we beat Riceville on the road to the State Tourney. Riceville is one of those little towns on the way to Lake City. Well, after that season, every time we were driving through my dad would honk. Not once or twice, he made sure people knew we were there. I'll tell you about that story another time. What a GAME!!  We also called Riceville Ricepatty. I know. Not very mature. 

Getting back to "Go Fishing Day". I have so many fun memories from that lake, fishing, boat rides, water skiing.....oh yes. Skiing. A fun topic. My older sister asked her boyfriend (now hubs) Randy to experience our family time. Well, we talked him into trying to ski. He wasn't sure about that one. After all of us pleading with him he decided to go for it. After all, it's like riding a bike, right? You just need to get the hang of it. So anyway he decides to jump in from the side of the boat. Now Randy was a Parkersburg football guy. A muscular guy. He jumps in, and proceeds to go underneath the boat and he ended up clawing at the side of the boat like a wet cat trying to get out of that water. It wasn't a pretty site to behold. He was fine-no need to worry and he has went on to develop his skills. Although to this day I cannot tell you if he skied that day or even dipped his big toe in the water. 

Now I think it was on that same day we talked my dad into skiing as well. He hadn't done that for years, apparently. We were really persuasive that day! He donned not only one life jacket but two by putting on one of those types that are just around your waist.  Randy took the helm and dad lowered himself in the water. We were encouraging him on what to do, because we obviously we experts. Soon he was in place, skies pointed to the sky and seemed to look like he would just pop right out of the water. You know, because that's what first timers do. It had been years but isn't it like the bike riding deal? 

Randy throttled down and she was open all the way pulling dad out of the water. But as we were watching in horror he did a really weird flip and now he was being towed. Head first. And he wasn't letting go of the rope. Oh my gosh it was as if his head was glowing under one inch of water as we were speeding like he was up, gliding on the water. I think his head did glow and it was as if he was aerodynamic in the water. But he still wasn't letting go and we were getting a little worried as we turned a corner. The skies had come off a looong time ago. Finally we slowed to a stop. Dad came up and his head stopped glowing but he wasn't smiling. We tried not too. That, right then and there ended his career as a trick skier. 

So many great memories of growing up on that lake from the fish fry's, to both Grandpa and Grandma Pollock as well as Grandpa and Grandma Becker being with us, to the fun shops and great pizza nights. And so much more in between. And DeAnn's then boyfriend and now hubs Byron would take out his real trick skies and put on a show for us.

Later in life I was so fortunate to be able to take my kids with my mom and dad to that same lake. Casie took her first steps there. Great, great memories. I'm so glad that my grand kids have great parents in Casie and Lane that they take them fishing. I can't wait too either. Although this Grandma won't touch the bait-on the other hand, it's worth it and I'll learn.

Dustin & Casie

Kohle and Dustin

Memories. More to be made. And by the way, we didn't use bobbers. Darn it. They were so cute just bobbing up and down.


Grandma Becker's entry for May 28, 1990 (not today's actual)
"54 years ago today we were in Minneapolis around Lake Harriet. A pretty place. Washed this morning. Beautiful day but quite cloudy by noon. Clothes are drying. Hope they all will. Made macaroni and cheese, salmon patties and salad for dinner. It's "10" o'clock and Gerald is asleep under his newspaper - no mail today - Mem. Day.  Not much news today-went to pick up our flowers. Alberta & Casie were here. Beautiful flowers from Charles and Alan for anniversary.  Called Alan's".


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

xoxo 

Melody

Warning. No chicken was hurt.

It's been a great day. Starting off with three cups of coffee. Brewed the same pod of Keurig coffee twice but what the heck.  Looking back I should have added a little bit of Baileys but I try to save that for the weekend. The sun was out and it looked to be a promising day on my horizon. Besides, I was on a Melody mission.

This last weekend proved to be very interesting in the life of myself as Harley Man clued me into some very interesting facts I had never known in all of my forty-nine years rotating around the sun.

Hope you are sitting down because this may shock you....wait.....for.....it......

Chicken Fried Steak isn't chicken.

It's BEEF. BEEF!! Like as in cubed STEAK! WTH?? I never in my being have ever, ever tried this-because I thought chicken shouldn't taste like steak. Sit back, and let me tell you how I came to learn of this truth. Well, during our little road trip this weekend through the Big Horn Mountains we ended up on the western edge at a quaint little town called Ten Sleep. And stopped to wet our whistle and have a bite to eat. One of their specials was Chicken Fried Steak in a Drunken Gravy. Now that sure got my attention and I proceeded to order a cheeseburger (I might add on a pretzel roll).  Harley Man decided the chick (lunch special, not the bar keep) was calling his name and ordered that straight up. Except for fries, not mashed.

Our meals came and mine was exceptionally good and Harley Man was sitting to my right raving how delish his chick was. I decided to try a tad of the gravy, after all, it was drunk. Oh my golly, dang, jiggity jang it was so incredibly wonderful. We both finished and waddled out to the truck for the trek back to Gillette.

Except this is where I learned the truth about the chick. It is actually beef. With pork in the drunk gravy. There isn't any chicken at all. Harley Man explained the concept behind the recipe's name. I am still trying to wrap my brain around this concept but came home and proceeded to locate a recipe and try it first hand! That, my friends, was my mission today.

Tonight I tried out a recipe I found, and tweaked it a little bit. I cannot believe this chic has been missing this comforting meal all of these years. I still need a little bit of refining it to my liking, but you can count on your sweet patootie that will be happening. Did I mention there is pork in the gravy?

This is the ground pork (pre-browning) with crushed red pepper flakes, garlic, onion, salt and of course a little pepper action. There is no chicken pictured. On a side note this is my Grandma Becker's mixing bowl. Love. 

This is the cubed steak after sitting and soaking up buttermilk and then dipping it from flour, into beaten eggs and milk, and then the final station of saltine cracks and planko crumbs. There is no chicken pictured.

This is it. Chicken Fried Steak with Drunken Gravy. There is no chicken pictured. 

No chicken was harmed in this process. 

Harley Man couldn't eat it all but said it was delicious. I did serve up a pretty big portion. 

There is one other thing I learned this weekend but let's just digest that there isn't any chicken in you know what recipe. I don't want to ruin your evening. And if you are in the town of Ten Sleep, you must visit the Ten Sleep Saloon and Steakhouse. Superb. We'll meet you!! 

I love to say drunken gravy. 


Grandma Becker's entry on June 4, 1990
"Wind gone down-just a little breeze. Cool but warmed up fast. Washed and at 11:00 we took Helen to Janesville for dinner. Home 1:30. Gerald got washing in. I put away. Rested and at 3:00 we went to Allison Nursing Home to see Earl. Very bad-stopped to see Vera-can't walk. Sits in wheel chair most of day. Earl passed away 10pm."


It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day.

xoxo 

Melody