Reunited, and it feels so good!

Today marks the one week-iversary of the day when I lost (and then found) something that I cherish very much: Fred. So, how shallow and materialistic does that make me? Actually, I don't think that it does. Because for the thirty minutes that I had thought Fred was gone forever, what I was most upset about was that I was pretty certain our separation was due to my own pure stupidity.

Here's how it played out:

Fred is pretty much a home body, except for when Mrs. Pheasantly takes him out for long walks. But last Wednesday I needed his help at my Toastmasters meeting, so I took him, and his docking station, along with me. The meeting went great and at the end, I took him out to the car and put him in the front passenger seat. On the way home, I stopped at Publix. It was the 13th and I needed to get some stuff for V-Day.

So get my V-Day stuff, toss it in the car and make my way home. As I am heading down the street to my house, I look over to the passenger seat...Fred is gone! The docking station is there, but no Fred. I pull into the driveway, park, and then look under the seats for Fred. No Fred.

I go inside, put the treats for wifey and the little ones away, and then tell wifey that I lost Fred. She goes out and looks with me. Again, no Fred. Wifey calls the restaurant where my meeting was. No Fred. I drive there to see if maybe he sprawled out on the parking lot. No Fred. At this point I am certain that Fred was taken while I was in Publix and this has me really ticked. How could I be so stupid as to not lock the car doors?!

While I was checking out the parking lot, wifey calls Matt for any ideas. He told her to check the side pockets of the car doors. Upon my return to the house, she conveys the message to me and, knowing this is pointless because Fred is in the grubby paws of some little punk who's laughing at my Lionel Ritchie collection, I check anyway. Wouldn't you know that's where the little bugger was? Thanks Matt!

The No Excuses Not-Friday Saturday Shuffle

It's been a while since my last blog entry. And, no, unfortunately it's not because I've been cruising the Carribean like our friend Tracey Michele. I've even missed a few Friday Shuffles - probably the easiest thing to post that there is. I have no excuses. It is what it is. I am thankful to all of my blogging friends, and you know who you are, for sticking by me and encouraging me to keep posting. So here it, one day late, this week's shuffle!

Take 'er away Fred - God, am I glad I still have Fred; but that's for another post.

1. "Get a Rhythm" performed by the man...Johnny Cash. I also have a CD with this song performed by a little known group called NRBQ. An awesome toe-tapping song.
2. "Margarita" by Traveling Wilburys
3. "Edie's Teddy" by Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
4. "Hey Good Lookin'" performed by Jimmy Buffet.
5. "Girls of Summer" performed by by an overrated bubble gum rock band...can you tell that I share Fred with my wifey?
6. "White Trash Wedding" by the Dixie Chicks - okay, I don't like kuntry, but I do like Bluegrass, go figure!
7. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", proof that the Beatles created more songs than they should have!
8. "Your Song", by Elton John. A beautiful song.
9. "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette - seriously, this chick needs Anger Management courses.
10. "Midnight Train to Georgia" performed by the Indigo Girls. Nicely done, ladies.

I hope that everyone is having a great weekend.

A Happy Shuffle

I am feeling very happy. Tired? Sure! Over worked? Sure! But I am happy. I appreciate the blessings that I have. I hope that you have an awesome weekend! Fred, make us happy with your 10 selections...

1. "Delia's Gone", by Johnny Cash. Um Fred? Try again.
(But I must say this song is funny...just not very happy.)
2. "Down On The Corner", by CCR. Now, that's more like it. Happy foot tapping music about, well, happy foot tapping music.
3. "Celebration Day", by Led Zeppelin. Okay, really, Fred is picking these songs at random.
4. "Yeah Yeah", by Cyndi Lauper. More like...Please No, Please No.
5. "Light As The Breeze" by Billy Joel. Starts out as "She stands before you naked" Happy thoughts indeed. Wait, which one of us is naked?
6. "Love Or Something Like It" by Kenny Rogers. A decent lighthearted song.
7. "I'd Really Like To See You Tonite", by England Dan & John Ford Coley. We all know the song, but I've never heard of these guys...a result of feeding Fred "Best Hits of the 70's". Burp.
8. "It's Only Rock N'Roll", by the Rolling Stones. 'Nuff said.
9. "Breath In, Breathe Out, Move On", by Jimmy Buffet. Talk about an awesome story teller with a guitar....Am I happy? Oh yeah.
10. "New Blue Moon", by the Traveling Wilburys. Hmmm, well this song reminds me of my favorite beer: Blue Moon. So, yepp, this song makes me happy.

Happy Thoughts Everyone!

The Friday, Whew, Oh No, Shuffle

It is here. Friday. The beginning of the weekend. Met with joy and dread.

Joy.
Joy for the reason of, well, the weekend is a hiatus between work weeks for R&R, or tons of errands and honey-do's. But even if the latter is the case, it is still a nice change of pace from the 9 to 5 drudgery.

Dread.
Mother will be arriving tomorrow morning to stay with us for two weeks. Sure, I love my mom and as she getting is older, it's important that she spend time with our children, yada, yada, yada. But two weeks for my mom and I to be under one roof, well, God help Mrs. Pheasantly Fascinating.

So whether you are anticipating joy or dread, or a familial hybrid of both, have a great weekend, extended for most of us, and enjoy this Friday Shuffle! Take it away Fred. And don't disappoint!

"Uncle John's Cabin", by Grateful Dead
Maybe mom could stay there?

"Blue Jay Way", covered by The Secret Machines on "Across The Universe"
A Beatles tune of which I know not.

"Alone At the Drive In" by Jim Jacobs & Watten Casey from "Grease" soundtrack.
Okay, this is how I know that Mrs. Pheasantly Fascinating has been spending time with Fred!

"Where Are You Boy" by Patty Loveless as featured on the soundtrack for "Tin Cup"
Don't know the movie? Rent it. It's fun...even if you don't care about Kevin Costner, Cheech Marin, or the game of golf.

"Back On the Chain Gang", by The Pretenders

"Spirits In The Material World", by the Police

"El Chirinquito", off of a compilation CD called "The Best of Cuba". Not sure who the artist is.
I also have this song on a few other CD's.

"Crash & Burn" by Blues Traveler

"Games Without Frontiers", by Peter Gabriel
Funny...I was talking to Hilda about this song yesterday. It's one of my favorites.

"Give Me Novocaine", by Green Day
Did I mention my mom was coming?

Peace Out!

Who Is Fred?

Many have asked, and by many I mean one reader, why did I name my Ipod Fred? Fred is many people to me. Primarily though, Fred is Uncle Fred. Uncle Fred was my wife's favorite uncle. He was always there for her when she was growing up and she has many fond memories of him. Fortunately for me, I got the chance to get to know him before he passed and would agree...he was pretty cool. Though when he was still around I didn't always show him the respect he deserved and for that I am sorry. However through that I learned the importance of respecting others, whether you relate to them or not. So that is where my fondness for Fred came from. Now everyone is Fred. People who cut me off in traffic are called Fred. Fast food workers who get my order mixed up are called Fred. Even the higher power is sometimes affectionately called Fred. So too, our family Ipod is hence forth known as Fred.

Wussup With That!?

So I am done with my Shuffle and I checking out some of my friends blogs ( nice anniversary pic, Hilda) when Fred decides to play "Turn Me On" by Norah Jones followed by "Forever Man" by Clapton. Those are some good tunes. Where were those tunes during the shuffle, hmmm?

Fred is officially on notice.