tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7407769253707839012024-03-13T10:27:33.801-07:00Northern Star PublishingRamblings - Quips - Observations - Curiosities of an Ordinary Person living an Unordinary LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-38065091140680723602009-05-02T19:22:00.000-07:002009-05-06T17:05:20.439-07:00In The BeginningIt wasn't until after I was asked to write about country music in the 1990s that I reflected back at how much I enjoyed writing at a younger age. What will always bother me is why it wasn't something that became a vocation rather than just an avocation.When I was in fifth grade, my father (who then worked for Trans World Airlines) decided to take me, along with my sister who was in third grade Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-51315361453739190812009-04-19T19:56:00.000-07:002009-04-19T20:42:33.314-07:00Tread SoftlyTread SoftlyValerie ClarkWe always wish that we’d done moreThe time is sweet, but oh, so shortYou can’t go back, so hold on tightIt could be today, it might be tonight Tread softly on this precious groundToo soon you will be heaven boundHold every moment in your handTime it passes with the grains of sandIt’s always when the day is doneThe could haves and the should haves comeLive every day with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-28777962155904312009-04-19T19:44:00.000-07:002009-04-27T18:17:36.139-07:00The Woman In The MirrorThe Woman in the MirrorValerie ClarkFour years old looking in the mirrorHer love for me was like no otherThe old black and white may not last foreverBut forever is the love of a motherMom taught me the difference between wrong and rightBut the greatest gift she gave me were my wings of flight.The woman in the mirror that I seeIs a little bit of mom and a whole lot of meOff to college on a crisp Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-87234388684389756562009-04-19T19:42:00.000-07:002009-04-19T19:44:45.055-07:00Shootin Tequila From A Paper CupShootin Tequila From a Paper CupValerie ClarkKeep your fancy martini glasses and all that stuffSticky sweet girly shots aren’t for the toughChampagne in your best crystal, keep that tooEven a frozen margarita just won’t doWe don’t need your salt, we don’t need your limeThese girls just don’t need to waste that timeWe’re here tonight to whoop it upShootin tequila from a paper cupA cold beer is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-3582153723067300322009-04-19T19:40:00.000-07:002009-04-19T19:42:51.288-07:00Bubba's Got A GirlfriendBubba’s Got A GirlfriendValerie ClarkEleven years and you would think that she had learnedTwice around the block and she’s twice been burnedShe’s had enough and his bubbles finally burstNo more of the same old song with just a different verse‘Cause she’s gonna find her own wayIt’s been a long time comin to this dayAll the pain and wasted yearsAll the arguing and all the tearsIt’s in the past, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-71980240224705387382009-04-17T19:22:00.000-07:002009-08-04T20:08:33.937-07:00Music and MeThere was a time when I was gone three weekends out of four and almost every night to every musical event I could find. Those years it was about being a fan, a journalist and, transcending labels, a lover of music and those that made the music.Somewhere I lost that or I just let go. I've begun to understand that we get in a bad place in our lives and sometimes deny ourselves the things and those Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-18978642275654819102009-04-17T19:21:00.001-07:002009-04-17T19:21:57.169-07:00Saving My "Quote for The Day"I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream. Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-29201434383630419172009-04-17T19:16:00.000-07:002009-04-19T20:32:33.545-07:00What Is Real?What is "real?" --Real is the love of God and his only begotten son.Real are people who put people before things.Real are people who don't talk behind others backs, but anything they say they would not be afraid to say to their face.Real are people who love unconditionally, no "look what I did for you" attached.Real is the innocence of children and the elderly.Real is being able to give a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-80079617883921805542009-02-26T18:21:00.000-08:002009-04-19T20:53:16.346-07:00The Lives of Nine Cats: WileyWiley, The Curious Cat with Nine LivesBy V. ClarkToday the caramel cat named Wiley arrived in Spring Hill, Tennessee. It was like coming home. Wiley couldn’t believe that it was five years ago when he was born in this very area. He was back where his life started.Wiley doesn’t remember much of those early days as a kitten. He was not more than four months old when he found himself stuck between Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-44787619206101860622009-02-26T18:02:00.000-08:002009-04-19T21:04:26.821-07:00Rough Drafts for Curiosity Seekers SeriesThe starting of - "Curiosity Seekers: Country Markets of Williamson, Maury and Rutherford County, Tennessee."Here we go! Let me know what you think.Every morning my drive to work takes me down State Highway 431 past the A&D Market. It is located in the Thompson Station/Spring Hill area of Tennessee, south of Nashville.It usually isn’t gasoline I’m seeking, but the best cup of coffee in the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-54221568764923274032009-02-18T10:59:00.001-08:002009-02-26T18:54:49.477-08:00Baptism in West Texas Family Stories: Baptism in West TexasMy father is almost 83 years old and somedays he finds it tough to remember what was for breakfast (although it is usually eggs, sausage and fried potatoes!). When it comes to remembering his days on the family farm, his time in the U.S. Navy in World War II or the history of his family there is no lack of memory. The stories are colorful and many times Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-63939557481121170952009-02-08T17:43:00.000-08:002009-04-19T21:25:02.287-07:00The 51st Annual Grammy AwardsAs a lover of many kinds of music you'd think The Grammy Awards would be a big favorite, but many times I'm not a lover of the musical performances. Tonight I was delighted with the second musical number of Justin Timberlake with the Reverend Al Green along with Boyz II Men and our own, Keith Urban showcasing his guitar prowess. Their rendition of Al's hit - "Let's Stay Together," was very Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-12253237470254662892009-02-06T20:14:00.000-08:002009-02-08T19:46:14.849-08:00Grandma MosesYou can not imagine how excited I became when the discovery was made that our family, descended from Mayflower Compact signer, Richard Warren, made us related to Grandma Moses. The irony is that as I was growing up my mother had curtains in our kitchen eating area that were a replica of this Grandma Moses (1860-1961) print ("A Beautiful World" - 1948). I still have some of those curtains Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-44451189400197102072009-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:002009-02-26T18:59:15.343-08:00Grammy AwardsThe Grammy's are this Sunday, which prompts me to drop a short note here about a friend of mine, Tom Wurth.It was a few years back when he was in his early 20s and was part of a project in Nashville by a company that produced children's projects. "Love Songs and Lullabyes for Daddy's Little Dreamer" was nominated for a Grammy and Tom had the opportunity to attend the awards.Now, this young man isUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-51079082327014647392009-02-04T19:15:00.000-08:002009-02-26T18:59:31.342-08:00Night and DayI'm totally addicted to old movie classics and tonight while channel surfing landed on one I'd somehow missed, "Night and Day," with the one and only Cary Grant. The "loosely" written story of composer, Cole Porter, it is, if not true to Porter's story it is filled with his music and of course, Grant.Porter is one of the greats along with the Gershwins, Irving Berlin ("God Bless America" and "Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-12543796876409720252009-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:002009-02-04T20:38:35.783-08:00Cary Grant and Kevin CostnerMy birthday is January 18th and each year I celebrate the day with my friends and family. My mother was one who always made your special day incredible and a one of a kind day for the year. When I was little she handmade a snowman cake with matching invitations. In college she sent a strawberry bundt cake with a new flannel nightgown and my favorite book when I was a child, "Little House on the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-13965351780501627022009-02-03T18:09:00.000-08:002009-02-03T18:33:01.745-08:00Backward Movement BACKWARD MOVEMENTAs a disclaimer, just wanted to let anyone reading this blog know that my posts will never be in a chronological order. There will always be backward movement to thoughts and ponderings that seem to resurface now and again. I may miss putting down my opinion on a given show or movie or book or even a happening in my life. When it pops back to the top of my brain it will land Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-76759422195120689562009-01-28T20:49:00.000-08:002009-01-28T21:01:35.992-08:00The Prisoner of Second AvenueWith my sister and a great friend unemployed and being in the staffing business, this 1974 movie with icon, Jack Lemmon and the great Anne Bancroft might as well be set in 2009. The trials and tribulations of an unemployed man due to economic downturn is universal regardless of the date stamp. A dark comedy, it is a Neil Simon classic.If you have never seen this movie, check it out. I caught it Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-13520320005414854852009-01-27T19:15:00.000-08:002009-02-26T18:59:54.412-08:00The 70s and John Ford ColeyI will admit to being a child of the 70s. Musically I survived the disco era.Which brings me to a wonderful man, John Ford Coley. About six years ago, my friend Tom Wurth, had become friends with John who became his mentor and producer. When I came up with the idea to do a musical benefit for the church I attended I enlisted my friend (and then boss) Dean Sams of Lonestar and Tom to help get the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-66968804183063187182009-01-27T19:01:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:21:29.145-08:00A View From My BarnA View From My BarnI'm so blessed to have gifted and talented people around me every day. My friends Amie and Cathy as well as our friend Vicki love to photograph anything and everything. We all see the world through the eye of a camera. Two years ago Amie came back to Tennessee to visit from the beautiful state of Colorado. She did a photo shoot with our friend Tom Wurth for his music projects Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-74584272988190473602009-01-27T18:55:00.000-08:002009-01-27T19:10:20.865-08:00The Importance of FamilyUpon the birth of my second niece (actually my great niece) I'm reminded how important not only my family is to me, but the importance of the family unit. We are small, but through all the good and bad have always stuck tightly together. The bond is even more important now as another generation is added to our family tree.One of my passions is family history. It is an incredible way for anyone toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-89543937980613490702009-01-17T07:32:00.001-08:002009-08-04T20:07:35.868-07:00Music Worth Listening To and Those That Make ItHow blessed to not only enjoy the music I listen to, but to know the people who make it and know the meaning behind their choices of songs and writing of songs. If you have time, check these out:Tom Wurth - his self entitled first CD has had two incredible singles released "Bread on the Table," an anthem for our day and time and "Good Ground," a true homage to the midwest spirit of family. This Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-14407459178565139692009-01-12T17:41:00.000-08:002009-02-05T17:01:13.419-08:00Why the North Star and MoreI admit to being more than a little eccentric. At least I thought I did until it struck me that I better be darn sure of the definitiion! So, this was a defining moment - "Departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm or pattern." On the surface I may appear to be conservative and more than ordinary, but I love to shake it up now and again. Maybe "quirky" is a better description Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740776925370783901.post-23530268039841722292008-10-16T19:13:00.000-07:002009-08-04T20:06:21.343-07:00Music and MoreThose who know me from the inside out know my passion for music. This blog will see many references to songs and musicians I admire and respect for their incredible talents. I have been lucky to have worked for (both from a monetary respect and out of friendship and admiration) very gifted entertainers. These include the men of the country music superstar group, Lonestar (from the days of John Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0